The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University Vol 117— Issue 22
Art Gallery, Page 5
Photo courtesy Rachelle Sadler
Crown Classic, Page 4
Jessica Priest | The Houstonian
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Entertainment.............page 5 Viewpoints.................page 2 Special........................page 6 Special........................page 3 Sports.........................page 7 INDEX
The Child
University ready to roll out red carpet
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Criminal Justice student finds salvation after human trafficking nightmare
By Kolby Flowers Senior Reporter Student Activities is hosting the 17th Annual Sammy Awards tomorrow evening in the James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center. The official student award ceremony of the university will begin at 6 p.m. and is hosted annually to recognize outstanding student leaders, organizations, and advisors. Eighteen individual and organizational awards require nominations from members of the University Community at large as well as Sammy Awards. These awards will be presented to approximately four graduating students and faculty/staff members for outstanding contributions and service to the university. Five individual awards representing students from each of the five colleges at SHSU are strictly made from members of the SHSU Faculty within the student’s college and recognize service to his/her college.
Jared Wolf | The Houstonian
BREAKING CHAINS. One SHSU student was among the 27 million people worldwide who are sold into the black market of human trafficking. Eighty percent are women, and almost half are minors. Texas is a hotbed for this criminal enterprise. A quarter of all human trafficking victims in the United States are here, mainly in the Houston area.
By Lauren Adkins Contributing Writer
Breanna Bryant did not grow up like most girls. When she was just three years old, a man broke into her mother’s apartment late at night. He held a gun and an extension cord. He demanded
KATlinks The Nominees are at: http://www.shsu. edu/~slo_sad/sammys/ nominees.html
money. Her mother told him that she couldn't pay him, and he beat her and threatened to electrocute her to death. In fear, Bryant cried out. Her innocent cry of terror saved her mother’s life that night, but the cost was her childhood. She was kidnapped. He took her as a payment for her mother's debt – then he sold
her. So instead of doing all the things young girls take for granted – going to school, making friends, playing with toys and dolls – Bryant was sold into the dark underworld of human trafficking, dramatically altering her life forever. — See CHILD, page 4
Commuters count pennies By Hugo Lopez Contributor Reporter
Students and professors from SHSU, who don’t live in Huntsville, try to find different solutions in order to save money due to the increasing fuel prices. People living in nearby cities like New Waverly and the Woodlands are spending up to a month’s worth
of rent on gasoline. SHSU psychology major Rachel Brass says she spends about $500 a month on gasoline using an Exxon credit card as she drives to school about every day. Brass currently lives in New Waverly with her parents. She has tempted to move into Huntsville as her Prius, which she barely got in December, already has over 10,000 miles.
Other people do not have any problem with the rising gas prices as they find alternative ways of getting here. “I drive a Prius so I don’t spend that much money on gas,” said Assistant Professor of History Jeff Littlejohn who lives in the Woodlands and only drives to Huntsville on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Littlejohn said the reason he lives in the Woodlands is because there are “more opportunities for leisure” and with his wife being a teacher, “Conroe schools offer higher pay to teachers than Huntsville.” Time is his only issue when it comes to living so far away from the campus. — See COMMUTERS, page 4
Sammy Bearkat Debate team sets multiple national champ again records at national tournament
NUMBER ONE. University Mascot, Sammy Bearkat, placed first at the National Cheerleading Association Mascot Competition held in Daytona Beach, Florida for the second year in a row.
Senior Reporter
Sammy the Bearkat placed 1st in the National Cheerleading Association Mascot Competition held in Daytona Beach, Florida for the second year in a row. The Orange Pride Dance Team also placed first in the National Dance Alliance competition for the second year in a row. Brandon Cooper,
assistant director for student activities, traveled with the teams to Florida. “The university is extremely proud of all the teams who competed this weekend,” said Cooper. “It is an amazing accomplishment for our teams to place first two years in a row and it really shows how hard we have worked.” The All Girl Cheerleading Squad also traveled to Florida and placed 3rd in NDA.
Nation & World
Former President Arrested Police forces have arrested former Ivory Coast president, Laurent Gbagbo, whose refusal to accept the results of a presidential election last year has plunged the African nation into civil war. President-elect Alassane Ouattara urged citizens to lay down their weapons and asked the justice minister to start legal proceedings against Gbagbo and his wife. While Gbagbo claimed himself the winner of the Ivorian Election of 2010, the first election in the country in 10 years, Ouattara, along with numerous countries, organizations, and world leaders has claimed victory. Aftershocks continue to devastate Japan A landslide triggered by a 6.4 magnitude earthquake has killed 6 people in Japan. The quake struck at about 8:08 a.m. Tuesday morning (6:08 p.m. Monday CT), according to the US Geological Survey. It had a depth of about 8 miles and was centered about 77 miles east-southeast of Tokyo. Another aftershock, a 6.6 magnitude quake, killed one person in a separate landslide on the same day. Both earthquakes strike exactly one month after the country’s devastating 9.0 earthquake that has killed at least 13,116 people with 14,000 still missing. Burqas banned in France France’s controversial ban on certain kinds of Muslim veils took effect on Monday, April 11, 2011. Two French women, who protested the law, stepping out into the Notre Dame Cathedral in full Islamic face veil, were arrested. According to police, they were not arrested for wearing the veil but for staging an unregistered protest. French police must not forcibly remove the veil but instead give a verbal warning and ask for the woman to identify herself by removing the veil. If she refuses, the officer is then to bring her down to the station for a possible 150 euro fine. Presidential race shaping up as Romney creates committee Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney threw his hat into the ring for the 2012 presidential election on Monday with the announcement that he set up a presidential exploratory committee. This committee will allow Romney to begin to fundraise for the election. As of Monday afternoon, Romney's statement of organization and statement of candidacy are both on file with the Federal Election Commission. Romney is being considered the first real contender for the GOP nomination to take this step. Rebels reject plan to stop fighting in Libya Libyan rebels have rejected a "road map" proposal offered by the African Union to bring an end to the fighting between them and the government of Moammar Gadhafi, stating that they would reject any plan that does not call for Gadhafi's removal and claiming that the proposal does not provide any solution to the violence against the Libyan People, according to Rebel Leader Abdul Hafiz Ghoga.
