The Houstonian

Vol 114 — Issue 23

Huntsville, Texas

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

WHAT’S ON THE WEB

FEATURE PRESENTATION

Visit our website to participate in our latest poll or post your comments on the stories in this issue.

Entertainment editor Kevin Jukkola critiques the “Men Who Stare at Goats” as interesting and inventive.

SHSU profs to discuss Middle East

By Jennifer Gauntt

SHSU Public Relations

Three SHSU professors will discuss “what you need to know” about the Middle East on Tuesday (Nov. 10) during the Political Engagement Project Committee’s first “Hot Topics” program.

Panelists Nick Pappas, Masoud Kazemzadeh, Yasser Djazaerly and Brig. Gen. Harold Fruchtnicht will discuss the history, culture, religion, and politics of the volatile region during the interactive seminar, “The Middle East: What You Need to Know,” from 6-8 p.m. in the Academic Building IV Olson Auditorium.

“This is a great opportunity to learn more about one of the world’s most important regions in an engaging and provocative forum,” said PEP Chair Stacy Ulbig.

The speakers were chosen for their expertise on the region and their engaging, lively style, according to Ulbig.

Pappas, an associate professor of history who specializes in military and diplomatic history, will explore nation building in Afghanistan in the context of the complex ethnic, social, economic, political, and cultural milieu of Afghanistan.

Kazemzadeh, a political science associate professor who specializes in United States-Iran relations, will discuss American involvement in the Middle East under Presidents Bush and Obama.

Djazaerly, assistant professor of foreign languages who teaches Arabic, German and French, will discuss the general background of the Qatar with an emphasis on the current and future United States involvement.

Fruchtnicht served in the United States Marine Corps for 34 years before retiring in 2006. A naval aviator and trained as an attack pilot, he also served as an instructor, training student naval aviators in the TA-4 aircraft. He has served in Japan, Puerto — See DISCUSS, page 4

INDEX

SEE page 5

Nation & World...page 4

Opinions................page 2 Entertainment........page 5 Campus................page 3 Sports....................page 6

Honoring the fallen FORT HOOD VIGIL

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian

In rememberance. After finding out the tragedy that befell Fort Hood on November 7, the Alpha Nu Omega Christian Fraternity immediately put together a candlelight vigil in order to honor the lives lost and the people injured during the attack. Freshman, Ashley Barelas (above), was one of the many attendees.

In response to Fort Hood shooting, Alpha Nu Omega holds vigil to honor dead, injured

By Kristin Meyer Senior Reporter

The night was illuminated by the soft glow of flickering candles in remembrance of the fallen soldiers of the Fort Hood shooting.

At 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 7, approximately 60 fellow believers gathered around the clock tower on the Sam Houston campus to pray for those who were lost and wounded in the shooting, and to give strength to the students and families who have loved ones stationed at Fort Hood and in the military.

The Alpha Nu Omega Christian Fraternity and Sorority hosted this Candlelight Vigil in response to the shooting to give prayers to those in need and give sol-

“Our job here on campus is to fill the spiritual needs of students and to be the light that we are supposed to be, that we are called to be, by God,” -Romeal-Dorasay Johnson, Vice President of Alpha Nu Omega ace to the students of Sam Houston.

“Our job here on campus is to fill the spiritual needs of students and to be the light that we are supposed to be, that we are called to be,

by God,” Romeal-Dorasay Johnson, vice president of Alpha Nu Omega said. “We knew that so many people were hurt by this event- people in our classes were hurt, our brothers and sisters were hurt, our professors were hurt, and so many others. So

knowing that the rest of the campus needed something for closure, we had to [organize this vigil] and we did it quickly.”

With the help of Student Government and Student Activities, the event was coordinated and took place the night of the shooting. “We mobilized right away and because of Student Government, we had the manpower to get the candles ready, which were donated by Student Activities. We got a

lot of stuff done in a quick attendees showed through amount of time,” Johnson their praise and worship that said. they were putting it all in During times of hardship, God’s hands. it is not uncommon for people to shy away from religion and question their faith, but — See VIGIL, page 4

Trying to bounce back. The tragedy at Fort Hood has drawn many questions, particularly regarding why the shooter was not dealt with earlier.

Care package drive held for Veteran’s Day Relay for Life held

By Kristin Meyer Senior Reporter

Let them know we care.

On Veteran’s Day this Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, the Political Science Junior Fellows will host a CarePackage Drive from 2:004:00 p.m. for American soldiers in the Middle East.

The care packages will include 20 items that have been sponsored by organizations on campus, businesses and citizens all around the community. The items in these packages range from

Graphic by Joe Buvid

razors, sanitary wipes and eye drops, to gummy bears, DVD’s and magazines.

groups have been taken to help pay for the $11.95 postage fee for each box.

“For one hundred boxes that's $1,195.00,” Richard Yawn, Advisor for the Political Science Junior Fellows said. “Currently, we are less than one hundred dollars short of getting them all paid for.”

The Junior Fellows decided to get the entire community involved in this drive in order to unite the community under a good cause.

