The Wichitan 101018 by The Wichitan

Oct. 10, 2018 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 83 No. 6

DOMINICA TAKES THE CROWN AT Mr. and Ms. Caribfest pageant Social Media Day

ALANA EARLE REPORTER

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Many students, faculty and staff showed up to learn about the different uses of social media.

Caribfestfest

pg. 13-14

Students and their families get to experience the Caribbean culture through CSO’s annual Caribfest.

Family Day

pg. 11

Students get to spend time with their families by participating in multiple events.

Gold, glitz and glamour coated the night in Akin Auditorium that would make Jay Gatsby envious as the annual Mr. and Ms. Caribfest pageant leaned into “The Great Gatsby” theme. The festivity, part of the Caribfest, allowed students in the Caribbean Student Organization to showcase the vibrant culture and unite the students from the various islands in the Caribbean in just a few days on campus and get dressed up for the elegant evening. “It gives the campus a different feel, we share the event to give MSU a taste of our culture, we want to bring Wichita Falls the same,” Jiselle, accounting, said. “We just want everyone to come out, eat our food and enjoy our culture.” The excitement of Caribfest extends further than just the students on campus, and Wade Courtney, MSU Texas and CSO alumni, said the event is one of the most exciting times for him. “I’ve been here since 2009, and every year it is different in some way and every year it gets better,” Courtney said. Much like the laid-back culture is represented on campus, so is the “island time” as the event was pushed to 7:55 p.m. instead of the 7 p.m. sharp start time initially indicated for the event. Sponsors of the event are from the MSU Texas alumni association and CSO alumni to the various community leaders who help fund it as well, this gives CSO the opportunity to showcase their culture through multiple events that typically span the early evening to late hours of the night. 200 people were estimated to be there. The night began with a Gatsby themed introduction dance, followed by the contestants walking out in their evening wear. Then, the contestants introduced themselves with their platforms. There were four Ms. Caribfest contestants and three Mr. Caribfest contestants, all eager to win the crown for themselves as much as for their country. The emcees, Karla Henry and Darien Roach, then introduced the 11 judges and special guest Keith Lamb, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

TALENT PORTION

The first Ms. Caribfest contestant Breanna

PHOTO BY DEMIAN PONCE | THE WICHITAN

Lydie Joseph and Grantley Samuels are crowned the new king and queen of Caribfest 2018. Leary, exercise physiology from the Bahamas, did a contemporary dance routine to Beyonce’s’ “Pretty Hurts” to speak about the struggles of feeling beautiful and accepting yourself in today’s social media crazed society. Eyes wide and a sense of chills were in the air, the audience listened to first Mr. Caribfest contestant Taris Major, architecture and mechanical engineering senior also from the Bahamas, performed a dramatic speech, infused with music about the alleged links between mental health and school shootings. Major acted as if he was walking to class and was

killed in a school shooting and then rose up in dark lighting to give his speech. Grantley Samuels, another Mr. Caribfest contestant number three mechanical engineering senior, originating from Antigua and Barbuda, played steelpan and the audience pumped him up by cheering.

SWIMSUIT PORTION

The swimsuit portion followed the talent portion and Roach joked that “This is my favorite section of the pageant!” Before each contestant strutted out to their

see PAGEANT pg. 2

2 | Oct. 10, 2018| STAF F E DIT O R I A L

We want direct campus growth OUR VIEW: While we believe students from all walks of life should have a right to an education, we want to see steady growth directly on campus.

hile it is factual that our fall enrollment increased from 6,080 to 6,102 and new student enrollment went up by 6 percent, the new student enrollment data includes MSU Texas - Flower Mound as well as the Wichita Falls campus. Therefore, we believe the total enrollment only increased because of the Flower Mound campus. When we asked President Suzanne Shipley for the enrollment numbers for just our campus she said the Flower Mound numbers can be separated from our campus for budgetary purposes, but not for enrollment purposes. This is because of the Flower Mound students taking online courses that are also offered at the Wichita Falls campus. The Wichita Falls campus has a goal of growing the student population to 8,000 students by 2025 which means there would need to be a 4 percent increase in student enrollment every year until then to reach that goal. We believe this is a goal that is obtainable, but we would like to see if we are on track and can’t do so without the campus enrollment numbers separated from one another. Surely there must be a way to provide a breakdown of the enrollment numbers to keep students informed properly.

wichitan Vol. 83 | No. 6

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

PHOTOS BY DEMIAN PONCE | THE WICHITAN

Breanna Leary shines in a black sequence dress as she introduces herself at the opening of the Caribfest Pageant . |Selina Stuart dazzles the crowd as she dances in a gold swim suit. | First runner-up, Taris Major , showcases his formal wear. |Caribfest king, Grantley Samuels, introduces himself as he grips the microphone in a Great Gastsy themed attire. Unfortunately, one candidate caught stage fright mid-sentence. music, the MCs read off a pre-written description of each conHowever, the majority of the audience was extremely suptestants suit, written by the contestants themselves. Each de- portive, yelling things like ”It’s okay! That’s okay! It’s okay scription excluding two, described how the colors and styles honey! You got this,” to help and encourage the contestant to related to their native islands. All of the Ms. Caribfest con- go on and keep trying. testants walked out to a remix of Coldplay’s “Paradise” and a After all the contestants answered their questions the show caribbean type song. The Mr. contestants walked out to songs moved onto the results of the pageant, the most anticipated they selected whichever song they liked. part of the show, the winners. As Major strutted out in a Bermuda themed towel, then But, the results were not announced before the SOCA show quickly removing it to reveal his very fitted yellow shorts, the winners from the previous night performed, Mr. and Ms. audience went absolutely wild. People were cheering and yell- Caribfest 2017 individually walked out in evening wear while ing as Major strutted around, posed and even flexed his butt. a three to four minute audio played wishing the contestants After the judges rated each contestant on criteria like “mus- the best of luck, then once it was time for the results to be ancle tone and fitness”, “colors” and other things there was a nounced, the MCs had to stall while “technical difficulties” long intermission were some musical performances filled the occurred. After much waiting, at least 45 minutes to an hour, space. the results were announced. But not before each contestant EVENING WEAR/INTERVIEW PORTION got awarded a multitude of awards, such as, “Best Personality”, When the evening wear portion began each contestant “Best Swimsuit” and of course, participation awards. slowly walked out to music and did their routine before stopAt 11:52 p.m., Mr. and Ms. Caribfest 2018 were announced ping in the middle and talking with the MCs. The MCs had Ms. Caribfest - Lydie Joseph, radiological sciences senior two hats in their hands with questions in them. Each contesMr. Caribfest - Grantley Samuels, mechanical engineering tant had to draw, or “dig” as the MCs kept referring to it, for senior their questions - assumed to add variety and fairness. Each Runner ups - Ms. Angel Williams, math senior contestant answered a question referring back to their platMr. Taris Major, mechanical engineering senior form and one question about their biography. Leary said “I Despite lighting issues where the lights were off or on at the want people to know that when you overcome such issues [low wrong times, starting late and many “technical difficulties”, self-confidence and body image] it opens a lot of doors and the Mr. and Ms. Caribfest 2018 was a celebration of the islands opportunities that makes life easier...I just want everyone to culture and once again CSO was able to showcase their roots in know they’re truly beautiful.” when asked about her platform an elegant pageant, complete with a king and queen. and how it helped her achieve her goal of people building better confidence.

from PAGEANT pg. 1

EDITORS: Alyssa Mitchell, Chloe Phillips, Kristin Silva

DESIGNER: Brittni Vilandre

First copy free. Additional copies 25¢ each.

