Dec. 2, 2015 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Dec. 2, 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 80 No. 14

F I N A L S F R E NZY T H U R S . D E C. 3 Hypnotist: Chris Jones 6-7 p.m. | CSC Comanche

S’mores Bar 7-8 p.m. | Atrium

Service Project

7-8 p.m. | Cheyenne | Help create 100 cards for military men and women

DIY Holiday Nutcracker 7-8:30 p.m. | Kiowa

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Black student leaders held a Town Hall Meeting in response to discrimination on happening on campus in the weeks prior to the meeting. The meeting was held in Shawnee Theatre, Nov. 23 with about 30 people in attendance.

Hot Cocoa Bar

7-10 p.m. | Atrium | Free coffee or hot cocoa

Caricature Artist

7-11 p.m. | Atrium | Get a caricature picture drawn in a minute or less

Campus Spa

7-11 p.m. | Wichita 1&2 | Get a spa treatment before finals

Social Greenspace

7-8 p.m. | Kiowa | Snap pics with friends all evening using emoji props

Body Art and Ballon Artist 7-11 p.m. | Atrium

Holiday Photobooth

7-11 p.m. | Atrium | Use holiday props to take pictures with friends

Finals Testing Supplies 9-10 p.m. | Atrium | Grab scantrons, bluebooks, or pencils for finals

30 people attend discrimination forum RACHEL JOHNSON PHOTO EDITOR

he meeting began Nov. 23 with 30 people in attendance and six people, sitting at a long table in the front of Shawnee Theatre, all ready to answers questions and discuss any topic a concerned individual may have. Shayla Owens, management junior, started the Town Hall Meeting lead by black student leaders by addressing the purpose behind the meeting. Owens cited different instances of discrimination around campus in the past few weeks prior to the meeting. “We wanted to have this forum as a response to the white supremacy flyers, but also as a time to talk about any issues and discuss them,” Owens said. Marco Torres, psychology senior, then addressed his “#NoHateMSU” campaign

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

This “White Supremacy Rules” poster was posted on a car on campus along with 3 other posters similar to it with different hashtags. The other three hashtags included: #FUCKCAMPUSCLIMATE, #WHITEPOWER, and # . that he is starting up has high hopes for in the spring 2016 semester. Torres said that

he didn’t just want to make this campaign a “gay thing,” but a “minority college student thing.” “We are creating a Facebook and Twitter account with a logo on it during finals week, we will post pictures and videos of students and faculty with their message on those social media accounts,” Torres said. “[We are trying to] have people come next semester to speak at events and also having a #NoHateMSU march that you can sign up for during Finals Frenzy.” The floor was then open to the audience to speak or ask questions. “We should have an African studies class,” Quin Lemons, history senior, said. “The only thing [MSU] has is the Old South type of history class, and that really just focuses on the slavery aspect.”

Make Your Own Stocking

see FORUM pg. 2

9-10 p.m. | Kiowa

CAMPUS CLIMATE F OR UM

Late Night Breakfast

9:30-10:30 p.m. | Dining Hall | Pancake and omelet bar | Free with meal plan or $5

Raffle Drawing

10:30 p.m. | Atrium | Tickets will be given out at the UPB table all night

UPB Movie: Trainwreck 11 p.m. | Shawnee

“I encourage other students to speak when something has been wrongly done to you.” CLAUDIA MONTOYA, ASSOCIATE SPANISH PROFESSOR

“Let’s have these conversations to encourage acceptance of everything.”

“[I’m here] to discuss the equality that needs to be presented to this university.”

