Sept. 15, 2010

LOCAL EXPRESSION: Gallery showcases the works of three North Texas artists

npage 4

Wednesday n September 15, 2010

GOING GAGA: Lady Gaga walks away from the MTV Video Music Awards with 8 wins

npage 5

BLOODSPORT: The MSU Rugby team takes second place in tournament at UT Dallas

npage 8

thewichitan

your university n your voice

Phase one of coliseum facelift hammered out Chris Collins Managing Editor

After two years of hard, dirty work, phase one of the D.L. Ligon Coliseum renovation is complete.

But the work is far from being done. Phase two of the renovation, primarily demolition to make space for more locker rooms, has already begun.

The $6.7 million project will be funded by the Student Athletic Fee. Kyle Owen, associate director of the physical plant, said many of the renovations are necessary because the Coliseum is so old.

“We need to take care of our facilities,” Owen said. “That building is 40 years old.

Most of the equipment in there is 25 years old. You’re on borrowed time as far as replacing certain components of it.”

He said they’ve begun to do what he calls the “dirt work,” such as under-slab plumbing and infrastructure work.

The demolition process will take eight to

Construction in D.L. Ligon Coliseum continues, but the football locker rooms are complete.

(Photos by Brittany Norman and Hannah Hofmann)

nine months. It’ll be another year after that until phase two is completed.

The reason it takes so long, Owen said, is because the Coliseum is still a functional building while the renovations are being made.

“Two years may seem like a long time for something like this, but it’s primarily because the building’s inhabited or occupied,” Owen said. “It slows down things a lot.”

Also, a lot of the paint and some other

materials used in the original builder of the Coliseum contained asbestos, he said. That makes

See COLISEUM on page 3

Core curriculum gets top marks in national study

Dirty job

Chris Collins Managing Editor

All college students know that when they earn an ‘A’ on a test, it means they’re doing something right.

That’s why MSU Provost Alisa White was so happy to see the American Council of Trustees and Alumni We’re trying to give the highest educate a person possible to be a lifelong grade to learner, a strong Midwestcontributor to ern in society. its latest -Alisa White, Provost study.

T h e report, which examined core curriculum requirements of more than 700 schools nationally, only awarded an ‘A’ rating to 16 universities.

To White, this exemplary grade is more than just a pat on the back – it means MSU is turning out

Sikes Lake gets a clean sweep from over 100 volunteers

“

Chris Collins Managing Editor

On the afternoon of Saturday, Sept. 11, something was missing from Sikes Lake.

It was trash – 800 pounds of it, to be exact.

About 150 volunteers and 13 campus organizations showed to support the cleanup effort.

See CLEAN on page 3

”

See ACTA on page 3

Students hope discussion can ease controversy Brittany Norman Editor in Chief

Kayla Scholl was one of about 150 volunteers who came out Saturday morning to pick up trash around Sikes Lake. The volunteers, representing 13 campus organizations, collected 800 pounds of trash. (Photo by Hannah Hofmann)

The Office of Student Development and Orientation kicked off Constitution Day activities a week early with a campus-wide discussion on Park51, the Islamic community center with a proposed construction site just four blocks from Ground Zero.

Director of multicultural services Dominique Calhoun led the discussion, advertised as an open forum on the “Ground Zero Mosque.”

More than 100 students gathered in Shawnee Theatre Friday to share their opinions with other university community members. Calhoun had a Power Point presentation ready to move the discussion from one topic to another.

Opinions were no less polarized at Midwestern than in the rest of the country. Several students said that the Muslim community had an “absolute right” to build Park51 on the property near Ground Zero, while others claimed that proceeding with the project would be disrespectful to victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

Alicia Kobylecky, a senior psychology major, said she attended the forum to gain a better understanding of the situation.

“There are strong reactions coming from a lot of people (on this topic),” she said. “People are going to keep shouting louder and louder until their

See FORUM on page 3

2 n

The Wichitan

campusvoice nour view

Hidden agenda impedes discourse

The Office of Student Development and Orientation might have intended to create an open forum for the discussion of the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” Friday, but the moment they decided to bill the event as part of Constitution Day activities, they shut down the opportunity for students to voice their opinions in favor of creating a teachable moment.

Raw emotions are driving discussions nationwide about Park51, the Muslim community center developers plan to open near Ground Zero in Manhattan.

There are some who believe that the First Amendment protects the Islamic community’s right to worship wherever they choose, even if the location they selected incites anger and resistance from other Americans. Others believe that building Park51 in such close proximity to where the World Trade Centers once stood is offensive to victims of the September 11 attacks.

Students and university community members who turned out for the dis-

cussion shouldn’t have been coerced to believe anything by the forum’s moderator. They should have been afforded the opportunity to do just what the advertisements had alluded to – openly discuss their own opinions about a controversial issue that has captured the attention of Americans and the international community.

Instead, they got a lesson. Rather than leading the discussion and making sure everyone who wished to could voice their opinion without being unneccessarily attacked for their beliefs, Dominique Calhoun, coordinator of multicultural services, kept the floor for the majority of the discussion. He allowed the audience to voice opinions once in awhile, but would cut speakers off if they breached a topic that he planned to breach later in the program.

And that was the crux of the problem. This forum had a program. It had an objective, and that objective was to work through a PowerPoint presentation that heavily favored the Constitu-

tional aspect of the debate. The presentation used clips from news broadcasts, YouTube videos, factoids and illustrations to demonstrate that the “Ground Zero Mosque” is not a Mosque but a community center blocks from Ground Zero, that the developers have a legal right to build it, and that Islamophobia is a growing problem in America that can only be combatted if misinformation and prejudices are corrected.

All of that could very well be accurate, but the event on Friday was supposed to be a forum where students could discuss and debate their own opinions without being corrected, quieted or overridden by a moderator who was working toward an agenda. Tolerance is a wonderful goal to aspire to, but Calhoun and the Office of Student Development should have advertised the “forum” as a “presentation” if they didn’t really intend to allow free discourse.

September 15, 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.

Sacrificing for freedom nSocietal Floss

Juxtaposed between the anniversary of 9/11 and Constitution Day, which is Sept. 17, it seemed that the two pieces of news involving individual soldiers recently carried a heavier weight.

