Sept. 15, 2021 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Sept. 15, 2021 | thewichitan.com |Real Students. Real Stories. | Vol. 86 No. 2

NEWS: Pg 5

Voices authors share their creative process.

COLLEGIATE HEALTH: Pg 6-7 COLUMN: Pg 2

According to the American College Health Association, suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among college students. Students share their struggles with suicidal thoughts.

Here are five ways to practice self love.

OP-ED: Pg 8

STANG STORIES: Pg 10

REVIEW: Pg 3

Chancellor of the TTU system welcomes MSU Texas. “Candyman” is well-made but has its flaws.

@WichitanOnline

Prancettes’ captain Alicia Phinney shares her story.

@wichitanonline

@TheWichitan

Expose yourself to the cultures on campus

SU Texas is a minority-majority university, which means ethnic and racial minorities make up the majority of the population, 51% in this case. MSU is also home to students from 54 foreign countries and 44 US states according to msutexas.edu. These two facts make the campus a melting pot of cultures, a melting pot that should be explored by every student. The university hosts several cultural student organizations such as the Black Student Union, the Caribbean Students Organization and the Organization of Hispanic Students, as well as the MOSAIC CrossCultural Center. These institutions offer students year-round access to other cultures, and they also host events throughout the year in hopes of exposing Mustangs to new cultures. From Sept. 15 (regarded by many Hispanic countries as their date of independence from Spain) to Oct. 15 the OHS and MOSAIC will be celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with events such as a bachata class and a Latin festival. Nearing the end of the month, the CSO will be hosting Caribfest, a celebration of Caribbean culture that culminates with a parade through the streets of campus. While the festivities can seem overwhelming at first, take the leap and step out of your comfort zone. It is imperative that MSU students use this time to explore and learn about cultures they are not yet familiar with. For many, college is the one time they will be exposed to other nation’s cultures, so take this opportunity to expand your worldview while you can.

Vol. 86 | No. 2 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

5 WAYS TO PRACTICE SELF LOVE Columns in Campus Voices are the opinions of only the authors and do not necesssarily reflect the views of The Wichitan as an organization.

ith a quick look around, almost anyone can see that love is needed in the world today more than it ever has been. The solution? I say we start with ourselves. I thought I’d Soleil Weeks take this opportunity to share a few tips for us readers who want to change the world, starting with ourselves.

PUT YOURSELF FIRST This may sound counterintuitive, but nobody has ever been able to pour anything from an empty pitcher. Making the world a better place begins with prioritizing the self. What do you want out of this life? Before pursuing obligations for someone else’s dream, try working on yours first. If you don’t have a dream, define one for yourself, no matter

how small; I promise it’ll change your life.

LEARN WHO YOU ARE Who are you, really? Many of us go through life assuming the identities given to us by parents, peers and society, never for a second stopping to decipher who we are when all those labels are peeled off. What’s something you have always wanted to do? Even if someone told you it was a stupid idea, or laughed at the thought, don’t let that stop you. No matter what it is you want out of this life, to achieve it, work actively on understanding who you are, where you are now and where exactly you want to go, regardless of what anyone thinks.

DO NOT LET FEAR RULE YOUR LIFE To get to that desired destination we’ve spoken about, we must have the courage to walk the road, though it may be dark, wind-

ing and littered with obstacles. Challenges and adversities will always pop up once you are moving forward. If that much is already known, why let them stop you? You have all the power you could need to overcome them; don’t ever forget that. If we don’t face our fears or take on challenges, we’ll be stuck running in the same spot until we do.

BE YOURSELF, UNAPOLOGETICALLY It can be easy to fall into the traps of doing what everyone else is doing, and like what everyone else likes because it gives us a sense of belonging. Speaking from experience, there is nothing more empowering than the feeling you get from embracing your uniqueness as a person, no matter what that may look like for you. You know those shoes that you really like but never wear because you think people will laugh at you? Wear them. That special hair color or style you’ve always wanted to try but felt too afraid to? Go for it! None of us were born the same, so why try to be?

