Sept. 29, 2021 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Sept. 29, 2021 | thewichitan.com |Real Students. Real Stories. | Vol. 86 No. 3

NEWS: Pg 8

MSU continues search for new president.

CARIBFEST: Pg 6-7 REVIEW: Pg 2

After a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Caribbean Students Organization is back with its annual Caribfest celebration.

The Catch will have you hooked.

COVID-19: Pg 4

STANG STORIES: Pg 12

SPORTS: 10-11

How accurate are the campus’ COVID-19 reports?

Ruby Garett shares her love for her heritage.

The Mustangs sports season is underway.

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Go and support your peers

niversity is the place to explore different cultures and ideas. It’s the time to learn new things about yourself, and the best way to do that is by experiencing something new, by going out and attending events you wouldn’t normally attend and stepping out of your comfort zone. The Wichitan has encouraged students to get to know their peers by learning about the different cultures on campus, but another way to connect is by supporting one another by learning about the different majors on campus and attending events held by our peers. It can be pretty easy to get caught up in our own lives, but it’s good to pull back and take a peek into the lives of others. If you normally only go to sporting events, attend a play held by the theatre department. If you normally only go to housing events then go to a greek life event. Show your support for your peers by attending their events, you can end up enjoying it. Freshman year we are all looking for a place to fit in and we do that by going to the different school-held events, but it’s important to keep going to the different events, even after finding our fit. MSU Texas is filled with over 100 organizations and 21 fields of study with multiple majors, all of which hold various events throughout the year. MSU has so much to do that it takes more than a freshman year to do everything. Explore MSU, get to know your peers, become involved.

Vol. 86 | No. 3 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

THE CATCH WILL GET YOU HOOKED

Columns in Campus Voices are the opinions of only the authors and do not necesssarily reflect the views of The Wichitan as an organization.

he Catch, a cajun-style restaurant, opened its doors about three weeks ago to serve customers and provide them with their mouth-watering meals. If you were to pass by and glance Shun’de Hooks from the outside, you could see lines backed up to the streets and a good amount of people heading inside on the move for seafood. Just like these customers trying the new restaurant, I had to see what the hype was about. I decided to take the dine-in route because I wanted an experience. I believe that no one needs to tell me how the food tasted. It would speak for itself when the time came. As soon as I entered the restaurant, I walked into a nice-sized lobby. The interior of the restaurant had an array of light and dark shades of blue. Something about the shade of blue gave off a calming vibe. Looking at the families and everyday people like me, I could visually see the happiness on everyone’s faces. The restaurant’s decor resembled an area along the coast, different from anywhere else in

PHOTO BY SHUN’DE HOOKS | THE WICHITAN

Crab leg boil with lemon pepper butter seasoning is one of the meals offered at the Catch, Sept. 22.

PHOTO BY SHUN’DE HOOKS | THE WICHITAN

People line up at the counter to order at The Catch, Sept. 22. Wichita Falls. After scoping out how the restaurant looked, it was time to order the food. I want to take the time to point out that the cashier was very friendly and patient. The Catch has a massive menu of food items you can choose from. It was challenging to select because you see one thing, then another. You rack up a pretty big ticket when you decide on what you want, but the food is reasonably priced. I ordered a catfish and shrimp combo with a side of crab legs. They also offer free margaritas, another way to relax if that is something you’re into. After purchasing my meal, I was able to sit wherever I felt comfortable. I brought a friend with me to share the experience. However, servers made sure we had everything we needed before we could start our conversation. Yes, the restaurant had servers which I enjoyed because it showed that this was not a “get your food and have at it” type of restaurant; they care about their service. It made me feel wanted in that particular place of business. I waited no longer than seven minutes. As I saw the server heading to the table, I could smell everything I ordered. The crab legs were dipped in lemon pepper butter so well that it

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 Alemán, Emily Beaman, Lauren Colpitts, Thalia Doe, Diamond Gamboa, Casee Harl, Shun’de Hooks, Joseph Nelson Advisor: Jonathon Quam

glistened. The visual process was complete. Now, it was time to dig in. Everything tasted amazing, from the catfish to the shrimp to the corn. It was fresh and warm, not anything too heavy on your body. It was the one time I did not mind getting my hands dirty. Just a little side note, squeeze the lemon on your meal; it enhances the flavor for you. You will thank me later. I want to say that the restaurant is a great new addition to the Wichita Falls community. It broadens our range of dining choices and allows us to step out of our comfort zone with what we eat. The restaurant reminds me of back home, so it does earn a place in my heart. The only downside of trying the new restaurant is that the lines are long because everyone is eating. However, the experience from the server, receiving the food, and how it makes you feel afterward makes up for it.

Shun’de’s Rating: 4/5

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.

