The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
The Official News Source of Sam Houston State University FILM FESTIVAL, P. 2 The annual Africa World Documentary Film Festival took place showcasing emigration of Africans Volume 129 | Issue 17
LIFE OF AN RA, P. 4 Sophomore Michelle McDonagh is featured as she unveils her life as a Resident Advisor.
ROOMMATE TIPS, P. 5 Opinion: Copy Editor Jordan Likens reflects on her roommate experience at SHSU and offers tips.
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BARREL OF TRUTH, P. 6 Opinion: Campus Culture Editor Sharon Raissi is beckoning for change following recent events. @HoustonianSHSU
TENNIS DOMINATES, P. 7 Sam Houston State tennis has won four straight matches to improve to 5-2 this Spring. HoustonianOnline.com
SHSU Kats win opening series, Tuesday postponed online Sam Houston State University took two of three from Kent State University over Criminal the weekend. Tuesday’s game against the University of Houston was cancelled due to inclement weather. Justice tops rankings
Jordan Likens | The Houstonian
NUMBER ONE. Sam Houston State University’s online Criminal Justice graduate program was recently named No. 1 in the country according to U.S. News, World Report and the Journal for Criminal Justice. This is the second year in a row that SHSU earned the title.
MICHAEL FLORES Contributing Reporter Sam Houston State University’s online Criminal Justice graduate program was recently named No. 1 in the country according to U.S. News, World Report and the Journal for Criminal Justice. This is the second year in a row that SHSU earned the title, beating out Boston University and the University of California at Irvine. SHSU was the best out of 60 schools that were evaluated across the country. The rankings are taken from many different factors such as: value and quality of education, instructor credentials and training and the largest factor being student engagement. “Once our university decided to develop and offer online classes, it also developed an extraordinary support system,” SHSU Criminal Justice professor Dennis Longmire said. “SHSU’s online computer support team has been very helpful throughout the entire process from the beginning of our online programs.” Longmire believes the quality of education between online and in-person Criminal Justice courses are parallel. “From day-one the model of online pedagogy used at SHSU has been held to the same academic standards as our ‘on-the-ground’ classes,” Longmire said. “Students enrolled in the online programs are held to the same expectations as those taking their classes in the conventional format. Of course, the technological sophistication of the online delivery programs has evolved significantly over the years but the philosophy of education associated driving these programs has remained consistent. Students enrolled in any/all classes are held to the same standards regardless of the method of delivery.” For many students, the credentials of a Criminal Justice degree from SHSU specifically are enough to land a job. “Going to Sam Houston, alone, helped me get into the role Online CJ continues on page 2
Photo courtesy Brian Blalock KATS START STRONG. Coming off last year’s NCAA Super Regional appearance, Sam Houston State University opened their 2018 season with a series win over a solid opponent in Kent State University. The Kats’ Tuesday night game against the University of Houston was postponed to April 18.
TYLER JOSEFSEN Associate Editor The Sam Houston State University Bearkats baseball team won two out of three games against the Kent State University Golden Flashes to win the opening series of the 2018 season. KSU shocked the Kats on opening night Friday with a go-ahead grand slam in the top of the ninth that eventually resulted in a 7-4 loss for SHSU. One bright spot in the Opening Day loss was junior outfielder Hunter Hearn, who notched his first dinger of the season with a go-ahead two-run homerun in
the bottom of the seventh inning. The Kats carried a 4-2 lead into the ninth, but the Golden Flashes put up five runs on the strength of a grand slam from junior shortstop Josh Hollander. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Nick Mikolajchak was a strike away from closing out a 4-3 win for the Kats, but a full-count fastball to Hollander changed the tale. The late-inning dramatics gave KSU a 7-4 lead, and it held on through the bottom of the ninth to steal a road victory to open up the season. The Bearkats bounced back Saturday afternoon with a 5-1 victory on the arm of sophomore
pitcher Hayden Wesneski. The 6-foot-3-inch righty had the outing of his young career, throwing a complete game and racking up a career high eight strikeouts. He allowed just one unearned run on four hits over 97 pitches to notch his first victory of the new campaign. Wesneski was a ground ball machine, getting 15 ground outs and just three fly outs to accompany his eight K’s. After an exciting pair of games to open up the regular season, Bearkats and Golden Flashes were faced with a rubber match Sunday, and fans were not disappointed. The 12-6 SHSU victory
had plenty of offensive fireworks as well as an eruption between the two teams that cleared the benches in the sixth inning. At the end of the fourth inning, KSU looked well in control of the game after jumping out to a 5-0 lead thanks to some power at the bottom of their order. Senior first baseman Brad Hamilton delivered a pair of solo homeruns out of the eight-hole to give the Golden Flashes the spark they needed to get on top. Hamilton got the scoring started with a solo shot that banked off the top of the scoreboard at Don Sanders Stadium to lead off the top of the third Baseball continues on page 8
SHSU paints out crisis management plan EMILY DAVIS News/Viewpoints Editor In light of a recent tragedy, Sam Houston State University students might be left wondering if there is a plan in place in case of an emergency on our campus. News of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14, in which three faculty members and 14 students were killed by a former student with an assault rifle, is now an unfortunate reality of the times we are in. However, the SHSU Emergency Management Office is prepared for the prevention of a crisis scenario and a plan of action in the case that an emergency occurs. According to Director of Emergency Management David Yebra, Walker County Sheriffs,
