Sept. 30, 2015

Sept. 30, 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 80 No. 6

Sikes Lake

pg. 2

Silt that washed in during the record rainfall in May caused Sikes Lake to fill up.

PHOTO BY HANWOOL LEE / FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

Police Chief Dan Williams gives a lecture about a anti concealed weapon. | Dan Williams, chief of campus police, the first witness to speak about the videos regarding Jesse Brown’s, criminal justice junior, booth set up and flyers being passed out in the Clark Student Center, to the Election Board Committee at the Student Government Association Presidential Trail in the CSC Thursday, April 16, 2015.

35 years of service MSU chief of police announces retirement TAYLOR WARREN REPORTER

Caribfest Week

pg. 4-5

The events consisted of bright colorful costumes, festive music, and culturally diverse foods.

A

fter 35 years working in law enforcement, university Chief of Police Dan Williams is turning in the badge and folding out the lawn chair.

“I plan to take a few months off and enjoy my grandkids and the lake,” Williams said. “I bought a house on the lake just south of Dallas and look forward to relaxing for a while.”

STAFF REACTION

Family Day

pg. 8

Families came to see their MSU students and enjoy a game against a major rival.

Department investigator and patrol officer Kelly Maloney said he and Williams have known each other for almost 42 years, since high school. Maloney said they went through the Wichita Falls police academy together in 1980 and worked together for the city department for several years. They have formed a good, working relationship.

“We feed off of each other’s experiences to do the best job we can here,” Maloney said.

“We both have attributes, and we share those with each other and with the rest of the guys.”

Officer Elwyn Ladd echoed that feeling.

“I’ve worked for him for five years, and he’s a great police chief,” Ladd said. “He’s diligent and a hard worker.”

Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Keith Lamb said Williams has done a great job organizing the

police department’s usage of policy and procedures.

“He’s an outstanding police chief and more importantly a teacher. He raised the profile of the department and he’s great with students,” Lamb said.

Serving as Williams’ supervisor for about four years, Lamb said he would miss the trust and confidence in the working relationship the two have shared.

“I knew that if anything happened, it would be handled with good judgment and that I would be contacted quickly,” Lamb said.

Williams will officially retire on Dec. 31, but said he “is too young to quit” and will eventually go back to work.

“I have some opportunities I am looking at and just have to decide which way I am going to go,” Williams said. “After 35 years of policing, it is just time to make a move. I was always told you will know when it is time to retire and I feel like that time is here.”

While the time to spend some time with family out by the lake is right around the corner, Williams’ career has revolved around the Wichita Falls area.

BACK TO MSU

Williams returned to the university in 2010 where he has served as chief for five years. Comparing the university patrol from his starting career to now, Williams said “not

much has changed.”

“We still deal with student situations today like we did back in ’89,” Williams said.

“The biggest problem with students is alcohol and the biggest crime issue is theft. Although today, marijuana possession and usage, in my opinion, is a lot more of an issue.”

As chief, Williams said a memorable moment was when the university investigated a “swatting incident.”

“Basically a swatting incident is where individuals are involved in these blogs or games on the Internet and computers,” Williams said. “A kid here in Wichita Falls could be playing a game against kids in the country and even the world, and for whatever reason someone gets mad and tells them they’re going to ‘swat’ them. What that means is that they’re going make some kid of bogus threat to the police and call it in to the local area.”

In February of 2014, the department dealt with one of these incidents with a student on campus.

“We started getting phone calls on a Sunday night about 9:30 and basically there was a statement out on some social media sites that said ‘I’m going to Midwestern State University at 9:30 a.m. and I’m going to start killing some people and then turn the gun and kill myself and hope the media is there to witness

see RETIREMENT pg. 3

2 | Sept. 30, 2015 |

STAFF E D I T O RI A L

Police chief tireless safety advocate OUR VIEW: Police Chief Dan Williams has been a tireless advocate for students and public safety on campus during his tenure. Officials need to hire someone just as competent and studentfriendly.

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an Williams has done significant amount of work for the university in the years he has been police chief. As university officials prepare for his Dec. 31 retirement, we would like to thank Williams for the dedication he has provided to campus.

