April 19, 2024

Kolor run creates kodak moments

MSU meets preliminary HSI requirements

CECIL WITHERSPOON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MSU passed a major demographic milestone, as administrators say the school’s fulltime undergraduate enrollment is now 25% Hispanic. The school first crossed the threshold in fall of 2023. That number opens the path for MSU to become a HispanicServing Institution, a designation reserved for schools whose full-time undergrad enrollment is at least one quarter Hispanic students.

Provost Margaret Brown Marsden said the designation is important to MSU because it means the campus is reflective of broader shifts in demographics happening across the state and nation.

“So I think one of the things that it can mean is that our campus demographic can match what the

state of Texas is, right? So we see a large Hispanic population in the state of Texas, for us to be able to serve that Hispanic population is very important, to make sure everyone has access to education in that realm within representation of our state. And so HSI I think means a lot that it’s about representing the state of Texas,” Brown Marsden said.

There is typically about a twoyear wait for a school to receive federal recognition as a HSI due to a lag in data reporting.

Brown Marsden says now the focus is on what the pending designation means for the university.

“It takes some time to be recognized formally, but we were up til now, the only campus within the Texas Tech University System that was not an HSI. And now we, we’ve

hit the threshold for those student numbers and so now it’s, “What does that access?’” Brown Marsden said.

MSU joins over 500 other institutions nationwide in achieving the status. According to the United States Department of Education, over 4.6 million students were enrolled at HSIs in 2021. Over 2 million of those students are Hispanic, representing a growing demographic in America.

Vice President for enrollment management Keith Lamb said the number of HSIs that the Department of Education has already designated means MSU will have competition for the benefits.

“That’s the good news is it will open different grant funding opportunities that will benefit all students. What we’re seeing is an increasing number of schools are hitting HSI status, so now there’s increased competition for those grants. So it opens up a world of possibilities but we still have to put together good grant proposals and be competitive,” Lamb said.

Brown Marsden added that the benefits extend beyond just Hispanic students.

“From a campus standpoint also, what reaching HSI allows you to do is to apply for funds to support the infrastructure needed for that student population. But it also can uplift the entire campus too. So one of the things that campuses often try, you know, will do is once they reach that HSI status is to apply for some Department of Education grants to be able to support students in that way,” Brown Marsden said.

The designation opens additional funding doors to MSU, as HSIs can apply for some Department of Education grants that are not available to other universities.

Lamb said those dollars help all students, regardless of their ethnicity.

“The benefits are eligibility to apply for Title V grants. So Title V grants, we can apply for those for different student success initiatives, different initiatives that would support a Hispanicserving population, but the benefits translate to all students,” Lamb said, adding, “If we apply for a Title V grant to have certain academic support specialists or a certain student success center or something like that, every student would have access to it, not just students of Hispanic origin. Although it is the HSI designation that allows us to apply for those.”

Moving forward, MSU has to continue to monitor its student

demographics to ensure Hispanic enrollment does not drop back below 25%.

Brown Marsden said the school also has to have conversations about the designation that go beyond just money and grants, including a recent talk she had with the provost of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center.

“But also for him, he said it’s not just about the money, it’s about the meaning too. You know, what does that bring when you’re a Hispanic Serving Institution,” she said, adding “He talked about what they were doing there was, let’s not rush to the grant funding yet, let’s talk about what that means. And I think they’re trying to approach it thoughtfully, I see us doing the same thing.”

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN MSU is on track to become one of over 500 Hispanic Serving Institutions nationwide, April 18.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN MSU recently crossed the 25% threshold of Hispanic full-time undergraduate students required to initiate the roughly twoyear process of becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution, April 18.

SGA candidates discuss MSU impovements

GEORGE SVABODA MANAGING EDITOR

SGA executive office candidates shared their ideas on improving MSU’s quality of life at Tuesday’s forum.

Students are campaigning for president, vice president of internal affairs and vice president of external affairs.

Mechanical engineering sophomore Vincent Peter and political science sophomore Rory Rucker are running for president. Peter is presently the vice president of external affairs.

Peter and Rucker agreed that the main issues on campus are parking, dining and grading. Both focused on parking. Rucker also emphasized the importance of grading.

“It needs to be put in our syllabus and more baseline. Something that we can hold each other to because our syllabus are contracts,” Rucker said, later addressing parking, “We’re in the early stages of creating a bill for next year’s legislation, working together with administration to possibly have, like, multi-level parking stickers.”  Peter also addressed dining on campus, but elaborated on parking.

“That’s going to solve that issue that we want, in terms of parking. For example, we approached it with the current exec, but it was like ‘Hey, we can increase student fees and build a parking lot if everybody wants that,’” Peter said, continuing, “I also feel that the cafeteria is one of the issues that is shared mostly among all students. For that, I plan to continue working with the food committee.”

Theater sophomore Monique Watkins, music senior Gage Oliver and political science junior Fatema Merchant are running for vice president of internal affairs. Though Merchant could not attend the forum, she provided pre-recorded videos answering questions.

The three candidates described the importance of ensuring SGA remains transparent and is held accountable.

Oliver focused on the student body’s role.

“I think the best way to ensure transparency is just to have students more engaged,” Oliver said, later adding, “You don’t only need to go through your senator to have your voice heard. I think it’s very important for you to go and for you to speak on your own behalf as well.”

Watkins described her views on the position's role in maintaining transparency in SGA.

“I will lead by example, encouraging

honest and open collaboration, making sure ethical guidelines and behavioral expectations are outlined in advance, and holding each person accountable, including myself,” Watkins said.

