4/4/2018 Weekly Edition

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Wednesday, April 4, 2018

The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University

The Official News Source of Sam Houston State University Volume 129 | Issue 22

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PARKING CONUNDRUM

Construction dents campus parking BY RYAN REYNOLDS Editor-in-Chief Sam Houston State University lost 300 parking spaces Sunday due to the construction of a new building. Parking lot Z2-07 located at the corner of Bearkat Boulevard and Bobby K. Marks is now closed for Ryan Reynolds | The Houstonian construction as it will be the new home of the $27.5 million, 71,500 CAN’T SPOT A SPOT. The parking problem has been a problem for a while, but it seems to be getting worse with even more construction. square foot Art Complex.

“It is always unsettling to see a large parking lot being repurposed for an additional building especially when we are unable to recoup the same quality and quantity of spaces in another location,” Deputy Chief of Parking and Transportation Matthew McDaniel said. This has been a familiar trend on many campuses that are fortunate to see the growth and expansion that we have been feeling for some time now.”

Parking was already an issue at SHSU and the closure of lot Z2-07 puts more pressure on students to arrive unnecessarily early and hunt for any remaining spots. According to McDaniel, parking lot Z2-07 will eventually reopen once the Art Complex is complete. However, parking near the building will be tailored more towards motorists and at a lower total number of parking spaces. “The parking situation is Parking continues on page 2

SAAM Protest puts brakes on SGA election Sammy takes Awards SHSU sure to by storm with excite awareness events BY TESLA CADENA Asst. Campus Culture Editor

Lindsey Jones | The Houstonian

I DEMAND A RECOUNT. Students recently voted for their Student Government Association officers, but a questionable campaign and a protest has put the results on hold. The consequences are currently under review.

BY EMILY DAVIS News/Viewpoints Editor Photo courtesy Nicol Ruiz

“The results will not be official [Tuesday] because there is a pending protest,” student body President Briauna Augustus said. After election results were tabulated, the winners were David Eller for president, Alexus Hardy for vice president, Jaidyn Wilkerson for secretary, Christian Wolford for treasurer and Amanda Lee for chief-of-staff. However, all five of these students were found in violation of an SGA Election Commission code on March 28 when a cam-

The Sam Houston State University Student Government Association (SGA) held its annual election last week in which the student body elected a new executive board and judicial senators. BY EMILY DAVIS The SGA planned to announce News/Viewpoints Editor the finalized election results April 3, but this announcement is now April is Sexual Assault Aware- postponed due to a pending disness month (SAAM). Sam Hous- qualification. ton State University SAAM committee and Not on My Campus are joining forces to raise awareness. Organizations including Not on My Campus, Office of Equity and Inclusion, Program Council, Of- Learn the history of the fice of Health Promotion, Student Legal Mediation Services, HKC Rec Center, Lambda Alpha Epsilon, National Organization of Hispanics in CJ, Crime Victim Service Alliance and Montgomery County Women’s Center have planned for several events throughout the month to spread the awareness around campus. The slogan for this year’s SAAM is “Your Voice Has Power.” “We are really using this slogan to motivate everyone on campus, students and staff, to use their voice to raise awareness,” said Nicol Ruiz, Not On My Campus “Advokat” and Student Assistant in the Office of Equity and Inclusion/Title IX. “We really want SAAM continues on page 3 NOT ON MY CAMPUS. April is sexual assault Awareness month. Not On My Campus hosted a lunch on Monday at General’s Market to raise awareness.

paign yard sign was left in front of the Newton Gresham Library with all of their faces on it. The Election Commission code states that during elections there should not be any form of campaigning. “I gave them an hour and a half to take it down, and I was pretty lenient about it,” Augustus said. “So, at the latest, the campaigning materials should’ve already been down around 1 p.m. Someone was on campus around 6 p.m. and still SGA continues on page 2

Origin of the Bearkat at SHSU university mascot - STORY ON PAGE 4

What’s happening at SHSU?

FACEBOOK, P. 2 Students need to know their rights to privacy when dealing with social media like Facebook.

RITA B. HUFF, P. 3 The Rita B. Huff animal shelter is a no-kill location, but that may be detrimental in the run.

HOLOCAUST, P. 4 SHSU is putting on an event to honor and remember those who fell victim to the Holocaust.

DO YOU NEED HELP?, P. 7 Going to counseling is not a weakness. Find out the warning signs and benefits of talking to someone.

Student Activities is hosting the 24th annual Sammys on April 11 in the Gaertner Performing Arts Center’s Payne Concert Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. to recognize exceptional student leaders and organizations. There are three award categories: individual awards, organizational awards and individual college awards. The nomination period ended Feb. 2, and committee members have selected the winners that will be announced during the ceremony. In total, there are seven individual college awards that recognize a faculty-nominated student from each college, 17 individual and organizational awards nominated from the SHSU community, a Sam Houston Cane Award which may honor a department, entity or campus initiative and the four Sammy Awards presented to four graduating students and faculty/ staff members for their contributions. Winners will receive a trophy for each award, but the recipients of the Sammy Award and Creager and McDermett Memorial Awards will also receive a lifetime membership with the SHSU Alumni Association, courtesy of Student Activities. Program Coordinator Kelly Patterson, who has been planning the Sammys for five months, discussed what to expect at the Sammys as the entertainment is different each year. “This year, the Department of Theatre and Musical Theatre will perform a piece from Pippin,” Patterson said. “We are also very excited for Jared Doster and Joel Rivera to perform ‘Umbilic’ on behalf of the School of Dance. Sammys continues on page 3

ON PAR , P. 8 SHSU men’s golf posted a first place finish. Find out all the details of Jake McCrory’s performance.

Keylon Scott | The Houstonian

APPRECIATE THE ARTS. Andrew Pena and Ahdrllah Khar Graphic created by Ryan Reynolds | The Houstonian appreciate artwork by senior SHSU students at the Studio Art and STARS COME TO SHSU. The 2018 Sammypalooza lineup was announced on Feb. 23. Get to know the


The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Page 2 Parking continued, page 1 — terrible,” senior Criminal Justice major Triston Buegeler said. “I was late to my class this morning. I got to the parking lot at 9:10 a.m., and I couldn’t find a parking spot until 9:35. I was late to class even though I was 20 minutes early, and that’s ridiculous.” In an effort to recoup the loss of 300 parking spaces, SHSU reopened parking lot (Z2-12) in front of Johnson Coliseum, which contains 80 spaces. The university also rerouted a number of roads to one-way after spring break in order to add more on-street parking and to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety. The one-way street conversion added 90 zone 2 parking spots. “As the campus master plan evolves, we will continue to see a loss of parking in the center of campus in exchange for parking around the periphery of campus,” McDaniel said. “We were very fortunate in being able to capitalize on the one-way traffic flow Visit HoustonianOnline.com for entire article. SGA continued, page 1 — found their campaign materials.” The students involved said that they could not have taken the campaigns down due to weather conditions. However, if they had submitted an email requesting a “state of action,” a statement countering the action, then they would not have been in violation. According to Augustus, Eller requested the information on how to submit a state of action but never submitted one. The campaigning materials were never removed, and thus violated the Election Commission code. The Election Commission met on April 3 to discuss the consequences of the code violation, and ultimately decided that Eller should be disqualified while Hardy, Lee, Wilkerson and Wolford

should keep their elected positions. “We are currently under a state of action because David actually did decide to file [against] this particular protest when he found out what the decision was,” Augustus said. “The standing action is that he is currently disqualified, but we cannot make any decisions from the disqualifications until the Supreme Court looks at the decision that the Election Commission is made.” Supreme Court Justice Frank Parker will either disagree with the decision and dismiss it entirely or take it to the Supreme Court for them to decide. If the Supreme Court agrees with the Election Commission’s decision then Eller will be disqualified officially. The Supreme Court has to make their decision within 72 hours of the state of action’s submission. In this case, there would be a run-off election for the presidential candidates between second place winners Chloe Henze and Taylor Bailey. “In our election code, the president has to win by at least two percentage points, and the two candidates are within two points of each other,” Augustus said. Even if Eller had never run in the election, there would still have to have been a tiebreaker between Henze and Bailey. If the Supreme Court finds that Eller should be disqualified, Henze and Baily will have three days to campaign for the presidency, and then another ballot will be sent to the student body, in which students will cast their votes for the SGA presidency. “Since the other four are also involved in the same decision, they do not get to have their official title until it is settled,” Augustus said. This is because the Supreme Court still has the power to disqualify all five of the candidates involved in the violation if they deem necessary. The Houstonian will update this article as details unfold.

