The Rambler, Vol. 100 No. 10 by The Rambler

The Rambler

The students’ voice since 1917

www.txwes.edu/rambler

April 16, 2008

NEWS BRIEFS Congrats Rams! The Texas Wesleyan University table tennis team won its fifth consecutive championship in Rochester, Minn. at the 2008 ACUI/NCTTA National Collegiate Table Tennis Championship. Wesleyan beat out Princeton University for the co-ed title and the women dominated, winning the women’s team, women’s singles and women’s doubles. Wesleyan also took home second place for men’s doubles.

News Briefs

Let’s hear it for business! Students of Sameer Vaidya, associate dean to the school of business, participated in an online business strategy simulation, competing against 3,800 teams from 215 schools. Three Wesleyan student teams ranked in the Global Top 100 Performances! Last chance for tickets! Theatre Wesleyan’s 54th annual spring musical Little Me graces the stage of TWU’s Thad Smotherman Theatre starting at 7:30 p.m. April 17-19 and 2 p.m. April 20. Come support Wesleyan students and faculty in a production directed and choreographed by guest artist Joel Ferrell and featuring musical direction by Aimee Hurst. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $6 for faculty and staff and $5 for students with an ID. The box office can be reached Monday-Friday from 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m. at (817) 531-4211. FAFSA Open House Financial aid will host a FAFSA open house from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. April 18 in the financial aid office. Counselors will be available to assist with FAFSA, answer financial aid questions and review award information. Free food will be provided, and student attendees will be included in a drawing for a $300 scholarship. The FAFSA is mandatory for all students seeking financial aid. First, either complete your 2007 taxes or make sure your parents complete theirs. Next, get a pin number at www.pin.ed.gov. Next, fill out your FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov and enter in the Texas Wesleyan University federal school code (003645). For extra information, visit the office of financial aid on the third floor of the administration building or call (817) 5314420.

Vol. 100, No.10

Stormy weather takes on Martin Field

Photo by Gasten Schoonover

In the early hours of April 10, forceful winds tore through Fort Worth, tearing down most of the fencing surrounding Wesleyan’s Martin Field.

Pate’s estate to bring Wesleyan $1 million for history department SHAMEKA HYATT STAFF WRITER

Businessman, philanthropist and renowned civic leader Dr. Aggie M. Pate donated a portion of his estate to Texas Wesleyan that could bring close to $1 million for the history department. Pate granted Wesleyan one-sixteenth of his 634acre estate in southwest Tarrant County Pate passed away Oct. 6, 1988. Although the land between the intersections of Dirks Road and Bryant Irvin was willed to family members and organizations, Pate specified that no portion of the land be sold for 20 years. With that period ending, Wesleyan is moving forward with plans for its proceeds. It might take more than a year to “finally cash the property,” according to William Bleibdrey, senior vice president of finance and administration, but he said Wesleyan sees a projected financial gain of close to $1 million coming from all sources. Abiding by Pate’s wishes laid out in his will, his estate will be used for the history department, aiding the university with funding faculty salaries, research and student activities within the department. “We will have a well-funded program in history, which should enhance the learning experience for all students studying this area,” said Bleibdrey. Austin College and Texas Christian University were also Pate’s beneficiaries. Upon Pate’s request, Wesleyan, along with the other two institutions, will establish with the funds the A.M. Pate Jr. Chair of History. Another aspect of the gift of land is that three gas wells were drilled in early 2007 to recover minerals under the property from the Barnett

Shale. Those profits will provide Wesleyan and the other two universities additional income from the natural gas. Bank of America is the trustee of Pate’s estate and is in the process of soliciting bids from housing and commercial property developers to settle all of the estate. Bank of America is facilitating a sale to the state of right-of-way, which will be used for a planned route of state highway 121. A Polytechnic High School graduate, Pate had a passion for history. He founded the Pate Museum of Transportation and the Fort Worth Civil War Round Table, a group of individuals who meet regularly to share their common interest in Civil War history. He and his wife, Joyce, collected more than 15,000 on just President Lincoln, and amassed many other books varying in subjects. Pate supported a number of higher learning institutions because of “his strong interest in research and scholarship,” according to Joan Canty, Wesleyan’s interim vice president of university advancement. “He and his wife, Joyce, were volunteers, donors, advocates and special friends of the university,” she said. He was given an honorary doctorate in business and finance from Wesleyan in 1980. Pate was an avid supporter of the Texas Girls Choir, the Fort Worth YMCA and the Tarrant County Historical Society. He was chairman of the board of Texas Refinery Corp. and has been recognized for his contributions to both higher education and the community. In 1982, Pate received the Golden Deeds Award on behalf of numerous community organizations in for his civic work.

Rams get their Jam on Students flocked to Student Life’s Ram Jam event on April 10. See page 4 for more Ram Jam fun.