Huntsville Police Department, University Police Department and the SHSU emergency management team have met to discuss emergency action plans and have completed extensive training for crisis situations. “We don’t get to pick the time, location or type of attack, so the emergency management team is always working on the ability to adapt and improve our methodology,” Yebra said. There are plans in place for fullscale active shooter training for university staff and law enforcement during August of this year. Planning of the exercise has been in effect since February of last year. “It will be validation that we can handle these situations,” Yebra said. “There will also be training on media briefing and after the Plan continues on page 2
The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Page 2 LSC Construction:
Aramark adjusts employees EMILY DAVIS News/Viewpoints Editor
Online CJ continued, page 1 — I currently hold,” SHSU Criminal Justice alum Joshua Benson said. “SHSU’s name and criminal justice program opened opportunities, gave credibility and helped me rank high among other applicants.” Benson spoke highly of SHSU’s online program, but believes that online classes limit some of the ‘real world’ experience. “When I attended the program, a thing I noticed was that there were not any prior law enforcement professors, and nothing I did in class is what I did in the real world,” Benson said. “I took the online classes for the convenience factor, but having a professor who was passionate about the subject matter made a big difference. Overall I loved my experience at Sam Houston and with the criminal justice program.” Benson is currently a special agent with the Texas Department of Public Safety and works with a newer team covering human trafficking in Houston. Hired in July with the DPS, he began his career as a conditional hire, and then went to the academy after his graduation in August. According to the SHSU website, Criminal Justice and Victim Studies majors have increased by 22 percent since Fall 2011. Between 2016 and 2017, 737 students received degrees from the department. Plan continued, page 1 — fact operation in case of a trag-
edy, because even if there are not structural damages, there will always be psychological damages.” According to Clinical Assistant Professor Linda James, the SHSU School of Nursing started training nursing students by simulation on how to care for victims of mass causalities as a first responder two years ago. “In the past few semesters, we have moved to an interdisciplinary model and included Athletic Training Students and students in Homeland Security Studies on first responder response,” James said. “Students complete training before the simulation then participate in debriefing to discuss what went well, what didn’t, and what they learned. They also write using reflective journaling methods to further process the events.” According to James, the Nursing faculty is self-trained using Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) courses, as well as, SHSU Active Shooter training online module. “I have also attended face-toface trainings offered at SHSU and multiple tabletop exercises on mass casualty situations where we have planned a course of action for the university,” James said. “I have also participated in the Walker County disaster exercise in 2017.” Not all of these exercises are in response to active shooter scenarios, but also responding to natural disasters like hurricanes, tornados, etc., and man-made disasters such as fires. There is a “students of concern” option on the SHSU Dean of Students website, in which students and faculty can report
students that they think are suspicious. You can call the University Police Department or Emergency Management Office to report suspicious activity. Yebra encourages everyone to have the Kat Safe emergency notifications on. The Kat Safe website and mobile app provide extensive information as well as videos that explain what to do in emergency type situations. Yebra especially stresses the importance of the “run, hide, flight” model in the event of an active shooter. According to the SHSU Emergency Management team, the first step students should do is run even when others do not agree, leave your personal items behind, help others escape as possible, warn others from entering dangerous areas and call 9-1-1 when you are safe. The second step is to hide in places that do not restrict your escape routes, are out of view and away from glass, barricade doors, silence cell phones and stay very quiet. If there are no other options available and your life is in danger, fight. Look around your area for possible weapons and commit to your action. When engaging with a shooter, act with physical aggression. “Our police department is very vigilant, but we ask you to be vigilant too,” Blackburn said. Everything students need to know in case of an emergency can be found on Kat Safe at https://www.shsu.edu/katsafe/ or on the Kat Safe app.
Several students have expressed their concerns regarding the Lowman Student Center Paw Print closure due to expansion and renovations. With the news that the LSC will close its food vendors after March 9, students are wondering where their meals will come from and if their Bearkat Bucks will go to waste. Paw Print employees that rely on these restaurants are wonder-
ing what will happen to their jobs. According to Aramark Resident District Manager Brad Blackburn, if food trucks are brought to campus during the time frame of the closure, students will be employed to operate them. “We will place all current employees in other operations to handle the business as it shifts to other operations,” Blackburn said. Once the LSC food court reopens in the fall, employees will be put back to work in their Visit HoustonianOnline.com for the entire article.
