Oct. 6, 2010

CURTAINS UP: MSU Theatre’s production of ‘All My Sons’ debuts tomorrow.

npage 6

Wednesday n October 6, 2010

TALK IT OUT: One-man show encourages open discussion of race.

npage 4

DOWN TO THE WIRE: No. 8 ranked Mustangs pull out a victory against Incarnate Word in overtime on Family Day.

npage 10

thewichitan

your university n your voice

Crawling with

culture Students march in the parade at last year’s Caribfest. (File photo by Julia Raymond)

Caribbean students celebrate unity Raisa Charles For the Wichitan

Brittney Cottingham Features Editor

(Top) MSU student Clark O’Connor plays outside Gidget’s Sandwich Shack during the Downtown Culture Crawl. Artists, musicians and business owners showed off downtown Wichita Falls’ eclectic offerings Thursday. (Photos by Hannah Hofmann)

The Caribbean Student Organization (CSO) will bring a dose of colorful culture to campus Friday with Caribfest.

This will be the 12th time the CSO has organized the celebration at MSU. Caribfest serves to display Caribbean culture to MSU and the Wichita Falls community. The theme this year is “Celebrating Progress and Togetherness.”

According to members of the CSO, Caribfest allows them to

showcase the things that makes Caribbean culture unique.

“Caribfest is about fun, fun and extra fun,” CSO president Clynt George said.

The festival also gives the CSO a chance to give back to the community. Every year, the organization donates proceeds from the event to various charities around Wichita Falls.

This year’s selected charities are the Wichita Falls Independent School District, Wichita Falls Leadership Legacy and the Senior Citizens Center.

See CARIBFEST on page 4

Artsy event draws diverse crowd to downtown Wichita Falls Brittney Cottingham Features Editor

The Downtown Merchants Association and Downtown Proud played host Thursday to students and the city of Wichita Falls for the neighborhood’s first Culture Crawl. Students, some as musical performers and others as spectators, crawled all over the downtown streets.

Kelly Atkins, executive assistant of Downtown Proud, says that there will be more events downtown for students in the future, including a Downtown City Lights Parade and festival, St. Patrick’s Day street festival and a Cajun festival.

“Our downtown definitely has a lot to offer,” Atkins said.

“With two theaters there are some really great productions to be seen, as well as some

wonderful art galleries, museums and restaurants.

Chairman of the Downtown

Culture Crawl Committee, Julie Ressell, got the idea for the crawl from research she did on downtown revitalization projects in other cities. The Merchant Association funded the event. Ressell relied on Culture Crawl Music Coordinator, David Thompson, to bring together musicians. Ressell said she wanted to remind people of the unique, independent, spirited businesses downtown.

“We passionately believe that the heart and soul of any city is its downtown, and that a healthy downtown promotes a scene of community and fosters creativity,” Ressell said.

Thompson put together a variety of musical talents for the

See CRAWL on page 3

Huckabee: election will affirm voters’ power Brittany Norman Editor in Chief

tem. This is not the end, but the rebirth of America.”

Huckabee said part of the problem Mike Huckabee said he believes vot- stems from a widespread sense of eners will use the Nov. 2 midterm elections titlement. He said the “Greatest Gento incite a “political tsunami,” clearing eration” endured the Great Depression out incumbents in Congress and replac- and two world wars, making “incredible ing them with people who will work to- sacrifices” so their children could have a ward realistic solutions to the country’s better life. He said the Baby Boomers problems. and subsequent generations have a difHuckabee, the former governor of ferent attitude about success.

Arkansas and 2008 Republican presi“We think we deserve it,” he said. dential candidate, spoke Monday to a “(Entitlement) has become the norm sold-out crowd in Akin Auditorium as in public policy in this country, and it part of the Artist Lecture Series. has brought us to a very real crisis. The He said the upcoming elections give Greatest Generation would sacrifice Americans the opportunity to use the their comfort so the next generation democratic process to help draw the could live better. What we’re doing now country out what he perceives as a de- is sacrificing our children’s futures so we structive cycle of overspending and don’t have to pay for a cent of our own abuse of power. reckless, irresponsible behavior.”

“America is like a self-cleaning oven,” He said issues like health care demHuckabee said. “When it gets filthy, onstrate how irresponsibility can be you seal that sucker up, turn the heat legislated. Huckabee believes a prevenFormer Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee spoke up hotter than it’s ever been and you tative system of health care would solve Monday night to a sold-out crowd in Akin Audito- bake it (until) everything turns to ash. more problems than the current “interrium as part of the Artist Lecture Series. (Photo by On Nov. 2, Americans will clean out vention-based” model. the ashes. It’s the brilliance of our sysSee HUCKABEE on page 3 Brittany Norman)

The Kruger Brothers (Photo courtesy)

Band strikes chord with diverse crowd Chris Collins Managing Editor

Guitarist Uwe Kruger and banjo player Jens Kruger play together like brothers. That’s probably because they are.

But bassist Joel Landsberg – who with the other two comprises the Kruger Brothers – plays with them like he’s in the family too. Take that to mean none of them missed a beat while playing a two-hour set at Akin Auditorium Thursday.

It helped make their show nearly flawless.

The Brothers whipped out a loaded musical arsenal of classi-

cal, bluegrass, waltz, swing, blues and country to woo audience members – some of whom are longtime fans from the area.

Many of them, surprisingly, weren’t a segment of the typical bluegrass fan base (read: grannies).

They were college students.

Or at least they looked like they were. Hey, this Artist Lecture thing really does get kids to listen to alternative types of music!

The group’s first piece, ‘Sarah,’ was a fair introduction of how the group would perform during the night. The original song saw Jens pulling most of the melodic

See KRUGER on page 3

Payroll checks make transition to digital Alyssa Johnston For the Wichitan

Attention MSU employees:

By January, you will no longer receive your paychecks. But that doesn’t mean you aren’t getting paid.

MSU is changing over to direct deposit or Chase cards. Payroll plans to have all employees switched over by Jan. 1, 2011.

The switch will save the university over $6,000 per year, ac-

cording to Kathy Rice, payroll supervisor.

She also said there are still 120 to 130 MSU employees receiving paper checks two times a month, and about 100 employees receiving monthly checks.

The majority of MSU’s employees are choosing to set up direct deposit. Twenty people have opted to receive the Chase card so far, but about 200 workers have yet to set up accounts

See PAYROLL on page 3

2 n

The Wichitan

campusvoice nour view

Cafeteria food, prices cause a stink

Something is rotten in the state of Texas. Since the beginning of the semester the quality of food in the Mesquite Dining Room has significantly decreased. Plain and simple, the food is just not as good.

Whether it’s the fact that only defrosted food is served on weekends or that every other meal at the grill is chips with cheese, the food is just miserable. Oftentimes the food served at the second counter is indistinguishable from slop.

It hasn’t always been this way. For the past several semesters the food has been quite good, but just recently has started a rapid decline in quality.

A hotdog is not worth the $16.82 each meal costs under the 10-meala-week plan.

That’s right. It costs $2,860 a semester for 10 meals a week for 17 weeks. Or, in other words, $16.82 per meal. Even the 19-meals-aweek plan comes to $8.63 a meal at $2,970 a semester.

And they only serve one slice of

Writing exam proves nothing

Hannah Hofmann Photo Editor MSU juniors and seniors have to prove that they can write!

Wait... what?

The Writing Proficiency Exam must be taken by all students after they have completed between 60 and 90 credit hours.

But why? What exactly is the point of the exam?

Is it just another way to squeeze some more money out of the student body? Not that we aren’t already spending enough money going to college.

You would think that a college student who has successfully passed 60 to 90 credit hours (and passed the first two English courses) has the writing skills he or she needs to graduate from college.

