Feb. 18, 2015

pg. 7 PHOTO COURTESY OF MSU ATHLETICS

Feb. 18, 2015 | Midwestern State University | thewichitan.com | Your Campus. Your News. | Vol. 79 No. 19

PHOTOS BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Kevin Calder, Mesquite Cafe staff member, exits as Ali Khalid, computer science fresh- The Mustangs Shuttle Route stops at the bus stop next to Killingsworth Feb.17. The man, gets on the Mustangs Shuttle Route at the bus stop next to Killingsworth Feb. 17. Mustangs Shuttle Route runs Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Students push to expand bus route SERAH WELBORN REPORTER

W

ith campus growth and major construction to accommodate the rising residential population on the horizon, public transit increasingly seems to be a solution for students without vehicles. A bill to expand bus services to weekends and additional routes was proposed at last night’s Student Government Association meeting.

MSU has long since partnered with the city of Wichita Falls to provide students a means of transportation to and from campus. The existing shuttle route also allows those equipped with MSU identification cards to freely switch to the Falls Ride connector, which stops at WalMart and other necessary venues.

Even so, students have expressed dissatisfaction with the system. While the Mustangs shuttle runs its full circle roughly every 15 minutes between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., its service is limited to business days, leaving the weekends—when most are looking to travel off campus—untouched. Likewise, the connector runs on onehour intervals from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. For commuter students without personal vehicles like Uri Easter,

School Spirit

pg. 3

Students form ‘Stang Gang’ to promote school spirit with active participation at home games.

computer science senior, this can be a problem.

“Basically, if you want to get anything done, you have to be done before 6 p.m.,” Easter said. “All your time is restricted, and being a student, you need to have a flexible schedule. The bus doesn’t always allow for that.”

Missing the connector is even worse. Though Easter lives at home, his friends and family are not always able to help him when he’s stuck at a bus stop. He occasionally calls for a cab. For him, a ride typically costs $8, or a full hour’s pay.

“On Saturdays, sometimes I want to come onto campus to study, [but] the bus stops at 4 p.m. Luckily I have had friends who can sometimes take me home, but if not, it’s a taxi,” Easter said.

As a shuttle user herself, freshman student senator and nursing major Jaylon Williams knows of Easter’s dilemma. She observed that students using the bus system must also buy groceries before the weekend, often between classes, prompting her to want to make a change.

“We don’t want people to think it’s just about wanting to go to more stores or the movies,” she said. “People have jobs, and the bus is their main means to get to work.

If they have a weekend shift, are they going to walk or call a taxi service? That’s not fair to them.”

‘Vagina Monologues’

pg. 5

The theater performance shocked and inspired attendees by bringing female experiences alive.

With the help of other SGA senators and MSU faculty, Williams has written a bill that includes three main parts: offering service to those who live beyond Colony Park, an increased route that visits more entertainment and businesses establishments, and the addition of a Saturday route. These changes would cause the bus to run every thirty minutes as opposed to fifteen. Within two days, Williams was able to obtain 180 signatures from students in support of the expanded route, and to further substantiate her cause, an official meeting with Matthew Park, dean of students, was held Feb. 12.

“As we look at larger entering classes and think about a new second-year residence hall, it’d be great to provide a service to students who don’t necessarily have transportation,” Park said. “We also have a slightly increasing international student population living off campus, as well as commuter students in various apartment communities. Providing this as a service to those students, should they take advantage of it, is a positive endeavor.”

After meeting with city officials and Keith Lamb, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, Park believes that a new “weekend piece” will be

see SHUTTLE pg. 4

Men’s Tennis

pg. 7

Team hopes that practice will lead them back to championship game—this time with a win.

2 | Feb. 18, 2015 |

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

Attend candidate meetings

Our view: At the presidential candidate meetings in the next weeks we have one chance to meet each of the three presidential finalists. The meetings are open to anyone and students should take the time to ask questions of our potential presidents.

T

he three finalists to be the next university president will be on campus for interviews beginning Feb. 23. The day prior to their interviews, each candidate will participate in four open forums, one for staff, faculty, students and community members and alumni.

Take this opportunity and go a meeting. Ask questions of the candidates to make sure our best interests are kept at heart. Choosing the next president is ultimately up to the Board of Regents, but these meetings are an opportunity to help the Regents make their decision by showing what students want from our next president.

