GROSS GOES 3D: Jackass crew returns to the big screen, bringing shock value comedy into another dimension.
npage 5
RECOVERY: #13 Mustangs football team comes back from last week’s loss to win against the Angelo State University Rams at Memorial Stadium.
npage 8
thewichitan
On thin ice
Wednesday n October 20, 2010
your university n your voice
Morrow plays the quiet game Chris Collins Managing Editor
When she was young, music chair Dr. Ruth Morrow hiked in the Washington area with her family. A hermit, she said, lived in the hills. Her family sometimes visited the man, talking to him and bringing him food. It was pleasant there. It was quiet. “When I retire, it would really be okay to be a hermit,” she said. This may seem odd to those who know Morrow – a talkative woman who has spent her life listening to, composing and teaching music. But in her twenty-first year as a professor at MSU, she has
Ruth Morrow, music department chair, speaks on the importance of silence. (Photo by Chris Collins)
come to a realization. Silence is just as important as sound. Maybe even more so.
See SILENCE on page 3
Capt. Jepp maps out history of aviation Chris Collins Managing Editor
Flying airplanes in the late 1920s was a dangerous trade. Airports were disorganized, planes were built haphazardly, and pilots sometimes had to double as daredevils just to make a buck. These factors propelled Capt. Elrey Jeppesen to piloting superstardom in the modern world, from a penniless stunt flyer to an expert navigator of the skies. Two authors, Flint Whitlock
Brittany Hyde is one of more than 300 MSU students currently on academic probation. She spends more time studying in the library now as she attempts to raise her GPA. (Photo by Hannah Hofmann)
Student struggles to improve grades, leave behind academic probation Brittney Cottingham Features Editor
It’s Thursday, 9:28 p.m. Sophomore Brittany Hyde has two options: spending college night at Stage West nightclub or studying for her history midterm. Her iPhone is constantly buzzing. Her girlfriends trying their hardest to convince her to ditch studying. They say, “Ladies get in free before 10!
You have 30 minutes to get dressed.” She thinks, “Hey, I can study tomorrow morning.” But a little voice in the back of her mind is telling her it’s a bad idea. She groans, telling her friends that she’ll have to meet up with them next time. Disappointed, she stares down at her history textbook and note cards. They’ll be keeping her company tonight. Like 303 other undergraduates students at MSU, Hyde has been placed on academic
probation. Students on academic probation are still eligible to enroll in classes, but they have to join the Scholastic Success Program – a program meant to help students attain the maximum level of success in their educational pursuits. It places special requirements on these students, like maintaining a 2.0 GPA and attending weekly academic counseling success. She said being placed on probation isn’t
See PROBATION on page 3
Caleb Elliot has never watched a sunset, seen the stars or looked upon the family that adopted him when he was one day old. He was born blind, but he doesn’t let the condition dampen his fervor for life. Elliot was five months old when his parents realized there was something wrong with his vision. His adoptive mother noticed that he didn’t look at the other children while he played. Concerned, she tested his vision by watching his reaction to a camera’s flash. “She took a picture of me and my eyes didn’t react the right way,” Elliott said. She immediately scheduled an
emergency appointment with their family doctor. Tests revealed a definite problem, but it was a long time before doctors were able to pinpoint the specifics of his condition. Elliott’s family hoped to find treatment before the symptoms became permanent. They traveled to visit specialists at St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and in Memphis, Tenn. “For the first three years of my life, we were doing all kinds of tests,” Elliott said. Doctors eventually diagnosed Elliott with a condition called Leber’s Congenital Amaurosis (LCA). LCA is an inherited eye disorder that primarily affects the retina, the specialized tissue at the back of the eye that detects light and color. In addition to severe vision loss from
birth, the condition’s symptoms include a variety of other eye-related abnormalities, such as roving eye movements, deep-set eyes and sensitivity to bright light. Elliott is completely blind except for light perception, the ability to distinguish light from dark. But even that, he said, is slowly fading away. He said he can see sunlight pretty well, but cannot perceive indoor light at all. “Sometimes I’ll have days I can’t really see any light at all,” Elliott said. The condition has required Elliott to work harder than most in many areas of life. “My mom has always told me about how hard I had to work just to learn how to do (everyday) things,” Elliott said. “(It was hard for me to)
See JEPP on page 3
Student body to vote on CSC fee increase Alyssa Johnston Chris Collins For the Wichitan
The MSU administration is putting students on the spot. A leaky roof and faulty wiring is plaguing Clark Student Center. The administration wants students to help cover the cost for repairs. Two weeks ago, Dr. Keith Lamb, associate vice president of student affairs, met with the Student Government Association to propose increasing the current Student Center Fee by
Blind student achieves independence Josh Hayter For the Wichitan
and Terry Barnhart, visited MSU Thursday to showcase the book they wrote about Jeppesen. The biography, called ‘Capt. Jepp and the Little Black Book,’ documents the life and achievements of the flight legend. It was published in 2007 to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of Jeppesen’s birth. The national bestseller is in its third printing and about 10,000 copies have been sold thus far. “Jeppesen contributed more to the safety of aviation than
sit up, roll over – you know, anything that a baby would do.” As Elliott grew older, he became aware he was different. “I guess I really started to realize I was different (when) my parents got me my first white cane,” he said. “I started to realize that I did have limitations.” These limitations did not prevent him from enjoying “normal” childhood activities, like t-ball, gymnastics and attending Wichita Falls public schools. When Elliott started his freshman year at Rider High School, his blindness became a social obstacle. “It was just like any other big high school,” he said. “(There were) cliques, and unless you were a star athlete or something, you were just
See BLINDNESS on page 4
$20 per student, per semester. On Tuesday night, the Student Government Association took a vote. Their conclusion: let the students decide. Within the next two weeks, the student body will have the opportunity to go to the polls. “We’re trying to reach the students,” Lamb said. Discussion about the fee has gone on for a month among SGA members. At their meeting yesterday, they debated the issue for more than 40 minutes.
See FEE on page 4
Caleb Elliott uses a white cane to compensate for his blindness as he navigates around campus. Elliott, who has been blind since birth, is pursuing a degree in special education. (Photo by Hannah Hofmann)
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The Wichitan
campusvoice nour view
Ask questions, demonstrate respect Part of being a student is questioning things and thinking critically. Most instructors state that encouraging critical thinking is one of the core goal in their classes. Sometimes, that can come back to bite professors. The bite: sometimes, the criticism turns back on them. Thinking analytically can cause students to adopt a critical attitude about everything. Most professors and administrators would welcome discussions spurred by that kind of thought. Professors shouldn’t expect students to only think critically about their textbooks, though. That would be shortsighted. Some students express their thoughts about classroom material in class and in public. Students should be critical of their
professors’ opinions and beliefs. Professors should encourage individual thought, even when it causes conflict. Unfortunately, some don’t. When professors bring their own opinions or beliefs into the classroom, inadvertently or on purpose, they shouldn’t be surprised if students call them out. Challenging the pedagogical decisions of professors is a bit different than analyzing or disagreeing with the material in a textbook, and some profs take the remarks personally. Students should not be afraid to call what a professor decides to spout in class into question. Why? Because thinking shouldn’t be off-limits when it comes to evaluating what a professor is saying. There are two keys to fostering constructive discussions in the classroom.
