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WEDNESDAY October 8, 2014
Vol. 98 • No. 10
www.therambler.org The voice of Texas Wesleyan University students since 1917
INDEX Opinion 2 News 3 Campus 4,5 A&E 6 Sports 7,8
Casual sex culture may exacerbate assault Paula Justice prjustice@txwes.edu
Sex on college campuses is a hot topic across the nation as college and university administrators, along with lawmakers, try to figure out acceptable do’s and don’ts. In fact, on Sept. 28, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill-967, requiring all colleges receiving state financial aid funds to enforce “Yes means Yes” also known as “Affirmative consent”. The bill requires both parties to agree to sexual contact, verbally or by distinct non-verbal indications, at each stage of intimacy. “Affirmative consent” means affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity,” according to the Bill in section 1.67386.1. “It is the responsibility of each person involved in the sexual activity to ensure that he or she has the affirmative consent of the other or others to engage in the sexual activity. Lack of protest or resistance does not mean consent, nor does silence mean consent. Affirmative consent must be ongoing throughout a sexual activity….” And because alcohol is statistically a contributor to sexual assault, the Bill addresses the use of it and other intoxicants. “…it shall not be a valid excuse that the … complainant was unable to consent to the sexual activity under any of the following circumstances: (A) The complainant was asleep or unconscious. (B) The complainant was incapacitated due to the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication,” the Bill declared. Texas State Rep. Tony Dale, RCedar Park, is also among those who are taking a stand against sexual assault. “Sexual assault is a particularly cruel and violent crime that can have a lasting negative impact on victims,” Dale said in a Sept. 8 press release. “For too long the protection of victims and the pursuit of justice has been too difficult. Sadly, the difficulty in prosecuting these crimes often subjects the victim, mostly women, to feeling revictimized by the sys-
Campus AROUND
Facebook Post
By Charleston White We (H.Y.P.E) are invited to another event: National Convening on Nov. 13-14 in Washington, DC. The Convening brings together advocates, litigators, national partners, and directly impacted individuals, including formerly incarcerated youth, family members of people sentenced as children, and family members of people who were impacted by violence committed by youth. Together, we review our success and chart a path for the future as we learn, teach, discuss, and strategize around our goal of eliminating extreme sentencing for youth. There will be tailored workshops and strategy sessions, as well as plenaries and keynote remarks from Bart Lubow, consultant to the Annie E. Casey Foundation and former director of their Juvenile Justice Strategy Group. Update Oct. 1, 2014 More exciting news. Just touch down in Houston (meaning TJJD parole has opened the door) for HYPE to work with them with mentoring their youth. [I met] an amazing woman, who God has placed in a position that is the bridge to the community for these young people! We’re living in a time when God is strategically placing people in positions within our system to do his work. Without these individuals being who they are and where (their position) they are, my path wouldn’t have been as easy. I thank God for them for being obedient to God and opening the doors I’ve entered.
Ebola virus in North Texas By Paula Justice
Ebola virus in the U.S. has caused a White House discussion, including President Obama and the vice-president. Thomas Duncan, 42, the North Texas Ebola patient is being treated with an experiental drug, said Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. The hospital further anoounced that Duncan is stable but still in critical condition. Thomas Frieden, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention director, said Sunday on CNN that Duncan was “fighting for his life.” The President announced on Oct. 6 that combating Ebola is “a top national security priority.”
Photo illustration courtesy of Kalvin ‘Pharoah’ Watson
SEX, page 3
Smaller university boasts bigger national ratings Ryan Grounds
rrgrounds@txwes.edu
Texas Wesleyan is a small fish in a large national college ocean. This fall, Texas Wesleyan University received a No. 1 tier rank among the regional universities in the west by U.S. News & World Report. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Texas Wesleyan can boast this honor. The report says the Texas Wesleyan was ranked 49th overall for the Best Colleges is Regional Universities West.
Wesleyan adorns administration building with banners boasting new rating. Photo by Ryan Grounds
Wesleyan President Frederick G. Slabach is delighted about receiving a top tier ranking for the fifth consecutive year. ”This recognition is a reaffirmation of what we already know : that Texas Wesleyan, in our 124-year history, continues to thrive because we put our students first, and we are committed to excellence,” Slabach said in an email. The White House also ranked the United States colleges and universities this year and the scorecards were released on www.whitehouse.gov.
RATINGS, page 3
Exoneree advocates to end death sentence Paula Justice prjustice@txwes.edu
On Oct. 1, Juan Melendez presented Journey to Justice: A speakers’ Tour at Texas Wesleyan University. Melendez is no. 99 of 146 people nationwide to be exonerated. He has traveled the US, Canada and Europe to share his story of wrongful conviction, which resulted in his spending 17 years, 8 months and one day on Death Row. On Sept. 13, 1983, Dilbert Baker of Polk County Florida, was robbed and murdered. The assailant took $10,000 in jewelry, but not before firing three shots with a .38 caliber pistol and slashing Baker’s throat. Melendez, then 30- years-old, worked as a migrant farmer in
Pennsylvania. He had been having lunch with co-workers when he was arrested by FBI agents, extradited to Florida and later charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery. “I did not know what extradited means,” Melendez said with a Puerto Rican accent. “They never gave me an interpreter. At the time, I knew five words in English. And believe me, my friend, three of them were curse words.” The arrest was made on the word of a police informant Melendez said. David Falcon had allegedly been offered $10,000 for his accusations and later testimony against Melendez.
