The RambleR is HIRING for SPRING 2015 WEDNESDAY
November 5, 2014
Vol. 98 • No. 12
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
Second forum coming soon
Abigail Ross alross@txwes.edu
On Nov. 6, President Frederick G. Slabach will host his second open forum of the semester. The forum will take placefrom 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. in the Baker Building, located on the corner of Wesleyan and Rosedale Street. Faculty and staff will be able to ask Slabach questions as he addresses concerns and ideas for the campus. Ideas can be submitted to the idea box located on the second floor of the Oneal-Sells Administration Building (near the main entrance). Ideas can also be submitted online at https:// txwes.edu/info/office-ofthe-president/forums-andideas/my-idea-box/.
Financial Literacy Month begins with gold tags Abigail Ross alross@txwes.edu
On Nov. 4, Texas Wesleyan University hosted Tag Day as part of Financial Literacy Month. The event showed how much those donating to Texas Wesleyan have impacted the campus. Gold tags were placed around campus to signify buildings, programs, scholarships and other things that benefit students, which were made possible because of university donors. Alumni, faculty and staff were also adorned with gold tags to signify their support for the education of Wesleyan students. Students were asked to snap and post a photo of the gold tags around campus using #TXWESTAGDAY. The first 100 hashtag users won a free t-shirt.
Freshman registration coming soon
Power, pain, presence of returning LadyRam guard Paula Justice
prjustice@txwes.edu
Onyesonam “Oni” Nolisa issues a warning: you don’t want to talk to her just before game time. “When it’s game time, I’m completely focused. I have my music on. I like to listen to really hoodmusic or really [upbeat] music. You don’t want to talk to me a couple of hours before game mode; I’m in game mode,” said Onyesonam “Oni” Nolisa, guard for the Lady Rams at Texas Wesleyan. The 21-year-old Connecticut native was getting game-ready and hooping long before Wesleyan. “I started playing ball when I was 11,” she said. “I played with my brothers outside in the street. There weren’t a lot of girls playing [basketball] around my neighborhood, so I just played with my brothers and their friends.” And as time went on, she said she saw her game improve. She played in a few leagues before trying out for her middle school team and making varsity. Workouts, rather than hair and makeup, became routine. “When I was younger, I was convinced I was a boy,” she said laughing. “I wasn’t a girl. I was probably the biggest tomboy around. I never did my hair, always wore basketball shorts and t-shirts, and I was always hanging out with the boys.”
alross@txwes.edu
Freshman may begin registration Thursday, Nov. 13. Students who have not yet been advised are urged by their advisors to do so before beginning the registration process. For easy registration, class times, dates, and course locations students may visit Ramlink.
GUARD, page 7
Bounty Hunter on the path to US Marshall Martika Cook mncook@txwes.edu
“I don’t go around looking for a fight, but if a fight comes I’m ready,” he says. He has chased, cuffed and captured criminals. He has injured himself and others by doing so. He is a warrant investigator and a Texas Wesleyan student. “The reason I became a [warrant investigator] was because I needed a thrill,” said Clint Riggins, senior criminal justice major. “I needed something that gives me the adrenaline rush I am used to.” On July 1, 1997, Riggins made a speech in front of city council defending the rights of the Fort Worth Firefighters. Lisa Riggins, his mother, wrote an email that he made a speech at the age of 13 to promote three black captains to fire chief, creating Fort Worth’s sixth Battalion to accommodate growth in the city. Riggins served in the military for 10 years from, 2002 to 2013. He was
active for six years and was a part of the Reserve for four years. The military taught him self-control, which is beneficial in his current profession, warrant investigating. Now as a student, he faces the challenges of being a full-time student and a full-time employee. Riggins said he became a warrant investigator after being introduced at a Christmas party several years ago. From there, he shadowed a warrant investigator to learn the ropes. Today, he continues to shadow and partner with his mentor. Riggins said, he knew he had already developed the skills needed to become a warrant investigator. From being in the military Riggins said he developed the skill to hunt his prey. “Ever since I’ve been in combat, I don’t like to hunt animals. But I don’t have a problem hunting someone on the same intelligence level as myself. Animals don’t seem to be much of a challenge,” he said.
Onyesonam Nolisa, guard for Wesleyan’s Lady Rams. Photo illustration by Paula Justice
LKK finds loophole, gets Greek house on campus
Four LKK brothers landed a new house on campus just before the semester started. Photo by Ryan Grounds Ryan Grounds rrgrounds@txwes.edu
Clint RIggins, bounty hunter is working to be a U.S. Marshall. Photo by Martika Cook
HUNTER, page 3
For the first time since the 1980s, Texas Wesleyan University has a fraternity house. The Wesleyan chapter of Lambda Kappa Kappa is renting a 5-bedroom, 3-bathroom house at 3005 Avenue D. From the outside this house is designed in the same southern plantation style, similar to the Baker-Martin House, admissions building of Wesleyan University, which is right next-door. The house has big blue letters AKK above the front entryway. The fraternity house is surrounded by Texas Wesleyan property but is not owned by the University. The front yard is clean with freshly mowed grass, and the smell of cigarettes is in the air. The downstairs contains the dining areas, and living room and kitchen, which also contains a pool table and some couches.
