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Religion professor welcomes retirement Victoria Slaten
vslaten@txwes.edu
After many years, the call for a new adventure has finally sounded loud enough for Dr. Jesse Sowell to answer. Dr. Sowell, religion professor at Wesleyan, will be retiring at the end of the 2013 Spring semester after being at Texas Wesleyan University for 38 years. Sowell said before he became a professor, he was a pastor at the United Methodist Church. “After I got my seminary degree,” Sowell said, “I knew immediately that I really wanted to take some area of religion and specialize in it.” Sowell said he came into teaching by accident. He said when he was acting as the chaplain of a junior college and pastor of a church, the president of the college asked him to help take over the classes of a professor who left in the middle of the year. After that, Sowell said he realized he loved to teach. “So I decided that my particular gifts were more suited to being able to teach religion and philosophy and still be available as a resource person for people in churches,” Sowell said. Dr. Bruce McDonald, religion professor, has known Sowell for 17 and a half years. McDonald said when Sowell was going on sabbatical, a woman from McDonald’s church, who used to teach at Wesleyan, told Sowell that he should talk to McDonald, who had just finished his doctorate a year prior, about taking over his classes while he was away. McDonald said he ended up staying at Wesleyan after that. “He is one of the best-natured people and one of the most level-headed,” McDonald said about Sowell. “You
SOWELL, page 3
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Students support Super Bowl at Stella
Lupe Salas/Rambler Staff (Front)Jisvi Padilla, junior math major, Anagabriela Segoria, sophomore psychology major, and Aaron Perry II, freshman computer science major, sit in the front watching the broadcast of Superbowl XLVII. (Back) Dhaifallah Alajmi, freshman accounting major, Mohammed Ali, freshman computer science major, and Mansour Alrasheed, freshman accounting major, cheered for their favorite team at the Superbowl XLVII party in Stella Hall.
Solution focused therapy gives students perspective Rolandra West
rdwest@txwes.edu
Solution focused therapy improvises a way to help individuals seek solutions to their own problems. Whether individuals needed help in relationships or their personal lives, it has been a success for many students and counselors. The Glick House Community Counseling Center provides the help of therapists who are specialized in solution focused therapy. The counselors include students from the graduate counseling program and clinical graduate faculty members. Linda Metcalf, professor of graduate counseling, happens to have a private practice at the Glick House. “The solution focused counselor does not go in
trying to fix anything. They are not the expert. Instead they see the client as the expert,” Metcalf said. “The word positive is usually what people say about it, but it is really not that positive of a process; it’s a curious process.” Metcalf said the process sounds pretty simple, but it can be complicated. Metcalf said she sees clients with every kind of problem from eating disorders, depression, anger, to marriage and family issues. “The solution focused counselor believes there have been times in that client’s life when things have gone well,” Metcalf said. “We quickly turn it [counseling session] into ‘tell me about times when things were slightly better’, inevitably it always is.” Metcalf said those who
are interested in counseling can make an appointment; the sessions typically last an hour. “I typically see people maybe five or six times at the most. Because it’s not a model that goes into details of the past, people tend to get better pretty quick,” Metcalf said. “People are competent; they just get blind-sided by the things that get in their way, and they forget the times when they’ve been successful. Metcalf said every summer she takes one student to London to learn about solution focused therapy at Bries Therapy practice. “We learn about it for two weeks, and students come back excited because it is a great way to work and be a counselor,” Metcalf said. If a student is looking for a counselor, there are many
ways to find people who do solution focused therapy, and there are plenty in the Glick House who are specialized in the process, Metcalf said. “In addition to solution focus I use a little something called narrative therapy with that because the narrative therapy is similar to solution focus only it believes our lives are like stories and they are,” Metcalf said. “The way we story things either help us do well or help us not do well.” Rebekah Bynum, graduate counseling student and practicum student intern at the Glick house, said solution focused therapy works for her as a counselor because it is very brief. “It is very goal-oriented, so it helps the client recognize their goal. Some
people just come in with a problem and don’t realize what they would like to be better in their lives,” Metcalf said. “They just know they don’t want that problem to happen anymore.” Bynum said the therapy keeps people from focusing on what is wrong in their lives and figuring out what could be better. Monica Maldonado, junior education major said, the Glick House is able to work around a student’s schedule. “I loved being able to talk to someone I didn’t have to see everyday,” Maldonado said. “It was nice talking to someone who did not have any bias on the things going on. It was a friendly environment.” For more information visit http:// txwes.edu/life/counseling. aspx.
