Volume 126 | Issue 22

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University

What’s happening at Sam TRAFFIC, P.2

MUSICAL, P.3

INTERSTELLAR, P.4

SOUTHLAND, P.5

FRACKING, P.6

Student government helped clear up some issues drivers had with a traffic signal

Theatre will present its first musical of the semester

Some of the science in the new movie seems a little too far fetched

Take a look at the latest standings in the Southland Conference

A new fracking ban in Denton is already being contested in court

Volume 126 | Issue 22

/HoustonianSHSU

@HoustonianSHSU

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HoustonianOnline.com

Sexual assault reported at student apt.

THE HEA DL I N E S in br i e f

STAFF REPORT

Compiled by

Manny Jawa web editor

A sexual assault was reported early Sunday morning at The Villas on Sycamore. According to Lt. Jim Barnes, Huntsville Police Department public information officer, the investigation is ongoing. Due to the nature of the incident, Barnes was not allowed to release any information by press time. Follow The Houstonian for developing information regarding the case.

SNAIL MAIL HACKED

The United States Postal Service reported Nov 10 that as many as 500,000 employee records containing personal data may have been compromised in a sophisticated cyberattack. The Postal Service does not believe consumer data was compromised, but an investigation by the FBI continues into the cause of the attack.

LOW-LEVEL MARIJUANA

According to a New York Times report Sunday, the NYPD plans to issue court summonses in place of making arrests for small amounts of marijuana possession.

25 grams or less would lead to a summons, but smoking in public will result in an arrest.

SYRIAN REBELS

Syrian rebels, including fighters from Al-Qaeda’s Nusra Front, took control of the town of Nawa in the Deraa region this past weekend. Located along the border of Syria and Jordan next to Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, the region is critical to securing the border. State news reported the Syrian military would be redeploying in Nawa.

GUANTANAMO

The commanding officer of the Guantanamo Bay Prison, Col. David Heath raised doubts about the Obama administration’s ability to lose the controversial prison before the president leaves office.

Gitmo released its first prisoner Nov. 5, yet still holds 148 detainees with 79 of those already authorized for release. The closing of the prison was one of the President’s campaign promises, yet he has faced political and financial obstacles to the closing since his first election.

Alex Broussard | The Houstonian

VETERANS WEEK. Yellow ribbons hang around campus honoring members of the United States Armed Forces.

The ribbons were hung by Kappa Sigma and Alpha Delta Pi on Monday in honor of Veterans Day.

Veterans to be honored throughout week STAFF REPORT

Yellow ribbons cover the campus of Sam Houston State University and patriotic songs ring from the Ruth and Ron Blatchley Bell Tower as multiple organizations and departments have come together to honor veterans throughout the week of Nov. 10 through 15.

Veterans Week events continue today with The Armistice Day Observation and Ceremony hosted by the Army ROTC at the SHSU Flagpole by the Bernard G. Johnson Colluseum at 11 a.m. The event will feature guest speaker Lt. Col. David Yebra, director of the SHSU High Potential Employee Leadership Academy.

This afternoon, students can partake in the Veterans PT Challenge, where they can choose to take a physical fitness test from any branch of service.

“These challenges are designed

to give the challenger a glimpse of our military men and women’s everyday life when it comes to fitness,” Veterans Resource Center Director Fernando Chavez said in a statement to Today@Sam. The challenge will run from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Health and Kinesiology Center.

Tomorrow, the documentary “Service When Women Come Marching Home” will show in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences Building room C070.

The event, titled Women Crush Wednesday, will examine the lives of female military members.

Thursday, letters written by soldiers that show first hand accounts of the military will be on display in the Lowman Student Center Mall. At 3 p.m., licensed clinical social worker Crystal Justice will discuss military sexual trauma in the LSC room 315.

Events wrap up Friday with the VRC hosting the “Grillin’ and Chillin’” in Academic Building III room 116 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Last week, Greek organizations Alpha Delta Pi and Kappa Sigma tied yellow ribbons around campus and collected donations to benefit the Red Lion Project, which honors the six fallen soldiers of Marine Heacy Helicopter Squadron 363.

“Yellow ribbons are a symbol of tribute to the men and women who serve in the military around the world and are generally recognized as a symbol that we ‘support our troops,’” Chavez said. “Students, faculty and staff members should take part in making a donation for a yellow ribbon to show their support for the brave men and women who are serving our country. I would venture to say we all know someone who has served or is still serving in the military today.”

Veterans Week events kicked off Monday with the Veteran’s Job and Resource Fair, where approximately two dozen employers spoke to student veterans about future employment opportunities.

NET NEUTRALITY

United States President Barack Obama voiced Monday support for plans that aim to increase the FCC’s regulatory power over broadband. The president urged the FCC to regulate broadband as a public utility by preventing providers from “gatekeeping” access and ending prioritization deals in which companies pay providers for direct access to an ISP for faster delivery. The FCC has no formal deadline on net neutrality rules, but plans to finalize some form of regulation by the end of the year.

Alex Broussard | The Houstonian

HOME FINALE. Senior outside hitter Deveney Wells-Gibson goes for a kill in her last home game at Johnson Coliseum on Saturday against New Orleans Privateers. Wells-Gibson led the Kats with 11 kills to complete the perfect season at home for the first time since 1984, going 12-0 on their home court. Read page five to see how the Kats finished their home season in a three-set win over UNO.

Players of the Week

GERALD THOMAS, WIDE RECEIVER

Wide receiver Gerald Thomas caught two touchdowns in Sam Houston State’s 40-19 win over Incarnate Word on Saturday. Thomas scored the first six points of the game with a 21-yard touchdown reception from sophomore quarterback Jared Johnson.

Thomas would add another touchdown reception midway through the second quarter with a five-yard catch. The junior from The Colony leads all Bearkat wide receivers with four touchdown receptions.

