The Houstonian

Vol 115— Issue 21

Huntsville, Texas

SPORTS

Swing and a miss SEE page 5

Sam Houston State University’s Faculty Distinguished Lecturer Presents:

‘The Bone Lady’

FEATURE PRESENTATION

INDEX

Entertainment........page 4

Entertainment editor Kevin Jukkola

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

Sports....................page 5

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

Special..................page 6

says it’s a go for “Greenberg”

SEE page 4

Parking loss, dining gain New dining hall construction irks students with inconvenient situation

Information courtesy of SHSU Public Relations

By Lotis Butchko Senior Editor

What:

"Forensic Anthropology in the 21st Century: Myths, Miracles, and a Dose of Reality"

When: Thursday, April 8 at 2 p.m.

Where: In the Mafrige Auditorium of the Smith-Hutson Business Building.

The lecture is open to the public and there is no admission charge.

Who:

Physical anthropologist and bioarchaeologist Mary H. Manhein, who has handled more than 1,000 forensic cases during her 27 years of experience in field recovery and analysis of human skeletal remains.

She is the director of the Louisiana State University Forensic A n t h r o p o l o g y and Computer Enhancement Services (FACES) Lab, director of the Louisiana Repository for Unidentified and Missing Persons Information Program, and Professional in Residence in Anthropology in LSU’s Department of Geography and Anthropology.

Manheim has appeared on various national network programs including America’s Most Wanted, Discovery Health, and New Detectives and has been featured in special reports by CSNBC news and MSNBC news.

She has been a guest on more than 25 appearances of Fox TV’s “Missing” program in which clay facial reconstructions completed in her laboratory on unidentified persons were publicized over regional television.

In 2004, Manhein’s work on Precious Doe was featured on A&E network’s “Cold Case Files.”

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Did you know?

The parking lot in front of the Health Care Center is also to be replaced with a new residence hall.

For residents of King, Elliot and Belvin Hall, parking has been an issue in the past three weeks, as parking officials have taken away yet another parking lot.

The lot located behind Belvin Hall has been shut down due to further construction on the new dining hall.

“I think it sucks,” said Samantha Bass, of Elliot Hall. “When people want to go somewhere I don’t want to go because I don’t want to lose my parking spot.”

Bass said her car has been parked in the same spot for an entire week now. “it’s not moving,” She said.

“I bum spots off other people to save my spot.”

David Kapalko, the Assistant Director of Parking and Transportation officer, said the parking lot was taken for materials due to contractual agreements with the construction company.

As of press time no work has started on the area.

According to Kapalko, replacement parking will be added. In fact, Bowers Stadium will be expanded by 150 spots near Bearkat Blvd.

After going home on weekends and returning back to the hall, students could be expected to carry their laundry and other luggage to their dorm from the Bower’s stadium.

Taking the load and walk into consideration, some students said they aren’t satisfied with the longdistance replacement.

“I wouldn’t want to walk from Bowers with two huge loads of stuff,” said Sal Taormina, of King Hall.

Frustrated students hope more spots can be found, as the parking in front of King Hall is already taken by other vehicles from both sorority rows.

“I hate it,” said Zach Bongfeldt, of King hall.

“Closing the back side of the parking lot just causes more congestion.”

Flashback On the first day of class last semester students returned to an unpleasant surprise—a meal plan loss. According to Santel Frazier, Director of Aramark, “SH Campus Dining in conjunction with the university had made the decision to no longer have Tortila Fresca a meal equivalent option, which had previously been approved by the Board of Regents in December 2008/January 2009. The decision was made to return the classic meal plan setting in preparation for the conversion of the existing Café Belvin into [this] new 28,000 sq, ft, Fresh Food Company, opening Spring 2011.”

A series of events followed the controversial decision which brought about a strong reaction from Sam Houston students. In response, the Student Government Association led by President Ryan Bridges met with SH Dining services and University representatives, eventually leading to the limited reinstatement of the meal plan last semester.

Keeping it in the family Bearkats Assistant Basketball Coach Jason Hooten selected to replace former Head Basketball Coach Bob Marlin

By Brandon Scott Sports Reporter

Expect more of the same with next season’s Sam Houston State men’s basketball team. Jason Hooten, who has served as an assistant coach for the Bearkats since 2004, was introduced as the new head coach at Monday’s press conference.

After Bob Marlin ended his 12-year run with Sam Houston to become the head coach of University-Louisiana Lafayette, the search for his replacement began almost immediately. There was a week-long process with a lot of phone calls for Bearkats athletic director Bobby Williams. But after the appropriate applicants were reviewed, the shared sentiment was that Hooten was right for the job.

