Nov. 7, 2007

THE WICHITAN Wireless The Student Voice of Midwestern State University

Wednesday Nov. 7, 2007

expansion in the works CHRIS COLLINS STAFF REPORTER

ROBERT REDMON | THE WICHITAN

Another face in the crowd Student struggles with Tourette Syndrome

ANDREW WEITNER FOR THE WICHITAN Right hand, then left.

Because of the silver reflection on the doorknob to the hall of his dorm.

Because of the door handle of the stairwell on the fourth floor.

Because of the door handle at the bottom of the stairs.

Christopher Walker is drawn to the front door of the dorms, compulsively pulled like a magnet toward the shiny bumper of the red truck parked at a slight left angle in the parking lot.

Walker, a freshman marketing major, feels compelled to touch the door handles.

He absolutely must touch them with his

right hand then place his left hand against that truck bumper.

He’s got to do this!

Walker does not seem different from most students and by most standards he’s not. He has two state football championship rings from kicking for the South Lake Carroll Dragons. He is following in his father’s footsteps by being a marketing major.

Walker is funny, outgoing. While a few people may focus on his quirks, to most he’s just another face in the crowd.

The few who recognize the idiosyncrasies know of the habitual tics Walker faces every day.

He feels compelled to step on every crack he walks over. He must set his feet down in each four square pattern: left one,

right four, right two, left three. He has to make these contacts because, to him, his actions dictate the reactions of others.

Walker deals with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD; Giles de la Tourette Syndrome, also known as Tourettes; Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, also known as ADHD; Dyslexia; and Dysgraphia, a learning disability that affects handwriting.

Walker must make these physical connections because if he does not, people will know. They will know he didn’t touch the third door handle on the left, the one with the silver glint from the fluorescent glow of the hallway.

See Tourette page 5

Grant to BEGIN new scholarship opportunities SHINICE CURRY FOR THE WICHITAN

INSIDE

Project BEGIN is a new project funded by the U.S. Department of Education for MSU’s West College of Education.

The grants received will top $3 million over the next three years.

Project BEGIN stands for Beginning Educators Gain Instructional Nurturance.

According to Dr. Grant Simpson, dean of the West College of Education, one purpose of the grant is to help bring students into the College of Education.

Approximately $900,000 of the grant money will be distributed in scholarships over the next three years.

Recipients of scholarships from this grant are required to work in a high-need school for every year he or she receives the scholarship.

High-need schools are defined by the Department of Education as schools in any district with 40 per-

cent or more of attending students receiving free or reduced lunch.

Students who receive scholarships and do not fulfill the working obligation will have to repay the money as if it were a student loan.

“This isn’t a shopping spree,” Simpson said.

Students can defer payment of the loan for up to one year.

“The Department of Education is super serious,” Simpson said.

Scholarship recipients will have to fill out a contract containing about 15 pages and are required to verify employment after graduation.

In addition to scholarships, the students will also receive some type of technology, such as a laptop or a PDA to access Best Practice of Teaching modules.

These teaching modules will feature local teachers displaying reallife teaching methods.

A portion of the grant goes toward a contract with the Texas Center for Education at the University of North Texas in Denton.

This contract is to help set up the

teaching modules that can be accessed by students at all times.

The grant money also goes toward salaries for employees working on grant projects.

The grant also provides scholarship recipients with a mentor who will continue to work with each student for at least one year after graduation.

Math, science and foreign language are teaching areas that are currently in high need, so the West College of Education is encouraging students majoring in these fields to consider applying for these scholarships.

According to Simpson, junior and seniors in these majors could shift their degree plans and take 24 credit hours to receive teacher certification.

Dr. Jane Owen, project coordinator, gave a presentation on the grant projects Tuesday evening in Bolin Hall.

The West College of Education

MSU’s Information Technology Advisory Committee met Tuesday to discuss an update in wireless Internet access and possible network bandwidth upgrades.

This technological makeover has been a work in progress for years.

The wireless phenomenon, which h a s n o w permeated coffee shops, fast food restaurants and even hotel chains, is a service that students expect MSU to deliver on.

“A lot of people expect, as a university, that those things would just

be there,” Dye said. “It’s definitely a commodity.”

Wireless Internet access, which is created through radio-based systems that replace t h e physical telecommunications c o n nection between the web and any onliner e a d y devices, has become increasingly more popular over the last few years.

A handful of the university’s

See Wireless page 5

Fraternity reaches out to community KRYSTLE CAREY EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The Sigma Nu Fraternity had a full attendance on Saturday while they helped their philanthropy, Association for Retarded Citizens’s Angel Thrift Store.

The fraternity brothers worked together to help set up the thrift store, prepare clothes for sale, and close the store.

“We take great pride in doing community service, and it is one of our most important priorities in this fraternity,” said Scott Oshman,

vice president of Sigma Nu. The ARC is an organization that works to ensure Americans with intellectual and developmental disabilities have the services and supports they need to grow, develop and live in communities across the nation, according the ARC’s Web site.

The organization’s services for adults include leisure and recreation activities, independent living skill training, preparation for employment, job placement and any other supports needed.

See ARC page 5

Guerrilla Girls

PATRICK JOHNSTON | THE WICHITAN Guerrilla Girl member Kathe Kollwitz acts out a scene with junior Daniel Ragan to demonstrate the lack of female artists displayed in art galleries.

See Grant page 5

‘American Gangster’

Mustangs gallop on

MSU makes playoffs

This film brings Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington together.

Football continues to dominate, 63-7, over Eastern New Mexico.

Mustangs fall to West Texas, but still share crown with the Buffs.

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Sweepstakes Winner 2006 Texas Intercollegiate Press Association

Staff Editorial

THE WICHITAN

VIEWPOINTS

Finalist 2004 Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award

Nov. 7, 2007

Ethics in America Flipping a coin to see who gets the last can of soda doesn’t sound absurd. However, how would you feel if you knew a judge decided your child custody dispute with a toss of a coin?

A Virginia judge was removed from the

MySpace, a world of hell for net addicts T h e world of MySpace is a comp u t e r a d d i c t ’s w o r s t nightmare.

It is a CHRISTIAN MCPHATE world of OP-ED EDITOR fantasy where members can post comments, write blogs and keep in touch with family, friends and loved ones as well as enemies.

The world of MySpace is littered with an unlimited amount of trash sites that advocate everything from the truth of UFOs to Jenna Jameson.

The world of MySpace is the sixth most popular English language website across the globe and one of the most popular sites in America.

In fact, the site registers 230,000 new accounts per day.

Of course, 80 percent of those new users are spam accounts that fill your friend request box with

profiles of imaginary women and fishermen.

The gods of MySpace, Brad Greenspan and Chris DeWolfe, created the world in August 2003.

It was created to provide human resources, finance, technical expertise, bandwidth, and server capacity to E-Universe, a publicly traded Internet company.