DEATH ROW, page 3
Juan Martinez spoke on how prayer kept him from ending his life while on death row. Photo by Paula Justice
Wednesday | October 8, 2014
News
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
DEATH ROW Falcon had also implicated Melendez’s friend in the crime. “They called us criminals,” Melendez said. “They implicated [my friend], charged us with armed robbery, first degree murder and threatened us with the electric chair.” His friend took a plea bargain, in which he was offered two-years’ probation in exchange for his testimony against Melendez. “[Other inmates] told me that I was crazy,” he said. “They told me that all I could do was yell and moan
SEX
continued from page 1 and hit the cell-door bars and curse and nag and cry about my innocence. They told me that I did not know how to read. They told me that I did not know how to write. They told me that I did not know how to speak English.” Illiterate and unable to speak the language of those who had prosecuted him, Melendez said he was hopeless. “But, ‘the monsters’ taught me to read, how to write and how to speak English,” he said. “They showed me
continued from page 1
tem.” In the interest of finding out what Wesleyan students think about sex and sexual consent, The Rambler posted a series of questions on its Facebook page, on Oct. 4. In approximately 15 comments, responders seemed to indicate a distaste for the topic of sex and sexual assault on college campuses. Some current and former students of Wesleyan were offended by the questions. “Perhaps, if you wanted to have an educated and intellectual discussion about sexual assault, you should have posted something to that affect,” a former Wesleyan student wrote. Other students welcomed the conversation with hopes of providing helpful insight. “No, the first time never means No,” a Wesleyan graduate wrote. “It usually means try harder. If the person continues to say no (and there really isn’t a quantifiable number; it’s more of a gut instinct or feeling) then it isn’t worth the time spent trying to get sex from them.” The same former student also expressed thoughts on casual sex in a college setting and commented on why students should take sex more seriously. “Sex is considered a recreational activity like binge drinking or an 18 hole round of golf on a Saturday morning, nothing serious,” the former student wrote. “And it’s something to talk about with your friends. “I would like to think that the sex is something taken seriously and not handed out like a free bookmark at a signing or warehouse sale, but there is a concentrated group who live that lifestyle,” he wrote. “It’s their vice, if you want to call it that.” Another student agreed that through coercion, the answer to the question of sex may change. “Affirmative consent is very important,” another
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so much love — so much compassion. They made me feel like a human being. And today, I would not be able to share this sad story. “I spent 17 years, 8 months and one day on Death Row for a crime I did not commit. After 10 years, I was tired of it. I wanted out of there. And the only way out was to commit suicide.” Melendez described a scene in which prison guards monitored his every move, how much toothpaste he used, when he went to the restroom and whether he, like others, had a plastic trash bag in his cell. Some of his friends had used trash
student said. “I have seen men coerce potential partners until they get an “okay...” That to me is NOT okay.” The study of sex has aroused concerns among scholars who are debating whether casual sex is harmful to the mental health of college students. These concerns have led to the question of whether a culture of casual sex contributes to the growing number of sexual assaults on college campuses. Dr. David Buss, professor of psychology at University of Austin and co-author of Why Women Have Sex, believes the science of women’s sex drive worthy of its own book.
“Sex is considered a recreational activity like binge drinking or an 18 hole round of golf on a Saturday morning, nothing serious, and it’s something to talk about with your friends.” --a former student on Facebook “Some sexual experiences that women in our study reported just had devastating effects and long-lasting negative effects on their feelings of self-worth,” Buss said in an interview with CNN. “But then for others, their sexual experiences provided the soaring height of euphoria and made them feel alive and vibrant.” Dr. Cindy Meston, also a professor of psychology at University of Austin and co-author of Why Women Have Sex, wrote that women in their 20s are no longer abiding by the archaic notion that women should be more virtuous than men. “Many of the women were having sex purely because they wanted the experience,” she wrote. “They wanted the adventure. They wanted to see what it was like to be with men of different
bags, slipped to them by guards, to make nooses to kill themselves — to escape from daily reality of Death Row. “Death Row is hell,” he said. It is a hell in which Melendez said he watched, worse heard, his friends being escorted to death — by electric chair. He described the agony of knowing his friends were being strapped to a chair that would send 2000 volts of electricity, enough to power household appliances, through their bodies. “I could always tell when it happened, because the lights flicker on
ethnicities. Some women said they wanted more notches on the belt. They simply wanted to get rid of their virginity.” And, seemingly in agreement, Dr. Zhana Vrangalova, sex researcher and psychology professor at New York University, has written that the days of courtship leading to marriage leading to consummation (sex) may be gone with “up to 80 %” of students engaging in casual sex at some point. In the introduction of her book entitled Archives of Sexual Behavior she addresses the rise of casual sex. And the issue of sexual assault on college campuses has sparked debate over what should be done to address the growing number of women and men who are victimized. For Texas Wesleyan University and other universities that receive government funding for tuition, federal mandate requires prevention training for faculty, staff and students. And because there is no single prevention method that surpasses all others, methods may vary from campus to campus. At Wesleyan, sexual consent is defined in the student handbook as “activity requir[ing] consent, which is defined as clear, umambiguous and voluntary agreement between the participants to engage in specific sexual activity. Consent cannot be inferred from the absence of a ‘no’; a clear ‘yes,’ verbal or otherwise, is necessary.” In agreement with the recently enacted California bill, the Wesleyan handbook also advises partcipants in sexual acts to gage consent throughout sexual encounters. Further, each asessment must be clearly defined with a ‘yes’, verbal or otherwise. “Your partner should be coherently enthusiastic, and nothing less,” a student wrote. “Sex can be recreational as long as both parties are sober enough to happily say ‘yes’.” Editor’s note: Student are anonymously in order to protest their identies as responders to a topic some view as controversial.
and off,” he said. But after nearly two decades, Melendez said God granted him a miracle, one that came slowly, but came nonetheless. He was released from prison. As compensation for serving 17, for a crime he did not commit, Melendez received a shirt, a pair of pant and $100. But for him, he said, the true compensation was in simple things: “The moon, the stars, [to] walk on grass and dirt, hold[ing] a little baby in my arms and my mother — the things that we take for granted.”
RATING continued from page 1 The U.S. Department of Education’s College Affordability and Transparency Center compiled the data and rated accordingly. An algorithm that functions in many ways like Google’s ranking of Web ges was used to generate the scores. The scorecard results for Texas Wesleyan were that the average net price for Wesleyan has decreased 1.9 percent from 2008 to 2010. Also, Wesleyan graduates 36.6 percent of full-time students with bachelor’s degree within 6 years. This percent is low, said whitehouse.gov. Compared to similar small and private nonprofit universities in the regional conference. This ranking is good news for the university, said Ann Davis, strategic communications manager at Wesleyan. These rankings really mean validation for Wesleyan, said Darren White, director of marketing and communications. “These ratings can have many positive effects on the university.” “One of the main positive effects that come from this rating is that it gets noticed by prospective students.” In celebration of the world news rankings Wesleyan two large blue and gold banners were hung in Sept.. on the front of Oneal-Sells Administration Building. “We are less focused on ranking and more on personal student experience,” White said. “But these ranking definitely do not hurt.”
