Sept. 2, 2009

The student voice of Midwestern State University

The Wichitan page 9 page 4 Working out in style Rolling to victory New student workout facility boasts top-notch equipment and visual appeal.

MSU cyclists take several top spots in the Hotter ‘N Hell bike races.

WEDNESDAY September 2, 2009

Tobacco ban: healthy move or unfair policy?

Chris Collins Managing Editor

Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor

Rachel Tompkins-Rex will never forget that day the ambulance sped by her house, siren blaring, lights flashing. A strange feeling rushed over her and she knew something was wrong. Then she heard the news.

The man she loved, the father of her two daughters, was dead.

She thought things couldn’t get any worse.

But three years later, they did.

The man she’d been married to for almost three years was killed in an auto accident.

Once again, she found herself alone. Except for her three children.

Rachel, a graduate student in English, has become familiar with the word “suffering”.

Few would guess that just by looking at the vivacious 4-foot-11-inch woman. Today, at age 27, she has two bachelor’s degrees, four children and her own art show, The Cross Section of a Shadow: A Series of Silhouettes.

The path that got her to this point, though, was rocky.

She was 17, a junior at Harrold High School, seven miles north of Electra, when she had her first child, Alissa. A year later in May 2001, she graduated valedictorian of her class.

“It was only a class of seven but it still meant something to me,” she said. “In high school, people thought I would never amount to anything.”

That, she said, was because she had a child.

She was out to prove the naysayers wrong.

In December 2002 she enrolled at MSU, working toward a degree in mass communication. She was pregnant with her second child, Keely.

“I chose a mass communication major because I loved to write and I loved to know everything,” she said. “Some might have considered me noisy, but I just wanted to know stuff.”

But in March 2003, devastation struck her and her two girls. Their father, Billy Foster, died from an accidental gunshot wound.

“I heard the ambulance drive by my house and a creepy feeling came over me,” she recalled. “But it wasn’t until two of my friends came rushing to my house that I knew it was

him. I had never experienced death like that before. It was like losing a best friend.”

Rachel was 20. Her daughters were only 3 years old and 18 months old at the time.

“Billy and I weren’t officially married but we had been together for years. We had been split up for a year but that didn’t mean that I wasn’t affected by his death,” she said. “I loved him.”

Rachel’s friends and family helped her cope with the loss but that didn’t stop her from turning to alcohol for a while.

“I would have to drink three or four beers a night after my kids went to bed just to fall asleep,” she said. “I just kept seeing images of Billy when I closed my eyes and I needed something to help with the pain.”

But she credits her children and college with helping her deal with her loss. Through it all, she continued attending MSU as a fulltime student. To her, school was her sanctuary. Classes and studying helped her keep her mind occupied.

“If I would have quit I probably would have become a drug addict or alcoholic.”

In September 2003, things were looking up and wedding bells rang for Rachel. She married Lance Rex, the soon-to-be-father of her third child, Logan.

“Lance jumped into being a father for my girls,” she said. “He was great with them.”

However, tragedy struck again in May 2006.

“I got a phone call from my sister saying I needed to get down to the police station because there had been an accident involving Lance,” she said.

Rachel and her father drove there together but the officers refused to release any information to her, she recounted.

“It finally took my dad throwing a fit for them to tell me anything,” she said.

Lance, she learned, was dead. He had been driving on Business 287 in Wichita County, two miles from Electra, when he hit a horse at 65 miles per hour. His car veered off the road, striking a mesquite tree. Police said he died on impact.

She was 23. Her son was almost 2.

See SHADOWS page 5 Photos courtesy Rachel Tompkins-Rex

Pipe smokers, cigarette rollers and blunt burners beware: as of Jan. 1, 2010, MSU will be nonicotine zone. It’s the first state university in Texas to do so.

In May, the MSU Board of Regents voted to stomp out tobacco for good on campus. Starting next year, use of all tobacco products – that means dip too – will be outlawed in all university-leased buildings, vehicles and public outdoor areas.

Last semester, university officials and students were talking about spearheading a tobacco ban at MSU. They weren’t just blowing smoke – the Student Government Association and others rallied support for the project and won, despite a small student protest.

The ban will be implemented in an effort to promote a safe, healthy and pleasant environment for the campus community, according to the tobacco-free campus policy page on the MSU Web site. This information is located on the sidebar of the recreational sports page.

“Students were saying if we’re going to talk the talk about wellness on campus, let’s do something about it,” Dr. Joey Greenwood, director of the Wellness Center, said. “The majority of students do not smoke. That’s where a lot of this policy stems from.”

Greenwood, one of the key writers and planners of the new policy, said student concern about smoking was the driving force in the decision to ban tobacco at MSU. Students were complaining to the administration about cloistering smoke in front of buildings and in entryways, he said.

The policy won’t be enforced by police or administrators, but

rather by peer pressure from fellow students, Greenwood said.

One idea he mentioned is that students could hand out informational cards about the dangers of smoking.

“It’s a responsibility of higher education as administrators to promote wellness,” Greenwood said. “We do a great job in the classroom, but to create holistic individuals we need to do it in a holistic manner. We need to promote health and wellness.”

Keith Lamb, associate vice president of student affairs, made a similar statement. He said he supports the ban.

“We have a responsibility to the democracy to model behavior,” Lamb said. “In higher education, we have a responsibility to prepare people in a particular discipline. Also, part of that responsibility is to promote behavior that will prepare people for a good quality of life.”

Dr. Nathan Jun, professor of philosophy, has a different perspective on the responsibility of the university to its students. He thinks a tobacco ban implies that students aren’t smart enough to make decisions for themselves.

“In a university, one of whose responsibilities is to educate for democracy, our goal is to enable students to make informed, intelligent decisions about their own lives for themselves,” Jun said. “This is not democracy, it’s authoritarianism.”

Jun said he thinks this system will reinforce stereotypes about tobacco users.

