SUMMER EDITION by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

SUMMER 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | SPECIAL ISSUE

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | WICHITAN

Madison Scogin, composite science and education freshman and member of Chi Omega, lines up a shot in the archery portion of the Greek Olympics April 17. PHOTO BY LAUREN ROBERTS | WICHITAN

Members of the Stang Gang cheer at the game against Texas A&M-Commerce Oct. 25 at Memorial Stadium.

Four guys under hypnosis are told they are Beyoncé and her back-up dancers who have to perform a concert. This event was put on by the University Planning Board for Stampede Week. Nearly 200 students attended.

WELCOME TO THE CLUB Education more than just going to class PAYTON BONER REPORTER

ducation is more than “just going to class,” according to Matthew Park, associate vice president of student affairs and dean of students. “We want students to be responsible human beings who can communicate and who can think, who can work with a group. I don’t think you exclusively learn these skills in the traditional classroom environment,” Park said. “You can learn them through co-curricular experiences as well. It’s a positive thing when students get involved, meaning they find something they are passionate about and interested in, and they pursue it.” To help students find their passion, 87 registered student organizations provide students the opportunity to develop leadership skills, to learn how to work on a team and how to organize events.

Seventeen of these student organizations are academic, as well as three club sports, six cultural, 15 Greek, two hobbies and sports, 18 honorary, nine religious and faith-based, eight special interest, five student governance, and four University Committees. For example, the German Club is an active organization on campus, with 10 members this year. “German Club meets every week, but every second week we have an event that is generally open to the public. The first week, we just meet and plan for the next few events and then we generally hang out for a bit, and talk about German culture,” said club President Michael Chalupa, criminal justice junior. “On occasion we play German games or other activities. Sometimes we also meet with the Wichita Falls German American Club, which is a group of German people who live in Wichita

Falls and get together to celebrate German culture,” Chalupa said. The club participates in various activities, including screening films and participating in charity events. “German club has been at MSU for the past two years, since Yvonne Franke set it up her first year at MSU,” Chalupa said. “The German program died for a bit when the previous advisor we had retired in 2011, but Franke came to MSU in 2013 and restarted the program, including the classes.” The Engineers for a Sustainable World has eight students involved, most of which are seniors and officers. “We usually get involved with small green energy projects around campus and help where we can with clean ups and working with Engineering Day/ Week, Earth Day and Arbor Day,” said Clarke O’Connor, mechanical engineering senior and club president. “We

also go to the national conference for Engineering Building for a Sustainable World and South by Southwest Eco Fair. In the past we have helped with Fantasy of Lights and learned how to work with solar panels.” “Students should join to be a part of an engineering organization for their resume. It also helps to be involved with other engineers and learn about working with teams on projects,” added O’Connor. “It’s also a great way to network with other engineers. We are not only engineering but are open for business majors and environmentally inclined students.” The Chess Club has 12 active members. “We have meetings every week mostly just to play chess, though every now and then we will play another game

see CLUBS pg. 2

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PHOTOS BY ETHAN METCALF, RACHEL JOHNSON, LAUREN ROBERTS, YASMIN PERSAUD

Jake Sanchez, accounting junior, shoots during a game of giant “beer pong” at the block party. | Austin Glenn, music education freshman, marches with the band during halftime at the game at AT&T Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Sept. 20. | William Winkler, radiology junior, and Sarah Guthrie, radiology senior, race to the shore in the radiology club boat at the cardboard boat race in Sikes Lake. | The cheerleaders parade around in a float at the Homecoming Parade. | The cast of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ rehearse. | At a meeting of the Student Government Association, Jane Tran, nursing senior, asks a question.

CLUBS pg. 1 somewhat like chess,” said Justin Parnell, Chess Club president. “One time we played Khet, kind of an Egyptian themed laser chess game.” The chess team has a tournament every semester. Parnell added, “It is a fun pass time with players of all skill levels currently involved in the club and is a great way for a student to have fun and improve their mind at the same time.”

FUNDING Any registered student organization in good standing is eligible to apply for and receive funds – twice in the fall, twice in the spring. “These funds are designed to help organizations host activities and events that the rest of the campus can enjoy and participate in, as well as group travel and development,” Park said. The other fund for student organi-

the

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zations is the Student Leadership Fund, which can provide up to $250 per organization, once a semester. For a group to receive SLF funds, it has to be a member of the Student Government Association and it has to have a student senator, who has to attend the SGA meetings.

BENEFITS “The benefits of involvement to a student are amazing. But when I say involvement, I’m not just talking about student organizations. Yes, we’ve got the organizations, which include special interest groups, academic organizations, honors societies, fraternities, sororities, sports clubs, and religious groups,” Park said. “But some students also get involved with programs like music, theatre, student media, or athletics. Or maybe they get a job on campus and/or participate in a faculty-led research opportunity. But ultimately, these opportunities connect students

Copyright ©2015. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. 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. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief (250 words or fewer) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address. The editor retains the right to edit letters.

EDITOR: Bri Sheen and Austin Quintero PHOTO EDITOR: Rachel Johnson ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

with each other and with faculty, staff, and community members who have similar interests. They then develop a stronger connection with the university, which means they can work harder and usually get better grades.” To remain eligible for an upcoming academic year, a club needs to have a minimum of four members, a member of the club has to do risk management training once a year and student organization training once a semester. “Most of the time when an organization falls out of good standing, it typically involves a transition of leadership and who is responsible for the organization,” Park said. “Faculty and staff advisers are there as resources, as advocators, as supporters. But it shouldn’t be their job to keep an organization going from one year to the next.” The official recognition of a new club requires eight students who are interested in joining, one faculty sponsor, a

constitution and a statement of purpose which is a document outlining the purpose of the organization, the rules that it will use to govern itself, who is eligible for membership, the requirements for membership and the structure of the organization. This information is gathered and processed through the student development and orientation office, then sent off to the dean of students, and then to the vice president of student affairs and enrollment management. Every academic year, between five and 10 new organizations are formed. “However, at the same time, we tend to lose a similar number of organizations which fall out of good standing during the year,” Park said. “This creates a consistent number of around 100 total registered student organizations at any given time.”

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Wichita Falls Junior College circa 1922

MAROON AND GOLD

The teams of the 1920s wore maroon and white, but so did other college teams, leading to confusion on the field. During 1924-’25, the athletes agreed to change the colors to maroon and gold, a choice reconfirmed by the entire student body when the university moved to its present campus in 1937.

Renamed Midwestern University in 1950; photo from 1966

Veesta, the befeathered symbol of MU spirit, was presented at a pep rally in 1966

Renamed Midwestern State, circa 1975

Traditions contribute to university life

From its beginnings in 1922 as a municipal junior college housed within a high school building, Midwestern State University has become a campus of 255 acres and 70 buildings offering a variety of academic programs in liberal and fine arts, mathematics, sciences, business and applied sciences. Whether alumni consider themselves Indians or Mustangs, the university, now with 5,870 students, has carried on a tradition of pride and community. SARAH SHELTON, 2013 STAFF MEMBER WICHITA FALLS

CARIBFEST

Caribfest brings the famous Caribbean, or more internationally known West Indian, culture to campus. Thousands of students and community members celebrate the independence of various countries located in the West Indies region. The festival includes a twohour street parade, traditional Caribbean food, rhythms of the pan ensemble, and traditional dances. The celebration ends with a cultural showcase and allows participants the opportunity to obtain traditional arts and crafts of the West Indian culture.

