April 22, 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 79 No. 27
Smart inspires audience with courage, honesty MORGAN HAIRE REPORTER
T PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN
Anthony Ledesma and Emmanuel Ledesma, Wichita Falls High School students, play on the basketball court April 21.
Added parking will erase court ETHAN METCALF EDITOR
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arking has long been a contentious issue for MSU students, and with construction of a new dorm beginning in May, more than 200 resident parking spots will be lost. “Beginning this summer, that lot will go offline and we will lose 220 spaces, and so we have to replace those somehow,” said Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management. The answer, according to Lamb, lies in expanding the lot south of Prothro-Yeager. “So we’re looking at losing 220 in Lot 14, but gaining 257 with the extension of Lot 6 South. So that’s what we’re looking at right now,” Lamb said. The budget for the project is capped at $500,000, and Kyle Owen, associate vice president of facilities, said construction should be finished before the fall semester. Owen said a recreational basketball court would be lost in the expansion. Owen said the expanded lot will take out the basketball court and end 10-12 yards from the football sideline. Owen said the priority is to get the 257 new spots open in time to accommodate parking needs.
he Artist-Lecture Series hosted Elizabeth Smart on April 21 at 7 p.m. in Akin Auditorium for the final event of the season. Nearly 400 gathered to hear Smart speak about her abduction story and child safety. “I was so inspired by her courage to come out and speak on such a sensitive subject in her life,” said Rylie Turner, education senior. Smart was abducted from her bedroom June 5, 2002, at the age of 14. She became known across the nation for being part of one of the most followed child abduction cases. The nation was collectively looking for Smart for nine months. “I was so grateful for the nation’s effort in searching for me,” Smart said. “I was thankful for everything from the prayers to donations. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to say thank you enough.” Smart was able to talk about her story candidly, making the audience feel more inspired than uncomfortable about her kidnapping. “It’s an inspiration to stay positive in life,” said Channing Taylor, nursing freshman. Smart is the founder of the Elizabeth Smart foundation, a program aimed to prevent crimes against children. She also helped promote the National Amber Alert System among other safety legislation to prevent crimes against children. “After my abduction I just wanted to go back to being the girl before I got kidnapped,” Smart said. “I decided when I was a little bit older, I wanted to do something better with my life.” The Elizabeth Smart foundation was founded in 2001. Recently the foundation merged with Operation Underground Railroad. “After the merger we have worked closely with victims who were caught up in human trafficking,” Smart said. “We really try to reunite the victims with their family or at least get them to a better place.” Smart said that she hopes the audience
PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN
ABOVE LEFT: Elizabeth Smart speaks about her story at the final Artist-Lecture Series event of the year in Akin Auditorium April 21. ABOVE RIGHT: Trevor Fuller, mass communication sophomore, asks Elizabeth Smart if she has life advice to give the audience. will walk away with a sense of hope. “We need to keep looking forward and not dwell on the past,” Channing said. Smart emphasized that we all have problems, that each one of us is going through different issues. “Those mountains are worth conquering,” Smart said. “Just go back to the ray of hope and always look up.” Matthew Park, associate vice president of student affairs, said he thought Elizabeth presented the most compelling story of the series, not just because of her horrific experience, but her positive rebound she had with helping to pass legislation. “I feel like she has changed so many lives,” said Madison Lucido, student at Archer City High School. “She’s such a great example of not giving up and to keep pushing through the tough times.” Ashley Lomeli, nursing junior helped choose Smart for the Artist-Lecture Series. “When I first saw her profile among others and it struck a chord in me,” Lomeli said. “To know she survived that long with the torture that was brought unto by
her captors just makes her seem like such a strong influence on other survivors of child abduction.” Lomeli said Smart stood out among the rest because I believe the students can understand her story and really listen to what she teaches them about safety. “I remember hearing about her story when I was younger,” said Natalie Rodriguez, accounting and finance senior. “I was so excited to see her now as a survivor and hear about her experiences first-hand.” Smart was found alive on March 5, 2003, in Sandy, Utah. “When we came across the Utah border after being in California for a couple of months, one by one, police cars began to surround us,” Smart said. “I remember one of the officers coming up to me and saying, ‘A little girl has been missing for a while now, is that you?’” Smart said she wasn’t sorry for what happened to her. She’s glad that she can be a role model for those who are unspoken. She also hopes her story will help spread the awareness of crimes against children.
