March 24, 2010

Making magic (and history) Mustangs basketball hopes to keep the dream alive at the NCAA championships after earning a spot in the ‘Elite Eight’ for the first time ever. npages 8-9

Wednesday n March 24, 2010

thewichitan

your university n your voice

Student hopes protest will help trigger change in ban on carrying concealed handguns on college campuses

Greeks: GPA must be this high to play Chris Collins Managing Editor

Phi Sigma Kappa and Sigma Nu are in hot water.

The two organizations were informed by the Interfraternity Council (IFC) in February that they had not met minimum grade requirements set forth by the Greek scholarship program.

The purpose of the scholarship program is to make sure fraternities are achieving the minimum 2.5 GPA average, Kevin Bazner, coordinator of Greek life, said.

If a chapter fails to maintain its grades for a semester, it’s placed on academic probation, he said. This is the case with Phi Sigma Kappa.

A chapter failing to meet the minimum grade requirements for two semesters in a row is placed on academic suspension.

This is where Sigma Nu now finds itself.

As a result, the fraternity is only allowed to participate in one social activity during the semester. It can choose a university-sponsored activity, such as Homecoming or Greek Week, an intramural event or one social event with alcohol.

It also must inform the IFC as to which event it wants to participate in one week in advance.

Brittany Norman Editor in Chief

When Erin Hudson gets dressed for school on April 5, she’ll put on an accessory she hopes will cause people to stop and look – the holster for her 9mm Glock.

The MSU junior will leave the gun itself at home, keeping her protest against restrictions on concealed handgun carry on college campuses from becoming a criminal act, but she wants to make an impression.

The “empty holster” protest isn’t Hudson’s idea. She said on April 5, individuals nationwide are encouraged to wear their holsters to class to stand up against laws preventing those with concealed handgun licences (CHLs) from legally carrying firearms on school grounds.

Hudson said she encourages all students who believe those with CHLs should be able to legally bring their guns to school should wear an empty holster all day on April 5, “signifying that they See FIREARMS on page 5

See GREEK on page 3

Students help locals file taxes Trevor Hunter For the Wichitan

Erin Hudson, who will be licensed to carry a concealed handgun as soon as she receives an ID card in the mail from the Texas Department of Public Safety, plans to protest against the on-campus concealed weapons ban by wearing an empty holster to class April 5. (Photos by Brittany Norman)

Midwestern State University students are helping locals tackle their dreaded income tax returns.

Fifteen MSU students are spending their Saturdays working for the United Way Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. The program helps those who earn less than $49,000 a year. However, the maximum income requirement varies depending on the individual’s financial circumstances and family status.

The project is conducted in Sikes Center Mall next to Spencer’s Gifts from 5 p. m. to 7 p. m. by appointment only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. Both walkins and appointments are welcome. The free program will continue until April 10, the last Saturday before tax season ends on April 15.

Professional tax preparers charge from $40 to $100 do a return.

Many students use the program, said Lana Winfrey, United Way vice president of community initiatives. In order to get the best refund, as well to make the process easier, students need

See TAXES on page 3

Dismal job outlook means students should work to stand out Andre Gonzalez For the Wichitan

Everything is set. It’s the moment you’ve anticipated since you arrived at MSU. You’re wearing your cap and gown walking down the aisle to receive your diploma. Your family, friends, and other loved ones are there to congratulate you on your success.

At least this is the way Sam Bostic viewed it. Bostic graduated from MSU in the Fall of 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and sociology. His aspirations of landing a job he loved were high, instead he fell victim of the cruel job market.

Three years later, many others also face the same dismal prospect.

That’s why it’s best to start early and use resources readily available at MSU. The Career Management Center can help by giving tips on how to become successful after college.

However, Bostic said he had never even heard of the Career Management Center.

“I didn’t have any help, because I didn’t know about it.” Bostic said. After graduation, he got word of the Career Management Center and received help from them on his resume.

Today, Bostic works as a valet at the DFW Airport. He sends out resume after resume to potential employers hoping to land a job.

Dirk Welch, director of the Career Management Center, said upcoming graduates

like Bostic face a tough job market. May is just on the horizon and graduates need to prepare for the tough road ahead of them, according to Welch. In the career world, areas that have remained strong such as the medical and financial fields are now starting to see a decline in hiring.

Welch said the past two years have been tough on new graduates and alumni seeking jobs. The number of employers recruiting on campuses or not hiring college graduates is at its all-time lowest level since 2005. Welch said the National Association of Colleges and Employers, or NACE, sends a nationwide survey every year to hundreds of employers. He noted a 22 percent decrease in

See JOBS on page 4

by the numbers

n 76.6% of employers are looking for applicants with relevant work experience. n 55% want an applicant who has completed an internship. n 75% use applicants’ GPAs as a screening mechanism for potential hires. n 63% set a 3.0 GPA or higher standard when screening their candidates.

2 n

The Wichitan

campusvoice nour view

We don’t need no (liberal) education?

The Texas State Board of Legislation proved that you don’t have to burn books to keep kids from learning pesky liberal ideas in school – you just have to rewrite history.

They decided to clarify perceived “mistakes” in widely accepted U.S. History (among other subjects) textbooks, telling things the way they really happened, rather than the way those liberal historians and academic types have “skewed” things.

Rewriting history seems like it would be a daunting task, but the intrepid 15-member board consisting of a handful of actual educators and a smattering of real estate agents, attorneys, businesspeople and a dentist managed to tackle all of the liberal bias and “fix” history in a mere three days.

Don McLeroy, the fearless leader of the ultra-conservative faction of the TBOE (who fancies himself an expert historian/educator/sociologist), took a break from cleaning teeth and filling cavities and zipped down to Austin to take his rightful place as crusader for the poor Texan children who, without his and his board members’ fearless attacks on the proposed curriculum, would have had their educations tainted by “liberal ideology.”

So, what are the pesky left-leaning problems in U.S. History? The biggie seems to be that little “separation of church and state thing,” which apparently doesn’t really exist.

Well, it doesn’t if you ask David Bradley, a real estate agent who apparently moonlights as a Constitutional scholar. He announced: “I reject the notion by the left of the separation of church and state. I have $1,000 for the charity of your choice if you can find it in the Constitution.”

We could refer back to one of our Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, to see what he has to say on the issue – except he’s been “de-emphasized” by these experts on history.

Ken Mercer (nope, not a historian… or a teacher.

This one’s a businessman) claimed the amendments the board made to curriculum standards “reflect the desires of his constituents to emphasize personal responsibility and accountability and to honor our Founding Fathers.”

We were under the impression that Thomas Jefferson was a Founding Father… but apparently we were wrong. According to the board, Jefferson doesn’t even belong on a list of figures whose writings inspired rev-

olutions in the 18th and 19th centuries.

That Declaration of Independence thing? Well, it didn’t exactly inspire a revolution, but it certainly seemed to be a piece of revolutionary writing that holds at least a little bit of importance to America and the history thereof. Since Jefferson was the author of said document… wouldn’t that make him a pretty important revolutionary figure?

Nope, said the board, which replaced him with priest/philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas and theologian John Calvin. Apparently Jefferson’s insistence upon Church and State makes him a bad role model for Texas kids. Well, that and the fact that he didn’t believe in Jesus. We bet the whole Deism thing played a role in his “de-emphasis” as well.

