Oct. 13, 2021 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Oct. 13, 2021 | thewichitan.com |Real Students. Real Stories. | Vol. 86 No. 4

NEWS: Pg 4

Sophomores experience in-person campus life.

HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: Pg 6-7 SPORTS: Pg 5

Every year, Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. MSU Texas held 10 events throughout this period to bring the campus together in celebration of Hispanic culture.

A look into football team’s strong season start.

REVIEW: Pg 9

COLLEGIATE HEALTH: Pg 10-11

STANG STORIES: Pg 12

Dive into the chaos of “Squid Game.”

MSU celebrates Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

DanLee Duncan shares his cheerleading story.

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Let The Wichitan be your voice

niversity life is filled with extreme highs and extreme lows. There are times you may want to rant and rave about how much you love something, whether it’s the fact that the football team is thriving or that the new sushi place tastes great. Other times, you may want a place to air your grievances perhaps about the lack of parking or college policies you disagree with. Whatever is on your mind, The Wichitan wants to be your voice. The Wichitan publishes opinion columns online at thewichitan.com along with at least one column published in every issue. Many times, these columns come from within the organization, but this space is meant more to present the thoughts of Mustangs from every part of campus. This space isn’t just for students either. Columns are accepted from anyone with a connection to MSU Texas; this includes, administration, faculty, staff, students and alumni. Submitted columns can be written in many different forms, and they do not have to be submitted in AP style. The only reason a column from one of the aforementioned groups may be rejected is if the opinion piece promotes hate, violent or baseless conspiracy. The Wichitan has no political agenda that influences the decision to post a column or not, and the columns posted don’t necessarily reflect the opinions of The Wichitan staff. To submit a column to The Wichitan, email it to Wichitan@msutexas.edu along with the author’s name, major, classification (grade) and headshot. You can also call The Wichitan office at (940) 397 – 4704 if you have any questions about submitting a column.

Vol. 86 | No. 4 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 FIRE INSIDE

PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXABAY

“Our country is on fire...It is on fire for hate and anger,” Casee Harl, mass communication freshman, said. Oct. 11. Columns in Campus Voices are the opinions of only the authors and do not necesssarily reflect the views of The Wichitan as an organization.

hen you are trying to kill a flame do you pour gasoline on it or water? A fire will never burn itself out by pouring gasoline on it. Our country is on fire. Not on fire for God Casee Harl or love or equity. It is on fire for hate and anger. No fire will ever be extinguished by adding fuel to a fire. I implore people, please, see what you are doing. You are crying love and equality, but you are saying it with hate inside. Please, people, see what is happening. We are stuck in a circle of anger and hate. Mothers are terrified to take their children out in the streets. Elderly and innocent people are getting injured and killed. Police officers who have done nothing wrong are being attacked. Cities are facing terrible fires and looting. I beg

of the people out there to come together in a non-violent way. Looting encourages anger and hate. You are screaming for equality, which you have every right to, but violently protesting and looting isn’t the way to do it. There is so much anger and hate. Please, God made us love each other. Justice is occurring but killing other innocent people and threatening people’s livelihoods, homes and families, isn’t a way to make the process faster. Look at the people next to you. We are Americans. Why should it matter if we are Black or white, female or male, trans or cis, Republican or Democrat? We are all blessed to be born in a country that has as many freedoms as this country does. Since our founding when we fought together for a better life, we have been leaders. We mastered the industrial revolution and became a global superpower. Our founding fathers

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, Casee Harl, Kayla Le, Joseph Nelson, Soleil Weeks, Dallas Wabbington Advisor: Jonathon Quam

created this country with dreams and hopes that we could represent the best a group of people could be. A country divided and torn apart from within will never be able to rise again. The last time our country was this divided was the Civil War. God has got to be looking down on us and weeping. We were made in a grand and glorious way with morals and the ability to feel. Joy, anger, love, sadness, injustice and so many more. We weren’t made to hate. Become firefighters, with amazing capabilities so that you can extinguish this fire of injustice and hate. Rise up and speak through your actions. Show real love and equality. Only through this way is there any hope for our country and world as a whole. Rise up and stand together to battle this fire the right way.

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.

STUDENT REACTIONS TO

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE’S DAY

WICHITAN STAFF resident Biden issued a presidential proclamation declaring Oct. 11 Indigenous People’s Day. The recognized holiday now shares the space with Columbus Day. The Wichitan interviewed students walking around campus to see what Mustangs think about the decision and Columbus Day being a national holiday in general. Christopher Columbus was known for his “discovery” of the New World, but many have begun to focus on his treatment of the indigenous peoples. While dissenting opinions exist elsewhere, students were united in their support of the decision and their disapproval of Columbus’ legacy and celebration.

