February 20, 2014

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The Newspaper of Lamar University and Lamar Institute of Technology Thursday, February 20, 2014

Vol. 90, No. 17

KNIGHT FALLS AS LU HEAD COACH CHRIS MOORE UP SPORTS EDITOR Lamar men’s basketball coach Pat Knight was fired, Sunday, after twoand-a-half seasons, following Lamar’s 87-67 loss to Northwestern State, Saturday in the Montagne Center.

In 2011-12, Knight’s first season at

Lamar, the Cards finished with a 23-12 record. Knight’s most famous/infamous moment came during his first season, following a 62-52 home loss to Stephen F. Austin. Knight’s post-game comments made multiple national news outlets including ESPN. Knight was critical of his seniors’ play and leadership. The Cards won the next

six games, including three Southland Conference tournament games to nab the SLC title and an NCAA Tournament berth.

After losing eight players from the 2011-12 team, the Cards finished the following season with a record of 3-26 and were 3-22 before Knight’s dismissal, Sunday.

“We wanted to look forward, and we thought now was the time to make the move that was best for the program,” Lamar athletic director Jason Henderson said.

Henderson said that the decision to fire Knight was made Sunday morning, and did not know if Knight would still have his job if the Cards had won

their last game.

“We talked Saturday night and Sunday morning, so we played out the situation we had,” Henderson said.

“We just based it on where we were at that point.”

The Cardinals will finish the seaSee KNIGHT, page 7

Spring Break offers service opportunity LAUREN VAN GERVEN UP STAFF WRITER For the first time, the department of student activities and civic engagement will host a five-day community service trip during spring break. The students will travel to New Orleans where they will take part in various community outreach projects.

“Cardinal Breakaway: Alternative Spring Break” will take place March 10-14.

“It is our goal at the Setzer Student Center to provide opportunities for our students that are educational, entertaining and engaging,” Michael Wilkinson, associate director of student activities and civic engagement, said.

“We feel that the Alternative Spring Break trip fits into that mold.”

Wilkinson said that during the students’ stay in New Orleans they will engage in community outreach projects that include rebuilding houses, constructing community gardens, assisting food banks, restoring parks and a variety of other environmental projects.

“Since this is our inaugural spring break trip, we felt that we should stay somewhat close to home,” he said. “New Orleans had been devastated over the past decade by multiple natural disasters and they are still rebuilding their great city. We want to help them in that rebuilding process, and at the same time, represent Lamar University in a positive light.”

Although all students are eligible to apply for the trip, only nine will be selected to travel to New Orleans.

“It’s imperative that students get their applications in, and take their applications seriously,” Wilkinson said. “There are questions on their past service and volunteer experience.

Things like that will be a major factor in the committee’s decision on who will or will not be selected.”

Wilkinson said that he believes the trip will help students grow on a personal level and that he is excited that students will have the opportunity to represent Lamar University both regionally and nationally. “‘Service Before Self’ is our motto,” he said. “Anytime we can positively impact the lives of others through service, we are demonstrating to students the importance of this.

This is a valuable asset that students will be able to carry with them the rest of their lives.”

The expenses for the trip will be completely covered by the university.

“Lamar covers hotel fees, three meals a day, and transportation expenses to and from Louisiana,” Wilkinson said.

If the trip is a success, Wilkinson said the department hopes to make the “Alternative Spring Break” an annual event.

“I’m a big fan of tradition,” Wilkinson said.

“So, I’m hoping to make this an annual trip.

Hopefully, in time, we will be able to expand it and go to different places.”

The deadline to apply is Feb. 27. Students can apply online at www.lamar.edu/cardinalsbreakaway.

Photos by UP William Jones

Spring Open House attracts Lamar hopefuls High school and college transfer students attended Lamar University’s Spring Open House, Saturday. Prospective students and their families were greeted by President Kenneth Evans, above, and his wife, Nancy, in the Quad.

Prospective students, current students, and Cardinal mascots Big Red and Lou got together to dance “The Wobble,” right. The campus was home to a scavenger hunt in which prospective students could collect punches on the Open House cards and turn them in, below, for a chance to win goodie bags. One lucky winner received an iPad.

PRESIDENTS DAY MORE THAN RETAIL THERAPY, SALES MALLORY MATT UP CONTRIBUTOR

UP Mallory Matt

Sara Gubala, LU political science teacher, snuggles next to her dog, Kennedy, who is modeling her “Uncle Sam” outfit. Gubala and Kennedy celebrate Presidents Day by watching presidential movies together.

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Some use Presidents Day as a day to get things done that didn’t happen during the New Year break — like taking down those Christmas lights the neighbors keep complaining about.

