Volume 126 | Issue 10 by The Houstonian

Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014

The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University

What’s happening at Sam ONECARD, P.2

FLU SHOTS, P.3

VOTING, P.4

SOCCER, P.5

VOLLEYBALL, P.6

Faculty members are voicing their opposition to the new Bearkat OneCard

The Student Health Center will be injecting students for free today

The Octogenarian tells how he feels voter registration laws reflect Jim Crow laws

Ashley Alonzo scored two goals in the Bearkats’ win over McNeese State

The Bearkats dropped a series, improving Lamar’s record to 1-12

Volume 126 | Issue 10

THE HEADL I N E S i n br i e f Compiled by Manny Jawa, web editor

/HoustonianSHSU

@HoustonianSHSU

Democratic candidates rally Huntsville voters

HONG KONG “OCCUPY CENTRAL” RIOTS

A week of boycotts by students against mainland China’s decision to vet all candidates in Hong Kong’s 2017 chief executive election expanded to class boycotts over the weekend. Leaders of the “Occupy Central” movement joined students in blocking a number of roads around government buildings causing riot police to be called in. Confrontations with protesters led to the police’s use of pepper spray and tear gas which reportedly injured at least 38 people. The government of Hong Kong announced yesterday that it would be pulling riot police from the areas and urged protesters to go home.

NCTC BUS CRASH

Four North Central Texas College softball team members were killed and several others injured Sept. 26 when a tractor-trailer plowed into their bus after crossing a highway median around 9 p.m. near Davis, Oklahoma. The driver of the 18-wheeler admitted that he had been distracted with something in his cabin before the fatal accident and according to investigators, there was no sign he braked or took evasive action as his truck went through the median. There are no charges pending against the driver as the NTSB and Oklahoma State Police continue to investigate.

Brynn Castro | The Houstonian

RALLY. Senator and lieutenant governor candidate Leticia Van de Putte excited voters at a rally for the Democrat party Sunday at Huntsville High School.

STACY HOOD Contributing Reporter Cheering filled the large crowd as local and state Democratic Party candidates called for Texas to turn blue during Sunday’s democratic rally at Huntsville High School. The rally was coordinated by the Walker County Democrats in conjunction with Battleground Texas, Bearkat Democrats and the NAACP to gain support for their party in the upcoming elections. The candidates spoke on key issues in this election including education and resource allocation while stressing the importance of voting. In a state where water can be scarce, Steve Brown, candidate for

Texas railroad commissioner, highlighted the importance of protecting environmental resources and the value of talking with those consumers. “When you stop talking to the general public, you sacrifice valuable resources like water, we need that water to survive,” Brown said “When you turn off the folks that matter and turn on to the industry, you never fix those problems.” The events keynote speaker State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, candidate for lieutenant governor, echoed Brown’s call for change in how Texas’ water is allocated. “Our state is a great plentiful state with wonderful natural resources and we shouldn’t have any community defined by water [in terms of]

—

RALLY, page 6

Lt. governor candidates debate tuition JAY R. JORDAN Editor-in-Chief Texas lieutenant governor candidates squared off in the only debate of this election cycle for that position yesterday. Texas Senators Dan Patrick (R) and Leticia Van de Putte (D) took a detour from the campaign trail to face each other in Austin. Among the issues affecting Texans as a whole, including abortion rights and infrastructure, the two spoke up about how college tuition should be assessed to students based on students’ citizenship status. The bipartisan Texas Dream Act of 2001 states that non-United States citizens who have lived in Texas for at least three years and are seeking citizenship can take advantage of in-state tuition. Moderator Ross Ramsey, executive editor of the Texas Tribune, asked Patrick whether a would-be student who has lived in Texas for three years and is seeking citizenship should be able to pay in-state tuition or be deported. While Patrick did not answer the question directly, he said he felt the issue comes down to a matter of fairness. “I surely empathize with the situation that students are brought here by others and who have done a great job of graduating from high school, that they would want instate tuition,” Patrick said. “I think sometimes the public gets confused. We’re not saying they can’t go to college or they can’t go to community college or a four-year college. But it’s a question of fair—

DEBATE, page 6

Night vision: Security escorts ensure safety of campus nightwalkers

YES MEANS YES

Governor Jerry Brown strengthened California’s sexual assault laws on Sept. 28 when he signed SB 967, commonly known as “yes means yes” into law. The bill requires schools that receive state funds to adopt an “affirmative consent” standard as a part of their sexual assault policies.

KIMBERLIN MOORE Contributing Reporter

PERU HIT BY EARTHQUAKE

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake struck the Paruro province in Peru Sept. 27 causing the deaths of at least eight people, including four children. The earthquake came nearly a month after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck another sparsely populated area.

WHAT’S YOUR EIRCODE?

The spring of next year will bring postal codes to the only country in the industrialized world that does not have them. Government owned postal service, An Post, will create one of the most specific types of postal code systems anywhere by assigning each of Ireland’s 2.2 million residences and businesses a unique 7-digit number called Eircode. Many rural residences currently have no house number or street and the current delivery system relies on a postal worker’s knowledge and a bit of guesswork.

who has it and who doesn’t,” Van De Putte said. “We need to focus so that our water plans our solid and sustainable.” Many of the candidates also spoke about education and called for a change in how much funds are allocated toward the department. Sam Houston, candidate for Texas attorney general, pressed the importance of stopping the ‘unneeded’ funding for lawsuits against the government and instead putting that money back into the classrooms. “Most people agree on one thing in our state, Republican and Democrat, we don’t fund our schools enough,” Houston said. “We need in invest in our future. We need to

HoustonianOnline.com

Courtesy City of Huntsville

WORK. Inmates of the Walker County Jail replace seasonal signage in downtown Huntsville to reflect the upcoming fall season.

