Volume 126 | Issue 19

Thursday, October 30, 2014

The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University

What’s happening at Sam KEELER, P.2

SFA, P.4

Read what Coach K.C. Keeler has to say about his inaugural BOTPW

The Houstonian ranks the top 20 jokes at the expense of the Lumberjacks

BEAT SFA Volume 126 | Issue 19

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Alex Broussard | The Houstonian

TROPHY. The Bearkat football team hoists the Battle of the Piney Woods trophy after last season’s 56-49 victory over the Stephen F. Austin State Lumberjacks. The 88-year-old rivalry commences again this Saturday at NRG Stadium.

SHAWN MCFARLAND Senior Reporter

When Sam Houston State football defeated Stephen F. Austin State 19-6 in November 1923, neither team realized they were creating the Battle of the Piney Woods.

Sparked since that 1923 game, the rivalry game enters its 89th meeting on Saturday at NRG Stadium in Houston.

“It’s a wonderful rivalry,” SHSU athletic director Bobby Williams said. “It’s one of the best around.”

Of the 88 previous meetings between the two teams, the Bearkats hold a 51-35-2 lead in the all-

time series.

As the two teams face off in the Southland Conference battle this week, fans will fill the stands to see the third-longest rivalry in Texas. This will be the fifth game between the two teams at NRG stadium with the Bearkats winning three of the last four.

Not only has there been great history in the games but great players have taken part in the BOTPW as well. Sixty NCAA Division-I All-Americans have participated in the great rivalry games and 110 players went on to play in the NFL, including six who have played in a Super Bowl.

SFA will see a young and different SHSU squad than in previous years. While neither the SHSU all-time leading rusher nor previ-

ous four-year starting quarterback are with SHSU, head coach in K.C. Keeler leads the Bearkats as well as many transfer athletes.

This is Keeler’s first game in the rivalry.

“When I first got here, before I was hired in the interview process, I was hearing talk about not bringing purple with me if I got the job,” Keeler said. “I wasn’t quite sure what they were talking about.”

Since 2007, the winner of the game not only gets bragging rights for a year but also the Piney Woods trophy. The 21-pound trophy has replica pistols on a tombstone with each teams’ logo engraved on the handles. This year, the winner also stays in the hunt for the SLC title while the loser’s

season is more likely in jeopardy.

“It’s more than just the Battle for the Piney Woods,” Keeler said.

“For us it’s we win out, we are conference champs and make the playoffs. We know we need to go one at a time, but we know this is a huge ball game.”

In four of the last five BOTPW games, the winner has gone on to win the SLC championship, and all five times the winner has made it to the FCS playoffs. Nine out of the last 13 games have been decided by eight points or less. The majority of the BOTPW games are either blowouts or down-tothe-wire games. With SHSU and SFA being two of the five teams tied for first in the SLC, this game lines up to be another big game in the historic rivalry.

“This game is big for us,” Keeler said. “One of us will be knocked out out of the conference hopeful list.”

As much as a rivalry as it is, a rivalry still has to hold the upmost respect for one another team. Williams, who has been in the SHSU sports program for 33 years, said he has many friends who work at SFA. “We have some really good friends over there,” Williams said.

“It’s one of those types of things where we want to beat each other. It’s intense, it’s a great atmosphere, but afterwards there are some good friendships over there.”

Bearkats will kickoff at 3 p.m. in Houston at NRG Stadium on Saturday.

Nine months later, SGA welcomes youngest member TEDDI CLIETT Staff Reporter While new legislation is being discussed, Student Government Association Vice President Brooke Hunter feels a thump in her stomach and is reminded that, now, she is more than just an SGA member.

She’s a mother.

Hunter, who has been involved in SGA since last spring, just welcomed the newest member into the organization, her daughter Peighton Makenzie Hunter, on Oct. 17.

Hunter was originally attracted to SGA because of their service and decided she wanted to be part of an organization that gave back to the student body.

Her pregnancy for the last nine months, what might be considered a setback to others, had little effect on Hunter’s state of mind.

“I was a little bit nervous I was going to have to step down after finding out about my pregnancy, but I worked my school schedule out to where I’m all online this semester, so I was able to work it out to where I wouldn’t miss too much class,” Hunter said. “I’ll still be able to be in the office and take care of my responsibilities as far as SGA.” The hardest part, according to Hunter, will be leaving her daughter Peighton for mandatory SGA

Chris Winfield | The Houstonian

BABY TIME. Student Government Association Vice President Brooke Hunter holds her newly-born baby, Peighton Makenzie Hunter, after Tuesday’s SGA meeting. Hunter is continuing to serve in her full capacity despite having gone through childbirth no more than two weeks ago.

events or meetings.

“I have to go to the student advisory board meetings, which are in Austin or Beaumont,” Hunter said. “That will be the hardest part, leaving her here, but she’ll be taken care of. I’ll also have to leave her for two hours during the meetings on Tuesdays.”

“I realized what they [SGA] did and how much they did for the campus, and it was like, why not be able to help them?” Hunter said.

However, more opportunity arose when the idea of running for vice president became a tan-

gible goal.

“I felt like a lot of people didn’t know about student government and I felt like running for that position, knowing as many people as I did, would help [in getting] the students more involved,” Hunter said. “We do a lot for the students to make them more aware of what we do and what goes on [at SHSU].”

SGA members are flooded with responsibility, and Hunter is no exception. Her obligations as vice president include overseeing all internal affairs as well as making

sure that all departments are on track and completing tasks.

Above all, Hunter said she is committed to making sure that SGA is serving the student body.

“I feel like I’ve been handling it pretty well,” Hunter said concerning her management of vice presidency.

According to Hunter, the rest of SGA has been nothing but supportive of both her pregnancy and her decision to continue serving in the organization. “[The rest of SGA has been] very positive, actually,” Hunter

said. “They have been very helpful; some senators have actually gotten things for her and they’re very excited for her to be here. I got tons of text messages and emails [with] congratulations and asking for pictures. We’re a family, so they welcomed her as the first baby in office.”

