The Houstonian

Vol 115— Issue 9

Huntsville, Texas

SPORTS

Thursday, February 11, 2010

INDEX

FEATURE PRESENTATION

Softball girls ready to take the diamond

Entertainment editor Kevin Jukkola shares movie rentals for couples.

SEE page 5

SEE page 6

Nation & World...page 4

Viewpoints................page 2

Entertainment........page 5

Campus................page 3

Sports....................page 6

Internet dating numbers continue to rise as more hopefuls try finding love online Valentine’s Day gift tips For him: • • • • • • •

Team Jersey Oakliey’s sunglasses Cologne iPod Lids gift card Game tickets Concert tickets

For her: • • • • • • •

Jewelry Roses/ Candy Build-a-Bear Coach purse/ accessories iPod Favorite Fragrance Concert tickets

LOVE WEEK (Left) "DEMYSTIFYING YOUR GIRL/BOYFRIEND’S BRAIN": Andrew Miller, Counseling Center Director, explains the mystery behind the brain: "Men's brains are programmed to provide and protect. Women's brains are programmed to nuture and befriend.

Anything that blocks those missions tends to create feelings of fear or shame," explained Miller.

Michaela Keck | The Houstonian

Holiday Photos for you and your sweetheart

Thursday, Feb. 11 and Friday, Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m by the LSC fountain area Singles, couples and groups are welcome. Faculty and staff members are also welcome to participate. All pictures will be printed on site and placed into a lovely card--no order necessary.

Prices: 1 x photo =$7 2 x photo= $10 Any additional photos will be an extra $5.

For additional information or questions contact Monica at mdg017@shsu.edu

John Rudolph| The Houstonian

Speed Dating was held on Wednesday night as part of love week.

Thursday, Feb. 11

Graphics by Jared Wolf | The Houstonian

By Kara Vaughan

Contributing Writer

Love is in the air on and on the web.

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner the world of social networking sites and online dating is booming.

The number of online daters grows every year; commercials for internet romance run across television sets and the concept is growing in popularity. As more people embrace internet dating in order to avoid the bar scene, it may prove to be the future of dating and the norm of establishing

a relationship.

So--how many people use online dating services? The answer is sketchy with dating service claiming outrageous numbers; the estimated numbers can range from 20 to 40 million Americans.

The majority of registered online daters are between the ages of 18-34 and the

online dating services are expected to increase spending to $932 million in 2011, while generating $1.8 billion a year, according to statistics at singleromantics. com.

— See LOVE, page 3

Let the good times roll

Eighth annual Cajun Mardi Gras Festival to bring

By Jake Pickard

Contributing Writer

Want to experience the beads, music and dancing of Mardi Gras without having to travel all the way to Louisiana? If so, Sam Houston State will be hosting the Jambalaya Cajun Band tonight for the university’s eighth annual Cajun Mardi Gras Festival.

A Symposium on Cajun Music and Mardi Gras will be held from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Lee Drain Building, room 220. This will be followed by a dance in the Lee Drain atrium that will last from 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

“The Jambalaya Cajun Band is one of the biggest bands in Louisiana,” said Terry Thibodeaux, a professor of Communication Studies at SHSU and an organizer of the event. “They play traditional Cajun music, which is primarily waltzes and two-steps.” The band, led by brothers

the Louisiana celebration to campus on Thursday

— See CAJUN, page 4

Friday, Feb. 12

Graphics by Jared Wolf | The Houstonian

Saturday, Feb. 13

Sunday, Feb. 14

Monday, Feb. 15

KATlinks

Information courtesy of www.weather.com

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VIEWPOINTS

Page 2 The Houstonian

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Valentine’s Day Edition Letter to the Student Body

Dear Sam Houston Students, Staff and Faculty and Alumni: The Houstonian would not survive were it not for the continued involvement and dedication of the SHSU student body.

We welcome all column submissions and letters to the editor.

If at any time you feel the need to express an opinion, please do not hesitate to email your thoughts or drop by our office in the Dan Rather, room 210 in the communications building. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you as always for your continued support of the Houstonian.

Heath Wierck Viewpoints Editor haw002@shsu.edu

A Valentine’s gift Heath Wierck

talks about true Valentine’s Day gifts.

As most of you might already know, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and presents another year filled with hearts, flowers, chocolates and love. This year, like many others, I found myself contemplating what I would get my loved one for the ever so popular day; coming up with not too many ideas.

As with anything I’m mulling over, I eventually took a side road in my thoughts, and started thinking about when I was younger.

All you had to get your Valentine’s when I was a kid was a card, small box of chocolatey goodness, and a cute little bear. You could go to the super market and pick up your favorite cartoon Valentine’s day cards (mine were normally Ghostbusters), the heart-shaped box of candies, and away you went.

I was a cute little kid that girls for some reason loved, and always had to buy the economy size box which allowed me to pass out V-day cards to all the eager girls in my class. And my grade.

And sometimes other grades.

