NO BUTTS ABOUT IT: Campus-wide tobacco NAIL-BITER: Men’s b-ball ban is in full effect and striking up debate pulls off last-minute win npage 7 npage 8
Wednesday n January 27, 2010
thewichitan
your university n your voice
Grant sharks BBB urges students to be wary of shady financial aid service Chris Collins Managing Editor
A phony financial aid service may be out to hurt MSU students who need help the most. College Financial Advisory, based out of Oceanside, Calif., has been attempting to peddle a ‘grant locating service’ to MSU students since the beginning of January. The pitch: that students who need financial help for tuition will be given a list of grants to apply for, but only after a $59 processing fee is paid. The problem is there’s no guarantee any of the financial aid applications will pan out, and the processing fee is never returned, said Monica Horton, president of the Wichita Falls Better Business Bureau.
See BEWARE on page 3
MSU police chief Michael Hagy is retiring at the end of January after 30 years in law enforcement, 10 at MSU. (Photo by: Julia Raymond)
Haitian student prays for his family and country in the wake of devastating earthquake Brittany Norman Editor in Chief
Photographs from earthquake-ravaged Haiti are like nightmarish postcards from home for Thony Durand. For days after the island country was shaken by a 7.0 magnitude quake, he found himself searching the horrific scenes depicted in CNN broadcasts for the faces of the family and friends he left behind. “I was trying to see my family on the screen, see my village,” the sophomore business administration major said. “Trying to see people that I know. I was watch-
ing the country just… going down.” After the initial earthquake struck the island nation on Jan. 12, Thony remembers a feeling of helplessness. Attempts to contact his six brothers and sisters, some of whom reside in Port-au-Prince, were without success. He found out about the deadly quake less than an hour after it happened via text message. He turned on the television to see if it was really as bad as his friend had made it sound. “I was devastated,” he said. “I went to CNN and it was exactly what she said it was. I saw people dying and falling over in the streets. We had a very big flour factory, a national factory with 600 employees there. That thing had been there for decades, and it was gone. “ The landmarks that seem to be part of another world for most MSU students are relics of his home, symbols of his people. And he was watching them crumble. “When I saw the palace was gone, it touched my heart,” Thony said. “I was so sad, and it was hard for me, even up until now. I can’t even look at the pictures any more.” The village he grew up in, Titanyen, is now the site of several mass graves. Though he currently lives in the US, he still felt a painful connection to the suffering country. “It’s home, even though I’m not See HAITI on page 4
(Top) MSU junior Thony Durand has watched Haiti, his home country, crumble during television news broadcasts. His six siblings are still in Haiti, some living in or near Port-au-Prince. (Photo by: Julia Raymond)
Chief to leave badge, MSU after a decade Cassie Bricker For the Wichitan
At age 5, Police Chief Michael Hagy recalls watching black and white television episodes of his cowboy hero Roy Rogers. “He was that guy who wore the white hat and he could always defend the defenseless,” Hagy said. “He would always be there to help the little guy.” Early on, Hagy decided he wanted to help the little guy too. The first time he did, though, it got him in trouble.a Hagy was walking to school when he saw a fifthgrader pounding on a smaller child. He intervened and soon found himself scrapping with the bully. He ended up in the principal’s office.
See HAGY on page 3
Buyback ripoffs rankle students Donace Wilkinson For the Wichitan
“I’ll give you $1.50 for that.” That was the price Shenelle Pemberton, senior education major, was offered for a textbook she tried to sell back to the MSU Bookstore. According to Pemberton, she had paid a little more than $20 for the textbook. She said she thought the offer was ridiculous. This semester, Pemberton has decided to do things differently. “I will look for persons who plan to do the subjects and try to sell to them,” she said. Pemberton is not alone in the cause. At the end of every semester, MSU students have the task of deciding how to make the most out of their used textbooks. Jamela Warner, a sophomore double majoring in economics and business management, said she was offered $5 for a book she had bought for about $90.
See BUYBACK on page 4
2 n The Wichitan
campusvoice nour view
Don’t like us? Do something!
Judging from the stack of outraged letters to the editor we received last semester, some of you are unhappy with the way we run things. Unfortunately, none of these angry e-mails (nor the odd unsigned notes slipped under the office door) had what we like to call “constructive content.” It’s all well and good to tell us that we’re doing things wrong and declare vehemently that you’ll never ever read our awful offensive disgusting (insert other derisive adjective here) paper ever again as long as you live. After all, we here at The Wichitan are tough cookies. We can take it. To be honest, even getting negative responses from the student body thrills us. Why do we like being insulted, you might ask? It means you’re reading! Sometimes (most of the time, actually), we’d really like to reach out and shake every single one of you (not too violently, of course) and yell “READ OUR PAPER, PLEASE!
WE’LL DO ANYTHING!” But maybe the problem isn’t always with us. Those of you who have shown signs of having a pulse, even if it was just to voice disapproval, we’re asking for your help. The Wichitan is working with a very small staff, which limits us considerably as far as perspective is concerned. Of the (currently) six permanent staff members, we only represent majors in two departments on campus. While it’s good to have Mass Communication and English majors running around when it comes to grammar and reporting, a little bit more diversity would be hugely beneficial. Since most of us haven’t stepped foot in Bolin Hall since we finished our mandatory math and science credits, we don’t know what cool things you guys are doing over there. Tell us! Drop us an email, call us up on the phone or come by our office in Fain. And just because no one on our
staff can do math or balance a chemical equation doesn’t mean that you guys can’t write. You don’t have to be in journalism to write for us! The above goes for any department. Business majors, philosophy majors, politics experts, history buffs and artists: all of you are welcome to contribute. In fact, we would like nothing more than to hear from you. All of you. Maybe not all at once though, since that might be a little overwhelming. If you look to the right, you can find out how to get in touch with us. If you want a job with us (we do pay!), even if you’re not sure what you want to do, we can help you with that. Maybe your organization is just doing something really cool that you think the campus should know about. We want to mean what it says on the front page of the newspaper. We want it to be your voice, not just the voice of six of us, but we can’t achieve it without your help.
january 27, 2010
thewichitan
3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 n Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 News Desk: (940) 397-4704 n Ads: (940) 397-4705 Fax (940) 397-4025 n E-mail: WICHITAN@mwsu.edu n Editor’s E-mail: EDITOR.WICHITAN@mwsu.edu
editorial board
nEditor in Chief: Brittany Norman nManaging Editor: Chris Collins nEntertainment Editor: Lauren Wood nOp-Ed Editor: Position open nSports Editor: Josh Hoggard nPhoto Editor: Julia Raymond nAdvertising manager: Jamie Monroe nCopy editor: Position open nadviser: Randy Pruitt nReporters: Donace Wilkinson nPhotographers: Patrick Johnston
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.