Although the SGA vice president realizes is won’t always be easy, she remains optimistic about her future with the organization.

“Why not?” she said. “She’s here, it happened, and I feel like I can do it.”

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Thursday, October 30, 2014

Page 2 Sit down with Coach Keeler, his first Battle of the Piney Woods RYAN REYNOLDS Layout Editor The Battle of the Piney Woods football game against Stephen F. Austin State is just two days away.

SFA is ranked 23rd and tied for the Southland Conference lead with Sam Houston State and three other schools. The Houstonian decided to sit down with SHSU head coach K.C. Keeler as he heads into his first Piney Woods game.

Q: What are your thoughts and feelings going into your first ever Battle of the Piney Woods?

A: I am really excited. I have heard so much about it and seeing footage from previous years, I feel like it has the potential to be a pretty wild game. It is a game that contains a lot of big plays, emotional swings and when a team gets a big lead, the lead does not always hold up. It is really one of those games where you play all 60 minutes. You’re going to be holding on to your hat all game, and I think that since both of our conference championship hopes are on the line. It will be a drama filled game.

Q: Do you feel any added

pressure?

A: No. I don’t get that way, you know? I enjoy every moment on the field these days. I enjoy game day, and I don’t feel any pressure at all, whether we are winning or losing. I just enjoy the experience, the teachable moments and the challenges. I am blessed to have the opportunity to coach in this game.

Q: Are you preparing the team any differently, such as adjusting to the loud noise and crazy atmosphere?

A: The fortunate thing for us is that we already played in two unique venues. We played Eastern Washington to start the season off on national television and then obviously [Louisiana State], but we already play the loud music during practice to help players adjust to the loud noise. The theme all week has been ‘the only one who beats us is us.’ The challenge for the players is that we need to stop the penalties. We need to learn to pay attention to the details in the game. Paying attention to details is the only thing stopping us from being the team we want to be.

Q: How have your thoughts about the rivalry changed since before coach-

ing at SHSU to now?

A: I knew it was a big deal, but then I realized it’s a huge deal. I did get the whole do not wear purple, and then this game has come up on a constant basis through alums, through people in the town. It’s something that has been a constant little theme out there, you know? Because people are always saying ‘Hey SFA did this, SFA beat them.’ They’re not saying they saw McNeese did this or Lamar did this. [SFA] is constantly brought up to you. So as you’re going through life, here you realize, this is a huge deal.

Q: What are your keys to the game that will help SHSU get the win?

A: Stop [running back Gus Johnson]. We have to stop [Johnson]. Their tailback is really good and then their quarterback does a good job. He is not overwhelming, but he does a good job managing the game. Offensively, if we play clean then we are going to score some points. It’s the matter of us doing our job and responsibilities. So stop [Johnson}, play clean and we’ll win.

Alex Broussard | The Houstonian

RIVAL TIME. Sam Houston State head coach K.C. Keeler enters his first Battle of the Piney Woods on Saturday, a rivalry that enters its 89th meeting between the two sides.

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ROCKING AND BOWLING. Sophomore bowler Janine Kuwahara leads Sam Houston State to a victory in their exhibition before the season began. Kuwahara is one of two bowlers on SHSU’s squad that is from a different country while no bowler on the team is from Texas.

Recruiting from outside the state RYAN REYNOLDS Layout Editor Most sports teams at Sam Houston State are packed with players born and raised in Texas.

Of course, a few teams have to travel a little outside the state to comprise a team.

Head coach Brad Hagan has had to travel across the globe from Downey, Ca. to Rochester, NY, to the Philippines to Canada to compose his Bearkat bowling team.

The team has a total of eight members, with two of them being from other countries. Those two bowlers are sophomore Janine Kuwahara and junior Carrie Hopkinson.

Kuwahara is from Davao City, Mindanao, which is located in the Philippines.

She started bowling at the age of fourteen because it was the only way she could spend time with her family.

“The more I bowled, the better I got, and the more my love for the sport grew,” Kuwahara said. “I got good so I decided to try out for the Philippines National Team.”

In 2012, the Philippines National Team offered Kuwahara a roster spot and her bowling career began.

She competed in five national tournaments that year with one of the tournaments was the World Youth Championship in Thailand. This is where Kuwahara caught the eye of SHSU’s head bowling coach Brad Hagan, who just so happened to be the coach of the Puerto Rico team at that time.

“Hagan emailed me shortly after the tournament asking if I were interested in going to SHSU and bowl for the school’s women’s bowling team,” Kuhawara said.”I said ‘yes.’

Having the chance to bowl and get a great education at the same time was an opportunity that I wasn’t going to pass.”

Hopkinson’s path to Huntsville was similar. She lived in Drumbo, Ontario and started bowling when she was just five years old.

At the age of 12, Hopkinson bowled in her first tournament for Canada’s national team.

“I bowled for Canada’s national team from 2010 through 2012,” Hopkinson said. “I eventually met Coach Hagen at the 2011 Pabcon International Tournament in the Dominican Republic.”

Growing up, Hopkinson never planned on attending a university, but when one of her former coaches passed away, she quickly changed her mind.

“I wanted to continue bowling competitively, hopefully improve my game and get a degree,” she said.

“I started to search for universities where I could bowl as well as partake in a major of interest. It was somewhat difficult to find a school that had a landscape/ horticulture program as well as a bowling program.”

Hopkinson stumbled across Florida A&M and started attending in 2011, but when she arrived they told her that the program would be phasing out in two years, meaning she would not have time to graduate with that degree. Her other

option was ornamental horticulture, but that program was dormant.

“I stayed in hopes that the program would reopen,” Hopkinson said. “I had already moved what felt like half way across the world. I didn’t want to go all the way back. I started doing more research on new schools. SHSU met all my interests, so when I finally got my release I got in contact with Coach Hagen to start my transfer process.

It’s unfortunate what happened, but one door closed and another one opened.”

As imagined, recruiting plays a major role of how a sports program competes.

