The Rambler Vol.102 No.3

OPINION

CAMPUS

NEWS

A&E

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY

March 21, 2018 Vol. 102 • No. 3 www.therambler.org

Richardson swimming in new updates

Photo by Hannah Onder The Sid Ricardson Foundation donated $500,000 for building updates.

Sam Bastien skbastien@txwes.edu

While students, staff, and faculty were away for the holiday break, the Texas Wesleyan facilities crew finished the last of the new renovations for the Sid W. Richardson Center.

The aquatics center, located in the Sid Richardson gym, is home to the Kinesiology Department. Students minoring in scuba take classes to complete their degree. The center is also open to university students and faculty for swim lessons and recreational use, as well as the Fort Worth community.

The need for improvements to the aquatics center was noted within the university, so crews and facilities looked into making renovations quickly. According to txwes.edu, major renovations to the pool hadn’t been made since 1970, when it was first built.

“I took the open water class in

Photo by Sam Bastien The main entrance to the Sid W. Richardson Center was redone as part of the renovation project.

the fall semester, and I was never excited to get in the pool,” said Hailey Hollingsworth, a freshman bio-chemistry major. “The water was always kind of foggy, and the whole center just looked run down. It was definitely time that they updated it.”

The project was 100 percent funded by a $500,000 grant made by the Sid Richardson family, said Brian Franks, executive director of campus facilities and operations.

“The need to modernize the Sid Richardson building’s interior and exterior was identified in the univer-

Photo by Sam Bastien The renovation project’s completion date was delayed to March due to a change in pool tile.

sity’s Master Facilities Plan,” Franks said.

Crews began demolition of the aquatics center in November 2017, and it was expected to be completed by early February 2018. However, a delay in the choosing of tile for the

Photo by Sam Bastien Texas Weskeyan’s pool area is also used by the Fort Worth community. According to txwes.edu the pool has more than 30,000 people visit every year.

pool pushed the debut back a few weeks, according to txwes.edu.

West Village residents lock in their opinions on spring security changes Peyton Prudhomme pprudhomme@txwes.edu

Since 2018 started there have been several noticeable changes in campus security.

One change is that the gates to enter the West Village dorms are permanently locked, and the only way to get in is to use a West Village room key.

Director of Campus Safety and Security Chris Beckrich said the measure was taken to improve campus safety.

“The reason that the gates to West Village are locked is because being able to secure the West Village area better is vital for the security team,” Beckrich said. “We are always looking at ways to make the campus safer, and this was one of them.”

Beckrich said that the locked gates have been keeping outsiders from coming onto campus.

“Criminal activity has been fairly small since the gates to West Village have been locked,” Beckrich said.

“However, I think it’s still a little too soon to see any long-term effects.

Facilities are also still working on getting them a little more secure to improve their effectiveness.”

KiKi Mendez, a senior exercise science major and baseball player, said he has mixed feelings about the

For more news and sports watch Rambler TV on Channel 25

new policy.

“I like the heightened sense of security, and I think that it does keep people away who do not live in the dorms,” Mendez said. “However, it is a bit of a pain to have to unlock the door every time I need to get back

overall, while 70 percent were dissatisfied with the gates being locked.

“It has been annoying having to always use my key to get into West Village. I have grown so accustomed to not having to use my key over the past three and a half years, and now

“I like the heightened sense of security, and I think that it does keep people away who do not live in the dorms. However, it is a bit of a pain to have to unlock the door every time I need to get back into West Village. I do not mind having the doors being locked, but I know for a fact that other students are infuriated about the doors being locked around the clock.”

- KiKi Mendez into West Village. I do not mind having the doors locked, but I know for a fact that other students in West Village are infuriated about the doors being locked around the clock.”

An informal poll of 25 West Village residents taken over four days in February found that 70 percent were satisfied with the security changes

in my last semester of college having to get used to this is kind of frustrating,” said senior business major Tariq Aldaboubi.

Senior finance major Jason Plog said he was not sure how effective it is to lock the gates.

“I feel like locking the gates has a good intent, but I am not sure how

many people it really will keep out from entering the premises,” Plog said.

Another new security measure this semester is having the parking gates to enter the campus remain open throughout the day; in the past, the gates were often hit by people in cars, Beckrich said.

“Since the gates are now open during the weekdays there have been no gate incidents during the weekday,” Beckrich said. “We have still had a few issues when they are turned back on during the evening and nights.”

Beckrich recommends that students stop at the stop signs and use access fobs to reset gates before entering.