“I think having those holidays on the same day was on purpose and actually very strategic. I personally think it’s a good idea - Columbus wasn’t a great guy. He did a lot of terrible things to this very specific group of people. Those people should have the right to say ‘Hey no, we also should be celebrated not just the man that conquered us’.”

Danielle Hardin, english senior

“I feel like having ‘Happy Indigenous Day’ is a great idea, because they were here before anybody else was here and had their own way of life before people came here and took them out of their living circumstances... I don’t know if any day would have been the perfect date for this holiday, but the fact that [Biden] took the initiative to recognize and acknowledge that we do need to represent this community in some way is great.”

Jayla Walker, criminal justice and psychology sophomore

“I believe we should get rid of Columbus Day and not celebrate it, because I think we were taught that he was a great person and a discoverer but he’s actually not as good of a person and you start to notice that as you grow up. I heard that Columbus raped a lot of women and took over people’s land that were already there and colonized them.”

Miranda Salinas, mass communication senior

“I think it’s fair to say Indigenous Peoples’ Day. personally, I don’t think it matters too much. It’s just I don’t think those things hold that much weight, so if changing that makes some people feel better then it’s a good thing to do. I don’t know how much weight it actually has on people’s lives. Celebrating Columbus Day is kind of a mixed bag. It’s significant his discovery, but at the same time, the bad things that came after that and the bad things that led to that happening, somewhat undermine it. Celebrating it, like it’s more of recognizing that’s what happened on this day, not much besides that.”

Jacob Newberry, finance freshman

“Honestly, I don’t know anyone who celebrates [Columbus Day] really at all. No, I don’t think we should celebrate Columbus Day. Yeah, it’s cool to recognize this man sailed the sea, but I really don’t see the importance of it. Indigenous Peoples’ Day and Columbus Day is kind of a weird mixture. I wouldn’t put those two together. I would give them separate days. We kind of took the indigenous peoples’ land and Columbus kind of started it all. I don’t think that’s a good thing.”

Guy Rourk, kinesiology freshman

“Yes, I don’t really have a strong opinion, but I think we should celebrate it. If people prefer Indigenous Peoples’ Day, that’s probably better. I can see it’s kind of clearer. I’m not for Columbus Day. Some people like it because he’s Italian, I’m not Italian. I don’t really care for Columbus Day, it’s like ehhh.”

Brenden Prentice, political science junior

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

The Sunwatcher stands as an iconic statue at MSU, Oct. 12.

Sophomores have their first in-person taste of campus life

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Athletic training sophomores Felicia Flores and Kristen Carraway enjoy dinner and discuss content from an earlier class, Oct. 12. STEPHANIE ROBLEDO MANAGING EDITOR he rise of the COVID-19 pandemic called for a change in daily lives, and academia was no exception. Classes became virtual and students had to learn through a screen at home. Many students who were freshman in the 2020-2021 academic year virtually attended their first year at MSU Texas and are now experiencing campus life for the first time as sophomores. “My first year was last year, so the COVID conflict was like ‘Ah!’ And everything was on zoom and D2L so that was... confusing, because I have never been in that kind of environment before,” Sara Anderson, nursing sophomore, said. Anderson said she expected college to be similar to high school. She attended a small high school and thought MSU would be similar but on a bigger scale. “I feel like more of a freshman [this year] because I don’t know campus that well, and I don’t know a lot of groups and people. I feel like I should

know more about MSU in general than I do now,” Anderson said.

“I feel like more of a freshman [this year], because I don’t know campus that well, and I don’t know a lot of groups and people. SARAHANDERSON nursing sophomore

on her freshman year during the pandemic Due to the nature of her freshman year, Anderson says she feels like she missed out on meeting new people and joining on-campus organizations. Tajir Ford-Foy, psychology sophomore, also feels like she missed out because of COVID-19, having to wear masks and not going anywhere

or doing anything. “Academically yes [this semester is how I thought college would be]. Outside of regular classes, no, just cause I don’t know anyone other than the people I live with,” Ford-Foy said. The first year of college was not how students such as Anderson and Ford-Foy, who hoped for more excitement and new experiences, expected it to be like. Other students such as Daisy King, psychology sophomore, had a good first year of college because of the online learning. “Honestly, my first semester was kind of when COVID hit, so it wasn’t so bad because we were all online. I think I do better online anyway, so it was easier for me to study and keep to a schedule and not have to worry about coming to classes really and coming to campus. I feel like it was a little bit easier for me also because I’m an auditory learner, so just hearing the professor lecture even if it was through zoom I was able to retain more information,” King said. Going into college, King didn’t

have any expectations. She assumed it would be going to classes and working toward what she wants in life which is what her experience has been so far. King was able to experience in-person classes briefly before going virtual and has no preference for how she learns as she was able to adapt to both situations. “I wouldn’t really say I have a

