Welcome Back Issue Vol. 103 No. 6

THERAMBLER

THE VOICE OF TEXAS WESLEYAN UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SINCE 1917

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

TheRambler.org

Explore the opening of the Martin Center, pg. 8-9

WELCOME BACK ISSUE

Check out the new wrestling program, pg. 6

Vol. 103 No. 6 | Fall 2019 @TheRamblerTWU

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OPINION

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Be pro-listening in abortion debate LATERRA WAIR The Rambler 1201 Wesleyan St. Fort Worth, TX 76105 Phone: (817) 531-7552 Email: twurambler@yahoo.com Editor-In-Chief: Ashton Willis Rambler TV Director: LaTerra Wair IMG Director: Hope Allison Print/Web Content Producers: Hope Allison Jacinda Chan Arely Chavez Tina Huynh Hannah Onder Elizabeth Lloyd LaTerra Wair Ashton Willis Tyreeyana Herrera-Otkins Advisers: Dr. Ngozi Akinro Dr. Jenny Dean Dr. David Ferman Faculty Liaison: Dr. Kay Colley Publisher: Frederick Slabach Letters to the Editor THE RAMBLER, a biweekly publication, welcomes all letters. All submissions must have a full printed name, phone number and signature. While every consideration is made to publish letters, publication is limited by time and space.

The editors reserve the right to edit all submissions for space, grammar, clarity and style. Letters to the editor may be subject to response from editors and students on the opinion page.

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.

The opinions expressed in THE RAMBLER are those of the individual authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas Wesleyan community as a whole.

ABOUT THE COVER Illustration by Jacinda Chan.

ldwair@txwes.edu @thelaterrawair

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n this day and age most of us pride ourselves on how open-minded we are to ideas of change and the acceptance we have when it comes to the ideas of others that don’t always fit into what we believe.

When it comes to abortion, one of our most controversial debates, why is it that I never see any kind of open-minded consideration for the other side?

When I think about abortion, the first thing that comes to mind is two political candidates on podiums screaming, getting flustered, not letting each other finish a single sentence to properly detail the reasoning behind their statements. It seems almost crazy that after this debate about abortion has gone on for so many years there is still not a way that a person who believes in prochoice cannot have a civil conversation with a pro-life believer.

The bigger question is, why is this our reality?

I am a firm believer in the idea of people being able to have their own opinions about issues that affect their lives, such as abortion, although one thing I never quite understood is how a person feels as though it is okay to shame someone for their own beliefs, especially when it comes to decisions that do

not impact their well-being.

Every time I would be brought into this debate, whether it be by my peers or on campus, I would always stay quiet and listen to those around me; I would never interject because I didn’t believe that my argument was fully developed.

From listening to other perspectives, I can say that I have truly developed my own opinions.

When it comes to getting an abortion, I do not believe that I could truly sit down and book my appointment to abort the fetus that is developing inside my body.

I would not be able to do this

because it is just not something that I would feel morally right about.

With this being said, I do understand that the decisions that I make for my body are not the decisions that other women will choose to make for themselves, and that is completely okay. Simply because a person decides to do something that I would not do for myself does not mean that I should condemn her for her decisions that she is making for her own body.

For me, it comes down to the fact that I could never completely understand what a stranger has going on in their life

and everyone will go through different situations that only they can make decisions for, because it is their situation. It is always really easy to be on the outside looking in on a situation and thinking that I know what is going on and try and make a decision based upon this stance, but is that truly what being accepting is about?

It truly disturbs my soul that, when it comes to a huge subject like abortion, people don’t take the time out to just understand both sides of the argument. Most time it is a “my side or nothing” kind of argument and that is not how things should be. That is not what leads to growth of a person, and it will also only keep us divided as a society.

The debate over abortion is at a standstill. The topic can only grow if we as people decide to grow as well and expand our thoughts to the idea that there are times we have to set aside our emotions and have a civil conversation with our challengers.

After all, would it kill us to put our pride to the side for a moment and let someone finish their thoughts?