Calling all alumni Wesleyan’s All Alumni Reunion will include a picnic in front of the Eunice L. West Library followed by a spirit rally with performance by current and former cheerleaders April 18. The Alpha Chi/Golden Shears breakfast and a performance of the spring musical Little Me take place on April 19. A full schedule and links to register can be found at www. txwes.edu. Photo by Chey Bostock

DeLotto awarded for teaching excellence KEVIN KEATHLEY STAFF WRITER

Dr. Jeffrey DeLotto, professor of English at Texas Wesleyan, recently received the Joe D. Thomas Award for excellence in teaching from the Texas College English Association. There are several awards given by the conference for papers, but only one overall award for outstanding professor. “There are very few overall awards presented by professional organizations in my field,” he said, and he did not expect this one. He is, however, no stranger to awards. He received awards for best poetry presented, best composition and rhetoric paper and best British literature paper. The conference was certainly about more than awards for DeLotto. He organized a panel to discuss what he considers to be an important topic for writers. Because of his work in online journals, a rapidly developing medium for writers, DeLotto is interested in the various mediums of publication. “I asked three other professors from two other universities to join my panel,” he said, and he wanted to obtain a variety of publishing backgrounds. “One has written 11 books in creative writing, one is an editor of an academic print journal, and the other has written several books in contemporary popular culture.” They discussed, in light of the advent of online journals, MySpace and ebooks, what can be defined as publication today. “The responses were wide-ranging and inconclusive,” DeLotto said. “If you put something on a blog or on your Web site, does that mean it’s published? There are some literary and academic journals online, but does that constitute bona fide publication? Some academic departments say yes, and some say no.” DeLotto said this is why there should be a redefinition of publication. DeLotto has taught English and creative writing at Texas Wesleyan since 1983. He previously taught writing and literature at Yarmouk University in Jordan and at Texas Tech University. He also taught as a Fulbright Scholar during the 1992-93 academic year at the University of Plovdiv in Bulgaria. In addition to his many years of teaching, his work in projections, such as the aforementioned panel, and exceeding a fiveyear membership of the College English Association qualified him for the award. “I was surprised and tremendously gratified to receive it,” DeLotto said. “It’s a distinctive feeling. I think a professor feels a certain gratification when students recognize performance. It’s a different gratification when the university at which you teach recognizes what you have done and what you’re doing.”

FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS AND PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR TWU SOPHOMORES! Scholarships include $4500-$5000 yearly stipend and $1200 per year for books. For more information contact: LTC ROD JOYCE 817-531-4273 rjoye@txwes.edu

ARMY ROTC. START STRONG.

Opinions

“Dr. Salih. Period.” “The obstacle was starting the semester, not finishing it.” “Making it to the rest of my classes.” “It’s not hard at all.”

Sina Fischer Freshman Undecided Major

Roy Owens Sophomore Business Finance Major

“What is your biggest obstacle to finishing the semester?”

Jenn Shupp Freshman Religion Major Andy Ramirez Junior English Major

The Rambler

A little hydration? That’ll be half your savings please. F or too many a year now, Americans have been grimacing at the pump and wincing at the manifestation of inflation period. Prices for food, electricity and other essentials have swelled to alltime highs. As if rising prices don’t wreak enough damage TIARA on American bank accounts, NUGENT entertainment venues and bottling companies feel the urge to slap it on too. Charging anywhere from $4 to $5 for a cup of soda, local movie theaters’ concessions are stacking the greenbacks sky-high. Coke machines are gouging wallets, demanding a whopping $6 per 20 ounce drink. Patrons frequenting the concession stands end up spending as much at the counter as they did on a ticket. At Six Flags, a 20 ounce bottle of water or Gatorade costs $4. With another scorching summer rapidly approaching and the park becoming more and more ridden with strong-stomached roller coaster junkies, those stands are going to make a fortune, because, without multiple quadrants of liquid, heatstroke is going to take over the day. Bringing your own drinks into the park is strictly prohibited, so visitors are, in a sense, forced to fork out the bills and procure their hydration from park stands. Bottled water presents a case all of its own. It just seems a shame to spend money on such a common natural resource. Admittedly, I pay the vending machine a dollar for my bottle of water on occasion; sometimes it must be done. U.S.

consumers can pick from 350 varieties of bottled water, which actually do offer varying sensations, according to a study published by the Associated Press. Potassium, for example, may give water a sweet taste. Silica may impart silkiness. Calcium can give the water a lactic taste some people find refreshing. Others enjoy the cleansing quality of water with high sodium content. Sources for the bottled clear liquid includes springs (such as the sparkling San Pellegrino or the still Evian), purified tap water (used by Coca-Cola’s Dasani and Pepsi’s Aquafina), to waters bottled from underground reservoirs called aquifers (such as Fiji and Voss) or even glaciers or harvested rainfall. Of SmartWater, the distilled water and electrolyte mixture, The Bottled Water store cautions that “side effects may include being called nerd, dork, geek, brainiac, know-it-all, smarty-pants, smart alek, bookworm, egghead, four-eyes, Einstein or being mistaken for the I.T. guy. May induce sudden and inexplicable aversion to all less forms of water. Apply liberally and frequently to dry people.” The stars of Beverly Hills are sipping their own water delicacy nowadays. Bling H20, the uber-luxury water that retails for $40 (350ml) and $75 (750ml) in the Hollywood domain, is bottled in a cork-sealed, frosted, long-necked glass in limited-edition colors and adorned with hand-applied Swarovski crystals. Hollywood producer and writer Kevin Boyd, the creator of Bling H2O, recently announced he is working on