These packages will be shipped directly to the troops and donations from various — See DRIVE, page 4

for cancer fight

By Julie Gallo

Contributing Writer

The Sam Houston chapter of Colleges Against Cancer will hold their Relay for Life Kickoff Party this Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the Old Main Pit on campus.

Information on the 2010 Relay for Life of Sam Houston will be available, and students will also be able to sign up for teams for the 2010 Relay for Life, which takes place April 23, 2010. Along

with being able to sign up for teams, students will also be able to donate money, and have any questions about Relay for Life or Colleges Against Cancer answered.

Relay for Life is a volunteer driven cancer fundraising event, with all proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society. Relay for Life not only raises money for cancer patients and research, but also spreads — See RELAY, page 4

OPINIONS

Page 2 The Houstonian

THE ROSTRUM

“Democracy is not a mathematical deduction proved once and for all time. Democracy is a just faith fervently held, commitment to be tested again and again in the fiery furnace of history.”

Jack Kemp U.S. Congressman 1935-2009

Different, but also the same.

Addison Reed reflects on the importance and lessons of the Fort Hood tragedy.

Every once in a while, life presents us with an opportunity to reflect on what really matters and what we ought to be thankful for. For me, last week’s tragic events at Ft. Hood were such a moment.

By now I’m sure we all know the story of the events and how they unfolded. The violence, fear, and tragedy of that day will haunt our military and ourselves for some time. After all, with such a thing being virtually unprecedented up to that point, we wouldn’t be normal if we weren’t caught a little off-guard.

The reflection I’m referring to goes beyond whether or not we should institute new security measures on our military bases, beyond whether or not this was the action of a terrorist, and beyond whether or not we should grow ever more cautious about threats to our lives and liberty.

To be sure, these things we certainly ought to think about. But I think that what’s more important is that we remember that our military men and women are just as human as the rest of us. Something I feel has been lost in these times of armed conflict is that even though it may be easy for us to believe that there is some kind of philosophical or tangible divide between the military and the rest of society, our men and women in uniform are just as much a part of our communities as the rest of us.

Ask anyone who lives there, and they’ll tell you that Ft. Hood is just as much a part of Killeen as Killeen is a part of Ft. Hood. Both communities interact with each other, and the success of each is critical to the other. In Ft. Hood, soldiers and their families may live behind barbed wire fences and guarded gates, but you’d

be hard pressed to find any citizen of Killeen who wouldn’t consider them neighbors.

The communities are so intertwined that thousands of civilians who live in Killeen work on Ft. Hood, and one of the twelve killed last week was indeed a civilian.

History has often drawn a distinction between the military and society, and rightly so. In the past, such was the case in almost all nations. That is, until ours.

America changed that.

Our military, even the portion of it that lives on a base, is as involved and interacts with the civilian population as any other part of our society does.

That’s what I feel we should always remember. Wearing a uniform only superficially distinguishes those who wear it from the rest of us. Underneath though, the person who wears it is just

like you and me. They have the same feelings of patriotism, kinship, and love. A loss for them is just as hard as it would be for us.

Last week’s events were a stark reminder of that. A military base, a city, and a whole nation were united with the same feelings of loss and sadness, but also with resolve and determination.

Indeed, despite all of the barriers we may throw up to distinguish ourselves from one another, we must never forget, especially in times like this, that we are now, and forever will be, “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” Regardless of whether of not a few of us wear camouflage.

Addison Reed is the Opinions Editor for The Houstonian. He is a senior history major with a Mass Communication minor.

Key Words:

Objectionable Objections.

Adam Key discusses the transition between college and the real world.

This past week, the U.S. House of Representatives saw what could be considered one of the greatest atrocities in the history of democratic society.

No, I’m not talking about the health care bill.

I’m talking about the absolutely reprehensible actions of Republicans seeking to interrupt and censor the remarks of other representatives.

Dozens of members of the House Women’s Caucus, attempting to ask for unanimous consent to extend their remarks concerning the health care bill’s relation to abortion coverage, were repeatedly interrupted without cause.

Every few words a Democrat spoke, a Republican would stand and start repeatedly objecting. In the first 40 minutes of the debate, Republicans launched more than 75 different objections and 35 parliamentary inquiries in an attempt to silence the majority opposition.

While I realize that Republicans are not used to being the minority, there is absolutely no justification for this

childish tantrum. Just because you don’t get your way does not mean that you are allowed to try to silence the opposition.

Republican friends of mine have been quick to point out that there were only a few Republican representatives doing this and that even Fox News was mocking them.

Their position is that you cannot judge the entire party by the actions of a few and that censoring the views of others is not indicative of conservatism.

If this were some kind of isolated incident, I would probably believe them. However, when examining the modern history of free expression, one thing becomes abundantly clear: most of the people who try to restrict expression are conservatives.

Social conservatives have repeatedly attempted to ban the sale of pornography and other adult content. In 2006, conservative Senators led by Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) attempted to amend the United States Constitution to prohibit the defacement and

burning of the American flag.

R e l i g i o u s conservatives have repeatedly tried to shut down speech they consider obscene and critical to them, including the humorous satire which led Larry Flynt and the late Jerry Falwell to the United States Supreme Court.