In a way I miss those days. It was just so much easier to go Valentine’s

Day shopping. Alas, I’m afraid now that I’m older, Valentine’s Day requires a little more than a Ghostbusters “Be my Valentine” card and a heart holding teddy bear. With chocolates of course.

But when it does come to Valentine’s day, I believe the thing that we all need to remember most is that this day isn’t necessarily about gift giving, but showing and celebrating love and affection. Instead of big, expensive, or shiny gifts we should give the gift that Valentine’s Day was made for, which is love (as cliché as it sounds).

In the end I know that no matter what I get my girlfriend, or if I even get her anything at all, as long as I show her affection and go outside my box of normality she’ll be happy. It is the thought that counts.

Just showing appreciation can go a lot further than an empty, misguided gift. In the words of Mad Brad, “don’t be jive,” and just do something actually worth doing.

Thomas Merka provides the reader with some insight into Valentine’s Day presents.

Love is in the air…

And can come crashing down at any moment if you are not careful. Valentine’s Day is around the corner, so I feel it necessary to give advice to all my fellow males on the do’s and don’ts of this horrid holiday. Let’s start with the don’ts.

A common misconception is that chocolate is the perfect, traditional Valentine’s gift. Wrong. Here’s a startling fact; not all women like and/or want chocolate. Before grabbing a heart-shaped box of goodies, make sure your significant other did not just start a new workout routine, and make very sure you know what kind of candy they prefer.

Next, extra-large stuffed animals are very annoying!

They are huge, obnoxious and where do you expect your girlfriend to put it? I have seen some stuffed animals for sale that wouldn’t fit in my bed. Try cuddling with that enormous thing.

Here’s a good tip for all

holidays; Do Not Forget!

Forgetting a holiday is one of the worst things you can do in a relationship. But just remembering is not enough.

Women try to trick us men into screwing up. If your partner ever tells you they do not want anything, or that they think Valentine’s Day is

likes them.

Let’s switch gears now and move on to some do’s. Girls, thank you for reading but this is your exit. We do not want the female population to know our secrets. Guys, time to learn how to create the perfect Valentine’s Day. Going out is not always

“Women

try to trick us men into screwing up.” stupid, do not think you’re off the hook. This is a test and the only way to pass is to buy the trickster an “unwanted” gift.

Now here is a big no-no.

Sweethearts are not a cute way to communicate your feelings. It’s just like using Taco Bell sauce packets to ask someone to marry you; it’s cliché, cheesy, and overdone. Actually, I would steer clear of these little confections all together, unless you know your girlfriend really

better than staying in. Instead of taking your girlfriend out to a fancy restaurant and a movie, try making a home cooked meal. Have a quiet, romantic candlelight dinner.

Following dinner, pop her favorite mushy, chick flick movie into the DVD player and suffer through watching it for the thousandth time.

Also, flowers are a great traditional Valentine’s Day gift, but only if you know what kind and what color your partner likes. A cheesy,

yet thoughtful and romantic idea is to buy her 11 flowers, and not a full dozen. For the missing flower, purchase an artificial flower that matches the others and put it in the bouquet. When you present the flowers to your partner, tell her that you’ll love her until the last flower dies.

These do’s and don’ts are just some general guidelines and ideas to help you create the perfect Valentine’s Day. Don’t be afraid to be original and try new ideas, but I would suggest asking some female friends their opinions before making any big plans.

You never know what might transform the holiday of love into a day of relationship disaster.

Thomas Meraka is the Web Editor for The Houstonian. He is a Sophomore Broadcast Journalism major, Theatre minor.

Comics for thought

Comic courtesy of comics.com

Heath Wierck is the Viewpoints Editor for The Houstonian. He is a Senior English major, History minor.

Comic courtesy of comics.com

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

The Houstonian Editorial EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Meagan Ellsworth...............................................................936-294-1505 FACULTY ADVISOR Patsy Ziegler.....................................................................936-294-1499 SECTION EDITORS Lotis Butchko....................................................................Senior Joe Buvid.............................................................................Photo Jessica Priest..................................................................Associate Heath Wierck..............................................................Viewpoints Mike Silva...........................................................................Sports Kevin Jukkola........................................................Entertainment Thomas Merka...................................................................Web Amanda Earp.......................................................................Copy

Editor Editor Editor Editor Editor Editor Editor Editor

STAFF Kristin Meyer.................................................................Senior Reporter Brandon Scott.................................................................Sports Reporter John Rudolph.......................................................................Photographer Jared Wolf....................................................................................Graphics

Advertising BUSINESS MANAGER Tammie Nokes.................................................................936-294-1500 STAFF Brad Basker.........................................................Advertising Relations Brittany Hampton...............................................Advertising Manager Brittany Pires.......................................................Production Manager

Advertising Deadlines

Skinny boy on Valentine’s

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

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

Mad Brad: Please don’t pimp Brad Basker discusses the romanticized view of a pimp and relates it to Valentine’s.

