April 29, 2009

The student voice of Midwestern State University

The Wichitan page 7 The road to fame

page 9 Unstoppable The MSU Cycling Team continues to roll through competition with conference crown.

Trio of Red Dirt music artists visited Kay Yeager Coliseum for a performance.

WEDNESDAY April 29, 2009

Freshman’s throat slashed by longtime friend Chris Collins Managing Editor

Three years ago, Cody Welsh saved Caleb Carmichael’s life. It was at Lake Bridgeport.

The two were swinging on a rope that broke. Carmichael struck his head on a boat dock and was knocked unconscious, falling in 30-foot deep water.

Welsh dove in and pulled his friend ashore.

On Monday, Carmichael returned the favor. He saved Welsh’s life.

It was in an odd fashion.

Welsh attacked Carmichael in a house on Joy Court, slashing the MSU freshman’s throat. Afterward, Welsh put a gun to his own head, threatening suicide.

It was Carmichael, bleeding profusely, who got his old friend to drop the gun and surrender to police.

“He seemed confused, like he didn’t know what was going on,” Carmichael recalled.

Carmichael, 19, spoke from a hospital room at United Regional Health Care Center.

Welsh, also 19, is being held at the Wichita County Annex where he faces counts of aggravated assault. Bond for both charges is $200,000.

Welsh is not an MSU student.

Carmichael said the incident began when Welsh unexpectedly arrived at the home of Brenda and Larry Scott that morning, where Carmichael lives.

Welsh has been struggling with drug problems for a couple years, Carmichael said. He moved out of the Scotts’ home, where he had lived for five years, about a year ago. According to Carmichael, he didn’t like the restrictive rules about alcohol and drugs.

“Cody was a good kid,” Stefan Scott, who is friends with Cody, said. “He just went down the wrong path with drugs.”

Until Monday, the last contact Welsh had had with the Scotts was when they tried to convince him to join the military and clean up his life the week before.

When Welsh walked into the Scotts’ home Monday at about 10:15 a.m., only Carmichael and

a housekeeper, who asked to remain unnamed, were there.

“The Scotts said Cody wasn’t supposed to be over there when the adults weren’t there, but it wasn’t a big deal,” Carmichael said.

Carmichael said he came downstairs to see Welsh standing in the entryway. The two began to play pool and talk.

During the pool game, Welsh told Carmichael that he needed help, Carmichael said.

He didn’t know exactly what kind of help Welsh needed, but sent Stefan a text message asking him to come home. Welsh called Brenda and asked her to come talk to him.

Brenda, who was working,

couldn’t get there soon enough.

Police later discovered that Welsh had been using methamphetamine for the past four days and had not been sleeping, according to an affidavit.

The two sat on the couch and began to watch TV. Welsh asked for a drink and Carmichael went into the pantry to find one. While Carmichael was kneeling down, Welsh crept up behind him and slashed his throat with a knife.

“I didn’t know what it was at first,” Carmichael said. “It just felt like a dull pain.”

Carmichael said he reached up to his own neck, feeling the knife with his hands and finally realizing what was happening.

He threw Welsh on the

ground, knocking the knife to the ground.

The housekeeper was vacuuming nearby in the house when she heard screaming and yelling from the kitchen. As she ran toward the commotion she heard Carmichael shout, “Cody, you’re killing me!”

When she arrived in the kitchen she saw Carmichael had wrestled Welsh to the floor. He turned to her and told her to call an ambulance. Both of the men were almost completely covered in blood.

She was dialing 9-1-1 on her cell phone when she realized that Welsh had slit Carmichael’s See ASSAULT page 5

Student athlete from Montenegro balances tennis, academics Joe Cockrum

For the Wichitan

For some students taking 12 hours a semester is hard enough. Playing on a university sports team could make things even more difficult.

For MSU men’s tennis player Vjekoslav Stipanic 12 hours in his first semester was a breeze, so this semester he has decided to double up. In his second semester he is taking seven classes adding up to 24 semester hours.

“Sometimes it can get to be over-

whelming,” said Stipanic.

Stipanic, a mechanical engineering major, arrived at MSU last January from his hometown Tivat, Montenegro, a small city located in southern Europe with a population of about 15,000.

He started learning English when he was in the 4th grade, although he never started speaking it fluently until he came to MSU. English was just one of the few things Stipanic had to deal with while in school in Europe.

“Here school is easier,” he said. “Back home I had to go to school on some days for ten hours.”

Even though at times he said it was nearly impossible, Sti-

panic still found time to play tennis. He started playing when he was eight years old and became good very quickly.

Throughout his younger days he was named the 12 and under, 14 and under, 16 and under, and 18 and under champion of Montenegro.

After high school Stipanic decided to pursue a degree in civil engineering at a college in Serbia. He continued to play tennis and was still doing well, he was ranked number eight in Serbia when he became interested in coming to the United States to get his degree and keep playing tennis.

See STIPANIC page 3

Patrick Johnston | The Wichitan Moffett Library could get expensive renovations if the state legislature allocates the $40 million necessary for the project.

Library could get overdue face lift Joe Cockrum For the Wichitan

Brittany Norman | Editor In Chief

MSU men’s tennis player Vjekoslav Stipanic plays tennis at Weeks Park Tennis Center in Wichita Falls. He came to Texas from Montenegro. He balances athletics with a challenging academic course load.

Moffett Library may get a much-needed facelift if the Texas state legislature dishes out about $40 million to rebuild and remodel the 45-year-old structure.

University Librarian Dr. Clara Latham said the money will come from a tuition revenue bond funded by the state legislature, which issues bonds every year to universities in need of financial help for certain projects.

The library building, originally built in 1964, was updated and added on to in 1986. It has not been remodeled since.

Latham said a consultant has come up with several different plans and she is unsure at this time if they will tear the building down, but it is likely.

“The hindrance to remodeling the building as it stands is it’s not ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliant,” Latham said.

“The hallways to the bathrooms are too narrow and the old elevator is too small to meet ADA requirements. So they would have to tear out and rebuild that whole elevator and re-do all three floors of bathroom hallways. It would

be a major undertaking.”

If they decide to just remodel, the third floor of the building will also be completed. As it stands now it is not as big as the other two floors because they ran out of money when adding on in 1986. During the process only half of the library would be remodeled at a time to allow students to continue using the building.

The remodeling would not only take care of the ADA compliance issues it would also add more places for the students to study and hopefully make the library more student friendly.

“One of the things I’m really pushing for are more group study rooms with more technology,” Latham said. “Have those group study rooms wireless capable, have smart boards and multimedia preparation capabilities. If you need to practice a PowerPoint or practice an audio presentation, all of that equipment will be built into the room.

Not just a chalkboard.”

Sophomore mechanical engineering major Blake Powell agreed with Latham and thinks the group study rooms need to

See Renovations page5

Staff Editorial

Penis pranksters have a ball

The Bachelor contestant dances her way to revenge

We have many names for it.

Dick, cock, johnson, penis,

phallus, pe-

Jenny Gaylor

For the Wichitan

So if you’re a woman and you haven’t been living under a rock for the past five months, you know the story about Melissa and her fiasco with the ABC show The Bachelor.

For those of you out of the loop, basically, Melissa got screwed. Jason, the “bachelor” picked her and proposed to her, and then dumped her for the runner up (Molly) on the follow up show.

During the follow up show, women all over the country were cursing Jason for the crudeness of his actions and the idiocy of his decisions. Immediately, the entire nation was on Melissa’s side and backing her up when she told Jason off on national television. The actions taken by Jason, although done over the span of several weeks, were aired in one night.

