Sept. 23, 2022 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Opening our eyes to the danger of drugs

THE WICHITAN STAFF

Recently, the abuse of fentanyl has become a nationwide con cern. According to the CDC, the most recent cases involving harm, abuse, overdose and death are linked to illegally made doses of fen tanyl. The drug can be intentionally or unintentionally overdosed.

Wichita Falls has recorded ap

proximately 18 deaths related to fentanyl since the start of this year. Three of which happened the week end of September 15th, two of the victims were teenagers and the third was a student of MSU.

Fentanyl is a pharmaceutical drug that was originally created to cater to the pain management treat ment for cancer patients. It is a pow

erful drug that is estimated to be 50100 times stronger than morphine. The opioid components of this drug make it an easy target for abuse.

The abuse of this drug impacts us as a community, and it is impor tant that we consider the available resources at MSU that can assist the student body through navigating this issue. The psychology clinic is a

resource that should not be ignored. It is open Monday through Friday and sessions are made by appoint ment only. The clinic is located in the O’Donohoe Wing of the ProthroYeager building. Another resource to consider is the Counseling center which offers teleservices, you can call 940-397-4618 to schedule an ap pointment.

BRIEFS

Family Weekend kicks off

The university’s annual Family Weekend activities begin on Friday, Sept. 23 with a concert and fireworks event on the South Recreational Field near the Bruce and Graciela Redwine Student Wellness Center.

Office of Risk and Safety Management launches MSUReady

In observance of National Preparedness Month, the Office of Risk and Safety Management has launched MSUReady, which is a campus-wide preparedness initiative focused on local hazards that could substantially impact the campus community.

“MSUReady empowers Mustangs to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters,” emergency preparedness specialist Eric Queller said via the MSU Student Postmaster.

Caribfest Parade Day is on Saturday, Sept. 24

Caribfest, a series cultural events hosted by the Caribbean Student Organization, kicked off Sept. 22 with a culture show. The parade, which is the climax of Caribfest, will take place on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. starting at the Harding parking lot.

EN ESPAÑOL

Recientemente,

el abuso de fentanilo se ha convertido en una preocupación a nivel nacional. Según el CDC, los casos más recientes que involucran daño, abuso, sobredosis y muerte están re lacionados con dosis ilegales de fen tanilo. El fármaco puede sufrir una sobredosis de forma intencionada o no intencionada.

Wichita Falls ha registrado aproximadamente 18 muertes re lacionadas con el fentanilo desde el comienzo de este año. Tres de los cu ales ocurrieron el fin de semana del 15 de septiembre, dos de las víctimas eran adolescentes y el tercero era es tudiante de MSU.

El fentanilo es un fármaco que se creó originalmente para atender el tratamiento del dolor en pacientes

con cáncer. Es una droga poderosa que se estima que es 50-100 veces más fuerte que la morfina. Los com ponentes opioides de esta droga la convierten en un blanco fácil para el abuso.

El abuso de esta droga nos afecta como comunidad, y es importante que consideremos los recursos dis ponibles en MSU que pueden ayudar al cuerpo estudiantil a navegar este

Editor in Chief: Stephanie Robledo

Managing Editor: Anne Akpabio

Design Editor: Omar Combie

Photography Editor: Colin Stevenson

Spanish Editor: Lizbeth Jaimes

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problema. La clínica de psicología es un recurso que no debe ser ignora do. Está abierto de lunes a viernes y las sesiones se realizan únicamente con cita previa. La clínica está ubica da en el ala O’Donohoe del edificio Prothro-Yeager. Otro recurso a con siderar es el centro de consejería que ofrece teleservicios, puede llamar al 940-397-4618 para programar una cita.

Monday, Sept. 26 is the last day to file for graduation

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Friends share memories and words of caution after death of student

CECIL WITHERSPOON REPORTER

Onethread tied together the 70-plus students who laughed, cried and reminisced in Legacy Courtyard Thursday night. That common thread was Adam Sattler, a 21-year-old MSU student who passed away last weekend. Classmates, colleagues, roommates, friends and friends-of-friends united to remember Adam’s life, personality and impact.

As the evening approached the 9 p.m. start time of the vigil, a somber crowd of students filled the courtyard. The low hum of conversation was punctuated occasionally by low laughter as students filtered in, hugged one another and prepared to remember one of their own.

After a phone chime and the clock tower reminded everyone that the scheduled time had arrived, a few of Adam’s friends – and Spanish professor Claudia Montoya – took turns remembering Adam and laughing about their time together. But the evening also had its share of more serious tones, as the students and professor warned the assembled crowd against hard drugs and what police suspect to be Adam’s cause of death – fentanyl overdose. Jayden Jones, nursing junior, said she hopes students take the suspected cause of death seriously.

