Feb. 6, 2008

THE STUDENT VOICE OF MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

THE WICHITAN page 5 Singing spirit Harlem Gospel Choir brought excitement to full-house at Akin Auditorium Friday

page 8 Patriots sacked New York Giants ruin Patriots’ pursuit of perfection and pull off stunning upset, 17-14.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2008

Curriculum Changes

Some degree plans around campus see overhauls, others unchanged MARISSA MILLENDER FOR THE WICHITAN Five of the six colleges across the MSU campus are preparing for curriculum changes in the next few semesters. Some have already seen those changes, and some are in the process of finalizing their new schedules. Changes range from adjust a course to phasing out a major.

Most say they are trying to keep up with the times and follow the market, while others are trying to ensure students leave MSU with a high-quality education.

The following are slight overviews of changes occurring in each college.

Dillard College of Business Administration

The goal of administrators in the Dillard College of Business Administration was to adjust the program to assure a superior quality education, said Dr. David Wierschem, special assistant to the dean, graduate coordinator and associate professor of management information systems.

The college reviewed its course schedules and requirements and found courses that were outdated or irrelevant to the business program. In the accounting department, they are shifting courses around and introducing new internships.

“We’re trying to prepare them for the CPA,” he said. “We’ve started preparing them for careers.”

Each department within the college realigned some elective courses to keep up with the times.

“Change is going so fast, so rapidly, that it’s forcing us to evaluate more often the content,” he said.

He explained that they try to keep up with and follow the directions of the marketplace.

“It’s continuous improvement,” he said.

When reviewing the department, he said they look for some things that may require a change in a course or the way classes are taught.

Changes will not happen all at once, however. Each semester, the schedule will be tweaked a little bit to stay current.

Some changes students can look for include an accounting ethics course shifting from being a graduate class to an undergraduate class. Another change will be in the MIS schedule. There will be a “special topics” course, which will cover a little material from both advanced programming and hardware classes.

The schedule changes will not interrupt students already working towards a degree.

“We work with the students,” he said.

“They do not suffer.”

Wierschem said they are trying to improve the quality of education and better prepare students to make them a more valuable employee.

As well as local changes, the college is pursuing international involvement.

“We’ve been traveling the world,” he said.

In Fall 2009, students from Germany will come to MSU as part of a program through the Dillard College. The students will spend one year there and one year here, earning a dual degree.

“This is a college that is better than is was yesterday and will be better tomorrow,” he said.

College of Science and Mathematics

Manufacturing Engineering Technology The McCoy School of Engineering is hoping to see many program changes in the next few years. The faculty is currently

working on developing a new major, which will include both mechanical and manufacturing engineering. They also plan to phase out the manufacturing engineering technology (MENT) degree. “(Engineering) is not getting cut, I can guarantee you,” Dr. Idir Azouz, chair, said in response to rumors he heard.

The schedule for the new program has not been formed yet, but the new major will be the best of both worlds, said Dr. Jan Brink, associate professor.

“Nothing has been finalized yet,” he said.

Some students had a difficult time deciding between mechanical and manufacturing engineering, Azouz said.

“We try to satisfy both majors,” he said.

The manufacturing engineering degree is no longer accepting majors, but students who are already signed up will not be kicked out.

“As long as there is one student in the pipeline, we will offer classes,” he said.

The change came about when professors started noticing decreasing enrollment.

“We have had classes with one student only, but if it stays like that, sooner or later, the state will tell you you can’t have that anymore,” he said.

The program will remain accredited until the last student has graduated from it. The new major will also be accredited.

“I will never propose a degree that won’t be accredited,” Azouz said. “We looked at other engineering majors, but this won’t cost a penny. We already have the faculty and the equipment.”

Enrollment in the new program is expected to be much higher.

“This is going to expand,” he said. “We look at whether we have the means. If so, of

See “Curriculum” page 3

Graphic by Patrick Johnston

mZuri will be performing her one-woman show at MSU on monday.

Black History Month kicks off on campus BETHANY BERRY FOR THE WICHITAN Black History Month is set aside to remember the AfricanAmericans who have paved the way for future generations.

They include Dr. Charles Drew who developed the means to preserve blood for transfusions in the 1930s and Barbara Jordan, who in 1966 became the first black to be elected to the Texas Senate.

As a way of uniting the university, MSU and various organizations, have put together a number of events to commemorate the achievements and milestones African-Americans have accomplished.

“We began our black history celebration a few days before February with the Harlem Gospel Choir on January 30,” said Matthew Park, director of student development and orientation.

In that spirit, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the University Programing Board and the Student Success Series have invited singer and actress mZuri to campus on Monday. In a onewoman show, she will bring to life the story of freedom fighter Fannie Lou Hamer. The perfor-

Black History Month was originally known as ‘Negro History Week’ in the late 1920s, but was expanded to become a monthlong celebration in 1976. mance will highlight the littleknown but highly involved Civil Rights Movement activist. mZuri has traveled across the U.S. performing for various universities including Yale and Vanderbilt. She even made a recent debut at Lincoln Center in New York.

Other events include Think Fast, an interactive triva game with questions based on black history. One student will have the chance to win a $200 cash prize.

The NAACP will also hold a Voters Registration and Membership Drive on Thursday. A showing of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s, “I Have a Dream” speech will be shown Feb. 25 as a part of NAACP’s Black History Week.

NSSE conducting evaluation of MSU CHRIS COLLINS FOR THE WICHITAN

Moffett Library a better deal than Blockbuster CHRIS COLLINS FOR THE WICHITAN Most MSU students know that their student IDs can get them into computer labs, athletic events and the recreation room in Clark Student Center.

Some, however, may be pleasantly surprised that their MSU IDs can gain them access to the more than 2,000 DVD and VHS rental titles at Moffett Library.

And they’re all free.

Students can use one of the library’s 106 databases to access VHS and DVD content, the same system used to look up books and periodicals at the library.

“It’s a good learning experience for students to be familiar with our categories. I don’t want to make it too easy,” Librarian Dr. Clara Latham said.

Some students, Latham said, are discouraged from renting at the library because most of the renting process takes place in the database.

“That’s human browsing behavior,” Electronic Media Access Librarian Chris Henderson said. “People like to physically flip through the cases when they rent.”

Moffett Library may be a better value than Blockbuster or NetFlix to students who frequently rent movies. Extended hours (until 2 a.m. Sunday through Monday) and

lenient late charges aren’t things many rental businesses can brag about.

Currently, the library is holding a contest that will award prizes to students who request DVD and VHS titles. The requested movies and documentaries will be ordered with no charge to students.

“We continually fight to market what we have available,” said Latham. “It’s a telling situation when libraries have to advertise, but the reality is we do have to market what we have.”

Though the library uses freshman English classes and College Connections to advocate itself to students, fewer take advantage of

the services than one might expect.

The library has also gone to student government and Campus Watch to make its efforts more visible.

Along with DVD and VHS titles, the library also rents CDs, laptops, cameras, camcorders and projectors to students and faculty.

Moffett Library, which changed its closing hours to 2 a.m. on Jan 14, hasn’t seen very many students after midnight this semester.