Photo courtesy of Brandon Cooper
By Kolby Flowers
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Photo courtesy of Adam Key
RAISING THE BAR. (left to right) Back row: Adam Key, Steven Perry, Fabiola Sanchez, Stephen Green, Lotis Butchko, Bekka Frizzell, Bob Trevino Front row: Ashley Olson, Devon Hernandez, Clayton Goss, Holly Lindsey, Sara Harrigan, Cathy Luzadas.
By Meagan Ellsworth Editor-in-Chief
The Speech and Debate team won several national titles and set multiple new records at the International Public Debate Association National Tournament this weekend at Stephen F. Austin State University.
Clayton Goss, Criminal Justice junior, defeated University of Arkansas at Monticello student Chris Brown to win the tournament in the varsity division. The round took place at the awards banquet and allowed 15 different universities to cast ballots
to determine the year’s national winner. Goss won with a decisive 13-2 vote. Goss was also 4th place speaker at the tournament and earned the varsity season-long national championship for the second year in a row. — See DEBATE, page 4
Government shutdown narrowly avoided In an effort to hold off the governmental shutdown, lawmakers announced that they had reached a deal on how to fund the government through Oct. 1. However, they instead voted on a one-week extension that would slash $2 billion in spending from transportation and housing programs. Lawmakers passed the one-week bill because the larger compromise measure hadn't been written yet. The compromise was not available at press time.
Viewpoints
Page 2 Tuesday, April 12, 2011
houstonianonline.com/viewpoints
Letter: Pageant didn’t objectify Daniel Owens disagrees with Kendall Scudder’s statement Editor’s note: Due to spacial limitations the third of four points was removed from publication. The entire article is available online. I think you owe SGA Chief of Staff Kendall Scudder a huge apology. Either you gave him horrible quotes in the “Molding Women” article or the young man cannot make a sound argument. Of course, my previous statement was a false dilemma, which seems to be familiar to Mr. Scudder. Scudder stated that he is against the Miss Sam Houston Pageant because it places women in a box and treats them like stencils. Somehow, from this premise, he arrived at the conclusion that the selectivity of the pageant (only single, never married, non-mothers) and its actions deprive many women of the opportunity to be great leaders. Personally, I have no opinion about the pageant but I am amused that our chief of staff lacks the ability to reason. First off, since when does the Miss Sam Houston Pageant stifle the success of women in society? I would like to know what statistical evidence or objective data he has read to produce his convictions that beauty pageants harm female mobility. Second, Mr. Scudder states that women hold too much merit in society to be treated like stencils. I believe he is arguing from the hidden premise that all women are equally physically beautiful. This premise has a tendency to coincide with irrational reasoning and liberal ideology and tries to make everyone even. The truth is that not all people are physically beautiful in equal proportions. It is ok to admit this. There are actual aesthetical principles which can be used to identify what is beautiful and what is repulsive. These principles help explain why straight teeth are more attractive than crooked teeth (it has
to do with symmetry and proportions). There is no doubt that multiple outlets have abused the female image and created massive damage to the female selfesteem. However, the answer to this atrocity is not dismissing the physical beauty of some women in order to make other women feel good about themselves. Instead, I believe it is embracing all beauty, whether physical, intellectual, spiritual, etc. to their fullest extent. I do not see the depravity in celebrating the physical beauty of our Sam Houston women who are physically attractive and promoting their self-esteem nor do I believe that this celebration creates a stencil for other women to fit. If you are to argue against embracing physical beauty for the sake of others’ self esteem, please argue against women displaying intellectual beauty so that less intelligent women won’t feel dumb. Or for that matter, so I won’t feel inadequate in English classes. Finally, Mr. Scudder suggests that it is unfair for the pageant to be open to a select group of girls, as previously noted. His reasoning, however, is because those who are are not part of that criteria still deserve the same opportunities of great leaders. His conclusion has no relation to his premise and produces a non-sequitur. How is the Miss Sam Houston Pageant preventing married mothers from receiving great leadership opportunities? The pageant and its outcome have no effect on the lives of those who do not participate. The pageant only benefits those who fall within their parameters and does nothing to negate from those who are excluded. Mr. Scudder’s conclusion does not make sense unless you add in a hidden premise that is it not politically correct to exclude a divorced woman or an unmarried pregnant woman and this lack of political correctness
Niqab ban is bad Karmen King wants France to
restore the rights of Muslim women Editor’s note: Column available in its entirety on The Houstonian website. For weeks now, some of you have seen me writing about issues in the Middle East, but today I’m going to write on a new topic, women’s rights. More specifically, France’s ban on women wearing the burqa or niqab. On Monday, France began its enforcement of the ban on women wearing full face coverings. For those of you not sure the difference between a hijab and the burqa or niqab, I’ll explain it to you. The hijab is the most commonly seen outward sign of Muslim women, and only covers the
hair and sometimes neck of a woman. A niqab adds to this a face veil and only the eyes of a woman are seen. The burqa includes a screen that covers even the eyes. Some people say that this ban is for security reasons, and they have a point. But it can also be seen as blatant discrimination of one small minority within a larger minority. It is estimated that this ban in France only affects 2000 women, so why even bother? It seems that politicians in France are using this issue to create or exploit a culture of fear so that they can raise their sagging polling numbers. But, how is that fair to the women it
will only harm their status in society. If this is the case then Mr. Scudder has turned his non-sequitur into a fallacious slippery slope. The conduction of a beauty pageant does not necessarily mean noneligible women will decline in social acceptance. It seems Mr. Scudder has based his belief solely on bad ideology and unfound reason. If he desires to be politically active then he should learn that political correctness is not a reliable foundation for political conviction. In conclusion, it amuses me that Mr. Scudder is on the SGA Chief of Staff and produced these quotes in The Houstonian. It is somewhat alarming that a leader of our student body would speak out on a topic
like this without any valid reason for his convictions. I believe this also reveals the lack of logic behind liberal ideology and absolute political correctness. Mr. Scudder’s attempt at an argument reflects the erroneous attitude that we are to make everyone equal at the expense of what makes each other different. For future reference Mr. Scudder should turn off the CNN and pick up a logic book before taking stances on topics he knows nothing about. If not, then I look forward to seeing him in a Democratic primary one of these days.