“I suspect the ban will not be effective,” Jun said. “I am convinced it’s unethical. By definition, such a policy encourages a climate of suspicion, fear, resentment and guilt.”

While Greenwood and others See SMOKING page 5

NEXT WEEK

New residence hall boasts ultra luxury

Staff Editorial The Wichitan’s guide to polite parking It’s become a tradition at The Wichitan to begin each school year with an editorial about how much the parking situation on campus sucks.

Usually it’s a rant on how there aren’t enough spaces, that the parking lots are too far away, tickets are unfair, blah-di-blah-di-blah. Everyone knows the story by now (unless, of course, freshmen are reading. Hi freshmen. Get ready to drive in circles for a good portion of your college career!).

This year, things are a little different. From observations during the first week of classes, there are plenty of spaces. Sure, if you’re seeking prime parking real estate, such as right by the front doors of Dillard, you’re still going to be out of luck unless you like arriving two hours early to do the parking vulture routine and circle for a year and a half. But, if a walk isn’t your kryptonite, things should be looking up.

That is, if MSU students could figure out a few simple parking rules.

Here’s a simple guide to help everyone along.

Parking Code of Etiquette: n Those lines? Park between them. Yes, we know your super-sized SUV has a new paint job and you loooove that 4x4 more than you could love a human child. Guess what? No one cares!

One parking spot per vehicle, please! n Don’t let your rear end hang out. No one likes driving around your extra-long extended truck bed, which just so happens to have the tailgate down as well. These parking lots are enough like mazes as it is. Don’t give drivers more obstacles.

Please, for the love of your own un-dented fenders, pull up. n Attention freshmen – just because you want to doesn’t mean you can park there! We’re aware you live in Pierce/Killingsworth and there’s not enough parking for you, and the lot behind Prothro-Yeager is so close and convenient and makes it way easier to carry in your shopping bags. You still can’t park there! Don’t believe us?

Don’t worry. You’ll start getting little presents from the MSU police on your windshield soon enough. Ten dollar tickets do add up. n This is not a demolition derby. Please keep the speedometers below 60 mph in the parking lots.

Brakes are your friend! Sure, upperclassmen are used to playing parking lot Frogger on the way to class, but think of the new kids! Let’s not welcome them by flattening them on the pavement.

One of the worst ideas ever Josh Hoggard Op-Ed Editor

It was the eve of the New Year.

Winter break was fast coming to a close and, unlike all the other festive high school students in our town, my friends and I had nowhere to party or spend New Year’s Eve. So we did what all bored kids do: play with fire.

Given the holiday, however, just a plain fire wasn’t enough.

We needed something more, something bigger, something more destructive. We loaded up the back of our cars with all the artillery shells, roman candles, and any other explosive we could buy on such short notice, and prepared ourselves for a night we wouldn’t soon forget.

All four of us were pyromaniacs, and shooting off fireworks is every pyro’s dream. Twice a year, we get the sacred blessing, honor, and privilege of buying fireworks and shooting them off.

We quickly discovered, however, that shooting off fireworks while standing still in a yard is so bland. Where’s the fun and

The message of the semester for parking can be summed up in three words:

DON’T BE DOUCHEBAGS!

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.

danger in that? So, of course, we decided we’d shoot them out of our moving vehicles.

One by one, neighborhoods across our town were experiencing what we had come to enjoy. People were standing in their yards in utter amazement at how beautiful our display was.

The distraught, enraged looks on their faces encouraged us all the more. Fireworks were lighting up the skies of Wichita Falls.

Unfortunately, so were yards.

Being the genius that I am, I decided to take six artillery shells and tie the fuses together, probably one of the worst ideas I’ve ever had. If you’ve ever been around a few of these when they go off, you know how extremely loud they are.

So, six in the same proximity can only mean everyone within a four mile radius woke up. I lit the fuses and threw it out the car window. Six explosions later, a yard caught fire. In a panic, we called the local fire department to inform them of the unfortunate yard fire we just “happened” to drive by.

Within moments, the sound of sirens replaced the sound of

explosives, and, in an attempt to stay of our law enforcer’s way, we got out of that area as fast as we could.

The next day, there were rumors of the home owner pressing charges against us, because apparently he’d gotten our license plate number. The four of us promised we’d stick together through anything, so we swore to lay low. The fear of prosecution and the guilt of property damage weighed heavy on our hearts.

Until, four days later, we happened to turn on the news.

The local anchorman began to tell a story of a yard fire, caused by fireworks. Upon hearing the explosions, several neighbors had called the police, claiming they had heard gunshots. When the police officers showed up at the house, they discovered the “gunshots” were really artillery shell explosions, but they knew something wasn’t right. They smelled something in the air.

Literally. It was ether, a key ingredient in the manufacture of meth. They traced the source of the smell to the next door neighbor. After one knock on the door, five people ran at top speed out

Something to say?

of the house. The police arrested all five, charged them with drug possession, and busted a meth lab. The five are in jail as we speak.

We made a mistake. We caught a yard on fire. We felt the guilt and the fear and, almost, the consequences of the mistake we made. But, in the end, a meth lab was busted, dealers were taken off the streets, and less people bought that wretched drug.

My point is this: we all make mistakes. All the time. I’d be a fool to tell you otherwise. But living in the guilt and fear of those mistakes will only hinder you from being who you really are. Don’t let your mistakes get you down, because something good can come out of any situation, and something can be learned with every mistake.

An old proverb claims that a wise man falls seven times, but stands up eight. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and learn.

Move on, because the moment after a mistake is made, it is in the past. After all, life is a process, not a result.

The Wichitan is seeking guest columnists. If you have something you’d like to write about, email us an opinion piece to wichitan@mwsu.edu. We welcome opinions from students, faculty and staff.

Use your voice!