Illustration by: LaTerra Wair

opinion Wednesday, August 21, 2019

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NEWS

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

New leadership remakes Tau Sigma for fall 2019 HANNAH ONDER hlonder@txwes.edu

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@hannahonder

ith just a few simple emails to faculty advisor Dr. Chad Pevateaux in April, transfer students Nadine Yasin and Jennifer Harrison set off a chain of events to revamp Texas Wesleyan’s Tau Sigma Honor Society.

“Jennifer volunteered to serve as vice president if Nadine would accept becoming president. Jennifer knew some other new members, Stacie and Kirsten, who might be interested in serving, and, just like that, we had new officers! I have been blown away by their energy, initiative, and talent,” Pe-

dents that promotes academic excellence and service projects, Pevateaux wrote.

Yasin, a senior biology major and president of Tau Sigma, said she joined the honor society because she was looking for an organization to get involved with after transferring from the Tarrant County College Southwest campus and being involved with TCC’s Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society as vice president.

“Just by joining the honor society we got a chance to work with projects and like-minded individuals to create fellowship,” she said. “We got to get with students that were like you to study and do fun stuff with.

When I got here, I started look-

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e just transfer as juniors and seniors, so it’s really difficult to find friends and have people that are kind of like you to fit in with.

-Nadine Yasin, senior biology major

vateaux, assistant professor of philosophy and religion and director of liberal studies, wrote in an email.

Tau Sigma is a transfer honor society that promotes academic excellence and involvement among transfer students that make a 3.5 or higher during their first semester at Wesleyan, Pevateaux wrote.

The chapter started in 2012 at Wesleyan had fallen under the radar with low participation levels from the previous members, according to records found by Beth Jackson, academic coordinator for liberal studies.

However, the organization is working to become more active again under newly elected officers who plan to use the organization to build community among Wesleyan’s transfer stu-

ing for the right honor society to join. I kind of took a look, but with a busy schedule there’s so many to look through and to read about each organization.”

Yasin knew she found the right honor society at Wesleyan when she found out it was specifically for transfer students.

“As transfer students, you don’t spend as much time (at a university) as regular students that have just came here fresh out of high school where they spend four to five years together getting a bachelor’s,” Yasin said. “We just transfer as juniors and seniors, so it’s really difficult to find friends and have people that are kind of like you to fit in with. (Tau Sigma) is a way for transfer students to get together, which is difficult because most transfer students don’t have the time (to socialize

Photo contributed by Stacie Hill Beth Jackson, Kirsten Trudo, Jennifer Harrison, Nadine Yasin, Stacie Hill, and Dr. Chad Pevateaux (left to right) pose for a photo as the Tau Sigma Honor Society officers and advisors for 2019-20. “Like an old restaurant might hang a sign saying, “Under New Management,” we’re under new leadership. Their energy is contagious!” Pevateaux wrote.

or as many opportunities like lower classmen).”

According to txwes.edu, in 2016, new transfer students made up 20% of Wesleyan’s new undergraduate enrollment.

“All too often, transfer students can fall through the cracks and not make those lifelong connections that can be so meaningful,” Pevateaux wrote.

“Wesleyan’s Tau Sigma chapter not only will recognize the academic excellence of transfer students but also will empower their engagement with our TxWes community and beyond.”

Senior paralegal studies major and Tau Sigma treasurer Kirsten Trudo is also a transfer student looking to get involved with an organization on campus with people of similar background.

“I joined because I wanted to be part of something that promoted continued educational excellence and to meet other people who were as passionate as I was about education,” Trudo wrote in an email.

Trudo also wrote that being involved in Tau Sigma allows transfer students an opportunity for involvement on campus which can raise the likeliness of graduating. Trudo be-

lieves the organization will have a successful year, even though the new officers are taking over from a situation that had no active officers at the time of the transition last spring.

“We have lots of ideas and plans for activities here on campus,” Trudo wrote. “What I can say is we have lots of great people on the board with great ideas, and I can confidently say we will get this chapter back up and running.”

