Sept. 16, 2015

Sept. 16, 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 80 No. 4

Bolin Is Back

pg. 3

After going dry for two years, the Bolin Fountain outside Dillard was turned back on Sept. 9.

Students take a break in the Moffett Library ‘We Proudly Serve Starbucks’ coffee shop on Sept. 15.

Soccer Sweeps

PHOTO BY SHELBY SAWYER | THE WICHITAN

Customers say ‘Starbucks’ a let down pg. 4

Head soccer coach Doug Elder becomes the winningest coach in MSU history.

Nickels for Nichols

pg. 8

Student Caleb Nichols tackles homework and heart disease.

F U L L D I SCLOSURE

The Wichitan published an altered image in violation of policy on its website.

The Wichitan apologizes.

Staff photographers are committed to adhering to the NPPA Code of Ethics.

YVETTE ORDONEZ REPORTER

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s a part of the new dining contract, students got access to a Chick-fil-A and Burrito Bowl. But perhaps it was the Starbucks — rather 'We Proudly Serve Starbucks Here' — now located in the Moffett Library foyer that excited them the most.

Until it opened.

Kristin Conyers, marketing senior, said she was a regular consumer of Starbucks.

“It’s better that Starbucks is in the library because it cuts down on the amount of students standing around on the first floor of Dillard,” Conyers said.

However, Epifanio Ortiz, nursing freshman, said the new Starbucks was a letdown.

Ortiz said, “The coffee doesn’t taste like the Starbucks I’m used to, maybe because it was the first day that I went to try it.

It might be because the lack of experience the workers have, but they should get better.”

Ortiz said he does plan on returning. “I will give them a few weeks to improve.”

The main complaints were regarding the taste and quality of the coffee being served and the time it took to get it served.

Charlene Wetherill, employee at the new Starbucks, said “The taste complaints definitely make sense. Our coffee had a different taste because it was made with a different mix.”

Wetherill said the coffee complaints were stressful to hear because she had no control of it herself.

Parita Lavingia, exercise physiology senior, also works at the new Starbucks.

“The coffee will only get better in time,” Lavingia said. “Since we are all new to Starbucks, we are still getting the hang of it. We will get faster the more we do it.”

In time, the Starbucks will be served quicker and taste better.

Lavingia said, “We used to have to improvise by using the latte blend instead of the roast blend when we made the coffee when we first opened here. Now we have the roast one everyone is used to.”

Ortiz said the one thing he really likes about the Starbucks is the length of the line.

“The line is never long so that’s great when I’m craving a bit of espresso.”

Wetherill said the employees have been working to improve the taste of the drinks and how fast they make them.

The taste has already been fixed for a week now, according to Wetherill and Lavingia.

"We are all getting faster at preparing it,” said Wetherill.

“We hope the students will have patience with us. We plan on improving Starbucks and making it the best experience possible for them,” Lavingia said.

Students also suggested a modification in hours might help with service for people working in the library.

“If they had self-serve coffee and tea for the late night hours, for those people who are at the library until 2 a.m., would be beneficial,” Conyers said. “The people who work the front desk at the library should take over during the night hours, instead of the shop being closed. Who wouldn’t want coffee if they are stuck studying in the library until 1 or 2 a.m.?”

Additional reporting by Katrina Prehoda.

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S TA F F E D I T O RI A L

Know your rights

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ongress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

The first amendment, although part of a centuries-old document, remains relevant today, not just to journalists but to all citizens. College students included.

We as a journalism staff are always dealing with the first amendment rights of our own and those of the people involved in what we report on. From taking pictures to reporting or writing editorials, we are constantly exercising our rights.

The first amendment gives us the right to ask questions, capture events in photographs, and talk to important people about what’s going on around campus. On the other side of the coin, the people we interact with have every right to get involved (or not) whether in a photo or a story.

It’s good to know your rights, regardless of if you ever plan to be a journalist or interact with one. As a citizen, to be ignorant of the law doesn’t make you immune from

the

the law. Students have the right to wear symbols of their religion in public classrooms, they can air their grievances, and stand up for their beliefs, even if it’s not the majority opinion.