a special collection of bottles that will showcase real diamonds and rubies. The costly water is sourced from Tennessee’s English Mountain Spring. Amusingly, up in the Smokey Mountains, the Spring Water Company produces a durable plastic bottle of water sourced from none other than the English Mountain Spring. English Mountain Water comes in 24pack cases for $21.25. It’s the same exquisite water for a miniscule fraction of BlingH2O’s price. Not all locales are exploiting citizens. Sonic offers an abundance of taste-bud-friendly drinks and slushes at half price from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. During these so-called “Happy Hours,” a Route 44 beverage costs only $1.07. No splash in the fund buckets there. We all know the basic principle of supply and demand: businesses can only roll in the dough when there are customers to consume their products. I say Americans should practice a little thriftiness when it comes to their fluid supply. For instance, quench your thirst before getting in line at the ticket counter. Make the big guy suffer for a change. Tiara Nugent is a junior writing major and is the manaing editor for The Rambler.

The search for the next must-have gizmo T

echnology, technology, technology. Almost everything we do requires some sort of electrical device. Heck, I just bought an in-shower boom box, so electronics have even made their way into my bathing rituals. Many popular films and shows feature a theme of machines taking over, from the Matrix trilogy to Transformers to Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. One SHAWN R. day, we just might be powerless POLING against our electronic creations. But if our nifty gadgets are gearing up to take over, why has the electronics scene been dead since the iPhone debut? Sure, new devices debut every day, but most of them aren’t actually “new,” and not one has taken people by storm. Take for instance the world of home entertainment: nothing new after the iPod and HDTV’s/DVD’s. Companies are left to fight over who has the best version, making televisions bigger and MP3 players/docks smaller. So what’s hit the scene recently, and why don’t we care? Cell phones Sadly, cell phones haven’t really advanced that much in the past couple of years. The last major development was the iPhone, which just combined a crappy phone with an iPod. What a waste. Every cell phone company has a new version of the smart phone or the music phone, with a new color a button design. And yes, Paris Hilton keeps wasting her money on the newest pink one. That doesn’t mean you have to. The coolest new phone I’ve seen in the Pantech Duo. It’s a smart-phone that features Windows Mobile 6 OS and supports the new quad-band format; nothing too impressive. What sets it apart is its unique dual-slider design, which means it includes both a QWERTY keyboard and a number pad along with an over-sized screen. In a world where the most popular phones sell because of looks, the Pantech Duo looks ready to pounce on America. One problem: one of the slider connections, or the whole outer case for that matter, will probably break the first time you drop it. Maybe that’s why you haven’t heard of it. Right now I’m sticking with the same phone I’ve had for two years. No reason in the world to switch. Now, if I was rolling in the dough, I might fork down $500 for the Van Der Led WM2, the new watch-phone, when it debuts in stores and online next week. I’m actually impressed by this little ditty, which is the size of a standard digital watch, but includes a cell phone with a 1.3 inch touch screen, FM tuner, Bluetooth/USB capability, one gigabyte of storage and a 1.3 megapixel camera. Pointless? Maybe. Cool? Infinitely.

Computers Just like the realm of cell phones, more computers are selling based purely on looks. The only new model anything has been said about is the new MacBook Air. It’s small, it’s thin and doesn’t even include a CD-ROM drive. The MacBook Air is nothing more than a glorified flat-panel screen. So with the lack of worthy new computers on the market, let’s take a look at one of the newest “crazes” in computer accessories. It’s called a USB memory card reader, which allows you to use other types of memory cards (SD, etc.) via a little device that hooks up to any computer’s USB port. No big deal really, which is why I don’t understand why there are literally hundreds of them available on Best Buy online alone. You can find them in all shapes, sizes and designs, some gracing the covers of Sunday electronics circulars. Popular versions include a Tranformers themed reader or a universal reader that include slots for all memory cards in the world (more than 20!). The latest to appear: DTech’s new USB memory card reader with built-in mirror. Yes, a little lessthan-two-inch mirror that you couldn’t possibly use at the same time you are utilizing a memory card. And you can get a better reflection in the average computer screen rather than a Barbie mirror. Seriously! If you really need one, you can find a suitable one at Circuit City for less than five bucks. Who’s going to touch-up their make-up in the computer lab midway through a homework assignment anyway? Transportation I’m sure some auto-shop geek is about to hunt me down, but nothing new is out in the world of traditional cars. Hybrids: no big deal. The new nifty feature from Lexus: ain’t no thang. Dodge’s new truck model: hang at the next car show if you actually care. I’m sorry, but a car’s a car. And making it more compact or upping the mileage is a nice plus, but I’m not going go running to Buz Post for something resembling a Barbie Camaro. Sorry… Now take a look at the Perave’s MonoTracer bike, and you might get a little shiver up your technology bone. It’s brand new and hasn’t taken any areas by storm yet, but if anything does, this will. Why, may you ask? Well, it looks freakin’ cool. If a sports car and a Harley got together, their lovechild would be the MonoTracer. It’s the first “motorcycle” with a fully enclosed cabin with single full door, designed to especially to up the aero-dynamic factor, keep your ‘do under control and keep the bugs out of your teeth. Genius! Add to that a 150 horse-power BMW engine that tops 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds and you’ve got one pretty sweet machine on your hands. The one drawback could be the “training” wheels that pop out for parking purposes. Otherwise, you could be looking at the next big thing. Shawn R. Poling is a senior writing major and is editor-in-chief for The Rambler.

