CamPus
oPiNioN
Pg. 2
sPorTs
a&e
Pg. 4
Pg. 2: Can global warming end the world as we know it? Pg. 4: Who will you side with for the 2018 midterm election? Pg. 6: Theatre Wesleyan to capture “The Hostage” on Nov. 1. Pg. 8: Whatever happened to womens lacrosse?
Pg. 8
Pg. 6
theramblertwu @the_rambler theramblertwu The rambler
WeDNesDaY Oct. 31, 2018 Vol. 102 • No. 9 www.therambler.org
international students share their superstitions
Wesleyan unwraps killer candy myth DAVID CAsON dlcason@txwes.edu
Photo by hannah Lathen Sophomore biochemistry major and international student Anahita Keer discusses supersititions from her home country of India.
HANNAH LATHeN hrlathen@txwes.edu
Superstitions such as not walking past black cats and avoiding walking under ladders have played a role in American culture, but they are a much bigger deal in other parts of the world. Superstitions are a major part of Indian culture, international student and biochemistry sophomore Anahita Keer said. “India in general is a really superstitious place since there are so many religions,” Keer said. In India there are priests called Babas that people go to for certain big events in their lives. “Let’s say there is a wedding. They look at your horoscope, your astrology and read the numbers. Then they say, ‘OK, you should get married on this day, at this place,’ otherwise if you don’t get married on this date, it is inauspicious,” she said. If someone is going to have a baby, then the priest will tell you what the first letter of their name should be as well at the number of letters in their name. Keer said she had a friend whose name was Mayank, and it was decided that he needed to have seven letters in his name based on his chart. “They legally got their name changed to add an extra ‘y,’’’ Keer said. “They said he needed to have seven letters in his name or an odd number, so his mom legally changed his name to add, Mayyank.” Keer said it is common to see people hang chili peppers and limes in their cars to ward off ghosts. When leaving the house, people should eat yogurt and sugar before they go. The number three means bad luck.
The spooky season is upon us and that means that trick or treating will be happening soon. Whether you are passing out the candy or the one receiving it, you might inspect the wrappers to make sure they haven’t been tampered with. You probably won’t be eating candy apples or homemade treats of any type. But have you ever wondered why? Out of 12 Texas Wesleyan students polled, 10 said their parents made them sort through their candy before they could eat it. “My parents would dump out my candy and check it before I was able to eat it,” said criminal justice major Allysa DeLeon. The myth that someone is randomly poisoning children has been around for decades. The most famous case in Texas involved 8-year-old Timothy Marc O’Bryan, who was poisoned after eating a Pixy Stix laced with cyanide that he got while he got while trick or treating in 1974. But what the news failed to cover was that his father, Ronald Clark O’Bryan from Houston, intentionally poisoned his son to collect a large insurance policy. O’Bryan, dubbed “The Candyman,” was executed by lethal injection in 1984, according to chron.com, the Houston Chronicle’s website. “We were all shocked that someone would kill their own son, their own flesh and blood, for a lousy ... $40,000 life insurance policy,” said former Harris County Assistant D.A. Mike Hinton, according to chron.com. Several other Wesleyan students said they and their parents were concerned enough about the stories of poisoned candy to search
Graphic by hannah onder International students share supersitions from India, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mexico, and Serbia.
“If a woman’s left eye twitches, it is good luck or you are going to hear some good news,” she said. Keer said the most common and important superstition in India is always handing money to someone with your right hand. “If you hand it with your left hand, it is bad luck,” she said. Also when giving gifts such as money, Keer said, it has to be an odd amount. “If you give $100, it has to be $101,” she said. “Or if you have to give $50, you have to give $51 as a gift.” Blen Hussain, a political science sophomore and an international student from Ethiopia, said one of the biggest parts of her culture is
to respect one’s parents or else you are cursed. “No matter what your parents say, even if it is ridiculous, you listen to them,” Hussain said. “If your parents say don’t date, don’t do it.” Hussain said that if a person’s left palm itches, it is believed that they are about to receive money, and if the right palm itches, they are about to lose money. “If the inside of one’s foot itches, it is believed that that person is about to travel,” she said. Ethiopians believe in bouba, Hussain said, which is an evil being often associated with jealousy. “For example, if a beautiful woman is unable to find a
suPersTiTioNs. page 3
Graphic by hannah onder Students recall their parents checking through their candy on Halloween.
CaNDY. page 3
Thomas leads rams into the 2018-2019 season THOMAs MOORe ttmoore@txwes.edu
Senior guard Rob Thomas leads from the front. The 5-foot-10-inch 185 pound Odessa native has cemented himself as a key leader on 2017-2018 Texas Wesleyan men’s basketball team, according to head coach Brennen Shingleton. The team was ranked No. 11 in the NAIA in a poll released Oct. 23. “He displays leadership with hard work and consistency,” Shingleton said. “He’s even balanced every day, he’s a good communicator with us and with his teammates.” Shingleton knows firsthand the difficulty of learning to be a leader, and he maintains that although Thomas is new at this, his intentions are in the right place.
