February 1, 2017 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

See women’s basketball on Page 8.

Feb. 01, 2017 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 81 No. 17

Exec order has little impact on MSU students

Shipley issues statement regarding immigration executive order BRENDAN WYNNE FEATURES EDITOR

Iran flag. Photo and information contributed by the CIA World Factbook.

• Population: 82,801,633 (July 2016 set.) • Ethnic groups: Persian, Azeri, Kurd, Lur, Baloch, Arab, Turkmen and Turkic tribes. • Languages: Persian (official), Azeri Turkic and turkic dialects, Kurdish, Gilaki and Mazandarani, Luri, Balochi, Arabic, other. • Median age: 29.4 years • Population Growth rate: 1.18% (2016 est.) • Birth rate: 17.8 birth/1,000 population (2016 est.)

As the nations of the world made their responses to U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding immigration, university administration was quick to do the same. At 3:13 p.m., staff member Collin McLochlin, sent an email to University President Suzanne Shipley in response to her statement earlier in the day. Knowing that the President’s recent executive order might be causing disruption for international students, staff, and faculty who might be in the middle of travel, I wanted to reach out and offer assistance from our office. Should you become aware of anyone experiencing travel disruptions, please have them use our Immigration Privacy Release form (attached). Once the form is completed, it can be emailed directly to me or faxed to 972-232110 along with a quick description of their travel difficulties. Shipley, who said she believes that students, faculty, and staff should feel that the university is behind them if any troubles arise, wasted little in addressing the matter. “When I was coming back from a conference, I read about the executive order and demonstrations in the airports. My first thought was, ‘Do we have people caught up in this?’ and immediately I contacted Dr. [Keith] Lamb,” Shipley said. “I wanted to know if we’d been contacted by anyone from the university who was having issues. It wasn’t so much about students, or faculty, or staff - it was about everyone.” Shipley said that when we didn’t have anyone facing the challenge currently, she thought it was still important for the campus to know that administration is paying attention to this. “We’re watching it, and we’re willing to help where we can. It was a word of caution to people thinking about trying, and if people haven’t noticed, there’s a potential difficulty, and they need to be careful about leaving. I think that since the election most people in higher education have known that there is going to be more of an impact on international faculty and students. Anyone thinking of coming here is going to have to factor in the changing dynamic around immigration, and I’ve seen that numerous times in my career. It hasn’t been a republican or democrat situation. It’s more an issue of war and peace - political dynamics. Higher education is always caught in the middle

Libya flag. Photo and information contributed by the CIA World Factbook. PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Students gathering in civil discussion to talk about the differences about Trump and Clinton on Nov. 16, 2016.

when situations arise that threaten the free travel of our community. We’re an industry that’s probably more dependent on foreign influence than most others. We’re a very internationalized economy, so you really can’t separate us out by nationalities, so I just wanted to take the simple step of coming to say that we’re watching this.” According to Elizabeth Ysasi, International Immigration Specialist, the impact on the university is anticipated to be minor. “Some members of administration consulted yesterday and decided that to issue a statement like this was in the university’s best interest,” Ysasi said. “We’re not expecting a large direct impact on the students that could potentially be affected. I think, too often, people forget that immigration is a complex process, and these students were made aware of certain travel bans before an executive order was even made.” Office of Study Abroad Administrative Assistant Dena Hardin says she doesn’t anticipate any problems or concerns that could affect the Study Abroad program. “Most students who participate in the program are U.S. passport holders, anyway. We have a few students from China who may have to apply for a student Visa, but I really don’t think it poses any kind of concern for the students interested in the program. According to Ysasi, there are only three students enrolled in the university from the affected countries

• Population: 6,541,948 (July 2015 est.) • Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%, other 3% (includes Greeks, maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, and Tunisians. • Languages: Arabic (official), Italian, English (all widely understood in the major cities); Berber (Nafusi, Ghadamis, Suknah, Awjilah, Tamasheq) • Median age: 28.5 years • Population growth rate: 1.8% (2016 set.) • Birth rate: 17.8 births/1,000 population (2016 best.)

see EXECUTIVE pg. 4

A P R O T E S T AGAINST THE MUSLIM BAN WILL BE AT 2 P.M. O N T HE M US TANGS WA L K

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STAF F E DI T O R I A L

Student safety takes precedent OUR VIEW: The “Muslim ban” has been mislabeled for a reason: it is discriminatory in underlying nature.

n Jan. 27, President Donald Trump issued an executive order barring all people hailing from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen for at least the next 90 days. The executive order also bans entry of those fleeing from war-torn Syria indefinitely, and he has also stopped the admission of all refugees to the United States for four months. In addition, the order calls for a review into suspending the Visa Interview Waiver Program, which allows travelers from 38 countries — including close allies — to renew travel authorizations without an in-person interview. While this executive order has been misunderstood as a “Muslim ban,” we still do not support Trump’s decision. We feel that there is a reason the order has been labeled as a “Muslim ban” — it obviously discriminates against countries where its citizens practice the Muslim faith, no matter the wording that Trump used to make it legal. Our concerns align with those of President Shipley in her announcement — we want to make sure that the safety, security and well-being of our fellow students is placed above all.

