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Predict who will take home the statue

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Tuesday • January 11, 2011 • Vol. 104 Issue 15

Briefs

State funds will be big issue for MSU in 2011

Students to raise money for Haiti

Missouri State students will launch the “Bears Backing Haitianistas: 50 in 50” campaign to help disaster victims in Haiti.

The campaign goal is to raise $50,000 in 50 hours. All proceeds go to Convoy of Hope.

The campaign will run from 6 p.m. today to 8 p.m. Thursday in front of the Plaster Student Union.

By Jason Johnston The Standard

Keynote speaker to be announced

The keynote speaker of this semester’s Public Affairs Conference will be announced at a press conference today. The panelists and plenary speakers have already been announced.

Homecoming chair deadlines approach

The Office of Student Engagement is now accepting applications for Homecoming 2011 Chair, Vice Chair and Committee.

The applications are located outside the Office of Student Engagement (PSU 101) and can be returned to the front desk. Digital copies that can be printed are also available on the Homecoming 2011 website. The deadline for applications is Feb. 3, 2011 at 4 p.m. for Chair and Vice Chair.

The deadline for committee member applications is Feb. 17, 2011 at 4 p.m.

Taylor Health giving free flu shots

Taylor Health and Wellness, in conjunction with the Student Government Association, will be offering free flu shots to Missouri State students and their dependents/household members. To receive a shot, go to Taylor Health or call 417-836-4000 for more information. Taylor Health is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This offer is limited to the first 1,000 students who request it.

Clearing the roads in Springfield

The Greene County Highway Department began treating roads for snow today and continues clearing county-maintained roadways tonight.

Greene County plows all 1,250 miles of county roadways, including arterials, farm roads and residential streets. Highway crews are working 12-hour shifts, with 32 plow trucks running during the day and 20 overnight.

Calendar

January 11 to January 17

Tuesday

Refund Deadline for first-block classes at 100 percent credit/refund Last day to register for firstblock classes

“Accounting Basics for Small Businesses” seminar, Glass Hall 115, 9 a.m. to noon.

Wednesday

SAC Films Presents: Itʼs Kind of a Funny Story, PSU Theater, 9:30 p.m.

Thursday

Taiji: Relax the Body and Focus the Mind, Taylor Health and Wellness conference room, noon to 1 p.m.

Resident assistant/residential programming assistant informational session, Hutchens House basement, 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday

Last day to register for fullsemester classes

Monday

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, no classes.

Matt Kile/THE STANDARD

A car parked between the third and fourth floors of Bear Park North caught fire at approximately 11 a.m. Monday.

Car ablaze in garage Firefighters rush to Bear Park North on first day of class

By Sarah Bennett The Standard

A car caught fire in the Bear Park North parking garage Monday around 11 a.m.

Donald Clark, director of the Safety and Transportation Department, said a call came in through the dispatch around 11 a.m. The caller said there was a smoking car in the garage.

Public safety officers arrived on the scene about a minute after receiving the call and began directing traffic, and firefighters arrived about a minute after, Clark said.

The car was located on a ramp going from the third floor to the fourth floor, and upon arrival, officers determined the car was engulfed in flames, he said.

While the car was on fire, thick smoke could be seen escaping out of the east side of the garage.

Rachel Duker, a senior accounting major, said she parked on the third floor ramp on the west side of the garage shortly after 11 a.m. The ramp was filled with smoke, and she heard loud popping noises.

“At first I thought someone was lighting off fireworks in the garage,” she said. “Then I got out of my car, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, a car is on fire.’”

Duker said she was about to call 911 when a campus security officer pulled up next to her and said security had already contacted the fire department.

The fire trucks were not clear to enter the parking garage. Clark said this is not a safety violation.

“That’s normal,” he said. “To my knowledge, no parking garage was ever built that accommodated fire trucks.”

Firefighters had control of the fire in about 10 minutes and spent another 20 minutes spraying the car, Clark said.

Because the trucks could not enter the garage, a rope was lowered from the fourth floor to the ground to haul a fire

hose to the fourth floor.

Fire Marshall Bill Spence said the fire started in the car’s engine compartment.

The car was completely destroyed in the fire, Clark said. Two of the four tires exploded, and the interior of the car melted.

Though there were cars nearby, they were not damaged in the fire, Clark said.

Spence said there was no structural damage to the parking garage, and no one was injured in the incident.

Though public safety officers and firefighters were present, there were no police officers at the scene.

“I don’t know if they were called,” Clark said. “It’s not uncommon for them to show up to direct traffic, but they were not there while I was on the scene.”

Officers were able to determine the owner of the car using the license plate number, Clark said. Just as the officers determined what class the student was in, he approached the scene.

The car was towed from the parking garage around 2 p.m.

Additional reporting by Jon Poorman

Shaving heads for a cause

By Tessa Harbaugh The Standard

It’s not often that students get to witness professors having their heads shaved, but that was exactly what happened when three MSU community members did so to raise money for breast cancer awareness.

Roger Stoner, associate dean of the College of Arts and Letters, John Turner, an English professor, and Mitchell Bess, a library associate, gave students the opportunity to watch as they shaved their heads Dec. 15.

MSU’s English Department held a fundraiser for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks to support Kris Sutliff, the assistant department head and professor in the English Department, as she battles cancer and chemotherapy.

Stoner’s reaction to having his head shaved was “Cold!”

Stoner said he shaved his head out of respect for Sutliff and “to hopefully bring more awareness of how the MSU campus and community could support the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.”

Sutliff was diagnosed with breast cancer in early September, had surgery in October and is now going through chemotherapy.

Although she does not use

Michael Gulledge/THE STANDARD

Missouri State English professor John Turner looks at his freshly shaven head.Turner and two others had their heads shaved to support professor Kris Sutliff in her fight with cancer. the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, she believes it is a great organization that helps victims of breast cancer in southwest Missouri.

The event took place on the second floor of Siceluff Hall. MSU faculty and staff paid $2 to watch the shaving, and students paid $1. Stoner and Turner also offered to take a temporary Mohawk picture with spectators for an extra dollar.

All proceeds went directly to the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks.

The English department

also sold T-shirts at the event to support Relay for Life, which is to be held in April.

Relay for Life will allow more students and faculty to join teams to raise money in the fundraiser.

Stoner said in an e-mail that he believes the event meant a lot to Sutliff to have a gesture of support, not only through the English Department, but also from the entire MSU and the Springfield communities.

“Dr. Sutliff has some wonderful friends — friends who would do most anything for her,” said Wilma Catlin,

academic administrative assistant in the English Department. “She’s my boss, and I would do almost anything for her, but she assured me that I didn’t need to shave my head too.”

For more information regarding the event or upcoming events for the Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, check out the foundation’s website at www.bcfo.org.

“It was a privilege to do this for Dr. Sutliff, and I would like to wish her a speedy recovery,” Stoner said.

Missouri State University’s funding from the state for fiscal year 2012 is the biggest issue affecting the university, a university official said.

“The legislature is going to have to make some difficult decisions about what areas to cut, and one of those is likely to be higher education,” said John Catau, the associate provost of undergraduate education. “We really do not know the specifics of how large the cuts are going to be, but it is certain there will be substantial cuts to the state support for Missouri State.”

The state is facing a significant deficit, said Paul Wagner, the deputy commissioner of the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

“The state budget director generally is talking about a deficit of $400-500 million range for fiscal year 2012,” Wagner said.

The first step of the budget process is Gov. Jay Nixon announcing his budget recommendations in his State of the State speech on Jan. 19, Wagner said.

“The governor in Missouri traditionally sets the foundation for what the budget is going to look like,” he said. “The General Assembly has to pass the budget.”

The General Assembly committees have not even been appointed yet to hear any legislation, said Sen. Bob Dixon (R-Springfield).

Dixon “The pro tem announced that he is not going to make any committee assignments until after he is elected by the full Senate, which happened Jan. 5,” Dixon said.

He also said the committee assignments may be appointed the week of Jan. 10.

Rep. Sara Lampe (DSpringfield) did not return phone calls concerning higher education legislation.

The university received a list of 45 programs that the MDHE considered to be lowcompleter programs, Catau said at the Dec. 17 Board of Governors’ meeting. The MDHE defined the low-completer programs for an undergraduate program of having an average of less than 10 graduates for the last three years. The low-completer graduate program limit was five graduates.

“We discovered four programs should not have been on the list because they were new programs. Seven programs will be deleted, which leaves 34 programs to maintain, and justification was sent to the MDHE.” The university received a notice from the MDHE that it wants more information on 27 of the 34 programs, Catau said.

“This has been a very difficult task, and it has been a very short timeline that we were given to do this,” he said.

MDHE owes Nixon a full report of the low-completer programs in February, Wagner said. The MDHE board will be considering and approving the report for the governor at its February meeting either on Feb. 9 or Feb. 10.

“There is no one in Jefferson City who can delete an academic program,” Wagner said. “Only the institution’s local governing board can close a program.”

Dixon said, in his opinion, higher education is the key component to long-term economic development.

“It has to be a priority as we move forward,” Dixon said.

2

BOG approves resolutions before break

By Jason Johnston The Standard

The Board of Governors approved resolutions to give the university more oversight and transparency during its Dec. 17 meeting.

“My hope is that we can bring you a draft of the (long-range) plan sometime in early 2011 and finalized by the June meeting,” university President James Cofer said.

