October 30, 2019 by The Wichitan and Wai Kun

Media

Sports

News

6-8

Oct. 30, 2019 | thewichitan.com |Real Students. Real Stories. | Vol. 84 No. 3

Halloween

@WichitanOnline

@TheWichitan

Day in the Life

Satire

9-10

LIKE PUZZLES? TURN TO OUR ACTIVITIES SECTION ON PAGE 5.

A RT H I G HL I GHT

E D I TORI A L

Tips for having a safe Halloween

he Wichitan staff knows that Halloween is the time for “lit” college parties, alcohol, cute outfits and dancing, but we want to encourage everyone to consider their safety while having fun. • Tip 1: Always have a designated driver. According to www.edgarsnyder.com: “44% of national fatal crashes during Halloween weekend involved a driver or motorcyclist with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. 38% of fatal crashes that occurred on Halloween night involved a driver or motorcyclist with a BAC of 0.08 or higher. 23% of pedestrian fatalities on Halloween night included a drunk driver.” • Tip 2: Always travel with a group. • Tip 3: Never let your drinks out of your sight. Once you put your cup down it is an easy target for predators. • Tip 4: Always check to see if the candy has been opened before consuming it. • Tip 5: Make sure you have a backup plan if your designated driver ends up drinking. Uber and Lyft only cost about $6-10 from point A to point B in Wichita Falls. Uber and Lyft offer you a free or discounted ride home if you are too drunk to take yourself. To utilize this you must get their promotion codes from “Survive a DUI” and enter it whenever you set up your ride home. We hope everyone has a fun and safe Halloween!

‘Unreachable Destination’ is a pastel piece created by Brittany Mitchell. For a better view of her artwork in color check out our pinned tweet on Twitter!

L A ST W E E K S P OL L R E S U L T S

As promised in the last edition, here are the results of the poll that was posted via twitter.com @WichitanOnline. Are you shocked by the results? Let us know why or why not via Email wichitan@msutexas.edu and see responses in the next edition.

CORRECTIONS:

1. In a photo from last issue we called Provost and Vice President of Acdemic Affairs James Johnston he wrong name. The Wichitan regrets this error. 2. In a photo from last issue we identified a Lipsync pasrticipant as a Chi Omega member, this was incorrect. The Wichitan regrets this error.

EDITORS: Alyssa Mitchell, Kristin Silva PHOTO EDITOR: Bridget Reilly Vol. 84 | No. 3

Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room D201 3410 Taft Blvd. | Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 397-4704 wichitan@msutexas.edu | thewichitan.com @wichitanonline

DESIGNER: Brittni Vilandre ISSUE STAFF: Amos Perkins, Brian Lang, Khirstia Sheffield, Matthew Tempelmeyer, Dallas Wabbington, Omar Combie, Colin Stevenson, Jeri Moore, Elijah Lee, Dariana Garza, Sharome Burton, Izziel Latour, Jordan Breedlove

ADVISOR: Jonathon Quam

Copyright ©2019. First copy free. Additional copies $1.00 each. 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.

M OV I E R E V I E W

NE WS

‘Zombieland: Double Tap’

brings back the gang for more of the same laughs

PHOTO COURTESY IMBD

Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg, Abigail Breslin, and Emma Stone in Zombieland: Double Tap (2019).

t’s been a long 10 years since “Zombieland” debuted, but our favorite team of zombie killers has still got it. After making it out of the first film unscathed, redneck Tallahassee (Woody Harrelson), nerdy Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg), jaded Wichita (Emma Brian Stone) and now teenager Little Lang Rock (Abigail Breslin) are resting on their laurels in the White House itself. The team has become used to the zombies and have even developed nicknames about the danger-level of these roving monsters, but they’re not too concerned about this threat and seem to have it made. Things start to get tense between the four friends as the youngest, Little Rock, is ready to get out of the nest and find people her age. Wichita and Columbus have been in a rut in their relationship that not even a proposal with the Hope Diamond can fix, and zombie-fiend Tallahassee is itching to find new creative ways to take out those pesky critters. It sounds like the perfect set-up for a sequel. The most important thing to know about “Zombieland: Double Tap” is that there’s really no reason for it to exist. The first one was fun and felt like something original back in 2009, but this

