March 28, 2013 by The Houstonian

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Sen. Mike Apt (COBA) speaks during his impeachment hearing Tuesday night shortly before the SGA voted to remove him from his seat in the organization

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Computers move one step closer to becoming more “self-aware”

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Volume 123 / Issue 18

Nduka, former SHSU football player, goes pro in Canadian league

Thursday, March 28, 2013

DOMA , Prop 8 Stephen Green | The Houstonian

Oral arguments in gay marriage cases hint at potential outcome STEPHEN GREEN Editor-in-Chief LGBT students at Sam Houston State University and others around the world will soon have a landmark victory or a heartbreaking setback. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments for two gay marriage cases on Tuesday and Wednesday, the justices’ questions gave the public a glimpse into possible decision. DOMA The federal definition of marriage is the center of Windor v. United States. The Defense of Marriage Act, passed in 1996, limited federal recognition of marriage to between a man and a woman. Paul Clement, the lawyer defending DOMA, argued the federal government has the right to define marriage for purposes of federal law, just as states traditionally have the right to do it for themselves. In addition, he said DOMA was enacted to ensure that marriage was treated uniformly in all states. Justice Anthony Kennedy, usually known as the moderate justice, attacked the DOMA

defense lawyer questioning his attack on federalism. He said traditionally the individual states have had the right to define marriage. The federal government in this case, he said, is redefining marriage. Traditionally liberal leaning Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor questioned the logic of DOMA’s defense. Ginsburg attacked the statute on what she described as “pervasive” discriminatory action. “The state is saying there are two types of marriage: the full marriage and this...skim milk marriage,” she said. DOMA currently prevents same-sex couples from recieving federal benefits including tax exemptions, social security marriage benefits, family medical leave, recognition for immigration purposes, employment benefits of federal workers, and federal health coverage, among the 1,138 provisions that are affected by DOMA. Those advocating for DOMA to be overturned said the equality movement is becoming widespread. Chief Justice John Roberts said

the only reason for the rise in support “is because your side is more politically engaging.” PROP 8 The second Court case, Hollingsworth v Perry, questions the ability of states to define marriage. The same five justices heavily critiqued the lawyer defending Proposition 8, which defines marriage as between a man and woman. Texas is one state that has consitutionally banned same-sex marriage. The defense, represented by Charles Cooper, said the traditional definition of marriage was primarily for purposes of procreation. Kagan and Ginsburg immediately pounced on the idea that Prop 8 would also ban sterile couples and those over the age of 55 from the ability to marry. “Let me assure you, there aren’t many children going to come out of those marriages,” Kagan said. Cooper said even in the cases of couples over 55 the chance that couples would procreate would still exist. Kennedy also asked Cooper for specific harms gay marriage would allow for. Cooper said it would alter the definition of

marriage on the basis of social justices. Thomas chooses not to ideology rather than necessity. speak at oral arguments. Kennedy was unhappy with The decision is expected in the answer saying it didn’t give July, or early in the summer. concrete examples and pressed him further. Justice Antonin Scalia interjected in an attempt to answer Kennedy’s question. “I don’t understand why you don’t give any concrete examples,” Scalia said. “Allowing gay marriage would allow for [joint] adoption.” Scalia said there has been no answer if children raised in single-sex households would be at a disadvantage over other children in opposite-sex marriages. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, along with Roberts and Scalia, AP Photo/The San Francisco Examiner, Anna Latino are considered the WAITING GAME. Little Lencioni waits outside of more conservative the California Supreme Court during arguments.

Justices hinting at upholding DOMA/Prop 8

Justices hinting at striking down DOMA/Prop 8

Sotomayor

Ginsburg

Kagan

Kennedy

Breyer

Thomas

Roberts

Alito

Scalia

‘It ain’t yo beauty, it’s yo booty’ C

omedian Mike Epps and his opening act Scruncho hit the stage on Monday night for the 2013 spring showcase in Johnson Colesium hosted by the Division of Student Services. With his hilarious facial expressions and body language, Epps had the crowd bursting with laughter as he did not hold back on anyone or anything. He called out cougars, bad breath, baldheaded people and women with lace front wigs (right). Students cheered and jumped out of their chairs with excitement as Epps even jumped off the stage and walked into the audience and up in bleachers to roast students and faculty (below). His opening act, Scruncho, took audience interaction to another level as he got “the whitest guy in the room”, student David Kelley, to join him on stage for a full-fledged gangster lesson including a backwards cap, sagging pants and gangster walk (left). Read the full story and audience reactions to Epps’ performance on page 4. George Mattingly | The Houstonian

