March 1, 2021 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

March 1, 2021 | thewichitan.com |Real Students. Real Stories. | Vol. 85 No. 12

NEWS: Pg 5

Sociology club raises money for refugee housing.

DAMAGE DAMAGE REPORT: Pg 6-7 MEDIA: Pg 9

The winter storm gave MSU more than just record inches of snow. Bursted pipes, broken elevators and a powerless police department were among the tally of damages.

'Nomadland' is the road trip of a lifetime.

COLLEGIATE HEALTH: Pg 10-11

SATIRE: Pg 8

FEATURE: Pg 12

The dark side of college life: substance abuse.

An apology to Texas from MSU students.

Ed Schultz's powerful road to recovery.

@WichitanOnline

@wichitanonline

@TheWichitan

What is yet to come?

After Texas and much of the southern US were hit with abnormally low temperatures and heavy snowfall, many were left asking, “What is yet to come?” While some skeptics have attempted to use the cold to dispute global warming, many experts have attributed the cold to being another side effect of climate change. Some experts are attributing the record cold weather to a polar vortex caused by warming of the North Pole. “[Warming of the North Pole] can disrupt the wind patterns and in turn affects the polar vortex and makes it weaker,” Chief Meterologist of NBC DFW Rick Mitchell said. “A weaker polar vortex means that colder air is not bottled up around the boarder of the polar vortex... and therefore it allows colder air to spill into the United States - maybe that is one of the contributing factors.” On Feb. 26, The Wichitan published a poll, asking the question, “We were wondering if last week’s snow storm changed your belief on climate change?” Of the 81 responses, 14.8% said they already doubted climate change, and 1.2% said the storm made them doubt climate change. Despite being a minority of the responses, the response indicates there is a portion in the MSU community that has bought into the “global warming can’t be real, because it’s so cold outside” mentality. Massive fires in California and Australia, Hurricane Harvey, recent drought, intense heat waves and now Winter Storm Uri have all been attributed to a dramatic change in climate. If humanity doesn’t come together to combat climate change, the worst is yet come.

Vol. 85 | No. 12 Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room D201 3410 Taft Blvd. | Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 397-4704 wichitan@msutexas.edu | thewichitan.com @wichitanonline

CAMPUS VOICES

FRANK & JOE’S: Diversity is NOT a Priority

PHOTO BY BAILEY GRAHAM| THE WICHITAN

Wichita Falls-based coffee shop, Frank and Joe’s Coffee House. Columns in Campus Voices are the opinions of only the authors and do not necesssarily reflect the views of The Wichitan as an organisation.

have been going to the Frank & Joe’s coffee house for years. My friends and I always meet up to grab a coffee and update each other on life, so this shop has always felt like Dallas a second home. Recently, Wabbington F&J introduced their brand ambassadors on their Instagram page and explained how all their ambassadors are women. I was happy to see young women represent the brand, but I couldn’t help but notice the lack of diversity in their choices. All of the ambassadors are very similar in skin tone and stature. There were no plussized girls or people of color/dark skin tone. I was surprised to see a business that tries to appeal to younger audiences miss providing diversity within their brand. I would like to state that it is not my intention to disrespect the current ambassadors in any way, rather, I am condemning Frank & Joe’s for not creating a diverse ambassador team. In this day and age, proper repre-

sentation is becoming an important part of society, from movies to influencers. When I first saw the brand ambassadors, it bothered me greatly and I debated whether or not to contact them about my concerns. I tried to ignore my thoughts and go on about my day, but I continuously had nagging thoughts. I told myself no harm would be done if I expressed my concerns, and nothing would be done if I didn’t say anything. So I sent them a direct message on Instagram. I tried to sound as professional as possible since I just wanted to state a concern without any issues. I expressed how I know both Wichita Falls and F&J would benefit from seeing different cultural backgrounds. Their response was unexpected and led me to press further into the issue. F&J stated that they searched for junior girls from six local high schools to represent their brand. Out of all the ambassadors, F&J stated three girls are Hispanic. They said their photographer’s team reached out to these schools asking for recommendations on local high school juniors who would be good for the position but

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Bridget Reilly MANAGING EDITOR: Amos Perkins NEW EDITOR: Stephanie Robledo DESIGN EDITOR: Omar Combie BUSINESS MANAGER: Alexis Ruckus ISSUE STAFF: Emily Beaman, Bailey Graham, Shunde Hooks, Abigail Jones, Brian Lang, Elizabeth Mahan, Khirstia Sheffield, Godwin Ukaa, Dallas Wabbington ADVISOR: Jonathon Quam

received zero responses. I expressed my confusion to them and said how odd it was that out of six schools there were no dark-skinned or plus-sized girls recruited as ambassadors. Instead of addressing this statement, F&J responded with, “Girls that are interested are very different from no girls.” This simply proves that their priority was just to recruit female ambassadors, not about whether the team is diverse enough. Having girls represent the brand is a great idea, especially since the brand is woman-owned, but having three Hispanic girls does not make a team diverse. This fact shows that diversity and inclusion was not a priority when F&J was choosing ambassadors. Some people may think I’m overreacting since this is just a local coffee shop, but if Frank & Joe’s goal is to have women represent their brand, why not include different types of women? Leaving out minority women in representation is not proper representation. Women of all backgrounds deserve to see representation by women like them, even from a local coffee house.

