9-26-13

WHAT’S INSIDE? Circus style family weekend at SHSU Senator: SGA does advocate despite view SHSU defense to be tested against Eagles

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President’s roundtable discusses use of MOOCs Pg 2

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Volume 124/ Issue 9

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Thursday, September 26, 2013

CAMPUS

Words get heated in lawsuit SHSU, employee’s lawyer ‘inflammatory’ in exchange

MOLLY WADDELL Associate Editor Sam Houston State University filed a tersely worded reply brief Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District in response to an African American employee’s lawyers response to SHSU’s motion for summary judgment, in a discrimination case filed in January 2012.

Angel Lamb, an employee working in the Human Resources department, filed a lawsuit

against SHSU based on racial discrimination and retaliation, and SHSU’s lawyers recently filed a motion for summary judgment, which means that SHSU believes Lamb’s lawyer did not present enough evidence to move the trial to a jury.

Sam Houston’s lawyer Yvonne D. Bennett, assistant attorney general, claims that Lamb provided evidence supporting her claims but that it wasn’t definitive, according to the court document.

“Although she has submitted voluminous evidentiary material,

she does not identify the specific portions of such evidence (if any) that support her claims and more importantly, how the purported evidence supports her claims,” Bennett said in the court document.

Lamb’s response to the motion of summary judgment consisted of more than 80 pages of strongly worded incidents that had occurred to Lamb and two of her colleagues who are also African American.

Yvonne Bennett also states in the reply brief that Lamb never,

SGA looks into students’ extra credit claims Senior Reporter

Concerns over the questionable sale of certain textbooks by professors have Student Government Association asking for answers from the administration after receiving complaints from several students.

Students have complained to SGA officials about some professors having sales representatives from textbook publishing companies visiting classes and selling unnecessary material to students, according to University Affairs Chief Spencer Copeland. He said that the issue is that professors are allegedly offering extra credit points for students who purchase the extra books.

“This crosses so many ethical boundaries,” Copeland said.

“There’s no way we’re going to stand for that. We have a feeling that it’s not necessarily a set group of teachers but maybe entire departments, which is even grosser.”

Kaylyn Jensen, sophomore nursing major, said her psychology professor had her class buy a textbook and online content package only for the use of extra credit.

“We don’t use the book, but the package is required to do the extra credit,” Jensen said.

She said some students paid upwards of $50 for the material.

Copeland also said he’s had multiple complaints from students about professors using their own publications for classes. It’s unclear, however, if any professors are violating the Texas State University System’s Rules and Regulations for Sam Houston State University.

Chapter V, subsection 4.842 of the Rules and Regulations states that “Textbooks… written or prepared by a member of the faculty of that Component, shall not be prescribed for the use of or sold to such students until such books… have been approved, with reasons stated, by the department head and approved by the academic vice president.”

The rules also indicate that professors must disclose exact pricing and profit before approval.

“If the professor is the leading expert in that field, there’s no reason that the book shouldn’t be used,” Copeland said. “But we need to make sure that it’s actually the best book, and not that they’re just trying to get some money from that.”

Copeland said that he wants to fulfill his duties as a member of SGA and do more than just pass legislation.

“We can write legislation, but —

SGA, page 6

Byrnn Castro | The Houstonian

COMPLAINTS. University Affairs Chief Spencer Copeland spoke at the last SGA meeting and will look into student complaints about professors.

Visit our website! www.HoustonianOnline.com

requested a meeting with Dr. Dean Lewis to “discuss alternatives” with Lamb’s position. This is supported with an email, supplied in the evidence.

Yvonne Bennett replied in court documents that to withstand a summary judgment, a plaintiff must show that there is a genuine issue for trial by presenting evidence of specific facts.

“Lamb is completely misguided in her argument that it is SHSU’s —

LAWSUIT, page 6

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JAY R. JORDAN

“put on the record or otherwise identified any evidence that indicates that any alleged disparate treatment was based upon her race or retaliation.”

In Lamb’s response, lawyer Jo Miller stated that David White, Interim Director of Human Resources and Cynthia Bennett, interim human resources associate director, “wasted no time taking aim at the three African American employees in the department.”

Miller also wrote that after White took over the Human Resources department that he

Connor Hyde | The Houstonian

F

reshman golfer Paige Nelson has led the Bearkats to two consecutive sixth place finishes to open the 2013 season. Nelson has established herself as a leader on the Sam Houston State golf team, despite being the youngest player on the roster.

TECH

USB CONDOMS Kassidy Turnpaugh | The Houstonian

provide protection for personal info CHRISTIAN VAZQUEZ Staff Reporter Sexual prowess isn’t something tech nerds are known for. Now they have a reason to stock up on condoms.

The USB condom is a new device that protects smartphone users from being “juice jacked.”

Juice jacking refers to the illegal downloading of data from a smartphone while it’s recharging at a free charging kiosk. These are usually available at airports or internet cafes and affect any type of smartphone whether it is an Android, iOS or any other software.

In an article about juice jacking at DefCon, an annual security conference, Brian Markus, the head of Aires Security, warned users about the dangers of the malpractice.

“Most smartphones are configured to just connect and dump off data,” Markus said.