-Owens is an alumnus of SHSU who graduated in December 2010.
Comedy Corner All cartoons courtesy of creators.com.
Have a question for the Houstonian Staff? Would you like to respond to an article or advice column? Email the Houstonian and we will respond to you! Contact sgreen@ houstonianonline.com for more information regarding responses or for any questions regarding the newspaper. affects? Hint: It’s not. Recently, British politician and leader of the UK Respect Party, Salma Yaqoob, was interviewed on al-Jazeera’s Frost Over the World program and had this to say, “what I take exception to is a state law being brought in to tell women what they can wear or what they can’t wear. My question is: where do we draw the line? One day we are banning a woman
covering her face, when do we start measuring how long or short her skirt is? No one has a right to tell a person what they may or may not wear. No one has the right to make a woman go against her personal religious convictions. No one has the right to make this decision for those 2000 women who now live in fear in France. - Karmen is a recurring columnist.
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Conspiracy, bullying of the Student Senate
Anonymous asks for representatives to stand up Editors note: Because of the Supreme Court ruling, no candidates exist any longer. Information supplied refers to previous applicants for the position. This article was also cut in order for it to fit publication, it is available online in it’s entirety. What happens when those elected to represent the students are not allowed to be their voice? What happens when faculty members decide they know what is best for the students, without listening to the students? Well, we might soon know if current events and actions are not stopped. I attend the SGA meetings very regularly and until recently there seemed to be no hindering issues. But since election time has come forward, I can feel a change in attitude of the organization. All of a sudden, when you walk into the office, everyone is looking and coming off a bit defeated. This is to be expected. It seems like the entire organization is being bullied by a few members of the administration, as well as facing a huge conspiracy to be taken over by a few members of Greek organizations. It’s time to call this type of stuff out for what it is. For those of you who don’t know, the organization has been facing repeated appeals over the past weeks from Mariel Kanene, a presidential candidate, and the rest of his hopeful executive ticket, Meagan Lee, Jake Price, Ahmed Adewodu, and some guy whose last name is Milburn. The petitions attack every step the organization puts forth and then is forwarded to their Supreme Court who OBVIOUSLY doesn’t know their own rules. In the first petition the election code was claimed to be unconstitutional because it was vague; they were told to go back and specify the vagueness, did so with much swiftness, and passed it again. The second time the petition was granted because it was enacted too late. HOW IS THAT when they were just doing what they were told? It seems like even when they follow direction, they’re still wrong. Now they’ve tried to do exactly what was asked of them by the Supreme Court and the issuers of the injunctions and that’s still not good enough. Their adviser is interfering by telling them when THEIR elections will be held during one session regardless of if it’s what the organization sees fit for the betterment of our student life or not, and notably regardless of if the organization even has rules
concerning the number of elections that can be held in an academic year. Here’s the kicker: if they do what the court and their adviser is forcing them to do, that will be unconstitutional, and if they don’t, they’ll be reprimanded by their adviser as well as the Vice President for Student Services. What is wrong here? They can’t win for losing although they keep on following the rules. Instead, certain groups of people are granted the upper hand. They haven’t been the ones struggling all year. They haven’t been the ones doing what was best for us. They just want to run for positions which none of them are seemingly qualified for in the first place. The administration is sticking their noses in STUDENT government, and ultimately it’s hindering the organization from doing what’s right for the rest of us. Who’s going to pull up the law that states that faculty members can’t interfere with the voices of the students? I’ve witnessed this group of kids put this organization in front of school work and other organizations. They work for us and all they get in return for following their own rules is a middle finger, a slap on the wrist, a kick to their guts, and whore checked as soon as what they feel is best for the students is outside of the norm. Bottom Line: I feel like the faculty members involved need to take a big step back and allow these students to do what they’ve been elected to do, LEAD. If they fall on their faces, give them the chance to learn and let them possibly be the example (good or bad) to the next group. People keep asking the students how we feel, but regardless, it seems like the faculty doesn’t care; they’ll instead take all the avenues from us that actually give us the opportunity to be independent of their ruling and turn it into what THEY want to see...not us. I thought the students were what mattered? I guess I was wrong. Bullying and conspiracy seems to be the thing and something’s starting to stink. Is it our faculty? I’d say so. As a member of the student body, I call on my representatives to stand up for yourselves!! Do what you think is right, not what the faculty says for you to do every single time. Do what you were elected to do...we did not put each of you in these positions to make friends. We want leaders...not puppets!