Some use it as an opportunity for an all-day-shopping-spree, thinking the presidents on their greenbacks are honored to be exchanged for their next pair of shoes.

As patriotic as these traditions

may sound, it’s a holiday — just without the presents, the food and the fun parties.

“It’s not just a day where everybody has sales,” Sara Gubala, Lamar University political science teacher, says. “I don’t think this is a retail holiday. For some federal workers, they probably just see it as a day off. These (presidents) are people who have basically given their lives to public service. Yeah, they get paid to do it, but it’s a 24/7 job.

“Look at Bill Clinton after he

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left office. He gave his all, whether we agreed with his policies or not.

He was the leader. We should appreciate what they do. They make decisions for good and bad, but they’re there to serve us.”

In 1800, following President George Washington’s death in 1799, the idea was first proposed to designate his birthday, Feb. 22, as a holiday.

Construction of the Washington Monument began in 1848, but it was not until 1879 that his birthday finally became a national holiday.

Feb. 17 became the selected date for this holiday to also commemorate Lincoln’s birthday, Feb. 12 Gubala snuggles next to her dog, Kennedy, her pooch fully garbed in her “Uncle Sam” outfit.

For a couple of years, Gubala and Kennedy have been watching presidential movies on the weekend leading up to the annual third Monday of February celebration.

“Because I teach this stuff, it has been something that’s been inSee PRESIDENT, page 2

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Page 2

LU THEATRE, DANCE TO PRESENT ‘UNCLE VANYA’ LAUREN VAN GERVEN UP STAFF WRITER Rural Russia conjures an image of a cold and dry landscape, while Louisiana, with its heat and humidity, evokes almost the opposite.

The two regions might sound very different, but for director Joel Grothe, the similarities are clear. He brings Anton Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” close to home by setting it in contemporary Louisiana, and by featuring a diverse cast.

Although the location change might sound dramatic, Grothe said there are a lot of similarities between the regions.

“The setting is very provincial, which is appropriate,” he said. “The change is very subtle, and it’s really only a suggestion.

I changed a lot of the names of places. The play is set in a sort of field, which I think is appropriate to West-Central Louisiana and East Texas. Particularly if you look at that time in history — it was written in 1895 — this is an area where a lot was happening, but it was still a pretty rugged part of the United States.

Geographically, the region has some similarities, I think.”

The Lamar University department of theatre and dance will present “Uncle Vanya,” by Anton Chekhov, Feb. 27-March 2 in the Studio Theatre.

“Anton Chekhov is one of a couple of playwriters who is largely responsible for what we see today in terms of TV and film,” Grothe said. “‘Uncle Vanya’ has a nicely balanced cast of nine — four females and five males — and I think it has a lot of themes that resonate on a university campus, including an

older professor who can be looked upon as an academic bully, which I think is very appropriate to think about at a university.”

David Hooker, who plays the professor, says that his character is arrogant and self-centered, but that he’s not a bad man, and that he can relate to him a lot.

“He’s aging, he’s got a very young wife, but he’s an old man,” he said. “So things aren’t very happy there. She doesn’t really love him. He’s frustrated over that, and life in the country.”

It’s kind of a play where not a lot happens, Grothe said.

“It’s really about a family who live on an estate,” he said.

“A couple of extended family members come visit and they throw everybody out of sorts — that’s the short version.”

Chaz Romero, who plays the charming and attractive country doctor, said that the play is very dialogue driven.

“You have to really act when you’re talking,” he said. “You rely so much on dialogue that you don’t really depend on the action.”

Travon Haggerty, who plays the title character, said that it’s a very day-in-the-life kind of play.

“The characters’ situations aren’t what they would have liked it to be when they were younger, so they are a little more miserable when they are older,” he said. “They keep looking back at what could have been — they are reflecting instead of having something to look forward to.”

Grothe said that he read many different versions of the play and took the dialogue that

UP Lauren Van Gerven

Travon Haggerty, right, contemplates his gun during rehearsals for “Uncle Vanya” in the Studio Theatre, Feb. 12. Natalie Sell, left, and Catalina Castillón, standing, also appear in the production, opening Feb. 27. he liked the most in order to make his adaption.

“There are a lot of different ways of saying things, so I appropriated that,” he said.

“There’s a couple of things that I took out, not a lot, and deliberately we have a pretty diverse cast, which I think represents the region at the time.”

Vanya is played by an African-American, while his mother is played by Spain native Catalina Castillón, who presented the Distinguished Faculty Lecture in November.

“I was largely inspired by her lecture,” Grothe said. “When

she spoke about Latinos being in the region so much longer than anybody else, I said, ‘Do you want to be in this play?’”

Castillón said that she is proud that he thought of her.

