Wednesday, September 7, 2016
The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University
What’s happening at SHSU BATHROOMS, P.2
STRANGER THINGS, P.4
EDUCATION , P.5
NO MANS SKY, P.7
COLISIEUM, P.8
SHSU Transgender student view on bathroom situation.
The Houstonian’s review on the latest Netflix original.
Bearkat stresses the importance of continuing education.
Hello Games new videogame disappoints.
Discover what exactly is being renovated in Johnson Coliseum and its aftermath.
Volume 128 | Issue 02
/HoustonianSHSU
@HoustonianSHSU
@HoustonianSHSU
Res Halls Pro Kats Series: Lachlan Edwards Adjust to More Students MASON GONZALES Staff Reporter For the past two school years there has been some housing issues for students. The rate of enrollment and admission has increased, while living space for these students has gone down. During those years, students were relocated to the university hotel, sorority houses, or even made two person rooms into three. Also, there has been Resident Advisors who have now had to get roommates instead of living by themselves. Residence Life Administrative Assistant II Tony Nick said this issue will be solved soon with the new residence hall under construction scheduled to be completed by the fall semester of 2017. According to the Executive Director of Residence Life and Living Learning Programs Joellen Tipton, there are about 200 students who were in housing problems again this academic year. The residence hall rooms were forced to triple people living inside of White Hall, Belvin Buchanan, and the Estill building and in some cases Resident Advisors were required to have roommates. “We’re expecting all of those [students] to be moved by the end of this semester,” Tipton said. There were 29 no shows, and over the course of these first three weeks of classes most of the students who were crammed into rooms have been able to be properly placed into their own spaces. “We’ll have students who leave during the first few weeks of school for a variety of reasons,” Tipton said. “Some are homesick, maybe their financial aid is not going to come in, or they decide they can’t afford it, maybe they didn’t get the classes they wanted. Then there have been some that we have removed from the halls for illegal substance use. They lose their housing.” The construction of the new residence hall is scheduled to be completed by the fall semester of 2017. At the moment there have been no setbacks on construction. The hall is planned to house 700 students. With the rooms being made for two students who will share an adjoining bathroom with the neighboring two students. “Rooms like Estill Hall or some of our small houses, except a little larger,” Tipton said. “The bathroom is setup where there is more privacy for the toilet and the shower. They will be compartmentalized off, so that truly four people can use that area at one time without privacy being an issue.” The hall is set to reserve spaces —
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HoustonianOnline.com
SHSU eSports Off on the Right Click MONICA COLEMAN Staff Reporter
Photo provided by Lachlan Edwards
WELCOME TO NEW YORK. Former Bearkat Lachlan Edwards has been making the most of his NFL experience. The 235 overall pick of the 2016 NFL Draft will be the starting punter on the New York Jets’ roster this season.
RYAN REYNOLDS Sports Editor @Ryan_Reynolds9 From Australia, to American FCS football, to the NFL, former Bearkat and current New York Jets punter Lachlan Edwards has experienced it all. Edwards’ story is quite peculiar though. The 6-foot-5 Aussie from Hasting, Victoria, Australia, did not touch an American football until 2012. He was kicking a ball around at a local park with some friends, when little did he know his life would change forever. “One of my professors from Ballarat University – the university I attended at the time – drove by and saw me punt,”
Edwards said. “He stopped, parked his car and asked if I played. He put me in touch with a kicking coach in Australia, and it just took off from there.” One punt altered the course of Edwards’ life. He would then travel across the Pacific and attend Sam Houston State for three years and graduate as an All-Southland and as an All-America third team punter. Edwards finished the 2015 season with a total of 74 punts, with a gross average of 41.5 yards per punt. The strong play of Edwards on the field caught eyes of many NFL scouts. He received an invitation to play in the NFLPA Bowl game, he showcased his talent at the NFL Scouting Combine and he hosted a Pro Day at Bowers Stadium to
further show professional teams that he has the skills to play on the next level. When the 2016 NFL Draft rolled around and Edwards found himself a new home, in the state of New York with the New York Jets. Edwards received a call from the Jets organization in the seventh round and they told him that they were going to select him with the 235 overall pick. “I was actually watching the NFL Draft at Humphrey’s with a couple of buddies when I got the call,” Edwards said. “I was not expecting to get drafted, but I did know that the Jets were interested because they kept in contact with me on a weekly basis.” The former Bearkat, and — PRO KAT , page 8
Heroes Campaign Kicks Off HOLLY GRAY Staff Reporter The Marketing and Communications Department at Sam Houston has created a new campaign for the 2016-17 school year called “Heroes Will Rise”. This campaign is designed to showcase everyday heroes on campus, as well as alumni who are living lives as heroes in their job markets and communities. Jeff Olsen, director of marketing and communications, said that while working in marketing, he gets to work with people from different departments across the university on a daily basis where he sees heroes accomplishing amazing things. He believes that lifting up the faculty, staff, and students of SHSU will create a culture of honor that inspires a strong sense of Bearkat pride. “Whether it’s building a robotic hand with a 3D printer for a young girl who was born without one, or the rodeo team helping out a girl who was injured in a car accident, SHSU is full of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” Olsen said. “I think everyone is interested in hearing those stories, and can feel proud to be affiliated with Sam Houston State University.” Last Thursday, President Dana —
HERO , page 2
Holly Gray| The Houstonian
HEROES WILL RISE. SHSU’s new billboard can be seen from College Park Drive exit on 242. The new campaign started in 2016-2017 school year
Only two schools in the state of Texas have officially recognized eSports as a club sport. Sam Houston State is one of them. eSports is an emerging form of virtual competition, where players compete in popular video games from a number of genres in tournaments, many of which are starting to receive considerable coverage from outlets such as ESPN and TNT. Two years ago the SHSU eSports organization came into being at Sam Houston, and even with the new Club Sport moniker the group is just getting started as they establish themselves as a force to reckon with in the competitive scene. With 120 registered members and still growing, there is no doubt SHSU eSports is making an impact on the campus. Last year the League of Legends team competed in a nontraditional style, without a coach or team analyst, and made the top 32 of Sam’s Division in their first Season. “Our club doesn’t just focus on gaming,” Alexa Grigsby, the senior Media Relations officer for the group, said. In addition to on campus work, the organization has gone out into the Conroe area to promote eSports for young people. “People are discriminated against for gaming,” Alexa said. eSports teaches children not to believe in the harsh stereotypes that the average gamers are just antisocial bodies that sit in the dark all day, playing games and avoiding society. Video games are an emerging art form that brings people together, and that is exactly what SHSU eSports has done and looks forward to doing. “You get to meet a group of people from every back ground and from every walk of life, all united by our love for gaming,” Alexa said. eSports only hopes to continue growing, members attended every passport at Sam this summer spreading the word and looking for players of all types. Members of SHSU eSports will also be attending a seminar put on by The Society for Teaching English Through Media, he Association for Teaching English Through Movies, and the International Council for Educational Media in their 20th Annual STEM-ATEMICEM Conference in South Korea to learn more about how to help establish eSports organizations at other universities. SHSU eSports have collegiate teams for League of Legends (A MOBA, or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena), Heroes of the
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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/news | Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Page 2 THE H E A DLI N E S
Bathroom Battle Continues TESLA CADENA Staff Reporter
Compiled by
Media Practicum Students
1000 YEAR OLD SWORD FOUND ON GOOSE HUNTING TRIP Icelandic Goose Hunters found a Viking sword lying on the ground during a hunting trip in Skaftarhreppur, Iceland. The group turned in the artifact, which was estimated to be over 1000 years old, to Iceland’s Cultural Heritage Agency Monday morning.
KANSAS FANS RUSH FIELD Last Saturday, the Kansas Jayhawks football program ended its losing streak defeating Rhode Island, 55-6; their last victory was November 8, 2014. Even though it is illegal under NCAA rules, fans stormed the field celebrating the conclusion of their 15 straight loses.
PROTESTERS ATTACKED Tribal officials in South Dakota say construction crews for Dakota Access oil pipeline destroyed Native American burial and cultural sites on private land. Protesters of the construction refused to let the work continue and were attacked with pepper spray and possibly dogs. There will be a decision before September 9 whether construction can be halted on the Dakota Access pipeline.