The university received an unqualified opinion for the 2009-2010 financial report, said Rachel Dwiggans, a certified public accountant and senior manager at the BKD, LLP Springfield office — the firm that audited the univer-

sity financial statements.

“The financial statements are materially reported in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,” Dwiggans said.

Total assets increased in 2010 by more than $15 million and liabilities decreased by $7.5 million, she said. Pell grants were up more than $8 million in 2010.

Dwiggans said the university’s federal programs in fiscal year 2010 were about $137 million compared to about $122 million in fiscal year 2009.

“It is obviously a significant source of funding with student financial aid being the majority of those federal funds of about $115 mil-

lion in 2010,” she said.

Clif Smart, the university’s general counsel, said the president’s audit committee report had five key areas: decrease the Greenwood Laboratory School’s $400,000 per year loss; more financial records training on Banner; more oversight and documentation for the president’s carry-forward Funds; less use of the procurement cards; and more fiscal responsibility for food purchases, professional memberships and gifts.

Athletics Director Kyle Moats said he formed a new Missouri State’s ballpark license agreement to lease Hammons Field.

“I am happy to inform

the board, along with the assistance of Cofer and Smart, we were able to sign a five-year lease at an annual rate of $200,000 not to exceed $225,000 during the five-year period,” Moats said.

The board approved recommendations by Student Body President Jacob Swett to make the printers in the labs on campus be set automatically to duplex printing for paper conservation, split the Bear Line Shuttle night service and extend Meyer Library hours past midnight.

Governor Cathy Smith recognized the six 20102011 Board of Governors’ Citizen Scholar award recipients.

WikiLeaks seeks transparency for governments

By Kaycie Surrell The Standard

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Standard

News

Media organization WikiLeaks, which was officially launched in 2007, has been the subject of extensive controversy in the past year. Most of us have at the very least heard of Wikileaks even if we haven’t spent hours pouring over the information it offers.

The information offered on this particular site consists of otherwise secret government documents released on the basis of promoting a stronger and more honest democracy along with improving all forms of journalism and media.

It’s pretty easy to understand why our country’s political leaders might not want certain information leaked to the public, especially if it makes us look bad. So far, there have been more than a few unflattering leaks involving U. S. foreign policy and international relations.

“The argument that something unconstitutional has happened, or at least something illegal, is because it’s the government’s own secrets that are being exposed, things that the government doesn’t want to expose and believes ought not be exposed for various reasons,” said Andrew Cline, a media and journalism professor.

“What you have on the other side is this general idea that we live or should live in a much more transparent world, an idea that has sprung largely from the Internet.”

Wikileaks claims what they do is important because it improves trans-

parency, and that transparency creates a better society. They support a blatant outlet for people who want to anonymously contribute to the incoming flow of information.

While some people Cline seem to support this wholeheartedly, others are concerned.

Though the site claims to have been collaboratively started by a large group of journalists and technologists, its director is generally understood to be Australian Internet activist Julian Assange.

Assange has been called reckless and faced threats by people who think that what he represents and does for WikiLeaks is unconstitutional. He has also been praised for holding journalism to a higher standard.

“I think I come down on the side of that it is constitutional under the First Amendment while also probably being illegal in the sense of the various laws that protect government secrets. Those two things I think work side by side,” Cline said.

This of course isn’t the first time our country has had to deal with information they would have rather kept secret finding its way to the public. The Pentagon Papers detailed the history of the United States’ political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967 and were leaked to the public in 1971.

The New York Times put the leak on

the front page but before doing so sought legal council. Although they were advised not to publish, they did anyway under their First Amendment right to publish information important to the public.

“Daniel Ellsberg got a hold of (the Pentagon Papers) and delivered it to them, and I think we’re all better off for it even though the government was very displeased that they got into the public realm,” Cline said. “Whether or not anything that WikiLeaks has gotten a hold of arrives at the same sort of level of importance as the Pentagon Papers, I don’t think that we know yet.

They’ve only put a portion of what they have up on the Web, and there is still apparently lots more coming.”

Although nothing as seemingly important has been leaked through WikiLeaks, they use the ruling on the Pentagon Papers that says, “only a free and unrestrained press can effectively expose deception in government” to justify their use of secret government documents under the model of a new kind of journalism.

Whether freedom of press stands to be enough to save WikiLeaks remains to be seen. The latest move made by our government against the site has been to issue a subpoena to Twitter demanding the release of information on Julian Assange and other supporters of the site.

What we can be sure of is that this thing has our government in a frenzy, and there are bigger issues at hand than where this information is coming from.

New organizations will benefit from constitution generator

By Amanda Hess The Standard

The Student Government Association is creating a constitution generator that will assist new student organizations in forming constitutions that will pass requirements stated in the Student Organization Development and Assistant Act of 2010 (SODA).

Emily Bernet, the speaker pro tempore of SGA, said the Internal Affairs Committee looks over student organizations’ constitutions to give them general suggestions and help meet requirements to allow them to become registered organizations on campus.

“The biggest problem that organizations have when writing or revising their constitutions is making sure the enabling clause is correct and word for word as listed in SODA,” Bernet said. “This clause is placed at the end of every constitution and states how the constitution will be ratified.”

The SODA Act was adopted in April of 2010, she said. Some requirements in SODA include that constitutions state that officers must be Missouri State students and that there must be processes for impeachment and filling officer vacancies.

“This document is helpful because it works not only as a guide for students writing a constitution, but (also) as a tool for current members of the Internal Affairs Committee (IAC) to use while they are reviewing constitutions,” she said.

Jeremy Schenk, the director of student engagement, said OSE has a staff member and a graduate assistant who will meet with the student organization and help them with their constitution.

“A student organization must go through registration/renewal ever year, attend a mandatory orienta-

tion, have four members, have a faculty/staff advisor and have their constitution passed by SGA,” Schenk said. “If they do not complete these steps they are no longer recognized and lose all student organization benefits.”

Bernet said the constitution generator will make it easier for organizations to ensure they meet all the requirements.

“This Bernet Web application will allow members of campus to pick from several prefilled options and, upon completion, will export a completed constitution to Microsoft Word,” Bernet said.

SGA declines to give any more information about the constitution generator while it is in its beginning stages.

Constitutions are reviewed when they are first created and when they are resubmitted because of changes. They are reviewed annually by the organization and sent to be re-approved

by SGA if any changes are made.

The Student Organization Handbook lists among the benefits, a registered organization can reserve space through Conference Services, conduct fundraisers, gain assistance from OSE and request funding from Student Organization Funding Allocation Council (SOFAC).

A complete list of requirements and benefits can be found in the Student Organization Handbook and a sample constitution and bylaws can be found on the OSE’s website. It is unknown at this time when the constitution generator will be available to the public.

Tuesday

January 11, 2011

Passing a right-to-work law could bring more jobs to Missouri

Imagine a world where you are required to pay the bullies in your office a yearly fee to make important decisions for you. Decisions you could have easily made on your own — for free. Oh, wait, you don’t have to try very hard to imagine a place like this. You may already live in it.

In Missouri, if your job is covered by a union contract, you have no choice but to pay union fees. Even if you’d rather just pocket the money and call the unions a bunch of bad words, you can’t.

Unlike many of its neighbors, Missouri is not a “right-to-work” state. This means that even if the Constitution gives you the right to freedom of association and even if you personally do not support unions, that is just too bad, kimosabe. You have no choice.

Some of the legislators in Jefferson City want to change this. It probably won’t be the biggest priority on their list, but the change could still be passed later this year.

Right-to-work is alive and kicking in more than 20 states.

Missourah really needs to join those states. Yes,

Greg Edwards Columnist

I said Missourah.

Whenever you want something from people in this state, it’s always best to completely change the state’s name and pronunciation.

States that do not have right-to-work laws can potentially scare away new businesses and jobs. Why would a growing company want to mess with a big, bad union in Missouri when they could just go down the road to Oklahoma and not worry about it?

Would they decide to come to Missourah over Oklahoma just for the scenery and Rams football? I think not.

When my college career comes to an end and I start working in the “real world,” all of this is going to frustrate me even more. Future Missouri State University grads may end up unemployed and living with their parents. A simple thing like having a right-to-work statute in our state could be the saving grace that brings in an amazing new com-

pany with a lot of new, quality jobs.

Some people argue that whether or not states have right-towork statutes isn’t the biggest deciding factor for new businesses looking to expand. They are completely right… (hold for applause).

That isn’t the point. The whole right-to-work debate is one of a handful of issues businesses consider when looking for a place to locate, and that is enough for me. Every little deciding factor helps.

I’m sick of this subpar economy we are still in. In the coming year, the state legislature will have to find $500 million to cut from the budget. It doesn’t take a collegeeducated person to know that the first thing that will be cut is decent college education.

That’s just the way it is.

So, while future students are in college, they might have to pay sky-high tuition rates.

Entire programs may be cut. Things will not be in a good place. Then, when they get out of college, that dream job they wanted never actually came to Missouri because the company was partially scared away by the thought of

powerful unions. Oh well, at least Missouri State will one day have a recreation center complete with a lazy river.

That’ll make everyone feel better.

Even if the state legislators get their rightto-work bill passed, they will still have to worry about the governor vetoing it. The thing is, politicians that live in districts with a bunch of unions, or even just politicians who have support, are union going to be scared to vote for this upcoming piece of legislation.

