Sept 1, 2016 by The East Texan

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Sept. 1, 2016

You are not alone

Hi-tech healing

Margot brings mayhem

Most people have found themselves in a dark place and believe they’re alone. In a column, Editor Travis Hairgrove considers the complexities of depression and suicide. Page 2

By studying, the regenerative abilities of animals like salamanders, A&M Commerce’s new Biomedical Institute of Regenerative Research is exploring ways of repairing the human body. Page 4

Despite mixed reivews, Entertainment Editor Imogene Wofford summarizes the new movie Suicide Squad and gives her take on Harley and her band of hoodlums. Page 6

CONCEALED When it comes to campus carry in residence halls, license holders are urged to keep their carry on the deep down low.

Kerry Wilson Opinion Editor Texas A&M University-Commerce will now allow licensed students to have handguns in residence halls, as a result of the recent Campus Carry law passed in 2015. A&M-Commerce’s policy states that licensed students are permitted to have handguns in their rooms as long as the guns are stored in a safe and kept away from other students. Allowing licensed students to have handguns in their rooms allows room for one question: whether or not the students with guns in residence halls must inform others of the gun’s presence. Michael Stark, director of Residential Living and Learning, said that students in possession of a concealed handgun should do just that – keep it concealed. “Basically, they can keep it a secret,” Stark said. “We can’t say ‘I need all residents to register that you have a handgun.’ So we don’t ask the questions. We should only find out about them if an issue comes up.” Stark mentioned that assumptions about whether a student has a gun cannot be made on the basis of a safe being in a room, since safes are allowed. “Any student could have a safe anyway. Just because a student has a safe in the room doesn’t mean that they automatically have a handgun,” Stark said. “The way that the law is set up, we can’t ask those questions. So I could actually have an RA who has their concealed handgun license, who has it and is on rounds. They don’t have to tell me either. It’s their right to have it. In theory, we should never know anything. Though, if I do know, that also doesn’t mean that I get to go tell everybody that you have a concealed handgun.” The thought of guns being allowed in residence halls can leave students with opinions on both extremes, seeing either

the best in the concealed carry law and others seeing the worst in it. A&M-Commerce sophomore, Tyler McCrary, sees the situation from both sides. “I think that everyone has a right to be safe first of all,” McCrary said. “I think it has a lot to do with people wanting to feel safe and then who they feel safe around in the residence hall. If they know a lot of people that they don’t feel safe around, it might add to their comfort a little bit. But, in the case of something to happen like an incident where a gun was to go off or something, the one thing I’ve been worried about is like what if people are prone to draw and have them out. I know it might be an irrational fear or something, but if there was to be an active shooter on campus and you were to walk around and see people with their guns looking around, how do you know who the bad guy is?” A&M-Commerce Junior, Tyler Townsend, views concealed carry as a good option for people who are committed to keep-

ing a safe environment. “I’m for concealed carry because if you have your permit, you probably went through a lot of classes and know quite a bit about safety and regulations,” Townsend said. “I feel like you would only use it for a good purpose and make others feel safe because you went through the work to get that permit.” With all the concerns and differing opinions, Stark said his primary focus is on the wellbeing of the students on campus. “A lot of people have different opinions on it,” Stark said. “Some folks are for it and some are against it. “Regardless of where I stand on it, my concern is always about safety. If this is what we have to do legally, then this is what we have to do legally. How do we figure out the most safe method for providing the legal requirement for students?” The A&M-Commerce policy concerning handguns on campus prohibits handguns in the Nuclear Storage room, the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Laboratory, Children’s Learning Center, Counseling Center, buildings with camps and programs, employee offices, and campus properties leased to third parties. For more information on handguns on campus, visit www. tamuc.edu/hoc.

“Basically, they can keep it a secret. We can’t say ‘I need all residents to register that you have a handgun.’ So we don’t ask the questions. We should only find out about them if an issue comes up.” -Michael Stark, Director of Residential and Learning