“As soon as he asked, I jumped on board with the idea,” she said. “I always liked acting but I never acted here because of my accent. And Joel said, ‘No, we want the Hispanic-in-theU.S. kind of spirit.’ I’m very proud to present that in this play.”

Grothe didn’t change all the character names, nor will the play be performed in a Southern

accent.

“I don’t want it to become folksy, or gimmicky, for that matter,” he said. “But I think that a lot of themes resonate to this region at that time, and now.”

The play will be performed in the round.

“I like that the stage is in the center,” Tracie VanLaw, who plays the nanny, said. “I’ve never done that before, it’s interesting.

You’re standing somewhere and then you realize that maybe you should turn around.”

Grothe said that despite the perception that Chekhov can be rather dull, he hopes that the

PRESIDENT ••••••••••••••••••••••••• Continued from page 1 teresting to me,” she says. “I think one year, on one of the TV stations, they had a presidential movie marathon and now I own a bunch of them, like ‘The American President,’ ‘Frost/Nixon,’ ‘The Ides of March,’ ‘Thirteen Days,’ ‘JFK,’ and I just got ‘Lincoln.’ I just plan to sit down and watch them.”

Gubala hopes to inspire her students to take interest in the national holiday.

“I usually try to pull something up from CSPAN on presidents and do a presidential quiz — not a real quiz, just a, ‘What do you know about presidents,’” she says. “But I think everybody thinks that President’s Day is when they’re all born, but actually, (Feb. 12) is Lincoln’s birthday and Feb. 22 is Washington’s birthday, so we kind of have several around here, like Reagan’s was (two weeks ago). He would’ve been 103.”

Gubala’s love for politics and presidents began in her high school government class.

“My teacher said he would give us extra credit if you go to political events, and so I initially went for extra credit because I’m not really good at multiple choice tests,” she says. “I ended up loving it.

I actually earned way more extra credit than what I probably needed.

play will be entertaining.

“Chekhov is often boring and sort of languid, so the goal is to work against that,” he said.

“It is characters interacting with each other, but I think it’s meant to be a comedy. It has serious themes, but it should be funny. It can be complex and a little bit psychological, but I hope that it will be an entertaining experience.”

Show times are 7.30 p.m., with a 2 p.m. matinee, March 2.

Tickets are $7 for Lamar students, faculty and staff, $15 for general admission and $10 for senior citizens and students.

“(I would go to) campaign rallies for local politics like the state legislators and U.S. congressmen. I interned with my congressman twice, both in his district office and in D.C. — Bob Goodlatte from Virginia.”

Being involved in local and national politics, Gubala says she established an appreciation for politicians but found a love for teaching.

“Politics is so cut-throat,” Gubala says. “I don’t think I would want to run for office. I love teaching but I think at some point, I’ll probably go back to working on some campaigns, because it’s fun.

There’s kind of a rush to doing that.”

Gubala’s primary interest is in presidents, she says.

“Anytime they’re on, I like to watch them — there’s something fun about them,” she says. “I saw George Bush speak. I saw Bill Clinton as a former president speak when he was here. I would love to see Obama. My thing is, I would love to go to every presidential museum. If I lived closer, I would be up at the Bush museum on Presidents Day.” As a way of honoring the past presidents, Gubala researches historical facts about them, such as birthdays and inauguration dates, she says.

So, while out on your shopping spree, give thanks to your bills because of who is represented on them rather than their value of exchange.

EDITORIAL 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.

UP EDITORIAL

BLACK HISTORY

This month is Black History Month, and there are numerous stories and fun facts that we will learn throughout the month about black people’s impact on American history.

However, the learning of black history shouldn’t just happen in one month.

The reason we have black history month is because we don’t generally talk about black historic figures unless it’s February. School systems tell us about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Benjamin Franklin, as well they should. But, to pretend as if that represents everyone’s experience, everyone’s history, is wrong.

We need to know that Madame C.J. Walker was the first female millionaire in America, who made her fortune from selling cosmetics for black women.

We need to know that Carter G. Woodson is the “father of black history.” Woodson realized that there wasn’t enough black representation in history books, so he began Negro History Week, which later developed into Black History Month.

Jack Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion in 1908. We always hear or read about Jackie Robinson, but usually don’t give the same attention to Johnson, which we should.

Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes and Alex Haley are authors that we read at the college level, but don’t see in public schools enough.

The year 1964 (the year the Civil Rights law was passed) is ingrained in our brain as much as the year 1776 (the year we declared our independence as a country), or at least it should be.

We keep missing out on these important American figures because we try to condense the time in which we learn about them. This is why we make it to our 20s, 30s and beyond without ever hearing some of these names.

Yes, the white names are forever in our heads, as well they should be, but it’s because we hear about them 12 months out of the year.