“We have our regular students who are here every night,” Latham said. “I don’t think it’s taken off quite yet, but we’re here all the time.”

MSU began conducting the National Survey of Student Engagement Monday, which will measure how active students are in the university.

The NSSE, which went online Tuesday, was e-mailed to approximately 2,500 MSU freshmen and seniors.

Among other questions, students were asked to measure how frequently they “communicated with instructors via e-mail” and “made a class presentation.” Each survey had 15 to 20 questions.

This is the first time the national survey will be implemented at MSU. When the university joined COPLAC (the Council of Public Liberal Art Colleges) in June 2006, it agreed to conduct the NSSE every two to three years.

COPLAC is an organization that’s “focused on liberal arts education and liberal learning,” said Dr.

Howard Clark, vice president for institutional effectiveness and enrollment management.

“The NSSE will help us see how students think their university is performing,” said Clark.

The university also plans to implement the Cooperative Institutional Research Program survey when the NSSE is not being used.

The CIRP survey “taps into student activities differently than the NSSE,” said Clark.

The approximate cost of conducting the NSSE survey is about $5,000, said Clark. The CIRP will be an additional $1,600.

The price is worth it, according to Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Lamb.

“It’s the best tool for measuring what we have. We live in an increasingly accountable environment; we’re accountable to the state, credit agencies and the federal level, too.

You have to have the data to show you’re effective.”

Sweepstakes Winner 2006 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association

Viewpoints

Finalist 2004 Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award

THE WICHITAN

Staff Editorial

Youth vote matters, even to youth The United States Census Bureau reported that in the 2004 election, only 58 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds were registered to vote. Of that 58 percent, only 47 percent bothered to actually vote in the election.

This coveted voting block has remained virtually untouched for many decades.

However, it is not because we lack the commitment to our future.

Young Americans understand that one in six children in this country are born into poverty, and that millions of children have no health care coverage.

We care that our country has sent our friends and classmates to war. We recognize that the mounting national debt will be our responsibility.

We are stepping to the forefront of American politics to announce that we do care; we have just been waiting for something - or rather someone - real to care about.

For the first time in many years, both the Republican and Democratic candidates excite us.

We are on board the “straight talk express” with Sen. John McCain, and we are certain that Sen. Barack Obama has inspired “change we can believe in”.

In 1960, Americans across the country watched as President Kennedy delivered his inaugural address and listened as he demanded of them “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”

Kennedy had the ability to transcend all boundaries. He made Americans of all colors, creeds, and backgrounds believe that tomorrow would always be better than today.

For us, this election is about tomorrow.

THE WICHITAN 3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 • Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 News Desk (940) 397-4704 • Advertising Desk (940) 397-4705 Fax (940) 397-4025 • E-mail WICHITAN@mwsu.edu Web site: http://www.mwsu.edu/~wichitan 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.

Parents should take control of remote American’s think they know the content of television shows before they watch them. In most cases, they’re wrong.

In 1997 the National Cable and Telecommunication Association, the National Association of Broadcasters and the Motion Picture Association of America voluntarily agreed to Congress’ Telecommunications Act of 1996 to put a rating on all shows except the news and sports to help parents decide which shows were suitable for their children.

The rating system is called TV Parental Guidelines.

It’s failing miserably.

The TV Parental Guidelines was supposed to curb the violence, sex and explicit language on television and prevent children from watching adult material.

The problem is networks are producing shows that are more violent than ever and children are watching them. Dr. Deborah A. Fisher, of the Pacific Institute for Research and Evalua-

tion, said that on average a child sees 1,000 murders, rapes and assaults per year on television.

Overall violence has increased by 75 percent since 1998, a year after television stations implemented the rating system.

TV Parental Guidelines ratings range from TV-Y, which is suitable for all children, to TVMA, designed for adults only.

At the beginning of each show and sometimes after commercial breaks, the rating will appear for 15 seconds in the top left corner of the TV screen.

The ratings can come with a descriptor, a letter that tells the audience why the show was rated the way it was.

The descriptors are V for intense violence, S for intense sexual situations, L for strong language and D for intensely suggestive dialogue.

These are tools to help parents decide which shows they let their children watch, but the government does not control the rating and descriptor go to with which show.

According to the Federal Communication Committee “the

final say in assigning program guidelines will, of course, rest with local television stations,” as it was agreed upon by the MPAA, NCTA and the NAB. According to a study by The Parents Television Council for the fall of 2005 to the spring of 2006, eight out of ten television shows containing sex, violence or adult language did not receive the correct rating or descriptors.

So why are they not labeled properly?

If local television stations that decide the ratings then it’s unlikely they’ll give ones that will lessen their audience.

The more people who watch, the more money that they earn.

The rating system is failing.

Parents have to watch the first 15 seconds of show to know its contents and even then it may not be an adequate representation of the total program.

Also, today’s standards of violence, sex and explicit dialogue are not what they were in 1997. Even in TV-Y7 rated shows, which are for children seven-years-old or older, more violent than they were a decade

ago in 1997.

How do parents protect their children? What solutions are there? Television networks are not going to stop producing shows that are violent because they make money, but parents can do other preventative measures.

They should watch the show before letting their children watch it by taping it.

They should encourage their children to ask questions. Does their child have the ability to discern what make-believe is and what is reality? Will they imitate what they see?

Also, parents could watch the television show with their kids so that they can answer any questions that arise.

They can also encourage their kids to do other things instead of watching television, like reading or playing outside.

The TV Parental Guidelines may be failing, but parents can protect their kids from television’s violence, sex and language.

If only they would.

I went back in time.

It was intended to be a trip down nostalgia lane, with a brief HALEY CUNNINGHAM visit to FOR THE WICHITAN the house w h e r e I used to live back in my hometown. What I got was a glimpse into a grief stricken structure that is slowly giving up on life.

This was the house I fell in love with. I lived in it from my sophomore year in high school until the time I graduated and moved to Wichita Falls. Built in 1925, it came complete with all the history, nooks and crannies and character that comes complete in the soul of an old house. I cried and cried when my family moved. When I’m in town I drive by it, wishing I could have it back.

This was the house that came

with a spirit. Not just a spirit of an old house restored to glory, but a spirit of a boy named Tom. Yes, I mean a ghost. I have an unimaginable amount of stories from this house; every day was an adventure in this piece of history. I can’t describe house I felt for this house, although I can describe how I feel for it now.

I arrive and disappointment greets me at the door. The pain on the porch that my family spent hours and hours doing ourselves, is chipped and peeling away. The lights we wrapped around the cozy porch swing are still there, yet they are falling down and halfway broken. The inside is an absolute disgrace. I was at a loss for words.

Well, maybe I have a few words: appalling, atrocious, disgusting and pathetic.

There were holes knocked in the walls, wallpaper peeling off, half of the living room was painted, lazily neglected and halfway finished. There was stained carpet and junk everywhere. The interior

paint, which held character on its own, had been sloppily painted over, in a horrid manner at that.

Both of the fireplaces in the master bedroom and the living room had paint feeling off of them and useless garbage and junk stacked in huge piles in front of them. I was holding back tears.

