The East Texan S TUDENT NE WSPAPER OF TE X AS A& M UNIVERSIT Y- COMMERCE SINCE 1915
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Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
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eclipses others
Policy discourages drinking adam troxtell sports editor
For the last issue of the semester, we are proud to present the community of Commerce with a special 16-page holiday edition of The East Texan. We hope this helps you get into the spirit of the season. We will see you in the spring.
The Honors College has taken steps to discourage its members from underage drinking by implementing a threestrike policy. In an e-mail sent by Dean of the Honors College Dr. Raymond Green to students, he
states a first offense will result in the loss of that student’s book scholarship, a second offence would result in a loss of scholarship for the next two semesters, and a third offense would result in the student being removed from the Honors College entirely. “I had tended toward a onestrike policy, but that did not
seem to be working,” Green said. “It’s just to let the students know up front what the penalty is as opposed to dealing with it on a case-by-case basis.” Honors College student and sophomore biology major Mary Mason said the change of policy has not significantly affected her. “I’m apathetic about it,”
Mason said. “That rule hasn’t changed me at all, because I’m not stupid enough to get caught. If you are stupid enough to get caught drinking underage, then yeah, you deserve to be punished.” The e-mail was the second of two sent by Green to Honors College students this semester
Gamma Phi sings to victory
Weather
Thursday H: 61 L: 37
Friday H: 64 L: 45
Saturday H: 68 L: 39 HEATHER PILKINGTON / THE EAST TEXAN
Members of Gamma Phi Beta perform at the Kappa Delta Sing Song competition on Nov. 18. This was the second year in a row that the members of Gamma Phi Beta won the singing competition.
Sorority wins Sing Song for second year heather pilkington staff writer
Sound off What would you like to see changed in The East Texan? Sound offs updated Friday night
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Members of A&M-Commerce sororities and fraternities gathered for Kappa Delta Sing Song, an event hosted in honor of Kappa Delta’s national philanthropy Prevent Child Abuse America. The event featured four group performances and four filler acts. The groups competing were Sigma Chi, reigning champions Gamma Phi Beta, Kappa Alpha Order, and a non-Greek group known as the Skulls. In between each group, a filler act took stage to allow the groups to prepare quickly. Filler acts for the night where comprised of JD Wilson, a member of Kappa Alpha Order, Roman Ashmore, member of Kappa Sigma, Delta Tau Delta Alumni Stephen Beach, and Doulton Schweizer, a member of
Delta Tau Delta. Coordinator of Greek Life Amber VanLue-Johnson, Administrative Assistant to President Dan Jones and Kappa Delta Alumna Linda King, and Coordinator of Leadership and Student Organizations Connie Kercher acted as judges for the event. “It is exciting to see our students when they are at their creative best,” VanLue-Johnson said. “The experience was enjoyable, I laughed a lot and loved seeing another side of my students.” In honor of Kappa Delta’s 50th anniversary, the ladies decided to choose a theme that would honor their 50 years. This year’s theme of KD Sing Song was “A Blast from the Past.” The idea is for the competing groups to use songs from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s and ‘00s. “This is impressive because I haven’t been to a KD Sing song in
so many years,” King said. “Everyone did such a good job.” Among others, the Kappa Alpha Order performed the 1964 hit song “My Girl” by the Temptations and Sigma Chi performed Tenacious D’s 2002 single “Tribute.” Preparation for KD Sing Song took a lot of time and effort. “It took a week of practice,” Kappa Alpha Order member Adam Tovar said. Kappa Alpha Order centered their performance around comedic relief as member Wayne Grabow took on the role of Forrest Gump. “We where sitting at the house thinking about the past and Forrest Gump came to mind,” Tovar said. Grabow kept the audience laughing with quotes from the movie such as, “My momma always See SING page 5
We will continue to post new stories online through Dec. 10. Thank you for a wonderful semester. We look forward to bringing you more news in the spring.
See STUDENTS page 4
Investigation finds elevators to be safe James bright editor
An investigation by The East Texan regarding the safety of elevators on campus has yielded information substantiating that they are all in proper working order. All inspection documentation and safety requirements for the elevators have been met, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) guidelines, as well as state and federal law. According to provisions in Senate Bill 279 and House Bill 1090, all elevator owners must prominently display documentation that their equipment has been inspected. All owners of the elevators are required to post the Certificate of Compliance for the elevator in a location readily available to the public. Public Information Officer for the TDLR Susan Stanford said locating the certificates in a separate building is acceptable. “As long as anyone can view them in a timely manner, then they are in compliance,” she said. The law requires that every elevator have a plaque with the TDLR’s phone number and location of the certificates. They must also be set in at least 18-point font. All elevators are in compliance with this regulation with the exception of Journalism Building’s elevator, which has a paper with the information posted. However, Stanford said that is adequate. The law also states elevators must be inspected every 12 months. A&M-Commerce has met this requirement by keeping all inspection certificates in the Physical Plant. Though the updated inspection certificates have not arrived, invoice documentation shows all elevators on campus have been inspected in the last year and are all in compliance. Electronic Utilities Supervisor Gary Williamson said the university contracts out to thirdparty firm Thyssen/ Krupp to do monthly maintenance on all campus elevators. He said the organization will come out if any
See ELEVATORS page 4
Page 2
OPINION
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
www.theeasttexan.com
Residence hall beds are unacceptable Quotes out of Context
JORDAN WRIGHT STAFF WRITER
Working as a reporter, in addition to staying on top of class work, is among the most stress“Quick, someone say something crazy,” ful endurance tests I Chancellor Mills, Opinion Editor. have ever had to face in my short life. Keeping a “She’s not emo. She’s just stupid,” James tight schedule of writing Bright, Editor. stories, typing up term papers, doing reading “They’re on Indian crack,” Jasmin Brown, assignments and setting Copy Desk Chief. up interviews often leaves “Sodom Me Elmo does the duty,” Jared me drained of energy and Watson, Digital Media Editor. carrying a bad migraine by the end of the day. “NEO DIED,” James Bright, Editor. Despite these daily issues, however, I find that what gives me the strength to make it all more bearable is a good night of sleep. I only wish that my bed was willing to cooperate. As a resident of Smith Hall, my room contains to “raise hell.” A design the same twin-size matqueen critiqued every inch tress as every room of the of every paper I ever helped hall. The problem with produce and showed me this is that I outgrew twintalent I never knew I had. size mattresses about five Lastly, I had an adviser who years ago. When I want took the full force of the to relax, I prefer to have repercussions of my decimy limbs stretched out as sions. These people are the much as possible, so I find heart and soul of journalit rather discomforting ism at this university, and to know that, by stretchfar too often, they are not ing my legs out to their recognized for the work full length, my feet end they do. up on my desk. Don’t get JAMES BRIGHT Then there is the mayor me wrong, I don’t expect EDITOR of Commerce, who support- to get a bed fit for a king, ed our efforts at increasing but I’d also appreciate not As the adage goes, “All community coverage from good things must come to day one of my administraan end.” After three semestion. This man was always ters of being the lone editor accessible and always of The East Texan, I feel it available for a quote, even is time to relinquish my CHANCELLOR MILLS when a story may not position. OPINION EDITOR It has become somewhat have pertained directly to him. This is a man whom I a tradition that the second So, I can’t endorse watched stand his ground in command or top dog explicitly murdering hookand continue fighting for of The East Texan writes a ers in an article? My bad. I what he believed was right, goodbye column. I see no didn’t know. even when hardnosed reason to break this trend. Those who read my “grandmas” put him in an Rather than spend my articles probably know awkward position. He has allotted space complainexactly what I’m talking made this city truly a priviing about my problems at about. For those of you Commerce, or taking cheap lege to cover. who read, chuckled and Lastly, there are certain shots at those who have went on living your life, people who made the big crossed me, I have decided you did the right thing. to compose a thank you list, stories possible. Anyone who has followed The East This article is CLEARLY because thanks is really all not for you. For the rest of Texan’s work over the past I have to give after my time two years is fully aware that you – settle down, would here. you? Naturally, I have to start both myself and multiple I’ve written on a wide decisions I’ve made as with my wonderful staff, a variety of topics this seeditor have been continugroup of about 10 amazing mester, ranging all the way ing subjects of controversy. people who have followed from giving you kiddies my lead and took this paper Between all the bad blood weight loss “tips,” to eduand dirty water, I have to from an eight-page joke cating you on the best way thank the people who made with no online presence to the controversial news posa publication that covered sible. You trained me to be our school and the comthe journalist I am. Without munity, as well as creating your influence, job offers a website that is updated and potential prospects daily. They followed me, would be closed to me. You trusting in my decisions have proved, as it turns even when I wasn’t sure if I out, someone is reading was making the right calls. this paper. Your work has I’m not saying the paper is created ours and given rise perfect, but without you, I to a website that receives an would never have stood a average of over 700 hits a chance of improving this day and a publication with publication to the status is return averages of around carries today. What’s more, my friendships with each of 10 percent. I owe you the biggest debt of gratitude. you have become uniquely As for me, I don’t know wonderful and have kept whether I’ll be with The me going when nothing else could have. You are my East Texan in some capacity next semester. Decisions I family. cannot yet make lie before Although I learned a me. All I know is that I’ve great deal from my staff, I cherished my time with this think my two journalism publication and I know the instructors and my journalwork I was a part of will ism professor are equally continue under the guidresponsible for my success. ance of my close friend and A wise-cracking doctor successor Caleb Slinkard. constantly encouraged me
“I out Catholic-ed you,” Jared Watson, Digital Media Editor.
Editor says farewell
WEBSHOTS.COM
The beds in the residence halls at A&M-Commerce can make students feel like they’re being stabbed in the back.
having to curl up every night just to fit on a mattress that I was probably too big for when I was 16 years old. Even ignoring the size of it, the mattress is just flat out uncomfortable. I’ve slept in sleeping bags and on carpeted floors that were more comfortable than this bed. I’ve actually bought a layer of foam to lie under the sheet to make the surface softer and I still find myself waking up every hour to shift positions. I am not an insomniac by
any stretch of the imagination. So when I wake up exhausted from five to six hour nights of sleep, there is a serious problem. Every day, I count the minutes to the weekend that I get to return home to Dallas to my full-size feather bed, but ultimately any surface is an improvement over my dorm mattress. On my last visit home, I managed to fall asleep on my living room couch, in a sitting position. Two months ago, while staying with friends, I slept on their
old, slightly lumpy couch, and somehow woke up a mere five hours later, fully refreshed. My lack of comfortable and decent sleep has left me tired, frustrated, and phoning in several days of work just to get a few more minutes of shut eye. In a field that requires me to actively stay on top of things, that is not good. I can only hope that residential assistance heeds my words and shoots for mattresses that are at least more supportive of the human body.
Opinion: Columns are meant to be satire
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, classification (grade level) and telephone number. Mailing address is The East Texan, P.O. Box 4011 Commerce, Texas 75428.
to survive a horror film. In every one of them, there is a clear, distinct formula and just a hint of truth or helpful information, with a little dry satire drizzled on top. But that’s all it is – satire. For those genuinely concerned for my mental well-being, don’t worry about me. I’m sure I need hourly counseling, but I’m not suicidal, homicidal, genocidal or any other kind of -cidal. I’m also not bulimic or addicted to drugs. For the rest of you, quit being so sensitive. And for those of you who are currently reading this from prison, sorry if you were dumb enough to take
The East East Tex Texan an The Established 1915 JAMES BRIGHT Editor Caleb slinkard Managing Editor
JARED WATSON digital media Editor
ADAM TROXTELL Sports Editor
kat huffines Graphics Editor
CHANCELLOR MILLs opinion editor
MEGAN CAREY ART SCENE Editor
jasmin brown copy desk chief
Savannah Christian Campus life Editor
ARIELLE MCMAHON STAFF CARTOONIST
my advice on the hooker thing. And I’m not just talking about my readers being overly sensitive. It’s starting to happen more and more in my real life because of my use of what some might consider potentially offensive colloquialisms. Nowadays, there isn’t a single person I know who doesn’t use something mildly offensive to address their friends. It’s for this reason that you can’t be so offended when someone you know calls you something random like “jerk” or “b****” or “ c************.” I get called an “a** hole” all the time by people I’m not even close to and it doesn’t
offend me. So, if you walk into the room I’m in and I say, “Aw, this b****,” you shouldn’t be offended either. Just reply in an equally harsh manner and move on. With this point, I must bring my “bitch-fest” column to a close. If you take anything away from reading this column, let it be this: I am not here to incite your anger or offend people in any way. I’m simply here to entertain and shock you into guilty laughter. Take anything I say in these columns with a big ol’ helping of salt, because I will NOT retract my opinions and this author will NOT be restrained.
CONTACT
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214-564-0633
Fred Stewart Faculty Adviser fred_stewart@tamu-commerce.edu
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OPINION
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
Editorial: Elevators are still scary Though we have it on reliable authority, from both university and outside sources, that all 33 elevators on campus are in safe working order, we are still of the mind that using the nearest staircase is preferrable to riding the elevators. It is reassuring to know, occasional entrapments not withstanding, that on-campus elevators are safe for those who might not have the option of using a staircase, such as those who are elderly, handicapped or transporting items that cannot be safely handled while climbing or descending stairs. Furthermore, the necessity of having to travel several stories is often reason enough to use an elevator. After all, taking the stairs to the top floor of Gee Library would harldy be appealing to a tired and/or timeconstrained student, faculty or staff member. And for most students who live on the top floors of Whitley Hall, stairs are hardly a viable option for everday use. Yet, feeling an elevator shake and hearing it creak as it makes its way up and down is not likely to boost confidence from a safety perspective. Not to mention the fact that getting trapped in an elevator would harldy be a way to brighten anyone’s day. However, it is reassuring to know that the on-campus elevators are acting as designed when they stall, so as not to continue operating under potentially dangerous circumstances.
