Nov. 3, 2021

Nov. 3, 2021 | thewichitan.com |Real Students. Real Stories. | Vol. 86 No. 5

QEP: Pg 12

MSU decided its 2022 Quality Enhancement Plan.

HOMECOMING: Pg 6-7

After a year of being sidelined by COVID-19, MSU Texas returned to Homecoming festivities for 2021 PRIDDY VS REDWINE: Pg 3 with its new theme of Hits Now! The week was highlighted by traditional favorites and new activities. Scholars faced off in a battle of kickball.

GHOST STORIES: Pg 10-11

ENTERTAINMENT: Pg 5

STANG STORIES: Pg 13

The Wichitan investigated campus ghost stories.

“No Time To Die” is a satisfying finish.

Philip Allen is the newest Spanish professer.

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Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

2 E DI TO R I A L

Power through the post-COVID fatigue

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ith six weeks of school remaining, students are faced with the annual end-of-semester dredge brought upon by fatigue, overwork and apathy as a result of the responsibilities of student life. This year, some students have noticed increased dreariness as a result of being in a world post the height of COVID-19.

The isolation and solitude brought upon by quarantining and social distancing seems to have had lasting effects on mental health, particularly those that are traditionally college-aged.

With these feelings setting in, some students might feel like giving up or dropping their classes despite the fact that the semester is nearing a close. It’s important to take this time to visualize the finish line at the end of the race. Ultimately these feelings of doubt and apathy will most likely fade over time, but a degree will last a lifetime.

That doesn’t mean mental health isn’t important. Visit the counseling center, talk to a trusted friend or family member, do something fun one night a week or take a mini-vacation one weekend that is not swamped with homework. Also, get homework, essays and other assignments done in advance to avoid those late nights spent up to 11:59 p.m. that make the day after unbearable. A concise schedule can also help prevent forgotten quizzes and online assignments.

Despite the poor mental state, the coronavirus has left many college students in, the key is to continue to persist through the semester. Remember, the joyous, exam-less, Christmas-filled winter break is almost upon us.

Vol. 86 | No. 5 Midwestern State University Fain Fine Arts Bldg., Room D201 3410 Taft Blvd. | Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 (940) 397-4704 wichitan@msutexas.edu | thewichitan.com @wichitanonline

NO HOUSE, NO RESPECT Columns in Campus Voices are the opinions of only the authors and do not necesssarily reflect the views of The Wichitan as an organization.

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s people, what are we defined by? I’ve heard answers such as our actions, choices and even attitudes. However, in my twenty years I don’t Emily Beaman know if I have ever heard one of those characteristics be: a house. Still, the houseless population are treated with a lower degree of respect and necessity by both the general public and the American government.

It seems as if, rather than implementing structures or laws that could benefit them, those in power are more concerned with making the lives of the houseless more difficult than they already are. And the American people don’t object. Why worry about the safety of these people when we can build benches with spikes or gaps so we can push them out of the open and out of our minds?

“A state may not criminalize conduct that is an unavoidable consequence of being homeless.”

JUDGE MARSHABERZON

Ninth Circuit Federal Appeals Court Martin v. City of Boise (2018)

The UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) recognizes houselessness as a crisis requiring immediate steps towards a solution. In fact, they say that on top of violating multiple human rights, houselessness “indicates a State failure to guarantee access to safe, affordable and adequate housing for all.” I would agree that the U.S. has failed these people. At an international level, this is recognized as a critical problem and therefore should be at the forefront of our domestic priorities.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PEXELS

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, in Jan. 2020, there were 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in America.

As a Texas resident, the passage of HB1925 was heart-breaking in the sense that it showed our intention isn’t to help, but to get the houseless community out of eyesight.

The bill created a statewide public camping ban with a maximum $500 fine if a person is caught even sleeping under a blanket in public. Texas isn’t alone. Cities in Washington dole out $1,000 fines and 90 days of jail time to unhoused persons caught sleeping in public. The Supreme Court even ruled that the anti-houseless laws in Boise, Iadho were in violation of the 8th amendment, saying, “A state may not criminalize conduct that is an unavoidable consequence of being homeless.”

This isn’t to say they aren’t being moved to a shelter or are being handed charges for simply surviving. The point here is that these laws make an already hard, exhausting life even more so.

Every other day it seems as if a new structure has been implemented that seems neat at first glance but takes one of the few comforts houseless people have and makes it as uncomfortable as possible. I’ll see a tik

Editor in Chief: Amos Perkins Managing Editor: Stephanie Robledo Assistant Editor: Abigail Jones Design Editor: Omar Combie Photography Editor: Colin Stevenson Business Manager: Alexis Martin Issue Staff : Jaime Alemán, Emily Beaman, Lauren Colpitts, Thalia Doe, Diamond Gamboa, Kayla Le, Joseph Nelson, Fisher Siegler Advisor: Jonathon Quam

tok about bars on vents where houseless persons sleep for warmth in the winter or a tweet about recent “concrete art” that consequently makes underpasses impossible for a person to set up at for a day or so. And it never fails to make me more disappointed to see headlines about new laws and regulations taking them away from some of the few places they feel safe.

These communities shouldn’t be portrayed as people we’ve given up on or don’t deserve help. We shouldn’t be taught to ignore them until they’re pushed out of our minds. Even now, they’re considered a “them,” not only separate from “us” but pushed so below “us” we can’t see them. We have pushed them so far away that we cannot see their struggles, how some just try to survive the day, and how some just drift in and out.

I wouldn’t use a house to define a person, but I would use intentional ignorance, a disregard for others’s lives, and cruelty. This overlooked population doesn’t deserve to be treated like this. They deserve our help, as much as we can give.

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Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

3

A BATTLE OF SCHOLARS

STEPHANIE ROBLEDO MANAGING EDITOR t’s the battle of the scholars, as The Redwine Honors Program and the Priddy Scholars compete in a variety of competitions. This began with Joshua Ysasi, coordinator of Priddy Scholars, who noticed that both scholar programs have never worked with each other.

“The summer when I was planning [the Priddy Scholars programming] for this school year, I was going for a walk...and I thought...we have the Priddy Scholars, there’s Redwine Honors Scholars, they’re two really great programs for students that are expected to be excellent inside and outside of the classroom, with community service, academic achievement things of that nature, and just being engaged on campus. They do nothing with each other and I was like ‘wouldn’t it be so cool if there was a kind of rivalry?’ A friendly rivalry between the two scholarship programs and just kind of push each other in a fun and competitive manner,” Ysasi said.