Last and certainly least are George W. Bush’s free speech zones. If you had a sign in favor of Bush, you were allowed to be in the crowd when he spoke or passed by in a parade. But if your sign expressed opposition, you were cordoned off to a fenced in area far away from where anyone would ever see you.

In the spirit of fairness, I will concede that the Left is guilty of this too, at least in one instance.

Liberals have managed to pass laws restricting protesters access to clinics where abortions are performed.

I don’t agree with this ban, but when weighed against the plethora of attacks of free speech by the Right, it is clear who the enemy of the First Amendment is.

What people need to realize is that the same right that gives you the ability to fly your flag at half mast in mourning gives your neighbor the exact same ability to burn his flag in anger.

The same First Amendment protects both a “I Support our Troops” group as it does a “F*** the Troops” group. At the point where we start banning speech because we don’t agree with it is the point where speech stops being free.

While you may consider it un-American to burn a flag, it is a much greater sin against our Constitution to make flag burning illegal.

If we disagree with someone, we should let them speak and then refute their points. In short, as my esteemed colleague on the Student Supreme Court so eloquently put it, we should not use less words, we should use more.

Tuesday, November 10, 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 Alpha Nu Omega for organizing last week’s candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the Fort Hood tragedy.

“Paws DOWN” to another football season ending without the Bearkats in the Southland Conference Playoffs.

“Paws UP” to the 3rd Annual “Kats for the Cause/Pink Out” event scheduled this weekend to raise awareness for cancer research.

“Paws DOWN” to the SHSU volleyball team for suffering two consecutive losses after winning 11 in a row. Hopefully this blurb will be some good motivation to turn it around!

Correction from 11/5/09

- On the Campus page, the headline “Orange Keys induct professor of passion” should have read “Golden Keys.”

- In the same story, credit for the photo run should have been given to Joe Buvid.

- On the Campus page, credit for the “Light run” graphic should also have been attributed to Joe Buvid.

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

Adam Key is a regular columnist for The Houstonian. He is a Communication Studies graduate student.

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.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

CAMPUS

The Houstonian, Page 3

Graduating with the highest

Program is currently accepting applications from students interested in graduating with Honors

By Blake Myers Contributing Writer There is a lot more to the students of the Elliot T. Bowers Honors Program here at Sam than just high GPAs. Most are very involved on campus, holding leadership positions in Student Government, Panhellenics, and other organizations.

Over 80 percent hold part-time jobs, many of which are on campus.

Joining their ranks is not as difficult as many think.

Requirements for the Honors Program are

keeping a 3.4 overall GPA, and doing 10 hours of community service per semester.

“We’re always extending invitations to top students,” Maria Holmes said, assistant director of the Honors Program, said.

These two conditions give you access to one of the most sought after benefits of being an Honor student: advance registration.

Students in the Honors Program register for classes before anyone else at Sam, regardless of classification.

In addition, students receive a $400 scholarship, a special Honors medallion

to wear at graduation, and the opportunity to participate in the community of scholars, including cultural outings, Spivey House, travel to Honors conferences, extra scholarships, and many other activities.

The program reserves the Spivey Small House for its students, as well as a section of the fourth floor at Raven Village.

Cultural outings can be anything from a play to the symphony-- a night out on the town, paid for by the program.

The program recently returned from Washington, where they attended one of

Weekends at Sam

the three National Honors Conferences. A little known fact is that participation in the Honors Program is the only way to graduate from SHSU “with Honors,” and completing a thesis through the program is the only way to receive “Highest Honors.”

Despite these benefits, enrollment is not at the level directors of the program want, due to a stigma that other students hold.

Most think of the Honors program as extra classes, extra work, and extra time that they don’t have. But this just isn’t the case.

“Within the honors classes, it’s not about quantity of work, but quality of work. It’s more about interaction with faculty and other students, interdisciplinary learning, and a more participatory experience,” Maria Holmes said.

Only two additional courses are required, in the form of two seminar classes. The rest of the required hours fit into all degree plans, and any class can be made an “honors class” through contracts: special agreements made between student and professor, adding a level of participation to a regular

undergraduate course.

To increase enrollment, every year the Honors Program hosts a High School Honors Dinner, in which over 400 students and their parents are invited to come and see what the program is all about, and hopefully join.

The Honors Program is now accepting applications, which can be brought to their main office in ABIV 201.

For more information, check out their website at http://honors.shsu. edu/, or feel free to contact Maria Holmes at 294-1477.

Lone Wolves

Recreational sports invites gamers to test and show kill spread skills in upcoming tournament

Krystal Jackson | The Houstonian

Seen here: The Sam Houston Memorial Museum educates the community about Cherokee Indian Culture and Crafts, in the Exhibit hall on the museum grounds from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 7.

Hot Topics SHSU takes part in nationwide political engagement project

By Brittany McClure Contributing Writer

The SHSU Political Engagement Project Committee, along with the Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences and the American Democracy Project, will be presenting the first-ever Hot Topics Panel.

The title of the interactive panel is “The Middle East: What You Need to Know.”

