The Houstonian

Vol 114 — Issue 24

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Huntsville, Texas

WHAT’S ON THE WEB

FEATURE PRESENTATION

INDEX

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

Entertainment editor Kevin Jukkola reveals the results of his weekly poll.

Opinions................page 2 Entertainment........page 5

SEE page 5

Campus................page 3 Sports....................page 6

STUDENT GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION

Drawing the line: SGA proposes bills for campus safety and parking, exposes underlying problems

By Amanda Earp

Contributing Writer

The Student Government Association tabled two bills and two Sense of the Senate that were proposed at Tuesday night’s meeting. They will be reviewed at next week’s meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 6 p.m.

The first piece of legislation was Senate Resolution F0901 written by Secretary A. Rene’ Mckelvey and University Affairs Chief Mariel Kanene. It was sponsored by President Ryan Bridges. F09-01 pertains to the crime on campus. It states that even though SHSU is ranked among the top 10 safest institutes in the United States, that it could always be safer. Mckelvey and Kanene propose that the Dean of Students and the University Police re-evaluate all current

rules in place to ensure safety and that communication is increased between SHSU and Huntsville. It also proposes that if a student, full or part time, is involved in criminal activity in Huntsville that it be reported to the University Police Department and the Dean of Students.

The final resolution is that when a student is involved in three incidents with legal authorities, regardless of how serious, that their enrollment is re-evaluated by the Dean of Services.

At the meeting there was debate about the bill and the resolutions proposed. One of the problems mentioned with the bill was in reference to the part about being re-evaluated after three incidents. Chief of Staff Kendall Scudder made the point that if this is in place “regardless of seriousness” then that would

“We now have a Student of Concern Team that meets every week and if there is someone in our student body of concern we get referrals from our faculty, staff, and students,” -John Yarabeck, Dean of Students apply to something minor like three traffic violations.

It was also mentioned by Senator Marcelo Pendleton that the “three strikes law” in California did not work and that this bill would pose as an ethical violation to the United States Constitution.

In response, Mckelvey said, “The bill does not say that after three strikes you’re out, it says that you will go in front of someone to reevaluate whether you should be enrolled here. I am not trying to kick anyone out, but I want us to be safe.”

Mckelvey further mentioned that she was not

telling the administration what they had to do, it was just a suggestion. The bill was inspired by the loss of Rachel Pendray, who passed away almost three years ago. Dean of Students John Yarabeck was at the meeting and mentioned that the tragedy of Rachel Pendray was the most difficult thing he has had to deal with as Dean of Students and that a lot of things have changed in the past three years.

“We now have a Student of Concern Team that meets every week and if there is someone in our student body of concern we get referrals

CARE PACKAGE DRIVE

SHSU and Huntsville come together to show support for overseas troops

By Kristin Meyer Senior Reporter

“I am a soldier, I fight where I am told, and win where I fight.”General George S. Patton once said.

For all the things that American soldiers put their lives on the line every day for, Sam Houston Political Science Junior Fellows wanted to let them know that on Veteran’s day they were not forgotten. By organizing a Care Package Drive, the community of SHSU and Huntsville extended a hand to those soldiers stationed in Afghanistan to show them that they have this community’s support.

After sending out a call to the community looking for sponsors to donate items, 25 different organizations, businesses and people answered.

“We had individuals help along with organizations, including the Sam Houstons’s Department of Education,” Mike Yawn said, advisor for the Political Science Junior Fellows. “They collected like 500 packages of gummy bears for the troops to

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian

Lending a hand. Thanks to the effort of many organizations around the Sam Houston campus, troops in Afghanistan will be sent boxes of goodies. A total of 25 different organizations

give children.”

All together, there were 100 care packages assembled for the troops. “At least half and maybe all will be sent to Afghanistan,” Yawn said. “They are going to be sent to a nephew of a former SHSU professor, Dr. Barbara Tyson, who will then hand them out to his platoon.”

The Junior Fellows wanted to host this event to show

the troops overseas that the community of Huntsville and SHSU stands behind them, and honors and supports what they do for our country.

“We had a lieutenant colonel from SHSU’s ROTC program stop by and tell us how much it meant as a former soldier stationed in Afghanistan to get these types of things, so this event is

good for the troops,” Yawn said. “Also I think it is good for the community to find a cause that can unite them.”

The Junior Fellows plan to host this event again next Veteran’s Day, so if any students are interested in becoming a sponsor, they need watch for the announcement in the fall from the Political Science Junior Fellows requesting sponsors.

LAST LECTURE SERIES

Dr. Marks shares insight into life lessons

By Amanda Earp

Contributing Writer

The Golden Key International Honour Society held a “Last Lecture Series” featuring Dr. Bobby K. Marks as the guest speaker on Nov. 10.

Golden Key chose Marks because he was one of their very first honorary mem-

bers.

According to Golden Key President Jadrian Wooten, the lecture, called “Lessons Learned through a Lifetime of Experience,” was about Marks’s life lessons that he had learned. Wooten said that in the lecture, Marks told students that they cannot be perfect because that would only lead to disap-

pointment, but that they should give everything their all and do their best.

“Last Lectures” are given by speakers as if it is their absolute last lecture, usually focusing on life lessons that they have learned and would want people to know. Universities have been doing “Last Lectures” for quite some time, and it recently

became big when Dr. Randy Pausch agreed to give a “Last Lecture” at Carnegie Mellon University. It was soon discovered that he had been diagnosed with cancer and it would actually be his last lecture. Pausch then wrote a book based on the last lecture he presented.

Like Pausch, this lecture was Marks last lecture.

from our faculty, staff, and students,” Yarabeck said.