Capt. Dale Goetz died, unarmed, on Aug. 30 while in a Cameron Shaffer convoy in AfghaniOpinion Editor stan. Goetz was unarmed voluntarily.

He was an Army chaplain, dedicated to helping soldiers in their spiritual needs and to be a source of counsel. Chaplains do not carry weapons out on the field. Goetz was the first chaplain to die in combat since the Vietnam War. It takes a special kind of courage to dedicate yourself to serving your country and swearing your life away in order to protect others. It is a different kind of courage that calls you to do that with no weapon.

And tales of great courage make for a quick smile in this time of war. Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor late last week for actions he performed in Afghanistan in October 2007.

The Medal of Honor, which is the country’s highest military award and arguably the highest award in the nation, has only been awarded seven times in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, and all posthumously.

Giunta was part of a patrol that was ambushed. After getting shot in the chest, saved only by his armor, he threw several grenades to clear the Taliban out of his way and exposed himself to several members of the Taliban to rescue a fellow soldier who was being dragged away.

Courage was exemplified by Giunta that day. And while courage is the virtue that explains how soldiers like Goetz and Giunta do what they do, it does not explain why 1,278 soldiers were willing to go to war, put their lives on the line, and lose their lives there.

Goetz wrote in a 2008 article: “Have you ever had something that you were so devoted to that you would be willing to die for it? Freedom is that precious to many of us. Our love for freedom is worth dying for and many have gone before us to preserve this freedom.” The images and memories of 9/11 will never leave the mind’s eye of Americans and the drive to bring justice from that nightmare rests heavy on our warriors.

The honor of defending our freedom is what drove these heroes to give their lives up in a land on the other side of the world. With Patriot Day behind us and Constitution Day approaching, we should remember the truths embedded in our guiding document and what some are willing to do to protect those truths when we are attacked.

The sacrifice of our American heroes should not be forgotten.

She gave her life for Iran’s liberty ‘Reverend Rubicon’ For the Wichitan

On June 20, 2009, Neda Agha Soltan died on an Iranian street, the result of a bullet to her chest.

Just as millions of people around the globe, I first saw the sad, graphic and grainy footage of her last moments on YouTube. The beautiful, young Iranian woman stared blankly at those trying to help her while her youthful dreams of freedom were quickly overshadowed by death.

Here, a woman, a citizen of a repressive Islamic country, wearing blue jeans, tennis shoes, and the image of a powerful movement on her sleeves, had become the international symbol for the violence that a dictatorial regime can reduce its population to.

Staring at her eyes as the life left her, you got the sense that she was telling the rest of the world to remember her, to know that she died so that others may live in freedom.

The occasion of her death – the Iranian people rising up against the regime – was a watershed moment for our new president. Upon watching the video of Neda’s violent death, Barack Obama, in his usual cool, unflappable demeanor, could only muster the courage to recite political spin. He said he had been assured that the Iranian government promised to investigate the fraudulent election results and that the investigation would be done fairly.

I do not write this to bash our

Neda Agha Soltan before (left) and after (right) her death at the June 20, 2009 Iranian election protests. (photo courtesy)

president’s foreign policy toward Iran. Nor is it to question whether or not he authentically believes in the Iranian people’s uprising or whether he is apathetic to the general idea of freedom.

Instead, my purpose is more personal. It is about my own daughter who turned 11 months old today.

This summer, I watched an emotional, maddening, yet hopeful documentary about Neda that aired on HBO that was simply titled “For Neda.” The title could have been titled “For Every Little Girl in the World.”

The documentary detailed the life that Neda had before that fateful day, who she was, and why her life was much more than the horrifying moments caught on film that made her a martyr. She was, according to her mother, a rebellious child from

the moment she vacated the womb.

As a young school girl, Neda challenged the Islamic custom that required all girls to wear traditional clothing that hid her hair and skin.

She won. When asked why she always spoke her mind, Neda replied, “If you always speak your mind, you never have to lie.”

Her spirit was evident in the voices of her siblings, mother, and friends. While they mourned her death, the tears were mixed with laughter and joy as they recounted her life and rebelliousness.

Neda never got to fully experience the freedoms that we take for granted here in the United States.

Sadly, I am afraid that my daughter may never fully experience that freedom either.

Today, I am reading how a Supreme Court Justice believes that

books can be confiscated by the government if they deem it necessary.

Today, I am reading how the president may be allowed a “kill switch” to shut down the Internet in case of an emergency and to combat subversives.

Today, I am reading how a Yale professor believes our president will “fix the mistake that is Israel.”

Today, I am reviewing the government takeover of the auto industry, the banking system, the health industry, student loans, mortgages, and the fundamental beliefs that made this country great.

Today, I am wondering if Neda really knew what she dreamed about and died for.

Today, I am wondering if my daughter will ever know freedom.

It’s ironic how my daughter, at 11 months old, is dependent solely on my wife and I for every need that she has. It’s ironic in the sense that in her adult years she may be dependent on how government fulfills her needs in the same way I do now.

Will she have to take to the streets in protest to defend her rights and the rights of those she cares about? Will she do so knowing that the government would use force to keep her from expressing her desire for freedom or voicing her dissent?

Hopefully, her generation will be better stewards of the most precious gift of freedom than we were.

I also hope that she can forgive

news

September 15, 2010

campus briefs

The Wichitan n 3

n tHURSDAY: Movie Showing: Good Night and Good Luck at CSC Shawnee at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Athletic Luncheon at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU at noon

Secrets of the World Re-

cord Bass at the Shawnee Theatre at 7 p.m. n FRIDAY: Constitution Day all Day on Campus TLRC Brown Bag Lunch Discussion in CSC Wichita I & II at noon n Saturday: Alumni Association Membership Kickoff at Memorial Stadium at 5:30 p.m. n tuesday: Classic Film Series: Lonestar at the Wichita Falls Museum of Art at MSU at 7 p.m.

CLEAN....................................................continued from page 1 “This is the biggest turnout we’ve ever had,” said Terry McKee, local chapter president of the Texas Master Naturalists.

Among the groups represented in the effort were the Caribbean Students Organization, the women’s basketball team, the Biology Club, The Wichitan, and RAs and residents from Peirce Hall.

The event was sponsored by MSU, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas Master Natualrists. They provided trash bags, gloves, grabbers and skimmers for the lake cleaners.