installment doesn’t have anything new to add or any fresh takes on the zombie-genre. Once you’ve come to terms with this though, it’s a lot of fun to watch. After Little Rock takes off with her new hippie boyfriend, the team has to go on a road trip through the heartland to rescue her. They’re joined by the hilariously dumb and annoyingly perky Madison (played perfectly by Zoey Deutch), who’s eked out an existence in a frozen yogurt freezer. She’s ready to hit the road armed with only a hot pink can of mace and a chipper attitude that even Tallahassee can’t smother. As a new breed of zombie, dubbed the T-800, starts evolving, this unlikely crew has to rebuild themselves and fight to live another apocalyptic day. The cast seems to find their characters in this sequel, and it’s always fun to see a group of Oscar nominees get to goof around onscreen. Jesse Eisenberg plays to his strengths as the neurotic rule-follower (although his list of rules has expanded from a modest 30 to somewhere in the 70s) while Woody Harrelson has the most fun driving monster trucks and impersonating Elvis with the redneck role of Tallahassee. Emma Stone keeps her dry, sarcastic humor rolling and it feels like she’s gone back in time to a pre-Oscar win version of herself. Abigail Breslin wanders in and out of the film as if the

writers didn’t quite know how to handle her now that she’s grown up, but Zoey Deutch’s character, Madison, quickly fills her spot on the team with her blonde humor and zombie naivete. Similar to the first installment, “Zombieland: Double Tap” is riddled with multiple subplots that are strung together instead of a cohesive movie by itself. It keeps the story moving at a brisk pace, and more importantly, it allows for plenty of opportunities to fight zombies. Strangely though, for a movie with “zombie” in its title, “Zombieland: Double Tap” pushes the zombies to the back seat and decides to focus more on the character dynamics between the ragtag team for a majority of the movie. The zingers fly relentlessly and the film holds up its R-rated reputation as the cast banters back and forth for 90 minutes. With jokes by the writers of Deadpool, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and director Ruben Fleischer at the helm, it’s a slam-dunk comedy flick. Any nitpicking is beside the point though, because at the end of the day, “Zombieland: Double Tap” comes out on top as a fun and very silly movie. It keeps the same energy of the first and proves that even after 10 years, this snarky “family” of zombie killers still has their spark.

CYCLING SAFETY

Turn to Pg. 6

FRESHMAN IN APARTMENTS

Turn to Pg. 7

GREY MATTERS

Turn to Pg. 8

SAT I R E

PICTURES OF JIMMY “TOO SWOLE” JACKSON

Comic created by Dallas Wabbington

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AFTER STEROIDS

ome steroids create better focus, some increase endurance, some increased strength and some increase how the muscles breathe. We’ve seen how amazing the human body and mind can be when using such substances, so why not encourage this practice more? We’ve seen how these substances have helped in the classroom.According to Jimmy “Too Swole” Jackson, he said he aced his biology midterm when using Ephedrine to increase his mental focus. “Granted, I lost hearing in my right ear for two weeks, but now I know what I’m capable of with the help of Ephedrine. I’ll give up my ability to hear if it means I get my degree,” Jackson said. If we give steroids to Greek Life students, we will see for the first time with our own eyes the Greek gods and goddesses right here on our campus. Imagine being in the presence of Zeus himself, then realizing it’s your buddy Chad from The-

ta Beta Zeta on steroids. Sure his balls might’ve shrunk immensely, but that just makes for a great story to tell after college. The use of steroids by athletes is prohibited because it’s considered “cheating,” but that’s just ridiculous. With the help of steroids, we could create the first track runner who runs a 40-meter dash in 2.7 seconds, we could create a volleyball player with a 90-inch vertical, we could watch the first-ever rugby player act as if he (or she) is invincible when plowing through other players. Our teams could certainly be first-place contenders if steroids were legalized for their use. The irrational fear of aliens taking over our planet will no longer be a pressing issue or an issue at all. With the usage of steroids, we will become a super-human species that can’t be matched by challengers. Our strength and endurance will be so great that we could kick an alien’s buttocks with ease. They won’t even try us.

