Sept. 21, 2016 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Sept. 21, 2016 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 81 No. 4

Undergraduate research secretary hosts interactive workshop DEWEY COOPER WEB EDITOR

pryl Webb, secretary of the office of undergraduate research, hosted a workshop titled “Getting Started in Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities” to help students become acclimated to the undergraduate research experience.

GETTING STARTED IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH AND CREATIVE ACTIVITIES WORKSHOP PHOTOS BY DEWEY COOPER | THE WICHITAN

Attendees of the undergraduate research workshop on Sept. 20, work together on their fake research proposals. | Meaghan Rose, biology senior, Megan Cann, fine arts freshman, Gabriela Morales, biology freshman, work on their fake research proposal with ideas from Cards Agaisnt Humanity.

“We really want to introduce MSU students who are unfamiliar with undergraduate opportunities for research and creative activities,” Webb said. “We want to get more interested and informed students, with higher quality proposals.” During the workshop on Sept. 20, 17 attendees were presented with ways to get involved with undergraduate research. “The information about the program

was beneficial,” Karema Sallam, business administration sophomore, said. “I know how to do it now.” Meaghan Rose, biology senior and four time undergraduate research participant, also attended the workshop. “It helped clarify things for new students,” Rose said. “How to approach a mentor and how to prepare for research.” After the presentation was given, attendees were split into groups and given a response card from the game Cards Against Humanity. With that card they had to create a research proposal, conduct fake research and present preliminary findings. “It’s good for new students to practice speaking in front of new people,” Rose said. After the proposals and findings were presented Sallam mentioned that she now feels more comfortable presenting. “It gave me experience and practice,” Sallam said.

ABOUT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

The Office of Undergraduate Research runs two programs, Enhancing Undergraduate Research Endeavors and Creative Activities and Undergraduate Research Opportunities and Summer Workshop. “We emphasize creative activity because we don’t want to be exclusive of anyone outside of the college of science and math or engineering where you would have the traditional research idea,” Webb said. EURECA is a semester-long program research activity, and UGROW is a five-week summer intensive with workshops. Both end with students presenting their findings at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Forum towards the end of each fall and spring semester. This years will be Nov. 17. “The benefits are many, the students gain confidence, their communication skills improve, as well as their problem-solving and

see EURECA pg. 7

Student production set to open theater season Sept. 22 BRENDAN WYNNE REPORTER

pening its season with the largest student-directed production in 15 years, the theater department once again steps up to their reputation for pushing boundaries and challenging the mind. Stephen Karam’s “Speech & Debate,” running Sept. 22-25 in the Bea Wood Studio Theatre, reveals to audiences the tale of three outcasts as they attempt to uncover the truths behind political hypocrisy. Houston Pokorny, student-director of “Speech & Debate,” said he aims to embrace the contemplative aspect of the play by taking the audience on a self-reflective journey alongside the characters. “Everyone can relate to these characters in some way,” Pokorny, a theater senior, said. “Too often, we hear about people who aren’t comfortable in their own skin, or people who have secrets that they’d go to any lengths to hide. We really get to delve into the mind’s of these outcasts who don’t have anyone they can talk to, hoping they eventually find some semblance of comfort in each other.” Since rehearsals began the week before school started, Katie Cagle, stage manager, says she’s confident in the way the cast and crew have progressed, and that although nerves are commonplace as opening night approaches, much of the cast couldn’t be more excited. According to Sarah Dempsey, theater sophomore, bringing life to these characters has been

PHOTO BY BRENDAN WYNNE | THE WICHITAN

Dean Hart, theater sophomore, Sarah Dempsey, theater sophomore, and Joey McGrinn, perform their scene during rehearsal for “Speech and Debate,” Sept. 15. nothing short of a blast. Poking fun at political and social issues, Dempsey said she ensures there’s more than enough fun to be had with these misfits. “My character, Diwata, is unique, to say the least,” Dempsey

said, “She’s her own person, but I relate to her more than I’d like to admit. I’m not sure I’m quite as wild and out-there as she is, but I definitely have that aspect about me. I mean, I am a theater major, after all.” While the play revolves around controversial subjects, from abortion to political hypocrisy, it is, at its core, a comedy. However, finding balance between the sobering topics and the light-hearted nature, with which they’re explored, was no easy task. “It’s all a balancing act, a very delicate balancing act,” Pokorny said, “Whenever people talk about these kinds of subjects, people often forget the humanity of it all. People forget that these are still human beings with emotions and traits that make them more than just statistics. My hope for the play is that people will learn that, yes, these characters have certain traits or have done certain things that society has deemed controversial, but that doesn’t determine who they are. They’re real people with real emotions, and when you look at them as human beings and not just numbers, that makes all the difference.”

