January 17, 2013 by The Houstonian

TODAY’S FORECAST HI: 57o LOW: 30o

George Mattingly | The Houstonian

Chance of Rain:

Volume 123 / Issue 1

Texas Art Collectors to discuss, showcase prison art in Gallery Talk tonight at The Wynne Home

Likens: Obama addressed the wrong thing, he should have discussed mental health.

Mens Basketball looks to continue winning streak Thursday night.

www.HoustonianOnline.com

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Suspects still at large in local apartment complex shooting

MOLLY WADDELL News Editor One victim is in stable condition after being allegedly shot in the leg at University Club Apartments at 2435 Montgomery Road on Jan 14. According to Lieutenant Curt Landrum of the Huntsville Police Department there have been no arrests but the suspects are believed to be driving a blue Volkswagon four door vehicle, possibly a Passat, with a spare “donut” tire and wheel. The victim who was shot was Lifeflighted to Hermann Memorial Hospital in Houston and is in stable condition. The other injured victims were treated and released at Huntsville Memorial Hospital, according to Landrum. According to Landrum three or four suspects, at least one with a handgun, allegedly entered a residence and ordered the occupants to the ground. “The suspects went through the residence looking through cabinets and drawers in an

apparent attempt to locate items to steal,” Landrum stated in a press release. The suspects allegedly shot one of the residents in the right upper leg area, while other occupants were struck with either fists or possibly a gun causing moderate injuries, according to Landrum. “Because of the suspects’ use of a deadly weapon in this crime, the offense is enhanced to Aggravated Robbery,” Landrum said. According to Landrum, aggravated robbery is a first degree felony and is punishable by five to 99 years, or life in prison and up to a $10,000 fine. “We at the Huntsville Police Department are asking for help from the community in solving this crime,” Landrum said. “We are asking that anyone with information regarding this offense to contact the Huntsville Police Department or Crimestoppers.” Call HPD at (936) 291-5480 and Crimestoppers at (936) 294-9494 with any information regarding this offense.

George Mattingly | The Houstonian

AT LARGE. Three to four suspects are still missing after allegedly robbing a residence apartment on Sunday. One resident was shot and is now in stable condition. Three others were treated for minor injuries.

Obama signs 23 gun control executive orders JAY R. JORDAN Senior Reporter President Obama signed 23 executive orders into law on Wednesday in response to the most recent mass shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. Obama also called congress to pass new gun control legislation including a renewal and reinforcement of an assault-weapon ban. The Center for Disease Control and other publicly funded entities will receive additional resources and federal support to help combat the epidemic of mass shootings, as the administration calls it. After the Sandy Hook Elementary Massacre, in which 20 children and 7 adults were gunned down and murdered, President Obama ordered Vice President Biden to create a focus group where he would review steps the president could take to make a safer environment for Americans without infringing on fundamental second amendment rights. One executive orders gives the CDC a directive to research the causes and prevention of gun violence. “We don’t benefit from ignorance,” said Obama during his speech on Wednesday. “We don’t benefit from not knowing the science of this epidemic of violence.” The research will involve investigating the cause of violent gun murders that annually take the lives of over 10,000 Americans and what violent video games and other “desensitizing” forms of entertainment have on the youth of America, as some psychologists suggest. Another major executive action was the order to various federal agencies to make readily available background checks for potential firearm buyers. This allows records from one state to show up in another, so a felon wouldn’t be able to purchase a gun by simply

AP Photo | Carolyn Kaster

NEW GUN LAWS. President Obama spoke on Wednesday of the Sandy Hook Elementary Massacre and signed 23 executive orders regarding gun control.

traveling across state lines. Soon after the announcement of the executive orders, Obama called Congress to act legislatively against gun violence. “First, it’s time for Congress to require a universal background check for anyone trying to buy a gun,” said the president. “… It’s hard to enforce [the current background check] law when as many as 40 percent of all gun

purchases are conducted without a background check.” The second call to action was for congress to enact and enforce a new assault weapons ban along with new laws limiting magazines to ten rounds. College Republicans President and junior pre-law major Ramiro Jaime Jr. said that a ten-round magazine limit does not help make a safer environment.

