Dr. Maya Angelou Feb. 22 @11a.m. @
“A Morning with Dr. Maya Angelou”
Denton
Partly Cloudy Tomorrow will bring a high of 59˚ and a low of 39˚.
Margo Jones Performance Hall Thursday │ February 16, 2012 │ Vol. 98, No. 19
TWU Spotlight
TWU proposes tuition increase
Features “Yes, we work on cognitive and motor skills,” explained TWU music therapy student Bryant Williams, “but when it comes down to it, music therapy is about improving the quality of life.” Music Therapy............p. 4
Sports
72% Designated Budgets
3% The TWU gymnastics team posted a seasonhigh 194.200 last Saturday evening as it captured a dual meet victory against Centenary. The Pioneers defeated visiting Centenary (189.900) by 4.3 points and saw five career-highs for its gymnasts.
Graduate Set Aside Erin Marissa Russell Managing Editor
6% Debt Retirement
Gymnastics................p. 6
Internships Stewart is a TWU social work senior and currently works as a volunteer at The Center for Survivors of Torture in Dallas. CST is a non-profit organization based in Dallas that provides psychological services, social services, medical services, and legal services for torture survivors in the Texas and Oklahoma area, including refugees and asylum seekers, according to the CST website.
8%
11%
Undergraduate Set Aside
Scholarships
TWU held public hearings on its Denton campus Monday and Tuesday to discuss the possibility of an increase in tuition, which if approved, would go into effect in Fall 2012. The Dallas and Houston campuses joined via videoconference. “We are recommending to the regents that there be a three percent increase in boarddesignated tuition,” TWU vice president of finance and administration Dr. Brenda Floyd said at Monday’s hearing. “That equals an increase of $3.84 a semester credit hour. Our current board-designated tuition is $118 per semester credit hour, and if the board approves this increase, the new board-designated tuition amount would be $121.84 a semester credit hour.” Tuition costs are divided into components, vice president of student life Dr. Richard Nicholas said. State-authorized tuition is set by the Texas state legislature,
Allocation for boarddesignated tuition revenue for FY 2012 while board-authorized tuition is set, at TWU, by the Board of Regents. Board-authorized tuition is the component the proposal would impact. If the tuition increase is approved, Floyd said it would generate an estimated $900,000 a year for the university. However, “That $900,000 is not going to cover all of the cost increases that we are going to realize in the next fiscal year,” she added, and while growth will add some revenue, it will not be enough to cover anticipated costs. The university has two main kinds of costs for the next year, Nicholas said. There are items that TWU would like to do or needs to do, such as adding faculty to a department with growing enrollment. There are also costs that cannot be controlled. One example of the second type is the legislative changes to benefits plans for state employees. This change effects the calculation of adjunct faculty see Tuition page 5
Estimated Revenue:
$38,674,279 *Figures provided by Office of Finance and Administration Inside this issue News
Sports
Features
Opinion
Myra Crownover.....................................3
Special Section..........p. 5
Music therapy........................................4
Special Section
Internships..............................................5
Gymnastics................................6 Love & Skates............................7
Arts & Entertainment
Play festival...............................8
Have questions or comments about The Lasso? twu_lasso@yahoo.com
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Local Weather
Photos of the week
Denton
Houston Thursday
Thursday
High 59˚ Low 39˚
High 66˚ Low 52˚
High 60˚ Low 41˚
High 61˚ Low 45˚ Mostly Sunny
Friday
High 58˚ Low 37˚ Partly Cloudy
Adjunct music instructor Bill Matney guides music therapy students through percussion techniques using different types of drums Wednesday, Feb. 8.
High 59˚ Low 45˚ Showers
Library staff member LaMargo Jones speaks at the Pioneers for Diversity Presentation about items from Zambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Managing Editor Erin Marissa Russell • erussell2@twu.edu Assigning Editor Ginger Renee Hughes • ghughes@twu.edu News Editor Bethany Wineinger • bwineinger@twu.edu Features Editor Dennis Barbee • debarbee@twu.edu
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Have you missed a class due to illness this semester? If you have, you may be interested in TWU’s attendance policy. Consistent and attentive attendance is vital to academic success, and is expected of all students. Grades are determined by academic
Staff Writers
performance, and instructors may give students written notice that attendance related to specific classroom activities is required and will constitute
Suspicious Person
Burglary of a Motor Vehicle
A report of theft was made
A report of a suspicious person
A burglary of a motor vehicle
at the Fitness and Recreation
was made at 1300 Bell Ave.
was reported at 1000 N. Bell
center Tuesday, Feb. 7.
Monday, Feb 13. No arrest was
Ave. (Bent Tree Apartments)
Malfunctioning Elevator
made.
Monday, Feb 13.
A report of a malfunctioning
Motor Vehicle Accident
Vehicle Damage
elevator was made at the
A medical emergency was
A report of vehicle damage was
Margo Jones Performance Hall
reported at 1602 Lowry Woods
made at Texas St. and Old Main
Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Ln. Sunday, Feb. 12.
Circle Tuesday, Feb. 14.
Instructors are strongly encouraged to keep a record of student attendance. They should note
Marygail Lakner • mlakner@twu.edu
absences due to documented student illness,
Stephanie Terrell • sterrell@twu.edu
serious illness or death in the student’s imme-
Graphic Design Cliff Caster • ccaster@twu.edu
diate family, official school activity, state-recognized religious holiday, active military service that is of a reasonable brief duration, or other verified absences deemed appropriate by the instructor. Students must consult with instructors regarding the completion of make-up work.
Photo Editor Jeni Berry • jnberry@gmail.com Business Manager Yeleinne Rayo • twugirl08@yahoo.com Business Assistants
Absences do not exempt students from academic requirements. Excessive absences, even if documented, may result in a student failing the course.
An incomplete may be granted if the
student has a passing grade, but only if the instructor determines that it is feasible for the student to successfully complete remaining assignments after the semester. Pursuant to university
Alisha Sarfani • asarfani@twu.edu
policy, such determinations are within the discre-
Leah Walker • lwalker8@twu.edu
tion of the instructor.
Advisor Bo Carter • scarter5@twu.edu
All excused absences required documentation (physician note or obituaries) within 30 days of the absences. Please note that a documented absence does not preclude a student from still being re-
All Rights reserved. The Lasso is a weekly student publication of Texas Woman’s University, written and produced by students and printed at DFW Printing. Editors develop their own editorial and news policies. The presentation of news and editorials and the personal opinions expressed in The Lasso are those of The Lasso staff and writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, staff, students, administration, or the Regents of Texas Woman’s University.
This is a part of the daily activity log produced by the University Police Department. To report a criminal incident on campus, please call 940-898-2911
Friday Feb. 17 Nutrition & Food Services Seminars Series in MCL 501 IHSH 4305 (Houston), IHSD 8720 (Dallas) @ noon. Dr Angela Hilmers, MS nutrition student, will speak about the topic “Food Insecurity and Childhood Obesity.” Saturday Feb. 18 Basketball vs. Midwestern State in Kitty Magee Arena @ 2 p.m. Tuesday Feb. 21 Mardi Gras at the U in the Student Union. Lunch in the Underground, masks, King’s Cake and beads on the 2nd floor, and a stationary parade. What’s Love Got to Do with It? Examining Domestic Violence in the African-American Community in Stark Commons @ 6:30 p.m. The first of Project REV’s multicultural series of events focusing on gendered violence in different ethnic communities
a specific percentage of students’ grades.
Laura Hilton • remember2smile247@ymail.com
Katherine Braun • kbraun@twu.edu
High 65˚ Low 45˚ Mostly Sunny
Morgan Griffin • mgriffin7@twu.edu Stanton Brasher • sbrasher@twu.ed
Sunday
tip of the TWU Calendar Denton week
Opinions Editor Arts and Entertainment Editor
High 58˚ Low 38˚ Partly Cloudy
Theft
Lasso staff Adviser’s Aaron Claycomb • aclaycomb@twu.edu
Saturday
Sunday
Police Report Photography courtesy of Felicia Cleburn
High 60˚ Low 46˚ Mostly Sunny
Saturday
Sunday High 65˚ Low 44˚ Mostly Sunny
Friday
High 61˚ Low 52˚ Showers
Saturday
Photography by Jeni Berry
Dallas
Thursday
Friday
Editor-in-Chief
The Lasso
twulasso.com
Weekly Roundup
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Wednesday Feb. 22 Faculty Spotlight Series in Stoddard Hall 308 @ 12:25 p.m. Dr. Christina Gawlik explores middle school mathematics through Wii Sports® A Morning with Dr. Maya Angelou in Margo Jones Performance Hall @ 11 a.m. If you did not reserve a ticket it is still possible to see Dr. Maya Angelou. You can reserve your seat in the overflow location by going to the link and entering your information: http://www. surveymonkey.com/s/waitlistangelou
Houston Monday Feb. 20 Health Professional Career Day, Houston Center @ 11 a.m. For nursing (undergraduate and graduate level), health care administration, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and nutrition majors. Tuesday Feb. 21 Mardi Gras Celebration in 8th Floor Legacy Room @ noon and 4:15 p.m. Louisiana Cajun cuisine, DJ playing Mardi Gras and zydeco music, line dancing, free food, photos and giveaways.
