Jan.21, 2015

Jan. 21, 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 79 No. 15

HOMETOWN BOY

PHOTO BY LAUREN ROBERTS | THE WICHITAN

Chief of Campus Police Dan Williams talks with emergency personnel after a bomb threat led to the evacuation of the campus Dec. 8, 2014.

Better safe than sorry

President ‘errs on side of caution’ in bomb threat ETHAN METCALF EDITOR

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n response to an unsubstantiated bomb threat, a campus-wide evacuation was ordered Dec. 8 at 9:45 a.m., interrupting finals and forcing students to leave campus for shelter off-campus.

Dan Williams, chief of campus police, said University President Jesse Rogers wanted to err on the side of caution in ordering the evacuation.

“We just didn’t have enough to determine if it was a credible threat,” Williams said.

Compared to last year’s shooting threat, which did not result in an evacuation or school cancellation, Williams

Cyclist Goes Elite

said he and administrators had much less time to react to the threat.

“The first one came in on a Sunday night so we had nine to 10 hours to begin investigating to determine if we should cancel school or not,” Williams said.

“This one came in earlier than classes, but we didn’t see it until 9:30 a.m. That’s why the call to evacuate was made.”

Palmer Buck, Austin Fire Department battalion chief in charge of special operations, said making the decision to evacuate for a bomb threat can be difficult because of the risks that come with a mass evacuation.

“That’s a very tough decision for the educators to make. We’ve done it both

pg. 3

MSU cyclist Hannah Ross signs contract with elite team to spend summer racing around Europe.

ways here. The University of Texas has had a couple of bomb threats, and one time they set off the sirens and did an entire campus-wide evacuation, and what we saw was what we expected to see, which was several wrecks and a lot of people panicking and walking through different areas without complete containment,” Buck said. “We did a lot more harm than good if we had sat in place or done some sort of methodical evacuation. But in the same point, you’re going to be roasted alive if you get a bomb threat, you don’t act on it and something does go off. So you really are between a

Textbook Search

see BOMB pg. 6

pg. 5

Price biggest motivator in students’ search for affordable textbooks.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED BY ELLYN SNIDER, THE DAILY TEXAN, USED WITH PERMISSION , ©2015

Wichita Falls native Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, rides in the inaugural parade Jan. 20. Abbott is the second Texas governor from Wichita Falls, after James Allred, who was elected in 1935.

Greek Cuisine

pg. 7

Mediterranean restaurant has fair prices, but room for improvement.

2 | Jan. 21, 2015 |

STAF F E D I T O RI A L

Integrity at stake

Our view: The toothless tobacco-free campus policy damages the integrity of the university and its administrators. The policy needs to be made enforceable or eliminated altogether.

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e agree that the smoking policy is in serious need of revision. If campus constituents want a ban on tobacco products, then the policy should be updated to be enforceable.

Whether for or against a ban on smoking, one thing is clear: The policy, in its current state, harms the integrity of the university.

We in the news business know that credibility is everything.

Even a misspelled name or typo causes readers to question just about everything else we publish, and this toothless policy and the “tobacco-free campus” signs do the same.

In essence, this broken policy sends the message that administrators will pass policies they either do not believe in, or have no interest in enforcing.

Harsh ban unfair to smokers The continuous struggle to help campus become “healthier” by eliminating smoking from campus could do more harm than good. The new plan is offering soluCourtney Gilder tions to those that don’t want smoking, but leaves out a compromise for those that would like to continue smoking.

If the new plan is going to make students quit smoking for fear of tickets, then there should be a location to allow smokers to continue smoking. One solution is to make smokers cross Taft Boulevard towards the churches to avoid tickets. This could potentially cause more harm than good.

The Centers for Disease Control estimates that there is one crash-related pedestrian death every two hours and a pedestrian injury every seven minutes.

In an eight hour school day this proposal puts 68 people in danger of being injured and 8 in danger of dying.

