Feb. 27, 2008

THE STUDENT VOICE OF MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY

THE WICHITAN page 4 Oscar triumph

Despite being threatened by writer’s strike, delays, awards show goes on.

page 6 Photo finish Mens basketball team defeats Angelo State, 68-66, in the last few seconds of the game.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2008

Student protests incite change in security plan BRITTANY NORMAN EDITOR IN CHIEF

Student disapproval of a plan to improve campus security carried on after the Student Government Association meeting adjourned on Feb. 19.

By Tuesday afternoon, administrators had listened to student concerns and agreed to compromise.

Keith Lamb, associate vice president of student affairs, presented a rough outline of what he said would eventually develop into a Behavioral Intervention

Team, or BIT, to student senators last week.

Lamb said that BIT will consist of a core group of four individuals. Lamb will chair it. Also on the committee will be the police chief, director of counseling and dean of students.

He said this group will meet weekly to review incidents that have happened or were reported across campus and to decide what type of behavioral intervention is necessary.

The “genesis” behind this plan, Lamb said, was Virginia Tech.

He said the shooter had interaction with the counseling center, residence life and police, but each agency was unaware of the other agency’s knowledge, and there was no central mechanism to communicate to get a complete picture of his behavior.

At the meeting, Lamb said that students would be able to anonymously report one another for behavior that concerned them.

At that time, Lamb also said that there would be no student representative on committees pertaining to BIT. Student concerns circulated

Beer And Booze

around many of these issues, and one group on campus that took immediate action was the Honor-Bound Conservatives.

“After hearing a report from our student senator, we established a list of concerns with what we were informed of,” Conservatives President Chase Thornton said.

He and other members of the organization met with Lamb on Tuesday to discuss their misgivings about the BIT. Thornton said that a major concern was the lack of student voice in the design criteria.

“It is reasonable to consider what the students have to say and to be willing to meet and discuss those concerns,” Thornton said.

“After reflecting, we’re going to make the process more open and transparent,” Lamb said. “We need to make sure it is something the students are comfortable with. We’ve actually added one student, Daniel Cervera, to the committee that develops it and we’ll add another.

We’ll have a very strong student voice.”

Lamb also said results from the developmental committee

Issues related to drinking will be covered during alcohol awareness activities

will be taken to the SGA for feedback.

The prospect of the BIT acting on anonymous tips was also a point of contention between students and administration.

Lamb said he thinks the concern with the anonymity was the potential for abuse. “We have since decided not to do that,” he said.

Instead, students will be able to report behavior or incidents that worry them either in person

See “BIT” pg. 3

Freshman in hospital after crash BOBBY MORRIS SPORTS EDITOR

LINDSAY LEMON FOR THE WICHITAN

Beer and Booze: What will you choose?

This is the provocative title of the alcohol awareness activities the MSU Counseling Center is staging from March 4 through March 6, which will include a carnival, presentation and dramatic performance.

The activities, according to Dr. Pam Midgett of the Counseling Center, plan to heighten student awareness of their choices.

“We’re interested in this topic because it is of interest to the college-age population,” Midgett said.

The three-day alcohol awareness event kicks off on Tuesday, March 4, with Suzie Vanderlip, a Broadway-class dancer and actress who will present her one-woman show at 7 p.m. in Akin Auditorium.

The performance, “Legacy of Hope,” covers the lives of several young characters dealing with issues of alcohol use, sexuality, depression, and low selfesteem.

Two activities are also scheduled for March 5, including a carnival and faculty presentation.

The first activity is a carnival in Sunwatcher Plaza from 1 to 3 p.m. where students will wear beer goggles and drive remote control cars through an obstacle course to understand how alcohol impairs motor skills.

Popcorn and soft drinks will be available to carnival attendees.

Dr. Joey Greenwood and Randy Canivel, director and assistant director, respectively, of recreational sports at the wellness center, will present “Beer Belly Blues” in Clark Student Center Cheyenne later that day.

The presentation will talk about the effects of alcohol consumption on college students.

According to Dr. Greenwood’s statement to the Counseling Center, the presentation will cover issues such as weight gain, social norms, binge drinking and nutrition.

Midgett said she believes the social norm aspect of the presentation is very important for students to hear.

“Many college students believe that all college students drink frequently and to the point of intoxication, but a large number of students don’t drink and

those that do drink do so less often and in lesser quantities than others assume,” Midgett said.

The final day of activities on Thursday, March 6, begins with an alcohol screening in the Cheyenne meeting room in the Clark Student Center.

The screening will last from 1 to 3 p.m. and will be administered by psychology and counseling graduate students in the form of a questionnaire.

Students will fill out the assessment and then sit down one-on-one with a staff member or graduate student and discuss their alcohol consumption based on the survey.

The goal of the screening, according to Midgett, is to allow students to evaluate their alcohol consumption, discover if they have a problem, and find solutions if there is a problem.

The final event of the week is at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 6, in the Clark Student Center Shawnee Theatre.

Susan Bragg, manager of Victim Services for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, will present “Partying 101: Being Safe and Smart Right from the Start.”

The presentation will focus on how to celebrate safely, the importance of designated drivers and the consequences of drunk driving and underage drinking, according to Midgett.

The goal of all the activities is really to get students thinking about their choices, Midgett said. “You never know; a decision you make at 19 years old may affect the rest of your life.”

Late last Friday night a freshman football player at MSU was critically injured in a serious twocar collision.

Around midnight, a pickup driven by Albert Jackson Gee, 22, collided violently into a car being driven by MSU student Jeff Williams. Brett Davis, another MSU student and former player, was also in the car with Jeff.

