Volume 126 | Issue 25 by The Houstonian

Thursday, November 20, 2014

The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University

What’s happening at Sam CITY COUNCIL, P.2

REVIEWS, P.3

THANKSGIVING, P.4

VOLLEYBALL, P.5

FOOTBALL, P.6

The city approved using general funds for their way-signage project

The fall 2014 theatre season is winding down with its last two shows

A message to atheists and agnostics as well as a Black Friday guide

Bearkat volleyball is pitted against seven teams in the Southland Conference

SHSU could claim the Southland Conference championship

Volume 126 | Issue 25

Kats to open 2015 T. Tech football season

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HoustonianOnline.com

listed A WASH in the Plaza SHSU in NCAA fair

wages lawsuit

JEREMY VILLANUEVA Sports Editor

The Big 12 conference released its schedules Wednesday, and Sam Houston State football is set to play Texas Tech in the Red Raiders’ season opener next year. The Kats will travel to Lubbock to compete at the Jones AT&T Stadium on Sept. 5, 2015. Other Southland ConferenceBig 12 matchups include Lamar playing at Baylor and Stephen F. Austin State at Texas Christian on Sept. 12, 2015. Central Arkansas will also be taking on Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. on the same day. Earlier this season, SHSU was blown out to FBS powerhouse Louisiana State 56-0 in Baton Rouge, La. on Sept. 6. The last time the Kats played a Big 12 school was in the 2012-2013 season against Baylor in Waco. After being up 20-10 after one half against the Bears, SHSU eventually fell 48-23. The Kats have not won a game over an FBS school since topping the University of New Mexico 48-45 in overtime in 2011. Currently, the Red Raiders are 3-7 on the 2014 season with its only win in the Big 12 coming against the University of Kansas. The Bearkats are 7-4 entering this weekend’s contest against Central Arkansas that could land the Kats a share of the Southland Conference title. Kickoff time between the two schools is to be determined.

A lawsuit claiming student athletes should be paid was filed against Sam Houston State University in October, as well as the NCAA and every other Division I school in the country. The suit was filed in the U.S. District Court in Indianapolis about six weeks ago on the behalf of former University of Houston women’s soccer player Samantha Sackos. Pennsylvania attorney Paul L. McDonald filed the suit and said in an email Monday that the crux of the complaint is student athletes should be treated and paid as work study participants. “The complaint posits that student athletes also meet such criteria, as much as, if not more than, work study participants – thus must be recognized as temporary employees under the [Fair Labor Standards Act], and paid at least the minimum wage, too,” McDonald said. “Work study participants and student athletes are both students, first.” The argument hinges on four core comparisons between workstudy students and student athletes: 1. Student athletes participate in school-affiliated, non-academic performance and receive no academic credit 2. Student athletes perform for as many or more hours per week as work study students — NCAA, page 2

Dorm makeover for COFAMC students

SGA builds relationship with city officials

ABIGAIL VENTRESS Staff Reporter

TEDDI CLIETT Staff Reporter

Belvin Buchanan Residence Hall will become a co-ed dorm exclusively for students in the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication starting fall 2015. It will also include a theater, digital recording studio, dance studio and more. Currently, the dorm is an allfemale residence hall open to students of all majors. The basement of the building, which was formerly a cafeteria, has been under construction since spring 2014 and is beginning to wrap-up. The new space will consist of several useful technologies, such as virtual acoustic environments and a large auditorium along with the ability to record. “Residence Life had a brain storm session about what to do with the space a little over a year and a half ago and this [idea] came up,” Wayne Bennett, assistant director for student discipline and risk management said. “Work started at the end of last spring and all this year we have been renovating.” The space will also have a dance room with mirrors, a collaboration room set up similar to that of a conference room, a theater with 80 movable theater seats and surround sound, green screens, an art gallery, a digital recording studio, high definition video equipment and more. “As of right now, nothing will change in the actual rooms,” Jessica Tackett, assistant director for marketing and guest services of Residence Life said. “One floor will remain all-female and the rest will have certain wings.” Residence Life approached professors and deans within the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication to gain feedback on

Sam Houston State University’s Student Government Association met with Huntsville City Council members and other city employees Tuesday in order to help build relationships between the two groups as well as discuss problematic areas both face around Huntsville. “It probably couldn’t have gone better,” External Affairs Chief Tyler Livzey said. “Just about everyone showed up who wanted to show up and everyone got along really well. We paired people up who hadn’t known each other and the entire time there was laughing, there was great conversation and things got done.” City employees and SGA representatives discussed a range of issues in search of solutions. “Anything [was discussed] from parking, to tailgating, to football games, to roads, to bike lanes,” Livzey said. “Just about anything that has ever been [a problem] was brought up, and I think more importantly, relationships were built.” The city of Huntsville, according to Livzey, felt the luncheon was just as productive. “The mayor and the city council loved the chance to meet the students and the faculty,” Livzey said. “The city and the faculty don’t get to meet for informal reasons, they meet for projects that they have to work on together.” After student representatives voiced their compliments and concerns, the next step on behalf of both parties is progression in any way possible. “Some of the students are more motivated than ever to create change now that they know who [to talk to] or what they need to do,” Livzey said. “Getting guidance on [what to do] was something im-

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BELVIN, page 2

Catherine Stallard | The Houstonian

BIG ART. (TOP) Freshman graphic design major Raye Goodson walks through one of the inflatables Wednesday. (MIDDLE) Sophomore photography major Ugne Kavoliunaite stands in front of the inflatable she helped create as a student in the Workshop in Art Studio and History program. The piece is one of many created by art students that stood erect in the Lowman Student Center Mall and Bearkat Plaza on Wednesday.

