FRIGHTFUL FILMS: From old favorites to new releases, count down the movies most likely to make you scream this Halloween.
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Wednesday n October 27, 2010
JOB HUNT: MSU career fairs give students a chance to check out future employment prospects.
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WEATHERING THE STORM: Mustangs Cross Country team fights to overcome high winds, heavy rainfall to take first place in weekend race.
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thewichitan
your university n your voice
Forum fights back against religious ignorance Chris Collins Managing Editor
of Jacob Synagogue and Rev. Troy Sims of First United Methodist Church joined the Imam in the talk. They were Students at MSU don’t know much invited to provide context and religious about the religion of Islam, one of the comparison for the Muslim speaker. world’s fastest growing faiths, said Dr. Jun said the discussion was held Nathan Jun. The philosophy professor partly in response to the ‘Ground Zero feels like it’s his job to educate students mosque’ forum held by Multicultural about the faith. Student Services last month. His solution: let students talk it out “I thought it would make for a nice with an Imam, an Islamic spiritual lead- follow-up to the discussion,” Jun said. er. He invited Abdullah Shamsid-Deen “It became clear at that event that a lot – from Islamic Society of Wichita Falls of folks in the audience were operat– to speak at MSU Wednesday. ing under some erroneous assumptions “There’s a great deal of misunder- about Islam. I thought we had a responstandings about Muslim people and sibility to educate the campus commutheir religion in circulation right now,” nity.” Jun said. “That a primary cause of this The discussion, which was co-sponanti-Muslim hysteria that’s been sweep- sored by the Office of Student Developing the country.” ment and Orientation, was held in an Rabbi Danny Kislin from the House auditorium in Dillard.
The event drew a huge crowd. Every seat was filled and at least 15 people stood in the back. Jun thinks many audience members showed not because they were earnestly interested in the subject, but because they were scared. “A lot of people are afraid,” he said. “A lot of people were there because they wanted to confront their fear. Even people who aren’t explicitly afraid are suspicious. They wanted to see whether those suspicions are warranted or whether they’re fueled by propaganda.” The program began with each spiritual leader giving an overview of their respective faiths. Shamsid-Deen went last and spoke the longest. Islam, like Christianity and Judaism,
See RELIGION on page 3
viewpoints on faith
Rev. Troy Sims, First United Methodist Church
n Christians believe Jesus of Nazareth was the son of God and that he died to forgive their sins. Most believe he was a teacher, one who taught man to love his enemy and turn the other cheek when confronted with violence.
Gay, bisexual students struggle to come out, find acceptance Brittney Cottingham Features Editor “That’s so gay.” Brandon, an MSU sophomore, hears those three words at least a few times a week. Each time he slips into a memory. He was in the sixth grade when conflicted feelings about his sexuality led him to stand in front of his family’s gun case with every intention of picking up a gun and turning it on himself.
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The only choices are to lie (about your sexuality) and be depressed or just be yourself and be happy. -Jackey, MSU Junior
Now, he is thankful that a childhood friend knocked on the door before he had the chance. It’s what saved his life. He says now he knows he wouldn’t have gone through with it, but at that time he felt as though there was nothing left to lose. “Being gay is not a choice,” Brandon said. “I feel that if it were a choice, I wouldn’t have had suicidal thoughts about it. All of my suicidal thoughts growing up came from the fear of not pleasing my parents.”