Both Williams and Davis were immediately sent to United Regional Health Care System’s 11th Street campus. Davis was treated and released fairly soon, but Williams was admitted into intensive care, where he still stays.

Williams was initially admitted in fair condition.

Gee was arrested on the scene and charged with intoxication assault in connection with the collision that occurred at the busy intersection of Southwest Parkway and Maplewood.

Gee paid his bond soon and was released from the Wichita County Jail last Saturday.

Whenever coach Maskill arrived at the URHCS he was met by a group of students that featured over thirty students, however they were not just players.

Williams is presently still being treated in the ICU and his condition has gone from fair to critical since his admission, but they are waiting on some additional tests to further test his condition.

His parents came into town immediately once they heard the news from Lufkin, Texas. MSU is presently assisting the family with lodging and other needs while they are tending to Jeff.

Fain Fine Arts Center celebrates 30th anniversary CHRIS COLLINS MANAGING EDITOR

The Fain Fine Arts Main Gallery began the celebration of its 30th anniversary Friday with a workshop aimed at inspiring students to communicate through art.

Animating Democracy Through the Arts, an eight-hour

workshop presented by Americans for the Arts, was presented to 15 community members and MSU art officials in the Clark Student Center.

“I think it was a really good experience,” said Catherine Prose, assistant professor of art and gallery director at MSU. “We got to know some people that are working in community

more intimately.”

Representatives from the Boys and Girls Club and the Wichita Falls Museum of Art were also present at the workshop, a sign that community interest in art is growing.

“Art motivates people to act,” said Pam Korza, co-presenter at Friday’s presentation.

“The arts can play a role in our

communities in illuminating social and civil issues people struggle with in their lives.”

The gallery’s anniversary will continue to be celebrated with a retrospective of its 30-year history.

Thirty of the gallery’s most accomplished artists, such as Karl Umlauf, Nic Nicosia and Joe Barrington will be invited

to MSU in November to show their new work.

“Throughout the years what we have accomplished is a suite of professional artists who have provided our students with exemplary examples to look toward for inspiration,” Prose said.

Prose, who started at MSU in 2005, actually realized it was

the gallery’s 30th year while she was compiling all the showings in the gallery’s history.

She estimates it has seen about 120 presentations since 1978.

In addition to the retrospective, the art department will also present a faculty show this fall, the first since the early 1980s.

Sweepstakes Winner 2006 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association

Viewpoints

Finalist 2004 Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award

THE WICHITAN

Staff Editorial

Getting through Sometimes, the administration really comes through for the students. This week, it became obvious that someone truly does listen when we present concerns in a clear and rational manner on an issue that means something.

In the wake of the announcement of the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) at the SGA meeting on Feb. 19, students

Seussical columnist hears a ‘Who!’

voiced their concerns through different avenues, and the results were clear by press time.

In bet w e e n classes or in my down time at school, you will find me digging HALEY CUNNINGHAM vigorousFOR THE WICHITAN ly in my book bag.

After about twelve minutes of aggravated searching I will enthusiastically pull out a certain book.

Now, depending on the area I’m in, and the population of the hallway, a certain exchange of words almost always immediately follows.

Here is an example of my side of the conversation. “…Yes it’s a coloring book…

I know it’s Dr. Seuss. Horton Hears a Who is my favorite book. ...I’m 20…

What they said didn’t fall on deaf ears.

The issues students brought up were addressed by the administration, and changes were made as a result of the feeback given by these outspoken members of the undergraduate community.

The administration was willing to meet with these students in a prompt manner and discuss their opinions. Keith Lamb in particular handled the situation impressively, taking the concerns of the students into account and agreeing to make changes based on this.

It’s nice to know that someone is listening.

It’s simpler sometimes to dig into the workings of the university and find something to be angry about, but the good things are often overlooked. A respectful, receptive relationship between faculty and students is something that most certainly deserves mention.

THE WICHITAN

No…I’m not joking. I like coloring.”

To summarize: Hi, my name is Haley, and I like Dr. Seuss coloring books.

Now let’s all chime in with a unanimous monotone greeting shall we?

I can be deep and philosophical, but there is also something you should know about me. Inside me is a 10-year-old.

Inside you is a 10-year-old.

For God’s sake, let it out!

One of my favorite quotes says, “You don’t stop playing because you get old. You get old because you stop playing.”

Don’t you remember a simpler time, when you didn’t know anything about money, war, politics or even the word stress?

The lesson of this column, dear readers, is to let out your inner fifth grader (or fourth grader, for those of you who have a particularly slow inner child) play freeze

Copyright © 2007. The Wichitan is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. 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. First copy of the paper is free of charge; additional copies are $1. The Wichitan welcomes letters of opinion from students, faculty and staff submitted by the Friday before intended publication. Letters should be brief and without abusive language or personal attacks. Letters must be typed and signed by the writer and include a telephone number and address for verification purposes. The editor retains the right to edit letters.

rent, health, debt! These are just a fraction of the things that are making my beautiful fro turn grey.

If we have a little innocent fun every now and then, if we use a little imagination, things get a lot more simple, and you will wonder why you ever worried in the first place.

Is that bill collector driving you nuts? Do what I did, draw a silly picture on the threatening note they sent you, and send it back. (With the check of course, I’m not saying disregard your responsibilities.)

We may have to act like grownups now, but if we make that face long enough, it is going to stick that way. Let’s have fun. It’s our biggest and most important duty.

(And if you learned anything from this column, you would have laughed at that last sentence.

You know the writer did.)

Letters...........................................................................................................................................