SCHOOL SPIRIT STILL HAS A PLACE INTHIS GENERATION G

eneration Z has made a namesake already as one of the most outspoken generations in recent history. Every day, Gen-Z takes to twitter or instagram to publicly and Amos passionately defend their favorPerkins ite politicians, celebrities and ideologies. Despite this, that passion has not translated to school spirit as Gen-Z students attend college. ESPN has reported that college athletics attendance numbers have declined. At surface level this could be attributed to COVID-19, but these numbers have been in decline for a long time. While attendance at these games is far from the only way to show school pride, it’s a pretty consistent and accurate marker of school spirit levels overall. To me personally, given these statistics, it doesn’t surprise me that mental health among college students is

also declining. As human beings, we need a sense of belonging and camaraderie in order to function successfully. This is the very reason we have nations and states in the first place. In order to achieve this sense of togetherness, we as humans have always rallied around ideas, countries or specific people. For this generation that is less patriotic and religious than prior generations, the university you attend is a perfect institution to rally with similarly aged people with shared experiences. You can practice this school spirit at MSU Texas by taking a look at the flyers in the CSC and join one of the many on-campus organizations, attend the many different events each week on campus and “buyin” to the traditions on campus. Personally, I have always bought in heavily to school spirit. I attended Aubrey ISD for thirteen years and I fully bought into “Chaparral Pride.” Sure, some people thought that

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

was dumb, but I know I had a lot more fun attending pep rally’s, attending theatre productions and dressing up at games than they did complaining about those things. Now that I’m a Mustang, I’ve kept up that same school spirit, and honestly, sometimes going to school events and letting myself have fun is the only thing that gets me through the monotonous lull that is the academic semester. I understand some people are afraid of looking silly or stupid, but you’re an adult. In my experience, most people really don’t care if you look a little silly. If you do have friends that are embarrassed just because you’re having fun then you need better friends. Trust me; if you go to events such as football games, intramural sports, cultural showcases and homecoming and make an effort to have fun, you’ll find new friends. There are also a high number of Gen-Z students who are anti-establishment. Accord-

ing to research done by morningconsult.com, there is declining trust amongst Gen-Z in the police, U.S. government, the criminal justice system and the media. There is nothing wrong with being skeptical of these things; it’s our job to hold these institutions accountable. While that’s also true with our university, MSU isn’t who is killing unarmed minorities, meddling in foreign affairs or locking innocent men and women up in prison. Following Mustang traditions, going to events and rallying around your school to feel camaraderie doesn’t make you any less socially conscious. In fact, one way to show school spirit is to participate in marches and rallies for social causes on campus. I know how socially anxious this generation is. Especially after COVID hit, I have found it harder and harder to be involved on campus, but if you push yourself and show some pride in your school you won’t regret it.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

The crowd cheers as Stangs make a touchdown bringing them to 17 points, Sept 25. Students and their families partake in Family Weekend, Sept 25.

COVID-19 Reporting at MSU: How accurate are the numbers?

PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY.COM

From Aug. 1 to Sept. 27, there have been 141 reported cases on campus compared to 470 reported cases from July 1, 2020 - July 31, 2021. EMILY BEAMAN NEWS EDITOR idwestern State University releases an updated count of reported COVID-19 cases on campus every weekday. These reports provide an idea of what the COVID-19 situation is like for the whole of the campus population while also allowing the university to track trends. “To the best of our ability, those are accurate and they are updated daily,” Interim President James Johnston said. “It’s to our benefit to make sure everyone is aware the most accurate number of cases possible because if you try to hide those, all we’re doing is perpetuating infection and spread.” Every morning the reports are tabulated by Dr. Keith Williamson, medical director at the Vinson Health Center. Students can report cases in two different ways. The first is by self-report, which could be reporting a positive test or infected roommate and a need to quarantine. The other way is by a self-test, which Williamson says is more likely to be misinterpreted. “If a student tests positive, the faculty are notified. If an employee tests positive, the area where they work is notified,” Johnston said. Unlike last semester, not all colleges are participating in contact tracing, which is where students are provided with information on a COVID-positive student in their class.

While some colleges, like the Dillard College of Business Administration, still have classes following this procedure, other colleges, like ProthroYeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences, aren’t allowed to. “Part of the reason... is because the only test results we’re really sure about are the ones we hear about on campus. We get specimen, we send it off, we get the results. So we do contact tracing on those people,” Williamson said. Caroline Gomez, political science junior, said the university culture around COVID-19 is more relaxed this semester. She also believes that the number of cases are being underreported. “They aren’t as adamant about checking in, I feel like, and someone might test positive but they aren’t getting their test from the Vinson Health Center,” Gomez said. “I would report it, but I think there’s a lot of people that don’t report it. They want to come to class.”