“It’s a wonderful day in Bearkat athletics,” Williams said. “Twelve years ago when we did this, we were a lot different basketball program than we are today. We’re so

much in a better situation than we were. If there is one common theme, I think about this, is I was so comfortable 12 years ago in that hire and I’m extremely comfortable today.

It’s so exciting.

“This was the right fit,” Williams continued. “He kept coming up just extremely positive in every phase from the recruiting process to how he dealt with the team. We’re looking forward to great things and it’s going to be an exciting time as we move forward to see the next step that we take in our program.”

In six seasons at Sam Houston, Hooten has contributed to the coaching and recruiting trail that has led to the program’s 127-59 record in that time span.

With the Hooten’s promotion, the success is expected to continue. The identity of the basketball team remains in tact, while the voice and personality shifts gears.

— See HOOTEN, page 5

Brian Blalock | Sam Houston State University

HOOTEN CHOSEN. (left) Athletic Director Bobby Williams, (middle) Head Basketball Coach Jason Hooten, (right) University President James Gaertner at the press conference held Monday at 12 p.m. at the Ron Mafrige Field House to introduce Hooten as the new head basketball coach of SHSU. Hooten, who had been the Bearkats’ assistant basketball coach for the last six years, has been acclaimed as one of the top NCAA assistant coaches by both RecruitingRumors.com and CollegeInsider.com.

Texas Forest Service schools Sam Houston State student teachers in environmental education

By Holly Huffman Texas Forest Service

Holly Huffman| Texas Forest Service

OUT ON A LIMB. Pretending to be trees, the student teachers stretched their arms into the air and waited for Texas Forest Service Forester and Workshop Facilitator Dawn Vollmer (far left) to signal to them that they could begin collecting the red, white and blue poker chips scattered at their feet. Each color chip represented something trees need to survive – water, sunlight and nutrients.

RIVERSIDE, Texas — Texas Forest Service Forester Dawn Vollmer scattered dozens of red, white and blue poker chips on the ground and then watched as the crowd of college students dropped their up-stretched arms and scrambled to collect them.

Each chip color represented something trees need to survive – water, sunlight and nutrients – and the Sam Houston State University students who were pretending to be trees had been told to scoop up as many as they could.

“Who got one of each? Who didn’t?” Vollmer asked as the

students surveyed their loot Learning Tree is provided by and determined whether they the American Forest Foundacollected enough to survive. tion. In Texas, it’s sponsored “Can you see this happening by Texas Forest Service and in the real world?”

Texas Forestry Association.

More than 200 Sam Houston The Walk in the Forest workstudents studying to become shop was sponsored by Texas teachers converged Wednes- Forest Service, Rotor-Tech day at the university’s Bearkat Inc, First National Bank of Camp for Walk in the Forest, Huntsville, Walker County the largest Project Learning Timber Growers Association.

Tree workshop in the state.

“It’s about kids — getting A premier environmental kids outdoors and actively eneducation program, Project gaged in learning,” said Jake Learning Tree uses hands-on, Donellan, lead workshop fainterdisciplinary activities to cilitator and district forester get prekindergarten through with Texas Forest Service.

12th grade students recon- “It’s based on the whole mannected with the outdoors while tra of No Child Left Inside.” teaching them lessons that correspond with state curriculum standards.

A national program, Project — See FOREST, 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 opening day of Major League Baseball season being yesterday. Here’s to another great season!

VIEWPOINTS

Tuesday, Arpil 6, 2010

An Easter Day triumph Mike Silva revisits his Lent challenge and

shares his joy over defeating his fast food diet.

For most people, the arrival of Easter meant a plethora of important things. The first being the obvious religious meaning behind Easter.

Others rejoiced in being excused from class on Good Friday, while others just needed Easter as an excuse (as if they needed one) to get away from Huntsville to spend time with the family.

For me, Easter meant all of the above, but there was another sentiment that really brought a smile to my face: Easter would mark the end of my fastfood hiatus. And it couldn’t have come more quickly.

After a long day of passing time with my friends and family and celebrating the holiday the traditional way, I found time to separate myself from the Easter festivities to relapse on my junk food addiction. I didn’t want any company; there would need to be time spent between just me and

my love: a What-A-Burger with cheese.

When I sunk my teeth into the amazing burger that I had not forgotten, I could suddenly see again.

Colors seemed to fill my surroundings. Plants and flowers blossomed before my eyes. Maybe it had something to do with the coming of spring, but I’d

so masterfully created to fill my hands and stomach. I thought back on my journey and couldn’t believe all of the speed bumps that I had maneuvered around.

