Monday, February 17, 2020
The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University
Students Dedicated to Professional Journalism
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ly closed in order to construct CR 772 ilar to CR the77current plan in place,” 4 three bridges in its place.” Colwell said. 745 2628 The current exit The expansion of I-45CR will CR and entrance C ramps will be closed during result in greater mobility and various intervals, but during connectivity between Houston CR 777 construction all routes will be and Dallas. TxDOT’s consulCR 744 signed, and press releases Cwill 247 tant designers haveCRbeen 7 38 tasked CR 7 CR 7 82 49 781 CR 780 be in place so citizens can know with providing 4 traffic lanes and 3 7 R C what91 to expect. shoulders throughout construcCR 783 “Most lane closures will occur tion in the Huntsville city limits. at night, and should a hurricane 980 evacuation become necessary, contra-flow would start at the CR 658 southern end of the project simR
Segment 2B is set to begin ing project. two years after segment 2A. “The greatest impact will be This segment will pick up at to traffic trying to cross the CR 799 the Home Depot and take the interstate,” Texas Department construction north to FM 1696. of Transportation Public InforSegments 2A and 2B combined mation Officer Bob Colwell said. 45 are estimated to be just under “During construction, there will 5 50 half a billion dollars. be a time when FM 1374 (Mont75for all of “The state is paying gomery Road) will have reduced the projects so it’s nothing the lanes and utilize two newly city has to cover the cost of,” constructed U-turn bridges in CR 5 0 Kulhavy said. order construct a new CR 500 to 3 CR 506 in The construction will have a bridge the same temporary effect on the people location as the 1696 of Huntsville and commuters current bridge. The CR 45 7 of I-45. Some businesses will be Smither overpass impacted on the east side of the will need 1696 to be freeway as they will lose some 55 completeproperty as a part of the widen-
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Walker County residents can expect more construction on Interstate 45 in the coming year. The next segment of construction is set to begin in 2021, according to Huntsville City Manager Aron Kulhavy. Segment 2A will begin where the first phase stops, which is near the Highway 19 overpass. It would widen I-45 to six lanes, take the project through Huntsville and end by Home Depot. The segment is projected to be completed in three to four years.
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The Houstonian | bit.ly/SHSUCampusNews | Monday, February 17, 2020
Page 2
campus news
TASFA Offers Students State-Level Financial Aid BY ADRIANNE REECE Contributing Reporter Federal Student Aid serves as financial guidance and a lifeline to students, but it’s not always guaranteed. Taking out private loans, obtaining scholarships and working a job or two may be underlying reasons for a student being denied federal aid, but there’s another option that many students aren’t aware of: Texas Application for State Financial Aid. TASFA is an application that collects information to determine eligibility for state and institutional financial aid. To be eligible, students must be a Texas resident and unable to apply for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, for you can’t obtain both aids at the same time. After meeting that criteria, applicants have to mail the appli-
Photo courtesy of texasoncourse.org DEEP IN THE POCKET OF TEXAS. The Texas Application for State Financial Aid is an alternative for those who are ineligible for federal financial aid. TASFA recently moved its application online to be more accessible.
cation form to specific universities that accept TASFA. Sam Houston State University is one of many Texas institutions who accept state financial aid, but it’s vital that students properly research what institutions are eligible for TASFA. It’s a process
that calls for patience and dedication, but with the new decision to bring the application online in fall 2021, applying could become less difficult. Texas House Bill 2140, passed in June 2019, supports the idea of The Texas Higher Education
Coordinating Board to create a website for TASFA. This online database will have the same questions that the physical TASFA application possesses and will make collecting and sharing information between institutions smoother. SHSU Student Money Management Program Coordinator Ace Thomas brought up an interesting detail concerning this change that aligns accessibility and inclusion. “We work high school FAFSA/TASFA workshops where we help students and their parents fill out their respective forms,” Thomas said. “It is very alienating for TASFA students to be doing a paper form while all their peers are on computers submitting them digitally. Now they can all be on the computers. It’s just easier for everyone.” This digital direction could provide ease, instant engagement and clarity for applicants.