“They aren’t as adamant about checking in, I feel like...” CAROLINE GOMEZ

political science junior

on the campus COVID-19 approach for this semester

Williamson admits that he believes the numbers from the reports are not completely correct. He refers to serology studies over the last year reporting that for every one diagnosed and reported case, there are two cases unaccounted for. “There is no doubt in my mind that our numbers are not complete and accurate... [But] they reflect the numbers in the community, which tells me I’m probably getting an accurate picture of activity on campus,” Williamson said. Part of the inaccuracy could be due to students knowing they are positive but not reporting it. This could be due to several personal or occupational factors the person has to take into account. “This disease has disparate impacts on people. The younger you are the less you have to personally deal with and you’ve got a job, school and deadlines... there are pressures,” Williamson said. If a student reports a positive test or a need to quarantine from exposure, they will likely miss 10 to 14 days of school, work or life in general. While Zane Batson, art junior, said they would report themselves, they believes many students don’t. “[People with symptoms are] probably not [reporting]. There are people who will but I think nobody wants to cause a panic so they’re gonna just keep to themselves,” Batson said. “I would [report myself if I had symptoms] because I work at Lowes and I

come to such a public place. I know that affects a lot more people than just me.” The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that one out of every 300 people in Wichita county have died from COVID-19. As of Sept. 25, there were 2,114 active cases in the county, a sharp increase from last summer when there were estimated to be 80. The county’s case positivity rate, the percentage of those who test positive, is reported as high. “If it’s below 10%, we’re winning. If it’s above 10% we’re losing, and it’s been above 10% since early August,” Williamson said. How do we improve? Williamson says the answer is in increasing immunity levels. To reach herd immunity and get the virus under control, the percentage of the population who is immune needs to reach between 80-90%. Right now, Texas is

“If [the positivity rate is] below 10%, we’re winning. If it’s above 10% we’re losing, and it’s been above 10%since early August.” KEITHWILLIAMSON

Vinson Health Center medical director on the COVID-19 positivity rate on campus.

at 70.89% and Wichita County is at 45.03% immunity. “Natural immunity and vaccineinduced immunity, appear to me, in Wichita county [based on] observational data to be about the same,” Williamson said. The fundamental difference between natural immunity and vaccine-induced immunity, Williamson says, is safety. To explain, he uses an analogy about being stuck on the fifth floor of a building after the elevator goes out. “You have two choices... if you jump out the window, you will arrive at the ground floor. You may not survive, you may be injured or you may be extremely lucky and have no consequences. [If] you go down the stairs, you’ll be sore and tired but get to the bottom, and that’ll go away promptly, and you’ll be just fine,” Williamson said. “Natural immunity is very, very, very risky and has ugly, ugly consequences. Vaccine immunity is safe [and] effective.” The Delta variant has led to a surge in cases over the summer, but if it follows the expected pattern, it should die down as fall sets in. This is based off of flu-related strains and also what was observed about the virus last year. “This surge is going to end, I believe, in the first couple weeks of October.... We will continue to have cases but the surge will be over,” Williamson said.

RHOC FEST CAR SHOW RUBEN'S HOUSE OF CLASSICS CELEBRATES 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY JAIME ALEMÁN REPORTER ispanic Heritage Month is celebrated from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 to recognize Hispanic culture, history and what Hispanics contribute to the community. The Hispanic-owned custom car restoration shop, Ruben’s House of Classics, is owned by Ruben Rodriguez Sr. and known locally for sponsoring events in Wichita Falls. The restoration shop pushes to inspire young Hispanics. “The way I see to help the Hispanic generation is to think positive. Always stay focused and believe in yourself. It’s very, very hard, especially for Latinos,” Rodriguez Sr. said. Ruben’s House of Classics is a restoration hub for classic cars; it includes Empire Wraps and Red River Steel. The Rodriguez family moved from Dallas to be closer to family in Wichita Falls and created the business. The car restoration warehouse is nationally known and has classic cars restored that have appeared in

magazines. The famous 1935 “Ground Zero” has won awards and contests. “The 1935 Chevrolet 2-door has been included in photo shoots in Hot-Rod and Bomb magazine. It’ll be at the show, but I think we are gonna have it on the lift,” Ruben Jr. said. RHOC specializes in the “bombita,” a Spanish term meaning small bomb. The “bombita” is a Chevrolet car from the early 1930s to the 1950s seen in mobster movies. Customers from all over the country come for custom restoration at the family-run business. “The ones we sponsor and use at events lined out, those are bombitas. That’s why people bring us those cars because we specialize in bombitas,” Rodriguez Jr. said. RHOC celebrated 10 years in Wichita Falls with The RHOC Fest Car Show on Saturday, Sept. 25 in Downtown Wichita Falls, on 417 Indiana Ave. The 10th-anniversary celebration had classic cars, food trucks, vendors and live music with a DJ from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“It’s going to be a good event. We are going to have all kinds of classic cars and a DJ. The entire shop is going to be open and people will be able to walk through and look at the warehouse and shops,” Rodriguez Sr. said. For the special anniversary, RHOC opened the warehouse and let the community have a peek at specially invited cars in the showroom. This will allow the public to see lots of classic cars and how the shop restoration process is done. “There will be classic cars on lifts on one side of the shop and a pathway going through Empire Wraps, the graphic shop on the right side of the warehouse,” Rodriguez Jr. said. RHOC has sponsored downtown events, especially Hispanic events, such as Loco for Cinco that is put on by Potencia Projects, another Hispanic organization that provides a platform to highlight Latin art and culture. Ruben’s House of Classics will have classic cars at the upcoming Día de Muertos parade that will be on Oct.