Merchant centered on ensuring the student body knows what SGA is doing.

“What are the higher-ups saying? That should be translated down to the cabinet members and the senate. And, in fact, all the student body,” Merchant said.

Finally, computer science junior Fatima Marquez, psychology junior Brianna Vidal and biology sophomore Joshua de Waal are campaigning for vice president of external affairs. De Waal could not attend the forum. Marque is the current faculty-senate observer for SGA.

Marquez and Vidal highlighted their plans to increase student body engagement in SGA and the Wichita Falls community.

Vidal said she wants to bring more opportunities to work with the community to MSU students.

“I wish to expand our volunteer opportunities with local organizations. Also, host awareness campaigns and integrate service learning into academic courses. I will also support student-led initiatives and establish recognition programs for student contributions,” Vidal said.

Marquez mentioned having prior connections with city officials, especially in the Chamber of Commerce.

“I feel like just talking to more of our Wichita Falls leaders, knowing what they want to do, knowing what they want to work on. Seeing their plans and seeing their vision, I feel like we can collaborate and make events to help them, so they can also help us,” Marquez said.

SGA elections end on Friday, April 19 at 5 p.m.by reporting signs to the authorities.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Fatima Marquez, computer science junior, left, and Brianna Vidal, psychology junior, right, are candidates for vice president external affairs, April 16.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Gage Oliver, music education senior, left, and Monique Watkins, theater performance sophomore, right, are candidates for vice president internal affairs, April 16.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Rory Rucker, political science sophomore, is running for SGA president, April 16.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Vincent Peter, mechanical engineering sophomore, is running for SGA president, April 16.

PHOTO COUTESY OF FATEMA MERCHANT Fatema Merchant, political science junior, is a candidate for vice president internal affairs, March 21.

Mav's Day of Service: Students serve campus and community

MADISYN BUTLER REPORTER

Midwestern State University hosted its annual Maverick's Day of Service on Saturday, April 6. The Office of Student Leadership and Involvement coordinated with various non-profit organizations throughout the community for students to volunteer with.

Education senior Jacob Alvarado, who works at OSLI, helped to coordinate the event.

“This is just a service event that we do here on campus. It’s our big outreach to campus. It’s to get students integrated into the community through service,” Alvarado said.

OSLI works closely with various non-profits to give students the opportunity to work off campus for a few hours.

“We outreach to the different non-profit organizations around Wichita Falls so that our students can leave campus and just go integrate themselves,” Alvarado said, adding, “That’s what Mav’s Day of Service is all about.”

Maverick’s Day of Service helps students create connections within the campus and the community. Alvarado shared how beneficial the event is for students.

“The most beneficial part of it is seeing the students come out. And they sign up and most of the students here are excited to go,” Alvarado said, continuing, “This is a great time for people to make connections outside of MSU 'cause I feel like, as students, we’re kinda secluded to the four streets that we have but like leaving campus for downtown for whatever service is really helpful for students to just make connections.”  Volunteering in the community allows students to get involved and strengthen connections in the area. “It makes our reputation in Wichita Falls good cause we are the only university in Wichita Falls. Wichita Falls isn’t

humongous but it’s still a big enough community that I feel there is a disconnect between MSU and the greater Wichita Falls community. So I think, with Mav’s Day of Service, it’s like, oh these students, even though they aren’t from Wichita Falls, they still care about the community,” Alvarado said.

Alvarado described the need for students to connect with Wichita Falls.

"A lot of students, I feel, here at MSU, we’re kinda nervous to leave the four walls of MSU and once we leave MSU, we have to integrated into a community and this gives us a great opportunity to get out of our comfort zones," Alvarado said

Maverick’s Day of Service saw many students support various non-profits in the community. This included biology and chemistry senior Maggie Fleming and respiratory therapy freshman Laura Beth Bryant.

“My favorite part of Mav’s Day of Service is getting to see fellow student serving for a common goal and getting to work with people in other organizations that we don’t usually associate with,” Fleming said.

“I wanted to serve my community and give back to the people in my community,” Bryant said.

Both women volunteered at Sikes Lake, working to clean the trail and lake.

“I learned to get an appreciation for things that other people are doing as well, as like, parts of my community that I wasn’t aware of. Like seeing the lake be beautiful and clean again was something that I took for granted,” Fleming said.

Bryant had similar thought on how Maverick's Day of Service impacted the community.

“It allowed us to leave our campus better than we found it,” Bryant said.

Fleming and Bryant both believe volunteering is an important part of being involved and allows people to work

with others.

“Volunteering shows me that it can bring people and organizations together to work towards a common goal,” Bryant said, adding, “The most important part of volunteering is taking time to give back and serving my community.”

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Marketing sophomores Lelena Vaes, left, and Giulia Toffoli, right, clean windows at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art, April 5.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Dayshawn Littleton, criminal justice junior, left, and Austin Pencheon, mechanical engineer junior, right, pick up trash at Sikes Lake, April 5.

PHOTO BY MADISYN BUTLER | THE WICHITAN Students check in for service at the CSC atrium, April 5.

MSU from different views

PHOTO BY CECIL WITHERSPOON | THE WICHITAN The central plant has provided hot and cold water to the MSU campus for decades, April 3.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN MSU has an elaborate system of maintenance tunnnels running underneath much of the campus, April 3.

