The The East East Tex Texan
PAGE 3 Queens bring different type of royalty
S TUDENT NE WSPAPER OF TE X AS A& M UNIVERSIT Y- COMMERCE SINCE 1915 XCIV, No. 22, 8 pages
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Thursday, April 15, 2010
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Student killed in accident
Three others injured in traffic collisions James Bright editor
A student was killed April 9 and three others were injured following two separate traffic accidents on U.S. Highway 24/50. Honors college student, 19-year-old Malorie Bullock was killed after being struck by a white pickup truck while riding on the back of a motorcycle with her 19-year-old boyfriend Tanner Bur-
nett around 10 p.m. according to Community Resource Officer for the Commerce Police Department Alex Suarez. “The entire A&M-Commerce family is devastated by the loss of one of its own,” President Dan Jones said in a press release from A&M-Commerce. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Malorie Bullock, one of our best and brightest, at this saddest of times.” The accident occurred in Campbell
Suarez said. The truck fled the scene a f ter st r i k i ng Bu r net t a nd Bu l loc k and as of one a.m. April 9 it had not been found. The release said Burnett suffered some broken bones and was listed in serious condition at Parkland Hospital in Dallas. The other accident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. A male and female student were struck and injured by a vehicle while crossing U.S. Highway 50.
Suarez said the students were walking toward campus from Smith Hall when they were struck by an SUV while crossing a crosswalk. The driver continued northbound, but was unclear what she had hit and returned to the scene of the accident. The female was transported to Parkland Hospital where she is listed in serious, but stable condition. The male, who landed in the median after being See COMMU NIT Y page 3
City Manager resigns from position, search begins for replacement
Queens bring charity
allyson smith staff writer
JAMES BRIGHT / THE EAST TEXAN
Members of the auidence hand money to one of the performaers ar the drag show, which was held in Feguson Hall April 7. The Association for the Needs of Gay and Lesbian Students put on its second annual drag show to raise money to help the Set Apart Aiming Victoriously to Eliminate Diseases orginazation,
ANGLS hosts benefit drag show for AIDS reasearch Jessica rush
managing editor
When most people from around Commerce hear the word drag, they picture tires burning out, a checkered flag waving and a sleek car racing down a straight path. They do not picture body glitter, sequins and rhinestones adorning a male-dressed-female singer in high heels. A&M-Commerce may have to redefine drag to include the second annual Association for the Needs of Gay and Lesbian Students (ANGLS) Benefit Drag Show, which was held April 7 in the Ferguson Social Science Building’s auditorium. The money raised goes to the Set Apart Aiming Victoriously to Eliminate Diseases (SAAVED) organization, which aims to educate people about the prevention of HIV/AIDS and other sexualy transmitted diseases through research, counseling and seminars. More unusual than the over six-foot queens in skimpy costumes was the partnership between Christian group Chi Alpha Campus Ministries and AN-
GLS, a group that promotes the needs of gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual students on campus. Chi Alpha members were helping direct around 100 event-goers to their seats before the drag show. According to Director of Chi Alpha Nathan Cole, the groups had been talking about partnering on some broader social issues such as human trafficking, poverty and AIDS. “For a legitimate social cause like AIDS awareness or an organization like SAAVED, a lot of people wouldn’t think twice about supporting something like that,” Cole said. “Even though we’re totally committed followers of Jesus, we’re excited about the opportunity to partner and show love.” ANGLS Vice President Steven Martin said he was glad for the partnership, especially since SAAVED is an organization that encourages people to put aside rumors and the negative associations they have with AIDS. “I think showing everyone a group like Chi Alpha helps us show that, dif-
ferences aside, we’re doing this for a good cause,” Martin said. “You might not like gay people, but we’re not doing this for gay people; we’re doing this for anyone affected by AIDS.” The audience members came from around the metroplex to show their support of the organization and to encourage the drag queens during their acts. Twenty-year-old Danny Lopez said he’s been to several drag shows and it takes a lot of courage for drag queens to get on stage. “Not everybody can do it,” Lopez said. “You have to have the guts to go out there and be somebody that you’re not, and it’s in public.” There were four drag queens total that came from Station Four in Dallas to help collect dollar bills out of the See ANGLS page 3
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The Com merc e Cit y Council voted in their April 6 meeting, to accept the resignation of current City Manager Dion O. Miller. Miller was not present at the meeting. The council adjourned into executive session for approximately 30 minutes to discuss Miller’s decision to resign. When they returned to council chambers, council member Richard Hill motioned to accept it, and it was agreed upon in a 5-0 decision – effective immediately. Miller had been an area of concern for the council, and had been suspended indefinitely with pay during a special meeting on March 4, which was requested by Mayor Pro Tem Billie Biggerstaff. The vote resulted in a 3-2 decision, with Mayor Quay Throgmorton voting against it. During that meeting, Biggerstaff, Hill and council member Tony Henry expressed their concerns with Miller’s performance since assuming his duties in July 2008, citing issues such as poor management and people skills. “We can move on now,” Hill said. “We can move forward and put this chapter behind us. Like with any form of government, there are problems. This was the last chapter in the book, and the book is now closed. We wish Mr. Miller the best as he moves forward.” Since Miller’s suspension, Director of Administ rat ive Ser v ices Ma rc Clayton has been acting as interim city manager. “I will continue in that role, until a new city manager is named,” Clayton said. “That process will probably begin after the elections in May.” The Cit y Cou nc i l i s now reviewing their options on how to replace the city manager. “The City Council will decide if they want to hire a search firm or handle the responsibility internally,”
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OPINION
Thursday, April 15, 2010
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Above the Law Term limits improve democracy Paranormal deserves chance
JOSH LAW STAFF WRITER When anyone mentions something supernatural, most people automatically think they have lost their minds. Try it. Go up to someone and start talking to him or her about aliens or spontaneous human combustion, and see what kind of reaction you get. The fact of the matter is there are phenomena happening all over the world, all of the time, that people tend to dismiss for one reason or another. Only recently, with the upsurge of programs like “Ghost Hunters” and shows like it, have people begun to see some of these happenings in a different light. I believe we all have a curiosity when it comes to the unexplained or supernatural. It is in our nature to want to learn about things we do not understand fully. Today, we understand much of what the humans of the past did not because of the technology available to us. To me, the supernatural is the “holy grail” of things we do not understand, because all of these things have to do with us as human beings directly. There will be more questions from the answers we get, but great strides of progress are being made. There are scientists and researchers who spend their lives dedicated to studying these phenomena, and who have done us all a great service for sharing
this information. Unfortunately, they do not always get the academic credit they deserve, because their peers in the scientific community sometimes consider them “crackpots” for studying things they themselves have dismissed as not being worthy of scientific investigation. Think of your own reaction to these types of things, and see if you have dismissed UFOs, crop circles, ghosts, demonic possession, stigmata, psychic ability, and a host of other unexplained phenomena as hoaxes, trickery, hallucination, or old men with boards crushing plants into shapes in the middle of the night. Would you respect someone who researched something you have dismissed like that? It is because of these scientists and researchers though, that we can now begin to learn about what is going on with ghost activity and other supernatural happenings. Perhaps after reading this article, you may be a little more open to the concept that these phenomena are worth looking into and deserve a little of your attention. The only way you can ever know whether you should believe or not is to go look into the research and science that has gone into these fields. As a skeptical person, I take some of the information with a grain of salt, but if you look, there is solid evidence for all of these things I have mentioned. We may never know all of the answers to the questions we ask ourselves about things that go bump in the night, or those strange lights in the sky that break the sound barrier without making a sound, but these scientists and researchers are at least helping us understand these things, rather than fear them.
