Monday, August 23, 2019
The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University
Students Dedicated to Professional Journalism Volume 131 | Issue 3
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Troubled Waters: Climate Strike Interrupted by Rain BY MASON STORRS Assistant EIC/Campus News Editor Huntsville became part of a global climate strike Friday when activists gathered in the Lowman Student Center mall area for a protest. The strike was observed across the globe, inspired by teenage activist Greta Thunberg. The New York Times cited an estimate that said around four million people in thousands of cities turned out for this protest. More than a dozen of those
people were in Huntsville. A diverse array of protesters with handmade signs gathered for this occasion. Protest attendee and Conroe business owner Mary Keating described the importance of the event. “It’s the one topic on everybody’s lists and on our lips because if we don’t do something about climate change its’ not going to matter what our economics are,” Keating said. “It’s not going to matter who the next president is. It’s not going to matter if we have good relations with China, or Russia, or whoever, because we’re going to
have much bigger problems than anything we have seen so far.” The event was arranged in part by junior mass communication major Gabriel Marrero. “You know these campuses are the future,” Marrero said. “We’re going to be leaders eventually, so it’s definitely a student issue. I think about the anti-war movement or civil rights, those started at college campuses, so climate action is going to require the same level, more actually, of activism and campaigning.” A downpour interrupted the event only an hour after it began. Protesters persevered through a flash flood caused by
Tropical Storm Imelda before rising water levels affected campus. Tropical Storm Imelda led to the worst flooding across Texas since Hurricane Harvey in 2017. The storm left more than 40 inches of rainfall and at least five dead in its wake.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/SHSUCampusNews | Monday, September 23, 2019
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campus news
SHSU Continues to See Steady Rise in Enrollment BY RACHAEL FORBES Contributing Reporter
Student enrollment at Sam Houston State University continues on a steady incline. This semester, 21,000 students are enrolled at SHSU which is a 1.66% increase from last fall. SHSU’s enrollment numbers have been on a steady rise for several years. According to Vice President for Enrollment Management Heather Thielemann, new student enrollment increased 2% from last fall. SHSU’s biggest draws in enrollment are credited to the
criminal justice, education and business programs. “Varying increases over the past decade can be credited to the programs offered here, affordability, location, online
presence and ability to transfer,” Thielemann said. Cost has also played a big factor in students choosing to attend SHSU. According to Thielemann, SHSU, on average,
is $2,000 less than the average public institution cost of attendance in Texas. In addition to its relatively low price point, SHSU also has a diverse student body.
“One of the largest diverse groups is first generation students,” Thielemann said. “What’s drawing them here is academic support services and financial support services.” With a growing student body, SHSU has been continually expanding to fit the needs of its population. Some recent additions include the Art Complex and Lowman Student Center expansion. Ongoing projects include further Lowman Student Center renovations and the construction of a new parking garage by Johnson Coliseum.
College of Arts and Media Celebrates Rebranding BY TYLER FEDERICO Contributing Reporter The Sam Houston State University College of Arts and Media is holding an event Sept. 27 to celebrate their recent rebranding from former title, the College of Fine Arts and Mass Communication. The event, titled Prelude, will showcase the talents of the different majors within the college. It will take place at the new 71,000 square-foot Art Complex whose mostly glass exterior towers over Bobby K. Marks Drive. Ronald Shields, Dean of the College of Arts and Media, is optimistic that the event will show the breadth of the college’s departments. “I’m hoping that both SHSU students, as well as the general public will get to know this college and the range of arts and media events that are coming up
during the school year,” Shields said. The 2nd annual Legacy Award will be given out at the event. The award was given to decorated reporter and news anchor Dan Rather in its inaugural ceremony last year. There will be several different performances courtesy of many students in the college between the James and Nancy Gaertner Performing Arts Center and the new Art Complex.
