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WHAT’S INSIDE? Residential district construction beginsn Are athletics needed at universities It’s clutch time for SHSU football squad

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PLAYOFF HOPES HINGE ON CENTRAL ARKANSAS GAME

TOMORROW’S FORECAST

HI: LOW:

69o 44o

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Chance of Rain:

80%

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Volume 124/ Issue 24

Sexual assault reported at Bearkat Village KASSIDY TURNPAUGH Staff Reporter A sexual assault was reported at Sam Houston State University last week. At 5:56 a.m. on Nov. 14, a female SHSU student reported an alleged incident of sexual assault at Bearkat Village, an on-campus housing complex at the 2400 block of Montgomery Road, according to University Police Department Chief Kevin Morris. According to Morris, an investigation into the incident is ongoing and the case has been described as “date rape.” “The victim knew the alleged suspect,” Morris said. “They were friends.’” The suspect was positively identified as an SHSU student and is cooperating fully with the investigation. Morris said alcohol was not involved. “We are not pressuring the victim to press charges,” Morris said. “We try to make the most comfortable accommodations possible for the victim in these kinds of cases.” In a release sent out to the SHSU, Morris encouraged students not to walk alone at night. “If you must go to and from campus alone, let your friends know of your activities (when you are leaving, where you are going, and when you plan to return),” he said. Morris also said that if any students are a victim of sexual assault, go to a safe place and contact someone to be with you. Morris also warned about destroying evidence. “Call the police, since a crime has been committed,” Morris said. “Please do not bathe, douche or change clothes. In doing this, one may be destroying critical evidence that is needed.” No charges have been filed and no arrests have been made at this time as the investigation is still active.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

CAMPUS

University responds to ADA report, says they’ll do ‘as much as we can’ JAY R. JORDAN Assistant News Editor Student Government Association officials met with facilities management at Sam Houston State University to discuss their Americans with Disabilities Act and Safety Report published Nov. 8. Sen. Robert Ferguson, COS, met with Associate Vice President of Facilities Management Doug Greening Wednesday and questioned the university’s position on SGA’s report. “We agreed that [the university] would look at all the stuff in the report and try to accomplish as much as we can,” Greening said. “We’re doing a lot already.” Greening said that the university has already taken care of some of the issues presented by the report. University Affairs Chief Spencer Copeland said the need for a review by a professional was essential since the SGA officials

who produced the report were not experts on the laws. Greening said that facility architect Chad Huff, who’s well versed with ADA laws, would highlight every concern on the report and validate whether or not each specific issue is in fact in noncompliance with the law. “What we’re going to do is we’re going to go through all these things and try and identify them,” Greening said. “If there’s something there we need to correct, we’re going to correct it.” SHSU does not necessarily conform to ADA, but it conforms to the Texas Accessibility Standards. According to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, TAS meets and exceeds the expectations of ADA. Greening said that if the school is in compliance with TAS, it’s in compliance with ADA. Ferguson said that this report was just the “tip of the iceberg.” “I guarantee that we could fill an entire report on one building at

a time,” Ferguson said. Ferguson also said that the university wouldn’t install railings in the mall area for the sake of aesthetics, a fact that Greening himself confirmed. “If we were to put handrails on all of those walkways, it would

“

CRIME

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“They’re finally figuring out that I’m not going away,” -Robert Ferguson

probably look funny,” Greening said. “It would probably take away from the landscape. A lot of people don’t use those unless there are steps involved. If that’s the only alternative we’ve got, then maybe we’ll have to take a look at it.” Greening said that the university is testing out a new spray adhesive on the pebble walkways in an effort to make getting a firm grip during wet weather more feasible. Ferguson is a disabled veteran and has been pressing the university for two years in

reference to ADA. He said the measures the university is taking are a “quick-fix” and regardless of a grip-increasing spray, still make most of the ramps on campus noncompliant with ADA. “The ramps are designed for golf carts,” Ferguson said. “We have 1,300 veterans on this campus right now, and more and more are coming back with severe injuries. When it rains, you never see a single disabled student on campus. This pea gravel is very aesthetically pleasing, but functional? You’re sure as hell not going to stop yourself from slipping and sliding if you’re in a wheelchair.” Although working closely and cooperating with the university, SGA isn’t relenting if SHSU does not follow through with fixing its alleged noncompliance. “They’re finally figuring out that I’m not going away,” Ferguson said. “I am educated on it, and I know who I can talk to whom, if it comes down to it, can shut this school down.”

