The Houstonian

Sam Houston State vs. McNeese State game Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.

BEARKAT

Vol 115— Issue 12

Let’s fill Johnson Coliseum

SHOOTOUT

First 800 students get chance to win

Huntsville, Texas

SPORTS

Women’s basketball team shoot for playoffs

SEE page 6

FEATURE PRESENTATION Entertainment editor Kevin Jukkola gives a snapshot into the mystery behind “Shutter Island”.

SEE page 5

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

INDEX

Nation & World...page 4

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

Entertainment........page 5

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

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

Swimming in a sea of debt

Joe Buvid

The Houstonian

Variety of repayment options and forgiveness awards offered to students under the surge of interest rates on loans

By Kristin Meyer Senior Reporter

Along with the vacations, briefcases and dishes comes another long awaited college graduation gift-- $20,000 owed to the government.

But the reality is that many students are going broke. According to finaid.org, among graduating 4-year undergraduate students who applied for federal student aid, 86.3% borrowed to pay for their education and the average cumulative debt was $24,651. This means that if a student pays the average of $20,000 on a 10year payment plan with an interest rate of 6.8%, they will end up paying $230 a month and putting $27,619 back into the government’s pocket, with almost $8,000 in interest rates alone. This amount can

become staggering to graduates who have senior Bonnie Boone. “I wasn’t one of other bills, a family, and additional finan- those lucky kids whose parents had saved cial burdens. up for my ‘college fund.’ I flick rubber Many students worry about what the bands at those kids. I’m not thrilled with future holds for them, and how they are the prospect of paying my loans back going to pay off the debt that they have when I graduate and am considering gocreated. ing to graduate school and racking up “I have taken out student loans and THOUSANDS more for the sole purpose even though I got decent interest rates on of postponing repayment...oh, and obtainthem, I’ll still be paying a lot more than ing a more lucrative job in the future.” the loans themselves were worth,” said There are three different categories of sophomore Chelsi Nelson. “I hate the idea education loans: student loans (Stafford of graduating with debt, but hopefully I and Perkins), parent loans (PLUS), and can take advantage of my education and private student loans (or alternative stufind a career where I can pay it off ahead dent loans), according to finaid.org. A of schedule.” fourth type of education loan, the consoliOther students who are thinking about dation loan, allows the borrower to lump attending graduate school have to face all of their loans into one loan for simplithe mountain of debt that will be added to fied payment. their already high loan amount.

“I’m in debt up to my eyeballs,” said — See DEBT, page 3

TWO DAY FORECAST

Tuesday, Feb. 23 Rain/Snow 41°/30° 100%

Wednesday, Feb. 24 Partly Cloudy 51°/30° 20%

SHSU Organizations Invited To Help With Haitian Relief

By Jennifer Gauntt

SHSU Public Relations

University groups are invited to send representatives to a meeting on Thursday (Feb. 25), to discuss a campus-wide effort to provide pre-approved health kits for Haitian earthquake relief.

The meeting for “Bearkats for Haiti” will be in

Lowman Student Center Room 315 at 4:30 p.m.

Organizers include Rick Carpenter of the Sam Houston Press, John Yarabeck of the Dean of Students’ Office, and Max Adams of the campus Wesley Foundation.

For more information, contact Carpenter at jrcarpenter@shsu.edu or 936.294.1858.

Enter to win

“Great Bearkat Shootout’ to give away prizes

By Paul Ridings

Sports Information

One sharp shooting Sam Houston State student will win a year’s lease at The Grove apartments for the 2010-11 school year, and as many as 800 participants will take home a prize at “The Great Bearkat Shootout, presented by The Grove.”

The “Shootout” will be held after the SHSU-McNeese State game Wednesday, Feb. 24, and with the field paired down to two finalists for the SHSU-UTA home finale Saturday, Feb. 27, at Johnson Coliseum.

Tip-off for both games is 7 p.m.

The Grove, open for the fall semester in 2010, will feature luxury off-campus

living with private bedroom suites and a clubhouse loaded with amenities. The Grove is located at 2101 Sycamore Avenue. The Grove’s telephone number is (936) 291-0324 and the website is www.gogrove.com<http:// www.gogrove.com> .

The first 800 students to walk through the door for the McNeese game Wednesday, Feb. 24, will receive an official entry form from The Grove to participate in “The Great Bearkat Shootout.”

The contest begins Wednesday as soon as the final buzzer sounds to end the game. Each contestant comes onto the Johnson Coliseum floor to shoot free throws until they miss or make as many as five in a row.

— See GREAT, page 6

Financial Literacy Week

Spending the night away Center reveals the costs of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products

By Jessica Priest

Associate News Editor

In a lecture held Monday morning, Jacki Brossman-Ashorn, the assistant director of the Student Money Management Center, informed students on just how much a night out can cost them. The presentation, entitled “Money, Money, Money – Can You Afford the HIGH?”, demonstrated to attendees just how high the cost students face each year can rise when they indulge in drugs, alcohol and tobacco.

“We’re in college,

and we tend to get carried away with how much we’re spending without even realizing it,” said sophomore Brandon Ware. “Instead of saving that money for important stuff, we’re spending it all on alcohol.”