“I honestly hope it opens people’s eyes. I hope it makes people realize to stop taking pills, stop risking their life doing any of that, cause it’s not worth it, it’s really not,” Jones said.

Richie Hanafin, mass communication sophomore and one of Adam’s close friends, stressed that drug use wasn’t a defining characteristic of Adam. Instead,

Hanafin described him as a caring friend who looked out for others.

“He was my best friend, I mean, it’s hard to explain cause I’ve been dealing with a lot these last three days. Just such a good guy, genuine, he just wanted the best for everybody in the situation. He was never selfish, and he wasn’t a pillhead either. I know that that’s a big thing is that he may have been into that stuff. He did there, but it wasn’t heavy, that’s just not who he was,” Hanafin said.

Hanafin met Adam in a speech class, and said they connected immediately. Several of the students gathered described meeting Adam by chance, but then quickly seeing him become an important part of their lives.

Goshua Galvan, business management senior, said he used to go the skate park with Adam frequently. Though the two fell out of contact for a while, they were reunited as roommates in Sunwatcher over the summer and hung out more. Galvan said seeing the crowd of students that gathered to remember Adam showed how much his friends cared about him.

“It means a lot to me. I mean, obviously some of these people were closer to him but it just says a lot to me personally. Cause to me it just says that this community and this school really cares,” Galvan said.

Elaina Camp, political science and psychology sophomore, was one of the primary organizers for the event. She spoke twice and led a prayer at the event, and stood in the front row of students as they lit candles in remembrance. She said she planned the event because she felt Adam deserved the memorial.

“Because I loved Adam, so much, and I just, I didn’t want to do nothing for

him. He didn’t deserve for us to act like it just didn’t happen. Cause it hit all of us, we were all very close, I just wanted to get this together for him, just show him some love and stuff,” Camp said.

Jason Jaimes, kinesiology sophomore, echoed Camp’s sentiment and added it was encouraging to see so many people come out to support the event.

“Honestly it makes me like, it makes me really sad at the same time, but it makes me feel good cause he was a good dude. He deserves all this love. Definitely deserves it,” Jaimes said.

While his friends say he deserved to be remembered, business sophomore Sophia Palomo said he didn’t deserve his death at such a young age.

“I was close with Adam. He was like my bestie, we had so many plans together. And he just changed my life, like every time I saw him he had this big old smile on his face, like he always just had something to say. I don’t know, he just didn’t deserve it,” Palomo said.

Now, after his passing at just 21 years old, Adam’s friends are faced with moving forward without him.

“Nothing is the same, I’ll say that. Nothing is the same without Adam,” Jones said.

Jaimes lamented Adam’s loss, and said now his friends owe it to Adam to keep going.

“It’s terrible, knowing that he’s not gonna continue life with us, he’s not gonna grow with us, see the future with us. But at the end of the day we gotta do it for him. Can’t let it be in vain,” Jaimes said.

On Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022 at 1 pm in Lucy Park friends will gather to remember Adam.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN Students spelled out Adam Sattler’s name with candles in his honor, Sept. 22. PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN Students huddle together as political science and psychology sophomore Elaina Camp leads them in prayer, Sept. 22. PHOTO COURTESY OF ELAINA CAMP Adam Sattler leaves behind friends lamenting his passing this weekend, 2022.

Real stories provide candid look at suicide

CECIL WITHERSPOON REPORTER

Personal stories of sadness, triumph and deep pain were on display Thursday in the Clark Student Center Atrium. The stories were each united by a common thread; suicide and its impact on MSU. The stories were anonymous; their tellers are unknown, but they were part of an exhibition designed to ensure that their impact did not go unfelt.

The Share Your Stories event allows students, faculty and staff to anonymously share their experiences with how suicide has affected them. The stories are then displayed as part of an exhibition hosted by the Counseling Center.

Share Your Stories falls at the tail end of Suicide Awareness Month, a month in which the Counseling Center seeks to promote information and resources to students who may be struggling.

Counseling Center assistant direct Zachary Zoet said the overall goal of Suicide Awareness Month is to increase public understanding of the underlying issues many people face when battling depression, and provide resources to help those who are struggling.

“Part of Suicide Awareness Month at MSU is increasing the visibility of mental health in that nowadays it can be more common than it used to for persons to struggle with that just because times are a little bit challenging for students. They’re having to work more than they used to, they’re having increased financial strain, there’s greater pressure in a global market,” Zoet said.

“It’s leading to more and more persons kind of struggling,” Zoet said.

History freshman Shontavious Johnson agreed, and said the matter deserves particular attention among college students.

“I feel like it’s an important factor because it is something that happens in our age group,” Johnson said.