Rest in Peace Toby the Betta

This issue of The Houstonian is dedicated to Toby (Oct. 2017-April 2018) His feisty approach to life and love of artifacts and plants will never be forgotten. He is survived by senior Nursing major Marina DeLeon.

Technology problem?

amplecomputers.com 1528 Avenue O

Screengrab taken from Facebook.com

‘LIKE’ FOR PRIVACY PROTECTION. In a digital age, protecting personal information is more important than ever. Facebook is one of the most popular online forums in the world, but it is not necessarily the safest.

Protect key information: Guide to Facebook, FERPA, HIPAA BY RHONDA SLATER Staff Reporter Know and control what information is being released about you—both on social media and in general. Just recently, Facebook has gotten into trouble… again. Investigations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and lawsuits from social media users have been filed against Facebook, for it has been discovered that Facebook users using an Android phone have had their call logs and texts compromised by Facebook. There has also been controversy involving the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica, who harvested and exploited the data of 50 million Facebook users. This is the same firm who improperly harvested data in their position as consultant in the 2016 presidential election. In light of all of this scandal, could it be the end for Facebook? Facebook has lost $80 million in market value, and its CEO has been called to testify in Congress on its data collecting practices. Important figures, such as Elon Musk, have deleted his account for Tesla and SpaceX because of the data breaches. If a student uses social media, especially on an Android phone, they need to take special precautions to ensure that Facebook is not collecting his or her private information. If students want to protect their call logs and texts from Facebook, he or she needs to make sure their Privacy Settings on his or her phones are set to protect him or her from having an application, like Facebook, collecting that type of information. Also, students need to check their Facebook account’s privacy settings and opt to not have their call logs or texts recorded by Facebook. If they need help with these settings, a student can contact their cell phone provider for assistance. Privacy is a big issue, and leaks of private information can be very damaging to an individual. Students’ health information is pro-

tected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) laws. If a doctor wants to get a student’s health information from another health-care provider, the student must sign a HIPAA Release Form to give the doctor permission to gather this information. No one’s health information can be publicized without their consent. A student is entitled to have their own health information, but anyone else who seeks this information must have the patient’s written permission. A doctor will have a student fill out the HIPAA Release Form when they fill out new patient paperwork. HIPAA is a federal law, and it protects the patient from having their information released to just anyone. Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that protects students’ educational information. “In today’s world of electronic records, online transactions and digital communications, an individual’s preferences, buying behaviors and affiliations represent a treasure trove of data that can be used to sell products or even influence actions,” SHSU Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kristina KaskelRuiz said. The social media giant, Facebook, is embroiled in a controversy that has members, lawyers and the governments of several nations taking a hard look at the platform’s use (or abuse) of private information. There has been some talk of imposing regulations. While attending a university, your personal information and educational records hold critical and private data. So, as a student, what do you need to know in order to protect your privacy? For starters, in 1974 the federal government enacted FERPA to protect the privacy of student education records. “Education records” are those records, file documents and other material, which contain information directly relat-

ed to a student and are maintained by the university or by a party acting on behalf of the institution. In general, this means records relating to academic advising, health center treatment and student discipline are protected from release by FERPA. When a student turns 18 or enters a postsecondary institution, at any age, all rights under FERPA are transferred from a parent to the student. Referred to as “directory information,” some educational records and forms of personal information are exempt from FERPA protection. SHSU’s directory information includes: • Student’s name • Street address • Email address • Telephone number • Date of birth • Dates of attendance • Degrees and awards received • Major and minor field(s) of studies • Class • Participation in officially recognized activities and sports • Most recent previous educational agency or institution attended by the student • Weight and height, if student is a member of an intercollegiate athletic team Unless a student places a hold on the directory information, this data can be released to anyone. Be aware that restricting access to directory information could have unintended consequences. Potential employers would not be able to verify enrollment or degree completion while any awards or honors could not be publicized. Outside of the directory information, very few exceptions permit the release of education records. Most of those exceptions involve a student’s own consent or rare situations such as a health or safety emergency or court order. It is essential to know what Visit HoustonianOnline.com for entire article.

Police Blotter: SHSU’s Finest Keep the Campus Safe March 28th: Criminal Trespass (7:43 a.m.)

An officer responded to Piney Woods Hall, 2120 Avenue I, in reference to a Criminal Trespass report. A female resident reported that an unknown male was in her room upon her waking. Upon arrival, the officers observed a male subject sleeping in a bed opposite of the complainant’s. The officers also noticed the strong smell of alcohol emanating from the male. The male is also a resident and lives in vicinity of the room and was reportedly very intoxicated the night prior. The officers transported him to the Walker County Jail.

March 29th: Welfare Concern (11:23 a.m.)

An officer was dispatched to the SHSU Counseling Center, 1608 Avenue J, in reference to an Emergency Detention Order request. The individual was transported for further evaluation.

April 1st: Public Intoxication (2:25 a.m.)

An officer while patrolling southbound in the 1500 block of Sam Houston Ave., observed two unknown males walking westbound in the 1200 block of 16th Street. It appeared that one of them was having extreme difficulty maintaining his balance. The officer observed one of the individuals trip over the concrete curb and fall into the grass near the northwest corner of the Sam Houston Village dormitory. The individual had an overwhelming odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and about his person, his eyes were glassy and bloodshot, and his speech was slow, slurred, and thick-tongued to the point that his speech was not easily understood. The office placed him under arrest for Public Intoxication and transported him to the Walker County Jail.


The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Wednesday, April 4, 2018

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Hunting with the Kats: SHSU baseball hosts egg hunt

Elissa Aquino | Sam Houston State University Student Media

(TOP LEFT) Young kids race to pick up eggs at the Baseball Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday at Don Sanders after the Bearkats’ win against Abilene Christian University. (TOP RIGHT) The kids begin their Easter Egg hunt at Don Sanders, running to pick up a few hundred eggs laid out by volunteers. (BOTTOM LEFT) The Sam Houston State baseball team pose with most of the kids that collected eggs during their Easter Egg Hunt. (BOTTOM RIGHT) SHSU baseball players pause to take pictures with kids after their Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday. SAAM continued, page 1 — people to come to the events to learn how to use their voice and to really enforce the idea that their voice has power and with this, we can start taking actions to end Sexual Assault.” On Monday night there will be a SAAM kickoff lunch held at the General’s Market, followed by a presentation called What’s the Fact in the Lowman Student Center Ballroom discussing rape culture. On Wednesday the SSA Exhibit “Undressing my Voice” opens at 12 p.m. in the LSC Art Gallery and will be available until April 13, with the purpose of bringing awareness to victim blaming. “We will have clothes displayed with the purpose of raising awareness against victim blaming, with the idea that no matter what you are wearing, you were not in fault for being raped,” Ruiz said. At 6 p.m. there will be a SAAM movie showcase of the film “Precious,” presented by the Program Council and Student Legal Mediation Services. Several other events such as presentations, poetry showcases, “Get Yourself Tested” events, celebrations and rallies will all take place through out April. Not everything on the agenda for this month are events. There will also be “What’s the Tea” tabling to provide facts on sexual assault. Sexual Assault Awareness Committee has planned “Walk A mile in her Shoes”, which was done last year, when men and women wear heels around campus. All 4 One, an event dedicated to survivors in which they will be sharing their poetry, and “Men, your voice matters”, which will be done to raise awareness for sexual assault among men, a topic that is not commonly talked about. “Students should attend the