MATH IS RACIST Cathy O’Neil’s book “Weapons of Math Destruction” maps how recidivism models guide sentencing based on statistics of the criminal records, credit reports, and education rates of specific minorities. O’Neil delves into just how big data “amplifies inquality” as many factors influence the outcomes of opportunities; For example, not getting a job because someone’s racial background doesn’t show well in an algorithm. O’Neil is looking to HIPAA and Americans With Disabilities Act to make a change.
D E M O C R AT I C AND REPUBLICAN SENATE FAIL TO REACH A DECISION ON ZIKA BILL The Republican and Democratic Senate have both failed to reach the amount of votes needed to pass the Zika bill. If the bill is passed pregnant women will have the funding to get treatment against the illness. If the Republican and Democratic Senate cannot come to a decision the government will shut down for 30 days. Republicans are against the bill, because it’s provides too much funding and Democrats are for it.
ITT TECH ANNOUNCED SHUT DOWN OF ALL CAMPUSES NATIONWIDE ITT Technical Institutes is closing all campuses due to U.S. Department of Education banning the school from enrolling new student and an increase in reserves. The institute has been around for 50 years, but has had a decline in enrollment in the last couple of years. This decision will effect more than 8,000 employees as well as students and alumni.
According to the Williams Institute 2011 study, 0.3 percent of the American adult population is transgender. That means 700,000 thousand out of 319 million U.S. citizens still do not have the same rights and freedoms to do basic things – like going to the bathroom. The Florida originated Single-Sex Public Facilities bill (better known as the “Bathroom Bully Bill”) proposed punishing anyone who did not use the bathroom of their biologically determined sex with a 1,000 dollar fine, or up to a year in jail. Although the bill died on April 28, 2015, only 39 states allow citizens to go the bathroom of the gender they identify. SHSU senior Madeleine Voltin is a transgender woman tired of having to walk on eggshells just to exist. Voltin expressed the transphobic law was based less on transgender people, but on predators. “It’s mostly centered around these men going into women’s bathroom claiming to be transgender peeking on children and women when they’re obviously not transgender,” Voltin said. However, Voltin said that the transgender community shouldn’t have to pay for the crimes of others. She knows using identity based bathrooms has no other motive than simply relieving themselves. “I really support the idea of gender neutral bathrooms and that would eliminate the question of pre-transition vs post-transition,” Voltin said. “We’d face less ridicule from the media, and a lot of people would realize we aren’t in there to hurt you. We’re just in there to go to the bathroom.” There is no recent evidence to support that transgender people are any more dangerous than anyone else, or that unisex bathrooms induce more violence. It is believed that if anyone is at risk in the bathroom, it’s transgender
fear of going into the bathroom they identify with, we would feel like we are welcome as a community,” Voltin said. “I personally believe that allowing us to go into the bathroom we identify with will help so much with self-confidence, emotional
“Gender is fluid and changes throughout the course of someone’s life. It’s important to note that those in the transgender community do not have to physically transition to identify as transgender.” - Madeleine Voltin, Senior the restroom according to the 2013 Williams Institute report. Voltin is among the 490,000 people who may avoid the bathroom due to lack of safe access and negative experiences. “Once, in my hometown restaurant, I forgot to lock the door and a woman came in and starting saying I didn’t belong there, that I needed to leave or she would call the police,” Voltin said. “I left so upset, but it really opened my eyes to what could really happen.” Other incidents that Voltin has heard of from the news has reminded her of her experiences. “On the media dealing with the transgender bathroom ordeal are many transgender women being murdered that are people of color, and it’s going unnoticed, and I find that very unnerving,” Voltin said. “It’s hard. I should be able to go to the bathroom without getting hurt.” Voltin said the right to use her gender identified restroom is not only beneficial to her physical health, but her mental and emotional health as well. “By allowing the transgender community to not have to be in
stability, and will lessen the fear of being out in public. According to Voltin, the solution is not shutting people out, gender policing, or even having more faith in unisex bathrooms, but to change the perception of transgender people. One of the biggest misconception is that transgender people are simply going through a phase, or following a trend, rather than indulging in something completely out of the person’s control. “I think it’s mostly because people don’t understand,” Voltin said. “A big misconception is
that we are manipulating our bodies. This often forms from the religious view that there are only two sexes: man and woman. This idea is often false because according to science, there actually are instances in which there are more than two biological sexes.” Another misunderstanding that many people have when thinking about transgender people is the difference between sex and gender. “Sex is a chromosome all people are born with, but truly that just determines the reproductive system someone is assigned,” Voltin said. “Gender is fluid and changes throughout the course of someone’s life. It’s important to note that those in the transgender community do not have to physically transition to identify as transgender.” For those struggling with their identity, or for those who want to learn more about the LGBT community and become more accepting members of society, Voltin recommends SHSU’s Haven, SHSU’s GSK, and the Montrose counseling center in Houston. “I can thank GLAAD, Gamma Sigma Kappa, and the counseling center at SHSU for supporting me in my journey to become me,” Voltin said. “I would not change a thing about myself or my life. If I had never been exposed to betrayal, or the fact that there are other people like me, I believe I would have been miserable my whole life.”
“I personally believe that allowing us to go into the bathroom we identify with will help so much with self-confidence, emotional stability, and will lessen the fear of being out in public.” -Madeleine Voltin Senior
Trump Meets Mexican President GABY TORRES Staff Reporter
With the elections approaching both candidates, Trump and Clinton are making their last moves for their campaign. Donald Trump in fact, made a visit to Mexico last week to discuss with the President Enrique Peña Nieto about the costs and terms of the wall. Although Peña Nieto made it clear on Twitter that Mexico would not pay for it; Trump insists the wall be built.
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G. Hoyt addressed the faculty and staff as she does yearly, and had an award ceremony for people who have been working at Sam Houston for a number of years. She used the Heroes Will Rise campaign to honor the faculty and staff for what they have done for the university. The Department designed a billboard that is displayed on the exit of College Park Drive, with a graphic of a graduate student and the words “Heroes will Rise”. Isaac Moen, graphic designer for marketing and communications designed the billboard and the website for the campaign. “We wanted something that
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people themselves. Voltin has lost close friends, received ridicule, and even death threats for trying to be herself. About 70 percent of transgender people have been denied entrance, assaulted, or harassed trying to use
This visit will influence much of Trump’s campaign. Trump’s visit to Mexico signifies more than just the discussion of the wall. It shows him trying to make a good impression and show that he is willing to communicate. Though many expected the visit to turn hostile, it was a very polite meeting. Although they may have not agreed on everything they had a good civilized meeting. A meeting that nothing was really set on or nothing came to be official. If this wall is ever actually built who knows, but the discussion about it is still active.
Clinton has yet to comment about this visit. If it was a good choice to have this meeting, only Trump knows. Many people were surprised that Trump himself went, instead of making Peña Nieto coming to the U.S. This definitely made an impact on both sides for Mexico and the U.S. Not only in the campaign for Trump but in the economy of both countries. This wall will not be cheap. Whoever ends up paying for it, if it actually happens it won’t be small cost. It will impact greatly the economy of one of the
countries. Neither us nor Mexico want to take that jump. We revolve around politics and this situation is no exception. Trump is using the building of the wall as the main topic when discussing his relationship with Mexico. Trump is taking no chances or shame in what he is doing; and the opportunities of power he is receiving. Trump said he will not stop until he has full power and this visit was only a step further. This visit meant a lot and we will have to see as to where it takes this country.
The Jumps would be integrated university wide, and relate to everyone,” Moen said. According to Moen, the billboard was placed at the College Park Drive exit on 242 because most of Sam Houston’s demographic will be seeing that billboard on their way to College Park high school and Lone Star College, and a many of SHSU students are transfers from Lone Star. Olsen said that even though the campaign just kicked off, it will get a lot of visibility because several different divisions of the university are participating, which he believes will persuade potential
students to apply. The Heroes Will Rise campaign will also be integrated in the SHSU Homecoming theme this year. Students will get a chance to participate in this culture of honor by nominating a hero of their choice to be showcased on the SHSU website, where several stories are displayed of local Bearkat heroes. Students can nominate their hero at shsu.edu/heroes. “At the end of it all, it’s basically just a way to honor people,” —
RES LIFE , page 8
Moen said. for the Honors college, The
Bearkat Learning Community, Health Sciences, and Agriculture, the remaining rooms will be for any students who wish to live there. The construction work has disrupted one of the parking lots. “The only issue with the resident hall being built is the parking lot area where they have lain down the [construction] equipment,” Tipton said. “They’re using kind of one area for those construction projects.” Hopefully having to find space for new students will no longer be an issue once the fall 2017 rolls around and the brand new residence hall is fully constructed.
