October 16, 2020 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Oct. 16, 2020 | thewichitan.com | Real Students. Real Stories. | Vol. 85 No. 4

SPORTS: Pg 12

Golf teams excel both at home and away.

March for Peace: Confronting Racism & Social Injustice NEWS: Pg 6-7

Students and faculty members rallied together to march across campus holding signs and POLITICS: Pg 8 chanting three words: “Black Lives Matter.” Local candidates stop by MSU.

EATING DISORDER: Pg 10

SATIRE: Pg 9

FEATURE: Pg 4

Stories of eating disorders from MSU students.

This Halloween, beware of the Gooseman!

After 40 years of service, Dr. Halverson retires.

@WichitanOnline

@wichitanonline

@TheWichitan

E DI TO R I A L

Voting from an Australian perspective

n Australia, it starts in the third-grade. Children walk into the Museum of Australian Democracy located in Old Parliament House, Canberra, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, ready to learn the ins and outs of voting in Australia. They are taken through a detail-oriented theatrical, interactive performance (women’s suffrage movement included) of the history of voting down-under. Along with education, most children on election day are in the polling booth with their caregiver, eager for the day they get to color in the little bubble and eat their democracy sausage. In the eleventh-grade, high schools around the country dedicate two periods to enroll students. Failure to enroll and vote in an election (whether local, state, federal or referendum) is an offense under subsection 245(15) of the Electoral Act unless the elector has a valid and sufficient reason for that failure. The fine attached to this criminal offense is a steep AUD $210. Comparing a country of 26 million people to a country of 328 million is unfair. However, the premise is comparable. Being educated to the point of excitement is critical for a more populous voter turnout. Polling locations deserve an exhilarating environment with sausage-sizzles (BBQs), smiling bi-partisan volunteers, colorful displays of democracy and be held on a weekend so citizens have time to vote. It is a civic duty to vote, whether compulsory or not, but it is not just a duty, it should be a thrill. This is your opportunity to contribute to your country. “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” John F. Kennedy.

THE SPEECH OF LOVE

had the opportunity to er is about stepping out into the fire, no mat- real change is looking at others from a differspeak on the behalf of ter afraid you are, and clearing the way for ent perspective. The change is understanding the volleyball team at others behind you. As I was presenting my people and their circumstances and choosing the Unity March held by speech, I thought it would open the eyes and to be gracious and loving. the Athletic Department, hearts of others but instead, it changed mine. It starts with our everyday life and interSept. 30. My initial intenThe one convicting thing about my speech actions with others. It starts with the difficult Taylor tion was to relate informa- that I dealt with, was the pressures of hold- people in our lives, the hurting people that Anderson tion about the march to my ing that torch of love the following week. The hurt people, and the people that don’t have team, not to speak in front of a crowd of peo- next week was hell. I was approached with so a voice to ask for help. We have to make the ple. The speech I wrote was for my teammate, many opportunities to be malicious and rude, hard choice to look past the ugly and find the Raven Presley, to speak, not for me to speak but I had to remind myself the real change light in people. No matter how bright or dim, in front of a crowd of people. My excitement in the world starts right here. It starts with everyone has a light, and it is our job to try to for the march was for the light that is being how you talk and treat others in your daily bring that light out. Sometimes it may be easshined on a problem that has tagged onto life. It is easy to continue the chain of nega- ier than others, but lifting and encouraging generations for centuries and has brought tivity, but as leaders, we must change the others will give them the ability to let their negativity and destruction, not for me to narrative; even if we are standing alone. The light shine. speak in front of a crowd of people. I have made it clear for the past couple of sentences that I was not fond of speaking in front of a crowd of people, but I was fond of the cause. The night before the march, I couldn’t even read it all the way through because I was so afraid to stand up in front of people and talk. The next morning, I had a choice to make: will I allow my fear of public speaking to get in the way of my future and my children’s future? After talking some sense into myself, I knew what I had to do. I had to go up there and speak for everyone else but myself. This was a time that I must put aside my fears and worries and extend a hand out to humanity. Every activist and leader in our history did not sacrifice and fight to change the world for themselves but for generations later down the line. They knew that there would not be any success if they led with a selfish heart. They knew they couldn’t endure all the ridicule and torture if they had selfish intentions. Being a leader is a selfless act. Being a leader is not about striving for PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN your personal success but for the success of Mass communication junior Taylor Anderson and mechanical engineering senior the cause, you are fighting for. Being a lead- Raven Presley represent the volleyball team at the Unity March, Sept. 30.

EDITOR IN CHIEF: Bridget Reilly MANAGER EDITOR: Amos Perkins Vol. 85 | 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

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ISSUE STAFF: Sandra Cruz, Dallas Wabbington, Khirstia Sheffield,

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Copyright ©2020. 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.