Business school promotes MBA program with video series Santiago Munoz
smunoz1367@txwes.edu
Discover what the new women’s golf team has in store for this season. For More Current News, check out TheRambler.org
Several business professors at Wesleyan have huddled up collectively to provide insightful information to prospective students who are interested in joining a Master of Business Administration program at Texas Wesleyan. During Fall 2012, several small view videos were produced in the Marketing Communications production studio that can be easily accessed by prospective students who are interested in learning better business leadership skills and earning an MBA at Wesleyan. These videos can be accessed by going to Wesleyan’s home page, click the “Graduate” link toward the bottom of the page, then click on the “Business” link at the top of that page. From that page, viewers can access several
videos that focus on areas of business that future business majors are interested in. Dr. Sameer Vaidya, associate dean and professor of management, said the MBA program is doing these promotional videos in conjunction with other professors, each one discussing a different business element. He said the MBA program hopes to help raise awareness of the program for prospective MBA students. “If you look on the website for the MBA program, you might find other professors also discussing other elements of what is important in business,” Vaidya said. “So this was not just a stand alone video but count it together as a package to show prospective MBA students the different things that go on when they get admitted or they apply for an MBA program and start it here.”
Vaidya said in an email he wasn’t yet aware of any students expressing interest in joining the program due to the videos. “I am not aware of any students joining the program just because of the video,” Vaidya said. “We have had several students join the program in Spring 2013 but we did not ask them if they had watched the videos.” Darren White, web content specialist at Wesleyan, helped produce the promotional videos for the MBA program. He said the website videos were produced to accommodate a larger admission strategy for potential graduate students who are in pursuit of completing an MBA program. He said prospective students can excel in an environment like Wesleyan. “We want potential graduate students to know about the program,” White said.
“The core identity of this school is a place where people can thrive because of ‘Smaller. Smarter.’ experience as well.” Claudia Gonzalez, junior business major, said the promotional YouTube videos are efficient and informative. She said they provided her with good information, and
also inspired her to continue her business studies through Wesleyan’s MBA program. “I think it’s inspiring and encouraging because they’re first hand. They’re from the professors who are actually going to be teaching,” Gonzalez said. “You can see the one-on-one effort that these professors will put into your
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Older students more compelled to finish school
Santiago Munoz
smunoz1367@txwes.edu
When I graduated high school in 2002, I immediately enrolled in freshmen-level courses for the summer at Riverside Community College in California. After just three weeks of attending class, and after receiving my refund from financial aid, I quickly withdrew from all my classes. I was very young and naive to realize the importance of college and earning a degree for a better future. I see young students around me at Texas Wesleyan heading for the same path. Seven years later, I have returned to school. I enrolled at Tarrant County College in Fort Worth, Texas. At age 25, older and wiser, I returned to college with the determination and a drive to excel in school and earn a bachelor’s degree as a mass communications major.
Since my first semester at Wesleyan, I have encountered many young students who have failed to prioritize academics. Some of them have fallen into the college party life of binge drinking, recreational drug abuse and in some cases, they just lack the motivation to take on the burdens of being a dedicated student. Others feel school is something they have to go through in order to satisfy their parents and peers. Many of them are just too young to grasp the notion of how vital a college degree can be for their futures. Younger students tend to be indecisive when it comes to their majors. They flow through school clueless, without any real sense of what they are going to do. In comparison, older students tend to be more responsible in attending classes and completing assignments. Most of them have wasted many years before realizing the importance of a higher education. Now that they are back pursuing a degree, there is not much room for error -- every class is crucial. It is imperative for every student, regardless of age, to stick with school and complete their mission.
Celebrity gossip emphasizes negative behavior Victoria Slaten
vaslaten@txwes.edu
If there is one thing people cannot get enough of, it is gossip, especially about celebrities. It is bad enough to have to know everything about the people around you, but when you have to know ev-
erything about celebrities too, it has become more of an obsession. Most of the time people are obsessed with celebrities who are not the best role models. For example, millions became hooked on watching Italian Americans party and drink uncontrollably on Jersey Shore. What positive attribute does a program like this show to teenagers who watch it? And when Snooki, the party girl of Jersey Shore, said she was having a baby, people, especially the teen-
agers who watched Jersey Shore, became obsessed with that. Jersey Shore is just one of many examples. Just looking at the tabloids, and seeing who is dating who and cheated with whom, is nauseating. What is worse is not only adults read the stories, but children are exposed to the celebrities’ actions, too. When children see tabloids about a celebrity they look up to cheating or being involved in sex scandals, they are not influenced in a positive direction. Now, on
top of the fact that everyone is influenced to be skinny and hot celebrities, people have to be careful not to be morally influenced by them as well. Obsession with celebrities is worse than some people think. According to collegenews.com some teenage girls took their obsession with Justin Bieber too far. After Bieber was caught smoking marijuana, the “#CutForBieber” movement was started as a joke. The creators told people to cut themselves so Bieber
would stop smoking. However, some of Bieber’s fans took this prank seriously and started cutting themselves thinking they were helping their favorite pop star. If people are willing to physically harm themselves for a celebrity, someone they do not even know, then someone needs to help these confused victims back to reality. People need to stop looking at the tabloids for inspiration. However, there are still celebrities worth admiring like those who use their fame to help organiza-
tions like St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. For example, celebrities like Robin Williams, George Lopez, and Jennifer Aniston star in commercials for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital encouraging people to donate their money to help save the lives of children. Although people have a responsibility to themselves, celebrities have responsibility too. Celebrities need to realize they are being watched and their actions can affect more people than they will ever realize.