According to statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, underage drinking costs rise more than $58 billion dollars every year in the United States. This, MADD representatives assert, is enough money to buy every public school student a state-of-the-art computer.

— See WEEK, page 3

Page 2 The Houstonian

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

Paws Up, Paws Down With the Thanksgiving break approaching,

we at The Houstonian decided to lighten the mood take a of look at the not-so-serious In thisand section the opinions page, side of Turkey Day. After all, we all need we take a look at some various news something funny to get us through the days stories around campus and give the with crazy families.

parties involved either a “paws up” for a good job, or a “paws down” for a not so good job.

“Paws UP” to the Bearkat ladies basketball team winning their second conference game in a row.

VIEWPOINTS

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

What’s on your television?

Meagan Ducic talks about children’s tele-

vision shows and how they can be misleading.

Many television shows marketed towards children today are not suitable for young viewers. While there may not be swear words or nudity, there are still other things to watch out for.

Take the Disney Channel’s “Wizards of Waverly Place” for instance, it seems to be intentionally written to make parents look like morons. When one of the three children ignores rules or advice from their parents, somehow everything ends up fantastic.

Shows like this say to today’s youth, “There is no need to listen to your old, dumb parents; just do what you want, cross your fingers and everything will work out in the end.”

The show is marketed for tweens, and I have had to explain to my 5-yearold about thirty times why he can’t watch it. I don’t say because it’s too old for him; that isn’t my issue. I decide what he can watch, not a rating system, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable encouraging my son to watch that show at any age.

The main character, Alex Russo, is in her early

teens. She’s lazy, shows no interest in school, has a sassy attitude and frequently lies to her parents. How does a character like this help young people grow into happy, quality adults?

Children go through so many changes before they reach their twenties; the thought of adding one more reason for them to think their parents are stupid should make any mother boldly object.

twelve-year-olds wouldn’t even understand.

With children and teens having their first sexual experiences earlier and earlier, it seems irresponsible to throw in these cheap jokes. At best they confuse the viewers, and at worst they further the belief that this type of behavior is alright, or normal.

While trying to find a suitable replacement for

“What I am advocating is the use of parental restrictions...”

Another Disney gem is “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.” Again, marketed towards eightto-twelve-year-olds, and again unacceptable. The relationship between the young twin brothers, Zack and Cody, and their mother is rarely showcased and not the cause for concern.

However, there are subtle sexual references that are inappropriate. The boys can’t be more than twelve and many times deliver oneliners that, hopefully, most

these shows I thought of old cartoons like, “The Road Runner,” “Tom & Jerry” and “Bugs Bunny.” I grew up watching these and still feel a sense of nostalgic joy when I watch them now.

But at a closer look, these shows are very violent and promote the idea that death is an impermanent thing. Getting smashed overhead with an anvil, falling from steep cliffs and having random body parts explode all have little to no lasting effect on the

characters. Much like many video games, these beloved classics make it hard for children to comprehend the idea of death, an already difficult topic for them to understand.

I do not believe these programs should be banned from television, or even that they are overall “bad” TV shows. What I am advocating is the use of parental restrictions on any unhealthy additions to a child’s life. There are many programs available that do not give children a false or blurred understanding of the world.

Do not let the fact that so many other kids are watching these shows have any impact on your decision.

You are responsible for raising your child, no one else’s, and you should never relinquish your right to say no.

Meagan Ducic is a guest columnist for The Houstonian. She is a Senior Print Journalism major, English minor.

Comics for thought

“Paws DOWN” to the Bearkat men’s basketball team for losing their first conference game this past weekend to UTSA.

A big time “Paws UP” to team USA beating Canada in ice hockey on Sunday night, succeeding to the quarterfinals.

Comic courtesy of comics.com

“Paws DOWN” to more cold weather hitting Huntsville this week, and possibly bringing snow.

Enough is enough, bring on summer weather please.

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

Editor Editor Editor Editor Editor Editor Editor

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

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

Advertising Deadlines

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

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

Comic courtesy of comics.com

The challenge that is lent

Mike Silva shares his view of the different challenges involved with partaking in lent.

About a week ago from today, I did what most people do this time of the year: live out all my last second vices before deciding what to give up for lent.

Electing what to give up for 40 days is always a challenge for me. I like to give up something that is detrimental to my daily routine, demonstrating my will power as well as improving my overall quality of living. As I was enjoying the Taco Bell “Barkley Box,” as I like to call it, it didn’t take long for me to realize my biggest weakness staring me in the eyes: fast food.

Fast food is a college student’s best friend.

What’s not to love? It’s cheap, tasty, and obviously fast. While running to and from classes, trying to find time to squeeze in a meal that will efficiently do its job of filling me up quickly, fast food was my go-to guy. But I don’t need to tell you twice of

the wrongdoings it does to everyone’s health, hence my choice to rid of it.

I began my journey by finding healthy alternatives all last week.

I found myself eating a lot of sandwiches, cereal, and protein meal bars,

commercials, or all of the free food promos, like free-pancakes Tuesday at IHOP and the new “buy a large drink get a free grilled sandwich” Jack In the Box promo.

In an attempt to escape these overwhelming advertising schemes,

“But

there, in front of my face, was fast food paraphernalia. How terrifying.” all the ignoring the calls of fast food. Little did I know, temptation was everywhere, trying its hardest to make me fold.

