The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University Vol 118— Issue 6
Thursday, July 28, 2011
MASH teaches self defense, pg. 3
Stephen Green on how quitting isn’t an option, pg. 2
Photo courtesy of College of Criminal Justice
Photo courtesy of Flickr
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Don aims for Texas coast
By Erin Peterson Editor-in-Chief
Tropical Storm Don, the fourth storm of the 2011 hurricane season, is expected to make landfall on the Texas coast sometime Friday night or Saturday morning. Don’s maximum sustained wind as of Wednesday evening was approximately 40 mph and was moving WNW at 12 mph. In order to be upgraded to hurricane status, a tropical storm must reach maximum sustained winds of 74 mph. Tropical depression status requires winds less than 39 mph. Weather experts hope Don will bring some much needed rainfall to a severely drought-ridden Texas. Currently, Walker County averages 722 on the KeetchByram Drought Index (KBDI), placing it just 78 points below 800, which represents absolute dryness.
Drought conditions begin at 575 on the KBDI. Current conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, with temperuatures in the mid 80s, will allow for Don to grow in intensity. “The United States was fortunate [in 2010]. Winds steered most of the season’s tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines,” Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., of the NOAA, said. “However we can’t count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this abovenormal outlook.” Lubchenco recommends preparing an emergency kit. There are many prepared versions available, but, for those who would like to create their own, there is a list of recommended items available at http://www. ready.gov/america/getakit/ index.html. Stay tuned in to the National Weather Service at weather.gov.
Image courtesy of the National Weather Service
TEXAS BOUND. Tropical Storm Don is bound for the Texas coast. The above map reflects the possible paths of the eye of the storm. Note: the map does not reflect the possible vastness of the storm, only the center of the storm.
Student fights for Japanese program By Erin Peterson Editor-in-Chief
Photo courtesy Karen Miller
PEACEFUL EXCHANGE. Karen Miller (right), former president of the Japanese Culture Club, is campaigning to keep the program active. Photo: Miller with xchange students from Momoyama Gakuin Daigaku, SHSU’s sister school in Osaka, Japan at the Program Council “Hanami” event in the spring.
Garage adopts ticket system By Stephen Green Associate News Editor Several aspects of the Parking and Transportation department will be receiving an overhaul as a result of the new Banner and parking computer systems. The Sam Houston Parking Garage adjacent to the Lowman Student Center has received a new operating system that uses tickets instead of credit cards to enter. Students and staff without parking contracts will still be able to use credit cards to pay for transient parking. However, instead of swiping their card to enter, they will press a button and receive a paper card encoded with the date and time of entry. David Kapalko, assistant parking and transporation director, said the new system is much like the old one, but has some inherent advantages. “These new machines are much better at reading cards than the last ones were,” Kapalko said. “Also, these machines make receiving a receipt optional.” He said one risk with this new method is that customers have to make sure not to lose their ticket. “Once they’ve parked
in an unmarked space they should keep their ticket in their car,” Kapalko said. “If they lose their ticket the police will have to be called to let them out.” For those who wish to buy a parking garage contract may call, or go in person, to the University Police Department to reserve a spot on or after Aug. 16. Currently, there are only 250 reserved parking spaces in the garage and 250 spaces not reserved. Starting Aug. 1 those currently holding parking contracts will have two weeks to renew before they are put into the list to be sold. Kapalko said that parking contracts aren’t for everyone. “If there is a reason to be in that area frequently, it would pay for them to buy a contract,” he said. “But if they have to be in other areas, like the other side of campus, it may be best to just buy a permit.” Permit sales went online Wednesday. In order to purchase or add a permit onto a student fee statement, click on the resources tab in MySam and choose Parking and Transporation. A second change is to the parking appeals process. In the past students had
to appear in person to the Parking Appeals committee in order to resolve a parking ticket. Now, Kapalko said, that won’t be an issue. “Although we hope to get this system running in two weeks or so, they can go online to file a parking appeal,” he said. Kapalko said this will be a more “customer service friendly” method for those students who can’t always make it to the times when Parking Appeals meet. In addition to writing the dispute, ticket recipients can attach photos to the appeal, which Kapalko said can help resolve the issue. However, he said that parking should be much better this year, if the expected enrollment remains flat. “It will be tight for the first couple weeks, because students spend more time on campus,” Kapalko said. “Last year, once we got past Labor Day, there was always space in the coliseum parking.” The only additional parking spaces that have been added during the summer are the 70 spaces behind the Lone Star Residence Hall. Fifty-one spaces were added for the residents of the dorm, and 19 were reserved for faculty and staff alone.