And shortly after the gods created the world, DeWolfe stated in the first business plan that the gods should charge users for MySpace.

However, god Greenspan replied it was “totally not necessary, as many mindless youths and adults will donate money to us anyway.”

Then the gods purchased equity in the property before selling the world for $580 million to the devil, Rupert Murdoch, and his corporation of demons.

Murdoch is the evil mastermind behind the mother of incompetence, the biased Fox Broadcasting as well as other media enterprises, including the once non-biased Washington Post.

After the sale, the gods realized

that Satan had tricked them because the world was actually worth $20 billion.

Alas, the judge of the gods did not agree and sided with the devil.

Since the acquisition, the dark prince of capitalism has expanded the world to incorporate other countries into the new realm of hell where inhabitants are injected with capitalism and indoctrinated into a Hades filled with blogs, messages and comments intended to sometimes hurt, seduce and build selfesteem.

Current and former lovers, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, friends, family, pedophiles are stuck behind the computer constantly checking comments, messages and blogs like users inhaling their crack pipes.

Of course, there is some good in the world of MySpace.

A few users have taken up the mantle of protest and created sites to combat the evil and injustices of the real world.

Sadly, a person must dive through a mound of shit to find these beams of light.

I was one of the protesters drawn into the world of MySpace. I joined the site to spread my sometimeshated words across the net.

And the more I posted, the more friend’s requests came my way.

My comment box began to lengthen down the page as more friends posted words of love, hate and laughter.

It was feeding my addiction.

As the years passed, the demonsfingers slowly slithered into my mind.

I began to neglect my work, friends, family and writing projects to constantly check how many people had read my blogs, sent messages and posted comments on my little fantasy world as well as the rest of the citizens of internet hell’s pages.

Now, with the recent chaos of enlightenment, the lord of reason has shone its light of truth into my mind. And I have grasped hold with both hands.

I am finally leaving the worlds of MySpace to focus on things that are really important to me – my life.

Recently I was sitting in a chair on campus that swiveled.

I do realize that I’m a 23-yearold very soon to be CARLY BURRES (hopefully) FOR THE WICHITAN college graduate.

But that didn’t stop me from spinning in that chair singing “you spin me right round baby right round like a record baby right round, round, round” until I was so dizzy I couldn’t see anymore.

Lately I find myself doing more things that are on the level of an 8year-old. That’s because I’m about to graduate.

This girl came up to me while I was at the Imagine Graduation shindig and asked if I was graduating in December. I gave her a “yes” with a little nose twitch or some other facial contortion motion.

She told me that the day you walk across that stage is the best day of your life. That once you walk across that stage, it all begins.

So how come all I can see are things ending and falling apart?

When you are a freshman you can’t wait to start college and go to parties. The idea of sitting in lecture classes and not having to do busy work seems a little cooler than high school.

Then when you are a sophomore you are kind of ready to graduate but mostly ready to say screw it and have fun. Junior year isn’t much dif-

ferent from sophomore except some people might be a little more ready to graduate.

They have found the study hard/ play hard balance.

Or they haven’t, depending on the person.

And then senior year comes along. And you are so ready to graduate. You can’t wait.

Then your second senior year comes along (that’s the order for those of you who are unaware: freshman, sophomore, junior, senior, second year senior).

By the time that second year senior part rolls around most people are super-duper excited to be graduating.

But I’m just having some trouble getting into the WOOHOO mode.

First of all, I’m graduating in December.

What else falls in December?

Christmas. WOOHOO!!

Except it’s not so easy when you are trying to move into a new apartment (probably in a new city), trying to find a “real” job, learning how to balance paying for an apartment and whatever else needs to be paid for and trying to balance all of the Christmas festivities at the same time.

I’m not exactly rolling in a field of happy leaves here.

Second of all, how come I have friends who have already applied for 20-plus jobs and I am still trying not to hyperventilate whenever Yahoo! Job search engine comes up?

My body is having an aversion to this real world that everyone has told me to avoid for so long.

I think while my head was tun-

ing them out the rest of my body was soaking up every word that my cousin and many other people were saying.

And it was waiting until the perfect moment to slowly start leaking it into my brain just in time to mess me up.

And third, I don’t want to leave my friends.

That sounds like a stupid reason to not want to graduate, but I actually like these people.

In 2003 I moved into my Sunwatcher apartment. Since then I have watched 16 other girls move in and out of there. And finally, I like all three of them…A LOT!! We get along (for the most part). We have fun.

Why should I be forced to leave this because society tells me I have to?

I know, I know. It’s not just society. It’s also the school, the mass communications department, my grandparents, my parents… me.

It’s time. I just am having trouble coming to terms with the fact that in a month and a half I am going to have to pack up the last four and a half years of my life, say goodbye to everyone whom I have fallen so much in love with and leave.

Just like that…it all ends.

I am fully aware that I made a step like this right after graduating from high school.

But this is so different.

Mainly because I hated high school.

High school was a big pile of crap covered in more crap. It was a crap sandwich. By the time I graduated high school I was ready to take out

myself and everyone around me.

The only thing I missed were a few of my closest friends.

I came to college, and college made me a better person.

I became aware of who I was, who I want to be, what I believe and don’t believe. I tried things that everyone should try. I tried things that no one should try. I even tried things that everyone should try but at a time when trying them just shouldn’t be done.

FYI, the night before your sociology final isn’t the best time to, well, try new things.

Slowly but surely I am coming to terms with the fact that I am graduating.

I got my cap and gown. I finally ordered my announcements last night while bitching the whole time about how I have to spend fifty bucks on a stupid piece of paper to let people know I’m graduating.

I have managed to get my resume and cover letter into my advisor to make sure I’m not going to scare off potential job hiring people and I have even managed to breath long enough to save some prospective jobs on YAHOO! But I’m still terrified. I’m still worried. I’m still wondering who is going to rescue me at two in the morning when I’ve lost my way.

But December 15th I will walk across the stage and remember the wise words of Orrin Hatch when he said, “There is a good reason they call these ceremonies commencement exercises. Graduation is not the end; it’s the beginning.”

bench this past week for doing just that.

What has come of society’s morals and ethics?

This same judge had a woman drop her pants in the courtroom to see if she really did have stitches on a wound.

Sound outlandish?

To say the least.

Then, you have another recent case of a sixth-grade teacher running off to Mexico with a 13-year-old student.

Again, absurd.

Some people who are supposed to set good examples for the young and society are not doing such a good job much anymore. They are acting just as crazy and childish as the people they put in jail and send to the principal’s office.

How do they expect to be good role models if they can’t be good influence peddlers themselves?

People in these impresssionable and powerful positions need to realize the impact they can have on others and act accordingly.

Not everyone has the same morals and values but shouldn’t everyone possess some common sense?

That may be asking too much anymore.

It’s easier to flip a coin.

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

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.

