Rambler 2-11-09 by The Rambler

The Rambler e

The students’ voice since 1917

February 11, 2009

News Briefs

www.txwes.edu/rambler

International Studies minor adds competitive edge Seth Nelson

Resume Clinic In preparation for the career fair that will be held on March 31, Career Services on the second floor of the West Library, will hold a resume clinic from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 9-13. Students are welcome to create, update or have their current resume critiqued by Career Services personnel.

Union Gospel Update The Wesleyan Democrats announced changes to the Union Gospel volunteer times. March 8 is no longer an available day to serve food. The group will instead be serving lunch March 1 and March 22. April 5 and 19 are still open, but only for cleaning.

ability of diplomas from the university. Focusing on liberal arts, the committee’s aim was to encourage students to work towards this minor by “raising student awareness of the ideas, beliefs and perspectives of other peoples in an increasingly global world,” as stated in the pro-

posal. As for the marketability, the goal is to increase it “by adding important global knowledge, which employers find valuable.” In a November 2007 Chronicle of Higher Education study conducted by Karin Fischer, 60 percent of employers polled say that “recent graduates lacked the skills to succeed in a global economy.” As a result, campuses nationwide started to integrate global concentrations into their curricula. “Internationalization should be a goal for all disciplines and departments,” reported the study. It said that internationalization committees were forming at many college campuses to reach this goal. Texas Wesleyan is one of them. “The minor in International Studies is an exciting new option for students to add additional value and breadth to their degrees,” said Marie Boisvert, Wesleyan’s adviser for International Programs. “In Photo by Gasten Schoonover today’s increasingly international

STAFF WRITER

You could say that Texas Wesleyan University is going global. A new international studies minor was approved for the school Feb. 5. It will provide students the option of adding a worldwide focus to any undergraduate degree program from accounting to theater arts. “The world is getting smaller all the time, and, in order to be effective workers and citizens in the 21st century, students need to have a better understanding of how other people think and what they believe,” said Dr. Jay Brown, assistant professor of psychology and chair of the university’s International Education Committee. The committee was tasked with formulating a proposal for the new minor. According to this proposal, the minor will enhance the liberal arts mission of the school and enhance the market- International students teach others about their culture and customs.

The Hatton W. Sumners Foundation Scholarship will receive applications until Feb. 23. Scholars chosen will receive up to $3,500 a semester and will participate in special forums on public policy and leadership. Preference is given to those studying political science, pre-law, history or social studies. Students from other program areas who have high academic achievement and exhibit a strong sense of community responsibility will also be considered.

Study Abroad Education First, in correlation with Wesleyan International Programs, is offering a webinar for study abroad trips. EF tours representative Liz Greenwell will hold the informational session which can be attended at the office or at the house via the Internet and the phone. Remaining times are 3 p.m., Feb. 18 and 3 p.m., Feb. 19. RSVP with ejohnson@txwes.edu or by phone at Ext. 4965.

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.

See International, page 2

City initiative focusing on cleaning up Poly neighborhood Rene’ Edwards STAFF WRITER

Hatton Sumners

Vol. 102, No. 4

The city of Fort Worth’s Safe Neighborhood Initiative is giving Polytechnic Heights a cleanup. Started at the first of January, the project is going door-to-door for 90 days and enforcing the city’s ordinances with the goal of making Poly safe and healthy. The city has pooled the resources of several municipal divisions: Environmental Management, Animal Care and Control, Consumer Health, Neighborhood Police Officers, Community Relations Outreach and others to specifically target serious problems that are considered to be directly related to crime. According to Code Compliance Director Brandon Bennett, crime prevention is best illustrated by environmental design. “Boarded up houses and trashed yards bring crime because it says a lot to a criminal,” he said. “It says that no one is watching, and that is desirable for crime. It’s a shame because the residents of Poly, from what I’ve seen, are good, honest, hardworking people.” Poly was one of three neighborhoods in the city chosen because of the high number of complaints that Poly has received, according to Amy Casas, spokeswoman for Code Compliance, and its strong historical staple to southeast Fort Worth. If the initiative is successful, it could ultimately impact Wesleyan. “There’s no question that Wesleyan has a good image in the minds of most people as a good place to go to school,” said University President Hal Jeffcoat. “At the same time, when you drive up the street and there’s bombed out buildings, it’s untidy, there’s trash floating around in a number of places and

the houses are not kept tidy. All of that creates a stigma, rightly or wrongly, in people’s minds that this isn’t a Photo by Gasten Schoonover safe neighborThe Safe Neighborhood Initiative plans to tidy up the Poly hood.” community by giving attention to code violations. A drastic cleanup could help. While enforcement of codes is typically complaint-based, the Safe Neighborhood Initiative is taking a proactive stance. The officers of each team are educating the community about code violations, health and safety issues, as well as proper animal care. The goals include hauling off junk vehicles, cleaning up trashed yards, fixing fire hazards in homes and securing humane and livable conditions for animals while getting strays off the streets and into safe homes. One area of concern is the health of animals and their livable conditions as well as the abundance of strays in Poly. Joe Brown, a Wesleyan theater and speech professor, said he has rescued more than 100 strays from the area and has mostly placed them in homes of students and faculty. “People will emotionally get a dog without thinking through the time it takes to care for a dog or the expenses,” said Brown. “So many animals in the neighborhood are not kept in fences or, worse yet, they are kept in yards