ISSUE STAFF: Alana Earle, Brian Lang, Angel Ukwitegyetse, Madison Davis, Jake Clancy, Stephen Gomez, Chloe Phillips, Nathan Martinez, Carli Woolsey, Greta Gottschalk, Jason Wilson, Samuel Mitchell, Nick Lanier, Luke Bryant,

PHOTOGRAPHERS: Demian Ponce, Jared Bruner, Will Schultz, Bradley Wilson, Stephen Gomez, Kristin Silva, 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.

| Oct. 10, 2018 | 3

PHOTO BY JARED BRUNER | THE WICHITAN

Mina, played by Ilka Megee, theater junior, speaks her worries about her husband to Van Helsing, played by Hannah Kelly, theater freshman, Sept. 13 in the Fain Fine Arts Theater.

Theater department

sinks teeth into Dracula PHOTO CURTESY BY IMBD

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in A Star Is Born (2018)

A Star is Born shines bright with two charismatic stars BRIAN LANG FILM CRITIC

othing is more fascinating than watching a new a star on the rise. Tabloids, gossip columns, and award shows clamor for new details of a nascent celebrity. Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut, “A Star is Born” illuminates audiences about the beginBrian Lang ning and end of stardom, pulling no punches as it chronicles the story of two star-crossed celebrities. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga lead in this classic love story about two singers, one on the rise, the other declining from the spotlight, and the effect that fame has on their love. This age-old story has been told an astounding four times over the past eighty years, each remake speaking to its target generation in a way that’s uniquely its own. This iteration is no different, being the most intimate and personal of the four. Jackson Maine (Bradley Cooper) is a bonafide star. He is approached by fans wherever he goes and has an easy-going attitude about his notoriety. When he sees struggling waitress and singer, Ally, performing at a drag bar, Jackson is immediately infatuated. After hearing strands of Ally’s songs, Jackson is convinced that he’s with a hidden talent and decides to jumpstart her career. As the spotlight begins to beam on Ally and her blossoming talent, Jackson must deal with the fact that the curtain is falling on his own career. Alcohol, drugs, and jealousy dim their relationship and each must come to understand their new roles in the cultural sphere. Their love is passionate and dangerous, but sacrifices must be made as a star truly is born. Lady Gaga is the golden ticket for “A Star is Born.” She comes out from behind her enigmatic personality to portray

the affable and sweet singer who is quickly becoming more and more famous. Her performance is layered and you feel like you get a behind the scenes look at life as a star. She portrays both the overwhelming excitement and crippling fear and doubt of someone who’s not used to being in the spotlight, and her character shows inspiring growth as she comes into her own. Bradley Cooper does an excellent job of both directing and starring in what is clearly his double bid for an Oscar. He plays the gravelly washed up singer with heart, and despite all the mistakes and pain that Jackson causes, his character is still one that is easy to root for. Despite the story of a star on the decline being far less interesting than the meteoric rise of Ally, Cooper plays the role of the lovable antihero for all its worth. Both stars nailed the intense vocal portions of their roles. Lady Gaga, of course, shined with several memorable numbers and her recognizable voice is one of this film’s greatest assets. Cooper surprises us all with a remarkably good voice that pairs well with Gaga’s. The two crackle with creative energy constantly, but never more than when they’re singing together. The camera work by Matthew Libatique feels up close and personal, almost like watching a documentary about reallife celebrities. It feels almost too close at times, making you want to back away from the pain the couple is going through, but Cooper and Libatique keep audiences close to the action which causes the pain and struggles of these characters to feel all the more tangible. Even though there is nothing new to this story, it sets itself apart from the previous versions. “A Star is Born” is intensely personal and often painful, but its brutal honesty and lifelike characters make it a winner. As awards season quickly approaches, “A Star is Born” seems destined for the history books.

ANGEL UKWITEGYETSE REPORTER

ctors lay on stage, setting the first scene as the audience filed into the Fain Fine Arts Center for the theater department’s opening performance of Dracula Oct 4. The horror novel by Bram Stoker was originally adapted into a play by Steven Deitz. The story undoubtedly paved the way for the modern vampire phenomena; stories, movies, and series as we know them today. With the intention of keeping the integrity of the piece, Director Christie Maturo said, “This felt more like working with a movie script in that, we [had] little snippets of scenes and the challenge was to figure out how to tie them together so that [the audience] gets a whole story.” In addition to casting a woman to play Dracula, Maturo took creative agency with the one act play, adding a sort of movement quality to it. Addrian Gaunt Jr, theater senior who played Seward, explained how this was new to him as well. “For me, this is like the first show that we’ve done that was really based off the movements,” Gaunt said. “The way we go about developing characters is usually a bit different in other shows, but this one was about our bodies and how we moved within the space from the atmosphere into each scene.” The audience also seemed to have caught on to the unique, avant garde nature of the performance. “I have never read the book but I thought it was good and I liked the dancing, that was different. Also the fact that Dracula was a woman was cool. The ending was abrupt though, I thought it would be longer,” Tory Jimenez, criminal justice freshman, said. According Maturo, the theater department decides what pieces to perform the fall before the season and one of its goals for this season was to do more recognizable titles in hopes of interest from the student body. “I [also] wanted to leave a sense of atmosphere, I wanted to leave a sort of lingering mood. We as a cast worked a lot on what theme we would want the audience to take away,” Maturo said.

4 | Oct. 10, 2018|

University development secretary, Jeanette Perry is hugged by her daughters Megan and Rhiannon.

Jeanette Perry

‘I will always leave myself open for those life lessons’ MADISON DAVIS REPORTER

5:30 a.m. alarm rings in the start of a busy day for mass communication post baccalaureate Jeanette Perry, university development secretary, who walks down the hall to wake her two children Rhiannon and Meagan. The smell of Café Bustelo coffee fills the air as her morning ensues. Perry rushes to ensure that Rhiannon (15) is on the bus at 6:20 a.m. and by 7:10 a.m. she is walking out of the door with her coffee in hand. Dropping Meagan (12) off at Burkburnett Middle School, she stops by Braum’s and buys a plain bagel to enjoy on her 20-minute commute to campus. “Getting someone ready in the morning is a tough task, there are so many things to do and not enough morning to get it done,” Perry said. “I’m surprised my shoes match by the time I get to work.” Closing in on 8 a.m., Perry pulls into her usual parking spot in front of her job on campus where she is the secretary of university development, a position that requires her to organize the responses received by phonation callers, nearly 38,000 calls per year. Steve Shipp, the director of university development, said he admires Perry for her tenacity and intelligence.

“I’ve enjoyed working at MSU, because of motivated and highly intelligent people like Jeanette who love what they do,” Shipp said. “She’s concerned about turning out quality work and takes her duties personally.” On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Perry attends a publication design class during her lunch break that involves creating things such as newsletter designs and websites. David Cash, another student in the publication design class, said that he looks to Perry for encouragement and positivity when he comes into class feeling down in the dumps. “She’s actually one of the reasons I love going to class, because I get to see her and be around her aura of positivity she creates with her good attitude,” Cash said. “It’s almost like it’s impossible to be negative around her.” While Perry first attended college in 1996, she married and had her first child in 2002 which prompted her to take some time off of school. When she returned, Perry changed her degree plan to the bachelor of applied arts and sciences and graduated in May of 2002 when she was pregnant with her second child. “I’m returning now to pursue a second degree in an area I’m more interested in,” Perry said. “In hindsight, I wish I had a high school counselor to better guide my direction the

first time.” A typical day for Perry lasts longer than the average work day. She said that the extracurriculars her children are involved in take up most of her free time, including weekends, but still manages to complete all of her homework assignments. “When I’m not working 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and attending classes, I’m running between soccer, cross country, band practices and games, making sure everyone has everything they need when I get home,” Perry said. “Then I try to get my homework done for the next day.” Perry said that her husband Shane plays a key role in helping commute the kids from one place to another. She said that he picks up the kids from events that end while she’s in class or still at work. “Thankfully I have a husband willing to divide and conquer when I need him,” Perry said. “Without him, it would be extremely difficult to balance the time.” When she’s able to have a night to herself, Perry said she enjoys crafts such as crocheting and stitching. In the past, she occupied her free time participating in live theater locally, but said that it’s next to impossible with her busy schedule now that she has enrolled in school again.