Technology of many types are accessible on college campuses, so a student interested in applying could do so at their dorms or even set an appointment with their financial advisor for assistance. It’s a more fluid experience that serves students and their financial journey. Thomas said online applications will make TASFA more user-friendly. “The TASFA is not particularly easy to fill out if you have never experienced them before,” Thomas said. “Online versions make these forms much more manageable since they give you sections at a time to work towards.” According to the THECB, state financial aid produces 9% of overall financial aid in Texas. With this digital introduction, there could potentially be a spike in interest and submissions for TASFA once 2021 comes around.
Priority One to Host Award-Winning PBS Editor BY DANIELLE GARZA Contributing Reporter Senior Story Editor of the award-winning PBS series “Frontline,” Lauren Ezell, will visit Studio A, first floor of the Dan Rather Communications Building on Feb. 18 at 5 p.m. She is a featured guest for Priority One’s “Mingling with the Media” series. “Mingling with the Media” is a forum that brings figures active in the industry on campus to discuss their profession through an informal conversation with students, faculty and staff. “This is a special opportuni-
ty to interact with a journalist from an outlet based in Boston,” Professor Grant Wiedenfeld said. “WGBH in Boston produces many programs shown nationally on PBS. Her work gives occasion to discuss important world affairs, the role of public broadcasting and the profession of investigative journalism.” Ezell earned her bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication in 2008 at the University of Georgia. She then moved on to do work for “Frontline” as a production assis-
Photo courtesy of Priority One
tant, and later advanced to become a senior story editor. “Ezell works on the team at ‘Frontline,’ a highly acclaimed investigative journalism program widely seen on PBS,” Wiedenfeld said. “She has worked on shows recognized with Peabody and Emmy awards, such as ‘The Facebook Dilemma’ in 2018.” Wiedenfeld said that it is an honor to have such a talented and dedicated journalist come and
speak to students, faculty and staff about her work. “This event is another occasion for us at Sam to engage with ongoing events in the world and the media professionals who cover them,” Wiedenfeld said. The event is free and open to the public, with limited seating available. For more information on the event, contact Grant Wiedenfeld at grant.wiedenfeld@shsu.edu or 936-294-1501.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/SHSUCampusNews | Monday, February 17, 2020
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campus news
SHSU Food Pantry Moves to New Larger Space BY TERESA STUREK Contributing Reporter The Sam Houston State University Food Pantry celebrated the grand opening of their new location Tuesday, Feb. 4. The purpose of the Food Pantry is to supply students with food insecurity nutritious meals. Food Pantry Student Worker Supervisor Thomas Taylor said that with the growing number of students in need of food, the old location was too small. “We moved because we were working out of a little 10-by-10 closet, and between all the cans and fridges, there was simply no space for students to come
in and look around very easily,” Taylor said. The Food Pantry started distributing food in 2014 when SHSU student Amber Spell became concerned after reading about the increasing number of food pantries opening on other college campuses. According to a survey of SHSU students in 2014, over 50% of respondents indicated that they had experienced food insecurity in recent months. In 2019, the College of Health Sciences started overseeing the pantry. COHS plays an important role in the health and wellness of the students through education and by making sure the Food Pantry is
Mason Storrs sustained by donations of food and money. Taylor said the new space will help to better serve the students. “The new space is awesome,”
Taylor said. “It is huge and has so much space, and we have so many new things like a freezer, a better fridge and nicer shelving. The new place is a whole build-
ing, roughly eight times larger and it has its own little office with an employee area. We love the new place so much.” Taylor said the pantry distributes food on every other Wednesday. If a student in is immediate need of food, they can pick up an emergency food kit during normal operating hours. The pantry is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon. It is located behind the KatPost at 1108 17th St. For more information or to donate, contact the Food Pantry at foodpantry@shsu.edu or call 936-294-4441.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleNews | Monday, February 17, 2020
Page 4
community news
Councilmembers Address Student Housing Issue BY AMANDA J. RAASKA
Community News Editor For students who do not have the option to commute or live on campus, Huntsville has many apartments and properties for students to rent out by the school year. The city has 43 apartments that advertise for students and other types of living situations, with 30 of those apartments solely focusing on students. Student apartments are characterized by a renter paying only for his or her bedroom and sharing the living space with other renters, instead of renting out the whole unit. On Feb. 4, the city council took a vote on allowing a conditional use permit for Guefen
Development Partners to make another student apartment complex in Huntsville. The council approved the
“Supply and demand, students will start to benefit from lower prices” -City Councilmember Paul Davidhizar permit by a 7-2 vote. City councilmember Paul Davidhizar, who voted to approve the permit, focused his opinion on the role of government in deciding business for the community.