The occasion will be capped off by a screening of the award-winning short film, “The Drone.” “I’m very proud of where [The Drone] has been shown around the world and the awards it has received,” Shields said. “The film speaks to some of the goals and ambitions of what it means to be a student in CAM as well as a student at Sam Houston.” The Prelude event is a chance
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for the students of the College of Arts and Media to showcase their abilities and hard work. The SHSU student body and the Huntsville community alike
can come witness the amount of artistic and creative efforts the university has to offer.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/SHSUCampusNews | Monday, September 23, 2019
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campus news
Grant for Future Educators of Students with Autism BY BRAYLON MCCLURE Contributing Reporter The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board awarded a grant worth more than $305,000 to Sam Houston State University to fund a program known as the Low Incidence Disabilities and Autism program that launched in spring. The program is as a part of the university’s College of Education, and its goal is to hold workshops to help give educators who work with students with autism the skills they need. “We have a large and really effective special education program, so students that are involved in that program will receive training and preparation in working with students with autism,” Dean of the College
of Education Stacey Edmonson said. Edmonson also emphasized how vital it is for educators to connect with the students that are a part of the program. “A big part of serving those students and knowing how to meet their needs is educating the public and educators and people that are involved and working with them in a variety of contexts, so that they know the right ways to help serve students with disabilities, students with autism and students of all kinds,” Edmonson said. These future educators will have the opportunity to learn, practice and adapt critical techniques by engaging in different behavioral assessments, as well as other instructional strategies for students with autism The Low Incidence Disabili-
ties and Autism Program is also beneficial to graduate students who have long-term career goals of educating students with autism. The program continues to recruit future educators, add new strategies and approaches and bring awareness to the university, the community and the state. According to AutismSpeaks. org, 31% of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have an intellectual disability. SHSU students who plan to be educators, as well as current educators, must understand how to give people with ASD every opportunity they can and have a positive influence on their lives.
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The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleNews | Monday, September 23, 2019
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community news
Haven at M Construction Delay: Passing the Blame BY SHARON RAISSI
Editor-in-Chief The Haven at M apartment complex remains unfinished, but the project is still somehow kicking up dirt. Director of Development Services for the City of Huntsville, Kevin Byal, explained how a statement given to residents contained misleading information about the construction project. An emailed statement to Haven residents said, “At this time we are still waiting for an approved move-in date from the City of Huntsville, but as soon as the information becomes available to the front office, we will surely share that information to all of our residents.”
Byal explained that Haven’s comment does not accurately reflect the city’s role in this or any other construction project. “The City of Huntsville conducts inspections on the work that is performed to assure that the project is being built in compliance with the adopted construction codes of the city,” Byal said. “It is the contractor’s responsibility to request inspections of their work prior to it being concealed or covered.” In other words, the contractors establish the schedule and pace of the project, and the city does not. The reason Haven cited the city as a hold on the project is unclear. “If a project is running behind their established schedule, due to inclement weather or other factors, the city will do every-
thing within our abilities to help facilitate getting the project back on schedule by shifting additional inspectors to the project,” Byal said. Byal also mentioned that no final inspections of the complex had been scheduled (as of Sept. 16), which is usually a sign that the project is not nearing completion. “To date we have conducted inspections as they are requested and have not been advised by the contractor that they are in need of expediting the inspection process,” Byal said. “So far the contractor has not requested any final inspections which indicates that they are not ready.” The Houstonian will continue to provide updates as the situation unfolds.
Hallee Atchley KNOCKIN’ ON HAVEN’S DOOR. Director of Development Services for the City of Huntsville clears up a misleading statement from the unfinished apartment complex.
City to Celebrate Groundbreaking of New Fire, Police Stations BY TYLER MOWERY
Contributing Reporter On Sept. 25 at 10:30 a.m., The City of Huntsville will be celebrating the groundbreaking of two new stations after waiting three years from the voters approving the project. The police department and fire department will get stations that will serve their purpose to house personnel and equipment as the current stations are outdated. Huntsville City Council approved the contract with Houston-based construction company, Flintco LLC., with 8-0 vote on Sept. 17. The contract is about $19 million for the construction of both fire and police stations.
“We have been building up to this for several years,” Police Chief Kevin Lunsford said. “When the police department moved into [their current station] in 1981 it was at that time being repurposed. It was originally the First National Bank and it was built in the mid 1960s.” As the population grows in Huntsville and increases the demands on public safety, the facilities can no longer sufficiently serve personnel or the public. The apparatus bay at Station 2 cannot safely support the weight of the fire engines, according to Assistant Fire Chief John Hobbs. Also the evidence room and office space at the police station cannot adequately accommodate the department,
according to Lunsford. “To prepare for [Huntsville’s] development, these stations will be built to last 30 years out,” Lunsford said. The public is invited to attend the ceremonies where the city and public safety officials will give speeches explaining the ceremony and interacting with the public. The public and officials will then be escorted in a procession style to the location of the new police station on Rosenwall Road
where a similar ceremony will take place. “It’s a chance to let the community see that we’re officially getting started on this project that they approved,” Lunsford
said. “Traditionally, city officials and public safety officials will gather around with shovels and ceremoniously turn the first shovel of dirt.”