Safety precautions would need to be put into place to curb the possibility of a pedestrian accident. According to the CDC, since 1964 only 2.5 million nonsmokers have died from exposure to secondhand smoke nationwide.

Another argument presented is the lack of smokers on campus would add to the “beauty” of campus by the lack of trash. But there would still be trash bigger than the 2 ¾ inch cigarette on the ground. There are no littering citations around campus. There “teeth” could be added to this before making people quit smoking.

Students won’t pay these tickets any more than they pay the $20 parking tickets. There would have to be an appeal process in place just like parking.

A majority of these tickets end up on the ground due to wind anyways. That is just one more piece of trash on the campus instead of fixing what “beauty” problems the campus always has.

Courtney Gilder is a junior in mass communication.

the

wichitan Vo. 79 | No. 15

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

Tobacco ban needs a boost Campus would be healthier, cleaner Smoking on our campus is a problem that must be addressed.

While students attempted to make the university a tobaccofree campus in 2009, the policy is practically impossible to enforce.

If we want to cut down smoking on campus, we need to give the Marco Torres policy some teeth.

That is why I propose we give campus police the authority to issue $25 citations to students in violation of the smoking policy. Citations for each and every violation will be charged to the students’ account, similar to parking tickets. Students could be prevented from registering for classes until resolving the fine either through payment or appeal.

When I was elected as a class senator last May, I told myself that I am going to change our school for the better. Now, as chairman of the Campus Culture Committee, I found a way to make our campus healthier while also improving its image.

It is time that we get some real backing to this policy and begin to enforce it.

On any given day we can clearly see student smokers violating the tobacco-free campus policy, but under the policy there is little that can be done. The student handbook does list guidelines on actions that can be taken against violators of the ban, but making the enforcement of the policy “the responsibility of all students, faculty, staff, and campus visitors” deflates the policy’s authority. So not only has this been proven to be highly ineffective, but it creates the potential for confrontation between students.

In addition to these problems, this hard-to-enforce policy discredits the integrity of our school.

The “tobacco-free campus” signs on campus only send the message that administrators are happy to pass policies they have no intention of enforcing.

When I had a booth set up in the student center, I asked students if they had any issues with anything on our campus. Smoking was one of the biggest concerns I received.

I realize that smoking is addictive, and asking students to stop cold turkey would be absurd. That is why monies collected from the citations will be given to the student health center for smoking cessation programs and nicotine patches.

Student smokers may think that is unfair, but the policy change I am proposing would also af-

EDITOR: Ethan Metcalf BUSINESS MANAGER: Courtney Gilder PHOTOGRAPHER: Rachel Johnson DESIGNER: Brianna Sheen ADVISER: Bradley Wilson

Cigarettes don’t kill people.

Cigarettes with guns kill people. fect staff and faculty. It is highly hypocritical to see employees of the university in violation of the policy. Faculty and staff should lead by example, so they too will not be exempt.

So far, feedback from students, staff and faculty has been overwhelmingly in support of this idea.

This will be an awesome opportunity for MSU to stay ahead of the curve. I’m not asking people to quit smoking altogether, I’m making them stop smoking on our campus.

Now is the time to improve our integrity and become a university of our word.

Marco Torres is a senior in psychology.

Copyright © 2014. 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.

Cyclist signs contract with European team MIGUEL JAIME REPORTER

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s a young child growing up in Pocatello, Idaho, Hannah Ross spent most of her days in a swimming pool. After first jumping in the pool, Ross dreamt of nothing else other than becoming a professional swimmer.

“My parents loved swimming so that’s how I got in it. My parents basically put me in the water while I was 1 and then I started the swim team when I was 6. So I swam competitively since I was 6,” Ross, graduate student in exercise physiology, said.

| Jan. 21, 2015 | 3

And for the next 18 years, Ross worked on being competitive, swimming and cycling. In November, she signed a one-year contract with EUregio Ladies Cycling Team, based in the Netherlands. But this wasn’t her first attempt at becoming a professional athlete.

THE EARLY YEARS

She went on to swim collegiately as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin. During that time she participated in Olympic trials for swimming and placed eighth.