SHSU is contemplating dropping the Japanese program, something that most students aren’t even aware is offered here. “I transferred to Sam after I earned my associate degree just so that I could take Japanese,” senior Karen Miller, communication studies major, said. “I’m moving to Japan next year.” Miller, former president of the Japanese Culture Club, is currently campaigning to keep the program running. “We need more people to sign up for the classes,” she said. Miller says that one of
the biggest obstacles for the program is the way it is listed under the Schedule of Classes in My Sam. “It’s not listed like other foreign languages, like French or Spanish,” Miller said. “Until the language is provided for eight consecutive semesters, it will only be listed under Foreign Languages.” Japanese has been offered since Spring 2009, placing it at the five semester mark. If the program makes at least one class this fall, the program will successfully reach six semesters. “I’m more than willing to tutor anybody,” Miller said. “I love the language and I want to see it stay at Sam Houston.”
Currently, there are 9 students signed up for the Beginning Japanese I class. Depending on the department and level, most classes generally require 10 students for a class to “make,” or run, for that semester. “Japanese is more difficult, more scary than French or Spanish, because there completely different characters to learn,” Miller said. “It has three separate alphabets.” Miller is campaigning online through Facebook to ensure that the program makes the cut this fall. For additional information about the program, search for “Save the SHSU Japanese Program” on Facebook.
“Family” wins big in Houston By Stephen Green Associate News Editor Step aside ‘Social Network,’ there’s a new Facebook movie winning awards in Houston. ‘Family Settings,’ a movie made by Raven Films, won five awards in the Houston 48-Hour Film Project. They included Best Actor, Best Writing, Best Ensemble Acting, Audience Favorite, and Most Improved. Gerald Morris, Jr., the film director and mass communication major, said after five years of participating in the project, that everyone did amazingly. “Everybody really stepped up their game and had a blast representing Raven Films and Sam Houston State University for the Houston leg of the competition,” Morris said.
Morris’ father was not only in the film, but won Best Actor over every movie. “It was his first time ever acting and he constantly brags about how much of a blast it was as well as how impressed he was with how well we all handled ourselves on the film set,” he said. The film, while at first seeming dark and suspenseful, is actually a spoof on horror films and the social media environment that is experienced by some children who have parents on Facebook. “We were most excited when we won Best Writing because of my core group of writers: Kevin Bowden, Alex Scott, Glen Tucker and myself,” Morris said. “We stayed up until 3 AM brainstorming, and I was so proud of them for coming up with such an original idea.”
Scott said the entire process was “crazy.” “We had to make an entire film in a weekend,” he said. “We also had a slight handicap because we had to drive all the way to Houston and back to draw our genre and again to turn the film in.” The awards were not the only bright side to the film for Scott. “Many of the groups we competed against are professionals who have more experience than we do,” Scott said. “It was rather exciting to be in the same league as them.” Scott and Morris both look forward to the competition next year where they will “work extremely hard” to do even better. The film is available on Youtube under the name “Family Settings (HD) – Houston 48 Hour Film Project 2011.”
Kat puts all paws in
Former student to join city council race for Ward 2 By Erin Peterson Editor-in-Chief Katie Newman, former political science student, is throwing her hat into the Huntsville City Council ring, planning to compete for Ward 2. The official filing date for city council candidates
is Aug. 8. Newman has already appointed her campaign treasurer, junior political science major Cristan Shamburger. Ward 2 is currently overseen by Councilmember Mac Woodward, who will no longer be allowed to run after this election, having fulfilled his maximum
number of terms. Therefore, Newman will be running for an empty seat. Huntsville City Council elections will take place on Nov. 8 this year. However, the new wards, which have yet to be determined by the current council, will be disregarded for this year’s election.