PHOTO BY CECIL WITHERSPOON | THE WICHITAN D.L. Ligon Coliseum housed graduation for many years, April 3. Graduation returned last semester.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN The Akin Audiorium was dedicated to J.W. and Nita Akin in 1984 , April 3.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN MSU built Legacy Dormitories in 2016, April 3. Legacy is split into living-learning programs, where students are housed by major.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN Wichita Falls Junior College became Hardin College in 1946, after becoming a senior college, April 3. In 1975, the name officially changed to Midwestern State.

PHOTO BY CECIL WITHERSPOON | THE WICHITAN Sikes Lake is the home of many student activities, including the boat race and Kolor Runs, April 3.

Eclipse underwhelms MSU students

CECIL WITHERSPOON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Students gathered in the Legacy Courtyard to witness a rare event of cosmic scale, as the moon eclipsed 95.8% of the sun, rendering a stunning effect and partial darkness across huge swaths of Texas and the nation.

Aleimi Flores, dental hygiene sophomore, said the eclipse left a lot to be desired.

“I’m kind of a little disappointed since we didn’t have the totality, like the total solar eclipse. So it just looked like an orange moon, not that pretty ring,” Flores said.

“I thought it was going to be cool. It really wasn’t,” David Linares, dental hygiene sophomore added.

Pie-A-GPhi brings donations

MADISYN BUTLER REPORTER

Gamma Phi Beta hosted Pie-a-GPhi, raising money for their philanthropic partners Girls On The Run. The organization provides mentors to young girls, supporting them into their teen years.

Gamma Phi Beta Social Media Chair and radiologic technology sophomore Molly Kinman shared more about the partnership.

“They are an after school organization that has volunteers come and guide and mentor girls ages seven-to-13 just about life skills, and help guide them,” Kinman said.

In order to help raise as much money as possible for the non-profit, Gamma Phi Beta started Moon Week this year. In edition to Pie-a-GPhi, the sorority also hosted several other events throughout the week. This included a fundraiser with Chili’s, Grilled Cheese with GPhiBs and street donations.

“We decided that we really just wanted to strive to help with Girls On The Run as much as we could and we planned out to do multiple events throughout the week to help support and raise more money,” Kinman siad

At the end of the week the sorority hosts its annual Moonball tournament.

“We just do Moonball. So normally we just do the tournament and it’s either a kickball tournament or a

volleyball tournament. We switch off every year,” Kinman stated. Not only is Moon Week about raising money for Girls On The Run, but it also aims to connect and support other Greek organizations.

“We've been really striving recently with Greek unity. Like, we supported APhi and SAE’s weeks that they had and they’re supporting us right back so it’s just a general support system that we’ve been striving for,” Kinman said, continuing “I think that it’s coming back in good ways.”

Overall, the sorority raised $200 for its philanthropic partner.

The Residence Housing Association hosted an event for students during the eclipse, offering free eclipse-viewing glasses and an eclipse doortag craft.

Art education junior and RHA Vice President Hailey Padhila said she was pleased with the turnout for the event.

“The solar eclipse only happens so often. We wanted to make sure students who live in the dorm had a chance to see it all in the flesh,” Padhila said, adding, “Really, really good turnout. It was a lot more than we anticipated.”

Despite positive reception to the event, the cosmic event decades in the making left some students unimpressed.

“It was very disappointing,” Linares said.

Pie-A-Sig-Kap focuses on philanthropy

SABRINA HARRISON REPORTER

Sigma Kappa held its Pie-a-Sig-Kap on April 16.

Pie-a-Sig-Kap was a fundraiser for the Sigma Kappa Pulse fund. Respiratory therapy freshman and Vice President of Philanthropic Service Laura Bryant explained the funds are not only used for Sigma Kappa members, but also to help victims of natural disasters.

"It’s used as an emergency fund for any Sigma Kappas who may need help, or that money could go to natural disasters in locations that are in need of any funding," Byrant explained.

But Pie-a-Sig-Kap is not the only event the sorority holds. Byrant explained that the sorority helps to keep trails in Hamilton Park clean and hold a walk to help raise awareness for alzheimers.

"So, every semester, three times a semester, we do a trail clean-up in Hamilton Park, and then every fall we participate in the ‘Walk to End Alzheimer's,’” Bryant said.

The sorority donates to five different philanthropies throughout the year. These philanthropies include the Sigma Kappa Foundation, Inherit the Earth, Gerontology, Maine Sea Coast Mission and Alzheimer’s disease.

”Every chapter donates to all of the same things,” Bryant said.

Sigma Kappa does not plan on hosting any other events this semester, but does already have plans for the fall semester.

"This is our last one for this semester, but in the fall we will be there will be an Alzheimer's walk,” Bryant said.

Despite being Bryant’s first year in the sorority, she explained that there were benefits to joining Sigma Kappa in its philanthropy efforts.

"It gives you so many fun opportunities and chances to do service and make friends,” Bryant said.

PHOTO BY SAM DIFIORE | THE WICHITAN Maya Yates, radiologic technology freshman, looks at the eclipse, April 8.

PHOTO BY GEORGE SVOBODA | THE WICHITAN The 2024 eclipse reached different levels of totality across the United States, Wichita Falls reached 95.8%, April 8.

PHOTO BY MADISYN BUTLER | THE WICHITAN Kalup Garcia, nursing junior, pies Emily Whilddon, sports and leisure junior, and Molly Kinman, radiologic technology sophomore, April 17.

PHOTO BY SABRINA HARRISON | THE WICHITAN Elijah Sharp, business management senior, pies Desirae Jackson, radiologic technology sophomore, Laura Bryant, respiratory care freshman, April 16.