ADAOBI EZEODUM, PHILOSOPHY SENIOR

NATHAN WILSON, BUSINESS FRESHMAN

“[On recent bullying] I want to use it in a positive way. I’m working with administration on it.” MARCO TORRES, PSYCHOLOGY SENIOR

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STAFF ED I T O RI A L

Health trumps GPA

ith finals week upon us, we remind students not tocompromise their health to maintain their GPA. Staying up all night binge-studying impairs your mental function, so while you think that all-nighter is necessary, in reality you’re probably hindering your performance on the morning’s test. Some students may find it necessary to seek out drugs like Adderall or drink copious amounts of energy drinks to keep themselves awake. But keep in mind the side effects that you might experience if used in excess, like aggressive behavior, numbness in arms or legs and slowed or difficult speech. Too many stimulants can weaken your heart permanently. In the long run, it’s just not worth it. Although Netflix may be as a procrastinator’s paradise, use it wisely to get your mind off of your calculus exam and then jump back in to studying. If you are struggling trying to finish up your graduate thesis, try going for a run to clear your mind. If you’re in the library and begin to feel stressed, go down to the first floor for the annual “Dog Based Hug In,” where you can relax with man’s best friend. In short, make sure that you carve out time to decompress. Utilize all the services available on campus. The Writing Center, supplemental instruction sessions and tutoring are valuable tools that can help you grasp even the hardest subjects. If it all gets to be too much, call the Counseling Center and talk to a professional about how to cope. Always remember that your grades don’t define you and put your personal health first.

wichitan

the

Vo. 80 | No. 14

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

Yes, I am a feminist Yes, I am a feminist. No, I do not detest men, but I simply do not want to live in a world where women are constantly oppressed and denied even the most basic rights. We live in a world where women face Wadzanai thinly disguised misogyny Dzvurumi in their everyday lives. Let us get things straight: feminism is not about being anti-men and pro-women. Instead, feminism is about the liberation and freeing of women. It is the advocacy of all women’s right to be politically, socially and economically equal to men. Yes, men can be feminists, too; asking men to reject sexism and the abuse of women, I believe, does not take anything from them. But because they are sitting in a position of privilege, it is hard for some men to understand the depth of injustice women face. Therefore, I feel like a man’s opinion on feminism will always be limited. While it is important for them to call out inequality and oppression against women when they see it, it is also important for them to recognize that their voices should not shout over those who have actually experienced misogyny and sexism and have a far better understanding of how it operates. Do not get me wrong. Men are oppressed in society, too, because they are poor or racially despised or homosexual or do not conform to certain gender stereotypes, but not because of their gender. Women are oppressed in these ways, too, in addition to their gender. Award-winning actress Emma Watson, a Women’s Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations, said: “Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong. It is time that we all perceive gender on a spectrum, not as two opposing sets of ideals.” I strongly value this statement because I have had endless encounters in which I was oppressed and denied of things simply because I am a woman.

I remember, back in elementary school, when I wanted to be become a class monitor, and my teacher told me girls were not strong enough to become class monitors. Can you imagine how such words completely destroyed and belittled me? We are fighting a good fight. Three years ago, I did not say a word when people joked that women belong in the kitchen or when adults told me to cover my body so boys would not leer at and objectify me. Today, when I make a decision to reveal my skin, I am saying that I am in control of own body. I own what it is, and that is what I want to do. Some women want to be housewives, some want to become Oxford professors, some want to be surgeons and some nuns, and that should all be okay. This is the element of freedom. We need feminism for those women who get asked why they want to get into engineering since it is not oriented toward females. We need feminism because sexual assault should not be a learning experience, especially for those women shamed into believing they were not raped. We need it for women who do not receive the same wages as their male colleagues even though they are more educated and experienced, and for women who decide to earn less than their partners or become housewives so their men will not be frowned upon for making less. To parents, I urge you to nurture your daughters. Do not raise them to believe that the earth is flat and that if they venture out, they will fall off the edge. Raise them to aspire to be all they can be without putting limitations on them because they are female. To all the women reading this, I hope you choose to become women of your own kind and likeness. I hope you continue to fight to eradicate the inequalities we face. We are not fighting to be above men, but we are fighting for equality in workplaces, professions, households and communities. We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back. Wadzanai Dzvurumi is a marketing junior.

