Oct. 5, 2016 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Oct. 5, 2016 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 81 No. 6

PHOTO BY IZZIEL LATOUR

Shea Daniels, athletic training freshman, Charlotte McDaniel, nursing freshman, and Bre Davis, sports management freshman, watch “Rob & Chyna” instead of watching the Vice Presidential Debate on Tuesday, Oct. 4.

Are you watching the debate? What debate? GARRETT HUTCHINSON REPORTER

hat are you watching? “Netflix,” Caylan Deutsch, early childhood education sophomore, said. What are you watching on Netflix? “Gossip Girl,” Deutsch said. How come you are not watching the debate? “I didn’t know when the debate was,” Julia Lucas, early childhood education sophomore, said. “I’m just not up to it today,” Deutsch said. There was a common thread to the students studying and watching television or computer games in Legacy Hall last night — they weren’t watching the vice presidential debate. And it wasn’t because they weren’t aware of the debate. “No, because I don’t care,” Charlotte McDaniel, nursing freshman, said. What are you watching? “Rob and Chyna,” McDaniel said. Kayla Jefferson, biology freshman also chose her weekly televised programming over the Vice Presidential debate. “No I am watching my new show No Tomorrow,” Jefferson said. “I just got done watching the premiere of The Flash, it was so good.” Still, other students, studying everything from anatomy to political science, had no idea the debate was going on. Lucas said she is taking a political science class and her teacher made sure to ask if they were watching the presidential debate. Lucas said her teacher didn’t mention the Vice

Presidential debate this time. “We didn’t know about it and this is just one of the shows during the week we look forward to,” Marissa Rios, athletic training freshman, said. Do you know who the candidates are for the vice presidential election? “No,” Shae Daniels, athletic training freshman, said. Most students, even though they weren’t watching the debate, said it was important. “Yea, I actually feel bad for not watching it,” Lucas said. Deutsch agreed. “I watched the debate the other night, but then I went to sleep because I was depressed,” Jefferson said. “I think if you don’t know a lot about the candidates you can find out more by watching them. I think the VP is more of a pawn and is not as important.” “Most people in college are a part of their parents parties and haven’t had to decide on their own who they like,” Jefferson said. Marissa Rios, athletic training freshman, did not watch the debate as well. Are you going to watch the debate tonight? “If this ends, yeah,” Rios said. What are you watching? “Dance Moms,” Rios said. Rios said that the debate was important for a specific reason. “Probably, because I don’t even know who is running,” Rios said. “The presidential debate was dumb,” Rios said. “It made me mad because overtime he (Trump) was like, ‘let me talk, let me talk’ but then would cut Hillary off when she was talking.”

PHOTOS BY IZZIEL LATOUR

Christopher Cruz, theater performance sophmore, & Maria Isabel Pena, political science junior at the student government Oct. 4.

First SGA meeting held yesterday

The rest of the meeting was filled with news of upcoming events. Shayla Owens, SGA president, he first Student Government spoke about the “bring your game Association meeting of the face” themed homecoming. She semester was held on Oct. 4, said that nominations will be open starting with Chief of Police PatOct. 5-9, and voting will be held rick Coggins speaking. Oct. 17-21. Coggins spoke about the camOwens also announced the secpus carry law that went into effect on Aug. 1 and the process behind e Coggins, police chief, speaks at the first ond annual President’s Picnic will be held Oct. 13. maintaining the policy that regu- SGA meeting on Oct. 4. “[The picnic] is with Dr. Shilates the law on campus. He specified the difference between open carry and campus pley at the Sikes House. She lets us take over her yard so we invite all of the students and staff to come out carry laws. “It made it a bit more confusing for people to un- and have a good time, meet her, and meet her husderstand that open carry, which applies to licensed band,” Owens said. handgun holders off campus, does not apply here on campus,” Coggins said. “Here on our university, OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS ANNOUNCED: licensed holders can only carry handguns in a con• PRIDE workshop to support the LGBT comcealed manner.” munity, on Oct. 19 at 3 p.m. and Oct. 20 at 3 He also listed the areas on campus where concealed p.m. and 7 p.m. handguns would be prohibited, by law. • Sigma Phi Lamda fundraiser at Sonic on Oct. 8 “Generally they consist of areas where health and • The theater’s production of “Ghosts” by Henclinical services are provided,” Coggins said. rik Ibsen opens Oct. 6 The appointment of this year’s committee chairs • Costume party hosted by the Student Nurse was next on the agenda. The chairs were approved Organization on Halloween night at Sikes with no debate. Lake Center JEROMY STACY REPORTER