First, I dealt with television advertisements, promoting the very thing I was attempting to resist. There were as many fast food commercials on TV as there were Tiger Woods mistress revelations. It drove me insane.

I didn’t have enough fingers to count all the Taco Bell “5 Buck Box”

I decided to walk to the store Sunday and pick up something to snack on.

This was maybe my worst decision yet.

I didn’t think a simple walk to the store would surround me in the biggest temptation yet: an abundance of junkfood litter. There was a Whataburger bag, a Jack In the Box burger wrapper, and yes, even Taco Bell trash.

If it was a TV ad, I could change the channel.

If there was a free-food promo, I could ignore it or erase it. But there, in front of my face, was fast food paraphernalia. How terrifying.

I half expected Ronald McDonald to ring me up at the corner store.

Nevertheless, I fought the urges and am proud to say that I am still “fastfood free.” I am yet to fall to the seductive red-head from Wendy’s, and Sonic has not yet claimed me a victim of gluttony. In the end, I will say I resisted temptation and fought my cravings through to Easter by conquering my cravings. I will only fail if I am awakened by the Burger King one night in the middle of my slumber, holding a Whopper over my head.

Mike Silva is the Sports Editor for The Houstonian.

He is a Junior Print Journalism major, Spanish minor.

CAMPUS Saving for spring break

The Houstonian, Page 3

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Kat2Kat counselors show students how good budgeting practices can really take you places

By Kara Vaughan Contributing Writer Still not sure how to afford to do anything on Spring Break? On Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. in Lowman Student Center Room 320, Kat2Kat Counselors will host “Saving for Spring Break”. The event will cover how to budget and plan for the break as well as provide cheap travel ideas in Texas, other states and even other countries.

So while the countdown to Spring Break is well underway, Kat2Kat counselors are urging students not to give up hope on planning their dream vacation. Before giving in to a week of television and potato chips, they say, consider a few cheap and fun alternatives to spend your week.

From WEEK page 1

“I’m hoping students will come to our events and take away more than what they started with,” said BrossmanAshorn.

In addition, officers from the Huntsville Police Department will also be on campus on Thursday to speak to students about an elusive crime that plagues today’s fastpaced and high tech world: identity theft. This event, which will begin at 8 a.m. in the LSC Theater, is just one of the many programs SHSU’s Student Money Management Center has dedicated to educating students about financial literacy.

For more information about the Student Money Management Center and a full calendar of events for the 2nd “Financial Literacy Week”, please visit http://www.shsu. edu/~smmc/.

There are plenty of amazing places to spend Spring Break right here in the Lone Star State. Enjoy the great outdoors in any of the four national forests in Texas.

Camping in the Sam Houston National Forest is inexpensive and enjoyable.

Also, consider getting a group together for an AllAmerican road trip. See the wonder of Texas or explore the legacies of other states.

Another great idea comes from Mass Communication major Daniel Becker, who is going on a mission trip this Spring Break to Arlington. Through hard work and good planning, Becker was able to save $200 for the trip. For six days he will be meeting new people, performing good community work through bible study with children and creating

an amazing resume.

“I’m excited to serve others and bond with the people that I’m going on the trip with. It should be really awesome,” said Becker.

“Student’s biggest problem is planning,” said Andrew Topa, event organizer for the Student Money Management Center. “Many students don’t budget money properly and don’t plan for unexpected problems.”

“I try to be smart with all my money and put everything I don’t need in a saving account,” said Becker.

Good budgeting skills open more opportunities for social and travel events.

There are cost efficient ways to celebrate Spring Break and the Student Money Management Center would like to explain how.

Important Dates

WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24

This is your last chance to see the Bearkat Men’s Basketball team in action and SHSU Athletics is asking students to pack the Johnson Coliseum for their final home game at 7 p.m. against McNeese State. In addition, the first 800 students to arrive for the pregame rally at 5:30 will be entered for a chance to win a variety of prizes. The grand prize is a year’s free lease at the Grove apartment complex. For more information, please visit www. gobearkats.com.

THURSDAY, FEB. 25 Students can climb their way to the top of the HKC Rock Wall from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for free as part of the “Vertical Happy Hour” event hosted by the Recreational Sports Center. For more information about this event, please visit their Web site online at http://www.shsu.edu/~rca_www/ or call the Rec Sports office at 936-294-1985.

Michaela Keck | The Houstonian

MONEY BOOTH: More than 30 students stopped by the “Money Booth” yesterday from 11 a.m.

to 2 p.m. to grab some cash and learn about the different tax brackets in the U.S. SHSU student Rosalin Lambey won $50, but will only recieve $33.50 after taxes.

From DEBT page 1

Like there are different loans, there are different ways to pay them back. There is a variety of ways that students can choose from when deciding how they are going to pay their loans back, and they have usually six months for a Federal Stafford Loan(Federal Family Education Loan ProgramSM or Federal Direct Student Loan ProgramSM) or nine months for Federal Perkins Loans to begin repayment according to studentaid.ed.gov.

