TODAY’S FORECAST HI: 78o LOW: 61o Matt Sayles /Invision/AP
Get a sneak peak into the season three premiere of the “Game of Thrones”. Above: the cast of “Thrones” at the red carpet premiere of the new season.
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Gay football players should be able to be open about their sexuality
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Theatre department, puppets offer contemporary satire of Soviet life
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Volume 123 / Issue 19
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Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Updated master plan expands meal, living options MOLLY WADDELL News Editor New dining facilities, residence halls and building expansions are some of the many buildings being added to the university’s master plan. Buildings that will be built within the next six years are an Agricultural & Engineering
Technology Building, Nursing / Biology Building, Shared Special Instruments Building, South Residential District, Dining Facility, Student Health and Counseling Center, Events Center / Press Box and Surface Parking Buildings that will be expanded upon in the next six years are: the Lowman Student Center and the Communications & Central Plant. “I am very pleased that we were
able to build upon the existing master plan to ensure our campus infrastructure continues to meet our academic, research, student life and recreational needs,” President Dana Gibson, Ph.D said. Other buildings that will be added within the next 14 years or more include A new fine arts complex, a new parking deck, a new dining hall and two new residential halls.
The two new residential halls and a parking deck will be located around Lone Star Hall. Another new residential hall and dining facility will be located behind Raven Village. The 2008 Master Plan was scheduled to last until 2020 but due to campus expansion the plan needed to be updated. “Our campus master plan is a working document, based on
input from a variety of sources, that provides a guide in helping us make long-term decisions,” Gibson said. “However, because planning for the needs of a university campus is an ongoing process, we must review, challenge and update the plan to address evolving demographics and academic trends.” For the full master plan visit the university website.
UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN, PROSPECTS UP FOR UPCOMING GRADUATES
HANNAH ZEDEKER Staff Reporter National unemployment rates are at a slow, steady decline just in time for graduating seniors, according to a Career Setvices official. “In the last few years, employers have been able to keep a very selective mindset having so many applicants to weed through; they’ve had the ball in their court,” Assistant Director of Career Services Vinessa Mundorff said. “But now with lower unemployment rates, I think the ball is starting to come back into the applicant’s court.” In the last decade, the lowest unemployment rate reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics was 4.4 percent, reached both in September and December 2006 as well as in March and May 2007. After the recession hit in 2008, the rate skyrocketed in October 2009 to an all-time high of 10 percent. Today however, the Bureau’s most recent reports suggest a slow, but sure decline of the unemployment rate with 7.7 percent as of February 2013—the lowest rate since December 2008. “I definitely think right now that things are increasing employment-wise, especially in Texas with the oil and gas industries,” Mundorff said. “Lots of folks are hiring, both part-time and full-time, and things are looking up for a lot of people.” SHSU graduate Dustin Williams, who majored in Finance and Banking and Financial Institutions, recently got a job as an account executive at teleNetwork in Austin. Williams applied to about 20 jobs and only interviewed for two. “The hardest part about job hunting is
getting your foot in the door,” Williams said. Williams also said that SHSU helped him a lot because he reached out to a few professors who helped him and in his final interview. Mundorff said that when big industries are starting to pick back up— like the oil and gas industries— it creates a sort of domino-effect of growth in communities. “You’ve got more people coming with skills for certain jobs who bring their families with them causing a need for more homes, schools and stores which, as a result, these ‘needs’ create more job opportunities,” Mundorff said. Although Mundorff says the outlook is better for graduates, she also says employers are having difficulty making the transition from being able to be picky about who they hire, to sometimes now, having to settle. Mundorff said that some of the industries in Texas that employ recent graduates include accounting, construction, engineering, health, and gas and oil. Unfortunately for education majors—the second largest major at SHSU—educators have been hit hard by the recession and are not in as high of a demand as are professionals in other fields. According to Mundorff, the key, again, is marketability. “Being able to teach both primary and secondary education, special education or even being bilingual can make a big difference,” Mundorff said. “Sometimes there isn’t as big of a demand for your specific field of passion, but you need to find more components to make you stand out among others.” Olivia Jaramillo said she wouldn’t have trouble finding a job. “Since I’m bilingual,” senior bilingual education major, Olivia Jaramillo said. “The fact that I’ll have my certification to teach not only bilingual, but also general elementary makes me more marketable.” According to Mundorff, one of the biggest mistakes people can make when looking for a job is being closed minded. “Be organized about the process, set goals for yourself, make yourself accountable and most importantly, network by making real, human connections,” Mundorff said. “You can’t put all your eggs in one basket, you have to do a combination of things or you won’t receive the results you’re looking for.”
