January 25, 2017 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Jan. 25, 2017 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 81 No. 16

Women, men, children and puppies reach the end of the two mile Women’s March on The Falls as they reach the Fidelity Bank building.

PHOTO BY CALEB MARTIN | THE WICHITAN

202 attend

Women’s March on The Falls

CALEB MARTIN REPORTER

eople of the Texoma area gathered in Wichita Falls early Saturday morning to take place in the Women’s March on The Falls, a sister march of the Women’s March on Washington, in what would later that day be regarded as one of the largest and most significant demonstrations for social justice in America’s 240 year history. The Women’s March on the Falls began at Sikes Lake and ended at Fidelity Bank in Parker Square, the workplace of Representative Mac Thornberry. Signs were raised and chants were shouted as the group made up of women, men and even children marched for recognition of their growing concerns. Their signs, which had words such as “We are here, we are strong” and “This march is about justice and equality for all,” were met with the constant honks and cheers of support as drivers passed the group waving; however, they were also met with in-

decent words being shouted by other drivers, as well as obscene hand gestures. One driver, who appeared to disagree with the demonstration, reportedly pulled up next to the protestors, brought traffic to a halt, and revved their engine loudly causing exhaust fumes to fill the air. The driver’s show of apparent disapproval made three older women in the protest cough violently. Other drivers shouted “I love Trump, f*** you,” and “Trump won, get over it,” even though the protest wasn’t anti-Trump, but instead was focused on the rights of women and the protection of civil rights. “This is not a bipartisan protest,” Cynthia Archibald, co-coordinator of the protest, said. “This is about women uniting not only here in the United States, but worldwide. We are protesting and encouraging women around the world to unite for civil rights in countries where they’re under oppressive governments and then unite here in the United States to protect our civil rights, and not just ours but the constitutional rights of everyone in the United States regardless of gender, race, sexual prefer-

ence or religion.” The Women’s March finished its journey with a total of 202 protestors. “We didn’t know how many to expect. I’m very surprised and very pleased with the turnout,” Marilyn Wayte, march coordinator, said. “We thought in the beginning, when I asked if anyone wanted to take part in this, maybe 20 or 30 [would show up], but because the movement is so big people really wanted to get involved.” An estimated 2.6 million people took place in 673 marches across 50 states and 32 countries. “It’s [the women’s march] not about left or right, but about right and wrong,” Wayte said. “We may have some republicans today marching because they just didn’t feel good about things. It’s to let people know we’re here, that they’re not alone.” Wayte said she doesn’t know when the next march will be, but she is sure that she and some of her fellow 201 supporters will march again to fight for what they believe in.

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STAF F E D I T O R I A L

Gender inequality still a real problem OUR VIEW: The women in the women’s march had reasons to protest, despite criticism on social media. Around the world, women, men and children of all races and beliefs gathered in their cities to vocalize the injustice of gender equality. As people marched, social media brought forth thousands of confused individuals posting that women do in fact have equality and therefore no reason to march. However, the millions of marchers brought attention to the social issues concerning reproductive rights, equal pay, affordable health care and action on climate change. Although many believe that inequalilty exist, even MSU falls victim to these issues. According to a breakdown of our assistant professors’ salaries, the male assistant professors are annually earning $3,288 more than the women of equal title. Each of lives dedicated to walking for their beliefs that day, did so out of concern for the well being of humanity. While women have the right to do many things men do, the objectification of their attractiveness, dress, sexuality, race and other issues are ever present and in need of change. The issues which were marched for are not as distant or imaginary as many people believe. The women’s march might not bring about an immediate change in the social issues they peacefully fought for, but the attention they brought to the issues is the beginning of another justified march for freedom which should be joined by all who desire an equal society.

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Vol. 81 | No. 16

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Freshman should get involved

hate to sound cliché, but getting involved on campus is a vital part of the college experience, especially during freshman year. While there are many ways to get involved on campus, one of the most popular is to go Greek. I know Greek life can often get a bad reputation, but as a new member of Alpha Phi, I’m here to say Courtney it has completely changed my life and my Hoover college experience for the better. Through Alpha Phi, I have been able to participate in countless events as well. Each sorority has a specific philanthropy that they work with, and ours happens to be women’s heart health. We host several events to raise money for our philanthropy — so I get to give back to my community and have fun with my friends. We also have mixers with each fraternity, participate in all the homecoming festivities, and attend sisterhood retreats. There’s really never a dull moment, and there’s always something to do with my sisters. Greek life is often knocked down about how all we do is party. We get bad grades. We skip class. Well, that’s simply not true. Thanks to study hours and a scholarship plan,

each member of a sorority is given a path to success as well as sisters to help them get through classes. If I need a tutor, an extra spiral, a used textbook (way cheaper than the bookstore), or a Scantron five minutes before a test, there’s always a sister who’s got my back. Going Greek also gave me plenty of opportunities to better myself not only as a woman, but as a leader. Through hard work and the vote of my chapter, I was able to join this great chapter of Alpha Phi and take an executive position despite only being a freshman. This wonderful opportunity to lead, grow and learn from my chapter as well as the rest of my executive board would have never been possible without the family that I have found in Alpha Phi. Being away from home for the first time has been a little crazy and definitely not at all what I expected, but I’ve found the beauty of family within Alpha Phi as we grow together as scholars, leaders and women. My sisters welcomed me with open arms, and for the first since I left, I finally feel at home again. Going Greek could make that difference for anyone else, too. Courtney Hoover is a dental hygiene freshman.