These types include standard repayment, which allows 10 years to pay back the loans in full with a fixed amount each month; extended repayment, where payments are at a fixed annual or graduated repayment amount for up to 25 years; graduated repayment, where payments start out low and increase every two years over a 10 year period or the new Income Based- Repayment program, where monthly payments are capped at an amount that is intended to be affordable based on income and family size. (ALL FROM STUDENTAID.GOV)

Help is on the way though.

In his 2010 State of the Union address, President Obama announced a plan to help students with their mounting debt. This proposal includes capping monthly student loan payments at 10 percent and forgiving all debt after 20 years, or 10 years if the student chose a career in public service. This is an extension of the current Income Based Repayment program (IBR), which went into effect July 1, 2009, that caps monthly loan payments at 15 percent and forgives all debt after 25 years.

According to studentaid. ed.gov, students who are eligible for the IBR program are those whose federal student loan debt is high relative to their income and family size.

This chart might be helpful -http://studentaid.ed.gov/ PORTALSWebApp/students/ english/IBRPlan.jsp The president also plans to give families a $10,000 tax credit for four years of college and increase Pell Grants through a renewal of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The government does reward those students who give

back and make a difference in the nation, and under certain circumstances, the federal government will forgive all or part of an educational loan.

According to finaid.org, in order to qualify for these loan forgiveness programs, a student must perform volunteer work, military service, teach or practice medicine in certain types of communities, or meet other criteria specified by the forgiveness program.

Volunteer organizations that offer loan forgiveness include AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).

Students who are in the Army National Guard are eligible to receive loan repayment for up to $10,000.

The reality is that college does cost a lot of money, money that students and parents do not have just sitting around in their pockets. The government is making improvements to loan programs that will hopefully decrease some of the financial burden that these loans put on graduates, because as President Obama said in his 2010 State of the Union address, “No one should go broke because they chose to go to college.”

NATION & WORLD

Page 4 The Houstonian

Tuesday,February 23, 2010

AP determines all Haitian ‘orphans’ taken by Davis takes silver in 1,500, Vonn wins bronze detained US missionaries have parents still alive in super-G, Ohno earns bronze in 1,000

Photo Courtesy of The Associated Press

FILE - In this photo taken Feb. 8, 2010, Jorge Puello, left, a Dominican legal advisor, who was hired by the relatives of the 10 Americans that were arrested while trying to bus children out of Haiti without proper documents or government permission, arrives to the court building in Port-au-Prince. (AP Photo/Javier Galeano, File)

P O R T- AU - P R I N C E , Haiti (AP) — Although a U.S. Baptist group said it was trying to rescue 33 “orphans” by taking them out of earthquake-ravaged Haiti, all the children have close family still alive, The Associated Press has found.

A reporter’s visit Saturday to the rubble-strewn Citron slum, where 13 of the children lived, led to their parents, all of whom said they turned their youngsters over to the missionary group voluntarily in hopes of getting them to safety.

Similar explanations were given by parents in the mountain town of Callabas, outside Port-au-Prince, who told the AP on Feb. 3 that desperation and blind faith led them to hand over 20 children to the Baptist group.

Since the arrest of the missionaries at the border on Jan. 30, the parents in Citron have been worrying they may never see their children again. One mother

who gave up her four children, including a 3-monthold, is in a trancelike depression, occasionally erupting into fits of hysteria.

Her husband and other parents in Citron said they relinquished their children to the U.S. missionaries because they were promised safekeeping across the border in a newly established orphanage in the Dominican Republic.

Their stories contradict the missionaries’ still-jailed leader, Laura Silsby, who told the AP the day after her arrest that the children were either orphans or came from distant relatives.

Silsby, 40, and her assistant, Charisa Coulter, 24, remain jailed as the investigating judge interviews officials at the orphanages the two visited prior to the devastating Jan. 12 quake.

The judge flew to the neighboring Dominican Republic on Saturday. The two will appear in court again Tuesday.

Alexander Haig, dead at 85, is remembered for service to 3 presidents and a remark gone awry WASHINGTON (AP) — Soldier and statesman, Alexander Haig never lived down his televised response to the 1981 assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. Haig died Saturday at age 85 having held high posts in three Republican administrations and some of the U.S. military’s top jobs.

Haig was a four-star Army general who served as a senior adviser to three presidents and had presidential ambitions of his own.

He died early in the day at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore of complications from an infection, his family said. He was surrounded by his family, according to two of his children, Alexander and Barbara.

President Barack Obama praised Haig on Saturday as a public servant who “exemplified our finest warrior-diplomat tradition of those who dedicate their lives to public service.”

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Haig “served his country in many capacities for many years, earning honor on the battlefield, the confidence of presidents and prime ministers, and the thanks of a grateful nation.”

Haig’s long and decorated military service launched the Washington career for which he is better known, including jobs in the Nixon, Ford and Reagan administrations.

Paul Casey gives $100,000 to Houston charity HOUSTON (AP) — Paul Casey of England promised to help a local charity after winning the Houston Open last year for his first PGA Tour victory. Tournament officials discovered Monday how serious he was.

Casey and his wife, Joc-

elyn, are giving $100,000 to a charity through the Houston Golf Association, which runs the event. He will work with tournament director Steve Timms to figure out which charity gets the money.

Casey, a runner-up at the Match Play Championship

on Sunday in Arizona, flew to Houston to make the announcement and meet with the media about his title defense. He won last year in a playoff over J.B. Holmes.