Eclipse: The event of the century... from 2010

TIFFANY HAGGARD REPORTER

The year is 2010 and you’ve waited an eternity (a year) to re-immerse yourself in the event of the century, otherwise known as the most quintessential vampire-werewolf romance of the 21st century. Your feet ache from standing in the long line of sparkly skin and “Team Edward” vs “Team Jacob” preteens, and you anxiously await the two hour phenomenon about to take place.

You might be thinking to yourself, “I thought the event of the century was the

eclipse,” and you would be right, but you would also be wrong. The event of the century didn’t take place last week, but rather 14 years ago with the release of, “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.”

Some say the eclipse is a once in a lifetime experience, but I revisit it at least once every year, and I am never in danger of permanently damaging my eyes or losing vision.

I’m not here to step on any toes and say the natural phenomenon of the moon covering the sun for a few moments isn’t super cool, even though most people don’t get full coverage and did I mention it’s dangerous, but if that is your favorite eclipse - listen up, or at least

keep reading.

I’m going to give you four words: vampires, werewolves and true love. The entire Twilight franchise is a revolutionary and remarkable piece of work despite what the entire cast of all five movies may think.

“Eclipse” stands out from the other parts of the series, both in reading and watching, due mostly to its strong use of the love triangle trope. I can confidently say this saga makes for one of the best uses of the trope in romance today, and this film, especially, highlights the battle between the three characters.

While it is clear from the start that Bella and Edward have an undeniable chemistry, Stephanie Meyer, the author of the novels, splits fans apart by convincing us Jacob might have a chance with her. The battles and events that take place in “Eclipse” do a perfect job of leading us into the finale, “Breaking Dawn.”

I would like to take this opportunity to appeal to anyone who isn’t the targeted demographic for this kind of thing, which would be nobody in my opinion, and give you an irritable reason this movie is phenomenal: the soundtrack.

It is not often that a producer can take a good book, and make it any better by making it into a movie. In fact, they usually do the opposite. However, the Twilight movies include some of the best soundtracks in movie history.

My personal favorite song takes place in the first movie, amidst a baseball scene, making Twilight the only sports movie I’ve ever seen. Muse’s “Supermassive Black Hole” is such a fun and intense song on its own, but pairing it with some slow-motion vampire shots is pure gold.

The directors and producers for “Eclipse” recognized the beauty that Muse produces and included my second favorite song from the saga in this film. “Neutron Star Collision” was written and performed by Muse for “Eclipse,” and it was all the better for it.

The entire Twilight franchise is a revolutionary and remarkable piece of work despite what the entire cast of all five movies may think.

TIFFANY HAGGARD

Other songs such as “What Part of Whatever” by CeeLo Green and “My Love” by Sia contribute so much to the film, making it a timeless watch and landing it  a nomination for Best Soundtrack at the Grammys and the American Music Awards.

All in all, “The Twilight Saga” gets a lot of hate for being cheesy, but whether it's your guilty pleasure or your favorite film, it cleared a path for the world of romance and fantasy to break into the industry and earn its place on screen, both in television and film.

RATING: 5/5

PHOTO COURTESY OF KIMBERLEY FRENCH

The love triangle between the characters of Edward, Bella and Jacob was such a strong focal point in the series that Team Jacob and Team Edward shirts were sold in masses and worn to the premieres, Oct. 9, 2009.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT

"Eclipse" opened on Edward, played by Robert Pattison, and Bella, played by Kristen Stewart, in a field of flowers with Muse's "Neutron Star Collision," playing a soft piano melody in the background, June 23, 2010.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIONSGATE

The Twilight saga "Eclipse" premiered on June 24, 2010, and grossed almost $700 million in box office.

Oops I’m Crying Again : “The Joy Luck Club” Review

SABRINA HARRISON ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

There are very few films I have watched that have been extremely visceral experiences. “The Joy Luck Club” was one of those few.

“The Joy Luck Club” is a movie about four immigrant women, their stories and their daughters. It touches on the treachery and tribulations immigrants face in their home country and in the new country they immigrate to.

Alongside this, it covers the disconnect these women have with their daughters, who do not fully understand the good intentions their mothers brought with them to America.

The movie was directed by Wayne Wang and was adapted from Amy Tan’s book by the same name. “The Joy Luck Club” has a large cast made up of mainly Chinese actors, a rarity for Hollywood, especially in the 1990s.

Despite most movie adaptations of books being mere ghosts of the original material, this adaptation gets the main points across and delivers the same powerful message as the book.

The movie starts off with the narrator telling the story of a woman and a duck that

had stretched its neck in hopes of becoming a goose, but instead transformed into a swan.

With the swan, she sails to America and tells the swan of all the things she hopes for her daughter. She tells the swan that it would be a gift to her daughter because, much like the swan, her daughter will become more than the woman could ever hope for.

When she gets to America, the swan is ripped away from her by customs and all she is left with a single white swan feather.

Throughout the movie this story is retold, and with it comes the line, “This feather may look worthless, but it comes from afar and carries with it all my good intentions.”

“The Joy Luck Club” made me reflect on both my relationship with my mother and my culture.

It made me realize that there were a lot of things my mother has done that may have seemed worthless to me, but carried with them all of my mother’s good intentions.

The first time I watched this movie was during a film appreciation class.

I did not know much about the movie going into except that it was an epic about immigrants. If I had known that it was going to be a life changing experience, I would have at least brought tissues with me.