30. “We get involved with Loco for Cinco, the Hispanic event during the Mexican holiday for Cinco de Mayo and provide signs, banners, and of course some of our classic cars. We enjoy being a part of the Hispanic community and Potencia Projects continue to make it better and better. They do positive stuff for Hispanics in Wichita Falls,” Rodriguez Sr. said. The passion started early for RHOC with a smaller restoration shop in Dallas and has grown to make an impact in Wichita Falls. Red River Steel is the metal shop in the warehouse that uses a CNC plasma cutter table to make custom parts and many types of metal signs. “We got the CNC plasma cutter with the intention of making our own custom parts so that we can customize any car or truck,” Rodriguez Jr said. “Now, with the metal cutter, we can cut out of metal almost anything you want.”

PHOTO BY JAIME ALEMÁN | THE WICHITAN

A car owned by Ruben Rodriguez Sr. is displayed at RHOC Fest car show, Sept 25.

Many Nations, One Vibe: Caribfest response to the Culture Show. “I like exchanging cultures with others and learning from others as well. Based on the response that the crowd had, they really encouraged me and made me feel comfortable sharing my culture because it was well-received,” Xavier said. As a singer, dancer and swimsuit model for the Culture Show, Tishauna Perkins, biology senior, returned as a triple threat for her third Caribfest. She said coming to a different culture and sharing her own broadened her perspective. “When you’re at home on your little island, it’s just like you are completely oblivious to the fact that people don’t know much about your culture. It was a huge culture shock coming here because you always feel like your culture is theonly way you do things, and then you’re exposed to different cultures. Even in the Caribbean, a lot of people feel like it’s one set way. But the different islands have different ways of doing things. The way they speak, their food, and the music they like to listen to,” Perkins said.

PHOTO BY CASEE HARL | THE WICHITAN

Mecahnical engineering junior Garvin Joseph holds up flags as the Black Steel pan group performs, Sept. 23. FISHER SEIGLER | LAUREN COPLITTS | STEPHANIE ROBLEDO | THALIA DOE WICHITAN STAFF fter a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Caribbean Students Organization is back with its annual Caribfest celebration. The festival of island culture begins on Thursday, Sept. 23 and culminates on Saturday, Sept. 25 with a carnival-esque parade through campus.

Culture show

The Caribbean Students’ Organization began Caribfest with the Culture Show at Akin Auditorium on Thursday evening, Sept. 23. The show consisted of music, dance and costumes from across the Caribbean islands. Over 100 people attended from all different walks of life to get a taste of the vibrant Caribbean culture. “I really like the diversity of it. There was a band playing and also dancing and modeling, and I didn’t know it was going to be like that. Just seeing all the different flags of the Caribbean made me realize how many different cultures are really on the islands.” Kendall Jones, music and pre-med senior, said. In addition to music and dance, there was a masquerade, a swimsuit modeling segment and live music from a small band and percussion performances on drums called djembe. One traditional wear display used designs of the Yoruba and Igbo tribes from Nigeria, where

many in the Caribbean can trace their roots. Another performance was a traditional Dominican creole, which is a costumed dance that depicts the island’s culture and history from the past 300 years. Creole featured tall, feathered headdresses and colorful clowns with ruffled costumes. Another popular event was the Grenadian Jab Jab, which consisted of a performer in chains who wore a horned helmet and was covered in oil. The Jab Jab celebrates emancipation and equality. “It was a great experience. I enjoyed the crowd interaction and I feel proud that I was able to share something that was a part of my island with the people here, to the other Caribbean students as well as Americans who are just getting introduced to our culture,” Djembe performer Garvin Joseph, mechanical engineer junior, said. Joseph hyped the crowd up by encouraging them to clap, sing along and dance. Fellow performer Tishauna Perkins said they want Joseph back for the next Caribfest. When Joseph interacted with the crowd and played the djembe, the audience went wild. “I think it’s necessary that we share our cultures and our experiences with others because that’s how we diversify and make everything better,” Joseph said. Accounting junior Sherna Xavier led the Culture Show’s decoration for her first Caribfest. She said she was pleased with the crowd