Out of the eight bowlers on the SHSU women’s team, not one of them is from Texas. The NCAA Women’s Bowling allows for a total of five scholarships to be offered and they may be broken up accordingly based on availability and coach’s discretion.

“I do 99 percent of the recruiting and I look for those individuals who best fit our program,” Coach Hagen said. “It’s always nice to have options. However, at the end of the day, the individuals I recruit are those who I feel fit into our system the most both academically and athletically.”

The defending NCAA Division I national champions will take action next in the Fairleigh Dickinson Jersey Jamboree in Hackensack, New Jersey. The tournament will last from Oct. 31 through Nov. 2.

presents

GOVERNOR, P.4

Take a look at the issues on which Davis and Abbott run

The Houstonian’s 2014 Election Guide is a go-to special edition for facts, viewpoints and commentary on the upcoming election, election process and voter participation.

EXCUSES, P.2

The Octogenarian gives you the top seven reasons you should not vote

Voter apathy plagues youth electorate SEAN SMITH Campus Culture Editor Midterm elections statistically draw less voters to the voting booth than a presidential election.

FairVote.org states that 42 percent of the eligible voting population turned out in 2010 compared to 59 percent in 2012’s election.

While presidential elections draw national attention and a popularity of voters, the votes that choose state representatives, governors and local city officials often have a more direct impact on the community.

“I feel that this election is closer knit to us and we can relate to it more,” Brooklyn Erwin, freshman nursing major, said. “Most people vote for the president, but that is

for the U.S., whereas the governor is for your state and they can do more for you personally.”

This year’s election is no different, with the partisan control of the United States Senate potentially up for grabs. With a Clear Politics poll showing a 13 percent congressional approval rating, many political theorists believe a shift in power is congress is looming.

However, young people cast the least amount of votes in every election and this can affect an election’s results drastically.

FairVote.org reported only 20.9 percent of the eligible voters in the youth electorate (18-29 years old) voted in 2010’s midterm election. That represented 11 percent of all voters in that election.

The apathy young adults face often comes from college age stu-

dents being uninformed on the election at hand.

Senior criminal justice major Derek Powell said he doesn’t vote unless he’s fully involved and fully informed in the election.

“Misinformation is what causes voter biases, so I don’t really take part unless I’m fully in it,” Powell said.

Junior kinesiology major Demetri King said he will not vote in this election since he is not familiar with the issues and candidates are on the ballet.

“If I plan to vote, I do want to get informed,” Kind said. “But definitely no. Not going to happen. I don’t know who is running. I don’t know what’s going on.”

While voter apathy affects poll turnout for young people, 77 percent of the youth that does vote has some level of college expe-

rience, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE). In fact, CIRCLE estimates that youth with college experience are more than twice as likely to vote than their peers who have not attended college.

Junior mass communications major Laura Toeniskoetter said she voting is important, even as a young adult.

“Yes, I do vote, because it is the foundation of our country,” Toeniskoetter said. “It is important because if you don’t vote, people you don’t like will take over. They can potentially have control of the House and Senate. If you don’t vote, you cannot complain.”

Accounting senior Shawn Kelly said voting drives the direction of the country.

“I will be voting, because voting

allows you to be heard and it gives you direction for the future,” Kelly said. “Without any direction, we would be wandering aimlessly.”

Of the young people that turn out to vote, statistics show they have a liberal majority.

CIRCLE records the youth electorate supported Democratic House candidates at a margin of 57 percent over the 40 percent support for Republican candidates in 2010. Also, only 38 percent of youth supported Republican Senate candidates, while 56 percent supported democratic senate candidates.

Young people show higher approval of President Barack Obama’s job compared to the national average. Sixty percent of youth approval of the president’s time in office, while the national average shows only 45 percent.

viewpoint

If you do not vote, you have no right to complain DHARMESH PATEL Viewpoints Editor Democrats and Republicans are the two main political parties in the United States, but several smaller and independent movements have littered the race over the years, though none have had any real or significant impact on the American political scene.

The politicians that represent these parties are among the most loved and hated individuals in the nation, depending on what side of the race you are on. These people have a loyal fan base and hundreds of thousands of followers.

Unfortunately, the majority of politicians are corrupt and have been bought by some large industry that helps facilitate the true running of the government. They are glorified marionette dolls acting only when a string in pulled by their employer. Further, their loyal fans continue to vote them and their cronies into office year after year and the vicious cycle continues.

Fortunately, there is a way to foil their evil agendas and stop the stuffing of their bank accounts by big businesses such as the tobacco, oil and dairy industries. College students make up a large portion of eligible voters in the U.S., but most of them fail to vote in local and national elections.

College students are also extremely opinionated, and they are not afraid to voice their approval or displeasure when a particular issue rubs them the right or wrong way. However, they do not use the most effective avenues of communication that would generate the greatest impact on the outcome of their complaint.

Instead they choose to use ineffective and temporary social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter and

Holly Kons | The Houstonian

Instagram. Getting immediate and instant gratification on their opinions has become an addictionlike habit of today’s youth and has crippled their ability to enact any real change.

These post will quickly disappear and be wiped from memories and timelines alike and their message lost to the infinite expanse of cyberspace. Election time brings out some of the most opinionated posts from individuals, especially for those that have a complaint to get off their chest. Sadly, most of

these complaints are a futile attempt to make any sort of change in the way things are and these posters do not realize that their voices will never be heard where they count.

I have to make a blunt and direct statement that will probably anger a lot of people, but the following must be said in order to call to action my peers: If you do not vote for your leaders, politicians and propositions, you have no right to complain about them or the government.

The voting process is fundamental in putting policies into action and leaders into offices. They are not handed their positions but win the tally count at the end of each election. Surprisingly, there is an upcoming election Tuesday but how many of you will actually turn up to cast a ballet? And how many of you will shamelessly plug your opinion on the outcome on your social media trifecta?

I declare all of you that do not show up to the polls as phonies who do not have any right to com-

plain about government in any way, form or fashion. You lost that ability to do so when you failed to make an appearance at the polls but did not miss that party in the pit yesterday.