Wichita Falls got its name from the first settlers of the area in the 1700s, the Choctaw Indians. The name “Wee-Chi-Tah” meant “waist deep,” which was then a description of the river the Indians built their tribe around. “Back in middle school we learned about the Indian tribe that sent one of their women into the river to test its deepness and cross it,” said Melody Gregory, art junior. The sculpture depicting the legend can be found on Wichita Street, off Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

SCHOOL NAME

83 years before being retired. The NCAA deemed any “hostile” Native American mascot or logo as abuse to the Native American imagery and names, which resulted in changes made to the NCAA-sanctioned events, no longer allowing American Indian logos. “I saw some of the Native Americans that were interviewed about it didn’t care or show to have any problems with the mascot,” said Logan Canifax, art junior. “They took it as a compliment because they were being recognized as the ones who settled here first. I wish we were still the Indians. We have enough mustangs in the area.” The campus still honors Native Americans with street names and statues like the Sunwatcher that commemorates the university’s 75th anniversary and represents the South Plains Indians.

“Everyone says that it (the town) gets dead, but it’s really diverse. If you find the right group of friends you can make it fun.”

Created in 1922 as Wichita Falls Junior College, the second municipal junior college in Texas, MSU’s earliest home was in Wichita Falls High School. Later, a legislative act and a vote of the people of Wichita HOMECOMING RITUALS Falls set up a separate tax district to supKATIE BROWN Homecoming is a week-long event that port the junior college. SOPHOMORE, KINESIOLOGY provides activities for students, alumni, In 1937 the college acquired a new, 40family and friends. Every year there is a acre campus of its own on the south side of town. The recently finished Hardin building rose above pastures school parade that travels through campus. “There are tons of traditions during homecoming week. It and wheat fields. In that year the college was renamed Hardin Jubrings different social groups together, and the rivalry is pretty cool nior College in honor of Mr. and Mrs. John G. Hardin. In January 1950, the name changed to Midwestern University, during competitions like building the best float. And you get to go all out with school spirit,” said Mark Broomfield, exercise physiolthe junior college division remaining Hardin Junior College. Another change in the school’s status came Sept. 1, 1961, when ogy junior. The Cardboard Boat Race is one of the annual events where stuthe 56th Texas State Legislature made Midwestern University part of the Texas Colleges and Universities System. In 1975, the Texas dent organizations attempt to construct a cardboard boat that will successfully make its way across Sikes Lake. Legislature changed the name to Midwestern State University. “You can only use duct tape and cardboard to make the boat, and really you just have to strategize with the people in the boat FROM INDIANS TO MUSTANGS In 2006, MSU changed its mascot from an Indian to a mustang to make it across without sinking,” said Taylor Courtney, radiology named Maverick. The Indian served as the university’s mascot for freshman and member of Sigma Kappa.

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The Wee-Chi-Tah Sculpture by the Wichita River

World’s smallest skyscraper at 511 7th St. downtown

The homecoming bonfire is the official pep rally before the big homecoming game. Throughout homecoming week, students can trade in other university T-shirts in exchange for a bonfire T-shirt, and the T-shirts that get turned in will be added to the bonfire collection which will all be burned. “The bonfire was pretty fun, and I liked seeing the Tarleton shirts on there,” said Katie Brown, kinesiology sophomore. “I thought it was pretty neat that the coaches of the current sports would all join and get to start the bonfire.” A torchlight march is held before the bonfire and students can join in. “I had a great time during homecoming,” Spencer said. “My favorite part was the march because I got to play the quads and everybody just joins in while we’re walking through campus.”

FANTASY OF LIGHTS

Starting in the late 1920’s, the Burns family of Wichita Falls began their first Christmas celebration together by setting up a small Christmas tree on their front porch with one single bulb. As the years passed and Mr. Burns became more successful in the oil industry, the couple was able to add to their tradition. Each year they added a new display to the scenery. In 1954, Mr. Burns died in a car accident, but Mrs.

Burns’ Fantasy of Lights started1920’s

Sheppard Air Force base opened Oct 17, 1941

Burns continued the tradition in memory of her husband. From 1954 to 1970, during the Christmas season, Mrs. Burns turned her front lawn into an animated display with brightly-colored lights. At that point, the display had become so large and detailed that Mrs. Burns had to hire help to maintain it every year. In 1971, Mrs. Burns passed away, and the display was discontinued. In her will she left the decorations to her son, or he could donate it to Archer City. However, the display remained in storage for the next three years until the death of the her son. Archer City offered the display to MSU as long as it was operated to the public free of charge. “I’ve gone since I was able to walk,” Canifax said. “The reason we always went is because when my grandma was a kid, she saw it start out in the Burns’ yard. She lived out in Valley View so if she could make it into town around Christmas, it was a big deal for her. Now she likes to take us and reminisce about when she saw it as a kid.”

SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE

Wichita Falls is home to Sheppard Air Force Base, named in honor of Senator Morris Sheppard, former chairman of the Senate Military Affairs Committee. The Base, which opened on Oct. 17, 1941, trained aircrew and aircraft mechanics during World War II. Today, SAFB is the largest and most diverse training base in air educa-

“Terrible Tuesday” –April 10, 1979 — tied for the 10th worst tornado in U.S. history by the Weather Channel

tion and training command in the United States–the only Air Force base that is home to both technical and flying training. It has a daily population of 15,00 and annually graduates 62,000 Airmen. “I lived on base for a couple of years, but I’ve been going my whole life, whether it was getting groceries, work, or I’ll still get my hair cut on base,” said Branson Spencer, music freshman.

WORLD’S SMALLEST SKYSCRAPER

During the 1920’s oil industry boom, a conman and Amarillo contractor by the name of J.D. McMahon made his mark on the city by creating the world’s smallest skyscraper – and getting away with it. McMahon planned with investors to create a multi-story office building that would overlook Oklahoma. The proposed skyscraper was expected to be a 480-foot building, but what McMahon purposefully did not mention to his investors as they signed off on his contract was that his blueprint measurements were measured in inches rather than feet, resulting in a 480-inch (40 ft) skyscraper. It wasn’t until the construction was complete, and McMahon and the estimated $200,000 invested in the project were gone, that anybody realized what McMahon did. Featured in “Ripley’s Believe it or Not,” the building is still a visible landmark in downtown Wichita Falls on the corner of Seventh Street and LaSalle.