Yes, Black History Month gives us the unfortunately rare ability to broaden our understanding of American history.

However, as the saying goes, “Black history is American history,” and, for now, the responsibility is ours to continue the education for more than just the 28 days of February.

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www.lamaruniversitypress.com 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.

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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.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

UNIVERSITY PRESS

FEAR

Editor Chelsea Henderson

MORE THAN JUST 28 DAYS

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INTE CON RPERS VERS ONA ATIO L NS

c i l b u P ing k a e p S UP Chelsea Henderson

Conquering speech anxiety Face communication apprehension for success In May 2012, my advisor offered me a promotion. He wanted me to take over as editor of the University Press, beginning in the fall 2012 semester. My immediate reaction was, “Ask someone else.”

It wasn’t the responsibility of running a news organization that kept me from taking the job — I’ve always been confident in my journalistic skills.

I didn’t want the title because, in addition to generating content and laying out the paper, the editor is in charge of directing weekly staff meetings.

I know the idea of rejecting any promotion sounds strange to most people, but I was willing to give up my dream job to avoid the one thing I’ve always avoided at all costs — public speaking.

I have high communication apprehension, also known as CA or speech anxiety.

My advisor convinced me to take the position, and I enrolled in Lamar’s public speaking for communication apprehension course during my first semester as editor.

Throughout my college career, I’ve had professors of all ranks boast that their classes teach “valuable life lessons” or will “change your life.” This particular class is the only one that I can say has, in fact, changed my life.

If you find yourself in a position to take public speaking for communication apprehension — and your academic advisor should give you a self-evaluation form to determine your CA levels before you take a regular speech class — I 100 percent encourage you to do so.

The term communication apprehension was coined by James McCroskey in the 1970s, but speech anxiety is not a new concept, by any means.

There are references to CA documented in both the Bible and the Qur’an. In the Book of Exodus, when God tells Moses of the message he is to deliver to the Pharaoh of Egypt, Moses replies, “O my Lord, I am not eloquent…but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.” Similarly, in the Qur’an, Moses tells Allah, “My Lord, I feel they will call me a liar, and I will feel stressed and tongue-tied.”

In both versions, Moses is afraid to communicate God’s message, not because of the consequences of its content, but because of his anticipated physiological responses triggered by the act of communication itself.

Fifty years ago, we would have brushed off Moses’ uneasiness as stage fright or speech fright.

However, 40 years ago, McCroskey realized that all of the terms floating around didn’t accurately describe the deep anxiety, or the

COMMENTARY

by

Chelsea Henderson

countless adverse physical responses, that can occur while delivering a speech.

McCroskey identified and defined CA as “an individual’s level of fear or anxiety associated with either real or anticipated communication with others.”

McCroskey identified four types of CA, but Lamar’s communication apprehension speech class focuses solely on “generalizedcontext CA.” Generalized-context CA is “a consistently anxious response and orientation toward communication in a specific setting or context,” Karen Dwyer writes in “Conquering Your Speech Anxiety.”

These specific contexts are public speaking, meetings, group discussions, and interpersonal conversations.

McCroskey developed the “Personal Report of Communication Apprehension” to assess an individual’s level of CA. The PRCA-24 is what Lamar University uses to determine which students will benefit from taking the CA speech class instead of the regular speech class.

CA is an anxiety disorder that doesn’t discriminate or limit its affliction to classroom settings.

What LU students may be feeling before, during or after an oral presentation, can have real-life consequences outside of the world of academia.

In a 1976 article, McCroskey writes that the highly communication-apprehensive person is “handicapped,” because “many benefits in our society, from good grades to good jobs, depend heavily on one’s ability and willingness to communicate.”

In a 1989 study, McCroskey and two of his colleagues found that “students with higher CA will earn lower grade point averages” and are more likely to drop out within the first two years of college than their lowerCA counterparts.

According to McCroskey, James Quiggens found that, even in a small group setting, “low apprehensive group members saw high apprehensives as less competent and

socially attractive than other low apprehensives.”

I have sacrificed my potential and my goals more often that I’m ready to admit due to my severe anxiety toward public speaking — or any group-related communication for that matter.

I have failed entire courses because a major grade required delivering an oral or group presentation at the end of the semester.

I have chosen to take a zero instead of attempting an assignment because it required standing in front of my classmates and opening my mouth.

I have avoided most of Lamar’s student activities, because I can’t stand to be in a crowd — I’ll have a panic attack in the middle of campus. I have missed faculty lectures I’ve really wanted to hear, because when I arrived to the auditorium or classroom, the only seats available were in the center of the room.

This is the state I was in when my boss approached me about becoming editor. This is the position I found myself in when I decided I really had to take this CA speech class — it was impossible to put it off any longer.