As October approaches, for many at Sam Houston State University, so do midterms that lead to many long, late nights on campus. For these students, after a few hours at the library, the walk back to their car or dorm can be pretty unsettling at times. One of the many services that the SHSU University Police Department offers are security escorts for those times when students, faculty or visitors are alone on campus. At any time of the day or night, a student, faculty, staff or visitor to the campus can notify UPD and have a uniformed officer or student assistant with UPD walk with you to your destination. Thomas Marmonti, a senior criminal justice major, is a student assistant that works with UPD and serves as a security escort on campus. Should you need an escort to an on-campus destination, Marmonti or another student assistant or officer will meet you in a minutes

notice. Marmonti works foot patrol on campus at night and said they typically have between three to five calls for escorts a night, with the majority of those being for female students. “The most common place that we escort to and from is the library and between dormitories,” Marmonti said. Although students are more likely to be pulling a late night on campus, occasionally a faculty or staff escort is given. According to Marmonti, UPD reaches out to the SHSU community to inform the public about the escort program and the general purpose of what foot patrol does. “Our main priority is to provide a safe environment for both students and faculty,” Marmonti said. “We try to encompass this through both the escort program and patrolling through campus.” To request an escort, contact the University Police Department at 936-294-1794.

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Tuesday Sept. 30, 2014

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Faculty dissatisfied with new cards HANNAH ZEDAKER Associate Editor Faculty at Sam Houston State University discussed their grievances regarding the new Bearkat OneCard on the second floor of Austin Hall Sept. 25. The biggest issue the senate and other faculty members have with the new Bearkat OneCard is its appearance, which does not differentiate faculty cards from those of the students. Associate professor of graphic design and third-year senator Anthony Watkins serves as the chair for the university affairs committee—the committee under which the Bearkat OneCard issue falls. “Many faculty have experienced difficulty and confusion with activation of the new cards,” Watkins said. “Incorrect or expired passwords have been a problem, and working with HigherOne has not always proven satisfactory.” According to Watkins, another issue the faculty has regarding the appearance of the new cards is that it coincides more fluidly with that of a debit card, rather than just a

form of identification. Although the card can serve both purposes, many faculty members do not want to use it as a debit card and do not appreciate that it appears as one. “An additional concern is the appearance of the card – specifically the fact that it looks more like a credit/debit card than an I.D.,” Watkins said. “While we understand that there is no requirement to actually use the I.D. in this way, several senators would like to see a separate faculty I.D., or a OneCard without the debit or MasterCard marks. This matter stems from a concern that our I.D. won’t be recognized as official university identification by other institutions or organizations, especially for research purposes.” To assuage the faculty’s concerns, Watkins and the rest of the university affairs committee have been in contact with Assistant Vice President for Student Services, Kristy Vienne, Ph.D. “Dr. Vienne has been very helpful and open to further communication with the senate on this matter,” Watkins said. “Dr. Vienne has offered and has been invited to attend the senate’s Oct. 23 meeting in

order to address our concerns and field questions from the senate.” Watkins said that although there are several issues with the new cards and HigherOne as a whole, the faculty’s main concern is changing its appearance. “To the best of my knowledge at this point, the primary changes to the physical card are its visual appearance,” he said. “The senate is also looking at the I.D. systems [at] other institutions, including those that also work with HigherOne.” Although it is unknown exactly what portion of the faculty population is unsatisfied with the new Bearkat OneCards, according to Watkins many of the issues brought to senate arrive on the agenda via word-of-mouth. “While there hasn’t been any official polling on the matter, senators are active faculty and we engage in conversation with our colleagues on a range of topics,” Watkins said. “These conversations do play a role in the senate’s decision making process, including questions regarding what issues need to be addressed.” For Watkins, serving as a senator means not only improving conditions for himself as a faculty

member, but also for the lives of his coworkers and colleagues. “As educators, there are liberties and responsibilities that are important to maintaining a successful academic environment,” he said. “One of the senate’s responsibilities is to represent the interests of the faculty and to communicate these interests to the administration with clarity.” Attending to this issue, according to Watkins, will not only check one more item off of the agenda of concerns, but it could also prevent future problems from coming up. “While the senate appreciates the benefits of the card to the university, it’s important to acknowledge that a one size fits all solution is not always an efficient solution for everyone,” Watkins said. “Many faculty have experienced difficulty with this process, and this as well as other concerns that arise on occasion take time away from our other responsibilities. For faculty these aren’t always seen as isolated cases, but tend to accumulate into a collection of distractions and difficulties.”

HU NTSV ILLE POLIC E BLOTTER SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER SHIFT REPORT

Sept. 26 A known juvenile caused injury to a teacher at Huntsville Intermediate School around 8:15 a.m.

HPD SEPT. 26 DAY SHIFT

An accident involving two vehicles was reported at 2500 Sam Houston Avenue and resulted in a possible injury. A missing persons call was made at 1220 11th Street around 4 p.m.

HPD SEPT. 27 NIGHT SHIFT

A possibly known subject exposed himself to a child at 1420 14th Street. A firearm was discharged into a wall at 2333 Lake Road. No injuries were reported. A victim was transported to Herman Memorial Hospital after an accident involving two vehicles at U.S. Route 190 and State Highway 19.

Website helps students get ready for elections CONNER HYDE Senior Reporter With voter registrations for midterm elections closing Oct. 6, a new resource is available to Sam Houston State University students who are scrambling to register. TurboVote.com is an online, nonpartisan website geared to help unregistered voters register for upcoming elections. Through the Global Center of Journalism and Democracy and Academic Community Engagement, students are able to access resources to register

from the comfort of their computer. “It’s like having a personal assistant helping you to make voting easier,” GCJD Director Kelli Arena said. “Voting is really powerful, and we’ve gone into some emerging democracies where people are finally able to participate and vote in clean elections the very first time. They are so excited to exercise that right. I want to see that same thing here in the United States and at Sam Houston State University.” TurboVote.com was created in 2010 and caters to colleges and universities as well as other organizations throughout the U.S.