events to raise sexual assault awareness, to get informed on the facts on rape culture, and to use their voice to start a conversation,” Ruiz said. “We are hoping to raise as much awareness as possible.” According to Ruiz, there are several ways students can raise awareness: “Attend SAAM events, get informed and know your resources,” Ruiz said. “If you know the facts, you will be able to help a friend, a roommate, a family member, a stranger, and yourself. By knowing the facts, you will know what to do if sexual assault does occur, but you will also know how to prevent it, talk about it, raise awareness, and end it. Volunteer, participate, join us for tabling, help us share the facts.” You can also help spread awareness through utilizing social media. “This one [social media] plays a huge role in our generation,” Ruiz said. “Follow our social media and the national SAAM campaigns. Start raising awareness by making posts, retweeting our post, joining the national campaigns like #30daysofsaam. Not only this, but do research online! Websites like RAINN and KnowyourIX are great resources to know your facts. Use these facts and share them on social media.” Most importantly, the best way to raise awareness on sexual assault is by using your voice. “Speak up,” Ruiz said. “Use your voice. Talk to your friends, family and classmates about sexual assault. Raise awareness by using your voice, because your voice has power.” The SAAM event calendar can be found at @SHSUSAAM on Instagram and Twitter.

and he and Joel were selected to represent SHSU and the entire region at the National Conference in Washington D.C. where they have the opportunity to perform at the Kennedy Center. The ceremony then concludes with a performance by the SHSU Jazz Ensemble directed by Aric Schneller.” Patterson believes the Sammys have become much more than an awards ceremony. “I think The Sammys are so important to SHSU because it has become such a rich tradition,” Patterson said. “Students, faculty, and staff view this event as a time to honor one another for outstanding achievements. Having Dr. Hoyt, the President’s Cabinet and the college deans in attendance to present awards to the winners shows just how much our administration supports the students here at SHSU.” Patterson expects 800 individuals to attend and is excited for her favorite part of the event. “I am personally looking forward to seeing the reactions of the winners while they are being honored on the stage,” Patterson said. “You just can’t beat that excitement.” Tickets are free and may be picked up at 5 p.m. on April 11 in the G.P.A.C. lobby. One ticket is allotted per person. Tickets have assigned seating and seats cannot be held. The dress code is business or evening attire.

Sammys continued, page 1 — Jared choreographed this piece

Photo from 2017 Sammy Awards

Photo courtesy Joshua Yates

ADOPTION. Former Sam Houston State University soccer player Allie Johnson plays with a black lab puppy up for adoption at the Rita B. Huff Humane Society. Rita B. Huff is now a no-kill facility.

Rita B. Huff faces numerous challenges BY JOSHUA BLASCKE Contributing Reporter For years, the Rita B. Huff Animal Shelter has provided lifesaving care to hundreds of abandoned animals. Recently, however, the organization has dealt with numerous challenges. The influx of rescued animals being brought in has stretched the shelter’s facilities thin, and with the organization adopting a no-kill policy, it is in danger of being overwhelmed. The quaint facility off of Bearkat Blvd., organized in 1982, aims to preserve the lives and well-being of animals across the county by adoption, rescue and medical services. By no longer allowing the euthanization of animals on-site, it ensures that every animal brought in will receive a fair chance at finding a new home. At the same time, if the rate of adoptions does not increase, it limits the space and supplies available for any new animals that might be brought in. According to Olivia Baker, a

receptionist at the shelter, the decision to become a no-kill shelter was not without controversy. “A lot of people were upset, but a lot of people were happy,” Baker said. “I know a lot of people wouldn’t be working here if it was still a kill-shelter.” The nonprofit organization relies heavily on contributions from the community, frequently reaching out for financial and supply donations through social media and events. It remains to be seen how the public’s perception of these policy changes will affect support moving forward. “There’s just so many animals out there, and it’s impossible to save all of them,” senior Animal Science major Rachael Oliver said. “It’s a good thought, but saving a few takes away chances from the many.” The situation is not helped by the fact that many apartments around the area charge exorbitant fees to allow live-in pets. Visit HoustonianOnline.com for entire article.


The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/campusculture | Wednesday, April 4, 2018

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Origin of SHSU’s mascot: Sammy the Bearkat BY DEMETRE FOSTER Contributing Reporter At Sam Houston State University, we call each other Bearkats. How many students know the reason why though? The origin of the Bearkat is an important and rich chapter of our university’s history. In 1923, when our university was named Sam Houston Normal Institute and students carried the mantle, “The Normals,” a name change occurred. Our home away from home was called Sam Houston State Teachers College. Meanwhile, the athletics department originated the nickname the “Bearkats.” “It was a good fighting name of the time,” Reed Lindsey, a student-athlete at the time, said. In addition to the Bearkat name was the slogan, “Tough as a Bearkat.” The motto was developed in the athletics department,

which referenced the toughest attributes of both wild cats and bears. However, some people still believed that it was a reference to an actual animal. There were also discrepancies with the spelling of the word “cat,” people used a ‘c’ or a ‘k.’ Eventually, the spelling was established that the word would be spelled with a “’k’—this allowed the cat/bear hybrid not to be associated with a real animal. In the late 1940’s, SHSU President Dr. Harmon Lowman tried to change the mascot to the Raven. He wanted a closer connection to Gen. Sam Houston, who was nicknamed “the Raven” among the Cherokee. However, the alumni became attached to the Bearkat name, so the Raven was dismissed. Despite clearing up the confusion of what a Bearkat was, during the 1950’s through the 1970’s, the university decided to

keep an actual bearcat on campus and allow students to care for it. However, the animal that was housed at Sam Houston was a kinkajou, a small mammal from South America that resides in the raccoon family, sometimes referred to as a bearcat or honey bear. Eventually, the kinkajou was released due to its trouble with adapting to life in captivity. In 1959, Sammy the Bearkat was born. Sammy’s original design had him sporting a papiermâché head wearing a sailor’s hat. The original designers of Sammy worked in a group effort that included Assistant Dean of Women Dorothy Meek, art instructor Mabel Taylor and many art students and cheerleaders. The first Sammy the Bearkat was Gilbert McEachern, a student at the time, who volunteered to wear the mascot outfit, although the outfit was made for the cheerleaders.

“[The Art Department] asked if there was anyone to do it, so I said, ‘Yeah, I’ll try it,’” McEachern said.

Since that day, Sammy the Bearkat has been the official mascot and will be celebrating his 60th birthday this year.

Photo courtesy Sam Houston State University Archives

EAT ‘EM UP. Sammy the Bearkat’s origin goes back to the 1920s.