TAYLOR DORSEY, GUARD

Guard Taylor Dorsey recorded a double-double in Sam Houston State’s 85-67 win in Saturday’s exhibition against Mary Hardin-Baylor. Dorsey shot nine for 15 from the field for 27 points, including eight for nine from the free throw line. Dorsey also grabbed 11 rebounds and recorded four assists and three steals. The sophomore from Fort Worth helped the Bearkats outscore UMHB 48-33 after being down by ten points early in the first half.

SHSU veteran reflects on time with Marines HANNAH ZEDAKER Associate Editor “I realized that no matter what I say or do, unless you’ve been there, you can’t really understand.”

Bill Thomas III, the productions coordinator for the Sam Houston State University department of theatre and musical theatre, has played many roles on the campus of SHSU. From a student in the 1970s to an engineer management technician at physical plant and lab manager in IT as an adult, Thomas has seen the campus through many different lenses.

However, in 1978 while still attending SHSU as a student, Thomas’ eyes were opened to an entirely new perspective when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.

Despite the bright future which lay before him as a civilian, Thomas followed the footsteps of his grandfather, father and many other family members when he enlisted in the service. Thomas said his decision was made due to his love for a life of adventure.

Thomas admitted he was illequipped to serve due to his flatfeet. However, after failing the physical test twice, he was able to use letters of recommendation to persuade the Marine headquarters to let him serve.

As the first in his family to join the Marines, for 15 years and eight months of his life, Thomas served as a staff sergeant where he trained, traveled and transformed his outlook on life.

“They’re the best,” Thomas said. “They are our Spartans of our time. Other services have outstanding servicemen and missions but, why not be a Spartan?”

During his period of service, Thomas went from attending boot camp in San Diego, California where he was referred to as a “Hollywood Marine,” to traveling around the world to as far as Japan. Of all his experiences, however, Thomas recalled serving in Desert Storm as one of the most influential time periods in his life.

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VET, page 6

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Tuesday November 11, 2014

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Intersection on campus now less confusing TEDDI CLIETT Staff Reporter A new traffic sign is posted at the intersection of Bowers Boulevard and Montgomery Road thanks to the works of Sam Houston State University’s Student Government Association and the city of Huntsville.

The stoplight was originally

confusing to drivers. If a vehicle wanted to turn left onto Bowers Boulevard from Montgomery Road, they would see a solid green light, indicating that they would have to yield to the traffic wishing to cross Bowers Boulevard from the Bowers Stadium parking lot.

However, those exiting the parking lot wishing to cross Bowers Boulevard saw a red light. This meant that vehicles wishing to

turn left onto Bowers Boulevard from Montgomery Road had the right-of-way while it was not clear since they had a yield-indicating solid green light.

After recognizing that the stoplight could be confusing and potentially dangerous, External Affairs Chief Tyler Livzey got in contact with the appropriate person at city hall and expressed the problem.

The city of Huntsville, according to Livzey, was surprisingly proactive, calling him back the same morning of initial contact.

“It was incredible how fast the city was willing to work with the students,” Livzey said. “I thought it was going to be a significantly longer process.”

By the end of the week though, a sign was posted at the stoplight.

Street Superintendent David

Welch worked with the issue directly, recognizing the potential danger as well.

“We figured out exactly what [the problem] was and came up with a solution,” Welch said.

“Someone should have spoken up sooner. The lights have been there for a number of years.”

The sign posted now reads “All turns are protected on green light”.

Who’s behind Lee Drain Building’s namesake?

LESLIE CORDOVA Staff Reporter Across from the Lowman Student Center sits the Lee Drain building which houses classrooms, labs and the Department of college sciences. Thousands of students enter the building on a daily basis. But who is Lee Drain?

He was a student here at SHSU at one point in time. The Lee Drain building officially opened in 1985 and was originally named the General Purpose Classroom

Building. It was dedicated to Lee drain in 1990.

Lee Drain grew up on Route 5 in McKinney and graduated from Princeton High School in 1942.

Drain was an alumnus of Sam Houston State University. Along with this, he was also student body president in 1950, the president of the Alumni Association he received SHSU’s Distinguished Alumni Award.

He also served 18 years on the Texas State University System Board of Regents. The reason for the renaming of the building was

due to Drain’s “continuous contributions to the Texas State University System and the state of Texas” as a whole. He was seen as an individual who dedicated himself to education and showed exceptional leadership.

He graduated from SHSU in 1950 with a Bachelor of Science degree and then continued to teach for a short time in the Wylie Public schools until he went into the air force where he was captain for almost three years. He attained a Master’s of Science from East Texas State University in 1953.

He was a graduate of the Southern Graduate School of banking in Southern Methodist University with distinction.

He was senior vice president and corporate secretary and consultant to two of the nation’s largest banking establishments.

In a collection of letters, Drain and then university president Martin J. Anisman spoke of this honor given to Drain by the board and University as a tribute of their appreciation.

Drain had always embraced the affection he has for Sam Houston

State University. He once said, “My emotions for Sam Houston run very deep. That school has given me a lot more than I’ve been able to give it.”

The 29-year-old building has served its purpose in providing an environment with the resources and equipment to help guarantee SHSU students. Drain has served his purpose as well which is representing a figure which the student body can admire and play as an example of the heights any current SHSU student can reach with a bit of selflessness and dedication.

Raiders no longer interested in San Antonio TOM ORSBORN San Antonio Express News A former high-ranking member of the Oakland Raiders front office became the latest NFL insider to dismiss the notion that the struggling team views San Antonio as a serious relocation option should it fail to secure a new stadium in the Bay Area.

“I don’t believe that it is a very viable opportunity,” Amy Trask,

now a CBS analyst, told the CBS Sports Network on Sunday. “It would be, in my mind, very, very remarkable if that’s where the team were to end up.”

Trask’s comments came two days after a contingent of San Antonio leaders headed by former Mayor Henry Cisneros met with Raiders owner Mark Davis in Oakland to discuss the Alamo City’s viability as an NFL market.