Viewpoints
Page 2 Thursday, July 28, 2011
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Thank you, goodbye
David Payne expresses thanks to the SHSU community, shares memories, hopes Dear Editor, yet the volume and As I complete quality of research my 14 year service and publication is as Provost at Sam also significantly Houston State beyond what is University, I would produced at most like to thank the similar universities. university community In addition, you for having made my have taken seriously service a pleasure the charge to serve and for making in your professions, the university the the university, and wonderful place that the community, and it is. made it a hallmark of I have been the university. Your impressed with the work in assisting quality of the students our students to whether studying, become mature serving, or relaxing. engaged citizens is It is rare to find such remarkable. In my a large facility so career I have never David Payne completely free of seen another university Provost and Vice President for graffiti; and rarer to where the faculty Academic Affairs find a university where and administration such a large portion work so cooperatively of the staff, and is critical of the students, staff, and to the character of the and collegially together. faculty would rally to university. This positive working help those displaced by a The secretarial and relationship is one of the hurricane or be involved in other support staff have most critical keys to the the large variety of service been dedicated and success of Sam Houston. projects. We are living skilled, adjusting to the With a strong new our motto “the measure constant changes that President and Provost of a life is its service.” make this a progressive as well as other new and Students, faculty, and staff university. You have done continuing administrators have made Sam Houston an amazing amount of the university is on an State more like a family work and adjusted over upward path and poised than a factory. and over with goodwill for a bright future. We I want to extend a and dedication, and with can all be proud of our special thank you to the compensation that we education at, or association custodial and grounds wish was greater. with, Sam Houston State workers. The campus Finally, I would like University. is always beautiful with to thank the faculty and well planned and cared for administrators that I trees and flowers; and free have worked with. The Thank you all. of the litter and grime that level of teaching at Sam cumbers many campuses. Houston State is rated David Payne It speaks to the civility of as “unusually high” by Provost and Vice President all, the dedication and skill national standards and for Academic Affairs
Paws Up “Paws UP” to the overworked and underpaid editorial and advertising staff of the Houstonian that allowed us to publish this summer.
Today in history: 1794 – Maximilien Robespierre is executed by guillotine in Paris during the French Revolution. 1868 – The 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is certified, establishing African-American citizenship and guaranteeing due process of law. 1914 – World War I: AustriaHungary declares war on Serbia after Serbia rejects the conditions of an ultimatum sent by Austria on July 23 following the assassination of Archduke Francis Ferdinand. 2002 – Nine coal miners trapped in the flooded Quecreek Mine in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, are rescued after 77 hours underground.
“Paws UP” to the US Women’s National Team defeating Japan in the World Cup of Softball.
All comics courtesy Creators.com
“Paws DOWN” to the Southland Conference for predicting SHSU football will finish 4th. We’re #1! “Paws DOWN” to the continued hysterics in Washington over the debt ceiling. We all know it’s just showmanship. Move on.
Paws Down
Don’t be a quitter
Tired of reading my opinions?
Stephen Green says that failing is sometimes the best option
Do something about it!
In a pre-dawn assault on March 6, 1836, about 200 men died in and on the walls of a former Catholic mission. We call it the Alamo. In the face of more than 6,000 Mexican troops, the group decided to stay and “die in these ditches than give it up to the enemy.” We could all take a lesson. Increasingly, I hear about kids quitting high school, quitting college and quitting life altogether. The men at the Alamo didn’t give up. They failed. That may sound bad, but failing isn’t always bad. Their failure at the Alamo paved the way for the Texian Army to eventually defeat Gen. Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, led by Gen. Sam Houston I may add. Had the group left when their scouts and couriers saw Santa Anna’s men approaching, Texas may not have gained its independence. Quitting never solves. It is better to complete a task and either fail or succeed, than quit and not learn anything. We all know the cliché story that Thomas Edison failed 1,000 times before
Stephen Green
Associate News Editor
making the light bulb. When asked about it he said, “I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully learned 1,000 ways not to make a light bulb.” No matter the cliché, the point is made. When I was in the 11th grade, I quit the honors English class because I didn’t feel like reading half of the list, or writing any of the essays. The next day I walked into the regular class, and in no way is this an affront to regular education students, but the teacher was still giving spelling tests on 8th grade words. At that point I realized two things. One, the education system needs a reality check. Second, I was wasting my time. So the next day I walked into the counselor’s office and was immediately switched back into my
old class. What I learned, and was subsequently embarrassed by, was that this was one of, if not my absolute, favorite class in high school. The teacher was smart and hilarious. I also failed more essays in that class than any other. However, the tricks she taught me to use I still think about when writing essays today. She also boosted my will to write, which didn’t hurt my thoughts about a career in journalism. Had I quit after the first week, I would never have learned any of that. I took the risk to fail, which I did quite often, and learn from my mistakes. I still use this train of thought every day. There are good reasons for quitting sometimes; family, health and monetary reasons. But for those who want to quit because it’s too hard, or you hate philosophy, or you would rather sit at home and do nothing. Don’t. There is too much to learn. Knowledge is a terrible thing to waste. Don’t be a quitter. - Stephen is the Associate News Editor of the Houstonian.
