March 5, 2008 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

The student voice of Midwestern State University

The Wichitan page 5 Singing onscreen

page 7 Disappointing end

Musician Kate Voegele gains renown with role on TV show.

Womens basketball team drops final game to Eastern NM 75-56

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Group identification leads to self-segregation Karmen Simmons For the Wichitan

Pay attention to the social surroundings at MSU when you enter a classroom, the dining hall or a common area. In the Clark Student Center computer lab Monday night, the black students occupying the lab sat close to the back. The few Hispanic students sat to the right of the room. Foreign students sat among the groups. In the Mesquite Dining Hall

Monday a similar seating arrangement played out. This brings about an observation that only few detect or pay attention to. People of the same race split themselves from the social interaction with either races, even in classrooms. Many do not notice, but people tend to sit or socialize with whom they identify the most with, especially those of the same race or ethnicity. Even though there are exceptions to every rule, a look around campus will validate that discovery.

Radiology major Ashley Griffin said that she did not notice that people of the same race seemed to separate themselves from other races in social settings until it was brought to her attention. “I don’t really pay attention to it, but it doesn’t bother me. I just try to sit close to the front of the classroom or by friends,” she said. Mass communications major AnTuan Jeffery said that he did notice it. He also said he had friends who purposely sit by their own ethnic group.

“I think it has something to do with being comfortable. People don’t realize they do it, but then some do it knowingly,” he said. Dr. Larry Williams, director of international education and professor of sociology, said the division among racial groups is a combination of unintentional and intentional behaviors. People look for other people who have possible shared the same life experiences. “We look for something we can identify with in another person,” Williams said.

He also added that social distance and personal distance may be two factors involved and it is hard to distinguish between the two. “Social distance is the physical or psychological distance that people maintain from themselves and others. Personal distance is the distance between ourselves and others, and personal preference plays a part, too,” he said. Williams also noted that racial separation may not have anything to do with race at all. “It is easy to blame race as a

Dressing to Impress

Professor to give presentation on drag fashion Chris Collins Managing Editor Clothing will be optional during Elizabeth Lewandowski’s Faculty Forum presentation on drag fashion in Clark Student Center March 11. Lewandowski, who has given about 24 presentations nationwide on drag, is fascinated by the alternative fashion. “It’s breaking a societal norm to cross dress,” said Lewandowski, professor of theatre and costume designer. “I’ve always been fascinated by drag.” Dressing in “drag” means wearing the clothing generally associated with the opposite sex, usually for theatrical reasons, Lewandowski said. Cross dressing is distinct in that many cross

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dressers are homosexual. “I hope people will learn what’s happening. The people who do this do it seriously. Hopefully people don’t come to laugh,” Lewandowski said. Many students are interested in what’s outside the norm, according to Lewandowski. She warns students who plan to attend the presentation to “leave their judgments at the door.” Lewandowski said it seemed natural that she be interested in drag, given her background in theatre. She will give another drag presentation March 19 during the 48th annual USITT Conference and Stage Expo in Houston. The presentation will include a drag show. The conference will be attended by 4,000 people from 50 countries.

”

It’s breaking a societal norm to cross dress. I’ve always been fascinated by drag.

Photo illustration by Patrick Johnston The Wichitan Chris Shoemake poses in his street clothes as well as his costume for “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”

primary factor for obvious reasons, but it may be deeper than that,” Williams said. “Personal preference could be based not only upon racial markers, but also social class, where the person lives, where they worship or even where they shop.” The reason racial groups tend to sit off to themselves in unclear. Although unnoticeable to a degree, it is prevalent on the MSU campus. Apparently, people are more comfortable with whom they perceive are like them or share some commonality.

Clinton wins tight Texas race Brittany Norman Editor In Chief

It was a down-to-the-wire fight for the delegates in the March 4 Texas primary, but by early Wednesday morning Senator Hillary Clinton had won by a nose. With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton had clinched 51 percent of the democratic vote. Senator Barack Obama wasn’t far behind with 47 percent. With 34 percent of the Democratic caucus votes counted, Obama held the majority at 55 percent. On the Republican side, Senator John McCain took 51 percent of the votes with 93 percent of precincts reporting. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee was a distant second with 38 percent, and Ron Paul trailed with five percent. Approximately 2.6 million Democrats voted in the primary election. Only 1.26 Republican voters showed up at the polls. Clinton and McCain also collected victories in Ohio and Rhode Island. McCain and Obama won in Vermont. With these victories, McCain has secured the Republican Party nomination.

Sluggish Internet connection among campus computer issues Zachary Shipp For The Wichitan

As MSU updates its network management and security, both students and faculty continue to struggle with poor online performance. MSU’s four-year network upgrade project, known as Great Advancements in Technology and Banner or G.A.I.T., began in April 2006. Banner is a suite of network tools produced by Sungard Higher Education that ties academic, financial aid, registration, finance, human resources, and other university network functions together on one universal database. The student registration portion of Banner is set to go live

in the time for Fall 2008 registration. Jim Hall, PC/Network Services manager, said Banner is more network-oriented than the system it is replacing, known as PLUS. This network-side emphasis allows MSU staff easier control of the network’s inner workings and more uniform access to data. The G.A.I.T. project also allows Information Systems to tighten network security as Banner is brought online. Not all of the network has been improving. MSU has been increasingly limited by bandwidth, or the speed of the university’s connection to the Internet. According to Hall, the cam-

pus network operates on a 25 mbps connection. This means that the campus can download 25 million bits from the Internet every second. This network is separate from the one that connects oncampus housing to the Internet. Housing’s connection is only 10 mbps. This small connection is strained by the large number of students accessing the Internet from dorms and campus housing. Sophomore, Zach Eskridge, said Internet speed at oncampus housing is very slow. Streaming video sites like YouTube take a long time to load, and video will pause at times to continue loading content. With the recent popularity of

streaming videos on YouTube and streaming music on Myspace, housing bandwidth has been increasingly overworked. Eskridge said Internet access is much speedier in the Clark Student Center and on other campus computers. “It’s about ten times faster, at least.” The student center, like other campus computing locations, is connected to the faster 25 mbps connection. Mass communication professor Liz Minden also said that the network is suffering from bandwidth problems. Information Systems send an email to Minden and other faculty late last year asking that faculty ease up on extraneous Internet use, such as audio and video,

as well as peripherals. MSU has been working hard at increasing its housing capacity to deal with overflow, but Internet bandwidth has not been upgraded at the same pace. Hall said that if the housing network doesn’t get a connection with higher bandwidth, students could experience speeds as slow as dial-up. While Internet access is not generally monitored, Hall said that information Systems does examine network traffic for high volumes of illegal, dangerous, or problematic traffic. Web site access is not restricted due to potentially offensive content. “I am not your conscience,”

Hall said. The only sites that are blocked are those that contain known spy ware and proxy web sites. Hall said that MSU recently added multiple layers of virus protection to the campus network. Since this multi-layered protection was added, virus attacks have been reduced. Information Systems keeps the details of their firewall and virus protection confidential in order to prevent malicious users from pinpointing any possible weakness. No major virus problems have occurred since the multilayered protection has been installed, but Hall “won’t say it won’t happen. That tends to make fools our of people.”

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The Wichitan

Staff Editorial

Tangled Web

MSU advertises Internet access for all resi-

dent students. Just don’t plan on getting anything done with it.

A few notes of caution if you have no choice

but to utilize Resnet. In order to watch a two minute video on YouTube, plan on a half hour wait for loading. To download anything, no matter how small, multiply a reasonable amount of download time by about 20. And if there’s an iTunes gift card burning a hole in your pocket, you might as well plan a trip home. That song is not making it to your hard drive without some divine intervention.

The residence halls are filled to capacity

(and then some) every year, and almost all of those residents take advantage of the provided access to the web. The result? An already sluggish connection has passed snail speed on the scale of slowness. Ever watched grass grow? Might be something like watching the little blue bar mark the ‘percent loaded’ progress across the screen at about 9:00 p.m. This is especially irritating when the page in question is a necessary reference for a research paper that just happens to be due at 10:00 the next morning.