I know this will not stop any of you from clogging everyone’s online feeds with your nonsensical viewpoints, but until you start actively participating in the election of your leaders and government policies, you better check yourself, your social media feeds and your opinion at the poll booth.

The Octogenarian: Top seven excuses not to vote KENNETH LEVIN Staff Columnist As you probably know, Tuesday is Election Day. Statistics tell us that most young voters, including college students, will not show up at the polls. Our constitution gives you the right to vote, but it also grants you the choice of not voting. To help you not feel guilty about your choice of not voting, I am listing here seven legitimate excuses for you to stay away from the polls.

But this is not about me, because statistically we know that the old folks do vote, so let’s get to those reasons for you to not show up Tuesday: 1. Because you want to keep your crippling student loan debt.

Most of us here on campus have student loans. We live in a debtor-protected nation, except for us students. The American Banksters paid your legislators to make your student loan the only debt that cannot be relieved under the U.S. bankruptcy laws.

Never mind that the student debt problem is one of the three most immoral happenings perpetrated upon the American public by the greedy, immoral, un-American, unregulated Bankster industry in your lifetime. It is a burden on our economy and today’s existing student loan debt will bring in over a billion dollars in profit and could be considered un-American as a threat to our economy. We must protect the Banksters and their bought-and-paid-for legislators, so that is a good reason not

to vote. And what the heck, it is not my problem either because I am in my eighties. Before I get to pay my student loans off, based on statistics, I will probably be dead and buried. Death is the only way out of my student loan debt.

By the way, please do not tell the Banksters of America or they will probably invent a way to make me pay from the grave. (The current congress failed to pass relief for student loans. By not voting, we are keeping them in power.)

2. Because you’re in favor of kicking illegal citizens who were brought to America by their parents out of the country.

That girl at the desk next to yours in English class was born the same month that you were, went to your high school and may even be a little better student than you. But she’s different in that you were born in your hometown and she did not get to hers until she was two years old because her mom, who was born in another country, gave birth to her in that country. She is known as a dreamer and lives with the constant fear of being deported to a foreign country that she knows nothing about because of the prejudice of some legislator that you help keep in office by not voting. You do not have to vote because you do not care about what is moral or fair and you will at least wave goodbye to her when she is deported.

3. Because you want everyone to stay panicked about Ebola.

Ebola? Does not bother you none. No Ebola on my campus.

Of course, if we had somebody knowledgeable in charge like a United States surgeon general, he or she could have had the bully

pulpit to keep us informed of the real facts, rallied all of our medical talent and stopped the epidemic in Africa or, perhaps, something even simpler and closer to home, have arranged that a country as rich as ours would have more than nine qualified, properly staffed hospital beds in this entire nation to treat this disease and, especially, since three of those beds are already occupied by Ebola patients. So, why is there no Surgeon General in charge to guide us? Oh, that president in the White House appointed one, but our legislators are not going to look out for us citizens as long as a Democrat is sitting in the oval office. So do not vote, because we do not need a surgeon general or intelligent, intellectual and patriotic legislators.

4. Because you don’t care about women’s rights.

Women’s Health? Now hold on, my mom and my sister can afford to pay a doctor for a female health checkup. They’re lucky, but what if a female has health issues and she cannot afford treatment? Your governor and legislature has, in the phony name of preservation of life, cut off the vast majority of women who cannot afford health care in the state of Texas, including cancer screenings and contraception, but we all know that women shouldn’t be “doing the nasty” anyway unless they are privileged and have enough income and money to afford it. So don’t vote and we can keep those same anti-female lawmakers and enforcers in office.

5. Because you think marriage is confined to one man and one woman.

You remember those two girls

in your political science class?

They really seem to be very fond of each other, and you even heard they might be planning a wedding.

Only not here in Texas! If they do go out to a civilized state and get married, they can’t come back to Texas and be recognized as a married couple. Why should I vote just to give them the same human rights that I have?

6. Because you think Houston looks better with smog.

Back in the 1960s, I flew in and out of Houston a lot. On a good day, you could clearly recognize the city by the dome of smog hanging over it. In fact, there was a big hub-bub when an Eastern Airlines pilot reported it as an air traffic and health hazard and was fired for truth-telling. We, as college students, know how phony science is and that our legislators know that we no longer need the Environmental Protection Agency because our environment doesn’t have to be protected from profiteers and the legislators that they own.

7. Because you like being disenfranchised.

I can’t leave out that major reason not to vote and that is that the party in power here in Texas for the last couple of decades doesn’t want you to vote. They are afraid that you might disagree with some of their political views. In fact, they are so afraid of you and some others that they have resurrected a pseudo-Jim Crow law to disenfranchise voters. But under the new guise of voter fraud protection, Jim Crow is making it harder for senior citizens, Hispanic citizens, black citizens, poor citizens and students to register and cast

their vote. Well heck, this is America, so it’s alright that if you can’t win legitimately, make up new rules so you can’t lose legitimately.

And if you don’t want to protect your right to vote, if you’re willing to accept restrictions on your ability to vote based on absolute lies told to your face, then just don’t make the effort to vote.

As Texans, we always want to be number one – outstanding in whatever we do – so let’s follow through with what we older voters have given our prosperous state such as we are the leader.

We have the highest percentage of uninsured children of any of the fifty states in the nation, so don’t vote and we can keep the same legislature and install a poor carbon copy in our state executives. However, we need a lot of work because we are only the fourth highest state in percentage of people living below the poverty level, so, don’t vote and keep our leaders and perhaps this go-round we can be the boast the highest.

We are so close to first place as the state with only the second-highest percentage of people going hungry. We have a lot to do as we are in last place in the percentage of residents with high school diplomas.

However, we are number one in one aspect: we do have the nation’s dirtiest air, so breathe deep and be proud.

I do love you guys, but please, if you miss it this election, take on your responsibilities next time. It is your foot you are shooting into.