To sign up with TurboVote. com, students can visit www.shsu. turbovote.org and gain access to registration documents with a preaddressed envelope and reminders when election dates approach. Moreover, participants still register with their local county clerk’s office and not through the TurboVote website. TurboVote.com provides the appropriate documents to ease the process. “We’re here to help you vote, nothing more,” TurboVote.com states on its website. Would-be voters must enter their first and last name, street address and citizenship status and

select the appropriate documents needed to register to vote, cast an absentee vote and/or election reminders. Arena said the partnership with ACE is helping students “pay attention to what’s going on.” “Voting is an important issue,” she said. “There is no better way to enact change than voting…this is the step in the right direction.” However, some students are apprehensive with putting their personal information out on the web, Tamara Waggener, department of political science associate department chair, said. Waggener said there is a willingness to vote

amongst students and TurboVote. com is “a good alternative if you’re willing to provide the information.” “When I announced TurboVote. com to my class, only a handful expressed an interest in registering,” Waggener said. “I think there is a discomfort they have to provide personal information.” The deadline to register is Oct. 6 with local, state and midterm elections Nov. 4. For a list of state and local candidates, visit the Texas Secretary of State’s website. “Just because you’re a student doesn’t mean you can’t make a difference,” Arena said. “Voting is one way to make a difference.”

Victims’ Institute study shows stalker stats HANNAH ZEDAKER Associate Editor The term “stalking” usually stimulates a vision of a young woman being followed by a stranger while walking alone at night. However, according to Nicole Wilkes, research associate with the Crime Victims’ Institute of Sam Houston State University, the term also encompasses seemingly-trivial behaviors, many unknowing victims tend to overlook. In the CVI’s Stalking Series publication, “Stalking in Texas -2014” and “Stalking on College Campuses: Perceptions & Approaches of Campus Law Enforcement Officers” are recently published reports compiled by Wilkes and her colleague Leana Bouffard, Ph. D. These reports take a deeper look and give insight to what exactly constitutes as “stalking” and how

it can be prevented and/or stopped through the enforcement of regulations. “Stalking is generally defined as a course of conduct that causes a reasonable person to feel fear,” Wilkes said. “There are a variety of tactics stalkers use. Commonly used approaches include repeated phone calls, texts, emails and messages, following the victim and showing up where they are, monitoring phone calls or computer use, driving by their home or work, sending unwanted gifts, letters or other items. Some stalking behaviors in themselves can seem innocent, but when put into context with other behaviors or the relationship, they illustrate a pattern of stalking.” Although the issue of stalking did not gain momentum among the courts until the 1990s according to Wilkes, every state in the nation has since then passed laws regulating the behavior. For Texas, these laws include Title IX, Cam-

pus SaVE and the Clery Act. According to the Texas penal code section 42.072, stalking occurs “when a person, on more than one occasion, knowingly engages in conduct the other person regards as threatening or causing fear of bodily injury, death or property damage.” These behaviors can be directed toward either the victim, the victim’s family or a person with whom the victim has a dating relationship, and are typically classified as a third degree felony on the first offense of that nature. Nationally, it is estimated that 16.2 percent of the female population experience stalking victimization in their lifetime while only 5.2 percent of men, share those experiences. According to the reports, research shows that 18-20 percent of female college students experience stalking victimization while enrolled at their institution. “Research has indicated that 18-24-year-olds experience the

highest rates of stalking victimization, and that stalking is more common amongst female college students than the general population,” Wilkes said. “However, no one has yet identified the reasons for greater prevalence on college campuses or within the age group of traditional college students. In addition to more females being victimized through stalking, female victimization is also higher in intimate partner violence and sexual assault.” According to Wilkes, some of the local resources students can access to address issues they may be having in regard to stalking include, but are not limited to, SAAFE House, SHSU University Police Department as well as Huntsville Police Department. “If someone does not want to report to law enforcement, they can still get assistance locally through SAAFE House that is free and confidential,” Wilkes said.

Despite the classic “damsel in distress” scene which tends to unfold upon hearing the activity of a stalker, Wilkes said that the majority of stalking cases do not follow that pretense. “People oftentimes presume that the stalker is generally a stranger to the victim,” she said. “However, the majority of females are stalked by an intimate partner and males are most frequently stalked by an acquaintance. It is important to note that stalking can occur as a form of intimate partner violence or following a sexual assault. I would also encourage students that the stalking situation isn’t their fault and they should not blame themselves, even if the stalker is a friend or current or former intimate partner.” For more information, students can reach SAAFE House by calling 936-291-3529, UPD by calling 936-294-1794 or HPD by calling 936-291-5480.

Autumn leaves cover the slopes of Mount Ontake as white plumes of gases and ash are spewed out from the summit crater, central Japan, Monday afternoon, Sept. 29, 2014. Japanese soldiers managed to bring down eight more bodies by helicopter from the ash-blanketed peak of a still-erupting volcano on Monday, before toxic gases and ash forced them to suspend the recovery effort in the early afternoon.