Dallas Friday Feb. 17 Registration begins 8 a.m. @ the T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences-Dallas Center Academic Day held in conjunction with the 19th Annual Vanderkooi Endowed Lectureship A Celebration of the new TWU T. Boone Pickens Institute of Health Sciences — Dallas Center For more information: http://www.twu.edu/ce/Vanderkooi.asp
LETTERS AND VIEWPOINTS POLICY
sponsible for assigned work or tests. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the professor. (Taken from Student Life Website) Please contact Student Life at 940-8983615 with questions regarding missed classes, or visit: http://www.twu.edu/student-life-office/ attendance-policy.asp.
We value reader submissions. As a university newspaper we have certain criteria that limit what we will place inside our newspaper. Please limit letters to 300 words. Columns submitted should be no longer than 600 words. Please include your name, address, phone, and email address. Your contact information will not be published. Unsigned submissions will not be published. All submission are also edited for length and clarity. Submissions become property of The Lasso.
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Thursday, February 16, 2012
News
3
Representative talks about Financial Aid Awareness week wraps up, shows results smoke-free Texas Stephanie Terrell Staff Writer Myra Crownover, Texas Representative from House District 64, visited TWU Feb. 8 to speak at the event “Is a Smoke-Free Texas in Our Future?” sponsored by TWU’s chapter of the national honor society Phi Upsilon Omicron for the family and consumer sciences department. The presentation centered on issues such as promoting female leadership in politics and smoke-free legislation throughout the state of Texas, as well as removing secondhand smoke in public restaurants, buildings and businesses. Crownover currently is serving her sixth term as representative of Denton County and District 64, and was appointed to the Appropriations Committee
and Vice Chair of the Energy Resources Committee. She has been recognized for her efforts as Courageous Conservative (2011) with the Texas Conservative Coalition, Champion of Free Enterprise with the Texas Association of Business, Award for Dedication and Hard Work to Save Babies (2006) with March of Dimes, Heart of Honor (2008) American Heart Association, and Legislative Champion (2009) with the National Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, along with other institutions for her active participation. Currently, Crownover is advocating for smokefree environments in Texas, specifically in the workplace. Her position understands every person has the right to smoke, but does not agree it should be at the expense of other people’s health. She noted how people
Photagraphy courtesy of Christina Wagoner
State Representative Myra Crownover (third from the left) visited TWU Feb. 8 and spoke to students about anti-smoking legislation and female leadership in politics. TWU chapter of Phi Upsilon Omicron, a National Honor Society in Family and Consumer Sciences, invited Crownover to speak.
will take the time to smoke outside of homes and cars with family or friends inside, because of the recognized effects of secondhand smoke, but this courtesy is not always extended to strangers in public. The American Lung Association identifies no tolerance for smoking in licensed child care centers and childcare homes in Texas. But some other institutions have minor restrictions, such as public schools, government buildings, hospitals, and other public areas where smoking zones are provided. This allows people to smoke in close proximity to the elderly, ill or injured persons, children, and non-smoking adults. According to the American Cancer Society, a major source for secondhand smoke exposure in adults is in the workplace. Findings have linked increased risk of heart disease and lung cancer in non-smoking adults to secondhand smoke exposure in the workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has classified secondhand smoke as a potential cancer-causing agent, or carcinogen, in the workplace. Through her political career, Crownover has encouraged women to be an active part of the political arena. “I really appreciated that the Representative came and spoke with us,” TWU student regent Christina Wagoner said. “She empowered students to contact their legislators and give our opinions. We are their constituents, and if we want change to happen, we need to make our opinions heard.”
Students recognized with scholarships at luncheon Stephanie Terrell Staff Writer Four TWU students will receive $2,500 scholarships at the 10th annual Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award Luncheon today for their achievements at TWU and in their community. According to the Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Award website, the TWU graduate students were chosen for their achievements at TWU and in the Dallas community. Hannah Mills, Heather Roberts, Kathleen ShannonMcAdams, and Tiffany Smith will be awarded the scholarships at the luncheon and will present their research at the ceremony recognizing Dallas residents Myrna D. Schlegel and Kimberly Schlegel Whitman for their own achievements in supporting educational organizations. Roberts is a doctoral occupational therapy student in TWU’s College of Health Sciences while working in the Denton Independent School District as an occupational therapist for children. Before working in DISD, Roberts worked at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, and also found opportunities to participate in research projects and mentor students during their clinicals. While at Texas Scottish Rite, she served as director of a successful summer program dedicated to children with Arthrogryposis. Arthrogryposis is a disorder known for stiffness in joints preventing full extension, muscle weakness and formation of fibrous tissues resulting in further motor difficulties. Roberts completed her master’s degree in health care administration in 2007 and began to discover an interest in teaching to universities, which led her to pursuing her Ph.D. at TWU. Mills is a doctoral early child development student in TWU’s College of Professional
Education while serving as a research and graduate assistant at TWU. Along with being a student, Mills is working toward becoming an author, and her current projects are manuscripts titled “Let’s Break for Play: The Significance of Integrating Play within Classroom Environments” and “Ava the Ant — A Children’s Book.” “I felt very honored and thrilled about being awarded this scholarship,” Mills said in an email. “In addition, I am so incredibly excited to be continuing my Ph.D. studies at TWU, where faculty members are truly supportive and are great mentors.” Mills’ manuscripts associate with her interest in the
focuses on predicting perceived psychological distress in women over 65 who are newly diagnosed with cancer and receiving treatment. ShannonMcAdams said she wants to help these patients prosper during and after cancer treatment with her research. Along with her research and college career, ShannonMcAdams volunteers at the cancer center and created a Saturday clinic where past patients can avoid waiting in the ER and can be examined, receive blood, and have lab work checked by her personally. She also created a group exercise class for patients, holds weekly lectures to answer questions about cancer and meets with
In addition, I am so incredibly excited to be continuing my Ph.D. studies at TWU, where faculty members are truly supportive and are great mentors. Hannah Mills, Ph.D early child development
development of children, and she also aspires to become a professor in her major field to continue helping other students in their pursuit of careers in education and child development. “My goals for the future include becoming a professor and a parent educator,” Mills explained. “My passion includes child development and the many factors that affect the family and childrens’ development itself. Therefore, teaching both students and parents about children’s development would fulfill my professional goals.” Shannon-McAdams is a doctoral student in TWU’s College of Nursing — Houston who currently works as a nurse practitioner in hematology at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. She supervises a team of 10 nurse practitioners and the care for patients who are receiving treatment for lymphoma, all while completing her final semester in her doctorate program. Her research
nurses monthly to discuss ethical issues they encounter. Smith is working on her master’s in history in TWU’s College of Arts and Sciences while also serving as a graduate assistant at TWU. She has written two peer-reviewed publications, is editor of “Ibid: A Student History Journal” and is vice president of the Phi Alpha Theta honor society. Smith is also a member of the Golden Key International Honor Society, National Scholars Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi, and has participated as a panel member to the Democracy Shout Out. Each of these TWU students represents individual colleges and departments by showing academic commitment, community involvement and a desire to enable further research in their fields of study. The scholarships awarded to each of these women will be used to enable their research as they move forward in their college experiences and careers.