Opinion

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From Lion to Cub

September 1, 2016

An uncomfortable but needed discussion

Kerry Wilson Opinion Editor

Campus Comment

Welcome back Lion family! Once again the time has come for us to continue on the path toward earning a college degree and moving forward in life. For those of us who are college veterans, this journey is pretty common. We move back here from our hometowns and engage in a world of our own, making the best out of being broke and trying to figure out adulthood. For incoming freshmen, however, this transition can be one of the scariest life has to offer at this point. Trust me, it gets easier. Everyone else here was where you all are right now. College is great, really. You have all the freedom in the world. No longer do you have to listen to griping parents nagging you about being home at a certain time. In addition to that, if any of you went to a high school with a uniform dress code, like me, forget that here. That’s right, you can actually wear those open toed shoes, jeans with holes, and a tie-dye shirt everyday if you want! But wash your clothes, please. What you all need to remember is that nobody is going to baby you constantly – a concept that took a while for me to grasp personally. The obvious example would have to be class work. Remember in high school whenever you forgot to do an assignment, went to the teacher, and they would mercifully extend the due date just for you? Well, in college it is safe to put that practice to rest. Do not get me wrong, however. The professors here at Texas A&M University-Commerce are first-class. As much as they realize we are adults and should be held to a higher standard, they are human as well. Last year when my grandmother was in the hospital, I went to one of my professors and asked if I could take a test, which was scheduled on a Friday, on another day. Initially, I expected the answer to be a simple no. However, this professor graciously allowed me to take the test earlier and miss that Friday’s class. Professors expect more from adults – and yes, freshmen, you all are adults. But, they also understand whenever things happen. To stay on the safe side, though, just try to get your stuff done when it is due. Another thing to remember is that no matter how tempted you are to put off something and relax, do not do it. Procrastination seems as if it is there to be a best friend to you. This, of course, is a lie. The amount of times I have been in a rush to finish an assignment because I procrastinated are too many to count – probably even too much for this column. If you all think I am over exaggerating, you all are wrong. I remember one time I waited until two hours before a class was supposed to start to write a paper. I ended up finishing and printing the paper five minutes before class started, and I still had to walk to class to turn it in on time. Moral of the story: do not procrastinate – ever. That is just my advice to you all. It is advice that should be taken on my end as well, as I have procrastinated all week in writing this column and designing my page. As far as food goes, get a meal plan. In my opinion, A&MCommerce’s cafeteria food is probably the best I have had since I have been in college. There is a variety of different foods being offered in the cafeteria at all times. Not only that, but it saves you a ton of money in the end. I decided to be “smart” one semester and skip out on a meal plan. Big mistake for my wallet life. Once you all start walking down this road and discover who you are and what you want to be in life, these concepts of adulthood will come naturally without a problem. But, as you get started on this journey, remember one thing: do not forget to enjoy yourself responsibly, and everyone’s best friend, procrastination, is actually a monster ready to devour you. Welcome to the A&M-Commerce family.

Travis Hairgrove Editor Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely that of the writer, who is not a licensed professional counselor, and therefore they should not be considered qualified psychological advice.

The rumor had been spreading since his death in late April, that A&MCommerce’s beloved leader, President Dan Jones had taken his own life. Two months ago on July 6, police reports were released and The Dallas Morning News reported that that was, sadly and in fact, true. Then, one week later, former managing editor for The East Texan (and current copy editor at the Bryan-College Station Eagle) Patrica Dodson called to give us the heartbreaking news that suicide had also claimed one of our own alumni, Chance Mills (class of 2011), who worked with Dodson at the The Eagle. Depression, suicidal thoughts, selfharm and difficulties coping with guilt and shame are all complicated, deeply personal struggles for which no single remedy exists, making these illnesses, symptoms and behaviors a serious public health concern. I can only imagine how many times Dr. Jones’ mind must have entered that dark place. How many thousands of times did his love for his wife, daughters, and his A&M-Commerce family give him the strength he needed to promise himself, “just one more day,” until he finally imploded? I never knew Chance, but after reading

Photo Courtesy/Helen H arrop

people through suicide is doubly tragic. Now, and possibly more than ever, our country and our world need people who feel extra deeply and have the ability to empathize and communicate across ideological and historically entrenched boundaries. At the same time, it’s not hard to understand why some hyper-empathetic people might feel overwhelmed by all these challenges and deadly threats, and for that to be a factor in their decision to “opt out.” So please, if you’re struggling with depression or the temptation to kill yourself, or you’re going through extreme sorrow, guilt or anger as you grieve for a loved one that you lost to suicide…break the silence. Reach out to people you love and/or trust, and speak with a counseling professional. We need you more than you know! It does offer some degree of consolation, though, that our university, in memory of Dr. Jones, is currently working along with the Texas A&M System in the planning of a new mental health institute for research and outreach in rural Texas…and it has been suggested by many that it be named after him. Also, if you need help, you can reach out to our on-campus Counseling Center, located in Room 204 of the Student Services Building (903-886-5145), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK, or the Crisis Text Line at 741741.

What are you expecting during the fall 2016 semester?

“For the fall semester, I expect to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life, something I really care about. Also, learn time management skills.” -Jessica Turner, Freshman

“This semester I’m expecting to be better and be more focused. I want to set higher goals for myself in my classes.” -Madison Villarreal, Sophomore

The East Texan Staff

Editor Travis Hairgrove Managing Editor Alissa Silva Sports Editor Ricky Moser Opinion Editor Kerry Wilson Entertainment Editor Imogené Wofford Web Editor Todd Kleiboer Senior Reporter Ismael Isak Photographer Kristen Taylor Copy Editor/Distribution Manager Kyria Aho Distribution Assistant Michelle Whitehead Faculty Adviser Fred Stewart Phone 903-886-5985 E-mail theeasttexan@gmail.com East Texan Website tamuceasttexan.com East Texan Print Issue Online issuu.com/tamuc.easttexan

the memories his friends and loved ones posted on his Facebook timeline, it appears he had a wicked sense of humor as well as a delightfully “geeky” fondness for DC Comics and was extremely gifted at using these traits to lift the spirits of others when they were feeling down. Was he simply helping people the only way he knew how? Did he constantly have to “self-medicate” with humor and escapism to distract himself from the inner enemies tearing him apart from the inside? The sad and scary truth is that no one will ever know what pushed these two or the estimated 117 other Americans who die by suicide each and every day (according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention), because any single case can be a deadly web of factors – ranging from chemical or biological to traumatic experiences or identity crises. Whatever the cause of this self-hatred and/or malignant, all-consuming sadness, one thing’s evident. It makes life a living Hell. It’s well known that suicide tears massive holes in the lives of all who cared about that individual, but in these challenging times; with the escalation of violence between law enforcement and our country’s black communities, the frequent acts of terrorism hitting closer to home (i.e., The West), the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq still dragging on (scarring 11-20 percent of our military personnel with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) and a U.S. presidential election in which both sides are doing their best to demonize one another in light of all this horror – the loss of these sensitive-hearted

“I’m expecting a lot of fun this semester. I’m also expecting to achieve new goals and to grow.” -Lena Cole, Junior

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.

