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Megan Laurie | The Houstonian
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Delta Xi Nu sorority spreads awareness about all types of abuse through t-shirts and setting up tables in the LSC mall area talking to students
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SHSU student, Christian rapper opening campus concert today
Volume 122 / Issue 13
www.HoustonianOnline.com
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Living, voting in conservative Texas JAY JORDAN Staff Reporter
Texas is a red state. The state’s 38 electoral votes mean that it is a massive victory state for Republicans in presidential elections, such as the one in November. On Nov. 6, voters will flock to community centers, high schools, and other public places to let the Electoral College know which set of candidates they want to represent their state’s vote. Though, when it comes to a democracy, it’s not so much which party the candidate belongs to, but which party the constituents identify with the most. Texas’ rich history and diversity offer a full view of the political spectrum. That diversity is exemplified at Sam Houston State University. Alex Bricarell, a third-year Geography major, sees himself as a fiscal conservative and a social libertarian.
Green: Food options on campus leave students hungry for health
Bricarell said that he is undecided in this election, though he is leaning towards Governor Mitt Romney R-MA after his success in the first debate. “I won’t decide ‘til I am in the voter booth on November 6 or unless some candidate really messes up,” Bricarell said On the other side of the spectrum is Chad Smith III, a senior Criminal Justice and Psychology major, who defines himself as a liberal. Smith said he will cast his vote for the incumbent, President Barack Obama D-IL. “As it stands, Mitt Romney’s political practices and policies don’t align with my views as much as Obama’s do,” Smith said. Gov. Romney and Pres. Obama participate in campaigns across the U.S. but mostly focus on swing states, which are states in which the vote is undecided or unclear.
Identify conservative: 43%
Obama participate in campaigns across the U.S. but mostly focus on swing states, which are states in which the vote is undecided or unclear. Texas is not a swing state. Candidates have not and will not spend much time here because of the state’s conservative voting record. Only once since 1972 has the Texas Electorate voted for a democratic candidate. According to Gallup.com, about 45 percent of Texans identify as conservative while 17 percent identify as liberal, leaving 33 percent identifying as moderate. All numbers have remained consistent over the last three years. Our state’s dedication to the Republican Party cannot be attributed to one reason. One possibility could do with
Voter identification information compiled via Gallup polling. Identify liberal: 17%
Political Demographics ou
Identify moderate: 34% Texas’ history, which tends to be conservative, from Sam Houston’s famous quote “Govern wisely and as little as possible,” to President George W. Bush’s two consecutive presidential terms at the turn of the millennium. Although the candidates don’t spend much time in states that have already decided who they’re voting for, the campaign for both parties is still important there. Decided voters show their political ideology through bumper stickers, Facebook and
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Twitter statuses, and by donating to the campaign of their candidate. Along with campaigning in lieu of a candidate by either walking door to door or sparking political conversation, donating to a campaign is another way to be politically active. Chad Smith and Alex Bricarell both said they have —
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Sorority raises awareness for breast cancer SOPHIE NELSON Staff Reporter
The waves of blistering heat washed over both the players on the field and the parents in the stands. Sweat poured off everyone, adding to the discomfort that few things besides watching a July softball game can bring. Both the children and their parents grew tired of wiping away the endless perspiration. Marcy Downum, watching the display, wished she could wipe the sweat from her head, but to do so would require her to remove the wig that covered her chemo-induced bald scalp, and the accompanying whispers and glances of pity directed toward Marcy and her family were just not worth that. Downum, a breast cancer survivor recently gone into remission, spoke on the SHSU campus Monday night at Zeta Tau Alpha’s (ZTA) “Speaking With Survivors” program. Downum was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in 2003 at the age of 36. After a six-yearlong battle that included the cancer
Photo courtesy of ZTA Facebook
PINK OUT. The SHSU chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority will host breast cancer awareness events the entire month of October. They will be hosting a lipsyncing contest on Oct. 24 and will “Pink Out” the Nov. 3 football game.
