Monday, May 3, 2020
The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University
Students Dedicated to Professional Journalism Volume 108 | Issue 3
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Bye, bye Bison: Football moves on to FCS semifinals BY SCOTT MORRIS Sports Editor The Sam Houston Bearkats came away with another narrow victory in the FCS playoffs against football rival North Dakota State University Bison. With the win, the Bearkats now move onto the semifinals round. The Bearkats have had a long history against the Bison as the two foes have commonly faced each other in the playoffs. The Bison were undefeated in the playoffs against the Bearkats coming into today with a 4-0 record. In their last matchup in 2017, the Bison defeated the Bearkats in crushing fashion with a 55-13 victory. Not only this, North Dakota State defeated the Bearkats in 2011 and 2012 in the FCS championship and have won the FCS championships every year since 2011 besides 2016. This was the first playoff victory over the Bison for Sam Houston. The Bearkats struck first just as they did last week with a field goal just seven minutes into the game. The score was set up by redshirt junior defensive end Markel Perry forcing a fumble on the Bison’s opening drive, which was recovered by senior defensive back Jaylen Thomas. “I think there is so much confidence when you make those plays,” head coach K.C. Keeler said. “You know that’s the same thing last week we had to make a play at the end of the game.
The last defensive play of the game, we had to make a play and I think all those experiences led us to this experience that we can make that play.” Sam Houston’s defense would come up huge once again in the first quarter as game one hero junior cornerback Isaiah Downes would get his second interception of the postseason. This interception would set up the first touchdown of the game. Junior running back and second-team all-Southland Conference player Ramon Jefferson scored a one-yard rushing touchdown to give the Bearkats a 10-0 lead by the end of the first quarter. “Ramon Jefferson is just a beast,” Keeler said after the game. “And when you have a healthy Eric Schmid you have a chance against anyone you play.” The second quarter of the game would be a boring one compared to the final two, as the only score in that period would be a safety for the Bison after a blocked punt. This would not be the first mistake from the special teams unit of Sam Houston. The first half of the game would end with a missed 52-yard field goal from North Dakota State. The Bearkats would come out in the second half with a bang as they would drive down the field and score on their opening possession when sophomore running back Noah Smith would score on a 23-yard pass over the middle of the field outrunning the Bison defense. “He [offensive coordinator Ryan Carty] told me, I was deeply into the
Photo courtesy of Leila De La Cruz
game plan, so I was preparing myself all throughout the week,” Smith said. With all the momentum in the Bearkats favor, they would throw it all out the window by giving up a kick-off return touchdown just seconds after Smith’s score. Not only that, the Bearkats offense would go three-and-out and give up a touchdown on the ensuing punt return. The Bison would convert the twopoint conversion and tie the game at 17. To start the fourth quarter, the Bison would take their first lead of the game after a long drive that would lead to a field goal. The following drive would be the best offensive charge the Bearkats had all day. Junior quarterback Eric Schmid would lead his team down into the red zone after a huge third-and-ten play where he would connect with sophomore wide receiver Ife Adeyi on a 47-
yard completion that would put the Bearkats at the five-yard line. Schmid would finish the drive himself with a rushing touchdown, showing his duality of passing and running. “We have that with Eric,” Keeler said. “He can throw the ball so well on the run, he really can create so many plays.” On the final drive of the game, the Bearkats defense would be put to the test. The Bison were able to take the ball all the way down to the red zone with under a minute to go. On third-and-two, the Bison freshman quarterback Cam Miller would fumble the ball and recover it himself to set up a fourth-and-six. The Bearkats defense would bring the pressure and force an incompletion on fourth down to secure their victory. The Bearkats will take on James Madison University next Saturday at Bowers Stadium in the FCS semifinals.
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CAMPUS NEWS
SHSU offers valuable resources for graduating seniors BY PRACHI VASHISHT Contributing Reporter
Photo courtesy of Leila De La Cruz
Sam Houston State University provides on-campus resources through the Student Money Management Center, Career Services and the SHSU Student Alumni
Association for undergrads and graduating seniors to easily transition from an academic life to the “real world.” Career Services offers occupational assistance for students discovering a potential career path. “The biggest thing that we are here to do provide support and reassurance that as you enter the workforce, you don’t have to tackle this alone.” career services assistant director Vinessa Mundorff said. Being financially prepared is one of the most important things a Bearkat approaching graduation should consider. The Student Money Management Center provides student loan exit counseling, loan repayment plan, and budgeting. “Every graduating student receives a
complimentary one-year membership into the Alumni Association,” alumni relations associate director of marketing and membership Donna Gilbert said. “With the membership, they receive a monthly newsletter that has many networking opportunities.” Several students at SHSU have already used these services during their academic life to unlock better opportunities for themselves and their peers even before graduation. “I have used the Career Services as a requirement for my classes as well as on my personal accounts,” senior health science major Tessy Agbeyei said.” For my pre-internship class, we had to do mock interviews to help prepare us for
interviewing with potential employers for our internships, which is a degree requirement for my major.” With access to several resources on campus, many graduating students have all the tools they need to succeed after graduation. “I have used SHSU’s Academic success center, Career Services, counseling center and legal service, just to name a few and I was extremely satisfied using these services,” doctorate literacy major Pimrawee Ruengwatthakee said. “Staff are professional, nice and supportive.” As graduation approaches, it is important that graduating Bearkats utilize these valuable resources to best set themselves up for success after graduation.
How glitter in graduation photos hurt our campus BY JOVANNA AGUILAR Contributing Reporter As seniors begin celebrating graduation, many use props such as glitter and confetti to enhance graduation photos. While glitter may be sparkly and fun, all forms of plastic are harmful to the environment and can take an eternity to clean up, causing a lot of unnecessary work for Sam Houston State University landscaping services. Assistant director of landscape and campus services, Evan Anderson, warns students about the harm that glitter can cause. “When you put plastic out into the environment, especially small plastic, it will never go away,” Anderson said. “That plastic will be in the ground for thousands of years.” Anderson adds that animals such as birds and ducks have been found dead on campus as a result of the plastic consumed. Although the landscape depart-
Photo courtesy of Jacob Hodges
ment is in charge of cleaning glitter and plastic on campus, once the glitter gets in the landscape and in between cracks, they are unable to fully get it out. Anderson adds that more people should look into using filters or photoshop to enhance their photos, rather than using glitter outdoors where it
becomes a hazard to the environment. Senior mass communication major Danielle Garza plans on taking her graduation photos on campus but will not be using glitter. “I have never really been a fan of it. I do think that glitter is harmful because it is made with plastic that can hurt the
environment,” Garza said. “I think students should use other options like biodegradable glitter or rose petals to prevent harm to the campus as well as the environment.” While biodegradable alternatives for glitter exist, microplastics forming glitter can take centuries to biodegrade. According to Today Glitter, some glitter that claims to be eco-friendly such as compostable glitter does not biodegrade in nature. Biodegradable glitter that can be trusted should biodegrade 90% or more and should pass the freshwater test that indicates glitter will biodegrade in nature. The SHSU marketing department has a website that explains the harm caused by littering on campus. According to the website, some economically friendly alternatives for glitter are rose petals or leaves, biodegradable eco-glitter, photoshop overlays and bubbles. Students are encouraged to seek alternatives for glitter and be mindful about what they put out into the environment.
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CAMPUS NEWS
WOTS: How are Bearkats celebrating graduation? BY ELIZABETH MACHUCA Contributing Reporter It’s graduation season at Sam Houston State University and graduating seniors will have plenty of reason to celebrate this exciting time in life moving into new career fields and embracing what life has to offer. Large parties and celebrations with friends and family are usually the norm when a student graduates, but this year is particularly unique. Past semesters were met with mixed responses of what graduation would be like during the peak of the pandemic. And as the COVID-19 pandemic continues around the world, many worried about what graduation celebrations would be like this semester as well, but with vaccinations on the rise, many students are able to hold small celebrations for their accomplishments. We caught up with graduating seniors around campus to ask what they would be doing to celebrate their big day.
HANNAH FIGER SENIOR THEATER EDUCATION MAJOR
CHANDLER PEVETO SENIOR VOCAL PERFORMANCE MAJOR
TRISTAN VELAZQUEZ SENIOR MASS COMMUNICATION MAJOR
“The dream is to go out to Greece and live out ‘Mamma Mia!’ but definitly doing something that can get me prepared for my first year as a teacher, becauase it is a scary thing to do.”
“I’m not sure, probably taking a break for a little bit and doing something fun not to say what I do isn’t fun, but school is a little taxing so maybe taking a break for a month or two or something like that.”
“I honestly havent even thought about it. I’m vaccinated, my girlfriend is vaccinated, and a good number of our friends are. So we may do a party back in San Antonio, my hometown.“
Transition to partial normalcy in the upcoming semester BY ELIZABETH MACHUCA AND MARY WILSON Contributing Reporter Due to decreased COVID-19 cases and increased vaccinations, Sam Houston State University will be transitioning away from hybrid learning for the fall 2021 semester, taking into consideration any large spikes in cases. “I feel totally comfortable going back to 100% in person, I definitely think that it’s time,” senior political science major Jose Moreno. “Hybrid learning is disorientating, and I feel more productive in an in-person setting.” For some students, the online and hy-
brid learning formats have been difficult to adjust to. With the possibility of returning to in-person learning near, many students are anxiously waiting to return. “[In-person learning] is better, it keeps students more on track,” senior biomedical science major Vivian Acevedo said. “I feel like online classes had more ‘busy work’ than actual learning.” Although online and hybrid learning modules were designed to best suit the learning environment of in-person classes, students noticed how certain class schedules and course content did not work well in teaching the subject. “For some classes hybrids schedules worked, but for others they didn’t,” se-
nior animal science major Sara Kraus said. “I struggled with the transition to online full time in my physics class last spring.” Hybrid-learning allowed some students to work more hours at work since online and hybrid classes did not require them to be on campus as much. “Going back to in person might hurt students like me who work,” freshman computer science major William Stewart said. “We might have to cut back our hours at work to make time for classes, but I do think it will be beneficial to students who learn better in a face-to-face environment.” Additionally, some students are not completely on board with the prospect of returning to an in-person format.
While vaccinations have helped decline the number of COVID-19 cases, variants are still occurring and could pose a threat in the future. “I’m a little nervous going back. COVID-19 will still likely be around in the fall,” sophomore marketing major Kendall Krell said. “A lot more people will be vaccinated but some won’t; so, I guess I would say it’s nerve-wracking overall.” While many students are happy to return to a face-to-face format, some are worried about COVID-19 possibilities but with increased vaccinations, Sam Houston State University will be successful returning to in-person classes bearing in mind any global changes.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Machuca
Places to visit in Huntsville before you graduate Texas, Mr. Hamburger has been serving fries and burgers to Huntsville citizens and students since 1959.
BY LIZETH GONZALEZ Editor-in-Chief With graduation just around the corner, Sam Houston State University students are preparing to take the next step into their careers and merge into true adulthood. Although some students will remain in Huntsville to continue their academic career, some are weeks away from returning home or moving to their next adventure in life. Students are surrounded by the treasures and local areas that are unique to Huntsville. We compiled a list of must-see places to visit before officially walking the stage at Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. Although food trucks are not exclusive to Huntsville, some unique trucks in the
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Machuca
area have been serving Sam Houston students for years, making them a nostalgic place to visit. Food trucks like Arnaud’s Cajun Kitchen, El Gordo Taqueria and Chill Out Shaved Ice are one of the most popular food trucks in Huntsville, serving students year-round and making it a hot spot for both community locals and students. Mr. Hamburger is an exclusive location to visit while in Huntsville. With only two locations, one in Huntsville and Bryan,
Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Machuca
Mr. Hamburger has been the designated spot for students looking for an affordable meal after a football game or a late-night dinner after cramming for finals. Although Huntsville is not a big city like Houston or Dallas, its unique smalltown charm can be seen throughout
the streets of Huntsville making it a distinctive place for students to roam on a long relaxing weekend. Over the years, Huntsville has expanded its outreach of businesses located throughout Huntsville, but Main Street has many shops that have been established in the community for years. Places like A Nitsch in Time, One Music Square and Frippery Vintage have been serving the community for years making them a designated place to visit before moving to a big city. And last, but certainly not least, a place that varies for every student, make sure to visit the place in town with the most memories to mind. Although the next step in life will vary to every student, Huntsville will remain a community full of memories to the students graduating Sam Houston State University.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Huntsville Lions Club contributes to community through voluntary efforts BY JORDAN PEMELTON Contributing Reporter Founded in 1950, the Huntsville Lions Club has provided Huntsville voluntary services by directly funding eye examinations, eyeglasses, visual aid equipment and guide dogs for those in need in the community. The Huntsville Lions Club is part of the international public service organization Lions Club International, which has over 45,000 clubs spanning over 200 countries. “It is about community and about serving,” Lions Club member Sheryl Miller said. “I am sure there are other organizations that would drop whatever they are doing to come help, but these people do, and they don’t miss a beat.” According to the Huntsville Lions Club website, the club consists of 44 members who help the community
by providing vision and health screenings, park buildings, supporting eye hospitals, awarding scholarships, assisting youth and providing help in time of disaster. “We are a service organization; any money that we collect during fundraisers or anything like that, goes into a project fund,” Huntsville Lions Club president Jeannie White said. “Our club is run on member dues. 100% of what we get in goes right back out to help the community.” Along with providing the community with emergency assistance, the club also helps send local campers to Texas Lions Camp. The Texas Lions Camp helps children with physical disabilities explore and discover new interests and abilities through a summer full of activities. “Another big one is helping handicapped children. If we have any handicapped children that need to
go camping for the summer we send them,” White said. “It doesn’t cost their parents anything. We’ll even take them and pick them up.” The organization does more than community service. They work hard to make holiday celebrations in Huntsville special by helping sponsor the Huntsville Lions Club Christmas Parade. “Our Christmas parade is hosted by the Lions Club, which is a huge community effort,” Miller said. “We put the flags up for the 4th of July and Memorial Day in honor of our veterans and those who have served, which is always a very big deal.” The Huntsville Lions Club also receives many donations from the community, whether that is a pair of eyeglasses or un-recyclable plastic bags. “I am also one of our hubs for our plastic bag project,” White said. “So, we collect non-recyclable plastic bags and send them to this company called
Photo courtesy of Lions Clubs International
‘Trex’ after we get 500 pounds of plastic bags they send us a bench made out of plastic bags to put into our community. We are working on bench number five right now.” The Huntsville Lions Club meets every Thursday at noon at the Grand Buffet in Huntsville. On the fifth Thursday of the month, the Lions Club gets together to partake in a community service activity for different places around the city. The Huntsville Lions Club welcomes visitors interested citizens or potential lion’s members. For more information, you can visit their website at https://eclubhouse.org/sites/huntsvilletx/ .
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Places on campus perfect for graduation photos BY ADRIANNE REECE Arts & Entertainment Editor With graduation comes anxious jitters and graduation pictures. These photos memorialize a students’ entire college career and with Sam Houston State University’s main campus’s visually pleasing locations, they can be great backdrops for graduation photos. STAIRCASE TO AUSTIN HALL The flight of stairs leading up to Austin Hall is one of many landmarks that take students to the center of campus. Once at the top, the Old Main Pit’s brick structure and a sea of plush greenery surround Austin Hall that serves as a nice building for photos for graduates. For an overall large view, graduates can take pictures from the top of the stairs in a celebratory pose. For an intimate close-up, photographers can capture students going up or down the staircase in their cap and gown or a portrait photo of them sitting down in front of Austin Hall. ALUMNI FOUNTAIN Installed at the end of the LSC Mall area, this serene waterfall beautifully complements the nearby Bearkat Plaza and Alumni Garden. With a massive sea of stairs and several benches surrounding the Alumni Fountain, this location has become a frequent spot where students wait to pass time between classes. There is an abundant amount of space surrounding this location, allowing graduates and photographers to let out their creativity. Students can take a tranquil photo right in front of the waterfall leaning against one of the dry podiums on the stairs beside the foundation and more. BEARKAT PLAZA/THE YARD This expansive space is the liveliest sector of the SHSU campus. Student organiza-
Photos courtesy of Leila De La Cruz and Arnoldo Guerra
tions, visitors and students utilize this location for various occasions. For graduation photos, this wide scenery is perfect for a landscape shot, especially the well-maintained gardens and the noticeable plaque featuring the university’s motto. THE BLATCHLEY BELL TOWER This tower is the most prominent location in the Bearkat Plaza. Settled right behind the Marks Administration Building, this 50-foot-tall symbol plays the SHSU Alma Mater and Bearkat Fight Song and an assortment of classical music hourly on the bells. There is an eerie superstition surrounding the location, which states that any undergraduate who walks directly under the tower
before graduation will not graduate on time, so proceed with caution. There is a slight incline to get to the tower from the LSC Mall Area, so students can use this height difference to their advantage in photos. Whether leaning against the clock for a portrait picture or walking towards the tower for a POV perspective, there are several ways graduates can use this landmark in their photos. LOWMAN STUDENT CENTER (LSC) Described as the SHSU building of “School for Gracious Living,” this massive building was once located in the heart of campus. Compared to the older model, the
new LSC adopted more open windows perfect for natural sunlight when lounging inside the orange and white hallways. On the outside, they incorporated an impressively built brainteaser named Analemma Dilemma. Artist Dan Phillips and Flying Carpet Creative produced this colorful analemma filled with 60 mosaic medallions that attach from behind the back of the old building to the new one. Whether posing on the main steps leading up to the second floor of the LSC or right in the center, this installation paired with the student center’s new sleek design can add character to graduation photos.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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How to celebrate graduation during the pandemic BY ARIOLE JONES Associate Editor-In-Chief Graduating in a pandemic is depressing but the actual day of graduation does not have to be. With COVID-19 still active, it is possible to feel discouraged to celebrate in big groups at restaurants or inviting friends over for parties but there are safe ways to enjoy graduation day while still entertaining guests. Throw a party at home and invite a limited number of people. Decorate the backyard or patio and make it a group effort by encouraging guests to bring prepackaged food items. Promote company to use personal cups or use disposable cutlery that cannot be shared. Another great and luxurious option is to hire a personal chef to cook for friends and family while everyone enjoys each other’s
company. Utilize Zoom for a virtual party if preferred not to be around or only a limited amount of people. This year graduation will be made available virtually and physically allowing graduates to keep the entire event simulated. Right after watching the graduation on the school’s website, invite members to celebrate via Zoom. To make it even more special, ask a family member to set up the meeting on behalf of the graduating senior to alleviate the stress of planning to prepare to walk the stage. A popular event that started from the outbreak of the coronavirus last year was drive-by parades. Invite friends and family to consider hosting a parade with balloons and banners congratulating the graduate. To make things even better, have them leave gifts on the doorstep as well. Do not forget senior pictures. Make
Photo courtesy of blog.westerndigital.com
sure to take those in time to enjoy on graduation day to celebrate the next step in life. Plan a trip to leave on the day of graduation and as a personal gift
for the summer. It can be alone or with a group of friends or family. However graduation is celebrated, remember it is well deserved and to have fun.
Graduation gift ideas from Apple’s 2021 virtual event BY BASTIAN GUNDERSON Contributing Reporter
Photo courtesy of www.tomsguide.com
Graduating from college is both an incredible milestone and a major lifestyle change, so having the right tech gear to assist in a new journey is essential. On April 20, household tech giant Apple unveiled five new products in
their first keynote stream of the year titled “Spring Loaded.” From a colorful desktop computer to the new iPhone 12 in a pastel purple shade, this impressive line of products from Apple will keep new grads prepared and organized. For those who already have the latest iPhone in its original four shades or are interested in upgrading, this new pastel color might peak your interest. The cutting-edge smartphone is proofed 5G capability, is four times more drop resistant than their last line of iPhones, runs on an A14 Bionic chip, which is the fastest chip in a smartphone and features a front-facing portrait mode for gorgeous photography. To top it off, the new model sports a stunning purple finish perfect for spring and is compatible with Apple’s new line of ecosystem-friendly accesso-
ries. The iPhone 12 comes in four models, iPhone 12, the iPhone 12 Mini, the iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. However, the new purple shade is only available in the standard and mini version. Speaking of fun colors, Apple has gone back to the original 1977 rainbow logo by applying the seven colors to their new line of iMac desktop computers. Due to the software’s M1 chip, which gives their line of computers high-quality performance and efficient battery life, this desktop’s flat and thin body can fit comfortably on even the messiest of desks. The new front-facing camera has also been upgraded to 1080p. Though the new Apple TV does not have any special color expansions, it’s still a gorgeous and workable TV. The
included Siri remote can control or activate any application without having to press a button and can be synced to your phone as a remote. The new iPad Pro software contains the same 5G connection as their smartphones and M1 chip as their computers. The iPad Pro’s fluid Apple Pencil allows a smooth glide across the screen with its hand recognition software and is suitable for graduates in artistic design. AirTags are perfect for those prone to losing various items. The AirTags are little discs that can attach to anything like a keychain. Once activated, if someone loses a product that has the disc attached to it, their phones will be able to identify the location. Users can also customize each one of them with engraved emojis to make finding them easier.
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OPINIONS
What to consider when applying for jobs after graduation BY NOAH ONTIVEROS Contributing Reporter Due to COVID-19, many students may struggle to find a job after graduating college that meets both financial and safety needs. To ensure quality job opportunities without feeling the stress of a guaranteed job, students find themselves wondering if they should accept the first job offer or hold out until the perfect opportunity appears. There are factors to consider when looking for a new job such as benefits, company culture, co-workers, stability
and more. In the search it is also important to consider passion so that you don’t feel a sense of burnout. In that case, it may be best to wait. By holding out there is the potential of having a more satisfying job opportunity that will meet all expectancies and potentially hold a lifelong career within that company. Many companies have taken this pandemic opportunistically by allocating employees to fully remote therefore increasing job opportunities globally. Now that the economy is replenishing, companies are looking for employees to fulfill many roles with less experience before employment. With an already im-
mensely flooded job market, it is possible to struggle with choosing between passions, impact within a company and salary. In 2020, about 1 in 3 full-time workers experienced a pay cut due to COVID-19, according to CNBC, leaving salaries well below pre-pandemic levels. This is rather disheartening for students who are graduating with a 4.0 GPA in their field. Due to this, it may be best to wait and choose to follow a passion. Do the research and reinstate value through college and work experience gained. It is human nature to second guess, but it is also human nature to wonder if something better is around the corner.
Unfortunately, this is one of the most dismal job markets in decades; however, panicking and accepting the first job offer post-grad is not wise nor reliable. It is necessary to understand that a career choice holds weight over the future but obtaining an unwanted job will make time at a company uninvolved and shortlived. The quest to find a job should not be something to secure quickly. It is the search of company culture, opportunities for growth, pay, and positions for success. Expand job options and wait for valuable suggestions. The current job market is temporary, but it is important to choose passion and purpose for future opportunities.
Career Services offers assistance for graduates BY GABRIEL BENTON Contributing Reporter
Photo courtesy of Leila De La Cruz
Students at Sam Houston State University have the ability to take advantage of career exploration tools and support with Career Services on campus. Career Services helps students transition into the workforce, network, prepare for an interview and find a job after college. One of the many pieces of advice graduates can learn from the career center is how to network. Learning how to network among peers can help in a competitive workforce, especially if you are graduating. Networking and referrals can help you cut a lot of lines. “Referred applicants are 5 times more likely than average to be hired, and 15 times more likely to be hired than applicants from a job board,” according to a 2016 Jobvite study. Another key to acquiring a job is
keeping composure during an interview. The career center aids in this area with mock interviews to prepare students by providing a less stressful environment to practice highlighting what makes an application special as a candidate. Afterward, students get an analysis of what was done well and what can be done better. The mock interview process builds confidence and can help fight the fear of freezing up in front of a potential employer. These services help our alumni and undergrad find careers and jobs after graduation. Eighty-three percent of SHSU graduates said that Career Services helped them find a job or internship, according to a study on Niche.com Whether a freshman or a graduate attending Sam Houston State University, our free Career Services can put you on the road to success.
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Page 9
SPORTS
Bearkats leveling up; student-athletes going pro
Photo courtesy of Leila De La Cruz
BY AJ SPECKHARD Contributing Reporter Sam Houston State University has had a lot of incredible students pass through its halls. People from all over and in all fields have gone on to do great work. One student in particular touches every major and minor there is, the student-athlete. These incredible people take on being full-time students and full-time athletes as well as jobs in some cases. We are going to take a look back at some professional athletes who adorned a Bearkat jersey, what they accomplished as a Bearkat on and off the field and where the journey has taken them. JOSH MCCOWN (2001) Josh McCown is one of the most wellknown student-athletes to be produced from Sam Houston. Even though he only played here for one year after transferring from Southern Methodist University. In his one season here, he finished
fifth in both passing yards and completions in a single season, fourth in passing touchdowns in a season and took the Bearkats all the way to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs. McCown went on to be drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2002 NFL draft. He went on to have a journey career as he would play for 12 different NFL teams. Over the course of his career, he threw over 17,000 passing yards over 18 years with 98 career touchdowns. He also became the oldest quarterback to make his postseason debut with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019. VICTORIA GONZÁLEZ (2012-2013) Victoria González was a basketball player during her time at Sam Housto playing two seasons from 2011-2013 after transferring from Texas A&M University - Kingsville. She played one season as she had to sit out due to the transfer. She started one game in 16 total games played and started in one while averaging 4.8 points per game. She also worked for the Bearkat Sports Network
while a student here. González went on to pursue a professional wrestling career rather than a basketball career. Raquel González, her stage name, is currently a wrestler in The Next Generation (NXT), which is a developmental league for the WWE. She recently won the NXT women’s championship. She is one of the fastest-growing stars in the NXT.
1,644 and countless others. He is mostly known for his famous, “Flanders flip” play during one of the Battle of the Piney Woods games. Flanders had two short stints in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and the Cleveland Browns but has really made a name for himself in the Canadian Football league, having played there since 2015.
RYAN O’HEARN (2012-2014) Ryan O’Hearn was one of the best baseball players to come out of not only Sam Houston but the whole Southland Conference as a whole. During his three seasons at Sam Houston, O’Hearn batted .288, hit 11 home runs, eight of which came in his junior season, had an onbase percentage of .358 and finished with an astounding .982 fielding percentage. O’Hearn was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2014 after his junior season in the eighth round of the MLB draft. He spent his first season playing for the Idaho Falls Chukars, one of the teams in the Royals development system. He would make his MLB debut on July 31, 2018, and start his career with a bang by hitting a home run. He has a career .211 batting average with 88 runs batted since he started his career in 2018. He also has 30 home runs to his credit.
TINA CHANDLER Tina Chandler was a student at Sam Houston State University. After school, she took up bodybuilding and dominated the amateur leagues. She attended her first body-building competition, the SW Texas State, in 2004, in which she won. She became a professional after coming in first in the middleweight class at the 2007 NPC Nationals Championships. In 2009, Chandler attended her Ms. Olympia competition, in which she placed 10th. In 2010 she placed eighth at Ms. Olympia and in 2011, she placed second at the Tampa Pro championship. Now she is a founder and guide of Happy, Healthy Living.
TIMOTHY FLANDERS (2010-2013) Timothy Flanders played as a running back for the Bearkat football team from the years 2010-2013. During his time here, he broke countless records for both Sam Houston and the Southland Conference including the total touchdown records, which he still holds to this day with 24 as well as rushing touchdowns over a career with 66 and total touchdowns with 70. He still holds the school records for most net yards in a game with 287 touchdowns in a game with five, season yards with
PJ HALL (2013-2017) PJ Hall was a defensive lineman for the Bearkat football team. Hall was named to the First Team All-Southland during all four years at Sam Houston and was a key piece of the stellar Bearkats defense. After his third season for the Bearkats, Hall was not only awarded the Southland Conference Player of the Year, he also was listed as a finalist for the Buck Buchanan award, which is given to the best FCS defensive player. Hall was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 2018 in the second round, making him the highest-drafted player to come out of Sam Houston. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders and played there for the first two years of his career before playing for the Houston Texans in 2020. He has 82 total career tackles.
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FUN AND GAMES
Editor-in-Chief Assistant Editor-in-Chief Arts & Entertainment Editor Sports Editor Opinions Editor Community News Editor Campus News Editor
Lizeth Gonzalez Ariole Jones Adrianne Reece Scott Morris Jacob Courtney Jordan Smith Justin Hardcastle
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Today’s Sudoku Puzzle
Run Sheet Manager Faculty Advisor
UNSCRAMBLE THE WORDS 1. YHALBLTEC LEBL TWORE: ____________________________ 2. MSA SHOTUNO TEAUTS: _____________________________ 3. LOD NIAM: _________________________________________ 4. NAEC KWGLAIN: ____________________________________ 7. WEOBRS ADTISUM: __________________________________ 6. EHT STHNIOUOAN: __________________________________ 7. MANLOW ENTSTUD TERCEN: _________________________ 8. SFC SFLOAPYF: ______________________________________ 9. MAYMS HET KARETBA: ______________________________ 10. SONNOHJ SIEUMCOL: _______________________________
Kia Seastrunk Debbi Hatton
Digital Director Multimedia Editor Photographers
Jordan Smith Leila De la Cruz Elizabeth Machuca Sara Cox
The Houstonian is the independent student newspaper of Sam Houston State University. Serving the campus and community since 1913, The Houstonian prides itself on upholding professional journalistic standards while providing students from a diverse array of backgrounds opportunities to learn and grow. Completely student-run, The Houstonian welcomes staffers and submissions from any SHSU student regardless of major. All opinions published reflect only the thoughts of the author unless otherwise stated, and do not necessarily align with the views of the publication. A voice for the campus of SHSU, The Houstonian is an award-winning addition to the Mass Communication department, housed in the Dan Rather Communications Building room 210. Please contact The Houstonian office with any corrections if we publish something in error. We strive to maintain the highest journalistic values, and we welcome critiques in hopes of continuing to better the publication at large. Please send emails to our Editor-in-Chief, Lizeth Gonzalez, at eic@houstoniannews.com, call our office phone at 936-294-1505 or stop by our office during the week. Please submit any letters to the editor to eic@houstoniannews.com, or drop them in the box on our office door. Every letter will be reviewed for publication and subject to grammar and AP style edits. Anyone interested in paid employment with The Houstonian can keep an eye on Handshake or stop by the office to inquire. The Houstonian prints every other Monday during the school year, and continually updates its multimedia content. A digital Orientation Edition will be available starting June 10.