“The biggest thing that sticks out about Jeanette is that she is a hard worker,” Charlotte Damon, a friend of Jeanette, said. “From the experiences I’ve had with her, she puts 100 percent into everything she does — wife, parent, student, musician, vocalist, and professional crafter. She gives everything she can to any project.” Perry may have off time from her job and school, but she has no off-time as a mother. Her daughter Meagan said she appreciates her mother’s dedication to making sure that she always has everything she needs and gets her to where she needs to go. “My mom takes time everyday to make sure I get where I need to go,” Meagan said. “I love my mom.” Day in and day out, Perry strives to learn new things and set a good example for her two young children who look up to her. “I learn something new everyday. I will never get to an age where I think I know everything there is to know,” Perry said. “You can be a teacher and not know it and you can be a student and learn from someone unexpected. I will always leave myself open for those life lessons.”

Oct. 10, 2018 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 83 No. 6

PLANNING FOR SOCIAL MEDIA. Social Media isn’t anything random. There is a plan behind each post. Learn how to create a plan and how to execute a conversation. AJ Lopez III, digital marketing and social media manager, MSU Texas Division of Student Affairs

hardly ever 21%

often 20%

never 32%

AMERICANS WHO GET NEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA About two-thirds of Americans get news on social media

MORE FACTS ABOUT SOCIAL MEDIA • 68 percent say they at least occasionally get news on social media • 11 percent of U.S. adults do not use the internet • 26 percent of American adults now report that they go online “almost constantly” • 88 percent saying the internet has, on balance, been a mostly good thing for them personally • 70 percent of online adults continue to believe the internet has been a good thing for society

Tumbler 11%

SOCIAL MEDIA METEOROLOGISTS Ken Johnson, meteorologist, KAUZ channel 6

sometimes 27%

Pinterest 23%

HOW TO LEVERAGE INSTAGRAM TO TELL YOUR STORY. With a billion active monthly users, Instagram is one of the biggest communication platforms on the planet. Learn how to tell your story and build a brand on Instagram. Logan Draper, digital marketing director, DesignWorks Group in Wichita Falls.

element of teen life: 95 percent of teens now report they have a smartphone or access to one. These mobile connections are in turn fueling more-persistent online activities: 45 percent of teens now say they are online on a near-constant basis.

LinkedIn 8%

HOW TO USE FACEBOOK LIVE TO GROW YOUR AUDIENCE. Facebook Lives helps users drive more engagement and offers a budget friendly way to put out video content. Learn why you need to be using Facebook Live with Caitlyn Cremeens, digital manager at DesignWorks Group in Wichita Falls.

Nearly 100 people attended the third annual MSU Texas Social Media, including Carol Cox and students from Archer City High School.

The survey also finds there is no clear consensus among teens about the effect that social media has on the lives of young people today. Minorities of teens describe that effect as mostly positive (31 percent) or mostly negative (24 percent), but the largest share (45 percent) said that effect has been neither positive nor negative. Still, while the social media landscape for teenagers seems to be changing, Facebook and YouTube dominate the U.S. adult landscape, as notable majorities of U.S. adults use each of these sites. At the same time, younger Americans (especially those ages 18 to 24) stand out for embracing a variety of platforms and using them frequently. Some 78 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds use Snapchat, and a sizeable majority of these users (71 percent) visit the platform multiple times per day. Similarly, 71 percent of Americans in this age group now use Instagram and close to half (45 percent) are Twitter users.

YouTube 64%

VISIT WITH COLLEGE STUDENTS about the university and the mass communication department — Morgan Haire, Tre Jones, Treston Lacy, Taylor Morrison, Joanne Ortega, Cortney Wood

ntil recently, Facebook had dominated the social media landscape among America’s youth – but it is no longer the most popular online platform among teens, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. The 100 or so people attending MSU Texas’ Social Media Day reflected those trends. According to Pew, roughly half (51 percent) of U.S. teens ages 13 to 17 say they use Facebook, notably lower than the shares who use YouTube, Instagram or Snapchat. Of the attendees at Social Media Day, 47 percent said they use Facebook on a regular basis with Facebook coming in a distant fourth to Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. This shift in teens’ social media use is just one example of how the technology landscape for young people has evolved since the Center’s last survey of teens and technology use in 2014-2015. Most notably, smartphone ownership has become a nearly ubiquitous

Instagram 85%

HOW TO FACT-CHECK SOCIAL MEDIA. Misinformation is everywhere online and can be shared with the click of a button. Learn how to combat the spread of fake news on social media with a few tips from MediaWise’s fact-checker Allison Graves.

Attendees’ social media use reflects national trends

Snapchat 77%

SOCIAL MEDIA FROM A GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE. The City of Wichita Falls Public Information Office shares how they rely on creative and quality content to inform and influence the public’s perception of local government. | Public Information Officer Eric Crosslin and Social Media Marketing Specialist Benjamin Remmert.

SOCIAL MEDIA USE IN 2018 PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Twitter 63%

ASSESSING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE. Just getting stuff out there online and on social media isn’t enough. It’s important to see what works — and what doesn’t. Learn how to use Twitter Analytics and Google Analytics to do just that. | Bradley Wilson, associate professor, MSU Texas Department of Mass Communication

Some 88 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds indicate that they use any form of social media.

Facebook 47%

Social Media Day Oct. 1, 2018

SO C I A L M E D I A S U P P L E M ENT

WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA DO YOU USE ON A REGULAR BASIS? SOURCE: ATTENDEES AT SOCIAL MEDIA DAY, 2018