Also, rather than tripping over a 16-foot

ethernet cord every time one walks in the room, a wireless connection would be an enormous improvement.

Other universities are able to keep up with

the technological needs of their students. Bandwidth shouldn’t be an ongoing problem, it should be remedied. In an age where courses at many colleges and universities are supplemented with podcasts and Internet material instead of textbooks, students need a reasonably quick and reliable connection to the Web.

The Wichitan 3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 • Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 News Desk (940) 397-4704 • Advertising Desk (940) 397-4705 Fax (940) 397-4025 • E-mail WICHITAN@mwsu.edu Web site: http://www.mwsu.edu/~wichitan Copyright © 2007. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. The Wichitan reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication. Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University. First copy of the paper is free of charge; additional copies are $1. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address for verification purposes. The editor retains the right to edit letters.

An angel in an unlikely disguise

It is said that “The wisest is he who k n o w s only that he knows nothing. God only Haley Cunningham knows.” If For The Wichitan this is true, then I encountered an angel; an angel in the form of a stoner. I once attended a party as designated driver at a house I hardly knew. Soon I found myself bored with the shallow banter and excused myself to the balcony, alone. Soon, a boy, who I later found was named Christopher, stumbled outside as well. It was obvious that, not only from the beer in his right hand, marijuana joint in the left and dazed look on his face, he didn’t have a clue where he was. “What you thinking about out here all alone?” he said. I figured, ‘amuse him.’ I told him I was contemplating the meaning of life.

Christopher laughed. “Life’s a trip, don’t pack drugs!” How ironic that he would say such a thing! I couldn’t help but laugh. But then, as if he had been struck by some type of sober and profound method of thinking, he exclaimed, “You want to know what life is? God. God is everything, yet God could be nothing at all. People base their whole lives around this…higher power, this belief in a deity. You have your own life, it’s your road, but it was given to you and you go down it because of faith.” With that, he sauntered back inside. I had never heard something so deep and surprisingly accurate, and from such an unlikely person! As common with my nature, much contemplation followed. Christopher’s point forced me question: why must mankind have faith in religion? The existence of a God keeps the aura and the belief in something good. Without any type of faith, who’s to say that life is worth living? What is faith, and why is it

so vital? I remembered hearing the definition of faith as “a firm belief in something for which there is no proof.” That night I analyzed what Christopher said to me and came up with a philosophy on “faith.” You wake up in the morning and have faith that when you put your feet on the floor, the floor will be there. You have faith that the sun will rise tomorrow. Faith is what makes even the non-believers wake up every day. From faith, we learn that life goes on whether you go with it or you don’t. Faith makes us learn to live, without it we wouldn’t believe in a better tomorrow. There are always some without any kind of devotion to fidelity or any faith of their own, and some were mingling with the crowd inside. They could be found drinking and doing drugs in an attempt to escape from life. They showed a nature of momentary bliss, no consideration of consequence or morality. They would wake up, confused and hung-over; with unfamiliar people, on un-

familiar couches. Having faith doesn’t mean only believing in a higher power, it is also the ever present knowledge that there will be a tomorrow and you will still be you. God, or whatever divinity you may choose to believe in, gave us life, gave us will and most of all gave us fidelity. I believe the promise of tomorrow is people’s religion. Blessed may it be, faith provides the knowledge that your deity will give the gift of life, a life; a tomorrow. Ironically, the name Christopher means “bearer of Christ.” He was drunk and stoned and his principles derivate from the Bible yet. In all his sacrilege he was able to teach someone as faithful as I something about principle. Life is given from a higher power. You have to choose to believe in that or not. Regardless what we believe in, God or no God, we all have faith or a belief in something. Because of that fidelity we are not only alive, but we live.

degree in geosciences, mathematics, computer science, sociology, psychology, and all-level kinesiology teacher certification may choose whether to get a B.A. or B.S. degree. The only difference is that extra year of foreign language tacked on to the B.A. degree requirements. Some completely luck out and have no foreign language requirement at all. Students attempting a B.S. in mechanical engineering and all of the health sciences do not even have to take one semester of a foreign language. Also, students trying to de-

cide between elementary and secondary education certification should opt for teaching the wee ones. Elementary education majors are required to take only one year of a foreign language. Oddly enough, students seeking certification of a bilingual teacher need only take one year of a foreign language as well. Where is the logic? MSU wishes to broaden its students’ horizons, while at the same times broadening its pocketbooks. Why not require all degree seekers to take two years of a foreign language? B.S. students need to broaden

their horizons as well. One alternative might be to offer other languages such as Latin, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Hebrew or even American Sign Language. Another alternative would be to require only one year of two different foreign languages. Horizons would broaden even more. If the goal of MSU is to broaden the horizons of its students, the university could allow students to substitute other classes in place of the foreign languages, classes that deal more with the student’s particular major.

Foreign language courses worth it? Cindy Edwards For The Wichitan

Usted habla espanol? Parlez-vous Francais? Sprechen sie Deutsch? Do students care if they know another language? Will they remember enough to utilize it when they graduate and go into the real world? Not likely. MSU requires that all bachelor of arts students take two years of one foreign language, while those attempting a bachelor of science degree require only one year. Some MSU students get to choose. Students attempting a

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News

One-woman performance teaches students to exercise emotional control with baggy jeans, a black beanie covering up her long, dark curls, a bulky plaid button-up shirt and MSU students were both en- black shades. tertained and educated through With invigorating moves and the nationally known act of the energy of a 15-year-old, Susie Vanderlip Tuesday night Vanderlip thrilled the crowd as when she brought her Legacy of she portrayed a young girl dealHope show to Akin Auditorium. ing with the effects of an alco Vanderlip translated to the holic father. crowd to never ignore their emo- From there her act and attire tions, but rather to gain emo- changed drastically as she symtional wisdom. The event was bolized four more characters, insponsored by the MSU counsel- cluding an alcoholic man, a new, ing center, the Student Success young mother dealing with verSeries, and the office of student bal and physical abuse, a womdevelopment and orientation. an raising her grandchild and a Through seven different ward- young college student who rerobe changes, Vanderlip created cently discovered she was HIVseven different characters, each positive. with a different problem. “I brought you these charac Her first character was a ters because these are all people young Hispanic gang member I know,” Vanderlip said after the who dealt with physical abuse performance. “It doesn’t matter from his father. He had emotion- where I go... the problems that al scars from the death of seeing these characters have are ramped his two older brothers die at the all across America.” hands of a rival gang. Vanderlip Vanderlip explained to the aubrought life to the act by portray- dience that everyone deals with ing the character very realisticly the feelings of loneliness, disAmanda Veitenheimer for the wichitan

couragement, hopelessness, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, family conflict, relationship issues, self-harm behaviors, suicide and substance abuse, but that with emotional wisdom, one can overcome these issues. She even told the story of her first husband’s death to a life a drugs and alcohol. Vanderlip was able to connect with the crowd and make students realize that even adults carry emotional wounds. “Emotional wisdom is being mature enough to see your choices more clearly,” Vanderlip said. It never hurts to consult a trusting, safe adult to help you make responsible decisions, she informed. Along with this key point, Vanderlip informed students that instead of trying to make life easier by turning to drug abuse, one must face these “symptoms of life,” or your emotions. She gave four key tips to help anyone facing emotional dilemmas. Number one: get out of denial.

Understand that your problem is a real issue and should not be ignored. Number two: reach out and ask for help. Feelings have to come out and there are many different support systems to turn to, including anonymous groups, counselors, friends, family, teachers and therapists Number three: set a personal policy. No matter how small, make up your mind and decide for yourself what you will and won’t succumb to, and stick to it. Number four: commit your life to service. Ask yourself “How can I make this world a better place, and what is my role in doing so?” You must realize that you are here for some purpose. With Vanderlip’s encouraging performance and informative speech, students may have left with a better understanding of how to properly care for their emotions.

