March 8, 2017

March 8, 2017 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 81 No. 22

RHA proposes budget ARIANNA DAVIS REPORTER

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uring Student Government Association’s most meeting this week, issues and future plans regarding the Resident Hall Association, or RHA, were brought to attention on March 7.

Rachael Miyahara, education sophomore and president of RHA, announced a budget proposal during the meeting that involves students living on campus. The budget proposal included wanting to add a $15 fee to housing costs, whether dorm or apartment living, to provide necessary funds for RHA activities.

“Something the association wants to do is have a better relationship with our resident assistants. There is a separation between the residents and the RAs, when in reality we are all just students and friends,” Miyahara said.

According to Miyahara, the budget proposal has only been brought up with students as a way to inform them early on rather than hearing about it unexpectedly from housing. An open forum will be held this Thursday and March 23 in the Legacy Multipurpose Room at 6 p.m. to allow students to know more about the proposal and speak on the topic.

“We [RHA] want to be a bigger voice for the students living on campus.

This budget will allow us to provide for the students and encourage ways for them to know one another, as well as their RAs,” Miyahara said.

78.4 percent of the expenses will go toward campus outreach, which primarily includes programs and activities — approximately 60 percent of the total outreach expenses.

The proposal is to be voted on in a future SGA meeting.

“We are going off what other schools have done for their budgets and applying it to our own in a way that could better benefit on campus students,” Miyahara said.

PHOTOS BY TIMOTHY JONES | THE WICHITAN

Maria Peña, SGA president.

Damian De Silva, SGA vice president.

Jaylon Williams, SGA secretary.

SGA executive-elects prepare for next year CORTNEY WOOD REPORTER

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he new student government association office executives are Maria Peña, political science junior, Damian De Silva, economics senior and Jaylon Williams, sociology junior.

They will officially take office at the end of the spring 2017 semester. Until then, officers Shayla Owens, president and management senior, Andrea Mendota-Lespron, vice president and English senior and Manny Hoffmann, secretary and political science junior will continue in their roles, and begin the transition.

“We had a smooth election season, and all three candidates are very deserving of these position,” Owens said. “They all worked hard and campaigned harder. I think the campus is in a good place with their student body executives and they will do a good job.”

The election was moved earlier in the year to make sure the incoming executives spent enough time with the board for a smooth transition Owens said.

“They were pushed up because we wanted to make sure the executives had enough time with us so that we can show them the outline for next year,” she said. “The current executives have a lot of knowledge and wisdom between

us, and we hope we are able to give them that so they won’t be nervous or apprehensive going into their first few months.”

Once they take office, Peña, De Silva and Williams will work to recruit chairs for their committees, go to Board of Regents meetings, go to committee meetings throughout the university, discuss goals for the upcoming year and determine courses of action they will take to initiate connection with the student body.

“Our student government is structured to represent and engage with organizations, and that’s what we should focus on helping them flourish and start focusing on individuals to then move to big picture,” Peña said. “I want to shift from a meeting setting and do more hands-on so they feel more engaged.

I remember as a senator it got frustrating because I know that it sucks feeling like sitting here for an hour is all I can do.”

Engagement is a continuous theme SGA strives for, Peña said, and feels getting vocal will grow student involvement and in turn bring more attention to events on the campus.

According to the Chair of Board of Elections Samantha Treviño, psychology junior, this year’s turnout was about the same. Vice president had the most attention with 510 votes casted, while the president and secretary were both fewer than 500. With

the new officers, Treviño said she hopes they are active enough to increase involvement campus wide.

“I was trying to get more people to vote, but there is only so much you can do to get people to participate,” she said. “We’ve always had the social media presence that we could reach people with, and social media is a good outlet, but I think it’s not reaching the number of people it used to. I’m hoping that these new executives will open SGA enough to where it includes everyone on campus.”

That direct involvement to participation sparked Williams’ interest in SGA initially.

Once she realized she had won, Williams said she was relieved because “so much effort spent” was campaigning, and she will use that energy to finish this year strong.

“I’m looking forward to putting actions to the words I spoke during the debates,” Williams said. “One of the biggest things we talk about is retention, and students aren’t going to want to come back here if they don’t feel involved or connected to an organization.

I feel like if you’re going to be in student government, you should also be involved in other organizations to use your connections to invite others into SGA, and they will see that this is an organization they want to be a part of.”

