2011-12-01

The East Texan STUDENT NE WSPAPER OF TE X AS A& M UNIVERSIT Y- COMMERCE SINCE 1915

XCVI, No. 11, 8 pages

www.theeasttexan.com

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

FREE! TAKE ONE ADDITIONAL COPIES 25 CENTS

campus Page 4 and 5

Both the Thai Student and India Student Associations brough different cultures to campus with their celebration events, and the Art Club is hosting a scavenger hunt.

entertainment Page 6

The Muppets are out with another movie, and we have the review. We also looked at the third installment of ‘Saints Row,’ and we have our last Fromage of the year.

sports Page 7 and 8

We have all of the basketball action from the Thanksgiving break. Also, women’s soccer player Jade Bell tells us about her journey across the pond to Commerce.

University partners with Woodrow HS in tutor program Staff Writer Leah Allen Texas A&M University-Commerce and the Woodrow Wilson High School Community Foundation are partnering to promote academic success for high school students and bring awareness to the university with the assistance of the Honors College.

Dean of the Honors College Dr. Raymond Green was in the initial meeting with A&M-Commerce president Dr. Dan Jones, Dallas ISD Trustee Mike Morath, and president of the Woodrow Wilson High School Community Foundation Richard Vitale to discuss how the program would be beneficial to the university.

The cooperation program is focused to

reach out to high school freshmen and sophomores.

“We have specific needs for students that have been recommended for tutoring,” Program Development Specialist for Woodrow Wilson HS and International Baccalaureate (IB) coordinator Dr. Kathy Scherler said. “Teachers have assigned students that are at risk.”

Green said he believes the program will be very beneficial for A&M-Commerce and the three honors students participating – sophomores Jesse Jackson, Mayra Ramirez, and Meredith Shaw. He said it will give them real world experience in teaching kids on an urban campus while helping them fulfill their required 32 hours of community service.

He also said that sending college students

Drought conditions not a problem for university Staff Writer Josh Stoltenberg Despite the near recordsetting temperatures over the summer in North Texas and the lack of precipitation, there are no problems with the current water supply at Texas A&M University-Commerce.

According to the Facilities Department of A&MCommerce, the main water source for the university is well water. While the university does draw some of its water from the city, the main source of well water is not affected nearly as bad by the lack of rain as ground water sources like lakes are.

The Facilities Department says, however, that they do maintain the same level of drought consciousness as the city.

The city of Commerce is currently in a Stage 1 drought, which entails public awareness but no restrictions on water usage. If the drought reaches Stage 2, then the city may start placing restrictions on when residents can water their yards, wash their cars and other activities that involve runoff.

According to the City of Commerce’s Water Conservation and Drought

Contingency Plan, “The City will recognize that a mild water shortage condition (Stage 1) exists when (1) the water level in Lake Tawakoni drops below 432.5’ (above sea level), or (2) the Palmer Drought Severity Index reaches -2 to -3 ‘moderate drought’, or (3) the Sabine River Authority has initiated a mild drought under its own drought contingency plan.”

Commerce gets its water from Lake Tawakoni by buying it from the Sabine River Authority.

“We’ve been in a Stage 1 drought for about 6 weeks now,” City Manager Marc Clayton said. “Lake Tawakoni is sitting at 430.28 feet, and when it reaches 430 feet, we move into a Stage 2 drought, so we’re very close.

In order for us to get out of Stage 1, Lake Tawakoni would have to rise above the 432.5’ mark.”

Commerce’s Drought Contingency Plan also says, “The City will recognize that a moderate water shortage condition (Stage 2) exists when (1) water production reaches 3,100,000 GPD (gallons per day) for 5 consecutive days, or (2) the elevated storage has not completely refilled for 3 consecutive days.”

to Woodrow Wilson High School is the best way of bringing high school students to A&M-Commerce.

“I think the best sales people for college are the college students,” he said. “I firmly believe it will bring high quality students to our campus.”

Scherler said she is confident the experience for the high school students will go a long way toward convincing them that attending college is an achievable and rewarding goal. “(The high school students) will have contact with bright college students,” Scherler, an A&M-Commerce alumna who recently sat down and met with the volunteers, said.

“We hope to prove to them college is very worthwhile.”

The alumni association will cover the cost of gas for the three individuals to transport to Dallas every other weekend for the tutoring sessions.

Green hopes this will broaden the name of A&M-Commerce and encourage similar agreements with other area high schools.

Scherler and Green both said that the program will begin as soon as complete approval is made from the Dallas Independent School District. Scherler said when that happens they hope to have around 45 high school students attending every other Saturday when the tutoring sessions are held.

“It speaks highly of the university that they’re willing to help students’ academic achievement at the high school level,” Scherler said.

Holiday season approaches

chancellor mills / the east texan The front desk at the Rayburn Student Center has received a Christmas makeover to coicide with the start of the holiday season. Students will also see lighted Christmas trees surrounding Gee Lake within the next week as the Fall semester winds down.

Carlos visits campus on national book tour Editor Adam Troxtell Former East Texas State track star and civil rights icon John Carlos was on campus, Nov. 8, promoting his new book, “The John Carlos Story.”

Carlos, who attended East Texas State from 1966-67, is famous for putting up his fist as a symbol for black power after he and fellow USA teammate Tommie Smith won bronze and gold, respectively, in the 200 meters race at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. His book, co-authored by Dave Zirin, focuses on that event, what lead up to it, and how it has remained one of the most iconic images of the civil rights era.

“I can’t tell you how much it means to be back at Texas A&M-Commerce, also known in John’s history as East Texas State University,” Zirin said. “Having been able to speak with John and talk with John and know how critical this campus was and this community was in his own political development, it just means so much to have this be a part of our trip.”

Zirin said the scene of Carlos and

Smith with their fists raised still evokes a response from people today, and that is a major part of why the book was published.

“That image of two people at the olympics doing the most positively inappropriate thing that they can do at that moment, knowing there would be hell to pay but not caring because they had a bigger thought and a bigger principle in mind, that’s something that I think is still hypnotic to people. Why does it still matter? People want to know about that image. One of the things we’re trying to get across in this book is that it’s an amazing moment; but, it wasn’t just a moment. It was a movement.”

Carlos also spoke of how great it felt to return to a place where he made many great friends, both black and white and how it shaped his mindset before his actions in Mexico City.

“It’s a great honor and a pleasure and a blessing for me to be back here at East Texas State University, the city of Commerce, and the new name of Texas A&M University-Commerce,” Carlos said. “A lot of people got upset and confused about this fist. This fist was like ground zero today. It was to

say with this unified force, we can do something.”

His time at A&M-Commerce was, while short lived, filled with memories.

Carlos talked about his first impressions of Texas when he met his East Texas State coach in Dallas.

“I never thought about Texas being part of the south,” he said. “I remember getting off the plan and seeing a sign that said ‘whites only’ on one side of the aisle. Then I remember my coach calling be ‘boy.’ Do you know what it is like to be next to your wife and kids and be called ‘boy?’ Then he called me ‘negro’, which is a term I had never heard before.

But, it sounded a whole lot like the other word and I started to get up. My wife put her hand on my leg and told me ‘he didn’t say that, it’s alright.’”

Carlos wrapped up his talk with a message for all of the students and faculty present based on his actions in 1968.

“You are going to have major crossroads in your life,” he said. “When you make a crossroads decision, it’s not a partial decision. You think Gandhi didn’t know someone was going to kill him? He made a total decision.”

danae blessing / The east texan Former track star and civil rights icon John Carlos watches a short film before addressing the crowd. Carlos attended East Texas State in 1966-67.

Page 2

OPINION

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

www.theeasttexan.com

College an opportunity to explore life itself Drivers should practice

Opinion Editor Savannah Christian As a senior here at Texas A&M University-Commerce, I am experiencing many “lasts:” my last time to schedule an exciting, new batch of classes, my last Chi Omega formal, my last course of one of my majors, etc. Nearing the end of my college career, I can peacefully say that I have no regrets from my time at this university, but I want to do what I can to ensure that as many of our readers feel the same as I do when they reach their graduation.

When I came to Commerce, I was terrified. For the first time in my life, I wasn’t with the same people from the same town I had been

in all of my life. I was still the same outgoing, social butterfly who didn’t have a shy bone in her body, but for some reason I was scared.

The thought of going to class (assuming I could find it) and not knowing anyone around me made me cringe.

Looking back now, it seems quite stupid. This campus isn’t THAT big and I have never had a class in which I did not make friends.

But, at the time, I was a scared little fishy that had been tossed into the ocean of life to fend for myself, and I was not happy about it.

