October 22, 2015

UNIVERSITY PRESS

The Newspaper of Lamar University

Vol. 92, No. 7 October 22, 2015

Royal court applications due Friday Kara Timberlake UP staff writer Lamar University Homecoming Royalty applications are due Friday.

To be eligible for Homecoming Royalty positions, a student must have a 2.75 cumulative GPA, be sponsored by a registered organization and submit a Royal Court application via OrgSync. Students must also attend one of two meetings held at 9 a.m., Oct. 22, and 2 p.m.,

Oct. 23 in 106 Setzer Student Center.

“This is a great opportunity to be involved in the legacy and the engagement of Homecoming,” Terry Mena, associate vice president and dean of students, said. “Students are going to have the opportunity to represent their student body and participate in all of the traditional events that go on during Homecoming.”

Seniors must have 90 or more credit hours to run for

KVLU to host Halloween brass concert, Tuesday 91.3 KVLU Public Radio will broadcast a live concert featuring Lamar University’s Faculty Brass Quintet and Houston-based Omni Brass at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday. The broadcast is part of an on-going series “Live from the Rothwell,” featured on KVLU. The “Halloween Spectacular” concert will be held in the Rothwell Recital Hall in LU’s Simmons Music Building and will be broadcast live to the Southeast Texas listening audience.

“We are excited to collaborate once again with the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music to bring live performances to our listeners,” said Byron Balentine, station manager.

The fun and energetic concert will feature traditional works and some “spooky” Halloween-themed pieces performed separately by each ensemble, concluding with a large brass ensemble piece.

Prior to the concert, KVLU will host a complimentary member reception at the Dishman Art Museum at 6 p.m.

Courtesy of Carlo Busceme III and Debb’s Liquor, the reception will give the station an opportunity to thank its many supporters and set the tone for a lovely evening of music and art. Reception attendees will have a chance to view the current exhibition at the Dishman Art Museum “Eliot Dudik: Broken Land/Still Lives” featuring stunning photographs inspired by Civil War battlefields.

Admission for the concert is $10.

Cash only tickets will be sold at the door. Tickets may be reserved by calling 880-8144. Proceeds benefit the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music.

KVLU is the sole public radio station for the southeast Texas area, offering an eclectic mix of news, talk and music programming. The station is in its 42nd year of broadcasting, licensed to Lamar University with studios on the main campus. For membership information and a complete list of program offerings please visit www.kvlu.org.

Homecoming king and queen.

Juniors running for Homecoming prince and princess must have 60-89 credit hours. Sophomores running for Homecoming duke and duchess must have 30-59 credit hours, and freshmen running for Homecoming lord and lady must have less than 30 credit hours. “(The royal court) is part of the spirit of welcoming back our alums to Lamar,” Mena said. “Students get to be a part of that history which is very

deep here at Lamar, with Homecoming going as far back as its creation in 1923. This is a great opportunity for students to leave their footprints for the next generation.”

Homecoming Court voting will be held, Nov. 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Setzer Student Center. Students who vote will receive LU gear.

To participate in the Homecoming parade, student organSee HOMECOMING page 2

UP file photo

2014 Homecoming King Kollin Kahler and Homecoming Queen Fanter Sacker

Play explores definitions of profession, parenting LU theatre to present Shaw classic Oct. 29-Nov. 1 Lainie Harris UP staff writer

UP Lainie Harris

Tierra Henry. left, plays the titular character and Shelby Dryden plays Vivie in “Mrs. Warren’s Profession.”

What are the qualities of a good mother? A woman who “works” hard to support her child? Or is it more than just funding a lifestyle?

This is the quarrel Vivie Warren has with her mother throughout George Bernard Shaw’s play, “Mrs. Warren’s Profession,” presented by the Lamar University Department of Theatre & Dance. Performances are set for 7:30 p.m., Oct. 29 through Oct. 31, with a matinee at 2 p.m., Nov. 1, in the Studio Theatre.

Director Joel Grothe, assistant professor of the department of Theatre & Dance, said he saw “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” at a Shaw Festival at a professional theater close to where he grew up. He said he had seen most of Shaw’s plays there, but this one stuck with him.

“It’s a play about a mother who made her income in strange ways,” he said. “Shaw basically makes the argument in his preface to the play, that the way our society is setup forces women to do that. It’s not the fact that they choose, but it’s the best way they could possibly make money. It’s a social commentary on the society he lived in — in turn-of-thecentury England.

See THEATRE page 8

Engaging student populations Mena aims to enhance campus experiences Lainie Harris UP staff writer Engage. That’s a word that Terry Mena uses — a lot.

The new Dean of Students said the word defines his role at the university, and his whole philosophy of life.

“I think what is important about my role as the dean of students is to engage with students — to be in, and around the student experience,” Lamar University’s new associate vice president of student engagement said.

“So I have, and I will continue to engage with students, attend their student Dean of Students Terry Mena organizational meet-

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ings, attend events, and really every opportunity that I am presented — go to where the students are and interact and engage with them, to learn more about what their experience is, and what they hope Lamar will continue to grow to become.”

Mena said that engagement is not just the name of his division, but is a continuous relationship with the institution at some level and fashion that finds a connectedness for the students.

“One of the things that we know from student success research is that the more the students are connected outside of the classroom, the more percentage of success they will have in their college experience,” he said. “I believe that is what I hope to bring Lamar — more opportunities for students to feel a part of the experience and engage with the experience.”

The Florida native is a former athlete.

“I was a defensive back and special teams,” he said. “I also ran back kick-re-

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turns and punt-returns. Then on the track side, I ran the 100-meters, and the 4x100 relay — so that was my forte.”

Mena said athletics opened his doorway to higher education.

“I was up at the state championships in the state of Florida for a division in track and my mom received a phone call from the football coach indicating that he had heard from someone else that I was running in state,” he said. “She immediately called me and said, ‘I got this call from this school in Ohio.’ I guess they were asking about who some of the athletic kids were, and they referenced a group of us that were up at the state track meet — and the rest is history.”

Mena ended up spending a year at Ohio Northern University before transferring to Northeastern University in Boston where he earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He has a master’s degree in student personnel See MENA page 2

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

INSIDE

“Our work is the presentation of our capabilities�

Thursday, October 22, 2015 University Press

MENA

NOTICE

— Edward Gibbon

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from page 1

administration from Columbia University in New York and a Ph. D. in education from Florida Atlantic University, where he focused on higher education leadership.

Mena served as the associate dean of students at Florida Atlantic University before coming to Lamar in July.

