Feb. 24, 2016

Feb. 24, 2016 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 80 No. 19

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Students walk through the Clark Student Center during lunch rush hour, stopping for food, at the booths set up, trying to rush to class, or hanging out with friends, Feb. 16. Photo by Rachel Johnson

Spring enrollment up

Compared to last year university head count increased by 3 percent EMILY CARROLL REPORTER

O

fficial reports confirmed Feb. 10 that enrollment increased by approximately 3 percent, the fourth consecutive semester of increases.

Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, estimated this 3 percent increase. Although numbers increased from 5,574 students in spring 2015 to 5,736 students in spring 2016 (2.91 percent), numbers showed a decrease from 6,043 students in fall Decrease in enrollment from fall 2015 2015 to 5,736 students in spring 2016.

“At a traditional campus such as ours,” Lamb said, “spring enrollment is always lower than fall enrollment, as the large influx of new students occurs for the fall semester.”

307

CHANGE OVER TIME

Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Betty Stewart explained that there were a

Stepping Down

number of years where the freshmen enrolling class was smaller. Those students still have to work through their four or five years at the university, so as the smaller classes progress toward graduation, they are backfilling by increasing the freshmen class at the beginning of the semester.

“For example, if we had a small class in 2012 and now they’re in their fourth year in 2016, they’ve worked through the system and every year they’ve been in the system, we’ve had a lower enrollment,” Stewart said. “But let’s say in 2012 we now have a larger class, they still have to work through the system. We’re having a combination of large and small [classes], so that means our net enrollment is no longer decreasing but increasing.”

hours per semester.

As students take more semester credit hours, that number is reported to the coordinating board and is used to determine university funding that comes from the state. The higher the semester credit hours, the higher the funding.

“Those dollars can be used for the needs of the university whether it’s faculty and staff salaries, instructional materials, or technology,” Stewart said. “It just depends on the needs of the university how those dollars are distributed. All of them are to be used to increase in enrollment from Spring 2015 to help us educate our stuSpring 2016 dents.”

SEMESTER CREDIT PRODUCTION

WHY ARE NUMBERS CHANGING

Along with enrollment numbers increasing, semester credit hour production has increased by 4.37 percent compared to last semester.

Stewart said if a student wants to graduate in four years, they need to take an average of 15

pg. 3

Two university vice presidents, including Howard Farrell (left), announced yesterday they were both resigning from their current position.

162

The majority of students that come to MSU are from the Dallas and Ft. Worth area. This year, students from Dallas-Fort Worth counted

see ENROLLMENT pg. 3

Guest Speaker

pg. 3

Robert Bryce, pictured left, delivered a speech about nuclear energy use at the 34th annual Streich Family Lecture Series, Feb. 18, in Dillard 101.

2 | Feb. 24, 2016 |

Women can define their own paths A

s a woman in chase all of our dreams. the 21st cenHence, the majority of these tury, I believed women decided to open their busiwe could easily choose ness because they love experiencing who and what we these moments on a daily basis; they wanted to be. How- followed their dreams and were hard ever, suddenly, the workers who never gave up. Interestwords gender and sex ing enough, several of these women Andrea started having a whole decided to open their own businesses Mendoza different meaning. because they realized that as women, They were not only words, but sets their opportunities within maleof expectations we were supposed to dominated companies were limited. fulfill.

Candy Chick Nichols, owner of I began wonderArrow Head Custom ing. Can we, as huFraming, mentioned man beings, define how she opened her own our paths, or are our business because she did paths defined by our not like people telling sex? Do we have to her what to do due to her live following gen“rebellious personality.” dered stereotypes, or Nichols also mentioned can we step out of the how innovation is the lines and create our key component to grow a own way? Attendbusiness; affordable pricing the meeting of es, personalized service, ANDREA MENDOZA the Women’s Chamand development of new ber of Commerce products are vital. of Texas in Austin was an inspiring Although she has not faced a lot experience. Walking into the room of stereotyping in her field, she did and mingling with several members, recall one time when she answered I realized I was surrounded by amaz- the phone, and the client asked to ing women who had embarked in the speak with her father—not believing journey of being businesswomen. she knew enough as to help him. FiRose Batson, a founding member nally, she remarked the importance of the Women’s Chamber of Com- of networking to create connections, merce of Texas, opened the meeting of “women helping women,” and of with some remarks on how one of the having the honesty to correct misbiggest motivations for human beings takes. Her story is an example of how is the feeling of “awe.” Every person far perseverance and passion can take seeks to experience such feeling; the you when all of you commit yourself job we perform, the career we pursue, to your goals. and our daily decisions and actions These women are an inspiring exreflect our desire to experience little ample of how we can define our own moments of “awe.” We wish for won- paths and that stepping outside the derful experiences that leave us awe- limits might give us awesome feelings struck with passion and satisfaction. of gratification.