“I think I do better online anyway, so it was easier for me to study and keep to a schedule.” DAISY KING

psychology sophomore

on her freshman year during the pandemic preference, because I am one of those people that can adapt. I adapted to both situations pretty well…. Being in class and... face to face, I’m used to

that because we’ve always done that ever since we started grade school up until now, and then like learning online that was also kind of easy for me and I was able to adapt to that pretty well. I wouldn’t really have a preference I would say.” King said. King says this semester is a bit more challenging than previous ones due to the material she’s learning in class rather than being in person. King believes this semester is what most people expect from college which is going to classes and stressing over midterms. She has also seen more people hanging out and doing things on campus. Anderson would agree as this semester aligns more with what she thought college would be like. “[This semester is] better than last year, I get to interact with more people, more in-person class. I actually get to pay attention and I’m not falling asleep over zoom. So, I feel like I’m gaining more of an education than last year,” Anderson said.

COACH AND QUARTERBACK TALK ABOUT FOOTBALL’S STRONG START opportunity to play quarterback and that’s all I wanted. So I took it and ran with it and now we’re 5 and 1,” SterlingCole said. Bill Maskill, head football coach, said that the team is thankful for the early success. He also said that they need to accept and work through offensive struggles from these first few games. “We’ve got to go forward and be better. We’ll have to be better all the way around for us to continue to have some success,” Maskill said. “As a player, you’ve got to improve every week because your opponents are trying to improve as well. So, if we can be better and not have the turnovers and be more responsible for our assignments, then we’re going to be more productive on both sides of the ball.” Sterling-Cole said that patience and leadership are what have helped him improve over time and that he tries to encourage the other players to have those things as well. He said he wants to give them a good environment both before and after he graduates. PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN “It’s definitely a brotherMasters of sports administration senior and quarterback hood in the locker room. I’m Dillon Sterling-Cole passes the ball to a teammate still trying to get a better understanding of what kind downfield, Oct. 9. of culture we want to have ABIGAIL JONES once we leave, especially the ASSISTANT EDITOR seniors,” Sterling-Cole said. “Leaving these his season, the MSU Texas football team younger guys with the right tools so they can is 5-1 after its first six games, the best it continue to move forward and keep the prohas been in years. As of Oct. 11, MSU is gram high. We tend to keep pushing on those ranked 19th in the country in NCAA Division younger guys” II by the American Football Coaches AssociaThis culture can make or break the success tion. Dillon Sterling-Cole (No. 6), quarterback of a team. Maskill said the mental state of his and sports administration fifth-year senior players is where he sees future improvement. transferred from Arizona State University and “We’ve got to be more consistent with what is becoming heavily involved in the team af- we do on both sides of the ball. We’ve got to ter not being able to play due to injuries and execute better, which means we’ve got to perlack of games during COVID. He was Lone Star form our assignment. We cannot have as many Conference offensive player of the week after mental errors as we’ve had,” Maskill said. “Our throwing five touchdown passes to five differ- effort level has been very good. The effort level ent receivers in the game against Angelo State hasn’t been an issue at all. It’s been assignment errors or mental errors from not just one posiUniversity on Sept. 18. “[I transferred because of] the opportunity tion but all the positions. So we’ve got to elimithat was here for me. They told me I have the nate those mental errors, and the players know

it. They know they’ve got to be better.” Sterling-Cole said their most recent game on Saturday, Oct. 9 against Texas A&M Kingsville started slow offensively, but picked up after the second quarter. “The win is all that matters at the end of the day….Defense played a phenomenal game all around. They were getting turnovers and playing with a bunch of energy. As soon as the offense started to help them out a little bit I feel like we started to play a complete game,” Sterling-Cole said. “But, I feel like we played a complete game later than we should have, which was the whole second half.” The Mustangs ended up winning the Kingsville game with a score of 30-13. Sterling-Cole said he tries to take the season one game at a time, a sentiment that Maskill said is essential to being a successful team. “If you look behind one game, then the game that you’re playing is probably not going to be very good,” Maskill said. “[Our] obstacles [are] ourselves… six turnovers in one game, there’s probably not many teams ever that can overcome six turnovers to win a game. So, we’re beating ourselves. Therefore, we’re the obstacle. We’ve got to overcome ourselves.” Maskill said part of overcoming personal

obstacles includes managing a healthy perspective of the team’s abilities. This means not letting praise for a good game go to one’s head. “We beat Commerce and they were ranked seven in the country and at that time all of our players, all of our coaches and probably all of our families had somebody call or text [to] say how great we were. Then we did it the next week and they talked about how great we were. Sometimes when you hear that, sometimes you think you’re better than what you are. Then we played Eastern [New Mexico], our first home game, and we didn’t play as well. Who got phone calls that week? Nobody. Nobody called,” Maskill said. “The point is, is that regardless [of] what somebody else says, we have to be self-motivated to improve ourselves and you can’t listen to everything that’s being said in newspapers or [by] teammates or friends.” This self-motivation and perseverance are what Sterling-Cole said he hopes will carry them through the season. He also said that they need to focus on what’s right in front of them to be successful in each game. “On Saturday we only have one game to play,” Sterling-Cole said. “So, let’s focus on that one game and that one opportunity and let’s get the win at the end of the day.”