Yasin said her goals for Tau Sigma are to focus on fellowship, academic excellence, and service projects.

“We’re very focused on volunteering,” Yasin said. “We’re also trying to prepare for a good induction, and we’re looking to increase membership by getting something out and spreading the word, talking to students and holding more meetings.”

Pevateaux also hopes to see membership increase and the organization thrive this year since he and Jackson just took the reins to Tau Sigma late last spring.

“We host the first induction ceremony under our watch this fall, and now we’re excited to be bringing in this new group of energetic students,” Pevateaux

5 membership benefits of Tau Sigma •Recognition as a national organization •Distinction that students defied the odds against transfer shock (a decline in GPA in the first transitioned semester) •Lifetime membership that graduates can still participate in •A yearly scholarship contest with scholarships ranging from $250 to $2,500 •Local chapter executive board offering leadership and networking opportunities wrote.“With these new officers, 2019-20 looks to be Tau Sigma’s best year yet at Wesleyan! I hope Fall 2019 transfer students see and hear about us and strive that extra little bit to make that 3.5 mark.”

news

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Henderson hangs up provost position to teach HANNAH ONDER hlonder@txwes.edu

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@hannahonder

fter 25 years in Texas Wesleyan’s administration, including 16 as provost, Dr. Allen Henderson has decided to return to his roots of teaching before retiring, sparking a search for a new provost.

“My favorite moments at Texas Wesleyan include teaching students and seeing their lives transformed for the better as they achieve their goals and their dream of an education,” Henderson wrote in an email. “Also, it is working with caring faculty and administrators who are likewise working to help transform students’ lives.”

As Henderson enters his 40th year at Wesleyan this fall, he will serve as an advisor to the provost and president while he prepares to transition back into a full-time faculty position.

“I’m very happy for him getting to return to teaching in the classroom because I know how important that is for him,” Wesleyan President Frederick Slabach said. “But, I’m a little sad for us because we will not have that day-to-day opportunity to benefit from his judgment.”

Dr. Hector Quintanilla, the former dean of the School of Business Ad-

Photo by Arely Chavez Dr. Hector Quintanilla, President Frederick Slabach and Dr. Allen Henderson (left to right) celebrate Henderson’s legacy.

ministration, has stepped into the role of interim vice president of academic affairs and provost and will fulfill the responsibilities for the next two academic years until a new provost is found.

“There were many factors that went into my decision to appoint Dr. Quintanilla as the provost for this current period,” Slabach said. “In the school of business he has led the effort to get the highest accreditation as possible, and he has also engaged in significant curriculum reform, so he has already had a lot of experience within the school doing the kinds of things that a provost would help organize for the university as a whole.”

Quintanilla wrote that as provost he will play the role of working with the deans of the five schools and the two associate provost who oversee student services as well as work with the executive staff to oversee the strategic direction of the university and its daily operations.

Quintanilla wrote that his top priority is getting students graduated in a timely manner and working in their choice of career.

“Additionally, I want our academic programs to continue adopting student-centered instructional practices and course scheduling to enhance the overall educa-

tional experience at Texas Wesleyan,” Quintanilla wrote. “In terms of student services, I believe we offer excellent student support and I would like to elevate the level of student services available as opportunities permit.”

The process for looking for a new provost will take approximately one academic year, Slabach said.

He aims to have a search committee created by the end of the semester and then opening the official recruiting process in late summer or early fall 2020.

“We hope to have the provost in place by early to mid-March of 2021,” Slabach said.

Slabach said the search will be a national one, so the candidate pool has a wide range of people and experiences.

“What I think we’ll be looking for is someone who understands the nature of higher education and someone who values collaborative efforts with faculty chairs so that we can all pull together as a team to try to figure out how to respond to the changes that are taking place in higher education,” Slabach said. “So, leadership experience, a collaborative leadership style and knowledge of the changes that are taking place in private higher education, those are really the three big ones.”