ACTIVITIES

Halloween

Sudoku

Crossword created by Matthew Tempelmeyer

DOWN

AC RO S S

1. Where are jack-o-lanterns from? 2. Is pumpkin a fruit or vegetable? 5. A group of witches is called ___ 8. In 2017, what was the highest selling superhero costume? 10. In medieval Europe, owls were though to be what? 11. What American city observes the largest Halloween parade in the U.S?

3. Where did bobbing for apples originate? 4. What famous magician died on Halloween? 6. The movie “Halloween” was made in how many days 7. What does “wica” mean? 9. Which country holds the record for the heaviest pumpkin? 12. Witch means what? 13. What was the first name of the person who made the first jack-o-lantern? 14. What holiday is on Oct. 31?

Last edition’s crossword and sudoku answer keys

Sudoku created by Kristin Silva

“I always wear a helmet.”

Veteran cyclists encourage safety ELIJAH LEE REPORTER

hether cycling competitively or recreationally, safety comes first. Multiple reasons can be given for not wearing a helmet, but all of them go out of the window when a cyclist takes a tumble. Representatives of the cycling department share the importance of protection and taking proper precautions while riding, along with a

PHOTO BY SHAROME BURTON|THE WICHITAN

Ben van Winkle, exercise physiology graduate cruises during men’s ‘B’ criterium.

couple of stories that illustrate the dangers of biking. Frank B. Wyatt, professor and sponsor of the cycling team, said, “You fall in an instant. It’s so quick you don’t have time to react. Hitting your head on cement without protection can kill you.” According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, 835 people died from cycling accidents in 2016. Out of the 835, 137 wore helmets while 424 did not. Yes, people wearing helmets are still susceptible to experiencing serious injury and sometimes death. The helmet simply increases the likelihood of survival in the event of a fall. Wyatt says it can be scary, as a cyclist, to trust drivers on the road, especially during certain hours. He says that a driver ran into a friend of his while he sat stationary on his bike at a red light, and broke his spine. The cycling team experienced a scare of their own five years ago when two men cyclist got hit by a Cadillac on Maplewood. Charlie Zamastil, director of the cycling team, said, “They had been participating in a team ride, which had ended, and the three of them decided to continue riding on their own to a bike shop. They were headed south on Maplewood when one of them got a flat tire moments before the incident occurred. So, he got off the road and was just going to walk his bike the rest of the way, because he was only a couple of hundred meters away. While he was walking on the sidewalk the other two were riding two abreast when a man in his 80s, who was not supposed to be driving, rear-ended them with his boat of a Cadillac.” The third cyclist dodged a bullet… or a car in this case. “The person with the flat did not get hit because he had just gotten off of the road, otherwise he would have been hit too.” While accidents sound like a nightmare to cyclists and non-cyclists alike, those who ride understand what they get themselves

into when locking their cleats into the pedals. Although unaware of when an accident may occur, cyclists accept accidents as a normality in the sport. Zamastil said, “These guys were probably riding 15 or 20 hours a week, and 40 to 45 weeks out of the year. So, it is just law of averages at a certain point that there is going to be an incident, in the same way, that if you drive a car long enough you’re bound to have an accident or get a speeding ticket. Some incident is going to happen.” Taking the law of averages into consideration hopefully leads to exercising precautionary actions as a rider. Fidel Goytia, exercise physiology graduate, said, “I always wear a helmet, no matter how ‘easy’ or short the ride is. Always signal turns with your hands. I carry a front and rear light if there is a chance it will get dark while riding. I also wear bright or reflective clothing.” Goytia mentioned wearing a helmet regardless of any circumstance, and experienced bikers second this. Zamastil, for example, said he does not allow his cyclists to even ride across campus without a helmet. He said, “They are students first, and key to that is protecting their PHOTO BY IZZIEL LATOUR | THE WICHITAN heads. It is the most valuable resource Bill Ash competes at the Wichita Falls Hotter N Hell that we have.” Wyatt proudly advocates cycling criterium race, Aug. 26-28, 2016. handling. But, there are people that it comes to safety. After all, currently recovering from a brutal accident of his own sent yet an- more naturally, and there are those who have other reminder to him of the importance of ad- way more experience than others.” He went on to name four of his guys that disequate protection and precautions. Part of the precautions that cycling coaches take include play great balance while riding. “Sam, Ricky, Zach, and Pablo are really good teaching students how to stay on the bike. Zamastil said, “We try to work on their tech- bike handlers, to the point where if you tried to nical skills. Anyone who spends enough time see CYCLING pg. 11 on the bike will develop cornering ability and