HAVE STANDARDS AND LEARN TO SAY NO

ARTWORK BY SOLEIL WEEKS

“it starts with you.” artwork, Sept. 13. Editor in Chief: Amos Perkins Managing Editor: Stephanie Robledo Assistant Editor: Abigail Jones Design Editor: Omar Combie Photography Editor: Colin Stevenson Business Manager: Alexis Martin Issue Staff : Jaime Aleman, Emily Beaman, Lauren Colpitts, Thalia Doe, Joseph Nelson, Soleil Weeks Advisor: Jonathon Quam

Having standards and setting boundaries is something many of us don’t even realize we’re failing to do, but this is crucial to our happiness and fulfillment. It starts with realizing that the only obligations you really have in this life are to yourself. You don’t really owe anyone else anything, and if you think you do, you can examine it and realize that you actually don’t. If it doesn’t bring you love, growth or peace, it’s entirely okay to say no to it. If you don’t feel like going to that party, don’t. If you go to the party and you don’t wanna drink at the party, then just don’t. Just because you’ve always done it, doesn’t mean you should continue to. The goal is to ensure that you’re loving yourself to the best of your ability. If you’re not prioritizing your needs & well-being, then you can never truly love and help others. Since the mission is to make the world a better place, let’s work on ourselves first, together.

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.

“CANDYMAN” IS WELL-MADE WITH A VERY FLAWED SCREENPLAY

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

movie’s latter half. Anthony’s descent into the mythology is engaging, and terrifying, but what his character’s supposed to represent remains unresolved. An art critic inside the movie, in reaction to Anthony’s inspired art, remarks that his work comes from a point of privilege: analyzing oppression under a microscope and profiting from the art while the problem still exists. This contention addressed by the art critic, played by Rebecca Spence, seems to turn a mirror on a film that artistically depicts police brutality and gentrification when those problems still exist. Then, the film never addresses this criticism again. Of course, if they took another half hour to flesh out some of these thematic dead ends, the movie would have been a lot better. Unfortunately, they never offer a rebuttal to this point, and it leaves a bad taste, especially in a movie that seems to take pride in the social commentary it’s espousing. I’m a big fan of movies that can mix political messages into their plots, as stories are the best way to get people to accept premises they would otherwise find at odds with their ideologies. Jordan Peele’s “Us,” one of my favorites, takes class warfare and gives an allegorical spin that could make even the most ardent capitalist somewhat sympathetic to the “teth-

ered.” However, “Candyman” expects its viewers to already be on the same page. We are very far from the “mostly good people with some bad apples” description. Police officers are as bad as mobsters in this movie, beating people to death in groups and forcing witnesses to say things easily disprovable by a crime scene investigator. You either believe the premise or you don’t, and the writers don’t really care to invite outsiders to be sympathetic to the issues they’re exploring. “Candyman” is well-made with a great cast and a director whom I look forward to future films by, as the atmospheric and technical elements are on point. However, the script needed thirty more pages to flesh out some of the dead ends and artistic hypocrisies. While fans of the original horror might find enjoyment in how Candyman is redefined, the only scene I see myself watching again is the villain’s first killings, which still give me chills. The movie as a whole is disjointed, cut short, and self-contradictory.

Joseph’s Film Rating: 2.5/5

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Candyman (2021).

ny movie involving mirrors should employ a visionary director who knows where to put a camera, and Nia DeCosta sets an appropriate tone for this 90s reboot, with atmospheric lighting, Joseph unique imagery and claustroNelson phobic perspective shots. While the movie’s creepy soundtrack feels undeserved during the first half, Robert A.A. Lowe composes a skillfully scary score, synced to the film’s frightening, finale frames to a T. The cast brings their A-Game as well, bringing horror, care and charisma to characters flimsily written. Jordan Peele co-produced and co-wrote “Candyman,” and the screenplay definitely doesn’t live up to his previous work, injecting social commentary into an unstable plot at odds with the themes wished to be expressed. I should confess I’m a new viewer to this franchise, but I know a messy plot when I see one. “Candyman” brings the decades-old, amputated slasher to new audiences, with flair and top-notch talent, but the stunted story length makes characters seem to turn on a dime at plot’s convenience. Perhaps this is par for the course in the “Candyman” franchise, but