PLASTIC GIANTS INVADE CAMPUS

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NUTS. Giant squirrel along with other plastic blow-up animals took over campus as a part of a biannual art project called Inflatopia. Art students get in groups to make shapes out of trashbags. This semester’s theme included a squirrel, a turtle and miscellaneous sea creatures.

CAMPUS

SGA passes legislation supporting LGBT equality BRYNN CASTRO Contributing Reporter The Sam Houston State University Student Government Association unanimously passed 12 new pieces of legislation Tuesday, four of which were geared toward LGBT equality and rights. Among the legislation passed was F13-18, A Letter to Government Officials Concerning Discrimination in Blood Collection Policies. As federal law stands, a man who has ever had sexual contact with another man, or a woman who has had

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sexual contact with a man whom has been involved with a man, is prohibited from donating blood in any capacity. This letter, which will be sent to various federal officials including the commissioner of the Food and Drug Association and the president of the United States, is asking for the law to be revised so that every individual, despite their sexual past, is permitted to donate blood. Student Affairs Chief Alex Rangel said the policy that has been the same for almost 30 years and needs to be revised. “Canada has recently changed their policy,” Rangel said. “The UK has changed theirs as well

from policies that were similar to the ones we have now. They have deferral periods, and they attack it in different ways, but they have updated it from an out-right ban.” The reason behind the ban that was established in 1985 during the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic was because there was no way to scientifically test whether or not the donated blood was infected with HIV, according to Rangel. “The science wasn’t there to support what the disease was, what the implications of it were and what treatment and detection options were, and so back then, they put this policy as a safeguard because we just didn’t know,” Rangel said. “Now, 30 years later,

the policy is still in place even though it’s no longer scientifically based” Another piece of legislation passed Tuesday was F13-19, which asks for fair and inclusive employment for all students despite their sexual orientation. SHSU is one of two universities within the Texas State University System that offers sexual orientation and gender identity protection to students, according to the resolution. Rangel, who is graduating this spring, has spent most of his time here as a part of LGBT groups such as Gamma Sigma Kappa. “My goal at SHSU is to do as much good as I can before I’m

gone,” Rangel said. Another bill that passed was F13-16, which designated Wednesday as Transgender Day of Remembrance. The resolution’s intent was to raise awareness of hate crimes against transgender individuals and to give the community an opportunity to honor those who have lost their lives to discrimination. Senate Resolution F13-17 was also passed making Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day at SHSU, which promotes campus-wide awareness of HIV/AIDS. The Student Health Center is supporting AIDS awareness Dec. 3 in the LSC mall area from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Be sure to check out the Houstonian Orientation Guide located around campus and the City of Huntsville! Can’t find one? Let us know and we’ll get you a copy.

Page 2

News

Thursday, November 21, 2013 houstonianonline.com/news

CAMPUS

South residential district underway at SHSU JAY R. JORDAN Assistant News Editor Construction for the $70 million south residential district is underway and projected to be ready by 2016, according to campus officials. Sam Houston State University began construction on the newly acquired property south of campus last week. It’s planned to hold new parking lots and oncampus housing that will balance the campus residential population with the north side of campus.

The residence halls are planned to accommodate approximately 670 residents, Denise Neu, director of facilities planning and construction, said. Texas State University System Board of Regents records say the resident halls will have space for 335 beds. The new district will also include a 400-spot parking lot for on-campus and commuter students, a dining hall and new pedestrian and automobile infrastructure. At the Board of Regents meeting on Nov. 8, the system

approved the $70 million budget for the project. Neu said that the current demolition construction is costing $472,000. TSUS documents show that getting water and power from the West Physical Plant to the facility will cost $6.35 million. Neu also said that the resident halls will cost $51.42 million and the parking lots will cost $3.46 million. The parking lot is planned for completion in spring 2015 and the residence halls in fall 2016.

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Brynn Castro | The Houstonian

DO NOT CROSS. Demolition crews prepare land south of campus for construction for a new south residential district.

