Sept. 2, 2015

Sept. 2, 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 80 No. 2

50

Peak wind speed in miles per hour of tropical storm Erika.

12.64 Number of inches of rain the Canefield Airport in Dominica received in 12 hours

80%

Portion of the island left without electricity following the rain.

20

Death toll caused by the remnants of the tropical storm Erika as of Sept. 1

63

Number of students at MSU who are from Dominica

SOURCE: weather.com/storms/hurricane/news/tropical-storm-hurricane-erika-atlantic-august-2015; mwsu.edu

United over tragedy in Dominica Caribbean Students Organization holds candlelight vigil

PHOTOS BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Nearly 200 students and others gather outside of Bolin Hall with candles to honor the victims of the remnants of tropical storm Erika during the Caribbean Student Organization Candlelight Vigil, Sept. 1. | Erine Fontaine, accounting senior, and Samara Stedman, biology senior, view pictures in Bolin 100 of the aftermath of the remnants of the remnants of tropical storm Erika.

SE E Q & A F R O M C A ND L E LIG H T V IG IL O N PAGE 7

Enrollment Records

pg. 3

MSU sets new record for international student enrollment with 575 students from 53 countries.

Hotter’N Hell

pg. 4-5

Cycling team wins five awards at the three-day racing event held annually in Wichita Falls.

Volleyball Reset

pg. 8

With a new head coach and a new mindset, the volleyball team sets goals for the season.

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S TA F F E D IT O R IA L

Support Dominica, support peers Don’t forget our Caribbean counterparts in time of need

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he remnants of tropical storm Erika ravaged the small Caribbean island of Dominica last week. Although the physical damage may seem distant from Wichita Falls, the effects are felt in our own campus community. Sixty three of our students are from Dominica.

The candlelight vigil held Tuesday by the Caribbean Students Organization is just the bare minimum of what our campus community should be doing to make a difference after this tragedy. CSO is also accepting donations through the end Carib Fest, and we encourage all students, faculty and staff to participate. Donations are accepted in Dillard, Moffett Library, and Clark Student Center. Non-perishable food items, linens, flashlights and batteries.

Other important items to donate that most people may not think about include baby clothes and formula and feminine hygiene products. When areas lose access to water and electricity as many

the

wichitan Vo. 80 | No. 2

Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room B103 3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 397-4704 - wichitan@mwsu.edu

Members of the Caribbean Student Organization prepare candles outside of Bolin Hall Sept. 1.

people in Dominica did, access to basic necessities becomes a struggle. The first round of donations were driven down to Houston on Monday to be sent to Dominica. Donating even more is the least we can do.

Many Dominican students

whose families were impacted may now lack the financial ability to purchase basic supplies, so Heritage Church is coordinating an emergency food basket drive for these students. Donate.

Although intangible, emotional support for Dominican

EDITOR: Brianna Sheen PHOTO EDITOR: Rachel Johnson PHOTOGRAPHER: Francisco Martinez, Kayla White, Rawlecia Rogers ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

students can go a long way. We need to let our peers know we care about their struggles, even if the majority of the student body did not personally experience the storm.

Copyright © 2015. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press. The Wichitan reserves the right to edit any material submitted for publication. Opinions expressed in The Wichitan do not necessarily reflect those of the students, staff, faculty, administration or Board of Regents of Midwestern State University. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief (250 words or fewer) and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address.

The editor retains the right to edit letters.

| Sept. 2, 2015 | 3

Fall semester sets new international student enrollment record KRISTINA ABEYTA REPORTER

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he start of the new semester came with it the largest incoming international class the campus has had in three years, with students representing a record of 36 countries to wear maroon and gold. The 141 new students now make the international population a total of 575 students from 53 countries.

“One thing we are really pleased with is not only the size of the incoming international class, but the diversity of it, with students from all around the world,” said Keith Lamb, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.

Lamb said there is a real benefit in exposing students to the world.

“It’s incredibly important that while students are developing skills, they are also developing an appreciation and an understanding of the rest of the world. And what better place to do that than on college campuses? That is very central to our mission,” Lamb said.

With its international population, Lamb said the universi-

ty has been gaining a global reputation.

“American higher education in general is the world standard and still more students from around the world seek an American higher education than anywhere else,” Lamb said.