Site helps students find housing PARBATTEE MAHARAJ Assistant Viewpoints Editor Finding affordable, quality, offcampus housing can be a challenge for students who are just beginning to develop their sense of independence. Student Spaces, a new housing website, was recently launched in order to help students find affordable living around various college campuses by recent Texas State University graduate, Nassim Joseph. Over the last several years, the population of Sam Houston State University has grown tremendously, creating some complications regarding the placement of students. Based on campus policy, all freshman must live on campus for the entirety of the school year while students of higher classifications have the option of living somewhere off campus. Joseph’s website attempts to aid these students’ housing decisions, serving students located near the campuses of the University of Texas at Austin and San Antonio, Texas Southern University, Sam Houston State University, Texas Tech, Baylor University and the

University of North Texas. “After helping students find rentals at Texas State University as a licensed real estate agent, I noticed a large disconnect between properties and potential renters,” Joseph said. “Students are new to renting and do not understand how the leasing process works or the significance of it. Our website seeks to educate the student renter and provide them with a streamlined search process that makes finding the right place as easy as possible.” For many students, transitioning from on-campus living to living off campus can be highly overwhelming. “Prospective student renters and their parents find it difficult to quickly view appropriate listings,” Student Spaces spokesperson Renita Smith said. “Student housing property managers find it difficult to target student renters directly.” There seems to be numerous issues with attracting new tenants in areas highly concentrated with a youthful population. “In my experience, properties were more concerned with pushing their latest move-in specials than educating prospects on the details of the lease contract,” Joseph said. “The more rewarding

part of my job was knowing which questions to ask while escorting students to properties around town, and making sure they understood that signing a lease is a big decision.” According to Joseph, the website makes it easier to pin down what matters most to the prospective tenant and helps ensure they’re getting their best possible bargain. “Students are able to filter their searches based on what matters (furnishings, washer and dryer, pet policies, individual/conventional leases), get answers to rental questions from licensed real estate agents using our Q&A feature and have access to valuable rental market insight,” Joseph said. “Users have access to charts showing the average rents and unit availability, their saved favorite listings and messages from properties from their dashboard. All of these features combined allow the student to make an educated choice, while providing a direct link to properties without any third party being involved in the process.” Students can find more information at studentspaces.net or by calling the toll-free number 1-800-859-9472.

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SGA, page 2

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Thursday, November 20, 2014

Page 2

Council approves way-finding sign funding inger motioned to have the consultant study cost and the remaining $49,600 of the project to be funded with HOT Funds instead of dipping into general funds. “I’m opposed to funding the study from the general revenue,” Brauninger said. “If it’s legal and it’s been proven and the state legislature has included this as a funding mechanism for signage and we have over $1 million in our HOT Funds that we trying to figure out to spend, why wouldn’t we spend it on the signage?” Task 2 of the project totals $24,000, with task 3 totaling $12,000. City Manager Matt Benoit advised the council to gather more information on the project before requesting HOT Funds from a citizens committee, citing a two-pronged test for HOT Funds

CONNOR HYDE Senior Reporter A divided city council voted to move forward with the conceptual designing phase of the city’s wayfinding signage project. The council approved to move forward with task 2 of the project. However, Tuesday’s meeting circled around the use of Hotel Occupancy Tax Funds to pay for the remaining consulting fees to fd2s, a signage company based in Austin, as well as the remainder of the project. The overall project is geared to install signs to help direct citizens to different city buildings and attractions in Huntsville. Councilmember Andy Braun-

to be applied. The council has appointed a citizen board to review recommended uses of HOT Funds and looks at whether or not the project “puts heads in beds” and directs visitors to visit one of the eight attractions identified. “I don’t believe we are far enough in this project, for me or anybody else, to stand in front of that citizen board and say we have designed this project, we have identified locations, we have identified all of the attractions, so therefore we can make an argument the project meets the two pronged test,” Benoit said. “If you use general funds, you avoid the issue of ‘well show me how you’ve met the two-pronged test.’” Brauninger withdrew his motion and the council passed to use

general funds in a 6-3 vote. Councilmen Ronald Allen, Brauninger and Joe Emmett voted against the motion to use general funds. City Council also: • Approved the purchasing of nine vehicles including four patrol vehicles for Huntsville Police department. • Approved the naming of the amphitheater at the Sam Houston State statue in honor of former City Manager Gene Pipes. • Approved an ordinance to deny Entergy’s application of approval for distribution cost recovery factors. The council cited Entergy requested $2 million too much and is now before the Public Utility Commission.

THE JUMPS

BELVIN, page 1 —

the idea. They also asked for opinions and suggestions for equipment. Eventually, a committee formed and began overseeing the process. “When [Bennett] first mentioned it to me, I was really excited,” Thomas Garrett, associate professor of mass communications said. “I know of colleges in California that have things like that where the dorms had themes and the parking lot looked like backstage. I certainly got the concept.” The structure can house up to 205 students. “We are very excited about this because it will give these students an opportunity to work together and a space to make their own,” Bennett said. “It will be an awesome space for them to collaborate with each other.” Everything in the space will accessible to students of the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication. For instance, a music major could use the stage to practice performing or the dance room with mirrors. There are no limitations as to who can use what equipment, as long as they fall under the college. “All of the rooms in the space are not being

specified for a specific major,” Garrett said. “They are all common because it’s not a solo experience. These majors take a community. The arts all complement each other, too. We wanted a common work space that everybody can use. It’ll be an atmosphere where community is built by working together on inspired projects.” Residence Life is hoping for the space to be open to residents 24/7, but the schedule is still tentative. Additionally, a name for the space has not yet been determined. “I think that once students realize what’s going to be available to them as fine arts and mass communications students, we will fill Belvin up to capacity and there will be a waiting list for students who want to live in that living-learning community,” Brian Miller, associate dean of College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication said. “A large part of the idea is that it’s a creative community full of different creative studios and we hope that students living together will cross over-- that there will be music students who begin thinking more about the visual arts and dance students thinking about music more and they will come up with new and innovative ways to collaborate and work with each other and

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come up with art with a different twist.” Those who already live on campus will have the first opportunity to reside in Belvin after selections open up in February. Afterwards, the option will be open to freshmen and transfer students. All students majoring in these programs will be allowed to use the space, but a resident must accompany non-resident majors in the space at all times. “I think this living-learning community is going to put Sam Houston on the map in yet another way,” Miller said. “It’s fairly unique in Texas, and I’m excited about it. It’s going to be another jewel in the crown at Sam Houston and our students are going to love it. We look forward to getting this done and letting people see how creative we can be.”

NCAA page 1 — 3. Student athletes perform under supervision by coaches and NCAA officials, similar to work study students performing underneath a superior 4. Student athletes contribute benefits to the school as much as work study students “The NCAA, for the most part, promotes and protects the best interests of student athletes,” McDonald said. “This complaint is aimed at perfecting the NCAA system, not fundamentally changing it.” Bearkat Athletics Director Bobby Williams said it is difficult to determine how the university or NCAA would compensate the student athletes if any policy were to change. “Trying to address that, I’m not sure if any of us in the NCAA can fully understand or come up with a plan at this point in time,” Williams said. Williams said student athletes are already compensated in a way through scholarships. NCAA Chief Legal Officer Donald Remy said in a statement in October that the NCAA is reviewing the suit. “We are currently evaluating the complaint but disagree that student-athletes are participating in athletics as employees,” Remy said. “Student-athletes have a passion for their sport and a commitment to their teammates that can’t be equated to punching a time clock.” The NCAA and the other defendants have not yet been summoned, according to McDonald. The NCAA will likely sign a waiver of summons, which is due by Dec. 12. Representatives from the Texas State University System, whose component universities Texas State University, Lamar University and SHSU were all listed in the lawsuit, declined to comment since the litigation is ongoing. Jay R. Jordan contributed to this report.