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleNews | Monday, September 23, 2019
community news
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First Baptist Church Celebrates 175 Years After Fire BY KASEY STROUSE
Contributing Reporter The First Baptist Church of Huntsville commemorated the history and rebuild of the church at their 175th anniversary celebration this past Sunday, Sept. 15. The church continues to grow after a devastating fire in 1954 that left nothing but the walls of the original building behind. “I think it was a gas fire on the third floor,” church member Jere McCann said. McCann was 13 years old when she witnessed families carrying as much as they could out of the church. Though it was never officially determined how the fire began, everyone present that day knows how the fire ended. “I remember crying watching it all,” church member Mary Stiles said. Stiles has attended FBC since she was a baby and was visiting her mother the day of the fire. Several members of FBC remember running into the burning building to save as much as they could. “Today we are reliving the family history,” chair celebration team member Carolyn Gaines
said. The church added on to the remains of the building, and years later the Floyd family donated the church’s steeple. In honor of Dr. Willis Floyd, who was a professor at Sam Houston State University and a member of FBC, the Floyd children arranged for FBC to have the steeple installed.
“I remember crying watching it all.” The original blueprints for the steeple were used during the installation. “We watched from across the street,” said Gaines. “They pulled the steeple behind a truck from out of state.” FBC kept the original building and the memories from before the fire. They remodeled the remains of the church and added two new buildings on the property. This anniversary brought back memories for many families of the reconstruction of their church. “In the 50s, it was the norm to join a church,” Gaines said. “That doesn’t happen much anymore.” The church is now working
towards building their congregation with more college students, similar to the attendance in the past. The celebration team organized a breakfast buffet for all members and visitors to enjoy before the commencement of the service. The buffet was located in the remodeled section of the original building. They presented a display of photos in a chronological order of the church from before, during and after the fire. “We come today for our testimony,” Reverend Carrol Williams said. Williams is no longer the Reverend for FBC, however he traveled back in honor of the anniversary. Williams delivered the history of FBC after Kelli Amick performed a solo piece. The praise team and choir performed before the ringing of Sam Houston’s bell. Sam Houston and his wife attended FBC and donated the bell to the church. The bell is now located outside of the first building. “To me FBC is just home,” Gaines said. The anniversary was FBC’s way of coming together in honor of their faith and history.
Kasey Strouse RISING FROM THE ASHES. First Baptist Church of Huntsville took a look back at its rich history last Sunday, Sept. 15.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianAandE | Monday, September 23, 2019
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Arts & entertainment
The Rich History Behind Hispanic Heritage Month BY BRE’ANNA BIVENS Staff Reporter Hispanic Heritage Month is the period from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 dedicated to the recognition and celebration of the historical and cultural contributions made by Hispanic and Latinx Americans in the United States. The date Sept. 15 is significant because it marks the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Though this celebration spans a timeframe equivalent to a full month, in 1968 Hispanic Heritage was only commemorated for a week. In August 1988, former Presi-
dent Ronald Regan enacted that it be celebrated for a full 31 days. Now, the Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery
of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to name a few, band together to pay homage to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have contributed in enriching the United
States and its society. These organizations host events for the entirety of the 31-day celebration which ranges from a Hispanic Heritage Month Art Gallery from the Smithsonian to a Latinx Culture Wikipedia Edit-a-
thon put on by the Library of Congress. Sam Houston State University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences also puts on their own events in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month such as a Latinx professional development workshop, a Latin dance night, a Latinx movie night and more. This is another demonstration of how SHSU remains a hub of cultural activity and recognition. The next Hispanic Heritage Month event set to occur at SHSU is the Latinx Professional Development Workshop taking place Sept. 24. Contact the CHSS Diversity and Inclusion Committee for more information about the event.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianAandE | Monday, September 23, 2019
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Arts & entertainment
Jurassic World’s Battle at Big Rock is A ‘Must See’