“Anyone who had an inclination

to, could put a system inside of one of these kiosks that when someone connects their phone can suck down all of the photos and data, or write malware to the device.”

This is where the USB condom comes in to protect users from juice jacking. The actual product itself isn’t exactly what its name entails however.

According to Ryan Whitwam from Extremetech.com, the condom is actually a circuit board that plugs into the smartphone’s USB port.

While it’s plugged in, it effectively stops any data transfers.

It works by sitting between the smartphone and the charging station and controls which pins in the USB are actually connected to the charging port.

The USB consists of four pins: two for data, one for power and one for ground. Juice jacking utilizes the two data pins and bypass security on the smartphone to let it charge while secretly sucking data right out of the phone- all without a trace.

Several students at SHSU were completely unaware of juice jacking, or knew such a practice existed.

Senior students Justin Boehm and Jeff Litwak said that the USB condom was “a great idea,” after finding out about juice jacking.

Boehm said the USB condom will definitely be more commonplace when it becomes popular and that phone data is worth protecting.

“I think that once the word gets out about this it will be a big deal,” Boehm said. “Smartphones hold important data like computers too, like credit card info, so I definitely wouldn’t want that stolen.”

Litwak said that while it is a good idea, it isn’t practical as of now.

“It isn’t feasible,” Litwak said. “I don’t see or hear a lot about juice jacking, so I’m not sure if people will need it right away.”

For those wanting to purchase the extra layer of protection from the data suckers, the USB condom is currently on sale online for $10.

Be sure to check out the Houstonian Orientation Guide located around campus and the City of Huntsville! Can’t find one? Let us know and we’ll get you a copy.

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Page 2

News

Thursday, September 26, 2013 houstonianonline.com/news

CAMPUS

SHSU considers sponsoring MOOCs DANA PRICE Staff Reporter Sam Houston State University may get into Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) after University Pres. Dana Gibson and Provost Jaimie Hebert hosted a roundtable Wednesday.

Gibson coordinated a forum with many professors to get input to take to the Coordinating Boards’ Formula Funding Committee, which she is a part of, for their next discussion. One of their next topics in the meeting is whether the university should fund MOOCs, or large online classes offered for free with no course credit.

MOOCs are open to anyone with computer access and are for no credit, according to Gibson.

They are provided by higher education institutions that often partner with websites that provide online classes such as Coursera, edX and Udacity, Gibson said.

The colleges that mostly offer it are NYU, the University of Washington and Carnegie Mellon.

Hannah Gerber, associate professor of language, literacy and special populations, said that it depends on how the professors

use the course. She saw it as a way to expand who her students encounter. Her online classes use Twitter to talk about what they are learning and encounter experts in that field.

“I think it depends on how we use it; if it is a game changer, a disrupter force, or a fad. I don’t think we can necessarily pigeonhole it right now as either,” Gerber said. “As a professor and a scholar I have been invited to guest lecture, and there was a researcher from Stanford, Andrew Ng. It put my work out in a platform that I don’t I would have encountered in another form.”

Debra Price, professor of education, said that a professor at a smaller regional institution forced his students to take MOOC classes from a larger institution. He helped them on their extra questions and graded them.

“I worry that an institution could become a grader or the credit giver for another institution… and where does that put that institution?” Price said.

Price also talked about her fear that people will see MOOCs as a way to bring in money for the rest of academics.

Alex Broussard | The Houstonian

REDEMPTION: Faculty and administrators sit at a table to discuss Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the possibility of SHSU funding or offering certain classes. Some courses are already developed if approved.

“That is what worries me,” Price said. “When they start acting like MOOCs are what is going to save education.”

Gerber and mass communication chair Jean Bodon both said they are currently working on the development of

an MOOC. Gerber is working on the new technologies in the classroom.

“Some of the videos have already been filmed,” Gerber said.

“We are just waiting on a roll out platform.”

Bodon is going to start one with

a guest speaker “We are going to start one with John McLaughlin writer of Black Swan to teach screenwriting,” Bodon said.

Some universities also post previous course materials as free courses that aren’t graded.

CAMPUS

‘Greatest Family Weekend on Earth’ comes to Huntsville QUINTEN TYLER Contributing Reporter The annual Bearkat Family Weekend, an event that encourages families to join in on multiple campus events, will kick off Friday with this year’s theme “The Greatest Family Weekend on Earth.”

“We encourage parents to

interact with their students and staff and see what makes being a Bearkat so special,” Chelsea Smith, assistant dean of students said.

The weekend begins on Friday with ADAI’s 8th annual Drugs and Alcohol Summit on the third floor of the LSC from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Parents who arrive early can attend the summit to see how ADAI addresses the issues of drug and alcohol within the student

body, Smith said. Next, will be the biggest event on Friday the Bearkat Pep Rally at Bearkat Plaza from 7 to 7:45 p.m.

“It’s gonna be great,” Smith said. “We’ll be playing Eastern Washington, which is our big rival, and we want everyone to come and cheer on our team.”

Saturday morning, parents can relax, have a drink of coffee and interact with university officials at

“Coffee with the Administrators” at Austin Hall from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.

“Parents and family members can mix and mingle with the administrative staff,” Smith said.