nRED INK: THE STUDENT TEACHER DIARIES
teachng comma rls 2 txt addicts who ‘diss’ u
How would you like there to help them. We to pay $1,700 to be at are obviously not in it school by 7 a.m. evfor the money or the eryday, lesson plan in hours. hand, and teach five I am at a low socioEnglish classes popueconomic school packed lated by unmotivated with students who just high school juniors? If seem to have lost moyou think this sounds tivation. Laziness is at too good to be true, you an all-time high and I will be jealous of me. actually have students Welcome to my life that groan when I ask as a student teacher. them to write a paraAshley Campana I have successfully graph about something. For the Wichitan survived week two and This is an English class, my fun-loving juniors folks. I don’t know you are even more fun-loving as we enter were expecting! the dreaded TAKS season. One of the My mentor teacher is an accomhardest things I have encountered is plished role model and is also a head spending 8 hours of my day spilling coach. I quit basketball in high school everything I know about a topic only so I could pursue my love of the arts, so to receive class work that proves noth- needless to say I’m far from a coach’s ing stuck with students. You could sew mentality in the classroom. the information on the back of their I don’t have a shrill voice and I caneyelids but if they don’t care enough not make them run after school but to know it, they won’t. Try teaching she has helped me realized that their comma rules to a child who doesn’t coaches can. I have used these whiswant to learn it. Impossible! tle-wielding educators as lifelines a There is a growing disrespect for few times already. teachers and authorities in general. I The support system within my don’t know what some parents prac- school amongst faculty and staff is tice at home, but I know for sure irreplaceable and they are so incredwhat my parents preached until their ibly helpful. This is needed after a day throats were marked with scars: “re- where I feel as though I have been spect authority.” tested beyond my breaking point. I’m close to certain that authority is Teaching is not for the weak; it’s a foreign word to many students to- for the fearless and resourceful. Half day. I was told by one of my students of our day is spent modifying and adthis week that unless I want to pay her justing. If our life is a stage, we spend Sprint bill, she will keep her phone it ad-libbing. You never know what out as she pleases. a student is about to say or do next. If that would have happened ten I stand in front of 105 of them daily years ago, her wrist would have been and I won’t be the first to tell you that snapped in half by a yard stick. they are a tough crowd. On the contrary, I did have a stuIf you’re in the education program dent stand up for me shortly after a just because you want holidays off and rude comment was shot in my direc- good hours, GET OUT NOW! tion. He said, “she took four years out When we’re not teaching, we’re of her life to study to teach us when grading. When we’re not grading, she didn’t have to. You’re going to we’re thinking about ways to improve have to learn anyway so you might as our teaching and grading. Being a well do it quietly and quit wasting ev- teacher is a lifestyle and it takes a cereryone’s time.” tain breed of human to do it successAlthough education degrees take fully. closer to 5 years to complete, that stuI teach because I’m rewarded greatdent is wise beyond his years. ly by it. I may never know the impact I just wish that more of his peers that I have on students but that’s the could understand that teachers are beauty of it. I don’t have to.
Live in the present, you should A long time ago, in a were enforcing on the galaxy far, far away, the planet of Naboo. Jedi Knights saved planAs the Jedi Knights ets and friends with their are shown to a conferknowledge of the Force ence room, Obi-Wan and skills with lightsastarts to feel uneasy. In bers. an attempt to comfort The last of the wise him and direct him, and powerful followers of Qui-Gon comments, the Jedi Order may have “Keep your concentradied out several millions tion here and now, where of years ago, but their it belongs.” legacy lives on in numerObi-Wan quickly reous nuggets of wisdom. buts, “But Master Yoda Josh Hoggard Even though Earth said I should be mindful Jedi guru humans aren’t Forceof the future.” sensitive and haven’t yet Without missing a discovered the lightsaber, even we can beat, Qui-Gon replies, “But not at the learn from the wisdom these Jedi left expense of the moment. Be mindful of behind. the living Force.” For the next several weeks, we’re goAs college students, we flocked to this ing to work through the Yoda-ism’s and institution of higher learning to make discover some valuable life lessons from something of our futures. We don’t want the Jedi. to end up stuck in a job we hate. The first trip into that far away galaxy So, we decided to take a step toward will begin early in the Star Wars fabula; discovering a career path and work toin the first few minutes of Episode 1: The wards obtaining a college degree. Phantom Menace. The basis of us even being at MSU is Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of the most our future. powerful and famous Jedi of all, is a Yet, sometimes, that’s all we care mere Padawan at this time. He and his about, and we miss the adventure of master, Qui-Gon Jinn, have just board- getting there. ed a Trade Federation control ship in Sure, college is all about getting that orbit of the planet Naboo. degree and walking into a future full of The Jedi were sent to this ship to con- promise, hope, and success. But if that’s duct negotiations with the Trade Fed- all we’re coming to college to get, then eration concerning the blockade they we’re missing out!
Yes, we should be concerned with that degree. And yes, we should work hard to do the best we can to earn that degree. But there’s so much more to life than the future! Human beings weren’t wired for the future. Otherwise, we’d be able to do something about it. We honestly have no control over what our future holds. What we do have is the present, the here and now, and the opportunity to make the absolute best out of it. Even Miley Cyrus gets this concept. “It ain’t about how fast I get there. It ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side. It’s the climb.” Yes, I did just quote Miley Cyrus. Yes, I do feel stupid for doing that, but it emphasized my point, didn’t it? College has been an awesome experience for me. I got my first girlfriend. I got a story submitted on MLIA. I discovered Munchkin, Bon Iver, and Jack in the Box tacos. I made life-long friends. If you notice, none of those things involve a college degree. We should be mindful of the future, but not so consumed with it that we let those little moments pass us by. At the risk of sounding cryptic, we aren’t even guaranteed tomorrow. They say life is what happens when you’re busy making plans. May you stop living for the future and start living in the moment. Amazing things happen in those moments.
january 27, 2010
op-ed/news
The Wichitan n 3
Clueless observer confused by football protocol Through baffled observation, I’ve come to the conclusion that yes, some of my fellow Americans do plan their lives around sporting events. even those they won’t be participating in directly (unless you count swilling beer and yelling at the flat-screen), and have no chance, even in the event of a miracle, of ever being on the field/ court/etc.. To an outsider with limited knowledge of sports in general, the phenomenon of becoming so enraptured with men you’ve never met that you populate entire fake teams with your favorites and compete against your friends in some complex ritual known as “fantasy football” is fascinating. This side-game for fans of the game itself is even more confusing than the real deal to an outsider, but
apparently has someIt’s amazing how the most thing to do with draft ADD person in the world picks and draft beer, as – you know, the one who well as boards (either can’t read through a half of the dry erase or ona page of a book without line message variety), realizing they need to run and some sort of prizes and check facebook first for points that are ob– can sit through a game tained by… I have no which in theory should freaking idea. But I last one hour, but generthink there are points ally seems to stretch on and if there aren’t prizto three (or four, or five, es, there should be. It or what feels like infinlooks like a lot of work ity). All of the pauses and Brittany Norman for no payoff. replays make my brain Editor in Chief I’ve come to the congo so crazy that it starts clusion that I should pointing out other things not watch football games with people for me to focus on. Like my cell phone. who like football for any number of My cell phone has games (which make reasons, including but not limited to sense, such as scrabble and solitaire and the following: brick breaker and something with a litn I do not understand the rules. tle creature that grows when I make it Every time I think I might be catch- eat other little creatures) and Facebook. ing on, the players stop again and have Facebook has people. Unfortunately, a little chat and change strategies. all of those people are talking about the might want to reevaluate the size of football game, so they’re not much fun the field. One hundred yards is a pretty either. long stretch for a game in which it’s a n I talk too much. The first time I good thing to make it ten yards! Also, watched a football game with a (very) poking your neighbor and asking them ex-boyfriend’s family, I was unaware just what in the world the commentator of certain etiquette rules that immedimeans by “horse collar” tackle (when ately came into effect when the Dallas obviously horse’s don’t even wear col- Cowboys were on the television screen lars!) is frowned upon. Especially when doing their running and tackling and said question is asked in the middle of throwing and catching (or sometimes a play. Really, why is each play so im- dropping, which apparently makes for portant anyway? There are only about colorful outbursts from fans, who are a zillion of them each inning-period- apparently very fickle and prone to quarter thing. turning on “their” team’s players at the n I have a short attention span. slightest provocation) and hopefully,
Registrar, please let me graduate.