Holocaust Memorial Event preserves history BY SHARON RAISSI Campus Culture Editor

Yom HaShoah is the Jewish holiday of Holocaust remembrance celebrated all around the world. This year, Sam Houston State University will continue in its tradition of keeping the holiday alive by holding the Yom HaShoah Holocaust Memorial Event on April 11 in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences room 430 from 12 to 5 p.m. Less than 75 years have passed since the official end of the Holocaust. This event is designed to keep the memories of the victims alive through memorializing their works from that period, all taken from the Holocaust Memorial Museum. An estimated six million people lost their lives in the 12 years the Holocaust ran its course through Europe. Even with the high death toll, several works remain from that period. At this

event, volunteers will have the opportunity to read from surviving selections and commemorative works alike. “All in all, it’s going to be a very somber event, as the name implies,” student event organizer Andrew Vierkant said. “It is a way for people to read poetry of Holocaust survivors and victims, read from a list of the victims and give a memorial for all those that were lost in the tragedy.” In the United States, Yom HaShoah events can range from formal ceremonies in synagogues to educational events. All over the country, documentary airings, history lessons and lectures are given in hopes of keeping the name of the holiday alive, and in doing so, keep the memories of the victims alive. “I hope it will bring awareness, not only of the event, but of its

significance to the local community, and showing people around here that we do remember and we do care,” Vierkant said. “We

want to be part of a larger dialogue at Sam Houston.” That larger dialogue is something SHSU has taken part of for several years on Yom HaShoah. “I think all over the world, but especially in areas like southeast Texas where there’s not necessarily a large Doleshal Jewish population, it’s important to still have these events and these discussions so that the dialogue never turns away from the victims memory,” Vierkant said. “It is a way to kind of keep their names alive and not lost.” Yom HaShoah Remembrance Event will be divided into 10-minute increments, where every 10 minutes a new piece will be read. Pieces will include “The Eyes Remain Open” by Yoseph Kirman, “Written in Pencil in the Sealed Freightcar” by Dan Pagis

“When the student, faculty and staff volunteers read each name, they make a simple and profound statement of defiance.” -Professor Zachary

and “Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep” by Mary Elizabeth Frye. Faculty organizer Zachary Doleshal said that, while this is only SHSU’s third year to host this event, it has been a worldwide memorial since 1949. According to Doleshal, each event is unique. “Ours is meant to deny the perpetrators of this crime their goal - which was to erase European Jewry,” Doleshal said. “We do this by reading the names of victims and relevant literature. When the student, faculty and staff volunteers read each name, they make a simple and profound statement of defiance. These people lived and mattered. And they still matter. Even in Southeast Texas.” Events like these serve as an educational Visit HoustonianOnline.com for the entire article.


The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/campusculture | Wednesday, April 4, 2018

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Esports Club to host last gaming event on Friday BY KELSON JENNINGS Contributing Reporter The Sam Houston State University Esports Club will host a Local Area Network (LAN) party Friday. The SHSU Esports Club was originally founded in 2012 with a focus on two things: organizational purpose and collegiate gaming. The organizational aspect of the club involves creating social events for students who are interested in gaming. Though the club’s main focus is video games, it also has a place for people who enjoy playing trading card games, board games and table top games. “We are open to all gaming, because as an organization, we want to make a home and a community

for all gamers at Sam Houston State University,” Esports Club President Gabriel Heiman said. The club provides its main organizational events through its LAN parties. These parties encourage gamers to bring their own systems to play with others. For people who bring their personal computers but are worried about lugging the equipment around, the club provides a dolly system to help bring the computers into the party. These LAN parties have raffles in which participants can enter and win prizes from the club. The club offers five collegiate teams for its members. The gaming teams are for the games “Counter Strike Global Offensive,” “League of Legends,” “Hearthstone,” “Heroes of the Storm” and “Overwatch.”

The teams enter collegiate tournaments like Heroes of the Dorm, the University League of Legends tournament, Hearthstone Collegiate Championship and many others. These tournaments offer college gamers a chance to test their skills against other universities for chances to win scholarship money. “The thing that we want most out of our collegiate teams is that we hope that the players on those teams will eventually go on to become pro players in the games that they play,” Heiman said. The SHSU Esports Club will host its last LAN party of the semester Friday in Lowman Student Center room 320. The event is open to anyone interested. More information can be found at the SHSU Esports Facebook page.

Review: Netflix’s ‘The Outsider’ worth watching BY LINDSEY JONES TV/Film Reviewer The power of originality in filmmaking — crafting neverbefore-seen characters in unpredictable circumstances— is more often than not ambushed, tied up and skewered again and again by the very people it was created to impress. Despite the streaming giant’s overwhelming success of Indies and Originals, Netflix’s attempts at international crossovers have been met with a constant poisoning of the well — and “The Outsider” is no different. Thus, before this conceptually captivating tale enhanced by an equally talented Jared Leto is even released, the film is blanketed with falsities like “white-washing” and “fetishizing.” “The Outsider” follows Nick Lowell (Leto), an American sol-

dier who is imprisoned in an Osaka prison in post-World War II Japan. After being released from prison by the Shiromatsu Yakuza, this soldier enters the dark and violent world of the yakuza, adopting their way of life in repayment for his freedom.

Netflix’s new historical crime thriller goes against the grain, rebelling against the tiresome trend of inhibiting creativity when it pertains to adopting a particular culture, and creating a narrative that logically works and is enjoyable to watch. While

this film has its flaws, “The Outsider” is undeserving of the unsound presumptions thrown at it. Complaints of not hiring “an American-Asian actor” for this type of story traveled down the moviegoer grapevine, when in truth, considering the fact that

the story followed an American soldier captured and imprisoned by the Japanese during a time in which Japan and America were not allies, this “advice” is unreasonable. While cultural assimilation in a film is nothing new, the film’s direction leaves a satisfying aftertaste, prompting whoever is watching it to question whether they would do the same thing considering the dire circumstances. “The Outsider’s” delivery — depicting how an American military man, who has clearly been through some longterm identity-stripping in prison, becomes part of a culture that equally despises him as it welcomes him — is psychologically stimulating on the part of Leto’s character and simultaneously Visit HoustonianOnline.com for the entire article.

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SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION, DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS, AND BALFOUR PRESENTS:

The Official Ring Ceremony Wednesday April 3, 2018 Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum Thank you to everyone who participated in the spring 2018 ceremony.