PHOTO EDITOR: Rachel Johnson PHOTOGRAPHER: Francisco Martinez, Kayla White, Taylor Warren DESIGN EDITOR: Brianna Sheen DESIGNER: Justin Marquart ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

from FORUM pg. 1 “I came from a community college to this bigger college, and [MSU] had no fun culture classes,” Jenifer Spenser, nursing junior, said. “[We] need more classes and awareness, some people see Hispanic and they only think Mexican. There is so much more to that.” Cassi Dillard, psychology senior, said, “How can we help you, to help us, make this a long term thing?” Other students expressed the same concern of the discrimination issues not being helped long-term, and just being forgotten in a few weeks. Students also asked about the ramifications for the people who posted the White Supremacy Rules posters, and the people who posted the discriminating pictures on Yeti. Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment, stepped in to comment on those specific questions. “Every case is unique, it depends on the conduct of the officer or hearing board [that hears the person’s case],” Lambs said. The student leaders sitting up front wrapped up the meeting by telling the audience that if there is a problem then to speak up and say something about it. The student leaders cannot do anything unless they are told something is going on. “We are all here for one goal, to make MSU a better university,” Owens said.

Copyright © 2015. 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 telephone number and address. The editor retains the right to edit letters.

FANTASY OF LIGHTS

| Dec. 2, 2015 | 3

PHOTO BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

A Toys’ Christmas adopted by the Ernst family show familiar Pixar characters come to life displayed in front of the Hardin Administration Building on Nov. 30th. | The Hardin Administration Building with the Fantasy of Lights displayed in front on Nov. 30th. | Kinsey McCloud, undeclared freshmen, and Morgan Sinclair, sociology freshmen, take a pictures of the Fantasy of Lights displayed in front of the Hardin Administration Building on Nov. 30th.

•1/2 PRICE MENU FROM 5PM–9PM •RIBBON CUTTING AT 4:30PM •MEET CURLY TOP Stop by and dine with us! 3112 Kemp Blvd., Wichita Falls

4 | Dec. 2, 2015 |

IN T E R NAT IO NA L W E E K

PHOTO BY TAYLOR WARREN | THE WICHITAN

Shontay Tatum, social work sophomore, Asi Kuna, international studies freshman and Jeanne Uwera, physiology sophomore, attend the Tri-lingual Café on Nov. 21 in Clark Student Center. | Jennifer Joss, social work freshman, writes on the board at the Tri-lingual Café Nov. 21.

Cultures blend at Tri-lingual cafe TAYLOR WARREN REPORTER

“

e gustaría probar una rebanda de flat.” “Je voudrais un corissant pain au chocolat.” “Ich hätte gern Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte.” At the Tri-lingual Café, part of International Education Week hosted by the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, off the hussle of the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Forum in Clark Student Center Nov. 19, students were practicing their Spanish, French and German. To receive hot chocolate, flan or any of a variety of other treats, tasters had to write a word or phrase on the poster boards located beside the tables. “I came to the event because my professor, Dr. Montoya, asked me to attend,” Thomas Victory, sociology junior, said. “At the Spanish board I wrote ‘Feliz Cumpleaños.’ I asked to try the flan and cookies. I actually went to all the tables and like the German waffles and the Spanish coffee.” Carlyse Wallace, mechanical engineering freshman, said, “I enjoyed the Spanish coffee and the French plain croissant was good. I attended because my professor, Dr. Montoya, bragged about the coffee she made for the event during class and came to try it.” “I came because I am in German

FRENCH REMEMBRANCE

PHOTO BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

A crowd gathers at the France support meeting held Nov. 23 in the Clark Student Center Comanche Suites to give donations and prayers to France after the Paris Terrorist attacks. class and the German club,” Zach Orenstein, environmental science sophomore, said. “I tried foods at the German and Spanish tables. My favorite was the German waffle and black forest cake.” Timon Thomas, sports and leisure junior, said, “I wanted to experience the culture through the food and because professor Montoya was apart of

serving at the café. I liked all the tables because the flavors were all different than what I am used to eating.” “I attended because I took four semesters of Spanish and have not had a lot of opportunity to speak with other students,” Holly Gardner, 7-12 English language arts and reading sophomore, said. “I tried the French and Spanish tables and had no favorite. I have a