Jordan Likens | The Houstonian
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Africa Film Festival provides new perspectives HELEN NEMARIAM Contributing Reporter This past week, the Africa World Documentary Film Festival took place in the Lowman Student Center and Dan Rather Communications Building. This tradition has been at Sam Houston State University since 2016 and is made possible by a Dan Rather Endowment; the audience was comprised of students with various backgrounds. The screenings began promptly, with several words from Nili Dotan (the director of “Desert Wounds”), ‘Niyi Coker, Jr. (director of the Africa World Documentary Film Festival) and Jean-Richard Bodon, Ph.D. (Dan Rather Endowed Professor and
Chair of the Mass Communication Department). The films, “Desert Wounds” and “When Paul Came Over the Sea,” provided the audience with several different perspectives. The first perspective is a mother who exchanged her life for her family’s. The mother’s sacrifices demonstrate the will of a mother to provide her kids a fighting chance. The second perspective is shown through the eyes of a woman who escaped the violence of war. The third is of a man who believes a wealth of experiences awaits him outside of Cameroon. The films demonstrate the various reasons of emigration of Africans. Despite their different reasons, they all have one thing in common: a dream of becoming contributing citizens to a place
of freedom. Dotan of “Desert Wounds” stated that her film’s goal was to bring awareness to ignored voices. A common issue echoed throughout the world— the ignored voices of women. The abuse faced by women, especially the asylum-seeking women, is left to the imagination due to the lack of coverage. The hauntingly beautiful documentaries provided the audience a surreal experience. Dotan introduced her film, briefly stating, “[I] can’t say to enjoy the film, but open your hearts to it.” Dotan explained that her inspirations for the films stemmed from her awareness of the refugees’ abuse. She felt this is something people should know. Dotan researched the lives of the refugees and began her project. “Somehow they opened their
hearts,” Dotan said. “I was very lucky they did it because it is very hard to find women that will be ready to talk about [it].” Dotan began to speak from the perspective of a film director. It was a difficult project and she did not receive funding for several years. Despite wanting to end her project, event after event would occur. “Every time I tell myself I am going to stop, I can’t,” Dotan said. “Things were happening.” Jakob Preuss, director of “When Paul Comes Over the Sea”, similarly questions his own limits. Despite the obstacles, Dotan remarks that “if all the people who see the film have a change of heart or way of thinking, it was worth making the film.” Jean-Richard Bodon, Ph.D.,
has also participated in educating the people of the world about the struggles refugees face. Bodon says that “refugees have the same needs as we do, that is to have a place of refuge where they can recreate their homes and lives.” Bodon explains the role people like himself and Dotan play in topic of refugees. “As documentarians, it is our responsibility to inform rather than labeling. To label ‘them’ as terrorists, rapists, uneducated, etc. is simply false and for sure inhuman.” The film festival’s goal for SHSU was not only to bring awareness to the struggles of refugees, but to encourage filmmakers. Dotan notes it is not an easy path, but nonetheless, a rewarding one.
Police Blotter: SHSU’s Finest Keep the Campus Safe Feb 14th: Theft: An officer was dispatched to the Sam Houston State University Police Department, 2424 Sam Houston Avenue, in reference to a report of theft. The complainant advised that her phone was stolen. She does wish to pursue criminal charges if a suspect is located.
Feb 15th: Assault/Family Violence: An officer was dispatched to Bearkat Village, 2400 Montgomery Road, in reference to a report of a physical altercation involving a knife. The male subject exited the reported room and entered the hallway with visible injuries. A female subject involved in the altercation was in the room with visible injuries. The male was treated by Huntsville/ Walker County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) personnel. He was later transported to the Walker County jail. The female was also transported to the Walker County Jail and charged with Second Degree Felony offense of “Aggravated Assault of a Family Member with a Deadly Weapon.”
Feb 16th: Assist Outside Agency: An officer was approached by a female at Shenanigans, 1548 11th Street. She stated that a male subject had taken her phone. The male had three active warrants and transported to the Walker County Jail.
Feb 18th: Burglary of a Habitation: An officer responded to the Piney Woods Dormitory, 2120 Avenue I, in reference to an assault. Two females got into a verbal altercation. One of the occupants gained access to the private room without that occupant’s consent and was asked to leave. She had entered the room and assaulted the occupant. The victim wished to press charges for Burglary of a Habitation and for Assault Family Violence.