Jerry Springer takes show on the road, treats college campuses to shock thrills ment his show’s sick pageant of midgets, trannies and crackpots but he never steps into the slime pit himself. Jerry Springer is in the midst “One of the reasons I work (in of a college tour. Which is ironic this role) is that people see me as because the whole purpose of a regular guy in the midst of the going to college is to decrease chaos,” he says at the hotel. “My your chances of ever appear- role is purely reactive. I don’t ing on Springer’s syndicated know anything about the guests sleazefest. beforehand. All I have is a card On this brittle February night, with their name on it. Every segthe P.T. Barnum of talk-show ment always opens with me sayhosts is in Asplundh Concert ing, ‘So what’s going on?’ Then Hall on the campus of West they tell me their story. And I Chester University, addressing ask them questions and make the student body. jokes.” The kids, who occasionally That disingenuous blend of erupt into the familiar battle cry shock and mock has kept “The - “Jerry! Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!” - Jerry Springer Show” on the air are getting the full dog and pony for 16 seasons. show. Literally. “If you aim a show at high One of the episodes shown school and college kids you can is “I Married a Horse,” during be on forever because there’s which a Shetland pony is led always new kids coming along out onto the stage of Springer’s to watch,” he says. “If you aim Chicago studio to kiss a decrepit a show at a 30-year-old, by the man in visored sunglasses. The time they’re 33, they’re bored host’s on-air introduction: “To- with the show. But you always day we have a love story.” get new kids. Earlier in the day at his hotel “I really think that explains in Philadelphia, Springer, 64, our longevity,” Springer says. sardonically distanced himself “Because the show is mindless. from this particular spectacle. It serves no purpose. But it stays “The guy who slept with his on because of the giggle factor.” horse? I came out against it. I Later in West Chester, the said it was wrong,” he says with students are shown a prepacka smirk. “So let it never be said aged clip reel, narrated by Matt that I don’t have a moral com- Lombardo, the sports editor of pass.” the campus newspaper, who has That’s Jerry’s shtick: He been drafted as moderator. watches with amused astonish- It traces the arc of Springer’s David Hiltbrand MCT

talk-show career, starting in 1991 when he was an earnest news anchor in Cincinnati trying to assume the mantle of Phil Donahue. Another highlight is the 1997 episode “Klanfrontation,” when militant members of the Jewish Defense League were brought on to “debate” robed and hooded Ku Klux Klan members. To no one’s surprise, a fullscale, chair-throwing riot broke out in the studio. The attendant controversy and ratings spike marked a turning point for the show. The rest of the reel is sheer Springer bedlam: brawls, food fights, gender atrocities and romance gone terribly awry. You’ve never seen this many women in wedding gowns throwing haymakers. By the way, if you do choose to get married on “The Jerry Springer Show” by the in-house man-of-the-cloth, the seedy Rev. Shnorr, you may want to have the legitimacy of the ceremony checked by local officials. After the clips, there’s a brief Q&A session with the audience (“What keeps you interested?” “My bills”). Then Springer asks the crowd’s forbearance for “four minutes to talk about what’s going on in the world right now.” He delivers an impassioned case for universal health care, advising the kids to hold all the presidential candidates account-

able. “You say to them, ‘If we don’t have national health insurance by the next election, you who I voted for will never get my vote again as long as I live.’” Then comes the part of the evening that everyone came for, as Jerry moves to a side table and the kids line up to have their pictures taken with him by their friends with cell phones. It’s a perfectly modern moment, made peculiar only because Springer himself is something of a Luddite. “We’ve become subservient to the technology,” he said at the hotel. “My staff always makes fun of me because I don’t use a computer. It’s not a world that I want to participate in. I have no e-mail. I have a cell phone with no numbers (programmed) on it.” That Jerry. He’s all about irony. He insists that his goofy, outrageous program has, almost unwittingly, made the culture more tolerant. “The intent of the show is pure entertainment,” he says. “But the effect is that we’re more accepting, more open as a society.” Wait, are you trying to tell us that in a few years marriages between people and ponies will be commonplace? Springer laughs. “We did a follow-up show,” he says. “The horse left him. It’s not as open as you think. Horses are so judgmental.”

Apple technology could prove to be useful tool for entertainment, studying are given iPods. Each has to sign an agreement not to sell or give away his or her iPod for the trial Imagine being able use your period. iPod in class. But you don’t lis- Using a computer microten to music. Instead, you listen phone, professors can record to your professor. lectures and load them as podFor those who don’t know, the casts on the Internet. Students iPod is a portable media player can then download lessons using designed by Apple. Users can the Internet. listen to music, watch videos Podcasting is a method of and play games on the device. distributing multimedia files, Several campuses across the such as audio programs and muUnited States have been experi- sic videos, over the Internet for menting with this latest technol- playback on mobile devices and ogy. personal computers. A professor at the University Subsequent podcasts of the of Connecticut uses the device review sessions are free on the regularly to transmit lectures to iTunes music store. students. One MSU student said she Incoming UConn freshmen wouldn’t mind purchasing an Shalaundria Anderson For the wichitan

iPod to get her lectures. “I’ve heard about this at other schools,” junior Ashley Adjei said. “I would rather buy an iPod than a textbook. You can have more uses for it and you wouldn’t have to worry about selling it back. You can use an iPod long after the class is over.” According to the Apple Web site, the iPod Shuffle is $69, the Nano $99. The price is about the average a student would pay for a textbook. “I wouldn’t mind buying one for class, if that’s the only thing I would have to buy,” Adjei said. “If I had to get an iPod in addition to a textbook it would be a real problem.” No more asking the professor

to slow down. Students can stop the podcasts and take notes instead of using a handheld voice recorder. Junior Crystal Williams thinks the idea of using an iPod at MSU would be better than a voice recorder. “The sound quality of voice recorders isn’t that great. It’s very airy. Sometimes you can’t hear what the professor said because the sound is muffled,” Williams said. Some students, however, don’t think using iPods is a good idea. “I already don’t like computers,” junior Elna Goudeau said. “I don’t see the point. This sounds like another Web CT.”

The Wichitan Mar. 5, 2008

Campus briefs • Mar. 5

Dining etiquette semi-

nar; Career Management Center; Wednesday 6:30 - 8 p.m.

• “Beer and Booze: What Will You Choose?” presentation; Carnival on Sunwatcher Plaza; Wednesday 1 - 3 p.m.

•

“Do I Drink Too Much?” alcohol

screenings; CSC Cheyenne; Thursday 1 - 3 p.m.

•

“Imagine Graduation;” CSC Atri-

um; Wednesday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

• Mar. 6

“Extreme Makeover

Career Edition;” CSC Comanche; Thursday 7 - 8:30 p.m.

•

“A Funny Thing Happened on the

Way to the Forum;” Fain Fine Arts Center; showing Thurs. - Sat 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 2:30 p.m.

• Mar. 10

Nursing Associa-

tion Speaker; intership opportunity; Bridwell 108, Monday 12 - 1 p.m.

• Mar. 11

“The History of Drag,”

Faculty Forum presentation; CSC Kiowa; Tuesday 7 p.m.