Soca show

Soca music, originating in the Caribbean island of Trinidad, mixes many different musical styles including calypso, reggae and latin, to name a few. However, most well known, Soca is primarily influenced by African and East Indi-

an rhythms. Performed largely during the Caribbean Carnival, Soca is known to excite and energize the crowd, while performers present their songs, attempting to win the crown at the competition held right before carnival starts. Similarly, MSU hosts the Soca Show on campus this year as part of Caribfest. “We have five contestants, five artists fighting for the crown,” Wade Courtney, host of Friday night’s competition, said. Performers had to incorporate lyrics, creativity, rhyming schemes, clarity of message, performance, use of props and melody into their songs, with each criteria being a certain amount of points. There were five contestants performing their own arrangements, lasting about nine minutes each and scored by three separate judges. “People were so talented. The fact that people were brave enough to perform... they’re heroes,” DeVaine Lowe, finance junior, said. In the end, only one winner can emerge and, in this case, the musician was Esco Levi. Right before taking the stage, Levi revved his motorcycle’s engine, setting the mood for the show he was about to put on. His main lyrics being, “Music is my paradise,” Levi worked with the crowd and took the crown. This brought the night full of celebration of culture and traditions to a close. “Having this small little unique experience in the school helped relive those memories that

PHOTO BY DIAMOND GAMBOA | THE WICHITAN

Chemistry and mathematics senior Joshua Griffith sings with his group, Water Boyz, Sept. 24.

brings Caribbean flavor to campus

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Flag wavers lead the way at the Caribfest Parade, Sept. 25. we have missed for so long,” Shea Jarvis, premedicine sophomore, said.

Parade

Caribfest came to an end with a parade Saturday, Sept. 25 at 1:30 p.m. that began at the Hardin Administration building and ended at Sunwatcher Plaza. The parade highlighted Caribbean culture with music, dancing, traditional costumes and food. The Caribfest parade was a mini version of Carnival in the Caribbean. “[The parade] highlighted different sections and different parts of the Caribbean, because the jab jab section is part of Grenada, and the pretty mas [is from] like all of the Caribbean... and the flag-waver section they’re Saint Kitts and Nevis,” Shalecia Francis, 2019 alumni, said. Francis returned after graduating to take part in the parade as she enjoys playing mas. The parade was canceled last year due to the pandemic. The parade’s return encouraged students to participate for the first time or to participate again, such as Neilia Stedman, graphic design senior , who experienced the 2019 parade. “Caribfest to me is a mix of culture to just enjoy myself, appreciate my culture and show others my culture. I was able to experience the 2019 parade but not the 2020 one due to COVID-19, so I am excited to be able to have the op-

portunity again this year,” Stedman said. The parade and family weekend happened at the same time on campus, bringing a new audience to the Caribbean culture. Caribfest not only teaches others of the Caribbean culture but also brings a bit of home to students from the Caribbean. “[I think it’s important to have this parade on campus] because for Caribbean students being away from home you can get a bit homesick and just being able to enjoy some part of your culture during the year because we usually have this every year….” Glenna Charles, dental hygiene junior, said. Caribfest exposes non-Caribbean students such as Maiyah Wackis, education freshman, to the Caribbean culture. Wackis enjoyed the parade and says she learned a bit about the Caribbean culture. The parade is meant to bring everyone on campus together according to economics junior, Karona Augustine. “I am really happy, I am able to call MSU my home away from home because of all the Caribbean countries and cultures. The purpose of the parade is to bring us all together, even students that are not Caribbean are included, though most won’t join us because they feel they are not a part of it when in reality they are,” Augustine said. After the parade reached its stopping place

in Sunwatcher Plaza, the celebration continued with students dancing to music from the Caribbean culture. Nearby, in front of the Clark Student Center, the Caribbean Students Organization was selling traditional soups that are referred to as water. The waters offered were goat and fish with lots of seasoning, peppers and spices. The CSO was also selling cheese and tuna sandwiches. “I think [the food is] for everybody it’s really flavorful and you can feel the love that we put into it, it’s almost ancestral recipes that have been handed down for generations,” Soleil Weeks, economic senior said. “I do think it’s very important that it can help you get an appreciation for Caribbean culture and cuisine. Cuisine is a big part of our culture so I do think it’s important that anybody that has the opportunity to try, try it. It’s really good and I’m not just saying that.”

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Mass communication junior Neila Jones dresses in carnival starburst for the Caribfest Parade, Sept. 25.