The next day, the drama that had unfolded the night before was all over the news and filled gossip columns everywhere. Less than two weeks after the “incident on The Bachelor,” as many women referred to it, Melissa was added

ter, member, pecker, manhood, wang, dong, schlong, willy, tool.

Some of you MSU males may have a personal name for your own.

Whatever you call it, three Pierce Hall residents took their infatuation, or in-phall-uation, to a new level.

Campus security cameras caught the students marking their territory on campus vehicles early Monday morning.

That’s right -- wieners on windows.

Most of the drawings were not anatomically correct, though the illustrators really tried hard.

Many probably fell short of reflecting the art But you have to give them credit for using

Jessica Wilden For the Wichitan

their heads and utilizing their creative juices.

The semester is almost over, and for the past seven weeks I have heard the same groans concerning when it is going to be over. I have to admit, I am one of the guilty parties to utter these comments due t o this being my last real semester of classes. It seems like sometimes it goes on forever.

But if you think about it, where would you rather be? College is one of the few places that you can safely express who you are. You can say pretty much what you want. Dress how you want. You can voice your opinion without any real prosecution. You can be a little crazy and get away with it. You can also be

So what’s coming next? Some students who enjoyed the prank are begging for more.

Others even think it was a stroke of genius.

Who knows? There may be another exhibition. Other students may also lend a hand.

So far, the boys responsible for the penis portraits have not received any punishment or credit. No complaints were filed at the MSU got a rise out of it.

After the cars were marked, police said they rubbed off 90 percent of the penises in the early morning.

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deserve. It’s about time you win something that is actually worthwhile and not going to dump you in the end. This show is going to confirm your status as the girl who can do no wrong in America’s eyes.

Let’s face it, Jason was a jerk anyway. And whether or not you would have stayed his fiancé, The Bachelor doesn’t have a very good rate of successful relationships.

Let’s do the math. Since the show started, there have been 13 seasons of The Bachelor and The The Bachelorette, which means 13 couples.

Of all of those 13 couples, only one couple so far has gone on to get married and still be together (Trista and Ryan). But hey, there is still time for that to end. I guess we won’t know until they, you know, die.

I’m not saying Melissa isn’t a fantastic catch, because she is. But Jason on the other hand was a jerk, and it didn’t show until the end of the season. He probably would have screwed it up.

So, when you add it all up, Melissa won in the end. Yeah, she had to face a lot of heartbreak. But she has become America’s New Sweetheart and is kicking major butt on

Dancing With the Stars. And, on top of that, she is super hot so she can potentially get whatever guy she wants!

There are only a few weeks left of Dancing With the Stars, and it looks like Melissa is in it to win it.

Fractured rib aside, she deserves it.

Any girl who is humiliated on national television in that manner deserves to shove it in his face and win at something in the same season.

As for you Jason, let it be a lesson to you that whenever you are presented with a decision, make sure you don’t go back on what you decide. You will forever be known as a jerk.

You had it all and you threw it away. You had 25 women begging for your attention and the rest of female America swooning over you.

Now, no woman would touch you with a 30-foot pole. Congratulations.

So Melissa, you go live it up with your newly acquired starlet status, and Jason, have fun at home with your kid and big-eyed, greasyhaired Molly.

broke and somehow it is still all right. You still have the excuse to be stupid at times, while getting the privileges of being an adult. Basically, it is not a bad place to be in life.

I am sure that right now it may seem to be a hassle with all the papers, projects and other things that we have to do, but I am here to tell you it does not get any better. We will still have tasks set before us which will dictate how successful we will be in life; the only difference will be that we will be getting paid instead of being the people shelling out the money. We will still be expected to work hard and get things done in an educated way.

That is why we all came to college in the first place.

I hear all the time that people wish they were four years, three years, one year down the road, but thinking back for those of you who are in your last year, or better yet, your last month of being a college student, how fast did it go by?

For those of you who are freshman and think that you will never graduate, I offer words of encouragement: It goes by much faster than you realize.

Excuse me for a moment while I get a little nostalgic. I look back on my time here at MSU and think about all that I have gained, and I am not just talking about an education, although I have received a good one. We have all made friends and connections that will linger in our memories forever. I know my

college experience has changed me, as it has most of you. I learned a lot about life and who I was and want to become. I have made friends who will be with me for the rest of my life. I met my husband here in one of my classes. And like many others, I have been privileged enough to have professors who made an impression on me I will never forget.

I do not expect to stop hearing the complaints of never-ending classes and semesters. In fact, I know I will more than likely be the one doing the complaining, but I will be doing it with fondness for the time that I have been in college and gained all the experiences that make me who I am today.

You may complain, but where would you rather be?

ists’ actual size.

police department, though the cops obviously

at the last minute on another ABC show, Dancing With the Stars.

Fans and audiences were shocked she was willing to come on the show just when the wound of the The Bachelor was so new.

The new support from the fans of Dancing With the Stars gave Melissa a new boost of confidence that confirmed her to all as America’s Sweetheart.

As it turns out, Melissa, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader, can really dance. She is still in the running for the first place spot as this week on Dancing With the Stars the contestants are brought from six to five.

Even though Melissa is hurt with a hairline fracture, she is still the frontrunner of all the contestants.

She scored a 29 out of 30 on last week’s show. This week, she scored a 21 out of 30 from her rehearsal performance.

Even with a lower score from what she is used to, fans are still pulling for her to win it all. Doctors say she can continue competing after this week.

More power to you Melissa!

It’s about time you got what you

EDITOR’S NOTE:

We have recieved several let-

ters lately that we are unable to run in the newspaper because they do not follow the rules for submission listed at the bottom of this page.

The Wichitan welcomes opinions from faculty, staff and students, however we cannot run letters that do not adhere to the following criteria: The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted

Copyright © 2007. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. 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. First copy of the paper is free of charge; additional copies are $1. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address for verification purposes. The editor retains the right to edit letters.

by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address for verification purposes.

If you would like your letter to remain anonymous in print, we still need your name and contact information. If we cannot verify the author, we cannot run the letter.

The Wichitan Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Brittany Norman Managing Editor Chris Collins

Entertainment Editor Jamie Monroe Op-Ed Editor Alyssa Edson

Sports Editor Bobby Morris

Photo Editor Patrick Johnston

Something to say?

The Wichitan is seeking guest columnists. If you have something you’d like to write about, email us an opinion piece to wichitan@mwsu.edu. We welcome opinions from students, faculty and staff.

Use your voice!

Reporters Richard Carter Courtney Foreman

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Photographers Peter Hiatt

Adviser Randy Pruitt

Copy Editor Lana McCarley

Op/Ed

The Wichitan April 29, 2009

3

Disney Channel, all grown-up Courtney Foreman For the Wichitan

Disney channel is out of control. What ever happened to watching shows on Disney that didn’t require the actors so sing, dance, and look great on camera?

Lets just take a minute to talk about Miley Cyrus. Disney totally scored when they brought her on the scene three years ago.

They’ve managed to make Miley the biggest cash cow they’ve ever seen by putting her Hannah Montana label on pretty much everything under the sun. Clothing, sunglasses, even jewelry isn’t off limits when it comes to branding the name of Disney onto anything kids can buy.

Basically, it seems to me if you get your kid on a show on Disney, you pretty much get handed the golden ticket to fame, no questions asked. Unless however, you decide to branch off from the wholesome Disney image and take scandalous pictures for Vanity Fair Magazine when you’re only 15 years old (cough cough: Miley).

