Sept. 26, 2018 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 83 No. 4
PHOTO BY BRADLEY WILSON | THE WICHITAN
Layton Rabb, quarterback and a senior in accounting, prays after football practice Sept. 19, 2018. The team had 24 seconds of silence in honor of Robert Grays who died in a football accident last fall.
PHOTO BY BRADLEY WILSON | THE WICHITAN
Dylan Spears, undecided freshman, does 24 pushups after football practice Sept. 19, 2018.
PHOTO BY DEMIAN PONCE | THE WICHITAN
Nicholas Gonzalez, kinesiology sophomore, does 24 pushups to commemorate Robert Grays after football practice Sept. 19, 2018.
#24 STRONG Athletes complete 24 service projects
DEMIAN PONCE REPORTER
In remembrance of Robert Grays’ death last year, students and officials dedicated the week to him. On Sept. 19, one year after Grays died in a football-related accident, the football players invited students and the people of Wichita Falls to come out to the practice field and do 24 pushups in remembrance of the late cornerback, No. 24. The football team does 24 pushups every day after practice and games. “We see them do the pushups everyday but it was different today. It was very heartwarming, very remarkable and touching to see all the people out here for Rob. He made a really big impact on the team and the coaching staff,” Cayla Perez, athletic training sophomore, said. The football team continues to show their love for Grays after a year of his death. After every game and practice, they perform 24
pushups in his honor. Texas A&M Commerce players also did 24 pushups. When the team runs out on the field at the beginning of each game, some players hold Grays’ jersey in hand at the front of the stampede. “Even though he’s gone, we haven’t forgotten about him,” Alonzo Burris, exercise physiology senior, said. Grays left a lasting impression on the school and its students. The student-athletes of the athletic programs volunteered their time to perform 24 acts of kindness around the community. “24 Strong Week is a great way for the school to honor Rob in a positive manner. Community service is something that Rob would definitely do if he was still alive. We all are just trying to live our lives like he did. Robert was caring, loving, and god fearing,” Edwin Bah, criminal justice senior, said. The football players kicked off the week by volunteering their time with the students at
Zundy Elementary and also spent some time with the kids from Notre Dame schools as they participated in the “Golden Shoes” joga-thon. “I had a great experience with the kids and I would do it again at anytime. I loved making the kids smile and start their day off right. It meant a lot and just being a positive influence to them. 24 strong week allowed us to touch peoples lives and change them through kindness,” Sir’Vell Ford, criminal justice senior, said. The cross country and track runners went to Endurance House Sept. 21 to donate new and used shoes. The bike store has been collecting shoes for about two months. Mike Pinson, owner of endurance house, said the store started collecting shoes after his son Hunter noticed a homeless man on the side of the road with duct tape on his shoes. Pinson said they were contacted by local schools that had students who did not have any shoes.
“It’s important for the students to give back to their community. It’s really helping out that the girls are giving back, and it teaches the kids to give back,” Mark Pinson, Endurance House owner, said. The volleyball team played with the kids at Notre Dame Catholic School and also showed their gratitude to their trainers by making 24 gift bags filled with snacks. “This week is a reflection on Robert Grays’ character, we are honoring and sharing his character by doing kind things he would have done and we are trying to make the community better at the same time and he inspired us for the better,” Jaycie Fuller, biology pre-med sophomore, said. The men’s golf team filled divots on the Wichita Falls Country Club. The men and women’s golf teams volunteered at the Wichita Falls Fire and Police Museum. “This week was special to us, we were able to give back to some people that are very
S E E R ELATED S TO R Y O N PA G E 7 POLITIFACT: FACT-CHECKING SOCIAL MEDIA • FACEBOOK LIVE • SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE WEATHER • INSTAGRAM • AND MORE
Monday • Oct. 1 • Legacy Hall MSUTEXAS.EDU/SMDAY • COME-AND-GO SCHEDULE
see PROJECTS pg. 3
2 | Sept. 26, 2018| STAF F E DIT O R I A L
Connecting with the community OUR VIEW: We love to get involved with our community and would love for you to participate in what your community is reading.