A few days before the cleanup, TPWD

official Mark Howell said he anticipated about 50 people to attend the event. The turnout tripled his estimate. McKee said this was probably due to more concentrated advertising on campus.

“The word got out and concerned students did their part so everyone could enjoy the lake,” she said.

On Saturday morning about 150 students representing 13 campus organizations showed up to pick up trash at Sikes lake.

(Photos by Hannah Hofmann)

FORUM.......continued from page 1

voices are heard.”

Kobylecky believes that events like this one give people a chance to use their voices and explain their opinions in a constructive way.

“There’s a lot of pain tied up with this situation,” she said. “But the only way we can fix this is to talk and to keep talking.”

Senior English major Roxanne Ward said she hoped the discussion would help her see a more balanced picture of the “Ground Zero Mosque” controversy.

“When you watch television, Fox News is always saying ‘no, no, no,’ while MSNBC is saying ‘yes, yes, yes,’” Ward said. “This discussion gave us some middle ground.”

She said the worldwide controversy surrounding Park51 has really tied her coursework in with real world applications. In a humanities class, she has been studying Islam for the past two weeks.

“This (controversy) is going to be in our history books,” Ward said. “I passionately believe in civil rights and our Constitution, but I wanted to hear other peoples’ opinions. I understand why people would be sensitive about the subject.”

Freshman Hannah Suysgood believes that sharing ideas with people who might disagree is a good way to find middle ground.

“There are so many rumors being spread around, and I just wanted to hear all the different facts and hear people really sit down and talk about it,” Suysgood said. “Talking about it can help stop the anger. People might be angry because they don’t have all the facts.”

Calhoun believes events like this are crucial to the university’s mission.

“In the global sense, we are a liberal arts institution and we want to make sure (students) have a holistic learning experience,” Calhoun said. “It’s important that we have the ability to be able to really analyze all sides of a situation.

I think the people in attendance were able to see the issues from both sides.”

The Office of Student Development and Orientation will continue its Constitution Day activities this week with screenings of the film “Good Night and Good Luck,” in Shawnee Theatre and various events in the Clark Student Center on Friday.

COLISEUM............................................................continued from page 1 tearing down even harder and possibly dangerous.

Phase one of the project primarily focused on infrastructure work, he said. It was mostly work done that most people wouldn’t notice or pay attention to, although it was important.

“We replaced 19 air handlers in there, which were necessary to bring the building up the current air quality standards,” he said. The seals that connect the piping for the heating and cooling also had to be replaced.

Sprinkler systems were added during first phase of renovation, along with handrails and ramps leading into the gyms to make the areas ADA-compliant.

Altogether phase one cost $10.5 million. About $7.7 million came from university bond sales.

Phase two, on the other hand, is what Owen calls, “working on the pretty stuff.”

The old football locker room is being renovated for the women’s and men’s soccer teams, tennis and cross country. Another locker room is being spruced up for the basket-

ball and volleyball teams.

The process will also involve replacing an electrical panel in the football locker room. Some of the electrical equipment in the building is 40 years old.

“It’s a safety hazard,” Owen said.

About $1 million will be spent replacing electrical equipment.

The floor of the Don Flatt gym will be resurfaced, and a new “fiber” system for the Information Technology department. Another improvement will be a golf trainer, a simulator so golfers can hone their skills.

Owen said he plans to paint and refinish countertops in the strength training area. He will also conglomerate all the laundry machines into one room, instead of having them spread out in three different locations.

“We also hope to renovate the public restrooms as part of this,” Owen said.

He said he plans to move the football offices to where the old weight room used to be on the south end.

Certain projects are higher on Owen’s priority list than others. In

December, he’ll compile a “shopping list” of the renovations he would like to see happen in the Coliseum.

Contractors will then bid on the price of the work. Some of the things Owen wants to get done will be done, but some will fall to the wayside.

“We take the bid with the Construction is still a work in progress at D.L. Ligon best value, but Coliseum (Photos by Hannah Hofmann) 99.9 percent of He said the first project that the time that’s might get pushed onto the back the lowest bid,” he said.

Owens aid he has a list of 10 proj- burner is renovating the football ofects he would like to see finished in fices. It’s also possible the restrooms the building. He anticipates being might not get renovated.

“We want to do those things, but to do about seven.

“The last three are kind of up the locker rooms and the electrical for debate,” he said. “It just kind of infrastructure has to be done first,” depends on the pricing that comes he said. in.”

ACTA.............................................................................................................................................................................................................continued from page 1 students who are well rounded and aware of a broad range of subjects.

“Every educated person ought to have some basic knowledge of where we came from,” White said.

The rating was based on what White called a “content analysis,” meaning the score was based on the university’s course catalogue.

She said a lot of research is done in this fashion, where an

analyst will only count the presence or absence of a particular criterion.

White defined core curriculum as a range of classes that every student in a Texas public institution is required to take, regardless of his or her major.

“How each university meets those content areas is up to that particular university,” she said.

“You’ve got these general content areas, and universities select courses that will satisfy those re-

quirements.”

The areas MSU was graded on were composition, literature, foreign language, U.S. government or history, economics, mathematics, and natural or physical science.

The ACTA didn’t just check to see if MSU is teaching in those broad areas, however. They looked within each core field to see what courses were being offered.

White said some people might

misunderstand the criteria for the association’s rating system.

Harvard University received a grade of D, while many smaller and less prestigious schools earned better marks.

“Harvard is a phenomenal school,” she said. “There are a lot of ways to look at data. But I do believe the information they got about MSU was correct. We have a very strong liberal arts focus.”

White explained that some

schools didn’t make the ‘A’ list because they’ve expanded their curriculum so far beyond the core requirements.

“They’re offering so many things that they’ve gotten away from the idea of core subjects,” she said. “This council is saying, ‘don’t get too far afield. Try new things, do new things, but don’t forget too be an educated person.’”

She said certain courses, such as the humanities and perform-

ing arts, contribute to the knowledge of who we are as a people.

“We’re trying to educate a person to be a lifelong learner, a strong contributor to society,” White said. “We reap the benefits all the time of scholars who were involved in the sciences but also in liberal arts. This is the springboard. A lot of the movers and shakers in the world today who have a strong foundation also get some advanced study in a narrow area.”