Ysasi then pitched his idea to Steve Garrison, director of the Red-

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wine Honors Program, who agreed.

This was an opportunity for both programs to become involved with each other and the campus.

“Both of our programs are a little bit more academically minded than maybe some of the other organizations on campus and this was a way for the two programs to interact with each other and just become a little more acclimated to campus and be involved,” Garrison said.

There were a total of five competitions: trivia, kickball, window decorating in Legacy Hall, and the competition will bleed into homecoming with the cardboard boat race and art banner. Ysasi said when creating the events they made sure to include an athletic, creative and academic aspect and as they are planning for the future they want to add a service competition as well. The goal is to have something for everyone to participate in and Ysasi says this by remembering the kickball game.

“What was great about the kickball and I just come to that because the idea of having a kickball game kind of came from a lot of my students who wanted a softball game...

they just wanted to do something athletic just release energy compete and have some fun...but kickball is more accessible, more open to everybody versus something like softball...

What I was able to do...when I filled out my roster...because we have 53

“I was like ‘wouldn’t it be so cool if there was a kind of rivalry?’”

JOSHUAYSASI

Coordinator of Priddy Scholars

on the relationship between Priddy Scholars and Redwine Scholars Priddy Scholars I said ‘I need 15 of you committed to playing the kickball game but I need 10 committed to show up...y’all are committed to show up and cheer the team on and participate’ So even those that feel insecure about doing an athletic event in front of people, those who have no desire to compete in athletic things are still included,” Ysasi said.

“I think that’s been the best part is that kind of focusing on trivia with academic side of things...having elements of creativity with building a boat...Being able to have these fun events and make sure that there’s elements that everyone can participate in and play to their strengths and take on leadership roles, I think it empowers students. Ultimately when you’re empowering students and they’re having a good time, having that positive feedback and gaining that confidence then everybody just has a lot of fun.”

Both Ysasi and Garrison hope to continue these competitions in the future and make a new tradition. As long as both sides are interested they plan to host different competitions every semester.

“Josh and I talked about trying to continue [the competitions]. We talked about the possibility of having a service challenge in the spring and doing similar type of competitions.

Hopefully, we’ll continue, I think both sides are interested in continuing,” Garrison said.

Students such as Kara Rodgers, chemistry freshman, have been par-

ticipating in the competitions. Rodgers is both a Priddy scholar and a Redwine Honors student and has been helping out both teams.

“I’d say it’s healthy competition and it’s really interesting how they have two scholar programs going against each other and it’s also interesting for me because I’m in both Redwine and Priddy so I’ve been having to take sides in different competitions but I think it’s been fun,” Rodgers said.

Not all students are part of both programs and competed for their respective side. Addison Elliott, business administration sophomore, is a Redwine Honors student and was part of the winning trivia team, The Power Rangers. Elliott has enjoyed the competitions, both socially and competitively.

“I think we all love competition and it’s fun too. I know Priddy Scholars and I’m friends with them but it’s nice to be able to meet all of them and hang out as organizations,” Elliott said.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Priddy Scholar freshman Stephen Parr pitches the ball in the kickball game against Redwine Honors, Oct. 9.

Redwine Honors junior Jabez Mackey pitches at the kickball game against Priddy Scholars, Oct. 9.

Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

4

“You” Season 3

Your favorite stalker is back! scending character in this season, but her presence is important. Sherry represents everything in today’s western society: social media-driven, shallow, two-faced and willing to do anything to be the center of attention. Cary Conrad, Sherry’s husband, played by Travis Van Winkle, is wealthy, manly and the founder of his own supplement company. At first, these two seem like they won’t really be essential to the plot, but as time goes on, Sherry and Cary are ultimately the ones that lead to the climax and resolution of this season. Another new character is Marienne Bellamy, a librarian single mother trying to regain full custody of her daughter. It’s no surprise when she first appears on the screen that Joe will end up falling for her. It wouldn’t be a “You” season if Joe didn’t fall in love with who he believes is the real “love of his life.” As we know, Joe will do anything for the one he loves. This and the Conrad’s, who happen to

be in an open relationship, is what ultimately crashes down at the end of the season. I was left with a disturbing sadness and overwhelming anger. This is not a bad thing, and once you see, you’ll know why.

Netflix officially announced the renewal of “You” for a fourth season, just two days before season 3 came out. I will say that in the past I had a slight awareness of what to expect from the coming season, but this is the first time I have no idea what to expect from Joe when he hits screens again. Regardless, I am excited to see what will happen.

Thalia’s Season Rating: 4/5

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) holds his son Henry as he talks to Marienne Bellamy (Tati Gabrielle) in Netflix’s “You” (2021).

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lot of tension. A lot of blood. A lot of murder.

But what else can we expect from Joe Goldberg? “You” season 3 doesn’t really come as a shocker for me, or really for the majority of the audience, Thalia Doe especially if you’ve seen the previous two seasons. Still, each season, I’ve effortlessly binge-watched within a day or so and have not been disappointed. I find it a dark pleasure of mine. Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, is a guilt-free serial killer, that we sympathize with and can’t turn away from watching. Already knowing the plot and wondering who his next victims will be, Joe fascinates me every time.

All Joe wants is love, one where both parties will do anything for the other. Joe wants it so bad to an extent that he’d even kill for love.

And when Joe is infatuated, he falls in love, and he falls fast and hard. Joe wants to know everything about his special person, so he begins stalking them. He keeps boxes of their personal items such as panties, bracelets, necklaces, etc.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t lucked out on finding his true love and has a record of murdering

every woman he has had a failed relationship with. After a whirlwind ending plot twist of season 2, we find Joe Goldberg and his life being reborn. Married to Love Quinn with a baby on the way and a new house in Madre Linda, an upper-middle-class suburban neighborhood inspired by the culture of the wealthiest areas to live in California. We’ve only ever known Joe as trying to get the girl…but what happens after he gets the girl? What does happily ever after even mean?