“The short answer is I don’t think it’s the government’s position to regulate what business comes into the city what business don’t, except if it is an immoral or illicit business or something,” Davidhizar said. Davidhizar said that if Huntsville has a surplus of apartments, some of them may start catering to different living situations or decrease rent prices. “Supply and demand, students will start to benefit from lower prices. It’s a win-win situation,” Davidhizar said. City councilmember Joe Rodriquez voted in support of the permit as well. “Don’t get me wrong, the council continues to welcome new development in this city because it increases our tax base,” Rodriquez said. “If the market
calls for more apartments, then the council will approve them if they meet our building codes. To do otherwise would discourage all future development in this city.” Councilmember Daiquiri Beebe, who voted against the land permit, focused her opinion on giving more housing opportunities for students and citizens of Huntsville. She said that the number of student-friendly apartments now matches the number of students that we can estimate are here in Huntsville. “The way that new apartment complexes are being built is with a particular design,” Beebe said. “The design allows the developer to rent out each individual bedroom with its own bathroom and the students share a living room and kitchen. This
is a desirable way for college students to live temporarily, but many college students get tired of roommates after a couple of years, and this design is not desirable for anyone else to live in either.” Beebe said that with most student-friendly apartments renting for $600 and up per bedroom, the price of rent is very high. “Huntsville needs more one, two and three-bedroom traditional apartments that will appeal to all types of people, including students,” Beebe said.
/HoustonianNews @houstoniannews @HoustonianNews
‘Shotgun’ Fred, a Legend Honored with Barbecue
Over the weekend, 50 teams came out to compete in a barbecue cook-off in honor of “Shotgun” Fred Pirkle. Teams cooked their best chicken, ribs, pork and more to win prizes at the end of the weekend. The showdown raises money for Pirkle’s scholarship endowment that helps engineering students at Sam Houston State University.
Miranda Martinez
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleNews | Monday, February 17, 2020
community news
Page 5
Cultural District Shines Light on Huntsville’s History BY ANA DE LEÓN
Contributing Reporter The Huntsville Cultural District was founded in September 2009 by the Texas Commission on the Arts as one of the state’s cultural districts. The district is centered in the downtown area, and includes museums, art galleries, art studios, workshops, historic locations, cultural events, festivals and theaters for everyone to enjoy. Huntsville’s cultural district is also home to some of the finest historical architecture in Texas. The Wynne Home Arts and Visitor Center promotes and shares the art and heritage of the Huntsville community, and
is the gateway to the rest of the cultural district. Also included along the way is the Walls Unit, the oldest state prison in Texas and the location of the execution chamber, as well as the Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Austin Hall at Sam Houston State University and the Sam Houston Grave Site. “There are a variety of historical sites to visit,” Cultural Services Coordinator Sarah Faulkner said. “The Old Town Theatre is a great location for film screenings, live music and performing arts events. I personally have not been through the step-by-step driving tour, but I know a lot of people that have participated and toured through some of Huntsville’s most his-
torical sightings.” More locations included in the district are the Samuel Walker Houston Cultural Center, the Gibbs-Powell Home, The Steamboat House, Peabody Memorial Library and more. “There are no guided tours for the cultural district, it is a self-activity that you can enjoy with friends, family or independently to visit and learn the history of Sam Houston,” member of the Statue Visitor Center and Tourism Department Jacob Myers said. For more information, visit the Wynne Home Arts and Visitor Center on 11th Street, call 936-291-5424.