So, while there is nothing to fear safety wise from the elevators, the thought of losing 15 to 20 minutes trapped in one is not an appealing one. Honsetly, most of us could probably use the exercise that comes from climbing a few flights of stairs four or
more times a week, minimal though it may be. The bottom line is, on-campus elevators are convenient and safe if they work. On-campus stairs may not be as convenient, but at least they always work. Just you watch your step.
Check us out at theeasttexan.com for more news content and info. The website will be updated daily until Dec. 10
SGA: State of the University address
TAYLOR FORE SGA PRESIDENT Greetings everyone! For the past seven months, I have had the honor of serving as your Student Body President. As the representative for the student body, one of my many roles is to serve on the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board (CSAB). This board consists of two representatives from the 13 schools in the Texas A&M System, the student body president, as well as one other appointed representative. This year, we conducted a survey from all schools in the system and we are
now using the results to talk to our legislators. In January, the CSAB will go to Austin during the legislative session in the hopes of making a difference in this issue. As the leader of your Student Government Association, I am trying to make this campus as functional as possible, as well as an institution you are proud to be a part of. Our Senate has been hard at work on many different projects throughout the semester and is looking forward to the spring semester. At one of our first meetings of the fall, a student brought up some concerns regarding bicycle safety and the lack of bicycle racks on campus. Our Campus Security Committee was able to work with our University Police Department (UPD) on installing more bicycle racks across campus. UPD also informed the committee of laws regarding bicycles on campus. The committee
brought these results back to senate and senate has been able to educate our student population. The Academic Affairs Committee is working with our Provost Dr. Lemanski on a few different concerns regarding academics. Our Food and Housing Committee has also been highly engaged this fall. New Sodexo manager Charles Lear has been very diligent about encouraging student involvement and organized the student board of directors for Sodexo. The group gives feedback regarding our dining services. One result of the board has been bringing back straws to the Cafeteria. The housing aspect of the committee has been working with Dennis Koch on the interior design of the new residence hall. When we return in the spring, we are going to reach out to our satellite campuses in Mesquite and Corsicana.
We hope to establish a liaison position that can work directly with our Student Government Association in the future. Also, we have recently revised our constitution and will be sending the document out for student approval. The vote will take place Dec. 8 and 9 through myLeo. This document is very important because it is the rules and backbone of our organization. With half of an academic year left, SGA continues to look for ways to serve you. If you have any concerns that you would like for us to address, please let us know. We have a great relationship with our administration and would love to do the groundwork for you on ideas or concerns you may have. We can be reached by e-mailing me at Taylor_ Fore@tamu-commerce. edu or by attending any of our meetings Wednesdays at 6 p.m. in the Pride Room.
Editors’ Christmas Wishlist
James Bright
Lack of accountability sparks frustration
CALEB SLINKARD MANAGING EDITOR
ARIELLE MCMAHON / THE EAST TEXAN
Chancellor Mills
Jared Watson
For Christmas, I want:
For Christmas, I want:
For Christmas, I want:
1. A job
1. New clothes
1. A studio mic
2. A job!
2. Pair of TOMS
2. A steak dinner
3. A JOB!!
3. Mo’ money
3. A snow day
Page 3
Growing up, my twin brother and I got into plenty of fights. It seems like we were almost always in trouble. Whenever we were caught, my mom would march us to her room. “Who started it?” she would ask. “He did,” we would say, pointing at each other. This did us little good, since she would simply punish both of us. But I felt better when I blamed my bad behavior on someone or something other than myself. It seems like that is all this world wants to do nowadays. Of course, by this world, I mean the slice of the world that I interact with or see through the lens of national media, but I think most people would agree this observation is accurate. At least about other people. This isn’t a column bashing medication for people with psychological ailments, or claiming that ADD or ADHD doesn’t exist. I know that physical and emotional abuse can be very damaging for people and those people should take the steps necessary to receive proper counseling and treatment. I would be the first person to refer such a person to psychologist or psychiatrist. No, what pisses me
off is when people blame their problems, mistakes and general bad behavior on external sources. It’s not your parents’ fault that you routinely skip classes. Your ex-girlfriend isn’t evil for breaking up with you, and it’s not her fault you’re emotionally screwed up. It’s not your professor’s fault you have a lousy grade, or the highway patrol’s fault you got a ticket, or Obama’s fault you can’t find a job – that was Bush’s fault, I think, or Clinton’s, depending on whom you ask. It’s your own damn fault. OK, maybe the most recent recession isn’t your fault, but the rest is your responsibility. Maybe your girlfriend cheated on you, broke your heart, trampled on your emotions, etc., and it is her fault that you’re an emotional wreck. But she doesn’t control your life, you do. Maybe your parents’ idea of raising you was sitting you in front of the TV with an old Cool Whip container full of Cheerios for 8 hours while they argued. That sucks. But you’re an adult now. It is time to take charge of your life and stop wasting time blaming your problems, real or contrived, on others. I’m not advocating repressing feelings. My advice is merely to “man up.” Let’s face it: life, or at least a large portion of it, sucks. Most of it probably isn’t your fault. But that doesn’t mean that you should go around blaming your problems on other people. Set an alarm, go to class, read books, educate yourself, get a job, exercise. Or don’t better yourself and the world around you. Either way, you have no one to blame but yourself.
SUDOKU STYLE * Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order * Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order * Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 Puzzle courtesy of: dailysudoku.com
Last Week’s Solved Puzzle: 6
9 1 4 4 9 7 2 6 2 7 3 6 7 6 1 5 4 8 9 2 1 6 3 2 8 1 5 6 1 5 3 4 7 2 8 5 9 8 9 4 3 2
7 2 8 1 9 4 5 9 6 8 4 7
Page 4
NEWS news
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
www.theeasttexan.com
CALEB SLINKARD / THE EAST TEXAN
A new policy was passed in which all Honors College students are subject to a three-strike penalty system. Disciplinary actions are varied depending on the strike, the most severe of which is removal from the college.
...students put on new drinking policy Continued from page 1 about underage drinking. Between the e-mails, sent on Sept. 23 and Oct. 25, the University Police Department reported at least three alcohol-related incidents involving students in the Honors College. On Oct. 17, one student had to be hospitalized after consuming Four Loko and vodka after he had taken a prescribed medication. The following weekend, UPD officers responded to a call involving a potential domestic dispute to find one of the subjects of the supposed incident unable to get up because that person had “drank too much.” The next day, another UPD officer arrested one student for consumption of alcohol by a minor. “There have just been a handful of incidents this semester of students drinking underage that were pretty severe,” Green said. “It wasn’t just somebody was caught with a beer, it was legal and physical trouble.” Green said it is part of his job to ensure the students remain safe. “I have a handful of responsibilities as the dean of the Honors College, but two of the biggest are to take care of my students and to protect them, and in terms of
that, it would break my heart to see my students hurt themselves, whether legally or physically,” he said. “The other responsibility is to maintain the reputation of the Honors College.” UPD Crime Information Officer Jason Bone said while officers do not go out searching for underage drinking, they do take a tough stance on the issue. “I don’t think we set out in particular to look for that,” he said. “It’s just when we’re roaming the halls and see it, we have a zero tolerance policy. If we catch someone drinking, especially underage, drinking, you will get a citation or you will get arrested. Those are the only two options.” Bone said the reason UPD takes such a stance is because they know what will happen to underage students caught consuming alcohol. “The law now requires, if you are underage, that you have an alcohol education course, you will lose your license for 30 days for the first offense, and then you have the associated penalties which could be a fine or jail time,” he said. “So it’s actually not a bad thing we are zero tolerance, because a lot of times alcohol stuff is an
educational thing.” Bone also said the policy was good for younger students who are new to alcohol. “Especially your younger students that first come in, some of them haven’t had alcohol,” Bone said. “When you are home in high school, you still have the ‘Mom and dad might catch me’ thing. You don’t have that here, so some of them tend to go nuts.” Green said he does not see the younger Honors College students as the main source of the problem. “I would not blame this current class [of freshmen],” he said. “I think they’re doing a very good job socially and academically. I am not naïve. I’m sure that for four years now people have been having drinks at times, legally or not. It’s just they sort of seem to be increasing, and if we had created the perception we were OK with that, then I wanted to remove that perception.” Green also said he has heard good things from Honors College students about the new policy. “I have gotten a lot of positive feedback from students that they’re happy a public stance was taken on the best way to behave,” he said.
...elevators safe Continued from page 1
issues are reported with the elevators. “They make sure it is in a safe operating condition,” he said. “They get looked at more than once a month.” There are 33 elevators on campus, and according to police reports, there have been 21 instances this semester in which people were trapped for some duration of time. Of those 21 instance, one was due to a power outage, three were due to an accidental button push, and five times the subjects reported to be in distress were gone by the time the police arrived. The TDLR’s Chief Elevator Inspector for the state of Texas Lawrence Taylor said that while this number is a bit high for 33 elevators, the entrapments actually indicate that the elevators’ safety mechanisms are working JARED WATSON / THE EAST TEXAN effectively. “Being caught in an ele- Despite concerns regarding elevator safety, an investigation by The East Texan proved that all elevators on vator is not a bad thing,” campus are in good working order and safe to ride. he said. “If an elevator detects a problem and tions from qualified inspectors,” he he said. “Not that students are unistops, it’s working. When it shuts said. “The law specifies the need versally to blame (for elevator probdown with people in it, it is doing for these inspectors to meet certain lems), but their rough ways can what it is supposed to.” requirements. If they are licensed trigger events that will cause the Taylor said although the certifica- with the state, they can perform elevators to shut down.” tions are through TDLR, it is usually elevator inspections in the state Anyone concerned about the third parties like Thyssen/Krupp of Texas.” elevators can contact the TDLR at who actually perform the elevator Universities are known for hav- 512-463-6599. The inspection certifiinspections. ing elevator problems, according cates are available for viewing at the “There are provisions in the law to Taylor. Physical Plant and can be requested that require us to accept inspec“Students are hard on elevators,” by any member of the public.
GRAYSON GRAVES / THE EAST TEXAN
Quarterback Adam Farkes moves to a safe passing location during a game this season. He was the starting quarterback during the Oct. 16 game.
Lions game seen on TV JERIC GRIFFIN STAFF WRITER
The Oct. 16 football game between A&MCommerce and Tarleton State University was broadcast on KTXA-21, a Columbian Broadcast Society (CBS) local television station. Traditionally, television stations pay universities for the rights to broadcast their football games, especially at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level. Since their games do not draw the same number of television ratings as the larger teams, there is a special program for Division II schools to receive grants from the NCAA to pay networks for television broadcasts. The grants are applied for and awarded to the Division II conferences, who then distribute the finances to their respective universities. In exchange for the grants, the NCAA requires awarded schools to promote Division II athletics during the broadcasts. Lone Star Conference (LSC) Commissioner Stan Wagnon was responsible for A&M-Commerce’s grant. “NCAA Division II has a fund for Division II schools who wish to broadcast games,” Wagnon said. “Since the fund is only avail-
able for conferences, we applied for the grant on A&M-Commerce’s behalf. In exchange, A&MCommerce promoted the NCAA Division II throughout the broadcast. The grant was for $10,000.” The A&M-Commerce athletic department paid the remaining cost of the broadcast, a total of $5,050. In addition to the $15,000 paid by A&MCommerce, CBS also received money through advertisement. A&MCommerce President Dan Jones spoke about the advertising side of the broadcast. “We paid [CBS] to broadcast the game and they made money off advertising,” Jones said. “We pay the difference in the price of the broadcast since they don’t get huge ratings like a University of Texas game. Division II sports are important, they’re just not as advertised as the bigger schools. Sports at every NCAA level are a big part of the overall college experience.” A&M-Commerce’s $10,000 grant through the LSC from the NCAA is 66.3 percent of the cost of the $15,000 broadcast. The $5,050 paid by the Athletic Department went to Jeff Watts Productions, the company that produced the broadcast of game on KTXA-21.
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news
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
Page 5
CALEB SLINKARD / THE EAST TEXAN
CALEB SLINKARD / THE EAST TEXAN
CALEB SLINKARD / THE EAST TEXAN
Owner of Benson Brothers Towing company Jason Cunningham addresses the council about money owed to the city by he and Mayor Quay Throgmorton.
Mayor Quay Throgmorton shakes the hands of Wendell Edwards and John Greer for their work with an organization responsible for honoring police officers.
More than 50 people showed up at the Nov. 16 City Council meeting to address the issue of building a skate park in Commerce. Political science professor Barbara Lenington led the meeting.