4 n

feature

The Wichitan

September 15, 2010

Show and Tell Three artists explain their works in The Juanita Harvey Art Gallery

Brittney Cottingham Features Editor MSU Art students had the privilege of mingling and learning from three artists on Friday nght: Andrew DeCaen, Nancy Kizis and B.C. Gilbert. As an added bonus, the artists are also Texas educators, Kizis and Gilbert teach at Rider High School, and receive insight on the art world outside of college.

At the start of every school year, the doors of The Juanita Harvey Art Gallery open to prepare for artist artwork to arrive in time for the gallery opening.

They must be perfectly placed and marked accordingly. But

even before the doors open, the semester prior, professors are preparing for the fall opening.

“Close to the end of spring semester, we’ll go and start looking at different artists,” gallery technician Carlos Aleman said.

“Each of the instructors pick artists that they have noticed. They try to stay local.”

The overall goal of the art gallery openings is to motivate art students by showcasing the works of the local artists.

“We are trying to bring in inspiration to our young artists who are taking classes here to see what they can do with a career in art.”

Nancy Kizis

Andrew DeCaen Print-making assistant professor and program coordinator at the University of North Texas, Andrew DeCaen present his art series, art, Metabolism. It made students minds wonder as each piece displayed some relation to food.

“Food becomes us [through metabolism] so I wanted to title this show that because it’s a great metaphor on how we experience things in life,” DeCaen said.

The piece above with the same name is a sequence of the process of metabolism by modeling milk cartons.

“Metabolism is the process of how we take in something and our body transforms it into something else,” DeCaen said.

“This piece shows a sequence of somebody pouring milk into a glass and someone drinking out of the glass simultaneously so

Metabolism

Photos by Kassie Bruton

the milk is going into the glass and it’s coming right back out of the glass at the same time.

It’s a sequence where nothing is happening but maybe something is.”

Standardized Menu is one of DeCaen’s newer pieces that his 5-year-old daughter contributed to the artwork as well. “[My daughter] started kindergarten and I’m thinking about what she is eating at lunch because sometimes someone else is making her lunch,” DeCaen said. “So thinking about how the world is shaped by culture and culture shapes what we eat. So I googled the food pyramid. I wanted to create this net of images. And then I let my daughter draw on the top and we had a conversation about food while she was drawing.”

Standardized Menu

B.C. Gilbert

St. Bunny Gallery technician, Carlos Aleman says that Kizis has a great impact on students in the art world here in town because she’s been at Rider High School for 17 years as an art 1, ceramics, photography and AP studio art teacher.

Kizis’ pieces were joined with fellow Rider teacher B.G. Gilbert to create Midnight Oil. Although they are so vastly different.

“All of the imagery I have been working with recently in

this series represents memories of childhood,” Kizis said. “Each piece is attached to a certain memory. I am a survivor of extreme child abuse so that’s why my work has the knives and things like that.”

St. Bunny translate into her upbringing in deep south Texas, close to the Mexican border with palm trees in the background, rosary necklaces from her Catholic roots and her dead rabbit.

Yucca & Tipi Diptych

Hiding

Gilbert doesn’t want to be confused with doing just Texas based art. His pieces have a western inspired look to them that embodies who he is as an artist.

“Most of the work I’ve done in the past have been a lot larger,” Gilbert said. “This is the first

BFE

Andrew DeCaen B.C. Gilbert Nancy Kizis The Juanita Harvey Art Gallery http://andrewdecaen.com andrew@andrewdecaen.com

BGilbert@wfisd.net

Nkizis@wfisd.net

(940) 397-4264

time I have exhibited work that is this small scale. I went from having a larger studio space to a smaller space so these are things I can work at the kitchen table.”

His favorite piece from this smaller collection is entitled BFE. He says that the acronym is a funny thing that he put in for those who understand the meaning.

“I’m from a rural area so water towers are kind of a signifying landmarks,” Gilbert said.

Gilbert is an Art teacher at Rider High School who grew up in the West Texas panhandle.

Therefore a lot of his works come from his roots.

“There are a lot of yucca plans [in West Texas] and it is also a place where 250 years ago nomadic Indian tribes live,” Gilbert said. “Their main lodging were tepees so I’ve always grown up with that association. [Yucca and Tepee Diptych] was the first piece I created for this body of work. When I was sketching it out on paper, I saw the similarities of the yucca plants and a tepee if you reserve the shape. I like it for the size and the way it is attached to the horseshoe.”

Mon - Fri 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 pm 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m

September 15, 2010

a&e

Fight the Good Fight is made up of four MSU students that met at Rider High School. (Photo Courtesy)

The Wichitan n 5

FTGF has played at many venues, despite being in its early stages of development. (Photo Courtesy)

Rockin’ Out For Jesus Local band celebrates Christ through ‘post-power-pop-core’ music Josh Hoggard For the Wichitan The Wichita Falls music scene has a band to be proud to call its own.

Fight the Good Fight is a band hailing from our own city and is very quickly making a name for itself all over North Texas.

And, they’re standing up for what they believe in the process.

The band’s very name comes directly from The Bible, 1 Timothy 6:12.

FTGF is no more than eight months old, but has already played at venues such as the Palladium Ballroom and The Door in Dallas, and has shared the stage with the likes of Forever The Sickest Kids, Cartel, and The Scene Aesthetic.

Fight the Good Fight is made up of four MSU students; Garrett Ferris, Devon Robertson, Ryan Roberts, and Michael Carroll But the band didn’t meet on the campus of MSU; rather, they met in high school.

All four students graduated from Rider High School in Wichita Falls and have known each other for several years.

Although the band is in its mere infancy, guitarist Devon Robertson and drummer Michael Carroll have been playing together for three years.

After previous local bands, namely Kill the Messenger and Slow Motion Action Replay, fizzled out, Robertson and Carroll spent a

while writing music. Robertson claims responsibility for the lyrics, Carroll for a majority of the music.

“After SMAR broke up, we got more punk and more poppy, but we still kept the breakdowns,” Carroll said.

“We wanted to draw in different crowds and… use pop elements in a metal way and metal elements in a pop way,” Robertson added.

After writing together for over a year, bass player Ryan Roberts and singer/guitarist Garrett Ferris were added to the mix.