Information taken from Daily Police Activity at shsu.edu/dept/public-saftey/upd/dailypolice.html
The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/campusculture | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/campusculture | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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Life of an RA: When work follows you home SHARON RAISSI Campus Culture Editor Most people look forward to coming home from class, kicking their feet up and enjoying a few moments free of responsibility. For sophomore Michelle McDonagh, that sense of responsibility does not end when she arrives back home at BelvinBuchanan Hall; rather, a new sense of responsibility starts. As a hall Resident Advisor (RA), she is always prepared to step up to the plate and handle business, no matter what curveballs come her way. “It’s not a 9-5 job, you do it every day,” McDonagh explained. “You’re on all the time. One of my boss’s favorite things to tell me is that we live in a fishbowl. We have a fishbowl effect, wherever we are, we represent the university. You very much feel a sense of responsibility in this job.” Sam Houston State University RA’s are held at an extremely
Michelle McDonagh
high standard, one that McDonagh takes seriously. She discussed the qualities that she feels make or break a good RA. “Patience is a huge thing in this job, and it’s one of those things people don’t think of,” McDonagh said. “Another good quality in an RA is tolerance,
because I know there are certain situations where tolerance is called for. Openness, making sure you’re there for your residents. As an RA, you need to make sure your residents know you’re there for them. Whatever they need, you make yourself available for them. That’s one of the main reasons you’re an RA, to make sure you’re there for them, and to help them succeed in their goals.” At 12-years-old, McDonagh moved to Austin from San Carlos, California. She knows a great deal about trying to make yourself feel at home in a foreign environment, and it is something she tries to help her residents with. “I love planning programs and making sure that the hall is happy here in their home away from home,” McDonagh explained. “I just love making my residents happy here, because I know it’s difficult being away from home for so long, and struggling with classes. If I can make their day just a little bit happier, then my day is made.” As an RA at Belvin-Buchanan Hall, McDonagh is a vital part of the Fine Arts and Mass Communication (FAMC) living community in the dorm. Even though she is a history major, she works to keep up with the extensive creative environment and residents surrounding her. “Because I’m an RA at Belvin, people expected me to be some sort of theatre major or mass communications major,” McDonagh said. “As a history major, it’s kind of weird because I’m kind of the fish out of water. This isn’t my element, but I feel I’ve made it my element.” Her freshman year, McDonagh lived in a dorm in Baldwin House. She temporarily roomed there with an RA, who
Sharon Raissi | The Houstonian
RA LIFE. Sophomore resident advisor Michelle McDonagh fills out paperwork for her job at Belvin-Buchanan Hall. McDonagh is in her second semester as an RA.
she still finds inspiration in. “My freshman year I was placed as a temporary roommate with an RA,” McDonagh said. “I saw what she did, and it inspired me. She kind of became a role model for me, and now, as an RA, I aspire to be like her.” Her RA duties include having weekly “office hours,” being oncall every night she’s scheduled to, keeping an open line of communication between her residents and herself. These, along with innumerable other duties, make for a fairly high-stress job, one that she believes gets a negative reputation. “Some people have this assumption that we are here only to fine you,” McDonagh said. “Our job is to make sure residents are following the rules. We
are not police, and we are not looking for trouble. We’re here to make sure you’re following the rules. If you’re not following the rules, of course there are consequences.” To be selected as an RA, there is a rigorous interview and application process one must undergo. After being assigned a residence hall, it is up to the RA to make the job their own. Some unique things McDonagh does as RA are organizing monthly floor bonding events and sending out weekly emails to keep her residents updated on the happenings of SHSU. “I think the main thing is to obviously understand policy, but overall you need to make this job your own,” McDonagh said. “You need to not let this job consume you. You need to make sure you have some sort of outside life from this job. If this job takes over you, then you’re not in the right place.” Her advice for residents is to get to know their RA’s better. Once someone can look past the stigma of the dutiful RA, it’s easier to see them for the hard-working students they are. “A lot of us are pretty cool,” McDonagh said. “We’re pretty nice. We go through a very vigorous interview process to get this job in the first place. We
have been selected for a reason. You might not see that reason, but we are here for a reason, and we’re here to help you.” For McDonagh, going above and beyond is routine. Even if it’s just saying hello to residents in the hallway, stopping to ask someone about their day, or sitting down for lunch, she finds the time to be available for them. “I think the main thing in order to go above and beyond for your residents is just interacting with them,” McDonagh explained. “I send my residents a weekly email, and they all really respond well to that. Whenever I see residents in the hallway, I will always say hi, I will always stop what I’m doing and ask them how their day is, and ask them about their recent test that they had that I remember them telling me about. It’s that kind of persistence that helps me bond with my residents.” McDonagh says the difference between a good RA and a mediocre one lies in their reasons for taking the job. It is the difference between wanting to make people’s lives better and just getting a paycheck. For McDonagh, it is all about improving the lives of those around her. “A good RA makes it known that they are there for their residents, and makes it important to bond with the community that they’re in. They make sure their residents are ok,” McDonagh said. “Being an RA allows me to do what I love the most: help others reach their full potential.”