City council meeting raises questions about money, skate park ADAM TROXTELL SPORTS EDITOR Jason Cunningham, owner of Benson Brothers Towing, gave a presentation to the council members regarding a fee his company owes to the City of Commerce. The $200 payment is required by all towing companies that do work for the city so they can be placed and regulated on a rotation list. Cunningham said he does not see why this payment should be required of him, since his business is the only towing company in Commerce. “If you look at the ordinance, it says for keeping up with the rotation list,” Cunningham said. “The list doesn’t exist. I’m the only one here, and I’ve been the only one here for the last eight years. They’ve never pursued the issue of $200, because the police chief has always said there is no rotation list because there’s just one here.” There is no punishment for
not paying the required fee, but Cunningham said it is not about the cost. “I can pay $200 and it will not affect me in one shape, form or fashion,” he said. “I’m not a rich man, but I can afford $200. If I refuse to pay it, there’s really nothing they can do. I’m going to pay the $200 if they want their money, but it’s just a redundant deal.” During his presentation, Cunningham cited a case involving Mayor Quay Throgmorton and money he owes from a real estate project started in 2004. According to records Cunningham requested from the City of Commerce, one payment of $34, 887 was made on a $73 thousand project for sewer alone. The contractors who did the sewer, McKinney & Moore, received their money. A $7 thousand payment was given to the city in 2007 when the project was finished. “Right now, just from the lawyers and accountants that have looked at it that I’ve
presented it to, there’s as much as $30 thousand laying on the table that hasn’t been paid back from his project,” Cunningham said. “It’s really either a sweetheart deal for the mayor, or somebody dropped the ball and didn’t pay.” While Cunningham said he is not saying Throgmorton has done anything illegal or underhanded, he said having to pay $200 when more money is owed to the city by the mayor, according to city documents, seems a bit strange. “I’m not accusing him,” he said. “I’m just saying it looks to me like, by the city’s own records, there’s some $30 to 100 thousand laying out there that he owes. He wants to come get me for $200 to be on a list that doesn’t exist, yet, he owes that amount of money. I haven’t seen him in an effort willing to pay, and I haven’t seen the city going out anything. But this little situation needs to be corrected.” The second major presentation of the evening came when
A&M-Commerce Adjunct Instructor of Political Science Barbara Lenington and her son Hunter Lenington proposed that a skate park be built in Commerce. Barbara said her son came to her with the idea after having difficulties skating on the streets of Commerce and on the A&M-Commerce campus. “The park will get us off the street and college grounds and provide healthy exercise,” Hunter said. Barbara said the park would help skaters and the city. “[Skateboarders] are not intentionally damaging anything, but a bench is not designed for a skateboard,” she said. “It provides [Hunter] a healthy activity outside. My hope is to get him off the streets and into a safe environment.” The project for an eight to 10 thousand square foot skate park would cost $150 to $200 thousand. Barbara said a group of citizens is already working on fundraisers, and
Empty bowls feed hungry people, animals ADAM TROXTELL SPORTS EDITOR The Sociology & Criminal Justice Society (SACS) is hosting the Empty Bowls Food Drive and Pet Food and Supplies Drive from now until the end of the fall semester. This is the first food drive hosted by SACS, according to sociology graduate student and SACS President Cori Holden. She said the members of SACS want to get more involved in the community. “It was kind of a collective effort,” Holden said. “SACS has been an organization on campus for a while, but it hasn’t been very active. Dr. Villlanueva-Russell took it over and we had elections, and I’ve decided I really want to make it really active and really focus on the community. We were trying to think of stuff we could be doing throughout the year.” SACS is asking people to
Photo Illustration by Kat Huffines
bring non-perishable SACS plans to donate food and/or personal pet supplies to an animal care items to one of the shelter in Wolfe City. dropoff areas, either “We’re donating to in the Ferguson Social the one in Wolfe City, Science Building Room because they are a no-kill 210, the main lobby of shelter,” Holden said. the Morris “They Recreation really just “They really just Center, need basic need basic things, Whitley things, Hall or and I’d really like to and I’d Prairie really like be able to provide Crossing. to be able The some of the things to provide donated some of they need. So far, items will the things we have cat food be given they need. to two and thats about it.” So far, we food panhave cat tries: First food and Presbyterian Church that’s about it, but we in Commerce and Fish want some blankets, cat Ministries in Greenville. litter, blankets, collars, “We want to be able to and just some of the get enough food to take basic things the shelter it in and be proud of the needs.” stuff that we’ve raised,” Sociology graduHolden said. “We want ate student and SACS to take it into the food Historian/Treasurer pantry and make a dent Amandah Norman asked and make sure people the food drive to extend are able to eat.” to pets as well. For the second half of “I just think someEmpty Bowls, times they get overlooked,” she said. “Every time I go to the shelter to pick up an animal, they’re always asking for volunteers, whether it’s to work there or just to volunteer their time or to give products.” SACS member and graduate student Chritina Gammon said giving to pets is just as important around the holidays as giving to families. “It’s important because pets are our best friends,” she said. “They are hungry as well. If families aren’t making enough money to feed themselves, then they’re
also not making enough money to feed pets, so you’re just going to have a lot of hungry pets. That’s not good either.” Villanueva-Russell said SACS members thought it was appropriate for them to host charity events such as this because of the area the students plan to work in. “Several members felt that as social scientists, we had an obligation to not just learn about the inequalities in society, but to do our part in addressing and ameliorating them,” she said. “Rather than just hosting social events, most of the students in SACS also wanted to give back, particularly to the Commerce community.”
she thinks the city can use hotel/motel tax money on the project since it will bring in tourists. “We know it would bring money into Commerce, because we know it would bring people in,” she said. “We think it would be a welcome addition to our parks and rec[reation] and hope you provide it to us.” Throgmorton said the city cannot do anything financially, as the budget for the current fiscal year has already been set. “Basically, all we can do is hear the presentation,” Throgmorton said. “This is not an action item. We’ve already set our budget for this year. If you can continue to coordinate with parks and recreation, I think we can move this forward.” Mayor Pro-Tem Richard Hill said he supported the idea. “We think it’s great to have something different for the youth in town, and I support you 100 percent,” he said.
...Sing Song draws Greeks, others for charity night Continued from page 1
said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get,’” and saying “Jenny” multiple times throughout the dialogue. KD Sing Song also features a Dagger Court each year, which a group of men who assist the sorority in a number of ways. This year’s Dagger Court was comprised of Caleb Culver, Shea Rodriguez, Adam Tovar, Tyler Sheppard and J.D. Wilson. Rodriquez was named this year’s Dagger Man. “I enjoyed being able to award our Dagger Court,” Kappa Delta President Jewell Malick said. “They are a great group of guys.” The night’s win-
ner was the reigning champion Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Their performance was themed around the hit television show “Glee.” The performance consisted of Britney Spears’ “Toxic,” followed by Grease’s “We Go Together,” Aretha Franklin’s “I Say a Little Prayer,” TLC’s “No Scrubs,” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.” “The Gamma Phi Beta performance was great,” Malick said. “They had a great theme, strong team work and poise.” Gamma Phi Beta was not the only winner of the night. Delta Tau Delta Vice President Doulton Schweizer won best filler act with his version of a Jack Johnson song and John Mayer’s “Why Georgia.”
Open mic night
JAMES BRIGHT / THE EAST TEXAN
Several students and members of the community showed up to listen and perform at Cowhill Express Coffee Co. for Open Mic Night Nov. 16
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Joe Martello of the Commerce Fire Department is the first certified paramedic to work for the department. Martello, who has worked for the CFD for two and a half years, also serves as Emergency Management Coordinator for the Cooper-Delta County department. Martello began his career as a machinist, but decided to move on to a vocation with more job security.
Martello brings new skill set to Commerce Fire Department MITZI Y’BARBO STAFF WRITER The Commerce Fire Department (CFD) has its first certified paramedic in Fireman Joe Martello. Every CFD fireman is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), but Martello is the first to complete the year-long certification program to become a paramedic. Martello has been with the CFD for two and half years, and began serving as Emergency Management Coordinator for Delta County a month ago. Martello’s first career was as a machinist, but he realized that most of that type of work was being outsourced overseas, and
grew tired of worrying about having a job in the future. His wife works in the medical field, and he said he has always enjoyed helping people when given the opportunity. These factors combined to prompt him to enroll in the Fire Academy in Sulphur Springs in October 2004. He completed the academy in March 2005 and joined the Cooper-Delta County department where he worked for five years. Martello and his wife just celebrated their 20th anniversary. They have two sons, ages 10 and 13, and live on a portion of family land in Cooper. They spent a few years building their home from the ground up and enjoy spending
time together there. Martello and his sons spend leisure time hunting and fishing on their land. He said that his family “likes spending time together just hanging out.” Martello said he enjoys the energy and sense of giving that his job entails. “(I like it) because of the adrenaline rush,” he said. “I really like doing things for people and helping them out.” Martello said the hardest calls to handle are those involving children, particularly one case in which a 2-year-old child drowned east of town. “That was really hard,” Martello said. “Kids aren’t always responsible for their circumstances, but calls involving adults are
This year’s Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant celebrates poise and beauty MEREDITH SHAW STAFF WRITER Senior Avis Hicks was crowned the 2010 Miss Black and Gold Scholarship Pageant winner on Nov. 11. Sophomore GraShawna Briscoe was named 1st runner-up, sophomore Unswella Aukton was 2nd runner-up and sophomore Kala Oaks was voted Miss Congeniality. Eva Melendez also participated in the pageant. The Zeta Tau chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity sponsored the pageant. “All of the girls did a great job,” Pageant Judge Bryan English said. “We wanted the winner to be confident, poised and beautiful inside and out. I thought Avis had all of those qualities.” The pageant began with a dance routine performed by the participants, then Master of the Ceremony Donnavan Lewis, gave the welcome, followed by an invocation by Albert Sinegal. Next, each participant came on stage and said a few things about themselves and why they wanted to be Miss Black and Gold. “I feel someone who is Miss Black and Gold should be a woman whose life goal is to empower others in word and in action,” Hick said during her introduction. “And I believe that woman is me.” After their introductions, the contestants went to change into swimsuits while Lewis introduced the judges. The judges were: Benny Jenkins Jr., Bridget Jenkins, Yolanda Lewis, Bryan English, Tyron Williams and Grace Williams. A few of the girls were hoping to use the swimsuit portion and the rest of the pageant to help them
become more confident in front of large crowds. “I hope this pageant will remove me from my comfort zone,” Oaks said. “Relieve some of my stage fright and help me become more comfortable in front of large groups of people.” While the girls were changing out of the swimsuits, the musical group The Instruments entertained the audience. The Creative and Performing Arts segment was next. Melendez recited the poem, “Keep Your Sorrys,” Aukton recited the poem, “Sisterless Sister,” Hicks performed the song, “I’m in Love with Another Man,” Briscoe performed the song, “Should’ve Known Better,” and Oaks did a Bollywood-inspired dance. “I enjoyed the singing performances, but the dance looked like a lot of fun too,” audience member Taelah Wooton said. The girls then participated in a Q-and-A segment, in which they chose questions by picking a rose to which a question was attached to. “Beauty involves personality and character, not just outward appearances,” she said. Hicks was asked what the biggest education problem of today is. “Non-active parents are the biggest problem with children’s education,” she said. “They are the driving force for students and if they aren’t there to push their children in academics, who will be?” While the judges tabulated scores, refreshments were served and a dance floor was opened. Finally, the winners were announced. Hicks was very grateful for her first-place award. “I have set high goals and standards for myself,” Hick said. “With God’s grace, I can achieve all of my goals.”
90 percent stupidity.” The 12 firemen and chief for the CFD work in 24-hours shifts from 7 a.m. to 7 a.m. and are then off for 48 hours. They each have a bed in a room shared with someone from another shift, which gives them a private room while on duty. Each fireman contributes $10 per day for meals. Any leftover funds are kept in a kitty for special occasions, such as birthdays, when the families are invited for a special celebration. Each room has a pantry with a refrigerator that they can keep locked. The CFD has 3 to 4 firemen on call per shift. The paramedic
and driver respond to all calls in one of the trucks. If the call involves a wreck or structure fire, both trucks are dispatched. Fireman Donny Powers, a seven-year CFD member, said Martello is a hard worker. “Martello is an asset to the department,” Powers said. “He does a good job.” Fire Chief Brian McNevin also said Martello is a valuable member of the CFD. “Martello is very dedicated,” McNevin said. “He never missed a single day in over a year of paramedic training. That just shows the commitment that Joe has to this department and the people he serves. We are blessed to have him.”
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Greek organization presidents: Part One
Senior business administration and account-
Senior general business major Jewell
Alphi Phi President Ashley Thornton (left), is a junior
English and second education major, has been with the
ing major Megan Hendrix has served as the
Malick, president of Kappa Delta, is driv-
art major at A&M-Commerce and has served as
sorority for more than two years.
president of Chi Omega for three years.
en by a desire to give back to others.
president for the past year.
Gammi Phi Beta President Kayla Morgan, a senior
Gamma Phi Beta
Chi Omega
Kappa Delta
Alpha Phi
Senior English and second education major Kayla Morgan has been in Gamma Phi Beta for more than two years and now serves as its president. Morgan was attracted to Gamma Phi Beta because she knew that it was a place to be all she could be. “Gamma Phi felt like home,” Morgan said. “I walked in and I fell in love with the girls, especially Jennifer Wanka, who was one of the most amazing and beautiful women I had ever met. She made me want to be like her. I wanted to be a part of something that helped to shape women into being the best versions of themselves, and that was Gamma Phi.” According to Morgan, one thing she really likes about Gamma Phi Beta is the members themselves. “My sisters are the best part of my sorority,” she said. “I have the most amazing sisters in the entire world. They are so real and honest, and I love that who they are when I met them is who they have continued to be.” Morgan hopes that she and her sisters are making the founders of this chapter of Gamma Phi Beta proud. “I think that our founders would be proud of the women we are and how far we have come from where we were when I joined,” she said. “We had 8 members when I joined and it was a rough time. We now have a chapter of 42 and we are going strong. That type of dedication and hard work makes me proud to be a Gamma Phi from the Gamma Zeta chapter.” Next semester, Morgan will be student teaching and plans to graduate in May. After that, she hopes to be chosen for the Collegiate Leadership Consultant Program, in which she will be able to stay involved with Gamma Phi Beta by traveling around the country and working with her Gamma Phi’s.
