Rambler 11.14.07 by The Rambler

The Rambler

The students’ voice since 1917

www.txwes.edu/rambler

November 14, 2007

NEWS BRIEFS Bear Hunt The school of arts and sciences is now collecting new stuffed bears and friends (16 inch maximum) for the Fort Worth Police Department East Division. The captured bears will be given to children in crisis situations and can be delivered the Dean’s office (PUMC 256) by Dec. 6. Call Patricia Ersland at (817) 531-4247.

Vol. 99, No. 11

Wesleyan takes over Casa

News Briefs

Bring me the cans The Zeta Phi Beta and Phi Beta Sigma sororities are joining forces for the annual Blu Phi canned food drive. Donations will benefit the Salvation Army and Tarrant County Food Bank. Donations will be taken until Nov. 20 and can be dropped off in the boxes located in the SUB, psychology building and Stella Russell Hall. Pay your dues people! Several options are available for students regarding payment on their account balance. For the spring 2008 semester, students must pay in full or set up a tuition payment plan no later than Dec. 5. Visit www. txwes.edu/cashier/index.htm for more information. Calling all book lovers The Eunice L. West Library is selling a wide variety of books for only 25 cents each. Pick from juvenile literature, the New York Times, curriculum, Who’s Who, science, government, law, encyclopedias, accounting books and periodicals. The book sale is located behind the periodicals on the second floor of the library, and books can be paid for at the circulation desk. Movie time! Wanna see a movie on the cheap? Student Life has movie theater tickets for both AMC and United Artists theaters for $6.50. Tickets are good for any showing at anytime. Contact Jenny Houze at (817) 5314870. Taste something different The office of international programs is selling international cookbooks for $4 each. Contact Ashley Porterfield at (817) 5314934 for more information. HOT JOB opportunities @ Career Services Content/Copywriting Internship, Starr Tincup Marketing Technology Internship, Starr Tincup Weather Anchor/ Entertainment Reporter, Univision Rehab Tech/PT Aide, Cooper and Bush Physical Therapy Assistant Player Development/ Scouting, Angels Baseball (MLB)

Ron Jenkins/photo reprint courtesy of Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Wesleyan alumni Brad Jackson and Alex Vorse have found a home in Fort Worth’s own Casa Manana. The duo has collaborated on multiple shows for Casa Manana’s Children’s Playhouse, including Santa Claus is Coming to Town, The Emporer’s New Clothes and Jack & The Beanstalk. See page 6 for the full story.

Goodbye, my friend

Professors published

Professor Marian Haber to retire, travel the world

University presses get hot

SKYLA CLAXTON

attended the University of Florida for her bachelor’s in ADVERTISING MANAGER journalism and then went on to receive her doctorate at the University of Miami. After college, Haber worked as “The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, a journalist for several local papers. who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, She later got a position with the Miami Beach Visitor sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called “truth.” Authority where she handled the newsletter, press releas~Dan Rather es and accompanied out of town visitors around the city. We sometimes can’t see the many ways that teachers It was then that she ventured into the public relations side shape our lives. The good ones see potential in us that we of mass communication. cannot always see and inspire us in After that, Haber came to Texas ways we have never been inspired to marry her high school sweetheart, before. During a pivotal point in our Julian, and they have now been marlives called college, our professors ried for 24 years. prepare us for the real world. Some Once she was in Texas, Haber of them mold us into what we began teaching. She taught at Texas become as adults. Christian University, the University When one of those beloved proof Texas at Arlington and finally at fessors retires, their impacted stuTexas Wesleyan. She has been an dents have a sense of loss but also a adjunct here for the better part of 14 sense of fulfillment in having known years. Haber has taught Survey of them. Public Relations, Public Relations At the end of this semester, Dr. Cases, Writing for Mass Media, Marian Haber is retiring from Texas Reporting, Feature Writing, Opinion Wesleyan after 14 years of teaching Writing and Editing. Photo courtesy of Communications Department in the mass communication departThe small classes, fellow teachMass communication professor Dr. ment. ers and the students are what Haber Marian Haber has been teaching She is one of those beloved proenjoys most about Wesleyan. Wesleyan students for 14 years. fessors. “The students challenge you,” “Dr. Haber really encouraged me to step out, try new she said. “To see them go on to careers in journalism things and do well,” said Whitney Fowler, a 2006 gradu- makes me feel very good.” ate who is now a public information officer for the city In addition to teaching, Haber of Grand Prairie. for several years served as the fac“She didn’t just lecture from a “She didn’t just teach us from a ulty adviser to The Rambler, a positextbook, but she took the time to textbook, but she took the time to tell tion she said she enjoyed immensetell us what we should be doing us what we should be doing outside ly. She and The Rambler staff travoutside of the classroom to make the classroom to make us successful, eled to conventions in New York us successful, too.” too.” and Texas, winning prizes for their Haber was born in New York – Whitney Fowler work. but moved around much as a child. 2006 Alumna “I got to know the kids up close Even in that childhood, Haber and personal” she said. “It’s wonsaid, she was interested in journalism. After serving on derful!” her school newspaper at the young age of 11, her mind One of those students was Kelli Lamers, the current was made up. She would be a journalist. faculty adviser for The Rambler. Lamers has followed in Her family eventually settled in Miami where Haber her professor’s footsteps and said she is here today remained for about 20 years. While in Florida, she