BI K I N G T E R M S

CORNE RI N G - A T E C HN IQ U E CYCLISTS USE TO MA IN TA IN OR GAI N SPEED AND B A LAN CE W HE N T U R N IN G A CO R N E R . H ANDLI N G - AL L OW IN G YO UR BO DY A N D BIK E TO WO R K TOGET HER AS ONE. G OOD H A N D L I N G U S U AL L Y R E S U LTS IN SA FE R ID IN G BY YOURSELF AND WI T H OTHERS .

TWO AB R EAST - A T WO-ABREA S T F OR M AT I ON I S AP P R OXI M AT EL Y T HE WI DT H OF A C AR, AND C ARS SHOULD PAS S T HEM AS I F T HEY WER E PAS S I NG A S L OWER AUTOM OBI LE. CRO SS WH EEL S - THE EV ENT O F C Y C L I S T S WHEEL S B U M P I NG I NTO ONE ANOT HER . TAK IN G A FAL L - C RASHI NG

FRESHMEN BEAT THE ODDS

AND FLOURISH IN ON-CAMPUS APARTMENTS

PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY| THE WICHITAN

Sundance Apartments COLIN STEVENSON REPORTER

he process for housing application is simple: be enrolled at the university, fill out the application and pay the $250 down payment fee. A rumor exists that students have to meet a certain number of credit hours to get accepted into the on-campus apartments, but this is false. There is no policy to keep freshmen out of the apartments. On-campus housing priority is set up in stages, starting with seniors and moving down a grade at each stage. In past years, this has led to the apartments on campus staying exclusive to upperclassmen. These residences are often seen as more desirable due to increased privacy and greater separation from roommates, so upperclassmen fill them quickly, while freshmen usually stay in the dorms. However, this semester, a group of athlete freshmen, as well as other freshmen have been placed in apartments. Lauren Spragins, nursing freshman, Sydney Tucker, nursing freshman, and Christyn Smith, exercise physiology freshman, are all on the track and crosscountry teams and knew each other before the semester started. This summer, Koby Styles, track and cross-country coach, messaged them asking if they wanted to be in the apartments. The three agreed, applied together and ended up in an apartment in Sundance Court. Spragins said, “It’s really nice, and I’m thankful to be able to live in the apartments. It can be a little intimidating at times, though, since everyone else is upperclassmen.” Kristi Schulte, residence life director, said studies have shown freshmen often

do better in dorms among their peers because they build study groups and strong social bonds that last through future years. Richard Keen, residence hall director, said, “We make sure that we target our efforts to [the freshmen] specifically to make sure they get involved on campus.” Sports and leisure studies senior Mitchell Kenyon and marketing senior Devon Sanford both said their experiences with dorms and the social experience was vital to their later social life. “It is critical in the first six to eight weeks for freshmen to build a peer group [it is critical that] they have seen these people, talked with these people and had dinner with them,” Schulte said. Against the odds, though, it seems the freshmen have been managing a healthy social life. Keen said, “Whenever I stop by [their apartment], they’re making dinner together. It’s their own community in the apartment.” They are also benefitting academically. Spragins said, “[The apartment] has definitely helped me academically since it gives me my own personal space to study, rather than having to share a room with someone else.” The apartment has been helping the freshmen with their athletics, as well. Styles talked about how teammates living together can help hold athletes accountable and prevent tardiness to practice or games. Styles said, “It’s nice to have someone on the same practice schedule in case someone oversleeps.”