Both Joe and Love try to fully assimilate with their neighbors and environment without raising any questions. The next-door neighbor, Natalie Engler, played by Michaela McManus married to a tech-savvy entrepreneur, Matthew Engler, played by Scott Speedman, finds a liking to Joe. Of course, things are harmless in the beginning but that doesn’t last for long. Joe becomes intrigued, as he usually does to any woman who walks by him, except before anything can truly happen, Love murders Natalie at a property she just leased from her. The investigation to ‘find’ Natalie’s murderer is the main plotline throughout season 3.

Moving on, Sherry Conrad, played by Sharlita Grant, was the most annoying and conde-

PHOTO COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) watching neighbors while taking his son Henry for a walk, “You” (2021).

Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

5

“No Time To Die” is a strong finish to

Craig’s five film portrayal

PHOTO COURTESY OF METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER STUDIOS

Daniel Craig reprises his role as James bond for a last time in “No Time to Die” (2021).

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he film “No Time To Die” is Cary Joji Fukunaga’s first time directing a Bond movie and Daniel Craig’s last Bond movie, and both Joseph were amazing in their Nelson roles. Modern Bond films have incorporated very stylistic camera work, along with beautiful lighting and exotic locations, and Fukunaga doesn’t disappoint. However, “No Time To Die” isn’t afraid to mix up the Bond formula in other departments. 007 has always been known for his cold, calculating, and careless demeanor, but this most recent installment dives into Bond’s emotions, a side we haven’t really seen since “Casino Royale.” Ironically, “Spectre” and “Skyfall” tried the somber song opening, but they never really meshed with the rest of their tones. However, Billie Eilish’s song, composed along with Hans Zimmer, brings those classic orchestra crescendos that perfectly encapsu-

late the film’s emotional core. While some cheesy moments exist, “No Time To Die” is my second favorite Bond movie, and the only movie I’ve seen all year I want to watch again.

“Spectre” relegates Bond’s love interest, Madeleine Swan, to a superficial position, working well on paper as the daughter of an assassin but turning out to be a flat character otherwise. However, “No Time To Die” brings back Lea Seydoux and gives her something to do this time, providing depth and heartbreak to her backstory that spreads to other plotlines as well, creating a great antagonist and an even greater prologue sequence. To me, the best stories are ones with amazing beginnings and endings, with the middle part being complimented by each like a palindrome, and “No Time To Die” achieves this skillfully.

Rami Malik plays the vengeful villain and adds threat and stakes to the second and third acts that haven’t been in a Bond movie since “Casino Royale.” Most Bond villains

have schemes that either just happen to work out in unforeseen ways or are just incomprehensible. While Malik’s character has a pretty onthe-nose name (Lyutsifer Safin), his plan for control is well developed and fearfully precise, not involving any ridiculous “I wanted to be captured” plotlines or hiring a femme fatale but relying on exploiting character vulnerabilities and infiltrating ranks with his own spies.

While being well-written, Safin has some moments bordering on campy. Most may be sufficiently threatened, but Lyutsifer’s voice occasionally reminded me of a Russian version of Eddie Redmayne’s hilarious performance in “Jupiter Ascending,” and I found myself snickering at some lines Safin said. Not only that, some moments in the movie lacked subtlety that made some lines cringy (ex. ‘There are a thousand reasons we should find this man. You just gave me a reason to kill him”).

The Daniel Craig Bonds took pride in their realistic tones, so returns to

the classic campiness in older Bond films seemed out of place. While the whole of the movie is great, this was a weak spot.

Even though the film returns to some older Bond tropes, “No Time To Die” challenges other 007 traditions. This was highly reported on, so I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say Lashana Lynch plays 007 for the runtime, as James Bond retired at the end of “Spectre.” Instead of playing a female James Bond, Lynch plays a “by the books” agent frustrated with an older “double O” harshing her mellow. However, Lynch brings charm and competitiveness to the role challenging gender norms, playing well off Craig’s five-film portrayal. Lea Seydoux also goes against the Bond girl conventions, replacing seductress for girl-next-door and replacing… well, hopefully, you’ll get the time to find out.

With all these subverting expectations, prospective audience members may wonder whether they need to have seen the previous Bond mov-

ies to understand this one. While the length of the movie may seem unjustified if you haven’t seen the previous Craig installments, as many series-long plotlines take up time in this movie to resolve, a simple peruse of plot synopses for both “Spectre” and “Casino Royale” should catch a viewer up just fine. Having said that, I would recommend watching Casino Royale, as it’s slightly better than this most recent installment.

Not only does this finale start with an engrossing and strong prologue and end with a poignant conclusion, the Craig-Bond movies can also be said to have started strong with “Casino Royale” and ended strong with “No Time To Die.” The spy thriller is smart, entertaining, fleshed out, selfaware and emotionally satisfying.

Joseph’s Film Rating: 4.5/5

Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

6

HOMECO

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Nursing freshman Verenise Mora enjoys a game of cornhole at the Glowcade, Oct. 26.

Glowcade

WICHITAN STAFF fter a year of being sidelined by COVID-19, MSU Texas returned to Homecoming festivities for 2021 with its new theme of Hits Now! The week was highlighted by traditional favorites and new activities starting Sunday, Oct. 21 and culminating with the homecoming football game Saturday, Oct. 30.

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Lip-sync Battle

Homecoming Celebrations at Midwestern State continued with the annual Lipsync Battle at the D. Ligon Coliseum on Oct. 27th with, MSU Texas Cheer, Alpha Psi Omega, and Sigma Nu and Gamma Phi Beta emerging as finalists (in no particular order). This was MSU’s first Lipsync competition since 2019, and school spirit flooded the coliseum just as students, alumni and faculty alike packed the stands to cheer, dance to recent hits, support the performers and enjoy the homecoming fun!

“Coming back from not being able to do Lipsync in 2020, this was a great opportunity for students, especially those that didn’t get to enjoy homecoming last year. First year students got to have fun as well,” Mario Ramirez, director of Student Leadership and Involvement, said. “It went really well, we had about 450-500 students, so it was a pretty good crowd as expected. The

On Tuesday, Oct. 26 the University Planning Board hosted a Glowcade, that is, “glowing arcade,” and dance party from 8-11 p.m. at Don Flatt Gymnasium. The gym floor was littered with balloons, and game tables were spread across the room and the walls. The gymnasium transformed when UPB turned out the lights and handed glow sticks to everyone who came in, ushering them toward the dancefloor and the glow-in-the-dark games.