Dear Wichitan Editor, As a student who attended the performance by mZuri I was alarmed to see the negative response your Managing Editor, Chris Collins, wrote in the February 13, 2008 issue of The Wichitan.

My first point of contention is that Collins did not interview any of the actual audience members who saw the show. The quality of his article was compromised because he wrote the article from a third person omniscient perspective, while he should have written it in the first person since the article was based in his opinion alone. What authority on theatrical entertainment does Collins have to make the type of assertions in a non-opinion type of article?

Secondly, Collins us obviously unaware of the type of show that mZuri used to create a retelling of Fannie Lou Hamer’s life. It’s a one woman show; no one in the audience is expected to believe that mZuri is actually Fannie Lou Hamer reincarnate, on the stage telling her own life story. Collins asserted tat there was too much passion and this was a downfall... obviously Collins has no idea how much it takes to get actors to have enough energy/ passion on stage. This is no downfall; passion is what engages an audience to pay attention for an hour and a half. Collins must not have been watching the same show as the rest of the

3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 • Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 News Desk (940) 397-4704 • Advertising Desk (940) 397-4705 Fax (940) 397-4025 • E-mail WICHITAN@mwsu.edu Web site: http://www.mwsu.edu/~wichitan

tag, draw a picture…with finger paint! Dress up in a silly costume and run around Sunwatcher Plaza for all I care. Inside you is a your inner child, dying to get out.

Don’t let it suffocate! We kids are afraid of the dark!

Wear that silly hat to class! Get excited over vending machine super bouncy balls! Let’s all go spin in circles on the grass!

Bring back childhood curiosity. Does the refrigerator light really go out when you close the door? Let’s all build a super fort in the living room out of blankets, and defend it with Nerf guns!

And while we are making a check list…stop making fun of the girl in the student center reading the Seuss book, Oh the Things You Can Think. (Yes, I keep a copy with me at all times.)

Unfortunately, these days we are forced to be grown-ups. We can lose our sanity that way.

Bills, cars, tests, jobs, essays,

audience,because there was an active interest from the crowd considering after the show we had a question and answer session with mZuri and people actually asked her questions and showed interest.

Thirdly, Collins asserts that the transitions in the play were problematic. While this may be true, he did not include that there were technical problems that had to be worked around and the show continued in spite of these difficulties. As for the believability of the show, obviously no one going to the one woman is going to believe that this is actually taking place, this the setting is primarily in 1960’s Delta Mississippi. For him to be caught up in how much he actually believed in what was going on is a sign he missed the entire point of the show. Fannie Lou Hamer suffered unthinkable hardships to help get African Americans the right to vote. Hmm... voting, hmm... election year, hmm... point? His comparison of mZuri’s transitions to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was unwarranted and inappropriate. It was further insulting for Collins to mention Uncle Tom’s Cabin in his article because the final impression of her show had nothing to do with either novel.

Furthermore, at what point did your Managing Editor become an expert on black students? mZuri did not only encourage black students to change the world, she encouraged

Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Brittany Norman

Managing Editor Chris Collins

Entertainment Editor Courtney Foreman Op-Ed Editor Position Open

Sports Editor Bobby Morris

Photo Editor Patrick Johnston

Reporters Richard Carter Courtney Foreman Josh Mujica Photographers Loren Eggenschwiler Graphic Artist Robert Redmon Advertising Manager Correlle Ferlance

all students to change the world by utilizing the tools that so many before us have worked to obtain. Collins is completely out of line by saying the audience reacted “docilely.”

Would a docile audience stay even after the question and answer session and continue talking to mZuri about her work and even buy her CD and DVD? Had Collins taken the time to interact with any other audience members maybe he would have seen that the response to the show was one of admiration and praise.

It is unreal to me that this article was written and published in a university newspaper.

Generally I can ignore the nonsense that The Wichitan chooses to publish but this was just too much. Collins has no right to attest how the “black students” felt or responded to the show, especially since he did not interview anyone in the audience!

In a community where few culturally diverse presentations are ever seen, I would think we would try to welcome new ideas and open our closed minds to something beyond what we have been raised to believe. I think the article by Collins was offensive and poorly edited, and that an apology should be issued to the members of that audience (and not only the “black” ones.”

Mary Okonkwo Senior Humanities and Theatre Major

Copy Editor Kimberly Stiles Adviser Randy Pruitt

News

BIT...........................continued from pg. 1 or through avenues where they will be identified. The people they report will not recieve their names, Lamb said.

Students were also reassured that MSU will follow state and federal laws pertaining to students with disabilities to prevent discrimination that might stem from such a program, and that measures will be taken to prevent a “witch hunt” from ensuing.

Despite the disagreements, Lamb believes that implementing a BIT on campus is too potentially beneficial to pass up.

“We already do behavioral intervention on campus,” Lamb said. “We’ve always done so.

We have a moral duty, if a student is in distress, to help that student. If we feel a person presents a legitimate threat of harm to themselves or others, the courts have told us that we have a legal duty to look into that.”

But the method used now is decentralized and scattered among the different departments of the campus. Lamb feels the BIT would bring this together and make what they’re already doing more effective.

“One of the problems is when information gets to me of behavior, I get it several days or a week after it takes place,” Lamb said. “What if in this time the student acted out? I would have failed that student or anyone else who is a victim.

Instead of weeks later, we could get this information hours or days later.”

After a report is received now, students are referred to counseling. If a student refuses counseling, they can be suspended pending a formal hearing.

Lamb says this is “incredibly rare.”

“In nine years here, I can think of 5 times where we’ve had to mandate someone to

behavioral assessment,” Lamb said. “All of them complied. At least one remained a student, and all were linked up with mental health care professionals.”

