Wichitan Summer 2016

SUMMER 2016 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | SPECIAL ISSUE

PHOTO BY DEWEY COOPER | THE WICHITAN

PHOTO BY MAKAYLA BURNHAM | THE WICHITAN

Tia Joyner, geology sophomore, spins Nicole Longely, education freshman, as Longely prepares to run in the drunk goggle relay finals March 15.

Jack Glover, alumnus, sprints across the field at the Maroon vs. Gold alumni game, at Memorial Stadium, April 9.

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Shane Jones, undecided sophomore, and Destiny Zynda, exercise physiology junior, are the first to finish at the Cardboard Boat Race where students and organizations build a boat out of cardboard, and duct tape and race across Sikes Lake, Oct. 20, 2015.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB Education more than just going to class THOMAS GOAD | ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MAKAYLA BURNHAM, DIERRICA SMITH, AND PAYTON BONER

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rom playing a game of Ultimate to joining together in the Catholic Campus Ministry, there are more than 100 groups in which students can get involved, helping them to feel more comfortable and active within the campus.

“Getting involved is very important for a college experience. Students should find an organization that matches their personality. Find where you fit, find your niche,” said Matthew Chisholm, a coordinator of student affairs.

Students that are more involved on campus and in organizations are more likely to stay at the university and statistically have a higher percentage of graduating.

“Involvement will often lead to a student getting and maintaining

a higher grade point average. Most groups have a minimum GPA requirement and members scared of losing their position will strive to keep their grades above it,” said Chisholm.

Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Matthew Park agreed.

“We want students to be responsible human beings who can communicate and who can think, who can work with a group. I don’t think you exclusively learn these skills in the traditional classroom environment,” he said. “You can learn them through co-curricular experiences as well. It’s a positive thing when students get involved, meaning they find something they are passionate about and interested in, and they pursue it.”

To help students find their passion, 87 registered student organizations

20

4

8

15

academic organizations

club sports

cultural organizations

Greek chapters

provide students the opportunity to develop leadership skills, to learn how to work on a team and how to organize events.

Twenty of these student organizations are academic, as well as four club sports, eight cultural, 15 Greek, two hobbies and sports, 13 honorary, six religious and faith-based, 14 special interest, five student governance, and four university committees.

Students can pick an organization that fits their needs for camaraderie, learning new skills and that, at the same time, fits their schedule.

“Time management is a major key to being successful. Students that are involved in more than one thing usually will have a planner or a set schedule outside of class to keep them on the same page as their peers,” said

BY THE NUMBERS

2

hobbies and sports

13

honorary organizations

6 religious organizations

Chisholm.

For some students academic organizations help them engage outside the classroom, extending what they are learning in the classroom. Students with exemplary grades can apply to different honors programs. These programs recognize academic achievement and give members the chance to develop their own leadership skills.

Chey Gibbs, radiology sophomore, said, “Being in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars has helped me get more connected to people in the same field I am going into. It helps keep me in track study-wise and is a great way to network after college.”

Jasmeen De La Torre, psychology junior, said, “I would highly recommend joining a club or organization

see CLUBS pg. 2

14 special interest

5

4

student governance

university committees

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PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON, FRANCISCO MARTINEZ AND KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

Morgan White, psychology freshman, holds up the ‘Stang’ symbol while singing the alma mater at the end of Convocation held in the D.L. Ligon Coliseum, Aug. 20. “It was very welcoming and more energetic than I thought it would be, but I did like the speaker a lot and thought he brought a lot of new realizations to my attention tonight,” White said. | Runner Syndee Pottorf, special education junior, gets covered in colored corn starch by housing staff at one of the color checkpoints at the Color Run 5k around Sikes Lake on April 6. | Kaylor Winter-Roach, theater sophomore, and Crystal Carter, theater junior, rehearse for ‘Lysistrata’, Feb. 29, in the Fain Auditorium. | Juan Mercado, sociology sophomore, takes a picture of Rahul Joshi, finance freshman, and his family with Maverick T. Mustang outside of the Welcome Reception in the Clark Student Center, kicking off Mustangs Round-Up, Aug. 18. | Hunter Wolf, a Kappa Alpha member and biology sophomore, and Tristen Cunningham, management information systems freshman, perform a dance to Fergalicious by Fergie at the Mr. MSU Male Pageant in D.L. Ligon Coliseum April 14. | Veronica Casares-Chuca, radiology freshman, plays foosball with friends at the Glowcade Aug. 27 in CSC Comanche.

CLUBS pg. 1 because you’re here for four years and being involved makes you’re college experience worth going to class, studying late nights and being stressed out other than getting a career because you have the rest of your life to work. I feel that being involved has so many benefits that can help you grow as an individual outside of the organization, whatever your in.”

Potential employers look through a graduate’s resume to see if the applicant was involved in any extracurricular activities. Active involvement in the university can show future careers an extra drive that opposing candidates might not have.

“I got involved initially to make connections and be able to put something on resume, but once I did, I realized that it was a lot more than that,” said David Marler, management sophomore.

Marler said, “I have met some of my best friends and have had some of the greatest experiences by doing so. We are able to help out the campus and community at the same time.”

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Vol. 80 | Summer Edition

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

Members of social organizations help to promote school events and members volunteer on and off of campus. Specifically, members of 14 nationally affiliated fraternities and sororities on campus, students can get the chance to be involved with the community and different charities.

“Because of their involvement they have a greater connection to the institution,” Kevin Bazner, assistant director of student development and orientation said, “There’s a greater likelihood that (involved students) will stay here on the campus and their grades improve. They feel more welcome and included in the overall community.”

April Townsend, mechanical engineering sophomore, said, “Each sorority has a different philanthropic group that they sponsor and fund raise for, but that doesn’t limit volunteering.

We have to have a certain amount of volunteer hours individually every semester to be able to stay in. It is a great way to give back.”

Students also have the option to join a recreational sports teams and can play in the intramural seasons in both the spring and fall semesters.

Marler said, “I love basketball so I play the intramural games as much as I can every season. It keeps me in shape and I never have a problem playing with a group of my friends.”

As Bazner said, being involved on campus can mean different things to different students. Some choose to be involved simply by attending events across campus. Some get involved, with varying degrees of responsibility in campus groups.

“But being involved also means making connections and taking time to get involved with some of your faculty and staff members,” Bazner said, encouraging students to regularly check on their academic progress and to visit faculty/staff during office hours.

Some students choose to get involved on campus by working in any of dozens of departments around campus that employ students. The work-study program allows students to work on campus up to 20 hours per week, helping to pay for college expenses.

Work-study is offered throughout the different areas of campus for students to be able to work for the school and earn money to help pay for college

EDITOR: Dewey Cooper PHOTO EDITOR: Rachel Johnson REPORTERS: Payton Boner, Makayla Burnham, Thomas Goad,

Kristen Gregg, Robert Hillard, Daniel Laudermilk, Chris Marten, Cooper Miller, Yvette Ordonez, Hunter Porter, Emily Richburg, Sarah Shelton, Brianna Sheen, Dierrica Smith, Jacob Smith, Conner Wolf, Jacklyn York PHOTOGRAPHERS: Makayla Burnham, Dewey Cooper, Jacqueline Gober, Rachel Johnson, Francisco Martinez, Topher McGehee, Rawlecia Rogers, Kayla White ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

expenses.

“I have been very happy working for the university. It fits to my class schedule, I am able to work directly on campus, and it doesn’t cut into my schoolwork. I like being able to work with the university faculty as well, it makes me feel more connected,” said Nick King, accounting junior.

For some students working during college is optional, while others need to make money to pay bills and expenses. University jobs can help students maintain the correct hours dedicated to studying so employees can sustain a constant grade-point average.

“A college experience should be something that pushes you, something that is challenging. It should be eye-opening, spontaneous and adventurous,” said Chisholm. “Getting involved can help make that happen.”