See Initiative, page 2

Ice storm tests WEMS’ effectiveness Rachel Horton WEB EDITOR

Sparkling white patches of salt on the sidewalks at Texas Wesleyan are the lingering reminders of the recent ice storm the Fort Worth community endured. The storm, now on record as one of the worst since 2003, resulted in icy roadways, the closing of schools like Wesleyan and numerous traffic accidents in the Fort Worth area before finally moving east. It was also one of the first times the university put into action WEMS, the Wesleyan Emergency Management System. Shortly after the National Weather Service in Fort Worth issued the ice storm warning for all of North Texas Jan. 26, the Wesleyan community was notified through WEMS that campus would be closed the following day. WEMS began on campus last semester as a way to quickly notify

College Life

students and faculty of emergency situations. This storm heralded the second time it had been used. Most of the Wesleyan community who registered for the program received a timely message notifying them of the school's closure due to inclement weather. “I was really surprised with how quickly I received the text message,” said Justin Payne, junior political science major. “I got it before I even saw anything on the news or the Web site.” A handful of students however, did not receive notification. According to these students, their registration process had been fully completed all the way down to the final confirmation e-mail, but the notification never arrived. According to IT, the glitch could be attributed to latency in the system or a simple hiccup. Felisa Barnes, Wesleyan's secu-

Get your Valentine’s Day low down from two distinct perspectives. In love or not, Cupid’s arrows fly on the 14th. Page 4

rity manager, said that the university has scheduled a test to occur twice a year. Students and faculty alike are encouraged to review their notification options and select the ones that best suit their lifestyle. You can choose one or choose them all. “My husband [Joseph Barnes, director of dining services] and I are both registered for the system, and when the alert goes out, every phone in our house is ringing," said Barnes. Options include providing a cell phone for text messages, an e-mail address (school and personal) and multiple phone numbers.

Logging on Log on to the WEMS Web site by clicking the link on the right panel of the Wesleyan Web site and providing a Wesleyan e-mail address. Then you will be asked to provide the contact information in which you would like to receive emergency notifications.

Sports

Courtesy of Google Images

Students who are registered with WEMS receive emergency notifications and information, such as the news that campus was closed Jan. 27 and 28 due to inclement weather. WEMS sends out two test messages throughout the year.

The Lady Rams softball team is gearing up and taking the necessary steps to secure a place in the conference tournament. Page 5

News

February 11, 2009

International, from page 1 climate, graduates need to be prepared to think critically about issues in a global context whether it be in their careers, in their personal lives, or as responsible citizens. “A degree with an international minor will give Texas Wesleyan graduates a competitive edge in an increasingly global job market as well as a framework in which to better understand the cross-cultural facets of their chosen major.” The proposal to start a minor in international studies first began in a meeting by the International Education Committee. A survey in the GST 1111 (The Freshman Experience) class was conducted for freshmen to voice their opinion on majors and minors, and 31 percent voted “yes” on whether or not they would like to add an international studies minor to their degree plan. Although the minor is new, international awareness is no stranger at Wesleyan. Each October, the campus hosts International Week, in which five days are devoted to international lectures and activities, study abroad information sessions, as well as the International Fair.

The Rambler 2

In this setting, nearly 200 attendees meet students from countries such as the Bahamas, Croatia, Germany, India, Nepal and Sweden, learning facts about their home nations and sampling some of their native cuisines. In another offering, students who take the crosslisted religion/history course, Religious History of Scotland, attend a spring break trip to Scotland to observe the sights mentioned in the class. Similar trips in various disciplines have also occurred such as a graduate student trip to Brazil. Throughout the year, Wesleyan also offers the International Club where students of all nationalities meet monthly to organize activities, go on field trips and raise cultural awareness. This club is under the direction of Betsy Johnson, director of International Programs. She is pleased with the addition of the new minor. “It’s a great opportunity for students to expand their knowledge of world affairs and expand their resumes to make them more marketable,” said Betsy Johnson. Photos by Gasten Schoonover

The International Studies minor will require 18 hours of coursework, including: • A new course titled Introduction to International Studies • A geography component • An international experience component (Study Abroad or an international-related internship in the Metroplex) • Nine hours of electives in various disciplines (such as religion or political science)

Students from Nepal (above) and Sweden and Germany (left) showcase substance native to their home turf. Each country also served up a native dish during the International Fair that was held in the fall at the Baker Martin Pavilion.

Initiative, from page 1 on ropes or chains, and then they somehow break loose and then often run in packs around the neighborhood.” He said he believes that more animal enforcement will help considering there is not enough to handle all of the complaints that are made. According to Bennett, tethered dogs are a common mistreatment seen by code compliance officers, and this action can make a dog four to five times more likely to attack due to aggression. A significant amount of dogs in the Poly area have also been found without food or water for an extensive period, he said, and that also contributes to aggressive behavior. But hopefully things are changing. Two weeks after the start of the program, dog licensing was up 68 percent, city officials said. According to a city memo sent to council members, $82,143 will go toward forming contracts with Baylor Health, Crime Pre-

vention Resource Center and the Dallas/Fort Worth Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team in order to further make the Safe Neighborhood Initiative successful. And so far it is a success, according to Bennett, and Poly residents are more than happy to do what it takes to clean up their neighborhood. Bennett said that its current decay “peppers the livability” of the community, but neighbors are communicating with each other before they are issued citations and helping one another clean up and haul off old cars. Bennett said he believes Wesleyan is an “anchor” to the viability of the initiative becoming a success, not only for Poly, but for the university. He said Wesleyan’s outreach to the community is a valuable asset for progress. “If the city wants to be much more diligent in making sure that the buildings in the neighborhood are up to code, that can’t help but improve things at Wesleyan,” said Jeffcoat.