Rambler Ratings

The Rambler Founded in 1917 as The Handout Harold G. Jeffcoat, Publisher Kelli Lamers, adviser Tiara Nugent, managing/college life editor Colleen Burnie, entertainment editor

April 16, 2008 3

Shawn R Poling, editor-in-chief Bryce Wilks, sports editor Skyla Claxton, advertising manager

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 registrar’s office for easing the process of graduation.

Thumbs up to the Dallas Stars for winning their first two play-off games (Let’s hope it’s three by the time this prints!).

Thumbs down to the workout facility never being open on time.

Thumbs up to the Wesleyan baseball team for breaking the win record and scoring 21 wins in a row.

College Life

April 16, 2008

The Rambler

Greek: another dimension of education KEVIN KEATHLEY STAFF WRITER

When one thinks about fraternities and sororities, they typically think of memorable parties. It’s all about having a good time, people assume, and this is stereotypical of many individuals’ perceptions of post-modern universities. At Texas Wesleyan, however, Greek organizations are anxious to show that their mission and lifestyle are not all about enjoying themselves, nor do they see themselves as “paying to have friends,” as the assumption has been made of Greek life. “The Greek system, like anything in life, is what you make of it,” said Mike Chaney, senior liberal arts major. Each Greek organization at Wesleyan stands for important ideals and character development. “Each have different focuses and are comprised of different members,” he said. “When I came to Wesleyan, I had no plans of joining a Greek organization. I never thought of being a member of a fraternity or being a president of one.” Kappa Alpha Order brought something special to him. “I found gentlemen of like minds with their hearts in the right places within an organization that was bigger than any one of us,” Chaney said. “The true heart of being a KA lies in constant improvement, remembering that life can be better than it is today and that you affect all those who are around you.” Currently, KA is comprised of 12 active members and three pledges. Each Texas Wesleyan organization has its own recruiting criteria. But some, including KA, have open bids yearround, which means, if one is interested in joining, you can simply ask a member. “We have probably a hundred Greeks on campus total,” Chaney said. Henna Rehman, senior liberal studies major, describes the ideas and ideals of her organization, Gamma Sigma Sigma, as revolving around service. The sorority constantly orchestrates significant service events. “We are the only sorority on campus to participate in Relay for Life,” she said. “We help out at the Tarrant County Food Bank, as well as help in other organizations that fight hunger and cancer.” Gamma Sigma Sigma has a unique system of entrance. “We don’t bid,” Rehman said. “If you want to join, you have to be able to do your service hours. We do require a 2.0 and $95 per semester. We also have a big brother system. Big brothers get to help out with service projects but cannot participate in executive decisions. They can build up service hours.” One of the best known sororities on campus is Alpha Xi Delta, or, simply, AZD. Joette Andrews, sophomore mass communication major, said AZD has about 20 active members. “Our mission statement is to realize a woman’s potential,” Andrews said. “Our major goal is to get an education and encourage one another to be stronger, better women that will hold important roles in our community.” “AZD holds formal recruitment during the fall semester,” said Britni Hollar, junior mass communication major. “It is a week long. During the spring semester, they have a continuous open bid where one may contact any current member. In the fall, our chapter saw an exponential increase of members during one of the most successful recruitment periods in the history of our chapter.” AZD also has continuous open recruitment, so anyone

interested should contact a member to arrange an event. Alpha Xi Delta’s philanthropy is Choose Children. “We are encouraged to seek out opportunities to serve the needs of children within our local communities,” Hollar said. “In Alpha Xi Delta, we strive to bring into living reality the sisterhood of women. We help one another through misfortune and hold each other to high standards of humility, courageousness, graciousness and kindness. We believe in unconditional love, education, honesty and responsible citizenship.” By contrast, Sigma Kappa Lambda is a small sorority open to young Latin women. Jameire Davis, a sophomore psychology major, said in