2 | March 8, 2017 |

SATIR E

S TAF F E DI T O R I A L

Be safe during spring break OUR VIEW: We want all of our students to come back to campus safe and sound — so please, be careful.

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pring break is just around the corner, and we know it’s the time for everyone to relax and take a mental break from the stresses of school, whether that means going home for a week, hitting the beach, skiing in Colorado or staying in good ol’ Wichita Falls.

When all of us (or most of us) have been studying and focusing on schoolwork since January, spring break is the time where we often let loose and sometimes go a little too hard. We encourage everyone to relax and have fun — but be safe.

Use condoms. We’re not stupid, we know sex is basically inevitable. That whole abstinence education thing doesn’t work. Drink plenty of water in between alcoholic beverages, always have a designated driver and never travel anywhere alone. Make sure cell phones are charged and have emergency plans just in case something bad happens.

We don’t want to wonder why our classmates are absent when classes resume on March 20. Don’t be a statistic.

wichitan

the

Vol. 81 | No. 22

Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room B103 3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 397-4704 • wichitan@mwsu.edu thewichitan.com • @wichitanonline

1,200 gather to mourn the loss of Jeremy

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ike the feeling that accompanies eating the last extra fry found at the bottom of a McDonald’s to-go bag, students were grief-stricken as they remembered Jeremy, the beloved and most personable squirrel on campus.

Jeremy’s carcass was found flattened like a well-tenderized flank steak at the intersection Caleb of Midwestern Parkway and Taft Boulevard.

Martin MSU police are at their wits-end, as the only clue to Jeremy’s demise are the tire marks posthumously impressed into Jeremy’s torso.

“We are investigating the tire tracks impressed into the victims chest cavity, and we’ve determined the tread to belong to a Honda Accord, and we are classifying this as a hit-andrun,” Wichita Falls Detective Samuel Riggs said. “We don’t know why anybody would do this to a helpless, loving fluff ball like Jeremy. You can expect the city to be pursuing the most severe penalty for this senseless crime.”

The hit-and-run has left students at MSU shaken. Classes were cancelled on Feb. 29 in remembrance of the university’s unofficial mascot. A candlelight vigil was held on Feb. 30, as approximately 1,200 students stood in a circle where Jeremy met his untimely demise, subsequently blocking traffic at the intersection. Amassed the symphony of car horns and multiple sirens, students sang “Amazing Grace” unmoved by the mile-long rows of cars inching forward.

The sudden death of Jeremy has rattled the hearts of many, literally, as students had just taken their first exams the week prior. Vinson Health Center reported a 22 percent increase in high blood pressure in the hours following the news of Jeremy’s death.

“I don’t understand. It was just a squirrel,” Dr. Wilson Bradley, chief urologist on campus, said. “There is no logical correlation between the death of a squirrel and a spike in blood pressure in an alarming amount of the students on campus.”

While some individuals appear unaffected by the passing of Jeremy, others are trying to face the tragedy set upon the campus by remembering his life “I gave Jeremy a slice of cheese from my Lunchables every day,” Katie Eubank, social work junior, said, tears falling down her face as she tried to complete her next sentence. “I just don’t understand. He was so young. He was just starting his life.

Who will I give my cheese and crackers to now?”

To some, Jeremy was their anchor in the storm of life.

“He knew me better than anyone. I poured out my soul to him and he never asked anything in return,” Jessica Mowrer, social work junior, said, cradling a lock of hair Jeremy had given to her the summer of 2016. “Now who am I supposed to vent to? Myself? Who’s going to encourage me not to drop out

EDITOR: Kara McIntyre MANAGING EDITOR: Leah Bryce DESIGN EDITOR: Justin Marquart FEATURES EDITOR: Brendan Wynne ISSUES STAFF: Cortney Wood, Arianna Davis, Caleb

Martin, Kara McIntyre, Zoie Flores, Vincent Lusk, Greta Lazzarotto, Herbert McCullough, Tyler Manning, Sarah Graves

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Izziel Latour, Arianna Davis, Rachel Johnson, Timothy Jones

ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

PHOTO BY IZZIEL LATOUR | THE WICHITAN

Caught off guard, Jeremy spends one of his last moments on Earth eating his favorite snack from Katie Eubank, social work junior. school every week? A bird? Life will never be the same without Jeremy.”