“I’m expecting to be prepared to move on to a full time job and be fully equipped to start living on my own.” -Kevin Hinkle, Senior

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.

News

Sept. 1, 2016

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President Keck discusses Counseling Corner Make Your the very near future Calm Roar Shannon Moseley, M.S. Special Contributer

Dr. Ray Keck and his wife Patricia, standing in front of the Heritage House.

As students at Texas A&M University-Commerce get settled into their residence halls and apartments for another year’s worth of growing experiences, the interim president and CEO of the university, Dr. Ray M. Keck III, is also preparing to put himself in the middle of residential life by moving on campus, into the Heritage House - which served as the president’s residence from 19271968. “I’m moving into it, my wife and I, and I’ll be using it as a mechanism for two things; to do what I can to strengthen and add to the sense of family, warmth and integration in residential life and to connect with alumni,” Keck said. “I want students in and out of that house every single day. If they knock in the middle of the night, I’ll get out of bed and open the door. My dogs will bark. I’ve got two cockers, so they’ll wake up too. But yes, I also think it’ll help me connect to alumni because it’s right next to that beautiful garden, the alumni center and Ferguson [social sciences building]…which is the oldest building on campus, so every single alum is gonna remember having had classes there.” In the 1932 edition of The Locust (the university’s discontinued yearbook), students described the Heritage House (simply called the President’s House, then) thusly – “Its doors open to offer unselfish hospitality to all,” and “its cultured interior the scene of delightful

gatherings.” While Dr. Keck is certainly trying to rekindle some of that warmth, he is also looking into ways to encourage a culture of familial accessibility among other university faculty and staff members as well. “One of the things that we’re looking at right now is reaching out to the private sector to explore the possibility of a public-private partnership to create a ‘university village,’ a housing opportunity for faculty and staff from the East Side of campus, drifting across Monroe St. and into Commerce,” Keck said. “I’m concerned that so many faculty don’t live in Commerce. Obviously, since I’m gonna move into the Heritage House, I think it’s important…so what can the university do to make it easier for people who wish to live here to do it?” In addition to diving into the heart of the campus community, Dr. Keck is also leading the university through challenges that include working to find ways to add faculty in order to keep up with growth in student enrollment (despite Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issuing a policy letter calling for state universities to reduce the amount of their budget requests by four percent compared to the previous year) and helping the university adapt to the reality of Campus Carry, which allows License to Carry (LTC) holders to legally carry concealed handguns on their person while on campus.

When events take place on campus that will be heavily attended by children, UPD will put out 30.06 signs, like the one above, signifying that concealed handguns are not allowed.

TAMUC Photo

“If an event has a large number of underage children in it, there will be big signs [30.06 signs - pronounced ‘thirty ought six’] that will go out in front,” Keck said. “This would mean that if you’re approaching the event carrying a concealed handgun and you see that sign, you just walk back to your car and leave your gun in the trunk, because you can’t take it in. A good example would be the scrimmage we had with the football team. The police department put those signs out.” Another Campus Carry-related issue that has had some faculty and staff members concerned and/or confused is how and when an office can be made a “gun-free zone.” “If there’s a concrete reason why somebody feels in danger, like if someone came in and flashed a gun or threatened them,” Keck said. “It can’t be just because they don’t believe in it or their uncomfortable with it. It doesn’t matter. If they’re at least 21 years old and they have a license to carry, they might have a gun in a holster under their coat. However, you can’t prohibit that simply because you don’t like the idea. Certainly, you’re entitled to protection if you have a credible threat to your safety,” Keck assured. “Take that to the police, and of coarse we’ll act. And, it could lead to that, in your office, guns are not allowed, but it has to be something more than just ‘I don’t like it.’”