Dining Services Brown-Lupton Food Court
WEE accept Declining Balance (Ram Bucks) WEE can have fun WEE can be there WEE can meet WEE can chill Tail Gate! Make it a date! WEE can create Don`t be late, October 28
Serving International & Vegetarian entre`s & Daily Desserts Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Monday - Friday Weekend Brunch Balcony Dining HOURS Monday - Thursday 7a.m. - 8:00p.m. Friday 7a.m. - 6:30p.m. Saturday 11a.m - 2:00p.m 4:30p.m - 6:30p.m Sunday 11a.m. - 2:00p.m. 4:30p.m. - 7:30p.m.
Texas Wesleyan
4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Martin Field
The Muffin Man is Coming October 20 - 26 Do you know the muffin man??? Meet him in the Sub Food Court
HOURS Monday - Thursday 11a.m. - 7:30p.m. Friday 11a.m. - 2p.m. Saturday/Sunday Closed
Don`t forget to reload your hanger DB/Ram bucks
2 | Wednesday | October 8, 2014
Opinion NFL needs consistent domestic Dating advise from violence policy for players student to students
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
John Ortega jaortega@txwes.edu
Anyone with a pulse knows about the NFL and Ray Rice. Rice was caught on video knocking his thenfiancé (now wife) out with a haymaker to the face. Rice has been suspended indefinitely by Roger Goodell and the NFL. Here comes a shocking news flash. This isn’t the first time a professional football player has been accused/ charged/convicted of domestic violence. This isn’t even the twentieth.
According to a USA Today database, 85 out of 713 arrests of NFL players stemmed from domestic violence since 2000. Nearly 12 percent of all NFL players have been arrested for domestic violence since 2000. That is an average of six players per year. It’s time the NFL admitted that a serious problem exists. The biggest problem plaguing the NFL (besides the fact that it can’t seem to control its players) is a lack of consistency. Why was Ray Rice handed such a harsh penalty? Ray McDonald, defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers, was accused of felony domestic assault after allegedly beating his girlfriend. Did Goodell suspend McDonald? Not at all. In fact, McDonald played in the Niners opening game against the Cowboys. Greg Hardy, Carolina Panthers defensive end, was convicted July 15 2014 of assaulting and threatening to kill his former girlfriend. That conviction is currently being appealed. And in his defense, a 911 call paints a different picture of the events. However, Hardy is currently con-
victed of domestic violence. He was not suspended. Hardy took a voluntary leave, with pay. A.J. Jefferson, a Minnesota Vikings cornerback, was charged with a felony count of domestic assault by strangulation. He was originally suspended but later reinstated. Goodell has yet to explain why he lifted the suspension. Dez Bryant, Rod Smith, the list goes on. The question is why? Why does the NFL continue to ignore or downplay the problem? Even in the wake of Goodell’s newest policy that outlines a hard sixgame suspension for the first offense and up to a lifetime ban on the second, the NFL still lacks consistency. Ray Rice wasn’t convicted of anything. Greg Hardy was. Rice can’t play another down in football. Hardy will suit up for the foreseeable future. Until the NFL gets down and admits that it has a serious problem with violence spilling off of the field and into the homes of its players, nothing will change. We will continue to read stories of battered wives, broken girlfriends, and beat up mothers.
Jeremy Hunt jrhunt@txwes.edu
When I see an attractive woman I think to myself, ‘She’s very attractive. I’m sure many other dudes think she’s attractive too. And that dude either looks better than me, is in shape, has a propelling career, is more interesting, or has an amazing personality and she’ll go for him.’ Then I miss the opportunity to speak to her because I thought about what I “don’t” have when I should have greeted her with what I do have. It’s time I stop being afraid of rejection and the fear of being cheated on. All of those fears should not be but who can blame me? It’s not every day a brother like me gets hit on every moment of the day. We have to stop thinking about the next man. What I mean by that is we have to stop thinking about what he has and what we don’t have. If your intentions are pure or direct then you should focus on that. Don’t worry about what you’re “lacking”. But be confident in what you’re packing (and I’m not talking sexually). And that’s another thing. I guarantee you will find much more about a
person if you take time out and be friends, not friends with benefits, occasional booty calls, and my favorite “oh she wifey.” Sex changes things. And the moment you experience each other in that intimate moment, things will dramatically grow or die out. Instead, go on dates. A movie is always a good date. Or if you don’t want to put a romantic tie on “date” you could say “let’s hangout.” Play chess in an active park, try a pottery class, go country dancing with some friends that are welcoming and positive. I say that because trying to get to know someone around others who are negative tends to bleed into your attitude, spirit and behavior. If you’re afraid of rejection try asking your female friends to say “no” to all of your approaches. It’s healthy and progressive for friends to respond both positively and negatively so you can reduce your fear. To be honest, I’ve never done this. However, I really would like to see how it turns out. Remind yourself that you have so much to bring to someone’s life.
Storm season begins at Texas Wesleyan Ryan Grounds rrgrounds@txwes.edu
The thunderstorm that blew through last thursday was just a preview for the upcoming storm season. A broken telephone pole is resting against a nearby fence on Wesleyan street, in front of Elizabeth Means Hall . Wind-torn tree limbs are scattered across campus like trash after a concert. The new banners on the front of Oneal-Sells Administration Building are hanging by a thread, and it smells of fresh rain.