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STAF F E D I T O R I A L

Registration needed for concealed carry OUR VIEW: The university should register each concealed carrying student. With Legacy Hall sprouting up, turf fields being rolled out, recreational fields blanketed with concrete, and a new Mass Communication wing in the works, change has been constant on campus this past year. However, none of these changes are quite as significant as Senate Bill 11, offering concealed carry on Texas campuses. With a campus that primarily leans red, surrounded by rural communities, concealed carry can be intimidating and nerve wracking both to incoming students and their parents. University officials have done a great job providing information to both students and parents, online and in orientation, but more can be done. After the June 12 shooting in Orlando, the information released subsequently showed the shooter’s ease of purchasing a small arsenal — and the FBI still took him off of their watch list. To know that it was that easy for someone to purchase that many firearms and ammunition without a hint of suspicion is frightening. To ensure a safer campus, the university should utilize its new safety app by making concealed carrying students register into a database. If police respond to an alert through the app, they would know if the person they are approaching is carrying or not. Now we aren’t saying this will magically stop potential shooters. However, if officials have a better idea of how many students are carrying and who they are, current students will feel safer, and bringing in prospective students would become easier. Not to mention, campus police would appreciate having an idea if the person they are approaching in response to an alert is carrying.

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Vol. 81 | No. 4

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

MSU helped me rebuild my life

s a single parent and grad student, my day begins even before the soldiers at Sheppard Air Force Base wake up. By the time “Reveille” plays on the base, I’ve finished preparing breakfast for my daughter, cleaned the house, checked emails and started laundry. I haven’t heard much regarding non-traditional students here, and thought it would be a good idea to break the silence. A major life change forced me to move from my former home in Germany to Wichita Falls. My world was turned upside down; I was broke and displaced. But my child depended on me to take care of her. It was the first time I had to take complete control and depend entirely on myself. I worked part-time in retail, but that wasn’t enough to sustain us. As I sat in the welfare office, I decided right then that I would do whatever I could to change my circumstances. I felt I deserved so much more than what life was throwing at me. Of course, there is nothing wrong with these types of programs, because they exist for a reason. But the experience became a catalyst for change. So I made the decision to go back to school and create the life I wanted. I didn’t know what I wanted to major in at first. I was doing well in business, but was passionate about litera-

ture. I decided to go with what interested me most — English literature. My teachers and mentor, Todd Giles, played a major role in guiding me back onto a path of self-discovery and recovery. I discovered my strengths and weaknesses and gained new interests. Although at times life felt overwhelming with parenthood, classes and work, persistence paid off when I graduated in May 2016, Magna Cum Laude. Along my academic journey, I won a poetry award and have been published in an academic journal. But I think the greatest part of this experience is that I’ve set an example for my daughter about hard work and perseverance. When I walked the stage and they handed me my certificate, I didn’t just get my degree, I got my life back. Understand that a liberal arts education will help build a strong foundation for whatever it is you choose to do. It’s not just about going to class. The college experience is about self-discovery. Remember also there are no guarantees and sometimes, life sends you on a completely different path. But it has never really been about the destination anyway — it’s the journey that makes life interesting. C.S. Lewis said, “You are never too old to begin a new goal or dream a new dream,” and I can say from experience that these words are true. Melissa Lausmann is a grad student.

Marriage isn’t for everyone

rom childhood, the average girl is told that marriage is her ultimate goal, like a beast fattened for slaughter; she is prepared for marriage and only that. Her training and education is directed towards learning how to cook, please, and dress appropriately for a “man.” If she chooses another path Wadzana than this, she is condemned and conDzvurumi sidered an incompetent woman. Her worth as a woman is determined by her marriage status. By the age of 33, people think something is wrong with you if you aren’t married. She is possibly barren, or doing something wrong, they would say. I grew up in a culture that taught young girls to see marriage as the biggest goal someone could ever attain in life. It’s almost as if, marriage, was the paragon of success for a woman. Ironically, it is men who embedded these rulebooks into society, yet it is women who keep perpetuating to the deprivation of womanhood as a whole. It is mothers teaching daughters, aunts teaching nieces and sisters teaching sisters that marriage is their ultimate goal.