“So we very much benefit by being part of that desirable system, and within that system we are gaining a very good reputation as a destination for students from around the world, and we expect that to continue.”

Part of that momentum is from a special tuition category the university offers its international students, one of the very few schools that do, Lamb said.

“It’s higher than in-state tuition and higher than out-ofstate tuition, but it’s much less than typical international tuition rates,” Lamb said. “So we are incredibly competitive from a price point, without question. Also, the experience we provide our international students once they come here - I think we have a very welcoming and nurturing campus environment.”

In addition, Lamb said the importance of word-of-mouth cannot be discounted.

“When international students are here, they visit with their friends back home, and with social media now it’s so much easier to stay in contact, so the reputation and real experiences spread very quickly,” Lamb said. “I think that’s been important for us too, we are getting a lot of referrals from students that have positive experiences here.”

Along with that comes an outreach program headed by Randy Glean, director of international services, who travels to countries around the world in order to inform students and their parents about getting an education at MSU. “I speak to the parents about the Wichita Falls community, tell them what MSU is like, and let them know of the opportunities available for their child here,” Glean said.

Last year Glean said he went to 20 different countries on behalf of the university. In his experience he has had some parents say they want their student to go to Harvard, and Glean tells them that the quality of education they will receive here will allow their student to transfer for graduate school.

“Students will get here intending to transfer, but a lot end up staying because they like it so much,” Glean said.

UP COMING EVENT S Student Organization Fair Sept. 2 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Clark Student Center Comanche Suites | Free

ENGAGEment Lounge Sept. 2 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. | Clark Student Center Kiowa | Free

Moffett Library: Muffins and Manuscripts

Sept. 3 | 9-11 a.m. | Moffett Library, outside the Rare Book Room 215 | Free

Resumania Day

Sept. 3 | 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Clark Student Center Wichita I and II | Free

Sept. 4 | 7 p.m. | MSU soccer field | Free with MSU ID

Women’s Soccer vs.

Colorado Mesa

Sept. 5 | 1 p.m. | MSU soccer field | Free with MSU ID

Football vs. Truman State Sept. 5 | 7 p.m. | Memorial Stadium | Free with MSU ID

Mens’ Soccer vs.

Colorado Mesa

Sept. 6 | Noon | MSU soccer field | Free with MSU ID

Moffett Library Tour

Sept. 9 | 2-3 p.m. | Reference department at Moffett Library | Free

Money...Money...Money...: Volleyball vs.

Make Your $ Last Southwestern Oklahoma Sept. 3 | 12-1 p.m. | Clark Student Center Cheyenne | Free State Women’s Soccer vs. Fort Lewis Sept. 3 | 7 p.m. | MSU soccer field | Free with MSU ID

Men’s Soccer vs. Fort Lewis

Sept. 9 | 3 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Free with MSU ID

Volleyball vs. Texas Wesleyan

Sept. 9 | 7:30 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Free with MSU ID

MAP COURTESY OF MIDWESTERN STATE

First SGA meeting outlines parking, tailgating changes BRI SHEEN EDITOR

A

t the first SGA meeting of the year Tuesday night, SGA members highlighted fresh changes to tailgating rules and parking zoning.

Chief of Police Dan Williams, guest speaker at the meeting, said tailgating this football season will undergo some new rules. The new location for tailgating will now be near the west end of stadium.

Williams said alcohol is prohibited, but that police "won't sniff your cups". Tailgating will also shut down at half-time.

Williams also said parking lot 13 is now for commuters and not residents, for

whom it was initially reserved. Parking lot eight will be for both commuter and resident students. Williams said students should send visitors who want to park on campus to the police station for a free visitor pass so they can park in any student parking lot.

The SGA agenda for the semester includes redefining their public relations arm, getting a centralized tutoring center, give committee chairs more power, limit SGA meetings to less than an hour and fifteen minutes, and enforce a casual dress code at SGA meetings.

Reporting by Kalli Root.

| Sept. 2, 2015 | 5

4 | Sept. 2, 2015 |

Cycling team takes home five awards in HH100

KALLI ROOT REPORTER

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his weekend, cycling enthusiasts from around the country flocked to Wichita Falls to take part in the 34th annual Hotter N’ Hell Hundred, including MSU’s nationally ranked cycling team.

“It’s much faster and more exciting than normal races,” said cyclist and accounting sophomore JohnPaul Blanton. “It’s a great race and a great crowd.”