This movie was especially touching for me because I am the daughter of a woman who worked her tail off to move to the US from the Philippines.

Though the cast and the culture were not of the same background as me, I could still relate to them and the message of the movie.

In the daughters, who are Americanized and are disconnected with their culture, I saw myself and my cousins.

In the mothers, who sacrificed and wanted so much for their daughters, I saw my mother and my aunts.

I don’t know at what point during the movie I started hysterically sobbing, I just know that I did.

Throughout the movie, all I could think was, “I need to call my mom.”

When I finally messaged her and told her how much I appreciated everything she has ever done for me, she was surprised and worried about me.

Later, when I asked why, she said that none of us (my brothers and I) ever say things like that, so she was worried that something had happened to me.

This movie has opened my eyes and has given me a new perspective on my mother and my relationship. It has allowed me to fully understand why my mother cried when my family finished unpacking my dorm on my first day of college.

"In the daughters, who are Americanized and are disconnected with their culture, I saw myself and my cousins."

SABRINA HARRISON

There are very few movies that make me cry during them. There are even less that make me cry just thinking about them.

”The Joy Luck Club” is a near perfect movie that encapsulates the experience of Westernized children of immigrants in a way that is touching and relatable.

If you are looking to watch a movie in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month, I can not recommend this movie enough.

I give “The Joy Luck Club” 5/5 mustangs.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALBERT ORTEGA

Ming-Na Wen, Rosalind Chao, Lauren Tom and Tamlyn Tomita gather 30 years after the release of the film to celebrate on Dec. 20, 2023.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BUENA VISTA PICTURES

Waverly, played by Tamlyn Tomita, Lindo, played by Tsai Chin, Ying-Ying, played by France Nuyen and Lena, played by Lauren Tom in the first major studio movie with a female Asian American cast, "The Joy Luck Club," in 1993.

Opinion: Benny Blanco tries Jollibee

T

he

fine line

between criticism and disrespect

SABRINA HARRISON ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Watching Benny Blanco try Jollibee for the first time was comparable to sitting on a plane and having a small child kick your seat for the entire trip. Blanco is a music producer who has worked with artists like BTS, Snoop Dogg, Halsey, Ke$ha and Maroon 5. Notably, he is Selena Gomez’s newest boyfriend.

In February, Blanco posted a video that was barraged with negative comments.

The video was captioned, “my first time trying jollibee.” Jollibee is a Filipino fast food restaurant that has chains in both the U.S. and the Philippines. Though it’s mainly known for its chicken and gravy, Jollibee serves a variety of Filipino staples including adobo, Filipino spaghetti, palabok and even an ube hand pie.

The restaurant is a cultural staple for many Filipinos.

In the video, Blanco prefaces his review of the food with the fact that his stepmother is Filipino, therefore he has had really good Filipino food before.

He proceeds to be highly critical of the food without adding any substance to his critique.

The comments he makes are juvenile at best, stating that the adobo rice “tastes like butt.”

His comments about the spaghetti weren’t much better. As soon as he opened the container, he said, “This shit smells like fucking vomit.”

What Blanco said was disrespectful, but, as the old adage goes “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

What did hurt me was what Blanco did after trying the spaghetti.

As soon as he took a bite, he paused the camera, moved to get a better angle and then started the video again so that he could get a good shot of him spitting the food back into the original container.

I do not know how Blanco was raised, but I know for a fact my Filipino mother would have called me a disrespectful, ungrateful child for wasting food like that.

The highlight of the video was the comments. The top comment was left by @kristiiinaaaa15 and read, “benny your literal review about Jollibee is my literal review of you” with a single tear crying emoji.

My personal favorite comment was from @bronniesmom and simply states, “selena, run.”

Now some may argue that Blanco was brave for stating his opinion so honestly. Because Jollibee is such a well loved brand, Blanco’s opinion goes against the grain and challenges normality.

I would argue if Blanco is “brave” for this video that he posted, then every single picky child in the world is also “brave.”

Frankly, I found Blanco’s reaction to the food childish.

As kids, my brother and I went to the Philippines with our mother. My brother was five years old and I was nine. It is also important to note that both my brother and I are autistic and severely picky eaters.

Not once did we spit out the food that was given to us because even at our young age, we understood that that was disrespectful and rude.

Even when my family went to Jollibee’s in the Philippines and I was served a hamburger that was just meat and mayon-

COMMENT COURTESY OF @24BLANKMAN

Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao, better known as "Manny Pacquiao," is one of the greatest boxers in Filipino history.

COMMENT COURTESY OF @BRONNIESMOM

naise (which I can not stand) I took a few bites.

If two autistic children can understand how disrespectful it is to spit out food that is culturally important, I do not understand why a fully grown man cannot.

What Benny Blanco did was childish and overdramatic and I firmly believe that people are valid to be upset by it.

Yes, Blanco can have his opinions about the food, that is not what people are mad about. People are mad about the way he acted.

Disliking cultural foods is completely fine, but choosing to act childish and overdramatic about it is not appreciated.

Do not let the backlash Blanco faced when trying Jollibee scare you from trying new foods. Just be respectful and if you dislike something, dislike it with grace.

COMMENT COURTESY OF @KRISTIIINAAAA15

international

special-

Benny Blanco is dating Selena Gomez and fans of the singer questioned her choice in men.