The Wichitan Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Brittany Norman Managing Editor Chris Collins

Entertainment Editor Lauren Wood Op-Ed Editor Josh Hoggard

Sports Editor Kaitlin Morrison Photo Editor Julia Raymond

Reporters Richard Carter Photographers Loren Eggenschwiler Copy Editor Jamie Monroe

Advertising Manager Jamie Monroe Adviser Randy Pruitt

The Wichitan September 2, 2009

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The Wichitan September 2, 2009

Feature

Photos by Julia Raymond

Blood,

& luxury Brand new student wellness facility is hard on the body but easy on the eyes Brittany Norman Editor in Chief

Photos by Julia Raymond Of the average 950 students who use the wellness facilities every day, a good percentage make use of the basketball courts for pick-up games.

Sweat.

It’s what students are accustomed to smelling when they walk in the doors to whatever gym they currently hold a membership to.

At the brand new Bruce and Graciela Redwine Wellness Center, MSU students will instead be greeted by the smell of fresh paint.

The stale odor of the ambitious slim-down plans of yesteryear is a thing of the past, and so is the traditional gym look.

Everything in the new student wellness center is shiny and new, from the state of the art cardio equipment to the brand new top-quality weight machines.

The facility cost a total of $13.4 million, and the expense is immediately evident.

“It was definitely worth the wait,” Wellness Center Director Dr. Joey Greenwood said of the wellness center, which was due to open in January, but finally opened to students on June 29.

“Especially when we see the looks on students faces as they enter.”

And students have definitely been taking advantage of their new workout center. Greenwood said that an average of 950 students per day have swiped their student ID cards at the desk. “(All of the equipment) is being used a substantial amount,” he said. “When the aquatics area is completed mid-September I foresee that area being very popular.”

It’s a step up from students’ previous workout options.

“There’s obviously more

room and we are able to have all our activities under one roof,” Greenwood said. “We were using D.L. Ligon for our Recreational Sports, the Sikes Lake and Outdoor Recreation Center for our group fitness and trying to schedule around academic classes which was many times a challenge.

“With our new facility, this will never be an issue.”

Other improvements from the old wellness facilities include the indoor walking/running track, expanded weight room, 50 new pieces of cardiovascular equipment and an aquatics facility.

“We have always had great equipment but this is the most up-to-date equipment and is truly state-of-the-art,” Greenwood said. “Also, most of the cardiovascular equipment has personal viewing monitors, which our students have said they love.”

He said students like “everything.”

“It depends on which student you ask,” he said. “The gymnasiums have been highly used, the weight rooms are always very active and the group fitness rooms have really been a thrill for our fitness class participants.”

To use the wellness center, all a student needs is an active ID card. Students must be currently enrolled to be admitted. Guests can come along for a $5 fee.

Students who are new to working out at a gym can get help as well.

“We have two certified personal trainers on staff plus each weight machine has a graphic that shows which muscle group is being used and how to properly use each piece of equipment.”

Photos by Julia Raymond Jake Tuggle makes good use of the weight equipment in the new wellness center. Everything in the gym is state-of-theart and brand new, giving students the opportunity to work out with the best of the best.

Photos by Julia Raymond Right to left: Mary Randall, Emiley McClease and Alissa Lawrence work out on stationary bikes in the wellness center.

News

The Wichitan September 2, 2009

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SMOKING...................................................................................................................................................................................continued from pg. 1 are trying to make MSU tobacco-free to make the campus healthier, Jun thinks the effort is making the school ethically unhealthy.

“Individual people should be respectful of other people,” Jun said. “If you can move away from the door you should. Politeness and respect cannot be legislated. That’s what defines them as what they are.”

Jun’s last school, Purdue University, utilized a similar tobacco policy, but not an all-out ban. Instead they had designated smoking areas.

The problem with Purdue, Jun said, is that there was a system of tattling on students and faculty who broke the rule. Also, cameras were set up to watch for out-of-bounds smokers.

“It was overkill,” he said.

However, he thinks it would be a better idea to have designated smoking areas than a fullblown ban.

“The problem I see with this is that it’s a paternalistic policy,” Jun said. “Why stop here?

Why not remove all the pop machines? What about saturated fats in the cafeterias? It’s inconsistent and arbitrary.”

Dr. Keith Williamson, university physician and writer of the no-tobacco policy, said the new rule is not “hating” on smokers or tobacco, but promoting a safer university.

One of the dangers presented by smoking, he said, is secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is a combination of the smoke coming from the ciga-

rette (called sidestream) and smoke exhaled by the smoker (called mainstream).

“There has been a long misrepresentation about the dangers of tobacco, and tobacco companies know about the dangers,” Williamson said.

There has also, however, been a history of misrepresentation about the dangers of secondhand smoke by anti-tobacco organizations.

One such example is the Environmental Protection Agency meta-analysis on secondhand smoke conducted in the early 1990s. The study lied about test results and ignored important evidence to make SHS appear more harmful, according to a Congressional Research Service investigation conducted in

1995.

The study was later nullified by a South Carolina judge in 1998.

Williamson said he hadn’t heard of the infamous tobacco study.

“Tobacco use has adverse health effects on users and nonusers who share the same space, as convincingly documented in the Surgeon General’s report of 2006,” the MSU Web page for the tobacco ban states.

The Surgeon General’s report states that the relative risk, or risk ratio, of SHS is in between 1.20 and 1.30. According to the Federal Reference Manual for Scientific Evidence, a harmful substance needs to at least be given a risk factor of 2.0, preferably 3.0.

Even a 2.0 risk rating is about four times as harmful as the Surgeon General’s rating, the Manual said. The American Heart Association gives the following risk ratio for SHS: cardiovascular disease, 1.25; heart disease, 1.18; coronary arrest mortality, 1.13.

“No reliable scientific articles would support tobacco or smoke as healthy or safe,” Williamson said.

But a study conducted in 2000 by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Department of Energy found that environmental tobacco smoke (another name for secondhand smoke) isn’t as harmful as many Americans believe it to be.

The study tested the SHS levels of non-smokers who worked

in bars and taverns in about 20 U.S. cities. The conclusion: none of the workers were exposed to harmful levels of SHS. “There is no benefit of tobacco smoke, so it takes very little exposure to be dangerous,” Williamson said.