They know union bosses would be furious at them, which would make them lose much needed support and money. And you know where that support and money comes from?

Your union dues.

So, call up your state legislators. If you don’t know who your legislator is, find out. Tell them you like job-creation, and getting a right-to-work law would help with that. It would also mean you wouldn’t have to pay union fees if you didn’t want to. See what they say. Every vote for this thing will help, especially if good ole Gov. Nixon decides to veto it.

The Standard suggests new year’s resolutions for MSU

As we enter a new year and a new semester, Missouri State University, like everyone else in the world, should strive to be better. Thus, The Standard’s editorial staff has some suggestions for the university’s 2011 new year’s resolutions.

Our first suggestion is for the entire campus community: faculty, staff and students. Go to basketball games. Go to hockey games. Go to any sporting event, really.

To believe that this university is merely an academic institution is silly. It is more than that, and athletics is a huge part of university culture and experience. The fact that so few students attend basketball games, especially women’s basketball games, is sad.

In coming months when budgets are cut, the fate of our athletic teams will be important. The university’s budget will depend even more on donations and revenue from athletics.

Thus, our sporting teams need support from the campus community.

This next suggestion is for the students at Missouri State University: Vote in the student body elections.

There is a widely held belief on this campus that what the Student Government Association does is irrelevant or does not affect the students. That is not entirely accurate.

While SGA appears to do a lot of seemingly small things on this campus, they also undertake quite a few large tasks that affect all students. Take, for example, their resolution to extend the library hours. At the Board of Governors meeting on Dec. 17, Student Body President Jacob Swett took the library resolution before the board, which approved the recommendation.

Now, recyclable cups in the dining halls is one small step for lucky students with meal plans, but extending the library’s hours will benefit the entire student body whether you live in a residence hall or somewhere off campus.

So we suggest to the students who are apathetic about SGA’s involvement on campus to take a few minutes to look at the organization’s website, find out what they’re discussing at meetings and maybe even vote in this spring’s elections.

Last spring, only 1,190 votes were cast for the student body president and vice president, according to the SGA website.

Let’s see more votes this year.

Our final suggestion is to be more consistent with the plusminus grading system. Either every professor on campus should adhere to it or no one should at all.

This “it’s up to the professor” schtick is especially unfair to students in 100-level general education classes where there are multiple sections of a certain class each semester. Some students could be floating by with an easy B in a section without plus-minus grading whereas others could be selling their souls to the devil for a B in a class with the pesky grading system.

This system is unfair to students, and it is kind of turning registering for classes into a form of Russian roulette: “Please let me find a professor who doesn’t use plus-minus grading.”

Oh, and we have one more resolution for ourselves. This year The Standard will find every person on campus who has ever commented on one of our stories and offer them a copy editing position.

What happened to the male gender?

A few years ago, I stumbled across a book titled “Save the Males: Why Men Matter, Why Women Should Care” by Kathleen Parker. I chuckled at the cleverness of the jacket artwork of a suited man waist deep in the ocean alongside other near-extinct species.

After reviewing the inside cover of the book, I set it back down and pursued a light and ultra-forgettable mystery flick.

Years later, an evening at my big blue electronicsselling employer brought the image of males on the brink of extinction to the forefront of my mind. I had just finished lugging an extremely heavy cart of computers from one side of a store to the other in hopes of restocking for the following morning. Arms aching and body nearly horizontal, I had thrown all of my weight forward in an attempt to pull my cart around a corner. I passed several tall and muscular

The Standard

Brittany Forell Columnist

men who laughed and shouted things like, “Is that heavy?” and “Look at you, workin’ hard!”

While I appreciated the back patting and reinforcement that I was indeed working hard, I was secretly hoping for a different response. None of the men stopped to offer me help, and I cursed my feminist mother and all who took part in the bra-burning movements. Girl power is so over-rated.

One particularly burly looking male advised me to lift each computer up the 15-foot ladder and onto the towering stack of existing boxes. I attempted one good haul, crumpled under sions are also welcome. The Standard reserves the right to edit all submissions for punctuation, spelling, length and good taste. Letters should be mailed to The Standard, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO 65897 or e-mailed to Standard@Missouri State.edu.

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the weight and nearly toppled off the ladder to either an early death or a hefty settlement check. After deciding computer inventory was not worth any broken limbs, I abandoned my project until I could drag a fellow employee over to lend a hand.

As I sat at the foot of the ladder, out of breath and prematurely sore, I brooded for a moment. What happened to men? What happened to the courtesy of offering a hand when a woman is carrying something heavy? Or, rather, what happened to confidence, masculinity and a touch of valor? While it felt only natural to blame the burly, mean men who saw me struggle and did not offer assistance, I found myself seething about women instead. The front cover of Parker’s book suddenly popped into my head — “Save the Males,” indeed.

It is common opinion

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that men do not need saving but rather live it up in a male-dominated world. It is widely believed that all men pal around on plastic putting greens in their Olympic-sized offices and gloat about the extra 25 cents they steal at the expense of the women’s salaries. I, however, am of the opinion that, in the grand scheme of things, men are getting screwed (and not in the way that they prefer).

There is something irresistible about men, as a group, especially when something goes bump in the night. However, that masculinity and presence is being stripped away piece by piece through pop culture. For the last 30 years, men have been attacked from every angle as our society embraces the idea that men are to blame for all of life’s misfortunes.

In popular television shows, women have been

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portrayed as victims, martyrs and goddesses, while men are cast as the bumbling fools of the family — quarantined to their basements, garages or front porches. In a study consisting of 102 family sitcoms, only four portrayed the father as an active and participating member of the family. I guess it’s more entertaining to laugh at the Homer Simpsons and Doug Heffernans of the world.

While it was entirely necessary to adjust the balance of the sexes, it seems gender equality has mutated into female superiority.

While society has created female-friendly environments, it has in consequence created hostility and disrespect toward men.

Parker explains how the female perspective has progressed from a fire for equality to downright scorn for masculinity.

In the male-bashing state that America is in, the The Standard Physical address: Student Media Center 744 E. Cherry St. Postal address: 901 S. National Ave. Springfield, MO 65897

importance of fatherhood and male contribution in a household are gravely undervalued. As a result, a generation has been brought up in a world where men are confused about their role in society and whose only expectations are to drink beer, contribute sperm and have crisp bills in their wallets.

My hope is not to rally the men into opening more doors for their ladies or to always be available when a girl is attempting to carry a heavy box. I am, however, hoping to inspire an increased respect for those male qualities that are dying off like bald eagles and blue whales. Appreciation of masculinity means raising the bar of expectations. Direct that girl power into a different direction. Saving the males will most likely save the females. The alternative is a world with wimps and schlubs instead of knights and kings.

Editor in Chief Sarah Bennett (417) 836-5272

Multimedia Editor Bridget Rapp (417) 836-5272

Managing Editor Leah Randazzo (417) 836-5390

Head Copy Editor Jessica Reynolds (417) 836-5272

News and Sports Editor Phone: (417) 836-5272 Jon Poorman Fax: (417) 836-6738 (417) 836-5390 Standard@Missouri Life Editor State.edu Bobbie Sawyer The Standard is pub(417) 836-5272 lished Tuesday during Photo Editor the fall and spring Matt Kile semesters.

(417) 836-5272

Advertising Mgr. Sandy King (417) 836-5524 Faculty Adviser Jack Dimond (417) 836-8467

Tuesday

January 11, 2011

Calendar January 11 to January 17

Tuesday

Photos of Domino Danzero 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Meyer Library 306, free

Meyer Library Tours 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Meyer Library Duane G. Meyer lobby, free

Wednesday

“Building the Ultimate Business Plan” seminar 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Glass Hall, admission: $139

SAC Films Presents: “Itʼs Kind of a Funny Story” 9 p.m to 11 p.m., PSU Theater, free Quizzical at the Q 7:30 p.m., Q Enoteca

Thursday

Taiji: Relax the Body and Focus the Mind, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Taylor Health and Wellness Center conference room, free

Friday

Play-In-A-Day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Springfield Little Theatre, $25 per day

LemonDropʼs Rhythm and Boom Presents: Big Smith in concert 7 p.m., $8 cover, $12 for minors

Saturday

Storytelling Series at the Q 9 p.m., Q Enoteca

Play: “Julie Bunny Must Die!” 7:30 p.m., admission: reserved tickets and ringside tables $22 for adults and $18 for students, all seats $16

Monday

Martin Luther King Day— no school

Briefs

Arts Council benefit auction has heart

The Springfield Regional Arts Council is looking for artists to participate in “Hearts for the Arts,” an exhibit and silent auction to benefit the Arts Council’s art education programming, taking place from Jan. 14 through Feb. 4 at the Creamery Arts Center.

The silent auction will begin at 5 p.m. on Jan. 14 at the Creamery Arts Center and online at SpringfieldArts. org.

The arts programs benefited from the fundraiser include Arts in the Park Summer Workshops with the Springfield Community Center, Artist-In-Residence, the Greater Ozarks Art Tour, Mini Monet Mondays, Arts Education Scholarships and Partners in Education.

The dark, eerie ballerina flick “Black Swan” competes against fellow favorites such as “Inception” and “The Fighter” at the Golden Globes.

Big-screen buzz Gear up for Hollywood’s film frenzy with insight from local movie buffs

By Megan Gates The Standard

Movie awards season officially begins with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globes on Jan. 16. If you’re like many, you might be wondering what to watch or what is even nominated before sitting down to watch the awards Sunday.