They didn’t stop there. Hip-hop is too left-ofcenter to be considered a legitimate cultural movement. Students aren’t allowed to learn the difference between sex and gender because, according to board member Barbara Cargill, discussing the issue would draw attention to “transvestites, transsexuals and who knows what else.”

The word “capitalism” is a no-no as well, to be replaced by “free enterprise.” No one has ever been called a “free enterprising pig” after all, and we have to make sure kids know that the commies are the bad guys, not the capitalists. Which leads to another point – the board made a point to emphasize that Jospeph McCarthy’s communist witch hunt wasn’t all bad. After all, there were a few communist sympathizers in the government.

The U.S. government will also no longer be referred to as “democratic.” That sounds way too much like the political party, and young impressionable future voters might get it into their heads that they should vote for the party whose name is in the government’s description in their high school social studies books.

To clear up the confusion, American government will be called a “constitutional republic.” See? Republic. That’s 80 percent of the word Republican. Let’s point those future voters in the right direction.

Students will also study the “unintended consequences” of the Great Society legislation, affirmative action, and Title IX. So, TBOE: you guys claimed you were trying to “add balance” to a liberal-leaning education system. Seems more like tipping the scales in the other direction, and we’ve heard that two wrongs don’t make a right.

March 24, 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

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: Phoebe Kurmi and Amaka Oguchi nadviser: Randy Pruitt nReporters: Leah Roberts, Jaleesa Bealom, Ashley Nesbitt, Matt Ledesma, Loren Eggenschwiler nPhotographers: Loren Eggenschwiler, Patrick Johnston, Kassie Bruton

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.

Well… unless that wrong is headed toward the political right, in which case y’all are right on track.

Students coming out of the Texas public education system are already unprepared enough for the university world. Ignoring pieces of history that are inconveniently unflattering toward a squeaky clean Evangelical Christian ultra-conservative (not to mention nonexistent) utopia doesn’t exactly help matters.

That, and it makes the TBOE look pretty stupid to the rest of the country – not that the board would listen to liberal criticism, anyway.

Next time, the board should at least call in a few experts on the subjects. The entire curriculum might not get rewritten in three days, but we hear even God took six days to create the Earth, so it’s probably all right if rewriting history takes mere humans a bit longer than that. Maybe with a little more time and some input from people with actual knowledge on the subjects the board can avoid making the state they supposedly represent look like a breeding ground for ignorance.

O ye of little faith: health care reform will take time, effort

icaid rolls and Spring break would subsidize is over, the final private coverstretch of school age for low- and is upon us and midd le-income more snow blanpeople. kets Wichita It is expected Falls; these are to cost the govall defining moernment about ments of a week $938 billion over that went by far 10 years, the too fast.

Congressional A week that Budget Office was interruptLeah Roberts For the Wichitan said. ed late Sunday The Governnight by breakment would also ing news covermonitor private health insurage from Washington D.C. By a vote of 219-212 the ers inorder to ensure that they house gave final approval to do not deny cover to children President Obama’s health care or suddenly stop coverage for proposal. Some are hailing it people becoming ill.

Waking up each morning as the biggest reform since the Civil Rights movement, a this week, I have found myself moral victory and the first step greeted by a host of facebook towards a truly equal America. notifications, each one telling Others are calling it extreme me that someone disagrees with socialism, economically unat- my celebratory “HEALTHtainable and the first step to- CARE PASSES!” status.

The amount of animosity wards a slippery slope back to surrounding this bill is plain for recession.

Whatever the current feel- everyone to see, (I have already ing, Democrats are adamant the gotten myself into enough hostility will lessen as changes heavy debates this week to begin to happen later this year. last me a lifetime). Everyone The health care bill requires is talking about it, everyone is most Americans to now have reading about it and for the health insurance it would add most part everyone is worried.

The truth is many of us don’t 16 million people to the Med-

know what to think. How do we react to a change this monumental? And I’m starting to wonder, should I be worried too?

As far as I am aware, almost every single event that has ever occurred throughout history in order to create change was met with some sort of opposition.

Let’s think back – the women’s suffrage movement didn’t exactly go down a treat back in the day.

Rosa Parks would hardly have won Greyhound bus most popular person of the year and I highly doubt that Elton John, Ellen Degeneres, Harvey Milk and Oscar Wilde would have been celebrated as icons in a time when homosexuality was viewed as a degenerative disease.

These are groups that we once oppressed, and had no problem doing so. Remember, at one time we did not exactly take issue with slavery until someone pointed out the fatal flaws that now seem so obvious. Let me just say right now that the current healthcare policy discriminates in the same way.

What is important about these moments throughout history is how we reacted when faced with change.

Change is what shapes a nation, it is a defining moment that shows the rest of the world how we will react in the face of adversity, crisis or reformation.

Without change, we would never grow, expand, discover or prosper.

Without change, America would never have become the world leader it is today. The healthcare debate does not exactly extend to the rest of the world but it will show the true characters of the public, politicians and the President himself.

I prefer to look at this period as a time of moral responsibility, of growing together and providing everyone with the correct tools they need to survive and be successful. It seems to be a reflection of society that we rate success according to economic prosperity, technological advances and whether or not we win Olympic Gold.

An iPhone that can tell me the weather and show me the quickest route to Mexico is, I agree, cool. But I would rather my generation be remembered for coming together and pro-

viding a stable and caring environment that allows every single person in this country the opportunity to be healthy and safe.

One thing is for certain: time will tell us whether or not this can work.

It will not be easy and we will not all agree.

All I ask is this: trust the system.

Trust that although you may not agree with the initial plan, it will not fail you.

March 24, 2010

news/op-ed

The Wichitan n 3

FIREARMS...............................................continued from page 1

Erin Hudson takes target practice at the North Texas Field and Stream’s Ragland range. (photo by Brittany Norman)

they have been stripped of the right to defend themselves against those who mean them harm.”

Not everyone agrees that the current restrictions should be lifted.

When a bill addressing concealed handgun carry on college campuses was working its way through the Texas state legislature last year, many members of the MSU community spoke out against the idea.

MSU police chief Michael Hagy was among those opposed to allowing CHL holders to lawfully bear arms on school grounds. He argued that applicants for concealed carry permits are not subject to adequate screenings (for mental health problems, etc.) or required to undergo extensive enough training.

Hudson has finished the paperwork, training and testing necessary to earn her CHL, and will be cleared to begin carrying a concealed handgun in public as soon as she receives her card from the Texas Department of Public Safety. She agrees that it needs to be more difficult for individuals to become licensed, but feels that changing the restrictive legislation should be approached with urgency.

“The requirements to carry a concealed handgun should be elevated,” Hudson said. “I think there need to be more thorough background checks done. I think there need to be mental health checks done. I think people need to log more shooting hours and be more accurate and have fewer chances to succeed (at getting their CHL). I do believe the system needs some reform, but at the same time, I also do not feel like we can wait on this.”

She believes that right now, college campuses are easy targets for potential murderers.

“By not allowing concealed carry on campus, the government has created an extremely under-patrolled, defense-free zone for criminals who wish to slaughter many people at once,” Hudson said.

She doesn’t feel the current ban on concealed carry prevents any violence at all.

GREEK...........................continued from page 1

nJust Joshin’

Never too late to leave the ‘dark side’

When we began our adventure in the Star Wars universe, Anakin Skywalker was just a naïve and joyful slave boy living in the sands of Tatooine.