(The names listed below are those students who have purchased an official class ring and were eligible to participate in the Ring Ceremony) ASHTON ABBUTT BAILEE ACKERMAN DENISE ACOSTA MARIANA ADAME ODIN ADAME OMARI ADAMS MOJISOLA ADEBOYE JENNIFER AGUILUZ ESTRELLA ALANIS RACHEL ALDRIDGE KIMBERLYN ALFORD NADIA ALSAATI MOHAMMED ALSHARIF AMANDA ALVARADO WENDI ALVARADO RUTH ALVAREZ TABITHA AMADOR ALYSSA AMAYA CASEY ANDERS RHONDIE ANDERSEN ALISHA ANDERSON RICARDO ANTELO DWAYNE ANTOINE JR MARIA ARBOLEDA JESSIE ARGUMEDO BLAKE ARIAS KYLE ARMSTRONG STEPHANIE ARROYO ANN ARTHUR REBECCA ASHLEY SKYLAR AVERETT MEGHAN BAETZ AMBER BAILEY KELSEY BAILEY ALYSON BAKER SHYANNE BALLARD EDGAR BANEGAS NATALI BARBER TAYLA BARNFIELD ARIEL BARRERA VINCENT BARRERA JUSTIN BASCO EVIN BASHER LETICIA BAYLIS SYMONE BEAN JOSHUA BECKHAM ALEX BEGNAUD HALI BEHRENS-RUSSELL BAILEY BEKEN KHARAH BELL SHELBY BELT YOMAYRA BENAVIDEZ SYDNEY BENOIT ALANISSE BERNAL KERRY BERRY TIFHANY BERUMEN CHARLES BERZINS HEATHER BESS LINDSEY BIENSKI JACQUELINE BILY TAYLOR BLACKSTOCK ELSA BLANCO MALLORIE BLEVINS MATTHEW BLOSS MCKENZIE BLUE KACIE BOBBITT BENJAMIN BOEHM HALEY BOLINSKY DOMINIQUE BOOKER CECILE BOSTON SAM BOSWELL III KAYLA BOWMAN CHELSEY BRANSFORD MADISON BRANTLEY CHANCE BREEDING MICHELLE BRIGGS DAISY BROOKS KI’ANA BROOKS XAVIER BROSSEIT MEGAN BROTTEM ARIEL BROWN CLAYTON BROWN KIMBERLY BROWN KYLI BROWN MATTHEW BROWN RYAN BROWN MAKAYLYN BRZYMIALKIEWICZ CIARA BUCKLEY CRYSTAL BUCKNER TRISTON BUEGELER RUBY BUI JOANN BULLOCK EMILY BURCIAGA SAMUEL BURGESS CASSIDY BURKE SAVANNAH BUTLER WILLIAM BYLER BRITTANY BYRD KAYLA CAHOE KARYNA CALDERON LIZZIE CAMP KARLEE CAMPBELL CAMERON CAMPISE HEATHER CAMPOS SAMANTHA CANALES LUVIANCA CANNEDY TYLER CANNNON REBECCA CARDONA LINDSEY CARGILE CODI CARPENTER NOHEMA CARRILLO ALAN CARTER ELIZABETH CARTER CAYLA CASTER JOE CASTILLO JULISSA CASTILLO MISTY CASTILLO JOSEFINA CASTILLO-MONDRAGON VERONICA CECIL KAYE CENDALSKI SHAY CENTILLI JAMIE CHALINE AMY CHAPMAN HECTOR CHAVARRIA ANTHONY CHAVEZ DORIE CHEN TIFFANY CHEN DAYLEEN CHERY HANNAH CHILDERS ZACHARY CHRISTMAS DEREK CIRILO REBEKAH CLARK JAMIE CLOUDT TAYLOR COBB SHAVONDRA COLLINS CONNELLY COOPER MARION COOPER MASON COOPER STEPHANIE COPELAND MIRANDA CORTEZ SHELBY CRADIER TARA CREIGHTON JUSTICE CRISP CODY CROSS CHASE CRUM AMY CRUZ ENRIQUETA CRUZ JAVIER CRUZ KELSEY CRYER LAUREN CRYER MIRNA CUEVAS AARON CYPERT JULIE DANG KEVIN DANIEL JACY DARBY JOSHUA DARNER JANELLE DAVILA VALERIA DAVILA CHEYENNE DAVIS

JAMIERA DAVIS ANDREW DE HARO ADRIAN DE LA CRUZ MONICA DE PAZ JESSICA DECOSTE MEOSHA DEED DANIELLE DEKOCH ADRIANA DELAHOZ JOSHUA DELAHOZ MARINA DELEON CLAIRE DEPENNING TURNER DEVANEY EMILY DEVILLASANTE IRANIA DIAZ TRAVIS DIBBLE ALYSSA DICKENS SARA DIEHL CHARLES DODSON III ANNA DOFFING MARIA DOLEHANTY DAISY DOMANGUE JENNIFER DOMINGUEZ KIERSTIN DORNAK DARBIL DOWELL JESECCA DRAKE JENNA DRANE ALISE DRIGGERS AMANDA DRILLING DENISE DUARTE LESLIE DUECKER ANJEE DUNBAR LAUREN DUNCAN SIERRA DUNCAN MADISON DUNN KASEY DUQUETTE ALONDRA DURAN BENJAMIN DURAN COLIN DUSEK JULIE DWYER CARLY DYESS TARYN DYESS LORANTS JACOB EASLEY SETH ECKHARDT TENORIA EDWARDS

DOMINICK HAYES CHELSEA HEADRICK TAYLIR HEARD HUNTER HEARN BLAYNE HEGAR BRITTANY HEILEMAN KIRSTEN HELDENBRAND CHRISTINA HENDERSHOT NICHOLAS HENDRICKS CRISTAL HERNANDEZ DESTINY HERNANDEZ SANDRA HERNANDEZ XAVIER HERNANDEZ NATALIE HERRERA REMMINGTON HERROD LEIGH HESS STACY HESTER JUSTIN HICKMAN SARAH HICKSON COREY HILDERBRAND CLAYTON HILL EMILY HILL HANNAH HINKLIN CAMERON HOELSCHER MACKENZIE HOFFMAN RILEY HOLCOMB CALLIE HOLDER REBECKAH HOLDER KATHERINE HOLLIDAY HUNTER HOLMES JUSTICE HOLMES JENNIFER HOLTON RAYNE HORTON COURTNEY HOUSE JEREMY HOWARD MATTHEW HUFF ISAIAH HUGHES JACKSON HUTSON DONALD IRVIN MACADE ISBELL DOMINIQUE JACK MELODIE JACK LAPRINCIA JACKSON JASON JAMES

SAM EGGLESTON DAVID ELLER JORDAN ELLERY BREANN EMSHOFF LAUREN ENGELHARDT CLARISSA ESCAMILLA MARIA ESCOTO MARTIN ESQUIVEL REBEKAH ETHRIDGE JERAMY EVANS SLOAN EXNER GISSELLE FANINI TRAVIS FARQUHAR ELIZABETH FAVELA TANNER FELDHOFF LAUREN FERNANDEZ JOCELYN FERRUFINO HANNAH FISHER JOSEPH FLEEGER EMILY FLICKINGER KARINA FLORES NATHANIEL FLORES PERLA FLORES CONNER FLYNT ELLEN FORGASON JOSEPH FORSYTHE RYAN FORTSON TEAGAN FORTUNE ELIZABETH FRANK TIERRA FRANKLIN JAYCIE FRAZIER JAMIL FRECH JENNIFER FRIAS ROWDY FURRH LYNDSAY GAGNER MADALYN GALVAN CARISSA GANDY ALEXIS GARCIA ALYSSA GARCIA BLUE GARCIA CAROLINA GARCIA IVAN GARCIA LOURDES GARCIA TRISTAN GARCIA KYLEE GARDNER KATHRYN GARNER ARACELY GARZA ALFONSO GARZA-GIL MICHELLE GBENEBICHIE BLAKE GIESE CHRISTOPHER GILBERT MAKAYLA GILL ARIANNA GILLIAM JORDAN GLENN ASHLEY GOETZ AMY GOLDEN BROOKE GOMER JOSH GONDA ALEXANDRA GONZALEZ JENNIFER GONZALEZ LAMBERTO GONZALEZ STEPHANIE GONZALEZ AMANDA GOOCH ALYSSA GORDY MADISON GOSS LINDA GRAHAM KYRSTIN GRAVES CORNELIUS GRAY MADISON GRAY SYDNEY GRAY WILLIAM GREEN JORDAN GREER BAILEE GREMMEL MISTY GRIFFIN BRITTANY GRIMES AMBER GROHOSKE JENNIFER GROSS DELANEY GUSLER JASSMINE GUTIERREZ ANTONIO GUTIERREZ-FERNANDEZ ASHLYNN HAACKE CASEY HADDOCK KAYLEEN HADLEY JUANITA HALABY CLAIRE HALL TIFFANY HALL BRYAN HALLORAN CAITLIN HAMILTON ASHLEY HAMLIN DOMINIC HAMMOCK BROOKE HANSEN ASHLEY HARDAWAY HUNTER HARDY TAYLOR HARPER ROBERT HARRINGTON AMBER HARRIS JASON HARRIS WILLIAM HARRISON CHELSEA HAYES