He brought to attention that Huntsville and Sam Houston had different jurisdictions and that what happens downtown is different from what happens here.

He encouraged senators to speak with University Police Department Chief Morris to clarify their arrangement with Huntsville Police. Yarabeck wanted to make sure that students were aware that they can make allegations against fellow students through the Student Code of Conduct in the Dean of Students Office, even if something happens off campus.

Mckelvey is urging students to come out and voice their opinions on this issue. The second bill proposed, F09-02 -See SCUDDER, page 3

Nation & World...page 4

STAMP OUT CANCER The 3rd Annual Kats For The Cause/Pink Out event will take place this Saturday. Organizers hope to "pink out" Bowers Stadium in support of breast cancer awareness and education when SHSU takes on Central Arkansas at 2 p.m. Other events include a race/fun walk at 8 a.m. and tailgating activities at noon.

-Courtesy of Today@Sam

COMPUTER SCIENCE

New mentoring program helps Computer Science students

By Tara Lestarjette

SHSU Public Relations

Sam Houston State University has received a $178,385 grant from the Texas Workforce Commission to develop a mentoring program that is now making a difference in the lives of computer science students.

The Computer Science Mentoring Program, which went into effect at the beginning of the fall semester, was established to benefit students in freshman courses CS 146 and CS 147 by placing student assistants, or CS mentors, in the labs. These students have completed the basic computer science courses, and their accomplishments have been acknowledged by professors.

“We hire up to 10 mentors to support and assist students in the labs,” said Ken Hartness, the computer science undergraduate adviser.

“Their purpose is to help create a small group of CS students who can assist each other.”

Hartness is also an assistant professor, the workshop coordinator and principal investigator of the CS Mentoring Program.

“In addition, these mentors assist us with the creation of materials that are used to encourage and educate high school students about the possibilities of our department; they assist with visiting high schools as well as the management of two workshops each summer,” said Hartness.

One of the workshops is directed towards high school students and the other to high school counselors.

“My primary responsibility as a CS mentor is to assist CS 146 students in successfully completing the course,” said senior Shannon Silessi, a biology major and computer science minor.

“The courses can seem challenging to students never exposed to computer programming. I organize study groups and offer tutoring in addition to assisting in the weekly lab. I also try to develop a relationship with the students to offer encouragement throughout the semester,” Silessi said.

Cihan Varol, assistant professor of computer science said he feels that the — See MENTOR, page 4

Free T-Shirt Promotion

The first 500 students to attend any combination of three home men’s or women's basketball games will receive a FREE BEARKATS BASKETBALL T-SHIRT, courtesy of Student Activities and Bearkat Athletics.

The promotion begins with the men's game on Monday, November 16 vs. Texas College. For the purposes of this promotion, the men’s and women's doubleheader on Monday, November 30 will count as one event only.

Attendees will be tracked via the Bearkat OneCard. We look forward to seeing you early and often for men’s and women's basketball at Johnson Coliseum.

-Courtesy of Student Services

OPINIONS

Page 2 The Houstonian

THE ROSTRUM

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

John F. Kennedy 35th President of the United States 1917-1963

Remembering those who serve.

Clayton Goss discusses the importance of Veterans Day and what it means to all Americans.

Yesterday, the eleventh day of the eleventh month at 11am, in 1918, formal hostilities ceased as the armistice that ended World War I took effect.

In Europe, November 11 is remembered as “Armistice Day,” as the continent pauses to remember the war that devastated so much of its landscape and society.

In America, we have a different name for it. We call it “Veterans Day.” Although many other countries celebrate it in the same way that we do, I believe that our version is particularly special because we use November 11 to reflect on all of our veterans and the service and sacrifice they have made to protect our freedoms.

As a debater, I am particularly mindful of their sacrifice because debating naturally involves speaking and exchang-

ing ideas. Even though debate is typically a very structured event, the lessons we learn there transfer over into the real world where they can be even more important.

What I’m trying to say is that without the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform have made and will continue to make, things like free speech and the free discourse and exchange of ideas simply wouldn’t be possible.

I understand that this is a very personal example to me and may not apply to everyone, but I would encourage all of you reading this to take a step back and take note of the freedoms that you exercise every day.

Even though you might not be involved in politics or you might not voice your opinion at a town hall meeting, I know that you can find something that you love to do that is in some way

guaranteed to you by the sacrifice of veterans.

We like to think that our rights are somehow guaranteed to us by the Constitution or some other legal document or law.

However, the truth is that the only thing the Constitution really protects your rights from is the government or your fellow American citizen.

It’s for what the Constitution can’t protect you from that we have a military. And from this military, the body of our society that is charged with protecting both us and our rights from harm, comes veterans.

These are the people, ladies and gentlemen, who have fought and died to make sure that you and I have the rights that we do. They’ve fought and died so that I can debate; so that we can walk down the street without fear; so that certain members of our so-

ciety previously denied it now have the right to vote; so that we can all sleep at night knowing that there will always be people to defend us and keep our families and friends safe.

Those who respond to this highest of callings to service are our men and women in uniform today, and those who have served in the past.

They risk and have risked their lives in the name of this calling, and many have paid the ultimate sacrifice. For this, my fellow Bearkats, they deserve our everlasting respect and gratitude.

In other words, I know you’ve heard it before, but whenever you see a veteran, or a current service member, thank them for all they’ve done for you and for us.

I’ve got soul, but I’m no soldier..

Brad Basker discusses the relationship between entertainment and real life. sacrificed their lives in the line of duty for our country. I think it’s safe to say that if it had not been for brave sacrifices of these men and women, that we would not share many of the liberties that we share to this day.