DJ Tito was in charge of the music and blasted the latest hits across the darkness.

“A bunch of us were brainstorming, and me and Monica were trying to think of something like a concert, and then we were thinking like ‘a glow concert,’ and then we’re thinking of having it initially outdoors, so that’s why these glow-in-the-dark games came in, but we’d have to move it indoors. It’s still gonna be rad when we turn off the lights. So it was just all of us putting in ideas,” Alisha Joshi, UPB member and finance junior, said.

Maverick’s Birthday

In celebration of 15 years since Maverick T. Mustang was unveiled to replace the Indians as the mascot of MSU Texas and as part of homecoming, a picnic was held. The campus community was invited to join the homecoming celebration and wish Maverick a happy birthday with music, cake and inflatable games.

“Honestly, I’m here for the free food, but I liked it. I

performances were great and they really stepped it up.”

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Maverick celebrates his 15th birthday with an event where students enjoy cake, music and more, Oct. 27. was here when they sang happy birthday to Maverick, and I thought it was really cute. I like [the picnic] so far,” Cinthia Duran, music education sophomore, said.

CSC Halloween Party PHOTO BY DIAMOND GAMBOA | THE WICHITAN

Chi Omega and Kappa Sigma perform together at the Lipsync Competition, Oct. 25.

Halloween is a time of year that allows people to dress up and become someone who they wouldn’t normally be. On Thursday, Oct. 28, the Clark Student Center presented a Halloween party to give that chance of dressing up and becoming unrecognizable for the students at MSU. This party included many different events that

Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

OMING 2021 the students were able to participate in. Some of these events had prizes that came with winning.

“The decorations are really nice… they really went above and beyond with thinking of the decorations,” Tasha Fields, radiological technologies sophomore, said.

The night had many events including the donut eating contest, a monster mystery contest, glow in the dark ping pong competition, wood painting, costume contest and pumpkin bowling. The students were eager to compete against one another, but in the end, only one can win. The first winner was Danya Phillip, mechanical engineering junior, who won the donut eating contest. She was followed by Krystifer Ross, zoology junior, who won the glow in the dark ping pong competition. Shortly after that, the murder mystery contest took place, leading group 1 to win.

“The murder mystery has been interesting, I would always watch criminal minds and stuff like that with

PHOTO BY KAYLA LE | THE WICHITAN

Mechanical engineering junior Jabez Mackey, radiology junior Ebany Hanna and mechanical engineering junior Miguel Bethel turn around the Caribbean Student Organization boat before finishing first in the Carboard Boat Race, Oct. 29. this year but this year we definitely made improvements and were able to make it…the construction of the boat took roughly two weeks, a week and a half for construction than the rest for decorating. Our boat held three people so we had to use more cardboard, there’s a lot that goes into it than just making a box,” Mackey said.

Torchlight Parade PHOTO BY LAUREN COLPITTS | THE WICHITAN

General business junior Daniel Gallivoda participates in the mummy wrapping contest as Micheal Myers, Oct. 28. my mom so I think it’s really fun… it’s the really hypedup part of the event,” Christa Pegram, geoscience freshman, said.

Cardboard Boat Race

In MSU homecoming tradition, the annual boat race took place at Sikes Lake Friday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. The boats are created by the organizations participating by just using cardboard and duct tape. After the construction of the boats, each organization/team chooses two people to actually compete in the race, hoping to row into first place. The Caribbean Student Organization was able to win first place. Jabez Mackey, mechanical engineering sophomore, was in the boat, but initially he was scared.

“Honestly, I was scared. because it was cold and windy like it has been lately, but once we got in and stabilized, we made some good movements,” Mackey said.

Mackey did not anticipate being able to make it as far as they did. He definitely wasn’t expecting to get first place.

“We sunk last year, and I was totally ready to sink

The night before homecoming here at MSU Texas, was a night of overwhelming anticipation and excitement. The torchlight parade consisted of a march led by band, color guard, the MSU cheer team and then the student body while holding up torches. They marched to the parking lot across the soccer practice fields and awaited the final performances of the lip sync contestants, recognized all MSU athletics and lastly, set other university shirts on fire in the towering bonfire.

“I like majority of our schools traditions I believe it brings a lot of students out of their comfort zones.I have nothing against the bonfire it’s a fun event. It feels good to be able celebrate homecoming week with the bonfire,” Cryselle Dunlap, psychology senior, said.

Faayo Shogbanmu, nursing senior, says he enjoys school traditions because he feels they bring everyone together. Due to COVID-19, Shogbanmu says he missed the homecoming activities.

“I missed being able to actually go to events with my friends and just have a good time, I think school traditions really bring everyone together and I enjoy that.

Especially since we are seniors, I even have friends graduating this semester and so it’s the last time we are going to be able to enjoy things like this together before we all go on to our future’s,” Shogbanmu said.

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PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Accounting senior Kassidy Knight is held up by cheerleaders kinesiology senior DanLee Duncan, mechanical engineering junior Robert Hollingsworth and nursing senior Ashleigh Miller as they all stand in front of the bonfire, Oct. 29.

Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

8

2021 HOMECOMING COURT

HOMECOMING QUEEN AND KING PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Interim president James Johnston and Alumni Association Board president Diann Taylor stand beside the homecoming queen and king, respiratory care senior Acelynn Medrano and management information systems senior Dallas Torres, as fireworks soar through the sky, Oct. 30.

FRESHMAN LADY AND LORD

SOPHOMORE DUCHESS AND DUKE

JUNIOR PRINCESS AND PRINCE

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

History major Madison Cook and management major Cade Strickland are the Freshman Lady and Lord for homecoming 2021, Oct. 30.

Nursing major Marilyn Amador and computer science and spanish major Ruben Gonzalez are the Sophomore Duchess and Duke for homecoming 2021, Oct. 30.

Mass communication major Sky Barron and sport and leisure studies major Hector Reyes are the Junior Princess and Prince for homecoming 2021, Oct. 30.

Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

9

MUSTANGS WIN 52-10 AGAINST WESTERN NEW MEXICO JAIME ALEMÁN REPORTER omecoming week ended with Midwestern State defeating Western New Mexico 52-10 and the crowning of Homecoming King and Queen at Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 30. The evening started with tailgating celebrations that included fraternities and sororities, other student organizations and alumni.