2 | April 22, 2015 |
Depression not a dead end
STA F F E D I T O RIA L
Engage in Earth Day
Our view: Between an environmental philosophy course set to begin next spring and environmentally focused lectures and panel discussions, some professors are working to make conservation a priority in the community. Now it’s up to students to participate and finish the job.
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hile the Earth Day festivities this year are decidedly less prominent than the year before, the environment-centric academic programming on the horizon gives us hope that conservationism may find more of a home in Wichita Falls. The university is in a unique position to be at the forefront of the shift toward a greener Texoma, and with courses like environmental philosophy being added to the catalogue next spring, that change seems all the more inevitable. Lucy Schultz, assistant philosophy professor who will teach the new course, hit the nail on the head when she said, “We all need clean air and clear water to drink, and this is something that should unite us.” This is something that should unite us as a campus community, and beyond that, as a citywide community, and it starts with the students. Students should urge the housing department to make recycling part of everyday life for MSU residents, with recycling bins on every floor. We have already implemented low-flow shower heads and faucets in the residence halls to cut down on water usage, but that mission of conservation should extend beyond the shower curtain and into our everyday lives. With two panels on environmentalism planned next week and an actual course being added next spring, it really is up to students to engage with these efforts and show that Midwestern State University—and the city at large—isn’t part of the environmental problem, but rather the solution.
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epression a f f e c t s so many people, yet it is treated as a trivial matter by some, or, even worse, as a sign of weakness. The feeling of depression Wadzanai Dzvurami is horrible, and it can take over our lives. It feels like pain with every breath, a pain that demands to be felt. The pain goes inside and eats up everything until there is nothing left. No emotions, no heart, no thinking; just a skin walking around all day hurting. Depression is completely debilitating. We all are a little bit broken in different ways and, like an iceberg, the tip is the only thing people notice while the larger underwater part is how we really feel. Before I reach out to anyone facing depression, I know the advice I’m about to give is cliché, but it’s good advice: We are still capable of choosing happiness. Although positivity seems impossible at the height of depression, it is attainable. It is hard, but refuse to
focus on it. We all have the power to choose happiness because choices are the root of our results. The key is to find something healthy that makes us happy and then to simply keep doing whatever that is, be it working out, reading books, writing or listening to music. Communicating is one of the healthiest ways out of depression. Talk to a friend, sibling or counselor, or even start keeping a journal. Being able to express how you feel is the first step to getting better, even if you express it in a notebook that no one ever sees. In all honesty, there’s always going to be something trying to put us down, but we have to remain strong. Sometimes we continue to linger and hold onto the pain because we think it’s better than the fear of losing our newfound happiness. Let’s destroy what destroys us. It’s time to destroy depression. We owe it to ourselves to start fresh and pursue happiness. Wadzanai Dzvurumi is a marketing sophomore.
Colorism: ‘White’ does not automatically equal ‘right’
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efore writing this column, I wanted a formal definition of the word “colorism” and went to the dictionary to check for one but didn’t find any. According to race experts, the term colorism refers to the practice of Adaobi Ezeodum discrimination within a race based on skin color. I decided to watch the documentary “Dark Girls”, about colorism among African-Americans. “Dark Girls” shows that colorism also occurs in other parts of the world as well. I didn’t grew up in Nigeria and in retrospect, colorism happened too often around me.
