The L asso On the scene since 1914
Student-run newspaper | Never a dull moment
WEDNESDAY, February 11, 2014 | Vol. 102, No. 4
Athletics
Campus development
TWU sisters flip as a family Union
passes
Spencer and Schyler Jones prove there’s no better spotter than family
Students support new ‘U’ in vote
Shelby Baker Editor-in-Chief sbaker3@twu.edu The floor of the gym is hidden beneath piles of blue mats intended to keep the gymnasts safe. Balance beams run parallel to the doors, lined up in preparation. Maroon padding lines the left wall of the gym, with “TWU Pioneers” printed across the center. More words are written along the bottom: “Commitment,” “Teamwork” and “Humility” are just a sampling. Gymnasts arrive to practice, walking on balance beams, working on their flips and stretching their muscles for another workout. This is where senior Psychology major Spencer Jones and first-year Education major Schyler Jones practice each day. While two sisters may start off in the same sport, it’s not very often they find themselves competing together at the college level. For the Jones sisters, that’s reality. At the age of four, Spencer’s mother enrolled her in dance classes. She had wanted her daughters to be dancers, but luckily for Spencer, the classes were located in the same facility as Titans Gymnastics. “My mom said that if I was serious about gymnastics, we’d talk about it after my last recital,” Spencer said. “I went up to her afterwards and told her I still wanted to do it, so she said, ‘Alright, then let’s go.’” When Schyler was three, she followed her sister’s footsteps and the two spent the next 14 years competing and practicing together at Achievers here in Denton. They spent that time divided between school, home and the gym with little time for anything else. “For me, seeing my friends get to do stuff after school was hard,” Schyler said. “I couldn’t
Inside The Lasso this week: Opinions:
Nadiyah Suleiman Page Editor nsuleiman@twu.edu
Photo by Sierra Taylor
Gymnast sisters Spencer and Schyler Jones pose for a photo before their daily practice.
hang out with them because I had practice after school, so I guess just not being able to have a normal life was an obstacle for me.” The Jones sisters have grown up in the Denton area, living in Pilot Point and then Corinth. Spencer recalled many memories attending the TWU gynmanstic meets as a child and knowing head gymnastics coach Lisa Bowerman before she even considered TWU as a potential school. When Schyler came to TWU, she was glad to have her sister here. “I know that if I’m having a hard time, she’ll come up to me and
give me advice on what I should do,” Schyler said. “That has helped me a lot in adjusting to this new setting when she’s been here for four years.” As for their gymnastic careers, Spencer and Schyler have very different routines. Spencer described hers as being very upbeat, almost like she’s showing off. Schyler, however, has a very graceful and fluid style like that of a dancer. While they have had ...
Local | Arts
Thin Line fest hosts City discusses new Olympic hopeful
dumpster laws
Ugandan snowboarder Brolin Mawejje to screen film at local arts festival Removal of street-side city dumpsters is expected due to safety concerns Emily Nickles Page Editor enickles@twu.edu
News: The 14th annual JEG photography exhibition opens with a surrealist theme in TWU art gallery.
Sports:
Follow The Lasso twulasso.com
Continues pg. 3
Local politics
Editor-in-Chief Shelby Baker offers a criticism of the sentiments and logic behind the lovers’ season.
Pioneers lose to Cameron in the most recent basketball game.
Continues pg. 4
The results are in: the long awaited vote for a new student union has ended in a resounding “yes.” Voting for a new Union was available online and in the current Union and took place on Feb. 3 and 4. Fourteen percent of TWU students participated in the vote, with 57 percent voting for the new union and 43 percent voting against the union. Programing Coordinator of the Student Union Lauren Meyer said: “We were pleasantly surprised by the voting turnout. Initially, we were hoping for ten percent [of the student population].” Student Union fees will increase from $38 per semester to $150 each semester. This increase in fees will help pay for the construction costs and ultimately pay for the entire new union. These fees will also cover new services and facilities at the Dallas and Houston campuses. The current Union will be converted to a student services building housing Student Health, Student Life and possibly the Counseling Center.
Photo courtesy of Verde Brand Communications
Matt Olson Reporter molson3@twu.edu Next Wednesday, Feb. 18, the Thin Line Film Festival will come to Denton, bringing countless filmmakers and musical acts in tow. The musical acts consist of unique performers while the documentaries feature a wide range of subjects. One of Thin Line’s high profile documentary releases this year, “Far From Home,” follows the story of Brolin Mawejje, a Ugandan snowboarder and Winter Olympic hopeful. The Lasso was able to discuss “Far From Home” with both Mawejje and
his longtime friend Phil Hessler, one of the film’s producers, a week before the film arrived. Mawejje spent his early years in Uganda before moving to Lincoln, Massachusetts, in his fifth grade year. There he met Hessler, and the two bonded over snowboarding. Speaking on his introduction to the sport, Mawejje related via email: “At first I did it just to fit in, and then I fell in love with the freedom and escape that it provided for me.” Since then, Mawejje began to snowboard professionally, and ...