After sulking for a little while, I grew tired of feeling worthless and helpless and decided to get my act together.

I met fellow members of the Honors College that surrounded me in my new habitat; I joined various organizations, which both kept me busy and made me feel like I was actually doing something meaningful. I got a job (that turned into multiple jobs), which taught me responsibility and reward.

Most importantly, I had fun.

I put myself out into the collegiate world and immersed myself in activity.

Everyone always told me

that my freshman year of college would be the hardest, most exciting year of my time spent in college, and I made sure to prove that true.

However, after that freshman year there are a few more to come. For me it was only two more years since I am graduating one year early, but for many it will be three or four or who knows how many. The initial goal is to get involved and make sure that you are doing something other than going to class, studying and sleeping, but after that step you have to make sure you stay involved.

It is easy to join organizations or get a job, but keeping up with them is the real chore.

More times than I can count I have heard people say, “I can’t join this or I can’t do that because I am just too busy.” After that statement, they proceed to tell me that they are in 15 hours of classes and all they do is go to class and study and sleep.

Seriously? Give me a break.

That is the sorriest excuse for laziness around. If I am in 19 hours, including an honors course, working more than one job, involved in multiple clubs and holding executive positions in

two of them, I feel sure you can drag your feet a little less.

I didn’t just tell all of you part of my resume to brag, I told you because sometimes personal testimony is the only motivation that works. I was recently asked if I had gotten everything I wanted to get out of college or if there were still things missing. There will always be more things I wish I could have done, because that is the person I am. However, there is only so much one person can do in a threeyear college experience.

At the end of the day, I am happy about my successes, failures, experiences and lessons learned. I could have easily been that hermit that did nothing but scholastic work, but that is no way to live. I am one of the most academic-oriented, nerdy people you will ever come across, but there is more to the world than books and A’s. Don’t let yourself be full of regret when you sit in that forever-long graduation ceremony or 20 years down the road when you watch your own child live out their college dreams.

Editorial: ‘Feast Texan’ a chance to show we do care This year, we decided to help our community in a different way by sponsoring a canned food drive, called The Feast Texan. Every holiday season we do stories and get press releases about charity drives and service projects, so it was time to go beyond writing about them and actually try and do one.

A few weeks ago, we put boxes out by a few of our racks that, we estimated, the most students and faculty go by during their daily routine. Unfortunately, the response we got was not as strong as we would have liked. So, we’re leaving the boxes out until the end of next week in hopes of getting more food to donate to Fish Hunt County Shared Ministries, a charity organization that provides to the needy year-round.

This is a chance for students to really show how much they can impact the community is a positive way.

CHANCELLOR MILLS / THE EAST TEXAN

patience while driving

Sports Editor Justin Cheatham The phrase “It could have been me” is something people throw around a little too often nowadays, but last night on Culver Street I witnessed a car accident that, had I been impatient, would have landed me in the repair shop, if not the hospital.

I was leaving the gas station and there was a truck also turning left from the side street onto Culver. There were cars coming from both directions and I knew that I would have to punch the accelerator just to make it to the median before waiting to actually get onto the street, so I decided to wait patiently. The truck next to me decided to go for it at the exact time that a car was entering median to make a left turn towards the church and the two met with immense force.

The wreck did not stop there; the car that struck the truck then rolled out into traffic coming the opposite direction and was hit again. Now I don’t know if the car failed to signal but it was definitely going over the posted speed limit of 35 miles per hour and so was the car coming from the opposite direction.

I’m not trying to place blame on anyone involved; that is for the insurance

company to do, but I am saying that a little more patience on all parties involved would have lessened the severity of the accident if not avoided it altogether.

This time of year, with inclement weather right around the corner, it is extremely important for drivers to have more patience in their driving. Saving a couple minutes is not worth the risk. When we are on the road we need to realize that we are driving several thousand pounds of metal, glass, and combustible fluids at terrifying speeds. I am not immune to the rush of everyday life pressuring me to just speed a little or pass the car going just under the speed limit, but I have also heard hundreds of horror stories from my veteran Dallas firefighter father.

Patience is something that must be learned with age, like wisdom. In our youths we rush and rush to do everything because we have the notion that it will save valuable seconds that we can put toward something more important than waiting. Have you ever wondered why old people move at a glacial pace?

It is because they have finally realized that saving seconds or even minutes account for more stress, and more stress leads to errors and accidents.

This winter please slow down, wait a little more and focus on driving when you are in the car. As the weather worsens remember that Texas drivers are notorious for freaking out over an inch of snow and that, wile you may be Mario Andretti, we are surrounded by morons hell bent on changing lanes without looking or signaling, cutting you off, speeding and pulling out in front of you.

Advancing techonology encourages cowardice as it creates a veil for controversy to hide behind Opinion Editor Savannah Christian If you asked any of my friends or family, especially my better half, what my sentiments are toward social media, you would quickly learn that I indulge in social media sites daily. I keep up with the world through the various media apps on my phone.

I enjoy seeing pictures of old friends as I scroll through Facebook, and I follow various media and publications on Twitter to get quick links to articles and news teasers. I thoroughly enjoy the information I can easily access when I peruse these sites and applications in my spare time. Well, I enjoy all of the information sans ridiculous drama.

It is my opinion after years of observation that through websites such as Facebook and Twitter, cowards are being bred. For ages, people have been hiding behind whatever they can find in order to avoid good, old fashioned, face-to-face confron-

tation. Used to, one would simply have to physically avoid another in order to dodge the bullet of personal conversation. However, today all you have to do is log on to your social media site of choice and a riot can be instantly started with just a few simple key strokes.

My question is, what happened to the days when you walked up to the person you had a problem with and sorted it out like adults righ tthen and there? What happened to courage and maturity? It doesn’t take fighting or profanity to solve a problem - it just takes sanity.

I will admit that, like many women, I am not big on confrontation. It has nothing to do with being intimidated by the opposite sex or any of that nonsense; I just like for everyone to be happy and would, therefore, rather avoid issues, sweep them aside and forget them. There are times when I would rather bite my tongue and let something slide than deal with the drama that seems

The East Texan, official student newspaper of Texas A&M University-Commerce, is published 12 times per semester during the Fall and Spring by students in reporting and editing classes. Content is solely the responsibility of the student editors and writers. The comments and views expressed in The East Texan do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of other students, staff, faculty, administration, or the Board of Trustees. The East Texan is located inside the Journalism building on the east side of campus in room 113.

Single copies are available in Journalism 113 for an additional 25 cents.

Letters to the editor are welcome and should be limited to 250 words. They will not be edited for spelling, grammar and libelous or malicious statements. We reserve the right to refuse publication. Letters should be typed or e-mailed and must include a signature, legal name, classification (grade level) and telephone number. Mailing address is The East Texan, P.O. Box 4104 Commerce, Texas 75428.

to

follow confrontation.

However, I was once told by a very wise person that I needed to “channel my inner bitch” and figure out how to handle things so that I do not get walked on for the rest of my life. With that, I have learned that in being an adult I must handle my issues myself in the most efficient and professional manner possible. I am sad to say that, at 20 years of age, I have realized this much sooner than many of my superiors.

Within the past month, I have dealt with two absurd incidents involving someone hiding behind some form of technology in order to answer to their actions. I won’t get personal or mention any names, because I do not think that is necessary in order to convey my point, nor do I think journalism is the place for personal problems. With that being stated, technology is wonderful in so many aspects. It has provided our society, our country, our world with so many opportunities that would

not exist otherwise. However, it has become much too easy for people to hide behind computers and smart phones in handling their affairs rather than settling issues like respectful people.

Today, people can type up letters, send emails, post status and instant message others to tell them their feelings that they are not prepared to discuss face-to-face. Personally, I believe that if you have a problem with me and cannot handle coming to me to tell me, it really isn’t worth discussing at all. It must not be serious enough if you are unable to tell me with your mouth and not a machine. We have become slaves to technology. It is almost as if we have forgotten that we were all given mouths for a reason.

Amidst the drama wars that I have seen declared in recent months, my all-time favorite points of ridiculousness are statuses like this: “I just can’t believe that person would do that. That person is such a terrible human being. I am so happy

The East East Tex Texan an The Established 1915 Adam troxtell Editor Savannah christian opinion editor

Chancellor mills Entertainment Editor

Justin Cheatham Sports Editor

nick bailey CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR

Cliff Gibson assistant sports editor

ARIELLE MCMAHON STAFF CARTOONIST

I know (whatever it is that you now know) because now I can go tell the whole town all about it. I am so glad to have that person out of my life. That person is terrible.”