The brothers were hustling in and out between their jobs, working on campus, or getting to and from classes. “Four brothers currently live in the house, but it is not just a house to us -- it is a home,” said Emilio Mimo Castrellon, junior business management major and Lambda public relations officer. Every room is clean and only features a few decorations. A wall in the living room features a large colorful representation of the knight of knowledge. Lambda Kappa Kappa is a national volunteers based fraternity that donates time to helping with community projects and volunteer efforts, Castrellon said. “Rent is $500 per person, or $2,000 month,” Castrellon said. “All furniture was included, and it came with a nice pool table.” The number of applicants Lambda
HOUSE, page 3
Yik Yak app elevates campus bullying concerns Abigail Ross
alross@txwes.edu
Abigail Ross
Nolisa said she was “just one of the boys” back then, and there wasn’t ever a need to acknowledge differences. She was just a ball player. “When you’re younger, it’s easier to not separate [the boys from the girls],” she said. “But when you get older, the guys are way bigger and a lot stronger. So, you’re trying to prove yourself against them. The guys look at girls like ‘Oh, you’re all right, but you’re not that great. You won’t beat me.’ When you get older, it gets a little more complicated.” The junior public relations major grew up “running around and causing trouble” in a park near her childhood home. But after being mistaken for a boy and the passing of a few years, the girl behind the ball player came out to play. “As I got older, I was like ‘Okay, I am a girl. Let me try to be more girly and do girly things,’” she said. “But the whole doll thing, I never got into that. I was always into sports, any sport that you could play outside: baseball, football. But basketball — I was just always good at [it]. And I love the sport. “Look out,” she said with a warning, because she’s waiting for the coming Wesleyan tennis team. “But basketball has always been my passion. It feels good.”
Yik Yak, an app that provides a bulletin board to college campuses, has made its way onto the phones and tablets of students on the campus at Texas Wesleyan University. Yik Yak is targeted toward college students but can be used by anyone. The app allows users to post anonymously to a feed based on their geological location. It works like a “virtual bulletin board” for any 1.5-mile radius, said Tyler Droll, co-creator, in an interview on FoxNews.com. Droll and his partner Brooks Buff-
ington said the app was created and should be used to give students a platform. “We saw on our college campus that only a few people really had a voice,” Droll said to Bella English of The Boston Globe. “They’re the people with big Twitter accounts, maybe student athletes, who had thousands of followers. My thought was why can’t everyone have this power?” Yik Yak can be used to announce get togethers, set up study groups, promote campus events, or to give a good word of advice to other users. Maegan Mariscal, social work ma-
jor and resident assistant of Stella Russell Hall, said she mainly uses Yik Yak to find out what is being served in the cafeteria, but sometimes comes across some disturbing things. “I use it to watch what people are saying and to see what is going on on campus,” she said. “People use it to talk [crap]. That’s all they really use it for.” Some high schools, entire school districts and universities in the U.S. have banned the use of the app because of bullying, harassment and threats made over the app according
to USA Today. More than a dozen schools and universities have had high-profile incidents with the app. However, for Texas Wesleyan it is an issue that has not reached a level of concern. Therefore, it has not been addressed. “We were naïve,” Buffington said during an interview with Diana Graber of Huffington Post. “We designed the app primarily for college students. Using the app the way we intended it to be used requires a certain amount of maturity and responsibility. We were idealistic about who possessed that.”
Wednesday | November 5, 2014
News
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
HOUSE
HUNTER continued from page 1 He has been a warrant investigator for a year and a half. “Bounty hunting consumes most of your time during the week,” Riggins said. The hours are long, from 5 p.m. to roughly 2 a.m. As a student, Riggins said one of his obligations is school. Merging that with warrant investigating can become challenging. Riggins sees himself as humble. “The person I am now is not who I was when I was in the military,” he said. “I was the person who didn’t care for making friends or [getting to know people] because of the amount of friends I lost.” Today others define him differently. Eddy Lynton, assistant professor
| 3
of sociology and criminal justice at Texas Wesleyan University, still sees continued from page 1 the power in Riggins. “There are very few like Clint that I’ve met,” Lynton said. “He is a received in 2014 has doubled since powerful student. He has a powerful we got the house, Castrellon said. presence, [he is a] powerful person, “This is the time when we can be powerful in the sense that he is al- more selective with our members ways going to be there for you. “ and recruit brothers that will do Riggins said warrant investigat- great things,” he said. ing will not be his lifelong career, but There is also a living area in the it is something that will add to his back, which can house three addiresume as fieldwork. He is seeking tional brothers. employment as a U.S. Marshall. One There is room for four more perrequirement for the U.S. Marshall manent brothers on the property, Service entails the ability to investi- Castrellon said. gate. Riggins said you have to have “We got the house during the first the knowledge to connect the dots week of school,” Castrellon said. “We and be aware of your surroundings. had brothers that were homeless, so “This job reminds me that no mat- we had to do something quick. Greek ter where you go there is still dan- housing is not allowed on campus, ger,” he said. but we found a loophole. The house is on private property so the univer-
sity has no entitlement, and no university rules apply on the house, with the exception of title line.” Title line defines that any criminal activity that has to be reported to the University security has to be reported local police. Castrello joined the fraternity after the President’s Picnic in 2012. “I liked how they are a social service fraternity,” Castellon said. “They dedicate most of their time to philanthropy and giving back to the community.” The fraternity threw a party after Midnight Madness, Castrellon said. More than 300 people attended the party, and there were no complaints and no visit by the police. “Wesleyan security and police have been working with us, and they have been very cooperative,” Castrellon said .