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STAF F E D I T O R I A L

Athletes should not be forced to stand OUR VIEW: While we recognize the shared loyalty to our country, we don’t feel athletes should be forced to stand for the National Anthem.

Death penalty should be expanded

he Death Penalty Information Center reported that death penalty declined by virtually every measure in 2015. Only 28 Anthony Tegtmeyer people were executed, the fewest since 1991. And just six states carried out executions, the fewest since 1988. Three states, Texas, Missouri and Georgia, accounted for 86 percent of all executions. If I were in charge, I would extend the death penalty to include not only murderers but also rapists and child molesters.

an Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick made a public stand by sitting during a time the country stands together to honor the country’s flag. His action has sparked discussion on both sides of the argument. Some players have followed his lead while others have been told by team owners that they will be forced to stand during this time. The movement is defended by saying that those that sit are dissatisfied with the unfair targeting of police force on EXPENSES According to the Center, black men. “Cases without the death penalty While we are a pretty diverse group, there seemed to be no cost $740,000, while cases where one person agreeing with the next. Some argued the Nation- the death penalty is sought cost al Anthem is a time to honor the country’s flag and the men $1.26 million. Maintaining each and women that lost their lives to give us that right. Others death row prisoner costs taxpayers $90,000 more per year than a prisargued that to provoke change, a person must be willing to oner in general population.” sit when told to stand. Of course this is due to the high cost of lawyers/public defenders Sitting during the National Anthem dishonors the brave men and women that fought for our rights. Standing for the and infinite appeals. People on death row should only be given a National Anthem and placing your hand over your heart is a practice to show respect. Even standing doesn’t prove that the respect exists by the individual only that they have been conditioned to do so. It is possible to both have respect for your fellow man that died for your rights and demand progress. Let us not forget the First amendment was fought for as much as the flag. Whether you find yourself agreeing or disagreeing with the Black Lives Matter protestors, one thing is for sure; sitting during the National Anthem harms no one. It is exercising a right given to each of us for the purpose it is being used. Either way no coach, teammate, team owner or President should have the right to tell an athlete when to stand and when to sit.

wichitan

the

Vol. 81 | No. 6

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

maximum of two appeals, to cut down on court, attorney and holding costs.

METHOD

In addition to the cost of appeals, there is also the cost of the chemical cocktails used to execute prisoners. Instead of using lethal injection, we should use one of the oldest methods of execution, the rope. Hanging is inexpensive. Officials could reuse a rope multiple times. Most doctors object to lethal injection because a doctor has to start the IV, and they claim killing someone goes against their code. With hanging, you would not need a doctor, except to check for a pulse.

PUNISHING NOT GUILTY

Another objection is that sometimes innocent people could be executed. It happens today.

The Innocence Project is a national litigation and public policy organization dedicated to exonerating wrongfully convicted individuals through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice. The people working with the Innocence Project have freed 343 people, including 20 that were on death row. Under my proposed system, innocent people could still be executed, but without a reformed justice system there is no way to prevent that. The current death penalty system is not severe enough, it must be broadened. A person who walks up to someone with the intention of killing them, raping them or molesting them and does so should not be allowed to continue walking the Earth. In next month’s election, students will not only be voting for President, they will also be voting for local officials and judges. Students need to be informed with facts regarding the policies these officials have for the death penalty. Andrew Tegtmeyer is a political science sophomore

EDITOR: Kara McIntyre

DESIGN EDITOR: Justin Marquart

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.