Several years ago I was a pimp. At least, that’s what I called myself. Somewhere in between 50 Cent’s “P.I.M.P.” and puberty, my friends and I got the reality of what a pimp does mixed up. For us we considered pimpin’ to be anything that glorified our hormonal achievements: • Getting 3 phone numbers and 2 instant messenger screen names • Hiding our eyes with sunglasses so that we could secretly tell what women had checked us out • Cripwalking at high school dances to Ludacris’ “Area Codes,” yelling “I Got Hoes” All of these things would be considered to be pimpin’.

However, the truth about pimpin’ is far from anything we ever did, and in fact pimpin’ was a mere verbal poster child for our horny dispositions.

Real pimpin’ is not a good thing, and the glory of platform shoes and rap videos does it no justice.

Pimps are nefarious char-

acters, and their profession is greatly frowned upon.

Sure, there is low overhead on the man power, but that’s no excuse to pimp.

Though I obviously have no real pimpin’ experience, I have recognized a pimpin’ parallel involved with the upcoming holiday.

chins. The 14 of Feb. is a primetime for emotional opportunist to capitalize on insecurities. Some people really do hook up just so they can feel good about their love life, and so they don’t have to be alone.

Thousands of “in a relationship status” are

“Valentine’s Day is no more about

love than pimpin’ is about respecting women.”

The validity of Valentine’s Day, and even the conveniently new relationships that begin around this season, are always in question. Lonely lovers scramble to make restitution, while some singles use it to be aphoristically excused from whorish activities.

Valentine’s Day is no more about love than pimpin’ is about respecting women.

Those who indulge in Vday without true compassion might as well be lower level pimps and street ur-

prompted on facebook in the weeks leading up to the Valentine’s Day, will aptly reverse once the holiday euphoria dies down.

I’m not saying that all relationships made around this time are jive, but I am saying that if you’re not left with love after singing telegrams and a dozen roses you’ve missed the whole point.

It’s best to just go cruising with a group friends and family that you really care about. But, even if you don’t have that you can

still love yourself. You can make it a redbox night, slip into your snuggie (as seen on TV), and just be in love with you. We should love ourselves first, before we try it out on someone else anyways. We should celebrate those we love, no matter who they are.

I’m casually single, but for me, a last minute Valentine’s Day pimpin’ run is not the option. It’s an equation that equals unsavory, and I’d rather not and still say we didn’t. Maybe I’ll buy my sister a coat for her dog. I think it’s silly, but she seems to be into that sort of thing these days.

I’m not sure what I’m going to do yet, but I won’t be facebook stalking or cruising the streets for fair maidens. I suggest you do the same. Please don’t pimp.

Brad Basker is a recurring columnist for The Houstonian. He is a Senior Public Relation major, Spanish minor.

CAMPUS

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Students win big prizes at safe superbowl party

The Houstonian, Page 3

Prize Winners

More than 150 students attend the Lowman Student C e n t e r ’s a n n u a l s a f e s u p e r b o w l p a r t y

By Kristin Meyer Senior Reporter

Safety is not just a position in football, but something that Sam Houston State focuses on each year when the Super Bowl comes around. Last Sunday the Lowman Student Center hosted a Super Bowl party where students could have fun watching the game without the risks of drinking alcohol.

“Every year we try to come up with ideas to provide our students with an opportunity to do something around Super Bowl that doesn’t involve alcohol, but is clean and fun,” said LSC Director, Dan McDaniel.

The party took place in the Kat Klub where students

came to watch the Super Bowl, play pool, win prizes, and enjoy some free food.

The LSC has hosted this event for the past three years and, in previous years, Program Council was involved.

Because of recent LSC staff changes, the center was unsure of whether or not they would host the party.

“It was just the week before that we decided that we were going to do it because we’ve done it every year before,” said the Kat Klub Supervisor, Alba Sandovol. “People were asking us if we were going to do it again this year, and there was a lot of interest, so we took it on the week before and advertised.”

A little over 150 students attended the Super Bowl party.

At the end of each quarter of the game, door prizes were given away: 1st quarter was a Kat Klub VIP sweatshirt, 2nd quarter a Target gift card, 3rd a private party in the Kat Klub, and the 4th quarter, and grand prize, was a Wii game system.

“We just wanted to give students a safe place to come and enjoy the game without them feeling that they had to go to a bar or some place with alcohol,” McDaniel said.

For more information about the Lowman Student Center and the Kat Klub or to view a calender of events, please visit http:// www.shsu.edu/~lsc_www/.

D e te c ti ve sh are s word s of w i s d om Former FBI agent shares stories of his 30 years of experience as a law enforcement officer during ‘Real Talk with CJ’ series

By Alyssa Dupree Contributing Writer Mark V. Denham, a detective sergeant with the Shenandoah Police Department, participated in Sam Houston State University’s ‘Real Talk with CJ’ series Tuesday afternoon.

Denham, who has more than 30 years of experience in local, state and federal law enforcement, stood comfortably in front of numerous criminal justice students and spoke openly about his experiences.

