The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University
Monday, 22 November 2021 | Volume 108 | Issue 3
Students Dedicated to Professional Journalism
“Thankful to be a Bearkat this holiday season.”
CAMPUS Addressing the hate we give Learning about the discrimination and hate crimes occurring within South Asia and our own communities Alexis Bushnell
Hate is the destructive power that can divide an entire group of people. The Center for Diversity and Intercultural Affairs (CDIA) presented “The Hate We Give,” to investigate discrimination and hate crimes occurring within our communities and South Asia on Nov. 18 in the LSC Theater. After viewing viral videos of acid attack survivors from India, marketing Director of CDIA Jessica Hernandez became interested in hosting the event. “I felt like it was a community that needed to be tapped into at Sam as I don’t see any events that represent the South Asian community,” Hernandez explained. “I wanted to do something to allow them to have their own space to speak on their experiences and bring an entirely new community together.” The goal of the event was seen through a series of interactive exercises, which was to connect and liberate students. At the start of the night, the audience was called to the front of the theater to form a line. Hernandez asked several questions on hateful and discriminatory experiences and asked students to step forward when they could identify with the question. “I gained a new
“I felt like it was a community that needed to be tapped into at Sam as I don’t see any events that represent the South Asian community.”
Photo courtesy of Alexis Bushnell
perspective because you don’t really talk about the things you have gone through and seeing that other people can relate in the way that you do is kind of cool,” an audience member said. However, it was the next activity that shattered the audience’s expectations. Everyone was handed a porcelain plate and instructed to write the stigmas, biases and trigger words society has burdened them. As students contemplated this activity, a PowerPoint display highlighted hate crimes endured by South Asians. According to the presentation, South Asian Ameri-
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cans Leading Together (SAALT) documented over 400 hate crimes against South Asians, including Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Middle Eastern and Arab Americans since 2015. After the event, the audience was invited to walk to the Yard in the middle of campus and break the plates to symbolize our collective abilities to free ourselves from hateful and derogatory terms, phrases and acts from our society. “This is a conversation that needs to continue to happen far beyond my graduation,” Hernandez added.
Holding the Calm: Hesha Abrams on tools for conflict resolution Katelynn Trout
Student Legal and Mediation Services hosted their ninth annual Conflict Resolution Month, aiming to equip Sam Houston Students with insights and tools to effectively resolve real-world disputes. Hesha Abrams, author of “Holding the Calm: The Secret to Resolving Conflict and Diffusing Tension,” was the speaker for the zoom event on Nov. 16. Attendees got to see the early copy of the book and get VIP insight into the behindthe-scenes of the book and how it came to be. Abrams’s book was written as a short narrative book on stories and guidance for conflict and what happens when it arises. Many stories about her own experiences with holding calm and realizing how to react in certain situations that can lead to conflict or anger. “I wrote this book as a love letter to our profession,” Abrams stated. “There are so many books out there that
don’t work they’re good in theory, they sound nice, they’re interesting, and I would read them and try the stuff and it wouldn’t work.” The event was held to talk about staying calm during conflict and situations that can lead to ill intentions or anger. Many people do not react correctly or do not know how, and Abrams wishes to help teach people calm ways to tackle their situations. Abrams spoke on all these topics, including aggressive reactions of others and how to properly react in conflict or provocation. Abrams gave many tips and tricks for dealing with such an outcome as anger. That was one of the many reasons why Abrams started compiling this book together, to one day answer real-world problems. Many of these issues just have not been answered in book style before. “Many people cannot get answers to the hard questions that come when dealing with conflict from peers and coworkers,” Abrams stated.