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Emily Simmons, Naomi Skinner, Izziel Latour

ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief (250 words or fewer) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a email address, telephone number and address.

| Oct. 5, 2016 | 3

PHOTOS BY EMILY SIMMONS | THE WICHITAN

Members of Grupo Folklorico Faisan, a travelling group from California, perform at Calle Ocho on Oct. 1 at the downtown Farmer’s Market.

Calle Ocho participants celebrate Hispanic culture EMILY SIMMONS REPORTER

ore than 1,000 people flooded downtown Wichita Falls to celebrate the seventh annual Calle Ocho festival, a celebration of Hispanic heritage presented by Zavala. “We’ve had a great turnout this year, everything went really well,” Mario Ramirez, Zavala vice president and MSU activities coordinator, said. Zavala is an active non-profit organization that preserves and shares Hispanic culture within the community. Roger Palma, Zavala board member, said it is important to have a celebration like Calle Ocho in Wichita Falls because as the population becomes more diverse traditions can continue to be upheld and shared with the next generation. About 16 percent of MSU students are Hispanic. Lively music filled the air while people took part in the celebration as Mariachi Girasol, an all-female mariachi band, performed. “I enjoyed seeing the all-female mariachi band. It was different and unique to experience,” Erin Stone, music education sophomore, said. Other performances at the festival included Grupo Folklorico Faisan, a dance group from California, whose performance included traditional Hispanic dances and was met with enthusiasm from the audience. Grupo Centauro de Durango also performed, and people flocked to the dance floor to move with the music. People of all ages spent hours dancing and laughing to-

gether as the celebration continued. “The music allows tradition to combine with today’s culture,” Palma said. Vendors at the event sold traditional Hispanic food, shirts and snacks. There imaginegraduation imaginegraduation imaginegraduation imaginegraduation imaginegraduation imaginegraduation imaginegraduation imaginegradua was a children’s section with arts and crafts, bounce houses, and face painting for the children who enjoyed the celebration. Children were also provided with piñatas. Organizers encouraged audience participation through events like a jalapeñoeating contest which produced laughter and amusement from the audience. Volunteers from throughout the community helped with the event, and comprised of both high school and college students. “We have 80 volunteers this year, and had to limit the amount because last year 150 volunteers was too many,” Ramirez said. Ramirez, the volunteer coordinator for Calle Ocho, said the event allows students to explore their community and participate in a different cultural experience. “I loved watching all the kids express their culture, and I like that we have a diverse community that comes together,” ShaDera Bryant Williams, athletic training freshman, said. The festival ended with a performance by Marisela Y Su Sonora Piel Canela, a group from Dallas. The crowd participatYou do not have to be present to win. ed by dancing to the music and enjoyed themselves as the night came to a close. For more information, visit mwsu.edu/registrar/commencement “Celebrations like Calle Ocho allow us or call 940-397-4980 or 940-397-4116. to integrate traditions into our lives and find our culture again,” Palma said.

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Island officials visit campus Caribbean government education and college officials visited MSU campus this week for the first time to celebrate the relationship betweem the island governments and the university. The officials include the Ministers of Education from the island nations of Antigua and Barbuda, and Dominica. They are elected officials and part of the cabinet responsible for education in those countries. Randy Glean, director of International Services, said the officials were invited to become familiar with the MSU campus and its international procedures, such as admissions and the financial aid process. MSU recruited Caribbean students through agreements with the local colleges and the island governments, essentially making MSU the primary foreign university for the countries of • Antigua and Barbuda; • Dominica; • Grenada; • St. Kitts and Nevis; and • Saint Lucia. MSU also has a significant contingent from the Bahamas. The Caribbean student delegation is more than 280 students, representing almost 5 percent of MSU’s total enrollment. From an MSU press release