GREY MATTERS the colors of mental illness JERI MOORE REPORTER

heron’s neck. “One of them is going to live and one of he National Alliance on Mental Illthem is going to die,” Pitzer said. “There’s no ness had its third annual Grey Matway they can both survive. So it was resilience ters art exhibit demonstrating the battling change.” struggles of the lives touched by mental The beginning work, ‘Stunned,’ reprehealth issues on canvas. Two hours were sents the feeling of being stuck. This feeling not enough for the catering, live music and is emphasized by a branch passing through touching conversations on Oct. 11. the heron’s wing. ‘Windborne,’ created a year Among the artists showing their work after the first, represents the end of that feelat this exhibit, many were our own alumni ing. The painting took between 140 and 160 and students. Their stories streaked across hours to complete. canvas and glass while they talked to visiPitzer is currently working on her portfotors about their past, present and future. lio and wants to include a therapeutic aspect Jason C. Slagle, MSU alumnus, coopin her lesson plan when she teaches in the erated with NAMI for the first time this future. year entering three of his recent works. Logan Canafax, MSU alumnus, said naLive in Color is a multi-textured painting ture is a passion of hers that finds its way into that consisted of multiple broken squares her work. using ink, acrylic and oil-based paints on Her works are created with repurposed the piece. Most of the details don’t catch materials she often finds in thrift shops and your eye right away until Slagle shines his dumpsters. Her process, alcohol ink, allows flashlight across the canvas changing the PHOTO BY JERI MOORE | THE WICHITAN her to use a variety of materials from paper appearance of his work. Bailey Pitzer stands center before her creation Windborne. to glass. “People are always putting others into “People don’t realize what they take for Thompson explained that Jane is her way of expressing boxes that we can’t get out of,” Slagle said. “That’s not regranted every day, just as I don’t, and we get so caught up herself on canvas. Her positivity causes her to lean toward ally true. We can always break out of the boxes others have in everything that we have to do every day that when we bright colors in her paintings. put us in.” move it’s like we just throw everything out and start new,” Kerrigan Reyes, art sophomore, found herself questionSlagle currently works in information technology for Canafax said. “We shouldn’t do that. We should recycle. ing mortality at a very young age and struggling with difAmerican National Bank and You should make the earth ferent aspects of her life as she grew up. She said art has Trust while working in his, happier by not making so been a way to gauge her journey. relatively new to the area, “You start a piece and you get to watch yourself grow as much garbage.” studio in downtown BurkShe learned the techburnett. Studio on Main has you do it,” Reyes said. “Your moods change and you get to U.S. adults live with a mental see that twist where you were once angry and doing darker nique on her own after colexisted in its location since Year-olds have the highest illness. marks and then you get to do lighter marks because you’re lege. Her pieces on display prevalence of any mental illness. August. are bright bursts of color Brea’n Thompson, alum- more patient, you’re more kind, you may have more time.” Reyes’s work, ‘The one who knows no fear,’ is of a sea across a glass background. nus of the University of Ne“I started doing the alcohol inks because it was helping vada Las Vegas, transferred to Wichita Falls with her hus- devil angler fish. Its lamp illuminates its outline on the me deal with things that the cyanotypes didn’t do,” Canaband two years ago. After her arrival, art became her focus, inky canvas. “I really like angler fish because they live in darkness fax said. “I still love my cyanotypes, I still do them and I will leading to more success than work she has done with her do them again.” and yet there’s still light around them,” Reyes said. degree. Canafax often approaches her fellow students and She said people have to look for those little bright mo“Love the area,” Thompson said, “It’s probably the best alumni about their participation with NAMI and frequentments around them. That is what the sparks across the place I’ve lived.” Thompson’s work, ‘Jane painting mean to her. Reyes said she is thankful for her ly arrives early to assist with the set up of the event. She in the Shadows,’ is a series biggest supporters, her parents. She is thankful for their moved to Dallas-Fort Worth of figures with bright color- open-mindedness towards her condition and how they six months ago, but still intends to participate in next ing and mask styled faces. were diligent in getting help while informing themselves. year’s Grey Matters exhibiBailey Pitzer, art education senior, said her paintings Her work has jazz influence Of U.S. adults were estimated Of adolescents are estimated to tion as well. represent the beginning and end of her journey using herand makes heavy use of her to have a mental illness in have a mental illness. Each of the artists is ons. synesthesia, a condition that 2017. “They signify a lot of strength and resilience through open about their struggles allows her to hear color and change which in my sculptural pieces. I feature snakes in and journeys to a degree see sound. they are comfortable with. They started using art as a point “The creepy story is Jane is a ghost in my house,” them a lot which have a lot of symbolism,” Pitzer said. The significance is found in the situation that the snake of self-reflection and mental health management, and they Thompson said. “The more realistic story is that Jane is a manifestation of my health. Over the years, my work has and heron will get locked into a battle where the heron tries said they have increased the purpose of their works into started to form a personality.” to eat the snake while the snake wraps its body around the public awareness.