Ask hard questions. “What will you do about the university’s troubling enrollment numbers?” Find out what these candidates will bring to the table.

It is important that we are involved in the changes to come and that process has already begun.

Involvement affects future employment I finally understand why getting involved is important. Studies tell us that getting involved keeps your GPA high and wanting to come back to school each semester. But the studies don’t tell you Courtney Gilder the friendships made in extracurriculars are usually much stronger than those made in the classroom, and they surely don’t tell you about the networking skills you acquire.

Involvement can keep GPAs high because groups like Greek Life require a minimum GPA of its members. But our GPAs are not the first thing employers look at when hiring candidates. Employers look at involvement and demonstrations of leadership.

Through involvement in band I was able to take a trip to San Antonio for the Texas Music Educators Association convention last week. On the surface this means nothing for me because I’m not going to school

the

for music education, but the TMEA convention meant networking opportunities for me.

I met alumni, composers and directors to help me in my future outside of Midwestern State. College is about meeting people and making connections, but those cannot be made without first getting involved.

Start now. Find something interesting or something new. This is a small school, but we have more than 100 opportunities to get involved, so utilize them.

Make lasting connections because when you walk the stage to get your diploma, that’s it. Opportunities to network are seldom handed to you after graduation. At that point it’s time to step into the real world and knowing someone who might want to hire will help. Utilize the fun times we have in college as students because the world is an ugly place and it’s not getting any prettier.

Courtney Gilder is a mass communication junior and business manager for The Wichitan.

wichitan Vo. 79 | No. 19

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

Black History Month should be observed, celebrated all year long The whole of February we will be celebrating Black history and what it means to be black, in its entirety. The entire history of a people, all relegated into one month.

The various black students organizations and student development have Adaobi Ezeodum a series of events planned to celebrate Black History Month. While this is a very commendable thing to do, so much is left to be done. The black student organizations at MSU still have a lot of work to do to raise awareness for people of color in the school.

The only time I see or hear about them around campus is when they have talent shows, some recreational event and during Black History Month. I have no qualms with those events, and I like to attend when I have the time. My problem is it seems we are losing

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

touch with the main objectives these organizations were established for in the first place.

In response to the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, students from universities all over the country organized peaceful demonstrations to show that we certainly do not live in a post-racial society. Most schools, that is, except MSU. I heard not a single word from the Black Student Union or the campus NAACP. No peaceful protests were made, not even a statement was issued. We might have these conversations on a smaller scale around the dinner table, but these conversations need to be held on a larger platform.

It is important that we are actively involved in the events that happen around the country all year round, not only during Black History Month. African Americans should make conscious efforts to learn about their history and how it affects what is going on in the United States.

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

The editor retains the right to edit letters.

| Feb. 18, 2015 | 3

Local group attempts to raise school spirit MATT JOBE REPORTER

T

hey are easy to spot.

Standing in the front row of every football game, shirts off, and paint on their chests.

Running flags up and down the sideline, yelling and screaming, cheering and jeering.

They are the Stang Gang.

Coleman Reidling, is the assistant hall director at Pierce Hall, and the unofficial leader of the group.

Reidling, history sophomore, said that the group is a joint effort between MSU’s athletic department and students attempting to promote school spirit.

“We just want people to be proud of the school’s sports teams, and not take it for granted,” Reidling said.

The Stang Gang has been seen tailgating at games and standing in the stadium, cheering their team, playfully jeering the opponents and inviting other spectators to be as vocal as they can be.

“We go and spell MSU on our chests and just have fun with anyone who will join in,” Reidling said. “We get loud and cheer, and know everyone on the team, just trying to be the best fans we can be.”

According to Reidling there has been a lack of school spirit.

“People don’t naturally want to show as much support as these programs deserve, or have as much fun as they could have,” he said.

Reidling believes this lack of support stems from an event that happened over a decade ago.

“They made the school change their mascot. It upset a lot of students, people still talk about it on twitter,” he said.

At the turn of the millennia there began a nationwide movement by the NCAA sports program which targeted schools with names or mascots that could be considered offensive to Native Americans. By 2005, 18 schools were told to change their mascots, while only eight other schools were able to keep their Native American mascot.

MSU administrators attempted to appeal the ruling by showing letters from local tribes who supported the mascot, the ‘Indians,’ but it was considered to be too generic to be claimed by any single tribe.

Since then, Reidling claimed, school spirit has never been as high.