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Veteran Museum To Host Annual Garage Sale TRCIA SIMS Associate Editor @TriciaAnnnn
The Veterans H.E.A.R.T.S. Museum will have their annual garage sale September 16-17 in order to raise money for operation. The museum opened in 2009 as resource for the community of Huntsville to honor veterans and learn more about the military history. “Our mission is to teach the young and old so we do not repeat history,” said Norman Ward, H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum board member and Army veteran. Mark Robinson, director of the museum and retired Army and a Marine Veteran said the museum serves a unique purpose. “In the State of Texas we are the only museum that covers all branches of service and all the wars, but we are not a military museum,” Robinson said. “We have never considered ourselves to be a military museum at all, we are a Veteran’s museum. We are about honoring anyone who raised their hand and swore to protect us from enemies foreign and domestic. We are about educating people about how much our freedoms cost. We are about telling children sacrifices were made so that they can go to school anywhere that they want.” The museum prides themselves as not being an average museum. They allow photos and visitors can touch the items. Veterans and their families donate all the artifacts that the museum has on display. There is a large variety of items for visitors to see, from photos to actual military uniforms. There are five rooms in the museum each dictated to a different branch of the military. The items are set up in a timeline that goes from the Revolutionary War to the present day conflicts of Iraq
and Afghanistan. According to Norman Ward there are about 5,000 students who come to the museums on field trips every school year. Veterans who served in all of the different branches of the military now volunteer at the museum giving tours to the kids and answer questions. “It is amazing,” Ward said. “We have had some outstanding people. You will be inspired when you come listen to them.” Chairman of the H.E.A.R.T.S. museum and Air Force Veteran Al Sailer said one of the reasons he started volunteering his time at the museum is the children. “For the most part they are pretty intuitive, even some of the little ones,” Sailer said. “They come up with some good questions. They don’t ask you the type of questions you think they are going to.” Another type of volunteer that the museum has is a family member of veterans. Gisela Allen’s husband was in the service for 25 years, so after his passing she has decided to honor him by volunteering. “I fell in love with a solider and I just followed him,” Allen said. “Wherever he went, I went. After I lost him, I started to concentrate on listening to each solider I meet whoever served. I like to find out what they have to say. Some of them do not have anything to say and now, today, I understand why.” Allen also provides an interesting perspective to visitors. She was born and raised in Germany. Allen was only 5 months old when World War II broke out. “I lived through all the war,” Allen said. “I lived through all the drama and the hunger. You just handle the blows as they came. I didn’t know about anything that was going on or why. I found that out much later.” Getting to meet visitors and getting to know them is
what Allen enjoys most about volunteering. “I don’t like to be anywhere else,” Allen said. “It is very “We are providing education to young and rewarding to listen to every person. Each person has a older people about what their freedoms story.” In the museum there is a cost.” library made up of all donated books on the military topic. -Mark Robinson “We have a library with over 25 hundred books in it, Director of the Hearts Museum all military,” Ward said. “I would say next to A& M, that is one of the biggest military libraries in Texas.” There is also a weapons cost,” Robinson said. “They We are not just a museum display starting as far back know very little. I have had that people come and look at as 1915. Outside there are school kids that have come on stuff, we are about teaching static helicopters and tanks a tour and I take them to the people what it cost.” The museum is open army room. I show them the for visitors to see. MondaySunday from 10 a.m, diorama we have of Omaha The museum began as to 5p.m. For more infromation Beach, and I get asked the display in a window in on the upcoming garage sale question, ‘What was DDay?’ downtown Huntsville. please call 936-295-5959. We are desperately needed. In 2009, the H.E.A.R.T.S Museum moved into their current building. “What makes this museum different is that we started with nothing,” Allen said. “We started with one picture on display on Memorial Day.” The museum received state funding to build the current location, but according to Ward has not had any other money from the state since. All the money that is raised to keep the museum up and running is from donations and other events like the annual garage sale. “It cost us about six thousand to keep us up and running,” Ward said. “We need all the help we can get. We need to keep this place alive and our heads above water.” Students get to talk with veterans and learn things that are not necessarily taught in history class. “There are things you can never learn unless you experience it and they share it with us,” Allen said. Robinson said that the museum is a helpful resource that is needed for all ages. “We are providing education Tricia Sims | The Houstonian to young and older people H.E.A.R.T.S. VETERANS MUSEUM. Artifcats such as pictures, documents, about what their freedoms weapons, and uniforms are displayed at the museum.
THE POLICE BLOT T E R Compiled by
Tricia Sims Associate Editor
SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 16-12160, Graffiti, 1:10 AM: An officer was dispatched to Academic Building IV (1921 Avenue J) in reference to a report of graffiti. The officer located the graffiti and completed an offense report.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2016 16-12103, Medical Assist, 12:15 AM: An officer was dispatched to Sam Houston Village parking garage in reference to a report of a unresponsive student. Upon arrival, the officer located the male passed out by a car surrounded by vomit. It was determined that the male was intoxicated and was subsequently transported by ambulance to Huntsville Memorial Hospital for further treatment.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2016 16-12081, Theft in Progress Report, 1:37 PM: An officer responded to the 4000 block of Sam Houston Avenue to assist the Huntsville Police Department with a report of a theft in progress. The officer assisted with the traffic stop of the suspect vehicle in the 2700 block of Angier Road.
SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 16-12027, Damaged Vehicle, 10:05 AM: An officer was dispatched to the 1900 block of University Avenue (university parking area) where the complainant reported that their driver side window was damaged. The damaged was determined to be caused by a grounds crew completing maintenance on the university grounds. 16-12034, Medical Assist, 11:12 AM: An officer responded to the Johnson Coliseum (1964 Bobby K. Marks) to assist with a reported medical call. 16-12036, Duty Upon Striking, 12:48 PM: An officer met with a complainant at the University Police Department who reported that their vehicle was damaged while legally parked in a university parking area. An incident report was completed. 16-12053, Criminal Trespass Warning Issued, 5:40 PM: An officer was dispatched to Sam Houston Village (1600 Sam Houston Avenue) at the request of the Residence Life. At this time a student was being evicted from campus housing to a violation of University policy. The student was issued a criminal trespass warning for all SHSU housing units.
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016 16-11970, Fire, 11:06 AM: Officers were dispatched to the Lee Drain Building (1900 Avenue I) in reference to subjects being stuck in an elevator. Upon arrival, the officer observed that the building had an active fire alarm for the elevator mechanical room. Upon checking the door to the elevator room, the officer noted the presence of heavy smoke. The Huntsville Fire Department was contacted and arrived a short time later. The individuals on the elevator were removed and the building was evacuated. The cause of the smoke was due to a fire in the elevator mechanical room on an electrical panel. The building was vented, and after air quality test the building was reopened for normal operations at 12:30 PM. 16-11988, Criminal Trespass Warning Issued, 4:16 PM: An officer was dispatched to Jackson-Shaver Hall (1201 17th Street) in reference to a student being evicted from the housing unit. The student was being evicted due to their housing contract being terminated for a policy violation. The student was issued a criminal trespass warning for all SHSU housing units. 16-11999, Public Intoxication, 10:28 PM: An officer observed a male stumbling through the University Police Department parking lot (2424 Sam Houston Avenue), and upon checking his welfare determined that he was intoxicated. The male was arrested and charged with the Class C Misdemeanor Offense of Public Intoxication.
AUGUST 31, 2016 16-11890, Driving While Intoxicated, 2:24 AM: While conducting a traffic stop in the 2500 block of Sycamore Avenue, the officer determined that the female driver was intoxicated. The driver was arrested and charged with the Class B Misdemeanor offense of Driving While Intoxicated and the Class C Misdemeanor offense of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. 16-11933, Theft, 5:01 PM: An officer was dispatched to Rachel Jackson House (1600 Avenue I) where a student reported that they were a victim of a scam. The student reported that she received a call and the caller identified themselves as being from the Internal Revenue Service. The student stated that they were duped into giving a thousand dollars to the caller. An offense report was completed. It should be noted that the IRS will never contact you by telephone wanting immediate payment 16-11937, Duty Upon Striking, 6:21 PM: An officer met with a complainant who reported that their legally parked vehicle was struck by another vehicle causing damage to left rear quarter panel. An offense report was completed.