Officer safety has been a top priority. Police officers now wear bulletproof vests and carry high-powered rifles in preparation for any situation on campus. Williams has ensured the safety of his staff and advocated for student safety.

Williams has worked to maintain updated technology. The university has purchased new vehicles. The department has replaced the radio system to allow officers to communicate with surrounding agencies, stressing the importance of interagency cooperation.

Campus parking has improved under the direction of Williams as chief.

Parking lots six and 13 were developed as well as the lot located by the police station during Williams’ tenure.

Parking may not be perfect all of the time, but we Williams and other officials have tried their best to provide efficient parking.

In addition, Williams has maintained an atmosphere of being open and transparent. With one exception — the anonymous email sent to an adviser in Dillard last winter about a bomb threat — he has helped keep public records where they need to be — in the public eye. He led the evacuation of campus in a relatively orderly and organized fashion. He kept all of us informed in a timely fashion.

As university officials search for a new chief, we hope they seek an equal successor to Williams. We thank you, Chief Williams, for your commitment to the students, faculty and staff.

The students wish you and your family happy times in your retirement. You can come back and teach Active Shooter classes any time you want.

wichitan

the

Vo. 80 | No. 6

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

Slim diversity in professors

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t the beginning of the semester, I thought about taking on a EURECA project.

I wanted to work on a subject that deals with race and race relations in the United States and I wanted to work with an African-American professor.

That’s when it dawned on me. I do Adaobi not know any African-American proEzeodum fessors at MSU. I decided to ask some faculty and even students and some of them said they had “heard of one” but never seen them. This is problematic. In fact, only 10 of the 332 faculty are African-American, only 3 percent, including the chief academic officer. Of the students, 14 percent identify as black or African-American.

In a world where all organizations are trying to promote diversity, this aspect has been grossly overlooked. MSU has found ways of promoting diversity in the student enrollment. Deans should parlay that same enthusiasm into making more effort in hiring African-American professors.

In the Department of History, there are no course specifically dedicated to learning about Black History or the race discourse in general. The history of African-Americans usually cover only a minute percentage of both American history classes. We need more courses that teach about black history in America and MSU needs to promote the race discourse among students at MSU. Who better to teach black history than a black man?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not negating the ability of a white individual to understand black history and race problems in America but he is doing just that: understanding. A black man and his ancestors have lived it. That creates a whole new perspective entirely.

So in light of us having a new president, I implore administrators to give these issues grave importance and place them on her priority list. We need more African-American professors at MSU. Further, we need course that explicitly and specifically deal with Black History and racial relations in America.

Adaobi Ezeodum is a senior in philosophy.

Family Day too expensive

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ow that all the festivities of Family Day are officially over let’s retrace. There was about 1,400 in attendance on Saturday. That is about 900 fewer than last year, and 1,500 fewer than expected for this year. The Office of Student Development and Orientation’s budget for Taylor Family Day was $21,500, but with Courtney 1,500 fewer people than expected how much did we lose? This is not only an issue for one office, it’s an issue for the entire university.

Yes $21,500. For one day.

That is roughly 71 ACL tickets, 10 stair steppers (for my gym rats), 21 $1,000 scholarships, 176 sink repairs (Fain Hall), 430 parking decals, and more than a year of tuition and fees.

I’m not the only one who was surprised by the cost.

Kaitlynn Watterson, a junior in nursing, said she was astonished when she heard the amount we spent on one day. “I’m saying you’re lying… on what exactly… because I am not seeing it.”

Tanner Sanders, sociology senior, said she wasn’t at all surprised by the budget. “I’m not surprised. I know its run by the Office of Student Development and Orientation. When I worked for Stu. Dev., my department alone had like $8,000, and I was considered the

PHOTO EDITOR: Rachel Johnson PHOTOGRAPHER: Francisco Martinez, Kayla White DESIGN EDITOR: Brianna Sheen DESIGNER: Justin Marquart ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

low budget.”

Yet look around campus. There are dozens of sinks that don’t work. Crammed classrooms in Section B hall of Fain. A Starbucks that hasn’t had frap’s in a week. An Einstein bagels that has yet to open two months after the intended opening date, and much, much more. Still, we splurge on one event.

I am in no way saying we need to do away with Family Day. I love the idea of it and everything it is about. I am all about spending money on activities on campus and getting the students involved, because let’s be honest we love excuses for study breaks.