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Vol. 81 | No. 17

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What it is like being a Christian in college

eing a Christian in college is not always easy. My whole life, my faith has been the central piece of me, and it is on the basis of faith that I have made most of my decisions. Most people look at Christians and automatically label us as “judgmental,” when really our faith calls us to love all, and in fact, a lot of times we are the ones who end up beKelsey ing judged. Purcell Being a Christian in college means facing temptations I know I cannot give into for the sake of misrepresenting God. If there is a party, being a Christian means me saying ‘no’ to alcohol because drunkenness does not allow me to fully represent my Lord. It turns out that saying “no” to alcohol can actually lead to more ridicule than saying “yes,” because people assume I am stuck up for not accepting the beverage. Being a college student in general means gaining a whole new level of independence and privacy that we did not have before. With this comes even more temptation. Being a Christian in college means having to go through many rejections by guys the moment I tell them I am saving myself for marriage. It turns out that many “men” out there see only a body to use rather than a heart to love. This has been the most prominent topic of my ridicule seeing as my virginity has become the talking point in various locker rooms across campus. I have been labeled a “Jesus Freak’’ because of a choice I have made to please God. Being a Christian in college means having professors lecture to my classes about how believing in God is ignorant. Being a Christian in college means having my peers look at me like I am crazy when I talk about my love for God because they are “above such childish beliefs.” Being a Christian

in college means taking a humanities class and having the professor discuss every religion from the book except Christianity (which took up nearly half of the textbook). Being a Christian in college means having to defend my views to people who demand facts, but do not understand the beauty of faith. Being a Christian in college means trying to show all of these people God’s love through me, which sometimes means sucking it up and putting on a smile even on days I want to break down and cry. Being a Christian in college means I have the choice to get up and go to church on Sundays or not. Get involved in a Bible study, or not. Pray daily, or not. Before college, going to church and praying was a family affair; however, when I got to college, no one was here to force me to go. With this comes the temptation to stay out all night Saturday, sleep in until noon on Sunday, and forget about going to church. However, I have found that going to church and being around people who are like-minded, and feeling the presence of God as I sing out songs of praise is therapeutic. There is nothing like that feeling. Though it may seem like church is the only place where I have found people who share my love for Christ, I have found such beautiful souls in other college students. Most of my friends here have become my friends because we were able to find each other in a place where our faith, the very essence of who we are, is questioned daily, but still not shattered. College has also been the place where after many boys have rejected me for my values, a man has accepted and loved every piece of me. So yes, being a Christian in college is not always easy, but the love I feel from my friends, the love I feel from my fella, and, most importantly, the love I feel from my God has made being a Christian an easy choice. Kelsey Purcell is a mass communication sophomore.

Fighting obesity one pound at a time

besity has been an epidemic issue in America due to lack of exercise and a poor lifestyle, but it’s not just obesity. It’s a wide range of other health issues that come from poor diet and sedentary choices, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. In terms of family health history, it is important not to ignore the possibility that Audrey genetics may have a role with health issues. It Beach also equally important that individual choices, apart from genetics, play a major role with the health and function of the body and its systems. I feel as if not many people realize all the benefits that come from exercise. It’s not just looking better on the outside.

For one, daily exercise allows the heart not to work as hard when pumping blood. It does depend on the type of exercises, how frequently you exercise, how long you exercise a day, and the intensity of each session. Who would want a heart that doesn’t have to work as hard to do its job to pump blood to the rest of the body? That’s only one benefit out of many. Exercise can improve sleep patterns, mental health, and quality of life. It can improve every biological system in the body. It can lower the risk of cancer and disease. This is why exercise should be implemented into everyone’s lives. We don’t need to train like an Olympian to benefit. All we need to do is to be active and stay consistent. Audrey Beach is an exercise physiology grad student.

EDITOR: Kara McIntyre

DESIGN EDITOR: Justin Marquart

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.

FEATURES EDITOR: Brendan Wynne PHOTOGRAPHERS: Bridget Reilly, Cortney Wood, Arianna Davis, Timothy Jones

ISSUE STAFF: Brendan Wynne, Kelsey Purcell, Audrey

Beach, Caleb Martin, Cortney Wood, Herbert McCullough, Lane Riggs, Leah Bryce, Greta Lazzarotto, Joanne Ortega, Robin Reid, Arianna Davis

ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

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 email address, telephone number and address.

WFISD, MSU collaborate to hold MacGyver Fair CALEB MARTIN REPORTER

he Wichita Falls Independent School District and MSU came together on Jan. 26 for the MacGyver Fair at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art to promote the school district’s integration of Science Technology Engineering Art and Technology program, or STEAM. More than 300 people showed up to witness the creativity of the WFISD children and MSU’s more major sciences. “I received an email from one of my colleagues and she said that the school district wanted to partner with MSU to conduct this ‘MacGyver Fair.’ As a former STEM project director I was like ‘I would love to help,’” Denise Simmons, assistant professor of educational leadership and technology, said. “We [MSU] have 3-D printing, the 3-D pens, Raspberry Pie programming, forensic science, aeronautics, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, the STEAM kits as well as the chemistry demonstrations and interactions.” WFISD originally asked for only one group of students to have their own science table and judge the WFISD students’ projects. The number of tables for MSU quickly increased to eight when students from multiple colleges including West, Fain, McCoy and Bolin wanted to take part in the fair. STEAM is a program that is known for encouraging the curiosity and perseverance of young minds. STEM, can be traced back to the colonial era when Benjamin Franklin expressed the importance of integrating mathematic and scientific disciplines in his book Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania in 1749. Fast forward 261 years to 2010 when the Obama Administration saw the importance of the STEM program as well, and began investing in a five-year strategic plan for STEM education. The plan encouraged the involvement of underrepresented groups, such as woman and first-generation Americans, in the STEM disciplines, as well as pushing for more educators to teach using the STEM program. “We’re researching how to implement a STEAM unit into our teacher education program,” Tamra Woods,