Copyright ©2021. First copy free. Additional copies $1.00 each. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. The Wichitan reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication. Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief (250 words or fewer) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a email address, telephone number and address.

CAMPUS VOICES

PREPARING FOR THE BIG DAY Columns in Campus Voices are the opinions of only the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Wichitan as an organisation.

he moment you have been looking forward to has finally arrived. After years of sitting in classrooms, late nights in the library, and essay after essay, you now have the opportunity to land Godwin Ukaa your dream job. Graduation from college felt like the most outstanding achievement of your life, but you know today could top it. Today could mark the beginning of the rest of your life, and you cannot stop smiling. “Nothing, I repeat, nothing can make me have a bad day,” you say to yourself as you take the final sip of your coffee before leaving the house for the job interview. Inevitably, the job interview is a vital part of every company’s hiring process. According to Dirk Welch, the Career Management Center director, “Your application materials can get you to the interview... the interview is where you seal the deal.” Welch has served as the CMC director for

18 years, providing strategic and innovative direction for a progressive and comprehensive career and testing services program. He works with students and alumni, providing resumes, letter writing, interviewing, job search assistance, and more. “Every step in the job search process is important. Those that are most diligent in each phase often have the most success.” Welch said. So how do you diligently prepare for what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity? Here are Welch’s five tips for acing your job interview. Research the company and know your role within. You must be ready to show you have knowledge of the organization. Employers frown upon applicants that appear to know very little about who they are and how your role impacts their results. Clarify your “selling points” and the reasons why you want the job. Prepare to go into every interview with three to five key selling points in mind, such

as what makes you the best candidate for the position and conveys your interest. If an interviewer doesn’t think you’re interested in the job and what makes you a great fit, your chances to land the job are significantly reduced. Anticipate the interviewer’s concerns and reservations. Think through any possible reasons the employer could have reservations about hiring you. A response that will overcome these reservations will pay dividends. Prepare for common interview questions. Hundreds of common interview questions can be found online. We provide several in our Campus to Career: Mustangs Survival Guide (https://msutexas.edu/career). Think about which questions you’re most likely to encounter and prepare your response to avoid fumbling for one during the actual interview. Line up your questions for the interviewer. Come to the interview with questions that demonstrate your knowledge of the company as well as your serious intent. Interviewers always ask if you have any questions, and no

matter what, you should have one or two ready. With these five tips, you will be prepared to face the job interview. After 30 minutes of driving, you hear the GPS “you have arrived,” Siri said. You park your car and take a good look at the front door as you imagine walking into work every day. You are nervous, but the great thing is that you are ready, and you plan on giving the interview all you’ve got. Now walk in there, be confident, and show them you are a Mustang! Good luck. The CMC can be reached by email at cmc@ msutexas.edu or by phone at 940-397-4473. At the CMC, students have the opportunity to engage in mock interviews via Zoom or Skype, inperson (social distanced), and over the phone. There is also a system available where students respond to interview questions with their responses captured by video. For more information, reach out to the CMC today and begin practicing for the big day.

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

The new location of the Career Management Center is in Hardin Building 211.

DARIA CLOSE Remembering Nursing Professor

BRIDGET REILLY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF er battle with breast cancer didn’t change Daria Close, assistant professor of nursing’s dedication to her students’ education and wellbeing. “She really had a passion for teaching,” Taylor Butler, senior nursing student, said. After 15 years of teaching for MSU Texas, Close passed away Monday, Feb. 23. Up until then, she was educating nursing students despite her diagnosis. “I think [Close wanting nursing students to succeed is] evident since she taught all the way up to the end. It would’ve been totally understandable for her to take a year or semester off while battling cancer, but she kept teaching because she loved her students,” Madison Haskett, nursing senior, said. In a Postmaster sent Feb. 25, President Suzanne Shipley listed just a few of her commitments to the MSU community. She served as a member of the Interdisciplinary Committee for the Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services, helping plan and participated in annual Mock Adult and NICU Mega code projects, an interdisciplinary venture involving many departments on campus,” Shipley said. “Daria was also active in numerous organizations including Nursing Faculwty and Student Affairs Committees, Texas Nurses