Creativity can bring love, inspiration to any Valentine’s Day
Erica Estrada
eestrada@txwes.edu
Valentine’s Day can be a dreaded day, especially to singles, or celebrated by those with a special someone.
Many people think there is an ideal date we all should have. The problem is, many people think just because they don’t have a date for the evening, Valentine’s Day is the worst holiday ever. Surprisingly, there are many ways to spend Valentine’s Day alone. This could even count if you are with someone and they happened to be out of town, or you’re in a long-distance relationship. There are ways to make the love sparkle no matter
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what, even when you are by yourself. For those in a long-distance relationship; you and your significant other can ship a gift to each other a little before Valentine’s Day. On the special day, Skype or call each other up and open the gift at the same time. You’ll both be surprised at the same time. For the men, most know women make a huge deal out of this holiday. What is most important is to find out what she likes, and expand on it to
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specialize her wants. Simple flowers and a gift is always nice to show you’ve been thinking about her. For women, it’s easy to think, “What about me?” It’s important to not only think about yourself, but to think about your significant other as well. They need attention, too. This is the key to a relationship and to make Valentine’s Day special for two. For both single men and women, keep in mind it is not the end of the world just
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because you are not taken. You can always spend time with your friends and family who don’t have plans for the evening. Perhaps you can throw a Valentine’s Day party for all your single friends. Is everyone else busy? No problem. Why not show yourself some love by treating yourself to a movie or buy yourself your favorite gift with candy. This is the best time to take advantage of the discounted candy and to go
to Valentine’s Day sales. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself, buy yourself a Valentine’s Day gift you’d want someone to give you. Go out and spoil yourself. You know what you like! I think no matter what circumstance, Valentine’s Day can be a great holiday anyone can look forward to. So whether you’re single or taken, there are many ways to have an ideal Valentine’s Day date. There is no right or wrong way as long as you’re happy.
thumbs up Thumbs up to the new and active events supported by the Social Rams. What a way to stay active! Thumbs up to the Super Bowl parties that were held in the residential halls. Students had a blast. Thumbs up to the prayer room provided for nonChristian students.
thumbs down
Thumbs down to not having disposable cups and silverware in Dora’s. People are always on the go! Thumbs down to the un-leveled pavements around campus. Someone could trip and fall. Thumbs down to OC Hall being locked on weekends. Rambler staff on weekends can not get in.
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Religious department offers online degree Rolandra West
rdwest@txwes.edu
The religion department has launched an innovative and technology based degree readily accessible to all students, traditional and nontraditional. The program gives students the opportunity to pursue a bachelor’s degree in comparative studies online for the first time. Mark Hanshaw, assistant professor and chair of Comparative Religious Studies said the department is excited about the new program. He said the degree program will be in the field of comparative religion studies and is fully online. “We are really excited about what opportunities that this program will open up for us in terms of reaching out to students,” Hanshaw said. “Of course we are excited about the sort of resources the online technology gives us to be utilized in the context of educational purposes.” Hanshaw said the religion department started the comparative studies program two years ago. “This field of study is really one that has taken shape with a larger discipline within the last couple of decades,” Hanshaw said. Today a large percentage of students engaging in religious studies are in some ways looking at it from a comparative vantage point.”