Davis told reporters in California the meeting “went great” and the

group fulfilled Cisneros’ stated goal of presenting the city’s “assets in the strongest light.”

Members of the San Antonio delegation have not returned messages seeking comment.

A longtime confidante of Al Davis, Mark’s father, Trask served the franchise for 25 years before resigning in 2013. She became CEO in 1997 and was one of Al Davis’ most trusted advisers before he died in 2011.

Trask’s main focus during her

final years with the club was on improving its stadium situation.

The Raiders can leave Oakland without penalty after their lease at O.co Coliseum expires at season’s end.

Trask also said she scoffed when she heard Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Houston Texans owner Bob McNair suggest in August they would not oppose the Raiders moving to San Antonio.

“When I learned of the comments attributed to (Jones and

McNair) — the very, very gracious comments in which they almost welcomed the Raiders to San Antonio, I laughed aloud,” she said. “The league has tremendous lawyers. Let me tell you, those men are not going to say anything that could trigger an antitrust concern.”

Citing sources, several media outlets have reported the Raiders’ interest in San Antonio amounts to an attempt to gain leverage in stadium talks in Oakland.

VETERAN'S DAY FITNESS CHALLENGE COMPLETE A CHALLENGE NOV 11TH AND RECIEVE A T-SHIRT 4:30PM - 6:00PM COME TO RB1 INSIDE THE RSC

BACKPACKING AT LOST MAPLES

TRIP: DEC 5-7 SIGN UP: NOV 12 MORE INFORMATION VISIT COST: $60 FOR SHSU.EDU/OUTDOORS

INTRAMURAL 11.12.14 6PM KAT KLUB

TOURNAMENT shsu.edu/recsports

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/campusculture | Tuesday November 11, 2014

Page 3

Roman-inspired musical to bring laughs to campus SEAN SMITH Campus Culture Editor Slapstick humor, crude jokes and absurd thrills abound in this semester’s third production from the Sam Houston State University department of theatre and musical theatre.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” is the first musical presented this semester

by SHSU theatre. The show is a different style production from the department’s first two shows, according to the shows director and associate professor of voice and musical theatre Laura Avery, D.M.A. “Its [difference] goes beyond just being a musical,” Avery said.

“It’s musical comedy, going back to the earliest part of the form.

It’s the earliest version of the musical as we know it in this country,

Photos Catherine Stallard | The Houstonian

so lots of slapstick, lots of jokes.”

The show is known for its ‘facepaced farce’ style, with its title lifted directly from the common vaudeville line “a funny thing happened on the way to the theater.”

Rich in slapstick, the musical will present a humor throughout the production, according to Avery.

“It’s based in the Roman-Greek style of comedy, which is crude and kind of bawdy,” Avery said.

“We’ve tried to make sure we were true to that and honored that style as well. It’s very different. There’s not realism. There’s not room for serious responses to things. It’s all very clownish, very big-faced and [shocking].”

Avery said the show is not meant to a transformative experience, but pure entertainment.

“It goes back to singable tunes, just great fun and laughter,” Avery said. “There’s not anything that makes you stop and think and ponder. There’s not any moral issues or struggles that leave you transformed in this show. You just go away fulfilled and joyful and happy.”

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” was written by Burt Shevelove and creator of M*A*S*H Larry Gelbart.

Inspired by the comical work of ancient Roman playwright Plautus, the musical follows a clever Roman slave, Psuedolus (played by senior musical theatre major Ryan Smith), attempting to earn his freedom from his master, Hero (junior musical theatre major Nathan Wilson). Psuedolus must work to win the affection of Philia (senior theatre major Connor Lyon) for

his master.

The show features music and lyrics written by Stephen Sondheim, who wrote for several famous works such as “Sweeny Todd” and “West Side Story.”

The musical’s orchestration calls for a relatively expansive orchestra, according to Avery.

SHSU’s production features an orchestra composed of freelance musicians from Houston.

“There are certainly shows whose orchestration is band,” Avery said. “There are other shows that call for a much more expansive orchestra. We have a reduced orchestra down stairs. The show actually calls for more than we have. We still have a nice ten-piece orchestra downstairs. It’s very different for the actor to get used to being with live musicians so we do our best to make sure we do that.”

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” won the Tony Awards for best musical and best author of a musical during its original Broadway run in 1962.

The show was revived on Broadway in 1996, with the lead role starring Nathan Lane.

Performances will be held in the University Theatre Center’s Erica Starr Theatre between Nov. 12 and 15 Evening performances begin at 8 p.m., with house open at 7:30 p.m. A Saturday matinee will show Nov. 15 at 2 p.m., with house open at 1:30 p.m.

Tickets are available at the University Theatre Center Box office or at 936-294-1339.

SLAPSTICK. (TOP) Senior musical theatre major Ryan Smith pretends to swallow a sword as Psuedolus in the SHSU department of theatre and musical theatre production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.” (BOTTOM) The cast of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” performs the shows opening number. The musical runs Nov. 12 through 15 in the University Theatre Center’s Erica Starr Theatre.

Read to Succeed author to visit campus SAVANNAH WOODWORTH Staff Reporter If you like 80’s pop culture, video games, dystopian novels and people from Austin, then Sam Houston State University First Year Experience office has an event for you. Today through Thursday, events centered around Ernest Cline, author of the book “Ready Player One” will be happening on the SHSU campus. Cline will personally be on campus tomorrow for meet and greets, book signings and more.

“Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline was selected as this year’s Bearkats Read to Succeed novel.

“This past year we received over 100 nominations, and after reading countless reviews and meeting several times, the book selection subcommittee narrows it down to 10 books for the committee to read over the winter holiday break,” Kay Angrove, Director of First Year Experience, said. “Cline’s book was popular due to the huge appeal for the students and the fact that it was also a book that was adopted by a couple of other universities with great success.”

Angrove said the New York Times Bestseller helps introduce the SHSU experience prior to the semester beginning.