history junior and aeronautics booth attendant, said. “The STEAM unit is basically like a project that brings all of the content areas of STEAM into one project. So basically it’s got a science concept, a technology concept, math, art, engineering concepts. You bring it altogether and you kind of help them [WFISD students] understand that all these things are kind of connected.” Students also took part in the fair to show WFISD kids in the STEAM program how STEAM sciences apply to the real world. “I’m part of an on campus organization called ASME [American Society of Mechanical Engineering], a national organization, and this was one of the volunteer opportunities that we had through out the year,” Josh Gillis, mechanical engineering senior, said. “I’m hoping to intrigue, get more excitement about the sciences, about all the STEAM parts.” Six of WFISD’s elementary schools took part in the MacGyver Fair. Crockett, Lamar, Washington, Southern Hills, Burgees and Milam Elementary had several of their students showcase their science projects. “It [MacGyver Fair] is very exciting because the kids are exited about it and at least our school came up with what they wanted to do, we did not tell them this is what you have to do. They used things we had taught them in class, but then some of them also came up with their own ideas.” Brenda Hebner, Southern Hills Elementary teacher, said. Alex Alejandro, Jr., Southern Hills Elementary third grader, showed off his terra-cotta clay volcano to the judges as it spewed red vinegar into the air. “I always wanted to be in a science fair and now I kinda am. My first plan [for the volcano] was Skittles and Sprite. That does work the same way because I saw it in second grade at the lunch table [because] my friend was putting Skittles in his Sprite can,” Alejandro said. “I wanna be a herpetologist when I grow up, slash movie producer because I also like doing that.” Other students showcased their autonomous drawing robots, “Santa Claus snot,” individual coding skills with autonomous robots, and their ability to turn tinfoil and electricity into digital instruments. Many of the

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Heap of Birds explains meaning behind art ROBIN REID REPORTER

PHOTO BY TIMOTHY JONES | THE WICHITAN

James Davis, management information systems junior, showing a Southern Hills Elementary student how to assemble a wind power car model at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art on Jan. 26. students were using STEAM kits provided by WFISD. “The district paid for these kids, they’re called ‘Little Bit Kids,’ they’re STEAM kids, to start getting the kids involved in science and building things and having fun with STEAM,” Peter Griffiths, associate superintendent of WFISD, said. “We said ‘Hey, why not MSU?’ We have MSU kids here and that way our kids can see ‘Alright this is the little stuff that happens, but let’s look at the big picture now and some of the major things going on.” This is WFISD’s first time integrating the STEAM units into their schools; allowing students to take part in clubs that will prepare them for more technical and advanced courses throughout middle and high school, and hopefully leading them into a successful adult career in the scientific disciplines. “This [STEAM] will be a great mechanism that these kids can use to propel their future, education is something no one can take away from you,” Simmons said. “Education is a great equalizer, it levels the playing field” Milam took home first place, and Crockett took second. WFISD plans to have another fair showcasing the scientific works of students grades 6-12 in the coming spring, and another MacGyver Fair next year.

he opening reception of “Secrets in Life and Death” by multi-disciplinary Arapaho and Cheyenne artist, Hock E Aye Vi Edgar Heap of Birds, took place Friday, Jan. 27 at the Juanita Harvey Art Gallery. Mono prints, acrylic paintings, public art message signs and a blown-glass vase were on display. The most recent addition to “Secrets in Life and Death” is the mono print series, Genocide and Democracy. “I’ve been doing experimentation with solvents to alter the words, blurring the words,” Heap of Birds said. “I’m attacking the words much like in some ways the social justice in America of Native people is an onslaught.” “Secrets in Life and Death” focused on illuminating the struggles within the lives of Native American people, as well as acknowledging Native Americans’ cultural differences. “A lot of Native American existence is suppressed in America, so the dominant culture doesn’t tend to know much,” Heap of Birds said. The number four is important to the Cheyenne tribe, which is why Heap of Birds works in series of four. Eight of the Genocide and Democracy mono prints are displayed at the exhibit, while the other eight are currently at an exhibit in SoHo. “There’s a lot of violence and genocide so the secret of life and death is about these issues being obscured. Often Native people are reduced to stereotypes, it doesn’t sum up who they really are,” Heap of Birds said. “That’s a secret too, Natives are just people, just individuals. They’re not a group of anything, there’s not Indians. There’s tribes then there’s individuals in the tribes, but there’s not an Indian anything in America.” He mentioned that while selling art matters, it is not the most important part of his work. He spoke about the responsibility of an artist to share a message with the people. “I think the important thing to know about Edgar is just, he’s a really nice human. He really cares about people, his family and the world. He’s an important American artist,” Gary Goldberg, photography professor and art gallery director, said. Heap of Birds is also a full professor at the University of Oklahoma where he teaches Native American Studies, and he also took a moment to speak about the mission of an artist. Ultimately, his goal is to share an exchange. “Edgar’s work is like poetry. He’s coupling positive and negatives in his work, in terms of words. He’s coupling the past with the present and I would hope that students would make that connection, and it would spark an interest in history, an interest to do some research,” Catherine Prose, print making professor, said. Students found the exhibit interesting and left with an awareness of issues within the Native American community. “The paintings were pretty cool. It’s just something different that I haven’t seen before and it’s interesting, I like it,” Veronica Balderas, accounting junior, said. “I would say the prints because of the message behind them. Listening to his lecture before the showing tonight, it was interesting to hear the stories you never hear of. There’s still issues today,” Sandra Cruz, art and biology junior, said. “Secrets in Life and Death” will remain on display until Feb. 24. “Those are the secrets of life and death, and there’s a lot of things happening there are life and death for Native people,” Heap of Birds said.