Mowrer plans on framing the lock of hair and selling it on the Wichita Falls Trading Post to continue paying for her college.

Jeremy held a place in the hearts of many students, but held an even greater place in the hearts of those who loved him and knew him personally.

Jeffrey Nutsbaine, Jeremy’s husband of 179 days, knelt on his knees the entirety of the vigil in the spot where Jeremy had become a hairy pancake. Nutsbaine swears revenge on the soul who took his Jeremy from him.

“Squeak squeaker squeak squeak squeaken squék,” Nutsbaine said, wiping the small waterfalls from his eyes with his tail. “Squieks squéken sqúeks squeaker squeak.”

Born to Hugo and Rolinda Squirrel, Jeremy was the oldest of 224 brothers and sisters. Jeremy attended the University of Dodging Vehicles When Crossing the Road, with a bachelor’s degree of Playing Dead and a master’s degree in Finding the Acorn He Buried Last Week. He is survived by his husband, Jeffrey Nutsbaine, and his 34 children from his previous marriage. There will be an empty-casket memorial on March 4 at the Wichita Falls Animal Services Center at noon. Attendees will be given an acorn and free tattoos of Honda Accord tire tread in memory of Jeremy Nutsbaine.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, announced that it will be presenting MSU with a 22-foot statue of Jeremy. The statue is going to be unveiled directly following Jeremy’s funeral, and replace the Sunwatcher statue located between Clark Student Center and Prothro-Yeager College.

MSU encourages students to skip class to pay homage to the memory of Jeremy.

Caleb Martin is a mass communication sophomore.

Copyright ©2017.

The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. The Wichitan reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication.

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

The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief (250 words or fewer) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a email address, telephone number and address.

| March 8, 2017 | 3

Stay safe;

avoid danger

‘We don’t want any empty desks after spring break’ KARA MCINTYRE EDITOR

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pring break is only a few days away — the bright sunlight, plenty of sunscreen and coolers full of water and Capri-Sun. Well, that’s what mom thinks, anyway.

Yeti coolers filled to the brim with every kind of beer, liquor, bagged wine and maybe a few water bottles line the beaches in Florida, Alabama and southern Texas. Outdoor concerts and clubs feature popular artists such as 2 Chainz, Zedd, Ty Dolla $ign, Jake Owen, Migos, Waka Flocka Flame, Post Malone and Rich Homie Quan. There’s always something to do or someone handing out alcohol like Oprah Winfrey.

But police officers are handing out tickets, too. According to Lawrence Specker of al.com, the Sheriff’s Beach Patrol made 40 arrests within two days in March 2016, resulting in 52 charges, 28 of which were for possession of alcohol on the beach. During the first week of spring break, there were 873 calls for service to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office in beach zones with a total of 73 arrests, resulting in 87 charges — and those numbers do not include arrests by the Panama City Beach police.

“When it comes to spring break, you get a lot of the kids who drink excessively,” Albert Jimenes, university police sergeant, said. “The main safety concern is always alcohol consumption.”

Jimenes suggested that students stay in a group and if someone gets lost, they shouldn’t make it obvious to others.

“Unfortunately, many predators use spring break kids as their targets.

Drinking lowers your inhibitions, so you’ll often trust a stranger to help you,” Jimenes said. “If you get lost, try to find another group to mingle with until you find your way back to the hotel or to your original group.”

COMMON CHARGES AMONG SPRING BREAK ARRESTS INCLUDE:

• Minor in possession: $50$500 fine with possible jail time, community service hours and suspension of driver’s license • Minor in consumption: up to $500 fine, suspension of driver’s license, community service hours and mandatory alcohol awareness classes • Public intoxication: up to $400 fine, possible jail time • Possession of marijuana: up to $2,000 fine, jail time, mandatory drug testing, electronic monitoring, probation and mandatory drug awareness classes • D i s o r d e r l y conduct: $25$1,000 fine and possible jail time or probation • S u p p l y i n g alcohol to a minor: up to $5,000 fine, but $500$1,000 fine is more common; possible jail time or probation • DUI: up to $10,000 fine, jail time or probation and suspension of driver’s license Many students use

spring break as their mental break from midterms, work, thinking about graduation, etc. Ruby Arriaga, coordinator of student activities, said the Office of Student Development and Orientation created the Safe Spring Break events, which begin March 8, to inform students of ways to remain safe during the week off.