HOLIDAY

Thanksgiving overshadowed by shopping for Christmas holiday HANNAH ZEDAKER Senior Reporter With stores hosting Black Friday sales earlier each year and Christmas lights adorning roof tops shortly after the Halloween decorations come down, it’s becoming easier for citizens to overlook the family-centered holiday that takes place in between—Thanksgiving. Sam Houston State University history professor Katherine Pierce said the holiday is important despite its lack of commerciality. “It is a holiday that is very open to celebration and participation by not only Americans but anyone who enjoys gathering with friends and family,” Pierce said. “It has no religious or military associations and is not limited to a select group such as Father’s Day. We are all invited so to speak, and we can give thanks for the people and events in our lives past and present that are joyful.” As most learn at a young age, the first Thanksgiving was held between the American Indians and the colonial settlers in the fall of 1621 near the colony of Plymouth. The integrations of

the two vastly different groups resulted in the celebration of the harvest season together as one. “I think understanding the history of all the groups who came together make the story of Thanksgiving is more complex than the paper turkeys we cut out in third grade,” Pierce said. “Over time a New England based holiday became American. (George) Washington declared a day of Thanksgiving in November 1789. But Abraham Lincoln is usually credited with making it a national holiday in 1863 at the height of the Civil War, praying for the restoration of the Union and peace.” It used to be that it was a rare occasion to find stores and restaurants open on Sundays or on holidays like Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving. However, over the years the observance of certain holidays or “the day of rest” by merchants and retailers has become virtually obsolete. One of the most obvious examples of this is the infamous Black Friday. Whereas Black Friday holiday sales used to strictly begin on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day, stores like

Target, Walmart and Best Buy are beginning their sales on Thanksgiving Day instead. Pierce said it’s important for people to differentiate the holiday craze they see advertised with the true purpose the day of giving thanks is. “I think it is necessary to distinguish between the flood of media and advertising associated with shopping and what people believe about the holidays,” Pierce said. “I think members of the SHSU community are looking forward to Thanksgiving as a break to relax with family and take a break from the academic grind.” The break SHSU students will get to experience next week should be free of stress—aside from the pressure of getting the cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and of course, turkey, just right. “The only pressure you should feel at Thanksgiving is getting the meal right,” Pierce said. “I have always appreciated the lack of emphasis on gifts and mandatory fun. It is one of the more relaxing holidays for this reason and offers a wide array of choices for everyone to enjoy. We also have no pressures to festoon our homes

with decorations and exchange gifts.” Although Pierce sees Thanksgiving Day as an important holiday, senior sociology major Nicole Schowalter said she sees it as a good way to prepare for December. “It gets you geared up for the coming winter holidays,” Schowalter said. “You realize it’s almost the end of the year and celebrate your thankfulness for your family and friends.” With respect to traces of the winter holidays being evident even before Thanksgiving, senior geography major Santana Smith said stores and retailers don’t help. “You don’t see a whole lot of people buying decorations for Thanksgiving like they do for Christmas,” Smith said. “Thanksgiving decorations may only be available for a few weeks prior to the holiday while Christmas decorations are available the day after Halloween.” Pierce said holiday decorations, music and television advertisements can take away from the celebrations of Thanksgiving. “It reminds everyone what matters to the retailers, but after

a few grumbles about seeing the decorations too soon, I just enjoy the light shows and decorations though prolonged exposure to the ‘Little Drummer Boy’ can drive you crazy,” Pierce said. Although aspects of the winter holidays may have begun to overshadow the national day of thanks, Pierce said the fourth Thursday of every November can remain as a day of appreciation for the good things in life that everyone can take part in. “I think a commitment to remembering friends, family and sharing time and food with people we care about is a fine commemoration,” Pierce said. “I dislike forcing holiday remembrance into a single playbook of what is defined as a proper way to celebrate. I think because it is associated with the fall harvest, change of seasons, family, football and just relaxing, it does appeal to everyone. I don’t think there is a right reason to celebrate and that many people enjoy it for that very reason.”

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Page 3

Viewpoints

Thursday, November 21, 2013 houstonianonline.com/viewpoints

THE DEBATE: ARE ATHLETICS GOOD FOR UNIVERSITIES? No. The money should be spent elsewhere.

