Feb 18, 2016

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Feb. 18, 2016

Majoring in America

The Writing Center creates new group to assist international students Andrew Burnes Editor

International Incident As campus carry urges ever closer to implementation, guns continue to become entrenched in the minds of A&M-Commerce students. One segment of the population that has remained solemnly silent on the issue is the international students.

That changed this week as longtime East Texan photographer Aaron Hwang offered his take on what it means to be a foreigner in a land of deadly weaponry.

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Zika virus spreads fear, paranoia as risk factors increase The fast-spreading Zika disease, like many others, has been attributed to mosquitos, but new information continues to come to light.

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Deadpool raises his weapons Deadpool’s historic opening run in theatres (he’s celebrated the biggest opening run for an R-rated film ever), has been the subject of great excitement, profanity, brutality and hilarity for students, lovers, and ignorant parents across the country. But is there really that much to love about the newest Marvel character on the silver block? Editor Andrew Burnes offers his take.

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College is an intimidating time for everyone.

From being away from old friends and family for the first time to figuring out how to deal with money to washing your own clothes to being your own person, the years of undergraduate study are often the most formative in an individual’s life.

There are a lot of things to learn for domestic students moving only 30 miles to a new home in a cream-colored dorm, but international students have to learn an entire new world of people, places, customs and communication. Tasks that are frivolous and automatic for American students like ordering a sandwich or understanding the English professor are often a daily struggle for students leaving their home countries for the first time. How do they learn how to make a doctor’s appointment? Or adjust to American slang?

Much less write a five-page paper for their English class?

It’s questions like these that gave Diana Hines the idea to foster the creation of the new International Study Group on campus. As the director of the Writing Center, Hines has already spent years working to create a place for students from all disciplines and levels to have a place to come work, write, and receive help from the fellow students that make up the Writing Center staff.

“There will be multiple countries represented, so there’s going to be a lot of cultural exposure.”

- Jonathan Zananiri, Writing Center tutor But her past experience teaching international students to perform more practical social tasks spurred the creation of the new group.

“We want to help with very practical con-

E AST TEXAN PHOTO/A NDREW BURNES

Jon Zananiri, one of the two veteran tutors in the A&M-Commerce writing center that will be leading the international student group, has a particular interest in broadening the discourse among international voices; his parents immigrated to America from Jordan.

cerns,” Hines said. “We want to help them practice the kinds of things they’d need to say. Social conversation. A lot of interesting stuff.”

One area in particular that Hines is interested in pursuing is online conversation, whether it’s calling the bank to inquire about an account or ordering a pizza.

“Anything on the phone is very frightening for international students,” Diana said.

But as integral as she has been to the process of making the International Writing Group a reality, Diana won’t be the one working with the students directly. Instead, the group will be led by Writing Center tutors Jon Zananiri and Caitlyn Bogart, both of whom have worked with a wide variety of students in the center since the Fall of 2014. With an international background of his own (his parents are both from Jordan), Jon is particularly excited about the kinds of conversations that will be shared across cultural lines.

“There will be multiple countries represented, so there’s going to be a lot of cultural exposure,” Zananiri said. “We’ll be partaking in exercises

where they help each other, collaborate and give each other advice, so there’s more cultural exposure shared.”

Freed from the chains of rigid structure that can hamper international learning opportunities in large classrooms, the group will be small at first. But the tutors and director hope that the group will continue to grow so that more and more students from different walks of life will email TAMUCwritinggroupos@gmail.com, take part, and help broaden the horizons of everyone included. Ultimately, as the group continues to actively recruit students to its 2-4 p.m. weekly Wednesday meetings in The Hall of Languages’ student lounge, it will be the students themselves, not an acting head, that will determine the discussions and projects undertaken by the group.

“I would think it would revolve around questions that the students have,” Hines said. “Why are presidential debates necessary? What are the curiosities that they have about American life?

All of these are opportunities for discussion.”

A&M-Commerce works to rectify state-wide teacher shortage Hunter Kimble The East Texan Texas A&M University–Commerce’s Center for Educator Certification and Academic Services is doing their part to solve Texas’s teacher shortage by producing certified teachers.

According to the Texas Education Agency, Texas has a shortage of teachers in the 2015-2016 school year. The areas that are experiencing a lack of educators are bilingual and English as a second language, career and technical education, mathematics, science, and special education – elementary and secondary levels.

The cause of the shortage is currently unknown.

“I’m not sure why there is a shortage,” coordinator and advisor of certification, Scott Mobley, said.

“Those are the more in depth fields. So, I’m not

to sure if people are not doing it because of the education background that is required, or if maybe the teachers that are there are moving on to higher paying positions.”

Although the cause is unclear, the university is solving the issue by producing teachers with the Center for Educator Certification and Academic Services’ certification programs. These programs allow students, who want to become teachers, alternative routes to become highly qualified according to the state standard.

According to Mobley, who received his bachelors and teaching certification from A&M-Commerce, believes the program has produced numerous certified educators for Texas.

“So far, I think A&M-Commerce is doing a wonderful job,” Mobley said. “You can look at our numbers across the United States and see that A&M produces the top-notch teachers that are out

there.”

Mobley also said that those who want to become teachers most have a passion for it, which is what various education majors at the university have.

“The main reason I chose to be a bilingual teacher is because I want to give back the help that I once received to the students,” Juan Briones, bilingual major, said. “I came to this country in 2004 and I was an ELL [English Language Learner] student, and now I would like to give back the help.”

Although solutions for the teacher shortage are still being brainstormed, promoting the need for educators seems to be the main solution at the moment.

“I believe is can be solves if we can market it and encourage more teachers, Mobley said. “People need to start think about the future and our future is guided by our teachers.”

Opinion

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Feb. 18, 2016

Campus Carry: An outsider looking in Aaron Hwang Photographer

Campus Comment

Recently, Texas has issued the Open Carry bill, which is currently one of the hottest issues in America.

Before I came to Texas A&M University – Commerce, my friends and family members from South Korea would warn me of the gun problem in America and told me to be very careful while I was there. Back at home, it is illegal for citizens to own a gun unlike here in the States. Because of this, Koreans are unfamiliar with the concept of open carry and citizens owning guns, so my loved ones were very worried about my safety.

Before Campus Carry was passed, I did not think it was that big of an issue, because I believed that the campus would remain a safe place since students were not allowed to have their guns in class. However, once the bill was passed, I became worried about the concept of having guns on campus. I would question myself about the issues that could occur if students had access to their guns. “Would international students remain safe on campus?” “Are there any safe zone for us if a school shooting occurs?” I would also wonder who the first target would be if someone was held at gun point, and then I would imagine that the target would be me or some other international student, because we do not own a gun.