New university president begins in August the end of the month and will begin her term as president in August. For those who feel Shipley may not know enough he nine voting members of the Board of Regents made about the campus, she says she has an open-door policy to history when, after a 10-month search ending in adhere to student and faculty concerns. “They’ll see I’m very available on campus,” Shipley said. March, they named Suzanne Shipley as the first wom“I interact with students just about everyday, that’s the best an and 11th MSU president. part of the job. I try to be there whenever they Growing up in the Texas panhandle, need me.” Shipley participated in campus performancOne person that doesn’t worry how the es, athletic events, and summer programs community will accept her is the soon to be for children at nearby Texas Tech University, former MSU president, Jesse Rogers, in office the same school from where she obtained since 2001 and having previously served as her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. chemistry professor and vice president for ac“I am from Texas,” Shipley said. “I grew ademic affairs. up in Lubbock and I love the landscape and “There’s no doubt that they will accept Dr. size of Wichita Falls.” Shipley with open arms,” Rogers said. “She’s She started her career working at Univerbeen in important and difficult jobs, she’s at sity of Cincinnati in Ohio, and later worked a university today that’s very much like Midat universities in Arizona and Maryland bewestern State University, and I don’t have any fore moving to West Virginia to her former doubt that she is going to be a student and a position as president of Shepard University faculty and a community president.” and current president of the Council of PubRogers spent his entire 48-year professionSUZANNE SHIPLEY lic Liberal Art Colleges. However, through UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT ELECT al career at MSU. Shipley says she is a new all her travels, MSU caught her eye. president with a new vision, and while she “The range of programs is remarkable for a public liberal arts institution,” Shipley said. “The variety in still plans to build on what Rogers has created, hopes to indegrees in health sciences, engineering and human services, duce change as well. “When you are some place longer you develop deep ties.” alongside art, science, humanities and business and educaShipley said. “With fresh eyes you get a new perspective. The tion, was very impressive.” While the Board of Regents selected Shipley as the “final way I look at things will be different and I believe will be well candidate” back in early March, she wasn’t appointed until received.” AUSTIN QUINTERO EDITOR

“I interact with students just about everyday, that’s the best part of the job. I try to be there whenever they need me.”

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | WICHITAN

Suzanne Shipley, incoming university president, answers questions at a forum Feb. 24.

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PHOTO BY LAUREN ROBERTS | THE WICHITAN

Sixth grade safety Keegan Hutchins of The Boys and Girls Club football league Cowboys team blocks Tyrece Boone, mass communication sophomore, and pushes him to the ground after the Midwestern State Football team finished practice. For the last four years the Cowboys have visited the Mustangs practice to observe and meet the players. Demetrich Gilliam, business senior, said, “It’s fun. We can be a positive influence and show them that football can take you places you’ve never been before.”

Athletic mentality: ‘We are going to win’ AUSTIN QUINTERO EDITOR

For the hundreds of athletes who play sports on campus, from varsity sports to recreational sports to club sports — as well as for the fans — competing is more than just a pastime. It is a way to take a break from studying and remain physically active. And all of the players compete for one thing — to win. “We have established a mentality, that we are going to win. That is carried over each year,” head football coach Bill Maskill said. “When one team has success, it bleeds over to the other teams.” FOOTBALL After taking conference with a 5-2 win and 6-2 overall season record in 2014, the football team begins its 2015 season Sept. 5 in Memorial Stadium against Truman State Missouri. “What we have done in the past is the past. We have to prove ourselves this year,”Bill Maskill, head football coach, said. In spring 2015, Maskill signed 40 freshman ready and able to play in the upcoming fall season. “This time of the year we really want everybody healthy,” Maskill said. “We do expect to be good, but a lot of that depends on the health of the players.” The team won a 2012 LSC Championship, its third title since the first in 2009 and second in 2011. The team claimed three LSC divisional championships and made the NCAA playoffs five times. The program celebrated its 25th anniversary in the fall of 2013 after starting back up in 1988 after coming and going during the 1920s to 1950s. Alumni that played on the football team include former NFL Super Bowl champion running back Dominick Rhodes, Carolina Panthers offensive guard Silatolu Amini (2011),

Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Joe Unga (2012), Dallas Cowboys wide receiver David Little (2011) and free agent wide receiver Brian Gilmore (2000). More than 100 players are on the football roster, battling for a position during the spring and summer to make the final cut for the 10-game regular season played in the fall.

VOLLEYBALL

PHOTO BY LAUREN ROBERTS / WICHITAN

Quade Coward, exercise physiology sophomore, gets sacked in the game against Texas A&M-Commerce Oct. 25.

In 2015, the volleyball team finished the regular season 9-20, but has plans to reinvent its record next fall under the leadership of a new coach, Natalie Rawson, a former assistant coach for the team. “This spring we’ve been working really hard to rebuild and create a new vision for the mustangs,” Rawson said with more confidence than hope. Sophomore Middle Blocker and Captain of the team, Sarah Garfield, had three 20+ kill matches and received All Conference Second Team. Sophomore Sarah Rosinke and senior Casey Fletcher were also apart of the Lone Star Conference postseason honors. Fletcher finished fifth on MSU’s all-time digs list with 1,461, while Rosinke finished fifth in the LSC with her 8.15 set assists per set and her eight dig/assist double-doubles.

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PHOTOS BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ, LAUREN ROBERTS AND RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Paige Boylkin, business management sophomore, and Madeline Schorlemmer, psychology junior, wait for the serve at the Women’s Tennis vs Tarleton State game, April 14. | Collin Buerger, biology sophomore, rounds a corner during the men’s class B criterium April 13. | Nicole Marzik, accounting junior, passes in a loss to Arkansas Tech, 3-2 during the MSU Hampton Inn-vitational Sept. 6. | Juan Farres, economics junior, heads the ball over an FC Dallas defender at Moneygram Soccer Park in Dallas Oct. 6. BASKETBALL

The men’s and women’s basketball programs are rooted in the early days of MSU, with the men’s program’s earliest season dating back to 1946, and the women’s program dating back to an intramural team in the late 1960’s. The men won seven LSC championships, made the NCAA D-II Tournament in all seven years, and won the NCAA D-II South Central Region Championship in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The team also made it to the Elite Eight in those three years. In their 2015 season the men made it to the NCAA tournament field for the seventh consecutive year, but lost to Angelo State in regional semifinals. They closed the season at 22-9, making it to regionals and finished third in the Lone Star Conference before falling in the quarterfinal round of the LSC Postseason Tournament. The women’s team earned the No. 3 seed in the 2015 South Central Regional, losing to Colorado Christian and finishing the season 23-7 mark which included a 12-game winning streak from Nov. 18-Jan. 11. The women also received mention in the final USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 for the second time in the last three years.

CROSS-COUNTRY/TRACK

From 2008-2011, the cross-country team swept the LSC, winning four conference championships in a row. In 2011, the team won its first NCAA D-II South Central Regional Championship, and it sent runners to the NCAA national meet in 2008, 2010 and 2011. Despite only competing in the division for the past four seasons, the team has succeeded in the outdoor track division as well, with Brissia Montalvo earning silver in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase in 2012, and Ashley Flores winning bronze in the 5,000-meter in 2013. In 2014 the runners finished seventh at South Central Regionals with seniors Cara Mack and Michelle Krezonoski named to the Lone Star Conference All-Academic. Krezonoski, who owns four top 10 individual finishes in five outings this season, claimed her second individual win at the season opening.