Dorm Spotlight Sam Houston Village Capacity: 530 Type: Coed Disabled Access: Yes Carpet: Yes Micro-Fridge: Yes Cost per semester: $3,020 Ryan Reynolds| The Houstonian
Lone Star Hall Capacity: 298 Type: Coed Disabled Access: Yes Carpet: No Micro-Fridge: Yes Cost per semester: $2,552 Tyler Josefsen| The Houstonian
Piney Woods Hall Capacity: 684 Type: Coed Disabled Access: Yes Carpet: No Micro-Fridge: Yes Cost per semester: $2,400 Ryan Reynolds| The Houstonian
The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/viewpoints | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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6 roommate rules, having proper etiquette Copy Editor Jordan Likens reflects on her roommate experiences at Sam Houston State University and explains six important rules to follow. JORDAN LIKENS Copy Editor “Living with you has made me seriously consider living in my car.” - Said everyone with a bad roommate ever I grew up in a household of four people; my only “roommates” up until the age of 18 were my mother, father and older brother. Just like any other family, we experienced conflict. Someone was always doing something to incite a riot—more often than not, this meant that someone had eaten the last Zebra Cake and left the empty box for the next hungry soul to find. Fortunately, these disputes would last no more than 10 minutes and peace would eventually prevail. Living with family means that unconditional love and forgiveness are usually the solution to disputes within your home; family is family, after all. When you live with family, conflict is not taken personally because you love one another. There comes a time in every young adult’s life, however, when they make the transition from living at home to living on their own. During this transition, they are faced with the sometimes harsh reality of living with a stranger. During my time at Sam Houston State University, I have had four roommates. I can say with confidence that no one can test your patience like a roommate can. A roommate can and will do all the things that send you into a fiery rage; I have had these roommates, and I have been that roommate. With that being said, I have
compiled a list of tips so that you and your roommate may live peacefully. Welcome to Roommate Etiquette 101. Respect one another’s belongings and space. I had a roommate who often watched her nephew while her sister was at work. One Friday afternoon, I went home for the weekend while my roommate had her nephew stay over in our dorm. When I returned on Sunday, I noticed something was off. The blanket that I had left neatly folded and hanging over the back of my desk chair was no longer neatly folded. A few days later, I found boogers (yes, boogers) smeared on the wall by my bed. I’m still nauseous to this day and my desire to have children (and a roommate for that matter) is lesser. Though you may share certain areas of your dorm or apartment with your roommate, such as the living room, kitchen, bathroom, etc., there are almost always living areas that are designated to you and you alone; the same goes for your roommate. With that being said, you should avoid invading your roommate’s space. For instance, do not borrow something without asking first or enter your roommate’s bedroom without their knowledge. Be conscious of noise-levels and aware of one another’s sleep schedules. I had a roommate who was a self-proclaimed procrastinator. She was one of those students who would start a project the night before it was due. With that being said, there were often times that she was awake when I was asleep. One night, I was awoken from my slumber to an incessant popping sound. There was light from the kitchen streaming in under my
bedroom door. My roommate had taken a break from her homework to grab a snack at 3 a.m. Unfortunately for me, that snack just so happened to be the loudest microwavable food she could have chosen: popcorn. Rest assured, she didn’t forget to slam her bedroom door before returning to her studies, either. We all lead different lives. Our coursework varies in difficulty and time consumption, and some of us have part-time or even full-time jobs. With that being said, our schedules won’t all look the same. If your roommate is studying or trying to sleep, keep noise to a minimum. If you make a mess, clean it up. One of my roommates was too messy to even function. There was not a single instance in which she had made a mess that she did not clean up—she simply existed to produce messes. I recall coming home one Sunday evening to find what seemed like every makeup product she owned lining the bathroom counter, as well as hair ties, her hairbrush and straightener. For as many cosmetic products as she left on that bathroom counter, I assume she looked stunning by the time she left our dorm that evening. Maintaining the cleanliness of your shared living areas is one of the most crucial ways to keep the peace with your roommate. Most people prefer living in a messfree environment, so do your roommate a favor and throw away
those week-old Chipotle leftovers that are cluttering up the fridge. Ensure your guests clean up after themselves and respect your roommate. I once had a roommate I was pretty good friends with, and she often had her boyfriend over. During one of his visits, I walked out of my bedroom to find that he had tracked dirt throughout the kitchen and bathroom, and had not even bothered to clean up the mess. Later, he got out of the shower and proceeded to walk around the dorm in nothing but a towel. Saying he “overstepped” his boundaries is an understatement; he leaped over those boundaries. It is important for your guests to recognize that you do not live alone. While they may be comfortable enough to do certain things around you, they should not feel comfortable enough to do those same things around your roommate. When your roommate allows you to have guests, it is important that your guests are well-mannered. For instance, if your guest uses a dish, they should clean it and put it away. Flush the toilet. I never thought I would have to flush the toilet for another human being,
but you guessed it. I have had not one, but two roommates who never quite grasped the concept of flushing a toilet. Seriously, though. Flush the toilet. Communicate with your roommate when there is an issue. I have shared with you only a few of the issues I have encountered with my college roommates. Ironically, I never once communicated any of these issues to them. When they did something that upset me, I would only allow anger and frustration to build up, which in turn would yield resentment. When resentment is present, living in peace is near impossible. Communicating with your roommate when there is a problem is the most beneficial thing you could do to maintain the peace. If you put nothing else into practice, this is the one thing you should. Coming to an understanding with your roommate is going to prevent further issues from occurring.