Nominated this year for Best Motion Picture Drama at the Golden Globes are “Black Swan,” “The Fighter,” “Inception,” “The King’s Speech” and “The Social Network,” all of which have received media attention and have been favored by professors, students and theater employees alike.

Timothy R. White, associate professor and assistant head of the Media, Journalism and Film Department, said the movies “Toy Story 3,” “Black Swan,” “Inception,” “The Social Network,” “The King’s Speech” and possibly “True Grit” were some of his favorites of the past year and sure to be favored at this year’s awards ceremonies. “‘Toy Story 3’ is my favorite because I love animation, and I love the original ‘Toy Story,’” he said. “I also like ‘Black Swan’ and ‘Inception’ because I tend to like movies that are more stylized and not so sappy and

especially those in which the characters do something and don’t just talk, as in ‘The King’s Speech.’”

White said he recommends students see as many movies from the past year as possible if they wish to prepare for the awards ceremonies and have a wellrounded knowledge of the candidates.

“If the viewing includes beer, watch every movie possible,” he said. “And just remember that the fact that you personally like a movie means nothing in terms of winning Oscars. If you are betting or doing shots or something of that nature to wager the outcome, go with safe bets and especially dignified choices like ‘The King’s Speech.’”

Brook Linder, a junior film production major and employee at The Palace Theatre, See AWARDS page 11

‘Inception,’ ‘The King’s Speech’ favored to get gold this awards season

It’s time for pretty dresses and shiny statues. That’s right: It’s Karman officially awards seaBowers son. The big question on people’s minds now Movie besides “Is this class Reviewer going to be the end of me?” is “Who’s going to win?”

No one really knows, but we can have fun guessing or even voting for the People’s Choice Awards like we did back on Jan. 5. However, before we go any further, I have to tell you that I am very disappointed in the general public for voting “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse” both Favorite Drama Movie and Favorite Movie. I’m sorry if you’re a fan, but come on. Is that really the best film of the year?

Thank goodness they don’t leave all of the deciding up to us plebs. Again, no offense to the general public, but if it was left to us, then great films and filmmakers would never get the recognition they have earned and deserved. We would be left with only films like “Eclipse” and “Dear John.”

Now that I’ve had my little rant, we can continue. Next up we have the 68th annual Golden See FILMS page 11

Photo contest

Study Missouri invites international and study away students to enter an International Education Day photo contest for a grand prize of $200.

The contest requires that participants are current students at a Missouri college and the photo is taken in a country where the participant attended college.

First prize in the international and study away categories will be awarded $150, second prize in each category will receive $100 and third prize will receive $75. Prizes will be applied to educational expenses.

Submissions, included along with the participant’s name, status as international or study away student, name of institution, country, date of the photograph and a 100word maximum caption on why the photograph is meaningful to the student, are due on Feb. 2.

Photographs deemed the highest quality will be displayed in the rotunda of the Missouri State Capitol building.

TheStandard_MSU

The mind-bending “Inception” is one of the front runners for Best Motion Picture Drama at this Sunday’s Golden Globes ceremony.

Golden Globes viewers will watch to see if “The Social Network” can use its immense popularity to score top honors and an invite to the Oscars.

Kick off new semester with college ‘bucket list’

By Bobbie Sawyer The Standard

For many students, the beginning of the new semester is the start of the four-month countdown to graduation and the start of a new phase of life. But even in the frenzy of résumés and cover letters, there’s still a lot of collegiate life to squeeze out of your final days in the Springfield education system.

From adrenaline-fueled ventures to weekend getaways, the following is a guide to living large before tossing the cap.

Skydiving may seem like a bit of a bucket list cliché, but if after the sixth viewing of the ’91 action flick “Point Break” you knew you would one day have to feel the wind in your hair and soar like Keanu Reeves after a band of bank-robbing surfers, Freefall Express Skydiving, Inc. in Mount Vernon, Mo. can help realize that dream.

Bryan Wolford, owner of Freefall Express, said skydiving is more than just a one-time thrill.

“Skydiving is a great experience,” Wolford said.

“It helps people overcome their fears. Whatever stress they have, skydiving removes that.”

Become a thrill-seeker

Freefall Express Skydiving offers both solo skydiving, which requires six hours of classroom experience beforehand, and tandem skydiving, in which the student is connected to an instructor via harness for the duration of the freefall and undergoes 30 to 45 minutes of ground preparation, Wolford said.

Wolford said Freefall Express, which receives biannual visits from Missouri State’s Natural High Club, offers a $10 discount to all college students.

Freefall is open every Saturday and Sunday. For a list of rates, visit www.freefallexpress.com.

If the thought of parachutes and rip chords is making your heart race, why not try a dose of adrenaline minus the staggering heights with a round of karaoke? Downtown karaoke bar Bugsy Malone’s offers a stage to showcase your best power ballad and a $10, 32-ounce mug of liquid courage.

Even as a four-year resident of Springfield, I was a little taken aback on my first visit to Bass Pro Shops. It’s huge — at 300,000 square feet, it’s the largest in the nation — and features a colossal chandelier of antlers that adorns the main entrance.

But I quickly discovered that Bass Pro has plenty in store for visitors who’ve never owned an item

Go ‘Pro’

in camouflage.

“I was most surprised by the diversity of items we have,” said Laura Thiel, Bass Pro special events manager. “People think of hunting and fishing, but there’s also a wide variety of men and women’s Northface and Columbia (sports)wear.”

Thiel said her favorite attraction is Uncle Buck’s auditorium, an underground fish tank, which features live shows with SCUBA divers on Thursday through Sunday.

“It’s an experience while shopping,” Thiel said.

“People shop, but mostly people shop to look around.”

If for the past three years the bulk of your meals have derived from a combination of value menus, it’s time to treat yourself to one of Springfield’s many options for locally owned and operated restaurants.

One such option is Grad School, an offbeat downtown eatery with a diner atmosphere. With prices under $10 and choices ranging from Long Beach Tacos to Jerk Chicken and plenty of vegetar-

Tantalize your taste buds

See LIST page 11

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Standard

Life

5

Tuesday

January 11, 2011

Valley perfection

Scorebox

Men’s Basketball Tuesday, Jan. 4 Creighton 29 26 - 55 Missouri State 20 47 - 67 Friday, Jan. 7 Evansville 28 22 - 50 Missouri State 29 36 - 65 Sunday, Jan 9 Wichita State 24 32 - 56 Missouri State 35 24 - 59 Women’s Basketball Sunday, Jan. 2 Evansville 28 26 - 54 Missouri State 36 39 - 75 Thursday, Jan. 6 Northern Iowa 40 40 - 80 Missouri State 38 31 - 69 Saturday, Jan. 8 Bradley 22 36 - 58 Missouri State 31 42 - 73 Track and Field Friday, Jan. 7 Missouri Invitational won two events Men’s Swimming and Diving Tunica Invitational 1st of 4 Women’s Swimming and Diving Tunica Invitational 1st of 4

Bears have eyes set on league title

By Jon Poorman The Standard

Classes may have been over for the semester, but the Missouri State men’s basketball team kept busy over the winter break with a slate of seven games, including five in conference play.

The Bears began their postsemester schedule with an 81-65 home victory over Saint Louis on Dec. 18. Junior Kyle Weems led the way for the Bears with 26 points and eight rebounds, while senior Will Creekmore added 20 points and seven rebounds. Senior Nafis Ricks chipped in 14 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

With the first victory under their belt, the Bears moved on to play Arkansas State at home on Dec. 22. The Bears struggled at times but pulled out the 77-70 win. Weems led the way once again with 24 points and seven rebounds.

Seniors Adam

Calendar January 11 to January 17

Tuesday

Womenʼs Basketball at home vs. Illinois State, 7:05 p.m.

Leonard and Jermaine Mallett added 12 points apiece.

With their non-conference schedule completed, the Bears were slated for a conference matchup with defending MVC champs Northern Iowa. The Bears traveled to Cedar Falls for the game and hoped for a strong showing in their conference opener.

The Bears were able to come through in the end after Weems nailed a 3-pointer with only a few seconds left on the clock, giving Missouri State the 58-57 victory.

With their first road conference win, the Bears returned home for a New Year’s Day showdown with Illinois State, a game the Bears won 82-71.

Missouri State had four players in double figures, led by Mallett with 22 points and nine rebounds.

The Bears then traveled to Omaha, Neb., to take on Creighton. The Bears used a huge second-half performance (68 percent from the field) to take down the Bluejays 67-55, securing their third conference win. Once again, the Bears had four players in double figures.

After that, it was back to the friendly confines of JQH Arena

for a battle with Evansville.

Weems recorded a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds, and the Bears rolled to a 65-50 victory.

The Bears’ final game before classes resumed was Sunday night’s showdown with Wichita State for control over the Valley standings. Both teams came into the game at 4-0 in conference play, but the Bears used an early lead and a clutch performance in the final minutes to pull out the win over the Shockers.

Missouri State is now 13-3 overall and 5-0 in conference play, putting them alone in first place.

Weems is leading the Bears this year, averaging 15.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game.

Creekmore is averaging 11.7 points and 6.1 rebounds, and Mallett is averaging 11.5 points and 5.2 rebounds. Ricks is averaging nine points, 4.4 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game in his first year as the starting point guard.