The upstairs was just as bad.

Junk was everywhere, no regard for the majesty the house has, the present family was just letting it crumble. I got that horrible knot in my throat as I looked at my old room, now a child’s bedroom with no furniture or any sort of personality. The original hardwood floors were scratched and unpolished and completely unkempt altogether. The French doors were cracked and missing doorknobs, the old 1920’s telephone room had its original French doors sloppily (and rather violently it seemed) removed, with the hinges still holding fast.

‘Sigh’…

Why can’t people have respect for a house? Some people think

a house may not be a home if it doesn’t’ t have a family inside, but I don’t believe this is true. A house has a soul. It always will. It has stories upon stories of what has happened inside its walls, what it has survived, witnessed and will never retell.

If you don’t nurture the shell, the soul will die. I don’t just mean change the paint and keep up with the plumbing, you have to love the structure. To me, houses aren’t just buildings, they are living things. Why must people let these creatures die? These structures will stand only once and may never stand again if their owners let them slip too far. And my house is slipping away.

As I left, I took another regretful look back. I could almost feel the sadness of the house, like it sighed as I left it. It knows what it has seen and endured, and will always hold it unto its heart, but as for what lies ahead for its future… there are no promises. It knows this. History is dying. Memories are just that.

CAITLIN HURLEY FOR THE WICHITAN

House for sale, 615 memory lane

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Brittany Norman Managing Editor Chris Collins Entertainment Editor Position Open Op-Ed Editor Christian McPhate Sports Editor Bobby Morris Photo Editor Patrick Johnston

Reporters Richard Carter Courtney Foreman Josh Mujica Photographers Loren Eggenschwiler Graphic Artist Robert Redmon Advertising Manager Correlle Ferlance

Copy Editor Kimberly Stiles Adviser Randy Pruitt

News Curriculum.............................................................continued from pg. 1 course we will implement it.”

Mathematics The mathematics department is not looking at big changes in the near future.

“We have reorganized to give student a little more variety,” Patrick Mitchell, mathematics chair, said.

Instead of two sequences, seniors will have three sequences to choose from.

“We couldn’t do it if it required more staff,” he said.

Geological Sciences The geological science department is attempting to mirror other university geology programs.

This semester, the historical geology course counts for four credit hours, rather than three like before.

“We couldn’t cover our material,” Dr. Pamela Stephens, chair of the geological science department, said.

Other changes include the addition of a course that combines sedimentology and stratigraphy courses.

The department looked at degree requirements from other schools, and tried to fashion the current curriculum around those.

“We tried to align our curriculum,” Stephens said.

Fain College of Fine Arts Students can expect noticeable changes in the Fain College of Fine Arts in the upcoming semesters.

Some of those changes include a new minor.

“We are trying to ensure the programs are current,” Dr. Ronald Fischli, dean of the Fain College of

Fine Arts, said.

The college has added or altered courses to make sure they are “relevant to the contemporary world,” he said.

Most of the changes were in the mass communication department.

“Changes in the three other departments were more routine,” he said.

In the mass communication department, the faculty agreed to eliminated art and theater minors as a choice for mass communication majors. Minors that remain are public relations, journalism (print) and broadcast.

However, as early as Fall 2008, students will see a new minor in the course catalogue – new media.

The minor will cover topics not already touched in the current curriculum. Some new classes will include Web design, multimedia and media convergence.

“We were just behind the time,” Dr. Jim Sernoe, chair of the mass communication department, said.

Fischli said the change came about partly because of the amount of technology applications in the mass communication field.

“It was based on student needs,” he said.” There are technological needs. It just keeps changing.”

Requirements for the major and three remaining minors were also revamped. The current history and ethics course will be split and covered in two separate courses.

“With the horrible state of media ethics today, we figured all students should have some background in the topic,” Sernoe said.

Some other courses were eliminated due to information taught that was thought obsolete, or that was covered in other courses. Some courses cut include organizational communication, radio and TV programming and broadcast diction.

“The way the industry is going, tying things to the Internet, we knew we were behind on that,” Sernoe said. “With several courses, we wondered why we were asking students to take them.”

With more courses focused around the Internet and computers, scheduling classes will become difficult. The computer lab will be in constant use, trying to fit in classes.

Sernoe insisted that everyone will be able to finish on the catalogue they started on, just said the faculty thinks some students will want to jump to the new minor.

“I would predict the new minor will become popular quickly,” Fischli said.

amount in their dealings with college officials. About 73 percent said they were fine with the role their parents played in choosing their classes.

“We’ve talked about helicopter parents being overly involved,” said Mark McCarthy, assistant vice president for student affairs at Marquette University. “What often isn’t talked about is the desire of students to have their parents involved ... many students are very much wanting to have contact with their parents in their decision-making in their daily lives.”

The study also found that students of color thought their parents were not involved enough in some aspects of college life. Some 43 percent of Latino students, for example, wanted more parental involvement in choosing their college courses, compared with 18 percent of white students.

College administrators suggested that the lower level of parental involvement has a lot to do with the fact that students of color are more likely to be the first in their families to attend college.

“They may have better coping

skills and problem-solving skills than students who have relied on their parents to do everything for them,” McCarthy said. But, he added, “A first-generation student doesn’t have the knowledge base or the resource base available to them ... I think there is a disadvantage at some level.”

Financial aid applications can be particularly challenging for students whose parents don’t speak English, said Annette Cleary, director of college counseling at Marquette University High School.

“They usually have the documents, but to try to translate it onto the (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), especially without speaking English, I can’t imagine how daunting that would be,” Cleary said.

Evelyn Sanchez, a Marquette University sophomore who is the first in her family to attend college, said she feels her parents are involved the right amount in her college life. But she acknowledged that the transition into college has been tough nonetheless.

“I guess it was a little bit of a

Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences New to the psychology department is a writing course. As well as being able to communicate in writing, students will learn about data banks and preparing papers.

The department will also be dropping the sports psychology and psychology of gender courses.

“Kinesiology does such a good job of teaching that (sports psychology) course already,” Dr. George Dikhoff, professor and chair of psychology, said.

Political Science For the first time in its known history, MSU will offer a course in Eastern Asia politics.

“It’s the first time we’ve been able to do that, so that exciting,” Dr. Sam Watson, dean of the Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences, said.

A new faculty member was hired who shows an expertise in the subject.

T HE W ICHITAN Feb 6, 2007

3

Campus briefs - Athletics lunch every Tuesday at Pelicans 12 p.m. - 1.

Highlights, replays.

- Student-directed One Act Play auditions Friday, Feb. 8; Sat 9 a.m. - noon, 1 p.m. - 4. Fain Fine Arts Center. Nine plays/ 30 parts. Pick up scripts in the green room in the Fine Arts Center.

- Captain Marvel and the Golden Age of Comics: 3 p.m.

Moffett Library, 2nd floor. Cookies and punch.

The College of Education will see changes in the upcoming months that were brought about by the “no child left behind” legislation.

The college’s early childhood-

fourth grade certification program will call for a course redesign to comply with the legislation’s request. The certification will become EC-6.