Photo courtesy of Afif Kusuma on Unsplash.com
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Expressive Activity & Diversity Equity & Inclusion take SHSU Students to Lunch Nicole Alford
Several students, faculty and staff were invited to register for an informative event the provided knowledge of policies and programs that promote the representation and participation of different groups that make up Sam Houston State University Sam Houston State University threw an Expressive Activity and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Student Luncheon on Nov. 17 from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. In the beginning, students were provided a thanksgiving lunch with turkey, mashed potatoes, green beans and an abundance of deserts as the presentation started for the event. “SHSU cannot ban all hate speech from our campus, we don’t condone it, it is not part of our values and it is protected speech,” Dean of Students Chelsea Smith said. “It’s our tradition of inquisitive diversity here and we want to know if it can work for all of the students too.” Hate speech and harassment were some of the hot
topics mentioned to get students educated on how to recognize and move forward with it as well as how to report it. The audience was urged that any form of hate speech and harassment needs to be reported. Due to the pandemic, many news rules and restrictions came into place that has changed the way campus and people perceive threats. The campus has provided students with places to express themselves individually or in groups. “We have identified four main areas on the main campus that allow you to all have expressive activity,” Smith said. “At the LSC yard, the Bearkat Plaza or mall area, Old Main pit and Farrington Pit.” Each of these areas allows students to do events, peaceful protests and activities on campus within guidelines of the law. To access these areas, you need to register for them at the LSC during school hours. They are free of charge for students, and the labor is relatively low. “We are here to
serve you, and it is your building after all,” Lowman Student Center Director Rob Webber said. “That’s the first place to start when you are wanting to exercise your right to counter-protest, maybe an issue you don’t agree with. We want to walk you through that process where you can express your rights in a way that doesn’t get you into trouble.” Throughout the discussion, student safety was repeated. Sometimes when visitors come to the campus and protest, this can cause problems throughout the university. The university wants students to responsibly end this with the campus staff, without violence. “We have to play by the rules and we’re enforcing that policy across the board, which sometimes makes us the bad guy, but it is to protect you all,” Webber said. “That’s why we created that policy, so that we’re ultimately protecting you and your rights and abilities to access the yard and do what you want out there.” This presentation guided students with the knowledge to stand up for themselves,
Photo courtesy of Nicole Alford
as well as provide people with gateways to protect and express their rights. “The university takes your education very seriously,” Smith said. “We want you to progress and overcome, so if anything has happened and interrupts your academic progress, we have people and programs you can go to.” To access reservations for the
campus, go to shsu.edu/dept/deanof-students/expressive-activity/
“We have to play by the rules and we’re enforcing that policy across the board, which sometimes makes us the bad guy, but it is to protect you all.”
Academic Success Center on how to prepare for finals Alexis Bushnell
With finals week approaching, students across campus can find themselves melting in the pressures of not only passing but maintaining a healthy schedule in the process. Sam Houston State Universities Academic Success Center offers a remedy to help ease some of the unwanted stress. Before feeling the need to start fueling up on coffee and overloading one’s brain with every lecture slide and chapter, get familiar with when and where one needs to be during an exam. “Students should know their exam schedules because it’s imporwww.houstoniannews.com
tant to make sure that they are on time and have the correct dates for their exams,” Academic Success Center Director Dr. Ted Stuberfield said. There are a multitude of ways to consume material and avoid feeling overwhelmed. Some instructors host sessions for students to ask questions to gain a better understanding of the course material. The most highly esteemed study resource for SHSU students is the Academic Success Center. They offer assistance and tips in nearly every subject. The center is run by peer mentors and experts to provide students with a comfortable and beneficial learning experience.
“Here at the ASC, we have peer mentoring and tutoring for many of the subjects that students would be preparing for,” Stuberfield explained. Some subjects include writing, foreign languages (French, Spanish, or ASL), STEM, mathematics, business and sciences. There are also writing review resources available to all disciplines. Students can schedule appointments to receive 30 or 60-minute sessions. The ASC also offers walkin appointments and supplemental instruction for students. For some students, cramming can be their go-to for last-minute studying. Stuberfield warns stu-
dents against procrastinating and encourages planning early before the test date. “Planning allows the student to master and manage study time,” Stuberfield stated. But do not forget that positive results only come from a healthy mind. The brain is a muscle that requires adequate rest. As the end of the semester approaches, students must remember to not only take care of their grades, but themselves as well. “Practice self-care, relax and take a break from studying sometimes because it is key in preparation and confidence before an exam,” Stuberfield explained. 22 November 2021 | Houstonian News | 03
COMMUNITY Bats at Walls Unit may soon find new roost With talk about demolishing the warehouse many bats call home, the impact on the ecosystem may be huge Haylei Savage