SGA page 1 — portant to them.” For any problematic situations on campus or around Huntsville, Livzey encourages Bearkats to approach SGA members, who are now enabled to reach out to city employees in search of solutions. “As a city council member, you have to have an issue brought to you before you can react to it,” Livzey said. “You can’t be proactive, you have to be reactive and they were so glad that they were able to see these issues and they know the students care. That’s one of the biggest things. They don’t know the students care if students don’t come to them.”

THE HEAD LINE S in brie f Compiled by

Manny Jawa web editor

SAME-SEX MARRIAGE LEGAL IN MONTANA

Montana became the 34th state to legalize same-sex marriage after Judge Brian Morris granted a petition to strike down the state ban without trial because of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling for Idaho and Nevada.

IMMIGRATION REFORM

In a video released yesterday, United States President Barack Obama said he will address the nation at 8 p.m. tonight to explain his plans for executive action on immigration. The GOP continues to warn against unilateral action, saying it could result in another government shutdown.

COLD WEATHER

Typhoon Nuri’s impact on the rest of the U.S. and Canada continues to be felt as record-breaking low temperatures (356 records in 42 states) and snowfall levels hit across the nation. At least 20 deaths nationwide have been blamed on the weather. However, the temperatures are expected to increase over this weekend with warmer air coming in from the Gulf of Mexico.

USA FREEDOM ACT FAILS VOTE

The Senate failed to pass a bill Tuesday that would limit the scope of the National Security Agency’s surveillance activities on American citizens. The bill fell two votes short of the 60 it needed to move to an up-or-down vote. Introduced to legislation in July, The USA Freedom Act would have limited the number of telephone search terms NSA analysts could use and prevented the agency from collecting all data from service providers.

KEYSTONE XL CLOGGED

The Keystone XL Pipeline project, which has been under review by the government and challenged by environmental groups for the past five years, failed to get the 60 votes it needed for approval by the Senate on Tuesday. Sen. Mitch McConnell, incoming Senate majority leader, said the Senate would take up the bill again in the 114th Congress.

MEXICO PROTEST CONTINUE

Protesters in Mexico are planning nationwide strikes today against government corruption and organized crime. A week ago, thousands of protesters blocked access to Acapulco’s airport for three hours because Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto decided to attend a summit in China. The protests center around the 43 missing students who were last seen being put into police vehicles in September but have grown to include frustrations stemming from political corruption and cartel violence.

VEHICLE RECALLS

Volkswagen issued a recall yesterday of 442,000 Jettas with model years 2011-2013 and Beetles with model years 2012-2013. The recall comes as a result of reports that point out the suspension systems on the vehicles could fail if not properly repaired after a crash.

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/campusculture | Thursday, November 20, 2014

Page 3

Review: Theatre’s last shows of semester Two student-directed productions round out Sam Houston State University’s busy theatre season. The small casts present an intimate style of production which runs until Nov. 22. (No spoilers) By Shelby Escamilla, Contributing Reporter

“The Storytelling Ability of a Boy” actors highlight teenage angst Many students remember painfully awkward teenage years: trying to make it out of high school alive, avoiding judgment and bullying from our peers and trying to find oneself. In student director Lex Laas’s rendition of “The Storytelling Ability of a Boy,” audiences can relive those teenage years through the eyes of social outcasts Dora and Peck. Throughout the show, we follow the every day lives of Dora and Peck, two best friends who are both exceedingly intelligent yet wildly strange. The show also follows their teacher Caitlin, who is trying to reach out to them while fighting her own battle and overcoming her troublesome and broken past. Tanith Albright, freshman theatre major, plays Dora, the spunky, bold and vivacious misfit who is never afraid to speak her mind. She plays her character with aggression and passion, bringing tons of laughs. Albright beautifully portrays Dora’s darker side, consisting of her inner struggles and the wars she is fighting within herself which she refuses to verbalize. Sophomore theatre major Trey Brake plays Peck, a clever teenage boy who seems to find the most

comfort in the company of his best friend Dora. Brake por-trays Peck as poetic and always seemingly lost in thought in a captivating and be-lievable performance. Junior theatre major Anna Drake plays Caitlin, a teacher who is desperately trying to get through to Dora and Peck. There are multiple scenes between Caitlin and the teens where she attempts heart to heart conversations with both of them, trying to figure out where their struggles stem from and how she can help them resolve them. Drake plays the role of concerned teacher accurately depicting the conflict of trying to remain professional but being tempted to cross the line between appropriate and inappropriate teacher-student relationship. Audiences will be able to share many relatable experiences with the characters throughout the show as they pass through various coming-of-age milestones. The actors beautifully give the audience a glimpse into the characters’ inner thoughts by each playing their roles with sincerity and urgency. The story is certainly one that demands to be told. As an ensemble, the cast works well together, feeding

off each other’s dialogue and never missing a beat. Each scene flows into the next one, allowing the audience to feel as if they are simply listening in on a conversation. The candid dialogue and realistic nature of the show pulls the audience in, leaving them wanting to know about the pasts of these vastly different characters who seem to have much in common despite their opposite personalities. Many scenes with imaginary play give the show a dream-like feel, giving the audience an look at what is going on inside the minds of these extremely complex and interesting characters. Scenes dealing with topics such as bullying, acceptance and sexuality will both break the audience’s hearts as well as provide emotional solace to those who remember having similar experiences. Laas proved himself to be a very talented and promising director with “Storytelling Ability of a Boy”. Audiences will find themselves relating and sympathizing with these beautiful, tragic characters and leave the theater thinking about the ones they love and the impact those people have on their lives.