But luckily for her, Miley recently made an official announcement that her show Han-

nah Montana is so over. So now it looks like Miley can do whatever she likes without Disney channel breathing down her neck. She is now free to join the likes of Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan by going to parties, doing drugs, and wind up in rehab by the time she FINALLY reaches 18. Luckily for Disney, a batch of newcomers including Demi Lavato and Selena Gomaz are in the running to becoming Miley Cyrus’ heiresses to the thrown of teen royalty (sure to leave Miley as ancient history by this time next year).

Let’s move on to the boy band threesome known as the Jonas Brothers. They’ve hit mega stardom in their short music career, passing the success of boy bands of the past like N*SYNC and The Backstreet Boys. These look-a-like family members are getting a little crazy themselves, having girls as young as 5 years old already longing for the companionship of one of these brothers.

Disney channel scooped them up with smart intentions and are now much Disney channel royalty. The Jonas Brothers have even accepted a television series offer from Disney channel

called Jonas that will be airing this summer. Along with producing semi-cheesy songs, they are now under the oh-so comforting umbrella of the Disney label and will probably be set for life if they continue down this road.

Now can we discuss High School Musical?

Young 20-something’s running around high school singing about summer vacation and homework assignments just doesn’t sit right with me.

Why all the success? Is it because Zac Efron is just so super delicious (and not officially gay yet) and him singing to his on and off-screen girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens? Yeah, I think the idea of Disney romances coming true off-screen really has the kids going these days. But apparently, their romance didn’t have fans cheering when some questionable photos surfaced of a scantily dressed Vanessa posing for her boyfriend. But that’s right, Disney has the wholesome thing going on so any type of PG-13 behavior, on or off the screen, is unacceptable. Either way, High School Musical has swept the country leaving tweens everywhere wishing life could be as easy as it is in the

movie. Why not give the kids an incredibly inaccurate view of high school, leaving them to be under whelmed and depressed about how high school really turns out to be?

Ok so yeah, Disney channel knows where the money is. But where does it stop? I feel like the only young talents out there, aside from Abigail Breslin or Dakota Fanning, are all products of Disney channel. And doesn’t it always end up the same? The once loved and cherished Disney channel star who had it all, decides to part ways with the label that put them on the radar to venture off and try to gain popularity through other outlets. Racy photo shoots, partying or doing drugs, and eventually tainting the name of Disney in the end.

But hey, who am I to say what Disney can or can’t do when it comes to the making of celebrity basket cases.

If anything, we should probably thank Disney channel for allowing the exclusive opportunity to watch the process of fleeting stars. And plus, at least now all of us will be able to watch shows like Where Are They Now? in 10 years and be able to say, “I was there when it all began…”

Time was abundant, now nonexistent Jessica Wilden For the Wichitan

Do you remember way back when you were a kid and it seemed like you had all the time in the world? You could sit for hours playing with dolls, Lego’s, or any other prized toys and only a couple hours would pass by.

You could even sit staring at the clock watching a simple minute tick away and it felt like an eternity.

What happened to that? What happened to having time?

I am sure many of us feel like there is not enough time any-

Letter to the Editor Recently a staff editorial came out about the new restrictions on the printers...

Now, I’m not sure where you typically hang out, but as a business student I hang out in the Dillard Business computer lab constantly working on projects.

I would just like to say I LOVE the new rule! OK, “love” may be a bit extreme, but I’m so tired

more. And free time? Who has any of that ? I am astonished that you have time to read this.

We live in a rapid-paced world that seems to be getting faster. I remember my grandparents saying that life life goes by faster as you get older. Well, they were right.

What felt like an eternity as a child now feels nonexistent in my adult life. That hour that I thought I had seems like only a few seconds. I know that I am not alone in this.

Between all the papers, classes, projects, work, and everything that commands my time, it

feels like there is not even such a thing as time, it boils down to just a series of tasks that I always seem to be trying to find the time to do.

For those who go to school, work and have children, I commend you. You must be part superhuman for all the demands in your life. And to the professors who have stayed working at it for all these years, thanks and kudos to you. You should get paid more for all the piles of essays, tests and planning you have to do.

I am reminded of the movie “Click” where Adam Sandler has a remote control that has the ca-

of trying to print out my PowerPoint’s for class and finding out that there are three print jobs in the queue, 200 pages apiece!

Who prints that much anyway?!

And it’s not just one time...

Almost daily, or certainly on Tuesdays and Thursdays the printers are useless to me.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, these print jobs aren’t done by the business students, unless

they added Respiratory and Anatomy to our curriculum.

So, what I’m trying to say is even though our tuition includes the lab service, that doesn’t mean take total advantage of it...at least not if it’s going to interfere with the other students learning. I appreciate the new rule.

pabilities to rewind, fast forward and even pause moment s in life.

What would you give for something like that? I know moments when life seems to be nothing more than a blur, and it sure would be nice to have that device then. But then again, when I finally get the moment, and I mean a brief, almost nonexistent moment, of peace to just sit and be, I reflect on all the things that demand my time. That’s when I am grateful to have the chance to be as busy as I am. At least I can pretend in that moment I have accomplished something.

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News

The Wichitan April 29, 2009

5

Fraternity team one step up on the competition Julia Graham For the Wichitan

University’s Chapter of Omega Delta Phi Fraternity step team is headed to its second national television performance in just two months. The Merciless Mu Steppers will be heading to New York City May 27 for a live performance and competition on Black Entertainment Television.

The road to the Big Apple started with the team submitting a team video to BET’s production department in response to an open casting call for the best of the best in Greek step teams.

Only two weeks before the competition, an email confirmed an invitation in April to perform in Palm Beach, Florida during BET’s Spring Bling celebration.

The ODPHI Mu Chapter was one of just five male step teams to be chosen to perform in Palm Beach for the Get To Steppin’ competition.

If you are wondering what “stepping” is, there is no set definition in the Webster’s Dictionary.

“Stepping is an exhibition of the passion of ODPhi. It is more than making a beat with our hands and feet”, said Nelson Ehirim, who has been Chair of the fraternity for the past two years. “Stepping showcases the intensity and the fire inside all of

ciless Mu Step Team. After rubbing arms backstage with such celebrities as Slim Thug, Bobby Valentino, Young Joc and FloRida, the team pulled out an intense performance.

“Step shows are a different way to express ourselves. It’s a physical way to display what our fraternity means to us,” said team member Maurice Williams.

“This time it was just on a much bigger stage.”

The nerves of a national audience didn’t seem to get to the team too much as they finished with a First Round Runner-Up placing in the Spring Bling competition.

“We were the only non-black fraternity step team in the competition. It felt good to be multicultural and still dominate,” said Ehirim. “In today’s world, you have to break the mold sometimes.”

Videos and pictures of the ODPHI Mu Chapter Steppers Palm Beach performance are Photo Courtesy featured on the BET Spring Omega Delta Phi fraternity step team performs in Palm Beach, Florida during BET’s spring Bling website at http://www.bet. break celebration. com/specials/springbling09.

After such an impressive us. It (step-shows) is what you a full month practicing to perfect Ehirim. “If we weren’t out in showing in March, BET prosweat for, break fingers for. It their routine for the Palm Beach the yard practicing at 6 a.m., we ducer Pat Charles contacted the is the culmination of everything competition. were out in the yard from 10 at fraternity and asked for a return so that everyone gets to see who “It’s hard to get everyone to- night to 2 in the morning.” visit for another step competiyou are and what you got.” gether to practice because of The long hours and hard work tion. This time, however, it will The steppers of ODPHI spent all the different schedules” said paid off for the guys of the Mer- be a live show in which viewers

STIPANIC......................................................................................................continued from pg. 1 He first saw MSU on the internet and later talked with Coach Wiggins on the phone. Once he was offered a full scholarship he decided he would take it. So in January he moved to MSU to begin his experience in the U.S. “The U.S. is different, but the people are kind,” he said.