Whether the attack on tobacco is scientifically grounded, many schools have nixed nicotine from their campuses.

Among these are the University of Florida, Washington University, the University of Kentucky and Oklahoma State University.

Greenwood said that brown bag lunches will be hosted for smokers who are trying to quit and who need support.

SHADOWS..................................................................................................................................................................................continued from pg. 1 “I had to drink myself to sleep every night after Billy died, but after Lance’s death, it was worse,” she said. “All I could think about was what was I going to tell my kids. How could I tell them they were without a dad again?”

However, it was her children who helped her keep things together the second time.

“My children are the reason I walk this Earth,” she said. “They will always be the joy of my life.”

Once again, Rachel turned to her studies. Somehow, she did her work. It kept her from grieving.

“I was able to talk to people there (at MSU) and it helped,” she said. “I was also raised to be tough and not pity myself.”

Rachel attributes her strong nature to the strict upbringing of her father.

“He always told me that I’d

better not complain about my life because there is always someone out there who has it worse than me,” she said. “If I wasn’t raised like that, I wouldn’t have overcome all of this.”

Despite both tragic events, Rachel graduated in December 2007 with a BA in mass communication.

“One of the reasons I stayed in school after all of this was because I want my kids to be proud of me,” she said.

Shortly after that she obtained another degree, a BA in art in the spring of 2009.

“When I was getting my degree in mass communication, I got my minor in art after taking a few of the classes as electives,” she said.

Before earning her second degree, Rachel gave birth to her fourth child, Dahila, in September 2008. Rachel is currently enrolled as a graduate student,

working toward a master’s in English.

“I took a few upper level English classes while getting my second degree and decided I wanted to get my master’s in the subject,” she said.

Rachel is also a graduate assistant. She hopes to become a teaching assistant so she can teach freshman-level English.

“I am just taking my life one day at a time, but I could definitely see myself teaching,” she said. “I teach my kids every day and I love it.”

Rachel’s art show, The Cross Section of a Shadow: A Series of Silhouettes, features silhouettes of her three oldest children, who are now 9, 7 and 5.

“Gary Goldberg (professor of art) gave us the assignment to throw a cloth in the air and take pictures but I didn’t like it so I wanted to find something else,” she said.

While sitting on her porch with the sun on her face, she got the idea to hang the cloth and have her children stand behind it, displaying a silhouette.

“I had to try different things and positions of the cloth and my kids, and eventually found something I really liked,” she said. “I am fascinated with shadows. I like how you can manipulate them in your mind and see what you want to see.”

“Rachel is a great student,” Goldberg said. “She is such a positive worker and always came to class with positive energy. I think her sense of self and vision have definitely grown since I first met her.”

Rachel said about 90 percent of her art involves some aspect of her children whether it be them or their toys.

“Who better to work with than my own kids?” she said with a laugh. “I love working with

COMING SOON TO A CAMPUS NEAR YOU… Sept. 2nd-5th CSC and Fain Hall

NPC Sorority Recruitment Join one of MSU’s nationally-recognized sororities.

Wednesday, Sept. 2nd 8:00pm, Bolin 100

The Monster College Advantage Get the tools to make the most of your college experience.

Thursday, Sept. 3rd 12-1pm, CSC Atrium

Student Organization Fair with Free Ice Cream Learn about different involvement opportunities at MSU!

Thursday, Sept. 3rd 12-3pm, CSC Comanche

Part-time Job and Volunteer Fair Explore student employment & volunteer opportunities.

Thursday, Sept. 3rd 7:00pm, CSC Shawnee

Interested in Intake Seminar For any students interested in multicultural fraternities or sororities.

September 8th-11th Clark Student Center

IFC Fraternity Rush Join one of MSU’s nationally-recognized fraternities.

Tuesday, Sept. 8th 8:00pm, CSC Comanche

Student Success Series: When Sean Speaks A former MSU student shares his winning battle of life.

Monday, Sept. 14th 11am-1pm, Mesquite Café

Adam Pate: The One Minute Caricature Artist Get your very own caricature made during lunch.

Tuesday, Sept. 15th 8:00pm, CSC Comanche

Sailesh: MTV Europe’s Best Hypnotist One of the most entertaining and funniest shows you will ever see!

Thursday, Sept. 17th Various Locations

Constitution Day Celebrate the day the United States Constitution was signed.

them. They are my life.”

She admits she does most of her school work while her three oldest children are in school and Dahlia is at a daycare, but her boyfriend, David, helps as well.

Just by looking at her small frame, one wouldn’t think this is a woman who has bore four children. It is her skin that gives it away.

She proudly displays seven tattoos across her body, five of which are dedicated to her children. A red Dahlia flower with the name Dahila is tattooed on her upper arm while a tiger with the name Alissa below it is exposed on her right shoulder blade and a frog with the name Logan is seen on her left shoulder blade. Two Asian symbols, which translate to Alissa, show on the back of her neck, and a cartoon image of Pebbles is drawn on her left calf with the name Keely by it.

“I love tattoos and they mean

the

Spotlight

Has your organization done something worthy of recognition in the Spotlight? (performed community service, presented a program, traveled to a conference, received an award, etc.)

Let us know! Call 397-4500 so your organization can be featured in a future issue.

Go GREEK! Make your mark.

Are you interested in joining a fraternity or sorority? All Greek letter organizations at MSU aspire to embody the values of Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Unity. If you are interested in joining one of the sixteen nationally-recognized Greek chapters at MSU, sign up for Recruitment or Rush online at http://activities.mwsu.edu or call 397-4500 for more information.

UPB Needs You!

The University Programming Board (UPB) is looking for interested students to help select and plan activities for the 2009-10 school year.

If you like planning programs, have ideas for activities that would be of interest to other students, or just want to make new friends, then you should join UPB! Stop by CSC 194 or email upb@mwsu.edu for more information.

so much to me because they are for my kids,” she said.