Yet we are required to fork over $25, take the exam and if we fail it, take still another English course, which will end up costing even more money (which we don’t have in the first place).

The average failure rate, by the way, is about 25 percent.

With the failure rate so high, maybe we should question the capability of our English department.

Is the existence of the Writing Proficiency Exam proof that Midwestern State University doesn’t trust and believe

pizza at a time!

Seriously, with price tags like these a student could buy a decent steak in town for every meal and still save money.

The quality of the food is probably not the fault of the local staff.

Aramark Corporation posted $12.3 billion in revenue in 2009. They’re not what you’d call a Mom and Pop establishment.

Those numbers and the amount of money students are paying don’t indicate that Aramark suffered from the recession. So what gives with the food they’re trying to feed students?

It’s not like they can’t afford to have some quality fare, or at least average quality.

And it’s not just a Midwestern issue. In 2004 the student government of Duke University unanimously had a vote of no confidence in Aramark’s local student cafeteria.

But the lack of edible food is only one of a few problems plaguing MSU’s dining room. It’s now way

in its own faculty to teach students all the essential knowledge?

And then there’s the question of student rights.

In the Code of Student Conduct it states under Student Rights, “In all instances of general discipline, the student has the right to due process. Due process, as applied to student-university relationships and the disciplinary process, is equated with fundamental and procedural fairness.”

What’s fair about the Writing Proficiency Exam? When taking it, each student must agree to the rules of the exam, which state that even though you can view your results you cannot appeal them.

How is a student treated fairly if the exam rules state that you cannot appeal the results?

And if indeed you fail the exam and are close to the 90-credit-hour limit you might not be able to enroll your next semester.

Even though it states that there are some spots held open in the composition skills course it is not guaranteed that a spot will be open. This can cause a student to fall behind on his or her academic work and might result in loss of financial aid or scholarships.

I have successfully passed Composition I and II, taken an oral communication course and worked for a college newspaper over two years.

I would not be where I am today were it not for my English skills.

It’s not fair that I have to spend more of my money on a useless test that proves absolutely nothing.

too crowded. This should have been an issue foreseen years ago. For the past decade Midwestern has been shifting from being a local and commuter university to one with a sizeable on-campus population.

The renovations of Pierce and Killingsworth and the construction of Sunwatcher and Sundance have brought a larger demand on the cafeteria. The caf was only designed to hold a certain number of people comfortably, and that comfort level is very often breached. The lines for some of the meals have caused significant traffic pileups next to the dessert that tasted like it was baked the week before.

With renovations and increases in fees being discussed for the student center this is the perfect time to talk about making some improvements. It’s also a good time to think about contracting with a different company that won’t charge students through the nose for food that stinks anyway.

October 6, 2010

thewichitan 3410 Taft Blvd. Box 14 n Wichita Falls, Texas 76308 News Desk: (940) 397-4704 n Ads: (940) 397-4705 Fax (940) 397-4025 n E-mail WICHITAN@mwsu.edu

editorial board

nEditor in Chief: Brittany Norman nManaging Editor: Chris Collins nEntertainment Editor: Lauren Wood nOp-Ed Editor: Cameron Shaffer nSports Editor: Andre Gonzales nFeatures editor: Brittney Cottingham nPhoto Editor: Hannah Hofmann nAdvertising manager: Rachel Bingham nCopy editors: Alyssa Johnston,

Amaka Oguchi nadviser: Randy Pruitt nReporters: nPhotographers: Kassie Bruton, Damian Atamenwan

Copyright © 2010. 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.

Artist Lecture Series continues to deliver nSocietal Floss

On Monday night I was privileged to sit with the other members of the Artist Lecture Series Committee and meet with former Gov. of Arkansas Mike Huckabee.

Huckabee gave a 90-minute talk to a packed Akin Auditorium.

The Huckabee talk sold out within 24 hours of the tickets being made available to the public.

The Artist Lecture Series is one the greatest successes in the supplemental education of students at Midwestern.

With the mission to “bring noted lecturers and quality programs in the performing arts to the MSU campus and the Wichita Falls community,” the Artist Lecture Series strives to maintain high standards.

From the founder of Doctors Without Borders, to a Swiss band, to a four-star general, to an acclaimed children’s author, the Artist Lecture Series has brought a wide variety of experts, artists and speakers over the years.

The classical education of the classroom is, and should be, the primary goal of MSU. But as Huckabee pointed out, sometimes the normal standards of education simply will not get the job done. MSU has done a phenomenal job providing edu-

Cameron Shaffer Opinion Editor cational opportunities outside the classroom.

Director Matt Park’s Office of Student Development and Orientation has a goal to “educate, enhance, and enrich students and their collegiate experience” at MSU and has done a fantastic job that usually goes unappreciated.

Other groups, such as the University Programming Board, the resident assistants from the housing department, and the Office of Multicultural Services also strive to add elements to MSU’s education that cannot be met in the classroom.

MSU students recognize the

quality of the speakers many times, as the student interest in Huckabee demonstrated. But perhaps they noticed too late.

In the weeks leading up to the event I heard many students complaining about how they could not acquire tickets to the event and how they did not know many, if any, students who had been able to get tickets.

One of the other benefits of the Artist Lecture Series is that it helps the Wichita Falls community feel closer to MSU by allowing the general public to purchase tickets to events.

Many students felt that the community had preempted students when it came to getting tickets. That was not the case. As usual, the typical MSU student showed up late to the party.

Tickets to any Artist Lecture Series are made available to students, faculty, and staff three weeks before the event free of charge.

In fact, you get two tickets automatically so you can bring a friend.

The general public can purchase tickets for $20, two weeks prior to an event.

When tickets were sold out in less than a day for the Huckabee event,

it was the day the tickets were available. And looking out over the crowd in Akin Auditorium, it was evident that the great majority of seats went to non-students.

There is absolutely nothing wrong, of course, with the general public attending events on campus.

The principal audience of the Artist Lecture Series is the students, but if students are not paying attention and do not take advantage of these opportunities, they will be left out.

Hopefully that will not be the case with the next three speakers.

Next in line is former Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gringrich. Gringrich will be speaking on Nov. 30, so tickets will be available for students in about a month.

But lest students think only politicians are left on the docket, Mosab Hassan Yousef, son of a founder of Hamas and an acclaimed spy, will speak in January. Acclaimed Batman expert and professor of comic book folklore Micahel Uslan will be presenting in March.

The next two semesters are going to be fun and interesting. Do not let these occasions pass you by.

news

October 6, 2010

CRAWL.........................................................................................................................................continued from page 1 crawl, including MSU students who showcased their talents at local businesses such as Alley Cat/Three Dog Books, OB’s Fashion, Jensen Gallery and Iron Horse Pub. “I hope the Culture Crawl gives people some hope that downtown and Wichita Falls in general can come together in support of something new and different,” Thompson said.

MSU Alumni Simeon Hendrix debuted his new piece entitled ‘Edgar Allan Poe’ at the Brad Jensen Art Gallery. Hendrix says that the crawl reminded him of 6th street in Austin.

“It’s extremely important; it gives the city a chance to come together in a beautiful setting with great music, smiles and great visual art,” Hendrix said.

Community artists were the focus point of the crawl, with entertainment on the streets of downtown,

from Wichita Theatre’s CATS actors to local band Dr. Phil Good and the Let’s Get It Ons. Senior Chris Caruvana was in attendance at hot spot Gidget’s Sandwich Shack to play a few songs on the street corners.

“I think it’s incredibly important to have this kind of thing,” Caruvana said. “Open mics are great but this kind of event has the potential to bring out an even more diverse crowd.

And instead of having to listen to or watch every act, you can walk down the street to find another artist.”