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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/viewpoints | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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School Shootings: Staring down the barrel of truth
Photo Courtesy Fox 26
SHARON RAISSI Campus Culture Editor On Feb. 14, a 19-year-old gunman named Nikolas Cruz showed up to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School with an AR-15 Assault Rifle. According to a 15-year-old student who passed by him on his way into the building, Cruz said, “You’d better get out of here. Things are going to start getting messy.” In about 20 minutes, three faculty members and 14 students were killed or fatally injured, and 14 more were wounded. This is the seventh intentional school shooting this year. But does it come as a surprise? When it’s easier for a 19-year-old to buy an assault rifle than a handgun, when
mental health is so often held as a joke and ignored, when reports of potentially dangerous individuals are overlooked, can we really be surprised when things like this repeatedly happen? When we don’t make any efforts to stop these events, is it any surprise they’ve become a staple of our culture? We’ve seen this before. We saw this in Orlando, San Bernardino, Las Vegas, Sandy Hook, etc. It’s become a cycle. People die, and each time all we are offered are thoughts and prayers instead of policy change and results. Each time, we watch the news coverage in horror as the death tolls rise. Each time, it’s “too soon” to talk about it. The sound of inaction is deafening. It’s louder than 17 life-ending gunshots, louder than the sound of screams down school hallways and it’s louder than the cries of parents on their knees when they get the news. Why is it that we are the only country in the world in which these shootings routinely occur, and yet we still claim there’s nothing we can do to prevent these tragedies? How many
times will we see the same story with a different headline, how many children do we have to bury before people finally realize that enough is enough? I respect and appreciate the right of every citizen to own a weapon. It’s a principal this country was founded on, and one that I believe is still applicable. The only problem is, the weapons have changed, but the policies have not. A 1776 musket would never be as much of a threat as a modern-day assault rifle. The second amendment was made in a time when mass terror attacks such as the ones we’re facing today didn’t exist. The times change, and if we don’t change with them— in the words of Nikolas Cruz himself— things get messy. President Donald Trump, who had only “prayers and condolences” to offer the world after the Parkland school shooting, received over $11 million from the National Rifle Association during the 2016 election alone. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, who insists that there is no law we could pass to prevent these shootings, received over $3 million from
the NRA in his career. It is clear that as long as politicians stand to gain something from a lack of gun regulation, we can expect to see no changes. We have two options: we can sit on our hands and watch innocent people die, or we can start to work together to formulate policy change. But gun violence is not the only issue here. Mental health in this country is overlooked, and at times,
entirely ignored. In the case of Nikolas Cruz, the FBI had actually received warnings about his behavior and chose to ignore them. If we don’t allow ourselves to regulate access to weapons, at least let us look deeper into the missteps that caused such an egregious overlook when the tip was received in January. Let’s explore mental health in this country, and why a federal bureau would think it acceptable to pass by someone who was so clearly a threat to those around him. Until then, keep an eye on the daily news, and keep an eye on those death tolls. This was not the first mass shooting this year, and unless something changes, it certainly will not be the last. Let’s pay attention to how many children die, and how many innocent people get slaughtered in the street. Above all, pay attention to how long it takes to lose your sense of outrage. Our world does not have to be this way. The worst thing we can do is become numb to the violence. If we do not recognize something has to change, we become complicit in the tragedies. Have those difficult conversations, write to your representatives and scream this from every rooftop in the city, “something has to change.”
One Bearkat’s advice to being a better person
DEMETRE FOSTER Contributing Writer Fellow Bearkats, Whether you consider yourself a good or bad person, I want to address anyone who wants to be a better person. A better person is someone that truly cares about not only themselves, but others as well. A better person treats people as they want to be treated. If any
of you want to become a better person, then I will offer an opinion on how to start. I know the general consensus among classmates is to look out for yourself, and network with as many people as possible. However, I tell you that people are not just a means to an end. Since “networking” has become a new word for friendship, the idea of friendship has truly passed away and now people only consider worthy people as an “associate.” The bar for friendship is set so high that it is impossible for most people to reach. A better person knows that friends are valuable assets who can enrich our lives; they understand that friends are not perfect and can focus on the
good instead of the bad. I am not condoning maintaining bad relationships of any kind, but a better person might recognize the kind gestures over the mistakes. I have seen people that have been wronged and decided to get back at the wrongdoers. Instead of following the natural instinct to repay evil with evil, it would be more profitable to defeat evil with good. Anger and revenge are just harmful and spread like a wildfire consuming everything. Save your cold dishes and serve only what you would partake in; you will catch more flies with honey than vinegar. In addition to fighting evil with good, never get tired of doing good things for
anyone. Anyone that gives unconditionally is an upstanding member of our society. When the opportunity presents itself or a friend asks you for help, if you can provide it, then you should oblige. Anyone who gives to those in need will be able to display good qualities that can spread to others. Even though some people will take advantage of a better person, this should not discourage that person from helping others. There will always be times when the people that are on top will fall to the bottom and the people on bottom will eventually be on top. So if anyone wants to receive aid when they are at their lowest, they must give when they are at their highest.