A
s a student-led paper, the staff wants to get connected with our community and peers. We want our community to be able to read about you, stories that may inspire your classmates, your roommates and your peers to step out of their comfort zones and to try something new. To accomplish this goal, we are starting a new series: “A Day in the Life.” This series is about you, our readers, getting the chance to tell your story and communicate with your peers. For example, this week we started with a profile of Hagen Northcutt in a story by Luke Bryant. We want more stories like that, profiling students around campus with stories to tell. Everyone has a story to tell. We want this to be a way to bond with our readers and give you a chance at some spotlight. A day in the life is going to be series completely dedicated to the students here on campus who would like to be known or shed a little light on their day to day experiences. This will also give students a platform to express themselves and even give some information to other students on campus. Students from all walks of life are welcome to come share their experiences. If you feel like you or someone you knows has a story that is worth hearing, we would love to write about it.
wichitan Vol. 83 | No. 4
Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room D201 3410 Taft Blvd. Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 397-4704 wichitan@mwsu.edu thewichitan.com @wichitanonline
PSYCHOLOGY CLINIC, an underutilized resource
vices. We want to encourage people to come in. We pick out graduate To give students, faculty and staff students very carefully to ensure they another resource for discussing per- will be the best fit for our clients, that sonal issues, the Psychology Clinic, in the long-term they will be good located in O'Donohoe Room 107, psychologists." Hoping to inspire some otherwise is primarily a graduate student-run service, with the exception of the hesitant people to setup a consultalicensed psychologists who oversee tion appointment. "The main thing that we want clithe graduate students. Funded by the psychology department, the clinic ents to understand is that we are here aims to help faculty, staff, students or to help clients and student therapists their immediate relatives with mental (graduate students) get better," Guthhealth issues, everyday stresses and rie said. The professors really want to figuring out how to balance life's big- stress how important it is to seek out help, even if someone is initially hesigest hardships. Though the clinic has been open tant to do so. Often times people get worried for some time now, supervisors still about seeking help due to the generalwant more people to come in. "It is an opportunity for the [grad- ized stigmas surrounding the mental health commuuate] students to nity and seeking get closely superhelp for mental vised experience, health issues. while helping "There's a lot clients...We want of misinformato help clients tion out there and find functional u n f o r t u n a t e l y, methods of copsomeone could ing with stressors, TERESA TEMPELMEYER feel like they which eventually ASSISTANT PROFESSOR could be subject[and hopefully] leads to happiness," Paul C. Guthrie, ed to stigmas surrounding the menassociate professor, said. "We are an tal health community,"Tempelmeyer underutilized resource, and we have said. The supervisors in the psychology been for awhile...I cannot remember ever having to put someone on a wait- clinic wants to reassure anyone interested in being seen in the clinic that list." Despite the lack of people com- they, the clients, are the most imporing into the psychology clinic as of tant part of the clinic, without them, now, the clinic really wants to encour- the clinic wouldn't be able to operate. "Clients are the priority. We take age anyone seeking help to take the typically scary first step and seek help our responsibility to clients very seriously," Tempelmeyer said. She also when needed. Teresa Tempelmeyer, assistant pro- said she wants anyone considering fessor, said, "We offer very good ser- seeking help for any type of mental KAREN A. EARLE REPORTER
“Clients are the priority. We take our responsibility to clients very seriously.”
stress, mental health concerns, or even just overwhelming school stress, to please call and set up a consultation. Tempelmeyer said taking that first initial step in the journey to helping oneself can be challenging. She said wants to reassure anyone that not only is the clinic a safe place for anyone seeking help, but that the clinic takes confidentiality of its clients very seriously. Nothing that anyone over the age of 18 says to a graduate student will be shared with anyone outside of the clinic. Unless a client is threatening their life or someone else, any type of abuse is occurring to the client or vice a versa, the appointments will be strictly confidential. Though, a licensed psychologist oversees the graduate students, the information is not discussed outside of advice given to the graduate student on how to better help a client. Only the psychologist, graduate student and the client know about the individuals case. The psychology department has funded the clinic since 2007, and since then graduate students in at least their second year of internal clinical training have seen students and faculty come through with a variety of personal battles. Along with any faculty, staff or students, and their immediate relatives,"clients," as the psychology clinic refers to them, can call the clinic secretary, Barbara J. Waddell, and make an appointment to talk with a clinical training graduate student free of charge. The only time there is a charge is if someone outside of the university is seeking low cost help, in that case each appointment is $5.
EDITORS: Alyssa Mitchell, Chloe Phillips, Kristin Silva
Copyright ©2018.
DESIGNER: Brittni Vilandre
First copy free. Additional copies 25¢ each.