“The entire campus adopts the book, and SHSU’s First-Year Experience office provides incoming freshmen with their first college academic experience before they even set foot in a classroom,” Angrove said. “The Bearkats Read to Succeed common reader program gives students a copy of a book to read over the summer. This book is then integrated into some of the classes they take through lectures, a film series, participation in discussion groups, and course assignments.”

“Ready Player One” is a novel that follows the character Wade Watts in the year 2044.

Watts lives in his aunt’s trailer in the stacks outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The stacks are literally stacks of trailer homes piled on top of each other and are where many of the lower income families live in 2044.

Wade spends most of his time in the virtual world of The Oasis, playing video games and studying 80’s pop culture. This is because when The Oasis creator James Halliday died, he sent out a challenge.

“Three hidden keys open three secret gates. Wherein the errant will be tested for worthy traits and those with the skill to survive the straits will reach The End where the prize awaits,” the novel states.

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The person who can find the Easter Egg, a hidden message or item in a movie or game, Halliday planted in The Oasis will inherit Halliday’s fortune. When Watts becomes the first person to find a clue years after the hunt began, the competition becomes far more dangerous and the fortune is no longer the only thing on the line.

Cline is an Austin-based author where he lives with his wife and daughter. Along with having written “Ready Player One,” his first novel, Cline wrote the screenplay, “Fanboys”.

“Fanboys” is about a group of “Star Wars” fanatics who decide to road trip to George Lucas’ ranch so their dying friend can see “The Phantom Menace” before it is released.

The events will kick off today at 3 p.m. in Lowman Student Center room 320 where Andy Bennett, the SHSU director for Center for Excellence in Digital Forensics, will speak at the panel for “The Tradeoff Between Anonymity and Accountability.” There, he will discuss the consequences of online behavior in the real world.

At 5 pm. in the LSC Art Gallery, the “Ready Player One” juried art show and reception will take place

where three artists will be selected as winners. Best in show will receive $250, second place will receive $150 and honorable mention will receive $100.

The event will continue Wednesday when Cline will start the morning meeting with selected faculty and students for breakfast. Then, he will visit the Workshop in Art Studio and History program where he will speak with the students about their “Reality Inflatable” art projects.

At 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Cline will be in front of the LSC where he will meet and greet students accompanied by his DeLorean.

He will visit the LSC Art Gallery at 1 p.m. and then give a keynote address at 3 p.m. in the LSC Ballroom followed by a book signing at 4 p.m.

Thursday is the final day of events and will consist of three different panels throughout the day.

“Playing Games, Making Games, Learning Through Games” will be hosted by the LSC Kat Klub, followed by the panel “Close Your Eyes, Touch Your Nose: A Vaccine for Cultural Viruses” at 11 a.m. in the LSC Theater.

Lastly, at 2 p.m. in the LSC Theater, Jesse Starkey will host the panel “Expanding Your Virtual Vision. Let’s Welcome the Fab Five!”

Putting on events such as the Ernest Cline visit and selecting the Bearkats Read to Succeed common reader are only two of the services the First Year Experience organization provides for incoming freshman.

“Drawing on campus-wide resources, First Year Experience provides academic and selected non-academic services dedicated to supporting a student’s transition into college that will lead, ultimately, to graduation,” Angrove said. “The mission of the Bearkats Read to Succeed program is to create a common academic/ intellectual experience for incoming freshmen, facilitate a campuswide cross-disciplinary conversation, and enhance the community among students, faculty, and staff.”

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/viewpoints | Tuesday November 11, 2014

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PAWS

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SPACE ADVENTURE. Actors Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway contemplating the future of mankind in a scene from the movie Interstellar.

Associated Press

Interstellar: fact or science fiction?

DHARMESH PATEL Viewpoints Editor Interstellar opened in theaters this past weekend and blew the minds of moviegoers with its subject matter of space, time travel and black holes. Days later, people are still mind boggled as to what they witnessed with many questioning whether the film is based on actual scientific fact or is pure science fiction.

The movie takes place in a near and bleak future where our own generation has doomed humankind through their lifestyles of excess and waste. Food no longer grows as abundantly as before in the dusty, inhospitable wastelands and the only way to survive is to leave Earth in hopes of colonizing another planet similar to ours.

Sadly, at the rate we are going today, this scenario is not far from the truth, and our children’s generation could face the same dilemma as those in the film. Fortunately, for the characters, there is a solution to the Dooms Day crisis and gives hope to humanity that there is still time to fix our careless ways.

According to wired.com, the film’s director Christopher Nolan consulted with physicist and cosmologist Dr. Kip Thorne to get the facts as accurate as possible.

Thorne also executively produced Interstellar and directly worked with the special effects team to make the film visually truthful. Let us take a few of the most important facets of the film and see if they would hold true according to modern astrophysics.

Warning: The following could contain spoilers so please be advised if you have not yet seen the film. I have tried my best to not reveal any direct plotlines and have refrained from giving away the

predictable and dramatic ending.

First, let us look at those super cool wormholes that allowed the characters to cross light years of time and space in a matter of moments. Could this be possible in a real world situation? According to Thorne, it is a very real possibility depending on how you look at the physical makeup of the universe.

Time is not linear and does not have a starting point or an ending point but exists more as a cycle or sphere. Further, the structure of the universe is more like the folds of fabric rather than empty expanses of infinite space. Now, if you can visualize folding this piece of fabric in half and sticking a needle through both sides, you have a three dimensional representation of a wormhole.

That is right people. The universe is a bendable, malleable entity that can fold in on itself and thus create portals to other worlds, dimensions and places. Through this portal, time also bends to reflect the change in the physical structure of the universe and events that are happening in the present are concurrently happening in the future and have already happened in the past. If you are confused then you are not alone.

I will explain this spherical representation of time in just a second.

Nevertheless, do not be fooled by this overly simplified explanation. If you want to know how the universe is really constructed, I suggest taking a trip to see your counselor and changing your major to cosmology and becoming a rocket scientist.