“If I’m untrained and someone [attacks me] and I panic and just start shooting, all [ten] bullets are gone and [the attacker] knows that,” said Jaime. “I completely disagree with that. I think that’s dumb.” After his congressional call-toaction, President Obama cited the mass shootings inside an Aurora, Colorado movie theatre in which James Holmes shot 70 people in a matter of minutes with the help of an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with a 100-round drum magazine. “Weapons designed for the theatre of war have no place in a movie theatre,” said Obama. During the press conference, Obama quoted former Presidents Gerald R. Ford, Jimmy Carter, and Ronald Reagan. “We urge [Congress] to listen to the American public and to the law enforcement community and support a ban on the further manufacture of [military-style assault] weapons,” said the presidents in a letter to the US House of Representatives in 1994. “While we recognize that assault weapon legislation will not stop all assault weapon crime, statistics prove that we can dry up the supply of these guns, making them less accessible to criminals.” Responses from pro-gun advocates and the GOP came soon after Wednesday’s press conference. Almost immediately after the press conference, House Majority Leader Boehner said, “House committees of jurisdiction will review these recommendations. And if the Senate passes a bill, we will also take a look at that.” In an effort to belittle the president, the NRA published an advertisement on Tuesday calling Obama a “hypocritical elitist” because he protects his own children with armed guards, but fails to put armed guards in every school, as called for by the NRA in late December. Coincidentally, the president also signed an executive order that provides incentives

NATION & WORLD Notre Dame linebacker dead girlfriend story is hoax The news of star Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o’s dead girlfriend being a hoax dominated social media on Wednesday. Deadspin originally broke the story, which included an elaborate report on how the former Heisman Trophy candidate’s girlfriend never actually existed. Notre Dame Athletic director addresses linebacker hoax Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbick held a 40-minute press conference to address the issue and claims Te’o is the victim of a sophisticated scheme. Follow us today! @TheHoustonian Swarbick compared the story to something from television show “Catfish” which features deceptive online dating. NRA game

releases

controversial

The National Rifle Association is taking heat for releasing a new mobile video game that puts users in a shooting range. The game is released just a month after the deadly school shooting in Newtown, Conn., which took the lives of 20 children and six adults. Critics are questioning the timing of the release. Algerian army takes hostages The Algerian army took dozens of hostages being held by Islamic militants. The group claiming responsibility for the attack says it is in retaliation for Algeria’s support of France’s military operation against al-Qaida, according to the Associated Press. Like our page! Facebook.com/TheHoustonian

Page 2

News

Tuesday, January 17, 2013 houstonianonline.com/news

Health Center and Counseling Center building plans underway

MOLLY WADDELL News Editor

The new Student Health Center and Counseling Center building plans are underway according to SHC director Sarah Hanel. The team met Jan. 9 to explain to the potential architects and contractors the bidding process. The architects and contractors have to submit documentation talking about previous projects that they have done and how they can contribute to the project. The construction management team met Wednesday and looked through what people have submitted to see what their qualifications are, according to Hanel. Hanel said on Jan. 25 the university will meet and announce the short list of companies they would like a presentation from and an opportunity to interview. By Feb. 7 the interviews will be complete and the most qualified contracting and architectural company will be selected on Feb. 8. On Jan. 25 the design process starts. “We have been very deliberate

provided by student health center

ROUGH DRAFT. This is a look at the new Health and Counseling Center from an outside architectural firm.

for two years about how we want the layout to be and the importance of that,” Hanel said. “This is so we can maintain our accreditation standards, which is very important for us because that puts us on the map to say we do provide quality healthcare.” Jan. 25 they plan to break ground at the old King Hall location. This is across the street

from their current location. Hanel is excited about the new location. “A lot of the Health Centers traffic comes from new Lone Star Hall and a lot of the freshman dorms surrounding us as well as Old Main Market,” according to Hanel. With the new location Hanel hopes to get more traffic and to

better serve the students. “To be able to provide those services for the students is what we are really excited about, as well as having counseling right up stairs to help with any mental health concerns and stuff like that,” Hanel said. Hanel said the new building will not only be able to house

more students, but will give them the opportunity to have a nursing clinic and radiology. “We would like to eventually bring in some specialists like a gynecologists…potentially orthopedics, physical therapy,” Hanel said. “To be able to provide those services at a cost we incur, not the students. That is really important for us to do.” Although the Health Center and the Counseling Center will be combining into the same building they will still be functioning as separate entities. Hanel still believes the combination is important. “The reason it is so important is because I can’t even begin to tell you how many students we refer over the counseling center for mental health issues,” Hanel said. “Students just don’t want to go because of the walk, or they don’t know where it is at.” The estimated breaking of ground is in October of this year and the building is hoped to be finished in the summer of 2014. “Our hopes are that we can have it ready for our fall students to come in,” Hanel said.