Caruvana defends downtown by saying that it has the potential to be revived, given that the younger generation doesn’t escape to other cities for entertainment.

“If more money is pumped into the maintenance and repair of older buildings and more cultural activity such as Culture Crawl, I’m sure that the downtown area could attract

He asked the audience which would be more cost-effective: building an emergency hospital and placing an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff to treat people who fell over the edge, or building a fence at the top of the cliff so people wouldn’t fall off in the first place.

He believes the answer is clear, but said recent political actions focus on unrealistic methods of improving intervention-based care.

“We’re supposed to get better access than we’ve ever had before with fewer people becoming doctors, 32 million new people (entering the health care system under Obama’s health care reform bill) and half a trillion dollars cut out of the Medicare budget,” Huckabee said. “Somehow, it’s going to be better and cost less.”

He said Americans are beginning to see that the current administration’s claims don’t add up, and members of the Tea Party in particular are standing up to try and put a stop to the irresponsibility.

“The Tea Party movement is really an uprising of taxpayers,” Huckabee said. “It’s an uprising of citizens who aren’t necessarily all that political, who looked at politics as something they only had to tolerate every two or four years, who didn’t really want to get their hands dirty.”

Huckabee said they’ve had enough of the “idiocy” and are standing up to

“Here’s what’s wrong with our current economy,” Huckabee said.

“We penalize p ro d u c t i v i t y and subsidize and reward reckless irresponsibility.”

He said the current tax structure is flawed because it “penalizes” earning a paycheck by taxing income, making investMike Huckabee (Photo by Brittany Norman) ments by taxing dividends incite change. and saving money by taxing interest.

“I have watched what happens “Not only are we penalizing prowhen people who have never been in- ductivity, but if an insurance comvolved before stand up, speak up and pany or bank or Wall vote like never before in their lives,” Street firm recklessly Huckabee said. “It’s not because they mismanages their busiwant some break out of the gov- ness, we run in and bail ernment. They don’t want to be ap- them out,” Huckabee pointed ambassador. They’re not even said. “We’re subsidizplaying the ‘game’ because it’s not a ing failure. In America, game to them. It’s their lives. Their you’re free to succeed but you are also free to futures. Their children’s futures.”

Huckabee said the current gov- fail. If someone subsiernment is overstepping its intended dizes those failures, we boundaries and perpetuating irre- will continue the same behavior. The only way sponsibility.

more traffic and patrons for businesses to potentially revitalize the area and make it hip,” Caruvana said.

Ressell says that students should expect to see a lot more of downtown in the year to come with events like Culture Crawl. One of the aims of the crawl was to show small, independently owned businesses the many benefits of being located downtown.

“My business [Three Dog Books] has been downtown just since March,” Ressell said. “But the collaborative energy and sense of the neighborhood is electric. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. We want Wichita Falls to experience the history, beauty and aliveness of downtown.”

The next event Downtown Proud is putting on is the Calle de Ocho, celebration of Mexican heritage on October 16th from 11:30 am to 9 pm with live music, food vendors, specialty vendors and other activities.

weight for the group while Uwe and Landsberg set up a fluid backdrop.

The second song featured a strong Celtic feel, which could be described as waltz meets folk.

The banjo moving lines were executed well and vocal harmonies sounded pretty good. There was a little note fluctuation, but these guys were playing some pretty difficult stuff and singing at the same time.

Tone is rendered very well during the song, shifting from jovial to morose quickly, fitting well with the historically ambiguous tone in Celtic music.

Tone is also expanded on when Landsberg plays bass chordals instead of just his bare bones lines as usual.

Jens moved up the neck of his gold-rimmed banjo when he wants to show off, but managed to do so without muddying up the ensemble sound. He’s one of the best banjo players in the world, even rivaling Bela Fleck.

Transitions are handled well – bare but effective.

The third song, an Irish tune, saw Landsberg shredding up the neck of his bass in his first solo-

ish effort of the night. His lines were a bit more complicated in this song, too – it was the most technical piece the group had performed thus far in the evening.

The bass and guitar linked up especially well in this one, freeing up Jens to pull out a monster banjo solo for the majority of the song. He did miss a few minor notes near the top of the neck, but it wasn’t anything unforgiveable. He recovered well from the tiny slip-ups.

The band came out of the solo sections well in this one with good group hits during the refrain.

The Kruger Brothers showcased their ability to play anything at certain points during the night, where Jens or Uwe would start playing some song and the rest would join in without missing a note.

Whether they did this spontaneously and or it was planned, it sure looked genuine. And it sure looked like they were having a blast doing it. If these guys were faking how much they enjoyed playing their instruments, they’re damn good liars.

Song four was basically a gospel blues tune, a genre usually dominated by guitar and drums.

Jens made banjo fit with the sound, throwing in some inventive bends on chords back to the tonic.

Uwe showcased his solo talent in this one, playing up and down the neck, bending, pinching and tremolo picking angrily. His solos had shades of Eric Clapton, with a little more originality and weirder note progression than you’d see in a Clapton solo.

What was most impressive during the performance is the group’s ability to play killer solos without ever leaving the ensemble sound behind. No one member is ever overpowering and domineering – these guys are truly unselfish players.

Near the end of the set Jens and Landsberg drum on their instruments while Jens soloed.

This is basically when everyone in the audience had their minds blown by the speed, articulation and skill of the banjo player.

This gave the song a percussive but melodic sound – just like the rest of the group’s music.

with payroll.

If you do not already have direct deposit, all you need is a bank account. Regardless of which bank you use, direct deposit can be set up for that account.

However, if you don’t have a bank account, MSU will be offering Chase cards through Chase Bank that the money will be loaded onto each pay period.

Freshman Matthew Morales

is a computer lab assistant. He currently doesn’t have direct deposit. So, he has to wait an extra day for his check, and then he has to drive to MSU just to pick it up.

After waiting an extra day and driving to MSU, Morales still has to go to his bank to deposit the check where it could sit for a day or two before the money is available.

Setting up direct deposit is easy, according to the administration and finance department.

All employees have to do is take a personal check or banking information to payroll in the Hardin building, and the payroll department can set up your direct deposit.

“I want it in the bank. That’s where it should be,” Morales said.

PAYROLL.....................................................................continued from page 1

campus briefs n today: Faculty Forum Series: Dr. Beverly Stiles: In CSC Shawnee at 7 p.m.

Chris Collins plays at the Culture Crawl. (Photo by Hannah Hofmann)

HUCKABEE..................................................................................................................................continued from page 1

Kruger......................................................................continued from page 1

The Wichitan n 3

to change is if people experience the consequences of their own stupidity.”

He said the midterm elections are a chance for voters unhappy with the current system to replace incumbents with people who will work for tangible results rather than ideological victories.

“I’m not pessimistic because I see America doing what it was designed to do,” Huckabee said. “The people who ultimately are the bosses are acting like bosses.”

He said voters are playing the role of employers, and are preparing to “fire” some of the current legislators to replace them with new faces.

“The greatest thing that can happen from this Tea Party movement is that we can put a new focus on realistically and honestly solving the problems we face in this country, and less about the pure ideology from which one approaches them.”

n tHURSDAY: Writing Proficiency Exam: In Dillard 343 and 306 Athletic Luncheon: At the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU at noon Foreign Film Series: Deapartures: At the Kemp Center for the Arts at 7 p.m.

Faculty Recital: David Johnson and Ruth Morrow: In Akin Auditorium at 7 p.m.

Theatre: All my Sons: In the Fain Fine Arts Theatre at 7:30 p.m. n FRIDAY: Writing Proficiency Exam: In Dillard 343 and 306 CaribFest: Grand Prarie: In Sunwatcher Plaza at 5 p.m.

Theatre: All my Sons: In the

Fain Fine Arts Theatre at

7:30 p.m.