I’m really scared about the events that might happen when Campus Carry goes into full affect next semester. We international students cannot own a gun unlike American students. When something happens, we cannot defend ourselves, because we do not have a gun nor the option to get one. Personally, I do not have the intentions of buying a gun, because I’m not interested in them. I’m graduating this semester, so it would be pointless to buy one. Also, for clarification, I’m not trying to say that all American students who own a gun are potential criminals. I’m just worried about the situation since everyone, good or bad, can bring their guns on campus.

Now, as an international student from South Korea, I do not believe that I have the right to blame congress for passing the bill. I’m just concerned about how the university will maintain the absolute safety of students both international and American. The idea of people having guns on campus makes me think that a scene from the western film “A Fistful of Dollars” will take place in the near future, and I will get to see it with my own eyes. I just hope that I do not become one the characters that get shot in the movie.

PHOTO COURTESY BENJAMIN DARFLER

Down with standardized tests Todd Kleiboer Staff Writer

On certain days across the nation, tens of thousands of high school students are assigned a number. The numbers seem arbitrary, ranging from 400 to 1600 with a certain assessment and one to 36 with another. Arbitrary they are not, however; these numbers are in fact the arbiter of a student’s future decisions and dreams that may be crushed under the boot of those who favor expediency over accuracy.

I am, of course, talking about the dreaded college entrance exams, the ACT and SAT, and though many who pick up and read this paper will most likely have no more worries about this stressor, I implore you to think about others you may have known, others that did not score high enough on these tests, that were not outstanding students but instead were, God forbid it, average. Those students, neither noted for their brilliance nor for their lack of it, are the group that the ACT and SAT affect the most, the group whose dreams can hinge on a single point.

Admission into colleges and universities are the most obvious area these students’ assigned numbers affect, and while they can

certainly reach into the realm of scholarships, where is the journey without the first step?

For a first example, let us examine our own university. According to their website, Texas A&M University - Commerce requires incoming freshman to meet one of the following criteria for automatic admission: have a 980 (Math and Critical Reading combined) on the SAT, have a 21 on the ACT, or graduate in the top 30 percent of their class. According to a report compiled by act.org over 2013, 2014, and 2015 test scores, only 44 percent of students score higher than the ACT criteria, and while the SAT requirement is a little more forgiving with 54 percent scoring above it, both scores still bar half of the applicants from gaining automatic admission.

However, our university is not diabolical for requiring these scores. For automatic admission, these criteria are quite lenient compared to Texas A&M University – College Station, the mother university of our system. According to their website, being automatically admitted requires either graduating in the top ten percent of a class or meeting the two main criteria of a 30 on the ACT or a 1300 on the SAT and graduating in the top quarter of the class.

To put that into perspective, only 15 percent of the applicants can meet those criteria.

On the other hand, some institutions do not require scores at all. Paris Junior College, according to their website, has an “open door” policy with its admissions, meaning that ensures almost everyone who can afford education can enroll. While some may feel that Paris Junior College education may be subpar compared to some four-year universities, it is a worthwhile alternative with very lenient admission requirements.

There is hope, however. Many universities offer an appeals process through which students standing on the middle ground can find traction on the slippery slope of college admissions, and others are deemphasizing the ACT and SAT scores more and more.

These are steps in the right direction, but they are steps in the journey of miles. Again, most who pick this paper will have already fretted about this and most likely have been accepted, but think to the future. Think about those that come after you. Should they simply be numbers in the system like most of us were, or should they be individual people with personalities, struggles, and accomplishments?

How did you spend your Valentine’s Day?

“I bought candy and roses and had a romantic evening.”

-Roderic Witlz

“I got a peacoat, licenses plate and slides and went bowling.”

-Shantel Norton

The East Texan Staff

Editor Managing Editor News/Social Media Editor Sports Editor Opinion Editor Student Life Editor Production Editor Photographer Photographer Copy Editor Distribution Manager Distribution Assistant Faculty Adviser Phone E-mail East Texan Website East Texan Print Issue Online

Andrew Burnes Travis Hairgrove Joseph Alderman Carter Lacy Hunter Kimble Alissa Silva Patricia Dillon Kristen Taylor Aaron Hwang Kyria Aho Sean Bates Michelle Whitehead Fred Stewart 903-886-5985 theeasttexan@gmail.com tamuceasttexan.com issuu.com/tamuc.easttexan

“I bought bae a picture frame with a picture of us in it and took him out to east.”

-Jasmine Swarn

The East Texan, official student newspaper of Texas A&M University-Commerce, is published 11 times per semester during the Fall and Spring by students including journalism students in reporting classes. Content is solely the responsibility of the student staff and writers. The comments and views expressed in The East Texan, in print or online, do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of other students, staff, faculty, administration, or the Board of Trustees. The East Texan is located in Room113 of the Journalism Building. Single copies of The East Texan are free, additional copies are available in The East Texan offices for an additional 25 cents each.

“My boyfriend took me out to eat and Spa Caste and I bought him a watch.”

-Ariel VanZandt

Letters to the Texan Letters to the Texan are welcome and should be limited to 350 words. They may be edited for spelling, grammar and libelous and malicious statements. The East Texan reserves the right to refuse publication. Letters should be typed or emailed, must include a valid signature and contact information, and can be sent to theeasttexan@gmail.com or PO Box 4104, Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, TX 75428.

Feb. 18, 2016

News

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Campus Carry: By the numbers

Counseling Corner

Bringing it All Back Home As

 
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Fostering Awareness in a Shattered World

Agnes Gonzalez Special Contributor With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we often tend to spread love to others and delineate ourselves from the equation of full acceptance. I am often amazed at the amount of attention that one might deflect upon others needs and desires, yet s/he is willing to forgo their own basic needs according Maslow’s hierarchy. Suffering in silence from an eating disorder or disordered eating is more common than you may think or imagine.

Adding the complexity of college life to the equation of an eating disorder can evoke an emotional overload and become debilitating for individuals predisposed to ED. Thoughts of abandonment, lack of understanding and a diabolical desire for perfection or acceptance is a treacherous cycle that one faces in a world of body-shaming and social norms of idealized beauty. A nip here and a tuck there are all that is needed in the fantastical world of achieving an unrealistic standard that never equates to enough.