His path crossed with that of Qui-Gon’s, and his quest to be a Jedi began.

Twenty years later, however, fear, anger, and suffering allowed the Dark Side to take a grip on his mind and turn him from the great Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, into the dark lord of the Sith, Darth Vader.

And, as we all know, Luke and Leia were born soon after this transformation.

Luke is the only chance of fulfilling the prophecy that Anakin was supposed to fulfill; bringing balance to the Force.

After the revelation that Darth Vader is, in fact, Luke’s father, and Leia is Luke’s sister, the conflict of whether or not to destroy his father ensues.

Turns out, conflict ran in the family in Star Wars Episode 6: Return of the Jedi.

After his final encounter with Yoda and Obi-Wan’s Force presence, Luke heads to Endor to face his father and end the age of the Sith once again.

Upon finding his father, Luke

immediately hate to destroy senses the conVader. Luke refuses flict with in as much as he can, Vader.

Luke until he breaks. pleads for the He corners VadDark Lord to er and cuts off his “let go” of his lightsaber-weildhate. ing hand, bringVader replies, ing the battle to a “It is too late for check-mate. me, my son.”

The Emperor In a deep, laughs, knowchilling reply, ing Luke is on the Luke laments, verge of turning to Josh Hoggard “Then my father the Dark Side.

Jedi guru is truly dead.”

Still, Luke refusAfter being es to destroy Darth taken into custody and turned Vader. over to the Emperor, the mind So, the Emperor uses Force games begin. Luke is conflicted Lightning to destroy Luke. of whether or not to destroy In a desperate, helpless final his father. Vader is conflicted plea, Luke screams, “FATHER! of whether or not to let go of PLEASE!” the hate that turned him from Vader’s conflict reaches his Anakin Skywalker to Darth climax as he must make a deciVader. sion; Let the Emperor whom And, the only logical solution he’s served since his turn to the to such conflict is a lightsaber Dark Side, or his son, the last reduel. maining Jedi.

Green clashes with red.

If you remember, in Episode The two most powerful forces 3, Vader, when he was Anakin, in the history of the Jedi come to was in a similar situation with blows as the final epic battle of the Emperor and Mace Windu. the Star Wars saga begins.

Instead of choosing good and The Emperor encourages helping Windu destroy the EmLuke to give into his anger and peror once and for all, he chose

“The only people this ban actually keeps from possessing a firearm on campus are law-abiding citizens – people who wouldn’t murder anyone anyway,” she said.

“A madman isn’t going to stop at the door of a university building and think: ‘My pistol isn’t allowed on campus. Maybe I should take it back home and reconsider my plot to kill.’”

Hudson doesn’t believe the arguments against allowing licensed individuals to carry weapons on school grounds hold up when shown alongside the facts.

“I believe the most common argument against legalizing concealed carry on campus is that students who possess firearms may just ‘snap’ one day and begin shooting their classmates,” she said. “All it takes is a quick check of crime statistics to see that this ‘snapping’ phenomenon is an extremely rare event among concealed handgun licensees. In fact, CHL holders are statistically the least likely group to commit crimes – much less violent ones.”

The most recent data on the Texas Department of Public Safety Web site shows that out of over 60,000 criminal convictions in 2007, only 161 of those crimes were committed by CHL holders. This means those licensed to carry concealed weapons were responsible for approximately .26 percent of crimes committed in Texas that year.

The arguments against allowing CHL holders to carry on campus go beyond criminal activity, but Hudson is sticking by her guns.

“The Second Amendment states that I have the fundamental right to both possess and carry – keep and bear – arms with which to defend myself,” she said. “I shouldn’t have to give up that right in order to further my education.”

the Emperor and allowed Windu to be destroyed.

In the ultimate act of redemption, Vader releases his hate that he has harbored for so long, takes the burden of the Force Lightning upon himself, and casts the Emperor to his death.

Vader had been turned from Vader back into Anakin Skywalker.

Later, with the iconic mask off and his eyes on his son, Luke pleads for Vader to get up so he can save him.

Anakin replies, “You already have, Luke.”

This really wasn’t a quote or a nugget of wisdom, but the moral is worth the back-story: It’s never too late to make a change.

You’re never too far gone to be “saved”, just like Darth Vader.

No matter how far “bad” you are, no matter how young or old you are, no matter what your situation is, it’s never too late to become something wonderful.

Don’t let your current situation define you.

Define your situation. There is always hope, and there is always room to grow.

It’s never too late to make a change.

Never.

Alex Walker, director of scholarship for the Greeks, said Sigma Nu has opted to participate in Greek Week this semester. It will not be allowed to join any other activity until next semester, given its grades top out over 2.5.

If Sigma Nu does not improve its grades, it could be facing chapter suspension.

This could lead to loss of recognition in the IFC, which is significant for a number of reasons, Bazner said.

It would no longer be part of a greater, organized Greek council.

It would lose overall publicity and image It would no longer be disciplined by the council, but instead by the university itself.

It would lose its voice in the Greek community At this point, the IFC can refer a fraternity’s case to a judicial board. An organization can also be fined for not meeting the standard of excellence.

The IFC, however, cannot remove a chapter from the university. That responsibility is left to the national head of the chapter.

A minimum grade point average is not anything new for the university, but the IFC is driving harder at it than before. This is part of a plan to

increase the general knowledge of Greeks, Bazner said.

“This is not only for building up the knowledge of members, but also to build relationships between chapters and other offices on campus,” he said.

The Career Management Center is helping with the effort, he said. The IFC and CMC plan to co-host multiple activities over the course of the semester for the Greeks.

Formerly the grade policy wasn’t highly respected, Walker said.

“It wasn’t respected very much,” he said. “You have to respect it or it can come back and bite you.”

This harder-hitting policy may get students to think harder about time management.

“They’ll say, ‘Should I stay at home and study or go out with my friends tonight?’ Hopefully they consider that,” he said.

One of the most important parts of the policy is limiting fraternities ability to fraternize. When an organization is barred from going to social events, it really defeats the purpose of being in a social club, he said.

“People think all we care about is partying, but we care about grades, too,” he said.

TAXES...........................................................................................................................................................................................................continued from page 1 proof of identification, such as a driver’s license, passport, or some other government ID card, their Social Security card and their W2 from their employer. They should also bring their 1099-T tuition information sheet, which is sent out by the university listing the tuition amounts, student loans, and grants. Tax preparers use this to see if the student is eligible for any school-related tax credits, according to Virginia Arellano, MSU intern for the United Way. Last year’s tax return is also

useful, because it is used as a reference for this year’s tax return, according to Arellano.

This year, most foreign students are not eligible for the program. The VITA program is not able to do the 1040 non-resident form, which most foreign students fall under, according to Arellano. They can go to the IRS office in the Galaxy Building on 4309 Old Jacksboro Highway for assistance.

However, if a foreign student has been a resident of the U. S. for five years or has a resident

visa, he or she is eligible for the program.

The program started six years ago, according to Winfrey. That first year they completed 176 returns. The MSU internship inclusion in the program began four years ago.

Interns are from the Dillard College of Business, and have completed an accounting class.