Lamb said the university has the resources to refer students not only to the MSU counseling center, but also to off-campus psychiatrists, and facilities such as the Helen Farabee Center and the State Hospital.

He said sometimes a medical withdrawal is necessary if there is such a severe mental health issue.

BIT is common in higher education, according to Lamb, and has been an effective tool at many universities and colleges.

“Two weeks ago at the National Counseling Center Directors Association, the question was asked how many universities have a plan in place,” Lamb said.

“Out of 125 responses, 90 had this type of program in place and 16 were working to implement it.”

He said that the BIT program at MSU is in its infancy now.

Administrators have met once to plan changes, Patrick Johnston THE WICHITAN and are now deciding how Sophomore Marcos “Mars Blue” Liriano beatthe program should be boxes during a performace at the Coco Lounge run.

open mic in CSC. The event was part of MSU’s celebration of Black History Month.

“We have a moral duty, if a student is in distress, to help that student.”

LEMON

FOR THE WICHITAN

The Career Management Center will present its annual Dining Etiquette Seminar at the Clark Student Center in the Kiowa Ex-Students Dining Room on Wednesday, March 5, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

The seminar is a great way for students to brush up on etiquette while having a good time and enjoying a free meal, said Dirk Welch, director of the career management Center, The seminar focuses mainly

- Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Lamb

on proper dining etiquette as it relates to business and interview settings.

The goal of the seminar is to help students be more comfortable and confident in a business dinner setting, Welch said.

Janus Buss will speak at the dinner and provide students with information ranging from how to pass items properly to appropriate dinner conversation.

Buss will also discuss the two styles of dining, American and Continental, which, she says, are both acceptable.

“As we become a more global

society you really see more people using the Continental style,” said Buss.

According to Welch, the menu has not been finalized because the Career Management Center is still taking reservations and asking participants about their specific dietary needs.

Vegetarian plates will be provided to attendees who request them, according to Welch.

30 seats are available for the event, according to Welch, and there are 16 remaining.

Welch says the benefit of having a relatively small number of

seats is that it creates an atmosphere where students feel comfortable and have more opportunities to ask questions.

“We want to create an intimate atmosphere so that students feel comfortable and free to ask questions,” said Welch.

According to Welch the Career Management Center will continue to take reservations until all the seats are filled.

Anyone who wants to reserve a seat for the seminar is required to put down a $10 deposit that is refunded when he or she attends the seminar.

Job interview presentation gets a makeover LINDSAY LEMON FOR THE WICHITAN

The Career Management Center has given its’ job interview presentation, formerly Bathroom to Boardroom, an extreme makeover.

Extreme Makeover: Career Edition will take place in the Clark Student Center Comanche Suite on Thursday, March 6, from to 8:30 p.m.

According to Karla Landours of the Career Management Center, the presentation has shifted from clothes to first impressions.

“It is no longer a fashion show,” said Landours.

Feb 27, 2008

3

Campus briefs • Feb. 27

How Mustangs Round up

A’s and B’s Seminar; Dillard 329; Tuesday and Wednesday 2 - 4 p.m.

•

“Find, Hire and Keep the Right Peo-

ple,” presentation; in the Silver Room at Wells Fargo Bank in Parker Square; Wednesday 10 a.m. to noon.

• Feb. 28

Texas Blood Institute

Drive; CSC rooms Wichita I and II; Thursday 2 - 6 p.m.

• Feb. 29

Sadie Hawkins Social;

CSC Atrium; Friday 8 p.m. to 1 a.m.

•

“I Have a Dream” presentation; Dil-

lard 101; Friday 6 - 8 p.m.; refreshments available.

• Mar. 1

MSU Cheer Clinic; Don

Flatt Gym; Saturday 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Cost $35.

• Mar. 3

“Working for Non-Profit” pre-

sentation; Dillard 189; Monday 7 p.m.

• Mar. 5

Dining etiquette seminar;

Career Management Center; Wednesday 6:30 - 8 p.m.

•

Athletics luncheon every Tuesday

and Thursday at Pelican’s on Midwestern Parkway at noon; video replays,

Have your cake, eat it with the right fork, too LINDSAY

THE WICHITAN

Career Management Center personnel will be on hand to speak with students about creating an appropriate resume and what to say to potential employers during career fairs or the interview process.

Landours said Career Management Center staff will advise students about information that should be included on a resume, what kind of paper a resume should be printed on, and the best type of portfolio to put a resume in.

The staff will also cover what Landours calls a “30 second commercial” of what to say when first meeting a potential employer.

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Career Management Center says the presentation is not strictly about appearance anymore.

“It is going to be about etiquette and total presentation from resumes to professional speech to a crisp interview appearance,” said Hakimi-Hood.

Clothes are still part of the presentation, however. A Kohl’s representative will be present to

show students a selection of professional clothing for men and women.

The presentation is a comeand-go event says Landours, and students are encouraged to come at their earliest convenience.

“It has more of an expo feel to it now,” said Landours.

No registration is necessary and refreshments will be served.

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Attending the Democratic rally will be local politicians “We’reby election time,” Thornton said. “If they get

- Writer?

interested in politics now, they’ll be more likely to continue to vote in future elections.”

He said one problem is that the younger generation

- Photographer?

sometimes vote in line with their parents and don’t take the time to think about what really matters to them.

- Graphic designer?

“There’s a lack of feeling that your vote matters,” he said.

“Many students are not involved in politics.”

- Artist?

Payton referenced MTV’s “Rock the Vote,” a program designed to turn the younger audience on to politics.