“I became a sworn police officer in Mississippi the day after I turned 18,” Denham said.

After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, Denham decided that he wanted to seek out the many opportunities presented to him by his career.

“I was really enjoying my time with the highway patrol, but I was young and didn’t want to be chasing tail-lights my whole life,” Denham said.

It was then that he decided to apply for a job

with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he became a member of a tactical SWAT team in Mississippi. His role in historical events, such as the Los Angeles Riots and Waco Standoff at Mount Carmel, made for interesting stories that only seemed to ignite the passion in many of the students.

“He’s worked where I want to work, in the FBI, and he’s definitely motivated and excited me more,” said junior José Torres.

Although he stressed the difficulties of facing such an emotionally and physically draining job, Denham reassured that students “can make it, because (he) did.”

Denham, who is also a graduate of SHSU’s Law Enforcement Management Institite of Texas leadership Command College, is currently working towards receiving a Master of Science degree in criminal justice leadership and management at SHSU. “I always thought SHSU was at the top of their game. I still feel that way,” Denham said.

As he continued to tell about his hands-on experience with a serious tone, Denham often cracked

a joke or two, proving true to his kind demeanor.

Yet, despite his many accomplishments and experiences in law enforcement, Denham cites that his favorite thing about his career is “the ability and opportunity to help other people who can’t always help themselves.”

“I appreciate that he’s offered to help us further our education, and his stories are phenomenal,” said junior Jennifer Cambra.

“I want to go out there and help the world, and knowing that he’s been doing that since he was 18-years-old is invigorating.”

The ‘Real Talk’ series, held every Tuesday in the CJava Hall of the Criminal Justice Center, offers SHSU students a chance to hear informative, educational lectures by criminal justice and law enforcement personnel.

“Before you graduate, make sure that you’re as marketable as possible.

Round out your education,” Denham advised before closing his lecture. “But whatever you’ve done in life, just live with it. You can’t change the past, so be honest about it and you’ll be okay.”

Photos courtesy of Dan McDaniels

PRIZE WINNERS: There were plenty of big winners at the this year’s annual LSC

safe Superbowl party. (From left to right) Jerald Frazier won a private kat klub party certificate, Ericka Gainey won a Target gift card, Reginald Wright won a Kat Klub VIP sweatshirt and Chesney Smith won a wii game system.

From LOVE page 1

Love is proving to be a profitable business.

A study at randomhistory. com showed an average 33% of online daters actually form a lasting relationship. Even though a dating site membership costs around $20 a month, some students believe that finding someone compatible is worth this financial burden.

“It’s a good way to meet a wider range of people especially in a small town. You have more control over the kind of person you want to meet,” said Neetha Devdas, a counselor at SHSU. In a survey across campus

many students describe online daters as desperate, yet they also believe a person can find a lasting relationship through online dating. These double standards cause some singles to consider online dating but they’re often too hesitant to participate.

“There is a social stigma to online dating,” said Courtney Barrett, a history major at SHSU. “I don’t see anything negative about it. If they are happy, then they’re happy.”

“A lot of college students are doing it, they’re just not telling anyone,” said Devdas.

The main reason online relationships don’t work is people have unreasonable expectations, she said.

According to Devedas, people believe the dating ser-

vices will provide the Hollywood perfect match and are disappointed when the individual turns out to be anything less. Everyone has flaws, and learning each others is part of building the relationship.

For students ready to give online dating a shot, the SHSU Counseling Center has organized a workshop explaining the do’s and don’ts of dating online on Thursday, Feb. 11, in LSC Room 307 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. With a large number of college students now meeting online, Counselor Devdas will discuss the biggest problems facing online daters and how to overcome them in order to meet the right person.

A night of mayhem

John Rudolph | The Houstonian

MIDNIGHT MAYHEM: SHSU Recreational Sports hosted Midnight Mayhem on Feb. 10. From 8p.m. to 12a.m., students enjoyed lots of fun activities to celebrate Mardi Gras.

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Page 4 The Houstonian

NATION & WORLD

Thursday,February 11, 2010

Marines test Taliban defenses before Afghan attack NEAR MARJAH, Afghanistan (AP) — U.S. Marines fired smoke rounds Wednesday and armored vehicles maneuvered close to Taliban positions to test insurgent defenses ahead of an anticipated attack on the biggest militantcontrolled town in southern Afghanistan.

A NATO spokesman in Brussels called on Taliban militants holding Marjah to surrender. But a Taliban spokesman boasted that the militants were prepared to “sacrifice their lives” to defend the town against the biggest NATO-Afghan offensive of the eight-year war.

The date for the main attack by thousands of Marines and Afghan soldiers has not been announced for security reasons. However, preparations have accelerated in recent days, and it appeared the assault would come soon.

U.S. mortar crews fired two dozen smoke rounds Wednesday at Taliban positions on the outskirts of the farming community, a center of the opium poppy trade about 380 miles (610 kilometers) southwest of Kabul in Helmand province.