6 | Oct. 10, 2018| SO CI A L MED I A D AY

Twitter a prime source for news picture to attract viewers. “The lecture made me realize how important is it to underssociate Professor Bradley Wilson kicked off the Social stand what you are putting out there and to analyze that inforMedia Day event with a lecture informing students how mation because of how many people can see it,” Coates said. The information Wilson relayed to the high school stuto use Twitter effectively with an audience of more than 60 people. Wilson explained the analytics of Twitter and dis- dents and teachers urged them to think about how they could cussed the creation of a successful tweet so students could bet- manage their own Twitter account for their high school yearbooks. ter understand how to use Twitter successfully. “The Harrold yearbook does not use Twit“Social media is going to be around for a ter,” Matute said. “But the speech gave us great while,” Wilson said. “It doesn’t matter what the ideas on how we could start.” career is, social media is going to be a compoWilson gave examples of how the Wichitan nent of the job.” staff members have learned from tweets and Wilson said the most important take away the analytics Twitter provides throughout the from his lecture was the importance of being entire lecture. The lecture provided insight to first, fair, and accurate. He said the Wichitan the Wichitan and the creative minds behind it. is more successful when using these tactics BRADLEY WILSON “It’s time to stop thinking of social media ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR together instead of separately. Wilson gave exas new media,” Wilson said. “It is just a part of amples of how this has affected the Wichitan’s what we do every day now. Part of what we do is analyze our Twitter throughout the last semester as well. Alexis Matute, Harrold High School senior, said, “The lec- successes and failures. Twitter analytics is just one way of doture helped me understand how important it is to interact and ing that.” Mary Brown, homeschool teacher and mom said, “[The get things out as quickly as possible.” Twitter is used as one of the major sources for breaking news session] was a lot, and it was good. I’m not using Twitter and I and that number is increasing. Wilson said the importance of do a lot of marketing, I’m a real estate agent so I do marketing the structure of a tweet and the analytics of twitter so the stu- and so I’m gonna start a Twitter account.” Some attendees said they believe that Twitter is dying off, dents could see how these factors affected the way their tweets Wilson said that is not the case. Twitter use has leveled off in and news were consumed. Maggie Coates, Archer City High School junior, said, “I the last few years at about 70 million users. Wilson also addidn’t know you could analyze Twitter so much, and it was dressed that politicians are using Twitter to spread news and interesting to see how much it could help. It benefited me be- information. Both candidates for state senate in Texas use twitcause I didn’t know how to set up a tweet in a way that would ter, as does President Donald Trump, who Wilson called the Twitterer-in-chief. attract more views.” “I thought Twitter was dying off, but I found out it’s just Wilson said the keys to a successful tweet are calling people to action, engaging others with a mention, using a hashtag to capped off,” Hare said. Additional reporting by Allison Atherton create a common community of information, and including a CARLI WOOLSEY REPORTER

“(Social media) is just a part of what we do every day now.”

WHAT DOES A GOOD TWEET INCLUDE? SALIENT MESSAGE — Your 240 characters (ideally less) needs to mean something to a potential reader, listener or viewer HASHTAG — Use a hashtag (#) to help people find your tweets. MENTION — Use a mention (@) so people in your tweets know you’ve tweeted about them. CALL TO ACTION — Provide a URL so readers, listeners and viewers will go to your website. PHOTO — A tweet without a photo is a tweet that will be skipped right over. PERCENTAGE OF U.S. ADULTS WHO GET NEWS FROM EACH SITE

45% Facebook users get news on the site.

TAKE- HOM E POIN T S

18%

YouTube users get news on the site.

11%

Twitter users get news on the site.

Instagram users get news on the site.

Snapchat users get news on the site.

LinkedIn users get news on the site.

SCHEDULE TWEETS USING TWEET DECK Use TweetDeck to schedule tweets days in advance. Schedule tweets to reach users at the optimum time of the day for them. For example, reach administrators first thing in the morning. Reach college students later in the evening.

ANALYZE TWEETS USING TWITTER ANALYTICS Use Twitter’s analytics to see what tweets are working and which ones aren’t. Each month see how many tweets you put out, how many impressions your account has gotten, how many people have visited your profile and what your top tweet is, what the top mention is and who your top follower is.

| Oct. 10, 2018 | 7 SO CI A L MED I A D AY

PHOTO BY BRADLEY WILSON

Ben Remmert, social media marketing specialist, and Eric Crosslin, public information for the City of Wichita Falls, discuss social media from a government perspective at the third MSU Texas Social Media Day, Oct. 1, 2018.

Follow the City of Wichita Falls on Twitter @CityofWF

View the City of Wichita Falls videos on YouTube at @CityofWF. There you can view city council meetings and a weekly That City Show.

Follow the City of Wichita Falls on Instagram at @cityofwf.

Find the City of Wichita Falls on Facebook @CityofWF.

City PIOs tout social media ‘Content has to be good or no one will care’ GRETA GOTTSCHALK REPORTER

he public information officer of Wichita Falls shared how the use of social media helps to inform the public and influences their perception of the local government on Oct. 1 during the second session of Social Media Day. Public Information Officer Eric Crosslin said his job feels similar to being a cheerleader in that his team is all about promoting the city. Timeliness in this line of work is critical as the public tends to quickly lose interest in stories. People look to the city to notify them of recent events. “We try to get two or three things out each day,” Crosslin said. “We don’t want to overwhelm [the public, but] we like to be the first to put things out.” Social Media Marketing Specialist Benjamin Remmert said marketing is not a science and creativity is the key. He often draws inspiration from watching ads online and seeing how others market their content. “We have creative leeway [with our job],” Remmert said. “Part of our strategic goal is working with others. We do our own thing but also try to amplify our message.” According to Crosslin, the public likes to engage with content that is authentic and something that they can relate to. The city’s media feed tends to receive more views on things that they spend less time planning. “Content has to be good or no one will care,” Crosslin said. “We always [try to] at least have a picture or a video.”

Marketing is knowing the audience and how to differentiate from other potential sources. Remmert said for their audience, they like to upload promotional videos, no longer than two minutes, for events. “No one will watch an hour-long video,” Remmert said. Social media platforms offer various ways for a sender to transmit a message. Facebook allows users to post messages via text or even a live video. “We don’t get any [extra] views from going live,” Crosslin said. “We tried, but we found that we have audio issues. If we don’t have good bandwidth, it’s recorded bad.” The city marketers consistently have a steady flow of content to share and find enjoyment in enhancing that content to make it seem more significant. Crosslin said simply gaining new followers who will see their feed justifies their posting of content. “I always use the term ‘juicy.’ How can I juice it up?” Crosslin said. “Sometimes [our goal is just] to see if we can do something to get more followers, likes or whatever.” Attendees found this session to be helpful in providing tips about how to maintain and please their online followers. Casey Haire, Wichita Falls High School junior, said, “I learned that short videos do better than long videos if they’re drawn out. I use Instagram because of memes.” Hunter Edwards, Harrold High School senior, said, “Social media is important to get news and information. I use YouTube because it’s easier to follow.”

FACEBOOK was launched on Feb. 4, 2004, by Mark Zuckerberg, along with fellow Harvard College students and roommates; Facebook had 2.23 billion monthly active users

TWITTER was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey, Noah Glass, Biz Stone, and Evan Williams and launched in July of that year; Twitter has 335 million monthly active users

SNAPCHAT was relaunched as Snapchat in September 2011; 191 million daily active users

INSTAGRAM launched in October 2010 exclusively on iOS; Instagram says it now has 800 million users

YOUTUBE is ranked as the second-most popular site in the world; YouTube has 1 Billion Active Users Each Month

LINKEDIN launched on May 5, 2003; now owned by Microsoft, LinkedIn has 562 million users

8 | Oct. 10, 2018| SO CI A L MED I A D AY

MSU Texas Facebook Live Show, Summer Edition

FACEBOOK LIVE ISN’T GOING AWAY

In April 2016, Facebook launched Facebook Live: a live video-streaming service that lets anyone broadcast from a mobile devices straight to their Facebook News Feed. As Jon Fingas said in a 2018 article, “The one certainty: Facebook Live isn’t going away.”

CAITLYN CREMEENS’ TOP FIVE FACEBOOK LIVE TIPS 1. GO FOR IT! Your Facebook Live doesn’t have to be perfect. Don’t overthink it! 2. MAKE IT CONSISTENT. Don’t leave your audience hanging. Keep them updated with what’s going on. 3. SCHEDULE THEM. Facebook now let’s you schedule your Facebook Lives and reminds your audience. 4. BE YOU! Give your brand a personality with Facebook Live. However, if you are SUPER uncomfortable it will show. 5. KEEP IT USEFUL. Don’t go live just to go live. Whether it be to promote an event or giving some education information — have a purpose.