• Mar. 12

“Supervisor Boot

Camp;” Hampton Inn; Wednesday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

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4 Entertainment Death metal band brings “southern hosbrutality” The Wichitan Mar. 5, 2008

Richard Carter For The Wichitan

Eli Cash band members play their brand of metal at a show Photos by Richard Carter

The members of technical death metal band Eli Cash liked one of Owen Wilson’s film characters so much they named their band after him. The five-piece area group appropriated the name of Wilson’s eclectic western novelist from “The Royal Tenenbaums.” Also an eclectic band, Eli Cash borrow from a wide array of musical sources from classical guitar theory to death metal. The up-and-coming band performs March 16 at the American Legion 120. The all-ages show begins at 6 p.m. and also features Maylene, John Henry vs. The Machine and Corithea. The show is being promoted by MSU student Nicole Barron, and several members of Eli Cash attend MSU. In a diverse all-ages music

scene, where people listen to many different kinds of music and bands combine genres, it’s hard to define Eli Cash’s sound. “I don’t like to categorize music, because people like to fight about it,” guitarist Eric Priolo said. “I just usually tell them it’s death metal, technical death metal,” singer Josh Kirkland said. “It’s really tech-y. We also throw back and put in some old school guitar riffs in it and things like it.” Their drummer Jason Baber simply calls their sound “brutacular” or “southern hosbrutality.” While the band is not outwardly trying to be humorous, they do admit to a sense of humor. One of their songs is called “I’ve Slayed this Dragon One Too Many Times.” The title came from joking around with

the whole epic metal thing said Kirkland. “You know, the Norse gods and things like slaying dragons.” The song is actually about dealing with everyday situations that keep recurring. Featuring three trained musicians, the band’s music is about slaying the typical recurring sounds that people hear everyday. Eli Cash plays music for people who like real metal, according to their vocalist “A lot of our writing is to challenge ourselves and entertain ourselves,” Priolo said. It’s not about being trendy or edgy. Guitarist Tim Robbins is in the classical guitar program at MSU, and Baber and Priolo played in the jazz band in high school. “The classical guitar training has helped a lot with our music,” Priolo said. “The technique is not similar, but the theory involved in the metal

actually translates well.” Priolo and Robbins write guitar riffs, teach them to one another and then figure how what comes next. Kirkland then adds his lyrics. “I use a lot of metaphors,” he said, “but at the same time I try not to make it not too complicated where people are saying, ‘What? What is he talking about? I keep it pretty simple.” The members of Eli Cash only started playing together as a band last summer. They stay busy with full-time jobs and school. The band expects a raucous show. They also expect a mosh

pit that lives up to the old school nature of the name. “We like to provoke brutal pits,” Kirkland said. “The breakdowns we write, we try to make them as brutal and as epic as we can to get people to get pumped up for it.”

Jerry Seinfeld brings laughs to the Falls Despite local airport perils, renowned comedian entertained local audience, even invoked loathsome name of Newman for humorous effect

Lisa Moore For The Wichitan

“Two peanuts were crossing the road, one was assaulted.” This was just one of the jokes produced by a comedic legend who could be considered one of the greatest comedians of our time. Best known for his role on Seinfeld, that ended it’s nine year series run in 1998, Jerry Seinfeld has taken his standup comedy on a cross-country tour of America, leaving waves of laughter in his wake. He may be “old, rich, and tired,” but from the moment he jogged onto the stage in his classic suit and tie, Jerry Seinfeld kept you howling with delight, clutching your side, and gasping for breath. The New York comedian filled Memorial Auditorium

Thursday night, adding one more distinguished name to the long line of celebrities that have graced the historic stage in Wichita Falls before him. People who were once strangers began to feel like long lost friends as you sat side-by-side and laughed together at the quirkiness that makes up the human psyche. He joked about the size of our “airport.” He drew upon the idiosyncrasies of American culture like our obsession with our cell phones and our reliance on the size of our Starbucks coffee cup to define our stature in the world. Seinfeld was able to draw people together with his own unique brand of comedy about the mundane existence of everyday life in a way that kept you sitting on the edge of your seat, begging for more, and

secretly admitting that he’s describing your inner self.

Nothing was left untouched whether it be fatherhood, the weather, married life, or prescription drugs. Not even an over zealous audience member could throw off his groove as his good humor came to the rescue and kept the show rolling at high speed. The real excitement that comes from seeing Seinfeld live on stage is his mastery of the English

inent birth mark. Penelope's nose looks like a pig's snout. Only the love of "one of her kind" will reverse this condition. Her loving but misguided parents (Catherine O'Hara, Richard E. Grant) have built a sanctuary for Penelope full of everything but human contact. If she ever hopes to end the curse, Penelope will have to find a suitor. That is easier said than done: One glimpse of Penelope sends potential husbands running like vegetarians at a pig roast. They all bolt except for Max (James McAvoy). His gambling debts have put him a financial bind. That's when he agrees to pretend to be a potential hubby to help a bitter newspaper writer (Peter Dinklage) get a photo of Penelope. Even pretend love comes with all kinds of complications. And that sends Penelope, her face half hidden by a giant scarf, into the world to find her freedom.

Director Mark Palansky finds a quiet tone to present this engaging script by Leslie Caveny. That means the moral of this story (and all good fairy tales have a moral) is delivered with a light embrace instead of an emotional slap. The real credit goes to Ricci. Whether it is the pig snout or the scarf, a large part of her face is hidden throughout most of the movie. Ricci manages to show with just her eyes the emotional pain, the joyful awakening of her senses and the innocent hope that exists inside this character. There are other strong elements in the film, but revealing too much detail might jeopardize the discovery of all of the elements that aren't what they seem. "Penelope" deals with a host of issues, the most obvious about learning to deal with something that might set a person apart from the crowd. It is the kind of movie that should stimulate conversations. When a movie does that, then everyone lives happily ever after.

Penelope entertains, teaches valuable lesson through tale Rick Bentley MCT

The one thing every good fairy tale has taught us is that nothing is as it seems. A frog is a prince. A cat can talk. Living with seven vertically challenged men can be dangerous. "Penelope," a family-friendly

film fairy tale, does not break with that tradition. At face value - and what a face - this is the story of a young woman (Christina Ricci) who is the unfortunate victim of a family curse. Because of an indiscretion by one of her blueblood relatives, she has what can only be called the world's most prom-

language, creating a world where the everyday seems extraordinary and asks for an inner reflection and redefinition of what it is that we consider “normal” today. He is masterful at playing the everyman. For someone whose life is so far removed from that of his audience, he makes you think he’s just like you. His delivery is the key to his comedy. His use of voices, intonation and pacing turn what could be classified as fairly standard material into something wonderful. Dealing in a modest yet hilarious way with the over-excited American audience who randomly shout his name, he is nothing short of genius. For over an hour Seinfeld kept the audience in hysterics and ended the show with

a question and answer session where audience members got the opportunity to ask allconsuming questions like, “Can I have your empty water bottle?” The 53-year-old comedian and father of three has no plans to star in another TV show and is enjoying spending time at home with his wife and young children. He signed off with an exuberant “Hello, Newman” and exited with the same standing ovation that accompanied his entrance. This is one show that’s not to be forgotten any time soon. Seinfeld has 12 more stops on his current comedy tour including Memphis, Boston, Charlotte, N.C. and Chicago. The last day to catch Seinfeld this tour is August 9, 2008 at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

Christian Ricci and James McAvoy in “Penelope”

Entertainment

5 Breakout songstress takes spin on the small screen Courtney Foreman Entertainment Editor

Ohio native Kate Voegele joined the recently popular scene of female singers as she made her breakthrough role on the hit TV show One Tree Hill. Kate Voegele began making appearances on One Tree Hill at the beginning of this year and the start of season five of the show. She plays Mia, a young, slightly unconfident singer who finds herself the next big act in the town of Tree Hill. In real life, Kate Veogele began singing and playing the guitar in high school and only started recording her songs after some convincing by her father. By age 16,

The Wichitan Mar. 5, 2008

word got out about Voegele’s talent and soon enough she found herself opening for artists such as John Mayer and Counting Crows, which eventually led to openings for Dave Matthews band, The Wreckers, and many more. After playing numerous shows around the Cleveland area, a 5-song EP was released by the singer, titled The Other Side. Voegele was finally signed in the fall of 2006, while only a sophomore in college, with MySpace Records. Shortly after her signing, Voegele released her first full-length debut album, Don’t Look Away, in May of 2007. This album includes songs that are not only catchy, executed with such perfection its impossible not to

enjoy this CD. Kate Voegele brings back the familiarity of the girl empowering, feel-good music by Michelle Branch, or even Vanessa Carlton. There is no denying she is a truly talented young singer that should be commended on her oneof-a-kind, artistic style and unique sound. Some song highlights of her latest CD, Don’t Look Away, are “Kindly Unspoken,” “Chicago,” and “Only Fooling Myself.” Her songs range from more serious tones and soul rhythm, to up beat and energetic, always seeming to connect with the pure emotion she pours out in her songs. Kate Voegele is currently working on her second album and can be seen on One Tree Hill Tuesday nights at 8:00p.m.