How magical would our lives be, if in fact, we were enough? In a world were advertising thigh-gaps, slender noses, bleached skin and hair down to one’s waist, and most importantly for our males—a six pack with muscles for miles—do we forget that there is more to a person than an exterior façade emblazoned by a super-imposed fantasy for sale to the highest bidder. We are not chiseled like Ken or Barbie, yet we desire to enhance ourselves beyond the realm of an idealized standard of beauty, earmarked by media and a celebrity status quo.

The National Eating Disorder Association reports more than 11 million American men and women struggle with eating disorders, but many fail to seek treatment out of shame and/or a lack of support. The universal adage known to many within the vicious cycle of ED is that eating disorders do not discriminate. According to the Centers for Disease Control, it is estimated that 10-15 percent of people diagnosed with anorexia or bulimia are male. Additionally, as many as 10 percent of college women suffer from an eating disorder.

Regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation, anyone is susceptible to an eating disorder; in fact, individuals are biologically predisposed to an eating disorder based upon genetics and previous behaviors. Some previous behaviors include 35% of individuals diagnosed with an eating disorder also experienced dependence on alcohol or abuse of other drugs.

In an effort to advocate for a positive body image and provide support for those suffering with ED, recognize the warning signs that may indicate that your friend or loved one has an eating disorder. Remember, the impact of an Eating Disorder affects the entire support system which includes: roommates, family members, friends, and educators. Should you have a concern for a friend, roommate, or family member suffering in silence with an eating disorder, consider intervening by: t 0êFSJOH UP XBML XJUI UIFN UP UIF VOJWFSTJUZ $PVOseling Center to seek help. t 4FU BTJEF UJNF UP UBML BOE HFOVJOFMZ MJTUFO XJUIPVU judgment or any form of condemnation. t "WPJE iZPVw TUBUFNFOUT XIFO FYQSFTTJOH ZPVS DPODFSO GPS UIFN 'PS FYBNQMF BWPJE TBZJOH i:PV KVTU OFFE UP FBU w 3FQMBDF ZPVS SFTQPOTFT XJUI i*w UP DPOWFZ XPSSZ Intervention and a positive support system are integral to the overall well-being and quality of life for your loved one, friend or family member. Be aware, avoid self-loathing behaviors and provide a strong system of support. If you are interested in an upcoming screening, then please join the Counseling Center on February 24, 2016, from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the RSC, Atrium.

Intervene when you recognize the following behaviors: t $POTJTUFOUMZ MFBWJOH UIF UBCMF XJUIJO UFO NJOVUFT after eating a meal t 4UJSSJOH PS QMBZJOH XJUI GPPE SBUIFS UIBO FBUJOH t 4LJQQJOH NFBMT DPOTJTUFOUMZ t &YFSDJTJOH NPSF UIBO IPVST B EBZ NPSF UIBO 4-5 days a week t *OPSEJOBUF BNPVOUT PG DPOWFSTBUJPO BCPVU GPPE weight, the body, and calorie intake t $POTJTUFOUMZ UJSFE PS GBUJHVFE Additional Resources: National Eating Disorder Awareness: https://www.neda. org Binge Eating Disorders Awareness: https://www.beda. org

PAGE 4

Campus

FEB. 18, 2016

Field House Free for All Travis Hairgrove Managing Editor For financially strapped college students, getting something for free is great and wonderful in and of itself. But a chance to win additional scholarship money by participating in on-court contests does more than sweeten the existing pot for any A&M-Commerce student who loves watching their Lions Basketball teams play (games are always free to attend with a current student I.D.).

The scholarship giveaways, though, are just one small part of Lion Athletics’ “Fill the Field House” promotional event, for which Saturday’s matchup against the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds (Feb. 20) is free for anyone and everyone to go, regardless of affiliation with the university.

Director of Athletics Tim McMurray cites a conversation he had toward the end of last semester as the point at which the idea for the event took root.

“Dr. John Humphreys, the Dean of the College of Business and I were discussing concepts for improving the marketing, game atmosphere and fan experience during a [Christmas] holiday reception at the president’s home,” McMurray said. “He had a vision to help sell out the Feb. 20 game. We agreed on a discounted group ticket purchase and set the wheels in motion to market it.”

Once that seed began to sprout, it grew into one of the more aggressive components of an

“extensive marketing plan” to get surrounding communities in Commerce, Sulphur Springs and Greenville more engaged in Lion Athletics.

“Since arriving in mid-October, I have made a number of observations about opportunities to improve our outreach and engagement efforts on campus and in the surrounding communities,” McMurray said. “This is an excellent launching point for us to introduce these initiatives, because we are marketing a free opportunity. There is no better value than that.

“Specifically, we are combining a variety of digital and social media messages with grassroots engagement within the communities as well as traditional media outreach,” McMurray detailed. “We are also relying on assistance from our Student Activities and Alumni Relations Offices. They have been terrific partners.

Overall, we are pleased but not yet satisfied with our efforts.”

While a bigger, more thunderously loud crowd at this Saturday’s game will be a welcome morale booster for our men’s and women’s basketball teams, McMurray believes that the College of Business’ collaboration in the orchestrating of Fill the Field House is a prelude to things to come to further support Lion Athletics.

“Moving forward, each sport will have a comprehensive marketing, engagement and sales plan,” McMurray said. “Softball [marketing campaign planning] for this spring is near completion and will be released by mid-February. All of our marketing plans – football, volleyball, and soccer – for fall sports will be cre-

PHOTO COURTESY/R EBECCA MULLER

ated this spring and have accountability metrics tied to them. We aren’t where we need to be yet, but we are making progress.

“We are also pleased to have expanded an excellent relationship with Health and Human Performance within the College of Education. This is allowing us to engage more with

sports management majors relative to internships, practicum hours, and volunteer opportunities. It will allow us to create a true ‘Lion Street Team’ concept. The more ambassadors we have, the more opportunities we have to tell our story.”

Recycle Reduce Reuse Liliana Vasquez Staff Writer Commerce Cares Recycling is partnering up with Texas A&M-Commerce to offer a new collection location in the parking lot on Campbell street at walnut street in Commerce.

This will take place the first Saturday of each month, 9:00am-1:00a.m.

Susan Lampe, director of undergraduate advising for the college of business and coordinator for Commerce Cares Recycling, explained that Commerce Cares Recycling is a community based effort that started about six years ago. The first Saturday of every month, members of their staff helps people unload their cars with recyclable material as well as providing important information on recycling.

The Commerce Cares Recycling location used to be at the City waste water plant but due to the amount of rain Commerce received a while back, the treatment plant kept flooding.

It was common interest that brought both programs together.

Lampe said “the new location is a much better location. Its more accessible to people and there are no more worries about it flooding anymore”.