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

The “Stang Gang” leads the student section at the 2014 Homecoming game Oct. 25, 2014 at Memorial Stadium.

“People were upset. Alumni were angry and stopped feeling any kind of attachment,” he said. “I think a lot of the alumni still are upset about it, and people aren’t supporting the Mustang. Since they are graduated, it’s not as bad, but it has really hurt school spirit in students at MSU today. I think that changing the mascot definitely hurt the school and removed some of the traditions, but it didn’t need to gut the school the way that it has, more than a decade later.”

The Stang Gang is the most recent attempt to restore school spirit, but it was not the first.

The athletic department created a similar group, the “Mustang Maniacs,” in 2012, attempting to fix the lack of school spirit, but it never caught on and soon died out.

“We are trying again with the Stang Gang,” said Reidling.

“The athletic department has done a good thing and backed the group, now we as students are trying to make it our own and help us grow.”

Recently however the group has run into opposition.

At the basketball game against longtime rivals Tarleton State, the Gang was told by a peace officer that if they didn’t have a seat and stay quiet, they would be removed from the game.

“They got mad that four people were standing and that wasn’t ok with people,” Reidling said. “They said they couldn’t see the game. We were standing at the very far side of the court, out of the way, and we were hoping to encourage others to stand up and be as vocal as fans are at other sports games, but people were apparently upset. It was pretty discouraging.”

Although Reidling thinks last weeks game was the worst event they’ve attended as far as successfully raising school spirit, he said he is hopeful for the future.

“We are meeting with administrators right now, trying to set up a plan, and try to raise the school spirit,” he said. “We can help, but we can’t do it alone. The athletic department and student affairs have been really helpful.”

The group was received extremely well by the football crowd, and by tailgating crowds outside of games. But inside, spirit runs dry.

“I think people just don’t realize how much fun Midwestern basketball can be,” Reidling added.

While they faced some scrutiny last week, some students are happy with what the group is trying to accomplish.

“Until things change it’s unlikely I will ever attend a basketball game at MSU again,” said Cole Davis, a business freshman. “Basketball games I’ve been to anywhere else are louder than even football games. Fans get rowdy everywhere else, but here they just sit down and watch the game like it’s a funeral.

It’s impossible to enjoy yourself.”

Davis said that if the Stang Gang is trying to change things, he would be more likely to attend events.

“If people will get hyped and look alive, absolutely, I would love to go to more games,” he said. “Hasn’t happened so far.”

Brittany Hess, business freshman, saw the Gang at the Tarleton game, and believed that they should not have been reprimanded.

“I went to high school in Dallas, and there everyone was as loud as they were,” Hess said. “I would’ve joined with [the Gang], but I was in the middle of the seating, and I wouldn’t gotten bad looks. People are not wanting anyone to cause a ruckus, and will complain about it.”

SE E C A MP U S WAT C H S T O R Y ‘ S TAN G GAN G TRIES TO ADVAN CE SCHOOL SPIRIT’ AT VIMEO.COM / M WSUCAM PUSWATCH

Presidential finalists to visit campus BRI SHEEN REPORTER

F

ollowing a Feb. 12-13 Board of Regents meeting, the presidential search committee released an update Monday announcing three finalists had been selected out of the 53 applicants.

The three applicants will be making campus visits in the coming weeks and attending forums to meet with the students, faculty, staff, and community. Although there are individual forums set up for students, faculty, staff and community members, each forum is open for anyone to attend.

The committee will release the identity and

résumé of the finalists at 8 a.m. the day before their respective campus visits.

The first candidate will visit campus Feb. 23, the second candidate will visit Feb. 25 and the third candidate will visit March 2. While each finalist is here, they’ll also be individually interviewed by the Board of Regents, according to an update on the official website for the presidential search.

The update also stated that the Board of Regents should select a finalist or finalists at a public meeting to be set for early March, and name the next president within 21 days of that meeting.

T I M E L I NE O F E VE NTS

Feb. 25 | Open forums with staff, faculty, students, and community and alumni in Clark Student Center Comanche Suites.

Feb. 22 | Name and resume of first candidate is made available at 8 a.m. at www.mwsu.edu/ presidential-search

March 1 | Name and resume of third candidate is made available at 8 a.m. at www.mwsu.edu/ presidential-search

Feb. 23 | Open forums with staff, faculty, students, and community and alumni in Clark Student Center Comanche Suites.