Nevertheless, I have never been the girl to visualize a wedding, marriage, or finding the “man of my dreams.” The idea of marriage never amused me. Perhaps it just isn’t for me, or the married people I know are terribly miserable in their marriages. Many people have told me that I am wrong, that marriage is the best possible thing next to having a child. While that may be true, I can truly say that throughout the entire course of my life I have met more unhappily married people than happily married ones. While it is said that marriage is the greatest gift of life, I also believe that it is a choice and young girls especially should have the freewill not to choose this path, if they wish. Let us teach girls that it is okay to choose careers over marriage, single life over a married life and not shame them, or perceive them as less of a woman. Society has to realize that to deny marriage is not to deny love, they can both exist independently without the need of being synonymous. There are people who believe that to love without the ties of a marriage is meaningless, while some believe that the marriage institution as a whole is a parasite to love. Wadzanai Dzvurumi is a marketing senior

EDITOR: Kara McIntyre

WEB EDITOR: Dewey Cooper

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.

DESIGN EDITOR: Justin Marquart PHOTOGRAPHERS: Brendan Wynne, Justin Marquart, Izziel Latour, Topher McGehee, Jeanette Perry, Quaveien Thomas

ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

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.

| Sept. 21, 2016 | 3

ENTREPRENEUR

Student brings

THEbrand HEART BREAK CLUB to campus BRIANNA HALL REPORTER

uaveien Thomas, sports and leisure studies junior, started an online clothing company in May 2016 called The Heart Break Club. It has different articles of clothing, such as hats or shirts. Many of those articles of clothing sport the logo he owns and uses often. The clothing also supports movements such as Black Lives Matter and More Love Less Hate. The Heart Break Club is a name that came from Thomas’s past experiences of heartbreak through his past relationships. “Rather than letting this be a negative aspect in my life, I turned it into something positive,” Thomas said. Thomas said he wants the brand to be recognized and the customers to become a support system for each other. Understanding what it’s like to have a broken heart and having a network of people be there for you is a great thing to have, according to Thomas. “Wearing the clothes could create a positive change and have people stop and think and possibly change their views,” said Thomas about his clothing having certain movement logos. Many of his pieces represents the phrase Black Lives Matter or hold the More Love Less Hate logo with a row of different colored hearts, but added his own twist by the last one having a broken heart, his logo he designed and uses often on his other clothes.

“I love the idea of bringing the movements on campus, even if it’s a couple of shirts or hats bringing it,” Oneida Mireles, accounting freshman, said. “It’s a topic that needs to be discussed on campus but has been avoided. Maybe this will get people talking.” Thomas said he was surprised about the takeoff of his brand, but it’s started to mellow out. “The company was really popular at first which is the opposite of what I thought would happen. At first they couldn’t keep up with the amount of orders they had received but now it’s at a steady, constant pace,” Thomas said. He also said he believes that the reason he hasn’t had time to design more pieces is because of school. He hopes to find time this semester to design more items. “I hope to have a big booth during homecoming,” Thomas said. “I want to show support to both of those movements.” He originally wanted to work with young athletes and make sure they were headed on the right path physically and morally, but he can’t deny it the continuing success that his business has become. “I didn’t originally plan on this being a career choice,” Thomas said. “But if this takes off I’m going to go with it.”

www.quavthomas.wixsite.com/theheartbreakclub.

PHOTO BY IZZIEL LATOUR | THE WICHITAN

Quaveien Thomas

4 | Sept. 21, 2016 |

Constitution Day serves to raise awareness HERBERT MCCULLOUGH REPORTER

inda Veazey, associate professor of political science, along with her freshmen students, hosted Constitution Day events Sept. 16 to celebrate the ratification of the United States Constitution in 1787. Although technically Constitution Day is Sept. 17, Veazey’s freshmen class passed out copies of the Constitution in both English and Spanish. Students who received a copy could to show their copy in the Student Government Office to receive a free T-shirt. A voters’ registration drive next sponsored by the League of Women’s Voters of Wichita Falls was also present. Kaye Holland, a debutant from Wichita Falls, explained the importance of voting. “Because if you don’t vote, you don’t have a voice. And if you don’t vote, someone else will

vote for you.” This event expressed the significance of understanding one’s rights as an American citizen according to students. One of Veazey’s students, Austin Underwood, undecided freshman, explained that Constitution Day is simply “to raise awareness of the Constitution and to inform people of their rights.” Veazey expanded on the topic. “Because we can know our rights. In a lot of countries, you don’t have rights. The Constitution is a founding document of our country. Because of it, we are a country of laws and not of one man rule,” Veazey said. According to Veazey, the goal of this event — including viewing the HBO Documentary Citizen USA: 50 State Road Trip — was to understand the Constitution and to educate both students and faculty members their rights as Americans outlined in it.