“They can meet the vice president and the dean.”

The day continues with more events including the Family Weekend Tailgate Party in Parking Lot P7 from 11:30 a.m.

until 2 p.m. and the Family Circus Lunch which is related with this weekend’s theme, according to Smith.

The main event of the weekend, the big football game against Eastern Washington.

Bearkat Family Weekend ends on Sunday with the Interdenominational Christian Worship Service at Farrington Pit from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Page 3

Viewpoints LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Thursday, September 26, 2013 houstonianonline.com/viewpoints

SGA is productive despite appearance SPENCER COPELAND I am writing this letter to the editor in response to the provocative and sobering opinion piece published in The Houstonian on Tuesday titled “Me the People.”

Before I begin, I would like to preface with this; I have no authority to speak for the Student Government Association and will not in this viewpoint. While I do not believe your opinion is completely inaccurate, I do feel that our perspectives on SGA differ. You have a great view from outside, but let me show you what is going on behind the scenes. Let me provide a voice from inside the trenches.

In terms of your viewpoint on the process of the budget controversy, even though I side with the Senate on the debate, the president does have some validity in his actions. The wording of the

constitution is somewhat vague in terms of the budget, an issue that can only truly be solved through a Supreme Court ruling.

Even though I disagree with the interpretation of President Ramiro Jaime, Jr., I don’t see it was wrong of him to interpret it in the way he did. A Supreme Court ruling can only occur after an action has been taken. Any grey area in the interpretation had to be solved right then. Because of the immediate nature of the interpretation of the constitution, the chair (Jaime) had to make a ruling. Although I do not see his argument and interpretation as valid, I do not question the act of ruling. Sen. Steven Perry was also correct in voting to overturn the ruling. Should any senator disagree with the ruling of the chair, they can vote to overturn the ruling of the chair. All this was done in a proper manner.

You, as well as other students, have raised concerns that the Sam Houston State University SGA has accomplished nothing. I believe that these statements can be amended to be, the SGA hasn’t done anything visible. I will not contest that SGA can do more, but let me show you what we have done.

Sen. Robert Ferguson, a fellow Bearkat who became disabled

after his service for our country in the Middle East, has been fighting for our disabled students. The student body has raised concerns that the school is not abiding by Americans with Disabilities Act. He has fought both on-campus and in the town of Huntsville to bring compliance to this federal law. Through his acts, the town is installing special lights in crosswalks for those Bearkats who are visually impaired. He has fought to improve the ramps in the Lee Drain Building. These ramps are slick for those with two able legs when it rains, it is almost impossible for those who are wheelchair bound. In the words of Senator Ferguson, “How many disabled students do you see when it rains?” In addition, his actions have led to the planning of handrails leading into the LDB. My own actions speak for our desire to answer to the student body. There have been calls for a policy within SGA to handle complaints and grievances of the students. I, with the help of a number of senators, created a policy last spring to solve this. I restarted town halls within our college. Feedback received from this event prompted the caucus to plan fun social events for our constituents. By working with College of Criminal Justice Dean

Vincent Webb and every criminal justice student organization, a barbecue will be held in the college (exactly what my constituents asked for). This semester we have heard complaints of professors, basically, allowing students to pay for their grades. Reports of textbook sales reps advertising in the classroom, then professors offering extra credit if you buy these products, is flooding into our office. In response to this we have launched an investigation.

Should these claims be valid, SGA will take all steps possible to stop this egregious trampling of ethical lines. Finally, after student complaints of lighting and safety on campus, Vice President Kolby Flowers and I organized a campus safety walk last fall. Not only did we identify problem locations for safety, we then followed up when no progress was made.

You said “SGA chooses to bicker.” While I do not want to say you are wrong, I just wish to show you a different perspective.

When you see trivial arguments and petty bickering, I see students who care. We bicker because we understand that it is student fees that pay for our budget. It is the students who are taking out loans, who are draining their savings, and who are working uncountable hours to pay for the chance to

better themselves that pay for our budget. If we didn’t care about your money, if we didn’t care about thriftiness and efficiency, if we didn’t respect our constituents there wouldn’t be any argument.

We would vote on whatever we want without a word. While I have the greatest of respect for you and for this news outlet, I feel that your opinion has not had the opportunity to see what I see.

SGA, with all its flaws, is and, as long as senators like Ferguson and myself are active, will always be an organization that fights for the needs of the school that we love.

Should there be any questions please do not hesitate to call.

Our office is always open, and we wish to earn your respect back.

I will conclude my letter with quote from that same publication

by Molly Shove, “it’s hard to represent a population that doesn’t communicate their needs.” Please, Bearkats, let us know what you want.

Copeland is a senator for the College of Criminal Justice and University Affairs Chief in SGA.

VIEW HIS FULL STATEMENT ONLINE!

What puts the magic in Mozart: not just talent

JORDAN SPARKS Columnist We’re often told that those who excel in their field have natural talent, an innate ability that’s hardwired into their brain. Their special talent allows them to do something more easily than the average person. It’s just simpler for them, somehow. Barely anyone stops to question this sentiment.