Opinions

“I’m waiting for my guy friend to ask me out to dinner, so I’m playing it by ear till Saturday.” “Celebrating singles’ awareness day. ”

What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?

Claire Fisher Sophomore Biology Major Evan Anderson Graduate Student Professional Counseling

February 11, 2009

The Rambler 3

Hugs & Kisses? Maybe goodbye.

Valentine’s equals a corporate-forced blandly affectionate holiday

or this was Seynt Valentine’s Day when every foul cometh ther to choose his mate.” – Chaucer (though he was speaking of birds, I can’t help but think “foul” has a double meaning here.) Box of chocolates? Check. Fresh cut flowers? Check. A nauseating sense of forced and feigned romanticism brought on by a capitalistic mass marketing ploy? Chuck (Sigh) Check. Fain Valentine’s Day is here again, and once again is wreaking its usual havoc on the community. It has people scrambling to get their loved ones crap that they would otherwise never buy. It has the lonely feeling even lonelier. And those who have been trying to keep the relationship “light and breezy” are backed into a corner. I’m sure there’s a positive side, but so far I haven’t found it. Perhaps if we examine the history of Valentine’s Day, we’ll see why it’s so important to celebrate. Aside from this holiday having some horrific baggage such as the Valentine’s Day Massacre and the startling statistic that one in 10 young adults commits suicide on this day (Disclaimer: no actual statistical data on Valentine’s Day suicide rates were found, but 65 percent of statistics are just made up anyway), why don’t we, as a people, just get rid of this horrible holiday? Because, Valentine’s Day has done us some good as well, such as … OK, there was that one time that – no … well, perhaps if we examine the history of Valentine’s Day, we’ll see why it’s so important to celebrate. According to techdirect.com and the History Channel Online, it is widely believe that the holiday started in ancient Rome with the “The Feast of Lubercus.” This feast was held in honor of the god Lupercus, who kept hungry wolves from attacking sheep farmers and their flock. The priest at these feasts sacrificed a goat for purity and a dog for purification, then “sliced the goat’s hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goat hide strips.” Doing this was thought to bring fertility to both, as was generally considered to be a good time. Afterwards, the single ladies, with faces freshly slapped from goat hide, put their names in a box. The names were then chosen by bachelors attending the festival. The man and woman would then be paired for a year, effectively taking all the guess work out of dating. Come for the food, stay for the concubine. Those Romans really had it together. Eventually, as the church took over and set to irradiating all pagan rituals, they took the holiday and made it their own, replacing the names of girls with that of saints. The person drawing the saint’s name would then emulate that saint’s life for a year (each one hoping not to get a martyred saint), and, seemingly just because, the church dubbed it Saint

Valentine’s Day. Other stories, according to historychannel.com, say that Valentine was a priest in Rome who married off soldiers despite the emperor Claudius’ wishes, which, of course, got him killed. Still, another claim to Valentine’s fame is that Saint Valentine, in a Roman prison for helping Christians escape persecution, fell in love with the jailer’s daughter and sent her love letters, signed “From your Valentine.” He, of course, died. So, does that clear it up? See now why we have a multibillion dollar industry devoted to cards with annoying sayings and stupid plush toys holding puffy hearts embroidered with things like “Be mine” and “Huggable?” Yeah, me neither, but look on the bright side, ladies, at least you don’t get slapped in the face with bloody goat hide anymore. For my money, I think Valentine’s Day is a silly, useless holiday. I understand having a day to focus on romance, to appreciate the one you love, to set aside time and bask in your lover’s affection – but that’s not what this holiday has become. It is a commercialized empire of commerce where gifts aren’t given to show real emotion of affection, but to show off and compare with other people. Besides, I can’t think of anything less romantic than to spend money on useless crap, mass produced specifically for this holiday and professing your love to someone because a big corporation demands that you should. That’s following orders, not being romantic. I propose a ban on Valentine’s Day, save your money on February 14th and do something for that special someone when the creative and romantic mood strikes you. Romance is spontaneous, not marked on a calendar, so celebrate your love when it feels right. In the interest of full disclosure, I do have a wife, and yes, I will be one of the hundreds of guys scrambling to find a Valentine’s gift at the last minute. Yes, I do feel a bit hypocritical, and I would like to support my own cause, but I also like sleeping in my own bed. Chuck Fain is a senior English major and is a staff writer for The Rambler.

Kenneth Flowers Graduate Student Professional Counseling

“I’m going to take one of my female friends out to eat.”

Jeremy Smith Senior Vocal Performance

“My girlfriend and I will be in San Antonio for a music convention and plan on finding a nice restaurant.”