GOLF

Two of the youngest programs on campus, men’s and women’s golf, were started in 2006 and 2009 respectively and both programs have had their fair share of success under coach Jeff Ray. The 2012-2013 men’s team became the first team in program history to win the LSC Conference Tournament, also to become the

first golfer in program history to win the LSC individual championship. In their 2015 season, sophomores Brenna Moore and Sierra Campbell were appointed to first team in the All-Lone Star Conference awards with Moore winning four of her eight matches and Campbell winning five. The men’s team is tied for fourth in the South Central Region rankings in their 2015 season by the NCAA Division II Men’s golf committee. Senior Derek Oland led the team with a 72.26 scoring average with 11 paror-better rounds and five scores in the 60s this season. He claimed his ninth career individual victory this season at the San Antonio Shootout.

SOFTBALL

The softball program, reinstated in 2004, is heading into its 13th season under coach Brady Tigert. The program has made eight NCAA postseason appearances and captured two LSC championships backto-back. But its most successful season came in 2011, when the team made it to the semifinal round of the NCAA D-II College World Series. After encountering some bumps in its 20-18 2015 regular season, Tigert said the team is showing signs of growth. “They’re growing, they’re maturing, they’re learning how to pitch instead of just throw. It’s a very long process and through the season they will go up and down and then after their freshman year in the summer they can get away from it and when they come back they’re so much better and more confident,” Tigert said. In 2015, senior Kary Vandewater led the teams batting average with .345 while Junior Katelyn Vinson carried the teams regular season home runs with a total of 14 out-of-the-parks.

SOCCER

MSU has appeared in 91 national rankings since the start of the 2006 season including 47 of those weeks within the Top 10. The Mustangs spent three weeks at No. 1 during the 2008 campaign. They also carried season rankings of No. 10 in 2006, No. 3 in 2007, No. 5 in 2008, No. 19 in 2009, No. 2 in 2010 and No. 16 in 2011. In their 2014 season, the men’s soccer team placed three players on NSCAA All-South Central Region team. Seniors Kalen Ryden and Andrew Power were named to first team while senior Len Smith took second-team mention. In 2014 Ryden left to play major league soccer.

The team closed its season with a 13-4-2 (win-losstie) record, ranking them 20th in the Continental Tire/NSCAA Division II top 25.

TENNIS In the 2015 regular season, the women’s tennis team took its second straight Lone Star Conference title with a 7-2 win over Cameron, and its third consecutive South Central Regional title with a 5-0 win over St. Edwards. Linn Scott, head tennis coach said, “Last year we had a great team with great ladies on it and we built on that. They did a good job and built on that tradition.” Sophomore Paige Boikyn had a winning individual season of 15-4, with a 30-8 record in overall duals this season including singles and doubles matches. “My team is my family, and I will always give my all and play for them,” Boikyn said. “We need to enjoy the battle and love to compete. We all are here to make a mark and build a legacy for our school.”

REC AND CLUB SPORTS The recreational sports program includes a variety of sports, from mainstays such as basketball and flag-football all the way to dodge ball, putt-putt and even darts and sand volleyball. Some 2,500 students participate in multiple divisions, including divisions for men and women as well as a co-rec division. Students interested in competing one-on-one can compete in sports like golf and tennis singles. “Rec sports play a huge role in making students happy on campus,” Caleb Hannon, assistant director of the Wellness Center and recreational sports, said. “It helps people meet other people, get involved with students they may not know, and gain a lot of tangible skills such as leadership and teamwork.” Along with the intramural sports, many students join club sports as well, including rugby one of the most popular club sports on campus. “Rugby gives you a sense of pride because it ain’t easy playing or getting in shape when you don’t have to,” Jalal Elrosoul, sophomore in exercise physiology and rugby player, said. “It’s something you should definitely at least try because you can’t be good at something you never attempt.” Club sports include Ultimate, cycling, cheerleading and rugby, while rec sports include archery, soccer, dodge ball, tennis, badminton, volleyball, a mini-triathlon and many more.

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Proud sponsor of the MSU Cycling Team

Member FDIC

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Hunter Wolf, a Kappa Alpha member and biology sophomore, and Tristen Cunningham, management information systems freshman, perform a dance to Fergalicious by Fergie at the Mr. MSU Male Pageant in D.L. Ligon Coliseum April 14. PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON / WICHITAN

Team Alpha, who won every round of Tug-of-War, works together to pull the flag towards them in the game for Greek Olympics 2015, April 17.

Greeks give members sense of purpose NAOMI SKINNER REPORTER

or Anthony Gallina, his Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity is more than a student organization. “For the most part, TKE has given me a sense of purpose in college beyond the classroom,” said Gallina, kinesiology senior. “TKE helped push me into the leadership roles that I’ve had and currently have, such as student government president, vice president of TKE for two terms, and […] student ambassador. I’ve had to plan events, manage committees and their work, and also create and enforce policies. Since joining, volunteerism has never seemed like work anymore. Cleaning up the campus, working for charities and helping the community has really become second nature, and now I just do it and never really dread it or get bored.” Gallina is one of about 376 students, or roughly 8 percent of the student population, involved in Greek life. As of spring 2014, fraternities have 135 of these members and sororities have 241 members. “I joined Greek life because I wanted to be a part of a brotherhood that gave me the opportunity to bond with my brothers and make memories throughout my collegiate career, and, most of all, life-long membership with my fraternity,” said Matt Oliver of Sig-

HAZING: Subjecting someone to abusive and/ or humiliating mental or physical harm. Hazing is not tolerated by any of the national fraternities and sororities. Strict rules and penalties exist at MSU regarding the mental and/or physical abuse of anyone involved in a fraternity or sorority. INITIATION: The formal ritual ceremony that brings new members into full membership of a sorority/fraternity. Through initiation, members learn and pledge themselves to uphold the ideals of the sorority/fraternity. This also is a secret activity and is unique to each fraternity or sorority.

ma Alpha Epsilon, the biggest MSU chapter, with 34 members for fall 2012. Fraternities and sororities participate in group meetings, study sessions, social services and campus activities, like Relay for Life, the annual fundraising walk to fight cancer. “I joined because I wanted to make the most of my college experience and get involved as much as I could,” said Maggie Moss, nursing junior from Sigma Kappa, the biggest MSU sorority with 55 members. “Greek life has given much more than I could have ever imagined. It’s turned me into a more mature and goal-oriented woman. I have made life-long friends and developed leadership skills that have really pushed me to achieve more things. Being Greek was the greatest choice I have ever made in college.” “From being in a sorority, I have gained so many friendships and stories,” said Kira Smith, one of Chi Omega’s 49 members. “I know that no matter what is going on in my life, I’ll always have my sisters.” Fraternities and sororities are nationwide organizations, but the local groups, called chapters, determine membership fees. “With the fraternity and the sorority, they have national offices with professional staff,” said Matthew Park, dean of students. “The way they generate