CONNOR HYDE Sports Editor There’s a national obsession involving the primitive clash between athletes. It’s natural. I get it. Hell, the Romans understood it. Whether it’s supporting the local professional ball club or pulling over to catch the closing minutes of a youth football game, there’s something intimate about sports. Yet, there’s a tangle between colleges and universities with athletic programs when discussing the holy grail of representation and funding: exposure, exposure, exposure. Academically driven institutions have argued that scholastic merit should remain the basis for national prominence while the remaining list of institutions graciously welcome the spotlight sports shines. While there’s respect and dignity in a strict academic environment, a vital vein of funding, enrollment and expansion is severed when ignoring the significance of athletic programs. But let’s take Sam Houston State into consideration. The recent success of the football, baseball, volleyball, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, track, softball (need I go on?) has shoveled in barrels of funding benefiting not only the athletes, but the vision of the university as well. In 2011 SHSU football head coach Willie Fritz took his team to the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Division I National Championship in Frisco, Texas. Despite returning to Huntsville with their first loss on the season, the national recognition from ESPN, the Southland Conference and Capital One Cup has not only complimented SHSU’s athletic program but has benefitted enrollment and funding for the university. Since 2011 enrollment numbers has risen five percent between 2011 and 2012. With another national championship appearance in 2012, the enrollment numbers have continued to rise. Either correlation or causation, whatever you choose to believe, just the mere footprint SHSU’s football team has benefitted the university outside of the athletic program. However, it hasn’t just been within the past three years. With the enacting of Title IX in 1972 and the NCAA implementing the legislation in 1982, the addition of three women’s sports in 1997, 2003 and 2010 with women’s tennis, soccer and bowling, respectively, has drawn in enrollment numbers to SHSU. Together the athletic department generates $12.4 million according to the United States’ Department of Education Equity and Athletics

Data from 2012. With $11.2 million in recruiting expenses and miscellaneous, SHSU athletics still generates an annual $1.16 million profit without federal or state funding. Look at the broader picture. With the addition of three extra sports to the athletic department there’s a need of rosters to fill, which in turn promotes recruiting, which in turn benefits enrollment. With more high school students applying and accepted into the university generates another direct vein of funding through tuition fees. Taking into consideration the five percent increase of student population between 2011 and 2012, more students means more money through tuition. The availability of extra collegiate sports teams directly impacts the slight increase in student population, which, as argued above, generates more money. However, I understand the merit of strict academia. Hendrix College in Conway, Ark., recorded their first snap in a football game after 50 plus years. Despite student and faculty disproval, the football team has come into national spotlight, recognized by SB Nation in October. As a former student at Hendrix College, and a former baseball player on their baseball team, the absence of a football team left a void of school unity – although the parties made up for them. The liberal arts education with a diverse cultural imprint with an outstanding academic curriculum that is recognized internationally was exceptional by itself. Yet it was the football team that unified each individual at Hendrix College for them to remain students and be a Warrior simultaneously. But the benefit of an athletic program reaches beyond the bottom line. T-shirts, jerseys and anything bought with the SHSU logo or Bearkat tapered on it is another arm to promote the school. The promotional advertisements with Suddenlink, Comcast, 790 on the AM dial and all advertising efforts promoting SHSU athletics reels in wheelbarrows of money and revenue. It’s beyond Huntsville. It’s beyond Houston. But to narrow in on the intimacy sports brings to a university. Sports is an avenue that channels some athletes’ potentially sole chance of receiving a higher education. With scholarships and expectation to maintain a certain grade point average, the student is able to thrive in an environment and have the opportunity to excel because of sports. A ball is the reason they’re able to go to college. So whether or not you agree with the funding allocation of the university’s budget, or the weight of the athletic program has within school administration, it is ludicrous and flat out ignorant to claim athletic programs do not benefit a school. Ignorance. Because every Saturday, whatever your preference of sport, everyone is a Bearkat.