They undergo 12 to 15 hours of instruction in addition to online training. In order for the program to qualify as an internship, students must work a minimum

of 150 hours. “ The MSU Internship program has allowed tremendous growth in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance free tax filing program,” Winfrey said. “As the number of participating interns grows, we are able to serve a larger number of low to moderate income hardworking families and individuals.”

This year, more than 1,100 returns have already been processed and the program has returned more than $2 million to the community.

Senior Justin Morata, a business administration major said the real benefit for him was the practical experience in doing taxes, and that it may be a future career.

The online training and 12 to 15 hours of instruction is primarily on how to use the tax preparation software, according to Arellano. The IRS test and training on the Web site was very time consuming, not overly difficult, but not easy either.

The people who are using the program respect the interns and

appreciate that the interns are trying to get them the best refund possible, Winfrey said. The students are also reviewed and the tax reports are checked by a supervisor to prevent any mistakes.

The program’s busiest times are at the beginning and end of tax season, according to Winfrey.

The turnout has slowed since the first two weeks, Morata said. For more information or to schedule an appointment, dial 2-1-1 for the United Way Hotline.

4 n

news

The Wichitan

campus briefs

JOBS.......................................................................................................................continued from page 1

n today:

Journey of Hope Grief Support Group in CSC Apache at 3:30 p.m.

n tHURSDAY:

University Interscholastic League Competition from Thursday to Friday on campus

Education career Fair in D.L. Ligon from 10 to noon Dome Theatre in the Atrium at 1 p.m.

Professor Edwards discussions in politics in Dillard 101 at 2 p.m.

Real Women, Real Beauty group in CSC Apache at 3:30 p.m.

Speakers and issues series: Jesse James in North Texas at the Wichita Falls Museum of art at MSU at 7 p.m.

n Friday:

MSU Cheer national preview in D.L. Ligon at 2 p.m.

n Saturday:

Spikefest 2010 sand volleyball tournament in the Wellness Center at 9 a.m.

Bark for Life at Sikes Lake for noon

March 24, 2010

the number of those employers hiring new college graduates in the 2008-2009 academic year.

That number has unfortunately risen seven percent for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Welch said jobs that are ‘hot’ right now and quick for hire can be almost anything related to the government.

Welch said more job growth is occurring in these positions. and they offer the most promise.

He said those jobs can be anywhere from accounting to law enforcement. Welch said teaching and healthcare opportunities have typically been very promising.

“But even they have experienced some challenges this past year with the job market and economic factors at work,” he said.

To better prepare for the tough economy ahead, Welch said students should strategize themselves to become higher and more worthy of hire than others pursuing the same career field.

“They need to be sure they’re doing everything imaginable to ascend themselves from the competition,” Welch said.

Welch said the Career Management Center will work with students to help them come up with a plan to better market themselves on landing a job by brushing up their resumes, interviewing skills and letter writing skills.

“Highlight yourself in a way that is going to get the employer very interested in that paper that you just submitted for that position,” Welch said.

For students seeking a major or considering changing majors, Welch said jobs currently

resources for students n Mock interviews, etiquette lessons and resume critiques from the Career Management Center. n The CMC’s job search engine, www.

MustangsHIRE.org. n Career fairs (six are offered by the CMC each year) in demand require math and computer skills. They include accounting, business administration management, computer engineering, as well as mechanical engineering.

Welch said the Career Management Center will work with students to help explore their possibilities to achieve a rewarding career.

He suggested students start out by doing small things in the community such as volunteerism and joining a club or organization. Employers look favorably on students who are leaders in a club or organization, he noted.

According to a job outlook survey completed last fall by NACE, 76.6 percent of employers want an applicant with relevant work experience.

“While viewing that resume they’re going to be looking, ‘Does this person have relevant work experience?’” said Welch.

A great number will be using that as their determining factor, he noted.

Welch encourages students to complete an internship sometime in their college career.

“The value of an internship is

COMING SOON TO A CAMPUS NEAR YOU…

that a majority of the employers consider that as relevant work experience,” he said.

Fifty-five percent of employers want an applicant who has completed an internship, according to the NACE survey.

“That can be a deciding factor between two or three candidates,” Welch said.

An outstanding GPA also helps students stand out to employers. He pointed out 75 percent of employers use an applicant’s GPA as a screening mechanism in choosing an employee. Sixty-three percent of these employers set a 3.0 GPA or higher standard when screening their candidates, Welch said.

Welch said the Career Management Center offers services to help students prepare for a job search. These include anything from arranging a mock interview to teaching students proper dining etiquette if they’re invited to a business lunch.

They even have a job search system online at www.MustangsHIRE.org.

This allows students to view online job postings and heighten their chance at finding a job.

the

Wednesday, March 24 11:00am, CSC Shawnee

NCAA Elite Eight Basketball: MSU vs. St. Cloud State Watch the live online video stream on the BIG screen!

Thursday, March 25 10am-12pm, Ligon Coliseum

MSU Education Career Fair Meet school districts and learn about teaching opportunities.

Thursday, March 25 1-7pm, CSC Atrium

Dome Theater (presented by UPB) A mind-altering visual experience featuring Pink Floyd!

Saturday, March 27 10:00am, Wellness Center

Spike Fest (4-on-4 Sand Volleyball Tournament) Benefits Seek Camp. Sponsored by IFC and We-Rec.

Tuesday, March 30 6:00pm, CSC Comanche

Game Night (presented by UPB) Relax and meet new friends. Fun times and free food too!

Monday, April 5 11:00am, CSC Food Court

Greek Week: Eating Contest The good, the bad, and the ugly. See who can stuff their face in style...

Tuesday, April 6 7:00pm, Bolin 127

Student Government Association (SGA) Meeting Your campus; your voice. Open to all MSU students.

Tuesday, April 6 7:00pm, CSC Comanche

Greek Week: Beyond the Step Show Learn about the history and significance of Greek stepping.

Wednesday, April 7 6:30pm, CSC Shawnee

Alice in Wonderland - Mad Hatter Tea Party Sponsored by University Programming Board (UPB).

Wednesday, April 7 7:30pm, CSC Comanche

Greek Week: Greek Unity Step Show Back by popular demand! Tickets are $1 at the door.

Wednesday, April 8 1:00pm, SW Plaza

Flower Pot Painting and Potting Party Sponsored by University Programming Board (UPB).

Wednesday, April 8 7:30pm, CSC Comanche

Greek Week: Sing Song Competition Always a favorite of MSU students! Tickets are $1 at the door.

Great Day of Service

Greek Week 2010

Saturday, April 10 from 8am-Noon

Benefiting First Step of Wichita Falls!

Great Day of Service is a campus-wide service initiative open to all MSU students, faculty, and staff. Now in its third year, the Great Day of Service benefits the entire Wichita Falls Community. Last year over 1,000 service hours were completed!

Sign up as a group, organization, class, or individual. Free t-shirts to the first 200 participants. Email gds@mwsu.edu for more information or to sign up.

Every spring, MSU Greeks come together to demonstrate their commitment to unity, service, and excellence. All Greek Week events are open to the entire MSU community. Highlights include the Unity Step Show, Sing Song, Greek Olympics, and Eating Contest. All proceeds during Greek Week will benefit First Step in Wichita Falls.

Greek Week is coordinated by the Order of Omega National Greek Honor Society.

The Career Management Center also holds six career fairs each academic year.

“This allows students and alumni to have that face to face networking opportunity,” Welch said.