sweet tooth and they were both good.” Melissa Brown, early childhood education freshman, said, “I wasn’t going to attend but Holly [Gardner] said, ‘Yes you are, there is free food’ and I told her ‘I cant’ speak another language.’ I thought I would be in a room of multilingual students but I am glad I came. I tried the Spanish cookies which was good.” “I think having the café, students can be exposed to more cultures and languages,” Claudia Montoya, associate professor of Spanish, said. “I baked four pans of flan, which consists of eggs, condensed milk, evaporated milk, sweetened milk and rum. The event has be great.” Yvonne Franke, assistant professor of German, said, “I was excited to see my students be able to use their language skills and also see new students speaking the language. This event has brought students together to visit with each other. For the German table, I made the black forest cake and waffles topped with powder sugar and whipped cream. Our culture eats a fourth meal, which consists of eating some type of cake and drinking coffee.” “I love any event the German club is apart of,” Lisa Moore, English senior and German Club president, said. “I have enjoyed seeing familiar faces here. I went to visit the French table, but they were out of bread to try.”

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PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Kiran Chapagain, mechanical engineer junior, presents his poster on “Computational Study of Film Boiling Droplet Motion on Micro- and Nanoscale Ratchets” to Eduardo Colmenares, professor of computer science and one of the judges, at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum | Michael Olaya, mechanical engineer and physics junior, presents his poster presentation with his partner, Sean Egloff, mechanical engineer sophomore, to a group of students at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum | Kyle Walsh, radiology freshman, and Diana Perez, radiology freshman, read the posters at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum to fill out their extra credit for class. “[I’m here because] it was extra credit for my anatomy class. [So far] I really like the faith based rehab for addicts because my dads an alcoholic and going through a program right now so it kind of hits home,” Walsh said.

EURECA forum considered ‘huge success’ KARA MCINTYRE REPORTER

ept. 26, 1905. Albert Einstein’s special theory of relativity (or E=mc2) is published after more than seven years of research, introducing new ideas to mechanics close to the speed of light. “If we knew what we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?” Nov. 19, 2015. EURECA, Enhancing Undergraduate Research Endeavors and Creative Activities, and UGROW, Undergraduate Research Opportunities Summer Workshop, hosted the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Forum with 49 presentations and more than 100 presenters. More than 100 years after what is arguably the world’s most famous equation was published, the value of research has not changed, even in the small town of Wichita Falls. “As you collect data, more questions come up and we have to select what we do first and go in a logical order. Many of the presentations were not just new pieces of information to the students, but to the disciplines,” Magaly Rincón-Zachary, director of undergraduate research, said. “That’s what research is.” At least 400 students checked into the forum, located in the CSC Atrium. Various professors offered extra credit for attending and evaluating three presentations. “There are almost 6,000 students at MSU, but only 400 came to the forum and about 140 presented. Where are the others?” Rincón-Zachary said. “It was a great turnout all around, but big picture wise, it just seems

like a small number.” Rincón-Zachary adjusted her small-framed glasses on her nose, gazing at the books that line her office shelves as she discussed the gradual increase of presentations per semester. “The forum occurs once per semester, and it gets bigger each time,” Rincón-Zachary said. “We have to work fast to find space for the spring forum, which is always historically larger than fall.” This past spring, 53 posters had to be squeezed into the Atrium, along with 17 oral presentations in both Comanche Suites and Kiowa. Compared to this fall’s 24 posters and 25 oral presentations, the Atrium was not even remotely as packed as it was in the spring, according to Rincón-Zachary. “The spring forum had over double the amount of poster presentations, so imagine how much tighter the fit was,” Rincón-Zachary said. “There will be a time where the Atrium is not enough.” Pre-med freshman Brittni Coss, who attended the event, tucked a strand of her bleached-blonde hair behind her ear and lightly chuckled when asked about the space for the forum. “It was like weaving through a maze the entire time. I have never seen the Atrium so packed before,” Coss said. “You were bound to run into someone, literally.” The side of the Atrium that holds the Cheyenne room and Wichita I & II room remained full of chairs, couches, and curious students while the forum continued on next door because administrators were afraid the furniture

