Huntsville, Texas
Vol 114 — Issue 17
Attention Bearkats The Sam Houston State University Alumni Association will sponsor a charter bus to the Stephen F. Austin football game in Nacogdoches on Oct. 24. The bus will depart Bowers Stadium parking lot at 10 a.m. Tailgating will begin at noon. The trip package includes bus transportation, game ticket, and tailgate food and drinks. The cost of the package is $40 per person. Reservations are requested by Oct. 21 and can be made by calling the Office of Alumni Relations at 936.294.1841 or going online at alumni.shsu.edu. For more information, contact Brigitte Peres, Alumni Association alumni/events coordinator, at bperes@shsu.edu or 936.294.4123. -SHSU Public Relations
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
SHSU’s Education Ambassadors seeking out new applicants Shanay Lemon
Contributing Writer
They’re educated, they’re motivated, and they want you. The College of Education Ambassadors are nine of Sam Houston’s own Education majors and minors seeking potential individuals with the passion of pursuing a career in education. Brandi Kelly, coordinator for the College of Education Ambassadors, has dedicated the remainder of the Fall 2009 semester to bringing in new members as well as gaining exposure for the organization and the College of Education . The Ambassadors are currently reaching out to local schools in
the Huntsville area as well as other schools around the state of Texas. “Within the next few weeks we’re going to be visiting Huntsville High School, Willis High School, and Aldine High School,” Kelly said. The Ambassadors have even reached out to students just beginning the road to education. “We’ve given tours to fourth graders around the College of Education,” Kelly said. In order for students to be considered as an Ambassador, they must be at least a sophomore with a — See COLLEGE, page 4
UNIVERSITY POLICE DEPARTMENT
Filling a new position Thanks to the tremendous growth of SHSU, the University Police Department has created a brand new position to enforce, instruct parking
By Kristin Meyer Senior Reporter
David Kapalko has been appointed the new assistant director for parking and transportation for SHSU’s department of Public Safety. This position is new and was created because of the recent growth of the University; Kapalko is the first officer to take on the responsibility. “This position was created to better manage the parking resources available on campus and to help develop and maintain a transportation system to be implemented in the very near future,” Chief Kevin Morris said. “This position will oversee all aspects of the Parking & Transportation Office (Parking Permits, Administrative Parking Citations, Parking Rules & Regulations, and Transportation).” Kapalko has a B.S. in Law Enforcement and Corrections from Penn State. He went from being a University Police Officer to a University Parking Manager, which was fairly common at the time. He has since served
as a Manager or Director of Parking and Transportation at several universities, including UT-Austin. He also worked as a parking consultant for a Parking Planning and Engineering firm for three years. “Mr. Kapalko was chosen
due to his prior experience in Parking & Transportation Systems on university campuses. In addition, he brings a wealth of knowledge and contacts from throughout the country,” Chief Morris said. In his new position, Kapalko plans to improve com-
munication with students and begin developing a new transportation system. “I hope to solicit more feedback from our customers, and implement new technology where appropriate to improve customer service,” Kapalko said.
Event to highlight Hispanic role in movement SHSU Public Relations
Spreading their knowledge. It is all smiles for the College of Educations new ambassadors selected in January.
Krystal Jackson | The Houstonian
Building a reputation. Working hard at his desk, new assistant director for parking, David Kapalko, takes control. UPD created the position because of the recent growth of SHSU. The new position will oversee parking permits, administrative parking citations, parking rules and regulations, and transportation.
“El Movimiento”
By Jennifer Gauntt
Courtesy photo from Today at Sam
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
In recognition of Hispanic Heritage month, the SHSU LULAC Young Adults Council will spotlight “El Movimiento” and the impact of Mexican American civil rights advocates on Tuesday (Oct. 20). Assistant professor of English Lee Bebout will show the film “Walk Out” and lead
a discussion on the Chicano Civil Rights Movement beginning at 6 p.m. in College of Humanities and Social Sciences Room 110. “Walk Out,” an HBO film, is based on true events that happened in the 1960s to a group of Chicano (Mexican American) students who fought for justice and equality. “Importantly, leaders of the Chicano Civil Rights
Movement fought along side other leaders at the time such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, but have yet to reach the recognition that these other individuals now have in history,” said Sujey Vega, assistant professor of sociology. “Dr. Bebout’s research and recent book, to be released fall of 2010, deal specifically with ‘El Movimiento,’ as it has come to be known, and
the impact of these Mexican American civil rights advocates generations after their involvement in this crucial moment in U.S. history.” LULAC stands for League of United Latin American Citizens. For more information on LULAC or the event, contact Vega at svega@shsu.edu or Aurora Gomez at avg005@ shsu.edu.
HEALTH CARE PROPOSAL
Adviser: Obama waits on finished health care bill (AP) — The White House is waiting for Congress to settle on a final health care bill, even though President Barack Obama has a clear preference in favor of at least one specific — the much-debated public option, advisers said. Obama, however, will not demand that legislation include a government-run insurance plan intended to drive down costs through competition with private insurers, they said. Instead, the White House will let Congress work out the details required to get something passed.
“There will be compromise. There will be legislation, and it will achieve our goals: helping people who have insurance get more security, more accountability for the insurance industry, helping people who don’t have insurance get insurance they can afford, and lowering the overall cost of the system,” presidential adviser David Axelrod said. The White House and lawmakers are trying to blend five House and Senate committee versions of health care reform legislation into a bill that will pass both houses. Near unanimous Republican
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Uphill battle. President Obama keeps pushing for a health care bill.