The Houston Open is April 1-4.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — More medals — but no gold — for Shani Davis, Lindsey Vonn and Apolo Anton Ohno.

Ohno’s bronze in the 1,000-meter short-track final broke a tie with Bonnie Blair as the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian. Ohno has seven career medals, including a silver in the 1,500 from earlier in these games. His medals are the most of any short-track skater.

Lee Jung-su of South Korea won the gold medal, and teammate Lee Ho-suk earned

the silver.

Ohno appeared relieved as he crossed the finish line, having skated near the back of the pack early in the ninelap race. Ohno briefly moved up to second, then dropped to last with three laps to go, forcing his rally near the end.

Davis won silver in 1,500meter speedskating for the second straight Olympics to go with the two consecutive golds he’s earned in the 1,000.

His expected duel with fellow American Chad Hedrick

— an unexpected bronze medalist in the 1,000 — never materialized. Hedrick faded on his last lap and was sixth in a race won by Mark Tuitert of the Netherlands.

Vonn settled for bronze in the super-G. Austria’s Andrea Fischbacher pulled off the upset, and Tina Maze of Slovenia was the surprise silver medalist. Vonn won the downhill to open her Olympics, then wiped out in the slalom leg of the supercombined.

Dalai Lama doesn’t fault Obama for low-profile reception, says US must be practical BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.

(AP) — The Dalai Lama says he doesn't fault President Obama for his low-key reception in Washington because he recognizes that the president must juggle ties to the Tibetan spiritual leader with concerns about angering China.

The Dalai Lama told The Associated Press he understands that Obama must be practical in exercising his

commitment to human rights worldwide.

"No disappointment. The last six decades my heart hardened. I do not consider important political gestures.

I don't care. The important is meet face-to-face," said the Dalai Lama, who was sometimes assisted by a translator.

"With President Clinton, the first meeting was a 'dropin,'" he said. "People asked me the same question (then). I

don't care."

The Dalai Lama made the remarks while in Los Angeles to support Whole Child International, an organization that advocates better care for orphans worldwide.

Obama hosted the Dalai Lama on Thursday in Washington, D.C., but kept the get-together off-camera and low-key in an attempt to avoid inflaming tensions with China.

Lawmakers to press service chiefs on reversing ‘don’t ask, don’t tel l’ p olic y for gays WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers this week will press the military’s top uniformed officers for the first time on whether they think repealing “don’t ask, don’t tell” makes sense or would be too disruptive.

The testimony from each of the service chiefs on Capitol Hill will be crucial to the debate in Congress on whether to repeal the 17-year-old law,

which bans gays from serving openly in the military.

President Barack Obama says the policy unfairly punishes patriots who want to serve their country. Defense Secretary Robert Gates agrees and has begun a yearlong study on how to mitigate the impact of lifting the ban.

Providing much-needed political cover is the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of

Staff, Adm. Mike Mullen, who has said he thinks the law unfairly forces gay troops to compromise their integrity by lying about who they are.

But lawmakers, who are divided on whether to end the ban, say they want to hear from the service chiefs. They are the ones who would be in charge of putting any changes in place and responding to any fallout.

Cruise line: 300 sick aboard ship in Caribbean CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A cruise line says about 300 guests have fallen ill with a stomach ailment aboard a cruise to the Caribbean that departed from South Carolina.

Celebrity Cruise spokeswoman Cynthia Martinez said Monday night that pas-

sengers aboard the Mercury began complaining a day earlier of upset stomachs, vomiting and diarrhea. Martinez said a total of around 1,800 people are aboard. The ship left Charleston on Feb. 15.

She said the ship’s medical facilities were overwhelmed.

Another doctor and nurse

came aboard in St. Kitts in the British Virgin Islands. The ship made four other stops in the Caribbean.

It’s not clear what pathogen was involved, but samples were being dropped off in Puerto Rico for testing. The ship was scheduled to return to Charleston Friday.

ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

The Houstonian, Page 5

At the Movies with Kevin: Shutter Island a haunting masterpiece Kevin Jukkola Entertainment Editor “Shutter Island” is a haunting film that lurks in the shadows somewhere between fantasy and reality, nightmares and fairytales, memories and lies. It is a mystical experience that entrances the audience with a captivating story and unique look before turning both of these elements on their ends. “Shutter Island” makes implications about humanity that are perpetually interesting and almost impossible to fully comprehend, creating an infinitely fascinating set of circumstances that seem to circle back on themselves.

The film begins with an ominous shot of a ship covered in fog with a vast island in the distance that appears destined to house incomprehensible secrets. The imminent storm on the horizon coincides with the impending doom of reality rapidly closing in on Teddy Daniels (Leonardo DiCaprio), a United States Marshall who is less than enthusiastic to accept it. His new partner, Chuck (Mark Ruffalo), seems eager to help in whatever way possible, but his assistance could be a hindrance to Teddy in various ways.

The Marshall’s have been brought to Shutter Island, a mental hospital for the criminally insane, in an attempt to investigate the disappearance of Rachel (Emily Mortimer), a woman who has never accepted that she murdered her three children. She is considered dangerous, but might not be as harmful as Dr. Crawley (Ben Kingsley), the leader of the facility who might be hiding

something that he is willing to protect at all costs.