The team’s next game will be at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday against rival Southern Illinois at JQH Arena. The Bears will put their 17-game home winning streak on the line as they take on the Salukis (9-7, 3-2).

favorably, the Bears have to beat highly regarded conference opponents such as preseason No.1 Wichita State and rival Northern Iowa.

The Bears already have two solid conference victories: a clutch 58-57 win over UNI in Cedar Falls, Iowa and a 59-56 road win over Wichita State on Sunday.

games this season, the Bears have started the same five players every time. As long as the Bears continue to stay healthy, the team’s chemistry should only grow stronger. This also helps coach Martin develop a regiment for subbing in players.

Wednesday

Getting to the big dance

Friday

Carbondale, Ill., 9 a.m.

Five keys to the Bears making March Madnes

Ice Hockey away at

By John Cook The Standard

Menʼs Basketball at home

vs. SIU-Carbondale, 7:05 p.m.

Track and Field away at

Saturday

Illinois State, 12:30 p.m.

The Missouri State Bears (13-3, 5-0) have silenced critics who said their CIT National Championship last year was a fluke. Now in the second half of the 2010-11 season, the Bears look to make a bid for a spot in the NCAA tournament.

Swimming and Diving at home

vs. Truman State, 2 p.m.

Track and Field away at Carbondale, Ill., 9 a.m.

Sunday

Ice Hockey away at

1. On the road

Illinois State, 9 a.m.

The Bears have started the season undefeated at home (9-0) while posting a 4-3 record away from JQH. If the Bears want any shot at an at-large bid, they must continue their dominance at home while improving their away record.

Menʼs Basketball away at Bradley, 7:05 p.m.

Womenʼs Basketball at home vs. Indiana State, 2:05 p.m.

Briefs Field Hokey team names new coach

After the resignation of head coach Dawn Callahan, Gabby Gomez Sosa will take over the head coaching job for the Missouri State Field Hockey team. Gomez Sosa was named to the position on Thursday Jan. 6.

Gomez Sosa is a graduate of Missouri State, and served as an assistant coach to Callahan for two seasons after playing for four years under Callahan. Gomez Sosa becomes the sixth coach in the program’s 40 year history.

Last season the Missouri State Field Hockey team was 5-15 overall and 2-8 in conference. The team was 83-157 under Callahan from 1998-2010.

2. Conference dominance

Photo Credits from top: Jason Chambers, Michael Gulledge, Michael Gulledge, Matt Kile, Matt Kile/THE STANDARD

The Bears have now won seven straight games and sit at 13-3 overall and 5-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Missouri State has earned conference wins over Northern Iowa, Illinois State, Creighton, Evansville and Wichita State.The team’s next game is against rival Southern Illinois at 7:05 p.m.on Wednesday at JQH Arena.

With a 5-0 conference start, head coach Cuonzo Martin’s squad has made an immediate statement as to where they stand in the Missouri Valley Conference. In order for the selection committee to look at MSU

3. The Weems factor

The Bears’ best clutch performer and overall statistical leader, Kyle Weems, must stay healthy for MSU’s success to continue. Weems leads the team in virtually every important category: points per game (15.9), rebounds per game (6.9), total blocks (14) and total steals (22).

Weems, now in his junior year, has improved each season and has grown into a team captain. Perhaps Weems’best asset is reliability, starting all 36 games in 2009-10, which he has continued into this season.

Weems has also improved his scoring each season, averaging 10.2 his freshman year, 13.6 last year and 15.9 this year.

5. Crashing the boards

An unseen aspect of the game, to many, is rebounding. With MSU not being a very big team as far as height, rebounding will definitely be a factor as the season goes on. Of the starting five, the Bears’ tallest player is forward/center Will Creekmore, who stands at 6 foot 9 and averages 6.1 rebounds per game.

If the Bears want to make a run in the MVC Tournament, play from their big men may be the difference between a conference title and a trip home.

Of course, the easiest way for the Bears to make it to the NCAA Tournament is simple: win the MVC Tournament. No matter what the Bears’ record is at the end of the year, if they win that tournament, they’re in.

If not, the Bears will be judged 4. Avoiding the injury bug by the selection committee on their Another aspect to the team’s entire body of work on whether they 2010-11 success is continuity. In 16 deserve a ticket to the big dance.

Team stats leaders (16 games) Scoring average: Weems (15.9), Creekmore (11.7), Mallett (11.5), Leonard (9.5), Ricks (9) Rebounding average: Weems (6.9), Creekmore (6.1), Mallett (5.2), Ricks (4.4), Patterson (3) Assists: Ricks (70), Mallett (46) Steals: Weems (22), Ricks (15) Blocks: Weems (14), Creekmore (14)

Football announces 2011 schedule

The Missouri State Football team announced on Jan. 7 their 2011 schedule that includes matchups on the road against the University of Arkansas and the University of Oregon.

Missouri State’s first four games will be on the road, and the Bears will not have a home game until their home opener at 1 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 1 against UNI. The 2011 schedule includes a total of four homes games: Oct.1, Oct. 8, Oct. 29 and Nov. 12.

Each home game for the Bears will be a Missouri Valley Conference matchup including the homecoming game at 2 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 29 against South Dakota State University.

MVC menʼs basketball

Standings as of Jan. 10 1. Missouri State 13-3 (5-0) 2. Wichita State 13-3 (4-1) 3. Creighton 12-5 (4-1) 4. Indiana State 9-7 (4-1) 5. Southern Illinois 9-7 (3-2) 6. Northern Iowa 11-6 (2-3) 7. Drake 7-9 (2-3) 8. Evansville 7-8 (1-4) 9. Illinois State 8-8 (0-5) 10. Bradley 6-10 (0-5)

Image courtesy MSU Photographic Services

Ryan Howard of the Philadelphia Phillies had his Missouri State jersey permanately retired at a ceremony during the Bears’ basketball game on Dec. 17. Howard played for the Bears from 1999-2001 and finished his college career with 50 home runs, 183 RBIs and a .335 batting average. Since becoming a pro, Howard has amounted numerous awards including 2005 National League Rookie of the Year, 2006 NL MVP, 2006 Home Run Derby champion, 2008 World Series champion, 2009 NLCS MVP and three All-Star selections.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Sports

The Standard

Keys to success

Lady Bears sit at 12-4

By Adam Hammons The Standard

Instead of going home for winter vacation and enjoying some holiday food, the Lady Bears did some work over the break finishing with five wins and two losses with a 3-1 record in the Missouri Valley Conference.

While other MSU students were still reeling from the effects of finals week, the Lady Bears took their game to the east coast starting off at Coppin State in Baltimore, Md., on Dec. 17.

The Lady Bears won 67-61 despite a run by CSU to cut a deficit of 11 to just one.

Following the run by CSU, junior guard Jasmine Malone led the team during a 122 run that sealed the win. Junior guard Casey Garrison finished with 19 points, nine rebounds and three assists even with a cut above her right eye.

After the win, the Lady Bears had a five-game winning streak going against No. 20 ranked Georgetown in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 19. However, that streak was stopped short after a 72-59 loss.

The Lady Bears then stayed on the east coast, going back to Baltimore to play against Morgan State two days later. It might have been the loss against Georgetown or the competition to be the better MSU team, but the MSU Lady Bears cruised to a 66-39 victory over the Morgan State Bears.

Next it was back to Springfield to start conference play.

Their first game was against Southern Illinois at home on New Years Eve. The Lady Bears trounced the Salukis 82-50.

The 32-point win was the largest margin of victory in coach Nyla Milleson’s career with Missouri State. The Lady Bears won largely due to the fact that they outscored SIU 42-18 in the paint.

Two days later, Missouri State stayed at home to play against Evansville on Jan. 2.

7

File photo by Michael Gulledge/THE STANDARD

Junior guard Casey Garrison drives past a defender to the basket.

With four Lady Bears finishing in double figures, MSU beat the Purple Aces 75-54.

This victory made them 2-0 in conference play for the season and extended their home winning streak against the Valley to six games.

With that win, the Lady Bears headed to Iowa to play against Northern Iowa on Jan. 6. It was their first conference away game for the season, and it also turned out to be their first loss in the Valley this season.

The 80-69 loss looks worse than it really was, as the Lady Bears were down just 68-67 with two minutes left to play. After a big three by the Panthers, though, there was no coming back as UNI hit nine out of 10 free throws in the final minutes.

Next they went to Illinois for a road game against Bradley on Jan. 8. After a slow start for the Lady Bears, they finished off Bradley with a 73-58 win. Christiana Shorter scored 19 points in the victory.

Now, the Lady Bears sit in a good position as Creighton is the only Valley team with a better conference record at 3-0. Missouri State starts off the new semester at 7:05 tonight at JQH Arena against Illinois State.

Five things to watch with the Lady Bears

3. Taking down the Redbirds

2. Blocked shots

5. Making history

Missouri State is 30-28 all time against the Illinois State, but the last eight meetings have all been won by the Redbirds.

Beyond the eight-game losing streak, the Lady Bears have gone 1-10 against the Redbirds dating back to March 10, 2005.

The first game this season between the

By Benjamen Loewnau two includes a clash between Illinois The Standard State’s scoring offense, which is ranked first in the MVC, and Missouri State’s scoring defense, which is first in the MVC. 1. D-D-D-Defense The first matchup between the two Defense has been an emphasis for the teams takes place at 7:05 p.m. tonight at Lady Bears throughout the 2010-11 sea- home and then once more on Feb. 12 at Illison and will become even more important nois State. with conference play opening up.