Graduation blues strikes columnist’s heart

THE WICHITAN Editorial Board

Editor-in-Chief Krystle Carey

Managing Editor Brittany Norman

Entertainment Editor Konnie Sewell Op-Ed Editor Christian McPhate Sports Editor Josh Mujica

Photo Editor Patrick Johnston

Reporters Richard Carter Courtney Foreman

Advertising Manager Rebecca Ferguson

Photographers Joel Abeyta Lauren Williams

Copy Editor Haley Cunningham

Graphic Artist Robert Redmon

Adviser Randy Pruitt

Op-Ed

Teacher tangled in literary witch hunt

Censorship strikes again.

A n i n t h grade teacher in TusBRITTANY NORMAN c o l a , MANAGING EDITOR Texas has been placed on leave and is being investigated for providing harmful material to a minor after a parent complained to the police about a novel on the pre-Advanced Placement English class reading list.

The most recent victim to overreacting parents on a witch hunt is Kaleb Tierce, an English teacher at Jim Ned High School in Tuscola.

Parents went to the local police after their daughter read the book for a book report. Tierce now faces criminal charges for providing harmful material to a minor.

Yes, the book in question deals with notably mature subjects.

The main character is a murderer and necrophiliac, and certain scenes depict these disturbing parts of his nature in detail.

The book wasn’t written with

the intention of causing a stir over the content.

The book in question is a 1974 novel by last years’ Pulitzer Prize winning author Cormac McCarthy.

The fact that a teacher can get in legal trouble over fictional necrophilia is a testament to many things, among them close-minded small-town Texas, the tendency of parents to freak out over the written word while letting mature TV and movie content run wild, and a disturbing reminder of just how often books are banned despite literary merit.

A 14-year-old girl chose the novel from a list of titles approved by the school district.

When her parents checked out the book, they were disturbed by certain passages that depicted rape, violence and necrophilia.

The parents complained to school officials who stood behind Tierce. Unsatisfied, the parents then went to the local sheriff’s department and filed charges against the educator. A detective has been assigned to the case and there is a state law about providing harmful material to minors, but the teacher hasn’t been charged or arrested.

The town of 700 was divided.

Some supported the teacher,

including many students who wore black armbands under their clothes in demonstration. Others backed the parents or blamed the district.

In a larger city would the same thing have happened? Maybe.

But in a world where young children are shooting people in violent video games without anyone batting an eye, it seems very hypocritical that literature should be the focus of parents’ outrageous concern.

The fact of the matter is that a good kid can read about murder and necrophilia, watch violent movies and play violent video games and still turn out all right.

The bad kids are going to be bad regardless of the books they read.

Most accounts of Tierce from students and parents focus on his ability to inspire his students. The fact that those in his classes are willing to protest the forced leave of absence speaks volumes.

Parents need to stop overreacting when literature oversteps their own narrow moral road and rejoice, instead, that their children are actually reading.

And if they want teachers to continue teaching well, it’s time to lay off the lawsuits.

Unthankful sacrifice of a holiday

It has definitely come down to crunch time.

I was at ballet rehearsall last n i g h t REBECCA FERGUSON w h e n AD MANAGER my artistic director told me not to make any plans during the third week of November, but more specifically the Wednesday and Thursday of that week.

Anyone want to take a guess what days those are?

Hmm. Yeah.

That would definitely be Thanksgiving.

Of course I smiled, nodded, and said “yes ma’am.” I knew there was no point in arguing. I knew I couldn’t win, so I didn’t even try.

Don’t get me wrong, though.

I love ballet, and I love performing. I’ve given up so much time and turned down so many other things to get to the level I’m at right now.

But seriously now, Thanksgiving?

I guess it could be worse, right?

It’s not like I have rehearsal on Christmas.

Thanksgiving isn’t one of my favorite holidays anyways.

Sure, I’ll be missing out on my

family, most of which I haven’t seen in about a year, but I could do without the food. I don’t eat half of the things that are considered typical Thanksgiving dishes.

And on the bright side, I’ll be avoiding a long car ride trapped with my parents. (I tend to get a little grouchy on car trips!)

I really have no room to complain though. For as long as I can remember, being Clara in The Nutcracker has been my dream, and if this is what I have to do, then it’s what I have to do.

I want to look good on stage, and I will look good on stage.

I will know what I’m doing.

There’s no other option.

I’m afraid it won’t come together in time, and that is a big deal.

It’s not like I haven’t already been working my ass off for this role and this performance.

Those extra days are very much needed, I just wish they weren’t on those two specific days.

My partner doesn’t come in to town until that Wednesday before Thanksgiving and we’re performing the following Friday and Saturday. That’s why this has become such a mess.

To make it a little bit more understandable to people outside the dance world, it would probably be like the equivalent of throwing in a whole slew of unpracticed defensive plays hours before a football game.

I panicked when my artistic

director told me my partner was coming in so late.

If we had more time, this wouldn’t be necessary, nor would it be that big a deal.

I performed this part last year, so I do actually know what I’m doing. It’s just rough trying to do partner-work without your partner, obviously.

It’s a scary thought knowing you’ll have to make something performance ready after practicing three or four times and then it to the stage.

Thank God I have an awesome partner who knows his part and is super easy to work with. If not, I would be majorly stressed.

I kind of knew this was going to happen, but it’s still kind of upsetting. I honestly don’t mind.

It just had to happen the year I was supposed to go out of town and have a huge Ferguson family reunion.

Surprisingly enough, my mom wasn’t too upset when I told her.

She knows it’s not my fault, and I think that’s why.

She’s only going slightly out of her way to change her plans to accommodate my schedule and the rest of the family’s schedule.

I am, however, going to leave up to her to tell the rest of the family!

So, while the rest of my family is enjoying each other’s company that Thursday, I’ll be in the studio, tying my pointe shoes and getting ready for a long day of rehearsal.

Attention: The Wichitan is seeking columnists and cartoonists.

Email us: wichitan@mwsu.edu or Call: 397-4704

THE WICHITAN Nov. 7, 2007

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Horoscopes Today’s birthday (11-07-07): You’ll find a hidden source of income, possibly in a dream. Follow a hunch, your intuition or the voice inside your head to a source of great abundance.

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging..

Aries (March 21-April 19): _ Today is a 7 _ Let somebody else provide an item you can’t quite reach.

What’s easy for this other person is rather a hassle for you. Minimize your stress.

Taurus (April 20-May 20): _ Today is a 7 _ You’ll notice an older person having trouble making a decision. Don’t wait, figure out what needs to be done and offer it as a suggestion. Your input is appreciated.

Gemini (May 21-June 21): _ Today is an 8 _ Draw word pictures with your partner as vividly as you can. Once you can see in your mind what you’re after, getting there will be easy.