Welcome Lions! We, at the Counseling Center, are very excited to have this campus full again! As this can be a time of mixed emotions, we want to remind you of the importance of self-care. It can be easy to become overwhelmed in college. You have expectations, classes, goals, deadlines, meetings, assignments, readings, etc. Additionally, some students also work, have families, and many struggle with finances. There is legitimately a lot that can occupy and dominate our precious time-if we allow it. Learning to prioritize is certainly helpful but what happens when everything seems to be a priority? This is where self-care comes in. Self-care is about making YOU and your mental, emotional, and physical health a daily priority. It’s about making your calm roar. It’s what helps stop you from pushing yourself so much you hit burnout. Finding inner peace can be done but only if you make it happen. More specifically self-care is about living a balanced life where you intentionally take time out for yourself to do something loving, compassionate, and kind for YOU. It may seem counterintuitive to stop and take breaks to tenderly tend to your needs when you have a page full of tasks to do. But as life often cleverly teaches us, it’s little things that make big differences. So let this be your first lesson of the semester: your physical health is not more important than your mental health. Your to-do list won’t get done as efficiently or fantastically if you don’t take care of your emotional health. Please review the following list of self-care tips and don’t forget to visit us at “Make Your Calm Roar” to participate in some hands-on learning: 1. Spoil Yourself: Make the time to treat yourself in little ways. This can be enjoying your favorite cup of coffee in a quiet space, going for a run, chatting with a good friend, giving yourself a 30 minute nap, or petting the miniature horses at “Make Your Calm Roar”. 2. Sleep is Gold: In fact it’s more valuable. Research repeatedly shows that gifting your body with enough sleep improves many aspects of your daily functioning from weight management to staying focused and productive. 3. Enjoy the Outdoors: Connecting with nature, even in the smallest ways, reminds one that you are part of a much bigger universe. Even stepping outside for 5 minutes to enjoy the sun can be rejuvenating. An upcoming way to give this is a try is to explore the campus by participating in the Counseling Center’s “Make Your Calm Roar” scavenger hunt. 4. Practice Mindfulness: Being aware of the present moment in a non-judgmental way keeps you grounded and in the moment. This can be particularly helpful to combat anxiety and depression. 5. DISCONNECT: Once upon a time there was no technology. Being social in a face-to-face way or learning to be alone with yourself are some of the most valuable experiences of human existence. Don’t deprive yourself of these gifts. One great way to unplug is to stop by the Counseling Center and enjoy our relaxation room-no electronic devices allowed in there. As a last offering I highly encourage you to watch a TED talk on Emotional Hygiene by Guy Walsh, PhD entitled, “Why we all need to Practice Emotional First Aid”. Simply Google: TED Talk Guy Walsh. Take a stance and make your emotional well-being a priority! Participate in our scavenger hunt, learn essential stress management tools, pet adorable miniature horses, and collect a Counseling Center signature T-shirt! To participate simply stop by one of our 4 stations set up around campus on 8 September from 11AM-3PM.

Campus

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Sept. 1, 2016

Patching up a Broken Heart ...with science

Travis Hairgrove Editor

Fans of the long running British science fiction program Doctor Who have, again and again, seen its hero, The Doctor, stumble into his TARDIS (his time machine/space ship) after battling an exceptionally powerful foe, to regenerate a new, undamaged body. While far from the pyrotechnic display that is The Doctor’s healing process, regeneration, as it exists in nature can be extraordinary in many species. Certain tailed amphibians like salamanders and newts are among the most adept at growing entirely new limbs or tails, and (even more amazingly) their brains and hearts can regenerate after being severely damaged. This past April, Texas A&M University-Commerce entered the fast lane of regenerative medicine research, when Distinguished Research Professor Larry Lemanski of the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and his colleagues were awarded a $1.6 million grant from the Chancellor’s Research Initiative to start up the Biomedical Institute for Regenerative Medicine (BIRR). “We’ve discovered there’s a ribonucleic acid [RNA] that has the ability to turn non-muscle cells into cardiac muscle cells,” Lemanski said. “So, we think we can take somebody’s fibroblasts…they’re connective tissue cells that keep our skin in place and they’re easy to get, treat those cells in a tissue culture and they will turn into cardiac muscle cells. At least we can do it with mice. Hopefully, in the future, we’ll be able to take cells from a patient’s body, convert those cells into cardiac muscle cells and use them to repair their damaged heart after a heart attack,” Lemanski continued. “This way it would be using cells that are genetically identical to the damaged heart…by using this RNA we’ve discovered.” Dr. Lemanski not only hopes the institute’s research continues to move forward in the field of healing the heart, but also thinks it might lead the way for finding similar ways of regenerating other parts of the body as well. “Eventually, I’m also very interested in nerve regeneration, so that people who have lost function in the nervous system can also have regeneration in the future,” Lemanski said. “The other thing that we’re interested in in the more distant future is the

regeneration of limbs. With salamanders, it’s amazing that we can cut their leg off and in six months, it’s grown back just absolutely normal. It’s the right size, and does all the right things. So, we’re trying to figure out since that, also, is a vertebrate…why it can do that and we can’t. Our goal is lofty,” Lemanski admitted. “But, we’d like the BIRR to become a world class institute, well known in the field of regeneration medicine.”

New SGA President Aims for Better Communication with Students

Ismael Isak Senior Reporter

With a new academic year we have a new president of the Student Government Association, Will Horton, who has been part of the SGA for six semesters and is entering his seventh. “When I entered SGA, I was a Senator and I served on the External Affairs Committee,” Horton said. He was elected president after Jackson Daily, who served four semesters, graduated last spring. President Horton brings plenty of experience after serving as a Senator, Vice-Chair of the Senate, and chairing the External Affairs Committee followed by the Internal Affairs Committee. “He and I worked on a few things together, mostly social items like the smoking policy on campus, or more PR-related topics such as increasing SGA’s presence on campus,” Horton said about former president Daily.

Photo Courtesy/The Kozy Shack through Flickr Creative C ommons

As the newly minted institute puts its $1.6 million grant to use over the next two years, Dr. Lemanski and his colleagues will be applying for even more funding from the National Science Foundation, the American Heart Association and the Department of the Army.