Students like new SHSU website Career Services

hosts 3rd annual leading program

SOPHIE NELSON Senior Reporter Students on the Sam Houston State University campus returned from the winter break to discover that a new design for Sam’s website had been implemented during their absence. The majority of students agreed the change was for the better, but some still thought the website could be improved, especially when used on a mobile device or tablet. Junior Entrepreneurship major, John Pham, liked the new webpage as long as it was on a computer, but was frustrated with trying to use the site on his cell phone. “I find it annoying that I can’t navigate the website on my mobile phone,” Pham said. “It takes forever to load things and I can almost never hit the right link when scrolling through the menus. I love the computer version, but on a cell phone, it’s ridiculous.” Elissa Crossland, Director at Online Programs and Communication, and Diane McCormick, Executive Director of Enrollment Communications, acknowledged that navigating SHSU’s webpage on a cell phone has its difficulties, and confirmed that Sam’s IT department has started looking into a mobile device-friendly webpage as an option for the future. Besides the mobile phone issue, both McCormick and Crossland reported that there seem to be very few issues with the new design since the IT helpdesk has

SOPHIE NELSON Senior Reporter

provided by shsu

NEW YEAR NEW SITE. SHSU starts off the new year with a brand new look on their website. Studnets seem to have few complaints.

received very few calls from students/faculty having trouble finding what they are looking for. McCormick felt that the preview option that was available before the change took effect really helped disperse the confusion some people might have felt. One feature several students felt was the most helpful improvement was the cascading, or drop down menus provided at the top of the page. “I really liked the new site, and I think the cascading menus make finding everything so much simpler,” Freshman Shyane Stein said. McCormick confirmed this as one of the more popular features,

saying that several people had mentioned how happy they were with the cascading menus, as well as bringing more A few students; however, felt that the cascading menus detracted from the site’s design. “I think it was a lot easier when Blackboard and our email was at the top of the page instead of under a tab,” Tina Lacy, a junior Technical Theatre major, said. Despite the small number of issues voiced by students, almost all agreed that the new webpage design was a definite improvement, and looked forward to what innovations would take place in the near future.

Career Services will be hosting their 3rd annual Learning to Lead program on Jan. 30. This program is designed to teach students the many values and roles of leadership for both their current studies in college and in their future careers in the business world. The program will feature three speakers, including Willie Fritz, the head football coach for Sam Houston State University, Carol Smith, the president of the Huntsville Chamber of Commerce, and Terry Williams, the regional vice president of H-E-B Supermarkets. According to Vinessa Mundorff, the assistant director of Career Services, the program’s main purpose is the make students aware of leadership opportunities that occur in their everyday lives, and to correct the misconception that there are only strict and traditional roles available in leadership positions. Mundorff explained that to achieve this purpose, the three guest speakers were chosen as representatives of three sides of leadership. Smith was chosen for her activities in the civic side of leadership, as she has served the Huntsville community for many years, according to the Chamber of Commerce website. Smith commented that she would be speaking about leadership in general, and how she developed

her skills and then used them in her many careers. Fritz was chosen by Career Services as a team-oriented leadership example that would be used in military-type settings, or in his case, athletics. Fritz detailed that his talk would include leadership skills he uses and teaches in the football program. Terry Williams was chosen for his leadership skills in the professional world, something Career Services felt was greatly important for college students. Smith urged students to take part in Learning to Lead, because she believes leadership skill sets are invaluable in the business world, and felt that the program would be a motivating starting place for aspiring leaders. “I strongly encourage students to attend the program as they will hear three very different perspectives, examples, etc. on leadership,” Smith said. “Students will be able to sift through the info and find key things to apply to their goals and personality types.” Mundorff extended an invitation to all Sam Houston students to participate in Learning to Lead, which she felt would give students skill sets they could take and apply to everyday life on campus. Learning to Lead will be held on Wed. Jan. 30 from 3:30-5:00 P.M. In the Mafrige Auditorium located in the Smith-Hutson Building. The auditorium seats over 400 people and overflow seating will be available if needed.

BAPI registration open, hope to reach a thousand volunteers MOLLY WADDELL News Editor

Bearkat All Paws In registration opened up Wednesday; registration will remain open until February 14. BAPI is a volunteer initiative hosted by the Student Government Association. BAPI takes the registered volunteers in teams to places all around Huntsville. Last year BAPI went to 28 different sites and had between 600 and 700 volunteers. Last year’s BAPI volunteers cleaned and sanitized Tomorrow’s Promise Montessori School, read and played games with the elderly at Ella Smither Geriatric Center, cleaned up Oakwood

Cemetery, turned over products at New Life Resale Shop and helped out the Good Shepard Mission. The groups also worked at Hospitality House, Huntsville Health Center and YMCA. “This year we want to get a thousand volunteers,” BAPI Director Cristan Shamburger said. The BAPI Team is also asking businesses for sponsorships so the whole community is involved. Volunteer at www.shsubapi.com. Volunteers can sign up as individuals, an organization, or as a team. For the first time, BAPI will also be hosted at The Woodlands Campus in addition to the main Huntsville campus.