Kathy McGrath, head of residential living

and learning and assistant director of hall operations, coordinates the recycling on campus. She said that the campus currently recycles close to a ton of recycling material per month.

McGrath said “With Commerce and the university working together, I think that we have a better chance of broadening the acknowledgment of recycling and getting more people involved.

Lampe said that although Commerce Cares Recycling is a community based organization, lately they have been picking up a lot of volunteers from the university, Honors College and Leo Teach kids that need to have community service hours. She said “I think we’ve been getting great support and that’s another benefit of us working together, the university and the townspeople. Together we’re going to come up with a much better result” said Lampe.

McGrath believes that recycling is going to take an effect on the cities landfills. She also added that the university and the residence life are checking in to sustainability, and that they are working on getting refillable water fountains in all of the residential life buildings this semester. Along with that they are looking at getting new lighting and doing a lot more than just recycling.

PHOTO COURTESY/K EVIN JAAKO

Features

PAGE 5

FEB. 18, 2016

The Sound of Music Joseph Alderman News Editor We may still be grip of winter, but music is already in the air, at least for members of the Texas A&M University – Commerce Music Department.

Several members of the department spent part of last week in San Antonio for the Texas Music Educators’ Association 2016 convention, a fourday event featuring performances, clinics, and exhibitors from Texas colleges and professional organizations. Jimmy Clark, assistant professor of trombone and 25 year veteran of the music department, traveled with students and other faculty members to the event, with which he has had a great deal of experience.

“I was in the all-state band for four years in high school,” Clark said, “and then I’ve been involved with it when I was in [University of] North Texas, I was in the One O’clock Lab Band. We played in San Antonio, and since I’ve been here I’ve been down numerous times in all different number of capacities.”

The TMEA is a membership-based organization that describes itself as “an organization of over 10,000 school music educators dedicated to promoting excellence in music education,” and provides a number of opportunities for student musicians at their conventions.

“It’s a huge convention of music people, strings

vocalists, and all the band instruments.” Clark said. “[…]Then exhibitors, all the major instrument manufacturers, music publishing houses, all those types of companies exhibit at this convention. There are numerous clinics, honor-bands, honor-choirs, honor-string orchestras, high school and junior high. It’s a huge convention, probably well over 10,000 people at that convention.

Aside from instructing trombone players, Clark also leads the Trombone Choir, a group of musicians all playing the trombone, rather than a variety of instruments.

“It’s not like in band where you’ve got all the clarinets and the trumpets and the trombones have to sit there and wait their turn,” Clark said. “In trombone choir, they’re the whole deal. So it’s a lot of playing, much more than we normally

“From my perspective, that puts the TAMU-C Department of Music, and in particular the trombone studio, as one of the leading trombone studios in the state.”

Trombone Choir Photo Courtesy / www.tamucmusic.wix.com

DOWN

do. And it’s great for the students to have to do that much playing and also for the young ones to have to stand beside and older one and have to keep up with them. It pushes them to be better players.”

The choir plays a variety of music styles, beyond the religious music for which trombone choirs were originally developed.

Several members of the choir attended the convention, and even were given the opportunity to perform with a well-renowned, professional trombonist.

“So its evolved from purely church music to now, where some of the pieced we’re doing on this program are transcriptions from an opera, one is a transcription from a John Williams movie, one of them is a jazz piece, one is a solo piece where I’m playing, another on is a jazz piece with the whole choir and Tom Malone, the trombone player from the Letterman show, is going to meet with us in San Antonio and play with us.”

Despite the pressure of performing in front of literally thousands of attendants and fellow musicians, Clark feels that the groups TMEA performance was exceptional.

“The TMEA concert with the TAMU-C Trombone Choir came off beautifully,” Clark said. “The group played the best that I have heard them play, and that was in front of a very large crowd. When you play at TMEA it is not like playing concerts other places. All of the people there are musicians, many are band directors, some the leading directors in the state, that have listened critically to music all of their lives. And they know what they are hearing!”

Aside from benefitting the students, the convention is also seen as a recruiting opportunity for the university.

WITH THE

Jimmy Clark Clark has been with the music department at TAMU-C since 1991, and has been involved with TMEA for decades.

“We have a booth set up where high school students, the all-state students, can come by and visit and see what’s happening on the campus, see what’s happening with the department, and maybe get some of them as students here,” Clark said.

In the aftermath of the convention, Clark could not be more pleased with his group’s performance.

“I have heard from hundreds of people, friends, colleagues, alumni, and other trombone teachers across the state, either in person or through social media, all saying that the program was very good,” Clark said. “Nothing but superlatives from lots of people. From my perspective, that puts the TAMU-C Department of Music, and in particular the trombone studio, as one of the leading trombone studios in the state.

I could not be more pleased with the results of the program!”

SICKNESS

OFFICIALS’ CONCERNS GROW AS FOREIGN VIRUS COMES STATESIDE Kelly Fulton Reporter The most common reason college students will visit their local health center for is testing for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy. With this statistic in mind, it’s no wonder that the recent developments concerning the Zika virus might cause some concern for college campuses.

For years, the Zika virus was thought to spread only through mosquito bites and blood contact. The Center for Disease Control has since announced that it is possible for the virus to be transmitted through sexual activity.

Although Dallas is listed among major cities where the Zika virus cases have been confirmed, both health officials for Dallas County and Texas A&M University – Commerce have not declared this to be an epidemic.

Ethan Derek Preas, Director – University Project Officer for Texas A&M University – Commerce, sent an email to faculty and staff shortly after the CDC’s initial press release. In this email, Preas relayed the CDC’s information on the few cases of the virus in Dallas and said, “There has NO report of local cases [in Commerce].”

There is no vaccine or cure for the Zika virus at this time. Doctors suggest that those infected get plenty of rest, drink fluids, take acetaminophen medicines (such as Tylenol) to help reduce fever, and avoid aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs.

The CDC ‘s list of symptoms for the Zika virus include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). Symptoms are generally mild, lasting from several days to a week. Hospitalization for severe disease is uncommon for Zika virus sufferers.