Hanshaw said the basis of the program is to investigate various religions and how they relate and shape one another. When launching this program, professors in the religion department realized how many students are actually interested in the comparative religion field of study, Hanshaw said. “Some of them [students] couldn’t easily make it to Texas Wesleyan but they certainly sought out our courses,” Hanshaw said. “We began offering many of them online and with that sort of foundation with courses being offered online we began to think about really trying to expand the course offerings to flesh out the full degree program and to make it available in an online format.” Hanshaw said the field of comparative studies originally was either located in the North East and East Coast areas of the United States, leaving the center of the country limited to the options of pursuing the field of comparative studies. “We saw that certainly as a need [for the program of comparative studies] and also saw it as sort of an opportunity,” Hanshaw said. “So we felt that our program was strong enough that it would be useful to branch out and through an online program and perhaps reach out to a wider
range of potential students.” Hanshaw said it will be interesting to see how the program will develop because other online programs around the country and locally have done well. He said they have gained popularity from this opportunity. Gladys Childs, assistant professor of religion, said the new program is a great option for students. “I feel the online comparative studies program provides a great opportunity for students to obtain a degree in this area without having to come to campus,” Childs said. Childs said it offers great flexibility so individuals can still work and/or take care of their children. “In light of our complex world culture, is it important for individuals to have a basic understanding of world religions and how they impact humanity,” she said. Chris Pearson, senior English major, said he has taken all of his comparative religion courses online. “I liked that I was challenged by Dr. Hanshaw with written assignments instead of tests or quizzes,” Pearson said. “The richness of religion and culture was more prevalent with writing assignments because I had to process information on a deeper intellectual level.”
SOWELL
Dr. Jesse Sowell
Religion Professor
just do not knock him off base very often.” McDonald said Sowell is a cheerful person who loves teaching and always wears a smile. But McDonald said you better be prepared if you joke with Sowell by asking him if he went to Ole Miss instead of Mississippi State. Kevin Doskocil, earned his bachelor’s degree in religion in 2009 at Texas Wesleyan, said, “Dr. Sowell was definitely a kind-hearted professor. He was attentive to the needs of his students.” In addition to taking classes from Sowell, Doskocil said Sowell was also his adviser. Doskocil said Sowell exhibited an open-door policy and would go out of his way to answer any questions or concerns Doskocil had. Doskocil said their conversations went beyond classroom talk, and Sowell genuinely cared about their talks. Doskocil said both his and Sowell’s love of golf spurred many conversations.
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Doskocil said Sowell began every class with a prayer, which meant a lot to him because Texas Wesleyan is supposed to be a Christian school. Doskocil said he wished more professors would have been bold enough to do something like that. Sowell said every year, besides one, since 1982 he has led an overseas study program for students at Wesleyan. “I learned a long time ago that being able to experience something that you’re reading about makes you remember and appreciate a whole lot more of it,” Sowell said. After Sowell retires, he plans to travel to places like Scotland and Australia with his wife. Sowell said he will continue teaching Bible studies at his church, and he wants to become more involved in the prison ministry. Sowell said his three children and his nine grandchildren will also keep him busy during retirement.
Sowell said he has been eligible for retirement for about 10 years, but he kept teaching because he loves it. “I’m glad he’s doing it [retiring] while he has a lot of health left, but we are going to miss him terribly,” McDonald said. “He knows how the university works probably better than anyone in our department because he’s been here so long.” Doskocil said he knew Sowell’s retirement was coming sooner or later. “It kind of makes me sad knowing that if I was going to go back to visit that he might not be in his office anymore,” Doskocil said.
Sowell said he read a thought from a book, The Underground Church, that he would like to leave with his students. “This author said, ‘The church,’ and I would say not only the church, but any organization including a university, ‘can survive differences of opinion. We cannot survive a deficit of love,’” Sowell said.