Life is a ‘dependent variable,’ make the most of it

any say that we become the product of our life experiences, but I believe that ultimately we are only in control of the person we decide to be; we choose who we want to be. Of course the places we go and people we meet play a fundamental role in shaping who we are, but it is us alone that decide how we allow Wadzanai past experiences and people to shape us. Dzvurumi 2016 might not have been the best year for some of us. I know you might have been hurt, betrayed, disappointed or lost sight of what’s important. You may be the one who did the hurting or betraying, but it’s a new year and it’s time to stop dwelling over the past. Bad days end and new days begin — it’s a new year, so it’s time for all of us to leave the past behind and embrace a new beginning. 2017 is really what we make it. Life is a dependent variable, and life acts right after we do because we are the center of it and we are the independent variables. I am here to say that everything will turn out just fine. By the

end of the year, we will all be a little wiser, stronger and happier. I do not promise a blissful year; pain and hurt are guaranteed in life, so life problems are not going to magically disappear and we aren’t going to end up with everything we’ve ever dreamed of, but I hope this is the year we all turn our struggle into beauty and live a happy lives. I used to think that a happy life meant more money, perfect image, high-paying job and the ability to access all material things I desired. But as I am growing up, I am coming to the realization that happiness comes from within. So make that decision and choose that in 2017 — amongst all of life’s ups and downs, we will choose happiness. There is one last thing I ask of you: please travel, it’s never too early to see the beautiful world. We are all going to die, what will we care most about lying on our deathbeds? A high-paying job and a closet full of designer bags and shoes, or the stories and experiences we have encountered in your life? Wadzanai Dzvurumi is a marketing senior.

EDITOR: Kara McIntyre

DESIGN EDITOR: Justin Marquart ISSUE STAFF: Caleb Martin, Courtney Hoover, Wadzanai

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.

PHOTOGRAPHER: Caleb Martin, Kara McIntyre, Bridget

Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University.

Dzvurumi, Kara McIntyre, Stephen Gomez, Alyssa Mitchell, Leah Bryce, Herbert McCullough, Dominick Haskins Reilly, Timothy Jones, Francisco Martinez, Rutth Mercado

ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

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 email address, telephone number and address.

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U P C O M I N G E V E NT S

Museum Taskforce open forum for faculty and staff

Jan. 25 from 4:30 to 6 p.m. | Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU | This is a onetime forum to discuss ways the museum and university can further collaborate and support each other in their respective missions.

Whose water is it?

Jan. 25 at 6 p.m. | CSC Comanche | Dr. Green, Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Multicultural Affairs, offers an understanding of the protest against the North Dakota Access Pipeline.

PRIDE meeting

Jan. 26 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. | Kiowa Ex-Students Room | PRIDE will have their first meeting for Spring 2017.

Film Screening: “Something in the Water”

Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. | CSC Atrium | Rosario Dawson investigates how a government could poison its own citizens, what hidden forces may have been at work, and specific policies unique to Michigan.

Women and Men’s Basketball

Jan. 26 at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Women’s Mustangs will play Texas A&M-Commerce

Faculty Forum PHOTO BY KARA MCINTYRE | THE WICHITAN

Baylee Wichlan, music junior, Fr. Peter Kavanaugh and his wife Zoë practice songs before church services.

New club encourages ‘seeing different perspectives’ KARA MCINTYRE EDITOR

riving down Seymour Road, one-story brick houses and white picket-fenced neighborhoods lining the approximate eight-minute trip from campus, a white adobe church sits in a small parking lot waiting for Rev. Fr. Peter Kavanaugh and his family to open the doors. Saint Benedict Orthodox Church welcomed the 30-yearold priest to Wichita Falls about one year ago, and he now resides here with his wife Zoë and 14-month-old twins, Eva and Kevin. “I started out as an Evangelical Christian, but I converted to the Orthodox Church in college,” Kavanaugh said. “I spent 15 months at a monastery in Greece after college working at a pig farm. It’s been a very strange journey.” Kavanaugh and his wife began the Christian Classics Society in Wichita Falls because of their upbringings. “I grew up in a home of classical musicians, and that’s one reason my wife and I started the Christian Classic Society,” Kavanaugh said. “We both grew up immersed in classical thought, philosophy, art, etc.” Kavanaugh teamed up with Kirsten Lodge, humanities program coordinator and associate professor of English, to create the Christian Classics Society Book Club, meeting every first and third Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Fain Fine Arts atrium. It’s open to the Wichita Falls community, not just students. “College is that time of life where students have left home and are trying to find themselves and find meaning,” Kavanaugh said. “I have a strong love for college students, and being young myself helps as well. I figured it was something that the college could use and benefit from.” Lodge has taught religious literature and philosophy in her classes, and she said she can bring the academic per-