Associated Press

October 18

Sam Houston State University

LupusTexas.org

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/campusculture | Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014

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Improv Dance Festival Coming to SHSU SAVANNAH WOODWORTH Staff Reporter Scenes of a group of gifted musicians and dancers enjoying sudden improvised expression are an increasingly popular sight in films and television. While these scenes thrill viewers, they tend to leave the audience wondering if, in reality, there are artists who can make beautiful music and dance professionally on the spot. That talent does exist, and it will be seen on the Sam Houston State University campus this weekend. The Texas Improvisational Dance Festival is a chance to celebrate dance and music and bring the community of improvisation-

al artists together at SHSU and throughout the Huntsville community from Oct. 2 to Oct. 4. Artists from across the country will attend the three-day event. 20 instructors and performers from Texas, Florida, New York and Washington will join the festival. “I believe strongly in the importance of dance improvisation and process based art,” Erin Reck, festival coordinator and assistant professor of dance, said. “I became an associate professor here at SHSU last year, and one of my interests was to bring TDIF here at some point. I have been attending the festival for several years, and know the exceptional community that it creates. I was thrilled that it was able to happen this year,”

The festival kicks off with a jam session Thursday night. Ten classes per day are scheduled for the rest of the festival, with performances in the evenings. The festival will feature performances by Lisa Nelson and the festival faculty Friday and Saturday night. Nelson is a dance-maker and improvisational dancer. She performs all over the world and developed an approach to spontaneous composition and performance called Tuning Scores. The event is open to all dancers 18 years and older with an entry fee of $10 and Reck encourages all who are interested to attend. For more information, contact Erin Reck at 936-294-1311

Courtesy Erin Reck

The sixth annual Texas Improvisational Dance Festival will take place at SHSU Oct. 2-4. The festival will bring teachers and performers from all across the country.

Faculty to perform PHILLIP GARCIA Contributing Reporter The sounds of eighteenth and nineteenth century compositions will fill the Gaertner Performing Arts Center tonight in a faculty recital featuring a guest artist from the Houston Symphony. Violinist Rodica Gonzalez will join Sam Houston State University director of keyboard studies associate professor Ilonka Rus-Edery, D.M.A., in the performance featuring music composed by George Enescu, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Bela Bertok. Rus-Edery said in a statement that Enescu’s second sonata for violin and piano will highlight the performance. She said the sonata is a delightful and engaging sample from Enescu’s masterworks. Rus-Edery, who has studied piano since the age of five, has performed worldwide at venues in Romania, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland and the United States. She has also collaborated with the Fort Worth Ballet and Texas Christian University. Gonzalez has performed exten-

sively as a recitalist and chamber player throughout Romania, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico and the United States. She began her studies of violin at age four. Currently, Gonzalez is a member of the Houston Symphony and an affiliate artist at Houston Baptist University. Both performers not only share their musical talent but also the same place of birth: Romania. The two musicians also attended music schools in Romania as well schools in Texas. The performance is another installment of the Guest Artist Series at the school of music, with this performance being a chamber recital. Chamber music is a form of classical music composed for small ensembles. The performance will be held tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the GPAC Recital Hall. Admission is free. For more information, contact the school of music at 936-2941360.

Lillie Muyskens | The Houstonian

Student Health Center to Provide Flu Shots SEAN SMITH Campus Culture Editor Students can receive seasonal flu vaccinations on Sam Houston State University’s main campus today and tomorrow, courtesy of the Student Health Center. Vaccines will be available for students from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Lowman Student Center Mall and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building plaza. Junior nursing major Brooke Nell says this is a great opportunity to get the shot without having to leave campus. “I had to get it done before they started this free thing, so I had do

go somewhere else to get it,” she said. “It’s nice that you don’t have to go anywhere, you can just get it on campus.” Faculty and staff can receive their flu shots Oct. 7-8 from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center Lobby. Students and staff at SHSU-The Woodlands Center can receive their vaccines Oct. 15 from 1-6 p.m. in room 109. Both students and employees must have their activated Bearkat OneCard present to receive the free vaccination. The Student Health Center recommends those receiving vaccines wear a shirt that offers easy access to the upper arm. Supplies are limited and the shots will be available on a first come first serve basis. University

employees who do not receive their shots on the designated dates will not be accommodated and are advised to obtain the vaccine through other means. Flu vaccines allow antibodies to develop in the body approximately two weeks after the vaccination is administered, and these antibodies are what provide protection against the flu virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nell said that while the vaccine helps prevent the recipient from contracting the flu, it’s not 100 percent effective. “It offers you protection from getting the flu,” she said. “You can still get [the flu], but [the shot] helps. It gives you a better chance

of not getting the flu, because you’ve built up those antibodies.” Nell said that a flu vaccine can actually cause the flu in some cases, and this can motivate people to not obtain the vaccine. “There is a possibility of you actually contracting the flu from the vaccine,” she said. “It’s very rare, but it is possible because you are injecting a live virus to stimulate the antibodies.” In spite of that chance, Nell said the pros outweigh the cons and she recommends that people, especially students, receive the vaccine. Flu season begins in early October and usually lasts until May, with peaks in January or later. The CDC estimates that between 1976 and 2007, flu-associated

deaths have ranged between 3,000 and 49,000 people in the United States alone. While the CDC states that 90 percent of flu-related deaths occur in people 65 years and older, they recommend everyone 6 months and older should get vaccinated every flu season. The CDC says that children younger than 6 moths should not be vaccinated. The SHSU Student Heath Center will not administer flu vaccines to women who are pregnant or nursing. For more information on the Student Health Center’s free vaccination days, contact the Student Health Center health programing coordinator Lisa Clarkson at 936294-4347.

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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/viewpoints | Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014

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The Octogenarian

Jim Crow blocks voting booth

PAWS

The OCTOGENARIAN compares the racially imposed Jim Crow laws of the 1930s to modern voter registration obsticles set in place by the government. He pulls from his life experiences and first hand accounts while growing up in the 1930s to acting as a modern day voting marshall.