How local haunted houses are functioning in the pandemic

PHOTO COURTESY OF NIGHTMARE ON MAIN STREET

A character from the Nightmare on Main Street haunted house. DALLAS WABBINGTON REPORTER ctober has always been viewed as the time of year when people can dress up as scary creatures and have Halloween parties with treats and scary movies, but Oct. 2020 has different plans as the pandemic remains dominant nearly seven months after the country shut down and many businesses have had to close due to Covid-19. The fate of Halloween remains unknown, but local haunted houses have been working on staying open by taking safety precautions to ensure the well-being of the customers and the staff. Located in Charlie, Texas, Insane Acres by Wicked Andy’s has been in business every October since 2012 with co-owners Chad Lagunas and Melissa Lagunas. Before they were officially a haunted house, Insane Acres was called the Twisted and Insane Hayride until Wicked Andy’s opened Insane Acres in 2016. The storyline of Insane

Acres is simple: scientist Dr. Price Karter was known to create monsters out of humans and animals. He lives in Charlie with his cannibalistic family and is rumored to be the reason for locals going missing. This story has kept people from all over the country coming back for more every year. “Insane Acres is a highintense haunted house based on a storyline,” said Chad Lagunas. “We stick to the same storyline and characters every year with a few changeups.” Local Wichita Falls attraction Nightmare on Main Street opened in 2007 by retired nurse Donna Grass. What started as a haunted house in her basement 13 years ago has transformed into a 3,500 square foot property with 60 actors and around 100 customers every night. Grass also upholds a story in her haunted house. Nightmare on Main Street has rooms dedicated to major phobias: the woods, snakes, a butcher room, and more. Grass has another haunted

house near the same property called Dark Water Asylum about a doctor who went crazy and started experimenting on his patients. “Originally, the medical fears part was in Nightmare on Main Street but took it out when I opened Dark Water Asylum around the corner,” Grass said. However, with great fun comes great responsibility. Insane Acres and Nightmare on Main Street have been taking precautions to ensure the safety of both the customers and the staff. “[We switched] to online ticketing, time slots, longer queue lines for social distancing, hand sanitizer stations and [requiring] face masks,” Lagunas said. Aside from online ticketing, Grass has been taking the same precautions in both of her haunted houses. Grass admitted she wasn’t sure if she would be able to open this season. “I was debating with myself on opening but decided to

go for it,” Grass said. “There wasn’t any breakouts with the actors, and we’re sanitizing. I did decide not to open the claustrophobic chamber, because people touch around a lot in that room. We had to tweak some things, but we haven’t had any positive cases.” Both Laguna and Grass say their reason for opening up this season ties into traditions and the community. Laguna said he wanted to take a chance and didn’t want to risk the future of Insane Acres disappearing. Grass said she loves the community aspect and opens her haunted house because she loves what she does. “I go around the country looking at haunted houses, see what others do, and go to shops for props and materials. We share ideas,” Grass said. “I didn’t know it was going to be such a welcoming community. You’d think it would be scary people, but it’s actually mostly farmers with lots of land.” In addition to handling two

haunted houses, Grass is planning on opening a Christmas haunted house in December where Nightmare on Main Street is located. “It’s called ‘Elf Off the Shelf.’ There will be evil elves, Krampus and gingerbread men. This kind of thing is popular up north and in big cities,” Grass said. “All of the actors wanted to be involved because of how cool the idea is, but I only needed about 35. I chose my strongest and best actors to take part.” Grass said Nightmare on

Main Street is a small-time haunted house and doesn’t stay open as late as other haunted houses, but all of the people who help put everything together take part not for a paycheck, but for the love of it. “People think I make a lot of money putting this on, but really, all of the money goes back into the haunted house,” Grass said. “I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t love what I do.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF INSANE ACRES BY WICKED ANDY’S

Characters of Insane Acres by Wicked Andy’s.

AFTER 40 YEARS, COMPUTER SCIENCE PROFESSOR SAYS GOODBYE TO MSU knowledge, Halverson said she will always treasure the unique connection she has shared with her students. “I love the students,” Halverson said. “We have had so many different students from all over the world, of all abilities and interesting backgrounds. Some of the students have become lifelong friends, because I was pretty young when I started working. It’s been a joy to see all of my students’ successes, and it’s exciting knowing that I was a part of their education, their success and their future.” Halverson said she hopes to leave a legacy that is attached to her dedication to improving herself and her students. “I hope that students will look back and say that I had some kind of an impact,” Halverson said. “I feel in my heart that I always tried to put our students first. I like to think that my decisions were based on what’s best for our students. Without our students, we don’t have a job, we don’t have a purpose.”

Although she has retired from the lectern, Halverson said she isn’t done showing her face on campus because MSU holds a special place in her and her family’s heart. “My boys pretty much grew up on campus, and a lot of my family members have attended MSU, so it’s a place that’s dear to us,” Halverson said. “I won’t be on campus every day, but I will be on campus a lot. I’m going to be around, even though I’m retired.” After spending 40 years on a college campus, Halverson said she is ready to enjoy life with her family and travel freely with her husband. She has seven grandchildren, and she’s excited to spend more time with them. Though her new life is going to take some getting used to, Halverson is thrilled to embark on this new journey. “It was time,” Halverson said. “Forty is a nice round number, and as it turns out, I’m really glad I retired. It’s time for me to move on and let the younger people come on and pick up the new way of doing things.”