But is Family Day something we need to be spending $21,500 on while we only spend $7,500 on Homecoming, the event of the year, an event where alumni from around the world to come in and remanence. Homecoming is a time where not only the students, faculty and staff come together as one, but when they hope the community gets involved.

There are different offices, clubs, and groups that contribute their budgets to Homecoming. But if the school offered more money, just think how big Homecoming could really be. It is an event that could have potential in having thousands of participants.

Taylor Courtney is a junior in mass communication

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. 30, 2015 | 3 RETIREMENT pg. 1

UPCOMING EVENTS

it all’ and it had the kid’s name,” Williams said.

“That individual happened to be a student here and he lived in Wichita Falls. Pretty quick we were able to track him down and visit with him. He told us about everything with the feud about him and the other individual.”

Officers figured out pretty quickly the incident was a hoax and false situation, Williams said.

“Once it goes out on social media, it spreads like wildfire,” Williams said. “We actually got the FBI involved because the individual that made those threats was actually from out-of-state and is actually being prosecuted right now, not so much for our case because they never were able to tie his computer forensically to the incident here. He admitted to some other similar incidents that he did in California, and they’re prosecuting him for those.”

Before I Die...Wall

Sept. 28-Oct. 2 | All day | Around campus | Sign in or register online

Indoor Soccer Signup Deadline

October 1 | 4 p.m. | Sign up on www.

IMLeagues.com/MWSU or through the Rec*It mobile app.

Latin Themed Night at the Café October 1| 6 p.m. | Mesquite Dining Hall | Enjoy a delicious Latin, inspired meal at the Café.

DEPARTMENT GROWS

While that one incident may stand out, it is bigger issues that will likely have the most long-standing impact on the important. Now, for example, the department employs nine officers and six civilian staff members. If enrollment continues to increase Williams said officer numbers could increase.

“Our officer staff could increase just to make sure we have everything covered with all the parttime events like athletic events,” Williams said.

In the five years Williams has served as chief, he said they have brought the department along considerably well.

“We have upgraded a lot of the technology in the department,” Williams said. “We replaced our entire radio system a few years ago which should set the department up for many years to come. You have to have interoperability with other agencies, and we now have that capability.”

Lamb said the emphasis on keeping the department up-to-date has always been something Williams has been an advocate for.

“He advocated for the department to upgrade and made sure our officers are outfitted with good, modern equipment and made sure their training was appropriate with policy and procedures,” Lamb said. “Williams took the initiative to correct where he thought we were inefficient.”

Patrol vehicles are also updated and now are on a “new vehicle” rotation system.

“When I got here, the patrol cars were about seven to eight years old,” Williams said. “We are now on a three-year rotation system where we will get new vehicles to make sure we have reliable equipment.”

Williams also added that it was nice to get vehicles, but that really wasn’t enough. He wanted to put more money into technology for better computers and better management system.

The new technology equipment, allows him to type a few pieces of key information to get information how many burglaries or other crimes have occurred on campus. Better access to statistics allows the public safety officers to be pro-active in crime prevention.

Like technology, the uniforms the officers wear, too, had to be updated and made reliable to ensure officer safety on campus.

“Officers now wear bullet-proof vests,” Williams said. “In today’s world, I think it was something we

Punt, Pass, Kick Competition

October 1 | 6:30-9:30 p.m. | Practice Football Fields (Flag Football Fields) | Sign up on www.

IMLeagues.com/MWSU or through the Rec*It mobile app, or just show up to compete.

2014 FILE PHOTO BY LAUREN ROBERTS | THE WICHITAN

Chief of Police Dan Williams talks with members of the police and fire departments after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the campus Dec. 8, 2014. had to initiate. I also thought I would never see the day where officers have to carry high-power patrol rifles in the cars. When you never know what the next phone call holds. You want your officers to be equipped as well as they can be.”

And looking back, Williams said his greatest enjoyment from years of service at the university has been working with the faculty, students and campus visitors.

“When I came back as chief, I really had the vision to of being ‘out and about’ a lot,” Williams said, “but as we find out as administrators, we get so tied down with phone calls, emails and all the stuff that goes along with the side of an administrator job and so I don’t get out as often as I would like to.”