In the nearly infinite wisdom, four years that has taken four I’ve spent at this months to comuniversity, I’ve plete my degree learned several audit and make things. One: don’t sure that I actulisten to anyally have all the thing they tell credits I need to you at orientagraduate. tion. Two: don’t For those of buy a meal plan you unfamiliar unless they force with the process, you to. Three: The a degree audit student center is what you fill Jamie Monroe computer lab will out at the end of For the Wichitan always be filled your junior year with people on to tell the univerMyspace, so don’t try to do ac- sity, “Hey, this is what I’ve taken, tual work there. what I still lack, and what I’m And four: expecting anything going to take to graduate.” They less than frustration and terrible don’t bother looking at this until service from the registrar is ex- you file for graduation, at which pecting too much. point they’re supposed to comb I promise I’m not just whining through and make sure you can because they charge three dollars actually graduate. to send a fax and I’m bitter. I’m This year, as per usual, the regwhining because they genuinely istrar dropped the ball. Many suck. May grads, including myself, are I’ve been fighting with this still waiting for their degree audepartment since the day I ar- dits, that last checkpoint before rived at Midwestern. we’re free to go into the world. I had to have my high school But there’s a tiny problem with transcripts couriered to meet this. When you reach your last regular registration, because the semester of college, it’s a little registrar “never received” them- late to go back and add courses either of the three times I paid you might need. And having to to have them sent. do that is beyond the point of I danced the same stupid acceptable frustration. dance anytime I needed a tranI applied for graduation on script, test scores, or an override. I Oct. 12. I received an e-mail on handed my stamped, signed, and Nov. 30 confirming my applicasanctified schedule over, listened tion was received, and stating to the lady call my advisor and that, “depending on how many double-check, as if I just made students have applied, you will it all up that I’d actually advised. receive your audit anywhere from Then I patiently went back to get four weeks to several months five more signatures. All of this, from the time of application.” without a lot of complaining on In what business, anywhere in my part. the world, would that be acceptBut here’s the thing. Every able? If I told my editor, “Sure, year, I hand over a check for I’ll have that story to you anyseveral thousand dollars to this where from four weeks to several university. I pay ridiculous fees months from now,” I’m sure it’d for services I have never, and will go over just swimmingly. never use. It’s not a huge deal. If you are just so swamped All universities have rude peo- that it takes you several months ple on staff, all universities lose to look at a piece of paper, sign paperwork, and all universities it, and send it back, then maybe have aspects about them that are you need to hire someone else to frustrating to deal with. help. It is not my fault that you But now I’m trying to gradu- can’t manage to get your work ate, and the Registrar, in all their done on time.
scoring. Apparently, you’re not allowed to speak to anyone. You’re especially not allowed to speak to anyone about things that do not involve football. Said ex-boyfriend informed me after the game was over and we had left his grandparents’ house: “You’re not supposed to talk so much. You know, when the Cowboys are playing.” The problem is, I have this compulsion to try and make interesting conversation when things are painfully, mind-numbingly boring. Usually this isn’t a problem, but in this situation my definition of boring is waaaaaay off from what is generally accepted. n You can’t watch anything else on TV. When there are “big games” to show, it’s generally a rule that any good programs are in reruns. If they’re not in reruns, you’re probably in a location where changing the channel would give you the opportunity to know just what it feels like when those players get tackled, only without the pads. There are good things about football though! For one, it’s acceptable to drink lots of beer on game days. It’s funny to watch the girls who are trying to impress a new boyfriend/date pretend they like/get football (yes, I know some of you DO like football. You girls know the ones I’m talking about. You know, constantly watching their significant other’s facial expressions for signals that they should be happy or sad or angry, and eagerly repeating his comments about the game. For example: “You’re right! The decision to punt really was the right one. There was no way they
were going to make that fourth down!) Also, people yell amusing things. Like, it’s perfectly acceptable to yell “HE’S GONNA GO ALL THE WAY!” or “SACK, SACK, SACK, SACK!” It’s also a-okay for grown men to hug perfect strangers in public when the ‘Boys win a playoff game. (It is also apparently allowed for them to cry in the same situation. It’s like a free “I-won’t-beat-you-up-or-call-youa-‘pansy’-but-in-a-more-derogatoryand-obscene-way” pass). The best part, though? Apparently when you’re watching football it’s actually encouraged to ridicule , emasculate, heckle, call into question the presence of certain features of male anatomy, and even threaten the life of people who, in the real world, could beat you to within an inch of your life using only their pinky finger. It seems as though football, despite its slow pace, rules that don’t (seem to) make sense, and plethora of felonyconvicted players is actually somewhat of a healthy outlet for emotions. It’s like unofficial and certainly non-medically-approved group therapy! Fans cheer together, get angry together, cry together, celebrate together. Sometimes they even just hang out and get drunk together. And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that. Just don’t expect me to stay quiet and remember the rules.
Hagy.....................continued from page 1
MSU police chief Michael Hagy will be leaving law enforcement behind at the end of January to try his hand at retirement. (Photo by: Julia Raymond)
Then his mom found out. “Mom said, ‘Why do you feel the need to defend everybody?’” Hagy recollected. “I said, ‘I don’t know.’” “It’s just the way I was. It’s who I am, my makeup,” said Hagy, who reflects on his own small stature as a high school student – 4-foot, eleven inches and 95 pounds. On many occasions, he personally knew what it was like to be the little guy. On Jan. 31, after 30 years of defending the defenseless and 10 years as MSU police chief, Hagy will take off his badge and put away his gun. Law enforcement, he said, has taken a toll on him. “Now I feel worn out and beat up,” he said with a laugh. “I can feel stress in my life.” Hagy, 50, finds certain things in his life non-negotiable. Among them are his health and family. “Sometimes people leave because they are run off. Sometimes people leave because they are unhappy. That’s not me. I feel very blessed. I love my job.” Before coming to MSU in 1999 he worked at UT San Antonio. There, he dealt with typical problems along with a murder-suicide. Hagy rapped his knuckles on his desk, saying he hopes he can leave office without working a major crime here. Looking to the future, Hagy said, “It’s time to set some other goals, expand my knowledge, become a more rounded person,” he said. He said he may dip his hand into the real estate business, try substitute teaching, starting his own business or get involved in athletics. “I love athletics. I may do some umpiring, some officiating, refereeing.” Typical retirement activities such as hunting and fishing never appealed to Hagy. “I think if I were going to do some hunting I’d put on my moccasins and get a bow and arrow and track a deer,” he said. “Or, put my Davey Crockett hat on and get my Jim Bowie knife and go out and fight a bear, give the animal a chance.” Right off, though, he’s going to look forward to spending time with his children, one a fifth-grader, the other a high school junior. “Retirement is going to be good for me,” he said.
BEWARE...............................................................................................continued from page 1 According to Horton, the company says they’ll return students’ money, but hasn’t seen any evidence that it does. “Students are always looking for funding,” Horton said. “When they promise that they can get you money, people believe it because they see dollar signs.” She said the company leads its customers to believe it’s affiliated with MSU, even though there is no official association. Currently College Financial Advisory has 31 complaints filed against it with the BBB, earning it an ‘F’ rating, Horton said. She also said scams like this one are not unusual around the beginning of a semester at public universities. This one was a bit of an anomaly, however, because of its late arrival. Most operations like this one hit around December or November, a time
when many students are seeking additional funding for school. She said one way to identify a scam company is if it asks for an upfront fee. “Most companies don’t ask for a down payment like that,” she said. “They usually give you advice that’s free.” She said the easiest way to check on a company is to call the BBB. “Always verify the source with the school and the BBB before giving money or information to anyone claiming to be providing financial aid or information about financial aid,” Horton said. College Financial Aid may consider itself to be a legitimate operation, said Sue Nelson, associate director of financial aid at MSU. Calling it a ‘scam-op’ could even be slanderous. “There’s a fine line between slander and just advising people with good info,” she
said. “We have to be careful.” Nelson said she does not know how many MSU students have given money to the operation. She said she received a handful of phone calls from students about the legitimacy of the company, but state law prohibits her from giving out their names. Of the scams, she said, this one may be a featherweight. “Fifty-nine dollars is the least that I have seen,” she said. She recounted experiences of companies that charge $800 or $900 for just filling out a student’s FAFSA form. Many of the companies target high school juniors and seniors. “There’s all kinds of stuff out there to trick people,” she said. Nelson reminded students that application for federal student aid is free.