Belly laughs with Will Ferrell Actor chats basketball, bears and the comic potential of his abdomen

Julie Hinds

Detroit Free Press (MCT)

nuanced roles in movies like “Stranger Than Fiction” and Woody Allen’s “Melinda and Melinda,” but he seems most at home in relaxed, lovably silly comedies. And if a script has a sports theme, all the better. He’s done the NASCAR thing in “Talladega Nights,” coached a kids soccer team in “Kicking and Screaming” and pioneered all-male pairs figure skating in “Blades of Glory.” Now, with “Semi-Pro,” he tackles the story of a fictional American Basketball Association team called the Flint Tropics. Ferrell plays Jackie Moon, the onehit-wonder singer of “Love Me Sexy” who owns and coaches the Tropics, and also serves on court as an eccentric power forward. His financially shaky team (whose very un-Rust-Belt-like slogan is “Let’s get tropical”) draws only a few die-hard fans to its games, which explains why Jackie can never deliver on the cash or food prizes he offers as audience promotions. When the NBA hatches a plan to merge with the four best teams in the ABA, the Tropics go on a do-or-die mission to grab the fourth slot, with Jackie leading the charge, helped by a former NBA player named Monix (Woody Harrelson). Flint was a perfect setting for such a story for several reasons, says Alterman, a development executive who’s making his directing debut with “Semi-Pro.” Having worked with Moore on his television show “TV Nation,” Alterman says he had “this sort of vicarious affection for Flint,” which, for him, represents a classic American underdog town. He liked the idea of Jackie Moon, the one-hit crooner, growing up in the shadow of Motown. And he credits Ferrell’s performance with giving the movie the same heart the real Flint has. “The character he plays is a great character,” Alterman says. “He’s really funny, but he has real vulnerability.” And though the Flint Tropics are fictitious, the city did have a team in the early `70s called the Flint Pros that played in the Continental Basketball Association Great Lakes region, says Dennis Truax of the CBA. Ferrell, Harrelson, Andre Benjamin and other cast members traveled to Flint and Detroit last spring to shoot some scenes, including exterior shots at the Michigan State Fairgrounds (the

outside of the State Fair Coliseum doubles as a Flint stadium in the movie) and in an alley next to Flint’s Capitol Theatre. “That was fun,” Ferrell recalls of the alley scene in Flint, where his character lies despondently in a Dumpster. “It was so sweet. People were really nice to me and they were so appreciative that we were there.” In keeping with the renegade spirit and showmanship of the ABA, “Semi-Pro” isn’t just set in the `70s. It captures the mood of a freewheeling comedy from that era, in part through using profanity and racy situations that aren’t as common Jackie Moon, played by Will Ferrell, prepares to take a free throw in recent release in Ferrell’s PG-13 fare. “Semi-Pro.” “We wanted this to Photo by MCT have the feel of films lenging parts? it will be commercially successful.” like ‘Slap Shot,’ that were ‘70s comedies that had a little So far, Ferrell seems willing to try He continues, without bashing any grit to them and were even shot darker, both, but his heart belongs to laughter. past choices by name. “You always things like that,” says Ferrell. “I thought Last year, he and his friend and col- hope that happens, but a couple times it was a great idea, a very appealing laborator, Adam McKay, made a splash that I’ve gone down the road of, this is a on the Web with their FunnyorDie.com commercial choice, I’ve had some pang thing.” But the movie has typical Ferrell site, which struck gold with “The Land- of like, I don’t know if it’ll work. It’s touches that will please his loyal fans, lord,” a vignette featuring Ferrell as a backfired.” like the fight that breaks out among tenant arguing with an abusive landlord No matter what “Semi-Pro” earns in Jackie Moon’s pals over use of the played by McKay’s 2 -year-old daughter its opening weekend, Ferrell can walk phrase “jive turkey,” and the sort of ab- (who repeated lines she was too young away having spent time with kindred comedy spirits such as costars Will surd lines that Ferrellites love to repeat to understand). (“I’m so happy I can’t even feel my One of his upcoming projects is star- Arnett, Andy Richter, David Koechner ring in a film remake of “Land of the and Rob Corddry. arms!” Jackie shouts at one point). There’s even a bit where Ferrell wres- Lost,” the 1970s kids TV series by Sid “I had a great time and I think it’s retles a bear, a stunt that Jackie attempts and Marty Krofft. It’s a project that ally funny,” he says of the experience. sounds as unusual as some of Ferrell’s With the interview almost over, he to boost attendance in his NBA quest. It’s a scene that fills Ferrell with great characters. But it could be more prom- fields a question as daft as Jackie Moon. ising than another Ferrell TV remake, When he receives his Mark Twain Prize mock pride. “Well, I train bears myself,” he says. the misguided version of “Bewitched” for American Humor or his Kennedy Center Honors one day, which clip from “I have about 10 of them at home. But with Nicole Kidman. that one, I wasn’t allowed near because In choosing which projects to do, “Semi-Pro” would he like to include in of the union rules, but I am proficient in Ferrell says he’s trusting his instincts the highlight reel? and avoiding calculated career plans. “Uh, gosh,” he says, pausing. Maybe handling live bears, yes.” At this point in his career, Ferrell “I’m really just trying to be selective that scene “where I’m eating cold panfaces the dilemma of the successful cin- in things that are really going to make cakes in a Dumpster.” ematic funny man. Does he keep doing me laugh. If it’s a little more of a broad- Then he laughs skeptically. “I look the kind of pictures everybody loves? er movie, if you will, it’s still got to forward to my Mark Twain award,” he Or does he aim to stretch his acting have some teeth to it. Ultimately, I am says, sounding as if he honestly doesn’t muscles, Jim Carrey-style, and seek out focusing on doing what I really want to realize he’ll be in the running. do without any thought of as to whether edgier, more chal-

A cluster of media types is sprawled inside Michigan State University’s Breslin Center, sipping on sodas and waiting for an encounter with a king of comedy. Things are running behind schedule, but the mood is amiable enough because the payoff is getting to meet Will Ferrell. What will he be like? Will he come barreling in with arrogant bravado, like Chazz Michael Michaels from “Blades of Glory,” or prance about with childish wonder, like Buddy from “Elf?” The surprise is, in real life, he’s more like his reserved, wistful character from “Stranger Than Fiction,” a guy who approaches life’s tasks with a low-key politeness that’s as ordinary as it is endearing. On this day, his job is talking up “Semi-Pro,” his new basketball comedy set in 1970s Flint, Mich. It’s a discofunky underdog story that gives Ferrell an excuse to wear horrendous clothing, wrestle a bear and attempt a death-defying leap over a line of sexy cheerleaders. Clad in a Michigan State sweatshirt, Ferrell settles into a chair for a oneon-one chat. In a few hours, he’ll be the star attraction at a comedy concert inside the same building. But for now, he’s the soul of modesty. What does he think about the movie’s affectionate tone toward Flint? The credit for that, he replies, goes to the director, Kent Alterman, who used to work with Michael Moore, the man who chronicled Flint’s struggles in “Roger and Me.” Did Ferrell sense the scrappiness of Flint that the movie so goofily captures? Again, he says, that idea came from Alterman, who worked with the cinematographer to give the comedy a gritty, retro feeling. The conversation shifts to classic ‘70s comedies and then to Ferrell’s stomach as an acting tool. He has no qualms about revealing his flesh, whether it’s for a naked run through the streets in “Old School” or, most recently, the “Semi-Pro” trailer where he’s stretched out like a Playgirl pinup, wearing only a discreetly placed basketball and a headband. Does he have the only comedy abdomen in the business right now? In a flash, Ferrell slips into the 1400 Borton Lane mock-serious voice of the overly Wichita Falls, TX 76305 confident goofball he portrays so Rev. Angus Thompson, perfectly onscreen. Pastor “The Church That Reminds “I don’t have the only one. I You of Home” have one of the best,” he deadWe Welcome Our pans. “It may not be the only one, Lively music and New Neighbors but it’s in the top three, at least.” down home It’s also safe to call Ferrell Sunday School 9:30 A.M. one of the funniest people in film preaching and Morning Worship 10:45 A.M. these days. The “Saturday Night Bible Study Wednesday Evening 7:00 P.M. teachings. Live” alumni has attempted more