spective to balance Kavanaugh’s religious perspective. “I’m interested in literature from the intellectual pointof-view rather than the religious one,” Lodge said. “But we want to let people decide what they want to read and talk about at the meetings.” One of Lodge’s and Kavanaugh’s goals is to get people from different backgrounds and denominations to attend meetings. Kavanaugh shifted his silver wedding ring and discussed his love of dialogue. “I believe very strongly in dialogue. I love getting together with groups of people and discussing life,” Kavanaugh said. “I thought the Christian Classics Society would be a great opportunity for Christians of different backgrounds and different denominations to get together and discuss the big questions.” Kavanaugh said the meetings will be discussion based and informal. “We know college students are busy and don’t have time to read big books,” Kavanaugh said. “I loved college, so I’m looking forward to spending time and hearing what people who are young and energetic and searching for truth and meaning in life. I thought it’d be a good opportunity to explore.” Lodge agreed with Kavanaugh, and she said she hopes this club opens new perspectives for its attendees. “Maybe someone will love it and if they weren’t previously a Christian, they’ll convert to Christianity. Or maybe someone else will just enjoy listening to other people’s ideas. This club is really about seeing different perspectives.” Kavanaugh placed his left hand under his chin while he thought about what he wanted members to gain from this club. “I hope they gain greater zeal for life, a greater hunger for truth, a stronger desire to ask questions about life.”

Jan. 26 from 7 to 9 p.m. | Legacy Hall | Panelists will discuss how the liberal arts and sciences tradition is integrated into the core of MSU’s mission by exploring how faculty members and programs incorporate and build upon the critical thinking, reading, and communications skills inherent in liberal arts and sciences courses.

#SpeakOutMSU Photo Booth

Jan. 27 at 11 a.m. | CSC Atrium | Raise awareness about current social causes by making your own hashtag. Which social, political, or environmental issues are important to you? Help call attention to them with a hashtag poster. Photos will be uploaded to the UPB Instagram page.

Edgar Heap of Birds

Jan. 27 from 6 to 8 p.m. | Juanita Harvey Art Gallery | Opening reception for the art show Edgar Heap of Birds

Men’s Basketball

Jan. 28 at 4 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Come watch our Mustangs play Tarleton State.

CRIME LOG Jan. 15

Driving while intoxicated | 2:43 a.m. | Legacy Hall | Subject was stopped for speeding and arrested for D.W.I.

Jan. 16

Information | 8:35 p.m. | Legacy Hall | An intoxicated student was found in the lobby of Legacy. A friend drove him home.

Jan. 17

Theft-Misdemeanor | 1:43 p.m. | Prothro Yeager Liberal Arts Building | A MSU student left her purse in a classroom and continued to her next class. She returned after her next class ended and the purse was gone. It has not been turned in.

Jan. 18

Preventing the Consequences of theft | 6:14 p.m. | Killingsworth Hall | A Walmart shopping cart was recovered in Killingsworth Hall.

Jan. 20

Drugs: Possession or Delivery of Drug Paraphernalia | 11:34 p.m. | Legacy Hall | Officers were called to Legacy by housing in reference to a drug complaint.

Jan. 21

Burglary: vehicle | 1:39 p.m. | Parking Lot #16 | A MSU student parked her vehicle in lot 16 and returned several hours later to discover items had been taken.

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Artist-Lecture Series concludes with rePercussion