MOLLY SHOVE Viewpoints Editor Athletics and academics have a supremely dysfunctional relationship. Athletics is the leech, clinging onto higher education, sucking the money and focus away from what college should be about: teaching people. While I’m sure pep and spirit are priceless, they come at an astounding cost both literally and implicitly to the institution, the students, and the athletes themselves. To better understand the possible detrimental effects on a university, you first have to understand what universities with athletic programs are incentivized to do. If a university is going to pour millions of dollars into athletics, they are going to want some bang for their buck. That means that they make decisions with the motivation of making profit in mind. Because of this, universities do a number of things that ultimately do not benefit the institution as a whole. One example of this is the tendency of the university to spend millions of dollars on the very small population of student athletes and athletic staff. The football coach at SHSU makes $250,000 a year and is the second highest paid faculty member on campus. This is unfair to literally every student who can’t take advantage of these athletics-only services. The $250,000 the football coach is making could be full ride 16-credit hour scholarships for 57 semesters. That means 14 students could have their entire education paid for, just on the head football coach’s salary. People justify these costs by arguing that athletics brings in more than it takes out, but these people are sadly mistaken. People who think athletics are profitable for universities fail to acknowledge the hidden cost to students. Every student pays $16 per credit hour on the athletics fee. This means that your average SHSU student taking 16 credits pays $256 for the privilege of having an athletic team. Furthermore, in 2010, only 22 out of the 120 Division 1 athletics programs actually made a profit, which was actually an increase from the dismal 14 programs that did the year before. On the off chance athletics is profitable for a university, that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing

Word on the Street

for a university to spend money on. If participating in athletics is detrimental to an athlete, it shouldn’t matter how profitable the institution is. While athletics has provided financial and academic assistance to many people in need, there are many instances where this is not the case. In efforts to protect their investments in student athletes, Oklahoma has paid tutors to do classwork for students. According to the New York Times, many colleges request oral examinations for their athletes so they can graduate with a four year degree without having to write a thing. Athletes are faced with more incentive to perform athletically than academically. Students who underperform athletically can be kicked off teams, whereas those who underperform academically are coddled and given special treatment, or tutoring opportunities, until they succeed. This ranges from being placed in classes with easier teachers to athletic-specific tutoring. Ultimately, this doesn’t inspire the kind of work ethic or problem solving that will be helpful in the job market. Giving an underprivileged student an academic scholarship would cost much less, and give them a surer path to future success.

“

Yes. They’re absolutely needed.

On the off-chance athletics is profitable for a university, that doesn’t mean it’s the right thing for a university to spend money on.

The last group that can be negatively impacted by sports teams are the students of universities. This detriment comes more in the form of neglect than in direct negative impact. The millions of dollars and thousands of staff hours that it takes to run an athletic department could be used to benefit more than the privileged few who are talented at sports. According to Knight Commission, “Division I schools with football spent $91,936 per athlete in 2010, seven times the spending per student of $13,628.” Are athletes and their success really seven times more important than the average student? Athletics has a time and place. That time and place is not inside of a university. The sports industry has taken advantage of college athletics for too long. The NFL, NBA and MLB should recruit from the minor league instead of campuses. Universities should ensure the welfare of all of their students, not just their student athletes. I’ll miss the school spirit, but pep isn’t worth the exorbitant cost to the university and the students.

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“Yes, because it gives a name to everyone else, and it gives the school’s athletic reputation a good name.” -Korean Gonzalez Junior biomedical science and kineseology major

“It’s an entertainment industry, and if you find it entertaining then you gain benefit from it. As a computer science major, however, I don’t see any of it coming back to me.” -Andrew Bannon Junior CS major

“Yes, because it gives athletes opportunities, helps them find their place in society, and helps them build up character and confidence.” -Nicholas Castro Nursing sophomore

“I’m sure there is money generated, but I just don’t see it.” -Drew Carson Senior computer science major

The Houstonian Editorial

The Houstonian was named in the top 100 college newspapers for journalism students by JournalismDegree.org. Members of Associated Collegiate Press and Texas Intercolligiate Press Association.