KELTON JEFFERY ASHLYN JENNINGS TYLER JESEFSEN-LANHAM SIDNEY JETMORE ALESSANDRA JIMENEZ PATRICIA JIMENEZ CAMERON JOHNSON JESSICA JOHNSON TRISHA JOHNSON AMARI JONES AUSTIN JONES JASMIN JONES TREVON JONES ANGELIK JORDAN CHRISTIE JUAREZ ROSA JUAREZ KIRBY JULIAN JORDAN KELLEY DAKOTA KEMPKEN MADISON KIGHT HAYEONG KIM ASHLEY KINCAID MARIELLE KING ZACHARY KINNINGER FABRIZIA KNELTZ BRIANNA KOBERSKY ALYSSA KRUSE KALYN KURTZ JAMES KUYKENDALL JOSHUA LANGE MATTHEW LANGLOIS EMILY LATOUF EMILY LAWRENCE JAROP LAYGAN ALANNAH LEA KAYLA LEBLANC TRAVIS LEBLANC MARTHA LEDESMA HAYLEE LEGG CASSIDY LEVEL TAYLOR LEWIS TAYLORIA LILLY KENNEDY LIM DEANDRE LIVING ALEJANDRA LLAMAS MEGAN LON REBECA LONA CODY LONG ALEXIS LOPEZ JANIE LOPEZ JESSICA LOPEZ JULISSA LOPEZ LENA LOPEZ WALTER LOPEZ JORDAN LOPEZ-RHODES SHANNON LOUKANIS ASHLEY LOVE LINDSEY LUCHAK AIDE LUGARDO RYANNE LUNCEFORD DARA LUTHE ALEXANDRA LYTH KATHERINE MACHADO KHALIAH MACK JESSY MAERTZ ODALYS MAGARIN ARLISS MALCOLM ANTHONY MALLORY CAMILLE MANDEL ELEXI MANDUJANO BRIDGETTE MARQUEZ CHELSEA MARTINEZ DOMINIQUE MARTINEZ DORAISELA MARTINEZ JASMINE MARTINEZ LESLIE MARTINEZ MARIA MARTINEZ ROGER MARTINUC ALEXANDRA MATA TYLER MATCEK KENNEDI MATHEWS ERIKA MAUZ MADELYN MAXWELL COURTNEY MAYS SARA MCCLANAHAN JIMMY MCCLENAN MADISON MCCLUSKEY CHASE MCCOSHAM ELIJAH MCCUTCHEON KATHLEEN MCFARLAND LYNSEY MCFARLAND COURTNEY MCGEE JACOB MCGILL BRIANA MCHENRY TASHENA MCINTOSH MACKAYLA MCINTYRE JAMES MCKEE SARA MCKINLEY LAKE MCMILLIAN

ASHLEY MCNEILL ALEXANDRIA MEDINA JASMINE MEDINA TAYLOR MEDINA SHIRLEY MEJIA DAYANA MELENDEZ CELIA MENDEZ ADRIANA MENDOZA RICHARD MENGEL CALEB MERTZ MARISSA MEZA MELISSA MEZA DAVID MICHALAK CHARLIE MICHALEK CAMERON MILLER DANIEL MILLER KAYLA MILLER LORI MILLER BRITTIANY MINOR SUZETTE MIRELES MELANIE MITCHELL RACHEL MIZZEN MORGAN MONK MAEGEN MONROE REINA MONROY JOSHUA MONTANEZ BRIANNA MOORE BRYCE MOORE JOSHUA MOORE KRISTEN MOORE TAYLOR MOORE OLIVIA MORELAND JESSE MORENO ZACKARY MORGAN BRADLEY MORRISON MEGAN MORRITT DANIEL MOSSBERGER TYRA MOUTON MARIO MOYA MICHAEL MUELLER MABLE MULENGA TAYLA MULLINS ERICA MUNIZ OSCAR MUNOZ SANDY MUNOZ CIERRA MURPHY JIMMY NANCE KYLE NASH MEGAN NAU NOELIA NAVARRETE ALEJANDRA NAVARRO VALERIA NAVARRO MITCHELL NEAL MAKINSEY NEHIB SARAH NELSON JOSEPH NESHYBA DEMY NGUYEN KIMIE NGUYEN KAYLEE NICHOLSON NICOLE NIXDORF TAYLOR NOITE KATHRYN NOVARK GABRIELLE OCHOA DAQUECIA ODEMS ANGELICA OIDOR DEVON OLIVIER MIGUEL OLMOS CECILIA ONTIVEROS HOLLY ORTIZ AMANDA OVERTON MATTHEW OWENS WHITNEY OWENS ANGEL PACHECO MICHELLE PACHECO ARLETTE PADILLA ROSA PADRON CHELSEA PAGE MAYA PALACIOS ODALYS PALACIOS KEREN PANKEY RACHEL PARK EMILY PARKER TAMARA PARSONS VANESSA PASTRANO STEVEN PAYNE MARIANA PAZ LEXI PENNINGTON MADISON PENNIX ALLISON PEREZ BRIAN PEREZ KAEMAN PERKINS TIARA PERKINS ANTHONY PETERSON CHANCE PHILLIPS CHARLTON PHILLIPS CLAUDIA PLACENCIA DANIELLE POLENDO MICHELLE POLICH DAKOTA POTTER BRITNEE POWELL KAITLYN POWELL NATHAN POWERS REBEKAH PRIMROSE ANDREW PROCHAZKA HAILEY PRUITT MAEGAN PUGA KIMBERLY QUEEN PATRICK QUINN RENE QUINTERO PATRICK QUIROZ CRISTINA RAMIREZ TALIA RAMIREZ SHELBIE RAMON ARIANA RAMOS ESTEPHANY RAMOS ISABEL RANGEL KAITLYN RAPER JAMES RASCO GAYLA RAULIE DUSTIN RAY ANDREA REBOLLO MORGAN REED THOMAS REEVES GEORGE RENDON CHLOE REQUENEZ REBECA REYES JANET REYNA STEPHANY REYNA ANDREA RHODEN NATALIE RHODES BAILEY RINGO CYNDY RIVAS CHRISTOPHER RIVERA EMILY RIVERA JAZMINE RIVERA SAMANTHA RIVERA MORGAN ROACH KATHERINE ROBERSON SAMANTHA ROBERTSON JESSICA ROBINSON TAYLOR ROBINSON VICTORIA ROBINSON ESTER ROBLEDO SABRINA ROBLES SHAYLA RODDEY SARAH RODGERS GABREEL RODRIGUEZ MELISSA RODRIGUEZ MELISSA RODRIGUEZ AIMEE ROEBUCK ARELI ROJAS CONNOR ROLLINGS MICHAEL ROSS LAURA ROTHFUSS ROXANNE RUBIO TALER RUSSELL AALIYAH RYAN LUCIA SALAS SALOME SALAZAR