Many college students don’t have time to watch hours of

Think you could be?

TV. Radio programs could do a better job of getting the message out in a way more students are likely to

We’re currently encounter, she said. seeking the following:

Programs like the “Colbert Report” and “The Daily Show Reporters

Columnists with Jon Stewart” get the message out about politics in a Graphic artists Sports writers Entertainment writers informative, said Thornton.

Photographers

way that’s encouraging to the younger audience and still “It’s a dry topic,” he said. “[Advertising] is going to have

to be quick and convenient.”

The system is in place to help people, but students need a

Call us: 397-4704 reason to get Involved, Thornton said. or “I think a lot of students will voteus: because of the email Iraqwichitan@mwsu.edu situation.” Payton said. “For me, it will be about education.”

Students will not vote based on rallies. They will vote

4

THE WICHITAN Feb. 27, 2008

Entertainment

dallas-based band is on the fast track No one would have thought that an accidental purchase on Pure Volume website would catapult this up and coming band into a whirlwind of success.

Forever The Sickest Kids main vocalist, Jonathan Cook, had no idea the opportunity he created for the future success of the band when he bought a $350 slot on the site. In the two days they were given, Forever The Sickest Kids collaborated to create their first official song together, titled “Hey Brittany” and the overwhelming success followed.

Although the band has only been officially formed for a little under a year, the bands hard work and dedication has already paid off.

After the unexpected success of “Hey Brittany”, the band quickly wrote and produced three more songs to top off their debut album, Television Off Part On. After their first stint on the Vans Warped Tour 2007, which the band described as “the hardest work ever,” the band gained a fan base they could rely on to help push them to the next level.

The band just wrapped their tour with Holliday Parade, Powerspace, and Hush Hush Com-

motion. The next venture for the band is a highly anticipated tour for Alternative Press Magazine with bands All Time low, The Rocket Summer, The Matches, and Sonny Moore.

In between their busy life and touring the country, the band took a few minutes to sit down with me and discuss how they would describe the fast pace world they were thrown into after just a year as a band.

Since the band has had to quickly find a sound, they feel their main target audience is, “anyone who wants to listen and have a good time.”

Because the band owes much of their success to the internet buzz they generated, when asked about the rising popularity of download music for free, I received an unusual response.

Most musicians feel ripped off and stolen from in cases like these, instead FTSK rationalizes and knows that, “kids are going to listen, and if they like it they’re going to come out to shows and support us.”

They believe it’s worth it to, “give away a few mp3’s for free, you know and let kids download,” if it means getting the word out there about the bands music and hopeful future fans.

If you listen to any of Forever

Oscar Round-Up LAUREN WOOD FOR THE WICHITAN

After a three-month strike, the 80th Academy Awards were held at the Kodak Theater in California and the audience was filled with actors, directors, designers and more.

The night began with the famous red carpet where stars like Amy Adams and Jennifer Garner were interviewed as they passed Regis and other reporters for ABC. Women in gorgeous gowns (and not so gorgeous gowns) flooded the carpet, along with stunning men in sharp tuxes, all smiling at the continuous flash of cameras.

Since the writers’ strike had just ended, host of the evening, Jon Stewart, had little more than a week to prepare for his role on Sunday night. Despite the short time given to him, he constantly light up the room with laughter with jokes about actors, movies and even politics.

French beauty, Marion Cotillard, won Best Actress for her performance in “La Vie En Rose,” where the talented Daniel Day-Lewis took Best Ac-

tor for “There Will Be Blood,” beating several household names including Johnny Depp and George Clooney.

The slender Tilda Swinton, unfortunately showed up in a dress that resembled a Hefty bag, came away with an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in “Michael Clayton” and the newly groomed Javier Bardem lost his long locks, but picked up the award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “No Country for Old Men.” “No Country for Old Men” took home four awards, along with Best Picture, the highest amount of the evening.

Despite Ellen Page not receiving the Best Actress Oscar, the film “Juno” did pick up the award for Best Original Screenplay. The very pregnant Cate Blanchett left the night with two nominations in the Best Actress and Supporting Actress categories, but looked very pleased and happy when Cotillard walked to the stage.

The night ended with many happy faces and a new bar set for the up coming films for the next Academy Awards.

The Sickest Kids tracks on their CD, you can automatically tell this is feel-good music at its finest.

“Whatever puts us in a good mood. Anything to dance to, or move our bodies,” the band feels is more than an appropriate type of music to listen to, and the evidence to support that is very apparent in the songs they produce.

With the anticipated second album, first full length, to release this April, the fans can definitely expect, “a little of everything.”

“Very easy to sing along with, and very easy to dance to,” says the band as they describe what they feel the fans can get out of it.

“We’ve got some more techno kind of songs on there, we’ve got some more rock driven kind of songs, we’ve got some more heavy songs on there and an acoustic song.”

Because the band has had such recent success in such a short amount of time, they feel they are, “still stepping into defining our sound, and I think this record was kind of experimenting with our sound and figuring out what we want to do. The next record will be more defined.”

Being on tour for so long, and seeing no end in sight at least for

Jack Johnson, like any professional surfer, knows the temperament of the sea. One day it’s calm, waves lapping sweetly at the shore. The next day it could pour torrentially, frenzied wind blowing huge waves up from the ocean’s bottom.

Such is the motion of the ocean: serenity gives way to turbulence. Placidity meets fury. It’s a cycle of opposites that the easy-going Johnson, a tropical-styled singer-songwriter from Honolulu, personifies in his best moments.