Unfortunately, MSU has seen a decrease in the amount of recruiters coming to career fairs. Welch said that this is not just at MSU. Colleges and universities across the nation are suffering from the economic downfall “Less money is going to recruiting efforts of new employees. It’s being diverted elsewhere,” Welch said. “Everyone is feeling the pinch.”

Spotlight A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS...

-To the MSU Men’s Basketball Team for making the NCAA Division II Elite Eight! The team plays for a spot in the Final Four at 11:00am on Wednesday, March 24.

-To the members of Phi Sigma Kappa, Omega Delta Phi, and NAACP for sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt for local youth on March 27, 2010.

-To all of the Student Organizations signed up to participate in the 2010 MSU Relay for Life on April 16 to benefit the American Cancer Society.

Easter Break

No Classes April 1-4, 2010 Easter Break at Midwestern State University begins at 10:00pm on Wednesday, March 31, 2010. Classes will resume on Monday, April 5, 2010.

Although classes will not meet, MSU offices will be open for business on April 1 and 2. Have a great break and study hard!

The Spotlight is brought to you by The Office of Student Development & Orientation Endless Opportunities. Lifelong Connections.

Clark Student Center, Room 194 (940) 397-4500 http://activities.mwsu.edu

Look for the next Spotlight on Wednesday, April 14, 2010!

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March 24, 2010

getting ea stars to know the

The Wichitan n 5

Newest season of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ brings new faces

e a

e a From top left: Aiden Turner, Erin Andrews, Buzz Aldrin, Kate Gosselin, Nicole Scherzinger; bottom left: Niecy Nash, Chad Ochocinco, Pamela Anderson, Shannen Doherty, Jake Pavelka. These are the new star contestants on “DWTS.” (Photo Courtesy)

Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor Apparently, ABC was feeling especially audacious this season when it came to selecting its celebrity contestants for Dancing With the Stars.

The show returned for its 10th season on Monday evening, showing off the skills of 11 celebrity contestants, each paired with their professional dance partner.

This season’s contestants range from a legendary astronaut to a Baywatch babe. It should be an interesting season of glittery gowns, spray tans and men in spandex.

Meet this season’s stars who are brave enough to slip into their dancing shoes and attempt to “wow” the panel of judges.

Buzz Aldrin: Legendary astronaut Astronaut, scientist, inventor, best-selling author, advocate for man’s future in space, Buzz Aldrin is considered one of the greatest heroes of space exploration. A lot of eager fans want Aldrin to attempt the moonwalk. The guy is 80, I just hope he doesn’t fall and break a hip or something.

However, if he succeeds, it will be one small step for man, one giant leap for old dudes.

Shannen Doherty: Occasional actress We’ve watched her grow up on the popular television series Beverly Hills, 90210 and later on Charmed.

Doherty is a TV icon known throughout the world. Over the course of her career, she has appeared in numerous made-forTV-movies, television series and films.

Recently, Shannen reprised her role as Brenda Walsh on the CW’s 90210 and is also the author of the upcoming book Bad Ass. Kate Gosselin: Reality TV star Kate Gosselin has the joy, frustration and honor of raising eight children, twins and sextuplets, in central Pennsylvania. The daily lives of her family were chronicled for five seasons on TLC’s hit show Jon and Kate Plus 8.

Gosselin is a public speaker, author of the New York Times bestselling books, Multiple Blessings and Eight Little Faces, and is currently in production on a new show for TLC. Her latest book, I Just Want You To Know, will be in stores this spring.

This mom comes into the

competition with a new ‘do and plenty of moxie. Still, her time on the show could be brief, simply because she has generated so many haters through her public battle with her ex-husband.

Evan Lysacek: Champion figure skater Olympic gold medal winner and World Figure Skating Champion, Evan Lysacek has been hitting the ice since the age of 8. His win on the ice in Vancouver was the first in 22 years for an American male at the Olympics.

In the spring of 2010, Evan will also be touring as a member of the cast of Stars on Ice. The best thing going for Lysacek in this competition? No one will question his manhood if he dons spandex and glitter because it will come of no surprise.

Pamela Anderson: Former Baywatch babe Audiences get to see how Anderson does after ditching the swimsuit for some sequins and heels.

Model, actress, mother, entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist, Anderson is a sex symbol who has appeared on more magazine covers than any other star of her generation. She was even named in the Guinness Book of World Records as the Internet’s “most downloaded” star.

Hopefully the show’s costume designers will be prepared to avoid any embarrassing wardrobe malfunctions for this busty star.

Aiden Turner: Soap star Soap fans know Aiden Turner as Pine Valley’s sexiest spy guy. Now he’s staking out the competition on DWTS. Turner was cast for the role of Aidan Devane on ABC’s All My Children in 2002. He played that role for eight years and recently left the show to pursue other acting opportunities in film and television.

Chad Ochocino: NFL player Here’s a man who’s got the moves on the football field. Chad Ochocinco is one of the NFL’s most popular wide receivers.

Completing his ninth season with the Cincinnati Bengals, he holds the franchise record for most receiving yards in a season, most receiving yards of all time, the most receptions, the most receiving yards in a game, the most seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and the most touchdowns in a game.

Ochocinco is a six-time ProBowler and named All-Pro three times. He made headlines in 2008 when he legally changed

‘Alice’ remains in box office wonderland Ben Fritz MCT

I’m picking Evan Lysacek, champion figure skater, to take home the trophy in the competition. With his amazing dance skills on the ice, he can only excel on the dance floor. (Photo Courtesy)

his name from Chad Johnson to Chad Ochocinco to match his jersey number “85.”

Let’s see if his ego and his partner can fit on the dance floor.

Erin Andrews: ESPN reporter Usually taking to players and coaches on the sidelines of football games, reporter Erin Andrews is taking center stage on DWTS. Since joining ESPN in 2004, Erin Andrews has become one of the most well-known sports reporters in the country. Having begun her career at ESPN as a reporter for the network’s NHL coverage, Erin has served as a reporter for ESPN College Football Saturday telecasts, Saturday Primetime college basketball games and Big Ten college basketball coverage.

In 2005, she began reporting from the sidelines of the ESPN College Football Primetime series on Thursday nights and added Major League Baseball sideline reporting to her responsibilities, including the Monday Night Baseball telecasts.

Jake Pavelka: The Bachelor As the handsome commercial pilot and most recent single guy looking for love on ABC’s The Bachelor, Jake Pavelka has the reputation as an honest guy with an open heart. He has been a fan favorite since Jillian rejected him right before the hometown dates on the previous season’s The Bachelorette.

Pavelka won over the hearts of many and met his match as he narrowed 25 lucky bachelorettes down to one this past season.

Nicole Scherzinger: Lead singer of The Pussycat Dolls She’s a singer, songwriter, trained actress, performer and the lead singer of The Pussycat

Dolls. Nicole was asked to join the Pussycat Dolls recording group as the lead singer after being recognized from her success on the TV show Popstars and the group Eden’s Crush.

Following the success of The Pussycat Dolls debut album, PCD, Scherzinger recorded a series of duets and guest vocal appearances with artists such as P.Diddy, 50 Cent, Timbaland, Vittorio and several others.

She also released two solo singles and videos before recording the second Pussycat Dolls Album, Doll Domination.