But I took that course, and I survived.

Public speaking is still not my favorite thing. I don’t expect it to ever be something I enjoy.

However, in spite of my communication apprehension, I am now enrolled in LU’s advanced public speaking course. I need the practice, and I’m never going to get better if I run away from fear my whole life.

If you find yourself dreading class — or even skipping class — because the teacher may call on you, because you have to work on a group project or, yes, because you have to give an oral presentation, you need to do everything in your power to take the CA speech class.

If you’ve already taken your required speech course but still need help overcoming your anxiety, try this: Before you begin an oral presentation, take a few deep breaths. Fill your stomach with air, and then slowly exhale through your mouth. This won’t solve everything, but abdominal breathing can drastically help calm your nerves.

As an added bonus, engage in a little positive self-talk. Before I give a speech or address my entire UP staff, I tell myself the same positive message — “I’m prepared, I have a good message, and I’m going to be OK.” The first step to overcoming any anxiety is to believe you can. When it comes to CA, the only thing stopping you is you.

Chelsea Henderson is UP Editor

Page 4 Thursday, February 20, 2014

University Press

Undergraduate Research grants Brown’s eco-friendly project SIERRA KONDOS UP STAFF WRITER The department of undergraduate research named Timothy Brown as a grant proposal winner for his “unique and promising,” experiment on “NickelCatalyzed Suzuki Cross-Coupling Reactions of Aryl Mesylates with Arylboronic Acids,” on Dec. 15, 2013.

“The goal of this project is to develop cheaper, more environmental friendly, and highly reactive nickel-based catalytic systems,” Brown, a sophomore chemical engineering major from Vidor, said. “The successful completion of the proposed research will help advance the science of chemical catalysis.

“It will also be beneficial to the chemical industry, pharmaceutical industry, and material industry.”

Brown said the Suzuki cross-coupling reaction is one of the most important methods to synthesize biaryls, that are components of a variety of natural and non-natural biologically active molecules.

“Precious metals, such as platinum and palladium, have played pivotal roles

in the Suzuki cross- coupling reactions, he said. “However, the limited availability of precious metals, and their high price and significant toxicity make it desirable to search for more economical and environmentally friendly alternatives.”

Brown said that nickel is more desirable than platinum and palladium.

“Nickel costs roughly around $1.20 per mole (the number of atoms in one molecule), and whereas platinum costs $10,000 per mole, and palladium costs $1,500 per mole,” he said. “The catalytic reaction conditions — base, solvent, catalyst loading, and temperature — will be optimized to achieve the highest yield.

“The scope of aryl mesylates and arylboronic acids will be determined under the optimal reaction conditions.

The new catalysts can be applied on the synthesis of biologically active molecules containing biaryls.”

The aspiring research chemist said his final results will find the most efficient conditions to perform the coupling reaction for his project, with little waste as possible.”

“This is a long process and we have

to try every combination,” Brown said.

“Right now we are working on optimizing the reaction, and we switch one reagent with every reaction. On our first attempt, we have found the desired product, but it’s not a significant yield to be convincing. We are looking for the conditions that will come out in a greater yield.”

Brown said his project will result in the discovery of highly nickel-based catalysts. It involves two major steps.

“We will optimize reaction conditions that started on Jan. 13, and ends March 14,” he said. “We investigate how the electronic effects and steric hindrance influence the catalytic activity, starting on March 5 through May 16.”

Brown said that his project is a continuation of his mentor’s, Xiangyang Lei’s experiment that was funded by the Welch Foundation.

“The advancement of catalytic science would provide the world with powerful tools to reduce energy consumption, prevent chemical waste and utilize more readily available resources,” Xiangyang Lei, assistant professor of chemistry, stated on Brown’s

Timothy Brown

UP Sierra Kondos

proposal.

Brown’s research results are expected to be published in a peer-reviewed journal and will also presented at the annual Student Research Poster Competition in the Department of

Chemistry & Biochemistry at Lamar in September, the Regional Undergraduate Symposium at Rice University in October, and the 70th American Chemical Society Southwest Regional meeting in November.

Lutcher to present ‘I am Jack,’ March 3 What to do about bullying?

This age-old question, still facing our youth today, is addressed with a “page to stage” approach in “I am Jack,” a oneman play, based on a book by the same name, and starring Tim McGarry.

“I am Jack” is scheduled for two performances March 3, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in the Lutcher Theater in Orange.

The award-winning Monkey Baa Theatre Company based in Sydney, Australia explores anti-bullying options with this 55-minute show.

Tickets are available for $4 each by calling the Lutcher Box Office at 886-5535.

“I am Jack” is based on the true story of author Susanne Gervay’s son, who at the age of

11 experienced being bullied.