HALVERSON’S MSU CAREER PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Professor of computer science Ranette Halverson outside Bolin Science Hall, Oct. 14. KHIRSTIA SHEFFIELD FEATURE EDITOR n 1973, she was a wide-eyed student in the field of mathematics who was dedicated to her studies. In 1976, her dedication and continuous desire to learn earned her a graduate teaching assistant position for the department of mathematics. Although she had always been passionate about teaching, she never thought that the university where she received both her bachelor’s and master’s degree would be her forever home. After spending 40 years of teaching over 20 courses, traveling across the world to conferences with scholarly peers and formulating research projects that renewed her knowledge, Dr. Ranette Halverson, professor of computer

science, is closing this chapter in her life to enjoy a fruitful life outside of her career. “This was my dream job,” Halverson said. “Before setting my heart on teaching, I worked in the industry for three years, and I didn’t like it; I didn’t like working an eight-to-five and just sitting at a desk all day. My passion is teaching; this is where I belong.” Halverson was the pioneer for the computer science program at MSU Texas. In 1980, she spent her first semester teaching mathematics and from that point forward she never looked back on helping establish a fairly new and innovative program. “After I came back to MSU, I had to retrain myself, because I did

not have a degree in computer science,” Halverson said. “I went back to school while I was teaching, and I got my PhD in computer science. I really loved retraining and learning the computing programs.” Her eagerness to absorb new skills followed her throughout her 40-year career, creating opportunities for growth. Those opportunities allowed her to publish more than 30 research papers and instruct 24 courses on top of being the department chair for 25 years. Halverson said she has enjoyed expanding on all the avenues of higher education. “I’ve had so many experiences that I would’ve never had without higher education,” Halverson said. Outside of expanding on her

40 40 years ago, she began her MSU teaching career, teaching mathematics in her first semester.

25 Served as chair of the department of computer science for 25 years.

24 Over her 40-year tenure, she taught 24 courses including courses such as computer science.

30+ Published over 30 research papers.

LIVING IN OUR SKIN kicks off 21-day Racial Equity Challenge

PHOTO BY NIKO MCWILLIAMS | THE WICHITAN

Brittany Roberts, singer and sophomore sociology major, sings at the Living in Our Skin event, Oct. 14. EMILY BEAMAN REPORTER ednesday, Oct. 14, the Black Student Union held a racial awareness event called “Living in Our Skin”. The official statement released by the Black Student Union about the event says that it is their, “official Call to Action following the events that have erupted across the nation and world regarding Black Lives.” Jamilah Kangudja, President of the BSU, said one of the main goals was to create discussions between students to deepen their knowledge on racial injustice and hear all sides. “It allows us to know who we are and experience new things,” Kangudja said. “Learning to be uncomfortable with other people’s differences, some things you can agree to disagree on.” According to Kangudja, these discussions are important to draw awareness of racial issues in our world. “If you’re comfortable, that’s bad,” Kangudja said. “You should get comfortable with being uncomfortable.” Inside the Clark Student Center were tables to help educate students and bring

awareness to police brutality, voting, intersectionality and anti-racism. The hope was to create a safe space to learn about or embrace being a student or person of color. The BSU’s statement addressing the event said, “While we recognize the intersectionality of being Black--we also recognize that we should be educated on what it means to be antiracist.” To do this, faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in the 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge, led by Cammie Dean, Director of Mosaic Cross-Cultural Center. Dean explained that for 21 days, those who signed up for the challenge will be given challenges to learn something, do something or find a new way to connect. “The idea is to take one item a day that helps them be more knowledgeable and more prepared to take action where racial equity is concerned,” Dean said. While MSU Texas has not done a challenge like this before, Dean has implemented a similar challenge at her previous institution. She is hopeful the results at MSU from the 21-day challenge are similar to what she’s seen before. “Over time, people became more comfort-

able discussing issues [at the previous institution],” Dean said. Most students come from the same background, Dean explained, and their first interaction with others from different backgrounds is in college. This means that they don’t typically have the vocabulary or communication skills to accurately express what their views may be. The goal of the 21-Day Challenge is to provide them with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to discussions. “They may be committed to the idea of equity or believe that inclusion matters, but having the skills is a different thing,” Dean said. Dean also commented that taking the time to be comfortable having these discussions will help change the future. “You guys are going to go out into the world and hire people, fire people and make decisions about policies in whatever organization or whatever career you’re in,” Dean said. “If you can do that effectively, no matter who you’re working with, then we’re one step closer as a society to racial equity.” You can sign up for the 21 Day Challenge through a form on Mustangs Link or through the Postmasters sent out on Oct. 13.

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Jamilah Kangudja, Black Student Union president and graduate student, speaks at the Living in Our Skin event, Oct. 14.