Danielle Dowe, biolog

Cari

Weeken

NAOMI SKINNER REPORTER

T PHOTOS BY NAOMI SKINNER AND IZZIEL LATOUR | THE WICHITAN

TOP LEFT: Tyteanah Cravin, athletic training senior, dances with Kamilah Tobin, mass communication freshman, in the opening act at the Miss Caribfest. | TOP RIGHT: Lovella Winston, marketing junior, dancing at the Caribfest parade. | MIDDLE LEFT: Caribbean spirit hits MSU during the Caribfest parade. | MIDDLE RIGHT: Kamilah Tobin, mass communication freshman, accepts an award from Kinisha Morris, social work junior, in Miss Caribfest. | BOTTOM LEFT: Shanecia Francis, accounting senior, shows off her act in the talent portion of Miss Caribfest. | BOTTOM RIGHT: Participants enjoyed some Caribbaen flavors at the Caribfest parade on Oct. 4.

he 2016 Carib For the 19th ye Student Orga bring island culture t for local groups. Timon Thomas, money goes to chari ican Veterans and t School District.”

SOCA SHOW

The week opene which Caribbean st cal pieces under the Museum of Art. Kevin Bryan, biol was kind of pushed saw me playing the said that I was joinin

| Oct. 5, 2016 | 5

ibfest celebrates 19th year

nd Caribbean festivities bring island culture to campus

bfest took place this past week ear, members of the Caribbean anization hosted Caribfest to to campus while raising money

the Caribfest chair said, “The ities such as the Disabled Amerthe Wichita Falls Independent

ed with a Soca Show, during tudents performed some musie pavilion at the Wichita Falls

logy junior and pianist, said, “I into joining because someone e piano,” Bryan said. “So they ng.”

Bryan is from the Island of Dominica and this is his first year in Texas. “I’m kind of nervous because this is my first time to play in Texas.”

THE QUEEN SHOW

The Queen Show, the next day, Friday, five students competed in a beauty pageant. After about a 45-minute delay, eight judges ranked the girls in four different categories: talent, swimwear, evening wear and an interview. Some of the judges were delegates from the Caribbean visiting Wichita Falls. The pageant was competitive but of course only one contestant could take home the crown. Judges named Kamilah Tobin, mass communication freshman, the queen. “I’m really surprised that I won,” Tobin said. “I feel like I made my mom proud and feel accomplished.” And she said she competed to encouragement to

others. “It’s human nature to be nervous,” Tobin said. “But I was confident because I had one mission; encouragement for family and friends.” After about a 45-minute delay, the parade began an ended on campus. Several Caribbean students covered in gold paint, or wearing the bright feathery outfits, friends and family joined the walk around campus accompanied by entertaining music and dancing, with veterans to lead the way.

GLOW FETE

Caribfest ended on a fun note with the Glow Fete; a party with body paint, food, a DJ, and a dark room with glow sticks. “This event is the one that’s the more colorful,” Rocksen Jean-Louis, sophomore in mechanical engineering said. Like the other events the party, with about 50 participants in Comanche Suite, didn’t get started until late.

Caribfest 2016

PHOTO BY IZZIEL LATOUR | THE WICHITAN

gy senior, at the Caribfest parade on Oct. 4

PHOTO BY NAOMI SKINNER |

THE WICHITAN

Kamilah Tobin named queen at the Miss Carib Fest Queen Show on Oct. 1.