“I race because I’m competitive. I love it. I was so competitive that I always wanted to be doing something, racing something, everything. I hate whenever people play volleyball and don’t take score. It just drives me nuts. And so I just like the aspect of racing and pushing myself really hard,” Ross said.

Her competitive nature led her to pursue another professional career, a pro-triathlete. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 2013, she dedicated a year to becoming a triathlete. Multiple injuries ended that dream sooner than she expected. But even that didn’t stop her.

“So I never got to think about how bad it really sucked to be injured because when I rode my bike it didn’t hurt. Even walking at certain point’s hurt, but when I got on my bike it didn’t hurt. You know I think that was just kind of a gateway for me. So that’s what kept me going.”

“My goal was to go to the Olympics for swimming, and I got really close to that goal, but I was never really able to attain that goal. So I really want to go to the Olympics in cycling, whether it is track or road. That would be my dream.”

CYCLING COMPETITIVELY

Ross first got started in cycling last year when her triathlon Coach from Utah, Sarah Dunlap, suggested she train with cyclist to prepare for triathlons.

“Finding cycling is how I kept going. I got really down about not being able to run and things just kept getting better and better for cycling,” Ross said.

It wasn’t until last July that she chose to do cycling full time. Before she was training for three sports and only cycled three times out of the week. Now the 23-year-old, 5’9, 150-pound rider trains every day. Some days she trains for four hours, other days she trains for two hours, 20 or more hours a week.

“Just balancing school, my job, and training. It gets busy at times, so just always making sure you stay focus is an obstacle.”

After committing to cycling, Ross

Hannah Ross.

PHOTOS BY LAUREN ROBERTS | THE WICHITAN

Hannah Ross, exercise physiology graduate student, rides in the Hotter ‘N Hell crit races Aug. 22, 2014. said she decided to come to MSU to further pursue her cycling career. She first heard about MSU at a cycling event this summer and met one of the girls that cycle for MSU. She then contacted the director and got in the graduate program in exercise physiology on a cycling scholarship.

“Getting a scholarship to come here that was big for me because I wanted to continue my education, and the ability to be able to basically do the same thing with swimming but with cycling was a huge opportunity,” Ross said.

This was an opportunity that Ross took not only at a collegiate level, but a professional level as well.

“Coach contacts me and says hey there’s a team that has an opening spot, like you need to send out your cycling resume. And I was like okay. And he says there is like no guarantee; you know it’s a shot in the dark. I emailed them my resume and they said they would get back to me in a few weeks because they didn’t know if they could get another foreign rider on the team. They actually got back to me the next day and said they wanted me on the team. So I kind of just jumped on the gun, and was like yeah let’s do it. So then I decided I was going to Europe and it’s I don’t know, exciting,” Ross said.

The contract that Ross signed a few weeks ago to EUregio Ladies Cycling Team, which is based out of the Netherlands, lasts one year and begins in January. Since she is obligated to race with MSU, she won’t be leaving until May after collegiate nationals. She will come back before school starts next fall due to her commitments to MSU’s collegiate cycling team and her desire to finish her master’s degree.

“My racing resume is not that big, but my power numbers is what kind of got me on the team and my background of going from Olympic level swimmer to pro-triathlete in a year, to being a competitive cyclist. So just my background in athletics and my experience of already being on a world level of swimming. I’m a really young cyclist in experience,

see CYCLING pg. 5

4 | Jan. 21, 2015 | BE-YAWN-CÉ

2013 FILE PHOTO BY BRIANDA MORALES | THE WICHITAN

Janel Campbell, nursing junior, stands in front of the “Bucky,” a machine that takes chest xrays, while Heather Owens, radiology senior, prepares the machine for use.

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Four students under hypnosis Tuesday night were told they are Beyoncé and her three backup dancers who must perform for the other students under hypnosis who believe they are VIPs at her concert. The University Planning Board brought hypnotist David Hall as part of Stampede Week in the Clark Student Center. Nearly 200 students were in attendance.