Watch rambler TV on Channel 25 or YouTube.
Check out more stories at therambler.org
“I think his instincts are right. Rob [Thomas] does what is best for the team,” Shingleton said. “He does what he needs in order for us to win and that displays true leadership.” Thomas claims that the events leading to him coming to Wesleyan were almost serendipitous; previously he was playing at Southern Mississippi under head coach Doc Sadler. “It sounds crazy, but it just sort of happened,” Thomas says. “I was playing at Southern Mississippi and I was struggling.” The 21-year-old liberal studies major credits Southern Mississippi’s video coordinator and Texas Wesleyan alumnus Doug Compton with leading him to Wesleyan’s basketball program. “Doug had told me how great the program was here,” Thomas says. “They [Wesleyan] had just won a national championship, so I decided
Thomas. page 3
Photo by Thomas moore Senior guard Rob Thomas (right) practices for the fall 2018 basketball season. The Rams were ranked No. 11 in the NAIA in a Oct. 23 poll.
The Eunice & James L. West Library celebrated its 30th birthday Thursday with cake, singing, and lots of free supplies. The library staff served two birthdays cakes, gave out T-shirts to students and faculty who sang happy birthday to the library and also gave out keychains, pens, and lanyards to people who came to celebrate with them...
2 | Wednesday | October 31, 2018
OPINION
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
Americans need to act before 2020
When 99 percent of climate scientists agree that global warming is a problem, that’s a sign that there’s a problem, man-made or not. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump finally acknowledged that global warming wasn’t the hoax that he claimed it to be 2012. “I think something’s happening. Something’s changing and it’ll change back again,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a hoax. I think there’s probably a difference. But I don’t know that it’s manmade. I will say this: I don’t want to give trillions and trillions of dollars. I don’t want to lose millions and millions of jobs.” While we all want jobs, the Earth’s climate doesn’t appear to be following a natural cooling pattern, so man-made issue or not we Cartoon by Hannah Onder should probably be doing something. Americans need to take action to reduce their carbon emissions before 2020. President Donald According to Time, the National Oceanic Trump acknowledged global warming, but said it isn’t worth sacrificing jobs or money. and Atmospheric Administration shows that the Earth hasn’t had a cooler-than-average in the other greenhouse gases. els down to safer levels, such as 2C, as well as to One natural cause for global warming is so- provide aid to the poorer countries that need year since 1976 or a cooler-than-average lar irradiance, which is caused by changes in assistance meeting the guidelines and counmonth since 1985. It’s 2018, and temperatures and weather the sun’s energy output. However, this cannot tries that need climate disaster relief, accordseem to be getting crazier than ever, with Hur- be blamed for global warming because recent ing to The Guardian. analysis shows solar irradiance can only acricane Michael as the latest example. The agreement was made by President According to NASA.gov, 95 percent of sci- count for 10 percent of the increase in global Barack Obama in 2015. However, Trump deentists have linked global warming to the last warming in the 20th century. cided to pull out of the Paris Accords in June Therefore, it sounds like there’s some chang- 2017, leaving China, India, and the European century of human activities expanding the ates that can be made on the human side of glob- Union to lead the global fight against climate mosphere’s natural greenhouse effect. This has and will continue to cause warmer al warming. change, according to Business Insider. According to the Scientific American webtemperatures, weather conditions leading to According to EPA.gov, the United States is flooding or droughts, higher sea levels, and site, in order to prevent runaway climate the country or group of countries with the problems with crop growing and plant ecosys- change the world needs to make radical second-highest carbon emissions, with China changes in how climate change is approached first, the European Union third, and India tems. Human activities such as deforestation, land by 2020. fourth. One way the world is and the United States use changes, and burning fossil fuels are the The United States has less people than all major man-made contributors to increased was working on doing so was through the Par- three. It is unacceptable for our country to be CO2 in the atmosphere. However, other hu- is Accords, which was an agreement between such a large contributor to global warming and man activities also contribute to the increase 196 countries to cut their carbon emission lev- then take zero responsibility on an issue that
could irreversibly effect the whole world. It is time that Americans take responsibility for their actions contributing to global warming before it becomes too late. The first step is acknowledging that global warming is a problem and then electing people into office that also consider it a problem. Therefore, elected officials will actually consider the issue when making decisions. According to a 2017 Gallup poll, a record high of 71 percent of Americans believe scientists that say global warming is real, 68 percent agree that it is a result of human activities, 62 percent believe global warming is occurring, 45 percent are seriously worried about global warming, and 42 percent believe global warming will cause a serious threat in their lifetime. With more than half of Americans believing global warming is caused by human activities and just under half of Americans seriously concerned about the issue, it’s time to look at our individual actions, whether our government is on board or not. According to The Guardian, some ways people can reduce their carbon emissions are by limiting their traveling or traveling in groups or using more environmentally friendly vehicles; eating less cow and lamb meat; reducing home heating through better insulation; changing to LED light bulbs; reducing consumption by going for quality over quantity; investing in renewable energy; buying from companies that support low-carbon production or renewable energy; and being vocal about backing out of the fossil fuel industry. It can be as simple as eating less cow and lamb meat, changing all your lightbulbs to LED, and not getting the newest iPhone until your old one doesn’t work anymore. The increased carbon emissions have been building since the Industrial Revolution and action has been put off. In order to continue to have a livable Earth, we need to act now before it’s too late. Jobs and money aren’t going to matter if we have nowhere to use them.