sionate about teaching us nursing,” Reese Yonder, nursing junior, said. “She was full of joy and compassion for others and you could tell that simply by how she spoke. I was shocked to hear about this news. I hope she is in a better place now, and I wish nothing but the best for the Close family.” Being a first and last semester nursing professor, students said Close looked forward to seeing the growth in her students before they graduate. “We were greatly blessed to know her.... She had a lot of empathy and always had our best interests at heart. She said she loved being a first-semester professor because later on, she sees us in [our] last semester.” Annie Kelley, nursing senior, said. More from students about professor close: “She was the best, she was a great professor because her passion for her students and nursing came through in everything she did... She would say ‘y’all look stressed, let me remind you why you’re in nursing school’ and tell us inspirational quotes,” Faith Keneke, nursing senior, said. “She was an amazing professor and person. I admired her greatly. She had a passion for teaching and truly cared for each and every student. I am grateful to have known her,” Abby Gore, nursing senior, said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN LOCKHART

Daria Close, nursing professor, holds up the arm of the mannequin as they run through the motions of the adult code on Nov. 8.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN LOCKHART

Professor Daria Close and students, 2014.

Association (TNA), Sigma Theta Tau - Xi Iota Chapter, Texas Association of College Teachers (TACT), and American Nurses Association (ANA).” For many nursing students, Close was the professor they looked up to for advice and comfort. “Professor Close was always the highlight of my week,” Ana Perez, nursing junior, said. “She would always ask how we were doing and let us rant to her. When I was at a low at the beginning of the semester, she let me talk about how I was struggling and gave me the right advice to gain some confidence back. She would always tell us jokes and always said how funny she was. Her laugh was contagious and I will miss that most about her. The class will never

be the same without her, but I will always remember her.” Not only passionate about teaching, but Close also paid attention to students’ mental health needs and made it a point to check in on them. “Sometimes she would even stop class and ask us how we were doing and what we were stressed about and try to help in any way she could,” Heskett said. Close was loved by students for being personable and caring wholly about her students even during her battle. “She was such a great person and she cared for her students deeply. Even though she was having medical issues in her personal life, there was not one class where she wasn’t pas-

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBIN LOCKHART

Professor Daria Close with Jenny Womack, one of the students she mentored, in 2011.

S OCIOLOGY CLUB RAISES MONEY FOR REF U G E E H OUSING I N GREECE

PHOTO COURTESY OF APRIL KAUFMAN

The sociology team raised funds in February by selling bundles of Valentine’s candy. AMOS PERKINS MANAGING EDITOR tarting in Fall 2020, the Sociology Club at MSU Texas began raising money for the Duniya Housing Center, a refugee housing center in Athens, Greece created by Finding Refuge, which was co-founded by MSU alum Lena Azzouz. "Lena Azzouz started Duniya House. The inspiration came from a visit she made to Greece when she saw mothers with children (refugees) sleeping on boxes. As a kind and compassionate person, she knew she needed to do something to alleviate the suffering, so she first began raising money through a Gofundme to help pay for apartments for them," Dr. Beverly Stiles, sociology chair, professor and sociology club advisor, said. The Duniya Housing Center gives asylum seekers and refugees in Greece a place to escape the poor living conditions most refugees are subjugated to. Those who apply must have a specific goal they are working towards to be accepted. The center can hold a max of 60 people, and it currently holds 37 people, including 19 children (of which, one was born in the facility) from five different countries. The center pro-

vides housing and also offers various kinds of assistance to the residents, including free, optional English lessons and an asylum support team. Fundraising for this project is important to Kaufman because it extends the Sociology Club’s charity internationally and provides a way to collaborate with an MSU alum. "I think [Azzouz being an alum] makes it even more special. Going forward, I think it's going to be something that Sociology Club will collaborate with for years to come," Kaufman said. "That's the thing about the sociology club that it's not just the MSU community or local community, this is a global community, and we're all living in this global community together." As a student at MSU, Azzouz was involved with the sociology club and advocated for human rights on campus. Among the events she attended was a 2017 rally on campus against former President Donald Trump's executive order banning immigration from a number of Muslim-majority countries. "Lena was an excellent student academically, very aware of what is happening in the world, not just in the U.S. She was a very compassionate and kind individual. She was always responsible and mature," Stiles said.