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Viewpoints

Thursday, January 17, 2013 houstonianonline.com/viewpoints

Obama takes aim at wrong opponents

PAWS UP

Taylor Likens says Americans should focus on mental health awareness rather than gun control

PAWS UP to getting refund money. Now we can buy groceries!

Let’s put on our serious caps for a moment. It’s time to talk about gun control. Again. Yesterday, Barack Obama gave a speech on his plans to push for stricter gun control in the United States. A lot of negative things TAYLOR LIKENS have been said about Obama, things that Staff Reporter wouldn’t become any more true no matter how many times you repeat them, but his recent attempts at breathing new life into to gun control, and specifically the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, is horrendously illfated. I don’t think of Obama as a fascist overlord looking to disarm the American people in preparation for some sort of Nazi takeover. Instead, I think of him as somewhat of a Don Quixote, taking aim at all the wrong opponents in an immature hunt for glory. We seem to have forgotten that the Federal Assault Weapons ban of the past, effective from 1994 to 2004, did virtually nothing to the crime and murder rate in the United States, as verified by the Department of Justice. The

PAWS UP to the Global Center for Journalism and Democracy for having the opportunity to travel to Lebanon for an international conference

PAWS UP to free flu shots on campus. It’s that time of year again so go get one before you get us all sick!

explanation for this is simply that Americans traditionally don’t use assault weapons to kill each other, or at least not often enough for there to be any notable result from banning them. More lives would have been saved by the outlawing of mosh pits and banana peels. This new wave of support for gun control is almost exclusively fueled by the recent Connecticut shooting, in which 28 were killed. Yet oddly enough, an assault weapons ban ignores the fact that these weapons had absolutely nothing to do with the shooting itself. The shooter even had an assault weapon in his car and instead chose to use handguns. Australians, who after one particular mass shooting imposed some of the most stern firearm restrictions on earth, actually experienced a rise in their murder rate in the years after the ban took effect. As it turns out, the urge to commit murder isn’t really something you can just sleep on and expect to overcome by morning. A longer waiting period just means a delayed killing. Similarly, Obama pushes to enforce mandatory background checks for the purchase of firearms. Keep in mind that it is already illegal to purchase a firearm if you have been convicted of a felony and rightly so. Stop and ask yourself if James Holmes, the Aurora shooter, would have passed the background check. Or Seung-Hui Cho, who

killed 32 people at Virginia Tech? On the books, these people may have passed for perfectly normal citizens who would no sooner commit mass murder than the next man. In reality, however, they were extremely disturbed individuals who had psychological issues that were not being properly addressed. To make the most of gun control without infringing on each other’s rights we must put the blame where it belongs, and search deeper into the minds of those who will be holding the weapons--which is the only place the danger ever really laid to begin with. For too long we have blamed inanimate objects for our problems. As I have written before, the only way to put a cork in these mass killings is to address the mental health problems within our society and to raise awareness of how to recognize and treat these issues. Take a long, hard look in the mirror, America. As much as you don’t want to believe it, the problem with America is Americans. Lastly, I find myself am obligated to direct everyone interested towards the CNN iReport of one CTMarine87, a former Marine who discusses his own vision for gun regulation in the United States. It is brilliantly simple, refreshingly realistic, and well-informed: http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-819622

Blackboard lockout frustrates faculty, students

PAWS DOWN

MORGAN MEARS Staff Reporter

view their schedules and syllabi on Blackboard until the first day that classes began. When asked how she felt about Blackboard being unavailable for use, freshman Political Science major, Ariel Traub stated that she felt “unprepared [and] wasn’t given an opportunity to prepare for the new semester.” As a result, Traub had “been really anxious” about the new semester. Some students took to Facebook, voicing their frustration about the technical issues with Blackboard, stating that it should have been fixed, and up and running by now simply because those that work on Blackboard and ensure its smooth running had all of break to “fix it” and clear out any bugs with the site.