Suicide disproportionately affects college students, and Zoet said it is the second-leading cause of death among college students.

Andante Parker, radiology junior, echoed the importance of creating conversations centered around mental health and wellness, particularly because it can be hard to identify when people may need help.

“I think it’s very important because you never know what someone’s internally battling,” Parker said.

Zoet said what sets Share Your Stories apart is that it is not a direct resource, but rather something designed to promote conversation, learning and understanding of the impact of suicide on the campus community.

“We try to invite people to share these stories to broaden conversations, make it okay to talk about, and honor that very human struggle. So that’s the point of this exhibition, it’s just part of our Suicide Awareness Month where some parts are about empowering people to notice warning signs, some parts are about clinicians assessing students for their mental health - and other parts are that more culture-based moving the needle that we’re doing today,” Zoet said.

Parker agreed about the necessity of providing a platform for discussion. He said he and many other students have struggled with mental health without knowing where to go or who to talk to for help.

“I feel like it’s a big issue which a lot of people don’t speak on, which

needs to be [spoken] on more,” Parker said.

Share Your Stories seeks to impart the seriousness of the topic through real stories - stories that are presented to help people grow in their understand of suicide even though it is an uncomfortable topic.

Johnson said the exhibit offers a middle ground for students who might need support but worry about the implications of seeking out help.

“It’s good that [the Counseling Center] came out to where the students actually are, because typically the students aren’t going to go out and seek that help because of the fear of being judged, maybe by peers or the people they’re reaching out to. So it’s really good that they came in and found the students directly where they are instead of the students going out and seeking it on their own,” Johnson said.

Zoet said that while suicide and depression are still real problems among college students, progress is being made. He added that some of the stigmas around talking about mental health are fading and being replaced with understanding.

“We’ve seen improvements in the visibility and destigmatization of discussing mental health concerns,

but those improvements don’t come without consistent, concerted efforts to make sure that people are seen, and their human experiences are seen as human and not as negative,” Zoet said.

Still, there is more work to be done, and Zoet said that work begins as early as next week when the Counseling Center will start preparing for next year’s Suicide Awareness Month.

Zoet said Share Your Story and other events in Suicide Awareness Month have had a positive impact and reception among students - even though engaging with the exhibit can be a difficult due to its sensitive subject matter.

“People seem to very much appreciate what we’re doing, understand why we’re doing it, and also understand that these moments and these struggles are incredibly saturated and charged, and understand that what they’re engaging with is similarly moving,” Zoet said.

Students who would like more information regarding counseling or mental health help for themselves or people they know can visit the Counseling Center on campus, or call (940) 397-4618.

PHOTO BY CECIL WITHERSPOON | THE WICHITAN Medical office coordinator Christina Gragg of the Counseling Center hands MOSAIC assistant director Ruby Garrett paper butterflies, Sept. 22. Gragg said she sees butterflies as a symbol of new beginnings.

Alexis Camarena: “College was not in my plans”

lower income family, and growing up in the area that I did, most Hispanics like me would finish high school and then just go straight to working construction, and that was my mindset as well,” Camarena said.

Thalía Doe

Alexis Camarena seems to be taking full advantage of his college years; he is the latest president of the Organization of Hispanic Students, and vice president of the fraternity Omega Delta Phi. However, his experience with education was not always like this. In fact, there was a time where college wasn’t even in the picture for Camarena.

“I’m first generation born and raised in Fort Worth, not from the best neighborhood, I grew up toward Stop 6. I was the youngest and only boy with two older sisters and no father figure. Being completely honest, college was never really in my plans. Growing up in a

Camarena has been working since the age of 14. From the age of 14 to when he graduated, Camarena worked construction.

“I was getting paid, I was making decent money, so it was even easier to decide that that’s what I was going to do. My freshman and sophomore year of high school I really didn’t care about school. I was just there to not get fined for not going to school,” Camarena said.

Mechanical engineering junior Camarena says he is at MSU because of two teachers that believed in him. Camarena said that those teachers made it a point that he was special.

“When I was in middle school, I had this teacher that nominated me for the gifted and talented program. She was the first person to say she saw something in me, I like to think that that’s where it started. As I said, my first two years of high school I drifted from my academics and didn’t care about school. So much so, that my avid teacher kicked me out because she saw I wasn’t doing anything. I had to come and talk o her and she decided to give me another chance,” Camarena said.

That second chance ultimately lead Camarena to MSU. With the guidance of his avid teacher, he realized he would be selling himself short by continuing working in construction and took action into applying for schools.

“She made it mandatory for me to speak to her if I was struggling or ever going through something. We got real close; she wanted something better for me. Junior year was my wakeup call. I was born here, so that already gave me so many more opportunities. I ended up applying to UTSA, Texas State and Midwestern State. Since I began working, I’ve supported myself, I pay for everything myself. MSU gave me the most financial aid and so this is where I came,” Camarena said.