Stephanie Terrell Staff Writer
With upcoming scholarship and financial aid deadlines quickly approaching, TWU’s Financial Aid Office presented Financial Aid Awareness Week to make students aware of the deadlines in order to avoid accidentally missing them. The deadline approaching for Summer 2012, Fall 2012, Spring 2013, and all academic scholarships is March 15. “Financial Aid Awareness Week at TWU was created to increase the awareness of students and families about financial aid options available to pay for their education, provide details about application procedures, deadlines and eligibility requirements, and to provide updates regarding changes in federal or state guidelines affecting financial aid programs and student eligibility,” director of financial aid Governor Jackson said in an email. To promote awareness of financial aid, members from the Office of Financial Aid set up across all three TWU campuses in Denton, Dallas and Houston. In Denton, areas were set up in the Multipurpose Classroom Laboratory Building, Student Union, Classroom Faculty Office Building, Stark Hall, Guinn Hall, and Jones Hall from Feb. 6-9. In Houston and in Dallas one stop shops were available Feb. 6-7 and 6-9, respectively. “This year’s Financial Aid Awareness Program was considered a success in that 1,686 students participated in the awareness activities on all three campuses,” Jackson said. “It is important to promote financial aid awareness so that students and parents have the information they need to make important decisions about
As the cost of attending college continues to rise, it is increasingly important that students understand, and take full advantage of, their options for financial aid including scholarships, grants, part-time employment, and student loans. — Governor Jackson, director of financial aid
paying for a college education. As the cost of attending college continues to rise, it is increasingly important that students understand, and take full advantage of, their options for financial aid including scholarships, grants, part-time employment, and student loans.” The Financial Aid Office will also be able to host individual help sessions for TWU students from Feb. 13-March 20. Denton’s campus will hold them on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and students may schedule these sessions by calling 940-8983064. To get more information about scheduling help sessions, Dallas campus students can call 214-689-6520, and Houston campus students can call 713794-2315. “Topics that can be covered in the individual help sessions include information on specific financial aid programs available, eligibility criteria, academic requirements, procedures for applying for financial aid and scholarships,” Jackson explained, as well as “instructions for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), instructions for completing the Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFAA), budgeting and student loan management, steps required if selected for verification, steps for a hassle-free financial aid application, and assistance in using the federal tax return in completing the FAFSA.”
AGENDA1 TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY BOARD OF REGENTS COMMITTEE MEETINGS ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, FINANCE AND AUDIT COMMITTEE, INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, INFORMATION SERVICES COMMITTEE, & STUDENT LIFE COMMITTEE Board of Regents Conference Room Administration Conference Tower (ACT), 16th Floor 304 Administration Drive, Denton, Texas Friday, February 17, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Academic Affairs Committee: Regents Moreno (Chair), Bancroft, Scanlon McGinity, & Wagoner I. Consider Approval of the Minutes of the Committee Meeting of November 4, 2011 (Exhibit 23) II. Receive a Presentation from Commissioner Raymund A. Paredes of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board III. Receive the Accountability Report (Exhibit 1) IV. Consider Recommending Approval of the Revised Faculty Workload Policy (Exhibit 2) V. Consider Recommending Approval to Amend the Mission Statement of Texas Woman’s University by Adding “Graduate” Immediately after the Word “Undergraduate” in the Statement VI. Consider Recommending Approval of the SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) Quality Enhancement Plan Recommendation (Exhibit 3) VII. SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) Update VIII. Receive Informational Items on the Activities of the Office of Academic Affairs, Including: A. School of Management Accreditation B. International Efforts in Nursing (Exhibit 4) C. Other Faculty International Efforts D. Nursing Faculty Awards E. Inter-Institutional Collaborations Finance & Audit Committee: Regents Bancroft (Chair), Wilson (Vice Chair), Gibson, & McCullough I. Consider Approval of the Minutes of the Committee Meetings of October 21 and November 4, 2011 (Exhibit 24) II. Consider Recommending Approval of Personnel Report (Exhibit 5) III. Consider Recommending Acceptance of Grants (Exhibit 6) IV. Consider Recommending Approval of Contracts and Agreements (Exhibit 7) V. Consider Recommending Approval to Increase Board Designated Tuition by $3.84 per Semester Credit Hour from $118 per Semester Credit Hour to $121.54 per Semester Credit Hour, Effective Fall 2012 VI. Consider Recommending Approval for the Vice President for Finance and Administration to Enter into a Contract with Cedar Crestone to Upgrade the Oracle Financial System Software to Version R12, the Cost Not to Exceed $993,483, and to Fund This Upgrade and the Cost to Hire a TWU Project manager at $104,000 from Designated Tuition Fund Balance (Exhibit 8) VII. Receive the Quarterly Status Report of the Office of Internal Audits (Exhibit 9) VIII. Receive Informational Items on Activities of the Office of Finance and Administration, Including: A. Energy Management Project Report (Exhibit 10) B. HUB Report (Exhibit 11) C. Project Status Report (Exhibit 12) D. Traffic Violation Summary Report (Exhibit 13) Institutional Development Committee: Regents Chriss (Chair), Gibson, & Tonn I. Consider Approval of the Minutes of the Committee Meeting of November 4, 2011 (Exhibit 25) II. Receive the TWU Fundraising Report (Exhibit 14) III. Consider Recommending Acceptance of Gifts to TWU (Exhibit 15) IV. Receive the TWU Charitable Gift Planning Report (Exhibit 16) V. Receive Informational Items on Activities of the Office of Institutional Development, Including: A. Virginia Chandler Dykes Leadership Luncheon Information Services Committee: Regents Scanlon McGinity (Chair), Schrader, Tonn, & Wilson I. Consider Approval of the Minutes of the Committee Meeting of November 4, 2011 (Exhibit 26) II. Receive Informational Items on the Activities of the Office of Technology and Information Services, Including: A. Information Services Web Site B. Student Technology Assistants and Resources, STAR (Exhibit 17) C. Oracle Upgrade – R12 Student Life Committee: Regents Schrader (Chair), Chriss, Moreno, & Wagoner I. Consider Approval of the Minutes of the Committee Meeting of November 4, 2011 (Exhibit 27) II. Consider Recommending Approval of an Expenditure of Up to $47,000 from the Medical Service Fee Fund Balance to Fund an Integrated Solution for Electronic Health Compliance
Along with the Financial Aid Office’s efforts, TWU’s G-Force also will continue promoting awareness about financial aid options and deadlines for college students from its Mobile Go Center. “At TWU, we want to provide students with many opportunities to come in to the MGC and receive assistance from their peers,” director of the Office of Intercultural Services Becky Rodriguez said in an email. “That is why we have partnered with the Office of Financial Aid, so that we can continue to provide an extension of opportunities to our students.” Feb. 13-16, the Mobile Go Center will be set up in the Visitors’ Parking Lot in front of the Student Union from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Go Center interns are trained to help with the applying for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and scholarships from TWU and other sources. “Students will be able to get assistance with FAFSA, scholarship searches, STARS application, Office of Financial Aid resources and get oneon-one support by the TWU Collegiate G-Force Mentors,” Rodriguez explained. “The MGC provides ways of bring college access and success materials and person-to-person support to students and parents. These opportunities ultimately increase the number of students enrolled and succeeding in higher education.”
III.
Consider Recommending Approval of a Name Change from the Graduation Application Fee to the Graduation Fee Consider Recommending Approval of an Increase in the Graduation Fee to $40, Effective Fall 2012 (Exhibit 18) V. Student Services Fee Allocation Committee Report (Exhibit 19) VI. Consider Recommending Approval for the TWU Scholarship Committee to Act on Behalf of the Governing Body for Awards from the Thayer Scholarship Fund (Exhibit 20) VII. Consider Recommending Approval of an Increase in the Housing Room Rates, Effective Fall 2012 (Exhibit 21) VIII. Consider Recommending Approval of an Increase in the Meal Plan Rates, Effective Fall 2012 (Exhibit 22) IX. Receive Informational Items on the Activities of the Division of Student Life, Including: A. Enrollment Update for Fall 2012 B. Scholarship Update for Fall 2012 C. Maya Angelou Performance D. Textbook Savings Update
IV.
During the committee meetings a majority of the Board of Regents may be present. Each committee reserves the right to go into executive closed session for real estate, litigation, or personnel matters under V.T.C.A., Government Code Sections 551.072, 551.071, and 551.074, respectively, at any time for any item listed on the Agenda.