“God’s Man in Texas” showcases exceptional acting and directing talent “God’s Man in Texas,” the second student-directed shows being featured by the Sam Houston State University Theatre Department this week, will leave the audience feeling satisfied as well as enlightened. Director and senior musical theatre major Michael Mora has produced a play that not only showcases the exceptional abilities of the actors but also showcases his own talents as a director. Mora works with the small cast, clearly building relationships and connections that become completely apparent to the audience as the emotional weight of the play is presented. “God’s Man in Texas” is a full-length drama filled with pride, tension, acceptance and faith. Following the story of three men and their relationship to the Rock Houston Baptist mega church, as well as their relationships to each other. Christopher Preslar, senior theatre major, plays Phillip Gottschall, the 81-year-old head pastor of the church. Preslar portrays Gottschall with vigor and strength, beautifully displaying his insistence and stubbornness to remain in control of his

church and congre-gation. Preslar plays an 81-yearold man very convincingly with specific mannerisms that make it impossible for the audience to be reminded that he is actually a college-aged stu-dent. Junior mass communication and theatre major Jacob Spadie is cast as Jeremiah Meers, a docile forty-something pastor who has worked very hard over the years to build his own church and congregation but has dreamt of preaching from Gottschall’s pulpit since he was a child. Spadie’s interpretation of the role makes Meers out to be an ex-tremely likable character to whom many audience members may relate. Swayde McGaughey, junior theatre major, plays Hugo Taney, a thirty-something reformed Christian who has turned from his former sinful ways and now works as the audio and visual operator for the mega church. McGaughey plays Gottschall’s right-hand man as a relatable, likeable character who is humbled by his past yet not ashamed of it. McGaughey gives a convincing and powerful portrayal of a man desperate to completely leave behind his past as well as

learn from it. As an ensemble, the cast is overflowing with raw emotion and power, where the stakes and motivation are clearly defined in each and every scene. The brilliantly charac-terized cast members adopted certain mannerisms and habits that were consistent throughout the entire show. Scene transitions ran seamlessly and the crew banded together as a working ma-chine making nearly flawless lighting and sound cues. The minimalistic set along with few props and costume changes allowed the cast to bring their creativity to the stage with no need for extravagant sets and special effects. The acting truly was the performance. Although the play is lengthy, audiences will be moved and inspired by simply listening to the words being spoken and allow themselves to be captivated by the programs beautiful writing. Director Michael Mora has surely proved himself to be an extremely talented and promising director with his work on “God’s Man in Texas”.

SHSU Opera to present unconventional show SEAN SMITH Campus Culture Editor The sounds of American opera will resonate from the Gaertner Performing Arts Center Recital Hall as the Sam Houston State University Opera performs a production blending jazz, musical theater and Disney movies later this week. SHSU Opera will perform “Made in the USA,” an unconventional program which differs from other types of musical performances, according to SHSU Opera director Rebecca Grimes. “Opera is a musical form where the narrative is completely sung, whereas musical theater typically combines spoken theater with musical numbers,” Grimes said. “We chose this program to debunk the myth that opera is just a European art form created by 300-year-old

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dead guys. SHSU Opera has a reputation for presenting opera in unconventional ways, and “Made in the USA” is no exception. If you have never experienced opera, this is a terrific show to see – it’s in English and features music that is infused with jazz and music theater influences.” This program will feature the work of American composers Leonard Bernstein, Samuel Barber and Aaron Copeland, as well as work from SHSU faculty, according to Grimes. “One of the highlights of our program is a scene from a workin-progress musical by American Prize-winning composer and SHSU Composition professor Kyle Kindred, based on a novel by SHSU Warner Chair of Journalism and former Deputy Press Secretary Peter Roussel,” Grimes said. “This project has been a terrific opportunity for the students, as it has allowed them to work

with a living composer and librettist; they get to see the creative process first-hand.” Preparation for the program occurred throughout the semester and involved more than just singing rehearsals, according to Grimes. “The students have been rehearsing since August in preparation for this show, typically 2-4 hours per week,” Grimes said. “We are also presenting a video montage that will introduce each work, which has been created by our technical design team, Jonathan Kinsey and Dr. Joseph Patrick.” The production will be sung in English and contains some mature themes. SHSU opera performs four productions each year, two scenes productions and two full productions. Scenes productions, like “Made in the USA,” feature excerpts from several shows, while full productions are an entire opera in whole.

Recently, members of SHSU Opera competed in a regional competition of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. The region, known as TEXOMA, includes five states where nearly 800 musicians compete. Junior music major Gregory Broughton and sophomore music major Bailey Turner were selected as winners in their divisions at the TEXOMA NATS competition earlier this month. SHSU Opera was awarded The American Prize in Opera Performance’s college/university division in 2014 and was the second place winner of the 2012 National Opera Association Production Competition. The opera has also been a finalist in the NOA Opera Scenes Competition for the past four years and has performed at the national convention. “The competition experience is an important part of what we do,”

Grimes said. “The students compete on a regular basis.” Next semester, the opera will perform a one-act production composed in the early 1900’s. “We will be presenting Maurice Ravel’s L’enfant et les Sortileges (The Child and the Enchantment),” Grimes said. “This one-act opera tells the story of a little boy whose naughty antics create a magic world in which he learns a valuable lesson about kindness and love.” “Made in the USA” will run Nov. 21 and 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the GPAC Recital Hall. Tickets for the event cost $15 for general admission and $5 for students. Groups of 20 or more can purchase discounted tickets for $12 each. Tickets can be purchased at shsu.edu/boxoffice or 936-2942339.

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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/viewpoints | Thursday, November 20, 2014

Page 4

The OCTOGENARIAN

What’s the

Why give thanks? A Thanksgiving message to all but especially to my atheist and agnostic friends.

on the

KEN LEVIN Columnist It is Thanksgiving time again and, in the ongoing system that causes most events to become exclusionary, there are heavy reminders to give thanks to your deity. There is nothing wrong with this if you are affiliated with a religion or religious group, but what about the majority of Americans who are either believers without affiliation, agnostic, or atheist. To whom or what do they give thanks? I, personally, am affiliated with a religion that claims to be organized (a different topic for future discussion) and I have a long-standing personal relationship with My G_D, with whom I have regular communication consisting of discussion and argument, which I intermittently (Spelled that s-e-l-d-o-m) win. But selfishly, he is My G_d and you can’t have him -- he is too busy with me, so get your own. To my agnostic and atheist friends: you know how I laugh with or at you because you are now becoming almost religious in your organization and protection of your constitutional rights. So, what about Thanksgiving? First, what you all need is a new dedicated organizer like the late Madalyn Murray O’Hair. If you don’t remember her, she was the lady who almost single handily ended prayer in public schools throughout the 1950’s and 60’s. In 1964, Life magazine named her the hated woman in America. Whatever she was called, it was never Hypocrite. I knew her to be tough and dedicated. Look, if in the 21st century, the religious leader of the largest, Baptist, Mega Church in Houston, Texas can go on national TV with a sermon that ex-