Write your own, or write one with a friend, and send it in!
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 communications building. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you as always for your continued support of the Houstonian. Karmen C. King Viewpoints Editor kking@houstonianonline.com
The individual opinions on the Viewpoints page are not necessarily affiliated with the view of The Houstonian or SHSU. The Houstonian is published semi-weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is a news publication of Sam Houston State University, a member of the Texas State University system, and is produced by students. It is self-supporting and welcomes all advertisers. Those interested in placing ads or classifieds should call 936-294-1495. The Houstonian is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.
Sports MASH teaches students self defense Page 3
Thursday, July 28, 2011
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By Zach Birdsong Sports Editor
For the last nine years, Marcus Gillespie, Ph.D., has been a professor at SHSU. On top of teaching in the College of Sciences, Gillespie has also spent his Tuesday and Thursday nights teaching martial arts. Gillespie is the faculty instructor and founder of the Martial Arts of Sam Houston (MASH) club on campus. Since 2002, the recreational sports department has offered a martial arts program to students, faculty and staff. There are different types of Martial arts that include tae kwon do and jiu jitsu amongst others. MASH focuses on hapkido, a Korean based martial art that focuses on self defense. Hapkido uses a series of joint locks, kick, punches and other striking attacks. “Hapkido means ‘the way of coordinated power’,� Gillespie said. “Instead of relying on brute force and brute strength, we go for the weak parts of the body. A lot of what we do involves wrist locks or elbow locks and things like that. Anybody can do it, and
Photo courtesy of Today@Sam
Strking a pose. Professor and instructor of the Martial Arts of Sam Houston club, Marcus Gillespie, performs a self defense move on junior criminal justice major Austin Pomykal. The demonstration was for high school students that attended the SHSU criminal justice summer camp.
you don’t have to be super athletic.� Hapkido is a combination of both tae kwon do and jiu jitsu. “We learn all the same punches and kicks that they do in tae kwon do,� said Gillespie. “And that’s for when you are fighting at a distance. But then sometimes people grab you and you can’t punch and
kick them at a close range. So then you learn jiu jitsu techniques, which are take downs, throws, joint locks and things like that.� Because hapkido uses techniques from both tae kwon do and jiu jitsu, students can enter into competitions. MASH has never sponsored a competition, but some of Gillespie’s students have
Soccer set to win SLC
By Cheval John
Contributing Reporter
The 2011 soccer season is less than a month away and the Bearkat women’s team is more focused than ever. With two playoff appearances in the past two seasons, they are looking to return to the Southland Conference tournament. With the loss of five seniors including the team’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Jenny Pence, they have added seven new players to a potent roster that includes All-Southland Conference players Kirby Zak and Tricia Mallory. “We are in a position that makes us feel that we should win a Southland Conference title,� head coach Tom Brown said. “With the players that are returning and the addition of top quality players, I’m excited about the upcoming season.� The new signees include five freshmen, who were among the top high school seniors in Texas and two transfer students. Each player brings a unique quality to the soccer program. One of the freshman signees, forward Jessica Toms brings a unique scoring ability to the program. The Mabank High School product led her team to the 2010 District Championship and played for the club D’Feeters 93 under coach David Pfiel. The club won the Region
The Bearkat women’s bowling team had two players medal last week in international competition. Freshman Neishka Cardona and future Bearkat in the fall, Elise Bolton, both competed in the 2011 Pan American Bowling Confederation Youth Championship that was held in Santiago, Dominican Republic. Cardona, who is originally from Puerto Rico, represented her home country, while Bolton, represented Team USA. More than 100 bowlers from 16 countries competed in the competition. On the first day, Bolton snagged a silver medal for her performance in the sub20 singles, and Cardona
this is a group that I knew some people in and they told me to come,� Ascio said. MASH isn’t the first martial arts class that Ascio has taken. “I was in karate when I was younger but I got out because I was kind of bored with in that class,� Ascio said. “But it was different coming to this class because you actually learn self defense, and its fun and you meet people.� The recreational sports department provides students, faculty and staff on campus the opportunity to join MASH at an affordable
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New to the team. The 2010 Bearkat women’s soccer team huddles before a game last season. The 2011 team will feature seven new players that include five freshman and two transfer students.