An avid runner at least three to four times a week, he said he enjoys watching and attending collegiate sports events. Mena said he has a collection of football helmets, each one bearing the logo of a college he attended. “I have FAU, I have Colombia and I have Northeastern, and I’m trying to get my hands on a Lamar one,�

The University Press can be read online at www.lamaruniversitypress.com.

Advertising rates can be found on the site, along with practically all information that a person might be looking for.

CALENDER he said. “I haven’t gotten there yet, but I know eventually I’ll have one — just the opportunity hasn’t presented its self yet. “Each of them has a unique story on how I got them. The first one, Northeastern, I did tryout as a walk-on and I had my own helmet, but I decided to focus more on academics — and I was able to reach an academic level to where I could get an academic scholarship — so I kind of walked away from being a student athlete, but the coach was a very caring individual, and he gave me the helmet. “Then the Colombia one was just by accident, I worked at the all-women’s institution in Columbia’s system called Barnard Col-

UP Lainie Harris

Dean of students, Terry Mena stretches before his morning run at Ty TerrellTrack on Oct. 12.

HOMECOMING

lege. Myself and the advisors of the other colleges did a leadership retreat, and they invited one of the coaches to be a speaker. We got to talking, I shared with him my interest in athletics and so forth, and to my surprise, I got a helmet one day, and a note that said, ‘Thank you so much, I hope you enjoy this.’ I was really humbled by it, because I was only a grad student then. I wasn’t a fullblown administrator, so that was a special helmet.�

The FAU helmet is Alfred Morris’ helmet, Mena said.

Morris is the running back for the Washington Redskins, and an alumnus of FAU. The helmet was part of an auction for a fundraising event. “I remember when I got there I said to my wife, ‘Honey, if there’s a helmet here, we’re going to go for it,’� he said. “We strategized this whole plan.

Mena said his wife noticed that Morris had signed the helmet. “I walked away and, to my surprise, she went over there and she went to the max, and even before it went to full bidding we got the helmet,� he said.

Mena said he enjoys spending time with his wife and three children. “My oldest is 10, my middle child is seven and my daughter has just turned five,� he said. “So I find it very important for me to be able to spend time with them. That’s another thing I like about Lamar, it is a very family-orientated institution, so that philosophy has allowed me to be more engaged with my family. Not only inviting them to events that are happening on cam-

‘If a student has ideas or concerns we are here and we’re available to respond to those things.’ — Terry Mena Dean of Students pus, but also I can spend time with them and be a father.�

Mena met his wife, Kathy, while he was in college, and the pair have been in partnership ever since, he said. “I was living in the resident halls at that particular stage of our lives, and she witnessed first-hand, and was understanding that this role, and this responsibility, calls upon me at any time of the night and the day. We would be out on a date and I would get a call, and she understood that I had to take the call, in supporting what was happening here — making sure our students were safe, and we were providing immediate response to issues.�

He said he wants the office of student engagement students to feel like they are a part of a family during their college experience, and practices an open-door policy. “If a student has ideas or concerns we are here and we’re available to respond to those things, and guiding them and providing them what options are available based on those things,�

Mena said.

6th Annual Candlelight Vigil Against Domestic Violence

Setzer Student Center Quad 5:30 - 8 p.m.

Volleyball vs.

Southwestern Louisiana

McDonald Gym 7 p.m.

October 24

Volleyball vs. SFA

McDonald Gym 1 p.m.

Football vs. Central Arkansas

Provost Umphrey Stadium 6 p.m.

Lamar Pink Out Cheer and Dance Clinic

Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center 8 a.m. - 8 p.m.

October 27

Course Schedule available for Winter Mini and Spring 2016 Faculty Brass Quintet and Omni Brass Halloween Spectacular Concert

Rothwell Recital Hall 7:30 - 9 p.m.

October 29

Advising begins for Winter Mini and Spring 2016 LU Theatre Presents Mrs. Warren’s Profession

Studio Theatre 7:30 p.m.

Undergraduate Research Faculty Talk

Landes Auditorium, Galloway 3:30 - 5 p.m.

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from page 1

izations that pre-registered in the spring must complete the registration form on OrgSync by Oct. 27 and attend one of two sessions held 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m., Oct. 27, in the Setzer Student Center Ballroom. “The form collects information in regards to participants, theme, type of entry, etc.,� Kiet Le, associate director of student activities and civic engagement, said. “The Homecoming parade information meeting will address rules, regulations and parade expectations for involved parties.�

This year’s Homecoming theme is “Cardinal Strong: Past, Present, Future.� The week-long event begins Nov. 2 and ends with the football game against Nicholls State, Nov. 7. The parade will be held Nov. 7 at 1 p.m. “The theme was reviewed and discussed by students in the spring semester,� Mena said. “Together from the past, present and future, we are all going to experience a common goal. In the end, with the culmination of the football game, we will support our student athletes in winning that home game. Having a unified theme allows the university students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members to get behind where we are at today — we are Cardinal strong.�

Parade prizes will be awarded based on the following criteria: creativity and originality, attractiveness, most spirited float riders/walkers, theme usage and Cardinal spirit. Entries may include decorated floats, pick-up trucks, convertibles, jeeps or costumed walking groups. Closed vehicles are not allowed. “Prizes are in relationship to student organizations signing up for the parade,� Mena said. “As a student organization, if you participate in the parade, you have the opportunity to win three Best Float awards and three Recognition awards.�

A panel consisting of peers, alumni, university officials and parade attendees will review the entries. Float awards will be given in three cash prize categories. The Grand Champion will receive $500, the President’s Award winner will receive $250 and the Cardinal Spirit award recipient will receive $125.

All entries, including walking and vehicle entries, will compete in three cat-

October 22

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LU cheerleader AJ Webb celebrates after a touchdown during last year’s homecoming victory. egories of judging — most creative, best use of theme and most spirited.

Prizewinners will be recognized during the Homecoming game and on a permanent plaque in the Setzer Student Center. “Homecoming is an opportunity for students to be socially involved with their classmates and fellow students in their organizations as well as to interact with alumni,� Mena said. “It creates a spirit between faculty and students. The parade brings something special to the whole Homecoming experience.�

Le said student organizations have the opportunity to win funding with the first Student Organization Spirit Competition. “Student organizations with the most spirit points will be awarded funding for attending and participating in certain events,� he said. “First place includes $300, second place includes $125 and third place includes $75. Student organizations must register via OrgSync.

Details are provided on the OrgSync application.�

For more information, visit http://www.lamar.edu/homecoming/.