Editorial: University could mix up events for growth We think the university has done a wonderful job of providing a diverse and entertaining mix of events over the past year. There is one area we would like to address, which could use improvement. It seems the events are all blocked together on two or three days during the week. We recommend spreading them out. Students may want to go to a multitude of events but not be able to, because they occur at the same time. Spreading events out would increase attendance and student involvement. We have also noticed a lack of events and entertainment during the weekend. A&M-Commerce is widely considered to be a commuter school, but we think adding more events to the weekend would create a more communal environment. For instance, it seems there is rarely anything to do offered by the school on Friday nights. Remedying this issue would bring students living on campus and those commuting together to enjoy the entertainment. We feel attendance during the weekend would be low at first, but has an excellent chance of growth. If the university and the groups within it would take these ideas to heart we would see a growth in pride, morale and student involvement on the horizon. Note: These opinions are a collaborative effort reflecting the editorial board of The East Texan. 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.
JAMES BRIGHT EDITOR With gubernatorial, house and senate elections coming up in the fall, it is important to take a step back and look at a couple of areas where our electoral process falls short. I feel most would think corruption is a major issue with today’s politicians and I am inclined to agree. These feelings put questions in voters’ heads about their importance in the political system and the legitimacy of their vote. It seems interest groups run rampant and few pol-
iticians actually represent their constituency. Luckily, I think I have found two ways to improve this area. I say found because I believe I heard the first idea from someone else, but I can’t remember who and I’m not a fan of taking credit when it isn’t truly mine. With that said, I’m no genius political scientist, but the following ideas seem almost obvious as a tool for reducing corruption. First, there is term limits. Obviously the highest office in our country’s government has term limits, but why doesn’t our Congress? There are members of both the House and the Senate who have retained their seats for a ridiculous amount of time. I’m not saying these people are corrupt; after all, they may do good work. My problem is the lack of change gives these politicians a greater opportunity to become corrupt. Lets take Rep. Ralph
Watson’s Waistline: Setback causes writer to look at food relationship
JARED WATSON ONLINE EDITOR Not again. Another weight loss column? Here, I can save you some time; it hasn’t gone well. My intent was to jump right back on the horse after blasting my diet to pieces over spring break, but apparently my stomach had other plans. Over the last two weeks, every time lunch came around, my head was saying, “OK, time for a salad” and my stomach heard that as, “Pizza? We’re getting pizza, right?” My eating habits and personal willpower have completely evaporated, and the reasons why are the same reasons I’ve failed dieting before. I won’t bore you with a long sob story, but demands from school, work and home have piled up. When I’ve found myself with an hour of time to myself, I’ve turned to fast food and terrible-for-me sandwiches as a release, a kind of relaxation through burgers and fries. In some ways, I’ve viewed eating as one of the few things I can control when my life is spinning out of control. I would look at the milkshake I would drink in the afternoon as the only thing that would get me through the day, the only
time I had just for me. The realization I’ve made in the past (and quite obviously need to take to heart again) is that while the idea of looking forward to meals and rewarding myself for a hard day’s work is not in itself a terrible idea, the thing that makes it enjoyable is the break itself, not cramming chicken sandwiches down my throat at the same time. Yes, there’s a perverse kind of satisfaction in chowing down on food you know you’re not supposed to eat. I’d imagine it’s the same kind of thrill you might get from taking some kind of drug or shoplifting: you feel like you’re getting away with something you’re not supposed to. The problem with this is, with food, you carry your sins with you afterward, and the damage you do to yourself quite literally weighs you down. However, as long as I’m still breathing, it’s not too late to change. Perhaps I needed to bottom out like this (and I have noticed more padding when I sit down) to shock me into taking this more seriously. Perhaps I needed the bitter sting of failure one more time to realize how important it is to me to succeed. Because, despite how badly this has gone, I am still here, still willing to put up a fight, still daring myself to make this work. Though the horse has proven much more difficult to jump back on (as anyone who has seen YouTube videos of fat people on horses can attest to), I will ride it and beat it, not for this column, but just for me.
The East East Tex Texan an The Established 1915 JAMES BRIGHT Editor JESSICA RUSH Managing Editor
JARED WATSON ONLINE Editor
ADAM TROXTELL Sports Editor
BECCA WHITT Photo Editor
CHANCELLOR MILLS CAMPUS LIFE EDITOR
MEGAN CAREY ARTS SCENE Editor
MELISSA ARCHER STAFF CARTOONIST
Hall. He has been in office for 30 years, and I’m not exaggerating, he first took office in 1980. I’m not arguing whether or not he has done a good job while in office, but the lack of change is horrible. Our republic is built around the idea of different people holding office. When someone is in a position for 30 years there is no room for progression. It starts becoming more like a monarchial rule. The simple solution to this is to limit the number of terms a member of the House and Senate can serve. Personally I feel four terms is fair for House members and two terms for those working in the Senate. This is enough time for the elected official to make a difference without becoming a permanent part of their seat. This also reduces the chance for congressional members to get too close with interest groups, creating a republic more representative of the populace.
This still leaves the problem of certain groups making “donations” to a candidate’s campaign to secure their support if elected. I propose something similar to a salary cap. Limiting the amount of money a politician can spend on his or her campaign will allow for non-elitist Americans to hold office. This will also inhibit interest groups from overly influencing the elected official’s policies while in office. Obviously some campaign money will still come from the elite, but this would be a step in the right direction. All in all, it will lead to members of Congress becoming better representatives of the American people. I’m not saying these ideas are perfect, but they’re a start. It’s time we start giving ideas to our government since our politicians seem incapable of coming up with ways to improve our democracy.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR The East Texan welcomes readers to voice their own opinions. Send an email to the editor at theeasttexan@gmail.com or comment on an article at theeasttexan.com. Content may be edited for length. Response to tyler perry .... Clearly you have not watched any of Mr. Perry’s films or seen him interviewed. You accuse him of perpetuating stereotypes, and yet he is usually attacked for not depicting blacks as gun toting thugs, women as sex crazed or men as love ‘em and leave ‘em with a baby jerks. In his movies, he tackles real issues and his characters are like real people, not rejects from Pimp My Ride. Many of the women are strong and assertive without being bitches, and many of the men are caring and sensitive without having to appear sappy or maudlin. Judge his whole work, not on the basis of one run of the mill sitcom, but on how he writes and presents all his characters. And don’t assume that because the subject of masturbation isn’t what you want to see on Wednesday the morning, others might not find the subject worth exploring albeit in comedic fashion. — Michael Morris
SUDOKU STYLE The objective of Sudoku is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. There are three rules to follow: * 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 elversonpuzzle.com
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JAMES BRIGHT / THE EAST TEXAN Performer Lacey LaDawn sings to “Rude Boy” by Rhianna amidst a spray of dollar bills audience members were bringing to the stage for donations. LaDawn said Rhianna was her favorite performer to emulate.