EDITOR’S NOTE Articles, letters and cartoons by Houstonian staff members or others in this paper are their own and not the opinion of the Houstonian, unless it is noted as such. Submissions and letters to the editor are welcome. Please send submissions to viewpoints@houstonianonline.com. Articles may be edited for grammar and spelling at discretion of editor. Unsolicited oppinions should be 150 words or under. Please contact us if you wish to submit anything longer. Deadline for submission is by 5 p.m. on Mondays or Wednesdays.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephen Green....................................................................................................................................936-294-1505 FACULTY ADVISER Robin Johnson..................................................................................................................................936-294-1499 STAFF Molly Waddell.............................................................................................................................Associate Editor Molly Shove.................................................................................................................................Viewpoints Editor Connor Hyde......................................................................................................................................Sports Editor Joseph Redd...........................................................................................................................Entertainment Editor Monty Sloan.............................................................................................................................................Web Editor Jay R. Jordan......................................................................................................................... Assistant News Editor Kizzie Frank..............................................................................................................Assistant Entertainment Editor Jeremy Villanueva.................................................................................................................Assistant Sports Editor Alexa Grigsby..............................................................................................................Assistant Viewpoints Editor Marissa Hill.....................................................................................................................................Sports Reporter Hannah Zedeker.............................................................................................................................Senior Reporter Miranda Landsman................................................................................................................Multimedia Reporter Samantha Zambrano.............................................................................................................................Layout Editor Kassidy Turnpaugh.....................................................................................................................Graphic Designer Staff Reporter.....................Dana Price, Christian Vazquez, Samantha Gallindo, Kaleigh Treiber, Kim Wroth, Alex Broussard

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Arts&Entertainment

Thursday, November 21, 2013 houstonianonline.com/a-e

REVIEW

‘Urinetown’ uses satire for big laughs KIZZIE FRANK Assistant A&E Editor After months of planning and rehearsing, “Urinetown: The Musical” premiered at Sam Houston State’s Erica Starr Theater Wednesday at 8.pm. Despite small mishaps and a slightly cracking voices, the theater and musical theater department caused the audience to roll with involuntary laughter and ended with them giving a standing ovation. The original musical, written by New York-based playwright Greg Kotis, opened on Broadway right after 9/11. It has had numerous productions in high schools and colleges across the country and internationally. Kotis came up with the idea when he came across pay-per-use toilets in Paris. “Urinetown” is a riveting story of a world where, as Miss Pennywise said, “it is a privilege to pee.” The hopeful townspeople lined up not to get food for their families, but to simply use the restroom. The townspeople of

Urinetown are required to pay a certain amount of money to relieve themselves every day. Some have the money, but the ones that do not are penalized. The cast wore costumes that reminds most viewers of the poverty in the 1930s. The Great Depression came about when the stock market plummeted in 1929 across the globe after World War I. The devastating effects of the Great Depression only ended with another war, World War II. “Urinetown” is something of that caliber, but it deals with literal happiness and sanity of the people. The people only achieve happiness through a war with their government. “Urinetown” has been nominated for 10 Tony Awards: Best Original Score, Best Book of a Musical, Best Musical, Best Director, and Best Actor in a Musical. It has also received two Tony Award nominations for Best Actress in a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Choreography, and Best Orchestration.

It is a story of destruction and belittling of a people, and political corruption. Tom Prior, associate chair of the department of theater and musical theatre, discussed the history of the play. “It’s a play word play on ‘you’re in town.’ It was work shopped in an improve company [called] The Neo-Futurists in Chicago,” he said. “The whole idea around Urinetown is that it is this metaphysical place….the ridiculous of the situation yet it’s got a heart.” The politicians over Public Amenity number nine, claim that they must pay to use the public restroom to keep ground water fresh and clean. Antagonist Cladwell B. Caldwell, played by Danny Dyer, CEO of the operation, plans to take the money made from Public Amenity number nine and spend it on a staff trip to Rio. Be sure not to forget to roll the ‘r’. “It’s a way for Cladwell to keep control over his town,” said Prior. The names of the characters range from ironic, symbolic and

Kassidy Turnpaugh | The Houstonian

KEEP HOPE STRONG. From left- Taylor Beyer and Zach Reeves sing a duet during the performance of Urinetown the musical.

humorous: Taylor Byer’s character, Hope Caldwell and Bobby Strong played by Zach Reeves, one actor in particular who received recognition from an audience member. Senior technical theater major Amanda Woods enjoyed the crispness and clarity of Reeve’s voice. “When he sang that love song… it was so beautiful,” Woods said. Bobby Strong was the driving force for the townspeople’s ability to rebel against paying to pee and

other personal things. During one of their rallies, they held up protest signs. Bobby also led a hymn-like song called “Run Freedom Run.” The actors and actresses pranced up and down the aisles and shouted to the heavens. The script is heavy in satirical politics, but brings in enough humor to distract the audience in a way that uplifts. The musical runs from Thursday to Saturday at 8 p.m. There is a matinee at 2 p.m.