Azzouz thanked the sociology club people. These relationships you build in colfor their donation in a personal letter. lege, hopefully, you still have those outside "We are truly grateful to have you as an essential supporter of our mission and humani- these walls and you can have strength reachtarian work! Your faith in small grassroots ing back for those working together and movorganizations such as ours drives us to work ing forward to the real world," Kaufman said. diligently to achieve our mission to support Students who wish to donate or join vulnerable and neglected refugees. With your support we can reach new heights of serving the Sociology Club can contact Kaufman at and solidarity with refugees," Azzouz wrote. akaufman611@gmail.com or Stiles at Beverly. The Sociology Club sold handmade Christmas ornaments in the Clark Student Center stiles@msutexas.edu. If students wish to donate in the fall semester and raised $200, which directly to help the Duniya House they can do so has already been donated to Duniya House. at https://www.findingrefugegr.com/donate. They also sold bundles of chocolates and candies around Valentine's Day to raise more money, which earned about another $170. Stiles says along with other funds, the total amount raised so far comes out to approximately $400. "Last semester, we made ornaments. We created ornaments and we sold them in the Clark Student Center. We did really well," Kaufman said. "This semester our goal was $500, and so far we've raised almost $200. We had another fundraiser in February, so we'll have another one probably in April." The sociology team raised funds in February by selling bundles of Valentine's candy. (Courtesy of April Kaufman) Kaufman said she believes the Sociology Club helping the Duniya Hosue in Athens shows students how they can impact the real world. She also believes collaborating like this in university helps students maintain their relationships and connections once they graduate. "I think its important to show that there's a need for us to come together and to work together as a community not just locally but globally, and I think it's important to build those relationships with your fellow students, so that way PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN moving forward in future enLena Azzouz, psychology junior and co-founder of deavors, you have those resources to reflect back upon Finding Refuge, stands with her poster at the rally and to come together with against the immigration executive order, on Feb. 1, not the real world if you meet 2017.

DA M AG E

M S U Te x a s c a m p u s

ABIGAIL JONES REPORTER n abnormal cold front on the week of Feb. 14 brought burst pipes, electricity outages and below zero temperatures to the state of Texas andsurrounding areas. MSU Texas suffered damages in Sunwatcher Village, McCulloug-Trigg and the university’s Police Department.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANONYMOUS SOURCE

Apartment on the second level of building four of Sunwatcher Village, Feb. 15.

SUNWATCHER PIPE DAMAGES FLOODING IN MCCULLOUGHCAUSE RESIDENTS TO MOVE TRIGG A fire sprinkler pipe in Sunwatcher Village apartments burst from the cold and flooded apartments on Feb. 17, prompting students to move apartments in freezing weather. “I thought there was a fire at first. I was in my room when I heard the fire alarm and thought the stove was smoking… so I thought ‘Oh Ashleigh is making potatoes again.’ I came out to look and saw water and [Kassidy] putting on her rainboots,” Rebecca Crabtree, theatre education junior, said. While Kassidy Knight, accounting junior, was grateful there wasn’t an actual fire, Crabtree said the water that came up soaked the carpet and damaged everything on the floor. “I think we’re still in shock,” Ashleigh Miller, nursing junior, said. “There’s been a few little tiny damages: textbooks, shirts and everything,” They left their apartment during the water extraction process, came back and decided to ask for a new place to stay. “We just asked for a place to stay for a couple of nights until [the water] got cleaned up, but we ended up just asking the next day if we could just completely move out of there,” Miller said. Housing was prepared to offer students a place to move if they chose. “Going into this event, seeing the forecast, our housing administration was proactive in putting together a list of every available bed on campus in the event of water damage, in the event they had to move people around. So, they were ready for that,” Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, said. During this whole process, Miller, Crabtree and Knight fell out of the loop of communication. “We were pretty left in the dark for a majority of things. They didn’t really tell us anything, so it was a lot of confusion and no answer for a while,” Crabtree said. Even after moving, the girls had another, smaller flood in their new Sunwatcher apartment. They said they were still glad the fire alarm hadn’t signaled an actual fire. “I’d rather two floods than a fire,” Knight said.