Unfortunately, Johnson can’t bring it all together in his latest effort, 2008’s Sleep Through the Static, which sounds more akin to the calm stirrings of a small lake than the fickle nature of Mother Sea. Sleep, Johnson’s fourth fulllength album, was released in

February on Brushfire Records, Johnson’s own record label.

The indie feel of the album is apparent from the get-go. Johnson’s voice is hushed, the band’s playing spare. There almost no post-production gloss here, like in Ben Harper’s Lifeline.

Johnson kicks the record off with “All at Once,” a poetically affable tune that sets the pace for the gloomier elements of the album. He follows with the title track, a jumbled anti-war song that attempts to scathe but really just simmers.

The album’s lyrics aren’t what one would expect from Johnson effort; most of the words here are downcast and introspective, fitting for an album dedicated to one of the 35-year-old’s deceased relatives. Gone is the silliness of “Inaudible Melodies” and “Banana Pancakes” from Johnson’s earlier albums.

“Sometimes love doesn’t heal/ No, not at all/ It just stands

Forever The Sickest Kids: Caleb, Kent, Marc, Kyle, Austin, Jonathan

Even when the guys aren’t working but are in the Dallas/ Fort Worth area, the band always likes to go out and support other bands by seeing their shows.

“We love going to shows.

If we even know the name of the band we’ll go. And if there is even a chance we could tour with the band we would go.”

Because touring is such a big part of a bands success, the guys said they wouldn’t be opposed to going on tour with any bands they’ve been on tour with before. The band feels they would go again because they have made such good friends with all of them while on the road.

The future looks bright for the band Forever The Sickest

Kids, beginning with their latest promotion with Hot Topic. The store will now sell an enhanced CD of the bands latest songs, along with tour footage and home videos of the guys hanging out. Hot Topic also will sell two shirts, one nationally and one regionally around the DFW area for now.

Be sure to look for Forever The Sickest Kids latest full-length album that will hit stores April 29th. Also, don’t miss the band as they embark on the AP tour beginning March 14 through the beginning of May. Tour dates are listed on their official website or their original myspace page.

Lighting up the Legion RICHARD CARTER FOR THE WICHITAN

Jessica Alba at the Oscars

The song remains the same CHRIS COLLINS FOR THE WICHITAN

a while, I asked the band how they would describe the best and worst part of their Jobs as musicians.

“I think the highlight of it is seeing the kids that are very passionate about your music.

Just playing shows makes it all worthwhile.”

But there is a downside, “it’s hard being away from your family and friends. I mean when you get home after being gone for four months, it’s hard getting back into the groove of being with your family.”

The band has been on tour for the majority of the past year, but they still manage to find time for themselves.

“We probably had 2 weeks to ourselves last year. We always have time for ourselves but always end up spending it together.”

Since the band spends so much time together on the road and in the recording studio, it’s not crazy to assume there would be conflict among them.

Much to my surprise, the opposite is true.

The band says that they don’t really fight with each other and know that, “if we have buttons we know not to push them. I don’t think any of us really argue.”

still/ While we fall,” Johnson sings in “If I Had Eyes.” This depressive theme is echoed throughout the album, making the songs seem a little too lugubrious.

Johnson’s solo electric guitar was expected to be a focal point of the CD, but the Hawaiian native never plays a memorable lick. It’s all subdued under the whisper of Johnson’s lyrics, which lack much personality.

Some of the CD’s highlights are “Angel,” “Enemy” and “While We Wait,” mostly acoustic songs that highlight Johnson’s true talent: poetic, confessional tunes in the style of Nick Drake and Jackson Browne.

It doesn’t seem like Johnson is comfortable with a band playing behind him, either.

Johnson’s group is unenthused and stagnant during this effort.

Johnson does manage to strike up a few memorable

Light of December has grown considerably since the metal band hit the area scene a year and a half ago.

It literally took the area band 19 or so songs to discover their own style. “Listening to our first song is completely different than what we come up with now,” guitarist Ren Reisner said. “It’s cool how far we have come and to see what we can do.”

With over 22 live shows already in the bag, the band will perform at an all-ages show at the American Legion 169 this Saturday beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Other bands will include: My Children, My Bride; A Heartwell Ending; For the Fallen Dreams and In Fear and Faith.

The show is promoted by Nicole Barron, a MSU student.

The members of Light of December listen to, and are influenced by bands ranging from Devil Wears Prada to Between the Buried and Me, according to guitarist Ben Hoke. The group also features Dalton Little on drums, Jordan LaFerney on vocals and Devin Wilson on keyboards.

Devil Wears Prada is where the group gets many of its keyboard influences, according to Hoke. But the band has a “kind of different” sound from the groups they listen to.

“We have more of a dirty, dissonant sound to a lot of our stuff. We’re pretty hard, and we have some progressive parts. We do try a lot of different stuff,” he said.

The band also infuses “some nice melodic parts to

the music,” according to Little. “We try and make it unique,” he said.

Little, Hoke and Laferney have known one another through church since sixth grade. Hoke and Laferney started playing acoustic music in the garage, and Little learned to play drums.

Reisner met Hoke at church two years ago and joined the trio once they started getting going. The group formed in June 2006, and Wilson was added to the quartet on keyboards after leaving Corithea.

Listeners should expect an extremely high-energy show from Light of December. “We try and go off, head bang as crazy, as much as we possibly can, and keep the crowd into it,” Hoke said.

The five musicians practice loudly twice a week in a backyard studio and have been invited to record at Impact Recordings studio in Dallas. The members hope to record eight songs in March on spring break.

“We absolutely want to take this on the road,” Hoke said. Once recorded, they plan on sending CDs to record labels and go out during the summer months or during spring break and play larger venues.