CaribFest: Glow Party: In

CSC Comanche at 9 p.m. n Saturday: Caribfest: Calypso concert: In Akin Auditorium at 5 p.m.

Theatre: All my Sons: In the Fain Fine Arts Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

n Sunday: Theatre: All my Sons: In the Fain Fine Arts Theatre at 2:30 p.m.

4 n

feature

The Wichitan

October 6, 2010

Five things you may NOT know about the Moffett Library

5.

Rent! Rent! rent!

Laptops, digital cameras, digital projectors and tape recorders are all for rent at the Media Department on the 2nd floor.

4. Get movies, silent films to recent Who needs Blockbuster?

releases, on the 2nd floor at the Media center for free!

Just bring your Campus Card.

3.The libary has study floors just for

Looking for a place to study?

MSU students. (2nd floor designated quiet area.) There are also Computer labs and foregin lanagauge labs!

Hot tip!

2. Interlibray Loans can get students Get a loan.

manuscripts, musical scores, journals, videotapes and more from all over the world. (Contact Lois Moore)

1.

What’s a database?.

Midterms are getting closer. Use the library to access more than 100 databases, including everything from History to Criminal Justice.

Library hours:

Monday - Thursday 7:45 am - 2:00 am Friday 7:45 am - 5pm Saturday 10 am - 6pm Sunday 2pm - 2am Phone: (940) 397 -4204

Ask the librarians! They can do more than help you find books. They know how to find magazine articles, research topics, or explain how to cite a source. Students can also chat live with the librarians at http://library.mwsu.edu

Actor hopes to spur discourse about race

Fantasy of Lights workdays begin

After growing up in a white, middle-class family, 32-year-old actor Michael Fosberg discovered he was black.

This was a big surprise to him, since his mother was Albanian and his father, white – or at least that’s what Fosberg thought. This led him to undertake a quest to discover the identity of his real father.

He visited MSU last Tuesday to tell his story of coming to terms with his true heritage.

He performed it as a one-man play called ‘Incognito.’ He played every character in the production put on by the MSU Multicultural Services department.

“Am I black? Am I white? Did you know when you first saw me? When I first made the discovery, did you look at me differently?” he asked the audience after the performance.

The word ‘incognito,’ to Fosberg, means keeping one’s true identity hidden. He thinks that’s what he was forced to do – involuntarily – for most of his life. But he’s not concealing it anymore.

He hopes the conversation stemming from his performance will help other people realize what an important thing race is.

“This true story has been able to open up doors of dialogue between people,” Fosberg said.

But it isn’t always an easy discussion to hold. White and black people have historically had difficulty talking about racial issues in mixed company.

“Light-skinned people approach that dialogue from a place of caution,” Fosberg said.

“We’re kind of careful when we say things in front of people with dark skin. We’re careful that we don’t say anything remotely racist.

We can’t really have an open dialogue if we’re

The first Friday in December, Hardin lawn is glowing with Christmas lights and students come out to take a stroll down the Fantasy of Lights.

Even though it’s months away from the big opening, the committee and volunteers are already organizing and planning, starting with the workdays last Saturday and Sunday.

According to MSU Burns Fantasy of Lights chairman, Carmen Thacker, 200 people were in attendance at the workdays.

Junior Candice Myers says she and her family have been helping with the Fantasy of Lights for years.

“It is a tradition in my family to attend MSU, so for years my family has assisted in preparing for this event,” Myers said. “Fantasy of Lights has become a staple in our family. It’s something we do every year, and most of the time, a couple times during the Christmas season.”

Director of public information and marketing, Janus Buss, has served on the Fantasy of Lights committee for 20 years and says that volunteering is key to putting on this event.

“So many of the displays need to be repainted from just being stored all year,” Buss said. “There is a lot of repair work that needs to take place before they actually bring it all to campus.”

Buss estimates that it costs

Chris Collins Managng Editor

coming from a place of caution.”

But it isn’t just a problem for whites, he said.

“Consequently, we have people of color who are ready to pounce on anyone or anything that sounds remotely racist. We’re polarized,” he said. “But we need to create a space where we can fall in the mud and get messy.”

Sometimes people need to say things that might be considered inappropriate – but in a controlled setting, he said. If a person doesn’t know what he or she says can be interpreted as inappropriate, it’s hard to know what to say.

“If we don’t do that, we’re going to continue going down the same road we go down when we have the dialogue,” he said.

He said his life is richer now since he discovered his father is black.

“I get to do this for a living,” Fos- Michael Fosberg (Photo by Chris Collins) berg said. “I get to travel around the country and get people to think about people and sometimes we’re not even aware who we are, how we fit in, how we look at we have that privilege,” he said. “I can go into others. I feel blessed to get to do that. a fancy store shopping and not have the sales He also said that he feels closer to his fam- clerk watching me. That’s not something my ily than he ever has. black friends can do. They’re always watched “Imagine having to tell your father that as they go through the store.” you met your father,” he said. “Imagine how Fosberg had originally planned to write a emotional that conversation was.” book about his personal adventure, but after When his father, John, saw the play for the reading a few chapters to friends in a Chicago first time, it was hard for him, Fosberg said. loft, he changed his mind.

“But it gave him a chance to take some “They said, ‘You should be performing distance away from the personal aspect of the this,’” he said. show and see the kind of thought it has proHe said he hesitated at first because he voked in other people,” he said. knew one-man plays require a lot of work and Fosberg said he has faced some criticism preparation. He also prefers working with from members of the black community who other actors rather than by himself. called him, “a recipient of white privilege.”

“Plus the cast parties are a lot better,” he “That’s a privilege given to light-skinned said.

Brittney Cottingham Feature Editor

roughly $45,000 a year to put the Fantasy of Lights together, but says all of the funding comes from donations, some private, that goes towards labor, electricity, insurance, storage, repairs, and refurbishment on the displays.

“There are several ways (donation) is done,” Buss said. “They send out a letter every fall to past donors. Also, we have volunteers in the community, and as people drive through at the end, if people want to make a donation they can.”

Freshmen Rebecca La’Trice is new to Wichita Falls but has been to Fantasy of Lights several times before. Being from Archer City, she says that no matter where you live in North Texas, everyone has been or has heard of Fantasy of Lights.

Buss admits they get calls from people out of town asking when the lights will be up.

“We are always hearing stories from people that they came out [to Fantasy of Lights] when they were young and they want their kids to have that same experience.” Buss said.

Since 1989, the MSU Marching Band has played on opening night with free admission. She said that this adds to the experience.

“Now people come out here and we provide hot chocolate that first night, Santa is here, and they can see the lights. Then they can see the [MSU band] concert with all of the Christmas music.

It has really grown.”

CARIBFEST...................................................................................................................................................................................................continued from page 1 Caribfest begins at 5 p.m. with a parade around campus that starts at Nocona Trail and ends with a grand cultural show at Sunwatcher Plaza.

During the show, the audience can learn more about Caribbean culture through dance, music and the arts.

For $5, attendees can also

enjoy authentic Caribbean cuisine while the Caribbean pan ensemble and CSO choir play some island music.

This year’s menu will include curried chicken, jerk pork and Caribbean style barbecued chicken with calypso rice, saltfish balls and banana bread.

The celebration carries into

the weekend with a party called “Glowfete” where attendees are encouraged to wear white, and a calypso show in Akin Auditorium on Sunday evening.

Last year, CSO began inviting other on-campus organizations to join the parade.

“It’s easy for us to relate because it’s our own, but I think

we should get away from that because CSO is an on-campus organization and we should stay true to that title,” CSO public information officer Kevin Francis said.

In last year’s parade, the Alpha Kappa Alpha and Delta Sigma Theta sororities had their own sections in the “Pretty Mas”

troupe.