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‘Stranger Things’: Turning Netflix ‘Upside Down’ RAY SOMERS Staff Reporter
If you were in any way influenced by the media of the 80’s then you will love Netflix’s new series “Stranger Things”. It has all of the characteristics of the camp and adventure of movies like the “Lost Boys” and “The Goonies”, staple genera films of the 80’s, but has special effects that stand up to any modern television program. The story follows a group
of children trying to find their lost friend, Will, with the help of the mysterious Eleven. Eleven is played by Millie Bobby Brown, an up and coming young starlet. The lost boy’s mother, Joyce Byers, is played by Winona Ryder. Byers also searches for Will with the help of the town sheriff and her older son. The story ramps up quickly into the weird and intriguing and only gets better from there. Next there is an introduction of a secretive government agency and their mysterious dealings.
Bearkat Mania Features Local Businesses AMBER GRAVES Staff Reporter
Navigating college can get difficult, but at Sam Houston State University there is an event to help with the added pressure. Bearkat Mania is a long standing tradition that is sponsored by 101.7 KSAM, 104.9 THE HITS, other local radio stations, the Student Activities office, and Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. This event offers students the chance to meet local businesses within the Huntsville community. Bearkat Mania will be held right in front of the Lowman Student Center, today, from 10am-2pm. The businesses will be setting up with plenty of options for lunch, so be sure to bring that famous Bearkat appetite! KSAM wants to offer students the opportunity to get to know their community. The radio station wants to show Bearkats that there are so many other aspects of Huntsville than just the college. These businesses not only get the chance to engage students with the citywide population, but can also potentially offer a multitude of employment options for those eager to get to work. Booths are set up for students here at Sam to better understand that the Huntsville businesses support Bearkats. “We hope that this event helps all Bearkats know that our community appreciates them and is welcome in their place of business,” said Dee Everett,
advertisement manager at the 101.7 KSAM station. “We believe good relationships between businesses and students is essential to them feeling [like] a part of the community. Whether students are in their first semester or final semester here at [Sam], Huntsville is your home for now!” said Everett. Community is a crucial aspect of college life, and Huntsville knows that. By allowing local vendors to set up booths and get the chance to see the students at Sam Houston and for the students to get to know them, this eliminates the gap between the two. However, Bearkat Mania isn’t just for local businesses; sponsors of the event also have an opportunity to get to know the students. KSAM wants students to know that, not only is their radio station number one amongst students for all their music needs, but it also broadcasts everything bearcat. Topics range from football games to what’s going on around campus. Students can easily feel ostracized in a new community, being seen as just a “student” or a “menace” for the town. But here, local business want Bearkats to know that they recognize there potential, and that they have unlimited possibilities for them. For students both new and returning, Bearkat Mania is the place to go for answers to all of their questions about what Huntsville has to offer.
The special effects of this show is where it really shines. It has a fantastic story no doubt, but what sets it on par with classic 80’s genera films is that the blending of computer generated graphics with practical effects. The seamless blend over the last few decades, allowing for more realistic monsters and environments. One such instance, the “Upside Down,” is truly the stuff of
nightmares with its slimy terrain and downright terrifying inhabitants. The acting of the whole cast is also spectacular, with a special shout out to all the young actors who performed brilliantly. It can be a dangerous gamble to rely on a younger cast to deliver emotionally convincing performances, but the story never felt forced, even when in the hands of the young cast.
David Harbour’s portrayal of sheriff Jim Hopper was also well done, with him being one of the lynchpins of the story’s exposition. If you haven’t seen Stranger Things yet go check it out. It’s a fantastic nostalgia bomb that just had its second season announced, so get excited because we’re getting more next year
E VE N T C A L E N DE R Compiled by Ethan Horn Campus Culture Editor
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
Bearkat Mania On Wednesday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., stop by Bearkat Plaza for the Annual Bearkat Mania Trade Show, where local businesses will be showcasing their businesses/organizations to the campus community. Local radio stations 101.7 KSAM & 104.9 THE HITS will be present to host the event, while the local businesses welcome Bearkats, share lots of door prizes, giveaways and tasty foods. Career Services Extravaganza Kick off the new semester by stopping by the Career Services booth in the LSC Mall on Wednesday, Sept. 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., to meet the staff and mingle with some of SHSU’s corporate employers who love hiring Bearkats. We’ll even throw in some food and fun giveaways. See you there!
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
Student Services Day Stop by the LSC Atrium on Thursday, Sept. 8, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and meet staff from the various departments in the Division of Student Services, ask questions, and get FREE stuff ! CHSS Fall Kick-Off Meeting College of Humanities & Social Sciences invite staff and faculty members to the Fall Kick-Off Meeting. Dean Zink will give opening remarks and an overview of FY 2016 highlights. We look forward to meeting all our new staff and faculty members! *This is a closed meeting to faculty and staff of CHSS*
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9
Q- Drop Deadline Last Day to drop without a “Q” Grade and Receive 100% Refund Graduate Studies Deadline Last Day to Submit a Graduate Certificate Completion form to the Office of Graduate Studies
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
Get Outdoors! Get outside, learn a new skill and meet new people with a cookout, slacklining, stand up paddle boarding, and kayaking at Huntsville State Park. The trips and workshops offered by the Outdoor Recreation Program at Sam Houston State University are open to anyone who wants a truly unique experience. No experience is necessary to sign up. Trip cost includes: transportation, equipment, food (except any meals on the road), permits and fees, lodging or camping, instruction, and guides. Women’s Club Soccer vs Texas Tech The Women’s Club Soccer team plays host to Texas Tech at Lower Pritchett Field on Sat., Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. Come support your fellow Bearkats.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
15th Years since 9/11 Today marks fifteen years since the horrific incidents of 9/11. The Huntsville community and country remember those who died that day as well as the heroic first responders who serve daily to ensure everyone’s safety. The Houstonian thanks all first responders and the servicemen and women for your dedication to the United States of America!
The Jumps — ESPORTS , page 4 Storm (MOBA), Overwatch (A FPS, or First Person Shooter) and Smashbros (A fighting game), and will play competitively throughout the region representing the Sam Houston Bearkats. The Organization is also always expanding into new games as players join, so if your favorite MOBA or FPS isn’t represented don’t hesitate to drop by. If you are a gamer who wants to be a part of something that is bigger than yourself, that will connect you with people all over the world with the same love for gaming as you, joining SHSU eSports should be at the top of your list. eSports is growing off-campus
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as well. In August fans flocked to Seattle to watch Dota 2’s The International (The games equivalent of the Super Bowl), a tournament boasting a prize pool over $2.3 million dollars. League of Legends sells out a basketball arena within seconds of tickets being made available, and Blizzard, the company behind Overwatch, HearthStone and Heroes of the Storm hosts a multi-day Championship series every year. The groups first LAN party (Local Area Network) will be this Friday, September 9th, in the LCS room 320 at 8:00PM. SHSU eSports is an open minded group of students who reach out to the community and have fun gaming at the same time.