Overall, her speech was an inspiration to step out of our comfort zones and Andrea Mendoza is an English junior.

“Can we, as human beings, define our paths, or are our paths defined by our sex?”

wichitan

the

Vo. 80 | No. 19

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

Working relationship Francisco Martinez

Rachel Johnson

Francisco Martinez, photographer at The Wichitan and criminal justice junior, and Rachel Johnson, photo editor at The Wichitan and mass communication sophomore, have been in a relationship for nearly a year. They also work together. On top of that, Rachel is Fran’s boss. They discuss how they balance their work relationship with their private relationship.

HOW DO YOU SEPARATE PROBLEMS IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP AND AT WORK?

FRAN: It’s not that hard because for me, work is work and my time for my girlfriend is completely separate. When you don’t separate the two, boundaries get crossed. When I’m in the office, I see her as my partner over anything else. I’m not a big fan of PDA in general, but especially at work.

RACHEL: It’s definitely a lot harder for me than it is for him. All my emotions flow together, but he balances me out and reminds me that we need to address relationship issues privately and not at work. Since I’m his boss, it’s also key that I make sure I don’t give him special treatment. We have to respect each other’s space and title.

WHAT ARE THE CONS OF WORKING TOGETHER?

FRAN: If we get into an argument at work, we can’t deal with it in that moment, so it sucks to wait to deal with issues at hand. During work I just hold my tongue so we stay professional. My girlfriend is also my boss, so sometimes I don’t take her seriously and treat her orders as jokes. She’s my girlfriend and she is so tiny and cute. I just don’t see her as an authority figure at times. She has a bigger workload than I do and I feel bad when I finish my work before her.

RACHEL: Having to compartmentalize! It’s hard for me to put a fight or conversation on pause because we have to go out and do a photo assignment. It’s also hard for me to tell him what to do as his boss because in the relationship I am the more timid and submissive person.

WHAT ARE THE PROS OF WORKING TOGETHER?

FRAN: I get to work with my girlfriend! Whenever we do assignments together we give each other good feedback. It shows we always want to make each other better. It makes our work environment more enjoyable and I never have a boring moment because my best friend is always right there.

MANAGING EDITOR: Kara McIntyre DESIGN EDITOR: Brianna Sheen PHOTO EDITOR: Rachel Johnson BUSINESS MANAGER: Dewey Cooper PHOTOGRAPHERS: Rutth Mercado, Francisco Martinez, Kayla White DESIGNER: Justin Marquart ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

RACHEL: I love working together because whenever I have a work problem, I don’t have to spend time explaining office politics because he’s there and knows the details already. Photography is a passion for both of us and we get to bond and get paid for something we love doing. We both have a different photography style so we learn from each other. Plus, after a hard day at work we can finish the evening with ice cream and Netflix.

HOW DO YOU MANAGE SEEING THEM ALL DAY?

FRAN: I could see how working with your girlfriend all day could lead to a lull in the relationship, but it’s not an issue for us. We work separately often as well, so we get to swap stories at the end of the day. Working with my girlfriend is more efficient because we can split our work. Because we can tell what the other person is thinking or feeling without saying anything, our communication is more streamlined.

RACHEL: I enjoy getting to spend time with him and it’s nice to end the day with the person I started it with. Working together doesn’t get boring because we do a lot of fun things together in our free time.

DO YOU THINK IT WOULD HURT THE RELATIONSHIP IF ONE OF YOU LEFT THE JOB?

FRAN: It would suck, but I’m not a mass communication major so the reason I work for the newspaper is because I really enjoy taking photos and seeing my work published. Besides, when we’re at work we aren’t wasting time flirting anyway.