Connor Hyde | The Houstonian
S
enior animation major Jessell Boseman dances in the courtyard every Tueday and Thursday with a group of friends. They do everything from juggle to hulahoop from 2 p.m. until whenever they decide to stop. “I just love to dance,” Boseman said. He said they aren’t a part of any official Sam Houston State University group, just a “group of friends who like to get together and have fun.”
Austinites launch back at North Korean nuke threat AUDRA BERRY Contributing Reporter Images of a map showing potential missile strikes in the United States taken in Kim Jongun’s war room were released Friday by North Korea’s Rodong newspaper. According to the North Korea News’ website, the targets included Hawaii, San Diego, Washington, D.C. and Austin, Texas. “He finally signed the plan
on technical preparations of strategic rockets, ordering them to be on standby to fire so that they may strike any time the US mainland, its military bases in the operational theatres in the Pacific, including Hawaii and Guam, and those in South Korea,” the staterun KCNA news agency reported. Even though government analysts concur that North Korea does not currently possess the means to carry out such an attack, it hasn’t stopped Austenites and others throughout the nation from coming up with creative
reasons as to why Austin is on the dictator’s hit list. “Kim Jong-un taking Austin’s plastic bag ban pretty hard. Why not just write a letter to the editor?” @omarg said on Twitter. Austinites also got #whyaustin to trend on twitter. “#whyaustin: Maybe #KimJongUn ‘s band wasn’t invited to play #SxSW. I know that would get to me but I wouldn’t nuke a city over it,” @Mcnudde said on twitter. By late afternoon the City of Austin had a statement of sorts
prepared. They tweeted a video, “Duck and Cover (1951) Bert The Turtle Civil Defense Film.” The imaginative reasoning of Texans quickly gained the attention of the North Korea News agency that originally published the photos. “It seems we have triggered #whyAustin? Twitter trend due to our article today. Note: We did not confirm that Austin was the precise target!” @nknewsorg tweeted. Regardless if Austin is the intended target or not, Austin
Mayor Lee Leffingwell said the city is prepared: “The city has been in contact with federal officials through the Austin Regional Intelligence Center (ARIC) regarding the North Korean threat to Austin. Austin’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management department and the Austin Police Department are monitoring the situation, and though they take this very seriously, they do not believe the threats are credible at this time.”
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News
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 houstonianonline.com/news
Local
Discrimination, religion focal point of GLBT Center JAY R. JORDAN Senior Reporter The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community at Texas A&M University is in uproar over a bill that they call discriminatory. If passed the TAMU Student Senate bill would show support for the university letting students opt out of allocating their student service fees to the GLBT Resource Center for religious purposes. Many students both at Sam Houston State University and TAMU voiced their concern and opposition to the idea behind the bill. One former TAMU student, who currently attends SHSU, said that discrimination isn’t the real issue. The student requested to remain anonymous. “This was my opinion at A&M too,” said the student. “Student fees should not go towards helping or funding student organizations because the people in charge of the funds, whether they say they are or not, are going to be biased.” The student said that in today’s reality with polarized politics, it’s difficult to make unbiased decisions. “It doesn’t matter who’s in charge of it. You cannot fairly say ‘we’re going to give money to this group, but we’re not going to give
money to this group’,” the student said. SHSU SGA vice president Kolby Flowers said that he thinks this issue wouldn’t come up at Sam Houston. “I don’t think our SGA would ever be put into a situation where this would happen,” Floewrs said. “Our student government is made up of diverse students from many walks of life. Once you start the precedent of opting out of student fees for one thing so goes another fee for another service.” TAMU freshman Amanda Massingill said that friction is created between organizations and students when mandatory fees are foisted for non-scholarly organizations. “Personally, I don’t think that any of our [fees]… should go to any organization that is based on gender, nationality, religion, etc. that isn’t focused on matters of intellect,” said Massingill. “That way, anyone who has a belief system that keeps them from supporting a certain organization, they won’t have a dilemma.” Massingill said that the bill is extremely discriminatory and lacks a bigger perspective. “People shouldn’t be forced to financially support something that conflicts with their beliefs,” said Massingill. “But in order to prevent that, you have to give
provided by TAMU
everyone that opportunity. If this bill allowed vegans to opt-out of any fee in their dining plan that goes towards animal products, or people who don’t believe in working out from paying the $106 to finance the REC, and any other circumstance that applied, then it would be different.” According to the Texas Education Code section 54.50, “’Student services’ means activities which are separate and apart from the regularly scheduled academic functions of the institution and directly involve or benefit students...”
State
Northside Sen. Chris Woosley authored the bill and defended his position yesterday. “… Those who see this bill as discriminatory are distracting from the real goal of the bill, which is personal religious liberty,” Woosley said. “This is a bill to protect the religious conscience of students who disagree with their money going to fund this center. If students don’t have a religious disagreement with their money going to the center, then they may contribute as much money as they wish towards it. This is protecting the students who feel differently.”