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“I learned a long time ago that being able
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Students prepare to walk the stage in May Victoria Slaten vaslaten@txwes.edu
Graduation can be a nerveracking time for students, and they do not always know how to prepare for this turning point in their lives. Jessica Boone, technical records coordinator, said her office works with students to make sure they have all of the information for graduation, and making sure students have their academic status communicated to them. Boone said first a student who wishes to graduate must complete a graduation application and submit it to the office of student records. Any student who wishes to graduate and has not filled out a graduation application will have to pay the graduation fee and the
late fee to the cashier’s office. Next, the student should talk with the academic adviser about their degree audit and look for any discrepancies, then talk to the office of student records about fixing these problems. Boone said the student must then wait for notices about graduation, which will be sent by Wesleyan email and U.S. mail. Graduating students will also receive a notice in the mail telling them to pick up their information packets in February. When students pick up their information packets, they will also see their diploma order to verify that it is correct so the diploma will be exactly as the student wants, she said. Boone said the information packet will have more information regarding details about the
ceremony and graduation-related events happening on campus. “Students are strongly recommended to attend [graduation events],” Boone said. “However, we understand that real life occurs, and they can’t come up to campus every time we want them to.” Boone said if students have a scheduling conflict, they should call the office of student records to make sure they receive all the required information. Elena Hernandez, student assistant for career services, said her department can also help graduating students. Hernandez said career services helps with resumes and also helps students find a job after they graduate. “We can also help them with graduate counseling if they want
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to go to graduate school,” Hernandez said. “We can help them try to get into the program and see what it is they are looking for.” Mari Rangel, senior liberal studies major, said she knows a little bit of information about graduation, but is uncertain about the specifics. Rangel said she knows about the graduation application, but she does not know what is going to happen at the robing and graduation ceremonies. “The actual service, to prepare for that, I don’t know. I’m a little nervous,” Rangel said. “No one in my family has ever graduated college.” Rangel said some graduation information was sent to her, and all other upperclassmen, but it was confusing and made her nervous. Rangel said there was a mass email sent to all students who are
close to graduation, so she did not know if that text meant she was graduating or not. “I think what they could do is just specify in the email like the specific names of those who are graduating so that they won’t think like I did,” Rangel said. Rangel said if she is confused she talks to her adviser and her friends who are graduating with her. Boone said in addition to students’ advisers, the office of student records will always be happy to answer any questions students may have. Boone said there really are not that many steps to take for graduation. “We aren’t quite as strict as some other schools,” Boone said. “And since we’re small, we have a greater ability to work with students oneon-one should an issue arise.”
Prayer room meets religious needs Santiago Munoz
smunoz1367@txwes.edu
The Morton Fitness Center at Texas Wesleyan has opened its doors for international students to meet their spiritual needs. At the end of Fall 2012, the Morton facility turned a lowuse conference room into a prayer room, said Joe Brown, dean of freshmen success. The room is located in the southeast end of the building across from the locker rooms. There is a sign outside the door to make students aware of the hours and days when it can be used: 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday. The prayer room is a 12’x18’ room; it’s very plain with windows facing east; it is also very sanitary and clean. The floor has a rug for students to kneel on while performing their religious rituals. Brown said the reason the space was allocated to inter-
national students in Morton rather than Poly Methodist Church building was because the Islamic religion needs could not be met in the same building where other religious beliefs are being practiced. “Within the Islamic religion, their prayer room cannot be in a building that would be considered a non-Islamic church,” Brown said. “So to put a room where they can pray in Poly Methodist Church goes against their basic core, because they’re going into a building intended for another religious type of service. It had to be a room in what you would say a natural space or secular space.” Catherine Fournier, junior math major and Morton staff, said it is difficult to keep track of the number of students who use the prayer room. She said students who come into the building to pray do not have to scan their fitness center cards,
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nor sign an attendance list. She also said not many students are coming in to pray, at least not during her work shift. “Wednesdays I work 1-6 p.m. and Tuesdays I work 2-7 p.m., and those days I think I see more students go back there than on any other day,” Fournier said. “So probably late afternoon or early evening will be the time to see the most, but I’m not there really enough to know if that’s completely accurate.” Some international students who use the prayer room are grateful for the new addition. Rashed Alshehri, business major, said he likes that the room is clean and private. “The room is very clean, very private; that’s why I pray twice a day, every day for 10 minutes,” Alshehri said. “I pray because it’s important to me and my culture. I recommend other students to come pray.”
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February 6, 2013
Valentine’s Day does not have to break the bank
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Emma Fradette
ekfradette@txwes.edu
Hearts, cards, kisses and chocolates are all things encompassed around Valentine’s Day. Couples shower each other with gifts, dinners and constant affection to express their love for one another. The question that arises out of Valentine’s Day is do people in college celebrate it? If so, can students afford the expensive dinners and gifts? Those who do celebrate Valentine’s Day are now finding ways to celebrate the “love holiday” on a budget, while some just do not participate in the holiday at all. Courtney Orebaugh, senior history major, said Valentine’s Day does not have to get expensive. “Some people get caught up in buying all these gifts for their significant other, when sometimes the more creative ideas are what people remember the most,” Orebaugh said. “Sometimes those ideas are cheaper than buying gifts.” Orebaugh said as long as she is with the person she loves, then that is a great Valentine’s Day for her. Abraham Ademola, senior bio-chemistry major, said he does not celebrate Valentine’s Day. “When I am with someone I make sure to show her how much I appreciate her and how much she means to me every day,” Ademola said. “Valentine’s Day takes away my credit.” Ademola said he feels obligated to do something on the holiday and he does not like that. “I make her feel special every day, and I think Valentine’s Day takes away from that,” Ademola said. Raven Alexander, senior business major, said she does celebrate Valentine’s Day and enjoys
Erica Estrada / Rambler Staff A simple card is an inexpensive way to express love on Valentine’s Day. It is the thought that counts, and college students often do not have lots of money.
