The Independant Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University Vol 117— Issue 13
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Theatre, Page 5 Basketball, Page 6
Jessica Gomez | The Houstonian
Photo courtesy of Michael Brosilow
INDEX
News..........................page 4
Viewpoints.................page 2
Entertainment............page 5
Special.......................page 3
Sports.........................page 6
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Worlpal: Connecting Students from around the world Kats’ kicker launches new social media site with more privacy By Lauren Adkins Contributing Writer
Social media networks have taken over the world. Most people could not go a day without accessing their Facebook, Twitter, or Myspace account. Many people would rather socialize over the Internet than in person. This can form a problem because it takes away the sense of privacy that can be shared between two people and social networks are not as secure as they claim to be. For Junior Computer Science major, Matthew Foster, these are the reasons why he created worlpal.com, for those who desire a more private way to communicate online. “I wanted to create something that was fully private where you can meet students from around the world,” Foster said. “The idea is sort of like meeting someone randomly somewhere like at the store or at a mixer and becoming friends.” Worlpal is similar to Facebook and Twitter, but much more private. This is how it works: Every time you update your status, one person randomly selected will appear under your update.
RIDD WEEK SHSU E-MAIL UPDATE
The Sam Houston parking garage at 1730 Ave. I will be closed to the public and hourly parking on Tuesday to provide reserved guest parking for The Investiture of University President Dana L. Gibson. Garage contract parkers will continue to park in their assigned garage space as they normally do. Hourly parkers may park in the Bowers Stadium lot at no charge for the day. For more information contact the Parking and Transportation Office at parktrans@shsu.edu or call 936-294-1790. MARDI GRAS
Campus to get a taste of Jambalaya Cajun Band By Stephen Green Viewpoints Editor
Photo courtesy of Matthew Foster
WELCOME TO WORLPAL. Australian study abroad student and Computer Science major, Matthew Foster, developed his new social media site as a more private way for students to communicate about their college experiences across America and around the world.
You can see their profile and decide whether you want to become pen-pals. If you decline a person, then you will never see their profile again. If you do both choose to become friends, you will be able to message one another and comment on each others updates. The account user decides what information a person is
allowed to see and if a person is not friends with another person, their information is completely anonymous. “I got rid of my social network account because I didn’t like how people could just see all your information,” said Foster, who is also studying abroad from Australia. “So I thought about being able to meet people randomly
and make an interaction with each person while still having privacy and limiting the information that people could see. So I drew up a little sketch of how it would look and had ideas about making it just for students.” According to Foster, some early effects of the site were that people tried to compare Worlpal to other sites and wanted to be able to do the
same things on Worlpal as they do on other social networking sites. But Foster knew that keeping things private meant keeping information between two friends, not providing the opportunity for anyone else to contribute to the conversation.
— See WORLPAL, page 3
From the bayou of St. Martin’s parish in Louisiana came one of the most influential and popular Cajun bands in history. Next door in Erath, La., came the “Cajun Hank William’s.” Now, with Mardi Gras around the corner, the Jambalaya Cajun Band and Doris Leon “D.L.” Menard will come together to teach the students of Sam Houston State University about the Cajun culture on March 3. The event is free to attend for those with Bearkat OneCards and $10 for those who don’t, the symposium beforehand — See CAJUN, page 3
TEXAS INDEPENDENCE
University Marches to the Grave Kats celebrate Texas hero’s birthday with annual tradition
By Kolby Flowers Senior Reporter
Mike Silva | The Houstonian
BEARKAT TRADITION. Sam Houston State students, led by the SHSU Army ROTC, marched from Austin Hall to the gravesite of Sam Houston yesterday morning in an annual ceremony that honored the Texas icon’s 218th birthday, which also coincides with Texas Independence Day. There were several speakers and organizations at the event including Huntsville Mayor, J. Turner
Students gathered at the grave site of General Sam Houston yesterday morning to celebrate his birthday, March 2. The ceremony started with the traditional march to Houston’s grave site at Oakwood cemetery from Austin Hall. Students and other attendees were led down University Avenue by SHSU ROTC members to the site of the grave. Ryan Bridges, student body president, said the celebration is something that is very special for him. “It was very significant
for me,” said Bridges. “My family was part of the original German immigration to Texas in the 1840s and my grandparents down the line actually fought at the Battle of San Jacinto.” Bridges was also invited to speak at the event where he told students and other attendees how proud he was to be at a university with Houston’s name on it. “Its kind of fitting for me that I would be graduating from a university with the namesake of the person who led the Texas Revolution,” said Bridges. “I’m so proud to be a part of this university and everyone who attends this school should feel that same pride.”
Other festivities included commemorating the 175th anniversary of Texas’ Independence at the Sam Houston Statue and Visitor’s Center. After the event at the grave site, the ceremony moved to the Sam Houston Memorial Museum where Bear Bend Cabin was dedicated in Houston’s honor. Bear Bend Cabin was where Sam Houston often stayed while bear hunting, according to Museum Marketing Coordinator Megan Buro. The cabin is currently being restored and upon completion will open to the public and incorporated into the museum tours.
HONORING VETERANS
Congressman recognizes Sgt. Virgil LaRue By Hugo Lopez
Contributing Reporter
More than 500 people attended the 2011 Bataan Memorial Death March Dinner Tuesday evening at the Veterans Conference Center. This dinner, organized by SHSU ROTC instructor Maj. James Ross, took place as a fundraiser in order to send WWII Bataan Death March survivor Sgt. Virgil LaRue, a team of ROTC instructors and cadets to White Sands NM, where the Bataan Death March reenactment takes place annually.
In 1941, LaRue was stationed with the US Army 200 Coast Artillery in the Philippines. He and his unit fought the Imperial Japan forces from Dec. 7, 1941 until April 9, 1942 as second in command Maj. Gen. Edward P. King, Jr., was forced to surrender his soldiers as they were low in ammo and had almost no food and supplies. The Japanese then forced more than 11,000 American soldiers to march more than 60 miles in 12 days with no water or food. Those who slowed down, tried to drink water or aid their fellow battle buddy were killed by the Japanese
soldiers. SHSU History Professor Caroline Crimm, PhD, gasped the audience by giving a speech that placed the listeners in LaRue shoes during WWII. “It’s an honor to pass the torch, stories of hardships, strength and courage to fellow young students.” said Crimm. Congressman Kevin Brady sent a representative to the dinner to award the Prisoner of War Medal to LaRue. “It’s an honor to know you, it’s an honor to have served you, it’s an honor to have represented you said Ross. Six members of Sigma Chi, 12 members of Kappa
Sigma and 10 members of Alpha Delta Pi volunteered to help out in this event along with eight ROTC cadets who attended this event to show their support. Several items were also auctioned to help raise funds such as a shadow box containing a signed image of UT Austin and Earl Campbell that sold for $150. Other items that were auctioned included a book about the Bataan Death March that sold for $160, a Photo courtesy Amber Trent quilt that sold for $200 and a serviceable M1 Carbine, with WAR HERO. WWII Bataan Death March survivor Sgt. Virgil LaRue a 30 round magazine that (above) with his son (left) was honored by Congressman Kevin Brady and sold for $525. the community at the ROTC Team LaRue fundraiser Tuesday evening.