Woosley also said that the wording of the bill might be changed during Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting. Justin Hooten, a member of SHSU’s GSK, anounced on GSK’s facebook page: “Just a heads up, on Wednesday at 7:00 on a building at Texas A&M... there will be an open forum to discuss Texas A&M Student Senate Bill SB65-70, which would allow students to opt out of funding the GLBT Resource Center. The community, both at Texas A&M and at large, is invited to come show support.”
Technology
Texan DA found slain two months The Bird Is The Word: CovertPidgeon combines after assistant is gunned down internet and mail delivery
SOPHIE NELSON Senior Reporter
After Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia McLelland, were murdered, Kaufman, Texas, is currently on the hunt for the individuals responsible. Officials closely involved in the case believe the murder of Mike McLelland’s assistant two months earlier may be connected, though they have not found proof. According to CNN, Kaufman Mayor William Fortner said he believed there was a “strong connection” between the two murders. He also believed both AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez men were targeted by people ANOTHER MURDER. Law enforcement officials walk out of the home of seeking revenge. Kaufman District Attorney Mike McLelland Monday near Forney, Texas. “That’s the logical conclusion, McLelland and his wife were murdered on Saturday at their home. and I don’t have any information that directs me to think that’s the and the murders, CNN reports Regardless of who the killers are, case, but that’s what you would however that Mclellands office was authorities are most concerned assume under the circumstances, one of the agencies to prosecute with the safety of other officials since they targeted two people the Aryan brothers. in the county and state. Armed from our prosecutors,” Fortner U.S. Rep. Ted Poe told CNN guards surround the Kaufman said. that it was possible that the group County Courthouse and police The Kaufman County sheriff ’s could be responsible. have been assigned to public office has yet to officially state that “The district attorney has said officials in around-the-clock the killings are connected, since they operate in his portion of the protection according to CNN. there is no proof. state of Texas,” Poe said. “It seems Harris County Sheriff Adrian All authorities are reporting that a scenario may be developing Garcia has out Houston DA Mike that they have no suspects for the that the district attorney’s office Anderson and family under 24murders. was investigating this gang or hour surveillance since Anderson’s “I have no idea who’s another gang and they wanted office was part of the same task responsible,” Kaufman County to prevent that investigation and force as the Kaufman County Judge Bruce Woods said. therefore they resort to violence.” office. CNN reports; however, that McLelland’s office was one of the agencies involved in prosecuting 34 members of the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, including four of its senior leaders. The 2012 indictment was pronounced to be a devastating blow to the organization by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny A. Breur. While the authorities in Kaufman have not given any link between the gang (any movie before 6pm)
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Move over Twitter, because there’s a new social bird in town. CovertPidgeon, a new startup business that just launched March 26, is looking to change the way people share kindness. Their goal is to spread kindness, encouragement, friendship and awareness in a fun way. CovertPidgeon is different from current messaging services in that it allows customers to choose from hundreds of pre-made notes and send them anonymously to anyone they know. All the notes are positive or informative in nature and are mailed via traditional mail. Senders always remain completely anonymous. The service is not free however. All basic notes printed on regular stationery cost $ .99; while the fancier notes printed on colorfully designed stationery cost $1.20. Despite
CovertPidgeon’s intentions, one student from Sam Houston State University found the service interesting, yet impersonal. “I don’t like how the messages are pre-made,” senior student Amanda Banasiak said. “The prices are reasonable, it helps out USPS and it’s nice, but I would much rather have the messages done personally. It’s more creative and thoughtful that way.” There are many different situations in which the service can be used. For example, for those who have a crush on someone, but are too worried about revealing it can use CovertPidgeon to let them know anonymously. Or if someone has a dispute with another person, but wants to avoid the awkward conversation, they can use the service to bury the hatchet anonymously. Here is where things get —
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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
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
Matinee
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CHRISTIAN VAZQUEZ Staff Reporter
Adults $5
Winners will receive a FREE Ignite the Night t-shirt. 2nd Annual
Children $3
Ignite The Night
See new website for movie times
collaborating with Huntsville, Texas community to create the 2nd Annual Ignite the Night event.
huntsvillemovies.com
(936) 291-0248
SHSU Counseling Center along with several university and community organizations are
Wednesday, April 10th from 6:00pm.