Continues pg. 3
According to the Denton Record-Chronicle, last Monday on Feb. 2, the Denton City Council met for a luncheon to finalize decisions about some issues that have been sitting at the table for a while. One of these decisions pertained to some important pedestrian safety issues: dumpsters located on streets, curbs and sidewalks have proven to be a danger for pedestrian bike riders, skate boarders, and walkers as they try to maintain the sidewalk and circumvent heavy traffic. In order to prevent accidents from occurring and to update regulations on dumpster placement, the city council has asked their staff to come up with a permanent solution for removing these dumpsters from city sidewalks. Council Member of District 1 and Denton local Kevin Roden states: “Since I’ve been on council, this has been an ongoing issue.” Dumpsters that block passage on the sidewalk or walkway, force pedestrians
to walk in the street which can become life threatening if there is oncoming traffic or if drivers cannot see you. He shares: “We know it’s going to be difficult and we know it’s going to cost somebody money [to remove the dumpsters].” Roden and the council have asked their staff to come up with a solution to get rid of dumpsters within a period of 90 days. He speculates that there are probably a total of 31 dumpsters that still need to be removed or placed elsewhere in the city. When asked about a projected start and completion date, Roden shared that he suggested a 60 day window for the staff led by General Manager of Solid Waste Operations Vance Kemler to come back with a solution for the removal and relocation. He hopes that by the spring they will have a plan of action, and that by the summer the issue will be resolved. For more information or to get involved with pedestrian safety, visit http://rodenfordenton. com/denton-pedestrian-safetyassessment/.
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Opinions
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Op-Ed
Fooling yourself The flawed concept of “The One”
Happy Valentine’s Day from The Lasso TO: CLUBHOUSE KIDS
Happy Valentine’s Day to the best children in the world. Clubhouse kids Rock!
TO: THE STUDENTS
LOVE, - MISS. JAMIE, MS. FRANCIA, MS. TORI, MS. REBECCA AND MS. KRISTALYN
Shelby Baker Editor-in-Chief sbaker3@twu.edu Love is beautiful. I believe that it is a decision-made to stay beside someone through thick and thin fueled by emotions and trust. But for some people, this isn’t enough. Instead, they spend years searching for “The One.” Obviously, I believe this ideal is poppycock. There are more than 7 billion people in the world, and you believe the guy from Math 1013 is “the one” for you? If there was only one person out there for everyone, then a lot of us would have to find the time and money to search China and India for them, as those are the two most populated countries. Then you have to factor in the cultural differences and potential language barrier. That doesn’t even include age. If people are ever to meet their one soulmate, then it can only be attributed to a huge case of fate, if you believe in that. Whomever you invest your future in is “The One” because you want them to be.
twulasso.com
TIFFANY
EDWARDS
ROCKS!!!!!!
TO: TWU
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY EVERYONE! - MALEXI
TO: MY SEXY LUMBERJACK
TO: MY DESIGN OHANA
Happy Valentine’s Day. You’re my best friend who can make me laugh like no one else. In your eyes and arms is my favorite place to be.
To all my friends in the Graphic Design Department: Thank you for all the support, laughs, inspiration and friendship you all have shared with me.
LOVE, - YOUR WOMAN
LOVE, - CARLA A. BENITEZ DAVILA
Rooms for Rent Four bedrooms available in five bedroom house, walking distance to campus. Amenities include shared kitchen, two living spaces, laundry room with washer/ dryer and three baths. Security deposit $200 per individual. Month-tomonth rental, $450.00 per room plus a split of utilities. Email paint1411@ verizon.net or call 214-8375575.
TO: TIEN
TO: LASSO
I guess it’s cool being your sister
Happy Valentine’s Day to the fantastic hard-working Lasso student staff.
- TIFFANY
-YOUR PROUD ADVISOR
The Lasso
is seeking applications for Editorin-Chief!
Patients will receive a no-charge screening exam with no appointment necessary in order to determine suitability as a teaching case. *Additional fees up to $75 total may apply for patients who have complicated needs.
Applicants must be organized leaders who can prioritize, handle caffeine, persevere through late nights and grin and bear our wacky humor. Come by Stoddard Hall Rm 311 to pick up an application.