gave me some chills. I was really confused, and I tried to think of any reason that I might have opened them and came up with nothing. I even asked my suite mate whom I shared a bathroom with if she came in and opened them. She thought I was crazy. There was another instance where a roll of toilet paper in the restroom disappeared after an hour. I did not take this instance that seriously until my roommate said she had not done anything with it. I just wrote it off as being a weird coincidence. The first time I felt unwelcome at Wesleyan was when I was covering one of my first stories for The Rambler. It was at the new Bernice Coulter Templeton Art Studio; I had to go there, interview Kit Hall and take photos of the art on display. I knew as soon as I entered the building that something was off. I got the overwhelming feeling that I needed to leave. My heart would start racing and I would get a heavy feeling with anxiety and I just was ready to leave ASAP. In October, my roommate withdrew from the campus and moved, and I was alone again. Everything was cool until the different bottles of lotion and body spray that I had on my sink would start flying out of nowhere. This would happen while I was in my room, several times a week. Literally, they would get pushed off the sink
Photo by Hannah Lathen This skeleton is pictured after being thrown off a microwave, hitting a wall, and breaking in two in Hannah Lathen’s OC dorm room.
EDITORIAL
Lathen ghosts her undead visitors at Wesleyan Hannah Lathen Content Producer hrlathen@txwes.edu
In the short time that I have been at Texas Wesleyan, I have been victimized by the ghosts here and I am over it. While I am very open to the idea of spirits and paranormal energy lingering, I would like to be left alone because I have too much going on as it is to be getting freaked out all the time. When I started my first semester at Texas Wesleyan last fall, I moved into Elizabeth Hall. I never had any problems with anything paranormal, but I was aware of the school’s age and figured there had to be some spooky stuff going on. However, I didn’t put much thought into it until I started having experiences only a few days after moving in. I moved into my dorm a week before my roommate did, so I was alone. In the dorm above the closets there are three large cabinets with sliding doors. I could not reach the cabinets, so I did not put anything in them and I kept them shut. A few days after I moved in, I came into my dorm and I got in bed and looked up. The cabinet doors were open. That
by some imaginary force, and I thought I was losing my mind. After a while, I just decided to not freak out about it anymore. Whatever it was that was throwing my stuff, wasn’t hurting me or breaking anything so I just dealt with it. One day, I literally said out loud, “If you are here then I am OK with that. Please just don’t scare me.” Flash forward to this school year and everything had been going pretty great so far until a few weeks ago. I was sitting at my desk doing my makeup when my old ghost friend decided to let me know he found me again. On top of my microwave, I have a meditating skeleton figurine. The skeleton flew off the microwave, hit the wall and broke in two. It did not just fall off, it ran into the wall and then fell to the ground. I am not a physics major, but I do not think that is supposed to freaking happen. Spirits and ghosts do shake me up, but if they aren’t irritating me, I can get used to them. So, to the Texas Wesleyan ghosts, I appreciate you and I welcome your presence, just please don’t break my stuff. You can open my cabinets or come watch a movie with me but let’s not mess with my possessions any more. You have my attention now. Let’s be a little more polite and save me from having a heart attack.
“We are not afraid to follow the truth... wherever it may lead.” — Thomas Jefferson Print/Web Content Producers:
Rambler TV Director: Tina Huynh
Hannah Onder, Hannah Lathen, Tina Huynh, Elena Maldonado, LaTerra Wair, Hope Allison, Ashton Willis, David Cason and Jacinda Chan.