PHOTO BY NIKO MCWILLIAMS | THE WICHITAN

Black Student Union officers working the Living in Our Skin event, Oct. 14.

Out in the Plaza was free food and snow cones accompanied by live performances by students of color. “I decided to come because I care about Black Lives Matter and wanted to see what MSU was doing to promote diversity and inclusion,” Adrienne Hill, sociology senior, said. Symia Shelton, education freshman, said she felt there is more activism, activities and clubs at MSU than were available to her in high school. She believed the event helps students to connect. “It helps us realize we aren’t alone,” Shelton said. “W e’re all feeling the same things, and we all need to come together and help each other figure it out.” Amanin Augustine, nursing freshman, said she came out because it was important to her to see awareness being spread on campus. “It’s not enough to just be not racist,” Augustine said. “There should also be anti-racists. It’s not enough to just say we matter; mattering is the bare minimum.”

MARCH FO

ELIZABETH MAHAN | STEPHANIE ROBLEDO change on campus. REPORTER | NEWS EDITOR “[I attended the March for Peace] because ednesday, Oct.14 students and faculty there’s some changes that need to be made to members rallied together to march our environment. I feel like there’s a lot of raacross campus, holding signs and cial insensitivities that goes on a daily basis chanting three words “Black Lives Matter.” To around here, and I’m not saying it’s intentional, promote peace, MOSAIC Peer Educators invited sometimes it’s just people don’t know,” Iris Buall student organizations to stand in solidarity chanan, biochemistry junior, said. “I will say for innocent Black lives lost to injustice. that we got a lot of growing to do here, a lot “I [have] wanted to do this event since the of growing. I haven’t really seen any changes summertime when I was completely overbeing made. I know for a fact that I’ve had my whelmed along with the world at the death of George Floyd, so as a Peer Educator, I really made it adamant that we need to march, and I wanted to be the one to lead it, because I care about fellow Black lives. I care about justice, so I didn’t care when we did it, but it needed to be done,” Keza Muvunyi, mass communication junior, said. “I wanted to be the one leading it just to give other MSU students the option to stand with me because I know on social media it’s easy to protest or easy to show your support, but walking and chanting, and doing all that is even better. It gives you the feeling of ‘I’m here. I’m fighting for you, and I showed up for you.’ There’s nothing better than when someone shows up for you right? So I wanted to show up on behalf of all Black people, so that’s why I created it. I wanted to show up for Black people, and I wanted to give MSU students the opportunity to show up for Black people.” To make her speech more personal, Munvunyi concluded by prompting audience members to imagine if their loved ones were the next innocent lives lost to injustice, as a call to action. It’s a call to action that some students have already taken on such as nursing freshman, Amani Augustine, who attended the event in support of her people. “It’s important to me because obviously I’m a Black student on this cam- Students chant “say her name” as they march for th pus, and this has been an important issue for me throughout my whole life growing fair share of racial profiling and indifferences, up in a Black area. It’s important to me to stay so we got growing to do, we got a lot of work to connected to my roots and also just show supdo. We just need to do better.” port for my people, because [we] live with this As students call for change on campus, MOevery single day, so it’s important to get the SAIC Cross-Cultural Center Director Cammie message out. I feel like this is something that Dean agrees that there hasn’t been enough time I personally can do, because I’m not in politics or anything like that now, so this is something to enact it but also acknowledges the initiative that I can do to help out my people,” Augustine of students for starting these conversations. “We haven’t had enough time to really enact said. change on campus when it comes to policies, While some students attended the March For Peace to stay connected with their roots, procedures, the names on buildings, whatever others attended because they wanted to see a the case might be...I think the efforts of the stu-

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Students walk down Nocona Trail for the March for Peace event, Oct. 14.

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Students walk to Sunwatcher Plaza for the March for Peace event held by MOSAIC Cross Culture Center, Oct. 14.