The legislation states that all children should be taught by a HQ (highly qualified) teacher.

“What we have is a certification that doesn’t match the building,” Dr. Grant Simpson, dean of the West College of Education, said.

“You don’t have schools that are EC-4. You have EC-6 or EC-3 and 4-6.”

Right now, teachers who are EC4 certified may teach 5th- or 6thgrade classes, but they must send out a letter telling parents they are not certified to teach that grade.

“Nobody wants to get that letter, and nobody wants to send that letter,” Simpson said.

The EC-6 certification test will

not be offered until 2010, so students currently working towards the EC-4 certification will not be affected.

No courses will be added to the program. Current courses will be redesigned to include the information not currently taught.

“The faculty will be very involved in deciding what gets taught where,” Simpson said.

This semester was also important to the education programs, Simpson said.

The college received two grants, totaling about $4.5 million, used for scholarships to encourage students to become teachers and seek certification in math, science and foreign languages.

About 80 students are currently receiving scholarships.

challenge coming into college,” Sanchez said. “It was completely different, and I would have liked an older brother or sister to tell me what to expect.”

By contrast, Linzi Saigh, a senior at Marquette, had a good idea of what to expect from college in part because her dad attended Marquette.

She said that while her parents would probably never go so far as to choose her classes for her or dial up a college professor to complain about a grade, she talks to her mom or dad nearly every day and turns to them for advice.

“If I get upset, I call and I vent, usually to my dad, and he usually gives me directions on how to act. ... Mostly he has me deal with it myself.”

That’s roughly the level of involvement McCarthy recommends to parents during summer preview programs and orientations.

“We talk a lot about ... the parental role switching from being the person who makes all the decisions and choices to being a consultant,” McCarthy said.

Lori Berquam, dean of students at University of Wisconsin-Madison, said the school began a parent program last year with a Web site, newsletter and frequently asked questions to help parents stay connected.

“We have to challenge ourselves to think of them as partners,” Berquam said. “They’re consumers, just as their students are.”

Scott Peak, director of university housing at the Madison, Wis., university, said he gets up to a dozen calls each year from parents complaining about their child’s roommate or housing.

The university requires that complaints come directly from students, Peak said. But that riles some parents who would rather save their child the hassle.

“One parent even admitted: `My daughter just doesn’t like to confront people or communicate,’” Peak said. “I said, `This is what college is about, to pick up skills, because this transfers into the job after college.’”

Peak said he knew the helicopter phenomenon had reached new heights when a parent of a graduate

student called to complain that the student didn’t get a coveted onebedroom unit.

“When you see that control factor even going into the graduate age, then you really know there are issues, because when will it stop?”

Peak asked.

It doesn’t stop when students graduate, either, said Laura Kestner, director of the Career Services Center at Marquette University.

A recruiter with a large bank told Kestner that a parent wanted to observe his college student’s interview and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

Another recruiter said a parent had called to find out specifics on why a Marquette student hadn’t gotten a job.

Some employers have begun to develop materials about the company specifically targeted at parents.

Similarly, Kestner’s office has devoted an entire tab to parents on its career services Web site.

“The employer’s attitude is, if you can’t beat `em, join `em,” Kestner said. “We laugh about it and complain about it, but it’s not going to go away. We have to deal with it.”

History The history department now offers a British history course.

“We wanted to offer more to students, and we have the faculty to teach it,” Watson said.

College of Health Sciences and Human Services No major or minor changes were reported in the College of Health Sciences and Human Services.

West College of Education

Colleges wary of ‘helicopter parents’ ERICA PEREZ FOR THE WICHITAN

One insisted on sitting in on his college student’s job interview. Another demanded that her graduate student be given a different housing assignment.

They’re called “helicopter parents.” University administrators often bemoan the crippling effect they can have when they intervene on students’ behalf. But a recent national survey suggests that while college officials may see many parents’ behavior as overzealous, students are largely satisfied with a little helicopter-like hovering, at least in their first year.

According to the survey released last week by the Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California, Los Angeles, a large majority of nearly 300,000 college freshmen reported that they were happy with their parents’ involvement in their college careers.

More than three-quarters said their parents were involved the right

In Memorium Benazir Bhutto 1953-2007 Benazir Bhutto spoke at MSU in November 2002 as part of the Artist Lecture Series. This photograph was taken by former student Annette Moore as Ms. Bhutto signed a copy of the Wichitan.

Bhutto was the first female leader of a Muslim nation. She served two terms as Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Bhutto was assassinated on December 27, 2007 in Pakistan, two weeks before the scheduled Pakistani General Election where she was a leading opposition candidate.

4

Entertainment

THE WICHITAN Feb. 6, 2008

Angels

take from the

Airwaves

to the stage

HALEY CUNNINGHAM FOR THE WICHITAN Angels and Airwaves, the band created by former Blink-182 front-man Tom Delonge, has begun a 2008 tour promoting their new album “I-Empire.”

They stopped in Dallas on February 1, along with bands Ace Enders and a Million Different People, The Color Fred and Meg & Dia. The groups played to a sold out audience at the Palladium Ballroom.

Ace Enders and a Million Different People played an upbeat set and kicked off the event on a good set

of notes. An indie one-man band out of New Jersey, Ace Enders energetically took the stage and brought the crowd streaming into the mosh pit. With his newest album upcoming, and he promised the crowd a free CD with the purchase of a T-shirt.

Next to hit the stage was The Color Fred. This selfproclaimed “folk rock/power pop” band features Taking Back Sunday star Fred Mascherino.

The band faintly recalls Taking Back Sunday with power chords and inviting song bridges, but was a good show nonetheless.

Meg and Dia was third to perform. The indie group fronted by two powerful female vocalists performed songs from their newest album “Something Real”, and promises to be a good addition to any indie-rock lover’s collection.

Finally, Angels and Airwaves took the stage. Along with the surging pack of teenie-boppers screaming their undying love at the top of their lungs to singer and guitarist Tom Delonge, the

crowd was pumped.

Delonge is no longer the jokester that he was with his former band Blink-182. In between songs, he did not belch or toss perverted jokes and innuendos, instead he maturely took the stage and delivered an unforgettable show.

He did have two or three goofy dance numbers in the middle of some songs.

Delonge encouraged the crowd to sing along with him as he played an acoustic version of Blink182’s “Not Now” and then rocked out with another former release from a previous band, Boxcar Racer with “My First Punk Song.”

The show was mature yet energetic. Modest light shows and special effects weren’t comparable to Blink’s suggestive material and flaming dirty words in pyrotechnics. The crowd widely ranged in age, from the youngsters in the mosh pit to the adults in the lounge at the back.

The performance given to the sold out crowd was worth the personal space violation in the standing room only arrangements, and the blasting melodies left the crowd begging for more.

OFF*BEAT IS ON TRACK New band follows punk-rock tradition, focus on fun, energy as they begin to move up in music world HALEY CUNNINGHAM FOR THE WICHITAN

“

A new pop-punk band coming from Dallas is the band OFF*BEAT: a “do it yourself” band that has paid their way to tours and stardom, will soon be rising on the charts.