The first: students should be sure they actually think critically rather than speaking up for the sole purpose of causing problems. Beliefs and opinions are personal, so it would be unproductive to viciously attack another person’s position without cause. So be nice, please. The second key is to be respectful. Professors are people, too, but they are people who have earned advanced degrees. They are experts in their fields. They usually know what they’re talking about. But their degrees don’t make them infallable. Don’t be intimidated. Keep an open mind, think critically about what you’re told and don’t hesitate to speak up – constructively.
October 20, 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: Cameron Shaffer nSports Editor: Andre Gonzales nFeatures editor: Brittney Cottingham nPhoto Editor: Hannah Hofmann nAdvertising manager: Rachel Bingham nCopy editors: Alyssa Johnston, Amaka Oguchi nadviser: Randy Pruitt nReporters: nPhotographers: Kassie Bruton, Damian Atamenwan
Copyright © 2010. 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.
nLetters to the editor
Comedians rally to restore sanity and/or fear nSocietal Floss
Jon Stewart was planning on announcing that he would have an announcement sometime in the near to not-so-near future. Stephan Colbert responded that he would make an even bigger counter announcement. By mid September Stewart and Colbert had each announced a rally to held in Washington D.C. on October 30th. Stewart’s Rally to Restore Sanity is aimed for the people of American who do not have extreme or radical political views and are underrepresented in the media. Stewart argues that about 20% of Americans have these extreme views and have controlled the political and cultural discourse. He blames people on both the right and the left, from the anti-war protesters holding “Bush is a Nazi” signs to the Tea Party protests. He has offered potential signs to hold at the rally, including “I disagree with you, but I’m pretty sure you’re not Hitler.” Stewart’s site for the rally says “Ours is a rally for the people who’ve been too busy to go to rallies, who actually have lives and families and jobs (or are looking for jobs) — not so much the Silent Majority as the Busy Majority. If we had to sum up the political view of our participants in a single sentence… we couldn’t. That’s sort of the point.” That same night Colbert an-
Cameron Shaffer Opinion Editor nounced his counter rally, The March to Keep Fear Alive. Using the same skills of parody that gave the world the word truthiness, Colbert quips, “America, the Greatest Country God ever gave Man, was built on three bedrock principles: Freedom. Liberty. And Fear — that someone might take our Freedom and Liberty. But now, there are dark, optimistic forces trying to take away our Fear… They want to replace our Fear with reason.” The two rallies have now been combined into a single event (The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear) the allusion to Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor and the Reclaim the Dream rallies is pretty self-apparent. And so is the point that Colbert and Stewart are trying to make. While an apolitical event,
Beck’s August rally was heavily connected to the Tea Party movement and has been looked at as the pinnacle of the Tea Party gatherings prior to the election in November. Besides having a good time by poking fun at Beck’s rally, Stewart and Colbert have revealed how the feel about the current cultural and political discussion taking place right now. Most Americans would agree that the Tea Party and angry protesters are on more of the extreme end of spectrum and are fairly radical. That label of “extreme” has been thrown around and applied many times over the past months. By insisting on a reasonable discussion with all the remaining sane Americans, Stewart is acknowledging and agreeing with that application and facilitating not only a way to express support, but for normal American to as well. The October 2nd rally, One Nation Working Together, was based around much of the same idea: the political discussion has gotten radical and it is better to try to unify people around sanity, reason, and moderation. Colbert’s march parodies the other side of comedic pundits’ critique. Fear is being used to motivate people and that fear is unreasonable. Normally rational Americans are being manipulated by fear into becoming politically active (think death panels,
or President Obama making all your health care choices for you). Colbert is not so subtly mocking the way fear has been employed as a campaign and political tactic. What both these men appear to have missed is that sometimes extremism and fear are reasonable and legitimate. Whether or not the current political forces are reasonable is moot. Colbert, Stewart, and the people they are appealing to are on board with this idea that moderation is king. Sometimes radical things, like seceding from Great Britain to protect your freedom or integrating the military even though the rest of society opposes that move are also reasonable. Responding to the fear of disease by getting a vaccination is prudent. The use of adjectives to demean or deride those you disagree with is becoming far too common, replacing honest consideration to radical ideas. The amount of people committing to the rally (203,000 at the moment) is a clear demonstration that people agree with Colbert and Stewart. Though they may be comedians, they are comedians trying to influence the public discourse and mind. Colbert, Stewart, and the American people should think long and hard before they deride ideas and movements just for being extreme.
The Tea Party incites directionless ire. What is their plan? What are their specific points of contention, and what are their clear-cut suggestions to resolve these issues that make them unhappy? The Republican party is gradually beginning to embrace the Tea Party movement. The movement’s largest financial backers are wealthy Republicans with an agenda – namely, billionaires Rupert Murdoch and the Koch brothers, David and Charles. An Aug. 30 article in The New Yorker quotes Charles Lewis, founder of the Center for Public Integrity, a nonpartisan watchdog group, who said, “The Kochs are on a whole different level. There’s no one else who has spent this much money. The sheer dimension of it is what sets them apart. They have a pattern of lawbreaking, political manipulation, andobfuscation.” The Koch brothers are enemies of any progressive movement that Obama is leading. Most Americans – including Tea Party enthusiasts – are unaware that the financiers of that “down-home, grassroots movement” are, in fact, New Yorkbased billionaires. They also do not know how the brothers’ fortune originated. The New Yorker article says Fred Koch, Charles and David’s father and a chemical engineer, was unable to find work in the U.S. in the 1920s. He went to the U.S.S.R. where he worked for Josef Stalin. He returned home and in a move that could be considered extremely hypocritical, later joined the antiCommunist fervor of the 1950s in the U.S. as part of the John Birch Society, a group that accused many in the U.S., including President Eisenhower, of being Communists. Fred Koch admired Benito Mussolini and denounced the building civil rights movement. While they don’t share all of their father’s radical views,
David and Charles have radical views of their own. The Kochs’ distaste for government is not limited to Obama. They have opposed curbs on pollution and regulation of carcinogen exposure. By funding the Tea Party, they control the stance of the party and what it aims to accomplish. The Tea Party itself uses scare tactics, utilizing trigger words like “Communist,” or “socialism.” The Koch brothers have paid millions in fines to settle lawsuits brought against them by the Justice Department, accusing the company of causing 300 oil spills. The company was indicted on 97 counts for covering of the discharge of 91 tons of benzene, a carcinogen. The company was found guilty of negligence and malice due to an explosion caused by a leaky underground butane pipe that killed two Texas teens. Koch Industries is one of the largest manufacturers of formaldehyde, proven to cause cancer in rats, and the company uses it in the production of wood and laminate projects over at Koch Industries. The most disturbing fact? David Koch sits on the National Cancer Advisory Board. There is a danger in just latching onto a movement because a passionate speaker incites anger within you. You need to know who you are supporting. By supporting the Tea Party, the average American is supporting the investments and agendas of two men who couldn’t care less about the common man. They don’t care if the Tea Party has no clearcut plan or if it leads a number of Americans down a road with no direction but to anger, as long as those same Americans oppose that which stands in their way. Abigail Scott
nCorrection
In the Oct. 6 issue of The Wichitan it was stated that the 10-meal plan costs $2,860 a semester and that the 19-meal plan costs $2,970 a semester meaning that meals cost $16.82 and $8.63 each respectively. The actual numbers are $1,310 and $1,420 per meal plan and $7.84 and $4.77 per meal respectively.