Cancer (June 22-July 22): _ Today is a 7 _ Conditions are good for compromise. Give a little and the other person will give a little, too. That will be enough.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22): _Today is a 7 _ How can you get the whole story? Keep asking the tough questions. One person in particular will sing like a canary.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): _ Today is a 7 _ You know what you want but you’re not sure you can afford it. If it’s for your home, it’s probably a good investment. This includes culinary delights.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): _ Today is a 7 _ Being smart is just the beginning. Having the aptitude’s nice, but you also have to develop the skills. That’s your next assignment.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): _ Today is a 7 _ Something you’ve been holding onto has increased in value. Do the research and ask your informants. Find out who wants what, and what you can provide.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): _ Today is a 7 _ Sometimes others believe in you more than you believe in yourself. This is perfectly natural. You can trust them on this. Proceed boldly.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): _ Today is a 7 _ Somebody’s putting the pressure on. You don’t like this feeling much, but it sure is activating. Finish a task you’ve been resisting and earn a tidy bonus.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): _ Today is a 7 _ Gather more information on your own before you go into discussions with people who know what they’re talking about. You’ll want to keep up.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): _ Today is a 7 _ Through an amazing twist of fate, the impossible is accomplished.

Nobody has to convince you to believe in miracles!

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THE WICHITAN Nov. 7, 2007

New Releases MUSIC: “Exclusive,” Chris Brown; “Ultimate Hits,” Garth Brooks; “I-Empire,” Angels & Airwaves; “Taylor Swift,” Taylor Swift; “American Gangster,” JayZ; “Stevie Ray Vaughan: Pride and Joy,” Stevie Ray Vaughan; “A Place to Land,” Little Big Town DVD: “Ratatouille,” “Sicko,” “Stardust,” “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” “Deck the Halls,” “Flanders,” “Blame it on Fidel,” “Absolute Wilson,” “Time,” “I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone,” “Election,” “In My Father’s Den,” “Shoot the Moon” BOOKS: “Rescuing Sprite: A Dog Lover’s Story of Joy and Anguish,” Mark R. Levin; “Rhett Butler’s People,” Donald McCaig; “Stone Cold,” David Baldacci; “Boom!: Voices of the Sixties, Personal Reflections on the ’60s and Today,” Tom Brokaw; “Creation in Death,” J.D. Robb; “Surrender is Not an Option: Defending America at the United Nations,” John Bolton; “Valley Boy: The Education of Tom Perkins,” Tom Perkins; “Third Degree,” Greg Iles; “The Chase,” Clive Cussler; “Holy Smokes,” Katie MacAlister; “Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born,” Peter David, Stephen King, Robin Furth, Jae Lee; “Just In Time!,” Rachael Ray; “The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Nonbeliever,” Christopher Hitchens; “Proust Was a Neuroscientist,” Jonah Lehrer; “Blacklisted by History: The Untold Story of Senator Joy McCarthy and His Fight Against America’s Enemies,” M. Stanton Evans VIDEO GAMES: “Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare,” X360, PC, PS3, DS; “Gears of War,” PC; “Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games,” Wii; “Empire Earth III,” PC; “Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn,” Wii; “Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga,” Wii, X360, PS3, DS; “The Simpsons Game,” PSP; “Silent Hill: Origins,” PSP; “Bladestorm: The Hundred Years’ War,” X360, PS3; “Supreme Commander: Forged Alliance,” PC; “F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate,” PC; “Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker,” DS; “Championship Manager 2008,” PC

Pearl’s Farewell All the cool kids have seen “The Landlord,” the Will Ferrell short in which Ferrell’s character is harassed by his 2-year-old landlord (Pearl) for overdue rent money.

But many are unaware of “Good Cop, Baby Cop,” the second collaboration between Pearl and Ferrell, and, sadly, Pearl’s final performance.

In “Good Cop, Baby Cop,” Pearl plays a tough police officer who forces Ferrell to sign a confession. Hilarity ensues. Check it out at www. funnyordie.com.

On Strike

The Writers Guild of America, East and the Writers Guild of America, West went on strike Nov. 5.

The WGAE and the WGAW are two labor unions that represent film, television, radio and new media writers working in the United States.

The strike is against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), a trade organization that represents the interests of American film and television producers. Over 12,000 writers are affected by the strike.

The last such strike was the 1988 Writers Guild of America Strike; it lasted 22 weeks, costing the American entertainment industry an estimated $500 million.

Entertainment

‘American Gangster’ overhyped

LAUREN WOOD STAFF REPORTER I had been anticipating the release of “American Gangster” since I first saw the previews for it. With the amazing duo of Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, how could this movie go wrong?

It didn’t go wrong, but it didn’t go 100 percent right, either. It was definitely a strong film, but not legendary like “Scarface” or “Casino.”

Guaranteed it was a good movie, but it doesn’t give you that feeling in the end, like “That was worth the $7.50 I just shelled out.”

Denzel Washington stars as Frank Lucas, a crime lord in late 1960s/early 1970s Harlem. To achieve his goal of working solely for himself, he established his own source of the best heroin he can sell on the streets. Imported using the help of the U.S. military, Washington gets in the business of bribing cops while keeping his prices down to dominate the drug trade in New York.

Soon he is the “king of crime” and has more power than the Mafia, getting everything he wants, including a beautiful Puerto Rican wife.

However, Russell Crowe plays Richie Roberts, an equally ambitious cop who, unlike his partners, is honest and not crooked. He is put in charge of a special unit looking to attack the illegal drug trade with a couple of rough-looking cops, and he quickly realizes he must bring down this drug lord to do so.

Director Ridley Scott definitely does a good job at paralleling the rise of both men, as well as contrasting their opposing lifestyles.

It is a little bit on the slow side to start and the action between the two men barely starts until after halfway during the film. We know from the

Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington) and Ritchie Roberts (Russell Crowe) dish it out in Ridley Scott’s “American Gangster.” This is the second time they’ve teamed up together; the first was 1995’s “Virtuosity.”

previews that they are bound to collide, so waiting for it was a drag.

Washington does a great job, but has some scenes where he goes a bit over the top. You understand where he is coming from, but it doesn’t really come off as something real.

He captures Frank’s paranoia and

power and how he changes when his bank account grows.

Crowe is a standout performer as well as the cop with many personal problems and a dedication to ethics that could be his salvation or downfall.

The ending was sentimental

in that you begin to feel sorry for Washington’s character, even though he was a drug lord who distributed mass amounts of heroin. But come on, who can’t forgive Denzel?

It was a bit of a long movie and as I looked around the theater I did see eyes closing, but for the majori-

ty, it was a pretty intense movie that kept me awake.

Overall, good acting and directing, plot and dialogue, but was hyped up too much and was kind of a small letdown that will leave the audience talking for days, but not weeks, months, or years.

Fiery Furnaces turn user-friendly ‘Lambs’ aims to educate Fans of The Fiery Furnaces got a surprise a few weeks ago when the band played a semi-secret show at Manhattan’s Mercury Lounge. The songs were – of all things – recognizable.