the fall Sigma Kappa Lambda normally gains an average of six girls. “Sigma Kappa Lambda’s goals are to promote education, and we try to strive in community service,” Davis said. “Basically, our goal is to encourage Latinas to pursue their education through college—beyond high school.” SKL encourages interests to go to their rush events. “We have an interview process,” Davis said. “Based on that, we’ll give you a bid.” They vote as a group to see who will receive a bid and who will not. Sigma Kappa Lambda’s brother fraternity is Lambda Kappa Kappa, a regional organization that has enjoyed much popularity at Texas Wesleyan over time. Kene Nwankwo, freshman biology major, explains that the organization, who does accept non-Latinos, had 23 active members in the fall. “We are a community service organization,” Nwankwo said. “Our original purpose was to help Latino males realize that college is an achievable goal. We hope to have more community service in the fall. As far as joining, he said they usually have an interest event such as cookouts when they are trying to recruit new members. Meanwhile, these organizations are certainly not without their friendly rivalries in terms of recruitment. Gamma Phi Beta attempts to recruit the same kinds of young women that Alpha Xi Delta recruits. Lacey Nelson, senior accounting major, describes membership as pretty constant, averaging 10 to 15 every semester.

“Our motto is to promote the highest type of womanhood,” Nelson said. “Our national philanthropy is Camp Fire USA. We volunteer and raise money for this organization and send underprivileged girls to camp.” Nelson describes Camp Fire USA as analogous to Girl Scouts, giving “girls a chance to grow intellectually and socially.” Gamma Phi, like quite a few other organizations, has a continuous open bid. Prospective members don’t have to go through rush and the entire sorority votes on choosing members. With emphasis on personal development, Greek groups like Lambda Theta Phi are a popular venue for social events for most Texas Wesleyan Greeks. This Latino organization owns what is known as the “Lambda House” on Wesleyan Street, just across from Wesleyan Village. Andy Ramirez, junior English major, said, however, that good times aren’t at the core of what Lambda Theta Phi is about. “We’re really selective in our process of choosing members,” he said. “The group is not about quantity but quality. We most definitely judge people by character,” Ramirez said. “It’s probably the main reason why people pledge and are inducted into our organization.” Lambda Theta Phi’s mission is to help Latino men with academic skills, social skills, time management and seeking employment. Ramirez points out that this is an “invitationonly organization.” One may show interest, but the group has to vote as to who is inducted based on their respective character. Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity Inc. is related to a sorority known as Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority Inc. Sheena Perez, freshman biochemistry major, said that Theta Alpha is an academic sorority. The group was just established on March 1 Photo by Kevin Keathley and has eight members. “We are very focused on academics as well as helping out in the community in a variety of ways,” said Perez. Lambda Theta Alpha works with a national philanthropy organization known as FUTURO, which stands for Focused Urban Teens United and Ready for Opportunity. “We encourage young individuals to go out and explore different opportunities that are open to them,” she said. “We pride ourselves on our unity and success as an organization.” Their bids are comparable to the “invitation-only” system espoused by Lambda Theta Phi. There are also constantly new groups seeking official status at Wesleyan, such as Phi Beta Sigma, headed by junior biochemistry major Kenneth E. Jackson. The group has several causes, such as encouraging good health and strong fathers in the African American community. All of the groups have one thing in common: they are comprised of unique individuals. As groups, they seek to blend their talents to better their communities through strong bonds and dedication and to get the best out of life through doing so.

Dance baby dance

Photo by Gasten Schoonover

Cooks rock the party at the Student Life sponsored Ram Jam April 10. Hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixin’s appeased the appetites students worked up on the festivities.

Sports

The Rambler

Quick Quotes “I would have thought that the knowledge that you are going to be leapt upon by half-a-dozen congratulatory but sweaty teammates would be inducement not to score a goal.”

5K your way to fun and fitness Whether you want to help cure cancer, or just get out of the house for some fresh air, there are plenty of local events to choose from. PICK YOUR PACE

- Arthur Marshall

There is something for everyone during the spring schedule of local fundraisers and fitness events beginning soon:

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

Fort Worth Zoo Fun Run April 19 @ Fort Worth Zoo Dallas Rise and Shine Race April 20 @ Reverchon Park Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure April 26 @ Sundance Square

Upcoming Events

The Run for the Riders 5K run/walk and 10 mile Ride N’Tie May 3 @ The Stockyard’s Station

April 16 2 p.m. Softball @ Jarvis Christian

Monster Dash: Race for Green Space 5K May 31 @ Casino Beach on Lake Worth

*3 p.m. JV Baseball vs. Richland College April 18 *3 p.m. Baseball vs. Southwest Assemblies of God April 19 *11 a.m. Softball vs. College of the Southwest *1 p.m. Baseball vs. Southwest Assemblies of God *3 p.m. Baseball vs. Southwest Assemblies of God April 21 *3:30 p.m. Baseball vs. Wiley Golf @ Lubbock, Texas Region IV Championship April 22 *2 p.m. Softball vs. Texas College *2 p.m. Baseball vs. University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma *4 p.m. Baseball vs. University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma Golf @ Lubbock, Texas Region VI Championship *denotes home game