Thousands of Mexican-free tailed bats have made Huntsville, Texas’ criminal justice building known as the Walls Unit their resting stop during their annual migration to Mexico. The Mexican freetailed bats, also called the Brazilian free-tailed bats, are a protected species that are found in Texas. The Texas Criminal Justice Department officials plan to knock down the Walls Unit warehouse is complicated by moving the bats there to a new location. Megan Radke, who works at the Press Office for the Texas Parks and Wildlife, explained in an email that the bat houses next to the warehouse will be kept in place. It is vital for the bat population to be housed in suitable habitats like the warehouse before it is de-
Photo courtesy of Gavin Guinther
molished at any future date. When winter temperatures get too cold, like the Texas freeze back in February, many bats such as the Mexican free-tailed bats were found deceased. Across the state, residents, biologists and park employees have discovered
Como La Flor: Tejano concert withers away Jacob Courtney
Musician Fernando “Nando” Dominguez III and executive director of H.E.A.R.T.S. Tara Burnett produced the first Huntsville, Texas Tejano concert and car show on Nov. 13 at the Walker County Fairgrounds. While the car show was free to attend, the concert charged $40 a ticket with funds going to the H.E.A.R.T.S. Veterans Museum. “We want to bring the Latino community to Tejano, to Cumbia, to a fusion of different types of
music,” Dominguez said about the concert’s intentions. Tejano music is a type of music that originated in the Latino community in Texas taking many influences. “It is American music, American like me and you,” Tejano musician Eric Xian “X” Jimenez said. Jimenez was part of the musicians that came of age in the golden era of Tejano which was during the 1980’s and 1990’s. Acts like, La Fiebre and Selena drew crowds of thousands, and had its own Gram-
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bats under bridges and live bats suffering from dehydration, starvation and low body temperatures, according to the Wildlife Society. These bats need to shelter in a roost of 45 F or higher, with the warmer fall climate and protecmy category until 2011. Due to a larger music market and variety of other factors, the Tejano genre declined in popularity and lost play on most radio stations but remaining locally popular , according to KSAT 12. The event itself had its own issues. The Tejas Lowrider Movement did not deliver many of the cars for the pre-concert show and auction Attendance of the concert,was low. There was less than 10 general audience members who showed up to hear the musicians perform their music “It isn’t a rebellious music, it isn’t one that separates from the previous or following generation,” Jimenez said. “It has always been the music to bring people together.
tion from the elements in the warehouse means the bats thrived. The bats are essential to the local ecosystem thanks mainly to their diet. “They are insect eating bats” director of the Bracken Cave Persevere Fran Hutchins said about the
creatures. “That colony eats thousands of pounds of bugs a night.” The big debate between Texas Park and Wildlife and the prison is will the bat houses stay or be removed. “The bat houses could be retrofitted and lined with certain product usage to make it more to make it more sustainable for the bats to live in,” Austin Bat Refuge rehabilitator Lee McKenzie said. If these bat houses get removed it causes the bats to relocate to other non-vacant buildings or even to schools. There are many options to resolve this issue without stressing out the bats “In early November, TPWD, TDCJ and Texas Department of Health staff will meet again to discuss the possible actions that can be taken to find the best solution for the bats and the surrounding community,” Radke wrote.
Photo courtesy of Jacob Courtney
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Arbors ignores water safety concerns by student couple tenants For months the Arbors at Sam Houston management are inert against a potential health hazard Jacob Courtney
The water had gone out once again and there was the usual no warning from the Arbors of Sam Houston apartments management. This was just something Arbor’s residents Alison Turk and Kie Hankins had become used to. After the water comes on Turk goes to do the dishes, a part of the routine she and her fiancée Hankins had made a part of their lives. Yet the water came out in a spurt and then a steady flow she noticed something was wrong. “I couldn’t clean the dishes; I was like: ‘Where was this stuff coming from,” Turk said. “I realized it was coming from the faucet.” Black particles about the size of a grain of sand had become mixed with their water supply. The couple would not have an easy fix and did not expect how the particles would affect their lives and how Arbors’ apartments management would ignore the issue for weeks from Sept. 22 till now. Turk and Hankins had chosen the apartments in a hurry. They were faced with homelessness in days . “We had a five-hour window to find a place,” Hankins said. The Arbors apartments provided a solution they needed in late March of this year. The Arbors management allowed the couple to move in a day early to avoid being out on the street. “Our unit wasn’t in the same condition as the model unit,” Turk said. “But that really wasn’t a big deal to us.” Public Works director Brent Sherrod described that the Arbors’
“Probably two to three, maybe
four hours a week since this thing started either in their office trying to get ahold of people, emailing [and] calling.” www.houstoniannews.com
Photo courtesy of Alison Turk and Kie Hankins
THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE WATER: Kie Hankins and Alison Turk show the sediment that collected in a white bowl after running water from the kitchen sink soon after discovering the concerning flecks. The couple took many photographs and videos of the varying amounts of sediments that showed whenver they turned on the hot water.