It was an unexpected development from a brother-sister duo that thrives on rearranging its already difficult songs into entirely new live versions. Fans have come to expect catchy tunes twisted into thorny experiments, or slow songs hammered out at jet speed. This is a band that used to open and close its concerts with utterly mangled versions of The Champs’ 1958 classic “Tequila.”

That’s in the past, at least for the time being. Earlier this month, The Fiery Furnaces released “Widow City” (Thrill Jockey), the most accessible album of their frequently head-scratching career. Inspired by the sound of 1970s classic rock, the album includes several couldbe singles such as the hard-driving “Navy Nurse,” the swinging pop tune “Restorative Beer,” even a love song called “Ex-Guru.” Matthew Friedberger, who plays every instrument on the disc save for the drums, has reined in his attention-deficit approach to songwriting, and his younger sister Eleanor adds bluesy moans to her vocal repertoire.

If The Fiery Furnaces were aiming for a breakthrough album, this would be it – but they’re not. A few days after the show, at a bar not far from Eleanor’s apartment, the Friedbergers seem amused by the very idea.

“If people like it more,” Matthew said with a laugh, “that’s their problem.”

That perverse attitude has made The Fiery Furnaces a cult band even within the rarefied world of indie

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“Lions for Lambs” reflects Robert Redford’s belief that the American people are being failed by the educational system, politicians and media more interested in small matters such as a celebrity’s rehabilitation stay than in bigger, important matters such as the war. The film deals with the current conflict, but Redford doesn’t want “Lions for Lambs” to be lumped in with other recent productions about the war, such as “Rendition,” “Kingdom” or “Home of the Brave.”

“First of all, if it had just been about the Iraq war, I wouldn’t have been as interested in it as other projects I am developing. I knew there would be a lot of films and documentaries about the Iraq war.

That is a subject that is well covered,” Redford says. “It is far more interesting for me to do a film that involves education, the media and politics and the military by having these individual stories.”

rock.

Suddenly, The Fiery Furnaces were one of those “weird” bands, supposedly beloved only by pretentious poseurs. (A recent article in Paste magazine poked fun at rock snobs “pretending to like The Fiery Furnaces.”) Meantime, the band’s label was running into financial problems, and the once-hot Friedbergers began looking for another home.

In July they found it in Thrill Jockey, the Chicago-based indie whose roster includes the similarly adventurous band Tortoise. It was Tortoise’s drummer, John McEntire, who mixed “Widow City” and introduced Matthew to Bettina Richards, the label’s founder.

Richards said she wasn’t concerned by the band’s history of po-

larizing its audience. “In fact, it’s a reason I was particularly interested in them,” she said. She added that she has no plans to commercialize or soften the band’s music. “We just have to hand it out to the people who won’t enjoy it, and let the people who will enjoy it, find it.”

More polarization may be in the future. Among the projects The Friedbergers are discussing (perhaps seriously, perhaps not) are a collection of arias from Matthew’s unreleased rock operas; an album with lyrics written mostly by fans; and a ballet based on American Sign Language.

“We’d like music to be a career, but we can’t make decisions based on business,” Matthew said, as if appalled at the suggestion. “That’s still against the rules.”

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5

Tourette_________________________________________continued from page 1 To Walker, this is an intrinsic concept where the actions he performs are directly related to his interaction with people.

If he does not follow through with his tics, touching each object first with his right hand and then with his left, people will know that he failed, and they will be ashamed.

They will know.

He is bound to this despite knowing it is ultimately untrue.

“It is ingrained in my head that I have to touch things twice or even three times with my feet, but I feel like people will not talk to me, they somehow know that I didn’t do it,” Walker said.

In elementary school, Walker was diagnosed with ADHD. In high school, Walker’s content mastery teacher noticed his unusual behavior and suggested testing for Tourettes.

“I remember watching a 20/20 special about people with Tourettes and laughing. I was nine years old then. Four years later I have it. I was like, ‘Don’t laugh at people with disabilities,’ ” Walker said.

Up through the beginning of high school he was taking Ritalin. After he was diagnosed with Tourettes, the diagnostician prescribed Guanfacine, which acted as an aggressor and tended to cancel the progenerative effects of the two drugs individually. This caused an accelerated increase in the effects of both disorders, he said.

Suddenly, he had to cope without the use of either drug.

“How you get rid of it? You have to deal with it. You have to focus whenever you get the urge in your head. You have to focus on a different thing,” he said.

In high school, his disability was a convenient crutch, treated as either a joke or used to mask his laziness.

“There are vocal tics, physical tics. There are lots of different ones.

I used to yell out random words in class. Because I had Tourettes I could get away with it,” Walker recalled. “I would have more time on my homework. That would just make me more lazy.”

The extra slack people cut him became more hindrance than help.

“The diagnostician taught me to break away from it because in the real world, when you get a job, they’re not going to be like, ‘You get more time on this,’ ” he said.

He said he hasn’t spoken with Disability Services at MSU because at the junior college he attended, he never sought extra time on assignments. Like everyone else, he used the time allotted to him.

“I haven’t talked to them at all because I feel like I am cheating myself by getting extensions on stuff and extra time on tests,” he said.

Walker said he finally found ways to identify and overcome the obstacles. Help came in the form of a defensive football coach.

“He said that he had dyslexia and learning disabilities all his life and people made fun of him. We were friends on a personal basis, and he taught me how to cope with it,” he said.

Walker said he recognizes the disability but is not inclined to be a victim or someone who uses it to his advantage.

“It’s kind of like if one person doesn’t have all their limbs, and they learn how to cope using only one leg or one arm,” he said. “I have learned things that other people will never learn. I probably have to touch like 20 things in between my room and class whether it be poles or cars or something unusual on the ground.”

With both the Tourettes and the ADHD, he has stopped taking medicine that would make him depen-

dent on the prescriptions. In order to gain control, he decided to do it without the help of drugs.

He’s aware of the side effects.

“I have got it in my head that if people don’t answer my calls, they know somehow that I haven’t been doing my tics,” Walker said. “I feel like if I don’t do it, people won’t talk to me, people won’t call me, people will think of me different.

“Tics are just something you pick up, I’ll crack my ankle, pop my arm, shrug my nose or blink too much.

They (the tics) can stay for hours, to weeks, to days, to years,” Walker said. “You will be neglected if you don’t do it. I will be circled out if I don’t do it and people won’t talk to me.”

He has found that the majority of his inhibitions center around people as well as the stress of school life.

“I haven’t quite really adjusted for the best of it. I still feel like people don’t really like me,” Walker said. “I have convinced myself over so many years that they won’t talk to me. I have never found it to be true, but I still convince myself to do it (tics).”

But he is less centered on the negative than it may seem. It is an everyday effort to focus and grow despite the disabilities.

“With Tourettes, I have learned how to not really let it bother me.

I am just working on getting rid of it,” Walker said.

Part of his coping method is maneuvering past useless stresses.