The name “Hotter N’ Hell Hundred” itself is a triple entendre and is at the core of understanding what the race is. Originating in 1982 as part of Wichita Falls’ 100 year anniversary celebration, the main event—Saturday’s endurance race— spans a grueling 100 mile course in late August Texas heat, which has an average high in the upper nineties.

Despite the heat, the cycling team took home five awards at this year’s HH100 race over the course of the weekend. Cyclist Pablo Cruz finished in 10th place in Satur-

5

The number of awards MSU cycling team took home at the HH100 race.

day’s 100 mile race, with a time of 4:03:44, and 30th place in the men’s crit race. Teammate Joshua Buchel was one spot up at 29th place in the men’s crit. Maxyna Cottam, also a member of the cycling team, took sixth place in the women’s open at 2:58:55.

Grad student Hannah Ross placed third in the first women’s criterium Friday and second on Saturday in the women’s open with a time of 2:58:54. Ross took first place in Sunday’s race, thus improving throughout the course of the weekend—a feat almost unheard of.

While watching the race, coach Charlie Zamastil said he was most excited to see MSU’s four newest members of the cycling team compete and to watch the interesting dynamic between them.

Zamastil said the HH100 is “the biggest event we compete in, up there with the national championship,” and the event left him feeling very excited to see what the rest of the season has in store for the team.

1982

The year the HH100 began as part of Wichita Falls’ 100 year anniversary

PHOTO BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

Maxyna Cottam, art freshman and cyclist, races in the crit race Aug. 28 at the Hotter’N Hell 100 downtown.

PHOTO BY RAWLECIA ROGERS | THE WICHITAN

Maxyna Cottam, art freshman, drinks from her water bottle during a race Aug. 29.

PHOTO BY RAWLECIA ROGERS | THE WICHITAN

Joshua Buchel, accounting freshman, takes the corner with a lead in the Aug. 29 Hotter n’ Hell race in downtown Wichita Falls.

“[HH100] is the reason we are able to get scholarships, so the team is really grateful and appreciative for that.”

JOSHUA BUCHEL CYCLIST

PHOTO BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

Cyclists Joshua Buchel, accounting freshman, and Cameron Lowery, nursing junior, race in the crit race.

HH100 RESULTS PABLO CRUZ | 10TH PLACE IN MEN’S PRO 100 MILE RACE AND 30TH PLACE IN MEN’S CRIT RACE MAXYNA COTTAM | SIXTH PLACE IN WOMEN’S OPEN JOSHUA BUCHEL | 29TH PLACE IN MEN’S CRIT RACE NICOLE COETZER | 15TH PLACE IN WOMEN’S CATEGORY FOUR RACE The cycling team competes in Friday Aug. 29’s races at the Hotter’N Hell 100 Race in downtown Wichita Falls.

PHOTOS BY KAYLA WHITE AND RAWLECIA ROGERS | THE WICHITAN

6 | Sept. 2, 2015 |

GLOW-CADE

PHOTO BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

George Mattam, radiological science sophomore, celebrates after winning a game of foose ball at Glow-Cade in the Clark Student Center Aug. 27.

PHOTO BY RAWLECIA ROGERS | THE WICHITAN

Ryan Rolle, psychology junior, rocks out at Glow-Cade in the Clark Student Center on Aug. 27

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Tim Torres, biology sophomore, plays ping pong with friends at Glow-Cade on Aug. 27.

PRESIDENT’S PICNIC

PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

President Suzanne Shipley enjoys her meal while talking with Noemi Perez, radiology freshman, and Mashaun Luckey, pre-med freshman, at the Presidential Picnic held at Sike’s House Aug. 31. | Kappa Alpha members advertise to “Go Greek” at the Presidential Picnic held at the Sike’s House on Aug. 31

Q & A F R O M C A ND L E LIGHT VIGIL

C R I ME L O G Aug. 25

Drugs: possession of drug paraphernalia | 9:22 a.m. | Sundance Court Apartments | Housing officials called police requesting an officer in reference to drug paraphernalia that was found in an apartment. A marijuana pipe was recovered.

Aug. 25 Theft: misdemeanor | 4:31 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | A student reported to police his cell phone was stolen from a locker in the gym.

Aug. 23

Drugs: possession of drug paraphernalia | 8:06 p.m. | Sundance Court Apartments | Police responded to a call from housing concerning marijuana located in a dorm room.