FEATURE PRESENTATION
Entertainment editor Kevin Jukkola reviews the movie Where the Wild Things Are. SEE page 5
opposition is expected. The bill approved last week by the Senate Finance Committee drew the only Republican vote yet cast with Democrats on the health care overhaul. Even then, Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, did not commit to supporting the final version of the legislation. House Democrats are insisting on the governmentrun plan, or public option. In the Senate, Republicans and some Democrats oppose the measure, meaning inclusion of the public option would fail to gain the 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican
filibuster. Some in the Senate strongly support inclusion of the public option. Obama “will obviously weigh in when it’s important to weigh in” on the possibility of a public option, chief of staff Rahm Emanuel said. Added Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett: “He’s not demanding that it’s in there. He think it’s the best possible choice.” The president promoted his health care initiative Saturday in his weekly radio and online address and challenged policy makers to
INDEX
Nation & World...page 4
Opinions................page 2
Entertainment........page 5
Campus................page 3
Sports....................page 6
— See HEALTH, page 4
OPINIONS
Page 2 The Houstonian
THE ROSTRUM
“Above all, we must realize that no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is so formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women. It is a weapon our adversaries in today’s world do not have.” Ronald Reagan 40th President of the United States 1911-2004
One step closer... Adesuwa Omoruyi
discusses the impact
of stereotypes on people and society. The last time I checked, I was still a girl. There haven’t been any questions about the validity of that statement lately, but life for me would be much different if that did change before I checked again. By most standards, I’m considered “blessed” based on my physical appearance: my small stature, breasts that don’t need to be pushed up, pearly whites, and ability to truly fill out Apple Bottoms have been envied by countless teen girls and full grown women for years now. One set of eyes’ envy is another’s pleasure, so teenage boys and full grown men have ogled in awe, no matter how uncomfortable, disgusting, or disturbed it may have made me feel. I believe every accomplishment I’ve had to date was a result from my brains, wit, and appealing charm. Those close to me believe my blonde moments are overshadowed by my outward, or physical,
appearance. Now I’ll admit that sometimes, the fabric around my neckline is a tad bit revealing. And yes, at times my slacks fit a little too snugly. Do these facts about me mean that my mental capabilities and morals should be compromised as well? We could all sit down over a cup of cocoa for
“
For example, Caucasians that live in rural areas are all rednecks, every African American loves fried chicken and watermelon, and all Hispanics… I’m sure you get the gist. While many sociologists believe that mental categorizing is necessary and inescapable in our society, I feel it is just an excuse to cast judgment, or
I’ll admit that sometimes, the fabric around my neckline is a tad bit revealing.” hours and debate the answer to this question. No matter what formula or version of yes/no anyone chooses, its basis will always boil down to one word: stereotypes. Merriam Webster defines it as “a standardized mental picture that is held in common by members of a group and that represents an oversimplified opinion, prejudiced attitude, or uncritical judgment”.
label people without truly knowing their character. Think about it: is it right to assume that a student of Asian descent will be the smartest person in Calculus? Or every person from Jamaica practices the Rastafarian ritual involving ganja? Although many may claim that these stereotypes have generally been true, each of us know at least
one individual that breaks the mold. Think of me as a hammer. The next time you see an African American listening to their iPod, or a person of heavy stature consuming a diet beverage, remember that they may not be trying to lose weight, or jamming to rap. Don’t assume the table with four Jews at Denny’s won’t tip, or every highheeled, semi-attractive woman with curvy features would gladly give up her goodies to every willing suitor. These ideals only hurt our progression to a utopian society, something I’d love to see in my lifetime. Need a direct example of broken stereotypes? Hi, my name is Adesuwa Omoruyi, I love the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and watermelon is utterly disgusting. Adesuwa Omoruyi is a regular contributor to The Houstonian. She is a senior Mass Communication major.
Everyone has a story. Addison Reed talks about the importance of looking at the perspectives of others. One of the most important things that I’ve learned about journalism, aside from the basic things like the proverbial “Five Ws,” is that everyone, no matter who they are or where they’ve come from, has a story to tell. From crime scene witnesses to the homeless man who lives under any given bridge, each person on this earth brings a unique perspective to the great story that is life. The story of every person is much like a thread in a great fabric or tapestry. One of my favorite places here in Huntsville is the Stardust Room, a local watering hole that I’ve made myself a regular at over the last few months. One of the things that I like so much about it is that you can go in by yourself, have a seat at the bar, and instantly strike up a conversation with one or more people that lasts for hours. I’ve met and talked to
lawyers, truck drivers, janitors, correctional officers, social workers, and many others, and each of them has what I was talking about earlier; each of them has a story to tell. There’s the local lawyer who has told me stories about his time as a soldier
“
I’m writing about this not to share my drinking stories or about what I learned in MCM 132. I’m writing about this because I feel that this is an incredibly important lesson that extends far beyond the classroom or the bar.
The story of ever person is much like a thread in a great fabric or tapestry” in Vietnam, the retired truck driver who has told me about his travels along America’s highways, and the workforce counselor who I talked to about monetary and fiscal policy until the bar closed a few Saturdays ago. My point is that perhaps nothing more has confirmed for me that everyone has a story than my time at the bar, and I’ve taken that as a confirmation of that early and all important lesson that I’ve spoken of.
I feel that it’s important to always remember that everyone we meet in life always has a unique perspective and story that has shaped them into who they are. It’s very easy to apply our own worldview as a blanket definition of why the world is the way it is, or what is right and wrong. But what I think we ought to remember is that our world isn’t just that one thread that I talked about earlier.
Our world is that big tapestry in which every person’s story is important. I’ve been fortunate because I’ve seen this confirmed in the classroom and in life. Hopefully, many of you have as well. But for those of you that haven’t, do yourself a favor and strike up a conversation with the janitor in the hallway, or maybe even your waitress the next time you go out to eat. You’ll be amazed at what you might learn about other people. You’ll be equally amazed at what you might learn about yourself. And who knows, maybe, if you follow my example, you might just run into me at the bar one of these days. Addison Reed is the Opinions Editor for The Houstonian. He is a senior History major with a Mass Communication minor.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Letter to the Student Body
Dear Sam Houston Students, Staff and Faculty and Alumni: The Houstonian would not survive were it not for the continued involvement and dedication of the SHSU student body. We welcome all column submissions and letters to the editor. If at any time you feel the need to express an opinion, please do not hesitate to email your thoughts or drop by our office in the Dan Rather communications building. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you as always for your continued support of the Houstonian. Addison Reed Opinions Editor dar015@shsu.edu
Paws Up, Paws Down In this section of the opinions page, we take a look at some various news stories around campus and give the parties involved either a “paws up” for a good job, or a “paws down” for a not so good job.