SPORTS

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Wrestling pins its spot at Wesleyan ELIZABETH LLOYD

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@ejlloyd@txwes.edu @TheRamblerTWU

ead wrestling coach Ray Bedford and assistant coach Ronnie Bresser gathered wrestlers from Texas Wesleyan and other programs last week

to practice at Carroll High School in Southlake.

“We have a very good squad,” Bedford said. “I expect to be on the hunt for a title with this group.”

Bresser, who was hired July 4, agreed: “Especially in this program, everybody wants to win. So that’s been a good part of joining it.”

Wesleyan’s wrestling program was announced in late 2018; Bedford was hired in February.

There will be men’s and women’s teams.

Bedford said Bresser was hired as the assistant coach after graduating from Oregon State a couple of months earlier.

“You don’t want to just hire anybody, especially for a first-year program,” Bedford said. “I basically found probably the number one assistant recruit in the country.

We got him out from under eight different Division I’s that were trying to hire him, including his alma

mater.”

In regard to choosing the assistant coaching position at Wesleyan, Bresser said that despite other offers from schools around the country, “Texas got the best of me, for sure.”

Athletic Director Ricky Dotson confirmed the quality and ambition of the new recruits.

“I think if you look at the recruits he’s bringing in, they’re coming in with pretty good credentials,” Dotson said.

“So it would surprise me if they don’t compete on a national level.”

Scheduling for the team’s first season is still in the works, according to Bedford.

Dotson said on Aug. 12 that the schedule will be ready within the next week to 10 days, as meets will begin in November.

Photo by Elizabeth Lloyd Head wrestling coach Ray Bedford (center) and assistant coach Ronnie Bresser (right) engage with a wrestler during practice at Carroll High School.

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basically found probably the number one assistant recruit in the country.

-Head wrestling coach Ray Bedford

sports

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Rams prepare for challenging 2019

The Rams were 2-8 in the 2018 season, winning games against Texas College and Lyon College, both of which the Rams will face again this season. Head coach Joe Prud’homme is hoping the team can build on their successes from last year to make this season their best one yet.

“We had a terrific offseason, summer and recruiting class,” Prud’homme wrote in an e-mail.

“We’re evolving and getting better. The veterans are setting a great tone and the newcomers are bringing strong mentality.”

Offensive coordinator Kyle Cox is excited about the first two games of the season, when the Rams face off against Kansas Wesleyan and Houston Baptist.

“The first game of the season is versus Kansas Wesleyan,” Cox wrote in an e-mail. “This game is extremely exciting because we are a severe underdog in

the eyes of most, and we get a chance to face the #4 team in the nation with truly nothing to lose.”

After this, the team will face Houston Baptist, a team the Rams have never played before.

“If we’ve got nothing to lose versus Kansas Wesleyan in week one, there’s definitely nothing for us to lose going into week two,” Cox wrote. “We get two opportunities in a row to shock the world of college football. How does it get better than that?”

Redshirt junior quarterback and business administration major Justin Arth thinks that this season will be rewarding for the fans of the Rams.

“Fans can look forward to a team that is going to be really competitive this year,” Arth wrote in an e-mail. “We have a lot of returnees on offense and defense and our goal this offseason was to raise the bar and I feel like we have done that and continue to do that each day.”

The Rams play a scrimmage game against Southwestern University at Farrington Field at 6 p.m. on Saturday. Prud’homme said this will be a great time for players to try out

AMANDA ROACH

alroach@txwes.edu @TheRamblerTWU

everything they’ve got.

“We will play it as close to a normal game as possible with a lot of substitution and seeing what everybody can do,” Prud’homme wrote.

The game will be very similar to a regular-season game, with new players getting to show their skills off to the fans and get into a rhythm on the field.

“The format will be the same,” Cox wrote. “But we will get a chance to see some of our younger players get a lot of reps, as well. After almost a full month of practicing against our own teammates, it’ll be a blast to see what this team can really do against an extremely talented opponent.”

Arth is excited about the upcoming scrimmage game and the ability to do things on the field that might not otherwise be possible.

“Southwestern is a good opponent,” Arth wrote.