Chelsey Norton GOT CULTURE? Wynne Home Arts and Vistor Center helps vistors and students travel the cultural district in the streets of Huntsville.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianAandE | Monday, February 17, 2020
Page 6
Arts & entertainment
Grammy Winners Perform in SHSU’s Guest Artist Series BY ADRIANNE REECE Contributing Reporter Hosted by Sam Houston State University’s College of Arts & Media, Grammy award-winning bluegrass band, The Travelin’ McCourys, is set to perform at the James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center on Feb. 20 at 7:30 p.m. This performance is part of the College of Arts & Media Guest Artist Series, which brings in renowned artists for entertainment at SHSU. Composed of five stellar musicians, the group works to seek progression and musical diversity through their eclectic sound. Highlighting their interest to
move away from a traditional bluegrass sound is vital for the McCoury brothers. Rob (banjo) and Ronnie (mandolin) began their musical journey traveling alongside their father, Del McCoury, in the Del McCoury Band. With Del McCoury already an established and inspirational force within the bluegrass world, the brothers had their father’s successful platform to both admire and use as a visual for something transformative. With Cody Kilby on guitar and two members from The Del McCoury band, bassist Alan Bartram and fiddler Jason Carter, The Travelin’ McCourys was born. The band has become the only group in which each of its
members have been recognized with an International Bluegrass Music Association award for their instruments at least once. They’ve continued to innovate pathways within music by collaborating with artists of different genres, implementing a sound that was both experimental and refreshing. They have collaborated with artists like Dierks Bentley, Keller Williams, Jeff Austin and more. The band is also the creator of The Grateful Ball, a bluegrass tribute to the rock band Grateful Dead. Their SHSU performance comes in the middle of the band’s headlining tour. Composed of small, intimate shows and festival popups at DelFest,
THE COLLEGE OF ARTS AND MEDIA PRESENTS
T H E G U E S T A RT I S T S E R I E S
WITH GRAMMY AWARD WINNING
BLUEGRASS BAND
THE
Photo courtesy of thebluegrasssituation.com Winter WonderGrass and many more, fans get to experience the act performing their Grammy-winning album. Their 2019 Grammy for “Best Bluegrass Album” serves as another important milestone for individual members. Tickets ranging from $15 to $40 are now available to pur-
20
FEBRUARY
7:30PM
GPAC CONCERT
HALL
WWW.SHSUTIC KE TS . C OM TICKETS@SH S U . ED U 936 -294- 2339
chase. Student Rush will become available on Jan. 20 for SHSU students to receive one free ticket, if purchased online, and will end one hour prior to the event. For more information on pricing details, visit shsu.universitytickets.com or contact the Gaertner Performing Arts Center Box Office at 936-294-2339.