ANDREA SALINAS MARINA SALINAS TOMAS SALINAS ANA SANCHEZ LINDSEY SANCHEZ MICHAEL SANCHEZ MICHELLE SANCHEZ WILMER SANCHEZ AUSTIN SANDWELL LUIS SANTOS III NICHOLAS SAUNDERS AMANDA SCHAPER MADISON SCHMID KRISTEN SCHULTHEIS BRANDON SCHULTZ MICHAEL SCHULTZ CAMERON SCOTT SARAH SEERY BRIA SEIDMEYER AARON SERRANO CRYSTAL SERRES BRAYLON SESSION HEATHER SHAKE HUNTER SHAW LINDSEY SHIREY KAITLYN SHRADER JESSICA SIDES ALITZEL SILVA NATALIA SILVANI KORTNEY SIMMONS MORGAN SIMMONS TIMARA SIMMONS MICHAEL SINGLETARY AUSTIN SMALL ALLYSON SMITH CONNER SMITH COURTNEY SMITH EBONY SMITH LINDSEY SMITH MEGAN SMITH REBECKA SMITH SHANNICE SMITH TASI SMITH TRESTON SMITH MARKOS SNOW EMILY SOLOMON MAYRA SOTO CATLYN SPEER AMBER SPELL MAISIE SPENCE LYNDEE SPENCER BRITTANY SPRADLING GRACIE STAFFORD SIERRA STAFFORD KYLE STANAWAY KEATS STARK ANGELA STARKEY KRISTIN STARKS LAUREN STARNES MONTE STARNS KAYLA STEWART CODY STINNETT LILLIAN STOKLEY CHASE STRIPLING CHELSEA STUCKEY CASEY SUAYNE ASHLEY SURBROOK SKYE SUSSMAN JAMIE SWATZEL SAMANTHA SYKES SARA SYPTAK LANDEN TAMLIN JACOB TAWNEY MADISON TAYLOR CHRISTIAN TEAGUE HAYLEY TEAL JOCELYN TERAN ASHLEY THOMPSON JULIAN THORN MARISSA THROWER VERONICA TIENDA PARASTOO TIRAIEYARI SHELBY TOMLIN KATHY TRAN CAMILA TRIVINO ERIN TROTMAN BREAUNNA TROTTY ANNA TROUSDALE COURTNEY TRUELOVE DENISE TRUJILLO VICTORIA TUCKER ALEXIS TUKES TAYLOR TUNNING SHAYLEE TURNER CHERI TURNEY KAITLYN TYRA VANESSA ULLAURI SADIE UPTON EMILY URBIN PAULA UTRERA-GARCIA TAYLOR VAHRENKAMP JOHN VALDEZ KARSTON VAN TRONK ELIZABETH VANCE JOSHUA VANDEVER CASEY VARGAS KASANDRA VARGAS ADDIE VASQUEZ JACQUELYN VASQUEZ IAN VEGA REBECCA VEGA GERARDO VELA ROBERT VELASQUEZ KIANA VELIZ ALYSSA VILLANUEVA SAMUEL VILLANUEVA RILEY VINCENT NICHOLAS VOSKUIL EMMA WADE ASHLEY WALKER REBECCA WALLA ASHLEY WALTON EMILY WANKO VANESSA WARD HAILEY WARNOCK NATHANIEL WARREN SHELBY WARREN JARED WATKINS VICTORIA WEBB ROBIN WELLE APRIL WELTENS HEATHER WELTENS JACE WHITE JEREMIAH WHITE ASHLEY WHITEMAN ZACHARY WIERCHOWSKI NICHOLAS WIEST CASSANDRA WIGHT BROOKE WILDER LYSSA WILKE NICHOLAS WILLENBERG GABRIEL WILLIAMS KE-AIRE WILLIAMS MAYGAN WILLIAMS MEGAN WILLIAMS LISA WINGO LAUREN WINKELMANN SAVANAH WISNOSKI WANDA WOLFE KAYLA WRIGHT MADISON YAKLIN RICHARD YBARRA ASHLEY YOCHIM BEATRIZ ZAPATA LIZBETH ZARAGOZA MARIA ZARING MARISSA ZAVALA HANNAH ZEINER ASHLEE ZIEGENBEIN


The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/viewpoints | Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Page 7

Parking lot construction causes chaos on campus

Jordan Likens | The Houstonian PARK WHERE? Sam Houston State University decided to replace one of the closest parking lots on campus with a new art building. This decision took students by surprise as it will eliminate over 300 parking spots, forcing students to arrive early in order to find a spot and walk further to classes.

CASSIE KNUST Contributing Writer It’s no secret that parking is the bane of everyone’s existence on just about any campus, but this semester Sam Houston State University has really taken the cake. Permanent parking closures are happening left and right, leaving students to worry

more about getting to class than the grades they’re making in said classes. As of April 1, SHSU permanently closed the main parking lot Z2-07 behind the library. An email from Facilities Management confirmed that 300 spaces would be replaced by the new Art Complex. The alternatives they offered include 80 new spaces in front of the Coliseum in the new lot Z2-12, 90 new spots in the one-way street conversion in zone 2, as well as Batch Plant lot, which “is slightly further out” and offers 500 spots for $50 per year. The email asks students to understand that this extensive construction “represents campus growth and improvements to academic facilities and amenities that will enhance our learning environment.” While I whole-

heartedly agree that art students deserve better representation on campus via their own building, it’s impossible to turn a blind eye to the havoc this ongoing construction is causing on current and future students. The one-way streets are only the beginning of Bearkats’ concerns. Sophomore Biomedical Sciences major Morgan Barrentine, commented on the issue of commuting. “I’m one of the lucky few that doesn’t have more than a 30-minute commute (my commute is 10 minutes), and I still have to drive to campus an hour early just to find a parking spot or I have to wait an hour for the shuttle to take me to campus,” Barrentine said. Barrentine addresses something pretty big here. Not all students live on or near campus,

and it’s hard enough for them to navigate the parking conundrum and the one-way streets as it is. The long commuters need to be taken into consideration as well. There are commuters driving in from Houston, College Station and other distances; it isn’t fair for them to have to pay hundreds of dollars in parking only to arrive to campus and have nothing available. Many of these students (long and short commuters) have to find pay-by-the-hour parking in one-way streets or find spaces in the Avenues in order to attend class. The biggest problem here is that this was already an issue before the onslaught of road closures this semester, so you can imagine how much more challenging it is for commuters with the additional construction. Aside from the disproportional ratio of parking spaces to

cars, it’s even more frustrating to compare the completion rate of projects around Huntsville to those on campus. Senior Marketing major Mackenzie Hoffman expressed her thoughts on the inefficiency of the projects. “I understand why it’s necessary, but I’ve seen bigger projects go up in a couple months,” Hoffman said. “Not several years. This is something that easily could have been started and completed during summer.” Understanding that growth is a necessary part of campus life, it should in no way impede student learning. Students have to get up hours before their classes start to find a parking spot, much less a decent one. Even then, they may end up being late and penalized for their tardiness. Many often opt to skip class altogether rather than dealing with hassle and inconvenience. “SHSU should invest in making the currently flat parking lot into a parking garage,” Barrentine said. “Why should an investment like this drastically increase the price of the permits?” SHSU would get their money back and more pretty quickly with a project like this. Who knows, it might even be one students would get behind.

Jordan Likens | The Houstonian

Bearkat Advice: When is the time to seek counseling? BY AMANDA CARDOZA Contributing Writer The idea of seeking psychological help may come across as a turn-off to some people. Many think it is parallel to being crazy or assume it means you’re weak or incompetent. In all reality, it’s a scheduled opportunity to receive guidance and insight of your heart and mind. It’s a chance to understand the real you and explore your inner peace of mind. Although some may need more help than others, it’s never easy for any of us to recognize that we need help. Especially this day and age, with the sad pace of our society not lending itself to introspection. Self-awareness needs to be intentional. I can tell you firsthand that my fear of needing help slowly faded into excitement, which led to an overwhelming sense of freedom and strength. In majority of cases, results end in clarity of vision, questions answered, peace and contentment. Signs 1. Addiction – obsessions consume all of our attention and energy. Even if we don’t realize, addictions come in all sorts. From substances, habits and behaviors, they are ways of coping with our anxiety, loneliness, pain and stress. Many young men and women our age tend to deal with their pressures by drowning them out. Huge mistake. If you go far enough, your addiction becomes a form of slavery terribly difficult

Two minds are better than one. Somebody is always listening.

to emerge from. You then come to realize you hit a bottomless pit and there is no way out. Counselling doesn’t work the same way drugs do. Rather, it entails being honest and brave enough to admit your problems and face your truth. Just like Hebrews 12:11 talks about, “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have trained by it.” 2. Mood Swings – extreme shift in your overall mood and perspectives. If you feel yourself getting angry, sad or irritable at times where it isn’t your usual temperament, it’s time to ask yourself what is causing the problem. These may be signs of overwhelming anxiety or stress. Seeking counseling at times like this will help change your attitude, become stronger and more stable. You may also find yourself becoming capable of monitoring your own feelings and applying effective selfcounseling. 3. Loss of Enjoyment and/or Competence – take a step back and evaluate your actions and your feelings. Are you enjoying the same activities or interests you once were? Has everything just seemed to fade into being bland and gray? What about your work or your job? Has your performance slipped? Have your personal expectations dropped?