“Homecoming is the big event on campus.

The week of Homecoming is [as] exciting [as] the football game and wondering who is going to be crowned king and queen. The hype of Homecoming makes you want to come out and tailgate on the last day. You gotta come out,” Rey Nuñez, president of Tau Kappa Epsilon and psychology and art senior, said.

Different organizations had food, games and fun for the tailgate celebrations before the football game. Students and alumni were in the sectioned off area in the parking lot of Memorial Stadium cheering on the Mustangs.

Omega Delta Phi showed off a visual representation of the bond that ties members together with the “stroll.”

“Tailgating is so much fun because you get a chance to interact with friends and see new people, but the stroll is what we do best. We had different sororities strolling with us too.

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We had Deltas come out and stroll with us; so, it was good to see everybody out here dancing and enjoying themselves,” Jayden Johnson, Omega Delta Phi fraternity member and art senior, said.

The cheers and music continued while different organizations interacted and played games. Cornhole tournaments and music filled the atmosphere, while others socialized and got ready for the football game.

“Seeing everyone out here was the best. I got to socialize and see people playing cornhole and be with my brothers. All of us were ready for the game, but the most fun is definitely being back out and being around other students,” Nick Cerniauskas, Kappa Sigma member and criminal justice senior, said.

Midwestern State got an early start on WNMU. Quarterback Dillon Sterling-Cole (No. 6), sports administration senior, passed to Kylan Harrison (No. 17), wide receiver and sports and leisure senior, for a 73-yard touchdown on the first offensive play. On the next possession, Sterling-Cole found Ja’Juan Mason (No. 9), wide receiver and sports and leisure freshman, for a 55-yard touchdown for a 14-0 lead.

“The touchdown was good. I don’t get them too often. I loved it,” Mason said. “It was an amazing feeling to see everybody there cheer-

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Sports and leisure senior and wide receiver Kylan Harrison carries the ball as he is assisted by sports and leisure senior, wide receiver and teammate Kandin Robertson against pressure from Western New Mexico players, Oct. 30.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Head coach Bill Maskill talks to the Mustangs after their victory against Western New Mexico, Oct. 30. ing. I felt like I was at home. I’m from Allen, Texas and feel at home here at MSU. Last year homecoming didn’t happen, but homecoming this year, I loved it. The whole week was what college is supposed to be. It was great,” Mason said.

The Mustangs extended its lead to 21-0 before the end of the first quarter when SterlingCole passed to Ja’Marzeyea Arvie (No. 3), wide receiver and criminal justice sophomore, for a 4-yard touchdown. Then, an 18-play drive that lasted 8:04 for 78 yards, ended when Jalen March (No. 21), running back and education freshman, ran the ball in for 2 yards making it 28-0.

“We had a bunch of big plays and when you get big plays, you strike quick. Obviously, Jackson had a big run, March had a big run, freshman [Jayden] Moore had a big sideline pass,” Head Coach Bill Maskill, said. “It was a bunch of collective big plays and especially the big 18-play drive.”

Harrison opened the second half with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, then the Mustangs continued putting up points to build on the lead. K’Vonte Jackson (No. 1), running back and kinesiology senior, had a 72-

yard touchdown run and quarterback Neiko Hollins (No. 14), quarterback and kinesiology sophomore, found Moore for an 85-yard pass to make it 52-0 going into the fourth quarter. MSU defense made six turnovers including four fumble recoveries and interceptions

by Dylon Davis (No. 16), defensive back and criminal justice sophomore, and Khalil Finley (No. 7), cornerback and mass communication senior.

“The interception felt great because it’s good to be able to have fun and contribute to my team,” Finley said. “The atmosphere of Homecoming is the best. The energy in the stands was outstanding.”

Linebacker Justin Guillory (No. 22), nursing junior, led the Mustangs with seven tackles. Other defensive players Melik Owens (No. 4), defensive end and business management senior, and Zed Asowata (No. 90), defensive lineman and sports and leisure junior, made stops on the defensive front.

“Overall, it was a fun win for everybody: the fans and players. We wanted to be able to do what we did tonight. We said this is what we’re going to do and did it,” Maskill said.

10 Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

SPOOKY TIM FISHER SIEGLER REPORTER ccording to a 2019 survey by multinational market research group Ipsos, just under half of Americans believe in ghosts. Wichita Falls has its own ghostly rumors, such as Witch’s Gate. From an article by “106.3: The Buzz”, “ask any Wichita Falls native and the stories start spinning with tales of murder, treasure, arson, ghosts and everything in between regarding the infamous, “Witches Gate.” The Kell House Museum held haunted tours on Halloween weekend.

Texoma is no stranger to ghost stories, and neither is Midwestern State University. These are investigations into the ghostly rumors of the MSU campus.

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KILLINGSWORTH HALL GHOST Urban legend tells, as cited in this 2013 issue of The Wichitan, “rumors spread like wildfire. On-campus you will hear of the freshman haunting the halls of Killingsworth...Some say she jumped from the chapel, while others claim it was her dorm room where she plunged six stories to her untimely death,” in reference to Jennifer L. Perrin, who passed away in 1996.

While the article debunks the claims, Perrin was in fact the victim of a car accident. A tree and a plaque were planted in front of Killingsworth to honor her memory. However, even as she rests in peace, students still experience uncanny energies and bumps in the night. Sleep paralysis seemed to be a common symptom, according to the rumors. Rylee Hammond, a resident of Killingsworth Hall, doesn’t believe in the ghosts allegedly skulking about her building.

“No, I don’t think it’s haunted. I’ve lived there for a year and a half and I’ve never had any suspicious activity going on, or anything like that that I’ve noticed at least. I’ve heard of the rumors my first semester, but even watching out, I haven’t seen anything,” Rylee Hammond, physics sophomore, said.

Theatre senior Rebekah Gardner differs from Hammond. Gardner said there is no doubt Killingsworth is haunted.

“So my first semester here at MSU, I lived on the 6th floor of Killingsworth and there would be several times where I would be standing at my sink and I would see the shadow of a person walk outside of my window, and I knew it wasn’t a bird because a bird doesn’t look like a person,” Gardner said. “It was distinctly a person-shape,

and a person can’t walk past a sixth-floor window...

That’s too high up for a person.”