Sights on Campus: The Week Before Classes

The SGA has set its budget for this academic year, according to President Horton, with more details being finalized in the coming weeks. He will be joined by Vice-President Brown and VicePresident of Senate Affairs Caleb Farris along with five Senators; Desiree Smith, Marcus Anderson, Michael Faz, Kristen Rozoto, and Nikita Loftin. “SGA’s role on campus is to serve students, empower them, and enable them to effectively communicate their ideas, concerns, and interests with the respective person or persons on campus,” Horton said. If students have an issue with something, SGA will speak with as many students as possible, and then bring the issue to the attention of the VicePresident for Business Administration and the Dean of Students office, according to President Horton. For students interested in joining SGA, Horton had this to say “We have several spots still open within the Senate, and we encourage all students to come by our office or visit our website [http://bit. ly/2biOjBq] and fill out an application.”

Will Horton (front row, third from left) with members of the Student Government Association.

Photo Courtesy/TAMU-C Photo

E ast Texan Photo/K risten Taylor

Features

Sept. 1, 2016

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Sweden Stays Sweet Students broaden their horizons and have fun as global citizens. Todd Kleiboer Web Editor A little jet-lagged, a bit nervous, and very pleasantly surprised - That’s a description of the group of eight students who studied abroad in Sweden for ten days this past summer. “I didn’t really know what to expect going to Europe, and in my mind, I had a vision of what Sweden would be,” graduate student Tiffany Tilley said. “But when I got there, it was completely different. I felt like the atmosphere was more open, and I thought that everyone seemed nice and friendly.” Most of the students were caught off-guard by at least one aspect of Sweden, ranging from the country’s culture, people, or even the architecture. “I thought it was interesting that it seems like that they put a lot of stock into getting off work early and going home to the family,” junior Joseph Fischer said, who has traveled to Europe before. “There wasn’t a lot of nightlife like I had seen in other countries that I’ve been to.” Students were able to experience the Swedish culture during the trip, and a common feature well liked by most students was fika, a midday break when Swedes usually drink coffee paired with a sweet. It is comparable to the siesta in Spain. “It’s like taking a little break and sitting down and just having a coffee. For some reason, I really loved that, and since I’ve been back, I’ve been sad,” laughed graduate student Philip Copeland who is also considering earning his Ph.D. in Sweden as a result of this trip. However, the students missed out on one of Sweden’s biggest celebrations: Midsummer’s Eve. During Midsummer’s Eve, Swedes usually go

out to the countryside and celebrate the coming, relatively short summer, leaving the cities empty. “Everything was closed down,” Terra Truit, graduate student, said. “That was such a disappointment because we saw a video that advertised this big celebration that was going on, but then everything was closed.” Stockholm, Sweden’s capital, was the first city visited by the students, and there they given free tours by local guides, tasted authentic Swedish foods, and visited the most popular museum in Scandinavia, the Vasa Museum. However, the next city on their itinerary, Gothenburg, wasn’t enjoyed as much by the students. “There just wasn’t that much to do in Gothenburg,” senior Julia Gessner said. However, some students salvaged it by taking a ferry to Frederickshavn, a small town in Denmark, though things didn’t turn out as they’d planned as the town emptied after lunch. “I really thought the ferry ride was cool,” Fischer said. “And the fact that for thirty bucks you can go to another country. You can’t say that about the U.S. It was pretty interesting even if the end result wasn’t what we expected to be.” The trip to Sweden extended from June 1929, and the study abroad course focused on comparing the Swedish and American health care systems and health differences. A series of lectures about various health care facets were also given at notable Swedish universities. Honors College Assistant Dean Dr. Yvonne VillanuevaRussell designed the course and picked the lecturers. “I knew that I wanted midwives, because Sweden is known for their midwifery and their [low] infant mortality rates,” Dr. VillanuevaRussell said. “And I knew I wanted someone to talk about the family leave policy because there’s

no other country that allows parents thirty months off when they have a child.” Being a ‘global citizen’ is pushed heavily by the university, but the definition of a global citizen may be a bit unclear to students. To some, visiting other countries is a helpful way to become one. “I think the thing that the university is striving for are people that are aware of the world around them, not just isolated to America…people that are invested in global politics and global social circumstances,” Amelia Deluna-Owsley, graduate student, said. “I do consider myself a

Photo Courtesy/Todd K leiboer

person that stays abreast of global issues.” Around 300,000 college students study abroad each year, and the university offers 18 programs to its students. Going to another country that is completely unfamiliar can be a daunting task, but junior Tristan Nelson spares some advice. “I would say to keep your mind really open and not go in with any prejudices so that you can get the most out of your experience,” she said. “You can come away changed, not just the same way you were before you went on the trip.”

Bois d’Arc Bash is Back

Photo Courtesy/Dawn Burkes

Kadie Lynn Roberson’s first appearance on this season of America’s Got Talent

An aerial view of the carnival at 2015’s Bois d’Arc Bash

Photo Courtesy/Paul Bryan

Travis Hairgrove Editor Three weeks from now, on Friday, Sept. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 24, downtown Commerce will be the scene of the 31st annual Bois d’Arc (pronounced “bodark”) Bash, a street festival that will include continuous, back-to-back live musical acts, a carnival complete with rides, a wide variety of food, unusual-but-fun events like a duck race, and much more. The festival gets its unique name from the bois d’arc tree, an extremely hard wood native to the Blackland Prairie, the region in which Commerce and the rest of Hunt County is situated. Two of the featured performing

musical artists, this year, will be 12-year-old country music phenom and America’s Got Talent competitor Kadie Lynn Robertson, and Grammy Award-winning Commerce resident Brad Davis, who will be performing material off of his new album. The carnival will be located at the farmer’s market, and food options will range from shrimp and chicken kabobs to hotdogs and funnels cakes to barbeque and homemade ice cream. There will also be several vendors selling handmade crafts, including woodcrafters who build furniture and other items on site. “One thing I’ve learned is that you never have enough time to get ready,” Paul