HOW TO GO LIVE

Since its launch, live streaming video has grown in popularity. Facebook Live is particularly popular — videos see sometimes three times the engagement of traditional videos shared on the platforms, and millions of users live stream on Facebook around the world. 1. Go to the News Feed, and tap the “Live” option denoted by the camcorder icon. 2. Give Facebook access to the camera and microphone when prompted. 3. Choose the appropriate privacy setting. 4. Write an engaging description. 5. Tag friends, choose your location, or add an activity. 6. Set up your camera view. 7. Go Live. 8. Archive the video to YouTube or Vimeo.

PHOTO BY BRADLEY WILSON

Caitlyn Cremeens, digital manager and DesignWorks Group, discusses how she uses Facebook Live with her clients at the third MSU Texas Social Media Day, Oct. 1, 2018.

Alumna speaks on importance of

FACEBOOK LIVE

JASON WILSON REPORTER

aitlyn Cremeens, digital manager at DesignWorks and 2015 graduate, taught a session about the uses of Facebook Live within the professional world for Social Media Day. “It’s important to teach high school kids because they have such a different world view of social media and it’s fun to talk to them about the future opportunities they could have,” Cremeens said. Cremeens said she has worked with companies in her two years at DesignWorks including a bank and women’s clinic. She asked students if they felt Facebook was for old people and when the majority of the room raised their hands, she agreed with the statement, but continued to explain the need for Facebook in the professional world. “If you go into the digital marketing world, you will have to have Facebook,” Cremeens said. “That’s where most people with the buying power are.” Cremeens said this generation has an advantage in the digital marketing world. “It’s something fun. It’s challenging, and it’s a new kind of job that I think this age group is going to excel at because they’ve grown up in it,” Cremeens said. “This generation is going to be more prepared for this kind of job than any other generation has been.”

Cremeens said the new generation of students will need to understand social media sites, like Facebook, to get ahead in the field. “Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat are super popular with that age group, but they’re really going to need to know Facebook too,” Cremeens said. “They’re going to have to know how to use Facebook Ad Manager, which can change everyday. If they learn that early, it’s going to set them apart from other job candidates.” Cremeens said it’s important to stay up to date on the advancements Facebook Live makes. “Facebook Live comes out with new stuff all the time. Make sure you’re reading blogs, informational pages, because Facebook will pop up notifications and tell you whats changing. That’s so important because then you can take it to your client first and seem super smart,” Cremeens said. Tandy Roberts, marketing education instructor at the WFISD Career Education Center, brought her high school marketing students to Social Media Day to hear the speakers. “They are getting to learn how to use social media to promote businesses, products and themselves,” Roberts said. Roberts said a challenge she faces in teaching students is helping them understand the future applications of the

things they learn. She said she hopes that can help. “One of the hardest things is getting them to realize they can actually use these skills in the real world,” Roberts said. Roberts said learning these skills will equip students for the future. “Learning these skills will prepare them for college and one day the workforce,” Roberts said. High school sophomore Dacey Ramirez attended Social Media Day with the marketing class at the Career Education Center. She said she plans to attend MSU in the future and the skills she learned at Social Media Day will be beneficial to her. “I like how they gave us advice on how to put yourself out there and create a brand for yourself,” Ramirez said. Ramirez said the sessions helped remind her of the importance of what others see on social media. “They instructed us on how to use social media to promote a good image of ourselves,” Ramirez said. Cremeens said she certainly hopes students understand the value of Facebook Live. “I hope that this will help students understand the benefits of knowing how to use social media so they can have that advantage as they go into their careers,” Cremeens said.

| Oct. 10, 2018 | 9 SO CI A L MED I A D AY

LOGAN DRAPER’S TOP FIVE INSTAGRAM TIPS 1. QUALITY CONTENT WINS Who’s your audience and what do they need to know? Using the right size photos and videos will make your content easier to consume on Instagram 2. GROW WITH HASHTAGS | Picking the right hashtags can be a game changer for growth. Pick three, four or five hashtags that fit the theme of the content. The more content your create around a hashtag, the better your chance to become the authority on that topic. 3. ENGAGE WITH YOUR AUDIENCE | When someone comments on your post, reply and start a conversation. The more conversation you can generate, the better your chance of being heard. Also, comment on other people’s content to get start more conversations. 4. DOCUMENT OVER CREATE | Creating fresh, consistent content daily can be a tough task. Document your daily process and let followers see more of your story. (Stories are great for this.) 5. GEOTAG YOUR LOCATION | When posting, use the geotag feature to check in where the photo or video was taken. This will help you be found by others posting in that area. 6. BONUS: ADS | If you’re a business, run ads! They are incredibly targeted and effective.

Now owned by Facebook, Instagram has become a top site for photo and video-sharing. But photographers can also add filters, tag videos and create stories using the mobile application.

A GOOD INSTAGRAM POST

Start with a good photo. • Move up close and fill the frame. Your phone’s camera is very wide. Learn to see as the camera sees things and move up closer. • Avoid backlighting. Don’t shoot into the light. Keep the primary light source beside or behind you. • Follow the rule of thirds. Divide the frame into a tic-tac-toe board. Keep the subject at the intersection of any two lines and out of the center of the frame. Write an engaging caption. • The caption should invite people to engage. • Short titles, and key phrases associated with the image, provide the viewer with something to remember easily. • As a question. The question may encourage viewers to comment, which in turn can spark conversations between viewers and the photographer. Remember, it is “social” media.

PHOTO BY BRADLEY WILSON

Logan Draper, digital marketing director at DesignWorks Group in Wichita Falls, discusses using Instagram at the third MSU Texas Social Media Day, Oct. 1, 2018.

DesignWorks director: Instagram our No. 1 platform preparation including scheduling and maintaining posts something Drapers aid DesignWorks ogan Draper, the digital marketing director does by using Sprout Social, Hubspot and Hootof DesignWorks, lead the fifth session of So- suite, with Hubspot being the main one. “It is important for us to be able to manage and cial Media Day where he covered not only his job, but also how those in the audience can pre- watch over all our different media platforms in one concise space.” pare themselves for such positions. With each of these platforms, comes “Instagram is our number one mea training and certification program. dia platform when it comes to engagDraper said he believes that seeing a ing and growing our audience,” Draper certificate or training program in any said. of these three when looking at resumes One of the main focuses of Draper’s presentation, including a question- DESIGNWORKS GROUP automatically catches his eye. Along and-answer session, was about main- designworksgroup.com with those, are other options for training. For Draper, the most important taining a presence online. He said he believes that when a person is trying to build his or ones are YouTube, Google and Facebook. “If you walk into an interview with a Facebook her own brand, posting four or five times a week is certification, you’ve pretty much already got the necessary, but consistency is the main key. Draper suggested the weekly posting amount, job.” Finally, Draper emphasised the importance of and also talked about the importance of remaining present online. This involved interacting and being careful what goes online. “When I get a resume, I rarely even look at them replying to those who comment on the posts in a timely manner, as well as finding a market’s niche. first. Instead, I’ll go scroll through their social meOne of the more important aspects of posting, dia and look at how they represent themselves.” Draper reminded the audience just how imporin his mind, was the hashtags used on a post. Finding the right ones to use includes finding which tant posts can be. He talked about how even if the one fits the post just right so that it applies well, post was online for a limited time, like a Snapchat but also not broad enough that nobody would be or Instagram story, or even deleted, it can still resurface someday. able to find the post. “Watch what you post because it always can “We’ve also found that five hashtags is the percome back to bite you.” fect amount to draw traffic toward your page.” Another focus of the presentation was on selfSAMUEL MITCHELL REPORTER

10 | Oct. 10, 2018| SO CI A L MED I A D AY

Follow Midwestern State University on Twitter @MSUTexas

PHOTO BY BRADLEY WILSON

A.J. Lopez, digital marketing and social media manager at MSU Texas, discusses planning for social media at the third MSU Texas Social Media Day, Oct. 1, 2018.