Gardner also witnessed the sleep paralysis suggested by the rumors. They describe the humanoid creatures that sat at the end of their bed during the episodes as “made of the spottiness that you get when you rub your eyes really hard.” Roommates Christa Pegram, geoscience freshman, and Samantha Acuña, history freshman, testify to ghostly encounters throughout nearly every floor.

“Me and my roommate are like...’ paranormal attractors.’ Spirits are attracted to us in a way... My first week being here, I just felt an odd energy,” Pegram said. “I would basically have stuff in a certain spot, and I would turn around or leave my room and I would turn back around... and it would be in a completely different spot.”

Pegram said, however, that she did not experience the sleep paralysis that was a part of the rumors. Her roommate Acuña confirmed these experiences and added her own abnormal encounters with the uncanny.

“When I first moved into Killingsworth... my roommate was Kimberly [who] wasn’t here at first, and I’ve been here since Aug. 14. She didn’t move in until around the 23rd and I would just have experiences. [For example,] my dresser would randomly throw the drawers out, and I would just randomly hear the sink turn on. I would have to go and turn it off, and then my TV would just make static sounds when I’d be playing Guitar Hero randomly,” Acuña said. “When I moved into Christa’s room, it followed me to her room at first. The drawers would be opening up and then closing, and she would be asleep, but I would still hear people talking in the room.”

Since Acuña has sleep insomnia, she said she is awake long enough to witness other bumps in the night.

She describes a backroom on the fifth floor with an unconnected television that would turn on to a static screen, even though the remote control was hung up on the wall with no one to touch it. Acuña described the energy as a collective force: ghosts, rather than a ghost.

She described “shadows walking at night” at the fountain in front of Centennial Hall and similar odd experiences to Killingsworth in the next-door building, Pierce Hall.

“I don’t think people have died within the school, it’s more like maybe there were past events before the school was even built that it just kind of stuck around and something triggered it,” Acuña said.

Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

MES AT MSU THE HAUNTED THEATRE Mark A. Robinson of Broadway Direct writes, “Theater people also like their superstitions and traditions.”

They have complex rituals, wish each other well with “break a leg,” and are wary of mentioning the Scottish play by name. Steven Kitner, theatre senior, said no one should be told about the theatre ghost unless they are a theatre major, not even a minor will permit. The consensus seems to be that the theatre is haunted by a spirit named “Brooks.”

“Brooks is 100% real. There’s a few times I’ve been in the cuts. There’s just been some noises and flickering of lights and things,” Reagan Whiteley, theatre junior, said.

Theatre senior Rachel Masters relays a story where she heard growling behind her when nobody was there and cites a sighting of Brooks in the rafters. “...something [was] moving up there, and I’d be like ‘hey Ron, peace-up, is that you?’ No. And nobody said anything, so I’m assuming it was Brooks,” Masters said.

The aforementioned Ron Harle, theatre graduate, found a playbill for a 1980s production of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap” with Brooks’ name listed for the set crew. Harle found this during the 2019 MSU production of the same show.

“Whatever you feel about ghosts, that’s up to you, but there have been people who have felt like they have been pushed [while] up in the cuts, and it felt as if they had been touched in different places and spaces in the theatre,” Harle said. “There was a former student here who graduated a couple years ago. He was up hanging lights one day and he was walking through the hallway and felt as if somebody rushed past him.”

Harle said that it would be unlikely for it to be a breeze since the air gets hot and stagnant in the cuts.

He also said that one of the doors slammed shut with significant force. Harle admitted to feeling like someone else was there even when he knew he was the only one in the building.

“That’s one of the stories that I know of. And weird things that happen, bumps in the night, that occur here are attributed to Brooks,” Harle said. “And sometimes weird things happen or we need extra help, so we’re just like ‘hey Brooks, could you give us a hand?’”

One such bump in the night comes from Professor of Communication Sandra Grant. Grant is in tune with the ghostly rumors on campus. Grant said she heard

strange noises despite being alone.

“It was around midnight or so. I was working on something in my office and there were theatre people.

They were just running around being silly. And I finally said, ‘you guys! It’s midnight, go home!’ [and] I heard them leave,” Grant said. “So I’m in my office and above my head, I hear...furniture moving. I thought, ‘really funny.’ I came around to the staircase that went upstairs... and I thought I would kinda scare them. I start tiptoeing up the stairs and laughing as I go. I turn to look around the corner. I scream ‘boo!’ Nobody’s up there. I thought ‘okay, so they sneaked down and got away from me.’ I came back downstairs. Nobody’s here.”

Grant also described a situation two years later wherein she came into the theatre’s greenroom to chat with a maintenance person who was on a break. The maintenance person, whom Grant said had no knowledge of her own experience, asked if Grant heard “weird noises” in the building.

“I said ‘well, there’s a lot of open spaces and it’s just a weird-sounding building. He said ‘yeah, but the other night, I was sitting right here and I heard the strangest thing. It sounded like furniture was moving,’” Grant said. “I’m sure it meant nothing, but it’s a lot more fun to think that it’s real.”

Grant confirmed that Brooks was a real person.

Grant heard the story from Laura Jefferson, who was chair of the theatre department from 1985-2013 and left the school in 2015, according to MSU’s Faculty and Staff website. Also according to Grant, Brooks was a theatre student who had died and wanted his ashes spread across the theatre.

Grant said, “They had a dinner, got together, very serious thing. They had a ceremony with the ashes, and they spread them. And she said, what they didn’t spread, they left downstairs in storage. So I have no idea if it’s still down there.”

Although Grant never said the cause of death, Harle and Gardner both said Brooks died from an AIDS-related illness. The 1980s would have been the height of the AIDS epidemic. According to Gardner, Brooks is a friendly ghost.

“There have been students who have claimed anytime that they’ve practiced monologues or something while alone in the theatre, they start to smell flowers,” Gardner said. “...as if it’s Brookes throwing flowers on the stage.”

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12 Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

FIRST IMPRESSIONS MATTER

MSU’s 2022 Quality Enhancement Plan focuses on first-year students EMILY BEAMAN NEWS EDITOR SU’s next reaccreditation is coming up in 2022 along with major plans to advance the university. SACSCOC, the reaccreditation agency for MSU, requires every institution to provide a Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) for the university to enhance its student’s experiences. The previous QEP that MSU implemented was EURECA, which focused on undergraduate research. The QEP that will reach MSU students in 2022 focuses on a different area of student necessity.