I found it jarring, especially when barely any time was paid to set a stage for some character transitions. I would be charitable and cautious if the title was “Candyman II,” where we were supposed to already know how some characters relate to the film’s mythology. However, the film’s title has no subheadings or numbers after it. So, I feel permitted to watch this movie as a standalone. If the film had another half-hour devoted to prefacing some of the sudden plot shifts and thrown in characters, I could have been on board. As things stand, the pacing is way off. As an example of the messiness, a character has a flashback of their father committing suicide, and the film never addresses it again. While some elements are disjointed, the plotline feeling most developed is thankfully the main character’s. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II brings a convincing portrayal of the curious protagonist named Anthony, who becomes obsessed with the Cabrini Green legend and commits his artistic talents to rendering the killings in canvas form. His investigation of the titular villain seems unfounded, but, unlike other plot details, the seemingly contrived curiosity pays off in intriguing ways, during the

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Candyman (2021).

Saying “EURECA!” for undergraduate research

EMILY BEAMAN NEWS EDITOR total of 16 Enhancing Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities scholars and mentors were chosen to receive funding for their research this year. They include research from the Dillard College of Business Administration, the West College of Education, Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the McCoy College of Science Mathematics and Engineering. “We have students from all disciplines and professors from a variety of disciplines [who] all have to interact at different points through the term,“ Stacia Miller, director of undergraduate research and a EURECA mentor, said. Students or mentors can submit a research proposal to the committee. Fall semester applications are due on Dec. 1 every year and spring

applications are due on June 1 of every year. After it has been submitted, the application is evaluated by faculty volunteers based on a scoring instrument written by a university assessment committee to determine which proposals are chosen. Then the groups get to work. “[The mentors are] like a support system to facilitate undergraduate research. We support [the students], teach them and guide them,” Leann Curry, chair of undergraduate education and a EURECA mentor, said. Students and mentors meet regularly to discuss, brainstorm, plan and look over their individual research and progress. Yu Guo, associate professor of engineering, is mentoring four separate research groups. He has been involved with EURECA since its formation in 2013. “We meet every week where each group will report their progress. When there is a problem, we also dis-

cuss it in the meeting. And students could receive suggestions or learn possible solutions from me or other groups,” Guo said. Wanting to begin research as an undergraduate student can be difficult without any guidance or assistance. It can be especially difficult for students who want to research a topic past a class assignment and learn about it at a deeper level. “Our office provides that opportunity for students who are wanting to build their resume, wanting to go beyond the classroom learning and get involved in their discipline in a different way,” Miller said. All research projects are unique, but not necessarily disconnected from one another. In this way, students can learn from other scholars and research throughout the process. “Students could learn and get experience from other groups. Sharing information between the groups al-

lows them to put more time and work on researching the unique portion of their own project,” Guo said. Some students work with multiple mentors. When this happens, especially if the mentors are from different disciplines, students can see the varying ways research can occur. “When you have a co-mentorship, that student is getting that training from two different people…. It expands their research knowledge,” Miller said. While students are pursuing much of the research by themselves, the mentors themselves gain a lot from the process as well. Most mentors assist with research close to their passion and love to share it with students. “The faculty mentors get as much, in a different way. It’s a collaborative partnership. The faculty get something from it and the students get something from it. It’s not just stu-

dent benefits,” Miller said. EURECA offers collaboration on all levels for research. Through them, many researchers can come together that may never have spoken otherwise. “Many opportunities for the mentors and the students to come together for collaboration. The students can support each other [and so can] the mentors,” Curry said. EURECA also offers workshops throughout the year on different research aspects, such as how to write a proposal or give a presentation. Undergraduate students interested in research can stop by the Undergraduate Research Office. “A lot of students hear that word ‘undergraduate research’ and it scares them and they’re… intimidated by it…. It’s for anybody interested. If you don’t think undergraduate research is for you, you’re wrong,” Miller said.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

EURECA’s office sits in the Atrium at Clark Student Center, Sept. 14.