Jaylon Williams, sociology sophomore, said, “I didn’t want to be here for four years and just go to class and go to my room. I wanted to get the most out of my college experience.”

Copyright ©2016. 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.

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PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

The crowd cheers at the NCAA II Second Regional game vs. Lubbock Christian, March 12 in D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

It’s more than just a color EMILY RICHBURG, 2015 STAFF MEMBER | ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY DANIEL LAUDERMILK

D

uring football games students wave flags and paint their bodies with school colors. The Alma Mater proudly touts the maroon and gold. In the fall of 2015, to ensure consistency as part of the university’s graphic, the maroon has shifted to more of a red color, returning to the official color adopted in 1987.

A look into the bookstore located in the student center shows the new color being used. From shirts to souvenir cups, the new maroon is proudly displayed.

“The new products are not really red,” said Jenny Denning, bookstore manager.

“It is just a different shade of maroon.”

Denning added that the reason for the change in color had to do with the school becoming licensed.

The University entered an agreement with Learfield Licensing Partners to become the official licensing agency for our campus. Licensing is granting permission to use intellectual property rights.

Administrators said they believe using Learfield guarantees: • Added protection to the university brand • Consistency of school logos and colors

• Additional opportunities for promotion • Additional revenue stream The benefits to licensing include protection of our brand, consistency of logos and colors, and revenue stream.

The additional revenue could come from a 10 percent royalties charge for any outside vendor using the official school logo and colors on merchandise.

Even though the licensing agreement has benefits, there have been some issues regarding using local vendors. In order to use local vendors, the vendors themselves are officially licensed.

Julie Gaynor, director of marketing and public information, said, “It is the first time in a long time we are becoming our true color.” Gaynor also explained that Midwestern’s maroon color, according the Pantone Matching System Color Chart, is 202C. The color can be called garnet. It is defined a deep-red color.

“We would look around and see all the different colors that were being used and saw it as a dilemma. We went back and forth for a long time trying to see which color would represent who we are,” Gaynor said.

While many universities use “maroon” as their official color, some call it by a different name.

Still others also use Pantone 202 as their official color but interpret it differently in the four-color process.

Gaynor said each company that they ordered products from had a different idea of what the color maroon was. They wanted to give the companies what our color is instead of producing different shades of maroon. She added that it is uniting all the products to the color that represents the school best.

Students display different viewpoints on the shift of maroon.

"It's pretty trivial and irrelevant to be honest," said Brandon Allen, junior mechanical engineering. "No one is going to notice the slight difference in change from more blue maroon to a more red maroon."

Allen also said they should have just left it the other color.

Other students, like Kenadi Campbell, computer science sophomore, said she believes the change to be more pivotal when it comes to representing the school.

Campbell said, “If they’re planning on making that weird ketchup, red color our new maroon, we’re going to look like a bunch of hotdogs when they add it to the gold.”

FLASHBACK TO 1987 The Colors Committee suggested that the University adopt the following ink colors as guidelines for all campus-wide print publications.

• Pantone 124C Gold and Pantone 202C Maroon for slick paper finishes; • Pantone 124U Gold along with Pantone 201U Maroon for flat (or dull) finishes.

The printer must show evidence that the above colors can be duplicated on any paper chosen. In instances in which fabrics are chosen, and it is impossible to exactly duplicate the above colors, efforts will be made to replicate as closely as possible, those colors (chosen above) by the Colors Committee.

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MAROON AND GOLD The teams of the 1920s wore maroon and white, but so did other college teams, leading to confusion on the field. During 1924-’25, the athletes agreed to change the colors to maroon and gold, a choice reconfirmed by the entire student body when the university moved to its present campus in 1937.

Traditions contribute to university life

From its beginnings in 1922 as a municipal junior college housed within a high school building, Midwestern State University has become a campus of 255 acres and 70 buildings offering a variety of academic programs in liberal and fine arts, mathematics, sciences, business and applied sciences. Whether alumni consider themselves Indians or Mustangs, the university, now with 5,870 students, has carried on a tradition of pride and community.

SARAH SHELTON, 2013 STAFF MEMBER | ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY YVETTE ORDONEZ WICHITA FALLS

named Maverick. The Indian served as the university’s mascot for 83 years before being retired.

The NCAA deemed any “hostile” Native American mascot or logo as abuse to the Native American imagery and names, which resulted in changes made to the NCAA-sanctioned events, no longer allowing American Indian logos.

“I saw some of the Native Americans that were interviewed about it didn’t care or show to have any problems with the mascot,” said Logan Canifax, art junior. “They took it as a compliment because they were being recognized as the ones who settled here first.

I wish we were still the Indians. We have enough mustangs in the area.”

The campus still honors Native Americans with street names and statues like the Sunwatcher that commemorates the university’s 75th anniversary and represents the South Plains Indians.

KATIE BROWN

Wichita Falls got its name from the first settlers of the area in the 1700s, the Choctaw Indians. The name “Wee-Chi-Tah” meant “waist deep,” which was then a description of the river the Indians built their tribe around.

“Back in middle school we learned about the Indian tribe that sent one of their women into the river to test its deepness and cross it,” said Melody Gregory, art junior.

The sculpture depicting the legend can be found on Wichita Street, off Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

SCHOOL NAME

CARIBFEST Caribfest brings the famous Caribbean, or more internationally known West Indian, culture to campus. Thousands of students and community members celebrate the independence of various countries located in the West Indies region.

The festival includes a twohour street parade, traditional Caribbean food, rhythms of the pan ensemble, and traditional dances.

The celebration ends with a cultural showcase and allows participants the opportunity to obtain traditional arts and crafts of the West Indian culture.

“Everyone says that it (the town) gets dead, but it’s really diverse. If you find the right group of friends you can make it fun.”

Created in 1922 as Wichita Falls Junior College, the second municipal junior college in Texas, MSU’s earliest home was in Wichita Falls High School. Later, a legislative act and a vote of the people of Wichita Falls set up a separate tax district to support the junior college.

SOPHOMORE, KINESIOLOGY In 1937 the college acquired a new, 40HOMECOMING RITUALS acre campus of its own on the south side Homecoming is a week-long event that provides activities for of town. The recently finished Hardin building rose above pastures students, alumni, family and friends. Every year there is a school and wheat fields. In that year the college was renamed Hardin Ju- parade that travels through campus. nior College in honor of Mr. and Mrs. John G. Hardin.

“There are tons of traditions during homecoming week. It In January 1950, the name changed to Midwestern University, brings different social groups together, and the rivalry is pretty cool the junior college division remaining Hardin Junior College. during competitions like building the best float. And you get to go Another change in the school’s status came Sept. 1, 1961, when all out with school spirit,” said Mark Broomfield, exercise physiolthe 56th Texas State Legislature made Midwestern University part ogy junior. of the Texas Colleges and Universities System. In 1975, the Texas The Cardboard Boat Race is one of the annual events where stuLegislature changed the name to Midwestern State University. dent organizations attempt to construct a cardboard boat that will

FROM INDIANS TO MUSTANGS

In 2006, MSU changed its mascot from an Indian to a mustang

Wichita Falls Junior College circa 1922

successfully make its way across Sikes Lake.

“You can only use duct tape and cardboard to make the boat, and really you just have to strategize with the people in the boat

Renamed Midwestern University in 1950; photo from 1966

Veesta, the befeathered symbol of MU spirit, was presented at a pep rally in 1966

Renamed Midwestern State, circa 1975

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PHOTO BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

The Hardin Administration Building with the Fantasy of Lights displayed in front on Nov. 30, 2015. to make it across without sinking,” said Taylor Courtney, radiology freshman and member of Sigma Kappa.

The homecoming bonfire is the official pep rally before the big homecoming game. Throughout homecoming week, students can trade in other university T-shirts in exchange for a bonfire T-shirt, and the T-shirts that get turned in will be added to the bonfire collection which will all be burned.