PHOTO BY TOPHER MCGEHEE

Mahogany Braxton, nursing freshman, reads a constution pamphlet while waiting to hand them out. “The Second Amendment is my favorite amendment is my favorite because it gives you a chance to protect yourself,” Braxton said.

‘There is nothing but opportunity’ New dean from Nebraska hopes for growth in graduate programs

ture of the graduate programs at MSU. “As we move forward we need to just continue to get the word out, recruit the students that have an interest in the types of programs, that maybe have a tie to Wichita Falls or to the university and do a great job of promoting all the good that exists in the grad school at MSU,” said Zuckweiler.

JEANETTE PERRY REPORTER

athryn Zuckweiler isn’t new to Texas, having received her master’s degree in Houston. And she isn’t new to farm country having worked in rural Nebraska. And she loves her — Australian shepherds, Jacob sheep and European sporthorses. But none of that got Zuckweiler the job as graduate school dean, replacing interim dean Matt Capps. “We rated them based on the job description for the position and we had phone interviews with our top candidates, and we invited two to campus,”Betty Stewart, provost and vice president of academic affairs, said. “Zuckweiler was one of the two we invited to campus in November of 2015.” Stewart said that as part of the search that began last fall, both candidates were invited to campus, met with campus officials and gave presentations on campus. Stewart offered Zuckweiler the position in December. “We decided that she [Zuckweiler] was the stronger candidate for the position,” Stewart said.

WHO IS KATHRYN ZUCKWEILER?

Her most recent position was at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where she served as an associate professor of management and associate dean of graduate studies

STAFF REACTIONS

PHOTO BY JEANETTE PERRY

Kathryn Zukweiler speaks with RuthAnn Ross, Gowrimeera Visvanathan and Kareen Latouche, health administration graduate students. and research. Zuckweiler said she had many reasons she chose to accept the position at MSU. “I really like that MSU is a public liberal arts situation so it has an excellent way of combining the liberal arts background with the professional schools, so I have a little bit of a foot in each and I think it’s got tremendous opportunity,” Zuckweiler said. Zuckweiler explained how fortunate we

are to have a lot of well-regarded grad school programs, and her hopes for growth. “Several of the programs are recognized nationally on ‘best-of’ lists, so I’m hopeful that we can build on that momentum and help promote the quality of our programs,” Zuckweiler said. “I think that there is nothing but opportunity with the grad school here.” There are things that Zuckweiler said she would like to see moving forward for the fu-

Lucy Davis, assistant to the dean of Billie Doris McAda Graduate School, said she thinks that Zuckweiler will bring fresh perspective to the position. “Dr. Zuckweiler brings a fresh new perspective to the vision of the McAda Graduate School,” Davis said. Amanda Walton, coordinator for Billie Doris McAda Graduate School, said she is excited about the technology experience that Zuckweiler brings with her to the department. “We’ve specifically been looking at our distance ed. programs. It’s difficult to recruit all over the United States just from Wichita Falls, unless you involve technology,” Walton said. “We’re looking at online recruiting through online grad fairs, virtual grad fairs and trying to branch out a little bit more to help those programs grow as well as helping the programs grow that are around Wichita Falls on campus.” Walton said she believes Zuckweiler will be instrumental in helping with the future growth of the graduate programs on campus.

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Omega Delta Phi is ‘one culture, any race’ ALYSSA MITCHELL REPORTER

“O

ne culture, any race,” is a quote to live by for Omega Delta Phi members. The fraternity’s mission is to “graduate our brothers and give back to the community,” said Alonzo Burris, an exercise physiology junior. Jose Torres, a Bilingual Education sophomore joined Omega Delta Phi Sept. 8 and was introduced to the fraternity at game night in the fall semester of 2015. He suggested that others get out and try to get connected with the different organizations. Torres encouraged joining an organization that gives you the chance to meet new people, and he said, “Continue to look around and find a group of people you’re comfortable with.” He also said that being part of a fraternity is “amazing” and “surreal.” Torres said, “I wanted to be in something bigger than myself and I was looking for a brotherhood.” Isaiah Edwards, an Art major junior, said “We’re not an average fraternity, we are a lot closer as a fraternity than others. We prefer quality over quantity.” The fraternity members always keep tabs on one another and help each other when they need it. They often have study groups and let each other know when they have a test. They do this to help with the “graduate members,” portion of their mission statement. Edwards said, they would like to do “as much as we possibly could for the community while balancing our grades, that’s our main goal.” Not only does the fraternity keep up with their members they try and interact with as many people as possible. Edwards said, “We try to be involved with everybody and look for peoples best interest off and on campus.” Preston Busby, a Criminal Justice sophomore said, “We want to have different connections to a variety of people.” Some examples of how Omega Delta Phi members help out the Wichita Falls community is through their involvement in the Mustang Move-In last month. The upperclassmen and Greeks helped freshman and other returning students move their belongings into their new dorm rooms, saving some students the hassle of loading a trunk’s worth of boxes up five floors by themselves. Additionally, members of Omega Delta Phi participated in volunteering at the city food bank and be-