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I remember being a young girl and always wishing I had retained my light-skinned hue I had as a baby because I thought lightskinned girls were prettier. In school, the girls who were light-skinned or mixed got all the attention because they had “better” hair and all we had was nappy, black hair. Although history shows that both genders have been subject to colorism, girls are more subject to it. I have seen colorism happen in the United States, particularly in educational institutions. Various black men have been seen to continuously date white women or light-skinned black girls. According to some of the men interviewed in “Dark Girls,” who are dark-skinned themselves, dark-skinned girls look “funny” beside them and would
wichitan Vo. 79 | No. 27
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rather date a light-skinned girl with nice skin, nice eyes and pretty hair. My issue with interracial dating rests on the pedestal that black men automatically think they are dating “up” or “better” when they are with lighter skinned women. The constant battle on social media between “Team Lightskin” and “Team Darkskin” is anything but sensible or reasonable. Colorism has roots in racism and slavery in the United States. The beauty ideal in this country that white automatically equates to beautiful extends to people within a particular race. Marketers sell this unreasonable beauty standard and more and more dark-skinned women are buying into this charade. Colorism not only occurs in African and African-
EDITOR: Ethan Metcalf PHOTO EDITOR: Rachel Johnson PHOTOGRAPHER: Francisco Martinez BUSINESS MANAGER: Courtney Gilder DESIGNER: Brianna Sheen ADVISER: Bradley Wilson
American people but also to Hispanic, Asian, and Indian people, reiterating the message that colorism is a worldwide phenomenon. Interestingly enough, according to the “Dark Girls” documentary, Ethiopia was the only African country never colonized and because of that, the idea of “white ideal” does not exist and dark-skinned and light-skinned people don’t make anything much of their skin hue. Colorism was predominant a hundred years ago and is still is today. I hope darker skinned women around the world begin to realize that white is not automatically right. Adaobi Ezeodum is a management information systems junior.
Copyright © 2015. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. The Wichitan reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication. Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief (250 words or fewer) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address. The editor retains the right to edit letters.
Bill could ban phones in cars KRISTINA ABEYTA REPORTER
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very day the Hardin Tower bells ring as students hurry to their next class or try to beat the lunch rush in the cafeteria, and while the campus is increasingly becoming a resident campus, there are still a large number of commuter students which means one important thing—there are a lot of cars. And while smartphones have made it easier to keep up with the hustle and bustle of college life, they also can lead to problems. It’s common to see a driver talking on the phone or texting while behind the wheel, but university police Sgt. Albert Jimenes said there is little authority to ticket people who text while driving. “Right now, there is no way to regulate cell phone usage while driving here on campus. It is only a city ordinance to be ‘hands free’ in elementary and middle school zones,” Jimenes said. “Even though we are considered a school zone, we don’t fall under that law or have the jurisdiction to
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN
enforce it.” But a new bill in the Texas legislature could change that. If it passes, Texas House Bill 80 would make texting behind the wheel of a car a misdemeanor offense, even when stopped at a red light. The first offense is a $25-$99 fine, with each subsequent infraction resulting in a fine between $100-$200. Jimenes said the university police will enforce the bill if it becomes law, which would go into effect Sept. 1, e killed r a 2015. le p eo n nine p 3 people are a “It’s for the best and for their proth e r Mo ,15 tection. With the new construction e than 1 in the U.S. in r o m d an ay opening up the campus, we have every d a distracted injured ing so