This will mark the third year of Chi Omega presidency for senior business administration and accounting major Megan Hendrix. Hendrix was attracted to Chi Omega more by the sorority itself and less by the people in the sorority. However, the members of the sorority didn’t make the decision a difficult one. “I went through formal recruitment during fall 2007 and what attracted me to Chi Omega was their national reputation, their known campus attitude of always being womanly and classy, and their presentation,” Hendrix said. “TAMU’s chapter is full of women who want to reach higher goals and express class in their everyday lives.” Despite her approaching graduation at the end of this semester, Hendrix is certain that the benefits of being a Chi Omega will stretch well beyond commencement. “The best part of being a Chi Omega is the sisterhood and connections,” Hendrix said. “Half of my bridesmaids are Chi Omega sisters and the girls I’ve met here will be lifelong friends. The connections and networking Chi Omega offers to each member is huge and opens up so many opportunities during and after college.” Hendrix will be starting her graduate work next semester. After that, she hopes to go to work for a corporation in the budgeting field and eventually try to work her way up the U.S. Department of Treasury.
The president for the Kappa Delta sorority is senior general business major Jewell Malick. Malick said that one of the things that attracted her to Kappa Delta was the idea of finding sisterhood. “The thing that attracted me to KD was the sisterhood and the connection I felt right away,” Malick said. “I felt comfortable and felt like I had found a place that I could call home.” Malick’s desire to give back to others also drew her to Kappa Delta. “I was really interested in the philanthropies that we worked with, such as the Girl Scouts and Prevent Child Abuse America and knew that I could make a difference by being a part of an organization that stood for so much,” she said. Malick is confident that being a member of Kappa Delta, especially as president, is preparing her for life after college in various ways. “The best part about being a KD is knowing that I have my sisters by my side and knowing that it will prepare me for life out of college,” she said. “I have learned so much being in a leadership position that I know will carry on into my life after college.” After she graduates from A&M-Commerce, Malick plans to go to law school to study constitutional law.
Junior art major Ashley Thornton has been president of Alpha Phi for the past year. Thornton got involved with the sorority through friends and said she found a home away from home. “I really knew the girls really well before joining,” she said. “I joined in the spring through informal recruitment. I was really looking for a place to belong and Alpha Phi was that place for me.” Besides growing close to her new sisters, being in Alpha Phi has allowed Thornton to grow closer to her actual sister. “This past semester, my sister Heather joined Alpha Phi and it was so exciting getting to share my experiences, this sisterhood and all the secrets with her,” she said. Thornton is currently working on her all-level certification in art and plans to teach art once she leaves A&M-Commerce. - CHANCELLOR MILLS OPINION EDITOR
This will be the first in a series of articles by The East Texan showcasing the presidents of the Greek organizations on the campus of A&M-Commerce. The article features the presidents of the four wellknown Panhellenic sororities on campus: Gamma Phi Beta, Chi Omega, Kappa Delta and Alpha Phi.
Professor opens home to students for Thanksgiving CHANCELLOR MILLS OPINION EDITOR For many students, Thanksgiving is a time to go home, eat a home-cooked meal and spend time with family and friends. However, for some international students, traveling home during the short winter break is not an option, which is why Dean of Graduate Studies and Research Dr. Allan Headley has taken it upon himself to bring Thanksgiving to them. Headley was hired by the university and then asked to be the faculty adviser for the Caribbean Student Association. Since then, he has been hosting a special Thanksgiving dinner every year for some of his international students. “Once thing that I quickly noticed is that over the Thanksgiving break, most of the Caribbean students were not doing anything when I would ask where they were going for the break,” Headley said. “They would indicate that they would be here on campus. Of course, that makes sense, since they have far distances to travel if they were to go home for such a short period of time. It was at that point that I decided to invite them down for Thanksgiving dinner, with a Caribbean twist, and to spend
the afternoon at [my] place.” Aside from simply wanting to give his students a place to congregate for Thanksgiving, Headley also hosts the dinner for his students because he can relate to their situations. “One of the main reasons why my wife and myself decided to have students over, especially international students, is that I, in fact my wife also, were international students many years ago,” he said. “And as a result of that, I realize the need for times just to get together throughout the academic year, especially at Thanksgiving.” Over the years, Headley has broadened his Thanksgiving dinner invitation to include more than just his international students. “I am also a chemistry faculty and most of the students who have worked in my lab over the years are international students,” he said. “After about a couple years of having this, I started to invite the students from my research lab also and they would ask if they could bring their friends, and so that brought in additional students.” Headley thinks that what he is doing is and will continue to do will be beneficial in many ways to the students he has over every year. “This is especially beneficial to get students together
with similar culture and background,” he said. “They really enjoy getting the time away from the campus to eat food that they are accustomed to and talking about various topics from ‘back home.’ Another important aspect is that having students in a home setting for times like these makes a big difference in the academic lives of our students.” Over the years, many of Headley’s international students have graduated and moved on. However, some students, like Instructor and Mentor for the College of Business and Technology Omar Brown, were hired on at the university after graduating. To Brown, Headley’s invitation every year was more than just an invitation to a simple dinner. “The occasion generally consists of a feast, which includes Jamaican, American, Caribbean, vegetarian and Asian cuisine,” Brown said. “We would play board games, watch television, dance, play the Wii, share memories and stories, laugh and have a good time. There are a few things that have become tradition, like taking a group photo on their master staircase, and I have to get one specifically with my family. The veteran visitors also have a tricky
Courtesy of Dr. Allan Headley
way of saying we do not like a certain food item in hopes that others won’t try it and there will be more portion for the smart ones.” Another graduate student who is employed by the university is Admissions Counselor Dimitri Lyon, said that the Headley’s hospitality has made him feel more at home in Commerce. “His family has been very
welcoming and enables international students to find a home away from home,” Lyon said. “Dr. Headley always has an open door policy and indicates that his home is always open, and not restricted to Thanksgiving holidays. I sincerely appreciate all that Dr. Headley has done for me over the years. His family is now my family, and the rock that I stand on when I need them the most.”
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ART SCENE
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Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
Fromage du Jour A weekly look at film cheese
2.BP.BLOGSPOT.COM
“Clone Hunter” comes close to receiving zero Shatners, but it actually attempts to develop its plot. 2.BP.BLOGSPOT.COM
The last time Gyllenhaal and Hathaway teamed up in a film was in “Brokeback Mountain” (2005), in which they played doomed lovers, mainly because of Gyllenhaal’s character’s homosexuality. This time around, the pair’s on-screen chemistry is free and easy.
Romantic dramedy attracts audiences over holiday due to Hathaway’s nudity JARED WATSON
DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR
You may have heard a few things about the movie “Love and Other Drugs” already. You may have heard it’s a movie about the erectile dysfunction drug Viagra. You may have heard that co-stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway are very naked for significant portions of the film. While both those items are present, especially the second, they really just serve as window dressing for a surprisingly touching story that, if you can wade through some nonsense, is well worth watching. Gyllenhaal stars as Jamie Randall, a natural salesman who is just as proficient closing deals in the bedroom as the sales floor. After being
fired from a retail job at an electronics outlet, his brother gets him an entrylevel sales job at Pfizer, the pharmaceutical giant responsible for drugs such as Zoloft, Xanax and, about halfway through the film, Viagra. Those expecting hardhitting social commentary on the pharmaceutical industry will be very disappointed. The movie almost has to remind the audience what Jamie’s job is at times, and the entire business storyline fades into the background halfway through. The reason for that is, early into his career as a budding drug salesman, Jamie meets Maggie Murdock (Hathaway), a free-spirited artist who is in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. They soon wind up in bed (with very little left to the viewer’s imagination), and
much of the rest of the film is about the complicated decisions they both must make as their relationship grows. The movie only drags when it turns away from Jamie and Maggie, which it unfortunately does often. The movie can’t seem to figure out what it wants the focus to be, and furthermore doesn’t decide whether it wants to be a love story or a screwball, boner-joke-laden comedy. As funny as it is to see Jake Gyllenhaal in an emergency room with a pillow over his privates, it detracts here. But the worst part of the movie is Jamie’s immediate family. Jamie’s brother Josh (played by “Daily Show” correspondent and Jonah Hill stand-in Josh Gad) is easily one of the most annoying, reprehensible and unwanted characters in recent memory, which
JAMES BRIGHT / THE EAST TEXAN
The lastest presentation from the University Playhouse is the holiday musical “Sanders Family Christmas.” The play features faculty and students.
University Playhouse Christmas feature stars faculty, students CALEB SLINKARD MANAGING EDITOR
The University Playhouse will present “Sanders Family Christmas” from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5 just in time for the holiday season. The play, which was written by Connie Ray and Allan Bailey, will be directed by A&M-Commerce Instructor Jim Anderson. “The play will feature a mixture of faculty, students and community members,” Anderson said. “Our auditions are open to anyone.”
The play will feature an itinerant Gospel group consisting of mother and father Vera and Burl, Uncle Stanley, daughters June and Denise, and son Dennis. Set a few weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the Sanders family has traveled to Mount Pleasant, North Carolina. Dennis has recently volunteered for the Marine Corps, so this might be the last time the family is able to perform together. A&M-Commerce junior speech commu-
nication major Amanda Barrow plays Denise Sanders, the black sheep of the family. “She’s kind of a ditsy, naïve girl,” Anderson said. “During the play, she joins the USO (United Service Organization), which scandalizes her family.” As a member of the family, Barrow will sing, a talent she used in the production of the Patsy Cline production. “Before, my family and friends didn’t really know I could sing, so when they came and saw
is made worse by the oversized amount of screen time he has. Every second he is on screen is nothing short of excruciating. All these flaws would doom the movie were it not for Anne Hathaway. Maggie is a complex and heartbreaking character, and the on-screen chemistry between her and Jake Gyllenhaal is free and easy. We want them to end up together, and we want them to plow through all the roadblocks that the movie throws in their way. In the end, this is a pretty formulaic romantic story, with a few extra spoonfuls of nudity than your average chick flick. However, the lead characters are so charming it doesn’t matter. The movie loses focus often, but every time it zooms back in and focuses on Jamie and Maggie, you are compelled to watch. Patsy Cline they were surprised,” she said. “It is nerve-wracking, though. You shake a lot.” Denise’s twin brother Dennis will be portrayed by A&M-Commerce sophomore communication student Cole Risner. “Dennis is a recent graduate of Culloway Bible School is now enlisted in the Marine Corps,” Risner said. “He has faith in what he is called to do.” Uncle Stanley is played by Jefferey Stirl, fresh off of his role in the most recent University Playhouse production “Iphigenia.” “He’s a born-again Christian with a troubled past,” Stirl said. “He served in World War I, so he knows the horrors of war firsthand.” Stirl said the musical aspect of the production appeals to him. “I’ve done several musicals before, but this will be my first Southern Gospel one,” he said. “As opposed to plays where you generally have to wait until the end of the performance for the crowd’s reaction, you generally get an immediate reaction in musicals.” “Sanders Family Christmas” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 with a special 3 p.m. performance on Dec. 5. Tickets are $3 for students and children, $8 for senior citizens and $10 for adults, and can be purchased at the University Box Office at 903-886-5900.
“Clone Hunter” doomed by zero-budget effects JARED WATSON
DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR
You have to give micro-budget sci-fi directors some credit. It takes a special kind of person to get up in morning, look themselves in the mirror and say, “I’m going to make the next ‘Blade Runner’ on a budget I couldn’t buy a Big Mac with,” and do it with a straight face. These indie pioneers never let things like awful actors, bad writing or atrocious special effects stand in the way of the realization of their creative vision. In the case of a movie like “Clone Hunter,” it’s evident that the director’s best clearly isn’t good enough. I can see how, with a much bigger budget, a marginally entertaining movie could have been made with these parts, but as it is, it’s a train wreck. The movie follows a mercenary named Cain, who, along with his crewmate Rachel, is charged with retrieving the escaped clone of a planetary despot, but the mission quickly evolves into something much more complicated. The acting, surprisingly, is not bad. True, the actor that plays the escaped clone is the height of annoyance (especially his tendency to put the word “sexy” or “sexilicious” in every other line of dialogue), but the rest of the actors are competent, and if they were given more to work with, “Clone Hunter” may have actually been fun to watch. But, it really all comes back to that whole no budget thing. I’m usually willing to give a film some leeway about bad effects, but this film is crippled by the recycled and laughably bad quality of the visuals.
For starters, every time the heroes of the picture are flying anywhere on the planet, the same recycled CGI shot is shown in the ship’s view screen, and it’s blatantly obvious. Movie, it doesn’t matter if you show this shot forward, backwards, sideways or in black and white, it’s the same CGI hangar, and we all know it. Thanks for trying though. Really, the whole movie looks like a bad 90-minute CGI cut scene. Whenever action is about to happen, the frame rate drops to a stuttering five frames a second or so, like you’re trying to play “Black Ops” on a Super Nintendo. There is a speeder bike chase about halfway through that is literally unwatchable. And there are several attempts to sex up the movie that come out of nowhere. “Clone Hunter” is by no means the only film to ever have meaningless nude scenes, but when Rachel abruptly transforms (via a full-frontal nudity scene) from buttoned-down first officer to a Leeloo Dallas-style sex kitten, the effect is jarring and seems designed exclusively to inject some mindless T-and-A in the movie. All of this only gets in the way of any attempt to tell an engaging story. I can understand the ambition to want to tell a grand story with spaceships, speeder bike chases and blaster fights, but if the only way you can produce those scenes leaves audiences unintentionally laughing at the screen, maybe you should put your script through one more rewrite before you start shooting.
Verdict: Half a Shat
I have to give the makers of “Clone Hunter” a big “E” for effort for trying to tackle a project this big, but I have to judge a movie by what’s on the screen, and unfortunately, what’s there really isn’t very good. I’d like to see what this director could do with more money, but I certainly can’t recommend this one. - Jared Watson Digital Media Editor
Art Art Scene Scene
Page 10
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
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Fromage du Jour A weekly look at film cheese
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“Space Girls”: The only film to fail at being porn.