presses his personal feelings and beliefs while inciting hatred toward other religions showing himself, on the record to be a hypocrite and bigot, and still get the church tax exemption status for the Mega Church that he represents, than why can’t you who are not affiliated with a Deity form your own church like Ms. O’Hair did to teach what you believe and get the same tax breaks? You need another Madalyn Murray to come forth to lead you. But, back to Thanksgiving. Those that know me, understand that I am a peculiar duck in many ways. One of which is that I am unable to pray or communicate with My G_d to request anything for me, personally, so for what do I give thanks on Thanksgiving or for that matter, at any time? The answer to that for those of you without official religious affiliation or belief is that you can give the same thanks that I do whether it be to a deity, karma, Charlie Brown, the rising sun or whatever makes you comfortable. As for me, first and foremost, I am thankful for my personal relationships. I give thanks for what can be considered a somewhat odd relationship between me and Judy, my wife. I am just thankful that she came into my life, and despite the odds against it, she became my bride. Then, there are my children; I am fortunate enough to have a great relationship with six of the seven, and I still love the seventh despite our estrangement. Add to that the rest of my more immediate family. Now, this may seem peculiar to some but remember this is me. The rest of my family whom I love dearly is headed by my former wife, Sally, our family matriarch, our seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and all of the spouses and significant others of the preceding. Add to that my sister and my numerous nieces, nephews, their spouses and/or significant others and their progeny. Then, there are my Mishpocha or family that are real to me if not related by blood. All of the preceding lumped together make me a very lucky man and each carries his or her own importance for which I give thanks. I am also thankful for my health. Despite the fact that I wake up very early

every morning in pain, the fact that I have been doing so, waking up, for over these past 30,500-plus days, including this morning, is a miracle for which to be thankful. I am also thankful for my team of health care providers (Every one of whom Judy searched out, investigated and signed on) and my government for giving me access to Medicare and the VA. I am especially thankful to my supplemental insurance company because of whom I now have the mobility I enjoy. I am thankful to live in a country that gives me access to so much that is commonplace to us, but not available to many in vast parts of the world and a political system that is often bent but never broken and always interesting. I give thanks to my school, this interesting semester and the educators causing that relevance and interest. I give thanks for my past existence which has molded me into who and what I am today and, as I like me, that is worth being thankful for. I am thankful for the companionship and love of my dogs, and particularly thankful for the direction that gasoline and home heating fuel prices are taking. I am thankful to still have the ability to fight for change where I think it is needed and for those things in which I believe. So, listen up guys and gals, when I think about it, I’m just thankful. As for you, if you are describing my feelings as a bunch of bull-puckey because you feel that your life stinks, well, I’ve been there and done that. When life sucks, cut off the end of a lemon and draw in the juices and you will realize it can always become bitterer. Be honest with yourself, there is always, always, some way in which you are better off than some other person, so give thanks for what you do have. And so, as I prepare to munch on that turkey drum stick, I send my love to each and every one of you, Have a Great Thanksgiving!!

ALEXIS BLOOMER Contributing Columnist Black Friday is just around the corner, and everyone is preparing to strike some sort of deal. And it is called Black Friday for a reason. Black is the same color of death. Ironic much? Although I do not participate in Black Friday, they do offer several deals for all of you bargain hunters. I did some research, and according to cnn.com, $12.3 billion was spent in store sales last year for Thanksgiving and Black Friday. If you want to be a part of that statistic this year, you need to have a game plan, and I’m going to help you write your Black Friday playbook. Black Friday is when you want to buy items that you would not be able to afford

Editorial

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

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

STREET? With the holidays around the corner, students are excited for the break from school. There is nothing quite like being able to sit around watching Netflix all day without worrying about an assignment being due.

What are you doing for Thanksgiving?

PAULA POLK Freshman Criminal Justice

“I’m going to New York. Going with my family.”

LUIS FLORES Freshman Theatre

HOW TO SURVIVE BLACK FRIDAY SALES on a daily basis. So if I were you, I would go for electronics first. If you are looking for great deals in this area, I would hit up Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Best Buy for TVs, tablets and laptops. Check out Wal-Mart for Beats by Dre and DVD players. Fun fact: Best Buy has Apple MacBook Pro’s for $899.99, originally $1,099. They also have $75 off of the iPad Mini 3 and $100 off the iPad Air 2. As for TV’s, Best Buy is offering a Panasonic 50” for $199.99 instead of $549.99. Beats by Dre are a door buster at WalMart, being offered for $149 instead of $279. Wal-Mart is also offering several deals on video games during Black Friday. If you can, try to go and satisfy your electronic needs first, because statistics say that those are the items that usually go first. Although electronics are a huge perk of Black Friday, a lot of women also will be staking out the malls for the hottest upcoming trends. If you plan on shopping, check out your local mall after you buy electronics. Several department stores offer great deals this time of year and this is a good time to buy some of those Christmas presents. I decided to go with the typical department stores located in the majority of malls across America. Macy’s is going to be the best place to shop if you are at the mall. Not

WORD

only can you sign up for text coupons, but they are also giving coupons that offer 10% off $25 purchases and 20% off of $50 purchases. They also are offering several deals for small kitchen appliances; most of them are $7.99 to $9.99, originally $29.99. If you are looking for great deals and coupons that offer an additional discount, Macy’s employees will usually offer you coupons to help knock that price down even more. We see moms go from making dressing to pushing someone in the dressing room on Black Friday. Although Black Friday is known for its chaos and rushing, I encourage you to take your time and actually see if the items you are buying are worth it. This is a great time of year to go ahead and buy extra phone chargers and DVD’s. Don’t make a rookie mistake and be ill prepared. Dress comfy, but please don’t end up being one of the people featured on peopleofwalmart.com. Keep it classy, Huntsville. Also, we don’t want to see your mug shot online because you fought someone over a discounted item. It really is not worth it. Plan ahead and go for items that you actually need. May the odds be ever in your favor to all the shopaholics out there!

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

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

“I’m going to Disney World…or Land… whichever one is in Florida. For the first time.”

AUDREY ROSE Freshman Theatre

“I’m going home for Thanksgiving.”

NICHOLAS WILSON Sophomore Criminal Jutsice

“I’m going to go home and eat with my family and then go to my girlfriend’s house and spend the rest of Thanksgiving with them.”