Not only were students unable to use Blackboard, professors themselves were unable to post their syllabi for students, and set up the needed documents for their classes. Upon arriving to class, a professor of mine was still attempting to get his syllabus posted to Blackboard for his students to print, and was unable to even after trying almost the entire class time. With the semester getting off to an uneasy start, many students and professors are still trying to remain hopeful that Blackboard will be debugged and functioning smoothly soon. To keep this issue from occurring again, those that operate Blackboard should allow admittance to both professors and

students based off of the letter their last name starts with. As in this way professors would be allowed to begin using Blackboard and once they have set up their classes, it would be available to be opened to the students. It could be opened up to the students just as registration is, students whose last name begins A-M would be allowed to access their material on Blackboard one day, and the next day students N-Z would be allowed. This would not only keep some of the technical issues to a minimum, it would also give professors and students both a set day to know when Blackboard and its tools would be available for their use.

PAWS DOWN to spending hundreds of dollars on textbooks that we will probably never use

While some students and professors look upon the beginning of the new semester with hopes of good grades and excitement, others of Sam Houston students and professors are starting off their Spring 2013 semester frustrated. The frustration stemming from being unable to use Blackboard just days before the new semester was set to begin. With first day back jitters, many students look at Blackboard for a preview of their classes and a chance to print off the many syllabi that are available to them for each of their classes on Blackboard. However, students were unable to

PAWS DOWN to losing for a second time at the FCS National championship. Let’s get ‘em next year, Kats!

Required course textbooks need an alternative Just when you think tuition costs have hit the glass ceiling, the extra $400 or more spent on textbooks shatters your college budget. Overpriced, so-called “required textbooks” that you’ll most likely never use are tacked onto your already straining checkbook, wasting money, space and time. According to College Board the average cost for books and supplies for the 2012– 2013 school year was $1,200 at four-year public colleges and $1,244 at private colleges. Textbook expenses are on the rise; at this rate, students will be taking out more money just to buy a book they will maybe read once or twice. Most professors assign required textbooks to their students, ensuring that it will be necessary for passing their class; however, in my past experience, buying textbooks results in a loss of $400 and a gain of absolutely nothing. It’s frustrating to be told you’ll use the book when you never do, spend so much money on it and not get any money back at the end of the semester. The bookstores on and around campus are expensive and buy back at a fraction of the cost. In previous semesters, the purchase of a $200 book gave me $40 at the end of the semester and last semester, an $80 required chemistry textbook could not be bought back. Not only do textbooks depreciate in value

PAWS DOWN to being locked out of buildings due university still being on winter time

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once you buy them, but it seems like half the time you can’t sell them back because they are no longer the newest edition. Many students are so fed up with spending money on textbooks in the past that they have decided to either not buy textbooks at all, or wait until the professor assigns work from the text that’s absolutely necessary for passing the class. Sometimes even renting a textbook can cost $100 to $200 with no money in return. Some professors are allowing their students to use cheaper online versions of the textbooks but they are only about $40 in savings and still go unused. In order to alleviate the stress of spending for students, the university should create alternative routes for obtaining textbook information without having to spend an excessive amount. Some ways they could achieve this would be having the professors condense their textbooks into handouts or outlines that can be printed off from Blackboard. Professors could scan important sections onto Blackboard for students to access material. The university could also add a new fee for e-books that allows students access to any e-book through different publishers. Although this would be another fee on tuition, when

Editorial Staff Robin Johnson

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Staff Reporters Jeremy Kleiber Cheyenne Simpson Morgan Mears Allyson Wiley Taylor Likens Karmen King Carian Parker

compared to overall costs, the fee would save students hundreds or thousands of dollars over time. The university should consider having more options for checking out textbooks for class rather than MISTI JONES purchasing them or Viewpoints Editor implement a better system for reselling textbooks by offering a fair resale value. Professors can also help by informing students when they arrive the first day whether they will actually need the course textbook. If professors believe their students may never use the book, they should be honest with the students and not require them to spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on books that will go unused until the end of the semester. In any case, an alternative is needed to prevent students from taking out more federal loans for textbooks, or paying unnecessary amounts out of pocket for books they might never use for the class.

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Arts&Entertainment

Thursday, January 17, 2013 houstonianonline.com/a-e

Gallery Talk to take viewers behind prison walls Texas collectors to share experiences, stories of prison art GEORGE MATTINGLY Arts & Entertainment Editor The Huntsville community will have a chance to see a different side of the prison system through unique art pieces today as the Wynne Home Arts Center hosts a Gallery Talk of its current exhibit, “Retrospective of Prison Art”. Texas collectors Stephanie Smither from Houston and Murray Smither of Fort Worth, who provided some of the pieces in the exhibit, will be at the Wynne Home to share their experiences collecting the art and stories from the artists. The exhibit features a wide variety of art pieces by prison artists from the Texas Prison Museum and collectors. The art includes pieces made from traditional media such as intricate drawings and paintings to more unique pieces such as a handmade, functional clock, a chess set made from soap and several pieces made from match sticks. The exhibit and talk present a unique opportunity for the community to see creative work from behind the walls of the prison system, according to Linda Pease,

George Mattingly I The Houstonian

ART FROM BEHIND BARS: Some pieces in the exhibit at the Wynne Home are a functional clock made from matchsticks by an unknown artist (left) and a large handmade clock made from wood from the Ellis Unit (right).