1/5

18-25

18.9%

49.5%

SOURCE FOR DATA:

nimh.nih.gov

H A L L OW E E N

DRAGGED TO HELL AND BACK the inspiration

DARIANA GARZA REPORTER

PHOTO BY JORDAN BREEDLOVE | THE WICHITAN

Agatha Haddock embraces the crowd as she begins to make an entrance into her set Oct. 25.

rag shows; a place where a person can be the exact opposite of who they are in real life with no limitations. People respecting identity and diversity for everyone hosted their first-ever Halloween themed drag show Oct. 25 at 9:30 p.m. Agatha Haddock, English senior, better known as Ellie Coaleye said, “I don’t consider myself a very sexual or a very attractive person. My character sees herself as both of these things, so for me, it’s listening to music that makes me feel good about my body.” Some performers take a more relaxed approach. Herb McCullough, a political science graduate, or Tulsi said, “I don’t know about most people, but I really do not have a process or a mindset in performing, other than shaving and calling myself by my stage name ‘Tulsi.’ I tend to just be myself and wearing a dress and adopting a more feminine name does not change that one bit.” The process of getting ready can be very extensive, considering the look that the performers are shooting for, and at times they have inspirations that led them to

their final look. In Coaleye’s case, she went for an anime-girl inspired look using a pink wig and Japanese streetwear. For her second look, she had a heavy metal number and wanted to contrast that with a very regal look. For Fabien Wallace, biology pre-veterinarian senior, they had a look inspired by their Dungeon and Dragons character, sporting goat legs, horns and fangs with black eyes and a white iris. Alex Collins, coordinator of student organizations and leadership programs, had a unique look that was initially supposed to be inspired by Dolly Parton, but it turned out to be more along the lines of a 1950s stay-at-home mom. For Tulsi’s performance he recieved a dress from his grandmother. He was going for the southern bell girl look so it was a blessing in disguise for Herb. Coaleye said getting ready usually varies from person-to-person. “For me to get ready, it really just depends because there are sometimes where I can get in doing a really simple look getting out in 15 minutes and go, but this look today took me about 3o minutes because I tried things,” Coaleye said. Wallace said their drag took some time but their eyebrows took the longest amount of time. “Last year I did the glitter beard, this time I did actual hair, and that took a bit. But other than the makeup and stuff, the makeup didn’t take too long it was mostly the beard. The eyebrows also took a long time to do because you have to glue them down [and] foundation the shit out of them,” Wallace said. Collins look was something that we were all familiar with, but actually took quite a bit of time. “The outfit was super simple so I just bought pieces and threw them on, the makeup took an hour and a half which is a lot for just my face,” Collins said. For Tulsi’s first time performing in a drag show he said it took him no more than 30 minutes. “I’ve never worn makeup in drag. However, I am planning to wear it next time so it might be taking me a tiny bit longer to prepare. My grandmother really wants to do my makeup next time,” Tulsi said. Finding out about P.R.I.D.E is a different process for everyone. For Wallace, they were a member of P.R.I.D.E since it first started when Christopher Cruz, MSU alumnus, started the organization in 2015. In Coaleye’s case, the drag shows were how she found out about P.R.I.D.E. She performed at her first drag show two years ago and she loved every second of it. She said it made her want to be

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Allyanna Cruz sings her heart out at the Dragged to Hell drag show Oct 25. a part of P.R.I.D.E. Tulsi said he found out about P.R.I.D.E. during their protest after the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election. Tulsi said, “I was also assisting in revamping the MSU Texas version of Amnesty International and many P.R.I.D.E. members have joined Amnesty. P.R.I.D.E. is filled with very compassionate people who I have befriended. I found out about P.R.I.D.E.’s drag show in the first meeting I attended in Spring of 2017. I just decided to participate out of the blue and have been doing it ever since.” Collins has a different story when it comes to why he performed in the “Dragged to Hell show.” “In my role as coordinator of student organizations and leadership programs, we do our best to support our student organizations here on campus. Especially as a queer-identifying person, showing students that there is a support structure within faculty and staff is very important,” Collins said.