“Around this time, students get really stressed out and they haven’t had much time to go out and relax,” Arriaga said. “They go extra hard during the one week they have off and do whatever they want.

They forget how to stay safe, and we want to remind them that safety is a priority.”

Activities for Safe Spring Break will include drunk goggle cornhole, Texas Department of Transportation distracted driving simulator, free food, photo booth, trashketball and other games.

“We just want students to remember to drink responsibly, stay hydrated and take all necessary precautions. We know drinking is going to happen, but we want them to know how to drink in a safe way,” Arriaga said. “You hear about those stories

where students go on spring break, get in an accident and don’t come back to school. We don’t want any empty desks at MSU.” Other students use spring break as a volunteer opportunity.

Ben Edfeldt, director of Baptist Student Ministry, organizes a service event every spring break for BSM students to attend.

This year, 27 students will drive down to South Padre Island to serve their peers on the beaches as a means of servant evangelism.

“This is part of an event called Beach Reach, and we’re doing this to serve as a function of keeping students safe,” Edfeldt said. “Students out there often make poor decisions and wonder, ‘What do I do next?’ We’re there to help.”

Beach Reach began in 1980 with 20 students who had a vision to reach their peers during spring break. Now during spring break, hundreds of Christian college students travel down to South Padre to verbally share the gospel, while providing those they encounter with food and transportation.

“We want to show these students that somebody cares about them in all functions, even more than just safety,” Edfeldt said. “We want to show love, engage in conversation and serve them to the best of our ability.”

More than 1,100 students from various colleges will be serving at Beach Reach this spring break. They offer free van rides from 8 p.m.-4 a.m. starting Sunday, March 11 to Thursday, March 16.

“In past years, we’ve given rides to thousands of people over the course of our time there. We know there are stupid kids who shouldn’t be driving,” Edfeldt said. “Many of them asked, ‘Why did you give up your spring break to give me a ride?’ and we just want to express to them that somebody out there cares about them.”

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Campus housing furniture in bad condition ZOIE FLORES REPORTER

O Stains shown on Carlie Hughes’, psychology junior, arm chair in her Sunwatcher Village apartment room. March 2.

Stains shown on Carlie Hughes’, psychology junior, couch in her Sunwatcher Village apartment room. March 2.

Spill stains shown on Carlie Hughes’, psychology junior, arm chair in her Sunwatcher Village apartment room. March 2.

Dents and blemish marks shown on Carlie Hughes’, psychology junior, dishwasher. March 2.

n-campus apartments and residence halls come furnished and ready to go for students to move in at the start of a new semester — but the furniture and appliances will become damaged or worn out throughout years of use by thousands of students.

“I’ve been here for about a year and one of the priorities I have on my plate is to take a look at our furniture and carpet system-wide and determine what the appropriate renewal and replacement schedule is. We don’t exactly have a solid one right now,” Director of Residence Life and Housing Kristi Schulte said.

When it came time to move in for fall 2016, Carlie Hughes, psychology junior, said her couch looked “disgusting.”

“I didn’t even want to sit on it, so my roommate’s dad ended up calling maintenance to have the couch and the chair replaced,” she said. “The couch was replaced with a not much better couch that also had stains all over it. We’ve also been waiting for our chair since August and still haven’t gotten a new one.”

In Hughes’ first year of living in Sunwatcher Village, her dryer had a hole in it, causing it to shake every time it ran.

“I just think housing should pay better attention to the condition of the furniture and appliances before students start moving in and using them,”she said. “They make such a huge deal out of checkout fees and charges, but they leave us with the mess that other people made.”

The residence handbook clearly states that, “Furniture should be clear of all dirt, dust, etc. All drawers should be cleaned…,”on page 21.

“If these rules were enforced better and students actually read the handbook and paid attention, the furniture and appliances would last much longer,” Hughes said.

She also named the past experiences she had with bad furniture and appliances in Sunwatcher Village apartments.

“I remember last year my apartment’s dishwasher was completely messed up. The racks that the dishes go in were rusted so bad, that the prongs that hold the dishes up were falling off,” she said.

Hughes explained her frustration with having damaged furniture every year she lived in Sunwatcher.

“We are paying over $5,000 total a semester to live in the on-campus apartments,”she said. “I don’t think we should be paying that amount of money for overused furniture and appliances.”