INTERFRATERNITY COUNCIL: Governs the five fraternities with four pillars in mind: leadership, scholarship, service and unity. IFC also provides educational, philanthropic and social events for the entire Greek Community to get involved with. Interfraternity Council Member Chapters Kappa Alpha Order ΚΑ Sigma Alpha Epsilon ΣΑΕ Sigma Nu ΣΝ Tau Kappa Epsilon ΤΚΕ Kappa Sigma ΚΣ

that money to pay their staff is through all the chapters they have throughout the country, sometimes throughout the world. […] Each […] individual member is paying things, such as a chapter fee, which isn’t necessarily going to them locally here, but it’s going to support the existence of this larger entity. […] At Midwestern, they [chapter fees] are a lot cheaper than they are at other institutions primarily because our chapters don’t have houses on campus.” For his TKE fraternity, which has 16 members, Gallina pays $70 a month and “an average of $30 extra for shirts, fundraisers, and other things.” “We pay $350 a semester,” said Trey Reed, psychology sophomore, also from TKE. “Only $70 a month isn’t that bad, even with an extremely part-time job. The only extra costs we have are sometimes paying for event shirts, maybe taking our littles to lunch every now and then, maybe some craft supplies for things we work on throughout the semester.” Junior Courtney Lemley from Chi Omega said she pays a monthly chapter fee of $65, and an additional $80 per semester in house corporation fees for renting Fain Hall where sororities have meetings. “Additional costs include T-shirts which is com-

PANHELLENIC COUNCIL: Governs the four sororities while keeping in mind each organization’s ideals and promoting a positive experience for all sorority members. Panhellenic strives to unite chapter women, strengthen their values and establish common goals. Through the development and sponsorship of programs, PHC provides educational opportunities year-round to its chapters and their individual members. Panhellenic Council Member Chapters Alpha Phi Αφ Chi Omega χΩ Gamma Phi Beta ΓφΒ Sigma Kappa ΣΚ

see GREEK pg. 10 MULTICULTURAL GREEK COUNCIL: Established in 2010, MGC coordinates the chapters that primarily identify as a historically black or Latino/a Greek Letter organization by addressing, managing and programming. This helps to unify organizations involved in the MGC, while upholding higher education, providing community services and improving campus and community leadership. Multicultural Greek Council Member Chapters Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority ΑΚΑ Kappa Delta Chi Sorority ΚΔχ Omega Delta Phi Fraternity ΩΔφ Sigma Lambda Alpha Sorority ΣΛΑ

10 | Summer 2015 |

PHOTO BY LAUREN ROBERTS / WICHITAN

Erin Henderson, undecided sophomore, plays “giant bee pong” in the green space next to the Clark Student Center Wednesday evening at the Greek cookout. GREEK pg. 9

pletely up to the member in terms of wanting to buy,” she said. The Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity charges $70 monthly, “give or take fines, events and donations such as paying for food during rush events,” said member Peyton White. “Greek life isn’t something that is cheap,” said Shanell Martin, criminal justice senior. “There are monthly fees due along with new member fees that vary between each chapter. There is no tolerance of late payments.” Greek leaders strive to develop competitive lead-

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON / WICHITAN

KA member Taylor Kelley, business freshman, jumps to catch the ball, making it the third and final out.

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON

Jasmine Moody, English sophomore, and Rebecca Aronhalt, a Gamma Phi Beta member and business marketing freshman, joke around in the long line at the Greek Cookout.

ership skills, said David Alexander, business finance junior from Omega Delta Phi. “I joined for the brotherhood and diversity,” Alexander said. “What I’ve gotten out of ODPhi so far is how to stay goal-driven and focus through any kind of adversity.” Sororities and fraternities have GPA requirements and other academic goals for members. “I wasn’t able to join the sorority of my choice due to my grades being too low when I was an incoming freshman,” said Ryan Allison, who had a 2.7 GPA but needed a 2.8 to join Sigma Kappa. “I am currently not in a sorority now because I am friends with them

already and have other obligations to attend to.” Despite benefits described by Greek members, some students just can’t find the time required to join the Greeks. “I’m a full-time student and have a full-time job. I live alone, I have a 1-year-old baby, and I have no time for Greek life,” Miles Roberts, criminal justice senior, said. Graphic design junior Cameron Williams said too much of his time is spent on football to go Greek. “I got a full-ride scholarship to play football at Midwestern State, and all of my time is placed on the football field with my team.”

| Summer 2015 | 11

Develop social shadow carefully CHRIS MARTEN REPORTER

nline personas have reshaped every aspect of modern life, including professional identities and job searches. Social media gives an employer a window into an applicant’s activities outside of a business setting, and is increasingly being used as a screening tool. Blake Muse, mass communication junior, experienced this first hand when applying at an advertisement agency. “During my interview we began having a conversation,” Muse said. “In the middle of us talking, the interviewer got on Facebook and went through about the first 10 posts of my timeline. I didn’t expect it at all.” Muse said he luckily only posts positive things, such as pictures with his family and the scholarships he has earned. “She did say that she was impressed with me, and I’m taking it as a learning experience,” Muse said. “If we’ve learned anything from the student government candidate situation, it’s that your posts can follow you. From an advertiser’s perspective, we are our own product.” Lori Arnold, professional counselor at the Counseling Center, advises students to not assume the reaction of anyone looking at their online profile. “A student or recent graduate seeking a job has to be careful,” Arnold said. “It’s common now for employers to look up a potential employee before even meeting them. I don’t know if that’s fair, or even the right thing to do, but that’s the situation we live in. Drinking, partying, drug use, profanity, and provocative content are all things I would think about before posting. It’s important to see your profile from a future employer’s perspective.” While still practicing caution, Arnold said the history of a student’s online persona does not have to necessarily be as professional as a resume. “It’s a very tricky subject to navigate,” Arnold said. “I’m all for expressing yourself, though I think you need to have a balance, like a censored version of yourself. Eventually everyone comes to the point where they have to decide if the right to be yourself is more important than what is needed when seeking employment.” Blocking an employer or anyone in a position of authority is rarely the smartest idea, and Arnold said friending them beforehand may be a good thing if you’re comfortable with the material they will be seeing. “Friending a company or employer that is showing an interest in you can work to your advantage, as long as the content is appropriate,” Arnold said. “It should be noted though that you can’t control oth-

er people’s actions, and you can’t control them tagging you in their photos. The decision to add them should take all these factors into account.” Abigail Scott, director of creative marketing at Homewell Senior Care and MSU graduate, said social media censorship wasn’t as much of a concern when she graduated in 2010, but was on her mind when she got her master’s degree in 2013. “It never was really an issue that came up back in 2010,” Scott said. “As I was working towards my master’s though I began actively editing my social media. In that time it had become an important thing to keep in mind.” When looking at a potential employee, Scott said that she occasionally takes their online persona into account depending on what kind of content can be seen. “A person’s profile is their digital identity, and it can give you a sense of who you’re dealing with,” Scott said. “Choosing a candidate based on race or religion would be a bad practice, but if someone is openly racist or offensive then that’s going to factor into the final decision. An example would be if a person says that they’re tired every day because they’re out drinking every night. Any employer is going to have a predisposition to avoid this kind of behavior.” Scott said social media can be used as a tool in her field. “If you were applying for a nonprofit organization and an interviewer sees pictures of you doing volunteer work, that’s going to help your case,” Scott said. “So many of the local news stations even link stories to their media accounts, and if you’re looking for a job in that field then showing an active social media life would be appealing to those groups.” Joshua Stepney, music senior, said editing his posts has caused him to be less active on those sites. “These days I update my accounts about twice every day,” Stepney said. “I have to carefully look over every status, because all it takes is that one night of fun, and whether through you or the people you’re friends with, something negative will get out. Before college I never really monitored my social media, until I got a job and money was involved.” Chase Robertson, history senior, said he censors his posts for more reasons than just employment. “I usually refrain from using profane language or anything like that, because I don’t want that to end up on the internet,” Robertson said. “I have my family added on most of my accounts so for me it’s an image thing. College and the upcoming job search have definitely made me even more cautious though.”