Marine armored vehicles also drove closer to Taliban positions. Both moves are designed to lure the militants into shooting back and thus reveal their positions. The Marines did draw small arms fire but suffered no casualties.

“Deception is pretty important because it allows us to test the enemy’s resistance,” said Lt. Col. Brian Christmas, the commander of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines Regiment. “There’s a strategy to all this show of muscle.”

Pier Paolo | The Associated Press

U.S. soldiers train Sunday in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, where NATO and Afghan forces are expected to launch an offensive soon. (Pier Paolo Cito/Associated Press)

The U.S. goal is to quickly retake control of Marjah to enable the Afghan government to re-establish a presence. Plans call for civilian workers move quickly to restore electricity, clean water and other public services in hopes of weaning the inhabitants away from the Taliban.

Civilians could be seen fleeing their mud brick farming compounds on the outskirts of Marjah as soon as the American and Afghan forces appeared, though vast numbers do not seem to be leaving. The moves did not draw much of a response from the fighters, who appeared to be waiting behind defensive lines for the Marines to come closer to the town.

To the north, a joint U.S.Afghan force, led by the U.S. Army’s 5th Stryker Brigade, pushed into the Badula Qulp region of Helmand province to restrict Taliban movement in support the Marjah offensive.

But bombs planted along a canal road slowed progress of a convoy Wednesday, damaging two mine-clearing vehicles and delaying the Stryker infantry carriers and Afghan vehicles from advancing for hours. There were no casualties.

“It’s a little slower than I had hoped,” said Lt. Col. Burton Shields, commanding officer of the 4th Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment.

Shields said the joint force was facing “harassing

attacks” by groups of seven to nine insurgents.

“They’re trying to buy time to move their leaders out of the area,” he said.

U.S. officers estimate between 400 and 1,000 Taliban and up to 150 foreign fighters are holding Marjah, which is believed to have a population of about 80,000.

It’s unclear how many of them will defend the town to the end and how many will give up once the main assault begins.

In Brussels, a NATO spokesman James Appathurai said the Taliban garrison in Marjah had the options of surrendering, leaving or fighting, adding they “are well advised to take up options one or two.”

“The area which is the focus of this operation has been known for years as an insurgent stronghold. It is actively defended and will require a large military operation to clear,” he said.

Marjah is key to Taliban control of vast areas of Helmand province, which borders Pakistan and is major center for Afghanistan’s illicit poppy cultivation, which NATO believes helps finance the insurgency.

DALLAS (AP) — Charlie Wilson, the fun-loving Texas congressman whose backroom dealmaking funneled millions of dollars in weapons to Afghanistan, allowing the country’s underdog mujahedeen rebels

to beat back the mighty Soviet Red Army, died Wednesday.

He was 76.

Wilson died at Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin after having difficulty breathing after attending a meeting in the eastern Texas town

Officials said Afghan soldiers and police would join the operation in greater numbers than in any previous one. Appathurai said the offensive was designed to show that the Afghan government can establish its

authority anywhere in the country and “will establish a better life to the people who are there.”

But Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi scoffed at NATO threats, saying American and Afghan forces would face a hard fight to take Marjah.

“The Taliban are ready to fight, to do jihad, to sacrifice their lives. American forces cannot scare the Taliban with big tanks and big warplanes,” Ahmadi told The Associated Press by telephone.

“American forces are here in Afghanistan just to create problems for Afghan people.

This operation is to create problems for the villagers in winter weather.”

So far, there are few signs of a major exodus of civilians from Marjah, although U.S. aircraft have been dropping leaflets in the town for days warning of the offensive.

Some residents contacted by telephone said the Taliban were preventing people from leaving, telling them it was unsafe because the roads had been mined.

Helmand provincial spokesman Daoud Ahmadi said about 300 families — or an estimated 1,800 people — have already moved out of Marjah in recent weeks to the capital of Lashkar Gah, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) northeast.

Most moved in with relatives but about 60 families are sheltering in a school, where the government provides them with tents, blankets, food and other items. Ahmadi said preparations have been made to receive more refugees if necessary.

Deadliest Catch' Captain Former Texas Rep. Phil dead at 53 Charlie Wilson dies at 76

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Phil Harris, the fishing boat captain whose adventures off the Alaska coast were captured on the television show “Deadliest Catch,” died Tuesday night.

He was 53.

Harris suffered what his family described as a massive stroke on Jan. 29 while the fishing vessel he captained, Cornelia Marie, was in port at St. Paul Island, Alaska. The fisherman was flown to Anchorage for surgery.

The reality show, which has filmed five seasons, has been one of the Discovery Channel’s most popular and depicts the crab fishing industry in the dangerous waters off Alaska.

“It is with great sadness that we say goodbye to our dad - Captain Phil Harris.

Dad has always been a fighter and continued to be until the end,” sons Josh and Jake Harris said in a

From CAJUN page 1

Terry and Tony Huval, have been playing together for over 30 years. After the show in Huntsville, the band will be performing during the Mardi Gras festivities in Louisiana.