Texas Wesleyan was not the only place in DFW damaged in this intense thunder-storm. Although the storm lasted only 30 minutes, significant damage was inflicted on Fort Worth. The historic Stockyards suffered severe damage, especially the Lodge Building next to the Lonesome Dove Western Bistro. The collapse of the building left debris on the red brick streets. The East Fort Worth also saw some structural damage. Anderton
paint and body, across the street from Texas Wesleyan, lost its entire roof. These types of wild storms are nothing new to someone who has lived in DFW for more than ten minutes. This area is plagued with severe thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes, which are frequent in the fall and spring months. Only 8 months ago an outbreak of 16 tornadoes killed 6 people and injured up to 100 more. The storms destroyed hundreds of homes in the
North Texas area, said http://www. nbcdfw.com. Texas sits at the bottom of what the National Climate Data Center calls “Tornado Alley.” This area received its nickname because it experiences a high frequency of tornadoes each year. I hope that this storm will shed light on the weak points around campus and help identify possible future damage from this upcoming storm season.
College writing woes continue, “writing well” changes Staff editorial Newsweek claimed that Johnny can’t write back in the 70s. And looking loads of different complaints some may still think that Johnny cannot write. Some people blame social media and technology. Some blame education. With all of the finger pointing perhaps we have missed the mark. According to the Department of Education’s Nation’s Report Card: Writing 2011, 24 percent of 8 and 12 grade students are proficient in writing. And 1 in 4 college freshmen nationwide takes at least one remedial class. Furthermore, a 2012 Cambridge University survey shows more students need a remedial writing class. Obviously something is awry. Where I cannot argue against the fact that grammatical writing is lack-
ing, I can argue that writing has improved. We have to redefine what is writing. “If we are measuring writers by the ability to send a business email correctly punctuated,” Dr. Whitney Myers, Texas Wesleyan University English professor, says, “sometimes I can see where there’s the frustration. But I would argue until I’m blue in the face that just because you can write a sentence with correct grammar doesn’t make you a good writer.” I couldn’t agree more. In fact, we should look at the many forms of expression that some overlook as writing. Poetry and prose seem to get attention. And with loads of Slam Poetry making waves in schools how can we keep asserting that Johnny can’t write? Visual methods of composition, such as Zeega presentations, also show how we are writing. And not just writing, but we are writing with passion, conviction, and talent.
The Rambler Print/Web Content Producers: Ryan Grounds, Jose Najar, Abigail Ross, Susan Smith, Katie Hurrell, Victor Jech
I understand that these forms of writing do not address scholastic writing. So let us take a look at ways education can improve writing.
“Sometimes I can see where there’s the frustration. But I would argue until I’m blue in the face that just because you can write a sentence with correct grammar doesn’t make you a good writer.” - Dr. Whitney Myers Many people opine that English professors should teach the grammar. Grammar grammar grammar. Drill grammar into the brains of students and that will make better writ-
“We are not afraid to follow the truth ... wherever it may lead.” — Thomas Jefferson
Advisor: Dr. David Ferman Faculty Liaison: Dr. Kay Colley Publisher: Frederick Slabach
Web Director: Ryan Grounds
IMG Director: Claudia Ikeizumi Sports Editor: John Ortega
Editor In Chief: Paula Justice
Letters to the editor: The Rambler, a biweekly publication, welcomes all letters. All submissions must have a full printed name, phone number and signature. While every consideration is made to publish letters, publication is limited by time and space. The editors reserve the right to edit all submissions for space, grammar, clarity and
style. Letters to the editor may be subject to response from editors and students on the opinion page. Member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, Associated Collegiate Press, Student Press Law Center, College Media Advisers and College Newspaper Business and Advertising Managers.
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ers. I disagree. Having a background in not-sorecent public education I can most assuredly say that being well read greatly improved my writing skills. Emulation is one of the best methods of learning something. That being said, the only way to truly improve writing skills is to do it. “The more we write in other classes,” Dr. Myers says, “the more successful students are going to be when they graduate.” Practice. And instead of leaning on English professors perhaps professors across the curriculum should encourage writing. “In the institutions in which I’ve been lucky enough to work, including Wesleyan, colleagues across disciplines are very interested in getting students to write well.” Dr. Myers says. “And they (colleagues) are always interested in engaging in conversation about how we can do it better.” I’ve heard the non-English profes-
Address all correspondence to: Texas Wesleyan University The Rambler 1201 Wesleyan St. • Fort Worth, TX 76105 twurambler@yahoo.com (817) 531-7552 Advertising Inquiries: (817) 531-6525 Opinions expressed in The Rambler are those of the individual authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas Wesleyan community as a whole. Rambler Contribution Please send all news briefs to twurambler@ yahoo.com. Submissions due by noon Friday to see brief in the following week’s issue.
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sors that question or even scoff at the very idea of teaching students how to write. Why should they be responsible for teaching students how to write? That’s the job of an English teacher. They wouldn’t expect an English professor teaching long division or evolutionary theory. Fair point. But if the idea is to educate and enrich students, why not take the time to help improve student writing? So instead of finger pointing and blaming engage in the practice of education. Teachers all around should jump right in, feet first. We should also not neglect nonacademic forms of writing. Embrace visual forms of composition. Look at how students are engaging in critical thinking when they make that multimodal presentation. Johnny can write. We just have to acknowledge and accept his methods.
Rams up Thumbs up to the cleanliness of the campus. Thumbs up to the new sidewalks, even as the “old” new sidewalks half been ripped up. Thumbs up to all the new soap and towel dispenseries.
Rams down Thumbs down to the neverending construction, some of which should have been completed during the summer. Thumbs down to another tuition increase and late refunds. Thumbs down to Texas weather. Bipolar much?
4 | Wednesday | October 8, 2014
Campus Wesleyan students dress for success in fashion show
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
Rambler Staff twurambler@yahoo.com
On Sept. 30, Texas Wesleyan University’s Career Services department hosted its second annual Dress for Success fashion show. Robyn Bone, director of Career Services, thought it would be better to show, rather than tell, students the proper way to dress in order to snag that dream job and keep it. “We wanted to teach students professional dress,” Bone said. “And we thought what would be a better way than do it with a fun fashion show. Instead of them having to come and watch PowerPoint slides on how-to-dress, we thought we’d show them using models.” The hour-long fashion show at Martin Hall featured Wesleyan students as models in attire provided by Dillard’s at Northeast Mall in Hurst. Categories included business-casual, professional and formal evening attire.
