The student voice of Midwestern State University
The Wichitan page 6 One-man show
page 7 Offensive explosion
Artists like John Vesely of Secondhand Serenade work their way up the charts alone
Zack Eskridge broke a school record Saturday with six TD passes as the Mustangs won 59-16
WEDNESDAY, november 5, 2008
Obama claims victory in historic election Barack Hussein Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday, swept to victory by an anxious country eager to change course at home and abroad. Obama, 47, becomes the first African-American in U.S. history to win the presidency and the first from the generation that came of age after the turbulence of the 1960s. He built his campaign on a mastery of the Internet as an organizing tool that will change the way presidential campaigns are run forever. His biracial background reflects the changing de-
mographics of America in the 21st century. And his victories in formerly Republican states in the South, Midwest and West reflect a changing political order in the making. After an epic struggle, the firstterm Democratic senator from Illinois defeated Republican John McCain, 72, a hero of the Vietnam War and a four-term senator from Arizona. Obama was at the vanguard of Democratic gains across the country that promised him a solid working majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Eager for a popular mandate to
Photo by Patrick Johnston Junior Victoria Andres views the big screen in CSC during the election watch party as Obama is announced as President Elect.
reshape the government, Obama appeared well on his way late Tuesday night to become the first
Democrat to take a majority of the popular vote since Jimmy Carter eked out 50.1 percent in 1976.
Obama sealed his victory by holding all the states that went Democratic in 2004, then picking off Republican states including Iowa, New Mexico and Ohio. Ohio was particularly important: No Republican has ever won the presidency without Ohio. No Democrat had won the White House without it since John Kennedy. There as everywhere, the faltering economy dominated voters’ minds and tilted the political landscape solidly against the Republicans as the party of power _ and responsibility _ in the White House. Interest was intense.
More than 40 million Americans already had voted by Tuesday morning, and total turnout was expected to top 130 million. The turnout rate was likely to rival the modern record of 67 percent set in 1960, the highest since women were granted the right to vote in 1920. The Democratic wins came at a moment of history when the country was unusually anxious, as eight years of a Republican presidency are ending with an economy sinking into recession, markets in turmoil and U.S. troops at war in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Pledge recounts near-fatal night with fraternity
group of pledges were taken outside. “They pulled us off in a circle Freshman Nicholas Aycock to ask us why we wanted to be said he would have died from al- in KA,” he said. “We were bored cohol poisoning if fellow Kappa (waiting), so that’s why we had Alpha members had not gotten more beer.” him to the hospital in time afA “ceremony” followed, in ter pledge activities got out of which family groups within the hand. fraterniT h e ty shared evening alcohol My blood alcohol level of Oct. 3 amongst began a themwas .48. At .4, you’re few miles selves. outside of “ M y supposed to be dead. Nocona ‘fam-Nicholas Aycock on Cotily’ was tonwood drinking Creek Southern Rd. AyComfort cock said that whiskey,” Aycock said. he and about “There were three dif20 other people ferent families. In my were present. family, there were four Some were active or five people drinking members of the with us.” fraternity, some He said within the alumni and around groups there were ac13 pledges. tives and pledges. Aycock estimated “No one forced that “at least 14” anyone to drink,” he of these individuals said. were under the age of “What happened 21. is we were just “We were drinking trying to drink out of a keg,” he said. the liquor,” he “I had drank about 10 said. “Each peror 11 solo cups, but I son takes a drink was just fine. No big and passes it on. deal.” Takes a drink As the night went on, and passes it on. however, Aycock said he You just want to drank more and more. drink as fast as “I probably had 15 or you can.” 16 cups, plus two beers He did say, however, that he outside of the keg,” he said. was “definitely not drinking out Next, Aycock was offered a of a funnel.” bottle of vodka. He said he was the third or “I took a big chug of McCor- fourth person in his group to get mick,” Aycock said. “Probably the bottle. two or three shots.” “There was probably a little At that point, Aycock said he more than half of a handle left,” was still all right. Aycock said. “It was a lot. I start“I love to dance,” he said. ed chugging it until it was gone. “Someone flashed a flashlight The last thing I remember, it was on me. They were strobing and I my turn, trying to drink.” started dancing. Then I fell. But He said someone told him I got up, I was okay then.” See FRATERNITY page 3 Aycock said after that, the Brittany Norman Editor In Chief
Kaitlin Morrison For the Wichitan
Photo by Patrick Johnson Sophomore Jeff Williams (back) prays with his teammates after a game at Memorial Stadium. Williams suffered serious injuries after a car accident last February that left him in a coma.
He stands on the sidelines during MSU football games wearing his number 95 maroon and gold jersey. Jeff Williams cheers on his teammates while he hopes for the chance to be back in the game again one day. Feb. 22, 2008 is a day that will stay with Williams forever. Too bad he can’t remember much about the incident that changed his life. It was a Friday night when Williams, a redshirt freshman, and his friend, Brett Davis, were involved in a two-car accident at the intersection of Maplewood and Southwest Parkway. “We were just going to pick something up,” Williams said. “It was so routine, something you don’t even think about.” Williams, driving a 2002 Ford Mustang Convertible, collided with a pickup driven by 22-year-old Albert Gee. Both Williams and Davis were rushed by ambulance to United Regional Hospital. Although Davis suffered only a concussion, Williams was in much worse shape. He had broken his wrist and pelvis and suffered from brain injuries that left him in a coma. Williams had to be hooked up to two breathing tubes after his lungs showed up white on a CAT-scan. “I was dead to the doctors,” Williams said. He was moved to the Trauma Center at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas for further testing. An MRI revealed much of the same information Williams’ family had been given when they were in Wichita Falls. Williams’ family prayed and held on to the hope he would soon wake up out of his coma, but it took two weeks. Williams opened his right eye and seemed to understand his grandmother, who was staying with him while his parents had returned to See COMEBACK page 3
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Steven Thomas MCT