would be damaged during the move. “I think of my furniture at home that isn’t on rollers either, and I move it every week because I have to clean behind it and all of that. But I guess it’s a different philosophy. I hope that changes,” Rincón-Zachary said. “Is furniture more important than a scholarly activity?” Other location options have been considered for the spring 2016 forum in April. Rincón-Zachary shuffles some papers on her desk and folds her hands in her lap while discussing the growth of the forum. “We may have to move to the Coliseum, but the concern is that a lot of traffic comes to the forum because it’s in the Student Center. Students will end up stopping by, even if it’s just on a walk to class,” Rincón-Zachary said. “If we move, students, faculty, and staff will have to make more of an effort to walk to the Coliseum, versus the Student Center which is in the heart of campus.” She smiles and nods her head while discussing the forum’s success, following the relief she had after it was all over. “It was absolutely great, every semester just gets better and better. The student enthusiasm was contagious; it created an energy in the Atrium,” Rincón-Zachary said. “After it was over, I had what seemed like an adrenaline crash over the weekend. Once you put in all that hard work and then just like that it’s over, you can finally relax.” Accounting sophomore Aubrey Kass has been working on her poster with partner Adam Likeness since August. Their poster, titled “Turning up the heat on volunteer moti-

vation: A study examining what makes America’s most famous triple digit weather bike race so attractive for its’ volunteers,” won best poster from the Dillard College of Business Administration. “It was an amazing experience being a part of the forum. I gained a value for research that I didn’t have before, and that’s really the whole point,” Kass said. “Winning the best poster for the Dillard College of Business was an amazing achievement and really made all the hard work and numerous hours of time worth it. It was a huge honor.” Rincón-Zachary sat quietly in her chair, thinking, before discussing changes for upcoming years. “It’s hard to say what should be changed when the forum itself was a huge success in my eyes. The main issues were really just space and number of volunteers,” Rincón-Zachary said. “I plan to reach out to different organizations on campus for more volunteer help and to improve communication about attending the forum in general.” Coss explained her experience at the forum and why students should go. “It was really cool to see my peers evaluating posters seriously versus taking it as a joke or only doing it for extra credit. It made me put more thought into my evaluations and ask more questions to the presenters,” Coss said. “The amount of professionalism in the room is something every student should see. It showed me the true value of research and that if I wanted to start my own project, this university grants me easy access to that opportunity.”

“It’s all part of the EURECA mentorship/funding program. It’s a great way to learn and get your project running. By participating and approaching your idea you are able to do more research as the program raises funds for you, which individually you wouldn’t be able to achieve.””

“I did a EURECA project a couple semesters ago and I just like to see what they’ve come up with this semester, just to see the new research that they’re doing, and also to get extra credit. I learned several things from just the three posters that I judged. I learned that math games helped a students with a disability, it increased their fluency percentage.”

“At first I attended because it was extra credit for one of my classes. I just had to summarize two posters and I was done, but once I started reading the posters I realized how interesting it was so I stayed longer to read others.”

SEAN EGLOFF, ENGINEERING SENIOR

MARY BRADY, EDUCATION SENIOR

QUADE COWARD, EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY JUNIOR

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MEN’S SOCCER

UPCOM I NG E V E N T S Police department retirement reception Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. | CSC Comanche Suites | Free admission | Police Department retirement reception in honor of Chief Dan Williams and Sgt. Mike Cross.

Opening reception for senior exhibition

Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. - p.m. | Juanita Harvey Art Gallery, Lamar D. Fain Fine Arts Center | Free admission | Senior art exhibition will be on display from Dec. 4 to Jan. 11 in the Foyer and Pit Galleries.

Gala concert

Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. | Akin Auditorium | Free admission

Men’s Basketball vs. Oklahoma Christian

Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Free admission for students, staff, and faculty

Choir concert

Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. | Akin Auditorium | Free admission

University housing to close

Dec. 11 at noon | All Dorms | Housing will close

CRIME LOG Nov. 19

Drugs: Possession of Marijuana | 8:38 p.m. | Sundance Court Apartments | Marijuana was found in a students dorm room.

PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Ben Clarvis, business management senior, dribbles the ball past a Colorado Mines opponent during the NCAA II Third Round play-off game held at the soccer field. | Cody Schultz, marketing junior, sits in silence after MSU lost the NCAA II Third Round Play-off game 4-3 to Colorado Mines in overtime. | Head Men’s Soccer Coach Doug Elder sits down and cringes at how close the score is in the last three minutes of the the game.