“I would love to play 30 cities in 30 days,” Hoke said with a laugh.

New Jerusalem Baptist Church Rev. Angus Thompson, Pastor

We Welcome Our New Neighbors

grooves with “Hope” and “Go On,” though the songs would have been made much better had Johnson expanded on the dormant blues grooves.

While the softer, leaner songs shine, the electric numbers – which were hyped as the saving grace of the CD – falter.

There’s none of the personality that made Johnson an unlikely rock star in Sleep. Instead, the album is an ambient blur of soft acoustics that takes the fury and beauty of the ocean and condenses it down into a product no one will really love or hate.

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Sports

THE WICHITAN Feb. 27, 2008

5

Bad weather continues to follow softball squad BOBBY MORRIS SPORTS EDITOR

The Midwestern State softball squad took a seven-game road trip last weekend all the way to the Sunshine State, yet couldn’t seem to find a way to escape the inclement weather that had plagued them the weekend before.

The Mustangs first two home double-headers of their young season got cancelled two weekends ago due to inclement weather, pushing their home debut all the way to March 2. This weekend wasn’t much better for the Mustangs as they were rained out in the middle of a game, before completely being rained out later in the day.

The Mustangs’ busy Florida weekend began last Thursday, where they took on the University of Tampa Spartans in an afternoon double-header.

Sophomore hurler Katie Peterson made the most of her first start in Florida, dominating the game from the first inning, and leading the Mustangs to the 7-0 blowout victory.

Peterson came out strong and struck out five batters in her first three innings, eventually recording ten Ks in a two-hit, complete game shutout.

Leftfielder Amanda Potysman led the offense in their opening game, connecting on both of her at-bats and driving in two of their seven runs. Centerfielder Maranda Bishop and shortstop Tabitha Yannetti also connected for two hits in the game to lead the Mustangs to the lop-sided victory.

In the second game of the double-header MSU starter Ashley Kuchenski had a rough time settling into the game. She eventually gave up three runs in the bottom of the first inning to the Spartans. That was more than enough breathing room for Deanna Henriott, Tampa’s ace, to wear down the Mustangs’ lineup.

Catcher Lindsey Voigt and designated-player Lauren Craig led the way in the batter’s box for the Mustangs, both connecting for three hits apiece.

The Spartans manufactured runs in the fourth and fifth inning to extend their lead to 5-0, before MSU scored two in the final half-inning to cut the final score to 5-2.

Kuchenski got credited with the loss after recording three strikeouts and three earned runs in six innings.

The Mustangs continued last Friday competing in the Eck-

erd College Spring Invitational.

The Invitational was supposed to consist of four games played Friday and Saturday culminating with a single-elimination tourney on Sunday. Things didn’t turn out so nicely, however, as bad weather continued to plague the MSU softball squad.

MSU opened the Invitational with a double-header against Palm Beach Atlantic and then Nova Southeastern.

Opening with Palm Beach Atlantic, the Mustangs busted out a six-run third inning highlighted by Craig’s three-run homerun to pace the attack for the 9-5 win.

Freshman pitcher Brittany Tanner threw a shaky game, but eventually recorded her second collegiate victory. Tanner allowed five runs, struck out five batters, while walking four and hitting two batsmen.

All-American third baseman Kristen Stonecipher went 2-for3 at the plate, while Bishop continued to play well scoring three runs and walking three times in the game.

In the nightcap, the Mustangs overpowered the Nova Sharks in an 8-3 blowout, highlighted by a pair of two-run homers by Stonecipher and catcher Lind-

sey Voigt to propel two threerun innings.

Peterson got her fifth win of the season, as she struck out five batters and only allowed one earned run. The game was won in the top of the fourth by Peterson, as she somehow got out of a bases-loaded, no outs jam without giving up a single run.

After sweeping these first two games heading into Saturday, the Mustangs seemed poised to get a high seed in the Sunday tourney. However, a great game from the host-team, Eckerd College, to open up play on Day 2, and an inopportune showing from Mother Nature spoiled any chances of winning the contest.

A pair of errors in the fourth inning for the Mustangs led to two unearned runs, which proved to be enough to give Eckerd the win.

Tanner pitched a much better game, even though she lost the contest. She only allowed one run on three hits, while striking out three batters. The two errors and two unearned runs proved to be the difference before the game was called due to heavy rain mid-way through the sixth inning.

While trailing 3-0 the Mustangs opened the sixth inning on

fire, stringing together singles from Bishop and Stonecipher.

However with runners on first and second and no outs, cleanup hitter Jessica Rodriguez was stranded in the batter’s box as rain came down and became too much to play in.

The rain continued to pour, eventually raining out all activities scheduled for the day. The single-elimination tourney idea had to be scratched; giving way to crowning the champion solely based on pool play results.

So, after not playing for the rest of Saturday, the Mustangs took the field to play the Saint Leo Lions Sunday.

Kuchenski led the way for Mustangs in the circle, giving up only one earned run on six hits to go with her five strikeouts. That one earned run, though, would prove to be the difference in the ballgame.

The Lions were propelled to the tight 2-1 victory by the bat of Tatiana Casis. While up 1-0 in the top of the fourth, Casis connected for a leadoff homer that would eventually be the game-winning run. Voigt hit a RBI-double in the bottom of the fourth inning to plate Alyson Reynolds, but that’s all the offense the Mustangs could rally.

Then, after dropping their

second game of the shortened Invitational, the Mustangs would once again take on the University of Tampa Spartans for the third time in as many days.