Many people are certain musical talent exists. That’s why some lucky individuals can sing or play an instrument so well and others cannot. How else could Mozart have composed entire masterpieces in his head?

In a letter, he wrote: “The whole, though it be long, stands almost finished and complete in my mind…the committing to paper is done quickly enough…and it rarely differs on paper from what it was in my imagination.” It turns out this letter is a forgery.

Such stories of miraculous abilities in great performers propagate unfounded understandings of talent. While Mozart is an extraordinary

example of what we might call talented, he trained intensively from the age of three under the supervision of his father Leopold Mozart, an already famous composer. Furthermore, Tiger Woods, who is often compared to Mozart in research on great performance, experienced a similar form of training from an early age from his father Earl Woods.

In 1992 researchers from England conducted a study in search of innate musical talent.

The research looked at 257 young people who began the study of music at around the age of eight.

They were divided into five groups starting from those who gave up after at least six months to those in music school (the top group).

These groups were controlled for age, gender, instruments and socioeconomic class.

Extensive interviewing of the students and their parents turned up no evidence for early signs of inherent talent. There was only one reliable factor in predicting a student’s success: the amount of time they practiced. At the age of 12, the students in the top group were practicing an average of two hours a day, whereas the lowest active group practiced an average of 15 minutes a day. Professor John A. Sloboda of the University of Keele, one of the researchers, said: “There is absolutely no evidence of a ‘fast track’ for high achievers.”

Thanks to the Hungarian educational psychologist Laszlo Polgar, there is a particularly strong case of evidence for talent

acquisition. Laszlo believed that “geniuses are made, not born.”

Through much research, he wrote a book about raising children to become great performers. He also publicly asked for a woman to marry him, have children with him and help conduct an experiment in raising top performers. Luckily for him, an adventurous woman from Ukraine named Klara accepted his offer. They had three daughters, all of whom were home schooled, and trained in playing chess.

Both Laszlo and Klara eventually quit their jobs and accumulated a library of 10,000 chess books, devoting their lives to teaching their children chess. Susan, the oldest daughter, became the first woman to earn the title of chess grandmaster, at 21. Judit, the youngest daughter, achieved the rank of grandmaster at age 15, being the youngest person of either sex to attain such a designation. Judit is still regarded as the strongest female chess player in history. Because professional chess is such a maledominated field, the Polgar sisters are an exceptional example of human-cultivated talent. To learn more about this case and the previous research, read “Talent Is Overrated” by Geoff Colvin.

Any sensible person will shape his or her life around his or her talent. Successful musicians, writers, engineers, scientists, athletes, artists, filmmakers, teachers and leaders all care a great deal about what they do. It’s a profound source of fulfillment.

The problem for most people is

discovering their talent. This is an issue in itself; one can’t simply find a skill—it must be developed.

Sometimes people will try something new for a small amount of time and find that it is not easy. They might conclude they have no “talent” for it and never pursue it again. A beginner’s frustration reveals the truth about talent: it’s not up to chance. It doesn’t happen overnight. It takes tremendous personal sacrifice.

Time and effort must be exerted, often painfully. Rodney Mullen,

the world-renowned professional skateboarder, said: “To get good, you have to throw your board around and fall.”

When great performers are revealed to be ordinary humans, it takes some of the magic and romance out of it. This is perhaps why there is such a vested interest in maintaining myths about superhuman talent. Nevertheless when people invests their time and passion into cultivating a talent, they may find the magic is just as real.

Kassidy Turnpaugh | The Houstonian

The Houstonian Editorial

The Houstonian was named in the top 100 college newspapers for journalism students by JournalismDegree. org. Members of Associated Collegiate Press and Texas Intercolligiate Press Association.

EDITOR’S NOTE Articles, letters and cartoons by Houstonian staff members or others in this paper are their own and not the opinion of the Houstonian, unless it is noted as such. Submissions and letters to the editor are welcome. Please send submissions to viewpoints@houstonianonline.com. Articles may be edited for grammar and spelling at discretion of editor. Deadline for submission is by 5 p.m. on Mondays, or Wednesdays.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Stephen Green....................................................................................................................................936-294-1505 FACULTY ADVISER Robin Johnson..................................................................................................................................936-294-1499 STAFF Molly Waddell.............................................................................................................................Associate Editor Molly Shove.................................................................................................................................Viewpoints Editor Connor Hyde......................................................................................................................................Sports Editor Joseph Redd...........................................................................................................................Entertainment Editor Monty Sloan.............................................................................................................................................Web Editor Colin Harris......................................................................................................................... Assistant News Editor Kizzie Frank..............................................................................................................Assistant Entertainment Editor Jeremy Villanueva.................................................................................................................Assistant Sports Editor Alexa Grigsby..............................................................................................................Assistant Viewpoints Editor Marissa Hill.....................................................................................................................................Sports Reporter Jay Jordan.......................................................................................................................................Senior Reporter Miranda Landsman................................................................................................................Multimedia Reporter Samantha Zambrano.............................................................................................................................Layout Editor Kassidy Turnpaugh.....................................................................................................................Graphic Designer Staff Reporter...............................Dana Price, Christian Vazquez, Robert Sandoval, Samantha Gallindo, Kaleigh Treiber, Hannah Zedaker

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Page 4

Arts&Entertainment

Thursday, September 26, 2013 houstonianonline.com/a-e

CAMPUS

SHSU explores fluidity in EXPO

Joseph Redd | The Houstonian

FLUIDITY: (Above) A new art exibit takes over the gallery in the Lowman Student Center. (Bottom Left) Krissty Batres created a pixelated picture for the Hydrodynamics Gallery. (Bottom Right) One of the BFA photography majors created a series of photos for the Gallery.