“I love living here,” said Charles Kinsworthy, fraternity member and Wesleyan student. “It is the perfect balance of being communal with the brothers and then having enough alone time to get studying done,” he said. “We have rules,” Kinsworthy said. “If you come in during the day, you have to sign in, and you have to be invited over, and there always has to be a brother in the house.” The house has everyone sign in for precaution, Matt Lonsdale, fraternity recruiting chairman said. “We want to make sure we know everyone who comes in and out,” he said. The Lambda fraternity house is accepting new applicants and will be looking for new roommates next semester, Castrellon said.
Facebook 2nd biggest driver for US news consumption Lucas Daprile Scripps Howard Foundation Wire
Facebook is good for all sorts of things, such as friending every single family member with Internet access and arguing with strangers in the comments section of posts. And as of recently, Facebook has been a prime destination for news. News organizations have known for years the power Facebook and other social media sites have to spread the word and drive profitable website traffic, but a recent Pew Research Center study shows Facebook is only second to local TV in how Americans get their news. “The audience, how they consume news, their patterns and their behavior… is something we’re interested in,” Samantha Barry, head of social news for CNN, said. Often, people check their phone, tablet or other device as soon as they wake up, so “they’re looking at Facebook before they get their feet on the ground.”
The Pew survey asked 2,900 Americans about their media habits, and of those who had Internet access, 48 percent said they got news about politics and government from Facebook in the last week. That made Facebook a more popular source than CNN, Fox News and NBC. Washington, D.C.-based NBC4, gets almost 18 percent of its total website views from Facebook, NBC4 digital editorial manager Wendy Warren said. More people arrived at NBC4 from Facebook than from Google or from NBC News, the national network that often links to its coverage. Facebook also drove nine times as many page views to NBC4 as Twitter, Warren said. “Facebook is incredibly powerful as a traffic driver for us and is only getting more so,” Warren said. Facebook’s News Feed, which supplies personal information, important news and clickbait alike, prioritizes what a user sees Americans are getting more of their news from based on likes and comments, social media, especially Facebook. how often a viewer interacts Image by Pew Research Center with the person posting and
other factors such as how often a post is being reported or hidden by others. That doesn’t always make it easy for news organizations to get the word out. Since the algorithms are intentionally personal, “you may see things ordered in a different way than I do,” Warren said. Navigating Facebook’s algorithms, Warren said, aren’t easy. “It takes a lot of thought,” she said. Even though the “Facebook algorithm can be tricky,” Barry said, “if the content is great you’re going to win on social media.” To keep up with this new and sometimes mysterious source of profitable website traffic, news sources have adapted their content to fit social users. NBC has been creating promos and videos designed specifically for Facebook, Warren said. The videos are designed to play in a newsfeed and catch a reader’s attention even without audio, since videos play automatically there without sound. Every day, NBC4 posts one video – usually in the afternoon – that is designed for Facebook
Dining Services Onyesonam Nolisa finishes a practice session with optimism for the season. Photo by Paula Justice
www.college-survey.com/txwes
The Muffin Man is Coming
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exclusively. Warren said the videos have been “spectacularly successful for us,” and reach “an astonishing number of people.” “If you’re careful and you work together … you can use the platforms to really complement each other,” Warren said. CNN also capitalizes on the personal element of social media, using it as a platform to figure out what its users are looking to know. When the first Ebola case in the U.S. was diagnosed, CNN promoted the hashtag #EbolaQandA, where it encouraged readers to ask questions about the disease. They would then respond to the questions online and on the air. In the first few days, 10,000 people had asked questions using the hashtag, Barry said. “We were not only asking them for something, we were giving them something back,” Barry said. “One of the great things about social media … is it gets people to engage directly with the news.”
2 | Wednesday | November 5, 2014
Opinion
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Transgender rights are the real LGBT issue Wesley Juhl Scripps Howard Foundation Wire
I think a lot of people assumed the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law paved the way for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to serve openly in the U.S. military. I certainly did. But I was wrong. People who are transgender are still banned from the U.S. armed forces. “Perspectives on Transgender Military Service from Around the Globe,” put on Monday in conjunction with the San Francisco-based Palm Center at the ACLU’s Washington headquarters, was an eye-opening experience. Soldiers from the U.S. shared stories about facing discrimination in the armed forces. Their experiences were a sharp contrast to those of troops from other countries. Capt. Sage Fox, enlisted in the Army in 1993 as a man. She served with the Special Forces and worked at the Pentagon. While she was deployed in Kuwait in 2012, she realized she needed to transition into a woman. She took time off to change genders, and when the Army called on her to come back, she laid everything out for them. Her case went up the chain of command, and it fell on her immediate superiors to decide what to do. Fox said she was told they needed her skills, and she was invited to come back as a woman. “The very next day I went back as a female officer,” she said. But two weeks later they transferred her to inactive reserve. Her phone calls and emails asking for an explanation went unanswered. “It was devastating for me to get pushed out like that,” she said. Squadron Leader Catherine Humphries, of the Royal Australian Air Force, is on the other side of the spectrum. She joined the RAAF in 1997 as a man and worked as a ground defense officer and instructor. The Australian armed forces were okay with her transition, but for a while she could not work in her old job. It wasn’t because she is transgender. It was because Australia did not allow women to serve in combat roles. That ban was lifted shortly afterward, and Humphries went right back to work.