Authors in Voices 2020-21 share their creative process

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Art senior Kristen Longo presents her two-part piece, “Burned,” at the Voices release An audience watches as english senior Ashton Bayliss reads for the Voices release party. “Burned” consists of a painted piece and a poem, Sept. 3. party, Sept. 3. ABIGAIL JONES ASSITANT EDITOR he new 2020-21 edition of MSU Texas literary journal Voices features short story authors, poets and visual artists, seven of whom are award-winning. Meredith Berend, criminal justice graduate and Vinson awardwinning author of the poem “Junk Drawer Woman” said she was surprised to have been honored in the final year of the Vinson award. “I turned my stuff in, my poems, on a whim and I just wasn’t expecting it. I ended up getting a phone call back in March and I cried a little bit, a lot,” Berend said. “I just think it’s a really big honor and as somebody who enjoys creative writing and thinks that it’s really really important. I really appreciated the [Vinson] award, and I wish it could have continued on.” Berend said that she had a lot of encouragement from others at MSU and that her advice is to write regardless of whether something comes from it. She is not always confident in her poetry but received an award nonetheless. Kristen Longo, art senior and writer of the poem “Talking to the Moon” in Voices 2020-21, agreed with this sentiment. “Don’t be afraid, because there’s always people who don’t like your work, but then for every one person who doesn’t like it, 20 more are gonna love it,” Longo said Berend and Longo’s works appear in Voices 2020-21 along with 50 other works, including the cover. Seven of these are award-winning. Being published means that these writers and artists will have their work interpreted by a

much larger audience. “People have interpreted [‘Junk Drawer Woman’] differently, but for me, it’s about generational connections between women and their families,” Berend said. “Some people have interpreted it as a positive poem. Some people have thought it’s more of a negative one. I won’t say what it’s supposed to be because poetry is open to interpretation.” Regardless of whether a reader’s interpretation matches up with the author’s interpretation, there is a level of vulnerability that goes along with sharing art. Longo said that artists should try to publish their work even if it’s difficult to show this vulnerability. “It’s very scary putting yourself out there because these are almost like diary entries, essentially. They’re so full of emotion and I feel like that’s how it is for a lot of writers. It’s just kind of an outlet for whatever they’re feeling and that can be very scary to have that door open for the rest of the world to just walk on in.” Longo said. “I guess my advice would be to just open the door, you know.” Creative writing and poetry can become not only part of processing thoughts and emotions but also part of helping others do the same thing. This is something that Adrienne Pine, author of the short story “Mother,” said she discovered in her writing and submission process. “Writing it was part of my grieving process. I wrote it out of a deep place in myself. Yet readers identify with it. So I realize that my situation was not so singular after all,” Pine said.

In this way, creative writing and poetry help not only the artist but also the reader. Advisor to Voices and associate professor of English John Schulze elaborated on this. “Writing is an active discovery. You don’t always know what you’re going to write when you sit down to write, but inevitably you find out, ‘oh, that’s what I needed to write in order to heal.’ That’s the way I look at it,” Schulze said. This healing can come from a place of complete honesty which is captured in Pine’s short story. A story about her complicated relationship with her mother. “In order to write an essay as painful and personal as ‘Mother,’ I had to get to a place where I didn’t [censor] myself by worrying how readers would react to it. I cannot think about the reader or the publishing process or any of that while I am writing,” Pine said. “If I did, I wouldn’t be able to do it. I have to feel safe and know that I am not going to be interrupted. I try to listen to and follow my inner voice.” While Pine said her writing process was a part of grief, Natalie Coufal, creative writing graduate student at Sam Houston and author of the short story “Blinding Brilliant,” said that stitching together the different parts of her story was like patchwork quilting. “The writing process involved taking notes while I listened to my twin sister discuss her stay at a mental institution in College Station. All this while our kids played in the kiddie pool together. As always, I worked with bits and pieces of memory to reconstruct an experience.