DANCE

Dance Spectrum showcases international guests GABRIELA COJULUM Contributing Reporter “Home & Away,” the fall 2013 Dance Spectrum Concert, will be performed this weekend in the Performing Arts Center. The dance department is thrilled about this semester’s concert because there will be featured works from the SHSU dance faculty and works from a range of different guests. The choreography lineup that will

be presented has traveled from around the world to work with the dance students here at Sam Houston State. The list includes travelers ranging from Canada and as far at Italy, ensuring the audience will experience a unique performance and witness a variety of dance techniques. Many students are excited about the performance. “I am looking forward to seeing the different artists from around the world express their

unique approach in each dance,” sophomore Esther Loukota said. Teoma Naccarato, a visiting professor from Montreal, Canada, has worked with students throughout this semester and has taught her unique style in integrating live dance with interactive technology. “I am interested to see how this type of dance will be performed,” Loukota said. “I’ve been to a lot of dances but never will this skill.” Other guests include Enzo Celli, Amy Cain and Dawn Dippel. Celli

is from the Celli Contemporary Ballet in Rome, Italy, while Cain and Dippel are from the Revolve Dance Company in Houston. They each not only bring a unique style of dance, but also a unique style of music. Celli’s work is set to Vivaldi while Cain and Dippel bring in a little bit of jazz into the mix.

The concert is Nov. 21-23 at 8 p.m. There is a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee as well. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for seniors/SHSU faculty and staff, and $5 for students. Sam Houston staff will receive a special discount of $5 for the Saturday’s matinee.

OPEN HOUSE Tuesday, Dec. 3 3:30-5:45 p.m. Dan Rather Communication Building TIMELINE | FOOD | ACTIVITIES TOUR: The Houstonian Newsroom Recorded live by Channel 7 News

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Sports

Thursday, November 21, 2013 houstonianonline.com/sports

FOOTBALL

It’s do or die for playoff chance CONNOR HYDE Sports Editor Sam Houston State will travel to Conway, Ark., for the second consecutive season to square off against Central Arkansas in a matchup that will determine the Bearkat’s playoff hopes. Following SHSU’s second half offensive blunder against Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, La., the Bearkats are preparing to tighten their offensive scheme in the air. However Brian Bell, the Bearkats’ winningest quarterback, will not start Saturday, leaving all the weight on freshman quarterback Jared Johnson. SHSU head coach Willie Fritz said Bell is recovering from a shoulder sprain and has listed Johnson as Saturday’s projected starter. Bell has continued to take snaps under center during the week’s practice, however Fritz said it’ll come down to a game-day decision. “Right now he’s a little sore so it’ll be another day before we can determine,” Fritz said. Johnson made his case to claim the starting position against the Lions, completing 3-9 passes for 65 yards during his time on the field in the fourth quarter. Senior running back Timothy Flanders said this week’s practice has been a confidence builder for the freshman out of Grand Prairie. Although UCA (6-5) is seeded

fourth in Southland Conference standings, the No. 9 Bearkats haven’t made their case as a sound road team, contrary to the 2012 season. With only four road games on the year including Saturday’s matchup, the Bearkats are 0-3 away with losses to Texas A&M, McNeese State and Southeastern Louisiana. Flanders said although the Bearkats’ have struggled to maintain focus on the road, the games have come down to capitalizing off every opportunity offensively and defensively. “It’s not like we’re getting blown out,” Flanders said. “We just need to close games out and start fast and finish faster.” The Bearkats are preparing for a similar quarterback showdown in Conway, despite Wynrick Smothers, reigning Southland Conference offensive player of the year and starting UCA quarterback, benched with a season ending injury. Smothers broke his ankle against Nebraska-Kearney in October and has left the Bears’ offensive playbook to junior quarterback Ryan Howard. Howard has posted staggering numbers since assuming the starting position under center. The junior from Vestavia Hills, Ala., has maintained a respectable 60 percent completion rate with 14 touchdowns, averaging 187 yards passing per game. But for Fritz, minimizing turnovers and capitalizing on