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. Stephen Green Viewpoints Editor sgreen@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) 294-4864. The Houstonian is a member of the Associated Press and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.
News
Page 4 Tuesday, April 12, 2011
SGA postpones election houstonianonline.com/news
By Erin Peterson Associate News Editor
The student supreme court ruled in opposition of the Student Senate in Friday’s closed meeting, . The court reviewed two appeals, read documents from the parties who filed the appeals and heard testimonies from Mariel Kanene, Dean John Yarabeck, SGA Chief of Staff Kendall Scudder and SGA Vice President A. Rene McKelvey. The first appeal, which argued that the SGA Election Code, Article XIII, Sections A through D, the section that clarified the requirements for Student Senate and Executive Board candidates, was upheld on the basis that it did not “[ensure or maintain] constitutional integrity” or “[ensure] fundamental faireness.” The second appeal, filed by Jake Price against SGA Rules and Procedures,
specifically the Court Mandate Clause, which would remove members of the faculty from the Student Supreme Court, and the Judicial Procedure Reform Act, which called for the transparency with all SGArelated courts, meaning the Student Supreme Court and all of the lower courts decided upon by the Student Supreme Court must have open meetings except for in extreme cases. This appeal was upheld on the basis that “attempts to regulate the manner in which the Court holds its proceedings are a serious violation of the implied ‘separation of powers’ as defined in our United States and Student Government Association’s constitutions. The [Student Senate] has the power to appoint and approve whomever it chooses as Supreme Justices, and that is where the system of ‘checks and balances’ [exists].” The Student Senate and
Executive Board expressed its disappointment at the Student Supreme Court’s latest ruling. “I believe that it is safe to say that the vast majority of the [Student Senate] will yet again be disappointed by the Supreme Court’s ruling, although we met their criteria from the last ruling,” Vice President A. Rene McKelvey said. “However, we will continue pushing forward with the proper steps we feel are necessary to carry out a one of the many goals of this organization; that is to provide sound, steadfast and supreme leadership for our students accompanied by efficient and documentbounded methods to do so.” McKelvey also hopes to avoid roadblocks like this in the future. “We will be taking our steps even more cautiously but in the end will still move forward with what is right for the [entirety] of the student body . . . not just
Students “ring” in the celebration By George Mattingly Contributing Reporter Students took the next step toward graduating Thursday night as they walked across the stage at Austin Hall to receive their class rings as a “daily, tangible reminder of accomplishment.” University President Dana Gibson spoke to students and their families at the ceremony and commended students for reaching this important milestone in their college careers. “The official ring of Sam Houston is reserved for students in good standing who have completed 75 hours,” she said. “This means these students are on track for graduation.”
From CHILD page 1
“The next two and a half years of my life were horrific," said Bryant, now a junior Criminal Justice major as Sam Houston State University. “I was taken 17,000 miles away from my home and lived among a few other girls. But this group home was much different than any other I had been to. We were conditioned to do what we were told, to satisfy the gruesome desires of men. My identity, value and innocence were stolen from me.” There are 27 million people worldwide who are sold into the black market of human trafficking. Eighty percent are women, and almost half are minors. Texas is a hotbed for this criminal enterprise. A quarter of all human trafficking victims in the United States are here, mainly in the Houston area. Recently the I-10 corridor between El Paso and Houston was identified as the main human trafficking route, and Houston is recognized as one of the main hubs and destinations for traffickers, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A “Hot Topics” discussion on human trafficking is being held on campus at the Lowman Student Center Theatre from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The discussion features several panelists, including Kathryn Griffin-Townsend, founder of “We’ve Been There, Done That,” a non-profit organization in Houston that rehabilitates women who were victims of sex trafficking. The panel will answer questions and inform students on human trafficking and prevention efforts. Individuals are lured into human trafficking by a promise of a good job in another country, a false marriage proposal turned into a bondage situation, being sold into the sex trade by friends or family, or being kidnapped by traffickers, according
As each student walked across the stage, they were handed a scroll and photographed with Gibson before receiving their rings. “It feels amazing to have my ring,” senior Brooke Bryant said. “I am really happy; I was about to cry walking across the stage.” For many students, receiving a ring was a well-deserved reward for the long hours of classes, tests, presentations and homework. “I put 120 hours of classes into this ring,” said Bryant, “Now, I’m two steps closer to graduating.” More importantly, it brought them closer to their ultimate goal of walking across the stage to receive a degree.