“Paws UP” to the fantastic weather that has graced the Huntsville area throughout the last few days. Looks like it’s finally here to stay!
“Paws DOWN” to the the saddest story surrounding college football this year. UConn cornerback Jasper Howard was stabbed to death in an apparent homicide on Saturday night.
“Paws UP” to Java City, the new coffee joint in the Newton Gresham Library, which will celebrate its grand opening tomorrow at 11:30 a.m.
“Paws DOWN” to the burnt popcorn that apparently was responsible for a string of fire alarms on campus last week.
The article “Products for prizes: Program Council spreads tobacco awareness” by Kaima Akarue had some information that should have been attributed to the Centers of Disease Control.
The individual opinions on the Viewpoints page are not necessarily affiliated with the view of The Houstonian or SHSU. The Houstonian is published semi-weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is a news publication of Sam Houston State University, a member of the Texas State University system, and is produced by students. It is self-supporting and welcomes all advertisers. Those interested in placing ads or classifieds should call (936) 294-4864. The Houstonian is a member of the Associated Press.
The Houstonian Editorial
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kristina Salazar...............................................................936-294-1505 FACULTY ADVISOR Patsy Ziegler.....................................................................936-294-1499 SECTION EDITORS Meagan Ellsworth........................................................Associate Editor Addison Reed................................................................Opinions Editor Lotis Butchko....................................................................Sports Editor Kevin Jukkola........................................................Entertainment Editor Thomas Merka.....................................................................Web Editor STAFF Kristin Meyer.................................................................Senior Reporter Mike Silva......................................................................Sports Reporter Joe Buvid..............................................................................Photo Editor Krystal Jackson.................................................................Photographer Heath Wierck.......................................................................Copy Editor
Advertising BUSINESS MANAGER Tammie Nokes..................................................................936-294-1500 STAFF Brittaney Pires.....................................................Advertising Manager Samantha Berezowsky............................................Account Executive
Advertising Deadlines
Tuesday’s Issue............... Friday at 2:00 p.m. Thursday’s Issue........... Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.
CAMPUS S H SU ro d e o ri d e s i n t o n ew s e a s o n
The Houstonian, Page 3
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Team lassos in winning performances, saddling up for another go-round By Brittany Grant SHSU Rodeo HUNTSVILLE, Texas---The Sam Houston State University rodeo team began the new season with winning performances at the Northeast Texas Community College Rodeo in Mt. Pleasant, Oct. 1-3, and at the Southwest Texas Junior College Rodeo in Uvalde, Oct. 8-10. The men’s team won second place in the team race at both Mt. Pleasant and Uvalde. This exceptional start can be credited to the new team, including All-Around Cowboy Cade Rice. In Mt. Pleasant, Rice won the steer wrestling, and won second place in team roping with his partner, Chase Taylor. At Uvalde, the Rice-Taylor team placed fourth, moving them to second place in the Southern Region of the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association (NIRA). Montana-born cowboy, B.J. Brown, also had a winning season opener in the steer wrestling events, winning second place in Mt. Pleasant and first place at Uvalde. With these two events, Brown now stands in first place in the Southern Region in steer wrestling. Rice ranks second in the region in
2009 SHSU rodeo team is preparing for an upcoming rodeo on Nov. 13-14 in Conroe
steer wrestling. Huntsville native Matthew Love had a winning season opener in roping events, placing second at Uvalde with a 9.90 second run in the tie-
down roping event. This score ranks him in second place in the Southern Region. Other SHSU rodeo team members who placed at the Uvalde rodeo were Derek
Photo courtesy of Shannon McQueen
Robinson, who scored 73 and won second place in saddle bronc riding, and Cory Baudoin, who scored a 78 and won third place in bareback riding.
The women’s team also began this year with winning performances from former Southern Region Breakaway Roping Champion Ashley Moreau and Southern Region
Reserve All-Around Cowgirl Kaki Herring. At Mt. Pleasant, Herring won the goat tying event with a time of 6.7 seconds. She also placed second in goat tying and third place in the breakaway roping at Uvalde. Herring currently leads the standings in goat tying and is in fifth place in the breakaway roping for the Southern Region. Senior Ashley Moreau won second place in breakaway roping at Mt. Pleasant and continued a winning performance at Uvalde, where she placed second in breakaway roping and third in barrel racing. With the scores on those two events, she won All-Around Cowgirl for the Uvalde rodeo. In the Southern Region, Moreau is currently ranked second in breakaway roping and fifth in barrel racing. The SHSU Rodeo team is preparing for an upcoming rodeo at 7:30 p.m., Nov. 1314 at the Montgomery County Fairgrounds off FM 1484 in Conroe. The SHSU rodeo team is coached by Edward “Bubba” Miller. CONTACT: Lorri Jones, (936) 294-2402, lvjones@ shsu.edu
H a u n t i n g t h e r u n w ay
Getting it ‘write’ for students campus-wide
By Victoria Craven
By Brittany McClure
Austin hall to transform into a spook spectacular fashion show for students ready to model
Contributing Writer The Spook Spectacular Fashion Show will be held Wednesday, Oct. 21, in Austin Hall from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. “The purpose of this show is to showcase the hottest Halloween costumes from this season, while also allowing self-confidence to spread among the viewers,” Asia Singer said. The costumes will vary from funny to scary which will surely bring both laughter and chills to the audience. The fashion show was put together by Beautiful Alliance. Beautiful Alliance is a Sam Houston State University organization that promotes self-confidence and self esteem among the student body. They are a fashion/community based organization that goes against the stereotype of what a “perfect” sized model is in today’s society.