Stipanic didn’t know what to expect when he first started school at MSU, so he decided to take only 12 hours in his first semester.

After his first semester, it was obvious from his 4.0 GPA that school in the U.S. was not nearly as difficult as he was accustomed to.

“I’m not trying to be rude, but college there was much more difficult. You can’t compare it,” he said.

The only struggles Stipanic had during his first semester was dealing with the wind while

playing tennis.

“The biggest problem is the wind. It is different with the wind,” he said. “I’m not playing bad, but not as well as expected.”

Starting this semester, Stipanic thought he was comfortable enough with the school to take on more of a challenge.

He enrolled in seven classes, totaling up to almost $7,800 in tuition: $5,500 paid by his tennis scholarship, $500 paid by an engineering scholarship, and the remaining $1,800 he and his parents had to pay for.

His 24 semester hours consist of general chemistry with a one hour lab, survey of American history since 1865, calculus I, engineering graphics, mechanics wave motion and heat, American government, and fundamentals of speech communication.

He also has at least two hours

of tennis practice everyday and weight lifting with the team two times a week from 6:15-7:30 a.m.

In the fall semester, the tennis team doesn’t play in nearly as many tournaments, so he has only had two matches thus far but still keeps a very busy schedule.

“The first three days a week are tough because of evening classes, but when I reach Thursday it’s easy,” he said.

Stipanic spends an average of two hours everyday studying, and on Thursdays he usually spends about three or four hours because he has more free time.

When he has spare time he also enjoys watching movies and playing basketball on campus.

To Stipanic, his tough schedule isn’t any type of burden.

Even though it is overwhelming at times, he still feels he was

prepared enough to do it and just enjoys still being able to play tennis while attending college.

“Back home when I was at a university, I just had to study, study, study,” he said. “Here when I go play tennis it’s like a relief. It’s not any type of obligation. It’s just what I like.”

With more tennis to play in the spring semester, Stipanic says he plans on only taking 20 hours but still hopes to keep his 4.0 GPA. By continuing to take as many hours as he can handle and possibly some summer classes as well, he hopes to graduate by at least the fall semester of 2010.

As for playing tennis, he just wants to continue playing through college and then looks forward to beginning his career as an engineer.

throat.

Carmichael, losing strength from blood loss, struggled to keep Welsh subdued. Welsh wriggled out of the hold and took the housekeeper’s phone away before she could get through to police. Unarmed, Welsh ran into the master bedroom. The housekeeper followed the assailant into the room, pleading for her phone.

She found it in pieces on the floor.

She grabbed another phone from the bedroom and tried to call police again. Welsh knew where the guns were located in the home. She saw him bring a loaded .22 revolver out from the master bathroom and point it at her.

“He pushed me down, put the gun to my head and told me I wasnít calling 9-1-1,” she said.

By this time, Carmichael had run into the hallway to help the housekeeper. He saw his own neck in the mirror, split from ear to ear. He tied a shirt around the wound to slow the bleeding.

He entered the room from the hallway and tried to convince

Welsh not to harm the housekeeper. With Welsh distracted, she tried to escape through the garage.

Welsh headed her off, pointing the gun at her and telling her she wasnít going anywhere.

“Cody, don’t do this,” the housekeeper said. “Don’t shoot me. You donít know what you’re doing.”

After hearing this, the housekeeper said Welsh put a hand on his forehead and said, “What am I doing? What am I doing? What am I doing?”

He lowered the handgun for a second, allowing the housekeeper to run into the bathroom and lock the door behind her. She waited there for what felt like forever, she said.

“I kept thinking I needed to get out and help Caleb,” she said.

She left the bathroom, grabbed her purse and drove to the post office where she flagged down police. She didn’t know anything about the condition of either of the men at that time.

At the house, Carmichael was trying to talk Welsh down from suicide, all the while bleeding

profusely from his neck. Welsh was holding the revolver to his own head, telling Carmichael he was going to kill himself. He urged Carmichael to call 9-1-1, but to no avail.

“I’m not going to call 9-1-1 until you drop the gun,” Carmichael said. “I’m not going to let you kill yourself. So you’re going to have to kill me too.”

Welsh dropped the gun and entered the foyer when he saw police outside and heard sirens.

He picked the gun back up and locked himself in one of the house’s bathrooms.

According to a probable cause affidavit, police entered the home at about 10:30 a.m. and found Carmichael lying in the entryway, covered in a large quantity of his own blood. Officials roused Carmichael from the floor.

Walking shakily, he told them Welsh had cut his throat and that he had a gun. Carmichael was rushed to United Regional Health Care System for medical attention.

After a few more tense moments, Welsh gave himself up

to police without incident. When police questioned him, he told them he didn’t know why he had attacked Carmichael, and that he loved his friend.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do it,” Welsh told police.

Carmichael is in good condition. He’ll be able to return home Wednesday. His major jugulars were exposed but not severed. If they had been cut, doctors said, he would have died in about two minutes.

“The doctors told me I got really lucky,” Carmichael said.

Physicians said he wouldn’t be able to turn his head for a few weeks and that he would have to go to therapy to re-strengthen the muscles.

“It was shocking,” Carmichael said. “He was one of my really good friends. This is very surreal.”

“I don’t think he had any clue what he was doing,” Carmichael said. “He needs to get help before he needs to go to jail. He used to be a good kid.”

“God was watching over me,” he added.

be updated as well.

“When I’ve studied with my friends, the rooms we go to are pretty cramped and we have tried to get Internet in there but we can’t. If they could get some technology in there it would help us,” Powell said.

Latham also mentioned adding a more elaborate media department with a theater room instead of just the plasma screen they have now.

“We would like to expand that out into more of a high production and viewing room,” she said.

Another thing high on Latham’s list was the installation of a coffee bar in the library.

“Having a coffee bar gives them (the students) a place to relax and enjoy their time at the library in addition together in groups,” Latham said. “(Libraries)

who have done this kind of revision with the coffee bar, the traffic their building has like quadrupled.

They become more of a place to go.

Latham said adding these improvements would also help create more student jobs. She currently

ASSAULT......................................................................................................continued from pg. 1

will call in to vote for the winners and will be in the networks prime studio production.

BET’s 106 & Park, which according to their website is “the leading music video countdown show on television”, will host the competition on Wild Out Wednesday, May 27 at 5 p.m.

“The only way we can win the show is if we spread the word and get everyone to watch it live and vote that day”, said Ehirim.

The funding for the trip to NYC is something the members are working hard on. The team plans on holding a fundraiser closer to trip time to help cover the expenses. And, the team will always “step to raise money”, something Ehirim wanted to remind anyone who might be interested in having the group perform for any event.

“I’m just really starstruck about the whole experience,” said Williams. “To be on national television twice is just unbelievable. All of the hard work has definitely paid off.”

Anyone interested in more information about the ODPHI Mu Chapter Step Team and their upcoming performances and fundraisers can go to the chapter’s website at http://www.hypestknights.com/index.html or search Omega Delta Phi through the MSU homepage.

Campus briefs Wednesday • Distance Education Instructional Brown Bag Lunch in dillard 189 at noon

Thursday • Museum Screening: ‘Tornado Aftermath’ at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU at 5 p.m.