news
October 20, 2010
PROBATION...................................................................................................................................continued from page 1 something she’s not proud of. “(College) is not a free ride,” Hyde said. “You can’t just do whatever you want. I definitely didn’t have a realistic view of college – but when you come, there are all the parties and fun stuff to do. That’s naturally what I went out and did. I partied too much, I drank too much and I did too much of everything. Everything you could do wrong, I did. It sucks now. I am paying the consequences for it. But it’s better to run from it and to not fall to the same mistakes.” Hyde was on academic probation following her first semester at MSU, but by Fall 2009 she was removed. Hyde began to fall back into the pattern of skipping class and blowing off assignments. In Spring 2010, Hyde had been placed on probation a second time. “I didn’t take it seriously,” Hyde said. “I thought, I’ve been on probation before and I’d get off of it. So instead of doing better, I kept slacking off and slacking off, not doing anything different. So I ended up getting on academic suspension.” Brittany Hyde (Photo by Hannah Hofmann) Hyde can distinctly remember the feeling she had when she received the letter from MSU. It was no longer fund her schooling. a statement reminding her of the consequence of “Before, I had my school paid for,” Hyde said. being placed on academic suspension: she would be “The only conditions I had were to study and to do required to miss an entire semester of classes. well. I couldn’t even do that.” She appealed her suspension and won. But she Admissions Director Barbara Ramos Merkle was still on academic probation. said the biggest mistake a student who fails a class “It’s really hard on you,” she said. “It’s an emo- can make is to go to a community college and take tional thing when they try to kick you out of school. an equivalent course. What some students might It’s heartbreaking – you feel like you’ve completely not know is this: even if they make a higher grade failed. It seems like everyone else is doing such a at the other college, it doesn’t change their GPA at good job, so easily. It’s just hard to know that you MSU. are struggling and not doing what you’re supposed “The biggest suggestion we always make is to reto and (the school) notices.” peat the courses,” Merkle said. “Students repeat a Hyde’s parents, who once paid for her education,
class that they made a D or F in at Midwestern and it will cleans up their GPA.” Merkle also said the admissions office will do anything to help students who are struggling. Part of this effort is the Scholastic Success Program, which Hyde confesses can be a big pain, but is definitely worth it. “At first I wasn’t exactly trilled about the counseling,” Hyde said. “I thought, ‘great it’s just one more thing. I have to do and one more thing I had to spend time on.’ But you have to be open to their help. They aren’t there to punish you. They’re trying to help you get on track. My counselor is nothing but helpful, so I can’t really hold grudges against the school.” Hyde no longer waits until ten minutes before an exam to study. She said she’s now prepared and responsible. She can no longer let her social life affect her education. Before she even thinks about going out at night, Hyde now makes sure that all of her schoolwork is finished first. “It’s a big wake up call,” Hyde said. “Knowing that someone is watching over me and overseeing what I’m doing. I know I can’t disappoint people again. And I want to get out of school – I don’t want to be a poor college student forever.” Hyde, who juggles work and school, said she worked too much when she started college. She said she now has now learned how to manage her time by effectively. Even though she’s a sociology major, Hyde wants to work as a pharmacist. Since she has to repeat courses, she can’t change majors right now. Her goal is to finally be on the right track and stay there by next semester.
One of the flight attendants was Nadine Hudson, the woman who would later become Jeppesen’s wife and lifelong love. Flying in these days was risky business. Pilots had to navigate the airways with little or no onboard instrumentation and few maps. At age 25, Capt. Jepp crashed into an Iowa cornfield during a late-night flight. His plane caught fire and exploded. He barely made it out alive. “Jeppesen almost died. He was badly hurt and he almost lost an eye,” Whitlock said. “Many pilots lost their lives when they crashed into trees, hills and mountains.” It may have been this brush with near-death that ultimately convinced him to author his namesake: a book of maps that would help him flit from city to city safely. At first it was just a project for his personal use. But eventually it would be sold to other pilots for $10 a copy. “It was a pretty good side project and he made a little bit of money doing that,” Whitlock said. He started working harder on the book. It was a project that became more cumbersome by the day. Attention to minute detail was a constant concern for Jeppesen. “He was a real stickler for detail,” Whitlock said. “Even the slightest error on the charts could result in a fatal crash. He was worried sick about the liability of an accident that could be blamed on a faulty map.” After a few years of flying and penning navigation charts, Capt. Jepp had to make a decision: to navigate the airs, or to construct maps to help others do so. He decided map-making was more important to him. “He realized he couldn’t continue doing both jobs,” Whitlock said. “In 1954 he gave up his first love – flying. He then focused all his attention on his business.” The workload was heavy for Jeppesen. Some weeks the changes to a chart would total more than 2,000. “The work was non-stop and so were the headaches,” Whitlock said. Jeppesen sold the company to the giant TimesMirror company shortly thereafter. At the time his business, Jeppesen and Co., employed more than 200 employees in the U.S. and about 60 in Germany.
After the sale, Capt. Jepp became estranged from the business. His prestige, however, was mounting. In the following years he was elected to virtually every aviation hall of fame in the country. Now the company he started is involved not only in airway navigation, but even in outer space and on the seas. It also produces electronic flight software. The Jeppesen company now employs more than 3,000 employees worldwide. “This is truly an outstanding rags to riches story,” Whitlock said.