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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/viewpoints | Wednesday, September 7, 2016
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Education: The Foundation Of Our Future
FELICIA ACEVES Staff Reporter This is actually my third attempt at trying to finish college, believe it or not. I fell in love in my senior year of high school with this person who had been a really good friend to me. We both applied and were accepted into Sam Houston after we graduated. We were excited to see where our lives would take us. We decided to get married during our sophomore year here at SHSU and needless to say, we both had to drop out of college and start making a living for ourselves, and our new family. We ended up travelling to Grapevine where my husband was
offered a great job at the Grapevine Independent School District in the Technology Department. With three kids in tow we went off to a new life. We left behind my parents, sister and the rest of the family back in Huntsville. I had been in Huntsville since I was 11 years old, so moving to a completely new area that I wasn’t quite used to yet was a big adjustment. Everything was great for the moment, we loved our little family and added another. Now a total of two girls close in age and two redheaded boys. But through some difficult and trying times that we did not foresee, our marriage did not make it. There was no other way to put it. I was left with four children all under the age of seven and now a single mother. I had been a stay at home mom therefore, I did not have much work experience. I had believed that my marriage would last a lifetime. Unfortunately it did end, and I was left in a bad situation. With an infant, and three small kids, childcare was unaffordable to me with the type of job I could get. I was in a position I never wanted to be in. I was embarrassed, but I made the best of a bad situation. I took advantage of the dollar menus, dollar shows and walking around at the mall just to make my
kids feel normal and important. With my financial situation, I was barely paid enough to cover for my gas and childcare. I decided I had to go back to school. I was 36 years old and thought I was really too old to be going back to school and getting my degree. But I realized I had to do it. I took only a couple of classes a semester and took ITV (Interactive Video) courses. ITV are courses where students would take a video tape home and learn the material off of it. They kept up with what you checked out of the library and you would then go to campus to take about four tests throughout the semester. It was super convenient. I could still stay at home with my youngest child and I had my older children all with me at home. I was able to take most of my basics through the next five years at Tarrant County College. There were a lot of times that I had to finish my homework rather than play or interact with my children. I would stay up late at night studying so I could do the normal things that needed to be done throughout the daytime: dinner, bath time, cleaning the kitchen and more. It worked out pretty well until about 2011. I had done almost all I could do at a Junior College at the time and I lost my grant because of math courses. But I
“The first time I went to college was for my parents, the second time for my kids and to provide a better life and now, I’m going just for myself..” -Felicia Aceves
lost a lot more than just my grant that semester. I lost my health, my financial standing and my apartment. Consequently, shortly thereafter, I lost custody of my kids. After my kids went to live with their dad I had two mental breakdowns and now suffer from mental illness. I had not thought about going back to school, I didn’t think I could handle it. One day a professor I knew came into my work, Golden Corral, to eat and sat me down to convince me that I should not let the 73 hours I had accumulated in school go to waste. Now, I am back in school. It took a lot of self-discipline to get it all
together and make this work out. I hope to get my grant reinstated and continue on this journey to finish my degree. The first time I went to college was for my parents, the second time for my kids and to provide a better life and now, I’m going just for myself. When I graduate, I plan on working with Victims Services in some capacity and hope to make a successful career out of it. Here is my advice to those going through a hard time. Even if your life seems grim and dark in your current situation, always remember to have your head up high looking for the light at the end of the tunnel.
How “For-Profit” Universities Scam Students
CHERNISE LANAE Staff Reporter
For two years while I completed my undergraduate
degree, I had the pleasure of working in recruiting for the Online Department here at SHSU. I spoke to single mothers wanting to come back to college after having a family, to military members stationed in countries I could not even begin to pronounce overseas and to people just like us only with the added step of no longer being able to attend school the traditional way. More often than not, however, I spoke to people caught in the grip of these ‘for-profit’ colleges that seem to exist for the sole reason of sucking the time, money, and energy out of unsuspecting people with good intentions. Prior to my previous job, I had not heard about these type of schools. Now I look at those conversations as a warning.
The calls were usually the same: “I owe $70,000 in loans and none of my credits will transfer anywhere. Will Sam Houston take them?” or “I have a degree, but no workplace will take it seriously, so I decided to go back to school.” Also, “Phoenix won’t release my transcripts so that I can transfer!” I call these people victims because that is exactly what they are. Imagine being punished simply for attending college! It is inconceivable for most of us, but it is an unfortunate reality millions of Americans are facing every day. I mean, come on. We’ve all seen the commercials—they look harmless. The catchy jingles, the promise of a brighter future, and even a familiar celebrity face encouraging us to “get up off the couch!” The innocuousness
of it all is exactly how they netted their victims. In a way, it reminds me of a Venus fly trap or some other gnarly nature feature that most of us know better to avoid. Most actual, accredited universities, like SHSU, do not accept credit from places like ITT Tech or the University of Phoenix. The degrees earned at those places are as good as paper weights, and the school itself may not even be legal. They utilize loopholes in law to keep their doors open, and encourage their students to take out exorbitant amounts in student loans to keep themselves afloat. However, there is a light on the horizon. After years of gliding under the radar of the government, I read a few days ago that the Obama Administration is finally cracking down on
these ‘businesses’. The federal student loans that kept them above water? Gone. All the military benefits they previously received? Banned. And, in some special cases, all those loans may just be forgiven. It’s a small step in the right direction, but there’s a long haul ahead of us to streamline higher education and make it both accessible and affordable so that these schools do not have the opportunity to get the better of students anymore. At the end of it all, I do not think I will ever be able to fully get the dozens and dozens of voices I spoke to out of my head. All I can do is hope for a brighter future for all of them and that they get the justice they deserve in the end.
What’s the WORD on the STREET? What are you most excited about this football season?
“Tailgates and championships!” Dokota Apfel Senior
“I am excited about working football games as an athletic training student.” Rossi Espinoza Junior
“Cant wait for halftime shows!” Gabby Flores Sophmore
“Beating SFA at the Battle of the Piney Woods.” Nick Kraft Freshman
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Broadway Musical Reinventing History Hamilton is the perfect portrayal of what America is today. It’s innovative, and is getting young people to come back to the theatre. Only a genius could pull this off, and the genius’ name is LinManuel Miranda. Miranda has created a revolutionary hip-hop musical based on Ron Chernow’s biography “Alexander Hamilton”. In “Hamilton”, Miranda played Alexander Hamilton and raps his way through cabinet meetings, and sings a ballad after his son, Philip Hamilton, is killed. Miranda is changing the way history is portrayed through his lyrics and the characters he has created out of some of the most important leaders in United States history. The idea behind “Hamilton” came to Miranda while on vacation after reading Chernow’s biography. It all began as a mixape. One of the songs from the mix-tape, which later became the title track from the cast recording, was performed in front of President Obama at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music and the Spoken Word event in 2009. Since then, it has become a full musical that opened on Broadway in the Richard Rodgers Theatre on July of 2015. Hamilton became an instant success resulting in a massive fanbase including the Obama family and many A-list celebrities. It has won 11 Tony Awards in this year including Best Musical and was nominated for a record number of 16 Tonys. The musical received
SARAH BADILLO Staff Reporter A year after its Broadway debut, “Hamilton: An American Musical”, remains at the top of the box office, and celebrities along with people from all over the world are traveling to New York City to see the musical about the “tendollar founding father without a father.” The cast of Hamilton has performed at the Grammys, won a Grammy and dominated the Tony Awards this past year. It is nearly impossible to find a ticket to see this musical, but what is it about the musical that has everyone talking about it? People are attracted to Hamilton for several reasons. One is it’s new. No one has ever written a hip-hop musical about a founding father. It is a diverse musical- starring mostly black and Latino actors.
raving reviews, set box office records and the cast recording charted on the iTunes rap charts, which no musical has ever done before. “Hamilton” is the story of Alexander Hamilton, the orphanimmigrant that no one took seriously at first and who later became the first Secretary of the Treasury and established the American National Banking System. The musical is intriguing for viewers because of the time period in which it is written in. Written about a time when women could not vote and didn’t have a voice to make decisions regarding the country, “Hamilton” has changed people’s perception of history. “Hamilton” gives praise to the women of the revolution making a statement that yes, there were strong women who fought for equality, and yes, these women did make an impact on American history in the 18th century. The musical tells the stories of people like Eliza Hamilton, the Schuyler sisters and even Alexander Hamilton’s mistress, Maria Reynolds, whose stories otherwise wouldn’t have been told had it not been for “Hamilton”. “Hamilton” is revolutionary not just for its brilliant way of storytelling, but because the cast is the representation of what America is today. Broadway is already known for being a place where people of all ages, races, and sexual orientation are accepted and welcome, but for a musical about Alexander Hamilton and the
founding fathers, one would not think that Alexander Hamilton would be played by a non-white actor or that the Schuyler sisters would be all different races. This is the magic of “Hamilton”. It’s innovative and clever. It’s unexpected, yet it makes complete sense. This is what America is now. We come in all different colors, yet we are all somehow connected to this country that our founding fathers have shaped for us. After listening to the cast album a few times and watching nearly every Hamilton related video on YouTube, it’s hard to believe that Angelica Schuyler wasn’t a black woman who sang and rapped through her sister, Eliza’s, wedding. Miranda has said in interviews, “This is a story of America then, told by America now.” Miranda has accomplished and created something that has never been done on a Broadway stage. “Hamilton” is a musical people of all ages relate to, however, because of its rap and R&B score, the younger generations are especially responding. The hip-hop phenomenon musical has introduced a new approach to teaching history. In June of this year, LinManuel Miranda announced the Rockefeller Foundation pledged $6 million to allow school kids around the United States to see Hamilton when it goes on tour next year at just $10 a ticket. This program, which is called #EduHam, was implemented
for students to see the show and integrate it into their studies. Along with the announcement of this program, Judith Rodin, President of The Rockefeller Foundation, said that “Our goal is to not only bring history to life for students throughout the country, but to have them relate to the actors who make this show what it is; demonstrating that everything is possible for them, no matter what neighborhood they live in, what school they attend or where they come from.” The lyrics alone are enough to inspire kids to find something they are passionate about and to “not throw away their shot” at changing the world for the better. This musical and the cast not only show the progress that has been made in America, but it also provides hope for America and the progress that still needs to be made. It’s a musical for past, present and future generations. It’s broken away from the traditional Broadway musical genre, leaving room for future writers and composers to create something that can essentially reclaim history. The buzz surrounding Hamilton does not seem to be dying down anytime soon, but that’s okay. This musical is the perfect reminder of who and what our country was founded on. To quote from a lyric from the musical, “Look around, look around. How lucky we are to be alive right now.”