the holiday. “I like celebrating V-Day because not only do you tell that person daily that you care about them, but on Valentine’s Day you can personally do all the cute necessary stops to make that person feel special,” Alexander said. Alexander said she has
shown her appreciation before by showing up at her (then) girlfriend’s house unexpectedly and left flowers at the door and rose petals on the bed with presents. Being in college can reduce the amount of money you may be able to spend, and Alexander said there are a few ways
a person can celebrate Valentine’s Day without breaking the wallet. “I think there is a cheap way to express love on Valentine’s Day,” Alexander said. “If you don’t have the money for a card you can always make a homemade card. Alexander said she uses what
she’s good at to make her significant other feel special. “I try to use my strengths which are poems and writing because you can never go wrong with writing and really showing that person what they mean to you,” Alexander said. “It’s the little things that matter.”
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Pop Culture Junkie
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Students enjoy aquatic entertainment Left: (Right to left) Krystalyn Lasater, freshman theater major, holds up Ty Kincade, senior psychology major, with the help of Keorah Strain, junior theater major. The three enjoyed the Polar Opposites Pool Party while they practiced some cheer moves. The pool party was put on by The Social Rams january 24 at 7 p.m.
Tristian Evans tkevans1098@txwes.edu
Top: During a water volleyball game, Baron Yarborough, senior business management major, enthusiastically serves the ball. He attended the Polar Opposites Pool Party with other members of Kappa Alpha Order.
Relaunch of ‘Animorphs’ sure to be hit Welcome fellow pop culture junkies to a nostalgic installment of this column called, Animorphs Appreciation. With the growing popularity of more recent young adult series like The Hunger Games and the Mortal Instruments, I found myself growing nostalgic about a science fiction series I read back in the late ’90s. Hopefully, I’m not the only person who remembers the Animorphs book series that was published from 19962001. Animorphs was a young adult science fiction book series about five kids, cousins Jake and Rachel, animal lover Cassie, jokester Marco, and outsider Tobias who meet an alien who informs them that their world is being invaded by an evil race of aliens. The alien, Alfangor, gives the five teenagers the ability to morph into animals to combat the evil aliens from taking over the world. Over time the Animorphs find a sixth ally in Alfangor’s brother, Ax. Over the course of the series, the Animorphs learned a lot about war, love and morality. The Animorphs came of age in the course of the series as the war that they were fighting took a toll on their relationships with each other and the weight of their secret pulled them away from their family and friends. Yes, it was campy and over the top at times, but from reading those books I feel like I learned a lot about being responsible for my actions, and about being loyal and protective of those I care about. Like most good fantasy and science fiction, there were real-world themes that the reader could relate to and make connections between what the characters were going through, as what I, as the reader, was going through in my own life. The books were re-launched with new covers a couple of years ago, and are definitely worth checking out. Also, one can find episodes of the television series that ran for two seasons. Like most page-to-screen adaptations, it’s not very good, but gives the basic overall feel of the book series.
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Bottom: Kincade, senior psychology major, paddles a duck raft in the pool. Two rafts were provided for students to use during the Polar Opposites Pool Party.
Several 2013 Super Bowl commercials deliver REVIEW The Super Bowl XLVII commercials were ultimately well put together and interesting. Most of the commercials were funny and original. There were a few that were unimpressive and uninteresting. Most noticeable were the Budweiser Black Crown ads that showed a party full of people in black clothing. What the heck was that?
I sincerely hope that Budweiser does not drag this campaign out. I think it was a waste of a lot of money to air these crappy commercials. The Go Daddy ads were gross, and a little twisted. The one that sticks out the most is the ad when an underage fat, pimpled kid is making out with a Go Daddy model. Ouch, that was hard to watch. There were some commercials however that grabbed my atten-
tion and made me laugh out loud. I especially liked the M&M commercial featuring the red M. The Taco Bell commercial that featured a group of old people partying and ending their epic night at Taco Bell was one of my favorite commercials of the evening. Another incredibly funny commercial was the zombie house cleaning spot that included a lead character from the Walking Dead.