Voss said of his third “Bash” as executive director of the City of Commerce Chamber of Commerce. “As soon as the Bash is over, we start planning for the next one. It takes a year to put this thing together. We’ve attracted an average of 10,000 people, sometimes more than that each year. And, it’s our responsibility to clean up the square afterwards, not the city’s. Last year, we filled three 40 yard dumpsters with trash.” In addition to the festivities, there will also be several humanitarian organizations seeking donations at the Bash, two of which are the Commerce Food Pantry and Carter Bloodcare.

A bois d’arc tree

Photo Courtesy/A ndrew Batson

Entertainment

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Harley Quinn Trumps Suicide Squad

Movie Time Majestic 12 Theatre 1401 E. Joe Ramsey Boulevard, Greenville, TX 75402

Imogené Wofford Entertainment Editor This summer’s movie to see was “Suicide Squad,” a fantasy film based on a DC Comic Book that picks up where “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice” leaves off. If you are a fan of DC Comics or an avid movie watcher, you know that earlier this year DC Comics released “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice;” where there was an intense battle between Batman and Superman, and Batman prevails in the end—killing Superman. In “Suicide Squad,” Amanda Waller, played by Viola Davis, leads a top-secret government agency, A.R.G.U.S., to form a highly skilled team that will take on missions that are too dangerous for the U.S. Military to handle on their own. The squad is made up of ruthless criminals who come from various backgrounds, and have different, deadly influences and personalities: Deadshot (Will Smith), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Diablo (Jay Hernandez), Killer Croc (Adewale AkinnuoyeAgbaje), Boomerang (Jai Courtney). The squad is led by Colonial Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman); with some help from his friend Katana (Karen Fukuhara). Waller has agreed to help each member with their jail sentences, and any special demands that they may have to get them on board. Waller wouldn’t be herself if she didn’t display that she is in charge and has the power over these treacherous criminals.

Photo Courtesy/Ricardo Campos She has each member injected with an explosive device that she has the remote for, as well as using their personal lives and families as collateral to ensure their full participation. The squad’s mission is to take down a deadly force, that has powers beyond the Earth’s realm, Enchantress (Cara Delevingne) a supernatural witch, who is over 2,000 years old. Enchantress has taken over June Moore’s (Cara Delvingne) body and released havoc in Midway City. June Moore is also the girlfriend of Colonial Flag. However, throughout the movie, each member’s motives or dealings are revealed; and the team has to decide whether they want to go ahead with the mission, or pursue their self-interests. Enchantress has taken Waller as her hostage and plans to kill her first and prove a point, bringing her list of hostages to two— and the stakes of the mission increase. The stakes are higher because the Suicide Squad needs Waller in order to get whatever help with their cases and sentences that they were promised. The squad gets over their personal issues with one another and come together. They successfully complete the mission. Many people focused on actor Jared Leto and his role as The Joker. Everyone is stuck in “The Dark Knight’s” astounding Joker

character that was played by Heath Ledger. The Joker played only a small role in “Suicide Squad,” where his mission was to rescue his beloved Quinn. It was his underestimated, strong Harley Quinn who stole the show. Throughout the mission she proved superior over her male counterparts. Deadshot showed a sincere, brotherly admiration for Quinn in the movie—he always looked out for her and cared about her. You may remember Smith and Robbie’s on screen connection and chemistry from their 2015 crime drama film, “Focus.” For Quinn this mission, and the whole movie, depicted her evolving as a character; and this was her coming to age film. She battled with finding herself and discovering what her purpose was in life. Robbie’s character was the light in the dark tunnel for this film. Even though she was a “supervillian” she still showed she cared and longed for purity in love. She brought her gitty wits, sarcasm, and bubbly personality, paired with her badass combat and baseball bat to the scene and proved that she was a force to be reckoned with herself. She fought her inner demons: love, abandonment, self-worth, truth and loyalty throughout the movie and came out on top in the end.

Photo Courtesy/Flickr Creative Commons

Fall theatre season starts this october Todd Kleiboer Web Editor The university Theatre Department welcomes freshmen and returning students with its two distinctly different fall productions, “Acting: The First Six Lessons” and “The Dispute”. “Acting: The First Six Lessons” by Beau and Emily Bridges will be the first production shown by the department and runs from October 11th to the 16th in the studio theatre, or the aptly named “black box”. Directing the play will be Kelsey Cooper. “It’s about a young girl coming up as an actress and the process of her dealing with life at the same time and how things go from there,” Director of Theatre Division Michael Knight said. “I would say that it’s suitable for most audiences.” After the October production, a mod-

Sept. 1, 2016

ern translation by Gideon Lester of “The Dispute”, originally by Pierre Carlet de Marivaux, will be shown next. It will run from November 15th to the 20th on the main stage, and its director is Carrie Klypchak. “The play is about who did the first infidelity, who was unfaithful first, the man or the woman? It’s based itself around a sex farce, but it has a classical feel to it,” Knight said. “It’s not recommended for children, just throwing that out there.” While some attendees might enjoy “The Dispute” more than “Acting: The First Six Lessons”, comparing the two might be going a little far because of their unique themes. “The Dispute” was written for adults while “Acting: The First Six Lessons” was written for a broader audience. “I don’t think either one of them is going to be better than the other because they are distinctly different plays,” Knight said.