Packing a gun essential to self-protection T

wo articles published in target practice at the range. The Rambler recently In regards to the arguments that it’s the job of caught my eye. One a news the police force to protect, I agree. These men and story and one an opinion women are far better trained to know when and column, both covered the when not to use deadly force and are armed with issue of guns on college many non-lethal methods to prevent crime, but campuses. Both targeted a they are not able to be everywhere all the time. bill before the 2009 Texas Should a situation arise on this campus, or Legislature that would repeal any other for that matter, the best that the students Monty the ban on carrying a handgun can hope for is a response time of minutes in the single digits, though given the lay out of Fort Leverett on a college campus. Currently, even those Worth, Arlington and Dallas, I would hazard with a Concealed Handgun License are prohibited a guess that the time would be more than 20 from carrying their gun at a college or university. minutes, which is long enough for casualties to be I have heard many arguments on this issue, and far too high. while quite a few were well thought out and Am I saying that I want to go Rambo and presented intelligently, I shoot all the bad guys? Not at all. I cannot agree that the ban ... by outlawing the private realize that were I forced into a situation should remain. posession of firearms, only where it was “him or me,” I would The purpose of a CHL those who would not use choose to live. But I also would look for is to allow people who them for crime are unarmed. any and all ways to resolve the situation have demonstrated not only without using deadly force. a clear past, as evident by Inside my home, where I am not the background check, but also the mental and the only one who owns a handgun, that is still the emotional ability to shoulder the responsibility of case. I realize that if someone enters my home carrying a weapon. with the intent of doing harm, there is little I can Growing up in Texas, I won’t say that guns do short of visiting harm on them first to stop and other firearms are foreign to my life. I can them. tell you that target and skeet shooting are two Hopefully that never happens, but the one pastimes I greatly enjoy. As far as my having a question I keep asking myself is “What if I’m in a CHL or getting one, I can only pray every day situation where I could stop the attacker, but that that I never need use that weapon for more than was prevented by not being able to carry?”

The Rambler

Monty Leverett is a junior history major and is a guest columnist for The Rambler.

Rambler Ratings

Founded in 1917 as The Handout Harold G. Jeffcoat, Publisher Kelli Lamers, adviser Tiara Nugent,editor-in-chief Ryan Authier, entertainment editor Gasten Schoonover, photo editor

Finally, in countries where the staff and faculty of a school are allowed to carry (oddly, these are countries still favoring conscription to a completely volunteer military), violence in schools is virtually non-existent. In opposition, countries with what is often called a “Draconian ban,” violence is quite high. One need only look to Beslan and the massacre in a public school, or Belgium, where attackers broke into a day care facility armed with knives, but, being unarmed, the staff could only cower in fear, or run, leaving the children to die. Countries where law-abiding citizens are able to choose to be armed aren’t completely safe, and won’t be for some time, I’m afraid. But by outlawing the private possession of firearms, only those who would not use them for crime are unarmed. The crimes seen on the news as “gun crimes” are in some cases not even true, as the person committing the crime had a gun, but didn’t use it. In the cases where they did, a very large number of those crimes are committed with weapons either purchased illegally or stolen. The one question that must be asked here is not “do we want guns on our campus?” The question I pose to you is this: If those who seek to do harm to others had to wonder how many people in a given setting were armed, wouldn’t they think twice about their plans?

Martin Garcia, news editor Bryce Wilks, sports editor Ashely Oldham, advertising manager Rachel Horton, 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 E-mail: twurambler@yahoo.com

Thumbs up to the large turnout for the intramural fouron-four flag football league.

Thumbs down to the lack of cleanliness in Stella.

Thumbs down to drivers who speed up, down and around campus parking lots.

Thumbs up to June Johnson, circulation clerk, for outstanding and cheerful student service.

4 The Rambler

College Life

February 11, 2009

The whys,wherefores and how tos T

for commemorating Valentine’s

he Super Bowl is over, fellas, that means the rest of the year belongs to our female counterparts. Valentine’s Day falls weeks after the big game for a reason: to remind us all that romance and love and relationship takes precedence over sports ... I almost got through that entire sentence without laughing. Almost. In all seriousness, Valentine’s is a holiday based on romance. Many argue chivalry is dead, but this day is when men coast to coast attempt to prove otherwise. We offer flowers and candy, open doors, pull out chairs and some even pay for the entire meal. Novel, really. All of our attention truly is on the lady. After all it is her day, right? False. Romance is reciprocal, as you well know, and V-day is no exception. We manly men don’t demand much, and no, it’s not always what you think. We too enjoy a little courtship, and Valentine’s is the day to give it to us. Start simple. I am not alone in saying a home cooked meal tops going out any day. Our society has become so bent on fast food and sub-par “restaurants” (I’m looking at you, TGIFridays), that millions of stoves across our great nation sit unused collecting dust. The holiday of love is the perfect time to whip out the apron and cook up something nice. It doesn’t have to be a roasted duck or braised pork loin, heck we actually prefer it not be those things. Maybe some macaroni and cheese with bacon, or a chowder with bacon or maybe just some slices of bacon. Don’t try to impress with elegant dinnerware or gaudy décor; this is a man we’re talking about. I reiterate: keep it simple. We are a simple breed, so cater to that. After that delicious bacon dinner, I suggest you and your man candy head to beautiful Sundance Square and enjoy what Fort Worth has to offer. However, to continue spicing up the night, I say reverse roles. Guys, let the lady drive. Let her pay for the movie, the cover charge at the bar, and the first round of drinks. Innovative? Yes. This is your day too! For the grand finale, finish the evening off by offering your gent two of the finest amenities life has to offer: pie and massage. There are very few memories that I vividly recall from my past, but those that I can e’duce all involve pie and a back rub, typically at the same time. The combination of the sweet flavor, flaky crust and immense relaxation that only an Indian Champissage massage can provide allows for a euphoria that can only be matched by a heavy dose of antidepressants. With luck and patience, he will fall asleep in your arms like a big hairy baby ... and this time you get to be the big spoon! Sounds like a fantasy, right guys? Well unless your girlfriend is either incredibly open-minded or inflatable, that’s all it ever will be. Realistically, you will be cooking the braised pork (hold the bacon), paying for the movie, the cover and the first round, feeding her the pie, giving her the massage, and, once again, being the big spoon. But that is what we do for our girls. Without them we dwindle into a slovenly pile of sweatpants and Dorito dust, so treat them right. After all, it is their day.