Search committee announced for 12th university president

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

The various presidents of MSU have their portraits hang at the entrance to Hardin Building, Sept. 28. JOSEPH NELSON ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR he search committee was announced on Sept. 16, and they will immediately begin their process of choosing the first Midwestern State University president to be a part of the Texas Tech system. Former President Suzanne Shipley announced her retirement in early June of this year, concluding her six-year tenure and passing the baton to a successor. Shipley, in her retirement address, noted the end of her term representing a significant bookend for the next president to step into. “MSU stands before two great opportunities in the coming academic year—our proposed inclusion in the Tech System in September and the launching of our Centennial in January 2022,” Shipley said in her retirement address. “I am so proud to have accompanied this strong and vibrant university on its journey to such a promising future.” James Johnston has been interim president since Aug. 5 and hopes to move from the temporary position to being selected as Shipley’s successor. Johnston believes his personal connection to the university and close experience with the position makes him a valued candidate for the 12th selection of the campus’s president.

“I have roots here. I love this university; I’ve done a lot of work here,” Johnston said. “I certainly would love the opportunity to continue in this role.” Johnston believes the selection of the 12th president will be much more competitive than previous selections, as a consequence of Midwestern State University’s inclusion into the Texas Tech system. “I expect that now we’re a university within the Texas Tech University system, that changes the applicant pool,” Johnston said. “Individuals that may not have looked at us, as an independent university, may well look at us as a system university.” Tedd Mitchell, the chancellor of the Texas Tech University system, agrees with Johnston’s diagnosis that the selection is a unique juncture in Midwestern State University’s history. “As a leading liberal arts university, MSU Texas is a remarkable institution with a tremendous future that we are proud to have as a member of the Texas Tech University System,” Mitchell said. “We believe this opportunity will attract highly qualified candidates as we search for the university’s next president.” Discussing how the search process has changed in Midwestern

State University no longer being an independent entity, Johnston believes that the process will be shorter with some of the complications of finding a search firm being nixed through the university’s status as a part of one whole.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Interim president James Johnston hopes to make his temporary position official, saying “I certainly would love the opportunity to continue in this role,” Sept. 16.

“As an independent university we would engage a search firm and that creates for a little bit longer [of a] process because you have to go through the whole application phase to hire a search firm, select them... and then start the process from there,” Johnston says. “It is the chancellor and the system board of regents who make the final call.” While the Texas Tech chancellor and board make the decision, the search committee recommends the candidates. The committee to select the 12th university president consists of 12 members, composed of both Texas Tech and Midwestern State regents, donors and chairmen. Mark Griffin, vice-chairman of the Texas Tech board of regents, will head the committee search. “It’s an honor to serve the Texas Tech University System and Midwestern State University as chairman of the search committee who will have the privilege of identifying the next accomplished leader of this great institution,” Griffin said. “The Board of Regents understands the importance of this decision and is grateful to the MSU Texas stakeholders and campus community for engaging in the process from which we will ultimately select the 12th president of this fine institution.”

When it comes to the speed at which the 12th president will be chosen and succeed former President Shipley, Johnston believes that the timeline depends on the candidate that is chosen. University presidents usually begin their terms at very definitive and easy transitional times. “They usually have a new president start near the end of the summer to begin a new academic year,” Johnston said. “As an internal candidate, it would be faster just continuing on, but if I were, say, applying outside and selected, they’d give an appropriate notice and span of time [before the new president would start].” Johnston believes the determination of the next university president will take about half a year. Even though Johnston is confident in his credentials, he recognizes that his close connection to the university is one of many possible factors in the committee’s interests in choosing a successor. “Usually they spend around six months [selecting a new president], so early spring or mid-spring I would think they would be able to make a final decision,” Johnston said. “There’s never a sure thing…. You have to represent here what you bring to the table; if that’s a fit for what the university needs… then that’s great.”

Mustangs Sports Post-COVID-19

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PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY OMAR COMBIE | THE WICHITAN

Return This Fall 9 restrictions

THALIA DOE SPORTS/FEATURE EDITOR OVID-19 put everything to a halt but after a year MSU is back in full swing with many restrictions lifted. Sports are no exception. All sports are back from football to golf, fans can catch any and all games.

FOOTBALL

The Stangs are 4-0 after winning against Eastern New Mexico this past weekend. Dillon Sterling-Cole (No. 6), quarterback and Masters of Sports Administration, says that he is excited to have the stadiums packed again but the eam is still taking precautions to ensure everyone’s safety. “The ability to see a full schedule of games makes it even more awesome to be a part of. Even with little to no COVID-19 restrictions, as a team, we are still doing what we need to do to ontinue being safe on campus and in the community,” Sterling-Cole said.