Aug. 23

Drugs: possession of marijuana | 8:06 p.m. | Sundance Court Apartments | Police responded to a call from housing concerning marijuana located in a dorm room.

EDDIE NAIDICZ REPORTER

A

fter the remnants of tropical storm Erika hit the Caribbean island of Dominica last week, roads were rendered impassable, homes were destroyed and people were left without basic supplies, including food and water.

More than 170 people gathered in Bolin Hall Tuesday night to support the remembrance of those lost in the tragic storm that hit the island country of Dominica.

Claudy Pompilus, pre-med junior said, “I came here tonight to show support for the tragedy that happened in Dominica. I remember how bad it was in Haiti so I just want to help out in any way possible.”

Pompilus said, “Some of my friends couldn’t get in contact with their family members for up to three days and had no way of knowing what had happened.”

Students not affected by the storm came in support of the Caribbean organization through the healing process.

Denise Mugabe, marketing junior said, “I just found out

Aug. 22

Forgery | 10:25 a.m. | Sundance Court Apartments | A student reported a job scam that originated from out of state.

Aug. 21

Public intoxication | 12:29 p.m. | Pierce Hall | An underage intoxicated resident student was found asleep in his dorm room.

Aug. 21

Harassment | 12:49 p.m. | 2517 Hampstead Road | An underage intoxicated resident student was found asleep in his dorm room.

Aug. 18

Theft | Noon | Sundance Court Apartments | A witness reported that a subject removed a bike tire and wheel from a bicycle that was locked to a bike rack on the west side of Sundance Court Apartments.

Aug. 17

Theft | 3:12 p.m. | Hardin | An employee reported items had been taken from her office.

MSU FACULTY FORUM PRESENTS

FROM CAMPUS TO COMMUNITY: (Re)Valuing the Liberal Arts & Sciences in the 21st Century 7 P.M. SEPTEMBER 10 CSC SHAWNEE THEATER Just what are the liberal arts and sciences?

What opportunities are there at MSU to enhance the liberal arts education experience for all students?

PANEL DISCUSSION MODERATED BY

DR. TODD GILES

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ENGLISH

Aug. 12

Burglary: building | 6 p.m. | Bea Wood Hall | Unknown person(s) removed items from an office.

SOURCE: http://www.mwsu.edu/police/crimelogs/

Admission is free. For further details: jonathan.price@mwsu.edu or 940.397.4288.

about it recently, and it is horrible to see this happen, there is nothing better than having support when someone is far away from home.”

Garret Reis, geoscience major, said “A very good friend of mine is from the Caribbean Island and he is concerned with the safety of his fellow friends back home.”

Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment, had words of encouragement Tuesday night.

“It is a university's responsibility to support and comfort in this time of disaster for those who were affected from this tragedy, any of those who are in need can each out for resources.”

THOUGHTS FROM STUDENTS AND FACULTY Kyle Gordon, mechanical engineer senior and CSO president: “Sunday night, the leaders in the organization came together to come up with an idea to help Dominica.

We pushed to do this vigil tonight and everyone got on board and volunteered to come out. The musicians cam together to work on songs, and we got everything together by this afternoon. We already have 25 boxes of donations.”

| Sept. 2, 2015 | 7

Donna-Lisa Nelson, biology senior: “It was difficult to get everything together so quickly, but with our Catholic background prayer is very important. So then we get our prayers to God, if we can’t get supplies there as quickly. We have students that are committed to the Catholic Campus Ministry Association, and they have always been supportive, so we are so thankful that they came through to support us tonight and give word of God.” Betty Stewart, provost: “I just want to support our students and let them know that we are here for them and care for their situation at home.”

Tarina Simon, marketing senior: “I’m from the country.

I’m just here with my other Dominicans to be comforted.

Our country did get a bad blow. Our prime minister said that this would set back our country 20 years. It will never be the same again. Parts of the country are destroyed, lives have been lost."

Gisselle Polius, management sophomore: “I came out just to support the Dominicans because I am also part of Caribbean Student Organization, and we all came out to support. If I could tell the people over there one thing, I would tell them to be strong and to have faith that they will pull through whatever happened back home.”

8 | Sept. 2, 2015 |

The volleyball team runs drills and scrimmages during practice on Sept. 1.