Next, let us look at what effect a black hole would have on time and relativity. If you were to approach an object as massive as a black

hole, would time slow down for you as opposed to people on earth?

To put it bluntly, the answer is yes.

Now pay attention as this will get very confusing very quickly.

According to Time Magazine, we should continue to view the universe as a piece of fabric but this time stretch it out as tight as you can, kind of like a trampoline.

Now place the heaviest bowling ball you can pick up in the center of the outstretched fabric. This will be our black hole with its incredibly strong gravitational pull.

Further, the vertical fibers in the weave of the fabric represent space and the horizontal fibers represent time.

The weight of the ball will cause the fibers of the fabric to stretch out and it cannot stretch a vertical fiber without stretching a vertical one also. The closer you are to the bowling ball the more the fibers will stretch. Therefore, if both time and space are stretched out, dates like birthdays and anniversaries will also be stretched out over time. Did you get that? The closer you are to a massive object like a black hole, the further time and space are stretched out. Have you contacted your counselor yet?

Black holes are incredibly strong and powerful bodies of space and time that employ gravity as a driving force. In fact, they are so powerful that the gravity within them can bend both time and space. It can also entrap light and keep it from escaping once it has entered. With this being fact, is it possible for people and their spacecrafts from entering a black hole and come out in one piece?

The characters in the film do just that and survive but cosmologists and physicists alike do not

know for sure what actually happens. Anything and everything that gets near a black hole is sucked into its gravitational force and once inside nothing can be transmitted out. Thus, we actually have no idea what would happen but the makers of the film did a pretty good interpreting what could happen.

Finally, let us look at time and its existence on a cycle. Remember earlier when I talked about events that are occurring in the present tense are also happing in the future and have already occurred in the past? No? Your brain is still swimming with bowling balls and black holes? That is okay. I will try to go slow. This one is mainly theoretical so it may not make any sense at all but just try to keep an open mind.

According to nature.com, cosmologists explain time as a cyclic occurrence and theorize that the universe repeats exactly an infinite number of times. This repetition is what causes the same event to happen on all different planes at exactly the same time. It may sound simple but it actually involves all kinds of theorems, equations and those long problem sets with number, letters and strange symbols from physics class that you never used again.

Interstellar utilized Dr. Thorne as their resident expert but even he succumbed to the pressures of Hollywood and the moviemakers choose plotline over reality. But now you have some facts to help you decide if the movie is more science or sci-fi. Be bold as you step into the unknown and keep your mind open.

The Octogenarian: KENNETH LEVIN Staff Columnist

Young people disappoint at the polls

Tired of all the election talk?

Me too, but this is my first chance to say a couple of things. For instance, many of the national talking heads are calling this election a mandate for Republican rule.

Knowing the definition of mandate, I wonder how you can call an election in which nearly 70 percent of those eligible to vote did not vote. And, as I predicted in the election issue of this paper, that included 88 percent of you students, the younger voters. So

again, we old people thank you for putting your lives and your futures in the voting hands of a few of us old folks.

When only three out of every 10 eligible voters bother to go to the polls and that 30 percent of voters consist of what I call the “27 Percentors,” or those that always vote against progress, then we expect the results that we got and you as college students are destined to feel those results. We have, in fact, taken another step

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

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

back to what they, the 27 Percentors, want, and that is a return to the era of the first U.S. President who could have been called a TeaPartier, Andy Jackson.

But, off the election, I am finding, in my unscientific experiment, that ours is becoming a much friendlier campus. I do not know if the sour-pusses have just given up or if this old man riding around campus and smiling at everyone is just being noticed and you are returning my smiles and greetings.

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

We have some very cold weather coming in this week. It is time to abandon the shorts and shortsleeve shirts and bundle up to stay healthy. I have spent the last four days sick as a dog but I have an excuse, I am an old man.

So take care of yourselves because your health is one of your greatest assets.

PAWS UP to the Board of Regents raising tuition. You may be paying more, but it is for the progression of your education.

PAWS UP to North Korea for releasing all of the prisoners they were holding. After years of being held captive, the American heroes are free.

PAWS UP to the Texans for making a quarterback change and starting Ryan Mallett against the Browns this week.

PAWS

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PAWS DOWN to Kim Jong-un for coming out of hiding. The world rejoiced when you disappeared and no one feared you were dead, but sadly you just had a bad ankle.

PAWS DOWN to Taylor Swift for removing her entire discography from Spotify. I want to like her but everything she does makes me hate her even more. I guess I will just “shake it off.”

PAWS DOWN to corporate and consumerist America for skipping Thanksgiving and going straight to Christmas. I am not ready to buy gifts for other people yet, so stop shoving Santa down my throat.

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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Tuesday November 11, 2014

Page 5

SHSU volleyball aces home record AMSHI STEPHENSON Staff Reporter Sam Houston State finished their home court season undefeated with a perfect 12-0 record, after defeating the New Orleans Privateers on Saturday in three straight sets at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkats have not been able to accomplish a clean home record in thirty years. Not only was history made Saturday, but the team celebrated their two seniors.

Outside hitters Deveney WellsGibson and Krista Koopman were both honored with flowers and standing ovations.

“It was bittersweet,” Wells-Gibson said. “You know when it’s your time to go, and my time is slowly coming to an end.”

Before the whistle blew for the first serve, the Bearkats sang the National Anthem in unison, which was a first for the team. Although the tones did not quite match an SHSU choir, the Kats were able to

set a tone early in the first set.

SHSU established a quick lead, scoring the first five points of the set. Not once did they trail behind UNO. The Bearkats had a .621 attack percentage with 18 kills and no errors in 29 attempts. They also had four service aces, which contributed to the 25-5 first set win.

In the second set, the Privateers fought harder to compete with the Bearkats early on. Their closest deficit of the match so far was at 9-6.

However, SHSU went on a 7-1 run to push their lead to nine.