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Super Bowl 51 watch parties to be held Feb. 5 JOANNE ORTEGA REPORTER

he Clark Student Center and University Programming Board, alongside the Residence Hall Association, will be hosting two Super Bowl 51 watch parties on Sunday, Feb. 5. They will kick off at 5:30 p.m. and will be available to watch in the Recreation Room at the Clark Student Center and Multipurpose Room at Legacy Hall . The New England Patriots, who have previously won four Super Bowl titles, and the Atlanta Falcons, who have won none, will go head to head at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Students will be able to view the game at Legacy Hall, where UPB will have free food and prizes. Juan Mercado, UPB student assistant and entertainment chair, said, “People can have a sense of community and watch the Super Bowl, as well as laugh together and enjoy the game.” UPB has held a Super Bowl watch party every year and expect a good amount of students to show up for the game. They will have a raffle where each student will be given a ticket and entered to win MSU prizes from the bookstore. The CSC will be providing food and drinks, including games and prizes for people to enjoy. Cynthia Cummings, special events coordinator, said she wanted to give the students a place on-campus where they could get food and a comfy place to watch the game. Cummings said, “We’re having a lot of different foods. We’re having chicken wings, sandwiches, hot dogs, sodas, and maybe pizzas.” They will bring in the chairs from the atrium and set them up in rows like a theater, so that enough space will be available. A trivia game will also be held for students to compete for gift cards and T-shirts. Some students are expecting to watch the Super Bowl for both the actual game and the halftime performance. Liliana Cruz, psychology freshman, said, “I’m not really into football but I enjoy watching the halftime show and the funny commercials.” Country singer Luke Bryan will start the event by performing the national anthem, alongside Lady Gaga who will take the stage for the Super Bowl halftime show. Phillipa Soo, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Jasmine Cephas Jones, who were once part of the broadway musical “Hamilton,” will sing “America the Beautiful.”

Special Olympics profits from Polar Plunge success CORTNEY WOOD REPORTER

ore than 100 people took on the Polar Plunge Jan. 28 at Bruce & Graciela Redwine Student Wellness Center to benefit the North Texas Special Olympics raising over

$5,200. “That’s the largest number of participants we’ve ever had,” Mike Strickland, Special Olympics North Texas area director, said. “We had seven teams jump. We were just excited to see that many people come out and support the Special Olympics.” The event ran solely on school volunteers. “It’s probably most excited for all these high schools and their student organizations to come out and get involved,” Strickland said. “Wichita Falls High School has some of our Special Olympics athletes jumping, and that’s the kind of inclusion that comes from something like this.” All three high schools within the Wichita Falls Independent School District participated in the Plunge and collectively raised over $2000. With 45 people registered to jump, Rider created competitions between organizations to challenge one another to raise the most money, according to National Honor Society Sponsor Sally Mroczkowski. “It started out, between softball and baseball with coaches Alisha and Jeremy Crouch,” Mroczkowski said. “The softball girls really stuck it to them by raising $376.55. We had the boys’ soccer team challenge the girls’ soccer team and for every $30 raised, the other team got to pick a person they wanted to see jump.” Like Rider, Wichita Falls High School had a collective goal in mind to raise money, but instead challenged administration instead of organizations. “My part in all this was that if the students and teachers both raised $1,000 I would jump,” Wichita Falls High School Principal

from EXECUTIVE pg. 1 that are not classified as permanent residents of the U.S. “All citizens have always had to go through extreme background checks and protocols that determine if a person’s intention matches up with the Visa they’re applying for,” Ysasi said. “I think an executive order of this nature brings more attention to that. Whether or not it’s an extreme measure is something people have to decide for themselves. I think the major concern lies with potential future students. Where are we going from here? Will there be more bans? We have to wait and see where these policies go, but MSU remains a public university that celebrates inclusion and diversity and I believe we will continue to do that.” Ysasi pointed out that any students who may have concerns should seek to use the resources available to them through the Office of International Services. At 11:11 a.m., University President Suzanne Shipley issued a statement regarding U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order regarding immigration. I am writing today to provide information concerning the recent executive order Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States. This order limits immigration and entry into the United States and has the potential to impact international students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Midwestern State University. While those directly impacted by the executive order at MSU are small in number, their well-being and sense of security is our primary concern at this time. To this end, we are contacting those in our university community directly affected, and