• Distance Education Instructional Brown Bag Lunch in dillard 189 at noon • Music: Symphonic Band Concert in Akin at 7:30 p.m.

Friday • Priority Deadline for admission application Summer I • Student Leadership Banquet in CSC Comanche at 6:30 p.m.

• Theatre: Festival of One-Act Plays in the Fine Arts Center Bea Wood Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday • Theatre: Festival of One-Act Plays in the Fine Arts Center Bea Wood Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

Sunday • Music: Chamber Orchestra Concert in Akin at 3 p.m.

Monday • Music: Didzun Honors Recital in Akin at 7:30 p.m.

RENOVATIONS..........................................................................................................................................................................continued from pg. 1 has about 25 students working in the library and thinks by adding a better media department and coffee bar she would need more student workers.

University administrators have talked about upgrading the library for about five years, according to

Latham, but she said in the last year it has become a top priority.

Latham said that an architect should be coming in soon and she is hopeful the rebuilding or remodeling will begin within the next year.

6

The Wichitan April 29, 2009

Entertainment

‘Soloist’ creates emotional symphony on big screen Lauren Wood For the Wichitan

An emotional and moving film, The Soloist combines the beautiful symphony music of August Rush with the emergence of mental illness as seen in A Beautiful Mind.

The audience is introduced to the main characters and all their faults, but rather than focusing on the torments of a mentally ill musician, the film follows the paths of two men trying to gain their footing in a complicated world.

Based on a book by the Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez, The Soloist recounts Lopez’s struggle to befriend and understand Nathaniel Ayers, a Julliard dropout who ended up on the streets pushing a shopping cart full of trash.

Jamie Foxx performs as Ayers very uniquely. Foxx, usually dressed in clown-like outfits ranging from a sequin jacket to a bright yellow hazard vest,

Photo Courtesy Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. bring a true story to the big screen in ‘The Soloist’

doesn’t cheat in his portrait of Ayer’s illness. His darting eyes, his lowered head and long trails of scrambled words are a realistic portrayal of the mentally unstable Ayers.

Robert Downey Jr. plays Lopez, a sort of cold-hearted journalist, very convincingly. The movie begins with Downey’s

face mangled from a bike accident, forcing the audience to sympathize for his character, especially when his luck dwindles throughout the film.

Downey is drawn to the disheveled Foxx who plays under a statue of Beethoven on his scraggly violin. Despite it missing all but two strings, the mu-

artists and 35 vendors, the fiveday party attracted about 35,000 people.

More than 15 other Texas country musicians performed on the Lone Star Acoustic Stage at the beginning of each day.

The event kicked off Tuesday with a small Campground Campfire Concert, which was restricted to an audience of only 300. Performers such as Todd Snider, Chris Wall, Richard Leigh and LJT performed for the campers.

Wednesday’s festivities began at 2:15 p.m. on the Coca-Cola Stage and included The Kyle Bennett Band, The Bart Crow Band, The Gourds, Jason Boland and Cross Canadian Ragweed.

Thursday brought performers like Josh Abbott, Johnny Cooper, Casey Donahew, Roger Creager and The Randy Rogers Band.

Friday night’s entertainment was Rich O’Toole, Matt Martindale, The Band of Heathens, No Justice, Wade Bowen and Reckless Kelly.

The most popular day of the festival, Saturday, began its concerts at 11:30 a.m. and included Texas Renegade, Tommy Alverson, Rusty Wier, The Tejas Brothers, Deryl Dodd, Brandon Ryder, Mike McClure and of course, Larry Joe Taylor himself.

The chili cook-off, which began with a cook’s meeting at 9 a.m. Saturday, benefits the Morgan Mill First Responders and Rescue and the Oak Dale Volunteer Fire Department.

Besides a few scattered showers on Friday, the weather coor-

sic is mesmerizing, and Downey quickly sees a story in this gentle, yet severely schizophrenic man.

Downey soon learns that Foxx played the cello for a few years at Julliard before his mental illness hindered his musical aspirations.

Downey writes a column about

this interesting and troubled man soon afterward, and the audience begins to learn about Ayers.

However, Ayers’ life is mainly explained throughout the film through interspersed flashbacks, telling the story of how he went from a happy childhood to his current, unfortunate situation.

Over the course of The Soloist, Downey helps Ayers reconnect with his music, as well as with the world. Both come with triumphs and setbacks.

Lopez is a realist and wants Ayers to try medication and get off the streets, but Ayers is fearful of living contained within four walls, since music is what soothes and drives him. Ayers' mental state and how to improve it is left unresolved, which lends authenticity to a true story in which several liberties have been taken.

The Soloist also subjects the audience to the poverty and mental state of the homeless in Los Angeles.

Downey has solid support

from Oscar-nominated Catherine Keener, who plays Lopez’s former wife and editor. She keeps him in line and throughout the movie and doles out advice to the confused journalist.

Director Joe Wright, who also directed Atonement and Pride and Prejudice, worked alongside screenplay writer Susannah Grant in this film. One of Grant’s famous works is Erin Brockovich.

Downey and Foxx have great chemistry in the film and draw the audience into this emotional and moving story. However, there are slow parts that seem to drag on in the film. There isn’t really a “lesson” that you learn from this film, except to treat everyone with respect, but one shouldn’t need a movie to teach that.

However, I still give it an Afor an excellent portrayal of this true story.

Larry Joe Taylor hosts week-long Texas music festival Meredith Humphreys For the Wichitan

Many students and fans from all over North Texas traveled south for a long weekend to attend the 21st annual Larry Joe Taylor’s Texas Music Festival and Chili Cook-off in Stephenville.

The festival was held at LJT’s Melody Mountain Ranch, just south of Stephenville, April 2125. With over 40 Texas country

1,410 30

Number of students and alumni who attended career fairs in 2008 hosted by the Career Management Center.

Number of new treadmills equipped with personal viewing monitors (TV’s) in the Health and Wellness Center.

$385

* Free Wi-Fi

Meredith Humphreys | For the Wichitan Fans at the Larry Joe Taylor Texas Music Festival rock out to the band No Justice Friday night in Stephenville.

perated and stayed clear for all who attended, but tractors were on hand in case any vehicles needed to be pulled from mud.

The Texas Music Festival has been held at Melody Mountain Ranch since 2003.

The event began at Taylor’s

ranch in Meridian with a few of his musician friends and has grown into one of the largest music festivals in Texas.

Darcy,” Aguilar said about the struggle it has been in getting the band name out there.

“People really seem to like us once they see us live or hear the CD. We’re hoping that if we say ‘Darcy’ a lot, people will start to recognize it. Darcy Darcy Darcy.”

With the band’s sense of humor and flair for relating to the audience, it’s no wonder Darcy has been gaining so much buzz.

Unlikely barbershop tunes and what the band’s home page biography would call “the scholar’s emo” and the “rich man’s rock” bring to the stage an original sound that truly stands out.

Comparisons have been made to the Beatles and the Beach Boys, but the band hopes not to have to compete with them. “We do, however, openly challenge Mae and Weezer to a basketball game next time they’re in town,” said Aguilar.

Because the band has such an interesting mix of instruments and harmonious tunes, the band typically attracts a younger crowd.

“We hope to appeal to the thoughtful teenagers and college students; we write our particular flavor of music consistently,” Aguilar said.

The band recently released their first full-length album Brighterside. The recording process took place with seasoned

producer Eric Delegard, who originally signed on to work solely on a demo.

After Delegard heard the sounds of Darcy, he decided to go forth and produce a full album.

“It was great to spend time with a professional like Eric because his talent was evident, and he was very patient,” Aguilar said about the recording process.