CALEB MARTIN REPORTER

he Artist-Lecture Series concluded this past week as rePercussion, a progressive percussion duo most known for their high-energy rhythm and comedic performances, put on a two-hour show for students, faculty and the residents of Wichita Falls in Akin Auditorium. rePercussion is the successful brain child and first entrepreneurial venture of group member and founder, Vince Romanelli. The Bucket Boys were founded in 1997 as a two-person percussion show when Romanelli was 16 years old, and was rebranded as rePercussion in 2013. The group’s success began in small performances spaced out over time. Romanelli and his original partner, a friend he met in high school, were given the opportunity to play for his partner’s mother’s students, where she taught at in his hometown elementary school. The Bucket Boys caught the attention of many people after the group’s first performance, including the principal and vice-principal of the school, who later invited The Bucket Boys to play at different venues, including the Illinois State Fair. The duo performed for 13 years and even had a brief television appearance on America’s Got Talent in 2009. Romanelli didn’t know The Bucket Boys would become a full time gig, until its performance at the Illinois State Fair. The Bucket Boys placed second at the fair, which ultimately opened more opportunities for the group to play, gaining them more recognition across the state, the United States, and ultimately around world. rePercussion has performed in numerous countries including Delhi, India, where the group was featured at the Chevy booth at the 2010 Auto Expo; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where the group was featured during the 2012 and 2015 Dubai Shopping Festival and at the Sharjah Water Festival. They’ve also been granted the privilege of performing for the Sheik of Dubai. rePercussion was paid $40 to play for 25 minutes at their first performance in 1997. Since then, their charges and showtimes have steadily increased parallel to their growing fame. Their performances can be anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours, costing between $1,000 and $15,000 dollars. MSU paid rePercussion $3,000 for the two-hour performance. Romanelli has been a private instructor as well as a volunteer instructor for the past nine years at the W.O. Smith Music School of Nashville, Tennessee, a school that makes affordable, quality music instruction available to children from low-income families to help shape them into better people through learning music. “The last student I had I taught from 12 years old, in the 6th grade, all the way to him being a music major in college, which is pretty awesome,” Romanelli said. Romanelli’s current co-performer, musician and professional percussionist, Dan Twiford, began teaching privately as soon as he left the drum corp at 22 years old. Since then he has been a private instructor for anywhere between 15 to 20 kids at any given time of the year, ranging from 5th to 12th grade. “We met at Pearl Drums where Dan used to work,” Romanelli said. “I was originally looking for some marching percussion, and Dan was the marketing director at Pearl Drums for marching and that’s where we met. We did a couple random gigs over a two year period and then I asked him to come do a show in Dubai for three weeks with me and another guy and from then it’s turned into a more full time show.” Twiford began describing his own, self-proclaimed, “more accurate” version of how he began to work with Romanelli as a full time musician. “This guy is a serial friend maker. He scoops them up everywhere he goes, and keeps in good touch with them, and that’s exactly how it happened with me,” Twiford said. “I was

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Dan Twiford and Vince Romanelli perform as rePercussion in the Akin Auditorium on recycled pots and pans. Jan 19th. a guy he bought drums from once upon a time, and then he stole me from my employer for professional music, which in Nashville it is a major accomplishment to go full time music. Vince was one of the bright lights in Nashville convincing me that that was a possible life to live because he’s been doing it.” Besides rePercussion being known throughout the years for their tremendous animation and infectious enthusiasm, they are also known for their peculiar choice of instruments and hardware they use in their presentations. Both the percussionists are professional drummers who have chosen to play beats and rhythms upon various items the average person would call junk. Atop the stage of Akin Auditorium, upon the chickenwire of a small makeshift fence were old, dented pans, beat up, rusted street signs, and warped, shiny trash can lids, each of variable sizes and shapes. Beneath them were four empty blue 50-gallon barrels and four white five-gallon buckets, with a pair of drum sticks resting on the two buckets closest to the audience, who sat in anticipation awaiting rePercussion’s arrival on stage. The performance took off with the lively duo, Romanelli and Twiford, energetically running out onto the stage, and taking seat on two white buckets side by side, while beating on the two remaining white buckets with a contagious attitude the crowd couldn’t ignore. “The first eight minutes of our show is really us trying to prove that we’re just like everyone else,” Romanelli said. “So we’re self deprecating and we’re goofy, and we try and set the ability to make fun of yourself.” The show was entirely comprised of up-beat and new progressive rhythms that had the audience clapping along with

the duo while dancing in their seats. The constant audience participation and the comical antics portrayed on stage between Romanellli and Twiford kept the audience in a constant state of smiling. “The purpose of our show is to entertain,” Twiford said. “It is as much for escapism as any other piece of entertainment. It’s definitely for people to come and have a good time and not be where you are for you minute, let your hair down, let your guard down.” All eyes were on rePercussion as they put on a two-hour performance the audience appeared to enjoy, while also bringing an end to the Artist-Lecture Series. The performance was an unusual piece to end the Artist-Lecture Series with, as the title of the series includes the word “lecture.” “This particular group, in contrast to maybe the more intellectual lectures you would see, this is something that will be a fun event, it is a casual event, it fit the nature of starting the semester, and there was an opening during the Stampede Week planning for this to take place. That way the Artist-Lecture Series is helping the broader campus environment to welcome students for the spring semester and provide an enjoyable experience or opportunity for students,” Matthew Park, associate vice president and dean of students, said. “I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Jessica Mowrer, social work junior, said. “I like seeing men with man buns perform and I like drumming and stuff like that.” Students, faculty and Wichita Falls residents left the Akin Auditorium exuding amusement and enjoyment after a performance they won’t soon forget. For more information on rePercussion, you can visit their website at http://www.thisisrepercussion.com.