4 n The Wichitan
campus briefs
news
january 27, 2010
n today: Retirement reception for Mike Hagy, Chief of Police in the CSC Kiowa at 2p.m. Movie showing: American Violet in the CSC Shawnee at 8 p.m. n tHURSDAY: Part-time job/volunteer fair in the CSC at noon Movie showing: American Violet in the CSC Shawnee at 7 p.m. n FRIDAY: Retrement reception for Sherry Kingcade in the CSC Kiowa at 2 p.m. n Monday: Student payment deadline for courses
Artist Lecture Series: Dr. Richard Heinzl in Akin Auditorium at 7 p.m. n tuesday: Athletic luncheon at the Museum of Art at MSU at noon Faculty Forum series: Dr. Laura C. Spiller in the CSC Shawnee at 7 p.m. BUYBACK..continued from pg. 1 “I would lend, not sell, my books to other students because I would like someone to return the favor,” Warner said. Kapila Soysa, junior computer science major, said the MSU Bookstore offered him $1 for one of his textbooks. He said he did not sell it. Instead he kept it as a reference book and only sells his textbooks for core classes. “I usually sell my books to friends who will be doing the course,” Soysa said. “I sell for what I saved by not buying the book at the bookstore.” Sandy Daniel-Wilkin, senior accounting major, said she created an account on amazon. com to sell her books. “I hold my books until the prices for them go up, then I sell,” she said. This approach is more profitable than reselling her books to the bookstore, Wilkin said. “I sell my books online or to friends who will have to take the same classes,” Amaka Oguchi, sophomore respiratory care major, said. “I go online and sell books for prices that are online.” According to Oguchi, this prevents her friends from buying online, since shipping will be added to the cost of the books. Jamir Claxton, sophomore kinesiology major, says he sells his books back to the MSU Bookstore or to other students who plan to take the courses. “If the student is close to me, I give him or her a good discount,” he said. “To other people, I’d sell the books for the original cost or a little less. “My friends and I exchange,” Calesha John, senior accounting major, said. She said she plans to trade again at the end of the semester. Carolyn Telesford, senior theatre major, said she basically trades textbooks with other theatre majors. “If, in advance, someone asks me if I did a subject, I let them use the book than sell it after,” Telesford said. She also said she normally buys her books at the College Store. “The MSU Bookstore is a last resort,” she said. “ It’s way too expensive.” Jenny Denning, manager of the MSU Bookstore, said the best time to sell books back is before finals. Students are usually offered half the price they paid for the book. There is, however, a quantity of books the store needs in stock, she said. This quantity is determined by how many course sections will require the book. “Sometimes it’s $0,” Denning said. Professors may decide a book is no longer required, but recommended. In that case, the required quantity of that book would probably decrease, Denning said. This may be another reason a student isn’t offered much for a particular book. The MSU Bookstore employees are trained to give students as much information as possible regarding selling back books, she said. “Buybacks cut back around graduation day,” Denning said.
(Clockwise from top) Haitians fight for supplies in Port-au-Prince; City streets are reduced to rubble in the island’s capital (Photos by MCT); Melissa Echols gives blood on Tuesday. The Red Cross came to MSU to collect donations to send to Haiti.
HAITI................................................................................................................................continued from page 1 there,” he said. “It’s still home to me.” Haiti is still home to his siblings, as well. His two younger brothers, Rony and Berthony, still live at the orphanage north of Port-au-Prince. Both of them are safe. It was six days after the earthquake struck when he was finally able to contact one of them via telephone. “He said: ‘I’m alive.’” Thony said. “God protected him. He knows how much I love him and he was very happy to talk to me.” As far as the rest of his family is concerned, there is still uncertainty. “For so long, I couldn’t reach any of them,” he said. “I knew one of my sisters was living in Port-au-Prince. I heard she’s okay, but she lost her home.” While he says life has never been easy in Haiti, he remembers a time when things were better, at least for his family. “When I was growing up, I had both my parents, my mom and dad, so life was okay,” he said. “It was not great, but it was okay.” But Thony’s childhood was cut short when his parents died. He was 13 years old. “They were sick,” Thony said, but he doesn’t know what caused them to fall ill. “My mom was sick for about three months in the hospital.” Once his mother was gone, Thony and his two younger brothers were alone. “It was tough,” he said. “I don’t even know how to describe it to you today. For my age, it was way too much for me to handle by myself.” The boys continued to live in the home their mother owned. The house was another casualty of the earthquake. “It was our property, but now it’s gone,” Thony said. “It’s no longer there any more and that makes me kind of sad.” Thony believes that in a way, his mother protected him and his brothers even after her death. “My mom, when she was alive, she was such a good woman to people in my village,” he said. “She helped people all the time, so these people were able to help me whenever they could.” Still, the boys’ prospects were bleak until they were able to go to Mission of Hope, a Christian mission near Port-au-Prince. “It has a school of about 1,200 students, a hospital, an orphanage and a church with about 600 members,” Thony said. “That’s where I spent about seven or eight years, from the time I was 15 to 22.” The mission did provide hope for the orphaned boys. “In the mission I had food, clean water and electricity,” Thony said. “Life was pretty much good.” And, he added, “I had my brothers.” It was through Mission of Hope that Thony was able to find a way to the U.S. “When I was at the mission, my first job was as a translator. I was an interpreter for Americans whenever they would come to Haiti,” he said. “I happened to meet one of the doctors that came to Haiti. He found out I was a smart young man, and he said he would support me. He paid for me to go to a private high school in
Haiti and for me to be here today.” Thony said this doctor is still supporting him today. His good fortune in coming to the U.S. has put him in a position where his friends and family in Haiti think he can help them more than he is able. “One of my friends in Haiti called me,” Thony said. “He had to go to the top of a mountain just to get some kind of service. He said people had died in the village; people lost their homes. He lost his home and he can’t go to school any more. I’m going to help him with what I can by the end of this month.” But the help he can give doesn’t always seem like enough to those in his home country. “If you live in the U.S., people in Haiti think you have a different life,” he said. “They think you can help them at any time. They expect me to help them. I tell them: ‘I pray for you.’ I can’t really help them but I refer them to Mission of Hope. They might not have the supplies to provide for them, but at least they’re going to try. They might get selected to benefit.” For those who can give aid, Thony urges them to do so, but not to overstretch themselves. “You help with what you have,” he said. “You can help by praying. You can help by telling people you know how they can help. Don’t go beyond your budget. Just give whatever you can. Pray for Haiti, pray that some other countries give more help.” Thony said that it’s very hard being far from his home and family when they are suffering so much from this disaster, but he knows he can’t go home yet. “I would love to go back today,” he said. “But I have to go to school today.” Even though the life in Haiti is a hard one, Thony plans to return to his home country after he gets his master’s degree.
“I really want to go back to Haiti,” he said. “With a master’s degree, I can work in the government. I can work at Mission of Hope. My help will be used in Haiti. I can do so much more in Haiti than I could do here in the states.” In the meantime, Thony is praying. “In my prayers, I give thanksgiving to God for protecting Haiti because I believe it could be worse,” Thony said. “I pray that God will give blessings to Haiti. I’m praying for the people who are helping Haiti. I’m praying that God heals the country.”
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january 27, 2010
The Wichitan n 5
Bringing Back Britain Photography students display images captured during the British Studies Program Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor
In the hustle and bustle of Great Britain’s popular city London, eight Midwestern State University students captured the city and its’ people, on more than just their cameras. An exhibition of the student
works entitled, British Studies Photography 2009, will be displayed in the Foyer Gallery Jan. 22 through Feb. 19. The photographs taken by the students who were enrolled in “Photography in Great Britain,” were a part of MSU’s British
Studies Program in the summer of 2009. The students came from two universities, eight from MSU and one from New Mexico State University. As partial fulfillment of their requirement for the class, the students had to produce a portfolio of 20 images and a
Eight MSU students attended the Photography in Great Britain course, a part of the British Studies Program last summer. (Photo Courtesy)
photographic book. The images displayed in the Foyer Gallery are only a small portion of the photographic images these students made. Each student is represented in this exhibition by a self-portrait made at the Wildfire Studio in London. Junior Joscelyn Rogers, an early childhood education major, attended the trip, enjoying every minute in this distant destination. For Rogers’ self-portrait, she posed under an umbrella, which was a bit ironic because it is always raining in Britain, she recalled. “The self-portraits were lots of fun and I had several to choose from. The one I ended up with was just a fun picture that let me show of my goofy side,” she said. The class visited important institutions such as the Tate Museum, the Victoria and Albert
Museum, The London Times, and the Getty Collection. At each of these sites, the photography class listened to lectures by curators and participated in informal discussions. The students also spent several days at Stonehenge, Salisbury, Lacock Abbey, and Bath, England, taking photographs and exploring each remarkable landmark. The students also had a fiveday travel period to explore Great Britain or Europe. The photography students collectively made their way through Paris, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Dublin, Edinburgh, and Rome. A total of 83 students were involved last year in the British Studies Program. “I learned that even though we live thousand miles away, and have different cultural ideas, we all still want the same thing,” Rogers said. “To live life to the fullest, and enjoy every minute. In all we might be different
nationalities, but we really aren’t that different.” Rogers considered the experience to be eye opening, especially to the culture and lifestyles of the British people. Rogers was one of the eight MSU students to attend the photography class. Others included Lauryn Buck, Farzana Chowdhury, Kerri Carter, Carrie Grewing, Ernestina Toral, Chance Gibbs and Valeria Porta. Despite spending ample time in class and around Great Britain, Rogers also gained a priceless experience during her stay abroad. “The best part about Britain was that there was always something to do,” she said. “It was simple to jump on the tube and be in downtown London and watch a show, go dancing or just experience the crazy fashions. It was a great experience I’ll never forget.”