I remember a day when I woke up and ate a bowl of Wheaties Fuel cereal. I checked my mail and found coupons for FREE food at McDonalds. That’s right,

“...there

would need to be time spent between just me and my love: a What-A-Burger with cheese.” like to believe that as a reward of achieving my goal. I was being gifted with an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere. It was great.

I couldn’t believe that I had actually survived the full 40 days/40 nights of non-fast food dieting. I think that the fact of being successful tasted much better than the cheesy, meaty concoction that was

FREE. With no purchase required. I closed my mailbox and left it behind.

I remember eating oatmeal, when I saw a commercial advertising $1 LARGE fountain drinks at McDonalds. I could imagine the full 32 ounce cup, full of that delicious black oil I call Dr. Pepper.

I changed the channel and enjoyed my bowl of Quaker.

I remember snacking on some pretzels, when I came across the sight of a new treat at Taco Bell: the shrimp taco. I love shrimp and I love Taco Bell. But again, I fought the urge and returned to my Rold Golds.

I remember opening an issue of The Houstonian, only to stare at Whataburger coupons. There was no escaping the temptation, yet somehow, I found a way.

So here I am, a day after Easter, plotting on which fast food restaurant to eat at next. Burger King?

Wendy’s?

Whichever it ends up being, I know I’ll enjoy the taste that I missed out on for so long. But none of these tastes will be more delectable than my triumph over Lent.

Mike Silva is the Sports Editor for The Houstonian.

He is a Junior Print Journalism major, Spanish minor.

Comics for thought

“Paws DOWN” to yet another set of earthquakes that touched more to home Sunday in parts of California and Mexico.

“Paws UP” to SHSU promoting Jason Hooten, the already assistant coach at SHSU, as the new men’s basketball head coach.

Comic courtesy of comics.com

“Paws DOWN” to not having Cherry Coca-Cola in Belvin Cafeteria. What is up with that?

Comic courtesy of comics.com

Mad Brad: Ring day blunder Brad Basker shares the experience of his

recent ring ceremony after receiving an empty box.

I have had terrible handwriting for as long as I’ve been a writer. In 23 years I’ve lost countless points on school work, caused communication breakdowns and constantly misspell my own name.

Though I have gotten better, I fell victim of my own penmanship’s folly, as I experienced a “ringless” ceremony last week.

I came to SHSU in the fall 2005 and had no intentions of getting a ring, but after a 100 or so hours of classes and living in the Houstonian office for most of my college career, I felt that I deserved a treat.

I’ve never been one for heavily formal events.

There are always issues with parking, a lot of kids running around and an obnoxious father who pushes his way to the front clutching a camcorder. I would normally forgo formalities, such as the ring ceremony, but at the last minute I decided to put on my suit and mingle.

It was the perfect setting,

and the guest musicians orchestrated the sunset as over 500 students and their families gathered in front of Austin Hall. Each student had an assigned seat based on their last name, and yours truly got seat 25.

I made fun of my friends, and rejoiced that I didn’t

ing from my seating.

The speeches were uplifting and inspiring. I had never thought about what an honor it was to be a part of a tradition, and even more so the fact that I had achieved something that some will never have the opportunity to experience.

“However, when I went to shake

hands and smile, my box was empty.” have an ungodly number in the 500’s.

I had the whole evening planned out. I would tweet from my seat, update my facebook status and text my friends who sat in the 400 sections. However, my plans and initial joy were crushed when I realized that seat 25 was on the front row. I was in direct site of President Gaertner and the other SHSU top dogs, and knew that respect was in order.

There would be no tweet-

By the time it came to for the rings I was pumped up.

However, when I went to shake hands and smile, my box was empty.

My peers marveled at their bling while I sat as the epitome of perplexities wondering why my finger was naked. Even worse, I now had to sit through 500 or so other students before I could ask any questions.

So much for alphabetical order.

Though I had no idea

what had occurred I calmed down after seeing people who looked at least 3 times my age receive their rings.

They may have waited decades for their prize, so certainly I could wait 30 minutes. Afterwards all of the ceremony workers were helpful. They assured me that it was not an April fools joke, and told me to come by the office in the morning.

My belief that “things always seem worse than they‘re at first,” got me through the night, and I walked to alumni office the next morning knowing that their was a ring for me.

When I arrived there was a brilliant silver graduation ring waiting for Bradley “Basher”.

I don’t know who he is, but his ring looks really good on my hand.

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

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 Kyle Thomas.............................................................Account Executive Gupreet Singh...........................................................Account Executive

Advertising Deadlines

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

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

CAMPUS

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Houstonian, Page 3

Defining the future Calling for a cure

Panel to discuss the effects of healthcare reform on Wednesday Cancer center director to deliver speech

By Malissa Peek

Contributing Writer Across America, people gather to discuss the recent passage of HR472, a historical healthcare reform bill.