treatment, multiple surgeries and a serious infection, Downum was able to work on “getting [her] life back together after cancer,” until it was revealed in August that the cancer was back, this time in the opposite breast. When Downum shared her story with those who attended the program, she emphasized how important early detection and
awareness of the body are in order for the patients to have a good chance at survival. “I am so very thankful that breast cancer has the awareness it does,” Downum said. “That awareness saved my life. Early detection is the key [to more survivors].” Speaking With Survivors also featured licensed vocational
nurse Frieda Turner, a nurse at the SHSU Student Health Center. Turner spoke to the audience about the medical facts of cancer and then went on to further explain Downum’s point that early detection and awareness are the best ways to catch breast cancer in its early stages. “Most of the people who don’t survive breast cancer don’t catch
it early enough,” Turner said. “The Health Center offers free exams and you can never start self-exams too young. Be aware of your body because awareness can save your life.” Courtney Rothe, the Vice President of ZTA, detailed how the cause became the national philanthropy of ZTA, saying it was because “the issue touches so many women, including members of ZTA. We felt that it was something we could relate to and something that would bind us together in the common goal to help save lives and find a cure.” The ZTA sorority is hosting breast cancer awareness events throughout the month of October. They “pinked out” the campus and Huntsville by tying pink ribbons everywhere as a means of drawing attention to breast cancer. They will be hosting a lip syncing contest on Oct. 24, the Nov. 3 football game will be a “pink out” game, and the Zetas will be selling shirts in the LSC Mall area every day from 12 to 4 p.m. for $10. All the proceeds will to the breast cancer cause.
Students mixed on campus food selections BRANDON SCOTT Staff Reporter Aramark provides a wide variety of foods services at Sam Houston State, but student feedback on eating options is still mixed. Talking with students on campus, they tend to be more cognizant of price and convenience than health. Students tend to agree that there aren’t enough healthy eating options at affordable prices on campuses, but they are at least available. The main dining locations are Old Main Market on the north side of the campus, Paw Print inside the Lowman Student Center and South Paw. Those places offer Pizza Hut, Chic-fil-a, Burger King, Subway, Tortilla Fresca and Sushic.
There are also kiosks in the library, Lee Drain and CHSS buildings. “I think the options are good,” transfer sophomore Matt Hayes said while eating a Subway sandwich outside South Paw. Hayes said he’s never been to Old Main Market because he doesn’t live on-campus or have classes in that direction. “The Subway is good,” he said. “That and Quiznos are usually the healthiest and then there’s Chicfil-a. But they also have salad bars like everywhere, so I think the options are very good.” There was also sophomore Courtney Campbell, who dined at Paw Print. “Honestly, I think the choices are ok,” Campbell said. “If I ever just want something at night and Old Main is closed, I can just
come in here real fast and satisfy my hunger. I think it’s OK.” Others disagree. Two other students leaving the Subway at South Paw said the options weren’t healthy, but with being oncampus, convenience is more of a priority. They were junior business majors but requested anonymity, since after all, no one wants to offend the people who make their food. Jennifer, who ate with friends at Paw Print, had mostly good things to say but only gave her first name. “They do have a lot of convenient options, I’ll give them that,” she said. “They always have something in every price range. You can always get something.” Aramark said it’s addressing all of students concerns by communicating with them directly. When Old Main Market
opened in 2011 to replace Belvin, “We also have an executive part of the focus was to add chef at Old Main that will work healthier food options. with students on customary “When you think about diets,” Blackburn said. “If there healthier food, I do feel we have is something a student is looking captured that,” Aramark marketing for, they’ll meet with the student. specialist Jimmy Williams said. And if there is a better way for us “We found out (students) wanted to communicate with students, let an available vegetable station, so us know in the surveys because we we have that now. We’re trying to value the feedback.” find ways to reach students. With our concept, we’ve built it in such a way that you can watch us cook the food.” Through October, students can offer their input regarding food services on-campus through the Dining Style Survey. The kiosks in Lee Drain and CHSS were brought in through these kinds of surveys, Aramark resident district manager Brad Blackburn said. Students facebook.com/TheHoustonianSHSU wanted more convenient, graband-go places with shorter lines.