‘Blue Collar’ comedian to perform at MPEC Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor
(Left) Junior Joscelyn Rogers will display her self portrait and photo of candles she took in London. (Right) Valeria Porta’s self portrait and photo entitled “Dolled Up” will hang in the Foyer Gallery. (Photo Courtesy)
Get your fill of tater salad this Friday at Memorial Auditorium when comedian Ron “Tater Salad” White performs his stand up act, Behavioral Problems. This one night event will hit off at 7:30 and is sure to be filled with blue-collar humor and a few drunken tales. White, who usually has a glass of scotch in one hand and a cigar in the other, is best known from his role in Blue Collar Comedy Tour, but individually has made a name for himself with two Grammy nominations, a Gold Record and a book that appeared on the New York Times Best Seller List. White began his career as a struggling comedian bouncing around to comedy clubs and driving to gigs in his beat-up Nissan pickup truck. Now, this Texas native is selling out theaters and arenas with his hilarious bits about his dog and his drunk in public experiences. However he really hit it big in January 2000 when White performed with Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall and Larry the Cable Guy in the highly acclaimed Blue Collar Comedy Tour, a show that sold out arenas and theaters in over 90 cities and grossed over $15 million through March 2003. It was in 2003 that White’s CD Drunk in Public was released on the Hip-O label. Two feature films and two albums for the Blue Collar troupe also appeared, but White would be the only member of the group to not participate in the Blue Collar TV
Ron White will perform at Memorial Auditorium Friday at 7:30 p.m. (Photo Courtesy)
series. Instead, he kept a busy schedule as a solo act, starred in the short-lived variety television series The Ron White Show in 2005, and released the CD You Can’t Fix Stupid on the Image label in 2006. The album wound up being nominated for a Grammy (Best Comedy Album), alongside Blue Collar’s One for the Road.
In 2009 he moved to the Capitol label and released Behavioral Problems, the act White will perform to avid Wichita Falls fans Friday evening. Tickets are still available at www.wfmpec.com. “I believe if life gives you lemons make lemonade…then find someone that life gave vodka to and have a party.”
a&e
6 n The Wichitan
january 27, 2010
actors wanted:
nGentlemen prefer Blondes: AN ENTERTAINMENT COLUMN
NBC: Who’s running this network? I’m with CoCo. That said, this column is not going to discuss the recent late-night wars between Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno. Instead, I’d like to rail on NBC, the network that made it all possible. However, if you’ve been living under a rock for the past two weeks, I”ll try and briefly sum up what’s happened, for context. NBC decided to promote Late Night host Conan O’Brien to The Tonight Show. NBC also (stupidly) decided to give former Tonight host Jay Leno a primetime variety hour, because current TV trends show that viewers just looove variety shows and there is definitely an underserved market. Or not. Long story short: Leno’s primetime show unsurprisingly tanks and NBC cancels the variety hour, but decides to cut Leno’s show by half an hour and move him back to the Tonight timeslot at 11:35, bumping the entire late-night lineup back by 30 minutes. Essentially, Leno would bump The Tonight Show into tomorrow, so Conan said ‘no’ to the deal, and stuck it to the man.
Jamie Monroe Advertising Manager The iconic words of Office Space’s Michael Bolton sum it up best: “Why should I change? He’s the one who sucks.” A concept that NBC, and NBC CEO Jeff Zucker, have failed to grasp. It makes perfect sense to any rational person. Leno was miserable in primetime. So what’s a CEO to do when L.A. and New York, the nation’s top news markets, lose almost half their viewers because of Leno’s pathetic lead-in, and affiliates get hostile? Fire Leno and his chin, cut your losses, and move on. You don’t rearrange your nightly lineup to accommodate an aging host that, frankly, sucked.
This whole debacle has been a nightmare for NBC, a network that was already fourth in the ratings, coming in only slightly higher than the CW. You know, the CW. That one network that has Mischa Barton on it or something. The sad thing is, NBC used to be number one. In the 90‘s, NBC held shows such as ER, Frasier, Friends, Mad About You, and Will & Grace. College kids,white people,people that like to watch shows about gay people- NBC had a show for just about everyone. The network boasted its programming was “Must See TV,” and for the most part, ratings and viewers backed the idea. Now, let’s take a look at more recent programming. Heroes is pretty much the worst show ever. I’m sorry to the three Heroes fans left, but it’s terrible, ridden with plotholes and bad writing, and you should switch to something less embarrassing, like any VH1 dating show. Saturday Night Live is slightly less terrible, but is generally painfully awkward to watch and intermittently punctuated with a couple of jokes per episode. Parks and Recreation, 30 Rock, and Community are moderately
funny, but they’re driven by their casts- ironically, most of them people who used to be on SNL when it was funny. NBC’s one good show- the only show I tune in to (or hulu, let’s be honest) religiously is The Office. Even it has floundered for laughs latelyand this week, it committed the most unforgivable of all the TV sins. A clip show. An awkward, thrown together, overly promoted clip show. On a week Conan effectively pantsed the network on-air, Leno became the most unlikable everyman, and The Jersey Shore aired its emotional and evocative reunion episode- NBC aired a clip show. Jeff Zucker, if you have any common sense or decency, step down. I know you’re essentially tenured, you’re making millions of dollars even as your network gasps for breath, and you’re God’s gift to television programming... in your mind. But, if you keep on the way you’re going, there may not be a network left for you to destroy. And it’ll be far too late by the time you finally man up and admit that.
n Friday:
auditions for the 2010 student-produced festival of one-act plays: open auditions will be held for the four dark comedies being produced, 8 male roles and 7 female roles needed, fain fine arts center theatre. 4:00 p.m.