“Both directors that I have are very talented, so they really put forth their best. I think that they [the plays] are going to complement each other more than anything, and it should go over really well with our audiences.” Both the main stage and the studio theatre are located in the Performing Arts Center, and entrances fees vary between people. For students, faculty, and staff, it is five dollars to attend if the attendee has their ID card. For anyone not affiliated with the university, it is fifteen dollars; however, senior citizens attend for ten and children for five. The number for the Box Office is 903-8865900. “I think this should be a good addition to the season. We usually get pretty good crowds when we have certain styles of plays going on,” Knight said.

903-455-5400

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Sept. 1st, 2016

numbersgame 3

hotshot 841.5

Number of new member football teams added to the Lone Star Conference

Total number of points scored by Tarleton State’s volleyball Offensive Player of the Year Hailey Roberts

VOLLEYBALL

Angelo State leads volleyball preseason poll

2016football

Team Conf. Overall A&M-Commerce 0-0 0-0 West. New Mexico 0-0 0-0 OK. Panhandle 0-0 0-0 West Texas A&M 0-0 0-0 Angelo State 0-0 0-0 Midwestern State 0-0 0-0 A&M- Kingsville 0-0 0-0 Tarleton State 0-0 0-0 East. New Mexico 0-0 0-0 UT-Permian Basin 0-0 0-0

Schedule

September 1st University of Faith AT A&M-Commerce Angelo State AT McKrendee East. New Mexico AT Southwest Baptist West Texas A&M AT Azusa Pacific September 3rd Texas A&M-Kingsville AT Incarnate Word Tarleton State AT McNeese State OK. Panhandle State AT Sam Houston State Midwestern State AT Truman State Sul Ross AT UT-Permian Basin West. New Mexico AT San Diego

women’ssoccer

Photo Courtesy/L onestarconference .org

Angelo State is the narrow favorite to capture the Lone Star Conference title, according to the 2016 LSC volleyball preseason poll announced Monday. The league’s preseason polls reflect the opinions of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the region. ASU, the defending tournament champions, were the South Central Region runner-ups with a 33-6 overall and 14-2 LSC record last season. The Rambelles earned first-place votes on 13 of the

29 ballots for a total of 301 points. Tarleton State, the reigning champions, ranked second with 12 top votes to finish with 291 points, followed by Texas Woman’s in third with 239 points. West Texas A&M ranked fourth with the four remaining first place nods and 206 points, while Texas A&M- Kingsville was fifth (184), and Western New Mexico sixth (176). Cameron (158), Texas A&M-Commerce (154), Eastern New Mexico (99), Midwestern State (61) and UT Permian Basin (45) rounded out the poll. The 2016 volleyball

season begins in early September, with 11 teams set to compete. LSC teams will use a one-conference double round-robin scheduling model, in which each team plays a home and away match against each of the other teams. The LSC champion will be the regular season winner determined by league matches, while the postseason tournament winner is designated as LSC Tournament Champion and earns the conference’s automatic qualification. The top eight teams in the final conference standings qualify for the postseason tournament

LSC volleyball honors announced Three Lone Star Conference volleyball standouts were recognized Tuesday as league officials announced the 2016 Preseason Players of the Year. Tarleton State’s Hailey Roberts was named Offensive Player of the Year, Texas Woman’s Sara Oxford earned Defensive Player of the Year acclaim, and Texas A&M-Kingsville’s Casey Klobedans was tabbed Setter of the Year. The league’s preseason awards were selected by a vote of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representaPhoto Courtesy/L onestarconference .org tives from throughout honors. She started all 31 games the region. with 17 service aces and a .258 hitRoberts, a junior outside hitting percentage. ter from Cedar Park, Texas, was a Klobedans, a junior setter from first-team all-LSC selection and the Boerne, Texas, finished with 1,283 LSC Offensive Player of the Year assists while appearing in all 34 after leading the TexAnns to their matches last year. She averaged first league championship with a 10.02 assists per set with 15 double15-1 league record last season. She doubles to earn first-team All-LSC recorded 728 kills on a .239 hitting acclaim. percentage to lead the nation in total These talented players will lead kills and kills per set (5.69) to earn their teams into the 2016 season, AVCA All-America honors. Roberts which begins in early September. also had 72 service aces and 841.5 The LSC has 11 teams set to compete total points scored. utilizing a one-conference double Oxford, a senior middle blocker round-robin scheduling model, in from Decatur, Texas, tallied 283 kills, 273 digs and 118 total blocks to which each team will play a home and away match against each of the claim 2015 LSC Defensive Player of other teams. the Year and Newcomer of the Year

set for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 17-18-19, at the No. 1 seed.