MOVING FORWARD

Even before he leaves at the end of the year, Williams had some advice for his successor.

“Don’t come in and make major changes instantly,” Williams said. “Get to know your community and the people that work for you, get a good feeling for the department. Go in and get a good reading and maybe after a year begin to make changes. Get out on campus and talk with the students. Get included and join committees.”

Lamb said he expects to select a committee to hire the new police chief, a committee including students, faculty and staff, soon.

Additional reporting by Patrick German

MSU Theater: She Kills Monsters

October 1-4 | 7:30 p.m. Oct. 1-3, 2:30 p.m. Oct. 4 | Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre | Free for MSU students, staff, and faculty with MSU ID. General admission $8-10

Volleyball vs. Dallas Baptist

October 3 | 2:30 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Free with MSU ID

Culture Festival: Calle Ocho

October 3| 1-10 p.m. | Farmer’s Market | Enjoy Latino food, music, dance and culture. Buy your tickets at the door (Downtown at 8th St & Ohio).

Women’s Soccer vs. West Texas A&M October 4 | 7-8:30 p.m. | MSU soccer fields | Free with MSU ID

Two Piano Latin-American Concert

October 5| 7 p.m. | Akin Auditorium | Featuring a performance by Dr. Martin Camacho, Dean of the Fain College of Fine Arts and Dr. Adonis Gonzalez.

Volleyball vs. Southern Nazarene

October 6 | 6 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Free with MSU ID

Hispanic Heritage Month Movie: Spare Parts

Volleyball vs. Texas Women’s University

October 2 | 5:30 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Free with MSU ID

Women’s Soccer vs.

Eastern New Mexico

October 2 | 7-8:30 p.m. | MSU soccer fields | Free with MSU ID

Volleyball vs. Texas A&MCommerce

October 3 | 12 p.m. | D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Free with MSU ID

October 6 | 7 p.m. | CSC Shawnee Theater | Watch the film inspired by the true story of undocumented Mexican-American students competing in a robotics competition.

Open House: Health Sciences

October 7 | 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. | Bridwell Hall Foyer | Free

Women’s Soccer vs.

Colorado State-Pueblo

October 7 | 7-8:30 p.m. | MSU soccer fields | Free with MSU ID

C R I M E LO G Sept. 24

Theft: Misdemeanor | 10:57 a.m. | Unknown Location | A current resident student reported to MSU Police the theft of her ID card holder.

Sept. 24

Theft: Misdemeanor | 3:21 p.m. | Bolin Hall | A MSU student reported to MSU Police that her wallet had been stolen.

Sept. 27

Criminal Mischief | 2:14 p.m. | 5005 Lake Park Drive | A current MSU student reported that her vehicle had obscenities written on the windows of the vehicle. No suspects or known witnesses.

| Sept. 30, 2015 | 5

4 | Sept. 30, 2015 |

Miss CaribFest 2015

Crowds celebrate Caribbean culture About 300 attend CaribFest parade SAMUEL SUTTON REPORTER

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lashy colors and upbeat music served as the highlights for about 300 people attending the CaribFest parade on Friday night.

“I just love the atmosphere here, man. I went last year, and loved everything I saw, but this year is much bigger,” Gerald Ezendu, a junior in nursing said.

Tim Torres, a sophomore in chemistry and biology, said, “It was good to see all the people and all the diversity. It was good to see the community together.”

Sponsored by the Caribbean Student Organization, the parade started at 5:30 p.m., about 30 minutes later than scheduled, and finished about an hour later. The queen showed up late, which put the flag waivers on edge.

Tameka Stanley, a grad student in education said, “I don’t know where she is man, we've been waiting a while.”

While they were waiting to start, dozens of students were still getting their faced and bodies painted outside Pierce Residence Hall.

“I loved being able to paint my face, and I love all of the music. It had an upbeat, and positive feeling,” said Ashley Valdez, a freshman in pre-med.

Students also reacted to the cultural awareness this event brought to the campus.

Kenyah Abul'aleem, a freshman in general business, said, “I love see-

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

NIA WHITE, political science junior, BARBARA MCGUIRE, criminal justice junior, and KIM GUNDU, respiratory care junior, dance and sing behind a big truck blasting festive Caribbean music down Council Drive on Sept. 25.