“We never had to think about what was going to be our drive to our music,” frontman Ferris explained. “We all just kind of knew… it was going to be for Christ and we never had to talk about it.”

“It’s so weird how it fell together, we know it was God’s plan,” Robertson added.

With all of the pieces in place, Fight the Good Fight created a style all their own, which they deem “post-power-pop-core.”

“You’d have to listen to it, cause I don’t know what we are,” Roberts explained.

In addition to their unique sound, Fight the Good Fight wishes to bring a new positive message to the local music scene.

“I’ve been going to shows since I was in junior high,” Robertson said. “The local scene is a place where a lot of kids were introduced to drugs and alcohol. We’re just trying to do something positive.”

“I don’t want to be that band that won’t talk to anyone after a show when people come up to them. I want to be relational. I want to show Christ’s love through our positivity,” Roberts added.

The band’s influences range from Blink-182 to The Devil Wears Prada, with a special emphasis on In Theory, A Day To Remember, and Four Year Strong.

“Bands like that showed us that you can do both, you don’t have to keep your sound in one genre box,” Robertson said.

Every band makes music for a reason. While touring and playing big shows are on their horizon, Fight the Good Fight’s members said they wouldn’t be doing this if it weren’t for their faith.

“I know I’m not supposed to be doing anything other than serving Christ and worshipping,” Roberts said.

“Putting music behind my beliefs is the best way to show others how God has changed my life,” Ferris said.

While the band stands firm in their faith and receives some criticism for it, they want future listeners to know that their music is for everyone.

“I want people who aren’t Christians to listen to it and people who are Christians to listen to it too and be encouraged,” Robertson said.

Future fans can find Fight the Good Fight’s music on iTunes, as well as the band’s MySpace (myspace.com/weareFTGF) and PureVolume (purevolume.com/weareFTGF).

With a new positive message and a sound completely their own, Fight the Good Fight brings a brand new sound to the Wichita Falls music scene.

No drama, but lots of Gaga at 2010 MTV VMA Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor

The 2010 MTV Video Music Awards (more commonly known as the VMAs) took place Sunday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. and were shown live from Nokia Theater in L.A. The pre-show began at 7 p.m. on the white carpet outside the theater. Music artists traipsed up and down the carpet, showing off their specially designed dresses and ensembles.

Lady Gaga, of course, made her grand entrance in a huge dress and even bigger head piece, but you could at least see her face this year. She was awarded Best Collaboration Video and Best Dance Video during the preshow, and that just began her award-winning night.

The shindig kicked off with a performance by Eminem, along with an appearance by Rihanna, who sported a very flaming head of red locks.

Popular late night talk show host, Chelsea Handler, hosted the prestigious event. She entered the stage with a mock to Lady Gaga’s outfits, donning a house on her head and a dove that was released from under her dress.

This was the first time in 16 years that a woman hosted this event, and maybe it should have stayed in the hands of men because Handler’s crude comments were awkward and more annoying than entertaining.

She even showed the audience how recipients of awards should defend themselves against

2010 VMAs featured Kanye West, Taylor Swift, Chelsea Handler, Lady Gaga and Cher. (Photo Courtesy)

interrupting artists. (Flashback to the Kanye and Taylor fiasco of 2009).

Lady Gaga dominated the show, receiving eight awards for the night including Best Direction, Editing, Choreography and Female Video. She also picked up the prestigious Video of the Year title.

Her first two outfits were so extreme that she had to have help getting out of her seat and onto the stage. Oh, the things she does for fashion.

Eminem claimed two awards for his single “Not Afraid,” Best Male and Hip Hop Videos, but was unable to collect his Moonmen because he hopped on a plane the second his opening performance finished.

30 Seconds to Mars nabbed

Best Rock Video for their hit “Kings and Queens.” Jared Leto rocked a very blond mohawk, might I add.

Justin Bieber won Best New Artist with his song “Baby,” featuring Ludacris. Surprise, surprise.

“Bieber fever” took over when the young star performed his two hits, “Baby” and “Somebody to Love.” Despite his cute dance moves and cool shades, the young teen still looks like an aspiring Aaron Carter wannabe.

After a video flashback of last year’s MTV VMA shocker – Kanye West stealing the microphone from Swift during her acceptance speech – the country superstar performed barefoot a song from her new album, “Innocent,” which was inspired by the debacle.

Cher made her appearance announcing that she was the oldest chick with the biggest hair and littlest clothing at this event.

She awarded Lady Gaga with the Moonman for Video of the Year, “Bad Romance.”

Gaga shed a tear and sang a couple of lines from her new album, “Born This Way,” and as always, thanked her fans and friends.

Ending the non-eventful evening, the much anticipated Kanye West, donning a bright red suit and countless gold chains, performed a new single that paid tribute to jerks, scumbags, douchebags and a**holes.

This year’s VMA’s were a bit of a let down from last year’s crazy debacle. Let’s just hope for a scandal at the 2011 show.

Best Videos of the Past Ten Years

2010: Lady Gaga: “Bad Romance” 2009: Beyonce: “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” 2008: Britney Spears: “Piece of Me” 2007: Rihanna feat. Jay-Z: “Umbrella” 2006: Panic! At the Disco: “I Write Sins Not Tragedies” 2005: Green Day: “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” 2004: OutKast: “Hey Ya!” 2003: Missy Elliot: “Work It” 2002: Eminem: “Without Me” 2001: Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mya, Pink feat. Missy: “Lady Marmalade” 2000: Eminem: “The Real Slim Shady”

6 n

a&e

The Wichitan

September 15, 2010

nMusic Excursion:

VS

AN ENTERTAINMENT COLUMN

A new look at Indie music

The original “Resident Evil” and “Afterlife” have changed over the eight years. (Photo Courtesy)

New ‘Resident Evil’ doesn’t stand up to previous films Lauren Wood Entertainment Editor

But surprise, the two have met before and some bonds can’t be broken.

Resident Evil: Extinction Three years after the second film was released, The “Resident Evil” films are quickly becoming “Resident Evil: Extinction” came to theaters in the next “Land Before Time” series: unending and 2007. unnecessary.