Despite last season’s success, which 4. Tournament time included a trip to the WNIT, opponents The MVC tournament begins on Thursscored an average of 70 points per game day, March 10, and the seeding for the touragainst the Lady Bears’ defense.

Through 16 games this season, the nament is decided on each team’s conferMissouri State defense has only allowed ence play during the season.

Last season, Missouri State finished tied opponents to score 59.6 points per game.

This defensive turnaround has allowed for third in the MVC with a 12-6 conference the Lady Bears’ scoring defense to be record and received a first round bye only to ranked 101st out of 333 teams in Divi- lose their first game to Wichita State.

The Lady Bears have not won a game in sion-I women’s basketball through 15 games and has placed them atop the Mis- the MVC tournament in four years and souri Valley Conference in scoring have gone 0-4 since they won the tournament in 2006. defense.

As evidence to their defensive successes, the Lady Bears are currently ranked fifth in all of Division-I women’s basketball in blocked shots per game with 6.5 through 15 games.

Halfway through the season, Missouri State has eclipsed last season’s mark of 98 blocked shots. In 16 games this season, the Lady Bears have blocked 102 shots.

More than half of the team’s 102 blocks have come from sophomore forwards Tia Mays (51) and Christiana Shorter (21).

With 50 blocks through 15 games, Mays was ranked ninth in all of Division-I with an average of 3.3 blocks per game.

This season, sophomore forwards Tia Mays and Christiana Shorter have both climbed into the top-10 list of career leaders in blocked shots in the Missouri State women’s basketball program.

Shorter sits at seventh all time with 58 career blocks, and Mays is tied for ninth with 51 career blocks in her first year at Missouri State since transferring.

Along with Shorter and Mays, junior guard Casey Garrison has moved up in another category by reaching the top 10 of career points leaders at Missouri State.

As of Jan. 8, Garrison has 1,396 points in a total of 79 games played.

Ice Bears gear up for second half of season

By Harrison Keegan The Standard

The Missouri State Ice Bears open the second half of their schedule with six straight games against MACHA Gold Division conference opponents.

The Ice Bears currently sit in fifth place in the league with eight team points and an 8-16 overall record.

The first six games after the winter break, beginning with two games Jan. 15 and 16 at Illinois State, are crucial to the team’s goal of reaching the MACHA playoffs in Peoria, Ill., this February.

Last season the Ice Bears came within a game of the league title, losing 5-1 to SIU- Edwardsville in the championship game. This year’s team said they hope to improve on that finish.

The Ice Bears had an up-and-down first half of the season. The team jumped out to a 7-2 start before dropping 12 games in a row.

Missouri State snapped its 12-game skid before the break with a 5-3 win against Mizzou in the annual Show Me Showdown game.

The win gives the Ice Bears a chance to sweep the rival Tigers for the second straight season. The two teams meet again Jan. 28 and 29 in Springfield.

A bright spot for the Ice Bears has been the play of sophomore forward Andy Draper. Draper leads the team with 17 goals and 19 assists.

While Draper leads the team in the two most prominent offensive categories, another interesting statistic to consider is the plus-minus rating.

For the plus-minus rating, a player is given a point if his team scores while he is on the ice and is deducted a point if the other teams scores while he is on the ice. Draper (+16) ranks second on the team in this statistic behind senior forward C.J. Jung ( +19).

If the season ended today, the Ice Bears would find themselves in the MACHA Gold division playoffs, but they have to hold off at least three of the four teams that are within four points of them from entering the second half of the schedule.

The team’s first home series of 2011, against SIUEdwardsville, should give them a good idea of where they stand.

SIU-Edwardsville won the championship a year ago and sits in first place in the league standings. They have secured a place in the playoffs and have been a staple in the ACHA Central Region’s top-10 rankings this season.

In addition to the league matchups in the second half of the season, the Ice Bears also have two tough games against Lindenwood University. Lindenwood is another top-10 team who beat the Ice Bears twice in the first half of the season.

The Ice Bears won only one road game in the first half of the season and hope to break a streak of nine consecutive road losses when they travel to Illinois State.

The Ice Bears have six home games in the second half.

The team is 6-6 at home and has scored 30 more goals in 12 home games than in their 11 road games.

836-5524 l the-standard.org l standard@missouristate.edu

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Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Standard

News

Syllabus may contain surprising class tools

By Tessa Harbaugh The Standard

The first day of classes has come to a close. You settle down at your desk and begin going through the syllabus of each course. Your eyes glance over course requirements. Typical Blackboard, textbooks, binder... and an iPod? Some Missouri State students may be surprised when they see in their course syllabus that an iPod Touch is required for the class.

This is exactly what students in professor Hugh Gibson’s recreation, sport, and park administration seminar will find on the syllabus.

“It is going be a tool that enhances the quality of instruction in classroom,” Gibson said. “My class teaches students outdoor water skills, and with the iPod, we can download free applications, send text messages, take notes, take pictures on water trips and e-mail information to each other faster.”

Gibson’s course is the first course at Missouri State that requires the use of an iPod in the classroom. He is hoping to include this type of technological tool

in more classes besides his own.

“I think a third of the students will have an iPod already, a third will like to use my course as an excuse to get it if they don’t have one and the last third will not like having to get one and will return it as soon as possible,” Gibson said.

The use of great technology is not a new phenomenon. The journalism department at the University of Missouri has required Mac computers for each student before being admitted into the department, according to the university website.

“Technologies help everyone in education do the best we can to help students learn by keeping you entertained,” said Deborah Larson, assistant professor of media, journalism and film at Missouri State. “Or just by explaining things visually or more in-depth in a computer model; that may provide an ‘aha’ moment.”

E-mail has become the main contact between students and professors. It is a quick and easy way to send a message or an assignment before a deadline.

Missouri State even helps add to the

simplicity of e-mails by providing a directory of every student and faculty member for a fast contact.

Blackboard is another common tool used by professors to update students on assignments or grades.

“I have seen in my own classroom that using discussion boards in Blackboard works great for some students who need time to reflect on material before they can give insightful input, while it’s just a pain for others who would rather have a good discussion in class,” Larson said in an e-mail.

Gibson believes technology is important in all classes and in all professions.

“Embrace it or not, technology needs to happen,” he said. “Roll with the punches. Because as technology improves, it will become a part of life.”

Larson said faculty will have to learn to integrate and keep up with technologies that people are using whether students like it or not.

“Rather than being upset by new technologies, we need to become inspired by new ways to learn,” she said.

New ‘Assassins Creed’ refreshing

Oh, to live and die in Rome. Ezio Auditore da Firenze is back, and he’s restoring the glory of the once proud assassin order.

“AC: Brotherhood” takes place shortly after the end of “Assassin’s Creed 2” with Ezio in possession of the Apple of Eden and the world a significantly better place for it. Rodrigo Borgia has escaped, and it’s up to Ezio and his cohorts to thwart a Templar conspiracy that stretches all the way to the Vatican itself. Can you enter the shoes of the Assassin and keep the citizens of Italy free from Templar tyranny? Better yet, is there any reason to buy this game?

“AC: Brotherhood” offers a refreshing expansion to the tale of Ezio in the form of a robust and extensive singleplayer campaign. After escaping from an exposed assassin hideout, Desmond Miles is forced to enter the Animus yet again to search for the current location of a powerful Templar artifact.

After an attack on Ezio’s villa renders him ill-equipped and injured (a convenient way for the player to lose the gear he collected in Ubisoft Montreal’s previous outing), Ezio travels to Roma to unseat the Templar influence that has brought the seven hills to their knees. Ezio will interact with a variety of familiar characters, including Machiavelli and Caterina Sforza, in his quest to rid Roma of tyranny and rebuild the once great assassin order.

New features abound in the “AC: Brotherhood” single-player experience, but many feel somewhat unnecessary in the face of an underwhelming difficulty curve. Ezio finds himself col-

Last Weekʼs Sudoku Answers

Tyler Tinnin Video Game Reviewer

laborating once more with Leonardo da Vinci, which in turn allows the developers to design a wealth of crazy contraptions for the player to use. Some highlights include a Renaissance parachute, a gauntlet that fires poisoned darts and special gloves that allow the player to climb to new heights. In addition to the new equipment, unity of place allows your trusty steed to be used anywhere inside the city. Overall, the depth of content in this new story mode allows it to shine, and by adding specific requirements to “fully synchronize” Ezio’s memories, the developers have managed to add some much needed replay value to AC’s winning formula.

Though the single-player is fantastic in its own right, many players will be delighted to hear that “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” features multiplayer, a first for the series. The rules are simple.

You are an assassin: You will be given contracts that designate a specific person (another player) to execute. Though you are given a compass that directs you towards your target, the map is full of NPCs that look exactly like your target. You must use your powers of observation to avoid your target’s counter-

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood is the third installment to the Assassin’s Creed video game series. measures and assassinate them. The player is not graded simply on kills but on the quality of their assassinations. Oh, and I forgot to mention one thing; you’re a target as well. With contracts that assign two or more assassins to a target and team modes that stress strict cooperation, “Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood” has cooked up a truly unique multiplayer experience.

“Brotherhood” delivers on many of its prerelease promises. Multiplayer is fun, fast paced and exciting, and there really isn’t anything else like it out on the market.