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RHA hopes to expand membership STEPHEN GOMEZ REPORTER

alking into the Legacy Multipurpose Room filled with chairs and tables, light music playing in the background, the Residence Hall Association started its informal meeting at 8 p.m. The meeting began with each RHA member present introducing themselves to those who came. After they introduced themselves Rachael Miyahara, president of RHA, with the help of a PowerPoint began the meeting explaining who they are and what they do on campus. RHA’s vision, she explained, was to be the voice of the students living on campus as well as a liaison between students and higher-ups. “RHA has been around for awhile but most people don’t know about it,” Miyahara, education sophomore said, “or why it benefits them, so we wanted to sit down and explain it to them.” RHA has been trying to expand its membership in order to better serve students; one of its methods includes offering more leadership opportunities within the organization. The organization itself gives members experience for becoming a resident assistant and input towards policies and procedures. Other benefits include no fees, an annual Texas Rangers baseball game, a camping trip and more for members. Miyahara gave an example of RHA’s involvement when a student complained to them about the temperature in Legacy, which lead to a successful petition to change the temperature. “RHA helps people come out of their comfort zone,” Frailan Martinez, education junior, said. “It gets people leave their rooms and met people and have a better college year.” Students interested in joining RHA are encouraged to come every other Wednesday night at 8-9 p.m. and talk with an executive officer. Anyone who wish to give a compliant, suggestion, or concern is also encouraged to come. “They made a lot of changes, but it was good to have this meeting,” Freddy Martinez, sociology junior, said. “There could have been more people but they might have been busy.”

PHOTO BY KARA MCINTYRE | THE WICHITAN

Dean Hart, theater performance junior, Emily Burns, technical theater freshman, and Kalli Root, English junior, shine their “ghost lights” as Elizabeth Lewandowski, theater department chair, reads the Ghost Light Project’s mission statement.

Ghost Light Project stresses inclusion CALEB MARTIN REPORTER

eep in the roots of theater tradition, it has been customary for theater students to leave a single light lit in the middle of the stage after the theater has closed. Its purpose — to be a beacon to those who may enter into the vast darkness, so that they have a light to guide their path. The light has been regarded as The Ghost Light. Students and faculty from the theater department gathered outside the Fain Fine Arts building, flashlights and cell phones in hand, preparing to take part in a brief but powerful show of togetherness. The hopeful fellowship, led by Elizabeth Lewandowski, chair of the theater department, took part in The Ghost Light Project on the evening of Jan. 19. “For me, personally, this is an opportunity to stress inclusion, acknowledging and being respectful of our differences,” Lewandowski said. “This was a way to have an outward expression of that.” Theater members across the United States came together at 5:30 p.m. in each timezone to shine their own Ghost Lights together in hope of creating a light for the dark times. As 5:30 p.m. rolled around, Lewandowski

began to read The Ghost Light Project’s Action Statement, outlining the purpose of the movement and what the Ghost Light is meant to represent both literally and figuratively. As she read aloud, Lewandowski asked the students to turn on their flashlights and cell phones. One by one, cell phone LEDs and small flashlights began to shine like the lights of ships adrift in a dense fog, until they were instructed to aim their lights upward at a single focal point, coming together to become the shining light they needed to help one another make it safely into harbor. Their combined lights became the symbol of safe harbor; a Ghost Light made up of the prospective feelings toward the future inside each student. A visual sign of hope for their values and for any individuals who find themselves targeted because of their race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, disability, gender identity, sexual identity or dissident actions in the coming years. “I think this Ghost Light really represented what theater itself is. It’s inclusion and safeguard and it just makes you feel like you’re a part of a family. They’re all accepting of you no matter what,” Alexis Maes, general business sophomore, said.

PHOTO BY KARA MCINTYRE | THE WICHITAN

Keyvon Harrison, theater performance freshman, writes his pledge to stand for and protect others for the Ghost Light Projec board.

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UPB hosts bingo night ALYSSA MITCHELL REPORTER

niversity Programing Board held its semester bingo night Jan. 18. Students got the chance to relax and get free prizes. Ruby Arriaga, activities coordinator, said, “It was a good night, we had about 50 plus people. Bingo night is always a big hit because people want to win the free things.” Some of the prizes come from the bookstore. Arriaga said, “We had a water bottle, an MSU blanket and a sweater from the bookstore.” They also have traditional prizes like toilet paper and laundry detergent for the students who live in the apartments and off campus. Anissia Jones, physical education sophomore, said, “There are a lot of good prizes. There were big prizes and useful ones like the toilet paper.” In total all the prizes cost more than $150. Arriaga said, “The cost of each ranges depending on the prize.” Some of the bigger prizes were a Nerf gun, a body pillow and the MSU blanket. Taylor Dinkins, business man-