ISSUE STAFF: Karen A. Earle, Demian Ponce, Luke
Bryant, Brian Lang, Amber Hernandez, Chloe Phillips, Brittni Vilandre, Angel Ukwitegyetse, Samuel Mitchell, Hayden Nolan, William Schultz PHOTOGRAPHERS: Bradley Wilson, Demian Ponce, Bridget Reilly, Brittni Vilandre,
ADVISER: Bradley Wilson
The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. The Wichitan reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication. Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief (250 words or fewer) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a email address, telephone number and address.
| Sept. 26, 2018 | 3 from PROJECTS pg. 1
PHOTO CURTESY BY IMBD
Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively in A Simple Favor (2018)
‘A Simple Favor’
A GLOSSY, TWISTED, THRILLER BRIAN LANG FILM CRITIC
Stephanie is a ditzy, insecure, single-mom vlogger who is over-involved at her son’s school. Emily is a powerful PR director a fashion company who dulls the pain of suburban life with strong chilled martinis. When their Brian Lang paths cross a fast friendship ensues, but it’s only when Emily asks her new friend to watch her son while she goes on a trip that trouble comes. Director Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, Spy) steps back from the comedy world to tackle the thriller genre in his new film “A Simple Favor”. Led by Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, this bubbly noir seethes with mystery and a constantly twisting plot. This movie’s strength lies in its dialogue. Snappy remarks and clever quips give Kenrick and Lively plenty to do and say as they lay out the foundation of a mystery. Their characters are well-developed even at the cost of slowing down the plot. At times, a trio of parents supplement plot points and add snarky remarks in the tradition of a Grecian chorus. Kendrick briefly steps outside of her pigeonholed confident character-type and plays an initially weak and apologetic mom. However, her character quickly grows independent, seemingly bolstered by the mysterious strength of her friend Emily and fueled by the desire to uncover her secrets. Kendrick proves that she is more than just a talented singer who can act and uses this film to fully display her acting chops. Lively steals the show with her fashionable suits
and strong martinis. Class and control radiate off of her, creating a foreboding aura around her sleek identity. Her machiavellian scheming and impeccable taste leave her as a crowd favorite. Henry Golding also sneaks in as the romantic interest for the women. Fresh off his success in “Crazy Rich Asians,” Golding is given little to do besides act sexy and reveal timely plot points to budding detective Stephanie. Although the leading actress duo easily pulls off the setup, they are weighed down with the second acts dragging plot. Secrets are revealed, but never in a surprising or interesting way and there is never any real concern felt for Emily. Her safety is almost guaranteed, it’s just a matter of Stephanie poking around enough to discover it for herself. Instead, the real pleasure is the sleek production, chic French soundtrack, and salacious romances that are spritzed throughout the film. These elements, along with a dizzying amount of twists, add a measure of fun to the traditionally dark and brooding thriller and polish over the weak story. The big reveal is both explosive and contrived, unraveling any seriousness the film had built up for it. It’s as if Feig ran out of time and decided to simply toss the answer out to the audience and run for it. There is no shock and even though there are several betrayals and reveals, the culprit is too easy to catch. While “A Simple Favor” could be called a mix between “Gone Girl” and “Mean Girls,” it achieves neither the thrill or humor of either, leaving the audience with an enjoyable, but largely forgettable film.
supportive of us,” Clayton Meyers, marketing senior, said. “We also got to spend some time with handicapped students from Rider High School at the museum. It was an amazing experience that opened our eyes.” The women’s soccer team joined the children at Booker T. Washington and Ben Franklin elementary schools for recess. “The kids enjoyed playing with us and the team was so happy to play with them. I would love to go back and build a relationship with the kids,” Avery Amador, nursing freshman, said. The women and men’s tennis players helped clean Maverick’s Corner by washing dishes, sweeping, and picking up plates; both teams also cleaned up the soccer stands after the game. “24 Strong Week was important for the community and the school, the motivation behind this week was strong,” Yaswanth Mylavarapu, pre-med sophomore, said. “This week wasn’t about us, but about Robert. I would like the event to be held yearly to help us remember the way Robert impacted the community.” The women’s basketball players rolled their sleeves up to help paint walls with the Habitat for Humanity. The ladies also volunteered at the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank. “There’s a lot of emotions and personal reflection tied to 24 acts of kindness. Our lives are so fragile, and our time on this earth is a blink. So when I get out and volunteer in the community with my teammates and other organizations, I’m reminded of everything I previously said as well as how my purpose on this earth goes beyond sports.” Elizabeth Cathcart, marketing senior, said. The 24 acts of kindness has impacted the players in a positive manner and they hope the tradition continues for years to come. “I could see it being an every year event as long as people remember the true meaning behind it and what volunteering really means. Sacrifice is the key. Volunteering is supposed to be inconvenient and putting others before yourself. People in the community will always need a hand, and since they do so much for us, why not give back and express our gratitude?” Elizabeth Cathcart, marketing senior, said. The softball team donated food to the new food pantry on campus and also, the ladies collected bottle caps to help children who are fighting cancer. “It brought our community and campus together,” Ashley Turner, undecided freshman, said. “We were able to support each other and hopefully make a difference for someone with every act of kindness. [To me, 24 acts of kindness means] remembering the loss of Robert Grays by doing something positive for the community.” The men’s basketball team took to the courts with the kids at Fain elementary and also sent thank you letters to the people that have inspired and helped them. “It was a great week for us to remember Robert and the impact he caused in others lives. His passing has caused a great impact on the athletic programs and this school,” Nelson Haggerty, men’s basketball head coach, said. “It gave us an opportunity to celebrate his life and share his impact on us.”