However, a lot of us tend to take our first amendment rights for granted. We don’t realize how much of our daily activities are made possible because of our first amendment rights. Also, we typically don’t exercise our rights to the fullest extent. When was the last time you campaigned for a cause you believed in or protested actions that you found immoral or wrong?

Apathy breeds ignorance.

As Constitution Day nears, this is a perfect time to brush up on those rights you were supposed to memorize for government class. Attend Constitution Day events and snag a free pocket constitution. This year’s Constitution Day carries an even weightier meaning than usual as our rights evolve in reaction to recent protests, debates over videotaping police, and other incidences where the line between what citizens can and can’t do blurs. Know your rights – and use them.

wichitan Vo. 80 | No. 4

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

Student delivers 9/11 memorial speech Andrew Gray delivered this speech to about 30 people in front of Bolin Fountain on Sept. 11 at 11:30 a.m.

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e organized this ceremony to honor those fallen, and honor them we have. I would encourage each and every one of use to keep this day at heart. Keep this ceremony, the lives of those lost, in our minds throughout our day. We have a tendency as people to move on, business as usual, each day equal to another. Let us set this day aside in out hearts as it has been set aside in our history On this day nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives. This was an effort to destroy our will by 19 militant extremists.

Our way of life was threatened. We were knocked down, as we have been in the past. There was one thing that our enemies didn’t expect. They had forgotten the resilience of the American spirit. Our resolve as a nation, our love for our brother, burns stronger than any bomb, any flame, any attack. Like a sleeping giant we arose to this new found foe, not defeated, but emboldened. We were given a cause on this day to unite. We united in the face of danger and adversity. We united because there is no weapon on this Earth that can defeat the American spirit. No fire that can burn out our way of freedom and mull our way.

We are proud to be Ameri cans. we will fight for our causes. We will not back down. We showed this strength to the world, ally and enemy alike, on this day 14 years ago. When our towers fell, our hearts sank, but they did not falter. They do not falter today. In honor of our service men and women, our fellow countrymen, and the brave men and women who have lost their lives in the pursuit of freedom

PHOTO EDITOR: Rachel Johnson PHOTOGRAPHER: Francisco Martinez, Kayla White, Rawlecia Rogers, Gabriella Solis, Shelby Sawyer DESIGN EDITOR: Brianna Sheen DESIGNER: Justin Marquart ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Andrew Gray, business administration and management junior, gives a speech infront of the Bolin Fountain to faculty, administrations, and students during a 9/11 Memorial put on by Student Government Association. and liberty, we say thank you.

God bless Midwestern State University, and God Bless the United States of America.

Gray is junior in business administration and management and active in Student Government Association.

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. 16, 2015 | 3 UPCOMING EVENTS Constitution Day 2015

Sept. 17 | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. | Clark Student Center

Constitution Day 2015 (Film: CitizenFour)

Sept. 22 | 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | Jesse Rogers Promenade | Most items under $6

A Reading of the U.S. Constitution

Sept. 22 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Sundance Court Apartments, third floor meeting room | Free

Sept. 17 | 10 a.m. & 2 p.m. | Clark Student Center Shawnee Theater | Free

Sept. 17 | 12 p.m. | Clark Student Center Atrium

Men’s Soccer vs. Texas A&M – International PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

The Bolin Fountain is turned on again for the fall semester after being off for two years due to a drought and broken parts. The fountain is located in the middle of the quad between Dillard, Martin Library, and Ferguson building.

Bolin fountain showers again TAYLOR WARREN REPORTER

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fter two years of remaining empty and bone dry, the Bolin Fountain, located at the Dillard quad, showered back to life Sept. 9. To ensure it will operate efficiently, maintenance workers have been previewing the fountain for the last week.

The fountain shut down in 2013 when Wichita Falls city officials enforced water restrictions for Stage 4 drought.

“It was not a requirement at the time to shut down the fountain although later became one when Stage 5 restrictions were enforced,” associate vice president of facility services Kyle Owen said.

“We preferred to do our part to conserve water at the time.”

Prior to full-time operation of the fountain, significant maintenance work has been completed to repair the fountain.

“We had to replace the existing control panel and we added an electrical disconnect for the power source in Martin for safety," utility superintendent Dean Price said. “We did not purchase new nozzles. Facility workers repaired them instead.