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More freshman fail to meet admissions requirements BRENDAN WYNNE REPORTER

ith enrollment numbers at an all-time high and the economy operating on a steady incline, 2007 was financially bountiful for the Mustangs. As the year turned, the university capitalized on the boom in enrollment, significantly altering admission standards in hopes to refine the quality of the student body. But what a difference a year can make. With the new year, 2008 brought with it the Great Recession, the largest economic downturn since the 1930s. As the nation’s economy began to crumble, so did enrollment numbers. State funding began its steady decline, leaving the university to operate for two years on reserve finances. Eight years later, it seems MSU is still feeling the effects of the recession. Operating on little state funding with no remarkable increase in enrollment, concerns turn, once more, toward a product 2008’s series of changes — the altered admission standards. Though standards became more rigorous in 2008, faculty and administrators remain concerned about whether the standards, which involve standardized test scores and class rank, are truly benefitting the university. After the Faculty Senate received admission statistics in January of 2016, members saw that the number of students who failed to meet admission standards, but were still admitted with review, increased. While the concern about why so many students are ill-prepared remains at the forefront of consideration, some question as to why these students are admitted in the first place. “I’m not entirely sure I know how to answer that,” Suzanne Shipley, university president, said. “At this time, we’ve assembled an admissions and financial aid task force to see if we can’t get some answers. It’s a far more complex issue than many people realize. Test scores change. The way people are tested change. Perceptions of the validity of these tests change. It’s difficult to determine a student’s preparedness by one or two numbers.” Some students, however, have their own thoughts as to why these potentially less-prepared students have become their peers. “When is it not about money?” Abbey Gipson, nursing freshman, said. “I understand that state funding depends on how many people we have, but where do you draw the line on student quality over quantity? We have to decide, at some point, what’s more important.” According to the minutes of Faculty Senate meetings, the matter was first addressed in January, when David Carlston, chair of the Faculty Senate, voiced his initial concerns. Chair Carlston addressed the Senate in regards to the number of students who are being admitted to the University under advised admissions. Currently almost half of incoming freshmen are under advised admissions. The Faculty Senate recommended that the Board of Regents track students coming into MWSU through advised admissions by including the percentage of advised admission students in the ‘dashboard’ that is presented to the Board of Regents at their meetings. These

TAFT HAUS A P A R T M E N T S e! A place to call hom

students need more support and there is concern among the faculty that the overall quality of students is dropping because of the emphasis on enrollment. And information, compiled by the Faculty Senate, indicates that the number of students that did not meet standards, but were still admitted with, or without, review has increased from 149 students in 2011 to 285 students in 2015. As of fall 2015, 45 percent of incoming freshmen did not meet admission standards. “As to why these students have been admitted, I don’t know,” Carlston said. “This is a very careful subject, and, until we have all the information, the answers you get are likely to be of a political nature. The trend of students entering the university through advised admissions was fairly steady up until 2011, but now that it has ‘stair-stepped,’ we’re really hoping to gather better data that allows us to quantify the preparedness of these students.” The concern, however, was not addressed again until the Faculty Senate meeting of April, when Shipley voiced a concern that there may be a perception among the faculty that students were less prepared than they have been before. “When faculty tell me they have issues, I very much want to address them,” Shipley said. “After getting to know the senior faculty on a one-on-one basis, they began to explain that students were starting to do poorly on assignments that they previously weren’t.” According to Shipley, this type of issue extends beyond any university’s control, affecting schools all across the state. Yet, neither West Texas A&M University or Tarleton State University, have reported any form of concern according to admissions officials on those campuses. “You’d be hard-pressed to find a university who wasn’t facing this issue,” Shipley said. “The skills being taught in high schools are changing. It may be true that, over time, high schools are beginning to lack in teaching certain skills, but excelling in others. In my day, it’s safe to say the priority was on the basic skills, such as mathematical literacy, reading, and writing. However, the new generations excel in the fields of technology, communication, and leadership skills. I believe,