Advisers: Dr. David Ferman, Dr. Ngozi Akinro
Editor-In-Chief: Hannah Onder
Faculty Liaison: Dr. Kay Colley Publisher: Frederick Slabach
IMG Director: Elena Maldonado
Editorial Staff: Hannah Onder, Hannah Lathen, David Cason, and Tina Huynh
Letters to the editor: T HE R AMBLER , 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. Opinions expressed in T HE R AMBLER are
Address all correspondence to: Texas Wesleyan University T HE R AMBLER 1201 Wesleyan St. • Fort Worth, TX 76105 twurambler@yahoo.com (817) 531-7552 Advertising Inquiries: (817) 531-6525 those of the individual authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas Wesleyan community as a whole. RAMBLER Contribution Please send all news briefs to twurambler@yahoo.com. Submissions due by noon Friday to see brief in the following week’s issue.
For weekly news and sports updates, check out Rambler TV.
Channel 25
Rams up Thumbs up to homecoming week. Thumbs up to discounted Halloween candy. Thumbs up to there being less than a month before Thanksgiving break. Thumbs up to free flu shots avaliable to students in the nurse’s office at West Village.
Rams down
Thumbs down to the flu. Thumbs down to approaching finals. Thumbs down to daylight savings time. Thumbs down to Christmas decorations in October.
Wednesday | October 31, 2018|3
News
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
Thomas
continued from page 1 to transfer here.” In addition to making the move to Wesleyan from Southern Mississippi, Thomas credits his success to the hard work and consistency instilled by Shingleton during practice. “If you’re not challenging yourself physically and mentally every day, there is no way that you will get better,” Thomas says. Last year’s first round NAIA National Tournament exit for the Rams was followed by the departure of eight graduating seniors, including NAIA All-Americans Ryan Harris and Brandon Jenkins. However, Shingleton isn’t worried and says that this year’s team is a more cohesive unit than previous teams. “We are going to be more of a team this year than we are individuals,” Shingleton says. “The strength of this team is our balance; we don’t have a guy that can score a ton of points a night like Jenkins or Harris. We have seven or eight guys that can score a night and that makes us difficult to guard.”
Sophomore guard Alec Daniels echoes Shingleton’s observations on Thomas’ emerging leadership. “On the court, he’s the loudest,” Daniels said. “He’s a great communicator, and he makes sure everyone is engaged on the sidelines and the court.” Daniels says within Thomas’ toolbox of leadership is more than just being vocal; he leads by example as well. “He’s fast paced and sets the tempo for offense and defense,” Daniels said. “We always follow that pace.” Thomas is confident for the upcoming season. “The transfers and returners have filled the spots well,” Thomas says. “Our strength is that we have good team chemistry and play well together.” The Rams play their first home game Nov. 1 against Louisianna State University Shreveport at 7 p.m. in Sid Richardson.
“For example, if a beautiful woman is unable to find a partner, it is sometimes said that ‘bouda belat’ which literally translates to the bouda ate her, but means someone was jealous or has been eyeing her.” - Blen Hussain, sophomore political science major
Photo by Thomas Moore Rob Thomas (center) practices with his teammates. Thomas has been a Ram since 2017.
Superstitions continued from page 1
partner, it is sometimes said that ‘bouda belat’ which literally translates to the bouda ate her, but means someone was jealous or has been eyeing her,” Houssain said. Hussain said a superstition common in Uganda is that if men have an ear piercing or some other type of body abnormality like a scar then they are ineligible for human sacrifice. Jacquleine Rodriguez, a senior political science and religion major, is an international student from Mexico. She said one of the superstitions there is if you hit your elbow and then rub it, you will have bad luck. “Having scissors under the bed, you are not letting bad spirits in,” Rodriguez said. “If you are sweeping and someone sweeps your feet it means you will never get married.”
CANDY
Ana Aleksandric, a computer science sophomore and international student from Serbia, said some of the superstitions in her country include not breaking a mirror or a
person will have seven years of bad luck. “We believe that nobody should cut their nails in the evening or you will have bad luck,” Aleksandric said. “Also, never put a bag of
money on the floor because you will lose that money.” As an athlete on the table tennis team, Aleksandric said she has some superstitious rituals of her own. When she prepares to play a game, she will wear a certain T-shirt for good luck. “When I am warming up, I am singing the same song in my head,” she said. “If I remember the last time I won I was singing it, I will sing it again.” Aleksandric said she tries to repeat the same daily routine as she did the last time she won a match. “If I drink from a certain cup, I am going to do it again before the important game. I will just repeat same thing I did last time,” she said. “It is not true, but I feel better in my head.”