When she was deployed in Afghanistan, she said she received mixed reactions. She said, however, that the Australian military has robust diversity policies for addressing harassment and giving peer support. In all of the countries that allow transgender people to serve openly, leadership was named as the most crucial component of diversity. I think it’s time that the media also stepped up to be a leader. Earlier this fall, I heard a lawyer who is a Supreme Court expert say same-sex marriage is the biggest civil rights issue of our time. Hearing the stories of men and women – devoted to their country and barred from serving it – makes me think it’s not even the biggest LGBT issue of our time. Many trans people face more violence than gays and lesbians. The Transgender Violence Tracker project aggregates data about anti-transgender vio-
lence. The group says people who are transgender are about 1.5 percent of the world’s population, yet they are about 400 times more likely to be assaulted or murdered than any other group. In the first four months of 2014, 102 trans people were murdered around the world, according to TVT. Nearly 10 percent of all reported violence was suffered by young people who defy gender norms – including a 3-year-old Oregon boy beaten to death by his mother for being too effeminate. Trans people also face more economic obstacles. Though President Barack Obama signed an executive order prohibiting discrimination against federal employees based on gender identity, it is often hard for trans people to find jobs and it is okay to fire an employee for being transgender in most states.
Trans people also face restrictions on their right to vote because of ID laws. The National Center for Transgender Equality estimates 25,000 people could encounter difficulties when they head to the polls this year because many transgender people have government-issued IDs with different names, pictures or gender markers. Many states have strict ID requirements to vote, and many people have a difficult time updating their identification. I’m not saying it’s the media’s job to advocate causes. But I do believe it’s the media’s job to tell stories and stimulate conversations. I firmly believe the press has an ethical obligation to provide inclusive and accurate coverage of under-represented communities. And it may be a good idea for the press to get a jump on these and other transgender issues, because they will make headlines in the future.
Navy veteran Paula Neira, left, retired U.S. Navy SEAL Kristen Beck and Army Capt. Sage Fox answer questions Monday from Aaron Belkin of the Palm Center at a transgender military conference. Fox was the only speaker from the U.S. to wear her military uniform. SHFWire photo by Wesley Juhl
Elective credits are too dang high
Ryan Grounds
rrgrounds@txwes.edu
It takes 120-130 credit hours to earn a bachelor’s degree. That means that an undergrad student must take forty 3-hour classes just to graduate. Required core classes total around 95 to 100 hours, which means that 24-28 elective hours are required to
finish a degree plan, according to txwes.edu. A class at Texas Wesleyan costs around $800, which means that electives cost an additional $16,000 for graduation. I think that to make a student put in this much time and money into elective classes is not fair. Twenty hours required electives is not right. A good alternative for this problem would be to lower the number of classes to nine credit hours for electives. Nine hours of electives would give the students enough freedom to pick courses they are interested in adding a semester and a half to an already four-year program. I think that Texas Wesleyan graduation rate is shrinking because of the amount of electives required for a bachelor’s degree. If the amount of
electives were lower then fewer students would transfer out of Wesleyan in order to graduate. TCU requires 22 hours of electives, and UTA requires close to 30 for most degree plans. Over the last four years I have grown to love Texas Wesleyan. I like the students, professors, staff and of course the small class sizes. I have taken all of my required courses and was planning to graduate in May. I will not graduate this year because I was informed that I have 26 hours of electives to complete. This really hurts, because I am a veteran on the post-9/11 GI Bill, which ends August 2015. So I am now left with little to no choice. I will spend my own money at UTA and TCC in order to finish my degree as laid out by Texas Wes-
leyan. I understand the idea of electives. These classes can be used for many different reasons, including exploring new fields of study. “Part of the fun of college is having some flexibility in choosing college classes you’re interested in. Whether you’re looking at the general education requirements you’re expected to take or interested in taking a class to round out a difficult semester or meet your credit hour requirements. You have a lot of options when it comes to college electives,” according to scholarships.com. Some students are not thinking about fun when they are looking at additional semesters and more money to spend on a degree. “The number of free electives that you’ll have to take will depend on what type of degree you’re pursuing,”
according to collegefactual.com. Electives are just another tool to suck every penny out of the students. Spending $16,000 on classes that are supposed to be fun is ridiculous. I know how to have fun, and it has never cost me $16,000. Electives have a small purpose in the degree plan. They can be used for minors and extra classes related to your major. But I believe that a majority of students would rather graduate in less time spending less money. It is time to rethink the old curriculum and lower the number of electives required to graduate. We as students are fed up with paying for our degrees with sacrifice, and financial debt. Contact SACS and let tell them to lower the amount of electives required.
The Rambler violated its editorial policy by publishing an anonymous letter in its October 22 edition. The Rambler maintains a letters policy, as stated in the staff box. The Rambler regrets these errors.
The Rambler Print/Web Content Producers: Ryan Grounds, Abigail Ross Web Director: Ryan Grounds
“We are not afraid to follow the truth ... wherever it may lead.” — Thomas Jefferson
Faculty Liaison: Dr. Kay Colley
Publisher: Frederick Slabach
IMG Director: Claudia Ikeizumi Sports Editor: John Ortega
Editor In Chief: Paula Justice Advisor: Dr. David Ferman
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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Rams up Thumbs up to the Hallowfest and all the creatures who made it great. Thumbs up to Financial Literacy Month. College students always need money. Thumbs up to an extra hour of sleep, thanks to the time change. Thumbs up to North Texas being Ebola free.
Rams down Thumbs down to realizing that your roommate found your stash of Halloween candy. Thumbs down to Christmas decorations sharing spaces with Halloween and Thanksgiving decor. Thumbs down to the fact that there are people without shelter as the weather gets cooler. Thumbs down to the Sub not having lids for the coffee cups.