Ubisoft Montreal obviously wasn’t willing to drop the engine they used for “Assassin’s Creed 2,” so the single player truly is something of a massive, content-heavy expansion to the game’s predecessor. This isn’t necessarily a negative thing, however, as “Assassin’s Creed 2” was a fan favorite and a great game on its own merit. 4 aerial assassinations out of 5.

The Last Word:

When playing online, be sure to attempt to impersonate the NPCs (non playable characters) as closely as possible. This is your only defense against being quickly recognized by your assailant, and if they mistake an NPC for you and assassinate them instead, they lose their contract and you’re scot free.

Happy hunting!

Protip:

Weekly Crossword

ACROSS 1 Little white lie 4 Sun-related 9 Beef moistener, on menus 12 Genetics abbr.

13 Mediterranean island 14 Multipurpose truck 15 Lake Erie city 17 Lisa Simpson's instrument 18 Clay, today 19 Care-less attitude?

21 Tyke 24 Antitoxins 25 Discoverer's call 26 Weir 28 Unpaid bills 31 Old letter opener 33 Science workplace 35 Drench 36 Clan emblem 38 Toothpaste type 40 Reuters competitor 41 Birds, to Brutus 43 Took a nap 45 Straight 47 Past 48 Part of R.S.V.P. 49 1953 Eartha Kitt Christmas song 54 Compass dir.

55 Vinegar bottle 56 Golfer's prop 57 In medias 58 "Steppenwolf" author 59 Kitten's comment

© 2010 King Features Synd., Inc.

DOWN 1 Monk's title 2 - and outs 3 Scrooge's remark 4 Climbed 5 In a circular path 6 Romanian money 7 Book of maps 8 Harvested 9 Almost 10 Provo's state 11 Alluring 16 Spigot 20 War god 21 Greatest 22 15-Across' state 23 Small TVs 27 Periodical, briefly 29 Recording 30 Hit the ice 32 Golfer

Last Weekʼs Puzzle Answers

Ballesteros 34 Scolds 37 Honorable guy 39 Emissary 42 Don't blink 44 Weep loudly

45 Addict 46 Three squared 50 Greek consonants 51 $ dispenser 52 Spelling contest

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

News

The Standard

9

A day in the life of an RA

RAs are like normal students

By Tessa Harbaugh The Standard

Resident Assistant.

Sounds intimidating, right?

RAs enforce rules in residence halls; they are responsible for keeping residents safe; and they plan events to get residents involved.

Besides these responsibilities, RAs aren’t very different from any other students.

The typical day of an RA doesn’t vary too far from the average student’s day, said Jared Grimsley, a senior and third year RA. “We still shower, sleep and go to class, but we deal with having to manage our time a little differently,” he said. “We are still on call 24/7 whether we are on duty or not.”

RAs are on duty about once every 11 days; however, it varies. Two RAs are on duty together every night.

Being on duty means they have to remain in the building from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.

The RAs on duty must make three rounds in the night.

“We don’t put our ears to the doors or anything, but we check to make sure that everyone is being quiet.

That nothing is happening in the stairwells or hallways, and we send the elevators to the first floor,” Grimsley said. “I mean, what if someone was hurt in the elevator? We have to check that.”

RAs are also responsible for planning programs for the floor and for the hall.

Each RA plans two programs a month: one educational program and one spontaneous community builder.

RAs can often be found in the basement of Hutchens House in the Programming Resource Center where they make all of the decorations for programs and for the halls.

Grimsley spent his first two years of being a RA in Hammons House, but this year he finds himself enjoying the community style of Wells House better.

Community-style residence halls tend to have residents that keep their doors open all the time for people to drop in and say “Hey.” Suite-style residence halls like Hammons House are a little more closed off, he said.

Grimsley said he always leaves his door open, and his residents pop in and hang out all the time.

“One time, there was a group of guys in my room before we went to dinner, and I left the room to go to the bathroom,” he said.

“One of my residents climbed in my closet while I was gone. When I went to get my coat to leave for dinner, he jumped out and scared me.”

The residents can always give the RAs some type of story to tell.

Although being an RA is a time commitment, that does not mean that RAs are going to be too busy to do other things.

“Most of us do it because we really like it,” Grimsley said. “Being an RA makes me feel good because I feel like I can make a difference in these people. It is really great to see my residents grow to decide they want to be RA because I feel I played a hand in that.”

Matt Hart/THE STANDARD

Third-year resident assistant Jared Grimsley walks with fellow RA Joe Kamler through Wells House, where Grimsley lives and works.

RA application info

RA applications are due by 5 p.m. om Feb. 1. in the Department of Residence Life and Services, located in Hammons House. The application is available online at reslife/missouristate.edu at the Become an RA or RPA link.

Information sessions will be conducted on the following dates: Jan. 13 at 9 p.m. in the Hutchens basement Jan. 19 at 8 p.m. in the Wells grand lounge Jan. 19 at 9:30 p.m. in the Woods first floor lobby Jan. 24 at 9 p.m. in the Blair-Shannon grand lounge

Matt Hart/THE STANDARD

RA Jared Grimsley hangs with some of his floor residents in his dorm room in Wells House. Resident assistants are in charge of planning activities to do with their residents and making sure that their residents are safe and not breaking university rules.

10

News

Hooping:

The Standard

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

No longer just for showing off Experts say hulahooping helps to work out the body

By Lauren Healey The Standard

Hula-hooping is taking the world by storm as the next big exercise trend.

From hoop workouts in health magazines (Shape, Health and Self, to name a few) to Hoopnotica classes in California boasting 400 to 600 calories burned in an hour session, hula-hooping is no longer just for kids.

Morgan Franke, a junior hospitality and restaurant administration major, said she started hula-hooping last spring mainly for the health effects.

“I like to get regular exercise, but running can be hard on my joints,” Franke said. “Hooping provides me with an opportunity to get some endorphins moving through my system, which always makes me happier, without the risk of injuring myself.”

Rebecca Wallace, 21, owner of Majestic Hoops and Clothing, said hulahooping ties together skills like dancing and yoga.

“I love hooping because it is an exciting way to keep active and one of the most fun exercises,” Wallace said. “For every 10 minutes of hooping just around your waist, you can receive cardiovascular and toning benefits equivalent to running a mile.”

Wallace said hooping can specifically benefit those with lower back problems.

“By simply getting a slightly heavier-thanaverage hoop and rotating it around your waist for a few minutes each day, you can greatly strengthen your abs and back muscles,” she said.

“It’s also great for toning your arms and legs, especially with some of the tricks you can learn.”

Ashley Bricker, 21, a waitress at Trolley’s downtown, said the meditative effect is one of her favorite hooping health helpers.

“Hooping is always very soothing and relaxing,” she said. “If I’m ever stressed, I can just take a few minutes to escape from the world and focus on my hoop. I can’t complain about burning calories, though. I could clearly see I lost inches on my waist and built all-over muscle when I started hooping.”

Bricker said hooping,

including learning tricks, is a lot easier than it looks because it’s almost a natural movement.

“Most people had some kind of a hooping experience as a kid, so it’s easy to pick back up,” Bricker said.

“It doesn’t matter if you didn’t have that experience though because I know girls who couldn’t hoop as children but now can do all kinds of awesome tricks.”

Wallace said hooping is an easy concept to grasp because, as both are circular, your waist mirrors the hoop.

“They naturally fit well together, and with a simple hip motion, the hoop stays in orbit around your waist,” she said. “It becomes second nature.”

Bricker said hooping is a great exercise for all ages.

“I made a hoop for my grandma’s birthday, and she uses it all the time,” Bricker said.

Bricker, who said she started hooping in January 2010, said she has learned more tricks than she can count on both hands.

“I can jump through my hoop from multiple angles,” she said. “I can also do isolations, leg hooping and behind-the-back elbow passes. I learned from observing other people, but you can look up tricks on YouTube.”

Bricker, Franke and Wallace said they agree practice is the most important thing when learning hoop tricks.

Franke said learning tricks opens up a whole new world of hooping for exercise.

“There’s a trick where you hoop around your neck and alternate putting each arm above your head,” she said. “It works your abs and arms more than any other trick I know of. Depending on the difficulty and how many hours you have to dedicate to practicing, you can master a trick in anywhere from a day or two to a couple weeks.”

Wallace, who said she has been hooping for three years, said the flow and connectivity felt from the second you pick up the hoop cannot be matched.

“No matter what mood I am in, the second I pick up a hoop and give it that first spin around my hips, nothing else matters,” she said.

Matt Kile/THE STANDARD

Rebecca Wallace practices some of her hula-hooping techniques and tricks at Phelps Grove Park. Wallace is the owner of Majestic Hoops and Clothing and practices hula-hooping as a means of exercise and recreation.

I canʼt complain about burning calories, though. I could clearly see I lost inches on my waist and built all over muscle when I started hooping.

Ashley Bricker Medatative and veteran hula-hooper

“After my first festival, when I saw a girl light up a fire hoop for the first time, I became addicted to hooping. I knew someday I would be doing what she was doing then. And now I am.”

Bricker said a fire hoop is like a regular hoop, but with three to five six-inch wicks spaced evenly around the hoop. The Kevlar wicks are typically dipped in lighter fluid or camping fuel and will burn for about five

minutes.