Years after the Raccoon City disaster, Alice “Resident Evil: Afterlife” is the fourth entry is traveling on her own. She is aware that she in a series of zombie-infested films based on the has become a liability and could endanger those horror video-game series. around her, and she is struggling to survive and But before I get into “Afterlife,” if you haven’t bring down the Umbrella Corporation led by the followed the last three films, here is a short synopsis sinister head researcher Dr. Isaacs. of each action-packed entry in the series.

Meanwhile, traveling through the Nevada Resident Evil Desert and the ruins of Las Vegas, old acquaintances The original “Resident Evil” was released in September 2002. The basic premise is that a virus Carlos Olivera (Oded Fehr) and L.J. (Mike Epps) has escaped in a secret facility called “The Hive,” from “Apocalypse” cross paths with the heroine run by the Umbrella Corporation, and it turned when they travel with some new additions to the the staff into hungry zombies. The complex cast.

New survivors K-Mart (Spencer Locke), Claire computer system in the facility shuts down the Redfield (Ali Larter), and Nurse Betty (Ashanti) base to prevent infection. must fight to survive extinction against hordes The parent corporation sends in an elite military of zombies, killer crows and the most terrifying unit, where they meet Alice (Milla Jovovich), who creatures created as a result of the deadly T-Virus is suffering from amnesia due to exposure to nerve that has killed millions. gas.

In the end, Alice has to face her maker, Dr. The military team, which includes a very stern Isaacs, who has deformed into an unstoppable Michelle Rodriguez, must shut down the computer creature who has taken too many anti-virus shots. and get out, fighting their way past zombies, The film ends with Alice discovering a laboratory mutants, and the computer itself, before the virus filled with replicas of herself which were used for escapes and infects the rest of the world. their experimentation, and is determined to come Alice must also come to terms with her slowlyafter the head mastermind, Albert Wesker. returning memories that helps explain why this all Resident Evil: Afterlife happened in the first place.

Similar to the past films “Resident Evil: Actor Eric Mabius plays Matt, who helps the Afterlife” stars Alice fighting off zombies and team as they figure a way out of the maze-like helping those in need. However, this year’s sequel is building. But at the end of the film is taken by the the first “Resident Evil” movie produced in 3-D. Umbrella Corporation and leaves the audience Basic plot: In a world ravaged by a virus wondering if they’ll ever see him again. infection, turning its victims into the undead, Resident Evil: Apocalypse Alice (still Jovovich), continues on her journey to The second film in the series, “Resident Evil: find survivors and lead them to safety.

Apocalypse” hit theaters in September 2004.

Her deadly battle with the Umbrella In this sequel, The Umbrella Corp opens their Corporation reaches new heights, but Alice gets underground research lab “The Hive,” and they some unexpected help from an old friend, Claire unfortunately let the virus escape into Raccoon Redfield.

City. The plague moves rapidly, and soon everyone A new lead that promises a safe haven takes the is infected. two to Los Angeles, but when they arrive the city Alice ( Jovovich returns) awakens in the is overrun by thousands of undead.

Umbrella Corp’s lab connected to tubes. They Alice does meet some few survivors and together have been experimenting with the virus, and it has they try to find a way to escape to the safe haven, a mutated inside Alice’s body giving her extraordinary ship that is in the nearby ocean. powers. Alice leaves the lab and begins to kill the A few twists, turns and traps later, Alice is undead as she goes through the city. victorious but the film is left open for yet another She rescues a group of survivors who are holed“Resident Evil.” up inside a church.

Milla Jovovich plays her usual character of few Jill Valentine, another sexy woman with guns words but a lot of shooting.

(Sienna Guillory), as well as Carlos Olivera (Oded The plot was lacking in this installment, but was Fehr) are S.T.A.R.S. operatives that are trying to still entertaining enough. The cast was its usual save themselves and the city. band of random characters which half of which The group must leave the church and get out of always die or get turned into a zombie. the city, but the Umbrella Corp has sealed it.

You probably just saw the gory killing scenes Dr. Charles Ashford ( Jared Harris), an just a little closer in the film’s 3-D version.

Umbrella Corporation scientist, helps Alice and The fighting scenes weren’t as compelling as the others escape the city if they find his daughter they have been in the past and were far too few, Angie (Sophie Vavaseur). and since the plot failed to entertain, fighting Meanwhile, Dr. Issacs (Iain Glen) from The scenes were definitely needed to save this film.

Umbrella Corporation sends in his secret weapon Overall, it was an admirable try, but maybe code-name Nemesis to see how good he is as a writer Paul W.S. Anderson should have stopped weapon. Nemesis wipes out most of the Special at the third film, and definitely shouldn’t try for a Tactics and Rescue Services (S.T.A.R.S.) team fifth. and his next target is Alice.

I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-EN-T, do you know what that means?

No, that’s a legitimate question.

When it comes to independent music, it’s kind of hard to define just by listening to it.

Independent, or indie, music is simply defined as any music that is independent (clever title work, guys) of any big-name producer or “corporate control” of their music.

In other words, the bands maintain themselves, rather than letting a company do it. The bands do their own promoting, touring, management, et cetera.

As you can imagine, this can make distinguishing “indie” entirely based on sound a little difficult.

It also means that indie music can span the entire range of genres. There are indie folk bands, indie metal bands, indie rock bands, and the list continues. There are even a few indie rap artists that I know of.

There are probably a few indie bands that you may not have known were indie, like

Josh Hoggard For the Wichitan The Postal Service and its parent project, Death Cab for Cutie.

With lack of big-time promotion, the reason indie artists aren’t well known is somewhat self-evident.

That’s what this little column is for.

Let’s start with a few indie rock bands.

One of the more wellknown indie rock bands of our time is Brand New. Their hits “Jude Law and a Semester Abroad,” “The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows” and “Jesus Christ” have all received

air time on networks like MTV and Fuse. Their newest release, “Daisy,” makes four total studio albums for this band, each of which has a sound all its own. Yet, somehow, the band manages to keep their own style.

Perhaps another very well known indie rock band is Minus the Bear. With smooth vocals, eclectic and poppy guitar riffs, catchy drum beats, and electronic feels, this band’s versatility makes them unique.

Their eclectic sound ranges from slow songs to study to, to poppy songs you can’t help but dance to. It is very good music to chill to, as well.

Maybe a not-so-well-known name in the indie rock scene is Edison Glass. This band has more of a pop feel. Hailing from Long Island, New York, this band brings a lot of fun to the table. A few songs earned radio air time, such as “In Such A State” and “Let Go,” both of which are great songs. It is definitely worth a listen.