*CASH OR CHECK ONLY
The Lasso editorial staff Editor-in-Chief
Shelby Baker • sbaker3@twu.edu
Managing Editor
Alexander Ancira • aancira@twu.edu
Reporters
Brian Chetoni • bchetoni@twu.edu Matt Olson • molson3@twu.edu
Photographer
Tammi Paul • tpaul1@twu.edu Sierra Taylor • staylor40@twu.edu
Designer
Toi Ferguson • lferguson2@twu.edu
Designer Intern
Carla Benitez Davila • cbenitezdavila@twu.edu
Page Editors
Emily Nickles • enickles@twu.edu Nadiyah Suleiman • nsuleiman@twu.edu
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 Lasso staff and writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the faculty, staff, students, administration or the Regents of Texas Woman’s University.
This week’s issue Vol. 102 No. 4
Letters from Readers The Lasso Stoddard Hall Rm 311
Email lasso@twu.edu Website twulasso.com
Copy Editors
Tiffany Lam • tlam6@twu.edu
Advisor
Rhonda Ross• rross7@twu.edu
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. Your contact information will not be published. Unsigned submissions will not be published. All submissions are also edited for length and clarity. Submissions become property of The Lasso.
News
twulasso.com
‘Far from Home’ Continued from pg. 1
he has been competing for five years. Mawejje shared: “I’ve been all over the world for snowboard competitions. From Argentina to Italy and all over the US.” Asked about his achievements so far, Mawejje replied: “My greatest achievement so far has been completing ‘Far From Home’ with my two best friends. There were a lot of ups and downs in making this film, and we almost gave up so many times. We persevered to get the film to where it is today, and I could not be more happy about that. We wanted this film to be a true reflection of my life getting to this point, and we achieved that. I couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds.” Hessler expressed similar views in regards to the film. In regards to its creation, he said via email: “Brolin is a brother to me, and the rest of the team that made this film all are family. There were definitely a lot of ups and downs with this project, but we stuck together as a team. Some of the toughest times were in Uganda, when tensions were high and everything was happening so fast. Brolin was on all over the media, and it was pretty overwhelming at points. Also, having Brolin’s family reveal some of the tougher moments of Brolin’s childhood was pretty heart-wrenching.” Hessler recounted days of filming: “One of the hardest difficulties was navigating so many foreign cultures while keeping our goals in mind for this film. We shot in Uganda, Argentina, Italy, Canada and the U.S. for this film. All of us started this project as a group of friends in college, so we had to figure a lot of this out as we went. There was a lot of room for error, and we got ourselves into some pretty dangerous situations but thankfully made it out alive.
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I’m glad to say that the majority of the ‘Far From Home’ team still remain really good friends to this day. In total we spent about 14 months filming. The film took two years to make!” Mawejje hopes to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics, but his dreams do not stop there. After achieving his Olympic aspirations, he plans to become a doctor. He elaborated: “I’ve wanted to be a doctor ever since I started school in Uganda. I’ve always liked math and science and being a doctor is a very respected profession in Africa. My ultimate dream is to one day build a hospital in Uganda. I really want to make a positive impact on the African continent. I want to find a way to give back for all that I have been given.” Both Mawejje and Hessler had more than positive words to share about their experiences in making the film. Mawejje said: “I hope this documentary helps build support around my Olympic journey! I want people to take away from the film that your circumstances do not define who you are or what you can become. You have to find likeminded people who can help foster your growth.” Hessler added: “What I took away most from my experience producing ‘Far From Home’ is that you truly can do anything you put your mind to. But you can’t be afraid to ask for help, money, resources, etc. So many people came around this project to make it a reality, and it would not have happened if it wasn’t for us asking them first. You have to be fearless in your dreams.” “Far From Home” will be shown on Thursday, Feb. 19, at 8 p.m. at the Campus Theatre. For additional information on “Far From Home,” visit http://www.farfromhomemovie.com. For information on Thin Line, visit http://www.thinlinefilmfest.com.
Support Group for students with visible and invisible disabilities
START DATE TBA // THURSDAYS
DSS
DSS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE COUNSELING CENTER, IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE AVAILABILITY OF A NEW SUPPORT GROUP FOR STUDENTS WITH VIASIBLE AND INVISIBLE DISABILITIES. THIS 6 WEEK GROUP, LED BY DR. ERIN SCHRADER, WILL BEGIN AT THE END OF FEBRUARY 5TH AND MEET IN CFO 106.