The closest I’ve been to active service is at

depending on the year.

In all likelihood I would have been in the kitchen slicing potatoes and mopping floors because of my ethnicity. I could have had my chance at Pearl Harbor like when Cuba Gooding Jr. portrayed Petty Officer Doris “Dorie” Miller.

“

I’m an ace on the scoreboards, but I’ve never fired a gun in my life.” home playing Call of Duty 2 on my Xbox 360.

I get in my tanks with my semi-automatic rifles and I kill every German solider I see. I see my comrades gunned down by advancing troops in our campaign for freedom, and all I can think about is vengeance against my oppressors.

And if I am gunned down in my valiant march on the enemy? I just load my last saved checkpoint from my hardrive.

But when I think even further about it, I probably wouldn’t have been allowed to avenge much of anything

But, I don’t think they make a video game for that.

Across the nation children are fighting the Japanese in flight simulators, while a solider dies in the sands of the middle east.

Beating the games high score is great. Make sure to save it to the memory card, and talk jive to everyone on your Xbox live headset. Soldiers dying is not great. Make sure you pray for their families, send flowers, and have a candlelight vigil.

I suppose the older the events depicted in

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 areed@houstonianonline.com

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” SHSU Professors Nick Pappas, Masoud Kazemzadeh, Yasser Djazaerly and special guest Brig. Gen. Harold Fruchtnicht for presenting a panel discussion on the importance of understanding issues in the Middle East on Tuesday.

“Paws DOWN” to people who text and drive while on campus streets heavily used by pedestrians.

“Paws UP” the over 25 SHSU and Huntsville organizations that participated in an event to assemble care packages for soldiers fighting abroad.

Clayton Goss is a recurring columnist for The Houstonian. He is a sophomore Criminal Justice major.

Mad Brad:

This week has been filled with tributes to men and women who have lost their lives in the line of duty and some at the hands of psychopaths. The tragic events that took place at Fort Hood occurred in a chillingly timely fashion with Veteran’s Day and execution of the D.C. sniper.

It’s often never an uplifting subject when events occur that cause for loss of life, but I find that there is a close connection between our worst fears, and our favorite pastimes. As a society we dance fine line in the mortification and celebration of disastrous occasion.

For example: D.C. Sniper= Terrible.

Sniper starring Mark Wahlberg = Awesome.

That movie was great, and it made me want to get a rifle and sign up for special forces. But the excitement died down after a couple of days as I returned to my personal fox hole.

Which is a messy desk with a laptop on deadline day.

Veteran’s Day celebrates those who

Thursday, November 12, 2009

games and film, the less sensitive we are to it’s reality.

I don’t recall any Spartans being outraged when 300 came out. I just remember wanting to do push ups and to punch something hard.

But that battle took place long before sniper rifles, A-Bombs and black presidents. No one remembers.

Perhaps entertainment is best when it draws on realities. Humanity portrayed with the right director can provoke laughter and tears. But it can’t prepare us for the news flashes on CNN. I’m certain no amount of riveting cinema prepared the families of the Fort Hood Victims for the phone calls they received.

I’m an ace on the scoreboards, but I’ve never fired a gun in my life. I’ve got soul, but I’m not a solider.

Dedicated to the Veterans, and Victims of Fort Hood.

Brad Basker is a recurring columnist for The Houstonian.

He is the paper’s former Business Manager.

“Paws DOWN” to the SHSU clocktower for having the incorrect Roman numeral for the number four.

The individual opinions on the Viewpoints page are not necessarily affiliated with the view of The Houstonian or SHSU. The Houstonian is published semi-weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is a news publication of Sam Houston State University, a member of the Texas State University system, and is produced by students. It is self-supporting and welcomes all advertisers. Those interested in placing ads or classifieds should call (936) 294-4864. The Houstonian is a member of the Associated Press.

The Houstonian Editorial

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Kristina Salazar...............................................................936-294-1505 FACULTY ADVISOR Patsy Ziegler.....................................................................936-294-1499 SECTION EDITORS Meagan Ellsworth........................................................Associate Editor Addison Reed................................................................Opinions Editor Lotis Butchko....................................................................Sports Editor Kevin Jukkola........................................................Entertainment Editor Thomas Merka.....................................................................Web Editor STAFF Kristin Meyer.................................................................Senior Reporter Mike Silva......................................................................Sports Reporter Joe Buvid..............................................................................Photo Editor Krystal Jackson.................................................................Photographer Heath Wierck.......................................................................Copy Editor

Advertising BUSINESS MANAGER Tammie Nokes..................................................................936-294-1500 STAFF Brittaney Pires.....................................................Advertising Manager Samantha Berezowsky............................................Account Executive

Advertising Deadlines

Tuesday’s Issue............... Friday at 2:00 p.m.

Thursday’s Issue........... Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.

CAMPUS

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Father Angelus Shaughnessy to visit Huntsville

S G A B E AT

The Houstonian, Page 3

Courtesy of Jim Riley Nationally acclaimed television personality, author, spiritual advisor and lecturer, Father Angelus Shaughnessy is scheduled to visit Huntsville this November. Hosted by St. Thomas Church, Father Shaughnessy will be the featured guest speaker at a special pre-Advent Mission beginning the evening of Sunday, Nov. 15 and continuing until Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009. He will also minister to offenders in our local prisons.

As a young man, Father Shaughnessy turned down an offer to play professional baseball for the Cleveland Indians to enter college in pursuit of a career as a religious minister. A Capuchin Friar for over 55 years, Father Shaughnessy has circled the globe four times traveling thousands of miles over, in many cases, barely navigable terrain.