“The bonfire was pretty fun, and I liked seeing the Tarleton shirts on there,” said Katie Brown, kinesiology sophomore. “I thought it was pretty neat that the coaches of the current sports would all join and get to start the bonfire.”

A torchlight march is held before the bonfire and students can join in.

“I had a great time during homecoming,” Spencer said. “My favorite part was the march because I got to play the quads and everybody just joins in while we’re walking through campus.”

FANTASY OF LIGHTS

Starting in the late 1920’s, the Burns family of Wichita Falls began their first Christmas celebration together by setting up a small Christmas tree on their front porch with one single bulb. As the years passed and Mr. Burns became more successful in the oil industry, the couple was able to add to their tradition. Each year they added a new display.

In 1954, Mr. Burns died in a car accident, but Mrs. Burns continued the tradition in memory of her husband. From 1954 to 1970, during the Christmas season, Mrs. Burns turned her front lawn into an animated display with brightly-colored lights. At that point, the display had become so large and detailed that Mrs. Burns had to hire help to maintain it every year.

In 1971, Mrs. Burns passed away, and the display was discontinued. In her will she left the decorations to her

The Wee-Chi-Tah Sculpture by the Wichita River

son, or he could donate it to Archer City. However, the display remained in storage for the next three years until the death of the her son. Archer City offered the display to MSU as long as it was operated to the public free of charge.

“I’ve gone since I was able to walk,” Canifax said.

“The reason we always went is because when my grandma was a kid, she saw it start out in the Burns’ yard. She lived out in Valley View so if she could make it into town around Christmas, it was a big deal for her. Now she likes to take us and reminisce about when she saw it as a kid.”

Mahon purposefully did not mention to his investors as they signed off on his contract was that his blueprint was measured in inches rather than feet, resulting in a 480-inch (40 ft) skyscraper. It wasn’t until the construction was complete, and McMahon and the estimated $200,000 invested in the project were gone, that anybody realized what McMahon did. Featured in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not,” the building is still a visible landmark in downtown Wichita Falls on the corner of Seventh Street and LaSalle.

BRICK SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE Wichita Falls is home to Sheppard Air Force Base, named in honor of Senator Morris Sheppard, former chairman of the Senate Military Affairs Committee. The Base, which opened on Oct. 17, 1941, trained aircrew and aircraft mechanics during World War II. Today, SAFB is the largest and most diverse training base in air education and training command in the United States–the only Air Force base that is home to both technical and flying training. It has a daily population of 15,000 and annually graduates 62,000 Airmen.

“I lived on base for a couple of years, but I’ve been going my whole life, whether it was getting groceries, work, or I’ll still get my hair cut on base,” said Branson Spencer, music freshman.

WORLD’S SMALLEST SKYSCRAPER During the 1920’s oil industry boom, a conman and Amarillo contractor by the name of J.D. McMahon made his mark on the city by creating the world’s smallest skyscraper – and getting away with it. McMahon planned with investors to create a multi-story office building that would overlook Oklahoma. The proposed skyscraper was expected to be a 480-foot building, but what Mc-

World’s smallest skyscraper at 511 7th St. downtown

Burns’ Fantasy of Lights started1920’s

Over time, MSU also developed a tradition surrounding the look and feel of the buildings on campus — all with “MSU brick” covering the exterior of the buildings.

“That was true at one time,” Everett Kindig, history professor and author of The Better Part of a Century, a book on the history of Midwestern State University, said.

At one point, basically there was only one supplier of brick.

However, eventually that changed, making the original brick obsolete.

“There was a source for the original brick and then everybody basically quit making it,” Kyle Owen, associate vice president for facilities services, said.

But that didn’t stop the buildings from being covered in brick.

Debbie Barrow, director of board and government relations, said a company in Texas developed the MSU brick that was used in all campus buildings but over the years the original materials used to make the brick ran out.

“When we built the Dillard building, they came with some new bricks and we had to see which bricks matched the best,” she said. “The original MSU brick is no more. But the replacement has seemed to serve us well since Dillard was built.”

Sheppard Air Force base opened Oct 17, 1941

“Terrible Tuesday” –April 10, 1979 — tied for the 10th worst tornado in U.S. history by the Weather Channel

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PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Jeremy Buurman, Eastern New Mexico University quarterback, is sacked and push Emerson Evans, business management junior, and Darian Childers- Brown, kinesiology junior, during the second half of the ENMU vs. MSU game at AT&T Stadium, Sept. 19.

Athletic mentality: ‘We are going to win’ For the hundreds of athletes who play sports on campus, from varsity sports to recreational sports to club sports — as well as for the fans — competing is more than just a pastime. It is a way to take a break from studying and remain physically active.

And all of the players compete for one thing — to win.

“We have established a mentality, that we are going to win. That is carried over each year,” head football coach Bill Maskill said. “When one team has success, it bleeds over to the other teams.”

HUNTER PORTER, REPORTER FOOTBALL The football team finished its 2015 season 5-1 in conference and with a 10-2 overall record. Twenty-two players earned All-Lone Star Conference honors, and 3 made on the Don Hansen All-American team.

Solomon Brown, graduate assistant, said, “This year we were good. We had a lot of young guys playing.

Now that they have had a year to develop, we will be even better.” His warning to their opponents, “Get off the tracks ‘cause the freight train’s coming.”

The team then added another player to the list its NFL draftees. Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals wearing No. 1 Marqui Christian is the 28th pick in the 5th round of the 2016 NFL draft.

Coach Bill Maskill added 31 new players to the roster on National Signing Day. The Mustangs are set to kick-off their 2016 season in Sept. 3 on the road against Truman State in Kirksville, Missouri.

VOLLEYBALL Though the volleyball players hoped for a change

Though the records are low, junior outside hitter Aerielle Edwards said “We have talent. We just have not all been on the same page.”

She is excited for the potential she sees in her last two seasons.

Edwards said, “We will be better. We are finally all getting the mindset of champions. Everyday we are collectively becoming a great team.”

CROSS-COUNTRY/TRACK

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Meghan Bettis, undecided sophomore, passes the ball to the setter during the game held in D.L. Ligon Coliseum, Oct. 27. MSU lost to Eastern New Mexicos 1-3. under new head coach Natalie Rawson, this season’s outcome was similar to the last. The team finished ninth in the conference for the second straight year with 0-16 record in league play, and six wins with an overall record of 6-26.

From 2008-2001, the cross-country team swept the Lone Star Conference, winning four conference championships in a row. In 2011, the team won its first NCAA D-II South Central Regional Championship and it sent runners to the NCAA national meet in 2008, 2010, and 2011.

The team has succeeded in the outdoor track division as well. This season Bridget Rielly posted a NCAA Division II provisional qualifying time in the 1,500-meter run with a time of 4:33.95. She also made MSU history as the university’s first LSC Indoor champion. Rielly is enters the record books in the company

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PHOTOS BY RAWLECIA ROGERS, RACHEL JOHNSON AND FRANCISCO MARTINEZ I THE WICHITAN

Sean Patrik Brown takes the curve, at the 2015 Hotter n’ Hell race downtown Wichita Falls. | Chris Norrie, business junior, returns the ball after West Texas A&M University. | 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. MSU beat CMU 4-2.

Emma Ramirez. In the 2015 season Ramirez became the MSU’s first All-LSC outdoor track athlete after she took home the gold in the Outdoor Track and Field Championships with her 11:10. 33 time in the 3000-meter Steeplechase.

SOCCER The men’s soccer team finished the year with a NCCA postseason run, ending the season with a one goal loss to Colorado Mines in overtime.

The men’s soccer team spent three weeks at No. 1 in their 2008 campaign. They also carried season rankings of No. 10 in 2006, No. 3 in 2007, No. 5 in 2008, No. 19 in 2009, No. 2 in 2010 and No. 16 in 2011.

The team not only had great records, but also great chemistry.