“This will allow the timer to reset and insure no one’s vehicle gets struck by the closing gate,” he said.

“On the way in it is important to use your access fob to reset the gate and not follow behind someone. The gates are expensive to fix and will be charged to the driver if they fail to stop or fob in. It is also an inconvenience when the gates are down for everyone.”

Senior business major and golf player Alex Scheis said she is happy that the gates are open during the

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Check out more stories at therambler.org

Ram Sports

Update

Rams Baskeball

22-11

Rams Baseball

18-7

Lady Rams Softball

16-7

Rams Golf

2nd in NAIA

Lady Rams Golf

5th in NAIA

Rams Tennis

2-4

Lady Rams Tennis

4-3

Rams Table Tennis

15-0 (coed)

Sources: ramsports.net, nctta,org, golfchannel.com

 SECURITY. page 3

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theramblertwu

 RICHARDSON. page 3

The Rambler theramblertwu

Mike Jeffcoat knows he was wrong to write what he did in that email.

“Right after we had some people fail a drug test, I get this email from this young man, and just out of a moment of frustration, I emailed something I could have said differently to him,” Jeffcoat, Texas Wesleyan’s former head baseball coach, said in an interview earlier this week. “I could have tried ...

2 | Wednesday | March 21, 2018

Opinion

TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.

Students have the right to be activists EDITORIAL

After the mass school shooting on Feb. 14 in Parkland, Fla., thousands of high school and college students grouped together under the hashtag #NeverAgain to plan several walkouts during school hours to protest gun laws.

In response to this, some secondary schools have begun threating disciplinary actions to protesting students. Curtis Rhodes, superintendent of the Needville Independent School District in Texas, warned that student participants would get three days of suspension, according to Reuters.

Should students have the right to protest during school hours?

Yes. Students have the right to peacefully protest in schools because their First Amendment rights don’t leave as they enter school buildings. According to the American Civil Liberties Union’s website, students have the right to protest by speaking out, handing out flyers, and wearing expressive clothing as long as they are not disrupting the educational environment or violating regular school policy.

What counts as disruptive to the school environment can vary from school to school.

However, what doesn’t count as disruptive is students expressing opposing viewpoints or controversial issues in their protests, according to the ACLU. How do the student walkouts fit into the First Amendment?

According to the ACLU, students do have the right to participate in the walkouts during school hours. However, this does not excuse them from disciplinary actions. This is because most states have the law that requires students to go to class, so schools can punish students for missing class.

The key thing for students that miss class protesting to know is the absence policy for their school. According to the ACLU, this is because the school does have the ability to punish students for missing class, but it doesn’t have the right to punish students beyond what is the rule for regularly missing that amount of class time. Essentially, the school cannot over punish students for missing class due to protesting.

Will universities discriminate against highschool students with disciplinary actions on their record for protesting?

It depends. According to Reuters, at least 40 universities, including prestigious Ivy League schools like Yale, have issued statements supporting prospective students in heeding the call to advocate for change in gun control laws and other endeavors.

The National Association for College Admission Counseling promotes transparency between college applicants and universities.

One issue the organization is doing this on is the position of students participating in activism.

The NACAC created a forum for colleges to post their positions. More than 200 universities across the country responded that they promote student activism, and will not penalize students with disciplinary actions for participating in peaceful protests. Texas Wesleyan has not responded with a position.

Therefore, students should not fear protesting to protect their values. With many universities supporting student activists, high school students shouldn’t fear disciplinary actions blemishing their record, and university students should be fine as long as they keep their protests peaceful.

Can students avoid disciplinary action altogether for protesting?

The best way for students to avoid disciplin-

Cartoon by Hannah Onder Some schools try to limit students’ First Amendment rights, but with bouts of student activism throughout the years, there have been cases that limit school’s ability to infringe upon those rights. The gun law protests that stem from the Florida shooting are a recent example.

ary action is to keep their protest off-campus and outside of school. According to the ACLU, students that organize, protest, and advocate off-campus and outside of school hours are most the most protected since schools can’t punish students for off-campus and online action that doesn’t relate to the school.

Protesting is an important way for students to advocate for the protection of their values, so they shouldn’t be afraid to peacefully protest during school hours for causes they believe in.

If it’s something students truly value, the threat of disciplinary actions shouldn’t prevent them from fighting for what they believe is right. As we’ve seen with Florida’s student activism, gun laws are slowly changing due to students acting on what they believe is right.

The March For Our Lives movement will have a rally in Dallas on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Dallas City Hall, 1500 Marilla St. For more information, go to txdemocrats.org.

