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THURSDAY
February 26, 2015
Vol. 99 • No. 3
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
Campus AROUND
SGA to add international representative Rebekah Ruiz rdruiz@txwes.edu
The Student Government Association has proposed an International Student Representative position. A voting link requesting student feedback went out on Feb. 3 and ended Feb. 10. “This position has been needed for a couple of years now due to our influx of international students,” said SGA President Tyler Mendez. “And I, along with the entire SGA, felt that it was time to do something about it.” Last semester, nearly 18 percent of the student population was made up of international students, Mendez said. The position would help to bridge the gap between the international students and SGA. Within the voting link was an option for Head Representative to become an official member of the Executive Board according to SGA’s constitution. “This was presented in order to clean up our Constitution, and add the already implemented responsibilities and role that this position has within SGA,” Mendez said. “This SGA administration felt that the Constitution and By-Laws should provide what we want to be concrete practices within our Constitution, especially if these practices are and have been practiced regularly.” Both proposals passed, Mendez said, and the International Student Representative could be selected as early as SGA’s Feb. 26 business meeting.
UCD submission deadline approaching Rebekah Ruiz rdruiz@txwes.edu
Students wishing to participate in University College Day must submit their proposals by March 1. University College Day is April 16. Students, faculty, and staff will share their projects and ideas on campus. Students are highly encouraged to attend or participate in University College Day. For questions regarding University College Day, e-mail the Chair of the University College Day Committee, Dr. Ilka Araujo at iaraujo@txwes. edu. For further information on where to submit proposals visit https://txwes.edu/academics/university-collegeday/.
Student complaints lead to Wesleyan hiring new security Brianna Kessler bnkessler@txwes.edu
Texas Wesleyan has hired a new security firm that will begin patrolling the campus in March, according to university officials. Sunstates Security will replace Guardsmark Security on March 1, said Blake Bumbard, campus security manager. The switch to Sunstates is the result of complaints about Guardsmark officers last semester, Bumbard said. Students voiced their dissatisfaction in forums last November, which led to a review of four security firms. “The student forums and
concerns really made us look for a new security system to provide us a higher quality service,” he said. “We have always had an ongoing review on how to make things better.” Sunstates’ presentation and reviews were impressive, said Pati Alexander, vice president of enrollment & student services. “We were looking for a company that focused on customer service,” she said. “The current officers do not speak to the students and faculty.” Wesleyan is also planning to have a group of retired Fort Worth Police Department officers on campus evenings and weekends starting June 1, Alexander said. Hiring Sunstates, and paying for the retired officers and their equipment, will increase Wesleyan’s security budget by $800,000 per year, Alexander wrote in an email. But an improved security force, with more experience and better training, is invaluable, Bumbard. “Students’ initial impression of the officers
will be changed,” Bumbard said. Sunstates officers have received better training than those working for Guardsmark, Alexander said. Also, Sunstates officers have EMT and CPR emergency training. Sunstates will provide service that will make students feel more at ease, Bumbard said. “Security will be greatly improved due to the
SECURITY, page 3
Veterans’ club president, adviser hope to make campus more military-friendly Ryan Grounds rrgrounds@txwes.edu
After losing their club last semester, the veterans of Wesleyan once again have an organization to call their own. The veterans’ club has been reformed under the leadership of the new president Will Wick. “We have made a lot of progress of getting the club in order,” Wick said. “So far we have established six leadership positions and found volunteers to fill them all.” The first meeting took place on Thursday, Feb. 19 and a dozen veterans and non-veterans showed up to show their support. “Our non-veteran advisor is the cheerleading coach, so most of the cheerleaders got roped into joining the club,” Wick said. “I think that it is important for veterans coming into the school that we have both veteran and non-veteran members that can help with the military to civilian transi-
tion”
“I became involved because as a veteran myself, I saw a need for an active veteran club on campus.” - Kadedra Green Kadedra Green, Weslayn’s Veterans Administration adviser, has accepted an adviser position for the club. Her position consists of taking an active interest in the organization and being familiar with the policies and procedures of the campus and university so she can guide the students to success.
“I became involved because as a veteran myself, I saw a need for an active veteran club on campus,” Green said. “When I was an undergraduate senior at University of Texas at Arlington, I was the president of their student veteran organization and with this experience I am knowledgeable on how an organization can function.” According to Green, the club is important to Wesleyan because it has become known as a military-friendly school and having an active organization on campus will build a stronger bond between the veterans and the school. “My plans for the organization will be to further assist the club, help with activities and fundraisers,” Green said. The club was disbanded last semester after the former president Michael Duncan, a history major, stepped down. The next meeting will be on March 19 on the Mall for some kickball and fun.
Goostree Symposium to feature speech by former Fort Worth City Council member Valerie Spears vlspears@txwes.edu
For more than 30 years, the Faye C. Goostree Symposium has been a place where successful and inspirational women are spotlighted on the Wesleyan campus. The tradition continues March 3, with the 12:15 p.m. keynote address by former Fort Worth City Council member Cathy Hirt in Martin Hall. Hirt’s presentation is on “Rebirth and Renaissance: Making Your Life an Adventure.” Deborah Ferguson, co-anchor of NBC 5 Today, will give the welcome address. “Between Deborah Ferguson emceeing and Cathy Hirt, these two women are very powerful and fun speakers to see,” said Gladys Childs, chair of the symposium’s planning committee and an assistant professor of religion. Hirt has dedicated herself to public policy development, specifically focusing on urban affairs, education, teaching, and consulting, according to an autobiography provided by Childs. Her love for education led her to different director positions for educational and law institutions. She served on the council for three years, chaired the Strategic Planning Committee of the Fort Worth Transportation Board and has taught at both the University of Texas at Arlington and Middle Tennessee State University. Hirt was out of the country and did not respond to emails asking for an interview. “We are always looking for a female speaker who can challenge, encourage and motivate our students,” Childs said. “She was chosen because she is a great speaker and she has done, and continues to do, so much in the Fort Worth community.” English professor Linda Carroll has been a member of the Goostree Committee for about 10 years. She is excited to have Hirt as the symposium’s keynote speaker.
Photo from Cathy Hirt for Mayor YouTube channel Former Fort Worth City Council member Cathy Hirt will give the symposium’s keynote address.
“She embodies everything Faye Goostree expected when she provided the funding for this symposium,” Carroll said. Carroll said she is proud to be on the Committee and believes the team does a great job deciding on women like Hirt. “Of the 12 members on this committee, each shares in the workload,” she said. “We are a truly congenial team, one of which I am proud to be a member. We are pleased that Gladys Childs has been our chair for two years.” Hirt’s commitment to Fort Worth through com-
munity affairs makes her a role model for young women, and the committee believes she is the ideal speaker for this year’s symposium, Carroll said. “Faye Goostree believed that everyone had ‘something to give and a responsibility to share,’” she said, “and Cathy Hirt certainly exemplifies that idea.” Tickets for the symposium are $10 for students, $15 for faculty and staff and $18 for the public. Registration is available at txwes.edu under the event section.