Junior goalkeeper Noah Fazekas said “This team is like a family. We are a real tight knit group. We always have each other’s backs.”

The women’s team finished it’s season with a loss to West Texas A&M in the LSC quarterfinal round.

BASKETBALL The men’s and women’s basketball programs are rooted in the early days of MSU, with the men’s program’s earliest season dating back to 1946, and the women’s program dating back to an intramural team in the late 1960s.

This season the men’s team earned their ninth LSC championship and hosted the South Central Regional Championship. The team had also hosted the South Central Regional Championships previously in 1999, 2011, 2012. The team also made it to the elite eight in those three years.

This year’s team claimed the LSC title with a 10-4 conference record and finished with an overall record of 24-6. After conference play they were ranked first in the South Central Region and hosted the Regional Championships. They were ranked fifth in the nation by the D2 Media Poll. Despite their high ranking the Mustangs were stunned by the Lubbock Christian University Chaparrals in the first round of the regional

“Every year we have more and more students come out to play, and every year it gets more competitive and more fun” JOEY GREENWOOD DIR. OF THE WELLNESS CENTER AND REC. SPORTS

tournament.

After graduating seven seniors last season this year’s women’s team squeezed into the LSC tournament seeded eighth, the lowest seed. The team fell short in the quarterfinal round to the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs, finishing the season 4-12 in conference and a 5-22 overall record.

TENNIS

For the seventh time in program history, the men’s tennis team, ranked 11, went to the NCAA Championships, finishing the season 15-8. The men’s team has advanced to the NCAA Championship site six times in program history with trips in 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2013 and 2014 while moving on to the Elite Eight in 2006, 2013 and 2014.

The women’s attempt at a fourth-straight NCAA Sweet 16 appearance came up short as the 17th-ranked Mustangs fell to No. 15 Cameron for the third time this past season with a 5-2 defeat in the NCAA South Central Region #2 Championship. Midwestern State ended the season at 18-10 after making its 16th NCAA Tournament showing and fourth-straight postseason appearance.

GOLF

Two of the youngest programs on campus, men’s and women’s golf, were started in 2006 and 2009 respectively and both programs have had their fair share of successes under coach Jeff Ray. The 2012-2013 men’s

team became the first team in program history to win the LSC Conference Tournament.

In 2015, after finishing seven times over the past three years, Brenna Moore claimed wins in the two biggest tournaments of her career as she became the first national title in school history by winning the 2015 NCAA Division II Championship.

SOFTBALL The softball program reinstated in 2004, is heading into its 14th season under coach Brandy Tigert. The program has made nine NCAA postseason appearances and captured two LSC championships back-to-back.

But its most successful season came in 2011, when the team made it to the semifinal round of the NCAA D-II College World Series.

In 2015 Junior Kaitlyn Vinson carried the team’s regular season home runs with a total of 14 out-of-theparks. She added another 13 home runs this season and was named the LSC Player of the Year. Senior third baseman Vinson was named a top 25 finalist for the 2016 Schutt Sports/NFCA Division II National Player of the Year award They finished their regular season with a 14-18 conference record.

REC AND CLUB SPORTS The recreational sports program includes a variety of sports, from the popular flag football and basketball to dodgeball and sand volleyball. Some 2,500 students participate in multiple divisions: men’s women’s and co-ed. Students who are interested can compete with teams or as individuals in sports such as tennis.

“Every year we have more and more students come out to play, and every year it gets more competitive and more fun,” Joey Greenwood, director of the Wellness Center and recreational sports said.

Along with intramural sports MSU also offers club sports, including rugby, Ultimate, cycling and cheerleading.

8 | Summer 2016 | PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Topher McGehee, athletic training freshman, hangs out in Israel Penaflor’s, mechanical engineer freshman, dorm room in Pierce Residence Hall Aug. 18.

PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Alessandra Cerreta, biology freshman, organizes her stuff in her new room in McCullogh Trigg on Move-In Day, Aug. 18. “What I’m most excited for is getting to experience things that I never have before and hopefully having fun. I’m nervous for my classes, lectures, and my professors,” Cerreta said. | Angelica Renfro, dental hygiene freshman, hangs out in her new and decorated dorm room in Killingsworth, Aug. 20.

Choosing a home away from home

Students weigh convenience and freedom when deciding where to live BRIANNA SHEEN REPORTER

C

oming to a college campus for the first time, especially as a first-time student, can be daunting. Just the notion of all the opportunity and freedom is enough to make anyone’s head spin. But with freedom comes responsibility, and one of the first tough decisions incoming students have to make is where to live.

The seven on-campus housing range include four residence halls and three apartment complexes, providing an array of options for incoming and returning students.

“We strongly feel the research has shown that students who live on campus housing during their beginning term of their college experience do better academically and socially.”

DINING UPDATES

Students living in the residence halls have to buy a meal plan, and meal plans are available for students living in the apartments or off-campus.

The food court was renovated in 2015 to include a Chick-fil-A and a Burrito Bowl, in addition to the coffee shop in Moffett Library and the Einstein Bros Bagels in Dillard College of Business Administration. Students can use their meal plan and dining dollars at all of these retail locations.

RESIDENCE HALLS

Living on campus has its perks, and according to former director of housing and residence life Michael Mills, being close to the action can help students perform better in and out of the classroom.

“We strongly feel the research has shown that students who live on campus housing during their MICHAEL MILLS beginning term of their college experience do better FORMER DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND academically and socially,” Mills said.

DINING SERVICES Living on campus can allow students to get more involved, make more friends and utilize the library or labs more often. Living in campus housing means students pay one fee per semester that covers their rent, utilities, TV and internet.

In time with the opening of the newest residence hall this fall, students can no longer choose to reserve rooms at off-campus Mustang Village via university housing.

However, living on campus means following university housing policy, too. And in the residence halls, this includes having to check in all guests and following a curfew for how late guests can stay.

There are four residence halls on campus, Killingsworth Hall, Pierce Hall, McCullough Trigg Hall and Legacy Hall, the residence hall opening in the fall 2016.

All residence halls feature communal kitchens and laundry services, and all are located at the heart of campus. All residence halls have air conditioning, cable TV and wireless Internet. These services, along with utility bills, are included in the price of the room.

Killingsworth, a 301 bed six-story hall, is designated for girls only and features semi-private rooms outfitted with twin beds and mini fridges and two communal kitchens. Resident advisors, or RAs, are assigned to every floor to help new students adjust to college life and get them involved on campus. Although rooms don’t have attached bathrooms, the bathrooms in the hallways are private, meaning only one person uses them at once, instead of the large communal bathrooms common at other universities.

Pierce Hall, the 227 bed boys’ hall, has twin XL beds and a similar system of private bathrooms.

Both Pierce Hall and Killingsworth Hall have semi-private rooms in a zig-zag shape, allowing students partial privacy despite not having doors to separate their rooms.

McCullough-Trigg Hall is the 152 bed co-ed residence hall. Although it is open to both boys and girls, there is one gender per floor of the six-story building, with the fourth floor reserved for Honors program students. McCullough-Trigg offers more privacy because its floor plan has two bedrooms, each with a closet and a door, sharing a living room and vanity area. These rooms have mini fridges and living room furniture, too. Bathrooms are shared between two units, meaning four students will share one bathroom with a toilet and shower.

Cierra Loften, social work freshman and former McCullough-Trigg resident, said she liked the privacy of living in Trigg.

“I like that I have my own door and that I only have to share a bathroom with three other girls,”

For more information on housing, visit http://www.mwsu.edu/housing/

| Summer 2016 | 9

PHOTOS BY MAKAYLA BURNHAM | THE WICHITAN

Members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority dance on Mustangs Walk during Club Pierce, March 17, 2016. | Students wait in line to grab food from the El Norteno food truck during a $1 taco sale at Club Pierce, held on Mustangs Walk. Club Pierce is just one of many events held on Mustangs Walk, in front of Pierce Residence Hall, or on the greenspace in front of Killingsworth Residence Hall.