Cultural Services Coordinator for Huntsville. “It’s a unique opportunity to see the best work that is done in the prison,” Pease said. “I think a lot of people have negative thoughts

of the prison. [The exhibit] shows a creative side to some of the men in the prison. Everyone has a story and this is just how they tell theirs.” According to Pease, the exhibit

also includes work from wellknown artists Henry Clark, who does detailed ink drawings on envelopes; and Texas artist Frank Jones, who uses red and blue pencils to create abstract drawings

that represent prison structures. The art pieces tell stories about life behind bars that have unique connections to Huntsville, a community that has been home to several prisons for many years. “It’s not just about the artists, it’s about the history,” Paula Turner, assistant at the Wynne Home, said. “There are fantastic prison artists and a lot of people don’t realize it. There is one artist featured who lived through a prison breakout at the Walls Unit in the 70s. The art is like snapshots of history; they’re definitely part of our community.” The Wynne Home is part of the Huntsville cultural district and focuses on exposing the community to self-taught art in its exhibits and hosts about four exhibits every year. The organization also offers art classes throughout the year for anyone who wants to take them. “Retrospective of Prison Art” will be up through February. The Gallery Talk will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. today, followed by a small reception with refreshments. The event is free for anyone to attend. For more information call 936-291-5424.

New course to explore German culture through film, discussion GEORGE MATTINGLY Arts and Entertainment Editor Students at Sam Houston State University now have the opportunity to learn about the German culture from a different prospective in a new course offered this semester. The course titled “Survey of German Film” will take a different approach to learning a culture by allowing students to watch and discuss various German films that cover significant points in history. The course is also open to anyone in the Huntsville community to audit.

For James Frankki, Ph.D., who created and teaches the class, the goal of the course is to provide students and the community a unique way to learn about German culture versus a traditional language course. By showing and discussing films, Frankki hopes to spark student interest in German culture and, in turn, more courses. Some of the films to be examined are the 1981 film ‘Das Boot’, a lighthearted post-unification film such as ‘Run, Lola, Run’ and ‘GoodBye Lenin,’ which addresses the division between East and West Germany, as well as recent

releases. “My main purpose for the course is to give people an opportunity to watch German films without having to learn the language prior to that,” Frankki said. “We’ve tried the traditional way for a long time and that hasn’t been successful because students aren’t very aware [of the German program]. Once they become interested in film, they are introduced to German culture.” Although there are only 11 students currently enrolled in the course, students who attended the first class on Wednesday were eager about learning through film

this semester. “If you want to really get to know a culture, you have to look at its different media,” Sean Chisholm, senior history major said. “You get a better understanding of the culture, especially with Germany, which has been through a lot over the years.” For others, the course is more hands on than a traditional language course. “You never really learn everything about a culture in a lecture course,” Young said. “Looking at films helps show different dialects and every day usage of the language instead of

the standard language.” The enthusiasm was matched by Frankki, who said the course is headed in the right direction. “It went well,” Frankki said. “We had about three people from the community come in and audit the class which is part of our goal. We want to bring greater awareness of the German culture to the community.” Students can still register for the course under FOLG 3361. The class meets every Wednesday from 6 to 8:45 p.m. in Evans Complex Theatre, room 105.

On-screen chemistry makes ‘Gangster Squad’ a must-see thriller JAMES WEEMS Contributing Reporter

AP Photo/Warner Bros. Pictures, Wilson Webb

ALL STAR SQUAD: Gangster Squad stars Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Sean Penn.

Gangster Squad is an action thriller about a team of off-duty cops who team up to take down the drug kingpin in the city of Los Angeles. This movie is a hidden gem right now in the theatre that features the talents of Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and Sean Penn. These three actors make the film a great story. Even though the director could have made some things better, by the end of the film it is still worth watching. The setting takes place on the west coast in Los Angeles where the kingpin Mickey Cohen creates his own organized crime ring for drugs and gambling. The cops of the city can’t do anything about him because he owns most of the police. A small group of cops who have had enough form a team to take down Cohen. When that happens the movie takes off and the plot really starts to gain traction.

Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone made their on-screen chemistry work to help this film gain a heart felt side story to the film. But overall this movie was meant to be a crowd pleaser that was never intended to be a reflection of how life as a cop was back in the 40s in any sense. Some scenes went overboard and filmmakers could have avoided some of the murders that took place during the key scene of the movie even though it helps with the overall direction of the film. The only thing that was accurate to the time period itself was the costumes, automobiles, and landmarks used for this film otherwise everything else is over done to the point that makes the film lose a little of its realism. However, it does not take away anything from the plot and the end result of the movie. The on-screen chemistry and action of the film make it worth watching, earning a 7 out of 10.

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Page 5

Sports

Thursday, January 17, 2013 houstonianonline.com/sports

Bearkats need to eliminate timely errors after second consecutive championship loss CONNOR HYDE Sports Reporter After sprinting the last leg of conference play with a seven game winning streak, Sam Houston State’s football team’s inability to gain speed to the outside on defense, avoid penalties and limit second half interceptions continued to expose SHSU in the semi-final and championship game of the 2013 Division I FCS Playoffs. For Coach Willie Fritz and company to push past the last hump of the playoff circuit, the offense’s second half push must be disciplined. But then again, hindsight is always 20/20. Throughout the 2012 season, quarterback Brian Bell matured into a reliable throwing quarterback with 2,715 total yards in the air with 61 percent completion. But when pressured, Bell’s composure loses stability as zone coverage and a four man rush stressed his comfort in the pocket and threw costly interceptions. With two qualified backupsChris Grett and Jared JohnsonBell’s development as a quarterback starts with his fourth quarter consistency. Bell’s performance against Stephen F. Austin (243 yards/ 5 TD) reaffirmed his leadership and ability to take hold of offensive coordinator Doug Ruse’s system into the playoffs. Bell’s stronghold on the passing game struggled

against Eastern Washington (throwing only 85 yards) then fell short against North Dakota State (throwing three interceptions). For Bell to carry SHSU stronger into the second half, adapting to zone coverage and picking up the blitz will keep interceptions at a minimum, and momentum established in the first half on track. The Kats will be playing catchup this coming season with the graduation of Darnell and Darius Taylor, containing the outside sweep will trouble the Bearkats’ defense going into next season. Darnell’s game ending injury in the second quarter against NDSU removed speed from SHSU’s secondary and opened a seam on the outside for Bison running back Sam Ojuri to rush for 92 yards and two touchdowns. Taylor’s ability to congest the sidelines and prevent the rush attack will hinder “Black Swarm” next season. SHSU’s lockdown pass protection will be exposed by passing systems like SFA-who threw for 545 yards on 76 attempts-with the loss of Dax Swanson at corner. Coach Fritz and his coaching staff will inherit a young team lead by veteran Southland Conference champions the past two seasons. With an extensive depth chart and the return of running back Timothy Flanders, Richard Sincere and Brian Bell, SHSU will contend for a third consecutive playoff appearance in winter of 2013. Speed on offense with

Megan Laurie | The Houstonian

DEJA VU: After an amazing season, Brian Bell and the Bearkats fell short once again in Frisco against North

Dakota State 39-18.

Flanders and Keshawn Hill, as well as returning wide out Chance Nelson, will continue to give Bell targets downfield as the passing attack continues to blossom. With the program Fritz has constructed at SHSU, this coming

offseason can produce new stars and new recruits to fill in legacies left behind by the Taylor twins and Trey Diller. To stay dangerous, SHSU will need to continue their fast paced offensive scheme and keep speed in the backfield on

defense. The 2013 season will kick-off with an opener against Alabame State. The Bearkats will also face off against ranked Texas A&M with returning Heisman trophy winner Johnny Manziel.

Men’s basketball looks to keep winning record alive in conference series with win over Central Arkansas CODY LEWIS Sports Editor The men’s basketball team improved to 3-1 in their Southland Conference stint after beating McNeese State University 72-57 in Lake Charles, La. last Saturday. Demarcus Gatlin, who had 15 points, helped lead the Bearkats to their second straight win after losing to Midwestern State last Monday. The Kats have won seven of their last eight games after starting the season 3-4. Although Sam Houston (10-6, 3-1