Photo courtesy Fox 26
The few qualities that I have provided will help anyone become a better person. If we take the time and consideration to think of others rather than ourselves, we will not only better individuals, but we can strengthen our society, as well. The world can always profit from having better people in it. All it takes for us to be better people is to try to love each other just as we love ourselves.
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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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Tennis wins four straight
Photo courtesy Erik Williams NOT ON PAR. SHSU men’s golf failed to crack the top 10 for the first time all year, but there was a bright spot for the Bearkats.
Trouble on the fairway JORDAN SMITH Sports Reporter The Sam Houston State University men’s golf team finished eleventh at the All-American Intercollegiate at the Golf Club left a couple out on the court.” of Houston in Humble. Hubbard is also impressed This is the first time in the with the way his players handled 2017-2018 season that the squad their single matches. has finished a tournament out“Khee had a good turnaround side of the top 10. Their lowest in her singles play,” Hubbard finish of the season before this said. “She’s been sick and injured past weekend was a tournament and played hurt. Now she is in Princeville, Hawaii Oct 29-31 close to being 100 percent. at the Warrior Princeville Makai Today she found her game and Invitational where the team did a good job. She handled her finished in sixth place. opponent from start to finish. Starting on Friday, the BearCarrie Casey played a whale of a kats shot a team total of 285, match. She was on that girl from led by sophomore Noah Steele start to finish. Mila’s win and with an opening round 68. The Lucy remaining undefeated also opening round of 285 put them stands out.” in seventh place heading into With the pair of victories, day two on Saturday. However, SHSU is now 5-2 on the season. SHSU fell apart by scoring a The two losses came against 293, placing them way back in Texas A&M and the University the standings before ultimately of Houston earlier in the month. finishing No. 11 in the final Even though the team has had standings after a Sunday round a great start to the season, they of 289. feel that there are some areas In the Friday round, Steele that they can improve on before was able to impress the field and conference play begins. his coach by shooting his open“We have things to work on, ing round of 68. This would but overall we’re happy,” Hubbe the lowest round total of bard said. his weekend as he shot a 74 on Saturday and a 73 on Sunday for a grand total of -1 under par. Visit HoustonianOnline.com for Steele had the second lowest entire article. score on the team from the weekend, tied with sophomore WilPhoto courtesy Brian Blalock
QUEENS OF THE COURT. After defeating UT-San Antonio on the road, SHSU tennis returned home for a trio of matches, and won them all to improve to 5-2 this Spring.
HIVAN MORENO Asst. Sports Editor The Sam Houston State University Bearkats tennis team took home two victories over the weekend versus the New Mexico State University Aggies and the University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley. The two wins improve the Kats’ record to 5-2 as they currently cling to a fourgame winning streak. The Bearkats started off their weekend against NMSU. SHSU had won back-to-back matches entering Saturday, and they kept that trend going. They swept five of the six matches and shut out the Aggies 6-0 to cap off a dominant performance. A big help to the Bearkats was their young cast of players. Sophomore transfer Lusine Chobanyan remained undefeated and had a 5-0 record on the season at the end of the day. She would later improve that record to 6-0 versus UTRGV. Freshman duo Roos Gerritsen and Sahaja Yamalapali have also proven to be a great addition to the tennis squad. The two won their doubles match Saturday afternoon.
Although it may seem that the young set of players are at the center of the team, head coach Rob Hubbard gives credit to the upper classmen for their leadership. “Our newcomers are doing well,” Hubbard said. “Roos has just been with us a little bit more than a month and is still adjusting. Sahaja and Roos are looking good in doubles. The seniors are providing us with great leadership. They are raising their levels.” The Bearkats next match was against UTRGV Sunday. The victory was not a clean sweep like the day before, but SHSU still finished on top and took home the victory 4-3. All of SHSU’s victories came from the singles competition as seniors Khee Yen Wee, Carrie Casey, Mila Milanovic, and Chobanyan won their matches. “I knew we were going to have a difficult time today,” Hubbard said. “Texas-Rio Grande Valley is my alma mater and I follow them closely. They remind me of the turn-around team we had last year. We weren’t quite ready for them in the doubles. The singles we did fine although we
liam Holcomb and sitting right behind senior Jake McCrory’s -8 under par for the weekend. Head coach Brandt Kieschnick talked about the result of the tournament and what to expect moving forward. “The guys fought hard and we were really close to having a good finish,” Kieschnick said. “We were ready to compete this week and the guys were grinding each shot. We had three guys finish under par for the week so that was encouraging.” One of the top performers for the Bearkats over the weekend was McCrory, who on Sunday shot a round of 66. His 66 is a personal best on the season to date. His lowest heading into the tournament was at 68 Oct. 9 at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic at Golfcrest Country Club in Pearland. His scores over the weekend were a 69-73-66 for a total of 208. Coach Kieschnick talked about how McCrory’s performance helped the team over the weekend. ““Jake played absolutely flawless,” Kieschnick said. He only made two bogeys the whole week and he played as a professional. He looked like a player that knew he was going to play well and knew how to do it. Visit HoustonianOnline.com for entire article.