Yolisma Vance | The Houstonian

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News

Thursday, March 28, 2013 houstonianonline.com/news

Technology

DARPA to begin 4-year project on improving artificial intelligence CHRISTIAN VAZQUEZ Staff Reporter Humans beware: Skynet is one step closer to actually happening. The Pentagon is readying a fouryear project to boost AI systems by building machines that can teach themselves and get smarter over time while also making it easier for ordinary people to build them. The Pentagon is using its research division, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, to back this project. DARPA is inviting scientists to a Virginia conference to brainstorm on April 10. Machine learning can be used to make better systems for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; a core military

necessity. It can also be used for making better speech recognition systems, self-driving cars and to keep pace against internet spam filling up search engines and e-mail inboxes. “Our goal is that future machine learning projects won’t require people to know everything about both the domain of interest and machine learning to build useful machine learning applications,” DARPA program manager Kathleen Fisher said in an announcement. DAPRA claims that it is possible to build machines that can learn and evolve by using algorithms, or “problamistic programming.” This type of programming tasks —

DARPA, page 6

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Kayla Stallings

State

Texas looks into more tailored education

AUDRA BERRY Contributing Reporter Members of the House of Representatives passed House Bill 5 on Tuesday which reduces the number of standardized tests high school students must take from 15 down to five, while also allowing for a more personalized education based on the student’s preferences – something representatives believe will assist graduates in the transition from high school to the workforce or college. “House Bill 5 would provide flexibility for teachers to

help students better develop their talents and pursue their interests, so they can succeed in the workplace or in college immediately after they graduate from high school,” Rep. Terry Canales (D-Edinburg) said to the Edinburg Review. The five end-of-course tests that would be required by House Bill 5 are algebra, U.S. history, biology, and reading and writing on a 10th grade level. The bill would also create a new state rating system to measure schools based not just on academic performance but financial performance and student and community involvement as well.

The new system would use the traditionally recognized grading scale of A, B, C, D or F, according to the Cleveland Advocate, versus the current accountability rating system of “exemplary”, “recognized”, “academically acceptable” and “academically unacceptable”. Meanwhile in the Senate, Sen. Dan Patrick, chairman of the Senate Public Education Committee, introduced a similar bill for consideration. In addition to limiting the number of standardized tests to four or five and allowing a more tailored diploma based on student interests, Patrick’s bill also moves

to eliminate the weight the tests have on the student’s overall final grades, according to a report by Chris Tomlinson of the Associated Press. Currently, the 15 standardized tests are required to account for 15 percent of Texas high school graduates’ final grades in core courses. The senate still needs to approve HB-5. The senate bill is still under debate. Since the bills are still being debated, Sam Houston State University officials are uncertain at this time of the impact the reduction of standardized testing will have on admissions.

Campus

Senator Apt impeached from SGA

JAY R. JORDAN Senior Reporter Former student body presidential candidate and Sen. Mike Apt was impeached at Tuesday’s Student Government Association meeting on charges including being out of dress code, eating in the chamber and dereliction of duty. Other charges were multiple unexcused absences, failure to attend a mandatory new senator workshop and failure to complete office hours. “I don’t know if people are mad at me for running [for president] or if people are mad at me for whatever else,” Apt said in his defense. “I think it’s kind of ridiculous because all of a sudden the same people are trying to kick me out of every single thing I’m trying to do in this organization.” Last week, Apt was disqualified from the 2013 SGA elections for breaking election code rules. Sen. Cristan Shamburger (CHSS), vice president Kolby Flowers and sophomore English major Stori Ellis collectively submitted four protests to the SGA Election Commission. However, Sen. Robert Ferguson (CS), who called for Apt’s senate impeachment on March 19, explicitly said that the election had nothing to do with his call for impeachment. Apt’s impeachment was concluded by secret ballot in compliance with Rule 6 Section F of the SGA Rules and Procedures. Apt’s impeachment received 13 ayes, five nays and two abstentions, which provided the two-thirds majority vote necessary for approval.