...ANGLS aids charity CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
aud ience for SAAVED, all the while maintaining a lip-synching performance that required coordination in platform shoes. The cost umes ranged from a performer with a hot pink afro, fishnet tights and a green m i n i-dress, to a pu n klike queen in black leather pants, pink mesh shirt
and Converse sneakers. Rita Fine, who was a vocal performance major at Sout her n Met hodist University before trying her hand at drag shows, said it takes her over an hour to get ready. It was du r i ng h e r f i r st nu mber where she dawned a pink fringed dress with s equ i n s t hat t he aud ience erupted in applause
when her afro fell off. “It ’s a new a nd di ff e r e nt way t o e x pr e s s myself, and I think it ’s for an amazing cause,” Fine said. One of the performer s gave s ome i n sig ht into what it takes to be a drag queen. “Lot s of ma ke -up… and duct tape,” performer Lacey LaDawn said.
Book sale raises money JASMINE BROWN STAFF WRITER Student Government AsThe Upsilon Beta Chapter of Sig ma Tau Delta cont i nued it s 15t h a nnual book sale on Monday, April 12 in the Hall of Languages. Director of Fundraising Rick McCraw said the sale, which began April 7, has drew an impressive turnout. “It’s been going surprisingly well,” he said. Accordi ng to McCraw, t he c hapter had to rely more on word-ofmouth to circulate news about t he sa le t ha n i n
previous years. “At d i f ferent t i mes, we ’ve u s e d s a n dw i c h boards, but we didn’t have that this year,” he said. “We were more limited in advertising t han we thought we would be.” Local vendors donated food and supplies to enable Sigma Tau Delta to raise additional funds by selli ng lunc hes duri ng the sale. McCraw said such don at ion s were made by Sonic in Greenville and Commerce, Brookshire’s in Commerce, Walmart in Greenville and Commerce, and McDonald’s in Commerce.
Sweet ie’s Donut s i n Commerce also offered “excellent deals on donuts” he said. Sigma Tau Delta members donated baked goods. McCraw said the majority of funds raised by the sale go toward helping Sigma Tau Delta members, including graduate and undergraduate students, defer the costs of at tendi ng con ferences. The remaining funds go towa rd ad m i n ist rat ive costs. The book sale will also run on Sat urday, April 24 at the Science Building to coincide with UIL competitions.
...community mourns loss CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
st r uc k, is sa id to have non-life threatening injuries and was taken to Greenville Presbyterian Hospital. Ne it h e r of t h e s t udent ’s names had been released at press time Suarez said the initial investigation has shown t he cross walk system,
which emits a series of f lash i ng yellow lights, was not activated. “We need to let students know they have the right away, but that does not mean vehicles can see them,” Suarez said. S o ph o mor e S h e l b i e Bryan said a prayer meeti ng was held at 8 p.m. April 9 in front of the Sigma Chi House. A limited
amount of candles were available for attendees. “I encouraged people to bring candles, so that we m ay b e a l ig ht for Ta n ner a nd h is fa m i ly during this dark time,” she said. Funeral services for Bullock were held Tuesd ay at S h e r m a n Bi bl e Church in Sherman, Texas at 2 p.m.
...Miller resigns from office CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Clayton said. According to Throgmorton, this is something Miller bot h proposed a nd ag reed to, t houg h the details of this agreement are not available at this time.
“Considering the pros and cons of the situation, and what was in the best interest f inancially for the city of Commerce, it was agreed t hat it was the right thing to do, and that brought the 5-0 dec i s i o n ,” Th r o g m o r t o n said. “I think this is just
one part of the book, the c h ap t e r i s c lo s e d a nd all parties involved can move forward.” Miller was unable to be reached for comment at press time.
JAMES BRIGHT / THE EAST TEXAN Drag queen Rita Fine dances during her first number of the evening. Fine was one of four performers who came from Station Four in Dallas.
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Ca mpus Life
Thursday, April 15, 2010
www.theeasttexan.com
Fifteenth annual book sale helps raise funds for Sigma Tau Delta MEGAN CAREY STAFF WRITER
Campus Activities Board members Sarah Cunningham (top) and Michelle Wentzel (bottom) wrestle near the Velcro wall at the inflatable event. “Inflatables” was held on April 7th as part of College Days and Nights.
Inflatables provide distraction Inflatables bring out the kid in students and university employees The A&M-Commerce Campus Activities Board (CAB) hosted an event known as “Inflatables” April 7, as part of College Days and Nights. “I think it’s great that the Campus Activities Board is hosting different types of activities for students,” senior social work major Myranda Bille said. “These events also allow students who have kids to participate and bring their children to a familyfriendly environment.” “Inflatables” consisted of an inflatable obstacle course, an inflatable Velcro wall and an inflatable slide. Members of CAB served free popcorn, hot dogs, which were donated by Sonic. Cotton candy and drinks, as well as free t-shirts and aluminum water bottles, were also handed out. A&M-Commerce students and CAB members sophomore psychology major Brittany Whitaker and Denise Coleman developed the idea
of “Inflatables.” “We came up with the idea of “Inflatables” through a collaboration of the entire CAB members,” Whitaker said. “Everyone came up with the idea of College Days and Nights and different members contributed different thoughts about what events would appeal to different types of students.” Students were not the only ones enjoying themselves on Wednesday afternoon; employees got in on the fun as well. “I think it’s great to see students getting involved with their school,” Assistant Director of Intramural and Club Sports Michelle Wentzel said. “CAB is providing students with opportunities that they would not normally have. It’s great they’re hosting different kinds of events so they can appeal to all types of students.” College Days and Nights is a week of activities that CAB hosted April 5-9 to let students experience fun events on campus.