JEPP.................................................................................................................................................continued from page 1
anyone ever has,” Barnhart said. About 30 friends and family members of the pilot were interviewed as research for the biography. Charles Lindberg’s grandson, Eric Lindberg, wrote the foreword. “How many of you are pilots?” Barnhart asked the audience as the presentation opened. Out of 50 people, about 35 raised their hands. Almost no college-aged people were present – this was a show solely for the people who fly. They came to hear the story of one of the greatest pilots the world has ever known. Jeppesen grew up in an environment not conducive to piloting airplanes – on a farm nestled deep in the heavily wooded forests of Oregon. It was a place where the huge trees towered up above everything else, all but blotting out the distant heavens. In this environment it’s unlikely that young Capt. Jepp saw much more of the sky than an earthworm did. But this didn’t stop him from dreaming about it. “Jepp loved nature, especially watching the birds fly,” Whitlock said. “He said birds first inspired his love of aviation. Like a lot of kids who jump out of trees or down from a barn loft with a homemade pair of wings, he imagined he could fly.” Jeppesen dropped out of high school at age 16 and used the money he earned from working a paper route to pay for flying lessons. Soon he moved out of his parents’ home and started living in the back of a Portland hangar. “He was a naturally gifted aviator,” Whitlock said. In fact, Jeppesen only logged about two hours of pilot training before he started flying solo. His early flying career was dominated by stunt flying – soaring through the sky while aerial acrobats walked across the flat surface of the plane’s wings. It was a risky endeavor. Jeppesen even tried his hand and ‘wing walking’ when the real performers were too drunk or hungover to do it. “Jepp described himself as a very cautious wing walker, like two porcupines making love,” Whitlock said. Following his stunt flying career, Capt. Jepp began working as a pilot for Boeing Airlines. The company would eventually merge with other flight companies to form United Airlines. With United he piloted the first flight with onboard stewardesses – single, attractive nurses who assisted passengers.
SILENCE.......................................................................continued from page 1 In September, Morrow presented a paper on ‘silence in music’ at a conference in Minneapolis. Since then she’s expanded on the concept. In June, she’ll present a new paper – one on what silence means to society – in Granada, Spain. It all goes back to the hermit living in the Washington woods. “He was never introduced to me as someone who was weird,” Morrow said. “It’s just what he did. But culturally, I’m not sure we understand aloneness. It’s like you’re supposed to be married and you’re supposed to have kids. It’s a way of looking at life that doesn’t include being alone.” She said some people don’t embrace silence because they may be scared of it. “A lot of what we do in contemporary society is to keep our-
selves from acknowledging our singularity,” she said. These moments of physical inactivity still have meaning and ≠purpose in the larger context. Morrow compared life to a musical composition. “Those pauses in life are opportunities,” she said. “Will we dash through something just to get it over with? Or will we allow ourselves to take the time to look within?” Silence is the in between, Morrow said. “It’s the moment where we allow things to gestate.” Morrow said she thinks of silence as having four basic properties: • It is a lack of sound • It is a lack of noise • It is personal and internal • Silence leads to a pursuit of solitude Silence can mean different
things to different people. “One person’s noise is another person’s music,” Morrow said. “We have these varying ideas of what silence is, whether we’re speaking musically or in a more general sense.” Morrow, a marathon runner, said she never runs wearing headphones. But she knows a lot of people who do. She has an explanation: “Some people have told me, ‘I really hate to run.’” The music to them is just noise, something to distract them from being fully aware of their physical exertion. Morrow enjoys the time alone while she runs. “I really let myself be by myself. I don’t feel like I have to have other people to do things with,” she said.
The Wichitan n 3
campus briefs n today: Library Snapshot Day: in Moffett Resumania Days: in CSC Wichita I & II at 10 a.m. Imagine Graduation: in the CSC Atrium at 11 a.m. Interfaith Conversation on Islam, Judaism and Christianity: in Dillard 101 at noon
Faculty Honors Book Plating Ceremony: in Moffett Library at 3 p.m. n tHURSDAY: Athletic Luncheon: at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU at noon University & Midwestern Singers Concert: in Akin Auditorium at 7:30 a.m. n FRIDAY: Education Career Fair: in D.L. Ligon Coliseum at 9 a.m. Career Expo: in D.L. Ligon Coliseum at 10 a.m. TLRC Brown Bag Lunch on SafeAssign: in Dillard 189 at noon n Monday: Homecoming events n tuesday: Homecoming events Majors Fair: in CSC Comache at 9 a.m.
4 n
feature
The Wichitan
October 20, 2010
ACHOO! How to avoid the flu *
Brittney Cottingham Features Editor It happened abruptly for him. Back aches, high fever, sore throat and a runny nose. Those were daily occurrences in his life. In the words of freshmen Clark Groves, he was in hell. Groves said it all started with
a fever of 103 degrees. Some friends suggested that he go to the Vinson Health Center since it is free for student. “It seriously came out of no where and slapped me in the face,” Groves said. “One day I was feeling perfectly fine and then the next day I couldn’t get out of bed.” Groves admits that he isn’t the
healthiest person but has never been sick enough that he had to miss classes. The Vinson Health Center keeps track of exactly how the MSU campus has been affected by the flu epidemic. Currently, MSU’s flu status is a condition yellow, which means the flu is on campus. “I’ve had to stay in my room
of my apartment for the weekend because my roommates didn’t want to get what I had,” Groves said. “Adjusting my life to feel better has been difficult as well. I‘ve had to spend a lot of my time in bed. It’s physically exhausting.” Students must be enrolled to receive services and classes also have to be in session.
*results may vary
The health center began giving students vaccinations on Sept. 20. Peggy Boomer, director of the Vinson Health Center, said there is no shortage of the vaccinations so as long as there is a demand, they will continue to provide services. Now the health center is offering one shot that combines the vaccine for the seasonal flu
and H1N1. The Vinson Health Center sees students by appointment only. Below are a few helpful hints to stay healthy this flu season, courtesy of the Vinson Heath Center, Wichita County Public Health District and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Do you have the flu?
Avoid close contact.
Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from
Did the illness come on abruptly (Did you go from feeling well to feeling ill in a few hours)?
others to protect them from getting sick, too.
YES
Stay home when you are sick.
If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
NO
Have you measured a temperature of 100 degrees or higher?
YES
Cover your mouth and nose.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when
coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around
Do you have a runny nose/nasal congestion, cough or a sore throat?
you from getting sick.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches
NO
YES
NO
something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose or mouth.
Do you have body aches?
Practice other good health habits.
Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your
YES
NO
Vinson Health Center Flu Self Assessment developed by Keith Williamason, MD and Anna-Marie Williamson, MSN, FNP-BC.
stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.