Another widely reported Halloween candy poisoning took place in place in Detroit on Nov. 2 1970; 5-year-old Kevin Toston died from a heroin overdose. Detroit police found his Halloween candy was sprinkled with heroin. According to a 1970 New York Times article, what wasn’t widely reported was the results of the police investigation, which concluded the boy had accidentally got into his uncle’s heroin stash and poisoned himself, and that the family had sprinkled heroin on the kid’s candy after the fact to protect the uncle. The common thread in these stories is the initial reaction by the media, and the mass hysteria by concerned parents. “This is a contemporary legend that speaks
to our anxiety about kids,” said University of Delaware Professor Joel Best in a 2004 Houston Chronical article; Best was doing a study on Halloween myths. “Most of us don’t believe in ghosts and goblins anymore, but we believe in criminals.” More recently, the Halloween candy myth has transitioned from poison to the fear of drugs, like edible marijuana in the candy. This myth has proven to be exactly that, a myth. But like many myths it is rooted in fact. In California, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, some children went home with packets of marijuana that looked like Snickers bars. The parents of the children quickly alerted the police and they immediately contacted
the homeowner who gave out the candy. As it turned out, the homeowner, who was also a mailman, was given the “Snickers” after the package the candy was in had insufficient postage. He unknowingly gave out what he thought was candy. While parents and trick or treaters alike should use good judgment about what they consume on Halloween, they have very little to fear from the general public. The National Confectioners Association runs a Halloween Hot Line if you want to report any candy that you suspect has been tampered with. The number is (202) 534-1440, or you can email them at info@CandyUSA. com.
continued from page 1 the food they brought home on Halloween. Junior computer science major Elspeth Harris said Halloween is her favorite holiday. She noted that some churches don’t allow trick or treating, which is odd because it is rooted in a Christian holiday, All Saints Day. Karen Duarte-Escobar said her parents didn’t let her trick or treat when she was a kid. “It’s a cultural thing, it’s more of an American thing,” said the junior business major. “The Latin American community celebrates Dia de los Muertos.” She said she spoke to international students who also said Halloween is uniquely American because of American excess, and Americans make a big issue out of all holidays.
campus events
Oct. 31 - Nov. 17
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Oct. 31
-Pumpkins in the Grove @ 11:30 p.m. -Powder Puff Football @ 5 p.m.
Nov. 4
Nov. 5
.
-WSOC in SAC Tournament -MBB vs Jarvis Christian College @ 7 p.m. (away)
Nov. 11
Nov. 12
-Theatre Wesleyan performs “The Hostage” @ 2 p.m.
-Freshmen registration starts -Theatre Wesleyan: Fall Voice Recital @ 7 p.m. -MBB vs. Texas College 7 p.m. (home)
Nov. 6
Nov. 7
-ASC Workshop @ 2 p.m. -Opera TXWES Presents @ 7:30 p.m. -MSOC in SAC Tournament -VB in SAC Tournament
Nov. 13 -Last day to drop -2020 Town Hall Meeting @ 12:15 p.m. -Instrumental Ensemble Concert @ 7:30 p.m. -WBB vs. Arlington Baptist Univeristy @ 6 p.m. (home)
Thursday Nov. 1 -Last day to apply for spring or summer 2019 graduation -Freshmen Photo @ 12 p.m. -CS Workshop @ 12:15 p.m. -Counseling Workshop @ 3 p.m. -Britany Clark Senior Recital @ 5:30 p.m. -Jimmy Angeles Senior Recital @ 7:30 p.m. -Theatre Wesleyan opens “The Hostage” @ 7:30 p.m. -WBB vs. Tarleton State University @ 5:30 p.m. (away) -MBB vs. Louisana State University Shreveport @ 7 p.m. (home)
Nov. 8 -ASC Workshop @ 12:15 p.m. -Counseling Workshop @ 3 p.m. -Ed. D for an Evening @ 5 p.m. -Theatre Wesleyan performs “The Hostage” @ 7:30 p.m -WSOC in SAC Tournament -MBB vs. Arlington Baptist University @ 7:30 p.m. (home)
Nov. 14
Nov. 15
-ASC Workshop @ 12:15 p.m. -Counseling Workshop @ 3 p.m. -Jazz Combo Concert @ 7:30 p.m.
Friday Nov. 2
-Alumni Medal Dinner @ 6 p.m. -Homecoming Talent Show @ 7 p.m. -Theatre Wesleyan performs “The Hostage” @ 7:30 p.m. -VB vs. University of Science and Arts @ 7 p.m. -WSOC in SAC Tournament -MBB vs. Lousinana State University Alexandria @ 3 p.m.
