Play Ball!
The baseball team is ready to begin the 2011 season
P a ge 6
Tuesday • February 15, 2011 • Vol. 104 Issue 20
Briefs
Plans in place for Dogwood and Sunvilla
Election petitions available Feb. 22
By Rachel Bonar The Standard
The Elections Commission has announced that petitions for student body president and vice president tickets will be available on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Students interested in running for these offices are required to collect 750 student signatures and should meet Chief Elections Commissioner Sam Hooker in the SGA Office (PSU 123) at 8 a.m. on Feb. 22.
Plans are underway to demolish Dogwood Apartments and Kentwood South Apartments and possibly renovate Sunvilla Tower, university officials said. “Decisions are being made at this time,” said Gary Stewart, director of residence life and services. “Dogwood Apartments will be taken off-line, torn down and turned into more parking spaces. The Kentwood South Apartments will also be torn down and turned into a green space, which
could possibly be used for a future living space.” The Dogwood Apartments may be too outof-date to be renovated, Stewart said. “Dogwood is a 1960s design,” he said. “There isn’t even any fire suppression. Also, it’s very rare that we get to add parking spaces on campus.” To help with the loss of the apartments, residents of Dogwood and Kentwood South will have options for their future living, Stewart said. “We have given Dogwood and Kentwood South residents the first right to live in Sunvilla
(Tower) apartments next year,” he said. There is a possibility for the Sunvilla Tower to be renovated, he added. “With Sunvilla, we need to see if it is economically feasible to renovate,” Stewart said. “Right now, we need to get all the dominoes falling into place for Dogwood and Kentwood South Apartments. Then we’ll see what happens before we start on Sunvilla.” All of the demolition and renovations should be done sometime within the next few years, he said. “It would be ideal to have all of this done by 2015,” Stewart said.
Pornography: the big debate
SGA polls students about campus issues
The Student Government Association’s newest poll assesses student opinion on the creation of a downtown computer lab and renovations to the Glass Hall open access lab. Students are encouraged to visit the SGA website at sga.missouristate.edu and provide their input.
By Nick Simpson The Standard
Career Expo to be held Wednesday
The 2011 Career Expo will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the University Plaza Convention Center. The Career Expo is an annual spring career fair that hosts as many as 140 local, regional and national employers from a variety of industries.
Calendar February 15 to February 21
Tuesday Student Activities Council meeting 4 p.m., PSU 313 Student Senate meeting 5:30 p.m., PSU 313 Etiquette Dinner 6 p.m., University Plaza Hotel Campus Conflict Workshop: Men, Women and Conflict Noon, PSU 315
Wednesday
Career Expo 1 p.m., University Plaza Convention Center Interfraternity Council meeting 5:15 p.m., PSU 313 Panhellenic Council meeting 6 p.m., PSU 313 A Night of Reflection 7 p.m., PSU 313 Pornography Debate 7 p.m., PSU Theater
Thursday
Students for a Sustainable Future meeting 4 p.m., Temple Hall Pit Because Writing Matters Book Group 5 p.m., Siceluff Hall Library “Freedom’s Road: African Americans and the Civil War” 7 p.m., Meyer Library 101
Monday
Presidents Day No classes
Michael Gulledge/THE STANDARD
Jeff Houghton will be passing on his title as “Blood Drive Guy” to pursue his acting and comedy career in Hollywood.
Blood master exits
By Amanda Hess The Standard
Most of campus knows him in some way or another. Some students call him the “Blood Drive Guy,” while others call him the “Skinny Improv Guy,” and sometimes he’s just “That Guy.” His real name is Jeff Houghton and you can definitely label him as a jackof-all-trades. Teri Schadler, a nurse from Community Blood Center of the Ozarks, said she feels like she’s known him forever. “I guess you could call him a well-rounded guy,” she said with a laugh. “He’s very personable and friendly, very laid back. He’s going to be missed dearly.” Houghton will be missed because last week was his last blood drive with Missouri State. Today is his last day at work for CBCO, and this is his last week in Springfield.
See HOUGHTON page 2
The pornography industry is a multibillion dollar powerhouse in the United States. Though there may be plenty of money to be had in such a life, it has also been an industry fraught with controversy. Questions of morality appear in many facets and seem to follow the world of porn with a stigma that is difficult to escape. On Wednesday, Feb. 15, voices on opposite ends of the argument will meet in the Plaster Student Union Theater to debate the many questions that are raised when discussing pornography. The industry’s voice will be represented by Adult Video News Magazine’s No. 1 star on their “50 Top Porn Stars of All Time” list, actor Ron Jeremy (The Boondock Saints). On the opposing side is Craig Gross, a pastor Jeremy from southern California. Courtney Current, a Senior in the Communication Department, is the lecture chair on the Activities Student Council (SAC). She has held this position for three semesters and organized the previous Gross two debates including last semester’s debate on the existence of God. “There were a lot of different ideas to choose from as a topic for debate,” Current said, “ but we felt that this would be an idea that might not necessarily hit home for college students. It is rather interesting and may be something students can relate to. I wouldn’t call it racy, but it will definitely draw people’s attention.” Jeremy is a leading figure in the industry, and according to Current, will be representing the idea that a strict level of control is exerted over each feature to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for every performer, and the spotlight provides a sense of empowerment for the women featured in their films. “It’s kind of interesting, Jeremy’s view that pornography might be empowering to women,” she said. “Personally, I don’t find it to be empowering at all.” Gross, on the other hand, is a former youth pastor from southern California who, according to Current, will discuss the idea of pornography addiction and its effect on the country. “I don’t think he comes from a totally religious standpoint,” she said. “He started xxxchurch.com, which helps people with addictions. I think this is something that is addictive, and people can battle mental See PORN page 2
Three companies bid for university food contract By Jason Johnston The Standard
Missouri State University students will not know all the costs of their upcoming housing contract if the university does not renew its food contract that expires on May 16. “It is not going to be anything exorbitant, but we will have some increase to room and board for 20112012,” said Gary Stewart, the director of residence life and services. “I just don’t know what it is going to be yet. It will be affordable and of good value.” Missouri State sent out a request for a proposal late during the 2010 summer semester or early fall semester, said Earle Doman, vice
president for student affairs and dean of students. The university met with four food service companies for a preconference meeting. Three of the four companies sent bids: Sodexo, Chartwells and ARAMARK Corp. “Those are the big three food service companies for colleges and universities in the country. It did not surprise us that they were the three that made the bids,” Doman said. Stewart said he wants the contract signed and delivered to the Board of Governors for approval at their next board meeting on April 1 at the West Plains campus. He said the new contract calls for 13 years. The contract is 10 years with See DINING page 2
Michael Gulledge/THE STANDARD
Sodexo may be leaving the university for the next school year.