BLINDNESS..................................................................................................................................................................................................continued from page 1 kind of a nobody. On top of that, having a disability... I guess a lot of people go through a phase where they think it’s kind of weird to be seen like a blind kid.” Elliott said many of his blind friends experienced the same problems. “High school was a bad time,” he said. When he started at MSU in January of 2008, those times became a distant memory. Elliott is pursuing a degree in special education and hopes to teach blind students after graduation. He said students and faculty are always friendly and willing to help when he asks for it. The Disability Support Center (DSC), located in Clark Student Center, provides reading material in special formats to students like Elliott, who cannot read conventional printed material because of visual or physical limitations. Some of his textbooks are printed in Braille, and the DSC provides oral reading assistance for other assignments he may have. “When everyone else was learning to read, I was learning Braille,” he said. Braille is a writing system that enables blind and partially sighted people to read and write through touch. One reads Braille by moving their fingertips from left to right across a line of raised dots arranged in cells that represent letters, numbers or punctuation marks. Elliott enjoys reading, but also has a passion for music. He played violin in his high school orches-
tra and has taken piano lessons. He has even been known to play the fiddle at times. “Music has always been a big influence on me,” he said. “I think it’s truly one of the things God invented.”’ Just like his sighted peers, Elliott enjoys going to the movies, but he doesn’t like to utilize the narration of key visual elements often provided for the visually impaired. “You’d be surprised how much you can get from a movie just by listening,” he said. “It kind of surprises me sometimes.” On campus, Elliott walks to class using his white cane, and said sometimes people are unsure how to react. Crossing the street can be especially dangerous since drivers don’t always yield to blind pedestrians, and Elliott is unable to see the cars. Two years ago, Elliott began a four-week training program that teaches blind individual the skills necessary to obtain a seeing-eye dog. He returned home two weeks early without a dog. “The dog actually took away from my independence,” he said. “I feel more comfortable using a cane.” Elliott took a semester off after high school to complete cane mobility training, but said there are times when he can’t find his way and has to ask for directions. If no one is around, he retraces his steps to find something familiar. He said there’s only one way to describe the experience of being lost – “scary.”
He believes that having to ask for help has improved his social skills and made him stronger and more confident. “I feel like I’m a lot more independent,” Elliott said. “I occasionally get lost, but (I think) everyone does every once in a while.” Without eyesight, Elliott said that his other senses, particularly hearing, have become elevated. He uses his ears when he meets a new person and develops first impressions about people based on their personalities and the way their voices sound, rather than their appearance. “I think it allows me to see people for who they are on the inside,” Elliott said. “It doesn’t matter what a person looks like.” While he has found positive elements of blindness, he still wishes he could see. He hasn’t let blindness stop him, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t affected him. He hasn’t given up hope for a sighted future. Recently, a doctor phoned with results from tests Elliott took two years ago to tell him about a possible gene replacement therapy to treat LCA. If he is able to have the treatment, doctors would operate on his eyes to try and find the defective gene and inject stem cells into the retina. “Most patients with diseases like LCA have very few options, and gene therapy is one of the only (choices),” said Dr. C. Barry Byrne, director of the Powell Gene Therapy Center at the University of Florida and co-principal investigator of the
Caleb Elliott (Photo by Hannah Hofmann)
center’s LCA trial. Elliot is seriously considering this option. “I would love to see what people look like,” Elliott said. Until that happens, Elliott said he will continue to pursue his degree and live life to the fullest. After graduating, he would like to pursue a master’s degree in teaching the blind, be successful, marry, have two children and continue living the good life. Elliott said his current success and attitude about life wouldn’t have been possible without his family’s encouragement. “I’ve always had a lot of support, a lot of drive to get where I’m at now,” he said. “I’ve got a good life, and I’m able to do anything I set my mind to.”
FEE...............................................................................................................................................................................................................continued from page 1
Students will probably be able to cast their ballots online. Lamb said he wasn’t positive how many students would need to vote in favor of the fee increase to give it the go ahead, but he’s pretty sure it’ll need two-thirds of student support. “What we don’t want is for students, after the vote’s over, to say ‘I didn’t have the opportunity to vote because I didn’t
know enough about the issue,’” Lamb said. “We want to do everything in our power to make sure people are informed and can make their own decisions.” The proposed fee would mean the Clark Student Center fee, which currently costs each student $35 per semester, would jump to $55. Lamb said the extra revenue would go toward repair-
ing the building’s wiring and roof. If students vote in favor of the increase, the Board of Regents will take their own vote in November. The Texas State Legislature will also have to sign off on it in the spring. If enacted, the fee would come into effect Spring 2011 and would cease Fall 2016.
Part of Lamb’s proposition included a measure that would allow the administration to raise the fee by up to 10 percent each year it’s in effect. The SGA quickly dismissed this idea because it could potentially cause the fee to double in only five years. To educate students about the fee, the administration plans to hold open
forums, send e-mails to students and hold meetings. They also want to post PowerPoint presentations on the university’s website and Facebook page. “We’ll do everything we can to get the word out, the data out, and let students make up their own minds,” Lamb said.
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Experience stupidity in new dimension: ‘Jackass 3D’ Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor
The latest installment of the “Jackass” series has risen to new dimensions, the third dimension to be precise. “Jackass 3D” hit theaters this past weekend, amusing audiences with its crazy stunts, disgusting feats and disturbing naked bodies. The 3D aspect of the film brought the audience even closer to the fun and excitement of the ventures, with flying dildos, spraying feces and explosions of all sorts. However, the threedimension feature of the film added little to the quality of the film. It was still immature, juvenile and nauseating, just in a cheesier, cartoon-like way. The film stars its usual misfits, including Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, (the always naked) Chris Pontius, Jason ‘Wee Man’ Acuna, Ryan Dunn and the very large Preston Lacy.
The Jackass team reunites for what hopefully is the last time. The crew is getting older and is surprising still in somewhat good health. The original “Jackass” film premiered in 2002, and four years later the sequel entertained audiences. The following year, “Jackass 2.5” came straight to DVD, which included never-before-seen footage and interviews with the cast. First off, “Jackass 3D” is exactly what is to be expected from the cast. No story, just pranks, stunts, all in slow-motion 3D. There are some hilarious pranks and stunts, such as the “Midget Bar Fight” and “Bee-ball Tether Ball,” and some disgusting ones, like the “Poop Cocktail Supreme.” This film is not for the weakhearted or for those who get grossed out easily. Ladies, be prepared to cover your eyes (and your mouth at times). There is, as always, a lot of male nudity, of
course in slow-mo. Nothing like a slow-mo bouncing male anatomy to make a movie great. Of course they have their dangerous stunts that make the audience wonder how much more these aging men can take. Bulls ramming Knoxville and “Santa” falling from a 60 foot tree entertain audiences, as well as “Rocky” punches to the unexpecting recipients’ faces. Then they have some of the grossest endeavors (“Sweatsuit Cocktail”) that make even the toughest guys squeal. The “Jackass” crew doesn’t disappoint, but the band is running out of material. They are getting more extreme, but losing the “wow” factor the first film held. But even still, Knoxville and his troop of idiots cause memories and images, forever lodged into the minds of teenage boys. You will laugh, cringe and stare in amazement at the spectacle that is “Jackass 3D.”