The question on everyone’s mind seems to be, “How will this effect me?”

On Wednesday, April 7, a panel of healthcare professionals will meet in the Lowman Student Center’s theater from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. to find the answers to just some of these pressing questions. The event is hosted by SHSU’s Political Engagement Project, or the PEP. “This major health care reform effort has left many people concerned and confused about the future of health care in America,” campus coordinator of the Political Engagement Program, Stacy Ulbig, said.

According to results from

a Buzz Marketing Group survey, 57 percent of young people ages 20 to 30 are on board with the bill.

“I think this topic has opened the eyes of many students because they realize they will be directly effected,” Ulbig said.

Those speaking at the seminar include Dr. Kim Monday, physician and liaison to the Texas Legislature, Ms. Sally Nelson, Director of Huntsville Memorial Hospital and Dr. Ed Blackburne, associate professor of Economics and International Business at SHSU. The event is free and open to the public. Those students participating in the seminar to receive class credit will also receive a waiver to document their attendance.

The discussion will consist of brief presentations by the speakers, followed by a question and answer period moderated by Dr. Jim Olson, asso-

ciated professor for SHSU’s Department of History.

Throughout the week, the PEP will also host a series screenings for the film, “Critical Condition.” The film traces normal Americans through their challenges with the medical care system. There will be a screening today at 5 p.m., April 12, at 3:30 p.m., and Tuesday, April 13, at 5 p.m. in Academic Building IV Room 220 inside the Olson Auditorium.

The PEP hopes raise the public’s awareness about healthcare reform as well as provide information to those students concerned about the future of healthcare.

“I hope people find something that interests them, and go out and try to make a difference,” said Ulbig.

For more information on health care reform, please visit www. healthcarereform.gov .

on extending cancer research

By Jake Picard Contributing Writer

The SHSU Department of Management and Marketing will host a member of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Bud and Joan Haney Auditorium.

Brant Fulcher, a director for global business development for the center, will give a speech entitled “Eliminating Cancer: Extending the Mission to the World.”

The goal of the U.T.M.D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in the world through promoting programs that mix caring for patients, researching

preventative measures and educating students on the subject of cancer.

Located in central Houston on the Texas Medical Center campus, the center was created in 1941 as a part of the University of Texas System. It’s one of the U.S.’s first cancer centers as designated by the National Cancer Act of 1971, which now numbers 40.

In 2009, U.S. News & World Report’s ‘America’s Best Hospitals’ survey ranked the center as the best hospital for cancer care in the nation, and the center has held that spot for six of the past eight surveys.

The center’s goal is to become the best cancer center in the world.

Fulcher finds, researches

and determines the validity of external business possibilities for the center, a job he has performed since 2008.

He received a degree in economics from Vanderbilt, and has since worked for companies such as Gartner Group, Deloitte Consulting and Healthcare Technologies International, which works with hospitals to develop first-rate oncology programs.

Fulcher also once worked with Varian Medical Systems, a leading provider in radiation therapy equipment that treats cancer.

During his time at Varian, he led sales efforts in Texas and areas in the northwest areas of the U.S.

From FORESTRY page 1

Holly Huffman | Texas Forest Service

NO CHILD LEFT INSIDE: Jake Donellan, lead workshop facilitator and Texas Forest Service

district forester, provides instructions to the group as he wraps up the program at the end of the day.

This program was a spin on the name of the No Child Left Behind Act. It’s based on the concept that many children have lost their connection to the natural world because they now are so tied to video, television and computer screens.

Holly Huffman | Texas Forest Service

A WALK IN THE PARK: During the How Big is Your Tree session, students learned how to estimate the height of a tree using just their sight and a point of reference.

Get involved Houstonian Classifieds in your Employment government The Student Government Association’s next regular body meeting is set for Tuesday, April 6. It will take place in the Lowman Student Center, Room 320. For more information, please call 936-294-1938.

The Huntsville City Council meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m.

All meetings are open to the public. For more information or previous minutes, please visit www.huntsvilletx.gov.

JP LANDSCAPING NOW HIRING CREW MEMBERS. Apply within at 191 I-45, next door to Home Depot.

Note: The Houstonian is not responsible for any misleading or misinterpretation or advertisements.

For more information please call The Houstonian at 936-294-4864

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The No Child Left Inside slogan is a takeoff on the name of the No Child Left Behind Act. It’s based on the concept that many children have lost their connection to the natural world because they are now so tied to video, television and computer screens.

Children learn what they see, so it’s important to expose them to a variety of different people and careers.