OR PEACE

As Dean points out that the March for Peace is just the beginning, students such as Jamilah Kangudja, graduate student of educational leadership and president of the Black Student Union, agree. She thinks it is important to hold events like this to raise awareness in the community. “Some people are oblivious to things. Some people just don’t know, so if we can host events like these to ensure that people are aware of what is going on around the world, and ultimately our goal is to make our institution anti-racist. It’s not enough to just not be racist. We should be against racism. We shouldn’t allow it, and that’s why tonight we’re working with the MOSAIC Cross Culture Center to put on a 21-Day Racial Equity Challenge so that people can learn it’s more than just being Black. It’s more than being any other race or whatever it is. There’s so many isms that exist in this world, and we should be aware of them, so you can be anti and against them,” Kangudja said. The March for Peace was followed by the Living in Our Skin event, both working together to bring awareness to the social problems in the world as stated by Kangudja. These events are important because they highlight how racial justice pertains to everyone according to assistant professor of English, Hillary Coenen. “Racial justice is everyone’s issue. Racial justice is up to everyone to do something about, so I feel very committed to making a public stand of not standing for oppression. It’s really good to see so many people from the community participating in it,” Coenen said. The March for Peace brought MusPHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN tangs together, but as Muvunyi states, he March for Peace event, Oct. 14. change does not happen in one day. “It doesn’t matter if you’re Black, you’re the right direction.” white, you’re Asian... whatever race you are, According to Dean, this march was one step it’s caring about humanity, and it’s caring in the right direction, but this is still the beginabout the person right next to you. It’s caring ning. “We have work to do and this is why we have about everyone in this little area. That’s what a 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Challenge begin- it is, and that’s what we’re fighting for, so toning to acknowledge our role in both the prob- day you’re choosing to fight. You’re choosing lems and the solutions and then beginning to to march for innocent Black lives lost. Tonight take action,” Dean said. “There are two whole you’re going to educate yourself. Tomorrow other steps to go at least before we can really and the next day after that, we ask that you say an environment has changed but we’re off continue to fight the good fight of a life that’s anti-racist,” Muvunyi said. to a good start.”

dents have been able to at least get the conversation going, to get students more comfortable with saying what they believe, what they think is going on, to putting clear labels on racism, on police brutality [and] on inequities that are based on cultural differences and that in it of itself is an accomplishment,” Dean said. “Students are more comfortable at least even having the conversation because a year ago we weren’t, we weren’t even having the conversation, so in that way we are moving forward; it’s a step in

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Wes Hilton marches with MSU Texas students at the March for Peace event, Oct. 14.

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Nursing junior Alexis Osborne, biology senior Desiree Harris, biology senior Porscha Weaver and biology senior Gabby Dugas raise their fists and show off their posters at the March for Peace event, Oct. 14.

MSU Texas Democrats host local candidates

AMOS PERKINS MANAGING EDITOR SU Texas Democrats hosted Democratic candidates Mel Martinez, Gus Trujillo and Jason Hester at Dillard Room 101 Wednesday, Oct. 14 at 6 p.m. The organization was hosted, moderated and organized by Luis Serna of MSU Democrats. Turnout was low with roughly a seventh of the available seats occupied during the event, but many of the absences were attributed to the March For Peace, which ran at the same time and attracted over a hundred student protesters. Amarillo-born Gus Trujillo is a candidate for Texas’ 13th Congressional District Seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite being a Democrat, Trujillo spoke of the dangers of polarization and partisanship of modern politics, saying he’d be willing to go against his own party if it were the will of the residents of his district. “I am listening to everybody, but I’m going in there as well to be part of the power

that’s there. I always tell people that my number one priority, number one voice, is the people of this district, not the president [and] not the party,” Trujillo said. Trujillo praised activism in today’s college students and said he felt it important to keep students invested and educated about politics. As a congressman, he hopes to fight for student loan debt forgiveness and make sure there are jobs available for students after they graduate. “[If elected] I would continue to work towards forgiving student loans, providing some kind of relief for them, and also just investing in technology. I think technology at this point is going to be the best way to go forward. We’re gonna try and bring back manufacturing, but I think that we have to possibly reconfigure our education system to teach people what the future jobs are going to be,” Trujillo said. Unlike his fellow Democrat’s, Mel Martinez, who is running for Wichita Falls City Council District Three, is not local to the area he is hoping

to see student life. I want to interact with student groups. I’d like to , if elected, ensure that the campus body has a line to reach me and talk with me and converse what their expectations of the city are.... I want them to give serious thought of making [Wichita Falls] their home.” Jason Hester, a lifetime Wichitan, small business owner and military man who spent time in Qatar and Bahrain, is running for Wichita Falls City Council District Four. He supports small business and has attributed that to a major reason he decided to run. He also hopes to lessen spending on projects he feels are unnecessary and put that money into the community. “There is a lot of wasteful spending in our district. We built a dock that cost 1.6 million dollars, and you can’t fish off of it; you can’t jump off of it.... I’m running as a business owner to spend less money on frivolous stuff, and lets spend it on our roads, getting more business here, things we can actually do,” Hester said. Like Martinez, Hester

hopes to use his time in city council, if elected, to find ways to retain MSU students after they graduate. He hopes to bring entertainment to the city for the younger generation to enjoy. “What’s important to [college students] is what is important to [the city council]. My main platform is trying to get stuff here for the younger crowd to do here in Wichita. A lot of people graduate [MSU] and move to Fort Worth, move out of the city, so if we had something here entertainment wise to keep them here then that would benefit everyone,” Hester said. Voting for the city council and district representatives takes place on Nov. 3, the same day as the presidential election, with early voting taking place throughout October. Along with the council and district 13 representative, Wichita Falls voters will have the chance to vote for United States senator, mayor, Wichita Falls I.S.D. school bond and city charter among others.

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Candidate for Texas’ 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Gus Trujillo. Oct. 14.