SLC) pulled away down the stretch of the game, the Bearkats held only a slim 28-27 lead at half time, and the game remained close most of the second half. The Cowboys were able to tie the game at 39 with a little over 15 minutes remaining in the game, but three straight three-pointers made by Marquel McKinney, Will Bond and Nathaniel Mason gave the Bearkats the push they needed to outscore McNeese 44-30 in the second half. “A win for us is never easy,” Kats head coach Jason Hooten said. “I’ve never been around a more fun group

to coach. Those guys play hard every single day and give me everything they’ve got.” The Bearkats dominated shooting percentages in the second half, sporting a 55.6 three point percentage and 48.1 percent from the field compared to McNeese’s 44.4 percent three point shooting and 29.6 percent from the field. “[This team] continues to surprise me,” Hooten said. “When we make a few shots, we have a chance to be pretty good. That’s what we did today in the second half.” Center Michael Holyfield led the

Bearkats under the rim, pulling down 11 rebounds—five of which were on offense. The seven-footer also had four points and a blocked shot. Guards Darius Gatson and Paul Baxter contributed on offense with 11 points each. Gatson was able to knock down three buckets from beyond the arch and make two of three free throws. The team was sent to the foul line 25 times in the game, making 19 of them. Ledrick Eackles led the Cowboys with 18 points and six rebounds. Defense was also controlled by the Bearkats, forcing 12 turnovers from

the Cowboys and out-rebounding them. The Cowboys were also held to a measly 33 percent field goal shooting over all. Hooten’s Bearkats will continue conference play Thursday against Central Arkansas (5-9, 0-4 SLC) at 8 p.m. in Johnson Colliseum. The Bears have yet to win a conference game and the Bearkats look to win their fourth in this conference showdown. For more information, including stats and team schedule, visit Gobearkats. com.

Southland Conference Men’s basketball standings Bearkat Basketball Southland Conference Standings

Men Stephen F. Austin Northwestern State

5-0 4-1

Sam Houston State

3-1

Oral Roberts Southeastern Louisiana Nicholls State Texas A&M-Corpus Christi McNeese State Central Arkansas Lamar

3-1 3-1 2-2 1-3 1-4 0-4 0-5

Cody Lewis | The Houstonian

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Thursday, January 17, 2013

Exhibit showcases unique work from prison artists

Photos by George Mattingly | The Houstonian

RARE CREATIONS Other pieces in the exhibit at the Wynne Home include several works made from non-traditional materials such as match sticks, soap and popsicle sticks. There is a church made from matchsticks (above), an oil panting on canvas (top right), a jewelry box and working lamp both made from match sticks (right).

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for schools to hire resource officers during Wednesday’s press conference. In a press release, Texas’ District-8 Representative Kevin Brady said that president’s actions wouldn’t keep children safe at school or protect second amendment rights. “I want our children safe at school and our Second Amendment rights protected at home. The President’s proposals do neither,” said Brady.

“Strong gun control laws in Connecticut didn’t stop the Sandy Hook tragedy - and won’t stop others like them in America. In fact, areas with the most restrictive gun laws historically suffer from higher rates of gun violence.” Rep. Brady will be holding a townhall meeting at The Woodlands United Methodist Church on January 24 at 6:00PM, when the gun control debate will be a topic discussed, according to his staff.

UPDate

January 14, 2012 Officer responded to 2435 Montgomery Road at 4:17 PM to assist the Huntsville Police Department with the report of a shooting. Officer located four males who reported that they were victims. Officer detained the individuals for an investigation by the Huntsville Police Department since it was not campus property (13489). January 9, 2012 While conducting a traffic stop in the 1200 block of 11th Street at 3:10 AM, officer determined that the driver and passenger (of Midway and Madisonville Texas) were in possession of contraband. Both were arrested and charged with the Class B Misdemeanor offense of Possession of Marijuana (13316). Officer was dispatched to the University Police Department at 3:14 PM where the female complainant stated that her student university IT account had been compromised. The complainant provided suspect information and an investigation into the incident is ongoing (13322).

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APPLY ONLINE @ VILLASONSYCAMORE.COM 936.439.5234 • 1615 Sycamore Ave Premier Sponsor of SHSU Athletics limited time only. rates, fees, deadlines and utilities included are subject to change.

January 7, 2013 While attempting a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Avenue I at 6:27 PM, the vehicle failed to stop for the officer and attempted to flee. They came to a stop at in the 1800 of 16th Street at a residence where two males and a female fled on foot from the officer. The two male suspects were located and arrested. The female passenger was not able to be located. One male was charged the Third Degree Felony offense of Evading Arrest or Detention with a Vehicle. The second male was charged with the Class A Misdemeanor of Evading Arrest or Detention and the Class B Misdemeanor offense of Possession of Marijuana (13254).