Note Taking: Turn Off The Screen, Pick Up a Pen MICHELLE SKLAR Staff Reporter It is true; you can improve your grades without studying for too long and more effectively. You may wonder what the magic formula is, and you will likely be surprised by the answer: Close your laptop and pick up a pen. There has been a great deal of talk about the many public schools that no longer teach handwriting. It’s a polarizing issue, with almost everyone standing solidly on one side of the line or the other. Many parents and grandparents equate handwriting with literacy and intelligence, in effect considering it a sort of American value. On the other side, many – including current students and younger parents – recognize that the world we live in mostly requires us to use a keyboard in our daily doings, and see handwriting as old-fashioned, slow and clumsy. Regardless of feelings on both sides of the issue, there are some very good science-based reasons to learn handwriting and to use it, especially when we are learning new things. News sources such as “Scientific American”, “The New York Times”, “The Wall Street Journal” and the “Freakonomics” podcast are talking about studies
conducted by universities such as Harvard and Princeton that have compared handwriting to the use of keyboards among students, and have yielded surprising results about the benefits of handwriting. The first, most obvious problem with classroom laptop use is the potential for distraction. A number of people simply find it difficult to maintain the self-discipline. Reported in “Scientific American”, 40 percent of the time students are engaged in something not related to the classwork. Students using laptops in class are overall more likely to go off task. Here is one area where closing the laptop and writing notes by hand will simplify and improve learning. CNN’s “Schools of Thought” blog reported on work from the Florida International University School of Education that highlighted the handwriting effect, a correlation between handwriting and test scores that points to a direct relationship: more legible handwriting is equated to higher scores. Futurity. org quoted University of Washington study of elementary students while writing essays. The group writing by hand wrote longer essays, wrote them faster and wrote in more complete sentences, as compared to the
typing group. Students writing by hand also expressed more ideas than students typing. The action of hand writing activates different areas of the brain than keyboarding, and more of them. That gives some clues about why handwriting is important, as revealed by a Princeton study featured in “The New York Times”. When students take notes in class, how they capture the material is vital to how well they learn and remember the information. When taking notes on a laptop, the tendency for most is to take down the lecture word for word, or nearly so. By typing, students generate about 50 percent more words. Writing by hand is slower, forcing the student to process the information before writing. She or he has to listen, digest the information and condense it into a form that can be written quickly – completing this process in a very short time. Laptop users, in contrast, simply don’t do any of that. They record, in a mostly automatic process of wellpracticed and well-coordinated – and therefore mindless – motor actions. Does this actually make a difference? Clearly, yes. The Princeton study shows that, while immediate recall for both groups was about the same, when tested
a week later, the hand writers earned significantly higher scores than the keyboardists. WHY: The reasons for this involve two hypotheses. Encoding, the time we spend generating our notes, along with the fact that writing is both a cognitive and fine motor process, engraves the experience in our brain, in effect wearing a groove. Simply put, the more time you spend on it, the better you learn it. Users typing notes are not only paying less attention to the material, they are also getting less of their brains involved in the process. The second hypothesis, external storage, implies that putting notes on paper – getting them out of the brain – improves learning and memory by freeing up bandwidth, in a sense. Here is where we would expect to see an advantage to the typists, who have created more notes. Both groups were tested again after a week having been given time to review their notes. Surprisingly, the handwriting group outperformed the laptop group once again. It may be that seeing your own handwriting cues memory, prompting the recall of both context (where you were, how you felt) and content (the material). You have a personal connection with your own writing that you
paper, and not need of the use of a phone, tablet, or computer. Older adults were all taught how to write in cursive, and it can be rather sad when you write a letter, a simple post-it note or a shopping list in cursive and the person who receives it is incapable of reading it. Take for instance my sister and me: There is only a five-year age difference between the two of us, yet I am the only one who was taught cursive. I didn’t realize how much the difference of five years made education wise until I handed her the chore list one day, that happened to be in cursive, and she asked me to read it out for her. Outside of her signing her name, my sister knows no other form of cursive. Schools today have cut into the time that was once used for handwriting skills to make time for teaching computer and
keyboard skills, which is now required in today’s children education. Cursive handwriting is part of our culture and is totally worth preserving. Most people would agree that a handwritten letter is more memorable and easily cherished than a measly e-mail that you receive and promptly delete after you reply. If we keep heading in the path we have already set upon, there will come a day when the average person will not be able to read any of the old historical documents. If for no other reason than to preserve our written history, we should continue to teach cursive in the school setting. It does not necessarily have to be required or a part of the core classes, but at least give students the option to take it as an elective. Writing in cursive is just as much as an art form as any, and
yet students are required to take several years of “fine arts.” To me and many others writing in cursive is faster than writing in print, and seems to flow better without requiring as much effort than when writing in print. Cursive writing requires a very different set of skills than print writing, and the muscles in the hand that are used when writing in cursive are completely different than the ones used while writing in print. Good penmanship is starting to become a thing of the past. Cursive handwriting is a lost art form that needs to make a comeback. Not only does is help to develop a child’s motor skills, it gives them a clearer understanding of letters and how they are formed, along with helping them to fully comprehend the alphabet. In today’s world it is easier
simply do not have with words typed on a computer. Although it seems oldfashioned and slow, there is no real doubt that writing is related to improved creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Hand writing is strongly linked to the areas of the brain associated with memory and learning, and solid writing skills improve reading comprehension. Effective writers more easily and innovate unconventional solutions to complex problems. As a writer, my own experience has been in accord with much of this research: I can make more words with a keyboard, but I think better with a pen in my hand. Consider trying something different, like Cornell notes, mindmaps, or colored pens. If you hate your handwriting, remember that practice makes perfect (or at least improved), and focus on legibility, not perfect form. Class notes are messy; an easy way to both improve your handwriting and your study is simply to rewrite the day’s notes. Consider this: learning handwriting makes your brain light up in the same way as learning a musical instrument does, a definite benefit for those writerly but unmusical types. Whatever you do, find ways to study smarter, not harder.
Cursive Handwriting: The Lost Art Form
MAKAYLA FARLEY Staff Reporter In recent years, most schools have stopped teaching children how to read and write in cursive. With all the technology that everyone has available to them, it is still necessary that they be able to sit down and communicate on
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- Makayla Farley to get out your phone or other preferred electronic device and send someone a quick text or email instead of writing on a sticky note, but wouldn’t it be more meaningful and intimate for someone to receive a long handwritten letter, in cursive no less, than something you typed up and signed at the end? I think so.
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The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/viewpoints | Wednesday, September 7, 2016
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‘No Man’s Sky’ Disappoints Many Gamers
RYAN REYNOLDS Sports Editor @amosqueda16
When “No Man’s Sky”, made by Hello Games, was announced in 2013 at VGX, or Spike Video Game Awards, fans were excited for a space travel game that would be like no other experience a player has ever witnessed. There were numerous promises brought by the developers that would throw any other game in the same genre out of the water. Features that would be in the game, such as planets that would rotate on its own axis thus causing the day and night effect, space battles where the player would be able to fight other players and choose a side or faction in your journey. Other features include great multiplayer interaction and the promise of something marvelous at the center of the universe. Two years went by as Hello Games marketed their game to be the Game of the Year for gaming in 2016. Aug. 9 was the official release date for PlayStation 4 after having the date pushed back a couple of months throughout the year. Unfortunately for me and all the excited gamers around the world, Hello Games horribly failed to deliver on many promises that were never seen in the game. The night “No Man’s Sky” was released for PS4; I watched multiple streams on Twitch.tv about the game. It looked absolutely fine to me.