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OPINION

UNIVERSITY PRESS October 22, 2015

Campus carried away New state law will create more problems than solutions In my 24 years of life, I have never touched a gun — and I have no intention of ever doing so. The sole purpose of a gun is to kill, and since I buy my meat at the grocery store, I hope to never have the need or desire to own one.

Granted, I am from a country where gun ownership is not a topic of discussion, and I don’t know a single person back home who owns a gun.

That being said, I have absolutely no problem with people who deer hunt, duck hunt, or spend their weekends hunting any other edible, non-endangered animal.

What I do have a problem with, is the Campus Carry Act — Senate Bill 11. Beginning Aug. 1, 2016, all concealed handgun license holders will be legally allowed to carry a concealed handgun on campus, meaning all lands and buildings owned or leased by an institution of higher education. This excluded dormitories — in Lamar’s case, Cardinal Village — and college sporting events. (Don’t worry, a Cardinal loss will not result in a shoot out.)

Universities also have the right to designate certain areas on campus as gun-free zones, with reasonable justification. These zones will be determined by the president of the university, following recommendations of faculty, staff and students. The gun-free zones will then need to be approved by the board of regents and the Texas legislature.

A university will need “Reasonable justification” to declare an area on campus gun-free. Let that sink in for a minute. If a 21-year-old passes a background check and takes a four-hour-long class, he or she can sit in class carrying a gun without anybody knowing — but the university had better come up with a very solid reason to declare, let’s say, the Lamar Psychology Clinic, Car-

Commentary

Lauren Van Gerven UPeditor

UP Graphic Desmond Pickens

dinal Community Clinic, or the University Press, a gunfree zone.

A professor can prohibit students from wearing a hat in class, but doesn’t have the right to designate his or her classroom a gun-free area.

Shoot me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t that sound completely insane?

On Monday, I attended the faculty and staff town hall meeting regarding the Campus Carry Act. At the beginning of the meeting, Provost Kevin Smith, the moderator, said that if there were any law enforcement questions, they could be addresses to LUPD chief Hector Flores, who wouldn’t be hard to spot in the crowd, as he was in uniform.

“He’s the one carrying the gun,” somebody in front of me commented.

Good point. He should be

the ONLY one in the crowd carrying a gun. But as of Aug. 1, 2016, who knows how many people will be packing heat in a packed auditorium.

Opinions at the meeting were divided, and on more than one occasion the discussion got rather heated. A concealed handgun license is exactly what it says it is — concealed. This means faculty have no right to know who in their class is carrying a gun, and they have no right to ask if anybody in their class is a concealed handgun license holder.

To many faculty members, the idea of one of their students carrying a gun in class is a scary thought — I can’t blame them. On more than one occasion, I’ve heard professors tell stories of students threatening them, screaming at them and stalking them, for reasons as simple as getting a

bad grade. The idea, and the not knowing, that one of these students could soon be legally carrying a gun in a situation like this is terrifying.

People in favor of the campus carry act argue that being able to carry a handgun on campus will allow for greater protection in case of an emergency, and students leaving class late at night might feel safer walking to their cars if they can carry a gun.

Excuse me, but, isn’t that what we have LUPD for? I take evening classes and get out of class at 8:30 p.m. Yes, it is dark by the time I get out of class, and yes, the Lamar campus can get really dark. This is why, before class I drive my car to the other side of campus and park next to the building where my class is. I have never felt unsafe on campus, but I know that if I did, I could always call LUPD to escort me

to my vehicle.

Others argue that legal or not, people are already carrying guns on campus. Fair enough, although there is no data to back it up, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are already guns present on campus.

This is not a good thing.

Adding legal guns will not make the presence of illegal guns go down. It will only bring the total number of guns on campus up. More guns will only increase the chances of accidental discharges, and increase the ease of suicides — which accounts for 60 percent of all firearm injury deaths.

Smith shared some numbers during Monday’s meeting. Of the daily Lamar campus population (excluding long distance students, etc.) approximately 5,700 people are eligible to receive a concealed handgun license. Two percent of this number actually has a license; so about 100 people will have the permission to carry on campus. This isn’t a high number, but the danger is in the ease of availability. Guns make death easy and fast.

It’s not difficult to receive a concealed handgun license.

One must be over 21 years of age, a Texas resident, have a clean record, pass a background check, and go through a four-hour-long course. The thought that certain people on campus could be carrying a gun might push others to obtain a license, simply out of fear. There is no good reason to carry a gun on campus, but carrying one out of fear is definitely a bad reason.

It’s the law, and whether we like it or not, come Aug. 1, there will be legally held concealed handguns on campus.

Now, it’s about how we deal with it. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the Campus Carry Act, make yourself heard.

Faculty, students and staff are encouraged to take a survey to share comments and concerns, and to suggest what areas on campus should be designated gun-free areas.

The survey can be found at www.forms.lamar.edu/www/c ampus-carry.html.

Whatever side you are on, it’s time to make yourself heard.

Lauren Van Gerven is UP Editor

UPeditorial Homecoming is the perfect time to show school spirit

We are more than halfway through the semester and Homecoming is coming up fast.

On Nov. 7, the Cards will take on Nicholls State University at Provost Umphrey Stadium. Leading up to the game, a week full of events has been scheduled in which students can take part.

Occasionally, one hears grumbling that Lamar lacks

school spirit compared to other, bigger universities.

However, in the past few years, LU organizations such as Lamar Alive!, Student Engagement and SGA have been putting a lot of effort in creating more school spirit.

This, of course, cannot be achieved without the participation of the students.

Although Homecoming is still a couple of weeks away, it

Editor .........................Lauren Van Gerven Sports Editor..................Grant Crawford Web Editor.......................Melissa Conley Staff ......Desmond Pickens, Lainie Harris, .....................Haley Bruyn, Coty Davis, ....Lane Fortenberry, Trevier Gonzalez, .................Josh Aych, Tyler Hargraves, ............................Brooke Stinebrickner Advertising..........................Melissa Conley Office Manager..............Jac’Quor Williams

is not too early for students to start thinking about the event.

Homecoming court applications are due tomorrow, and if students want to apply, they must attend one of two meetings held at 9 a.m., Oct. 22, and 2 p.m., Oct. 23 in 106 Setzer Student Center.

Even if one isn’t interested in running for Homecoming Court, it only takes a minute

Letters Policy

or two to vote for the candidates, and students will receive free Lamar gear for voting.

Take a few minutes out of your day; show your support and vote. Voting will be held, Nov. 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Setzer Student Center.

Events during Homecoming week will include a pep rally, a “show your spirit”

Individuals who wish to speak out on issues should send a letter fewer than 400 words in length to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 10055, Beaumont, TX 77710, or drop letters off at our office in 200 Setzer Student Center. The writer’s name, address, telephone number and ID number must accompany each letter. Letters received without this information cannot be printed. Letters may be edited for length, grammar, style and possible libel.