SHSU STUDENTS [1]
FREE TICKET
WHEN RESERVED ONLINE
INDIVIDUAL
TICKETS $15 - $40
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianAandE | Monday, February 17, 2020
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Arts & entertainment
7 Things to Know About Mardi Gras Before Your Next Trip BY KRYSTA NERO Contributing Reporter Mardi Gras is a tradition that dates back thousands of years into ancient history. The festivities held in the city of New Orleans are perhaps the most popular to American culture. Mardi Gras is recognized as an extravagant celebration filled with fun and excitement. Every year, people travel to the streets to partake in the vibrant, colorful atmosphere and enjoy the culture at its finest. However, the story behind the history of Mardi Gras is not as popular as the festival itself. Here are seven things you should know about Mardi Gras. 1. Mardi Gras originated in Europe Mardi Gras dates all the way back to medieval Europe. The common misconception is that Mardi Gras is a holiday that originated in the streets of New Orleans, but that is far from the truth. In March of 1699, two French explorers landed in present day New Orleans. Upon their arrival, explorers Pierre Le Moyne d’lberville and Sieur de Bienville celebrated, and named
their new land Point du Mardi Gras. 2. “Fat Tuesday” “Fat Tuesday is another name identifiable to Mardi Gras. It is actually the French translation. In the French language, Mardi means “Tuesday” and gras means “fat.” In Europe, Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday is the day before Ash Wednesday. This is the one and only day of Mardi Gras. Everything else leading up to this day is called Carnival. 3. Carnival vs. Mardi Gras Most tourists assume they are travelling to New Orleans for Mardi Gras and fail to realize that Mardi Gras is only one single day, Fat Tuesday. However, New Orleans is known for celebrating weeks before Mardi Gras. The celebration spans over a series of weeks and is filled with festivals, beads, food and culture. The weeks leading up to the day of Mardi Gras is commonly known as Carnival. This is what people travel for, and while it is tons of fun, it is not necessarily Mardi Gras. 4. Mardi Gras is a Christian Holiday It is the day, as explained above, before Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday is the day Lent
Photo courtesy of Reuters RIDIN’ AROUND WITH MY KREWE . A krewe is a group of people that stage Mardi Gras festivities in celebration of the holiday.
begins, so for 40 days Christians cleanse and fast. Originally, Mardi Gras was the day the Christian families would indulge in all of the generally unhealthier foods before participating in Lent in the days leading up to Easter. While the holiday still
holds the same purpose, it has expanded largely over the years in celebration. 5. Mardi Gras is a Legal Holiday Fun fact. Mardi Gras is actually a legal holiday in the state of Louisiana. In 1875 Governor Warmoth signed the “Mardi Gras Act” making Mardi Gras an official state holiday. 6. It’s kid-friendly While it doesn’t seem like the best place to bring children to on a family vacation, you will often find children running the streets of New Orleans with the best of them. Let’s not forget this is a Christian holiday and although the culture has shifted over the years, the purpose remains the same. Families are more than welcome and, in fact, they come every year to experience the Carnival. 7. Krewes A krewe is a group of people that get together and throw the
countless parades that attract visitors to Mardi Gras season. Each krewe throws a parade slightly different than the next. In 1827 a group of students dressed up in colorful costumes and celebrated through the streets of New Orleans. This was the first celebration of its kind. In 1857, 30 years later, a secret society of businessmen called the Mistick Krewe of Comus marched through the streets of New Orleans with torches, marching bands and rolling floats. This most resembles the nature of Mardi Gras today. Well there you have it! Seven things you should know about the history of Mardi Gras before you plan your next trip. For the year of 2020, Mardi Gras falls on Tuesday, Feb. 25. Have fun, experience the culture and bring back some beads!
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianOpinions | Monday, February 17, 2020
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Opinions
Snoop Dogg vs Gayle King: Canceling a Culture of Hate BY FATIMA HUERTA Contributing Writer
Cancel culture is a big deal, and you probably witness the drama of it unfold on social media daily. It seems as if every week there is someone being called problematic. This trend targets high profile celebrities, brands, companies and influencers. It occurs throughout all social media platforms, but primarily on Twitter. The main goal is to hold people accountable for their wrongdoings and destroy their reputation along the way. Celebrities are typically the victims of this internet phenomenon, but in recent cases they have also become the attackers.