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Feature

The Wichitan Mar. 5, 2008

Whither Shakespeare? He’s backeth, baby! Familiar faces from the history, literature books live again on MySpace

By Alyson Ward McClatchy Newspapers (MCT)

Lots of famous people are on MySpace. But a good number of them are long dead. Every dead poet, philosopher, artist and past president you can think of has a MySpace page and many are presented in the first person, as if Thomas Edison and Joan of Arc are lounging at home in their pajamas, posting pictures and updating their blogs. Benjamin Franklin recommends that his visitors read a bio that’s posted on the site. “Maybe,” he writes, “it will help people realize that flying a freakin’ kite wasn’t my greatest accomplishment.” Charles Darwin has gotten tired of people spamming his page. So he’ll be approving comments before they’re posted, thanks. And George Washington asks us: “Who rocked the revolution? ... That’s right, I did.” The Internet can bridge distances, bringing people together across continents. But now - thanks to some creative souls with a lot of time on their hands - it can also bridge decades, even centuries. Who thought Henry David Thoreau, who found such solace in solitude, would approve of a social networking site? Or that private Emily Dickinson would find the exhibitionism to blog? And who would have predicted that, in the Internet age, Abraham Lincoln and John Wilkes Booth would be friends? They’ll add you as their

How do you say, `Thanks for the add’?

How do you thank your hero?

–Terry, to President Abraham Lincoln: “Thank you for the add. I’ve admired your courage and politics for quite awhile. I also think you were kinda hot when you were younger. ...” –Annie, to poet Sylvia Plath: “HI, SYLVIA! I’M GLAD WE’RE FRIENDS. COME READ MY POETRY IN MY BLOG IF YOU HAVE THE TIME. I SHALL NOT CLAIM TO BE ON YOUR LEVEL, OF COURSE BUT I SING MY SONGS MAINLY FOR MY OWN AMUSEMENT, ANYHOW! ;) BUT YOU MAY ENJOY THEM. LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.”

–TomO, to President Abraham Lincoln: “Abe, dude, that thing you are doing with trying to free the slaves? Awesome. You da man! You rock that hat like no one else!” –Max X, to author George Orwell: “Good writing, loved Animal Farm.” –Nicole, to President George Washington: “Thanks for leading our country even though by now ur probably a ba-jillion years old ... keep on wearin that wig.”

–Nick, to writer Gertrude Stein: “Thanks, Gert.” friends, too - after all, that’s what MySpace is all about. But the anachronism raises all kinds of etiquette questions. What do we say to our long-departed heroes? Can we really talk banalities with poet Marianne Moore or Mary Todd Lincoln? Can we

tell Alexander the Great to have a great weekend, or urge Napoleon to hang in there ‘cause Monday’s almost over? But, as with almost everything online, it’s best not to overthink things. After all, even the most articulate voices of history seem nearly il-

literate on MySpace. Mathematician Rene Descartes _-he who brought us “I think, therefore I am” - introduces himself this way: “Well, I’m a famous philospher, mathemitician, and scientist lol. I went to college when I was 8 because I am so smart rofl,

but later I learned how much of a noob I really was.” And in another circle of MySpace friends, the Founding Fathers hash out some specifics of the Constitution by commenting on each other’s blog entries. “I think that’s probably a good idea,” says Washington about a hard-won compromise. “Let’s use that. WOOT.” We couldn’t resist dropping in on the heroes of history, the famous figures who have returned to us online for “networking and friends” (except for Pablo Picasso, who also signed on for “dating” and “serious relationships”). Here’s what we learned about how the famous faces of the past tend to mingle among the living online: When you’re famous (and deceased), how do you introduce yourself? Shakespeare: “It is correct. I am backeth! It was once that I had a flight of sleep, but I have arisen to reclaim my art in this new and bright millennium.” Salvador Dali: “At the age of six I wanted to be a cook. At seven I wanted to be Napoleon. And my ambition has been growing steadily ever since.” James Joyce: “I’ve put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant, and that’s the only way of insuring one’s immortality.” Richard Nixon: “I welcome this kind of examination of my profile, because the MySpace users have got to know whether or not their friend is a crook. Well, I am not a crook!” Walt Whitman: “If you want purely biographical stuff, I un-

derstand there’s a really good article about me on Wikipedia.” Ernest Hemingway: “I would like to apologize for one thing. While writing Death in the Afternoon, I sounded like a total jerk, and I promise you, I’m not a jerk. I’m actually a pretty nice guy.” Who’s in their Top 8: T.S. Eliot: Dorothy Parker, D.H. Lawrence, Aldous Huxley, MySpace celeb Tila Tequila Carl Jung: Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, H.L. Mencken, Peter Gabriel Tribute Band Cicero: Odysseus, Roman Emperors Caligula and Domitian, Cookie Monster Albert Einstein: Isaac Newton, William Shakespeare, Plato, Mister Rogers Whom they’d like to meet: John Keats: “Poets, nightingales, people who like my poems, perhaps a doctor to cure me once and for all of this debilitating sickness.” Martin Luther: “I’d also like to meet faithful ‘Lutherans’ (I TOLD THEM NOT TO NAME THE CHURCH AFTER ME!) and other Christians.” William Shakespeare: “Kenneth Branagh, Patrick Stewart, Marlon Brando (sadly, never will), Al Pacino, Emma Thompson, Mel Gibson (just to slap him).” Ernest Hemingway: “I’d like to meet all my fans. I’m glad that you all enjoy reading my books. Some of you may not like my books, but hey, there are other authors to choose from aren’t there?” Beethoven: “I am not what you call a people person.”

Students get airbrush tattoos, enjoy activities during UPB-sponsored Sadie Hawkins Social

Patrick Johnston The Wichitan (Left) Graduate student Sachin Yawalkar gets tribal emblem inked on his arm during the Sadie Hawkins Social last Friday night at the Clark Student Center. Other activities included Scene It? the DVD game, food, and dancing. (Above) Sophomore Gigi Mattar smiles while she watches the tattoo artist airbrush on a temporary tattoo.