Aside from “Inflatables,” activities included American Pop Star, and performances by the band Eden’s Edge and comedian Eric O’Shea. Outdoor Movie is scheduled for Friday night. The CAB is a program and special events organization on campus. Their purpose is to increase diversity and cultural experiences, increase school spirit and bring members of the school together. The CAB hosts several events throughout the spring and fall semesters. An events schedule can be found on the A&M-Commerce website. If students are interested in joining, they have to attend meetings every Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. on the second floor of the Sam Rayburn Student Center, and complete eight hours of volunteer work per year. For more information on the CAB and their activities, student can contact CAB President Sarah Cunnigham at cab@cp.tamucommerce.edu
B e g i n n i n g Wednesday, April 7, Sigma Tau Delta Upsilon Beta Chapter will be holding their annual book sale in the Hall of Languages. The sale will continue through Thursday and begin again on Monday, April 12. “The Book Sale is the primary fundraiser for Sigma Tau Delta, other than the Edgar Allan Poe-try readings,” Mary K. Croft, Communications/ Historian of Sigma Tau Delta said. After Monday, the sale will no longer be held in the Hall of Languages. “On Monday, April 26 the book sale will move to the Science building,” Rick McCraw, Chairman on the Sigma Tau Delta committee for fundraising said. The book sale has been a springtime staple for the past 15 years. Sigma Tau Delta accepts book donations from everywhere, including students and public libraries. “Some of the books are from retired professors’ libraries,” Croft said. If students have any unwanted books, it is not too late to donate them. “If done so early, [students] can drop books off,” Croft said. The books, which range in price from
50 cents up to two dollars, are extremely diverse in selection. “[With] books that cheap, there’s bound to be something you’ll like,” Croft said. “You definitely have to browse. You’ll never know what you’ll find.” The book sale is not just limited to students looking for a good read Professors are welcome to peruse the sale, and they have done so in the past. “It’s virtually impossible for an English professor to slip by a large display of books in her own building,” Dr. Karen Roggenkamp, Associate Professor of English said. “Last year I found an oversized, beautifully illustrated history of civilization that my 11 year old still pores over.” In order to raise even more money, and also to cater to the needs of those who are purchasing books, Sigma Tau Delta will be selling lunches. “We’re offering ‘Literary Lunches,’ which consist of a hot dog, chips, a soda and a cookie,” Croft said. Frequenters of the book sale need not purchase the entire lunch if they do not want the entire meal. “We sell everything individually,” McCraw said. “As far as the menu, buy the chili cheese dog ($2.50), hot dog ($1.50), or Frito pie
($2.00), and for an additional $1.50 you get a soda, chips, and sweet treat (cookies or brownies and the like). These prices are geared toward our student’s wallets.” The book sale always promises an array of literature to choose from and those who wait may be missing out on some great books. “One of the things I love about the book sale is that you never know exactly what is going to be there, including some real ‘prizes’,” Roggenkamp said. “A couple of years ago someone was selling a copy of the children’s classic picture book ‘Walter the Farting Dog.’ Sadly, another professor beat me to it-I’m still mad about that.” Sigma Tau Delta is an honorary society for students who major or minor in English. The chapter was recently awarded an 80-year plaque, which was accepted by president Kaye McCraw at the International Convention in St. Louis, Mo., to accept the award for organization. “She also brought back $200 to the chapter just for being in St. Louis voting in the Sigma Tau Delta elections,” McCraw said. McCraw also accepted a personal award for 15 years of service to the society.
Olympic games motivate students to work out CAITLIN MASON STAFF WRITER The Olympics, summer or winter, inspire individuals to get off the couch and into the gym. According to thatsfit.com, individuals who are and who are not physically fit incorporate Olympic events into their everyday workout. “ W a t c h i n g Olympic speed skating while on the elliptical, or recording cross country skiing, will result in a more intense workout,” the Web site said. When Michael Phelps won eight gold medals in the 2008 Summer Olympics, he inspired swimmers nationwide to go for the gold and strive for goals they had previously thought were too impossible to achieve. A c c o r d i n g to myhero.com, Phelps has instilled confidence in young swimmers. “Phelps teaches children that they should always try their best. Phelps never gives up in anything, he always
keeps trying until he gets it right” it said. Cullen Jones of the Unites States gold medal relay team, a teammate of Phelps, inspired AfricanAmericans to strive for Olympic dreams when he became the first AfricanAmerican to share a record. According to gazette.net, Jones inspired Maryland teenager, Antonio Dashields, to push himself to limits when swimming. “Jones is one of my favorite swimmers because he has achieved many things and he is the first African-American to have shared a record. He’s also been starting programs to help African-American and Hispanic children learn to swim because, according to statistics, they are more likely to drown.” The Olympics also inspire students at Texas A&M UniversityCommerce to get in shape. Morris Recreation Center (MRC) personal trainer Myranda Bille said the Olympics, win-
ter and summer, strive her to work out her hardest and allow her to inspire her clients when working out. “I love motivating people through sports,” Bille said. ìI think that the best way for people to get in shape is to see how Olympic athletes perform and how hard they train. When individuals see each other achieve their goals, it motivates them to follow their dream and be the best they can be.” The Olympics also motivate students who are not personal trainers. “Sean White is the best snow boarder I have ever seen,” senior special education major Aaron Kinney said. “He inspires me to become the best I can be at snowboarding and inspires me to work out to my full potential to achieve my goal.” According to Phelps no dream is too big. “You can’t put a limit on anything. The more you dream the farther you get,” he said.
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Thursday, April 15, 2010
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James Conrad (pictured left) has retired from being Texas A&M University-Commerce’s historical librarian after 37 years of service.
Velma Patterson was accused of murdering her two children, Billie Fae McCasland, 11, and Dorthy Leon McCasland, 12, in 1936.
Pages from Commerce Past McCasland deaths shake 1930s Commerce CHANCE CRANE STAFF WRITER In 1936, Velma Patterson brought national scandal to Commerce when she faced trial for the suspicious deaths of her two young daughters. Patterson, 34, at the time, was accused of murder when both of her daughters from a previous marriage, Billie Fae McCasland, 11, and Dorothy Leon McCasland, 12, had enough traces of arsenic in their bodies to kill an adult. “Billie was the first one to die,” A&M-Commerce Archivist Dr. James Conrad said. “No one suspected anything out of the usual because she had supposedly been suffering from the intestinal flu. It wasn’t until Dorothy died forty days later that the sheriff became suspicious.” In order to find out if the two girls’ deaths involved more than just the flu, their bodies were exhumed. They were then sent to Dr. Landon C. Moore of Dallas for inspection. Later that week, Moore reported to the Hunt County grand jury that he found poison in both of their internal organs. “Velma was then arrested,” Conrad said. “Her trial took place in Greenville, with twelve
farmers serving on the jury.” Patterson had been in trouble once before for bootlegging and had quite a reputation. In Conrad’s book “Blacklands: Historical Sketches of Hunt County, Texas,” he wrote that Patterson was known to frequent a bar known for its “shady pleasures.” She, having previously been married three times, now had a romantic interest in a “cowboy Romeo.” “Many people suspected that Velma poisoned her two daughters so she could marry her cattleman lover from Lone Oak,” Conrad said. An article from The Spartanburg HeraldJournal from South Carolina provided court testimony from Alice Cooper, Patterson’s former maid, which revealed that Patterson was seeing another man. According to Cooper, Patterson was “deeply in love” with the cattleman and wanted to marry him “if it wasn’t for the children.” Cooper claimed that Patterson warned her after Dorothy’s death to “keep your little mouth shut about me buying the poison.” Cooper also said that Patterson told the druggist that she wanted the poison “to kill rats.”