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

LARISSIA GUMBS, psychology sophomore, JORREY MARTIN, special education sophomore, and JOSLYN LE BLANC, biology sophomore, get a picture taken of them during the beginning of the 2015 CaribFest Parade. Sept. 25.

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON AND KAYLA WHITE| THE WICHITAN

JORREY MARTIN, special education sophomore and Miss CaribFest 2015, gets her picture taken with CAREISHA WHYTE, accounting senior, and Daria Roach, accounting senior, after being crowned queen at the 2015 CaribFest Pageant on Sept. 23. | BOBBI RIVERS, nursing sophomore, models in the swimsuit portion of the pageant held in the Akin Auditorium. | LARISSIA GUMBS, psychology sophomore, introduces herself in the icebreaker round of the 2015 CaribFest Pageant. | JOSLYN LE BLANC, biology sophomore, performs a monologue in the talent portion of the pageant. | KORNIKA DEGANNES, finance junior, performs in the talent portion of the pageant with a combination of a song, dance, and monologue on domestic violence.

ing all of the culture and spirit that goes along with it. I don't always feel like there is enough school spirit on this campus, but events like this give me hope.”

The brightly colored costumes, full of sequins and feathers — or sometimes not much, were also a big attraction.

Aireanna Chavez, a freshman in athletic training said “I like the paint, but separate from that, I love the costumes. They bring so much culture to this event.”

Other students that came to show support for the organizations and loved it.

“I like everything about it. The atmosphere, the colors and the flags that are being waved,” said Ezendu.

Even though the performers, particularly the 10 girls waving flags, made it look it easy, it took months of preparation to get everything ready.

“We have been practicing for a month, and we took 10 hours of each week to prepare,” said Stanley.

The organization of the event, including building the sound equipment and selecting the music, also took a long time.

“Building the float took a while to finish because of the intricate detail put int0 it. We started working on it in late June,” said Donna Lisa Nelson, a senior in biology.

Nelson said it was worth it to see the turnout and to help raise money for Dominica, which was hit by a tropical storm earlier in the year.

AWARDS

PHOTOS BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ, BRADLEY WILSON AND KAYLA WHITE | THE WICHITAN

MIDWESTERN STUDENTS GATHER TOGETHER TO TAKE A GROUP PHOTO WITH A FLAG IN THE GREEN SPACE, WHERE STUDENTS GOT THEIR BODIES PAINTED WHILE THEY WAITED FOR THE 2015 CARIBFEST PARADE TO BEGIN. | AIREANNA CHAVEZ, atheltic training freshman, paints the face of AUSTUN LAMBERT, undecided freshman, in the Killingsworth Green Space for CaribFest. | Participants in the parade celebrate by dancing, shouting, and waving flags following a van with a D.J. and music.

Chairman Award | Larissia Gumbs • Miss Photogenic | Bobbi Rivers Miss Amity | Jorrey Martin • Miss Talented | Jorrey Martin Best Swimsuit | Kornika Degannes • Best Personality | Kornika Degannes Best Evening Gown | Joslyn Le Blanc • Best Interview | Bobbi Rivers Second Runner up| Joslyn Le Blanc • First Runner up| Kornika Degannes Miss CaribFest 2015 | Jorrey Martin

6 | Sept. 30, 2015 |

Record rainfall causes problems for Sikes Lake

LANE RIGGS REPORTER

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rom May 4 to June 22, Wichita Falls set a record for the amount of rain in May, ending the drought and filling the lakes, but causing some problems as well.

Sikes Lake, which runs alongside the school’s Wellness Center, received an influx of silting and formed an “island” in the northern part of the lake. The silt, or disintegrated rock and sand, has helped to form this “island” over a three-year period.

Kyle Owen, associate vice president of facilities president, met with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to solicit funds to remove the silt that threatens the lake’s ecosystem and could threaten surrounding buildings during future floods.

“The island may make up a third of the area in the northern part of the lake,” Owen said. “It’s pretty small, but if more silt shows up, then we can’t maintain a high lake level.”

The lake suffered in 1999-2001, as well, when there was a flood that caused silting in the lake. During this time, university officials also asked for federal funding for dredging the lake and removing the dirt and sand particles.