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Kinesiology senior and running back K’Vonte Jackson avoids pressure from Texas A&M Kingsville players, Oct. 9.

Hispanic Her

History, Culture and EMILY BEAMAN NEWS EDITOR very year, Hispanic Heritage Month takes place from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15. During this month, across the nation, Hispanic culture and history are recognized in a variety of ways. MSU Texas held 10 events throughout this period to bring the campus together in their celebrations. “When people think of ‘Hispanic’ in MSU and Texas, they usually think of just ‘Mexican,’ but there are really so many different kinds,” Sky Barron, mass communication senior and vice president of the Organization of Hispanic Students (OHS), said. “There are so many different places and parts of the world to be celebrated, and there are completely different ways they do it.” The events were planned by the Hispanic Heritage Month Committee. The committee is made up of different students, staff and or-

ganizations that wanted to participate in the celebration planning. “MOSAIC promoted the whole month and actually got the committee together.... We did help with some of the events, but it was really the committee that put in most of the work,” Ruby Garrett, assistant director of MOSAIC Cross-Cultural Center, said. According to Jazael García, management and finance senior and president of OHS, the committee ran into a few problems. At the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month, a few members, including García himself, tested positive for COVID-19. This made him unable to participate in the first events or be there for the process and celebrations. Still, the celebrations have been deemed a huge success based on feedback MOSAIC has received. “[The students] definitely thought the events were good; they were fun,” Garrett said. “As MOSAIC, we receive a majority of the feedback from events like these and overall, students seemed to enjoy it a lot.” Across the board, VIVA MSU! was considered one of the most popular events of the month. It kicked off the celebrations with live music, crafts and food like tacos and conchas, a traditional Mexican pastry. It encompassed all of Hispanic culture in a way that brought students together. “There were booths for different organizations giving out prizes and free things for students and [letting] them know PHOTO BY LAUREN COLPITTS | THE WICHITAN they can join. It was a really good event that highlighted evInstructor Keyla Ahow demonstrates the basic 8 erybody,” Garrett said. counts of Bachata, Sept. 22. Some of the other events in-

PHOTO BY LAUREN COLPITTS | THE WICHITAN

Students adding a spin to the dance after becoming more comfortable with the basics, Sept. 22. cluded a bachata dance class, a cooking class, an outdoor movie and a painting party. Multiple campus organizations stepped in to help out and participate. Sigma Lambda Alpha, a Hispanic-based sorority, and Zavala, a local Hispanic community nonprofit, provided resources and even hosted some events. “We had lots of people get involved. Students, faculty, staff, SLA, OHS, just anybody who wanted to be a part of it all,” Garrett said.

Inclusivity and education

The goal of these events and celebrations was to create a sense of community while also

educating the campus community. Making sure students feel safe, welcome and at home was a concern carried through all of the planning and celebrations. “In the grand scheme, the goal was to be welcoming. Hispanic Heritage Month allows for a lot of opportunities to provide students with necessary resources to adjust to a new life,” García said. Being family-oriented is a large part of most Hispanic cultures so it can be difficult for students who move away from a close-knit environment to life in college. Giving students a family-away-from-home was another major goal shared by those hosting this month’s cel-

ritage Month

d Hope at MSU Texas allowed for a time of togetherness and education. “[Hispanic Heritage Month] is a time to show the different communities to be celebrated and showcase their differences. It’s a way to see all of the different ways Hispanic heritage can be celebrated by recognizing other countries and their histories,” Barron said.

More than a month

PHOTO BY KAYLA LE | THE WICHITAN

Mass communication sophomore Maddie McPhaul enjoys an evening of painting with friends at the painting event, Oct. 6. ebrations. “A lot of Hispanic students are first [generation] and, even to those who aren’t and are in their second or third year, adjusting to life away from family in a new environment is hard,” Garrett said. “So giving them a place to create a family with students that feel the same way they do is important.” MSU has a large Hispanic student population, and the major way they reach out to and recognize this is through various campus organizations. Being mainly comprised of students and their involvement in campus life allows them to reach the community on a more sincere level.

“I think that’s what organizations are for, to help the campus reach and influence students,” Barton said. “I definitely think, through MOSAIC, [the university] does a pretty good job of recognizing Hispanic students. They’re a school-wide organization and they do a good job being open for everyone. They do more than help just Hispanic students... they have resources for Black, LGBTQ+, Asian, international and all students.” The Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations on campus were intended to be inclusive for everybody and extended invitations to students outside of the Hispanic community but were interested in learning more. The month

To close the month, the final event the committee is hosting is the Noche de las Estrellas gala on Friday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at the Sikes Lake Center. Tickets are five dollars and there will be dinner, an awards ceremony and a keynote speaker. “It’s to highlight Hispanic students, faculty, staff and culture in our community,” Barton said. Just because the month is coming to a close, that doesn’t mean the celebrations and education have to end. Consistently learning and growing in your culture is an important aspect of keeping it alive in communities. “Even though Hispanic Heritage Month is coming to a close, don’t stop being and learning who you are,” Garrett said.