Now, the two organizations Camarena is a part of have provided him with a family and introduced him to forever friendships. Isaac Nunez, former president of OHS, was the one that encouraged him to join OHS his freshman year. And if joining OHS wasn’t enough, Nunez also influenced Camarena’s decision to joining ODPHI, a multi-cultural fraternity.

“I joined OHS because of Isaac. I also saw how people formed friendships in the organization. A lot of Hispanics that are in college also happen to be first generation like me. It can be terrifying so I like that we

are all in this together,” Camarena said, “We are there for each other, we are each other’s support system.”

After Isaac Nunez graduated, and following a subsequent president of OHS who also ended up leaving, OHS had less activity. Camarena decided to step up and has been partnering with MOSAIC and volunteering to get OHS more involved and bring life to the organization again.

“We have Latin Night coming up on Oct. 14 partnering with MOSAIC again. For homecoming we are also partaking in everything but the lip sync competition. Just getting ourselves out there for the MSU student body and community to see us again in action,” Camarena said.

With so much going on, and being pushed to his absolute limits, Camarena says the biggest thing that keeps him going is thinking of his mom. He wants to be able to return all the work she has done for their family.

“During hard times, I just think about how I want to be able to provide for my mom and her not have to work anymore. That’s my main reason for coming and staying in school. I don’t want her to have to worry about paying for bills or anything, I’ll take care of her,” Camarena said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX CAMARERA Mechanical engineering junior Alexis Camarena is the latest president of the Organization of Hispanic Students, 2022. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEX CAMARERA Omega Delta Phi vice president Alexis Camarena says he found forever friendships in the organization, 2022.

Unidos during Hispanic

to get people to go out there, to learn more about the culture and so I think that’s one way of us uniting as one to helping each other out to be stronger.”

Viva MSU! united organizations from the Wichita Falls community. There was the Organization of Hispanic Students who made elotes, and the Zavala International Dance who performed the traditional dance Folklorico.

“I came here to dance baile Folklorico. I’ve been dancing since I was about nine years old, stayed with it ever since,” Juanita Orocco, Zavala International Dance dancer and bilingual education and Spanish senior, said. “I love showing my culture to the community, sharing this beautiful traditional dance, sharing the dresses, the hair pieces,” The

Self Portrait Party

STEPHANIE ROBLEDO EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Sept. 15, the independence day of five different Latin American countries, and goes through Oct. 15. This month celebrates Hispanic culture and history.

Starting off on a strong note

“So far, MSU is celebrating with the MOSAIC through our kick off, we did Viva MSU! We wanted to make sure we were bringing a pretty authentic feel, make sure we could celebrate it in all of the ways that kind of recognize the independence of all of the countries that did receive their independence which is why we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month,” Jamilah Kangudja, MOSAIC Cross

Cultural Center coordinator, said,“I think that was a good kick off. We provided a taco truck, it was Tacos Don Pepe…as well as Fazmoz Caribbean cuisine because there are some of the islands are considered Hispanic and we wanted to make sure that we were being true and encompassing of all of the people that are within this community of being Hispanic or of Latinx descent or heritage.”

Focusing on inclusion

This year’s theme is “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation.” Unidos translates to united which was reflected in the Viva MSU! celebration according to Ruby Garrett, assistant director of the MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center.

“The really big impact with that was Viva MSU!…we were there uniting as one. It

wasn’t just [a MOSAIC] event, it was an event for MSU Texas and it was with [Kappa Delta Chi], [Omega Delta Phi], Somos Familia. It was just a lot of different organizations, even organizations that were not Latin based like the museum that was there too advertising heritage and artwork and just community.

So I think that was just a really big event,” Garrett said. “The other events that’s happening as well we’re partnering up with them and were advertising so it’s not just them doing by themselves were also helping them

The kick off event was Viva MSU! but the Self Portrait Party was the first event for Hispanic Heritage Month. The Self Portrait Party was part of Hispanic Heritage Month last year as well with a focus on Frida Kahlo. This year the event highlighted more artists.

“The goal for the painting event was to have fun, destress and paint a little bit while showcasing some Hispanic Latino artists. Last year we did just Frida but this year we introduced a few more like Fernando Botero, Ester Hernandez and Carlos Mérida,” Bella Muniz, LGBTQA STAND Council coordinator and English junior said.

A notable change

An event that didn’t make a comeback this year was the Noche de Estrellas. This event was replaced by Latin night, an event for dancing and music.