RACHEL: No. We have different majors and eventually we will have different careers, but for now we enjoy working together and using each other’s skills to help us get better. If one of us had to leave, our new jobs would be another thing we get to learn about each other.

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.

| Feb. 24, 2016 | 3

UP C OM I NG E V E N T S

Wreath making class

Feb. 25 from 5:30-7 p.m. | Clark Student Center | $40 covers cost of all supplies | RSVP by calling Continuing Education at (940) 397-4307

Concert: Wind Ensemble Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. | Akin Auditorium

Discover MSU: Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities & Social Sciences

Feb. 26 | Prothro-Yeager | Free | High school and transfer students will learn about what MSU has to offer.

Stained glass workshop

PHOTO BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

Bob Clark, Vice President of Administration and Instituional Effectiveness, at the Board of Regents meeting on Feb. 12. Photo by Kayla White.

Vice presidents step down PATRICK GERMAN REPORTER

The Black Excellence Gala

Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. | Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU | $5 for students and $10 for alumni, faculty, staff, and community | Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the Student Development & Orientation office (CSC 194) at (940) 397-4500

Faculty recital: Ruth Morrow, piano Feb. 28 at 5 p.m. | Akin Auditorium

I

n an e-mail sent to the university community Feb. 23, university President Suzanne Shipley announced that two vice presidents were stepping down.

"During the past few months, I have worked closely with the President’s Cabinet to shape the university’s strategic initiatives, many of which require a commitment of five to seven years of effort by cabinet members," Shipley said. "As this planning has progressed, two vice presidents have suggested that their plans for retirement do not align well with the time line for achieving many of these goals, and they have subsequently communicated to me their plans to retire from their positions at the end of this academic year, August 31, 2016."

Howard Farrell, vice president of university advancement and public affairs, will retire after 29 years at MSU and Robert Clark, vice president of administration and institutional effectiveness, will return to teaching effective fall 2016.

"Beginning in March, we will launch a search for Dr. Farrell's replacement as vice president for advancement and public affairs. Significant experience in creating and implementing a successful, comprehensive fundraising campaign will be desired," Shipley said in the e-mail.

Farrell said, "After 29 years of accomplishing good things, and with Dr. Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, overseeing the development of the university, I felt that the university was in good hands."

Former university President Louis J. Rodriguez hired Farrell in 1972, serving as dean of men, assistant dean of students and, in 1989, as vice president for student and administrative services. The MSU Annual Fund was developed under his leadership in 2003 and more than $3.6 million has been contributed through the fund since that time. Various reports had him listed as a candidate for the university's presidency last year.

"My favorite thing working at MSU was the students. These are some of the finest students of the nation. I feel that they

Feb. 16

Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. | Sikes Lake Center | $100 fee covers all supplies | Participants must be at least 15 years old and any participant younger than 18 years old must be accompanied by an adult taking the class. Register at mwsu.edu/conted

UGROW: Discussion Session

Feb. 29 from noon to 1 p.m. and 5:30-7 p.m. | CSC Comanche | Students must attend one discussion session to be considered to participate in UGROW.

S GA E L E C T I ON

Candidate debates

Feb. 29 and March 7 at 7 p.m. | Bolin 127

Election campaigning PHOTO BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

Howard Farrell, vice president for advancement and public affairs.

can compete on national level, against any college. The faculty and staff were second to none," said Farrell.

Howard has had multiple achievement while his tenure here at MSU, but his favorite achievement was creating a fund raiser arm for the university for advancement and developments that didn't exist before he got here.

"Alumni have done a great deal of contributing money to this university. I honestly do not know where we would be with out them," Farrell said.

Farrell said he will miss the colleagues that he worked with during the last 29 years, a group he described as one of dedicated men and women that have done an incredible job with limited staff.

Shipley said Clark's position will be eliminated with duties transferred directly to her, to the vice president for academic affairs, or to the vice president for business affairs and finance.

Reporting for MSU Cycling has not yet been determined. Clark return to the department of sociology as a full-time professor effective with the fall 2016 semester, having started in the classroom almost 43 years ago.

C RIME LOG

Drugs: Possession of marijuana | 2:07 p.m. | Sunwatcher Village Apartments | Housing staff smelled the odor of marijuana coming from a dorm room. Upon investigation, marijuana and paraphernalia were found.