“The band enjoys coming to Sam Houston,” said Thibodeaux. “This is one of the only places they play outside of Louisiana, and they always have a great time.”

Prior to the dance, the band will be holding a one-hour symposium, which is a discussion and forum where they can talk about Cajun music.

“They explain what Mardi Gras is about and what it’s like in Louisiana,” Thibodeaux said. “They play some songs, and the audience gets

statement released by the network. “For us and the crew, he was someone who never backed down.”

In a statement, Discovery Channel senior vice president Elizabeth Hillman says, “Phil was a devoted father and loyal friend to all who knew him.”

“We will miss his straightforward honesty, wicked sense of humor and enormous heart,” she said.

The Discovery Channel has posted a video of Captain Phil moments.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, she said no additional information was immediately available Tuesday night.

Harris had seemed to be improving, and in a posting last Saturday on the ship’s Web site, he was described as “talking to friends and family today; showing his greatest progress” since the stroke.

His sons wrote in a Feb. to ask questions and interact with the band.”

An open invitation is extended to not only the students and faculty of SHSU, but also residents of Huntsville who wish to come out and listen to some Cajun music. The cost is $5 for students and faculty who have their Bearkat OneCard, and $10 for the general public.

“We have people from

Photo courtesy of corneliamarie.com

3 posting that “No one ever said Captain Phil Harris wasn’t tough. Today, dad showed some good signs of improvement, squeezing our hands and even summoning his trademark Captain’s bluntness ... We are encouraged but still very cautious.”

According to the ship’s Web site, Harris started working on fishing boats at age 7 and started work 10 years later on a crab boat.

When Harris turned 21, he ran a fishing vessel out of Seattle, making him one of the youngest to captain a vessel in the Bering Sea. When Harris suffered the stroke, the family said a friend, Derek Ray, had flown to St. Paul to take over the role of relief skipper for the rest of the opilio crab season.

Harris’ fishing vessel was based in Seattle.

Huntsville that never miss it and we hope the students come out and have a good time with us,” Thibodeaux said. “We finish at about 10:30, so they can still go out and have a good time in town; but they’ll have a great time if they come out and dance with us.”

Please note: The Symposium has been moved from Evans 105 to Lee Drain 220.

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where he lived, said hospital spokeswoman Yana Ogletree.

Wilson was pronounced dead on arrival, and the preliminary cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest, she said.

ENTERTAINMENT

Thursday, February 11, 2010

LSC ART GALLERY

Sanders brings back artwork, photos of Mali’s finest

The Houstonian, Page 5

Opening this Week THEATERS

James Ashworth Contributing Writer Creativity can blossom anywhere. If there is simply the drive to express yourself, any form of art can be realized. In Mali, a landlocked country in West Africa of 11 million people, this vision is being carried out. Through a government initiative, Mali constructed Republique Du Mali Institut National Des Arts, the nation’s equivalent to an art academy.

Last year, Professor Terri Sanders visited Bamako, Mali’s capital, and was granted access to the Institut. During her visit, she became acquainted with Malian culture and customs. She returned with numerous photos of the locals and artwork created by the Institut’s students. The photos, artwork, and other keepsakes from Sander’s trip are on display in the LSC Art Gallery until Feb. 12th.

There are 510 students between the ages of 16 and 20 who attend the Institut as part of a four year program.

During the 9th grade, students must pass the DEF examination before they are accepted into the courses.

While the Malian government provides financial aid for the school, students generally sell artwork in exhibits to help pay for supplies.

Academics are broken up between music, drama, and visual arts, emphasizing 70% practice and 30% theory. Students begin by studying general art history and then a history of African art and drama, which covers the basic groundwork for aesthetic advancement.

Featured in the gallery

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian

Faces of geniuses. Students at the Institut smile about the possibility to improve their artistic talent.

are photos of students in classrooms at the Institut.

One shows Christopher Pepe, Professor of Dramatique Arts, accompanied by his students. The Professor explained that in his class, “Students study the history of African art for drama, 80% African art history, 20% from other cultures, and digital photography”.

Another photo highlighted the work of a student who painted a picture for the Celebration of Women Festival. Events like the Women’s Festival accentuate the rich folklore in the region.

Similar cultural displays are found in the Dogon Mask Festival. The Dogon are a tribe in Central Mali who create masks to embody the souls of their ancestors. The festival, which lasts five days, includes ritualistic dances

that drive away evil spirits. At the conclusion of the festival, participants wear hyena and buffalo masks, which are thought to predict the future of the tribe. A few pieces of Dogon art made their way to the gallery. Among those displayed are Dogon doors, which serve as markers for granaries and indicate social status and occupation within the village. Also, a Dogon ritual mask is available for viewing in the gallery. This particular mask is of a mule and its purpose is to guide spirits of the dead into the afterlife.

Along with photos of daily life in Bamako, there are examples of Malian wood carving. Professor Sanders, with artisan Moussa Doumbia acting as a guide, carved a miniature elephant.