I don’t know about you, but I have never met anyone named “that person.” Most people I am familiar with go by a name which they are recognized by, but that is just the problem. People love to start the drama mill with posts like the aforementioned, leaving out names because they don’t want the subject of the text to realize his/her identity. Seriously?

Grow up or get off of the Internet. If you are so bothered by something that you feel the need to tell your Facebook friends, followers or what have you about your issues, then when the person you are blasting calls you to talk about the situation like an adult or comes to meet with you personally, don’t shy away from the subject.

Don’t avoid the calls, un-

CONTACT

903-886-5985

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Jessica Martin Graphics editor

friend the person or sway the conversation in a different direction, assuming you actually make it to the personal convo. The reason some people choose to sort things out face-to-face is because it works. Well, it should work.

With texting, emailing, or really just digital messaging of any kind, remarks and attitudes get misconstrued and another fight builds on top of the one already in play. It is not worth the stress, drama or stupidity to be a coward simply because techonology says you can.

If you have the courage to start the technological battle, find the gumption to continue it when the target of your slander ends up being more mature than you. Don’t expect the other person to respond back to you in a letter, email or digital message just because that is the route you chose to take. Believe it or not, there are still some people who know how to properly communicate.

903-436-9307

Fred Stewart Faculty Adviser fred_stewart@tamu-commerce.edu

www.theeasttexan.com

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

Page 3

LIONS FOOTBALL FAMILY, Inc. Wishes to thank our faithful

Founding Donors As of publication deadline date

FOUNDING PLATINUM DONORS $1000.00-4999.00 HOYLE AND ANN JULIAN DANIEL AND SUSAN SCHWERTNER DAN AND JACKIE LAMPSON NEOCHEM CORPORATION JOE B. HENTON

MICK AND WANDA TRUSTY JIM AND TAMMY SLIGAR JEREMY AND KORY WYNEGAR RICHARD AND TONI KOONCE

FOUNDING GOLD DONORS $ 500.00-999.00 GARY AND LORI FORE BUDDIE AND DEBBY BARNES J. RUSSELL ARMSTRONG,CFP速

ALLIANCE BANK

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FOUNDING BLUE DONORS $100.00-499.00 DWIGHT AND BRENDA RAWLINGS GARY AND WAVAH FORE GREG AND KIM HINNRICHS DALE AND BARBARA WISE MICHAEL AND ALICIA GRAHAM NYWELI HOUSTON VINCENT AND TAMMY TURNER GERALD AND LISA GOLIGHTLY SUSAN BATES CHARLES AND REBECCA HOBBS TOMMY AND FELECIA GALLEGOS TREY AND CASEY CHANEY JOHN AND LINNEA SMITH SUZI HONEYWELL BRANDY PORTERPON BRAD AND JULIE FISHER STEVE AND STACIE THOMPSON DAISY SLIGAR JERRY AND DEBORA LYTLE ANTHONY AND JANICE MATURO COLLEGE CORNER CAFE

JEFF AND PEGGY ONEILL BILLY AND KAREN MARSHALL RAYMOND AND ANGELA CAGE JOE AND TERRI WINDSOR DR. AND MRS. JACK PIRKEY STEVE AND DOROTHY CLAGGETT JOHN AND KATHRYN RICE GEORGE AND GINNY SHEARIN MARCUS AND YOLANDA TERRELL GUARANTY BOND BANK SCOOT CHANEY TED AND ELLEN OATS ERRY AND JOAN LAMBERT DRESSING DIVAS GREG AND BAILEY OHM ERNIE AND SHELIA HAYES BILL AND DARLENE ALLIN DANETTE HARP QUAY AND PAIGE THROGMORTON KYLE AND DONNA LUSBY CHUCK AND REBECCA HOBBS

Lions Football Family, Inc. is an independent non-profit association committed to supporting our Lions by creating a Championship Atmosphere as we strive to bring home the Championship Title.

This season the Lions Football Family provided the team Nike Travel Suits, Nike Running Shoes, Nutrition Bars at half-time, Fed the Team after each home game and Provided Win #1 T-shirts.

All of this was made was possible because of these Faithful Founding Donors.

For membership information contact Tammy Sligar - 469-766-LION(5466) Email: tammy@skylinepromos.com

Page 4

Ca mpus Life

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

www.theeasttexan.com

Students proud of, identify with Pride Rock Editor Adam Troxtell

DANICA EASTERLING / THE EAST TEXAN The new residential hall name, Pride Rock, was suggested by freshman Josh Burton, with the idea of associating freshmen's start to college with the beginning of every lions life in the movie, "The Lion King," at Pride Rock.

The latest edition to the A&M-Commerce campus, Pride Rock residence hall, has received special attention by students because of its name.

Freshman environmental science major Josh Burton’s Pride Rock suggestion was chosen from a number of options submitted by students.

Director of Residential Living and Learning, Dennis Koch said the nature of the building and its place in a planned redevelopment of that area of campus was the reason behind the name.

“The new building is the cornerstone of the new housing that is about to occur (The Rock),” Koch said in an e-mail, “and Pride involves a group of lions (our mascot) and a since of school spirit.

Thus, Pride Rock is a cornerstone of where a group of

lions (students) live and foster school spirit.”

Burton said one of his main inspirations behind the name was “The Lion King” movie, as Pride Rock serves as a place where the main character begins his journey.

“I had an idea that it would be cool to have a Lion King reference on campus,” Burton said. “Simba got his start at Pride Rock in the movie, and its sort of the same for freshmen.”

Student submissions were reviewed by Koch, Vice President for Student Access and Success Dr. Mary Hendrix and Dean of Campus Life and Student Development Brian Nichols. Their recommendation was then given to President Dr. Dan Jones for approval. Koch said the name’s affiliation with “The Lion King” was taken into account.

“We did consider that in t wo ways,” he said. “We

checked to make sure there were no copyright problems using the name. Also, in the movie it represents a place of life and new beginnings, which is also what a residence hall can be considered.”

The reception of the name has been mixed for Burton.

He said he felt the name was appropriate for a university.

“I don’t think it’s as big of a deal as some think it is,” he said. “Some people are saying it is immature. It is in a sense, but it’s also an interesting link between pop culture and higher learning.”

Burton, a Whitley Hall resident, said he has heard Pride Rock residents are really taking to the name.

“People that live there have taken an identity with it,” he said. “I heard some of the resident staff have put up pictures of Pride Rock from the movie on some bulletin boards. I think people are getting used to it.”

Jackson aims for the 'Stars' with new fashion line

Editor Jessica Martin

Jesse Jackson, a sophomore political science major and marketing minor, has begun putting his marketing skills to use on the campus of Texas A&M University Commerce, establishing a clothing line entitled Stars + Elevators.

“It grew from looking at stairs and elevators and how they’re kind of close to each other, and how there’s more than one way to get to the top,” Jackson said. “And I always chose the stairs because it’s going to end up that if you take the stairs, you’re just going to be healthy, and it kind of had me thinking.

It kind of transformed into stars and elevators, and the slogan for it is ‘reach for the stars and elevate your thinking.’ That’s just how it came to pass, and I’m glad it is what it is.”

Stars + Elevators has only been in the works for six months and has already launched it’s first three items: a short sleeve t-shirt, a bracelet, and a preorder for a long sleeve t-shirt.

“I first started doing it in May,” Jackson said. “I just had a notepad that I carried around with me, and when-

ever I had a free minute I would just draw different designs in there. It’s something that I do when I’m just listening to music and I think something would be cool, I just draw it out. I want to make something that people can identify with and express myself through the clothes. I’ve been doing that and I had 40 or 50 pages of designs, and I didn’t know how to transfer that to a shirt without the technology.”

However, Jackson attained the technology needed and pushed himself to learn how to use them on his own.

“I just spent hours [learning]; I would come home and mess around in [Adobe] Illustrator,” Jackson said.

“Finally I got to the point where I thought I could put this out. I feel like when I was drawing it, it was what I wanted it to be, but figuring out how to manipulate it on the computer took some time.”

Mayra Ramiez, a sophomore biology major with pre-dental intent and a supporter of Stars + Elevators, explained her appreciation for the clothing line.

“What I like most about Stars + Elevators is being a witness to the fruition of an idea,” Ramirez said. “I have

been able to see the creative process behind the company and the designs, and ultimately see a bit of all of the love and passion Jesse has for his company.”

Jackson has big dreams for the line, already planning a collection for next spring.