“And we are going to do whatever we can to beat them just like we would any other week of the season.”

The Rams will scrimmage Southwestern University at 6 p.m. Saturday at Farrington Field.

Got Spirit?

Show It!

Photo by: LaTerra Wair

Keep Updated RamSports.net

@RamSports @RamSports @txwesathletics

Donovan Isom is the Rams’ starting quarterback.

CAMPUS

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Martin Center completes 2020 Vision plan ELIZABETH LLOYD @ejlloyd@txwes.edu @TheRamblerTWU

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he opening of the Nick and Lou Martin University Center is a beginning, but it’s also an ending.

Texas Wesleyan President Fred Slabach says that the center, which will have its big opening/dedication on Sept. 24, will be a “game changer” for the university, and also marks the culmination of the 2020 Vision strategic plan.

“It is going to be the hub for increased student engagement on campus,” Slabach said last week. “We all know and research shows that students who are as engaged outside of the classroom as they are in the classroom

are much more likely to persist and graduate on time.

“I’m really excited. I can’t wait for all the students to return and see the kind of facility that they’re gonna have available to them.”

The center’s main construction is complete with only minor items left on the punch list to finish before the Sept.

24 celebration, according to Director of Facilities Brian Franks.

“I don’t know what they’re letting us talk about just yet. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag on that one, but it’s going to be a lot of fun stuff,” Franks said with a chuckle. “I know there will be food, but I’m not gonna talk about the other stuff.”

Staff was moved into the center on July 29 from several different departments, including Student Affairs, Ad-

missions, and Career Services, Franks said.

Despite a lack of any classroom space in the building, he emphasized that the majority of the space in the building is for student use.

“We have tons of lounge space and a student game room,” he said. “Upstairs there are spaces that can be reserved for student use, study time, events, whatever it may be. We have the student organization space, so the majority of the space in the building is for student use, outside of classrooms.”

Franks made it clear that the soft-opening hours of the first week of business for Starbucks and Which Wich Superior Sandwiches are temporary.

“We’re gonna work with Aramark in adjusting the hours to meet the needs

of the students and staff,” he said.

Students couldn’t be more thrilled to spend time in the center, including sophomore early childhood education major Sonia Diaz.

“I like how aesthetically pleasing it looks,” she said. “I’m excited to explore what else is in it once everything is complete. I think it will interest students more into the school when they are applying or transferring to Wesleyan.”

CAMPUS Wednesday, August 21, 2019

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A&E

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

5 must-see movies of the summer ASHTON WILLIS

@anwillis@txwes.edu @AshtonWillis1

“Spider-Man: Far From Home” Spidey says his “spidey senses are tingling” before he takes action, and they tingle a lot in this film. Spider-Man has always been a favorite of many Marvel fans, from cartoons to comics to, of course, films. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has released its 23rd film; this is the eighth Spider-Man movie and definitely better than some of the past versions. This thriller involves Peter Parker going on a school trip to Europe; he wants to admit his feelings for fellow student Michelle, also known as MJ, but things change when Nick Fury shows up. The movie is about Peter longing to remain an adolescent and enjoy his trip while everyone else wants him to become an adult and be responsible.

“Annabelle Comes Home” One of the characters says “the evil is contained” at the beginning of this film, but it’s not. This new film from the Conjuring Universe franchise is the third movie in a series of Annabelle creations. “Annabelle Comes Home” features the same Annabelle doll, but takes a different path as the doll now tortures Ed and Lorraine Warren’s daughter Judy and her babysitter Mary Ellen. This movie will keep fans of the Annabelle movies on the edge of their seats, but with less scares compared to the previous movies.

“The Lion King” When you think of this film, you think of the song “Hakuna Matata.” One of the top movies that hit the theaters this summer was this remake. Many of us grew up watching the original cartoon version, but Disney has created a live-action remake. Several famous stars, including Beyoncé (as Nala), Seth Rogen (as Pumbaa), Donald Glover (as Simba) and many others have voiced the characters in the movie. This reenactment features many of the hit songs from the original remake, while turning a childhood favorite into a beautiful creation.