“The [QEP] that was selected and moves from the topic selection committee now to the implementation committee is around a comprehensive first-year experience,” Interim President James Johnston said.

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The Selection Process

MSU began working on plans for the 2022 QEP only a year ago. The first step was to identify the topic, which is a difficult process since there are many issues to sort through. Martin Camacho, interim provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, who also serves as the Chair of the QEP Identification Committee, spoke about what his team was looking for in a topic. “[We need to] focus on one issue that will provide enough support, time, [and] resources to make sure that [we] improve a student’s success... What’s the one thing we should do better,” Camacho said. “As opposed to just coming up with anecdotal stories, we wanted to look at information. So we looked at a huge number of surveys that we have in our possession... and

then we start to formulate a picture as to what is the most urgent.”

The committee first drew up seven proposals based on the original information gathered and narrowed those down to four. Those four were discussed by the president’s cabinet and narrowed down to two finalists. The Student Government Association analyzed the final two proposals, and after discussing them with the faculty and staff senates, made the final decision.

“There was a topic that came up about liberal arts inaction. I thought it was really good also.

We need this, this is also a great idea,” Johnston said. “After going through the process, the comprehensive first-year experience (FYE) was the one selected.”

Focusing On First-Years

This next year’s QEP will focus on creating an FYE for all freshman and/or first-year students with an emphasis on a liberal arts aspect. This is a core ideal of MSU and the QEP board hopes the new plan will help students understand its importance and value.

“Part of our guiding principle as an institution is thinking about the value of a liberal arts education and aligning it, or showing, how training the liberal arts means that our graduates are trained in critical thinking, effective communication, teamwork, and sense of community,” Kristen Garrison, associate vice president of Academic Affairs and chair of QEP Planning and Implementation Committee, said.

The next step is to begin the planning and implementation of the QEP. This task has been

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

delegated to a newly-formed committee that plans to present their final recommendations in early March.

“Our task is to come up with the outcomes, what we want students to gain, how do we deliver it, how do we make responsible use of our resources and how do we assess it to make sure it’s achieving what we want it to achieve,” Garrison said.

After the final proposal and reaccreditation in the spring, a pilot will be run in the fall. From there, adjustments will be made based on weaknesses or gaps the committees hadn’t anticipated before the official launch for students starting in the fall of 2023.

“So there’s needs of our students to be successful outside the classroom but within the university. I think this comprehensive first-year experience connects our students to each other and connects them to their courses of study to the university and gives them the skills they will need to succeed. That’s the big picture of what we need this thing to accomplish,” Johnston said.

Garrison said the main goal her committee is aiming to accomplish is to help the students.

They want to create a plan that will give MSU students the right kinds of experiences and skills to finish their studies and enjoy their time in college while remaining representative of the whole community.

“The important thing to know about the QEP is that even though there’s a committee working on the details... that committee represents the campus community,” Garrison said. “The final plan is going to represent the whole. It’s meant to serve our entire campus community.”

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE ROBLEDO | THE WICHITAN

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Business freshman and setter Regan Willms serves as her team claps to encourage her, Sept. 11.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Mechanical engineering freshman Micheal Morrell begins Nursing sophomore Dagmawit Getaneh and nursing Education freshman and running back Jalen March avoids to slip off a mechanical bull set up at Maverick’s birthday freshman Amerti Gonfa create sculptures at WFMA opposing Eastern New Mexico players while taking the party, Oct. 27.

Community Project: Día de Los Muertos, Oct. 7. ball down field, Sept. 25.

Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

13

PHI LIP AL L E N

THENEWESTFACEINTHEFOREIGNLANGUAGES&CULTUREDEPARTMENT the university and Wichita Falls, the more I started getting excited about it and wanted to submit an application and see if Midwestern was interested and luckily, they were,” Allen said. “The first thing that I am going to be able to do is next semester, I will be doing a class over advanced oral expression, what that means is that there will be no written exams. I have the freedom to actually take away written exams. It’s a conversational class – all the exams will be oral exams…that’s something that at my previous university I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do.”

Allen is already getting started with allowing PHOTO BY OMAR COMBIE | THE WICHITAN students to practice SpanPhilip Allen, Spanish professor, is the newest edition to the ish by hosting a weekly Foreign Languages & Culture department, Sept. 24. conversational table every Wednesday in BW127 THALIA DOE from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Allen wants people to be FEATURE/SPORTS EDITOR able to not just learn Spanish in the classroom ormer professor at Pennsylvania State but also use it in the real world.

University, Philip Allen is the newest edi“Anybody at the university or faculty, even tion to the Foreign Languages & Culture if you aren’t a student but a member of this department. community who would like to come and speak “We found each other at the time I was acSpanish for an hour and work on their oral extually looking for jobs in a warmer climate, ecution, is welcomed to come by and speak with because I was in Pennsylvania and it was just me and other students that come and stop by as literally freezing all the time. I know that that’s well,” Allen said. a personal reason to look for another job but The idea stems from wanting people to feel furthermore, I was looking for a job that would more comfortable with speaking Spanish, espegive me a little more freedom in regard to pre- cially when interacting with others. Something paring my own classes. The university I was at that concerns Allen the most is among Spanbefore they already had everything set in place, ish majors, not just at MSU but universities all and they knew exactly where they wanted each over, is that students still feel timid to speak of their professors and faculty to be,” Allen Spanish. said.

“They go on their study abroad and don’t Allen says that he wanted to be allowed to be put themselves out there as much as I think creative. He wanted to use his creativity more they should. They hold back a lot and I’ve seen in the classroom by the way he prepares his les- that on multiple study abroad trips that I’ve sons, teaches them and even materials brought gone with students. For example, we had stuinto the room. Now allowed more space to be dents at a university in Salamanca, Spain meet creative, Allen will begin a new course starting with our American students at a coffee shop in the spring semester that focuses on the ad- and made them sit down with one another and vanced conversation in Spanish. have a conversation in either English or Span“I was looking at my possibilities and saw ish,” Allen said. “Every five minutes, they had the Midwestern State advertisement and the to switch the language of the conversation to more I started looking into the department and the other. By that, we were able to show them

that it’s not that scary and that yes, mistakes will happen, but people make mistakes learning your language too. It breaks the ice and helps them learn and appreciate the language more and use it in the real world.”