4 | Sept. 26, 2018|
H A G EN NO R TH C U TT
LUKE BRYANT REPORTER
I
‘My life is hectic’
t doesn’t matter what day it is, the white door of his apartment is being open and closed time after time as Hagen Northcutt, secondary education junior, continuously moves from place to place with only enough time to grab what he needs out of his apartment before moving to his next task. Not only is Northcutt the rush chair for fraternity, Kappa Sigma, but he also works at Old Navy, is an intern at First Baptist Church Wichita Falls and he is enrolled in 17 hours this fall semester. “A day in my life is hectic,” Northcutt said. “I am involved in Greek life and I also work two jobs. I enjoy everything I do and, though it is hard, at the end of the week I know it is worth it. Finding time for school work is difficult and I continuously have to remind myself that my education is what I am here for.” Thanks to his relationships with friends, fraternity brothers and Jesus Christ, Northcutt has found joy in his busy schedule. “God has given me the opportunity to find joy in all things if I set my mind to it,” Northcutt said. “I get to start my day reading God’s word setting the tone for the rest of my day
which reminds me to be loving to others and friends or his middle school students, and he show them the love of Christ.” starts homework or takes time to relax. According to Northcutt, he has something “Before I go to Old Navy, I take time to on his schedule everyday of the week and the study or take a breather,” Northcutt said. few days he has free tend to be boring. “This depends on how late I am willing on “Sundays are my busiest days,” Northcutt staying up that night to do homework. Findsaid. “I usually have a liting time to relax is importle bit of everything to do tant, but it’s also difficult on Sundays. I get the opto fit into my busy schedportunity to work both of ule.” my jobs, have fraternity Northcutt begins work meetings and finish the at Old Navy at 3 p.m. He night with homework.” said this is the least enHAGEN NORTHCUTT Northcutt begins his joyable part of his day SECONDARY EDUCATION first job on Sunday at 8 because he has less meana.m. at First Baptist Church Wichita Falls as ingful conversations with others throughout a junior high intern. He said this is his favor- his shift. ite job because of the positive effect it has on “Time at Old Navy tends to go very slow him. which is probably the thing I don’t enjoy “I love the internship, I get the opportuni- about it,” Northcutt said. “I enjoy the people I ty to talk to kids every week about a God who work with and I have to keep the job so I keep is real and loving at the same time,” North- it. Although I would rather spend my time cutt said. “I get to impact the lives of kids in doing school work or being with friends, I am our community, multiple times a week. It extremely grateful for the job.” encourages me and my relationship with our When Northcutt gets off work, he turns Lord every day.” the Lumineers on his radio while driving back After his first job ends around 12 p.m. to his apartment where he grabs a quick meal Northcutt said he has time to eat lunch with and gets dressed for the Kappa Sigma Sunday
“This is something that is worth making time for.”
meeting. “Sunday meetings aren’t appealing to everyone,” Northcutt said, “but I love to get to see all of my brothers and catch up with the ones I didn’t get to see during the week. This also gives all of us an awesome opportunity with deciding what events the fraternity will get to do.” Northcutt said being the rush chair means he is in charge of potential new members which results in a crazy couple of weeks for him each semester, however, he said this is a position he wanted and he enjoys it. “Juggling fraternity stuff with two jobs and 17 hours can be difficult, but it is completely worth it,” Northcutt said. ”I love Greek life and I love the people I do it with. This is something that is worth making time for” Northcutt said once he gets back to his apartment he gets to take his shoes off for the first time all day just to finish any homework that isn’t done or study before the school week starts. “I constantly have to motivate myself to get school work done,” Northcutt said. “I remind myself about my future, my desire to coach sports and influence kids. That is what gives me the desire to do well in school.”