Hip-hop artists act as humanitarians Hannah Lathen

hrlathen@txwes.edu

Rappers are delivering positivity and inspiring charity when the world needs it the most.

Last month, rapper and singer Drake released a music video for his song, “God’s Plan,” which featured him giving away the entire budget for the video, $1 million, to those in need and schools in Miami, Fla. In the video, which Drake wrote on his Instagram was “the most important thing I have ever done in my career,” he gives a $50,000 check to a Miami University student to cover her tuition, donates $25,000 to a Miami high school and rewards people in a grocery store with free groceries.

Following the release of the video, Drake posted a message on his Instagram: “I am not into challenges on IG I find them annoying … but today I am going to challenge everyone to just go out and do something for someone, anything, the smallest thing just to bring another human being some joy and please tag me in it somehow so I can see all the love being spread …

you don’t have to play the song in the background or have some hashtag this isn’t about streams and all the other tactics being used … just go and be kind in any way you can and let’s all watch the world be nice to each other even if it’s for 24 hours … Thank You.” The video came two days after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. that killed 17 people. While Drake surely did not plan for the video to be shown just after such a tragedy, it was a spark of positivity that the world really needed. There have been so many tragedies happening around the world and any time someone is willing help another person, no matter how big or small, it is valuable. Any ounce of positivity is always welcomed.

Drake is not the only hip-hop artist making a difference.

Chance the Rapper founded a non-profit in 2017 called SocialWorks. Last year, Chance donated $1 million to Chicago public schools and his organization raised $2.2 million, according to CBS News.

Rapper J. Cole started The Dreamville Foundation in October 2011, a non-profit organization to help bring opportunities to young adults in urban communities.

The Game donated $500,000 to help with the Flint, Mich. water crisis and shared it to his Instagram in 2016, which was matched by Avita, an alkaline water company.

Back in 2003, Jay Z founded the Shawn Carter Foundation to help provide scholarships for disadvantaged young adults.

Rapper 50 Cent started the G-Unity Foundation which aims to “improve the quality of life for low-income and underserved communities,” according to their website.

These are just few of the many charitable contributions members of the hip-hop community have made and are continuing to make and it is amazing.

Too often, rap music is cast in a negative light because people claim it glorifies drugs and violence. However, the charitable acts of these artists are making a difference and bringing light to the world.

Hip-hop is the biggest genre of music right now and these artists are making a positive impact. I am proud to say the artists I love in hip-hop are making a difference. What are the artists that you like doing to help the world?

Photo Illustraion by Hannah Lathen and Hannah Onder These are the opening clips from Drake’s music video “God’s Plan,” where he donated the budget of almost $1 million to various people and organizations in Miami, Fla.

“We are not afraid to follow the truth... wherever it may lead.”

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Editorial Staff: Hannah Onder, Hannah Lathen, Jared Rabye, Karan Muns, Sam Bastien

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The editors reserve the right to edit all submissions for space, grammar, clarity

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Channel 25

Rams up Thumbs up to new doors in the basketball gym.

Thumbs up to Wesleyan letting Mike Jeffcoat go.

Thumbs up to March being Women’s History Month.

Thumbs up to Texas Wesleyan alum Anastasia Rybka beating Justin Bieber in a table tennis match.

Rams down Thumbs down to hard midterms.

Thumbs down to two broken washing machines in Elizabeth Hall.

Thumbs down to the Dean’s List ceremony for the School of Arts and Letters being postponed.

Thumbs down to Wesleyan allergy season.

Wednesday | March 21, 2018|3

News

TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.

RICHARDSON continued from page 1

“The originally selected color of the tile According to txwes.edu, the center gets more for the pool was too scarce across the United than 30,000 community visits each year.

States, which led to a small change in color “Since the Sid Richardson pool is often the plans,” Franks said. only image of I m p r o v e m e n t s “The new area looks fresh and Texas Wesleyan to the gym include that the comnew windows in the bright. It is much more inviting and munity sees, the pool area, painting improvements the ceiling over the a safe environment for our scuba provide a great pool, removing the first impression ReSTOREing Rosedale: old plaster in the of the university,” and aquatics students.”

A project dedicated to filling the vacant store space on the pool and replacing Rast said.

3100 East Rosedale block. Ben’s Triple B: Biscuits, Burgers, it, repairing of some and Brews is expected to open the summer of 2018. weakened structural areas, replacing the tile decking, and building Previous Sid W. Richardson Foundation new bleachers, Franks said.