in institutions of higher learning, we’re trying to transition, the best we can, to placing an equal emphasis on both. Flexibility is important, but nobody is perfect. It’s difficult.” However, Jessyca Wagner, member of the admissions and financial aid task force, said she believes it is less the student’s technical abilities, and more the work ethic and emotional maturity of the students that come into question when discussing readiness. “What I notice is that students appear very needy, sometimes,” Wagner said. “I mean, you can’t generalize. There are plenty of students who are more than capable of doing the work for themselves, but I have seen more than a few students who want to be spoon fed the material.” Members of the task force, who have yet to set a time to meet, hope to discuss some form of solution and determine why the issue has progressed. However, Mark Farris, mathematics professor, has his own theory. Bringing into question the validity of standardized exams, including the Texas Success Initiative, Farris points out that the number of students who are placed in freshman level mathematics courses has decreased by 10 percent since 2013, while the number of students who are placed in developmental math courses has increased by 94 percent in the same time span. “There are people who take developmental courses by choice, but the majority of people in those courses are people who did not meet the state standards that deem them ready to take a four-credit math course,” Farris said. “The bottom line is that the TSI isn’t sorting people effectively. An exam might say this person is ready for a freshmen level course, but in actuality, they’re just not. They aren’t prepared for the material, and it’s not always solely dependent on mathematical ability.” “One of the issues you face with a university like Midwestern is that you have full-time students, working 30 hours a week,” he continued. “Well, whether or not that student comes to class and does the work makes all the difference, and sometimes they’re stretched almost too thin to really succeed. How do you form a lecture that accommodates to half the class that isn’t ready, and the other half that is? It’s just an overall disservice to the students.” Professors are not the only ones to make observations that question the readiness of some students. Megan Baltusis, early childhood education freshman, said she believes the quality of her own education could be compromised by the issue. “I actually saw some kid in one of my classes ask the teacher what minimum wage was,” Baltusis said. “He wasn’t asking for a dollar amount, I mean he actually asked for a definition of what minimum wage was. He had no idea. That’s something that should be common knowledge by the time you’re in college, and when the professor is taking 15 out of the 50 minutes to explain what it is, that’s time that could have been better spent on something more in-depth and pertaining to the curriculum. It just makes you question how that kind of thing has evaded someone for that long.”

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| Oct. 5, 2016 | 7

Legacy residents petition school to lower temperature MICHELLE DICKEY REPORTER

egacy Hall residents are facing uncomfortable temperatures, and students are petitioning the school through Residence Hall Association. “Part of the biggest issue is only going down to 70 degrees but the room never reaching that temperature. But maybe 65 degrees would be perfect,” Matthew Hubbard, mechanical engineering freshman, said. The air conditioning goes from 70-74 degrees and according Kaytlyn Boyett, resident assistant and art junior, it’s locked onto that temperature. “They’re not allowing free range. When I lived in Sunwatcher, we froze the air conditioning first week of summer. So because it’s such a big building, they’re keeping it under control that way. But it’s too high of a temperature so that’s why we’re already looking into getting it changed,” Boyett said. Norma Ramirez, assistant director of residence life, explained that the air conditioning was set on a four-degree interval to save money. “Whenever you have a building that size, if you have everyone all put it down to 60 degrees, that’s one, more expensive and two, it’s also not using our energy in the building the way it needs to be used. So it saves a little bit more energy if it’s higher,” Ramirez said. According to Ramirez, the four-degree interval was set by the director and the architect team. “I have 34 residents and as far as I know, the majority of them have [complained]. I’ve complained, other RA’s have complained, and there are other kinks in the building that are still getting worked out. It’s a new building but we’re working on it and we’re just trying to keep everyone comfortable and just reassuring them that it will be changed,” Boyett stated. Hubbard stated he just wants the cap of the A/C to be lowered by five or 10 degrees and to have more variance so students would be more comfortable. “Everywhere else pretty much on campus, you can vary it from a certain extreme to another extreme. Whereas in Legacy

we’re all set at a four degree interval,” Ramirez said. Boyett stated that most residents she asked want it to range around 67-71 degrees. “Our staff right now has put it in the hands of RHA, and basically they’re our government for any changes within any aspects of housing. So if somebody wanted something done in Pierce, Killingsworth or the apartments, Trigg, anywhere else we would refer that to RHA. As far as I know, what they plan to do is to have a voting take place so that way students know they have the option to change it. So they’re trying to figure out what’s the best degree interval for the building,” Ramirez