The key to the film’s mystery revolves around Teddy, whose memories of a liberated Nazi death camp continue to haunt him, illustrating the evil that men are capable of inflicting upon one another. That day, he became completely immersed in a world that made violence commonplace, if only because it was the easiest way to solve problems. Essentially, Teddy died, becoming a witness to unimaginable horror that consumed his entire being and dominated the remainder of his actions. The rest of his life was a symptom of this, a disease without a cure, a poison that lacks an antidote. Teddy makes a crucial decision at the conclusion that is a reasonable, conscious choice made in a corrupted, polluted mind.

Leonardo DiCaprio is such a superb talent that he often expresses a large range of emotion with incredible ease.

In “Shutter Island”, he goes anywhere from maniacal to composed, predictable to mysterious, without ever struggling with the possibilities of where his persona could

travel. He is always in control of his character, even when his character spins out of control.

Everything about the film is beneath and beyond the surface, which is precisely what makes Martin Scorsese the greatest of all directors.

His best works are ones that seem to be easily defined, until one takes a closer look at the entirety of the project, and it is still often hard to completely uncover what flaw in the human character Scorsese was attempting to underscore. All of his best works are about something, and they are also about something completely different. He is a genius who looks past the panels of the story and reveals a truth not just about the characters, but also humankind in general.

The characters in his films are the most interesting part because, in the same way a maestro cannot conduct an orchestra without instruments, it is impossible for a director to create an emotionally gripping masterpiece without anybody that the audience truly cares about.

Simply put, Scorsese’s films are alive. He uses numerous

Walking into reality. Teddy (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Chuck (Mark Ruffalo) are entering the halls of insanity in “Shutter Island”.

techniques to give excitement to scenes that might seem ordinary and allows the action to drive those with particular importance. In “Shutter Island”, Scorsese fluctuates the score vastly between high and low tones, creating a more tense and poignant atmosphere than would seem possible with the given storyline. He also begins with the camera looking in on the characters before bringing it into the middle of the action as the film goes along. This establishes a mounting sense of claustrophobia among the audience and characters, corresponding with a growing intimacy that eventually makes the story somewhat transparent.

“Shutter Island” is beautifully shot, which aids in its entrancing atmosphere that produces a contemplative and riveting experience.

The picturesque, dark landscapes on the island and the monotonous rainfall that continues throughout implies the possibility of splendor in a world of cynicism or fantasy when it is confronted with the harshness of reality. “Shutter Island” has twists and turns in the story entirely devoted to revealing the true nature of the fascinating characters. There is an apprehensive sensation that the film imposes on the viewer, never completely revealing its hand until the profound conclusion. Even then, it still forces the audience to use their intelligence to determine where the story has been and the gravity of its implications. “Shutter Island” is a masterpiece, even if it is often difficult to digest. In other words, just another day at the office for Scorsese.

Shutter Island

Stars: * * * * Grade: A Running Time: 138 min.

MPAA: Rated R for disturbing violent content, language, and some nudity.

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio (Teddy Daniels), Mark Ruffalo (Chuck Aule), Ben Kingsley (Dr. Cawley), Max von Sydow (Dr. Naehring), Michelle Williams (Dolores), Emily Mortimer (Rachel 1), Patricia Clarkson (Rachel 2), Jackie Earle Haley (George Noyce), Ted Levine (Warden), John Carroll Lynch (Deputy Warden McPherson).

Directed by Martin Scorsese.

Written by Laeta Kalogridis.

Based on the novel by Dennis Lehane.

Box Office Winners 1. “Shutter Island”, $40.2 million one week, $40.2 million overall 2. “Valentine’s Day”, $17.2 million one week, $87.4 million overall 3. “Avatar”, $16.1 million one week, $687.8 million overall 4. “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief ”, $15.3 million one week, $58.8 million overall 5. “The Wolfman”, $9.8 million one week, $50.3 million overall 6. “Dear John”, $7.3 million one week, $66.0 million overall 7. “Tooth Fairy”, $4.5 million one week, $49.9 million overall 8. “Crazy Heart”, $3.0 million one week, $21.6 million overall 9. “From Paris with Love”, $2.5 million one week, $21.2 million overall 10. “Edge of Darkness”, $2.2 million one week, $40.3 million overall

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SPORTS

Page 6 The Houstonian

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Kats push for postseason

After two thrilling conference victories at home, the SHSU women’s basketball team is climbing the standings and looking ahead to March Brandon Scott Sports Reporter

Don’t look now, but the Sam Houston State women’s basketball team is making a push for the postseason. Senior guard Brittany Brooks, who at only 5’5” was coming off a career-high 14 rebounds against Lamar last Wednesday, led the Bearkats with 29 points and nine rebounds in the 73-72 overtime win over UTSA this past Saturday at Johnson Coliseum.

The Bearkats (8-16, 5-7 Southland) climbed their way from steep disadvantages early in the game. Sam Houston State went 5 of 30 from the field in the first half and Brooks had yet to score. But the Bearkat defense forced UTSA (14-11, 8-4 Southland) into nine turnovers and trailed by only eight at halftime.

“I told the girls at halftime when we were down by eight, once we come back and we get this game tied there’s no looking back,” Head coach Brenda Nichols said. “It kept going back and forth and our girls never gave up.”