Martin University Center: Grants to Texas Wesleyan “The new area looks fresh and bright,” said The Nick and Lou Martin University Center is expected to Dr. Pam Rast, professor of athletic training, • In 2013, the foundation provided break ground April 19. It’s expected to take a year to conprogram director & Kinesiology Department $250,000 toward campus and neighborstruct. chair. “It is much more inviting and a safe envihood rennovations. ronment for our scuba and aquatics students.”

Franks said that in addition to improveDeferred Maintence Projects: • In 2008, a $70,000 grant was given to ments made to the aquatics center, there were Air-conditioning, plumbing, electricity, and roofing assist the university with the third year other improvements made to the gym. of the Institute of School Leadership. are being updated in the older campus buildings.

Exterior lighting, landscape, and irrigation are just a few of the major improvements made to the front of the gym.

Graphic by Hannah Onder Interior doors and hardware throughout the The Sid W. Richardson Foundation was foundGraphic by Hannah Onder gym and locker room areas have been made ed in 1947 and mainly serves Texas nonprofits.

Texas Wesleyan is working on several renovation projects; go to txwes.edu for more info. as well.

Additional Campus Improvement Projects

- Dr. Pam Rast

SECURITY

continued from page 1 day.

“Every single day people were hitting them with their cars,” she said.

At the end of the day, students do under-

“If it keeps the bad people out of the dorms, then I am for it. I am glad security has taken into account all the break-ins and crime on and around campus.”

- Mohammad Aldaboubi stand the precautions being taken.

“If it keeps bad people out of the dorms, then I am for it,” said Mohammad Aldaboubi, a senior business major. “I am glad that security has taken into account all the break-ins and

crime on and around campus. It is evident that security has a presence on campus, and I feel Texas Wesleyan is a much safer place with them here.”

Spring Security Changes

Surveyed 25 West Village Residents

Graphic by Hannah Onder and Peyton Pruddhome The majority of people surveyed were upset with locked apartment gates and happy with the open main gates and the overall changes.

4 |Wednesday March 21, 2018

Campus

TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.

Graphi According to educationquest.org, there are five ways students can improve their mental, physical, and emotional health. One of those ways is getting enough sleep at night. Six to eight hours is the recom

5 ways students can help their health With midterms finishing up and grades being posted, Texas Wesleyan students are more than half way through the spring 2018 semester. That being said, for some students it can get stressful trying to finish up the year and graduate. College students are notorious for putting grades first and personal health second. Here are some ways students can help improve their mental, physical, and emotional health heading into the second half of the semester, according to educationquest.org.

1

Get enough sleep

It can be difficult for people to find that perfect mix of bedtime, naps, and power naps.

Every individual is different when it comes to how much sleep they need to function well, but according to educationquest.org, the average adult needs six to eight hours of sleep. How people mix and match to reach that amount is

up to the individual, though educationquest. org recommends that people avoid their electronic devices (cell phones) for an hour before going to bed, since the light can interfere with falling asleep right away.

2

Breathe in some fresh air and sunshine

Putting down social media and taking a walk around the mall between classes or assignments can be a good mood booster. According to educationquest.org, getting outside for even five minutes can help boost a person’s mood and get them ready for those hours of homework ahead of them.

3Take breaks and chill

It’s important for people to walk away and do something that helps them relax. Whether

that’s reading a book, playing a game, sketching a drawing, doing a work out, or just enjoying peace and quiet, make sure to leave the space to do so. According to educationquest. org, setting aside the relaxation time makes it easier to accomplish tasks even with a packed schedule.

time for friends and 4Make family

It’s easy to get swamped with last-minute essays, projects, and tests as the year closes out, but it’s important to keep in contact with people. Even just a short text, phone call, or shared meme on social media lets friends and family know that they’re cared for, and it reminds the individual that they still have a support system.

According to educationquest.org, it can be a huge motivator when people remember they have friends and family on their side no matter

what’s happing in school.

your student support 5Use systems

Wesleyan has several places on campus where students can go for free when they’re feeling overwhelmed. For example, there’s the Community Counseling Center on Rosedale where students, faculty, and staff can get free counseling, according to txwes.edu. The center is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. According to educationquest.org, it can be helpful to get a professional opinion when going through rough times.

College can tough at times, but it’s important for people not to get too caught up and abandon their own well-being. There will be other opportunities, but there’s only one you.