WELCOME BACK

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

About 40 students came to get food Tuesday night at the Welcome Back Dinner Reception for the Student Government Association in the Clark Student Center.

Wilson School of Nursing receives $115K grant COURTNEY GILDER BUSINESS MANAGER

T

he Wilson School of Nursing received a $115,317 grant from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board under the Nursing Innovation Grant Program “Building Lab and Simulation Capacity” to the develop the simulation center to maximize on the capacity and use of the simulation center for the nursing pre-licensure program.

Kathleen Williamson, chair of the Wilson School of Nursing said, “We plan on using it to help us create more of a multi-purpose room within the simulation center to be able be used for a multitude of different simulation and learning activities for students” “The goal is to expand our hours to be able to accommodate more students,” Kathleen Williamson, chair of the Wilson School of Nursing said.

One of the goals for the grant is to get equipment for medication administration and purchase computers on wheels to be able to chart medications.

“We can use a lot of the equipment to simulate more opportunities for students to engage in all the activities that the nurses would at the hospital,” Williamson said.

Students will use the equipment during classroom hours and also practice hours that are expanding from the current 40 hours a week to 50 hours a week, giving students more chances to get the same hands-on experience that students

2013 FILE PHOTO BY BRIANDA MORALES | THE WICHITAN

Heather Owens, radiology senior, prepares Janel Campbell, nursing junior, to get an xray of her knee using the x-ray tube. would receive in a hospital setting.

“The idea is to increase more time in the simulation center. For example, there are some programs here like mental health and community that we do not do any simulation with,” Williamson said.

“The idea is to bring more of those type of scenarios to the simulation center and have the students go through them so they are not cold walking into a home to care for someone.”

Faculty members submitted the grant proposal, CONNECTS: Capacity Optimized Neural Network Extending Clinical Theory, and Skills, last October to gain a grant to update the J.S. Bridwell Regional Simulation Center, a 13,000 square-foot facility that has been transformed from an old out-patient surgical hospital to house classrooms, meeting rooms, offices and a bay area for students to utilize.

Students weigh convenience, cost when buying textbooks

F

Where do you get your textbooks?

“You can go to school and pursue a higher education while still being able to be a professional cyclist.”

HANNAH ROSS EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT

BRI SHEEN DESIGNER

or many students, the campus bookstore is the first stop when looking for their required books and materials. Even before they visit the store’s physical location in the Clark Student Center, students are directed to buy books from the campus bookstore as soon as they register for classes online. For these reasons the bookstore, run by Follett, is considered the most convenient, but usually the most costly, option.

Students can rent or buy from the bookstore website or shop in person.

Shipping to the bookstore is free and students receive an email when their books are ready to be picked up. At the end of the semester, students just have to turn any rentals back in at the bookstore.

Renting through the campus bookstore also eliminates a lot of the risk involved with using other companies. If for some reason a student realizes they don’t need their book or their professor changes the required book, the student could lose money. This isn’t the case at the campus store, according to bookstore manager Jenny Denning.

“If they bought that book from us, we’re going to take care of them immediately. We’re going to get that different book in quickly and get them ready to go for class. If we made a mistake, we’re going to give them a refund immediately. We’re going to take care of them right now,” Denning said.

However, for students like Tinashe Maisiri, business junior, buying books was more a matter of convenience than customer service.

“I go to the bookstore just because of convenience,” Maisiri said.

Yet despite these conveniences, many students still turn to cheaper alternatives online from websites like Amazon or Chegg. Chegg even makes the return process simple by giving their customers a prepaid shipping label to use when

| Jan. 21, 2015 | 5

CYCLING pg. 3

2012 FILE PHOTO BY JACQUELINE GOBER | THE WICHITAN

Students wait anxiously in line to buy their books on Sep. 4, 2012. sending their books back at the end of the semester.

“I rent them [textbooks] from Chegg.

Sometimes from the bookstore, but only if it’s cheaper,” Camisha Johnson, international studies junior, said.