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | WICHITAN

Courtney Morren, Aaron Allen and Lauren Gertson, radiology seniors, and Sheree Phifer, associate professor of radiologic sciences, talk while waiting to explain their research project at Celebration of Scholarship April 30.

Undergrads engage in research NAOMI SKINNER AND MATT JOBE REPORTERS

he fourth annual Celebration of Scholarship gives undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty an outlet to showcase their research and is a reflection of the research environment that MSU, one of 29 members of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, cultivates in its students. Most of the projects are pursued in collaboration with faculty researchers and creative artists, and build on what students learn in the classroom. “We celebrate all forms of scholarship,” said Jesse Carlucci, assistant professor of geoscience. “Scholarship just means pursuit of scholarship in terms of data, research or creative expression and art.” Magaly Rincon-Zachary, professor of biology and director of undergraduate research, helped organize the Undergraduate Research Forum. “It impacts the students so much,” Rincon-Zachary said. “It is a tremendous learning experience. Some students have told me that they learn more from this than from their classes.”

FROM PARTICIPANTS NEWMAN WONG, research analyst and evaluator: “I’m excited to find some interesting things, something new and different.” MAEGAN THURSTON, radiology sophomore, EURECA presentation: “It is important for preservice teachers to know how to integrate reading into math for elementary kids, the benefits include that it conserves time, improves test scores, and improves language and communication skills. Its really easy to teach this way especially when using books like ‘Alphie the Alligator’ to show math concepts with pictures and a story.”

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | WICHITAN

Students turn in or pick up their extra credit at the Celebration of Scholarship April 30. CALEB BORN, marketing senior, presenter: “Addressing Student Retention at the Dillard College of Business Administration”: “We were trying to close that gap between the U.S. national average and then what we have, because we did see an increase but like we said, it leveled off. We now found what we believe to be the underlying reasons of the retention issue and so we’ve discussed the solutions that we have, but next semester we’re hoping to take it further, and do more surveys based on what more people are receptive towards as far as these changes.” WILL STATHAM, mechanical engineering junior: “Project Airship: Near Difference Vegetation Index Aerial Imaging was my favorite poster to see. It showed how he used 3D printing, made a circuit board, and modified a camera so that it can be used to help crop development.” JESSYCA WAGNER, faculty mentor to all radiology poster projects: “This is a good learning experience for them. We’re always needing more research in the radiology program.” MARTIN MELHUS, faculty mentor to Matt Aaron and “CUDA Program for Simulation of Granular Flow”: “The end goal was me forwarding my research,” said Martin Melhus, physics assistant professor and EUREKA faculty mentor. “And for him to forward his education.”

LEARN MORE ABOUT UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH HTTP://WWW.MWSU.EDU/EURECA/

12 | Summer 2015 |

PHOTO BY PAUL IVERSON / DALLAS TIMES HERALD

PHOTO BY MARK PERLSTEIN / DALLAS TIMES HERALD

Roger Hinesh of Wichita Falls rode out the storm in his car. He said he “hit the floor and prayed a lot” when he saw it.

The tornado cut wide path of destruction through Wichita Falls homes and apartments.

WICHITA FALLS RESEMBLED A CITY RAVAGED BY WAR COOPER MILLER, 2014 STAFF MEMBER

On April 10, 1979, Wichita Falls experienced its most violent tornado in its history. Known as Terrible Tuesday, the supercell thunderstorm spawned multiple tornadoes that took the lives of 58 citizens, 42 of whom were in Wichita Falls, and forever changed the lives of others. The tornado was one of three from the same storm cell to strike Texas, and the fifth deadliest tornado in Texas history.

WHAT TO DO IN A TORNADO?

A TORNADO WATCH means weather conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop. Go about normal activities but be alert to the weather. A TORNADO WARNING means a tornado has been sighted or indicated on radar. Take refuge immediately. • Under no circumstances should students, faculty, or staff attempt to leave campus while a warning is in effect. • Students should be directed to an interior hallway on the lowest floor of the building. Persons should lie on the floor as close to the wall as possible. Avoid auditoriums, gymnasiums, or other freespan rooms. • RESIDENCE HALLS: Residents should go to bathrooms or hallways on the first floor at front of building and close hallway doors. RAs will sound air horns if possible. • Stay away from open areas of glass.

SOURCE: MSU Disaster Policy

hirty-five years ago, a massive F4 tornado tore through Wichita Falls, in an event that the Dallas Times Herald and Wichita Falls Times labeled Terrible Tuesday. In a time where spring storms and weather alerts were common, a storm like this was not. Within two days of the tornado touching down, the death toll had risen to 49 and an estimated 5,000 residents were homeless, according to a Wichita Falls Times article by Rocky Scott and Phil Ringman. The destructive storm crippled the city, displacing an estimated 10 to 20 percent of the population and estimations up to $278 million in damage, becoming the fifth most deadly tornado in Texas history, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

IMPACT ON MSU

Structurally, the campus was one of the safest places to be during the storm, according to President Jesse Rogers, who at the time was academic vice president. Rogers recalls windows of the Hardin building being found broken with blood splattered from people punching them to escape the storm. Luckily, according to Rogers, only a small section of the university was hit. “It looked like it was going over the south of the school,” Rogers said. “Everything east of the coliseum and the president’s home was completely destroyed. It looked like Hiroshima from Midwestern Parkway downward. All I could see was dust, two-by-fours and foundations of homes.” The damage to the university’s property was minimal; however, the roof of the coliseum was ruined and the porch of the president’s house was ripped off. The real destruction came when they saw how many students and faculty had lost their homes

due to the storm. “We had so many faculty that completely lost their homes,” Rogers said. Rogers said he met with the deans to figure out what the school was going to do about classes for the rest of the spring semester. “We decided we were far enough along in that semester, that we were all going to get together and help those faculty who had lost everything, report their grades, and tell everybody we are done,” Rogers said. The semester would have ended on May 17, but Rogers said there were so many problems as a result of the tornado that there was nothing to do other than carry on the best way they could and let every professor choose what to do with their class. “I will never forget how professional this school was and how people put things in priority when a tragedy like that hit,” said Rogers. “The way this faculty pulled together was a really proud moment for me.”