New on DVD: ‘Predators’ Chosen for their ability to kill without a conscience, a group of killers, some trained and some who are not, must endeavor the alien race of predators that have set out to target them as prey. Dropped into the vast jungle of a distant world, these human predators must learn just who, or what, they are up against, and that their ability, knowledge and wits are tested to the limits in the battle of survival to kill or be killed. The DVD and Blu-ray release of Robert Rodriguez‘s much-anticipated reboot, was released October 19 to shelves. The movie takes place on a Predator inhabited planet, where a group of Earth’s mostdeadly and dangerous killers — soldiers, murderers, crime lords, special forces — have all been brought there as worthy prey for the ultimate hunter species. It continues with the storyline from the 1987 original Arnold Schwarzenegger film, which had since been lost in “Alien vs. Predators” and “AvP: Requiem.” The Nimród Antal directed movie stars Adrien Brody, Danny Trejo, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Oleg Taktarov, Walt Goggins, Louis Ozawa
DVD released: October 19, 2010 Genres: Action/Adventure, Science Fiction Running Time: 1 hour 47 minutes Rating: R for strong creature violence and gore, and pervasive language Starring: Adrien Brody, Topher Grace, Alice Braga, Walton Goggins, Oleg Taktarov
Adrien Brody and Alice Braga in “Predators.” (Photo Courtesy)
Changchien, Mahershalalhashbaz Ali, and Laurence Fishburn. Now, both of the versions will obviously have the movie on them and that’s the most
important part, clearly. However, it looks like if you’re into special features, Blu-ray is going to be the way to go with its extra bonus features.
“Jackass 3D” stars the usual band of misfits including Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera and Chris Pontius. (Photo Courtesy)
nMusic Excursion: AN ENTERTAINMENT COLUMN
Punk is alive and here to stay As awesome as chill music is, that’s not all that’s out there. Remember the days of Blink-182, New Found Glory, and The Starting Line? A lot of fans of these bands are wondering what happened to punk. Is punk rock really dead? The answer, fortunately, is no. Punk is still alive and kicking. It has certainly taken on a bit of a new form in today’s music scene, but it is still out there. A lot of punk these days blends the two steps and blast beats with break downs, screaming, and hardcore elements. Four Year Strong is a band that does this perfectly. Everything about this band rules. They sport a duo-vocal act, with two lead singers who compliment each other ex-
Josh Hoggard For the Wichitan tremely well. They both take turns singing and harmonize better than any musical act out there. Both singers also play guitar, and they do it very well. Their progressions are somehow unique, with very good leads. Add a few random synth noises, very talented drumming, and you’ve got Four Year
Strong. Don’t be shocked by a random breakdown here and there. As far as pop-punk goes, this band is a great one to start with. Another band that’s had its mentions in “The Wichitan” already is Abilene’s Close Your Eyes. If you’re looking for the faster, more blast-beat type of punk, go with Close Your Eyes. They bring fast guitars, good vocals, and killer breakdowns, as well as blast beats and two step rhythms. With positive, uplifting lyrics, and as much fun as a punk band can have, Close Your Eyes is a band you’ll want to add to your iTunes as fast as possible. Next week, let’s venture into the world of hardcore, shall we? Until then, listen to these bands and get excited. Punk is NOT dead.
From karate kid to boxer, Swank proves Oscar-winning talent Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor
Hilary Swank has been a karate kid, a transgender man and a struggling waitress-turnedboxer, shocking audiences with her ability to connect with her characters. This weekend she proves yet again she is an award-winning, diverse actress as she portrays a working mother who puts herself through law school in an effort to represent her brother, who had been wrongfully convicted of murder in her latest film, “Conviction.” Swank’s film career began with a small part in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” in 1992, and then a major part in “The Next Karate Kid” in 1994, where she played the first female protégé of Mr. Miyagi. After premiering on a dozen or so “90210” episodes, Swank auditioned for the role of Brandon Teena in “Boys Don’t Cry” in 1999. Her strong bone struc-
Hilary Swank stars as Sam Rockwell’s sister in “Conviction” who puts herself through law school in order to free her innocent brother. (Photo Courtesy)
ture made her a winning fit for the role. Her incredible role as a transgender man struggling with society scored her first Golden
Globe and Oscar for Best Actress. Swank stayed under the radar for the next couple of years until she won her seccond Best Ac-
tress Oscar and another Golden Globe for playing a boxer in Clint Eastwood’s 2004 film “Million Dollar Baby.” Her success meant that she joined actresses such as Vivien Leigh, Helen Hayes, Sally Field and Luise Rainer as the only actresses to have been nominated for Academy Awards twice and win both times. In 2007, Swank starred in and executive produced “Freedom Writers,” a drama based on a real teacher who inspired a California high school class. That year she also starred in the horror flick “The Reaping” and the romantic comedy “P.S. I Love You,” alongside Gerald Butler.
More recently, Swank portrayed Amelia Earhart in the 2009 film “Amelia,” a film she also co-executive produced. Swank’s latest feat, “Conviction,” costars Sam Rockwell as Swank’s convicted brother, and Minnie Driver as Swank’s colorful friend from her law classes. The film is rated R for language and some violent images. After its first weekend in the box office, there is rumor this could possibly be a third award-
winning role for the talented actress. The film was only released in select theaters throughout the nation and is not available to watch in Wichita Falls. Despite her short list of films, this young and talented 36-yearold has made a name for herself on screen. It is rumored she is finishing up on set of a few new movies including “The Resident” and “Dreams of a Dying Heart.”
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The Wichitan
October 20, 2010
Epic Rescue performs at the First Baptist Church of Wichita Falls and is made up of seven members. (Photo Courtesy)
Rescued by Jesus Epic Rescue, a local Christian Rock Rap band, shows love at FBC Wade Beason For the Wichitan The steady hum of amplifier feedback drones in his head as the butterflies build up in his stomach. Drumsticks crash together four times and he strums his guitar as the room explodes with the sound of music. This probably isn’t the typical night for most MSU students but for at least one, it is. Junior mass communication major Leland Wetzel is in a band. It’s not just a run of the mill garage band that dreams of getting a gig. Wetzel is lead guitarist for Epic Rescue, a Christian rock-rap band based out of First Baptist Church of Wichita Falls. The band has four other members: lead singer Brandon Self, backup singer Ashley Self, bassist Cody Mangold, and drummer Josh Hoggard, also an MSU student. Epic Rescue performs every Wednesday night and Sunday morning for FBC events like Portico and the blended Sunday morning church service. At least twice a month, they travel out of town to play paid shows on Fridays and Saturdays. All of these performances, accompanied by Tuesday and Thursday night practices, take up a large piece of Wetzel’s time. As a full time student, the band often cuts into time he would otherwise devote to school.