Refurbishing the parts ourselves has saved about $1,200 to $1,500.”

The budget for repairs was $23,000 and total refurbishment was $15,853, leaving more than $7,000 of Higher Education Assistance Fund monies to be used for other academic necessities.

"Since the majority of the work was done by Facilities, we just had to have the electrical work on the fountain completed by a contractor," Owen said.

The fountain is running on city water. The equipment required to use well water would cost more than $30,000.

Fountain hours of operation are from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

C RIME LOG Sept. 7

Assault: Misdemeanor | 4:23 p.m. | Sundance Court Apartments | Police responded to an assault call between two MSU students.

Sept. 8

Indecent Exposure | 6:38 a.m. | South Campus Walking Track | A female jogger reported that earlier she saw a male suspect on the south end of the walking/jogging track with a T-shirt wrapped around his head wearing no clothing. The suspect was not located.

Sept 9.

Theft- Misdemeanor | 2:36 p.m. | Clark Student Center | A student reported to the campus police that keys to his apartment were stolen.

Sept 9.

Accident: Duty on Striking Unattended Vehicle | 10:02 a.m. | Parking Lot #13 | A hit-and-run accident occurred in a resident parking lot between two vehicles. Immediately after the collision was heard, a black truck was seen exiting the parking lot.

Sept 10.

Theft – Misdemeanor | 11:48 a.m. | Parking Lot #13 | A student reported that her MSU vehicle registration sticker was stolen from her vehicle while located on MSU property.

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

Hispanic Heritage Month: Taco Truck Tuesday

Sept. 18 | 7 p.m. | MSU soccer field | Free with MSU ID

Football at Lone Star Football Festival

Sept. 19 | 11:30 a.m. | AT&T Stadium: Arlington, Texas | Sign up for spirit bus and catch a ride to and from the game for $5.

Men’s Soccer vs. Newman

Sept. 20 | 1 p.m. | MSU soccer field | Free with MSU ID

Counseling Center Academic Workshop: Time Management and Organization

Sept. 21 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Sundance Court Apartments, third floor meeting room | Free

Hispanic Heritage Month: Hispanic Heritage Display Sept. 22 | All day | CSC Atrium | Free

Counseling Center Workshop: Four Steps to a 4.0

Continuing Education Class: Introduction to Acting Session 1

Sept. 22 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Sikes Lake Center | $35 for one session or $200 for all seven

Moffett Movie Madness: Clueless (1995)

Sept. 22 | 7 p.m. | Moffett Library first floor reading area | Free admission and popcorn

Counseling Center Workshop: Taming Test Anxiety

Sept. 23 | 3:30-4:30 p.m. | Sundance Court Apartments, third-floor meeting room | Free

Caribfest – Miss Caribfest Pageant Sept. 23 | 7 p.m. | Akin Auditorium | $7

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Soccer coach beats record of 221 wins RACHEL JOHNSON PHOTO EDITOR

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oug Elder isn’t new to coaching soccer. After all, he just started his 16th season with MSU. And before coaching college soccer, he coached 15 years with the Olympic Development Program, working with high school kids in Houston.

But in the game against Southern Nazarene University Sept. 10, reached a milestone — a big one for MSU. With his 222nd win, he became the winningest men’s soccer coach, passing his old coach and mentor, Howard Patterson, former MSU men’s soccer coach.

“It’s kind of funny because you think you’re not here for that long, you know and you wake up one day, and you’re like 222 wins in, and it’s crazy,” Elder said.

Elder, trying to put things into perspective, talks about how it’s hard to specifically say if this is normal to get this many wins for a soccer coach.

Some soccer coaches jump around.

Others stay at the same school for their whole college coaching career.

For the past six-or-so years, however, Elder has been in the top winningest coaches of Division II soccer coaches.

“There’s other coaches, like the guy at Rockhurst, and he has been there 30-something years and he has 500-something wins. It’s crazy,” Elder said.

BEFORE MSU

Elder started his career with men’s soccer at Midwestern State in 2000 at age 38. He said he felt that at that time was the right moment to make the switch and take the deal, but he said if he would’ve started earlier than he would’ve had more wins.