"
The Ignite the Night is to promote awareness about and honor survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence on campus and in the broader Huntsville community. Includes speakers and performances
For more information, please contact Dr. Maryam Ilahi at (936) 294-1720
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Viewpoints
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 houstonianonline.com/viewpoints
Students put in two cents on minimum wage Minimum wage increases would improve standard of living
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f the federal minimum wage had kept up with the increases in cost of living since 1973 it would currently be at $10.59. For those of you who are lucky enough, or just sheltered enough, KASSIDY TURNPAUGH to not know the current minimum Staff Reporter wage, it is at a depressingly low $7.25 an hour. After a year’s worth of 40 hour work weeks, that amount totals to just barely over the poverty line for a single person household. Just imagine the struggle that is a single parent on minimum wage. It can easily be seen why the suggested increase of the federal minimum wage is something many people are not just looking forward to but celebrating all together. If you have yet to see the reasons for this theoretical shindig then stop. Just stop. Go outside, get a job in pretty much any industry and come back in a week to read this. I’ll wait . . . Okay so now after the grueling hours and strain to make it all work, you should now understand. According to Minimum Wage Act, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013 has been written to ensure that as a nation we can actually afford to be alive.
It entails the raising of the minimum wage in three tiers of 95 cents each, until it reaches the ultimate goal of $10.10. This is set to be spread out until 2015, so don’t go spazzing out and buying enough gumballs that your teeth rot just from the sugary anticipation of your gluttony. In addition to the potential increase we can look forward to a new piece of legislature tacked onto this bill that will ensure that the minimum wage will remain in proportion to the cost of living through 2016. Now what does this mean for all of you lovely people out there? Well, it means that you will be successfully not starving for the next three years, if this bill passes. Heck, if you’re lucky you may be able to actually afford food other than ramen noodles. Now don’t think we forgot all about you, waiters/waitresses of the world. This bill will go onto increase the mandatory minimum wage of tip based employment from that measly $2.13 an hour to 70 percent of the concurrent minimum wage. For the sake of reference, as of 2015 that will mean you are pulling in $7.07 an hour in addition to tips. That’s a fantastic 232 percent increase of what you’re probably making right now. All of this and much more can be yours, in the span of the next three years. All you have to do is annoy your local representatives until they are faced with the choice of either caving in or having their home egged every night for the rest of their lives.
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Raising minimum wage generates unemployment, higher prices
n a day and age where everyone is focused on money, it seems only fitting that when giving his State of the Union address President Barack Obama revealed his plans for raising minimum wage from the current $7.25 to a new $9 per hour. While some view his plan to increase minimum wage as a saves all plan, there are many who harbor disapproval. From increasing unemployment to raising product prices, if minimum wage is raised it will cause more harm for our country than good. With an increase in minimum wage, small business owners and their businesses would be in jeopardy. Increases in payroll expense would require owners to raise consumer prices on their goods and services, and in turn it would result in less business because consumers would go elsewhere to find cheaper prices, according to Smallbusiness.chron.com. Problems from an increased minimum wage wouldn’t end with increased prices. It would also increase the unemployment rate in the country. An increase in wages would result in businesses laying off workers and employees to compensate for their payroll expenses. Instead of trying to pay the same employees a higher wage, companies would downsize and pay fewer employees the new raised minimum wage. According to Downsizinggovernment. org, the higher the minimum wage relative to competitive-market wage levels, the greater the employment loss that occurs. Employee layoffs are usually the first options as customers will probably react negatively to the raised prices. For those employees who are not out of a job as a result of the raised wages, they will still be affected negatively. Although their pay will increase, that increase in pay could possibly
push some employees into a higher tax bracket. Normally, minimum wage employees have lower wealth than others. Tax increases and higher tax brackets could possibly erode the wealth of those minimum wage workers. According to an article posted on Reason. com, author Emily Ekins MORGAN MEARS Staff Reporter explains that based on the latest poll by the website, two-thirds of Americans favor Obama’s proposal to raise the minimum wage; however their support plummets by 37 percent when the idea that raising the minimum wage would cause employers to lay off workers was brought into the poll. Rather than raising the minimum wage pay and risking the chance of increasing our unemployment rate and increasing prices on our goods and services, our government should be looking for ways to create more jobs for those already unemployed, not increasing the amount that those already employed make. As Obama declared, “… let’s declare that in the wealthiest nation on earth, no one who works full-time should have to live in poverty.” That’s right, Obama. We should not have to live in poverty but increasing minimum wage pay would increase unemployment and prices on consumer goods and services, which in turn would cause those living in the US to become that much closer to living in poverty.