From 2001 - 2007, Father Angelus was stationed at the Eternal Word Television Network, where he was able to preach to 128 million households throughout the world. At the present time, Shaughnessy is the National Executive Director of the Archconfraternity of Christian Mothers.

SHSU students and all citizens in the Huntsville and surrounding communities are invited to come and hear Father Shaughnessy speak and join in the mission activities.

Krystal Jackson | The Houstonian LAST MEETING: SGA Chief of Staff puts senator’s to the test, motivating them to stand up and fight against the notorious parking challenge with no easy solution, calling it “atrocious.”

From SCUDDER page 1

Scudder Goolsby Parking Act, was written

by Chief of Staff Kendall Scudder and sponsored

by Student Affairs Chief Sara Goolsby. This act “urges the administration to re-evaluate all current and proposed parking lots in order to administer the proper signage and markings to all ambiguous parking sports.” It then “demands that the Sam Houston State University vehicles follow the same parking procedures as students and faculty/staff with regards to parking in fire zones.”

The bill recommends that the administration

inquire upon the construction of underground parking when designing the new campus buildings within the Master Plan and it recommends that a panel be created to include students, faculty, staff, administration, and representatives from the physical plant and the University Police Department.

Scudder said that parking is atrocious and it is bad that students who are paying for green and blue parking permits have to park in orange lots. He thinks that the number one issue is space and utilizing the space correctly.

“I call for no new

parking lots, I called to identify ambiguous parking lots,” Scudder said.

He stated that a common problem of students getting tickets is that they do not know what is and is not a parking spot when dealing with situations of a parking line and a curb. He thinks that by identifying the ambiguous parking spots fewer students would get tickets and more parking spots would be available.

Mckelvey mentioned that legislature like this had been brought up in the past and wondered what made this one different.

In response Scudder mentioned that the previous legislatures did

Hot Topics

St. Thomas Hosts Special Pre Advent Mission 15-18 November 2009 In preparation for Advent, St. Thomas Catholic Church welcomes SHSU students and all citizens in the Huntsville and surrounding communities to a special Mission starting with Holy Hour at 7 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 15, and continuing through Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009.

Father Angelus Shaughnessy, formerly of EWTN, will be the guest speaker and will celebrate daily Mass at 9 a.m. with confessions available after morning Mass; at 3 p.m.; and after the evening Holy Hour.

A Holy Hour consisting of Benediction and Reflection will be available every evening of the Mission. Please join us for this special and blessed event. For more information call Barbara Riley at (936) 291-1614.

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian Follow up: “SHSU takes part in political engagement project”. PEP is a program created by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Organizations working alongside PEP include: College Republicans, Bearkat Democrats, Priority One Public Relations, and the Political Science Junior Fellows.

not include the committee proposed or the Master Plan. He hopes that since it has been three years since legislature has been proposed that this will motivate the senators to take a stand.

Scudder was urging the senators when he said, “Others have let it die off, don’t let it die off, stand up for this legislation, stand up for the students that you represent.”

A few SGA members mentioned Scudder ’s language being harsh.

He replied to them saying that he did it on purpose because he really feels that the issue could be fixed with a “bucket of pain and preemptive planning.”

“The fact that it trailed off in the past shows that we need to be combative because there are thousands of students

who have to deal with this every day, they are furious,” Scudder said.

Scudder ’s message to the students is to, “Hold your senators responsible.”

At the meeting, two new senators were unanimously elected.

Lori Brooks, a sophomore Mass Communications major, was elected to the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Kaylia Tucker, a sophomore Biology major, was elected to the College of Arts and Sciences.

The meeting was supposed to include two proposed Sense of the Senate, one in memoriam of Rachel Pendray and the other in memoriam for those lost at Fort Hood. Both Sense of the Senate will be mentioned at next week’s meeting.

G a l i l e o’s eyes Planetarium movie to show the history and myths of astronomy.

By Brittany McClure Contributing Writer

The SHSU Planetarium will be showing “Two Small Pieces of Glass,” a program that will enlighten students on the history of astronomy.

The showing will take place on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. in the planetarium, which is located in Room 102 in the Farrington Building.

“Two Small Pieces of Glass” shows the history of modern astronomy through the eyes of two youths. They learn about the creation of telescopes and who invented them, including Galileo, Isaac Newton and Edwin Hubble. The two youths also get the opportunity to see Jupiter and other space objects through a telescope.

The run time for the movie is approximately 30 minutes.

Michael Prokosch, staff lab assistant for the physics department, says the Planetarium has a 7.3 meter dome and can seat 29 people. Admission for this event is free.

During this semester,

“Two Small Pieces of Glass” and “Bad Astronomy,” which focuses on popular myths and misconceptions about astronomy, have each been shown twice so far.

This is the final showing of “Two Small Pieces of Glass.” The final two shows at the Planetarium this semester will feature the program “Bad Astronomy”. This movie will be shown at 7 p.m. on both Dec. 4 and Dec. 11.

For more information on the showings or the planetarium, contact Michael Prokosch at 936294-3664 or visit the planetarium’s webpage at http:// shsu-planetarium. wikispaces.com.

Department of Agriculture and Industrial Sciences

The Trailer (936)295-2212 Store Inc. “Specializing in new and pre-owned horse, cattle, utility and cargo trailers.”

We are the truck accessory source for work or play.

SHSU Rodeo Team National Intercollegiate Rodeo Lone Star Convention Center Conroe, TX November 13 & 14, 2009 7:30 p.m. *Tickets are $7 at the gate, children 12 & under FREE* *$5 pre-sale tickets at Cavenders in Huntsville*

Call us for your trailer service or repair needs.