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Rawson: ‘Backs out, hearts in’ Volleyball team starts season with high hopes, fresh start

JESSALYN CASTRO REPORTER

N

ew head volleyball coach Natalie Rawson is working from the ground up with this year’s team to build what she believes her vision of MSU volleyball should be.

“I definitely brought a lot of new stuff to the team if you ask the girls,” Rawson said. “Which is challenging for them learning new systems and new ways to hit a ball or pass a ball or dig a ball.”

Rawson said change can be tough for the players but they have adapted to her style.

“Definitely the systems that we run, defensively and offensively, have been a lot of new stuff for them,” Rawson said. “A lot of the team concepts and rules and expectations are all so new to them and they’ve done well adapting to it.”

Rawson said the most important thing stressed in practices is the discipline of the fundamentals that they train.

“I’m really on them in practices to do things the correct way, to just train themselves through reps and being intentional about what they’re doing, so that when they get in the game it just happens,” Rawson said.

With a lot of intensive training going on in practices, mass communication senior Hunter Porter said she has had to adjust to new environment.

“She’s changing the way that everybody swings, all the hitters are starting over from zero basically, she changed our entire defense, the way that we stand defensively and the way that we serve.” Porter said. “Everybody is starting on the same ground zero page.”

The changes extend off the court as well. Porter said even the attitude in the locker room is a different from last year.

“Last year we’d come in the locker room and everybody would just be so tense and negative,” Porter said. “We come in now and spend 45 minutes in the locker room before

practice just laughing and being girls.”

To bring that attitude on the court to have a successful season, Porter said working together as a team is the key.

“Last year we had a lot of good individual talent but we couldn’t put it together to work in a cohesive unit so we’re really working on unity right now,” she said. “Other than one person being our main point leader, our main blocker, or our main leader, everybody has a role and everybody fills it.”

Porter is the single senior on the team consisting mostly of underclassmen with eight freshmen.

“We have a really young team so improvement and patience in this process is a big goal for us,” Rawson said.

Rawson said the downfall of having a young team is the lack of experience and the time it takes to get them on board with the speed of the game.

“The great part is that they’re very open minded, they’re very willing and eager to learn and to want to improve and they want to make an impact,” Rawson said. “They’re giving me basically all they’ve got, which is great.”

Mass communication freshman Kelsey Purcell said she has improved in the short time she has been on the team.

“Our first practice started at midnight and ended at 3 a.m. That was pretty crazy,” Purcell said. “I’ve seen so much progress over the last couple weeks.”

Purcell said she believes this team will be able to turn it around to improve last year’s record.

“Overall the team dynamic and the structure is going to be a lot stronger and we’re going to make people actually believe in us this year,” Purcell said.

Getting rid of a lot of negativity and making a positive change is what Porter believes will allow the team to move forward.

“Our slogan is, ‘backs out, hearts in,’ and as long as we stick to what that means to us, we’re going to be 10 times

better than where we were last year,” Porter said.

Being the oldest and only senior on the team, Porter is able to lead and also learn from the younger players.

“I’m five years older than some of the girls on the team so keeping up with them sometimes is hard,” she said.

“They’ve got a lot of energy but I think that’s what we need.

We need the energy, we need the fresh look because we’ve had a dark cloud over us and I think bringing in new people is just that fresh start that we needed.”

Rawson said she believes she needs to get involved in the community to build the vision she has for volleyball.

The team sponsors a new program called Pony In Training for kids in the community to get involved. When the kids sign up they receive a T-shirt and game card, and every home game they attend there are different activities for them to participate in.

“Every home game that they come to there will be something fun for them to do with the girls,” Rawson said.

Getting involved with the community and in building a strong team bond, Rawson said getting better everyday is the ultimate goal.

“The focus is not the record or the title, we don’t really talk about a record that we expect to have. If we can hit these goals wins will happen but we can’t focus on the winning we have to focus on the path that gets us there,” she said.

“We’re not going to talk about what we’re going to do, we’re going to let our actions show it. We talk about it in the way we train but we don’t talk about it as ’this is the result we wan.’ Our goal is to come in, train everyday and results will happen.”

Rawson, an MSU assistant volleyball coach from 2010 to 2012, replaced Venera Flores-Stafford who now works as an assistant athletic director. Flores-Stafford was removed as volleyball coach in February.