Sports Briefs Winning streak ends at 19 April 12 After taking a 6-0 win in game one of a doubleheader at Northwood University, the baseball team suffered an 8-4 loss in game two. The loss snapped a school record 19-game winning streak for the Rams. Texas Wesleyan had not lost a game since an 11-10 defeat at Wayland Baptist on March 11. During the streak, they outscored their opponents 200-59. DeFratus garners second straight award April 12 Steven DeFratus earned his second consecutive conference Pitcher of the Week Award for his performance against College of the Southwest. DeFratus retired the first 12 hitters he faced. Against Northwood university, DeFratus turned in his third consecutive completegame shutout. DeFratus allowed seven hits while striking out five. - Sports Information Office

April 16, 2008 5

Photo courtesy of google images

COLLEEN BURNIE ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Spring is here, the birds are chirping, the park is calling, and anyone who is ready to hit the pavement for a good run is in luck. There seems to be a 5K fun run or walk for just about any cause that you can think of to support, and the prizes range from just plain feeling good about helping a cause, to round trip airfare anywhere in the nation. The Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure will take over Sundance Square April 26th bright and early for a run/walk in support of breast cancer research. Many Wesleyan organizations including Gamma Phi Beta have participated in the event in past years and contributed to their fitness while funding research.

“I thought it was absolutely amazing and would definitely do it again,” said sophomore education major and member of Gamma Phi Beta Ashly Spenser. “I would encourage others to do it as well.” If you’re interested in wildlife preservation, the Fort Worth Zoo is sponsoring its 11th annual 5k, 10k, Team, 1 mile and a Fun Run to help save the frogs. The events will kick off at 7 a.m. April 19th and will continue through the morning with a live animal presentation, music and awards presentations. The Run for the Riders 5K run/walk and 10 mile Ride N’Tie is another race whose proceeds go to benefit the All Star Equestrian Foundation, an organization that provides mental, physical and emotional fitness through therapeutic horseback

Survey says... BRYCE WILKS SPORTS EDITOR

Almost anyone can find something to satisfy their taste when it comes to sports in the spring. Baseball season is underway, the professional basketball and hockey leagues are getting close to crowning a champion for the season, and even football fans have the upcoming NFL draft and Arena League schedule to hold them over. With so much going on, it got us wondering, which teams and athletes are fans in the Wesleyan community following? Local talk radio and newspapers are constantly pounding away on the same topics. Will the Cowboys

Male Responses Favorite Teams

Favorite Players

riding. The Horse Ride N’Tie is a team event where one member rides on the horse while the other runs along side. The rules are simple only one person can ride the horse at a time, and each rider/runner goes 2 miles to an exchange point. Horses are then at an exchange point where the two members switch positions. This continues until both rider and runner on a team cross the finish line together. The process is based on a pioneer days tradition for those who were sharing a horse. The fun starts at the back 40 of the Stockyard’s Station with races beginning at 6:30 a.m. May 3. If your heart belongs to the children, the 2008 Dallas Rise and Shine race will begin at at 1 p.m. April 20 at Reverchon Park. The event is sponsored by the Dallas Commercial Real Estate Industry and will benefit the Rise School of Dallas, a nationally recognized preschool specializing in the development and education of children, from ages 6 months to 6 years, with Down syndrome and other disabilities. All proceeds from the run will go directly to benefit the children who attend the school. After the race there will be live music, beer and margaritas, entertainment and fun for the kids, and plenty of snacks for all who participated or cheered. For those who are interested in environmental conservation, the Lake Worth Alliance is hosting the Monster Dash: Race for Green Space, a 5K fun run around the banks of Lake Worth. “The purpose is to raise visibility of what Lake Worth could be for the city of Fort Worth--in particular, the green space that we have the opportunity to preserve for park land,” said Joe Waller of Lake Worth Alliance. The Lake Worth Monster, or Silverton Goatman, was a creature spotted around Lake Worth in 1969 and is now thought to be an extinct mammal species. The Monster Dash will begin at Casino Beach at 8:30 a.m. May 31st. Whether you choose your race by the cause, date, or prizes attached, it`s clear that there is something out there for anyone who wants to hit the road and get in a good run. For more information and entry fees on the races, visit www.lukeslocker.com.

Wesleyan students and staff follow local teams, athletes sign the controversial Pacman Jones? Do the Mavericks have any shot of winning their first-round playoff series? Can the Stars battle through to the Stanley Cup Finals? To get a sample of who and what the campus really cares about right now, we constructed a survey and distributed it to students and staff in residence halls, Dora’s and classrooms. The survey was open-ended, making each individual responsible for providing the teams and athletes they like. Responses are divided into male and female divisions to see the difference in preferences between the two. This is just a sample size, but it should provide an idea of who Wesleyan students will be supporting in upcoming events.