HIS

R y a n A ut h i e r

Courtesy of Google Images

Chocolate Poetry Auditions

hen I was quite a little girl, I awoke on Valentine’s Day to a rattling ka-plunk.

The pink envelope veiling the Valentine’s card from my mom and dad still resting atop my bed sheets explained where the box of heart-shaped candies -- now lying on the floor -- had come from. In that simple 4-year-old’s world I existed in, Valentine’s Day meant picking out a box of little Beauty and the Beast cards, a party at pre-school and flowers for my mom. Pure fun for no rhyme or reason because, after all, at that age any real sweetheart affair just can’t transpire (I realized much later that the cute, little Australian boy didn’t buy those pretty flowers, his mother did!). Seventeen years later, growing-up and finding the one true love of my life have altered that naïve mindset. I’ve come to see that the heart of February 14th rests in communicating to the one you love how very much they mean to you. The real pleasure of Valentine’s Day comes by surprising that special someone with superfluous tokens of affection. Similar to Christmas, this pink-n-red mushy holiday should focus on giving – giving extra love to the one who bestows so much joy and sparks those everyday smiles. Looking through the afore-described lens (call them rose-colored if you will) presents a conundrum: what to actually do in commemoration of the sweet day. Saying “I love you” and showering hugs and kisses doesn’t quite make the extra-special cut. Guys plan the special date, and the girls wants him to feel just as loved and appreciated. He wonders what excursion will wow her. Flowers or no flowers (branch out, dude)? He considers chocolate a necessity (oh, blasted stereotypes) – but what kind? With nuts or without? Dark or milk? Add cherries? She wonders what can she get him that won’t seem trivial in comparison to a date. Besides… wouldn’t buying a chocolate heart seem weird? Personally, I don’t think what a guy and gal crave and appreciate stand so starkly in contrast. The basis of desire generally stems from personality rather than gender. First, to the baffled boyfriend: A girl wants most for her man to put thought and care into his Valentine offering. She craves something wholly unique and unexpected – something she can brag about to her friends for weeks to come. Such is not to say she desires a negative balance in his checking account – unique and expensive are not equivalent or exchangeable. Guys, drop subtle hints the week before Valentine’s Day to let her know that you have a grand plan in store. Peek her curiosity. Let a little excitement show, but remain mysterious about it. The perfect date – for Valentine’s or any other day of the year – always equals one you both will enjoy to the fullest. Valentine’s, however, is the day you prove your romance powers outdo Romeo. Mr. Darcy (of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice) ain’t got nothin’ on you. Whether you pick a home-cooked meal (impressive) or something along the lines of a dimly-lit Italian eatery complete with dripping candles and a rotund guitarist crooning in the corner, ensure your style as a couple is written all over. Make your gal feel like it is her night. Post-dinner frolic – just put together something extraordinary you can relish and treasure each other’s company in. Again, the thesaurus does not list “expensive” as a synonym for “extraordinary.” If you go to the movies every weekend, try a moonlight walk along the river, competitive bowling (because of course you bring out the fierce rivalry in each other) or a merry dance. Whatever means fun for you both. If you’ve eagerly been scanning this article hoping I’ll solve your Valentine gift dilemma (for him or for her), here’s what you’ve been clutching the paper in anticipation for: To me, the video games, purses, sporting goods, iPods and the like belong to birthdays and Christmas. Sweet and symbolic, Valentine’s gifts should represent and remind the recipient of love, whether male or female. Luckily for poor college students, these meaningful tokens of affection often come at low prices though their value looms shyhigh. Examples? A photo collage mousepad compiled by your favorites pictures together. You can order one for 10 bucks at WalMart. Photos bestow a bountiful selection of gift ideas. Your favorite snapshots can be wrapped around a porcelain mug for 10 bucks as well. That same print would make a smashing addition to metal or wooden frames boasting message engravings such as can be found on the shelves of stores like Kohl’s. Various online stores will even etch your message into a glossy pine frame, though that option demands additional dinero. So there’s a couple examples of symbolic gifts to crank your mental gears. Other options abound – you know your lover. Give the gift that to him/her will say silently say “I love you” everyday. Additionally, why not charm your lover with daily notes the week preceding Valentines? Include favorite memories or your favorite attributes of your relationship. For the grand finale on Valentine’s Day, write a poem or craft a list “101 Reasons why I Love You.” The series of valentines applies to him or to her, but gals, this sphere of affirmation will likely elate your man more than most other articles would. Your man desires reassurance of your appreciation, pride in him and devotion. Tell everything you adore – no matter how crazy it might seem! Remember, Valentine’s Day does not involve inviting someone to be yours for a day. Valentine’s Day revolves around showing that beloved significant other how very much he/she is treasured.