Hughes also discussed what she thinks housing could do to improve this problem.

“I know we’re responsible for keeping the apartments clean, but I think housing should keep track of the furniture and appliances that look bad and replace it, or at least fix it,” Hughes said.

Claudio Rodriguez, Sunwatcher Village complex coordinator, said new furniture is ordered from different places in town.

PHOTOS BY ARIANNA DAVIS | THE WICHITAN

Carlie Hughes, psychology junior, shows blemishes on her couch in her Sunwatcher Village apartment room.

March 2.

“If the furniture or appliance is broken, and someone complains about it, we will go look at it and order a new one,” he said. “We try to keep the same look throughout the apartments.”

If a student is fined for damage to a piece of furniture, appliance, or the carpet Schulte likes to use the analogy of “car insurance” to explain this.

“If there’s a situation where you’re driving your car and someone hits you, you get an insurance check and you make the decisions to whether or not you’re going to replace your vehicle, fix your vehicle, or leave it alone for the time being because you may be getting ready to get a new car anyway.

Furniture and appliances work the same way,” Schulte said.

The process of replacing furniture is not easy.

At the beginning of each fiscal year, housing has a budget set for the apartments and if a resident breaks something, the money from the fine doesn’t go toward replacing the broken item.

“The money will come out of the budget that we’ve already established,” Rodriguez said. “So it’s not like if you break something, you pay for it and the money immediately goes towards that item.”

If a student causes damage to any furniture, carpet or appliance in the residence halls, they will be fined a minimum of $400 for the carpeting and a minimum of $70 for desk chairs according to the residence life handbook. Although other furniture and appliances aren’t listed in the handbook, a fee is still charged.

At the start of each school year, students are to pay a refundable $100 deposit that will be returned

upon leaving the university’s housing.

The handbook explains how this deposit is used if there are any damages to furniture. “Any damage to a student’s room and/or housing common areas will be deducted from the deposit,” page 8.

“There are 95 apartments in Sunwatcher and 95 in Sundance,” Rodriguez said. “Sometimes we miss things, and we expect students to let us know right away so they don’t wait until the end of the semester and get charged for something that was already broken when they moved in.”

Schulte said the furniture lasts for a certain amount of time and it will be replaced or upgraded.

“There is a percentage of furniture that we take into account each summer that needs to be replaced, primarily because it’s worn out,” she said.

“We do the same thing with mattresses, depending on the area we are looking at.”

Schulte also talked about Legacy’s new, contemporary furniture.

“It looks different from anything else that we have on campus, and students take notice of that.”

Schulte said, “We are not on the market to replace all of the furniture because we have one building with new furniture.”

The housing team looks at what they need to replace, refresh, or update in the residence halls and how to go about doing that.

“Doing a comprehensive upgrade on all of the furniture is something that we’re open to, but right now it is not something that we’re working on,” Schulte said.

Computer science sophomore releases personal debut album VINCENT LUSK REPORTER

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ow this is a story all about how his life got flipped, turned upside down...

In west Nigeria born and raised, on the playing fields is where he spent most of his days, chilling out, maxin’, relaxing all cool, he had some personal thoughts after graduating school.

Born in Ibadan, Oyo State Nigeria, Able Olu-Jordan, computer science sophomore, moved to the United States when he was 15 years old to enroll in higher education, or so his parents thought. Jordan said he moved to the United States to achieve his dreams.

Jordan, has had many hobbies throughout his

young life including soccer, rugby and drawing. Jordan, who has been writing songs since he was 9-yearsold, said nothing allows him to express himself like music does.

After many trials and tribulations, he released his self-produced debut album titled Seconds and Dimes.

“I came up with the title a year before the album came out. {SAD}, the title, has a few meanings. One was I was sad, but also the seconds of time I was going have to put into the album, and dimes of money I was going have to put into the album as well,” Jordan said.

During his first musical experience Jordan said he was enamored by Eminem. Other artists, such as Michael Jackson, Usher, NeYo, Eminem and J Cole, also influence him. Jordan said when he writes, it is very vivid, and personal — much like the artists who have impacted him.

“Most of my songs come from experiences,” Jordan said. “I use words to paint images, almost autobiographical. I make it about my life.”

While attending school and also working 10 hours a day on music, Jordan said making this personal album was not easy, since he had to shuffle his social life, work life and school.