Online dating a waste of time for young college students
Colin Harris thinks there are better, more traditional ways to find love at SHSU
COLIN HARRIS
Staff Reporter
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was ready and willing this week to take a prospective look into the world of online dating and report all about the sad and lonely people I encountered. Sort of a “this is how you should online date” thing. If I could have looked at other people’s profiles without making one myself I would have, but that’s not how the game is played at Match.com. So I started crafting my persona, trying to be as accurate as possible with my background, physical characteristics, interests, hobbies and the like. There were tons of questions covering nearly everything important when you first start dating someone. I discovered that my sign is “Don’t Believe in Astrology” and that libertarianism isn’t as widespread a political belief
as I had hoped. It’s not even an option on the Match.com political spectrum. My favorite inquiry from the dating site was “Tell us something you’ve read lately.” This is something I wish I could ask to random people all over campus without everyone thinking I’m about to try to convert them to Scientology. (For the record, my answer was “The Corrections” by Jonathan Franzen, a great modern novel.) Next I had to put the type of woman I was seeking out. It was a similar line of interrogation with an added “deal breaker” box next to each question to completely eliminate certain people from your matches. I prefer brunettes with blue or green eyes, but being a dark-eyed blonde isn’t a deal breaker. It’s not even close, actually. I see around 50 gorgeous hazel-eyed blondes on a
daily basis walking around campus. Definitely don’t want to miss out on those potential matches. Being “slender,” “about average” or “athletic and toned” is mandatory, though for me. Sorry. No “big and beautiful,” “curvy,” “full figured,” “heavy set,” “a few extra pounds” or “stocky.” Yes, those are all different options that pretty much mean the same thing. Two more deal breakers were divorcees or women with children. I figure I can rule out dating women like that until I’m at least 35 or divorced myself. As an aside, it surprised me that there were no questions about tattoos or piercings (besides ears on women). For some people, those things are a major turn on, almost a requirement. For others, myself included, they fall into the “deal breaker” category. As the matches came up and I saw
real peoples’ faces, I knew I couldn’t write the column as I’d originally intended. The varying looks of optimism and seduction made me realize that people are people, even on the internet. For the first time in my adult life, I felt like I had a conscience. These women didn’t create their profiles for some derisive asshole newspaper columnist to publicly shame and ridicule when he’s short on ideas. They’re just looking for love, same as any of us. If you’re thinking of making an online dating profile, though, and you’re under 30, I’d suggest getting out first. Join a club and meet people with similar interests. (On the Sam Houston page, you can look online for an organization that interests you.) Instead of immediately throwing away that Rec Sports flier the guy hands you on the way out of the HKC, actually look at it this
Phone wars: The Galaxy strikes back RICHARD MCKINNEY
Staff Reporter
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recently upgraded my phone. This may cause a riot, but to hell with it – I traded my iPhone 4 in order to get a Samsung Galaxy SIII. I already see letters to the editor about the blaspheme I have committed against the almighty Apple (which I have on good authority canNOT, in fact, rape you). Ultimately, the choice of which phone to purchase is personal – each one offers different strengths and weaknesses. I chose the SIII because I’m a hipster, obviously. Also, because it was the same price as the potential upgrade to iPhone 5 and offered various improvements. To get this out of the way – I have found the user interface to be similar; especially since Apple adopted the use of the notification center – but you don’t see Android suing them. The only difference after the
implementation of this wonderful design element is the layout of the home screens and the button-pushy things (I think this is the technical term). Where the true differences lie, of course, is the Operating System (OS) within each of them. The iOS that the iPhone uses is highly compatible with other apple products, which is great – if you have a Mac. The actual versatility between iPhone and PC is rather hit or miss. As I am not fortunate enough to have the finances to afford a Mac, compatibility became a rather key component for my decision. Galaxy is a Google-based phone that offers a more diverse range of compatibility. What’s interesting is that the Galaxy hasn’t been on the market for that long, currently on the third version (hence the SIII) and is neck and neck with the iPhone in sales. In 2012 3rd Quarter sales, the S3 outsold both the iPhone 5 and the iPhone 4S, according to cnet.com; this makes
me wonder what will happen to sales as Samsumg improves the Galaxy’s system. Okay – here’s the coolest thing, though, two words: swipe text. Yes! Laziness has reached an all-time high! Instead of having to laboriously type each letter separately like you would be forced to do with the iPhone, Galaxy allows you to just pass your finger over the general direction of the letters, making patterns to form words! It is great for efficiency, not to mention really cool to look at! Finally, I didn’t want a phone to simply “be a cool kid.” It seems that if you don’t have an iPhone you immediately get scolded that you would dare betray the great technology giant that is Apple – which scares me a little bit. Imagine the scolding you get when you upgrade from an iPhone to an Android phone. The reverse is also true – please don’t begin a battle royale in the mall area. Or do, that might actually be pretty entertaining.
Editorial Staff Robin Johnson Faculty Adviser
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week; there’s something interesting going on next Tuesday outside of Johnson Coliseum and White Hall called “Bearkat Breakout.” Next time you’re out drinking at Shenanigan’s or Draft Bar, go up to that cute girl in the cowboy boots who can barely stand up with tiny flecks of vomit inhabiting the corners of her mouth and get her number! If she remembers your interaction when you text or call the next day, you’ll know you made a great impression. The point is, there’s no need for anyone our age to meddle in online dating. It’s only going to make you more introverted than you already are. Just go out and be friendly! You’ll have a much better chance at finding love that way than filling out some questionnaire and then comparing your answers to someone else’s.