Texas Wesleyan University Community Counseling Center Offered Services • Parent Counsultation • Individual Counseling • Counseling Marriage and Family Counseling • Adolescent Issues • Anger Management • Grief Counseling • Substance Abuse • School-Related Issues • Partner Violence Counseling

• Relationship Counseling • Activity-Based Counseling • Depression Screening and Treatment • Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender affirmative therapy • Multicultural Affirmative Counseling • Treatment for Eating Disorders • Crisis Intervention

Graphic by Hannah Onder All Wesleyan students, faculty, and staff have access to free counseling from the Texas Wesleyan University Community Counseling Center. Here is a list of counseling services offered there.

Photo by Hannah Onder The Texas Wesleyan University Community Counseling Center is located on Rosedale Street.

Wednesday March 21, 2018| 5 TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.

Campus

Photo courtesy of canva.com With the end of the semester approching, the life of student can get stressful.

ic by Hannah Onder mmended amount.

Photo by Hannah Onder The mall is a great place to get outside between classes or studying sessions.

Graphic by Hannah Onder Everyone has their own way of relaxing, and it’s important to schedule time to do so.

Graphic by Hannah Onder It’s important to make time for friends and family. Even a simple text message, phone call, or shared meme shows loved ones you care about them and reminds you of your support system.

Find truth in online courses this fall - MCO 1302 Mass Media and Society (Online) - MCO 2399 Social Media and Society (Online) - MCO 3351 Survey of Public Relations (Online) - MCO 4301 Mass Media Law and Ethics (Online) - MCO 4318 International and Intercultural Communicatons (Online) - MCO 4399 Mass Media, War and Terrorism (Online)

Check out our complete list of MCO classes on Ramlink

6 |Wednesday | March 21, 2018

Arts&Entertainment

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Senior says thank you to Wesleyan Hannah Lathen hrlathen@txwes.edu

Eye-opening. That is how senior Alli Perez, a music major, cheerleader, RA and ritual vice president of the Sigma Alpha Iota music organization, describes her four years at Texas Wesleyan.

The singer started her legacy at Wesleyan in the fall of 2014, but almost didn’t come.

“I was set on going to A&M Commerce,” she said. “I had my audition for Wesleyan a week after I had their audition, so I was like, ‘OK, I am going to Commerce. It is going to happen.’ Then my parents were like, ‘Well, you have one more audition. Let’s just see how that goes.’”

Perez auditioned, and after talking to the voice faculty, she felt very welcomed.

“Weeks later I got my audition letter, and I had gotten a way bigger scholarship than I had gotten from Commerce. The overall experience from when I walked into the door and when I walked out was a lot better (at Wesleyan) because Commerce was a bigger music school,” she said.

Perez said since she started as a freshman, she has experienced many positive changes. She was once terrified of performing in front of a crowd, but her professors and voice coach, Music Professor Julie McCoy, helped her improve and become more comfortable on stage.

“I have a video (of my very first recital performance), and I watched it last semester and I was like, ‘A complete difference,’” she said. “Everyone has told me I have grown a lot, not only with the strength of my voice but with my stage presence.”

McCoy said her initial impression of Perez was that she was “extremely talented.”

“I could see the potential of her voice,” McCoy said. “It is incredible how much growth she has made in her time here.”

Perez’s confidence level has grown the most, McCoy said.

“She learns a lot from others,” McCoy said. “She is very observant and learns a lot that way.”

Perez takes every single bit of advice she is given, and she said that has helped her.

“Seeing my freshman year self to now, I am so glad I am not like how I was freshman year,” she said. “Scared to go on stage.

Scared for anyone to look at me when I sing. Overall, it has been a really good transition.”

One of Perez’s best friends, senior music major Luis Calderon, described her as passionate and compassionate. He said not only is she a great performer, but she is also a great friend.

“She always speaks what’s on her mind, and she is always there for you when you need her. She is very determined when she has a goal set in mind, and she is extremely talented,” Calderon said. “She has a very big voice.”

As a freshman, Perez joined the cheerleading team, something she had no prior experience doing. Her parents encouraged her to try out for the team because she needed more scholarships.

“I never really thought of myself as a cheerleader,” she said.

“My dad kind of pushed me to do it because I kind of didn’t want to do it at first, but he made me. I ended up doing it all four years.”

Perez made theater her minor, and although she had to drop it due to conflicts with her schedule, she played a part in the 2017 Theatre Wesleyan production of “Urinetown.”

“I auditioned for ‘Urinetown’ last year,” said said. “I walked in there and I was like, ‘OK, I am not even in the department. The chances of me getting in the show are very, very slim.’”

After auditioning, Perez received a call from the director asking her to read in her office. Perez was shocked.

“I ended up getting a role as Little Becky Two-shoes, which was like a mean character. I have never played a mean character in my life so that was interesting,” she said.