“It was difficult in the sense of life having its way on me, but the writing part was easy,” Jordan said. At that point in time I was going through a phase, so trying to mix life and make music every day was hard.”

He set this goal for himself to make an album when he was only 11 years old.

“I wrote it down, saying I would produce a solo album,” Jordan said.

The album is an even mixture between rap and singing, and Jordan

| March 8, 2017 | 5

would describe his sound as ‘honest.’ real.

The album is an expression of him Knowing music was his passion as an introvert, and he thinks a lot and it was something he wanted to of people will relate to the album do forever, he had goals of starting because he talks about things people his own music label titled “Section 1,” care about. and continuing to hone in his craft.

According to Jordan, he is pleased Jordan said he hopes to be a beacon with the album and has been getting of light. positive feedback from his friends, as Leland Creel, general business well as strangers. sophomore, said he has listened “The reaction was pretty nice to be to certain songs on the album and honest. I had a stranger come up to enjoyed parts of the album. me while I was playing the album and “I would listen to these songs in my asked who it was, and it felt good to free time, I would also recommend say that it was me,” Jordan said. the album to others,” Creel said.

The debut album was released He thought it was impressive, in late January, and he has been unique and innovative that Jordan promoting the piece of work on social wrote and produced every song and media platforms like Instagram, enjoyed the different sound the Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook, album had. and hoping to get more listens and Jordan has other musical projects hits. Jordan said releasing music as in the works and some finished. He an indie artist is hard because people said he will continue to write and expect the music to be make music. Jordan bad and he is hoping to said he hopes this change that notion. personal debut “Whenever you album simply helps introduce yourself and people. music to new people, “The album tells they have a wall up and a story on its own, expect it to be bad, and I it’s me in a whole just enjoy the reaction on other perspective, their faces when they hear I keep my mask on, the music and enjoy it,” and this is just me Jordan said. trying to connect ABLE OLU-JORDAN He worked with an more to others,” COMPUTER SCIENCE agency to get his music Jordan said.

SOPHOMORE on all of the premium After playing streaming services such as iTunes, a song from the album for a friend, SoundCloud and Spotify — and that she cried, and to him he felt that makes this real for him. Some of his his music could really resonate with music is at 6,000 hits and he hopes it people. keeps climbing.

“I want my music to be borderless.

He has multiple intentions for the I want people to listen to my music album, but one stands above them anywhere they can and enjoy it,” all.

Jordan said.

“I just want the people to feel His dreams are to be famous and comfortable. It is okay to think bad be well-recognizable, but he also things or good things at times we are says he wants to stay committed to human. Jordan said. “If you are sad or himself and do what he loves. Music lonely that’s okay at times, I just want is his passion, it is the only thing that people to feel human and know that allows him to freely express himself, they Jordan said are not the only one and he plans on continuing to do going through things.” that.

When Jordan stepped off of the Able Olu-Jordan debut album plane in Houston from Nigeria at 15 titled {SAD} or Seconds and Dimes is years old and smelled “cigarettes and available on SoundCloud, iTunes and alcohol,” he said he knew this was Spotify.

Able Olu-Jordan. Photo by Rachel Johnson

“I use words to paint images, almost autobio­ graphical. I make it about my life.”

6 | March 8, 2017 |

Art helps students ‘cope with stress’ GRETA LAZZAROTTO REPORTER

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s an effort to help healing, growth and self discovery, counselors promote art activities open to all students. The Counseling Center has the workshop “Discover U @ MSU” March 20 April 3 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Sunwatcher Clubhouse.

Counselor Ginger Boller, organizer of the event, combined her job skills with her passion for art to offer students a different way to deal with college life issues. According to Boller, art activities have different benefits.

“My bachelor’s degree is in art, and my master’s degree is in counseling,” Boller said. “I do a lot of art therapy with my clients, and I wanted to create a group for other students, who don’t know or are not interested in coming to individual sessions.”

The Counseling Center members created these events to open new horizons and help students.

“It can help students getting in touch

with their feelings, cope with stress, or simply give them an outlet,” Boller said.

Ann Marie Leimer, associate professor of art history, said she encourages students to attend these events.

“It allows [students] to free their brains, to think and to be creative,” Leimer said. “Creativity and finding solutions to problems are keys today, and through art, students can develop those qualities. Thinking and problem solving are two activities required to find a job in the future.”