Walk in the Forest helps student teachers learn how to incorporate forestry into their future classrooms.

“I see this with my own son. I see him tied up with video games,” Donellan said.

“When I get him outside, he loves it and he has just as much fun as he does with the video games. He’s interested in the outdoors. But if I let him play video games all day, that’s what he’s going to do.”

At the training, the student teachers rotated through six different stations, each focused on a hands-on sample activity they could plan for their classrooms.

While participating in the Tree Factory, students learned about the different parts that make up a tree. At How Big is Your Tree, they learned how to measure trees using only their hands, eyes and a reference point. At Every Tree For Itself, the students, pretending to be trees, battled for different colored poker chips “We had to act it out. Little kids would love that,” Melissa Pacobit, a 23-year-old senior at Sam Houston, said, referring to Every Tree For Itself. “Kids get tired of sitting in the classroom. There’s so much outside kids can learn from.”

The day also allowed the students to brainstorm with each other and facilitators.

Pacobit said she was working on a science lesson and had planned to bring in fake leaves for the students to

Holly Huffman | Texas Forest Service

KICKIN’ IT OUTDOORS: More than 200 Sam Houston

State University students studying to become teachers converged in Riverside, Texas, on March 31, 2010, for Walk in the Forest, the largest Project Learning Tree workshop in the state.

The workshop is held every semester and is designed to help student teachers encourage kids to get outdoors and learn from their natural surroundings.

study. But she learned Wednesday that it would be more engaging for the children if she took them outside and let them find their own leaves.

Mance Park Middle School teacher Sandra Bounds coled the Project Learning Tree History/Hike Through the Guide/Lesson Planning session, which was designed to help the future teachers navigate through the program guide.

Though any teacher can become involved with Project Learning Tree, Bounds said it’s particularly successful to catch the student teachers while they’re still in college. Doing so allows them to accumulate a ready base of information — potential classroom lessons and a bank of natural resource profes-

sionals and forestry experts who can help them — before they get entrenched in the daily grind.

“Nowhere else can you educate 200 people in one day with these kind of resources,” said Bounds, who has been involved with Project Learning Tree for most of her 17year career. “It connects them to the community.”

Senior Loren Van Huss, 24, said the sessions helped her learn how to incorporate the activities into the classroom, as well as how to engage the kids and get them learning outside.

“You can tell how passionate these people are,” Van Huss said, referring to the organizers and facilitators.

“They really care about forestry.”

ENTERTAINMENT

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

The Houstonian, Page 5

At the Movies with Kevin:

Greenberg evolves into a close examination of difficult choices Kevin Jukkola Entertainment Editor

“Greenberg” begins by showing Florence, the task masker of a wealthy California family, go through her daily life with ignorance as to where she is going but a vast knowledge of where she has been. We see her smile, possibly so that she won’t cry. Her face is examined closely, as if something can be found in those sad eyes, that fickle skin, which could provide the secret into what causes the pain that drives her to be better and forces an unimpressive reality to be consistently thrown back into her face.

At first, it seems as if the film might be chronicling her journey toward a life of feeling, one filled with sorrow but with happiness as well. We are misled, not because Noah Baumbach, the writer and director, is trying to pull something over on the audience. Instead, he decides to show a person who is attempting to make the best

out of a bad situation because she has no other choice.

Actually, she does. She could choose the life path of Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller), an alcoholic narcissist whose disdain for life is shown by his intolerance of others. This is their story. It is chronicles these two people coming together through these crucial passages in their lives, not knowing that their relationship could lead to his enlightenment and her contentment.

Neither of them knows what they want, but they are certain that this life is far from what they had envisioned. The film is not really about whether they find what they are looking for, but more that they are searching. Change is not possible unless you are first willing to admit something needs to be changed and are then willing to change it.

Everything is seen on the face of these people, which seem decades older than their current ages might suggest.

Ben Stiller has never been more subtle or truthful in

a role, often sacrificing comedy for sincerity during the course of Greenberg’s journey.

Somehow he extracts immense empathy for Greenberg’s plight, which at first seems impossible with a person this perpetually offputting.

At one point, he tries to swim in his brother’s pool, even though he’s not a strong swimmer. This is a microcosm of his daily life, attempting to interact, understand and create relationships with people that he cannot stand.

He does not know what people want from him because he doesn’t know what he wants for himself, stuck in a life he feels dispassion for in a body that is aging to the point of no return. He had great hopes, none of which he has reached, some because of rotten luck, but most are a product of his own selfishness. He loves no one, cares for nothing, complains about everything.