2nd Annual
For example, CBS journalist Gayle King has been under attack by a vast number of Kobe Bryant fans because of a recent interview she had with former WNBA star Lisa Leslie. During the interview, the journalist asked Leslie about her thoughts on Kobe’s past rape allegations and how it affected his legacy. People were outraged and responded by flooding the Twitter feed with the hashtag #CancelGayleKing. This included famous rapper Snoop Dogg, who took it a step forward and posted a video of himself threatening King. His reaction was a representation of how toxic this trend has become to our society. The trend comes from a mob mentality and
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“Many are quick to judge and slow to question the situation. It is crucial for the public to accept the fact that humans make mistakes” should not be considered a form of justice. Snoop Dogg has since apologized, saying that “It’s OK to man up and say that you’re wrong.” People don’t have to brutally attack those who are unintentionally offensive toward others. They should be told that their behavior is unacceptable and have the opportunity to grow and learn, instead of being isolated from humanity. Many are quick to judge and slow to question the situation. It is crucial for the public to accept the fact that humans make mistakes. By allowing this humiliation to continue, society is promoting hatred and cruelty towards others. Whether it be a celebrity, politician, brand or company, everyone is susceptible to make
Photo courtesy of Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP DROP CANCELING LIKE IT’S HOT While Snoop Dogg has since apologized for the comments he made to Gayle King, his actions show how the toxic values of internet cancel culture can effect even celebrities.
a mistake. The social climate is constantly changing as new generations begin to take part in the world of the internet. People are now more sensitive than ever, this is shown in the amount of hatred that is seen on an everyday basis. Although no one can escape
their past mistakes, as individuals, it is important to take responsibility of what is said online and respect others instead of attacking them. Let’s construct a better community that will cancel hatred and promote acceptance.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianOpinions | Monday, February 17, 2020
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Opinions
Point-Counterpoint Counterpoint Views on Trump’s Impeachment
After the Senate cleared President Donald Trump of all charges, with the votes going mostly on party lines, the questions remain: Did the Republicans ignore a compelling case? Were the Democrats just out to get Trump?
BY JORDAN JOHNSON SHSU College Democrats President
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple months, chances are you’ve heard the news. Every single news station has it plastered all over the TV screen: “The 45th President, Donald Trump, has been impeached.” On Dec. 18, the United States House of Representatives voted on two articles of impeachment. In early February, the majority Republican Senate voted to acquit Donald Trump, unsurprisingly. I believe that Republican senators should have voted to hear from more witnesses so they could actually conduct a fair trial. Honestly, Republicans and Democrats need to get back to a place where they can peacefully disagree and have a common sense of morality. We need
to bring morality back to the White House. Since Congress failed us and didn’t do their jobs to find out the truth, it’s now up to us to take action! What can you do? I’m glad you asked! Luckily this guy’s four years are almost up. He’s running for re-election in 2020 and now the power is in our hands to vote this guy out! You can stay informed, educate others, help people get registered to vote, and the most important: go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and VOTE! Because like Michelle Obama once said, “It’s more important than ever that we vote, not just this year, but every year and in every election. Every voice must be heard and every vote must be counted.”