All the pop culture references were pieces of memory that I thought of while ruminating on the material from my sister,” Coufal said. “I feel memory is all I have. I don’t have creativity.” Coufal’s short story won her first place in prose for the President’s award. Second place prose was awarded to Colin Scanlon’s “Twitter DMs From a Satanist,” and third place prose was awarded to Pine’s “Mother.” “I didn’t expect to win. I feel honored by [the President’s] award and I appreciate the effort put in by the editors. But I am not satisfied in the sense that I know my craft can improve. I just have to put in the time and work and slowly improve,” Coufal said. “It’s like my sister when she makes her fancy cakes. Each cake makes her learn something. Each essay makes me learn something.” Schulze said that it was gratifying to see his students, the editors of Voices, put together this issue. Schulze also noted a common theme of vulnerability in many of the works chosen for this edition of Voices. “This year, I would say, there was probably more vulnerability… because lots of people are going through issues… with the pandemic, and the way it has affected lives in numerous ways,” Schulze said. “Not all writing is healing… but this kind of creative writing [is], especially the creative nonfiction essays. I see writing as very therapeutic and we’re all trying to heal. I think that’s what this issue [of Voices] brings to the table: this sense of trying to make things better for ourselves.”

SUICIDAL T

THE SILENT STRUGGLE

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

An estimated 285,000 each year become suicide survivors according to the American Association of Suicidology, Sept. 14. LAUREN COLPITTS REPORTER ccording to the American College Health Association, suicide is currently the second leading cause of death among college students. Tessa Buckley, political science freshman, recalled the time she tried to end her life. Buckley, from a young age, felt as though she didn’t truly belong. This was one of the deciding factors on the night she tried overdosing on prescribed medication. She remembers trying to convince herself to spit the pills out or get help, but at that moment she couldn’t find a reason for it. “I was just kind of staring at this bottle on my nightstand and just remembered thinking, ‘What if?’” Buckley said. “Growing up as a child with autism and trying to navigate [life] while experiencing hate because people didn’t understand why I was so different… I forced myself to [act as society wanted] and lost myself along the way.” After the attempt, Buckley continued in the same mindset, not trying to end her life again, but not sure why she shouldn’t. Eventually, she realized that she would have missed so many things if she had succeeded that night. “[I thought] like why did I have to wake up and face what I did? I had to take a step back and realized, af-

ter finding myself, that maybe no one would miss me, but that I would regret it. I would regret not being able to do things that I’ve gotten to do,” Buckley said. Though this life has been a difficult journey for her, Buckley said she understands that it won’t stay this bad forever. People struggling with mental illness and suicide ideation can get stuck in the mindset of everything

being worse; according to Buckley an important part of living is dealing with these thoughts by reminding yourself of a better future. “There’s always that thought in the back of your head when someone expresses disappointment in you, or you mess up something on your test, or you’re trying to draw something and it doesn’t come out right, there’s that little thought like, start over, maybe this time you’ll get an avatar without so many glitches,” Buckley said. Raul Doporto, nursing junior, lost himself while questioning life’s purpose. These thoughts caused a large amount of anxiety and depression. Doporto began to think: how is one supposed to plan a future, if in the future they see no point? During this time, he was taking two classes called ‘Drugs and Behavior’ and ‘Brain and Behavior’, which gave him an interesting perspective on his life at that point. “It felt like I was part of my professor’s presentation, and I was like, ’Here is Raul, standing on the balcony, another statistic, a Hispanic smoking marijuana, drunk and was about to jump off the balcony to commit suicide.’ That’s what was in my head at the time,” Doporto said. Luckily, at that moment on the balcony, he had someone there to pull him

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for 15 to 24 year old Americans according to the Centers for Disease Control, Sept. 14.

THOUGHTS:

E OF OUR CLASSMATES

as mentally, but it also forged the attitude that has helped him through tough times. His experiences have helped him be able to help others who are struggling. Thomas is working as a Residential Advisor this year, continuing to improve himself and facilitating an encouraging environment for his residents to come to talk to him if needed. “I felt like I had to grow up and that’s why, if you’re always around me, I always try to look at things more positively. I kind of know how it feels to be let down, or like just left in a bad spot, or a place where you just don’t know what to do,” Thomas said. MSU Texas offers many resources on campus for students, including PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN on-campus professionals that stuSuicide takes the lives of over 48,500 Americans every year according to Centers for dents can go to if needing help. These professional student-staff members Disease Control, Sept. 14. around campus allow for a more subtle and approachable group of people out of it by helping him with his breathBefore Thomas could achieve this ing. Later, this technique of breathing mindset in his life, he went through for those that need help can seek care. and being in the moment changed from many different hardships such as be- Additionally, other resources are availjust a coping mechanism to an integral ing homeless on four different occa- able if students aren’t ready to talk to sions. During this time, Thomas began those professionals yet. All of these reand spiritual part of his lifestyle. “This guy, he was real nice, and he to understand more about life and the sources are free and set up for students to work through at their own pace. was just like ‘focus on your breathing.’ unfairness that comes with it. “Keep an eye on yourself, keep an “One day I was just sitting in school, For me, it’s therapeutic. And that’s what kind of brought me back and and I had a breakdown. My mom is al- eye on your friends, and if you need brought me to spiritualism. Focusing ways the one to help people, but every [help]...please reach out,” Zachary Zoet, on the power of now rather than what time we needed help, they wouldn’t licensed professional counselor and assisant director of the counceling cencould potentially happen in the future,” help us,” Thomas said. This realization was hard on Thom- ter, said. Doporto said. “For me [mental health] can be frustrating sometimes and not truthful, but I like it because it’s a puzzle and I want to, I need to, understand.” He still struggles with his thoughts and anxiety, but now Doporto understands his ways of coping with them and continues to learn more about himself. For others struggling with suicidal thoughts, it’s people around them and a trick of the mind that can allow them to pull themselves out of these spiraling thoughts. “It just took a little while for me to understand that if I think in a negative way, and I’m always depressed, then I’m going to stay depressed. Rather than, if I think in a positive way and stay happy, then nine times out of ten, the situation won’t be as bad as it seems,” Jason GRAPHIC COURTESY OF SUICIDE PREVENTION HOTLINE Thomas, kinesiology senior, said.

WELCOMING MSU TEXAS TO THE TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

MSU students and faculty celebrate the university joining with the TTU system, Sept 1. Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., is the fifth chancellor of the Texas Tech University System and previously served as the longest-tenured president of Texas Tech UniTedd L. versity Health Sciences Mitchell Center (2010-2019). He also previously served as the president and CEO of the Cooper Clinic in Dallas, an internationally-recognized center of excellence in preventive and sports medicine. his year, the Texas Tech University System marks its 25th anniversary. There’s perhaps no more fitting way to commemorate two and half decades of growth, partnership and success than by announcing the latest addition to our system. On Sept. 1, Midwestern State University joins the Texas Tech University System as our fifth member institution and our third generalacademic university alongside Texas Tech University and Angelo State

University. MSU Texas is an ideal addition to our roster and aligns deeply with our component universities’ goals and values. They have a strong and respected history in higher education in Texas dating back to 1922, and since those early days, they have been committed to offering an affordable, accessible and exceptional educational experience to their students. But you don’t have to take my word for it. MSU Texas is the only university in Texas to become a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, and they were recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report on its list of “10 Public Schools with the Most Affordable Out-ofState Tuition.” With students hailing from 44 states and 54 countries, MSU Texas has extended its sterling reputation well outside of our state’s borders. These successes are due, in part, to exemplary leadership. President

Suzanne Shipley may be retiring, but I cannot thank her enough for her service as MSU Texas’ 11th president. She has positioned this university for future success and helped pave the way for their addition to the TTU System. We know her interim successor, James Johnston, who serves as the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, will continue to lead the university in the right direction during this transitional period. This partnership development with MSU Texas was a thorough process. We were intentional on wanting a university with a well-established, close-knit community that can partner well with us. We also looked for a university with ambition—and in this, MSU Texas has nearly a century of proof. What began as a municipal junior college housed in a high school building is today a 255-acre campus with undergraduate and graduate offerings, along with a student learning center located in Flow-

er Mound. With its Dalquest Desert Research Station and the Wichita Falls Museum of Art, the university is the pride of Wichita Falls—a place that represents the very best in learning, research and service. And, of course, who could forget athletics and the pride of the Mustangs? MSU Texas has a proud tradition in intercollegiate athletics with nearly 150 postseason appearances, 57 conference titles and 15 regional championships. In this, they’ll fit right in with our constituent universities who demonstrate excellence on the field and court as well as in the classroom. A lot of folks helped bring this partnership to fruition, and my appreciation goes to Gov. Greg Abbott, state Sen. Drew Springer, state Rep. James Frank and members of the Texas Legislature for making this union a reality. The vision and dedication to higher education and to our great state by the MSU Texas Board of Regents, led by Chairman