The models in the show are SHSU students who have a passion for relaying Beautiful Alliance’s motto of “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Beautiful Alliance would like to give a big thanks to Fade to Black, BA’s E-Board, the extraordinary models, Faralyn Metoyer (BA’s event coordinator), Asia Singer (BA’s Publicity Chair) and a special thanks to Wally’s Party Factory for sponsoring all of the costumes and decorations for the fashion show. The Spook Spectacular Fashion Show is free and open to the public. Come out and have a good time. There is a surprise performance at the end!
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Wr i t i n g C e n t e r o f f e r s c o n s t r u c t i v e c r i t i c i s m f o r a n y w r i t e r Contributing Writer
Many students are apprehensive about asking for help when working on essays and term papers. Some feel embarrased, while others just will not admit that his or her work could use a little something extra. This is where the Sam Houston Writing Center comes in. The Writing Center is a service used by classes across the campus to help students better themselves as writers. Students who visit the Writing Center will receive one-on-one help with one of the trained staff
members, who will help with brainstorming, organization, research, proofreading and overall fine-tuning. “This is not a remedial process,” said Writing Center Director Ann Theodori, said. The diverse staff is made of 25 undergraduate and graduate students from varying majors such as English, Criminal Justice, and Biology. In addition to handson help from the staff, the Writing Center also features a resource library, handouts, style manuals, and a small computer lab. Students also tend to have a common misconception that the Writing Center is only available for assistance with English papers. Theodori
emphasized that this program will help students with writing assignments from any class campus-wide. “We will help any writer with any assignment from any department at any stage of the writing process,” Theodori said. Since the Writing Center typically holds more than 4,000 sessions per semester, and the demand for help has increased recently, an appointment is required. the Writing Center is open everyday and each session is completely free. For more information or to set up an appointment, visit the Writing Center in Farrington 111 or call 936294-3680.
THE
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Page 4 The Houstonian
NATION & WORLD
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
NEWS BRIEFS
are looking forward to a Leadership Conference in Los Angeles, CA as well as preparing to present at more schools. “We’re looking forward to getting our name out and establishing ourselves as a leadership organization,” Kelly said. The organization provides a vast amount of opportunities in furthering the careers of their members, some ranging from networking to getting practice in speaking in front of a classroom setting. “They get to work real closely with Dean Brown and the College of Education. We work really closely with professors and networking—they’re getting to go to different high schools… it’s a great opportunity to meet people in their field,” Kelly said. Whether your passion is in Math, English, or Science, the College of Education Ambassadors wants to encourage those who have the drive for gaining knowledge as well as sharing and enriching the minds of future students.
Octuplets mom’s doc expelled from organization (AP) — The Beverly Hills doctor who gave fertility treatments to octuplets mom Nadya Suleman has been expelled from a professional organization. Dr. Michael Kamrava was kicked out of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine last month, group spokesman Sean Tipton said Monday. Tipton said Kamrava
has repeatedly violated the group’s standards. He declined to provide details but said Kamrava was not expelled because of his work with any single patient. Suleman has said Kamrava implanted her with six embryos — far more than national guidelines specify. Suleman gave birth to octuplets in January.
BRUTAL CHICAGO CRIME
Charges dropped against Ill. teen in beating death (AP) — First-degree murder charges were dropped Monday against one of four teens accused in the brutal beating of a Chicago honor student that was recorded in a cell phone camera video. Eugene Bailey, 18, of Chicago, was arrested Sept. 26, two days after 16-year-old Derrion Albert was killed during a fight after classes let out at Christian Fenger Academy High School on the city’s South Side. Prosecutors dropped the charge Monday with little explanation. “While the charge against Bailey was brought in good faith based on witness accounts and identifications, additional information has developed during the ongoing investigation that warranted dismissal of the murder charge against Bailey at this time,” the state’s attorney’s office in Cook County said in a statement. A spokeswoman for the office declined to elaborate, saying the investigation is ongoing. Three other teens are facing charges in the melee: Silvonus Shannon, 19; Eugene Riley, 18; and Eric Carson, 16. All are being held without bail. Their next court date is Friday. A cell phone video shows a group of people striking Albert with boards and kicking him as he lay on a sidewalk. Albert, who was a sophomore at Fenger, has
been described by police as an innocent bystander caught up in the fight. Albert’s death and the disturbing footage of the beating quickly attracted the attention of President Barack Obama, who sent Attorney General Eric Holder and Education Secretary Arne Duncan to the city to meet with Fenger students, parents and administrators. Duncan, the former chief of Chicago Public Schools, said Fenger would receive an emergency grant of about $500,000 for counselors or other programs. Federal officials also promised support for efforts nationwide to fight youth violence. In Chicago, Mayor Richard Daley has introduced plans to add more police officers at schools and funding for after-school programs. A woman who answered the phone at Bailey’s home number hung up when contacted Monday for comment. Bailey’s family has maintained his innocence, saying he and Albert were friends. They claimed Bailey, a senior at Fenger, wasn’t at the fatal fight and police had misidentified him in the video. “They need to stop the crime, but when they do it, they need to get the right person,” said Bailey’s aunt, Desiyan Bacon.
Nurses’ union threatens strike over swine flu
(AP) — A nurses’ union is threatening a one-day strike at 34 hospitals across California, accusing them of poor swine flu preparedness. California Nurses Association spokesman Chuck Idelson says up to 16,000 registered nurses will strike on Oct. 30 if federal swine flu recommendations aren’t written into their contracts. Idelson said Monday that nurses have complained about poor ac-
cess to protective masks since a Sacramento nurse died in July after contracting swine flu. Catholic Healthcare West runs 28 of the hospitals expected to be affected by the strike. Hospital chain spokeswoman Jill Dryer says contract negotiations have been under way since March and include a commitment to provide safe working environments for nurses.