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The final installment in the “Harry Potter” movie franchise, which is based on the books by J.K. Rowling, is being broken into two movies, but audiences have nothing to fear considering the vast information being included from the books to equal a lengthy film of two and a half hours.
Bewitched audiences pay money for part one of final “Harry Potter” movie HEATHER PILKINGTON STAFF WRITER When Warner Brother’s announced they were splitting the final installment of the Harry Potter franchise into two separate movies, the reaction from fans was less than enthusiastic. However, the first movie did not disappoint. “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I” had everything moviegoers wanted to see. With the right blend of action, spectacularly timed British humor and whimsical love partnered with harsh betrayal, this movie sent audiences on an emotional roller coaster, made that much more emotional because of the impending end to the beloved series. Director David Yates toiled hard in his rendition of J.K Rowling’s New York Times Best Seller. Yates is no newcomer to the series, considering he formerly directed “Harry Potter
and the Order of the Phoenix” and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.” Yates is directing the final chapter of The Deathly Hallows. From the opening scene, to the final moments of the film, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I” mesmerized viewers. Growing up with Harry Potter and reading the entirety of the series, I was able to appreciate the subtleties in the growing relationships between the three best friends, Ron, Harry and Hermoine. The story remains a battle between good and evil as Harry and his friends quickly find themselves trekking on their own to continue Dumbledore’s quest to find the remaining Horcruxes, which are pieces of Lord Voldemort’s soul that can be used to weaken him, thus preparing themselves for the last and ultimate battle. For most of the movie,
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“Franny and Zooey” is a literature classic, although it is often overlooked in light of Salinger’s other popular novel “Catcher in the Rye.”
“Franny and Zooey” is Salinger’s other classic MEGAN CAREY ART SCENE EDITOR As unfortunate as it may be when J.D. Salinger is brought up in conversation, it is usually in reference to his reclusive nature and death or his most popular novel “Catcher in the Rye” about namby pamby schoolboy Holden Caulfield. However, unbeknownst to many, Salinger did indeed pen another
novel, “Franny and Zooey,” which chronicles the concerns of the Glass family and their four children. It is questionable whether “Franny and Zooey” is even a classic at all considering Wikipedia does not list it as a notable Salinger work, but without a doubt, the novel has cultural significance and deserves positive attention. The novel is divided into two parts, which
the trio’s companionship is tested as they spend a majority of the film fending for themselves in a dangerous, unwelcoming world of wizardry. Yet, through adversity and despair, Ron, Hermione and Harry prove that with a little bit of luck, love and the bond of friendship, anything can be accomplished. The film provides non-stop action and thrilling suspense in battles with Death Eaters like Bellatrix Lestrange and a weakened Lucius Malfoy, and in the plan of Voldemort’s extremely large snake Nagini and “He-Who-Must-Not-BeNamed’s” for the ultimate destruction not only of Harry, but the entire Muggle race. Once again, the entire cast measures up to their stellar roles. In fact, the acting is far better than in any of the last six movies. Since the film focuses around Harry, Ron and Hermione’s journey to find the remaining
pieces of Voldemort, the supporting roles in the movie are little more than cameos in which the actors remain on screen for less than ten minutes during any given interval of the movie. That being said, the light appearances are filled with superb acting skill, given the already exquisite plot, which all came together very smoothly. In the end, audiences will be left wondering, “What is to come of Harry and Company?” and, “Is it possible for the Dark Lord to be stopped?” Whether you are part of “Dumbledore’s Army,” well-versed in Harry Potter mania or just a simple “Muggle” with no prior knowledge of witchcraft and wizardry, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I” stands to offer a little something for everyone. I know I can’t wait to see what happens in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II,” which is set to release July 2011.
were originally published in The New Yorker in 1955 and 1957, respectively, and reads strangely since it jumps right into the plot introducing Franny having a spiritual breakdown. The two stories are related, each of the stories references Franny and the other her older brother Zooey, but they are very uneven. The first part, “Franny,” which is significantly shorter than the second, displays Franny as psychologically unwell and it is not fair to judge her for this first experience because the reader has no background on her life. The second part, “Zooey,” immediately introduces Zooey, who while lounging in a bath, intermittingly reads an old letter and a movie script and is increasingly rude to his mother Bessie. The reader, however, learns more about the Glass family in “Zooey” than in “Franny.” The letter Zooey reads is four years old and is from his oldest brother Buddy, written on the threeyear anniversary of their older brother Seymour’s suicide. The everlasting notion of family and the strong ties the Glass family incorporates in their day-to-day life is heavily pressed upon the reader. This novel is important, especially today, because of the themes it
presents. Franny’s spiritual breakdown brings about many connotations about religion, as well as the themes of family, love and intellectualism. The Glass siblings are all very close, a fact that stems from their stint on a radio talk show in which they became famous for their stunning intellect. Fame and its effect on children is developed as a minor theme throughout the book, as Seymour commits suicide and Franny has difficulty relating to her peers. Readers of all ages can identify with Franny’s issues with her peers’ phoniness and outright conformity, an idea that Salinger grapples with in his most famous novel “Catcher in the Rye.” Familial love is an enduring motif throughout the novel as evidenced in Zooey’s support for Franny through his use of their deceased brother’s knowledge, whom every member of the Glass family idolized, as he tries to tame her frantic mind. Although “Franny and Zooey” is an obscure novel compared to Salinger’s other work, it is no less of a classic and contains many lessons and thoughts to pass on to its reader. The novel makes readers think and compare their lives to those of the Glass family.
Film earns no Shatners for its un-porn status JARED WATSON
DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR
When you surf through the racks of cinematic refuse as much as I do, you understand that you always run the risk of accidentally renting porn. You’re not looking for it, and sometimes you’re watching an otherwise normal crappy movie and are completely blindsided by action that has nothing to do with spaceship fights or tornadoes made of ice. So, when I picked up “Space Girls in Beverly Hills,” I understood that there was a higherthan-usual chance that I rented a one-way ticket to NSFW-ville. But I was wrong. So very, very wrong. “Space Girls in Beverly Hills” is something much worse than porn. It’s a movie that has all the elements of an adult film except the one element that would make a person pick it up in the first place. That’s right, the paperthin plot, cheesy sets, and well-endowed but horrendous actors are all there, but there is no nudity or sexual content of any kind. This movie is un-porn. The movie stars Donna Spangler (who is also the film’s writer) as Katanna, a representative from an all-girl planet who, along with her two companions, is charged with finding suitable menfolk to bring back to their homeworld to help repopulate it. They decide to go to Earth, which is convenient, since it’s the only planet the film crew could shoot on, and crash in the Beverly Hills backyard of Baron Von Benson, an aging
playboy whose chief pastimes are trying to bed women and talking about trying to bed women. Does any of this NOT sound like a porno to you? But wait, there’s more! The Space Girls also sing. That’s right, there are multiple tepid third-rate ‘80s softrock musical numbers throughout the course of the movie, and from what I can tell, it’s the same song every time. If the horrible plot and acting didn’t make you want to shoot yourself, the Space Girls’ singing surely will. For what it’s worth, everyone involved seems to know how completely stupid this movie is. But just like knowing you’re breaking the law doesn’t make it less illegal, knowing the product you’re making is crappy doesn’t make it less crappy. It just makes you an idiot for continuing on with it. So, by an hour in, I didn’t care at all what happened to anybody in this piece of garbage, I just wanted it to stop, and when it did (after another song, of course), I sat in silence wondering what I’m doing with my life, and why I feel the need to torture myself with movies that are this bad. Oh, I almost forgot about the cat. In several scenes in the film, for no reason at all, there is a big Persian cat with wings, which is supposed to be flying in the background, but is clearly just sitting in front of a blue screen and trying not to fall asleep. It makes more sense than anything else in this movie.
Verdict: The Nega-Shat
There is no reason to see this. It basically presents itself as being an entry in the adult film genre without having any adult content. But don’t worry, there’s plenty of juvenile content in its place. - Jared Watson Digital Media Editor
Look forward to next semester for more “Fromage du Jour”
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SPORTS
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
Page 11
Men, women play in holiday tournaments SPORTS INFORMATION Women
A 13-2 spurt to start the second half by Ouachita Baptist sparked the Tigers to an 83-61 win over the Texas A&M UniversityCommerce women’s basketball team on Friday afternoon in the first day of the Dr. Mary Jane Gilbert Classic in Monticello, Arkansas.
A&M-Commerce (0-3) senior Mattilyn McIntyre scored a team-best 17 points in the loss. Freshman Bianca Stevenson and senior Tiffany Mitchell added 12 and 10 points, respectively. Ouachita Baptist (3-1) guard Nashia James had a team-best 17 points for the Tigers. A’Laeshia Adams and Beulah Oseuke, scored 13 and 11 points respectively to join James in double figures, respectively. The Lions found themselves behind by a 10-0 margin, just over two minutes into the contest. A&MCommerce failed to concede and worked their way back to eventually take a 23-22 lead when Stevenson hit a jumper with 6:39 left in the first half. OBU eventually rallied to take a 30-29 lead when Adams hit a three pointer with 42 seconds to go in the first half. The Tigers kept Sophomore Preston Whitley goes in for a layup during A&M-Commerce’s home game against St. Edward’s University on Sunday, Nov. 20. the lead for the remainder of the contest. McIntyre made one of two free throws with 17:20 left to cut the deficit to one, DARIUS ROSE a senior, I have to lead by Hambrick also said defense.” 32-31. However, the Lions STAFF WRITER example,” Singleton said. the Lions concentrate on Hambrick made some were unable to get any “I have been putting in defense because that is one big shots to help the lions closer in the defeat. The A&M-Commerce work since day one.” aspect of the game they pull off to a big lead. Despite a game-high 22 men’s basketball team St. Edward’s freshman can completely control. “I thought he had a difpoints from McIntyre, the continued a solid start to Matt Miner shot three for “We know on offense ferent perspective today,” Texas A&M Universitythe season by beating St. three from three-point shots may not go in, but Burton said “He finally Commerce women’s basketEdward’s University 64-44 range on the way to a one thing that is a constant start looking off screens ball team dropped a 73-61 on Saturday, Nov. 20 at team-leading 15 points. is we can play hard on trying to found ways to decision to host Arkansasthe A&M-Commerce Field This is the first game this defense,” he said. score the ball.” Monticello on Saturday House. season the freshman has Assistant Coach Jason Burton said the main afternoon. Senior Brian Singleton, scored in double digits. Burton said it is still difobjective for the team A&M-Commerce (0-4) who went 4-6 with 11 Junior Brad Hambrick ficult at this stage of the to work on this week is went on a 9-0 spurt, which points, 4 assists and 3 shot 6-12 for 15 points to season to maintain a high defense, and he thinks the included seven points by steals on the night, made a lead the Lions in the win. sense of urgency the entire players did a very good McIntyre to put the Lions in couple of big shots to start “We like to make our game. job executing it in the front early in the game. The off a 14-0 run. opponent feel useless on “It’s tough to keep that game. Lions sustained the lead “My hard work and the offensive end,” he said. level of expectation and “We played very good until UAM rallied to tie the dedication in practice, it “Our main focus is to disintensity,” he said. “We are defense,” he said. “That game at 24 with 5:16 left in has to reflect on how I play rupt timing and make their going to get there where was the focal point all the first 20 minutes. in a game, and since I’m offense uncomfortable.” we can play 40 minutes of week.” The two teams exchanged leads for the remainder of the half but the contest went into the break tied at 32 when UAM’s Jasmine Rush JON MCDANIEL played at Paris Junior hit the first of three 3 pointSTAFF WRITER College. He thinks playing ers to tie the game. there helped prepare him Arkansas-Monticello With basketball seafor A&M-Commerce. (2-3) scored the first four son underway, junior “After being named points of the second half to Desmond King hopes most valuable player my take the lead. The Cotton his past successes can junior year in high school, Blossoms never relinhelp the Lions win more I realized that I wanted to quished the lead and took games. play basketball at the coladvantage of shooting 46.9 King, who is averaging legiate level,” King said. percent for the win. UAM 12.3 points per game, said “I knew at that moment I had three players in double he thinks his first season had the skill and the drive figures including Alex Hart, at A&M-Commerce will to pursue it. My time at who had 19 points. She was be a memorable one. Paris Junior College prejoined by Jerica Hubbard, “I’ve been looking forpared me a lot for playing who had a double double with 12 points and 13 ward to the season,” King here. Coach [Ross] Hodge, rebounds, and Channon said. “The team is gelling who played and coached Haywood, who added 11 and we should have a real here, helped to prepare points. good season.” me for the next level of A&M-Commerce senior He said he began playbasketball.” Tiffany Mitchell added 11 ing the sport at a very King said he has points in the loss for the young age. already set goals for the Lions. Stevenson nearly had “I started playing basseason and has even forher first collegiate double ketball when I was four mulated a pregame ritual double with nine points years old,” King said. “My to put him in a focused and nine rebounds in 22 mother put the ball in my state of mind before each minutes of action. McIntyre hands and it went from game. was named to the Allthere.” “My main goals for Tournament team for her During his junior year this year are to just stay efforts during the last two at Peabody Magnet High healthy and to try and days. Next, the Lions will School, where he was a win a championship for continue a six-game series Desmond King attempts a jump shot in his first game as a Lion. four-year starter, King this team,” King said. away from home to start the coaching, but by teachtime player, like most kids season with their first Lone was named most valuable “To prepare for a game, ing,” King said. “Some growing up, was Michael Star Conference crossover player in the state tournatypically, I’ll put on some coaches just coach, but I Jordan.” game on Thursday night ment. He also led his team slow music that helps me feel with Walker is a betAfter completing at 5:30 p.m. against Angelo to the state title that year. mediate and relax. I also ter teacher on and off the his studies at A&MState. “Being named MVP just like to put on some Trey field.” Commerce, King said he Men meant the world to me,” Songz to amp me up as King said he also draws plans to continue playing King said. “It was one of well.” The Texas A&M the best feelings that I’ve He said the best way he inspiration from watching or stay around Texas. University-Commerce “After I graduate, I ever had in my life. It just can be successful at A&M- his favorite NBA players. men’s basketball team “Right now, my cureither want to go overseas extended an eight-point doesn’t get better than Commerce is to simply rent favorite player to and continue to play bas- halftime margin to an that. I felt accomplished follow Head Coach Sam watch and learn from is ketball or stay in Texas 88-54 rout of Texas A&Mand it was just a special Walker. and become a state troop- International on Friday thing for me.” “I believe Coach Walker definitely Kevin Garnett,” he said. “My favorite aller,” King said. afternoon in San Antonio. After high school, King prepares us by not just