Dillard’s supplied the wardrobes for Wesleyan’s second annual professional fashion show. Photos by Paula Justice
WFAA reporter Lauren Zakalik served as the guest speaker. She offered students tips in interviewing, body language, and handshakes. And she had some choice words about Wesleyan’s Career Services staff. “It’s been wonderful,” she said. “They’re nothing short of professional. They have great vision as far as what they want their kids to do when they go out into the world.” Alex Sandles, Career Services student-worker and sophomore history major, played a vital part in the organization and execution of the fashion show.
“There’s a lot that’s involved,” he said. “One of the biggest things you have to do is get models. We had over 100 applicants. And from those, we picked the eight best chooses.” Approximately a month before the show, organizers searched for sponsors that would provide professional clothing, Sandles said. “We worked with Dillard’s and the store manager Greg Rhimes,” Sandles said. “And he played a large role in helping us get the different dresses, suits and the shoes. He was a pleasure to work with.” Bone and Sandles worked until after 10 p.m.
the night before the fashion show to ensure preparedness. “When [the models] got back stage, they had five minutes to change” Sandles said. “So literally, they looked elegant and pretty and they came off the stage and they just started sprinting to their backstage area and ripping off clothes. It [was] a lot of energy and a lot of fun.” While there weren’t any backstage collisions, Rams models were engaged in some high speed action, which included plenty of selfies. And with Martin Hall nearly filled for the event, the models certainly dressed for success.
Go Rams!!!
Order Online with 30% off for Texas Wesleyan! Promo Code: MBTWU30 817-446-8800 6719 Meadowbrook Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76112
A true champion needs support!
Volleyball: Oct. 10, 11, 18 Women’s Soccer: Oct. 14, 17, 21 Men’s Soccer: Oct. 14, 17, 21
www.ramsports.net The Department of Communications, the Department of Religious and Humanities, The School of Arts and Letters, the Office of International Programs present
A documentary film screening and conversation with the director Pankaj Rishi Kumar Wednesday, Oct. 15, 7:00 p.m. (reception 6 p.m.) Martin Hall
Wednesday | October 8, 2014
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Campus
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Studying all 66 books of the Bible (even Nahum!) is in the DNA of DTS
Stop by and talk to us at the Graduate Fair. Tuesday, October 14 11 am until 1 pm Sid Richardson Gym
www.dts.edu/all66
e v i a e! w to n fe w tio o h ica t u pl o d ap n i F our y
6 | Wednesday | October 8, 2014
Arts Entertainment
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Bubble soccer burst across Wesleyan mall Rambler Staff twurambler@yahoo.com
Bubble soccer came to Wesleyan on Sept. 30, with students suiting up for a no holes barred match on the mall. Students from various majors, dressed in various attires, showed up for the friendly competition, which followed the second annual fashion show. Muhammad Hasona, freshman biology major expressed his enthusiasm after his team won the first match. “I had to take out one [person] of the yellow team, Hasona said. “You bump into him from the back, at an angle. He falls down, rolls, and he’s pretty much a waste. It’s gonna take him some time to come up, because he has the weight of the ball on him.” “The ball” isn’t a soccer ball. It’s a 5-feet-wide sphere, weighing approximately 25 pounds, according to bubblesoccerusa.com. Each bubble’s interior is equipped with safety belts, resembling a backpack’s straps. And two handles give the player something to hold on to while he/she collides with other players. Strapped in, Hasona showed special dedica-
tion to the competition. “I played barefoot, because I [was] in formal attire,” he said. “I had formal shoes, so I didn’t want to mess those up.” Although Hasona wasn’t quite dressed for a soccer match, he and his teammates formed a strategy that led to success. “Each one takes one out,” Hasona said. “Then [if] the one who took the ball was from our team, he just had to [score]. “And it pretty much worked out, because we scored the first two goals. We tied. Then, we won.” But scoring isn’t the only concern in bubble soccer. People with breathing problems may wish to stay on the sidelines. Freshman Hunter Marks, wouldn’t recommend bubble soccer to anyone who has asthma, bronchitis, or who is claustrophobic. “It was hot and sticky,” Marks said. “I couldn’t breathe. I had to get out. And it smelled really bad.” However, going into the game, musk and oxygen were the least of Marks’ worries. “I’m gonna go in and just hit people, because I’m in a bubble, and it’ll be fun,” he said, laughing. “I don’t play soccer. I’m just here to have fun.”
And it was with fun in mind that Social Rams created the bubble soccer event. After a poll to determine students’ interest, it was simply a matter of organizing. Brooklyn McKinney, sophomore education major, said organizing didn’t require much. “We just kinda came up with the idea,” McKinney said. “I came out early and helped set it up.” A part of setup was making sure all participants signed a waiver and knew which team they were on. And for some students, the chance to play bubble soccer is one they would jump into again. “It was my first time trying [bubble soccer], but I’ve seen videos on YouTube,” Hasona said. “Sitting behind the laptop, you don’t get to get the full experience of the lack of oxygen and the weight of the bubble itself. And when you go down to the ground, it’s not easy to come up again.” Still, when asked if he would play bubble soccer again if it came back to Wesleyan, Hasona was all-in. “Yeah, definitely,” he said. “But not in [formal] attire.”