While this time is meant to highlight and promote Hispanic culture, there is debate about whether it should be confined to a single month. To some Hispanic students, the celebration and recognition of their heritage extends beyond this month. “To me, Hispanic heritage month isn’t just [in September and October], it’s 365 days,” García said. García mainly wants to use Hispanic Heritage Month to raise awareness about injustices the Hispanic community faces and promote change. While he recognizes the purpose and significance of the month, he wishes more would be done. “[Having Hispanic Heritage Month events] is a good idea, I think it’s very generous and a step in the right direction, but I wish we were seeing more activism happening. You know, having actual changes... I want to see true PHOTO BY KAYLA LE | THE WICHITAN progress mainly... To me, it’s Engilsh senior Veronica Flores says she came to the kind of like, you can have the month back. It’s very amazing event to support Hispanic heritage, but also because and generous but I’d rather there are not much events that are held on campus in have justice,” García said. support of different cultures and communities, Oct. 6.

“VIVO” HAS A FLIMSY MIDDLE ACT WITH AN EMOTIONAL STORY

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

“Vivo” is available on Netflix, Oct. 11.

he film “Vivo” is a Latinx lead animated movie, with LinManuel Miranda starring as the lead role and composing the score. While a kid’s movie, “Vivo” doesn’t Joseph hesitate to present emoNelson tional beats a lot more poignant and tragic than to be expected. While I loved the emotional core of the film, the second act lacks a sturdy bridge for the third act arcs to stick the landing, with characters suddenly changing opinions and motivations on the fly. The first and third acts of “Vivo” are strong, but the middle needed another few screenplay drafts to refine character arcs and gradually introduce sudden turns in motivation. “Vivo” begins with a strong, energetic, musical number by our kinkajou protagonist and his human, musical partner, Andrés. Vivo’s world turns upside down with the introduction of Marta, the longlost love of Andrés. When Andrés is invited to perform at a concert in Miami, Andrés tells Vivo that he wanted to sing Marta a love song that he wrote for her before she embarked on her musical career but didn’t have the courage to voice

his feelings. Vivo initially hates the pursuit of disrupting their schedule and routine together. However, he dismisses this status quo mindset and becomes excited to go to Miami with Andrés, only to find that Andrés passes away the night after he receives the letter, only ten minutes into the movie. With this defying of expectations, I was really interested to see where the movie went from here. However, this emotional energy doesn’t find a reprise until the film’s conclusion, fizzling out in the middle, as Vivo catches a ride to Miami in the backpack of a girl named Gabi, a character the story intentionally makes annoying. “Wreck-it-Ralph” is another kid’s movie that introduces an intentionally badgering sidekick for the protagonist to warm up to. Ralph initially dislikes Vanellope von Schweetz but eventually sees they have a lot in common in their shared status as outcasts, and we, as the audience, warm up to Vanellope too. However, the shared experience between Vivo and Gabi isn’t revealed until the third act of the movie, so I was honestly left just as annoyed with Gabi as Vivo is in the film. The audience never gets to see what Vivo and Gabi have in common until the third act, after Vivo already warms up to her...

for no reason. The emotional beat, when we do learn Gabi’s connection to Vivo, is powerful, but I was left wondering how great that through-line would have been if it was phased into the second act. By the time Vivo warms up to Gabi, it’s not for any connection to her, and I was left feeling like the movie just said “and now they’re friends.” Kids might not notice it, but you will. “Wreck-it-Ralph” also made Vanellope more likable by showing how she’s an outsider and how she’s bullied by the people around her. However, the preppy girl bullies in “Vivo” aren’t really targeting Gabi because they think they’re better than her but because they want Vivo to quarantine and vaccinate (seriously, those are their reasons). The film is ten years in the making, so I honestly don’t think the prissy girl scout characters were supposed to be stand-ins for COVID restrictions. Still, making antagonists in your story be motivated by wanting to vaccinate and quarantine other characters seems pretty tasteless during these times. Not only that, the film again lost an opportunity to make us feel sympathetic for Gabi. This made the second act drag on longer than it should. How Gabi relates to the emotional core of the film is a connection even Pixar would be jealous of, but those feelings were hard to tap into with nothing really drawing those elements into focus. In a musical, any character the audience can’t sympathize with can at least have a catchy song to redeem them. However, Gabi’s song “My Own Drum” is bombastic, unpleasant and actually annoying. I feel like I have a pretty eclectic taste in songs, with musicals making up a sizable chunk of my Spotify favorites. However, I could not stand Gabi’s musical number, and Lin-Manuel’s well-written rhymes can only take a song so far. To discuss the music as a whole, the songs were probably on the lower end of what Lin-Manuel can produce. I think my favorites were “One of a Kind” and “Running Out of Time,” probably because they reminded me of the “Piragua” songs and “Blackout” from “In The Heights.” While I wish “Vivo” had stronger support for its very inspiring and emotional drive, I hope this entertaining film introduces kids to diverse, artistic voices and makes adults say to themselves “I want to see ‘In The Heights.”