JOSEPH REDD A&E Editor

“Hydrodynamics: A Reflection” was the featured gallery in the Lowman Student Center over the past week. It is a collection of work produced by BFA Photography, Studio Art and Graphic Design majors.

“Hydrodynamics” includes the work of Colton Clifford, Justin Zachary, Krissty Batres, Mitchell Bartlett and Ryan Rivera. These students were charged with the task of creating this collaboration around themes of “hydrodynamics,” “reflection,” “liquid” and “motion”.

TELEVISION

‘Voice’ judge Blake Shelton off to good start RAVEEN JOHNSON Contributing Reporter One of NBC’s top vocal competitions “The Voice” premiered its fifth season of talent, rivalries and comedy on Monday. Each of the coaches have their game faces on, and they are determined to pick the perfect vocalists to create their winning teams.

The season premiere focused on the blind auditions. The show began with the judges chatting like old friends and discussing their excitement for the new voices they would be hearing.

For the past three seasons, Blake Shelton has come out on top but Christina Aguilera, Cee-Lo Green and Adam Levine are not having that this time around.

The show’s host, Carson Daley, teased Shelton about having a “bull’s-eye on his back” and the other judges laughed in agreement because their main goal was to make sure that Shelton did not snag another win under his belt.

Part one of the premiere showed proof that Shelton was not going

to have it so easy this season. He ended up with only one singer on his team by the end of the night, while Aguilera and Green scored two male vocalists. Levine took the title for the most artists on his team by the end of night with three artists added to his list.

Shelton’s favorite reminder to the singers before they chose their desired coaches was how many seasons he had won in the past, but it seemed to be of no help.

Even in the second part of the premiere singers overlooked his past achievements and went with the other judges.

When the first vocalist of the night, 16-year-old Jacquie Lee was making her decision between Shelton and Aguilera, the heat was on between the coaches. Aguilera mocked Shelton’s country accent and pointed out that he was “bored with winning”. Shelton snapped back and mentioned that he “specialized in helping 16-yearold girls win the show,” but Lee was not too convinced and ended up joining Aguilera’s team.

The night was filled with strong voices and different genres of music, but it wouldn’t be a show

if the rivalries between the judges were not at an all-time high. As each contestant pondered on their decisions, Shelton did everything in his power to win them over. By the first 20 minutes of the show, the only judges who had earned new team members were Levine and Christina.

It didn’t look promising for Shelton, but he caught up with his fellow judges and reeled in three artists by the end of part two. Green, Levine and Aguilera had all gained two more team members.

Though the beginning of these blind auditions were a little rocky for Shelton’s team in the beginning, he caught up and still gave his contenders something to watch out for. This season will be one that is built around helping aspiring vocalists to achieve their dreams all while making sure Shelton doesn’t steal another victory. The entertainment from this show will come at viewers from every angle.

Who do you think will win this war? “The Voice” airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on NBC. Provided by NBC

CAMPUS

New South Paw American Grille Works replaces Sushic GRACE NGO Contributing Reporter Sushic sushi bar has been relocated from South Paw to Paw Print in the Fall semester and was replaced with a new, more American style food option.The students and Aramark wanted a “meal equivalency option,” so after some careful consideration, Aramark decided upon Grille Works, officials said.

“85 percent of sushi sales came out of coolers… so (the Sushic owner) just sticks all of her products in those and she more or less has the exact same sales,” the manager of South Paw said. “The

Grille has more than doubled their sales.”

Avery Kelley, sophomore feels that it was an improvement that Grille Works offered meal plans.

“Before, it was just Old Main and Tortilla Fresca… personally, I got sick of Tortilla Fresca just being in the art buildings all day and having nowhere else to use my meal plan,” he said.

Jul Wanczyk, the manager of Nia and Jul, runs the Huntsville branch of Sushic. After Sushic’s relocation, the school had informed Wancyzk that it was temporary and there were plans for expansion.

“They plan to make another

food court and then put the sushi by there,” Wancyzk said. “They are going to build the new building soon. I am not sure about it, but it’s going to be soon.”

According to Wancyzk, the expansion is scheduled to take place within one to two years.

Currently, Sushic does not have a storefront. All of the products are prepared daily in the secondfloor kitchen of the Lowman Student Center and distributed throughout campus in coolers.

The sushi is primarily located at South Paw and the first floor of the LSC. The products can also be purchased at the PODs (Provisions on Demand).

Sushic is a sushi chain that started as the first Japanese restaurant in Texas in 1962.

Eventually, Sushic branched off and had their first kiosk in 2002 which developed into over 200 locations in 2013.

Tortilla Fresca and Subway are still located in the same locations after the summer change-up.