1
AGENDA2 TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY BOARD OF REGENTS MEETING
Board of Regents Conference Room Administration Conference Tower (ACT), 16th Floor 304 Administration Drive, Denton, Texas Friday, February 17, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Full Board Meeting: I. Call Meeting to Order II. Executive Closed Session: Real Estate, Litigation, or Personnel Matters, under V.T.C.A., Government Code Sections 551.072, 551.071, and 551.074, Respectively III. Consider Approval of the Minutes of the Board Meeting of November 4, 2011 (Exhibit 28) IV. Consideration of Public Testimony on Full Board Agenda Items, If Any V. Academic Affairs Committee Items: A. Consider Approval of the Revised Faculty Workload Policy (Exhibit 2) B. Consider Approval to Amend the Mission Statement of Texas Woman’s University by Adding “Graduate” Immediately after the Word “Undergraduate” in the Statement C. Consider Approval of the SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) Quality Enhancement Plan Recommendation (Exhibit 3) VI. Finance and Audit Committee Items: A. Consider Approval of: 1. Personnel Report (Exhibit 5) 2. Acceptance of Grants (Exhibit 6) 3. Contracts and Agreements (Exhibit 7) B. Consider Approval to Increase Board Designated Tuition by $3.84 per Semester Credit Hour from $118 per Semester Credit Hour to $121.54 per Semester Credit Hour, Effective Fall 2012 C. Consider Approval for the Vice President for Finance and Administration to Enter into a Contract with Cedar Crestone to Upgrade the Oracle Financial System Software to Version R12, the Cost Not to Exceed $993,483, and to Fund This Upgrade and the Cost to Hire a TWU Project manager at $104,000 from Designated Tuition Fund Balance (Exhibit 8) VII. Institutional Development Committee Items: A. Consider Acceptance of Gifts to TWU (Exhibit 15) VIII. Student Life Committee Items: A. Consider Approval of an Expenditure of Up to $47,000 from the Medical Service Fee Fund Balance to Fund an Integrated Solution for Electronic Health Compliance B. Consider Approval of a Name Change from the Graduation Application Fee to the Graduation Fee C. Consider Approval of an Increase in the Graduation Fee to $40, Effective Fall 2012 (Exhibit 18) D. Consider Approval for the TWU Scholarship Committee to Act on Behalf of the Governing Body for Awards from the Thayer Scholarship Fund (Exhibit 20) E. Consider Approval of an Increase in the Housing Room Rates, Effective Fall 2012 (Exhibit 21) F. Consider Approval of an Increase in the Meal Plan Rates, Effective Fall 2012 (Exhibit 22) IX. Receive Comments from the Chancellor and President, Including: A. Information on Chancellor’s Advisory Council B. Information on TWU Strategic Marketing X. Regents Workshop A. Summary of the Blending Technology Boundaries Forum with a Focus on the Applicability for TWU B. Understanding Compliances XI. Adjournment by the Board Chair The Board reserves the right to go into executive closed session for real estate, litigation, or personnel matters under V.T.C.A., Government Code Sections 551.072, 551.071, and 551.074, respectively, at any time for any item listed on the Agenda.
2
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Features
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Music Therapy: rehabilitation, wellness Bethany Wineinger News Editor
During his therapy session that day, he was encouraged to dance while she played a simple tune for him on the piano. He had so much fun moving to the music that he never realized the music was what had helped him make such huge improvements on his muscle coordination, helping him to take stronger strides. This is just one of many examples of the impact a music therapist can make on an individual, and it all starts with a music therapy student. “Yes, we work on cognitive and motor skills,” explained TWU music therapy student Bryant Williams, “but when it comes down to it, music therapy is about improving the quality of life.” So, what exactly is music therapy? According to the American Music Therapy Association, music therapy is the clinical and evidencebased use of music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, or behavioral goals for individuals in a therapeutic manner. The graduate and undergraduate music therapy program at TWU is one of the oldest ongoing programs in Texas. Since its establishment in 1957, students have been helping people with issues such as stress management, memory enhancement, physical rehabilitation, and behavioral problems, to name a few. One of the main requirements of music therapy majors is completing a practicum class in which students are required to volunteer at schools and practice their skills. TWU students Sarah Folkening, Stephanie Routzon and Williams have been working with patients through the practicum class at TWU this year. What exactly does a music therapist do? Folkening explained that generally the patients have
overall goals they need to work on throughout their time with a music therapist. The therapist (or in this case, practicum student) bases the direction of the sessions starting from those goals and onward. Students in the program are trained to work with children from the pre-school program all the way up to students in high school, and will visit them for 30 minutes once every two weeks, or sometimes once every week, with professional supervision. Music therapists create their own style and approach to the activities for each session, but the instruments and methods
they use ultimately are determined by a range of factors, including the patient’s age, disability, and personal preference. Routzon shared that she faces her biggest challenges when things don’t go as planned during the therapy sessions. The strategy for that day might have been to focus on a cognitive or motor skill, but if the client is stressed or anxious when he comes in, the clinician will have to be able to think on her feet and adjust the plan accordingly. “We just really have to be prepared for anything,” Folkening said. The clinician will
have to know how to improvise with both the instrument and the child, and not allow herself to freeze up when she needs to come up with something last minute. “But it doesn’t really matter what activities I had planned for that day or if I didn’t get to play the song that I had planned,” she said. “I know that I will always leave thrilled for what had just happened.” Also, music therapy is not just about playing music for the client, Routzon explained. “We incorporate the client into the music and allow them to play with us.” For example, if a child
had a problem with expressing himself, then during the session the therapist would say something like, ‘Hey, we are going to bang the drums all day. We’re just going to express our feelings,’ Williams added. One of the main features of this program, especially at TWU, is variety. Students in the music therapy program are required to be proficient in four instruments, which include guitar, piano, percussion, and a personal primary choice, which could be anything from voice to accordion. In addition to the required practicum class, music
Photography by Jeni Berry
Students work to improve their skills during music therapy classes last Friday. The training allows them to spend more time with children, improving cognitive and motor skills through music every two weeks.
4
therapy students take several other courses to equip them with techniques for actual sessions they will perform. One of these classes is music percussion and use in music, taught by author and TWU professor Bill Matney, which addresses one of the many proficiencies music majors need. The setting and tone of the class is that of a drum circle: boundless and creative, but with a syllabus and intent to educate aspiring music therapists about the percussion skills they will use. During class, students not only learn about percussion instruments and how to play them properly, but they also learn how to apply those abilities in a clinical setting and how the drums can literally move the healing process along. There are many different types of people who can benefit from music therapy, but just like any other method of treatment, it is not always going to work for everyone. “When people think of music therapy, they think that we are trying to take the place of physical therapy or occupational therapy, but we are trying to work alongside them,” Routzon clarified. Music therapy can help individuals improve on the difficulties they struggle with, whether it is a disease such as Asperger’s and Alzheimer’s, an attention disorder like ADHD/ ADD or a general cognitive or motor deficit. Music therapy is an alternative way of addressing these challenges through the filter of music. Williams said he thinks music therapy will continue to grow exponentially. “Mainstream culture is going to look at more alternative therapies, and hopefully music therapy will be leading the way,” he said. Students interested in music therapy at TWU can view the music therapy page on the TWU website or contact the department of music & drama at music@twu.edu.
Library receives 100K gift for WASP collection Dennis Barbee Features Editor
The Women’s Airforce Service Pilots collection housed at the Blagg-Huey Library received an anonymous donation of $100,000, which will allow the library to continue its mission of digitizing and protecting the large amount of items the university has. This is the second donation of $100,000 from this donor. Kimberly Johnson, coordinator of special collections for TWU Libraries, said: “The gift is significantly important and will allow us to continue our digital initiatives that we currently have in place with the WASP collection. It will allow us to build a really robust web presence and put more material online so that researchers and enthusiasts and those that are curious can access materials online for teaching and research purposes.” According to a news release provided by TWU marketing and research, “The university has over 5,000 images and documents that are accessible online as part of the TWU Libraries digital initiative.” “We will also begin to digitize photographs from collections that the public has not generally seen,“ she said. “That is a priority because there are so many photographs that tell that story that were taken by those pilots
that are not the iconic images that bring a fresh and new perspective to the program.” The gift is also important to the surviving members of the WASP. They are informed via newsletter about any changes that impact the collection. TWU produces the newsletter and distributes it to the more than 240 members. Those members also come to TWU from time to time to help with the collection. Photographs are one thing that members help with. Identifying people in photographs is difficult, and the WASP members’ help in this is paramount. “They help us get things done. They are able to recognize people in photographs that people have a tendency not to label. They recognize women in their classes and that helps us.”Johnson said. The WASP archives at TWU are the most extensive archival collection of WASP material in the United States and are available through the library or online. Johnson said that all donations go to support the cause. “Every donation we receive for the WASP collection is important, “ she said, “and we are able to do what we do because of the continued support.”
Photography by Dennis Barbee
WASP Collection photographs are housed in the Women’s Collection at the TWU library. A $100,000 gift made by an anonymous donor, will help to digitize more of the collection.