SHSU students and faculty, as well as members of the Huntsville community, are welcome to attend this free discussion on the United States and the Middle East.

The forum will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Olson Auditorium, which is located in AB IV. Three SHSU professors are on the Hot Topics Panel. History professor Dr. Nick Pappas, political science professor Dr. Masoud Kazemzadeh and foreign language professor

Dr. Yasser Djazaerly will be participating in the discussion.

Marine Corps veteran Brigadier General Harold Fruchtnicht, who served in the Marines for 34 years, will also be a member of the panel.

These panelists were chosen due to their extensive knowledge of politics and Middle Eastern culture.

The Hot Topics Panel will begin with short presentations about the religion, politics, culture, history, and military in the Middle East from each of the panelists. There will then be a 20-minute question and answer session followed by an opportunity to ask oneon-one questions.

Political Science professor Dr. Mike Yawn encourages students to attend this informative discussion.

“It’s a great way to learn more about an important part of the country without a lot of investment in preparation or time,” Yawn

said.

The Political Engagement Project, or PEP, is a program created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

SHSU is one of nine schools nationwide that was selected to be a part of this program. PEP strives to increase students’ political knowledge, expand participation in politics and promote political leadership at the college level.

There are several organizations working alongside PEP: College Republicans, Bearkat Democrats, Priority One Public Relations, and the Political Science Junior Fellows. Student involvement with any of these organizations is highly recommended.

Students interesting in joining PEP can contact Dr. Stacy Ulbig at 936-294-1468.

Photo courtesy of dualmonitorbackgrounds.com

By Victoria Craven Contributing Writer Come prepared to use your battle rifle, rocket launcher, plasma grenade and frag grenade, because the Halo 3 Xbox 360 tournament will be held Wednesday, Nov. 11 at 6:00 p.m.

The tournament is hosted

by RSC, recreational sports center, and will take place in the HKC room 246.

Four players will play at the same time against one another; it is every man for himself.

The tournament will be broken up into 10 to 15 minute sets of time, and whichever player has the most kills in that set of time will move on to

the next round. The last player standing will be the champion. RSC will be giving out T-shirts.

RSC will provide the game system, controllers and Halo 3, but players are welcome to bring their own controllers or Xbox 360 gear.

The tournament is estimated to last about two hours, but play will continue until there is a winner.

Don’t miss your opportunity to play in this tournament because RSC only holds Halo 3 tournaments once a year.

Good news for those of you who have not registered; players for the Halo3 Xbox360 tournament don’t have to register in advance. Players can show

up before the event begins and play.

RSC will also host the Fall classic basketball tournament and the Wii golf tournament.

Fall classic basketball tournament registration is due Nov. 16 at 5 p.m.

Play will begin Wednesday, Nov. 19 and it is open to both men and women.

The Wii golf tournament registration opened Nov. 9 and the tournament will be held Dec. 2 at 6 p.m.

For more information about these two events please visit http:// www.shsu.edu/~rca_ www.

Department of Agriculture and Industrial Sciences

SHSU Rodeo Team National Intercollegiate Rodeo Lone Star Convention Center Conroe, TX November 13 & 14, 2009 7:30 pm

*Tickets are $7 at the gate, children 12 & under FREE* *$5 pre-sale tickets at Cavenders in Huntsville*

Sam Houston State University A Member of The Texas State University System

Page 4 The Houstonian FORT HOOD SHOOTING

NATION & WORLD

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Investigators: Fort Hood suspect acted alone (AP) — The Army psychiatrist accused of the Fort Hood massacre is believed to have acted alone despite repeated communications — monitored by authorities — with a radical imam overseas, U.S. officials said Monday. The FBI will conduct an internal review of its handling of the information, they said.

An investigative official and a Republican lawmaker said Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was in contact with Anwar al-Awlaki, an imam released from a Yemeni jail last year, 10 to 20 times. Despite that, no formal investigation was opened into Hasan, they said.

Investigative officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case.

Republican Rep. Pete Hoekstra of Michigan, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee, said it was his understanding Hasan and the imam exchanged e-mails that counterterrorism officials picked up.

Hasan, awake and talking to doctors, met his lawyer Monday in the Texas hospital where he is recovering under guard from gunshot wounds in the rampage Thursday that

From DRIVE page 1

“The Junior Fellows have assisted with care packages in the past, but this time they decided to take a lead on it and make it a community effort--something that would bring different groups in Walker County behind a common cause,” Yawn said. “And this seemed like one that might do that. We also wanted to let the troops know that the whole community supported them--not just particular factions.”

With the recent shooting at Fort Hood, a lot of support is going out to the military and this is just one more way for people to show the troops that they are backed by their country.

“The recent shooting at Fort Hood was a tragedy,”

From RELAY page 1

cancer awareness, remembers those who fought a battle against cancer and lost, and celebrates the lives of cancer survivors.

Colleges Against Cancer is a student organization that helps promote cancer awareness on campus, getting students involved in fundraising and other charitable events to raise money

From DISCUSS page 1

Rico and, most recently, in Iraq.

The event will be moderated by political science department chair Rhonda Callaway.