The Roadrunners jumped out to a double-digit lead to start the second half. From that point on, Brooks was lights-out from the field. She led the Bearkats on a 12-1 run, capped with a pair of three-pointers by freshman forward Chanice Smith to take a 4341 lead.

UTSA quickly regained the edge as the two teams exchanged ties and lead changes leading up to the end of regulation. Brooks assisted and scored on the final two Bearkat scores in the second half to send the game into overtime.

In the extra session, Roadrunner freshman Judy Jones had a chance to

identity as a team who fights back when faced with a challenge. Instead of rolling over after a poor display in the first half, the women’s basketball team responded with one of the most exciting Bearkat performances of the year.

“In the past, the Lady Kats would have gotten frustrated and given it up.

This was a defensive game tonight.

They stayed in it, they stayed fired up. We’re just so excited, it was a great victory for us.”

Senior guard Ray Alexander recorded 14 points and seven boards.

Smith scored 12 points with those timely three-pointers down the stretch. Whitney Smith pulled down 15 rebounds in the win.

All-conference player Whitney York led the Roadrunners with 25 points. Ashleigh Franklin put up a vicious double-double with 22 points and just as many rebounds. Jones scored 16 points in the losing effort.

The Sam Houston women have won three of their last four games and are one win away from clinching their first berth in the State Farm Southland Conference Post-Season Classic since 2004. Brooks was named the Southland Conference women’s basketball player of the week, the first time a Bearkat has won the award this season. After the game, Brooks spoke about the win.

“I think seniors just decided that we weren’t going to lose to them anymore,” Brooks said. “I don’t think we’ve beaten them since I’ve Sports Information been here. In overtime we were tired, OWNING THE COURT. Brittany Brooks led SHSU with 29 points and nine rebounds in the win over UTSA. Brooks’ play won her the Southland Conference women’s basketball player of the week award, making her the first Bearkat to win the award this season. but we didn’t want to lose. That’s simply it, we didn’t want to lose.”

The Bearkats visit McNeese and give her team an advantage by icing rebound and Jones was fouled once Sam Houston State opened the UTA this week before returning a pair of free throws with 24 seconds again. She split the two free throws second overtime with an 8-1 run that home against Northwestern State left in the game. After missing both to force a second and final overtime led them to victory over the division and Texas State in the season finale. shots, UTSA grabbed the offensive for good measure. rivals. The Bearkats have a new

Perfect no more SHSU swept in season opener Eric Schrader

Contributing Writer

Sports Information

STREAK ENDS AT 11. UTSA halted the Bearkats winning streak at 11 games on Saturday in OT. SHSU’s lucky number to clinch the number one seed in the Southland Conference tournament stays at ONE.

SHSU Sports Information The Sam Houston State Bearkats perfect run through Southland Conference play came to an end Saturday night in a road loss to UTSA. The Bearkats fell 91-90 to the Roadrunners in overtime to drop to 11-1 in the Southland.

The difference in the game came at the free throw line, where UTSA connected on 35-of-45 free throws while the Bearkats were just 13-of-17 at the line. SHSU was called for 32 fouls while UTSA was whistled just 18 times.

The Bearkats finished the game with three starters, Ashton Mitchell, Preston Brown and Gilberto Clavell on the bench who all fouled out. Lance Pevehouse also picked up a fifth foul late in the game.

Corey Allmond led the

From GREAT page 1

The first 250 students to sink a free throw will receive “The Great Bearkat Shootout” t-shirt. Everyone making a free throw will win a prize. The prizes will include two-forone certificates from Gatti’s Pizza, Whataburger coupons and other great prizes.

Contestants who make five free throws in a row qualify for the second round on Saturday Feb. 27 prior to tipoff of the UT-Arlington contests. A shoot-off will determine the two finalists who will compete for the grand prize at halftime.

Winner of the year’s lease at

Bearkats with 17 points while six Kats scored in double figures.

The Bearkats were hot shooting from long range, connecting on eight 3-pointers in the first half. However, the deep shot was not there for the Kats in the second half.

Drae Murry’s 3 in the closing seconds of regulation that forced overtime was just the fourth for the Bearkats in the second half.

Mitchell finished the game with 13 points, giving him 999 for his career. Pevehouse scored 16, Clavell 14, Murray 11 and Brown finished the night with 10.

The Bearkats will return home for two games starting on Wednesday when they take on McNeese. The final home game of the year will be Saturday night when UTArlington visits Johnson Coliseum.

the Grove Apartments will be decided by a special halftime “Shootout.”

Entering the “The Great Bearkat Shootout, presented

by The Grove” is easy. When doors open at 6 p.m. the first 800 students to have their BearkatOne card swiped for free game admission at Johnson Coliseum will receive a an official contest entry form from The Grove. Students should hold on to the form, grab a seat in the lower stands in sections D, E and F after the game and be ready to shoot free throws.

For more information about the “The Great Bearkat Shootout, presented by The Grove” and Bearkat basketball, go online to www.gobearkats.com.

The Bearkat baseball team has many things to improve on after getting swept in their season opening series against TCU, falling to 0-3 to start the season.

SHSU traveled up to Fort Worth to take on the No. 11 ranked Horn Frogs on Friday and had high hopes beginning this season.