A total of 200 witnesses were called to the stand to testify for or against Patterson. One of those who testified against her, was ex-husband W.W. (Dester) McCasland. He and Patterson both gave medicine to their child Dorothy, but McCasland knew that something was wrong. According to information gathered by The Dallas Morning News, Patterson refused to leave the care of her daughter to a professional. “[Dorothy] begged not to be given any more of her mother’s ‘rest medicine,’” McCasland said. “Dorothy begged for a doctor and I asked Mrs. Patterson if we had better call one, but she said ‘No—wait until morning.’” McCasland remembers the last words his daughter said to him before her death. “I know I am going to die and I don’t care,” she said. “Little Billie Fae is gone.” After their second daughter’s death, McCasland testified that Patterson asked him to take her to the cemetery. “She would walk up to the grave and say: ‘Well, they haven’t dug her up yet,’” he said. “She would ask if I thingh [sic] she would collect the insur-
ance. She said she was broke.” However, other reports indicated that McCasland had spoken with L.W. Williams, Patterson’s father, and confessed that he had been the one who bought the rat poison and believed his ex-wife was not guilty. As the trial continued, Patterson never went to the stand to testify for herself as the death penalty was being sought by the state. But in the end, the District Court jury acquitted an emotional Patterson. The Dallas Morning News reported that she was so joyful that she gave a shout and “she ran to the jury box and shook hands with the jurors.” Her acquittal still did not exonerate Patterson in the public’s eye. “Everyone thought Velma was guilty,” Conrad said. Patterson denied in court that she had anything to do with her children’s deaths. “I loved my babies,” she said to The Dallas Morning News. “Why should I kill them? I sent them to Sunday school, gave one of them music lessons and the other expression instruction. Now they say I killed them. I didn’t do it. I didn’t do it.”
A&M-Commerce archivist retires BRENNA MARTINDALE CHANCE CRANE Dr. James Conrad recently retired from his position as Head of Special Collections at A&M-Commerce. During his 37-year career at A&M-Commerce, Conrad accomplished many things for the university. He was instrumental in organizing the Louise Tobin and Ruby Almond collections, as well as the Jeana Yeager and Dick Rutan collections. Conrad also got Holocaust survivors Rosemary and William Schiff to speak on campus. “I just feel it is time to retire after several years,” Conrad said. “I want to do other things and get out from under the stress.” In addition to his fulltime employment at the college, Conrad found time to write over 30 books, as well as several articles for The Commerce Journal and The Greenville Herald Banner. “We were really surprised when he announced his retirement,” Archivist Assistant Pamela Cattabiani said. Conrad plans to travel and do volunteer work. He is also working on a pictorial history of Commerce with the head of the local history collection at the
Commerce Public Library for the 125th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Commerce. “I enjoy helping with local festivals,” Conrad said. “I also give tours on Lake Fork to show visitors bald eagles.” Conrad is seen as a prominent historian in Hunt County. “He has a passion for the history of the area,” Cattabiani said. “He is originally from Ohio, but considers Texas his home.” According to his coworkers, he was a jokester and liked pulling pranks on his colleagues. “He would hide stuff and try to scare people,” Conrad’s longtime secretary Holley Narramore said. “He would rearrange things. He loved picking on the student workers.” Narramore enjoyed working with Conrad for more than 15 years. “He was a wonderful person to work for,” Narramore said. “He is a good guy.” A replacement for Conrad has not been named, but a committee will be formed to conduct a job search. Special Collections hopes to have the position filled by this summer. “Conrad will be sorely missed,” Cattabiani said.
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“The Question” is Emery’s second album, first released in 2005. The LP demonstrates Emery’s sonic maturation as a band.
Emery’s 2007 release of “I’m Only A Man” fulfilled their contractual obligations with their record company, Tooth and Nail, who released the “Are You Listening?” compilation.
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“The Weak’s End,” Emery’s first full-length album release, contains one of Emery’s most popular songs, “Walls”.
Thursday, Apr. 15, 2010
Emery demonstrates versatility on “Are You Listening”
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Emery’s 2004 LP “The Weak’s End” has the least impressive statistics out of the band’s swiftly growing discography. The self-released debut album failed to chart on any major secular U.S. chart, and only achieved 39th on U.S. Christian charts. The numbers don’t do the album justice, though. Not by a long shot. “End” opens with one of Emery’s best songs, “Walls,” a heart-pounding screamo affair laced with beautiful melodies. “Ponytail Parades” introduces a song structure that has become a staple on all of their albums. Sonically diverse, with alternating melodic vocals, “Ponytail Parades” slides seamlessly into “Disguising Mistakes with Goodbyes,” a track that first features the talents of lyricist Toby Morrell. “The inner sense that people share,” he sings, “touching on secrets and letting down hair.” Emery continues to assault and lull to sleep with “By All Accounts (Today Was a Disaster),” a pounding, but repetitive song. “Fractions” is a hidden gem, a wonderfully depressing yet
upbeat track. “The Note from Which a Cord is Built” features perhaps the most pop-driven guitar riff of the album, along with another clunky song title. Despite its over-serious name, the track is one of the most diverse on the album. “Bloodless” brings more of the same, while “Under Serious Attack” is both brooding, angry and silky smooth. “As Your Voice Fades” lures the listener in with a soft, emotional intro that transitions into a heavy screamo chorus. “The Secret” concludes ìThe Weak’s End,î a beautiful, haunting song that slowly builds to a discordant finale. “The Weak’s End” is by no means a perfect album. It is repetitive, overbearing, and lacks the star power of multiple singles. However, “End’ introduced a worthwhile product to the music scene, a sound that the band has continued to hone and improve on throughout the past six years. “End” built a solid fan base for Emery and a foundation to grow as a band. While this is not an album that you’ll listen to over and over, it will be hard to get out of your head.
BECCA WHIT PHOTO EDITOR As an Emery fan, I have to begin by saying that this entire anthology was a letdown. I admit that I can listen to all three of the albums on “Are You Listening” over and over; however, I was expecting some sort of bonus material or new rendition to equate to the money I spent on albums I already own. For new Emery fans, this is a great buy, especially if you wish to explore the early years of the band, but it does nothing for longtime listeners. “The Question,” originally debuting in 2005, is the centerpiece of the anthology with a title so ambiguous that it piques the interest of listeners with the question “Could Emery really come forward with an album to top their previous release, ëThe Weak’s Endí?” The answer is yes. Staying true to Emeryís style, this CD is full of uncontrollable energy that hits you in all the right places. When you finish your first run through of the album, you are sure to be head rocking and air
drumming to one electric charge after another. In addition to their mastery of each instrument, the vocals on this album are wonderful. Toby Morell and Devin Shelton both take part as lead singer and bring something interesting to the table. The screaming, though temporary, affectively works with the music as it progresses as well. Most notably, the song “So Cold I Can See My Breath” provides catchy lyrics and a unique use of violin and piano driven tempo to create the perfect opening to this CD. “Studying Politics,” the first single of the album and early runner-up for song of the year, deserves all the recognition it has received. The rhythmic beat is infectious and provides an intense onetwo punch to the “The Question.” O v e r a l l , “The Question” is an impressive album, which I recommend to all lovers of hardcore music. Yet, in the context of the new anthology “Are You Listening,” I feel like it is a bit of the same old same old.
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The Fosters, Steve Carell and Tina Fey, have grown tired of their monotonous marriage and weekly date night. They decide to mix it up by taking someone else’s dinner reservation, which lands them in hot water, but ultimately spices things up.