Students getting food at the Omega Delta Phi cookout held at the Sunwatcher Plaza Sept. 13. ing part of the Sikes Lake cleanup. Some future plans of theirs also include doing a clothing drive and participating in some of the events for Family Day which takes place Sept. 24. They are going to be helping out at Our Lady of Guadalupe church, set up lights, serve food and clean up after wards. Some members will be partaking in the Caribbean fest parade. After the parade there will be music and food to eat in front of the Colosseum. One of the events they enjoy doing the most is the

PHOTO BY JUSTIN MARQUART | THE WICHITAN

Pig roast. Burris said, “The pig roast is a regional conference in the spring, it’s like going to a family reunion.” Not only does Omega Delta Phi contribute to their community they also contribute to one another. Edwards said, “It can be time consuming at times but at the same time it can be fulfilling.” Burris said, “I made the right choice.”

BSU strives to ‘spread awareness’ on social issues QUAVEIEN THOMAS REPORTER

cGuire is an 21 year old educated native of Dallas, Texas, who graduated from Mansfield High School where she started her Criminal Justice major ideas, she also played sports such as, track & volleyball. Barbara has been a student at Midwestern State University for all four years, which gave her an opportunity to succeed in the Student organization. “My purpose of joining the organization is to spread awareness of social and political events in the world and also pursue community service on and off campus.” Barbara said. She has always been familiar with social event planning, according to a member of the organization Ashante Hopkins. The Black Student Union has become very popular at, due to the way that society has been and many students seem to have ques-

tions about joining. Barbara, Who deals with the flyers and post on Twitter and other social websites, brings the support and information to MSU students. Not only does Barbara look to get information out to students, but she also believes that this organization makes her better as a person. “It’s something that my parents would be proud of, knowing that I’m willing to make a change in our community and school.” Barbara said. Often times, the Black Student Union sets up booths in the Student Clark Center at Midwestern State where they host events such as T-shirt giveaways, signups, and sweets that they raise money from. This is a group of educated believers that are taking a stand for what they believe in. Barbara also supports the “Black Lives Matter” movement, which compliments her Criminal Justice major. This movement start-

ed from black lives being shot by cops around the nation. “I’ve been a part of a few protest regarding the movement, and I really feel we are taken for granted because of our skin tone and it shouldn’t happen to anybody.” Barbara said. Barbara thinks that the BSU organization will also help her in the future, where she plans on moving back to Dallas to start her career in being a Parole Officer. She also joined the student organization to help her in the future. “Team skills, organization skills, and networking” is what she believes will give her a head start when she continues her journey after she graduates in the spring 2016 semester. As Barbara finishes off her last year at Midwestern, she strongly suggests that more students should join the Black Student Union at other schools as well. “It shows character in what we are willing to take a stand for, there’s

PHOTO BY QUAVEIEN THOMAS | THE WICHITAN

Students meet for the first Black Student Union meeting Sept. 18. only one way that the violence and unfair treatment will stop and that’s if we can get all of the youth to put more focus in what we’re doing.” “Barbara will be strongly missed after she graduates, if we can get all of these students out here to follow her lead, we can really make a name for our campus.” stated by Charles Frazier, President of the Black Student Union.

6 | Sept. 21, 2016 |

TECHNOLOGY

CALENDAR Grammar Fair

Men’s tennis

Taming test anxiety

Poets, Painter and Paper

Sept. 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. | CSC Comanche Suites

Sept. 23 | Tennis Center | ITA South Central Regional vs. Mustangs

Sept. 21 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Sundance Court | Counseling Center is offering fall workshops designed to help students meet their academic goal.

Meeting academic and career goals

Sept. 22 from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Sundance Court | Counseling Center is offering fall workshops designed to help students meet their academic goal.