many students walking around. lv o v in s Taking your eyes off the road for crashe all 18% of one second can be dangerous,” d e driver. s u a ing c iv r Jimenes said. d d te Distrac hes in 2012 So far, there has not been any s a the e v fatal cr major damage reported involva h 0 2 der age f fatal crashes n ing anyone texting and driving u s r e no Driv on campus, but Jimenes said it is roportio riving. p t s e h hig dd not a matter of if it will happen, istracte s your due to d but when. crease in g in d driv n “We do not encourage it, a t. g n n e ti erc Tex by 23 p and we tell students to stay off d k e is s r u h a s c cra the phone while driving durdriving tracted xas. is d , 4 ing student rallies,” Jimenes 1 e T in In 20 s she a r c said. 5 2 100,8 V According to the Texas FCC.GO V, O .G : CDC VEGA SOURCE H Department of TransportaC A Z SY OF COURTE tion, one-fifth of accidents PHOTO are due to distracted driving. Cities like Denton,
H TRUT Y R A C THE S
Grand Prairie, Austin, and San Antonio have ordinances prohibiting texting while driving. Dallas and Houston do not have such protocols. Robbie Dunkelberg, social work junior, said she visited Austin over spring break and saw what it’s like driving in a hands-free city. She noticed that no one was talking or texting on the roads. “It was kind of nice because usually you get those idiots that will be on their phone, and pretty much almost run into you,” Dunkelberg said. The ban on texting and driving in Austin went into effect the first day of 2015 and includes cyclists as well. “I didn’t know it was officially ‘hands-free’ until my friend’s mom told us that we couldn’t be on the phone while driving or you can get a ticket for it,” Dunkelberg said. “It’s for the better, even though I’m guilty myself. But I definitely think it’s a good idea.” According to House Bill 80, it will be considered an offense for any driver to use “portable wireless communication to send text-based communication.” This includes SMS text, e-mail and instant messages. If connected to Bluetooth, drivers will still be allowed to use navigation systems, and receive phone calls as long as they are hands-free. “If I happen to be on the phone while driving, it’s for something
quick,” said Ace Elliot, management freshman. “I’m letting them know that I’m on my way, or calling to say I’m going to be a few minutes late to work, or maybe getting directions. Sometimes you need to tell someone something important. People have children, high demanding jobs, and emergencies happen. My car doesn’t have Bluetooth, that’s not an option for me right now.” This is the third bill filed in the Texas House of Representatives related to distracted driving by Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland. Gov. Rick Perry vetoed the first in 2011. The second died in the 2013 Senate Committee. Will Winkler, radiology senior, has been a cyclist for 10 years. A bicycle used to be his only form of transportation until recently. Winkler was once hit by a car while riding his bike, by someone that was not even on their phone. They just didn’t see him. “So how much easier would it be for somebody focused on their phone, instead of driving, to still hit me,” Winkler said. “I constantly notice that people are on their phones. I notice it so much more whenever I’m riding my bike because I have more time when I’m sitting at intersections to pay attention to it. Talking and driving, texting and driving, looking down, you know, the whole nine yards.” Winkler said. “It really scares me. My number one fear is I’m just going to be riding my bike somewhere, even on a sidewalk or through a parking lot, and someone is just going to run me over.” Since he has had his vehicle, Winkler tries not to get on his phone at all while driving. “There is the temptation to get on my phone, but being a cyclist, since that’s my big fear, I don’t like doing that because it’s a distraction. I know it only takes like a fraction of a second to run over somebody,” Winkler said. “And I don’t want to ruin my new car, or go to prison.” Winkler said he agrees that there should be a ban on cell phones while driving, should the law go into effect. “With that kind of deterrence, it makes people more aware of what they are doing,” Winkler said. “I mean, nobody wants to pay the ticket, and, yes, some people complain it infringes on their rights. But, at the same time, it’s also for their safety.”