It is a vapid existence, one which seems worse because he makes excuses that seem more like weak pleas for help than legitimate reasons for

Florence (Greta Gerwig), Ivan (Rhys Ifans), and Roger Greenberg (Ben Stiller) sit at the table and talk about the past and present predicaments in “Greenberg”.

Graduate dance artists are ‘Inevitably’ unique Brittany Pires Advertising Relations

Seven graduate dance artists of SHSU had the opportunity of creating dance works to form a uniquely modern experience. The performance was viewed in the AB III Dance Theater on Wednesday, March 31 and Thursday, April 1, at 8 p.m.

Although, the show was free, I would have definitely paid to view the array of dances that ranged greatly from different genres and techniques.

The performance began with “Thaw”, an extremely expressive piece performed by Jamie Zahradnik. Every move displayed deep emotion even with a wordless song, and it was a “visceral and subtly vulnerable solo inspired by self-discovery of the link between human emotion and sensation,” Zahradnik said.

I especially enjoyed the second dance entitled “Sister Quartet.”

Whether the audience was knowledgeable about dance or not, the humor was apparent in the depiction of four sisters and their jealous and almost petty relationship. The short performance, “Will Dance for Applause,” performed

by Matthew Harr, was a satirical and clever piece. Both performances were unpredictable and entertaining.

The “Slow Tango” was a “simple but steamy tangoinspired contemporary Pointe piece,” Zahradnik said. “The piece depicts the emotional and physical relationship between a man and woman in the process of playing with the idea of breaking boundaries that are inevitably crossed.”

It was a pleasant mix of Spanish style dancing and ballet that came together as a beautiful duet with risqué moments.

The Moon River dance performed and

choreographed by Brittany Thetford, and “Flirting with Light” choreographed

by Crystal Lewis, played with the idea of light as props.

Lewis’s piece was the longest piece of the program, but did an excellent job of keeping the audience’s attention. The mechanics of the light may have needed some more rehearsal, in that while one dancer performed, the others were somewhat visible. However, it was not so distracting that the piece was not well done or enjoyable.

The last dance was probably the most untraditional piece of the program. Appropriately named, “Inevitably One Love,” the piece was a replication of a graduate student’s assignment that focused on a group using paint as a means of expression. Upon the start of the piece, I was astonished at the unusual performance, but it was pleasing to watch how the paint metaphorically became the dancers’ “one love.” While one dancer was not present, all eight dancers seemed to act as if they were not performing at all, but merely enjoying their own delightful world of art.

All the costumes were very simple, perhaps not to distract from the performances. This was actually a very smart move, since many dancers do not understand that less is more with costumes, and may hurt their performance if overdone.

The dancers shaped creative routines and quite a few appear to be heading in the right direction with their careers.

Overall, the dance program was a unique experience. As having a background in dance myself, I was expecting performances that were a bit more conventional.

To my surprise, the graduate students definitely utilized their individual tastes in creating their dances.

his failures.

Greta Gerwig, as Florence, is a revelation who knows where the camera is, even if she treats it like an unseen inconvenience. She understands better than most actresses what she needs to show in order to convey something significant about her character’s persona without ever appearing like she is trying. Florence makes tough decisions during the film that could deeply affect her life, and Gerwig assures the audience with the wisdom she piercingly exudes that she has contemplated every course of action and come not to the easiest conclusion, but the right one for her. Gerwig never misses in her portrayal, showing us a woman who seems acutely fragile one moment and incredibly strong the next. Whether this dichotomy is a façade is something that we may never know, but I suspect that Gerwig knows this person and understands her, even if she or we don’t fully understand her ourselves.

Baumbach doesn’t tell the story, he shows it. Through images, both subtle and obvious, Baumbach allows the characters to soak in the information to decipher where their life is headed. He is not afraid to tackle difficult subjects, but he chooses them carefully.

Ultimately, “Greenberg” is about choice. At a crucial moment in film, Greenberg looks intently at an inflatable character, realizing that this could be the turning point in his life. It is blowing with the wind, which is essentially the microcosm of the decision-making process he has used to lead his entire existence. He is looking to be resurrected, even though he has never died. The problem for Greenberg is that to this point he has also never really lived. Sad for a man who seen so much and yet done so little.

Greenberg

Stars: * * * 1/2 Grade: ARunning Time: 107 min.

MPAA: Rated R for strong sexuality, drug use and language.

Cast: Ben Stilller (Roger Greenberg), Greta Gerwig (Florence), Rhys Ifans ( Ivan), Jennifer Jason Leigh (Beth), Brie Larson (Sara), Mark Duplass (Eric).

Written and directed by Noah Baumbach.

Based on a story by Jennifer Jason Leigh and Noah Baumbach.