Hilltoppers toppled by unbeaten Lions
Former Dragons star King hopes to shine
A&M-Commerce (3-0) forced the DustDevils into 28 turnovers that translated into 39 points for the Lions in the win. The 28 turnovers are the most by a Lions’ opponent since a 29-miscue game by Central Oklahoma on January 29, 2007. Five Lions scored in double digits and eight of nine players scored in the victory. Leading the way was junior Desmond King who had a game-high 19 points. He was joined in double figures by senior Tyris Dowell, who added 13 and three reserves, junior Brad Hambrick with 14, sophomore Preston Whitley with 12 and junior Stefon Carson. Texas A&M-International (0-4) was led by Will Faiivae, who had a teamhigh 11 points. The loss is the third by the DustDevils to a Lone Star Conference member. The Lions’ Brian Singleton hit a jumper with the clock winding down to end the first half to put A&M-Commerce up by a 44-36 margin. The shot sparked a 14-2 run to start the second half for the Lions, who took a decisive 58-38 lead with 14:37 left in the game. The lead remained over 20 points for the remainder of the contest. With five players in double figures and a stifling defense, the Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s basketball team raised its record to 4-0 with an 84-62 win over host St. Mary’s in the final game of the 2010 River City Classic in San Antonio. A&M-Commerce (4-0) took a 15-point halftime lead and turned up its defensive intensity in the second half to hold the Rattlers to just 28.6% shooting from the field. St. Mary’s (3-4) was led by the double double from Kevin Kotzur, who scored a game-high 29 points and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds. Outside of the production from Kotzur, the Rattlers were held to 43 points and 21.2 percent shooting. Lions senior Brian Singleton and sophomore Preston Whitley scored a team-best 17 points. Senior Tyris Dowell had a perfect statistical line in the contest going 3-for-3 from the field and 6-for-6 from the freethrow line for 12 points. The bench for the Lions outscored their St. Mary’s counterparts by a 31-16 margin. A key part of that was 13 points from junior Austin Brown and 12 more from junior Stefon Carson, who also added six rebounds and five assists to the cause. St. Mary’s Josh Orta hit a three pointer to put the Rattlers in front by a 15-14 margin with 13:01 left in the first half. Despite missing three-straight three pointers, the Lions rallied with a 9-0 spurt to take the lead for the remainder of the contest. Igniting the spurt was a three-point play by Whitley. The Rattlers would cut the deficit to as little as nine before A&M-Commerce would close out the opening with an 8-2 run to take a 42-27 halftime lead. The Lions turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and made 48 percent of their shots. A&M-Commerce spread the wealth of the scoring among eight players. Plus, Singleton and Whitley combined to knock down five three pointers. They also hit 12 of 16 free throws to conribute to the win. Next up for A&MCommerce is a Lone Star Conference crossover contest at Angelo State on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Page 12
sports
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
www.theeasttexan.com
A&M-Commerce Fall Sports Review Women’s Soccer
Volleyball
Results:
Results:
v. So. Arkansas, 3-1 L v. Okla. Panhandle, 3-0 W v. Fort Hays State, 3-0 W v. Ark.-Monticello, 3-2 W v. Henderson State, 3-2 L v. *Tex. Permian Basin, 3-1 L v. *St. Mary’s, 3-0 W v. *SW Baptist, 3-0 L @ West Texas A&M, 3-0 L @ Eastern NM, 3-0 L v. Angelo State, 3-0 L v. Abilene Christian, 3-0 L v. Texas Woman’s, 3-0 L @ Incarnate Word, 3-2 W @ A&M-Int’l., 3-0 W @ Ouachita Bapt., 3-0 W v. Tarleton State, 3-2 W @ So. Arkansas, 3-1 L @ Central Okla., 3-1 L @ SW Oklahoma, 3-0 W @ Okla. Panhandle, 3-1 W v. Midwestern, 3-1 L v. Cameron, 3-1 W @ Ark.-Monticello, 3-1 W @ East Central, 3-0 L @ SE Oklahoma, 3-0 L v. A&M-Int’l., 3-0 W v. A&M-Kings., 3-2 W v. Incarnate Word, 3-0 L *TexAnn Invitational Record: 14-15 (7-7) Kills/Set: 11.1 Asst./Set: 10.1 Attack Percentage: .159 Attack Errors: 600 Aces: 158 Serve Errors: 192 Digs/Set: 13.3 Solo Blocks: 69 Assisted Blocks: 251 Blocks/Set: 1.9 Block Errors: 43 Ball Handling Errors: 38
East Texan MVP of 2010
So., Rachel Robertson 2.98 kills/set, 75 total blocks, 3.6 points/set
East Texan Freshman of the Year
Jordan Neal 842 total assists, 39 blocks, 68 kills
v. Tusculum, 1-0 W @ Newman, 1-0 W @ Dallas Baptist, 1-0 L v. Harding, 2-0 W v. Fla. Southern, 2-1 W @ Texas Woman’s, 1-0 W @ Rollins, 1-0 L @ West Texas A&M, 1-0 W @ Eastern NM, 2-0 W v. Angelo State, 1-0 L v. Incarnate Word, 3-1 L @ East Central, 5-0 W @ N’eastern State, 0-0 T v. Central Okla., 2-2 T v. SW Oklahoma, 0-0 T v. Abilene Christian, 1-0 W v. Midwestern, 2-0 L v. *Angelo State, 1-0 L *LSC Tournament
Senior quarterback Adam Farkes is sacked by Angelo State defensive linemen during this season’s Harvey Martin Classic at the Cotton Bowl.
CALEB SLINKARD MANAGING EDITOR All football seasons have their ups and downs. As one A&MCommerce football player I talked to recently said, this year had a lot more downs than ups. The Lions began this year as favorites to win the Lone Star Conference North Division, and for good reason. While A&M-Commerce lost several key defensive leaders, such as Alex Contreras and Willie Green, the Lions were returning key players at offensive lineman, quarterback and running back, along with all of their receiving leaders. They also had one of their easiest schedules in recent memory. A&MCommerce played most of their games against weaker North Division opponents. Earlier in the year, I predicted a winning season, even going as far to say that, with a little luck, the Lions could even get close to double-digit victories. I looked pretty smart after the first game against Upper Iowa. Despite a scoreless first half, which was merely the beginning of offensive woes that would plague the Lions all season, A&M-Commerce came back to score 33 unanswered points. The offense was jump-started by freshman Kenzee Jackson’s (49 receptions, 451 yards) kickoff return. Jackson would continue to impress for the rest of the season. On the first defensive stand of the game, how-
East Texan Offensive MVP
East Texan Defensive MVP
Jr., Marcus Graham 815 rushing yards, 7 TDs
So., Danny Mason 99 total tackles, 2 sacks
ever, the Lions lost defensive star linebacker Cory Whitefield to a knee injury. His absence for most of the rest of the regular season was strongly felt, despite the tremendous play by sophomore standout Danny Mason (99 total tackles). In their next game, the third annual Harvey Martin Classic played at the Cotton Bowl, A&MCommerce got off to a quick start, but proved ultimately helpless as Angelo State rode their passing game to a 34-10 victory. That was the beginning of a threegame dry stretch for the Lions, who were shut out by Texas A&MKingsville 21-0 and only scored 21 points against Eastern New Mexico’s porous defense. Senior quarterback Adam Farkes (1,960 yards, 5 Tds, 16 Ints) struggled mightily, throwing for only one touchdown against four interceptions during that three game stretch. In their fifth game against Southeastern Oklahoma State, the Lions began to look powerful again, scoring 19 straight points
on the strength of junior running back Marcus Graham’s (815 yards, 7 Tds) 110 yards. Despite Southeastern’s comeback attempt, A&MCommerce managed to hang on for their second victory of the season. The Lions then lost three more games in a row to drop to 2-6 on the year, including a 31-point loss against Northeastern Oklahoma State University, a 34-31 squeaker at home versus Tarleton State in their first ever televised game, and a 24-10 defeat at the hands of Southwestern Oklahoma State. In the next game against Central Oklahoma, sophomore running back London Hamilton (378 yards, 4 Tds) had his best game in an A&M-Commerce uniform in relief of the injured Graham. Hamilton’s 90 yards on the ground and two touchdowns, paired with Farkes’ two touchdown strikes, helped the Lions squeak by UCO 31-30. It was the last Lions victory of the season. The next week against East Central, the Lions
marched the ball down the field to tie the game 33-33 with 44 seconds left, only to let up a lastsecond field goal. The close loss was typical of the Lions season. In their final game of the year against Incarnate Word, A&M-Commerce lost by one point 17-16 to finish the season 3-8, second to last in the LSC North despite a 100-yard effort from Hamilton. Despite the disappointing 2010 season, there were plenty of highlights and reasons to have high expectations for future Lions’ teams. Jackson was awarded LSC North 1st team offense and sophomore linebacker Danny Mason won LSC North 1st team defense. Graham received LSC North 2nd team offense. The Lions will be returning Hamilton, who filled in admirably as starting running back, Jackson, Mason and second-leading receiver Jillian Hayes (439 yards, 3 TDs). On defense, the Lions have plenty of potential playmakers in freshman defensive linemen Tevin Moore (23 total tackles) and Jake Williams (43 total tackles, 3 sacks). Redshirt senior J.J. Harp, who transferred from Eastern New Mexico after last season and had to sit out a year for transferring within the conference, will provide veteran leadership in the quarterback position. Head Coach Guy Morriss can’t be pleased with his team’s effort this season, but, as is often said, there’s always next year.
Record: 8-7-3 (4-4-3) Goals-Shots: 19-193 Shot Percentage: .098 Goals/Game: 1.12 Conceded/Game: 0.82 Shots/Game: 11.4 SOG/Shots: 96-193 SOG Percentage: .497 Assists: 13 Corner Kicks: 83 Yellow Cards: 20 Red Cards: 0 Total Attendance: 1079 Att./Game: 120-9 Top Scorer: Sr., Chelsey Haight- 7 goals Assist Leader: Jr., Devon Herrman; Sr., Megan Monroe3 assists
East Texan MVP of 2010
Sr., Chelsey Haight 7 goals, 2 assists 55 shots, 16 points
East Texan Freshman of the Year
Brionna Minde 1 goal, 1 assist 18 shots, 8 SOG
Tutor aids student athletes off the field JUSTIN CHEATHAM STAFF WRITER Hoyle Julian has been serving A&M-Commerce as a math tutor for more than a decade and was honored by the Heritage Society in 2000 and the Rayburn Society in 2005. The accolades are the least of his achievements at A&M-Commerce. “I taught in the classroom for four years after I retired,” Julian said. “[My wife, Ann Julian, and I] donated all the money to scholarship funds. I have never kept any funds from the university when I have been paid. This has been my giving back, I guess. We give a lot, but not as much as this school has given us.” Julian and his wife have set up a scholarship funds for students involved in everything from the performing arts and music, to math and agriculture. Helping students seems to be a
prominent theme in the life of the Julians. “I explain to the students that I do get paid, but not in money,” Julian said. “If they do well and make a good grade, then I get paid, and if they do well out on the track or field then I get paid again. The reason I tell the students now that my work is voluntary, is that I found out it makes a difference to them. It’s not that I need to be lotted for it; I get my praise when they do well in the classroom, but it makes a difference to the kids.” Hoyle normally helps student athletes in their study hall, but also takes out time to tutor individuals one-on-one. Sophomore Joel Day is a sprinter for the A&MCommerce track and field team, and he said Julian has helped him more than his actual classes. “In the past three weeks of tutoring, I have learned more than I have
all semester,” he said. “It’s a great deal of help and the motivation is good. And the way he explains math is a lot easier, it’s a lot easier to understand one-on-one. Plus, not getting paid is a pretty big deal and it takes a lot of time and dedication for something like that.” Even library workers, such as Library Assistant in Curriculum Zear Leane Roberts notice Julian’s deication. “I see him up here tutoring almost every day,” she said. “The kids seem to really respond to his teaching.” Helping students achieve success in the classroom has been a goal for Julian and a craft he has been honing for 10 years. “I enjoy the tutoring and I think it’s something that I cannot afford not to do,” Julian said. “I will probably have one or two students a year
who probably would not have made it otherwise. I used to say that I don’t offer anything that the math department doesn’t offer in the math lab, but I have come to find over the years that maybe that’s not true and maybe I do make a difference.” Student athletes are not the only students who have benefitted from Julian’s efforts. “She was making 50s and I talked with her and pumped her up,” he said. “Then she started making 70s on the last two tests, but she skipped the final. So I called her and she was lacking self-esteem. I talked to the head of the math department and told him I wanted to give her an incomplete and re-test her, and he said that they had never done that before. He ran it by the dean and the dean said okay. She took that test and made enough to make a D.”
Hoyle Julian has tutored numerous A&M-Commerce student athletes.