Perez said she fell in love with the show and was invited to the theater banquet, where she won best supporting actress.

Photo by Hannah Lathen Senior music major Alli Perez has stayed busy since starting at Texas Wesleyan in the fall of 2014. She has participated in several music concerts, she had a role in Theatre Wesleyan’s “Urinetown,” and she is also an RA and cheerleader.

“I love my theater family. They are all super sweet,” she said. in music or theater in any way,” she said. “My whole four years “A few of them I went to high school with so in a way I kind of here, everyone was like, ‘OK, so what are you going to do?’ I grew up with them. I am really close with the theater kids.” had to be that person that is like, ‘I don’t really know.’”

Perez said getting involved in theater was one of the best dePerez said she hopes to become a voice or acting coach or get cisions she has ever made. a job working in a theater. Her dream is to sing professionally.

“It helped me a lot with my acting, let alone being scared to The relationships Perez made at Texas Wesleyan are ones she perform, (and) acting was not my strong suit,” she said. “I was said she plans to keep for the rest of her life. terrified because I felt like I sucked at acting.

“I want to thank the Wesleyan community as a whole,” she “Getting to know all of the theater students really helped me said. “There are so many people, there are way too many to out with not only building relationships but (building) connec- thank. Just, everybody who has been a part of my life and my tions with people that I can go to if I have questions on acting or journey here, (thank you for) helping me grow as a person.” certain things that I am not 100 percent professional on.”

Through working on “Urinetown,” Perez became friends with John Traxler, a sophomore theater major.

“Alli Perez is one of the most incredible human beings I have ever met,” he said. “She is a fantastic singer. She is very dedicated. She puts in her best effort into everything she does, and she is always willing to help someone. She is an amazing friend.”

Her sophomore year, Perez added RA to her growing Wesleyan resume.

“It is a crazy schedule,” she said. “It is hard. It is very, very hard, especially the RA job. It is a very important job, and you have to be very involved with all your residents. Not only do you have your own residents, but you have residents from other halls.”

Time management is a key factor in staying afloat for Perez.

“Even though I have a good grasp at it, I still get those times where I am like, ‘I do not have time to do this, this and this,’” she said. “Sometimes I feel like I don’t even have a social life because I am trying to get all of this stuff done.”

Even though Perez will be leaving her hectic schedule bePhoto by Hannah Lathen hind, graduating still seems scary to her.

After graduating from Texas Wesleyan, Alli Perez hopes to get “For me, I am the only person in my family that is involved a job as a voice or actiong coach or work at a theater.

Hogwarts comes to Wesleyan’s PUMC Matt Smith

mxsmith@txwes.edu

J.K. Rowling met Jesus at Texas Wesleyan in January and February with Tricia’s Bowes’ Bible study series A Sacred Look at Harry Potter.

Bowes, the chair of education at Poly United Methodist Church, got the idea for the study series from a podcast.

“About a year ago, a friend told me about a podcast series called Harry Potter and the Sacred Texts,” Bowes said. “I started listening to that and thought it would translate really well to a small group activity. We do Bible study series at the church that last anywhere from four to 12 weeks, and so I wanted to try and put together something that people could come to if they’re interested.”

The study series ran at Wesleyan for four Sundays in January and February. Bowes plans to continue the series next semester, restarting with the third book in the original seven-book Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.” She’s already received offers to do the program in other places, including Westside Unitarian Church, which is west of Texas Wesleyan.

This semester, the study group analyzed “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” the second book in the original series.

The meetings were held at the church’s Betty and Bobby Bragan Fellowship Hall.

The meetings would start with ice-breaker activities, such as a game of “Would You Rather?” or what Bowes calls a “snowball fight,” where questions about the Potter universe are written on pieces of paper; the pieces are crumbled up to look like snowballs and thrown at other attendees, who then try to answer them.

Bowes then does a summary of the chapters that are being covered in that session; the summaries condense the chapters into a few paragraphs, with quotes from characters at key plot points.

After this there’s a lesson, which would cover a topic linking Potter with the Bible. Bowes taught the lessons via a diagram drawn on a board. At one lesson, the diagram was a glacier. At another it was a series of circles within each other, which she called the “spheres of influence.” The center circle was labeled “the individual,” and the larger circles around it given such labels as “community,” “friends and family” and “society.”

“You can have impact spreading out, or they can have impact on you, coming in,” Bowes said about the relationship between the circles.