Fall trees acrylic class

Sept. 23 from 6:30 - 8 p.m. | Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU

Football / Family Weekend

Sept. 23 - 25. | Campus, Memorial Stadium | MSU family members gather for a weekend of fun and college memories. This year’s program will feature a variety of activities and events on campus and at Memorial Stadium where the football team plays Oklahoma Panhandle State.

Sept. 22 from 6 - 8 p.m. | Sikes Lake Center | Join artist Leslie Berryhill and paint your own version of fall trees. $40 plus $5 supply fee. RSVP to Continuing Education to reserve your spot and to ensure all materials can be provided for you.

Scott Parazynski Artist-Lecture Series

Live at the Lake concert series

Pele: Birth of a Legend

Sept. 22 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU | Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy the live music on the museum’s lawn. Free.

“Speech & Debate”

Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. | Akin Auditorium | Astronaut, physician, inventor, explorer and Mount Everest climber.

Sept. 27 from 7 - 9 p.m. | Legacy Multipurpose Room | Enjoy free popcorn while you watch Pele’s meteoric rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to leading Brazil to its first World Cup victory at the age of 17, chronicled in this biographical drama

Sept. 22, 23, 24 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 25 at 2:30 p.m.| Bea Wood Studio Theatre | by Stephen Karam

I T ’ S T HE C RIME LOG, DUDE Sept. 7

has two students with the same name and the wrong student was given the package.

Non-Criminal - Informational | 7:24 a.m. | Parking Lot #02 | An employee found a bag containing approximately 0.5 grams of marijuana and turned it in to an officer.

Sept. 12

Theft | 6:36 p.m. | Legacy Hall | Officer took theft report from student.

Sept. 7

Drugs: Possession of Marijuana | 11:15 a.m. | Sunwatcher Village | Housing conducted a safety and welfare check and 21 grams of marijuana were located.

Sept. 8

Burglary: Building | 7:59 a.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Victim reported that suspect(s) entered his office and removed personal items without his consent.

Sept. 12

Sept. 16

Drugs: Possession of Marijuana | 8:11 p.m. | Hampstead Lane | Traffic stop produced marijuana.

Sept. 17

Drugs: Possession or Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia | 10:15 a.m. | McCullough-Trigg Hall | During a health and safety check housing officials found a small amount of marijuana in a students room.

Accident Damage to Vehicle | 1 p.m. | Parking Lot #06N | Student parked in lot 6N and proceeded to class. Upon returning to his vehicle he noticed damage to the vehicle that was not there earlier. No contact information was left by the owner that struck his vehicle.

Sept. 17

Sept. 12

Sept. 17

Non-Criminal – Informational | 2:09 p.m. | Clark Student Center | A package was delivered to the Post Office that was addresses to a current student. The University

Drugs: Possession or Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia | 12:59 p.m. | Legacy Hall | Officers were dispatched to Legacy Hall in reference to the odor of marijuana.

Criminal Mischief: Misdemeanor | 1:06 p.m. | Parking Lot #16 | A student reported that her vehicle had been scratched or keyed while parked overnight in lot 16.

Students lukewarm to latest Apple release CALEB SNEATH REPORTER

he next iPhone officially went on sale Sept. 9, and, according to industry analysts, the phone sold well with the jet black model selling out. Despite this, if popular media accounts are right, removal of the conventional headphone jack has proven quite controversial, which may have had a negative impact upon sales. Perhaps worse for Apple, despite several minor general refinements such as a better camera and a faster processor, this year’s release lacks any new major features akin to prior models’ addition of fingerprint scanners or touch pressure sensing. Still, there is one thing Apple has largely ignored which might have the potential to reverse the seven’s bad press up to now, the iPhone upgrade program. “Oh really? That’s cool. I’ll definitely take it,” Eli Moncivais, athletic training sophomore, said. Up until he had heard of the program, Moncivais said his opinion about the new iPhone was lukewarm at best, and he couldn’t think of a single positive thing to overshadow the removal of the headphone jack. “I like to plug in my headphones and charger and this might cause problems,” Moncivais said. The upgrade program works like a monthly subscription to the rights to use the latest iPhone. Users pay $32.41 monthly for the base