to Concerned Women for America, a Christian women’s organization. Many people, such as Bryant, are also sold to fake adoption agencies. This is a dark trade, and it involves many dirty professionals such as judges, brokers, and social service workers. “A year after I was sold by the man who kidnapped me, I was sold to a black market adoption agency,” Bryant said. “A couple that did not meet the requirements for a legal adoption took me in immediately. For the next year and a half I was brain washed to think this was my family. Looking back, nothing about this family seems normal. I didn't attend school or really have friends. The only person my age I remember was ‘my cousin.’ I now wonder if she was in the same situation as me.” After two and half years, Bryant said someone made a mistake and the family’s secret was exposed. “My biological grandfather had hired a detective to find me, and somewhere along the line, someone accidently leaked, and by the grace of God, it traveled back to my grandpa,” Bryant said. “It took several months for my family to track me down and fight to get me back.” Victims of human trafficking can suffer from physical, emotion and social trauma. They have difficulty sleeping, nightmares, involuntary bedwetting, eating disorders and chronic stress. They can have difficulty readjusting to society, low self esteem and experience depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other psychological disorders, said Katia Shkurkin, a sociology professor at St. Martins University, Wash., presenting at a human trafficking conference. Bryant said she has severely struggled with PTSD and a distorted selfimage ever since she was rescued. “I was a mess. After so many years of being raised in corruption, how
could I begin to learn any different?” Bryant said. “I had to be taught what was appropriate behavior for a child. I suffered severally from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and fear had its grip on me. I was afraid of the night, anyone getting close to my face, and especially having the feeling of being suffocated. None of these things go away over-night and still the consequences of these events live with me. Bryant said she couldn’t bear to look into a mirror because her low self-esteem made her disgusted by who she was. She thought she was worthless until a divine inspiration led to healing. “The Lord came into my life,” Bryant said. “He taught me that forgiveness is choosing freedom instead of holding onto a burden of bitterness and shame. It is by no means saying that what someone did to me was okay, but it was handing over the responsibility for justice to God. Going through the process of healing was very difficult. It was like cleaning a wound. You can’t just stick a bandage over a deep wound; it has to be clean and bound. Jesus wrapped himself around my wound, around my heart. I am no longer a victim of heinous crime. I am a child of God.” Today Bryant is devoted to making a difference for women and children who are victims of human trafficking through rescue and rehabilitation. “I want to build a home for them that is welcoming, a place where they can find refuge and overcome this burden,” Bryant said. In addition to the Hot Topics panel, the film “Holly: Human Trafficking, a 12-year-old’s story” will be shown on campus Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and Wednesday through Thursday at 5 p.m. All screenings will be in CHSS 130. The SHSU Political Engagement Project and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences are hosting the events.
portions.” As a result of the upheld appeals, the Student Supreme Court also ruled that the 2011 election be moved to another date, which has yet to be determined. Tonight’s Student Senate meeting will set another date for the election. “By meeting time, we should have it decided as to when we’re going to have our election,” McKelvey said. This change in date, McKelvey said, will allow for a change in the voting format for the constitutional referendums. The previous election format would have called for the referendums to voted on in an all-ornothing basis, meaning that the student body would have to accept all of the referendums or none of them. “I think it will more fair to the students for us to set it up that way,” McKelvey said.
Those wishing to campaign for positions in SGA, must turn in their applications in to LSC 326 by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 18, according to the SGA website. Those who have previously turned in an application do not need to turn in a new application. Anything turned in after 5 p.m. will be disregarded. The mandatory meeting for candidates wishing to run is on Tuesday, April 19 at 5 p.m. in LSC 326. Those who will be unable to attend will need to submit a letter to the SGA office in LSC 326 by 5 p.m. on Monday, April 18. Additional information regarding the changes in the 2011 SGA Election will be provided at tonight’s general meeting at 6 p.m. in LSC 320. For live coverage of tonight’s meeting, catch the link to our live blog on The Houstonian’s Facebook page.
Crown Classic
Daily UPD Activity April 10, 2011 Officer met with complainant in the North Sorority Hill parking lot in reference to a criminal mischief report. Complainant stated that he found his rear driver’s side window shattered (113531). Officer met with male student complainant who reported that an unattended backpack was stolen while in the Newton Gresham Library (located at 1830 Marks Drive). The back contained numerous items of value (113519). A male Huntsville resident was arrested in the 1800 block of Sycamore Avenue during a traffice stop for outstandng warrants of arrest (113525). Officer met with complainant who reported that a University vehicle was damaged while at another university on a student activity trip. Damage to the vehicle appears to have been caused by another vehicle striking it (113527). April 8, 2011
Photos courtesy of Rachelle Sadler
CHIPPING IN. Zeta Tau Alpha hosted the 11th Annual Crown Classic Golf Tournament to raise money to donate towards breast cancer education. Above (left to right): sophomore Leslie Ukandu, freshman Rachel Wickman, senior Marisa Eaves. Below: junior Alexa Haas, sophomore Lizzie Jarvis, junior Elissa Alonzo
From COMMUTERS page 1
Assistant Professor Tracy Steele, Ph.D., says she carpools with other professors from the Woodlands to SHSU in order to save money. There are several resources out there showing how you can save money. Fuel credit cards allow you to save a few cents per gallon at different gasoline stations, and at the end of the month those cents add
From DEBATE page 1
His victory at the national tournament marks the first time any student has won both varsity national titles. In addition, Goss set a new record for varsity seasonlong national points with 77, breaking the previous record that he set the previous year. “It is still surreal,” Goss said. “I was blessed all year to be surrounded by individuals that cared to see me succeed. My success is truly because of their support.” Sara Harrigan, Marketing senior, set a record of her own. By earning 8th place in varsity season-long standings, she became the first person in the history of IPDA to be ranked within the top ten varsity competitors during their first year of competition. At the national tournament, Harrigan had the best preliminary round record of any member of the
up to a pretty dollar. Wal-Mart will give you a discount if you buy from their pumps with their gift card and you can get an additional discount by swiping a Sam’s membership card. There are also several phone applications and websites that show the cheapest Gasoline stations all around the U.S. like Gasbuddy.com, Fuel Finder and Cheap Gas. The information in these apps are updated by people in the area. SHSU team and was an octafinalist. “Thank you to my little boy, my family, my friends, and my team for all of your support,” Harrigan said. “I love you all.” Head coach Adam Key brought home the third national title of the 20102011 season by winning the professional division season-long national title. The team itself took multiple season-long awards including 5th place in varsity, 3rd place in professional, 2nd place in team, and 4th place in the overall Founder’s Cup. Sam Houston’s debate team is no stranger to victory on a national level. This is the second year the team has taken both varsity national titles, with Communication Studies senior Jeremy Coffman winning the national tournament in 2010. Key won the national tournament in the professional division the same year. In addition, the team of Key and Coffman won the season-
A female Huntsville resident was arrested in the 3000 block of Highway 30 for the offense of Public Intoxication (113409).