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Viewpoints

Thursday, March 28, 2013 houstonianonline.com/viewpoints

American issue should side with equality RICHARD MCKINNEY Staff Reporter

This isn’t a Republican issue or a Democratic one. Nor is it a conservative or liberal issue – this is an American issue. The Supreme Court of the United States recently heard arguments regarding the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8, more commonly called Prop 8. Prop 8 was ratified by Californian residents in 2005; the act recognized marriage a union only between one man and one woman. The proposition only prevented same-sex marriages which took place after the resolution went into effect – which was, consequently, the day after it passed. DOMA was signed into law in 1992 by President Bill Clinton and restricts marriage benefits, and therefore recognition, to only opposite-sex marriages. The Court heard the final arguments for Prop 8 on Tuesday and DOMA on Wednesday, asking their most pressing questions. The argumentation covered a vast array of things with the justices asking their own questions to help whatever decision they make. The questions asked about Prop 8 were in regards

to procreative marriage, class discrimination, gender classification and sexual orientation. These cases seem to hinge on two pivotal issues, the first being whether or not this would classify as class discrimination based on the Equal Protection Clause. Quite frankly, it does. When any state in the union makes laws which do not offer equal protection and rights it serves as class discrimination – much less Congress imposing the same inequality amongst its citizens. This poses the argument some justices were making about the difference between marriage and a civil union. Justice Antonin Scalia seems to agree with idea of the marriage being defined as one man and one woman for the purpose of procreation. Justice Elena Kagan however, asked about marriage licenses which are given to sterile people and older people saying, “…I can just assure you, if both the woman and the man are over the age of 55, there are not a lot of children coming out of that marriage.” This is a key issue. If we grant that marriage is defined as one man and one woman for the sole purpose of procreation, do we not then have to then say that you must be fertile and of a certain age to marry? And if not,

AP Photo/Dana Verkouteren

why is it okay to deny marriages only to same-sex couples? At that point it once again becomes discrimination – or a double standard, either way it’s wrong. Many people, as well as the Court, are also curious about why the wording matters. The argument goes something like this: if you get all the benefits of a marriage as you would get with a civil union, is it then simply about getting the ‘word’ marriage? If this is the case, the premise goes, then what does it matter what it’s called?

This creates a cycle which goes back to discrimination – and to save a shit ton of confusion I will put this simply: if it truly doesn’t matter – why are people fighting against allowing same-sex couples the right to get a ‘marriage’ versus them having a civil union? Discrimination is discrimination – it’s that simple. Something that I found slightly offensive was the idea that allowing same-sex marriage and by proxy same-sex adoption is an ‘experiment’ that hasn’t been proven to not cause harm. To which I say, Justice

Clarence Thomas’s ‘experimental’ marriage used to also be illegal. One possible harm the justices brought forward was the potential deleterious effect this could have on children – I will allow the audience to break here to read Misti Jones’s article from the previous issue. Done? Okay. The ambiguous responses made by the Court do not provide me with comfort. The justices need to side with the equality of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence – after all, this is an American issue.

Politicians are cynical opportunists

Top 5 parodies of the Red Equal Sign The Human Rights Campaign spearheaded a social media trend in support of marriage equality with a pink and red equal sign. Here are a few hilarious parodies that went viral on Tuesday.

Colin Harris says politicians’ shifts on same-sex marriage are disingenuous at best COLIN HARRIS Staff Reporter

Have you guys heard about the new fad that’s completely taking over the U.S. Senate the past couple of weeks? First, a senator comes out in favor of same-sex marriage despite previously being on record as against it. Then that senator’s staff puts out some bullshit official statement about having a recent change of heart or evolution even though they’ve probably been proSSM for quite some time. Recent polling and cultural attitudes seem to have finally shifted on the issue, so these pillars of courage have determined that now is a safe time to do a 180. Full disclosure: I am a proponent of SSM because the government has no business determining which (or even how many) consenting adults can or cannot enter into a contract together. It’s a fairly cut and dry Constitutional issue that the Supreme Court will hopefully sort out later this year. As of last count, we’re now at five sitting senators who’ve flipped on the issue since mid-March. I

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suppose you could trace the trend back to President Barack Obama who “evolved” in May 2012. Somehow a man who spent eight years teaching constitutional law at the University of Chicago and three years as a U.S. Senator didn’t discover the 14th Amendment’s equal protection clause until the end of his first term as president. That’s really the only way to explain away his evolution on SSM, unless you think there’s a chance that Obama is a cynical, scum-sucking politician willing to stand silent as homosexual couples were denied marriage rights because it made him more electorally viable on the national stage. I could also point to a candidate survey Obama signed during his first run for elected office as an Illinois state senator in 1996. It stated, “I favor legalizing same-sex marriages and would fight efforts to prohibit such marriages.” That was pretty damn progressive for 1996, perhaps too progressive for a candidate seeking statewide office in Illinois in 2004 when Obama said he believed marriage was between a man and a woman, according to NBC Politics.