Feb 29 at 8 a.m. to March 18 at 5 p.m.

Election voting March 14 at 8 a.m. to March 18 at 5 p.m.

Elections results announced March 18 at 6 p.m. via MSU Portal

from ENROLLMENT pg. 1 year, students from Dallas-Fort Worth counted for 35 percent of enrollment. Another 28 percent came from Wichita County and 10 percent came from 56 international countries.

Lamb said some of the biggest competitors for students are from the University of North Texas, Texas Tech University, University of Texas at Arlington, Tarleton State University and Texas State University at San Marcos. Although there is competition among said universities, Lamb said he believes enrollment will continue to rise based on the increasing numbers over recent years.

“We’re just trying to get people to tour here because once they are here, we do a good job of converting them,” Lamb said. “We have a great campus and we have a great faculty and staff that when they talk to prospective students, they can fill that interest.”

4 | Feb. 24, 2016 |

Bryce: electricity ‘explains the world’ Streich lecture broadens to include international energy LANE RIGGS REPORTER

T

he 34th annual Streich Family Lecture Series on Feb. 18 featured the voice of Robert Bryce, professional journalist, on his first visit of the campus. The ensuing hour explored the topic of the energy state in America and the overwhelming role Texas plays in the production of natural gas.

The Streich lecture, for the first time, began at 3:30 p.m. However, students who missed this talk, could attend the talk Bryce gave in Room 101 in Dillard at 7 p.m., as part of a special lecture series that the Dillard College of Business started in the fall semester of 2015.

The expense for both lectures was

PHOTOS BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Students watch a live stream of Robert Bryce, guest speaker, during the 34th Annual Streich Family Lecture Series on free enterprise in Dillard 121, which was used as an overflow and late-comer room on Feb. 18. The main event was held in Dillard 101, which filled up. $2,500.

Bryce said he was pleased with the turnout.

“There was a good number here. It’s good speaking to students because I believe it’s my duty to share dimensions and hard facts,” Bryce said. “I want to offer a different perspective other than the one they have been indoctrinated with, that of renewable energy and climate change being the only things discussed in their education.”

Though these topics do play a major role in energy, Bryce said he believes that nuclear energy, despite the fact that it is more expensive, will prove to be more effective.

“Other countries have an increased use of coal because they don’t have the kind of infrastructure that we have,” Bryce said.

“They’re burning up more and more to get electricity, because the more electricity you consume, the richer you become.”

In Pakistan and India, countries who have relatively no electricity, leaders have plans

Robert Bryce, guest speaker, talks about energy during the 34th Annual Streich Family Lecture Series on free enterprise held in Dillard 101, Feb. 18.

to double coal use - adding 45 percent to the already high carbon dioxide emissions.

“Electricity matters,” Bryce said. “It explains the world.”

However, in Texas, the electric demand is practically flat, according to Bryce. His suggestion: more nuclear reactors. But in this situation, time is costly.

“One reactor is taking 43 years to build. In the 1980’s, workers were told to put their tools down. ‘We can run the world on renewable energy,’ that’s a fairy tale,” Bryce said. “We need more nuclear reactors but it’s not happening.”

Bryce said as Texas becomes the most important oil-and-gas producer in the United States, nuclear energy would squash the fear of running out of oil and collapsing in the market.

“Right now, we have too much oil. Our market is oversupplied,” Bryce said.

According to Bryce, since the surge of drilling in 1931 which resulted in the production of a

million barrels a day in comparison to limited supply beforehand, Texas has grown to be a leading producer in oil, with an increased production rate equal to that of four combined members of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, or OPEC. “There’s no break on supply.

Back when, they had to limit you,” he said.

Amid the serious discussion, Bryce was able to bring some cheerfulness to his speech.

“Now, if you have the three r’s - rigs, rednecks, and rights you’re set,” he said. “Our rigs are dramatically more efficient than in the past. And if you don’t have skilled workmen, then you’re nowhere. Also, we have mineral rights - something nobody else in the world has.”

At the close of his speech, students asked questions. Students asked about Bryce’s predictions for the oil prices in the future.