See Haber, page 2

CHUCK FAIN & SHAWN POLING STAFF WRITER & EDITOR IN CHIEF

For many young and hopeful writers, getting their work published is the ultimate goal. Recently, two of Wesleyan’s reputable faculty has realized this esteemed accomplishment. English professor Jeffrey DeLotto, courtesy of the newly formed Texas Wesleyan University Press, has published a book of poetry entitled Days of a Chameleon: Collected Poems. “The University Press fulfills one of our strategic goals: to encourage publication by faculty,” said Allen Henderson, provost and senior vice president. He proposed the idea of the press to University President Hal Jeffcoat in May, and Days was the first book to be published through the press. Formed by DeLotto earlier this year, the press aims to publish two works a year. Publication consideration is open to faculty, students, staff, alumni and friends of Wesleyan and well as Polytechnic United Methodist Church. The press provides a much easier way to publish works. Normal publishers require printings of hundreds of books. The Texas Wesleyan University Press can work on a “print-ondemand” system, which allows as little as 10 books to be published at once. They are available at any time because the book will always be available digitally to print. The press prints the books,

See Print, page 2

News

2 November 14, 2007

The Rambler

Students polarized by politics, more active locally have been getting closer and closer together because of their mutual interests in business and giving Americans less alternatives when it comes to people-oriented issues.” DAILY TEXAN/U-WIRE Economics junior and University Democrats’ spokesman Alexander Ferraro said today’s Today’s generation of college students are becoming increasingly active in their local political climate turns people off and that being only one vote can make a student feel communities. But as their volunteer hours are growing, so is their political indifference, insignificant in the larger political system. according to a report released Nov. 7 – just one day after Election Day. “The fact is that the voter turnout in our generation is pretty poor,” he said. “There is just In the report, researchers from the Center for Information and Research on Civic a general tendency among younger people to mistrust the political system, but eventually as Learning and Engagement found this generation, the Millennial Generation or Generation Y, people get older they make their peace with it.” to be turned off or polarized by national politics, instead engaging more at the local level than What happens in Washington, D.C., will eventually affect students, Ferraro said, using the generations before them. the war in Iraq as an example of an issue that cannot be solved by volunteering or giving “Youth have a greater tendency to shy away from politics money to charities, but that needs to be solved by lawmakers. because they’re just learning politics,” said Mary Dixson, “They have voting at the [Flawn Academic Center], but a lot associate director of the University of Texas College of of kids who don’t do it think it’s not cool, per se, to be very Communication’s Annette Strauss Institute For Civic politically minded,” said government sophomore Nicholas Participation. “It’s easier to ladle soup into a bowl for a homePrelosky, vice chairman of the University chapter of the less person than to sit down and look at the economic policies Young Conservatives of Texas. “Why would you want to be dealing with housing.” political when you could be in a fraternity or play ‘Guitar Because it takes longer to see the effects of politics, it’s Hero’?” easy for students to get discouraged, but they need to be able Politics can be boring, and students do not want to make the to attack issues at the political level to change the roots of time for it anymore because a lot of them do not understand problems, Dixson said. it, he said. “You have fewer and fewer young people seeing voting as “A lot of people are fed up with the political system. Many a civic obligation. It’s not necessarily that this generation is people on this campus voted for Chris Bell and Kinky the first one to hate politics; it’s just the first one to hate polFriedman and campaigned for them, and when they didn’t itics and not participate,” she said. win, it was all for nothing,” Prelosky said. “It stands to reason Dixson said she thinks the number of 18- to 25-year-old if you can volunteer, it won’t make the difference passing a voters will increase as political issues become more relevant law will make, but someone will have a home because of you, to their lives. and you can get a T-shirt to wear on your back. A lot of kids Communication studies associate professor Sharon Jarvis like having that physical proof that they did something.” will present a paper next week at the National Robert Earle, FACE AIDS president and a government senCommunication Association that addresses the same issue ior, said it will take him three to five more years to get a that many young people prefer to volunteer than to vote. degree that would allow him to do work in public policy, but Individuals are participating in nonprofit causes because volunteering in an organization like FACE AIDS allows him they view them as disconnected from the political system, to help people right now. according to her paper. “Our teachers are always telling us to take actions, and vol“Volunteering can help a community or a cause ‘today,’ unteering allows us as students to do that right now,” he said. Photos courtesy of Google Images “Organizations like ourselves have been long circumventing but volunteering without political action does little to solve a More and more students are not participating in voting and problem for ‘tomorrow,’” Jarvis wrote in an e-mail. the governmental process because the issue is so urgent that Even if young people are volunteering in droves, the dete- national politics. we need to reach out and do something now.” riorating voting rate will not guarantee a democracy, she said. Biomedical engineering junior Leah Yngva also chose to Politically active students at UT offered their own perspectives on why young people are get involved with the issues important to her locally through the Campus Environmental so civically apathetic. Center. “It makes sense for people to think the government is so far away because with the two“I feel like I’m doing more in this organization than if I were to focus on politics,” she party system, there aren’t viable options for change,” said journalism and government senior said. “I can actually see my results, but with politics, that relationship isn’t so clear.” Robert McDonald, a member of the International Socialist Organization. “The two parties