Campus Calendar Tues., April 12: - 12th Annual Juried Student Exhibition - 1 p.m. - Operation Graduation Bootcamp LSC 315 - 6:30 p.m. - Baseball v. Houston - Don Sanders Stadium - 7:30 p.m. - Piano Studio Recital - PAC Recital Hall Wed., April 13: - 12th Annual Juried Student Exhibition - 6 p.m. - 2011 Sammy Awards - PAC Concert Hall - 6:30 p.m. - Softball v. Texas A&M - Softball Field - 8 p.m. - “Into the Woods” - Erica Starr Theater
Please recycle your copy of The Houstonian long national championship in the team division and the university took the seasonlong team championship. This brings the total number of national titles won by Sam Houston in the past two years to eight. “If we keep going like this, we’re going to need a bigger trophy case,” Key said. “I am forever impressed by the talent and dedication of the members of this team.” As the season comes to a close, the team is also preparing to bid farewell to one of its own. Harrigan, having accomplished record-breaking successes during her first year of competition, is graduating in May. “You can never replace Sara Harrigan,” Key said. “She set out to do what many people said was impossible and she never gave up. When she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman someday, I can only hope that her time on this team played some part in it.”
Arts & Entertainment Yale-trained juror to pick top artist
Page 5
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
houstonianonline.com/entertainment
By Jessica Priest
Web and Multimedia Editor
In the center of the Gaddis Geeslin Art Gallery, a large statue looms overhead. It’s no ordinary structure either. Akin to the shape of a dragon or dinosaur, it’s constructed entirely out of plastic Easter eggs, which give off an eerie shine as a spotlight casts down upon it. Students routinely give it a second glance while passing through in between classes. “This is pretty cool,” Todd Jackson said, leaning closer to the tower, which a gallery organizer says leans a little to the left more and more each day. Jackson, an studio art major, is visiting the Art Department’s 12th Annual Juried Student Exhibition to admire the work of his classmates, and the gallery has no shortage of it. “We’ve had a great turnout this year,” Debbie Harper, the visual resources
Jessica Priest | The Houstonian
coordinator, said. “We have 63 entries, but some could be duplicates or submitted by the same student.” Indeed the exhibit boasts a variety of artistic talent with mixed media, such as a key hook made out of plastic fingers, an origamilike globe cut out of a book and silverware suspended curiously from the ceiling, works that are not altogether uncommon for the mind of a creative art student. But not everyone’s work is accepted. In order to submit art, one must be a current SHSU art student. Submitting more than three pieces of art is not allowed. There are other factors considered as well. A committee composed of three members and headed by Annie Strader, a ceramics professor, also reigns over the show. It whittles out the submissions and contenders, often overlooking misshapen scribbles for what they deem as difficult, deep
artwork, Harper said. “They really do try to put something from everyone in the gallery if possible,” she said, “but they also don’t want to leave out any of the works that really need to be in there. So, they do pre-pick basically… It’s just like any show. Anyone can enter, but not everyone gets in.” But the committee doesn’t have the final say, contest-wise. That will be the job for this year’s guest juror, Josephine Durkin, she said. Durkin, who graduated with an M.A. in sculpture from Yale University, is responsible for determining the winners of the exhibition. And the process by which she comes to this conclusion is very much up to her, Harper said. “It’s different each time,” she said. “We’ve had some jurors come in and pick first, second and third place, and then we’ve had some that come in and divide it
into categories.” Harper said that the department felt that bringing in a guest judge would effectively eliminate any bias committee members, who are often the art faculty members working directly with the students who submitted work into the show, may unconsciously experience. “[Guest jurors] come in with a fresh eye, and they don’t know the students,” Harper said. “I think the students like that, because they know their professors have a certain lean toward their favorites. This just gives them [an opportunity to have their work judged] by someone not in the loop, someone they don’t know.” After Durkin makes her final choice, the Art Department will dole out the cash prizes to winners at its discretion, Harper said. Still, she said, win or lose, the quality of a piece of art is often up for interpretation and in the eye of the beholder. One goal of this year’s juried exhibition was to ensure that and the students’ and viewers’ who frequent the gallery voices did not go unheard. “It’s always just someone’s opinion … [and] sometimes artists get pieces picked that they don’t necessarily think was their best work,” Harper said, “so the students, faculty and community can come buy and pick their favorite piece. They get one vote, and they can put it into a box that says ‘People’s Choice’… I don’t know what prize [the winner] will receive, but Bearkat Books will supply it.” “People’s Choice” voting is set to end on April 20, the day before the exhibition
Jessica Priest | The Houstonian
INTERESTING ART. Above: Todd Jackson, a senior studio art major, admires Untitled by Evangeline Jacobson. It’s a statue made entirely out of plastic Easter eggs. Left: An origami-like globe cut out of a book sits on a table at the 12th Annual Juried Student Exhibition.
closes its doors. Overall, Harper said, students who submit work to the show have a greater advantage and more experience than those who do not. “Anytime you’re in a show it’s really good for your resume. They can also look at what their other fellow students are doing,” Harper said. Durkin will also give a lecture about her artwork and technique on Tuesday, April 12 from 5 to 6 p.m. in the Art Building E, Room 108. For more information about this artist, visit her web site at www. josephinedurkin.com. 12th Annual Juried
Student Exhibition is open Monday through Friday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. It will conclude on April 21, following a reception from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the gallery where the show’s winners will be announced. The Gaddis Geeslin Gallery is located in Art Building F, Room 101. It serves as the educational gallery of the university and typically features local, state and national artists as well as student-submitted works. For more information about the Art Department or to learn about its upcoming events, please visit its web site at www.shsu.edu/~art_ www.