“Oil prices could go lower, and could fall at the same rate for years to come,” Bryce said. “We’re in a deflation-area environment and it could be really painful.”

Another highly talked about question was that of the benefits of solar energy.

“Solar energy is soaring. If people in third-world countries that are off-the-grid are given a few solar panels and a battery, it completely changes their life,” he said. “It’s a revelation, almost. But first, efficiency has to grow and cost has to come down.”

Ian Glasgow, accounting junior, was not required to come to the lecture, but he said he came because he had heard of the importance of Bryce.

“I was curious about gas prices and about when they may go up,” Glasgow said. “I didn’t know if it was long term or short term, so

see BRYCE pg. 5

| Feb. 24, 2016 | 5 TA L EN T SHOW

PHOTOS BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Jeff Stambaugh, director of Dillard Center for energy management, began the 34th Annual Streich Family Lecture Series on free enterprise by introducing Guest Speaker Robert Bryce. The event was held in Dillard 101, Feb. 18.

Robert Bryce, guest speaker, talks about energy during the 34th Annual Streich Family Lecture Series on free enterprise held in Dillard 101, Feb. 18. from BRYCE pg. 4 it was interesting to hear. It was a very good lecture.”

Jasmin Xu, undeclared freshmen, agreed.

“It was very informative. I liked how the lecture tried to connect to those less knowledgeable,” Xu said. “I respect his passion, but it’s not something that interests me. I would only attend again for extra credits.”

Stambaugh, who alongside James Owen, hosted the Streich lecture, said he felt like he knew Bryce from watching his videos.

“When I first met him, it was like talking to an old friend,” Stambaugh said. “He very artfully took information and tagged it so that people could understand it better.”

Owen, who was unable to attend the lecture because of a hospital visit, said he followed with

Bryce’s ideas.

“We as a country have failed to develop petroleum resources,” Owen said. “That’s part of why we picked Bryce to speak, we select speakers on expertise and the presentation is geared to raise interest in business students and to also bring in the community.”

Because the lecture started at 3:30 p.m., many students were unable to attend due to class or work.

However, of those 50 who did attend, Bryce said the ‘attention rate’ was at ‘about 80 percent’, and added he would be happy to come again.

“I was very pleased to have been invited, and able to talk about my fundamental disagreement with renewable energy being the only solution to energy crises,” Bryce said. “I would love to come again and speak, if they have me.”

Lowell Nash, mass communication junior, sings at the Black History Month Talent show in Comanche Suites.

Taylor Dinkins, business freshmen, recites her poem “I am Women” at the Black History Month Talent show in CSC Comanche Suite Feb. 18.

PHOTOS BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

Comedian Ronnie Jordan cries over his dropped honey bun at the Black History Month Talent show in Clark Student Center Comanche Suites. The event was hosted by the Black Student Union and the University Programming Board Feb. 18.

6 | Feb. 24, 2016 |

Free HIV testing offered in attempt to raise awareness RUTTH MERCADO REPORTER

I PHOTOS BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

The Emergency Student Government Association Meeting is brought to order to talk about the updated by-laws in Bolin 100, Feb. 23, 2016.

Emergency meeting to amend by-laws wraps up fast RACHEL JOHNSON PHOTO EDITOR

O

n Feb. 23 the Student Government Association held an emergency meeting to amend the new by-laws for this year’s elections, held in Bolin 100, with about 35 students in attendance.

Mark Brown, SGA vice-president, started off the meeting after roll call with a thank you to all who were in attendance then addressed some major points that were already amended in the new bylaws.

“First major point, in the membership part, where you see the ‘The Board of Elections shall be composed of a chairman and four members appointed…,’ we changed it from anywhere from six members to 10 members to four members, because we came to the conclusion that the Board could run efficiently with four members,” Brown said.

Brown also discussed other changes already made to the by-laws. For instance, to work with their Go Green committee, they are getting rid of ballots and moving everything online. The library is now off limits for campaigning, with the exclusion of a pre-approved poster for the board in the library.

Instead of having to get 25 names from students from your classification, you are just required to get 25 names from students in general. Brown addressed the officially defined voting proxy and illegal influence of voting.

“Voting by proxy meaning an individual gives his/her right of voting to another individual, is strictly prohibited,” Brown read off the new bylaws.