Like Johnson, many students’ main concern when shopping for books is price, causing bookstores and publishers to offer exclusive study resources, online tutoring, and supplemental material to entice cash-strapped scholars into buying their products.

In recent years, more students have turned to illegally downloading their books or photocopying a friend’s book.

Downloading a textbook without paying for it is just as illegal as stealing the book off the bookstore’s shelf, but a July 2014 study by the Book Industry Study Group said more than a quarter of surveyed students admitted to illegally downloading books, or knowing someone who has, up 8 percent from the previous year.

In a more offensive effort to compete last September, Follett threatened to sue a start-up called Texts.com over their Google Chrome plug-in OccupyTheBookstore. The tool allows students to compare prices for textbooks on their campus bookstore’s website to sites like

“I like using slugbooks. com because it compares all the prices for the books, that way I can find the cheapest one.”

Bev Rosa Nursing freshman

Amazon, Chegg, and SlugBooks without ever leaving their bookstore’s site. Follett previously had an advantage over these discounted sites because students were easily directed to the bookstore’s site.

If they wanted to check prices at other vendors, they would have to search on their own. Now, with this plug-in, students can view a variety of options from the moment they see their required books.

For now, the campus bookstore is still very successful, according to Denning.

“We had a great fall. We had a good increase but of course any time that there’s an increase in enrollment, a lot of new freshmen, we’re going to have an increase,” Denning said.

As the textbook industry continues to change according to the demands of the student, retail college booksellers like Follett will also have to rethink their niche.

“That’s why at the bookstore, we’re not just textbooks. We offer so many more services, so many more options,” Denning said. “You’ve got to change with what your customer wants and how they want to receive their merchandise.”

but I have experience of racing on a world class level, so I’m not really afraid to go for things.”

A lot of her races will be in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium, but they will be going all over Europe because they will participate in a couple of world cups.

“This is an initial investment for me because this is my first year doing it. So I’m just kind of hoping to get my foot in the door, and then hopefully there on be able to become a salary rider.”

“I guess the funny thing is seeing where I’ve come in such a short period because my first cycling race I showed up in a triathlon kit and that’s illegal in a cycling race. And I remember all the girls looking at me and being all scared because they had to race me and thought that I was basically going to take everyone out or like hurt them by not being able to control my bike because I’m a tri-athlete.”

Ross will have to fund her flight over to Europe and back, and the food for her off days. To help raise money for her trip, Ross tutors students at the academic student center in anatomy and physiology. She also created a fundraising campaign so people can help her accomplish her dreams.

SUPPORTERS

“I use chegg.com to rent my books.

It’s cheap and I got one of my books for $40.”

Ben Massey Biology freshman

“There have been a lot of people that helped me along the way. My parents are definitely my number one supporters, and the MSU cycling team, the sup-

port they give us is awesome. You need to be thankful for everything that has been given to you. You know there is a lot of support that goes into being a cyclist and you cant do it alone, so always being thankful for those that are helping you along the way. Never forget to say thank you to someone that helps you and let them know that you really appreciate them because some people get lost along the way and expect people to do things for them, and you lose that support when that happens.”

“One thing that I’m really big on is that a lot of cyclist don’t think they can go professional and go to school, so I really want to advocate that you can go to school and pursue a higher education while still being able to be a professional cyclist.”

Although she is still pursuing her education, this next step in cycling brings Ross closer to her dream of making it to the Olympics.

“I mean im getting closer. I’m still really far away but the opportunities available there are huge.”

When asked how others can follow in her footsteps, Ross said, “Just keep going.

Keep working hard, that’s what you got to do. It’s all about hard work. And eventually you put in the time and the heart; I believe you can make something happen. Don’t let your dreams go. Some dreams may never be what you expect. Some dreams don’t work out, but always have a dream and pursue it.”

“I’m not really afraid to go for things.”