| April 22, 2015 | 3
“My friends text and drive. It’s distractive driving and they need to put it down and pay attention to driving.” JALEN MAVERO, ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SOPHOMORE
“I know a lot of people that text and drive. I always text for my friends that are driving when I’m with them.” ABBY CLAMPITT, EDUCATION FRESHMAN
“I have friends that text and drive. Even I have. It’s not safe and it’s very dangerous. I feel like we do it because none of us are patient.” JORDAN HALL, RADIOLOGY FRESHMAN
4 | April 22, 2015 |
Behind the times
Professors push to make environmentalism a priority EARTH WEEK Today Sikes Lake Cleanup | Noon at Sikes Lake | Free Today Earth Day and 60th Anniversary Celebration | Free stuff for some visitors at Natural Grocers at 3910 Lawrence Road, Wichita Falls April 24 Children’s Earth Day Book Project | 3-4:30 p.m. at the Wichita Falls Public Library, 600 11th Street | Free April 24-26 Earth Day Texas 2015 | 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Fair Park, 1121 First Avenue, Dallas | Free April 25 Texoma Earth Day Festival | 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sherman Municipal Grounds, 1200 South Dewey Avenue, Sherman | Free April 28 Speakers and Issues Series: Countdown: Our Last, Best Hope for a Future on Earth? | 7 p.m. in Akin Auditorium | Free April 29 Celebration of Scholarship: Faculty-Led Environmentalism Panel | 12-4 p.m. in Clark Student Center | Free
with Yucus and her EURECA students, but it’s a far cry from where we should be as an institution of higher learning. A uniith Earth Day upon us yet again, so too comes an versity should always be at the forefront of positive change in ebb and flow of campus participation in the envi- its community.” Schultz, who earned her doctorate from the University of ronmentally conscious holiday. Last year marked one of the biggest instances of campus participation in Earth Oregon with an emphasis in environmental philosophy, will Day with two art students creating a campaign to advertise begin teaching an environmental philosophy course in spring the orange recycling dumpsters around the city and campus. 2016—a first for MSU. “Environmentalism transcends politics. It doesn’t matter While the Sikes Lake cleanup scheduled for today at noon what your political views are. We all have bodies and we is a fitting event for Earth Day, it certainly does not all need clean air and clear water to drink and this is match the scope of last year’s celebration. something that should unite us,” Schultz said. “BeWhile it’s coming a week late for Earth Day, ing an environmentalist should be seen as a gesture there will be a faculty-led panel on environmenof love for humankind and a love for the earth, talism April 29 as part of next week’s Celebraand a way to bring people together.” tion of Scholarship. Giles said the introduction of courses like Assistant English professor Todd Giles environmental philosophy marks the beginsaid he, Rebecca Dodge, associate geoscining of new direction for the university’s ence professor, and Lucy Schultz, assisacademics, and hopefully that new directant philosophy professor, will lead the tion will result in a more environmentalpanel that focuses on asking questions ly conscious campus community. rather than traditional lecturing. “If you’ve got people like me teach“The more I think about it the more ing post feminism and people like Schultz I like this kind of approach. It’s more of a teaching environmentalism, we’re bringing discussion than teaching,” Giles said. “My something to the table that hasn’t been here hope is it extends beyond the students and SOURCE: STOCKMONKEY.COM before,” Giles said. “I’d like to see a campus-wide there will be faculty and staff there.” initiative in every department to not only recycle Giles said he hopes the discussion will spur attendees to think about the direct impact they can make on paper, but also plastics. There’s no reason every department on campus should not be heavily engaged in recycling. It’s a local level. “Why, for example, do we have a dining hall that still uses something that should be taught in the dorms. Housing, if styrofoam containers for takeout food? It goes beyond the they haven’t done so already, should have bins on every floor. students. If anything happens it’s going to come from the stu- Even if it means somebody agrees to take the recycling out to the bin each week.” dents and from that generation,” Giles said. Political science senior Tiernan Harris said she recycles beGiles said Wichita Falls is in dire need of a better recycling program, and he said the university is in a unique position to cause it is an important thing to do and one person can make lead the charge in creating a more environmentally friendly an impact. “When it comes to plastics and glass, I use the recycity. “This is the least environmentally conscious town and uni- cle bins on campus,” Harris said. “I try [going green] versity I’ve ever encountered. I’ve lived in six different cities by monitoring my water usage and riding my and have never been in one where recycling is so unimport- bike.” Additional reporting by Ethan Metcalf. ant,” Giles said. “I’m thrilled to see the initiative that started JASMINE JONES REPORTER
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| April 22, 2015 | 5
A college student’s guide to becoming eco-friendly Turn off your laptop at night Turning off your computer instead of leaving it on can save 40 watt-hours of power every day, about $14 a year. Ditch the car Walk as many places as possible, or take the MSU shuttle. With the new MESA bus route, you can even take the shuttle on the weekends to run errands or catch a movie. Change your wash cycle Wash your clothes in warm or cold water instead of hot, and only wash when you have a full load of clothes. Use both sides of the paper Set printers to print on both sides of the paper and when writing lecture notes, use the back side of the paper. Don’t forget to recycle papers. Use your cruise control Turning on cruise control could earn your car up to 15 percent better gas mileage.