KENNETH LEVIN Guest Writer Ever since 1962, I have been registering voters whenever I had the time and inclination to do so. All I would do is go to the county clerk’s office, pick up a stack of voter registration cards, get the permission of a super market manager in an area I chose and set up my card table and a chair. I would stop store customers going and coming and suggest they register and vote. Well, “times they are a-changing.” This year, in order to register new voters, I had to attend a class in an inconvenient location and listen to a lecture while watching slides on how to do something that I have been doing for 52 years. The presentation was well-done and interesting, especially the questions from my fellow trainees. The result: I am now a licensed “Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar.” On my official numbered license, I am forced to acknowledge by my signature that I will register only persons who qualify as voters under conditions about which I am not allowed, under the law, to ask them.

But, getting back to the training meeting, while listening to the questions being thrown out, I sensed a presence in the room. As I looked around, sure enough, in the back of the room sat a person with whom I first made personal contact in the year 1935. Oh sure, he was dressed more modernly and his job was changed but I recognize his cold eyes and evil smile immediately. There sat old Jim Crow, back in my life. Jim and I first met on the playground of Elementary School 234 in Baltimore, Maryland. The school grounds were a play area for us neighborhood kids, and two of my playmates were a brother and sister, he a year younger and she a year older than me. I used to think they were pretty silly because living only two houses from our school yard on Beaufort Avenue, they walked down to Hayward Avenue every morning at 6 a.m. and caught a school bus to take them across town and bringing them home after 4:30 p.m. Oh, I didn’t mention that those two blocks of Beaufort Avenue where they lived were inhabited by colored people who worked in Pamlico. (Why were they colored? Because in the 1930s, we did not yet have black or “African American” folks in our midst, only colored, Negro, or the truly nasty “N” word and those people of color lived separately from “us.”) And guess who drove their school bus to their “separate but equal” elementary school for colored Kids? Why it was Old Jim

Crow. Also, very important in my life at that time was Mr. Eddie and his family. Mr. Eddie Robinson worked for my grandfather on the seventh floor of a building at the corner of Fayette Street and Hanover Street where they manufactured men’s coats. Their finished products were combined with those of a pants manufacturer on the fourth floor and put together by a company on the third floor that then sold them as suits. My mom kept the books for the business so on those days that she worked, she took my brother and I to work with her. On days when he felt like it, my uncle Kasey would take my brother and I down to the pool hall on the second floor of the building and buy us the best, most succulent sliced brisket sandwich on Pariser’s rye bread, and we would sit, eat and watch uncle Kasey play billiards. On other days, when Mr. Eddie took my brother and me for brisket sandwiches at the same pool hall, Jimmy Crow went with us, too, because Mr. Eddie was colored. In turn, we had to stand at the end of the sandwich bar and get our sandwiches to go and eat them on the loading dock. Further, if Mr. Eddie took us anywhere, we got to ride on the back of the trolley car with Jim Crow and all of the colored folks who always seemed to know each other and Mr. Eddie. In fact, the only good thing I ever found about Jimmy Crow is that on those trolley rides, this cute little

white boy invariably found himself sitting in the lap of a stranger, cuddled and held to the warm breast of some warm, matronly, loving, colored lady - pure comfort. But Jimmy Crow’s main job was to see to it that those folks living on Beaufort Avenue and riding in the back of the trolley cars, particularly my Mr. Eddie, did not and could not vote. Along came the 1960s, America woke up, and justice prevailed. We got the Voting Rights Act which actually followed our Constitution instead of just talking about it and Jim Crow was given a celebratory funeral and buried. But we are Americans and our right to vote also gives us a right not to vote and so here we are in the 21st Century and old, dead, Jim Crow has been resurrected here in Texas and in over half of our supposedly United States. Jim Crow is back and his new job is to see to it that voting is difficult, inconvenient and too often impossible so that as few black folks, old folks and students like you and me, do not get to vote. So listen up my fellow Bearkats: if your constitution and your personal rights there-under are not important to you, then disregard this message. But, if you are angry at or just uncomfortable with all this, then there is only one way to send Old Jim Crow back into the pits of hell where he belongs and correct this gross injustice, so I implore you to get off of your dead posteriors and REGISTER AND THEN VOTE.

PAWS UP to Denzel Washington’s new movie “The Equalizer” being the number one movie in America. The fact that he doesn’t make more movies is a mystery, but when he does it’s like a national holiday.

PAWS UP to Halloween candy already on store shelves. Everyone knows the smaller version of larger candy bars taste better.

PAWS UP to free slushes at Sonic, America’s DriveIn. Thank you Texans for winning and gifting us with free 20 oz. slushes all day Tuesday!

Student body president’s October address My fellow Bearkats, We find ourselves a month into this fall semester. September has been filled with making new friends, joining new organizations and falling into the routine of class. While October is filled with labs, papers and midterms, your student government is here to help bring some life and excitement as the weather starts to turn. Homecoming is less than two weeks away, and while we worry about the details of the Homecoming election, you should all enjoy the events with all the homecoming candidates. This month is filled with excitement including the Homecoming Parade, Fire Fest and Student Government

Association’s first annual Great Bearkat Carve Off. Beyond the demands of class and the excitement of October, your SGA is unveiling our next policy initiative. Before we realize it, November will be here and we will all be asked to do our civic duty by voting Nov. 4. Elections, whether they are local, state or federal, have a massive impact on our lives. Even if you hate politics and wish to avoid it at all costs, this is the one time to pay a bit of attention. The selection of qualified and competent leaders can change everything about our lives. SGA wishes to make this easier on you all. Whether you identify as Democrat,

Republican, Libertarian, or pirate, it is important that you help make the decision on the direction we go as a nation. Your Student Government will be providing you with non-partisan information from each candidate that may appear on a ballot in Huntsville. We will also be distributing factual information from the Political Science Department on voting itself. October 6 is the deadline to register and with only a week left there is no time to waste. If you need help registering, look online or visit SGA, Bearkat Democrats, College Republicans, NAACP, LULAC or the Department of Political Science for more information. I do not ask that you

follow politics all year round or to even get heavily involved but only that you understand the choice before us all and to make an informed decision. If you focus on voting for who you think is best, we will take care of the rest. Your SGA is here for you and we look forward to representing your needs to all levels of government. I look forward to seeing you all at the fun events throughout this coming month. Thank you and Eat ‘Em Up Kats! Spencer Copeland Student Body President