“My big goal right now is to just keep getting it out there,” Jackson said. “I’m probably going to have a few more shirts coming out soon, and once I get the customer base to where I can do that kind of thing, my goal is set for the spring. Continue to get through the winter, have a few more releases, and then in the spring I want to have a solid collection of things from shirts to maybe a jacket, and I do want do branch out.

It’s just going to take time; build the people who know about it up, acquire the capital necessary to do that. In the long run I do want to be expansive and cover everything such as jackets, shirts, bags and shoes.”

While Jackson has great ambitions for the line, he is also aware that it will take time.

“It’s not going to happen overnight, but it’s something that I love to do so I hope that I can continue to have this grow and make things

him back to Commerce, and into campus employment.

“It was a daytime job, and I’d been working nights all of my life,” Hale said. “A friend of mine called and said they [A&M-Commerce] were hiring and I’ve been here since.”

After a couple of years in landscaping, Hale switched to distribution – a position that paid more money – and has been delivering packages around campus for almost two full decades. But, there is nothing “routine” about the job, according to Hale.

“Every day is different, it’s never the same,” Hale said. “I deliver packages to the buildings on campus, and sometimes if something needs to be shipped by a certain time I have to make sure it gets done. Sometimes I’m a tour guide, people are always asking me where a building is, and I give them directions.”

Hale has seen his share of packages, sorting and distributing parcels from FedEx, UPS, Staples, DHL, and FedEx Ground. In that time, he’s seen some strange things.

“A lot of people will send stuff here instead of College

Station,” Hale said. “The Biolog y depa r t ment had two truckloads of frozen pigs dropped off, but they should’ve went to College Station, so we had to get the truck back to get the pigs because they were frozen and take them to College Station.”

Hale is an only child, but has a lot of family. He resides in Commerce and has a passion for sports, which might derive from his high school days as a football player at CHS. “I was a wide receiver and defensive back,” Hale said. “(Former Dallas Cowboy) Wade Wilson was my quarterback in high school. He was an all-American at this university. I’m into sports. I can sit and watch football, hockey. I like all sports.

Football is my pastime.”

Hale also enjoys the environment in which he works, from the place, to the job, and down all the way to the people he interacts with on a daily basis.

“Everybody is real nice to me on campus,” Hale said.

“I just do my job and I like what I do. It’s a good place to work.

JESSICA MARTIN / THE EAST TEXAN Sophomore Jesse Jackson has recently created three designs for a clothing line entitled 'Stars + Elevators.' All designs, one of wich can be seen above, are designed by Jackson.

that people like and give back different ways through this company,” he said. “It’s been a couple weeks now and I’ve got over 100 likes on Facebook, which is really big for me. I’m just hoping to keep the growth up and get it out there to people and just continue to make really cool things that people could identify with.”

Jackson uses his interests to inspire his creations.

“I’m really into fashion and things like that,” Jackson

Hale distributes for years to come Assistant Sports Editor Cliff Gibson

There have been many changes at Texas A&M University-Commerce over the past 20 years, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the man who delivers the goods on campus.

For more than 18 years, La r r y Ha le h a s b e e n i n charge of shipping and receiving distribution at A&MCommerce, and he doesn’t plan to slow down any time soon.

“I love my job,” Hale said.

“Every day is a different ballgame. You think it slows down, but it’s always going.”

Hale – originally from Neylandville – graduated from Commerce High School in 1976 with plans to be a data processor, or “keypuncher", as it was referred to back then. After going to school he found his way into the manufact uring industr y, working for places such as Dow Chemical and Rubbermaid.

Hale then left the manufacturing life to pursue another calling, enrolling in school to become a bank teller. But a phone call from a friend led

said. “I’m really inspired by the music I listen to. I’m really inspired by James Bond, I love those movies and I think that inspires me a lot.

One of the clothing brands that I do like is Love Before Glory. It’s a clothing line founded by Jackson Hall, who is an ex-member of [the band] Of Mice and Men. I really like the way he was doing things.”

Jackson also stressed his determination when it comes to creating original clothing.

“I make a point to not look at [clothing lines] because I want to have my own thing,” he said. “I don’t want to even accidentally copy something from somebody else. I think that if you’re a designer, that should be your thing. Nobody should take that from you because you put a lot of time into it, and I think it’s important that you get your own point of view across.

I want to make things that kind of reflect that and give it a different spin.”

With 20 years under his belt, Hale has no plans to leave Commerce or the university he works for. For now, he’s pretty happy with where he is.

“I just plan it all day by day,” Hale said. “I live here in town, I can go home for lunch and I’m not stressed out at the end of the day.

I’m planning on retirement someday, just going with the flow.”

Word on the Street Don’t forget to check out Word on the Street each Wednesday at: www.theeasttexan.com/campus-life

www.theeasttexan.com

Ca mpus Life

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

Page 5

University student running for mayor Campus Life Editor Nick Bailey

COURTESY PHOTO COBY MARCUM Coby Marcum is currently working towards creating a dog park within the community and creating a designated free speech zone on the A&M-Commerce campus.

The city of Commerce may be headed for change as Texas A&M University-Commerce student Coby Marcum prepares to run for Mayor.

Marcum, currently a senator for A&M-Commerce’s Student Government Association, has been promoting his campaign, hoping to gain the support of his peers. While many students are currently unaware of his political ambitions, others, such as SGA president Adria Green, believe that he has what it takes to do the job.

“I think it’s inspirational to see a student that has high hopes for running for such a position,” Green said. “It’s a very trying position and I believe that he is a good man for the job.”

Marcum, 32, has looked for ways to improve the community since he began attending A&M-Commerce, working alongside various faculty members and organizations.

“When I came to Texas A&M University-Commerce,

I saw opportunities to make changes that would help students,” Marcum said. “I worked toward this goal with the school administration who shared my desire to see progress on campus. As projects were approved and implemented, I saw these projects making the lives of students better. This helped me to see that I had the ability to help people through public service.

Marcum hopes to continue to make things better for students and members of the Commerce community from the city office, but understands that there are others whom he must work with to bring change about.

“The Mayor is simply a member of a large team that includes our City Council, the City Manager, the Commerce Economic Development Corporation, our Fire and Police departments, and many other individuals who serve the community,” Marcum said. “When we make changes in Commerce, we are doing it as a team in consultation with one another in an effort to do what is best for

our fellow citizens. My goals are to improve our roads and to build stronger ties between Texas A&M University-Commerce and the local community. I would also like to have new businesses in town and am excited to see places like the Campus Corner Cafe and Eagle Miniature Golf creating new social outlets for our citizens.”

If Marcum is elected mayor, then he will still be able to hold his position as senator with SGA. The studentbased organization is currently working on building a better relationship with the city community, and President Green believes that this may be beneficial for both the university and the community.

“SGA is seeking to bridge the gap between the community and the university,” Green said. “Having someone in that position can help us out and help make the transition easier. That can help in getting things done faster, more adequately, and more efficiently should he win.”

Scavenger hunt to bring art and competition to A&M-Commerce Graphics Editor Jessica Martin Students have an opportunity to compete for cash, local art work, and other prizes in a scavenger hunt hosted by the the Texas A&M University - Commerce Art Club today through Dec. 3.

Eric de Llamas, president of the Art Club and a graduate student with an empahasis in painting, is excited for students to participate as well as enjoy themselves “While brainstorming our ideas together, we tried to keep in mind that our ultimate priority for the fundraiser was to make it something fun for participants to enjoy,” de Llamas said. “We believed that maintaining a playful atmosphere would help create as much participation as possible.”

The Art Club also hopes that the event will be able to fund later events for their group as well.

“The idea for a scavenger hunt was presented to us by one of our newest members, while we were discussing options to raise funds for Art Club events,” de Llamas said.

“Specifically, we are trying to finance trips for our members so that we may travel to major cities, such as New York, to visit the latest contemporary work in the art world. As an artist, looking at the latest artwork is essential to the research of our own work.”

Sam England, a senior art major with an emphasis in painting as well as a member of the Art Club, encourages more than just art students participate in the event.

“I’m hoping the Art Club Scavenger Hunt can be a fun way to stimulate the campus community,” England said. “By hosting it in the Art Department but having tasks that require excursions into campus, the whole student body will be involved.”

De Llamas hopes to use the event as a way to also increase visibility of the Art Club, as

COURTESY PHOTO Patcharaporn Sanglua Audience members at the Loy Krathong celebration stopped to take a photo with participants of the beauty pageant.

Thai students host celebration to raise money for flood victims

Staff Writer Gizem Baydar

well as the department, on campus.