March 2 | Open forums with staff, faculty, students, and community and alumni in Clark Student Center Comanche Suites.

Feb. 24 | Name and resume of second candidate is made available at 8 a.m. at www.mwsu. edu/presidential-search

FORUM TIMES

Staff forum: 10-11 a.m.

Faculty forum: 12-1 p.m.

Students forum: 3-4 p.m.

Community and alumni forum: 5:30-6:30 p.m.

4 | Feb. 18, 2015 |

News briefs

Art exhibit captures wildlife BRI SHEEN REPORTER

The opening reception for “An Abundance of Riches: Woodcuts of Andrea Rich” will be held Feb. 19 from 6-8 p.m. at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU. The exhibition features woodcuts of wildlife Rich has encountered in places such as Disney World, Alaska, California, Madagascar and Australia. The pieces are drawn from Rich’s repository which includes an example of every woodcut Rich has made since the mid 1980s.

“Whenever possible I try to see my wild subjects in their natural habitat,” Rich said in the description panel of her piece ‘Lion Tamarins.’

The exhibition will run until April 4 and admission is free.

Lecture series comes to Dillard YOLANDA TORRES REPORTER

The Streich Family Lecture Series will be presented Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. in the Dillard College of Business Administration room 101.

John Marthinsen, professor of economics and international business at Babson College, will speak about offshoring jobs and the possible pros and cons that accompany it.

UP C OMIN G EV ENTS America’s Small Business Development Center: “The Mesh of Customer Service” | Feb. 18 from 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Dillard 133 | $10 . Register by 8 a.m. Feb. 18 at mwsu.info/url/SBDCtouchnet MSU Writing Center Poetry Slam | Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. at Fuzzy’s Tacos| Free An Abundance of Riches Woodcuts of Andrea Rich| Feb. 19 from 6-8 p.m. at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU | Free Streich Family Lecture Series | Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. in Dillard 101| Free Women’s Basketball vs Texas A&M-Kingsville | Feb. 21 at 4 p.m. in D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Free for students, staff, and faculty.

Men’s Basketball vs Texas A&M-Kingsville | Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. in D.L. Ligon Coliseum | Free for students, staff, and faculty.

Building the Job I Love Series: Brooks Ratzlaff | Feb. 24 from 12-1 p.m. in Dillard 189 | Free Softballl vs Oklahoma Christian | Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. at the MSU softball field | Free for students, staff, and faculty.

Counseling Center Academic Workshop: Choosing a Career and Major | Feb. 24 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. at Sundance Court Apartments, third floor meeting room | Free

“Students can expect discussion about sending jobs to other shores, moving jobs to other countries and having them move jobs to America,” said Patti Redder, secretary of Dillard College.

However, many students attend for academic reasons.

“Students like to come because they get extra credit,” Redder said.

Conference builds leadership skills YOLANDA TORRES REPORTER

The weCONNECT Leadership Conference will take place on Feb. 21 in the Clark Student Center.

The conference is designed to help student leaders build skills that they can take back to their own organizations and campuses.

Jessica Pettitt, social justice speaker and consultant, will be the keynote speaker at the conference. Those in attendance will be able to choose which courses appeal to them most in their breakout groups.

According to Kevin Bazner, assistant director of student development and orientation, the conference this year will focus on how social justice applies to college students. He said that as a university that has unity in its mission statement, it is an important topic to address.

“It’s important that we recognize the discussions that are happening in higher education about the events in Ferguson, New York and Florida,” Bazner said.

Late registration is still open at mwsu.edu/weconnect

SHUTTLE pg. 1 added to include transportation to shopping and entertainment venues along with the standard stops on late Friday and Saturday afternoons, perhaps extending into the evening.

“It’s possible that this is something that we can pilot at the end of the spring semester, maybe sometime in April, just to see how students respond to it,” Park said. “That was the main focus of our meeting, as well as planning for the 2015-2016 year, when the new housing project construction begins and displaces the 220-space parking lot.”

According to Park, there are more changes to be expected.

In response to requests, the city is willing to install a covered shelter at the Fain Fine Arts stop that serves the Southwest quadrant of campus, and, as a bonus, the service of two new short buses will be given

to MSU. Lamb is also on board with the expected revisions, stating that the current bus system is “very ineffective.”

“I think student-led initiatives are great and there’s an educational component. I’m glad to see the students voicing what they want,” Lamb said.