Art sophomore Jake Thornton, agrees with Leimer that, through art, people can learn or improve problem solving skills.

“In making art, as in life, things don’t always go the way you plan,” Thornton said. “You just need to find another way to make your piece look even better.”

Thornton expressed his feeling about art and its meaning to him.

“What I love about making art is the freedom I get. When I’m painting or drawing I feel like I have no worries, and time does not matter,” Thornton said.

30 clubs volunteer at Mustangs Rally HERBERT MCCULLOUGH REPORTER

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ustangs Rally welcomed potential students on March 4 with a campus tour, club previews and a hamburger lunch, among other activities. Students and faculty worked together to show potential students and their families what MSU is all about.

“Admissions coordinates this event and other departments help with the processes,” Mario Ramirez, assistant director of student development and orientation, said. “Students, parents and guests get to explore campus beyond the regular campus tour.”

After the general meeting, the students were given tours across campus where they were able to visit the different colleges, departments and majors MSU has to offer.

“We had interest from two students and met extensively with one student and his family,” Brandy Jolliff-Scott, assistant professor and global studies coordinator, said “He seemed very interested in attending MSU.” Jolliff-Scott also explained the biggest project of the global studies department, Model UN. Many students and their parents found this project the most interesting project in the department.

“We talked a lot about Model UN and the impact it has had on the past and current students,” Jolliff-Scott said. “The upcoming trip to New York City was of great interest, and I think the parents especially were impressed.”

This was an opportunity for club members to present their club to potential students.

More than 30 clubs signed up to volunteer.

“The members of the clubs were given the opportunity to talk to prospective Mustangs and their guests,” Ramirez said.

Due to some clubs having giveaways like candy and stickers, some tables were more populated than others. Ramirez explained how this event helped improved the communication skills of current MSU students.

“Some of the groups like the cheer booth and some of the sororities had various students throughout the entire event,” Ramirez said. “I think the student organizations are improving their communication skills and are able to explain how incoming students can join their club.”

Overall, many members of the clubs and organizations were satisfied by the many different students who attended Mustangs Rally.

“We have talked to two students and their parents,” Tariq Roberts, sophomore social work and historian for the German club, said.

“We also talked to a military veteran and an immigrant from Hungary.”

Mustangs Rally shows future students, parents and guests what it looks like to attend MSU. Its also how student organizations and university departments showcase what they bring to the table.

“There are infinite amounts of ways to get involved and learn more about what college life is, and this program gives those attending a peek into the Mustang way,” Ramirez said.

Many students and their parents say that what MSU does best is combine quality teaching with small class sizes that gives students the kind of one-on-one attention which is hard to get at a larger university.

“There are so many things I can do in the classroom, simulations, games, other active learning techniques, that I simply couldn’t do in a university with 200 students per class,” Jolliff-Scott said.

DINI N G HAL L H O U R S In ‘Dine on Campus but with Limited Hours’ (p. 4-5, March 1), The Wichitan published the incorrect hours for dining services across campus. The Wichitan regrets the error.

CHICK-FIL-A M-Th 11 a.m. - 9 p.m F 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Sa - Su Closed MESQUITE DINING HALL M-Th 7 a.m.- 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

F- 7 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Sa-Su- Closed

BURRITO BOWL M-Th 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.

F 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sa - Su Closed MAVERICK’S CORNER M-Th 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.

F 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.

Sa- Su 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.

GRILL NATION M-Th 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

F 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sa - Su closed

STARBUCKS M-Th 7:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.

F 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sa Closed Su 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.

EINSTEINS M-F 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Sa-Su Closed

| March 8, 2017 | 7

‘ L O G A N’ MOVIE REVIEW

PHOTOS BY TIMOTHY JONES |

Hugh Jackman and Stephen Merchant in Logan (2017).

Logan gives Hugh Jackman proper Wolverine sendoff

I

Tyler Manning

was greatly impressed with Fox Studio’s release of Deadpool, last year. It was refreshing to see a modern comic book movie take such a bold risk in service of adapting its character faithfully. This is the same feeling I had when leaving

Logan.

Logan takes place in a near future where mutants have become few and far between and of the remaining are the Wolverine and Professor Xavier. Logan is then tasked with the objective of transporting a new mutant to a safe zone away from those who seek to find her.

This film is directed by James Mangold and stars Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, and Boyd Holbrook.