“I’m really making leaps and bounds because normally those things are not organized up there (in his room). Before I had to have stuff in alphabetical order, but I know I have to have a mess to make myself feel normal. It is making me a stronger person mentally and physically.”

Wireless_________________________________________continued from page 1 buildings are already online, such as the Clark Student Center, Moffett Library, the Dillard College of Business, the Memorial Building and parts of Hardin Administration are all Wi-Fi ready.

“I just use the Internet in Clark a lot,” said freshman Jacob Marks, who states he uses his laptop three to five times a week in the student center – without any wires attached.

However, wireless capability isn’t useful unless students are aware it’s present.

When asked if he knew about other campus buildings’ wireless capabilities, Mark said, “I knew it was available, I just didn’t know where.”

One of the next buildings Information Systems is hoping to provide wireless access to is Bolin Hall, where math and science are taught.

“They’re starting to teach some of those technologies within computer science,” Dye said. “You have to have it to teach it,” he added.

Since any area of the campus could be wirelessly capable, students are encouraged to voice their opinions about which areas of the university should be elected to re-

ceive the wireless treatment. A poll will be administered by Information Systems sometime next year to gage student demand on the subject.

A potential problem that upgraded wireless access poses, however, is a greater demand on MSU’s already overworked network bandwidth.

The school’s current Internet is provided by Southwestern Bell through two servers: MSUnet, the server used to accommodate systems for general use in the student center and most academic halls, and resnet, the network that encompasses all Internet activity in the university’s residence halls.

While MSUnet’s 25-megabytesper-second connection more than doubles resnet’s 10, future wireless activity could slow both networks considerably, according to Dye. Though Dye claims that wireless activities “actually aren’t” demanding on campus networks, an estimated 1/5 of network bandwidth is currently invested in wireless Internet access at MSU. That fraction can only be expected to increase once efforts are doubled to improve wireless activity on campus.

Another factor contributing to

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the potentially problematic network speed is what Dye calls “nonessential” Internet use, meaning any web-based activities that don’t apply to students’ “jobs, research or homework.”

Such applications as streaming Internet radio, youtube and Myspace place a strain on network connections and slow Internet use for students who are using school computers for legitimate academic purposes.

Resnet, for example, which networks 1,100 on-campus beds in all of MSU’s residence halls, is maxed out “100 percent of the time, 24 hours a day,” Dye said. The server’s bandwidth, which allows 10 mb/s of information to either travel out of or into the network, generally runs at a demand of 15 or 16 mb/s.

What does this mean? It means that many students – and not just those in the residence halls, either – find themselves staring at a blank screen while “waiting in line,” so to speak, for the server to open up.

This potential slowing of network speed also poses a problem for the 4,700 students who are currently enrolled in MSU’s approximately 250 partially or fully

Internet-based courses.

Dye emphasizes the importance of WebCT, an online application that serves as an online learning environment for many online-only students. It’s also one of MSU’s many academic tools that may be problematically slow in the future.

“That’s our core business activity; it’s a place to store information for professors and it’s an easy place for kids to go get it 24 hours a day,” he said.

In order to combat decreasing network speed, MSU is looking into doubling bandwidth for both resnet and MSUnet servers to 20 and 50 mb/s, respectively. The upgrade, which students would pay for out of student service fees, should be relatively inexpensive.

ARC____________________continued from page 1

Approximately 800 chapters are spread across the nation, helping an estimated 7.2 million Americans who have such disabilities, according to the ARC Web site.

According to Oshman, the fraternity is always looking to help out the community and being involved with volunteer work.

The ARC Angels Thrift Store is

open on Saturdays, and the fraternity will be volunteering again next month.

“We would like to make the ARC Angels Thrift Store aware to everyone,” Oshman said.

For more information about the organization or to help volunteer, call the ARC of Wichita County at 940-692-2303.

Grant__________________continued from page 1 along with the North Central Texas College, Vernon College, Wichita Falls Independent School District and the University of North Texas in Denton applied for grant money in 2005.

According to Simpson, they re-

ceived notification in August that they would be receiving grant money.

“Now we have the pleasant job of spending a million dollars in a year,” Simpson said. “We’re not complaining.”

6

THE WICHITAN Nov. 7, 2007

MSU rolls ENMU, 63-7 BOBBY MORRIS STAFF REPORTER The Mustangs continued their stellar offensive play on Saturday at Eastern New Mexico University, by completely dismantling the Greyhounds, 63-7.

MSU is now on its second threegame winning streak of the season, relying on one of the nation’s top rushing trios.

The juggernaut rushing attack consists of running backs, freshman Marcus Mathis and junior B.J. Mathis, and senior quarterback Daniel Polk.

All were ready to show what they could do against the Greyhounds.

ENMU had absolutely no answer for MSU, as the Mustangs piled up 597 yards of total offense.

MSU jumped out to an early lead and continued piling it on until eventually racking up 63 points for the second time this season.

Polk led the Mustangs down the field on three of their four first quarter drives, capitalizing on two early turnovers by the Greyhounds.

Starting on their own 3-yard line, Polk led the team on a 12-play drive the length of the field, ultimately throwing a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide-receiver DelJuan Lee. Then, following one of Cody Thompson’s two interceptions of the afternoon, MSU got the ball back again.

In only five plays, Polk and Lee hooked up again, this time for a 17yard score, to make it 14-0.

Receiver Andy Tanner got in the mix for the Mustangs in the opening minute of the second quarter, catch-

ing Polk’s third and final passing touchdown of the afternoon, from 38 yards out.

Following a Joe Chatman 2-yard touchdown run in the middle of the second quarter, MSU was content on heading into intermission up 280.

They weren’t finished blowing out the Greyhounds yet though.

The defensive unit played almost flawlessly for the entire 60-minute contest.

The Mustangs only gave up 167 total yards of offense to ENMU, while more impressively only allowing 97 yards rushing to the nation’s leading rushing team that averaged 332.2 rushing yards prior to Saturday.

Led by the stellar play of Ryan Craven, with eight tackles, and Thompson, who finished with six tackles, the Mustangs totally shut down ENMU. MSU forced three turnovers, sacked the quarterback twice, and only allowed one third-down conversion out of nine attempts.

The before-mentioned Marcus Mathis led the charge on the ground by racking up his third 100-yard rushing performance of the year, ultimately finishing with 100 yards on 13 carries with one touchdown.

The other Mathis at runningback, B.J., played a great game as well, finishing with 91 yards on a mere 7 carries, including a 54-yard burst and 1 yard goal-line touchdown run.

Polk was pulled from the game in third quarter, but before that he finished with 248 yards on 15 of 24 passing with three touchdowns.

Sports

PATRICK JOHNSTON | THE WICHITAN MSU’S B.J. Mathis,15, avoids one defender and tries to juke past another on a run play against Texas A&M-Kingsville on Oct. 20. Mathis was named the Lone Star Conference Player of the Week, along with fellow teammate Daniel Polk, for his outstaing play in a 63-7 win at Eastern New Mexico University Saturday.