If you like bands like MXPX, New Found Glory, Blink-182 or Simple plan, OFF*BEAT promises to be a good listen and an even more energetic show.

Originally formed in 2002, by brothers Victor and Andrew Acuna of Orange Grove, TX, the band released a few demos and played shows all over Texas while still in high school.

The band picked up their lead singer and bass player, Jason Crocker, off of MySpace and soon out of state shows were in the bag. The band traveled to Tennessee, Oklahoma, New York and Massachusetts. Soon, OFF*BEAT was offered the chance to do a three

“OFF*BEAT has put everything they have into this band from day Our whole tire and rim broke one, and plan on doing the same off and went flying down the until it’s time for OFF*BEAT to highway and our drummer was be over.”

Lead singer and bassist like ‘dude whose tire is that?’

Jason Crocker said.

We laughed and said OURS! We got stuck at a Willie Nelson The boys work hard to keep truck-stop for like 13 hours till themselves on the road and in we finally got the van fixed. shows. All of the members have –Jason Crocker, OFF*BEAT daytime jobs to afford their professional equipment, tour van month west coast summer tour. Howand four-bedroom house back in ever, due to the lack of funds, the Dallas. band didn’t think they could afford The main goal of OFF*BEAT, according to Crocker, is to bring someto play more than a month. thing that they created, to kids at But, as luck would have it. . .

Sales of the bands’ merchandise shows, and just have fun. skyrocketed and they were able to When it comes to memorable afford the entire tour. road moments, as with any band, The tour started in California, went OFF*BEAT has had their share.

“We bought an ‘88 van and were east to New Mexico and then up north to Washington, and of course, hit all driving to South Texas to play a show,” Crocker remembers. “About the states in between.

”

an hour into the drive, our whole tire and rim broke off and went flying down the highway and our drummer was like ‘dude whose tire is that?’

We laughed and said OURS! We got stuck at a Willie Nelson truck-stop for like 13 hours till we finally got the van fixed.”

Although the band has been enjoying the rock-star life for quite some time, they still keep a down to earth attitude and dedicate themselves fully to the band. Not for the fame, but for the enjoyment of their fans and the energy and fun of their shows.

“I hope that we can play in this band til we get to old to play and stand up,” says Crocker. “We don’t care if we make it ‘big and famous’ we just want to make friends and play because its fun!”

Entertainment

T HE W ICHITAN Feb. 6, 2008

5

Harlem Gospel Choir put on spirited show MELISSA DOS PRAZERAS SILVA FOR THE WICHITAN Akin Auditorium was set alive Wednesday night, by the world renowned Harlem Gospel Choir as they celebrated their faith with foot-stomping and hand-clapping blues, jazz and gospel spirituals.

Hosted by the Artist Lecture Series, the HGC shared its message of love, peace and harmony with a full Akin house. People gathered in the aisles and at the back of the auditorium to catch the dynamic performance, which sold out two days prior to the event.

The Harlem Gospel Choir has performed at many prestigious events and toured the world doing so. Some of their highlights include singing with U2, for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican, and for Nelson Mandela at Yankee Stadium. They perform regularly in New York and appear every Sunday at B. B. Kings Blues Club for the Gospel Brunch.

A number different races, cultures and even religions flocked to MSU for the event.

The ministry, comprised of the finest singers and musicians of black Churches in Harlem and the New York tri-state area, had the audience on their feet rejoicing, dancing and singing for most of the two hour show.

In addition to the gospel songs like “Nobody but Jesus,” and “Total Praise” the choir performed other crowd favorites like, “I believe I can fly,” “Amazing Grace,” “O Happy Day,” and “Celebration.”

“I’m really enjoying the show - amazing voices, and the fact that they’re so interactive with the audience adds so much to it,” Joann Webster, an international student from Anguila, said during the 20 minute intermission.

The choir always found a way to make the audience part of the show.

They brought people up on stage to join in the singing and dancing, and even came down to sing to individuals.

“I heard about the Harlem Gospel Choir before, so I knew it was going to be a really good program - unbelievable voices,” Karen Kelton, a MSU social work graduate (‘93) said. “I’m definitely looking forward to the second half.”

The second half of the show was just as jubilant and powerful.

“They did so well in keeping an energetic atmosphere throughout the show,” MSU sophomore, Ann-Sophie Indeherberge, said.

Currently on its “Feed The Children” tour,

Artists from the Harlem Gospel Choir entertained MSU students and other audience members as part of the Artist Lecture Series.

Photos by Loren Eggenschwiler

HGC sold $5 wristbands and sends all proceeds to the children’s charity.

The Harlem Gospel Choir has been around since 1986 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. It was founded by Allen Bailey on Dr. King’s birthday, January 15th.

One of its main missions is to create an understanding of the African-American culture and the inspirational music called Gospel which relates to the Black Church.

The theme of every performance is bringing people and nations together and giving something back - and it certainly did that at MSU.

Writers, production companies continue strike negotiations KIMBERLY STILES FOR THE WICHITAN On Sunday, four independent film production companies and striking writers issued a joint statement announcing successful contract negotiations.

Details of the negations have not been released – just that the agreement is “similar” to earlier resolutions between the Writers Guild of America and a number of other production companies.

This initial agreement allows four New York based production companies: GreeneStreet Films, Killer Films, Open City Films, and This is that corporation to “resume business immediately,” the joint statement said.

WGA East president Michael Winship called the preliminary agreement “a reaffirmation of their dedication to great writing, bold innovation and good old fashioned, New York City” by the film companies.

Jason Kliot and Joana Vicente, speaking for GreeneStreet, Open City and Killer films, praised the WGA for their “thoughtfulness during the discussions”.

This agreement appears to be another important step towards ending the WGA strike.

The WGA strike began on Nov. 5, over a dispute focusing

on residual payments to writers for work circulated via the Internet, video iPods, cell phones and other developing media.

The now 12 weeklong strike has brought film and television production to a near standstill.

The much anticipated and popular awards season has been in large part cancelled because of the strike.

The Golden Globes originally scheduled to air Jan. 13 – in all its’ tinsel town glory, was relegated to an hour-long news conference.

Jorge Camara, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association expressed his frustration with the cancellation of the awards show.

“We are all very disappointed that our traditional awards ceremony will not take place this year and that millions of viewers worldwide will be deprived of seeing many of their favorite stars celebrating 2007’s outstanding achievements in motion pictures and television,” he said.

The strike also forced the cancellation of Peoples Choice Awards. The award winners were announced during a two-hour pre-recorded special.

The typically far less popular Screen Actors Guild awards received the approval of the writ-

er’s union to hold their awards show.

The anxious glitterati flocked to Los Angeles for the first award show of the season, and many were quick to express their support for the WGA. SAG president Alan Rosenberg reiterated the importance of unions in the entertainment business then added, “When the pioneers of our union were drawing up guidelines, they looked to the Writers Guild for inspiration.

This began a treasured solidarity that continues today.”

The recent agreements are a promising step in ending the strike that has crippled film and television production, as well as much of the award show season.

The fate of the Academy Awards remains to be determined. Scheduled to take place on Feb. 24, the WGA has yet to grant its’ approval for the award show.