H A L L OW E E N

INKTOBER

INCORPORATES VARIOUS ART STYLES DALLAS WABBINGTON REPORTER

stablished in 2009, Inktober is an international art challenge that lasts all of October. Each day has a different prompt that artists draw in their art style. Artists participating in Inktober share their art on social media with “#Inktober.” It’s not a contest rather an opportunity for artists to improve their art and to serve as inspiration for others. Siany Kloss, fine arts junior, is an experienced participant of Inktober. She discovered the Inktober trend in high school when her art teachers encouraged the students to participate. “I’ve never [drawn the prompt] every single day, but I’ve [drawn] a couple of drawings a year for the past 5 years or so,” Kloss said. “Art is the only thing that has ever truly felt right for me so I’ll do what it takes to be able to keep doing it.” Isaiah Edwards, art senior, is also an experienced participant. He discovered Inktober in 2017, but didn’t participate until 2018. Edwards said, “I started last October, however, school-work usually overshadows my own personal drawing so I usually don’t get too far into the month before I have to switch my focus back to school.” Craig Gregg, psychology sophomore, is also an Inktober participant for the first time. “I have seen [Inktober] on Tumblr and Instagram [for a long time],” Gregg said. “When I started getting involved with social media around 2013, I saw all of the Inktober [art] and said ‘What is this?’ This is the first Inktober I am doing personally.” Traditionally, artists use ink and paper for Inktober, but artists can use whatever art tool they want for their pieces like acrylic, watercolors or highlighters. Eliza Cameron, English senior, is a first-time Inktober participant. She used pencil and highlighter markers to create her art. “I would describe my style as semi-realistic, a cutesy creepy car-

toon,” Cameron said. “I love to draw characters that are subtly unsettling” Cameron is also participating in an art trend inspired by Inktober called “Goretober” where each day there is a prompt different from Inktober that revolved around gore. “I love to look at makeup artists and horror films to get inspiration,” Cameron said. Art for Inktober varies on the artists’ personal preferences. Some create detailed artwork and others make simple doodles. Gregg describes their art as not very detail-oriented, but more like doodles. “[My art] is kind of cartoon-like [and] very doodle-like. I just doodle [and] never really draw,” Gregg said. Culture serves as inspiration for many Inktober artists. For Edwards, he likes to incorporate pop-culture into his art. “I get inspired by my emotions and surroundings. I draw from graffiti, cartoons, comics, video games and pop culture,” Edwards said. “I usually brainstorm a few ideas, whether they’re jokes (verbal or visual puns), funny scenes or a mix of different concepts. I like to make original ideas as much as I possibly can.” Some artwork can be controversial and contain mature content to make a point. Kloss said, “I prefer to do realistic art but I feel like Inktober allows for an easy surreal look. Nature has always been very important to me, but with the growing emphasis of climate disaster, it’s more important than ever before.” Edwards said his style is cartoonish with some street influences. “I like to add humor and text to most of my drawings,” Edwards said. “Sometimes they have a bit more of an adult context, but I like to make art that everyone can enjoy at some level.”

Artists left from top to bottom: Siany Kloss | Eliza Cameron | Craig Gregg Artists right from top to bottom: Dallas Wabbington | Eliza Cameron | Craig Gregg

A DAY I N T H E L I FE

from CYCLING pg. 6

‘I have the best support system anyone could ask for’

PHOTOS COURTESY ROOSEVELT PRESLEY

Raven Presley KHIRSTIA SHEFFIELD REPORTER

t’s the second set against Southern Nazarene and as the gym fills with excitement and overwhelming sounds, Raven Presley, marketing junior, extends high above the net to land a powerful hit to the opposing side of the net. As the ball slams to the ground, Presley abruptly lands on the court forcing her left knee to pop and buckle out of place. As her teammates crowd around her and the gym fills with silence, Presley comes face to face with an athlete’s worst nightmare. “Tearing my ACL has definitely humbled me and it has given me a greater appreciation for my health,” said Presley. “It’s also teaching me to trust the process and to most importantly, trust God. He makes no mistakes and I know that there is more in store for me beyond this injury.” After more than eight years of playing volleyball, Presley has experienced her first injury as an athlete. She describes feeling overwhelmed with many emotions at the moment of her injury, but the most overpowering emotion for her was shock. “Initially, when I fell down to the ground, I was in complete shock because I never would have thought it would be me facing such a brutal and grueling injury, but afterward, every-