Courtesy of escapistmagazine.com BY ALICIA SANCHEZ Contributing Reporter Last Sunday night the “Jurassic World” franchise surprised fans by releasing an eight-minute short film called “Battle at Big Rock” directed by Colin Trevorrow, who also directed the first “Jurassic World.” The film takes place in Big
Rock National Park a year after the events of “ Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” when all the dinosaurs from Isla Nublar are now living in the real world. It stars Andre Holland (“Selma”), Natalie Martinez (“End of Watch”), Melody Hurd and Pierson Salvador as a family of four whose camping trip turns upside down when they have to fight against the newest wild
animals in the park. The films cinematography and use of low and fire light made the film feel realistic. The music composition is prominent in the beginning of the short with subtle under tones of the famous “Jurassic Park” theme but with an ominous vibe. The story was told so eloquently in a short amount of time in which we were able to see how one fam-
ily was impacted by the events of “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom.” Aside from the films stunning visuals, it also has subtle hints of “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” and in some regards, it feels like a spiritual sequel. Writers Trevorrow and Emily Carmichael are also penning the screenplay for the third installment in the series. If the short film wasn’t
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enough, fans can also look forward to a new Jurassic World animated series, “Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous” where six teens must band together to survive on Isla Nublar. It will be available to stream on Netflix in 2020. Until then, fans can watch “Battle at Big Rock” on Jurassic World’s YouTube channel.
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The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianOpinions | Monday, September 23, 2019
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Opinions
The Invisible Struggles of Bisexuals on Bi Visibility Day BY JACOB COURTNEY Opinions Editor
Sept. 23 is Bi Visibility Day, also known as Celebrate Bisexuality Day, which was created to help bring awareness of the issues affecting bisexuals and to promote pride in their identity. The “invisible majority” of people that are bisexual may try to pass as straight or gay due to bias from outside and inside the community. Using the term bisexual can draw unwanted conclusions from others. It is a common belief that “bi”, meaning two, suggests attraction to only two genders. The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ advocacy group in the United States, says that bisexual can broadly include any sexuality with attraction to multiple genders such as pansexuality or queer. I
will stick to this broad definition even though this is still a point of some debate. Misunderstandings about bisexual people do not stop at confusion over language. Declaring that you are bisex-
ual can be a lonely experience, despite how big you think the dating pool could be. Revealing your full identity to family, friends or romantic partners can be risky. They may think that the person has not made up their mind, that they do not take relationships seriously or that their sexuality is in transition to complete homosexual attraction. This can lead to break ups, rejections and bullying to the extent that other LGBTQ individuals experience. Not only can emotional damage occur, or relationships be broken, but a person’s reputation can be damaged as well. Bisexuals may be assumed to be more immoral or depraved because of the base attraction to more than one gender. Such thinking by non-bisexual romantic partners can have even more dangerous effects than fear and purposeful misunderstand-
ings. According to the “The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 2010 Findings on Victimization by Sexual Orientation,” 61% of bisexual women and 37% of bisexual men have reported violence from their partners, higher than lesbian, gay and heterosexuals when compared to others in their gender. Reports of sexual assaults from the same study follow a similar pattern. It should not be surprising that the Journal of Sex Research states bisexuals are shown to be at a higher risk for depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Bi Visibility Day is not just for bringing awareness to bisexuals and the struggles they may have to deal with. This day is also one of celebration and support of visibility of the bisexual community. Coming out as bisexual or as
any identity in the LGBTQ community is a personal decision. Despite the negatives that can happen, coming out to those who you trust to accept the person you are can be freeing. Doing so as a bisexual can help normalize the “invisible majority” and encourage wider approval of the identity. I’ll start. I’m bisexual and no matter what you identify as in the LGBTQ community, I’m here to help. If you need support from the local LGBTQ community and allies, go to Haven or Gamma Sigma Kappa here at Sam Houston State University. Depending on the severity of your situation you may want to call the LGBT National Hotline for advice at 1-888-843-4564. If you have suicidal thoughts contact the Trevor Project at 1-866-488-7386 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
Active Shooter Training is Urgently Needed in Texas BY KATHERINE SOOKMA Contributing Writer