Tiara Nugent

HERS

Freshman Antonio Wicker tries out for Chocolate Poetry Night during auditions in Martin Hall. The Black Student Association will host Chocolate Poetry Night at 7 p.m. Feb. 13 in The Baker Building.

February 11, 2009

Quick Quote

“Sport strips away personality, letting the white bone of character shine through. Sport gives players an opportunity to know and test themselves.”

Sports

You snooze, you lose The softball team is getting up early in hopes of advancing to postseason play

- Rita Mae Brown American author

Ashley Oldham

Upcoming Events Feb. 12 *2 p.m. Baseball vs. Tabor College Feb. 13 *2 p.m. Baseball vs. College of Santa Fe *3 p.m. Softball vs. LSUAlexandria Feb. 14 *2 p.m. Baseball vs. Lubbock Christian 2 p.m. Women’s Basketball @ Huston-Tillotson 4 p.m. Men’s Basketball @ Huston-Tillotson Feb. 15 *Noon Baseball vs. College of Santa Fe *2 p.m. Baseball vs. College of Santa Fe

Sports Briefs Rams knock off Warriors Feb. 7 The No. 17 ranked basketball team moved their conference record to 9-2 with a 76-72 over Bacone. Kennith Gober led five Rams in double-figure scoring with 19 points. Ryan Barnes added 15 points and 10 rebounds. Baseball takes two of three from UMHB Feb. 7 The Rams baseball team took two out of three contests in a weekend series against Mary-Hardin Baylor. The Rams took game one 9-6, game two 1412 and dropped game three 11-2. Butch Ballez and Travis Spencer each hit three home runs in the series. Softball drops two to A&M International Feb. 7 The softball team opened their season against Texas A&M International and fell 7-2 and 7-6. Freshman Hopie Perez went 3-for-3 in her first collegiate game. Rams drop Pirates 8-2 Feb. 4 The baseball team defeated Southwestern University 8-2 at LaGrave Field. Outfielder Blake Walker went 2-for3 with two runs scored and transfer pitcher Lance Parker picked up his first victory in a Rams uniform. Rams open season with doubleheader sweep Feb. 3 The No. 17 ranked baseball team kicked off its season by sweeping the University of Arkansas-Monticello 8-0 and 5-4. Wesleyan’s first hit was a single from Ryan Jacobi who went on to lack only a home run for the cycle. Pitchers Joey Evans and Taylor Miller picked up victories on the day for the Rams.

Log on to www.ramsports.net for the latest game information and profiles of your favorite Wesleyan teams and athletes

The Rambler 5

ADVERTISING MANAGER

The early bird gets the worm, or at least that’s what seems to be the motto of the Wesleyan softball team this year. Every morning the Lady Rams awake to the sound of their alarms buzzing bright and early around 6:15 a.m. only to throw their hair up and grab a granola bar before being at the softball field at 6:45 a.m. sharp. These early morning practices are a new approach that head softball coach Shannon Gower is taking this year in hopes of a better finish than third in conference play, which is what the team ended their season with in 2008. The goal for the Lady Rams this year is nationals, which will take place in Decatur, Ala. As Gower explained, the goal is more attainable this year than any other season because the regional tournament has been eliminated this year. The teams that place in the conference tournament will advance directly to nationals and Gower believes morning practices are a big step forward in reaching this goal. “It allows the whole team to get a chance to work together and learn how one another plays as an individual, which will, in turn, create a better sense of trust on the field,” said junior Tana Park. Afternoon practices are hard on the team, she said, because the girls have many conflicts. “Only having six people at practice [out of 19] makes it really difficult to accomplish what we need to,” Gower said. This new season has also brought on a new attitude for the Lady Rams. The team has been following the philosophy of pride, honesty, respect and sacrifice, team members said, and these rules are a frame of mind that is used and followed on and off the field. “We work very hard to prepare these girls after their years at Wesleyan,” Gower said. According to junior Lauren Garza and Park, the girls seek to take pride in their team, respect each other and are dedicate themselves to playing the game by sacrificing their time to practice. By mixing this mindset with early morning workouts, the team hopes to get a recipe for high expectations for the softball team this season. Now all the girls need is a little bit of shut eye. The Lady Rams will have its first home game Feb. 13 when they host LSU-Alexandria. The double header will begin at 3 p.m. at Sycamore Park.

Photo by Jose Valdez

Tara Martinez (above) returns to the infield for the 2009 Lady Rams softball team. The team is aiming a higher finish in conference play this season, which could land them in the national tournament in May.