New shows night after night bring new wrinkle to Thomas Merka Web Editor Based on Aeschylus’s The Suppliant Woman, Big Love is about fifty brides who seek refuge in a villa on the coast of Italy in an attempt to avoid their arranged marriages to their fifty cousins. It will hit the stage Tuesday night as the Sam Houston State University theatre department produces a new take on this classic tale.

While hiding in the villa, chaos and mayhem ensue when the grooms catch up to their brides-to-be, raising issues of love, sexuality, masculinity, feminism and social expectations. The play,

by American playwright Charles L. Mee, centers around three brides and three grooms who all offer their own point of view. Thyona, the epitome of feminist, is betrothed to Constantine, a raging misogynist. Olympia is the stereotypical love-struck girl engaged to the not so bright Oed. Finally, Lydia is

the middle ground between her two sisters, and is betrothed to Nikos, who simply longs for a real connection to his bride.

As the play draws to a close, 49 brides, unable to escape their forced marriages, murder 49 of the grooms, but through it all, one bride manages to fall in love in what Mee says are “about the same odds as today.”

SHSU’s production of Big Love is directed by Dr. David McTier, who is in his fourth year teaching at the university.

“It’s highly theatrical, it’s very fast, it’s very energetic,” McTier said when asked about the show. “There’s some adult component, language wise and sexuality, but nothing that’s too much. I want to show that theatre can be fun, not boring.”

Apart from the compelling nature of the script itself, McTier has added another dimension to the production that’s sure to draw a crowd every night.

“Something that makes it

very different is that the lead roles are double cast,” McTier said. “Every one of the six performances will have a different cast configuration, which means that every night is different.”

The reason behind double casting the show is simple, more opportunity for the actors. McTier also mentioned an abundance of good people for every role and decided to pick two for each part, making each night a new show.

The cast and crew of this production have faced an unusual obstacle in preparing Big Love for it’s big debut.

Over half of the rehearsals were held in a classroom in the Criminal Justice building due to a lack of space in the theatre building, a problem that will be solved next year with the completion of the new performing arts complex.

With murderous brides, an intriguing plot and a double cast twist, Big Love is set to be what McTier describes as “fast and fun and 95 minutes long.”

Big Love will show Tuesday, April 6 through Saturday, April 10 at 8 p.m.

There is also a matinee on Saturday, April 10 at 2 p.m.

The play does contain adult content and language and children under the age of three will not be admitted.

Tickets are $8 for general admission and can be purchased through the University Theatre Center Box Office. Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. to curtain on show days.

Tickets can also be reserved by calling the box office at 936-294-1339.

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian

Big Love. Kristina Kee, Cole Ryden and Calvin Hudson are three actors of the ensemble cast in SHSU theatre’s newest production.

Page 5 The Houstonian

From HOOTEN

Kats Stats SHSU BASEBALL RESULTS

THURSDAY

SHSU 4 Northwestern St. 5 (13)

FRIDAY

SHSU 3 Northwestern St. 10

SATURDAY

SHSU 0 Northwestern St. 14

UPCOMING GAMES TUESDAY, April 6 SHSU at Houston

WEDNESDAY, April 7

SHSU at Texas Southern

STANDINGS

Texas State Southeastern La. McNeese State Northwestern State Stephen F. Austin UT Arlington

9-3 (17-9) 8-4 (24-5) 8-4 (15-11) 7-4 (19-7) 7-4 (17-9) 7-5 (14-14)

Nicholls Lamar Texas A&M-CC UTSA Central Arkansas

5-7 4-8 4-8 3-9 3-9

page 1

Coach Marlin was a cool customer, the laid back type. Hooten’s going to be hollering, fired up and ready to go.

“Coach Hooten is going to bring the fire out of us,” Clavell said with a wide grin on his face. “He knows our strengths and weaknesses and he’s going to tell us what to do. I think it may change a little bit, the way practice is going to run, and the way the game is going to run. But gamewise it’s going to be the same. We’re going to do everything; rebound, play defense especially. So our mindset is ready to play basketball.”

Hooten has worked as an assistant coach for the past 17 years. Before joining the Bearkats in 04, he coached at Tarleton State University where the team posted a 204-111 record during his 11 year tenure. Under the tutelage of Lonn Reisman, who served double duty as Tarleton’s head basketball coach and athletic director,

SPORTS

Hooten was given the opportunity to assume responsibilities that many inexperienced assistant coaches were not exposed to, such as budgeting and scheduling. With time, Reisman grew comfortable enough with Hooten’s work ethic to put more on his plate.

In 2001, Hooten received a phone call from Marlin offering him an assistant coaching position.

Hooten had just gotten married and bought a home, unready to uproot his family life and passed on the offer.