Skip the cafeteria tray Using a tray to put your plate on creates one more dish to wash. Having to carry your plate will also force you to be more selective with your food choices and reduce food waste. Go (temporarily) vegetarian Giving up meat can be a Herculean task, so instead, pick one day a week to not eat meat. In addition to added health benefits, eating less meat will cut down on the greenhouse gasses produced by the meat industry. Buy a reusable water bottle Nearly 90 percent of plastic water bottles aren’t recycled. Save money and switch to a resuable water bottle. Besides, the EPA’s standards for tap water are stricter than FDA’s standards for bottled water. Be thrifty When shopping for household items for dorms or apartments, check thrift stores first. Thrift stores are a cheaper and more eco-friendly option than buying brand new.
Search greener Blackle.com, a version of Google with an allblack background, is more energy efficient. Download your software Instead of buying a disc to install new software, many companies offer digital downloads. This option is easier to update your software, too. Turn off the tap Turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth can save up to five gallons of water a day. Label your cup At parties, set out permanent markers for guests to label their disposable cups and plates, so they only use one. Go paperless Set up your bills to use e-statements instead of paper statements. Some banks will even pay you to go paperless. SOURCE: 50WAYSTOHELP.COM, COLLEGE.USATODAY.COM
“Our world faces a true planetary emergency. I know the phrase sounds shrill, and I know it’s a challenge to the moral imagination.
HISTORY.COM/TOPICS/HOLIDAYS/EARTH-DAY
EARTH DAY FACTS • Earth Day was “Founded in 1970 as a day of education about environmental issues. [And is] now a globally celebrated holiday that is sometimes extended into Earth Week, a full seven days of events focused on green awareness.” • Earth Day was created by Senator Gaylord (D-Wisc) Nelson as part of the anti-war movement. • April 22 was chosen as Earth Day to, “maximize the number of students that could be reached on university campuses.” • According to the Earth Day Network, Earth Day activities involve more than 1 billion people, making it the largest secular civic event in the world. • 20 million people participated in the first Earth Day in 1970.
AL GORE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
PHOTO SOURCE: ANDREW Z. COLVIN
SOURCE: HISTORY.COM/TOPICS/HOLIDAYS/EARTH-DAY
WHERE TO RECYCLE IN WICHITA FALLS ADVANCE AUTO PARTS, O’REILLY AUTO PARTS OR AUTO ZONE: Car batteries, motor oil BEST BUY: Appliances, cell phones, TVs, ink cartridges COMET CLEANERS: Wire hangers
OFFICE DEPOT: Electronics, ink cartridges ($3 credit)
FIRE STATIONS, WALMART, UNITED STORES: Newspapers
RIVER BEND NATURE CENTER: Cans, glass, paper, electronics, ink cartridges, medicine bottles, art supplies
WALMART, UNITED STORES: Glass jars and bottles
TIMES RECORD NEWS: Cell phones
RECYCLING BINS IN DORMS SOURCE: riverbendnaturecenter.wordpress.com
How do you plan to participate in Earth Day? “I don’t really have any plans for Earth Day coming up, but we have our own garden in my backyard locally. We grow mostly herbs like mint and basil.” LENA AZZOUZ, PSYCHOLOGY FRESHMAN
“I collect the caps from plastic bottles seperately from the containers. I lump the plastic bottles together and throw those out and donate the caps to the church.” CHIBUZO ANYAMA, NURSING SENIOR
“When I was home in the Caribbean ... our school would have a contest on who could collect the most recycleables.”