Vagina Monologues: Tackling Women’s Issues Dennis Barbee Features Editor Rape. Abuse. Political and social inequality. Sexual oppression and systemic social stigma that keep women delegated into more traditional gender roles. These are just a few things that are tackled in “The Vagina Monologues.” The play, which includes 17 different monologues, tackles some tough women’s issues. Along with raising awareness on these issues, the money being raised through the purchase of tickets and other fundraising activities linked to the show will
go to a national charity and two local charities. This year, new monologues written by Eve Ensler, the creator of the monologues, have been added. The Feminist Majority Foundation, founded in 1987, is a organization dedicated to women’s equality, reproductive health, and non-violence. FMF is the parent organization that puts on the monologues at the University of North Texas. The local chapter of the FMF is responsible for all of the fundraising and management activities associated with putting on the play. The cause chosen by the FMF
for this year is the relief effort in Haiti. Ten percent of profits will go to this cause and the rest will go to benefit local charities Resolana and Mosaic. The monologues often create a lasting impact. According to Shelby Henderson, UNT student and co-director, “Last year was my first year and I was in the chorus. This year I chose to direct and act in it ... It was so touching that I wanted a bigger part in it.” Henderson said she hopes people will walk away with a better understanding of what is going on in the world around them. “The show gives a sense of awareness about issues that are prevalent
today. We still have rape and abuse issues in our country and elsewhere ... “I hope that women will also be encouraged to help stop the silence that women encounter about their sexuality. Women should walk away with a sense of themselves,” she said. Sara Nickell, TWU senior and sociology major, echoed some of those sentiments. “It is a complete removal of what society tells us we can talk about,” she said. “For the audience it is completely different ... You need to go in with an open mind. They need to remember that these monologues came from actual women.” Going to class and being in a
play can be demanding, but Nickell said she believes in the project and its goals. “I’ve spent about eight hours a week since December. It is really intense. You devote your time and energy to projects like this,” she said. “One billion women on the planet have been abused. That is a huge number. I don’t think a majority of the public think about that number and what it means.” Nickell said she hopes the audience will walk away with a new appreciation for the strength of women and what they have gone through and an awareness of the importance of these issues. “I think the monologues
have helped me become more confident, and has solidified a passion in me and helped me grow,” she said. One aspect of the production is the roses that the performers will wear. There will be a black rose for those who have been personally impacted by violence or abuse and a red rose for those who know of someone who has been affected. “The Vagina Monologues” will run at UNT’s Lyceum Theater Friday-Sunday. Tickets are will be available at the door at the performances.
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Thursday, February 16, 2012
Internships
5
Student internship today, dream career tomorrow Bethany Wineinger News Editor
On a normal day of work, TWU student Kathleen “Katy” Stewart can expect to hear dozens of astonishing testimonies from men and women seeking help from the Center for Survivors of Torture, each story more shocking than the next. To many people, this job would be emotionally draining and stressful, but to Stewart it is becoming a reality and eventually a lifetime dream career. Stewart is a TWU social work senior and currently works as a volunteer at The
Center for Survivors of Torture in Dallas. CST is a non-profit organization based in Dallas that provides psychological services, social services, medical services, and legal services for torture survivors in the Texas and Oklahoma area, including refugees and asylum seekers, according to the CST website. CST also provides education and training for students and the community, which is exactly what Stewart is doing this semester for her senior practicum class. Stewart’s specific area of interest is working with international clients along with trauma survivors, trafficking victims, and international
Why Internships?
human rights policies, so CST was perfect for what she wanted to do. Stewart said she knew the general direction that she wanted to go, so she did some searches on the Internet, asked for some help from her adviser and landed herself an internship. “This job is just getting my foot in the door,” she said. “I can see myself working with these types of clients for the rest of my life.” Stewart’s work with CST ranges from scheduling intake sessions to assisting the professionals. “It’s really cool,” she explained, because working directly under her supervisor, who is a social worker, provides many opportunities to learn
new things every day. “Internships can be hard to find and frustrating, I know, but the work is worth it because you get to learn and experience things that you would never get to experience in a classroom,” Stewart said. “That is what I would say to anyone looking for one.” HealTorture.org is an organization CST works with to provide information about getting involved with victims of torture and trauma. This site and others are available for students who want to work in survivor centers. Students can visit www.twu.edu/ career-services for more information on internships.
Internships provide knowledge of the real-world working environment.
Internships can help build contacts and allow for networking for future employment.
An internship can be taken for academic credit through Career Services and your academic department.
Internships allow you to test drive a career.
The right internship can be fun.
Tips, tricks to finding internships Laura Hilton Features Writer Deidre Leslie, director of Career Services, said companies saw internships as an enhancement on a résumé 10 years ago, but today, an internship is usually a requirement. Internships provide the chance for students to gain leadership skills and
see whether or not the field they have chosen is right for them.
When should students looking for an internship?
start
TWU requires that students complete a minimum of 30 credit hours in their degree plan, Leslie explained, before applying for an internship. Because companies are more likely to hire someone with more experience,
students should complete two or three internships before they graduate, she added, so sophomore year is the perfect time to start applying. Students should also start looking into internships a semester before they plan to apply.
Where can students find an internship?
There are many online resources to give a jump start on finding an internship. TWU’s Career Services website provides many different resources for students. One of these resources displays links for several different search engines. Leslie said the only problem with those is that they
list internships that are available on a nationwide scale. Students who plan to take courses while working may not want to have an internship in Chicago or Seattle. Leslie suggested looking at the internship opportunities listed on the Career Services website. Major companies such as CBS Radio, Exxon Mobil and the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth post their applications on the Career Services page. CollegeBoard.com also offers resources for finding an internship. According to its website, “If there’s a specific company or organization you’d like to work for, don’t be afraid to inquire directly.”
Illustration by Cliff Caster
What should students do once they find an internship? Leslie said preparation is the key to being hired. “Get assistance to develop an impressive résumé, one that will entice the recruiter to call you for an interview,” she noted. Career Services provides résumé critiques. It also offers mock interviews to assist in developing interview techniques. These mock interviews allow students to learn “what to say, what not to say, and how to say it,” Leslie added. To contact Career Services and learn more about internships, students can visit www.twu.edu/career-services or call 940898-2950.
CONT. from pg. 1 Tuition benefits, and will cost TWU an estimated $400,000 a year. Floyd said benefits costs for all staff are likely to rise another $400,000. “If we didn’t raise tuition, those costs which have to be paid, would mean a budget reduction somewhere,” Nicholas said. “If we didn’t raise tuition, the things that we want to do or say we need to do most likely would not be done, or, again, there would have to be a reduction someplace.” TWU student regent Christina Wagoner said, like most students, when she first heard of the proposed increase she felt it was unfortunate. “However, when it comes down to it, it seems the only option TWU has to continue to maintain its high standards,” she said in an email. “The fact that even with the increase TWU will still be one of the least expensive universities is a testament that TWU cares about its students and is making education as affordable as possible.” A student at Monday’s hearing asked about the difference between course fees and tuition money, and what the funds for each support. “Tuition money is treated essentially the same as stateappropriated money,” Nicholas said. “Its use by the university is restricted to what we call E and G, educational and general, for the most part. It funds faculty, it funds the expenses of instruction, academic support services, the operation, like
custodians and utilities, all related to the core of administration and the instructional side.” The fees students pay, such as fitness and recreation fees and student service fees, cover costs unrelated to academics that tuition does not apply toward. These fees are reviewed separately. Nicholas announced Monday that the student service fee committee recommended the student service fee, student union fee, fitness and recreation fee, and medical services fee not increase. “We are proposing to the board at [Friday’s] meeting a small increase in room and board, basically to offset rising costs,” he said, and that cost will only impact students who live on campus. Nicholas said food costs in particular are going up, along with repairs and insurance premiums for on-campus students. Distance education and academic units are reviewing their fees, Nicholas said, and by April 1 the university will be able to make plans based on the reviewed fees. Individual course fees will be
reviewed as well; these fees vary by course and cover costs associated with a specific class. “My hope is that the potential for some of those fees to be reduced would offset some of the tuition increase,” he said. Nicholas emphasized that, increase or no increase, TWU is one of the most affordable colleges around. “It’s important for students to know that a lot of thought has gone into what we’re doing,” Nicholas said. “We don’t propose a tuition increase lightly. No one really wants it to go up, but there is a rather stark reality of the available funds to pay the operation of a rapidly growing university in a state with a revenue shortfall that’s reducing state funding everywhere.” Floyd said video recordings of the hearings will be available on TWU’s website for those who could not attend. She also said students with questions can email her at bfloyd@ twu.edu.