The Cross Section of a Shadow: A Series of Silhouettes, will be open for viewing from Sept. 4 through Oct. 9 in the Foyer Gallery of the Juanita Harvey Art Gallery. The opening is Sept. 4 from 6-9 p.m.

Rachel Tompkins-Rex overcame her adversity by thinking positive, and she gives that advice to anyone trying to overcome a loss.

“It’s not easy getting though all of this. I remember being exhausted at times,” she said. “But I do all of this for my kids. They are the reason I get out of bed and make it through the rough times. I just think positive and make it through life one day at a time.”

A SPECIAL CONGRATULATIONS...

-To the women of Gamma Phi Beta and Sigma Lambda Alpha sororities for having the highest G.P.A. of all Greek chapters for the Spring 2009 semester.

-To the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, the NAACP, and the campus-based religious student organizations (CCC, BSM, Chi Alpha, and Wesley Foundation) for hosting events during Welcome Week.

-To the three newest registered student organizations at MSU: the Bilingual Education Student Organization (BESO), Men of Midwestern, and the Male Association of Nurses.

Why Get Involved???

Research has proven that students who get involved at college not only have more fun and make new friends, but they also…

Graduate with a higher G.P.A. Graduate in a shorter amount of time.

Become strong alumni and donors.

Experience a greater sense of community.

Develop more pride in their school.

So whatever your reason and however you choose to do it, GET INVOLVED at MSU! For help exploring involvement opportunities, visit the Office of Student Development & Orientation.

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

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

Look for the next Spotlight on Wednesday, September 16th!

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The Wichitan September 2, 2009

Entertainment

The Wichitan September 2, 2009

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Slow-Simmered

Creager takes his time warming up to audience Brittany Norman Editor in Chief

When Roger Creager paid a visit to the Neon Spur last Thursday, one thing was painfully obvious from the start.

No one was there for the opening act.

A group that few in the audience had heard of, The Modern Day Drifters, put forth the effort to liven up the nearly-empty house, but the small gathering of Red Dirt fans weren’t receptive to the raspy alto of the vocalist or the skilled lead guitar (the band even took on a Stevie Ray Vaughan tune in honor of the 19th anniversary of the rock legend’s death).

They barely got any applause between sets, and the biggest reaction they drew was when they announced that Creager would be taking the stage momentarily.

When the Texas Country superstar took the stage, though,

Photo by Brittany Norman Red Dirt artist, Roger Creager, entertained the small crowd at the Neon Spur last Thursday.

the venue was still shy of halffull and the energy level was remarkably low, both in the audience and on the stage.

Creager started powering through his set, playing old favorites like “Having Fun All Wrong,” and tracks from his new album, including the upbeat and rowdy “I’m From the Beer Joint.”

Unfortunately, the enthusiasm the band displayed was not reflected in the audience.

The majority of the concertgoers remained either standing back around the bar or seated rather than crowding around the stage.

They applauded, they yelled when it was appropriate, and a few were even singing along, but something was missing.

The “feel” of Red Dirt concerts, especially outdoor ones with big-name artists on the Texas Music scene, a bill that Creager certainly fits, is normally a little rowdy, a little bit loud and a lot drunk.

The audience didn’t live up to tradition. There was a disconnect between performer and audience, it seemed.

Maybe it was just the small crowd, but something wasn’t clicking.

And then Creager took a pause between songs. He talked about how singing these songs were like spilling his guts in front of an audience.

A drunken fan warned that Creager shouldn’t “rile them up,” but when he struck up the opening chords to the classic Red Dirt drinking song “Everclear,” that’s exactly what he did.

Whatever connection the band was failing to make with the crowd finally slid home, and the show hit the rowdy momentum it should have had from the start.

The cheers kept coming as the band finished out the set. He played several crowd favories, and even took a few drinks with the audience.

The connection he has with his own songs is undeniable.

Even a first-timer at a Roger Creager concert can tell that he feels the words he’s singing.

The lonesome self-doubt in “Late Night Case of the Blues” and the memories of a troubled romance in “I Loved You When” were offset by his slow, easy drawl as he sang and the expressions on his face.

Sometimes it appeared that he got lost for a moment in his own world, enraptured as much as the audience by the songs which obviously mean so much to him personally.

Creager comes through Wichita Falls a few times a year, and while the lyrics stay the same, the show is always different.

That night was slow and easy as compared to the norm.

It wasn’t necessarily a bad departure from the usual.

The slow build-up was worth it for a great show from a regional star.

than some lettuce, a slice of tomato and dressing. They have their own Italian house dressing, as well as some of the favorites including ranch, thousand island and oil and vinegar.

After ordering we chatted and listened to the soft Italian music playing, which set a very comfortable atmosphere.

The salads arrived at the table and shortly afterwards our meals were delivered, all steaming hot. We all immediately took bites of our food but promptly gulped down our drinks. The waitress wasn’t kidding when she said the food was hot.

But once the food cooled down to an edible temperature, it was delicious. My pizza had a thin crunchy crust with a layer of sauce and cheese cooked to a golden brown color.

My friends all raved about their choices and some of us ended up with to-go boxes due to the large portions you are given.

They do have a small selection of desserts including cheesecake, cannoli cream and tiramisu, but we were all too full to order one.

When we were finished eating, the waitress left our ticket on the table but didn’t rush us to leave at all. When we were able to finally get up, we took our bill to the cash register at the front of the restaurant where a nice gentleman rang up our total.

We all left with our stomachs and our wallets full. Most dishes range from $6.95 to $9.95, and the lunch specials, which are available Tuesday through

Saturday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., are only $5.95, which is definitely college budget friendly.

If you are pizza lover, like myself, their cheese pizzas are $6.95 for small 12-inch, $7.95 for a medium 14-inch and $8.95 for a large 16-inch. Extra toppings are $1 per topping.