“Not only would this help with our funds, but would raise the profile of the Art Club and the Department of Art on campus,” de Llamas said. “It is our mission to make students throughout the university aware of the local art community and the great work being made here at their school.”

To participate in the Art Club scavenger hunt, registration forms can be found in Room 205 of the Art Building. A $30 fee is required at the time of registration. First prize wins an allotment of the funds raised for the event, Art Club t-shirts, and paintings by de Llamas. Teams must consist of 4 - 6 people.

For more information on the even as well as a list of the items for the Scavenger Hunt, you can visit the Art Club website.

Students team with city to create more recycling options on Commerce campus Staff Writer Keyania Campbell After a few years of inactivity, the Environmental Awareness Society, a student organization, is starting activity and partnering with the City of Commerce to increase recycling on campus.

“We’re a group of students, mostly environmental science majors who try to bring about environmental awareness,” president Clint Schmal said. “Our main focus is based in baby steps, like recycling and planting more trees on campus.”

The EAS also does research and creates awareness about sustainability, especially alternative fuel and solar energy, but their current goal is to make it easier for students to recycle.

“Right now, we have our hands full trying to start the recycling program,” Schmal said.

“It’s not easy to get something like this going.

Recycling doesn’t have a lot of influence in Texas; bins don’t stay up and students don’t have many resources to do it themselves.”

The EAS’s plan is to place recycling bins in various locations around campus and to

have a scheduled day for pickup to take the items to the plant, along with other recyclable materials collected in the community. They will be going around to local businesses to get them to join the incentive.

“We don’t have money to sort and drop things off,” Schmal said. “We have to put our name out there so that people that want to help can have the opportunity.”

The EAS currently has 15 volunteers and would like to reach 50 by spring.

“Anyone can volunteer. The society is comprised of environmentally conscious people that want to make a difference and protect the planet,” Schmal said. “I’m trying to reach out and grow to make more of an influence. I’m really putting in everything I have to make this successful and want people to contact me if they want to help.”

The EAS, in previous years, made some progress on their recycling incentive.

“A few years ago, this was very small, but we have a lot of potential now,” Schmal said.

“This will take a long time but it’s important that we get it started.”

The Association of Thai Students (TSA) held the 4th annual Loy Krathong Festival in the Sam Rayburn Student Center on Nov. 10.

“Loy” means “to float” and “Krathong” means lotus-shaped vessels made of banana leaves. The festival implies the sense of thanksgiving to the Goddess of the water. According to the Thai belief, the event is to worship; these vessels will take the bad things away with the water and make the wish come true.

“I think it is going well,” TSA president Patcharaporn Sanglua said. “I am very happy that we are coming all together.”

This year, the main goal for the Thai night was fund raising money for the flood-

ing happened recently in Thailand. Since the natural disaster happened, the event could not be held in Thailand, so having the event here in Commerce was really important for the TSA members.

There were multiple activities at the event to demonstrate the culture, including Asian clothing, foods, and special Thai dances for blessings and symbolizing happiness, and making and flooding the Krathong’s in the inflatable pool.

Another activity was the Queen contest, with senior Shital Shrestha from Nepal named the winner.

“At first they told me that it is going to be a fashion show,” Shrestha said. “I was pretty surprised when I learned it was a contest. It is pretty exiting and special since I’m a foreign student

and people choose me.”

The Thai Student Association showed their appreciation to those who came to the event.

“I know not all schools show respect for these kinds of events,” former president of TSA Woranat Wongdhamma said. “Texas A&M -Commerce is the only one holding this event every year. This is very special for us.”

For many students who came to the event, it was a special experience. Many students took their Krathongs with them as a memento to remember the evening.

“I loved it, I think it is so cultural and it was just something I was not used to. Their food and traditions were different. I loved flooding the Krathong, that was my favorite part,” freshman political science major, Stephanie Rodriguez said.

dressed up in traditional Indian clothes.

“This is our culture, we are like family,” Uma Surapanani, a student at A&MCommerce said. “It’s nice to do things like this together and to get to experience our own culture.”

Students held a moment of silence for their fellow students who was hit by a car and killed earlier in the semester.

Students also sang Indian songs, danced to a mixture of Indian and American music, performed skits, and afterwards ate Indian sweets and snacks.

For the fashion show, the men wore shalwar, which are Indian pants, and kameez, which are men’s shirts in India. The women also wore shalwar, and kurta, which are women’s shirts in India.

Some of the women also wore sari, which is a traditional Indian dress.

At the end of the night, students gathered outside of the student center and ate traditional Indian sweets such as laddu amd kachori.

“All of our sweets are very healthy,” Yasir Chughtai, a student at A&M-Commerce said. “We only use natural ingredients, pure cane sugar and fruits and vegetable oil.

We don’t use any corn syrup or anything else like that.”

Laddu is a ball-shaped sweet made of flour and sugar often served at festive or religious occasions. Kachori is a spicy snack popular in parts of India. It is a round flattened flour shell filled with potatoes, beans, and spices.

“India is well known for its sweets and spices,” Chughtai said. “That is why Columbus found America. He was originally trying to get to India to trade for our spices and sweets.”

Diwali brings culture to Commerce Staff Writer Josh Stoltenberg

On Saturday night, Nov. 12, Indian students from A&MCommerce got together for a taste of their home country as they celebrated Diwali.

Diwali, also known as the “Festival of Lights”, is a fiveday celebration that starts on the first new moon between mid-October and mid-November. It is celebrated by Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, and Buddhists. Diwali is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil.

For the students at A&MCommerce, Diwali marked a time for them to come together and enjoy one of their country’s holidays with several traditional Indian activities. Students sang the Indian national song, Vande Mataram, performed a traditional folk dance, the Dandiya Raas, and held a fashion show where students

Page 6

Entertainment Entertainment

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

www.theeasttexan.com

Segel steals show from Muppets Fromage du Jour A weekly look at film cheese

STOCK PHOTO: IMAGESHACK.US

According to Jordan Wright, “2012: Ice Age” is the best unintentional comedy of the year.

‘2012: Ice Age’ shows hilarious apocalypse STOCK PHOTO: THEDAILYBEAST.COM

Despite the movie being called “The Muppets,” the human stars - specifically Jason Segel - steal the spotlight for most of the film., Chancellor Mills writes.

Entertainment Editor Chancellor Mills As far as I can remember, I have never really been what you might call a “true fan” of “The Muppets.” If something Muppet-related were to come onto television, I would probably watch it, but my fandom would, by no means, be described as “die hard.” Luckily for this year’s “The Muppets” movie, I am a pretty hardcore fan of Jason Segel. Ever since I really got into “How I Met Your Mother,” I have done my best to see anything and everything he appears in.

“The Muppets” follows the story of Gary (Segel) and his inexplicably muppet-tized brother Walter. As time progresses we see Gary grow from being a boy to being his natural six-feet-fourinch frame, while Walter remains a two-foot-tall puppet. On the eve of his trip to Hollywood with his girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams) to celebrate their 10th anniversary, Gary invites Walter along to meet his idols: the Muppets.

While there, the main conflict of the film is revealed. Oil baron Tex Richman (Chris Cooper) is trying to purchase Muppet Studios in order to tear it

down to get to the oil underneath. The only hope for the Muppets is to put on a show in order to raise the $10 million necessary to get the studio back.

Armed with this information, Gary, Mary and Walter set out to find Kermit and reunite the Muppets gang.

I’m not sure what the thinking behind this movie was because, for some reason, all of the emotional development of the film seems to go to the Muppets while all of the fun, singing and dancing scenes seem to go to the human counterparts. It’s just not what I expected. I figured the highlight of a movie called “The Muppets” would actually be the Muppets. Crazy, I know.

However, the dynamic set up by the film was very enjoyable. Gary, Mary and Walter’s musical numbers were very entertaining and funny from the get-go. Actually, sadly enough, the dull parts of the movie were in the middle where Kermit is trying to wrangle the rest of the Muppets to put on a good show. The movie only picks up again in the sequence where Gary and Walter each sing a ballad about choosing between being a man or a Muppet after Gary misses his anniversary dinner with Mary to help the Muppets

prepare for their show. (The funniest part of this ballad being when the audience is presented with a Muppet version of Gary and “Big Bang Theory’s” Jim Parsons as the human version of Walter.) The movie then remains on a very high note as the Muppets conduct their $10 million show to save the Muppet Studios.

“The Muppets” was a pretty entertaining movie in its own rite. However, what added to that entertainment was a few well-place celebrity cameos. For instance, in order to put on their show, the Muppets need a celebrity host or they will be out of luck. When they have trouble finding a celebrity who wants to do it, they end up kidnapping Jack Black and force him to host the show while tied up in a chair. I’m no longer a big fan of Black but he is absolutely hilarious as he squirms and screams during the entire show.