water had been having problems ever since the winter storm earlier this year. The couple had not noticed anything wrong with water until Sept. 22 and contacted the office of Arbors apartments management the next day. A maintenance man was sent to look at their water. He did notice there was a problem but there was nothing he could do. Turk and Hankins had to wait five days to call the office again. Not getting results from the Arbors a few weeks later they contacted the water department of
the city of Huntsville, Texas who confirmed that the water particles were coming from the apartment and not the city. This was confirmed by a telephone conversation with Sherrod. After there was no progress, they sent a request-to-repair letter to the management, which requires the landlord to solve any potential health hazards within seven days. The apartment’s leasing consultant thought the mail was for the tenants. They were able to gather water samples for the apartment assistant manager. According to the
couple, the assistant manager had told them to use the dirty water. “She was totally rude and lied to us,” Hankins said. This began the multiple times Turk and Hankins had to contact the office, only to have the managers and office workers cancel at the last moment. “Probably two to three, maybe four hours a week since this thing started either in their office trying to get ahold of people, emailing [and] calling,” Turk said. They eventually got their own test for $500 dollars. While the bacteria test is negative the heavy metals test has yet to come in.
Now there is a new routine for Turk and Hankins, now married. Every weekend they head to Houston to Turk’s parents to do laundry and gather gallons of water for the week. They still shower in the water but avoid their faces. “It has taken a lot of our time that we don’t have right now,” Hankins said. On Wednesday the Arbors apartments management installed a Brita filter on their kitchen sink. They use it for dishes but still will not drink the water. The Arbors at Sam Houston management did not comment at this time.
22 November 2021 | Houstonian News | 05
OPINIONS Less dependance on fossil fuels is needed to save our planet As we risk rising ocean levels, more is at stake if we continue to ignore the climate issue Michael Garcia
“The Paris Agreement” signed six years ago might not be enough to protect our environment, and
nations need to take addressing the issue of climate change seriously. Small island nations are among the most vulnerable to the effects
Photo courtesy of Mika Baumeisterat on unsplash.com
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of climate change. Not only this, rising ocean levels may lead to some of the islands being completely wiped out. “Displacements of populations and destruction of
cultural language and tradition is equivalent in our minds to genocide,” former foreign minister of the Marshall Islands Tony DeBrum said. That was in 2015, when the nations of the world were meeting in Paris to prevent such a displacement from happening. Their plan was simple: if they could limit global warming to just 1.5 C, they could save some 50 million people from having their homes washed off the face of the Earth. That was the goal of “The Paris Agreement” and they decided to meet again every year until it was done. This year’s meeting “The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference” better known as COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland. It has been six years since Paris and the goal of 1.5 C seems just as far away as in 2015. The measures adopted since Paris are not enough to keep the climate at or under 1.5 C, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It is not only a matter of reducing carbon emissions, but the real problem is also the planned production of more fossil fuels. There needs to be an understanding that there is a set limit of carbon dioxide that can be put into the atmosphere, if the island nations of the world are to survive. The climate accords in Scotland ended last week and the end results are not exactly drastic. The 200 nations have agreed to continue to push for 1.5 C, but it may not be enough if our dependency on fossil fuels does not make a drastic change. “1.5 C is what we need to survive, 2 C, is a death sentence and we don’t want that dreaded death sentence,” Barbados Island prime minister Mia Mottley said.
Rodgers debacle shows flaw in NFL COVID system Jordan Lockey
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was caught lying to the NFL, his teammates and his fans about being vaccinated for COVID-19. Rodgers caught COVID-19 while claiming to be vaccinated. During a press conference in August, Rodgers stated he was immunized in response to questions about being vaccinated. This was Rodgers working to avoid the NFL’s steep protocols for unvaccinated players. Those who are unvaccinated must wear masks during press conferences, workout alone, may not use the sauna, eat with their fellow teammates and must wear a yellow wristband to identify that they are not vaccinated. Due to the false beliefs that the Packers quarterback was perceived to be vaccinated, he continued to do all the things the NFL protocols restricted for him. Despite the strict standards the NFL has, there is still no excuse for what Rodgers did. Yes, he did not technically lie, but he withheld information, which ended up putting his team into a tricky situation. Not being able to play for a week also set this team up for failure without their quarterback to lead them. The NFL must take verifying vaccination statuses of players seriously for player and community safety, especially with other cases coming out, such as Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Brown supposedly using a fake vaccination card. While being vaccinated is a personal preference, it is not appropriate to lie for your own personal gain. This decision to be deceitful to the media, his teammates and the league was selfish of Rodgers to do. www.houstoniannews.com
Surviving the holidays as a new family Justin Hardcastle
Photo courtesy of Tyler Delgado on unsplash.com
The holiday season can provide a lot of challenges for new parents as they navigate trying to balance their old traditions with having their new parental responsibilities. Things like travel, routine and activities are all things new parents will need to consider. Thanksgiving and Christmas are a lot for even a single person, new parents have to figure out what travel plans work best for their new child, and they must try to figure out what all they can do with their new baby and what activities need to be modified. Flying and traveling with a new baby for the first time can be very scary and challenging for new par-
ents. It is very important to realize that there are ways to help your child cope with this new experience, a good tip is to make sure you are feeding your baby during takeoff and landing. This can ensure that your babies’ ears do not pop and cause them pain. Once you get to your destination, keeping your child in their routine can be hard. Family might not realize how loud they are and wake your baby while you are trying to get them to sleep. And if you have changed time zones, bedtime might be affected the first couple of days. One way to help is to make your new baby’s setup as similar to at home as possible, if you have white noise machine at home,
bring one for the holidays. If you have a nightlight for your child, bring it along. And they tour best to keep their sleep routine as close to at home as possible. Activities with children are a lot different than when you are childless. The night before thanksgiving may have consisted of going out on a bar crawl in the past and probably way too much alcohol consumption in general. Being a new parent certainly does not mean the fun ends, it simply means you and your partner need to get a little more creative with how you have fun on the holidays. Communicate this with each other and you and your new family will have a great time.
Supply chain shortage: ‘I’m sorry we are currently out of that item’ Jordan Lockey
We have all heard it over the past year the infamous line that “we are currently out of that item.” The list of items slowly being added to the list of unavailability has grown affecting household products, food supply and restaurant utensils. The supply chain works as a system involving people, organizations, activities and information working to produce supplies and services to the greater food. Since the early stages of COVID-19, restaurants everywhere have struggled with shortages in supplies such as to-go cups, straws, napkins, ketchup and even their most popular menu items. This has caused frustration in everyone, customers and employees alike. During the height of the pandemic, take-out options were in high demand as people no longer went out to eat but ate at home. To-go product supplies became scarce as they could not www.houstoniannews.com
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compete with the growing demand. Among these challenges, the shipping supply chain became limited, while some completely shut down. With these supply and shipping issues, restaurants have had to
come creative to keep their guests happy. Some managers will send their employees with the company credit card to bulk stores like Sam’s Club or Costco to purchase items they seem to be short on. Unfortunately, not everyone is understanding of this and often
get upset with employees who can do absolutely nothing about these shortages. They are not deserving of the snarky comments, aggressive tones and fewer tips due to something they cannot control. These shortages are just as frustrating to restaurant staff as it is
for customers. So next time you get takeout from your favorite restaurant chain and they give you a smaller drink cup or different colored straw, please be patient and respectful as they are doing the best they can with what they are given.
22 November 2021 | Houstonian News | 07
ARTS & ENT. GTA Triology remake bringing in mixed reviews The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto remakes came with expecations that were failed to be met by many Erich Cater
The “Grand Theft Auto” series is a long-lasting series full of memories that will always have a special place in the minds of almost every gamer. From its iconic protagonists and other characters met along the way, memorable storylines and adult humor. Developed by Rockstar North, “Grand Theft Auto” could be a series that generation after generation of gamers will play. Below is the list of the “Grand Theft Auto” universe. The story mode of the game allows players to take on the role of a criminal in a free-play format. The setting of each game takes place in a fictitious large city in the
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United States and small remote towns in the desert. The missions are given to players by characters met within the game to complete the storyline. “GTA V”
online mode is the most popular model in the series so far. Heists provide a co-op shooter that requires teamwork, integration of characters from the main story in
GTA and Rockstar North regularly adding updates with fresh content and events for their players. After years of anticipation, “Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy –
The Definitive Edition” was released on Nov. 11, with many GTA fans having mixed reactions. With “Grand Theft Auto” having a long line of successful game releases many anticipated the remake, “Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition” would have a mixture of the old story mode and new graphics. However, the game was packed in with old graphics and barely any new concept other than the repackage of the original game. Although fans have mixed reactions to “Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition,” fans still await for an official launch date for the long awatied Grand Theft Auto VI.
Obi-wan Kenobi gets Disney+ spinoff Lola Stewart-Morris
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“The force will always be with you. Always.” The iconic line comes from one of the leading Jedi Knights, Obi-Wan Kenobi. And you’ll be seeing more of him in the new Disney+ limited series, “ObiWan Kenobi.” The six-episode project previewed a sneak peek on Disney+ Day, Friday, Nov. 12, showing concept art of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader interlocked in a lightsaber battle. “We couldn’t tell the story of Obi-Wan Kenobi without addressing Anakin or Vader,” Director of the series Deborah Chow said. The story begins 10 years after “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of
the Sith,” which apprises Kenobi witnessing the corruption of his best friend and apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, as the young Jedi turned into Darth Vader. While no live-action footage has been shown, the behind-thescenes footage of Vader actor Hayden Christensen reprising his role as the wicked Sith Lord Darth Vader has fans excited. “There’s a hunger for this character to come back,” Obi-Wan actor Ewan McGregor in the Disney+ Day video said. “The fans have been waiting long enough, you know?” At the Disney fan convention D23, the series was confirmed by Lucasfilm’s president Kathleen Kennedy, according to Yahoo News. Contributing to the excitement,
the program will feature established Star Wars actors. Joel Edgerton will reprise his role as Owen Lars. Moses Ingram, Bonnie Piesse, Kumail Nanjiani, O’Shea Jackson Jr. and many more will grace the presence of the Star Wars series in 2022. However, neither James Earl Jones, Scott Lawrence or Matt Sloan have been announced as returning as they are known as the original voices of Vader in the animated and video game renditions. An official release date has yet to be set, as it is suspected to grace the Disney+ streaming service in 2022. For now, fans are patiently waiting to see Obi-Wan Kenobi in action once again. www.houstoniannews.com
The outstanding Legacy of Ronnie Wilson Lola Stewart-Morris
Ronnie Wilson, founder and member of the R&B legendary group “The GAP Band,” has died at the age of 73. Born in 1948 to a Pentecostal preacher father and music teacher mother, Ronnie Wilson is the oldest one of the three Wilson brothers, with his brothers Robert and Charlie following behind him. Ronnie was known for being a multi-instrumentalist, being well versed in instruments such as the trumpet, keyboard and flugelhorn. The Wilson brothers began singing in the church and later went on to form “The GAP Band,” in 1967. Charlie Wilson was the youngest brother, and the lead singer, while Ronnie and Robert were also
singers and songwriters. The band name GAP comes from three streets in their hometown in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Greenwood, Archer and Pine Street. The streets are significant due to them being named after the Black Wall Street destroyed in the 1921 Tulsa Race Riots. The brothers rose to fame in the 1970s and 1980s, opening for major artists such as The Rolling Stones and Willie Nelson. While continuing to rise to fame, “The GAP Band” went on to record nine albums, four of which went platinum Songs such as, “You Dropped A Bomb on Me,” “Yearning for Your Love” and “Burn Rubber on Me” have sung their way into many households across America for over 40 years. Meanwhile, their biggest hit, “Outstanding” remains one of the
Photo courtesy of theguardian.com
most sampled songs in history, used by over 150 artists including Usher, Madonna and Tina Turner. After Charlie Wilson, the lead singer went solo in the 1990s, the band reunited in 1996 to record one of their last albums, “The Gap
Band: Live and Well,” a live greatest hits album. On Tuesday, Nov. 2, Ronnie’s wife, Linda Boulware-Wilson confirmed his passing via Facebook, “The love of my life was called home this morning at 10:01 AM.”
Ronnie Wilson died at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He suffered a stroke the week before his passing and never recovered from a semicoma. Rest well Mr. Ronnie Wilson, you were more than, “Outstanding.”
Disney’s newest family story ‘Encanto’ rolls into theaters this holiday Lola Stewart-Morris
Photo courtesy of indiewire.com
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As Disney continues to tell the animated stories of all cultures around the world, their new movie “Encanto” is the most recent installment of these tales. “Encanto”, tells the story of the Madrigals family who live in a little hidden town set in the mountains of Columbia, called Encanto. Each member of the family has a special power that makes them unique, except for Mirabel, the protagonist. As the movie progresses, their house creates a new door for them each to open to unlock powers that they use to help their community. When Mirabel begins to sense that their community may be in trouble, she takes it upon herself to solve the hidden mysteries. Every quest leads back to family, which plays a major role in the development of this movie as a whole. The 60th animation feature pro-
duced by Disney keeps the musical and visual aesthetic of its predecessors. The script was written by Charise Castro Smith and Jared Bush, directed also by Bush along with Byron Howard. Along with the musical stylings of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Germaine Franco to encapsulate the Disney animation feel. The music is fun yet also serves as a key component to the storytelling. Disney is keeping the trend, created by “Frozen,” of heroines who save the day without the help of a love interest. It is a captivating story of courage and family without the need for a romance of the damsel being saved. The reviews so far for “Encanto” have all been great, with great anticipation for a Thanksgiving release. Disney fans have faith that the movie will be a hit and the reviews agree. Encanto will be coming to theatres on Nov. 24 and will be released to Disney+ in December.
22 November 2021 | Houstonian News | 09
SPORTS Football earns No. 1 seed ahead of FCS playoff run The Bearkats were awarded with the No. 1 seed for the FCS playoffs for just the second time in program history Trey Burnett
Photo courtesy of Brisenia Flores
Photo courtesy of Brisenia Flores
Photo courtesy of Brisenia Flores
10 | Houstonian News | 22 November 2021
The NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs are fast approaching and the Sam Houston Bearkats are preparing for their second straight playoff run. On Sunday, the Bearkats were announced as the No. 1 overall seed in the playoff field for just the second time in school history. After finishing 10-0 and being the reigning national champions, they expected nothing less. This news means that the Bearkats could play at Bowers stadium all the way through the semi-finals, having the higher seed no matter who they take on. They will take on the winner between one former Southland Conference foe and another that they played this season already. Rival school Stephen F. Austin University and University of the Incarnate Word are set to play in the first round of the playoffs on Nov. 27. The winner of the two
will take on the Kats at Bowers Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. The Bearkats are coming off a regular season ending 35-9 win over Abilene Christian University. They dominated much of the game and got to rest starters beginning midway through the third quarter. Although the Bearkats came away with the victory, they sustained numerous injuries; most notably junior defensive back Isaiah Downes being out for the year. Other defensive backs have had some minor injuries that have led to them missing games, but the team is hoping the bye week will aid in getting them back on the field. All the starters from the 2020 national championship are getting another run at it. This veteran laden squad is built for success with a run game that can run at everyone with the downhill style of junior running back Ramon Jefferson and the change of pace back sophomore Noah Smith. Junior quarterback Eric Schmid can still sling the ball around and has many options at his disposal such as wide receivers sophomore Ife Adeyi, as well as graduates Jequez Ezzard and Cody Chrest. The offensive and defensive lines are playing at high levels, and the linebackers are still patrolling the field with junior linebacker and defensive captain Trevor Williams leading the charge. Sam Houston was barely able to escape the SFA Lumberjacks in their first tilt this season, winning
21-20 at NRG Stadium after sophomore quarterback Keegan Shoemaker had to step in for Schmid to start the game. The Lumberjacks have a very solid defense that was able to limit what the Bearkats wanted to do for most of the game. They also have one of the best wide receivers in the country in sophomore Xavier Gipson who finished the regular season with 1266 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. If the Lumberjacks were to advance, it would be the first Battle of the Piney Woods not at NRG Stadium since 2009 when the two teams played in Nacogdoches, Texas and the Lumberjacks won. Incarnate Word poses a different threat altogether with sophomore quarterback Cameron Ward leading their high-powered air raid style offense. Ward was the 2021 Jerry Rice Award winner and has thrown for 3839 yards and 38 touchdowns this season alone. The Bearkats have a bit of a weakness in the secondary, so this matchup could potentially pose some problems. The teams met last in the 2020 spring season in San Antonio where Sam Houston won handily, 42-14. The other seeds on the Bearkats side of the bracket include No. 8 Montana State, No. 5 Villanova University and No. 4 Sacramento State University. If the Kats advance to the quarterfinals, they could have a potential matchup with Montana State who finished the season with a 9-2 record. If all else goes according to who is seeded higher, the Kats would face off with Sacramento State in the semi-finals. www.houstoniannews.com
Women’s basketball stays perfect at home in victory over Hartford Allison Rollins
The Sam Houston women’s basketball team won 88-65 in the game against the Hartford University Hawks. With the win, the Bearkats stay undefeated at home to begin their season with three total wins. The Bearkats held the lead the entire game and kept a strong lead against the Hawks. The second quarter of the game would be the most competitive as both teams would score 14, but the Bearkats pulled ahead in the third quarter and kept the lead to the end of the game. Sophomore forward Kaylee Jefferson and junior forward Madelyn Batista led the way as each player would end the game with a double-double. Jefferson ended the game with 20 points and 11 rebounds in the game, while Batista had 14 points and 12 rebounds to complement her teammates’ performance. Senior forward Courtney Cleveland, junior guard Damaya Telemaque and senior
Photo courtesy of Brisenia Flores
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guard Faith Cook all finished with double-digit points on the game. Jefferson’s field goal percentage was the highest in the game for her team as she shot 8-13 on the night as well as being perfect from the free-throw line. Cook would score nine of her 17 points from behind the 3-point line. Both teams battled for control of the ball and made each other work for the points they earned. The Bearkats worked together very well and helped each other to score as the team ended with 10 total assists on the game. Sam Houston’s defense also came up big in the game with 18 steals in the game, 10 more than Hartford. Cleveland led the way with six steals in the game. The Bearkats will go on the road for their next matchup as they will travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas. They will take on the Arkansas University Razorbacks and try to achieve their first road victory of the season.
Photo courtesy of Brisenia Flores
Volleyball falls in first WAC semi-finals Scott Morris
After winning the regular season title in their inaugural Western Athletic Conference (WAC) season, the Sam Houston Bearkats volleyball team fell at the hands of Grand Canyon University (GCU) in the conference tournament 3-0. The Bearkats went into the conference tournament having won six of their last seven matchups, including defeating rival school Stephen F. Austin University 3-1 in their final regular season game. They finished the season overall 18-9 with a 10-3 conference record. Along with this, the Bearkats went a perfect 9-0 at home. In the first round of the conference tournament, Sam Houston took care of business defeating the Abilene Christian Wildcats 3-0 to open up the tournament. Sophomore outside hitter Catherine Krieger led the way with 13
kills on the match hitting a .520 on the game. She was followed closely by senior outside hitter Ashley Lewis who finished the game with 12 kills. They were the only two Bearkats to finish with double-digit kills. Freshman libero Hannah Baker continued her excellent second season with the Bearkats as she led the team with 15 digs. All three sets were a lot of back and forth as the Bearkats won the first and third set 25-19. They won the second set by an even closer score of 25-20. This victory granted the Bearkats a semi-finals birth against GCU. In their only regular season game against the Antelopes, the Bearkats were swept in Phoenix during the WAC Weekend. Outside of the first set, which ended 31-29, the Bearkats were only able to score 16 points in the next two sets. In this matchup
against the Antelopes, the Bearkats were met with a similar fate, being swept. The Bearkats were able to fight harder in this matchup but still failed to register more than 21 points in any of the three sets. No Bearkats were able to make it to double-digit kills. Lewis and Krieger led the way once again, with each one registering nine kills a-piece. Baker was the only player with double-digit digs with 13 throughout the three sets. The Bearkats were most competitive in the second set of the match as they fought neck-andneck with GCU being tied 20-20 towards the end of the set. The Antelopes were able to pull away scoring five of the last six points to take a 25-21 set victory. he Bearkats will look to comeback next season to reclaim their regular season title in their second season of playing in the WAC.
22 November 2021 | Houstonian News | 11
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