Female Responses Favorite Teams

Favorite Players

Texas Rangers 33% New York Yankees 16% Boston Red Sox 10% New York Mets 6%

Michael Young 33% Jose Reyes 20% Nolan Ryan 20% Alex Rodriguez 15%

Texas Rangers 58% Houston Astros 20% New York Yankees 14% Boston Red Sox 9%

Dallas Cowboys 73% Green Bay Packers 6% New England Patriots 6% San Francisco 49ers 3%

Tony Romo 35% Marion Barber 20% Emmitt Smith 20% Brett Favre 12%

Dallas Cowboys 80% New England Patriots 6% Indianapolis Colts 3% Green Bay Packers 3%

Marion Barber 50% Brett Favre 25% Reggie Bush 12% Jason Witten 12%

Dallas Mavericks 70% Los Angeles Lakers 10% San Antonio Spurs 6% Houston Rockets 6%

Dirk Nowitzki 30% Michael Jordan 15% Lebron James 10% Steve Nash 10%

Dallas Mavericks 53% San Antonio Spurs 18% Philadelphia 76ers 10% Miami Heat 8%

Josh Howard 33% Dirk Nowitzki 31% Manu Ginobili 20% Allen Iverson 12%

Mike Modano 50% Sidney Crosby 25% Alex Ovechkin 12% Brenden Shanahan 6%

Dallas Stars 81% Anaheim Ducks 9% Boston Bruins 4% Philadelphia Flyers 4%

Dallas Stars 68% Pittsburgh Penguins 18% Detroit Red Wings 13% Chicago Blackhawks 4%

Other Facts: The choices were narrow for every male that listed a favorite female tennis player. The only two responses were beauties Anna Kournikova and Maria Sharapova. Very few golfers were recognized by male students. Tiger Woods received the most votes, followed by Phil Mickelson and John Daly.

Michael Young 40% Jeff Bagwell 14% Craig Biggio 10% Russell Martin 3%

Mike Modano 75% Sidney Crosby 11% Ed Belfour 5% Brett Hull 5%

Other Facts: Los Angeles Galaxy soccer star and model David Beckham received the most write-ins from female responders for golfers and/or soccer and tennis players. Not far behind was the tennis trio of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick, who are all ranked in the top 10 in the world right now.

Entertainment

6 April 16, 2008

The Rambler

Little Me delivers laughs and fun A

fter writing the preview article for this year’s musical Little Me, I couldn’t help but go and see what the actors were so excited about. The premise—an almost female Forest Gump meets Saturday Night Live all set to music—fascinated me. I am typically a musical fan, but the talk around town was that this was the show for everyCOLLEEN one, fan or not. BURNIE I could not have been more impressed. The set, complete with VIP seats and faux champagnes, transports you to a beautiful stage set for the whimsical telling of the life and times of Belle Poitrine. The cast is magnificent. Whitney Park dazzles as the young girl from the wrong side of the tracks and her voice chimes like a belle. She truly becomes the part, and the audience is pulled into her every developing scene. Michael Kreitzinger delights in his many roles as the men in Belle’s life, notably as the hero Noble Eggelston with his blunt observational humor and snobby upper-class naiveté. He also had the audience roaring with his French Val du Val. One of my personal favorites was the humorous banter of Rob Carroll and Ben Phillips as Benny and Bernie Buchsbaum, the producers who set Belle up to reach one of her most important goals. All of the cast were wonderful in their many roles, changing as often as the scenes. “Not only did I enjoy the show itself, but I enjoyed see-

ing several of my students, even though most of them are theater majors, I consider them my students, in a totally different context than Spanish class,” said Spanish professor Amy Bell. “I was astonished by their talent, and I can only imagine how much hard work they must have put in to bring such a magnificent production to the stage—not just the actors, but the behind-the-scenes team, too. What is even more amazing to me is that these talented and dedicated thespians manage to be students in addition to putting on professional-quality shows throughout the semester. They make me—and Texas Wesleyan—proud.” The band led by Aimee Hurst Bozarth was the perfect ensemble to accompany the chorus and players of this comedic presentation. The chorus and extras all flew through their parts and amazingly quick costume changes without a bump or bruise. In each scene, what really seemed to shine through was that all of the actors seem to be having a blast. The fun that they are having overflows into the audience and is contagious. Each of the story’s ridiculous turns bring laughs, fun and musical numbers that seem to be a bit of an afterthought, albeit well sung and catchy. The production continues at 7:30 p.m. April 18 and 19 and at 2:30 p.m. April 20 in the Thad Smotherman Theatre. For more information or tickets contact the Theatre Wesleyan box office at (817) 531-4211. Colleen Burnie is a senior writing major and is the entertainment editor for The Rambler.

Photo by Chey Bostock

The 54th annual musical excites and impresses with it’s excellent cast and talented band.