View the Midwestern State University videos on YouTube at @MSU Texas.

Lopez: Unlock social media success with organization and planning NICK LANIER REPORTER

A Follow Midwestern State University on Instagram at @msutexas.

Find Midwestern State University on Facebook @MSUTexas.

s part of Social Media Day on Oct. 1, sponsored by the mass communication department, students learned how to create a plan and execute a conversation online, and how this assists greatly in achieving success on the web. “Organization and planning help out immensely when putting information out there,” A.J. Lopez III, digital marketing and social media manager, said. Social media is not random, he said, and one of the most effective ways to build a voice is consistency. “Posting on a regular schedule, hitting each medium’s primetime, will help people hear you on a more regular basis,” Lopez said. With Facebook celebrating its 14th anniversary this fall, social media is no longer a new concept. Websites and apps like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat have become increasingly popular, and can all help grow the online presence of an individual or organization. With more than 100 organizations on campus, there are several students who are in charge of their respective club’s social media accounts. Steven Ehlert, criminal justice senior and Residence and Housing Association presi-

dent, is also the social media chair of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. “The most difficult part about social media is getting people to repost and spread the word,” Ehlert said. “Getting something out that will attract people from different demographic areas too can be hard.” It is important to have someone in charge of a club or organization’s social media accounts. “The old-fashioned term is gatekeeper, someone who keeps everything straight,” Lopez said. “Each organization should have an overseer to make sure that everything posted online doesn’t steer away from the desired message. They need someone who is organized and will post things online that will reflect on the organization correctly.” Ehlert uses this type of strategy on a daily basis. “I currently post in a time rotation. I do a post early in the morning, mid-day and then evening,” Ehlert said. “This consistency has seemed to help. Being RHA president I have had experience with reaching different students and have had time to do trial and error, and generate somewhat of a plan or outline for the scheduling of posts.” Victor Venegas, political science sophomore, is also in charge of social media for his organization.

“I often get behind on tweeting, or posting on my organization’s Facebook page,” Venegas said. “I definitely need to balance my time out better, so I can take good photos and figure out a good caption for the posts. Being a social media chair isn’t as easy as it sounds.” Lopez said that one of his most difficult times when doing his job was this time last year, when Robert Grays was injured during the football game. “You think you know how everything is going to go. We knew the score, we knew who we were going to interview, what we were going to post, and then suddenly everything changed. It was chaos,” Lopez said. Lopez said it is during times like these that a social media plan can be a real asset. “When something goes wrong, it’s great to have an outline to go back on. All of the new websites and technology are great, but the thing that really decides success is the pen and paper,” Lopez said. “Plan out everything so you can have something to reel you back in.” During these times of hardship, it is essential to learn from the backlash and negativity. “Not everything will be positive,” Lopez said. “It sounds weird, but sometimes it’s best to steer into the negative, as it is from this that you can grow and learn.”

| Oct. 10, 2018 | 11 SO CI A L MED I A D AY

Mass Communication Department Chair Jim Sernoe introduces students Taylor Morrison, Joanne Ortega, Tre Jones, Cortney Wood, Treston Lacy and Morgan Haire. The six students spoke to the high school students about everything from college life to dining on campus to course work.

Find Ken Johnson on Facebook @ KenJohnsonkauzChief Meteorologist

WHO CAME? Archer City High School...............................................6 Harrold ISD.....................................................................8 Midwestern State University.......................................65 WFISD Career and Technology Center......................19 Other................................................................................2 TOTAL checked in..........................................................100 COMPARED TO PAST YEARS 2016..................................................................................122 2017..................................................................................155 2018..................................................................................100 STUDENT HELPERS Jake Clancy, Yerasly Duran, Monique Fields, Andrea Hall, Justin Marquart, Nathan Martinez, Cydney Menzik, Chloe Phillips, Angel Ukwitegyetse SPONSORS • The Division of Student Affairs, Keith Lamb, vice president, provided lunch for the high school students and gifts for the speakers. • The Department of Mass Communication provided “Save the Date” postcards and other printed materials.

USES OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN WEATHER FORECASTING u Receive vital information from reliable sources throughout the day and night u Submit damage reports u Have more eyes to the sky across a greater area u 24-hour access to the meteorologist u Receive cool weather stories and information u See a personal side to your favorite weather person

PHOTO BY BRADLEY WILSON

KAUZ Chief Meteorologist Ken Johnson discusses how he uses social media at the station during the third MSU Texas Social Media Day, Oct. 1, 2018.

KAUZ METEOROLOGIST KEN JOHNSON

Social media has changed my job LUKE BRYANT REPORTER

en Johnson, a First Alert meteorologist, spoke in the Legacy Multipurpose Room for the last session of the Social Media Day about his position at Channel 6 news, his responsibilities, and how social media played a role in these. “I got into this business because I love weather,” Johnson told the crowd. “Especially in times when it’s bad outside. If any meteorologist came and told you they didn’t like bad weather they would be lying.” Johnson also told the audience he had a meteorologist degree. With looking at the computer statistics and maps, he can make his own educated predictions instead of relying only on technology. “It is all my forecast. Everything you see top to bottom, all numbers are done by me,” Johnson said. Media has advanced in the past 20 years. With the change in media a lot of jobs have had to adapt to the culture. “We have gone from getting our weather 24 hours later, to getting it a couple times a day, to getting it anytime of the day as long as we are at home, and now we can get news and

weather wherever we want as long as we have cell phone service,” Johnson said. Johnson and his news station has created a phone application to give people a more immediate access. He has even started using Facebook chat to give specific people the answers they would like. “I thought it was interesting how he is actually involved in social media not just meteorology,” Brittni Vilandre, marketing junior, said. “He actually gets involved with his audience instead of just sitting on the screen.” Midwestern digital marketing and social media manager AJ Lopez III also attended this session. “It’s interesting how meteorologist have taken social media and made it their own,” Lopez said. “When we know there is a thunderstorm I can get on Facebook and see a live cast.” Media added responsibilities to meteorologist Johnson said. He said it adds some accountability, because people just want to complain. “People automatically assume if one person gets it wrong everybody gets it wrong,” Johnson said. “The problem is people don’t remember the ones we get right.”

12 | Oct. 10, 2018| SO CI A L MED I A D AY

MediaWise is a partnership between Poynter, the Stanford History Education Group, Local Media Association and National Association for Media Literacy Education, supported by Google Inc. MediaWise will feature a research-based curriculum to be taught in classrooms and a teen-led factchecking initiative.

Fake news is nothing new as this 1894 illustration by Frederick Burr Opper shows.

How To Spot Fake News

Allison Graves spoke via Skype at Social Media Day.

SPEAKER

Allison Graves is a PolitiFact Florida staff writer based in St. Petersburg, Florida

WHAT SHE DISCUSSED

Allison started off the session by showing the audience different types of social media posts that included pictures and asked the audience if they though the posts were true or false. Graves went on to discuss a list of questions to think about when fact checking social media post.

ALLISON GRAVES’ FIVE QUESTIONS TO ASK

Here are five questions to always ask yourself if you see something questionable online or on social media. 1. Do stories include bylines? Reputable news outlets include bylines on stories to be transparent and give you an idea of the person who wrote the story. If you’re looking at a story that doesn’t have a byline, that’s something you should note.