There were four tied scores and two lead changes during the second set, but the Bearkats finished 25-16, going into the half winning two sets to none.

The third and final set started with SHSU putting the first seven points on the scoreboard. Taylor Berry ended the run with a Privateer kill putting their first point of the set on the board.

UNO amazingly fought back

and tied the set at 9-9.

It was the Privateers who allowed the Bearkats another opportunity to have the lead at 17-11 after numerous attack errors. SHSU used UNO’s weaknesses to close the third set out 25-17 with nine service aces for the match.

UNO’s offense was led by freshmen outside hitter Mikayla Sellers-Wiebe and middle blocker Rondolyn Bryant who each totaled four kills. Junior libero Lauren Levy led the Privateers defensively with 16 digs. Sara Hammoutene totaled 16 assists for the day.

None other than Wells-Gibson with 11 kills led SHSU’s offense.

Six of those were racked up in the first set. Koopman, who has been watching the majority of the matches from the sideline due to multiple back injuries, also got to double figures in kills finishing with 10 on her senior day.

Freshman outside hitter Jordyn Vaughn followed with eight kills.

Vaughn said she felt proud to be a part of history in her first season.

“Being undefeated at home was one of our team goals and we accomplished it,” Vaughn said. “The floor protects us, and we protect the floor.”

Sophomore libero Claire Kilpatrick and sophomore outside hitter Breanna Homer had 17 and 15 digs respectively. Sophomore setter Michelle Griffith totaled 37 assists for the Bearkats.

UNO finished their road trip schedule in Huntsville and are now 0-15 in Southland Conference play and 6-23 overall. They are seated in last place.

SHSU is now 11-3 in SLC play and ranked third. Overall, they have a record of 18-9.

The Bearkats finish regular SLC competition this week on the road.

They will travel to Corpus Christi to face on the Texas A&M - Corpus Christi Islanders on Thursday evening. They will wrap up in Houston to take on the Houston Baptist on Saturday.

Around the SLC: football, soccer, volleyball SHAWN MCFARLAND Senior Reporter Three sports in the Southland Conference are heading into their final stretch of the season. Two weeks remain in the FCS regular season for football with two teams tied atop the conference and three others right behind. Houston Baptist won the SLC soccer tournament this past weekend and will go on to the NCAA playoffs, and volleyball heads into the final week of the regular season before the SLC tournament that begins Nov. 21.

Football Sam Houston State is tied for first place in the SLC with Southeastern Louisiana at 5-1 conference records. SHSU will face Houston Baptist this weekend and then host Central Arkansas the following weekend. SHSU controls their own destiny, having to win both of their last two games to have the best odds of winning the SLC. SHSU is riding a threegame winning streak, including their 40-19 win over Incarnate

Word on Saturday.

SLU plays McNeese State this Saturday, which looks to be the final test of the season for the Lions as they take on the winless Nicholls State in their last game.

SELU is coming off a 76-7 blowout against HBU on Saturday.

McNeese fell to 4-2 in the SLC after losing 31-16 to Stephen F. Austin State this past weekend, dropping them to a tie for second. The loss drastically lessens McNeese’s chances of getting the top rank in the SLC due to both of their conference losses coming from teams either with an equal or better record in the SLC, if it were to come down to a tiebreaker.

SFA, which is also tied for second in the SLC, finishes their season with back-to-back home games against Abilene Christian and Northwestern State. Besides winning big games over SLU and McNeese, SFA will need some help to find themselves with the conference championship in two weeks.

The same goes for UCA as the Bears take on Lamar this weekend before coming to Huntsville for the final game of the regular

season.

Much could change in the next two weeks, but the Kats have the best chance of claiming the SLC and automatic bid in the FCS by controlling their own destiny. The SELU-McNeese game will help decide the Bearkats placement in the SLC. Soccer The No. 2 ranked Bearkats dropped their first game of the SLC tournament last Friday to HBU. SHSU scored early in the first half but would give up the lead in the 86th minute to go into overtime. In overtime, HBU would win on penalties 4-2, and they wouldn’t look back until they won the whole tournament.

The Huskies won their first game 2-1 in 2OT over SLU to play SHSU. After beating the Bearkats, the Huskies earned a spot in the SLC championship game.

SFA went through the whole SLC season undefeated, and their only two losses came against two nationally ranked teams. As the Lumberjacks coasted past Nicholls with a 5-0 win in their first game of the tournament, they went into

the championship game as the favorite.

SFA’s 14-game winning streak was snapped in the championship game as HBU shocked the SLC with a 2-0 win. HBU freshman forward Ellee Hall scored both of the goals for the Huskies to beat the Lumberjacks, ending their memorable season.

Volleyball SFA has clinched at least a share of the SLC regular season title as they beat Northwestern State on Saturday and sit 14-0 atop the conference. SFA will have the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament. UCA sits at second with a 12-2 record, and SHSU at third with an 11-3 record. One week remains in the regular season and every team has two games remaining.

SHSU finished the season undefeated at Johnson Coliseum with a perfect 12-0 record. Their last two games are on the road however as the Bearkats face Texas A&M - Corpus Christi on Tuesday at 7 p.m. and HBU on Thursday at 11 a.m.

Kats football bests Cardinals 40-19 CANAAN CADWELL Staff Reporter Sam Houston State has been known to give up big leads, but that was not the case Saturday against Incarnate Word after being up 23-0 in the first quarter in San Antonio.

Sophomore quarterback Jared Johnson’s three touchdowns were enough for SHSU to rout past the Cardinals 40-19.

“That’s part of maturity, and we talk about that all the time,” head coach K.C. Keeler said. “We need to stay more focused, and hopefully these are some lessons learned.”

Johnson went 13 for 20 for 188

yards playing a modest game and only throwing one interception all night.

Despite the relatively good passing game, SHSU committed to their rushing attack once again by running the ball 56 times against the Cardinals.