Currently the state of Texas does not require its schools to participate in any lockdown or active shooter training. That needs to change. There needs to be some sort of training program that is focused on protecting all students and faculty, and getting them to safety as quickly as possible. It is commonplace to see news of gun violence on American televisions. According to a nonprofit organization called Gun Violence Archive, there have been a total of 289 mass shootings this year and 20 of them have happened in Texas (mass shootings, used here, is a tally
based on gun violence instances where more than four people were injured or killed). In addition, Texas is one out of nine states that does not require its schools to have any kind of mandatory active shooter training. In light of recent events in Odessa and El Paso, it is clear that there needs to be a way to prepare people in case something happens in schools. Active shooter drills can help provide practice, resources and information that everyone should know if there is a mass shooting. Having the proper training and knowledge when handling a situation like this is absolutely necessary. If there aren’t strategic drills put into place and an event occurs, no
one will know what to do, putting their lives in danger. That being said, active shooter drills must be introduced and executed properly to prevent major psychological harm to students and faculty. In some past training scenarios, there have been students who weren’t properly informed or were too
Jeremiah Price
young to fully understand what was happening. This can cause them to be terrified to return to school after the drill. Within states that currently require schools to hold these training programs, groups of younger children are being affected the most. It should be the number one priority of the fac-
ulty and trainees to protect and properly teach these students how to effectively get out of an active shooter situation without instilling fear into their young hearts. Children should be free to have fun and enjoy going to school without having to worry about whether or not they’ll get to go home to their families at the end of the day. If we continue to experience mass shootings as frequently as we have in the past few years, proper safety training will continue to become more crucial. We must also continue to keep working on finding the most beneficial ways to educate our students and faculty on proper security measures.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HoustonianOpinions | Monday, September 23, 2019
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Opinions
Newton Gresham Library’s Position on Banning Books BY THE NEWTON GRESHAM LIBRARY Guest Writer
In celebration of the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week, the Newton Gresham Library assures that we are professionally dedicated to protecting your right to read without fear of censorship. The Newton Gresham Library has an obligation to provide a diversity of knowledge to the students, faculty and staff at Sam Houston State University. This is a part of the library’s core mission to help create informed, lifelong readers. This information may include books considered by some to be controversial or immoral for library shelves. These banned books often face challenges from special interest groups, concerned citizens or everyday patrons who feel that certain books are unacceptable to be read by average
“The library stands against censorship in all forms. We strive to not allow personal bias to affect us when selecting the books for our patrons.” library users. What is controversial to some may be normal to others. The library stands against censorship in all forms. We strive to not allow personal bias to affect us when selecting the books for our patrons. Some of the most highly challenged books in recent years are located right here in Newton Gresham Library as part a display in recognition of Banned Books Week. We have collected them because we feel they are important for scholarship at the university, give a voice to the voiceless or present a different
Photo Courtesy of Lisa Shen point of view. Check them out and decide for yourself if the knowledge inside is valuable to you. It is our hope that encountering information that conflicts with your long-held beliefs may expand your own intellectual horizons while here at SHSU. If you do not agree with the belief system of those found in the books here, you do not have to change your
long-held beliefs. A critical part of the university experience is to encounter new ideas and opinions. This will help you to grow as a scholar and gain understanding of the human condition in all its forms. If you are deeply concerned by the content of some of the books on our shelves, please talk to us about it. We are always willing to listen to your concerns, just remember that books have due process here.
If you seek to remove a book from our shelves, know that it will remain accessible until a process of review is completed to determine if the book should be taken out of our collection. Celebrate Banned Books Week this year by protecting your right to read by checking out some literature from the list and take a chance to gain new understanding in the process.
Elizabeth Machuca Elizabeth Machuca
FORBIDDEN KNOWLEDGE. Newton Gresham Library created a display of several books that have been banned from public and school libraries. It also provides information on the subject of censorship in the present day.