Wesleyan student player in the first campus bubble soccer match. Photo by Ryan Grounds
Dr. Bruce McDonald travels the world for education Jessica Liptak jliptak@txwes.edu
For some people, leaving the country once in a lifetime is quite the accomplishment. Many dream to see the Mona Lisa displayed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, to marvel at Da Vinci’s paintings on the ceiling of Sistine Chapel, or walk through Paris with a beautiful view of the Eiffel tower. One of Texas Wesleyan’s faculty has not only accomplished these things, but many other traveling adventures. Dr. Bruce McDonald, professor of philosophy and religion, has traveled to many countries in the world. One of his first big adventures was attending Edinburg University in Scotland to earn his Doctorate in Ecclesiastical history. In addition to his academic knowledge, McDonald learned many lessons about living in a different culture. Scotland and England are both small countries. McDonald explained how this changes the way they live. “They learn to live with less. Living in a flat on a stairwell, you realize you can’t just do what you want to. What you do might affect the whole stairwell, and consequently you learn a whole lot about community.” Living abroad can offer plenty of challenges as well, McDonald explained. “The most challenging part of living abroad for the first time was finding an adapter for my computer, because they have different frequencies,” he said. “And just finding out some of the different customs, how to use public transportation, finding out what the climate was like, and buying the things you needed for cooking.” The initial challenges of living abroad were difficult. But McDonald did not let those challenges hold him back for long. The first term I didn’t get much done cause I was getting a place to live, getting the adapter for the computer, getting my feeling of research laid out
straight. After that it was wonderful.” With Scotland being an English speaking country, many think that a language barrier would not be a challenge Americans would face. However, McDonald quickly discovered this was not true. “It was challenging finding out that British English and American English are different sometimes,” McDonald said. “Sir Winston Churchill made the remark that England and America are two countries separated by a common language,” and McDonald laughed about how true the statement really is. McDonald’s travels did not stop at Scotland; he continues to travel to new countries. “I’ve been in all the countries in western Europe except Scandinavia, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, and some of the little tiny ones like Andorra,” he said. “I’ve been marginally in Eastern Europe, five minutes in Poland, I crossed the bridge. And then to Prague in the
DFW Fall movie preview John Ortega jaortega@txwes.edu
Exodus: Gods and Kings Director Ridley Scott (“Alien”, “Prometheus”, “Gladiator”) brings us the story of Moses in this biblical revamp. Moses (Christian Bale) squares off against Ramses (Joel Edgerton) as he leads the chosen people from Egypt to the Promised Land. Starring: Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, Aaron Paul, John Turturro, Ben Kingsley and Sigourney Weaver In theaters Dec. 12
In The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1, Jennifer Lawrence returns as Katniss Everdeen in the highly anticipated end of the Hunger Games trilogy. Katniss awakens to find that District 13 exists. She must accept her fate as the Mockingjay in order to save the ones she loves. As the Mockingjay, Katniss takes the fight to the Capitol in order to rescue Peeta. Also starring: Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, and Donald Sutherland. Director: Francis Lawrence In theaters Nov. 21
Wesleyan
Music
Presents at Martin Hall:
Wesleyan Wind Ensemble October 9 at 7:30 p.m.
Duo Piano Recital: Jose Cubela, piano Ilka Araújo, piano October 21 at 7:30 p.m.
Czech Republic, which is gorgeous. Then in Africa I’ve been to Morocco, some of Asia including Japan, and of course Israel. I would go back to any one of them.” McDonald develops friendships wherever he goes, whether it is in Japan or in Fort Worth, Texas. According to Dr. Steven Daniell, dean of Texas Wesleyan School of Arts and Letters, McDonald is a unique individual whose travels help him be an even more outstanding professor. “The intensity with which he goes to countries like Japan, Italy, or most recently France sets him apart,” Daniell said. “He will spend months studying all the different locations he wants to visit — the history, cultural significance, even local delicacies — and then absorb everything about each location while he is there.” McDonald use his travel experience in the classroom to help students. “He can then relate these experiences to the students in
ways that, I think pique their interest in going abroad as well,” Daniell said. Students enjoy the knowledge and stories that McDonald brings to the classroom, as well as his energetic and fun spirit. Kevin Doskocil, Texas Wesleyan Alumni, chose “Dr. Brutal Bruce McDonald” as the professor to do the honor of robing him before graduation. “Dr. McDonald was the kindest, friendliest, most caring professor I ever had,” said Doskocil. “It was the extra little things that Dr. McDonald did that made all the difference to me as a student at Texas Wesleyan. He would take extra time to answer questions after class, was willing to go out of his way to help, and always kept his classroom lively with his jokes and travel stories he shared.” McDonald loves making students laugh, this is just one aspect of his caring personality towards students. “He made personal connections with his students that went further than just in the classroom. You could always tell that he cared about his students and truly wanted to help his students succeed not only in the classroom but in life,” Doskocil said. McDonald encourages his students to travel if they have the opportunity. “I encourage students to travel to broaden their horizons and see how the other half lives as it were. To realize that they’re not all Americans, and see the differences there in both the positives and the negatives. With the internet we are much more a part of the global community and it’s good to see it not just virtually, but in the flesh.” McDonald values learning, and traveling is one of the best ways to do so. “I enjoy traveling because you get to see different things and it broadens your horizon so much. You get to meet all sorts of terrific people,” McDonald said. “But overall my favorite thing is that you get to learn so much, and I’m always greedy to learn.”
GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL FAIR Visit with over 30 graduate schools across Texas and surrounding areas. Including Pepperdine University, University of Oklahoma, and Oklahoma Baptist University.
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sid Richardson Gym
All of Wesleyan`s graduate programs will be there! No RSVP needed - just stop by and learn more about which graduate school to consider.
Texas Wesleyan Religious Life University Chapel:
For more information, contact Career Services at 817-531-6512 or careerservices@txwes.edu or visit txwes.edu/career
Attention Seniors - Class of 2014 Take care of all your Graduation Needs with one stop at GRAD FINALE
Worship, Fellowship and Free meal Thursdays at 7:00pm Baker Building
Get your cap, gown, & tassel
Common Meal:
Order your personalized Graduation Announcements
Free lunch and discussion Tuesdays at 12:15 PUMC 312
Order your TWU Class Ring Oct. 14, 15, & 16, 2014 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day
“Faith Seeking Understanding”
TWU BOOKSTORE
Wednesday | October 8, 2014
| 7
Sports
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
Texas Wesleyan University Athletics NAIA Round-up John Ortega
jaortega@txwes.edu
For more NAIA coverage log on to therambler.org
Cross Country Women’s The Lady Rams’ cross country team is currently ranked at number 23, down from 17, in the October 1 Coaches’ Poll. The Rams’ recently finished seventh at the University of North Texas’ Ken Garland Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 17. Texas Wesleyan’s top finisher was Maria Aguayo who placed 28th in a time of 19:15.4. Finishing at 43, Ana Segovia ran a 19:54.4. Brenda Felipe ran 20:13.4 and placed 49th. Marisol Lopez finished at 20:53.3 in 56th position. Daisy Martinez, finishing 60, and Becky Lavarn, finishing 64, rounded out Texas Wesleyan’s scores.