More fraternities and sororities are expected to be on board this year.

Francis is in communication with several Greek organizations, and said the Boys and Girls Club of Wichita Falls and Patsy’s House plan to participate in the parade as well.

Tickets are currently available to the general public. The full package, which includes a Caribfest T-shirt, meal ticket and Glowfete ticket costs $20.

A meal ticket alone is $5, and a meal ticket and T-shirt costs $17.

October 6, 2010

feature

The Wichitan n 5

Family Bonding

On Saturday, many students and their families gathered on the MSU campus as part of the Family Day celebration.

Photos by Hannah Hofmann

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The Wichitan

a&e

October 6, 2010

Horse Sense

Disney looks for winning formula with ‘Secretariat’ Dawn Chmielewski and John Horn MCT

from reaching theaters.

Even though Disney didn’t wager a lot of money in the making of “Secretariat,” the studio is placing big bets on a surprising number It didn’t look like Secretariat could pull it off. Coming out of the of big-budget projects helmed by prominent directors such as David gate at the 1973 Kentucky Derby, the chestnut colt fell behind all Fincher, Sam Raimi and Guillermo del Toro.

Fincher, fresh off “The Social Network,” is developing a remake of but two horses and dropped more than nine lengths off the leaders down the backstretch. Under the whip from jockey Ron Turcotte, “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea,” a movie that Ross shut down under the thoroughbred suddenly blitzed the field, winning the Derby and director McG, whose vision was deemed to be too dark. Raimi, of “Spider-Man” fame, is set to direct a “Wizard of Oz” prequel, while the nation’s adoration.

That stirring come-from-behind race _ the opening leg in the Del Toro, the filmmaker behind “Pan’s Labyrinth,” plans to remake horse’s ridiculously lopsided Triple Crown triumph, the first such “The Haunted Mansion.”

But modestly budgeted stories like “Secretariat” will continue to sweep in 25 years _ is at the center of “Secretariat,” a Disney drama opening Friday about the legendary equine, unconventional owner factor in Disney’s theatrical lineup. The studio and filmmakers aspired Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) and eccentric trainer Lucien Laurin to make the racing movie more than a straightforward retelling of Big Red’s prowess on the racetrack - a sort of equine rags-to-riches ( John Malkovich).

It’s the kind of feel-good family film. “Secretariat” is rated PG story that one news account from the era described as “a compound and evokes the quintessential Disney films of the era it’s set in: of good genes, good training and good luck.”

Landing on the covers of Time, Newsweek and Sports Illustrated “Freaky Friday,” “Pete’s Dragon” and “The Love Bug.” At the same time, the movie recalls the studio’s rousing sports dramas of the past in the same week, Secretariat achieved the kind of pop culture fame decade, a slate that includes “The Rookie,” “Remember the Titans” reserved for only elite athletes like Joe Namath, Reggie Jackson and Mary Lou Retton. and “Miracle.”

Rich’s script, which Wallace revised, was loosely adapted from Disney’s new top executives believe “Secretariat,” a project began by their predecessors, distills their creative and commercial ambitions, sportswriter William Nack’s book “Secretariat: The Making of a and they are promising to make more modestly budgeted, uplifting Champion”; Wallace took it and followed Chenery’s emotional journey and the obstacles she faced in trying to fulfill her father’s films in its hoof prints.

“It’s a movie that speaks to who we are today and where we are vision for the 2,600-acre farm in Virginia.

“I have an approach to historical stories which makes people really going,” studio chief Rich Ross said of the film, which features a gospel song and a Bible quote and has evident heartland appeal. The uneasy - and that is you don’t let the facts get in the way of the truth,” Wallace said. “A movie is not a documentary, it is an impressionistic perfect inspirational film, he believes, for these recessionary times.

Directed by “Braveheart” screenwriter Randall Wallace and portrayal that, in those two hours you have, you have to capture written by “The Rookie’s” Mike Rich, “Secretariat” was produced by what are the deeper truths. That means you have to synthesize and former major league pitcher Mark Ciardi and partner Gordon Gray. condense.”

Wallace, who attended seminary and speaks with a preacher’s Ciardi and Gray, who had previously produced the hockey movie “Miracle” and the football story “Invincible,” had wanted to make a rhetorical flourishes, used the gospel song “Oh Happy Day” and a film about Volponi, the 44-1 long shot winner of the 2002 Breeders’ verse from Job to emphasize the film’s spiritual themes of rebirth Cup. Ciardi, Gray and Rich had discussed making a movie about and transcendence. “It’s not a sports movie. It’s from the guy who Secretariat - arguably a better horse than racing legends Seabiscuit, created ‘Braveheart.’ And it’s much more akin to ‘Chariots of Fire,’” Kelso, Citation and Man o’War - “but we didn’t know what the story Wallace said.

“Secretariat” emphasizes Chenery’s isolation from her four was,” Gray said, adding that there was no suspense “because he killed children (who remained with her husband in Denver while she was everybody.”

Rich, who previously had written “Radio” and “Finding Forrester, in Virginia) and her high-stakes gamble to shore up the breeding films focused on overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds, did operation’s tenuous finances by selling $6 million worth of syndication research and decided that the most dramatic Secretariat movie would rights in Secretariat - essentially, an ownership stake and breeding focus on Chenery, a Denver housewife and mother of four who took privileges in the broad-chested beast - well before post time at the over her father’s Meadow Farm. Under her leadership, the farm Kentucky Derby.

Given the limited budget, Wallace re-created two of the races turned out Secretariat and, a year earlier, Kentucky Derby winner in the Triple Crown but used television footage for the Preakness Riva Ridge. “The story came together pretty clearly,” Ciardi said.

The movie itself, though, faced several obstacles. Disney said it Stakes. For the Derby, his cameras focused on the smallest details, would make “Secretariat” only if Julia Roberts or Jodie Foster would like how the horse rolled its eyes and how the jockey curled the agree to play Chenery. What’s more, Cook and production president animal’s mane in his hand.

At the Belmont, where Secretariat set a world record for that Oren Aviv didn’t want Wallace to spend more than $35 million - less than half of what Universal committed to 2003’s “Seabiscuit.” When distance just as he did in the Derby (marks that still stand), Wallace Roberts and Foster passed, Wallace was able to persuade the studio heightened the feat with a slow-motion start, emphasizing every to hire Lane, who hadn’t been in a $100-million grossing movie since footfall until the gates spring open.

“Hanging between there, like a rose between the two dramatic “The Perfect Storm” in 2000.

“Penny has a well of dignity and quiet strength. And I believe thorns, was the Preakness,” Wallace said. “I had heard that her family Diane had that quality, that you wouldn’t see how tough she was was left behind, and this was the most agonizing part to me. The until you punched her,” Wallace said. “The exterior was soft and sense that Penny has been presented with a choice, at the beginning genteel and the interior was steel, and that’s what I thought Penny of the movie, which was passion or family. And the miracle is that she gets both.” needed to be.”

“Secretariat” represents one of three genres of film the studio is pursuing under Ross, whose own film slate is at least a year away Above: Diane Lane stars in “Secretariat” as the unconvential owner of the horse, Penny Chenery. Below: Lane and John Malkovich work together in the film as owner and trainer. (Photo Courtesy)

Theatre Dept. presents ‘All My Sons’ Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor

weekend entertainment

theatre performances in the area:

The Midwestern State Unin “Jekyll and Hyde: The musical”: versity Theatre will present backdoor theatre their latest work, “All My Sons,” oct. 8 - Oct. 23 Thursday through Sunday.

501 indiana avenue, wichita falls The play was written by Arthur Miller and follows the story of how the pressures of World n “Cats” War II and capitalism ignites a wichita theatre powerful conflict between father oct. 8 & 9: final perfromance and son.