The program is scheduled to coincide with Veterans Day activities that include the grand opening of the

left 13 people dead and 29 injured. Officials said he will be tried in a military court, not a civilian one.

FBI Director Robert Mueller has ordered an internal inquiry to see whether the bureau mishandled worrisome information gathered about Hasan beginning in December 2008 and continuing into early this year.

Based on all the investigations since the attack, including a review of that 2008 information, the investigators said they have no evidence that Hasan had help or outside orders in the shootings.

Even so, they revealed the major had once been under scrutiny from a joint terrorism task force because of the series of communications going back months. Al-Awlaki is a former imam at a Falls Church, Va., mosque where Hasan and his family occasionally worshipped, and runs a Web site denouncing U.S. policy — a site that praised Hasan’s alleged actions in the massacre as heroic.

Military officials were made aware of communications between the two, but because the messages did not advocate or threaten violence,

Yawn said. “While I don't think people will connect it with the food drive, I do hope that it spurs an interest in ensuring that our troops get the care that they need-both physical and emotional.”

So far, the Junior Fellows have received many sponsorships for the packages and after seeing how this drive goes, they plan to host another next year.

“We are very happy with the community support we received,” Yawn said. “We had more than twenty-five individuals, businesses, and organizations sponsor different items or otherwise support the drive. Next year, when we have some of the logistics down, we hope to double that number, but we are very happy with this year's support.” for cancer research, and support those in their battle with cancer.

Information on the 2010 Relay for Life of Sam Houston will be available, and students will also be able to sign up for teams for the 2010 Relay for Life, which takes place April 23, 2010.

For more information on the Sam Houston chapter of Relay for Life, please visit www.relayforlife.org/samhoustontx HEARTS Veterans Museum, campus showings of “Charlie Wilson’s War” by the American Democracy Project, and the community-wide care package drive, hosted by the Political Science Junior Fellows.

For more information, contact Mike Yawn, PEP committee member, at 936.294.1456 or mike. yawn@shsu.edu.

NYPD: Suspicious powder sent to 3 NY consulates (AP) — Envelopes containing suspicious powder were sent to three foreign consulates in Manhattan on Monday, but initial tests suggested the mailings were a hoax, police officials said.

A field test done on the powder sent the Uzbekistan Consulate came back negative for Anthrax or any other dangerous substance, New York Police Department spokesman Paul Brown said.

Envelopes containing a powder were also sent to the French and Austrian consulates.

The potential threat prompted an emergency response from federal and local authorities, including hazardous material units that decontaminated employees of the consulates who handled the envelopes.

Unbelievable act. The nation was shocked when it was reported that Fort Hood had been attacked by one of its own. Shooter, Army psychiatrist Major Nidal Malik Hasan, survived the gun battle between he and police and is apparently talking.

law enforcement authorities could not take the matter further, the officials said. The terrorism task force concluded Hasan was not involved in terrorist planning.

Officials said the content of those messages was “consistent with the subject matter of his research,” part of which involved post-traumatic stress disorder stemming from U.S. combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

A law enforcement offi-

From VIGIL page 1

“I wasn’t worried when I heard about the shooting,” Catherine Tilley, a junior at SHSU, said.

“I can say that because I knew that God would take care of everything, and I have total trust and peace with what he is doing and what he is going to do.

“Upon hearing that one of her sorority sister’s father was stationed at Fort Hood, Tilley said that her heart sank. “But even feeling that in my heart, I still had constant prayer and trust in God that he would make everything okay.”

This event was an eyeopener to some who believed that Texas was untouchable and that nothing to this extent would happen here. “We are the only chapter of our national organization and we always go to our conferences and brag on Texas, and say how Texas is just invincible,” Johnson said.

“For something like this to happen we have to call on God, and to be attacked by someone at home, from

cial said the communications consisted primarily of Hasan posing questions to the imam as a spiritual leader or adviser, and the imam did respond to at least some of those messages.

No formal investigation was ever opened based on the contacts, the officials said.

They said the decision to bring military charges instead of civilian criminal charges against Hasan did not mean it wasn’t a terrorism case. But

home, shows that we have much work to do on the inside.”

Alpha Nu Omega plans to host more events in the future pertaining to the events at Fort Hood.

“We plan to host an awareness of what’s going on in the armed services, whether it is overseas or at home, to see what they are doing in response to the attack,” Johnson said. “Also some of our fraternity and sorority members on the national level are members of the armed forces, and they will be coming down to host workshops during the end of this semester or the beginning of next.”

It was said by Helen Keller that the world is full of suffering, and it is also full of overcoming it.

Through the pain and suffering that filled the day of Nov. 7, the night was aglow with the hope and love sent out by the students of Sam Houston to all of those in anguish and despair, and to give them strength to overcome this tragedy.

Japan plans additional $5 billion for Afghanistan (AP) — Japan said Tuesday it plans to provide up to $5 billion in new Afghanistan aid over the next 5 years as the country's naval refueling mission in the region draws to a close.

The Foreign Ministry made the announcement days before President Barack Obama is due in Tokyo for talks with Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

Japan currently operates a refueling mission in the Indian Ocean in support of the U.S.-led coalition in Afghanistan, but Hatoyama's government

has repeatedly said it will let the mission expire in January.