I even enjoyed the heartwarming Budweiser commercial that featured the Clydesdale horse and his previous owner. I found it amazing that a 30 second spot could tell such an amazing story. Believe it or not, I also found the Dodge Ram commercial narrated by Paul Harvey about what an American Farmer is touching and inspiring. — Ryan Grounds rrgrounds@txwes.edu
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February 6, 2013
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Women’s golf optimistic for season Victoria Slaten vaslaten@txwes.edu
Emma Fradette ekfradette@txwes.edu
Cowboys need to put down the alcohol Over the past few months, the Dallas Cowboys professional football team has had two players get arrested for drinking while intoxicated, also known as a DWI. Josh Brent, nose tackle for the Cowboys, was arrested Dec. 8 when he received a DWI and a manslaughter charge after getting into a car accident which killed his friend and practice player Jerry Brown. Now, the Dallas Cowboys have made headlines again thanks to Jay Ratliff, Cowboys lineman, who was arrested last week for a DWI after he sideswiped a semi-truck. No one was killed or seriously injured... luckily. The National Football League does offer rides to football players who have been drinking to prevent these sorts of problems and I just don’t understand why they don’t use them. College athletes look up to professional athletes and right now these NFL players are not setting the proper example. I think there should be harsher punishments for those players who break the law other than just a fine and game suspension. Maybe coaches and league officials should suspend players longer than just a few games. According to http://dfw.cbslocal.com, the Dallas Cowboys released a statement Jan. 28 to address the DWI issues. Although Texas Wesleyan does not have a football team, there are other sports programs in which athletes may look up to these professional athletes. They need to get it together and take advantage of the programs the NFL offers them, and stay off the road if they are drunk.
Last semester the new Lady Ram’s Golf team at Texas Wesleyan abolished the idea that golf is a gentlemen’s sport and showed that women can swing a club like any man. Starting in the fall of 2012, Wesleyan added a women’s golf team to its athletic program for the first time. Kevin Millikan, the coach for the women’s golf team, said he expects the women’s team to improve even more in the spring semester than they did in the fall. Millikan said because the team was new last semester, the team had to get acquainted. “I think our goal is now that we’re comfortable and we know what’s expected, is to just make incremental improvements,” Millikan said. Jessica Liptak, freshman mass communication major and women’s golfer, said it is great to see all the players on the course together. “It’s kind of everyone’s first time to be playing college golf,” Liptak said. “So it’s exciting to see just everyone’s strengths and weaknesses.” Liptak said the team works together well. Every team member is different and will use their individual strengths to help the team. Alexis Belton, sophomore mass communication major and women’s golfer, said she had a knee injury for the majority of the fall season and was only able to play in one tournament. “I think the best part about going on a tournament is the practice round and being able to bond with the teammates and all,” Belton said. “And it’s a great experience to be out there with Texas Wesleyan for the first time.” Belton said the team members have become so close that if a golfer does not qualify for the tournament, she will usually support her teammates. Millikan, who has never coached a women’s team before, said coaching women was a new experience. Millikan said the women are more apt to do team bonding, whereas the men’s golf team usually practices alone. “I found that the girls are very open to instruction, and to suggestion about the game and about learning the game,” Millikan said. Millikan said he was disappointed that the size of the team shrank from 11 in the fall semester to eight in the spring semester. “I like having a little bit larger team because of the competition within the squad.; so that the players know that they’ve got to earn a
Victoria Slaten/Rambler Staff With great concentration, Allyson Harvey, freshman math major, practices her backswing.
spot, and that it’s not it’s not just a grantee that they’re going to a tournament,” Millikan said. “It makes them work a little bit harder.” Millikan said practice officially started Jan. 22, and the first tournament will take place Feb. 17-18 in Victoria, Texas. “I just want to definitely play in a couple of the tournaments because Alexis is in now, and its more competitive,” Liptak said. “I have to compete for my spot.” Belton said her goal for this semester is to
get better with her putts and hitting the fairways. “I would like to achieve at least placing in the top 10 or top five in at least a tournament,” Belton said. “And being able to qualify for nationals as a team and individually.” Millikan said coaching the women’s golf team has been very rewarding. “They work hard. They want to be successful. And I just find a certain level of enthusiasm on my end,” Millikan said.
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Softball swings back into action this season
Emma Fradette
ekfradette@txwes.edu
The Lady Rams softball team is swinging back into action this season coming off of a well accomplished last season. The Texas Wesleyan softball team finished 25-20 overall and 20-4 in the Red River Athletic Conference. The Lady Rams placed first in conference earning a ring, and also went to nationals. This year, the Lady Rams are gearing up for another successful season. Chelsea Boles, junior outfielder and exercise science major, said they want a repeat from last year. “We want to win conference and the conference tournament and return to nationals like we did last year,” Boles said. Shannon Gower, head softball coach, said she expects a repeat of last year’s season. “Every year our goals are to win conference and win nationals, we have our players set their own individual goals for themselves as well,” Gower said. Boles said since the Christmas break, the team has been putting in some hard work.