Proposition 1 on ballot to help fix roads with $1.7 billion from ESF HANNAH ZEDAKER Associate Editor In addition to the candidates on the ballot this year, voters will have the chance to express their stance on funding more infrastructure projects.

The Texas Transportation Funding Amendment, more commonly referred to as “Prop 1,” is an item voters will

need to take into consideration at the Nov. 4 polls.

Authorized by the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 1 in 2013, Prop 1 will essentially redirect half of the general revenue derived from oil and gas taxes from the Economic Stabilization Fund, more commonly referred to as the “Rainy Day Fund,” to the State Highway Fund. These funds, an estimated $1.7 billion in its first year, will potentially be used solely for the purposes of construction, maintenance, rehabilitation and the acquisition right-of-way for public roads.

Stipulations for this amendment include that there will be no new taxes, tolls or fees foisted upon voters.

The item will appear on the Nov. 4, 2014 ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment providing for the use and dedication of certain money transferred to the state highway fund to assist in the completion of transportation construction, maintenance, and rehabilitation projects, not to include toll roads.”

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What’s the

WORD on the

STREET?

JENNIFER BOYD

CODY ROSENBALM

“The what? I don’t even know what you’re talking about right now. I’m not big into politics.”

“Yes I will be voting. I feel it is important to do so in order to see that our freedoms are protected and our state’s economy continues to flourish.”

DEREK POWELL

DONALD OWENS

“I don’t like to take part in anything unless I’m fully involved and informed in something.”

“Yes I will be voting because I have the right to do so and I should get out there and support it.”

LAURA TOENISKOETTER

DEMETRI KING

SHAWN KELLY

“Yes I do vote because is the foundation of our country and it is important because if you don’t vote people you don’t like will take over.”

“If I plan to vote, I do want to get informed. But definitely no. Not going to happen. I don’t know who is running. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“I will be voting because voting allows you to be heard and it gives you direction for the future. Without any direction we would be wandering aimlessly.”

CYNTHIA CARDENAS

BROOKLYN ERWIN

MATTHEW MOORE

“I do not vote because I can’t vote. I am a DACA student so I’m not allowed to vote because you have to be a US citizen.”

“Yes I am going to vote. I feel that this election is closer knit to us and we can relate to it more.”

“Yes I will vote because it’s a right that we all need to continue on.”

Are you going to vote in the upcoming election? What are your thoughts on voting and its importance?

Junior Mass Communications

Freshman Education

Freshman Elementary Education

Senior Criminal Justice

Junior Kinesiology

Freshman Nursing

Senior Management

Senior Accounting

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Senior Accounting

Straight-ticket voting is a major no-no during elections PARBATTEE MAHARAJ Assistant Viewpoints Editor For as long as I can remember, my parents have instilled in me the importance of having my own thoughts and being my own person. They have always wanted me to be the leader of the pack and never the follower. I will be the first to admit that I am no leader, and if it were up to me to lead a group you would be in big trouble because I might end up leading you off a cliff. Despite the lack of leadership abilities, I have mastered the art of forming my own thoughts and opinions. Another thing my parents have taught me over the years is that your opinions and thoughts should be based on facts, and your opinion is YOUR own opinion; do not try to impose it on another person.

With that being said, I have a hard time understanding why it is my father tries to impose his political ideology on me. And it is not just me that he does this to. It is multiple people. This past

weekend I went home to vote since I am a registered voter of Harris County. As soon we started talking politics, I was bombarded with multiple questions as to who I was voting for, why I was voting for he or she and if I was not voting Republican then I was wrong and that I should just leave right now.

Rather than answering any of the questions, I simply nodded and agreed to whatever he said to avoid an argument. He made it clear that he was voting for every Republican candidate, and that he was a big supporter of Greg Abbott. Later that evening, I was talking to my mother about the political commotion that has overtook the household (literally, it is all my dad ever wants to talk about. He like stirring up a commotion about things like this) and what her thoughts about the elections were.

I guess they weren’t kidding when they said opposites attract because she said that she did not have much of an opinion. Then I asked her if she going to vote, to which she said yes. I did not both-

er to ask her whom she was voting for because I already knew the answer. She had been brainwashed.

She then asked me if I was going to vote for who my dad told me to vote for. I rolled my eyes and say the same thing I do every election: “You raised me to form my own opinions on things, so I’m going to vote for who I think is the best fit.” Meaning, I was not going to vote for someone because my dad told me to do so.

It makes me so angry that he expects me to base something this important on his biased, one-sided views. He voted straight ticket because he believes that the conservatives can and will do a better job and any liberal ever could. How is that even a smart decision? Was there any research done to ensure that every conservative candidate is the best fit for the district, county or state? Honestly, I think straight ticket voting is just lazy.

It gives people like my dad the option to vote for a candidate based on the political party they associate most with without really researching said person.

Mudslinging murks truth STACY HOOD Advertising Manager In the four years I have been able to vote, I have never thought that I would feel dirty going to the polls. This year I do.

Pointing fingers, placing blame and slinging mud usually stays on the playground between children.

However, it has dominated this year’s gubernatorial race. Over the past six months, my Facebook, Twitter and news feeds have been filled with negative campaign ads with shots fired from both sides of the aisle. It did not really hit me how bad this race was until I spent three hours in the car listening to the radio where every other commercial was a political advertisement.

The candidates have spent an exhausting amount of money telling me why I should not vote for their opponent and very little as to why I should vote for them. Seems

strange, huh? Unfortunately, it is the nature of the campaign trail.

Typically in every race, there will be mudslinging coming from the underdog to force the front runner into answering their opponent. Yet of the 84 videos released by the gubernatorial candidates, there was no direct answer from either sides’ complaints. Speaking of numbers, let’s break down these videos: 48 percent of the videos directly slung mud at their opponent, 15 percent addressed issues that they want to change, six percent defined who they were and what they stand for, 18 percent are videos of support from voters or fellow politicians, and 10 percent were general vote for me while the last three percent were repeated ads in Spanish.