PLAYBACK OF THE TORNADO

Rogers said he recalls the Tuesday of the tornado being windy and stormy. “I paid some attention to it,” Rogers said. “But it didn’t alarm me.” He mentioned that thunderstorms and weather alerts weren’t as unusual of an occurrence in 1979 like they are today. “In that period of time, it seemed like we lived under severe weather alerts,” Rogers said. Rogers recalls interviewing Fred Davis, a professor in dental hygiene, that afternoon before the storm hit. “We walked out of the office after the interview and I could hear some rumbling in the sky and the clouds were rolling,” said Rogers. “But we were almost accustomed to it.”

By this time it was almost quitting time and Rogers left to go home like any other day. “I lived right down on Taft and on the way home I thought I heard a train,” said Rogers. “I pulled into the garage and stood out in the front yard and my daughter drove in and said, ‘Daddy you better get in the house. There’s a tornado coming.’” Don Henschel, professor of theater who was also chair of the department at the time, also recalls the beginning of the storm. “I heard the sirens and went up to look out the second floor windows,” said Henschel. “To the southwest was a huge black storm cell. I thought the storm was as close as the next block.” Henschel, having never seen a tornado before, described it as a confused black mess of clouds that came to the ground near its center. “It bore no resemblance whatsoever to the one I knew so well from the Wizard of Oz,” Henschel said. Rogers too describes seeing one side of a black wall cloud while watching from his front yard. “It became deafening,” Rogers said. “Cars were driving down Taft. I bet some were going 90 miles an hour, so I knew something was wrong.” While watching from his front yard, Rogers said pieces of two-by-four and hailstones the size of grapefruits starting falling all around him. “At that point I thought, you know, I better get out of here,” Rogers said. Henschel said he and his wife took cover downstairs in their home where the storm passed, fortunately sparing them both and their house. “When the storm passed, surprisingly, I couldn’t see any damage,” Henschel said. “I got in my truck and headed for the university. The storm had been so large that, while almost two miles away, it had seemed as though it were next door.”

14 | Summer 2015 | PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON | WICHITAN

Laycey Adams, elementary education junior, and Crystal Renfro, education senior, study for finals in Sundance Court Apartments first floor lounge May 9.

Chelsea Brinkworth, early childhood education freshman, sits on a couch in the lobby of Killingsworth Hall while waiting for a friend May 9. Harley Hamersley, engineering sophomore, goes over a paper with Victoria Estrada, math freshman, and Ashley Hay, undecided freshman, in a study room on the fourth floor of Killingsworth Hall May 9.

Choosing a home away from home

Students weigh convenience and freedom when deciding where to live BRI SHEEN EDITOR

oming to a college campus for the first time, especially as a first-time student, can be daunting. Just the notion of all the opportunity and freedom is enough to make anyone’s head spin. But with freedom comes responsibility, and one of the first tough decisions incoming students have to make is where to live. The six on-campus housing options in addition to the off-campus apartments at Mustang Village provide a variety of options.

CHANGES THIS FALL

Students living in the residence halls have to buy a meal plan, and meal plans are available for students living in the apartments or off-campus. Michael Mills, director of housing and dining services, said the new dining contract will add many retail options to the food court and other buildings around campus. “The food court is going to be totally renovated,” Mills said. Thanks to the new dining contract and a capital investment by the dining company, the new retail options will include a Chick-Fil-A and an expanded Freshens in the food court, while an Einstein Brothers Bagels will be added inside Dillard. Mills said they’re hoping to move the Starbucks inside the library. And according to Mills, beginning this fall students will be able to use their meal plan at these retail options. A new freshman residence hall is being built that will open next year, and construction of the new dorm means losing the parking lot behind Pierce Hall. According to Mills, the parking lot behind Prothro-Yeager beside the football fields will be MICHAEL MILLS expanded. DIRECTOR OF HOUSING AND DINING “That’s going to expand out to more than make SERVICES up for the parking spaces that they lose over here,” Mill said. “But once the new residence hall opens we’ll need additional parking.”

“We strongly feel the research has shown that students who live on campus housing during their beginning term of their college experience do better academically and socially.”

ON CAMPUS

Living on campus has its perks, and according to Mills, being close to the action can help students perform better in and out of the classroom. “We strongly feel the research has shown that students who live on

campus housing during their beginning term of their college experience do better academically and socially,” Mills said. Living on campus can allow students to get more involved, make more friends and utilize the library or labs more often. Living in campus housing means students pay one fee per semester that covers their rent, utilities, TV and Internet. However, living on campus means following university housing policy, too. In the residence halls, this includes having to check in all guests and following a curfew for how late guests can stay. There are three residence halls on campus, Killingsworth Hall, Pierce Hall and McCullough Trigg Hall. All residence halls feature communal kitchens and laundry services, and all are located at the heart of campus. All residence halls have air conditioning, cable TV and wireless Internet. These services, along with utility bills, are included in the price of the room. The residence halls are reserved for incoming freshmen this fall, but Mills said there is a possibility that the incoming freshmen will overflow into off-campus housing. Students who are in overflow can be put on a waiting list to move into an on-campus option as units become available. Killingsworth, a 301 bed six-story hall, is designated for girls only and features semi-private rooms outfitted with twin beds and mini fridges and two communal kitchens. Resident advisors, or RAs, are assigned to every floor to help new students adjust to college life and get them involved on campus. Although rooms don’t have attached bathrooms, the bathrooms in the hallways are private, meaning only one person uses them at once, instead of the large communal bathrooms common at other universities. Pierce Hall, the 227 bed boys’ hall, has twin XL beds and a similar system of private bathrooms. Both Pierce Hall and Killingsworth Hall have semi-private rooms in a zig-zag shape, allowing students partial privacy despite not having doors to separate their rooms. McCullough-Trigg Hall is the 152 bed co-ed residence hall. Although it is open to both boys and girls, there is one gender per floor of the six-story building, with the fourth floor reserved for Honors program For more information on housing, visit http://www. students. McCullough-Trigg offers more mwsu.edu/housing/

| Summer 2015 | 15 privacy because its floor plan has two bedrooms, each with a closet and a door, sharing a living room and vanity area. These rooms have mini fridges and living room furniture, too. Bathrooms are shared between two units, meaning four students will share one bathroom with a toilet and shower. Cierra Loften, social work freshman and McCullough-Trigg resident, says she likes the privacy of living in Trigg. “I like that I have my own door and that I only have to share a bathroom with three other girls,” Loften said. “It’s like a miniature apartment to get me ready for the real thing.” There are three apartment complexes on campus – Sundance Court, Sunwatcher Village and Bridwell Court. All the complexes have bills like TV, wireless Internet and utilities included. Bridwell Court apartments are for graduate students or students with families and unlike the other on-campus housing options, Bridwell uses 12-month contracts. Sundance Court Apartments is the newest apartment complex on campus. The units are connected by interior hallways, giving the apartments a hotel feel. The complex is located on the edge of campus across the street from the wellness center. There are four-bedroom twobathroom units and two-bedroom two-bathroom units available. All units feature a full kitchen, a washer and dryer, and full size beds in the bedrooms. Loften, who will be living in Sundance this fall, said, “I like the hotel feel of Sundance and the walk-in closets.” Sunwatcher Village, a garden-style apartment complex, offers the most privacy of all the on-campus housing options. Sunwatcher is centrally located, across the street from the three residence halls in the middle of campus. The bedrooms all have full size beds and the units come with full kitchens and a washer and dryer. Jeanne Uwera, psychology freshman, lives in Killingsworth but will be in Sunwatcher Village this fall. “I chose Sunwatcher because it’s close to all the places I go around campus,” Uwera said.