Students, museum staff spring ideas LEAH BRYCE REPORTER

agement sophomore, said, “I got a bingo a couple of times but gave my first prize away. The girl I gave it to seemed to want it so I didn’t mind.” Dinkins won two more times. The first prize was a tumbler mug stuffed with candy and fuzzy socks and the second time she won she had to play rock, paper, scissors for the Nerf gun with another girl and lost. Dinkins said, “Over all it was a fun night and I’m glad I went.” Jones has gone to other bingo nights and was determined to win but ended the night not getting anything. Jones said, “I wanted to win but I never do. I actually got a bingo but I was doing a regular bingo instead of the X they were doing so I didn’t get the prize.” Either way she still had fun. Jones said, “It’s always fun and gets your mind off of school.” Stampede week in the spring semester is mainly aimed at returning students instead of freshman. Arriaga said, “People are not really back in the groove so it’s kind of a slow week because it’s not freshman but returning students, so all they want to so is go to class and go back to bed so it was pretty good.”

Bringing together students and the community, the staff of the Wichita Falls Museum of Art met with students concerning the creation of more student involvement with the museum. Previous to the student forum, Suzanne Shipley, university president, designed the Museum Task Force on Sept. 9 to explore and imagine ways to collaborate together. “I came to listen and not to express my ideas and hear what students have in mind,” Francine Carraro, museum director, said. “I wanted to know if students have been coming to the museum or why they haven’t been coming. We want to know what we can do better.” Many of the ideas circulated at the forum concerned implementing the location and direction to the museum in campus maps, orientation and campus tours. The museum is offers free admission and is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. “The most realistic idea would be inclusion in the campus tours,” Aaron Campbell, art senior, said. “That seems like an easy fix, or generally just not excluding the museum from anything campus related.” After hearing from the stu-

PHOTO BY TIMOTHY JONES | THE WICHITAN

Museum Taskforce Open Forum for Students January 24th Dr.Anne-Marie Leimer speaks to Salvatore Caposto Biology Major, Federica Bove Management Major, Art Majors Sydney Spickell, Sarah Bosmans and Tanner Slavens in Legacy Hall multipurpose room. dents, another forum will be held at the museum at 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 25 to hear from the faculty of both the museum and university for further ideas. “I think the biggest problem the museum has had is being involved,” Selena Mize, art senior, said. “Danny Bills [museum curator of collections and exhibitions] told us that they have very little communication with the Fain Fine Arts center.” Another series of ideas present-

ed focused on student produced events, coffee shops, gift shops, or student participation in marketing the museum. With these forums, they hope to not only bring in more student involvement, but also community. “We need to do more to make sure we are meeting everyone’s needs,” Carraro said. “Well I think in long range plans a sculpture garden is possible, and a new performing arts center is also possible.”

BSM celebrates the new semester through game night HEBERT MCCULLOUGH REPORTER

pproximately 100 people attended the Baptist Student Ministry game night on Jan. 20 at the Baptist Student Center. The games available included Apples to Apples, table tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and Jenga. There were also video games on the Nintendo, Wii, computer, and GameCube. “I only played one game and it was a card game similar to Uno and it was a lot of fun. I wish I can remember the name of that game,” Josie Wise, BSM member and art sophomore, said. Ryan Litton, management junior, said he enjoyed the bonding moments from the game night. “I just got around the table and started playing Apples to Apples and there were a lot of funny moments,” Litton said. “I enjoyed bonding with new people there. So I think Apples to Apples was probably my favorite out of all the game that we played.” There was also pizza along with chips, ice cream, and candy.

“The food was awesome,” Samantha Cepeda, psychology sophomore and BSM member, said. Carly Steadham, elementary education junior, said the parts she liked best were the conversations with both her friends and new people. “I came and I go to hang out with friends. I got to play Apples to Apples with a group and a few girls that I haven’t met before and then I got to play basketball with some girls I never really hung out with before,” Steadham said. “I had deep conversations with new friends and I to catch up with old friends after the break.” Many students were given the opportunity to meet other students. “I met two girls who I was playing Apples to Apples with. They’re both freshmen girls who haven’t been here before,” Steadham said. “We got to laugh together and play together and build a relationship in that kind of way.” Wise said she also enjoyed meeting new people, especially those in her major. “We had a lot of new people come which was really exciting and a lot of them were art students and I’m an art major,”

Wise said. “So it was really cool to bond with them on that level and hang out with them more outside of the classroom and studying. So it was a lot of fun.” Litton said that it is important for students to take a break from the stress of studying and school, which is why BSM hosts events like this. “As important as it is to study and pass, I do believe it’s important to reward yourself with some down time. It’s important for students to get involved in events like this that allows opportunities for students to meet new students and new friends,” Litton said. “The main goal of this event was to encourage students to relax and make new friends.” Cepeda agreed with Litton’s points, and also used the game night as a way to invite more people to join BSM. “It was important because it was a way for us to invite new students on campus. From my first experience, I just wanted to get to know people,” Cepeda said. “I wish we can do more events like this for new students so they can have a fun and safe good time. We also want to invite more students to BSM and show them Christ’s love.”

| Jan. 25, 2017 | 7

2015 FILE PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Ashely Flores, sociology freshman, warms up at a Track and Cross Country practice on Tuesday afternoon, March 31, Nemanja Krtolica, business sophomore, takes his time to shoot after a foul against 2015. him at the Mustangs first basketball game of the season where they won 107-75 against USAO on Oct 31.