That’s old news though. The real trend-setter for this seismic shift on SSM is Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) who made headlines when he voiced his support for SSM March 15 because he found out his son was gay. Isn’t it lovely that Portman would merrily deny everyone else’s homosexual children the right to marry but once his son’s future happiness was on the line, it was time for reconsideration? Fortunately for Portman, the timeline doesn’t add up. You see, Will Portman came out to his father in 2011. If that was truly the catalyst for the esteemed senator’s change of heart, shouldn’t he have voiced his support in 2012 at the latest? That wouldn’t have been very useful in a presidential election year for a man from a party dependent on turning out the Evangelical vote to win. Portman wasn’t up for reelection in 2012 but he did serve as an integral part of the Romney campaign in Ohio, a state crucial to the GOP’s efforts to capture the White House. Then we come to the other four Senators, Claire McCaskill (DMo.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Kay Hagan

(D-N.C.) who have all voiced their support for nationwide SSM in the past week. McCaskill and Tester were both reelected in 2012 as moderate Democrats. They were each pressed on the marriage issue during the campaign and Tester would only support civil unions, while McCaskill said the issue should be left up to the states, according to TheHill.com. A cynic might suggest they supported nationwide SSM at the time but realized it would be career suicide to voice that opinion in an election year in reliably conservative states, so they bid their time, knowing that by waiting they wouldn’t face the voters for another five and a half years. I understand that by nature, politicians are self-serving, careerist vultures. However, if you believe like I do, that marriage equality is a civil rights issue, these senators and Obama were not just wrong but morally negligent in their convenient opposition to gay marriage. They deserve nothing but scorn.

Letter to the Editor

Banning premarital sex references from television causes regression of nation

I’m sorry for the long wait but this is for Morgan Mears’ article, “Campus ministry drives students away with judgment” from March 4, 2013. Before this so-called minister judges anyone’s race by claiming they’re going to hell [based solely on their race] because they did pot, smoked weed, or worse, and not say anything about another one’s race that they did no wrong, [the minister] was confronted and asked if that made him a racist. He replied “no” then he started in on the other one’s race. I think he needs to have a look at himself; a man of God, holding a bible, pointing and singling each famous person (black), and then when confronted, includes the other (white) person. Something like this could anger anybody, if you really think about it. Thanks, Morgan. — Paul Legler, Huntsville

When people think about the United States some of their first thoughts tend to be about our rights—freedom of speech, religion, press, etc.— but conservative Idaho lawmakers are currently trying to infringe on those rights. Taking notes from the 1950s, current Idaho lawmakers are trying to pass House Joint Memorial 2 in which the state would ban all references about premarital sex from all television. The resolution, approved 57-13 on March 19, requires that the federal government and the FCC enforce “standards of decency’’ in TV programming by prohibiting the portrayal, implied, or discussion of premarital sex on television between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. These lawmakers are against references to premarital sex in dramas, comedies, reality and talk shows as well as advertisements. Current broadcast regulations do not ban premarital sex on television, nor the discussion of or promotion of illicit sexual behavior, according to Christiannews.net. Idaho State Rep. Darrell Bolz (R-Caldwell) made a public statement claiming the ban is necessary because “we need to take a stand and

All photos courtesy of Facebook

stand up for the morality of what is best for the citizens of Idaho.” Although our morality does need to be protected, banning premarital sex discussion isn’t the way to do it and if anything it is taking society back a few 50 years. The great thing about living in the United States is that we have the freedom to watch, read and say what we please. We have that liberty, and by banning those references from television, Bolz and other Idaho lawmakers are eliminating those rights. Yes, many shows do discuss premarital sex, but they do it in a way as to warn those who have sex before marriage that you could possibly get pregnant or possibly get a sexually transmitted disease. Taking those shows off the air could possibly have a reverse effect on viewers than desired. While they’re at it, lawmakers should just ban talk about drugs, prostitution, abortion and anything else that could be considered controversial from television; they can’t remove one idea from television and then expect all to be right in the broadcasting world. There are still other things that suggest negative or bad

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behavior that aren’t related to premarital sex. Supporters of the ban say the Idaho Constitution requires government to protect the virtue and purity of the home. If someone truly has an issue with what is playing on their television then they can change the channel. There are hundreds of MORGAN MEARS different channels with a Staff Reporter wide variety of shows for everyone to pick from that do not depict premarital sex. Many people complain about how they are tired of the “trash” that they view on television and how much of it is related to sex. Rather than complain about it people should turn off their televisions or cancel their cable subscription. It’s there to stay and removing or banning premarital sex from television would take our society back a couple of years in time.