MAYA SRIKRISHNAN

anthology including cowgirls, artists, entertainers, nuns, assigns an ISBN number and can then sell it anywhere from journalists, philanthropists, pioneers, politicians and women of all ethnicities, published by Texas Christian University on campus to on Amazon.com. “The university has published academic and literary Press. Her contribution is a chapter entitled “Ladies of Victory: journals before but never under a univerFort Worth’s Our Lady of Victory and sity press,” said Henderson. the Sisters of Saint Mary of Namur,” In Days, DeLotto has compiled a colwhich is also a part of a research projlection of poems, most of which have ect Matthews started several years ago. appeared in anthologies or other publicaMatthews is one of 14 women who tions. He said he often adopts the persona contributed to the book, which was or “skin” of another person or being in edited by Katie Sherrod, an independorder to write from new or different perent Fort Worth writer, producer and spective. commentator who was named Texas In Days, he tried on a variety of Woman of the Year in 1989. “skins” ranging from Col. Jim Bowie “It took a critical mass of women moments before he is killed at the Alamo, who write about women,” said to a cancer patient, to a serial killer on Matthews. Route 35. DeLotto said the title comes “The goal was not an encyclopedia, from a letter of John Keats to Richard but to gather as many women’s stories Woodhouse. as possible out of the attics and into a “What shocks the virtuous philosopublic place, to provide snapshots of pher delights the chameleon poet,” said women’s contributions that others may Keats in the letter that inspired DeLotto. Photo by Kevin Keathley one day enlarge upon,” according to the “Keats believed some of the greatest DeLotto’s book, Days of a Chameleon: TCU Web site. “The result: a labor of poetry is spoken not in the voice of the love by women for women.” poet, but lies in their power to get inside Collected Poems, is the first book published by TWU Press. All the contributors attended a book other beings and characters separate from signing at a local Barnes & Noble Nov. 10 and were surtheir perspective,” said DeLotto. Another faculty member, history professor Brenda prised to welcome a crowd of about 75 people. “I am very flattered to be part of this,” said Matthews. Taylor Matthews, contributed to the recently released Grace The ladies will gather once again to sign their book at the & Gumption: Stories of Fort Worth Women. It is a history

Print, from page 1

Haber, from page 1

because of Haber. “Marian Haber had an incredible influence on my education and my profession. She was the adviser for The Rambler when I was a student, and I learned more there than I ever could in the classroom. I am confident that it was that background that helped me to enjoy some early success in my career as an editor,” she said.

Annual TCU Press Autograph Extravaganza from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 7 at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden Building. The event is free and open to the public. Grace & Gumption is available through Barnes & Noble and other major bookstores. A reading of Day of a Chameleons is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 29 in the Louella Baker Martin Pavilion. DeLotto will have hardcover ($30.99) and soft cover ($20.99) copies of the book for sale at the reading. The Texas Wesleyan University Press will provide submission guidelines at the reading, which will be available afterwards on the Wesleyan Web site.

Photo by Thomas Boyland

Matthews and other contributors to Grace & Gumption will sign books Dec. 7.

“Almost 10 years later, as fate would have it, I now hold the same job she once did! We are still good friends to this day, and I treasure that. She is a very dear person to me.” She leaves some fond memories behind, but Haber said she looks forward to her retirement this winter. Her husband is retiring soon after her, and they plan on spending some of their time traveling together … and they’re not wasting any time. “We have a cruise around South American planned for March,” she said.

Opinions “The food and family.” “Being with family.” “Going out of town.” “Food.”

Shameka Hyatt Freshman Paralegal Studies Major

Jeremy Smith Junior Vocal Performance Major

What Thanksgiving tradition are you most looking forward to?

Ashley Alumbaugh Senior Liberal Studies Major

Tana Parks Sophomore Biology Major

The Rambler

November 14, 2007 3

Creationist’s visit reminder of God’s character T

his may shock you, but I am no rocket scientist. I know, it’s hard to believe, but I couldn’t school anyone on the formulas and theories within scientific and mathematical textbooks. Luckily, for those of us who lack in certain academic arenas, there are people like Dr. Ron Carlson, who lectured at Martin Hall Nov. 9. Carlson is recognized worldwide as one of the foremost authorities and lecturers in several areas, and BRYCE the focus of his lecture at Wesleyan was evolution vs. WILKS creation. He has exhausted himself to research every possible point about the debate, and I don’t know of a professional in any field of study that has accumulated the expertise that Carlson has. I walked into the lecture knowing how I felt about the topic but with no sense of how strongly Carlson’s stinging points would draw me even closer to my beliefs. As he dissected some of the myths and theories that have been presented to students as “facts” for years, I felt a heightened sense that many people are accepting false information as truth because they do not want to involve any faith. Which scenario really involves more faith? Scenario 1: Yahweh, the God of the Bible, created earth about 6,000 years ago as described in the Bible. Scenario 2: Human life actually began hundreds of millions years ago within the activity of pond scum. Call me crazy, but you can go ahead and mark me down with the biblical account. For support, Carlson pointed out some of the ways in which scientists contrad themselves. For example, the dating of rock layers is regularly used in support of evolution, yet has some very apparent weaknesses. One scientific encyclopedia says that fossils are dated by testing the layers of rock in which they are found. Sounds pretty good right? Yep, until a couple hundred pages later where it says that rock can only be dated by calculating the age of the fossils. Yeah, I tried to use that reasoning with my parents in high school one time. It didn’t work out so well.

I could recount many of the other points that Carlson made, but, as I said, I am not all that smart and would not do his presentation justice. In spite of what seemed to me to be a seamless argument, some people still wanted to argue with Carlson at the end. One observer tried to compare the certainty of the theory of creation with the certainty of the theory of gravity. “They are all just theories right?” Carlson then invited the said observer to climb to the balcony and jump off if he wanted to test the reality of gravity. My goal is not to be hateful to those who have a different belief than I do, rather to invite the ones who still questioned Carlson at the end of the lecture to step back and evaluate what they heard and how they can apply it to their lives. Another person who attended the lecture asked what was wrong with believing that we are all just part of the earth. Perhaps that person believes that life on earth is a collection of random acts, with no one orchestrating or conducting the sometimes awesome and sometimes awful events that we all have witnessed. To that person I would say this: Like it or not, God is real. He knows your name. He gave you life. And He has a plan for your life. Part of that plan, in fact, could be for you to go to Texas Wesleyan University and attend a lecture at Martin Hall and argue with a schol Photo by Kevin Keathley ar about evolution because you don’t believe in Him. You see, while some people that attended the event do not believe in God, they are now even more aware of God, which is just a preliminary step in God’s plan of pursuing them for His purpose. Feel free to keep running and rejecting, but know that peace might be impossible to come by. Or, for the first time, drop the so called “reason” and “logic” that you hold so near, and allow truth to penetrate the shell of science that you have created. Bryce Wilks is a junior mass communication major and is the sports editor for The Rambler.