Kicking off spring semester sports ALYSSA MITCHELL REPORTER

s the spring semester gets started, so do the spring sports. Basketball is starting its second half of conference and tennis, track, and softball are also in the works. Noel Johnson, women’s basketball head coach said, “We are starting the second half of conference and we have some teams that are undefeated right now like Eastern New Mexico San Angelo and West Texas are also some teams that are always pretty formidable.” In the upcoming games they are just trying to grow and get better. Johnson said, “I’m very hopeful in the sense of us being able to get better and learn and present what our true identity as a team is. We try to do that everyday in practice and when we lace it up against our opponents, this is who we are and this is how you stop us.” Tennis has also started off with some scrimmage games and has another one next week in Tyler Texas against the Tyler, Texas Junior College men’s and women’s teams. Scott Linn, head tennis coach said, “We have a good group of men and women this year, they have prepared very well this fall and the new players we brought in this spring are excited to be a part of this program.” Some of the new players bring college experience and some bring really good junior experience, according to Linn. Linn said, “ There is a really good mixture of good returners and energetic younger players. I am very excited about what this season has in store for our men’s and women’s

2016 FILE PHOTO BY R UTTH MERCADO

Maddie Scorlemmer, psychology senior, returns the ball to the other side during the game against Tyler Junior College, March 4 at the MSU Tennis Courts Center. teams.” Indoor and outdoor track is also beginning and head cross-country and track coach Koby Styles is excited for the upcoming season. Styles said, “What makes us different that track programs is we only focus on what we are good at, we don’t have the jumpers and throwers or the short 100 or 200 sprinters. We focus on what we are good at and that is the middle and long distance.” One of the track teams biggest challenges

is that they can’t focus on team points. Styles said, “It doesn’t look like we have a big track team because we are only specializing in a few events, so we struggle a little bit on the team point scheme.” This could also benefit our track team because they can focus more on individual skills per athlete, according to Styles. Styles said, “We are really able to hone in on their goals and what they are trying to accomplish.”

For this upcoming season they just want to get in there and get fast times so they can make it to nationals. Styles said, “The difference from 2007 to now the teams are complete polar opposites. The talent that we have now and the unity and family atmosphere that we have make this team special. This is one of the most talented and fastest teams that I’ve ever had.” With it being spring semester, teams have started getting commitments from future students. Johnson said, “We signed one early from Prosper High School. She is 6 feet, 3-inch freshman, Hannah Reynolds. So we are looking for high school kids, junior college and transfers.” Not only are the skills important, so are their personalities according to Johnson. Johnson said, “We are looking for some of those kids that are the missing pieces of the puzzle that is our team. They have to be the right fit and they have to be academically driven, be of high character and obviously have a high sense of pride in who we are when they come here.” Coaches are looking forward to the spring season and how their players are going to do. Johnson said, “I am proud of them, these kids have played hard. You create your own look by hard work and our kids are doing that.” They are also looking forward to how the freshman new to the team will grow. Linn said, “They are fearless and their fearlessness is part of being good at something.”

8 | Jan. 25, 2017 |

Athletes and coaches strive to succeed in post-season play DOMINICK HASKINS REPORTER

n collegiate sports one of the most common, realistic goal for any coach or player is to get to post-season play. If a team has a bad regular season but do better than expected in the post-season then the season will generally be looked back upon as a successful season. A team that has an excellent regular season but loses immediately in postseason will be looked back as a team that underperformed, a disappointment. Postseason play is a very good measuring stick for a teams success. For potential recruits, a teams past performance in post season play is often a big deal in determining if the recruit will go to that school or not. Coaches are judged by whether or not they reach post-season play. We see talk of post-season play in the media all around us. The NFL playoffs, March Madness, college football’s bowl games. A lot of times, reaching and succeeding in post-season play is the determining factor in whether a coach keeps his job or not. It can be the determining factor in whether a long time athletic booster continues his monetary support for the program. The pressure to reach and succeed in post-season play is alive and well in today’s world of college athletics, as it should be. Post-season is sometimes a make or break for a coaches career. You can have all the success in the world in the regular season, but lose early in the post-season and the season is looked at as a failure. But opposite is also true. Teams that had a poor regular season but still advanced to post-season can redeem themselves through a strong post-season run. There are a lot of instances of teams with mediocre regular season records, barely making it to post-season play, and doing well. Take UAB’s 2014-2015 men’s basketball season. After finishing the regular season with a record of 16-15, the only way UAB was going to qualify for post-season play was to win the conference tournament. With a .516 winning record, third-year UAB coach Jarrod Haase was looking at finishing with yet another season around .500 and thus beginning to feel the his seat warm up. UAB won three games in a row, taking the Conference USA title and automatic berth into the NCAA tournament. UAB then beat #9 ranked Iowa State in the first round of the NCAA tournament before falling to UCLA in the second round. This set the stage for Haase to take the head coaching position two years later at Stanford. On the other end of that spectrum are the highly touted squads who get knocked out early. We don’t have to look too far to find an example of this. Just last year MSU’s