Producers of the Academy Awards are insistent that a show will take place with or without the support of the Union.

However, if an agreement is not reached with the WGA, the popular awards show will be far from a star-studded red carpet event.

Comprised of three MSU students (Ben Prater, Summer Hickman and Jason Byas) and some townies, area band Slabrat plays everything from Motown to The Beatles to Radiohead. Check them out this Thursday night at the Iron Horse Pub starting at 9:30 p.m. Cover is $5.

PHOTO BY RICHARD CARTER

News 6 MSU students sound off about voting T HE W ICHITAN Feb. 6, 2008

Name: Megan Grewing Class: Senior Most important issue: Iraq War Vote: McCain

Name: Francisco Salas Class: Senior Most important issue: Health care, the economy Vote: Clinton

Name: Colin Frank Class: Sophomore Most important issue: Abortion, gas prices Vote: Huckabee

“I don’t want the soldiers to die in vain, but that’s what’ll happen if we pull out immediately.”

“She’s a huge advocate of our nation’s health care and she’s the only one with concrete plans for reform.”

“The things that seem important to him are also important to me. He seems like the kind of guy we need as President.”

If the elections were today: MSU students would vote for Undecided........................................................................................................ 30 Barack Obama..................................................................................................35 John McCain.....................................................................................................22 Hilary Clinton...................................................................................................20 Mike Huckabee..................................................................................................9 Mitt Romney.......................................................................................................7 Ron Paul.............................................................................................................1 Republican, unsure of candidate......................................................................44 Democrat, unsure of candidate.........................................................................56 Wouldn’t vote.....................................................................................................8

Barack Obama celebrates a primary win with his wife.

Photo by MCT

Saint Paul Missionary Baptist Church Where Everybody is somebody and Jesus is LORD

Reverend B. J. Robinson Pastor

1318 Harding St. Wichita Falls,TX 76301 Office: (940) 767-2545 Church: (940) 767-2011

Sunday School: 9:45 am Morning Worship: 11:15 a.m.

Bible Study, Wed 7:00 p.m.

Come Join us!

Sports

THE WICHITAN Feb. 6, 2008

7

Mustangs play well despite lack of depth BOBBY MORRIS SPORTS EDITOR A fear many people shared throughout much of the MSU women’s basketball season came to light over the past couple of games. That fear would be a lack of depth, and the fact that MSU has only eight players on the roster.

They don’t only have eight active players; they have eight players on the entire roster, period.

Not only has the team had a lack of depth, but one of the main players missing is also the leading scorer, Brandy Moore.

Moore severely rolled her ankle after their victory against Abilene Christian. She has yet to return to play.

Entering last Wednesday’s battle against the Angelo State Rambelles, the Mustangs were already coming in short-handed. Foul trouble and more injury issues could have caused the Mustangs to not have enough players to compete.

The first half started atrociously for Midwestern. Nothing was falling for the Mustangs, and the Rambelles were getting everything to go down, so the last thing coach Burks needed was added distractions.

The Mustangs went into the half down 28-15. They converted only four of their twenty-eight attempted field goals, barely 14%, and couldn’t get a single trey to go down.

After half time, things didn’t get much better; yet another guard Kaylon Hodge went down due to an ankle injury.

Mustangs Player Profile Christopher Reay

Another starter, Rosy Ofoegbu, played for most of the first half, and then fouled out with eleven minutes still to play in regulation.

At this point there are five eligible players for the Mustangs. Luckily they only need five to play, and also lucky for them senior point guard Stacey Staten played smart basketball. She went the last 15:35 of the game without committing her final foul allowed.

Junior Tiffany Cook tried her best to pick up the slack in the absence of a few key players and pulled down eleven boards while pouring in 22 points, almost half of the team’s total points.

The Rambelles had three players score in double-digits, mostly led by solid guard play from Camille Perkins and Lindsey Leatherman, who dropped in 21 and 24, respectively.

The Mustangs went on to drop the contest 70-47, but didn’t have much time to heal before they hosted a crucial Lone Star Conference match-up on Saturday against the Eastern New Mexico Zias.

The Mustangs started the game’s first half much better, as they took on the Zias squad with their full roster of only seven. They ran step for step with the Zias and took the lead with 10:20 left in the first half on a nice jumper from Staten.

That shot gave the Mustangs the lead, and they never gave it back.

They fought hard for the remainder of the game to keep it, until eventually blowing out the Zias 70-54.

Cook continued to impress in this game, as Moore was still hobbled and unable to participate in the

game.

Cook ended the game with nineteen points to go along with her eight rebounds, while both Hodge and Staten turned in double-digit efforts, with thirteen and fourteen, respectively.

Staten also dished out five assists, while Hodge tallied six steals on the contest.

The Mustangs improved their overall record to 9-10 on the year and 3-3 in conference competition.

The Mustangs will return to action tonight in Denton to take on the Texas Women’s University Pioneers, most likely without Brandy Moore. They look to buck the evident trend they have formed over the past month or so.

They have alternated wins and losses since they have begun to compete in LSC play, and the Mustangs are currently one game out of second place in the Lone Star Conference’s South Division.

They are also on the outside looking in when it comes to postseason play, as they sit one game out of the fourth and final spot in the LSC Postseason Championship Tournament.

The Mustangs will look to win back-to-back games for the first time since December. The matchup between the Mustangs and the Pioneers is set to tip-off at 7 p.m. tomorrow night in the Kitty Magee arena in Pioneer Hall.

The game will be available locally on 100.9 BOB FM and online at msumustangs.com and bobradio.fm. A game preview will be broadcasted at 5:45 p.m.

Mustangs disappoint at debuting tourney BOBBY MORRIS SPORTS EDITOR After a school withdrew from the Fourth Annual St. Mary’s NCAA Division II Classic, they caused a slight shuffling of some schedules, a couple even with MSU. The No. 17 Mustangs first game against Incarnate Word was moved to noon last Friday, and their game against Texas A&M International was also changed to take place at 4 p.m. on the same day.

In the opening weekend of games, Midwestern suited up to play five games. Despite some pretty solid pitching, the Mustangs went on to drop three of the first five games, including losses in each of their last two games.

In their season debut, Midwestern State took on the newly scheduled Incarnate Word Cardinals.

You could definitely tell it was the Mustangs first game of the year, as unforced errors and even some command issues from the All-South Central Region pitcher plagued the Mustangs down the stretch.

The Mustangs were quick out

of the gate, capitalizing on Lindsey Voigt’s lead off single. They to eventually drove in two runs during the first inning.

First baseman Jessica Rodriquez’s single up the middle brought in the first run, while left fielder Amanda Potysman drove a sacrifice fly deep into left field to drive in the second run.

This was only the first of Potysman’s RBIs, as she would go on to drive in another run with first collegiate home run in the sixth inning to knot up the score 4-4.

Senior lefty Ashley Kuchenski got the start in the circle for the Mustangs, and she held the Cardinals in check for most of her outing.

Kuchenski pitched four complete innings, striking out one batter and giving up only one unearned run on two hits.