We accept Visa and Mastercard.

www.trailerstoreinc.com

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

Page 4 The Houstonian

NATION & WORLD

NKorea says SKorea faces consequences over clash (AP) — North Korea warned South Korea on Thursday that it could face consequences over a naval clash that occurred between the rival countries off their west coast earlier this week.

The North's governmentrun Minju Joson newspaper said in a commentary that South Korea would face "costly consequences" if it continues to assume a confrontational posture against the North.

The commentary, carried

From MENTOR page 1

four CS mentors working in his classes help his students gain useful tips.

“The program is positive for the mentors and they learn how to communicate and teach the concepts to the students, thus grasping a deeper personal knowledge of the material,” said Varol.

Though the program is a new development, the student mentees are adopting well to the system. Varol said he has observed the class average rise greatly from the first test.

“Eventually, with the mentoring program, the class improved their grades and more importantly, they started to comment on the

by the official Korean Central News Agency, did not specify what consequences the South would face if it continues to provoke tension and blame the North for the maritime incident.

It said the clash stemmed from a plot by the South to disrupt direct talks that are planned between Pyongyang and Washington by inspiring anti-North Korea sentiment among American officials.

The navies of the two Koreas clashed off the

topics covered in the classroom,” Varol said.

“I definitely feel that this program is an excellent use of the funds supplied by the TWC grant,” Silessi said.

“The majority of the students assigned to me have no problem coming to me for help anymore. My study group sessions always attract several students and not surprisingly, those are the students doing well on their exams.”

The TWC grant will assist the program through August 2010, at which time the future of the program will be determined.

“We intend to continue pursuing this, with volunteers if we must,” Hartness said.

countries' west coast Tuesday for the first time in seven years, with each side accusing the other of violating the maritime border.

The exchange of fire occurred hours before U.S. officials said President Barack Obama had decided to accept a North Korean invitation to send the envoy to Pyongyang for the first direct talks during his administration. The incident sparked speculation that the North was trying to foment tensions to gain a ne-

1.5 lbs. of nails pulled from Peruvian's stomach

(AP) — "They call me the hardware store," says Requelme Abanto from his hospital bed in northern Peru. Doctors in the city of Cajamarca said they removed 1.5 pounds of metal from Abanto's stomach, including nails, coins, and rusted copper wire and scrap metal.

Cajamarca hospital surgeon Carlos Delgado told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he's never seen anything like what he found in last week's operation.

"We went in thinking it could be appendicitis, but weren't we surprised by what we found — a hole in his stomach," Delgado said.

Delgado said specialists are examining Abanto's mental health as he recovers.

The 26-year-old construction worker ate the metal for months, and told Peru's Channel 9 television that he may now do it in public "as sport."

"I swallowed 17 nails in February and didn't die," he said. "Five-inch nails, all in one day."

New Haiti PM promises to focus on investment (AP) — Haiti's new prime minister was inaugurated Wednesday and promised to attract more investment and create jobs, while forging good relations with lawmakers who have ousted two heads of government in as many years.

Jean-Max Bellerive, the sixth person to hold the post since 2004 in this politically unstable Caribbean nation, said he will work closely with lawmakers in Haiti's Parliament, who recently fired his predecessor in part for sticking too closely to international development plans.

"We will take care of putting (members of Parliament) more in accordance with what we are doing," Bellerive told The Associated Press as the just-fired former prime minister, Michele Pierre-Louis, drove away from the hilltop mansion that is now Bellerive's headquarters.

"It's the same program, basically. We have the same priorities" as the previous government, he said.

Bellerive, 51, officially

took power as Haiti's No. 2 in Wednesday ceremonies.

He has served in a wide variety of Haitian administrations, including those of former populist President Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the military junta that once ousted Aristide.

Bellerive was sworn in by President Rene Preval, who praised an orderly transition that took little more than 12 days from the ouster of one prime minister to the swearing-in of her replacement.

That is a sharp contrast from last year, when Prime Minister Jacques Edouard Alexis was fired after a week of violent food riots that left at least seven dead. Months of political deadlock followed before Pierre-Louis took power in the midst of hurricanes whose destruction laid out the most immediate challenges for her administration.

International focus on Haiti shifted early this year to increasing foreign investment, an effort spearheaded by former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who was named U.N. Special Envoy

to the country where 80 percent of people live on less than $2 a day.

During the Oct. 30 debate that ended with the firing of Pierre-Louis, lawmakers accused her of unimaginatively following international development plans, which focus largely on improving infrastructure and building up a garment assembly sector to produce goods for the U.S. market under a preferential trade deal.

But Bellerive said Wednesday he intends to see those plans through — and, in fact, speed some investment deals along by continuing in his previous role as minister of planning and external cooperation.

"I hope that we can continue to work with President Clinton in the same manner, in the same commitment that he has with the former government and with President Preval," he told reporters. "The only way that we are going to change Haiti is through private investment, through creating jobs in Haiti."

Jury convicts Ark. man in death of TV anchorwoman (AP) — A man was convicted of capital murder Wednesday for beating an Arkansas TV anchorwoman so brutally that her face was shattered and she never regained consciousness before dying five days later.

Curtis Lavelle Vance could face the death penalty for the assault on Anne Pressly at her Little Rock bungalow. The same jury that convicted him reconvened to hear testimony about whether he should be put to death or imprisoned without the possibility of parole.