Man accused of threatening Obama pleads not guilty (AP) — A Northern California man accused of sending threatening e-mails to President Barack Obama and other officials has pleaded not guilty to federal charges. Federal authorities say 59-year-old John Gimbel of Crescent City sent a new batch of messages on Sept. 28 after previously being warned to stop. Authorities say the e-mails contained racist, profane language and included threats to the first lady.
Gimbel was arrested Oct. 6 by the U.S. Secret Service and was indicted before Obama appeared in San Francisco on Thursday for a fundraiser. Randall Davis, Gimbel’s former attorney, says Gimbel argues he was exercising his free speech rights. On Monday, a federal public defender was appointed to the case, which has been transferred to San Francisco.
Police stop driver for 15 violations in 11 minutes AP) — Authorities say an Italian man took reckless driving to new heights in 11 frantic minutes of traffic violations in eastern Switzerland. They said they first spotted the 47-year-old driver as he sped his jeep past an unmarked police car at 160 kph (100 mph) in a rainstorm Sunday. Driving dangerously close to other cars on the autobahn, he then allegedly ignored police attempts to pull him over — first with a stop sign,
and then with flashing lights and sirens. Police say the man drove through a construction zone at 140 kmh (87 mph), nearly twice the speed limit, before being stopped. They seized the man’s driver’s license, and a judge ordered him tested for medications and illegal drugs. Police said Monday the man racked up 15 traffic violations in 11 minutes.
From COLLEGE page 1
minimum 3.0 G.P.A majoring or minoring in education. In addition to the standard requirements and having great references from professors, there are other qualifications must have for consideration. “You have to be a selfstarter, really dedicated to education itself, you have to be out-going; you have to be able to go into a room with 150 students and get your message across,” Kelly said. It has already been a year since Genevieve Brown, Dean of the College of Education and sponsor Ken Hendrickson established the organization. In that span, they have reached over 400 students through presenting at grade schools to reaching out through campus functions such as Bearkat Family Weekend and presenting to the Sam 136 classes. The Ambassadors are currently planning to read to kindergarten students at the Huntsville library, and
From HEALTH page 1
resist special interests. He accused the insurance industry of “filling the airwaves with deceptive and dishonest ads” and paying for studies “designed to mislead the American people.” A study commissioned by the industry reported that the Democrats’ health care effort would drive up premiums for the insured, a conclusion faulted for taking a decidedly narrow view of legislation. The industry also has been running an ad that could easily be interpreted as asserting that basic Medicare coverage is at risk. Asked if Obama would sign a bill that ended the antitrust exemption for the insurance industry and allow
caps on premiums, Axelrod said, “We’ll see what Congress does.” A 1945 law lets states regulate insurers without federal interference. Axelrod was also noncommittal when pressed about whether Obama would support taxing insurance benefits, a proposal that has brought criticism from labor unions and others. “I think that this thing is going to be adjusted as we go along,” he said, “so let’s see what the final proposal says before we talk about what the president will or won’t sign.” Axelrod spoke on ABC’s “This Week,” Emanuel spoke on CNN’s “State of the Union” and CBS’ “Face the Nation” and Jarrett appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
BALLOON BOY CONTROVERSY
Balloon boy charges may not come until next week (AP) — Investigators pored over e-mails, phone records and financial documents from the home of Richard Heene on Monday as they weighed felony charges and sought to determine who else might have helped the alleged balloonboy hoax get off the ground. The sheriff’s office said its findings will be forwarded to prosecutors next week to decide if Richard and Mayumi Heene should be charged with falsely reporting that their 6-year-old child had drifted away in a large home-built helium balloon to drum up publicity for a reality TV show. But the investigation could reach beyond the Heenes, possibly into the world of reality-show promotions. Larimer County Sheriff Jim Alderden said documents show that a media outlet had agreed to pay the Heenes. Alderden did not name the organization but said it was in an industry that blurs “the line between entertainment and news.” It was not clear whether the deal was signed before or after the alleged hoax, or whether the media outlet was a possible conspirator. If so, the organization could face charges as well. The Heenes are amateur storm chasers who apparent-
ly wanted to star in a reality show that focused on a range of absurd experiments, such as attracting UFOs with a weather balloon, launching a model rocket into space and conducting an electromagnetic analysis of a terminally ill patient’s spirit before death. Robert Thomas, a collaborator who worked with Richard Heene on the idea, provided an e-mail to the Web site Gawker.com outlining his plan for the show. The sheriff’s department questioned Thomas on Sunday night after he revealed that Heene was planning a media stunt to promote the show, according to the researcher’s lawyer, Linda Lee. Lee said investigators told her Thomas does not face charges and is not a person of interest in the case. Thomas has said he had no idea that a possible hoax would involve the Heene children. With television cameras and reporters set up outside the Heene home, defense lawyer David Lane stressed that the Heenes are willing to turn themselves in to avoid the spectacle of a public arrest. Lane declined to say directly whether he believes the incident was a hoax but said the Heenes are innocent unless convicted. The Heen-
Big trouble. The world appeared captivated on teh scene of a foating flying saucer that was reported to have 6-year-old Falcon Heene (pictured above) inside. However, it was later found out that the entire story was a hoax, and now the Heenes face legal implications.