Coach Brady Tigert then sent in sophomore pitcher Katie Peterson to help seal the deal and lock up the first game of the year.

Peterson seemingly struggled with her pitching control for most of her two-plus innings pitched, but it was never more evident than in

Coordinator leaves Basketball I #40 Senior Center Hometown : Plano, Tex. Major : Masters in Curriculum and Instruction Christopher brings great experience to the post, as he started the last 28 games of last season. Reay was named first-team Conference USA All-Academic as a sophomore at Southern Methodist University. He earned All-District honors in each of his three starting seasons at Plano West HS, and is the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

Did you know?!

Christopher is a member of the New Zealand national basketball team

Patrick Johnston THE WICHITAN Forward Tiffany Cook has her eye on the goal as the Mustangs take on the Abilene Christian Wildcats. Cook has stepped up over the past few games without leading-scorer, Brandy Moore, averaging twenty points and 9.5 rebounds in the past two games.

BOBBY MORRIS SPORTS EDITOR As of this morning I was made aware that, only a week after the football program lost its offensive coordinator Glenn Thomas, that MSU has also lost its defensive coordinator Cary Fowler.

Fowler is a 1994 graduate if Murray State and has spent his last seven years as one of the main “architects” of the MSU defense,

Fowler made a name for himself after constructing one of the Lone Star Conference’s top defenses throughout many years.

Fowler accepted an unknown position at LSC-rival Tarleton State University, and I’m sure that the search has begun for his predecessor.

So, the Mustangs will attempt to improve on last year without either their offensive or defensive coordinators from last season.

The Wichitan is seeking sports writers If interested, please contact Bobby at 397-4704

the bottom half of the seventh and last inning. Peterson found herself in a hole and wound up issuing four walks in the inning as the Cardinals rallied to take the game 5-4.

Tigert was aware of the team’s apparent nerves, saying, “We definitely had a lot of first-game jitters.

We played okay, but needed to work those out.”

MSU wasn’t going to let this opening-game disappointment get them down for too long; the Mustangs rode the hot bat of Rodriguez against Texas A&M International to take their first victory of the year.

Midwestern took on TAMI and showed them how the Mustangs can really play in the batter’s box, eventually run-ruling the Dustdevils 10-2 in just six innings of play.

True freshman pitcher Brittany Tanner shined in her collegiate debut, dumbfounding the Dustdevils and holding them to two unearned runs off just three hits.

All-American third baseman Kristen Stonecipher made her first real impact of the young season in this game, scoring three of the team’s ten runs and going 2-for-2 with two doubles and two RBIs. The player of the game had to be Rodriguez, however, as she drove in half of the team’s runs. Rodriguez caught fire in the game and drove in a run on each of her four plate appearances. She even ended the game in the sixth inning by scor-

ing the tenth run on designated hitter Lauren Craig’s RBI single.

Rodriguez finished the game with a career-high five RBIs, while Tanner improved to 1-0 on the season.

The Mustangs next game came last Saturday morning against heated Lone Star Conference rival, Tarleton State.

Kuchenski once again started for the Mustangs, pitching a solid four innings until moving into right field to give way to Peterson in the circle.

Peterson finally got in the stride she was in much of last season in this game, only walking one batter and striking out two in her three innings. More importantly, Peterson gained back a lot of her control in the circle and pitched much less wildly.

Stonecipher rose to the occasion, yet again, hitting a crucial two-run single to highlight the four-run, game deciding inning. Stonecipher’s single put the Mustangs up 5-2, which would be more than enough for Peterson to hold off the TexAnns.

The Mustangs eventually won the game 5-3.

That would be the last of the Mustangs offense that would show up for the classic, as they were shut out in the last two games. In the final two games against Eastern New Mexico and St. Mary’s, the Mustangs relied on solid pitching but

couldn’t get a run across home plate in either of the match-ups.

Peterson dominated in the game against the Eastern New Mexico Zias, pitching six innings and striking out six batters, only giving up one unearned run off of an error by Stonecipher. The opposing pitcher, Kristen Cruickshank, only outshined her because she held the Mustangs’ experienced offense in check with her complete game shut out.

In the final game of the Classic, Tanner got her second career start against host team St. Mary’s. Before she could get settled in to the game, however, the Diamondbacks jumped on her early inning pitches, scoring three runs in the first two innings to take the game 4-0.

After the game, MSU third baseman Stonecipher was the lone Midwestern State player to be named to the St. Mary’s Division II Classic All-Tournament Team.

The Mustangs will travel to Denton this weekend to compete in the Texas Woman’s University Tournament. MSU will open the tournament on Saturday against Henderson State at 9 a.m. battle St. Edward’s at 11:30 a.m. and finish out Saturday against the host-TWU at 4:30 p.m.

MSU- moves on to play Central Missouri and conference rival West Texas A&M later on Sunday afternoon.

Rugby club gaining experience BOBBY MORRIS SPORTS EDITOR The MSU Rugby club began its spring schedule back on January 26.

The match was actually forfeited

by Midwestern to the University of North Texas due to some collegiate eligibility requirements by some of the MSU players.

Regardless, they continued to compete in a friendly test match, where a young and inexperienced Mustangs squad competed well with an experienced North Texas Mean Green team, eventually losing the friendly match 24-5.

In their first official match of the

season, Midwestern took on a challenging Texas Christian University squad.

A great game by TCU forwards set up many backline scores, while MSU littered the match with many rookie mistakes and penalties. The Mustangs played with many young and inexperienced players, which should help the team competitively later in the season as the young players grow into their new roles.

TCU headed into half time with a 31-0 lead, mostly due to dominating the field position battle and leading to many scoring opportunities.

Flare-ups occurred throughout the match, eventually resulting in a

yellow card against Midwestern, to warn against any more negative actions. Both teams were continually spatting throughout most of the first half, resulting in some rough plays throughout the first half.

The second half of the match showed promise from some of the Mustangs younger players, but the MSU defense just couldn’t keep up with TCU’s attacking offense.

MSU lost the match 56-14, dropping their overall record to 3-6, while dropping their conference record to 0-4. The Mustangs are set to take on the University of Tulsa in a match this Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at the MSU Intramural Fields.

8

T HE W ICHITAN Feb. 6, 2008

Sports

Giant Upset

New York knocks off almost perfect Patriots in upset of century MIKE DOWNEY CHICAGO TRIBUNE (MCT) GLENDALE, Ariz. - I dreaded this Super Bowl. I really did.

No way the Giants could win.

No way on their best day they could pull this off. Eli Manning is in Tom Brady’s league, but not in his league, you know what I mean?

No compelling reason to be here.

No local angle, such as having the Bears in the game. No rooting interest. No love for Bill Belichick, particularly after that Patriots “spy camera” scandal, but no affection for Tom Coughlin either.

Nothing about the New York Giants made me feel sentimental. It wasn’t like this would be their first Super Bowl, the way it was a year ago for long-suffering Indy or two years ago for longer-suffering Seattle.

No player to pull for, to say: “Please let this guy win one.” Brady already owned three Super Bowl rings. The other Patriots, I mean, who cares? Junior Seau? Big deal.