The band said it feels that the album captures the essence of the band’s core and relates to the everyday struggles so many people face.

“It’s the work of seven years worth of growing up, we poured a lot of love into it,” Aguilar said.

When it comes to writing songs for the band, team effort seems to be the best way to describe the process.

“When we agree to take on a new song, every one toils over it for a while. By the end, every one has contributed a great deal,” Aguilar said.

God, girls, and even literature serve as the band’s inspirations in writing songs. Aside from song writing and unique singing methods, this band has another trick up its sleeve. Member Dustin Aguilar has been pursuing an individual rap project on the side.

“The rap thing is just for fun,

but I realized a few months ago that people are always asking me for my CD and asking when I’m going to perform,” Aguilar said.

All rap videos Aguilar makes are available on the band home page, darcyband.com, or can be seen on youtube.

The band is also running for the coveted spot as opening band in the Cornerstone Festival, and encourages fans to vote.

As far as future plans for the band, Darcy’s goals might be a little different compared to others in the field.

“We want success in some ways, but if we never see a dollar from Darcy, we would be happy just to use our talents to glorify God and make some people happy,” Aguilar said.

Not only are the members one-of-a-kind offstage, they also always bring their A-game to concerts for their fans. Darcy’s next highly anticipatedshow will be at Hailey’s on May 1.

After Aguilar opens the show with a full rap set, the band will do a rock show with a barbershop-style theatrical musical right in the middle of its show.

If you’re interested in becoming a fan of matchless talent and harmonic tunes, Darcy has what you’re looking for. Be sure to check out the band’s homepage, darcyband.com, or its Myspace page.

Denton-based ‘Darcy’ working for fame Courtney Foreman For the Wichitan

When it comes to bands making a move, the Denton band Darcy comes to mind.

This local talent has been on the rise the past year and is starting to become more of a familiar face around the Metroplex. By playing in places like Hailey’s music hall in Dallas and University of North Texas campus hot spots, this band has made quite a name for itself.

The roots of this band run deep. Singer Nathan Miller and guitarist Dustin Aguilar began making music together over 10 years ago. Over the years, there have been many lineup changes, but the band feels confident in its current selection. The band’s other members include Gunnar Johnson on guitar, Andrew McKinney on bass, and Chase Johnson on drums.

“We’ve had several different members in the past, but Chase and Gunnar came on board in late 2006,” Aguilar said. “Andrew McKinney finally thought we were good enough, so he asked if we wanted him.”

Although some members have been working on music for over a decade, the idea of pursuing this path as a band has proved to be a bit more difficult.

“It’s hard to get people’s attention if they don’t recognize

Entertainment

The Wichitan April 29, 2009

7

Long Time Coming

After eight years, Eli Young Band scores first national hit Brittany Norman Editor in Chief

It’s been eight years since the Eli Young Band first formed, eight years marked by grit, determination and a passion for the songs it plays. Now that the band has a single sitting at number 14 on the Billboard Country charts, some might be tempted to say the band has finally arrived.

Others might be tempted to toss around words like “selling out” due to the band’s major label, hit single and video getting heavy circulation on CMT and GAC. The truth, according to lead singer Mike Eli, is that the scale of things might be changing, but the essence remains the same.

On Thursday night, The Eli Young Band will be playing at Neon Spur, returning to a familiar venue and a crowd that will doubtlessly be filled with faces the group has seen looking up at them from the audience before.

While the band might be making tour stops in Vegas and Chicago as well as Wichita Falls and Denton it’s all about the same music it has been about from the start. Even if the band’s hit single might be broadcast on the airwaves alongside Kenny Chesney and Taylor Swift instead of Cross Canadian Ragweed and Roger Creager.

“We’re on the brink of breaking nationally,” Eli said. “It’s been a crazy year, you know, one of those years where we’ve seen all of our hard work culminate.”

Jet Black and Jealous, the band’s September 2008 album, has gained members acclaim outside their home base of Texas, but Eli said the band knows where its roots are, and the video for single Always the Love Songs reflects that.

“We opted out of a high budget video,” Eli said, estimating that it cost only a couple of thousand dollars instead of $70,000.

“It’s a gritty home-video type

(production). It’s about building our foundation in Texas. This is our home. If Texas fell apart for us, everything else would just go away.”

He said the video was intended to focus on the fans and where the band is coming from rather than where it’s going.

Eli said he’s had fans approach him and say they saw themselves in the video. “I hope

people really dig that,” he said.

Things have come a long way since the band first got together, according to Eli. “I’ve always wanted to play everywhere,” he said. “If you’re going to make it in this business you have to sacrifice everything.”

One of those sacrifices is making a home on the road instead of in one zip code.

“We’ve been touring pretty much nonstop for the past nine months,” Eli said. “I have a loft in Fort Worth, but I maybe see it once or twice a month.”

In fact, he says the bus is “home, sweet home” now.

“The bus is kind of our comfort zone,” he said.

Lately though, their travels have taken them out of state to destinations that required flying rather than driving.

“There have been days we’ve flown to four or five different states in one day,” he said. “Airplanes, we’ve kind of gotten pretty sick of them.”

Photos by Brittany Norman Eli Young Band front man Mike Eli (above) and drummer Chris Thompson (left) perform at Shrinefest in Aug. 2008.

The band will be playing at the Neon Spur on Thursday.

Still, the band is aware that this is the opportunity of a lifetime.

“Now is the time to work hard and make it happen,” Eli said.

In the Texas Country scene, a record label is often viewed by fans as the kiss of death for a favorite band. Fans start to whisper about their favorite bands selling out, forgetting where they came from, changing their sound. It seems as though success outside the Red Dirt scene is almost frowned upon.

Eli says the band is doing all it can to hold onto the fans that made them successful in the first place.

“It’s hard signing a huge deal,” he said. “We have meetings all the time with record label people and we fight for our music. There are some things you’ve got to go to bat for.”

He said signing with Universal doesn’t mean that the band has changed.

“To hear someone say we’ve sold out is kind of a crock of shit,” he said. “To hear someone say ‘I loved Eli Young till they sold out’ is a bummer.”

He said the album Jet Black and Jealous was finished by the time Universal offered them a contract. Universal distributed the album, but it was completed by the time the label stepped in.

Stepping onstage at the Neon Spur Thursday won’t be an unfamiliar feeling for the Eli Young

Band.

“The first time we ever played (in Wichita Falls) was at the Neon Spur, several owners ago,” Eli said.

At that point the band was still traveling in a van pulling a trailer, and were trying to save all the money it could. Back in the early days of the band, Eli said there was “no money, no car, (I) couldn’t afford a dang thing.”

They stayed upstairs at the Neon Spur in a room the owners allowed up-and-coming acts who were short on cash to crash after a show.

“We were trying to save every penny,” he said. “The rumor was, it’s haunted. It’s not somewhere you wanna sleep, but (we were) doing it and having a good time.”

The weather could have ruined their last show at the Neon Spur.

“A big rainstorm came in,” Eli said. “We started playing When It Rains and it started pouring down.”

He said people were finding cover at the outdoor venue everywhere they could, under the awning, even up on stage with the band.

“We wound up under the awning and played just acoustic,” Eli said. “There were hundreds of people just gathered around.

It’s one of those memories that sticks with us.”

Now the Eli Young Band can

afford a place to sleep, and the group’s career is on the rise.

They travel in a tour bus instead of with a van and trailer, and people outside of their original fan-base in Texas know their names.

But not everything has changed.

“We played one show last week in New York, this really big deal in Albany,” Eli said.