Opinions expressed in letters are not necessarily those of the UP student management. Letters by the same writer on the same subject will not be published. Poetry and religious debates will not be published.

photo booth set up in the SSC, a week-long scavenger hunt, a Greeks vs. Faculty basketball game, a glow zumba party and much more.

So, get ready to put your red on, have some fun and show your school spirit.

For a full schedule of Homecoming week events, visit www.lamar.edu/ homecoming or see next week’s University Press.

The opinions that appear in editorials are the official views of the University Press student management as determined by the UP Student Editorial Board. Opinions expressed elsewhere on this page are the views of the writers only and are not necessarily those of the University Press student management. Student opinions are not necessarily those of the university administration. ©University Press 2015

Page 4

Thursday, October 22, 2015 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

Zani lectures on monstrous side of mankind REVIEW Haley Bruyn UP staff writer The University Theater was packed Monday for Steven J. Zani’s unorthodox Distinguished Faculty Lecture, “Monsters in Literature in Philosophy — Vampires, Zombies and Bears, Oh My!” True to its name, the talk explored psychological and literary roots for the monsters that seem to pop up over and over as themes throughout history.

“Monsters represent something fundamental to humanity as we understand it,” Zani said.

“You’ve seen where a father finds out his child is a zombie, and he has to choose whether or not to kill his zombie child or wife. What does that really represent as a metaphor? In old plague stories the conflict was the same, but the choice was whether someone should take care of their sick child when they know it means they might catch the disease themselves.

“The fear is that civilization is going to collapse, and that mob rule will destroy our buildings and set our cars on fire.”

Zani offered compelling arguments, suggesting that werewolves are not simply scary

because they are monstrous, but because they represent a basic need-driven side to man — a total lack of civilization replaced by an all-consuming instinct.

Vampires, he countered, were the exact opposite. They are highly refined, aristocratic creatures who operate solely on drive.

Zani pointed out the blatant racism and classism these creatures embody.

“When we say ‘werewolf’ in a lot of stories, what we really mean is ‘peasant.’ In many wolf stories, werewolves represent animals, but they really represent the lower class, or minorities,” he said.

“In ‘Twilight,’ the vampires live in a secluded, upper-class house. Vampires drive expensive cars, their leader is a doctor, and they have European ancestors — while the werewolves are all Native Americans, living in lower and middle-class homes, fixing their own cars, driving pick-up trucks and riding motorcycles. It doesn’t get anymore metaphorical than that.”

Zani also discussed Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” He took the time to explain the impact her mother, Mary Wollstonecraft’s, feminist writings had on Shelley’s perceptions of society.

He argued that Frankenstein’s

UP Photos Josh Aych

Steven J. Zani discusses werewolves and other monsters during the Distinguished Faculty Lecture in the University Theatre, Monday.

creature symbolized the plight of women in the 17th century — created by the society they live in, but powerless to control their situation.

“Here we have a story written by the daughter of one of the most famous feminists of the Romantic era, a woman who wrote a huge essay on how women need education, and how they are weak only because their civilization makes them weak,” he said. “Suddenly we have her daughter, writing a story about a creature who is made worse by bad parenting.”

The reference to bears in the title of Zani’s lecture was not just a clever allusion to “The Wizard of Oz.” He discussed bears recurring significance in history, and the reason humans have, for centuries, captured and trained bears to perform, or written about them as beasts.

“What I’ve found is that bears serve a great example of what monsters are to us. They are disturbing, powerful things, that we manage to turn into stories that can comfort and entertain us,” he said.

Zani referenced various stories in which bears cannot be deceived or lied to.

“The bear represents something innocent, something animals are in touch with that people are not,” he said. “They’re not fooled because they don’t have desire. Bears, not conscious, not having knowledge of good or evil, have another kind of knowledge altogether.”

Literary monsters, as Zani points, are scary. But, more importantly, are a way to confront the scary parts of our nature. Plus, they’re fun.

LU drumline to host high school competition, Oct. 31 Morgan Collier UP contributor Lamar University’s drumline will host the third-annual Lamar Percussion Society Gulf Coast Drumline Classic, Oct 31, at Provost Umphry Stadium.

The competition will start at 9 a.m. and run until 8 p.m.

The Classic is a competition for high school students.

“High schools come, participate and compete at high levels, and get the experience to perform for the highest quality of judges, in order for them to give constructive feedback,” Travis Fife, Lamar percussion director, said.

Fife said the competition is intended to encourage and strengthen the drumlines in this area.

“There was nothing like this down here, in this part of the state, and we needed something that was close enough for the Houston and Louisiana schools, as well as the area schools around Beaumont,” he said.

Fife said his biggest goal was to bring in the best judging panel in the country.

This year’s panelists include Matthew Ferry, Bret Kuhn and Scott Johnson.

“We want to create an atmosphere or environment that you truly can’t find anywhere else,” Fife said. “Our goal is to be different. We also want to make this year bigger and better. Hopefully, that will get more drumlines involved

and more community involvement.”

Already, there are many high schools signed up to compete, including schools from Houston and Dallas.

At the end of the competition, the Lamar drumline will put on an exhibition of their 2015 Percussive Arts Society International Competition indoor show.

“I am excited for the Gulf Coast Drumline Classic because we get to perform and practice for our PASIC show in front of renowned percussionists,” LU freshman Maesey Arnett said.

The competition is broken down into classifications, followed by overall awards. The level of difficulty changes from one classification to the next, Fife said.

“With the level of drumlines in this area getting better, it has made the difficulty level even greater this year,” he said.

Fife said he encourages the community to support the students competing in the event.

“Come and enjoy some music, see the different styles that transfer from one school to the other,” he said. “This competition is a huge avenue for the community to see what the students in the schools around here are doing, the level of the students we have, and the hard work that is being put in.”

Fife said he hopes to see support for Lamar’s drumline as well.

“I know the students in the drumline would love to have as much support and as many persons there as possible,” he said. “We want the event to be large and to grow each year, so that people will know what is going on and will also support the high schools.

“This will also show the student body that they have a very high level drumline right here at this university, which is competing for a world championship.”

Admission for the event is $5 for studets, 47 for general admission and children under the age of five get in free.

UP Photos Morgan Collier

The LU Drumline practices at Bud Leonard field, Thursday (left) and at the University Theatre. (above) The drumline will host a competition for high school students Oct. 31.