Kassidy Turnpaugh | The Houstonian

takeaways will ensure SHSU’s first road win for the season and spark playoff success. “It doesn’t come down to one side of the ball,” he said. “We’ve got to do a better job in turnover takeaways.” With a win Saturday, the Bearkats will seal their case for an at-large bid for the NCAA FCS Division I Playoffs. The playoff selection committee choices will commence Sunday with broadcast feeding from ESPNU.

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RUGBY

Kim Wroth | The Houstonian

ON TO NATIONALS. Sam Houston State women’s club rugby team will look to make a statement in its national tournament this weekend for the second consecutive appearance.

Women’s rugby team advances to nationals for second straight year MARISSA HILL Sports Reporter Sam Houston State’s women’s club rugby team will make its second consecutive appearance at the College 7s National Championship in Greensboro, N.C., this weekend. But despite another successful run, this season’s campaign was significantly different from the last, according to senior captain Hillary O’Grady. This season, the Bearkats clinched the 16th spot for the national tournament through the tournament’s application process. “Last year we definitely earned our spot,” O’Grady said. “We were awesome at qualifiers and we played well as a team.” At qualifiers, the champion receives an automatic bid to the national tournament, but second and third-place teams aren’t guaranteed a birth in postseason play. This season the lady Bearkats claimed the third seed among powerhouses like the University of Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Christian University. The fate of the ball clubs that aren’t qualifier champions are left in the hands of a selection committee. “They have all the tournaments,” senior Jacquelyn Abshier said. “They see who goes to those tournaments and then they fill a certain number of spots.” Two teams tied for second at one of the qualifying tournaments, and for both teams to advance, a 16th team had to be added.

That’s where the Bearkats come in. “We got extremely lucky and we’re blessed to be able to go again,” O’Grady said. “This is an awesome opportunity to show what this team has.” The selection committee factors in strength of schedule and performance at qualifying tournaments, but Pope believes that they had an edge over every other team. “The fact that we did go to nationals last year helped us out,” Pope said. As the tournament quickly approaches, the team is diligently preparing itself for the road ahead. The two things that they are narrowing their focus on are cardio and tackling. But the driving force for the Bearkats is to make their presence not only known, but respected at the national level. “Not a lot of people know about Sam Houston women’s rugby,” O’Grady said. “We’re there to put our name out and play to the best of our abilities.” With women’s club rugby established in the spring of 2006, the program doesn’t have the history of success on its side, but the intensity remains high within the small group, O’Grady said. “Our quality of girls that come out has been top-level,” she said. “They’ve always given all they have.” SHSU will open up tournament play on Saturday as they face the California Golden Bears with one thing to prove. “We’re here,” O’Grady said. “We’re not the underdogs anymore. This is an awesome opportunity to show what this team has.”

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iTunes App Store

Hula app unzips for safe sex CHIRSTIAN VAZQUEZ Staff Reporter For those looking to practice safe sex, testing for sexually transmitted infections is now as easy as pulling out … your mobile. Hula is a new app available for iPhone users that helps them find the best places to get tested for STIs. The app also sends the results directly to the app on their phone. Founder and CEO of Hula Ramin Bastani said that the app makes it easy to prove you’ve been tested and helps you find the best location to do so. According to Hula’s press release, nearly 50 percent of sexually active college students don’t use condoms. The free app, formally known as Qpid. me, has many different functions, such as: finding the best places to get tested, get test

results online or on the app, “unzipping” the app to share test results in a fun and confidential way, reminders for testing, user verification and ability to share information with their partner in person or online. Alice Stenstadvold, RN, said that the app is a great idea for students. “I hope it will help more students get tested,” Stenstadvold said. “There are a lot of students that don’t use condoms. We see that all the time.” Users cannot upload their own STI results; they can only come from a health care provider. Bastani said that the rise of online dating bolsters the need for convenient testing. “The explosion of location-based online dating/hooking up is further driving the need for more testing,” Bastani said. “We’re making STD testing suck less and helping people have more safe sex.”

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