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Page 4

Arts&Entertainment

Thursday, March 28, 2013 houstonianonline.com/a-e

Audience roars for Epps’ comedy roast GEORGE MATTINGLY Arts & Entertainment Editor The audience roared with laughter at jokes about President Obama, cougars and how to be a gangster on Wednesday as comedian Mike Epps, and his opening act Scruncho took the stage for this year’s spring comedy showcase at Sam Houston State University. Held in Johnson Coliseum, Epps had students rolling on the ground and jumping out of their chairs in excitement as he left the stage and went into the audience to roast attendees in one part of his show to roast members of the audience. No student was safe from his artillery of jokes as he pranced around calling out girls with lace front wigs, ugly clothes and bad breath. The roast was a hit among students who felt Epps’ interaction with the audience was the best part of the night. “My favorite part was when he jumped off stage and made fun of the crowd,” Kwamisha Quammie, senior mass communication major said. “He interacted with

everyone and I just couldn’t stop laughing.” Epps also gave students a lesson on how to perform oral sex the right way, explaining the all-important difference between old and young women, using his body language and catlike sound effects that even had the faculty and security grabbing their guts. Epps, famous for his facial expressions and impersonations, even went after President Obama in a spot-on conversation between the president and Bill Clinton with Clinton as a player inviting Obama over to have fun with Snooki and the rest of his women. He continued the funny faces when he showed the audience just how scary Stevie Wonder really is. Although Epps was the main act, opener Scruncho was not to be forgotten calling the Sam Houston Statue “a big ass statue of some white slave owner” to start the night off. Sruncho also interacted with the crowd, bringing a student to the stage and showing him how to be a gangster complete with sagging pants, backwards cap and the all-

important walk. “He told real-life jokes about baby mommas, his kids and that made me laugh the most,” junior mass communication Mario Blackmon said. After whiping the tears from their eyes, students said Epps gave a better performance than last year’s comedian Gabriel Iglesias. “This year was way better because Mike Epps really interacted with the crowd,” business major Candice Hawkins, said. “His jokes were more geared toward college students. Gabriel Iglesias’ jokes were more for families but [Epps] didn’t hold back.” Other students agreed, saying Epps will be hard to beat at next year’s show. “Mike Epps is the best and his opener was really good too,” Quammie said. “They’re definitely going to be hard to beat next year.” The event was hosted by the SHSU Division of Student Services as part of the spring Sammypalooza event hosted every year.

Edgy characters, plot take Guest artist to discuss viewers inside spring break collections, influences JAMES WEEMS Contributing Reporter

himself as artist but a researcher, archivist and storyteller as well. Robleto lives in Houston and travels to different campuses to Artist Dario Robleto will visit talk with students about his work Sam Houston State University and encourage them in theirs. His work has been exhibited campus to review and select in several museums around the students artwork for the14 th Annual Juried Student Exhibition. country such as the Whitney Museum of American Art at On April 4. Robleto will give a lecture Altria, New York; the Museum titled “The Boundary of Life is of Contemporary Art, San Diego; Quietly Crossed.” In the lecture the Museum of Contemporary Robleto will use multi-media art Art, Denver; and the Aldrich to talk about investigating the Contemporary Arts Museum, “continuity of love and memory- Ridgefield, Connecticut. The exhibit over vast reaches will began April 8 of time and His practice is discursive and runs through space.” and pulls in many different April 18. It will He uses the feature sculptures, areas and backgrounds example of the paintings, drawings, Voyager space photography, videos probe that was -Annie Strader, Assistant and animations launched in the Art Professor of the students 1970’s to explain selected. the idea of time “The goal of the exhibit is for and how this has influenced his art. Robleto will reveal the students to have the professional backstage details of his work experience of submitting artwork through his own collection of to a juried exhibit and to have their work judged by an outside stories, sounds and images. Assistant Professor Annie arts professional,” Strader said. Robleto’s juror talk will be Strader explains that it is something students to attend even April 4 from 5-6 p.m. in e art if they are not a part of the art building E, room 108. April 8-18 the exhibition will be open and department. “His practice is discursive and there will be a ceremony and pulls in many different areas of reception at 5-7 p.m. on April 18. For more information contact study and I think it will interest Strader at srs033@shsu.edu or people from many areas and 936 -294-1322. backgrounds,” Strader said. Robleto not only looks at AUBRIE WALKER Contributing Reporter