PAWS DOWN
PAWS UP
PAWS UP to April Fool’s jokes. Sam Houston got us good with that orange football field prank.
PAWS DOWN to April Fool’s jokes. Let’s be real, they can get out of hand. *cough* Stephen Green.
PAWS UP to school being over in a month. Countdown to graduation: 38 days.
SIDE PAW to the Houston Astros beating the Texas Rangers, 8-2.
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Arts&Entertainment
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 houstonianonline.com/a-e
Puppets take stage in innovative production GEORGE MATTINGLY Arts & Entertainment Editor Puppets will take over the Showcase Theatre as the Sam Houston State University Theatre Department’s production of Moira Buffini’s “Dying For It” opens on Wednesday. “Dying For It” is an adaptation of Nikolai Erdman’s “The Suicide”, a satirical comedy based on Soviet life that was banned from public performance by Joseph Stalin in 1932. The show follows the story of Semyon, unemployed, poor and guilty for living off his wife’s earnings. As he loses hope in himself, he decides to commit suicide. But when others find out about his plan they exploit his plan for their own benefit, ensuing in a hilarious interpretation of Soviet life. While the show was not originally written for puppets, director Dave McTier, Ph.D., decided to take the risk and offer audiences something never done before at SHSU to create unique visual effects for the audience.
The show will be an innovative new experience at SHSU as the actors, dressed in all black, will voice and move the handmade puppets on stage to bring the characters to life, complete with their own costumes. Also, the set Photo by the SHSU Theatre Department features smaller NOVELTY ACT. “Dying for It” is a satirical comedy banned based on Soviet furniture pieces a Russia life in the 1920s. It was originally not meant for puppets and was including cot and table banned by Joseph Stalin in 1932. set made “We’ve never done a puppet show here specifically for the puppets. before…and this seemed like a really “Since we’re educational theatre, I don’t good script,” McTier said. “When some want us to get stuck in a rut of the same old of my colleagues noted that when they read the show they thought it was a bit dry things,” McTier said. “We should always and having the puppets make [the show] be exploring and experimenting. So for us this show is like a big experiment, but with considerably more fun.” puppets.”
Along with the novelty of using the puppets, came the challenges of timing and working without much of a guide to the art of puppetry, even days before the show opens, according to McTier. “Even now, we still have things to fix and to finish on the puppets,” he said. “Everything is taking much longer than we thought. There’s a lot of trial and error going on because it’s not like we’re following a recipe or a pattern that says ‘this is how you do it’. We’re doing all of this from scratch making it up as we go.” Despite the challenges, McTier said the cast has handled them to bring novelty to the performance to connect with the audience. “I hope [the audience] see the novelty in the show because we don’t have a lot of [puppetry] going on,” McTier said. “Also, that that they find it kind of refreshing because the actors are very passionate about it, they get into it and we think the audience will share that with them.” “Dying for It” will show from April 3-6 at 8 p.m. each night with a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m. For ticket information, call the Theatre Box Office at 936-294-1339.
Players set for another battle in Game of Thrones season opener Major character developments
What to expect in season 3 ZEKE OSBORN Contributing Reporter There are still many players in the Game of Thrones whose plans have not yet been revealed, as it is still too early within the season, it can be assumed that the Lannisters will not be able to sit within King’s Landing for too long without further opposition. With the mysterious women in red still holding Stannis tight within her control on one side, Robb Stark with those loyal to him and his passion for revenge driving him on the other, and the last Targaryen fueled
with the desire to claim what is hers and three fast growing dragons just across the sea, a fight for the throne seems imminent. And that is without even putting the deadly force of Whitewalkers into the equation, an enemy unknown to all but those beyond the wall. For a series that has been known for its storytelling and treacherous characters leaving the viewers unsure on whom they can trust, season three looks to continue that trend perfectly and could hold some of the largest deceptions yet.
Photo by HBO
In the season three opener, determined more than ever, Daenerys has funded a ship and is on her way to build her an army worthy of serving the true Queen of Westeros. Her dragons have grown since viewers have last seen them and they are learning not only how to fly but also how to hunt. Upon reaching Slaver’s Bay, she is introduced to soldiers bred for war yet she is hesitant to to hire men, that feel no emotion to serve her.
Photo by HBO
Back in Westeros, clean-up has begun from the Battle of the Blackwater, as the Lannisters again feel they are in control of the seven kingdoms. However, the man who played the largest part in ensuring control, received no recognition. In fact, it was the complete opposite as Tyrion Lannister was met with cruel words from his father and thus was still seen as nothing more than a dwarf who was meant a curse upon the Lannister name.