Allen speaks Spanish fluently and said not to get him confused with a Spaniard although his accent would determine that he is Spanish – Allen is far from it. Allen is originally from a small town in Kentucky.

“I grew up around Spanish. I was really close to a military base and we had a big multicultural community and there was even a factory in town that was originally from Spain. We had so many people from Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Germany [and] Japan in this really small area and were all just tossed into this diverse culture mix,” Allen said. “When I attended the University of Florida to receive my master’s and Ph.D. in Spanish Literature and Cultures, being close to the Caribbean, I really fell in love with countries such as Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. That’s actually one of my top priorities right now is to travel to at least one of those countries then continue into

Latin America since I’ve only ever traveled to Spain.”

In five years, Allen is hoping he is still at Midwestern. Along with having a regular class rotation such as every two years he does a class with oral expression and the other two years a class over composition. Allen also wishes to extend Spanish beyond the classroom – Allen believes as much as Spanish is under ‘world languages’ that it shouldn’t be treated as such.

“I am hoping to prepare myself to really plant my roots here by going up for tenure in the next five or six years and heavily involved in student organizations such as Spanish club, the conversation table and have more outreach with the Wichita Falls community,” Allen said.

“I do think that as much as we are the world languages and cultures, by no means should Spanish be a foreign language in this country.

I want the Spanish and cultural skills we are learning here to extend into the community and work with museums and The Wichitan and getting more integrated in general with the community and our Spanish speaking neighbors.”

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PHOTO BY OMAR COMBIE | THE WICHITAN

(Left to Right) Assistant Professor of French Eric Lynch, Assistant Professor of Spanish Philip Allen, Professor of Spanish Roberto Fuertes, Chair of Foriegn Languages and Culture Department Jeffery Oxford, Professor of Spanish Claudia Montoya, Instructor of Spanish Sarah Butler and Assistant Professor of German Kyung Lee Gagum, Sept. 24.

14 Nov. 3, 2021 Campus Voices | Priddy vs Redwine | Entertainment | Homecoming | Ghost Stories | QEP | Stang Stories | LGBTQ+

MSU CELEBRATES LGBTQ+ HISTORY MONTH

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Drag queen Skarlett performs to “I Believe in a Thing Called Love” by the Darkness Drag queen Tiffany gives a lap dance to counseling center assistant director Zachary at the Dragged to Hell show, Oct. 22.

Zoet during the former’s performance to Meredith Brooks’ “Bitch,” Oct. 22.

STEPHANIE ROBLEDO MANAGING EDITOR GBTQ+ History Month is a month-long celebration in October that honors the history of the LGBTQ+ community. MSU MOSAIC and PRIDE teamed together by hosting events throughout October to bring awareness to some of the histories.

“I believe just like any observances or community, I think it’s important to highlight any community. October was LGBTQ+ History Month and so it’s really a highlight essentially that month of history, of everything that has happened civil rights wise for the LGBTQ+ community. I believe it was very important for us to highlight that,” Ruby Garrett, assistant director of MOSAIC Cross-Cultural Center, said.

LGBTQ+ History Month and Pride Month are not the same. Pride Month celebrates individuals part of the LGBTQ+ community while LGBTQ+ History Month highlights the history and achievement of the LGBTQ+ community.

“It’s pretty important to celebrate [LGBTQ+ History Month] because it gives us the space to talk about the history. Pride of course you can still talk about the history and I definitely think you should. Pride Month is definitely more celebratory, it’s quite frankly more fun because LGBTQ history can be quite depressing, so I do think it’s important to have those separate months to have like those separate spaces for both education and celebration,” Bella Muniz, community service chair of PRIDE, LGBTQ+ Student Council and English sophomore, said.

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This was the first time the MOSAIC office had celebrated LGBTQ+ History Month. Garrett said that when MOSAIC was looking at the different observances that are celebrated they had PRIDE month in June but not a lot of students were on campus which is why they wanted to highlight October.

“I think [LGBTQ+ History Month] has delivered a more inviting community on campus. I think actually having a month and partnering up with PRIDE and other faculty and staff that wanted to participate in the committee...created a more welcoming environment,” Garrett said.

The creation of the events for this month created a more welcoming environment on campus. It was also an opportunity to learn. Ezryn Champagne, president of PRIDE and computer science senior, remembers a moment they shared with an attendee to the PRIDE Drag Show.

“At the drag show...I was talking to this guy and he was talking to me about...he’d see RuPaul’s Drag Race...but he’d never seen drag in person and he was just so intrigued by it. We talked for a while about LGBT stuff because he was just very curious about it,” Ezryn Champagne, president of PRIDE and computer science senior, said. “I think celebrating these things on campus where it’s already a learning environment just creates an environment where people can learn more about people who aren’t like them.”

The events for LGBTQ+ History Month cre-

ated a welcoming environment on campus and allowed for those on campus to learn, but it also opened its doors to those off-campus. The PRIDE Drag Show attracted not only students but people from the Wichita Falls community.

“I think it’s very important for various people to be at those events because I saw so many different people from the general community of Wichita Falls come to the drag show especially that I was not expecting to be there,” River Adams, PRIDE secretary and criminal justice junior, said.

Adams is from Wichita Falls and had never attended a drag show. They were expecting students that they knew are part of the LGBTQ+ community to attend the drag show, which they did, but other individuals from different backgrounds attended as well.

“We just had a drag show. It was very good; it was very fun. It was my first actual drag show that I have been to because I grew up around this area and we don’t have stuff like that here,” Adams said.

The PRIDE Drag Show was the last event for MSU’s LGBTQ+ History Month celebration.

The month began with a booth that had informational handouts and calendars. Other events were safe zone training, a self-portrait party that celebrated both LGBTQ+ History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, a movie night with the movie Disclosure and trivia.

“I think like in every observant, people always think about one month and that’s it, but just like Hispanic Heritage Month, Black His-

tory Month, LGBTQ+ History Month, you don’t stop being who you are. We don’t just observe it just one month...we continue promoting the community and finding a safe space...We don’t just stop with one month, we continue,” Garrett said.

PHOTO BY COLIN STEVENSON | THE WICHITAN

Drag queen Rose Anne dramatically poses during her performance to “Bury a Friend” by Billie Eilish at the Dragged to Hell show, Oct. 22.