Marlin assured Hooten that he would be making the phone call again someday.

Both of them can be happy with their decisions, as they have been led respectively, to their best career opportunities to date.

The focus for Sam Houston now is to continue the hard work and preparation that have gotten them this far.

The Bearkats will welcome three new recruits next season; a point guard, shooting guard and hybrid player who are considered to be very talented and

promising young players.

Sam Houston still has two scholarships to fill and look for mature players, ready to step up and contribute right away.

The continuity of the program has been protected so no worries for the Bearkats. Hooten was widely favored in the community and amongst the players as the frontrunner for head coach.

His work and progress has been commended at Sam Houston. In 2009, RecruitingRumors.com selected Hooten as one of the top 100 NCAA assistant coaches. Last July, CollegeInsider.com named him Mid-Major Top 25 assistant coaches honorable mention. Coach Hooten’s previous mentoring has prepared him for this moment.

“As far as the program, it’s definitely going to be a difficult job, just as any job is difficult,” Hooten said.

“It’s great to know you’re coming into a program that’s well set and all we’re going to do is pick up where we left off.”

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Cowboys crush Kats

Joe Buvid | The Houstonian

DROPPING IN THE STANDINGS. After their current three-game skid, the Bearkats have dropped from 8th to 10th place in the Southland Conference.

Sam Houston State Sports Information HUNTSVILLE – McNeese State completed a Southland Conference softball series sweep of Sam Houston with a 6-0 victory over the Bearkats Saturday afternoon.

McNeese tallied quickly as Lindsey Langer walked and scored on a triple by second baseman Marissa Koetting. Two batters later, Cowgirl first baseman Heather Mosser was injured after being hit in the face with a throw from an infielder. The game was delayed 25 minutes.

Koetting singled to score another run in the second, bringing in catcher Whitney Corbello who singled and reached second on an

Sam Houston State 6-6 (12-16) (14-13) (17-11) (12-16) (12-14) (8-19)

SHSU SOFTBALL RESULTS

FRIDAY (Game 1)

SHSU 5 McNeese St. 7

FRIDAY (Game 2)

SHSU 5 McNeese St. 7

error.

Corbello singled to lead off the fourth inning. She was singled to third and scored on an infield error by the Bearkats to put McNeese up 3-0.

Alex Corbello led off the fifth inning with a single, reached second on a passed ball and was singled to third by Whitney Corbello.

Koetting walked to score Corbello and Whitney Corbello tallied on a wild pitch. Third baseman Dani Price made it 6-0 with an RBI single in the sixth.

Next action for the Bearkat softball team will be a non-conference doubleheader with Houston Baptist Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Bearkat Softball Complex. SHSU will travel to A&M-Corpus Christi for the team’s next Southland series Saturday and Sunday April 10-11.

SATURDAY

SHSU 0 Northwestern St. 6

Streak ends in Natchitoches

UPCOMING GAMES

Sam Houston State Sports Information

WEDNESDAY, April 7 (DH) Houston Baptist at SHSU

STANDINGS Stephen F. Austin Texas State Nicholls UT Arlington Texas A&M-CC McNeese State UTSA Central Arkansas Northwestern State

13-2 14-4 11-4 10-7 9-9 9-9 8-10 4-10 4-11

(20-8) (19-15) (18-9) (19-16) (23-14) (21-20) (12-24) (14-24) (16-18)

Southeastern La.

2-11

(6-21)

Sam Houston State 4-11 (12-22)

Brian Blalock | Sam Houston State University

ROOTIN’ FOR HOOTEN. The Sam Houston State men’s basketball team is excited about the news of Jason Hooten being promoted to the head coaching position for the Bearkats.

Northwestern State run-ruled Sam Houston 14-0 in seven innings to complete a Southland Conference baseball sweep of the Bearkats Saturday afternoon.

The loss marked only the second time this season the Bearkats have been shut out. Sam Houston lost 4-0 to TCU in the opening game of the season.

The Demons scored four runs in the first inning, four more in the fifth and sixth in sixth inning as Northwestern State totaled 15 hits.

Sam Houston (12-16 6-6 South-

land) produced only five hits. Braeden Riley, Mark Hudson, Tyler Fiebrich, Kevin Miller and Doug Oney collected the only hits for the Bearkats.

SHSU starting pitcher Paul Spinn (1-3) was credited with the loss, giving up eight hits and three walks in four innings. Jordan Westra, Dallas Gallant and Michael Burchett all pitched in relief.

Next action for the Bearkat baseball team are non-conference road encounters with the University of Houston Tuesday and Texas Southern Wednesday. SHSU will host McNeese State in a Southland Conference three-game weekend series beginning next Friday.