The group discussed various issues, including micro-aggressions in and out of the workplace; being aware of injustices society may not openly acknowledge, especially within the context of people of color and members of the LGBTQ community; and even the problem of gun violence.

Bowes made the point that a small change in one of the circles, or “spheres,” can impact them all.

“Harry’s abused right at the beginning,” said church member Jennifer Pullen. “But his friends accept him and care about him because he respects and cares about them.”

Bowes tied the lesson in with the Bible and talked about how Jesus protected and associated with people in the lower class of society. She said his rebellion was against a culture of hate within the different subgroups of his time.

She closed the lesson by giving a quote from the book and a passage from scripture. She introduced the group to a spiritual practice, an exercise one can do to further invest themselves with something to create a spiritual effect, and then ended the session with a prayer.

Food is usually provided afterwards the lesson. Bowes’ husband, Craig Bowes, brought spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread and chocolate cookies, and tea was served.

“For some people, you can’t dig into the Bible,” Bowes said.

“It’s not approachable like Harry Potter is, and so, by practicing this skills with a book that everybody’s enjoys, my hope is next time they read a Bible story, they’re gonna use some of these same takeaways.”

Reed Bowes, Tricia and Craig’s son, is in the fifth grade. He says he appreciates how different the study series was from other similar programs.

“It teaches important lessons in ways you usually don’t see in other Bible studies,” he said. “[And while Harry Potter is the focus], it definitely relates back to the Bible.”

Bowes is hoping to better schedule the group’s meetings and spice the lessons up a bit next semester.

“I’ll be trying for a set schedule instead of two weeks in January and two in February,” she said. “We worked around events like the Super Bowl. Everyone is busy but I would like to try to grow our attendance. There are a many spiritual practices that I’d like to incorporate, depending on the group and lesson.”

Bowes also anticipates engaging in discourse with people from other religions; she also wants to keep diving deeply into issues affecting young and old, believers and non-believers alike.

“The first time [the group] met, we had different people from different faith traditions that had never been here before,” she

Photo by Matt Smith Tricia Bowes instructs a study group lesson at a table in the Betty and Bobby Bragan Fellowship Hall in the PUMC.

Photo by Matt Smith Tricia Bowes and her son Reed take part in a group discussion during the A Sacred Look at Harry Potter series. The series ran for four weekends in January and February this semester.

said. “One participant led us in a Jewish blessing before we shared our meal. My husband is a practitioner of Zen Buddhism and a Unitarian Universalist, and others come from differing Christian traditions.

“The series can lend itself to rich discussions. I think the Harry Potter series brings up social issues throughout: racism, discrimination, government that denies bad things are happening, the treatment of those incarcerated, classism, etc. I think that we can also look at themes of loyalty and family bonds, friendship and love, and bravery.”

Wednesday | March 21, 2018

|7

Sports

TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.

Men’s tennis team shows potential

Photo by Josh Lacy Linus Richter (left) and Florian Schmitt bump fists during a doubles match against University of the Southwest earlier this month.

Photo by Josh Lacy Sophomore Adam White hits the ball during practice.

Jeremy Crane jdcrane@txwes.edu

Tennis season is in full swing as the revitalized men’s team competes this spring.

Head coach Angel Martinez resurrected the women’s tennis program last season after Texas Wesleyan had not had either a men’s or women’s team since 2002. Now Martinez is continuing the campaign with the resurrection of the men’s team.

Martinez has brought in plenty of young, talented players with room to grow and develop. The team is made up of all underclassmen, including seven freshmen and one sophomore.

Student assistant Katy Foster said that their youth is a big strength because they will be able to grow throughout the season and the seasons to come.

“We have a young team with lots of potential, expectations are high and I can see them doing well during conference play and regionals,” Foster said.

Freshman newcomer Mace Brasher said that something he’s

looking forward to this season is playing against tough competition and seeing how the group comes together as a team.

He said the team’s main goals are to compete in the NAIA national tournament’s opening round in late April, and qualify for the NAIA National Tournament, which will be held in Alabama in mid-May. “In order to have a successful season, we must continue to practice hard and not get lazy as the long season continues,” Brasher said.

The team’s number one singles player, Florian Schmitt, talked about how tight knit he and his teammates are.

“We all have close friendships that bond us together while we are playing,” Schmitt said Schmitt also said his expectations for the season are that he just wants to see everyone grow as a team and fight for a regional tournament championship and then eventually a national championship.

“As long as we stay focused, there’s definitely a possibility of reaching our goals,” Schmitt said.

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The Rams suffered a loss to Harding University in early February in their first tournament of the semester. According to ramsports.net, Schmitt had the team’s best performance on the first line before falling in three sets.