Vance, 29, of Marianna, was also convicted of residential burglary along with rape and theft of property in the Oct. 20, 2008, attack. Once jurors delivered the guilty verdict, Vance gestured toward the empty jury box, pointed to his eyes and ears and shook his head.

The weekend before she

was attacked, Pressly, a 26year-old local celebrity, had been celebrating her bit part in the President Bush biopic "W." Due on KATV's "Daybreak" program at 5 a.m. that Monday morning, she never answered more than 40 wakeup calls made by her parents.

An emergency room doctor at St. Vincent Infirmary believed Pressly, a blonde, had red hair because there was so much blood. Dr. Therese McBride testified that the front of Pressly's skull and jaw were beaten so severely that she did not appear human.

Pressly slipped into a coma after the attack and died five days later without regaining consciousness.

KATV, where Pressly worked, had raised $50,000 for a reward fund; the city's police department will decide how it is distributed. The station also plans to raise money to fund a broadcast school

gotiating advantage.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in Singapore on Wednesday that the skirmish would not scuttle a planned visit to Pyongyang by special envoy Stephen Bosworth.

Bosworth's trip is aimed at persuading communist North Korea to return to six-nation nuclear disarmament negotiations. North Korea walked away from those talks earlier this year.

scholarship in Pressly's name.

A DNA expert testified that a single hair found in Pressly's bedroom placed Vance at the scene. Police said the genetic evidence matched that from a rape in Vance's hometown half a year earlier.

Marianna police said Vance had been seen loitering near homes that had recently been burglarized and Little Rock police arranged an interview.

Vance volunteered a swab from the inside of his cheek for DNA testing, police said, and lab results linked the crimes. Vance faces a separate rape charge in Marianna, to which he has pleaded not guilty.

As Vance left the courthouse, family members shouted "Love ya, Lavelle!" and he said "Love you!"

Then he shouted, "It's a corrupted system!"

Shooting suspect's superiors questione d behavior (AP) — A group of doctors overseeing Nidal Malik Hasan's medical training discussed concerns about his overly zealous religious views and strange behavior months before the Army major was accused of a shooting rampage at Fort Hood, Texas, that left 13 dead and 29 wounded.

The revelations about the concerns that Hasan's superiors had before sending him to Fort Hood come amid a growing debate over what warning signs the military and law enforcement officials might have missed before last week's massacre. soldiers.

Officials involved at various times in the meetings about Hasan included John Bradley, Walter Reed's chief of psychiatry; Scott Moran, Walter Reed's psychiatric residency program director; Robert Ursano, chairman of the Uniformed Services University's psychiatry department; Charles Engel, the university's assistant chair of psychiatry, and David Benedek, an associate professor of psychiatry at the university.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon has found no evidence that Hasan formally sought release from the Army as a conscientious objector or for any other reason, two senior military officials told The Associated Press. Family members have said he wanted to get out of the Army and had sought legal advice, suggesting that Hasan's anxiety as a Muslim over his pending deployment overseas might have been a factor in the deadly rampage.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Official: Obama wants his war options changed (AP) — President Barack Obama does not plan to accept any of the Afghanistan war options presented by his national security team, pushing instead for revisions to clarify how and when U.S. troops would turn over responsibility to the Afghan government, a senior administration official said Wednesday.

That stance comes in the midst of forceful reservations about a possible troop buildup from the U.S. ambassador in Afghanistan, Karl Eikenberry, according to a second top administration official.

In strongly worded classified cables to Washington, Eikenberry said he had misgivings about sending in new troops while there are still so many questions about the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Obama is still close to announcing his revamped war strategy — most likely shortly after he returns from a trip to Asia that ends on Nov. 19.

But the president raised questions at a war council meeting Wednesday that could alter the dynamic of both how many additional troops are sent to Afghanistan and what the timeline would be for their presence in the war zone, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Obama's thinking.

Military officials said Obama has asked for a rewrite before and resisted what one official called a one-way highway toward war commander Gen. Stanley McChrystal's recommendations for more troops.

The sense that he was being rushed and railroaded has stiffened Obama's resolve to seek information and options beyond military planning, officials said, though a substantial troop increase is still likely.

The president was considering options that include adding 30,000 or more U.S. forces to take on the Taliban in key areas of Afghanistan and to buy time for the Afghan government's small and ill-equipped fighting forces to take over. The other three options on the table Wednesday were ranges of troop increases, from a relatively small addition of forces to the roughly 40,000 that the top U.S. general in Afghanistan prefers, according to military and other officials.

The key sticking points appear to be timelines and mounting questions about the credibility of the Afghan

government.

The White House says Obama has not made a final choice, though military and other officials have said he appears near to approving a slightly smaller increase than McChrystal wants at the outset.

Among the options for Obama would be ways to phase in additional troops, perhaps eventually equaling McChrystal's full request, based on security or other conditions in Afghanistan and in response to pending decisions on troops levels by some U.S. allies fighting in Afghanistan.

The White House has chafed under criticism from Republicans and some outside critics that Obama is dragging his feet to make a decision.

Obama's top military advisers have said they are comfortable with the pace of the process, and senior military officials have pointed out that the president still has time since no additional forces could begin flowing into Afghanistan until early next year.

Under the scenario featuring about 30,000 more troops, that number most likely would be assembled from three Army brigades and a Marine Corps contingent, plus a new headquarters operation that would be staffed by 7,000 or more troops, a senior military official said. There would be a heavy emphasis on the training of Afghan forces, and the reinforcements Obama sends could include thousands of U.S. military trainers.

Another official stressed that Obama is considering a range of possibilities for the military expansion and that his eventual decision will cover changes in U.S. approach beyond the addition of troops. The stepped-up training and partnership operation with Afghan forces would be part of that effort, the official said, although expansion of a better-trained Afghan force long has been part of the U.S objective and the key to an eventual U.S. and allied exit from the country.