The fact that even with the increase TWU will still be one of the least expensive universities is a testament that TWU cares about its students and is making education as affordable as possible. — Christina Wagoner, TWU student regent
6 Thursday, February 16, 2012
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Sports
TWU gymnasts cheer on season-high 194.200
Aaron Claycomb Editor-in-Chief
The TWU gymnastics team posted a season-high 194.200 last Saturday evening as it captured a dual meet victory against Centenary. The Pioneers defeated visiting Centenary (189.900) by 4.3 points and saw five career-highs for its gymnasts. The Pioneers opened the meet on vault first, hitting a season-high 48.725. Freshman Kayla Jones led the TWU Pioneers with a career-high 9.825. The Pioneers captured the first three slots on vault, with Marcella Fallon and Bethany Larimer contributing a 9.775 and 9.800. The women cheered on their teammates as they competed in each event, providing moral support. The Pioneers took all four events with a 47.950 or higher. Centenary came close to the TWU gymnasts on beam, where it was .425 away from
tying. TWU head gymnastics coach Lisa Bowerman said it was because the team counted a fall. TWU also took the first three spots on bars, with Larimer tying her career-high score, 9.775. The Pioneers took the bars with 48.350. Chaynade Knowles reached a 9.725 and Rashonda Cannie delivered a 9.700 for the Pioneers. TWU stumbled on beam, a TWU Athletics press release said, recording one fall and scoring 47.950, the lowest team score of the evening meet. Larimer opened the event, sticking every landing and gaining a 9.775 on beams, tying her career-high score. Cannie closed out with a 9.725. The Pioneers took the floor, dominating Centenary, with all six gymnasts posting a 9.775 or higher. There were three career-highs recorded on floor: Fallon with a 9.875, followed by Jones, 9.850, and Knowles, 9.875, with their top scores of
their careers. Centenary only managed to gain a team score of 47.925 on the event. They had a little extra motivation going into floor last week, Bowerman said, because they counted a fall on beam. “Once again we improved our team score from last week and I am proud of the girls,” Bowerman said. “We don’t have a lot of depth on floor, but the six girls worked hard in practice and it paid off.” Stressing to the team that its number one goal and focus is to go out and make an improvement, Bowerman said, is what will make the team results go up. She said confidence is what will help the team as they go into away games for the next couple of weeks. The Pioneer gymnasts also defeated the Louisiana team in their last season in 2011. The Pioneers are scheduled to return to action against the Centenary team 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, in Shreveport, La.
Photography by Jeni Berry
TWU gymnastics team cheers on teammates after the Pioneers compete on beam. The team scored a 47.950 for the event.
Photography by Jeni Berry
Rashonda Cannie participated in the floor event, where she recorded a 9.775.
TWU basketball tramples undefeated Tarleton Bethany Wineinger News Editor
Last Wednesday night a flood of pink fans swarmed the court as the buzzer sounded to signify the TWU Pioneer upset victory against the previouslyundefeated Tarleton State TexAnns (17-6, 14-1 LSC) with 55-48 at the Kitty Magee Arena in the Lone Star Conference game. This week’s home game was themed Play4Kay in support for the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in partnership with The V Foundation and Women’s
Basketball Coaches Association. The TWU team was decked out in light pink jerseys, including the coaches, who wore pink alongside them. Walking into the arena there were free Play4Kay T-shirts, pink cotton candy and pink ice cream from Beth Marie’s for a donation. To raise money for the charity, a pink ribbon was hung at the south end of the court for every 3-point shot made by the Pioneers during the game. Attendees of the game were asked to donate a dollar for every ribbon hung. Two of the three 3-point shots made were from junior guard Brittney
Nuzum, and the other from sophomore forward Crystal Atwood. Junior guard Raquel Cuffie paced TWU with a game-high of 14 points as the Pioneers eased their way to a 26-15 halftime lead, followed by senior guard Jessica Hanna with 12 and Nuzum with 10. The Pioneers started with a strong defense the first 20 minutes of the game and kept up the pace throughout, holding the TexAnns to 15 points the first half and leaving them with a 13 shooting percentage — a season’s best defense for any half by TWU.
“We have been playing really good defense,” head coach Beth Jillson exclaimed as she scooped up her enthusiastic young daughter Madison after the game. “I’m really proud of our efforts to hold them to 15 points in the first half and then 48 points overall.” The Pioneers ran their lead to 16 points four minutes into the second half on three consecutive field goals. TWU later led 40-25 with 10:26 left in the contest before the TexAnns cut the deficit to four points at 40-36. Nuzum stopped that run with a three-pointer to give TWU a seven-point edge. TWU
then aced the upset going 6-for-7 at the line in the last 60 seconds. TWU played Tarleton State in the conference earlier this season in Stephenville, Texas. TWU fell just five points short with the 60-55 loss. “We only lost by five [at TSU],” stated Jillson, “so we felt like if we took care of the ball and limited our turnovers then we would have a chance, and we did. We only had 13 turnovers this game.” Wednesday’s win pulled TWU up to 11-10 overall and 6-9 in the conference before the Pioneers downed Texas A&M — Commerce 53-49 last Saturday
in Commerce for a critical LSC road victory. During the first half the Pioneers shot just under 52 percent afield and peaked to a 30-16 lead. “We shot the ball well, especially in the first half, but had too many turnovers,” Jillson stated. “It’s a good road win and should give us some momentum going into the two big games next week against Cameron on the road and Midwestern State at home.” After Saturday’s game the Pioneers continued up in the conference to 7-9 and 12-10 overall.
against the Lady Lions, 14-8 and 1-0. The teams played at Wells Field at ACU. The Pioneers improved their season record 3-2 after the doubleheader sweep last Friday. In the first game, the Pioneers scored 14 runs on 12
hits. The softball teams started their explosive offensive in the first inning, scoring two runs. Sophomore Bailey Vrazel scored the first run of the game, stealing second and third base. The Pioneers were struck out swinging in the first half
of the second inning. TWU’s softball team scored in every inning except the second, with four scored runs in the fourth and seventh innings. TWU stole eight bases in its first game. “Our bats woke up today and we were able to steal bases,”
head coach Richie Bruister said in a press release from TWU Athletics. “Bailey set the tone as a lead-off hitter and everyone followed her.” Bailey scored three runs in the Pioneers’ first game Friday. “We had a lot of opportunities and we took those,” Bruister said. The team will run every chance they get, he said, and “offensively everything was clicking.” The Lady Lions scored their first run of the game in the top of the fourth, following with two runs in the fifth and sixth. They ended the first game with three runs in the top of the seventh, totaling eight for the first game. “Katie was huge and really stepped up in the second game,” Bruister said in a press release from TWU Athletics. TWU’s Katie Hines pitched a completegame shutout for the Pioneers. Hines allowed just three hits for the game. The Pioneers managed to pick up the only run of the game in the top of the fifth inning. Senior Addison Staley was walked to first and stole second. Hines drove a single down the right field line, bringing in
Staley for the Pioneers’ only offensive run of the game. The pitchers regrouped and knew they walked too many hitters last weekend. “We’ve made improvements,” Bruister said. “Its always good to win a 1-0 ball game.” The pressure was there, he added. The Pioneers closed the second game 1-0 against the Lady Lions. “I am very pleased with our offense,” Bruister said. “We hit that ball hard in both games. The ball did not bounce our way in the second game, and we hit right at the people.” The Pioneers were scheduled to play another doubleheader Saturday against East Central and Abilene Christian. However, they found the games canceled due to anticipated cold temperatures moving into the Abilene area Friday night. The Pioneers headed back to Denton Saturday morning. TWU returns to action against Nova Southeastern and West Florida Friday in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The Pioneers will then take on Lynn in a doubleheader Saturday in Boca Raton, Fla.
Softball swings and walks away with doubleheader sweep Aaron Claycomb Editor-in-Chief The TWU softball team headed up against Missouri Southern Friday, Feb. 10, at the Abilene Christian Whitten Inn Classic. The Pioneers walked away with a doubleheader sweep
Photography by Jeni Berry
TWU opened its season against Southern Arkansas in three games, starting their season 1-2. The Pioneers are now 3-2 as they wrapped up a doubleheader sweep against Missouri Southern last Friday.
We hit that ball hard in both games. The ball did not bounce our way in the second game ,and we hit right at the people. —Richie Bruister, TWU head softball coach
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Love & Skates
Duck: worse than Jack White, and even harder to write about
Morgan Ashton Griffin Opinions Editor
Many moons ago, I began working at a comic shop. On my first day there, I met a boy. I call him a boy not to be cute or inaccurately describe his age, but because his maturity level was that of a child. We dated. His name is now hated throughout my friend circles. For our purposes, we’ll call him Duck, because that was his favorite animal. Oh, and because he waddled like one. Often, I try to pinpoint where we went wrong. It’s difficult because it was always wrong. We rushed into things too fast. Neither of us was completely honest with the other. We focused too heavily on the future and how romantic it was that we met my first day of work. Our separate lives stopped almost immediately after meeting each other. And I was sick when I met him. With mononucleosis. For the first eight months we dated, I was ill. I needed to be taken care of, told when to take my medicine, carried from the couch to the bathroom, even. It was rough. As soon as I felt better and able to go out, wanted to go out with him, and started spending time away from him, we fought. When we fought it wasn’t pretty. He threw things.