PHOTO BY CORTNEY WOOD | THE WICHITAN

Sheppard Air Force officers won team costume award for their undercover superhero garb on Jan. 28. Christy Nash said. “We did a little collusion to get some of the administration involved with it, and part of that was the students and outside donations.” Various prizes were awarded to teams and individuals that raised the most money, which included a prize packs with Polar Plunge merchandise along with gift certificates to Spa Bella and Texas Roadhouse amongst others prizes. “I am most proud that our schools are so inclusive,” Mroczkowski said. “We have a kindness about us when we are accepting of all students, and that produces a kinder school and environment to be in.” Along with the three high schools and senior junior forum, the other community organization that raised money and participated in the Polar Plunge was MOG Sheppard Air Force officers. While MSU hosted the Polar Plunge, no specific organization joined the event. offering support and guidance. We are coordinating with the Office of International Services and are in contact with other universities, national associations, and immigration experts to seek clarity on some of the issues and questions that are of concern. We will continue to update you as we learn more. The executive order itself involves suspension of entry into the United States for immigrants and nonimmigrants from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen, except for those traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas. If you are a citizen of one of the seven nations listed in the executive order and leave the United States for any reason, you will not be able to return during the temporary ban. If you have questions about travel-related issues or immigration policies and practices, please contact the Office of International Services at 940-397-4568. Several on-campus resources will provide support to directly and indirectly affected individuals. Additionally, the Counseling Center, Residence Life, and the Dean of Students are available for general support and direction. Ten percent of our student population is international, from some 53 different countries. Our diversity is an important part of who we are as a university and offers us countless enriching opportunities. I want to assure you that MSU is fully committed to supporting all members of our community, and we will remain true to our values of mutual respect, civility, cooperation and social justice. We will support and care for one another so that all members of our community.

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Access to drinking water is very much a human right HERBERT MCCULLOUGH REPORTER

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Syreeta Greene, director of equity, inclusion, and multicultural affairs, speaks to students and faculty about the North Dakota Access Pipeline and the effects it will have on Native American land on Jan. 25.

Dakota Access Pipeline is more than just a Native American issue ARIANNA DAVIS REPORTER

tudents gathered in the Clark Student Center Comanche room as they waited for Syreeta Greene’s speech about the Dakota Access Pipeline on Jan. 26. Greene, director of equity, inclusion, and multicultural affairs, created the presentation to bring light to lesser known problems in the construction of the pipeline. Her speech titled, “Whose Water is It?”, was a part of a series of events from Jan. 23 - 27 called Human Rights Week. This series aimed to bring awareness to social issues primarily focused around water and its effect on the world. While giving facts with credible sources, Greene also allowed room for entertainment and intellectual conversation within the audience. These topics included issues dealing with treaties with the Native Americans, oil accidents and spill rates, as well as the importance of water and the rights it holds for residents surrounding the water. Students and professors alike participated in this forum and Claudia Montoya, associate professor of Spanish, was one of these contributors. “The presentation showed how large the history of oil is within the territory itself,” Montoya said. “It brought the importance of water over oil as well as the geography of the country and how many states this pipeline actually touches.” Montoya was in favor with what the presentation brought to the room - a space for people to exchange ideas while also gaining new insight on issues revolving around human rights. While she brought her own thoughts to the forum, she also pointed out that she tries to make her students see the importance of climate and human rights issues. “It’s about lack of education and being more aware. Awareness should not only come from the talk - you have to also make action and ask questions,” she said. “If we don’t speak up, nothing will happen.” Greene expressed similar views, not only giving ways for students and faculty to get involved locally, but also providing convenience for people to make a change, such as small donations and signing petitions. She also shared ways for people to make action in bigger ways. These examples included encouraging her audience to contact the Senate Committee on Affairs, writing letters to their bank who may be associated with funding the pipeline project, and contacting their senator. “I think it’s important for people to understand what these issues are, because if these things can happen to a community, what’s the likelihood that it will happen to our own?” Greene said in her presentation. “My question is why aren’t more people concerned? This will affect the resources of millions of Americans, not just those within the community.” Damian Desilva, economics senior, attended the presentation and provided active conversation during the discussion. He said that while he doesn’t consider himself very involved, he still saw the issue of fighting over whether to continue the construction a big part of what America deems a priority. “The protests speak volumes about human rights. America is supposed to be the symbol of liberty and freedom and being able to change your own destiny, but it seems to be mitigated by race, political connections, class, and lack of resources,” Desilva said. While the construction of DAPL will affect Native Americans and their communities, Greene’s speech continued to bring awareness to issues that are related to the natives’ rights. “What really are all the issues? We are in the habit of consuming and wasting. And with social media, we are really able to connect the dots and ask the important questions like, what do banking institutions benefit from this pipeline?” Green said. “It really is just educating the people and giving it time.”