Since I was just watching only a few minutes of the game, my expectations for “No Man’s Sky” was positive for the moment. That Thursday night, almost three days after the PS4 release, I rushed home after work straight to my computer and started to download the game and waited in excitement for my chance to explore space. As a video game journalist enthusiast, I was excited to share my opinion of the game with my friends as soon as possible. The first few moments in “No Man’s Sky” had me hooked in and ready to play for hours on end. I was ready to navigate the stars and be able to fight other players in space and meet up with other people. For the first few hours I the game was introduced you to the core mechanics before letting you out and releasing more features further in in the game, but the problem was, that’s what I thought was to happen, but it never did. As I continued on to explore the vast universe of “No Man’s Sky” a sense of repetition quickly came over me. Upgrade your space ship, gather resources on the current planet you are on, scan the environment and new creatures that you discover and fly away in your space ship to repeat the same process. With what I felt was a variation of six different planets, you had the same resources and meet the same character-lacking aliens on these planets to make offers and purchase warp cores. Once you accomplish this task, you wake up in a new galaxy and do it all over again. This game felt more like a skeleton of what was promised and played out like an alpha version of the game than a full finished product. Within the three to four years building up to the release date, Hello Games made numerous promises about what their game could
deliver. There were a lot of people that did believe that the hype and expectations for the game were too high for the audience to expect, but the big problem is that the customers were lied to directly. While being told about the features that would appear in the game and not seeing them in the final product is a big problem, it’s another bigger problem showing gameplay footage of all of these features at events and shows and not seeing any of those things in the finished product. If you were to compare the screenshots and videos that were shown, you will notice a drastic difference from what you actually play. I have not come across any type of planet than what is shown from gameplay footage from Hello Games. On top of that, “No Man’s Sky” was poorly optimized for many computers out there. I read how thousands of players could not even open up the game. Most of these players met the required specification to play the game and were still not able to access “No Man’s Sky”. With a surprising 3.5GB file size, you wouldn’t expect this game to require much power from your computer. One of the major arguments of the game was the promise of being able to meet someone else playing “No Man’s Sky” in the game itself. A day or two after “No Man’s Sky” was released for
PS4, two Twitch streamers discovered that they have visited the same planet while playing the game. They both decided to agree and head back to that said planet and live stream their games at the same time in hopes of showing the gaming community what it is like to see someone else in-game. To their disappointment, they were not able to see each other at all. Even though they were on the same planet, they could not connect. One was showing day time and the other was in nighttime. During this experiment, they figured out that the multiplayer aspect of the game was all a lie from the creators. Having pre-ordered the game myself and looking forward to all of the great worlds, I would have rather just continued playing Pokémon Go than waste my time at my computer for an unfinished game. Luckily, I successfully refunded my game through Steam’s support system and was able to get my $59.99 back from Hello Games. While there are many gamers who are happy with “No Man’s Sky”, there is an overwhelming majority that found the game to be mediocre with average graphics and no story-like quality content to it. While “No Man’s Sky” may be a large game in itself, it has little to no great gameplay.
NICK WARD Staff Reporter
If you have been following Donald Trump’s campaign for the 2016 Presidential Election, you will notice a resurgence of a certain term. Whether it’s his wall or his Muslim immigration ban, there is always one word present: political correctness. Trump famously tweeted that “our country has become so politically correct that is has lost all sense of direction and purpose.” This attitude is the main appeal to his supporters who claim to hate political correctness. His supporters applaud him for not having a filter, saying what everybody has on their mind and not being afraid to upset detractors while doing it. Detractors, including
“If we really want to stop being overly politically correct, we should first realize what it actually means and limit usage strictly to its definition.” -Nick Ward
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Paws up to former Bearkat Dax Swanson on making the Dallas Cowboy’s roster!
Paws up to the Bearkats winning agaisnt Oklahoma Panhandle State 59-21!
“This game felt more like a skeleton of what was promised and played out like an alpha version of the game than a full finished product.” -Arturo Mosqueda
Losing Sense of Direction in Political Correctness myself believe that his crying of political correctness is just an excuse for him to make ignorant and prejudice comments that have no base in reality, but this is not an opinion piece about bashing Trump. This mentality has been present in conservative politics even before the more recent and extreme example of Trump. Conservatives including Ted Cruz, Ben Carson and Chris Christie have also caught on to this, and will constantly attack President Obama and liberals for being politically correct, or P.C. Their claim is that political correctness is a tool for oversensitive liberals to silence any opposition to their agenda. As someone who is considered a liberal, even I get annoyed when it feels like people get offended by something that doesn’t appear to be an issue. Everyone has had that point where they are annoyed by this. However, at the same time we have all been on the other side where we have all been offended by something that really wasn’t that big of a deal. And this is what constantly bothers me with the conversation on political correctness: we only seem to think liberals are guilty of being overly-P.C., but they are not. The actual definition of political correctness is
Paws Up
avoiding any language or actions that could be perceived as offensive to a group of people. The most basic example is using the term Native American instead of Indian due to the term being based on a historical error. This sounds easy enough, but it gets complicated. There is debate over how strict we should be on using Native American over Indian, and a sports team can be allowed to use an entire group of people as a mascot. A notable example was in 2014 at the University of South Carolina. Playwright, Leigh Hendrix was scheduled to perform her one-woman show, “How to Become a Lesbian in 10 Days” as part of the university’s Bodies of Knowledge symposium. However, the university was forced to cancel the show due to the pressure of Republican State Senators. Senator Lee Bright criticized the play calling it an “agenda of the left,” and saying “college should be about a wide variety of opinion, not just the agenda of the left.” Lawmakers also attacked the university for going against the values of the majority of South Carolinians and proposed to cut $17,142 as direct result of assigned reading text talking about coming out. Senator Kevin Bryant even vowed to slash more saying “If they’ve got the extra money sitting around to promote perversion, obviously they got more money than they need.” To summarize, the Senators are squashing the university’s budget because it goes against their own views and that I believe, is political correctness. Another recent example of PC includes San Francisco 49ers’ Quarterback, Colin Kaepernick refusing to stand during the national anthem in response to police brutality. As
you would expect, Kaepernick was the focus of scrutiny calling him unpatriotic and police departments threating to boycott 49ers games. However, when LGBT community had the same response to Chick-Fil-A’s anti-gay comments, the LGBT was criticized for their same response. Both Kaepernick and Chick-Fil-A had the right to express their viewpoints, and their critics also had the right to express the disapproval of their statement. However, the hypocrisy of anti-PC advocates is revealed when they attacked Chick-Fil-A’s boycotters as enemies of free speech while they defended the Kaepernick criticizers as exercising their right to criticize him. What’s made it even worse is that political correctness has no meaning anymore. Now, Republican politicians use it as a punch-line to rile up their supporters. This is the real problem with political correctness; it has now become a political buzzword that doesn’t mean anything. If we really want to stop being overly politically correct, we should first realize what it actually means and limit usage strictly to its definition. We need to realize in moderation, being P.C. is not bad. There’s nothing wrong with being considerate for other people’s feelings. We should also put into consideration that we cannot please everyone, but we should not use it as an excuse to say any stupid comment. We need to examine the reasoning behind why people are opposed to a certain statement instead of blowing them off as P.C. police. Investigate if the original statement they are opposed to is actually prejudice and ignorant. Finally, we need to realize everyone can get easily offended, and that we cannot limit it to one group.
Paws up to the Bearkat Mania event going on today!
Paws Down to Epipen price hike to $600 a package .
Paws Down to the Huntsville Hornets football team falling to China Springs 55-8.