“I didn’t start coaching college until I was 38, which these days is pretty old. They are getting college coaches for division one football at 31 to 33. I wouldn’t say I’m a dinosaur, but I’ve also got a little late start,” Elder said.

And he’s confident, not afraid to jump up and down and yell during games to motivate the players.

“A lot of people say I’m brash and cocky, but I think if you are a coach and you’re not confident in, one: your ability to coach, and, two: in

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Head mens’ soccer coach Doug Elder yells at the goalie after missing the ball, allowing the opponent to score at the game on Sept 10. MSU beat Southern Nazarene 8-1, making it the 222nd win for Elder, a new record. your players, then I don’t think you should be coaching,” Elder said.

And his tenure, while some things have changed he said coaches instill the same character traits into their player, just how Patterson instilled in him when he was a player. “[Patterson] wrote me a nice email that talked about how when I played, he instilled you know discipline, and character, hard-work, accountability, the same words we use with our players right now,” Elder said.

While, the game has changed through the years the basics of soccer have stayed the same.

“The game has changed, kids are more athletic and stronger, weight rooms have gotten better, so a lot has changed since I was a player, but at the end of the day a lot of things have not changed, like the simplicity of the game,” Elder said.

$111k donation funds band uniforms EMMA LABEDIS REPORTER

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he band will be receiving new uniforms next spring, through a $111,000 donation from the McCoy foundation.

“The McCoy Foundation was very generous and donated money going toward the purchase of new band uniforms,” Matthew Luttrell, director of bands and orchestras, said. “The program needed an update on a lot of the equipment that it has.”

The uniforms that the band has now are 12 years old and in need of replacing. Uniforms have a shelf life and the current ones have exceeded it. The sizes of the uniforms as well as the age have also become a problem for the band.

“Students generally nowadays are both larger and taller,” Luttrell said. “And it’s something I’ve even noticed as a college director over the last 15 to 20 years. The guy members who walk in here now who are six four, six five, who are just really tall human beings.”

The band’s other reason for getting new uniforms is that the McCoy Foundation is donating the marching band uniforms along with new pep band uniforms and drum line equipment that Luttrell says will give the band a new look next year.

“The McCoy Foundation was very generous and donated money going towards the purchase of new band uniforms,” Luttrell said. “The program needed an update on a lot of the equipment that it has.”

In addition the band uniforms do not match the official maroon and gold of the school colors. Luttrell said the first step they took was matching the colors to the school instead of the merlot they are now. There will be no white on the new ones and will prominently display the school colors and the school logo.

“I’m actually really excited about it,” Rianne Busby, history education junior said. “I’m happy that we won’t be using these and hopefully they’ll look a lot better and express more of our colors since we’ve

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

The drumline starts the halftime show with its traditional march across the football field at Memorial Stadium at the first game the season, Sept. 5. changed them. I’ll miss the tradition of the old ones and the history that they have behind them and the experiences that we’ve had in them.”

The majority of the uniform will be maroon with a gold shield on the front and back. The band colors will follow the 2013 graphic identity.

“The second part of the process is making sure we create a uniform that is significantly more collegiate than the one that we have,” Luttrell said. “The uniforms that we have now are a little mundane, they won’t be ornamented, they won’t have buttons or they won’t have flares, but they’re going to be very obviously Midwestern State uniforms.”

The band members have also talked about having reversible uniforms that will allow for different looks when performing. Luttrell said they could have one with the MSU logo on it for football games, and another that is more esoteric for exhibition or University Interscholastic League performances.

“One of the things we need to do out there is market the university in a different manner and I think uniforms are one of the ways to do that,” Luttrell said. “It gets people excited.”

Athletics to begin streaming games PATRICK GERMAN REPORTER

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o give fans the ability to watch some athletic events, the athletics department will be video streaming for selected home games this

year.

Assistant Athletic Director for Communication Trey Reed started the streaming network to give more friends and family a chance to watch the games.

“A lot of parents and family will not be able to attend all of their home game,” he said.

Some players said they were looking forward to the video streaming.

Destinee Williamson, criminal justice, sophomore, a starting forward for soccer team said, “This is cool. It gets people informed when they’re not going to be there, and I know my parents won’t be able to make all my games, so gives them a chance to catch the games at home. “

Sirvell Ford, a criminal justice sophomore and starting strong safety said, “It’s a great thing, this’ll give us more exposure and be able to get more competition. I know that this will actually make me have to give more a full-out effort.”