“The next day we played outside Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in this really small town, and it turned out the bar we were playing at was attached to the Holiday Inn. We play in front of thousands of people and then we play at a Holiday Inn. It’s nice to be reminded that reality is still in existence for you.”

Keeping touch with the “real world” is something Eli is determined to do.

“No matter how much money you have, it’s still gonna be a struggle,” he said. “You have to stay humble and realize reality will kick you in the butt if you don’t stay a good person.”

Being a good person means staying true to the people who got you where you are.

“Fans that have stuck with us and believe in us—we want them to say: ‘Eli Young, they’re huge but they’re my band. They went from the Neon Spur playing the songs I love to the big time.”

Even as the latest single climbs the Billboard chart, it’s still all about the music.

“When you get on that stage and you start playing those songs, it’s your heart and soul,” he said.

“When that crowd starts singing the songs back to you louder than you’re singing? There’s nothing like that feeling.”

8

The Wichitan April 29, 2009

News

Sports

The Wichitan April 29, 2009

9

Domination

The MSU Cycling Team continues to dominate taking conference crown Loren Eggenschwiler For the Wichitan

One shuttle bus, one school van with a bike rack and a trailer holding 28 bikes and 20 racers.

Coach Julie Carter, her Family, and Manager Mike Baldwin headed down to UT in Austin this past weekend for the South Central Collegiate Cycling Conference Championship.

Saturday morning held high humidity and low clouds to start off the road race. Due to high winds, scattered showers and frequent attacks from the field of racers, only four racers finished the Men’s A 78 mile race, three were from MSU. Todd Elenz won first after racing almost 60 miles solo.

Collin Davis came in second and McLean Worsham was able to stick with A&M’s Chad Haga for a respectable fourth place.

The Men’s B race went just as splendid. Sean Brown was able to win the sprint for the finish after racing 52 miles.

Matt Sauls was able to grab fourth place.

The Women’s A race was also 52 miles and raced with the Men’s B category but separated about half-way through the race.

Loren Eggenschwiler and Tiffany Stewart came in at a

comfortable first and second, respectively.

Men’s B racer James Rowland did an outstanding job helping Women’s A racer Mindy Burns finish fourth.

With only a short break for lunch, it was the team time trial next. A team time trial is a timed race of four racers working together to finish with the quickest time. Each team must finish with three riders and the time is taken off the front wheel of the last rider.

MSU was able to dominate in the Men’s A category, winning both first, Todd Elenz, Morten Doviken, Jason Short and Collin Davis, and second, Mike Lalla, McLean Worsham, Matt Fox, and Peter Boyd.

Women’s A team, Tiffany Stewart, Mindy Burns and Loren Eggenschwiler, stole first with ease.

Men’s B team, Sean Brown, Matt Sauls and Tyler Matthies fell to second by a mere 1.83 seconds.

After a good night’s rest, the Team loaded up and headed to a secluded part of the UT campus for the criterium.

John Cope, MSU’s only C rider for the weekend, was able to sprint for third place.

Amanda Eade was able to finish in the top 10 for the

Women’s B race.

Sean Brown was able to grab first for the Men’s B criterium.

The Women’s A race started off at a slow pace, but Loren Eggenschwiler was able to break away from the field at the midpoint of the race and soloed to first place.

Tiffany Stewart won the chase group sprint second and Mindy Burns also won the field sprint for fourth.

The Men’s A race was able to take over with most of the finishing field wearing the golden yellow jersey of MSU. Morten Døviken, Todd Elenz, and Collin Davis each gained a lap on the rest of the field during the race.

Døviken was able to win a strong first with Collin Davis second and Todd Elenz third.

Jason Short was able to capture fifth place for the day.

After a great weekend of racing, MSU was able to win several individual conference titles. Sean Brown won first overall for the Men’s B with Matt Sauls taking third.

Women’s A Tiffany Stewart grabbed first with ease and Loren Eggenschwiler followed for second.

Men’s A Todd Elenz sacked first overall in Conference with Collin Davis taking second.

“Taking Conference title after UT’s two-year streak was exactly what I had hoped to accomplish during my first year as director,” said Coach Julie Carter. “I knew it was within our grasp, but would be difficult after having lost Alex Boyd to a professional team.”

The MSU cycling team was able to win Conference with A&M and UT in tow.

MSU will be sending six Men to the road race, four men to the team time trial, and four Men to the criterium, and four Women in each discipline from the A categories to compete at Nationals.

Nationals will be held May 7-10 in Fort Collins, Colorado.

MSU is hoping to grab a few more National titles to add to an already amazing resume.

“I’m excited for the team to get to race at Nationals. It’s quite a privilege to be able to qualify as the top team from our conference and be able to take a full squad to each event,” Carter said. “I know the riders will gain a lot of experience that will be valuable for their entire cycling career.”

For more information and updates on how the MSU cycling team is doing check out, MSUcyclingteam.com.

Loren Eggenschwiler | For the Wichitan Jason Short rides around celebrating the team’s conference championship, with trophy in-hand.

The Mustangs’ softball team finishes season in LSC tourney Kaitlin Morrison For the Wichitan

Patrick Johnston | The Wichitan The Mustangs infield, led by sophomore pitcher Brittany Tanner meet at the circle after Tanner fanned a UCO batter earlier in the season. The Mustangs finished 31-17 in 2009.

The Lone Star Conference Tournament didn’t go the way Midwestern State wanted it to.

The team suffered its only shutouts of the season and lost in the first round to Abilene Christian 3-0. The team was then knocked out of the tournament with a heartbreaking loss to Central Oklahoma 1-0 this past weekend at Wells Field in Abilene.

In game one, Abilene Christian jumped out to an early lead when ACU’s Nancy Sawyers roped Katie Petersen’s 0-2 pitch into left center to bring in two runners.

After retiring the next 14 batters she faced, Petersen gave up a solo homerun to Jackie Gentile

to make the score 3-0.

MSU scattered seven hits off ACU starter Jacque Gregoire.

The Wildcat defense gave up four errors, but the Mustangs couldn’t take advantage of it.

MSU was led by senior first baseman Jessica Rodriguez who went 3-for-3. Miranda Bishop, Nikki Duff, Tabitha Yannetti and Amanda Potysman all had one hit a piece for MSU. The team’s next opponent would be Central Oklahoma who had suffered a 19-1 loss to West Texas A&M earlier in the afternoon.

In game two, Brittany Tanner took the loss, even though she threw a remarkable game, giving up one earned run and four hits.

She struck out six Bronchos and walked three.

UCO got on the board in the first inning when Kelsey Tiger hit an RBI single to score the game’s lone run.

MSU scattered three hits, but was unable to score a run. Maranda Bishop, Jessi Rodriguez and Amanda Potysman got the only three hits for the Mustangs.

The two losses dropped to 3117 on the season. The team will await its fate to find out if they will compete in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional tournament.

The top eight teams will battle for a chance to go to the National Tournament. Going into the Lone Star Conference Tournament, MSU was ranked sixth. The team will find out its fate when the teams are selected in two weeks.

and throw to in LeSean McCoy as the Eagles used six of eight draft picks on offense.

“I talked with Donovan and he’s excited,” Eagles coach Andy Reid told me Sunday morning.

“I was surprised Maclin was available. I thought he would have been gone much earlier in the draft. And the runner fits our system pretty good.”

charged with marijuana possession. He has not shown up for the team’s off-season activities, including a mini-camp.

The early winners and losers in this year’s edition of the NFL Draft Dan Pompei MCT

We are about three years away from knowing who picked well and who picked poorly in the draft over the weekend. But it is not too soon to identify some winners and losers who might have escaped your attention.