The materials used in the

carving are high quality cuts of dark wood imported from the Sahara Desert. Sanders accounted the process, as she chiseled away the wood, smoothed the edges, and covered it in finish. The elephant is accompanied by a horse, lion, and hippo. The end of the exhibit shows the traditional Malian tie dye dress with the colorful clothing draped across the wall. Also, there are instructions on how you could tie dye your own cloths.

The Mali exhibit will be on display in the LSC Art Gallery until February 12th.

Take some time to visit the gallery and become exposed to this fascinating culture.

For more information about events in the LSC, visit http://www.shsu.edu/~lsc_ www/calendar/.

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian

Far away places. The works of art express the diverse culture of Mali in a variety of fascinating ways.

Super Bowl XLIV amasses largest audience ever Top 20 Primetime TV Programs 1. "Super Bowl: Indianapolis vs. New Orleans," CBS, 106.48 million.

2. "Super Bowl Post Game," CBS, 75.47 million.

3. "Undercover Boss," CBS, 38.65 million.

4. "American Idol" (Tuesday), Fox, 24.71 million.

5. "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox, 21 million.

6. "NCIS," CBS, 19.23 million.

7. "Two and a Half Men," CBS, 16.51 million.

8. "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 16.42 million.

9. "The Big Bang Theory," CBS, 15.51 million.

10. "Criminal Minds," CBS, 14.75 million.

11. "The Mentalist," CBS, 14.68 million.

12. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 14.49 million.

13. "CSI: NY," CBS, 14.16 million.

14. "CSI: Miami," CBS, 13.44 million.

15. "House," Fox, 13.38 million.

16. "The Good Wife," CBS, 12.81 million.

17. "Grey's Anatomy," ABC, 12.55 million.

18. "Bones," Fox, 12.37 million.

19. "Lost," ABC, 12.09 million.

20. "The Bachelor," ABC, 11.73 million.

Kevin Jukkola Entertainment Editor Super Bowl XLIV became the most widely viewed television program in history on Sunday night with 106.48 million tuning in, surpassing the series finale of “MASH”. That said, there are certain considerations that must be made before crowning it as the champion. The percentage of viewers is still nowhere near that of “MASH”, and there has been a substantial uptick in television access for the everyday individual since the conclusion of that show.

Although the numbers are not disputable, the game itself was exciting but not enthralling. Super Bowl XLII between the Patriots and the Giants was a better game, and it probably would have deserved a higher viewing audience than this one. As a baseball fanatic, I would have liked for more people to have seen Game 7 of the 1997 World Series, when the Florida Marlins defeated the Clevelend Indians in 10 innings in a tremendous battle of wills. That said, the best Game 7 of all time was in the NBA championship when the Houston Rockets crushed the New York Knicks by 6 points.

There might be some bias involved in that last pick.

The reason this was special was because of the turmoil the city of New Orleans has experienced and the way they have courageously fought back, so congratulations on your success. Hopefully, the partying won’t get too out of control.

Valentine’s day RENTALS Adam Amelie The American President Atonement Brokeback Mountain Cold Mountain Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (500) Days of Summer High Fidelity Jersey Girl Me and You and Everyone We Know An Officer and a Gentleman Once Proof Slumdog Millionaire Titanic Tully

SPORTS

Page 6 The Houstonian

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Ready to take the field

SHSU BASKETBALL

With the softball season quickly approaching, the Bearkats are getting in their final reps before the season opener this weekend Brandon Scott Sports Reporter

The Bearkat softball team is ready to open the 2010 season this Friday at the University of Houston Tournament. After an impressive showing in the brief six-game fall season, the expectations in the spring are to win and play consistently.

In the tournament this weekend, the Bearkats begin action against Kansas, before they face Baylor later in the afternoon. SHSU starts Saturday morning with a matchup against Ohio State at 9 a.m., a rematch with Kansas at 3 p.m., followed by a showdown with the Cougars on Sunday.

Personnel The Bearkats return two AllSouthland Conference players in shortstop Hailey Wiginton and pitcher/designated hitter Morgan Mikulin.

Wiginton begins her junior season as the Bearkats’ alltime leader hitter, recording 124 hits and a .370 career batting average. Wigington was the biggest offensive weapon for Sam Houston State last season with a club leading 62 hits, five home runs and 22 RBI. Mikulin, who recovered from a knee cartilage injury, which she played through last season, posted a 2.62 ERA and 96 strikeouts for the Bearkats.

To compliment the experience of nine seniors, Sam Houston State features seven freshmen in 2010. Kim Damian (Angleton, TX) and Shelbi Tucker (Montgomery, TX) are expected to be instrumental in the Bearkats’ approach this season. Damian and Tucker both played on strong summer teams after becoming district champions for their respective schools.

Mikulin and freshman outfielder Tori Benavidez will assume pitching duties in this weekend’s tournament.