Don’t sneeze on me. Exercise courtesy and common sense during germ season and year-round

ovember is slowly creeping by. The sneezed in my face. It was gross, and now I am sick. I air is crisp, the weather is chilly, have the worst cough I have had in years. the leaves are brown, and the rain is Let that be an example to all you other sick people. No pouring. Soon enough you will be scarf- one is safe from your nasty germs. ing down turkey, and a few weeks later Wash those dirty hands! you’ll be ripping the wrapping paper off Your hands are gross. It’s not something you can help. of your new favorite thing. Our hands and our mouths are the dirtiest parts of our It’s the season of cozy happiness. body. So although you should be doing it all the time, keep The season of holiday cheer. The seayour hands clean. SHAWN R. son of family and friends. It’s called soap, and it’s available in every bathroom on POLING Sadly, it’s also the season of the campus. Rinse, lather and rinse. Simple, right? Unless you hacking, gagging, sneezing and coughwork at IHOP, it should be, so keep it up and keep ‘em ing. If you’re one of the lucky ones, you won’t get sick, clean. but you’ll still be surrounded by everyone who is. Also, beware of the knobs on bathroom doors. Not Wesleyan is a small, intimate campus. Less people, everyone washes their hands, so just imagine what you are less space, but more of a chance to catch someone else’s picking up as you leave the restroom. stomach bug. Although soap does the job, germs are still everySo in an attempt to make your holiday season a little where, so it would be a good idea to invest in some hand healthier, here are some wonderful tips to keep you and me sanitizer. It usually costs a dollar for a good size container free of the sneeze. you can carry in your backpack. It’s ideal for use before Please don’t sneeze on me! and after using communal computers and desks. Okay, people. I know that college is important and you And if you’re really paranoid, Lyscol now sells travelcan’t always afford to miss class every time you are sick. size containers of disinfectant. Very useful, but beware: But that doesn’t mean you have to get everyone else sick you might get some strange looks. too. Take care of yourself! There is a code of conduct for sick people. This may sound like common sense, but if you are If you have a runny nose, bring some tissue with you. I sick, do something about it. can’t tell you how many times I have seen a fellow student If it’s real bad, go to the doctor. Of course, not everyrub their runny nose with their hand and then continue to one can afford insurance or doctor’s bills, so at least take use their university desk or type on their university keysome medicine. If you can’t get the brand name Tylenol or boards. DayQuil, get the Walgreen’s generic version to save a buck You can get germs from a completely healthy person, or two. so just imagine what sick people leave behind for you to Seasonal viruses like the flu and the common cold are gather. Our hands are already one of the dirtiest places on severely contagious. Your family, friends and the Wesleyan our bodies, so do your best to keep from spreading the flu community are all at risk for getting sick. to all your classmates and professors. And we all know that sick people are not usually on Now for you nervous people: I know some who would their game. At the end of the semester, you can’t afford to rather not blow their nose in front of their classmates. But get so sick you can’t come to class or complete your in truth, everyone would rather you blow your nose in assignments. class than let it marinate in your nasal cavity. By the way, This is the time you need to concentrate, so the free the noise you make keeping it up there is much worse than time you have can be spent hanging out instead of coughyou blowing your nose. ing your lungs out. Also, sneezing is not to be enjoyed by the public. Just Shawn R. Poling is a senior writing major and is editor-in-chief for last week some girl walked past me in the SUB and The Rambler.

Rambler Ratings

The Rambler Founded in 1917 as The Handout Harold G. Jeffcoat, Publisher Kelli Lamers, adviser Zainah Usman, photo editor Bryce Wilks, sports editor Skyla Claxton, advertising manager

Shawn R Poling, editor-in-chief Tiara Nugent, managing/college life editor Colleen Burnie, entertainment editor Amanda May, Web editor Member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.

Opinions expressed in The Rambler are those of the individual author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas Wesleyan community as a whole. Letters to the editor: The Rambler, a weekly publication, welcomes all letters. All submissions must have a full printed name, phone number and signature; however, confidentiality will be granted if requested. 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 opinions page. "We are not afraid to follow the truth...wherever it may lead." -Thomas Jefferson Address all correspondence to: Texas Wesleyan University, The Rambler, 1201 Wesleyan St., Fort Worth, TX 76105. Newsroom: 531-7552 Advertising: 531-7582 Fax: 531-4878 E-mail: twurambler@yahoo.com

Thumbs up to the concessions in the business building. Donuts and breakfast burritos make students happy!

Thumbs down to Facebook for advertising downloadable essays.

Thumbs down to the printer that keeps breaking in the B25 computer lab.

Thumbs down to the warm weather in November. It’s hindering holiday spirit!