model, $5 more than most carriers charge for a payment plan of the equivalent iPhone tier, however there is a caveat. Whenever a new iPhone is released, users can trade in their phone for the new model. While a user that upgrades every few years is better off buying the normal way, a user that upgrades every year could save around $260.08 per iPhone. Still, the upgrade program hasn’t convinced everyone to buy an new iPhone, but many others plan to start taking advantage of the upgrade program in the future. “Yeah, I’d probably take advantage of it,” Javier Suarez, a business marketing freshman, said about the upgrade program. Suarez had already heard of the program and anticipates most likely using the upgrade plan in the future, but doesn’t want to start with the new iPhone. “I’m really not too much of a fan of it. I’m gonna wait until the iPhone,” Suarez said. Lindsey Dominguez, dental hygiene freshman, is still a fan of the new iPhone despite all of its bad press, admiring its new matte black finish and better camera quality. Nonetheless, she said she doesn’t plan to make use of the upgrade plan as buying an iPhone every year is still too expensive even with the potential effective discount the upgrade plan offers, and said she is likely to just buy a new phone instead of taking advantage of the upgrade program.

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Family Weekend to ‘connect families to Midwestern’ KELSEY PURCELL REPORTER

t just wasn’t enough. For the last few years, campus officials have tried to cram all the family activities — from movies to the football game — in to one day. It just wasn’t enough. So this year, Family Day became Family Weekend — Sept. 23-25. “We’re just trying to make sure we have all the stuff here for people to do. We have inflatables for the kids, we have the Kiowa cooks cooking, there’s a movie going on, there’s football games playing in Maverick’s Corner, there’s a chill out area. We’re trying to make sure everybody has something to do, and everyone has a fun, safe time,” Matt Chisholm, the coordinator of student transition programs, said. “Our goal is to connect our families with Midwestern.” Many organizations around campus are coming together to help put on the event, including Student Government Association, Student Ambassadors, Residence Hall Association, Junior League, cheerleaders, and Greek life. Charles Frazier, athletic training senior, has volunteered with Student Ambassadors in past years, and said he plans to volunteer again this year. “Being a student ambassador, and helping run some of the games that are going on is cool because I get to see everybody’s families coming to campus

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critical thinking skills,” Magaly Rincon-Zachary, director of undergraduate research, said. Webb also mentioned the office of undergraduate research supports undergraduate research and creative activity throughout the colleges and not just the office of undergraduate research.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH

2015 FILE PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON

Sierra Jones, athletic training senior, Shana Hancock, mother of Sierra, and Devin Hancock, Sierra’s brother, get their picture taken at one of the booths in the Quad put up for Family Day, Sept. 26. and happy and looking around like ‘oh my gosh, wow this is so beautiful,’” Frazier said. According to Frazier, the student volunteers are able to participate in Family Weekend still and enjoy their time with their own families. “I’m excited. It’s always a fun weekend with events, and when my family comes down, I take my little brother and sister to do the stuff in the quad, like the bounce houses and the games,” Frazier said. The game will be the second conference game for the football team. “We have 2,200 people who signed

up for football tickets,” Chisholm said. Layton Rabb, accounting junior, is a quarterback for the team, and he said he thinks the large crowd made up of families will ignite additional motivation. “It’s a fun environment to have your parents there, and see them before the game. Family Weekend brings in a lot of fans,” Rabb said. “It’s always good to have fans there, it just brings a lot of excitement. I think every player would agree that they want to play in front of a packed crowd, and having your loved ones in the stands makes it that much sweeter.”

“Students can get involved through pursuing research that a faculty mentor is already doing on their own,” Webb said. “This is a more common way. Students can also submit their own proposals.” Both ways require faculty or graduate student mentors. Webb added that students get out of undergraduate research what they put in. “We don’t want undergraduate research to be a passive experience,” Webb said.

PHOTO BY DEWEY COOPER | THE WICHITAN

Apryl Webb, secretary of the office of undergraduate research, speaks to 17 attendees during and undergraduate research workshop on Sept. 20.

Juniors to take Writing Proficiency Exam Sept. 27-Oct. 1 DOMINICK HASKINS REPORTER

tudents classified as juniors with at least 60 hours, but no more than 90 hours, are making final preparations as they prepare to take the Writing Proficiency Exam Sept. 27 - Oct. 1. The WPE, a university requirement, purportedly measures a student’s ability to write critically and creatively at a college level. MSU requires the test to make sure that MSU is graduating students that are clearly able to write papers that are college sufficient. Any student who fails the exam or does not take the exam is

required to take English 2113. According to Melissa Nivens, English lecturer, graduation requirements include the exam because it needs to make sure that graduating students are prepared to go out into the real world and write sufficiently enough to excel at the career path that they have chosen. “We do not give the exam to incoming freshman, because we want to see how well they write once they have been in college for a couple of years. However, we keep the cutoff line at 90 hours so that any student who does not pass the exam has time to take English 2113 before