The federal government ended up subsidizing

the $75,000 of the $1.8 million project.

Now, in addition to finding funding for the project, Owen said he is looking for other options to help clean up the silt and fix structural problems with the dam.

“We may not even be qualified. It’s a fairly arduous task, and it takes up a lot of time I don’t have, but it has to be addressed,” Owen said. “Right now we are investigating options; none are sure-fire. I’m trying to find options.”

Owen said university officials are still gathering samples for FEMA to examine, trying to determine if the silt is new or old.

However, if the school is not qualified to receive aid from FEMA, Owen said he plans to wait possibly 10 years, when the school doesn’t have as much financial strain, to then go back to the legislature and request help again. Additionally, if the lake silts in completely, then the lake will be considered a wetland, something that demands a different appeal process.

“It’s nothing we have to fix tomorrow,” Owen said. “But if I had the money, I would have fixed it yesterday.”

Owen has until a deadline of Oct. 30 to alert FEMA about the school’s desired course of action.

Literature Society to discuss banned books MELISSA LAUSSMANN REPOTER

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he Arts & Literature Society is raising awareness of censorship and banned books to students in honor of Banned Books Week Sept. 28 to Oct. 3.

The president of the Arts & Literature Society, Arielle Martin, marketing senior, wants people to know about the problem with censorship and book-banning even in this day and age of information overload.

“It’s become a tradition for the Arts & Literature Society to get involved with spreading awareness about banned books,” said Martin.

“I’m hoping to create some enthusiasm and that our activities will create a ripple effect.”

Martin said the group plans to have a banned books discussion at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop on Oct. 2 at 5:30 p.m. The group will be reading and discussing books that have been banned through the ages.

“I was most surprised that the book Where the Wild Things Are was banned because it depicted childhood depression and some people didn’t want their children exposed to that,” Martin said.

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Todd Giles, Arts & Literature Society faculty adviser, said book banning is still a problem in America.

“Nearly every week in America parents or religious organizations attempt to ban a book from school libraries and curricula,” Giles said.

Censorship sometimes comes from fear or lack of knowledge or possibly a desire to maintain the status quo.

“Trying to stifle freedom of speech goes against our rights as American citizens to engage in freedom of speech,” said Giles. “These student-led initiatives are great for raising awareness of the problematic nature of censorship,” he added.

The Arts & Literature Society’s campus representative, Kevin Ruddy, senior in English, said “There’s still stuff being censored out today, like the book Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. There should be liberty and freedom of expression in the arts, literature and film,” he added.

Ruddy said that although he believes there is a lesser degree of book-banning today, it remains a problem in America.

BANNED BOOKS DISCUSSION | FUZZY’S TACO SHOP | OCT. 2 | 5:30 P.M.

PHOTO BY RAWLECIA ROGERS | THE WICHITAN

Students apart of different athletic organizations spend their Saturday morning at the Sikes Lake Cleanup, they head over to the opposite side of the lake to pick up trash, Sept. 12.

Attention August/December 2015 Graduates!

Mark your calendar for ... October 6 & 7 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Clark Student Center Comanche Suites (Atrium entrance)

Attend And register to win prizes!

You do not have to be present to win.

For more information, visit mwsu.edu/registrar/commencement or call 940-397-6217 or 940-397-4116.

| Sept. 30, 2015 | 7

Gun task force to draft campus policy JACOB SMITH REPORTER

T

he stereotypical picture of the Wild West wouldn’t be complete without the gun-totin’ outlaw.

To say that the Second Amendment is considered a basic right in West Texas would be considered an understatement.

And the pictures of Texans with shotguns mounted on the back of their pickup trucks probably isn’t too far from the truth.

Now, given the passage of state legislation allowing students to carry guns on campus, officials have been charged with developing a policy about when and where students will be allowed to exercise their freedoms.

BACKGROUND On June 1, the Texas State Senate passed SB 11, the Campus Carry bill and sent the bill to Gov. Gregg Abbot for his signature. It took less than two weeks for Abbott to sign the bill.

Private schools, universities, and commercial college campuses throughout the state have made their voices and opinions heard regarding the bill, but the legislation has implications for students and staff.