Loften said. “It’s like a miniature apartment to get me ready for the real thing.”

The new residence hall will differ from Killingsworth, as six-story 301 bed residence hall, and Pierce a three-story 227 bed residence hall.

Associate director of housing and dining services, Angie Reay, said the interior will have unique features.

“The first floor has no resident rooms. It is all common space,” Reay said.

“The north half of the building is going to have a recreational room area, pool and ping pong. There is going to be a cafe concept, which we’re still working on with Chartwells. It will be more like grab and go, freezer dinner, and continental breakfast.”

Reay said there will also be a multipurpose room in the new hall, because this spring campus will be closing down the Shawnee and Arrowhead for renovations for a second dining hall. Also, during the summer Mesquite Dining Hall will close for renovations and will be ready for the fall.

The rooms are T-shaped, unlike Killingsworth and Pierce that are Z-shaped, so there is a divider wall in the middle. There will be vinyl flooring instead of carpet. The same amenities will be provided: internet, cable, vanity sink area with storage, and a microfridge. Each student gets their own closet, which Reay said is actually pretty big.

In the middle of the hallway are the bathrooms, called a race track design. Pierce and Killingsworth ANGIE REAY have the bathrooms in the wall and these will be ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF stand alone in the middle of the hallway.

HOUSING AND DINING SERVICES “It is a massive hallway,” Reay said. “So we have what we call communities. There are 16 communities in this building. Every community has its own lounge. In the lounge is a seating area, television, and kitchen. There is a laundry facility on every floor.”

Reay said they’re working on putting in learning communities to provide nursing students, first generation college students, business and wellness students to live on corresponding floors so they can study and go to class together. There will still be a transfer floor, honors floor, and SOAR, our stem research program in Trigg. Every community will have a different color.

“The north half of the building is going to have a recreational room area, pool and ping pong. There is going to be a cafe concept, which we’re still working on with Chartwells.”

APARTMENT COMPLEXES

There are three apartment complexes on campus ­– Sundance Court, Sunwatcher Village and Bridwell Court. All the complexes have bills like TV, wireless internet and utilities included.

Bridwell Court apartments are for graduate students or students with families and unlike the other on-campus housing options, Bridwell uses 12-month contracts.

Sundance Court Apartments is the newest apartment complex on campus. The units are connected by interior hallways, giving the apartments a hotel feel. The complex is located on the edge of campus across the street from the wellness center. There are four-bedroom two-bathroom units and two-bedroom two-bathroom units available. All units feature a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and full size beds in the bedrooms.

Loften, who moved into Sundance this year, said, “I like the hotel feel of Sundance and the walk-in closets.”

Sunwatcher Village, a garden-style apartment complex, offers the most privacy of all the on-campus housing options. Sunwatcher is centrally located, across the street from the three residence halls in the middle of campus.

The bedrooms all have full size beds and the units come with full kitchens and a washer and dryer.

Jeanne Uwera, psychology freshman, lived in KillingANGIE REAY sworth but moved to Sunwatcher Village this year.

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF “I chose Sunwatcher because it’s close to all the places I HOUSING AND DINING SERVICES go around campus,” Uwera said.

Reay commented on utilizing the apartments for upperclassmen.

“We’re focusing on our apartments for upperclassmen. Since I’ve worked here there hasn’t been a sophomore transition area,” Reay said.

According to Reay, the Sunwatcher Village Apartments will be renovated and they will make it the administrative and dining services office. That way they can free up the space they are in now for academics. The mailboxes in the club houses will no longer be needed for all on campus mail will go to the new residence hall except packages.

Additional reporting on the new residence hall and apartment complex updates by Kristin Gregg.

“We’re focusing on our apartments for upperclassmen.

Since I’ve worked here there hasn’t been a sophomore transition area.”

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

$1,935

per semester in Killingsworth and Pierce halls semi-private rooms.

$2,875

per semester in Sundance court and Sunwatcher village for a 4 bedroom apartment

$2,725

per semester in Bridwell Court efficiency apartment. *more options available

10 | Summer 2016 |

Develop social shadow carefully CHRIS MARTEN 2015 REPORTER

O

nline personas have reshaped every aspect of modern life, including professional identities and job searches. Social media gives an employer a window into an applicant’s activities outside of a business setting, and is increasingly being used as a screening tool.

Blake Muse, mass communication junior, experienced this first hand when applying at an advertisement agency.

“During my interview we began having a conversation,” Muse said. “In the middle of us talking, the interviewer got on Facebook and went through about the first 10 posts of my timeline. I didn’t expect it at all.”

Muse said he luckily only posts positive things, such as pictures with his family and the scholarships he has earned.

“She did say that she was impressed with me, and I’m taking it as a learning experience,” Muse said. “If we’ve learned anything from the student government candidate situation, it’s that your posts can follow you. From an advertiser’s perspective, we are our own product.”

Lori Arnold, professional counselor at the Counseling Center, advises students to not assume the reaction of anyone looking at their online profile.

“A student or recent graduate seeking a job has to be careful,” Arnold said. “It’s common now for employers to look up a potential employee before even meeting them. I don’t know if that’s fair, or even the right thing to do, but that’s the situation we live in. Drinking, partying, drug use, profanity, and provocative content are all things I would think about before posting. It’s important to see your profile from a future employer’s perspective.”

While still practicing caution, Arnold said the history of a student’s online persona does not have to necessarily be as professional as a resume.

“It’s a very tricky subject to navigate,” Arnold said. “I’m all for expressing yourself, though I think you need to have a balance, like a censored version of yourself.

Eventually everyone comes to the point where they have to decide if the right to be yourself is more important than what is needed when seeking employment.”

Blocking an employer or anyone in a position of authority is rarely the smartest idea, and Arnold said friending them beforehand may be a good thing if you’re comfortable with the material they will be seeing.

“Friending a company or employer that is showing an interest in you can work to your advantage, as long as the content is appropriate,” Arnold said. “It should be noted though that you can’t control oth-

er people’s actions, and you can’t control them tagging you in their photos. The decision to add them should take all these factors into account.”

Abigail Scott, director of creative marketing at Homewell Senior Care and MSU graduate, said social media censorship wasn’t as much of a concern when she graduated in 2010, but was on her mind when she got her master’s degree in 2013.

“It never was really an issue that came up back in 2010,” Scott said. “As I was working towards my master’s though I began actively editing my social media.

In that time it had become an important thing to keep in mind.”

When looking at a potential employee, Scott said that she occasionally takes their online persona into account depending on what kind of content can be seen.

“A person’s profile is their digital identity, and it can give you a sense of who you’re dealing with,” Scott said. “Choosing a candidate based on race or religion would be a bad practice, but if someone is openly racist or offensive then that’s going to factor into the final decision. An example would be if a person says that they’re tired every day because they’re out drinking every night. Any employer is going to have a predisposition to avoid this kind of behavior.”

Scott said social media can be used as a tool in her field.

“If you were applying for a nonprofit organization and an interviewer sees pictures of you doing volunteer work, that’s going to help your case,” Scott said. “So many of the local news stations even link stories to their media accounts, and if you’re looking for a job in that field then showing an active social media life would be appealing to those groups.”

Joshua Stepney, music senior, said editing his posts has caused him to be less active on those sites.

“These days I update my accounts about twice every day,” Stepney said. “I have to carefully look over every status, because all it takes is that one night of fun, and whether through you or the people you’re friends with, something negative will get out. Before college I never really monitored my social media, until I got a job and money was involved.”

Chase Robertson, history senior, said he censors his posts for more reasons than just employment.

“I usually refrain from using profane language or anything like that, because I don’t want that to end up on the internet,” Robertson said. “I have my family added on most of my accounts so for me it’s an image thing. College and the upcoming job search have definitely made me even more cautious though.”