he Office of Student Development and Orientation hosted a watch-in documentary, American Divided: Something in the Water, Michigan on Jan. 26 at 7 p.m. in the Clark Student Center atrium. Teresa Perez, radiology senior, said, “It was very enlightening. I haven’t heard much about it in the media or on the news or anything so personally I didn’t know much about it.” This was a part of a the week long Human Rights Week, organized by the Office of Student Development and Orientation, which included a panel about the North Dakota Access Pipeline hosted by Syreeta Greene. More than 175 students, faculty and staff were involved in Human Rights Week. Ruby Arriaga, coordinator of student activities, said, “It’s kind of a way to educate students and discuss the different things we can do. We’re educating students on what they can do for Flint. It’s not only about educating students on about their rights, it’s also about telling them what they can actually do for their rights to support anything that that’s going on. For this Human Rights Week, we focused on water.” There were also booklets of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. There are 30 human rights, and among these rights access to drinking water is not listed. Arriaga disagrees with this notion. “Access to drinking water is very much a human right. Everyone should have access to clean water. Everyone needs water. They don’t need it to be healthy, they needed it to live. So everyone should be able to live, hence everyone should have access to drinking water,” Arriaga said. The City of Flint was drowning in debt, making the Michigan State governor intervene and hire an emergency manager to cut the city budget at all cost. This included switching the Flint water system from Detroit to Flint River in order to save $5,000. Alden Thompson, radiology senior, said, “I don’t think he was qualified to change the city’s water system. He didn’t help the people of Flint at all. He tried to cover his tracks and cover their mistakes up instead of helping the people.” The city also had lead pipes, which were easily corroded by the Flint River water. Many who were exposed to the water were vulnerable to repertory infections, hair falling out, and panic attacks. Despite public outrage and warnings from health experts, the state government was slow to react to the situation. Thompson said, “I don’t think the they are dealing with it very well. I think it could be handled better. So I feel like there should be better government a governor that will listen to the people with the crisis. So they need people in office that will do their job and will protect and look after the people so that this crisis will never happen again. It shouldn’t have happened at all.” Despite the water system switching back to Detroit,

see WATER pg. 6

6 | Feb. 01, 2017 |

Faculty forum ‘brings clarity to liberal arts identity’ LANE RIGGS REPORTER

he panel, “Implementing a Liberal Arts Education; Moving from concept to practice,” which was held on Jan. 26 in Legacy Hall at 7-9 p.m., is only the second panel hosted on campus to discuss the uniqueness of a liberal arts education. Out of the decade that the school has been a part of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, or COPLAC, the panel held on Sept. 11, 2015 was the first to talk about a liberal arts education. More than 200 faculty and students listened to the panelists at both discussions. The Liberal Arts Task Force, which consists of seven faculty members — including Associate Professor of English Todd Giles — was formed by Provost Betty Stewart, following the first panel. While some of the members spoke in 2015, the panel on Thursday was made up of all new speakers. “This is an entirely new group of panelists,” Giles said. “We have one panelist from each college, plus engineering. What they all have in common is an appreciation for the value and importance of a diverse education.” During the panel, the professors explained their own experiences as an undergraduate before detailing why they think a liberal arts education is so important. “A liberal arts college is integral,” Sociology Assistant Professor Andrea Button said.

“There’s more questions that you have to engage in. I was taught as an undergraduate to be courageous. That is the passion of liberal arts.” Angela Cartwright, assistant professor of education, said that through a liberal arts education, students will learn to focus on the way they think of things. “Critical literacy is very important. We have to teach our students ways to think critically, because they will need those skills,” Cartwright said. The goal of the task force is to help preserve, further improve the liberal arts education and these life skills, and explain the importance of such an education. “Think of an apple, the core is what holds it together, it’s the center,” Giles said. “Liberal arts are at the core. The classes we have to take are what make us more diverse, and it helps to sample from different areas. This education isn’t about just getting skills for a job, it’s about getting life skills.” These life skills were touched upon by others. “It is the aim of this task force to bring clarity to the liberal arts identity. We want to produce students who look at their field through the lens of other fields,” Nathan Jun, associate professor of philosophy, said. Because there is a need for such students, Giles wants to equip the faculty in ways that will help professors practice the liberal arts education within their classes.

“Our goal with this panel is to provide specific examples of how faculty in fields as diverse as Nursing and mass communication are integrating the liberal arts and sciences tradition into their courses and thus into the core of the school’s mission,” he said. “The discussion should give faculty across campus some new ideas for implementation in their own classes.” Through this implementation, Giles hopes that there will be more of a discussion on campus. And there are plenty who want to help bring attention to the topic at hand — such as Mitzi Lewis, associate professor of mass communication. “I would love to sit in on another panel,” Lewis said. “But there are other ways to help. It’s very important to teach students to use a lens when viewing the world. Even if it’s not through a panel, I want to be involved and engaged.” Ann Marie Leimer, associate professor of art history, is a part of the Liberal Arts Task Force and wants the conversation (and panels) to continue. “The first panel got the conversation started, and then the task force was created,” she said. “Through this task force, we hope to bring the philosophies into the classroom. The panels are a many pronged intention.” Giles, along with the panelists, hope that the intention is discussed in other panels. “My hope is that this and the previous panel will lead to more discussions across

Liberal arts education changes society LEAH BRYCE REPORTER

hush fell over the room in Legacy Hall as Todd Giles, associate professor of English, began his introduction of the seven faculty members displayed at the front of the room. Each of these faculty members from various colleges expressed their praise of a liberal arts education, bringing more light to the positive attributes a liberal arts education has on humanity. On Thursday, Jan. 26, the faculty forum concerning liberal arts education in the 21st century began. According to the Association of American Colleges and Universities, students that graduate from a liberal arts university “pursue their major within the context of a broad liberal education substantially increase their likelihood of achieving longterm professional success.” Each faculty member conveyed the liberal arts education impact on their personal life and what it has impacted in the world. “The farther down that rabbit hole you get, the more comfortable you get with falling, and that is what a liberal arts education does,” Andrea Button, assistant professor of sociology, said. The didactic and personal answers to the questions, brought up many topics from international relations to recent political hiccups. According to panelist Dr. Angela Cartwright assistant professor of education, having a well rounded liberal arts education should consist of an understanding the media course. Her example was the recent media horror about alternative facts.