Caven Crosnoe, and the TTU System Board of Regents guided this transformational partnership. What was achieved throughout the nearly two years of conversations and discussion, was also greatly endorsed by the stakeholders and alumni of MSU Texas – thank you all for your support. Part of our mission at the TTU System is to provide leadership and support services to our component universities in the fulfillment of our institutions’ missions. MSU Texas will celebrate its centennial anniversary next year, marking 100 years of educational achievements and contributions to its community, the state of Texas and the world. I am proud the TTU System family will share this occasion with the Mustang family, and that our shared resources, added synergies and shared values will help to extend MSU Texas’ success into their next century.

BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING BRINGS

BIG CHANGES TO THE UNIVERSITY EMILY BEAMAN NEWS EDITOR n Wednesday, Sept. 1, 2021, the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents met on Midwestern State University’s campus to hold a ceremonial special meeting to officially welcome MSU as the newest member institution of their system. “I think Midwestern State University has the perfect campus culture to fit in with this rest of the universities in our great system,” Jesse Mendez, MSU Texas alumnus and current TTU dean of the College of Education, said. Texas House Bill 1522, which was authored by Rep. James Frank and sponsored by Sen. Drew Springer, is the legislation that transferred MSU into the TTU System. While it was signed in May, it didn’t officially go into effect until Sept. 1. “The Texas Tech University System is extremely excited and proud to partner with MSU Texas... as we become stronger together, advancing higher education in our great state and beyond,” J. Michael Lewis, chairman of the TTU System Board of

Regents, said.

INTERIM PRESIDENT

During the meeting, former President Suzanne Shipley spoke her final words before departing from campus. As a Texas Tech graduate and a guiding force of this merger, this process marks the magnum opus of her leadership. “As you can imagine it’s a bittersweet day for all of us who have to say goodbye to the old ways and welcome in the new.... This is the proudest moment of my personal and professional life... as my past joins my present,” Shipley said. Following her speech, the process to delegate authority of MSU President began. Tedd Mitchell, TTU System chancellor, nominated James Johnston, MSU provost and vice president for academic affairs, as interim president until the position can be permanently filled. “Shipley’s departure... leaves Midwestern State University in need of strong leadership. We have that leadership,” Mitchell said. Johnston received his bachelors

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Harding Building, MSU Texas, July 2020. and masters degrees from MSU. His employment with the university began in 2012 as interim dean of McGunn Health Sciences and Human Services. He became the permanent dean in February 2013 until his appointment as provost in 2017 and then was officially appointed as vice president of academic affairs in April 2017. “[He] has been instrumental in a lot of the work that has been done to make this day possible,” Mitchell said.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Provost James Johnston discusses what kind of skills MSU students need to make graduates more marketable. Feb. 13, 2020.

The MSU faculty put together a video to present to the TTU Board of Regents to capture the spirit of the university. “As Mustangs with free spirits, each with our own character and style, we run together and work

together as a team, representing strength, individuality and unity,” the video said. MSU also put together various presentations to show the TTU Board of Regents the foundations and subsequent achievements of the university. Different faculty and staff members spoke to introduce MSU’s campus, departments and students. “We launched our ambitious MSU Texas Boundless Opportunities comprehensive campaign in 2016 with the goal to raise $50 Million in the years leading up to our centennial celebration in 2022. The centerpiece for our campaign is simple: students,” the video said. The goal was met only 29 months into the campaign, and in 2017 and 2018 MSU broke the institutional record for gifts and pledges received in a fiscal year at $32.8 million. Cur-

rently, MSU has collected over $75 million, with a year to go before the conclusion of the campaign. “It is the generous spirit of our MSU Texas community that is evident in the gifts received today. Gifts include funding for scholarships, academic programming, faculty development support, technology and specialized software,” the video continued. MSU is hopeful that the new placement within the TTU System will allow for new opportunities for students to grow and flourish. “Most importantly, we are proud of our graduates because we know they go out and change the world,” Reagan Foster, assistant director of Athletics for Student Development and Outreach, said.