3 Premier League West Championship from 200810. “We expect a lot of good things from her,� Brown said. “She is a top notch player and we feel that she will contribute right away to our program.� The team has also filled the defensive side of the ball with the addition of Hailey Shelpuk. The junior transfer was a two-year starter at Samford University. She helped lead her school to the Southern Conference Tournament Championship game against the University of North CarolinaGreensborough last year, where they lost by the score of 1-0. She was also team captain for the club team D’Feeters 91, where she helped lead them to a first place finish in 2008.
According to Brown, Hailey is an all-around good defender and he is expecting her to step in and be a force for them right away. With Pence graduating, the position for goalkeeper is up for grabs and it will be a battle between senior Michele McCullough and redshirt freshman Mallory Garthwaite. McCullough had a good training overall and is in a good position to take over while Mallory has made significant improvements during the past off season. The team will open their season on the road against the Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas on Aug. 19. The home opener will be on Aug. 21 as they will play host to Houston Baptist. The start time for both games will be at 7 p.m.
finished in third. On the second day Cardona and a teammate from Puerto Rico, took the gold. Bolton and her partner from Team USA finished in sixth. On the last day of competition, Bolton and Cardona met in the finals of the Masters match play. The two competed against each other in a best of three series. Cardona would win the first game 234-212. Bolton was able to win 234-194. In the final and deciding match, Cardona was able to win a close game 236-225. “I’m happy because I made good shots, and I was able to bring home a silver medal for our team,� said Bolton in an interview with bowl.com. “I don’t think there was much else I could
have done in the match. Neishka just bowled great.� Both Bolton and Cardona have worked hard to be able to compete at the international level. “It’s a lot of time and practice on and off the lanes,� SHSU head women’s bowling coach Brad Hagen said. “They are working with certain coaches at certain times for numerous hours on certain individual and specific related skills and topics associated with everything mental and physical.� Both Cardona and Bolton will join their fellow bearkat women teammates when the season starts this fall in October. For more information on the bowling team visit gobearkats.com.
Bowlers compete overseas By Zach Birdsong Sports Editor
entered in to tae kwon do competitions. While students can use their training to enter competitions, which Gillespie encourages, the emphasis on the class is self defense. “I just want people to learn how to defend themselves in case they get into a situation that they don’t have a weapon and there’s nobody there to help them,� Gillespie said. Music Major Noelanimei Ascio has been a part of MASH for two years. “I was looking for a club to join and an outside activity besides music, and
cost. The only fees are a $20 fee at the beginning of each semester and approximately $55 for uniforms and other equipment. Students that are in the class are allowed to sample the class three times before having to pay the fee. Unlike other martial arts academies, Gillespie does not have an instructor’s fee. “Most places you’re going to pay $60-$80 a month right there,� Gillespie said. “But because the university has been so nice to let me use this, I don’t have to pay for rent and I don’t have to pay for electricity. I do it just because I love it. I enjoy working with the students a lot.� The only fees that Gillespie charges students is for testing fees. MASH is both an academy and club and is associated with the American Institute of Modern Hapkido Instruction (AIMHI). Testing allows for students to receive certificates for their training. Testing also allows for students to level up by receiving a different color belt. A white belt indicates the lowest rank while black indicates the highest. MASH meets every Tuesday and Thursday in the Health Kinesiology Center in Multipurpose Room 3. For more information visit the recreational sports department website or email SamHapkido1@gmail.com.
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