“I drink a lot of water so I collect the caps. I’m going to donate to this church that is going to use them toward research.”
“I don’t have any plans for Earth Day. I try to recycle a lot of times on my own, whenever possible.”
ESTHER EDWARDS, COMPUTER SCIENCE SOPHOMORE
FRANK CRUZ, MARKETING SOPHOMORE
DYLAN HANNERS, UNDECIDED FRESHMAN
6 |Â April 22, 2015 |
Maroon & Gold Spring football showcase draws large crowd
PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN
Grant Boxell, business finance sophomore, and his Sigma Alpha Epsilon brothers; Jared Rivas, biology freshman, Romeo Botelua, mechanical engineer junior, and Austin Leveridge, business management sophomore, team up with the Kiowa Kooks to pass out free hot dogs at the 2015 Maroon and Gold Spring game. The first 1,000 fans to show up recieved a free T-shirt and bounce houses were set up for kids to enjoy.
PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN
The Gold Team charges at the Maroon Team during the 2015 Maroon and Gold Spring Game on April 18 in the Memorial Stadium. The game was cut short at the beginning of the third quarter due to lightning. The Maroon team beat the Gold team 7-3.
PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN
ABOVE LEFT: Quade Coward, exercise physicology sophomore, throws the ball while Jerry McQuande, mechanical engineering freshman, tackles him at the 2015 Maroon and Gold Spring Game in the Memorial Stadium. ABOVE RIGHT: Conney Vargas, math and marketing sophomore, Melissa Galicia, psychology sophomore, Elizabeth Galicia, nursing sophomore, Rutth Mercado, pre-med freshman, D’Aaron Clayton, pre-dental biology sophomore, and Kenadi Campbell, computer science freshman, cheer at the 2015 Maroon and Gold Spring game April 18. RIGHT: Kenadi Campbell, computer science freshman, takes a picture of her friend Ashley Ates, international studies freshman, with Maverick T. Mustang at the pregame activites.
PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN
ABOVE LEFT: Theater performance sophomore Sarah Chong Harmer’s character, Rosemary, reads a letter her sister, theater acting and directing senior Leanne Ottaviano’s, character, Ginger, in the one act play “Rosemary and Ginger”, during rehearsal Monday night. ABOVE MIDDLE: Theater performance freshman Ellanor Collins’ character rises to history junior Kent Allen’s character in the one act play “Demonology” during rehearsal. ABOVE RIGHT: Theater performance junior Erik Temblador’s character, Lawrence Wingvalley, holds up a ‘Swizzle Stick’ to the light while theater performance and tech design sophomore Hope Harvick’s character Amanda Wingvalley gazes on during a rehearsal of the one act play “For Whom the Southern Bell Tolls” Monday night.