College Life

November 14, 2007

The Rambler

It’s not time to give up. Wise study and psychological choices aid students’ stamina and personal success

hough the down slope of yet another semester has definitely come into view, I’m finding myself unable to celebrate just yet. The past few weeks have been a blur of papers, research, tests, and other miscellaneous homework assignments. Many of my friends and professors would attest that that rough going has had me stretched out to the T TIARA and at my wit’s end. Now is not the NUGENT time to despair, however, not with the finish line in such close sight. No, now is the time to buckle down, purpose to finish out strong and implement some of these tried and true survival tips. Avoid freaking out. Stressing out, though the easiest and most natural reaction, will hinder your productivity rather than aid it. Stay calm, cool, collected and concentrated. Outline your deadlines. No, this isn’t meant to overwhelm you. It’s purpose is to prioritize your projects, make you feel more in control and focus your brain on what needs to come next. Locate a study spot. I once heard that the best place to study is wherever your textbook is the most interesting center for your attention. This may sound depressing, but I attest this advice to be sound. Amazingly enough, it’s possible to get pretty involved with old American literature, if you give it a chance. Write your own study guide. Inscribing terms, definitions, theories and other information on paper greatly helps to etch that same information upon the mind’s stone. Don’t worry about style, form or grammatical correctness; just get the facts down in a logical sequence using connections you will remember. Another angle to harnessing writing to learning is the “memory dump.” Before commencing any study, write down as much relevant information to your study-subject as you can remember. Chances are you will document much

more information than originally anticipated remembering, a definite morale booster. Come up to breathe. I promise you will turn out completed assignments of higher polish if you don’t attempt to toil and cram for endless hours straight. Even if you’re under strict time constraints, pause long enough to jog around the block, give your brain some re-coup and re-group time. Stay organized. If philosophy handouts are mixing with geology study guides and business law notes (and this mix is spread over your car, bed, floor and dresser), it’s going to be hard to know if you have all the facts. Previous to studying, set aside a time slot to organize the semester’s havoc. Go crazy… with memory jogs. Creating silly connections is sometimes the best way to remember what definition belongs to which terms or which person with which accomplishment. Your brain may well be fried at 2 a.m. anyway, so being silly can’t be hard. Cheesy? Perhaps. But if it works, who cares? Acquire a study buddy. Compare and swap notes or

take turns playing devil’s advocate and quiz each other. Don’t limit yourselves to the “study spot.” Go out for lunch or an afternoon smoothie. Besides the forenamed benefits, the awareness that someone else is going through the same agony as you tenders comfort. Keep the end goal in mind. Hidden behind mounds of demands, it’s easy to temporarily lose insanity and begin to wonder what on earth you’re doing in that killer calculus course or, if you’re really low, in school period. Recall how much you have already accomplished and learned during the semester. Think about the progress those extra credit hours gracing your transcript at the end of the semester will represent toward attaining your degree. Contemplate how your degree will influence your career, family and personal fulfillment. Look at the big picture! Evaluate the party time. Nothing wrong with some fun and down time, but if you have an under-prepared for the economics final in the morning, hanging out will probably not behoove you. Remember, you will have the rest of your life to have fun, but only one stab at showing flying colors on the final. Check off completed projects. Important! You will be encouraged to see visual proof of your headway. Gaining on the finish line isn’t so impossible as it sounds. Give your best. No professor, family member, friend or yourself can ask or expect more than your best. If you give your all to a project (no matter what anyone may say otherwise), you have achieved success and deserve some applause! Tiara Nugent is a junior writing major and is the managing editor for The Rambler.

Need a job? Low on time? Photo by Kevin Keathley

Want to make a difference?

Strong women End-of-semester stress hasn’t gotten these basketball teammates down. Sophomore Brittany Turner, sophomore Tara Hurd, senior Moneke Smallwood and junior Brittany Davenport flaunt the muscle that keeps them going strong.

Success achieved by God’s strength alone Here’s the solution.

The Rambler Now interviewing for all positions. Spring 2008

uccess. The entity we all crave, aspire to and work towards. Many seek it, but only a portion find it. Where does the secret to sweet success lie? The Lord, speaking to Joshua prior to the children of Israel’s entrance into the Promised Land, reveals the key to attaining prosperity: constant meditaTIARA tion in and observance of God’s word NUGENT and law “for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1:8) But wait, let’s back up. What is success? Is it tangible, like having money in the bank, partaking in perfect relationships, possessing an Einstein-like intelligent mind and living in the coziest mini mansion of the upscale district? Or does success constitute more of an abstract ideal, like happiness or fulfillment? I believe the general consensus on this question would say that the tangible feeds these abstract feelings; however, I tend to disagree. True success, to me, does not relate to circumstances. It relies, rather, on the status of my spiritual walk with God. Happiness comes from tuning in to and carrying out His sovereign will. Fulfillment is drawn from knowing I

am walking exactly where God desires, even when, in the moment, it may not make sense to me. Nehemiah 8:10 declares “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” For a long time, this verse puzzled me. How can joy equal strength? A series of slippery spots in my life two summers back resulted in my actually living out this verse. Here’s the gist: When God is the primary source of your joy, joy overrides circumstances. The state of life affairs cannot snatch God’s joy away. He is you number one, and He matters more to you than anything. You can wake up each morning with a smile and bubble over all day long. That’s not to say each day will be perfect or that trials will not blow your way, but knowing God is beside you and guiding you supersedes the relatively petty worldly concerns. This strength gives the drive to persevere, to dig deeper into God and also plunge into the demands of life. When you’re despairing of success, remember the Lord’s encouragement to Joshua – those words spoken thousands of years ago still apply to us today. “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee...” (Joshua 1:9). Tiara Nugent is a junior writing major and is managing editor for The Rambler.