ZTA to host gumbo cook-off, Oct. 31 Hannah Carlson UP contributor Lamar University’s Zeta Tau Alpha sorority will host a gumbo cook-off, Oct. 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Rogers Park in Beaumont.

Admission is $10, which includes a wristband for all events.

Children under age eight are free.

T-shirts are available for $15.

“That will get you in and you can do whatever we’ve got going on in there,” membership chair Brianna Graffagnino said. “You

can also be a sponsor. There’s three different levels — pink, silver and turquoise, $100, $500 and $1,000 — and you can also give donations of any amount.”

Graffagnino said proceeds will go toward breast cancer education and awareness.

Gumbo-making teams may enter for a fee of $100 for five people or fewer.

“So if it was a team of five, it would only be $20 a person,” Brooke Bertles, ZTA philanthropy chair, said.

Attendees will be able to vote

on their favorite gumbo.

“There will be tables with little taste testing bowls, where people can walk around and taste test the gumbo,” Bertles said.

“There’s going to be six different awards. There’s going to be ‘best gumbo,’ ‘hottest gumbo,’ ‘best team spirit,’ and others like that, so it’s very family friendly.”

The gumbo will also be judged by experts.

The teams will make their gumbo on site.

“The only thing that they’re allowed to pre-cook is the roux, be-

cause it’s really hard to make roux,” Bertles said.

The event is family friendly, Kali Lozano, ZTA committees coordinator, said.

“It is on Halloween, so we’re going to have the whole Halloween theme,” she said. “There’s going to be pink pumpkins and pink skeletons, but nothing too scary because we want it to be kid friendly.

“We have the inside of the building at Rogers Park and we’re going to make a maze for the kids. We’re going to have

events for the kids, like face painting. There’s going to be a bowl of candy at each gumbo area, so they can trick or treat while they’re there, and they can be all dressed up in their Halloween costumes.”

Graffagnino said ZTA hopes to make the gumbo cook off an annual event.

“I’m hoping that with the years to come it’ll eventually grow and be super successful,” she said.

For more information, email ztacookoff@yahoo.com.

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5

TRAVEL

UNIVERSITY PRESS October 22 2015

‘DIGGING’ LIMA

The Huacca Pucllana sits at the heart of modern-day Lima, Peru. The city grew up around the sacred site, continuous excavation on which began in 1981.

Huacca Pucllana shows Peruvian culture more than just Machu Picchu Assuming that all tourists should go to Peru to see Machu Picchu is like implying the only reason to come to America is to see the Grand Canyon.

Peru is a massive, diverse country. There are beaches and cliffs up and down the coast; lush, fertile jungle turns into barren, sandy desert that stretches for miles; and the countryside is home to rolling valleys where farms and ranches dot the landscape.

But, ignoring all of that, numerous tribes have inhabited the land, and there are ancient temples throughout Peru built by people other than the Incas, and they are all really amazing.

Take Huacca Pucllana, for example. It’s a pre-Incan adobe pyramid, dating from between 200 and 700, made of thousands upon thousands of handmade bricks that are stacked like books on a shelf in a way that has withstood centuries of earthquakes and neglect. It’s an active archeological site and you can take a guided tour for the bargain price of 12 Peruvian soles, or about four American dollars.

Oh, and it’s located in the heart of the trendy Mira Flores district of Lima, two blocks from a movie theater and a McDonalds.

At more than seven-stories high and five football fields long, the main pyramid is a feat of human engineering. The bricks are stacked to allow movement, so when earthquakes do happen (and because of Peru’s proximity to a fault line, they frequently do) the ancient structure can shift and flex to compensate for the movement without breaking.

Standing on top of the pyramid, visitors have a great view of the entire complex. Walls of various buildings have been exposed and restored, giving an impression of what this site might have looked like so many years ago. From above, the complex resembles a maze.

There is an on-site gourmet restaurant where patrons can dine outdoors with stunning views of the temple, which is illuminated at night for dinner guests.

I’ve been lucky enough to visit Peru five times. Every time I go, I take a tour to see what they’ve uncovered at Huacca Pucllana since my last visit.

The site is amazing — not only because of its incredible cultural and historical significance, but because it was never lost or forgotten. The temple was covered in sand and earth after years of disuse and the city grew around the perimeter of the main ceremonial site. But the locals never forgot what was actually inside the mound of dirt.

The continuous excavation of the site didn’t begin until 1981.

Today, a visit to the ruins allows visitors to watch the daily painstaking restoration performed by archeologists and volunteers.

A tour guide walks a group through the parts of the site that have already been exposed and restored. Life-sized dioramas, depicting things like the laborious process of making adobe bricks and the ceremonial offering of hand-painted urns to the gods, dot the lower, or what is believed to have been the administrative area of the temple.

This replica burial site is located within an actual excavated Wari tomb at Huacca Pucllana in Lima, Peru.

Walking the expansive site, visitors get a feel for the importance this place held for its creators, the pre-Incan civilization referred to as the Lima culture.

To really help visitors to get a feel for the amazing lives of the Lima people, a miniature garden and livestock hold, including llamas and alpacas, has been constructed to show what the diet of these people might have been.

(Spoiler alert – Peruvians ate, and still eat, guinea pig. It’s delicious. Don’t knock it until you try it.)

Usually, there are a few Peruvian Hairless dogs running around the complex. Don’t let their terrifying appearance fool you – these are very sweet ani-

mals. They just, unfortunately, resemble what I imagine a chupacabra might look like.

When our group finally ascends to the top of the pyramid, I get really excited. This is where the active excavation and restoration is most concentrated, so every time I go, they have uncovered either more of the pyramid, or some new discovery.

The tour guide explains how civilization after civilization used the structure for different purposes. For the Lima people, it was mainly a city center and a ceremonial site. After the Lima were overthrown by the Wari people, it was used mainly as a burial site. The Wari were fol-

lowed by the Ichma, who desecrated many of the graves and continued to use the site for religious and sacrificial purposes.

When the Incan people finally did rise to power, the temple was already thought of as a relic.

Excavators have found mummies, pottery, food, weapons, tools, textiles and other amazing artifacts. Some of them are on display in the small on-site museum.

Today, the site is also home to archeology classes for children, and occasionally the area is used as a music venue.

Peru is known primarily for it’s proud, vibrant culture, towering mountains and dense jungle, and, naturally, Machu Picchu. That doesn’t mean tourists should ignore the amazing things scattered across the rest of the beautiful country.

And, yes, I did pet a llama – it spit on me. That’s the only Peruvian experience I don’t recommend.