Nov. 9 -Think TXWES @ 9 a.m. -Theatre Wesleyan performs “The Hostage” @ 7:30 p.m -VB in SAC Tournament -MSOC in SAC Tournament -WBB vs. Louisiana State University Shreveport @ 4 p.m. (away)
Nov. 16
Saturday Nov. 3
-Wesleyan 5K @ 9 a.m. -Martin University Center At-AGlance @ 11 a.m. -Homecoming Pre-Game Party @ 11 a.m. -Homecoming FB vs. Lyon College @ 2 p.m. -Art Reception: Texas Pottery & Scuplture Guild Juried Exhibition @ 2 p.m. -Theatre Wesleyan performs “The Hostage” @ 7:30 p.m. -WXC and MXC at SAC Championship @ 8 a.m. -VB vs. Mid-America Christian Univeristy @ 1 p.m. (home) -MSOC in SAC Tournament
Nov. 10
-New Student Orientation @ 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. -Ph. D in MFT Luncheon @ 12 p.m. -Theatre Wesleyan performs “The Hostage” @ 7:30 p.m. -VB in SAC Tournament -FB vs. Ottawa University Arizona @ 2 p.m. (home) -WBB vs. Baker University @ 1 p.m. (away) -MBB vs. Wiley College @ 4 p.m. (home)
Nov. 17
-WXC at NAIA Championships -WBB vs. Newman University @ 1:30 p.m. (away) @ 8 a.m. -MXC at NAIA Championships -MBB vs. Our Lady of the Lake University @ 6 p.m. @ 8 a.m. -WBB vs. Midwestern State Uni- (home) versity @ 5:30 p.m. (away)
4 |Wednesday October 31, 2018
Campus
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
Two Rambler staffe in on who they vo
Ted Cruz
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.com Rambler content producer David Cason said he voted for Ted Cruz because he wants his Second Amendment rights protected and he wants tighter immigration laws to keep criminals out of the country.
Beto
Rambler content producer Hannah Lathen ing mass incarceration and protecting wom
David Cason
dlcason@txwes.edu
Divisiveness. The Oxford Dictionary describes this as a “tendency to cause disagreement or hostility between people.” The senate race between Beto O’Rourke and Ted Cruz is exactly that: Divisive. No better word could be used to describe the current social and political climate in our country, our state, and our city. With the growing division in our country, it has become difficult for political moderates likes myself to find a candidate worth voting for. This senate race is no different than the circus that was the 2016 presidential election. I was forced to vote for what I perceived as the lesser of two evils. In this election I voted early, and I voted for Cruz. Why I chose Cruz came down to the two issues I felt the strongest about: The security of our nation and our right to bear arms. While I don’t agree with everything Cruz says, his stance on border security and Second Amendment rights do align with mine. “You know, I have many times summed up my views on immigration in four words: Legal, good. Illegal, bad,” Cruz said in a recent speech in Corpus Christi. Cruz believes strongly in legal immigration to the United States. As a first-generation American citizen, Cruz’s father fled Cuba to seek political asylum in the U.S. He is an individual who understands the plight of immigrants seeking to enter our country, while also understanding that immigrating can be done legally. Nothing highlights the need for stronger border security in Texas than a recent report done by the Texas Department of Public Safety in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security that gives a statistical analysis of crimes committed in Texas by illegal aliens between the years 2011 and 2018.
Two hundred and sixty-seven thousand criminal aliens have been booked into Texas jails between June 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2018. This has resulted in 115,000 total convictions. By the numbers: 232 homicide convictions; 3,049 burglary convictions; 17,189 drug convictions; 161 kidnapping convictions; 6,892 theft convictions; 10,957 obstructing police convictions; 972 robbery convictions; 1,619 sexual assault convictions; and 1,229 weapon convictions. This only represents a small minority of illegal immigrants, and in no way is this an attempt to paint all illegal immigrants as criminals. However, what this does show is that illegal immigration in Texas is a problem, and crimes are being committed against Texas citizens. A strong border is exactly what Texas needs to make its citizens safe. “The Second Amendment is about something very fundamental,” Cruz said in 2016 during a campaign stop in Johnson, Iowa. “It’s about the God-given right of every single one of us to protect our home, our families and our lives.” Our founding fathers understood that the Second Amendment is a natural right that enabled us to defend ourselves, our property, and our family. Cruz echoes these sentiments and O’Rourke does not. My core ideals of a strong, safe nation that allows me to protect myself and my family are more closely aligned with Cruz’s ideals than O’Rourke’s. My beliefs may not be popular amongst my classmates, but I felt I was voting in the best interest of Texans. Time will tell whether Texans agreed with my choice or not.
I am ing thi the pro ready h
Beto O’Rourke stands for the values to see translated in the U.S. Senate. I live with an autoimmune disease t neys, ears, nose, throat and skin. I hav single day to keep my immune system have health insurance and would like going broke. As a woman I would also like contro access to birth control and cancer scre legal abortion services. I would like women to feel comforta being sexually harassed or assaulted o nize about who will believe them whe Violence Against Women Act passed, voted against. I want to see the state putting more cation instead of into private schools. testing eliminated because I know firs making As and Bs in the classroom an them up to do so. I want to see that 20 veterans a day suicide because of inadequate mental issue addressed by more elected officia the VA to be held accountable when th I want a senator who works to end p people of color and finds value in the so while supporting the police officers line. I want to put an end to mass incarc
Wednesday October 31, 2018| 5
CaMPUs
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
ers weigh oted for
o O’Rourke
Take Classes Online!