Next week, we shall venture into the world of indie bands that don’t sing in English… or don’t even sing at all.

Getting crafty with hardware Alyssa Johnston For the Wichitan

Nuts, washers, clamps, hoses, wire and chain… these are not just hardware parts, but can now be used to make new jewelry at an affordable price. However ridiculous this may sound, it is a real trend that might catch on.

Bobbie Thomas with “The Today Show”enlightened viewers on the new trend. Apparently Home Depot, Sutherlands and Lowe’s are the perfect places to buy new jewelry that you can make at home, yourself, in minutes.

You can slide the nuts and washers onto a necklace, ring or earrings in a pattern to create your own piece of jewelry. Another of the ideas presented was to take a faucet hose and twist a piece of ribbon or tulle around it and use the ribbon to tie it around your neck. You can also take hose clamps and use them for rings or bracelets, intertwining them in creative ways.

Some of the cuter items shown on the segment were pieces of chain that you can get, for literally pennies, cut into small enough lengths for a bracelet or long enough for a belt or headband.

Chain comes in gold or silver colors so you can match it to anything. Especially being able to use whatever fabric you want and being able to loop it through the chain however you want. Similar to the faucet hose, you string any kind of ribbon, string, tulle or any material of your choosing through the links

the in the chain.

Like the faucet, the ribbon or fabric works as a tie.

The chain can also be used to accessorize shoes.

You can glue a small strip of the chain to the back of your favorite pair of heels or your purse (along the strap or the sides) to give it that extra dazzle.

Likewise you can glue rhinestones to the toe of your heels or flats to hide a scuff or normal wear and tear.

On the more creative side, pulleys or hooks were used to make personalized belts to match whatever outfit you want. Also plain old wire can be used for bracelets or additional accents to necklaces.

This trend seems Hardware jewelry is new accessory to be rather odd but craze. (Photo Courtesy) appropriate for the state of the economy. Whether or not this trend will really catch do you?, has been around since on is a good question. Plumbers 2005.

Buying the jewelry from the and construction workers seem Web site defeats the purpose to think it will merely hike the of making it your own for next prices on the materials they need to nothing, but it is a lot more to buy to do their jobs, but others attractive. have taken the trend and ran.

The hose clamps and the Web sites like iweardoyou.net faucet hose don’t exactly look have “blinged out” the hardware very appealing, and it has been to make it more marketable, stated that this type of jewelry but of course they are selling it is meant to help you dress down, for a lot more than if you did it not dress up. yourself. The Web site, iWear …

FedEx Ground is Hiring!

Your Party Headquarters for: Domestic and Specialty Beers Liquor Wine Kegs Cigars Lottery Holiday, Holida y,

Catering for Hospitality Ca tering for Hospitality Suites, Suites, Graduation and other other large parties Gradua tion and large parties

TM on AATM onsite! site!

*Bud Ziegenbock & Keystone 1/2 Barrel - $74.82 plustax!* tax!* *BudSelect, Select and Ziegenbock 1/2Light Barrel kegs -Kegs $74.82 plus

Starting Salary: $9/hour Tuition Assistance Consern Education Loan Program Career Advancement Opportunities

Part-Time AM Package Handlers 4 a.m. - 8 a.m. Shift Tues. - Sat.

To schedule an observation, call (940) 766-1204 FedEx Ground is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer (M/F/D/V) committed to a diverse workforce.

Three pay increases within the first 6 months of employment!

Must pass background check, be able to load, unload, and sort packages, and perform other related duties.

sports

September 15, 2010

The Wichitan n 7

Mustangs stomp out two Colorado teams Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor

The No. 2 ranked Mustangs soccer team kicked off their first game at the Midwestern State Classic this past Friday and struck out the Colorado State-Pueblo Thunderwolves with an overall score of 4-0.

The victory pushed the team’s winning streak to a record 23 matches. MSU had a straight record of 22 home wins from 1991-1993, but are now 20-003 due to a 1-0 setback to West Texas A&M back in the 2007 regular season.

“Overall for this early in the season we did okay.

I think we could have scored a few more and our finishing could have been better,” MSU Soccer Coach Doug Elder said.

Twenty minutes into the first half, MSU’s David Freeland scored the first goal for the Mustangs with assist coverage by Paulo Teixeira. The shot was originally intended for Chad Caldwell, but Caldwell was knocked down which allowed Freeland to take the shot, his second for the season.

Still in the first half, the Mustangs scored their second goal in the fortieth minute by midfielder Sam Broadbent with an assist by Dean Lovegrove, making Broadbent’s second goal for the season and wrapping up the first half at 2-0.

The Mustangs continued to do well in the second half. Tex McCullough proved this by scoring for the Mustangs on their third goal with an assist

by Landon Fruge, all in the sixty-fifth minute.

“It was kind of lucky. Out of all the shots I had, that one actually got in, but I’ll take it. I can do better next time,” McCullough said.

Wrapping up for the Mustangs was midfield Casey Hibbs with a penalty kick in the eightysecond minute.

“Our defense was pretty solid, possession was

The Mustangs then finished up the MSU Classic Invitational this past Sunday against the Mountain Lions of Colorado-Colorado Springs, Mustangs caged the Mountain Lions at a score of 1-0. The game had a slow start with Colorado-Colorado Springs’s midfield Gabriel Causse being ejected late in the first half, knocking their number of players on the field down to ten.

After lightning delayed the start of the second half, the Mustangs had the upper hand of an one man advantage thanks to Causse’s ejection, although Elder thought they played quite well.

“They played hard with just 10 guys in the second half, hats off to the other team,” Elder said.

Midfielder Dean Lovegrove gallops his way to a full kick. (Photo by: HanGoing into the sixnah Hofmann) ty-sixth minute of the game, Midfield Paulo Teixeira shot and scored okay. We’re pretty satisfied because you go in the the only goal for the game with assistance coverage half 1-0 instead of 2-0, it can change the game,” by Tex McCullough.

Elder said.

“Fortunately we got in with the win. We’ll take it The Mustangs overall took 34 shots and placed and go on from there,” Elder said.