es remained holed up in their home until midafternoon, when they left in a pickup truck without commenting. If prosecutors “can prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, that’s one thing. If they can’t prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, that’s another,” Lane told The Associated Press. Alderden said he is seeking charges against the Heenes that include conspiracy, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, making a false report to authorities and attempting to influence a public servant. The most serious charges are felonies and carry a max-
imum sentence of six years in prison. Alderden said authorities would be seeking restitution for the costs, though he did not have an estimate. Alderden said the children were still with the parents and that child protective services had been contacted to investigate their well-being. It’s also possible that Heene could face federal charges because he called the Federal Aviation Administration to report his son missing in the balloon. Those charges could include lying to the federal government, a count similar to the one that sent Martha Stewart
to prison in her stock-fraud case. The balloon spectacle was not the first time Richard Heene has run afoul of the law. He was arrested in April 1997 and charged with three misdemeanors — vandalism, vehicle tampering and disturbing the peace, according to court documents. He pleaded no contest to vandalism and was sentenced to 30 days in jail, two years probation and ordered to pay $100 restitution, according to Frank Mateljan, a spokesman for the Los Angeles city attorney’s office. The other two charges
were dropped. Mateljan said he did not know who the victim was, and no details on the case were available. It’s still not known who else was working with Heene to launch the reality show. The sheriff’s department refused to answer questions Monday. Heene has a profile listed on a Web site that helps people get cast in reality shows, and the site said he last logged on in late September — around the time investigators said the hoax was taking root. The site lists his occupation as a research scientist and general contractor with a high school education. The Heenes twice appeared on ABC’s “Wife Swap,” including an episode in March in which they talk about their belief that they are the descendants of aliens and discuss their approach to parenting. At one point, Richard Heene is seen screaming and throwing a drink in a participant’s face. The producer of “Wife Swap” had a show in development with the Heenes but said the deal is now off. The TLC cable network also said Heene had pitched a reality show months ago, but it passed on the offer.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
ENTERTAINMENT
The Houstonian, Page 5
LOCAL EVENTS
Rock the Republic brings worthwhile entertainment to Bryan Victoria Craven
Contributing Writer
The first annual Rock the Republic was held on October 15-17, 2009 in downtown Bryan, Texas. This event was a three night “Spectacle of Sight and Sound” which presented a variety of musicians, artists and slam poets exclusively from Texas. RTR featured a variety of performing and fine arts in attempt to relate to everyone’s interests. There was live music, a poetry slam, variety show, dance contest and a free-style
BMX race. Painting and other local original artwork was displayed throughout the different venues. “No one has ever combined the worlds of Texas music and Slam Poetry like we have!” John Wesley, Entertainment Director said. The turnout was great with lines outside most of the venues as late as 11 p.m. “The event was amazing! I can’t count how many people came up to me or other organizers to thank us for putting on this event. Quite a few bands told me that this was the most amazing festival
that they have ever played in or attended. I am still in awe of what happened this past weekend! For lack of better words, it was magical,” Wesley said. Slam poetry is a competition at which poets read or recite original work and are judged by randomly selected audience members. “Slam poetry is big, but it’s still kind of underground,” Stephen Sargent, sponsorship director for the event, said. Two-time Individual World Poetry Slam Champion, Buddy Wakefield, preformed some of his esteemed
work. Four poets from the HBO television program “Def Poetry” also attended the event. There were 100 bands that performed 60-90 minute sets. This large time frame gave the bands time to shine to their full potential without being rushed. Some favorite local acts included StrawberryJAM and Flawless Escape. Other bands from surrounding areas were The Black and White Year and Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. “[It is] so hard to say what the best performances were. We literally had
the very best bands and poets from across the entire state of Texas! A lot of fans raved about The Black and White Years, Keite Young, Oso Closo, Suzanna Choffel, Odis , and Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. There are too many ridiculously great acts to isolate what the best show was,” Wesley said. Downtown Bryan was the chosen location because the RTR staff members believe it has enormous untapped potential. “This is an amazing place to be with a lot of young people who are craving great music,” Wesley said.
“They don’t always want to have to drive 200 miles to hear it or see it.” There are currently plans for a Rock the Republic in 2010. “There was never any intention but to put on a “spectacle” that will last for ages,” Wesley said. “No one had ever done what we just accomplished. We had the best of both worlds. The most amazing spoken word poets (slam poets) and musicians from ever major region in Texas. Not to mention the great artwork from across the state that we displayed at the various venues. It was an unbelievable experience.”
WEEKLY REVIEW
At the Movies with Kevin: Where the Wild Things Are Kevin Jukkola
Entertainment Editor
“Where the Wild Things Are” is a complete and utter disaster. It is an awful, incomprehensibly dreadful experience from its depressing beginning to its everlasting end. The film has no discernable redeeming qualities other than the fact that it finally, blessedly ended in less than two hours. The story begins by showing Max (Max Records), an immature child whose igloo is torn down by his sister’s friends who then
proceeds to pick a fight and bite his mother (Catherine Keener) because he is pure, uninhibited, unchallenged evil. He is not an intriguing type of evil, but rather the boring, loud, mean, and unsympathetic kind. This is such an unlikable child that I wanted him to return to normal life to find that his family had moved, making him an orphan, because then he might be appreciative of all he once possessed. Following the fight, Max travels to the end of the neighborhood and eventually across a lake to find the wild things at another land,