“We opted for Latin Night because it seems as though traditionally when you look at the culture, partying in that manner with your friends with your family is more of a celebration than it is to just kind of get dressed up and go and listen to someone speak. So we won’t be doing Noche de las Estrellas this year instead we opted for Latin Night. We’re gonna see how this goes and maybe we can make this a recurring thing as well for Hispanic Heritage Month,” Kangudja said.

Scaling back

Hosts serve conchas, a traditional Hispanic treat, at the self-portrait party, Sept. 14.

All events were announced through the MOSAIC Hispanic Heritage Month calendar like in previous years. This year only four

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN PHOTO BY CASEE HARL | THE WICHITAN Students dance to “El Caballo Dorado” at the Viva MSU event, Sept. 16.

6 Sept. 23, 2022 Editorial | News | Stang Stories | Hispanic Heritage Month

Hispanic Heritage Month

events were visible in the calendar as opposed to the 10 from the previous year. This is because the events on the calendar are only MOSAIC events, it doesn’t include the events from other on campus organizations.

“For the most part it’s almost working separately of course we’re going to continue to promote other people’s events…but without taking the initiative on their event because if it’s something that I didn’t plan I can’t answer every question for the event per se,” Kangudja said. “I think in a way this makes it to where we work together as an MSU community rather than we work separately because now the expectation isn’t that we are all the program that has to happen everybody is welcomed to do programming and bring about awareness to whatever observance or observance month is happening.”

Including the greater community

An addition to the calendar was events happening outside of campus. Community events such as the Zavala Latin Block Party and “GABRIEL “FLUFFY” IGLESIAS – BACK ON TOUR.” There was also a section called #Paracultura Roadtrips which featured events happening in Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma.

“There’s a lot of people that like to go home and sometimes there’s more options or there’s more variety that is happening in the metroplex than there probably is happening within our community in Wichita Falls and Midwestern State. We want to make sure that we are being very intentional about providing opportunities for people whether it is a matter of they’re here or a matter of they’re going back to the metroplex…or…even the matter of Oklahoma…those are the closest cities and state that are to us and it seems like it will be a lot more convenient to allow people that experience,” Kangudja said.

Understanding the culture

MOSAIC is also providing informative resources about Hispanic Heritage Month and the community it celebrates on its page on the MSU website. Garrett has been providing those resources as she believes it is important to learn about the culture while celebrating it.

“Just like any observance you don’t just celebrate one month and that’s it or a week and that’s it. You want to continue that effort because that’s a way of how you enrich your life and how you enrich the community so you’ll learn more about whatever culture you’re learning too…Everything changes every single day. What [Hispanic Heritage Month] was back in the day it’s totally different from what it is

now just because we as a community just like any observance in the community grow and we see how we can improve our lives,” Garrett said.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN Graciela Paz’s piece “Embracing Change” stands as an abstract piece at the Fiding Your Voice gallery at WFMA, Sept. 17. SCREENSHOT BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN Mechanical engineering senior Gabriel Ling begins his painting with a metallic gold paint, Sept. 14. PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN Wichita Falls High School students América Benitez, Natalie Perez, Andrea Granados and Natalie Rodriguez stand with WFMA curator Danny Bills and Café con Leche founder Gonzalo Robles at WFMA, Sept. 17. The group worked together to create the Finding Your Voice gallery.

7Sept. 23, 2022Month | Español | Sports | Entertainment | Campus Voices

Estudiantes del segundo año tienen su primera experiencia de vida en el campus

STEPHANIE ROBLEDO | DANIELLE HARDIN EDITORA EN JEFE | TRADUCTOR

Elcrecimiento de la pandemia de COVID-19 pidió un cambio en la vida diaria y la academia no fue la excepción. Las clases se hacen en línea y los estudiantes tienen que aprender porv la pantalla en casa. Muchos estudiantes quienes tienen el primer año en el año académico 20202021 asisten en línea en MSU Texas y ahora están experimentando la vida del campus por primera vez como estudiantes.

“Mi primer año fue el año pasado; después de la crisis de COVID-19 fue como ah...puro shock. Todo estaba por zoom y D2L, y ahora que es en persona…me confundi porque antes, nunca había estado en este medio ambiente.” dijo Sara Anderson, estudiante de enfermería del segundo año.

Anderson dijo que ella esperaba que la Universidad fuera similar a la escuela preparatoria. Ella asistió a una escuela preparatoria pequeña y pensó que MSU sería similar pero más grande.

“Me siento más como una estudiante de primer año [este año], porque no conozco el campus muy bien, y yo no conozco mucha gente. Yo siento que debo saber más sobre MSU en general de lo que sé ahora” dijo Anderson.