That being said, the effects of the virus can be much more se-

vere for pregnant women. In early February, the CDC released Zika virus. a statement from a team of researchers whom declared, “Sexual While there is no epidemic heading towards Northeast Texas, transmission of Zika virus is possible, and is of particular concern the Zika virus still poses a very serious threat to pregnant women during pregnancy.” Pregnant women who contract the Zika virus who might contract the virus. If someone believes they may have may run the risk of passing the virus to their babies. been exposed to the virus, they should contact their doctor for Additionally, the CDC stated, “There have been reports of a testing and avoid having unprotected sex. serious birth defect of the brain called microcephaly in babies of Preas says, “Texas A&M University – Commerce will continue mothers who had Zika virus while pregnant.” According to Mayo to monitor the situation and provide updates regularly during this Clinic, Microcephaly (my-kroh-SEF-uh-lee) is a, “rare neurologi- situation.” For more information on the Zika virus and STD precal condition in which an infant’s head is significantly smaller vention, visit www.cdc.gov than the heads of other children of the same age and sex.”

The CDC has issued interim guidelines for pregnant women to help prevent the spread of the Zika virus. These recommendations include, “Men who reside in or have traveled to an area of active Zika virus transmission who have a pregnant partner should abstain from sexual activity or consistently and correctly use condoms during sex…for the duration of the pregnancy. Pregnant women should discuss their male partner’s potential exposures to mosquitoes and history of Zika-like illness.”

Dallas County health officials announced the first known sexual transmission of Zika virus on February 2nd, just two weeks after the CDC issued the first warnings of the virus. The county health department said in a statement, “The patient was infected with the virus after having sexual contact with an ill individual who returned from a country where Zika virus is present.” The two patients have since made a full recovery.

On Wednesday, February 10th, Dallas County Health and Human Services officials confirmed a third case of the Zika virus. A Dallas resident tested positive for the viMosquito Menace rus after a recent trip to Honduras. DCHHS advises that Previously mosquitoes were considered the primary cause of Zika virus, residents in Dallas and surrounding areas should avoid but now sexual contact has been found to be a risk. mosquito bites and sexual contact with a person who has

Entertainment Deadpool slashes records, heads

PAGE 6

FEB. 18, 2016

Soundtrack

Burnes’ Turns 1. Guns n’ Roses “One in a Million”

PHOTO COURTESY/YOUTUBE .COM

Andrew Burnes Editor Quick sidenote. When I was a much younger man and regularly purchasing video games, I remember buying a title called Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. Boasting rave reviews, the game allowed up to four players to pick a Marvel Superhero each and work together to destroy legions of enemies that spanned the entire Marvel universe. Growing up, I wasn’t a big comic book reader, so I only knew the characters that had movies named after them like Spider-Man, Hulk and Iron Man. But I still needed a fourth team member. Standing in the back on the character collection screen was a dude that looked similar to Spider-Man that I’d never seen before. He wore red and black, had white eyes, and most impressively to my adolescent mind, was adorned with two katana blades. His name was the icing on the badass cake: Deadpool. Otherwise known as the fourth member of my Marvel Superhero Squad of Awesomeness.

Long story short, the game kinda bored me and I didn’t play it for very long, so ending my relationship with my smartmouthed, blade-weilding friend until the seemingly never-ending hype for his newest forray into relevance launched with a

series of semi-clever, always potty-mouthed ad campaign. It was easy to overlook: December’s The Force Awakens sort of took the steam out of everything around it, but as I stood in the foyer of the Terrell theatre on December 26 waiting for my grandpa to hobble out of the public restroom as my cousin talked my ear off about how awesome the visual effects of Star Wars are, all I could see was Deadpool everywhere.

There he was as a chair daring spectators to “sit on this.” There he was on the wall. And that wall. And the roof. The guy wasn’t hurting for publicity.

Considering my deep, somewhat unnecessary hatred for stupid comedies, I had my reservations about being dragged off to see this seemingly ridiculous Avenger reject.

Ridiculous it was. Silly, indeed. Hilarious even. But also one of the most brutal, gruesome films this side of the Pacific.

Director Tim Miller (otherwise credited as some asshole that got paid too much in the opening credits) had one hell of a mountain to climb to impress the critics in addition to the drunk, average, triggerhappy American movie-goer, but somehow, through the magic of disjointedness, hilarity, and violence, he pulls it off as effortlessly as Deadpool pulls the trigger of one of his many trusty handguns. Through a series of

sudden flashbacks, unadulterated violence, and a Ray Charles-loving blind ex-crack addict, the simple narrative of “superhero saves the day and gets the girl” seems fresh and exciting. But let’s not give all the credit to Miller; Ryan Renolds surpasses all of the expectations here with so much sarcasm and insults he makes Spider-Man seem like Dr. DeMars, while simultaneously managing to portray a scarred (in more ways than one), self-conscious, haunted everyman.

And painless mutant supervillain Ajax (Ed Skrein) is so despicable, even I couldn’t like him. Sleeper star Stefan Kapičić as the XMen’s Colossus (the studio couldn’t afford anyone more noteworthy) threatens to steal the show in every scene his massive frame stomps through. Also, kudos to Miller for giving Stan Lee his best cameo yet as a creepy, old, strip club MC (eat you heart out, Skrillex).

The real reason Deadpool is a winner isn’t the cookie-cutter narrative that supports it; it’s the innovating way it’s portrayed. I’m the first to admit that I’m sick to death of all of these Marvel comic book blockbusters (for God’s sake, this is technically the canonically eighth X-Men movie), but if they can continue to find new cruxes to sink their supersized swords into, I and millions of others will gladly tag along.

Guns n’ Roses’ 1988 cash-in still among the all-time greats Andrew Burnes Editor A year and a half removed from the release of the greatest straight-ahead Rock and Roll record of the ‘80s, Guns N’ Roses had finally hit the big time. With the explosive sales of Appetite for Destruction in mid-1988, the Gn’R fever was at its peak, and a new legion of fans for the biggest band in the world were like addicts looking for their next fix.

Enter Lies, a blatant cash-in that still sounds better than 95 percent of the entire history of the musical landscape of America.

Made up of the four-song EP Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide which the band recorded prior to the release of Appetite for Destruction and four acoustic tracks recorded in rapid succession, Lies captures Guns n’ Roses at their most raw and intimate while simultaneously creating a juxtaposition not unlike what Bob Dylan did in ‘65 with Bringing it All Back Home.

A fascinating combination of studio tricks, covers, and aggression, the Live ?!*@ Like a Suicide portion of the album is a natural continuation of what the band did so well on their major label debut. Studio recordings in disguise (the band pumped in huge crowd noises from a decidedly non-Gn’R venue: a ‘70s Rock festival called Texxas Jam), they still sound like they were ripped right from the stage in front of thousands of crazed fans, a prophetic wish that had finally become a reality. While opener “Reckless Life,” which was originally recorded by Axl’s original band Hollywood Rose, lacks the direction of Guns’ finest moments, it meshes well with the next three which stand alongside Appetite’s choice cuts without so much as a blemish. The band was already displaying their knack for picking the best material for their covers; Rose Tattoo’s “Nice Boys” fits Axl’s persona so closely that it sounds like it couldn’t have come

from anyone else, and Aerosmith’s “Mama Kin” is a perfect exemplification of what was behind Gn’R and helps spur appreciation for what they later became. Groovy original “Move to the City” also harkens back to the band’s initial inspirations, and stands alone as the only Gn’R original that didn’t get a proper studio recording.