If you need to know whether or not to see this film, you need to understand one thing about me: I hate seeing PG movies. I would much rather have had a R-rated Muppets movie full of cursing, violence and sexual content. That being said, I would gladly go see “The Muppets” again.

‘Saints Row: The Third’ keeps writer’s adrenaline pumping Staff Writer Jordan Wright If the concept of insanity could be made into a game, it would probably be normal compared to what I have just subjected myself to. “Saints Row: The Third” is a game that is so insane and intensely high energy that as I woke up the day after playing it, I felt like I had a hangover; a hangover that I soldier onward with proudly after remembering the infectiously fun energy high that this game has given me. What was once a grounded “Grand Theft Auto” knockoff has fully evolved into its own entity.

Unlike Previous games that have tried to establish themselves in some form of loose reality as the player’s crew, The Third Street Saints, try to take over organized crime of their city, “Saints Row: The Third” comes out to flip off reality and take off at full throttle from there.

The Third Street Saints are now a commercialized crime group, with movies, designer clothes and even an energy

drink named after them. They even sign autographs in the middle of their bank heists. Unfortunately, their robbery has made them noticed by international crime organization, The Syndicate, who seeks to take control of the Saints’ territory and assets in an attempt to monopolize crime.

Allow me to describe my first hour of the game, if I may.

After blowing the top floor off of a bank in order to attach cables to a vault that my chopper was going to airlift out while I was on top of it, I was kidnapped by The Syndicate and forced to gun my way through a plane that I ended up skydiving out of while shooting at enemies that were gunning for me while in free fall, in order to catch my ally so that we could land safely on the ground and proceed to raid a military grade weapons cache using satellite guided missiles. Believe it or not, it only gets crazier from there.

If I haven’t made it abundantly clear by now, “Saints Row: The Third” is one of the most insane games that I have ever played. If the designers intent

“The first Sherlock Holmes was a blockbuster that came out of nowhere and caught everyone by surprise.

If they keep the same character structure and just expand on the story, I think we will have another hit on our hands.”

was to keep the adrenaline flowing, than I would say that they’ve succeeded tenfold. Between plowing through cars on high speed chases and piling on explosion after explosion against my enemy, I don’t think that I’ve ever had this much fun being a bad guy in a game.

The whole affair reminds me of the “Crank” movies starring Jason Statham; it starts ridiculously and just keeps topping what it did previously but without shoving it in the player’s face. Never once does the game stop itself to demand your attention; you simply give it because it’s world and events are simply too disturbingly intriguing to turn away from.

The minor flaws of the game, primarily textures on character models that don’t quite look very impressive, as well as the occasional glitch or two, don’t hamper an experience that I’ll surely not forget anytime soon. With “Saints Row: The Third”, this series has finally come into its own and I anxiously await what comes next and how much adrenaline it will bring.

Chancellor Mills’ Movie Picks for the Holidays

Staff Writer Jordan Wright I’ve officially come to the consensus that if the first thing that I see in a film is the title, I’m in for a treat. Nothing says Syfy channel original garbage, than a gratuitous reminder of the fact that you’re watching a production by the “beloved” the Asylum.

For those of you that are unaware, The Asylum has masterminded such brilliant films as “Transmorphers”, “Alien vs. Hunter”, and the previously reviewed “Mega Shark versus Crocosaurus”. Unlike “Mega Shark versus Crocosaurus” however, “2012: Ice Age” has succeeded in being the best unintentional comedy that I have seen all semester.

Imagine if “The Day After Tomorrow” could somehow be dumber than it already is and yet lack any of the visuals that made it marginally pique one’s curiosity. That just about sums up “2012: Ice Age”. A father, estranged from his college aged daughter on her way to school in New York, fights his way to get to her in an apocalypse that borders on sentience in how fast it moves. The apocalypse in question this time around is a glacier that is forced away from Iceland due to a powerful volcanic explosion, charging the glacier towards North America at 200 miles per hour.

Bill Hart, the father in question, is joined by his wife and son of ambiguous age. I make note of this because despite dressing and acting like a high

schooler, he looks to be easily in his mid 20s.

This brings me to the selling point of the film.

The acting in this movie is terrible. The best kind of terrible. Every delivery is always just off. The mediocre dialogue of the actors is always given slightly over or under acted. From Bill’s lack of priority, to his son’s overly chipper demeanor, I can’t remember the last time that I have laughed so consistently throughout a film.

The production cost doesn’t help the overall low quality of the film either. Every shot of the movie looks like a family’s home videos, which makes certain scenes look even more embarrassing.

The entire film is supposed to be a race to New York in an ice storm, yet the weather of the snowy roads and highways just barely qualifies as a blizzard half the time. This wouldn’t be quite so bad if it weren’t for the fact that every special effect looks like a high end Nintendo 64 game at best. Not a good thing to have when almost a quarter of your movie consists of F-18 jets bombing a giant mass of Ice. All of these issues may sound like a formula for a disaster and quite honestly, it is. It’s stupid, it’s trashy, but it’s a textbook example of what bad movies should strive to be.

Even though every laugh was unintentional, I refuse to believe anyone on this earth can keep a straight face when they hear a response of “yes” to the question “You declared war on an Iceberg?”

Verdict: Two Shatners

“The books were amazing. The Swedish version of the film was pretty good, too.

Both Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara are good actors. David Fincher is a good director. I just can’t see where it could go wrong.”

Page 7

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

numbersgame 3

hotshot 531.9

The number of LSC basketball teams who remain unbeaten

Average offensive output by the MSU football team during the 2011 season

I FOOTBALL

Mustangs, Buffs close out 2011 season For the second straight week, 10th-ranked Northwest Missouri State erased a double digit lead in the second half as the Bearcats stunned No. 2 Midwestern State, 38-31 in overtime Saturday in an NCAA Division II Second Round playoff game at Memorial Stadium.

NWMSU advances to play at Pittsburg State, who defeated Washburn, 3122, in Saturday’s national quarterfinal at 1 p.m.

Midwestern State sophomore Keidrick Jackson rushed for a career-high 184 yards and helped the Mustangs construct a 28-10 lead with 6:40 to play in the first half.

The Bearcats rallied to narrow the gap to 28-17 on James Franklin’s 6-yard burst two minutes before halftime.

Midwestern took the wind and forced three Bearcat turnovers in the third quarter, but had only a 22-yard Greg Saladino field goal to show for it as the Mustangs took a 31-17 lead into the fourth quarter.

The Bearcats (11-2) used the wind to take control of the field position game in the fourth quarter as Trevor Adams found Kyle Kilgore for the second of his two

touchdown receptions in the game to close out a 27-yard drive to narrow the score to 31-24 with 7:51 to play.

After a three-and-out, Northwest Missouri took over possession at the 40yard line and James Franklin sprinted in from 11 yards out with 4:56 to go to knot the game at 31-31.

The Mustangs moved the ball down the field, but Saladino’s 27-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right to send the game to overtime.

Adams and Kilgore connected for another 13yard pitch-and-catch to give the Bearcats the lone score of the overtime period.

Midwestern State closes the season with a 10-1 mark.

lscstandings Team Midwestern State Abilene Christian West Texas A&M Tarleton State A&M-Kingsvillle Angelo State Incarnate Word Eastern New Mex. A&M-Commerce

Individual Leaders Passing Player

Yds TD

Rushing Player

Yds TD

Receiving Player

Yds TD

Mitchell Gale, ACU.............3823....... 28 Dustin Vaughan, WT...........3316....... 25 Nick Stephens, TSU...........3005....... 20 Wesley Wood, ENMU.........2711....... 22 Daniel Ramirez, A&M-K......2030....... 16 Brandon Kelsey, MSU.........1951....... 17

West Texas A&M 26, Central Missouri 7 COLLIER WHITEFIELD / THE EAST TEXAN

West Texas A&M ended the 2011 football season on a high note Sunday afternoon, defeating No. 23 Central Missouri, 26-7, in the third annual Lower Kanza Bowl at the Hummer Sports Park in Topeka, Kan. The win lifts the Buffaloes’ record to 8-3 and gives West Texas A&M its second Kanza Bowl trophy in three years, while UCM falls to 8-4.