Debido a su inusual primer año, Anderson dijo que ella siente como si perdió la oportunidad de conocer a gente nueva y participar en organizaciones en el campus. Tajir Ford-Foy, estudiante de psicología del segundo año, siente que ella perdió las oportunidades debido a Covid-19, por usar cubrebocas y no ser capaz de ir a cualquier lugar.

Académicamente

semestre es como pensé que sería la universidad]. Fuera de las clases regulares, no, porque yo no conozco a nadie más, además de las personas con las que vivo,“ dijo Ford-Foy.

El primer año de la universidad no fue como las estudiantes Anderson y Ford-Foy, quienes esperaban por más emoción y experiencias nuevas, esperaban que fuera. Otros estudiantes como Daisy King, estudiante de psicología del segundo año, tienen un buen primer año de la universidad porque aprenden en línea.

aprendo auditivamente, entonces solo escuchando al profesor dar la lectura mediante zoom yo puedo conservar más información.” dijo King.

Al entrar a la universidad King no tuvo ninguna expectativa. Ella asumió que sería ir a clases y trabajar en su carrera lo cuál es como su experiencia ha sido. King fue capaz de tener clases presenciales brevemente antes de tener las clases virtuales y no tiene una preferencia para que ella aprenda porque ella fue capaz de adaptarse a los dos.

mi, y fui capaz de adaptarme a esto muy bien. Yo no diría que tengo una preferencia.” Dijo King.

[este

“Honestamente, mi primer semestre fue cuando COVID golpeó, entonces no me sentí mal porque nosotros estuviéramos en línea. Yo pienso que lo hago mejor en línea de todo modos, entonces fue más fácil estudiar y tener un calendario y no preocuparse sobre ir a las clases y al campus. Yo siento que fue un poquito más fácil para mí porque

“Yo no diría que tengo una preferencia porque soy una de las personas que puede adaptarse. Yo me adapté a las dos situaciones bien… estar en clase y… en persona, estoy familiarizada con estas situaciones porque nosotros siempre hemos hecho eso desde que comenzamos la escuela primaria hasta ahora, y entonces aprender en línea fue fácil para

King dice que este semestre es un poquito más desafiante que los semestres anteriores debido al material que ella está aprendiendo. King cree que este semestre es lo que la mayoría de la gente espera de la universidad lo cual es ir a las clases y estresarse en los exámenes. Ella ha visto más personas pasando el rato y haciendo actividades en campus. Anderson estaría de acuerdo que este semestre es más como lo que ella pensó que la universidad sería.

[Este semestre es] mejor que el año pasado, yo tengo más oportunidades para interactuar con más personas, más tiempo en las clases. Yo realmente puedo prestar atención y yo no estoy dormida en zoom. Entonces, siento que estoy ganando una educación mejor que el año pasado,” dijo Anderson.

FOTO POR COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN Felicia Flores y Kristen Carraway, estudiantes de segundo año de entrenamiento atlético, disfrutan de una cena y discuten el contenido de una clase anterior, el 12 de octubre, 2021.

sí

Cammie Dean, guía estudiantes de primera generación hacia el éxito

Priddy Scholars es un programa que ayuda a estudiantes de primera generación. El programa está dirigido por Cammie Dean, ya que ella era estudiante de primera generación también.

“Pienso que tengo varias razones por las que trabajo en este programa. Yo era un estudiante de primera generación también y ninguno de mis padres tenían un título. Había un tiempo en mi vida cuando mis padres no tenían experiencia en varias cosas y yo tuve que resolver mis problemas sola. La educación siempre fue muy importante en mi familia,” dijo, Cammie Dean.

El trabajo de Cammie Dean se trata de ayudar a estudiantes de primera generación a crecer en sus vidas

académicas y convertirse en líderes en la comunidad. A veces, las personas que nacen con las posibilidades que no están en su favor sienten que no pueden salir bien en el futuro.

“Siempre lloro en las graduaciones de los Priddy Scholars, esa es la realidad. Siempre es así para mí pero me encanta tener un grupo de estudiantes con quien que yo pueda trabajar muy de cerca. Tengo el privilegio de ser parte del camino de los Priddy Scholars,” dijo, Cammie Dean.

Los Priddy Scholars tienen un plan que Cammie diseña para ellos empezando con el primer año de la universidad. Por ejemplo, Cammie dio un plan a Kari Bell, exalumna de 2019 de Midwestern State, para que tenga información sobre su título. Kari tomó clases para aprender cómo escribir papeles en la universidad. Las clases ayudaron a Kari conseguir su título

en Dillard College of Business y ahora trabaja en la ciudad de Flower Mound.

“En el primer año nos concentramos en cómo ser exitosos y desarrollar un sentido de pertenencia. La meta es que los Priddy Scholars se metan en varios clubs y participen en lo que la universidad ofrece. El segundo año nos concentramos en varias habilidades para ser más como un líder. En los últimos dos años nos concentramos en la preparación de carreras,” dijo, Cammie Dean.