“We want to do well right away,” Head Baseball Coach Mark Johnson said. “I’m glad we’re playing an outstanding opponent. That will be a good test for us.”

In the first game of the series, all eyes were on Kats ace Dallas Gallant, who came out and pitched a solid ball game.

Gallant showed his poise, pitching six strong innings while striking out four batters, allowing four hits and giving up two unearned runs.

What hurt the Bearkats most was their defense. SHSU was charged with one error and was unable to get outs on first-and-third run-down situations.

TCU captured four runs on seven hits, and were helped in the seventh inning when Bearkat reliever Justin Jackson was called for a balk. Steven Maxwell pitched well for the Horn Frogs, leading them to the 4-0 shut out while surrendering just six hits to SHSU.

The only highlight for the Bearkats in the opening game was great defense by veteran shortstop Ryan Mooney capped off by 2-2 night at the plate.

Coach Johnson changed things up in the second game of the series on Saturday. SHSU came out with a different lineup and a new arm on the mound in junior-transfer Paul Spinn.

Coach Johnson told of his plans to switch things up throughout the season.

“We’ve got some right-handed and left-handed bats we could go with,” Johnson said. “I would be shocked if we have the same line-up at the end of the year.”

Saturday’s game started out well for the Kats as they quickly jumped out to a 1-0 lead. But TCU took advantage of every opportunity as they would match and even one-up the Kats in the run column in each of the first three innings.

The slugfest continued as the Kats had four players with multi-hit games, capped off by Mark Hudson’s 3-5, two RBI performance. It wasn’t enough though as Spinn, along with the rest of the Bearkat pitchers, had a tough time on the mound. The Horn Frogs were charged with five errors on the day, but pulled things together at the plate totaling 12 runs on 15 hits, and getting their second win of the series, 12-7.

It looked as though SHSU was headed

in the right direction in Sunday’s game after the very first pitch. Braeden Riley, the Kats leadoff man, stroked a rocket into right-center field and galloped into second base with a stand-up double.

As TCU was tossing the ball back into the infield, they appealed over to first base, saying that Riley missed the bag as he was on his way to second.

The umpire agreed with the dispute and signaled that Riley missed first base, where he was called out to open up the top of the first inning.

The Kats played a sloppy game, committing two errors and only scratching across two runs on five hits.

TCU made plenty of noise offensively, scoring 15 runs on 18 hits, with three of the hits being mammoth homeruns, en route to the 15-2 win and series sweep. Coach Johnson weighed in on the weekend’s games.

“TCU is obviously a very good ball club,” Johnson said. “They returned quite a few guys from last year. I’m sure I could have picked a better opponent to try to wrap up some good things, but it is what it is.”

After the three-game sweep by TCU, the Kats are now 0-3 to begin the 2010 baseball season. Their next action for the Kats will be Friday, Feb. 26 at 6:30 p.m., as they look to turn the tide against Utah for the SHSU baseball home opener.

Mixed results in tennis exhibition Amy Turek

Contributing Writer

The Lady Bearkat tennis team competed in an exhibition against the Tyler Junior College Apaches on Saturday in Huntsville.

The Bearkats won in doubles 3-0 but lost in singles 1-4.

Doubles No. 1 team, Giorgia Pozzan and Federica Denti got off to a shaky start. They were broken in the first game after being up 40-0. After a series of service breaks, the Bearkats finally held then broke in the next game to go up 4-2.

The lead was short lived, however because they were broken right back in the next game.

Both teams held their serve until Pozzan and Denti broke to win the match 8-6.

In other doubles matches, doubles No. 2 team, Sheridan Currie and Tatyana Postnikova defeated their opponents 8-5; and doubles No. 3 team Cally Woerner and Nadia Dubyanskaya Michaela Keck | The Houstonian defeated their opponents DOUBLES DOMINANCE. The SHSU tennis team has excelled 8-5. in doubles play this season, but has struggled in singles matchups.

In singles, No. 1 player Pozzan held on to an early went down an early break ended up losing the set 6-3, break in her first set to win and trailed 0-3. She was sending the match to a third it 6-4. able to break her opponent’s and decisive set.

The second set was a serve but was broken right Pozzan started the third different story.

Pozzan back in the next game. She set going down a break and

was not able to recover from it. She served at 3-5 to stay in the match but was broken, handing her opponent the set and the match.

In other singles matches, No. 2 singles player Postnikova lost 0-6, 1-6; No. 3 singles player Currie lost 6-7 (6), 5-7; and No. 5 singles player Woerner lost 2-6, 4-6. No. 4 singles player Dubyanskaya was the only Bearkat to record a singles victory. She won 6-3, 2-6, 6-3.

Despite the losses, SHSU Head Coach Jim Giachino said he was pleased with the way the girls fought against the number one junior college in the nation, considering “the lack of training time due to the weather, coupled with the fact that five of [their] six players have been too injured to work on their games.” He said the lack of training time was evident in the “inconsistent” singles play.

“Hopefully we will have a solid week of training before we start conference play [against UTSA] on Saturday,” Giachino said.

“Even more hopefully we will have six players who are capable of playing both doubles and singles for us.”

Denti was forced to sit out from singles matches due to a leg injury.