The East Texan Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
Holiday Special
Traveling costs affect homeward bound students Rachel Bai ley Staff Writer
JAMES BRIGHT /THE EAST TEXAN
Indian students mingle outside of class in the Journalism Building. A majority of international students have no choice but to stay on the A&M-Commerce campus during the Christmas break.
Students make due with break housing Mitzi Y’Barbo Staff Writer
Being “home for the holidays” is not an option for many A&M-Commerce students. According to Graduate Assistant Pratyush Kotturu, there are about 175 Indian students enrolled at the university, only about ten of whom are U.S. residents, and many have no choice but to remain in the Commerce area during the holiday break. “Students are notified via e-mail when we get close to a break (Thanksgiving, Christmas, spring), on how to sign up for break housing,” Residential Living and Learning Department Administrative Assistant Mandy Hill said. “They come to the Residence Life office to sign up. They can either pay for it then or charge it to their student account.” Kotturu said the break does not really affect Indian students who already live off campus.
Those Indain students who do live on campus either move to temporary housing on campus or stay with friends off campus. Hill said these students must make other arrangements for meals because the Cafeteria is closed during the holidays. “Cafeteria closing doesn’t really matter to us,” Kotturu said. “We don’t really eat there anyway.” Indian custom has specific guidelines regarding cooking of foods. They are not allowed to eat many meats, and foods cannot be prepared on the same grills or in the same ovens as forbidden foods. Sodexo has made an effort to accommodate the Indian culture by adding additional grills and utensils specifically for preparing their foods. “Most don’t eat there still, because it does not taste quite right,” Kotturu said. Indian foods traditionally contain many different spices and seasonings. The lack of them makes food
unappealing to Indian students. Kotturu said Indian students will provide for themselves during the break just as they do when classes are in cession. “(We will do) what we already do, share kitchens,” he said. Students who live off campus open their kitchens to fellow Indians who live on campus. “Other than this, we do not eat in town,” Kotturu said. “We go to other towns to find food to our liking.” According to Kotturu, organizations such as the Baptist Student Union host traditional American holiday meals and invite Indian students to participate. This is done partly to share holiday spirit, but is also used as a way to help foreign students understand American customs and society. “The American holidays, to us, are an extra break to use for studying or take small
See TR AVELING page 3
Many international students find themselves facing significant challenges as they eagerly plan their travel overseas to visit friends and family during the approaching holiday break. Many of these students traveled to the U.S. in pursuit of greater higher education opportunities. “There aren’t many doctoral programs for psychology offered in Thailand,” educational psychology graduate student Paweena Kosito said. “So I chose to pursue my Ph.D. in the United States even though it has caused me to move thousands of miles from my family and husband.” However, international students often face greater challenges than American students in travelling home for the winter break. “The hardest part about planning my travels was the high price of air tickets,” Kosito said, talking about her trip home to Chiang Mai, Thailand. “I am excited though to eat some yummy Thai food and spend time with my family.” Travel expenses are not the only obstacle international students face during the holidays. “Working and studying are the issues that would potentially prevent me from going
worthingtonscouts.org
back to visit my family,” Kosito said. Although the holiday break does not coincide with many of the holidays in their home countries, the students are thankful for the chance to have an extended break that allows them to travel home to see their relatives. Sophomore psychology/sociology major Anna Carmichael is traveling home to Australia for the break. “I work full-time when I am back home, so I am able to travel often,” she said. According to Carmichael, the most exciting thing about being back in Australia is being home in “civilization.” “(I get to spend) a month of summer over the Christmas time seeing my friends and family,” Carmichael said. Kosito said she looks forward to being back in Thailand. “(I get to) travel, eat food and lay down on a beautiful beach,” she said.
Civil service employees working through the holidays Colton Black Staff Writer During the holiday season, most people are able to take time off of work to spend time with their families. However, it is easy to forget that civil service workers often have to give up these luxuries during and on specific holidays. Police officers, firefighters and even doctors are among the many civil service employees who work throughout the holiday season. There are several primary differences in the way officers and other civil service employees work around the holidays in order to spend time with family and loved ones.
“Patrol officers get the same holiday time as everyone else,” University Police Department Crime Information Officer Lt. Jason Bone said. “The difference is that they may not get the actual holiday off.” In other words, the time normally given for a holiday like Thanksgiving, may be used as such: Saturday and Sunday as opposed to the Thursday and Friday that most people get off for Thanksgiving. Off days during holiday seasons are usually based on experience and seniority. “Usually, the exact day off is based on seniority,” Bone said. “A new officer
Check out A&M-Commerce student and faculty ‘Letters to Santa’ on page 2.
might have to work more actual holidays than a 10-year veteran, but that is not always the case.” Despite having to occasionally miss holidays, civil service employees willingly sacrifice their own comforts for the good of the community. “I have been in law enforcement for around 20 years,” Bone said. “I either had to work on Christmas or the night before for 10 years. Once you get used to it, you just schedule your time around that.” Officers are needed even more in the times surrounding Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. During October, the
total incidents resulting in tickets or arrest on campus was 75, according to the UPD crime log, that number was 32 incidents higher than the average for 2010 at A&MCommerce. Crime during holiday seasons is a worry for police officers. “Christmas is typically the burglary season,” Bone said. “New Year’s Eve is typically a time we would schedule more officers than normal.” Even so, all departments, whether medical, police or fire, are given the time they need to spend with family and loved ones, though it may not be on the actual day of the holiday.
Find out about the history of Santa Claus and other cultural traditions during the holiday season on page 3.
parenting.leehansen.com
Flip to page 4 for some can’t-go-wrong gift ideas for this holiday season.
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Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
Children’s Learning Center: sans-Santa Did you know Santa Claus was a religious figure? I sure didn’t, but that’s why cheery old Saint Nick will not be making an appearance at the Children’s Center during their annual party on Dec. 2. Now, I know this holiday character is derived from Catholicism, and so there are some minor religious connotations with this kindly old man. But who really knows that? No one today looks at this legend from a religious aspect, least of all children. In an effort to maintain political correctness, Santa Claus got the axe, so patrons of other religions who have holidays this time of year would not be upset that their respective patriarchs are not represented at the party. This is just silly. OK, so assuming Pere Noel represents Christianity, what is supposed to be the Judaic character? I was raised Jewish and don’t recall a rabbi touting the Menorah all over Israel for eight nights. There is nothing even remotely similar to Old Man Christmas in this faith. Chanukah is about a miraculous event and Jews celebrate it as such. Sure, there is gift giving, but most don’t lose sight of the story behind the lights. One man traveling all over the world to
Courtesy of Sharon Bright
At age three, James Bright partakes in the annual tradition of taking a photo with Santa.
give presents to kids has no connection to the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. There is no correlation here, so I don’t see this Semitic group having a problem with Santa popping in to give kids some gifts. At least Chanukah revolves around a religion. Kwanzaa, which begins Dec. 26, has no
religious basis. It is a cultural holiday. People can celebrate Kwanzaa and Christmas without any level of hypocrisy. The seven-day festival is centered on the reunification of AfricanAmerican culture. There’s no character at the head of this holiday either, so why should it infringe on Santa Claus’s work?
Lastly, I’d like to look at another religious holiday, Ramadan. Granted, this month of fasting does not always fall during this time of year, but it happens often enough to warrant merit. Muslims fast during this time to honor Allah. This is not a month of rejoicing, but rather a month of piousness and prayer. Hypothetically, if there is a child of Islamic faith who attends the party Dec. 2, just let his parents know what will happen during the event. If they have an issue with it, I’m sure they will find alternative means of childcare for that one day. The most obvious solution, and frankly the most pragmatic one, is to teach these children about each one of the aforementioned holidays. Instill a sense of tolerance in children from a young age. We as a society have become so afraid of upsetting our comfortable neutrality that we have slipped into complacency. Rather than educate, we cut. Rather than teach understanding, we push the good and the bad under the rug. It’s a trend that we have been spiraling down for the better portion of two decades and it’s high time we stopped this progression in its tracks. The sad reality is, as of right now, the world has become too serious for Santa Claus. The joy we all knew growing up is slowly sliding to its death, only to be replaced by fear masked as political correctness.
Letters to Santa Personal visits to Santa’s lap have always been popular with children. Shopping malls and civic centers everywhere hoist up their trees, wreaths and lights in preparation for his arrival. The same trends are seen every year. Kids are either deathly afraid of the fake-bearded man, or overly eager to get to him. Either way, he seems to find out what everyone wants for Christmas. Unfortunately, we, the students of Texas A&M University-Commerce, are adults now. We may be much too large to fit on Santa’s lap, but no one is ever too old or too big to write him a letter. Dear Santa, For Christmas I would like a potters wheel! Also, I would like lots of canvases and paint. I love art! I would like to thank you for the birth of our Lord and Savior because he is the true reason we celebrate this day. Also, thank you for my family, friends, beautiful sisters and wonderful fiancé. God is love. Always, Emily Jacks Dear Santa, So, I was thinking, and I know this year you are going to b extra busy, but here are a few things that I wouldn’t mind having. I want to play golf with Tiger Woods on the moon. I have seen the commercials, and I know it is possible so let’s make that happen. I want my own personalized parking spot on campus. I have seen spots reserved for certain people and now I want one with my name on it. So do what you gotta do; Dr. J. is usually pretty reasonable. Last but not least, I am going to need some x-ray vision goggles. Entering 2011, I know they will be a big hit and I want to beat the crowd to get them. Besides, why would I need to go to the doctor for x-rays if I have the goggles?
Dear Santa,
Dear Santa,
Please provide me with the means to provide a memorable Christmas for my family and friends. I will do my part if you provide the opportunity.
Although my colleagues at this university say you are not real, I still believe in you and your presents.
Sincerely, Anonymous
What I want for Christmas: A doggie An iPad and a doggie COD and an iPad and a doggie Thank you,
Dear Santa,
Hugo Macias Jr.
For Christmas this year I would like a pair of Sperrys, a North Face jacket, a Polaroid camera, a brown winter jacket, black leather boots, and a pair of Toms so I can also give a pair of shoes to a child who needs them! (Because every time you buy a pair of Toms you pay for a pair that goes to a child somewhere else!)
P.S. and I hope I get them or else!
Thank you Santa, Marlee Neeley Dear Santa, I am under a lot of pressure due to the patriarchal values that seem to dictate my education 50% of the time. All I want for Christmas is to be justified in paying this institution $3,000 per semester! Could you please ask the nice bookstore clerks to buy my nearly new books back for more than 1/8th of their worth? Also, could you replace the robot professors with real, live human ones?
Dear Santa, Most kids want unicorns, toys or something that no one knows exist. At first, I wanted a trip to Candy Island, but with recent discovery I found that a simple trip to the awesome Deepti’s office would satisfy that need. So it is official, all I want for Christmas is an acoustic guitar so that whenever my heart needs contentment music can fill that void. Love, Nassandra Wright P.S. Please give Mary J. an A because I want to give her a perfect gift and that is the only thing that will satisfy! P.P.S. I also need new glasses
Thanks so much. You are the best! Love, Mary Jane P.S. Please get Nassandra a new acoustic guitar so she won’t weep as much. Dear Santa, I don’t ask for much, but it has been a while since we’ve talked and I am back to say I would like a high definition 52 in. 3D television. I know what you are thinking. It isn’t much, so help me out with this one!
Sincerely,
Your boy,
Anonymous
Dq Sanders
Dear Santa, I would love a new car. Mel Stimpson
Hebrew holiday traditions James Bright Editor
ihssca.com
Staying warm with sports apparel
The holidays are a time in which people of many faiths and races celebrate for a variety of reasons. It is important to remember that Christmas is not the only holiday during this time period. Those of Jewish faith celebrate the festival of lights called Chanukah. Nowadays, the holiday is celebrated in a kind and sweet manner, but the history of this festival is actually rooted in violence. Beingjewish.com sets the origins of the holiday at 135 B.C. when the Jewish people, who were under Greek rule, were persecuted for worshiping God. The Greeks bent a little bit over time and allowed the Jews to worship as long as they also worshiped Greek gods. As this practice was a violation of Jewish law, a priest named Mattathias organized a revolt. He, his son Judas Macabee and a small band of Jews fought and won many battles against the Greeks despite overwhelming odds. During this time, there was one significant win – the reclamation of the Temple Mount. The rest of the country, including Jerusalem, was still under Greek rule during this time. The day the temple was reclaimed, a group of Jews cleaned and purified the temple as their holy cannon the Torah commanded. They performed an eight-day rededication ceremony from which the name Chanukah, which means dedication in Hebrew, is derived. One of the ceremonies required in the
jeric griffin Staff Writer This time of year, it is common to see individuals bundled up in layers of shirts topped with jackets and/or hoodies. Even then, it is common to hear them say they are still cold, as if the pounds of clothes they are wearing are not effective. To combat low temperatures, some are turning to a new trend. Under Armour is a national clothing line created in 1996 by University of Maryland football player Kevin Plank. After realizing that his compression shorts were still dry following a football game, while his cotton T-shirt was soaked with sweat, Plank created a shirt to draw sweat away from the body into a lightweight microfiber fabric. This moisture-wicking material keeps players cool, dry and light during practices and games. Under Armour quickly became popular with 16 other college football teams, including the University of North Texas and Texas Tech University. With Under Armour spreading to other sports, such as baseball, soccer, basketball and hockey, Plank knew the company needed to expand its product line. The following year, Under Armour released a new line of performance apparel to keep athletes warm without weighing them down. Like the original product, ColdGear keeps athletes dry and light, but the double-sided fabric disperses heat from the hotter areas of the body, creating a base layer to help the body maintain its core temperature. Eventually, people started wearing ColdGear off the field as well. Lone Star Steel Mill employee Bradley Barnett works outside year-round, in hot and cold weather. Barnett wears the original Under Armour shirt HeatGear in warmer temperatures to keep cool and dry. Recently, he stopped wearing two jackets when the temperature drops below about 50 degrees and started wearing ColdGear. “Under Armour ColdGear keeps me warm by itself without having to wear a bunch of layers of clothes over it,” Barnett said. “It’s thin and lightweight, but it still keeps my body’s core temperature at a normal level so I don’t freeze to death while working outside.” Barnett also used both types of Under Armour while playing football in high school. He is not the only local who uses this new type of clothing in both sports and leisure. A&M-Commerce senior Phillip Slaughter wears ColdGear while training for a half-marathon and walking from class to class on campus. “I ran eight miles yesterday morning in 41-degree weather wearing my long sleeve ColdGear,” Slaughter said. “It kept me so warm that by the end of my run, I had to take off my gloves and hat. ColdGear is not the only cold weather fitness clothing, but it is not bulky and keeps you warm. It really is a lifesaver for runners like me.” Commerce residents and students like Barnett and Slaughter are just two examples that illustrate that the Under Armour clothing trend shows little sign of waning any time soon. Under Armour HeatGear and ColdGear, and other lines of performance apparel are sold at sporting goods stores.