BY DOMINICK HAYES SHSU College Republicans Director of Communications
Photo courtesy of Evan Vucci/AP
With the impeachment trials finally over, it’s safe to say that we probably never want to hear the word “impeachment” ever again. Grueling weeks of cringe, partisan showmanship and grandstanding, only to end the way we knew it would: divided down party lines. Well, everyone except House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. If the recent votes aren’t enough to convince you of this, let’s look back a few years. Less than a month after President Donald Trump was inaugurated, a resolution for impeachment was already brought up (and ultimately failed in the House). Perhaps this was a scant attempt at undoing what they believed to be rightfully theirs:
Emily Guerra
the presidency (No thanks to Bernie. Sorry man.). Although a lack of sufficient and substantial evidence brought this to a screeching halt. After multiple cries for bringing about impeachment, our unknown whistleblower comes in clutch for the Democrats. While I won’t explain the timeline here, the rest of the process is majority divided upon party lines. You know, even after House Speaker Pelosi said she wouldn’t approve an impeachment inquiry without bi-partisan support. From here on, a Democrat majority House votes in favor of both the impeachment inquiry and impeachment itself. The Democrat led Judiciary Committee approved the articles of impeachment to be voted on, and Republican Senate rejects removal from office (hope you have a side hustle, Mitt). President Trump is now and forever will be impeached. While this may seem unbeneficial for President Trump, the Democrat’s failed attempt may have secured his re-election and reversed his “tarnished” administration from the history books. All-in-all, this entire process will change the way the American people view the impeachment process, they’ll now view it as a joke.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleSports | Monday, February 17, 2020
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SPORTS
Bearkats Basketball Sweeps UCA, Remain Near Top of Southland BY TYLER JOSEFSEN Sports Editor
Hannah Trojan
The Sam Houston State University basketball teams had a productive weekend in front of their home crowd at Johnson Coliseum when they swept the visiting University of Central Arkansas. Women’s Basketball The Bearkats outscored the Sugar Bears 25-6 in the fourth quarter Saturday on their way to a 73-58 victory. The late surge helped SHSU overcome an early deficit and improve to 12-3 against conference opponents. After trailing 19-13, the Kats ended the first quarter with a 9-2 run capped off by a go-
ahead three-pointer with 46 seconds on the clock from senior guard Rachel Harrell. UCA had a slight advantage in the second quarter, however, outscoring SHSU 17-14 as the Sugar Bears took a 38-36 lead into halftime. The back-and-forth contest continued through the third quarter. UCA once again outscored the Bearkats and had a 52-48 lead heading into the final 10 minutes. The fourth quarter started with a 5-0 run that put SHSU on top 53-52. After a lay-up by UCA, Jaylonn Walker hit a huge three-pointer that put the Kats on top 56-54, and they never looked back from there. Walker finished the day with 16 points and was a perfect 4-of-4 from
behind the arc. SHSU ended the game on a 17-4 run to seal the deal and extend its winning streak to three games. The Bearkats currently sit in second place in the Southland Conference half a game behind Stephen F. Austin University. The women have five regular season games left and are back in action Feb. 19 at Lamar at 7 p.m. Men’s Basketball Following the women’s dominating victory, men’s basketball picked up a 15-point victory of its own beating UCA 82-67. Senior forward Kai Mitchell had a huge night, posting 30 points in 27 minutes and grabbing eight rebounds. With the game tied at 10 early
in the first half, SHSU went on a 14-0 run that ultimately proved to be the difference in the contest. After buckets from three different Bearkats, sophomore guard Zach Nutall hit a three-pointer to push SHSU’s lead to 19-10 and spark a run of eight straight points all scored by Nutall. He finished with 21 points and added four rebounds and three steals to his totals. The Bearkats maintained a consistent lead for the rest of the game to solidify their second straight victory. SHSU is in fourth place in the SLC standings, trailing Abilene Christian University by half a game. The men play Lamar Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville.