PHOTO BY TIMOTHY JONES | THE WICHITAN

Logan Biggs, freshman in finance, and Koby Sapon-Amoah, sophmore, fight for the ball at soccer practice Tuesday, Jan. 24. basketball team finished the season with a record of 24-5. We were seeded 1st in the South Central region and fifth in the nation by the Division 2 media poll. We faced Lubbock Christian, an underdog who’d been beaten in the first round of their conference tournament. Unfortunately, we were unable to get past LCU which brought our season to a screeching halt. Despite being ranked fifth in the country and being a number one seed, our season was over. It almost felt like a disappointing season. Former athletic director, men’s basketball coach and current men’s and women’s golf coach, Jeff Ray, has dealt with the pressure of being successful in the post-season his entire career. “Post-season play really is a big deal. I can remember, as a basketball coach, some of my better teams didn’t advance very far in the NCAA tournament (post-season). It felt like they weren’t as good as some of my other squads simply because they didn’t advance in the tournament,” Ray said, “Just last year, look at what happened to the men’s basketball team. At this level you are expected to make the post-season and to be successful in the post-season. If you don’t, then you won’t have a job for long.” MSU fielded five sports this fall including volleyball, football, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, and cross country. Of those five, four made it to post-season play with only volleyball failing make post-season play. Men’s soccer continued their long storied

tradition of winning by finishing with a record of 18-4-1 and making it all the way to the national quarterfinal before falling to UC San Diego. This marks the 6th time men’s soccer has made it to the national quarterfinals. Men’s soccer have also won conference 10 times in the past and advanced to the national semifinals twice. Women’s soccer had a successful season as well, finishing 13-6-4 and advancing to the sweet 16 of the national tournament. They ladies also took the Lone Star Conference post-season tournament title, making it the third time they have done so, the first time since 1998. Football had a solid season, finishing at 8-3 before falling in the first round to Ferris State. Football has traditionally been strong, winning three LSC championships since 2009. This year was the 7th year football has advanced to post-season play. Cross country had a solid season as well, winning the LSC conference title as well as finishing second at the Oklahoma Baptist Invitational, third at the University of Central Oklahoma Run, and fourth at Division 1 UTArlington’s Gerald Richey Invitational. After winning conference cross country went on to a good showing at regionals, finishing 9th in a field of 32. This year’s conference championship was the 6th conference championship in program history. Volleyball was the only program not to advance to post-season play after losing to Angelo State in the first round of the

conference tournament. Volleyball finished the season with a 12-21 record. Volleyball appeared at the national tournament once in 2007. The coaches aren’t the only people postseason play is important to. It means just as much to the players. Women’s soccer player Sarah Stewart, chemistry freshman, was drawn to MSU because of the possibility of post-season play. “The possibility of getting to post-season play was definitely a big factor in my coming here. Our program has a tradition of being strong and advancing to post-season and I wanted to be a part of that.” Stewart also talked about the press of advancing to post-season play. “We strive to get to the post-season. Everybody expects us to get to regionals, nationals,” Stewart said. “You definitely feel the pressure. But you want the pressure, it’s what drives us to be great.” Post-season play also puts an additional strain on student-athletes because of extra practice time and the possibility of having to travel long distances. Micheal Gerst, business junior, has experienced that first hand. “Post-season is a big deal to us. What we do in the regular season means nothing if we fail to advance in the post-season. So because of this we do everything we can to adequately prepare. This oftentimes means missing an extra day of class to travel to a location far from home, like we did this year going to up to Michigan.” Gerst said, “This can definitely effect our academics, missing class and everything. And you just know that it’s a big deal for the coaches, whether its salary bonuses or just keeping their job. It means a lot to the school and the town in general.” For some of the springs sports, like golf, post-season play can put an even bigger damper on school work due to post-season taking place deep into the spring, during the time finals are taking place. Smith said the stress of having post-season play conflict with finals can be very tough at times. “Every year it seems like regionals is during the finals week, so a lot of times we end up taking our finals early. Because we want to be sharp for regionals we try to practice more than usual. But at the same time we’re trying to prepare for our finals. It is very tough.” Smith said, “We’re expected to do well in the classroom but we’re also expected to do well in the post-season. Really, it’s all about time management. Sometimes though it seems as if their aren’t enough hours in the day.”