West Texas took a 20-7

LSC Overall 8-0 10-1 7-1 8-3 6-2 8-3 5-3 6-5 4-4 6-5 2-6 5-6 2-6 2-8 1-7 2-9 1-7 1-9

Lions quarterback J.J. Harp (1) had his best performance of the 2011 season during the home finale for A&M-Commerce against Eastern New Mexico, Harp’s former team.

lead into halftime with two rushing touchdowns and one passing score accounting for the 13-point advantage.

Khiry Robinson capped off a 71-yard drive with a four-yard run to put the Buffs on the scoreboard first.

After UCM tied the game, Dustin Vaughan connected with Brittan Golden for a 44-

yard touchdown, needing just one play to capitalize on a Mules turnover.

The Buffs’ Tommy Hampton finished a 99-yard march down the field with an eight-yard touchdown run just before intermission.

In the second half, Sergio Castillo made field goals of 21 and 26 yards to account

for the final score.

Vaughn finished the game going 23-of-42 for 347 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

Golden wrapped up his career with six catches for 101 yards and a touchdown to finish with 165 receptions, which is sixth on the school’s all-time list.

Keidrick Jackson, MSU......1044....... 18 Jon Woodson, A&M-K........1017........ 9 Brandon Kelsey, MSU..........967........ 11 Tristan Carter, ASU..............926........ 11 Daryl Richardson, ACU........825........ 11 K. Robinson, WT.................669........ 11 C. Vaughan, TSU.................669......... 7 Jimmy Pipkin, MSU.............665......... 7

Brittan Golden, WT.............1076........12 Taylor Gabriel, ACU.............988.........10 L. Ratliff, WT........................848..........6 Clifton Rhodes, TSU............827..........3 Darrian Dale, ENMU............798..........6 David Little, MSU.................746..........6 C.J. Akins, ASU...................645..........2 Robert Armstrong, A&M-K...626..........8

Tackles Player

Total

Marquis Wadley, TSU...................... 119 Cory Whitfield, A&M-C.................... 103 Jeremy Aguilar, A&M-K.................... 91 Juan Asencio, IWU.......................... 88 Ty Duncan, MSU.............................. 78

I MEN’S HOOPS

lscstandings

Team Midwestern State Eastern New Mex. Tarleton State Abilene Christian West Texas A&M A&M-Kingsville Angelo State Incarnate Word Cameron A&M-Commerce

LSC Overall 0-0 5-0 0-0 6-1 0-0 5-1 0-0 4-1 0-0 3-1 0-0 5-2 0-0 4-2 0-0 4-2 0-0 3-2 0-0 2-2

This Week’s Schedule Nov. 28 St. Mary’s at A&M-Kingsville Southwest (N.M.) at Eastern NM Nov. 29 Rhema Bible at West Texas A&M Abilene Christian at Dallas Baptist Nov. 30 Cameron at Tarleton State Midwestern at A&M-Commerce Dec. 1 Arlington Baptist at Angelo State

Individual Leaders Points Player

Avg./G

Robert Williams, A&M-K................17.7 Vinicius Telo, CAM.........................15.6 Desmond King, A&M-C.................15.5 Stefan Mirabel, ENMU...................14.9 Milton Garner, CAM.......................14.8

Rebounds Player

Avg./G

Donald Sims, WT.............................9.3 Chris Johnson, UIW.........................9.2 Desmond King, A&M-C...................7.8 Ian Markolf, UIW..............................7.7 Fabian Wilson, TSU.........................7.7

Assists Player

Avg./G

Devone Davis, ENMU......................4.8 Reggie Nelson, ENMU.....................4.0 Labree Sledge, A&M-C....................4.0 Ryan Lassard, A&M-K.....................3.7 Antonio Bell, ACU............................3.6

Steals Player

Avg./G

Dionelle Rucker, UIW.......................2.7 Shaun Umeh, UIW...........................2.5 David Terrell, MSU...........................2.3 Zach Williams, ACU.........................2.2 Chris Harrell, TSU............................2.0

NY native leads way during win streak Ashton Brown may be from New York, but he can handle the big Texas defenders, leading Texas A&M-Kingsville to a 3-1 record last week while earning Offensive Player of the Week honors from the Lone Star Conference.

After scoring only six points in a loss to St. Edward’s, he came back with double figures in each of the next three contests.

Brown scored 13 points with four assists and four steals in a win over Texas Lutheran, then had 13 points and five assists in a win over Sul Ross State.

Last Tuesday, Brown

poured in 32 points in a 107-88 win over St. Edward’s. He had four assists in the game and went 15-for-16 from the free throw line.

He had a streak of 37 consecutive made free throws snapped during the game.

He went 25-for-26 from the line during the week and averaged 16.0 points and 3.8 assists per game.

A&M-Kingsville is currently 5-2 and will host St. Mary’s before opening their conference schedule later in the week.

FILE PHOTO / THE EAST TEXAN

Desmond King (44) and the Lions will made their home debut Wednesday against Midwestern State.

I WOMEN’S HOOPS

Davis guides Pioneers to 4-0 start

KRISTIE CARD / THE EAST TEXAN

Devin Oliver (15) battles for a loose ball during a recent contest against Henderson State.

Freshman center Tiara Davis put up big numbers for Texas Woman’s University, helping the Pioneers start the season with four straight wins, the best start for the program since it went 5-0 to begin the 2008-09 season.

Davis, a Longview High School graduate, helped TWU hold three opponents to just 30.7 percent shooting, including 26 percent in the two games at the Marriott Champions Circle Pioneer Premiere.

She came off the bench and averaged 14 points and eight rebounds while shooting 67.9 percent from the floor with five steals to help the team to a 3-0 record over the past week of action.

Davis recorded a careerhigh 19 points and 16 rebounds (13 defensive) against Oklahoma Panhandle State and then added eight points and seven rebounds against Southern Arkansas.

Davis also scored a gamehigh 15 points in a road win at Southeastern Oklahoma State to help the team remain unbeaten.

Davis is second on the team this season with 13.5 points and 8.0 rebounds while shooting a team-high 63.9 percent.

Davis was named Defensive Player of the Week by the Lone Star Conference.

lscstandings Team Incarnate Word Texas Woman’s Cameron Midwestern State Abilene Christian Tarleton State A&M-Commerce A&M-Kingsville West Texas A&M Angelo State Eastern New Mex.

LSC Overall 0-0 4-0 0-0 4-0 0-0 2-1 0-0 3-2 0-0 1-1 0-0 2-5 0-0 1-3 0-0 1-3 0-0 1-3 0-0 1-4 0-0 1-4

Individual Leaders Points Player

Avg./G

Mack Lankford, ACU...................... 30.0 Jessica Hanna, TWU...................... 21.3 Precious Herrin, ENMU................... 17.2 Savannah Carver, MSU................... 16.4 Katy Cooke, UIW............................ 15.0 Danielle Dixon, A&M-C................... 14.8 Shelby Adamson, TSU................... 14.4 Devin Griffin, WT............................. 14.3

Rebounds Player

Avg./G

Jessica Hanna, TWU........................ 9.8 Inekka Stevenson, A&M-K................ 8.5 Tiara Davis, TWU.............................. 8.0 Kelsey Smith, ACU........................... 8.0 Jocelyn Jarmon, UIW....................... 7.8 Chloe Wallace, UIW.......................... 7.5 Shanae Lowrance, TSU.................... 7.4

Assists Player

Avg./G

Cambria Smith, TWU........................ 9.0 Jocelyn Jarmon, UIW....................... 5.5 Nicole Pendarvis, CAM..................... 5.0 Shelby Adamson, TSU..................... 4.4 Ashley James, ASU.......................... 4.2 Alexis Williams, CAM........................ 4.0 Katy Cooke, UIW.............................. 3.8

Steals Player

Avg./G

Katy Cooke, UIW.............................. 3.5 Andrea Carter, MSU......................... 3.4 Casey Land, WT............................... 3.3 Cambria Smith, TWU........................ 3.0 Joni Unruh, WT................................ 3.0 Jessica Hanna, TWU........................ 2.3 Morgan Youngblood, ASU................ 2.2

Page 8

sports

Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011

www.theeasttexan.com @easttexan_sport

Freshman footballer Jade Bell kicks Lions soccer to new level

KRISTIE CARD / THE EAST TEXAN

Bell scored seven goals for the Lions this season, second only to sophomore Brionna Minde. Bell and Minde combined to produce most of A&M-Commerce’s attacking threat in a season that took them to the LSC semis.

Editor Adam Troxtell

KRISTIE CARD / THE EAST TEXAN

Freshman Devin Oliver(15) led the Lions offensively with 17 points and also contributing six rebounds in the loss.