Men’s Cross Country The men’s cross country team has turned heads as well. The Rams finished in fourth place at the UNT Ken Garlad Invitational. Texas Wesleyan’s Isaac Lalang finished fourth running a time of 20:15.6. Finishing in 15 place was Oraine Wint running 21:03.4. Brandon Goolsby finished 33rd at 22:39.7. Nathan Garcia placed 35 with a time of 22:48.0. In his first competition this year David Swiatocha placed 38th at 23:24.6. Tal Thomas finished 39 at 23:43.4. Michael Vega came in at 42. Mackenzie Jameson finished 44 for the Rams.
Soccer is in full swing. And the Rams season is underway. The Rams currently are 3-4-2 overall and 1-1-0 in conference play. The start of the season has been shaky for the Rams. But the team has had good showings against St. Gregory’s University beating them 1-0 Sept. 26. Sept. 30 saw the Rams lose a nailbiter in overtime to Oklahoma Baptist University 4-3. Drake Trease and Brandon Head are tied for the team lead in points.
Rank Last School (1ST Place Votes)Points 1 1 British Columbia (18) 589 2 2 Biola (Calif.) (3) 570 3 3 Dordt (Iowa) 555 4 4 Northwest Christian (Ore.) 532 5 5 Carroll (Mont.) 499 6 6 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) 487 7 7 Taylor (Ind.) 476 8 8 Oklahoma Baptist 451 9 9 Shawnee State (Ohio) 448 10 10 Cal State San Marcos 434 11 11 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 400 12 12 St. Francis (Ill.) 377 13 13 The Master’s (Calif.) 365 14 14 Aquinas (Mich.) 337 15 15 College of Idaho 322 16 16 Westmont (Calif.) 296 17 18 Indiana Wesleyan 261 18 21 Oklahoma City 259 19 RV SCAD Savannah (Ga.) 255 20 19 Cornerstone (Mich.) 247 21 20 Oregon Tech 199 22 23 St. Ambrose (Iowa) 198 23 17 Texas Wesleyan 174 24 RV Columbia (Mo.) 118 25 24 Tennessee Wesleyan 108
Rank Last School (1st Place Votes) Points 1 1 Oklahoma City (21) 622 2 2 Southern Oregon 596 3 3 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) (1) 584 4 4 St. Francis (Ill.) 558 5 5 British Columbia 548 6 6 Aquinas (Mich.) 521 7 7 Shawnee State (Ohio) 485 8 8 Tennessee Wesleyan 480 9 9 Cal State San Marcos 462 10 10 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 453 11 11 Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) 420 12 12 Eastern Oregon 396 13 15 Indiana Wesleyan 382 14 13 The Master’s (Calif.) 378 15 16 Northwest Christian (Ore.) 322 16 14 Morningside (Iowa) 322 17 17 Saint Mary (Kan.) 312 18 18 College of Idaho 282 19 19 Carroll (Mont.) 271 20 21 Indiana Tech 233 21 23 Taylor (Ind.) 200 21 24 Wayland Baptist (Texas) 197 23 RV Northwestern (Iowa) 158 24 25 Vanguard (Calif.) 149 25 RV Concordia (Ore.) 105
Rank Last School (1ST) Record Points 1 2 Thomas (Ga.) (15) 7-0-2 586 2 3 Davenport (Mich.)(5) 8-1-0 576 3 6 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)7-1-1 539 4 5 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.)7-2-0 522 5 11 Rio Grande (Ohio) 6-1-2 498 6 10 Oklahoma Wesleyan 8-2-1 483 7 9 Grand View (Iowa) (1) 7-1-1 482 8 7 Georgia Gwinnett 6-1-1 474 9 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 5-2-1 433 10 12 Ashford (Iowa) 5-1-3 426 11 14 Texas at Brownsville 8-0-0 395 12 4 Martin Methodist (Tenn.)3-2-1 366 13 16 Kansas Wesleyan 6-2-1 351 14 15 Indiana Wesleyan 7-1-0 338 15 8 Hastings (Neb.) 6-2-1 336 16 RV Union (Ky.) 9-0-0 287 17 19 Science & Arts (Okla.) 7-1-0 263 18 20 Bellevue (Neb.) 8-1-1 258 19 13 Missouri Valley 5-3-0 254 20 18 William Carey (Miss.) 5-3-0 217 21 24 Belhaven (Miss.) 7-1-0 216 22 23 Northwestern Ohio 4-2-1 187 23 22 Point Park (Pa.) 5-2-0 171 24 25 Reinhardt (Ga.) 6-0-0 148 25 RV Westmont (Calif.) 5-2-1 115
Men’s Soccer
Cross Country 10.18.2014
Concordia Texas Invitational
Austin TX
Volleyball
Men’s Soccer 10.11.2014 Southwestern Christian University Bethany OK 4:00PM 10.14.2014 Mid-America Christian University Martin Field 7:00PM 10.17.2014 University of Science and Arts Martin Field 7:30PM 10.21.2014 Wayland Baptist University Martin Field 7:00PM
10.10.2014 Oklahoma City University 10.11.2014 John Brown University 10.14.2014 Mid-America Christian University 10.18.2014 Wayland Baptist University 10.20.2014 Southern Nazarene University 10.21.2014 Saint Gregory’s University
Women’s Soccer
Golf
10.11.2014 10.14.2014 10.17.2014 10.21.2014
Southern Christian University Mid-America Christian University University of Science and Arts Wayland Baptist University
Bethany OK Martin Field Martin Field Martin Field
2:00PM 10.13-14.2014 DBU Women’s Classic 5:00PM 10.20-21.2014 Kohler Collegiate 5:30PM 5:00PM
$
Sid Richardson Center Sid Richardson Center Oklahoma City OK Sid Richardson Center Bethany OK Shawnee OK
7:00PM 5:00PM 2:00PM 1:00PM 7:00PM 7:00PM
Golf Club of Dallas Whistling Straights GC
TBD TBD
ATTENTION STUDENTS
The Deadline is fast approaching Your Financial Aid must be complete by October 15, 2014 You should check Ramlink to make sure your loans and other financial aid has been activated. If your loans or other Financial Aid Programs are in an “E” status, the Office of Financial Aid is requiring additional information. You must contact the Office of Financial Aid as soon as possible.