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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Thursday, November 20, 2014

Page 5

BREAKDOWN: SLC volleyball tourney AMSHI STEPHENSON Staff Reporter Eight teams will compete in the Southland Conference volleyball tournament that begins tomorrow in Natchitoches, La. at the home of Northwestern State University. The Sam Houston State Bearkats enter the conference tournament as the fourth seed after losing back-to-back road games this past week to end the SLC season. The Kats will face seven other Southland Conference teams, four of which SHSU lost to previously in season. The championship match will be broadcasted on ESPN3. All quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be streamed live at Southland. org. No. 1 Stephen F. Austin State Road to the Tournament SFA finished its season undefeated with a perfect 16-0 record for the first time since 2006, the last year the Ladyjacks won the conference tournament. SFA claimed its first regular season title since clinching a share of the title in 2008. The Ladyjacks have won the most SLC tournament titles with four. Last year, the Ladyjacks lost in the first round of the tournament. SFA will take on No. 8 seed Nicholls on Friday, the third match of the day. Key players Senior outside hitter Jill Ivy is the star offensive player of the Ladyjacks. She leads her team in every match in kills, and she hit a landmark against University of New Orleans earlier during the season. With 280 kills so far in 2014, Ivy sits at 1,261 over her four-year career. In 2013, Ivy was named to the All-SLC Second Team. Junior defensive specialist O.J. Olson runs the Ladyjacks’ defense. In the matches against Lamar and Northwestern State, Olson recorded a combined total of 45 digs, including a match-high 27 digs. She was named Defensive Player of the Week for the third time Nov. 3. Olson is the only student-athlete in the conference to win the defensive award three times in one season. Senior setter Paige Holland runs the Ladyjack offensive game. She earned her sixth double-double of the year, totaling 52 assists against Northwestern. Holland surpassed her 4,000 assist milestone last month against Houston Baptist. This makes her the fifth player in SFA history to reach this history. Meeting with SHSU SFA defeated SHSU back in October after a 2-0 set deficit (21-25, 22-25, 25-16, 25-11 and 15-12).

OFFENSE:

No. 2 University of Central Arkansas Road to the Tournament Last year’s SLC tournament champions are seated second after finishing off the season with a 13-3 record. The Sugar Bears have won both the regular season and tournament titles the past two years. The Sugar Bears will open the SLC tournament taking on the No. 7 seed Southeastern Louisiana. Key Players Junior outside hitter Heather Schnars is a strong player for UCA. She was named to the 2013 All-SLC First Team. She finds her way on the leading scorer statistics after every match. Senior middle blocker Alicia Dittrich is one of the star players for the Sugar Bears as well. Dittrich earned a match-high 14 kills against Southeastern Louisiana. The Sugar Bears’ defense is run by senior libero Shelbee Berringer. Berringer totaled a match-high 19 digs against Southeastern. Junior setter Amy South also had a match-high against Southeastern finishing with 49 assists. Meeting with SHSU UCA defeated SHSU in five sets (23-25, 26-24, 21-25, 26-24 and 15-11). The Bearkats had a 2-0 set lead and allowed the Sugar Bears to fight back harder and extend their 8-0 SLC record at the time to a 9-0 after beating the Bearkats last month. No. 3 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Road to the Tournament Texas A&M-Corpus Christi finished off the regular season with an 11-5 SLC record. This marks their highest seed in program history, and the Islanders have earned their third consecutive appearance in the tournament. TAMUCC was a semifinalist in last year’s SLC conference tournament, losing in four sets to Central Arkansas. The Islanders will match up against No. 6 seed HBU in the second match of the tournament. Key Players Senior right side hitter Brianna Brink is the Islanders’ heavy hitting leading scorer. She finished the recent match against the Lamar Cardinals with 15 kills. Brink has played in all 33 matches for the Islanders with 1,362 kills currently. In 2013, she earned Honorable Mention All-SLC and was named to the Southland Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Junior libero Hailey King runs the Islander defense. She leads the team with 3.91 digs per set and is ranked eighth in the SLC. King totals 414 digs. Freshman setter Kristyn Nicholson averages 9.38 assists per set and has a team-high of 42 service aces on the year, which ranks second in the conference. This season

she has earned 10 double-doubles with her most recent against Houston Baptist. Meeting with SHSU The Bearkats defeated the Islanders the first time around in three consecutive sets (25-17, 25-21 and 25-20). In the most recent encounter, the Islanders took revenge and beat the Bearkats in three sets (25-19 25-18 25-17). No. 4 Sam Houston State Road to the Tournament Making its 20th appearance in the SLC tournament, SHSU finished its regular season with a record of 11-5 in SLC play. The Bearkats were also the fourth seed in last year’s tournament. Key Players Senior outside hitter Deveney Wells-Gibson is the leading scorer for the Bearkats and the SLC. As a sophomore, she was named Southland Player of the Year and is a two-time first team All-SLC performer. Wells-Gibson reached her 1,000 kill mark after the Bearkats’ preseason home opener tournament. She is the go-to player for SHSU, averaging a .481 hitting percentage. She is also fourth in the SLC for service aces. Sophomore libero Claire Kilpatrick runs the Bearkats’ defense. She currently is ranked sixth in digs and is averaging 4.22 per game. She had one of her high matches against Lamar with 27 digs. Sophomore setter Michelle Griffith currently leads the SLC in assists with a 10.96 average. Griffith assisted on 42 of the Bearkats’ points, which is one of her match highs. No. 5 Northwestern State Road to the Tournament The Northwestern State Demons finished off their regular season with a 10-6 record. The team is making its fourth consecutive SLC tournament appearance. The Demons will take on No. 4 seed the Bearkats, as they seek revenge on their two losses to the Bearkats during the regular season. Key Players Senior outside hitter Stacey DiFrancesco is one of the leading scorers for the Demons. In the last match of regular season against Abilene Christian, she became NSU’s all-time kills leader, totaling 1,293 for her career. Last season, she earned first team AllSouthland selection and first team Southland All-Academic for the second time. DiFrancesco showed out on her senior night, adding 14 kills to the scoreboard. Senior right side Mackenzie Neely is NSU’s season leader in points and kills. She was named to the All-SLC Preseason Second Team Selection this season. Sophomore libero Bailey Martin had a team-high with 11 digs in the recent sweep over Incarnate Word. Martin added five kills and