Sports

The Rambler

Quick Quotes “What happened yesterday is history. What happens tomorrow is a mystery. What we do today makes a difference - the precious present moment.” - Nick Saban Football Coach University of Alabama

Upcoming Events Nov. 14 6 p.m. JV Men’s Basketball vs. Tyler Junior College Nov. 16 TBA Volleyball vs. TBA NAIA Region VI Tournament 6 p.m. Women’s Basketball at Philander Smith Tournament 8 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Sterling College Nov. 17 TBA Volleyball vs. TBA NAIA Region VI Tournament 4 p.m. Women’s Basketball at Philander Smith Tournament 4 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Tabor College Nov. 19 *7 p.m. JV Men’s Basketball vs. Southwest Adventist University 7:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball vs. Oklahoma Wesleyan Nov. 21 *5:30 p.m. Women’s Basketball vs Loyola 7 p.m. JV Men’s Basketball vs. Richland College *denotes home game

Log on to: www.ramsports.net for the latest game information and profiles of your favorite Wesleyan Teams and Athletes

Sports Briefs Lady Rams fall short, will look to rebound in regional tournament Nov. 10 The volleyball team suffered a loss in the Red River Conference Athletic Conference Championship game to UT-Brownsville. The loss did not end the season though, as the team qualified for the regional tournament. 60-point second half gives Rams 100-68 victory Nov. 8 After a slow start, the basketball team went on a scoring spree in the second half to lead to a victory against Parker College. Flying Queens edge Lady Rams Nov. 8 The women’s basketball team suffered its first loss of the season with 67-65 thriller against Wayland Baptist.

November 14, 2007 5

Boomerangs, Barbies & Basketball Aussie ballers bring funny accents and serious game to basketball team BRYCE WILKS SPORTS EDITOR

Andrew Bogut made history in 2005 when he was the first selection in the NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. No other Australian-born product had ever been selected No. 1 overall. Since then, there has been a notable influence of Aussie players on U.S. soil. Luke Schenscher helped Georgia Tech get to the Final Four and landed on the Fort Worth Flyers roster last season before the team folded. Wesleyan capitalized when alumnus guard Ben Hunt, who hails from Bendigo, Australia, helped win the NAIA National Championship in 2006. Perhaps hoping to channel some of that magic from Down Under once again, the men’s basketball program signed three recruits out of Australia this season. None of the players had stepped foot on campus when they signed, which has made for an interesting first semester. But don’t take my word for it, Ryan Barnes, Tim Keating and Martin Vahala can tell you themselves. Q: Where are you originally from? Keating: Port Macquarie, New South Wales. Vahala: Perth, Western Australia Barnes: Melbourne, Victoria Q: What have you accomplished in basketbal l so far? Keating: I played a year for Albion College in Michigan last year, but it was too cold up there. Back home I played for the Illawarra Seahawks and Port Macquarie Dolphins and represented New South Wales in the state basketball tournament. Vahala: Played for the Perry Lakes Hawks and Western Australia All-State team. Barnes: Played for the Melbourne Tigers, won a state championship with Victoria. Named All-Australian team, Rookie of the Year and All-Star guard with Melbourne. Q: Why Wesleyan? Keating: I didn’t like Michigan, and Texas Wesleyan plays a Photo courtesy of athletic office higher level of basketball than my old school. I also get to play a Ryan Barnes (right) defends a player from Parker College in the men’s basketball home opener Nov. 8. Barnes was an All-Star guard in Australia last year as a member of the lot here with both the junior varsity and varsity teams. Melbourne Tigers. Vahala: I wanted to study abroad and play of camps and things like that for kids. ball. Ben Hunt has contacted me about Wesleyan, and then my Q: Who is your favorite professional player? coach from Perth contacted Keating: Baron Davis of the Golden State Warriors. Coach [Terry] Waldrop. Then Vahala: Spurs guard Manu Ginobili. Waldrop contacted me and I Barnes: LeBron James [Cavaliers]. decided to come. Barnes: A friend that I have Q: What are the academic differences? coaches at St. Mary’s and knows Keating: I made the dean’s list last year at Albion, and I’m not used to Coach Waldrop. He reccomend- making grades quite that good. ed that I come to Wesleyan Vahala: The classes are a bit easier here. I make better grades here than I because they have a good basam used to. ketball tradition. Barnes: The teachers. I messed up on a math problem last week and said a word maybe I shouldn’t have said. My teacher told me not to ever do that Q: What is the difference in again. The teachers back home wouldn’t have cared. the level of play between here and what you are used to? Martin Barnes: In Australia, people Vahala hit love the game, but it’s not quite 95 percent the same level as here. The of his free Photo courtesy of Tim Keating intensity and athleticism that throws last Tim Keating has already logged hundreds everyone has isn’t even compaseason in of practice hours this season as a member rable. Here, much of the game is Australia. of both the varsity and junior varsity above the rim with rebounding He is teams. expected to and dunks. What is basketball exposure like in Australia? Vahala: There are about two NBA games per week on television if you have cable. If you want any team merchandise, you have to get it online or at a big store in the major cities. As far as playing the game, there are a lot

contribute skills from the perimeter for the team this season.

Photo courtesy of athletic office

Jocks are smarter than you think Study shows most collegiate athletes hit books more than weights cent over the past 10 years, sometimes exceeding the rest of the student population by 14 points. Men’s basketball players graduated at a relatively low DAILY FREE PRESS / U-WIRE 46 percent rate, though, while football players graduated only 55 percent of Critics who claim Hail Mary passes and 3-point buzzer beaters come at the time. Kearns attributes this statistic to the often-fruitless allure of professional the expense of term papers and final exams may need a new argument, because, according to a recent study, supposed “dumb jocks” actually grad- sports. “In high-profile sports, these student-athletes are told by others if they uate at a slightly higher rate than the student body at large. can go pro in these sports, they will be set for Sixty-three percent of student-athletes who life,” she said. “Only less than 2 percent of basentered college in 2000 on athletic scholarships ketball or football student-athletes go pro, but to the nation’s 318 Division I schools graduat- “The public tends to focus on high-profile sports the perception is that it is possible to make a when it discusses student-athletes not performing ed within six years, compared to 62 percent of career out of it. So these student-athletes take non-student-athletes over the same period, well academically. The truth is, student-athletes according to a National Collegiate Athletic learn very quickly to manage their time efficiently their coursework less seriously than those who have a ‘back-up plan’ in another field.” Association Graduation Success Rates study and effectively.” Phil Decarlo is the director of Studentreleased Oct. 30. The report bases the rates on – Jennifer Kearns federal statistics calculated by the Education NCAA Spokeswoman Athlete Support Services at Boston University, and thinks that student-athletes just have a hard Department, which does not factor in students time juggling coursework and training. who transfer to attend other colleges. “Time management is a big issue. Twenty hours of training every week, “The public tends to focus on high-profile sports when it discusses student-athletes not performing well academically,” said NCAA spokeswoman traveling, classes and social events means student-athletes struggle to succeed academically.” Jennifer Kearns. Boston University Athletic Director Mike Lynch feels that for the most “The truth is, student-athletes learn very quickly to manage their time part, athletes are doing their best to keep “student” as a primary title as well. efficiently and effectively.” “Media outlets like to focus on at least one or two bad stories every According to the report, the graduate rate for student-athletes at all year,” he said. “Most student-athletes actually do quite well in school.” NCAA schools, regardless of division, has remained steady at around 77 per-