MEN’S SOCCER

Men’s soccer is off to a strong start, as of ight now, the team is 6-1, suffering their first oss this past Wednesday against West Texas A&M. Mere Escobar (No. 11), forward and management sophomore, says that the ability to reurn to a normal season is a blessing. “Returning to a normal season with no COVID restrictions is a blessing. Personally, I haven’t had a real season since 2019. We have all been waiting years for this moment and we are ready to give it all we got. The spring season we had last semester, helped me become a beter player and has helped prepared me for the eal deal,” Escobar said.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Women’s soccer is now 3-2 after winning on Sept. 18

against East Central Oklahoma 1-0 in overtime. Senna Garcia (No.12), midfielder and chemistry senior, says that this is her first season since freshman year and is relieved to play a full normal season post-COVID restrictions. “I am excited and relieved to get to play a full fall season. Due to COVID-19 and injuries, this will be my first full season back since my freshman year so I’m very happy about it. I think that since last year I have learned to be grateful for this opportunity because it can be taken away so quickly,” Garcia said.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Men’s basketball is officially only 44 days away. The first game will be held in our very own D.L Ligon Coliseum at 7:30 p.m. after the women’s game against UC Colorado Springs. Jace Johnson (No. 0), mass communications junior, is a first-year transfer from Chattahoochee Valley Community College, he says what motivated his transfer to MSU was the coaching staff and ability to play in the LSC Conference. “The biggest thing that influenced me to come here was our coaching staff. Coach Leslie gave me a chance to continue playing the game I love when not many others did, and that means a lot to me. Also, the ability to play in the Lone Star Conference. I believe this is the best conference in the country,” Johnson said.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Although women’s basketball season will start later this fall, athletes are already anticipating a great season to come. Eternity Jackson (No.1) sports and leisure junior, says she feels blessed to be able to play another normal season. Last year she says, not every game was guaranteed. “I am very blessed to be able to play another normal season. Unfortunately, last year was an indecisive year for us to where all of our games weren’t guaranteed. I am very excited about this year and what it’s going to bring. The skills that I improved on the most is patience and shot accuracy,” Jackson said.

WOMEN’S GOLF

Golf just wrapped up the DBU Classic tournament that took place on Monday, Sept. 20

to Tuesday, Sept 21. Mason Garrett, sports and leisure sophomore, says that even though she is excited to return this season, there are still challenges to go through. “I was super excited about returning this year to more of a ‘normal’ season. There’s still challenges to work through with COVID-19, but there’s nothing better than getting back out on the course and being able to compete with my teammates in the best conference in the country,” Garrett said.

MEN’S GOLF

Men’s golf just finished competing at the RJGA South Central Shootout that took place on Monday Sept. 20 and Tuesday Sept 21. Keiton Hoster, sports and leisure studies senior, said it is a great feeling to be able to compete and play against competitors rather than your own teammates. “It’s good to be back playing golf with your competition rather than your own teammates. There’s just a different dynamic when you’re playing with golfers from other schools. You get more of a feel of what you need to shoot to beat them because you’re there watching them play,” Hoster said.

CROSS COUNTRY

The cross country team began their second year of the Kelsey Bruce era with a second-place out of seven finish at the Cameron Aggie Duals event Friday, Sept. 11. Victoria Rosas, mathematics senior, attributes much of the team’s success to Bruce’s culture change. “I think that Coach Bruce has had a huge positive impact on the cross country team. Before she came I felt like our team chemistry was somewhat rocky. Once she came last semester our dynamic changed. We started working together and, we had a routine going because she was always checking in on us every single day, giving us intense workouts, and just believed in us from the start,” Rosas said.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball has recently started a winning streak and is now 3-2. Lauryn Bourne (No. 2), chemistry junior, said she is excited that she can finally play volleyball without having to worry about a mask. “I am really excited to get back without worrying to wear a mask and be in the groove of

things, especially with the addition of eight new players, it’s really going to be something magical we just need to work on chemistry together on the court more and hopefully execute the upcoming games,” Bourne said.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Women’s Tennis is set to play next Friday on Oct.8 and Saturday Oct.9 at the North Eastern State Invitational in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Casie Curry, exercise physiology junior, says she feels extremely grateful that she can return to play with little restrictions. “I feel extremely grateful that we’re able to return to play with little restrictions. Due to COVID-19, we weren’t allowed to play as many matches during the year as we have in the past, so we’ve had a lot more practice time to work on certain things which has been helpful for not only myself but the team as a whole,” Curry said.

MEN’S TENNIS

Men’s tennis had their first tournament on Sept. 18 tournament that took place last Saturday with 35 wins and only four losses. Stefan Andrei, computer science freshman, says he’s glad that things have changed for the better. “Since I am a huge tennis lover, being able to play my favorite sport with almost no restrictions is absolutely amazing. It has been a roughly couple of years, but I am glad that things have changed,” Andrei said.

To read more about each sport this season, go to the wichitan. com.