HANNAH ROSS EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY GRADUATE STUDENT

6 | Jan. 21, 2015 |

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Bob Brotherton, sitting judge in Wichita Falls’ 30th District Court, leads a study session for a Criminal Justice class on Nov. 10 in the Martin Building.

Wichita County District Judge: from the bench to the classroom MATTHEW SWIGER REPORTER

I

t is easy to find professors at Midwestern State University who now teach in the field they once worked, but it is much harder to find professors who still work in the field they teach. However, the Criminal Justice Department is home to one such individual.

Judge Bob Brotherton is the sitting judge in Wichita County’s 30th District Court, but Brotherton is also an adjunct professor who teaches a night class, and he has been doing so for nearly 10 years.

The typical work of a judge consists of copious amounts of paperwork and cases to deal with, so Brotherton is already swamped with work, but, surprisingly, he said teaching does not add to his busy schedule.

“Teaching is actually a stress reliever for me,” Brotherton said. “I prepare for class around my judicial duties.”

Along with his own experience, Brotherton brings a guest speaker to each class to share their experience in the courtroom and legal departments.

The most notable speaker this semester was Wichita County District Attorney Maureen Shelton. She not only offered students a way of understanding what goes on in the District Attorney’s office, but an example of success found from Midwestern.

Shelton was once a student of Midwestern State University. She was an instructor here as well, and according to the Judge, she was the reason he gained an interest in teaching.

“She would invite me to speak to her class once a semester,” Brotherton said, “That got me interested [in teaching].”

Brotherton said he hopes the lectures are more impactful on students as they do not rely solely on the books to teach.

“We try to bring our experience to illustrate how things actually work in day-to-day practice,” Brotherton explains.

It is no secret that Brotherton’s name appears

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Bob Brotherton, sitting judge in Wichita Falls’ 30th District Court, leads a study session for a Criminal Justice class on Nov. 10 in the Martin Building. on the ballots during election time as District County judges are elected, but Brotherton said he doesn’t teach the class to gain political favor.

“Politics is not a consideration in my teaching,” Brotherton said. “I doubt that teaching impacts me politically.”

Besides his Tuesday night class, Brotherton sets aside Monday nights before exams to hold a review session for his students. During this, he answers any questions the students have that pertains to the approaching exam, or any other subject material they need help with.

Brotherton said it was his desire to bring his experiences to the students that brought him to Midwestern, as Judge Brotherton contacted the chair at the time, Mark David, to find out if he could teach as an adjunct.

There are times where Judge Brotherton is happy to assist other professors in the department. If he is in the building, a professor may ask him to say a few words about a topic they will cover in class.

“I hope to continue to teach,” Brotherton said.

“Teaching full-time after I retire is something that I have thought about.”

PHOTO BY LAUREN ROBERTS | THE WICHITAN

Cars drive down Louis J. Rodriguez Dr. to leave after a bomb threat forced the evacuation of the campus Dec. 8, 2014.

BOMB pg. 1

you might not necessarily need to have done.”

rock and a hard place.”

Typically in emergency situations, Williams said it comes down to either INVESTIGATION Williams said an investigation into evacuating or sheltering in place. the threat is ongoing, but it could go “Shelter in place is designed for an immediate threat where you don’t on for months—if not longer.

“It’s not progressing as quick as we’d want people wandering around campus,” Williams said. “Typically in a like. We’ve continued to investigate in bomb threat situation, if you think it’s conjunction with the FBI and we’ve credible or if you can’t determine if it turned everything over to them,” Wilis, your only option is to ‘err on the liams said. “It’s hard to say when the investigation will be concluded. We side of caution and evacuate.”

And Buck said he agrees that evacu- can sit on it for months until we get ation tends to be the rule for bomb new information.”

Williams said the threats, but with some best chance of solving caveats. the case would come if “With a bomb threat someone came forward we have to assess the with information on the threat, and if you have crime. a good idea where the “It’s probably not a bomb is supposed to solvable crime unless be, then you might feel somebody comes forcomfortable in keepward with information ing people in place. If because that will allow the only way to evacuus to get a search warate people is through rant,” Williams said. where that blast radius Williams said he might be then it’s going hopes to feature the to be safer to keep them case on Crimestopper’s in place,” Buck said.