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Candidate for Wichita Falls District 4 city council, Jason Hester. Oct. 14.

to get elected in. However, he says he chose Wichita Falls as his home eight years ago and has since had a deepening of relationships in the city. As a city councilor he hopes to better represent the diversity of the city. “One of the challenges for us is that our current city council is not representative of the community of they serve. Not being representative of that community [and] not being able to really consider the perspective of the other [Wichita Falls citizens], holds them back in making decisions that are best for the whole....I have put my name out there in hopes that I might be chosen to offer that kind of

different perspective,” Martinez said. Martinez, who has a daughter attending MSU, said he believed college students were pivotal to the nation’s transition through this current turbulent climate. He also promised if elected, to be involved with organizations at MSU and to be available to the students if they needed him. He also hopes he can convince some MSU graduates to make Wichita Falls their permanent home. “I think that college students are going to be providing us a great, great wisdom in the coming years,” Martinez said. “I want to be a part of the life at Midwestern. I want

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Candidate for Wichita Falls District 3 city council, Mel Martinez. Oct. 14.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BLURR. E FOTO

The Gooseman of Sikes Lake hunts for his next victim, Oct. 14.

SATIRE: THE GOOSEMAN OF SIKES LAKE

s the days of October dwindle, the students of MSU have turned their attention to Halloween. Unbeknownst to many of the young Mustangs preparing for spooky season, a true terror lies at the bottom of the duck-infested waters of Sikes Lake: the Gooseman of Sikes Lake. We asked Mary Jane Marley, horticulture senior, who reported seeing the creature on a walk at 3 a.m., to describe what she saw. “I was just walking along you know, not smoking weed, and I saw this dude hunkered over by the lake. He seemed pretty chill, so I went to vibe with him. Soon as I got close, he turned around and showed this long black neck and beak, and he had those beady black eyes geese have that make you think they’re staring into your soul. I started running away and he started chasing me, flapping these big ass wings and honking at me the whole time,” Marley said. While Marley was able to escape with her life, other, smaller species haven’t been so fortunate. Since October began, the fish population of MSU’s oversized pond has dwindled. The results have been catastrophic: the ecosystem has been thrown out of loop, the ducks and other geese have left for fishier

waters and cars parked by the Wellness Center have been showered in plus-sized goose droppings. “It’s horrible. I park my car to go pretend to work out for thirty minutes, and by the time I get back my car is so covered in goose poop that I can’t even open my door,” Sammy Mann, marine biology sophomore, said, before quickly adding, “Oh yeah, the fish dying sucks too.” In order to get a better understanding of the creature’s origins, we spoke with eighth generation Wichita Falls resident, Old Man Jenkins. He said the monster used to be a Midwestern State resident who just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. “The legends say that on October 30, 2006 the geese of Midwestern State were so enraged at the school choosing to be called the Mustangs instead of the Fighting Geese that they decided to put a curse on then-President Jesse Rogers. However, the darn spell misfired and hit an unsuspecting freshman, dooming him to a life of being half-man halfgoose,” Jenkins said. “Of course geese can cast spells! Why are you laughing?” At the urging of students and faculty

alike, President Suzanne Shipley hired famed exorcist and paranormal investigator Ho. E. Sheet to drive the beast away, using student tuition dollars of course. However, Sheet’s multiple attempts to cast out the Gooseman proved unsuccessful. “At first, I just tried talking to it, but the thing kept squawking at me and biting at my ankles. That thing is like seven feet tall and I’m 5’8; I don’t even understand why it would go after my ankles,” Sheet said. “I’ve taken on ghosts, werewolves, vampires and banshees, but that thing is by far the scariest creature I’ve ever seen. No amount of money is worth taking on that.” While the majority of students have begun living in fear, a few students have welcomed the Gooseman with open arms. A small cult known as the Flock has popped up in Clark Student Center has begun worshiping the feathered fiend and offering him ritual sacrifice of their Chicfila fries. “I figure if we keep him around long enough, they’ll have to cancel midterms, right?” Jimmy Jones, Flock leader and religous studies junior, said.

COMIC BY DALLAS WABBINGTON

EATING DI

THE SILENT STRUGGLE O

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

The Crisis Textline is open 24/7, 365 days a year: Text CONNECT to 741741. ELIZABETH MAHAN REPORTER ollege life can be hard. You’re away from family and the life you once knew. You have a paper, two tests and a couple of quizzes due this week, and if you’re an athlete, you have practices, workouts and games on top of that. For some students, this stress along with the stress of building new friendships and relationships only amplifies the body image issues they’ve been struggling with for a long time. In some cases, poor self-image and other issues can lead to the development of an eating disorder or an unhealthy relationship with food. Kylie Kerr, professional counselor at the MSU Texas counseling center, said students who are struggling with eating disorders should get the help they need sooner rather

than later because eating disorders can be a major cause of death. “It’s a very dangerous thing when we’re maybe not eating at all and just eliminating food or practicing binging and purging, and it destroys your body over time, so it’s really serious and can be really life-threatening if we don’t catch it in time,” Kerr said. “I think athletes may be a little more susceptible just because they’re under so much pressure to maintain a certain body weight or to be healthy and stay fit enough to compete on that level.” Jeremy Pick, strength and conditioning coach, works with athletes in football, men’s basketball, men’s and women’s tennis, women’s soccer and track and field, and he described why he thought athletes are at a greater risk for eating disorders.