Get your flu shot and stop coughing on me DHARMESH PATEL Viewpoints Editor Summer turns to fall as the days get shorter and the nights come sooner. The changing seasons make us more susceptible to illnesses no matter how much precaution we take. Even with proper exercise and nutrition, there is no guarantee that you will not fall victim to the dreaded flu virus, but there is a least a preventative deterrent that can be taken advantage of in an attempt to halt the onset of sickness that will have you out of commission for at least a week. Doctors, pharmacist and other health care professionals advise we all get vaccinated every year with the new version of the flu vaccine

containing that year’s most common influenza strains and helping thwart the contraction of the virus. Unfortunately, many people have come to formulate their own negative opinions on the flu vaccine with a lack of actual knowledge about how it works. Vaccinations have long been proven to work and stop diseases from creating a pandemic. For example, smallpox, a viral disease that causes puss filled bumps all over the body and face, was eradicated in the 1970s through a global initiative with the use of vaccines. Today, most people have long forgotten the disease like a fading blemish in the pages of history books. Similarly, the flu vaccine can not only stop you from becoming ill,

Editorial

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jay R. Jordan ........................... 936-294-1505 STAFF Hannah Zedaker .................... Associate Editor Dharmesh Patel .................. Viewpoints Editor Jeremy Villanueva ...................... Sports Editor Sean Smith ................... Campus Culture Editor Manjot Jawa .................................. Web Editor

STAFF, cont. Brynn Castro ............................... Photo Editor Parbattee Maharaj ....... Asst. Viewpoints Editor Connor Hyde .......................... Senior Reporter Ryan Reynolds ........................ Layout Editor Jasmine Rangel ....................... Layout Editor Lillie Muyskens .................. Graphic Designer Alex Broussard ............. Senior Photographer

but it can protect you from contracting it in the future. The influenza virus constantly mutates and evolves as it spreads from person to person, and many different strains can be present in the population at any given time. The vaccine contains the most common strains as seen in the majority of the population and administered via injection or nasal mist, depending on age. In addition to your doctor’s office, the vaccine is readily available in neighborhood pharmacies such as Walgreens and CVS, as well as big box retailers like Wal-Mart and Target. In fact, Sam Houston State University will be providing free flu shots to all students on a first come first serve basis while supplies last on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to in the Lowman Student

Editor’s Note Subject matter in this newspaper and on www.HoustonianOnline.com does not reflect the opinion of The Houstonian unless otherwise noted. Staff editorials are subject to the approval of listed Houstonian staff members. For more information, call 936-294-1505.

Faculty Advisor Marcus Funk ......................... (936) 294-3553

Center Mall all and in front of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences building on campus. Most of you will brush this off as a nuisance blocking your path and congesting the walkways on campus, but I suggest you take the time to stop and smell the rubbing alcohol and get vaccinated. It may not completely prevent you from falling ill, but it will certainly immunize from the most common sources of the flu. Do not let your own ignorance fool you into thinking the flu vaccine can either completely cure you of or cause the flu, because it cannot do either, but you would be better off with than without.

PAWS

down

PAWS DOWN to Krusty the Clown’s father Rabbi Hyman Krustofski being killed off on Fox’s longrunning cartoon series The Simpsons.

PAWS DOWN to Amanda Bynes getting arrested for DUI. Dear Amanda, keep the crazy off the road and get wasted and throw up in your designated drivers car like the rest of us.

PAWS DOWN to failing the first round of exams. You’re really in trouble and need to start attending class and turn in assignments on time.

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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014

Page 5

Seven-minute comeback JEREMY VILLANUEVA Sports Editor

Chris Winfield | The Houstonian

Junior forward Ashley Alonzo shakes off two McNeese State defenders. After recording a hat trick last Sunday to Incarnate Word. Alonzo scored twice and added an assist in just seven minutes in the comeback against the Cowgirls.

Seven was the magic number for Sam Houston State’s soccer squad against McNeese State on Sunday at Pritchett Field. In just seven minutes into the second half, the Bearkats overcame a 2-0 deficit to hit the back of the net three times before ending the game with a 4-2 victory. “I thought we really started playing like them and that’s not the way we play in the first half,” head coach Tom Brown said. “When we started playing really the way we wanted to, and that’s what we told them at halftime, we started seeing positive results.” Sophomore forward Allie Johnson opened the scoring show for the Kats when junior forward Ashley Alonzo slipped a ball to her streaking run behind the Cowgirls’

SHSU run finds first SLC win CANAAN CADWELL Staff Reporter Sam Houston State’s rushing game was too much for Lamar to handle in Saturday’s 42-10 victory in the opening Southland Conference game for the Bearkats. The sophomore running back from the University of Texas, Jalen Overstreet, finished off with 132 rushing yards on nine attempts against the Cardinals defense that couldn’t seem to stop him. Overstreet’s 50-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter put SHSU up 3210 sealed the game for the Bearkats. “It was an amazing game,” head coach K.C. Keeler said. “After the loss two weeks ago against Colorado State-Pueblo, the kids didn’t re-

spond by pouting. They responded by getting back to work. This was a very physical game.” SHSU rushed the ball 46 times and attempted 35 passes. Running backs Donavan Williams and senior Keshawn Hill contributed to the run game with three trips to the end zone combined. Williams rushed for 36 yards, averaging four yards a carry. Sophomore quarterback Jared Johnson showed his ability to scramble by rushing for 78 yards. Leaning towards the running game in the Bearkats victory opened up the passing game for Johnson. Johnson went 18-34 with 164 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Junior Derreck Edwards and redshirt freshman Yedidiah Louis

were the star receivers in the win. Edwards had four catches for 52 yards, and Louis had five catches for 43 yards. There were zero turnovers from the Bearkats offense which dominated in total yards with 441 totals for the game. The Cardinals could not find any rhythm in their running game as the Bearkats rushing defense held Lamar to only 101 total rushing yards. The Cardinals only averaged 2.8 yards per carry. The Bearkats will enter their second bye week to prepare for a tough opponent in McNeese State on Homecoming Day. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. at Bowers Stadium on Oct. 12.