n saturday:
auditions for the 2010 student-produced festival of one-act plays: open auditions will be held for the four dark comedies being produced, fain fine arts center theatre. 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Denzel Washington stars as Eli, a mysterous man who walks through deserted towns, protecting the last remaining Bible. (Photo Courtesy)
‘The Book of Eli’ enlightens viewers Josh Hoggard Sports Editor
(Left) Saoirse Ronan stars as Susie Salmon, a girl who watches as her father tries to put together the pieces of her murder. (Right) Mark Wahlberg plays Susie’s father, who is desperately trying to avenge his daughter’s death. (Below) The novel was released in 2002, written by Alice Sebold. (Photo Courtesy)
‘Lovely Bones’ not so lovely Cora Kuykendall For the Wichitan
The Lovely Bones was a novel released in 2002 by Alice Sebold that was recently transformed into a major motion picture by director Peter Jackson. The Lovely Bones is about a fourteen-year-old girl, Susie Salmon, who was murdered and is able to watch as others cope, move on and put together pieces of her murder while she is in limbo. In my opinion, I think this book should have been kept a book because I feel too much of the story was either lost or inaccurately portrayed. A side-note: if there were a division in the Olympics dedicated to complaining, I would have the gold medal, so of course I have complaints about the movie rendition of The Lovely Bones. My biggest complaint is the portrayal of heaven. Alice Sebold even says in the book that everyone has his or her own heaven because everyone has their own perception of what heaven will be like. Although Susie’s heaven is very accurately described in the book, it is still left to the reader’s imagination. The idea of what heaven will be like is portrayed to make Susie’s heaven become real in the viewers own mind. It seems to me, Peter Jackson just tried to use as much CGI and special effects possible to create a
heaven that we were never actually meant to see. It’s Susie Salmon’s heaven, not Peter Jackson’s. But now I’m getting into a sensitive topic for many, so I’ll move on. The actors and actresses chosen for the roles could not have been cast better. Susie was the perfect combination of beautiful and awkward, she was beautiful, but we could still believe she was an awkward fourteen-year-old girl. Mr. Harvey was just the right amount of creepy, and the parents of Susie were able to pull of the looks of average, middleaged parents who were lost and confused. However, in the book Mr. Harvey was described as your typical, single, hermit crab of a man, so I think he was in the movie too much. Not to say he was never written about in the book, but he was shown as a much more social character in the movie than he was in the novel. Despite his amount of on-screen time, significant stories about him were completely left out. In the book, Mr. Harvey is described as a man who keeps to himself, who sets alarms to close curtains and turn off lights so people don’t notice
his weird living habits. A significant part of the book that was left completely unmentioned was Mrs. Salmon and the police detective’s affair, as well as the reasoning behind how and why Ray Singh and Ruth Conners have such an important friendship, which is a major issue in the novel. My final complaint is the themes and morals of the book and movie are different. As a society we hate not having closure, and we hate having to watch characters we grow to love not get avenged and just simply have to move on, but that is exactly what the book is based on, moving on with life. However, in the book, Sebold gives off a completely different vibe than Jackson did with the film. By no means was the movie a bad one. But, since I have read the book all I could concentrate on was how different my conception of the novel was from Jackson’s. My advice is to see the movie, and then read the book. No matter what, you will like the book, but if you want to like the movie too, watch it first.
In an effort to acquire the skilled killing abilities of Eli, this corrupt leader, ironically named Carnegie, tries to persuade the weary Eli with shelter, food, water and even a beautiful woman to fulfill his fantasies named Solara, played by Mila Kunis. Once Solara discovers the book Eli is carrying is actually the Bible, Carnegie sees an opportunity to persuade and control the illiterate people of this town by taking the book from Eli. Eli and Solara take off on a quest to outrun Carnegie and his goons that takes them on an epic journey across the barren American west. Considering the book Eli is carrying is the Bible, scripture is quoted often in this movie. The mission Eli is on is a mission from God. The religious undertone of this movie adds to its intensity, as well as opens up the viewing audience. Christians wishing to view this movie will not be disappointed with its point, and nonChristians will not feel forced to believe anything they do not
want to believe in. The Hughes brothers and the writers of the film are careful to keep the point of the movie centered on a quest from God while still not being a typical “Christian” movie. This movie is not a Christian film. From the first frame of the film, viewers will catch a glimpse of directors Albert and Allen Hughes’ artistic vision for the dead Earth. Artistic visions can be found in every single shot of this film. The silhouette fight scene is a prime example of the amazing creative visions held by the Hughes brothers. Speaking of fight scenes, The Book of Eli contains some of the best fight scenes of modern cinema. Wielding hardly more than his awesome knife, Eli has no problem ending lives that stand in his way of carrying out his mission, and doing it with grace and raw brutality. In a post-apocalyptic world of stagnant chick flicks and cookie-cutter action films, The Book of Eli shines a light of hope to moviegoers. Finally, with the release of The Book of Eli, there is a film worth the eight-dollar ticket.
In a dark barren forest, an ominous green light exposes a corpse. As the camera pans across the body, a withered, malnourished cat smells what could be long desired food. Thinking he is alone, the cat begins to take a bite. As soon as it begins to eat, a masked man pulls back his bow and lets an arrow fly. It hits the cat and sends him flying. Eli has found himself a meal. Thus begins the post-apocalyptic The Book of Eli. The world as we know it is dead. A once lush, beautiful planet teeming with life is now a barren desert wasteland. How did it get that way? War. Books, lighters and self-cleaning items are now as rare as diamonds. A nuclear explosion caused several people of the world to go blind. Since books have been out of the picture for such a long time, many people born after the war are illiterate. Eli, played by Denzel Washington, is a bearded, weary traveler, who feels called by a voice to “head west”. He carries with him an old, worn down iPod, an incredibly large, sharp knife, and a giant book, which remains a mystery for the first half of the film. After fighting his way into a dismembered town resembling one that would be in an old western movie, Eli finds himself mixed up with a corrupt political town leader, played by Gary Mila Kunis teams up with Denzel Washington and together they journey across Oldman. the barren Earth, trying to stay alive. (Photo Courtesy)
january 27, 2010
feature
The Wichitan n 7
Not just blowing e k o m s
Student stands up against MSU’s new tobacco taboo with proposed alternative
Sound Off
MIchelle Pissiot tano Senior
Chris Collins Editor
According to his poll, only 27 percent of students would Sometimes change comes tell another student who was quickly at MSU. smoking to stop and only 20 This campus-wide smokpercent of respondents said ing ban, approved by the they would stop if somebody Board of Regents this sumasked them to. mer and enacted at the begin“Even students who do ning of Jan. 1, is already under not want to allow smoking fire. The ban is peer-enforced on campus may not necessarand there is no punishment ily have the courage, time, or for breaking the rule. willpower to tell a smoker to Cameron Shaffer, a senior stop,” Shaffer said. “We should double majoring in internabe healthy and well, but it’s not tional studies and political up to the university to decide science, has written a new what’s healthy and well.” proposal – one which may One main difference beignite another hot campus tween the current policy and debate. Shaffer’s proposal is the puni“I see this as an improvetive aspect. While the current ment on the current ban, plan holds no real punishment not a replacement,” he said. warning students of the newly instated tobacco ban, students for rule-breakers, Shaffer’s “Right now we have an in- (above) can still be seen lighting up all over campus. (Photos by: will. effective policy that crosses Julia Raymond) He said he thinks a $10 legal and ethical boundaries ticket for smoking outside the without accomplishing its goal.” nated smoking areas. designated areas is fair, or a student can Shaffer’s plan aims to allow tobacco use in According to the poll, 85 percent of stu- opt to pick up butts for an hour. designated areas 25 feet from doorways – or dents who support allowing smoking on “We need to put some teeth to the enelse. campus approve of designated smoking ar- forcement,” he said. Shaffer, a non-smoker, said he presented eas, and 71 percent of all students approve Shaffer said he is working with the his plan to the Student Government Asso- of this idea. Honor Bound Conservatives and MSU ciation Monday. It will be discussed at the “A majority of students, regardless of Democrats, as well as the SGA, on the meeting Feb. 2. their attitude on smoking, supported the project. He hopes to bring it to a vote this The new proposal hinges on his findings idea of designated smoking areas,” Shaffer semester. that most students don’t agree with the cur- said. “This shows willingness to compromise Dr. Joey Greenwood, director of the rent smoking policy, nor do they think they from all sides. If the administration wants Wellness Center, said he hasn’t heard any had enough say in the decision, Shaffer said. to enact a policy that better reflects the stu- complaints about the current policy. But he’s not just blowing smoke – as part dent body’s attitude on smoking, designated Greenwood, who spearheaded the proof a project for Dr. Jeremy Duff ’s public smoking areas would be their best bet.” posal to make MSU a non-smoking camopinion course last semester, Shaffer wrote Shaffer’s plan aims to create smoking areas pus, said he held two tobacco cessation and conducted a poll to gauge student atti- 25 feet from entryways. The ashtrays should courses last semester. About fifteen people tudes on the subject. be 25 feet from the door too, he said. have attended, he said. He said he used three different sampling He said he thinks the current plan is po“I would prefer a tobacco-free campus,” techniques and counted 150 respondents for tentially dangerous, especially in the dorms. Greenwood said about Shaffer’s proposal. the survey. Shaffer, who is a resident assistant in Pierce “We had a 25-foot rule. Then it became The result: only 27 percent of students Hall, suspects more students are smoking in- the 20-foot rule, then the 5-foot rule, then think the current policy will be effective in side their rooms instead of going outside to 0 feet. People aren’t going to stand in the curbing campus smoking. light up. cold and heat to smoke.” “If MSU’s Board of Regents and admin“It’s a health hazard and a fire hazard,” he Dr. Keith Williamson, who also helped istration continue to adopt policies that are said. to usher in the current smoking policy, not approved by the student body and do not Another complaint Shaffer has with the said the effects of the ban may be difficult contain enough input from the student body, current bill is that it attempts to use peer to define. He said this is because MSU is tensions will begin to grow tight,” Shaffer pressure as a tool to curb smoking on campus. a tobacco-free island in a metropolitan said in his paper for Duff ’s class. He pointed out that the MSU Standards of area – one with the highest percentage of He said 61 percent of students said they Conduct forbid “intimidation, harassment, smokers in the country. didn’t have enough voice in the policy threats, or coercion, which threaten or enThat aside, he has heard only good change. danger the health or safety of any person.” things about the policy. Shaffer said he thinks one of the main He said he feels that asking students to “The only feedback expressed to me has weaknesses in the original policy is that it’s regulate other student’s activities on campus been favorable and enthusiastic,” he said. a campus-wide ban and doesn’t utilize desig- is little more than “hazing.” managing
”I think the purpose of a tobacco-free campus is fo ra healthier ca mpus. But who am I to tell anybody else wha t to do, right ?