The top comment on Blanco's video has almost 140,000 likes, almost two-thirds of the original video's likes.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BENNY BLANCO Benny Blanco is an award-winning music producer, working with artists like Selena Gomez and Justin Bieber, Nov. 23, 2020.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BENNY BLANCO

Benny Blanco tries Filipino spaghetti, Feb. 28. Jollibee is an

fast food chain,

izing in

The Wichitan’s Song of the Week: 'SUGAR, WE'RE GOIN DOWN'

JOSEPH ARTHUR REPORTER

Welcome back to the Wichitan’s Song of the Week. This week’s pick is “Sugar, We're Goin Down'' by American rock band Fall Out Boy.

First released April 15, 2005 as the lead single and the fourth track of their sophomore studio album, “From Under the Cork Tree,” “Sugar, We're Goin Down” is an expression of teenage angst, especially in terms of young love and teenage romance.

In the song, the band tells a narrative revolving around a protagonist who is grappling with the ups and downs of a romantic relationship. The song suggests a sense of urgency and excitement, hinting at the rush of emotions that comes with young love.

The band utilizes a lot of imagery and literary devices explaining the feeling of confusion and frustration that the protagonist is feeling in regards to the vulnerable nature of the relationship. The band composed the song to capture the rollercoaster of emotions that often accompanies teenage romance, making it a relatable and resonant song for many listeners.

Founded in Wilmette, Illinois, Fall Out Boy is an American rock band that consists of the four core members, lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer Andy Hurley.

The band is well known for several hits like “Sugar, We're Goin Down,” or “Dance, Dance,”

which won several awards, nominations and recognition.

"'Sugar, We're Goin Down' is an expression of teenage angst, especially in terms of young love and teenage romance."

JOSEPH ARTHUR

Fall Out Boy's early years are marked with relentless touring and self-promotion. They started their career under the band name Forget Me Not, but after a lot of internal conflict, the band changed its name to Fall Out Boy after a fan yelled it out at its second performance. Fall Out Boy is a direct reference to the sidekick of the Simpsons character, “Radioactive Man.”

They released their debut mini-album, "Fall Out Boy's Evening Out with Your Girlfriend," in 2003, followed by their first full-length album, "Take This to Your Grave," later that same year. These releases gained them a loyal fan base within the emo and pop punk scenes. Fall Out Boy's breakthrough came with their second studio album, "From Under the Cork Tree," released in 2005. The album resulted in several hit singles, including

"Sugar, We're Goin Down" and "Dance, Dance," which was extremely well received on music channels like MTV and catapulted the band to mainstream success.

Following the success of "From Under the Cork Tree," Fall Out Boy continued to rise in fame with subsequent albums like "Infinity on High" (2007) and "Folie à Deux" (2008).

Fall Out Boy started to tour extensively, headlining major concerts, festivals and arenas around the world, solidifying their status and identity as one of the leading bands in the pop punk & emo genre.

After a brief hiatus starting in 2009, Fall Out Boy reunited in 2013 and released their fifth studio album, "Save Rock and Roll." They shifted from their previous sound and started incorporating elements of pop and electronic music while still keeping their trademark intensity.

Throughout their career, Fall Out Boy has faced criticism from some fans within the punk community who accused them of  “selling out” or “abandoning their roots.” However, their enduring popularity and influence on contemporary rock music cannot be denied, and they remain beloved by fans around the world.

“Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” is my favorite song from the album and from Fall Out Boy’s entire discography.

In “Sugar, We’re Goin Down,” the band expresses lead vocalist Patrick Stump's experiences with teenage angst and relationships. The lyrics give listeners a narrative of frustration, anger but also of love and longing, using imagery of metaphorical decay and downfall.

The song has been interpreted in various ways with some people seeing it as a commentary on the struggles of communication and connection in teenage relationships, while others view it as a reflection on the challenges of growing up and navigating the complexities of being a teenager.

In terms of musical influences, Fall Out Boy drew inspiration from the pop-punk and emo genres, blending catchy hooks with thought provoking lyrics. Bands like Green Day, Blink-182 and The Get Up Kids influenced the song.

Additionally, the band's own experiences and musical experimentation played a role in shaping the song's unique style. "Sugar, We're Goin Down," is a testament of the band's artistic vision and personal experiences and their commitment to resonate with their audience.

As stated in previous editions of the Song of the Week, lyricism is an important aspect

of any song and Fall Out Boy understood that when writing “Sugar, We’re Goin Down.” In the song, they utilize personal memories, metaphor and pathos to narrate Stump's experiences with teenage angst and relationships. My favorite lyric in the entire song is:

"We're going down, down in an earlier round

And sugar, we're going down swinging

I'll be your number one with a bullet a loaded god complex, cock it and pull it."

Overall, “Sugar, We’re Goin Down” resonates with audiences for its catchy melody, emotional lyrics, and relatable themes, cementing Fall Out Boy’s place in the poppunk scene of the mid-2000s. It is a testament of the band’s identity and commitment to push powerful themes through music. The song is a great listen with a powerful message.

RATING: 5/5

PHOTO COURTESY OF FALL

PHOTO COURTESY OF FALL OUT BOY Lead guitarist and backing vocalist Joe Trohman performs in Grand Rapids, Mich., March 27.

Cortez awarded LSC honor

JESSICA BINZARI REPORTER

Psychology sophomore Catalina Cortez marked her spot on the women’s basketball team this year as one of the top players during her first year competing for MSU.

During her freshman year, Cortez played for Mary Hardin Baylor University where she was named to the All-American Southwest Conference Freshman Team. In her transition to Midwestern, Cortez mentions she was surrounded by leaders from coaches to senior players who had more knowledge of the game and more experience playing at this level. For Cortez, this presented an opportunity for her to grow and challenge herself not only as a player, but also as a leader.