Sushic gives out samples on the first floor LSC from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Page 5

Sports

Thursday, September 26, 2013 houstonianonline.com/sports

GOLF

Freshman drives for the green

Connor Hyde | The Houstonian

POWER SWING: Freshman Paige Nelson’s drive has set her apart from the rest of the Southland Conference. Her recent sixth place finish out of 70 participants elevated Sam Houston State University women’s golf into the top 10 of the Louisiana-Monroe Fred Marx Intercollegiate tournament earlier this week.

JEREMY VILLANUEVA Assistant Sports Editor She’s a contender.

She’s drives like Bubba Watson.

She’s also the youngest on her team.

Sam Houston State freshman golfer Paige Nelson has quickly emerged as an elite golfer through the Southland Conference with one of the strongest drives in the circuit.

“Paige hits the ball farther than a majority of the field, which gives her a huge advantage,” freshman teammate Brooke Fouts said.

Nelson laced in the top 20 of 70 conference golfers for the Bearkats in the opening tournaments of the season, most recently placing sixth. She’s led SHSU to place in consecutive sixth place finishes in the Memphis Invitational and the Louisiana-Monroe Fred Marx Intercollegiate.

However, her drive isn’t what caught coach Tommy Chain’s eye.

“I’m happily surprised with her ability to read greens correctly and then make the putt,” he said.

Chain scouted Nelson during

her senior season at Creekview High School in Carrollton, Texas.

Nelson qualified for the UIL State tournament during her final semester as a Mustang, where her showcase was stifled due to inclement weather. Despite placing seventh in the tournament, Chain signed her to his squad.

“She’s very mature,” he said.

“She’s down to business when it’s time to practice or play in the tournament and that’s been paying off for her.”

Nelson has adjusted well to playing at the collegiate level with a seemingly effortless adjustment on the course.

But the life of a student athlete put her in the rough.

“We practice more than we go to school,” she said. “Managing my time between homework, school and golf [is difficult].”

The stress of finding time for homework, while staying on top of her game has mentally taken over Nelson at times, she said. The biggest adversity Nelson wants to overcome this year is not letting things go to her head that would keep her from playing to her fullest potential.

“Golf is 90 percent mental game

and 10 percent talent,” she said.

“It’s a lot of mental, so you always have to keep the right mindset.”

Nelson says talent plays a small percentage, but the drive in her club plays just as big a role to be successful as the drive in her mentality to do well. The shots she takes on the course is what sets her apart from the rest, which led her to a team’s best round score of 72 in the Fred Marx Invitational.

“Right before I step up to the ball, nothing is going on in my mind,” she said. “I’m going to hit it the way I want to hit. If I think, ‘Oh, don’t hit right,’ I’m going to hit right.’”

Staying focus on her own game is important to Nelson, she said.

Even during her rounds, she doesn’t let anything distract her.

She does her own thing to stay on track of her performance and doesn’t check the scores of herself or her competitors.

“I’d rather just play and have fun than have to worry about how everybody else is doing and comparing myself to them the whole round,” she said.

But compared to others, she has the step ahead no matter age or stature.

FOOTBALL Connor Hyde| The Houstonian

CLEARING THE MIND: Freshman golfer Paige Nelson said she clears her mind as a pre-shot ritual before approaching the ball. She said when her mind is clear she is able to focus on her swing for an efficient approach to the green.

VOLLEYBALL

Volleyball still focused after successful start MARISSA HILL Sports Reporter The defending Southland Conference champions are looking to improve on their 3-0 start in conference play this week as they host Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Houston Baptist on Thursday at Johnson Coliseum.

Sam Houston State is following a 2-0 weekend outing against conference opponents Nicholls State and McNeese State coming into the midweek matchup.

TAMU-CC will drive in looking to improve on their four game win streak, and 2-0 in SLC play.

The Islanders are led by senior setter Logen Bourque, sophomore outside hitter Ivy Baresh and junior outside hitter Brianna Brink. Against SLC rivals, Baresh led the Islanders’ offense with 12 kills to defeat McNeese State.

Brink dominated the HBU match with 13 kills while Bourque dished out her own game-high of 35 assists against the Huskies.

Although the Islanders have 12 returning players from 2012, SHSU head coach Brenda Gray said she doesn’t know what to expect from the veteran squad.

Both teams have a strong arsenal of offensive firepower from the outside hitters including SHSU junior Deveney Wells-Gibson.

Wells-Gibson’s strong offensive arm has earned her early season notoriety, ranked third in the conference averaging 4.44 kills per set

Baresh leads the Islanders with 3.5 kills per set this season, earning 12th in conference rankings for kills.

Defensively, the Islanders are led by sophomore libero Hailey King, who has totaled 172 digs for the season. Freshman libero Breanna Homer anchors the Bearkat defense with 148 digs for the season.

Approaching Thursday’s matchup, both Wells-Gibson and setter Tayler Gray said the week’s practice has carried momentum from McNeese State.

“We have had great intensity this whole week, and we are really focusing on making ourselves better,” Tayler Gray said. “We don’t ever think about our record. We just focus on one game at a time.”

The Bearkats have defeated the Islanders in both matches against the Islanders in 2012.