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleSports | Monday, August 23, 2019
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SPORTS
SHSU Prepares for Road Battle, Piney Woods Next Two Weeks BY COLTON FOSTER Asst. Sports Editor The Sam Houston State University football team will look to pick up its ninth straight victory in The Battle of the Piney Woods against the rival Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks Oct. 5th at NRG Stadium. The Bearkats are 55-35-2 overall and are winners of 13 of the last 15 matchups. In 2010 the site moved to NRG Stadium to help build the crowd. The relocation was successful as the historic rivalry has averaged 23,669 attendees per game since the switch. The Bearkats are coming off a 54-21 victory last year where
the offense collected 500 yards while the defense forced three turnovers including an interception returned for a touchdown to give the Bearkats a lead that they never yielded after the first quarter. The offense was led by a trio of quarterbacks with Ty Brock getting a majority of the snaps. Brock led the group with 217 yards and two touchdowns while each of the three threw for one touchdown. The Bearkats look to keep a similar offense rolling after keeping the starting core of their offense intact minus graduated receiver Davion Davis. Senior receiver Nathan Stewart looks to keep his hot streak going in this rivalry, averaging 107 yards per
game and scoring in two out of his three contests. Stewart also has his eye on his fourth year with 1,000-plus receiving yards. While Brock got a majority of the snaps last year, head coach K.C. Keeler has given the nod to sophomore Eric Schmid who got the start to open Southland Conference play. Schmid had a solid offseason and played on a rotation with Brock to start the year. With a near-confirmed starter, the Bearkats can start to game plan to win this installment of the rivalry that began in 1923. Before K.C. Keeler and the Kats get to the highly-anticipated neutral-site game, the Bearkats must travel to Lake Charles for another conference match
against the McNeese State University Cowboys Sept. 28 slated for a 6:00 p.m. kickoff. Schmid will get the start in SHSU’s first road test of conference play in 2019 against a Cowboys team that was picked to finish sixth in the SLC preseason poll. MSU is coming off a loss to Abilene Christian in a low-scoring 17-10 affair. The Cowboys did have a successful start to their 2019 season, however, picking up a pair of non-conference wins against Southern University and Alcorn State. This will be the first time the Bearkats and Cowboys clash since Nov. 5, 2016. SHSU came out on top of a shootout at Bowers Stadium in Huntsville,
Houston Baptist
September 27 at 6:30 pm Pritchett field
edging out a 56-43 win. The Kats had star quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe in the pocket throw for 504 yards and six touchdowns. Half of those scores were receptions by Nathan Stewart, the only remaining offensive weapon from that 2016 squad. Stewart had a career day in the matchup, torching the Cowboys as he racked up 268 yards on 12 catches and piled up a trio of touchdowns. There will be a lot of unfamiliar faces on both sides for these two teams that have not faced off in three years. The game against MSU can be streamed live on ESPN+ or heard live on the radio on 101.7 KSAM.
Texas a&M corpus christi
September 29 at 1:00 pm Pritchett field
The Houstonian | bit.ly/HuntsvilleSports | Monday, August 23, 2019
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SPORTS
Soccer Opens Conference with Stunning Upset of UCA Bears BY SCOTT MORRIS Sports Reporter The Sam Houston State University soccer team opened conference play with a bang after a 3-2 comeback win over the defending Southland Conference champion University of Central Arkansas Bears. The Bearkats were able to hold their own. They were outshot 14-12 with one less shot on goal. Freshman goalkeeper Tatum Krueger continued to play well in goal, tallying seven saves compared to UCA’s five. However, at the end of the day the stat that matters most is the final score— and thanks to true freshman midfielder Kalynn Bickford’s overtime heroics, SHSU is 1-0 this season. The game began slowly. UCA defender Taylor Webb scored the first goal in the 14th minute, and that was the most exciting action of the first half. Both teams stayed competitive, though, and the game looked like it could go either way entering halftime. UCA controlled the possession in the beginning of the second half and was able to
secure a second goal in the 68th minute of the game. At the time, it looked to be the clinching goal as time began to wind down. The Bearkats only had 20 minutes left to come back from a 2-0 deficit, but SHSU was not going to go quietly. The team refused to quit. In the 73rd minute, junior midfielder Briana Woodall scored a goal on a heads up play when the goalie was out of position after saving a shot seconds before. 71 seconds later, the Kats stormed back down the pitch and scored another goal to tie the game. Freshman defender Kenzie Arrington played a ball over the top of the defense onto the feet of junior forward Sammi Mayock who was able to get past a defender and score the Bearkats’ second goal to force overtime tied at two. In overtime, the SHSU was on UCA early; they were able to get a shot off within the first five minutes. In the 98th minute, Woodall was able to draw a foul inside the goalie box resulting in a penalty kick. Bickford stepped up to the challenge and was able to bury the ball in the back of the net for her first collegiate goal.