Do you see a problem here? I surely do. When I am thinking about who I want to be in charge of our government till the next election, I want to feel comfortable with who I am voting into of-

fice. If I just listened to the ads, we as Texans would be voting in a crook, liar, pedophile supporter, unethical business maker, unethical political leader, etc. The choice of who to vote for should not feel like the better of two evils but that is how is race has made it feel.

We have all heard “don’t believe everything you hear” at some point in our lives, and this rings true with this race. Taking that advice, I went in search of my own information to see what these candidates stand for and their voting records in the past. While I am still very displeased about how the campaigns have gone, I plan to vote for the candidate I feel represents my interests best.

I encourage you to not only go out and vote but to turn off your radio and T.V. and go look at what these candidates actually have done and plan to do. Make your own decision, and wipe the dirt off of your eyes and out of our ears because you are in the crossfire.

You could put an idiot in power and not know it until it is too late.

If you are not going to take the time to put some research into a candidate and what they stand for, simply do not partake in that part of the election.

So dad, since you only researched the candidates running into the governor’s race, that means you should have just voted in that part of the election. I do not understand why that is such a hard concept for people to grasp.

I do not recommend doing so, but it is better than voting for some random candidate who could potentially ruin your life, right?

Now, while I do not agree with straight ticket voting, I disagree more with what my mom did than my dad. At least he has some political opinion; my mother is like a lost lamb who wandered a little too far from home and ended up

at a slaughter house. Hopeless with no way of finding its way back.

Do not vote just for the hell of it! The person you vote for could potentially win meaning that said person is going to represent you.

This goes back my idiot theory.

Do not just vote for someone on whim. Do your research. If you do not care who hold the position of governor or attorney general, and have no political opinion then you have no business voting. It is as simple as that.

Needless to say, my entire family is full of butting heads, high tempers and opinionated personalities. At the end of the day, however, we (at least most of us) have or own thoughts about what is going on the political world and about how it is affecting us in one way or another.

Need a Tutor?

Friendly, helpful, one-on-one tutoring for all subjects taught at SHSU. Apply online at 99tutors.com or call 979-268-8867

INTRAMURAL

7V7 SOCCER TOURNAMENT REGISTER IN HKC 104 BY 5PM ON OR BEFORE WEDNESDAY, NOV 5TH shsu.edu/recsports

Catherine Stallard | The Houstonian

Caricatures: Holly Kons, Graphics: Lillie Muyskens | The Houstonian

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Thursday, October 30, 2014

Page 3

From club to college, SHSU soccer “sisters” JEREMY VILLANUEVA Sports Editor Between bites of chocolate cake Monday, Sam Houston State soccer freshman center back Caitlyn Schwartz whales out her rendition of the song “Taylor the Latte Boy.” As she fights to remember the lyrics and attempts to hit the correct key, she looks over at her freshman teammate Ashley Long laughing and smiling together as the two reminisce on a memory of their youth. Long went on to describe how Schwartz would bring a CD with Taylor the Latte Boy around growing up to purposefully annoy Long’s father on car rides north for tournaments.

“I would literally bring it to spite him,” Schwartz said.

In Schwartz’s 30-second performance, it was clear her and Long could feed off each other for days without end, detailing a different memory of their 14 years as friends.

Unlike the majority of college athletes, Schwartz and Long did not have to let go of the person they grew up playing with when August of their freshman year in college rolled around. The two were lucky enough to continue sharing the field with their teammate. “[She] cannot get rid of me,” Long said.

Schwartz and Long’s friendship began when the two were four years old in the outskirts of San Antonio. It was the first time the

two shared the same ball, the same pitch and the same memories.

They played together on a local team in the YMCA before moving to play on another team in their youth called Argentina.

It was not until their under-11 season that the two would spend their one and only year apart on the field.

“We kind of split at club,” Schwartz said. “After that first year, we went back to the same team and stayed since.”

After the Classics Elites Club made a ’96 team and moved Long and Schwartz to the squad, the two would stay together through the rest of their club years. With intensity and time spent for select soccer, the two remained inseparable and grew in their relationship on and off the field.

“If our team won, we won together,” Schwartz said.

As their club years were dwindling, it was clear that the next step in their soccer careers were nearing: college.

They never planned on attending the same college to play soccer. It ended up just working that way, Schwartz said.

SHSU originally showed interest in Long during high school. It was one game that the Bearkats’ scouts attended to watch Long and began to notice Schwartz.

Ironically enough, as SHSU began showing more interest in the both of them, Schwartz committed to the school before Long.

Long eventually made her commitment to SHSU, and it was set the two would play and live to-

gether at SHSU. “At least I knew one person that I’m already comfortable playing with,” Schwartz said. “It was comforting to know a little piece of home came with me.”

In August, the two moved into Huntsville together and became roommates. They enjoyed the first couple of days together and did what every new SHSU freshman does: make random trips to Walmart and see what all the city has to offer.

Then soccer training picked up, the season began and the two soon realized home had a new face.

On their club team growing up, Schwartz and Long had good communication and chemistry on the field because Schwartz played as a holding midfielder while Long played right behind her as a center back. The two were recruited to play those same positions at SHSU. However, weeks into the season head coach Tom Brown moved Schwartz to the backline.

“It’s a lot different,” Schwartz said. “I had to learn a new role. I just learned how to play college soccer. It is different than club.”

Then during the game against Utah State on Sept. 12, the two were the starting center backs and continued to hold the backline as starters for a handful of games in the midseason.

“This is a little different for us because now we have to get use to stepping up more and a faster speed,” Long said.

As friendly as they can be off the field, the friendship does not translate over to the field, they

Chris Winfield| The Houstonian

SISTER, SISTER. Sam Houston State freshmen center backs Ashley Long and Caitlyn Schwartz started side-by-side in Sept. 12’s 3-0 loss to Utah State at Pritchett Field. Long and Schwartz grew up playing together.

said. When the two are on the field, they are strictly teammates.

“If Ashley messes up, I’m going to get onto her,” Schwartz said. “I hold her to a higher standard.”