Gatlin gets all-time record in victory The women’s basketball team ran away with a 63-52 win over Bacone College Feb. 7. During the game, senior guard Kim Gatlin (left) drained a pair of three’s to set a new school career record. Just over three minutes into the game, Gatlin buried her 123rd career three, tying the mark set by Susie Mays (1994-96). That three came during a 13-0 start to the contest for Texas Wesleyan. The Rams led by as many as 15, but Bacone rallied to narrow the gap to 21-18 with five minutes to play. That’s when Gatlin hit her record-breaking trey, sparking a 7-0 run that put the Rams firmly in control again. After leading 30-21 at the intermission, Wesleyan quickly ran the score to 37-23 in the second half. Bacone managed to close the margin to eight points, 59-51, with 1:31 to play. However, the Lady Rams out scored the Warriors 4-1 in the final minute to close out the 63-52 win. The Rams forced 27 turnovers which led to 34 points. While Bacone held a 50-46 edge in rebounding, the Rams got 23 offensive boards and outscored the Warriors 17-6 on second chance opportunities. Gatlin is in her third and final season with the Rams. In addition to her 124 three-pointers, she’s scored 753 points. - Josh Lacy

Berry glad to be here, thanks A top 20 ranking, high-flying offense and closely knit program has senior Chris Berry and the conference-leading Rams right where they want to be. Troy Phillips

REPRINT COURTESY FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

Hard to tell now, but Chris Berry might have been the best basketball player to come out of Texas Wesleyan. He’ll never know. A former Seagoville High teammate of current Portland Trail Blazer LaMarcus Aldridge, Berry just loved winning. Numbers and stats were nice. Playing major college ball seemed appealing. Berry, though, most wanted three things: Close teammates, hard-working teammates and victories. Modest desires, actually. It took four years and three colleges for Berry, now the NAIA’s fourth-leading scorer at 22.7 points per game, to find what he wanted. “If there’s one regret,” said Berry, a 6-foot-4 senior new to Wesleyan’s program, “it’s that I didn’t come here out of high school or after my first year in college. Too many times, you’re thinking about the level, not the program.” Experience has wised up Berry. He led Seagoville to a 33-3 mark as a senior (Aldridge graduated a year earlier) and committed to play for Billy Gillispie at Texas A&M. Gillispie told Berry he intended to redshirt him, but another option was to attend Lon Morris College one year and join A&M’s program as a more developed sophomore. It sounded better than sitting for a year in College Station, so Berry went to Lon Morris and played well enough for something funny to happen. He was being recruited all over again. “I had more offers than I had in high school,” Berry said. “A&M had moved to the bottom of my list. I was afraid if I went there, I’d be just another player, another number.” Gillispie wasn’t thrilled when Berry signed with St. Francis (Pa.) University in the NCAA Division I Northeast Conference, but he respected Berry’s honesty and understood players change their minds, too. At St. Francis, Berry earned all-conference honors twice, but the Red Flash went 14-44 and tied for or finished last in two seasons. Wesleyan assistant Brennen Shingleton had played at Lon Morris and knew Berry, who called Shingleton before his junior season at St. Francis. Had he called a day earlier, Wesleyan might have had Berry for two seasons. “He’d gone to class the first day and asked if there was any way he could get out of there,” Shingleton said. “As soon he went to class, he couldn’t play that season anywhere else. Thankfully, he’s here now.” St. Francis released Berry, who left as a coaching change occurred. His personality immediately meshed with Wesleyan teammates, coach Terry Waldrop said, even as some players’ roles changed with Berry becoming a primary scorer. Photo by Jose Valdez “People can’t help but like him,” said Waldrop, whose team is 18-3 and leads the Red River Chris Berry is showing why he was originally recruited by Athletic Conference at 8-2 after eight consecutive victories. “He’s one of the nicest guys you’ll Billy Gillespie at Texas A&M. meet, and you just love to play with him because he makes everyone better.” After an 0-2 league start, injuries to two Wesleyan big men and shaky defensive play, Berry has set the scoring pace and done little things like take charges, make free throws and get big rebounds. Others followed suit, and Wesleyan is back in control. “This is a valuable program,” Berry said. “Everything you get here, you work for, on and off the court. I couldn’t be happier.”

Entertainment

February 11, 2009

The Rambler 6

Bite down on the best burgers in town F

ood: It is a necessary and delicious staple of our collegiate careers. However, when Dora’s has run its course and wreaked its eventual havoc upon our hapless bowels, other means of nourishment must be obtained. And what, pray tell, first comes to mind when trying to find a quick bite? Hamburgers, of course. Hamburgers Gasten have become synonymous with late night Schoonover eating, fast food ventures and a truckload of friends looking for a bite to eat. This, however, raises the question: Where is the best place to fulfill our burger fantasies? In this epic search for a hamburger haven, I have tried three different “burger joints” in the area, and rated them according to atmosphere, quality of service, and, obviously, the food. On the menu we have Dutch’s, Griff’s and the everfamous Kincaid’s. Good food and possessives in the restaurant title: all prerequisites for a great place to eat. Coming in at No. 3 is Kincaid’s Hamburgers. Kincaid’s has been infamous in the area since 1966, when O. R. Gentry started making these burgers to use up the meat that the Charles Kincaid Grocery and Market had daily. The burgers quickly gained popularity and are known throughout the Metroplex. In very recent times, Kincaid’s has grown past its original Fort Worth store at 4901 Camp Bowie and opened locations in Southlake, Hulen and Arlington. All of the locations have the similar feel of an oldtimey grocery. Sit on wooden picnic style benches, complete with the stereotypical red and white checkered tablecloth, or stand around long waist-high grocery shelves to shovel down your meal. Either way, the atmosphere is great. The service is pretty good, expect to wait just a little longer than you would in an average fast food joint. If it’s packed, it can take 15 minutes to get your meal. Everyone there is decently nice, nothing out of the norm from every other fast food place I have ever been to. Lastly, the burgers here are great. Never once have the thoughts of processed meat crossed my mind while eating here. These are high-quality, juicy, delicious burgers. I Bill and Ted agree: Fort Worth’s would compare them most excellent burgers are found to burgers one would at Dutch’s on University.