| Sept. 26, 2018 | 5
SERIES OF EQUIPMENT ADDED TO WELLNESS CENTER HAYDEN NOLAN REPORTER
Every year, the Wellness Center officials have purchased new equipment for students to use. This year, eight new pieces of exercise equipment have been brought in to assist students with staying fit and active. Wellness director Angie Reay said “We have added at least one large piece of equipment to the Wellness Center every year.” There is no definite amount of money the Wellness Center spends on equipment each year, it all depends on what is needed and what people want to see available. “Our two new big pieces of equipment this year were around $4,000. We have our new group fitness equipment and repairs/replacements as wear and tear occurs,” Reay said. “We do have general preventative and service maintenance we provide for all of the equipment as well.” Adding new equipment gives students more ways to exercise, and it also builds a relationship between them and the Wellness Center. “One of the main benefits from adding new machines is student satisfaction. Students know what they feel comfortable working out with. We want to do our best to provide quality and effective equipment
to our members,” said Reay. The Wellness Center officials also have big plans in adding new equipment in the future. “For 2018-2019 [school year] we are adding an assisted dip and pull up machine and a captains chair along with multiple other surprises,” Reay said. Taylor Brintzenhoff, psychology junior and wellness center employee also believes adding new equipment is a benefit for students. “Adding new equipment gives us more of an opportunity to get the students involved in overall health and wellness on campus,” Brintzenhoff said. Jordan Walker, business sophomore who frequently visits the Wellness Center, agrees, “The constant updating the Wellness Center adds every year definitely helps create new experiences for students and helps keep the gym up to date and exciting,” Walker said. Reay is always looking to improve the Wellness Center’s services and facilities. “We are always open to new suggestions from the students, faculty, staff, and alumni to help accommodate our students needs,” said Reay.
PHOTO BY DEMIAN PONCE | THE WICHITAN
Dani Ayala and Tristen Lamberti snap a quick selfie with Cheech at book signing on Sept. 19
PHOTO BY DEMIAN PONCE | THE WICHITAN
SWEEPING SICKNESS LIMITS PROGRESS ON DRACULA PRODUCTION SAMUEL MITCHELL REPORTER
The theater department’s production of Dracula has hit a cough in the road as actors and technicians are suffering from a sickness sweeping over the department. “We were ahead of schedule thankfully, so this has only set us back to a normal pace,” Addrian Gaut, theater senior, said. While the production isn’t behind schedule, he believes it is unfortunate that they no longer have the extra step they did before. Gaut plays the role of the Seward in Dracula. He is the latest to be hit by the sweeping sickness, one that involves fever, headache, body ache, and fatigue missing three separate rehearsals. While it is still progressing, the process has definitely slowed, despite minimal cancellations. “We’ve only had to cancel one rehearsal,” Christie Maturo, Dracula director, said. “It is rare that we have the entire cast at rehearsal.” Not being able to have a full cast each and every night they get together has made it hard to be as efficient as need be. Having at least one character out
every night makes it difficult to build a scene, or to even build chemistry between the cast members. The department ran into the same problem, though not as widespread of one, in the spring production of Urinetown when lead actor Shannon Howerton was only able to perform one of the six shows. “I’ve never had to deal with a cast as sick as this one, so it is a new challenge for me to face,” Howerton said. The theater scene shop is having its own struggles at the same time. Ben Ashton, shop leader, has had his own troubles with illness and has missed two days of set building because of it. One of the shop leaders under him, Seth Angelino, said he has been struggling a broken foot from a skating incident which occurred over the summer. “It’s just another leader in the shop for these incoming freshmen that can’t do what they’re supposed to,” Angelino said. Technicians and actors are working hard to prepare for the show’s opening. With the cast having the script memorized for only a day, and plenty of construction to be completed, the show is on its final stretch.