SHSU will take on Southland Conference newcomer HBU on Saturday. The Huskies are 5-8 overall, and 0-1 in conference play. HBU has showcased a strong offensive presence in junior middle blocker Madeline Gaffney, who has led HBU with 119 kills on the season.

The Huskies defeated the Bearkats in five games in 2011, while the Bearkats topped them in three games in 2012.

SHSU will take on TAMU-CC at 7 p.m. on Thursday, and Houston Baptist at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information on the team, visit GoBearkats.com.

DJ Shafer | The Huntsville Item

STANDING YOUR GROUND: Sam Houston State (3-0) edged out a 45-42 win over the Eastern Washington Eagles (2-1) in the 2012 FCS semi-finals in Spokane, Wash. The Bearkats are looking to open week five with a strong first quarter peformance following four weeks of struggles on offense and defense.

Defense to determine week five match CONNOR HYDE Sports Editor The No. 4 Bearkats’ reign over Big Sky opponents will climax this weekend as the Eastern Washington Eagles fly into Huntsville hunting for redemption at Bowers Stadium.

The Bearkats’ defense will target Eastern Washington quarterback Vernon Adams because of his dual-threat, Manziel-esque capability in the backfield.

Sam Houston State held off the Eagle offense in the second half of the 2012 semifinals matchup in Spokane, Wash.

Adams connected six 20-plus yard touchdown passes against the SHSU secondary - countering his feeble performance in the first half.

The Bearkats scraped through with a late fourth-quarter field goal from Miguel Antonio to edge a 45-42 win and their second consecutive national title appearance.

Adams told The Sports Network he wants to settle the score with SHSU during Saturday’s matchup after leaving empty-handed in the playoffs.

“It was top three of my favorite games playing ever,” Adams

said. “I just hope we can work hard enough this week and… beat those guys and continue to go to our Big Sky and national championship run.”

Revenge has been a factor approaching week five, and EWU head coach Beau Baldwin said pride is on the line.

In an interview with EWU athletics, Baldwin said the Eagle’s call for revenge is nothing but human nature for his players wanting another chance.

“There is a different feel to this game for us because of the tough loss we had to [SHSU] in the semifinals,” Baldwin said. “To Sam Houston State’s credit, they did a great job against us, they had a great team and they do again this year.”

Despite pregame hype, SHSU head coach Willie Fritz said previous victories are meaningless.

“If you look back on past failures or past successes you’re not going to be successful,” he said.

A Bearkat success will lie on the shoulder pads of the defense.

SHSU’s week two matchup against Texas A&M exposed the young secondary to a dynamic presence under center with Heisman-winner Johnny

Manziel. Headed by linebackers Eric Fieilo and Tanner Brock, the Bearkats’ toxic defensive rush has made opponents’ run schemes irrelevant.

Adams’ rushing against the Bearkats was absent in the semi-finals, scrounging a mere 26 rushing yards. However, he completed 364 passing yards against a veteran secondary; a trend SHSU’s young defensive backs have inherited.

“We’ve had a lot busts and didn’t work the field at all,” Fritz said. “The big thing for us is we have to be assignment sound.”

Although defensive coverage remained shaky through week four, Fritz’s defense has made incremental improvements. Fritz said big game experience from team leaders will continue to progress his squad’s gameplay.

“We just have a lot of guys that have played in a lot of big games so, that’s comforting for me as a coach to have 30 to 40 guys that have been in big games,” he said.

Saturday’s matchup will conclude SHSU’s pre-conference season before squaring off against Lamar University for homecoming on Oct. 12.

Kickoff against EWU will be starting at 2 p.m. at Bowers Stadium.

Page 6 Thursday, September 26, 2013

houstonianonline.com/

CAMPUS

Williams wins Culinary Challenge KALEIGH TREIBER Staff Reporter Bobby Williams, athletic director won Sam Houston State University’s third annual President’s Culinary Challenge at Old Main Market on Wednesday. Seven presidential cabinet members compete against each other to see who can prepare the best dish.

President Dana Gibson, Ph.D.; Al Hooten, vice president of finance; Frank Holmes, vice president of university advancement; Heather Thielemann, vice president of enrollment management; Frank Parker, vice president of student services; Mark Adams, vice president of information technology; and Williams all participated in the event on Wednesday.

While this event originally was used for the grand opening of Old Main Market three years ago, it has grown into something that both the staff and students enjoy, according to Jimmy Williams, director of the President’s Culinary Challenge.

“We hope to keep making it better from year to year,” Williams said, “And it is definitely something that our staff and students can look forward to in the future.”

Students gathered in the cafeteria where they were presented with an array of different types and styles of food, and were able to choose between dishes like Thai Noodles, and a BBQ quesadilla.

“I enjoy this event because it gives us not only the chance to branch out in what we eat, but it’s a fun and exciting new environment.” Haley Harrison, freshman, said.

One of the big changes this year was made in how the students voted, and what they voted for. The voting was changed from a physical vote to online voting on the student’s phone, or on an iPad while exiting, and they were asked three questions instead of one. They were given the choice to pick their favorite chef, their favorite dish, and then to rank all seven dishes on a scale of ‘least favorite’ to ‘favorite’.