three service aces as well. Senior libero/setter Emily Johnson totaled 18 assists and seven digs in the UIW match. Both Martin and Johnson run the defense for NSU. The offensive game is also run by Johnson and sophomore setter Natalie Jaeger as the Demons run a 6-2. Meeting with SHSU During the regular SLC season, the Bearkats defeated the Demons twice (20-25, 25-17, 25-23, 20-25 and 15-9) (25-21, 25-14, 15-25 and 25-21). Wells-Gibson led the Bearkats to victory with 22 kills in the first match and 19 in the second. The Bearkats out-pointed the Demons 63-55, totaling 50 kills in the second matchup. No. 6 Houston Baptist Road to the Tournament The HBU Huskies enter the SLC tournament with a record of 9-7. The Huskies will face opponent Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Friday. Key Players The Huskies are led by sophomore outside hitter Jessica Wooten, who ranks fourth in the SLC with 3.80 kills per set and also adds 2.80 digs per set. Senior outside hitter Megan McStravick averages 2.77 kills and 2.77 digs per set, and senior outside hitter Bailey Keith puts up 2.45 kills per set. Junior middle blocker Allison Doerpinghaus leads the SLC in blocks with 1.27 per set and is fourth with a .329 hitting percentage. HBU’s defense is run by senior libero Hailey Hoffman. She had a match-high of 23 digs for HBU against the Bearkats. Hoffman ranks seventh with 4.20 digs per set. Sophomore setter Kayla Armer is second in the SLC with 10.68 assists per set as she runs the offensive game. Meeting with SHSU The Huskies have split with the Bearkats throughout the regular season. The first matchup SHSU won in four sets (25-22, 25-22, 1525 and 25-23). In the last matchup, HBU swept SHSU in three sets (26-24, 25-11 and 25-22). The Huskies out blocked the Bearkats 10-5. SHSU outhit HBU by three kills, but the Huskies out dug the Bearkats 56-47. No. 7 Southeastern Louisiana Road to the Tournament The Southeastern Lions enter the SLC tournament with an even 8-8 regular season record. This is recorded as the most conference victories since the 2002 season for Southeastern. SLU will take on the No. 2 seed Central Arkansas again, as the Lions lost to them just last week. Key Players Junior outside hitter Tiffany Thomas leads the Lions offensively. Against UCA, she led the team with 14 kills, finishing up

Keys to the Game

The Kats need to have another explosive rushing attack to beat Central Arkansas. The offense needs to have another monster game from junior running back Donavan Williams and the other running backs. Sophomore quarterback Jared Johnson needs to also have a good game passing and rushing if the Kats want to win.

with double digits for the thirdconsecutive match and the ninth time overall this season. Junior libero Morgan Todd runs the Lions’ defensive game. She was named the 2014 Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week October 13. In a recent rival match against Nicholls, Thomas contributed 17 digs, recording the second double-double of her career. Freshman defensive specialist Kacey Freeman picked up 15 digs. Junior setter Mikayla Shippy is the offensive coordinator for the Lions, and she totaled 29 assists during the rivalry game. She is consistent and finished with 29 assists in the final regular season match against UCA. Meeting with SHSU The Bearkats swept the Lions away with a 3-0 set win previously in the season (25-20, 25-21 and 25-21). SHSU head coach Brenda Gray mentioned that this team was a “different team,” meaning it is hard to adjust to them. No. 8 Nicholls State Road to the Tournament Nicholls St. enters the SLC tournament with a 6-10 SLC record. The Colonels defeated their regional rival McNeese State in 3-0 sets for the final spot in the tournament. The Colonels will take on the No. 1 seed SFA in the first round of the tournament. Key Players Sophomore middle blocker Mikayla Miller led Nicholls offensively with a career-high 13 kills and a .500 hitting percentage in the matchup against McNeese State. Sophomore outside hitter Kaci Eaton racked up 12 kills. Senior libero Kalynn Egea finished her regular season career defensively with 22 digs. The Colonels run a 6-2 offense, and sophomore setter Ainsley Marroccoli and junior setter Alyse Barclay finished with 16 and 11 assists respectively against the Cowgirls. Meeting with SHSU The Bearkats defeated the Colonels at the start of regular season (23-25, 25-22, 25-16 and 25-18). Deveney Wells-Gibson led SHSU with 22 kills in the victory. Kali Schwartz led the Colonels with 11 kills. Tournament Central Arkansas and Southeastern Louisiana will start off the SLC tournament on Friday at 11 a.m. TAMUCC will face HBU at 1:30 p.m. and SFA versus Nicholls at 4 p.m. SHSU will take on host NWU Friday at 6:30 p.m. The winners of the two semifinal matches Saturday will play for the tournament championship Sunday at 2:05 p.m., with the winner earning the league’s automatic bid to the NCAA championship.

DEFENSE:

The Bearkats look to have another big defensive outing like last week. The Kats need to defend UCA’s top receiver Dezmin Lewis very tightly. The Kats will have a tougher offense to defend than Houston Baptist. The Kats also need to slow down UCA’s rushing attack and limit Willie Matthews’s yards.

The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Thursday, November 20, 2014

Page 6

SLC football playoff scenarios SHAWN MCFARLAND Senior Reporter Only one game remains in the Southland Conference regular season, and Sam Houston State is one of three teams remaining in the chase for at least a share of the SLC championship. SHSU’s 2014 season will come down to their final game Saturday against Central Arkansas at Bowers Stadium at 3 p.m. SHSU and Southeastern Louisiana are tied atop the SLC with 6-1 records in conference play. UCA is right behind with a 5-2 record as the only other team alive in the race for the automatic bid for the FCS playoffs. SLU faces winless Nicholls State today at 6 p.m. and will await the weekend games to know their playoff qualifications. SHSU comes off a 76-0 blowout over Houston Baptist as UCA comes off their final bye week. The Bearkats will need to win this game in order to be in the playoffs. “I feel good about where we are right now,” head coach K.C. Keeler said following the Bearkats win over HBU. “I’m really looking forward to playing a championship ball game with these kids” The 7-4 Bearkats have to win or their playoffs chances are most likely over, whereas the 6-5 Bears need to win, SLU to lose and a lot of luck to steal the championship in the final game. Following last weekend’s game, Keeler talked about the matchup