RUBY GARRETT: connecting through culture

PHOTO BY LAUREN COLPITTS | THE WICHITAN

Assistant director of MOSAIC Ruby Garrett says she wants to make sure Hispanics and Latinx students see MSU as their home away from home and that MOSAIC provides that cultural environment for them, Sept. 22. THALIA DOE FEATURE/SPORTS EDITOR ssistant Director of MOSAIC Ruby Garrett has always been involved in her culture in one form or another. “[What] Hispanic Heritage Month means to me, especially since I’m Mexican/Hispanic…is the going back to the roots of my culture,” Garrett said. She says that being Latina at MSU has allowed her to be there for Hispanic or Latinx students when in need of questions and or help throughout their college journey. “It’s always good when you are able to sit down and talk to someone who looks like you and can just talk about anything. Especially if you want to talk about things and experiences of when you were younger… it’s one of those things that we can

both relate to, especially if we are from the same country for example like if we are both Mexican. We are both able to say ‘hey I’m from there’ and then the connection and relationship is just easily there. I’ve always been involved in my culture in some shape or form,” Garrett said. “I did baile Folklorico: the dances with the dresses... to really be in my culture and learn more about my culture. Then I eventually got involved in a nonprofit called Zavala Hispanic Cultural Initiative for another way to empower Hispanics and provide opportunities and education throughout the community for them.” Garrett said the ability to have relationships with Hispanic or Latinx students means a lot to her because most are first-generation. She believes her experience as a first generation Latina allows the students to

feel that they have someone whom they can relate to. “I’m able to guide them through college here at MSU. I was first generation too and I know it’s really hard for Hispanic and Latinx students to go off to college sometimes because we are so family-oriented. [Whether] they are the oldest one and are helping their family along the way or the youngest and it’s hard for them to let go of their family, [it’s difficult], but I’m able to relate to it and so I have that connection with a lot of the students here. A lot of our... Hispanic/ Latinx students want to see their culture represented,” Garrett said. Garrett says she wants to make sure Hispanics and Latinx students see MSU as their home away from home and that MOSAIC provides that cultural environment for them. Now a part of MOSAIC, Garrett is able to do more than when she was an undergrad in UPB. “[During] my time at Midwestern State as an undergraduate, I do remember I was involved in UPB, the university programming board. They did a couple of things for Hispanic Heritage Month, and I was also social awareness chair. So, I wanted to get the Hispanic culture here at MSU and Mario Ramirez who was the activities coordinator at the time. He would help me a lot when wanting to do things for our culture, but I think now that there is a cultural center for all different communities and it’s not just celebrated throughout September and October in that... but really celebrated throughout the whole year, I think it really benefits the students.” The Mosaic Cross-Cultural Center did not exist while Garrett was doing her undergraduate studies. She believes that if the center would’ve been there while she was a student, she would’ve been able to be closer to her culture. “I think if I had seen all the activities and events as a student, it really would’ve helped me be closer to my culture and find the people that I wanted to find in my community. Because it’s not just celebrated in a

month, it’s celebrated year-round,” Garrett said. Each year, a specific theme for Hispanic Heritage Month is determined nationally by the National Council of Hispanic Employment. This year’s theme is Esperanza. “I follow the national Hispanic Heritage Month theme... This year it’s Esperanza: celebration of Hispanic heritage and hope. Hopefully, we’ll get our t-shirts in soon. The designs will have an image of Esperanza and that symbol of hope on them. Regardless of the theme, each event is related to education and entertainment. Even though it’s fun, we still want to make sure people learn something. Not only are you having fun, whether it be at a Salsa class or learning how to make a traditional dish, people are also learning about our heritage and culture,” Garrett said. Last year was Garrett’s first year as assistant director of the Mosaic Cross-Cultural Center. Due to COVID-19, however, she was not able to

plan a lot of activities and events because of restrictions. “I’m proud of what we were able to accomplish last year. I will say for Hispanic/Latinx, any of the events where we are able to see a lot of Hispanic/Latinx students at [like] Viva MSU was amazing. I know that was just last week, but we were able to actually do it,” Garrett said. “Seeing so many students there and ones that I haven’t really ever seen or don’t get to see as often. Making sure they know they have a community here and organizations catered to them where they can be involved in and volunteer at, that they have that here.” What makes Garrett most proud to be Hispanic/Latina is the culture she belongs to. She enjoys every aspect of being Latina: the food, the music, the dancing, the colorful history and the flavorful love that Hispanics carry in their blood. Garrett believes she embraces her culture to the fullest and the culture embraces her back.

PHOTO BY LAUREN COLPITTS | THE WICHITAN

Assistant director of MOSAIC Ruby Garrett dances with director of student involvement Mario Ramirez during a Bachata class, Sept. 22.

Sept. 29, 2021

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