AP Photo/A24 Films, Michael Muller

GONE BAD: Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine and Vanessa Hudgens leave PG roles for wild party girls in a scene from “Spring Breakers.”

the leading roles. It is refreshing to see Gomez and Hudgens to break out of their normal gigs of PG movies and TV shows that are geared toward pre-teen audiences and take on raunchier, edgy roles. These characters add a great contrast to their innocence as teenage girls that make the film fun to watch as they get into trouble. The other stand-out reason to see “Spring Breakers” is Franco’s performance in the film. He was able to show his talent for taking on demanding roles that test the best actors by turning into a heavily accented gangster who drives a tricked out Camaro with his entourage. Alien is surprisingly multi-faceted, and develops his character through his interactions with the girls. Lastly, Korine’s story

tells a side to these girls that many people don’t want to acknowledge is a part of them. The girls crave and think about sex as much as men do. As the movie begins the viewer is stimulated on by all the rampant sexuality, which deems this movie an R rating. By the end of your mind is numb to the sexually-driven choices and disregard for the law. It forces you to see what the girls are really like on the inside, living a lifestyle that’s empty and chaotic with no direction. Overall, “Spring Breakers” moves from being a typical spring break flick to a badass party that’s full of unexpected twists and turns. With its refreshing characters and edgy performances by a talented cast, we give this movie three out of five paws.

“

Director Harmony Korine takes audiences into the lives of four leading ladies and the gangster that James Franco plays so well in “Spring Breakers,” Korine was able to capture the craziness that surrounds spring break for many college students each year. “Spring Breakers” transports us into the lives of Faith (Selena Gomez), Candy (Vanessa Hudgens), Brit (Ashley Benson), and Cotty (Rachel Korine). They are four college girls looking to get away from school and go on spring break. The only problem is they are short on cash, three of the girls, Candy, Brit and Cotty decide to go rob a restaurant to fund their¬ break. After they get the money, their spring break is underway in St. Petersburg, Florida. The girls’ break takes an unexpected twist when they meet gangster rapper Alien (James Franco) and join him on his violent escapades. This movie has so much going on it’s hard to find a starting point. Let’s start with the most obvious reason to see this film. “Spring Breakers” has a cast that makes it stand out with Disney starlets Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens in

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Art and Poetry Contest for 2nd Annual Ignite the Night: An Anti-Sexual Violence Program

Dr. Maryam Ilahi, of the Student Counseling Center, is accepting poetry and art submissions regarding sexual violence or abuse. send to:

Dr. Maryam Ilahi Email: MAI005@SHSU.EDU Mailing Address: Box 2059 Huntsville, TX 77341

Matinee

(any movie before 6pm)

Adults $5

Deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 28, 2013 by 5:00 p.m. Please include your name, address, phone number, E-mail address, and whether you are a student, faculty, staﬀ at SHSU or a community member. Poems may be read at the Ignite the Night Program on April 10th (your anonymity will be respected if you request it) All submissions will be returned after the event. Selected submissions will be displayed in the LSC Atrium April 3‒10

Winners will receive a FREE Ignite the Night t-shirt. 2nd Annual

Children $3

Ignite The Night SHSU Counseling Center along with several university and community organizations are collaborating with Huntsville, Texas community to create the 2nd Annual Ignite the Night event.

Wednesday, April 10th from 6:00pm.

See new website for movie times

The Ignite the Night is to promote awareness about and honor survivors of sexual assault and

huntsvillemovies.com

domestic violence on campus and in the broader Huntsville community.

(936) 291-0248

For more information, please contact Dr. Maryam Ilahi at (936) 294-1720

Includes speakers and performances

Page 5

Sports

Thursday, March 28, 2013 houstonianonline.com/sports

Former Bearkat goes pro

E.J. Nduka will suit up as a Toronto Argonaut in the Canadian Football League next season in length and 65 yards in width with end zones that are 10 yards deeper than NFL. When coming off IFL, Nduka played on 50X25 yard fields with the Revolution in IFL. “The biggest adjustment is the size of the field and the pace of the game,” Nduka said. “The indoor game is much faster because there are much fewer people. Just getting sacks you really got to get off the line and get to the ball.”