OP E N I N G N I G H T F O R D R A C U LA : OCT. 4 AT 7 : 3 0 P. M . I N FA I N F INE A R TS C ENTER
Spectators enjoying Cheech’s personal art on display at the museum of art in Wichita Falls on Sept. 19
CHEECH DISPLAYS HERITAGE THROUGH ARTWORK AT WFMA
BRITTNI VILANDRE REPORTER
About 350 people attended Cheech Marin’s new art gallery opening on Sept. 19 at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art. Marin, whose original first name is Richard, is an American stand-up comedian, actor, voice actor, writer and activist who gained recognition as part of the comedy act Cheech & Chong. Curator of Education Joshua Maxwell | “It’s very remarkable, it shows cultural experience, it takes the individual experience into account and translates it into a way of expressing and communicating it with the people. It’s important for the students to be able to see it because if they can get a little bit of art in their lives then they can be able to take ownership in theirs and take on new ones.” Graduate senior, Rachel Wilson | “I saw it yesterday and wanted to get a second look. It’s really inspiring.” Graphic design junior, Juan Parra | “[I attended] because it’s Cheech and I’ve only met a couple celebrities. Plus he’s here showing art in Wichita Falls.” Art and biology senior, Sandra Cruz | ”[I attended] because I’m an art major, and I’m chicano. It’s nice to represent the artwork.” Graphic design senior, Katlyn Boyett | “I’m an art major, and it’s good to look at art created by other people,” said Boyett. “Art created by less represented people and see it just from their perspective.”
6 | Sept. 26, 2018|
PHOTO BY DEMIAN PONCE | THE WICHITAN
Suicide speaker, Josh Rivedal, speaks to 76 students on Sept. 25 to give them support.
Students listen as Josh Rivedal speaks on his personal experiences with suicide on Sept. 25
PHOTO BY DEMIAN PONCE | THE WICHITAN
TELL YOUR STORY TO BREAK THE STIGMA WILLIAM SCHULTZ REPORTER
FACULTY FORUM MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING:
A Framework for Inspiring Change Presented by
2018 Hardin Professor
DR. DAVID CARLSTON Chair and Professor, Department of Psychology
7 P.M. OCTOBER 1 Legacy Hall Multipurpose Room Admission is free and open to all. msutexas.edu/faculty-forum
Josh Rivedal shares his experience of suicide and urges others to tell their story to break the stigma of suicide Sept. 25 in the Comanche Suites at the Student Center. “Storytelling for me is this new suicide prevention 2.0 because rates are rising. Suicide is the second cause of death in [the college] age group. Every two hours and eleven minutes somebody under the age of 25 dies from suicide. Why are we still not talking about this? It’s preventable right?” Rivedal said in his speech. In his speech Rivedal spoke about how 20-30 years ago, diseases such as aids or cancer were considered hushed, controversial subjects that were rarely discussed, if ever. With the help of a few public figures, conversations started which led to increased awareness to seek help and to prevent their disease. Rivedal also said, “Anything that you’ve been through. When you share that story with somebody else, now you’re not alone anymore.” Over time the stigma of suicide and mental health will be broken by simply speaking about it and telling your story.
“Stories [help break the stigma] because it causes your neurons in the brain to fire the same way it would fire if it were doing the actual action being talked about,” Rivedal said in his speech. Talking about your story can physically help others. Others are able to feel comfortable with their internal struggles to seek help in a safe environment such as a friend, family member, or professional. Rivedal said, “Talking about help leads to getting help.” There are several ways to help break this stigma by discussing your story via peer-to-peer or counseling. “Speak up, speak out, and speak often,” Rivedal said. Students believed Rivedal’s experience was very informative. LaNisa Small, radiology sophomore, said, “The event was very entertaining and it was informative and I feel like I could better understand the struggles of people that struggle from suicidal thoughts.” She also said that it is good for the school to be informed about suicide because the more aware we are the better. Additional reporting by Demian Ponce
| Sept. 26, 2018 | 7
WICHITA FALLS WORKING
to end food insecurity
AMBER HERNANDEZ REPORTER
According to a study from Feeding America, 25,430 people in Wichita County are food insecure, not knowing where their next meal will come from. Because of the large number of people struggling to find another meal, the Wichita Falls Area Food Bank is taking steps to decrease that number. Not to be confused with a food pantry, the WFAFB is there to make the process of getting food easier. “A pantry is where people go directly to get the food. A food bank is something that was invented in the 80s to make the process of getting food to the people more efficient,” Emily Kincaid, marketing and development director of the WFAFB, said. In Wichita Falls, there are 31 nonprofit organizations. The WFAFB creates a central location for these organizations and shelters in Wichita County to get food from. “Given our population, we have a lot of nonprofit organizations, “Kincaid said. “These nonprofits often struggle with money so this is a way that we can get them that foundational tool of food to give them a strong base. It makes it cheaper for them than if they had to go buy these items themselves and process them.” To stay up and running, the WFAFB has volunteers of all ages to help sort and distribute food. One of those volunteers is Bailey Bradshaw, political science sophomore, who had the opportunity to help in the salvage area of the food bank. Bradshaw said, “I’m the type of person that would rather do something productive than sit around and do nothing at all. While I was there I organized the donated food into different sections of the building along with a group of elementary boys as well as a group of senior citizens. It made me happy to see others representing our community positively.” With the amount of food that is brought in and how it’s sorted out, Kincaid said she likes to compare it to a supermarket. “We go to