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hoping for a king that could lead them to a better life. The film wants the audience to be happy that he is finally receiving the attention he desperately craved, but visions of Hitler attaining power in early 1930’s Germany kept rushing to my consciousness. I have to admit to being surprised that he did not lead the wild things on a massive killing spree. The interaction between Max and the wild things mostly consists of them hitting each other with various objects, while smiling and laughing at inappropriate times. This is too bad, because “Where the Wild Things Are” could have promoted acceptance and the extinction of intolerance, instead of a film that encourages arrogance, selfishness, and remorselessness. The only lesson it teaches children is how to judge people and separate them into groups based on first impressions, such as when Max groups the wild things into Good Guys and Bad Guys during the play war, which is not something any kid should view as a permissible way to act. Max learns nothing throughout the story and the filmmakers effectively come to a random, abrupt conclusion because they believe that an hour and a half was the longest they could keep the attention of children. Max desperately needs to seek a psychiatric evaluation for serious abandonment and narcissism issues, rather than depending on his reaction with the wild things to solve all of his problems. The most disturbing part of his persona is the abnormal howling noise he makes whenever he feels it is appropriate. There is no subtlety or truth in the film, especially by Max Records, possibly because there are no themes it explores deep enough to require such care. This is mainly
because it believes that children are not smart enough to handle complexity, which is simply not true. There have been certain rumors that indicate a possibility for “Where the Wild Things Are” being included in the 10 Best Picture nominees at this year’s Oscars, which would rank as one of the worst and most inexplicable choices in Academy Awards history. While watching this shockingly bad experience, I began looking forward to such pleasantries as a colonoscopy, a root canal, and a spinal tap, which might be less painful and more enlightening. “Where the Wild Things Are” began to force me to raise certain questions that it did not bother to answer. Why are these wild things on this earth in this form and why do they speak English? I know it is a children’s fantasy, but some forethought into the development and evolution of these creatures would have been nice. What provokes this inappropriate reaction and terrible behavior by Max at the beginning and why does he choose to exhibit no remorse? As the film plodded along, it finally made me ask, where is the power line and how can I cut it to make this endless suffering stop? The lesson might be not to give directors who have made great films on small budgets the ability to doodle with expensive projects. First, this mistake was made by giving Mark Forster the task to direct the latest Bond movie disaster “Quantum of Solace” after he proved his ability with the great “Monster’s Ball,” which he made on a modest sum of money. Now, Spike Jonze, who directed the inventive and perpetually exciting “Being John Malkovich” and “Adaptation” on reasonable budgets, receives an opportunity to produce his own catastrophe with “Where the Wild Things Are” and does not disappoint. Both directors forgot the core of what made them appealing, which were the memorable
characters. “Where the Wild Things Are” is terrible in every aspect, and I hate it even more because it attempts to con the audience with an emotional ending that lacks any resonance or authenticity because of the lack of sympathetic characters. It attempts to illustrate a depiction of the affects of a divorce on a small child, but I have seen a more accurate exploration of this from “Brooke Knows Best.” There is nothing that is interesting, fun, or entrancing in the film, and it would have been better if there were some closure between Max and the wild things. The problem is that would have meant a longer, drawn-out ending that would have simply extended the unbearable, agonizing pain that was being inflicted upon me from the screen. On second thought, the current ending is acceptable if only because it is aids in expediting the escape from this cinematic prison.
Where the Wild Things Are
Stars: 1/2 * Grade: DRunning Time: 101 min. MPAA: Rated PG for mild thematic, some adventure action, and brief language. Cast: Max Records (Max), Catherine Keener (Mom). With the voices of: James Gandolfini (Carol), Paul Dano (Alexander), Catherine O’Hara (Judith), Forest Whitaker (Ira), Michael Berry, Jr. (The Bull), Chris Cooper (Douglas), Lauren Ambrose (KW). Directed by Spike Jonze. Written by Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers, inspired by the book and illustrations by Maurice Sendak
Entertainment Poll of the Week An ensemble film is a story that follows vast amounts of characters that center around a common theme. Even though it is not an ensemble film, there are many characters in “Where the Wild Things Are,” which begs the question of what is the best ensemble film of the decade? Choices: -Babel -City of God -Closer -Crash -Eastern Promises -Gosford Park -The Kite Runner -No Country for Old Men -Syriana -Traffic
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Looking for a ray of sunlight in a sea of disaster. Max (Max Record) and the wild things look at the coast, but unexpectedly nobody decided to swim to safety in an attempt to escape this awful project in “Where the Wild Things Are.”
SPORTS
Page 6 The Houstonian
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Bearkats lose control Home field nothing Column
Sports Editor Lotis Butchko expresses his displeasure with the lack of attendance at Sam Houston State Football games Lotis Butchko Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Jack Wilkins
Breaking loose. Southeastern Louisiana Quarterback Brian Babin scrambles lose from the hold of Sam Houston defense.
Sam Houston scored early but could not hold on as the Lions rolled to a conference victory Mike Silva
Staff Reporter
The Sam Houston State Bearkats suffered a crushing loss to conference foe Southeastern Louisiana, 3721, this Saturday, dropping their record to 3-3 overall and 1-1 in Southland Conference play. Whenever the Bearkats made a mistake, the Lions were right there to capitalize. Dropped balls, penalties, and poor decision-making led the Bearkats to their second consecutive road loss of the season. Southeastern Louisiana was successful seven of 16 times on third down for a total of 129 yards. The Bearkats committed 11 penalties for 105 yards. The number that stands out most though is time of possession. The Lions held the ball for 36:43 compared to Sam Houston’s 23:17. “I thought from an offensive standpoint we played as poorly as we could play,” Head Coach Todd Whitten said. “We were nonexistent. We jumped offsides, we had a holding call bring a touchdown back, we had a personal foul, we fumbled the snap, we dropped eight balls, and threw three interceptions. It doesn’t get any worse than that. “ Running back James Aston was the bright spot of the offense. Aston carried the