Story, photos and layout

by Haley Bruyn

The Huacca Pucllana in Lima, Peru, features life-size replicas of citizens of the Lima culture, above, who were required as a civic duty to spend time during the week forming adobe clay bricks that built the temple. The temple today is inhabited by Peruvian Hairless dogs, right, which are trained as pets.

Page 6

Thursday, October 22, 2015 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

Wheeling and dealing Smart balance boards craze rolls onto campus Olamide Oladunni UP contributor In “Back To The Future,” Marty McFly travels around Hill Valley using his nifty Hoverboard. Unheard of in the late ’80s, viewers stared in awe of this thrilling technological advancement. Some dismissed it as optimistic sci-fi wishing, while others thought to themselves, “One day.”

Almost 30 years after its release, smart balance boards are the closest thing yet to Marty’s hoverboard.

“These things are real fun to ride and easy to learn,” Salome McClinton, sales rep for Wheels 2 Go in Parkdale Mall, said.

“The hardest part for most people is getting on and getting off,”. Once you learn how to properly step on it and step off, everything else will take care of itself.”

Smart balance boards, or hoverboards, are like Segways only without the handles, like an electronic skateboard on two wheels. Celebrities like Wiz Khalifa, Tyga, Skrillex, Jamie Foxx and Nicki Minaj have posted selfies on their social media pages with them.

“It first got popular in L.A., when Curtis Hedges, the CEO of IO Hawk, decided to order these boards from a manufacturer in China,” McClinton, said. “The IO Hawk brand was the first brand to come out with these boards in L.A., and started to sell them for $1,500. All the celebrities went crazy and started riding them around to

events. Slowly but surely, the trend caught on.

The boards made their debut in August 2014 on the Chinese market through Chic Robotics. They were originally called the Smart S1. In fall of 2014, Chic took the Smart S1 to the largest trade show in China, the Canton Fair, where they sold out of their supply. Before long, several manufacturers were producing replica boards, often plastering their logo over the Smart S1. It wasn’t until February of 2015 that IO Hawk shipped out their first orders, six months after they first appeared in Canton.

Prices range from $400 to $1,500. McClinton said the boards are selling well.

“Since we opened, we have sold about 15 of these boards already,” she said. “Ours start off at $500 for the basic boards, but we also have boards that are Bluetooth compatible and equipped with speakers on the bottom of them so you can hook up your phone to it and play your music via Bluetooth. The Bluetooth boards are $700 and those seem to be the item that the kids want.”

LU business major Mike Adams rides his board around campus, and is turning his hobby into a business by selling them to other students.

“This is the new way of walking,” he said. “Students don’t want to have to walk from one end of the campus to another.

We can ride these around and save time

Smart balance board for sale at Wheel 2 Go at Parkdale Mall. Prices range from $400 to $1,500.

UP Olamide Oladunni

and energy, since the top speed is 10 to 15 miles an hour. Even if you’re running late you can still make it to class in time.”

The boards run on batteries, with the charge life varying from brand to brand.

“The battery life on these, depending on what type of battery is in there, ranges from 3-9 hours, Adams said. “The boards that I have come equipped with Sony batteries, so they last for 8-9 hours. The battery is rechargeable and it charges for three hours, but I usually leave mine on the charger overnight.”

Since their introduction to Hollywood and the rise in popularity, the cost of the boards has increased, Charles Bemi, Houston senior, said.

“When I first bought mine six months ago, I only paid $280 for it on eBay,” he said. “Now when I look on eBay for the same one that I bought, the cheapest price I see is $400 when you factor in shipping costs.”

The mechanics may seem weird at first, and it may take a novice user around 30 minutes to master the controls.

“To go forward, you simply point your feet forward while standing on the boards.” Bemi said. “The black pads all around your feet are actually motion sensored, so depending on how hard you point your feet forward you can go slow, medium or fast. Wherever you lean the majority of your body weight is where the board goes.”

Bemi said he has heard of parents paying $1,500 on eBay and Amazon just for the mini Segway for their child.

“It is quite amusing to me,” he said. “When I was growing up, I was satisfied with a new toy or some trading cards, but these kids nowadays are getting laptops, cell phones and all the new gadgets that come out.”

With Christmas right around the corner, McClinton said she already has parents putting the boards on layaway.

“We already have 20 of them on layaway here at Wheels 2 Go,” she said. “The kids and teenagers are our best sales reps.

They fall in love with the product having seen it on social media or television, and

Kendrick Scott rides his hoverboard around campus.

UP Kyle Swearingen

when they see it in real life they don’t stop asking their parents if they can get it for them.”

Although these hoverboards aren’t the same as the one Marty McFly uses to travel, the movie future is getting closer all the time.

Groves Pecan Festival to take place, Nov. 5-8

More than 4,000 participate in cancer walk

The Lamar campus was filled with pink-wearing early morning walkers as more than 4,000 people gathered at Provost Umphrey Stadium, Saturday, to participate in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer for a Cure 5K walk.

The event raised more than $150,000 for breast cancer research.

Kaylee Konidis UP contributor The Groves Pecan Festival will be held Nov. 5-8 at Lions Park on the corner of Jackson Street and Lincoln Avenue in Groves. Admission and parking is free.

Coordinator Ronnie Boneau said the festival, which has taken place in September for the past 40 years, changed the date for weather reasons.

“The last two or three years we’ve had a rain issue, the year before last it was completely rained out,” he said.

Boneau said visitors can expect to see changes in the rides.

“The carnival is owned by Tony Lowery out Louisiana — they are bringing new rides that we have not had for the last few years,” Boneau said.

For more information, visit www.tex aspecanfestival.com.

Russ and Susan Schultz music scholarship established

UP Photos Tim Collins

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The Lamar University Foundation has established a new scholarship in honor of Russ Schultz, recently retired dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication, and his wife Susan.

Endowed by their daughter and sonin-law, Drs. Jennifer S. and Omar Hernandez, the Dr. Russ and Susan Schultz Scholarship in Music will benefit students in the Mary Morgan Moore Department of Music.

“Any time students receive funds to offset the cost of college, they are encouraged to continue to achieve their goal of a college degree,” said Derina Holtshausen, dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication. “When a couple like Dr. Russ and Susan Schultz is honored with an endowed scholarship, it exemplifies the strong confidence and support given to our students.”

Schultz retired as dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication in May after serving at LU for 16 years.

He received his bachelor of music from Eastman School of Music in 1969 and his masters from the University of Memphis in 1971. In 1973, he was named chair of the department of music at Shelby State Community College in Memphis and subsequently earned his doctor of musical arts from the University of North Texas.