defense. Johnson slammed the shot past McNeese’s keeper for her third goal of the season. Before the blink of an eye, Alonzo tied things up when she sent what looked like a cross into the box. The ball went untouched and found its way to the net. Alonzo then completed the comeback with a booming shot to the upper-right corner of the net. “Coming into the second half, I was like ‘come on, Ashley. You have to really pick it up. You have to do this for your teammates,’” Alonzo said. “Luckily, we picked it up in the second half and got the win.” McNeese had controlled the opening 45 minutes of the game, however. The Cowgirls saw goals from Sierra Sisco and Savannah Laricci. McNeese would not be able to translate the offensive success into the second half, being held to six shots with five saves from junior goalkeeper Kylie Hambleton.

Alonzo had the chance to score a goal before half when teammate senior Katie Ferrara was fouled inside the penalty area. Alonzo’s attempt went wide right, forcing the Bearkats to have to rally in the second half. Johnson ended the game with her second goal of the match coming off a pass down the middle from junior midfielder Shelby McDaniel. Johnson took a shot that the Cowgirls couldn’t handle and then slotted a second shot past for the 4-2 win. The victory moves SHSU to 2-1 in Southland Conference play. SHSU will finish their home stance Friday against Northwestern State. First kick will be at 6:30 p.m. at Pritchett Field.

Game Grades

Offense: B+ It was a great bounce back win for the Sam Houston State. Despite losing senior running back Keshawn Hill early to injury, the Bearkats moved the ball down the field better than last game against Colorado State - Pueblo. Sophomore quarterback Jared Johnson did a lot better job completing passes, looking more comfortable because of the offensive line’s blocking. Redshirt freshman running back Jalen Overstreet had a big game with nine carries for 132 yards and a touchdown. Defense: B The Bearkat defense did a better job finishing tackles. However, they continue to struggle covering the deep ball. The Kats had too many penalties that helped the Cardinals get the ball down the field. The Bearkats did forced three fumbles and one interception. Special Teams: B The Bearkat special teams forced the Lamar punter to punt out of bounds on all his punts. The special teams gave the offense great field position. On the other side of the ball, the Kats limited big returns by the Cardinals. Compiled by, David Gibson, Contributing Reporter

Women first, men third at Islander Splash RYAN REYNOLDS Layout Editor Sam Houston State’s women’s cross country team ran away with first place while the SHSU men finished third at the Islander Splash meet in Corprus Christi on Friday. The impressive finish comes after a rough opening at the Texas A&M Invitational last week. “I was disappointed with how

the A&M meet went,” head coach Jesse Parker said. “I don’t know if we weren’t just ready for that level of competition or what, but I feel like both teams rebounded really well on a hilly difficult course.” The women competed in a 5000-meter race where sophomore Olivia Olguin finished in third place, just ten seconds behind the race winner. Olguin finished the race with a clocked time of 18:05. Following Olguin was senior Anna

Moreno, who finished in fourth place with a marked time of 18:15. Finishing only two seconds later was junior Nicole Apate in fifth place with a posted time of 18:17. Sophomore Miranda Prado finished thirteenth overall and clocked in with a time of 19:08 and freshman Nina Gonzales immediately followed in fourteenth place with a time of 19:10. As for the men’s team, the Bearkats competed in the 8000-meter

race. Senior Karl Schreiber was the first Bearkat to finish and the fourth overall place with a time of 26:16. Senior Ryan Saam was the next to finish in eighth place. Freshman Grant Burley did not have as impressive of a finish as last week’s race in College Station but still clocked in a time of 26:52, which was good enough for 15th place. Sophomore Even Arambula finished just two seconds later with a time of 26:52 in 16th place.

Players of the Week

P.J. HALL, DEFENSIVE END

P. J. Hall was named the Southland Conference “Defensive Player of the Week” after leading the Bearkats’ defense to a 42-10 win over Lamar on Saturday. Hall recorded seven total tackles, including a 10-yard sack. Hall also blocked a field goal in the fourth quarter. The redshirt freshman defensive end from Seguin is the fourth-leading tackler for Sam Houston State.

ASHLEY ALONZO, MIDFIELDER

Ashley Alonzo continued her hot streak in Sunday’s 4-2 win over McNeese State. The Bearkats were down 2-0 after the first half, but in just seven minutes went up 3-2. Alonzo had an assist and scored two goals in the Bearkats comeback win. The junior midfielder from Little Elm now leads the Bearkats with five goals this season and is The Houstonian’s Player of the Week for the second week in a row.

Junior Logan Terry finished in 28th place with a time of 27:44, and freshman Colton Stroker finished in 29th with a marked time of 28:04. Senior Patrick Pitts was the next to finish in 30th with a posted time of 28:10. The last Bearkat to finish was junior JT Bounds with a time of 29:01. SHSU will next see action Oct. 17 when the teams travel to Alabama to compete in the Crimson Tide Classic.