expect to find at a good backyard barbecue. Expect to pay University. Though still counter service, Dutch’s leans more around $6 for your burger. Kincaid’s takes their time, and toward a sit-down restaurant-style burger joint. But man-oputs out a quality product. man, this place was a lot of fun. At No. 2 is Griff’s. Located at 4224 E. Lancaster, about To go to Dutch’s, my friend, senior religion major Brady three minutes east from campus, Griff’s may look shady to Wells, decided to tag along. The parking here is not that most, but great, the only don’t let spots being along that scare one side of the you, their street or a few in burger’s the back unless are to die you’re willing to for. The walk. (Make sure staff here that your parallel is very parking skills are friendly, up to snuff – Brady they was a little rusty). always Once we got have inside though, something we had a blast. nice to Inside is a hip say, and college hangout on more and bar, with a than one great vibe and fun occasion Photos by Gasten Schoonover atmosphere. While I’ve been Griff’s, a neighborhood burger joint on East Lancaster, serves up some of the best burgers in waiting in line, we town. offered noticed that when free drinks ordering, the staff while I wait, even though the wait is always minimal. took your name, so we decided to make a few up. I was Bill, The burgers here are by no means healthy, but they sure Brady was Ted. Now normally, this would be your average are good. The grease adds a big extra “umpf’ to the flavor. stupid joke, but the hilarious staff here made it awesome. The prices here are by far the most reasonable, I usually get When our food was ready, Samantha, one of the orderout for around $5. takers, announced, “Bill and Ted, your most excellent The only real downfall to Griff’s is the ambiance. I burgers are ready!” After sharing a laugh, we picked the don’t normally like to eat there, so I usually go for take-out. burgers up, chatted with Samantha a bit, and then got down This is mostly because everyone is too afraid to go with me to business. Dutch’s burgers blew our minds. They were due to the location, but it really isn’t that bad. Griff’s delicious! Made with sweet rolls instead of your average is just one of those great places that has been there sesame seed buns, these delicious delights lit up our taste forever, but unfortunately, the neighborhood around it buds. has changed. They were of obvious high quality, had fresh veggies If you can get over the location, this is a friendly and a unique taste. In my friend’s words, “The spontaneous and great place for a quick and great burger. Run by for and fun-loving staff at Dutch’s will definitely keep me dinner, or to just grab one of their great shakes while coming back. The classic cool of Dutch’s makes for a on a study break. rocking good time and some of the best burgers around.” Dutch’s comes Agreed. in at No. 1, and While these burgers were the most expensive of all everything about those tried, around $7 (we ended up paying almost $10 each this place screams for burgers, fries and drinks), the price is most definitely awesome. They have worth it. been around for Whatever place you choose to eat at, you’re in for a about two years and treat. Whether it be Kincaid’s, Griff’s or Dutch’s, you are are located at 3009 bound to have a great burger and a great time. S. University Drive, right across from Gasten Schoonover is a senior business major and is photo editor for Texas Christian The Rambler.

Fill the void

Look Ahead

Wednesday

On Campus:

Thursday

On Campus:

Friday

OnCampus:

• Baptist Student Ministries: • Methodist Student Movement: • Chocolate Poetry: Baker Carter Conference Room, noon. Poly UMC, 12:15 p.m. Free Building, 7 p.m. Free lunch served lunch served. Weekly Movie Releases: Off Campus: Off Campus: Confessions of a Shopaholic; • Valentine’s Day beer glass • Duncan Skeik: McDavid The International; Friday the night: Flying Saucer, 7 p.m. Studio, 8 p.m. 13th

To submit an event for the “wurambler@yahoo.com.

Saturday

Off Campus:

Sunday

Off Campus:

• Fort Worth Symphony Or•The Seafarer: Stage West, chestra’s An Affair of the Heart: 3 p.m. Bass Hall, 8 p.m. • Ne-Yo, Nokia Theatre, 7 p.m. • Cory Morrow: Granada Theater, 8 p.m.

Monday

Off Campus:

• The National Acrobats of China: Bass Hall, 7 p.m.

Tuesday

On Campus:

• Chapel: Poly UMC, 12:15 p.m. Free lunch served.

• Words of the Artists: Jubilee Weekly DVD Releases: Theatre, 8 p.m. Body of Lies; Changeling; How to Lose Friends and Alienate People; Flash of Genius

he p a gr ted o n ot ph wa

Meetings: Stella Lobby 12:15 Thursdays twurambler@ yahoo.com

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