There were three floods in McCulloughTrigg on Feb. 17. Each flood resulted from a burst pipe, one of which was in front of the elevators. “My staff members jumped into gear immediately and did what they could to minimize the damage. I got a Facetime call from one of my [Resident Assistants] showing me the initial damage on the 3rd floor,” Lauren Kam, hall director of Pierce and McCullough-Trigg, said. “I was shocked but so thankful that the flooding was occurring in a room that was unoccupied.” Although the flooding didn’t force any residents out of their rooms, it did disable the two elevators in the center of the building. “Having the elevators not working has been the biggest issue for our staff and residents in Trigg,” Kam said. Rebekah Gardener, theatre education junior, said the broken elevators have rearranged her schedule entirely. “I live on the fifth floor and it is difficult to go up and down the stairs every single day when I need food or go to class,” Gardener said. “It’s very inconvenient, especially when I’m asthmatic.” Kyle Owen, associate vice president of facilities services, said he recognizes and agrees that this puts a strain on moving around the building. “I’m well aware it’s inconvenient to people, and it’s an inconvenience for the people that report to me,” Owen said. “They’ve got to go up and down, carry equipment up and down. It’s in everybody’s best interest to fix things like that in a hurry.” While MSU staff hurries to get the elevators back in working order, residents of McCullough-Trigg are adjusting their schedules to account for taking the stairs. “Usually I’m able to stop and go to my room to eat lunch or take a break before I go to work, but now I have to bring everything with me in order to be prepared for the day,” Gardener said. “That way I don’t have to go up and down five flights of stairs.” Gardener said she wants to know how long she will have to work around the broken elevators. “I’m wondering when it will get fixed. It’s

6th floor of McCullough-Trigg, Feb. 15.

REPORT

caught in the cold been almost a week since it’s happened, and I know that they’re having a hard time getting everything done in a timely manner, but I just wonder when it will happen,” Gardener said. Owen estimates the elevators will be out for two or three weeks, and Kam appreciates the residents’ patience during this time. “Our Trigg residents are being really gracious about the situation as we know it has wildly inconvenienced them,” Kam said. “Some have voiced their concerns and frustrations, and we are trying to quickly address those concerns… such as the elevator getting fixed in Trigg.” According to Owen, the elevators will likely cost Residence Life and Housing around $20,000, a number that is out of the university’s control. “I know [the situation is] something that’s out of their control because you can’t really control the snow,” Gardener said. “You can’t control when the blizzard comes into town.”

POLICE DEPARTMENT DEALS WITH DAMAGED SERVERS

PHOTO COURTESY OF TWITTER USER @KEY_OKAY

Following a power outage on Feb. 15, a burst pipe flooded a UPD server room and damaged their equipment and property. “All of our focus was on doing what we could to make sure that operations stayed going [during the power outage] and we were doing all our critical functions,” UPD Chief of Police Patrick Coggins said. “Then [we] realized the water pipe busted and I saw the water spreading across the room, and I thought ‘What now?’” A back-up generator was used for essential operations, but the heat was not essential. When power was restored and the building’s heat came back on, the pipe warmed up and burst, flooding a server room. “I was here the morning that the power came back on… so I was present when the leak was discovered, and I immediately contacted the director of facilities,” Coggins said. “Facilities was very quick to jump on it. We spent a lot of time out front trying to locate meter boxes and shut the water off.” Not only was the property soaked, so were a few servers. “Our [Information Technology] professionals came out that day [as well as] our facilities professionals. They got the place cleaned

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHIEF OF POLICE PATRICK COGGINS

University Police Department loses power due to burst pipes, Feb. 15. up. They took the servers and dried them off,” Lamb said. The police were never unable to do their jobs; it was only a matter of working around the flooding and missing servers. “While we maintained operations throughout, 24/7 we maintained dispatch and police patrol operations, all of our other operations primarily were supporting those two functions to make sure we stay operational the whole time,” Coggins said. For a few hours during the power outage, the UPD’s ability to keep track of the fire alarms on campus was hindered. “You may or may not have noticed resident assistants doing increased building walks… whenever our ability to monitor fire alarms goes down, our resident assistants will do what are called fire-walks,” Lamb said. These walks only lasted a couple of hours that Monday morning. The only thing left for

the UPD to worry about is the cost, and Paul Chappell, chief information officer, estimates $3,000 to replace the damaged equipment. “While I would’ve preferred that the pipe didn’t rupture…we’re getting out pretty easily on this. It could’ve been a lot worse in terms of damage and monetary loss,” Coggins said. “It worked out, really, the best it could under the circumstances.”

OTHER COLD-WEATHER ISSUES

Legacy had heating issues on one side of the building The football locker rooms had some flooding from a rooftop air conditioning unit A hose leaked water by the West Campus Annex The city couldn’t pick up trash during the snow, so dumpsters overflowed, and the Grounds Dept. had to move the excess trash.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR AN APOLOGY TO THE STATE OF TEXAS FROM THE STUDENTS OF MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Through collective action, MSU students brought a snow week of epic proportions. SOMA SNIKREP SATIRE SPECIALIST ear Editor (and the state of Texas), It is with a heavy heart and guilty minds that we write this. As you may or may not have noticed, there was a pretty significant amount of snow two weeks ago that led to blackouts, harm and general misery. A lot of people have attributed the chaos to climate change, poor handling by the state government and Senator Ted Cruz’s desire to visit Cancun. However, the truth is the winter storm was caused by none other than us, the students of Midwestern State University.