Although this movie might not be as great as the original, it does its job of taking you back to your childhood in a fantastic twist of a Disney classic.

“Toy Story 4” “You’ve Got a Friend in Me”is in the original and in this one, too. Disney Pixar also made another childhood favorite of many millennials come back to life with the creation of yet another “Toy Story.” This movie is all about growing up and moving on as Woody says goodbye to old friends and makes new ones along the way. Although many young children headed out to see this movie, they might not understand and appreciate it as much as some young adults will. This movie really relates to children of the ‘90s as they say goodbye to not only their childhood but the movie and characters that they grew up with.

“Rocketman” became one of the top movies released during the early months of summer. Based on the life of Elton John and his experiences, the movie takes place as he looks back on his life while in rehab. The film features many songs sung by Taron Egerton, and shows John’s life from the very beginning, and includes all his hardships and successes. If you love John, this is definitely a movie that you don’t want to miss out on.

Graphics and photos courtesey of imbd.com.

a&e

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

5 trends millennials were up to this summer

ASHTON WILLIS @anwillis@txwes.edu @AshtonWillis1

Number neighbor trend: People on Twitter have been starting this trend where they text their “number neighbor.” You text the person whose phone number is the same as your own except for the last number, up or down one number. People on Twitter have had a number of responses; some have been positive and some have been negative. Several people have been anxiously waiting for their number neighbor to reach out, while others wish that theirs never reached out at all.

Ordering whatever the person in front of you orders challenge:This has become a popular challenge on YouTube and was one of the most popular challenges of the summer. In this challenge you basically tell the person taking your order in the drive-thru that you will have the exact same thing as the person in front of you, regardless of whether you like it or not. It became a fun and exciting challenge as viewers eagerly waited to see what orders the YouTuber received. If you really can’t stand what you got, have your friend eat it.

A conversation between two people participating in the number neighbor trend. Photo by Ashton Willis.

FaceApp trend: This was one of the most popular apps of the summer and allowed you to see what you will look like when you are older. Many people began to post these pictures on social media platforms and it was a fun way to bring some laughs. Many of the photos are quite shocking and made some people fear that this is what their future will hold. Several celebrities participated in this as well, including the Jonas Brothers, Iggy Azalea, Gordon Ramsey, and many others.

The bottle cap challenge: This challenge was seen all over Twitter this summer and included a variety of contenders. This challenge was started by actor Jason Statham,who spun 360 degreesand kicked a bottle cap off with his foot. Many people started to take on the challenge in a variety of ways: Mariah Carey removed the top of a bottle by hitting a high note and a kid on YouTube used a Frisbee to remove the cap off a water bottle. This became a fun task as people from all over tried to use their own method to complete the challenge, although most people had to try multiple times before they were successful.

Driving thru the same McDonald’s 100 times challenge: This became one of the more frowned upon challenges of the summer as many YouTubers would try to drive-thru the same McDonald’s 100 times, or as many as they could, before getting kicked out. Several people thought that this was funny, while other people deemed it as a waste of the workers’ time. The vast majority of YouTubers either got bored or were unable to complete the challenge, due to being asked to leave the drive-thru.

LIFESTYLE

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Dora Roberts Dining Hall Monday – Thursday Breakfast: 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM Continental: 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM Lunch: 10:30 AM – 2:00 PM Snack: 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM Dinner: 4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

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Saturday Brunch: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Dinner: 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM

Sunday Brunch: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM Dinner: 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM

Texas Wesleyan Retail Dining The Coffee Shoppe

Which Wich

Monday – Thursday 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

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lifestyle

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

Wesleyan Crushers crush spelling competition ELIZABETH LLOYD

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ejlloyd@txwes.edu

he Texas Wesleyan Crushers have set records and garnered massive online attention for their four consecutive wins at the annual Corporate Spelling Bee, which is organized by the Tarrant County Literacy Coalition.