“Date Night” Falls Short of Expectations JARED WATSON ONLINE EDITOR “Date Night,” the new comedy starring Steve Carell and Tina Fey, is another film on a growing list of movies that have no idea what they are trying to be. At various points, the film attempts to be a comedy, an action film and a thoughtful exploration of a relationship growing stale after marriage, and ends up being none of them. Carell and Fey star as Phil and Claire Foster, a successful husband and wife who are doing their
best to raise their children in New York. Though they have a successful household, their relationship has grown stale, with the only romance coming from a by-rote “date night,” where they sit at the same table, at the same restaurant, on the same night every week. In an attempt to break this cycle, they opt to move their date night to an exclusive seafood restaurant, where, upon learning that there is little to no chance of getting in anytime that month, Phil steals an unclaimed reservation to get a table. A case of mistaken identity dur-
ing the meal kicks off the high jinks. I normally don’t harp on the implausibility of movie plots, but I found myself openly questioning many of the twists and turns of “Date Night.” There are several points in the movie where a common-sense decision would have ended the entire conflict immediately, but the main characters are either too dim-witted or shortsighted to see them. Also, many of the action scenes are brought to a screeching halt so that the Fosters can have an extend-
ed discussion about their marriage. I’m sure this is intended to represent marriage arguments breaking out at bad times over nothing, but guys, aren’t you currently being shot at? All this would be forgivable if the movie was funny, but it really isn’t. Fey and Carell do their best with the material they’re given, but there are only a few giggleworthy moments scattered through the film, most of which have already been spoiled by the trailer. In a testament to how unfunny “Date Night” is, the funniest thing in the
STAFF REPORTS Emery’s 2007 release “I’m Only a Man” is a unique transition for an already unique band. Because of bass player Joel Green’s departure, the band moved farther away from their post-hardcore roots and closer to an indie sound. Their third album opens with “Rock-N-Rule,” an homage to rock music infused with screamo and blended harmonies, which safely retreats into a more classic Emery sound in “The Party Sound.” Emery goes pop in “A World Away,” a simple song with an often-repeated chorus that doesn’t get interesting until the bridge, when they throw in some screamo that doesn’t quite mesh. “After the Devil Beats His Wife” is not quite as exciting as the title might suggest, but the varied musical styles on display throughout the song keep it alive. “Can’t Stop the Killer” is Emery’s most passionate song and gives the album an emotional lift at just the right time. The song feels like a confession, an apology for the shallow topics of the album so far, as Emery promises to get serious. “Story About a Man
With a Bad Heart” continues the emotional theme, as the song seems to be a confession of adultery. The protagonist of the album attempted to get back with his original love in “Don’t Bore Us, Get to the Chorus,” a song that could musically fit right into the band’s sophomore release “The Question.” The album’s title is explained in its first ballad “What Makes a Man a Man,” as the protagonist is rejected, and then tries to move on. “The Movie Song,” and “You Think You’re Nickel Slick...” emerge almost as afterthoughts and don’t fit with the rather developed theme mentioned previously. The album’s final song, “From Crib to Coffin,” is a ten minute ode to the life of the protagonist, who muses about his eventual death when he can pay for the sins of his life. Although the album lacks a cohesive whole, the storyline running through most of it is profound and heartbreaking at times. “I’m Only Man” is not an excuse, it’s a bitter realization for the album and its listener, which forces the listener to take a look at their own life and wonder about the consequences to bad choices.
movie is Carell repeatedly telling Mark Wahlberg to put a shirt on, and the gag reel played over the end credits is the most hilarious thing in the film by miles. It seems that this movie is intended for a very specific demographic: married couples. It is a movie all about getting older, raising children and keeping the spark alive after sleeping in the same bed with someone for 15 years. As a result, a lot of what I assume is supposed to be humor breezed right past me. I know we’re supposed to laugh that Claire keeps slamming her knees on drawers that Steve keeps leaving open, but I kept trying to keep it in the bigger picture of the story (they were breaking into a building at the time), the kind of critical examination the movie clearly does not want. The bottom line is, if a movie wants to include “serious” elements like gunfights and car chases, it is going to have to try a little harder to make the comedy make sense in that context. “Date Night” seems like a thrown-together collection of scenes that must have seemed clever in the writing room, but don’t come close to making a good movie. Here’s hoping that Steve Carell and Tina Fey can get a better picture to star in next time.
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Page 7
Sunny Henderson winds up to throw a javelin at Memorial Stadium. After coming to A&M-Commerce initially to compete in the hurdles, Henderson took to the javelin and is looking to earn conference honors.
Henderson hopes to earn top honors in javelin ADAM TROXTELL SPORTS EDITOR Most athletes on the A&M-Commerce track and field team compete in events normally associated with the sport in the southern United States. They compete in events like hurdles, sprints, long distances, discus and shot put. However, one of the women athletes has picked up a different forte: javelin. “When I first came, our old coach wanted me to be a heptathlete,� junior Sunny Henderson said. “We’ve had several coaches since I’ve been here, so I never got to do the heptathlon. I just picked up javelin and started throwing one day. It was easy enough, so I stayed with it.� Henderson came to A&M-Commerce from Daingerfield High School, where she was a part of track, volleyball and tennis, and finished fourth in
the state in 100-meter hurdles. She said she came to A&M-Commerce after a little persuasion. “I had offers other places, but then I came for a student recruitment day,� she said. “I got to hang out with the coach, and he showed me around campus and I got to meet all the people. I just fell in love with it, I guess. In high school, we always had our regional meet here, so the coach had been talking to me since I was a junior.� The coach was Pat Ponder, and Henderson said he also influenced her decision to begin throwing the javelin. “Whenever I came for freshman orientation, our old coach brought me a javelin,� she said. “I had never even seen one, and he was like ‘Here you go.’� She was also influenced by her father, Roger Henderson, who was a thrower on the
Louisiana Tech track team. Henderson said her father has been a big part of her progress in the sport, and provides great support. “He was always there through high school helping, and he’d even coach the throwers at my high school,� she said. “I went to a little 3-A school, and he’d come out and help and run the meets for us. He’s always been my number one fan.� Henderson still began life on the A&MCommerce track and field team as a runner. She began running the 100-meter hurdles, but had to stop because of a knee injury. “I came to hurdle, and then I got hurt my freshman year, so I never quite got back to it,� Henderson said. “It’s kind of hard to get back, especially at the collegiate levels because there are so many people that are just naturally talented. Once you’re gone, you’re gone.�
After returning from the injury, Henderson stuck with javelin throwing and has achieved some success in the event. She finished fourth at the Lone Star Conference championships in 2008 and 2009 in javelin. “It’s all technique,� she said. “There’s really no power. It’s all in your arms and your legs. I have no upper body strength at all, and I can throw it further than most of the hefty girls throw it.� Henderson said she enjoys track because she likes the individuality of it. For her, it is easier to thrive in an individual sport. “Just track as a whole, I like it because it’s so individual,� she said. “When you are on a team and your team wins, you feel good about it, but it was a team effort. In track, it’s just you. It’s easier to make yourself better in an individual sport. You are more motivated to do