In 2009, she recorded an adaptation of the AR Rahman Song Jai Ho from the film Slumdog Millionaire. The song hit #1 in 17 different countries.

Niecy Nash: Host/Comedian/ Actress The host and producer of the Style Network’s home makeover show, Clean House, Niecy Nash is a two-time 2009 Daytime Emmy nominee and the new Celebrity Panelist for the entertainment news program The Insider.

Nash recently won a 2010 Gracie Award for her wellknown role as no-nonsense Officer Raineesha Williams on the Comedy Central hit Reno 911! and it’s spin-off film Reno 911: Miami.

Niecy’s most recent film work includes Not Easily Broken and the Walt Disney Pictures’ G-Force. Additionally, Niecy is developing various television and film projects. We’ll see if this loud diva can keep up with her partner, and clean up her competition.

Past winners of Dancing With the Stars include Kelly Monaco, Drew Lachey, Emmitt Smith, Apolo Ohno, Helio Castroneves, Kristi Yamaguchi, Shawn Johnson and Donny Osmond.

Jennifer Aniston and Jude Law were roughed up at the box office this weekend by a middle schooler.

In a surprise victory that demonstrated the recent strength of well-known brands over well-known stars in movies, Diary of a Wimpy Kid opened to a studioestimated $21.8 million in the U.S. and Canada, ahead of the $21 million for the romantic comedy The Bounty Hunter, which stars Aniston and Gerard Butler. Law’s sciencefiction action film Repo Men bombed, premiering to just $6.2 million.

But it was Alice in Wonderland that topped the charts, showing continued strength on its third weekend, particularly overseas. Director Tim Burton’s 3-D blockbuster hit dropped 45 percent domestically to $34.5 million and 41 percent internationally to $47 million, bringing its worldwide ticket sales total to a massive $565.8 million.

The strong overall weekend boosted total box office receipts this year 10 percent higher than at the same point last year, according to Hollywood. com.

Easily the least expensive of the weekend’s new pictures, the $15-million Wimpy Kid benefited from some children on spring break Friday and ended up drawing a mostly family audience well above what pre-release polling had indicated. With no big-name stars, it used the appeal of the books on which it is based to generate a healthy opening.

“To pull off a number like this is pretty remarkable,” said Chris Aronson, Fox’s executive vice president of domestic distribution, adding, “There’s no doubt that spring break helped our Friday to really pop.”

Audiences gave Wimpy Kid an average grade of A minus, according to the market

research firm CinemaScore.

That augurs good word of mouth in the coming weeks and a final gross of at least $60 million.

Since theaters keep about half of box office receipts, Fox should cover most or all of its production and marketing expenses based on theatrical revenue alone before DVD and other markets kick in.

Bounty Hunter had a decent but far from fantastic debut given its budget of a little more than $40 million, financed by distributor Sony Pictures and Relativity Media. While it’s better than the last romantic comedy featuring Aniston in a lead role, 2009’s flop Love Happens, Bounty opened well below 2008’s Marley and Me or 2006’s The Break-Up. Bounty Hunter got a B minus, indicating that word of mouth will be mixed in the coming weeks.

Repo Men is the latest in a string of disappointments from Universal Pictures and its frequent partner Relativity, including The Wolfman and last week’s Green Zone. Although it garnered a B from the mostly male audience that saw it, the anemic opening for the $32-million film, which has been on the shelf for about two years, means it will end up a money loser.

Summit Entertainment expanded director Roman Polanski’s The Ghost Writer nationwide, but it didn’t fare nearly as well as it had in limited release. The political drama took in just $2.1 million, bringing its total to $6.8 million.

Of last weekend’s new movies, only the romantic comedy She’s Out of My League showed staying power, dropping a modest 38 percent to $6 million. The political action film Green Zone was down 58 percent to $6 million, while the comedy Our Family Wedding dropped off 50 percent to $3.8 million and the drama Remember Me fell 59 percent to $3.3 million.

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The Wichitan

March 24, 2010

Movie Buzz: what’s on the big screen Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor

Many movies have hit the big screen over the past two weeks. In case you’re not caught up on what’s new in the film realm, here is what’s new on the marquee and what is premiering this weekend.

In Theaters: The Bounty Hunter (PG-13): Gerard Butler and Jennifer Aniston star in an action comedy about bounty hunter hired to track down his bail-jumping ex-

wife.

Repo Men (R): Jude Law is a futuristic repo men who fails to make heart transplant payments, and must go on the run from his former partner, Forest Whitaker.

Alice in Wonderland (PG): Director Tim Burton takes on the whimsical world of Alice, who embarks on a fantastical journey to find her true destiny.

Johnny Depp, Anne Hathaway and Mia Wasikowska star in this twisted 3D version of the Disney classic.

Green Zone (R): Matt Damon

is a rogue U.S. Army officer hunting through covert and faulty intelligence before war escalates in an unstable region.

She’s Out of My League (R): Against all odds, an outrageously gorgeous girl falls for an average joe, much to everyone’s surprise -- including his own.

Remember Me (PG-13): Emilie De Ravin and Twilight star Robert Pattinson are starcrossed lovers who struggle to deal with family tragedies that threaten their relationship.

Coming this Weekend:

Hot Tub Time Machine (R): Four guys ( John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robins and Clark Duke) vacationing in a ski resort are magically teleported back in time to 1986 ... the era of hair-metal bands, clunky Sony Walkmans and raunchy teen-sex comedies. Those were the days!

How to Train Your Dragon (PG): In the new 3-D animation from the folks who brought us “Shrek” and “Madagascar,” a lonely Viking teenager (voiced

by Jay Baruchel) befriends a dragon that shows him what life is like for a giant, fire-breathing lizard.

“Alice in Wonderland” and “Green Zone” have hit theaters. (Photo Courtesy)

New social network is like Twitter with a twist Eric Frazier MCT

“Remember Me,” “The Bounty Hunter,” “She’s Out of My League” and “Repo Men” are in theaters now. (Photo Courtesy)

New on DVD: ‘New Moon’

Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner DVD released: Saturday, March 20 return in the next installment Genres: Drama, Romance, Sequel, Teen of the phenomenally popular Running Time: 2 hours 10 minutes supernatural romance saga, The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

Rating: PG-13 for some violence and action As the connection between Starring: Robert Pattinson, Kristen StewBella Swan and her vampire art, Taylor Lautner boyfriend, Edward Cullen, grows more intense, an ancient secret threatens to destroy them.

When Edward leaves in an effort to keep Bella safe, she tests fate in increasingly reckless ways in order to see her love once more.

But when she’s saved from the brink by her friend, Jacob Black, Bella will uncover mysteries of the supernatural world that will put her in more peril than ever before.

Jacob is a werewolf who spends his time hunting the vengeful vampire, Victoria, while also trying to keep Bella’s broken heart and troubled Kristen Stewart and Taylor Lautner return for the “Twilight” mind above water. sequel, “New Moon.” (Photo Courtesy)

$385

160 * Free Wi-Fi

such as Foursquare and rival upstart Gowalla are poised to take the concept to the next level.

Their progress isn’t without peril: Privacy experts warn that broadcasting your location might not be a good idea, especially for teens.

before New Year’s Day, but its growth has accelerated so rapidly that it expects to top half a million in the next two weeks.