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they are due to graduate,” Nivens said. “In the future, there could be alternative ways of determining whether or not a students writing is sufficient enough to pass our standards however right now the two options of passing the exam or taking English 2113 is what we use to make that determination.” Some students choose to attend MSU is because of the academic reputation that MSU has. Jeff Ray, former MSU athletic director and men’s basketball head coach, and current men’s and women’s golf coach, said, “Midwestern State University is considered by

many to be a very respectable degree. It has served me well in life. The WPE is just another test put in place to make sure that we are graduating quality students.” The WPE is typically graded by two English instructors. The first instructor reviews the exam and determines whether or not it is a passing exam. That person hands it over who also scores it. If the two disagree, a third person grades the exam. A big myth that is commonly believed amongst students, such as clinical lab science junior Alyssa Bell, is that a certain amount of stu-

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dents must be failed for officials to fill seats for English 2113 and thus make a profit on the class. “Everyone has been saying it seems like they [MSU] pass half and fail half every time,” Bell said. Nivens said she wanted to debunk this myth. “The idea that we have to fail a certain number of students in order to fill English 2113 is completely untrue,” Nivens said. “It is a different number of students that take the exam every time, it is a different number that pass and fail. We do not have any kind of expectation going into it.”

8 | Sept. 21, 2016 |

UNIFIED SPORTS LEAGUE SOCCER GAMES SEPT. 21 5-7 P.M. Skills assessment and team practice Intramural Fields

SEPT. 28 6-7 P.M. Game 1 Intramural Fields PHOTO BY IZZIEL LATOUR | THE WICHITAN

Sabrina Angeles, business management sophomore, prepares for the next play against Dallas Baptist last week.

Volleyball team focused on staying aggressive SAM SUTTON REPORTER

The women’s volleyball team shut out UT Permian Basin on Sept. 16 with a score of 3-0. Head Coach Natalie Rawson said the reason for the win is aggressiveness. “We talk about it and work on it every week in practice. We run high octane offense and defense throughout the week,” Rawson said. “We allow errors in practice, which helps us learn, as well as keep rhythm.” The team struggled in the second game of the night, but were able to come back and win 25-23. Rawson said she believes the reason for the game two struggle was error timing. “We want to spread out our errors in the games, but we didn’t in that one. We missed three serves and a lot of hitting errors. We are getting better at spreading them out, but it’s something we still need to work on,” Rawson said. Rawson also said the main focus of the team isn’t winning — it’s staying focused, staying aggressive, and having the best match they can have. Sabrina Angeles, business management fresh-

man, agreed with Rawson about aggressiveness being the primary factor of winning. “It was definitely our aggression. We want to put everything we have out on the court every time we play,” Angeles said. “We don’t care if it looks clean, we just slam it down their throats every time we could.” She also talked about playing as a family. She said it was the reason they were able to pull out the comeback in game two. “We didn’t let anyone get down on themselves. If someone messed up, we brought them back up, and kept playing,” Angeles said. Kiley Beaver, business sophomore, also mentioned aggression, as well as energy and purpose. “We came out with purpose and a lot of energy. We wanted to do whatever we could to reach our personal goals,” Beaver said. Beaver said her goals were to be a good blocker, stay focused and bring both a positive light and a good attitude to the team. “Positive energy is what we need right now. After last season, we feel a little down at times. My goal is to help everyone stay positive,” Beaver said.

Rawson, as well as the other players, said another factor that’s been helping them this season is being at home. Rawson said it’s nice to have the players being able to play on the court they’re familiar with, as well as being able to sleep in their own beds afterward. “You sort of have a comfortability at home. It’s good for us to start off at home since we struggled last season,” Rawson said. Beaver said while it is nice to be home, they still can’t get too comfortable. “We can’t get too familiar with the court. We have to keep practicing hard, and stay mentally ready for our first road trip,” Beaver said. “When you go on the road, you have to do more to take care of yourself. Nothing is convenient like it is at home.” After winning this game and losing to West Texas A&M on Saturday, the team will go on the road for the first time this season on Sept. 20 to play Cameron in Lawton, OK. Beaver said if they just stay focused, and “control the controllables,” they will do fine.

OCT. 5 6-7 P.M. Game 2 Intramural Fields

OCT. 12 6-7 P.M. Game 3 Intramural Fields

OCT. 15 11 A.M.-NOON Championship Games Intramural Fields