Torah was to light the temple menorah each morning. There was only enough oil to light the menorah for one day. Miraculously, the group found another container of oil that had not existed before. Although this new container only had enough oil for one day, the candles lit from this container burned for eight days straight, thus satisfying the Torah’s command for the rededication ceremony. This is where the holiday’s timeframe and name come from. The celebration now last eight days and falls on a different set of dates every year to coincide with the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. This year, the holiday runs from Dec. 1 to Dec. 9. During this time, candles are placed on a holder called a menorah. There are nine holders on the menorah and one candle is added and lit for each night of the holiday. The middle holder, which typically sits higher than the other eight, is lit every night. In addition to lighting the menorah, games are played and gifts are given. A four-sided top called a dreidel is spun in a sort of betting game. Each side of the top contains a different Hebrew letter corresponding to some amount that is gained or lost in the game. Children typically use chocolate coins wrapped in golden foil called gelt as their currency for the game. According to metny.uscj.org, although most Chanukah traditions are family-oriented, the holiday still serves as an important reminder of the value of Jewish determination during a time of religious persecution.
...international students on campus during christmas break CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Kotturu said. “We typically do not return home for a visit until summer break. This allows us to spend more time with our families, and it takes about seven days to get over the jet lag.” Kotturu’s flight home is about 17 hours long. Being an only child and a son, Kotturu said it is important to spend time with his parents in the summer. Kotturu spent four
years at A&M-Commerce earning his Master’s degree and is currently working on his Ph.D. in psychology. Their time back in India also allows the students to work through some certification programs, catch up on required reading and get in touch with the professional market regarding jobs. “We have our own festivals such as Diwali that we just recently celebrated,” Kotturu said. “We do not celebrate your holidays for
their meanings, but do benefit from them, such as the shopping on Black Friday.” Most Indian students on campus are graduate students. Kotturu said work of mouth is the chief factor is drawing Indian students to A&M-Commerce. “It gets around at home to people you know,” he said. “The cost of living, the study fields and reputation of the university make it a place people want to come to.”
Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
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A brief history of Santa Claus turnbacktogod.comto-
caleb slinkard Managing Editor
Santa Claus is hardly a North American invention, traversing the Atlantic during the 17th century along with Dutch immigrants. The modern day Santa Claus complete with reindeer, elves and a red suit, however, are as American as apple pie and heart bypass surgeries. • 4th Century: St. Nicholas of Myra (modernday Turkey) was well-known for his benevolence during the fourth century A.D. St. Nicholas was claimed by various groups, including children and orphans, as their patron saint. • 16th Century: Because of the Protestant Reformation, many Catholic saint ‘holy days’ were outlawed, but St. Nicholas celebrations were so entrenched in local lore that they were merely merged with Protestant festivities. St. Nicholas was known as Father Christmas in England, Weihnachtsmann in Germany and Pere Noel in France. Children would leave food out for St. Nicholas and his helpers, who would drop presents down chimneys for them. • 17th Century: The Dutch bring over legends of Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas), which is mispronounced by American children as Santa Claus. • 1808: Washington Irving portrays Santa Claus as a man who drove a wagon across rooftops and dropped presents down chimneys. • 1822: Dr. Clement Clark Moore publishes his poem “A Visit From Saint Nicholas,” which is more commonly known as “The Night Before Christmas.” In it, Moore replaces Irving’s wagon and horses with reindeer and a sleigh. • 1860s-1880s: Illustrator Thomas Nast depicts Santa in Harpers Weekly as a jolly, rotund individual with a list of good and bad children and a North Pole workshop. • 1931: The red suit is an invention of Coca Cola, which revealed Santa’s new look in a series of advertisements drawn by artist Haddon Sundblom.
Kwanzaa celebration wraps up holiday season Jasmin Brown Copy Desk Chief
Illustrations by Areille McMachon
James Bright Editor
christmas
www.theeasttexan.com
www.theeasttexan.com
According to officialkwanzaawebsite. org, Kwanzaa is an African-American and Pan-American holiday celebrated from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 to celebrate family, community and culture. It originated in the first African harvest celebrations. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase “matunda ya kwanza,” which means “first fruits” in Swahili, a Pan-American language and the most widely spoken African language. Kwanzaa builds on the five fundamental activities of Continental African “first fruit” celebrations: ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment and celebration. The website’s information clearly states that Kwanzaa is a “cultural holiday, not a religious one, thus available to and practiced by Africans of all religious faiths who come together based on the rich, ancient and varied common ground of their Africanness.” Kwanzaa traditionally has seven basic symbols and two supplemental ones to represent values and concepts reflective of African culture and contributive to community building and reinforcement. The symbols (in Swahili and then in English) are: Mazao (The Crops) – Symbolic of African harvest celebrations and the rewards of productive and collective labor. Mkeka (The Mat) – Symbolic of tradition and history. Kinara (The Candle Holder) – Symbolic of continental African as “our parent people.”
Muhindi (The Corn) – Symbolic of children and the future they embody. Mishumaa Saba (The Seven Candles) – Symbolic of the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, the matrix and minimum set of values that African people are urged to live by in order to rescue and reconstruct their lives in their own image and according to their own needs. Kikombe cha Umoja (The Unity Cup) – Symbolic of the foundational principle and practice of unity that makes all else possible. Zawadi (The Gifts) – Symbolic of the labor and love of parents and the commitments made and kept by children. The two supplemental symbols: Bendera (The Flag) – The colors of the Kwanzaa flag are the colors of the Organization Us: black, red and green. Black for the people, red for their struggle and green for the future and hope that comes from their struggle. Nguzo Saba Poster (Poster of the Seven Principles) Gifts are mainly given to children, but must always include a book and a heritage symbol. The book’s purpose is to emphasize African value and tradition of learning stressed since ancient Egypt, while the heritage symbol reaffirms and reinforces the African commitment to tradition and history. Kwanzaa decorations should include traditional African items such as African baskets, cloth patterns, art objects and harvest symbols and reflect Kwanzaa colors. There clearly established procedures for celebrating Kwanzaa. First, a central place in the home is prepared for the
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Kwanzaa Set. A table is spread with a beautiful piece of African cloth, the mkeka (mat) is placed down and all of the other symbols are placed on it or immediately next to it to symbolize rootedness in tradition. The kinara (candle holder) is then placed on the mat and the seven candles are placed in the candleholder. There is one black candle, three red and three green. The black candle is lit first and the remaining candles are lit afterwards from left to right on the following days. This procedure is to indicate that the people
come first, then the struggle and then the hope that comes from the struggle. Mazao and ears of corn are also placed on the mkeka. At least two ears of corn are placed down on the mat regardless of whether there are children in the immediate family as every adult in African tradition is considered an immediate or social parent. Next the kikombe cha umoja (Unity cup) is placed on the mkeka (mat). It is used to pour tambiko (libation) to the ancestors in remembrance and honor of ancestors. Finally, African art objects and books on the life and culture of African people are also placed on or next to the mat to symbolize commitment to heritage and learning.
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Thursday, Dec. 2, 2010
www.theeasttexan.com
For all the good boys and girls Information provided by Kat Huffines Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your shopping list can be tough. That’s why I decided to come up with a few items for those hard to shop for firends and family members who can make this season a hassle.
Ninja cookies LIVEJOURNAL.COM
Familes around the world celebrate the holidays in multiple ways such as going out in a group outing to cut down a Christmas tree.
Families celebrate the season
Everybody loves giving and reciving food during the holidays. This is a fancy way to spice up gingerbread cookies. They’re good to give any member of the family and they will provide a good kickstart to the holiday season. These cookie cutters are aviable at Uncommongoods.com.
in variety of ways, places RACHEL BAILEY STAFF WRITER Many A&M-Commerce students plan to celebrate the winter holidays with unique and timeless family traditions. Students like freshman business major Kayla Bailey have treasured holiday family traditions since childhood. “Every year, my sisters and I camp out in the same room on Christmas eve,” Bailey said. “Being around each other and talking late into the night is a part of what makes our holiday experience.” Some students use their winter break to bond with their families and celebrate the fact that they are able to be together during a significant time of year. “We always play hide the pickle
in the Christmas tree,” junior history major Amanda Edwards said. “We hide a pickle in the tree and the first one to find it gets to open a present early.” Even students who do not get to be near their loved ones during the holidays manage to maintain some of their longstanding family traditions. “Our dad will read ‘The Night Before Christmas’ every Christmas Eve,” freshman math major Travis Ueckert said. “He is a fireman and sometimes has to be at the station. Even when he has been at the station before, he calls us, no matter how old we get, and reads us the story over the telephone on that day every single year.” Even though some traditions may seem odd to others, they are part of what make the holidays a
special family experience. “I love the little things we do,” Bailey said. “They are what I look forward to most when coming home for the holidays.” Edwards said he enjoys the social aspect of being in a family unit for the holidays. “My family always manages to make me laugh,” Edwards said. “We play games and talk, this makes the time we spend together even more valuable.” Celebrating holiday traditions make students anxious to return home. “I can’t wait to be home with my family,” Bailey said. “Our quirky little traditions are what makes us different and unique. Just thinking about celebrating Christmas with them makes me even more excited to be back home.”
Unique flash drives With our scociety being so dependent on technology, buyers can use this for a family member in the office or a friend in school. You can match a thumb drive to anyone’s personality, allowing them to customize the transference of their files. These can be found at any office supply store.
Left over food and clothes could be used JARED WATSON DIGITAL MEDIA EDITOR I was talking to a friend about a food service job that she recently quit. I asked what the worst day of the week for her to work was. She answered without hesitation. “Friday,” she said. “We had to throw so much food away.” Her company’s policy, like many other restaurants, is to throw away unsold food. Having worked in restaurants for several years myself, I can attest to seeing pounds upon pounds of food of all kinds, almost all of it perfectly edible, ending up in the garbage at the end of the night. This wastefulness is certainly not limited to Texas. In fact, in a study conducted in March of this year by California Watch and the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California found that restaurants in the state dump “tens of thousands of tons of edible food every year,” and further that “the vast majority of the state’s 90,000 restaurants and eateries do not participate in food donation programs.” This is insanity. Millions of people in this country alone experience hunger every day. Why would anybody in good conscience throw away food that might alleviate even a little bit of that? How can some-
one hold food in his or her hand, food someone else can eat, and just drop it in the garbage? Your local grocery store is not blameless either. According to the same study, major retail grocery chains are “more likely to throw away fruits, vegetables and even entire hams and roasts than donate to distribution centers.” The stores often express concern that donated food could make recipients sick, even if it is not expired, but federal and state laws protect grocers from liability if they make donations. Besides, ask someone with an empty belly if they’d take a chance on a loaf of bread that’s a day past its expiration date instead of going hungry. But retailers don’t just throw away food. Clothing stores often throw away merchandise they are unable to sell, and furthermore, will intentionally damage and destroy those clothes so that people are unable to dig them out of dumpsters and attempt to return them. A New York Times article written in January highlighted the practices of retailers Walmart and H&M destroying “warm socks, Cute patent leather Mary Jane school shoes, maybe for fourth graders, with the instep cut up with a scissor. Men’s jackets, slashed across the body and the arms. The puffy fiber fill was coming out in big white cotton balls.”
Hue slippers These new items are an updated version of Christmas socks. Instead of just wearing them around Christmas time, you can wear them around the house all year. They’re fashionable for your female gift recipients, and they’re good for stocking stuffers or stand alone gifts. These hot buys can be found at all clothing department stores.
WIKIMEDIA.ORG
Supermarkets and food vendors around the world throw away several pounds of food each day that could be used to feed the hungry.
Both retailers responded to the article and claimed they would investigate the matter immediately. But it seems just as likely to me that “investigate” means “ignore the problem and hope the questions stop.” So what keeps policies like these going? Employees who don’t ask questions and follow orders. If their boss tells them to throw away this pallet of lunchmeat or rip this cart of blue jeans to shreds, they will do it for fear of losing their job. And the managers that give the orders don’t question the policies advocating the
destruction, because they are not responsible for the ramifications of the decision either. They too are following orders. Experts talk a lot about what you can do as a consumer and homeowner to reduce waste and feed and clothe those less fortunate, and it absolutely is important. But we as a country would have a lot more success feeding more people if restaurants and retail stores stopped looking at their bottom lines, looked into whatever heart they have left, and use the products they make to save lives.
Picture frames This is the most personel gift that can be given. It’s also one of the easiest thngs to put together. It can be given to both friends and family members. It’s reuseable, can be used for multiple purposes and serves as a reminder of several memories throughout the years. These also tend to not be too pricey and won’t break the average buyer. These can be found at any hobby store.