Nov. 24

Theft: Misdemeanor | 12:30 p.m. | Clark Student Center | A current MSU student reported that her wallet and its contents were stolen from a table in the CSC.

| Dec. 2, 2015 | 7

Football player scouted for NFL YVETTE ORDONEZ REPORTER

s a young boy growing up in the south side of Houston, Marqui Christian found his love for the game of football at the age of four. Perhaps it was his passion for the sport or humble upbringing that has led him this far. If things continue to go well with him as they have been throughout his football career, Christian can be drafted into the NFL. “Marqui has always had a knack of understanding the game. He’s a special player and a very smart kid. He is able to make checks or calls that most other players don’t. He puts himself and his teammates in a position to be successful. He just understands the way it is, like a coach on the field,” Gary McGraw, assistant football coach, said. According to McGraw, every scout who has spoken to him has said he is easy to converse with. Half have spoken highly of him. McGraw said Christian is a special player. He broke the school record for defensive tackle. Twenty six of the 32 teams of the NFL have been on campus to look at Christian. “I know three or four have sent multiple scouts. Not everyone gets the opportunity to be in his shoes. But he is not the normal athlete. He is not egotistical. He is a very humble kid,” McGraw said. Daniel Laudermilk, co captain of the football team, has been playing with Christian for four years. “My favorite game was the one against Colorado. The running back got through and Marqui chased him down. He and I made eye contact while he was running and he hawked the ball out,” Laudermilk, senior in history, said. Marqui’s mother, Tonya Christian has been to every game Christian has had. The only one she has missed is the one against Colorado. “He wasn’t supposed to play yet when he was four, but he was that good. He started out very early on a team called the Garden Villa Giants. He has always impressed me. He would make two to three touchdowns a game. When he was eleven and he played for the Fresno Gators made four touchdowns in a single game. Of course he was a running back then. I never missed a little league game or high school game,” she said. Mrs. Christian said Marqui has shown talent of football ever since he was a little boy. When he was four years old, he played on a team only meant for kids of at least the age of five. And although this in itself

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Marqui Christian, criminal justice senior, recovers a fumble from Eastern New Mexico, scoring the second touchdown for MSU in the playoff game held in Memorial Stadium, Nov. 7. was an opportunity not presented to most, like to keep close to him. He’s my baby, Christian remained humble. but I can’t be there every step of the way. I “He is a much laid back kid until there love to cook for him and I won’t be able to is football involved. It brings out a lot of when he moves for football. I know that’s emotion people don’t usually see. It brings not possible. Whatever team he decides to out everything in him, his eagerness, his go with, it doesn’t matter. I know he really thrive. He has always loved having a foot- just cares about is the opportunity to play,” ball in his hand. He used to have scrim- Mrs. Christian said. mages with the neighborhood kids and Mom, dad, and older brother Derrick cousins when he was growing up. You Christian like to affirm that Marqui will don’t get a lot of him until make it on an NFL team. football is brought up,” Mrs. “You have to believe it Christian said. is going to happen,” Mrs. Five people have personChristian said. ally told Mrs. Christian that She said she noticed his her son, if anybody, can talent early on. All of the make it to the NFL. She said credit for his humble perhe is not showy at all about sonality is given to his parthis rare opportunity, and ents’ raising him ‘the right that he gives credit to his enway’ by coach McGraw and tire team for their successes. girlfriend Maria Powell. “I’m just so happy that “He is just so positive. others can see the potential Even with his opponents, in him. I tell people every he doesn’t have negative day how extremely proud I things to say. He impressam. He has a dream and he es me with how he carries MARIA POWELL MARQUIS CHRISTIAN’S is doing great things with it. himself as a young man,” GIRLFRIEND We are so pleased as a famiMrs. Christian said. ly. I’m happy that he gets to Christian’s athleticism embrace football in the next level,” Mrs. is something he was born with. His grandChristian said. father, Anthony Davis, and uncle, Marlon Wherever he goes, Mrs. Christian vows Christian, also played football. His grandto be at every game feasible. father played all through college at Texas “I will be as present as possible. I would Southern University.