Finally, Brown addressed section six, Protests and Appeals, part two, which now states, “For an election to be thrown out, it must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the protesting individual that the candidate had violated the Election Code to an extent that it affected the outcome of

Mikayla Dunlap, chair of student elections board, addresses some question brought up by other Senators at the Emergency Student Government Association Meeting. the election in question. If proven, the responding candidate shall be removed from the race.”

After reading that Brown got the students to pass the by-laws, so they could go into amending it.

After much debate on specifically section six number two, they changed the wording to be read, “For an election to be thrown out, it must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt by the protesting individual that the candidate had violated the Election Code of the election in question. This will go to the Board of Elections and if proven, the responding candidate shall be removed from the race.”

The rest of the new by-laws remained the same and the meeting was adjourned after Matthew Park, associate vice president for student affairs and dean, gave a quick description as to what the Insurance Committee was about and that they are look-

n an effort to increase awareness about HIV/AIDS — and living a healthy lifestyle in general— the Wichita Falls Health Department will be in attendance at a health fair on March 3 in the Don Flatt gym from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

All screenings for height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, blood glucose, vision, hearing, HIV, STDs, lung cancer, among other disease prevention activities and disease related education are free. There will also be a blood drive, and participants can register as organ/tissue donors.

Robert Leitch, nursing sophomore, said, “Offering free HIV testing on campus is a wonderful idea, as well as informing students about what’s out there, because HIV testing alone gives people a crutch so they don’t have to be tested for everything. What about the rest? Get tested for everything.”

But this isn’t the first health fair on campus. People Respecting Identity Diversity for Everyone, a 50-member student organization, organized a free HIV testing booth on Feb. 10 with the help of the Wichita Falls Health Department.

“It’s interesting to see how people view AIDS and HIV nowadays because now it’s really different, a different time period,” theater freshman and PRIDE president, Christopher Cruz said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1.2 million people 13 years old or older live with an HIV infection and 12.8 percent are unaware of it.

Jessie Velasquez, Wichita Falls Health Department technician, said, “Get tested for Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Hepatitis C, whatever. Get tested for every single thing and if something does occur or come up, it’s okay.”

According to the CDC, about one in four new HIV infections are among people ages 13-24.

Kendal Brinlee, Wichita Falls resident, said, “It’s real. It’s something people don’t want to face because they don’t want to know the answer.”

PHOTO BY RUTTH MERCADO | THE WICHITAN

Jessie Velasquez, Wichita Falls Health Department technician holds up a button that reads “Let’s bring HIV out of the closet” outside of Shawnee Theater.

The CDC informs that today, someone diagnosed with HIV and treated before the disease is far advanced can live nearly as long as someone who does not have HIV. Velasquez said, “Just reminding all of you to please get tested and know your status. The reason you want to do that is because early detection is key. The sooner you catch something, the easier it is to handle or maintain boys and girls.”

World AIDS Day, held on Dec. 1 each year, is an opportunity for people to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died from HIV. World AIDS Day was the first ever Global Health Day, held for the first time in 1988. The health department offered HIV testing on Dec. 3 last semester in honor of the International Health Day. Velasquez said, “What’s most important here is your health. Again, we urge you to please get tested.

Love yourself enough to know your status.”

To get tested outside of the March 3 health fair, contact the Wichita Falls Health Department.

| Feb. 24, 2016 | 7

It starts with a conversation Counselor organizes activities for social justice week

EMILY CARROLL REPORTER

I

n the corner of the food court, three students sat around a table decorating yellow cards with words that best described who they were. In that moment, they were not thinking about a label or stereotype that others may put them under. This activity encouraged the students to forget about what society saw them as and described with art supplies what they believed represented them best.

Last week, campus counselor Ginger Boller organized different activities for social justice week, as part of her campus outreach project.

Students took part in activities where they were able to get to know someone they had not met before, as well as being able to express themselves for who they believed they were through crafts.

“One way we can value diversity in others is just getting to know them,” Boller said.

The first activity included two fliers that students could read to get a better under-

standing of the word social justice. Along with those fliers, participants received a paper with questions in which they would ask to a random partner to get to know them better.

For the second activity, students received a yellow half-sheet of paper and art supplies of their choice where they would decorate the card in a way that explained who they were beyond the labels of society.