“I came in not really knowing what my role was going to be,” Cortez said, “ I knew what I was recruited to do, but I knew I was an underclassman and I had a lot of Seniors above me. And from my position we had a senior who the coach has played with and trusted for a long time, so I was expecting to come in and learn from her.”

However, Cortez had to adjust quickly after an unexpected roster change put her in a tough position.

“About a couple weeks into the preseason our starting senior point-guard, she was a fifth year using her COVID year, quit. And so, I was really thrusted into a role of leadership,” Cortez said.

Cortez did not back down from the challenge, instead embraced her new role as the Mustangs’ starting point-guard.

As she puts it, “I knew I could come in and make an immediate impact and I did.”

One of the best matches the Mustangs have played this season, according to Cortez, was its away game against

Angelo State in February where the Maroon and Gold bested the Rambelles 75-73.

“Angelo State is a very good team, and no one expected us to win that game,” Cortez remembers, “but we showed that... what matters is your heart and how bad you want to win.”

What makes Cortez an outstanding leader is her dedication to the sport and her team. The home game against Cameron in December represented a “break-out” moment for Cortez, leading the Mustangs to a memorable victory against the Aggies. After her performance, Cortez received recognition as LSC’s Defensive Player of the Week.

“I help guide my team and lead them in the right direction as well as myself and just having standards outside of basketball and putting in extra work. I think it helps my teammates when they see a leader going the extra mile and it pushes them to do that too,” Cortez said.

While she was trying to present herself more as a leader for her team, there was a point during the season where Cortez was having a hard time believing in her game.

“I was recruited to be a shooter and my percentage wasn’t where I wanted it to be so my confidence got really low, and I just started questioning if I could do it,” Cortez said.

Head Coach Brenita Jackson played a substantial role in helping Cortez regain her self-confidence helping her solidify the connection within the team.

“Coach Jackson never once told me, 'we’re going to stop playing you as much because I don’t think you can do it,' she is always supportive, she’s never going to stop believing in you, so you will never stop believing in yourself.” Cortez says, “I started to see improvements toward the end of the season and that was encouraging.

Next year, Cortez plans to take her leadership role one step further, as they will be almost completely rebuilding their team. With most of this year’s players not returning, Cortez,

along with criminal justice junior Zarria Carter and criminal justice sophomore Zionna Barbee will have to set the standard for the incoming set of players.

With the Mustangs transitioning to almost entirely new format, Cortez has big plans for the upcoming season.

“The biggest goal I have is winning the conference tournament,” Cortez said, “We’ve talked about not only making an impact in the Lone Star Conference but on a national level as well. We want to make the national tournament and get as far as we can.”

To achieve these goals, Cortez says everybody will need to put in a lot of hard work and commit to each other as teammates.

“We have a bunch of new girls coming in and the four that we have here will have to set the culture and teach the new ones the standards that the coach has, and I think it’s just going to take a buy in from each individual person on the team,” Cortez said.

With Cortez presenting herself as a resilient leader, the sophomore is looking to carry this momentum into her junior year, where strong leadership will deliver the right message to help the team achieve success.

PHOTO BY SAM DIFIORE | THE WICHITAN Catalina Cortez (11) looks for an open player to pass to, Feb. 24.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATALINA CORTEZ Catalina Cortez received recognition as LSC's Defensive Player of the Week, 2023.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CATALINA CORTEZ Catalina Cortez practices dribbling as her dad defends her, 2012.

Outstanding athlete receives top award

HANK GREATHOUSE REPORTER

In the realm of collegiate soccer, Mere Escobar's name is synonymous with excellence.

Hailing from the vibrant city of Austin, Texas, Escobar has etched his name in the annals of Midwestern State University sports history, becoming the first MSU student-athlete to achieve National Player of the Year status. His journey to this pinnacle of success has been nothing short of extraordinary.

Standing at a modest 5-foot-9, Escobar's stature belies his immense talent on the field.

As a forward/midfielder for the Mustangs, he has dazzled fans and opponents alike with his crafty footwork and goal-scoring prowess.

This season, Escobar emerged as the leading goal scorer in the Lone Star Conference (LSC), finding the back of the net 17 times and ranking fifth in the nation in goals scored.

But Escobar's impact extends beyond mere goal-scoring. His ability to create opportunities for his teammates has been equally impressive, leading the conference and ranking seventh nationally with 13 assists. In total, Escobar amassed an impressive 47 points, finishing one point shy of the national leader.

His contributions to the MSU soccer program are reflected in the record books. With 44 goals, 24 assists and 112 points over three seasons, Escobar stands as the Division II leader in MSU history and sixth overall in career goals. He is also tied for second among players in the Division II era in career assists.

“It means a lot, and receiving these accolades is an honor,” Escobar said after winning the award, adding “I’ve put in a lot of work behind the scenes, and it’s paying off. There is always more work to be done; next year, we will return and aim to win the national title, which is our ultimate goal.”

Escobar's achievements have not gone unnoticed by the soccer community. He has earned First-Team All-American honors, marking a significant milestone in his collegiate career. Additionally, his stellar performance has garnered him recognition on the United Soccer Coaches All-South Central Region team for the third consecutive year.

As Escobar continues to leave his mark on the soccer world, his legacy at MSU will be remembered for years to come. With each goal scored and record broken, he exemplifies the spirit of excellence and determination that defines the Mustangs' soccer program. Escobar is not just a player, he is a symbol of inspiration and success, inspiring future generations of athletes to strive for greatness on and off the field.