Lions fall to Oachita Baptist Editor Adam Troxtell Devin Oliver’s 17 points and 100 percent three-point shooting was a bright spot in an otherwise miserable outing for the A&M-Commerce women’s basketball team, as they dropped a 89-67 decision at home to Ouachita Baptist to go 0-3 for the season.

The freshman from Rowlett, Texas, finished the night 3-3 from three-point land and 6-10 in shooting overall. She also brought down six rebounds.

The Lions kept pace with Ouachita until about midway through the first half. That’s when the visitors began hitting their long range shots and opened up a 40-27 lead with just over three minutes left until halftime. One of the sparks of that offensive run was A’Laeshia Adams, who finished the game with a team leading 16 points and five rebounds.

While the three-point shooting helped put Ouachita further out in front, it was their work inside the paint that plagued the Lions for the entire game. The Tigers put in 40 points from inside the lane, and A&MCommerce Head Coach Nicole Anderson knows why.

“They run a Princeton offense,” Anderson said. “It’s a very unusual offense, and there’s only about three, maybe four, teams in the country that run a Princeton offense.

Fortunately and unfortunately, I used to teach that offense; so, we have a little bit of an advantage in understanding where the cuts are coming from, but the reality is, if you are standing still and not prepared, the cuts come very hard and it is hard to defend.

Although we made the adjustment on the chalkboard, we didn’t make the adjustment in the game.”

The Lions did stay with Ouachita through to halftime, and went into the locker room down by only ten. The visitors then went on a 12-6 run and pulled away from A&MCommerce. While the Lions were making enough baskets to stay somewhat productive on offense, it was their turnovers that cost them dearly. Ouachita scored 35 points off

of turnovers.

“It was just bad decisions that we made; getting a little excited at the wrong time,” Anderson said. “That definitely deals with youth. It’s just a matter of learning how to value the ball and not getting too excited to where we can’t take care of it. The turnovers are huge. You’re giving a team thirty more opportunities to score, that’s a killer.”

The Tigers had three other players in double-digits. Domino Miller had 14 points on the night, Breanna Dillard put in 11 points and Beulah Osueke had 10 points. Osueke, Dillard, Sarah Pugh and Elise Holman each had four rebounds, tied for second behind the leader Adams.

Danielle Dixon had another solid night for the Lions with 13 points, and Ashlee Johnson scored 10 points in the second half to come away with 14 total. Oliver lead the team with seven rebounds, and La’Tisha Hearne grabbed 6 boards, despite only playing 12 minutes.

Anderson was unhappy about the loss, but said her team is still in a stage of trying to assess how they operate in game situations and which individuals can play specific roles.

“We’re still trying to figure out which players are going to be consistent. Tonight, Ashlee Johnson came back and did some things for us. She’s going to compete. It’s nice to see Devin Oliver come back again and play well. We need to get more scoring from our bigs more regularly, and that leads into rebounding, too.”

The night was also characterized by a high amount of fouls for both teams, as the officials called a tight game. Anderson said this had no impact on how her team performed.

“The reality is we have to make the adjustment as basketball players and recognize that if it is called tightly we need to move our feet better and keep our hands off,” she said. “The officials in our conference do a good job in staying fair. There was nothing they did to take us out of our game. It was a matter of just us not necessarily doing the things we needed to do to be successful.”

Despite being the birthplace of soccer and having one of the most famous leagues in the world within its borders, the United Kingdom has managed to fall behind in the women’s aspect of the sport. That is where the United States takes a lead role, and this knowledge helped convince freshman Jade Bell to hop across the pond and become an A&M-Commerce Lion.

“I’ve always wanted to come out to America, because the women don’t have professional leagues in England,” she said. “It’s not a massive thing over there.

Our college football just isn’t as big, university football just isn’t as big; it’s just so much more known over here and the support is so much better.”

Bell grew up in Ramsey, a market town in the county of Cambridgeshire about two hours north of London.

She started playing at a very young age and knew quickly that “football” [soccer] was something she wanted to keep as part of her life.

“It was my brother, actually; he’s 21 now, a few years older than me,” Bell said about how she began playing. “He used to play for our local club team, so I used to go along to training with him. Eventually when I got old enough, about the age of six, my own age team were like ‘come and play, come and join in with us.’

So, that’s what I’ve done and ever since then, I’ve just been playing football all my life.”

She went on to play through the age groups and into women’s soccer in England, but with the lack of opportunities in the sport in her homeland, Bell felt America was the best choice

for her to continue playing and broaden her horizons.

“I was happy to go anywhere, to be honest,” she said. “I just wanted to come out here, have the experience and have the opportunity. One of my coaches back in England knew someone in Austin College (located in Sherman, Texas), and they recommended this one to us.

I got in contact with Neil [Piper], and it just went from there, really.”

Her arrival in Commerce marked the first time Bell had ever been to the United States, and while she may have had some “culture shock,” her new home is not as foreign as would normally be the case.

“I had been told this place was a small town and there was nothing here, but I lived in a small town in England so it kind of suits me,” she said. “Still, everything seems so much bigger: space, buildings, the road, trucks, the food.”

Bell also had to deal with an unusually hot summer, even for Texas, when she began preseason training with the rest of the Lions squad.

“I think I was expecting it to be worse than what it was,” she said. “It was still really, really hot. And now that it’s getting cooler, it’s starting to feel cold to me.

Going back to England, I’m pretty scared.”

Foreigners coming to United States to play soccer, especially in college, are sometimes faced with heightened expectations based on their origins. Bell said this has not been the case and she feels the team has brought her in like any other player.

“It was obviously different from them to see somebody from across the seas and all that, but they adapted well and got to know me as if I

was always there and one of them,” Bell said. “They didn’t expect anything more of me because I was from England, but expected me to be good and want to be here.”

Actually, Bell has found more ways to enjoy the sport she loves since coming to play for A&M-Commerce in Head Coach Neil Piper’s new-look Lions team.

“In my club team, they didn’t play at the highest level,” she said. “We played some good football at times, but the majority was long ball and run onto it. So to come here and actually play football and pass it, it’s so good. I really enjoy it and it makes me happy. Rather than just chasing balls all day, just to get it down and play it, it’s really good.”

Another thing Bell said she has discovered in the U.S. is a new value for education. Now she says getting a degree has become of equal importance to progressing in soccer.

“I loved my education in England, but I didn’t see myself going to university in England at all,” she said.

“I was happy to just get a job, play football and just do that. Now that I’m here, I want to get a degree and do well in my education as well as football.”

Bell remains undecided on a major, but a college degree is something she wants to obtain. After that, a look toward professional women’s soccer is not completely out of the question.

“If something comes about at the end of my four years, then definitely,” she said. “I would love to do that, I really would. I’ve always just wanted to play at the top level and play as high as I can.

My education will obviously come with it, but football is my main point, I think.”

Reddies prepared for Lions home opener Staff Writer Janna Harrell

KRISTIE CARD / THE EAST TEXAN

The Lions dropped to 0-2 with the stumble in the home opener Nov. 18.

The Texas A&M UniversityCommerce women’s basketball team suffered a double-digit loss to the Henderson State University Reddies, 71-48, in their first home game on Friday Nov. 18, making their overall record 0-2.

The Lions’ shooting percentage was the deciding factor in the game. While all other key stats were similar between the Lions and HSU. Lions almost doubled Reddies in offensive rebounds (21-11) and turnovers were almost identical (25-24). However, Lions field goal percentage was 28.8 percent, while Reddies was 50 percent. Lions percentage from the arc was 7.7 percent,

and HSU’s was 38.9 percent.

Danielle Dixon shot the team’s high with 13 points.

Ashlee Johnson followed her with 11. Johnson also led the team in free throws (7-8).

Kaneisha Flournoy scored six points with four assists.

Breanna Harris led the team in rebounds with four offensively and two on defense.

Four others from Henderson State scored in double figures.

Only two players became close to fouling out, Flournoy and Abigail Leaupepe-Tele, with four fouls each.

At the break, Reddies had the lead with a 14-point difference. Then, Lions almost caught up to HSU with a score of 38-27. However, that was the closest Lions got for the

rest of the game.

“We didn’t play at all the way we were capable of playing,” head coach Nicole Anderson said. “We played a total of seven minutes of good Lion basketball. The game plan was in place, but the matter of execution did not happen, the reality of it is we’re going to come back and we’re going to work on guarding and protecting the basket.”

The player that impressed Anderson the most during the game was Johnson. Anderson believed she brought a winning edge that the team needed, and she really came ready to play. “(Johnson) is the one that shows the heart and the fight that we need from everybody,” Anderson said.

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