10th & indiana avenue, wichita falls This was a drama piece that first lifted Miller to prominence among American playwrights.

The play will be performed Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and a mantinee showing on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

All performances will take place in the Fain Fine Arts Center Theatre.

Admission is free for MSU students and faculty with valid ID. It is $8 for general admission and $7 for reduced admission, which includes senior citizens, military personnel, children ages six and older, high school students, college students other than MSU and members of the MSU students fill the roles of the characters set Arthur Miller in his work “All My Sons.” Next week’s issue will feature a review of the play. Purchase your tickets Ex-Students Association. at the MSU theatre box office or receive your ticket at the door. (Photos by Hannah Hofmann)

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October 6, 2010

The Wichitan n 7

Heigl and Duhamel gear up for parenthood Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor

Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel will join unwilling forces Friday when their newest film, “Life As We Know It,” hits theaters.

The film features Heigl as Holly Berenson, an up-and-coming caterer. Duhamel stars as Eric Messer, a promising network sports director. After a disastrous first date, the only thing the two have in common is their dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter, Sophie.

When they suddenly become all Sophie has in the world, Holly and Eric are forced to put their differences aside.

Juggling career ambitions and competing social calendars, they’ll have to find some common ground while living under one roof.

Heigl, a one time Sears catalog child model who later paid her dues as a slasher film victim in “Bride of Chucky” (1998), earned widespread acclaim for her role as Dr. Izzie Stevens on the ABC awardwinning medical drama, “Grey’s Anatomy.”

Heigl won her first-ever Emmy award after getting the nod for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Izzie Stevens.

She took on Hollywood talent blazing, with her starring role in Judd Apatow’s hugely successful

“Knocked Up” (2007), and proved her big screen star power with the huge box office of “27 Dresses” (2008) and “The Ugly Truth” (2009).

Heigl has recently starred in the newlywed action picture, “Killers” (2010), co-starring Ashton Kutcher as a secret spy.

Josh Duhamel began his accredited acting career in the NBC television series “Las Vegas.”

Duhamel also played a coveted part in the summer blockbuster feature “Transformers” (2007) and the sequel “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” (2009).

However this actor began his film career with a leading role in “The Picture of Dorian Gray” (2004), based on Oscar Wilde’s book about a beautiful man who never grows old. It barely managed to get a release in the U.S., but it showcased Duhamel’s screen presence to good effect.

He next won a major part in “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!” (2004), playing the eponymous hero of the romantic comedy.

Earlier this year, Duhamel showed off his good looks and wit in the film “When in Rome,” costarring Kristen Bell.

Both Heigl and Duhamel are expected to entertain audiences in their latest film, “Life As We Know It,” with their supermodel looks and charming sense of humor, it is bound to be a good Heigl and Duhamel play a couple who gains custody of their goddaughter, but they have to learn to live together and tolerate each other in order to be good guardians. (Photo Courtesy) combination.

New on DVD: ‘The Karate Kid’

Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel star in the upcoming film “Life As We Know It.” (Photo Courtesy)

Rick Sanchez fired after outburst Glenn Garvin MCT

CNN fired anchor Rick Sanchez Friday, a day after he said on a radio show that Jews control U.S. television networks.

“Rick Sanchez is no longer with the company,” a CNN spokesman said. “We thank Rick for his years of service and we wish him well.”

Sanchez’s outburst about Jews came during a rant against Jon Stewart, who often makes fun of Sanchez on his Comedy Central show. Sanchez was being interviewed on comedian Pete Dominick’s XM Sirius Radio show when the conversation went off the rails.

It started relatively innocently, with Sanchez expressing irritation at being lumped in with other Latino TV journalists by a CNN boss. Racist attitudes aren’t rooted on the political right, he added, but also extend to “elite, Northeast establishment liberals.”

“Deep down, when they look at a guy like me, they see a guy

Rick Sanchez started his career at CNN in 2004. (Photo Courtesy)

automatically who belongs in

the second tier, and not the top

12-year-old Dre Parker (Will Smith’s offspring, Jaden Smith) could’ve been the most popular kid in Detroit, but his mother’s latest career move has landed him in China.

Dre immediately falls for his classmate Mei Ying - and the feeling is mutual - but cultural differences make such a friendship impossible.

Even worse, Dre’s feelings make an enemy of the class bully, Cheng.

In the land of kung fu, Dre knows only a little karate, and Cheng puts “the karate kid” on the floor with ease.

With no friends in a strange land, Dre has nowhere to turn but maintenance man Mr. Han ( Jackie Chan), who is secretly a master of kung fu.

As Han teaches Dre that kung fu is not about punches and parries, but maturity and calm, Dre realizes that facing down the bullies will be the fight of his life.

This is the newest addition to the “Karate Kid” series/remakes. The original premiered in 1984 starring Daniel Larusso as Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita as Mr. Miyagi.

The second addition, “The Karate Kid, Part II,” released in 1986 and three years later the

tier,” Sanchez continued. Then he said: “I think to some extent Jon Stewart and (Comedy Central comic Stephen) Colbert are the same way. I think Jon Stewart’s a bigot.”

How’s that? asked the puzzled Dominick. “I think he looks at the world through his mom, who was a school teacher, and his dad, who was a physicist or something like that,” replied Sanchez, speaking of Stewart. “Great, I’m so happy that he grew up in a suburban middle class New Jersey home with everything you could ever imagine.”

DVD released: October 5, 2010 Genres: Action/Adventure, Remake, Sports Running Time: 2 hours 6 minutes Rating: PG for bullying, martial arts action violence and some mild language Starring: Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Tarji Henson

Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan are teacher and student in the newest rendition of an 1980’s classic, “The Karate Kid.” (Photo Courtesy)

third movie “The Karate Kid, Part III” released to theaters.

In 1994 Hilary Swank made her debut in “The Next Karate Kid” as a troubled teenager who “What group is he bigoted towards?” pressed Dominick.

“Everybody else who’s not like him. Look at his show, I mean, what does he surround himself with?” said Sanchez. When Dominick seemed surprised that Sanchez could level a charge of bigotry against Jews, who themselves have been subjected to discrimination, Sanchez dismissed the idea.

“I’m telling you that everybody who runs CNN is a lot like Stewart, and a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart, and to imply

learns to channel her energy into her karate. The famous Mr. Miyagi stars in the film as her teacher. that somehow they, the people in this country who are Jewish, are an oppressed minority?” Sanchez said, then added with sarcastic emphasis: “Yeah.”

Transcripts and audio clips of the exchange began popping up on the Internet Friday morning, and at 6 p.m. CNN issued its terse statement dismissing him.

Sanchez, a wildly popular if controversial anchor in Miami during the 1990s, joined CNN in 2004 after bombing first as an MSNBC anchor and then as a talk-show host in Miami.

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8 n

sports

The Wichitan

October 6, 2010

Lady Mustangs slaughter Tigers, Riverhawks

Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor The MSU women’s soccer team knocked off two more wins for themselves this past weekend as they went on the road and on the home field.

First, taking on Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. The Mustangs drowned the Riverhawks with a 3-1 victory. Neither teams scored a goal in the first half, but sophomore forward Maddie Fraser changed all that in the second half.

Fraser copped two consecutive goals with both having assists by senior midfielder Jordan Smith.

This made her first collegiate multiple goal match.

“They were both very meaningful goals. I was happy for us to get the victory, it was an important game for us,” Fraser said.

Later in the 65th minute, Northeastern’s Katie Valdez went unassisted on a free kick from 25 yards away to give them their only goal in the game.

In the 79th minute, MSU landed another goal after Fraser assisted junior forward Lindsay Pritchard to give her the third and final goal of the game.