The Schultzs share their love of music. Susan Snelgrove Schultz earned

a bachelor of music and master of music and performer’s certificate from Memphis State University. She plays both the flute and piccolo and has performed with the Memphis Symphony and the Symphony of Southeast Texas.

During his 24-year career as a music administrator, Russ Schultz was active in the accreditation process of the National Association of Schools of Music. In that role, he served on the accreditation commission and visited many schools as an evaluator. While in Beaumont, he served on the boards of the Symphony of Southeast Texas, the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Young Audiences of Southeast Texas, Leadership Southeast Texas and the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. He also was president of the Symphony of Southeast Texas and vice president of the Beaumont Rotary Club.

As a trombone player, Schultz performed with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, the Yakima Symphony Orchestra, did extensive work as a recording musician and continues to serve as a member of the professional artistic staff for Yamaha Band Instruments. He remains active as a performer and conductor.

For more information about establishing an endowed scholarship, contact the Lamar University Foundation at 880-2117.

7

SPORTS

UNIVERSITY PRESS October 22, 2015

Cardinals take on bears

LU SET FOR SOUTHLAND CONFERENCE MATCHUP AGAINST CENTRAL ARKANSAS Grant Crawford UP sports editor @GrantLamarUP The Lamar football team will take on the University of Central Arkansas, Saturday, in a home game at Provost Umphrey Stadium. The Cardinals are coming off of a 48-35 loss to Northwestern State, and are now 3-3 (2-2 SLC).

“We did not play very well early,” head coach Ray Woodard said. “We got into the flow of the game too late. I like the way our players fought, and the way we tried to come back, but going down 17-0, and 31-14 at halftime, was just too big of a hole. I’ll take responsibility for that.”

Woodard said his team’s performance of late is concerning him, but a better word to use is frustration.

Kade Harrington

“I’m frustrated because we’re not performing as a unit, as well as I think we’re capable of,” he said. “I think we’re more talented than we’re showing, and I’m frustrated that we’re allowing the points and the yardage that we are.”

Central Arkansas are 3-1 in the Southland Conference, and defeated Lamar last year 44-41.

“I think everyone wants revenge,” junior defensive back Xavier Bethany said. “It’s going to be a tough game though, and we’re getting our minds ready for it.”

UCA is currently second in passing offense, and their quarterback, sophomore Hayden Hildebrand, is second in the league individually, even after missing a game this season.

“They’re not one-dimensional,” Woodard said. “They can do both. I’ve seen games where they threw it over 50 times.

Against Abilene Christian they ran it 20 plays in a row.

“They’ve got the second leading rusher in the league, and they’ve got two of the top three receivers in the league. They go with what’s working, and they can take advantage of it.

If you try to take one thing away, they can do the other.”

While the Bears have the second-leading rusher in the league, sophomore Dominique Thomas, the Cards have the leading rusher, junior Kade Harrington.

Harrington leads the league in rushing, as well as the entire FCS division with 1,115 yards, but said that his dominance on the stat sheet does not outweigh the team’s goals.

“It’s nothing, but bitter,” he said. “A loss is a loss, and it hurts.

Stats don’t play a factor in that at all. The main goal is to win,

Junior defensive back Xavier Bethany practices at Provost Umphrey Stadium, Tuesday.

and we didn’t do that, and that’s all that matters right now.”

If Lamar wants to have continued success in the running game, they will have to go through UCA’s defense, who are second in the league in points allowed. They are also 4th in sacks this season.

“They’re a very good football team,” Woodard said. “They’re very good up front, on both sides.

Jonathon Woodard, an easy name for me to remember — I think he’s, if not the best, one of the best defensive lineman in the league.”

Harrington said he isn’t worried about being able to move the ball though, and is happy to be running behind his offensive line.

“I love them every day at practice, and every day in the games,” he said. “They make it so much more fun to be able to run behind those guys. The fact that we’re all such good friends, makes it so much better when there’s a suc-

cessful play, or a touchdown.”

Woodard said he isn’t as worried about his team’s ability to run the ball, but he would like to see greater production in the passing game.

“Offensively, we have to be a little bit more efficient in the passing game,” he said. “I think we squandered a good rushing night last game. We have to make teams pay when they bring so many people up to try to stop the run. We became a little too onedimensional in that ball game.”

Woodard said that besides converting passes, they also need to be able to stop the pass.

“Defensively, we’ve continued to give up the big play in the passing game,” he said. “We’ve continued to get too many passing interference calls, as well.”

Xavier Bethany said that stopping big plays from occurring against Central Arkansas starts with being prepared.

UP Grant Crawford

“Our confidence is still up,” he said. “All we have to do is take care of business on the practice field, and everything’s going to take care of itself.

“We need to work harder than we did last week, but we’re not even thinking about that anymore. We don’t think about the wins, or losses afterwards. The sun’s always going to shine.

That’s how we think about it.”

The game will kick off at 6 p.m., Saturday.

Although the Cards aren’t where they would like to be in the standings, Harrington said he isn’t afraid of letting the season slip.

“With how crazy this conference has been, anything is possible,” he said. “I think there’s only one undefeated team. Anything can happen on any given Saturday, so I’m excited to see how this plays out.”

Volleyball to host Lady Demons today Coty Davis UP contributor

Rugby kicks off season

Lamar’s men’s rugby club kicked off its season Sunday, when they went up against Sam Houston State. The Cards were defeated in the match, 15-5. The game took place on the field next to VincentBeck Stadium.

Pictures by Josh Aych

After losing a 3-0 sweep to the Central Arkansas Sugar Bears, Oct. 15, in McDonald Gym, the Lamar University volleyball team returns home tonight to play NSU. The Northwestern State Lady Demons have not had a great season so far, with a 5-18 (3-7 SLC) record, but Lady Cardinals head coach Allen Edwards knows they cannot be taken for granted.

“We know they are going to come out and play tough from the start of the game,” he said. “They are going to come out and serve hard, fired up and emotional as always. However, the biggest key for us is to stay consistent throughout the whole game.”

If the Lady Cardinals, (13-8, 3-4 SLC), can pull out a win, it will be their first victory against the Lady Demons since their 3-2 lost last season in Natchitoches, La. “We were up 8-5 in the last set of the match and were in good shape to win.” Edward said. “However, the side change during the final set may have taken us out of our rhythm, as we let the second half of set five get away from us. It was a game we felt like we should have won, and it was a tough match to get over.”

The loss against the Central Arkansas gave Lamar their first home loss of the season. LU was in good shape to win the first set and held a 9-7 lead early in the match.

Central Arkansas came back and took control of the set 17-12, but the Lady Cardinals were able to cut their lead to one at 22-21, but the Sugar Bears refused to give up their lead, and won the first set 25-23.