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Sports

The Wichitan Mar. 5, 2008

s s e n d o o G & s s e n d a M h c Enjoy the greatest time of the year Mar in sports, while it lasts!

semi-finals. On the way to the Final Four the bracket passes through other famously-quoted alliterations such as: the Elite Eight and, of course, the Sweet Sixteen. Most people’s hopes and dreams of perfect bracket glory are long dashed by this time, but after watching over fifty basketball games in the month of March many fans, even if they never watch college basketball, start pulling for a team and get emotionally attached to how well a team does later in the Tournament. I think that the greatest weekend in all of sports is Final Four weekend, this year being held in San Antonio, Texas. Final Four weekend proves greater than even Super Bowl weekend, in my eyes, because of the collegiate atmosphere and also the volume of games. There are three games over Final Four weekend, encompassing the National Championship game. Now, say college basketball isn’t you’re thing. Luckily for you there is still a plethora of sporting occasions to get excited about in the month of March. The playoff push comes down to the wire in the NBA, where eight teams from both the West and East conferences of sixteen, are battling it out for playoff berths and positioning. The pros differ from the collegiate athletes, because maybe they won’t put all of their emotion and energy into every outing, but not in March. March is where the great teams separate from the sub-par squads and where the elite players step up and lead their teams to potential post-season glory. The second half of the NBA season makes for great primetime television and the pouring out of competitiveness by the pros makes a lot of people want to tune into the NBA season in March and heading into the playoffs which start in early April. Okay. Say you’re not just a real big basketball fan in general. There isn’t really to offer for baseball and football fans in both of the sports’ off-season is there? That’s where you’re wrong. In March, in ballparks around America, the sounds of gloves smacking together and bats clanging with the sound of a

Bobby Morris Sports Editor

“March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb” is the old saying around here regarding the volatile spring weather that Texoma is known for. The comparison, however, of March to a lion has a completely different meaning to me. The most compelling time of the year in the world of sports for me, and many others, centers around March. If it’s not the grinding second half of the NBA season, the buzz surrounding the upcoming NFL rookie draft, or even the beginning of spring training for the major leaguers then look no further than March Madness, baby! Every NCAA Division I college basketball program circles this month on their calendars in the pre-season and sets their sights on going to “The Big Dance.” Now, in the month most famously, or infamously, known for its Spring Break, all of these college teams are seeing their dreams come true or vanish right before their eyes. It has been coined cleverly as “bracketology” over the passing years, as sports experts all gather at one time and fill out the elaborate brackets that are associated with every March Madness. However, in many businesses, schools, and more recently online pools, everyone gets a chance to flex their collegiate basketball knowledge muscles and attempt to complete that ever-impossible perfect bracket. Sixty-five teams get into the annual tournament and these teams are all divided into four separate and evenly balanced regions: West, Midwest, East, and South. Once March hits you start to see the buzz on Division I college campuses rise as the imminent chance to be invited to the Tournament awaits them. Every day when you flip on the television to a sports network you can see the experts, or “bracketologists,” spew their opinions, thoughts, and knowledge on America in an attempt to build the perfect bracket. Over the opening two weekends of play, the field of sixtyfive teams is narrowed down to the Final Four, or the national

Lady Mustangs drop season finale Josh Mujica Staff Reporter

The Lady Mustangs basketball team took on the Eastern New Mexico Zias in their season finale Saturday night at Greyhound Arena in Portales. ENM rushed out to a 16-2 lead with six minutes to go in the first half and although MSU was able to cut the lead in half with an 8-0 run with three minutes left before intermission, the Zias hung on to claim the victory, 75-56. ENM took a 42-30 advantage into the half and kept a doubledigit advantage for the rest of the game. Tiffany Cook posted seventeen points and snagged nine rebounds to lead the Mustangs in the game. Kaylon Hodge contributed her second career double-double, in

her final game with Midwestern State, with a thirteen point, eleven rebound performance. MSU was without the services of guard Brandy Moore, who missed the game due to family matters. ENM’s Megan Kabrick netted a season-high 22 points while shooting 8-of-13 from the field. She also had six treys and three steals in the game. Til-Lois Fifer helped the Zias with fifteen points and ten rebounds while Patricia Malouff threw in fourteen points and grabbed nine boards. The Mustangs end the season by dropping their eighth-straight game for a 9-18 overall record in what ended up being their final game under head coach Shannon Burks. They finished 3-11 in the Lone Star Conference South Division competition on the season.

crisply hit balls, ring in the sound of spring training for baseball fans everywhere. Every major league ball club begins spring training in March, if not in February. Spring league baseball leagues burst onto the scene as potential big leaguers look to make a name for them while seasoned veterans look to warm-up into another grueling 162-game regular season. Most major leaguers participate in these spring

leagues most commonly known for their festive names, like the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues. All of the preparation and organization in February and March leads up to the dramatic Opening Day for Major League Baseball, usually coming in lateMarch or early-April. Now, for all the football fanatics – don’t worry. The NFL Draft comes in early-April and there’s never a shortage of coverage and analysis of all of the college ath-

letes and pro franchises during March leading up to the Draft. For fans of specifics teams and cities, this is the time of year where your team picks up the players to solidify their dynasty or makes the mistakes that leave them at the bottom of the pack for yet another year. Will your team get that franchise quarterback to lead your team into years of glory, or will they go for that high-risk, highreward running back that could

be the next Barry Sanders or the next Maurice Clarett? This question and so many more will be asked by analysts, fans, and teams’ staff, but all will be answered on that draft day in early April. So sit back and enjoy everyone, because you’re right in the middle of the most intriguing and exciting time for sports; enjoy this time of the year in all its goodness. And madness.

Selling Plasma Pays the Bills

Selling plasma serves as an additional source of income for many college students in need of a little extra cash. DCI Biologicals at 1908 9th Street in Wichita Falls pays their donors $20 cash on their first visit and $25 second donation within a week’s time. Thereafter, depending on donor’s weight and number of donations roughly $190 per month. For many, people use this to supplement a meager income. “It supports my transportation,” said 20 yearold Nick Collins of donating plasma for “gas money.” Collins, a junior computer science major, started donating regularly during his freshman year as a way to supplement his meager budget. “It’s the easiest money I’ve ever made,” he said. “I sit there for an hour, and watch movies, and they pay me.” Plasma is the liquid portion of the blood that contains proteins and antibodies that the immune system produces to fight diseases, said Jason Wheat, Medical Supervisor at DCI Biologicals. Donors only give the liquid portion of their blood, which is separated from the cellular portion that contains white and red blood cells and platelets. Approximately 3 million liters of plasma are collected annually, Jason said, in more than 60 collection centers nationwide. These 3 million liters go to developing life-saving plasma products that more than a million people depend on annually. Some of these products include coagulation therapies, which are used in the treatment of bleeding disorder such as hemophilia; critical care products, which are used to treat shock and burns, and serve as fluid replacement therapies in places such as hospitals. Donors are required to have valid identification and proof of their social security number present. After filling out a mandatory questionnaire, the medical staff performs a health screening and exam. The first visit takes the most time then after that it goes a lot faster. The first donation is used for testing to ensure the safety and quality of the plasma. Only after a second donation is made can the first be used, which is one reason why Jason urges everyone to make at least two donations. To make the process go by quicker, Jason suggests eating a well-balanced meal and drinking four to six glasses of water, juice or other caffeine-free liquids two to three hours before donating. While some donate regularly like Collins, and others would like to, but are unable to do so for health reasons like autoimmune disease. To find out if your qualify stop by today DCI Biologicals at 1908 9th St. in Wichita Falls.

Sports

The Wichitan Mar. 5, 2008

Home Sweet Home

Lady Mustangs go on four-game winning streak after playing first home games of season Bobby Morris Sports Editor

Without any inclement weather to speak of, besides some terrible wind gusts on Sunday afternoon, the Lady Mustangs’ softball squad finally took the field at Mustangs Park for the first time this season. The team wasted no time capitalizing on home-field advantage, taking care of business and notching four straight victories against Southwestern Oklahoma State and Abilene Christian. The four-game home winning streak improved the Lady Mustangs overall record to 14-9 and 3-1 in Lone Star Conference North competition. Yesterday, sophomore pitcher Katie Peterson led the Lady Mustangs’ squad against the Southwestern Oklahoma State

Bulldogs and completely dominated the first game of the double-header, eventually taking the game 10-1. Peterson pitched four scoreless innings, before being relieved, and struck out six batters on her way to her ninth win of the season. Senior Ashley Kuchenski led the way in the batter’s box for the Lady Mustangs in game one, by driving in four runs on 2-of-2 hitting. Catcher Lindsey Voigt and shortstop Amanda Potysman both slammed homers over the left field fence to highlight fourrun third and fourth innings. Relief pitcher Brittany Tanner gave up a late run before retiring the last three batters and giving the Lady Mustangs the dominant game one victory. The second game of the dou-

ble -header was a completely different story, but the outcome was the same as the Lady Mustangs rode Peterson’s pitching and timely hitting to take the 4-3 win. Kuchenski started game two and gave the Lady Mustangs seven quality innings of work, allowing only three runs until being relieved in the first extra inning. Voigt blasted her second homerun of the afternoon in the third inning to give the Mustangs the lead temporarily. It was Voigt’s fifth homerun of the season. Peterson pitched a three-upthree-down eighth inning, before coming to the plate and lining a game-winning single into center field. The extra innings victory improved Peterson’s mark to 10-2

Patrick Johnston The Wichitan (Above) Pitcher Katie Peterson (19) hurls a pitch in game one of a doubleheader against Southwestern Oklahoma State, yesterdy. (To the right) Senior Lindsey Voigt (3) slams her second homer of the afternoon which wound up being the decisive run in the extra innings Mustangs’ victory.

on the season. The Lady Mustangs are set to take on Texas Women’s Uni-

versity in a double-header at Mustangs Park this afternoon at 1 p.m., before

battling Central Oklahoma in a double-header at Mustangs Park this Saturday at 2 p.m.