4 | Wednesday | November 5, 2014
Campus Hallowfest brings out Wesleyan’s ghosts and goblins
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On Halloween the Academic Success Center held a costume contest for faculty, staff and students. All of the contestants got their photo taken, and then the photos were uploaded to the ACS Facebook page, said Ashley Newkirk, coordinator for new student programs. The contestant with the most Facebook likes was declared the winner. Over 20 contestants competed. The student costumes included Power Rangers, Fred Flintstone, Beetlejuice and the Joker. The faculty/staff costumes ranged from Roman goddesses to robots to Harry Potter characters. “There will be four total winners,” Newkirk said. “The winners will receive gift cards. This contest is designed to get the students into the Academic Success Center and to get them to touch base with me.” Photos by Hemonto Mondal Text by Ryan Grounds
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Nov. 15 - 12-5pm - Library
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Wednesday | November 5, 2014
| 5
Campus
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Christmas trees take over West Library for local elderly and disabled Paula Justice
prjustice@txwes.edu
On Nov. 1, West Library staff and students assembled the annual Meals On Wheels Christmas Tree in an effort to raise gift donations for local elderly and disabled residents. Anyone wishing to donate may do so until Dec. 9 at the West Library circulation desk said Sheri Parker, coordinator of library services. “Take a star from the tree, buy a gift and return it unwrapped,” Parker said. “We take care of the wrapping and delivering to the Meals On Wheels office.” Meals On Wheels is a notfor-profit organization that has been serving the community for over four decades. And for the last 11 years, Texas Wesleyan has joined the effort to service the Poly community during the holidays. “There are a lot of elderly and disabled residents in the Poly area, surrounding the university, who receive Meals On Wheels food every week day,” Parker said. “Many of them do not have family and won’t be receiving anything for Christmas.” In addition to meeting the
needs of human clients, Meals On Wheels acknowledges clients’ furry companions. “Meals On Wheels has discovered that clients with pets will share their meals if they don’t have enough money to buy pet food,” Parker said. Thus, donations may also include pet food. “We also collect cash gifts for those who prefer to support the daily meal distributions,” Parker said. “The regular volunteers distribute the gifts to their routes the week of Dec. 15.” However, Meals On Wheels Inc. is not exclusive to the Poly area. The organization serves clients throughout Tarrant County. “[We] deliver meals daily to the home-bound who are the most isolated population in our county,” said Nedra Cutler, vice president of volunteer services. But community contributions make it possible for the organization to make the holidays extraordinary for their clients. “We do not have any budgeted amount of money to provide holiday gifts to our meal recipients,” Cutler said. “We depend on community donations for special items.”
Still, last year Meals On Wheels provided daily services to more than 4,500 people. And the need to provide for these residents of Tarrant County extends beyond the holiday season. “During the holiday season, there is a great need for enough gifts for our home-based clients,” Cutler said. “Many times the [donated] gift may be their only gift. They are always very thankful and thrilled that someone thought of them during the holiday season. “[However] we do accept designated gifts throughout the year for special needs for our clients. The client services programs are dependent on community donations 100 percent for the distribution of pet food, food pantry [items], fans and air conditioners, plus home repairs.” And for those who are a bit short on cash, Cutler said time is just as valuable. “Volunteers are always needed for on-going meal delivery or special volunteer needs that are on-call or as needed,” Cutler said. “Special thanks to the Wesleyan family that thinks of others and provides gifts to the home-bound during the busy
holiday season,” she said. In addition to the Wheels On Wheels Christmas Tree, the Wesleyan community has the opportunity to enter a contest in which proceeds are also donated to Meals On Wheels. “Last year we started the Christmas Tree Decorating Contest, which also benefits Meals On Wheels,” Parker said. “[Contestants] must decorate the tree in one of the three designated themes: red, white and/or green; blue and gold; metallic – silver, gold and copper; and bring [it] back to the library by Nov. 18. Staff will announce winners on Dec. 3. “Gift cards will be awarded to first and second place winners in each category and one prize for the tree which sells for the highest amount,” Parker said. “After the winners are announced, contestants may pick up their trees or donate them to be auctioned off, with proceeds going to Meals On Wheels. The silent auction will run from Dec. 3 – Dec. 5 at 1 p.m.” Visit www.mealsonwheels. org for additional information about Meals On Wheels programs or to make a donation.
West Library staff and students decorated the library and kicked off the annual Meals On Wheels gift drive on Nov. 1. All donations will benefit local elderly and disabled residents during this holiday season. Photos by Hemonto
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6 | Wednesday | November 5, 2014
Arts Entertainment
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Texas Wesleyan Theater Soulfly rocks The Rail in Presents: Fuddy Meers Fort Worth, packs house Abigail Ross
John Ortega
jaortega@txwes.edu
alross@txwes.edu
Fuddy Meers, Theatre Wesleyan's third production of the 2014-2015 season, will run Nov. 13-23. The play written by David Lindsay-Abaire and directed by senior theatre major Jacob E. Sanchez, will be presented in the Thad Smotherman Theatre located on the corner of Avenue E and Binkley Street. Fuddy Meers features sophomore Akira Owens as the main character Claire, who has a rare form of amnesia that erases her memory whenever she goes to sleep. The show will run Nov. 13 through 15 and Nov. 20 through 22 at 7:30 p.m. The last show, on Nov. 23 begins at 2 p.m. The box office opens Nov. 10; hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ticket prices for students with ID, faculty and staff are $5 and general admissions are $10. This production is rated PG-13 for strong adult language, drug reference, smoking, weapons and violence.To reserve tickets call the box office at 817-531-4211.