Winners: Dope smokers.

The fact that wide receiver Percy Harvin failed a drug test at the combine did not prevent the Vikings from taking him in the first round. The Patriots took another player who reportedly failed the drug test at the combine, wide receiver Brandon Tate, in the third.

And at least three other players who were first-round picks failed drug tests at their respective colleges, according to multiple NFL front-office sources.

Harvin and his agent, Joel Segal, executed a brilliant strategy and avoided what could have been a draft free fall. They never acknowledged that he failed a

drug test. They never issued a public apology. Instead, in the two weeks before the draft, Harvin personally phoned NFL general managers and head coaches, offering to address concerns and answer any questions.

Vikings coach Brad Childress subsequently asked if he could visit Harvin, and he flew to Florida on Wednesday to spend the day with him. Three days later, he made Harvin the 22nd pick in the draft.

One personnel executive said he believes the use of marijuana is so widespread among college players that NFL teams have become numb to failed drug tests.

NFL teams, it seems, are only alarmed about marijuana smokers if they are failing drug tests once they are in the league.

Loser: USC’s defense.

The Trojans’ “D” lost eight players in the NFL draft, which is a wonderful reflection of the talent in the program, but a huge blow to the team. Included in the

USC class were two first-rounders (linebackers Brian Cushing to the Texans and Clay Matthews to the Packers) and two second-rounders (linebacker Rey Maualuga to the Bengals and defensive tackle Fili Moala to the Colts).

Winner: ‘Wildcat’ offense.

The Dolphins started a trend last year with the throwback formation, and now they added a weapon that should sharpen their Wildcat claws. Secondround quarterback Pat White has the athleticism to line up in several positions, to throw, run and catch and force defenses to account for him in unconventional ways.

Loser: Faith in former Patriots coaches.

While Bill Belichick worked the draft like the master he is, two of his proteges did poor imitations. Denver’s Josh McDaniels and Cleveland’s Eric

Mangini did a lot of moving but might not have gotten very far.

McDaniels, who invited criticism with his handling of the Jay Cutler affair, drafted a running back in the first round after signing three runners in free agency.

And then he traded away a firstround pick next year (he had an extra one from the Cutler deal) for a second-round pick this year in a weak draft.

Mangini, meanwhile, could have added a dynamic player with the fifth pick, but he traded down. Not once. Not twice.

But three times. Then he drafted center Alex Mack_not exactly a pick that had them dancing on the shores of Lake Erie. In the process of trading down, Mangini acquired three players from his old team_which, by the way, was not very good.

Winner: Donovan McNabb.

The Eagles quarterback got himself a new wide receiver to throw to in Jeremy Maclin and a new running back to hand off to

Winner: Kyle Orton.

No Mark Sanchez, no Josh Freeman. The Broncos only drafted Tom Brandstater in the sixth round. Orton still is Cutler’s heir apparent.

Loser: Leroy Hill.

Shortly after drafting linebacker Aaron Curry with the fourth pick, the Seahawks took the franchise tag off Hill, who also is a linebacker. Hill reportedly turned down a six-year, $36 million offer and did not sign a tender worth $8.3 million. In January, he was arrested and

Loser: Shawne Merriman .

His contract is up after the season and he missed most of last year. If Merriman doesn’t bounce back from his knee injury or if he is difficult to sign, the Chargers have given themselves an option, drafting Northern Illinois’ Larry English in the first round.

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith expressed his admiration for the way Merriman has played but said: “His contract is up and he is coming off the knee. I don’t know what the future holds.”

Winner: Arizona Cardinals.

They get to keep wide receiver Anquan Boldin and they gain negotiating leverage with him.

Why should the Cardinals pay him more if no one else would?

10

Sports

The Wichitan April 29, 2009

dallas cowboys 2009 draft picks Tuesday

Third Round 69th pick J. Williams OLB W Illinois 75th pick - R. Brewster OT Ball St

Fourth Round 101st pick - S. McGee QB Texas A&M 110th pick - V. Butler OLB Oregon St 120th pick - B. Williams DE Texas Tech 143rd pick D. Smith CB Cincinnati

Fifth Round 166th pick - M. Hamlin S Clemson

Both tennis teams end season near home in Championship MSUMustangs.com for the wichitan

Midwestern State snapped a six-game skid with a 5-1 win over Southeastern Oklahoma in the opening round of the Lone Star Conference Tennis Championships, but fell to No. 11 Cameron by the same count in the semifinals later in the afternoon.

The Mustangs got strong doubles’ performances to take a 2-1 lead in their opening round tilt against the Savage Storm as Vjekoslav Stipanic and Carlos Bataller battled for an 8-3 win at No. 2 while Chad Meeks and Daniel McMullan combined for an 8-6 victory at No. 3 doubles.

MSU then peeled off wins at the top three singles’ positions to claim its first since defeating

Washburn (Kan.) back on March 17.

Midwestern was unable to sustain the momentum in the semifinals as the Aggies claimed two of three doubles’ contests then took the first three singles’ matches to close the contest.

McMullan and Meeks teamed for MSU’s lone victory tally by taking a 9-8 decision with a 7-4 tiebreaker over Saman Samii and Daniel Bonamigo at No. 3 doubles.

The Mustangs close the regular season at 9-12.

Then, in women’s tennis, No. 14 Northeastern State trounced No. 38 Midwestern State 5-1 in the opening round of the Lone Star Conference Women’s Tennis Championships Thursday

afternoon at the Weeks Park Tennis Center.

The RiverHawks improved to 18-3 before falling to Tarleton State in the LSC semifinals later in the afternoon.

Senior Faye D’Hamecourt proved to be MSU’s lone bring spot by claiming a 6-3, 6-0 win over Karolina Cichon at No. 3 singles.

The Mustangs The LSC Tennis Championships were held at and near Midwestern State close the season University as the conference competed for top honors at the Weeks Park with a 13-12 re- Tennis Center, Hamilton Park Tennis Center and the MSU Tennis Courts. cord.

Mustangs Conference Standings Lone Star Conference

Softball North W-L SE Oklahoma (38-7) 9-1 Central Okla. (18-10) 11-3 MSU (22-10) 8-4 Cameron (23-15) 8-4 SW Oklahoma (11-19) 3-9 NE State (9-25) 4-12 East Central (10-17) 3-13

Now this is a graduation gift.

South W-L ACU (30-9) 8-1 Angelo State (31-4) 7-2 Tarleton State (20-15) 5-4 WTAMU (27-15) 6-6 TAMU-Kingsville (22-15) 5-7 Texas Woman’s (21-19) 3-6 Eastern NM (17-16) 2-10

172nd pick - D. Buehler K USC

Sixth Round 197th pick - S. Hodge OLB TCU 208th pick - J. Phillips TE Virginia

Men’s Basketball

North W-L Central Okla. (24-6) 10-2 SW Oklahoma (19-11) 8-4 TAMU-Comm (17-11) 8-4 Cameron (14-14) 7-5 NE State (11-16) 6-6 SE Oklahoma (5-22) 2-10 East Central (6-22) 1-11

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Seventh Round 227th pick - M. Mickens CB Cincy 229th pick - M. Johnson WR Oklahoma

North W-L MSU (25-7) 10-2 Angelo State (20-9) 8-4 TAMU-Kingsville (19-11) 8-4 Tarleton State (18-10) 6-6 WTAMU (16-11) 6-6 Abilene Christian (10-16)4-8 Eastern NM (4-23) 0-12

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