retailers and we pick up whatever donations they have for us that day and bring them back to the food bank to be processed in our salvage area where food is separated out into different categories, so it runs much like a supermarket,” Kincaid said. After the food is collected and sorted, it is then ready to be distributed out to different agencies and nonprofits in the region. “Every day, we have different agencies who come to pick up food they’ve ordered online, and they often bring their own trucks to load up,” Kincaid said. “We also distribute it to the food pantries where people can go get it directly. Then we give some to shelters, different rehab centers, Boys and Girls Clubs and then some of the food goes towards a couple programs for childhood hunger.” In Wichita County, one in four children are food insecure. To combat the issue, the WFAFB has programs for children such as the Kids Café that provides healthy after-school meals to hungry children ages
1-18 years, the PowerPak 4 Kids Back Pack Program that provides kids with a two-pound bag of nourishing food at the end of each week, and the Nutrition Education Program that provides direct nutrition education to schools, after school programs and community groups. “The nutrition program is relatively new and its wonderful,” Kincaid said. “This is our way to give a hand up and not a hand out. Our nutrition education staff goes out to different locations in the community to teach people how to make affordable, delicious, nutritious food. They do a couple different classes, one being for children. That’s where kids ages 3-15 years can learn about new foods and where younger kids can even try new foods. I’ve sat in on a few of those and the young ones seem to love rice cakes. Its really neat to see what they’ll like and what they don’t like.” As for college students struggling with food insecurity, a national study done in 2017 showed that anywhere between 20-30% of four-year students are food insecure. That number rises to about 40-50% when it comes to two-year students. The question then comes to, what help do students have access to? “All the pantries are always available to college students and then we have helped students in emergency situations in the past,” Kincaid said. Just last year, the WFAFB was making emergency boxes for Dominican students who had been affected by Hurricane Maria. After the hurricane hit, Dominican students found themselves cut off from their financial lines. That’s where the food bank stepped in to allow those students to pick up emergency food boxes to have a source of food until they were able to get reconnected with their homes. Along with the food pantries around the Wichita Falls area, students also have access to a new pantry on campus. The Mustangs Pantry is located in Room 173 of Clark Student Center and is run by Cynthia Cummings, special events coordinator, with the assistance of the Student Government Association. SGA President Ellie Gunderson said, “It was designed to help create a space where people could come in that isn’t judgmental, so [students] could get groceries.” The Mustangs Pantry has made a way for food insecure students to get up to six nonperishable items, food that doesn’t expire or with a long shelf-life, every Wednesday between 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Like other food pantries in Wichita County, the Mustangs Pantry is running off of donations. “We could really use the help of fundraising by student organizations so we can continue,” Cummings said. Any excess food that is given to the Mustangs Pantry will be donated to the WFAFB. “I heard about the recent opening of the pantry on campus and I think that’s a really good thing to have for students and make available to them,” Kincaid said. As well as donations, volunteers are always needed at the food bank.
PHOTO BY DESMOND JEFFERSON | THE WICHITAN
Finance junior and cross country athlete Jasmine Amo and exercise physiology junior and cross country athlete Sierra Stucky join the cross country team donating their shoes to the Endurance House shoe drive to give to high school kids across Wichita Falls.
Cross country, track donate shoes to kids CHLOE PHILLIPS REPORTER
As a part of 24 strong week honoring late cornerback Robert Grays who died one year ago, the cross country and track team donated gently used shoes to Endurance House. Throughout the week, the athletics department have participated in a week long “24 acts of service” by giving back to the community to doing 24 push ups in honor of Grays’ retired jersey number. Mike Pinnson, owner of endurance house, said the store started collecting shoes after his son Hunter noticed a homeless man on the side of the road with duct tape on his shoes. They have been collecting shoes for about two months. Then they were recently contacted by local schools that they had students who did not have any shoes. “So we’ve probably given 20 pairs of shoes now so far and we just started a few weeks ago. As long as the principal and administrators continue to give us requests, we’ll continue fulfilling them,” Pinnson said. “I think it’s important that all students come in to our community really help out and do their part weather they lived her their whole life or just coming in: It teaches these kids that it’s okay to give back.” Koby Styles, head cross country and track coach, said the team chose donating shoes as an act of service to help local kids in need. “Endurance House does so much for us, our way to help back for their cause. Every kid should have a pair of shoes,” Styles said. Hannah Ponder, kinesiology sophomore, agrees saying cross country and track wanted to choose a service they were passionate about. “A lot of us could have benefited from something like this when we were starting out in the sport,” Ponder said. Mercy Yermo, kinesiology junior, said choosing the Endurance House donation went hand in hand with being 24 strong because part of the impact Robert Grays’ life had was through his sport. “The celebration of Rob’s life goes from the sport he played all the way to the kindness and love he had for people, and although donating shoes is just a small thing, we hope it brings some smiles to other kids out there,” Yermo said.