Theater seniors direct plays despite budget restraints FAITH MUNOZ REPORTER
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hile most students are studying for final exams as the semester draws to a close, senior students in the theater department are busy hunting for costumes, building sets, and directing one-act plays for their capstone class. It's a tall order for the students, and it's made even harder now that they are provided with a budget of $0 to produce the shows. Three years ago, students were given a $100 budget to help pay for props and costumes, but the notoriously crafty theater students had to become even more resourceful, using whatever is available, from buying used clothing to reusing furniture and props from past shows. "They told us in August, 'We know that you guys are going to be directing and you need to know now that you aren't going to have any money.' So, we had plenty of time to figure out what our game plan would be," said Leisha Thornton, theater senior. Thornton is directing "Demonology" by Don Nigro, a dark drama about a police inspector assigned to the case of a woman who won't speak. The inspector embarks on a journey of love, loss and mortality that he never expected, resulting in an ending that will leave the audience questioning. While they all agree $100 is sufficient to fund a one-act, a senior
whose play will show this weekend has already spent $220 out of her own pocket. "I'm also doing a period piece that is different from everybody else; so I had to rent period costumes. That definitely has a very different budget than somebody who is doing a piece where you can go to Goodwill or the mall and buy items that are modern. A lot of mine has been [from] the theater and just scrounging and going through some family and friends' old heirlooms that they don't use," said Disa Hairell, theater senior. Learning how to best direct their peers who they have cast in their shows is another obstacle the directors face. "I don't think I'll ever direct again but what is applicable to everything else is being able to take charge and lead a group of peers, especially peers that might, in some areas, be more experienced than you or older than you," Thornton said. "One of my actors is in his mid 30s so that is very strange having to address your peers that way. But, it is good to learn to lead a group. If you are going to have a successful career, you are going to have to lead someone in some capacity" Not all the students are interested in directing as a career, but to graduate they must direct and produce their own plays which will be graded by their professor and evaluated by four faculty members.
"I would direct [again] if I wasn’t directing people I knew," said Zachary Binx, theater senior. "When you are directing your friends, it is a lot different than directing people that don't know you. They have more of a respect for you because they got hired to do this role. They'll pay attention and be more focused than if it is someone you hang out with every night." Binx's one-act play, "For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls" by Christopher Durang, is a parody of Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie." In this version, Amanda Wingvalley is frustrated with her hypochondriac son Lawrence who spends his time playing with his collection of glass cocktail stirrers. The third one-act playing this weekend is "Rosemary With Ginger" by Edward Allan Baker and directed by theater senior Katharine Tate. Set in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1993, two sisters set out to dig deeper into their mother's past. The play delves into the topics of addiction, family dysfunction and vulnerability. This emotional roller coaster of a play uses bright pops of humor to remind us that when we perpetuate the negative cycles of our families, we irrevocably damage ourselves and those we love.
THE FIRST ROUND OF ONE-ACTS GOES UP THIS WEEKEND, APRIL 24 AND 25, AT 7:30 P.M. GENERAL ADMISSION IS $5 FOR EVERYONE INCLUDING STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF.
PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN
Erin Knox, accounting sophomore, pitches at the MSU vs. Central Oklahoma game in Mustangs Park, April 21. MSU lost,18-5.
Softball loses both games JESSALYN CASTRO REPORTER
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he softball team lost both games in a post-season double header against University of Central Oklahoma on April 21. UCO made their first runs early in game one, putting four points on the board in the first inning. “That’s hard to come back from, especially since we’ve played for the past few days,” said biology senior Kelley Schaefer. “It was a rough weekend.” The Bronchos rallied more points in the third inning to bring the score to 12-0 in the fourth inning. The Mustangs would see their first point in the fourth inning when Schaefer hit the ball to left field. Schaefer would see another chance to bring two players home with Katlyn Holmes in the bottom of the fifth inning, bringing the final score to 18-5 for game one. In the second game, MSU was able to fight back, limiting UCO to making no more than two runs in any inning. Schaefer hit the ball down the line to bring Haley Howerton to home base and even the score in the top of the first, 1-1. MSU held the game at 4-1 until the seventh inning when UCO would then claim the last
PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN
Chelsey Wall, special education junior, practices with Baylee Voigt, respiratory therapy sophomore, at the MSU vs. Central Oklahoma game in Mustangs Park. point to end the game, 5-1. “They can hit,” Schaefer said of the Bronchos’ batting game. Rest and ice is ideal for the team, Schaefer said, as they look ahead to face Texas A&M Kingsville as their last opponent before the Lone Star Conference Championship tournament May 1. “We’re a week from being done so we’re beaten up and tired,” she said. “We’ve got a conference tournament the next weekend and hopefully regionals the next.” The team will play Texas A&M Kingsville April 24-25 at Hubert field in Kingsville.