Neither Lamb or Park said they foresaw the changes impacting student fees.

“If students take advantage of an enhanced service, the cost to the university itself will be minimal,” Park said. “Students should know that the likelihood of our implementing this for the following academic year somewhat hinges on to what extent it is taken advantage of. Participation drives the success and drives the funding.”

A student vote will be taken on the bill at the March 3 SGA meeting.

C RI M E L OG

Feb. 14

Public intoxication | 1:08 a.m. | Off-campus | An officer encountered a non-student intoxicated.

Feb. 13

Alcohol: Public intoxication | 4:18 a.m. | An officer during observed two individuals sleeping in a vehicle.

Feb. 13

Criminal mischief | 6:26 a.m. | Clark Student Center | An employee reported her vehicle was keyed in the parking lot.

Feb. 13

Drugs: Possession or delivery of drug paraphernalia | 4:04 p.m. | Sunwatcher Village | An employee of the Housing and Resident Life Office requested an officer meet them at an apartment for drug paraphernalia found in a room.

Feb. 12

Accident | 1:11 p.m. | Overflow parking lot | A student came into the campus police department to report her vehicle had been hit.

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Feb. 12

Drugs: Possession of Marijuana | 4:38 p.m. | Killingsworth Hall | A student was found with marijuana and paraphernalia in their dorm room.

Feb. 11

Criminal mischief | 5:47 p.m. | Sunwatcher Village | A student threw an orange at a window and broke it.

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

*Some restrictions apply.



| Feb. 18, 2015 | 5

REVIEW

‘Monologues’ opens to full house BRI SHEEN REPORTER

A

PHOTO BY ETHAN METCALF | THE WICHITAN

Street tacos with pork with red chile sauce, sopapillas, and Mexican Coke from Mr. Taco.

Taco shop serves classics done right REVIEW BY BRI SHEEN

M

r. Taco, a cozy restaurant just outside downtown Wichita Falls, provides memorable Mexican food basics and an authentic atmosphere.

The tiny shop has a nondescript exterior except for the giant painted anthropomorphic taco painted on the sign, and the inside is clean and vibrant with a handful of tables and lots of natural light coming in.

We ordered at the front counter from a personable and helpful man before seating ourselves beside the large windows. The food took about 20 minutes to come out, but the time passed quickly thanks to the free chips and salsa. It was also worth the wait because the food was freshly prepared and made-to-order. The homemade salsa had good flavor and it wasn’t overwhelmingly spicy. I was able to keep eating it until our food came without feeling like my mouth was burning, and I’m not big on spicy.

I ordered a brisket burrito combo which included brisket, beans, cheese, avocado and potato, along with a Coke from Mexico made with real sugar. I was a little surprised at just how authentic and fresh the menu was—even the guacamole was freshly prepared.

My burrito was delicious and even though it was slightly over-sized, I had to try to eat it all just because it was so good. We also tried the “pork with red

chili sauce” served street taco style on soft corn tortillas with lettuce, diced tomatoes and onions and cilantro. The flavor of the red chili sauce was excellent, but be warned that it also doubles as orange lip stain.

We also tried a barbacoa plate that came with rice, refried beans and flour tortillas on the side. The barbacoa was finely shredded but that didn’t affect the taste at all. It was tender and juicy just like barbacoa should be.

We ended the meal with sopapillas for dessert. They were pretty big and and the flavor was good, although they could have been slightly less dense.

But after being so impressed by the previous parts of my meal, I wasn’t too concerned with the minor room for improvement with the dessert.

To top it off, my meal cost $13 including a 20 percent tip, so I wasn’t bothered by the price either.

Mexican food is not my personal favorite but I loved my lunch at Mr. Taco and would definitely go back anytime I had a craving for a burrito. Mr. Taco is definitely my new go-to for Mexican food and even though it’s not located right by campus like my usual haunts, I’ll be a return customer.

MR. TACO 907 DENVER ST. WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS 76301 (940) 285-5344 HHHHH

bout 120 people attended production of “The Vagina Monologues” Feb. 13-14 in the Fain Fine Arts Center Theater. The Friday night show sold out and extra chairs were brought in to accommodate additional audience members.

The play featured nine monologues delivered by an all-female cast covering various topics relevant to womanhood.

“I actually don’t know the topic so this will be a first experience,” said Micayla Brown, art senior.

Brown was part of a group of students who attended the show as part of a class.