Escobar wishes to continue playing soccer well after graduating and believes there is always more room for improvement.

“I plan to continue after graduation, so there is always more room for progress and more work,” Escobar said.

Escobar's dedication to his craft extends far beyond the field. He is not only a remarkable athlete but also a dedicated student and leader in the community. His dedication to the community and to the athletic program at MSU was rewarded.

This year at the athletic banquet Escobar received the Marie Morgan award, an award that is given to the most outstanding studentathlete for their efforts on behalf of their team or the programs they are involved in and their involvement in the community. Throughout his time at MSU, Escobar has been actively involved in various outreach programs, using his platform to make a positive impact on the lives of others.

Whether it is mentoring young aspiring soccer players or volunteering at local charities, Escobar remains committed to giving back to the community that has supported him throughout his journey. His humility and genuine passion for helping others has endeared him to fans both on and off the field.

As he prepares to embark on the next chapter of his soccer career, he does so with a sense of gratitude and determination. With his unwavering work ethic and relentless drive for success, there is no doubt that Escobar will continue to make waves in the world of soccer for years to come.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN

The MSU men's soccer team finished No. 8 in the nation, Nov. 12, 2023.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Mere Escobar (11) battles for the ball, Nov. 1, 2023.

Tennis star talks Marie Morgan award

ABBY TURNER SPORTS EDITOR

Psychology junior Anda Ghinga is a shining example of the most outstanding student athletes that MSU has to offer.

As a recipient of the 2024 Marie Morgan Award, Ghinga has been recognized for not only setting a stellar example as a student athlete but also for having exemplary participation in the community.

Ghinga is an international student from Arad, Romania. She came to MSU after having a meeting with head coach Scott Linn. Afterward, she knew MSU was the place for her.

“Honestly, it was mostly the conversation with Coach. He was very open and very excited, and I kind of feel, like, wanted, like this person is like we are going to make great things together. So far it has been right,” Ghinga said.

Ghinga is the first tennis player on either the men's or women's teams to receive the award since the year 2019.

This award is one of the highest honors an athlete can receive at MSU, so it stands that all athletes hope to earn it.

All year the award has been the talk amongst all of the MSU athletes, all year. With everyone vying to be the winner of the prestigious award, Ghinga was shocked to hear her name called.

"I’m grateful for my teammates, and for coach, and definitely my parents. They made everything possible."

ANDA GHINGA

“I was in shock, so my teammates had to tell me, ‘like you have to go up there,’ because I was like, ‘I don’t know what to do.’ So it’s an award that everyone is talking about, in the athletics department, so I didn’t think it would be me so it was amazing,” Ghinga said.

Part of receiving the Morgan Award is the time the athlete

has put into the community on behalf of MSU. Head coach Scott Linn prides himself in the amount of community service hours his team puts in during the offseason.

“So we do a lot of work with the Humane Society, like with the dogs, we feed them, we walk them, we clean everything. We did a lot of Read to Learn. I love that one, it’s great to read with the kids, and everything. Then we work a lot of the athletic events for other teams,” Ghinga said.

Ghinga plays singles (17-1), and doubles teams (10-7). The women’s tennis team is ranked No. 4 in the nation in Division II collegiate tennis. Ghinga is confident in her skills as a tennis player and trusts her team.

“I would say something that has been working for me would be the team, Everyone’s like I’ve said it before and this is true, like everyone has a sense of responsibility. It makes it easier. I don’t have to worry about my teammates right? Because I know that they are going to hit extra, they are going to do their job and everything so that allows me to focus a bit more on myself and that's amazing,” Ghinga said.

Ghinga has played tennis since she was young. It was something her dad picked up. As her dad got more into the sport, so did Ghinga, and he coached her throughout her childhood.

After graduating, Ghinga plans to stick around MSU and pursue her master's.

“I’m staying after college. I am doing my masters here, and then I do want to play some tournaments, but I also really want to become a counselor,” Ghinga said, adding, “I’m still debating. I'm not sure which way I’m going to go yet.”

While Ghinga may still be debating on what her plans for the future are, she is still focusing on the current tennis season and how to progress moving forward. Winning the Morgan Award has not deterred Ghinga from finishing the season strong, for her community, her team, herself, and her coaches.

“I just want to make sure that the community, like people around here and everyone, knows we’re grateful for their support. And honestly, I’m grateful for my teammates, and for coach, and definitely my parents. They made everything possible,” Ghinga said.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Ghinga practices for the teams next tournament, April 17.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Ghinga hits the ball during the team practice, April 17.

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE GARCIA | THE WICHITAN Ghinga prepares to volley back to her teammate, April 17.

Kolor run unites community

PHOTO BY DONOVAN JACKSON | THE WICHITAN Wichita Falls community members toss colored powder before the run starts, April 11. The Kolor Run is a fundraiser for the Children's Aid Society of Wichita Falls.

PHOTO BY DONOVAN JACKSON | THE WICHITAN Lauren Fields, psychology sophomore, races in the Kolor Run, April 11.

PHOTO BY DONOVAN JACKSON | THE WICHITAN Students get colored powder thrown at them during the run, April 11.

PHOTO BY DONOVAN JACKSON | THE WICHITAN A participant runs around the lake three times, totaling three miles, April 11.

PHOTO BY DONOVAN JACKSON | THE WICHITAN The Wichita Falls community comes to Sikes Lake to participate in the Kolor Run, April 11.