Leading rusher senior Keshawn Hill ran the ball 15 times for 79 yards and added two touchdowns for the Bearkats. Johnson, junior running back Donavan Williams and transfer running back Jalen Overstreet each contributed in the rushing game, totaling 189 yards on the ground as a team.

After the 21-point victory, Keeler still feels there is room for improvement.

“Obviously, we didn’t play our best ballgame and we won by 21 points,” Keeler said. “There are some things we have to clean up or we’re never going to accomplish what we want to accomplish.”

Usually the team with the least turnovers wins the ball game, but the Bearkats turned the ball over three times to the Cardinals’ one.

The Kats still led the game in total time of possession with 31:34 to the Cardinals 28:26.

Holding Incarnate Word to only 58 yards rushing showed improvement in the Bearkats’ rush defense.

The Cardinals did, however, have 213 yards passing which the only life was shown by the division opponent.

Junior receiver Gerald Thomas was the top receiver with four catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Thomas now has a team-leading four touchdown receptions for the season.

Each week, the Bearkats look more disciplined and focused to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Now being 6-4 but 5-1 in the Southland Conference, the Kats prepare for Houston Baptist this Saturday. Last year, SHSU annihilated HBU 74-0 in the season opener. Currently, HBU sits 10th in the SLC standings while the Bearkats share first.

Kickoff is at 3 p.m. in Houston.

BY THE N UM B ERS. . .

TREY OURSLER Contributing Reporter

2

Football teams tied for the SLC title, including the Sam Houston State and Southeastern Louisiana.

8

Amount of threepoint shots made by the SHSU’s women’s basketball against Mary HardinBaylor on Saturday.

17

Number of touchdowns on the season, running and passing, by Sam Houston State quarterback Jared Johnson.

1

Number of Bearkats that received Cross Country Southland Conference honors. Ana Moreno claimed her second AllConference selection this season.

10.96

Assists per set for sophomore setter Michelle Griffith heading into the last two road games for the volleyball team before the SLC Tournament.

FO O T BA L L GA M E GRA DES DAVID GIBSON Contributing Reporter Offense: AThe Bearkats’ offense fired on all cylinders against Incarnate Word on Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Jared Johnson had a big game through the air with 188 yards and three touchdowns.

Junior receiver Gerald Thomas had two touchdown receptions.

Senior running back Keshawn Hill had a good game on the ground with 80 yards and two touchdowns.

Defense: A The Kats’ defense stepped up big and held the Cardinals to 19 points but allowed 217 yards passing. SHSU did hold UIW’s receiver Jordan Hicks to a total of 54 yards. Junior linebacker Jarrell Oliver and two others led the way with a total of five tackles each.

Special Teams: A The Kats’ special teams held Incarnate to a total of 127 kick off yards. They looked most impressive on holding punt return yards to only six yards. Junior punter Lachlan Edwards averaged 53.9 yards per punt and had his longest punt go for 59 yards.

Sophomore kicker Luc Swimberghe had a 41-yard field goal in the second quarter.

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Tuesday November 11, 2014

Page 6

Man sentenced to 75 years for jewelry theft SEAN BATURA Kerrville Daily Times A 53-year-old Kerrville man has been sentenced to 75 years in prison by a Kerr County jury for stealing jewelry from a woman and being a habitual felony offender.

After deliberating for about an hour and 15 minutes on Thursday evening, the jury convicted Mark Lieber Jr. of stealing about $1,500 in jewelry from a woman in whose home he was working as a painter/repairman in January.

Lieber took at least one wedding ring — to a local pawn shop, which had the item melted down for its gold value. But the shop, like others, kept meticulous records and had Lieber’s driver’s license on file and a photograph of the ring from the transaction.

Sheriff ’s investigators were able to quickly locate the records and close the case, said 198th District Attorney Scott Monroe.

The wedding ring was priceless to the woman, as it was given to her by her husband who is now deceased, Monroe said. The ring was

among other jewelry she noticed missing days after Lieber finished work in her home. During the punishment phase of the trial on Thursday, Monroe asked Lieber whether the man was willing to take responsibility for the crime, to which Lieber denied stealing the jewelry and didn’t offer an explanation for how it came to be missing.

The charge normally would be punishable by as much as two years in state jail, but because Lieber has been in prison six times — mostly on nonviolent theft charges — in

Texas and Florida, he was deemed a habitual offender and convicted of a first-degree felony punishable by 25 years to life in prison.

Monroe asked the jury to consider a 75-year sentence, and after deliberating for about 15 minutes, they agreed. Monroe said he’s not sure when Lieber may be eligible for probation.

Monroe recommended people do background checks, to the extent feasible, on in-home repair or healthcare workers, and if a criminal record is uncovered, to take extra security precautions. In

another recent case prosecuted by Monroe, a home healthcare worker was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay restitution after she pleaded guilty to stealing more than $90,000 in jewelry from her patient, who is now deceased.

“I realize that sometimes that’s a difficult thing to do, and it’s potentially embarrassing and makes someone uncomfortable to ask things like that, but I just think that at the end of the day, it’s the more prudent thing to do.”

New fracking ban challenged in court JIM MALEWITZ The Texas Tribune That was fast.

Just hours after Denton residents voted to ban hydraulic fracturing, the Texas General Land Office and the state’s biggest petroleum group fired off separate legal challenges to the new rule.

“This ban on hydraulic fracturing is not constitutional and it won’t stand,” said Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who filed a lawsuit in Travis County courts Wednesday seeking a permanent injunction against the ban.

Patterson called the ban “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable” and said it threatens the state’s royalty interests, which flow into the $37.7 billion Permanent School Fund.

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Denton County district court, the Texas Oil and Gas Association also called the ban unconstitutional. Because of current shale economics, the group says, the measure amounts to a ban on all drilling – denying mineral own-

ers their property rights. TXOGA asked the court to declare the ordinance invalid and unenforceable, and said state law should supersede Denton’s.