Student loan activation deadline is October 15, 2014 If you have not activated your Federal Student Loans, you must do so by October 15, 2014, or you will not be eligible for the funding. If you have not completed your Master Promissory Note (MPN) or Entrance Counseling, you will not be eligible for the federal loans. If you have a balance on your student account and anticipate utilizing the loan funds to pay your balance, you must act quickly!
ENGAGE US For the latest in sports, campus, arts & entertainment, local news and more.
EXPLORE FORT WORTH Student Life will provide opportunities for you to experience places off campus, these are the upcoming events:
ARTS GOGGLE October 11th 12-6pm
CUTTING EDGE HUNTED HOUSE October 11th 7-10pm
STATE FAIR
For digital news access: • therambler.org • Tv channel 25.1 on campus
October 18th 12-8pm Sign up in a week of advance: deharris@txwes.edu or 817-531-4871
8 | Wednesday | October 8, 2014
Sports
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
Sports Rambling with Johnny
Kaley Batchlear’s athletic journey
Stop ignoring Wesleyan sports
John Ortega
jaortega@txwes.edu
I have been accused of ignoring Wesleyan sports. That has to change. I can’t have the Wesleyan population thinking that I don’t care about the community I cover. So let’s talk Rams’ sports. First, I want to call into question your involvement. How many of you have been to any of the table tennis, volleyball, soccer, exhibition softball, golf, cross country or any other sport going on right now? How many of you know that our ladies’ cross country team is ranked 23 in the NAIA? The Lady Rams placed seventh against Division 1 schools during the University of North Texas’s Ken Garland Invitational on Sept. 27. In fact, our ladies were the only non-division 1 team to compete. We have some talented young women running cross country. Speaking of talented, the Lady Rams’ volleyball team is 3-2 in conference. Meghan Finley was named Sooner Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week for the week of Sept.15-21. For our men, we have a soccer team that is battling. Currently the Rams sit at 3-4-2 overall and 1-1
in conference. The Rams recently played the University of St. Thomas, ranked 20, to a draw. The cross country team added Boswell High School graduate Brandon Goolsby who helped BHS win three district championships. The running Rams came in second at the Ram Ramble on Spet. 20 with Isaac Lalang getting his second win of the season. What’s even more exciting, the Rams finished fourth in the Ken Garland Invitational. Again, the Rams were the only non-division 1 team to compete. And taking a look at the golf teams. Freshman Alex Schies, of the Lady Rams, shot a 70 setting a new school record during the Oklahoma City University’s Susie Maxwell Berning Classic at Lincoln Park West Sept. 15. Her round helped the Lady Rams set a single round record at 298. She is also the first Lady Ram to shoot under par. The men’s team started out ranked seventh in the NAIA rankings. Matthew Killam placed fourth out of 48 in the Abilene Christian University’s Charles Coody Invitational at Diamondback Golf Course on September 9. Wesleyan has added a new tennis program. Tennis does not start until the spring. But Wesleyan has been aggressive in hiring one of the top tennis coaches in Angel Martinez, formerly of Grapevine High School. Athletic Director Steve Trachier expects the new program to be competitive quickly. So there you have it. Wesleyan Sports has loads to offer. Get out of the dorms and go to a game! Maybe I’ll see you there.
Edvaldo Pedro davala10@gmail.com
After moving from Georgetown, Texas, a town that saw her develop into an athlete. Kaley Batchlear found herself continuing her softball career at Texas Wesleyan University where she committed to play as a catcher. Batchlear did not start playing softball until she was 11 years old. It is her determination that has led her to building a successful resume. She is a former offensive player of the year, defensive player of the year, first team all state and a national team player. “I actually used to be a cheerleader and played volleyball,” Batchlear said “ I caught on really quick because of my natural abilities and athleticism. But as I got older I noticed that only gets you so far. So I worked an entire summer every single day to get better fundamentally and mentally.” With such an impressive resume, fans must wonder why Batchlear is not playing at a bigger school. “I wasn’t in the right place at the right time during prime recruiting
in softball. There are a lot of factors to it, and size is a big thing,” Batchlear said. “I didn’t develop until later, and at that point many of the division one schools stopped recruiting my class.” Entering her first semester and first season of college, Batchlears’s softball journey is now on hold as she recently injured her knee during team practice. Still her former coach continues to believe Batchlear can impact the team. “Kaley is a vocal leader, who can impact a team in many ways,” Jeff Roberts, head softball coach at Lovejoy High School said. “With her experience, she can lead through her actions, words, and commitment.” Roberts trained Batchlear for four years in high shool. “Teammates tend to follow Kaley as they know she is a true competitor,” Roberts said. With a surgery scheduled to happen on October 2, 2014, Rams’ fans will have to wait six to eight months before they can see Batchlear in action. Despite the wait to see her play,
her teammates did not hesitate to express their thoughts on her talent. “Kaley is a very good and versatile player,” Courtney Kelly a junior outfielder said. While she waits to recover from her injury, Batchlears’ mother continues to grow proud of her only child. “She has always decided what her goals were and then set out to achieve them,” Shawna Barclay said. “She is an extremely hard worker and off the charts competitive, I couldn’t be prouder of the woman she is growing up to be. “She is the best thing I’ve ever done.” Barclay said. Batchlear spends most of her time training and working on her game; still she manages to give back to the community by participating in missionary services around the world. “While I was on team USA, I did some mission work, which really inspired me. And my next goal is to go back to Mexico and then to Africa,” Batchlear said as she looks forward to continuing her missionary work.
ACCOUNTANCY WE ARE
BAUER
H O U S TO N ’ S M S I N A CCO U N TA N C Y
Visit us at the Texas Wesleyan Grad Fair Tuesday, Oct 14, 2014 • 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. For more information, contact us at applymsaccy@uh.edu or 713-743-4696
The University of Houston is an EEO/AA institution.
bauer.uh.edu/msaccy
C. T. Bauer College of Business is an AACSB accredited business school.