He also accounted for 52 yards on the ground from his seven carries.

With their play last Saturday, B.J. Mathis and Daniel Polk were both awarded LSC Player of the Week honors.

During Saturday’s game, B.J. Mathis broke the MSU single-season punt return record, totaling 446 yards on 26 returns this season.

The Mustangs have played themselves back into post-season contention with their most recent winning streak, but this Saturday will prove

to be the deciding factor on how the post-season will play out.

No. 19 MSU will take on No. 21 Abilene Christian Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m.

This is a crucial NCAA Division II Southwest Region battle, as the

Mustangs will need to win impressively to jump four spots in the polls and land a spot in post-season play.

Without a doubt, both teams see this game as a “must-win situation” and it should result in some great football.

Lady Mustangs look to gallop through LSC Conference Championships BOBBY MORRIS STAFF REPORTER

The MSU volleyball team was looking to finish their regular season strong before they headed to the Lone Star Conference championship tournament.

After taking a heart-breaking loss to WTAMU on October 25, the Mustangs have been on fire, recording wins at every stop.

They have only lost two games in their last four matches, two of those matches were away, conference games, as well.

First off, last Thursday in San An-

gelo, Texas, MSU was looking to solidify a high-ranking in the LSC Conference Championships.

They got huge contributions from the “Big Three” to propel themselves to the 3-0 sweep over Angelo State.

Performances from Whitney Maxwell, Alysha Pritt, and Sesley Graves stole the show.

They combined for 30 kills, while leading the Mustangs to an astounding .226 attack percentage.

It wasn’t all about offense, though, as MSU combined for eleven team kills and were led by Graves, who had six kills.

Juniors, Allison Schreiber and Shay Velasquez, both contributed in the win by accounting for 37 assists and 12 digs, respectively.

The victory brought the team’s overall record to a 26-4.

MSU set out to clinch the thirdseed at the LSC Conference Championships Saturday afternoon as they traveled to Abilene to take on the rising Abilene Christian Wildcats.

ACU had its way with the Mustangs early in the match-up, completely dominating the first game and taking it 30-15.

Momentum then swung for the

Mustangs, as senior Krissa Johnson stepped-up and gave the team the push they needed to close-out the Wildcats.

Johnson ended the match with ten kills, complimented by Pritt who had a team-high twelve.

The games were all tight, but the Mustangs surged to take all of them, eventually handing ACU their 13th loss on the season.

After dropping the first game, MSU won the next three: 30-25, 3028, and 30-26.

This finalized the Mustangs’ school-record regular season at 274.

After completing their 3-0 week, Pritt was announced as the LSC Defensive Player of the Week, last Monday.

She paced the way for MSU’s great week by notching double-digit kills in each of the games.

This was her third time being honored his season.

Last Tuesday, Johnson was announced to the LSC All-Academic Team.

Johnson, a sports and fitness major who was a top-attacking target for the Mustangs, was the only player from MSU on the All-Academic team, but eight teammates

were named to the Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

With their history-making record, MSU locked up the third-seed in the LSC Conference Championships to be hosted this weekend in The Box located on the West Texas A&M campus in Canyon.

Midwestern will match-up against sixth-seed Cameron this Thursday at noon.

The tournament is a single-elimination, eight team tournament which will award the winners on Saturday night with an automatic bid into the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

game at D.L. Ligon Coliseum.

The game was originally set for 7 p.m. but will be played at 5:30 p.m.

The Mustangs will also play Wayland Baptist next Tuesday in another exibition match-up set to

tip-off at 7 p.m.

MSU is picked to finish fourth overall in the Lone Star Conference but third in the LSC South Division.

Central Oklahoma, West Texas A&M and Tarleton State are all

picked ahead of the Mustangs.

The team returns two starters from last season’s South Division championship team that went 247 and advanced to the NCAA Division II South Central Regional.

Seniors Chris Davis (9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds) and Christopher Reay (6.9 points, 5.9 rebounds) lead the Mustangs as they try to fill the shoes of Eric Dawson (17.4 points), Drew

Coffman (17.2 points), and Chad Rickett (16.7) who all completed their eligibility at the end of last season.

MSU also welcomes back Jeremy Ford (6.5 points), Kevin Brandsma (1.7 points), Russell Button (2.8 points), Jordan Coffman and Michael Godwin.

Forwards Trajinski Grigsby and Marcus Anderson, guard Nolan Richardson IV, and former

Wichita Falls High School star Charlie Logan headline the Mustangs rotation.

The first official game of the season for the MSU is slated for Nov. 16 and 17 in Austin in the St. Edward’s Classic.

The Mustangs first home game will be played on Nov. 20 as they take on Texas-Permian Basin.

Men’s basketball team hopes to exhibit potential against Oklahoma City University JOSH MUJICA SPORTS EDITOR

The MSU 2007-2008 men’s basketball season kicks off Saturday as the Mustangs host Oklahoma City University in an exibition

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Sports

THE WICHITAN Nov. 7, 2007

7

PATRICK JOHNSTON | THE WICHITAN MSU’s Tyler Murphy fights off a West Texas A&M player and races upfield with the ball as Jake Landon, 19, runs to help his teammate Sunday at The MSU Soccer Field. MSU lost, 1-0.

No. 7 MSU wins SSC title despite1-0 lose

BOBBY MORRIS STAFF REPORTER Friday night, MSU celebrated its Senior Night the only way they knew how; by winning.

The Mustangs took on Eastern New Mexico in what happened to be the second-to-last game at the MSU Soccer Field for the seniors.

The heads-up play by Brannan Calvert to clear the ball off of the line in the 10th minute of the game gave the Mustangs the push it needed.

Senior Daniel Brown celebrated

his last home game with his record22nd goal of the season, by heading in a free kick by Brian Martinez.

The goal would eventually put the Mustangs up 1-0 heading into intermission.

Robert Swann, Jake Landon, and Efren Castillo all chipped in, scoring goals in the second half to secure the lead, on their way to dominating the Greyhounds in the 4-0 game.

Six cautions and three ejections were called the match.

Swann was served a red card in the 72nd minute of the game, while

Kyle Kmiec picked up his fifth caution of the season in the 48th minute.

With these cards, both players were forced to sit the next game out, which turned out to be the determining game for the rights to host the NCAA Division II Championship Tournament.

So on Sunday, the Mustangs had to take on a West Texas A&M team they had previously beaten, 3-2, to determine the host of the tournament.

WTAMU forward Jacob Fynboe Jensen headed a corner-kick which

was deflected by MSU goalkeeper Jeremy Turner.

The rebound off of Turner cost MSU the game as Oliver Mulamba collected the stray ball and put it in the net to put the Buffs ahead 1-0 entering the half.

The Mustangs out-shot the Buffs 16-6, but just couldn’t capitalize on any of their shots and dropped the conference-clinching game, 1-0.