The legislation makes it a requirement for

Texas public universities to permit licensees to carry concealed handguns in classrooms, dorms and other campus buildings.

“The legislation was originally created in response to a number of campus shootings, in particular the one that really stood out to lawmakers was Virginia Tech,” said Laura Fidelie, associate professor of criminal justice.

The deadliest school shooting since the 1966 University of Texas Massacre took place at Virginia Tech. That day Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed more than 30 people. Since the shooting at Virginia Tech, 43 other shootings have occurred on university and community college campuses. Of those incidents, two occurred in Texas: one in Austin and the other in Houston.

“Had those violent incidents not taken place there I don’t think it was necessarily something that lawmakers had on their agendas,” said Fidelie.

LEGISLATIVE MANDATE

With the high profile and controversial nature of the topic there have been numerous voices from both ideological perspectives pushing the Texas government in both directions on this issue. Taking that into consideration lawmakers have given provisions

attached to the bill to appease naysayers. For example, universities can choose to designate gun-free zones in strategic locations throughout the campus as well as where and how firearms will be carried and stored based on public safety concerns.

Fidelie said, “The legislation has been set up so that we do have flexibility within the bill to make it work on this particular campus.

With that flexibility we can make this a positive thing within the MSU community.”

The university president, as required, appointed a task force made up of representatives from the faculty, students, community, alumni, parents, as well as officers from police. The task force’s primary goal is to draft a policy that will implement the law and protect safety and submit that policy to the Board of Regents. Two of the specific tasks they will be taking on are setting guidelines for how firearms will be stored in campus housing and determining where gun-free zones will be located on the premises.

“Our number one goal here is to keep students safe and create and maintain an environment that is conducive to learning,” Fidelie said. “The question our task force will have to answer is: How can we allow this legislation to work on this campus and still preserve the

environment that students really need to have academic freedom and to be able to discuss ideas freely in the classroom?”

“It will provide a certain degree of safety for our students,” Caleb Nichols, management senior, said.

Nichols is also over the age of 21, has his Concealed Handgun License, supports campus carry and regularly carries a gun in a majority of the places he goes.

“I would absolutely campus carry,” Nichols said. “Obviously when you make weapons available to people it makes that place inherently more dangerous, but the building that I have most of my classes in, there are no locks on the doors, it’s one straight hallway all the way down, there simply is not any real way to protect yourself unless you’re armed. In that manner I think it is very beneficial.”

CAMPUS CARRY TASK FORCE First meeting | Oct. 2, 11 a.m., Priddy Conference Room, Dillard Chair | Laura Fidelie, associate professor, criminal justice Student Representatives | Dustin Whinery, undergraduate student; and Leann Duran, graduate student

Counseling Center workshops promote student success KATRINA PREHODA REPORTER

T

o help students learn everything from note-taking to test taking skills to relaxation strategies, the Counseling Center, every semester, offers a series of free workshops, including one tonight on choosing a career and major.

ABOUT THE WORKSHOPS “We don’t try to go over every single thing that has to do with academics, we picked out what we think are the key topics that will help people the most,” said Vikki Chaviers, a licensed professional counselor at MSU and the person in charge of the workshop series.

The employees of the Counseling Center decided on four workship topics: time management organization, taming test anxiety, steps to earning a 4.0, and choosing a major and/or career.

REASONS TO ATTEND The first meeting held on Sept.

21 drew a crowd of more than 45 people. Chaviers spoke for an hour

about time management and organization and provided handouts to go with her PowerPoint presentation.

Karina Carter, education junior, drove 40 minutes from her home in Nocona, Texas, to attend.

“The workshop was helpful,” said Carter, “but it could have been more helpful if I didn’t already do everything Chaviers said.”

Chaviers recommended that students map out their semester using a monthly calendar or planner.

“By writing down things like holidays, personal things like doctors appointments, what time classes are everyday, and important information from each classes syllabus on the calendar, like tests and homework, you’re able to plan around them and set daily and weekly priorities,” said Chaviers.

Some students, like Carter, attended to earn extra credit in their classes.

“We feel like most of the people are coming because of bonus points and hopefully they will learn something helpful if they are there,” said Chaviers.

Ryan Adams, a junior in business, attended the time management organization workshop to “learn from someone else’s perspective.”