Thursday, February 16, 2012 7
Opinions
myself. That scared him. I’m not trying to justify what he did. I guess I want to know why. But don’t we all want to know why terrible things happen to us? To other people? At all? You may wonder, and by may wonder I mean probably are wondering, why we stayed together for so long if he was so terrible. The answer is simple: I kept getting sick, and I kept needing someone. When I should have gone home to my mother, I went to him to heat me up soup and loan me sweatpants. After I was well and on my own, I went back to him a couple of times. I think I was trying to figure out what I even saw in him in the first place, in order to have a reason for having him in my life for that long. People always ask me why. Why would I go back? It’s hard to explain to someone who doesn’t know how it feels. After being in an abusive relationship, you lose hope that there is anything better, anything else out there. I would diminish his wrongdoings. I would worry about him. Worry he would kill himself or start abusing substances. I already knew that not being in a relationship with him didn’t mean he was out of my life — it meant he was calling and texting and e-mailing and talking to my friends and hoping to be where I was. I felt bad for him. He came from a messedup family and felt dejected and unloved. I thought it was my fault, that my being sick and unstable made him violent. I was pretty textbook battered woman. In one of my women’s studies courses, I learned women go back to their abuser seven
Battle of the Burgers Contestant 9: TJ’s Cheeseburger Pizza
Morgan Ashton Griffin Opinions Editor As I drove home with the pizza in my passenger seat, I wanted to pull over and eat it immediately. The air conditioning forced the smell of the freshly-baked pie up into my nostrils, making my mouth water in anticipation. I was trying something new to fulfill my burger craving: cheeseburger pizza. I had ordered TJ’s Pizza, Wings N Things’ eight-inch specialty cheeseburger pizza. It came topped with bacon, hamburger, onions, tomato, cheddar, and mozzarella, with a light tomato sauce. All the toppings except the tomato were baked underneath the cheese, making the pizza easy to eat, since no toppings would fall into my lap, making a mess. The amount of tomato sauce was perfect: enough to keep the pizza from being dry, but not enough to dominate the overall taste of the pie. The onion was strong, borderline overpowering. If I didn’t love onion so much, I would have been unable to enjoy the pizza. Not tasting any delicious bacon bits in my meal, I visually searched the food for them, only to find there was no bacon to be found. I had been swindled on my favorite part of my burger! The crust, no substitute for the warm buns of a burger, was lipped
and chewy with a slight crunch. Upon opening my pizza box, I thought, “Golly, this pizza is small,” but as I approached the final piece of the six-slice pizza, I was also approaching full. The eight-inch pizza makes a perfect meal for an individual. Overall the pizza was delicious, something I would definitely order again. Alas, however, the cheeseburger pizza was too pizza-y to fulfill a burger craving, and too burger-y to fulfill a pizza craving. For this pie to sate my hunger, I’d have to be craving just it, which won’t be hard with how long the scent lingered in my automobile. Another pizza of note from TJ’s is the BBQ chicken pizza with Thai barbecue sauce added. It is absolutely impossible to resist. Even after full is reached, the pizza will call out your name, sucking you back into its delicious void of impending food coma. TJ’s Pizza, Wings N Things is located on 420 S. Carroll #102, and is open Sunday-Wednesday 11 a.m.-1 a.m. and Thursday-Saturday 11 a.m.-2 a.m. TJ’s is not a dine-in location. It offers pickup or delivery services. With a valid student I.D., pickup customers receive a small discount on their order. Delivery requires a $10 minimum purchase and usually takes 30-40 minutes. Online ordering capability is currently under construction.
I’m not trying to justify what he did. I guess I want to know why. But don’t we all want to know why terrible things happen to us? To other people? At all? He once threw me. He called me names. He stole my phone and keys away from me so I couldn’t leave. He made me feel guilty for wanting to leave. When we fought I would sit on the floor. Motionless. Waiting for the terrible. Unresponsive except for tears. Sometimes, I would throw tantrums. Always wanting it to just end. I think he hated me when I was healthy, because I didn’t need him. I could be independent. I could feed myself. I didn’t need his encouragement or help or motivation. I had every good thing he offered me inside of
to eight times before leaving for good. Sounds about right. He emails me sometimes. I hear he is dating my sister’s co-worker. The world is funny like that. I worry about her. I don’t tell you this so you think, “Oh, man, she has had it so hard,” or “I feel so sorry for her.” I tell you so to try to help you understand where all this comes from. Where I come from. And to open the door to other women, other students who have stories to tell. I want to know them. I want to know you, my readers. Send your stories to morgan.a.griffin@gmail. com, happy or sad, eloquently written or in plain-speak. Let’s go out for coffee. Let’s become friends.
Morgan no longer handles conflicts by sitting on the floor unresponsive although she does very occasionally still throw tantrums. Lately, though, she’s hardly had anything to tantrum about. Namaste. Photography by Morgan Ashton Griffin
Evolution of the Student
Elementary
Middle School High School
College
Texas State Legislature
Editorial Cartoon by Cliff Caster
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Thursday, February 16, 2012
Arts & Entertainment
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The Lasso
Play festival features two world premieres A brief history Marygail Lakner A&E Writer
Graduate thesis projects are labors of love and determination, and those within the theater department are no exception. Two shows will make their world premieres in The Redbud Theatre Complex Black Box Theater: “BrideZilla” and “Mark 1.” “BrideZilla,” written by Dr. Natalie Gaupp and Steven Alan McGaw, is being directed by graduate student Nicholas Irion for his thesis. “My thesis is about the development of the script. The directing of the script is the final realization,” Irion stated. “I’ve been working since September 2010 side-by-side with the playwrights. Since I started school, I knew this would be my thesis.” Irion works with both authors, who are professionallyproduced local playwrights, through Fort Worth-based nonprofit organization SceneShop, where Irion has been an associate producer since 2009. Irion also co-founded Lost Beat Generation, a mobile theater company that travels all over Texas, and recently produced the world premiere of a play written by Paul Engle, one of Irion’s cast members. “I wanted collaboration with people who have honest intentions,” Irion said. “Each actor and actress brings a certain color to the portrait. It may be different depending on what they bring.” “BrideZilla,” a comedy with some strong language, is the story of a sudden wedding, a few too many vodka blushes, and a missing kidney. The story follows Dean, a high school graduate who has been removed from his parents’ couch and sent off into the world after a big going-away party and a huge cash gift to start college. He quickly becomes a desperate man, seemingly abandoned in a foreign country with no money and one less organ to
of black film in America Black ensemble films are as much a part of American culture as action films or political thrillers. In the past 30 years, these films have launched successful careers for John Singleton (“Boyz in the Hood”), Spike Lee (“Do the Right Thing”) and Tyler Perry (“Diary of a Mad Black Woman”).
Photography by Nicholas Dean Irion
Left to right: Taylor Reed, Arturo Garcia, Paul Engle, and Nikki Irion rehearse for “BrideZilla.” his name, after literally running into beautiful Katherine Destry outside of that party. After he has a one night stand with her, Katherine rushes to plan their wedding, introduces Dean to her father (a doctor), and Dean falls unconscious after drinking a few too many cocktails with, perhaps, some questionable ingredients. The story behind the mystery bride is gradually put together by the wedding planner, the caterer and the florist after Dean hunkers down in an Internet cafe and e-mails them. “This show is a lot of fun, and it’s a thrill ride from beginning to end,” Hayley Yates, assistant director of “BrideZilla,” said. “Mark 1” is a very different play. The thesis project of playwright Rene SarradetFuller, and directed by Rebecca McDonald, “Mark 1” is based on true events Sarradet-Fuller experienced. During the evening service at His Holy Vessel Baptist Church, a schizophrenic man comes in shooting. “Mark 1” is an exploration of religious faith, family, mental health, and what
kind of healing the Bible can do. “I was at the Wedgwood Baptist Church in Fort Worth. My group from church went for the concert. A man came in and started shooting. A lot of us thought it was fake until we saw the real blood and the real people going down. He let off several shots, declared God was dead, and shot himself. I had just turned 15,” Sarradet-Fuller said. “I went to high school with several youths that died. “When I was 20, a really good friend, Jonathan, thought he was going to be a pastor. He was schizophrenic. He thought he was physically touched by God, and he quit taking his medication,” Sarradet-Fuller said. “Four months after, his youngest brother found him in the shed, and he had shot himself. I remember in his suicide note, he said ‘I thought I was touched by God, but the Devil is a beautiful romancer.’” Both these events stuck with Sarradet-Fuller, who did not want to recreate the Wedgwood shooting onstage but instead wanted to honor that shooter
and Jonathan by demonstrating that someone was thinking about their side of the story. McDonald, as the director, was faced with the challenges of directing a new play. “My concept is for the audience to treat this as if they’re in church and they fear being shot,” McDonald said. The play isn’t just for Christian audiences, though. “At the end of the day, the message of ‘pay attention to your kids on a broader level’ is universal,” McDonald said. “On some level, everyone can relate to not being the son or daughter their parents wanted, whether that’s true or imagined.” The New Play Festival featuring “BrideZilla” and “Mark 1” is a culture card event. “BrideZilla” will take place 4 p.m. Feb. 23, 8 p.m. Feb. 25, 8 p.m. March 2, and 2 p.m. March 4. “Mark 1” will take place 8 p.m. Feb. 24, 2 p.m. Feb. 26, 4 p.m. March 1, and 8 p.m. March 3. Tickets are $5 for students and senior citizens and $10 for adults. Cash or check is accepted at the box office. Reservations can be made by calling 940-898-2020.