Hyena s offers a howling good time I

n a city seemingly overflowing with honky tonks and dingy bars, quality comedy clubs are few and far between. But when the need to laugh arises, and movies and television just aren’t doing the job, there is a club that will fulfill what your funny bone seeks. Hyena’s Comedy Club, nestled in the heart of downtown, provides a relatively collegebudget-friendly outing for anyone in need of a good laugh. I have gone to Hyena’s about six times since this school year got underway, and I have yet to be disappointed. The lineups are always laid out like a concert: three acts getting progressively more prestigious and entertaining. The first act is generally a local comic that doubles as the MC for the night. No big names here, but there is certainly talent.

have been some reputed names come through. Though the claims-to-fame may not include Hollywood superstars, the headliners do often have resumes including appearances on Comedy Central, Showtime, HBO and talk shows like Letterman and Leno. In fact, Cheech Marin’s taller-and-more-bearded half Tommy Chong (who our generation probably April 11 & 12 April 25 & 26 knows better as Leo from That 70’s Show) Sean Kent Jimmie Roulette recently did a few shows. And coming up this summer is Dustin Diamond (that’s RYAN April 18 & 19 May 2 & 3 right...Screech). Master Hypnotist Chas Elsner AUTHIER Comedy isn’t all this little gem has to Gary Conrad offer. The venue offers a full bar for those May 9 & 10 The secwho are a legal and a Chad Miller ond act is usuwide selection of botally one that tled water for those who are not. There is a two drink minimum, has a bit more but at $3-$6 per drink, your wallet won’t hurt too much. The tickesteem in the ets are reasonably priced at $10, but if you’re as lucky as my group comedy of friends, you might only have to pay that fee once. world, but still On every table in Hyena’s is a slip of paper offering the chance hasn’t made to win 20 tickets to an upcoming show. Sophomore athletic training their way to and English major Joakim Soederbaum is a frequent visitor to the top. Again, Hyena’s and said he has won tickets at least six or seven times. these guys “It’s a great place to start the night, or go to relax and laugh,” have never he said. “They just keep calling and giving me tickets.” disappointed. If you’re not as lucky, hit the “coupons” link on the Web site The seconds where you’ll often find a two-for-one offer. get about 30 The best aspect Hyena’s offers is diversity. After a year’s worth minutes of of visits, I can honestly say no two comedians have had anywhere stage time, near the same style. And in a society producing nothing more than and they use it mediocre and unoriginal entertainment, Hyena’s is a refreshing to its fullest. exception. Where the Hyena’s offers two shows on Friday nights starting at 8:30 and headliners 10:30 and two on Saturday at 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Every tend to get a Thursday night is the “Best of Texas Comedy Night” featuring six bit winded of the funniest acts in Texas and two of the most promising new with their full acts. Doors open at 8 p.m., show time is at 9:30 p.m. and there is Photo courtesy of google.com hour, the midno cover and awesome drink specials. Hyena’s is located at 605 dle acts often Hyena’s live comedy is right in downtown and offers an alternative to dinner and movies. Houston St. in downtown next door to The Fox and Hound. Ages struggle to fit 18 and up are welcome. For upcoming acts throughout the summer, their acts into the half hour slots. visit www.hyenascomedynightclub.com. This club’s headliners will never be the big names in the industry. Dane Cook, Daniel Ryan Authier is a junior psychology major and is a staff writer for The Rambler. Tosh or Demetiri Martin will never grace that tiny redbrick backdrop, but there certainly

Wednesday

L OOK

On Campus:

* Alpha Chi/Golden Shears Breakfast: Dora’s Residential Restaurant, 8:30 a.m. *Open House Alumni Weekend: Historic Campus, 9 a.m. * Little Me:Thad Smotherman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

*Methodist Student Movement meeting: Poly UMC, noon, free lunch served

To submit an event for the calender, e-mail twurambler@yahoo.com.

On Campus:

Friday On Campus

Alumnus has “such big teeth”

*Baptist Student Ministry: Sid *The Rambler staff meeting: * Gay Straight Alliance Stella Russell Hall lobby, Richardson Building, noon, meeting: B17 basement of 12:15 p.m. free lunch served the library, 12:15 p.m.

AHEAD Saturday

Thursday

Upcoming headliners

* Little Me: Thad Smotherman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday On Campus:

Monday Off Campus:

Wesleyan alumnus Brad Jackson is "The Wolf" in Casa Manana’s Little Red Riding Hood. Jackson most recently appeared in Junie B. Jones and Treasure Island, and played "Mr. Beaver" in Narnia: The Musical for Casa Mañana's Children's Playhouse. This hysterical new musical version of the classic tale was arranged by Jackson and fellow Wesleyan alumnus Alex Vorse. The two have been an unbeatable team for Casa Manana since they joined efforts. The play runs through April 20. For more information visit www.casamanana.org.

* Little Me: Thad Smotherman Theatre, 7:30 p.m. * Guitar Fort Worth Elliot Fisk: Martin Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday On Campus:

* Little Me:Thad Smotherman * Cliburn Concert Series Theatre, 2 p.m. Presents Anne Sofie von Otter, mezzo-soprano: Bass Off Campus: Performance Hall, 7:30 p.m.

* Wesleyan Singers Concert: Martin Hall, 7:30 p.m.

* Main Street Arts Festival: Sundance Square, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Event starts Thursday April 17.

* Dinner & A Movie: Ferre Ristorante & Bar, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m ($25.95)

Off Campus:

DVD Releases: The Savages, Charlie Wilson’s War and Cloverfield.

Photo courtesy of Casa Manana