This victory was the Bearkats’ first win over UCA since 2015. “I felt really confident throughout the game,” Bickford said. “I’ve been working really hard and at practice, so I felt pretty confident.” Head coach Tom Brown appreciated his squad’s resilience.
“I was really relieved. Just scoring my first collegiate goal, it’s an awesome feeling.” - Kalynn Bickford “There was a lot of character shown by our team going down 2-0 here at home,” Brown said. “[Woodall] scored a great goal for us, then [Mayock] made a great run and a lot of composure by [Bickford] at the end— a freshman stepping up to make the penalty and win the game. Hopefully this is a big boost for us after dropping our first two overtime games.” SHSU will turn its attention to Houston Baptist University Sept. 27 in Huntsville at 6:30 p.m. Bryan Henderson
Bearkats Football Dominates UIW 45-6 in Conference Opener BY TYLER JOSEFSEN Sports Editor Sam Houston State University football opened up Southland Conference play by defeating the 2018 SLC co-champion University of The Incarnate Word Cardinals 45-6. “That was a really good football team we just took apart,” head coach K.C. Keeler said. “And we took them apart. That was pretty impressive.” The Bearkats set the tone from their opening possession when the defense forced a turnover on downs. Sophomore quarterback Eric Schmid needed just one snap to find Dee Bowens for a 64-yard catch-and-run touchdown to grab a 7-0 lead. Bowens finished his day with five catches
for 108 yards and a touchdown. The Kats never looked back after that as Schmid had a career day, going 29/44 for 531 yards with five touchdowns. “It was great to see Eric have the day he had,” Keeler said. “We had to make a decision [about the starting quarterback situation]. Splitting the first team reps was not a good way to develop a quarterback. As you can see, he can throw the ball pretty well.” Senior receiver Nathan Stewart stole the show with his fourth career three-touchdown game and set a new Southland Conference record. On the final play of the fourth quarter, SHSU faced a 4th-and-1 situation. Schmid connected with Stewart for the first down and more as the star wideout took it 49 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. His second scoring grab came in the second quarter from 20 yards out when Schmid escaped pressure and delivered a strike to end zone. With seven minutes left in the second quarter, Stewart caught a 44-yard pass that not only got SHSU into the red zone, but gave him sole possession of the Southland Conference career receiving yards record that was previously owned by Stewart’s former teammate and Bearkat legend Yedidiah Louis. “To hold that record, man, that’s a big blessing,” Stewart said. “I take my hats off to the coaches and players for believing in me.” Stewart’s third touchdown
reception came right before halftime on a 32-yard dart from Schmid that gave SHSU a 31-0 lead heading into the locker room for halftime. The second half belonged to freshman receiver Ife Adeyi and sophomore running back Donovan Williams, who each had a pair of touchdowns. Adeyi used an 80-yard touchdown reception to put up an impressive 119 yards on six catches. Williams punched it in from one yard on the first drive of the fourth quarter to push SHSU’s lead to 45-0. A late touchdown negated the shutout, but the Kats ultimate-
ly downed the Cardinals 45-6 under the lights at Bowers Stadium. Thanks to Schmid and his variety of offensive weapons, SHSU compiled over 600 yards of total offense for the first time since its 54-42 win over South Dakota in the FCS Playoffs Dec. 2, 2017. Despite allowing 418 yards to the Cardinals, the SHSU defense stood strong when it mattered most. UIW was just 5/19 on third down, and the secondary forced a couple of takeaways. Jaylen Thomas and Zyon McCollum each had an interception, and senior linebacker Hunter
Brown notched 11 tackles (two of them for a loss). Their next test will be their first Southland showdown on the road Sept. 28 at McNeese. “Our kids love playing at home,” Keeler said. “But I can tell you this, when we traveled to North Dakota and New Mexico, I’ve never seen a team travel this well. We traveled really well. We didn’t play as well as we had to… but our guys will be ready to go play.” After that, the Bearkats will be at NRG Stadium in Houston to face SFA in the Battle of the Piney Woods Oct. 5. Hannah Trojan
Nathan Stewart added to his long list of accolades by taking sole possesion of the Southland Conference record for career receiving yards. Stewart finished the game with nine receptions for 187 yards and three touchdowns. With eight games left in his senior season, he currently has 4.010 total receiving yards.