Joseph’s Film Rating: 3/5 COMIC BY DALLAS WABBINGTON

GREEN LIGHT ON “SQUID GAME”

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Actor Lee Jung-jae plays Seong Gi-Hun in “Squid Game” on Netflix, Oct. 11.

y now you might’ve heard the name “Squid Game,” an original Netflix series created by Hwang Dong-hyuk. The dark, intense and at many times, disturbing Korean thriller became a sensation overThalia Doe night. With just nine episodes at about an hour each, “Squid Game” reached first place in view count, just four days after its initial release. The series takes place in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, and the story begins with a flashback of kids playing what’s called ‘Squid Game’

a game that was popular in Korea in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Kids were divided into defense and offense and played inside a Squid-shaped board drawn on the ground without any rules as to how physical it could get. We rapidly transition to the present day, where we’re introduced to the not-so-lavish living conditions of Seong Gi-hun, the protagonists. Gi-hun lives in a one-bedroom apartment along with his mother that he still financially depends on, is three years post-divorce and faces a great possibility that he’ll never see his daughter again. Furthermore, Gi-hun is an unsuccessful gambler despite drowning in debt. His story, similar to 500 other participants, is

why each contestant featured in Squid Game exchanges their life to play children’s games (like Red Light, Green Light), at a deadly cost for a chance at winning a life worth of money. Although it may be easy to say no money is worth your life, the winner of the game would receive 45 billion won (the South Korean currency). The contestants in the game decided to walk away after seeing 225 eliminated only in the first round, but end up coming back because again, the winner of the game would receive ₩45 billion. And if I ever had the chance – I’d probably take it too. While Gi-hun is our main focus, the other side characters start to unveil throughout the series. The contestants’ names are not used, instead, they are referred to as their number. Better yet, the game makers are masked and never allowed to speak, causing a strange and inhumane barrier between the contestants and the antagonists. Sae-Byeok, a teenage North Korean immigrant girl, is trying to get her little brother out of a shelter and rescue her mom who was deported back to North Korea, after hiding in China. It’s nearly impossible to not feel for her, though by other contestants she was labeled ‘pit pocket’ and a thief...even I caught myself rooting for her. Byeok puts up a cold front, but on the inside, she is really just another regular girl that is trying to save her family - and that’s respectable. Next, we have Cho Sang-Woo, who compliments our main character because the two grew up together. Although he is, at first, portrayed as a hero of his town, who was able to make it out of South Korea and become successful in the U.S., Cho Sang-Woo is facing lawsuits after lawsuits for financial crimes... yet nobody knows. This character by far was the most selfish. The statement ‘I’ll do anything to win’ was not taken as seriously by anybody else but him, even when it came to him and our main charac-

ter, Gi-hun. He did not feel bad about stepping over anybody if it meant his likelihood of moving on to the next round. Full circle to the end, our main character Gihun is brave but very naive. His strength is what carries him to the end and wanting the best for humanity...but to an overextension, which is why I did not like the ending. You’d think after going through ‘hell’ the logical option is to take the money and go, but Gi-hun makes a decision that I didn’t think to make sense. Though the show, in my opinion, exploded mostly because of the explicit violent, bloody and unsympathetic grace toward the contestants, multiple messages can be pulled from this series. For instance, the harsh reality of the economic inequality and those of the lower class (like the contestants) are in a desperate conflict to survive. They are unfairly exploited at the price of their lives but used as entertainment for the ones that bet on the results. That’s right – there is an intersection where our world meets theirs. While the contestants are between life and death, Squid Game is viewed as entertainment and a gambling game for the mostly white westerner foreign elites. As a fan of shows such as “Dexter” a serial killer who kills serial killers or the twisted and dark “Vis a Vis”, “Squid Game” really didn’t bother me that much. I would recommend watching it slowly if you’re the type to cover your eyes over anything too gory, but if you have nine hours available and can take it, go ahead and watch in one sitting as I did.

Thalia’s Series Rating: 3.5/5

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

“Squid Game” is available to watch on Netflix, Oct. 11.