Photo by HBO
The Night’s Watch have regrouped and have made it their primary concern to warn the people of Westeros of the incoming plague of Whitewalkers, yet their newest member, Jon Snow, has pledged allegiance to a new band of fighters. Seeing the Wildlings as the only force who is willing to fight this new threat, Snow agreed to join their ranks and hopes to prove himself as more than his worthless bastard title that he has carried his whole life.
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Sports
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 houstonianonline.com/sports
Kats take series from Jacks CONNOR HYDE Sports Reporter Sam Houston State baseball remains in the top echelon in Southland Conference rankings claiming the third spot after clenching a three game series 2-1 against Stephen F. Austin this weekend. The Bearkats, led by the bat of Jesse Plumlee (.636 BA v SFA) defeated the Lumberjacks 5-3, and 14-4 (7IP) Friday and Saturday in Nacogdoches. Starting ace pitcher Cody Dickson pitched seven innings in game one, allowing three runs off four hits in an early Lumberjack rally, but maintained a strong arsenal to quiet SFA’s lineup for the Bearkats to attack. Plumlee evened the board 2-2 in the top of the third with a homerun against SFA starter Chase Greening (2.95 ERA). SHSU rallied in the top of the fifth and sixth to extend their lead 5-3 to close out game one. Despite a complete game performance from Andrew Godail, SHSU’s lineup was silent during game two. A pitching duel between Lumberjack starter Kyle Cross and Godail resulted in a nine hit game between the conference rivals as SFA edged out a 2-0 victory. “[Godail] just got into a groove
Alex Broussard The Houstonian
VICTORY: Ryan O’Hearn bats as the Bearkats rise to third in the Southland Conference.
and competed really hard. He’s been very, very consistent for us,” SHSU Head Coach David Pierce said. “He just needs to work around the base on balls.” Godail issued six walks against the Lumberjacks but compensated with 10 strikeouts. Lumberjack shortstop Hunter Dozier found holes in the Bearkat pitching rotation to continue his 13 game hitting streak to 16. Dozier connected for a homerun in the bottom of the fifth inning in game two after outfielder Jackson Hood drove in the first run for SFA in the bottom of the second.
According to Pierce, Dozier sparked the Lumberjacks and troubled the Bearkats pitching rotation. “Dozier is the best hitter in the league right now. We just kind of pressed at home plate and they did a good job,” Pierce said. At the plate, Plumlee hit three for three but received little support from the heart and bottom of the Bearkat lineup. Third basemen Kevin Miller, left fielder Luke Plucheck and centerfielder Colt Atwood swung for base hits but struggled to drive in runs.
Plumlee currently leads the Bearkats in hitting with a .400 batting average and two homeruns. “He’s doing a great job with pitches that are mistakes,” Pierce said. “He’s putting the ball in play with two strikes. He’s really seeing the ball well and he’s a good leader for us.” Base-on-balls and errors burdened the Bearkats bullpen, leading to two consecutive series losses against University of Connecticut and Dallas Baptist earlier in the season. Against Rice University and SFA, SHSU’s relievers pitched a quiet six-and-
two-thirds innings. “We’re getting deep with our starters,” Pierce said. “We’re 3-1 on the week and that’s always a good week. We’re at the halfway point right now; we’d like to think we have a chance to play consistent baseball. Most of our mistakes defensively are careless.” SHSU dropped their homeopener 3-6 against the Cougars after innings of pitching woes. According to Pierce, his Bearkats are a better team compared to February. “I think we’re a better team right now no doubt and they are as well,” Pierce said. Bearkat baseball will return to Don Sanders Stadium Friday for a three game series against conference opponent McNeese State. Pierce said battling McNeese’s pitching will be key for the Bearkats with new faces in the Cowboy bullpen. “They’re really pitching well and they have been and it seems that they’ve gotten hot since conference started,” Pierce said. “They pitched well last year and I think they’ve picked up a couple of guys to add to their bullpen.” The Bearkats will square off against University of Houston Tuesday in Houston.