“I felt like we fought really hard in the first set, but playing hard is not enough to beat a good team like Central Arkansas,” Edwards said. “We have to be able to play hard and good as a team in order to win games in this league.”

Central Arkansas dominated the Lady Cardinals the next two sets, winning both 25-16.

“Central Arkansas is a talented group of kids and we were not able to apply enough pressure to them in the match,” Edwards said. “We did not do a good job of stopping them, and they just came in and ran over us at an unbelievable pace.”

For the match, Central Arkansas had a .340 hitting percentage with 44 kills. The Southland Conference’s top offensive player, outside hitter Heather Schnars, had 20 kills and an individual hitting percentage of .415.

Lamar averaged a hitting percentage of .141, and had 18 attack errors, double that of the Sugar Bears. Outside hitter Autumn Taylor led the Lady Cardinals with eight kills.

The Lady Cardinals will play the third game of their four-game home stand at 7 p.m. The last match of the stand will be Saturday at 1 p.m.

Page 8

THEATRE

Thursday, October 22, 2015 • UNIVERSITY PRESS

from page 1

“It becomes a moral issue when the daughter forgives her for that, but then she realizes she’s still making money on the interests from the properties, which she thinks is unethical.

Who’s right here?”

Grothe said this is the first time he’s directed a play by Shaw at Lamar, and chose “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” after a colleague, the costume professor, mentioned she wanted to do this show.

“It was ultimately my choice,” he said. “I usually try to pick a play that is a classic, that still has some resonance to it — and I’ve done most of the classic playwrights of this era. So, it was kind of time for us to do a Shaw.

“And this is a good one, because it has a pretty small cast, and it has two female leads, so it suits our student body really well.”

Grothe said the characters are all different voices of Shaw that express his different perspectives.

“He’s a difficult playwright to produce, but next to Shakespeare, he’s probably the most prolific, famous playwright in the English language,” Grothe said.

Sophomore Shelby Dryden plays Vivie. Dryden said it’s an invigorating role to play, describing Vivie’s character as a vicious woman.

“I say that to, hopefully, entice

‘You’ve got to step back a moment when it’s over, and think about it, and how it relates to you, and maybe how these problems could be solved.’

— Shelby Dryden who plays Vivie in “Mrs. Warren’s Profession.”

some people,” she said. “She feels very strongly about morals — she believes in what she believes in — I don’t know how to express that better, but it’s really refreshing I would say. She’s a really refreshing character.

“She claims to not be straight laced, or prejudiced, or anything like that — but there are some interesting turns in the show. She can also be a bit childish, even though she claims to want to be seen as anything but a child.”

Dryden said playing a Victorian character is interesting.

“It’s a nice to thing to play, especially for her being from a different era,” Dryden said. “There are so many things that she believes in that I can relate to today, and that’s what’s so refreshing about her.

“She’s a woman of business.

She wants what she wants in life, and she’s not going to apologize for it. I am like Vivie in that way.”

Dryden said she is close to her own mother, and so it was a challenge to come at the character from a different angle.

“Vivie didn’t have her mother around,” she said. “She was always sent off to boarding school, and didn’t have her mother there.

She doesn’t know who her mother is, and she kind of resents her for that — for not getting to know who she was.”

Dryden said during the few days Mrs. Warren would visit, she’d boss Vivie around and leave.

“Right from the beginning, you get this feeling of them being at odds with each other, even though it’s from different angles,” she said. “Her mother expects her to be something that she’s not — she expects her to be the woman that she raised — she was raised proper, she went to boarding school, she wants her to have these manners — and I suppose she wants her to marry and live the life that she envisions for her.

Vivie just doesn’t want that for herself.”

Dryden said Mrs. Warren didn’t have a choice of the lifestyle she lives. She said this play makes

Thomas Gentry Jr. plays Sir George Crofts in a rehearsal for LU Theatre’s “Mrs. Warren’s Profession,” which opens Oct. 29.

UP Lainie Harris

a statement about how there should have been better opportunities for women.

“It doesn’t judge the women, it just says this is what was wrong with society, and at a point, is still wrong with society,” she said.

“Mrs. Warren had to do it for herself, and then I believe she kept doing it for Vivie. I think a part of Vivie understands that, but still can’t get past the fact that it is still going on.”

Dryden said the play will leave the audience reeling.

“You’ve got to step back for a moment when it’s over, and think about it, and how it relates to you, and maybe how these problems could be solved,” she said.

Sophomore Tierra Henry plays Mrs. Warren. Henry said Mrs. Warren did whatever she could to get herself out of the situation that she was in.

“She raised herself up from being at the bare bottom of the world to the top. Even though she didn’t do it in a good way, she did what she had to do,” Henry said.

If Henry was in Mrs. Warren’s situation, she said she would have done the same thing, although

maybe not to the extent that Mrs. Warren does.

“Although she did have to do some rather sketchy things, I feel like she had no other opportunity,” Henry said. “Even though at the end, when she had money, she could have stopped, but she keeps it going on. When Vivie finds out about (her mother’s profession), it’s still going on.

“I relate to her doing whatever she has to do.”

Henry said Mrs. Warren is a dominant woman and is a lot deeper than how she allows herself to be seen publicly.

“She is a lot more on the inside, like when Vivie is threatening to leave her, you really see her kind of break down,” Henry said.

Senior Thomas Gentry, Jr. plays Sir George Crofts, an older, wealthy man who doesn’t care about anyone but himself, which makes him the villain of the piece, Gentry said. “(Sir George is) very selfish, and he will do anything to get what he wants,” he said. “If there is something he wants, and he knows he can’t get it, he will pay a whole bunch of money just to get

it — he’ll do anything for what he wants.”

And, Gentry said, the main thing Crofts wants is Vivie.

Gentry said he enjoys playing Crofts because it’s a type of character he hasn’t had a chance to play previously, but has always wanted to.

“Not him himself, but a character like him, because it just feels good to be bad,” he said. “He’s blunt, he’s upfront. I would say he doesn’t have a filter —but on some things he does — then it all comes out.”

Gentry said if Crofts is both hated and loved by the end of the play then he has done his job well.

A good mother provides for her child to the best of her abilities, doing whatever it takes — whether that is always the right thing, well Shaw wants us to make up our minds.

Ticket prices are $7 for LU students, $10 for senior citizens, students and LU faculty/staff, and $15 general admission.

For more information, call 880-2250, or visit www.lamar. edu/theatre.

Editor Lauren Van Gerven pulls the strings for the best coverage of campus and sports news

UNIVERSITY PRESS