The loss dropped their overall record to 16-3, while giving them a share of the Southwest Soccer Conference championship with WTAMU.

his former team, the NBA is outstandishly entertaining.

I remember the days of Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the 90’s.

I recall pretending that the Bulls were the good guys and every team they battled played the bad guys.

Jordan played the superhero role with his constant game winning and ability to dominate a game singlehandedly.

Even though the Chicago Bulls won six championships in that decade, each game didn’t come easy.

Every team back then was great and each had its star players.

There was Patrick Ewing and the Knicks, Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp with the Seattle Supersonics, Isaiah Thomas and the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons, Charles Barkley and the Pheonix Suns, Karl Malone and John Stockton with the Utah Jazz and Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets.

Both the Eastern conference and the Western conference had a chance at the NBA title every year.

In my opinion, when Jordan retired for the second time with the Bulls in 1999, it marked an end of

an era.

With age and injury, the other star players I grew up watching began to retire and the league went into a slump.

The NBA went through a lockout that began in the summer of 1998 and lasted until the beginning of 1999.

With no NBA season in the months of October through December, fans lost interest and publicity for the game were going downhill.

Even when Jordan returned to play with the Washington Wizards in 2001, the NBA suffered a decline in viewers, attendance at games and merchandise sells.

The Western Conference had all the star power with Shaq, Kobe, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett emerging and taking away the East’s chances at competing for a championship.

It was like the West and East were on a seesaw and the West’s power outweighed the East and the West was sitting as the East was up in the air dangling its feet unable to budge its counterpart.

Well, I’m glad to tell you my

friends that those days have come to an end.

For the first time since the Bulls donminance, the competition in the West and East is pretty much even.

Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett are in the East with Boston, Shaq is in the East, the Spurs are a potential dynasty, Labron James is in the house, Carmello Anthony and Allen Iverson are a one-two punch, the Mavs are the Mavs, the Pistons are healthy, Kobe is still scoring, Tracy McGrady is in top shape to lead the Rockets and the Baby Bulls are coming into their own.

The New Jersey Nets, Wizards, Jazz, L.A. Clippers, Toronto Raptors and Golden State Warriors are all ready to compete as well.

I’m so excited to see what this season will have to offer because each side has an even chance to win a championship.

Little do people know, I’ve always had a passion to play in the NBA. Please hold your laughter. I know.

I’m the guy who annually buys NBA Live for my Playstation 2

just to create myself and compete amongst the giants of the league.

My favorite team, don’t judge me MSU, is the Spurs, and in my memory card, I have a 6ft10 version of myself on a San Antonio roster along sideTimmy D and Tony Parker.

The team also features former MSU player, Eric Dawson, who I created because of his play on last season’s LSC South Division championship team.

Even though I played football and ran track in high school, I really regret not playing basketball.

My dreams of being the next Jordan were shattered in the seventh grade when I got cut from the “B team.”

Coach Turner’s reason for cutting me after two games into the season?

I was obligated to the band too much and he suggested that I focus on playing music.

I knew the truth though. It was because I shot like a girl and got whistled for staying three seconds in the paint every other play.

I knew I was a horrible basket-

ball player. I’ll admit it.

My heart was big on the court, but my ball-handling skills were lacking.

My dreams are still to be in the NBA someday, yet this time doing community relations.

If I can’t make the league with my athletic skills, I’ll sure as hell try to make it with my brain and my public relations abilites.

The 2007-2008 NBA season has many promises to be great.

Like the NFL’s Terrell Owens said before the season began this year, “Get your popcorn ready!”

My prediction for the Finals?

Spurs vs. Celtics with San Antonio winning in seven games for their 5th title in ten years.

And be sure you all look out for me in the future in the NBA. You might see me zooming past Dwayne Wade or Steve Nash on a fast break.

I’ll probably be running to open the locker room door for them, but, hey, you’ll know I made it.

And remember folks, you heard it here first.

Go Spurs Go!

LSC Championships and take on rival, West Texas A&M last Thursday in Edmond, Okla.

The semi-final game went backand-forth for the entire first half but the Lady Buffs struck in the only goal in the 42nd minute.

WTAMU ended the Mustangs’ season on a deflection made by forward Kendal Kitchens.

The Lady Buffs maintained possession for much of the game, holding the Mustangs to only six shots on goal.

As the Mustangs sat anxiously watching other games, it became painfully evident that they weren’t going to get an invite to the NCAA Division II Championships.

“It was really amazing the things

that happened to keep us out,” Trimble said. “The painful thing is we only lost four games all season.”

On a lighter note, four MSU players were honored last Friday when the LSC announced their annual All-Conference teams.

Senior defender Cassidy Guice, freshman midfielder Kendra Clem-

ons and freshman forward Brandy O’Neal were all named to the first team, while senior midfielder Brittany Burney was named to the second team.

Clemons was also honored as the Co-Freshman of the Year along with Eastern New Mexico’s Hannah Dozier.

Senior defender Melissa Brown,

freshman forward Ashli Smith and freshman midfielder Brittany Subia gained honorable mention.

This year’s squad only featured four seniors while giving way to nine freshmen and nine sophomores.

The sky’s the limit, but only time will tell.

Last Thursday, ESPN the Magazine announced their annual Academic All-District honors.

Kmiec was named to the AllDistrict 6 team, which now makes him eligible for the ESPN Academic All-American team which will be released later in November.

Also, on Tuesday the SSC announced their All-Academic teams and MSU players, Kmiec, senior Danny Kastelic, and SSC Academic Player of the Year, senior Tyler Murphy were announced.

The Mustangs were selected to compete in the NCAA Division

II Midwest Regional, still giving them a shot to make a run at the championship, that ironically may have to go through WTAMU. No. 7 MSU will be take on Metro State this Thursday at noon in Canyon for the right to play for the regional championship to played Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.

“We’re pretty healed up, so hopefully we can go down there and put two good performances together and go to the Elite Eight,” MSU Coach Doug Elder said. “There are no more second chances after today. It’s win or go home!”

2007-2008 NBA season begins new era and brings hope JOSH MUJICA SPORTS EDITOR

This just in: another NBA season is underway and boy do I love this game!

How I have missed the alley oop dunks, the crossMujica overs, the fast break plays, the fans dancing in the stands, and the comradery of teammates young and old.

Although ninety-nine percent of the games I watch are via television, I have missed the drama in the league the most.

In the NBA, there is a story that accompanies each and every game.

Whether it be last year’s finals match-up, Yao Ming vs. Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant vs. Shaq, New York Knicks vs. Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks or a just a star player against

Lady Mustangs fall to West Texas A&M in LSC Conference semi-final, 1-0 BOBBY MORRIS STAFF REPORTER Only a week ago Coach Jeff Trimble and the MSU women’s soccer team had to like the position they were in.

After extending their overall record to 12-3-2, they were glad to accept the No. 2 ranking in the

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THE WICHITAN Nov. 7, 2007