“Practices have been really good. You can’t even tell we have had over two months off since the last time we were allowed to practice on the field together,” Boles said. Raven Moreno, senior utility player and exercise science major, said their expectations are pretty high. “We want to go to nationals again, so we plan to win conference again and make a good outing in nationals,” Moreno said. The Lady Rams finished first last year in the RRAC, and Moreno said it does bring a little more pressure than normal. “There is pressure to do better than last year but since we only have four returners all the new girls keep us humble because we know it’s a whole new team,” Moreno said. Boles said the team has been getting along and the chemistry is there. “The team chemistry seems to be better than when we left off for break,” Boles said. “I am surprised on how well it’s been going since there are eleven new players.” Gower said they did lose a lot of players from last season. “I think every year there are obstacles and that is what makes a team stronger. It isn’t ever easy, I look at
Lupe Salas | Rambler Staff Bailey Stokes, freshman psychology major helping another teammate in a hitting exercise.
obstacles as just another challenge to overcome,” Gower said. “This year we are in a rebuilding stage we lost majority of our players last year. I would say the challenge right now is
getting our team to gel.” Moreno said everyone is working hard and nationals will be in Georgia this year. The Lady Rams will begin their
season Feb. 9 at 11 a.m. in a doubleheader against Oklahoma Wesleyan University at Sycamore Park in Fort Worth.
Assistant basketball coach continues to fight kidney disease Tristian K. Evans
Tkevans1098@txwes.edu
Assistant men’s basketball coach, Tim Bellmon, has been living with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, which is a disease that affects the kidneys, since 2007. Bellmon, a four-year member of the Texas Wesleyan basketball staff, said he continues to take life as it comes and continues to hope and pray that a kidney donor will be found. “Right now it is a day-today struggle,” Bellmon said. “I
take it one day at a time and appreciate everything.” Bellmon received a kidney transplant in 2010, however, the kidney failed. Last summer, his kidney was removed because it began to cause other health problems. “I’m still blessed,” Bellmon said. “It could be a whole lot worse.” He said although it is a challenge, he is fortunate enough to still be active. In addition to serving as assistant basketball coach, Bellmon is also a faculty adviser for the Black Student Associa-
tion at Texas Wesleyan. Bellmon said his family has been a huge support system for him in his day-to-day life with his illness. “I wouldn’t be here it wasn’t for them,” Bellmon said. “I have a brother and my son here in Texas. The rest of my family is back in Alabama.” Bellmon said the Wesleyan faculty and staff has also been a huge support system. “I’ve been dealing with this since I came to Wesleyan in 2009,” Bellmon said. “They have been very good
with their support.” Bellmon said he could have the surgery as soon as he finds a match. While he waits, Bellmon will continue to coach basketball and advise the BSA to keep himself active. “It keeps me from being a vegetable and not doing anything,” Bellmon said. Brennen Shingleton, head coach of the men’s basketball team, said he considers Bellmon one of his good friends and an excellent coach. “Tim is probably the toughest guy I know,” Shingleton said. “He is and has been so
loyal to me and this program, it’s hard not to appreciate how good of a coach he really is.” Shingleton said many players have benefited from Bellmon’s coaching and Bellmon has a unique perspective on the game. “Coach Bellmon has made me a better coach, communicator and teacher,” Shingleton said. Coach Ricky Dotson, assistant coach of the men’ basketball team, said Bellmon is a good man and represents everything that is right with intercollegiate sports.
“I think that he’s a great communicator with our guys- he has their complete trust,” Dotson said. “He’s tough, honest and knowledgeable and he brings a tremendous amount of experience to our program. Coach Bellmon is an integral part of what we are as a program and represents everything that we want our players to be.” If you would like to be tested to see if you’re a match contact Coach Bellmon at txwesbball@yahoo.com or contact UT Southwestern Hospital at 866-433-4225.
Join a tradition of excellence.
The Hatton W. Sumners SCHOLARSHIP
The Hatton W. Sumners scholarship provides up to $3,500 per semester toward tuition for outstanding students during their junior and senior years. Preference is given to those studying political science, pre-law, history, or social
studies, but students from other program areas who have high academic achievement, are involved in activities, and exhibit leadership and a strong sense of community responsibility will also be considered. Sumners Scholars participate in exclusive forums, lectures and programs on public policy, leadership, and civic participation.
For more information or to pick up an application, contact
Texas Wesleyan’s Office of Financial Aid 817-531-4420 txwes.edu/academics/sumners
Application Deadline: February 15, 2013