“I don’t even know what to say,” Cartwright said. “I mean alternative facts. As a society letting that run by and everyone who is in higher education should have been having a cardiac event. I think that we could consider focusing on how we focus on all things, and not just our curriculum. Just alternative facts.” The crowd listened with rapt attention as she portrayed her obvious irritation with the statement presented by Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway. After this reply, the silence from the rest of the panel was overwhelming. Moments like this were consistent as the panelists shared their personal beliefs of a more rounded education and the impact of being the only liberal arts university in the state of Texas that is a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, and how bringing in various subjects into the classroom allows for a more rounded education. “If I can tap into any subject and bring it into sociology then I want to,” Button said. “Large part because most of the people I teach won’t become sociologist. I want to make sure I am teaching to students that are from different majors.” The enlightenment the forum brought to the audience was far greater than expected. Not only was the forum well communicated, it was also adaptive. “We are all part of a team and we all work collaboratively,” Kathleen Williamson, associate professor and chair of nursing, said. “If we can help our students be advocates in the classroom Then they will continue to advocate for themselves and others when they graduate.”

campus among the students, staff, administration and faculty about the value of our public liberal arts mission — about where we have been and where we need to head to remain a unique and viable institution in a quickly-changing economic and educational landscape,” Giles said. As a follow-up to the panel, he wants more public discussions to take place, as well as some Teaching and Learning Resource Center workshops. Due to the reactions of the community, the students, and the faculty, Giles believes that these panels are needed. This is proven true, as Victoria Estrada, junior and education major did not know what a liberal arts education was. “I didn’t know what a liberal arts education was until the first panel in 2015. The panels go to show that there is more to the school than just education,” she said. Because of this, both of the panels have received a large crowd — and a large presence. “I can’t tell you how many emails we got from faculty from across the disciplines showing their interest in and appreciation for the ideas that the panelist discussed,” Giles said. “Students seem to have a better idea about what it means to attend a liberal arts college. More and more students are coming into my freshman classes eager to learn more about the liberal arts, critical thinking, and making connections across the disciplines.”

from WATER pg. 5

experts say that it will take millions of dollars and 15 years to fully solve Flint’s water crisis. This is why the Office of Student Development and Orientation was also accepting donations in order to help those suffering the water crisis. “I think they should put new and better pipes in. They should also do a better job pre-processing the water so this won’t happen again. And I do understand that this takes a lot of time and money. That’s why different organizations are trying to get them clean water and people across the country should help them as much as they can,” Thompson said. The documentary exposes the municipal corruption in Flint. There were specimens collected by the city which conflicted with a different en-

tity in which both parties agreed to show false data claiming that the tap water was drinkable. Despite the dictatorial practices of emergency managers, they are held to little to no accountability. Perez said, “I think it was interesting to see the system of government that we live in. And it was shocking to know that documents are written in order to protect people like with vague clauses in which the manager wasn’t really held accountable and responsible and that’s how he was able to get away with the things that he was doing.” The Office of Student Development and Orientation organized this film to remind many students that the situation in Flint is still ongoing. “Just educating students about the Flint water crisis is a success in itself,” Arriaga said.

| Feb. 01, 2017 | 7

PRIDE holds first meeting to discuss coming events, concerns for the group CALEB MARTIN REPORTER

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Karen Dabney, assistant professor of theater, talks to student athletes about how to deal with sexual assault on Jan. 25.

Athletes learn about sexual assault GRETA LAZZAROTTO REPORTER

exual assault and abuse is a widely discussed topic on many campuses around the United States. On Wednesday, Jan. 25, the Dillard College of Business Administration hosted an event on the subject. — Since Last Night, one of the theater department’s annual performances. It was directed mainly to student athletes and teams. “Athletes really represent the university,” Karen Dabney, assistant professor of the theater department and organizer of the event, said. In Oct. 2016, Baylor University was involved in a sexual assault scandal. According to CBSnews’ website, 19 Baylor football players have been accused of sexual abuse since 2011. Former Baylor President Ken Starr and head football coach Art Briles were discharged from their positions. “I think prevention is important for athletes because NCAA suffered recently because of sexual assault cases,” Reagan Foster, counselor and student athlete assistant lifeskills coordinator, said. Dabney and the theater department set up a show depicting a typical college scenario of “the day after” a party. A group of students acted out the show, representing four friends and their behavior toward a misguided sexual relationship. They involved the audience with activities and interactive debates using an informal language. “It’s more relatable,” Christopher D’Amico, lecturer and co-adviser to the People Respecting Identity Diversity for Everyone group at MSU, said. The performance focused mainly on consent and its meaning. A preshow-metaphor of consent on getting tea together, taken from the “ Tea Consent” viral video on YouTube, contributed to captivate the spectators, and to introduce the topic.