Over the river and “Into the Woods” By Thomas Merka
Entertainment Editor
Audience members will explore what happens after “ever after” during the SHSU Theatre Department’s presentation of James Lapine’s “Into the Woods” Wednesday through Saturday. The musical features lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and will begin at 8 p.m. each evening, with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee, at the University Theatre Center’s Erica Starr Theatre. Directed by SHSU theatre faculty member David McTier, “Into the Woods” is a musical re-telling of Brothers Grimm fairy tales that reintroduces a cast of familiar characters from “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk,” “Rapunzel” and “Cinderella.” The cast includes
musical theatre majors Adrian Anderson, Dominic DeFelice, John Ryan Delbosque, George Garcia, Brittany Halen, Mark Ivy, Adrianna Jones, Garrett Line, Chris Martin, Michael McClure, Kelly Peters, Molly Pierce, Kate Rose, Cole Ryden, Colleen Trotter, Kim Truncale, and Danielle Turner, as well as theatre majors Allegra Fox and Hunter Frederick. Designers include theatre faculty members Eric Marsh (lighting), Christa Seekatz (set), and Kristina Hanssen (costumes), as well as senior theatre major Josh Fehrmann (sound). In addition, theatre pool faculty member Kelly Martin is music director, dance faculty member Jonathan Charles is choreographer, and junior theatre major Sara Means is stage manager. Tickets are $15 for
general admission and $12 for SHSU students and senior citizens. Group rates are available. Children under the age of three will not be admitted. For more information, call the University Theatre Center Box Office at 936294-1339.
What: “Into the Woods” Where: Erica Starr Theatre When: Wednesday - Saturday, 8 p.m. and 2 p.m. matinee performance on Saturday Tickets: $15 general admission, $12 SHSU students and senior citizens
Upcoming Events Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Piano Studio Recital: at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. For more information, call the School of Music at 936294-1360.
The 17th Annual Sammys: at 6 p.m. in the Performing Arts Concert Hall. For more information, call Brandon Cooper, associate director for Student Activities, at 936-294-3466.
Clarinet Studio Recital: at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center Recital Hall. For more information, call the School of Music at 936-294-1360.
Sam Houston State University’s Official Student Award Ceremony
The 17 Annual th
2011 Emcee
Ashly Poyer 2011 Announcer
Erik Baine Johnson
2011 Emcee
Cody Wall
ALL SHSU STUDENTS, FACULTY & STAFF INVITED
04.13.11
6:00 P.M. Concert Hall
James & Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center shsu.edu/~slo_sad/sammys For more information contact Student Activities at 936.294.3861 or sammyawards@shsu.edu
Sam Houston State University A Member of The Texas State University System
Sports
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Tuesday, April 12, 2011 twitter.com/HoustonianSport
houstonianonline.com/sports
Kats tennis protects home court
Sam Houston State won its final home matches over the weekend, blanking Central Arkansas 7-0 Saturday, defeating Northwestern St. 4-3 Sunday Amy Turek Contributing Reporter
Photos courtesy of SHSU Athletics
IT TAKES TWO No. 3 Imke Jagau and Natalie
Petaia won 8-4 a gainst Central Arkansas. Against, Northwestern St. they fell 8-0
HUNTSVILLE - The Lady Bearkat tennis team split home conference matches this weekend against Central Arkansas and Northwestern State. The Lady Bearkats swept Central Arkansas on Saturday. Doubles No. 1 Nadya Dubyanskaya and Tatyana Postnikova won 8-5; Doubles No. 2 Cally Woerner and Sheridan Currie won 8-6; and Doubles No. 3 Imke Jagau and Natalie Petaia won 8-4. In singles, No. 1 Jagau won 6-0, 7-5; No. 2 Postnikova won 6-1, 6-4; No. 3 Dubyanskaya won 6-3, 6-2; No. 4 Currie won
6-1, 7-6; No. 5 Anrinette Botha won 6-4, 6-2; and No. 6 Petaia won 6-1, 6-0. On Sunday, the Lady Bearkats were edged out by Northwestern State. The Lady Bearkats dropped the doubles point after winning only one of three doubles matches. The win came from No. 1 Dubyanskaya and Postnikova, who won 8-6. Doubles No. 2 Woerner and Currie lost 8-3 and Doubles No. 3 Jagau and Petaia lost 8-0. In singles, No. 1 Jagau lost 6-2, 6-2; No. 2 Postnikova won 6-3, 6-4; No. 3 Dubyanskaya lost 7-6, 6-2; No. 4 Currie won 6-4, 6-3; No. 5 Botha won 6-4, 7-6; and No. 6 Petaia lost 6-3, 6-4. “I was very proud of
how well the team fought against a very high quality opponent,” SHSU Head Coach Jim Giachino said. “If we can just grow a bit more in the next 3 weeks, I think we can finish the year on a very positive note.”
The loss on Sunday dropped SHSU to a 4-5 conference record. They are currently seventh in conference standings. The top eight teams advance to the Southland Conference tournament.