Overall Logan is a movie that not only acts as a fitting end to the legacy of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine but also one that provides a grounded, character driven story that is seldom to find in today’s plethora of comic book films.

I am proud to say that this is Hugh Jackman’s best work as the character. You can tell the immense love and respect that he has for the Wolverine and for the previous films that he has worked on.

Jackman has always given this character and franchise the most effort he can give and it is nice to see him truly shine here.

The other performances hold up really well in this film too. Veteran actor Patrick Stewart gives a touching and real performance as an older more senile iteration of Professor X. I also enjoyed Dafne Keen’s performance as X-23 quite a lot. It was surprising to see such a young actor hold her own against well acclaimed actors.

One of the biggest strengths in

THE WICHITAN

PHOTO BY BEN ROTHSTEIN | MARVEL

this movie and something that I personally look for most in films is its sense of character. Logan serves as a deconstruction of the Wolverine character. For a character that has been always associated with his invincibility and brute strength, this film presents him as a man broken down physically and emotionally by his past mistakes. He is scarred, living day to day making money in the hopes that one day he and Xavier can retire. The world has broken him to the point that he simply wants to die.

Like with Deadpool, Logan also strays from comic book movie conventions through its frequent use of gore, blood, and language. It is satisfying to finally see Wolverine unrestrained in this film and the ‘R’ rating really lets the film breath and is never used inappropriately or distastefully. All of the language and gore feels natural and consistent with how the characters are set up.

I do have minor problems with the film that are also indicative of the series as a whole, though. One of the staples of Fox Studio’s X-Men cinematic universe is its inconsistent continuity between movies and that is apparent in this film. I felt that the film should have given a bit more backstory to better establish the world it presents in this film. I often felt myself questioning how the world got to point it is. This is, however, not a fatal flaw; just one that slightly annoyed me.

In a time where we are seeing more than five comic book movies a year, it is nice to see one stray from conventions and tell a genuine and character-driven story.

Logan was an authentic and touching movie that made me feel an emotional connection to its characters. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie.

RATING: 8.5/10 STILL OUT IN LOCAL THEATERS

Matt Reed, criminal justice senior, shoots a fadeaway jump shot while defended by Khyce Randall, kinesiology junior at the Swishes for Wishes basketball tournament.

Chi Omega donates $10K to Make-A-Wish SARAH GRAVES REPORTER

C

hi Omega hosted the annual Swishes For Wishes basketball tournament on March 4 in the Bruce and Graciela Redwine Student Wellness Center as a part of their Wish Week festivities. Their proceeds were donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to grant wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation has been our philanthropy since 2001 after the members voted and it overwhelmingly had the majority of votes,” Hailey Morris, early childhood education junior and Chi Omega president, said.

Since then, the sorority has donated approximately $140,000 to the foundation, which has granted about 18 wishes to children in need.

For philanthropy week, also called Wish Week, Morris said they sell shirts, hold a silent auction, movie night, set up a booth in the Clark Student Center and host the Swishes For Wishes tournament. In addition, some restaurants donate 10 percent of proceeds to Make-A-Wish on specific giveback nights.

This year, Chi Omega raised more than $10,000 for the charity.

“This is my third year to play in the tournament,” Holt Cooper, political science junior, said. “I continue to participate because it’s really fun and really well put together.”

Cooper participated in the basketball tournament on one of the 32 teams suited up for the event.

“I have always loved basketball,” Cam

Arms outstretched Al Hassan, mechanical engineering junior, tries to dunk the ball in between games at Swishes for Wishes, March 4.

Taylor, general business freshman, said. “This tournament gives me the chance to play again with all the money going to help children in need.”

Team Alicen won the tournament.

Daniel Gutierrez, business management sophomore, said, “I played because my girlfriend is in Chi Omega. My fraternity is also interested in philanthropy, so we participate whenever we can. I’m not any good at basketball, so I just get to run around and have fun for a good cause.”

8 | March 8, 2017 |

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only 25 - 30% of the world speaks English as a native or non-native language 34.6% of Texas and 14.9% of Wichita Falls inhabitants speak a language other than English at home (U.S. Census Bureau)

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

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82% of alumni received a competitive edge from their foreign language abilities (American School of International Management)

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College graduates who speak a second language earn, on average, wages that are 2 percent higher (Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia)

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