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WICHITAN

Tessa Dschaak, theater sophomore, and Jonathon Stone, theater junior, perform and teach student athletes about sexual assault on Jan. 25. “I think using the tea video and an informal language helps lightening the mood and capturing the audience’s attention” Dabney said. The purpose for this event was for students to reflect on the topic and to engage in conversations that they usually perceive as uncomfortable. “I think it’s important for students because of the conversation that comes out of it. It’s something you wouldn’t talk to your friends about, ” Xavier Alexander, music and vocal performance sophomore and actor in the show, said. Last semester, this show was performed three times and directed to all freshman and transfer students on campus. This semester the theater department and the athletic department collaborated and involved all athletes on campus to participate.

he first meeting for People Respecting Identity Diversity for Everyone, or PRIDE, met today at 4 p.m. The meeting was to discuss the upcoming events and future meetings for the semester; as well as their growing concerns for the future in light of recent political events, and the current issues facing the LGBTQ+ community within the university, and the Wichita Falls area. “The mission for PRIDE is to create a safe and supportive environment, promote diversity, and encourage an inclusive community within Midwestern State University. An LGBTQ+ community is vital for a student’s success, especially in college. With the help of allies, we hope to bring a more broad awareness for the LGBTQ+ community. Student will be able to reach full potential by being comfortable for who they are while helping each other out. Many LGBTQ+ individuals don’t feel that sense of community, but PRIDE hopes to encourage the advancement of LGBTQ+ individuals and allies,” PRIDE President Christopher Cruz, theater performance sophomore said. The meeting began with Cruz welcoming back the current members, and introducing the new members. Cruz began the meeting with an icebreaker by passing around toilet paper rolls, instructing each member to take the amount of toilet paper they use on a daily basis off the toilet paper roll. The amount of toilet paper an individual ripped off would be the amount of “interesting facts” they were supposed to tell the group about themselves. After introductions were made, Cruz directed the group to its main concerns. They discussed their thoughts on being part of the LGBTQ+ community, why they believed a LGBTQ+ community was important, not only on campus, but in Wichita Falls in light of the local gay bar closing. Fear was expressed as some of the students discussed their discomfort with the reportedly public hatred expressed towards the LGBTQ+ community. “The fears [of the LGBTQ+ community] are very real. Especially with Donald Trump being President now, the fears have become even more real,” Alexis Mendez, psychology junior and PRIDE treasurer, said. At the previous “Are You Afraid of Trump” forum, a Trump supporter allegedly spoke out in support of Vice-President Pence’s views on electroshock conversion therapy as a cure for homosexuality. “One of the Trump supporters was told it [conversion therapy] was okay,” PRIDE Secretary Cecilia Pasillas, sophomore sociology major, said. “If you see someone being discriminated against just for their sexual orientation, you should stop it because even if you don’t [try] to stop it, you’re still actively participating in it.” PRIDE members also discussed taking the time to coordinate with the Women’s March on The Falls coordinator and other students interested in taking part in a joint protest on April 15, demanding President Donald Trump to release his tax returns. Further plan on this demonstration are expected to become more detailed in the following PRIDE meetings. On Feb. 13 and 14, PRIDE will be hosting “Condoms and Kisses” in the Mesquite Dining Hall. Members will be handing out gift bags with condoms and Hershey’s Kisses for a dollar to promote awareness and safe sex. There will also be a movie night on Feb. 16, when PRIDE will be showing “Pariah” at 8 p.m. in the Legacy Multipurpose Room. Members encourage students of all backgrounds to join PRIDE. “It’s really an inclusive environment for everyone and we welcome anybody straight, gay, pink or yellow,” Pasillas said.

8 | Feb. 01, 2017 |

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PHOTO BY ARIANNA DAVIS | THE WICHITAN

Anni Scholl, guard and radiology sophomore, dribbles ball around teammate to get in position.

• MSU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: 2-10 in the conference/ 5-13 overall this season.

PHOTO BY ARIANNA DAVIS | THE WICHITAN

Jasmine Richardson, guard and exercise physiology junior, lines a shot to make a goal.

• NEXT GAME: against Texas A&M-Kingsville who is currently 4-8 in the conference/9-9 overall. • FOLLOWING GAME: another away game sending them to San Angelo to face off with the Angelo State Rams who are ranked second in the conference with a record of 10-2 with an overall season record of 16-2.

Why a foreign language?

“The best skill a journalist can possess is a foreign language.” (Caroline Mortimer)

“How should I best prepare to enter a conservatory, college, [or] university as a

82% of alumni received a

music major? […] Study one

competitive edge from their foreign

or more foreign

language abilities

languages.”

(American School of International Management)

(National

Association of Schools of Music)

34.6% of Texas residents and 14.9% of Wichita Falls inhabitants speak a

Why not…

language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau)

Add a double major in Spanish, a “Spanish for the Professions” or French minor, or German classes?

Only 28.6% of Internet users are English speakers. (Internet World Stats)

Foreign Languages, Midwestern State University Bea Wood 116 jeffrey.oxford@mwsu.edu

Credit is available, through proficiency exams, for language ability that you may already have.