If it impossible to get yourself up and find the enthusiasm to do things you once did, don’t take light of the situation. RED FLAG! Fatigue and loss of interest are major signs that something is seriously wrong. If you suspect anything out of the ordinary, act on it. Moving Forward

When life kicks you in the butt, it’s easy to lose track. Counseling is a chance to invite guidance into your darkness to help you find the light. Not only is counseling good for the soul, it is an especially helpful process for anyone wanting to better themselves and build relationships. Take an honest look at your life

and think about what you need to keep yourself healthy, sane and whole. You’re important, and it’s OK to admit you need help sometimes. Loving someone begins with loving yourself.

/HoustonianSHSU @HoustonianSHSU


The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Page 8

Teeing up a victory

Tennis takes down Lamar BY HIVAN MORENO Asst. Sports Editor

Photo courtesy SHSU Athletics, New Hampshire Athletics

New season, new faces BY GABRIEL MYERS Sports Reporter

BY JORDAN SMITH Sports Reporter Men’s Golf The Sam Houston State University men’s golf team took to the course Monday and Tuesday in the Bearkat Invitational at Walden in Montgomery. Monday’s showing presented some great results. As a team, SHSU placed in second after day one. Posting scores of 285-287 (-4) on day one, the Bearkats sat two strokes back of the University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley who posted scores of 290-280 (-6) on day one. With a 285 in the first round, the Bearkats had the lead going into round two by five strokes over UTRGV. However, a strong showing by the Roadrunners in round two with a score of 280, seven strokes better than SHSU in round two, UTRGV took the lead heading into the final day. Senor Jake McCrory started the tournament tied for second and headed into the final day of competition with a decent lead. Being up four strokes after the first two rounds of competition, McCrory kept himself atop the leaderboard the entire tournament. After posting an opening round 70 (T-1), McCrory then posted a round two 67, which ultimately gave him the lead over UTRGV freshman Tennoshin Ogawa (-3) by four strokes. Day two began at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday and ended with that same mindset as McCrory took home the individual title for the Bearkat Invitational at Walden with a final four-round score of -9. Jake posted a 70-67-70-207 in his three rounds of play to take the title. In second was fellow Bearkat sophomore William Holcombe with a score line of 71-72-68-211 to finish five under par. The Kats have one more tournament before the Southland Conference Tournament April 23-25 in McKinney. SHSU looks to finish strong as they head into the Wyoming Cowboy Classic on Apr 09-10 in Phoenix. Led by McCrory, the Bearkats have had a solid season, finishing all but one tournament in the

Spring football is underway at Sam Houston State University, and with that comes the first look at the 2018 Bearkat football team. Spring football started on March 21, with practices happening every other day during the week. All practices start at 8 a.m. and are open to the public Photo courtesy SHSU Athletics for anyone that wants to see the Kats in action. Top 10 and even taking home a During the course of the pair of titles home in the Sam Spring there will also be three Hall Intercollegiate and now the scrimmages, including a Spring Bearkat Invitational at Walden. game. The first scrimmage took SHSU should be fully prepared place on March 24, the next will to take on the Southland Confer- be Saturday April 7 and the Orence Tournament with full force ange vs. White game is salted for and contend to reach the NCAA Thursday April 12 and will wrap tournament this year. up spring football. Women’s Golf The headline of spring The women’s side, however, football is the battle to replace finished day one in opposite ter- record-setting former Bearkat ritory of the men’s side. Tied for quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe. 13th in team totals after the first It is really a two horse race at two rounds of play at the Wyothis point in the Spring with ming Cowgirl Classic at Ak-Chin junior Mike Dare, the former Southern Dunes Golf Club in Rutgers and Lackawanna ColMaricopa, AZ, junior Jenna Phil- lege quarterback and last year’s lips sat atop the Bearkat leadersecond overall recruit, redshirt board with opening day scores freshman Ty Brock. Both bring of 72-73-145. Phillips was T-12 a different skillset; Dare more after day one was completed. closely resembles Briscoe, as he The first round was decent as is a prototypical pocket passthe Bearkats shot a 297 in the ing quarterback with a big arm. first round. The second round, Brock is more of an athlete. however, was where SHSU fell While he does not quite possess down the standings. Two rounds the arm talent of Dare, he makes of over 80 by sophomore Tori up for it with his legs and his Gatling (85) and sophomore ability to make plays on the fly. Kari Bush (84) sent the Bearkats’ Aside from the quarterback round two score to a 308, landbattle, the biggest story of ing them in 13th. Day two of the final tournament of the golf calendar before the Southland Conference Tournament in Montgomery was in fact the best day for the Bearkats. For the first time in the tournament, SHSU had a golfer shoot under 70. Sophomore Hanna Alberto shot a third round 68 to end her tournament with a score line of 73-74-68-215. Alberto’s totals were good enough to land her T-5 in the individual competition, the only Bearkat to break the Top 10 the entire weekend. The Kats next tournament will be the Southland Conference Tournament on Apr 16-18 at Woodforest GC in Montgomery. Leading the way for the women’s side is Alberto, who has three tournament wins in the individual competition as well as four top five finishes.

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spring football is the Bearkats new offensive coordinator Ryan Carty. This will not be the first time that head coach K.C. Keeler and Carty have worked together, as Keeler coached Carty at Delaware where Carty was a quarterback. Carty has spent the last 11 years at the University of New Hampshire and was the offensive coordinator the last six years. Keeler likely needs Carty to remake the offense as the Bearkats want to be a more physical team particularly in the running game. With the second-leading rusher from last season Remus Bulmer and sophomore Kyran Jackson returning, Carty does have talent to work with. The goal is to have a more formidable ground attack to match up better with FCS powerhouses James Madison University and North Dakota State in the playoffs. Keeler actually offered the job to Carty last season, but Carty declined because he would not be able to remake the offense in his image. This year that is not the case. “One of the reasons [Carty] did not take the job last year was my mandate that we were going to pretty much keep the offense intact,” Keeler said. “After evaluating where we are offensively, I think we need to be able to run the ball better late in December. I think what you’ll see is us continue to play fast, but we’re not going to sacrifice scheme for

The Sam Houston State University Bearkat tennis team won its match over Lamar to move up in the Southland Conference standings Saturday evening. The win earned the Bearkats a 5-2 record in the SLC and a 10-4 record overall, the most wins in a season for the program since 2009. SHSU entered the match with a record of 9-4 on the season and looked to keep up their pace with McNeese, Northwestern State, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi in the Southland Conference. Lamar entered the match with a 1-5 record in conference play. Despite the struggles this season, Bearkats head coach Rob Hubbard felt that the Cardinals were still a threat. “At this point of the season, we have to be ready every time we take the court,” Hubbard said. “Lamar is coming to Huntsville with an axe to grind after we beat them on their home court in 2017. A&M-Corpus Christi, one of the conference leaders, had a really tight match with Lamar winning 4-3 in Corpus. We need to come out strong and keep doing the things that have been successful for us in our victories so far this spring.” SHSU did not seem worried as they cruised past Lamar 6-1, its only loss came from the freshman duo Roos Gerritsen and Sahaja Yamalapalli in the doubles competition. Senior Mila Milanovic picked up a pair of wins in the double and single play. The wins helped the team surge past Lamar. Milanovic was excited to get some momentum back on her side with the wins. “That win in the doubles [match] really helped me in the singles,” Milanovic said.

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