After the Mustangs plucked the feathers of the Riverhawks, they came back to Wichita Falls to do work on East Central.

Last season the Lady Tigers bumped MSU out of their highest national ranking, but the tables had turned this game af-

ter the Mustangs beat out East Central with an outstanding victory of 8-0.

MSU head soccer coach Jeff Trimble said the game for them was a big one, especially at home.

“We played with a lot of intensity this game. I’m really proud of all the girls, they all came on the field and played their hardest,” Trimble said.

In just the first few minutes of the game, junior forward Kelsey Hill copped a through ball from Pritchard. Hill repeated the action in the second half to give her two goals in the game, she also landed two assists. Senior midfielders Brandy O’Neal and Kendra Clemons claimed goals, ending the first half at 3-0.

Going into the second half, a repeat from the previous game happened after Fraser assisted Pritchard, giving her a second goal for the weekend and her sixth for the season.

Freshmen midfielders Jeri Hicks and Emily Saville both landed their first goal of the season in the 66th and 89th minutes, respectively.

Sophomore Audra Jesse also claimed her first goal of the season after receiving the ball from Smith in the 73rd minute.

Next, MSU takes on Eastern New Mexico this Friday and West Texas A&M this Sunday at the MSU soccer field. Kickoffs are set for 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

The MSU women’s soccer team shut out East Central University 8-0 on Sunday. It bumped their record up to 8-1 for the season. Next week they will face Eastern New Mexico on Friday and West Texas A&M on Sunday.

(Photos by Hannah Hofmann)

Men’s basketball ranked no. 13 MSUMustangs.com For the Wichitan

Division play at Angelo State on Jan. 12.

Get Your Tickets Here: Season ticket sales for Mustangs Athletic Club members begins on Oct. 18. MAC members must contact the MSU Ticket Office at (940) 397-4779 or come by the MSU Athletic Offices to claim their tickets prior to Nov. 1.

Any MAC member may pur-

chase season reserve tickets beginning Oct. 18 at a 10-percent discount also prior to Nov. 1, while a remaining limited number of reserve tickets become available to the general public on Nov. 2.

Not a MAC member? Contact the MSU Athletic Offices for information on how to join.

Very Close to SAFB! 221761.CRTR

Midwestern State enjoyed a banner campaign under first-year coach Grant McCasland last season as the Mustangs posted a 31-3 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight for the first time in school history.

MSU will start from the No. 13 position, according to the Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25, released Tuesday morning - a mere five spots behind rival Tarleton State at No. 8.

The Mustangs toppled the Texans four times last season en route to their third Lone Star Conference championship in the last four years including a 6555 win over Tarleton in the title game.

The 31 wins were a new school record which bettered the 1973-74 NAIA national runnerup squad's tally of 30 wins.

Defending national champion Cal Poly Pomona tops the preseason poll followed by 2009 champion Findlay (Ohio) while St. Cloud State (Minn.), Indiana (Pa.) and Florida Southern round out the top five.

Also joining the Mustangs

and Texans from the South Central Region are No. 18 Central Oklahoma and No. 19 Central Missouri.

Midwestern returns two starters and five letter winners off of last season's squad led by 2010 Sporting News Preseason honorable mention All-American Chris Hagan, who averaged 14.1 points and four assists last season.

Each of the four teams ranked in the Division II Bulletin were tabbed as possible breakthroughs

by The Sporting News.

Schedule This: Midwestern State also released its 2010-11 schedule Tuesday which features exhibition contests against NCAA Division I powers Baylor and Purdue.

The Mustangs trek to Waco on Nov. 4 to take on the Big 12's Bears before flying to West Lafayette, Ind. to battle the Big 10 Boilermakers.

MSU opens the regular season with the South Central Region Challenge in Bartlesville by taking on regional qualifying Fort Hays State (Kan.) on Friday, Nov. 12 and Emporia State on Saturday, Nov. 13.

The Mustangs enjoy seven home contests before kicking off Lone Star Conference South

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sports

October 6, 2010

On Deck This Week n tHURSDAY: oct. 7 volleyball: @ eastern new mexico, 8 p.m. n FRIDAY: oct. 8 soccer: womens vs. east central, noon mens vs. eastern new mexico, 7 p.m. n Saturday: oct. 9 cross country: @ acu naimadu collegiate classic volleyball: @ west texas a&m, 1 p.m. football: @ abilene christian, 2 p.m.

n Sunday: oct. 10

soccer: mens vs. west texas

a&m, 1 p.m. womens vs. west texas a&m, 3 p.m.

Volleyball team splits matches in Durant Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor

The Mustangs volleyball team came back from the Wells Fargo Shootout this past Saturday in Durant, Okla. with both a victory and a loss on their season record.

First, MSU took on St. Mary’s to win the best at three sets (25-20, 25-22, 25-23).

Senior opposite hitter Karolina Damjanovic and junior outside hitter Hillary White both claimed eight kills throughout the game.

White also copped 14 digs while junior libero Kiara Jordan had 13 to account for .227 and .333 in attack percentages, respectively. The team overall had a total of seven blocks.

“You have to close

out the very good teams when you have the opportunity...”-

n monday: oct. 11

golf: men & women @ shark invitational, palm beach gar

Coach Flores-Stafford

dens, fla. n tuesday: oct. 12 golf: men & women @ shark invitational, palm beach gar dens, fla.

“St. Mary’s was a good match for us to get our feet wet since we haven’t played for a whole week, and we kept our intensity up,” head volleyball coach Venera Flores-

nin the cage with tolu

Tolu Agunbidae For the Wichitan Cage fighting is the closest sport we have these days to the gladiators who fought in the Coliseum. It’s a more civilized version without weapons, and with a lot less blood shed. Warriors don’t battle to the death.

Don’t watch the fights if you’re squeamish though, because there will be blood, and the fighters battle till they’ve got nothing left, it’s a very dangerous sport.

So what makes people decide to step in the cage and fight?

“I fight because I’m afraid of losing my drive. For me, the worst thing to happen in life is to let it wear you down,” said Candace Eich, member of the Falls Town Fighter’s Club and a judo practitioner. “To become part of the masses of people who have that tired, fed up look on their faces. Like they’re just ready to get off this ride already. I discipline my body and mind and treat them with regular doses of pain so that I’m always on my guard and ready to handle the day to day with pride, and maybe a little attitude.”

Reggie Demps, the MMA instructor at the FTFC, remarked, “At first I thought the guys who were fighting were chumps, and I felt I could beat them. Then I started training and developed a love for the sport. It went from

The Wichitan n 9

being a contest between me and some other guy to a contest of ‘me vs. me.’ I love to challenge myself. So many people try to discourage me. But I live by this motto: ‘You can’t stop greatness, you can only slow it down.’ I love the teaching more than anything.

And to see my team triumphant, I know I played a major part in it. I fight for the love of my God, my team, my gym, my family and, most importantly, the love of the fans.”

I became a devoted fan of mixed martial arts in 2005. UFC Unleashed was on Spike TV Wednesday evenings followed by an episode from the first season of The Ultimate Fighter series.

It peaked my interest. I watched some live cage matches at the Kiowa Casino, about 20 miles outside of Wichita Falls. There, I met some fighters whose dojo was right here in town. I was ecstatic and started training with them. I started out boxing and eased my way into the cage. I was lucky enough to have started out with good balance, agility and speed.

I am such a fan of the sport that I had to actually be a part of it. It’s art. Over the years I have found the time I’ve put into training for the sport has helped me in so many ways. The exercise and eating habits are great, it relieves stress, and the competition is motivation to better myself.

There are so many reasons why people participate in this sport.