well at individual sports than in team sports. If you have team, ‘They’ll cover my mistake.’ It’s all you in track.� Since Henderson has been at A&M-Commerce, she said she has experienced many changes at the track and field coaching position. She said this has affected the team negatively when it comes to performance. “When you have a different coach, they have different styles of coaching,� she said. “So you’ll get used to someone for a semester and how they do things and be doing that workout, and then you have another coach that comes in. They are either more intense or less intense. It throws you off, and that’s why we’ve struggled for the past couple of years.� Current women’s head track coach Sara Davis said Henderson is a devoted member of her team. “She’s a great athlete,
she loves throwing,� Davis said. “She’s dedicated to the javelin, and passionate about getting it right and doing it well.� After this season, Henderson has one more season as a Lion. She said she hopes to achieve her ultimate goal in javelin before she has to say goodbye. “Hopefully, I’ll win conference next year, and if all goes well I’ll be all-American this year and next year, as well,� she said. Beyond that, Henderson is looking at a coaching career. As a kinesiology major, she hopes to coach at a high school, while also teaching a physical education class. “Once it gets up into the collegiate level, it’s more about the money than the passion,� Henderson said. “I think there’s more passion at the lower levels when it comes to wanting to compete, from what I’ve seen.�
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The Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s golf team moved up two places from Monday’s opening round to finish 12th at the UCO/ Kickingbird Classic. A&M-Commerce started the day in 14th place and moved up to 12th on the strength of a final round 306 and 54-hole total of 899 (294-299-306). Junior Dustin Gideon led the Lions with a 221 (72-7376) as he tied for 26thplace honors. The Sulphur Springs native had 10 birdies for the two-day tournament and he was the tournament’s co-leader with his one under play on par 3 holes. Three Lions tied for 42nd including seniors Danny Jun and Eric Westerman and freshman Tyler Duffy as the trio shot a 226. Freshman T.J. McColl tied for 89th after shooting a 236 (78-79-79). Abilene Christian won the team title after shooting an 847 (275-284288) and individual runner up Cyril Bouniol led the Wildcats after posting a 207 (68-67-72). Jason Timmis of Cameron won the individual title by two
4/12/10 9:54 AM
strokes with a five-under 205 (69-66-70). The next tournament for the men is the Lone Star Conference Tournament, starting on Sunday, April 18th at the WinStar Golf Course in Thackerville, Okla. A&M-Commerce senior Heather Pantalion shot a final round 81 to lead the Lions’ women’s golf team to a 14th-place finish at the Grand Canyon Women’s Invitational on Tuesday. Pantalion and the Lions shot a final round 333 for an 11-stroke improvement from Monday’s opening round in the final round. Making a teambest 11-stroke improvement was sophomore Malonie Oats (pictured), who posted an 81 and had four birdies in the two-day tournament. Oats tied for 63rd along with junior teammate Mallory Kempf, who made a five-stroke improvement and shot a final round 84 as both shot a 36-hole total of 173. Junior Megan Benites tied for 68th after shooting a final round 175 (88-87) and junior Kathleen May was 73rd with a 178 (89-89).
Page 8 The Week in Lions Sports Friday, April 16 Football- Spring Practice, Full Gear, Memorial Stadium, 6:30 a.m. Saturday, April 17 Track and Field- Michael Johnson Invitational, Waco, Hosted by Baylor University, All Day Football-Spring Practice, Scrimmage, Memorial Stadium, 9 a.m.
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Thursday, April 15, 2010
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Sunday, April 18 Men’s and Women’s GolfFirst Round of the LSC Tournament, WinStar Golf Course, Thackerville, Okla., All Day Monday, April 19 Men’s and Women’s GolfSecond Round of the LSC Tournament, WinStar Golf Course, Thackerville, Okla., All Day Tuesday, April 20 Men’s and Women’s GolfSecond Round of the LSC Tournament, WinStar Golf Course, Thackerville, Okla., All Day
Sophomore Kyle Weaver competes in the high jump event at Memorial Statium. Weaver competed in a decathlon event over the weekend.
Weaver’s decathlon, North Texas meet highlight busy track weekend That Sports Thing? Modano: to retire or to not retire? ADAM TROXTELL SPORTS EDITOR The day Mike Modano retires from the Dallas Stars is the day I stop caring about hockey in America. Well, that may be a little extreme, but I will at least have a much lower level of interest in how the Stars play. Modano IS the Dallas Stars. He is and forever will be Mr. Dallas Star, the man who made this team as well known as it is. Modano was the very first name I memorized and learned to love in the world of hockey. I was eight years old, it was Spring, the real juicy time of the NHL. A friend of mine had loved the sport for years, and I was at his house enjoying the game as a storm gathered outside. Late in the game, the immortal number nine placed a slap shot right into the corner of the net, and a celebration like I had never seen erupted in the full stands of Reunion Arena, similar to the massive claps of thunder I heard all the way home. The Stars winning the Stanley Cup the following year was just the icing on the cake, as I got to see my newest Dallas sports hero lift the holy grail. Now, I am left wondering if the days of Mo sending Stars fans into bedlam are finally over. My personal feelings aside, it appears Dallas are losing their famous center at the time they need him the most. Any mild fan knows the Stars are sucking right now. Okay, so he’s 39 years old. While that is quite old for any sports player, there are a few hockey players who have made it past the late 30s funk and contributed into their early 40s. Brendan Shanahan is a great example. After leaving the New Jersey Devils early in his career and most famously playing with the Detroit Red Wings for 10 years, he returned to the Devils for one more go-around in 2009. By this time, Shanahan was 40 years old, yet he still scored the opening goal in his first game back in New Jersey. Since then, he has retired, but this does not eliminate the fact that Shanahan contributed. Modano, this Stars team needs you. Please, stay one more year. Without you, my hockey experience is incomplete.
STAFF REPORTS Center Mike Modano is as instrinsic an element to professional hockey as over-emphasized special effects are to Michael Bay “films.” The man is an icon of American hockey, a living legend, Dallas’ brightest Star. Modano started his career with the Dallas Stars in 1989, when they were still the Minnesota North Stars. His powerful offensive play and outstanding leadership helped hockey quickly gain a large following in an area of the country dominated by the NFL. While his statistics do little to properly translate his impact and importance to the Dallas Stars, they are spectacular. Modano leads all U.S.-born hockey players in points and goals scored, 1,349 and 557 respectively. He was a leader on a Dallas team that consistently made the playoffs year in and year out for more than a decade, cumulating in a Stanley Cup victory in 1999 and a Finals appearance in 2000. Modano has done everything he can do as a player. He won his Stanley Cup, broke two very prestigious records, and will go down in NHL history as the best U.S.born player in the history of the ancient league. No player, other than perhaps Steve Yzerman, has been more closely tied to a single franchise than Mike Modano. Does he really want to tarnish he legacy by eeking out a mediocre year on the Detroit Red Wings? I don’t think so. Just ask Joe Namath or Emmitt Smith if those last years are really worth it. What does Modano have to prove? Nothing on the ice, that’s for sure. He doesn’t need the money; after all, he’s part of group that’s attempting to buy the Dallas Stars. He certainly doesn’t need to endear himself anymore to Dallas Stars fans. While Modano definitely has some left in the tank, he should bow out knowing that he could have come back and that he knew he left as a contributing player. The Dallas Stars are not going to resign him, so he really only has one move to make: the move to the front office.