Art courtesy of Texas Wesleyan Theater department.
Supporting the newest and ninth studio album release in 2013, “Savages,” former Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera and the rest of the legendary heavy metal act, Soulfly, rocked Fort Worth’s Rail Club with some new tunes along with some classics on Oct. 22. Playing to a packed house, Soulfly ripped “Bloodshed” to open the show. Immediately the crowd looked for its own bloodshed in a circle mosh pit. Cavalera hasn’t lost his ability to work a room. Launching into “Prophecy,” the band had the crowd in the palm of its hand. Blasting the crowd with serious volume and vocal angst, Soulfly continued the savage assault on the crowd. Cavalera and the gang kept the night lively by playing crowd favorites “Back to the Primitive,” “Seek ‘N’ Strike,” and ending with “Eye for an Eye.” The most memorable tunes were “Back to the
Primitive,” “Prophecy” and “Eye for an Eye.” Marc Rizzo flashed his guitar virtuosity throughout the night with shred interludes. He also led the band in a cover of Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper.” Cavalera paid tribute to his late friend Dimbag Darrel Abbott, with a cover of Fort Worth bornand-bred Pantera’s “Walk.” The highlight of the night came when the band started and seamlessly transitioned into fan-favorite “Eye for an Eye.” The only bad part of the evening was when the music stopped. The Soulfly set ended, but the night was far from over. Rizzo and bass player Tony Campos satisfied fans’ desires for meet-and-greets sitting for photos and quick chats. Missing this show was a mistake made by few fans. And those who did missed out on a great night of tunes.
Marx Rizzo rips into a solo at the Fort Worth Rail Club on October 22.
Photo by John Ortega
Texas Wesleyan University Arts & Entertainment Calendar Nov. 04 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Martin Hall Gregory Rose, ComposerIn-Residence Recital
Nov. 13 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM Martin Hall Wesleyan Singers Concert
Be on the lookout for holiday events across DFW. C
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Nov. 13-15 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM Law Sone Fine Arts Center/Thad Smotherman Theatre
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Located in Brown Lupton - North Wing Monday-Friday 8:00am-5:00pm 817.531.6512 careerservices@txwes.edu
http://www.txwes.edu/career
Texas Wesleyan Religious Life Common Meal: Free lunch and discussion Tuesdays at 12:15 PUMC 312
University Chapel: Worship, Fellowship and Free meal Thursdays at 7:00pm PUMC 117
“Faith Seeking Understanding”
Wesleyan
Music
Presents at Martin Hall:
Wesleyan Singers Concert November 13 at 7:30 p.m.
Services available: •
CareerLink
Wesleyan’s online job board.
•
Major/Career Guidance
Get help deciding what career is right for you.
•
Resume Writing and Critiquing
Get help developing your resume.
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Mock Interviewing
Practice your interview skills.
BOOKSTORE A place that you can find books, but also EVERYDAY ESSENTIALS: Batteries Backpacks Stamps Health & Beauty Snacks
Texas Wesleyan Opera Workshop Presents:
The Marriage of Figaro...in short Novemeber 25 at 7:30 p.m.
3008 East Rosedale - (817) 531-4272 txwesshop.com
Wednesday | November 5, 2014
Sports
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GUARD continued from page 1
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Nolisa’s passion hasn’t been without pain. The first anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction happened just before her senior year of high school. “That was kind of a big thing, because I was going to break the records in the city with scoring and rebounding, and I wasn’t able to play my senior year in high school,” she said. There have been four knee surgeries for the twice-torn ACL and a twice-torn meniscus. Currently, she wears a knee brace. “I’ve had different surgeries in between, but those [four] are the main ones,” she said. “But now, I’ve been pretty healthy. I just have to make sure I’m iced and ready to play. It has a big effect on my body, physically.” Trying to get back to the game felt more like a tackle than a jump shot. And Nolisa says coming back couldn’t have happened without the support of her family, particularly her parents, Joseph and Kathryn Nolisa.