Bobby Williams kept his title from last year’s competition where he also won.

Kaleigh Treiber | The Houstonian

COOK-OFF: (Above) Bobby Williams, althletic director, wins the President’s Culinary Challenge for the second year in the row with his grilled latkes and chicken strips with apple chutney. (Bottom Left) President Dana Gibson works on her dish at the culinary challenge. (Bottom Right) Faculty, staff and students flood to Old Main Market to enjoy the event. This is the second year in a row that Bobby Williams won the event. In the first year, VP of finance and operations Al Hooten took the title.

JUMPS

CAMPUS

HIV/AIDS speaker on campus today

LAWSUIT,

ASHLEE SYMANK Contributing Reporter HIV and AIDS educator Elaine Pasqua will present “Sex and Excess: Surviving the Party” in the Lowman Student Center Theater today at 9:30 a.m.

The program is designed to help students understand the consequences of their decisions while also promoting sexual health and safe party behavior, according to Pasqua.

“This is important for students to become aware of because inconsequential decisions can change the course of their lives and can affect their success during and after college,” Pasqua said.

The presentation will include several interactive exercises that cover the effects of alcohol on body and behavior, DUIs, sex under the influence, sexual assault, unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections and AIDS and many other topics caused by irresponsible behavior.

“I’m not telling you not to party,” Pasqua said. “I’m telling you how to do it safely.”

The seminar will take place in the LSC Theater at 9:30 a.m.

Students must bring an active Bearkat OneCard for admission.

SGA update

Brynn Castro | The Houstonian

JAY R. JORDAN Senior Reporter

Students who were added to the Senate: • Alex Rangel (COCJ) • Taylor Steward (CHSS) • Anthony Moreno (CHSS) • Samuel Iredia (COBA) Students who were added to the Freshman Council: • Tempest Brooks (COS) • Mathew Baughman (CHSS) • Nicole Seagren (COCJ) • Jaqueline Boldin (CHSS) • Takira Powers (CHSS) • Juan Soloronzano (COBA) Statement of Intent: • Jarrell Gipson (CJ) for Freshman Council • Taylor Franzen (CHSS) for Freshman Council • Daniel Hough (CHSS) for Freshman Council • Xochilt Endsley (CHSS) for the Senate • Matthew Maddox (COS)

for Freshman Council Vice President Kolby Flowers was appointed as Director of Bearkat All-Paws-In. Senator Robert Ferguson (COS) was appointed to Sergeant of Arms.

Senator Cristan Shamburger (CHSS) was appointed to External Affairs Chief.

Senator Haley Jozwiak (COBA) was appointed to Public Relations Chief.

Senator Ginger Malone (COE) was impeached for rampant absenteeism.

Senator Canon Baldridge (COCJ) was impeached for rampant absenteeism.

F13-04 passed unanimously, creating clear-cut procedures for administering BAPI. Senator Spencer Copeland (COCJ) received approval up to $250 from the Senate Discretionary Fund for the COCJ barbecue cookout in October.

Supreme Court Justice Kendall Scudder asked students to register to vote.

page 1

burden to create issues of fact by ‘asking the right questions,’” court documents stated. “It is wellestablished that the burden of proof in Title VII discrimination cases remains with the Plaintiff.”

Miller stated in the response that this is a case where summary judgment should not have been brought.

“Defendant’ summary judgment motion relies on a convoluted claim that Lamb didn’t raise questions of fact in her deposition —well, Defendant never asked the right questions,” the document stated.

Lamb claimed that White would bring people and introduce them to everyone but her and her fellow African American employees and several other slights designed to ostracize them.

Contrary to Lamb’s response Yvonne Bennett stated that Lamb’s poor evaluations, increased workload and supervision and failure to receive daily greeting from management are not adverse employment options.

Lamb also claims that she was retaliated against after filing two claims of racial discrimination.

In this process President Dana Gibson, Ph.D., who was then Vice President of Financial and Operations, was sent her complaints but claims to have never received them, according to court documents. The response then claims that Lamb was given an immediate disciplinary write up within a day that her grievance was filed.

In SHSU’s reply Yvonne Bennett stated that Lamb did not

provide any evidence that refutes Gibson’s claim.

Although Miller declined to comment on the specifics of the case she did say what she hopes the overall outcome will be.

“We are looking to have SHSU recognize its diversity problems and challenges, and make positive steps toward correcting them,” Miller said. “Until SHSU admits that there are diversity issues at the university, no truly positive solutions will be forthcoming.”

Yvonne Bennett, Gibson and Miller declined to comment.

Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt, United States district judge, is currently considering the summary judgment.

SGA,

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personally, that’s not the most effective way,” Copeland said.

“Legislation, how I see it, is more symbolic as a whole. We can say that this is what we’re going to do, but because of the nature of legislation… it’s easier to go directly.”

Other issues on SGA’s scope include professors giving extra credit opportunities that require students to do activities that aren’t necessarily beneficial to their education in that class.

Another complaint was that some students feel that certain courses require a relatively large amount of writing yet aren’t considered writing enhanced.

SGA is planning a town hall meeting with administrators, faculty and staff later in the fall semester where students can voice their concerns directly to SHSU.