OFF CAMPUS

Mills said for the past few years, they’ve had to lease out rooms at Mustang Village to accommodate the students who could not find oncampus housing. Mustang Village is located about a mile from campus, and even though it’s off-campus, the same housing rules apply. Mustang Village has resident assistants and just like on-campus apartments, all utilities and TV and Internet are included in the semester fee. Units include full kitchens and a washer and dryer. The Mustangs Shuttle stops at Mustang Village to pick up students and runs 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The new MESA bus route expands bus services to the weekends and will take students to 26 locations around town including shopping, dining and entertainment. Mills said the perk of living at Mustang Village as opposed to other off-campus housing options is that students are only liable for their room and all bills are included in the semester fee. “We’re signing the lease so you don’t have to worry about being individually responsible,” Mills said. Living off-campus, whether with MSU housing or not, offers more freedom. However, it also means commuting to campus and being away from the hustle and bustle of campus life. Housing rules state that students must live on campus unless they live with their parents, have more than 45 credit hours, are 21 or older, are taking fewer than 12 hours per semester or are taking only evening classes. With the record number of incoming freshman this fall, Mills said this rule is hard to enforce. “Obviously in an overflow situation where we have more requests than we have beds for, we’re not going to be actively enforcing the housing policy CIERRA LOFTEN because how can we?” Mills said. “At the same time SOCIAL WORK FRESHMAN we want students to still follow the policy unless they need to get out for a different reason.”Winters said there are some cons with living off campus. “French Quarter has poor management with managers coming and going and problems never being resolved,” he said. “Also the poor lighting and lack of security makes crime a more likely event.” Michael Anekwe, senior in geology, lives in Colony Park, and pays $520 per month in rent for his apartment. “I just preferred the idea of living off campus,” Anekwe said. “I just have one roommate, so I have a lot of privacy and space. One of the bad things about living off campus is that a vehicle is required.”

“I like that I have my own door and that I only have to share a bathroom with three other girls.”

Colony Park resident, Cheddi Charles, senior in mathematics, splits his rent with his roommate and pays $255 per month for his twobedroom, two-bathroom apartment. “I chose to live off campus because it’s cheaper and there is more freedom,” Charles said. “I get to be more responsible with my actions, and I have more opportunities to do things. The distance from campus is a disadvantage, though. I’m not able to attend many campus activities or school sports on the weekends.” Devyn Ackerson, senior in history who lives in Hunter’s Crossing, pays $380 a month and lives with one roommate. “I chose to live off campus because I’m an adult,” Ackerson said. “I do what I want when I want. The only cons are loud people that live above me, and no one that works at the apartment comes to fix anything.”

MUSTANG VILLAGE

MSU housing signed a contract for 215 beds at Mustang Village, formerly The Grove, an apartment complex located off Southwest Parkway and Taft Boulevard. Director of Housing and Dining Services Michael Mills said Mustang Village is offering three-bedroom, threebath units which the housing department will charge students $2,400 a semester to rent, not including a meal plan. “So automatically it’s cheaper than a campus apartment, and then we added in, for the first time ever this fall, we will have a five-meal plan that is available only to students in the apartments or commuter students,” Mills said. “You’ve got your own apartment, you’ve got your own private bedroom and you’ve got your own private bathroom. Then when you add in your five-meal plan, which would get you lunch every day in the cafeteria, it’s $700. So now you’re at $3,100 for your room and your meal plan, which is actually $200 cheaper than what you had a McCulloughTrigg.” Each apartment includes furniture, walk-in closets, a washer and dryer, private bedrooms and KATIE HAMILTON bathrooms, a full-size kitchen, Internet and cable. THEATRE SENIOR “I like having my own bedroom and bathroom. The kitchen is really nice, and all the furniture is included,” Katy Rhoades, dental hygiene junior, said. “But the furniture is cheap and, the carpet is disgusting because of the dog pee.” Rhoades said the residents who lived in her apartment before her had pets who peed on the carpet and failed to clean it up. Mustang Village management told Rhoades they would replace the carpet but never did. The Mustang Village clubhouse features a coffee bar, tanning beds, a library, a workout room and a game room. Around the complex is a sand volleyball court, resort-style pool, a full basketball court, a fire pit, a grilling area and controlled access gates, which Katie Hamilton, theater senior, said makes the expensive rent a little more worth it. “Even though the rent is high, I do pay for things like free tanning, the basketball court, which I actually use a lot, and volleyball,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said although anyone can rent at Mustang Village, most of her neighbors are students. “I love it. I’ve been to many parties just because I just walked upstairs and they were like, ‘come on in!’ and I did,” Hamilton said. Hamilton said she does have a problem with maintenance personnel, though. “When you put in a request, it takes forever, and a lot of things in my apartment are broken,” Hamilton said. “We have two broken chairs that we just kind of balance in.” Rhoades voiced similar concerns. “The gates don’t work, and the pool is gross,” Rhoades said. “Choosing where to live is important. It affects everything.” Mills said students who live in Mustang Village will not pay utilities out of pocket as long as they sign their lease through Midwestern State University. “Midwestern is signing a lease for those units and students are leasing those from us. We’re making arrangements under a master lease,” Mills said. “Midwestern is going to charge all utilities included.” Other costs at Mustang Village include a one-time $250 community fee and an optional monthly pet fee, but students who sign their lease through MSU housing will not be allowed to have pets, and they won’t be required to pay the $250 community fee. “It’s stupid that we have to pay $250 for a community fee which goes toward parties I don’t attend,” Rhoades said.

“Even though the rent is high, I do pay for things like free tanning, the basketball court, which I actually use a lot, and volleyball.”

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Important Dates for New Mustangs Housing Opens ........................................................August 18

iLead Conference ............................................. September 15

Mustangs Roundup ...........................................August 18-23

MSU Football at Cowboys Stadium .................. September 19

Student Convocation ...............................................August 20

Artist-Lecture Series: Dr. Michio Kaku.............. September 22

First Monday of Classes ..........................................August 24

Family Weekend .......................................... September 25-26

Stampede Week .................................................August 24-29

Homecoming .................................................... October 25-31

Engagement Week ............................ August 30-September 5

Finals Frenzy ....................................................... December 3

Start to Finish ... Inspiring Mustangs to Live and Learn.