Tokyo's new pledge of support comes as it seeks to redefine its long-standing military alliance with the U.S. and as Obama is reviewing his options for a new strategy in the Afghanistan conflict.

Japan's Foreign Ministry said in a release that the new funds will be used in areas such as building up the police force and on agriculture and other infrastructure projects.

Post any comments or critiques on The Houstonian website!

it is likely authorities would have had more reason to take the case to federal court if they had found evidence Hasan acted with the support or training of a terrorist group.

Investigators tried to interview Hasan on Sunday at the military hospital where he is held under guard, but he refused to answer and requested a lawyer, the officials said.

On Monday afternoon, Hasan’s new civilian and mil-

itary attorneys met him for about half an hour at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, said retired Col. John P. Galligan, who was hired by Hasan’s family.

Galligan said Hasan asked for an attorney even though he is on sedatives and his condition is guarded.

“Given his medical condition, that’s the smart move,” Galligan told The Associated Press on Monday night. “Nobody from law enforcement will be questioning him.”

Galligan said both he and Maj. Christopher E. Martin, Fort Hood’s senior defense attorney, met Hasan. Galligan questioned whether Hasan can get a fair trial at Fort Hood, given President Barack Obama’s planned visit to the base on Tuesday and public comments by the post commander, Lt. Gen. Robert Cone. Galligan also said he plans to raise the issue of Hasan’s mental condition.

The most serious charge in military court is premeditated murder, which carries the death penalty.

The Army has not yet appointed a lead prosecutor in the case, said Fort Hood spokesman Tyler Broadway.

Thousands cheer 20 years since fall of Berlin Wall (AP) — Ulrich Sauff and his wife stared at the mammoth domino pieces marking the path where the Berlin Wall once stood and reminisced about life in the barrier's shadow.

"It was like a prison," said Sauff, 73, who lived on the Western side of the wall. "For us 'Wessis,' the few kilometers from our old home to our new home (in the East) was unthinkable."

The Sauffs were among those who gathered Monday to celebrate 20 years of unity, marking the day the wall came down. Thousands cheered as 1,000 colorfully decorated dominoes along a mile-long route were toppled to symbolize both the moment the wall came crashing down and the resulting fall of communist governments in Eastern Europe.

It was the finale to a day of memorial services, speeches and events that attracted leaders from around the world, including former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and 78-year-old Gorbachev stood shoulder to shoulder as they crossed a former fortified border crossing point between East and West Berlin to cheers of "Gorby! Gorby!"

Merkel — Germany's first chancellor to be raised in the former communist East — called the events of Nov. 9, 1989 an "epic" moment in history.

"For me, it was one of the happiest moments of my life," Merkel told a crowd of tens of thousands packed around the Brandenburg Gate.

In a video message screened at the main event, President Barack Obama paid tribute to the dissidents and demonstrators who ushered in the fall of the wall 20 years ago.

"Let us never forget Nov. 9, 1989, nor the sacrifices that made it possible," Obama said to applause and cheers.

"We remember the people of the Baltics who joined hands across their land ... we remember the students of Prague who propelled a dissident playwright from a jail cell to the presidency,"

she said. "And tonight we remember the Germans, and especially the Germans in the East who stood up to say 'No more.'"

Merkel also recalled the tragic side of Nov. 9 for Germans — the Nazis' Kristallnacht, or Night of Broken Glass — an antiSemitic pogrom 71 years ago. At least 91 German Jews were killed, hundreds of synagogues destroyed and thousands of Jewish businesses vandalized and looted in the state-sanctioned riots that night.

Music from Bon Jovi and Beethoven recalled the joy of the border's opening, which led to German reunification less than a year later and the swift demolition of most of the wall — which snaked for 96 miles around West Berlin, a capitalist enclave deep inside East Germany.

In the decades it stood, 136 people were killed trying to make their way across the border and the wall came to represent the split in ideologies between the communist East and the democratic West.

"This wall divided not only a single country but, as we realize today, all of Europe," Medvedev said, taking his turn in a series of speeches by leaders gathered at Berlin's Brandenburg Gate for the ceremonies.

By the Brandenburg Gate, which stood in a no man's land behind the wall for nearly three decades, Dieter Mohnka, 74, and his wife Helga, 71, shared a bowl of French fries on Monday afternoon and recalled the night the wall was opened.

"We were shocked when we heard that announced, simply astounded," Helga Mohnka said. "The next morning we went straight to visit my aunt in the West."

Dieter Mohnka, a high school teacher at the time, said he had long been fascinated with West Germany.

"I was born in East Germany, I went to school in East Germany. I was supposed to teach the kids about the wonderfulness of the East, when I was secretly watching TV from the West," he said.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

ENTERTAINMENT

The Houstonian, Page 5

At the Movies with Kevin:

The Men Who Stare at Goats Kevin Jukkola

Entertainment Editor

“The Men Who Stare at Goats” is unlike any film I have ever seen. It is triumphantly original and unapologetically screwball with an understanding of its wacky storyline. Movies that have not been constructed out of parts of others are rare, and should be admired for their artistic courage when they trolley along.