The acoustic side of Lies was the first time audiences ever heard the band in a different sphere, offering new layers to what would become one of the most complicated and versatile Rock bands of all time in the years ahead.

Of the four, “Patience” was destined to become the band’s biggest hit on the album; endlessly singable, like a lullaby for broken hearts, it peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard Top 100. It was also recorded with the least amount of work; the band literally sat around the recorder in a circle with instruments in hand and recorded live, like weary travelers around a campfire. Once again, Axl’s voice is the show-stealer, but as is typical for his perfectionist mentality, he hated the live-recorded vocals. They were too husky and scratchy for his liking due to touring on Appetite for Destruction, aural representation of the im-

pact that record had on Rose’s voice.

“Patience” may have been the hit, but “Used to Love Her” is the easy winner for best song on the album. Inspired by typical, fist-clenching ‘80s ballads heard on the radio about broken-hearted crooners that were done wrong by a woman (which Izzy couldn’t stand), the song became a sing-along middle finger for those ending a bad relationship. Even so, the track technically isn’t about a human woman at all; Slash later revealed that the true subject matter was one of Axl’s old dogs. “Used to Love Her’s” only real competition is controversial closer “One in a Million,” which played like Axl Rose flying off the handle and pissing off everyone he could all at once. As is the case with all great antagonists, that turned out to be pretty much everyone. Written by Rose alone with just the bottom two guitar strings, the prophetic tone only serves to deepen the song’s inherently offensive nature. Even Axl himself admitted that he had no inhibitions about what he was doing: “It’s been such a long time since I knew right from wrong/ It’s all a means to an end now/I Keep it moving along.” Kosher or not, the track fits the bill as a perfect clincher; the last verse, with Axl’s crescendoing delivery, is one of the most gripping moments in the band’s history.

At the point of Lies’ release, Guns N’ Roses probably could’ve re-released Appetite for Destruction again with 12 alternate versions and it still would’ve gone platinum. Instead they took what was initially supposed to be nothing more than a cashin EP and created arguably the greatest album of the year. The record flies in the face of the band’s history and should only really be a footnote, but like everything else from Guns n’ Roses it captures the spotlight and steals the show. Because they’re that damn good.

Constroversial as it may be, there’s no denying that this simple, Sermon on the Mount of paranoia and insanity straight from the most crazed Rock star of all time serves as one of Gn’R’s most gripping moments in time. Never before had the band approached something as nuanced as this acoustic, Folky, almost Dylan-esque propheteering (yes, I invented that), while simultaneously creating one of the most infectiously groovy, blatantly offensive middle fingers to the rest of the world ever recorded. There’s probably a reason they never did again, but it makes this rumbling closer one of a kind.

2. Wilco “Poor Places”

PHOTO COURTESY/WIKIPEDIA.COM

With well-above-stellar albums released regularly by the Indie heroes consistently over the course of the last decade, it’s easy to forget just how revolutionary Yankee Hotel Foxtrot really was. It wasn’t just beautiful, understated and haunting (that album art alone is legendary), it was a collection of some of the absolute greatest music ever. This piano driven love-stricken soul-stirrer isn’t necessarily the best, because it would be impossible to choose just one, but it sure as hell steals the thunder of whatever came before it on your Spotify playlist.

3. Radiohead “Fake Plastic Trees”

PHOTO COURTESY/YOUTUBE .COM

There’s little doubt in my mind that Radiohead is one of the absolute greatest bands of all time. Their constant reinvention has blown minds across decades; each release from Thom Yorke and company feels like a big deal.

Some of their best work, however, comes at their most basic form and there’s no better example than their greatest song: an aching, poetic reverie on a forbidden love that can never be realized. The band has never sounded more beautiful, and when the song climaxes with a wash of harmonic guitar noise as Yorke reaches his emotional peak, there’s an argument that this is the greatest song ever written. Ever.

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FEB. 18, 2016

PAGE 7

numbersgame 10-0

hotshot 8:22:94

The record of the West Texas A&M softball team. The Lady Buffs hae a .429 team batting average, tops in the LSC.

Time it took West Texas A&M’s Geoffrey Kipchumba to complete his 3000- meter race.

MEN’S & WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Four take home weekly acclaim

Cameron leads the Lone Star Conference men's race at 8-3 with three games remaining as teams compete for the league title and postseason seeding.

On the women's side, West Texas A&M tops the league at 11-2. The Lady Buffs are 22-2 overall and have won their last three contests.

LSC play includes eight men's games and 10 women's games this week.

The LSC champion will be the regular season winner determined by league games, while the postseason tournament winner is designated as LSC Tournament Champion and earns the conference's automatic qualification.

The LSC men have a 120-69 overall record so far this season. In the NCAA South Central Region, the men's teams are currently 13-9 combined versus Heartland Conference teams and 12-8 against the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

The LSC women are 115-93 overall. The women's squads are currently 20-14 combined against the Heartland, and 8-6 versus RMAC teams, which

are the other conferences in the NCAA South Central Region. PLAYERS OF THE WEEK Men’s offensive goes to Jordan Stevens, Midwestern State University, SR, Guard, Colombia, Mo., Rock Bridge HS (Duquesne) Stevens poured in 20-or-more points in back-to-back games to spur No. 25-ranked Midwestern State to wins over LSC-leading West Texas A&M and Eastern New Mexico last week.

The 6-foot, 190-pound senior from Columbia, Mo. erupted for 28 points on 10-or-19 shooting with three 3-pointers while dishing out six assists and making three steals as MSU snapped a four-game skid with an 84-75 win over West Texas A&M Wednesday night at D.L. Ligon Coliseum. The Buffs rode a seven-game winning into Wichita Falls as MSU completed the season sweep.

Stevens kept the hot hand Saturday at Eastern New Mexico splashing in 20 points on 8-of-12 shooting with four 3-pointers while dishing out six assists in a 110-62 victory. The margin of victory was the largest ever for MSU in a LSC game as the Mustangs also scored

their most points in a league game.