As soon as the administration announced on Oct. 21 that they had taken away our spring break, we began plotting. If we didn’t get a break, we knew it was only a matter of time before a student goes crazy from overwork and burned down the CSC or something. Knowing that we decided to take matters into our own hands and make our own break from school. We faked a study abroad program in Russia and spent the following months shoveling snow into a giant bucket inside a Tesla self-driving jet generously supplied by proud MSU alum Dr. Phil. Once

we had finally cleared all the snow from Siberia, we flew over the southern US and started dropping snow. The ordeal was only supposed to last one day, but the autopilot on our jet malfunctioned and we were stranded up there for a week, helplessly dropping snow. Maybe next time, the administration will think twice before taking away spring break, but for now, we apologize for the harm we caused. That was not very #StangGang of us. Cold regards, The students of MSU Texas

COMIIC BY ABIGAIL JONES

COMIIC BY DALLAS WABBINGTON

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB.COM

Frances McDomand as Fern in Nomadland (2020).

or Fern (Frances McDormand) there’s never a question of “Are we there yet?” The main character of Chloe Zhao’s “Nomadland” (now streaming on Hulu) has no home and no clear destination Brian Lang in sight as she travels in a van along with thousands of other, mostly elderly, itinerant workers looking for work and a place to park. Fern has a cycle of odd jobs that keep her traveling across the country throughout the year in her converted white van, lovingly dubbed “Vanguard.” The film starts with Fern sorting orders at a huge Amazon warehouse where she reconnects with an old friend, played by the non-actor, real-life nomad Linda May. The workers live in RV parks and parking lots in makeshift vans or tiny trailers, reusing and trading resources and travel tips with each other as they plan for their next job.

Fern is never one to stay in one place for long, as she uses the process of travel to stay ahead of a wave of grief. Her life was much simpler not long ago, but after an economic depression wiped out her community, taking her job and home with it, and the death of her husband, life on the road was the only feasible way to make ends meet. Her drive to find work and refusal to settle down under anyone else’s roof is the thrumming momentum that keeps the film, and Fern’s van, rolling. Frances McDormand embodies the role of Fern in one of her most intimate roles yet. She reveals the character to the viewer in layers as you see her interact first with friends and family but also in the privacy of her van and her work. Fern is funny, never afraid to laugh at herself around her many friends, and her tenacity will make you want to get up off the couch, but there are still moments when she grieves her past life and what she’s lost. It’s in these moments that McDormand especially

shines, giving one of the most complex and honest performances of the year. Zhao couples the raw emotion of her star with thoughtful and breathtaking camera work. She eagerly paints the immense vistas and rolling prairies of Fern’s travels onscreen, often bathing them in golden hour sunlight, but she’s just as reflective in her shots of the rundown diners and empty laundromats that punctuate the endless road trip. The message of “Nomadland” is bittersweet as it overflows with kindness and the spirit of helping others while also reflecting the reality of the thousands of “houseless” elderly Americans who are forced to work brutal manual jobs and live on the road just to survive. It’s hard not to feel frustrated as the nomads sit around a campfire sharing the myriad reasons that dragged them from the comfort and safety of their own homes to life on the road. A heartbreaking moment when one of Fern’s friends confides in having to plan her suicide rather

than pay for expensive hospital treatments brings the dreamy world of life on the road crashing back into reality. But Zhao doesn’t force her hand by lecturing to the audience or constructing a tidy character arc for Fern. Instead, she elevates these hidden American stories into beautiful and deeply satisfying cinematic prose simply by keeping the camera running on McDormand and the host of real-life itinerant people that were recruited for the film. It just goes to show, your life isn’t measured by where you lay your head at night, but how you spend your days. I think Fern would agree.

Brian’s Film Rating: 5/5

The darker side of colleg

ELIZABETH MAHAN REPORTER When you think of t perience” you may think friends and gaining ind some students, these part experience” can equate t pressure and loneliness. I escape these stressors, stu to alcohol or drugs, whi vulnerable to developing life-threatening disease th dents at risk for academi ployment and isolation f There is no cure for addict ism, only recovery. “I started drinking w had my wisdom teeth take addicted to the pain pills. pened, it just spiraled out a drug addict, if you use stop on your own. I went to Every time I’d get out, I’d r you to change everything where you stay, the people the things you do, you h everything. I didn’t do th time I went to rehab,” Jim uate student in the couns said. Secoy, who has been in years and four months, sa tors led to his addiction, i and environmental influe