But once the two step off the pitch, they are back to being best friends and taking tips from one another to better their play.

“I make a lot of little mistakes like holding the line,” Long said.

“So Caitlyn is like ‘come on, Ashley, hold the line.’”

The Bearkats head into their final two regular season games in the Southland Conference before the SLC tournament next Friday. As historic of a season it has been for SHSU soccer, Long and Schwartz cannot wait to see how the season plays out and where the next three years will take them. “[I’m excited] to make more history with my sister,” Schwartz said.

Program Council throws Bearkat Madness CANAAN CADWELL Staff Reporter Sam Houston State basketball fans witnessed the men’s and women’s basketball teams scrimmage amongst themselvesat Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum as part of Program Council’s Bearkat Madness.

The women squared off first against each other in a brief fiveminute period. The teams were split up into team orange and team white. During that game, the score was 6-2 in team white’s favor, who eventually pulled it off in the friendly battle against each other.

The men’s team took the court next in their five-minute run. Alley-oops, no look passes, dunks, and trick plays took place during the scrimmage.

Following the mini scrimmages, both men and women competed in the three point shootout against each other. On the men’s team, it

came down to senior guard Jabari Peters and senior guard Kaheem Ransom, both preseason Southland Conference first team selecitons. Ransom took down Peters in extra regulation due to a tie.

“It was a great turn out and it was fun,” Peters said. “We finally were able to do something for the student body.”

Over on the women’s side, junior guard Amanda Barnes won the three point competition for the women’s team but lost against Ransom for the overall threepoint championship. After the three-point shootout, sophomore guard Dakarai Henderson, freshman guard Jamal Williams and senior guard DeMarcus Gatlin went against each other in a dunk contest.

Henderson won the competition after battling in the second round against Williams in a great showing.

Program Council planned the event that ended up turning better than expected.

“The event actually came out pretty good,” junior kinesiology major Nelson Ayodej said. “I was kind of skeptical at first because we’ve never done it at Sam Houston, but everybody played their part and came through.”

After Bearkat Madness, Program Council sees room for improvement in future events.

“Next time [we’ll do it at] midnight and more people, and hopefully more involvement from the event,”Ayodeji said.

The men’s basketball lost to Stephen F. Austin State last season in the conference championship game, which left a sour taste in players’ mouths. As fun as the team had in Tuesday’s event, the Bearkats are hoping to make another run for the March Madness this season.

“We expect to be exactly where we were last season in the conference championship game, but this time we want to finish it,” Peters said.

In the match against Nicholls State, Wooten led her team offensively with 21 kills and led the team defensively with 18 digs.

Keith finished with 12 kills and five block assists while Doerpingaus added nine kills to the scoreboard and had seven block assists.

SHSU’s senior outside hitter Deveney Wells-Gibson led the Bearkats after totaling 22 kills, 12 digs and two solo blocks against the Demons on Saturday.

Junior middle blocker Carling Urben finished with 12 kills and one block assist. Freshmen outside hitters Jordyn Vaughn and Brooke White finished the match with 10 and eight kills, respectively.

HBU’s sophomore setter Kayla Armer had 49 total assists out of 62 kills and 13 digs in the match against Nicholls, while SHSU’s freshman setter Michelle Griffith totaled 56 assists out of 62 kills and had eight digs from the back row.

Wooten leads the Huskie defense alongside sophomore defensive specialist Beth Shecterle, who totaled 13 digs against Nicholls.

Freshman middle blocker Blair Gillard led the team in block assists with nine.

Although Doerpingaus had seven blocks last match, the Bearkats need to move the ball around constantly when she is at the net.

Sean Smith| The Houstonian

DUNKING BEARKATS. Sam Houston State sophomore guard Dakari Henderson dunks a ball in the dunk contest during Program Council’s Bearkat Madness at Johnson Coliseum on Tuesday featuring SHSU basketball.

Bearkats to host Huskies tonight

AMSHI STEPHENSON Staff Reporter

Sam Houston State returns home to face Houston Baptist today.

The Bearkats enter the match with a 6-3 Southland Conference record (13-9 overall) after defeating Northwestern State on Saturday in five sets.

SHSU and HBU enter the competition coming off big SLC. The Huskies are led by sophomore outside hitter Jessica Wooten, senior outside hitter Bailey Keith and junior middle blocker Allison Doerpingaus.

Doerpingaus fell short of just one block against McNeese, shy of the overall school record of 15 set back in 2000.

Sophomore libero Claire Kilpatrick runs the defense for the Bearkats. She racked up 18 digs in Saturday’s match and was voted as the SLC volleyball defensive player of the week.

White totaled 13 digs falling short in second place for the Bearkats.

The Bearkats are looking to extend their perfect home winning streak record (7-0) as they host the Huskies. They prepare for Thursday’s match by focusing on themselves first and then scouting

the opponent.

Wells-Gibson said the main focus of practice has been blocking.

“Our blocking has been our main weakness,” Wells-Gibson said. “So we’re making that a priority this week.”

Head coach Brenda Gray said her team is focusing on one match at a time.

“Our focus this year is to continually get better every day we step foot on that court, whether its practice, whether its film,” she said.

“Be more knowledgeable about the game every day you walk out and become better skilled.”

The first serve is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. in the Johnson Coliseum.

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/viewpoints | Thursday, October 30, 2014

Page 4

TOP 20 STEPHEN F. AUSTIN STATE UNIVERSITY JOKES The Houstonian staff

1.

2.

3.

Fell down a flight of stairs. Got a BFA in interpretive dance from SFA

Cathi Gillette’s emails > SFA

My thoughts and prayers are with the students at SFA. Even though nothing happened, they still have to go there

I’m still upset I didn’t get my acceptance letter from SFA. I looked through like eight boxes of Fruity Pebbles

4.

5.

SFA girls are so ratchet you could find them in a hardware store

Told someone what problems the homework was over; got an education degree from SFA

Carried a basketball around campus; got a sports management degree from SFA

SFA doesn’t have the word “university” in their acronym because they still have trouble spelling it [see photo]

6.