Paws Down to the eastern gorilla now listied as critically endangered at the World Conservation Congress in Hawaii
Paws Down
9/7/2016 1:37:50 AM
The Houstonian | HoustonianOnline.com/sports | Wednesday, September 7, 2016 @HoustonianSport
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@HoustonianSport
Volleyball Schedule Altered by Construction RYAN REYNOLDS Sports Editor @Ryan_Reynolds9 Students and faculty are not the only ones at Sam Houston State University who are being affected by the heavy amount of construction this semester. The Bearkat volleyball program is majorly affected as well. Johnson Coliseum, where Bearkat volleyball home games were previously played, is still undergoing renovations that started on March 25. “I would say at this point the Johnson Coliseum renovation project is right on schedule,” Ed Chatal, associate director of facilities, said. “I do not think they are ahead of schedule, but they are not far behind. I think they are right on track. Hopefully we will have a date real soon where we can announce the first event.” The SHSU volleyball team is the primary victim to the construction project. Although, the end result will benefit fans and the entire athletic department, the team still faces an oddly scheduled season, which has them starting on the road for the first 13 games. “In years past we have always opened up with a tournament in Johnson Coliseum,” assistant coach Charlie Olson said. “It is not bad going on the road to play in an in-state tournament, but it would have been nice to open up at home. At the end of the day, this will only make us better and the renovations will be pretty sweet once it is all done.” Due to the construction, the
Bearkats have been practicing at the Rec Center. Coach Olson and the team see this as a benefit because of the way the building is structured.
Johnson Coliseum is getting numerous upgrades that will affect both fans and athletes. According to Chatal, the majority of the renovation budget was devoted
Morgan Phillips| The Houstonian
HIT THE ROAD KAT. The Bearkat volleyball team (4-3) was bested 3-1 on Tuesday night by the Texas State Bobcats (4-4). The team is currently on a 14-game road stretch and will continue play on Sept. 9 at the Rice
“Johnson Coliseum holds about 65 hundred people and it is very wide open,” Olson said. “The Rec Center is a lot more closed in, with a lot less room to maneuver. But it is a lot louder in there and I think that also mimics some of our Southland Conference opponents’ gyms. They are smaller, they are louder, so I think it actually puts us into a pretty good opportunity to get better.”
to installing new air handlers and other h-back components throughout the facility. “The original 40-year-old air handlers were replaced and new ones are being installed,” Chatal said. “The reason for it was to not only get more energy efficient, but it was also a way to help keep people more comfortable because we can now isolate when we need cold. It is much more modern
The Sam Houston State volleyball team took home the title of Tournament Champions at the Tulane Green Wave Classic last weekend. The weekend’s success was mainly due to Vaughn’s hard work and leadership on the court as she was named Tournament MVP. The junior posted 43 kills (3.58 per set) and 34 digs, thus, being named as The Houstonian’s Athlete of the Week for the second straight time.
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now Jet, walked into a good situation. Ryan Quigley, the Jets’ previous punter, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency, leaving the starting position vacant. All signs pointed to Edwards being the main guy, until the Jets made things interesting by signing fellow Aussie Tom Hackett, an undrafted rookie punter from the University of Utah. “Me and Tom are pretty good friends and we both knew that one of us was going to get cut eventually,” Edwards said. “We were going to settle it on the field, but we did not expect it to come so soon.” The short-lived position battle ended on just the first day of training camp. All offseason, quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Jets organization were in contract talks and they finally worked out a deal. Hackett was cut to make room for the superstar quarterback. “The NFL is a cutthroat business and the cut happened right in front of us,” Edwards said. “It is definitely not a fun thing to witness because a guy just lost his job, but the Jets showed that they had a lot of trust in me by doing that. I’m just happy to still be here.” Going into the preseason Edwards was the number one guy. He was getting all the reps at practice, special teams coaches started game planning with him in the lineup. As well he started building mentor-like relationships with veteran players, like kicker Nick Folk, who has been in the league for 10 years. “Since there was no veteran punter when I came in, it was sort of a blind leading a blind, so I did not really know what I should be doing at specific times on the schedule,” Edwards said. “I started following Folk around and tried to take in everything I could. He has taught me things such as, body maintenance and how I should be spending my time. I see him as
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revamped training room, a control room for the video board, as well as a new media room for postgame interviews. “The student athletes are going to get a big benefit out of the new training room,” Chatal said. “Athletes are going to be able to use both a thermal tub and a polar plunge and they are going to be adjacent from each other. The athletic programs will not have
to use makeshift cold tubs in the locker room anymore. It will all be in the training room.” Spectators will also have nicer seating options in the newly installed bleachers and a new concession area to choose from. A new maple hardwood court, with new court designs is also in the renovation plan. “Overall, any spectator coming through the door is going to benefit,” Chatal said. “They are going to feel more comfortable with the temperature and they will have the nicer seating options with the new bleachers. We are not sure what kind of food we are putting in the new concession area yet, but hopefully this area will have new menu choices for the fans.” The total cost of the Johnson Coliseum renovations is about 12.3 million dollars. At this time, there is no exact finish date. “We had a meeting the other day to try and narrow down when exactly everything would be complete,” Chatal said. “However, we were not successful. There are still too many uncertainties, not about the overall components going into the renovations, but just some uncertainties about when we can get some technological stuff up and running again. Right now we are expecting things to be finished around mid-semester.” The Sept. 20, Sept. 29 and Oct. 1 Bearkat volleyball home games have rescheduled the locations due to the construction. The team will play these three games in gym two at the Rec Center.
Players of the Week
JORDYN VAUGHN, VOLLEYBALL
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technology and it is going to save the university a lot of money in the long run.” Other big renovations include new lockers in the locker rooms, a
kind of like my mentor.” Edwards made his NFL preseason debut on Aug. 11 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Aussie punted the ball six times for a gross average of 42.2 yards per punt. His longest punt went for 50 yards and he pinned
JEREMIAH BRISCOE, QUARTERBACK
Briscoe showed people that he had the ability to take reigns of an offense last Saturday in the Bearkats 59-21 win over the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies. The junior transfer from UAB went 26-39, threw for 338 yards and scored four total touchdowns. Briscoe will look to branch off this performance when the team hits the field again on Sept. 17 against the Lamar Cardinals.
The Jump they have to embarrass themselves in front of the whole organization. Edwards found himself singing at a team meeting in front of his teammates and coaches. “At any given time a rookie could be told to go up and sing in front of the team, so I went up and sang one day,” Edwards said. “You kind of have to just go up there and get it over with cause if you just refused, you would get criticized. I just decided to get up there and get it out of the way.” Besides singing and making a fool of himself, Edwards really enjoys the Jets’ special teams coaches. He feels like he can learn a lot from Special Teams Coordinator Brant Boyer and Assistant Special Teams Coach Jeff Hammerschmidt. “The special teams coaches do a great job,” Edwards said. “Boyer and Hammer are down to earth and they are just good people. In the end, it is not all business with
them. We have a little bit of fun in the meeting room, talking about all sorts of stuff. I have enjoyed that.” The life-changing feeling that some players get when joining the NFL is not something that Edwards has felt yet. “My life has not really changed a whole lot since getting drafted and signing the contract,” Edwards said. “It is not like I am out buying 100 dollar steaks and stuff. I’m still living like I was in college. It is just a little easier now I guess.” The Jets’ preseason came to an end on Sept. 1. The real deal is about to start, the regular season. Edwards plans on taking his first season week by week. “I just plan on going with the flow and keeping my head on my shoulders,” Edwards said. “I am going to go out everyday and continue to do what I do. However, I would like to finish in the top-
half of the NFL in punting, just for job security. Other than that, I have not set any personal goals.” Edwards’ former team, the SHSU Bearkats notched their first win of the season on Sept. 3 in a 59-21 victory over the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies. Although he does not play for the Kats anymore, Edwards will continue to follow them and keep track of their season. “I will definitely be keeping up with them on ESPN3,” Edwards said. “I know how much potential they have. They have been on the cuff of a National Championship birth for five years now. Hopefully this year they can take it all the way and show people that Sam Houston is actually the powerhouse we think we are.” Edwards is set to make his regular season debut on Sept. 11 as the New York Jets take on the Cincinnati Bengals.
Photo provided by Lachlan Edwards
the Jaguars inside their own 20yard line twice. “The feeling of strapping on my helmet and walking out onto the field of MetLife Stadium was great,” Edwards said. “I was trying not to look around a whole lot when I first got out there, but on the defensive drives I would peep around a bit. When it was my time to go, I made sure that I was focusing on what I needed to do.” After the first couple of preseason games, Edwards started feeling comfortable with the professional game. “It is weird because I almost feel more pressure at practice than I do during the actual games,” Edwards said. “I pretty much have gotten rid of the rookie butterflies though, so that is good.” Fans of the award-winning HBO sports documentary series “Hard Knocks” are familiar with what rookies have to go through during preseason. They have to fight for their job, adjust to life in a new city, and most of the time,
9/7/2016 1:51:43 AM