JESSICA LAM HILL YOUNG

Entertainment

6 November 14, 2007

The Rambler

Wesleyan almuni find a place to ‘dream big’ at Casa Manana MARK LOWRY REPRINT COURTESY OF FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

Brad Jackson couldn’t believe the informal job description Casa Mañana’s powers-thatbe gave him when he started writing musicals for its Children’s Playhouse four years ago. “Your job is to dream big,” they told him, “and we’ll try to make it happen.” A lot of theaters probably feed that same line to their resident playwrights, but let’s be honest: Few of them have Casa’s multimillion-dollar budget, not to mention the audience numbers seen at Casa Mañana Children’s Playhouse. The group’s 2006 musical Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, for instance, saw some 31,500 folks in seats during public and school performances over a four-week run. That’s double what a sold-out week’s run for a show at Bass Hall would attract. In other words, local writers Jackson, 31, and his current musical collaborator, Alex Vorse, 26, create the plays seen by the most theatergoers in North Texas — and the young duo is therefore highly valued at Fort Worth’s oldest professional theater. Jackson now has nine Playhouse shows under his belt (six of them created with former collaborator Sarah Slaughter, one with Sean McWilliams and two with Vorse). Jackson and Vorse have two more coming this season, which began with an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. Jackson/Slaughter’s Little Red Riding Hood will be revived this year. The Jackson/McWilliams collaboration, The Alamo, is going into its third year of performances given solely for Fort Worth’s Texas history students. But it’s not just about the output. The reason Casa’s bigwigs continue to ask Jackson to write shows — adapted from fairy tales, popular songs, or public-domain stories by folks like Lewis Carroll and Hans Christian Andersen — is because his takes on classic titles are inspired. And, in fact, they’re getting better each year. “We would find a title and subject matter that interested us,” said Casa’s president and executive producer Denton Yockey about programming the Playhouse season, “and we would find maybe two or three scripts that weren’t very good. It’s not a way that writers make a lot of money, so it doesn’t attract the high-quality writers. “I thought [Jackson’s work] was pretty good out of the gate,” he said, “and obviously we kept going with it.” Vorse, who has a music degree from Texas Wesleyan University (also Jackson’s alma mater), shares his collaborator’s philosophy about children’s theater. They’ve both been influenced by such pop-culture touchstones as The Muppets, Schoolhouse Rock and the smarter Disney properties, which are entertaining to a core youth audience but also include humor and themes that keep the ticket-buyers — the adults — interested. Jackson/Slaughter’s version of The Emperor’s New Clothes, for instance, made not-so-

Ron Jenkins/reprint courtesy of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Brad Jackson and Alex Vorse are representing Wesleyan with their exciting and original children’s shows.

subtle connections to the title character and a certain U.S. president. Jackson and Vorse’s Jack and the Beanstalk found an interesting way to explain the absence of Jack’s father in that story (in most versions, the mother is widowed). “Jack’s dad is gone for noble causes. All the children in town are missing because of the giant, and the father is going off to fight a war to find them,” Jackson said. “A lot of people are going to feel deeply about an absent parent at a time when fathers are at war.” Vorse first came on board as a music sequencer but quickly graduated to composing scores, contributing lyrics and acting as musical director for the productions. “My music is very originally me, but I also want it to have roots,” said Vorse, who cites equal love for Jason Robert Brown, Kanye West and Rufus Wainwright. For Treasure Island — which Yockey says includes Jackson’s best music yet — Vorse studied up on his Celtic, Scottish and seafaring songs. “I got a bagpipe tutor, in case I needed to know what a bagpipe sounds like,” he said. “I wanted a lot of the music to sound like sea ballads.” The next big step for Jackson — when he can find time between writing and serving as Casa Mañana’s full-time company manager — is getting the scripts into the larger market, so that he and his collaborators can get royalties if other groups produce them. For his work at Casa, he’ll continue listening to that “dream big” encouragement. “Now I have a better understanding of what our limitations are,” he said. “But we’re lucky. We’d never get these resources anywhere else.”

STRIKE!!!

Photo courtesy of Jessica Steels

Opera students break mold and compose JEREMY SMITH STAFF WRITER

Wesleyan students are writing an opera. Fall 2007 Opera Workshop participants are involved in a ground-breaking project in which they wrote an original story that weaves a variety of arias and choruses from famous operas together. The students are working as a group to formulate the overarching plot for the opera and wrote the scene material that will connect the arias and choruses. The initial phase of the project is well underway, and the students are in the late stages of scene writing. “It’s been a really cool experience,” said junior music major Jonah Copeland. “It’s more personal when you write the story yourself.” Most operas contain little spoken dialogue, as the idea of an opera is that the characters sing rather than speak. Furthermore, the plot is usually fantastic and set in history. This production is a cross between opera and modern theater. The contemporary dialogue is spoken, and the setting is early in the 20th century. Preparation began early in the semester as

T HE W EEK A HEAD To submit an event for the calender, e-mail twurambler@yahoo.com.