How do you get the SFA grad off your front porch? Pay him for the pizza

Courtesy Katfans

Subway on campus > SFA

I label my toilet paper as SFA diplomas

Pooped in my toilet this morning. Got a degree in marine biology degree from SFA

14.

15.

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SFA offers a class that shows how much better SHSU is. They suck and they know it

It’s 9:50 and SFA still sucks

Can’t wait to kick the shit out of SFA

Editorial

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

“I’m going to be a bunny, and I’m probably going to go to a party.”

What do they call students that go to SFA? SHSU rejects

until the weirdoes have to ruin it for everyone.

My mother being the angel that she is, has nagged me into the next century about being overly safe. I have compiled a few tips along with some that I thought she might have mentioned when I just was not listening. So do not worry girl, I got you.

Let us talk about accessories. Heels are fun, but what is even more fun - shoes that you can comfortably run or jump a fence in when fake Hannibal is chasing you down. Feeling those Goth dagger earrings? How about a pocket knife that clips to the waist of your skirt or tucks in the pocket of your daisy dukes. And always remember the classic key chain pepper spray. It is a classic for a reason, a face full of that spicy juice and he is not coming back.

Watch your alcohol intake. Getting “turned up” with seemingly nice childhood friends, Mario and Luigi, might start out in a fun zone, but they might just turn out to be Bowser when you are not feeling them anymore but they keep trying to hit it from both sides on the dance floor. The best way to stay on top of your game and out of theirs is to always remain in control of the situation

and your ability to make the best judgments for your own safety.

That said, do not leave your drink unattended. Get your drink yourself, and make sure it is not from an open container. If you suspect that you have been given a date rape drug, call 911 and get help as soon as possible. It might take from 8-12 hours for you to know something is wrong. Do not urinate and do not wash yourself or your clothes. Some forms of the drug leave your system quickly, but for some you have up to 72 hours for it to be detected. Tell a medical official that you need a urine test for the date rape drug and a rape kit.

Travel in groups. Nothing is more intimidating than a gang of fierce ladies.

Watch each other’s backs and take care of one another. Do not let your friends disappear with strangers, no matter how cute they are in that Where’s Waldo costume, and always stay in public areas.

Halloween is great fun, so do not be scared (unless you are in a haunted house). Just take some precautions and know how to protect yourself and your friends and you will be fine. Have fun being whatever naughty or not-so-naughty thing you want to be and do not let the creepy crawlies get you down.

Student body president November letter The sky is the limit for the Sam Houston State University physics department, and they are making visible upgrades this semester to enhance the experience at the on-campus planetarium.

The SHSU planetarium is located in the Farrington Building and is currently operating with a Mediaglobe I projection system. The system was one of the first entities to receive one of its kind, said staff lab assistant Michael Prokosch.

“The new projector is expected to arrive and be installed sometime during the first two weeks of November,” said Prokosch.

With the plans for improvement, the department will make the transition to the Mediaglobe III system.

According to Konica Minolta Plan-

ANASTASIA BRACKETT

Bearkat > Lumberjack

HALLOWEEN SAFTEY

Let me tell you a little something about Halloween, unquestionably the finest holiday of the year. Halloween is the most gloriously sugar-buzzed wonderland, full of awkward cosplay foreplay and cheap alcohol.

As women, some of us like to play with our more sexual sides, but this can lead to some unwanted creepy-crawly attention.

You know the creepy crawlies I am talking about, the ones that think they are a hot potato because they can hide behind a mask or some horrifically boring costume while groping naughty nurses without their consent.

It is all spooktacular fun and games

Are you going to celebrate Halloween? If so, what is your costume and what will you be doing?

Freshman Mass Communications

TO ALL MY SINGLE LADIES:

MICHELLE WULFSON Staff Columnist

on the

I just peeked at SFA’s Yaks. Needless to say…we are still better

Boring texters > SFA

SFA invented Mondays

WORD

STREET?

As determined by

7.

8.

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10.

11.

12.

13.

What’s the

etarium Co., the Mediaglobe III projection system offers features such as higher resolution, higher contrast ratio, 3-D Space Simulation and special effects.

After the installation of the new projector, students will be able to have a more realistic experience at the planetarium and be able to see smoother images that will make them feel like they are actually looking up at the night sky in real time.

Prokosch said the decision to switch to the new projector came after the Mediaglobe I service company stopped offering maintenance support for the old projector.

This upgrade will take place within the next month and will be up and running in order for the Planetarium to con-

STAFF, cont.

Brynn Castro ................................ Photo Editor Parbattee Maharaj ..... Asst. Viewpoints Editor Ryan Reynolds ........................... Layout Editor Jasmine Rangel ......................... Layout Editor Connor Hyde .......................... Senior Reporter Shawn McFarland ................ Senior Reporter Lillie Muyskens .................. Graphic Designer

tinue with show times.

The current show that the Planetarium is airing is called ‘Bad Astronomy,’ based on the book of the same name.

Prokosch said, however, the show is subject to change after the new projector is installed.

For a complete list of shows and show times, visit www.shsu.edu/academics/ physics/schedule.html or like the “SHSU Planetarium” page on Facebook.

TANISHA HERMAN Freshman Biology

“I am probably going to dress up as a cat. I’m going to go to a party.

ASHLEY BLACKMON Sophomore Mass Communications

“I am thinking about dressing up as a Greek goddess. I am going to use one of my bed sheets and make a toga”

CORY MESCHWITZ Senior Criminal Justice

“I did have plans to dress up as a lumberjack even though I’m here at Sam. I’m sorry guys, but with the beard and everything I had to be one.”

JACK GOURDON SPENCER COPELAND Student Government Association President

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

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

Senior Botany

“I think I’m going to go as Jeffrey Dahmer and scare little kids.”

Advertising BUSINESS MANAGER Paty Mason ........................... 936-294-1500 ADVERTISING MANAGER Stacy Hood ............................ 936-294-1495

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