I couldn’t care less if Randy Moss ever wins one.

Michael Strahan, that giant Giant with the big personality? OK, maybe it would be nice if he could win one. He was supposed to be retired by now, living on a beach. A funny guy, a fine football player. On the other hand, Mrs. Mike didn’t make him out to be a prince among men.

So which team would I want to win? I don’t care. Let’s just get this over with. Flip a coin.

Giants call tails _ 41-year-old punter Jeff Feagles calls it, before

becoming the oldest man to play in a Super Bowl, and it comes up tails.

They elect to receive.

And hey, they score first. Eli Manning takes them right down the field. Could have scored a touchdown, but settles instead for a field goal.

An omen? A sign that this could be New York’s day? Oh, please.

Don’t forget, the Bears scored first against the Colts in last year’s game.

And the Patriots scored first against the Bears in Super Bowl XX. Happens all the time. Don’t get fooled.

Giants probably won’t get lucky again all day.

Sure enough, Brady takes the Pats straight down the field. Easy as pie. Laurence Maroney goes 43 yards with the kickoff. Maroney goes 9 more right out of the gate, his first rush. Maroney goes the final yard for the score.

New England 7, New York 3.

This thing is over, man. Three quarters to go, but this baby is done.

I watch. I wait. I think any minute now, Brady will begin taking these underdogs to obedience school.

Long, textbook drives down the field. Surgical strikes to Moss and to Wes Welker and to Kevin Faulk, wait and see.

What I see instead is Brady under attack. No room to maneuver, no room to breathe.

Giants are coming at him from every direction. Strahan from this side. Osi Umenyiora from that side.

Justin Tuck, a large fellow from Notre Dame whose nickname ought to be “Friar,” is hitting Brady with everything except the kitchen sink

and a pair of pants belonging to Charlie Weis.

Halftime: 7-3.

Three quarters: Still 7-3.

A low-scoring Super Bowl between these two teams? It was 38-35 last time they met. How did this turn into an all-defense tilt like Super Bowl III (Joe Namath’s Jets 16, the team formerly known as the Baltimore Colts 7) or Super Bowl IX (Terry Bradshaw’s Steelers 16, Minnesota Vikings 6)?

We’re inside a dome, for heaven’s sake. They closed the roof. (Because of a threat of rain that never fell.)

Ideal conditions for football ... unlike, for example, that Miami monsoon that befell our poor Bears.

Is Brady hurt? Tired? What, hot date last night? Was he accidentally struck in the nose by a football, like Marcia Brady?

Can’t be that the Giants are this good, can it? They were 0-2 earlier this season. They barely beat the Bears. They were lucky to survive the Packers. They are twotouchdown underdogs and Plaxico Burress is saying: “Make it 21 or 28.”

Oh, that wacky Plax. He predicted a 23-17 upset for his side. Man, did Plax take flak.

I am not even sure he is in the game. Manning is throwing to Amani Toomer, throwing to Steve Smith. I have to look up Plax’s stats in the fourth quarter to make sure he didn’t call in sick. Nope, there he is_one catch.

Fourth quarter now. Giants look stiff as an Arizona cactus. But wait.

Manning throws a touchdown pass to No. 85.

Who is 85? I look him up. David Tyree? Who the heck is David Tyree? Did I hear his name once all week?

Patriots in trouble? Nope, back comes the Brady bunch. A touchdown pass from Touchdown Tommy at last. Hey look, Randy Moss is in the game! He actually caught something. Only 2:42 to go. Now this game is over.

Manning won’t make it. It’s third-and-5 at his own 44. There are only 80 ticks left on the clock. Manning is in the shotgun formation. It is now or never to lock and load.

He gets sacked. No, he escapes!

Eli Houdini. He looks, he throws ... and No. 85 hauls it down!

Meet the new Ocho Cinco. Give up your nickname, Chad Johnson. I don’t know how Tyree came down with that ball, but he pinned it against his helmet. Maybe he stuck some Krazy Glue on his helmet.

New life for New York at the 24.

A 12-yard pass goes to Steve Smith, who used to catch passes from Matt Leinart. Life has changed for both.

Smith is about to win a Super Bowl.

Leinart (the poor guy) is an Arizona Cardinal.

Touchdown! Who caught it? Is it Ocho Cinco again? Is it Toomer?

No, it is none other than Plaxico Burress himself. The man with the plan. The man from Michigan State just personally stuck it to Brady, that old Michigan Wolverine.

Viva Plaxico!

So ends one of the really cool Super Bowls ever. And in Arizona, yet. I know baseball’s teams will be here soon. Let’s see them top this.

Record-setting performance paces Mustangs win 78-67 JOSH MUJICA SPORTS WRITER

Patrick Johnston THE WICHITAN Earl Rabb drives around Abilene Christian defenders before dishing a back-door pass to Michael Godwin for the eventual slam dunk.

Nolan Richardson IV knows basketball. His grandfather and father have instilled the game in him since he took his first breaths. Before Saturday night’s match-up against Eastern New Mexico at D.L. Ligon Coliseum, everyone knew Nolan Richardson, the scorer.

Richardson leads the team in scoring, averaging 16 points a game. But against the Greyhounds, the junior guard displayed more of his assets with a passing clinic and seventeen assists, breaking a 12year-old school record and leading the Mustangs to a 78-67 victory.

Jerry Perry set the school’s previous record, thirteen assists; back in 1996. Richardson had ten before half time.

Richardson only made one field goal in eleven tries and finished with season-low five points for the Mustangs, but the rest of the stam-

pede took advantage of ENMU’s increased focus on him.

MSU used an 18-2 run with 5:58 left to go in the first half to go up by nine. The Mustangs were 12-of-25 from the field before intermission including seven 3-pointers.

“It’s amazing what can happen when you shoot the ball well,” MSU coach Jeff Ray said.

The Mustangs got a great game from senior and captain, Chris Davis, who had a game-high 21 points shooting 7-of-12 from the field.

“I’m glad he stepped up,” Ray said. “He had been struggling but we really needed him tonight.”

Other standouts for Midwestern included Trajinski Grigsby, Jeremy Ford and Christopher Reay.

Grigsby recorded his eighth double-double on the season with fourteen points and sixteen rebounds.

Ford contributed nineteen points , shooting 6-of-12, including 5of-10 from 3-point land and Reay added fifteen points, eight rebounds

and three blocks.

The Mustangs improve to 10-10 on the season and 2-4 in Lone Star Conference South play.

ENMU fell to 6-14 overall and 05 in conference play.

The Greyhounds received outstanding hustle from Justin Redman-Trotter who posted 21 points shooting 7-of-17 on the night.

MSU is now a game and a half behind Texas A&M-Kingsville for the final spot in the LSC Championships in Bartlesville, Okla. held March 5-8.

The team will travel to Stephenville on Saturday to go to war with the Tarleton State Texans. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m., or 25 minutes following the woman’s game, at Wisdom Gym. The game will be available locally on 100.9 BOB FM and on-line at msumustangs.com and bobradio. fm. The woman’s game preview will be broadcasted at 5:45 p.m., and the men’s game is set to broadcast directly afterwards.