“Crime of the Week” to While ordering an attract tips that may lead evacuation may someto solving the case. times be the best op“I’ve also learned that tion, Buck said precauwhen you put money on tions should be taken the table for a tip, you’re to ensure the evacua lot more likely to get DAN WILLIAMS ation does not create the information you CHIEF OF POLICE more harm than good. need,” Williams said.

“What’s worked best Luckily, according to for us is to just pull the fire alarm because people know what the fire alarm Williams, it is often the perpetrator’s is. Fire alarm goes off and you get out of need to brag that gets them caught.

“Most of the time these individuthe building,” Buck said. “If you get on als can’t keep their mouths shut,” Wilthe loudspeaker and say, ‘There’s been liams said. “So I hope if someone hears a bomb threat, you need to evacuate the building,’ you put in panic that about it they come forward.”

“Typically in a bomb threat situation, if you think it’s credible or if you can’t determine if it is, your only option is to ‘err on the side of caution and evacuate”

| Jan. 21, 2015 | 7

TERMINAL ART

Baklava from Gyros & Kebobs.

PHOTO BY ETHAN METCALF | THE WICHITAN PHOTO BY ETHAN METCALF | THE WICHITAN

Greek food at fair price with room to improve BRI SHEEN DESIGNER

W

hile the family-owned Greek restaurant Gyros & Kebobs offers acceptable Mediterranean staples at a fair price, there is still something to be desired from the establishment.

After arriving at the eye-catching yellow restaurant, my group and I seated ourselves. The waitress came over quickly and seemed attentive throughout the meal even though she was the only waitress for the handful of tables having lunch. The interior was sparsely decorated but very clean, so I couldn’t complain.

We had some hummus with pita bread as an appetizer and, unfortunately, that was the highlight of the meal for me. The hummus wasn’t amazing but it was certainly better than the stuff available at grocery stores. The consistency of the hummus was runnier than I’m used to, but the taste was great. The pita bread arrived warm and fresh and the portion size was very generous for a table of three.

I ordered a lamb gyro with french fries on the side and didn’t have to wait too long for my meal either. The meat was tender and the gyro was packed full of its staple ingredients like tomatoes, lettuce and tzatziki sauce. Still, there could’ve been more meat and flavor. I didn’t finish mine and opted instead to graze my fries.

I tried some of my friend’s falafel gyro, which is identical to the lamb gyro except the meat is replaced with fried balls of chickpeas and other vegetables, similar to

a hush puppy. The falafel itself tasted good, but similar to the lamb gyro, it just didn’t impress me much.

This was my first time at the restaurant but my company had been before and told me that the meat had improved from their previous visits, which is a good sign. There’s still plenty of room for improvement overall.

We ended the meal with an order of baklava. I love baklava so I was excited to try it here, but like the gyro, it was slightly disappointing. Their version was too heavy and lacked the flaky crust that I love about this dish.

I managed to spend $10 on the whole meal, making it an affordable option for college students. In addition, Gyros & Kebobs is located just across from the McDonald’s on Kemp Boulevard, providing easy access for students. Had this restaurant been located in a bigger town I don’t think they would be very successful, but in Wichita Falls it seems they can get away with subpar food as long as the prices are fair.

I might go back again just to see if the restaurant continues to improve over time, but for now, Gyros & Kebobs is not my goto joint for Greek food in Wichita Falls, despite its convenient location and reasonable price.

GYROS & KEBOBS 3104 KEMP BLVD. WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS 76308 (940) 692-6991 HHHHH

Faculty and students enjoy refreshments in front of student artwork at the reception for the opening of the city’s new airport terminal Jan. 15. Gary Goldberg, art professor and gallery director, said new student art will be featured in the airport every year, and students whose art was selected will receive a scholarship. “Everything is sort of on loan and then the students will get a fee from the loan,” Goldberg said.

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