“I kinda got down at the time, and thought, ‘Why is this sport doing this to me?’” she said. “I was really in a tough spot. But, I got a lot of help from my mom and my dad. And my sisters stuck by me telling me that I would be okay — I’d come back.” And she did. Nolisa returned to the game only to hear the swish is irony. She’d told herself she would quit if she were injured again. But the sideline was unbearable. “‘If I do this again, I’m not playing.’ Everyone always says that once they’ve torn their ACL,” she said. “And then it happens again. And just watching — I wasn’t able to just watch. If I’m watching it, I want to go out there. That really got me back into it.” Ultimately, passion reignited the fire, but Nolisa’s parents served as accelerants. “My biggest motivation for coming back was my parents,” she said. “My dad definitely wanted me to finish my education. So that kinda steered me into coming back. But then, I just love the sport. ” Consequently, Nolisa returned to more than the game. She returned to herself as a new woman, a “stronger,” more “outgoing” woman who tries to live every day to its full potential. “Every day matters,” she said. “I didn’t like being down the way I was after my surgery. But now I have a different outlook on life. I just try to do the most that I can in each day and not take it for granted.” And she still keeps her old habits of playing ball with the boys. “She plays very physical,” said Walter Tadeu, senior guard on the men’s basketball team. “She has a good work ethic.” Off the court, Nolisa’s interests include ’90s music, shooting smaller balls and food. “’90s music: favorite stuff to listen to there,” she said with a grin. “The music out [in Connecticut] is completely different than here. But I love this music out here! It’s all about dancing.” She laughs and sways from side to side, even as she denies being a pool shark. “I’m always like ‘Oh, I’ve never played before’ [in a damsel in distress voice]. And then I get on them! And they’re like ‘You’re a liar!’” She continues to laugh while she admits to having fallen victim to one of Texas’ southern charms. “And I love pizza and burgers — ooh, ooh and the ribs,” she said with wide eyes. “Out here, the ribs and the soul food are completely different than back home. I love it out here! Collard greens are my favorite thing to eat. And grits.” The long time baller doesn’t have a strict diet. On the contrary, she said she is known to make late-night trips to Whataburger or Wendy’s or Burger King. “I spend like $10! I get like
Photos by Rambler staff
five sandwiches; it’s so sad,” black girl. she said with a laugh. “And that’s not the case; I’m She’s also known as the sil- just chillin’,” she said with a liest of her four siblings: two shrug of her shoulders. “The brothers and two sisters. “I way that society and media have one younger sister, but I make it seem and portray swear I’m the oldest,” she said. the whole proper [speaking] But Nolisa admits that her versus ghetto is something siblings do not share her be- you have to pay attention to. lief. “I’m the most goofy and There’s no way around it. It ghetto.” shouldn’t be that way.” Nolisa said family, tradition And it’s much the same and culture are major parts of with religion. Although she her life. grew up in a Roman Catholic But the love, support and home, Nolisa wants to “figure cultural pride taught in her it out on her own.” home haven’t always been “Growing up we went to mirrored by her peers. church and did first commu“After my freshman year, nion and all that,” she said. I went to a [predominately] “But now I have more queswhite high school, and there it tions, and I’m learning about got really tough,” she said. “It different types of religions. was like maybe three or four I’ve been going to different black kids, and people would churches to see where I fit, if never pick me up for proj- I fit anywhere. ects or they would say racist “But if I’m at home, I’m with things.” my dad [and he’s Catholic],” Nolisa expressed both sym- she said with a laugh. “I do pathy and empathy for Raven think there’s something greatSymone, who has recently er, but what that is exactly, I’m been criticized for rejecting really trying to figure out.” the ideal that she is an African Still, the Golden Rule apAmerican. plies. “Onyesonam was raised “I would be like, ‘But I’m with the principles and trawhite too. What are you dition of the Catholic faith, talking about?’” Nolisa said. which emphasizes love and “Sometimes, I would just be respect for others,” Joseph confused. Nolisa said. “And people would want So for now, exploring her me to pick a side. They’d be own potential rather than like ‘Girl, you’re black,’ or ‘Get conformity is Nolisa’s primayour white-ass outta here.’ I’d ry focus. But, she doesn’t shy say, ‘I’m kinda both….’ It was away from the idea of sharing tough,” she said. “I’ve defi- that focus with a significant nitely experienced a lot of dis- other. crimination.” “[A boyfriend] would be She didn’t choose a side. In- nice, but I try to always stay stead, she has accepted all of busy. I’m always trying to who she is. pick up jobs or playing basBut that self-acceptance ketball, so it’s kinda tough. I wasn’t always an easy task. don’t know if I’m ready. But “In high school, I re- if they’re looking for me —” ally couldn’t be myself, only she said pointing toward her around my coach and cer- dorm and laughing. “Bring tain teachers that I liked,” me a present or something.” she said. “They understood But be advised, if she’s not my upbringing. It was a pri- on the court or in her dorm, vate school, and it was re- she may be chillin’ with Lamally intense there. Most of bo. my friends were like me so I “That happens a lot. I like to could be myself.” sit in my car with no music, And she could be herself at no nothing and just chill,” she home where two traditions said. “We call it The Lambo.” were merged to create a comThere, Nolisa enjoys “a diffort called family. ferent kind of quiet,” which “My dad is Nigerian and my is quite contrary to how The mom is white,” she said. “My Lambo got its name. dad’s traditions and his cul“I always drive really fast, ture are completely different and that’s kinda big in New from my mom’s. They tried York,” she said. “My dad is to combine it, which they did the one who holds on and pretty well.” acts like he’s stepping on the In fact, they managed to do brakes when there’s nothing it so well that Nolisa never there [on the passenger side]. succumbed to the pressures “So I would drive really fast, that demanded she pick one and I would always have my ethnicity or the other. music blasting. Sometimes I “For my high school would come down [the street] graduation, I wore the full with my doors open and 2 [m’boubou: traditional Nige- Chainz on and just drive rian dress] and the hat [Icha- down to the student center. fu], and I was really proud of And someone just said, ‘Oh, it,” she said. “I like that side of that’s Lambo,’ and I was like me. I feel like it