Napoli’s is definitely a great choice for dates, lunches with families or just a meal with friends. Even with our party of seven, the service was outstanding and prompt. So if you are craving good Italian food for a good price, Napoli’s is the place to go.

Napoli’s is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

A taste of Italy found on Kemp at Napoli’s restaurant Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor

Being the poor college student that I am, I am always trying to save a few bucks. But with my huge appetite, it’s not always easy to do. So when I heard there was a new Italian restaurant in town, Napoli’s, I decided to check it out and see if it was “college budget” friendly.

Napoli’s is a quaint Italian restaurant nestled between the Sonic and Subway on Kemp Boulevard. It used to be a Deli Planet for those who are familiar with the area.

From the moment you get out of your car, you can smell the Italian spices. When my friends and I walked in, we were immediately greeted by the host who sat us quickly and handed us

our menus.

Our waitress was extremely friendly and took our drink orders as we skimmed the extensive menu of homemade baked pastas, spaghetti, salads and house specialties.

While we were considering our options, baskets of rolls were brought to the table. The bread was fluffy on the inside but had a hard crust with seasoning and parmesan cheese sprinkled on top. I only had one piece though, because I have a bad habit of filling up on bread before my meal comes.

Napoli’s has the typical entrees including baked ziti, lasagna, calzones and fettuccini alfredo. But they also have dishes new to my vocabulary including chicken pomodoro, which is chicken sautéed with tomatoes,

basil, olive oil and garlic with a light marinara sauce all served over penne pasta, and sausage pizzaola, which is Italian sausage mixed with mushrooms, onions, green peppers and marinara sauce served over spahettini pasta.

I had heard the pizza was pretty good and since I usually judge hole-in-the-wall Italian restaurants by their pizza, I ordered a small, 12-inch cheese pizza.

Most of my friends ordered from the “lunch specials” section. One ordered the baked ziti, another ordered a calzone and three of them ordered the pasta sampler, which was composed of spinach ravioli, lasagna and manicotti.

All lunch specials include a salad as well, which is not more

Summer hits sizzle and leave hot hopes for fall releases Cora Kuykendall For the Wichitan

The summer of 2009 is sadly coming to an end, but that doesn’t mean the playlist of the last few months is leaving us too.

Now, if the Top 40 type of music isn’t your style, this will probably not appeal to you, but if you do, read on my friend.

The summer started out with hits like Pitbull’s “I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)”, Lady Gaga’s “Lovegame” and Sean Kingston’s “Fire Burning.”

When the Black Eyed Peas’ first hit of summer, “Boom Boom Pow” from their new album, “The E.N.D.,” finally made its way off of the Top

10 list, it was quickly replaced with their upbeat “I’ve Got a Feelin’.”

Some of the slower jams of the summer were “Use Somebody” by Kings of Leon, Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” and the talented and recently married, Beyonce, with “Halo.”

But of course, after tragedy struck the world with the news of Michael Jackson’s death, the iTunes charts quickly became the Michael Jackson charts.

Songs including “Billie Jean,” “Beat It” and “Smooth Criminal” exploded on the radio after his death.

The only artist to share a spot in the Top 10 video rankings with Jackson was Taylor

Photo Courtesy Recent and upcoming album releases include the Black Eyed Peas “The E.N.D.,” Taylor Swift “Fearless,” and Mariah Carey “Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.”

Swift with “You Belong With Me,” which quickly became the anthem for teenage girls everywhere.

Toward the end of the summer, the charts were as hot as it was outside due to Cobra Starship’s “Good Girls Go Bad,”

featuring Gossip Girl’s Leighton Meister.

Shakira’s latest hit and very racy music video, “She Wolf,” has climbed the charts as well.

Then no one can forget Mariah Carey’s “Obsessed” video that caused quite the drama with

rapper Eminem. He lashed back with his song, “The Warning,” which insulted and threatened Carey and her husband, Nick Cannon.

It’s definitely easy to say that this summer there was a song for everyone. Whether you were

“Waking up in Vegas” with Katy Perry or getting “Down” with Jay Sean and Lil Wayne, summer hits made long road trips to distant relatives more bearable.

Let’s just hope the heat from this summer’s hits continues this fall as artists release their new albums.

Pitbull’s “Rebelution” album became available in stores Tuesday, Jay-Z’s “Blueprint 3” album is expected to release Sept. 14, and Lil Wayne’s “Rebirth” album should come to stores Nov. 24.

Other artists including Boys Like Girls, Paramore and even the Backstreet Boys are expected to heat up the charts as well in the coming months.

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The Wichitan September 2, 2009

Sports

Mustangs run over NMHU in home opener, 41-0 Four plays later, MSU quarterback Zack Eskridge four Tyfor the wichitan ron Morrison in the corner of the BeeJay Mathis has made a end zone for a 14-yard scoring name for himself as a punt re- strike to give the Mustangs a 7-0 turner during his collegiate ca- lead.

The Midwestern defense, reer at Midwestern State.

Mathis was at it again in Sat- which limited the Cowboys to urday night’s season-opening 124 total yards and forced three41-0 whitewash of New Mexico and-outs on 10 of 14 possessions, Highlands at Memorial Stadi- put Gonzales back on the field three plays later, but this time it um.

The 5’-9” senior Dallas who Mathis wasn’t the concern.

Junior Austin McDaniel broke has ranked among NCAA Divithrough to get a piece of the ball sion II’s 10 best punt return men on a 15-yard effort to set the in the last two seasons delivered Mustangs up in New Mexico the third-best return game of his Highlands territory, but MSU career as he dashed 89 yards on settled on a 23-yard field from three returns.

Jose Martinez to push the advanBut the Mustangs proved the New Mexico Highlands’ special tage to 10-0.

The rough night continued for teams had much more to worry Highlands later in the second about than Mathis’ superb return quarter deep snapper Tyler Polability, as MSU’s punt return unit lard’s snap sailed over Gonzales’ played a direct role in Midwesthead.