The network will have a total of 64 web streams covering 56 home dates and will be broadcast over a new pay-per-view network utilizing a high definition signal.

The all-sports pass will give all 64 games for $75.

Season passes are available, men’s and women’s basketball will cost $30 for each, men’s and women’s soccer $25 each, for volleyball $25, $20 for softball and $20 for football. Single games will cost $9.

Andrew Power and Len Smith will be covering commentary for the men’s and women’s soccer games. Pete Stein (play-by-play) and Chris Kutter (color commentary) will be the announcers for all football and basketball.

200 discuss importance of liberal arts education RACHEL JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

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| Sept. 16, 2015 | 5

MSU FACULTY PANEL

he first Faculty Forum of the year, held in Shawnee Theatre, was standing room only for a panel discussion on the importance of a liberal arts education moderated by Todd Giles.

Giles teaches American literature, ecocriticism, Zen philosophy and critical theory. He is a founding adviser for the Arts & Literature Society and sits on the boards of the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU and the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra.

Matthew Capps, Interim Dean of the Dr. Billie Doris McAda Graduate School

Ann Marie Leimer, Chair of the Juanita & Ralph Harvey School of Visual Art, Lamar D. Fain College of Fine Arts

James Johnston, Dean of the Robert D. & Carol Gunn College of Health Sciences and Human Services

Kirsten Lodge, Coordinator of Humanities, ProthroYeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Nathan Jun, Coordinator of Philosophy, Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Charles Watson, Assistant Professor of Biology, College of Science & Mathematics

PHOTOS BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

MATTHEW CAPPS, interim dean of the graduate school, speaks at the Sept. 10 faculty forum about the importance of a liberal arts education. | JAMES JOHNSTON, dean of the College of Health Sciences and Human services, speaks at the faculty forum. “I questioned a lot of the things we studied and the procedures, so the response to me was: don’t you think if there was a better way it would have already been discovered now? Don’t question just do it,” Johnston said. | NATHAN JUN, coordinator and associate professor of philosophy, sits on the faculty panel at the forum on Sept. 10. “Education, particularly for citizens and free people, should be well rounded and wholistic,”Jun said. | ANN MARIE LEIMER, chair of the Juanita and Ralph Harvey School of the Visual Arts, quoted a past conference she attended by said, “Data is not knowledge.” | CHARLES WATSON, assistant professor of biology, spoke at the Sept. 10 faculty forum. “It made me a better person to take those classes, and if I could go back and take more classes, they probably wouldn’t be science classes,” Watson said.

Sikes Lake ‘cleans up’ its act thanks to 160 volunteers MEKALA CONWAY REPORTER

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ore than 160 volunteers met and picked up 500 pounds of trash at Sikes Lake, Sept. 12 along the lake’s shores and pathways, the 10th year of the cleanup.

Activities Committee Chairperson for the Rolling Plains Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists Terry McKee said she was proud of the turnout, though it fell short of the best year in 2011, when 200 volunteers cleaned up two tons of trash around the lake.

“I’m really proud that there are so many people concerned about their environment,” McKee said.

McKee said the student turnout encouraged other people around the lake that day to help clean up and do their part. “MSU is definitely set-

ting a good example,” she said.

Among the volunteers were groups from campus, including the tennis team, the soccer team, and the Association for Computer Machinery.

Computer science sophomore and member of the ACM, Travis Rowe, said, “It was shocking to see how much litter there was in and around the lake. It’s such a nice place and it’s right next to campus, so it’s important for us to make sure it looks nice.”

Marisa Gomez, radiology freshman, said anyone can make a difference in their community, and keeping Sikes Lake looking beautiful is important to the campus.

“A lot of people come here to walk, and run, and they even come here to look at the ducks and enjoy the view,” she said.

PHOTO BY RAWLECIA ROGERS | THE WICHITAN

Sarah Cobb, mathematics assistant professor, picks up at the Sikes Lake cleanup Sept. 12.