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Women The Texas A&M University-Commerce women’s track team competed at the North Texas Spring Classic on Saturday. A&M-Commerce was the only Division II team competing in the meet. Junior Kate Donovan (pictured) led the Lions with her performance in the 3,000-meter run, in which she finished eighth in a time of 11:27.47. Additionally, sophomore Charnita Hollands set a season-best time in the 100-meter dash, finishing 21st in a time of 12.41. Hollands was followed by freshman teammate Jakesia King, who finished 24th in a time of 12.71. In the 400-meter dash, junior Makesha Brewer set a season-best time of 1:00.37, finishing 24th. The 4x100-meter relay team featuring senior Ebony Lewis, King, Brewer and Hollands, placed fifth in a
time of 49.68. The Lions next compete in the Michael Johnson Invitational, hosted by Baylor University in Waco, Texas, on April 17. Men The Texas A&M University-Commerce men’s track team competed at the North Texas Spring Classic on Saturday. Distance athletes set the tone for A&MCommerce, which was the only Division II school competing in the meet. In the men’s 3,000meter run, the Lions had two of the top four finishers, with senior Tyler Tyndell (pictured) finishing third (8:43.58) and junior Robert Reed finishing fourth (8:47.07), both personal bests. The men’s 800-meter run also saw another personal best, as junior Brandon Womack finished ninth in 1:55.14. Lion athletes performed well in the 400-meter dash,
with sophomore Albert Sinegal leading the Lions in a season-best time of 50.25, which put him in 21st place. Immediately following Sinegal were freshman teammate Joel Day (22nd, in a seasonbest time of 50.31) and junior Cairo Thornton (23rd, 50.43). In the field events, freshman Josh Howe finished sixth in the shot put with a throw of 44-0.75 and freshman Derek Denton placed seventh in the high jump with a season-best jump of 6-3. The Lions next compete in the Michael Johnson Invitational, hosted by Baylor University in Waco, Texas, on April 17. David Noble Relays Texas A&M UniversityCommerce sophomore Kyle Weaver finished fourth overall in the decathlon at the 38th Annual David Noble Relays, hosted by Angelo State University. Weaver’s
final point total of 5,875 placed him ahead of four conference competitors in the nine-person field. Weaver, who has never participated in a decathlon until this meet, won both the long jump (with a jump of 21-8) and high jump (6-5, tied with Stormy Smothers of South Plains) on the first day of the ten event competition. In the second and final day of competition, Weaver competed in the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run. In the javelin, Weaver was fourth with a throw of 155-09. Additionally, Weaver finished sixth in both the discus (11303) and 1,500-meter run (5:02.96). Last season, Weaver primarily competed in the long and high jumps. Weaver’s next decathlon will come at the Lone Star Conference Championships on May 7, also hosted by Angelo State University.
Students take in Rangers’ Opening Day BRIAN BOYNTON STAFF WRITER Opening Day for the Texas Rangers, which was on Monday April 5, against the Toronto Blue Jays was a sold out game, but some A&M-Commerce students were able to be there. The Rangers won in dramatic fashion with a walk off hit by catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia. “This Opening Day was the first one I’ve ever been to,” senior R/TV student Garrett Hale said. “After experiencing it, I will definitely go back to it next year if possible.” After they were poised for a playoff run last year until finishing the season with a 15-17 record
spoiled their chance at a playoff bid, students believe that this season could be the year where the Rangers make it back to the postseason after a 10 year drought. “I don’t think a wild card spot in the playoffs is too far out of reach,” junior music education major said Colin Murphy. Others think they can finally win the elusive AL West, which has for the better part of the last decade been dominated by the Los Angeles Angels. “I expect them to finally get that division title this year,” senior health, human performance and kinesiology major DeRon Bethea said.
Opening Day had many other activities other than the baseball game. There is usually a concert on the North Lawn after the game, and many fans show up well before the game to tailgate and get ready for the season. There is also the introduction of the new roster as well as bringing back some Ranger legends and introducing them prior to the first pitch. The Rangers did make some key offseason moves in the offseason bringing in Rich Harden and long time Ranger killer Vladimir Guerrero. These moves have increased the excitement of this year’s team over recent ones. Even with these addi-
tions, injuries can still cripple a team. Murphy said he still thinks, on the surface, this ball club appears to have the depth to overcome it. “There will be injuries, and pitchers will struggle,” he said. “I think that they are deep enough that even with all that, come September they will still be in the thick of things.” Even if they do not win the division, both Murphy and Bethea expect the Rangers to make the playoffs. “I definitely expect them to make the playoffs but I don’t think they will win the World Series this year,” Bethea said. “The Yankees and Boston are both too good.”
Velasco to be honored by Gridiron Club SPORTS INFORMATION
The National Football Foundation (NFF) Gridiron Club of Dallas announced today that Texas A&M University-Commerce senior Juan Velasco is one of 10 college football scholar-athletes who will be recognized at the club’s second annual banquet, which will be held April 20 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Velasco was one of the 10 selected as the best from the entire region at the collegiate level for their combined achievements as students, athletes and leaders in their respective communities. The selection committee included coaches, teachers, administrators
and business leaders from the North Texas area. Velasco handled kickoff duties and sered as the punter for the Lone Star Conference North Division Champions in 2009, he is majoring in sports recreation management with a minor in business. He averaged 39 yards per punt last season on 74 attempts and in 2008; he was named First Team All-Lone Star Conference North Division and Don Hansen’s Football Gazette Third Team All-Region. “Each one of these individuals is recognized for their continuing efforts to better themselves through the game of football. They are leaders in football, academics and in
their respective communities,” said NFF President & CEO Steven J. Hatchell. “We are proud to honor them and shine a light on their hard work and leadership capabilities.” Velasco will be honored along with Lance Calloway of Midwestern State, Quincy Daniels of Mary-Hardin Baylor, Scott Grantham of Tarleton State, Clint Gresham of TCU, Ross Hasten of Austin College, Kylee Hill of North Texas, Chase Kennemer of SMU, Joe Pawelek of Baylor and Kyle Pope of East Texas Baptist. With doors opening at 6 p.m. and the ceremony starting at 7 p.m., the event will showcase the great
stories in North Texas that will inspire future student-athletes to excel in the classroom and become more involved in their communities. The event will also pay tribute to several outstanding individuals for their contributions to the game and the North Texas region. Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones will accept the Distinguished Texan Award, the gridiron club’s most prestigious award. Other awards remaining to be announced include the Legends Award, the Athletics Director of the Year, the Steve Storie Official of the Year, and the high school coaches and assistant coaches of the year.