According to the Subs Services Administratio dents report symptom

ge life: substance abuse

Tourette Syndrome, and growing they have a problem and not being help yourself?’ In the case of my brother, up, he felt like he didn’t fit in. aware of the resources available. for instance, my mother basically had to the “college ex“I felt different. That first time The counseling center is a free rehave him committed because he would of making new I drank and smoked a cigarette, source that is open to all students, not take care of himself. We had to get dependence. For that mental pain, that emotional and the MSU psychology clinic is him detoxed off of [cocaine and alcohol] ts of the “college pain kind of went away, and I open to all students other than psyand some other things. Sometimes you to parties, peer didn’t think about it because it chology majors. have to commit them against their will,” In an attempt to numbed it. I was like ‘Wow, I like “There is absolutely a stigma in Knox said. udents may turn the way that it takes away that saying ‘I’m addicted to a substance.’ Secoy decided to pursue a master’s in ich leaves them pain. I think I’ll keep doing this.’ They may not know that there’s counseling because he loves helping othor awakening a Once I did that, it caught on, and I help available. They may not know ers through recovery. hat can put stucouldn’t stop,” Secoy said. that they have a problem. I think “Part of the [12-step program] teaches ic failure, unemAny mind-altering chemithat’s a bigger issue,” Knox said. “A us to give back. For me, to go to the counfrom the world. cal can weaken decision-making lot of people don’t realize that they tion and alcoholseling department and become a licensed skills, which can be particularly have a problem with alcohol. No dangerous for those with depresone wants to admit that they can’t professional counselor, I can work with when I was 19. I sion or anxiety, who may be havcontrol their use of anything.” people with addictions, and that’s a form en out, and I got ing suicidal ideations. Those who For both alcoholism and drug PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY of giving back to people who have the . Once that hapuse drugs or alcohol to ease their An estimated 110,000 students between the ages addiction, the recovery process is same problem as me, who I will be able t of control. For anxiety are adding to their issues, not a quick fix; the two processes to understand, and they’ll be able to unof 18-24 are arrested every year for an alcohol-reonce, you can’t according to Don Knox, adjunct are very similar. derstand me, too. I want to help people lated violation, such as public drunkenness or drivo rehab 15 times. professor of psychology. “What it really comes down to is with addiction and alcoholism problems,” ing under the influence according to the National relapse. They tell “[Addiction] is a crutch, and that the person has to want to do Secoy said. g about your life, it’s an easy one to use, and the Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. it. If there is no desire to do it, it By the time he graduated with his e you’re around, sadder thing is that it only exacerdoesn’t matter how many pills you rather than eat. They disassociate from bachelor’s degree, Secoy raised the 2.0 have to change bates the problem because alcohol is a desome of their friends. They’re very easy to give them. It doesn’t matter how much atGPA that he had after dropping out to a hat until the last pressant. If you’re already depressed, and tention you give them. The moment they anger,” Knox said. 2.7. Today, his GPA in graduate school is mmy Secoy, gradyou’re taking another depressant, it’s just An addict or alcoholic is not just some- walk out of that facility, they’re going 3.85, almost all A’s. He hopes sharing his seling program, pushing you further into that depressive to get drunk. They’re going to get high one who drinks and drugs every day. For funk,” Knox said. again,” Knox said. story will help recovering addicts see the some, it may mean binge drinking and usAt the beginning of his college journey, Secoy said if someone suspects that n recovery for six light at the end of the tunnel. ing drugs on the weekends or every once Secoy dropped out because he stopped aid multiple fac“If I can do it, then anyone who has an in a while. The key factor is the obsession one of their friends might be developing attending his classes, and his grades including social and compulsion to consume mind altering an addiction, they should show support, alcoholism or addiction problem can do it dropped. Knox said professors can often understanding and compassion. ence. Secoy has chemicals. too, and I want to show them that,” Secoy tell when their students “As a friend seeing someone go down “Let’s say someone drinks on weekends said. are struggling with an and then white knuckles all week until the that path, by all means, addiction, based on their next Friday, they’re miserable, and they help them identify it. Don’t academic performance. can’t function because they’re so worried judge them. Don’t tell them “They don’t take care about the alcohol, and they can’t wait to ‘You need to stop.’ Some of themselves in terms get it. They can’t wait to get their next things that were told to of showering and basic fix… Addiction is the same no matter how me, even by family memhygienic needs. You’ll bers, would be ‘You would often you use,” Secoy said. see athletic performance Secoy’s advice for people who may be stop if you loved me. Why drop, you’ll see academic struggling with addiction is don’t isolate are you doing this? Why performance drop and yourself, and don’t be afraid to tell some- are you throwing your life you’ll see attendance one. Secoy attends 12-step meetings fre- away? Why are you doing drop. They may have to quently, and he attended daily for his first this to me?’ It’s not about move out of their apartthat for an addict,” Secoy two years in recovery. ment or out of the dorm, “You don’t have to go to rehab. You said. which means that they Knox said when apcan seek out other help, whether it be rehave another problem ligious help or churches, or you can seek proaching a friend who poout [12-step programs], whatever help that tentially has an addiction, being compounded. Now you can get, reach out. That’s the biggest be prepared for an angry we have somebody who is PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY thing for me, I never wanted anybody to response of denial. homeless. They’re not eatstance Abuse Mental Health ing anymore, and they’re know,” Secoy said. PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY “Tell them ‘Look, I’m on 31% of U.S. college stu- not eating because they’d Knox said reasons for addicts not seek- here for you. What do you Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Adminisms of alcohol abuse. ing help include not being aware that need from me to help you tration hotline 1-800-662-HELP (4357). rather do the substance