6 | Sept. 16, 2015 |

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Hana Beloglavec, visiting instructor and international award-winning trombonist, plays with a student in a private session | Beloglavec helps James Ivey, music and mechanical engineer senior, in a private lesson | Ivey practices with Hana Beloglavec.

Visiting trombonist works to perfect music TAYLOR WARREN REPORTER

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nternational award-winning trombonist Hana Beloglavec joined the music department as a visiting instructor.

“I love teaching and working alongside young students so I am happy to be here,” Beloglavec said. “I like how this university is a liberal arts college, and the atmosphere here is wonderful.”

Students who are majoring in music education and specializing in low brass instruments rehearse with Beloglavec twice a week.

“I have 10 students who I meet with on Fridays for a group rehearsal and then during the week, I do one-onone rehearsals with them,” Beloglavec said.

Trombone player Ana Leach, music education freshman, said she meets with Beloglavec once a week for a closed rehearsal on Tuesday.

“Ms. B has worked with me on perfecting my embouchure,” Leach said. “I like how she is very involved in practice. We do echo lessons, where she plays a piece of music and I have to match what she played. Not many

instructors take out their instrument and play with the student.”

Beloglavec said she is trying to help her students become less worried about how to make the musical sound, but more about working to perfect the music.

“It’s more about teaching them how to make music,” Beloglavec said. “By the end of the year, they should be able to approach a musical selection on their own and master it self-sufficiently.”

Born in Slovenia, Europe, Beloglavec moved to the United States when she was 9 months old and grew up in the midwest. Beloglavec started to build her musical resume during middle school.

“I began playing trombone in the fifth grade,” Beloglavec said. “In high school, I played in the band for two years and was a member of the youth symphony orchestra for four years.”

Beloglavec received her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and attended Yale University for her master’s degree.

“Yale had a really cool program for achieving a master’s degree,” Beloglavec said. “I had an acceptance based

off of an audition.”

Beloglavec said she submitted a prescreening tape of four solo pieces and four excerpts of music of her preference.

“After the tape audition, I was invited to New Haven, Connecticut for a live audition where I played selected pieces again,” Beloglavec said. “The program I was accepted into was fully funded by scholarships through the university. As of right now, I am currently working on my doctorate from Northwestern University.”

Matthew Luttrell, director of bands, said Beloglavec brings an extremely proficient presence to the music program.

“She has an incredible resume of performing with numerous professional international groups,” Luttrell said.

“When it comes to music, you don’t want a faculty that thinks the same. Having different points of view in the program brings area for more opportunity, which is exactly what Ms. Beloglavec is offering to this department.

She is teaching students how to become better musicians.”

“I love teaching and working alongside young students so I am happy to be here. I like how this university is a liberal arts college, the atmosphere here is wonderful.”

HANA BELOGLAVEC INTERNATIONAL AWARD-WINING TROMBONIST

| Sept. 16, 2015 | 7

Heart disease and homework Caleb Nichols makes both the dean’s list and the transplant list

BRYSON PETERSEN REPORTER

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he play wasn’t anything extraordinary.

Caleb Nichols, then a sophomore at Rider High School and center defender playing in his first soccer scrimmage of the season, didn’t hesitate. He stepped front of the ball, blocking it.

Then he collapsed.

Waking up on the field minutes later, he took a frantic ride by ambulance to the hospital. Countless tests and a stay in Cook’s Children’s Hospital in Dallas later, he was diagnosed with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy – a disease in which his heart is enlarged and the right ventricle has deteriorated from muscle into fat.

Flash forward five years. Nichols, junior in business management, lives with a device in his chest that acts as a pacemaker and defibrillator and he is on the heart transplant list.

“No matter what, with my condition, I will have to have a transplant,” he said, “It’s the only cure.”

He has had three major surgeries and takes a plethora of medicines on a daily basis, but his disease hasn’t stopped him from excelling in his studies. A full-time student, Nichols is on the dean’s list and is a part of the Redwine Honors Program.

“All of my professors have been really understanding and willing to work with me,” Nichols said, “It’s helped me build better relationships with my professors because they’re just happy that I’m still trying to go through school… They want to do everything they can to help and be supportive.”

Nichols said one professor who has been especially encouraging is Brad Mills, adjunct faculty member in the Dillard College of Business Administration. Mills said he was unaware Nichols had any medical issues for several semesters.