8 | Sept. 26, 2018| C AL E N DAR THURSDAY, SEPT. 27 Men’s Soccer | UT Permian Basin (Odessa, Texas), UTPB Turf Field, 7 p.m. FRIDAY, SEPT. 28 Women’s Cross Country | Red River Cross Country Shootout (5K), 5 p.m., Boy Scouts of America, Camp Perkins Women’s Soccer | vs. West Texas A&M, 8 p.m., Stang Park Women’s Tennis | ITA Regional, MSU Tennis Center Men’s Tennis | ITA Regional, MSU Tennis Center Volleyball | vs. Angelo State, D.L. Ligon Coliseum, 5:30 p.m. SATURDAY, SEPT. 29 Football | at Eastern New Mexico (Portales, New Mexico), 8 p.m. Men’s Soccer | at Lubbock Christian University (Lubbock, Texas), 2:30 p.m Women’s Tennis | ITA Regional, MSU Tennis Center Men’s Tennis | ITA Regional, MSU Tennis Center Volleyball | vs. Tarleton State, D.L. Ligon Coliseum, 2 p.m. SUNDAY, SEPT. 30 Women’s Soccer | vs. Eastern New Mexico, 1 p.m., Stang Park Women’s Tennis | ITA Regional, MSU Tennis Center Men’s Tennis | ITA Regional, MSU Tennis Center MONDAY, OCT. 1 Men’s Golf | at Western New Mexico University (Albuquerque, New Mexico), WNMU Fall Intercollegiate, all day Women’s Golf | Lady Buff Stampede (Amarillo, Texas), Tascosa Golf Club, La Paloma Course, all day TUESDAY, OCT. 2 Men’s Golf | at Western New Mexico University (Albuquerque, New Mexico), WNMU Fall Intercollegiate, all day Women’s Golf | Lady Buff Stampede (Amarillo, Texas), Tascosa Golf Club, La Paloma Course, all day Volleyball | vs. Cameron, D.L. Ligon Coliseum, 2 p.m.
PHOTO BY BRIDGET REILLY | THE WCHITAN
Undecided sophomore and midfielder, Julian Barajas chases the ball to line up for an attempt to kick a goal against Texas A&M International. Sept. 22.
Men slide to fourth in United Soccer coaches poll LAST THURSDAY: The men’s soccer team remained undefeated and improved to 6-0 on the season, with a 3-1 win against St. Mary’s Rattlers who are ranked eleventh in the nation. Rory O’Keeffe, center-back and kinesiology junior | “Obviously, the goal is to get a clean sheet which we failed to do… It was unlucky but we [did] the job, they’re a ranked team but we are number one and we showed that tonight.”
LAST SATURDAY: Mustangs drew 1-1 against A&M International, ending their nearly 30 game winning streak. Head men’s coach Michael Meachum | “We were unfortunate on a few misses there in the second half and overtime but if it was easy, everyone would be number one in the country. It’s not about what you do in week three,” he continued. “It’s about what you do in week fifteen [and] we’ll be hoping to push back and get back in there.”
NEXT GAM E: AT UT PERM IAN BASIN IN OD E SSA , SE PT. 2 7 AT 7 P. M .
Football team, undefeated moves up to No. 5 LAST WEEK: The No. 5 ranked football team, according to American Football Coaches’ Association Top 25, continues to defend its title of being Lonestar Conference champions by conquering Angelo State, 57-36 and covering a total of 654 yards at Memorial Stadium Sept. 22. The team led the first half of the game 28-17. THIS PHOTO: Computer science junior Marcus Wilkerson takes down Angelo State University offensive player at game against Angelo State University, Sept. 21. Photo by Brittni Vilandre | The Wichitan NEXT WEEK: The team plays Eastern New Mexico in Portales, New Mexico, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m.