MSU sophomore lineern’s first 24 points of the game backer Ty Duncan recovered the before adding a score of its own ball at the 12-yard line to set up late in the fourth quarter. a 5-yard strike from Eskridge to

Andy Tanner to give Midwestern a 17-0 halftime lead.

The Mustangs kept the pressure on in the second half as Mathis broke for a 32-yard return to the NMHU 37-yard.

Eskridge connected with Tyron Morrison on a quick flat pass for 13 yards before floating a screen pass to Marcus Mathis, who raced 24 yards for a touchdown to push the MSU lead to 24-0 less than three minutes into the second half.

The Mustangs pushed the lead to 31-0 on a 1-yard scoring plunge by BeeJay Mathis before Martinez hit a 39-yard field goal five minute into the first quarter.

Duncan closed out the scoring when he scooped up a punt blocked by Jeremy McDonald and sauntered 8 yards for the final tally.

Eskridge piloted the MSU offense 331 total yards by connecting on 20-of-26 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns.

The junior from Rockwall hit

nine receivers, but Tanner, who recorded career highs with nine receptions for 98 yards, was his favorite target.

Junior Marcus Mathis paced the MSU rushing attack with 49 yards on nine carries, while BeeJay Mathis closed with 34 yards on 16 carries and a touchdown.

Senior linebacker Emmanuel Bagley led the Mustangs with seven tackles, while Ryan Craven and Austin Shields added five each.

The Mustangs pressured New Mexico Highlands quarterback Narcisco Diaz into two interceptions (Craven, Antoine Cumby), three sacks (Kennedy Ezimako, Kevin Birdow, Stephen Turner) and hurried him on six occasions including twice each by Ezimako, Shields and Turner.

Midwestern State opens Lone Star Conference crossover play Saturday against Southeastern Oklahoma State at Paul Laird Field in Durant. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.

Photo by Patrick Johnston Senior Beejay Mathis returned three punts for 89 yeards in MSU’s 41-0 win over New Mexico Highlands Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

MSU’s Landon Fruge and into the net.

UIW scored the solo goal of the match.

The Cardinals wanted revenge for the 2-1 loss to Midwestern in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Midwest/ South Central Region tournament last season.

“It was ugly and we didn’t play well,” MSU coach Doug Elder said. “They were physical, played hard and did what it took to beat us. That wanted it

more than we did.”

The Cardinals ran the tempo of the game and outshot the Mustangs 11-3 “They are a good team with quick kids out on the wing which gave us problems,” Elder said. “You could see our inexperience there. They had a good game plan and worked hard.”

MSU’s goalkeeper Raul Herrera gave the team a solid performance when he made a outstanding save on a ball in the 80th minute to give his team a

chance to keep the game within reach.

On Sunday, the Mustangs returned to the pitch, but this time it was in Austin against St. Edwards.

It wasn’t until the 88th minute of the contest when Midwestern scored the lone goal of the game and got the 1-0 win over SEU. MSU’s Bryce Taylor took a through ball from Paulo Teixiera and banked it off of the post and into the goal to score the lone goal and give his team the

1-0 win.

“It looked like the defender had a play on it, but we weren’t sure if it was going in,” Elder said.

The win improved the Mustang’s to 1-1 on the season and dropped St. Edward’s to 0-2.

Junior goalkeeper Raul Herrera recorded his first shutout of the season. Midwestern State pounded the Hilltopper’s goalkeeper with 18 shots, nine of which were on goal.

Reid Schmidt, Nick Auditore,

MSUMustangs.com

Men’s soccer takes the road for their season opener kaitlin morrison sports editor

The No. 5 ranked Midwestern State Men’s soccer team took the road to open their 2009 season and faced two tough teams.

Friday they traveled to San Antonio to take on Incarnate Word at Benson Stadium.

In the 48th minute, Incarnate Word’s Jesus Cortez sent a cross in from the touch line that bounded away on a misclear by

Tyler Murphy, Dean Lovegrove and Paulo Teixiera all had shots on goal. Taylor and Craig Sutherland each added two.

St. Edward’s managed nine shots, with only one on goal.

The Mustangs will play their home opener Friday when they take on Metro State (Colo.).

Kick off is approximately 7:30 p.m. or after the conclusion of the Northeastern State/Regis contest which will kick off at 5:30.

Sports

The Wichitan September 2, 2009

9

Hotter ‘N Hell 2009

Josh Carter puts on the leader’s jersey after winning the 100 mile road race.

MSU’s Pro 1-2 men discuss the outcome of the Friday Night criterium. Though the team’s planned strategy didn’t work, they were able to make up for their mistake Saturday when MSU’s Josh Carter took the win in the 100 mile road race.

Photos by Loren Eggenschwiler Winner of the Womens 1,2,3 Friday criterium, MSU’s Jen Purcell does an interview over how the race played out. Jen also won Sunday during the criterium.

Josh Carter races the Sunday criterium in the leader’s Jersey. Josh won the sprint for 5th and was able to make 1st overall by .221 seconds.

Mustangs still looking for first win Kaitlin Morrison Sports Editor

910

Number of students who took advantage of the workout facilities at the new Bruce & Graciela Student Wellness Center on the rst day of classes.

Midwestern State’s volleyball team traveled to Joplin, Miss. last weekend to compete in the Missouri Southern Invitational.

The Mustangs season opener was spoiled by Harding University, who came away with the victory in four sets at Platt Athletic Complex.

After losing the first two sets, sophomore Hillary White provided a lift for MSU as she put down five of her seven kills in the match.

The Mustangs were led by senior Sesley Graves and sophomore Miranda Byrd who each recorded nine kills. Libero Kiera Jordan added 14 digs to lead the back row.

Middle blocker Lauren Bayer had four blocks, while Graves added three.

“We just looked inexperienced,” MSU coach Venera Flores-Stafford said. “They will have to grow and learn from each other. Hopefully, we can overcome that quickly. We’ll have to take what we learned from this and make some good things happen.”