Branden Maddi ng Junior
“There should
be designate d smoking area s. A lot of people don’t smoke and smoke irritate s them.”
Ramon Allen Junior
“I do like the idea of a ban , but I don’t. I don’t like th e smell of smo ke – it nauseates me. They sho uld just have a smoking sec tion.”
sports
8 n The Wichitan
january 27, 2010
Number 10 Mustangs making history Mustang Leaders n Field goal percentage Charlie Logan - .663 (59/89) Rashad Austin - .551 (49/89) Michael Godwin - .533 (40/75) n 3-point percentage Adrian Van Buren - .464 (26/56) Chris Hagan - .374 (34/91) Anthony Moore - .318 (7/22) n free throw percentage Craig Green - .859 (61/71) Jason Ebie - .817 (49/60) Adrian Van Buren - .742 (23/31) n Points Per game Craig Green - 14.9 (254 total) Chris Hagan - 14.1 (239 total) Jason Ebie - 10.8 (184 total) n rebounds Anthony Moore - 87 Rashad Austin - 84 Charlie Logan - 84 n Assists Chris Hagan - 81 Jason Ebie - 80 Adrian Van Buren - 43 Top Left: Mustangs get hyped up before the game begins. Top Center: Mustangs move to set up their offense. Top Right: Jr. Jason Ebie shoots free throws. Bottom Left: Sr. Craig Green
sinks a jump shot. Bottom Right: Jr. Adrian Van Buren goes up for a three-point jumper against West Texas A&M. (Photos by: Julia Raymond and Kassie Bruton)
Mustangs win close one, 78-76 MSUMustangs.com For the Wichitan
Dome Magic is alive and kicking! In a neck-and-neck game full of lead changes and late foul trouble, the Mustangs managed to pull out a nail biter. Rashad Austin sank a pair of free throws with 1.7 seconds remaining to lift No. 10 Midwestern State to a 78-76 win to cool off Northeastern State Monday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The win gave the Mustangs their first-ever crossover sweep and kept their 21-game homecourt winning streak alive. Austin scrambled to control a miss by NSU’s Dominique Gaines with 1.7 seconds to go and was fouled in the scrum by Jesse Scroggins. The senior forward from Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. calmly sank both free throws to send the Mustangs to victory. Midwestern had much to overcome as the Mustangs were
without top defender Adrian Van Buren, who suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday night’s win at Eastern New Mexico. And Northeastern State came out blazing as the Riverhawks canned 12 3-pointers and led by eight points when Marlon Burnett hit a pair of free throws to give them a 68-60 lead with 5:49 to play. But Austin sparked a quick 7-0 run with a traditional threepoint play before Michael Godwin converted a Jason Ebie steal into a layup. Austin then capped the run by converted a nice feed from Chris Hagan to pull MSU within 68-67 just a minute later. The Mustangs finally overtook Northeastern State on a Charlie Logan layup with 2:36 to play, but the exchanged buckets before Jason Jones tied the game for the 10th time on a turn around jumper with 58 seconds to play to pull NSU even at 7676. The score remained tied un-
til Austin connected on two free throws for the win. Godwin completed a doubledouble off of the bench with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while Austin added 12 more in a reserve role. Senior guard Craig Green had 14 points and five assists, while Hagan added 13 points and five assists. Starters Anthony Moore (4 points, 14 rebounds, 4 assists) and Jason Ebie (4 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 steals) also added solid all-around performances for the Mustangs. The RiverHawks were paced by junior guard Dominique Gaines’ 27-point performance, while Jones finished with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Midwestern State plays host to Texas A&M-Kingsville Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. or 25 minutes after the women’s game which begins at 6. The RiverHawks, who had their seven-game winning streak
snapped, fell to 13-6. Perhaps even more exciting than the win Monday night is what is happening with our Mustangs... They’re making history. Midwestern State became just the seventh team in the 77-year history of the Lone Star Conference to win its first 14 games of the season. The start, which was the best in school history, was the third longest streak amongst the league’s current membership as West Texas A&M and Northeastern State opened the season with 15-straight wins during the 1997-98 and 2001-02 seasons, repsectively. The players are led by head coach Grand McCasland, firstyear head coach of the Mustangs that lead Midland college to a NJCAA Championship in 2007 with a five-year .817 winning percentage. With this win, the Mustangs improve to 17-1 on the season and 3-1 in conference play.
n Steals Jason Ebie - 48 Chris Hagan - 42 Chris Green - 31 n Blocked shots Rashad Austin - 29 Charlie Logan - 23 Michael Godwin - 10
LCS Rankings scoring offense - 3rd Scoring defense - 6th Field Goal Percentage - 3rd Field Goal Defense - 6th 3-Point Percentage - 5th 3-Point Defense - 2nd 3-point Goals Made - 7th Free throw percentage - 1st Rebounding offense - 8th Rebounding defense - 7th Rebounding Margin - 8th Offensive rebounds - 7th Defensive Rebounds - 10th Assists - 2nd Turnover margin - 1st Assist/Turnover Ratio - 2nd Blocks - 1st Steals - 1st *all stats as of 1/23/10
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422
Number of community service hours performed by MSU athletes during the fall sememster.
* Free Wi-Fi
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january 27, 2010
The Stage Is Set!
The Wichitan n 9
Lady Mustangs fall MSUMustangs.com For the Wichitan
The Eastern New Mexico Zias arrived at a place it rarely experiences in Saturday night’s Lone Star Conference South Division contest - the win column. ENMU hit five 3-pointers in the second half to pull away from Midwestern State 70-56 at Greyhound Arena. Junior forward Cat Clay connected on five of the Zias’ eight treys to finish with a game-high 17 points as ENMU claimed its first divisional win since beating MSU in the final contest of the 2007-08 season. Midwestern State claimed its last lead of the game when Cierra Thompson hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to give the Mustangs a 12-11 lead with 10:02 left in the opening half. But the Zias outscored MSU 14-5 over the next five minutes to build a 25-17 advantage when Til-Lois Fifer hit one of two free throws with 5:18 to go in the
opening half. ENMU maintained the same lead into the half, then led by as many as 16 points in the second half. Fifer finished with 16 points and nine rebounds, while junior center Kara Bible dropped in a season-high 14 points and pulled in six rebounds. Junior guard Tori Northcutt completed a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. The Mustangs placed two players in double figures led by junior forward Aqueelah Watkins who had 12 points and eight rebounds, while Thompson finished with 10 points of her own. Savannah Carver (five rebounds), Nolisha Markham (nine rebounds) and Jazman Patterson (five rebounds) finished with nine points eash. Midwestern State (6-10, 0-3) plays host to Texas A&M-Kingsville tonight at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
Favre forecast cloudy Chip Scoggins MCT
Peyton Manning (left) and the Colts take on Drew Brees (right) and the Saints in Super Bowl (Photos courtesy: MCT)
Saints to face Colts in Super Bowl XLIV Josh Hoggard Sports Editor A more perfect story could not be written. It’s too perfect to be staged or scripted. The New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts will face off in Miami for Super Bowl 44 on Sunday, February 7. Both teams were the number one seed in their respective divisions, Colts in the AFC, Saints in the NFC. Both teams were on the verge of perfect seasons after Week 14. The Saints lost their last three in lackluster games and the Colts benched their starters in the last two games. And, after what proved to be an entertaining season with a mediocre playoff story, the number one seeds are meeting for the title of World Champion for the first time since 1993. For the Saints, it is a sigh of relief. They finally made it. Since Katrina hit New Orleans, the Saints have been the Cinderella team.