What is unique about this bullying-themed show is that the character of Jack is just a normal, fun kid, not an outsider.

The show explores how peer pressure can grow rapidly and intensively and can take over.

This tour of “I am Jack” marks the first time the show has been seen outside of Australia.

Designed for students 8-12 years old, the show is intelligent but accessible, contemporary, sharp and very moving.

The book, “I am Jack” was published in the U.S. in 2013.

The Frances Ann Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts is located at 707 Main, Orange.

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FEATURES

Thursday, February 20, 2014

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Cirque du Soleil will present “Varekai,” which incorporates high-level acrobatic language, music and dance, at Ford Park, March 5-9.

Courtesy photo

Cirque du Soleil to bring gypsy spirit to Ford Park with ‘Varekai’ KRISTEN STUCK UP STAFF WRITER

Courtesy photo

The mission of Cirque du Soleil is to invoke the imagination, provoke the senses and evoke the emotions of people around the world. That’s exactly what they do in “Varekai.” “‘Varekai,’ first of all, is a word that means ‘wherever’ in the Romany language of the gypsies,” publicist Vanessa Napoli said. “It’s Cirque du Soleil’s interpretation of what happens to Icarus after he loses his wings.

“It’s tied back to Greek mythology, when Icarus flies too close to the sun and his wings burn off. In our version, he lands in this enchanted forest, Varekai — which is wherever your imagination takes you — and he meets all these mythical creatures that help him and are all part of his journey in his rebirth process.

“He learns how to walk because Icarus was obviously a mythical creature who flew, who never used his legs, and all these characters, through acrobatic language, teach him how to do that.

“There is a love story that is also attached to it, so part of his rebirth process is to fall in love — fall in love with one of these creatures that inhabits the forest. It is very, very theatrical.”

“Varekai” is not a traditional circus and is only the second tour that Cirque du Soleil has brought to Beaumont.

“It doesn’t have animals in it,” Napoli said.

“It’s a piece that’s expressed through very

high level acrobatic language with live music on stage, beautiful costumes and dance — all these elements that come together so gracefully.”

A live band, consisting of seven musicians and two singers, constantly has to adapt to what is happening on stage.

“The musicians follow the acrobats and not the acrobats following the music,” Napoli said. “It’s very interesting. It’s a very important element to the show. It adds that special element that other circuses don’t have. It sets the mood for the show.”

“Varekai” features 50 performers from 18 nationalities, and travels to about 40 cities a year.

“This tour has been running for 11 years now under the big top — it used to be under a tent, so it is more of a traditional circus format that we have,” Napoli said. “Cirque du Soleil has traveled in many different formats. We have our resident shows, which are the permanent ones, we have the big top shows, which are under the tents and those usually visit large metropolitan areas, and then we have the arena formats, which is what we are bringing to Beaumont.”

Napoli, who has been with Cirque du Soleil for four years and is the official spokesperson for “Varekai,” said it is amazing traveling with the shows.

“It’s pretty chaotic, yes, because you’re changing cities every week, but it’s really amazing at the same time because every Monday you wake up to new scenery, you get to explore a new city, you get to do new things in a

completely different place,” she said. “In North America, it’s pretty stable, even though it has its varieties and obviously they are really different. But just imagine when we start going to Europe, when you change countries every single week, so every single week you have a new language, every single week you have a new place and new food and new things to explore. It’s really an amazing experience.”

Napoli said she became involved with Cirque du Soleil after years of applying.

“I lived in Montreal — that’s where the headquarters are for Cirque du Soleil,” she said. “I used to work for an agency and my dream, obviously was to work for Cirque du Soleil. I say obviously, but it’s just because I grew up in Montreal. It’s part of the whole culture because it is from there, so any residents living there, you just have this pride for Cirque and you want to work for them. I applied and after a few years I got hired. I’m really happy and fortunate.

“We love what we do. It’s an amazing and fascinating experience. You get to do what you love to do every single day, whether it be to perform or be behind the scenes and travel the world at the same time.”

“Varekai,” which runs about two hours and 20 minutes with a 20 minute intermission, will be in Beaumont March 5-9, with shows at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and two shows, at 4 p.m. and at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

For more information on tickets, visit www.cirquedusoleil.com or www.fordpark.com.

‘Acquae Obscurae’ to explore Neches River critters at TASI Imagine the Neches River is a vast trench filled with magical and mysterious aquatic creatures.

That’s the premise of “Acquae Obscura,” an open exhibition at The Art Studio, Inc. on March 1-29. The show will art inspired by the all the possibilities of the river and the sea, and opens with a reception, 7-10 p.m., March 1.

Organizer Beau Dumesnil said the show is inspired by the idea of Victorian explorers and their patrons, who would scour the globe and return with artifacts in jars — as well as plenty of tall tales and images of strange creatures.