CONNOR HYDE Sports Reporter Finishing his career at Sam Houston State with a National Championship appearance, former defensive end Ezekwesiri “E.J.” Nduka has moved north to join the Candanian Football League as the newest member of the Toronto Argonauts. Signed Feb. 21, Nduka was picked up by the professional Canadian team after three starts on the Texas Revolution, Dallas’s indoor football team, and showcasing his talents at last year’s NFL combine in Detroit. Nduka said although his agent was contacted by the Green Bay Packers, the Argonauts proved more interested. “The only organization that showed their hand in terms of a contract was Toronto,” Nduka said. The versatile defensive end/ linebacker entered the Indoor Football League (IFL) midway through the season after graduating from SHSU in 2011. Despite being with the Revolution for a month, Nduka surprised coaches accumulating 15 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble as well as a fumble recovery. “It was my first time playing in the [IFL] and it surprised a lot of the coaches how I learned the game and came off the ball,”

Nduka s a i d . “It did help to get Canada’s attention at the combine I went [to]. They asked me to come in to work out and lay eyes on me as well.” From his experience as a Bearkat, Nduka said being a part of a championship team helped him compete for recognition in the NFL combine and in the eyes of the Argonauts. “It was really exciting to be a part of a team that went to a national championship,” Nduka said. “The work ethic and just the drive and the challenge to compete [helped.]”

As for adjusting from the IFL to CFL, Nduka is excited to be outdoors again. “Moving to indoor to Canadian is that I’m glad to get back outside. It’s a much bigger field which allows me to pass rush which suits me,” Nduka said. Compared to a NFL regulation size field that measures 120 yards in length (including end zones) and 53.3 yards in width, CFL fields measure at 110 yards

I n the CFL, 12 players are on the field from both sides of the ball, where NFL permits 11 and IFL allows eight. Currently Nduka resides in Dallas but will move to Toronto in the next few of weeks for the Argonauts mini training camp with the official training camp starting in May. The Argonauts 2013 season opener will kick off June 12 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Toronto 2013 Schedule Winnipeg

6-12-13

Montreal

6-20-13

Hamilton

6-28-13

British Columbia

7-4-13

Saskatchewan

7-11-13

Winnipeg

7-19-13

British Columbia

7-30-13

Montreal

8-8-13

Edmonton

8-18-13

Calgary

8-23-13

Montreal

9-3-13

Montreal

9-8-13

Saskatchewan

9-14-13

Calgary

9-21-13

Edmonton

9-28-13

Hamilton

10-4-13

Hamilton

10-14-13

Winnipeg

10-19-13

Winnipeg

10-24-13

Montreal

11-1-13

Bearkats defeat Rice 9-3 for sweep CONNOR HYDE Sports Reporter Sam Houston State baseball has found their niche upsetting Top 25 ranked teams early this season. Starter Tyler Eppler tossed six innings against Rice University allowing only five hits to sweep the Owls with a 9-3 victory Tuesday night at Don Sanders Stadium. Eppler’s start Tuesday was his second against the Owls after going three and onethird innings earlier in March’s 3-0 victory in Houston. “Coach [David Pierce] preaches all the time throw strikes and fill the strike zone up and let the defense work behind me and that’s exactly what I did today,” Eppler said. “Minimize the walks and just let them hit it.” A quick stagnant four innings outing of Eppler and Owl starting pitcher Chase McDowell silenced both line-ups into the fifth inning when Miller connected for his second single on the night. Ryan Farney and Romeo Cortina supported Miller with a single and a fielder’s choice to break the four inning tie with a Bearkat 1-0 lead. Miller went 3-4 on the night with three singles and one RBI. Pierce circulated three pitchers after Eppler’s outing to maintain a strong presence on the rubber. Alan Scott and Juan Cortina held the

Alex Broussard The Houstonian

SWEEP: Carter Burgess cross home plate to score one of the Berakats’ nine runs of the night.