Breast Cancer A SOLEIL WEEKS REPORTER ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Mustangs are focused on raising awareness about the most common type of cancer around the world, throughout October and beyond. “I think that it’s really important to bring awareness to the health issues people have to deal with, specifically ones related to female biology,” Rachel Shipley, head of the Mosaic Women’s STAND Council, said. “Even though breast cancer can occur in males, it’s a more prominent issue in women, and so it’s important as with every issue, to face it as a unit, together in community, because then it becomes a lot easier to tackle.” The Sigma Lambda Alpha sorority set the tone for Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a taco sale, ‘Let’s Taco ‘bout Breast Cancer’ in the Clark Student Center on Sept. 29. The chapter shared information on causes, treatments and prevention of the disease while selling fajitas to raise funds for their organization and aid the campus community in understanding the importance of education and early detection of breast cancer throughout the month. “We want to bring awareness to breast cancer and put that into [students’] minds heading into the month of October,” Victoria Flores, english senior and SGA senator for the Sigma Lambda Alpha sorority, said. “Breast cancer can affect so many people and not enough of us know the signs until it’s too late.” Those who have had close encounters with breast cancer understand the importance of education and early detection. Jeanette Perry, mass communication post-baccalaureate student, shared the story of her grandmother who suffered multiple encounters with the disease.

PHOTO BY SOLEIL WEEKS| THE WICHITAN

Social work junior Sabrina Ince and english senior Veronica Flores sell tacos to raise awareness for breast cancer with Sigma Lambda Alpha, Sept. 29.

Look at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. What to look for: Breasts that are their usual size, shape and color. Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling. If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention: Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple Redness, soreness, rash or swelling.

“My grandmother had breast cancer three times before it finally took her life. It was really incredibly difficult for her, because she had to wear a prosthetic since she didn’t have reconstructive surgery. She was uncomfortable in her clothes because she felt she didn’t look right,” Perry said. “It’s not only [about] losing the breast [or breasts]. Dealing with the chemo and being sick while facing your own mortality takes a toll on [your] mental health. You have to be an incredibly strong person to deal with that.” The effects of breast cancer are far reaching. In addition to physical health declines, women can experience severe mental health and self confidence issues as a result of conventional beauty standards. The Women’s STAND Council under the MOSAIC Cross Cultural Center is making an active effort to combat self image issues this month through their Body Neutrality Paint and Sip on Oct. 20th. “A big part of what’s associated with breast cancer is having to [undergo] physically altering surgeries to prevent death. There are aesthetic and beauty standards that go along with that,” Shipley said. “We want to take away the toxic positivity that can be associated with the body positivity movement, and to promote falling in love with your body and seeing it as a vessel for potential. I think that’s an idea that’s really congruent with breast cancer —

HOW TO CHECK YOURSELF FO

Raise your arms and look for the same changes. While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

stepping away from aesthetics and taking on life saving surgery and still being able to look at your body as a vessel of life and connection rather than [one of] stigmatized beauty.” Education is an important part of prevention, but there are numerous gaps in knowledge and misunderstandings where breast cancer is concerned. Dr. Keith Williamson, director of the Vinson Health and Wellness Center, thus emphasizes the importance of education and research on the topics. “There’s tons of readily available information out there. But how do you know what to trust when in the age of the internet, everything floats the same, [whether its] junk or fact? While the internet has also made it fashionable not to trust authority figures, authoritative organizations are still an excellent source of information for this. The American Cancer Society, the American College of OB/GYN, the American Academy of Family Physicians and your personal physician [are reliable information on Breast Cancer],” Williamson said. Williamson also recommends their ‘Well Woman’ exams available to students where he teaches crucial and foundational education on women’s health in small groups. He states that these services are pertinent to the issue of breast cancer, as they provide information on breast cancer surveillance. “Here’s a fun factoid: the only thing that’s been proven effective at screening for breast cancer is mammograms.

There is a common misconception that a self-breast exam is scientifically validated to detect breast cancer earlier, [but] they cannot be demonstrated scientifically to be effective in large groups. Clinical breast exams and self breast examinations are still widely practiced and taught methods of breast cancer detection, so I still recommend [them] once a month, the week after [your] period, because like any doctor, I’ve [seen it] save the lives of my patients,” Williamson said. Williamson explained that while not scientifically validated, self-examinations are still a potentially lifesaving skill important to learn and practice. This is crucial for young women since there is a risk benefit ratio associated with mammograms in women under 30. “When you screen a woman too young, not only are you conducting unnecessary procedures half the time, you are screening breasts that are physiologically more dense, which makes cancers harder to detect. There are risks associated with screening young women for breast cancer such as radiation, excess monetary and timely costs and [test] anxiety, but there is also the benefit of detecting the cancer early enough to treat it effectively,” Williamson said. Since age is the highest risk factor for breast cancer in women, Williams stressed the importance of beginning screenings by age 40-50. Mammograms get more effective with age, so he urges women to get screened if not yearly, then every other year. “Early detection is key. And I know that mammograms aren’t comfortable — I’ve had them — but they are necessary because if you catch it early enough, it’s treatable and it doesn’t have to be a life sentence for you,” Perry said.