4:00 P.M. // CFO 106 940.898.3835 DSS@TWU.EDU
Potential Topics Include: * Balancing health, school, and social life * Navigating academia with a disability * Communication with professors, families, friends, doctors, & health professionals * Finding & sharing resources & coping strategies with peers * Areas for campus improvement related
Groups are FREE & CONFIDENTIAL For start date infomation, please contact Dr. Schrader directly at (940)898-3801
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
3
Referendum results Continued from pg. 1 Hubbard Hall, the first original dining hall on campus, will be reconstructed to hold the new union. Fifty-five thousand square feet will be added to the 97,000 square feet building to create a union large enough to accommodate a larger student population. Meyer said: “There is a big chance of increased programming and program effectiveness. … It will add value to [the students’] degree and leave an impact on future students.” Meyer also anticipates the new Union shaping student culture and student life in a very positive way. Plans for the new union include diverse and
expansive dining options and space, as well as more meeting rooms that can be utilized by student organizations and other cultural events. There are hopes to have a large outdoor plaza directly in front of the new union. Besides more dining choices, there are plans to have more retail options, meeting rooms and a larger game room. The idea is to have a student union that is more student-friendly. The plans also include areas dedicated to technology, such as computer labs. Now that students have voted for the Student Union Referendum, the TWU Board of Regents will vote on the
referendum on Feb. 20. Once the referendum has passed the BOR, the vote will then fall to the Texas Legislature. The legislature hearing for the referendum should take place near the end of March. Once they have passed the vote, the student union fee will be implemented in Fall 2015. Construction also has the potential to start Fall 2015 with the new student union completed in 2017. Director of the Student Union Kyle Voyles said: “I think the most important reason to have a new union is to kind of build on the legacy of TWU.”
Art
Juried exhibition opens TWU student artists display “Out of This World” photography. Matt Olson Reporter molson3@twu.edu The 14th Annual Joyce Elaine Grant Photography Exhibition opens today in the East and West Gallery and will continue until March 13. The exhibit allows graduate photography students at TWU the opportunity to display their photographic works. This year’s theme is “Out of This
World.” Submissions will be judged by The NelsonAtkins Museum of Art in Kansas City Curator of Photography April Watson, and the artist of the winning submission will receive a 2016 solo exhibition at TWU Fine Arts Gallery as well as several awards and gift certificates. The JEG Photography Exhibition was founded in 2001 by TWU’s Photographic Artist’s
Coalition, a campus organization of graduate photography students headed by Christine Shank. TWU’s PAC named the exhibition for Visual Art Professor Susan kae Grant’s mother. The East and West Gallery is located in theFine Arts Building. A reception for the JEG Photography Exhibition will be held Tuesday, February 17, from 5-8 p.m.
4
Sports
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
twulasso.com
TWU’s sister gymnasts Continued from pg. 1
Photo courtesy of TWU Athletics
Above: Schyler, like Spencer, competes in all-around. Her routine, including floor, has roots in dance with a fluid style.
the same training, the two have developed their own styles, something Schyler has had to deal with her whole life. Spencer recalled times when coaches would try to use each other to evoke competitive responses, but they don’t
work the same way. “I think people definitely expect things from me becaue I’m her sister,” she said, “but I feel we are very different gymnasts. It’s not like I’m living in her shadow — she has her gymnastics and I have my
gymnastics.” Gymnastics hasn’t been just a sport to these sisters, but a learning experience and lifestyle. The experiences, lessons and hardships have only strengthened their relationship beyond family and team.
Basketball
Cameron bests Pioneers TWU loses second game of the season against LSC rival Brian Chetoni Reporter bchetoni@twu.edu The Pioneer basketball team has been on a four-game losing streak since Jan. 25. With an overall record of 12–10 and a 5–6 in-conference record, the Pioneers will look to maintain a winning record with five games left in the
regular season. TWU last played an away rematch with Cameron, whom the Pioneers lost to last time they met, 65–77. The rematch resulted in a 65–67 loss this time around, giving TWU an 0–2 record against Cameron this season. This is the first time in three seasons that TWU has lost its two
regular season matchups against Cameron. At the half, the Pioneers were leading 32–27 but Cameron ended up rallying a major comeback with 40 more points in the second half. Following the loss, head coach Beth Jillson said: “I am proud of the way we rallied back and did not give up.”
ELIGIBILITY Must have 30 hours completed Must obtain a 3.0 GPA or higher Must submit a resume, one letter of
recommendation and a personal statement Must be available for an interview
OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE Leadership development conferences Annual leadership retreats Certificate in Leadership Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society
APPLY BY FEB. 26, 2015
Submit applications to the Office of the Leadership Institute Stoddard Hall, room 103, mail to P.O Box 425706, Denton, TX 76204 or email to jelias@twu.edu For more information call : 940-898-3209