If you’re just getting That’s still tiny when compared comfortable with Facebook and with Facebook’s 400 millionTwitter, you might want to brace plus users. But with revenues for yourself: Foursquare, the hottest mobile location-based networks among a rising new class of social projected to top $12 billion by networks, is gaining ground.

2014, Internet giants like Dubbed the “next Twitter” Facebook and Google are by some tech experts, paying attention.

Foursquare.com doesn’t Google included just let you stay in touch mobile check-ins with its with your friends; it adds a recently launched Buzz “check-in” feature that lets social network, and the your friends tell you where That hasn’t stopped new business blog Silicon Valley they are, and it lets you compete with them for virtual badges and users from hopping aboard Insider recently reported that titles as you visit favorite haunts. Foursquare, the New York-based Facebook is developing its own As users check in at start-up founded by Dennis location-aware check-in feature.

“It’s definitely a hot area,” said participating restaurants or bars, Crowley, a tech entrepreneur for instance, they can leave tips who sold a similar network to Allison Mooney, an official with MobileBehavior, a consulting for their friends _ “try the tuna Google in 2005.

Only about a year old, firm that studies how consumers salad!” _ and earn virtual points.

The user who visits a site the Foursquare has distinguished use wireless technology.

“There is a certain amount of most gets dubbed its “mayor,” itself in recent months by an honor businesses sometimes snagging hundreds of thousands social capital and bragging rights of new users and heavy media that come with being the ‘mayor’ reward with special deals.

As odd as it might seem buzz. Businesses ranging from of a popular bar or the person to the uninitiated, Foursquare the Bravo television network to that goes out the most in New fans seem to find the gaming local eateries have been signing York City.” partnership deals, hoping to Still, critics worry about component almost addictive.

“I just became the mayor of reward repeat customers and potential privacy dangers.

Google retooled Buzz after PetSmart on @Foursquare!” a lure their smart-phone-carrying guy from Huntersville, N.C., friends with real-time discounts users objected to the fact that it publicly displayed their most recently boasted on the network. and recommendations.

Foursquare became available frequent e-mail contacts.

Wrote a Charlotte, N.C., An Internet privacy think woman: “I can’t believe I got in Charlotte around October. ousted as mayor of my own While the company says tank filed a federal complaint, temporary software problems accusing Google of turning studio.”

The idea of location-aware prevent it from tallying its people’s private Gmail data social networking isn’t new. Charlotte users, fans here into public social networking Twitter can show users’ locations, estimate their number in the information.

Local Twitter users in recent though the feature can be turned hundreds.

Late last year, for instance, weeks have been sending each off.

And some location-based UNC Charlotte registered its other warnings about Please Rob networks have been around for dining halls and coffee shops, Me, a Web site that aggregates and Foursquare years. But with smart phones the first university in the nation, Twitter increasingly sophisticated and it says, to use Foursquare to push status updates to show when popular, fast-growing networks dining services information and homeowners aren’t home. promotions to students and The people behind the site, faculty. pleaserobme.com, say they “It’s a fairly new thing,” were making a point about the said York Brady, a freshman at privacy concerns inherent in UNC Charlotte. “The only ones broadcasting users’ real-time who seem to know about it are location. the ones who are really into Point taken, some locals say. technology.”

“I’m being a lot more Brian Baute, a UNC cautious as to who I let become Charlotte Internet technology my friends” on Foursquare, said director, said that’s changing: Brandon Uttley, a social media “It’s getting to where more and strategist with more than 6,000 more of our students on campus Twitter followers. “It becomes know about it and have access too easy for people to use it to it. We’re expecting it to grow against us.” over time.”

Charlotte Foursquare users Foursquare says it had about say they are being careful, but 250,000 users nationally just they aren’t dropping the service.

Number of students, faculty, and staff who are helping build a house through Habitat for Humanity. The house should be completed in April.

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March 24, 2010

The Wichitan n 7

MSU tennis aces competition Chris Collins Managing Editor The Mustang Men’s and Women’s tennis teams started a racket in Denver this Spring Break.

This men’s team destroyed the three teams that opposed

them: the Colorado Christian Cougars, the Metropolitan State College of Denver Roadrunners and Colorado MESA. First up were the Cougars, whom the boys promptly stomped into the court.

The Mustangs only dropped two games in the singles match-

ups and went on to win the challenege 9-0.

They didn’t let the win get to their heads.

Later in the week the team tackled the Metropolitan State College of Denver.

The Roadrunners apparently couldn’t run fast enough: the team tasted a bitter defeat at the Mustangs callaused hands.

They, just like the Cougars, couldn’t win a single set against the more talented, athletic Mustangs.

Bozo Zapotovic played a three-set singles match.

He won the first set 7-6, then won the tiebreaker 7 -3.

But the Roadrunners had a surprise up their sleeves.

They came back and won the second set 6-2.

But they didn’t know Zapotovic was just toying with them: he came back to win the match with a 6-4 win in the final set.

The ‘Stangies finished out the tournament with an 8-1 butt whipping on Colorado MESA. The women’s team won against Colorado Christian and Colorado MESA but dropped a game to Metro.

Doubles team Leah Roberts and Monika Graff went 8-0 in one match against the Colorado State Cougars.

Graff went 6-3 and 7-5 against Metro.

Luke Joyce

Men’s golf up to par

Alex Odell-Mitchells

MSUmustangs.com For the Wichitan

a 36-hole total of 595, go into Tuesday’s final round 26 strokes behind tournament leading Chad Bryant and Brett Perry Oklahoma City, the No. 1 team each turned in stellar opening in NAIA. The Stars fired rounds of 287 rounds to propel to solid 36 holes Monday in the MSU Invitation- and 282 highlighted by indial played at the Par-71, 6,917- vidual leader Clark Collier, who yard course at the Wichita Falls posted scores of 70 and 68 for a 4-under total of 138.

Country Club.

Dallas Baptist is second with a Bryant and Perry carded matching 71s from the Nos. 4 581 followed No. 2-ranked Cenand 5 positions to key the Mus- tral Missouri with a 586.

Bryant, a sophomore from tangs to a total of 293 in the first Newcastle, Okla., paced the round.

“We kinda stumbled at the Mustangs with rounds of 71 and end against a very tough field,” 74 and is tied for eighth with a MSU coach Jeff Ray said. “We total of 145 (+3).

Junior Travis Klutts notched had a few guys that didn’t play as well as they could, but I believe scores of 77 and 74 for a total of we can turn that around tomor- 151 (27th place, +9), while freshrow. Overall, it was a great day.” man Raine Copeland turned in Midwestern, which posted rounds of 74 and 78 for a total of a 302 in the second round for 152 (30th, +10).

Chad Bryant

Senior Mitch Molen carded a 78 and 76 for a total of 154 (42nd, +12), while Perry struggled to an 86 in the second round for a total of 157 (52nd, +15).

Women’s golf off to hot start in MSU Invitational, tied for second at home MSUmustangs.com For the Wichitan

Lindsay Burkhart and Kyla Whittley keyed Midwestern State’s hot start in the first round of the MSU Invitational Monday afternoon at the Par-72, 6,077-yard Champions Course.

The Mustangs, who carded a team total of 323, head into Tuesday’s final round tied for second with Northwood (Texas) just two strokes back of Central Oklahoma.

“It was a beautiful day, but got a little windy at the end,” MSU Jeff Ray said. “The girls did a great job of hanging tough. We’d love to win our own tournament.