Owls to two runs between the seventh and eighth inning. Simms relieved for Cortina in top of the eighth inning with no outs and runners on first and second and closed the top half of the eighth allowing two singles for two runs. Pierce credits the win to coach Sean Allen and his offensive approach to Rice’s pitching rotation. “We really did a good job in our short

game [Tuesday] and that created the two big innings,” Pierce said. The Bearkats rallied in the sixth and eighth inning for a combined eight runs coming from a string of singles and the squeeze play. Catcher Anthony Azar exploded the inning with a triple into the left center power alley to drive in Jessie Plumlee and Carter Burgess who had a pair of singles. Azar touched home plate

off a single from Miller who was brought home from a single from centerfielder Colt Atwood. Atwood hit 3-4 with a comfortable approach in the batter’s box and aggressive swings at first pitch fastballs to snap an early season hitting slump. “Hitting is one of those things that goes up and down,” Atwood said. “The more you see the ball the better you hit it. I’m not trying to do too much.” Atwood, known for his lead-off spot in the lineup, has been switching between the nine hole and the second spot. Pierce said he intends to take pressure off Atwood while he’s struggling to find his stride at the plate. “We send him to the nine hole to get well,” Pierce said. The centerfielder showcased his arm and defensive ability, throwing out first basemen Tyler Ewing from shallow center at home plate to keep the Owls from getting on the board early in the game. “When you’re in outfield you want that play to be hit to you,” Atwood said. “It’s always fun to get the chance to throw someone out…whenever I get it I take the pride in throwing someone out.” The Bearkats will travel to Nacogdoches Thursday for a three game series against conference rival Stephen F. Austin. First pitch is at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by games Friday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 1 p.m.

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Page 6

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Campus

Ignite the Night to increase awareness of sexual assaults

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Out of the 207,754 people who are sexually assaulted each year in the United States, 80 percent of those victims are under the age of 30, and 54 percent will not report it to the police. The Sam Houston State University Counseling Center and several university and community organizations have joined forces with the Huntsville community to promote awareness about sexual assault and domestic violence with their 2nd Annual Ignite the Night

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event, April 10 at 6 p.m. in the Lonestar Residence Hall. Maryam Ilahi, counseling psychologist at SHSU, wants this event to “empower women to speak up.” She said it will “provide education that it’s not okay to treat women that way.” The event will consist of an art and poetry contest, speakers and performances and a rally behind Lonestar Residence Hall. Attendees will also have the opportunity to donate to Sexual Assault and Abuse Free Environment House or buy T-shirts. Student and faculty members at SHSU, and members of the Huntsville community, are eligible to enter the

contest. (Anonymity will be respected if requested.) The deadline for submissions is Thursday, by 5 p.m. Email it to MAI005@shsu. edu or mail it to, Box 2059 Huntsville, Tx 77341 T-shirts will be sold prior to the event April 3 through April 10 between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. They will be selling for $5 to all non-students and $3 to all SHSU students with a Sam I.D. The remaining shirts will be sold at the event. All proceeds will be donated to SAAFE House. The SAAFE House is House is committed to empowering abuse victims by providing immediate, free, and confidential services.

for Advanced Machine Learning,” or PPAML. During PPAML, scientists will be asked to figure out how to “enable new applications that are impossible to conceive of using today’s technology,” while making experts in the field “radically more effective,” according to a recent DARPA announcement. According to DARPA, there are two “ends” of the machines which scientists have to improve on: the front end and the back end. The “front end” refers to the parts of a computer learning system that developers can see; while the “back end” refers to the parts responsible for figuring out a predictive model that helps the computer become smarter. DARPA emphasized that for the front end, the machines cannot be too complicated and that the code should “balance the expressive power of

the language with the corresponding difficulty of producing an efficient solver.” In other words, they are working on making it more accessible to nonexperts. The “back end” involves how to make the machines more predictable. DARPA claims that algorithms must become much more sophisticated to find the most efficient “solver” to any set of data. As for its potential application to everyday life, Dr. McGuire says that it will be a long time before it becomes a mainstay. “It’s a lot like the Internet. Back when it was called ARPAnet in 1991, I would’ve never imagined that hypertext format would become the future and be considered a part of everyday life,” McGuire said. “So it will take a long time before this becomes the future; if this project succeeds anyway,”

page 2

the machine with scouring through huge amounts of data and selecting the best of it. After that, the machine learns to repeat the process and do it better. Tim McGuire, Ph.D, associate professor of Computer Science at Sam Houston State University, compared the process to another type of programming. “It’s similar to genetic programming; where there is a ‘tree of decision’ with several different ‘choice’ branches and weight is levied upon the more favorable choice,” McGuire said. According to Wired.com, 46 months of development will follow after the Virginia conference, with annual summer school programs to bring in potential customers from the private sector and the government. It is dubbed “Problamistic Programming

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