“I created a very broad context for people to use their creative outlet, as to what kind of animal would one find on a Royal Society expedition into the great Neches River trench — what would they come back with?” he said.

“So the sky’s the limit within that broad context.”

Dumesnil encourages anyone with imagination to enter the show. There is no entry fee and the sky — or the river bottom — is the limit.

Entries may be submitted in person, Feb. 21-24 at The Art Studio, Inc., 720 Franklin in

downtown Beaumont.

The artwork will fall into one of three formats for the visual artists: “Live” specimens, “Dead” specimens and “Too Big to Catch” specimens.

“The ‘Live’ specimens will be mounted, displayed or hung in a mobile format in an aquarium built in the main gallery,” Beau said.

“These will also include people in costume who choose to come as amphibious-type arthropods.

“The ‘Dead’ specimens — taxidermy — which will ideally be in jars, which will be mounted on pedestals in the rest of the gallery.

“Then there are the things we couldn’t catch — artist representations of these creatures, akin to what National Geographic has.”

Dumesnil also encourages attendees to be part of the show and dress up in costume, either as aquatic creatures or as explorers.

The main goal of the event is for people to have fun, Dumesnil said.

“I want people to explore the ‘depths’ of their creativity,” he laughed.

For information, visit www.artstudio.org or call 409-838-5393.

Page 6 Thursday, February 20, 2014

University Press

SPORTS

NBA trade deadline approaches Many big names could be on the move. Rumors swirl around Pau Gasol, left, Rajon Rondo and Kenneth Faried. Which teams will pull the trigger and make “the move” before today’s 2 p.m. trade deadline?

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Track

Despite firing a tournament-low 289, the Lamar Cardinal team golf was unable to climb the leaderboard Sunday at the SunTrust Gator Invitational in Gainesville, Fla. The Cardinals posted a threeround score of 297-300-289 — 886 to finish 12th only five strokes behind host Florida on the 6,701yard, par-70 Mark Bostick Golf Course.

Although senior Stephane Dubois carded a team-low 71 Sunday, it was sophomore Gregory Wiggins who recorded Lamar’s best overall score. Wiggins finished with a three-round 219 to close the tournament tied for 25th nine-over par. Dubois finished five places back on the leaderboard with a 10over par 220.

The Cardinals will be back on the course Friday to compete in the Bayou City Collegiate Championships in Houston.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Continued from page 1

The Lamar Lady Cardinals head to Orlando, Fla., for five games at the Citrus Classic Series at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

“We will be facing some top midmajor teams,” Lamar coach Holly Bruder said.“I’m looking forward to it because we will be playing teams we wouldn’t normally see.”

Lamar (0-3) has been idle since dropping a three-game series at UTSA on Feb. 8-9. For the most part, hitting wasn’t the problem, as the Lady Cardinals posted a .300 batting average, but struggled defensively. Lamar is last in the Southland Conference in ERA (10.29) and fielding percentage (.929).

Lamar faces Fairfield at 4:45 p.m.

Friday. On Saturday, Lamar faces Lehigh at 12:15 p.m. Lamar’s other Saturday game is against IPFW at 4:45 p.m..The Lady cards close out their trip by facing Albany at 11 a.m.

Sunday.

Golf

Thursday, February 20, 2014

KNIGHT •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Softball

Aaron Bennett was the top collegiate finisher in the 800 meter run for a third consecutive race and Johnathon Reece took home his second straight high jump crown on Friday as the Lamar track and field teams competed at the Southern Miss Cupid Classic at Birmingham Crossplex Arena in Birmingham, Ala. Kayla de Bondt also had a strong day, completing the 800 meter run in 2:13.74 and the mile in 4:55.39, placing fifth and third, respectively, among collegiate competitors. The Tarwin Lower, Australia, native set season-bests in both events and now trails just teammate Louise Webb in the conference rankings. Her 800 time also moved her to second on LU’s all-time performance list.

The LU track teams will return to Birmingham in a week and a half for the Southland Indoor Championships, which are set to kick off Wednesday.

7

UP William Jones

Lamar head coach Pat Knight, above, was fired Sunday, following an 87-67 loss to Northwestern State in the Montagne Center, Saturday.

Interim head coach Tic Price, right, watches practice in the Montagne Center, Monday.

son with former assistant coach Tic Price acting as interim head coach.

“We thought Tic was our best answer going forward for these last five games,” Henderson said. “Tic has a proven record. He has been around the game. We thought it was the best option for our student athletes.”

Henderson said the process to find a new head coach will begin soon.