Men’s defense goes toThomas Tshikaya, Angelo State University, JR, Forward, Chennevieres, France, Pratt Community College Tshikaya led the Angelo State defense in its two solid wins this week. The big man pulled down a team high 13 boards in its game against Texas A&M-Commerce and played a big part in defeating the Lions for the first time on their home court since 2008. He also led the team with 20 points during this game, which earned him a second double-double on the season, and came away with a block and a steal. In ASU’s game against Tarleton State earlier in the week recorded a team leading three blocks and grabbed four boards.

Women’s offensive goes to Michaela Neuhaus, West Texas A&M University, SR, Guard, Lone Tree, Colo., Highlands Ranch HS Neuhaus had her 10th and 11thstraight games in double figures as the Lady Buffs won two games this week.

She went 11 of 20 from the field (.550) and 6 of 11 from beyond the arc (.545).

Neuhaus was key in the Lady Buffs’

73-69 win over Texas Woman’s on Saturday as she had a game-high 18 points, six assists and four steals with the last steal sealing the game with less than four seconds left. She buried a teamhigh four triples in the game. Neuhaus had 12 points, four assists and three boards against Midwestern State.

Women’s defensive goes to Breanna Fuller, Tarleton State University, SR, Forward, Huntsville, Texas, Huntsville HS Fuller put together the best week of her Tarleton career, capped off by a career best seven blocks in Saturday’s game against Texas A&M-Kingsville to stretch the TexAnns’ winning streak to five. Fuller grabbed 10 rebounds in the last two games for an average of 5.0 per game and recorded 70-percent of Tarleton’s total blocked shots for the week with seven. She also averaged 11.5 points per game, including a team-high 13 points in Wednesday’s road win at Angelo State. Fuller anchored the TexAnn defense that held Angelo State and Texas A&M-Kingsville to just .325 shooting from the floor and 51.5 points per game.

men’shoops Team LSC Overall West Texas A&M 7-4 19-8 Cameron 8-3 15-8 Angelo State 7-4 19-4 Midwestern State 7-4 18-5 Tarelton State 6-5 17-7 A&M- Commerce 5-6 16-8 Eastern New Mexico 2-9 10-12 A&M- Kingsville 2-9 10-12

Individual Leaders Points Player

Avg./G

Rebounds Player

Avg./G

Assists Player

Avg./G

Steals Player

Avg./G

David Chavlovich, WT .................... 20.2 EJ Reed, TSU ................................ 18.3 Tre Bennett, ASU ........................... 16.6 Stedman Allen, ASU ...................... 16.5 Bryant Crowder, A&M-C ................ 16.2

Khapri Alston, MSU ..........................9.5 Lawrence Domingo, ENMU ..............7.9 Troy Jones, A&M-K ...........................7.9 EJ Reed, TSU ...................................7.7 Omari Gudul, ASU ............................7.6

Michael Hardge, TSU........................4.8 Tre Bennett, ASU ..............................4.8 Jeremy Jones, A&M-C .....................4.2 JV Long, CAM ..................................4.0 Anthony Adams, A&M- C..................3.8

Bretson McNeal MSU ...................... 1.9 JV Long, CAM ................................. 1.7 Michael Hardge, CAM...................... 1.6 Anthony Adams, A&M-C.................. 1.5 Tre Bennet, ASU .............................. 1.4

Schedule February 27 Midwestern State vs. Cameron Angelo state vs. A&M- Kingsville Tarleton State vs. A&M- Commerce West Texas A&M vs. Eastern New Mexico

March 2-5 Lone Star Conference Championship

women’shoops Team West Texas A&M Angelo State Texas Woman’s Cameron Tarleton State A&M Commerce East. New Mexico Midwestern State A&M- Kingsville

LSC Overall 11-2 22-2 9-3 16-6 8-5 18-7 6-6 12-9 8-5 14-9 7-6 14-11 5-8 10-13 3-10 4-19 0-12 5-17

Individual Leaders

West Texas A&M University guard Michaela Neuhaus earned women’s offensive of the week. Neuhaus had 12 points, four assists and three boards against Midwestern State.

PHOTO COURTESY/ L ONESTARCONFERENCE .ORG

SOFTBALL

MSU’S Vinson, TSU’s Freyman tabbed The 2016 season is underway with seven of the nine Lone Star Conference teams in action. Angelo State and West Texas A&M remain unbeaten this season with a full schedule of non-conference games set for this week. LSC teams are playing a single round-robin schedule with a four games against each league opponent. The four-game series shall consist of a doubleheader Friday and a doubleheader Saturday. The overall LSC Champion will be the team(s) with the best winning percentage in regular-season

conference games, while the winner of the postseason championship will be recognized as LSC Tournament Champion and receive the league’s automatic qualification into NCAA postseason. The single-elimination championship will be played April 29-30, at the No. 1 seed. LSC softball teams are 35-17 overall this season.

In the NCAA South Central Region, the group is currently 15-4 combined versus Heartland Conference teams and 7-2 against the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.

PHOTO COURTESY/L ONESTARCONFERENCE .ORG

Midwestern State University hitter Katelyn Vinson (left) currently leads the LSC with a .667 batting average and ranks second with 16 hits. Tarleton State University pitcher Haley Freyman leads LSC with 23 strikeouts.

PLAYERS OF THE WEEK HITTER- Katelyn Vinson, Midwestern State University, SR, 3B, Southlake, Texas Vinson put together an impressive performance at the Gulf Coast Invitational last weekend in Gulf Shores, Ala., making her return to the field after missing the previous three contests due to injury. Vinson batted .813 in five games, recording 13 hits in 16 at bats. The Southlake native finished with an .857 on base percentage and a .813 slugging percentage while adding a team-best six runs and five walks. Vinson went 3-for-4 against the nation’s top-ranked team in North Georgia, also contributing two runs and an RBI. She also batted 4-for-4 against Rockhurst in her first appearance back while batting 3-for-3 against North Alabama, a squad receiving votes in the NFCA preseason poll. Vinson currently leads the LSC with a .667 batting average and ranks second with 16 hits.

PITCHER- Haley Freyman, Tarleton State University, SO, RHP, N. Richland Hills, Texas Freyman is off to a dominant start in the circle for Tarleton. The sophomore right-hander pitched in six of Tarleton’s first seven games and has five wins on her record. She currently leads the LSC with 23 strikeouts. Freyman has pitched against all three teams who finished last season with over 30 wins – East Central, Lubbock Christian, and No. 12 St. Mary’s – and boasts an ERA of 0.00 in 17.2 innings of work with a record of 3-0, 11 strikeouts, and a .164 opponent batting average against those teams. Freyman currently leads the Lone Star Conference with 23 strikeouts, including nine looking, and five wins. With an ERA of 0.41 in 34.0 innings of work this season, Freyman’s ERA is the best in the league among pitchers who threw more than 15.0 innings last week.