“Eating disorders are usually people who are fairly disciplined and very determined in whatever it is that their goals are, which kind of fits the personality of athletes. They usually have that self-discipline to make themselves do some of the things that are classified as eating disorders, whether it’s purging or severe restriction. It takes a little fortitude to do that, and athletes sometimes fit that bill,” Pick said. Jasmine Amo, finance senior, has been a track and cross country athlete since elementary school. At the university Amo attended prior to transferring to MSU, her coach pushed her to run between 12 and 15 miles a day. “It was just ridiculous, and I overheard that he was doing it for me to lose weight because I’m not a smaller runner. Essentially my body could barely function because I had such high

mileage because of this desire they have for us to be anorexic,” Amo said. Lauren Tisdale, a graduate of special education from MSU in December 2019 was diagnosed with anorexia at the age of 16. However, she began struggling with those types of thoughts and behaviors since she was 11. When explaining why she thought eating disorders are common in college students, Tisdale said, “you’re away from home for the first time, and a lot of times eating disorders are because of control, and so that might be one thing that they can control while it’s their first time being away.” Kristin Tempelmeyer, who graduated from MSU in May 2020 with a degree in mass communication, said she was a disordered eater during her first few years in college at a university six hours away from home. The university was smaller than MSU, and it had very limited and unsatisfactory dining options. During this time, Tempelmeyer also had volleyball practice from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The cafeteria didn’t open until 6 p.m., and she was supposed to be at practice 30 minutes early. “I started making a habit for myself of [eating] after practice, and that was the only time that I ate because that was the only time I left my room was to go to practice. Then I would go eat, and I would go to McDonald’s, and I got two breakfast burritos and a caramel frappuccino,” Tempelmeyer said. “I just didn’t eat, and my body got used to it. My stomach started shrinking, so because of the way that I was eating, I was losing the weight that I wanted, and I liked those results.”Pick said coaches need to be tactful in how they talk to their student-athletes. “If a coach maintains a positive coaching style, usually there’s less pressure on those athletes to be overly concerned about weight or how they might look.... I’ve seen coaches say, ‘Hey you look like you’ve put on a few.’ You’ve just got to be really careful in how you address certain things,” Pick said. Dianna Wilson-Jones, assistant women’s basketball coach, said she was glad one of her players was comfortable with confiding in her. “I actually had a player. She came up to me, and she was like, ‘I’m having difficulty, and I think I may have an eating disorder,’ which I’m glad that she was confident enough to come to me without any judgment. Most athletes try to go to their friends or try to deal with it on their own, so for this player to come up to me was a big thing for me,” Wilson-Jones said. Amo said coach pressures contributed to the development of her eating disorder. She

ISORDERS:

OF THE COLLEGE STUDENT

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Symptoms of bulima nervosa are but are not limited to: chronically inflamed and sore throat, electrolyte imbalance, acid reflux disorder and other gastrointestinal problems - National Institute of Mental Health.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALEXIS PORTA

Symptoms of anorexia nervosa are but are not limited to: extremely restricted eating, intense fear of gaining weight, dry and yellowish skin, growth of fine hair all over the body, and severe constipation National Institute of Mental Health.

said athletes look up to their coaches, and what coaches say about their athletes can really have an impact. “When I was a senior in high school, I was looking at some D-1 [schools] outside of Houston, which is where I’m from. I run steeplechase as one of my events, and one of [the coaches there] told me, ‘Yeah we think you’d be great in the steeplechase because your legs are like horse legs. It’d be great because you’re sturdy enough to go over those barriers.’ And I don’t know I’m just always self-conscious,” Amo said. Although it is discussed less, men struggle with eating disorders as well. Kerr said the approach for helping someone through an eating disorder does not vary based on gender. “Men are very misrepresented in the perception of what eating disorders look like. It’s non-discriminatory. It affects both, from what the research shows, and reading about it, men just don’t report as often. They’re not seeking help for it as often as women are. That may be just a stereotype thing or a societal thing that says men aren’t allowed to have body image issues, but they do. They struggle with it just like women do, so I think it is the same for both men and women,” Kerr said. Pick said the process for urging men to seek help for unhealthy relationships with food doesn’t look different between his male and female athletes. “If you’re really invested in establishing a relationship with the kids that you coach, regardless of whether it’s a male or female, you can have an open and honest discussion. Ultimately it’s always going to come back to the actual value of body weight or some aesthetic appraisal. If they know you care, and you have an open discussion with them regularly, then you can engage the tougher talks. If you don’t have that it can be very very difficult,” Pick said. Pick said he thinks eating disorders may be just as prevalent in male athletes as they are in female athletes. “It can be very similar with football players. I’ve got football players that were large tough men, and they get in similar situations. Coaches would start telling them how much better they would be if they lose weight, and you see the same thing,” Pick said. Tisdale said when she first moved to Denton, she didn’t know anyone, and she didn’t feel fully prepared. When she moved back to her hometown Wichita Falls, she began to heal because she was able to be somewhere familiar. The move also allowed her to return to her support group and the therapist she had been