Students wait in line to buy their books.

PHOTO BY JACQUELINE GOBER | THE WICHITAN

Students weigh cost, convenience of books BRIANNA SHEEN REPORTER

T

he campus bookstore is often the first stop for students looking for books and course materials. Even before they visit the store's physical location in Clark Student Center, advertisements and emails direct students to buy books from the campus bookstore as soon as they register for classes online.

For these reasons students consider the bookstore, run by Follett, the most convenient, but often most costly, option.

Students can rent or buy from the bookstore website or shop in person. Shipping to the bookstore is free and students receive an email when their books are ready to be picked up. At the end of the semester, students just have to turn any rentals back in at the bookstore.

Renting through the campus bookstore also eliminates a lot of the risk involved with using other companies. If for some reason a student doesn't need the book or their professor changes the required book, the student could lose money. This isn’t the case at the campus store, according to Bookstore Manager Jenny Denning.

“If they bought that book from us, we’re going to take care of them immediately.

We’re going to get that different book in quickly and get them ready to go for class.

If we made a mistake, we’re going to give them a refund immediately. We’re going to take care of them right now,” Denning said.

However, for students like Tinashe Maisiri, business junior, buying books was more a matter of convenience than customer service.

“I go to the bookstore just because of convenience,” Maisiri said.

Yet despite these conveniences, many students still turn to cheaper alternatives online from websites like Amazon or Chegg. Chegg even makes the return process simple by giving their customers a prepaid shipping label to use when sending their books back at the end of the semester.

"I rent [textbooks] from Chegg. Sometimes from the bookstore, but only if it's cheaper," Camisha Johnson, international studies junior, said.

Like Johnson, many students' main concern when shopping for books is price,

causing bookstores and publishers to offer exclusive study resources, online tutoring and supplemental material to entice cashstrapped scholars into buying their products.

Still, some students turn to illegally downloading their books or photocopying a friend's book. Downloading a textbook without paying for it is just as illegal as stealing the book off the bookstore’s shelf, but a July 2014 study by the Book Industry Study Group said more than a quarter of surveyed students admitted to illegally downloading books, or knowing someone who has, up 8 percent from the previous year.

In a more offensive effort to compete in September 2014, Follett threatened to sue a start-up called Texts.com over that company's Google Chrome plug-in OccupyTheBookstore. The tool allows students to compare prices for textbooks on their campus bookstore's website to sites like Amazon, Chegg and SlugBooks without ever leaving their bookstore's site.

Follett previously had an advantage over these discounted sites because students were easily directed to the bookstore's site.

If they wanted to check prices at other vendors, they would have to search on their own. Now, with this plug-in, students can view a variety of options from the moment they see their list of required books.

Follett evolved again in early 2016 to compete with competitors by offering a price match promise. If students find a better price on a textbook rental from Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Chegg, the bookstore will match it.

However, this promise excludes Amazon warehouse deals and peer-to-peer marketplaces, where prices are typically lowest for gently-used textbook rentals and digital textbooks.

As the textbook industry continues to change according to the demands of the student, retail college booksellers like Follett will also have to rethink their niche.

“That’s why at the bookstore, we’re not just textbooks. We offer so many more services, so many more options,” Denning said. “You’ve got to change with what your customer wants and how they want to receive their merchandise.”

Start to finish ... inspiring Mustangs to live and learn.

Admissions

International Services

Bookstore Career Management Center

Multicultural Services Post Office

Clark Student Center Counseling Center Dean of Students Dining Services Disability Support Services

Recreational Sports Student Conduct Student Development Student Transition Programs Testing Services

Financial Aid Greek Life Housing and Residence Life

University Police Vinson Health Center Wellness Center

Important dates for new Mustangs Housing opens........................................................ August 20 Mustangs Roundup ...........................................August 21-26 First Monday of classes ......................................... August 29 Stampede Week ................................ August 29-September 3 Student Convocation ............................................. August 30 Panhellenic recruitment ................................. September 1-4 IFC recruitment ............................................... September 5-9

Engagement Week...................................... September 11-17 iLEAD conference.............................................September 20 Family Day.........................................................September 24 Homecoming .................................................... October 24-29 Thanksgiving break ..................................... November 23-27 Finals Frenzy........................................................December 8 Final examinations ...................................... December 10-15

12 | Summer 2016 | THE SECOND AMENDMENT | A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Campus Carry legislation to take effect Aug. 1 REPORTING BY BRIANNA SHEEN, CONNER WOLF, JACOB SMITH

A

fter passage in the 84th Texas Legislature, Senate Bill 11 — commonly known as Campus Carry — was signed in to law and becomes effective Aug. 1, 2016, allowing licensed holders to carry concealed handguns on public college campuses.

“The legislation was originally created in response to a number of campus shootings, in particular the one that really stood out to lawmakers was Virginia Tech,” said Laura Fidelie, associate professor of criminal justice and chair of the task force charged with drafting policy regarding the legislation.

The deadliest school shooting since the 1966 University of Texas Massacre took place at Virginia Tech. That day Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed more than 30 people. Since the shooting at Virginia Tech, 43 other shootings have occurred on university and community college campuses. Of those incidents, two occurred in Texas: one in Austin and the other in Houston.

“Had those violent incidents not taken place there I don’t think it was necessarily something that lawmakers had on their agen-

Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges| an association of 28 schools in the United States and Canada | coplac.org

das,” said Fidelie.

In an email, then University President Jesse Rogers said administration will use the time until the Aug. 1, 2016 implementation deadline to formulate a plan for the campus.

“Our paramount concern will be campus safety and we will fully consult with the staff, students, faculty, campus police, and other universities to develop provisions that comply with this new law,” Rogers wrote in the email.

University officials have not yet finalized or approved task force recommendations completed in the spring about how the legislation will be implemented on campus.

“It will provide a certain degree of safety for our students,” Caleb Nichols, management senior, said.

Nichols is also over the age of 21, has his Concealed Handgun License, supports the legislation and regularly carries a gun in a majority of the places he goes.

“I would absolutely campus carry,” Nichols said. “Obviously when you make weapons available to people it makes that place inherently more dangerous, but the building that I

have most of my classes in, there are no locks on the doors, it’s one straight hallway all the way down, there simply is not any real way to protect yourself unless you’re armed. In that manner I think it is very beneficial.”

Jeremy Duff, assistant professor of political science, said there will be an impact on the mentality of the students.

“The main concern is that in the beginning students and professors will come to class with the new notion that someone in their classroom might be armed,” Duff said. “Whether that fear is rational or irrational true threat it is going to affect the classroom and the student-teacher relationship.”

Nichols said the situation shouldn’t cause panic. If anything he believes that it should cause students to feel better protected.

“I know most of my friends have spent most of their time working with weapons and so they’re experienced with it. To them firearms aren’t a toy,” Nichols said.

Members of the Board of Regents are expected to approve task for recommendations over the summer.

S.B.ANo.A11

1

AN ACT

2

relating to the carrying of handguns on the campuses of and certain

3

other locations associated with institutions of higher education;

4

providing a criminal penalty.

5

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

6 7

SECTIONA1.AASubchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 411.2031 to read as follows:

8 9

Sec.A411.2031.AACARRYING OF HANDGUNS BY LICENSE HOLDERS ON CERTAIN CAMPUSES.

10

(a)AAFor purposes of this section:

(1)AA"Campus" means all land and buildings owned or

11

leased

12

independent institution of higher education.

by

13

an

institution

of

higher

education

14

independent

15

assigned by Section 61.003, Education Code.

16 17

or

private

or

(2)AA"Institution of higher education" and "private or institution

of

(3)AA"Premises"

higher

has

the

education"

meaning

have

the

assigned

meanings

by

Section

46.035, Penal Code.

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(b)AAA license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or

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about the license holder ’s person while the license holder is on the

20

campus

21

independent institution of higher education in this state.