“EdNEVER GIVE UP!” S chultz’s p owerful road t o rec over y KHIRSTIA SHEFFIELD FEATURE EDITOR e crossed the line and nearly lost everything. A spiraling disease left him alone as he looked homelessness in the eyes. He couldn’t pay rent, hold a job and was on foot desperately struggling to survive. “I was a wreck. I was really struggling because alcoholism is the only disease that will tell you you’re fine,” Ed Schultz, associate professor of special education, said. After spending the early years of his life developing a mental obsession with escapism, he realized he’d been blindly running away from his own sense of reality and sanity. Lost and on the verge of losing everything, he knew he needed saving as he drowned himself in alcohol. “There’s a door that people cross and once you go through that door it’s done,” Schultz said. “By the time people realize they have a problem they have already walked through the door, they’ve already crossed the line.” In 1989, he went to Red River Hospital and was diagnosed an alcoholic. A young, brittle man faced his extreme addiction head-on as

he spent the next three years of his life physically and mentally pulling himself in and out of sobriety. In 1993, something clicked and as he found new ways to cope, he entered the longest streak of his sobriety. 27 years later with no alcohol in sight, he stands strong representing a yearning desire to be a better person. “I learned a lot,” Schultz said. “Those moments of sobriety were still growth and it was just a part of the process.” What started as innocent parties with friends, led to binge drinking at bars, football games and partying days on end without any sleep. These habits closely followed him and intensified as he started his freshman year in college at MSU Texas. “The root cause of all people’s drinking is trying to escape some kind of pain, there is some pain somewhere,” Schultz said. “Sometimes it’s abuse from family members and sometimes it’s something inside that says no one cares about me and I’m nothing. Alcoholism is a lonely business, you may be surrounded by a lot of people, but still, feel totally alone.” More interested in the party life, Schultz experienced a two-time suspension because he couldn’t keep his grades up or make it to class. “I was more interested in the party life than academics and I couldn’t make school a priority,” Schultz said. After his second suspension, he didn’t return to school until he was able to strongly grasp onto his sobriety in the early ‘90s, but that journey to sobriety consisted of him living through some of the darkest days of his life. Tragedy struck. He lost his daughter and almost drank himself to death. “That was the final nail in the coffin as far as changing my life,” Schultz said. “The death of my daughter had an impact on how I planned to live the rest of my life and I knew drinking was not going to be a part of it anymore.” A rebirth occurred; a rebirth of attitude and a rebirth of direction. Schultz returned to college and never turned back. He stayed dedicated to his education for 11 years straight receiving his bachelor’s, master’s and Ph.D. PHOTO COURTESY OF ED SCHULTZ “I was able to focus on school Ed Schultz and one of his daughters, 2017. and really discover who I was,”

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Ed Schultz has celebrated 27 years of sobriety, Feb. 24. Schultz said. Schultz found his passion in being an educator. He started in jr. high as an educator who worked with kids with academic learning disabilities, but children with behavior disorders were his biggest teaching; kids with mental health issues, who hated school and used drugs to cope. “I think one of the benefits of getting help for a problem is that you develop empathy and you can help where no one else can because you understand. Every kid in this country has to go through school. It’s really satisfying, we’re programming all kids in this country,” Schultz said.

Schultz goes on to share his motivational road to recovery and with four daughters to continue to live for and students to mold, he hopes to show anything is possible. “Sometimes I’ll walk up to Hardin and I can’t believe I have a damn key to this university; they kicked me out of here and [now] I have a damn key,” Schultz said. Schultz didn’t get to where he is today without immense help from the 12-step program; his village. Those that helped shape him into the man he is today will not live on forever but the power they pass on will. “I want my legacy to be like the people who helped me,” Schultz said. “A legacy of power.”