“We want to make sure we have the best head coach in place for our student athletes, for our program and for our fans,” he said. “We want to get the process going, but we want to make sure we make the right steps. We’ll do it as soon as we can.”

Henderson said Knight’s time at Lamar will be seen as a tale of two extremes.

“People will remember the first part of it, where he takes us to the NCAA Tournament and had the great run at the end of the season and won the Southland Conference championship,” he said. “They’ll also remember the last couple of years where we weren’t as successful.”

Price, who steps in for Knight, said that he was excited to coach again when he received the call Sunday.

“I was looking forward to practice,” he said after Monday’s practice.

“We met as a staff today and went over some of the things that we needed to do so that we are all on the same page with terminology.

Today, we just wanted to teach technique and effort, for the most part.”

Price said that the schemes will be similar to what Knight ran this year, but with a few tweaks. He said he doesn’t know if he wants to coach next season and is focused on the task at hand.

“We’ll have to see,” he said. “Some things are pretty much out of my hands with the powers that be. Right now, I’m going to coach this team as if we were building to win a championship. I want guys to come here, not just to play basketball, but come in and get their degree and win a conference championship and make the NCAA tournament.”

Price said his first message to the team was about overcoming adversity.

“We’ve had to deal with it all year long,” he said. “The character of a true man is how you react to, and overcome, adversity. Maybe this can be a springboard for some greatness to come out of our basketball team.”

Price said he watched every game this season and is very familiar with each player’s skillset.

Price was the interim assistant vice president for student engagement for Lamar, but has given up that title.

“I’m 100 percent with the basketball program,” he said. “I enjoyed my time at student engagement and worked with some good, professional people. I really appreciate what they did.”

Price said that the players weren’t allowed to talk to the media because he wanted them to focus on getting back to normal.

“This is a difficult time for them,” he said. “I wanted them to focus on getting back on the court and give them a couple of days to get past all of this. I mean, they lost their coach. They’ve been losing games, and mentally, they’re pretty fragile. They just need some time to get their thought process back to where it needs to be and then we’ll move forward.”

“I’m really glad that Dr. (LU president Kenneth) Evans and Jason Henderson had enough confidence and faith in me to take over the program the last five games,” he said. “We have a lot of work to do. I’m just trying to convince our players to finish strong.”

UP Josh Aych

Lamar drops game against Lady Demons GRANT CRAWFORD UP STAFF WRITER The Lady Cardinals took the court in the Montagne Center Saturday, in a 67-60 loss to Northwestern State University.

The team is now in second place in the conference, behind Central Arkansas.

“We were not in the mood to play,” head coach Robin Harmony said. “They work hard in practice, but it doesn’t carry over. They shot 7-14 on their free throws. That definitely doesn’t say, ‘I’m in first place, and I’m going to win a championship, but now the pressures off so, whatever.’”

With one minute left in the game, NSU took a three-point lead, before senior Gia Ayers fouled out after a missed three-point attempt. Ayers, who normally plays all 40 minutes, had to sit out eight, due to early foul trouble.

“We can’t have some players get in foul trouble and

some not show up to play,” Harmony said. “It was a combination of both of those things today. When your point guard is sitting right next to you, it’s hard to run your offense. People are really starting to figure us out.

Just get Gia in foul trouble, pressure us up, push us into the post and you got Lamar.”

After tying her game-high record of 30 points against Stephen F. Austin, Thursday, Ayers was only able to produce 13 points against the Lady Demons.

“We’ve started to become complacent,” Ayers said.

“We need to work on penetrating more. Obviously, teams know we have good three-point shooters. So in that case, we need to learn how to attack the basket, while not turning over the ball.”

Dominique Edwards recorded her eighth doubledouble this year, despite the Lamar loss. She was unavailable for comment.

The Lady Cards are now 9-4 in the SLC, and will turn their attention to Sam Houston State, Saturday.

Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. in Montagne Center.

UP William Jones

Shauna Long drives to the rim during Lamar’s 6760 loss, Saturday, in the Montange Center.

Baseball It was another dramatic day at Vincent-Beck Stadium Sunday, as UIC mounted a late comeback to force extra innings against the Lamar baseball team. However, Jacoby Middleton was able to beat out a throw to first on a game-ending fielder’s choice to put out the Flames’ chances and give the Cardinals an 8-7 victory.

The Odessa College transfer, who made a game-saving diving catch in right field to end a UIC rally in the ninth, walked to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in the 10th. Middleton hit a groundball to short, which appeared to be destined for a double play, but he was able to slide into the first and narrowly beat the throw.

Results for Wednesday’s game were not available for press time.

JaMeisha Edwards, 20, drives left against Northwestern defender during a 67-60 loss, Saturday, in the Montagne Center.

UP William Jones

Page 8 Thursday, February 20, 2014

University Press