11 on goal. They also didn’t allow any shots until MSU hosts the Lone Star Conference opener Midfielder Connor Marcone took a shot at the sevthis Friday against Incarnate Word at 7 p.m. at the entieth minute for the Thunderwolves, their only MSU soccer field. shot in the game.

Left: Midfielder Kendra Clemons kicks to Defender Brianne Bates Right: Forward Mickey Brown defends the ball against Oklahoma Baptist Bison.

(Photos by: Hannah Hofmann)

Greyhounds get tails tucked in 44-17 Andre Gonzalez Sports Editor

The Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico were no match against the Mustangs as they played them on their own field in Portales, N.M. this past Saturday.

MSU won over Eastern New Mexico with a final score of 44-17, which was enough to bump the Mustangs up one on the American Football Coaches Association ranks to the No. 12 slot.

ENMU’s Chase Kyser scored the first touchdown of the game, but minutes later the Mustangs tied up the game with a quick five play and 75-yard drive that allowed senior running back Neal Carr a two yard plunge.

Then, the Greyhounds copped a turnover after senior cornerback Patrick Roberts fell on a fumble at the 20 yard line, which allowed senior place kicker Jose Martinez to land a 37 yard field goal to put the Mustangs into the double digits on the scoreboard.

Minutes later, junior defensive back Tyler Maner picked off an MSU interception and returned it at a 36 yard run to seek a touchdown waiting for him at the end of the field.

Right at the end of the first quarter with just a second to spare, senior quarterback Zack Eskridge made an 18 yard pass

to junior wide receiver David Little, which he did admire their ability to hold Eastern awarded him with a touchdown and ended New Mexico down. the first quarter at 24-7 “Anytime you hold a team who averages In the second quarter, the Greyhounds 40 points a game and knock them down to would pull off a field goal and a touchdown, 17, you’re doing something right,” Maskill but MSU quickly struck back as senior run- said. ning back Marcus Mathis landed a touchMSU faces off against Southwestern down and ended the first half with the Mus- Oklahoma this Saturday at Memorial Statangs still in the lead at 31-17. dium for Military Appreciation Day. Kickoff Going into the second half, Martinez is set for 7 p.m. kicked a 20-yard field goal. to put the Mus tangs another three points ahead.

Towards the end of the third quarter freshman running back Chauncey Harris completed a 32 yard run for a touchdown that put MSU over the 40 mark on the scoreboard.

Completing the game in the fourth quarter was a 22 yard field goal kicked by freshman punter Greg Saldino. !

Even though the Mustangs pulled a victory, head football coach Bill Maskill was critical on their performance and unsatisfied on how they played.

“We didn’t play as good as we Make it easy with an English Tutor. should have and I know we all feel like we could have done better, our Ms. Liberty Deatherage, Master of English performance was sloppy,” he said Call or Text (940) 704-8408 Although Maskill seemed disappointed with his team’s performance,

On Deck This Week n today: sept. 15 VOLLEYBALL: vs. Oklahoma Panhandle State, 6:00 p.m. n tHURSDAY: sept. 16 VOLLEYBALL: @ Durant, Okla. 7:00 p.m. n FRIDAY: sept. 17 men’s soccer: vs. Incarnate Word, 7:00 p.m. n Saturday: sept. 18 football: vs. Southwestern oklahoma, 7:00 p.m. volleyball: @ Ada, Okla.

2:00 p.m. cross country: @ Missouri Southern Stampede. Joplin

n Sunday: sept. 19 soccer: womens vs. Newman University. 3:00 p.m. mens vs. St. Edwards, 7:00 p.m. n tuesday: sept. 21 volleyball: vs. Dallas Baptist. 7:00 p.m.

Congrats! Miss you!

Kaitlin Clark Love, Ryan

$385

English Class Too Froggin’ Hard?

* Free Wi-Fi

sports

8 n The Wichitan

Damian Atamenwan For the Wichitan MSU Rugby began its season Saturday with a 19-5 win over South Methodist University in the North Texas Collegiate tournament at the University of Dallas.

Bo Williams scored the first try within 10 minutes of play. MSU mobile forwards kept the pressure on SMU with a strong forward drive resulting in a try by Luis Banda right before halftime.

Aaron Alvarez kicked the conversion, giving MSU a 12-0 advantage. SMU managed a soft try in the second half but MSU got it back as the forwards moved the ball again, setting Banda up for his second score of the game. Alvarez made the extra two points to secure an MSU win.

The second match was against Texas Christian

University. The Mustangs were able to secure three early points against TCU when Aaron Alvarez made a 40-yard penalty kick.

TCU adjusted and was able to score twice before the end of the half. The Horned Frogs had a 12-3 advantage until Alvarez scored a try after big hits by the forwards and a neat pass from Paul De La Cruz. The match ended 12-8 in TCU’s favor.

MSU advanced to the championship match against Sam Houston State University by scoring the most points in their division. Sam Houston advanced by wins over University of Dallas and University of North Texas. This championship game started well for MSU as the team gained possession and played on SHSU’s side of the field. Within a short time, MSU took the lead as Luis Banda scored his third try for the day. SHSU scored two tries before half-time and held a 12-5 advantage.

In the second

September 15, 2010

half, MSU, led by Mo Aboukar, played a strong defense and kept Sam Houston scoreless. The team’s hard work paid off as Damian Atamenwan scored a late try from kick down the field. The match ended 12-10 after MSU missed the two extra points.

MSU emerged second overall and will play in the Fort Sill tournament this Saturday.

Head coach Rod Puentes, said he was satisfied with the team’s performance.

“We were aggressive in every match we played. Fitness will be a key thing to work on as fatigue caused many mental mistakes that turned into points for the opponents or denied MSU scoring opportunities,” Puentes said.

“We could have won that tournament. I am especially proud of how we played against the division one schools this weekend, we will see these teams again during the regular season. They will get better but so will we.”

MSU Rugby competed in the North Texas Collegiate Tournament at the University of Dallas Saturday. MSU took second place overall and will play in the Fort Sill tournament this Saturday.

(Top) Damian Atamenwan and Chris Dewbre battle. (Above) Chris Dewbre fighting the lead.

(Left inset) Tyler Schmidt after taking a hit. (Left) Tyler Schmidt lifting up Matt Cobb to make a play. (Photos by: Damien Atamenwan)