“It hasn’t affected my grades much, but it makes studying a lot more stressful,” Wetzel said. One time he had to miss class for two days because the band was scheduled to perform in Nashville. His efforts do not go unrewarded, though. He gets paid for every performance and a monthly wage from FBC. He said the money he earns from the band has helped him pay for many of his textbooks and school supplies. Wetzel counts himself lucky to be where he is today because three years ago he was thinking about quitting music all together. He used to be the worship leader for Abundant Life Church in Burkburnett. The week he was going to tell his boss he was quitting, he received a call from Brandon Self. Self said he was looking for a new guitar player for his band and that he had heard of Wetzel from a mutual friend of theirs. Wetzel agreed to try it out for one performance to see how things went. On the day of the show, Wetzel claimed that he did a terrible job and that the rest of the band knows he did as well, but they still asked him to join, though he had no idea why. Wetzel loves being in Epic Rescue, not just for the music, but also for the experience of it all. He has gotten to travel around the Southern states touring and opening shows for bigger bands. The furthest he has traveled with the band was the Friday night
show in Nashville but he has also been to Arkansas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and all over Texas. The band is also scheduled to play a string of shows in Orlando and two more shows in Colorado in the near future. Another part of the band experience has been the fans and the recognition. On a regular basis other students will come up and ask him if he was the guitar player on stage the other night, or if he was the guitarist for Epic Rescue. “It’s kind of weird, but at the same time its kind of cool when it happens,” Wetzel said. Thought one time when playing a show in Arkansas he was creeped out by a girl who approached him and told him who she was and that she stalks him on Facebook all the time. Epic Rescue’s continued success led to them being offered a record deal at one point, but they turned it down because of issues with the contract. Wetzel said that if a better offer were to come along though, the band would probably take it. A recording contract could mean that even more of Wetzel’s time would have to be devoted to the band instead of school. “I would quit school, because there is always school to come back to, but there’s not always a chance to tour the nation.”
Bieber releases memoir, announces new movie title Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor
“Bieber fever” has officially exploded. 3-D style, that is. The 16-year-old pop sensation has debuted his acting ability on an episode of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and has now been given the chance to deliver his fans a concert film/bio flick titled, “Never Say Never.” Justin Bieber has come a long way in a very short amount of time from a small town in Canada where he was singing on street corners. The teenager made a few YouTube videos and bam, instant superstar. He is following in the footsteps of Disney stars The Jonas Brothers. The Jo-Bros released a look into their lives in their concert/bio film “The Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience” in 2009, allowing audiences to follow them in their daily lives and on stage. Not only is Bieber releasing films, but he has taken a stab at books as well. On October 12,
Bieber released his memoir “First Step 2 Forever.” What does this kid have to write about? He is a teeny-bopper who got lucky that he looked adorable and had a serenading voice that hypnotized the female population of the world, not just America. To the public’s knowledge, he has not overcome any sort of a hard life such as drugs, an abusive or absent parent, or even heartbreak over a girl because he just recently hit puberty. The film is supposed to show footage of Bieber in 3D and will also include home movies and behind the scenes shots of his summer concerts in Nashville and Madison Square Garden in New York City. Apparently it is also supposed to explore the romantic side of Bieber’s life. I’m getting chills already. Hopefully the film is not two hours of screaming girls and hair tossing from the young star. Perhaps it could be an inspirational hit, or maybe not. “Never Say Never” is expected to be released Feb. 11.
Left: Justin Bieber released his memoir last week. Right: Jordan Sparks and Bieber sing “No Air” at the Jingle Ball. (Photo Courtesy)
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sports
October 20, 2010
Women’s soccer holds opponents scoreless
On Deck This Week n
tHURSDAY: Oct. 21 volleyball: @ texas a&m commerce. 7 p.m.
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FRIDAY: oct. 22 soccer: women @ incarnate word. 6 p.m. men @ incarnate word 7 p.m.
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Saturday: oct. 23 cross country: @ east central tiger chase. ada, okla. volleyball: @ texas woman’s university 2 p.m. football: @ west texas a&m. 6 p.m.
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Sunday: oct. 24 soccer: men @ st. edwards university. 1 p.m. women @ angelo state university. 1 p.m.
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Monday: oct. 25 golf: men @ bruce
Hanna Staley, #10, Haley Crandall, #3, and Maddie Fraser, #23, show off handling skills against Central Oklahoma. (Photos by Hannah Hofmann)
Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor
williams
memorial collegiate. san antonio, texas
@ oklahoma intercollegiate. duncan, okla.
women
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tuesday: oct. 26 golf: men @ bruce
williams
memorial collegiate. san antonio, texas women
@
oklahoma inter
collegiate. duncan, okla. volleyball: tist
@ wayland university. 7 p.m.
The Wichitan n 7
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Men’s soccer results Win against Northeastern State 2-1 Win against Newman University 3-0
Congratulations on a 12-0 seasonal record!
The No. 19 MSU women’s soccer team had a blessed past weekend on the home field as they notched off double victories to improve 12-1 on the season record. “Both games were challenging, they both definitely caused some problems for us at times,” head soccer coach Jeff Trimble said. First, the Mustangs kicked off the weekend against Southwestern Oklahoma State to shut them down with a score of 3-0. In just the third minute of the game, junior forward Kelsey Hill caught an assist through ball by senior midfielder Brittany Subia to make her ninth goal of the season. Subia then gave another assist, but this time to junior forward Lindsay Pritchard to make her seventh goal in the season, which gave MSU a commanding lead of 2-0 in the 16th minute.
Scoring came to a halt for the remainder of the first half, but came back late in the second when Pritchard put up an assist to sophomore defender Alyssa Dillman in the 80th minute. This marked Dillman’s first goal of the season. As the win was celebrated and the weekend progressed, the Mustangs then took on Central Oklahoma on Sunday night, which also served as senior night. MSU pulled out another victory at 3-0 on the Bronchos. A lot of close calls were made in the first half. The proof being that Central Oklahoma held a 12-4 edge in shots, but managed to only land one shot on frame. In the 20th minute, senior midfielder Jordan Smith put an assist through ball to senior midfielder Brandy O’Neal to mark her third goal of the season. Then the Mustangs euthanized the Bronchos and took over in the second half.