Mass Communication online classes offered for spring 2019 Mass Media and Society MCO-1302-30 Special Topics: Social Media MCO-2399-30 Advertising Copywriting MCO-3346-30 Sports Comm. & Branding MCO-4399-30
All Images From Canva.com
Say BOO to the Flu!
Health Services is offering free flu shots to all staff, faculty, or students on a first come, first served basis. Supplies are very limited, so please get your shot soon! Come by Health Services in West Village 110 Monday through Friday between 9AM and 1:30PM.
All Images From Canva.com
Photo by Hannah Lathen n said she is voting for Beto O’Rourke because he is proposing a clean DREAM Act for Dreamers, endmen’s rights.
HannaH LaTHEn
hrlathen@txwes.edu
a native Texan and I am ready to start havis state represent my values and follow in ogressive steps as much of this nation alhas.
s that I believe in that I want
that attacks my lungs, kidve to take medicine every m from killing me. I don’t to have it one day without
ol of my body and easy eenings as well as safe and
able and without worry of or, if they are, having to agoen they speak up. I want the , something Sen. Ted Cruz
funding into public eduI want to see high-stakes st-hand how students will be nd then fail on tests that set
are NOT committing health services. I want this als, as O’Rourke did. I want hey fail our veterans. police brutality focused on protests against it but does s who put their lives on the
ceration in Texas. I no lon-
ger want to see people serving sentences for non-violent drug offenses. I want a fair bail system. -I want to end for-profit prisons. I want a senator that will decriminalize marijuana and allow more doctors who can prescribe medical marijuana to those who need it, especially in the face of the opioid epidemic. The issue that is closest to my heart is immigration. My friends are Dreamers and I would like to see a clean DREAM Act passed. I would like them granted citizenship here and not get deported to a country they don’t know. I want an easier pathway to citizenship for the immigrants who are here and coming to the United States that contribute and asylum for those coming here, running from extreme poverty and violence. I demand every single human being, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or immigration status feel equal in this country. Texas needs to start reflecting the values of people in 2018 and move forward instead of staying stuck in the ways of the past because the faces of this state have changed. O’Rourke has taken the time to visit every single county in Texas to listen to people and get to know the faces he would be representing as senator. He has reached out to communities that past candidates have ignored. I voted for Beto O’Rourke because he is standing up and speaking out for the values I believe as well as those around me. See you again next year ballot box.
6 |Wednesday | October 31, 2018
Arts&Entertainment
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
Theatre Wesleyan captures ‘The Hostage’ Elena Maldonado ecmaldonado@txwes.edu
Theatre Wesleyan will be showcasing students’ talent with Brendan Behan’s “The Hostage” from Nov. 1 to Nov. 11 at the Thad Smotherman Theatre. Mariah Dawn Kuhn, a senior theatre major, will be playing the role of Teresa. “‘The Hostage’ is about a brothel in Ireland that a British soldier is brought to by the IRA (Irish Republican Army) because there is a Photo contributed by Jacob Sanchez war going on between Britain and Ireland,” she Mariah Dawn Kuhn will play the role of Teresa. said. “It is about them getting to know the British soldier and kind of growing to love him. and dark. When they find out that he is to be harmed, “[The show is] funny because it is a funny chaos ensues.” play, tragic because it has a tragic ending, and Kuhn describes her character as sweet, excit- dark because the setting is in a dark pub which ing, and new. is generally described as a dark place,” he said. “Teresa is really shy and meek,” she said. Garcia’s favorite part of the production pro“She has lived in a nunnery her whole life. This cess will be getting to see the audience’s reacis her first experience with the outside world, tion when they see the show. so she is really excited and open to getting to “To me that is a sign that we are doing a good know everything, but it’s also a little scary for job as a theatre,” he said. her because she hasn’t had interactions with Assistant directing the show will be Malik anyone but nuns.” Offor, a junior theatre major. Kuhn said Teresa is like a baby doe when it He said his role in “The Hostage” is to “really comes to her experiencing the outside world, to help the director out.” which she hasn’t yet been exposed to. “Working on the show has showed me how “She has never had any negative actions to- collaborative making theatre is,” he said. “The ward somebody,” she said. “She is very sweet, actors come with something new every day she treats everybody kindly, but she doesn’t and me and Karen (Potter), the director, will know anything about the world around her so change it a little bit or move it to other spot she is just trying to figure it all out. She is really in the play. It gives the show a different energy new to the world.” because everyone is working hard to make the Kuhn said she thinks the audience’s favor- show good.” ite part will be the very beginning of the show He said a unique