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of

an

institution

of

higher

education

or

private

or

(c)AAExcept as provided by Subsection (d), (d-1), or (e), an

23

institution

24

institution of higher education in this state may not adopt any

of

higher

education

or

private

or

independent

1

Read the text of Senate Bill 11 online

“... [We have] a mission that is not often supported by politicians and legislatures because when they hear liberal arts they hear liberal.”

SUZANNE SHIPLEY UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

MSU: Texas’ only public liberal arts school JACKLYN YORK REPORTER

P

assionate ballet dancers aspire to enroll at Julliard. And want-to-be lawyers are attracted to the Harvard appeal.

For Midwestern State University, its identity is centered around being the only public liberal arts school in Texas and the only Texas school to be a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, a group MSU joined in 1987.

Now, COPLAC includes 29 colleges and universities in 27 states and one Canadian province.

Samuel Watson, dean of the college of humanities and social sciences, said “It’s a point of pride for those of us who wanted to pursue that path.”

Watson introduced the COPLAC membership to the previous university president, Jesse Rogers.

“I can say that I probably initiated the idea but it took a team of people led by Dr. Rodgers to get us into COPLAC and then to have our mission changed by the Texas Legislature by code.” Watson said.

COPLAC, according to its own mission advances the aims of its member institutions and drives awareness of the value of high-

quality, public liberal arts education in a student- centered, and residential environment.

Watson said “Ideally, they can read write critical think at high level and that gives them flexibility in an economy that’s as fluid as the one were in right now. If you can read, write, and think at high level you’re going to be marketable no matter what career path you choose.”

COPLAC universities are characterized by small to mid-size colleges or universities.

Emphasizing the somewhat small ratio of students to teachers on campus and an emphasis on programs such as undergraduate research.

Watson and Shipley both agree that the biggest struggle to become a COPLAC member was convincing legislation.

MSU and COPLAC President Suzanne Shipley said, “We have a more refined mission and the reason I think you want one per state it’s a mission that is not often supported by politicians and legislature because when they hear liberal arts they think it means liberal.

Liberal education is not liberal in a political sense. It’s freeing, but not making everyone a democrat or socialist. Broad-based education, so people think in a freer way without prejudice and limitation.

Watson said, “The legislature is always

worried about cost and there weren’t any overriding cost we just needed their endorsement. The fact that the mission change passed into law is a sign of the legislature’s support and the governor’s support because with COPLAC they take one per state and were sort of it. To really be recognized as a public liberal arts university nationally you need to be a member of COPLAC and so it’s the niche we’ve established within Texas higher education.”

Shipley said it costs $10,000 to be a member and members receive specific materials, like surveys and directories, as well as newsletters and fair finders.

Dirk Welch, director of Career Management Center said, “Well, I can start by a liberal arts institution like MSU...Students have exposure to and an opportunity to develop marketable skills that employers are looking for. Employers are desiring students that can think critically, independently, they can adapt and flexible to the changing environment,” Welch said National Association of Colleges and Employers is a great resource for surveys and projections to consider pay scale according to major. He added that jobs in the liberal arts realm show more promising

stability and with more opportunities to advance in long-term durations.

Stephanie Sullivan, assistant director of Career Management Center, said, “One of the key things that you learn at a liberal arts college is those soft skills that Dirk was mentioning. You know critical thinking, leadership and communication and those skills are transferable...really to across any discipline.”

Few students said they knew about the COPLAC accreditation of the school and none said selected Midwestern because of its liberal arts opportunities.

Shay Aodosari, respiratory care freshman, said, “I don’t have any feelings about being a student at a liberal arts college. I just applied and they accepted me.”

Kwaun Shaw, criminal justice sophomore, said, “I don’t know what COPLAC is but no I didn’t select MSU because of that. I actually wanted to come here first but wasn’t accepted.”

Kenny Hall, graphic design freshman, said, “Yeah, I think I remember something about that but it didn’t have anything to do with why I selected the school.”

Additional reporting by Robert Hillard

| Summer 2016 | 13

Undergrads engage in research

“We were tasked with figuring out the best way to format a newsletter for the AACS to improve and increase its mems part of the growing undergraduate research program, bership and to communicate effectively with its members,” students and faculty spend months researching new Stepniak said, of the 46-inch by 36-inch poster.

Whyte said, “Our project was an interdisciplinary applied ideas or learning new approaches for old ideas. Along the way, they compete for thousands of dollars in prize mon- project. We found the members preferred communication medium and made recommendations to the president on ey and present their projects at different forums worldwide.

The fifth annual Celebration of Scholarship held in 2016 how best to implement it.”

Julio Rivera, former president of the national Council on gave undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty an outlet to showcase their research and was a reflection of Undergraduate Research, spoke on the importance of the unthe research environment that MSU cultivates in its students. dergraduate research and how it benefits students.

“It’s students learning about subject matter. It’s students “Many of the presentations (at the April forum) were not leaning about themselves. It’s students just new pieces of information to the learning new skills,” Rivera said. “Unstudents, but to the disciplines,” Magaly dergraduate research is one of those Rincón-Zachary, director of undergraduthings that is even better for students, ate research, said. “That’s what research so you grow intellectually, and you is.” grow personally in terms of skills and The university funds the program personal development.” annually which exceed Pre-med freshman more than $200,000 per Brittni Coss, who atacademic year, includtended the event last ing research on the 3-D semester, said she had printing of human organs never seen the Atrium so and other body parts by packed. researchers such as Mi“It was really cool chael Olaya, a junior in to see my peers evalumechanical engineering. ating posters seriously “I have been working PHOTO BY TOPHER McGEHEE | THE WICHITAN versus taking it as a joke on my research all semesPHOTO BY TOPHER McGEHEE | THE WICHITAN JULIO RIVERA or only doing it for exter, printing around 20 to FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL tra credit. It made me 30 different organs in the COUNCIL ON UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH put more thought into process,” Olaya said. my evaluations and ask Olaya has been researching his presentation all semester from more questions to the presenters,” Coss said.

McCoy Engineering Hall, making plastic “The amount of professionalism in the room is prints of human organs for surgeons and oth- something every student should see. It showed er medical professionals to use for pre-surgical me the true value of research and that if I wanted to start my own project, this university planning.

“We plan to keep working on it after the fo- grants me easy access to that opportunity.”

To fund the research, students and faculty rum, taking the prints to a local OB/GYN for 3-D ultrasounds and reaching out to the local get funding from various sources.

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN “We were funded through the school and hospitals. It hasn’t cost anything for us to do Sara Stanley radiology freshman evaluates EURECA, with some outside funding coming this. McCoy hall is filled with 3-D printers and UGROW projects for extra credit. | into play. On top of that, the Texas State Comp- Kyle Walsh, radiology freshman, and Diana Pewe started purely out of curiosity,” Olaya said.

PHOTO BY TOPHER McGEHEE | THE WICHITAN As part of this spring’s forum, in the corner troller has taken its own interests in maybe rez, radiology freshman, read the posters at the Ethan Staley, Shelby Binford and Tanner Rankin, of the Clark Student Center atrium, five me- funding up to $100,000 to try and extend our Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity all juniors in radiology, discuss their project chanical engineering students stood by their research,” Tim Torres, chemistry sophomore, Forum for extra credit. “[I’m here because] it on methods to reduce patient anxiety when was extra credit for my anatomy class. [So far] I poster presentation: MSU Smart Parking System. said. getting an MRI. | Tim Torres, a chemistry and Torres and his research partner, Francis- really like the faith based rehab for addicts beAs students and faculty stopped to learn about biology sophomore, and Fransisco RamosArmas, biology junior, discuss their project with poster number 23, the well-dressed engineers co Ramos Armas, entered their independent cause my dads an alcoholic and going through University President Suzanne Shipley. eagerly explained their research, overpowering study with the help of Charles Watson, assis- a program right now so it kind of hits home,” Walsh said. the fact that they had only received two hours tant professor of biology.