Openly gay athletes should feel comfortable coming out CODY LEWIS Sports Editor For professional athletes, life is good. They’re millionaires and are adored by multiple people. Except for those, however, who have to hide who they truly are. In the fallout of all the current human rights controversies, the issue of professional athletes coming out is beginning to surface. There have been players who have come out after their retirement, such as former San Francisco 49er Kwame Harris, but he has expressed that he wishes he would
have come out during his career in an interview with CNN. Harris did not feel like a gay player in the NFL would have been “compatible.” 2013 is a different story. 49er cornerback Chris Culliver made an anti LGBT statement prior to the Super Bowl. “I don’t do the gay guys. I don’t do that,” Culliver said in a radio interview with Artie Lange. He quickly apologized and was ordered to participate in sensitivity training. If he had to do that just from something he said, I could only imagine the tens of thousands
of dollars a player would have to pay if he harassed an openly gay player physically or verbally. Current players that are gay should be comfortable enough to come out to their teammates. An NFL team spends more time together than they do with their own families. This should be reason enough for a man to feel comfortable and safe enough to come out to his teammates. Vikings punter Chris Kluwe wrote a column for CNN stating that a gay NFL player would not be a distraction. Kluwe’s philosophy is simple: treat others how you want to be treated. It is a notion we all learn
as children but some people seem to forget it. Kluwe says that players would feel that their jobs would be in jeopardy if they came out publicly, and that it is not fair. He is absolutely right. Someone that works as hard as a professional athlete to get where they are should not be afraid to share a part of who they truly are. Much like Jackie Robinson, who blazed the trail for African Americans to make their way into professional baseball, an openly gay player in the any pro sport —
ATHLETE , page 6
Southland Conference Standings
Baseball
Southeastern La. McNeese Sam Houston State Oral Roberts Texas A&M-CC Stephen F. Austin Central Arkansas Lamar Nicholls Northwestern State
6-0 5-1 4-2 4-2 3-3 3-3 2-4 2-4 1-5 0-6
Softball McNeese Northwestern State Southeastern La. Central Arkansas Lamar Sam Houston State Houston Baptist Nicholls Stephen F. Austin Texas A&M-CC
8-2 6-4 7-5 6-5 6-5 6-6 6-6 6-6 4-8 2-10
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Minor in
HUMAN SERVICES Great for majors in Psychology Sociology
Philosophy
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Technology
Scientists one step closer to functional invisibility cloak KASSIDY TURNPAUGH Staff Reporter
Learn to give a helping hand
Hold on to your Sorting Hats, life is imitating art as a company has reached a revolutionary step in the process of developing working invisibility cloaks. Hy p e r s t e a l t h Biotechnology, a company based out of British Columbia, Canada, revealed their progress on an invisibility cloak in late 2012. The concept, which many will recognize from the popularized “Cloak of Invisibility” from the second installment of the “Harry Potter” franchise, is one that has long been investigated as a valid form of camouflage. Numerous corporations and governments have looked into what it would take to make this cloak
COVERT
For more information, visit
shsu.edu/see/humanservices
a reality only to come up empty handed. In the success of creating such a device, Hyperstealth Biotechnology’s scientist have invented a type of camouflage that employs “Quantum Stealth,” reported The Huffington Post “that bends light around the wearer or an object to create the illusion of invisibility.” The cloaks have picked up quite a bit of attention not only with the public and social media but that of a few different government agencies for military purposes. “[Hyperstealth Biotechnology] has the backing of both the U.S. Pentagon and the Canadian military,” according to Ecouterre.com and The Huffington Post. “I could see humanity using it in a military grade . . . I know the submarines use it some degree to cloak their
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interesting. According to CovertPidgeon’s press release statement, they claim that they can help save the United States Postal Service. Since USPS will stop delivering on Saturdays starting August 5, it is expected that they will lose 35,000 postal jobs. CovertPidgeon claims that they are doing their part to help save those jobs. A note here, a note there, collectively people sending notes via CovertPidgeon can make a difference for the Postal Service,” their website says.
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
signals that they put out,” freshman criminal justice major, Elijah Ericksen said. “I think it could be a great asset for the U.S., I think it could also be a problem if another country got a hold of it.” Fellow criminal justice major Eric Wise expressed a concern in the cloaks development. “ I don’t really think [the government] would allow the public to use it, because there would be a lot of invasion of privacy problems probably,” Wise said. Yet, the entirety of the alleged invisibility cloak has yet to come to fruition as “these so-called ‘cloaks’ only work in [microwaves],” as reported by Ecouterre. com. At this point in time the only thing that can be made invisible must also be able to sustain the strains of heavy Microwave frequency exposure.
ATHLETES,
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would be seen as a pioneer for human rights—not just for sports. It would promote acceptance of people no matter what their sexual orientation is in workplaces all over the world. There will, of course, be the idiotic idea that if there is a gay player, he will come onto the other players. On this issue I side completely with Kluwe: “grow the fuck up,” he said in his column. One organization, Athlete Ally, is working to end homophobia in sports. Member of this group include Brendon Ayanbedejo of the Baltimore Ravens, Scott Fuijita of the New Orleans Saints and of course Kluwe. Do not be surprised if you hear about a current NFL player coming out publicly. Those who do will have numerous allies in and out of professional sports.
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