“Our modern and contemporary class is coming to listen to “The Vagina Monologues” and then we’re going to go over a feminist session later,” Brown said.

Ellanor Collins, theater freshman who also performed in the play, was happy with how the production went.

“I’m really glad that they reacted so well,” Collins said. “They laughed and you could hear them say ‘Ouch,’ or ‘Yes!’ They were getting involved because they related. I’m surprised at how many male laughs I heard.”

Collins was surprised by the play’s outcome.

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

The cast for the play, ‘The Vagina Monologues’ rehearse for the first time together blocking Feb. 1.

“It’s not at all what I thought it would be and some of the monologues when I read them in my head sounded so different when other people read them,” Collins said. “I thought that no one would come. I thought that everyone would think it was stupid. But then we over-sold.”

Collins said that although she has always considered herself a feminist, the play had affected her personally.

“Now I’m just like, ‘Thank God I’m a woman,’” Collins said. “There’s so much awesomeness to my anatomy.”

Theater production shocked and inspired REVIEW BY BRI SHEEN

T

he theater production of “The Vagina Monologues,” last weekend was a powerful and moving performance that all women need to see.

When I first got seated I was surprised at how small the venue was and how few seats there were, but by the time the show began I understood the need for such an intimate setting.

There is just no way to talk about vaginas without it feeling intimate and personal.

The set and costume design was minimal but effective, providing zero distractions from what the audience should be focusing on—the message.

The beauty of “Monologues” lies in the undeniable relatability of the message. Every woman can relate to the uniquely female experiences that come with sex, body image, periods, pregnancy and sexual assault.

Despite the fact that nearly half the world lives through these experiences every day, it seems like the word ‘vagina’ and everything that goes along with it is taboo to talk about. Not in this show. It was refreshing and moving to hear real women talk openly about real things. I felt like I was the one speaking sometimes, like all of us were speaking.

By far the most entertaining performances came from Hope Harvick’s “My Angry Vagina,” and Ellanor Collins’ “The Woman Who Loved to Make Vaginas Happy.” Both Collins’ perfor-

mance of various types of moans and Harvick’s ranting from a vagina’s perspective had me and the rest of the audience howling with laughter.

However, Collins’ ‘My Vagina Was My Village’ and Kaylor Winter-Roach’s ‘The Little Coochi Snorcher That Could’ had me tearing up and holding my best friend’s hand. Once again, I was grateful for the intimate setting that made it feel like the actresses were speaking straight to me, and not out into an audience.

Of notable mention is Emily Stovall’s ‘They Beat the Girl Out of My Boy… Or So They Tried.’

I loved that the stories of all women—not just those who were born with female anatomy— were represented.

I have been a supporter of womanhood for as long as I’ve known what it was, but by the time I left “The Vagina Monologues,” I felt like I had learned more about who I am and become more powerful from that knowledge.

I was surprised at the number of men in attendance but it was a welcome sight. “The Vagina Monologues” doesn’t hold back, and I think men would learn a lot from the frank honesty the all-female cast served up.

“The Vagina Monologues” shocked me, entertained me, upset me and impressed me. Because of this performance, I will definitely be going back for the department’s next production of “In The Next Room,” running March 12-15, and I suggest everyone else attend as well.

6 | Feb. 18, 2015 | NAACP SUCCESS

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

John Gardner, consultant, has dinner with administrators and members of the student government after his workshops Feb. 16 in the Kiowa Ex-Students Room.

Consultant hired to improve retention Mercado, radiology sophomore. “They were involved, but they couldn’t do the ine years ago, university adminis- academic stuff so they had to drop out, so trators created a plan to boost first- we need to change that.”

Gardner said early access to tutoring year retention rates, and last Monday administrators brought John Gardner, could curb the early dropout rate, but president of the John N. Gardner Institute many students said they simply can’t find for Excellence in Undergraduate Educa- where tutoring is held.

“It’s a great mystery, to students here, tion, to show just how much of that plan where to go to get tutoring,” Gardner said. has been implemented so far.

“You did that nine years ago, and you’ve “You’re the only public university that I implemented very few of the recommenda- know of that doesn’t have some kind of tions,” Gardner said, “but you have a plan centralized tutoring service.”