See SEXUALITY on page 4
(Photo by Kassie Bruton, photo illustration by Brittany Norman)
Course examines relevance of New Deal Dimery Michaels For the Wichitan
Last semester, three instructors from different academic backgrounds came together to teach an honors course that related the Great Depression and Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal policies to today’s economic climate. Dr. John Martinez taught economics of the Great Depression, Dr. Jeremy Duff zeroed in on political science and Dr. Nathan Jun delved into philosophy of the era. The purpose of the class was to create an economic connection between America then and now. During the Great Depression, the government had to help its struggling people. Roosevelt’s New Deal
was a series of acts and reforms that allowed the government to regulate wages, hours and production of goods. This was the first period in American history where government had such an influence over its citizens’ work lives. The professors teaching the class believe it is important to learn about the New Deal because today’s economy is in need of help as well. Dr. Sam Watson, dean of the Liberal Arts College, and Dr. Lynn Hoggard, coordinator of the humanities department, brainstormed the idea behind the course. Martinez said teaching the class was difficult because some students had never taken an economics course. He said economics should be a prerequisite for the New Deal
course. Martinez views the New Deal as “an economic event” that deserves the attention of a semester-long class. Today, the economy may be in need of some government help, Martinez said. He views the New Deal as a positive government action and feels that the U.S. needs some kind of relief effort today. He said people during the Great Depression were resilient, but Americans today may not be as willing to work with the government if they are offered help. Martinez told of how his father, during the Depression, contracted scarlet fever but refused to stay home. He knew if he did not go into work, someone else would take his
job. He believes that is the kind of action necessary to get the economy back on its feet. Looking back, Martinez said the course could have been better. In future semesters, he said he will try to draw a stronger connection between today’s economy and the economy of the 1930s. The focus of future classes will be less on economic jargon and more on abstract economic ideas of those who have studied the period. Duff centered his portion of the class on two of Roosevelt’s New Deal policies, the Agricultural Adjustment Act and the National Recovery Act. The AAA focused on aid to farmers. The problem in the agricultural
See NEW DEAL on page 3
Imam Abdullah ShamsidDeen – Islamic Society of Wichita Falls n Unlike the holy texts of Christianity and Judaism, Muslims believe the Quran was handed to them directly by Allah -- this means they believe it was not written by men, just revealed to them.
Rabbi Danny Kislin, House of Jacob Synagogue
n The Jewish faith teaches that after God created Adam and Eve, the world did not progress the way He wanted. People worshipped idols instead of a monotheistic God. Abraham, the son of Ishmael, showed people the way through kindness and generosity.
Online voting for fee increase begins Tuesday Alyssa Johnston Copy Editor
Attempts to educate students about a proposed $20 fee increase n The proposed to fix electrical wiring student center fee and a leaky roof on the increase will raise the Clark Student Center, existing fee from $35 have fallen short. per semester to $55. As of Tuesday, three The fee for summer informational sessions, sessions will not held by Dail Neely, increase. dean of students, have been empty. n The extra revenue The repairs will cost will fund repairs to approximately $1 milthe student center’s lion. School adminisroof and electrical trators, claiming a fisystem. nancial shortfall, have n In order for the fee asked the students to increase to pass, 2/3 foot the bill. of the students who Dr. Keith Lamb, asvote must cast their sociate vice president ballots in favor. of student affairs, said n Students can vote the student center is on Tuesday and losing $120,000 per Wednesday at year because a loan for renovations on http://vote.mwsu.edu. the building was refinanced at a lower interest rate but for a shorter term. One more informational session will be held Thurs-
fast facts
See VOTE on page 4
Students attempt to reveal reality of modern slavery Jared Vann For the Wichitan
A group of MSU students have decided to bring awareness to human trafficking. Since the documentary film Call + Response brought light to the hidden issue throughout the world in 2008, a small group of students at MSU have sought to educate other people on the facts behind modern human slavery. On Nov. 9, Call + Response will be shown on the MSU campus. Prior to showing of the film, Fight The Good Fight, a local band comprised of MSU students, will perform. Logan Draper is one of the students involved in planning the screening of Call + Response at MSU. According to Draper, there are 27 million slaves in the world today, more than ever before in human history. “My mind can’t even comprehend the fact that there are more slaves than ever before. It just doesn’t even make sense to me,” Draper said. Draper feels driven to reveal the ugly truth and educate people on the issue. “Slave traders made $32 billion last year alone, which is more than the porn industry annually makes. Why is
See SLAVERY on page 3