“The illusion of taking fire and making it move like water is surreal,” Bricker said. “Fire seems dangerous, but the appeal is the ability to control an element so beautifully. It’s a pure adrenaline rush, and it’s important to carefully watch where you grab the hoop so you don’t burn yourself.

The amazement from the crowd only adds to the fun.”

Wallace said hooping never becomes monotonous.

“The world of hooping is becoming so widespread these days,” she said.

“There are constantly new approaches to hooping, like using fire, LED lights inside the hoops and mini hoops.

There is also a large variety of tubing for the hoops, not to mention colors and design patterns, so I’ll never get bored.”

Bricker said there are several options for people who want to travel with their hoops.

“Travel hoops are collapsible into three or four sections, depending on the type, so they can easily be stored in a bag,” she said.

“Fire hoops can have removable wicks. They also have hoops that break down into two mini hoops.”

Wallace said she should be contacted on the Majestic Hoops Facebook page for hoop orders. She makes and sells day hoops from $10 to $30, cloth hoops from $25 to $30 and fire hoops from

$75 to $120. Wallace said she also makes clothing and costumes for hoopers.

“The cost varies depending on the type and amount of materials used,” she said.

“I am available for performances, too, and should be emailed at sunflowerperformances@yahoo.com.”

Bricker said she sells brightly colored day hoops for $15 that can be purchased at Good Vibes downtown at 506 W. College St. or, for a custom-designed hoop, by e-mailing abricker89@yahoo.com.

“With hooping, there is no limit,” she said. “There are always new things to learn, achieve and master.”

Springfield’s first Hoop Club meeting will be from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, located downtown at the Canvas Art Studio at 315 South Ave.according to the Hoop Frealy Facebook page. Representatives of Hoop Frealy declined to comment.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

List Continued from page 4

-ian options, you’re sure to find something to satisfy. I had The Full Ride, a double patty burger with caramelized onions, bacon and soft sharp cheddar cheese paired with fries, which packs a lot of deliciousness for just $7.

On the off chance you haven’t been acquainted with cashew chicken, it’s a must-have before leaving Springfield. First served in the city in the 1960s, the dish has become a staple of Ozarks restaurants. With a variety of preparation styles, each restaurant put its own spin on the classic cuisine. Gather your friends for a semester-long taste test. Pace yourself.

If faraway spring break

Hit the road

Awards Continued from page 4

said she recommended students see some of the more popular movies of the past year that have generated a great deal of media attention.

“Check out the ones everyone is making noise about — ‘Toy Story 3,’ ‘The Social Network,’ ‘Inception’ — that are worth seeing what the fuss is over,” she said. “2010 has been a phenomenal year for filmmaking, and there have been so many great original movies this year that have received attention.”

Linder said her favorite film of the year, and one she expects to do well at the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, is “The Social Network,” directed

by David Fincher.

“David Fincher can do anything,” she said. “The creation of a website, even one as prolific as Facebook, isn’t something that lends itself well to film. Watching

Films

Continued from page 4

vacations have always seemed to be a distant MTV-perpetuated fantasy, spend your final semester planning a road trip that won’t drain your bank account.

“There’s nothing better than traveling with friends,” said Deana Crouch, leisure manager for Great Southern Travel.

“It’s nice to get away and forget about finals and papers. You can’t put a value on that emotion.”

To get the best financial value out of a Spring Break getaway, Crouch suggests planning ahead to determine gas mileage, airfare and lodging rates for the most inexpensive vacation.

“The key to that is booking early. The closer you wait chances are going to be slim,” Crouch said.

“Call a travel agent and see what’s still available.“ If leaving the state isn’t an option, put a new spin

someone write code isn’t exciting, but Fincher and the screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, made it about the relationships between some fascinating characters with great dialogue.”

Paul Farnsworth, general manager of B&B Theatres Wildwood 10, disagreed with Linder’s opinion about “The Social Network” and compared it to last year’s “Avatar.” “‘Avatar,’ while wildly successful at the box office and groundbreaking with the advent of high quality digital 3D, was bland, unoriginal and just kind of lame,” he said. “To me, ‘The Social Network’ is this year’s ‘Avatar.’ It’s on the ballot by box office grosses alone, not by cinematic warrant, and was nothing more than a right place, right time production, capitalizing on the exploitation of Facebook users.”

Farnsworth instead recommends ‘Inception’ as the film to watch before awards night.

“If I could have my way, Best Picture at the Golden

Globes, airing Jan. 16 on NBC, and then the 83rd annual Academy Awards, or Oscars, on Feb. 27. We have the list for the Golden Globes, and the Oscar nominations should be announced soon. Lucky for us, I’ve always found if it’s nominated for a Golden Globe, chances are good it’ll be on the Oscar list as well.

Don’t worry, I won’t go through the entire list. I’ll only hit on the big ones that everyone cares about: Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Supporting. You can find a full list of nominations on the official Golden Globes website.

Let’s start with Best Picture. The Golden Globes puts this, as well as a few other awards, into two categories: Drama and Comedy or Musical. Out of the nominations in those categories, I think the best bets are “Inception” and “The Kids Are All Right.” I say “Inception” because it was groundbreaking and a great piece

The Standard

on the family vacation with a day or weekend trip with friends to the kitsch capitol of the Midwest: Branson.

“People would be surprised to know Branson really is for everybody,” said Levi Kurtright, director of marketing for Branson Travel Agency. “There are a lot of misconceptions that Branson is just where old people go.”

Kurtright suggests checking out a concert at the Branson Landing and taking a canopy tour through the Ozarks mountains with the Branson Zipline.

Make a day of touring Branson’s most notorious over-the-top quirks such as Shoji’s theater, Dolly’s Dixie Stampede, the world’s largest banjo and hundreds of other roadside attractions.

Keeping

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perspective

Globes would go to ‘Inception,’” he said. “Original, incredibly cast and generally awesome, it was the first movie since ‘The Matrix’ that I wanted to immediately watch again after the first viewing. If you’re reading this and haven’t seen ‘Inception,’ go buy it and watch it.”

Michael Rose, a freshman digital film production agreed with major, Farnsworth that “Inception” is a strong contender for the Best Picture award.

“This movie messes with the viewer’s mind, going deeper into dreams within a dream, and explores not only a main plot, but subplots of the main character’s life, which play heavy roles in his decision making,” he said, hence making it popular not only with younger audiences, but older viewers as well.

However, Rose said he thinks “Black Swan” might have an equal chance of taking home the award.

“This movie, to me, is the essence of dark role acting, the concept where you

of cinema. “The Kids Are All Right” is a heartfelt comedy that has something the other nominations are lacking.

I have to throw this in here: If “Toy Story 3” got put in the Best Picture category instead of Animated Feature, it would win hands down. If you tell people you didn’t cry at the end, you’re a liar.

Best Director seems to go hand in hand with Best Picture most of the time. Even if it didn’t, I would still peg Christopher Nolan with “Inception” as Best Director. He gets awesome performances out of his actors, and he makes as much of the “special effects” stuff as real as he possibly can. The revolving hallway scene in “Inception” was done for real.

As much as I like the other actors/actresses who have been nominated for Best Actor in a Drama, everyone has been talking about Colin Firth (“The King’s Speech”) and Jennifer Lawrence (“Winter’s Bone”), and I have to agree with them. As for the Comedy or Musical category, personally I’d love to see Emma Stone win for “Easy A”

becomes increasingly important as the semester progresses, and volunteering with a Springfield nonprofit organization is one way to gain a new experience while helping others.

Jennifer Sickinger, volunteer coordinator for Ozarks Food Harvest, said volunteers forge new relationships through the organization.

“It’s a fun way to come out and meet people,” Sickinger said. “Volunteers comment that they’ve met people they might not have met through everyday activities.”

It’s estimated that just one hour of volunteering provides 105 meals for families in the Ozarks, Sickinger said.

“Even if you’re only able to come in one time, you’re able to make a big impact.”

get outside of your comfort zone to the gray area that you’ve never been able to experience before,” he said.

“It also takes even sides of horror and puts it into a movie about ballerinas, making it an amazing picture that I will continue to watch over and over again.”

For those wishing to watch the nominees for Best Picture at the Golden Globes, “Inception” is available on DVD, and “The Social Network” will be released on DVD today.

“Black Swan” is currently showing at The Moxie downtown and show times are available at http://www.moxiecinema.c om/calendar. “The King’s Speech” is showing at Campbell 16, and “The Fighter” is showing at both Campbell 16 and Hollywood Theaters with show times available on their websites.

For more information about the Golden Globes, nominees in the different categories and viewing information, visit their website at http://www.goldenglobes.org.

because she was awesome and Johnny Depp, for either “The Tourist” or “Alice in Wonderland.” If he doesn’t win this year, there’s always the hope that Captain Jack Sparrow will snag him something next year.

The supporting roles are just as important as the leading roles, so I have to mention these guys too. I think Amy Adams (“The Fighter”) deserves some recognition and either Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) or Geoffrey Rush (“The King’s Speech”) should do well in this category.

There are lots more categories and a lot more nominations. Sadly, we just don’t have the time or space to discuss them all as much as I’d like to. All of the people I’ve set to win are purely my opinions, so don’t get huffy as I know so many movie buffs do.

As important as the People’s Choice Awards are to fan bases and the people who receive them, it’s not everyone’s place to choose who wins a Golden Globe or Oscar. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun and pick our favorites anyway.

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