“This was our sixth year to compete but we didn’t compete last year. We were kinda asked not to,” said biology professor Dr. Mary Anne Clark with a chuckle. “Because we kept winning. We won it four times in a row and I think people were starting to get discouraged.

We started to feel bad about winning all the time.”

The spelling bee is a community-wide event in which local businesses and organizations participate to raise money for and awareness of literacy efforts in Tarrant County, according to tarrantliteracycoalition.org. This spring’s event was held April 23 at the Fort Worth Community Arts Center.

Local restaurants, stores, and sporting venues, along with other organizations in the community, serve as sponsors, donors, and partners in literacy with the literacy coalition in order to raise money for the Corporate Spelling Bee. Dr. Marilyn Pugh, associate professor of psychology, agreed with Clark’s sentiment and said it was fun to be a judge in 2018.

“Much less pressure!” Pugh wrote in an email. “Also, we heard that some teams were no longer entering because they considered us ‘unbeatable.’”

Dr. Bruce McDonald, professor of religion, philosophy and humanities and the Crushers’ third member, had a slightly different take on it.

“Last year, I was willing to go on, but the other two wimped out on me!” McDonald wrote in an email. “To be honest, as one previous winner from Acme

Brick had said, when you’re a defending champion, it’s sort of like you have a bull’s-eye in the middle of your back!

So we judged--which was nice, but sort of boring.”

It comes as no surprise that the Crushers won the spelling bee again in 2019, although Clark recalls a completely different set-up of the “spell-abration” this time around.

“The teams did not get up and spell against each other,” she said. “Instead, we were sitting at tables and the table as a whole would decide how to spell a word and there were six words read out and so we spelled one word at a time, wrote it down and then sent it up to be checked. Whoever got the most words right won the spelling bee. So it wasn’t a typical spelling bee, it was really different, much more low-key and a lot more fun, frankly.”

Clark inadvertently attracted online attention through a letter to actor Wil Wheaton when she wrote him to share the origin of the name “Wesleyan Crushers,” which was derived from the character name “Wesley Crusher,” a character he played on “Star Trek: The New Generation,” as she and Pugh are both “die-hard Trekkies” as Pugh puts it.

Wheaton shared share a post on his blog about the Crushers’ win at the spelling bee, and the hits skyrocketed from there.

“I actually wrote to Wil Wheaton, who used to play the character and I said, ‘Well, guess what, we picked your name to represent our spelling team,’” Clark said. “And he said, ‘Ah, well good luck!’ So then we won it! So he posted on his blog that the Wesleyan Crushers had won a spelling bee and Texas Wesleyan got so many hits from that blog post! It was really fun and he was very, very nice and very supportive.”

Wesleyan Crushers’

Top five strangest spelling encounters 1) Wektanschuuang 2) Dicotyledon 3) Acetylcholinesterase 4) Ytterbium 5)Emmeleia

Photo contributed by Tarrant Literacy Coalition Dr. Mary Anne Clark, Dr. Bruce McDonald, and Dr. Marilyn Pugh (left to right) make up the Wesleyan Crushers, a name inspired by Wesley Crusher from Star Trek.

RAMS GLOBAL

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

5 things to know as an international student

M

oving to a new country is never easy for anyone. If you’re feeling lost and afraid, believe me, you are not the only one. Here are five essential things to keep in mind for a smooth fresh start at Texas Wesleyan, by yours truly, a senior international student from Vietnam.

1. Transportation Moving around in Fort Worth is challenging for international students who do not own a car. If you live on campus, Texas Wesleyan provides a service called “Ram Route,” which provides free transportation for students to specific destinations.

Keep an eye on your school email to learn about operation hours and other details for the service.

2. What’s free on campus?

Many resources are provided on campus to make sure you have a smooth transition into your new life. Those listed below are free of charge for all Texas Wesleyan students.

- Free printing at West Library (first 500 copies)

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- Free gym membership at Morton Fitness Center - Free health consultation at Wesleyan Health Services office (located in West Village, 110) - Free counselling for those dealing with homesickness, culture shock, etc. Call 817-531-4859 to schedule an appointment. Please take advantage of this if you feel like you need someone to talk to. Your mental health is important.