Benavidez, an all-state

outfielder and pitcher in high school, stepped up as a pitcher in the fall. Coach Brock also expects a lot from sophomore right-hander Tomi Garrison, who will not pitch this weekend because of a leg injury. Garrison pitched in 14 games last season as a freshman. She played behind two of the best pitchers the university has ever produced in Brandi Crnkovic and Mikulin.

Benavidez on the mound, the pitching for SHSU is good enough to stabilize them defensively. Brock is looking for newcomers to have a heavy impact this season with timely hitting.

Keys to improvement Pitching has been a strength for the Bearkats in the past, but the hitting issues needed to be addressed after last season.

The Bearkats struggled to get timely hits and bring in runners

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian

STUDENTS OF THE GAME. Softball Head Coach Bob Brock has high expectations for his hard-working team for the 2010 season.

Expectations Sam Houston State set goals before the start of the new season. The Bearkats were ranked only fourth in the annual preseason SLC poll of the league’s head coaches.

But the Bearkats’ expectations expand beyond competing in the conference.

“We’ve fully established ourselves as somebody to contend with each and every year,” Head Coach Bob Brock said. “If you check the Southland Conference rankings, very seldom does it end up being like that.

Our expectation is to win the conference tournament, go to the regional tournament, win the regional tournament and go to the World Series.”

Most of all, the Bearkats expect to improve. With Mikulin, Garrison and

on base in key games.

“I think we would have won maybe 10 more games last year if we got a base-hit with runners on,” Brock said.

“The games are always close.

We’ve had the pitching to keep us close. I think if we can improve on hitting with runners in scoring position, it will be a better season for us.”

Brock hopes the fortunes will change and his players take a stronger mental approach. One of the negative parts of the off-season was losing Whitney Wilson at second base. The Bearkats look to replace Wilson with players who have a lot of offensive skills.

“The practices have been strong,” Brock said. “It’s kind of exciting, with the loss of a player, all of a sudden people

have stepped up and see a chance to play. The practices have been good enough to show some good results in our play.”

Preparation The Bearkats have been gearing up for this moment since the end of last season when they fell just short to McNeese in the conference tournament semifinals.

Crnkovic, the school’s second all-time leader in career strike-outs, became the graduate assistant for the team. She looks to aid this mix of newcomers and veterans, looking to make a push for regional success. When the Bearkats began practices for the spring season on Jan. 13, they had already set goals similar to what the coaching staff would be expecting of them. Along with Assistant Coach Selena Collins, the players understand the importance of preparation and practicing for the game-day moment.

“Something that we as coaches always emphasize to them is practice is permanent,” Collins said. “So what you are practicing is what your muscles are going to remember. If you’re out here going through the motions or not giving it 100 percent like you would in a game, that’s what you’re going to carry over.”

The tournament at the University of Houston is an opportunity for the Bearkats to set the tone early in their season so they can continue to move forward. Collins said the team has grasped the concept of getting in extra work and receiving individual attention.

“It makes me feel good, especially as the hitting coach, when I go out there and see girls taking extra cuts,” Collins added. “It makes me feel good as a coach that what I’m emphasizing, they’re taking to heart and they really want to be better.”

Sports Information

OWNING THE CONFERENCE. The Bearkats have won nine games in a row and have dominated the Southland Conference.

Kats climb to nine Paul Ridings

Sports Information

THIBODAUX, LA Ashton Mitchell scored 18 points to lead Sam Houston State to a 75-69 road victory over Nicholls Wednesday night at Stopher Gym to keep the Bearkat men unbeaten in Southland Conference play.

Sam Houston led by as many as 16 points in the first half, had to fight off a rally by the Colonels that saw Nicholls tied the score 64-64 late in the game. Mitchell hit a layup and Preston Brown, Drae Murray and Lance Pevehouse each hit two free throws in the final minute to hold on for the win.

Pevehouse scored 13 points and pulled down seven rebounds while Corey Allmond totaled 12 points and Gilberto Clavell added 11.

Solid shooting from the field and a near perfect night

at the free throw line earned the victory for the Bearkats.

Sam Houston hit 58 percent from the floor (22-of-37) and 81 percent from the charity stripe (25-of-31). SHSU also out-rebounded the Colonels 30-20.

Fred Hunter led Nicholls with 26 points while Anatoly Bose added 19.

The 9-0 start for Sam Houston marks the first time the Bearkats have been unbeaten at this point in any of their 23 seasons in the Southland Conference. The nine-game winning streak also a similar nine-game streak by the 2003 championship team as the most consecutive SLC victories in program history.

Sam Houston returns to Johnson Coliseum for another big Southland contest Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Bearkats host Texas A&MCorpus Christi. The Islanders are in second place in the Southland West Division.

Bearkat Stat Leaders Points

Ashton Mitchell Lance Pevehouse Corey Allmond

18 13 12

Assists

Drae Murray Ashton Mitchell Josten Crow

6 3 2

Rebounds

Lance Pevehouse Preston Brown Drae Murray

7 5 4