010 Gallery displays students’ work
Barbara Core, MFA student at the TWU department of visual arts, had a solo exhibition of monoprints titled “Women Artists & Their Art.” The gallery was open Jan. 30 through Feb. 11, 2012. The 010 Gallery is located in the lower level of the TWU Student Union.
Photography by Jeni Berry
Call for artists: ‘Too Ugly to Live’ art show Marygail Lakner A&E Writer Natalie’s Hookah Lounge is not a coffee shop. It isn’t an art gallery, nor is it a restaurant, and artists should not expect the kind of art show they might see in those kinds of places. “Unconventional is born of the place it’s in,” Anne Couteau, event coordinator of Natalie’s Hookah Lounge, said. Unconventional is exactly what Natalie’s is looking for in artist submissions for the “Too Ugly To Live Art Show.” The show is scheduled for the beginning of March and is a project that Natalie’s wants to host regularly. “Part of what this show is about is simply giving venue to quality works that, due to content limitations, couldn’t be seen in other venues,” Couteau said. “Unconventional is kind of a loaded term,” Trey Wright, event founder, said. “We’re leaving it up to the artist to decide. I don’t think there is a way to define it clearly. We’re looking for work
that goes outside the boundaries of a class assignment.” Couteau explained that Natalie’s is looking for art that simulates and provokes. “We want to create a charged show,” she said. Couteau and Wright, who studied art at UNT, will both act as jurors for submitted pieces. “In all honesty, I’m going to draw the line at quality,” Couteau said. “It doesn’t matter the content if it has a strong composition. We want strong-looking works.” One of the reasons Couteau and Wright are planning a boundary-breaking show is to support local artists. “Why go buy bad art prints from Hobby Lobby when you could spend that money on a living artist who is working with ideas and isn’t just going to match the taupe towels in the bathroom?” Wright asked. Couteau explained that the problem with exhibiting work in galleries and coffeeshops is that galleries exist to sell, and coffeeshops can’t risk offending their customers. “I don’t want
Photography by Jeni Berry
Natalie’s Hookah Lounge, 233 W. Hickory St., will be the venue for “Too Ugly To Live Art Show.” to offend people, but I’ve done tasteful pieces ... that can’t be hung,” Couteau said. “They aren’t pornography, they’re artistic nudes. I don’t want to offend people, I want them to remember. Sometimes the images that can’t be hung in coffee shops are the most relatable.” Wright added, “Just because it isn’t pretty doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be addressed.”
Artists interested in submitting their work can send an email containing a high resolution, straight-on picture of the image to Couteau at ziggy_ sparkle@yahoo.com. The email should contain the artist’s name, dimensions of the piece and materials used. Couteau said artists should follow standard submission guidelines and may submit five
Stanton Brasher A&E Editor While these directors are not always in agreement about how they tell their story, one thing is for sure: their impact is real and people are watching. “I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to express the views of black people who otherwise don’t have access to power and the media,” Lee said on his IMDB.com page. For February’s celebration of black history, I felt it was important for The Lasso to highlight some achievements in black filmmaking. The Oscar goes to… Hattie McDaniel was the first black person to receive an Academy Award. Her role as Mammy in “Gone with the Wind,” while possibly offensive in a modern setting, allowed her to be the first black person to attend the ceremony as a guest and not a servant in 1940. Sadly for McDaniel, she was still relegated to playing Southern maids for the duration of her career. She died in 1952 of breast cancer. After McDaniel’s win, the Academy doors opened to more diverse opportunities. In 1963, Sidney Poitier received his second nomination for best actor. He walked away from the ceremony as the first
the first black director to receive a nomination (for “Boyz in the Hood,”) but he is also the youngest nominee in that category. He was 23. The only other black director to receive a nomination was Lee Daniels for 2009’s “Precious.” Box Office Sensation Achievement and impact are not solely judged through awards. Spike Lee has only two nominations under his belt (best screenplay for 1989’s “Do the Right Thing” and best documentary for 1997’s “4 Little Girls”). However, his films, while modestly budgeted, tend to make money. They are also notorious for creating controversy and public dialogue. This is an important part of the process for Lee. “You gotta make your own way,” Lee said on his IMDB. com page. “You gotta find a way. You gotta get it done. It’s hard. It’s tough. That’s what I tell my students every day in class. I’ve been very fortunate. Some people might call me a hardhead, but I’m not going to let other people dictate to me who I should be or the stories I should tell. That doesn’t register with me.” Lee has a certain amount of respect in Hollywood. He does limited-budget films that receive strong critical reactions. Perry works in a
“You gotta make your own way. You gotta find a way. You gotta get it done. It’s hard. It’s tough. That’s what I tell my students every day in class,” Spike Lee said.
black man to win a best actor award for his role as Homer Smith in “Lilies of the Field.” In 1982, Louis Gosset Jr. became the first black recipient of the Oscar for best supporting actor for “An Officer and a Gentleman.” Gosset did not take his opportunity lightly. “I took 30 days and went down to San Diego where I studied drill instructors and studied with them for 28 of those days,” Gosset said on his IMDB.com page. “I was getting ready to do anything in order to do that performance. It was my shot, and I was doing as much as I could to do a good performance.” To this day, only one black woman has won a best actress Oscar with the Academy, and it did not happen until 2001, when Halle Berry received one for “Monster’s Ball.” This year Viola Davis is in the running for her work in “The Help.” Her performance was strong, but I wish we could see more black female roles that carry as much weight as Berry’s performance did in “Monster’s Ball.” John Singleton has the distinction of not only being pieces maximum. No more two pieces from a given artist will be accepted. Large work is encouraged, but it must be lightweight. It does not need to be framed. Framed work should not exceed 24 by 36 inches. All works larger than five feet should be on paper without any heavy accessories. Artists submitting large work for consideration are encouraged to submit smaller works as well, in case there will not be room for the large piece. There is no fee to submit a piece, but there will be a $3 fee for each accepted work to cover reception costs. All accepted works must be delivered
different arena altogether. His films, while still modestly budgeted, have struck a chord with mainstream audiences. According to a list created by Forbes in 2009, Tyler Perry is the highest-paid black filmmaker and the third highest-paid black entertainer (right behind 50 Cent and Oprah, respectively). His films in America have grossed more than $500 million. While Lee says Perry’s characters are stereotypes, Perry said they mirror people from his own life and represent the Southern, Christian side of black culture. “I think everybody — white, black, Jewish, Asian — of a certain generation,” Perry said on Bighollywood.com about his popular character, Madea. “You knew this woman. She said what she wanted to say and would smack your a**, but she’s not around anymore. She’s that 100-year-old toughtalking cookie.” TWU alumna Jill Marie Jones starred opposite Ice Cube in 2007’s “The Longshots” and played Toni for six seasons on the hit television series, “Girlfriends.” to Natalie’s no later than Feb. 29. The deadline to submit is Feb. 25. For additional information, students can contact Couteau at the email given above. “The jurors reserve full right to disqualify previously accepted work before the hanging of the show, and before accepting any fees, if we feel that the images were too misleading or the dimensions were not accurately described,” Couteau added. “Too Ugly To Live” will run at Natalie’s Hookah Lounge, located at 233 West Hickory Street in Denton March 2-3 with a reception 7 p.m.midnight March 3.