Bob Wilton (Ewan McGregor) is a reporter who stumbles across the story of a secret Army battalion whose purpose was to find alternative, nonviolent ways of fighting the enemy, which included using Jedi mind tricks for both extermination and location purposes.

Wilton travels to the Middle East both to track the story and to get away from his wife, who is leaving him for his editor. In Kuwait, he meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a retired member of the Jedi battalion who is travelling on a secret mission to find something, for which even he is unaware.

During the explanation of the history and demise of this secret squad, the audience is introduced to Bill Django (Jeff Bridges), who invented the mission and unusual tactics of the group, and Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey), the man responsible for bringing it down. Django has been compared to Bridges’ character of Jeff Lebowski in “The Big Lebowski,” but I believe that is unfair. Lebowski was hilarious because his life had no ambition and he was proud of it, while Django has direction, even if that might be toward a nar-

cotics factory.

“The Men Who Stare at Goats” has a tone similar to that of the Coen Brothers’ “Burn After Reading,” which also starred Clooney. The reason this film is superior is because it is more clear and focused in the overall and specific arc of its tone. Also, although story is almost too crazy to be believed, the actors exhibit a pragmatism within the characters creates a certain amount of authenticity that adds to the oddly intimate nature of the experience.

“The Men Who Stare at Goats” also makes some excellent point about our inability to develop the ability to fight our enemies without putting our soldiers in

harm’s way. In the last 120 years, technological inventions such as the telegraph, printing press, radio, and television have stepped aside as the newest ways to decipher information. That said, the preferred fighting techniques have not changed, and “The Men Who Stare at Goats” believes that, instead of creating weapons that are efficient in their accumulation of casualties, we could have used these resources to develop peaceful ways of settling conflict that might not even require the presence and endangerment of our troops. The film also believes it is dangerous for people to criticize others who have different ideas on how to achieve the objec-

tives of a mission with the use of military force as the last option.

Yes, “The Men Who Stare at Goats” is strange and sometimes meanders, but it is also unpredictable, inventive, never boring, and unexpectedly moving at the conclusion. The comedy is more amusing than hilarious, relying on the unbelievable eccentricities of these oddball characters for inspiration.

At one point in the film, one of the members of the battalion is questioned as to the whereabouts of a certain dictator, and he replies with a reference to Angela Lansbury. If that anecdote sounds interesting or inspired to you, “The Men Who Stare at Goats” is essential viewing.

The Men Who Stare at Goats

Hoping for death, praying for life. Lyn Cassady (George Clooney) wants to prove he can kill a goat with his mind while not wanting it to die in the confusing “The Men Who Stare at Goats.”

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Stars: * * * Grade: B Running Time: 93 min.

MPAA: Rated R for language, some drug content, and brief nudity.

Cast:. George Clooney (Lyn Cassady), Jeff Bridges (Bill Django), Ewan McGregor (Bob Wilton), Kevin Spacey (Larry Hooper), Robert Patrick (Todd Nixon), Stephen Lang (Gen. Hopgood), Stephen Root (Gus Lacey).

Directed by Grant Heslov.

Written by Peter Straughan, inspired

by Jon Ronson’s 2004 book.

Entertainment Poll of the Week A dramedy is a dramatic film with many comedic moments. Although some may call these films comedies, the emphasis is on the dramatic arcs of the nature of the characters and how these monumental changes profoundly affect their lives.

Although “The Men Who Stare at Goats” is more of a screwball comedy, it does have a touching ending that reveals unforseen depths about the characters. What do you think is the best dramedy of the decade?

Choices: -Almost Famous -Garden State -Ghost World -In Bruges -Junebug -Juno -The Matador -Sideways -The Weather Man -Wonder Boys

SPORTS

Page 6 The Houstonian

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Bearkats roped up by Cowboys

Ahead of the pack. McNeese running back Todd Pendland breaks free from the back as he runs for a touchdown. Pendland had four touchdowns on the day to go with his 171-yards on 20 carries.

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian

The McNeese Cowboys torch the Bearkats for 608 yards of total offense, as the Bearkats fall to 4-5 Mike Silva

Staff Reporter

The Sam Houston State Bearkats were outlasted this weekend, 63-42, in an offensive showdown with the McNeese State Cowboys.

Saturday night’s loss drops Sam Houston’s record to 4-5 overall and 2-3 in the Southland Conference.

The Bearkat defense surrendered a season-high 63 points and allowed 608 yards, including 418 yards on the ground. The defense also gave up six plays of 30 or more yards and allowed McNeese to convert six of eight third down conversions.

The defense had no answer for McNeese State running back Todd Pendland. The Southland Conference’s leading rusher ran wild on the Bearkat defense with 20 carries for 171 yards and four touchdowns. Cowboys quarterback Derrick Fourroux also ran the ball 10 times for 118 yards and completed eight of 16 passes for 191 yards with two total touchdowns.

“This was McNeese’s best effort of the year,” Head Coach Todd Whitten said. “They’re very

explosive offensively. I think their quarterback’s a wonderful player and what can you say about their running back?