that decides the fate of the Bearkat season. “[The Bears] score a lot and they score very quickly,” Keeler said. “It’s going be a ball game all the way to the very end. It’s going to be a championship-style ball game. The Bearkats have been in a win-or-go-home scenario seven times in the last 28 seasons, coming out on top six of those seven times with the last time being in 2012. The Bears-Bearkats rivalry is quite new as the Bears hold a 5-3 lead, winning the last two matches. When these two teams meet at Bowers, however, both teams have won two games. UCA goes into the final game of the season, averaging 41.5 points a game to the Bearkats’ 37.3. UCA’s senior running back Willie Matthews is seventh in the SLC in rushing offense, yet Bearkats sophomore quarterback Jared Johnson is sixth and senior running back Keshawn Hill is fourth. UCA has the top scoring team in the SLC but the worst scoring defense. The Bearkats are not far behind offensively sitting at the third position. This game sets up to be a high scoring offensive showcase to decide the fate of both teams. Playoff Scenarios There are six scenarios if SHSU and/or SLU win to finish 7-1 in SLC play. In scenario one, if SHSU wins and SLU loses, the Bearkats will get the automatic

qualifier to move onto the playoffs. Scenario two on the other hand is reversed if the Lions win and the Kats lose. If the first two scenarios don’t give an automatic qualifier, SHSU and SLU will rely on help from some of its SLC rivals. In order for the Bearkats to advance, they will need Piney Woods rival Stephen F. Austin State to beat Northwestern State if both SHSU and SLU win. On the other hand SLU will need Northwestern to win in order to be in the playoffs automatically. The McNeese State and Lamar game will also play a part in the final weekend, yet the SFA-Northwestern game is the key for the championship. UCA needs both SHSU and SLU to lose and a whole lot of luck in order to tie SLU to get the automatic qualifier. In SLC rules, if there is a tiebreaker and all scenarios do not work, the team who has the longest playoff drought will get the automatic bid for the FCS playoffs. If both SHSU and SLU win and either one is the automatic qualifier, all hope is not lost. The FCS selection show will be Monday and the best non-conference winners will get a bid for the playoffs. Northwestern visits SFA Saturday as kickoff is set for 3 p.m. Lamar at McNeese is set for kickoff at 6 p.m. Kickoff for the SHSU-UCA game is set for 3 p.m. at Bowers Stadium and can be seen on Southland TV. Lillie Muyskens | The Houstonian

Bowling to roll in Alief in host tourney TREY OURSLER Staff Reporter Sam Houston State bowling will host their fourth annual TRACK Kat Klash at Emerald Lanes in Alief this Friday through Sunday. This is the second straight year the tournament has been hosted in Alief, an outer community of Houston, after the tournament was originally hosted in Hunts-

ville. With the first two tournaments being so successful, a change of scenery was mandatory to expand and grow the event. “This is our indirect homage to them by bringing the NCAA Women’s Bowling Championship title back to Texas,” head coach Brad Hagen said. Hagen explained some of the reasons why the tournament will be held at Emerald Lanes, which include facility arrangements,

space and team interest. Five teams ranked in the top 10 nationally will compete at the TRACK Kat Klash. “No team will be taken for granted,” Hagen said. Hagen expects the team to act and play like it is any other tournament, even though the Kats will play host for the mid-season event. “We treat everything the same and stick to our routines,” he said. “This is an event for us take advantage of our surroundings and the

local support. The more people we can get out there to Emerald Lanes the better off we will be.” Besides for bringing the championship back to Huntsville, Hagen has high expectations for his Bearkats. “Our focus for our event is to shut off the minds, think as little as possible, enjoy the moment, and take care of as many wins as possible,” he said. “This event is an opportunity for us to finish the first half on a very positive note,

build momentum moving in to the second half, and subconsciously enjoy the fact we are competing in Texas.” Competition will begin a little after 10 a.m. on Friday at Emerald Lanes and will finish with the award presentations around 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The entire tournament will be streamed live on www.bowl.com.

EVERYTHING PLUS A GREAT LOCATION?

YES!

4 ONLY BLOCKS FROM CAMPUS!

Courtesy GoBearkats

ON FRAME. Junior bowler Anna Groce bowls in an exhibition before the season started for Sam Houston State. Groce, along with her SHSU teammates, enters the final part of the fall season with a home tournament hosted in Alief.

Bearkats to take on S. Dakota in Coaches vs. Cancer Classic RYAN REYNOLDS Layout Editor

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Sam Houston State men’s basketball team return to action Friday against the winless South Dakota Coyotes in Bridgepoint, Conn. The Bearkats are currently competing in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic and lost their first game of the tourney in heartbreaking fashion last Sunday against UNLV. Although the Kats lost by only two points, they are looking to drastically improve their performance against South Dakota. “We need to take care of the ball better and limit our turnovers,” assistant coach Chris Mudge said. “Against UNLV, we had some stretches where we had several turnovers in a row that led to some easy baskets for UNLV.” Through two games, junior forward Sean Goodwin is averaging the most points for the Bearkats this season with 11 points per game. Senior guard, and Southland Player of the Week, Kaheem Ransom is leading in assists with seven per game and senior center Michael Holyfield is leading in rebounds averaging around nine rebounds per game. For the Bearkats, stats do not matter for them. Considering they are ranked 16th in the nation in assists per game and fifth in the nation in rebounds per game. Only team play and communication will get them the win tomorrow. “I think playing as a team helps with our play because we share the ball on offense,” Holyfield said. “We have a lot of guys on this team that can score, and as a result, I think that makes us better. Another important thing is communication. It allows us to establish our defense and it makes sure all of us are on the same page.”

South Dakota has two primary scorers the Bearkats must zone in on if they want to improve their record to 2-1. Senior guard Brandon Bos is averaging 15.5 points per game for the Coyotes, while senior guard Tyler Larson is averaging 12 points per game. “Defensively, we have to really get out to shooters. They have really good shooters and they are really smart,” Mudge said. “We are going to have to do a good job of being there and not giving open looks to these guys.” The downfall for the Coyote guards is that they do not distribute the ball to their teammates very well. Neither Bos nor Larson averages more than three assists per game and the team as a whole only averages a total of nine assists. “They have a new coach, and I think they are still trying to find out the system of what this coach wants. They will get better as time goes on,” Mudge said. “They are a very system-oriented team so they are not going to get a ton of assists. They are the opposite style of UNLV.” As for the Bearkat offensive end, the Kats should be running full force tomorrow against a mediocre Coyote defense. The tallest player on the South Dakota team is senior center Jay Hunter, who stands at 6 feet 10 inches. The Coyotes’ defense is only averaging two blocks and six steals per game, which is the main reason why SHSU’s offense should be firing on all cylinders. “We need to be in attack mode and go downhill. We did that well against UNLV when they were playing man defense, but when they switched to the 3-2 zone, we stopped attacking a little bit,” Mudge said. “South Dakota will man us more than UNLV so we will have those opportunities to really get aggressive and get to the rim.” Tipoff is set for 6:30 p.m.