said. Students are having to change their daily habits like using fans, opening windows, sleeping on top of their sheets instead of under a blanket. Students spend more time in the lower temperature lounges than in the rooms. “It’s kind of forcing people to get out of their rooms and to interact with other people and to be outside. So in my eyes that’s not completely a bad thing,” Boyett said. The petition will eventually be presented to the Kristi Schulte, director of housing and residence life. Schulte said she is working with RHA and together they will make the final decision. “RHA is for the residents and one floor started the petition and then they brought it to the attention of RHA, so now housing is looking into RHA’s petition. Then they’ll send out the poll already deciding to change it,” Boyett said. Ramirez said that it can be difficult to please everyone when it comes to things like temperature. “It’s all personal preference. So like one student may like it super cold, while another student may like it super hot and so it’s kind of hard to gauge that for everyone,” Ramirez said. Residents will soon have the opportunity to vote in the poll. The specific date the poll is coming out is unknown right now, but it should be out later in the week. The poll will have different four-degree interval options and residents will vote on which interval they prefer. President of RHA Rachael Miyahara stated that the poll will be online and the links to the poll can be found on RHA’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The poll will be up for one week. Staff members said they don’t know how soon this will be resolved. With recent temperature drops outside, the A/C might be a concern to some students with winter coming up, but not to Hubbard. “For the most part I feel like it should hold up during the winter depending on how high they go up and depending on how hot people are going to want their rooms. Some people like it like a sauna, but me personally, I like it colder. So personally I feel like it should be able to hold up during the winter,” Hubbard said.

A Stroke of Genius is a stroke of fun STEPHEN GOMEZ REPORTER

he paint was barely dry in Legacy Hall. The building has not even been open two months. But last night, Soozie Richardson, former MSU student now local painter, brought out fresh paint in an attempt to teach students about the sugar skull tradition in the Hispanic culture before the Day of the Dead celebration begins later this month. A group of more than 15 people in the multipurpose room last night at 5 p.m. paid $5 to learn how to paint sugar skulls on canvas. Ruby Arriaga, student activities coordinator, said all of the money from the event goes to Soozie since she brought the supplies here herself. “Learn about the culture,” Arriaga said. “You don’t have to be Hispanic to go to these events. Meet people in the community and have something really fun to do.” This is not the first time Soozie has worked with MSU students. On Sept. 25, she hosted a create-your-own painting night with the new members of the Alpha Pi’s sorority. Richardson runs her business on her Facebook page — A Stroke of

PHOTO BY IZZIEL LATOUR | THE WICHITAN

Kenadi Campbell, computer science junior, paints a sugar skull during the Hispanic heritage month on Oct. 4. Genius by: Soozie — where people can reserve a private painting party for the month, saying that she now booking for No-

vember and December. Mario Ramirez, activities director in student development, said while location was hard to find due to fear of paint getting on carpets, they were lucky to get a tarp to protect the carpet in the legacy multipurpose room. “The limit was for the instructor since there is only one instructor for 30 people,” he said. “We had a limit but we had a good amount of people to represent.” The event was broadcast on the free MSU & More app, as well as on the campus website calendar. Arriaga also said they are trying to get more students to get the app since it has all of the events on there for them to see. Between the fliers and app coverage, Arriaga said they were happy with the promotion of the A Stroke of Genius and that they are ready for the next events. At the event, Patricia Ramirez, bilingual education junior, said “The fliers were everywhere. They looked interesting and my brother, Mario, told me about it.” Carlos Placencia, computer science junior, said he was there with his girlfriend and that it looked like it would be fun to do. “It’s painting, painting always fun.”

8 | Oct. 5, 2016 |

PHOTOS BY IZZIEL LATOUR AND KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

Mogan Hannn, sports & leisure senior, about to kick the ball during the woman’s soccer game of MSU vs ENM on Oct. 2nd.