The team obtained samples from Riverbend of sleep the night before as a result of putting final touches on Nature Center, using a variety of different approaches to find the project.

Junior Enaho Atamenwan came up with the idea to create more data on the Monarch butterfly, before its possible exa phone application that will help students find parking spots tinction in 20 years.

“The amount of data we had to go through was the most without them having to drive around for long periods of time, helping students get to class on time. It is available for iPhone difficult part of the study. Each sample we analyzed had and Android and works on devices like computers and iPads. around 100 to 150 peaks that we had to go through to see if they were coming out correctly. We ended up having around The app will go live as soon as more seniors are assembled.

Atamenwan said if everything works out, the system could 25 samples altogether, leaving us with more questions than answers,” Armas, biology junior, said. be up and running by fall.

The group used a span of a month recording data, spendPsychology and sociology junior Catherine Stepniak, and accounting and sociology senior Careisha Whyte won first ing upwards to 80 hours in the lab day after day.

“If we had all day and night to focus on our project then place for the undergraduate best poster presentation from not one, but two departments: Prothro Yeager College of Human- it might not have taken as much time, but with school and ities and Social Sciences and Fain College of Fine Arts for their everything else, we ended up being busier than anticipated. poster Developing a New Newsletter for Association for Applied We spent days and nights in Bolin,” Torres said. and Clinical Sociology.

YVETTE ORDONEZ REPORTER

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“Undergraduate research is one of those things that is even better for students, so you grow intellectually, and you grow personally in terms of skills and personal development

LEARN MORE ABOUT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH HTTP://WWW.MWSU.EDU/EURECA/

College graduates who speak a second language earn, on average, wages that are 2 percent higher

A lot of business gets done on the golf course and in other social settings … you can’t rely on an interqreter there.

(Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia)

Ĝöʈ lḁŋgùaḡεs? 

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only 25 - 30% 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

CNN fluen Money sa cy in ys: a f o la re the h nguage is ign ottes t job skill

(U.S. Census Bureau)

ADD A DOUBLE MAJOR IN SPANISH OR mInor In FrencH, German, or “SpanISH For tHe proFeSSIonS” Credit is available, through proficiency exams, for language ability that you may already have.

Foreign Languages, Midwestern State University Bea Wood 116 jeffrey.oxford@mwsu.edu

| Summer 2016 | 15

PHOTO BY PAUL IVERSON | DALLAS TIMES HERALD

PHOTO BY MARK PERLSTEIN | DALLAS TIMES HERALD

Roger Hinesh of Wichita Falls rode out the storm in his car. He said he “hit the floor and prayed a lot” when he saw it.

The tornado cut wide path of destruction through Wichita Falls homes and apartments.

WICHITA FALLS RESEMBLED A CITY RAVAGED BY WAR COOPER MILLER, 2014 STAFF MEMBER

On April 10, 1979, Wichita Falls experienced its most violent tornado in its history. Known as Terrible Tuesday, the supercell thunderstorm spawned multiple tornadoes that took the lives of 58 citizens, 42 of whom were in Wichita Falls, and forever changed the lives of others. The tornado was one of three from the same storm cell to strike Texas, and the fifth deadliest tornado in Texas history.

WHAT TO DO IN A TORNADO?

A TORNADO WATCH means weather conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. Go about normal activities but be alert to the weather.

A TORNADO WARNING means a tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar.

Take refuge immediately.

• Under no circumstances should students, faculty, or staff attempt to leave campus while a warning is in effect.

• Students should be directed to an interior hallway on the lowest floor of the building.

Persons should lie on the floor as close to the wall as possible. Avoid auditoriums, gymnasiums, or other freespan rooms.

• RESIDENCE HALLS: Residents should go to bathrooms or hallways on the first floor at front of building and close hallway doors. RAs will sound air horns if possible.

• Stay away from open areas of glass.

SOURCE: MSU Disaster Policy

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lmost 40 years ago, a massive F4 tornado tore through Wichita Falls, in an event that the Dallas Times Herald and Wichita Falls Times labeled Terrible Tuesday.

In a time where spring storms and weather alerts were common, a storm like this was not.

Within two days of the tornado touching down, the death toll had risen to 49 and an estimated 5,000 residents were homeless, according to a Wichita Falls Times article by Rocky Scott and Phil Ringman.

The destructive storm crippled the city, displacing an estimated 10 to 20 percent of the population and estimations up to $278 million in damage, becoming the fifth most deadly tornado in Texas history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

IMPACT ON MSU

Structurally, the campus was one of the safest places to be during the storm, according to former President Jesse Rogers, who at the time was academic vice president.

Rogers recalls windows of the Hardin building being found broken with blood splattered from people punching them to escape the storm.

Luckily, according to Rogers, only a small section of the university was hit.

“It looked like it was going over the south of the school,” Rogers said. “Everything east of the coliseum and the president’s home was completely destroyed. It looked like Hiroshima from Midwestern Parkway downward. All I could see was dust, two-by-fours and foundations of homes.”

The damage to the university’s property was minimal; however, the roof of the coliseum was ruined and the porch of the president’s house was ripped off.

The real destruction came when they saw how many students and faculty had lost their homes

due to the storm.

“We had so many faculty that completely lost their homes,” Rogers said.

Rogers said he met with the deans to figure out what the school was going to do about classes for the rest of the spring semester.

“We decided we were far enough along in that semester, that we were all going to get together and help those faculty who had lost everything, report their grades, and tell everybody we are done,” Rogers said.

The semester would have ended on May 17, but Rogers said there were so many problems as a result of the tornado that there was nothing to do other than carry on the best way they could and let every professor choose what to do with their class.

“I will never forget how professional this school was and how people put things in priority when a tragedy like that hit,” said Rogers.

“The way this faculty pulled together was a really proud moment for me.”

PLAYBACK OF THE TORNADO

Rogers said he recalls the Tuesday of the tornado being windy and stormy.

“I paid some attention to it,” Rogers said. “But it didn’t alarm me.”

He mentioned that thunderstorms and weather alerts weren’t as unusual of an occurrence in 1979 like they are today.

“In that period of time, it seemed like we lived under severe weather alerts,” Rogers said.

Rogers recalls interviewing Fred Davis, a professor in dental hygiene, that afternoon before the storm hit.

“We walked out of the office after the interview and I could hear some rumbling in the sky and the clouds were rolling,” said Rogers. “But we were almost accustomed to it.”

By this time it was almost quitting time and Rogers left to go home like any other day.

“I lived right down on Taft and on the way home I thought I heard a train,” said Rogers. “I pulled into the garage and stood out in the front yard and my daughter drove in and said, ‘Daddy you better get in the house. There’s a tornado coming.’”

Don Henschel, professor of theater who was also chair of the department at the time, also recalls the beginning of the storm.

“I heard the sirens and went up to look out the second floor windows,” said Henschel. “To the southwest was a huge black storm cell. I thought the storm was as close as the next block.”

Henschel, having never seen a tornado before, described it as a confused black mess of clouds that came to the ground near its center.

“It bore no resemblance whatsoever to the one I knew so well from the Wizard of Oz,” Henschel said.

Rogers too describes seeing one side of a black wall cloud while watching from his front yard.

“It became deafening,” Rogers said. “Cars were driving down Taft. I bet some were going 90 miles an hour, so I knew something was wrong.”

While watching from his front yard, Rogers said pieces of two-by-four and hailstones the size of grapefruits starting falling all around him.

“At that point I thought, you know, I better get out of here,” Rogers said.

Henschel said he and his wife took cover downstairs in their home where the storm passed, fortunately sparing them both and their house.

“When the storm passed, surprisingly, I couldn’t see any damage,” Henschel said. “I got in my truck and headed for the university. The storm had been so large that, while almost two miles away, it had seemed as though it were next door.”

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