The second game of the Friday double header put the Mustangs up against the host team, Missouri Southern.

Missouri Southern’s Jeanna Feldman was too much for the Mustang defense to handle as she gathered a game-high 21 kills and lead the Lions to a 2522, 20-25, 26-24, 25-1 Friday afternoon.

During the match, Graves became Midwestern State’s alltime total block leader as totaled four blocks to improve her career total to 346. She moved past Jennifer Ladusau, who had 345 from 1993-1994.

Although the Mustangs struggled on the attack, averaging a team percentage of .124, they were paced by sophomores Miranda Byrd and Hillary White.

Byrd finished the game with 11 kills, while White just missed a double-double with nine kills and 10 digs. Setter Kimberly Jeffrey recorded 25 assists and nine digs.

On Saturday, MSU faced No. 17 ranked Pittsburg State who used a strong service game to defeat MSU in three sets – 2519, 25-21, 25-23- and hand the Mustangs their third straight loss of the season.

In only her second start of her collegiate career, Jeffery lead the Mustang offense with 29 assists and helped boost their team attack percentage to .272.

Sophomore Miranda Byrd helped to pace MSU attack with

13 kills, while Hillary White added seven.

Sesley Graves and Lauren Bayer provided a solid middle with six and five kills respectively. They combined for an attack percentage of .435.

Libero Kiara Jordan added 16 digs on the backrow.

“We started out really well, but we just couldn’t finish off the sets,” MSU coach Venera Flores-Stafford said.

“We played much better, much better than yesterday.”

Midwestern State faced Missouri S&T in their final game of the tournament Saturday afternoon.

The duo of Samantha Klump and Julie Meyer was too much for the Mustangs to handle. They went on to lose the match - 2523, 25-18, 25-20.

Kiara Jordan led the Mustang defense with 13 digs in the backrow. Outside hitter Miranda Byrd finished with eight kills, while Selsey Graves, Lauren Bayer and Hillary white added six kills each.

The Mustangs host the MSU Hampton Inn-vitational next weekend at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. MSU faces Drury (Mo.) and Emporia State (Kan.) on Friday before playing Northwood (Mich.) and Southwest Baptist (Mo.) next Saturday.

10

Sports

The Wichitan September 2, 2009

On Deck this week...

Thursday September 3 Cross Country Tuesday

MSU Mustang Cross Country Stampede Friday September 4 Volleyball

Women’s soccer starts season off right Defeats St. Mary’s and #14 Central Missouri in home opener

Kaitlin Morrison Sports editor

The Midwestern State women’s soccer team took the field for the first time and picked up its first win of the 2009 season Friday night, defeating St. Mary’s 1-0 at the MSU Soccer Field.

The lone goal of the game was scored by freshman forward Haley Crandall when she put away a rebound goal in the 67th minute of the game.

The game, which was an exciting one, featured 24 fouls, four cautions and matching ejections.

vs. Drury* at 1:30 p.m.

Mustangs to watch...

vs. Emporia State* at 6:30 p.m.

Football

Men’s Soccer Metro State at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday September 5 Volleyball vs.

Northwood* 11:30 a.m.

Senior BeeJay Mathis delivered the third-best return game of his career as he dashed 89 yards on three returns in Saturday’s 41-0 win over New Mexico Highlands.

Volleyball

Women’s Soccer

Senior middle blocker Sesley Graves became the school’s all-time total blocks leader Friday night against Missouri Southern. She recorded 346 blocks as she moved past Jennifer Ladusau, who had 345 from 1993-94.

@New Mexico Highlands Noon

Men’s Soccer

vs.

Southwest Baptist* 4:30 p.m.

Football @ Southeastern Oklahoma 7:00 p.m.

Sunday September 6 Men’s Soccer Regis at 1:30 p.m. * -Indicates games being played at the MSU Hampton Inn-vitational

Home Events are bolded

“They played hard, very physical and came right at us,” Coach Jeff Trimble said. “Once we settled down, we played some good soccer.”

Both teams managed to place seven shots on goal, but the Mustangs were able to take advantage of their opportunities.

Neither team was able to take control of the match until Midwestern worked a ball across the box to give sophomore Lindsay Pritchard room to work.

“The girls did a good job on the wings to change the point of attack and find a good shot,”

Trimble said.

Goalkeepers Ashley Meek and Mallory Whitworth combined for the shutout. Meek accounted for three saves and Whitworth was credited with four.

MSU kept up its quality play on Sunday when it returned to the MSU Soccer Field to face No. 14 ranked Central Missouri and take the 1-0 win.

Central Missouri had plenty of opportunities, but goalies Ashley Meek and Mallory Whitworth combined for their second shutout of the weekend.

The Jennies’ best shot at

scoring came in the 8th minute of the contest when Melanie Hall, last year’s MIAA Player of the Year, served a dangerous cross through the 6-yard box, but Katie O’Keefe couldn’t score the header.

That was the only clean shot Central Missouri would have in the contest.

In the 18th minute, Meek got a glove on Kayla Shain’s blast near the post and Hall would have another breakaway in the 34th minute, but once again Meek was there to keep the game close.

MSU scored the only goal of the game when senior forward

Katy Lukert worked forward and passed to Kelsey Hill at the top of the box.

Hill beat the defender and stroked a shot to the far post for her first goal of the season.

“Central Missouri played very well and controlled the tempo of the game,” Trimble said. “We were fortunate to counter and get the goal.”

MSU will travel to New Mexico Highlands and has its sights set on its third straight win.

Kickoff is set for noon in Las Vegas.

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The Midwestern State Men’s Soccer team has been given a No. 5 ranking in the preseason NSCAA national poll.

After graduatng seven starters, two of which were All-Americans, the Mustangs have brought in 13 new players to help return them to the post season.

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This season’s Mustangs are led by a senior class of eight players.

Midfielder, Kari Bristow, was named Daktronics Honorable Mention AllAmerican last season and looks to lead the Mustangs again this year.

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