With the Taliban-led insurgency expanding in size and ability, U.S. military strategy already has shifted to focus on heading off the fighters and protecting Afghan civilians. The evolving U.S. policy, already remapped early in Obama's tenure, increasingly acknowledges that the insurgency can be blunted but not defeated outright by force.

ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Houstonian, Page 5

“Open Mic Night” an unequivocal, entertaining success James Ashworth

Contributing Writer

It seems that the Sam Houston Program Council took the audience into extra consideration with the fourth “Open Mic Night” of the semester, which took place on November 10 at 8 p.m. in the Farrington Pit. Hot chocolate was provided to the nearly 100 students who attended. Angel Hall, the Program Council’s Executive Director, started the evening with a gracious introduction about the night’s performers. As she finished, it appeared that the audience was in high spirits, anticipating the music and slam poetry to

come.

Though “Open Mic Night” began with many technical difficulties from the PA system, the first performer, Adrian, had the resilience to see through it. After playing an original song on the acoustic guitar, he improvised a dance over a hip-hop song. The audience seemed amused by Adrian’s creative footwork.

The next performer was Antoinee’, who skillfully executed an original poem called “Slowly but Steadily”.

The composition was about her personal insights into love and life, as well as her needs in a relationship. Next, Zoe Summers, with a courageous and beautiful voice, sang a

ballad about hobbits, dragons, and fairies. Her performance was by far the most honest and resilient display of character during “Open Mic Night”.

The second half of the show started off with guitarist/ singer Daniel Poliski, who was accompanied by singer, Sarah,

and drummer, Matt. The trio played a string of acoustic versions of pop classics.

The covers ranged from Lil Wayne’s “Lollipop” to Justin Timberlake’s “What Goes Around”. The group concluded with a hilarious version of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the

Open Mic Night. Many people gathered to watch the various performers do their best to impress on Tuesday .

USA”.

Charlie B. was next, and he told the audience a story about marijuana, police, and his daily mishaps in a spokenword style. My favorite aspect of his performance was that he utilized a unique rhyming scheme. What followed was a rap trio led by H. Jones.

The group produced their own beats and had original material. That said, they had a humorous old-school style that recalls Sir Mix-A-Lot or the funnier moments of N.W.A. Song titles included “I Wanna Motorboat You,” “Girl, I Know You Like That Chocolate,” and “That Girl is Butter”. “I Wanna Motorboat You” ended in an audience member telling his

Entertainment Poll of the Week

girlfriend how much he enjoyed her voluptuous assets, much to her embarrassment. Desmond, who was next to perform, was genuine and soulful, the most professional of the night. He possesses great vocal control.

“Open Mic Night” concluded with Aron Cook and Kellen D., a two man guitar group. They sang Christian based ballads in a falsetto style, along with John Mayer tunes. Overall, Program Council’s “Open Mic Night” was a successful showcase of the talent on campus. To attend or sign up for the next “Open Mic Night” contact the Program Council office in LSC 324 or check out their website at http://shsuprogramcouncil. ning.com/.

What is the best dramedy of the decade?

SHSU Student Choice: Juno

SHSU Online Poll Results

Juno......................................................................30% Almost Famous.................................................25% Sideways.............................................................15% Garden State.....................................................10% In Bruges.............................................................10% Wonder Boys.....................................................10% Ghost World.........................................................0% Junebug................................................................0% The Matador.........................................................0% The Weather Man...............................................0%

Kevin Jukkola

Critic’s Choice: Sideways

Entertainment Editor

“Sideways” begins and ends in the same perfect manner, but everything in between is an eloquent portrayal of people’s most truthful and trying moments that provide many possibilities for hilarity and insight. It is a masterpiece that explores flawed people whose perceived reality pales in comparison to their actual one. These individuals spend their entire lives hiding from their authentic nature with the only possibility of hope being the human capacity to change and not achieve perfection, but become better because of the choice they can make to reveal and embrace their genuine character.

The film tells a simple story of two men travelling through the California wine country, but becomes more emotionally complicated as their relationship is strained through their interaction with themselves and others. Miles (Paul Giamatti), a failing author and junior high school English teacher, has decided to bring Jack (Thomas Haden Church), a struggling

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actor, on a relaxing week of wine tasting and golfing. This is Jack’s last week of freedom before his marriage, and he has other plans for the trip for both of them that could lead to realizations that might change the course of their lives. Along the way, they meet Maya (Virginia Madsen) and Stephanie (Sandra Oh), two women whose understanding of themselves influences Jack and Miles to deeply examine what inspires them.

Miles, never creating his own identity because of an inability to love himself, lives vicariously through Jack. He is an alcoholic that avoids this obvious diagnosis by labeling himself as a wine enthusiast who simply uses his great palate to taste the fruits of various wines. Every drink is simply used to hide the pain that creates the fear driving his perpetual loneliness. Jack has the kind of relentlessly charming and attractive personality that can coerce people into believing that his sunny disposition is a product of an optimistic adult, rather than the true identity of the insecure and immature child that resides inside. They are on this journey together, but with separate paths that lead to self-

discovery.

Maya has been deeply hurt by the lies of her ex-husband, but holds hope that the optimism she has for the future will blossom into a brighter future.

Stephanie’s insecurities are hidden from the camera as mystery’s that can be interpreted but never fully comprehended.