ball 14 times for 103 yards and caught a team-high six catches for 54 yards. He also returned two kicks for 111 yards, including an 89yard kickoff return for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter. Blake Joseph completed 16 of 35 passes for 180 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions. Chris Lucas led the receiving core with four catches for 76 yards. Jason Madkins caught three passes for 32 yards and two touchdowns. “We really shot ourselves in the foot on offense,” said Aston, who had a gamehigh 268 all-purpose yards. “We made a lot of mistakes with penalties and dropped balls. I think if we could’ve eliminated these mistakes it would’ve been a different game.” The Bearkat defense surrendered 473 total yards of offense to the Lions. Southeastern Louisiana wide receiver Simmie Yarbrough shredded the Sam Houston defense with eight catches for 151 yards and three touchdowns. Southeastern Louisiana also ran for a total of 187 yard. The defense may have been ineffective, but the struggles were mainly because of the ineffectiveness of the offense. The defense was on the field for a total of 83 plays for over 36 minutes. “Anytime you give up
37 points its hard to win,” said Defensive Coordinator Scott Stoker. “We’ve got to be able to get off the field. We got worn out late in the fourth quarter. We had our chances, we’re just not very consistent right now defensively.” Sam Houston came out of the gate looking good by making some big plays on defense, including forcing an interception and two three-and-outs on Southeastern Louisiana’s first three possessions. Playing with a short field, the Bearkats drove 57 yards downfield to score the game’s first touchdown on their third drive of the game. Following a 16-yard touchdown pass to Madkins, the Bearkats took an early 7-0 lead. The Lions answered back immediately following an 80-yard drive, Southeastern Louisiana scored on a twoyard touchdown pass to Yarbrough, tying the score at 7-7. Sam Houston had momentum in the drive up until a costly 15-yard facemask penalty. From that point on, the Lions controlled the game. On the next Bearkat drive, Joseph was intercepted for the second time in the game. Southeastern Louisiana capitalized on a 43-yard field goal to give them their first lead of the game at 10-7. The Lions extended their lead to 17-7 on the next
drive following another Yarbrough touchdown reception. Sam Houston fought to get back in the game on the next drive, but the drive ultimately resulted in another Joseph interception. The Lions booted a 46yard field goal to give them a 20-7 lead going into the half. The Bearkats showed life coming out of the half with an impressive touchdown drive of 89 yards. They moved the ball easily on a drive that ended with a twoyard touchdown catch for Madkins. Down 20-24, Sam Houston had life. Following a 20-yard Lions field goal, the Bearkats looked to respond. The response was a dropped pass for a sure touchdown by Darrell Armstead. Then, a drop by Darnell Jones. Then, a drop by Chris Lucas. One play after a Sam Houston punt, Yarbrough caught a 52-yard touchdown pass, putting the game out of reach at 30-14. James Aston scored on a kickoff return on the next play, bringing the score to 37-21. But the effort was too little too late The Bearkats will look to improve next week as they hit the road to take on Stephen F. Austin for “the Battle of the Piney Woods,” Sam Houston looks to improve to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the conference.
Bearkat Soccer wins in dramatic fashion
It was normal, it was ever so normal. The crowd was loud and there were points where I felt like I was at the Cotton Bowl. Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, Louisiana has something that Bowers Stadium lacks, which is, fans and support. I have been at Sam for about a year now and the one thing I wish there was more of is support. With the exceptions of the Kat Krazies and the freshmen, the student section at games is empty. Let me make one thing clear people – you go away to college – that don’t mean that every weekend you run back home to be with mommy and daddy. If you wanted to do that, go to junior college and save your parents some money. The reason they call it home field advantage is because the crowd is supposed to get rowdy and loud, disrupting the other team’s play calling and communication. The only problem Bowers lacks is that there aren’t enough fans to make the noise. One metal sign and a few hammers can only do so much. I would love nothing more than to see the football team get a penalty for the crowd throwing stuff on the field, because at least that would mean that fans cared enough to do something about the game. But last time I checked, empty seats don’t throw trash or cause commotion. There was a point in the game where the Southeastern fans came down to the rails and taunted the Sam Houston players, I mean really badgered them. The Bearkat in me wanted to hit these guys so hard they would be paying their dentists’ college loans back, but the reporter in me couldn’t help but want to see that at our own games. Wouldn’t it be great? Fans taunting the other team so much that members of their traveling group would feel the urge to shove a penalty flag down our fans’ throats in order to shut them up. What will it take for this to happen? Booze day? Where the first one thousand students to the game get a free beer. Or how about extra credit day? First thousand kids get a letter grade boost. I don’t know what to suggest anymore. It gets worse than football season though. Volleyball games are pretty empty and I won’t even start on Soccer games. But if we could do one thing right it would be the Stephen F. Austin game. Students can get on the bus and head to SFA for 40 dollars. Wouldn’t that be a sight? Burst into SFA with a bus load of orange and some war cries? Please, students, show up to a game. Start with one, if we had as many people at a football game as we do at quarter night, maybe we could make the words, “home field advantage,” mean something. Average Attendance at Bearkat Athletics Football Volleyball Basketball Baseball Soccer
1,700 NA NA 120 NA
Figures are based on last season.
Kats continue to improve as the young team rolls to a .500 record
Amy Turek
Contributing Writer
The Bearkat women’s soccer team faced off Sunday against the Utah Valley University Wolverines, hoping to rectify their crushing 6-0 defeat at the hands of SFA on Friday night. The Bearkats won 3-2. The game started out evenly, neither team controlling possession, and both teams playing very defensively and taking very few shots. SHSU forward Shelby Grissett scored off a shot from 19 yards out in the 39 minute. The Bearkats led 1-0 at halftime. In the second half, the Wolverines came out attacking, putting more pressure on the Bearkat defense. However, it was the Bearkats who scored first. In the 58 minute, a Utah Valley defender committed a bad foul
inside the penalty box giving Sam Houston a penalty kick. Midfielder Kirby Zak took the shot and beat the goalkeeper, going high and to the left. Then in the 80 minute, midfielder Natalie Pantel netted the ball in the upper left corner, putting the Bearkats up 3-0. With just under two minutes remaining, a Utah Valley forward snuck the ball past keeper Jenny Pence to make it 3-1. Less than a minute later, another Utah Valley defender fired a shot past Pence, bringing the game within one point. Fortunately the Bearkats were able to hold off the Wolverines for the remaining seconds to pull off the win. “It was a good improvement from the way we played Friday,” said Head Coach Tom Brown. “But we need to correct some things. [Utah Valley] broke us down.” The Bearkats look to improve their record to 7-7-2 on Friday Oct. 23 against UTSA.
Joe Buvid | The Houstonian
Shoot and Score. Sam Houston soccer wins again