“It’s not easy to achieve his goal, but his parents kept him on the right path. He was born to do this, without a doubt.”

“Derrick and I ran track and his dad was a baseball and basketball player,” Mrs. Christian said. Marqui Christian has played and loved football from the start. His talent for the game has always been present. “After the first three years of me playing, I discovered it was a real passion I had. All I wanted to do was play and run around,” Christian said. Christian did not play in junior high school, but stayed playing football in little league. More than 20 NFL teams have sought out Christian. “After this season is over, the plan is to train and be drafted. I don’t have a favorite team, but I think I would like to stay in Texas. But it’s a dream to be on any of the 32 teams. I prefer somewhere that is not too cold,” Christian said. Although he has received attention for his accomplishments so far, Christian has not let it get to him. “I’m not used to being the center of attention. I’m a little shy,” Christian said. Before games, Christian said the one and only thing that is consistent with him is praying. “I don’t really have a pre-game ritual besides praying. Some games I’m all by myself listening to music or sometimes I’m just joking around the locker room staying loose for the game,” Christian said. Girlfriend of a year and a half, Maria Powell, said the moment she met Christian, she knew he was different from other football players. “This kid gets it. D2 kids get overlooked, but he is hard to miss. He is most definitely a diamond in the rough. For sure,” Powell said. Powell and Mrs. Christian said they would both like for him to stay close. With both having full schedules, Powell and Marqui aren’t able to spend more than a couple of hours together on a normal day already. “We both have our own goals in life. We stay supportive. I can’t get jealous of him and football. I know it’s important to him and it’s his passion,” Powell said. “I do think it would be cool is he signed with the Houston Texans. He was born and raised from down the road of the Texas stadium. Yeah, he grew up hard. It’s not easy to achieve his goal, but his parents kept him on the right path. He was born to do this, without a doubt,” Powell said. Close family and teammates see a side of Christian that most do not. He is a walking oxymoron.

see NFL pg. 8

8 | Dec. 2, 2015 |

FOOTBALL PHOTOS BY TAYLOR WARREN | THE WICHITAN

Sophomore Madison Riffe holds up a sign for the crowd as sophomores Hanna Heuring and Ashley Petrides chant at the MSU v. Colorado State-Pueblo Nov. 28. Colorado State won 26-17.

Defensive back Herb Whitehurst sits on the bench after the loss at the MSU versus Colorado State-Pueblo game.

Linebackers Calvin Stewart and Daniel Laudermilk rush to block CSU-Pueblo at the MSU versus Colorado State-Pueblo game. | About 300 fans were in attendance at the MSU versus Colorado State-Pueblo game.

from NFL pg. 7 “There is a lot more to him than people see at first glance. He has a quiet intelligence about him. People sometimes just see the tattoos and dreadlocks and are thrown off. One minute he is talking about subliminal messages, then he has a hippie rock star vibe about him, and the next minute he is all about DJ Screw. He likes to watch forensic files, too. He has a lot of sides to him,” Powell said. McGraw said he is hopeful to see Christian advance into the next level of football. It will benefit him and his family, and also the university with publicity. “You just want one of them to take you. Not everyone gets an opportunity like this. Marqui is a very smart kid. He was raised right. Only one or two guys get noticed a year. Amini Silatolu, graduated from Midwestern in 2012 and he is playing for the Carolina Panthers. Coincidentally, that was the last year we were 10-1,” McGraw said. On a normal day, Christian doesn’t have free time until after 7 p.m. “We do weights for an hour from 8- 9 a.m. Then meetings from 2- 3 p.m. Film afterward is optional. That’s just a normal day,” Christian said. “I stay busy.” Despite visits from multiple scouts, Christian said he is not yet sure which team he would prefer if any offers are made. Coming from third world Texas, where a football career is difficult to come by, he is finding his way to success that would otherwise not be achievable had he not been persistent and consumed by the sport from the very beginning. “When his team loses a game, he learns from it. He is constantly watching film to get better. When he wins, he doesn’t like to take full credit. He says it was his brothers on the team that made it happen,” Mrs. Christian said. “He’s humble. I am so proud of him.”