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Tuesday Sept. 30, 2014

Page 6

Bearkat volleyball beaten by Lamar in Beaumont AMSHI STEPHENSON Staff Reporter Sam Houston State gave up a two-set lead over Lamar, resulting in a huge five-set upset this past Saturday in Beaumont. The Bearkats were the first team the Cardinals beat this season, improving Lamar’s record to 1-12. “Lamar didn’t do anything different than what we expected,” head coach Brenda Gray said. “It fell on our shoulders. We didn’t execute.”

The Cardinals started off strong in the first set leading 22-14, but senior outside hitter Deveney WellsGibson led the Bearkats to a 10-2 run, winning 26-24. The Bearkats won the second set 25-21, but this would be the last set that would fall in the Bearkats’ favor. Lamar regrouped and gained some life in the third and never gave SHSU the lead. The Bearkats came close once when the score was tied 22-22. The Cardinals forced a fifth set after winning nine of the last 11 points in the fourth set. “From the very beginning of set

three, we were slow,” Gray said. “Even after we eluded to starting quick during the split.” The Cardinals trailed 14-12 in the final set before making a fourpoint run to end the match on sophomore outside hitter Autumn Taylor’s 17th kill set by senior defensive specialist Megan Schwartz. Wells-Gibson racked up 23 kills in 69 total attempts for the Bearkats. Junior and sophomore middle blockers Carling Urben and Shelby Genung each finished with 12 and nine kills, respectively. Freshman outside hitter Brooke White added

nine kills to the scoreboard. Michelle Griffith assisted on 53 of the Bearkats 67 kills. Sophomore middle blocker Chelsea Grant had a remarkable match for Lamar, finishing with 17 blocks (three solo, 14 assists) and nine kills. Sophomore outside hitter Autumn Taylor led Lamar with 17 kills. Junior middle blocker Cortney Moore added 15 kills and eight blocks. The Cardinals single handedly out blocked the Bearkats 28-7. Sam Houston State has not lost

to Lamar in more than five years. “We are going back to work like this team always does,” Gray said. “Nothing will prevent this group from reaching their goals. We were all a little defeated, but we will learn and move forward and take down one opponent at a time.” The Bearkats are 0-1 in Southland Conference as they try to redeem themselves traveling to Nicholls State and McNeese State on Thursday and Saturday.

Associated Press

TOP LEFT: Students at North Central Texas College left flowers, teddy bears and softballs inscribed with prayers outside an administration building on campus in Gainesville. TOP RIGHT: Rescue workers carry a body from the ruins of a collapsed house after a 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook a remote Andean village near the city of Cuzco, Peru on Sunday. BOTTOM LEFT: Protesters raise a placards that read “Occupy Central” at the financial Central district during a protest on the third day of a week-long boycott of classes in Hong Kong on Wednesday. ABOVE: v. Jerry Brown discusses a bill while meeting with advisers at his Capitol office in Sacramento, Calif.

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— RALLY, page 1 have the best schools in our nation. We have to get the dollars out of the courtroom and back into the classroom.” Van de Putte called for a change in standardized testing in schools. She said that students need to be able to learn, not just “how to bubble in.” “We have to return our schools back to our teachers,” Van de Putte said. “Our kids aren’t standardized and they shouldn’t be burdened with this system. Every single child in this state deserves to have a quality education in this state regardless of who they are.” Other candidates included Cade S. Reece, candidate for Walker county justice of the peace in precinct 4, who spoke about staying true to the law and the people of Walker County. State Senate candidate Joel Shapiro talked about ending corporate corruption with candidates, while candidate for state comptroller Mike Collier spoke more about education and the excitement for the democratic ticket. “In the beginning, they said democrats can never win. I never believed that for a second,” Collier said. Everywhere I go in the state, people are thrilled about Wendy or about Leticia or both. Mostly they are excited about this ticket.” John Cook, candidate for land commissioner, stressed the need for voters to go to the polls and vote for the democratic ticket who he said represents them. “It doesn’t take money to win an election, it takes votes,” Cook said. “Registered voters in the state outnumber the registered Republicans in the state. Republicans don’t vote Republicans to office in this state, Democrats who stay at home do.” Cindy Blaylock, chairwoman of the Walker County Democratic Party, said that the goal of the event was to get a people excited for the parties’ platform. “I think it went well,” Blaylock said. “I’m grateful the people were here to listen to all these wonderful candidates.” President of the Bearkat Democrats Liz Turner said that the candidates motivated and inspired people. “I think it is important to know what is at stake,” Turner said. “I think that the can-

didates did inform us what is at stake. They did a good job filling out the most important points of the issues.” Early voting begins Oct. 20 and lasts until Oct. 31. Texans who are not already registered to vote must do so before Oct. 6 to vote in the Nov. 4 elections.

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DEBATE, page 1

and not admission, Patrick brought up a question he posed on San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro during an immigration debate in April. “[I asked] If there was only one seat left in a university, and two students had equal GPA, SAT and ACT scores, and the choice was between an American student… and someone who was not a legal citizen of our country, who would get the seat?” Patrick said. “I don’t know how [Van de Putte] would answer it, but it’s just a question of fairness... I will stand by the citizen to get that slot.” Van de Putte helped author the bill when it passed in 2001, and stood behind its true meaning. “I worked with… my Republican colleagues to form a plan to make sure that children who were brought here through no fault of their own would have the opportunity to pay the same in-state tuition as the people they graduated from high school with,” Van de Putte said. “Patrick hasn’t even read the bill. This is not about admissions. This is about what you pay in tuition at the registrars’ office. And this… is important for the workforce.” Van de Putte said other Republican candidates for state-wide elections disagree with Patrick’s stance. However, Patrick defended his answer on admissions in response to the question on tuition. “I have read the bill,” Patrick said. “At the University of Texas, where there are very few slots, it could come down to a student who is not a citizen and one who is. In terms of in-state tuition, it’s a matter of fairness again.” The last day to register to vote is Monday, Oct. 6. The general election will be Nov. 4.