characteristic of “The Hosbecause of the audience interactions there will tage” is the style it is written in. be. “The style in which the show is written is “[The audience] gets pulled into the world very different compared to what most plays are that the designers, and the actors, and the di- in that the dialogue that breaks the fourth wall rector have created,” she said. “It is really excit- is very pointed to the audience, and it is a very ing because they get to be a part of it instead of self-aware show,” Offor said. “The characters just watching it.” know that they live in a planet. It is a very fun Alexis Garcia, a freshman theatre major, is thing to watch on stage.” going to be interpreting the role of a British He said the audience can expect to go see a soldier. really fun show. “My character is named Leslie A. Williams. “It is really funny, there is fourth wall breakHe is a 19-year-old English soldier who has ing, lots of physical humor and music,” Offor been taken hostage by remnants of the IRA said. “It’s almost a musical but not quite.” (Irish Republican Army),” he said. “Leslie is a witty fellow who loves his country, so he joins “The Hostage” runs Nov. 1-11 at the the army.” Thad Smotherman Theatre. Showtimes Garcia said people with a sense of humor are 7:30 p.m. except for Nov. 11, when should definitely go see the show. showtime is 2 p.m. For more information, Graphic contributed by Jacob Sanchez “‘The Hostage’ is a very fun play, but it is also call 817-531-4211 or go to “The Hostage” tells the story of a British soldier being held hostage in a Dublin lodging house. Its kind of serious at some points,” he said. theatre@txwes.edu. opening night will be Nov. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the Thad Smotherman Theatre. He would describe the show as funny, tragic,
Wednesday | October 31, 2018
|7
Sports
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.
Wesleyan may add women’s wrestling
Graphics by Kaylee Conrad Athletic Director Ricky Dotson said Wesleyan is looking into adding women’s wrestling; .President Frederick Slabach hopes that lacrosse can be a sport potentially to add in the future.
Kaylee Conrad kmconrad@txwes.edu
Texas Wesleyan University will be considering the addition of women’s wrestling instead of lacrosse, according to Athletic Director Ricky Dotson. As there are not any women’s lacrosse university teams in Texas, competition would be hard to come by, Dotson wrote in an email. Most of the lacrosse teams Wesleyan would be competing against are in Kansas, Michigan, Kentucky, and Tennessee. “Without other teams in our region, travel would be difficult and expensive for us,” Dotson wrote. Although women’s lacrosse is not an option at this time, Dotson wrote that President Frederick Slabach and former Athletic Director Steve Trachier have been discussing the possibility of adding the sport with other universities in Wesleyan’s conference. “If the opportunity to have competition within a reasonable distance becomes available, I believe Texas Wesleyan will jump at the opportunity to start a team,” Dotson wrote. Dotson wrote that though Wesleyan is not adding a women’s lacrosse team, the Athletic Department is adhering to Title IX guidelines.
“In recent years, we have added women’s tennis and women’s golf, which has been very successful. Another emerging NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) sport is Cheer, and we have expanded opportunities for women in this area with the addition of the growing Gold Line Dancers,” Dotson wrote. Dotson wrote that the NAIA has recently added women’s
tunity to build a competitive wrestling program at Wesleyan. “The Dallas-Fort Worth area is a rich environment for high school wrestlers. Many of these wrestlers want to continue the experience in college, but the opportunity is not there. There is only one university in Texas that offers wrestling as a varsity sport. (Wayland Baptist University),” Trachier wrote. Trachier also believes that Wesleyan is situated in a prime area to recruit student-athletes. President Frederick Slabach wrote in an email that recently added programs, such as women’s tennis, women’s golf, the Gold Line Dancers and football, have both excited the community and brought new students to Wesleyan. “We continue to look for ways to grow our athletic programs, while keeping our focus on the student in student-athlete,” Slabach wrote. Senior Director of Communications Ann Davis wrote in an email that she believes any sport that comes to Wesleyan is going to thrive, and she is ready to help with new programs. “As a part of the marketing and communications team, it is fun to help the university launch new programs and see the community rally around new sports and the athletes. We will be excited to support the next new program,” Davis wrote.
“We continue to look for ways to grow our athletic programs, while keeping our focus on the student in studentathlete,” - President Frederick Slabach wrestling as a sport, and he thinks it is a logical consideration for Wesleyan. “The research I’ve done indicates the opportunity for potential outside funding for women’s wrestling through some national foundations, and the opportunity to compete already exists,” wrote Dotson. Trachier wrote in an email that he believes there is the oppor-
8 | Wednesday | October 31, 2018
Sports
TheRambler.org | For news throughout the day.