“I wanted to learn how to better organize my life and set priorities,” said Adams. “As a college student, it’s easy to get behind because there is always something else to be doing, whether it be on or off campus,” said Adams.

The workshops are focused at helping freshmen students transition to college life.

“The workshop would benefit incoming freshmen the most,” said Adams. “It’s only an hour long so they can’t cover too much, which is good so they don’t overwhelm someone, but they also give helpful tips on how to manage your time so you don’t get behind.”

“Online videos will greatly benefit, but only if students can still somehow earn extra credit for watching them,” Carter said.

Shannon Liard, a junior in nutrition, takes all of her classes online.

“I would have loved for the workshops to be online a few years ago when I first attended them,” said Liard. “I remember I had to find someone to cover my shift at work so I could go to one of the workshops, it was always difficult finding time between work and school.”

For students unable to attend the workshops hosted in September, the counseling center will be offering them again in early November during academic success week.

“We have the workshop going on now in September, then again in November in conjunction with academic success week,” said Chaviers.

FUTURE PLANS

PUBLICITY

Later this semester, the counseling center will upload videos of the academic workshops to their website so people can watch from home.

The Counseling Center, like other departments on campus, relies on social media in order to get information on upcoming events out to students, staff, and faculty.

“We have a guy here now, A.J Perez, who is the coordinator for social media, so we get in touch with him and give him all our information and shortly before the workshop he will get it out on all the different social media,” said Chaviers.

Apart from using social media, they also do their own marketing on campus by using fliers, posters and email.

“Everybody who has a workshop does marketing for their workshop,” said Chaviers, “Mainly what we do is we try to get an advertisement out through flyers and posters and put them up on buildings all over campus.”

The only building the counseling center has trouble marketing in is Dillard.

“We usually send a PDF file or JPEG to the social media coordinator and ask him to please add it to the cycle of advertisements that come up on the flat screen TV’s in all the buildings on campus,” said Chaviers, “we tried to put fliers and things up in Dillard in the past, but it was always difficult because they don’t have enough room.”

8 | Sept. 30, 2015 |

Families attend 63-46 rout “I’m supporting the school even though my family isn’t coming this year. Our house burned down last year, so all of our old Family Day shirts or anything else we might have had are gone.”

GARETT MUDD, SENIOR, SOCIOLOGY MAJOR

“1,400 people is not a record number, but it’s definitely bigger than last year. It attracts the first year students, and as our first year student class continues to grow a little, then so will this event continue to grow.”

KEVIN BAZNER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, STUDENT DEVELOPMENT/ORIENTATION

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

The crowd cheers after MSU scores another touchdown in the first half of the game Sept. 26. MSU beat Tarleton State University 63-46. “This is my second game ever, but I love that everyone is so supportive. I never thought football was this bbig, but it’s awesome, I’m learning quickly and having fun,” FRANCISCO ARMAS RAMOS, biology junior, said.

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

QUADE COWARD, exercise physiology junior, manages throw the ball under pressure in Memorial Stadium, Sept. 26. MSU beat Tarleton State University 63-46.

PHOTO BY FRANCISCO MARTINEZ | THE WICHITAN

MORGAN HULSEY, criminal justice sophomore and drum major, conducts the marching band during half time of MSU vs. Tarleton at Memorial Stadium.

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

RUTTH MERCADO, biology sophomore, and JUAN MERCADO, sociology junior, get their picture taken with their parents, ARACELI MARCADO and JUAN MERCADO, at one of the photo booths set up in the Quad for Family Day, Sept. 26. | The Train rides around the outskirts of the Quad, giving families and children free rides as a part of Family. | SIERRA JONES, athletic training senior, SHANA HANCOCK, mother of Sierra, and DEVIN HANCOCK, Sierra’s brother, get their picture taken at one of the booths in the Quad put up for Family Day.

“I wanted to play some games and see what kinds of activities they would have this year.

I wanted to know if it would be any different from last year’s Family Day events.”

CONNER MUDD, JUNIOR, PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR

“I have my parents from Ft. Worth and my grandparents from Houston who are coming in this weekend for Family Day. They come every time.”

KAITLYNN WATTERSON, JUNIOR, NURSING MAJOR