SERVE. No. 2 Tatyana Postnikova (above) won 6-1, 6-4 in her match against CentralArkansas. Against Nortwestern St., she won 6-3, 6-4
Riley highlights series win for Kats Brandon Scott
bscott@houstonianonline.com
Senior shortstop Braeden Riley went 4-for-5 at the plate with 2 RBIs to power Sam Houston past McNeese State 11-5 Sunday afternoon at Cowboy Diamond. The win gave the Kats a series victory over the Cowboys, upping Sam Houston to 22-12 for the season and 8-7 in Southland Conference action. Riley came into the weekend series with the Cowboys in a slump with only two hits in the last six games. But the Woodville product went 7-for-13 in the McNeese series. The performance ups his career
hit total to 262, which moves Riley within 10 hits of passing Terry Pirtle to become Sam Houston’s alltime total hits leader. Pirtle produced 271 career hits from 1984 to 1987. Freshman and Huntsville local product Caleb Smith replaced starter Brent Powers in the second inning, giving up four hits in the final seven innings and striking out seven Cowboys to better his record at 3-0 for the year. McNeese jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. But a two-run single by third baseman Kevin Miller and an RBI single by Riley in the third gave SHSU a 3-2 lead. Designated hitter Chris
Andreas and Riley each had RBI singles in the sixth, before the Cowboys rallied for three runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 5-5. Center fielder Mark Hudson, who went 2-for-4 on the day, put the Bearkats ahead to stay with a threerun double in the seventh inning. Sam Houston returns home to play host to the University of Houston Cougars tonight at 6:30 p.m. Tonight is “Service Appreciation Night” at the Don as the Sam Houston athletic and ROTC departments team to honor area fire, police and military service personnel. ROTC will have its inter-
active Army 18-wheeler parked in front of the stadium along with the ROTC rock wall. The Huntsville men’s choir, a group made up of a majority of military veterans, will sing the national anthem. Tonight’s contest is the second of two meetings between the Bearkats and the Cougars. Houston defeated SHSU 9-3 at Cougar Field on March 15. The Cougars’ leading hitter, shortstop Chase Jensen, went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs to lead Houston in the game. Jensen comes into Tuesday night with a .336 batting average. The Houston game is the only mid-week encounter for the baseball team.
Photo courtesy of SHSU Athletics
TAKING CONTROL.
Braeden Riley’s (above) went 7-for-13 in the McNeese ups his career hit total to 262, which moves Riley within 10 hits of passing Terry Pirtle to become Sam Houston’s all-time total hits leader
Paintball goes national
Kats Prestige Sports Editor’s note:
Photo courtesy of Ryan Powers AIM, FIRE. Joshua Anagnostopoulos (above) has played for the Sam Houston State paintball team since 2007
Brandon Scott
bscott@houstonianonline.com
The Sam Houston State paintball team has been one of the university’s best kept secrets since 2006. Even after forming on Facebook during its growing popularity, SHSU paintball goes widely unrecognized amid 20 other club sports on campus. Still, the team is looking for national recognition, heading to this weekend’s College Paintball National Championships in Lakeland, Florida. In the 2010-11 season, SHSU competed against the top schools in the state: Baylor, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Texas Christian, North Texas, Texas State and Stephen F. Austin. The Kats defeated Louisiana Tech in 2010 at a tournament hosted by North Texas. This will be the second national championship appearance for SHSU. Last season, the Kats qualified but did not have necessary funding for nationals. Club Sports provided paintball with $1,200 last season, but the team failed to raise the remaining $600 needed. But this season, paintball raised over $900, exceeding the $850 needed, as well as receiving a generous $1,000 donation from Student Activities which helped pay for entry fees and transportation. In the Kats’ first national’s experience, they
took 33rd place out of 55 in the division, splitting with nemesis Texas A&M and defeating Purdue and California State University. For this weekend’s tournament, 51 teams have registered from around the country. The skill set for paintball varies from minimal to maximal athleticism. The sport is centered around tenacity and determination. According to paintballers, the most focused teams are the most successful ones. “Sometimes I try to do too much because I want it so bad,” said team member Austin Nardone. The Kats specifically mention their resentment for Texas A&M, who they describe as “really good.” One of the biggest advantages the Aggies have over SHSU is money and resources. So SHSU paintball is looking for more support, starting with successful results in the upcoming tournament. “Paintball is really a one of a kind thing,” Paul Lally said. “If they come support us at a tournament, we’ll get more amped and do better. Then it’s just to support Sam Houston in general.” National Championships are sponsored by paintball manufacturers Empire and Dye. The tournament will be held at Central Florida Paintball from Friday until Sunday.
Chris Cralle has been voted Southland Conference men's indoor track and field "StudentAthlete of the Year," the league office in Frisco, Texas, announced Monday. The senior from College Station, Texas, has produced a 3.36 gradepoint average as a political science major in his four years at Sam Houston. The honor is the latest in a series of accomplishments for Cralle. Last week, he became only the second Sam Houston State studentathlete to earn a gold medal at the Texas Relays after winning the hammer throw. Cralle was the Southland Conference indoor weight throw champion in 2011 with a school-record throw of 67 feet, 3.5 inches, more than six feet ahead of the second place finisher. The student-athlete of the year award is presented to the one student-athlete who achieves excellence in both academics and athletics in his or her sport. All nominees shall have earned at least a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and demonstrated achievement in athletics for at least two years at the nominating institution. The Southland Conference awards committee, which consists of one administrator from each of the 12 member institutions, voted for the student-athletes of the year. The announcement marks the 10th time in the past five years that a Bearkat has been recognized as the outstanding student-athlete in their individual spot.
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