For some it is just simply their calling. Ty Cobb, the former owner of Powerhouse Gym here in Wichita Falls has a professional boxing record of 9-2 with seven KOs, and an amateur record of 24-2. He stated, “I fight because it would hurt worse if I didn’t. I feel like it’s something I’m suppose to do.”

Stafford said.

However, MSU couldn’t notch off another victory later in the day as they were trampled by the Bison of Oklahoma Baptist University (2517, 24-26, 17-25, 16-25). OBU has won 10 of its last 11 matches.

Sophomore outside hitter Shelbi Stewart led the Mustangs in kills, totaling in at 13 while White ended with 10. Jordan led in digs again at a total of 24.

“Oklahoma Baptist is a very good team. We played well against them in the first set and even did well in the second set, we just couldn’t finish,” Flores-Stafford said.

The Bison horned through the Mustangs as their own Rupia Inck and Kristin Pressley combined in 39 kills to make a .231 team attack percentage rate.

The loss ended MSU volleyball’s winning streak.

“You have to close out the very good teams when you have the opportunity, and we didn’t take advantage of that, but I’m real proud of what they did (MSU) and what they showed against a good caliber team,” Flores-Stafford said.

Next, the MSU volleyball team hits the road against Eastern New Mexico this Thursday and West Texas A&M on Saturday at 8 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively.

Outside hitter Hillary White strikes against Incarnate Word. (Photo by Kassie Bruton)

nAndre’s mustang memo

Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor Family is something sacred to a lot of students, especially to the ones living on-campus who don’t

have the opportunity to see theirs that often.

Though this past weekend parents, siblings, and other family members came out to support their loved ones who are students here at MSU for the annual Family Day this past Saturday.

Parents might have come to see what they are spending thousands of dollars on. Brothers and sisters probably came to see what they have to look forward to, or to reminisce on the dorm days of college.

Other family members might have just came along for the ride.

After the Family Day festivities, Mustang fans had the opportunity to watch the football team in action that same night in a battle against the Incarnate Word Cardinals in a game that resulted in an overtime struggle that the No. 8 Mustangs came out on top of.

The victory was just the icing on the cake needed to top off the day for families of MSU students, and probably gave them something to talk about on the ride back home.

Even though the majority of students come here fresh out of high school, there’s also a good portion of them who are non-traditional students.

As I was leaving the game, not only to celebrate the victory, but to also escape the cold Mother Nature has so heavenly decided to bless upon us this early in the fall, I had the chance to stumble upon one of these non-traditionals.

Her name was Jody Hilbers, she was at the ripe age of 40, and counting down the days to Dec. 12 where she will walk out of MSU with her degree in nursing. She brought her family consisting of a husband, three children, a sister, two nieces, a great niece, as well as two friends with her to the game. Unlike me, she had woman’s intuition to predict the

weather and had her entire family bundled up with coats and blankets to make sure the windy chill didn’t put a damper on their enjoyment of the game.

“They support me going to school, so they get to come and have some fun,” she said.

Hilbers already owned a degree in criminal justice she achieved back in 1989, but felt with a degree in nursing, she’d have more enjoyment taking care of others just as she does with her own children.

She also enjoyed the nursing program itself, bringing her own personal life skills to the table, she proved to be one up against her younger colleagues.

“I just have life experience that they don’t have. I kick their asses!” she said laughing out loud.

Above all, Hilbers came out to watch the Mustangs in action.

“We try to come once or twice a year, but it’s so hard with all these little ones,” she said.

Men’s soccer moves to no. 1 MSUMustangs.com For the Wichitan

(7-1-1), Truman (4-2) and Eastern New Mexico (6-1-1) in the South Central, while Colorado Mines (90-1) tops the Central Region followed by Metro State (Colo.) (7-12), Regis (Colo.) (7-1-1) and Fort Lewis (Colo.) (6-3-0).

The West Region is led by Cal State-San Bernardino (7-2-1) followed by Cal State-Chico (8-2-0), Grand Canyon (Ariz.) (7-0-1), Cal State Stanislaus (5-2-2), Cal State Dominguez Hills (5-2-1) and Notre Dame de Namur (6-2).

Midwestern State takes on Eastern New Mexico Friday night at 7 p.m. before playing West Texas A&M Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. in home matches at the MSU Soccer Field.

Midwestern State gained a No. 1 standing in the South Central Region Tuesday when the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Committee released its first regional rankings of the 2010 season.

The Mustangs remain the lone undefeated, untied side in NCAA Division II after fighting to a pair of road wins last weekend at Texas A&M International and St. Mary’s (Texas) to improve to 8-0.

The top two teams from the South Central Region advance to play the top two ranked squads of the Central Region from No. 12-14 at the site of the South Central Region’s No. 1 seed.

The winner of the four-team bracket advances to face the West Region champion in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals at a campus site on Nov. 21 for the right to advance to the NCAA Final Four in Louisville, Ky. from Dec. 2-4.

MSU is To catch the men’s soccer team in action come to their home games on Friday against Eastern trailed by In- New Mexico or on Sunday against West Texas A&M. carnate Word (Photos by Hannah Hofmann)

sports

10 n The Wichitan

October 6, 2010

Mustangs win in overtime Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor

Families from around the nation were on the edge of their seats this past Saturday night at Memorial Stadium to watch the No. 8 Mustangs take on UIW in a battle that pushed into overtime.

Mickey Hall, whose daughter Lindsay Hall, a sophomore pre-pharmacy major, cheered on the Mustangs on the sidelines, said she expected the Mustangs to have a blowout game.

MSU pulled out a win, but not without the Cardinals giving them a fight. MSU head football coach Bill Maskill thought his team could have played better, but was satisfied

with the victory.

“A win’s a win, and we’ll take it,” Maskill said, “It’s better than not having one, that’s for sure.”

MSU put the first points on the scoreboard when junior running back Lester Bush landed a touchdown on a fouryard run almost 10 minutes into the first quarter.

However, the Mustangs and the Cardinals switched scoring back and forth in the second quarter after UIW kicked a successful field goal and when their own Dominic Hamilton copped a touchdown.

MSU fired back when senior quarterback Zack Eskridge made a 19-yard pass on eight plays to junior wide receiver Keivin Swanson for him to tally off a touchdown.

Then the Cardinals were back at it after Andrew Mocio picked off another touchdown for UIW with less than a minute left in the first half.

Junior wide receiver David Little displayed a great performance in the game, scoring a

touchdown with only seven seconds left in the first half.

“He had a real good game and played really well with 14 catches,” Maskill said.

Little’s 14 receptions for 181 yards were good enough to set a school record.

“I’m just thankful for my ability to do what I can on the field and to use my talent,” Little said, ”It was a tough fight, I’m just glad we came out with the win.”

Going in the second half, MSU jumped ahead seven points after Bush whacked off another touchdown and senior place kicker Jose Martinez kicked a successful 22 yard field goal, putting MSU in the lead at 31-17.

UIW’s Donald Gies claimed two touchdowns for his team, once in the last seconds of the third quarter, and then in the final minute of the fourth quarter, which tied up the teams 31-31.

With 11 seconds left to play, Martinez had the chance but failed to connect what would have been a winning field goal, pushing the game into overtime.

Luckily, MSU came out on top after Eskridge made a 23yard pass to sophomore wide receiver Jared Freeman, letting him go for the winning touchdown.

“We made the plays when we had to, our offense scored and the defense stopped them, and that’s the bottom line,” Maskill said.

Next, the Mustangs go on the road Saturday to play their rival, No. 5 Abilene Christian at 2 p.m. in Shotwell Stadium.

MSU football players fought for victory in an overtime battle against Incarnate Word Saturday. It helped the team push to 5 - 0 for the season. The game coincided with MSU Family Day. Wide receiver David Little stood out with 14 catches for 181 yards to one touchdown. (Photos by Kassie Bruton)