“We’re young defensively and we know that. We’ve got some things to work on. The big play has been our thing all year. When they got in the open field, we couldn’t catch them.”

Led by quarterback Blake Joseph, the Bearkat offense played well and kept pace with the Cowboys

“I felt like our offense played well tonight,” said Joseph. “It was one of those things where we would trade scores back and forth.

I felt that our offensive line and our receivers played well. We moved up and down the field pretty easily.”

The Bearkat defense looked good opening the game. Following a quick score by McNeese, the defense stiffened and forced backto-back turnovers to give Sam Houston its only lead at 14-7.

McNeese State started the game with an eight play, 74 yard drive to open the game. The drive ended with a 31-yard touchdown run by Pendland, his first of four in the game.

Following a three-and-out, the Bearkats were forced to punt the ball. On the second play of the drive, Smith intercepted a Fourroux pass to give the ball back to Sam Houston. Five plays later, Poullard ran a one-yard touchdown pass to

run by Pendland and a touchdown pass from Fourroux to Chad Davis.

Going into the half, McNeese led 28-14.

The Bearkats came out of the half with the ball, looking to catch ground on the Cowboys. But they lost their opportunity after Madkins gave the ball back to McNeese State on a fumble.

On the next play, Richard Conner ran for a 43-yard touchdown to put the Cowboys up 35-14. From

for much of the game. Joseph completed 20 of 28 passes for 300 yards and four touchdowns, leading Sam Houston to its fourth game of the season with 40 or more points.

Jason Madkins and Chris Lucas were major forces in the passing game. Madkins caught six passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Lucas caught a game-high seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.

With James Aston out for the game with a knee injury, Chris Poullard led the rushing attack.

Poullard had 20 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown and also caught five passes for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Forcing turnovers hasn’t been a strong point for Sam Houston this season, but they have continued to force more turnovers as the weeks go along. Following a multi-turnover game last week, the Bearkats forced two more turnovers this weekend.

“Anytime you force turnovers on defense it’s always a good thing,” said defensive tackle Kevin Smith, who intercepted a pass in the first quarter. “When you have a plus in the turnover ratio, you always seem to win.

“But tonight, we tackled very poorly and we gave up a lot of big runs that they shouldn’t have had.

There’s no other way to put it.”

tie the game at 7-7.

On the ensuing kickoff, Kenneth Jenkins forced a fumble and Madkins recovered. On the next play, Joseph hit Lucas for a 23-yard touchdown pass, to give the Bearkats their only lead of the game at 14-7.

The Cowboys responded on the next drive with a 10 play, 62yard drive capped off by another Pendland touchdown. The score tied the game at 14-14, and from there the Bearkats played from behind.

Sam Houston’s next four drives resulted in three punts and a blocked field goal. McNeese built on this momentum and went on to score two more touchdowns before the half on another touchdown

that point on, McNeese and Sam Houston traded touchdowns to reach the 63-42 final score.

The Bearkats are now 0-4 on the road, where they are allowing 49.5 points per game. Sam Houston has allowed opponents to score just 26.2 points per game at Bowers Stadium this season, which is over 23 points less than what they allow on the road.

The Bearkats will be back in action this Saturday, when they host Central Arkansas in the final home game of the season.

Sam Houston looks to get back to .500 and improve their record to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in the conference.

Miles for Myles

Paul Ridings

Sports Information

Paul Ridings| Sports Information

Sam Houston State University will participate in miles for Myles this year. The program, named after former NCAA President Myles Brand is to help benefit cancer research.

Each of Sam Houston State’s NCAA Division I sports teams will be participating in the NABC “Miles for Myles” program, Bearkat director of athletics Bobby Williams and head men’s basketball coach Bob Marlin announced Thursday at Johnson Coliseum.

“Miles for Myles” is an initiative designed to perpetuate the legacy of leadership of the late NCAA president Myles Brand and to carry on with his valiant fight against pancreatic cancer.

Designed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches, which has been joined by the WBCA, NCAA and NACDA as partners, “Miles for Myles” provides an opportunity for the collegiate athletic community to demonstrate its solidarity and to raise awareness and contribute funds for cancer research, specifically in the area of pancreatic cancer.

“Myles Brand was an outstanding leader, someone who really cared about student athletes and their academics,”

Williams said. “Myles engaged our coaches and student athletes, was a great listener and built a platform for the future.”

Marlin’s men’s basketball team will be the first of the Bearkats’ 16 programs to hold a “Miles for Myles” event. The team will be taking pledges of three dollars for each mile team members run in the challenge.

“Myles Brand had a keen interest in men’s basketball and was instrumental in helping the game grow,” Marlin said. “The NABC is taking the lead in this initiative with runs or walks for cancer research by college basketball programs across the country on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 and 8.”

The men’s basketball team will make their “Miles for Myles” run on Saturday, Nov. 7. Sam Houston’s other sports programs will run or walk in similar events between Nov. 7 and Dec. 4.

All proceeds will benefit Coaches vs. Cancer (a partnership between the NABC and American Cancer Society), the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer Fund and the Myles Brand Chair in Cancer Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine.