Monday, February 4, 2019
The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University
Students Dedicated to Professional Journalism Volume 130 | Issue 9
/HoustonianNews
@HoustonianNews
@houstoniannews
HoustonianOnline.com
Bearkats cut down Lumberjacks 94-72 BY GABE MYERS Sports Editor The Sam Houston State University men’s basketball team defeated the Stephen F. Austin State University Lumberjacks 94-72 Saturday night at Johnson Coliseum to remain the only undefeated team in the Southland Conference. Saturday night’s game was the biggest home game in a long time for the Bearkats. Entering the matchup, they were 8-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2009-10 season when they won the SLC, and with defending conference-champion and archrival Lumberjacks com-
ing to town this game had the feel of a heavyweight fight. The Bearkats landed a knockout punch in the first round when junior guard Chad Bowie hit a three pointer that put SHSU ahead 26-10 with 9:27 left in the first half. Every time the Lumberjacks looked like they were going to make a run, the Bearkats had an answer. At one point, it was a three pointer by senior guard Josh Delaney. Twice, it was alley-oop dunks by junior forward RJ Smith. Whatever it was, SHSU had an answer for anything and everything the Lumberjacks did. It became clear late in the first half that SFA simply did not have an answer for the Bearkats. Trailing 47-29 the Lumberjacks
began playing a 2-3 zone defense as opposed to their typical high pressure man-to-man. When the Lumberjacks made the switch to zone, the Kats scored on back-toback possessions, including an alley-oop dunk by Smith. SHSU dominated the first half—shooting 69 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the three-point line to take a 58-34 lead into the locker room. “Our offense was getting us open shots, open looks, easy buckets,” senior guard Cameron Delaney said. “We were executing the offense, which led to easy points. The game plan the coaches put together was very solid, and when we put it together on the court it showed.”
In the second half, the Bearkats never let the Lumberjacks back in the game; the closest they ever got was within 17 points. Cameron Delaney seemed to put the final nail in the coffin, nailing a trio of three-pointers on consecutive possessions— the last one coming with 9:38 left in the game that swelled the Kats’ lead to 25, their largest of the night. SHSU was led by Cameron Delaney, who scored 18 points and junior forward Kai Mitchell, who picked up a double-double (16 points and 10 rebounds). Four Kats finished with double figures, and two other players had nine points. Junior guard Chad Bowie came off the bench and scored 13 points and Josh
Delaney finished with 11 points and six assists. Senior forward Albert Almanza had nine points, which included seven of the Bearkats’ first 13 points. This team played with a focus and intensity on Saturday that has not been seen in Huntsville in long time. They are currently 9-0, and head coach Jason Hooten said this team is unique following the decisive victory. “There’s a difference between good and special,” Hooten said. “I told these guys, ‘You have an opportunity to be special.’” The Bearkats will be at Johnson Coliseum Wednesday as the take on the McNeese State University Cowboys.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/SHSUCampusNews | Monday, February 4, 2019
Page 2
campus news
Houston Texans Announcer Brings Voice to Campus
“I’ve gone through life without a road map.” houstononthecheap.com BY TYLER JOSEFSEN Digital Media EIC David Brady, the voice of the Houston Texans, will be at Sam Houston State University
Wednesday for Priority One’s Mingling with the Media. “My passion and love for Sam Houston runs very deep,” Brady said. “It’s such a big part of my life, so I have a lot of trouble saying no to anything I’m asked
to do by the university. I cannot stress enough how important and impactful my time at Sam Houston was both professionally and personally.” Brady graduated from SHSU in 1988 and currently serves as the Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for the Houston Dynamo. Prior to attaining his current position, Brady bounced around all over the country with different jobs. “One of the lessons I wanted people to understand is every step in your journey may lead you in another direction,” Brady said. “It may take you on a different, better path. I’ve gone through life without a road map.” He has worked coast-to-coast, gaining experience in a variety of areas from California and Arizona to Connecticut where he served as Yale University’s playby-play announcer. “My time [at Yale] was fascinating,” Brady said. “It was really great to be part of that university and that football program in particular. To be just
a tiny part of the Yale-Harvard rivalry was a great highlight in my career. It was a lot of fun.” Outside of simply focusing on his profession and his personal life with his wife and three children, Brady is also a member of the Center for Houston’s Future Think Tank. He worked on a project that researched and created a presentation on food deserts—ultimately leading to his involvement with the Houston Food Bank as a volunteer and a donor. “One of the things I truly believe in is learning and growing outside of the classroom and outside of the formal education setting,” Brady said. “I was invited to participate in the Center for Houston’s Future several years ago, and it gave me the chance to grow as a leader and understand our community a lot better.” According to Brady, he also has “the greatest part-time job in the history of the world” as the Houston Texans’ Public Address Announcer. Brady has served as the voice
of the Texans at home games since 2006. “It’s a character, in a sense, that is much different than who I am in person,” Brady said. “I always tell people that I’ve never had nor do I have a booming, public address announcer voice. But when I’m passionate I bring something different than a lot of people can bring.” Mingling with the Media is a free event and open to the public, and there will be a question-and-answer session with Brady. According to Brady, interacting with students about his journey is an important part of this day. “The story that I want to tell the most is that I walked onto campus not knowing what I wanted to do,” Brady said. “I struggled for a couple of years. I had no direction and no passion, but it was on campus [where] that spark was lit for me, and that changed everything.” The event will begin at 4 p.m. in the Dan Rather Communications Building room 301.
LSC Hosts U.S. Passport Fair BY ZACHARY LEONARD Contributing Reporter The Office of International Programs, Leadership Initiatives and the Bearkat OneCard Office are hosting a Passport Fair Feb. 5 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in LSC 320. The fair, in collaboration with the United States Postal Service, will allow SHSU students, staff and faculty the opportunity to apply for or renew their passports. “By working together, we can connect with more people
and offer more services,” Study Abroad Coordinator Malin Hilmersson said. Passports can be used as an alternate means of identification and are valid for 10 years. The costs are $145 for a first-time passport and $110 to renew a current passport. “You pay the same fees and turn in the same paperwork,” Hilmersson said. “The difference is that you don’t have to leave campus to apply.” Attendees wishing to apply for a passport will need to bring a DS-11 passport application form, a payment, a valid photo ID and
their original birth certificate. The DS-11 application should be completed in black ink. Applicants born outside of the U.S. will need to bring a Certificate of Citizenship or a Certificate of Naturalization, as well as a copy of whichever document they choose. The U.S. Passport Fair is an initiative that the USPS has previously collaborated on with other universities. “Since [USPS has] done this before on other campuses, they’ve had a wealth of information to share,” Hilmersson said. “We are very thankful for their
willingness to come to SHSU and provide this service.” The Bearkat OneCard Office is taking free passport photos before the fair and the Office of International Programs can make copies of any required documents. Those who complete an application with standard processing can expect to receive their passports within six weeks. Those who chose expedited processing can expect to have their passport in three weeks. Contact the Office of International Programs at 936-2944737 for more information.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/SHSUCampusNews | Monday, February 4, 2019
Page 3
campus news
New Online STI Exam Appointment Scheduling
Grant Worley BY MASON STORRS Campus News Editor The Student Health Center (SHC) has implemented a new online self-scheduling system for appointments involving Sexually
Transmitted Infection lab work and examinations. The new system is easily accessible, as it runs through a patient portal that every student is enrolled in upon acceptance to Sam Houston State University. “I think definitely with this generation and with the technol-
ogy age that we’re dealing with, online electronic communication is the preference,” SHC Director Erica Bumpurs said. “Less faceto-face, less having to call and schedule or come in and schedule. We felt that this was really a needed service for the population that we serve, since that only includes the students here at Sam Houston State University.” To make an appointment, students log in to their patient portal and go to the appointment scheduling section. There, they will find a questionnaire to answer about symptoms they are having and the specifics of what might be going on. This allows students to determine what kind of visit they should schedule. There are two options for an STI appointment type: there is a lab only visit, and a provider visit. For a lab only visit, the patient comes in to get lab work done and obtain results. This does not involve an interaction with one of the SHC’s providers,
only the nurse who takes them back to the lab and answers any questions they might have. Lab results will come back to the student through their patient portal as well. The provider visit involves the patient actually seeing a doctor or nurse practitioner to sit down and talk about what they are experiencing and have an examination. The provider will answer the patient’s questions, then order the testing needed. This is just a more comprehensive visit based on the patient’s needs. The self-scheduling system comes at the request of the student body itself. “We do patient satisfaction surveys, so every time a student has a visit with us we send them a survey,” Bumpurs said. “They can get it through their phone, we text the survey, we have QR codes that they use. It had come up several times, just requesting the option to schedule online.” The SHC knows that STIs can be a tough topic for students to
talk to their staff about. “We looked at the STI visits specifically because it can be kind of a sensitive topic,” Bumpurs said. “It can be uncomfortable to students to call the front desk or walk into the front desk and have to explain to a complete stranger what their problems are or what symptoms they’re having, so we thought this would be a great opportunity to give them more privacy and discretion.” The new online self-scheduling system can be found on the SHSU Student Health Center webpage, then click “What is my patient portal?” From there, students will have the opportunity to discretely schedule an STI screening. Students have access to the SHC through a medical service fee paid each semester. The office visit is free of charge to them, but any labs ordered will have an additional charge. The prices are provided in the patient portal when they schedule their visit.
Bearkat BBQ Cook-Off at Johnson Coliseum BY RACHAEL FORBES Contributing Reporter Bearkat Athletics and Sam Houston State University Student Activities will host the Bearkat Barbeque Cook-Off on Wednesday at the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. The cook-off takes place before the men’s basketball team takes on McNeese State University. The cook-off is a way of promoting basketball and making students more aware of the events that take place at SHSU, according to the Assistant Di-
rector for Traditions and Special Events Steven Begnaud. There will be at least 20 different groups participating in the barbeque cook-off. HEB will serve as a corporate sponsor. Bearkat Athletics will also have several local apartment complexes cooking and giving out promotional items. Participants will be expected to arrive at 2 p.m. on competition day. A team of three judges will decide on the winner. Judging will start at 5:30 p.m., so if you’re not ready, we’re not going to wait, according to Begnaud. Registered participants will
each receive a $20 gift card and cash prizes will be awarded to the winners of each category. The cook-off begins at 5:30 p.m. for those who plan to attend. All members of the SHSU community are welcome to attend and the event is free of charge. “It’s just a way to bring the community together,” Begnaud said. Participants should bring their Bearkat One Card. For more information about the cook-off contact StudentActivities@shsu.edu or call 936-294-3861.
Chelsey Norton
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleCommunityNews | Monday, February 4, 2019
Page 4
community news
Wynne Home to Host Valentines Day Card Making Workshop BY TYLER MOWERY Community News Editor The Wynne Home Arts Center hosts a Valentine card making session Saturday at 11 a.m. The session is intended for children to make pop-up cards, however people of all ages are welcome to attend the session. Cultural Services Administrative Assistant Lauren Clay organizes the event. “It is a come and go workshop,” Clay said. “Participants can come and make a card for their loved one with supplies provided, and we will have an instructor and volunteers to help show you how to create the different pop-up card techniques.” The Valentine card session is
a continuation of a long honored tradition started by a former Wynne Home supporter and instructor, Barbara Tyson. “We have offered this Valentine card making workshop every year since 2016 and it is one of our favorite annual events,” Clay said. “It is continued with the memory of Barbara Tyson, friend of the Wynne Home who taught many of the card making workshops at the Wynne Home before passing away in 2015.” The typical turnout for this event is typically 20-30 people and all ages are welcome, however children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. “The event is free and supplies are provided,” Clay said. “The cards can be made for whomever the participants decide to make
them for.” Anyone who is interested and wants more information about the Valentine card making workshop can visit the website TheWynneHome.com or call 936-291-5424 or follow the Wynne Home Facebook page.
Chinese New Year 2019 Year of the Pig
Lauren Clay
Chelsey Norton
Tuesday, Feb. 5
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleCommunityNews | Monday, February 4, 2019
Page 5
community news
Huntsville High School Relocates CNA Program BY REBECCA CADE Huntsville Hive Reporter
Alissa Crissler
The Huntsville High School’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program is making some changes. After state surveyors investigated Huntsville Health Care concerning the students’ education, the CNA program now has a contract to practice with Trinity Rehab Center and will start taking students to the center twice a week during the school day. “I expect a lot from Trinity Rehab Center. It’s new, so it should be full of professionals that will train us the right way and help us get all the hours we need to be certified,” junior
Yvonne Flores said. “Because it’s far from the school, we will have to arrive earlier and be there for the entire day.” Students in the CNA program must have at least 100 hours completed in order to qualify to be a certified nurse assistant, 60 hours of learning is done in the classroom and 40 hours are done in the field. “It’s basically like on-the-job training. We learn everything in the classroom and then go out and put our skills to the test,” senior Alaya Taylor said. Students that work at the facilities follow certified nurses that teach them what to do throughout the day as well as perform everyday tasks with residents. “Hopefully they will give
us a couple of tips of how to better our skills and how to do it right,” junior Mandy Ly said. When students in the CNA program have accumulated all their hours and met their qualifications, Health Science Teacher Virginia Lenoir appoints a state tester in March and April to test the students for their certification. “My students are very excited about us going to this new facility, and I’m so excited to have the opportunity to watch them learn and grow from this experience so they can get prepared for life,” Lenoir said.
Huntsville Social Media Campaign #HomeSweetHuntsville BY JAMIE BARNES Contributing Reporter The City of Huntsville is connecting to the community in a 21st century way— with hashtags. #HomeSweetHuntsville, #GreenerHuntsville and #ReadyHuntsville are three of the hashtags local social media users can expect to see from the city. The goal is to use social media platforms to reach citizens on a broader scale and encourage interaction within the community and beyond. Deputy City Secretary and Assistant Public Information Officer Brenda Poe spoke about why she feels it is important for people to stay updated. “It is important to follow the city, because we are providing free services and messaging that applies to the day-to-day life of every Huntsvillian — whether
they are homeowners, students or individuals employed locally, but commuting,” Poe said. Making an effort to garner a variety of followers, Huntsville can now be found on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Nextdoor, a social networking service created for neighborhoods. These different platforms allow the city to cater to all demographics within a community. “From the city’s standpoint, we have to be out there on social media and be active,” Mayor Andy Brauninger said. “You reach a crowd that you wouldn’t reach before.” To further extend its reach, the city uses a variety of hashtags to help spread different messages. According to Poe, the Huntsville City Secretary’s office started using #HomeSweetHuntsville in 2016 to garner local attention for events and activities to “feel good” news.
On Instagram, citizens using this hashtag can share their own images with the city and even have a chance to be featured on the page. “#GreenerHuntsville is used for our recycling and solid waste messaging,” Poe said. “We use it to promote proper use of recycling, energy efficiency reminders, donation of goods to local charities instead of filling up landfills with clothing and furniture that still has use, and reminders about scheduled pickups. #ReadyHuntsville is engaged during emergency management situations, like hurricanes and tornadoes.” Although gaining followers and getting likes have helped grow Huntsville’s social media pages, the city’s main goal is to provide as much useful information as possible to the people. “Our goal isn’t to have the highest number of users. Our goal is to create clear and
concise communications that inform, at some times entertain, and be the recognized source for timely, complete, and accurate city-related information,” Poe said. The City of Huntsville is
on Facebook @HuntsvilleTX, Instagram @cityofhuntsville, Twitter @HuntsvilleTexas. Find Huntsville on YouTube by searching huntsvilletxGOV or on Nextdoor by searching City of Huntsville.
Jamie Barnes
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianAandE | Monday, February 4, 2019
Page 6
Arts & entertainment
Motown Breakdown: Getting The Michael Hix Fix #OscarsBY ARIOLE JONES Arts & Entertainment Editor
If you don’t know who Michael Hix is, you better find out. I only have one word for this man: outstanding! Last night I attended the Michael Hix: Motown Breakdown show at Old Town Theatre and let me tell you, he did not come to play. Beforehand, I was afraid that this was going to be extreme ineptitude, a perfect storm. Mo-
town isn’t easily mimicked, and I’ve seen my fair share of bad shows. Prior to the start of the show, the audience was energetic and it seemed like they knew exactly what they were in for. When the curtains finally opened, there stood a full jazz band. They played a short instrumental before Michael Hix shot out in a flashy suit and glided across the stage. You could tell this was his usual style. Immediately, the crowd (comprised mostly of sixty-somethings) was hysterical. He imi-
Chelsey Norton MOTOWN IN DOWNTOWN. Entertainer Michael Hix delivered a dazzling performance at the Old Town Theatre that revived the spirit of old-fashioned Motown.
tated moves of James Brown and Michael Jackson. He interacted with the crowd, coming down to sing with fans and jumping on the seats I was fascinated. After the first song, he introduced himself— comparing himself to the looks of Ellen DeGeneres. I would say he reminded me more of a rebellious Joel Osteen. The show consisted of songs by The Platters, Jackie Wilson, Smokey Robinson and The Supremes; however, he didn’t dive right into Motown. He gave a bit of a history lesson building up the act and completed the set with a Michael Jackson song. And let’s talk about his outfits. First of all, this man knows how to pick a good blazer. From shiny, to velvet, to glitter— he had it all. His hair? Perfect the entire time. If I didn’t know this man could sing, just by the way he
dressed, I could infer he knew how to do something well. There were a few times where he would dance around the stage so aggressively and fast, I thought he might fall off the stage. He brought his wife on stage many times, and she performed outstandingly. Her voice stretched like a warm blanket all over the theatre. There was one number where Michael acted as her background dancer and singer where he showed off his “assets” and definitely had the crowd wooing. By the end, everyone was waving their phones in the air like lighters to Michael Jackson’s “I’ll Be There” and taking in all that they’ve just experienced. After the show, I waited in the lobby and watched Hix assist an elderly woman to the door. I was intrigued by his glitter suit, which looked so much cooler up close. I stared at him and smiled. Crazily, similar to the end of “Thriller,” Michael Hix looked back at me and winked before exiting the building. Talk about an ending. In all, the show was a success and a great experience. He definitely embodied the concept of Motown and projected it perfectly. I got my “Michael Hix fix.” And I’ll be back for more.
SoDiverse BY DIERDRE SMITH Contributing Reporter
In recent years, the Oscars have gone through its fair share of controversies such as, #OscarsSoWhite in 2016 and the close call of the “Most Popular” category being added to the roster in 2018. However, this year it looks like it is turning over a new leaf with groundbreaking films coming to the forefront. One of the most popular and influential movies of 2018 was none other than Marvel Studio’s film, “Black Panther.” With seven nominations under its belt, it is considered to be a breakthrough for the superhero genre. Similarly, these effects are starting to come off of the film’s current competitor, “Roma.” “Roma” is a Netflix original film which has been the first of its caliber to be nominated for a total of ten categories including Cinematography, Best Foreign Language, Best Film and Best Director. From its roots, it has also sprouted accomplishments such as having the first ever indigenous Latina actress to be nominated for Best Leading Role, Yalitza Aparicio. Not only was this her first academy award nomination, but this was also her first time acting in a major film. This speaks volumes not only for Aparicio, but for the Latin and indigenous culture. These movies and more are a sign that the Oscars may finally be opening their minds and recognizing exactly the value that diversity can bring to the film industry.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianAandE | Monday, February 4, 2019
Page 7
Arts & entertainment
Black History Month: How Black Women Change The World BY CASSANDRA SOTO Contributing Reporter With the achievements of modern African American woman, come the echoes of a familiar past. Through the years since the beginning of Black History Month in 1976, there has been an abundance of black women changing our world. Trials and tribulations from an unfair beginning for a black woman in the United States has bred generations of thriving and driven women that can inspire people around the globe. We’ve all heard the phrase of ‘history repeating itself ’. That sentiment can be seen in the
women who have paved the way for our modern heroes of 2019 like: Lena Waithe, Serena Williams, and Michelle Obama. Lena Waithe was an American screenwriter, producer, actress and first African American woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series in 2017 for her work on “Master of None”. Using her life experiences in her work, she is an advocate for LGBTQA people on screen Loretta Mary Aiken, better known as Jackie “Moms” Mabley, was the first female comedian to perform stand-up comedy at The Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Aiken was not only known for being one the most successful female
comedians of her time, but also as one of the first openly gay comedians when she came out in the 1920’s at the age of 27. Althea Gibson was the first African American to play and win the Wimbledon, French and U.S. open titles. Being a black female athlete in the 1950’s was a trying time for an athlete with such talent facing segregation. Once she was allowed to compete freely, Gibson stole the #7 spot of the top 10 players in the U.S. Serena Williams is an American professional tennis player with a seemingly endless list of accolades and achievements including being ranked as #1 tennis player 8 times by the Women’s Tennis Association.
With 39 major titles in a variety of playing styles, Williams is likely the most well-known female athlete of our time and shows no signs of stopping. Coretta Scott King, was the wife of Martin Lather King Jr. She was a civil rights leader, author and activist in the 1960’s. Though tragic, the death of her husband only motivated King to continue on in the fight for equality. She took over the leadership her husband left behind and created the King Center for non-violent social change and later regulated as an advocate for LGBTQA rights. She is known as the “First Lady of the Civil Rights Movement” and made connections with politicians to further her cause before her
death in 2005. Michelle Obama is a writer, lawyer, and first African American First Lady of the United States. During husband, Barack Obama’s service as president, Michelle worked to improve many things like: the health of youth, poverty in the U.S., education, and LGBTQA rights. Obama used her husband’s time in office to advocate change in the U.S. and inspire women. Though time may separate these six women, their drive and willingness to step forward and continue to be the 1st of a variety of accomplishments has changed the world. May the history of powerful black women continue to repeat itself.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianOpinions | Monday, February 4, 2019
Page 8
Opinions
Social Media Usage in an Era of Dishonesty
BY ALLURA GUERRA Contributing Writer Do you use Twitter, Instagram or Snapchat? In today’s society almost everyone has some form of social media. It provides us with a convenient way to stay up to date with the latest current events and things happening in
our loved one’s lives. However, while many of these platforms were created to form a sense of community among family members and friends, it has quickly become a place where people go to show off and portray themselves differently than they do in person. It has become an online realm where people can hide behind computer and phone screens, allowing them to paint a false reality. Social media allows many of us to create a new self-image where our lives are “picture perfect,” which has often done more harm than good. From personal experience in talking with my family and friends, I have learned that there is a great amount of people who
do not necessarily want to be on social media, but feel the need to do so. It is simply the way of the world. If we are not connected on social media, then we feel as though we are missing out on having an insight into other people’s lives or allowing people to see ours. Often times we find ourselves posting a picture to see how many people are going to like it or who is going to comment and what they are going to say. It is in our human nature to have a desire to be seen and heard. We want to know who is watching what we are posting, and it consumes us on a daily basis. Although this is a fact, it does not mean that it is necessarily beneficial.
Often times when we have a bad day or are bothered by a person or situation, we immediately feel the need to express our thoughts to the world. However, what we fail to realize is that once it is posted, it never gets fully erased. Screenshots and screen recording features have made social media an even darker place than before. Even though many social media platforms offer users to make their account private, there is nothing that prevents people from sharing the information they have access to. A suggestion may be to keep these private posts in the draft folder to look back on instead of immediately pressing the “tweet” or “share” button.
Social media, although a convenient way to stay connected, has more often than not created an avenue for many people to falsely portray themselves. It also provides a way for people to obtain more information on someone than they should be able to. Before posting something about ourselves or our lives we should really consider what consequences may come and that it will be out there for all to share.
SAM HOUS TO N S TATE UNI V ERSIT Y CENTER FOR DIVERSIT Y & INTERCULTUR AL AFFAIRS PRESENTS:
15th Annual
FEATURING:
Symone Sanders
Rafael Matos
National Press Secretary for 2016 Bernie Sanders Presidential Campaign
Educator and Director of Education for Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.
WHEN:
Nina Davuluri
Miss America 2014. First Indian American and South Asian to become Miss America.
WHERE:
FEB. 15 –16, 2019
LOWMAN STUDENT CENTER
HOW:
REGISTER AT SHSU.EDU/ DLC OR VISIT LSC 308
K E Y NOTE SPE AK ER S • WOR K SHOP S • ME AL S INCLU DED DOOR PRIZE S • SHSU ORGANIZ ATION COMPE TITION FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT 936.294.3650
Center for Diversity & Intercultural Affairs TM
SAM HOUSTON STATE UNIVERSITY
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleSports | Monday, February 4, 2019
Page 10
SPORTS
Delaney Duo Drives Kats’ Dominance BY GABE MYERS Sports Editor There are quite a few things that can be attributed to the Bearkats success in Conference play this season. Two of the most important factors are senior guards Cameron and Josh Delaney. The Delaney brothers have spearheaded the Bearkats offensively this season, and have helped lead the Bearkats atop the Southland Conference through nine games in league play. Early in conference play on Jan. 12 Cameron Delaney scored 25 points in a hard fought win over University of Incarnate Word. Delaney was able to get hot shooting the ball late in the game to help the Bearkats put away the Cardinals. The week prior in their conference opener on Jan. 5 against Abilene Christian University, it was Josh Delaney who had the hot hand, scoring a career high 30 points. It’s not just those two nights where the Delaney brothers have gotten hot. Cameron Delaney has led the Bearkats in
scoring in six games this season, the most of any Bearkat player. Delaney also leads the team in three pointers made with 46 on the season, with Josh sitting second on the team with 38. The brothers are also two of the top three scorers on the team. Cam leads the team in scoring with 12 points per game, while Josh is the third leading scorer with 10.1 points per game. For the brothers they are trying to mimic some of the success that they their senior year of high school together at Harker Heights. Their senior season at Harker Heights the brothers were able to lead their team to a district championship. They led their team deep into the playoffs as well, making it to the regional semifinal before losing to eventual runner up Desoto high school. At that time the brothers thought it would be their last time playing together. “I really felt like that was the last time that me and Cameron would play basketball together,” Josh Delaney said. “Originally he committed to University of Denver and I came to Sam
Houston, so I felt like that because that was our last year playing together we had to make it a special one.” This season is seen as a second chance of sorts for the brothers. They now unexpectedly get to have one last season on the court together. They have gotten off to a great start in conference play, and every team’s goal coming into a season is to win their conference. The Delaney’s though say that this season’s success will not be defined by wins and losses necessarily. “This season is successful if we follow the game plan,” Josh Delaney said. “When we follow that it works well for us.” For Cameron success is a little bit simpler than that. “This season is a success if we treat every game like it’s a championship game,” Delaney said. “And play for 40 minutes every night.” The Delaney’s are focused on the process, as both of their careers have been a process to get to this point. Now they are trying to make the most of it.
Bearkat Bowling Strikes Back: Top 5 Finish in Arlington BY GABE MYERS Sports Editor The Sam Houston State University women’s bowling team is one of the most successful athletic programs on campus. In just a nine-year tenure, the program saw a National Championship in 2014, and semi-finalist appearances in 2015, 2017 and 2018. Head coach Brad Hagen has created a championship culture
in his time at SHSU. One major difference between Hagen’s first eight years and now is the addition of an on-campus bowling facility, which is now available to the team for regular practices. A big part of the team’s success in recent years is senior Madysen Keller. Keller made headlines last season when she bowled a 300 for the Bearkats at the Sugar Bowl tournament in October 2017. Keller, now a senior, is hoping that the 2018-19 Bearkats can be remembered as a
special team. “This is really hard for me,” Keller said. “I’m glad I get to see the new lanes. I’m glad I get to be a part of it, but it’s really sad that it’s coming to an end for me.” The bowling team is the most traveled team on campus. Already this season the Bearkats have traveled to Wisconsin, Delaware and Pennsylvania for tournaments. “It’s a mental and physical grind.” Hagen said. “I joke with
people because we are the most seasoned, traveled team in our athletic department. We [are] on our feet for six, seven eight hours a day. I tell our administration that’s the easy part. The tough part is leaving at 3 a.m.” The team is constantly tested as a member of the Southland Bowling League (SBL), which currently places four teams in the NCAA’s Top 10. SHSU is ranked No. 6 in the country alongside SBL foes like No. 3 Vanderbilt University, No. 4
Arkansas State University and No. 10 Stephen F. Austin State University. “The crazy thing about the (SBL) is that we literally created a juggernaut of a conference,” Hagen said. “It works out well for us because we have some very elite competition.” With the SBL championships just over two months away, the Bearkats will look to get the ball rolling as they head towards the stretch run of their season.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleSports | Monday, February 4, 2019
Page 11
SPORTS
SHSU Tennis Looks Toward Conference Opener BY COLTON FOSTER Contributing Reporter The Sam Houston State University tennis team is hitting its stride for the 2019 season. With five matches under their belt the Bearkats hold a 3-2 record, with their most recent decision being a win over University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). “These next four [matches] we want to win them all,” Head Coach Rob Hubbard said. “But everything is about getting better each match. We learned a lot playing two nationally ranked programs in Houston
and Rice last weekend. We still have things to improve on, and these next four matches we want to keep winning as much as we can, but making sure everything is preparing us for March.” The win over UTSA was career victory number 300 for Hubbard. He took over at the helm for the Bearkats in July 2016 and has led the team to the conference tournament in each of his first two years at SHSU after the program failed to do so in the four years prior to Hubbard’s arrival. With four matches left until the start of conference play, the Bearkats look to build
momentum in order to fight for a Southland Conference title this spring. They look to do that with sophomore Sahaja Yamalapalli playing the number one match and redshirt junior Ema Barkovic playing the number two match. The team looks to continue its winning ways as they play the University of North Texas Eagles Feb. 8. The Bearkats will be on the road until conference play opens up March 1 against the Nicholls State University Colonels.
@HoustonianSport Grant Worley
“
“This announcement is made in recognition of the important role of student journalists, the impact they make, the challenges they face and to mark the 50th anniversary of the 1969 U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Tinker v. Des Moines... which defended the free press and free speech rights of students.” - Newseum.org
With 2019 declared “The Year of the Student Journalist,” it opens a dialogue opportunity not usually afforded to those sitting in a student newsroom. What is the line between what is expected of student journalists and professional journalists? What separates the two? The newsroom at The Houstonian is designed to be a learning environment just like a classroom. Young writers, photographers, designers and editors are able to obtain and hone skills
”
Newseum Deems 2019 “Year of Student Journalist”
Our Staff ’s Perspective
like news gathering, interviewing, writing and reporting on live events. While a student journalist is indeed in a learning environment, they are not sheltered from the expectations of journalism itself. That is the very nature of the job we all signed up for. Student publications are often held accountable in all the ways a professional publication would be. When things get sticky, there’s no one to say, “Well, they’re just learning.” When
things publish, they’re out there to the world. Then it’s just you, your byline, and the facts behind you. It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a student newsroom or not. You are held to professional standards, for better or worse. There’s constant and consistent pressure to never slip up. As the very nature of journalism devolves into something risky, student newsrooms are evolving to churn out a different breed of journalists that go into this business looking trouble
dead in the eyes. A breed of journalists that have seen the dangers of the job, but who stick around anyway. A breed of journalists that believe in the profession regardless of rhetoric used against it. A breed of journalists who know the cost, but who choose to do this anyway. Organizations like Newseum, the Freedom Forum Institute and the Student Press Law Center were all founded because they recognized the importance of student journalists and stu-
dent newsrooms. They recognize this one-of-a-kind learning opportunity comes with one-ofa-kind responsibility. Freedom of the press is an unalienable right that should be treated as a privilege. Not only does freedom of the press protect professionals, but it aims to create a safe environment for student journalists to gain knowledge that paves the road to success.
Students Dedicated To Professional Journalism Editorial Staff
Print Media Editor-in-Chief - Sharon Raissi Digital Media Editor-in-Chief - Tyler Josefsen Campus News Editor - Mason Storrs Community News Editor - Tyler Mowery Arts & Entertainment Editor - Ariole Jones Sports Editor - Gabe Myers Web Editor - Batuhan Keskin
Other Staff
Creative Director Jordan Likens Photographers/Designers Grant Worley Jake St. Angelo Digital Content Madison Avila Jamie Barnes Alexis Berkey
Advertising Staff
Advertising Manager - Darien Camacho 936-294-1495 Advertising Graphics - Emily Guerra Delivery - Ariana Ramos Run Sheet Manager - Kia Seastrunk Business Manager - Paty Mason 936-294-1500 Faculty Advisor- Debbi Hatton 936-294-1498