“We need to be especially open-minded because when we label people, that’s all we define them by and when they do something contradictory to that label, we just shun that evidence away,” psychology and sociology junior Catherine Stepniak said.

Boller said this was the first time the concept of social justice was introduced to students on campus. She said she believes that the first step to this new event is to establish a conversation.

“We would have students come up and ask us what this was about,” Boller said. “Some of them really didn’t have an understanding of what the term social justice meant so we

wanted to do activities that introduced the concept.”

As Boller came up with activities for social justice week, she also went to other groups to ask if they would help her with this project.

University Programming Board members promoted social justice while also educating students about black history month by showing the movie Selma.

“I want students to know why they did what they did in Selma and the outcome it had upon today’s society,” UPB member and junior in financial accounting Joshua Cartwright said.

Cammie Dean, director of student development and orientation, explained how black history month and social justice were able to tie into each other. She said the events put on by UPB happened to fit the bill for both black history month and social justice week.

“The movie itself gives both a piece of black history, civil rights history and human rights history in combination with some inspiration for us in 2016 to think about the

kind of world we want to have and what it takes to stand up for it,” Dean said.

While Boller researched information about social justice, she was able to get a better understanding of the concept herself.

“The way that I understand it is eliminating barriers,” Boller said. “When you notice those barriers, that’s an area in the world where there’s social injustice, whether it’s because of your sexual orientation or your skin color, it’s those demographic things that we think about.”

Although this was the first time campus groups hosted social justice activities on campus, Boller said she hopes this project will grow.

“These activities were designed to start a conversation and to get students thinking,” Boller said. “Hopefully this is something that everybody wants to continue on campus.

Hopefully next year we’ll add another layer and another layer and this will become a big event.”

8 | Feb. 24, 2016 |

PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

A Multi-purpose area in the new football offices allows players to watch footage together from games. Coaches served Thanksgiving dinner to the team here over the break, and players can use the space to meet with coaches.

Football offices find a new home

HARLEY WARRICK REPORTER

R

enovations for D.L. Ligon Coliseum eight years ago left the football coaches without any offices. They were moved to the houses at 2508 and 2510 Hampstead.

“They were in prehistoric conditions over in these houses over on Hampstead,” said Athletic Director Charlie Carr.

“They were not very impressive. Almost disgraceful if you are having to recruit, much less show anybody,” said Associate Vice President of Facilities Services Kyle Owen.

Carr said they tried to put the offices in the now renovated D.L. Coliseum but had nowhere to put them.

“We tried everywhere in the world to cram them into the coliseum but they are our largest staffing group and it just didn’t work,” Carr said.

The back of the Christ Academy was transformed into offices for the football coaches.

Owen said that the original project budget

Assistant Coach Adam Austin talks about the new computer and TV screens put in the new football offices for the coaches and assistant coaches. | Assistant Coach Garry McGraw and Zach Coleman, graduate assistant, go through old football footage in the new graduate assistant office in the new football office department next to Sunwatcher Village Apartments, Feb.16. started at $650,000 but they lowered it to $350,000.

Valarie Maxwell, director of budget and management, said $250,000 were carry-forward budget balances. Money was saved from salary savings, travel funds, and maintenance

budgets that weren’t spent by some general departments in the prior fiscal year. Higher Education Assistance Funds and budgeted carry-forward funds, instead of coming from state athletic funds, provided the money for infrastructure only.

“We were spending quite a bit of money on a monthly basis to have them over there,” Carr says about houses substituting for offices. The school has saved money because they are now able to use on campus funds.

“It’s not finished. We ran out of money.”

Carr said. “There’s a room that we would like to finish equipping that would be a room that our coaches can use for film study for our kids.”

Owen said there are no plans for further expansion for the West Campus Annex.

Board of Regents approved the plans for the move and renovations in May 2014. In the Board of Regents plan it was expected to be completed in 2014. According to Trey Reed, assistant athletic director, the coaches moved in at the beginning of April 2015.

As of now there is no specific name for the offices. It is known as football administration and MSU Football Offices.

Carr said the offices are usable and that is the most important thing.

In the old houses where the football offices used to be, one was used as a graduate assistant head quarters and the other one had the offices of all of the coaches.