Tampa’s pitcher, Deanna Henriott, plagued the Mustangs again, combining with Heather Van Landingham to complete a four-hit shutout, 3-0.

Tanner pitched another sparkling game, but the offense for the Mustangs were shutdown

by Tampa’s dominance in the circle. Tanner eventually struck out five, walked three, and only allowed two earned runs in the complete game loss.

Bishop was another one of the Mustangs few bright spots, again, going 2-for-3 hitting in the game.

The Mustangs (9-8) finished their Sunshine State road trip 3-4, while finishing the Eckerd College Spring Invitational 23. They returned home over the weekend and will open up Lone Star Conference North Division competition this Saturday at Southwestern Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. Then, the Mustangs will host their first home contest, hopefully, this coming Sunday against Abilene Christian University at the MSU Softball Park at 1 p.m.

Mustangs’ playoff hopes begin to dwindle JOSH MUJICA SPORTS WRITER

The MSU men’s basketball team saw a fourteen point lead vanish in the second half as the Abilene Christian Wildcats used a 16-2 run to come back and overtake the Mustangs, 90-86, Saturday at Moody Coliseum.

The Mustangs looked to have total control of the game with 10:49 left to play with a 63-49 lead, but ACU refused to give up.

ACU’s Ean Wagner got the eventual game-winning run started with a jumper from 3point land and Brandon Callahan added a runner in the lane.

Stephen Musa then slammed one home to cut the Mustangs lead to 63-56 with eight minutes

left on the clock.

The Wildcats converted 8-of10 free throws in the final minute of the game, but the deciding factor was Cameron Holson’s two 3-pointers in the last seven minutes including one that ended in a four-point play.

ACU took the lead in the contest and extended it, 80-72, with 1:29 to go and never looked back.

Midwestern was led by Nolan Richardson IV who had 26 points, seven assists and five rebounds. The 6-1 guard earned LSC South Player of the Week for the second time this season on Monday for his outstanding production. He made the gamewinning field goal last Wednesday to springboard the Mustangs to a 68-66 win over rival Angelo

State. He averaged 23.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds for the week.

Jeremy Ford added seventeen points for the Mustangs and had five 3-pointers in the game while Trajinski Grigsby posted fourteen points and five rebounds.

Captain and senior Chris Davis contributed thirteen points and seven boards.

Corwin Ragland scored 24 points and pulled down seven rebounds to lead ACU. The loss hurts MSU’s chances at a postseason berth as the Mustangs fell to 12-13 on the season and 4-7 in Lone Star Conference South Division play. MSU is sixth in the division and needs to win next week at Eastern New Mexico and get help to sneak into the tourney.

ACU has to lose their next two games against West Texas A&M and Texas A&M-Kingsville in order for the Mustangs to stay alive for a chance to play in the LSC Postseason Tournament in Bartlesville, Okla. next month.

Abilene Christian moved to 18-7 on the year including 5-5 in division competition and is now tied for third place with TAMUK. MSU travels to Portales, New Mexico on Saturday to take on the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds in their final regular season game. Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. The game can be heard live on the radio at 100.9 BOBFM or via internet at bobradio.fm or msumustangs.com. Broadcast time is set for 5:45 p.m. with the Lady Mustangs’ pre-game.

sume.

Senior Brittni Morrison contributed eleven points including nine from beyond the arc while Brandy Moore and Hodge racked up ten points apiece for Midwestern.

ACU got fifteen points from reserve Ashlee Barr and ten points, six rebounds and six assists from Kat Kundmueller.

The Lady Mustangs will return to D.L. Ligon Coliseum to play their final home game of the season tonight against the Texas Women’s University Pioneers. Tip-off is scheduled

for 7 p.m., after senior recognitions. The game can be heard live on the radio at 100.9 BOBFM or on the internet at bobradio.fm or msumustangs.com. Broadcast time is set for 6:45 p.m.

Lady Mustangs’ losing streak continues JOSH MUJICA SPORTS WRITER

The MSU Lady Mustangs gave all they had against rival Abilene Christian on Saturday but, eventually, fell to the Wildcats, 73-64, at Moody Coliseum.

Midwestern knew that a key to the game would be to slow down ACU star center Audrey Maxwell who was fifth in the Lone Star Conference in scoring with an astounding 17.5 points a game.

The Lady Mustangs held Maxwell to one field goal on the night as the junior fouled out in only eleven minutes of play.

Unfortunately for the Lady Mustangs, Maxwell’s team had her back. ACU’s Alex Guiton buried nineteen points while shooting 7-of-13 from the field.

The Wildcats’ bench production was in full effect as their bench combined to tally 27 points.

MSU controlled the game in the first half but still trailed 39-32 going into intermission.

ACU posted an 11-2 run in the final minutes of the half, to take momentum and the lead from MSU. The Wildcats used a 19-5 run in the second half to boost their lead, eventually beating the Lady Mustangs by eighteen points.

MSU’s Kaylon Hodge converted a bucket with eighteen seconds to go to pull her team within nine but ACU would not

be denied of the victory.

The loss pushes the Lady Mustangs winless streak to six games in a row, as they are now 9-16 on the season and 3-9 in LSC South Division competition.

Abilene Christian has won eight games straight and are now 16-9 and 10-2 against divisional opponents.

MSU forward Rosy Ofoegbu posted her fourth double-double of the year as she had fifteen points and eleven rebounds. She also added four blocked shots and three steals to her game re-

Patrick Johnston THE WICHITAN Nolan Richardson IV takes game-winning jumper last Wednesday against Angelo State as time expires.

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THE WICHITAN Feb. 27, 2008