Everyone wants to see New Orleans win one. And, for four years, they’ve come so close to making it to the big game, but haven’t quite done it. Their city has rallied behind them, and for the first time in franchise history, the Saints are going to the Super Bowl. The Saints are the Aints no more. For the Colts, however, this is no foreign land. Manning is a four-time MVP, with more playoff wins than most quarterbacks in NFL history. The Colts, as a franchise, have been to four Super Bowls. They even have won a Super Bowl with Peyton Manning in 2006. All three previous Super Bowl apperances were in the same place. Miami. Where this year’s Super Bowl is being held. So, we have a classic battle. The “rookies” versus the “veterans”, if you will.
And just in case there wasn’t enough irony surronding this Super Bowl already, guess who was a key player in establishing the Saints as a notable franchise? Archie Manning. Peyton’s dad. Fiction authors can’t write stories this good. The Saints made it through the NFC Championship in exciting style. Facing the legendary Brett Favre and the red hot Minnesota Vikings Sunday night, the Saints found themselves neck and neck throughout the game. The game was too close to call in regulation, so it went to overtime. Thanks to five Minnesota turnovers, one proving to be the game-winning interception in overtime, the Saints won the game with a field goal in OT, beating the Vikings 31-28. For the Colts, the story was looking pretty similar in the first half. The Colts took on the underdog New York Jets in the AFC Championship. The Jets, seemingly coming out of nowhere, brought their power running attack and topranked defense. With two minutes left in the first half, the Jets had a 17-6 advantage. From that point on, however, Manning took the game over. Throwing three flawless drives, the Colts took the AFC
Championship decisively, beating the Jets 30-17. This game promises to be one of the highest scoring Super Bowls in history. Both teams bring top-rated quarterbacks, a talented package of recievers, average running games and above-average, but not great defenses. In other words, a recipe for a shootout. Each team also brings a plethora of Pro-Bowlers that now can’t play. Each team had seven players selected for the Pro Bowl, all of which can now no longer compete in the contest. But, with the choice between the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl, that’s not that hard of a choice. With the issue and controversy surrounding the move of the Pro Bowl to the week before the Super Bowl as opposed to the week after, like it’s always been, the fact that these fourteen players can’t play in it is more of a relief than anything. There have been some exciting games in Super Bowl history. From nail biters to blow-outs, it has always been an exciting game to watch. This year’s match up of two high-flying offenses proves to be that and more. And, don’t forget about the awesome commercials. The Big Game airs on Sunday, February 7, at 5 on CBS.
Fighting off tears that welled in his eyes and dealing with a sprained left ankle, Brett Favre stood at a podium inside the Superdome on Sunday night and made no promises about what the future may hold. The Vikings’ painful 31-28 overtime loss to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC title game less than an hour old, Favre said he did not expect to take long to make a decision about whether he will return for a 20th season. Favre signed a two-year contract when he ended his second consecutive attempt at retirement last August in order to join the Vikings. “I wouldn’t say months,” Favre said when asked for a timetable. “I know people are rolling their eyes or will roll their eyes. In a situation like this, I really don’t want to make a decision right now based on what’s happened, because I do know the year could not have gone any better aside from us not going to Miami. “I really enjoyed it, to be honest. Just wondering if I can hold up, especially after a day like today. Physically and mentally. That was pretty draining. I am going to go home, (take) a couple of days and just talk it over with the family.” Favre’s first season with the Vikings ended just like his last season with the Packers: with an extremely painful overtime loss in the NFC title game in which he threw a crucial interception. In January 2008, it was the Giants who kicked the winning field goal after picking off Favre in overtime. This time, Favre didn’t even have the chance to touch the ball in OT. However, he did throw two picks in regulation, including one with 19 seconds left in the fourth quarter, the Vikings at the Saints 38-yard line and the
score tied. Favre said he came to Minnesota to win a Super Bowl and made it clear that was still his goal. The problem is time is running out for a future Hall of Famer who will turn 41 next October. “I’d love to win the Super Bowl. Who wouldn’t?” Favre said. “Of course, I can’t print anything for you guys, but I know I’m going out on top one way or the other. I didn’t feel like I had anything to prove coming in, but if there were doubters out there maybe I served notice to them but my goal is to get to Miami, and obviously that’s not going to happen.” Favre said “yes” three times when asked if the season was a success. “It’s hard to even think about anything other than the loss,” Favre said. “I may wake up tomorrow and who knows?” Coach Brad Childress said he does not know if Favre will return, adding, “I told him to go home and lick your wounds and I’ll do the same and we’ll catch up down the road. Nobody wants to be rash about any decision-making, I’m sure, right now.” Favre completed 28 of 46 passes for 310 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions Sunday. He wasn’t sacked but he took a serious pounding, and he had to be helped off the field after throwing an interception late in the third quarter. “I knew when I got hit I felt my ankle - I can’t tell you how many times I’ve twisted my ankle or had it bent one way or the other,” he said. “That was one of those times where I knew if I were to come back I needed to come back right away. Because that’s one of those when you sit around for a little bit ... I won’t be able to move it tomorrow.”
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10 n The Wichitan
On Deck This Week... WEDNESDAY, JANuary 27 Basketball
*Women vs. Texas A&M Kingsville 6:00 PM
*Men vs. Texas A&M Kingsville 8:00 PM
SATURDAY, JANuary 30
Basketball
*Women AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN 2:00 PM
*Men AT ABILENE CHRISTIAN 4:00 PM
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Basketball
*Women AT TARLETON State 6:00 PM
*Men AT TARLETON STATE 8:00 PM
home games are in bold
* denotes conference game
Player to Watch This Week... n Jason Ebie:
Senior guard Jason Ebie has
come on strong over the last five games. The TCU transfer has scored in double digits in four of the five games and is averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists per game. The 6-1 guard ranks third in the LSC with 2.7 assists per game and tops the league with 2.8 steals a contest. Courtesy msumustangs.com
Mustangs move to No. 10 MSUMustangs.com For The Wichian
Midwestern State moved ahead one spot to No. 10 in the latest National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Division II national poll released Tuesday afternoon. The Mustangs, who advanced to 17-1 with Monday night’s 78-76 win over Northeastern State, have now three-straight games since suffering its lone defeat of the season against Angelo State.
Midwestern is one of four teams from the rugged South Central Region to receive mention in the poll which includes two teams from the Lone Star Conference as Tarleton State (Texas) (15-3) is receiving a vote. The other two teams hail from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association as Fort Hays State (Kan.) (16-1) moved up two places to No. 3, while Central Missouri (17-1) advanced three spots to No. 4. Fort Hays State’s lone loss came
at Kansas State, which is current ranked 11th in the Associated Press’ Division I Top 25, while the Tigers gave Central Missouri its only loss. Southwest Baptist dropped out of the poll. Midwestern State, which has maintained a ranking for the last eight weeks, plays host to Texas A&M-Kingsville Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. or 25 minutes after the conclusion of the women’s game which begins at 6.
january 27, 2010
NACB Div. II Coaches’ Poll
RANK 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13
TEAM Arkansas Tech Southern Indiana Fort Hays State Central Missouri Minnesota State Valdosta State Kutztown Augusta State Indiana Midwestern State Seattle Pacific Bently Florida Southern
RANK 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
TEAM Mesa State Drury Kentucky Wesleyan Augustana Rollins Quincy Metropolitan State Western Wash. East Stroudsburg Findlay Montevallo Clark Atlanta