Follow MediaWise on Twitter @MediaWiseTips

2. Do photos included with stories include photo credits? Captions on photos provide readers context about the image and identify who took the photo. When a photo doesn’t have a caption, that’s a red flag. 3. Do stories include clear sourcing? In other words, can you tell where the story is getting its information from or are they making claims without any evidence or attribution? 4. Does the story, or a story similar to it, appear on other more recognizable websites? Google the headline to see how other reputable news outlets are covering it. If no other news outlets are covering it, that’s also something to take note of. 5. Does the story have a date on it? Like bylines, reputable news outlets often include dates on their story to give readers a better idea of the timeline of events.

CONSIDER THE SOURCE Click away from the story to investigate the site, its mission and its contact info.

READ BEYOND Headlines can be outrageous in an effort to get clicks. What’s the whole story?

CHECK THE AUTHOR Do a quick search on the authors. Are they credible? Are they real?

SUPPORTING SOURCES? Click on those links. Determine if the info given actually supports the story.

CHECK THE DATE Reposting old news stories doesn’t mean they’re relevant to current events.

IS IT A JOKE? If it is too outlandish, it might be satire. Research the site and author to be sure.

CHECK YOUR BIASES Consider if your own beliefs could affect your judgment.

ASK THE EXPERTS Ask a librarian, or consult a fact-checking site.

Follow MediaWise on Instagram at @MediaWiseTips.

WWW.POLITIFACT.COM Fact-checking journalism is the heart of PolitiFact. Our core principles are independence, transparency, fairness, thorough reporting and clear writing. The reason we publish is to give citizens the information they need to govern themselves in a democracy. Find MediaWise on Facebook @MediaWise.

SOURCE: International Federation of Library Associations

| Oct. 10, 2018 | 13

PHOTOS BY WILL SCHULTZ

Alson Abraham performing as “Epzum” sang his song “Zoom Zoom” at the Caribfest Soca Show Oct. 4, 2018. | The dynamic duo called “Spice N’ Ice” made up of Kornika Degannes and Jorrey Martin performed their song “We are Arise.” | As he performed “When It’s All Said and Done” under his stage name “Mikhail,” Mikhail Salter hypes the crowd.

Music breathes life into Soca Show JAKE CLANCY REPORTER

kicks-off Caribfest

s the lights flashed around the Sikes Lake Center and the thump of the music reverberated through the performers’ and audience’s chests, the Soca Show kicked off the 21st annual Caribfest Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. As the members of the Caribbean Student Organization put the final touches on the colorful event, they said this brings home a little bit closer to campus and welcomes nonCaribbean students to observe and be a part of another culture. “Being far away from home, it was a great way to connect back to my country and to the Caribbean,” Chad Callender, accounting

freshman, said. “It was a great experience, it felt like home.” The Soca Show is an annual event that allows Caribbean students to write their own songs and music. Eleven student performances showcased original songs while four judges scored each performance. “The judges are alumni of the Caribbean Student Organization,” Giselle Crooke, accounting junior and CSO chair member, said. “They were chosen based on their backgrounds, so some have been in bands and some have been backup singers.” The judges were Rondell Campbell, Rerisha James, Klayne Tonlon and Nikki Hagley. The winner of the competition received a sponsorship from the alumni association.

“When I was in the top five, I was like ‘Okay, I’ll probably get fourth or fifth,’” Steven Williams, marketing freshman and Soca Show winner, said. “Then I got to the top two and I thought ‘Shoot, I’m about to win this.’ I wasn’t expecting it at all.” According to Williams, the event is a great way to build confidence in yourself and your musical ability. “The fact that people who never get the chance to show their musical ability get the chance to do it here,” Ray Roberts, history junior, said. “Sometimes you think you’re not good at something, then you try it and you realize that you can do it. I like how it gives people to express themselves musically.” All of the music and songs were originally

created. Performers wrote the lyrics and different DJs wrote the music to the song. “I practiced for about a week and a half,” Gareth Neckles, marketing freshman, said. “I didn’t have props or an intro video or anything, I just did it for fun and to add to the number of performers.” The Soca Show provides the opportunity for students to express themselves even if it’s not Soca music. “I love music, music is me,” Mikhail Salter, management information systems senior, said. “I’m not really a Soca artist. I do reggae and rap. Soca is not something I’m comfortable with, but I said that I will do my best anyway.”

14 | Oct. 10, 2018| PHOTO BY STEPHEN GOMEZ | THE WICHITAN

Students dancing at the Caribfest Parade Oct. 6, 2018. PHOTO BY BRADLEY WILSON | THE WICHITAN

Maryse Redhead, biology senior, paints people at the Caribfest Parade.

About 150 people watch Caribfest Parade STEPHEN GOMEZ REPORTER

efore the afternoon rains sent the people watching the culture show scrambling, about 150 people — many of them also attending Family Day events — watched the Caribfest Parade with just as many actually participating in the parade. Mariesam Isles, senior finance, said this was the second Caribfest she has been part of and was excited to see many other student organizations supporting and celebrating the tradition. As well, Isles said having such a large Dominica student presence helped comfort her as she came to the United States. “There was a lot of Caribbean representation, and it falls on Family Weekend so we always have a lot of spectators,” Isles said. “I was able to acclimate better because I knew a lot of the students here better.” With nearly 30 island nations in the Caribbean, different cultures are represented in this festival on the islands as well as on campus. With so many students from these various islands, the wide reach of the Caribbean cul-

✁

MSU student discounts $2 off any service USE CODE: 20221

tures was felt throughout the of different, but it’s exciting campus. to learn something new than “We have culture costumes, what you’re used to.” we have our gold rush where Kira Joseph, clinical lab sciwe have our silver paint,” Isles ences freshman, is also from said. “In Grenada, they do Jab Dominica and she said she enJab where they use black oil, joyed seeing other people share and we can’t use that here, so their culture with others. She that [the paint] is a substitute.” said the music, food and dancFor Ginelle Fontinelle, clining allowed every to let go and ical lab sciences freshman, her have fun, so it was incredible to first experience at the Caribfest see people having a great time MARIESAM ISLES on campus allowed her to see interacting with other people. FINANCE SENIOR the beauty in other cultures “We got the costumes, put similar to her own Dominican things in place, and got our culture. She said she was unfamiliar with the milk,” Joseph said. “The Soca Show was lit, gold body painting because that is not a part Dominica won, the Pageant show was also of the Dominican Caribfest tradition, how- lit—Dominica won, so we are sweeping everyever, she said she loved seeing the cultural ex- thing this year. Just enjoying it and having a pression from others. great time.” “We don’t have that, but it’s nice to see a One of the focuses for the Caribbean Stupart from your culture. It’s nice to see other dent Organization was to promote inclusion Caribbean people’s [culture],” Fontinelle and welcome different organizations into the said. “It’s what this is all about. It’s nice to see festival, and although she isn’t a part of the people in these types of clothes, and it’s kind CSO, Kenidee Cooper said she wanted to ex-

“I was able to acclimate better because I knew a lot of the students here better.”

perience the parade and enjoyed every bit of it. “I’m just American, but I decided to do this because it seemed fun,” Cooper said. “I want to see all the glitter and paint and everyone happy to see us. I know I’m not of the Caribbean descent, but they still are my people, so I want to learn how they do things, what goes on there.” Cooper said people were extremely welcoming and complimenting one another regardless of their familiarity with a part of the festival or not. She said it was a friendly vibe throughout the crowd. Before Caribfest ever started, Kam Tobin, one of the CSO chair members, helped supply many decorative costume pieces to various students, and the students wore their costumes with pride. According to Cooper, students had to supply their own swimsuit, but the CSO chairs bedazzled and jeweled participants swimsuits for them with the colors of choice to match their “beautiful pieces” like the feathered armbands and head jewelry.