Women’s head coach resigns suddenly following season Kaitlin Morrison For the Wichitan

Midwestern State’s woman’s basketball coach Shannon Burks announced his decision to resign from the program Monday morning. “This is strictly a family decision for me,” Burks said. “I was given a job opportunity that will allow me to spend more time and be closer to my family.” Burks has coached at Midwestern State for nine years,

the longest tenure by a coach in the program’s history. He led the Mustangs to three 20-win seasons, two trips to the NCAA Division II regional tournament (2001, 2003) and a Lone Star Conference championship in 2001. Last year, Burks passed Kim Griffee, Midwestern State’s head coach from1984-1992, to become the program’s winningest coach. He compiled a record of 132-117 over his nine years as the Mustangs’ coach.

Throughout his coaching experience at MSU, Burks has been named divisional coach of the year two times, coached a pair of All-Americans, eight first-team and three secondteam all-conference players. “I’ve always felt privileged to be coach at Midwestern,” Burks said. “It was a great place to be for me. I thank everyone for all of their support.” After going 8-18 in the 19992000 season Burks led his team to a 23-7 mark in his second

season as head coach (200001). His third year, the team finished with a mark of 20-9 and placed third in the LSC. Burks led the Mustangs to a 19-8 mark in the 2003-04 season before suffering through four sub-.500 seasons. “Shannon brought class and character to the MSU athletic program,” MSU Athletics Director Charlie Carr said. “He will be greatly missed in our

women’s basketball program, but we respect his decision to put his young son first. We will move forward as quickly as possible to find a quality person and coach to lead our program forward.” A native of Lincoln, Burks graduated from Evangel College in Springfield, Mo. He lettered in baseball while completing a bachelor’s degree. He then moved to Henderson State in Arkadelphia, Ark., where he served as the graduate assistant

baseball coach while earning his master’s degree. Burks served seven years as the top assistant to the legendary Jim Foley at Arkansas Tech University. He helped the Golden Suns to a 185-33 record, an NAIA national title in 1993 and an NAIA national semifinal appearance in 1997. After making the move to Division II, Arkansas Tech advanced to the Elite Eight in 1998 before finishing as national runners-up in 1999.

Tennis team returns home and prepares for conference play doubles’ matches against Metro State. The Mustangs then moved The men’s tennis program re- on to take on No. 22 Southwest turned home for a set of match- Baptist (Mo.) and Southeastern es at the MSU Tennis Courts Oklahoma last Friday, in Lawlast Thursday in a lately sched- ton, Okla. at the Cameron Uniuled set against the Metro State versity Tennis Complex. Roadrunners. After extending their season Following a pair of closely long winning streak to eight at contested doubles’ matches, the MSU Tennis Courts, the No. 32 Midwestern State ex- Southwest Baptist Bulldogs tended their winning streak to promptly squashed the streak eight matches by beating down by defeating the MSU No. 1 and the Roadrunners, 6-3. No. 2 doubles team for the sec The tandems of Zac Dillard ond time all season and eventuand Vjekoclav Stipanic along ally taking the matches 6-3. with Karim Belhadj and Chip McMullen rallied from dropThreadgill came away with two ping his doubles’ match to extight victories from the top two tend his personal singles’ winpositions, 8-6 and 9-7 respec- ning streak to eight by defeating tively, to propel the Mustangs SBU’s Daniel Prerad in a threeto the victory. set tiebreaker, 4-6, 6-3, and Mustangs’ other doubles 10-8. team of Travis Stegner and The top half of the lineup, Daniel McMullen teamed up to which struggled against Southdominate the third and last dou- west Baptist, led the way later bles’ match, 8-1, to sweep the in the afternoon against SouthBobby Morris Sports Editor

eastern Oklahoma as they got back on the winning track 5-4. The doubles’ tandems of Belhadj / Stipanic and Dillard / McMullan dominated both of the opening matches and gave the Mustangs a 2-1 lead entering singles’ matches. McMullan claimed his ninth straight singles’ victory to highlight three different singles’ victories to clinch the victory for Midwestern State. Midwestern State then clashed against St. Mary’s last Saturday afternoon also at the Cameron University Tennis Courts. The Mustangs clinched a 5-4 victory coming from the final match off the courts to improve to 10-3 on the season and recover to win their second-straight after dropping one against Southwest Baptist earlier in the weekend. MSU dropped their doubles’ matches at the No. 1 and No. 2

positions again in this match-up but rallied to take four of the six singles’ matches including the final match on the court. Midwestern State’s Travis Stegner dropped his first set 6-3 before recovering to take the final two sets 6-2, 6-0 to give MSU the clinching match to

claim victory. The men’s tennis squad will return to the MSU Tennis Courts next Friday, March 13 to take on Collin County CC before pausing a week for Spring Break. The Lady Mustangs tennis team will also be back in action

at home this Saturday to take on Central Oklahoma in their opening Lone Star Conference event and hopefully extend their present-winning streak of five games. They will take on Central Oklahoma before traveling to take on East Central next Wednesday March 12 at 3p.m.

Mustangs victorious in finale Josh Mujica Staff Reporter

The Mustangs avoided a losing season Saturday as they stomped the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds, 73-56, in Portales. MSU finishes with a 13-13 overall record and improved to a 5-7 Lone Star Conference South Division mark on the season. The Mustangs used a 17-4 run at the end of the first half to jump out to a 31-14 lead and never looked back.

The Greyhounds rallied to pull the score to 59-52 with five minutes to go in the second half but were unable to take momentum away from the Mustangs. MSU’s Nolan Richardson IV finished one assist shy of his second double-double of the season with a line that included seventeen points and nine dishes for scores. Senior Jeremy Ford added fourteen points including twelve from three-point land, while senior captain Chris Davis had ten points and five rebounds. Senior

Christopher Reay aided the Mustang rally with four points, five boards and three blocked shots in all of their final MSU game. Ford ended his career at Midwestern with 136 3-pointers to put him at fifth place in the program’s history. His 79 3-pointers for the year rank him seventh in most treys in a single season. Marquis Ruffin posted nineteen points and nine boards to lead the Greyhounds in the loss. ENM ends the year 6-21 overall and winless in LSC competition.

on deck... Take a look at what’s on tap for Mustang athletics this week and come support your Mustangs!

Wednesday

Softball - Texas

Women’s (DH) 1 p.m.

Thrusday

Friday

Saturday

Softball

- Central Oklahoma (DH) 2 p.m. Women’s Tennis Central Oklahoma

Women’s Soccer (Spring) - University of Oklahoma 11 a.m

Women’s Soccer (Spring) - NOKC United 2 p.m.

Sunday

Monday

Golf - @ Red River

Intercollegiate Golf Tourney (Thackerville, Okla.)

Tuesday

Golf - @ Red River

Intercollegiate Golf Tourney (Thackerville, Okla.) Softball - @ Central Oklahoma (DH) 1 p.m.