“The season is just getting started so the team still has plenty of time to grow,” said Schmitt.

The Rams played a tournament on March 3 and 4 against Texas A&M Texarkana and University of the Southwest.

Schmitt and Linus Richter took the team’s lone win of the day over Southwest’s Alex Bernadas and Lucas Rocha in No. 1 doubles by a score of 8-6, according to ramsports.net.

Also against Southwest, Lane Graham and Ryan Watterson fought hard in No. 3 doubles before falling 8-5, and Richter took his singles match to three sets before coming up just short, according to ramsports.net.

To keep up with men’s tennis and the rest of Texas Wesleyan athletics, check out ramsports.net

8 | Wednesday | March 21, 2018

Sports

TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.

Aleksandric enjoys first year in Texas Ashton Willis anwillis@txwes.edu The Texas Wesleyan table tennis team has recruited many players from all around the world to be a part of their successful team, and one of those is Ana Aleksandric.

Aleksandric, a freshman computer science major, joined the team this year in hopes of competing for a well-known table tennis program. She came from Belgrade, Serbia to be a part of the team, because she heard good things about the program here.

“My brother (Alex) was already here, and I knew that the table tennis program at this university is very good,” Aleksandric said.

“They have won national championships a lot of times, so I wanted to be a part of the Texas Wesleyan table tennis team.”

Aleksandric said she enjoys playing on the team and that there are several talented players on the team.

“I like it a lot. We practice every day, and I have a lot of teammates I can practice with,” Aleksandric said. “There are many good players on the team who are always ready to practice.”

Edina Haracic, a freshman accounting maPhoto by Ashton Willis jor, said that Aleksandric is a good teammate Ana Aleksandric, who is from Serbia, stays focused as she returns the ball in practice. and brings positive encouragement to the team.

“Her positivity always gives extra motivation to all of us and practices with her are always fun,” Haracic said. “I love to play doubles with Ana. We understand each other, and I hope we will make a great result at nationals.”

Haracic said she has a good connection with Aleksandric not only on the court but off the court as well.

“Ana is not only my teammate, but my roommate and best friend,” Aleskandric said. “We spend a lot of time together, we speak the same language, and we have the same mentality and similar goals in life.”

Haradic said that Aleksandric is one of those people who is always working hard and trying to improve.

“You will never hear from her, ‘I cannot,’ or ‘I do not want,’” Haracic said. “She never misses practice. She is always on time, she is Graphic by Karan Muns and Hannah Onder a hard worker and motivated all Wesleyan’s table tennis team has consistently been one of the nation’s best, according to ramsports.net. the time.”

The coaches are encouraging and are always willing to help, Aleksandric said.

“Our coaches are very reasonable, and they always want to help us, even if the problem is not about table tennis,” Aleksandric said. “They are always joking with us, but during practice they want us to be consistent.”

Aleksandric said being away from home is challenging but that the people here make it worth it.

“It is hard because my whole family and friends are there,” Aleksandric said. “On the other hand, I made a lot of friends here. We always have a good time, and I am enjoying life at Texas Wesleyan, so I don’t miss home that much.”

Aleksandric said she has a couple of goals for the 2018 season.

“My goal is to be a part of the varsity team and to make the best placement in singles and doubles I can (in the) national championship,” Aleksandric said.

Aleksandric said that playing for a team is a rewarding experience.

“For me, it was always better playing for the team than myself,” Aleksandric said. “There is that special team atmosphere that can give you some power and make you do your best.”

Doru Gheorghe, the women’s table tennis coach, said that Aleksandric came to Wesleyan from a connection through her brother.

“She came as a connection through her brother who was already here,” Gheroghe said.

“As soon as we saw that she was on the junior team in Serbia, we knew she was good enough to come here.”

Gheorghe said that Aleksandric is the type of player who is hard working and dedicated.

“She’s always ready for practice, and she fits right in with us,” Gheorghe said. “She’s a strong, steady player and even the boys they like to practice with her.”

Gheorghe said that Aleksandric brings a different style of play to the team.

“She’s not a usual player and that makes her a good asset for us,” Gheorghe said. “She is a surprise player, you know like in tennis it’s a certain style.”

Gheorge said his main goal for Aleksandric is to place at nationals.

“For her I hope that she gets a medal in singles at nationals, which would be good,” Gheorghe said.

Even with all her skill, Aleksandric still said her favorite part is sharing team victories.

“There is nothing better than sharing the happiness of the victory with your team,” Aleksandric said.