sets me apart ‘Yeah, that’s Lambo,’” she said from other people.” with a nod and a wink. Having seen both sides of Preparing for her senior the race coin, Nolisa said she year, Nolisa said she and Lambelieves the labels should be bo are pretty calm and lookreexamined. ing forward to the future. “My dad’s really big on that,” “Who knows what’s going she said. “He’s always upset to happen,” she said. “I would when black Americans call like to coach. I like to work themselves African Ameri- with kids. So if I could coach cans because he is an African kids that would be great. But American. He feels that that’s then again, the whole money a completely different up- situation — it doesn’t really bringing and culture than an pay that well.” actual black American. When posed the question “There’s this kind of group- of passion versus pay, Nolisa ing of everyone, and I don’t said she definitely wants to be want to say it should be sepa- financially stable. rate. But it should be looked “[Becoming a coach after at differently. And we don’t graduation] would depend on separate whites in that way, so if I have a husband and [if] it’s kinda weird. But—I guess he’s getting paid well; then I that’s how it is. I don’t like to would definitely go with pasbe put in one category,” she sion,” she said. “But if I just said. had to go off my own, I’ll She said she just wants to be definitely go for the pay first. free to be herself and in doing Then hopefully, later on in life so live up to her name. I’ll do something that I love.” “My name means to folUntil then, the immediate low my own path and not do goals are to get an education, something just because some- play ball and stay positive. one else is doing it,” she said. “I just try to stay around Still, she can’t help but no- good people, chill and listen tice certain societal hierar- to music, play pool — just chies. hang out with good people, “My older sister is a teach- she said. “As long as I’m er, and my younger sister is around positive, good energy, a little nerdy girl,” she said I’m cool with that.” laughing. “They both talk really proper, and I’m over here like ‘Yo, wat’s good.’ When Additional reporting you look at my whole family, by Edvaldo Pedro I’m always seen as the ghetto
8 | Wednesday | November 5, 2014
Sports
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
Sports Rambling with Lady Rams look to exceed Johnny preseason rankings
Be sure to riot when your team wins games
John Ortega
jaortega@txwes.edu
The 2014 World Series came to an end with the San Francisco Giants winning game 7, 3-2. Madison Bumgarner gave a career performance throughout the Series. But his game 7 performance was nothing short of legendary. His .029 series ERA is the lowest of all pitchers throwing a minimum of 15 innings. Bumgarner was almost unhittable. The Giants win. The most obvious course of action is to riot. At least, that’s what San Francisco fans thought. I don’t understand this riot mentality. It’s not just San Francisco either. The 1984 Detroit Tigers won the World Series.
And of course the fans decided that burning cars, fighting in the streets and general chaos was the best way to celebrate. In 2010 the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA Championship. The Los Angeles rioters met tear gas and rubber bullets. The list goes on and on. My question: Why? What is the point of rioting after your team wins? Nothing says team spirit like a trip to the hospital and a felony record. I will never understand the need to riot after a win. Celebrate, yes. But riot? I can even understand a bit of rowdiness on the way home from the local sports bar. Sure, emotions are surging. Euphoria has set in. Adrenaline (and booze) supply courage and a sense of power. But come on people! Do you think Bumgarner or Buster Posey sat back and said, “You know Bum, I think the fans should burn stuff and fight the police. That’s the best way to show support; burn our home town.” This is yet another example of people taking sports way too seriously. Enjoy the win. But let’s not get crazy about it. I am a sports fan, yes. But I do not get so emotionally wrapped up in sports that I’m willing to sacrifice my body or freedom. To all of you rioters, get a grip. Enjoy the championship with a little class and self-control.
The Lady Rams participate in a recent practice. John Ortega
jaortega@txwes.edu
The Sooner Athletic Conference released its preseason rankings with the Texas Wesleyan University Lady Rams ranked sixth out of 10 teams. Some Lady Rams think they’re being underestimated. “I think we’re a little underestimated compared to some other teams,” Caitlin Boal, senior, said. “We have a pretty good recruiting class coming in. I think that we have a lot of good athletes.” Boal isn’t the only one who finds fault in the preseason rankings. “I think that it’s more than anything a function of people not knowing who all we have,” head coach Bill Franey said. “We have four starters back from a team that was playing well at the end of last season, and we have five kids pushing those starters.” Franey also points out that his
Photo by Rambler Staff
team has talent and depth. “I think we’ll be deep,” he said. “I think we’ve brought in some good talent, and we’ll get us an opportunity to surprise some people.” Boal said that the Lady Rams have a chance at success as long as they keep focus and play as a team. Franey expects his team to finish near the top of the conference. Returning guard Amy Moody expects to meet or exceed that goal. “We have the talent,” she said. “We have the drive. We have the work ethic. We have the potential to win this conference, as long as we stay together and play as a team.” Moody said that the preseason rankings underestimate the team. “Ultimately it doesn’t matter in my eyes,” she said. “It matters where we are ranked at the end of the year.”
Returning from injury, junior guard Onyesonam Nolisa agrees with Franey’s goal. “We’re going to determine how far we go as a team with how we play together,” she said. “The only people that will stop us are us.” Competing in this conference will pit the Lady Rams against defending NAIA champion Oklahoma City University. The defending champs aren’t the only competition on the schedule this year. The Lady Rams will travel across town and play NCAA Division 1 Texas Christian University. Wesleyan has played division 1 teams in the past, but this will be the first time the Lady Rams will play a Big 12 team. “We’re going at them like ‘Who are you guys?’” Nolisa said. “You better come at us as hard as we are you or you’re going to have some problems.”
Go Rams!!! HOOPS SEASON IS HERE
A true champion needs support! Hit the Road with Ram Basketball Rams at Texas State Nov. 7 Lady Rams at TCU Nov. 9
www.ramsports.net
Come enjoy FREE FOOD with fellow Rams! The Texas Wesleyan Alumni Association is hosting a FREE dinner for students on Sunday, November 9, from 5-7 p.m. at Lou’s Place. Questions? Contact the alumni office at 817.531.6548 or alumni@txwes.edu.