ALICIA PHINNEY A spotlight on Prancettes’ captain THALIA DOE FEATURE/SPORTS EDITOR or a team to be successful, the captain leading needs to be just as successful in their own life. This is the story of how despite challenges or unexpected transitions in life; every circumstance can be overcome and lead you to find your true destiny. Born and raised in Mesquite, Texas, Alicia Phinney, social work senior, is the captain of MSU’s dance team, the Prancettes. “My first year at MSU in fall of 2018, I actually came in as a cheerleader. Being a cheerleader was actually the main reason why I decided to come to MSU – Midwestern wasn’t a choice for me unless I made the team, which I did. But after shortly being on the team, I just felt like it wasn’t for me,” Phinney said. Phinney was a cheerleader since the age of seven; despite loving cheer, Phinney says the environment was becoming toxic for her and realized she wasn’t enjoying what she was doing. “I had kind of lost my love for cheer, and at the time one of my friends was a part of the dance team and had told me to just give it a try – which is what ultimately led me to becoming a part of the dance team. Even though I liked it, my sophomore year was a little rough for me, just because I was making that transition from cheer and missing cheer a lot and then learning the differences between cheer and dance,” Phinney said. After her initial challenges with missing cheer, Phinney began loving dance. After being on the dance team for just one year, Phinney became captain her junior year and has helped mold the team to what it is today. “Fast forward to today, I’m a senior, it’s my last year and from being captain, for now, two years, I’ve made a lot of changes in the program and have made good progress on the team. I’ve built the team up a lot and just overall, made healthy and positive changes that were necessary for the team. Looking back, the transition from cheer to dance was a good decision I made and was for the better,” Phinney said. Phinney had found a love for dance, a love that she believed would only be for cheer. This new passion was not the only transition in her life as Phinney also did a complete 360 academically. “Because of the environment I was in during cheer and feeling discouraged, I fell into a depression and completely disregarded my grades. I ended up being put on academic probation after my first semester of college. It’s not

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Social work senior Alicia Phinney leads the dance team during a practice, Sept. 9.

the cheer team’s fault, I was just very unmotivated during that time of my life and didn’t feel like I fit in,” Phinney said. “The following year I made above a 3.0 and the semester after that I made the dean’s list. Since that first semester of college being put on academic probation, I haven’t made less than a 3.0 every semester.” Phinney has gone through many changes throughout her college years, from a change in passion to a change in academics. Through this search of passion and focus on academics, Phinney found a new interest in study. “When I came in at MSU I was originally a nursing major. Initially, I wanted to be a forensic nurse to work and help with rape victims, domestic violence victims [and] child abuse victims. However, I quickly realized that nursing wasn’t for me. I noticed how I wanted to get more into the criminal aspects of things and work specifically with children, so I decided to switch my major to social work and minor in criminal justice,” Phinney said. Growing up, Phinney herself had an encounter with Child Protective Services and ended up being raised by her grandparents. Phinney says that experience shaped her, and ultimately her goal is to work for the CPS investigations unit. She plans to begin as a caseworker and slowly make her way to investigations where she can help and provide for the needs of the children in the system.

“CPS played a big role in my life. I know the system is broken; I’ve seen it firsthand. I want to be able to go in and be a change for those children and be a voice for them and do the best that I can for them because I know they need someone to fight for them,” Phinney said. Phinney said she began working as soon as she could legally to keep her mind off what she’s been through. Since freshman year of college, Phinney has worked part-time as a waitress, a member and now captain of the dance team, while still balancing school. She cited her family and friends, in particular her grandparents and siblings, as her support system, but she says she finds most of her strength spiritually. “What has even more gotten me through anything is God. My favorite verse that I always go back to is Isaiah 43:2, which is ‘When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.’ These last four years I think I’ve grown so much in loving myself, and finding my true purpose in life and what I’m meant to do…my advice to anyone who has a similar background to me will always be to not give up,” Phinney said. Phinney is expected to graduate from MSU in the spring of 2022, her success in her own life while at Midwestern has also gotten her to successfully lead MSU’s dance team that will continue to flourish on her legacy once she moves to the next chapter of her life.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

The dance team works on its routine during during a cool afternoon, Sept. 9.

Sept. 15, 2021

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