BEARKAT ATHLETICS UPCOMING EVENTS BASEBALL VS RICE
SOFTBALL VS NORTH DAKOTA STATE
FEBRUARY 18 AT 6:30 PM | DON SANDERS STADIUM
FEBRUARY 28 AT 6:30 PM |BEARKAT SOFTBALL COMPLEX
MEN’S BASKETBALL VS LAMAR
SOFTBALL VS NORTH DAKOTA STATE
FEBRUARY 19 AT 6:30 PM | JOHNSON COLISEUM
FEBRUARY 29 AT 12 PM |BEARKAT SOFTBALL COMPLEX
BASEBALL VS LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
SOFTBALL VS LOUISIANA TECH
FEBRUARY 21 AT 6:30 PM | DON SANDERS STADIUM
FEBRUARY 29 AT 6 PM |BEARKAT SOFTBALL COMPLEX
BASEBALL VS LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
SOFTBALL VS LOUISIANA TECH
FEBRUARY 22 AT 3 PM | DON SANDERS STADIUM
MARCH 1 AT 1 PM |BEARKAT SOFTBALL COMPLEX
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL VS HOUSTON BAPTIST
FEBRUARY 22 AT 3 PM | JOHNSON COLISEUM MEN’S BASKETBALL VS HOUSTON BAPTIST
FEBRUARY 22 AT 5:30 PM | JOHNSON COLISEUM BASEBALL VS LOYOLA MARYMOUNT
FEBRUARY 23 AT 1 PM |DON SANDERS STADIUM
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleSports | Monday, February 17, 2020
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SPORTS
Baseball Rides Strong Pitching to Series Win SHSU took two of three from St. Mary’s to open 2020 campaign
Hannah Trojan
SHINE BRIGHT ON THE DIAMOND. SHSU’s strong pitching and timely hitting led to a series win over St. Mary’s to begin its 2020 campaign.
FRIDAY
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Junior right-hander Cole Wesneski got the save after hurling four scoreless innings with four hits and four strikeouts. Junior righty Tyler Davis picked up his first win as a Bearkat.
SATURDAY
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Matt Dillard threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season. Junior righty Lance Lusk completed the shutout with 3 2/3 perfect innings to get the save.
SUNDAY
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Junior Jack Rogers kept the Kats in the game with a three-run homerun in the sixth inning. Junior catcher Trent Touchet also went deep in the extra innings loss.
It was a really good, hard fought Sunday. We were able...to keep fighting and get us back in the game. We’re a work in progress. We know that. We’re going to get the pieces and just keep grinding away. It’s a long year. A lot of new [pitchers] that we ran out there... they’ve been battle tested and we’ll continue to figure out the right mix. - head coach Jay Siriani SHSU takes on Rice University Feb. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium before a weekend series at home versus Loyola Marymount.
Kats Bowling Claims Another Top-5 Finish No. 2 Sam Houston State University turned it up a notch on the last day of the Mid-Winter Invitational to roll its way into a fifth place finish. The Kats had a slow start on Friday but went 7-1 after that to jump up in the standings. Their three wins on Sunday included a come-from-behind victory over No. 3 Nebraska. The match went seven games, and SHSU barely edged out the Cornhuskers 223217. SHSU took down three ranked opponents on Sunday, opening the day with a 4-1 defeat of No. 21 University of Alabama at Birmingham. Following that, the Bearkats grabbed another 4-1 win over No. 11 Louisiana Tech before beating Nebraska to slide into the fifth spot. SHSU has posted a top-5 finish in every single one of its eight tournaments so far this season. The Kats next competition will be the Hawk Invite in New Jersey Feb. 28- March 1.
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President’s Day Crossword
Complete the crossword, cut it out and drop it off at our door at DRB 210 for a chance to win a free Houstonian shirt! We will draw for shirts March 2. 1
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Across 4. Worked as an actor and California’s governor prior to his presidency 5. The second president to be impeached 8. Drafted the Declaration of Independence 9. The only president to resign from office 11. The first sitting president to visit Hiroshima, 15 Japan 13. Launched the war on terror 15. Longest serving American president (four terms)
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Down 1. Was sworn in on Air Force One in Love Field 2. First Catholic president 3. Known as ‘Old Hickory’ 6. The first sitting president to enter North Korea 7. The last US president to serve in combat during wartime 10. The oldest living president 12. First president of the United States 14. The only president to also serve on the Supreme Court 14
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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, Sharon Raissi, at smr075@shsu.edu, call our office phone at 936-294-1505 or stop by our office during the week. Please submit any letters to the editor to smr075@shsu.edu, 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 Jobs4Kats or stop by the office to inquire.