All of the performances are unique visions of completely original individuals who speak with profound certainty about their unnerved, but passionate, souls. Giamatti, Haden Church, and Madsen all deserved Oscars for their softly profound turns, but were possibly rewarded indirectly by the screenplay’s success in receiving an Academy Award for its expressive

dialogue.

The ending is great in creating an unparalleled poignancy with an unidentified climax because of the urgency and relevance of every moment in their lives.

The point of “Sideways “ is not whether or not Miles is successful in his courtship of Maya, but is more about the fact that he found courage he did not realize was there, which is surprising. It is somewhat openended, but it says everything that is needed without theatrics or a huge outpouring of emotion because, like everybody else, these are people whose greatest turmoil hides inside, waiting for the moment until they can choose to break the internal chains that cause their unhappiness.

SPORTS

Page 6 The Houstonian

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Rising to a new level

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian

The Sam Houston State Volleyball team has had an amazing year. But they aren’t done yet, around the corner is the conference tournament where the girls look to take home a ring.

Mike Silva

Staff Reporter

With just a week left until playoffs, the Sam Houston State volleyball team is in a position to be a top seed in the Southland Conference Tournament.

The Bearkats are currently tied for first place with Texas State for the Western Division Conference lead.

Sam Houston looks to take a top seed and win the Western Division conference title, something the Bearkats have not accomplished since 1994.

and act like nothing happened or you

looking more like a seasoned squad

coming off the bench.

this team has become one,” Ferguson

can let it end you. We’re the type of team that refuses to lose, so we fought back.”

After losing to conference foe Lamar, the Bearkats stood at 8-10 overall and

than an inexperienced one. One of the freshman that have played exceptionally well in the past couple of games is Camille Alfaro. She is fourth on the team in kills and has improved

Leadership Coming into the season, the more experienced players knew that there would be a challenge in leading a group of young players.

said. “Beginning the season we were a bunch of individuals fighting for a spot. As time went on, we really formed into a team.”

The leadership and excellent play

1-1 in the Southland Conference.

A switch flipped in SHSU as the Bearkats journeyed to a historical win streak.

The Bearkats went on

over the length of the season.

“We have some good athletes on this team,” Alfaro said. “We’re young but we have agility and athleticism and that shows on the court. I think we can all step up and contribute to take

Several players shined, but none have shined brighter than senior Anna Ferguson and sophomore Carli Kolbe.

The two have combined for 829 kills over the season to make them the best kill duo in the Southland Conference.

of Ferguson and Kolbe have led Sam Houston to one of its best teams in years. The combination of athletic and energetic young players with talented and experienced veterans puts the Bearkats in a good position to go deep

some pressure off of the veterans on the team.”

Kelli Stewart was another freshman with

Ferguson recently topped the 1000 career-kills mark and has been a great Bearkat over the course of her volleyball tenure at SHSU. Last season

into the post-season and win.

Following the final two games of the season on the road at Central Arkansas and at Northwestern, there will be

a promising season ahead of her until an arm injury struck her early in the

she made first-team All-Southland Conference and will almost certainly do so again this season. She leads by example and has been a huge part of the 2009 Bearkats’ success.

four days of preparation between then and the beginning of the Southland Conference Tournament.

The Bearkats look to bring home their third Southland Conference

to win

The Sam Houston State volleyball team has come a long way from the beginning of the season and has grown into a solid team with athleticism and attitude. This

season.

talented group of both veterans a n d Freshmen Kaylee Hawkins and Jamie Haas have provided a

freshmen looks to win Sam Houston’s first Southland Conference Post-Season Tournament championship since 1996.

“We need to continue to get better,” Head Coach Brenda Gray said.

“We need to make sure everyone’s bringing their ‘A’ game. I’ve seen them all play at their best individually, but not at the same time. When they play at the top of their game in the same match, we’re going to be scary.”

The Schedule The 2009 season began with the Comfort Suites SHSU Invitational at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkats hosted Southern Utah, Texas Pan-American, Delaware State, and Louisiana Lafayette. Sam Houston won all four matches en route to winning the tournament and starting off the season 4-0.

SHSU then tailed off four straight road losses to drop them to .500 at 4-4. The Bearkats returned home to defeat Houston in a five-set match, one of their 10 five-set victories. The Bearkats then went on to lose five of their next six matches.

“Every great team hits road bumps,” said Carli Kolbe, Sam Houston’s leader in kills with 424 for the season.

“You can either come back from it

their next 11 matches, the longest win streak for Sam Houston volleyball since 1994.

U T - Arlington ended the SHSU 11-game win streak last Thursday with a 3-0 victory in Arlington. The Bearkats went on to lose their next match against Texas State in another 3-0 sweep.

Heading into the end of the season, the Bearkats stand at 19-12 overall and 11-3 in conference with two games left on the road. Ten of their conference victories came in their 11-game win streak. Sam Houston finished the season 15-2 at Johnson Coliseum.

The Young Team This year’s Bearkat volleyball team is a young unit, with six freshmen and five sophomores on the team.

Senior Anna Ferguson and juniors Kym Loving and Shamira Washington are the only upperclassmen on Sam Houston’s volleyball team this season.

The freshmen have shocked all

great defensive presence on the court for the Bearkats. Hawkins, Sam Houston’s leader in digs with 443, and Haas provide depth at the libero position and both play very well.

Stepping in for the injured Kym Loving, freshman Michelle Miller has filled in the setter position very well.

She leads the team with 942 assists and has played well throughout the season.

A n o t h e r freshman that provides depth is Becky Swan.

She has provided 57 kills in just 22 matches played and

Bearkat fans over the season by playing beyond their years and

looks to continue to be a presence

“Over the course of the season,

Tournament title and first since 1996.