Cross country runs off with first place Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor
The No. 16 Mustangs cross country team proved to be the elite group this past Saturday morning, as they took their third straight win in the MSU Cross Country Carnival at Hawk Ridge Golf Course, beating out six other schools. MSU finished with a score of 18 points on the 6K course, winning against their LSC opponents Central Oklahoma (2nd/ 62), West Texas A&M (3rd/ 68), Tarleton State (4th/ 99), and Southwestern Oklahoma (5th/ 113). The Mustangs were just three points behind to have a perfect score, but cross
country coach Koby Styles was satisfied with the performance nonetheless. “I was really proud of the way they ran, and pleased with the effort,” he said. Taking 1st for the team and the overall race was junior Brissia Montalvo who had a total running time of 22:54.00. Following Montalvo and placing 2nd, was senior Sydnee Cole finishing at 23:05.40. Then Alina Istrate of Central Oklahoma cut in between the Mustangs winning line-up when she crossed third in the race at 23:19.00. “They ran exactly the way I wanted them to, and that was to come out with a victory,” Styles said. “I couldn’t be
anymore proud of the team and how hard they’ve worked all year.” Freshmen Ashley Flores (23:39.20), Janel Campbell (23:41.60), and Cara Mack (23:58.00) took 4th, 5th, and 6th places, respectively, for MSU. Junior Lindsey Pate (24:41.90) and sophomore Heather Owens (25:10.30) finished at 11th and 16th places, respectively. Next, MSU runs in the East Central Tiger Chase this Saturday in Ada, Okla. The Mustangs ran hard in the 6K event where they earned first place honors in. They remain third in the South Central Regional ranking. (Photos by Hannah Hofmann)
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Pritchard marked off her eighth and ninth goals of the season in the 46th and 73rd minutes, respectively. The first was an interception done by Hill who fed the ball to Pritchard to give MSU the lead at 2-0. Sophomore forward Maddie Fraser gave the second assist to Pritchard as she fed a through ball to her in the right wing, allowing her to knock it in and secure a victory. The game marked the first time in school history that the women’s soccer team completed a clean home slate at 7-0 for the season. “I felt we dodged a bullet in the first half, but I knew it would be a challenge,” Trimble said. “Although I’m very proud of the girls.” Next MSU hits the road against Incarnate Word on Friday and Angelo State on Sunday. Kickoffs for those games are set at 6 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.
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Episcopalian? The Diocese of Fort Worth of The Episcopal Church USA has travel scholarship money to send two MSU students from the Diocese to the 2010 Gather Around the Table conference for Episcopal college students in Estes Park, Colorado, December 28-January 1. Conference registration, housing, meals, and transportation wil be paid. For more information, call Millie Lancaster at 761-2066.
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sports
The Wichitan
October 20, 2010
Mustangs dodge rams Midwestern football tramples Angelo State University, 35-21
MSU football fought focused for win. (Photos by Kassie Bruton) Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor The No. 13 MSU football team tallied a victory against Angelo State Univeristy Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. The win was just what the Mustangs needed to recover from their loss to No. 5 Abilene Christian, who improved to 4-0 in Lone Star Conference play against Incarnate Word on Saturday night as well. Going into the first quarter, senior running back
Marcus Mathis put the Mustangs on the scoreboard first with an eight-yard run for a touchdown. Minutes later Angelo State’s John Norcott made a touchdown after he caught a five-yard pass from Josh Neiswander, tying the game 7-7 at the end of the quarter. In the second quarter, senior quarterback Zack Eskridge completed a 18-yard run, while junior running back Lester Bush made a five yard run touchdown with 00:38 left on the clock, putting the game in the Mustang’s advantage at 21-7 at the end of the first half.
Bush completed another touchdown in the third quarter as well to account for a game high of 77 yards. Wrapping up the game in the fourth quarter, both teams traded off scoring, as Tristan Carter completed a three yard run for the Rams, seconds into the quarter. MSU shortly fired back as Eskridge hit up junior wide reciever David Little for a touchdown on a 18 yard pass. ASU’s V’Keon Lacey put up another touchdown for the Rams with 9:20 left to play, but it
wasn’t enough to shut out MSU, as the minutes dwined down with no more scoring. MSU improved 6-1 on their season as the game ended with a score of 35-21. The Rowlett native Eskridge, finished the game hitting 12 of 17 passes for 169 yards, while Little did more than just a little as he made eight interceptions for 114 yards. Next, MSU takes on West Texas A&M this Saturday in Canyon. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
Misery loves comapany: vball suffers three losses Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor
A trio of unfortunate losses this week has set the Mustangs back 10-11 for the seaosn. “It’s a wake up call for the team. We’ll have to prepare ourselves better for the next couple of games,” head volleyball coach Venera FloresStafford said. First, MSU battled against rival ACU this past Thursday in a hard-fought match that ended with the Mustangs losing 3-2 (25-18, 25-22, 26-28, 2225, 13-15). The game extended the No. 21 Wildcat’s LSC winning streak to 7-0. MSU dominated game play in the first two sets but then allowed ACU to come
back in the last three to win the game. Sophomore outside-hitter Shelbi Stewart laid down 15 kills, while senior opposite hitter Karolina Damjanovic put up 14. Junior outside hitter Hillary White went for 11 kills and 24 digs, but junior libero Kiara Jordan continued her reign in racking digs at 30, while junior outside hitter claimed 22. Other strong performances in the game were displayed by middle blockers Lauren Bayer and Caitlin Wallace who copped nine kills, five blocks, and six kills, six blocks, respectively. The Mustangs had a total of 14 blocks. After recovering from the Wildcat’s scratch, MSU couldn’t overcome the battering of the Angelo State Rambelles after suffering a 3-0 loss (2125, 17-25, 23-25).
The Mustangs had a total of nine team blocks, in which Bayer contributed seven. Stewart finished the game with 12 kills and 22 attempts for only three errors to account for a .409 hitting percentage. Damjanovic put in eight kills, 14 attempts and just one error for a .500 kill rate. Jordan continued to lead the back row with 16 digs. MSU suffered its third loss of the past week on Monday against the No. 19 Lubbock Christian Chaps with an overall score of 3-0 (19-25, 23-25, 11-25). The Chaps ruled over MSU with a .308 hitting percentage, while the Mustangs only accounted for .111. Damjanovic accounted for eight kills, while Wallace made six and also made two of the four
team blocks. Jordan led the team in digs totaling in at 14, while junior outside hitter Miranda Byrd notched in 10. Flores-Stafford said she felt disappointed in the losses her team has faced recently. “I think we were just still mentally drained from the Abilene Christian game,” she said. “We didn’t rebound fast enough to play Angelo and Lubbock Christian.” The Mustangs return to the court this Thursday night at 7 p.m. at Texas A&M-Commerce, then again on Saturday at Texas Woman’s University at 2 p.m, then for another at Wayland Baptist at 7 p.m.
Lady Mustangs looking pretty in pink for breast cancer awareness. (Photos by Damian Atamenwan)