“While home-rule cities like Denton may certainly regulate some aspects of exploration and drilling, TXOGA does not believe that they may enact ordinances that outlaw conduct, like hydraulic fracturing, that has been approved and regulated by state agencies,” Tom Phillips, a former Texas Supreme Court justice, said in a statement. Phillips is now a lawyer with the firm Baker Botts, which is representing the petroleum group in the dispute.

Nearly 59 percent of voters in Denton, which sits on the edge of the gas-rich Barnett Shale, approved the ban on Tuesday after the most expensive ballot campaign in the city’s history.

Proponents called the measure a last-ditch effort to address noise and toxic fumes that spew from wells just beyond their backyards, after loopholes and previous zoning decisions rendered changes to the city’s drilling ordinance unen-

forceable.

The litigation was expected, and several state lawmakers have also promised to fight the ban in the statehouse.

Frack Free Denton, the grassroots group that pushed the ban, blasted the industry association for its quick lawsuit.

“They have apparently learned nothing from last night’s landslide vote,” a statement from the group said. “Industry could have taken this moment to address why the ban was passed. Instead they’re going to try to squash it.”

Texas law says the state intends its mineral resources to be “fully and effectively exploited,” but courts have said the power is not absolute. The Railroad Commission has jurisdiction over all oil and gas wells in the state, with authority to adopt “all necessary rules for governing and regulating persons and their operations.”

Local governments have the right to impose reasonable health and safety restrictions, and the Legislature has granted most Texas cities, including Denton, the power to “regulate exploration and de-

Associated Press

FRACK FREE. Rhonda Love, secretary of the Denton Drilling Awareness Group points the microphone at the crowd as they chant “Frack Free” at an election watch party Nov. 4.

velopment of mineral interests.”

A key question is where fracking falls on that spectrum.

Legal experts say Texas courts tend to favor oil and gas interests.

But they suggest Denton could make a compelling argument that a fracking ban would not wipe out all options to drill.

“To say that this is a slam dunk [for oil and gas interests] ... I think that’s painting with an overly broad brush,” Terrence Welch, a lawyer who has helped write drill-

ing ordinances in several Texas cities, told The Texas Tribune in July. “The property — the mineral estate isn’t left valueless. You can drill, but you just can’t frack.”

Lindsey Baker, a spokeswoman for the city of Denton, said the city has 20 days to respond to the filings.

— Neena Satija contributed to this report.

TH E J U M PS VET, page 1 — “It changes your mind a little bit and you think of your immortality—you come to that realization,” he said. “But you push all that aside because you have your Marines that you’ve got to take care of and you’ve got a mission to accomplish. That changes you a little bit; you care about people differently, and if you lose a person that impacts you more so.”

Thomas said his time with the military instilled in him values which he still uses on a regular basis, such as working as a team, being mission-oriented, staying organized and not only knowing how to lead but also how to follow.

Despite everything Thomas saw while on a deployment or living in bunkers, he agreed that the most difficult of military life is not being in it. “[The transition from military life to civilian life is] horrible; I’m still a bad civilian,” he said. “We have an all-volunteer force— they’re there because they want to be. Making the transition back to this is not easy, and I don’t know if anyone every really can because you will always be linked to the most powerful thing that occurred in your life and that’s what took place in the military.

Whether you saw duty or not, it changes the whole structure of your view of things and people and direction.”

In addition to working with the theatre department, Thomas also serves as the Collegiate Veterans Association’s faculty advisor. The CVA was started as a community service organization by five Marineturned-students and was later converted into a social organization.

“One thing that we’re committed to is helping guys make that transition,” Thomas said. “If nothing

else, it just helps talking to somebody who has experienced what you’ve experienced or who has been around what you’ve been around. It is not an easy thing to talk about a nightmare that you had, or the fact that you don’t sleep, or about the meds that the doctor gave you.”

The CVA participates in tailgates, parades, the Ruck March for wounded warriors and are currently working on Toys for Tots.

Thomas said prior to the development of any veteran resources on campus, roughly 800 veterans were either students, faculty or staff members on campus, forming the need for some type of veteran support.

“I would say Sam Houston does well because it is known as a vet-friendly university,” he said. “I personally believe that those five guys who started CVA brought to the university’s attention the need for something just for veterans and that may not be the case, but it came to pass. The Veteran Resource Center is up and running.

It provides a lot of information and assistance, and I think that, if nothing else, has exploded in their interaction with those that are veterans of the campus.

I don’t know too many institutions that have a resource solely for veterans, so that’s a big plus.”

Although Thomas agreed that there may be some similarities between college life and military life, a lot of it does not coincide, emphasizing the need for organizations like the CVA to exist.

“Class and girls and teachers and papers; we haven’t had to do that,” Thomas said. “There may be some things that are kind of parallel, but college life is completely different than the military.

That disconnect is going to increase exponentially because we’re going to

have more people getting out, and if less people have a connection with those coming out of the military, it makes it harder.”

Thomas said the biggest piece of advice he could give to young men and women who have recently been discharged from the military is to talk it out.

“Seek out other veterans, because that’s going to be an important thing,” he said. “There’s always going to be someone else that’s been on point before you. That included organizations like the Veteran Resource Center, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion that gives you a wider spectrum of veterans which helps cushion the transition. Specifically, clear your mind and find out what direction you want to go in. Just focus on your goals, your direction and your family.”

Despite everything Thomas has accomplished and some of the longterm physical repercussions which he has suffered as a result of his service, Thomas said he would do it again.

“Hell yeah, it was the best time of my life,” he said. “[Being a Marine] is going to be the pinnacle of my life.”

Thomas said he hopes that today and tomorrow’s generation will serve with the same level of patriotism and honor the United States military has had since its inception.

“What would it take for young people, nowadays, to serve? I still ask that question, because it can happen any day. If terrorists are focusing discipline, they’re going to bring it home again. I think the appreciation of everything that we have and everything that our Founding Fathers did to create this and just what we take for granted changes if you have to put that uniform on.”