Housing studentathletes at SHSU JORDAN SMITH Sports Reporter As an incoming student at Sam Houston State University (whether a true freshman or a transfer), students are required by university policy to live in oncampus housing their first year. For student-athletes, the same rule applies to them. SHSU Associate Athletic Director for Student Services Chris Thompson shed some light on the matter. “The student-athletes are students first, so they follow the same principles as everyone else,” Thompson said. “As a freshman you are required to live in the dorm—student or student-athlete. After your freshman year you can live where you wish. There is not athletic housing. For our foreign/out of state student-athletes that may not have a vehicle, they find an apartment or residence that is close and allows them to walk to classes. The student-athletes are not directed where they live.” For student athletes, especially those who do not have scholarships, earning money can be difficult as they cannot really commit to a job (unless on-campus) that will work around their athletic schedule; so, any kind of scholarship, whether it be from their athletics or through other means (GPA, work-study, etc.) helps the athletes a lot. Thompson explained how
even though they are student athletes, and no special favors are given towards their living arrangements. “NCAA rules prohibit reduced rent or special benefits in regard to housing,” Thompson said. “Student-athletes may select to have a roommate that is a teammate or non-athlete roommate where they select to live. Student-athletes arrange their own housing, apply with Residence Life or the off-campus of their choice, make their own deposit and handle their responsibilities. Once the residence is determined, the student-athlete is required to submit their residence with our NCAA Compliance Office in athletics in an NCAA form that goes into our NCAA Compliance database for record keeping.” Of course, a benefit of living together with other teammates is building a chemistry that can help them out on the field of play. Thompson went into a little bit of depth about this subject and how that is approached by the coaching staff and athletes of a certain sport. “The coach likes to guide those student-athletes to live together,” Thompson said. “Nine times out of 10, they don’t know who it is, but from a standpoint it’s the schedule. So, for example, Visit HoustonianOnline.com for entire article.
The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Wednesday, February 21, 2018
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Photo courtesy GoBearkats.com Baseball continued, page 1 — inning. His team rallied around his offensive outburst as they put up a four-spot on SHSU that inning. Hamilton came to the plate to lead off the fourth, as well, and doubled-up on the long ball as he took a first-pitch breaking ball and deposited it over the left field wall. SHSU’s bats came alive in the bottom of the fifth inning, though. Freshman left-handed outfielder Jack Rogers set the table with a double to right field, and junior Clayton Harp traded places with him in the next atbat. Harp’s RBI double got the Kats on the board. After a single by Hearn, junior short stop Andrew Fregia brought the crowd to its feet as he unloaded on a fastball for a game-tying threerun homerun. KSU regained the lead 6-5 in the
top of the sixth, but an explosive home half of the inning saw seven Bearkats cross home plate. Junior second baseman Chase Cryer doubled to start the bottom of the frame, and Rogers followed that up with a go-ahead two-run bomb to put the Kats on top 7-6. Next up to the plate was junior right fielder Josh Biles, who was hit in the arm by the first pitch. Golden Flashes senior third baseman Tim Dalporto came charging in from his position toward Biles heading to first base, and the benches cleared at The Don. SHSU head coach Matt Deggs got in a bit of shoving match with KSU head coach Jeff Duncan as tempers flared. Once both teams returned to their respective dugouts, SHSU picked up right where it left off. The Kats loaded the bases and Cryer came to the plate with two outs. He worked the count full before
poking an outside corner fastball out to right field, clearing the bases and scoring three runs that extended SHSU’s lead to 12-6. The Kats beat the Golden Flashes by that 12-6 score to cap off an exciting home stand to open 2018. SHSU was supposed to battle the University of Houston Cougars Tuesday night at Don Sanders Stadium in Huntsville, but heavy rains postponed the game; the two teams will match up on April 18 at 6:30 p.m. in Huntsville to make up the game. The Bearkats and Cougars match-up three times a year for a season-long competition known as the Sanders Cup. SHSU swept all three games against UH in 2017, winning 5-4 on April 18 at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, 12-2 on April 25 in Houston, and 3-2 on May 2 in Huntsville.
Tuesday was supposed to be the first matchup of 2018, but the postponement means the two opponents will play back-to-back nights: April 17 at 6:30 p.m. in Houston and April 18 at 6:30 p.m. in Huntsville. The finale of the season series will be May 1 at Constellation Field. SHSU’s next game will be Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Cincinnati. The Bearkats with a ‘k’ will welcome the Bearcats with a ‘c’ to The Don for a three-game series Friday through Sunday. The other two games will take place Saturday at 3 p.m. and Sunday at noon. Friday and Saturday’s games will be televised live on ESPN3. Sunday’s matchup will be broadcast on 90.5 KSHUFM. Wright State will travel to Huntsville for a quick twogame set Tuesday and Wednesday. First pitch for both of those games will be at 6:30 p.m.
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