OR SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER

Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Sports and leisure sophomore and cheerleader Hector Kings holds up a young girl as they both wear pink to raise awareness for breast cancer, Oct. 9.

Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements you used while laying down. Information from BreastCancer.org

“I NEVER THOUGHT I’D BE A CHEERLEADER,”

A LOOK INSIDE MSU’S CHEER CAPTAIN DANLEE DUNCAN THALIA DOE FEATURE/SPORTS EDITOR anLee Duncan, kinesiology junior, has done just about everything. Chances are, you’ve seen him at one point on campus whether with the MSU Texas cheer team, his fraternity, at fundraisers or university events. Duncan, now captain of the cheer team for the second year in a row, ironically never saw it coming.

A TURN OF EVENTS

“When I was in high school, I actually had offers for baseball and track, but during my senior year at district, I ended up tearing my hamstring from baseball and unfortunately lost about ¾ of my scholarship opportunities,” Duncan said. “However, MSU ended up calling about a week later and offered me an academic scholarship and it was just one of those opportunities that God had laid out for me. On one hand, I lost opportunities but was then offered one focused on academics.”

JOINING CHEER TEAM

Although Duncan came to MSU to be part of the honors program, he still had a desire to be involved on campus and make a difference here at MSU. Originally from Quanah, a town with just about 2,300 people, Duncan says there were way more opportunities here in Wichita Falls, and he caught himself joining almost any organization that he could be a part of. “I knew that I could make a difference and that’s what I wanted to do. My freshman year I ended up joining over ten organizations; amongst all, the one that has had the most significance in my life – is the MSU cheer team...I never thought I’d be a cheerleader. Some of my friends were on the cheer team at the time and they eventually talked me into it,” Duncan said. Duncan says that cheer allowed him to branch out and meet different people from organizations and faculty members, attend special events and strengthen his physical, emotional and mental ability. In every aspect, Duncan says it’s shaped him into the person he is today. “When I first walked into the coliseum for that practice, I thought it was going to be a situation where I just you know, show up, do my thing, have a little fun with everybody then leave. I never knew it would be one of those things where it turns out to be my life here at MSU...I instantly fell in love. It’s turned out to be what I’m starting to do with my future, because now I’m UCA staff and I get to travel now and coach different high PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN schools,” Duncan said. Kinesiology and english senior DanLee Duncan Duncan says one of the biggest people performs a one-handed handstand during that had an impact on his life was former cheerleading practice, Sept. 21. MSU cheerleader, Brayden Hein. Hein was

Duncan’s best friend when he joined the team and taught him almost everything that he knows now. “My freshman year the team was so welcoming, and the personality that I have, I already come into atmosphere’s wanting and craving that personal connection with everyone so in combination of my personality and how the team was just so open, I got a long with everyone quickly. I was able to grow with everyone on the team and learn from them while also having fun and joking around and overall having such a great time,” Duncan said.

THE CHEER FAMILY

Two other people that deeply impacted Duncan’s life for the better were Norma Ramirez, MSU’s former cheer advisor and Collin Stokes, MSU cheer’s head coach. Duncan says that the two have helped him through difficult times. “My freshman year, I had joined just about eighteen organizations, eventually, it took a toll on my classes. My first semester I was staying up all night to meet homework deadlines because there weren’t enough hours in the day with everything I was involved in. That’s when I sat down with Norma and Collin, and they helped me figure out and find a way that worked with my class schedule. Another time they were there for me was when my grandfather died...my mom had texted Norma and Collin and explained what happened and within minutes, I received a call. They talked to me about it and we had a practice that weekend and despite being heartbroken, the cheer environment and family that we have, really helped me be positive in the midst of what was happening and prayed for me and I will always be grateful for that,” Duncan said.

COURTESY OF DANLEE DUNCAN

Kinesiology and english senior DanLee Duncan expresses his surprise at joining the cheer team. “I never thought I’d be a cheerleader.” Oct. 10.

LEADING THE TEAM

Duncan has been captain of the cheer team since his junior year. He says going into his junior year he noticed how many veterans were graduating and saw it as an opportunity to step up. Duncan’s goals as a captain is to provide everyone the opportunity to grow. “Yes, I know that I don’t have as much experience as others on the team but I felt my ideas, goals and personality would be very beneficial to the team...I knew I could help the team grow, especially the incoming freshman because making that transition from high school to college is hard and it’s hard to form connections, especially if you don’t have the right people around and that’s something I wanted to offer, and provide the right atmosphere to grow and become leaders themselves,” Duncan said.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Using one hand, kinesiology and english senior DanLee Duncan holds up dental hygeine sophomore Annee Qualls, Sept. 21.

Oct. 13, 2021

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