Always hiring great stylists

| Oct. 10, 2018 | 15

CJ Johnson brings laughs to Family Day CHLOE PHILLIPS REPORTER

o entertain students and their families during Family Day Weekend and give them an opportunity to be the star of the show/experience being hypnotized, hypnotist CJ Johnson performed an hour long routine in Akin Auditorium. C.J. Johnson, who is a part of production company To Go Events, has been performing hypnosis shows on campus since the early 2000’s where he would do three or four shows a summer. “I bet this has been my 20th time here over the past 16 or 17 years. A bunch of those were clumped in those four summers of doing three or four shows during the summer and probably every other year, every third year I come up for family day,” Johnson said. Johnson’s favorite routine to perform is, the virtual reality show which he started incorporating into his performances in May. “I’m having fun with the virtual reality routine right now,” Johnson said. “It’s the newest thing in the show. It’s a nice chunk, it’s really gotten it’s legs and I’ve found all the beats that are in it. I’m gonna start add-

ing a couple of other beats in it. I got to work with one the best minds in the entertainment world on writing that bit. He really helped me so that’s kind of my favorite right now and that’s because it’s new since last may I think it’s when we put it in the show.” Family Day Weekend is an enjoyable experience for Johnson because he gets to see parents and students together. “I like family days because you get see the moms and dads. Most of the time it’s just the adults —like mom and dad age or grandma and grandpa age at casinos— or like at colleges where it’s just the college students. Getting to see everyone together having a mom on stage, making her son or daughter like ‘oh my gosh that’s my mom who’s up there!’ that’s awesome. That’s kind of fun, the parents getting to see a little bit about what college life is like out of the classroom, that’s also fun,” Johnson said. Armondo Rubio, mechanical engineering junior and resident assistant, did not have any family members visit but said the hypnosis was his favorite family day activity. “I’m actually an RA so we had to support all the activities that go on around campus. I

PHOTO BY JARED BRUNER | THE WICHITAN

Comedy Hypnotist C.J. Johnson has Ryan Acosta, radiology sophmore, believe he is Steve Erwin trying to catch a crocodile on Oct. 6 in Akin Auditorium. would say actually the hypnotist [was my favorite family day activity because] it was really interesting and really fun to see everything go on,” Rubio said. Mikayla Tyson, sociology freshman, who participated in the hypnosis routine and fully experienced the performance, said she brought what she referred to as her second family. “They’re not related to me, but they’re my

second family,” Tyson said. “They’ve taken care of me for like ever.” Like Johnson, Tyson said she also enjoys Family Day Weekend. “It’s definitely time to get together with your family and enjoy it for the weekend because you don’t get to see them as often and it’s definitely fulfilling and momental,” Tyson said.

Family Day brings in about 175 people despite the rain Despite the rain, about 175 students and their parents attended the Family Day tailgate on Oct. 6. From the sound of laughter, music and the food – discada, a mixed meat dish, jalapeño poppers, and sticky rice— the weather did not put a damper on the attendees moods. “I just think it’s really neat seeing families get together and them being able to hang out with their child. I just think it’s cool how they just sacrificially give their time to come and visit them just spend time with them. No [I don’t have any family members with me at the tailgate] but, just watching other families just having a good time is really encouraging.” | CINDY REYES, SENIOR, SOCIAL WORK “For those who stay far away, family day is a day where you can finally see your family and allow PHOTO BY JARED BRUNER | THE WICHITAN Tau Kappa Epsilon member Kyle Carpenter, me- them to see what fun your school has to offer.” | chanical engineering junior, and Gamma Phi Beta DANIELLE VEALS, SOPHOMORE, NURSING member Rachel Roberts, junior dental hygiene major, play cornhole at the Tau Kappa Epsilon “[What Family Day means to me is] great food, booth for the tailgate . like the one we’re eating right now, discada , and just hanging out with the community” | CALEB ACUNA, ALUMNI “It’s a time to include all of our families and just our lives here in Wichita Falls and just show off our school and all the fun events hat we get to do.”| EMMA KATE ACUNA, ALUMNI

“It’s a day where I kind of get my family what I’m doing in college and that’s really cool because I’m from Wichita Falls so my family gets to like help out in the tailgate and they cook the food so, just to share with my friends like ‘hey, this is my family’ and vice versa like ‘family these are friends’. So, the worlds kind of connect and it’s really cool just to share the tailgate and the football game with your family.”| LYDIA ACUNA, FRESHMAN, EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY “Family Day is a day where everyone just comes together even if you don’t have a family MSU is your family so, it’s just like celebrating each other. No [I don’t have any family visiting me for family day] but I have my friends so this is my family. For my freshman year, my family came then after that I was like ‘friends who don’t have family, let’s all go’.”| JULIA LUCAS, SENIOR, EDUCATION

PHOTO BY JARED BRUNER | THE WICHITAN

Lydia Acuña, freshman exercise physiology major, helps her dad, Poló, make discada for the Baptist Student Ministry booth at the tailgate.

16 | Oct. 10, 2018|

Mustangs fall to Lions ANGEL UKWITEGYETSE REPORTER

PHOTO BY JUSTIN MARQUART | THE WICHITAN

The MSU Prancettes dance on the field during half-time before the game was cancled for the football game against TAMU-C at Memorial Stadium on Oct. 6, 2018.

fter five consecutive wins, Mustangs received their first loss of the 2018 Lonestar Conference against Texas A&M Commerce Oct. 6. With the final score being 20-19, the one-point loss dropped their rank from fourth to twelfth according to the American Football Coaches’ Association. The storm that initially delayed the first half of the game at Memorial Stadium continued at halftime when the score was tied 10-10. Due to the continuous heavy rain and close lightning strikes another delay ensued, causing the game to be postponed 30 minutes and ultimately pushing it to the next day. Saturday’s game concluded Sunday, Oct. 7 at the Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas. Mustangs will go against Texas A&M, Kingsville this Saturday, Oct. 13 at Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas.

Lions defeat Mustangs

PHOTO BY BRITTNI VILANDRE | THE WICHITAN

As the mustangs hold their own against the 2018 NCAA champions, Texas A&M University- Commerce, wide-reciever Tyrique Edwards rises above the defenders to haul in a pass.

NATHAN MARTINEZ REPORTER

exas A&M University - Commerce volleyball defeat mustang volleyball 3-0 with set one scored at 15-25, set two scored at 23-25, and set three scored at 22-25. Tiara Wilson, exercise physiology sophomore, said the team could improve in its quickness to side-out when on defense and in coverage of hitters. “We needed to be quicker in stopping their [Commerce] runs,” Wilson said. “Commerce is a really good team and I’m just proud of how we competed against them. We can improve on finding the court with our shots and finding spots that are open. We knew where the shots were, we just needed to execute better.” Valerie Armstrong, head coach, said the team is young and it is improving each day, match by match. She said cleaning up errors will help the team win. “Commerce is ranked 22 in the country for a reason,” Armstrong said. “They have good discipline on their end and that’s the difference. Discipline and being in the right spot are key to this game. Overall execution and being more consistent with everything will help us, then we’re good. We’ll get there.” Tracy Glawe, spectator and father of setter Sarah Glawe, said the team fought hard for its points and didn’t give up.

PHOTO BY KRISTIN SILVA | THE WICHITAN

Raven Presley, engineering sophomore, attacks the set for a kill versus Texas A&M University - Commerce Oct. 9 in Ligon Coliseum.

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