one understood and stepped up to their respective roles and did a great job adjusting,” Presley said. In spite of her injury putting her out for the remainder of the 2019 season, Presley is thankful for her support system and she knows that her team will fight until the end for the victory. “I have the best support system anyone could ask for,” said Presley. “With my parents continuously giving me daily encouragement, my teammates supporting me and even strangers, it’s hard to feel alone. I know that even with my injury, my role on my team was bigger than just being a hitter. Although I’m not going to physically be on the court anymore, I can still be vocal for my teammates.” Though balancing the demands of being both an athlete and a student requires a lot of dedication, discipline and time management, Presley wouldn’t trade playing volleyball for anything else in the world. Presley said that when she’s on the court nothing else matters to her, and it allows her to escape from the outside world and its obstacles. “Volleyball means more to me than I actually thought,” said Presley. “After my injury and since things have slowed down, I have realized that volleyball has been my life and it’s all I’ve ever known since the seventh grade. I’ve made some of my best friends, made some of the best

memories and have had the opportunity to be molded by some great coaches and mentors. Volleyball has really shaped me into the person I am today.” Presley plans on overcoming her injury and she said she will focus on building her strength back to finish her last season as a mustang. “After surgery, it’s straight to rehab so that I can work toward getting my knee stronger and regaining any lost muscle,” said Presley. “I will be in grind mode all off-season and summer to get back in shape for my senior season. This is not the end of my story, and I am aiming to end my last season with a bang.” Presley said she believes that being an athlete requires the ability to adapt to unknown circumstances. With the thrill of the game, its fast pace and the high adrenaline of all participants, things could go wrong quickly. She urges all athletes to focus on how they respond to injuries whether big or small. “Injuries are just another one of life’s challenges that get thrown our way,” said Presley. “We can’t control them or even prepare for them, but we can control how we respond to it.” As Presley comes to close this chapter in her life, she desires to leave a legacy behind for her teammates and those that follow behind her so they can be inspired by relentlessness, perseverance and determination.

knock them off of their bike you’d probably end up falling.” However, some accidents simply cannot be avoided, even if the cyclist maintains good balance and takes all of the proper precautions. Wyatt said, “Generally speaking if a cyclist gets hit its not their fault. We wear bright clothing for a reason.” He believes many of the problems on the road stem from texting while driving. “The biggest danger that we face now is inattention to driving caused by cell phone use. There is nothing we can do about that. You try to ride on roads that have shoulders, but even then, cars drift over when they are sitting there looking at their phones. I had a friend that got hit by a car because the driver was looking at their cell phone.” Defensive biking certainly appears to be a requirement in this sport, as a lack thereof proves to be deadly. When riding, Wyatt said he does his best to treat himself as a vehicle. “The Texas Department of Transportation will tell you that bikes are supposed to follow the rules of the road. You are a moving vehicle. You ride with traffic, not against it. You’re supposed to stop at stop signs and red lights and give hand signals. Usually, when we are out riding we adhere to that because of fear of cars.” When riding, Wyatt said he considers multiple factors and utilizes his wisdom to the fullest extent. Wyatt said, “I was always very careful during my Sunday morning rides because I knew a lot of people were still hungover or maybe finally going home from the night before.” He further described his thought process in choosing a path that both excites him and keeps him out of harm’s way. “The trail is safer than the road. You cannot go as fast and you cannot go as far. But, if you get on the road you have to deal with traffic. So, you try to find roads that are not as heavily trafficked.” Specifically about Wichita Falls citizens, Wyatt gives examples of places to avoid in the town, as well as strategies to use when riding in groups. “It is dangerous to ride on Southwest Parkway, and not so dangerous to ride on some of our country roads. You try to ride in single file when you are on a busy street, but when you are not on a busy street you can space out. So, there are a lot of safety rules that you try to follow, and even then, you can hit a gravel patch or cross wheels with another cyclist and end up crashing.” Accidents are not limited to mistakes that drivers and bikers make but include uncontrollable elements as well. Zamastil shared another story about one of their lady cyclists in Grand Junction, Colorado.