Puedes ver más información de los Priddy Scholars en el sitio web de MSU para completar una solicitud sobre cómo participar en el programa.

“Me encanta que puedo ser como una tía tranquila para los estudiantes que pueden irse cada día si tienen preguntas sobre la universidad y el título,” dijo, Cammie Dean.

SHORTS

COMIC BY ABIGAIL JONES | THE WICHITAN

When I receive an email from my professor

When the 5th historically significant event of the decade just dropped

FOTO CORTESÍA DE CAMMIE DEAN Cammie Dean es la directora de Priddy Scholars, un programa que ayuda a estudiantes de primera generación, 2022. Brandon Cerda

Disc golf joins university’s sports roster

TYLER MARTIN REPORTER

Nearly every city has a park with chain metal baskets that seemto the untrained eye- to be randomly dispersed around the area. Those ‘randomly dispersed’ baskets are actu ally strategically placed tar gets for an ever-growing and evolving sport: disc golf. Disc golf is widely played leisurely

but is also played competitive ly by college and professional players alike.

Disc golf is unique among sports in that it combines frisbee and traditional golf together. Players use care fully constructed “discs” to reach the basket using the fewest throws possible. For golf lovers the sport offers a game that can be much easier than traditional golf

at times, and is typically free of charge. Now MSU has its own disc golf team, primarily due to Nic Hubbert, nursing senior.

“I actually started the MSU disc golf team to not only grow the sport of disc golf in Wichita Falls but to also be able to compete on a colle giate level. Disc golf is a fun, relaxing and relatively low cost sport, there’s no green fees to play and all you have to have is a few discs and a couple friends to have fun,” Hubbert said.

Hubbert’s goal is on track to be achieved; the sport is rapidly growing in both the MSU community and on a professional level. The growth has even spurred the addition of multiple new courses in Wichita Falls.

“Our community now [has] 6 courses and a 7th champi ons level course being put in. Wichita Falls is being put on the map, which opens up op portunities for huge tourna ments!” Hubbert said.

With these new courses being added, and the disc golf community in Wichita Falls growing, tournaments are a real possibility. In fact, the disc golf team is hosting its own tournament in hopes of gaining publicity for the team and establishing itself as a real competitor in the colle giate disc golf scene.

“Coming up on September 24 the MSU Disc Golf Team will be hosting a huge tourna ment at Lucy Park and Lake Wichita as a fundraiser for the MSU Competitive Disc Golf Team to attend the Texas Collegiate State Champion ship in San Marcos, Texas this November,” Hubbert said.

An event like this offers an opportunity for the team to grow its sport and gain sup port - not only on campus but from Wichita Falls as a whole.

comb, nursing junior, said.

By young, Holcomb means that the team was estab lished only six months ago, and Hubbert said they have “roughly 16 players and five competitive members.”

“[I hope] this tournament is successful. Not only will the success of this tourna ment kickstart our team, but hopefully it’ll bring in more students that are interested in playing,” Holcomb said.

Every team starts some where, and support from stu dents on campus has allowed the MSU disc golf team to start out strong. Hubbert add ed that the team has had a few small events, but this tourna ment coming up is what he hopes will propel them for ward and set up their future as a collegiate competitor.

With the team growth as a major priority, Holcomb said the team is always looking for new members.

“Come try it out!” Holcomb said. “We are always looking for people to come play with us during our practices.”

Hubbert said students who are looking to go out for a lei surely round, or possibly join the team, can feel comfort able knowing that disc golf is a beloved sport for many, and there’s a good chance to find peers out on a course.

“Here at MSU it’s no sur prise to venture out to one of the several courses within our city and see students play ing,” said Hubbert.

Hubbert stressed that any students are welcome to give the sport a try, and said the disc golf team supports play ers who are new to the sport.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NIC HUBBERT

“Since we are an extreme ly young organization, we haven’t had any opportuni ties to do events and activities with the team,” Morgan Hol

“No matter your age, ex perience level, athletic abil ity or knowledge of the sport, the disc golf team is open to any and everyone interested in learning, playing or even trying the sport! If you don’t have discs don’t worry, we have plenty and would love for anyone that’s willing to come try it out, to give it a shot!” Hubbert said.

Nursing senior Nic Hubbert tries to send his disc closer to the goal as the sun sets behind him, 2022. PHOTO COURTESY OF NIC HUBBERT Hubbert winds up for a throw towards a goal, 2022.