seeing for years. She said around the age of 21, she began to feel recovered. “I don’t know if you ever fully recover or not, but I think there is a point in time where food is not the only thing you’re thinking about. Now that’s not on the forefront of my mind all the time, which is nice because now I’m able to be social and not worry about things. I’m able to build healthy relationships with people,” Tis-

healthier eating habits when she transferred to MSU, partially because she was getting up before 6 a.m. to work out, which kickstarted her metabolism and made her want to eat. However, she sometimes still struggles with remembering to eat regularly because of the habits she made for herself in those first few years of college. “I was very depressed at my old school just

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Males represent 25% of individuals with anorexia nervosa, and they are at a higher risk of dying, in part because they are often diagnosed later since many people assume males don’t have eating disorders - National Eating Disorders Association. dale said. “I definitely think having someone to talk to was huge because of course my parents listened, and my friends would listen, but they didn’t really understand.” Amo hesitated to give advice on recovery in the form of a blanketed statement because each case is different. “Go and meet with a nutritionist. Try to set up a well-balanced diet. Everyone I’ve spoken with that has met with a nutritionist seems very pleased and satisfied with their lifestyle plan, and a nutritionist is certainly someone who does not get their door knocked on as often as they should,” Amo said. Tempelmeyer said she started building

because of my surroundings and my circumstances, and it wasn’t what I thought it was going to be. When I transferred, it was like a culture shock. It was like a whole new life that I was living. That definitely helped me see, ‘What you’re doing now isn’t okay,’” Tempelmeyer said. Kerr said she encourages students to reach out to the counseling center with anything they might be struggling with. “Reach out. Call the counseling center. If it’s a friend and maybe they’re too nervous or scared to talk to someone, be that person that connects them with resources. Walk them over here. Call together. Come talk to us,” Kerr said.

GOLF PUTS ON A SHOW AT HOME AND AWAY AMOS PERKINS MANAGING EDITOR

Women’s Golf

Men’s Golf

en’s golf fell just shy of a first place medal at the annual MSU Invitational with their score of 861 falling just shy of Texas A&M Commerce’s 856, Monday and Tuesday Oct. 12 and 13. The Mustangs posted round scores of 296, 280 and 285 respectively. The second round score was best among the competition. MSU led the competition in pars with 168 and was the top team in par-5 scoring with a score of -6. Garrett Leek, 2020 first team all-conference player and management junior, followed up last year’s first place finish at the invitational with a tie for fourth and a score of 210, falling one stroke short of a playoff spot and a chance for a medal. Jake Doggett, GCAA/Barbasol Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year Semifinalist and management senior, finished top-ten for the sixth time in his last eight tournament showings with a score of 214. Keiton Holster, sports and leisure studies senior, posted a career best 69 on the final round of the contest and finished 11th overall. The men’s team travels to Duncan, Oklahoma Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 19 and 20 to compete in the Jerry Hrncair Invitational.

PHOTO BY TREY REED

Sports and leisure studies junior Keiton Hoster launches the golf ball down the fairway at the Midwestern State Invitational held at the Wichita Falls Country Club, Oct. 13.

The women’s golf team travelled to Lawton, Oklahoma to participate in the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Monday, Oct. 12, where they finished sixth with a score of 635. Despite the team’s 306 second round showing, they were unable to overcome early struggles in the first round where they posted a score of 329. Their ending total was just one stroke shy of tying for fifth and seven strokes shy of tying Texas University at Tyler for the gold medal. Beatrice Perucchini, psychology sophomore, bounced back from tying for thirteenth after the first round to finishing tied for sixth. She posted round scores of 80 and 76. Her 76 round total was matched by teammate Eva Brunskill, psychology freshman, who finished with 163. Competing with the Italian-English duo were seniors Juanita Gomez and Katie Reeves , who tied for 15th with scores of 159. The women’s team travels to Albuquerque, New Mexico Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 19 and 20 to compete in the RJGA/ WNMU Shootout at the University of New Mexico.

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Undecided freshman Mason Garrett lines up the golf ball with the hole during practice at the Wichita Falls Country Club, Oct. 13.

PHOTO BY TREY REED

Management junior Jake Doggett chips the golf ball out of the bunker at the Midwestern State Invitational held at the Wichita Falls Country Club, Oct. 13.

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Undecided freshman Mason Garrett sends the golf ball down the fairway during practice at the Wichita Falls Country Club, Oct. 13.

October 16, 2020

Articles inside

POLITICS

SATIRE

SPORTS

EATING DISORDER

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