Mercado said increased here. It’s an excellent plan.” publicity for tutoring would Gardner said he also help because he and other found that some of the students don’t know where things that make Midto find tutoring or if it even western State University exists at all. unique, may be some of its “It needs to be more addrawbacks. vertised or publicized,” Mer“The group recomcado said. “Get a poster or mended nine years ago the get a banner [that says], ‘Hey, establishment of midterm do you really need tutoring? grades. You don’t do that,” Here’s where to go, here’s the Gardner said. “I don’t time we meet, and we’ll alknow when I’ve been on a ways be there.” campus that doesn’t offer Gardner said these and midterm grades.” other initiatives could bring Gardner met with uniretention up, but he said the versity constituents, inJOHN GARDNER university has been too comcluding students, to hear CONSULTANT fortable to initiate more of what they thought about their first-year experience at MSU and, ul- the programs identified in the nine-yeartimately, to create a course for first-year old retention plan.

“I don’t think there was a lot of incenstudents.

“There’s no substitute for hearing the tive to rethink what you were doing,” Gardner said. “I think you got very invested in student voice directly,” Gardner said.

One widely spread student concern was the status quo.” for a lack of early academic support.

“I saw a lot of my friends leave and they couldn’t do the academic part,” said Juan ETHAN METCALF EDITOR

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PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Betty Stewart, provost and vice president for academic affairs, speaks to students and administration about her life during the NAACP Student Success Banquet held in Comanche Room Feb. 16 as an event for Black History Month.

MARDI GRAS

“ You’re the only public university that I know of that doesn’t have some kind of centralized tutoring service.”

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Destiny Clayton, athletic training freshman, and her friend Malaeni Ramos, biology freshman, laugh together during Fat Tuesday at the Mesquite Cafe Feb. 17.

| Feb. 18, 2015 | 7 MEN’S TENNIS

PHOTO BY RACHEL JOHNSON | THE WICHITAN

Kacper Boborykin, management/finance senior, practices a groundstroke drill during practice Feb. 16 at the tennis courts.

Coach: Practice critical to season’s success JESSALYN CASTRO REPORTER

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ractice—and making full use of experienced players—is key to everything for the men’s tennis team to make it back to the NCAA II Championship game for a chance at a national title, which they lost to No. 1 West Florida last season.

“We’ve got several returners from teams that have reached national quarterfinals,” head coach Brady Tigert said.

Tigert said the team also has talented young players and their main focus is to learn how to play as a team, as that is what got them to the national quarterfinals last season.

“When you’re on the court you’re an individual, so feeling each other and motivating each other and fighting every point yourself so that other people around you will want to do what you want to really makes a huge difference,” said accounting junior

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Kyle Davidson. “And that’s what he ter until you’re the best. It’s a part of means by being a team. We’re all with the process.” each other even though we’re apart.

The team will travel to San AntoWe play for each other.” nio to play the University of IncarFinance and management senior nate Word Friday at 3 p.m. and are Kacper Boborykin preparing to meet said it is tougher to their opponents play as a team in tenby practicing these nis since it is an indithings each day. vidual sport.

“We practice ev“It’s not like soceryday until Friday,” cer where you all Boborykin said. “We play together with 11 don’t look ahead, players,” Boborykin we just practice a said. “It’s only you day and then move on the court.” on the next day. Of In addition to imcourse we look forBRADY TIGERT proving teamwork, ward to Friday, but HEAD COACH Tigert said the playwe focus on practice ers need to take it one game at a time everyday.” to avoid getting ahead of themselves.

Davidson said Tigert is keeping “If you get too far ahead of your- practice to only 90 minutes this week. self you struggle in the moment,” he He said he and his teammates work said. “Each day you [work to] get a on playing as a team, tempo and delittle better, and continue to get bet- tails in practice.

Wins and losses this season for men

“Each day you get a little better and continue to get better until you’re the best. It’s part of the process.”

Feb. 20

Next away game for men and women: at Incarnate Word, 3 p.m.

“Details is a huge part. Details is what coach drills into us,” Davidson said. “Details win a match.”

Tigert said each game is critical and its outcome impacts the entire team and its place in any tournament.

“You can lose several points in a match and still win the match [and vice versa],” Tigert said.

Tigert said each move in a game is critical and must be made carefully to win a match.

“You want to play the shot you’re most comfortable with on the big point. Everyone has their favorite shot, so during the big points you want to work the point to where you get that big strike,” Davidson said.

“That’s what a lot of the guys excel at. That’s what’s giving us a lot of success.”

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Wins and losses this season for women