“He’s one of those students who did all of his work, he’s a great student,” Mills said, “but I never knew anything about him as far as his health issues.”

He said that Nichols was an admirable student and deserved all the encouragement he received based solely on his academic ethics.

According to Mills’ records, Nichols made ex-

PHOTO BY BRYSON PETERSEN | THE WICHITAN

Caleb Nichols, business management junior, studies for an upcoming arts and culture test in the Dillard College of Business Adminstration. cellent grades and never missed a class while games, basketball games, volleyball games, Mills’ was his professoccer games, whatevsor. er it is.”

“You will never…

Sterling Sellman, understand the battles college pastor at FBC, that some people face is Nichols’ pastor and unless they’re willing has worked with him to disclose them,” at the church. he said, “But when “(Nichols) is a somebody goes about great leader of peotheir life the way that ple,” he said.

Caleb does, it’s really Sellman added impressive. I think it’s that Nichols is a posa true testament of his itive influence on CALEB NICHOLS character.” the FBC students and BUSINESS MANAGEMENT JUNIOR C o i n c i d e n t a l l y, does not let his disgood character is a ease hinder his work. requirement for someone in Nichols’ line of “Caleb will be honest with you about his work. He serves as a student ministry intern disease and the implications of it,” Sellman at First Baptist Church where he helps plan said, “He is also very encouraging. He’s a great events and builds productive relationships advocate of Jesus Christ.” with high school students.

Last summer, Nichols suffered several at“(We) plan games for students,” he said, tacks and spent more than a week in Cook’s “Hang out with students outside of church, children’s hospital in Dallas. He said his distry to visit them at school, go to their football ease has been the source of much anger, but

3 Number of major surgeries Nichols has had.

“I want to enjoy the time I do have… If anything it’s made me get more involved in the things I do with my friends, my church, and the people around me.”

$1.2 million Estimated cost of the heart transplant procedure Nichols needs to have.

that all changed when he left Cook’s.

“I feel more ok with what’s going on because I’ve been through the worst of it,” Nichols said, “I want to enjoy the time I do have…

If anything it’s made me get more involved in the things I do with my friends, my church, and the people around me.”

Nichols estimates that the entire process of a heart transplant would cost more than $1.2 million. This year, a campaign was formed to help offset these costs.

“My boss at church (Casey Burt) started the Nickels for Nichols organization,” Nichols said, “They started holding events, opened up the gofundme account, all that stuff.”

Gofundme is an online fundraising tool where donors can give as much or as little as they want, and they have the option of being anonymous or identified. Once word of the fundraising effort spread, the Nickels for Nichols account rose drastically.

“In a week and a half we probably raised $13,000,” Nichols said, “I was trying to keep up with everyone who was donating, and at some point I just gave up because it was so many people right back to back. It was a little overwhelming.”

He added that there was a $10,000 anonymous donation. To date, Nickels for Nichols has raised over $43,000.

Nichols accredits his family, his friends and his church family as being his biggest supporters throughout this entire process.

He aspires to become a pastor, run for office, or have any career that will put him in a position to help other people and give back some of the support he has been given. He also has an encouraging message from his unique perspective on life.

“Don’t sweat the little things,” he said, “Don’t take for granted the life you have…

Just be thankful that you have a life, you have a job, you’re going to college, and you don’t have to worry when you go to bed at night whether or not your heart’s going to stop working. You have a whole lot of freedom to do things that a lot of people, not just me, don’t have. Don’t take your life for granted.”

$43,000 Money raised to date to offset Nichols’ medical bills.

8 | Sept. 16, 2015 |

PHOTO BY KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

Ryder Ashton, art sophomore, prepares to tackle Josh Steheny, music senior, at the rugby team practice on Sept. 14.

The cross country team stretches in the D.L. Ligon Coliseum before their mile run during practice on Sept.15.

PHOTO BY GABRIELLA SOLIS | THE WICHITAN

Freshmen dominate cross-country team LANE RIGGS REPORTER

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hen the starting gun fires, the girls are looking so far ahead through the shimmering air that they can almost see the finish line.