That would be really big for us as a program right now.”

Burkhart, a freshman from Grapevine, fired an opening round 77 (+5) and is just one stroke behind tournament leading Erica Bensch of Central Oklahoma and Carol Blanton of East Central University.

“Lindsay had a really solid round and she’s starting to come through for us,” Ray said.

Junior Kyla Whittley is fourth after notching a 79 (+7), while freshman Megan Richardson is 20th with an 83 (+11) and fresh- Lindsay Burkhart man Kendra Whittley is 27th af- round tied for 37th after recordter firing a first-round 84 (+12). ing an 86 (+14) in the opening Freshman Taylor Klutts heads round. into Tuesday’s second and final

Vjekoslav Stipanic

Carlos Bataller

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march 24, 2010

The Mustangs Men’s basketball team advanced to the NCAA Divison II Elite Eight for the first time in school history Tuesday night with a win over Central Missouri. The team will play No. 16 St. Cloud next in the opening round of the NCAA Elite Eight Tournament in Springfield, Massahusetts.

(Top left) The Mustangs team hold up the Regional trophy after their victory.

(Bottom left pg. 8) Senior forward Michael Godwin slams a dunk during the 60-59 contest.

(Bottom left pg. 9) Head Coach Grant McCasland and Assistant Coach tres Segler show their excitement at the end of the contest.

(Bottom right) Jason Ebie drives past defenders as (middle right) MSU students show school support with paited chests.

(Middle) Rashad Austin fights for a rebound.

(Top right) A young MSU fan holds a supportive sign for the team.

(Top) the club poses for a picture after its last-moment victory.

Senior guards Craig Green and Jason Ebie have both earned accolades from the National Association of Basketball Coaches All South Central Region. (photos by Kassie Bruton)

sports

March 24, 2010

MSU men capture NCAA regional title, advance to ‘Elite 8’ for the first time in MSU history Matt Ledesma For the Wichitan

Die-hard MSU basketball fans have packed their bags and headed north to Springfield, Mass.

MSU punched its ticket to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time in school history with a thrilling 60-59 win over Central Missouri in the championship game of the South Central Regional tournament last Tuesday at D.L Ligon Coliseum.

Next up on the docket for the No. 3 Mustangs (30-2) will be No. 16 St. Cloud State (28-5).

Tip off for the opening-round All of Midwestern State’s game is set for 11 a.m. today games will be broadcast by at Springfield’s Mass Mutual 100.9 BOB-FM. The audio will be streamed on www.bo- Center.

The winner will advance to bradio.fm and www.msumusplay the winner of the Indiana tangs.com . The radio voice (Pa.)/ Valdosta State (Ga.) of the Mustangs, Bill Powmatchup in the quarterfinals. ers, will have the call of each St. Cloud is the Central MSU game in the tournaRegion champion. The Husment. Wednesday’s national kies took down Augustana quarterfinals will be video (S.D.) 84-75 in overtime to web-streamed by NCAA.com. take the regional title, and adThursday’s national semifivance to the Elite Eight for only the second time in the nals will be televised live by program’s history.

NCAA Productions and aired St. Cloud is led by NSIC nationally on the cable chanPlayer of the Year Matt Schnel CBS College Sports. Satneck, who also took NSIC urday’s national championTournament MVP and NCAA ship game will be televised Div. II Central Region Most live nationally by CBS-TV. In Outstanding Player. SchWichita Falls, tune to KAUZneck averages just a little TV (Channel 6). more than 18 points a game while pulling down about 11 boards.

He is joined by first-team all NSIC point-guard Taylor Witt. The 6-2 junior brings in 15.9 points per game and racks up 4.9 assists.

Sophomore guard Brett Putz is also a serious threat from the outside, shooting 41.3 percent (69-of-167) from 3-point range.

Of course, the Mustangs have plenty of weapons of their own -first and foremost senior guards Craig Green and Jason Ebie. Both earned National Association of Basketball Coaches all-south central region honors after MSU’s big win over UCM. Green, who paced the offense during the tournament with 16.8 point per game, was named to the first team, while Ebie (averaging 10.8 ppg and 2.5 steals) took second-team honors.

Green was also named the NCAA Div. II South Central Region Most Outstanding Player.

But individual accolades have never meant much to this team. All that matters now is achieving the ultimate goal of winning a national championship.

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March 24, 2010

Mustangs softball keeping up the momentum MSUMustangs.com Josh Hoggard For the Wichitan

Even after snapping their school record 14-game winning streak, the No. 7 Midwestern State Mustangs showed its edge by taking a Lone Star Conference North Division doubleheader sweep of Central Oklahoma Tuesday afternoon at Mustangs Park.

MSU rode a hot start to take a 7-3 win in the opener before Brittney Tanner notched her sec-

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today:

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Friday:

Softball vs. Angelo State @ Durant, Okla. 12:30 p.m.

Softball vs. Angelo State @ Durant, Okla. 12:30 p.m.

Softball vs. West Texas A&M @ Durant, Okla. 4:30 p.m. n

Saturday: Softball @ Texas Women’s Collge 12:30 p.m.

Softball @ Tartleton State - 2:30 p.m.

Men’s basketball vs. NCAA Elite 8 @ Springfield, Mass. noon

ond shutout of the season as the Mustangs took a 1-0 victory in the second game to improve to 11-0 at home this season.

The Mustangs jumped on UCO starter Molly Shivers for six runs - all earned - on six hits in two innings as redshirt freshman Courtney Bingham stroked an RBI single to right field in the first inning and followed with a two-run double off of the center field fence in the second to highlight a six-run explosion.

Midwestern would add a run in the third off of a McKen-

zie Sickler sacrifice fly allowing MSU starter Katie Petersen to go on cruise control while claiming her 10th-straight win to improve to 11-2.

The Plano native allowed two runs on five hits to go along with a strikeout and two talks in five innings.

Junior Kristina Gutierrez allowed an unearned run on two hits over the final two innings.

MSU’s Brittney Tanner was locked in a duel with Central Oklahoma’s Rachael Steverson in Game 2.

The Mustangs appeared to breakthrough with the bases loaded in the third inning, but Bingham’s grounder which solidly appeared to glance off of UCO third baseman Brittany Geter’s leg while standing two feet inside the baseline was ruled foul by the plate umpire.

Bingham would strike out swinging later in the at bat before more strangeness ensued.

Mallory Mooney worked the count full in the next at bat and appeared to be awarded first base via a walk. Megan Chartier, Nata-

lie Rodriguez and Elena Bennett all broke on the play that would eventually be ruled a swinging strike by the third-base ump.

But all were forced to return to original positions allowing Steverson to escape the inning unharmed.

She would not be so lucky the next inning as Nicki Duff lined her third triple of the season to the right field gap and came around to score the game’s lone run on Sickler’s RBI single to center field.

Tanner pitched masterfully to

improve to 8-1 on the season. The junior from Burkburnett scattered eight hits while striking out three and walking one.

The Mustangs hot streak seems to be continuing, winning 21 of their last 23 games. This effort has elevated MSU a spot in the NCAA Division II Coaches Poll, climbing from No. 8 to No. 7 Midwestern State (24-4, 7-1) enjoys a week off before competing in the Lone Star Conference Crossover Tournament from March 26-28 in Durant, Okla.