Title IX continues women’s fight for gender equality DOMINICK HASKINS REPORTER

hen Hilary Clinton was nominated as the presidential candidate for the Democratic party, she tore down yet another wall in women’s long held fight for gender equality being the first female to ever be elected the presidential candidate for any major party. “We have come so far in gender equality. The mere fact that a woman is the presidential nominee for a major political party brings me to tears, I am so proud,” Sarah Stewart, freshman chemistry major, said. A little less than half a century ago, women fought to be accepted into colleges and universities. Athletic scholarships for women were almost unheard of. Fast forward to the modern day — an amendment known as Title IX has not only created opportunities for women to get an education but has given women the opportunity pursue their dreams as student-athletes as well. Since the enactment of Title IX in 1972, scholarship numbers for women have gone up dramatically. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, it is estimated that men receive around $183 million more in funding than women do per year in scholarship funding. It also states that female athletes receive 63,000 fewer opportunities at NCAA institutions. Men’s sports on campus have a total of five sports, while women have a total of eight. Because MSU athletics are fully funded, men

get slightly more scholarships than women — the total number of men’s scholarships is 63.1, while the total number of scholarships for women in all sports totals 58.1. For the smaller, non-football sports, men receive less scholarships than women. For example, women’s golf gets 5.4 scholarships per team, while men’s golf gets 3.6. Another example is women’s tennis gets six scholarships per team while men’s tennis gets four and a half. Football accounts for 57% of all men’s scholarships, 36 out of 63.1, taking a huge cut of scholarship money from all the other sports. Other types of financial aid or departmental scholarships have no effect on Title IX, which is how a lot of the smaller sports are able to get their athletes on scholarship when athletic scholarship funds are no longer available. Athletics is the most visible application of Title IX; however, it is not the only application of Title IX. Title IX has allowed females to study, to teach, and to compete. But most of all, it has given the women of America a fair chance within the university system. “Any time any student comes to us with any complaint regarding sexual assault, or discrimination, or anything involved in any touchy subject like that we refer it to a higher up, whether its a police matter or discrimination case, etc. Title IX has created great opportunities for women, not just athletically but socially. It has really changed the stigma that women were longed faced with and has helped them to have equal rights and protections, just the same as males have,” Jeff Ray,

men’s and women’s golf coach, said. Complaints on Title IX are far and few between. In 2011, 2012 and 2013 combined, there were a total of five reported sexual offenses to police, and one that was not reported to police. None of these assaults filed as a complaint under Title IX. Title IX impacts MSU in a variety of ways. Like all other colleges and universities, administration is forced to give equal scholarships to both men’s and women’s sports, creating an imbalance in the number of team sports there are — there are eight lady sports while the men have five. Football accounts 36 scholarships, taking a large chunk of the men’s total scholarships. A concern regarding Title IX is the transgender issue. With the awareness and social acceptance of transgender people on the rise, MSU is due to face the issue. MSU Athletic Director Charlie Carr said he has yet to face the transgender situation here at MSU. “The issue with transgender people is unavoidable and we will face it soon. Regarding bathroom or locker room situations, we have to do what the federal government or the NCAA tells us to do. I think the answer for us would be single bathrooms that can be used by anyone. As far as locker rooms, we’ll deal with that when the time comes,” Carr said. Some students disagree with the federal government’s ruling. “I don’t feel comfortable having transgenders in the same bathroom as me. It’s not

MSU volleyball playing against Fort Lewis. right, it’s not natural,” Sarah Stewart, chemistry freshman and defender, said. Ray agreed with Stewart. “I wouldn’t want a grown man, basically, going to the bathroom with a 12, 13 year old girl. Physically, if something happens, that girl can’t do anything about it, that’s my issue with it. As sick as our society is, and I don’t mean that bad, but it is a sick society, all this stuff is going to happen. And what do you do? With Title IX you have to recognize him as a female, or her as a male,” Ray said.