For freshmen Sara Smith and Alex Pearcy, cross country meets aren’t new experiences, and that can also be said for their team — almost half of which is freshmen, freshmen who have been running in the 3-mile competition since they were freshmen in high school.

With such a young team, the girls said there is a higher level of competition to prove that they are as experienced as others in their event.

The cross country team had its first meet Sept. 5 at the Big Green Soccer Complex in Lawton, Oklahoma against Science and Arts (Okla.). Senior Gabby Ruiz, with a time of 19:25, finished first, only one place ahead of freshman Bridget Reilly. And on Sept. 10, the girls won the Strohman Dental/MSU Stampede run at Lake Wichita Park, finishing with a score of 19.

Smith said she enjoys practicing in the early morning because she is able to jump start the day by training hard in preparation for the first 6K run that is this weekend.

“We get up every morning and work as hard as we can,” Smith said. “We have strength in numbers, and we’re focused on making it past conference to regionals or nationals. It’s im-

portant to stay positive.”

While Pearcy said she shares Smith's dream of Nationals, she does find herself daunted by MSU’s previous record, having won five Lone Star Conference championships.

“MSU has such a good record, and because we’re a young team, people automatically think we will get second at conference,” she said. “We want to prove ourselves to the campus. Freshmen do just as well.”

The environment that the girls set for themselves and the representation of their campus at meets is proof that even though 11 members (eight freshmen, three transfer juniors) of the team are new to MSU, their goal is one and the same.

“I’ve never been a part of a positive team before,” Reilly said. “We’re already like sisters.

It’s nice to have someone cheering and racing against you at the same time.”

Junior Brandi Hobson, a transfer student from Hartnell College in California, who has been running all her life, agrees that the closeknit team helps to pick up each other up and provides encouragement to those new members to try harder at every practice and meet.

“We want to get better together. I’m chasing Bridget around during practice because she’s faster than me,” Hobson said. “We want other students to witness this too, we want people to know that we’re just as serious as football and basketball players.”

The cross country team gets its fair share of attention, too.

Coach Koby Styles said he believes that the positivity coming from the students on campus rallies the mindset of the team to win.

“There’s a level of expectations year in and year out, and that’s to win,” Styles said. “We’re MSU and we expect to win.”

The team has just that in mind for the run this weekend. Although Hobson and the freshmen girls are nervous since this is their first 6K run, there is still an energetic and supportive environment during practice.

“The group team chemistry is truly remarkable. Being able to have each other’s backs is worth more than any hard workout I could give them,” Styles said. “That’s what’s important in the middle of the race, when things are getting tough.”

The team is forming relationships with each other during races and practice, and even though every new member has a different personality, the team is prospering since every girl has something different to bring to the table.

“Everyone is so outgoing, but we’ve meshed as a team,” Senior Brittany Adams said. “This weekend is the first race where the whole team gets to race, with real competition, and I think that with every race, there will be different top runners. We’ll be a super team.”

The team's next meet is Sept. 19 in Canyon, Texas at the West Texas A&M Invitational.

Rugby players try hand at coaching TALIA HARRIS REPORTER

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olunteer rugby coach Mike McKinney said the best was for the players to understand the game is by allowing them to coach the game. So he did what coaches often loathe to do – he let the players coach each other.

McKinney said he wants his players to learn leadership. “Coming out of college with a degree, they won’t start at the very bottom. They are a part of the management aspect."

McKinney said involving the players in the financial aspects of the team allows them to get hands-on experience.

Three-fourths of the team is made up of new players and most of them being have never held a rugby ball.

McKinney said he encourages his players to volunteer in the community. “We just did the Hotter N' Hell. We helped with the starting line and hells gate.”

Eight of the players woke up at 5 a.m. to set up for the race. Along with helping set up, they also cheered the racers on.

The team also volunteers with Downtown Proud, a program that works to revitalize downtown Wichita Falls.

McKinney wants people to know that anyone is invited to come out and play rugby.

Nzwanai Kanyangarara is a senior in chemical lab science is a part of the student coaching staff. Kanyangarara wants students to know that rugby is not as bad as they may think.

“Yes, there are injuries. But there are injuries in every sport.”

Kanyangarara said MSU rugby can be a great way to network.

“Rugby is like it’s own fraternity.”