MSU Open GDG 5k/10k Lake Wichita and Lucy Park Saturday, Sept. 24 $45 recreational entry $75 pro entry www.dscgolfscene.com

Zendaya making history at the Emmys

Sept. 12, 2022, The Academy of Television Arts and Science presented its 74th Primetime Emmy Awards.

Hosted by “Saturday Night Live” actor and comedian Kenan Thompson, the Emmys is a night of recognition for members of prime time television and those members are awarded for their excellence in their respective fields. Held at Mi crosoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles, the Emmys is a hub for Alist celebrities to come and celebrate American television and of all the celebrities in attendance. “Eupho ria” star Zendaya stole not just the red carpet but the entire show.

From her red-carpet entrance, Zendaya reminded all in attendance and those who were watching that she isn’t just a successful actress but also a visionary fashion icon.

Zendaya wore a gorgeous strapless black gown to the Emmys. Designed by Valentino Garavani, the black ball gown with was inspired by old Hollywood actresses Grace Kelly, Linda Evangelista and Valentino’s own 1987 Fall collection. In an inter view with Vogue, Zendaya’s stylist, Law Roach, said that the idea of the gown came to her in a dream and that Valentino only had a week to make it. In addition to the stunning dress, Roach paired the dress with a magnificent necklace made by Italian fashion house Bulgari. The necklace was white gold with over 17 carat diamonds. Given that this was Zendaya’s first in-person appear ance at the Emmys since the COV ID-19 Pandemic, she was absolutely breathtaking, and she came dressed as the winner she knew she was.

On the night of the Emmys, Ze ndaya won the award for Outstand ing Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance as Rue Bennett in the award-winning HBO Max original series, “Euphoria.” With this win, Zendaya made history by being the youngest person to ever win an Emmy twice consecutively, the youngest person to win twice in a role in the drama series category, the first black woman to win lead ac tress twice and the first black wom an to win twice in the drama series

category. Although it was a night of making history for our young ac tress, it is not something she is new to. Back in 2020, she made history for being the youngest person to win an award in the drama series cat egory and the second black woman to win an award in the same cat egory - with the first being Viola Da vis for her performance of Annalise Keating in ABC’s “How to Get Away with Murder” back in 2015.

Following her win, Zendaya ex pressed her gratitude in her accep tance speech and her red-carpet in terviews. In her speech, she thanked all who were nominated for the same award with her, the cast and crew of “Euphoria,” the Academy, her family, her friends and everyone who ever believed in her but most importantly, she shared with the world that her greatest wish for “Eu phoria” was for it to be a show that healed people to which then she pro ceeded to thank everyone who has ever supported a friend through dif ficult times or anyone who has ever been through difficult times as their stories matter and she will carry it with her in her performance of Rue. Overall, Zendaya showed the world that humility, grace and style can be associated impeccably with over whelming success.

Joey Arthur PHOTO COURTESY OF HBO ENTERTAINMENT Zendaya stars as Rue Bennett in drama “Euphoria,” 2022. PHOTO COURTESY OF ZENDAYA VIA INSTAGRAM Zendaya poses with her Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, wearing a dress inspired by old Hollywood actresses, Sept. 2022.

Wichitan Poll: Friday v. Saturday

RESPONSES

“Friday gives the expectation for Saturday and therefore it actually makes you much more excited and much more happy. Then when Saturday roles around it just feels kind of boring because while lots of people are excited for Saturday, not a lot of people actually have plans for Saturday. “

Trevor Kelley, mass communication freshman

“Because Friday you still usually have classes and things like workday things to do and Saturday is usually free like completely free for you to do.”

“I would say Friday. That’s when I go home.”

Jacob Reyes, business junior

“[Saturday] cause I play in the soccer team, that’s when our games are.”

Sydney Van Noy, mechanical engineering junior

“I think Friday would be better because it’s the end of the day and it’s very relaxing. The end of the day is very relaxing and everybody is already up and Adam on Friday for school then relaxing on Friday, everybody would be up already. Saturday is mostly a chill lazy day so no-one does much on Saturday,”

Amelia Compton, mass communication freshman

“I feel like no matter what you just have less to do on Saturday or you could do more.”

Ashley Peña, business senior

“I like Friday cause I’m set free from the work week and can finally relax.”

Adrian Robledo, computer science freshman

“It’s a chill day. You get to do more things and then just sleep in and then you get to sleep in again Sunday. No class Saturdays but sometimes people do work Saturdays but it’s okay, it’s the weekend.”

Lissa Galvan, nursing senior

GRAPH BY OMAR COMBIE | THE WICHITAN

Pie chart shows the results of a poll the Wichitan took of students on Sept. 21. Wichitan staff asked students both in-person and on Instagram which day do they consider better: Friday or Saturday.

Have an idea for poll you’d like us to host? Tweet us @wichitanonline with your suggestion.