- Free tutoring at the Academic Success Center, located inside West Library - Free swimming at the pool inside Sid Richardson - Free food/snacks at the Food Pantry (located in PUMC) 3. Special Holidays The university is closed on National Holidays, which means no classes (Yay!) and no cafeteria, so plan ahead.

TINA HUYNH @hhuynh@txwes.edu @tinahanhuynh

4. Essential Contacts - The International Office is my go-to if I run into any kind of problem. You can get help at 817-531-5868 or simply come to the office at Dan Waggoner Annex.

- Immediate assistance can be provided by your RAs. Do not hesitate to contact them for help as RAs are on call 24/7.

- Security (817-531-4911): If you feel unsafe at any point on campus, please don’t hesitate to call and ask for someone to escort you to your destination. This is also the number to call when you get locked out of your room/building.

5. Don’t be scared to ask Hey, I just want you to know that help is always available and all you need to do is ask. Texas Wesleyan is a small, close-knit community where faculty and staff are open to questions or requests that you might have. As long as you reach out, you will find assistance. Have a great year!

LIFESTYLE

15 TheRambler.org

Wednesday, August 21, 2019

5 summer trends you missed

JACINDA CHAN

jwchan@txwes.edu @JacindaWChan

This just in: the ‘80s and ‘90s are back and they’re here to stay.

Clothes we dug up from our parents’ closets are suddenly being seen on the runway. It’s no surprise that most fashion trends are constantly going in and out of style. Fashion trends are constantly repeating themselves but you should know that when they come back around, they’re even better than the first time.

These are the top five trends being worn on the runway from Balenciaga, Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton and being seen on the streets by celebrity favorites like Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, Kaia Gerber and Elsa Hosk.

1. Bucket hats have made a comeback and every college student

needs one. We saw them all throughout the summer months, but don’t say bye to them just yet. We’ll continue to see bucket hats in the fall making bolder statements.

2. Every college student wears the occasional sweatpants and hoodies combination to class. Well, let’s be honest: most college students wear that every day. But instead of just any random faded black hoodie and grey sweatpants, let’s opt for a matching set and make lazy fashion.

3. Black and grunge are out and all the neon colors are back in style.

The fashion world isn’t telling you to stop wearing black, but instead incorporating pops of neon in any look. Neons have been often seen on crop tops, dresses and even nails.

4.Tie dye has always

been categorized as a summer camp T-shirt, or simply just tacky. But as of 2019, it has become one of the new It patterns. In the world of fashion, we have seen tie dye on the runways from designers like R13 and Prada.

5.Say goodbye to big totes and hello to tiny handbags that make big statements. Tiny bags are not only taking over the runway but are all over Instagram, too. Tiny bags hold nothing more than a lipstick, airpods and an I.D. but their impracticality doesn’t take away from their bold statements with any outfit. And don’t expect tiny bags to go anywhere, as they are being carried all over the fall 2019 runways.

EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Texas Wesleyan students, faculty, and community, My name is Ashton Willis and I am the new editor-in-chief for the fall of 2019. I am a senior mass communication major from Arlington and will be graduating this fall. During my time at Wesleyan I have played on the women’s tennis team the past four years and joined the Rambler staff in the fall of 2018. As many of you may have noticed, the paper has undergone several changes since the previous semester. We have changed our newspaper to a 16-page

tabloid style for various reasons. The staff and I feel that by switching, the paper will be more appealing to the student body as well as incorporate more graphic designs. We believe that this layout will allow us to be more creative in our work and with the addition of eight more pages we can cover the campus better. We hope that you enjoy the new face of the Texas Wesleyan paper and that this will lay the foundation for many more years to come.

Photo courtesy Elsa Hosk.

Elsa hosk posted on Instagram in her Prada tie dye hat over the summer.

Bucket hats are not only trendy but they’re great for hiding undereye bags from the lack of sleep due to those all-nighters.

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The Rambler

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Wednesday, August 21, 2019

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