Saturday Off Campus:

* 65th Annual Moslah Shrine Circus:Will Rogers Coliseum,11 a.m., 3 p.m., & 7 p.m. * 35th Annual Kruse-Leake Collector Car Show & Auction: Dallas Market Hall, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m

Wednesday On Campus:

a collaborative effort. Before writing could begin, the basic plot for the story had to be determined. Several weeks were spent in discussion and sharing ideas. The next step was character creation and development. This process began within the group when cast member Janna McKinley wrote the rough draft based on the notes and discussions from previous weeks. The rest of the cast made revisions on their individual lines during rehearsals. Finally, the writing of the script could begin, and the final product was put into action. Julie McCoy, a director of the opera production, encourages students to come witness the evolution of the genre and not miss the unique presentation. Writers/singers include Ryan Amador, Jonah Copeland, Stephanie Darbo, David Gast, Janna McKinley, Mary-Margaret Meyer, Laticia Michael, Richelle Mitchell, Jeremy Smith, Jessica Steels and Andrea Talladino. Opera Workshop is directed by music faculty members Jerry Bierschenk and McCoy. The to-be-named opera will show at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in Martin Hall. Admission is free.

Thursday On Campus:

*Methodist Student Movement *The Rambler staff meeting: Stella Russell Hall lobby, meeting: Poly UMC, noon, 12:15 p.m. free lunch served

Friday On Campus

* Gay Straight Alliance meeting: B17 basement of the library, 12:15 p.m.

*Baptist Student Ministry: Sid * 65th Annual Moslah Shrine * Guitar Fort Worth Pablo Circus:Will Rogers Coliseum, Sainz VIllegas: Martin Hall, Richardson Building, noon, 6:30 p.m. free lunch served 7:30 p.m. * 65th Annual Moslah Shrine Circus:Will Rogers Coliseum, 6:30 p.m.

Sunday Off Campus:

Monday Off Campus:

* 65th Annual Moslah Shrine Circus:Will Rogers Coliseum,7 p.m.

* 35th Annual Kruse-Leake * The Trains at NorthPark: Collector Car Show & North Park Mall, 9 a.m. to 9 Auction: Dallas Market Hall, 9 p.m. through Jan. 1st. a.m. to 9 p.m. * Dallas Chamber Music Presents Eroica Trio: SMU's Caruth Auditorium, 8 p.m.

Tuesday On Campus:

* DVD releases: Amazing Grace , La Vie en Rose, Ocean's Thirteen & Shrek the Third. * Wesleyan Opera Scenes: Martin Hall, 7:30 p.m.

2008 television possibly at risk F or longer than a year the Writer’s Guild of America had been threatening a strike. No offense to them, but after so much buzz over the issue over such a long period of time, I never SHAWN R. expected anything to POLING come of it. On Nov. 5, they proved me wrong and went on strike for the first time since 1988. Their qualms with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are many. They are demanding royalties on DVD sales (currently screenwriters get no money from DVD sales), credit for scripting reality television (a secret that’s no longer secret) and revenues from newer media platforms like the Internet. The effects of the strike hit home for me on Nov. 5, when all late-night talk shows had to revert to reruns. If there’s one thing I’m not happy about, it’s that there will be no more Monday-night headlines on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Because of how late-night talk/variety shows are written (daily to keep up with current events), they were the first to go. Ellen host Ellen Degeneres played a repeat of her show on Nov. 5 in support of the walkout, only to return to new episodes the next day. Although the WGA is threatening to picket her show, it is technically OK because the strike exempts entertainers who write their material themselves. Although Degeneres showed that it’s still possible to continue while the strike is on, the late-night shows will not return due to support of the strike. At the moment, talk/variety shows are the only type of entertainment currently effected by the strike. But soon enough, your favorite fictional TV shows will all jump on the rerun bandwagon. The half-hour sitcoms, written in as little as a couple weeks before airing, will be the next to go. Brand-new shows like The Big Bang Theory, which were waiting on either a renewal or cancellation verdict from their stations in order to finish out the current season, will be ending in a few weeks. Next up is the hour-long dramas. Depending on how many episodes were written before the strike (It varies. Some whole seasons are written before the season’s production starts), new episodes of America’s favorite shows will disappear,

one show at a time. Come 2008, few shows will have any new episodes (Although, watch out for LOST in February, whose fourth season is already far into production. It might be the only new show on). Now even the Golden Globes are in danger. The AMPTP may re-open negotiations after it dawned on them that not only will there be no writers to script the Globes, but many celebrities supporting the strike may not even show up to collect their awards. Being a television addict, I really hope this whole mess is sorted out soon. God knows there’s enough money in the industry to spread it around a little more, so hopefully the latest round of talks will end in a compromise. But while the world of television is facing imminent destruction, the movie world is just fine, at least for now. Movies.com’s daily coverage of the strike has revealed that the movie world has been preparing for the strike. Because movies are written long before they are released, the 2008 lineup should go on as scheduled. In case of any unforeseen problems, production companies have been rushing new films into production for the past few months so the strike wouldn’t interfere, including more than 50 major films to be shot in 2008 for 2009 release. In another smart move, production companies have been holding back movies. Once Legendary Pictures realized that the strike would prevent SAW 5 from making its expected Halloween ’08 release, they held last month’s Trick ‘r Treat to take over the coveted spot. So although the world of TV is currently crumbling before our eyes, movies will keep coming far into 2009. Looks like I will be spending even more time watching the big screen. Shawn R. Poling is a senior English major and is the Editor-in-chief for The Rambler.