Points Player

Avg./G

Rebounds Player

Avg./G

Assists Player

Avg./G

Steals Player

Avg./G

Taylor Dorsey, ASU ........................ 16.5 Bailey Wipff, TSU ........................... 14.0 Dayla Threatt, CAM ....................... 13.8 Kassandra Harris, ENMU ............... 13.1 Michaela Neuhaus, WT .................. 12.8

Erin Maxwell, TWU............................8.2 Amari Jones, A&M-C ........................8.0 Ikpeaku Iwobi, TSU...........................7.9 Maddison Wild, WT ..........................7.0 Taylor Dorsey, ASU ...........................6.3

Sasha Watson, WT ...........................5.0 Taylor Dorsey, ASU ...........................3.9 Michaela Neuhaus, WT .....................3.5 Shomari Harris, A&M-C ....................3.5 Morgan Ashmore, TSU .....................3.3

Madison McLain, WT ....................... 2.2 Sarah Stinnett, ENM ........................ 2.1 Sasha Watson, WT .......................... 2.0 Michaela Neuhaus, WT .................... 1.8 Allie Decker, WT .............................. 1.7

Schedule February 18 Texas Woman’s vs. A&M- Kingsville

February 20 A&M- Kingsville vs. Cameron Eastern New Mexico vs. A&MCommerce Angelo State vs. Midwestern State West Texas A&M vs. Tarleton State

February 21 Angelo State vs. Texas Woman’s

February 24 Cameron vs. Texas Woman’s

2016softball Team CONF Overall West Texas A&M 0-0 10-0 A&M- Commerce 0-0 8-1 Tarleton State 0-0 9-3 Angelo State 0-0 8-3 Cameron 0-0 8-5 East. New Mexico 0-0 4-3 A&M- Kingsville 0-0 4-3 Midwestern State 0-0 9-7 Texas Woman’s 0-0 9-7

Sports

PAGE 8

A&M-Commerce

starting

to

feel

like

home

to

new

director

of

athletics

FEB. 18, 2016

Charging through the records

Hannah Clark Staff writer New athletic director Tim McMurray has been in office one hundred days and has something to say about his time here at Texas A&M Commerce.

“It’s got the potential,” McMurray said, “it wouldn’t be sincere of me to say that this has been the best place I have worked but it certainly has the potential, and a lot of that has to do with the people.”

McMurray has worked at several universities over the years, including SMU, UNT, Maryland and (his alma mater) Lamar University. He remembers his time at Lamar fondly, even though it was an experience where he lacked resources and was short staffed.

“I told them in the interview that if I had just gone to work at SMU and Maryland, I might have not been the right fit here, but some of my fondest memories in the profession are what we accomplished at Lamar,” McMurray said, “When you decide where you are going to finish your degree you are making a forty year decision, not just a four year one.”

McMurray said he knew he had made the right decision coming to A&M-Commerce, not only after winning the back to back conference football championship but also because of one night in December.

“That ‘aha moment’ came december 18th. It was the student athlete graduation, and having 28 graduates, it was pretty impressive,” McMurray said. “That was pretty special getting to shake those 28 hands.”

McMurray has some expectations and has set out a five year plan and strategic vision to accomplish them.

Lions put up a good ght

against

the

Javelinas

The Belles snap a Lions winning streak for the second time this season after winning Saturday’s duel, 72-64.

Guard Gabby Scott exceeds 500 points in her career as a Lion.

Recruitment

for

Lions

Football

focuses

on

the

secondary Jasmine Baker Staff writer After much anticipation across the country, National Signing Day came and went as our football program assembled a 50-plus recruiting class exclusively from our great state of Texas. During the day coaches welcomed the new Lions to the pride on social media as recruits celebrated with family and friends at their various high schools.

Over half of our recruiting class will be receiving various academic scholarships. Powerhouse football programs such as John Tyler to Euless Trinity were represented among the recruits that signed.

In a fieldhouse classroom, community leaders, school executives and athletic personnel gathered as newly appointed Athletic Director Tim McMurray started the press conference, “It’s one of the better days because we’re undefeated.” After earning back-to-back conference titles and a decent playoff run last season, many wondered what direction Head Coach Coby Carthel and his staff would go in next with this recruiting class. He spoke in detail about finding players who wanted to be here, mentioning several

times the “local flair” of signing recruits from the area.

At one point our Associate Director of Development, Ray Garvin, inquired about Coleton Lasseter, a massive recruit at 6’7” 240lbs. from Hallsville High School. Coach Carthel points out that a few recruits, like Lasseter, are legacies having had brothers and/or fathers previously play football here.

Coach Carthel also stated how his program decided to focus more on the secondary with this class and that they didn’t pick up a quarterback; they’ll sign one next class. On Twitter, Secondary Coach Darren Garrigan confidently boasted, “We gonna have the best secondary in the nation hands down.”

When asked about his first Signing Day at TAMUC, McMurray simply said, “We’ve added quality to our quantity and the days of being the team you play at homecoming is over. “ Coach Carthel emphasized, “We wanted to sign two deep at every position...there’s strength in numbers in Division 2.”

Numbers we definitely have, one can only hope they will bring Texas A&M – Commerce football a three-peat and more.

THE E AST TEXAN PHOTO/ H ANNAH CLARK

Kourtlynd Buggs-Torres Sports writer The Lions played the Texas A&M University Kingsville Javelinas.

The Javelinas came into the game at the bottom of LSC standings with a 1-8 record in the conference. The Lions came in off of a three game winning streak. All would think this would be an easy victory but in a season of ups and downs for the Lions this was not the case.

The first half was a very physical quarter with 24 fouls recorded only in the first half. After the Javelinas scored early on into the game they never trailed for the rest of the half. The Javelinas at point lead by 8 points with 12 minutes left , but the Lions answered with a 8-0 run that tied the game at 16-16. Both teams were neck and neck at 19 and the Javelinas turned the tide in their favor and went on a 8-1 scoring run that put them back on top. The Lions never were able to comeback trailing by 11 points twice during the first and ending the first half down 10 points.

The Lions came out in the second half determined to cut the deficit and di by five points but the Javelinas who were on fire continued to negate the lions efforts. The Javelinas went on a 19-6 run early in the quarter that the Lions were never able to recover from. The Javelinas lead by as much as 20 points in the second half but closed the game out with a 13 point lead to give them their second conference win this season.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FACEBOOK