Photo Courtesy/ L onestarconference .Org

Schedule

2016 LSC Volleyball Preseason Poll 1st Nods

Team Conf. Overall A&M-Commerce 0-0 0-0 Texas Woman’s 0-0 0-0 UT-Permian Basin 0-0 0-0 West Texas A&M 0-0 0-0 Angelo State 0-0 0-0 Midwestern State 0-0 0-0 East. New Mexico 0-0 0-0

Rank

Team

Angelo State

301

Tarleton State

291

Texas Woman's

239

West Texas A&M

206

Texas A&M-Kingsville

184

Western New Mexico

176

Cameron

158

Texas A&M-Commerce

154

Eastern New Mexico

September 4th

Midwestern State

UT Permian Basin

A&M-Commerce VS Tampa

TOTAL

September 1st

Three receive preseason honors A trio of Lone Star Conference women’s soccer standouts were selected for 2016 preseason honors league officials announced Thursday. Angelo State’s Haley Mendel was tabbed Offensive Player of the Year, Texas A&M-Commerce’s Vicky Back earned Defensive Player of the Year honors, and Midwestern State’s Courtney Burnette was named Goalkeeper of the Year. The league’s preseason awards were chosen by a vote of LSC head coaches and sports information directors, plus various media representatives from throughout the Photo Courtesy/L onestarconference .org region. matches with a 1.02 goals against avMendel, a senior midfielder from erage and .798 save percentage. She Bastrop, Texas, became the second recorded 75 saves while allowing 19 All-American in ASU history after goals in 1,678 minutes of action with leading the team with 10 goals and 23 seven shutouts. points last season. The reigning LSC The three standouts will lead their Offensive Player of the Year added respective teams onto the pitch in three assists and took 43 shots with early September as the 2016 season 23 on goal. begins. The LSC has seven teams Back, a senior defender from ready to play this fall, with each team York, England, claimed All-Ameriplaying a 12-game conference schedcan, first-team All-Region and firstule as part of its regular season slate. team All-LSC honors after recording The athletes were congratulated 15 goals and 34 points in 2015. She by their universities on social media led the league in goals and points as ASU posted on Instagram and while helping the Lions record nine A&M-C and MSU on Twitter. shutouts. Burnette, a junior goalkeeper from Irving, Texas, was tabbed honorable mention All-LSC after starting all 18

East. New Mexico AT Western State Midwestern State AT Regis Lubbock Christian AT UT-Permian Basin Texas Woman’s AT CSU-Pueblo West Texas A&M AT MSU Denver September 2nd A&M-Commerce AT Florida Tech Angelo State AT UC-Colorado Springs September 3rd Midwestern State AT CSU-Pueblo Texas Woman’s AT Regis West Texas A&M AT Colorado Mines Adams State VS Angelo State September 5th Fort Lewis AT East. New Mexico Midwestern State AT New Mexico Highlands UT-Permian Basin AT Wayland Baptist

2016volleyball

Team

A&M-Commerce

CONF Overall 0-0

0-0

A&M-Kingsville

0-0

Angelo State

0-0

Cameron

0-0

Tarleton State

0-0

East. New Mexico 0-0

0-0

Midwestern State

0-0

Texas Woman’s

0-0

UT-Permian Basin 0-0

0-0

West Texas A&M

0-0

West. New Mexico 0-0

0-0

Schedule Italics denote tournaments September 2nd & 3rd Kathleen Brasfield ASU Invitational: Angelo State Tarleton State 2016 Hilton Garden Inn Classic: A&M-Commerce Texas Woman’s Southeastern OK Region Classic: Cameron Britkare Lady Buff Classic: East. New Mexico West Texas A&M 2016 Washburn Invitational: Midwestern State Christian Brothers Invitational: A&M-Kingsville Point Loma Seaside Invitational: West. New Mexico September 5th West. New Mexico AT Concordia September 6th UT-Permian Basin AT Wayland Basin St. Mary’s AT A&M-Kingsville September 7th Adams State VS. Angelo State Angelo State VS. CSU-Pueblo

Page 8

Sept. 1, 2015

Sports See You at the Game! Sept. 3: Volleyball vs. Newman (9:00 a.m.) & Harding (4:30 p.m.) in Denton Sept. 4: Soccer vs. Tampa in Melbour ne, Fla. (7:30 p.m.) Sept. 9: Volleyball vs. Ark. Monticello (9:00 a.m.) & Central Okla. (5:00 p.m.) in Stephenville Sept. 9: Soccer vs. Central Okla. in Edmond, Okla. (4:00 p.m.) Sept. 10: Football vs. Delta State in Cleveland, Miss. (6:00 p.m.) Sept. 10: Volleyball vs. Colo. Christian (11:30 a.m.) & Colo. Mesa (5:00 p.m.) in Stephenville Sept. 11: Soccer hosts St. Edwards (1:00 p.m.)

Vicky Back dubbed preseason player of the year by LSC E ast Texan Photo / K risten Taylor

Photo Courtesy / Lion Athletics

Ismael Isak Senior Reporter

E ast Texan Photo / K risten Taylor

Vicky Back appeared in all 21 games last season for the Lions soccer team, was the leading goal scorer and was part of the back-to-back Lone Star Conference Tournament Champion Title team. All of this helped earn her the title of Lone Star Conference Preseason Defensive Player of the Year. She is currently a senior and comes from York, England. Coming to the U.S. from the U.K., where the style of soccer is different, she said, “Here we’re more direct [and] physical.” After appearing in a total of 60 games with the Lions, one game that stood out for Back was the game against Dallas Baptist University. “We won in overtime and I scored the winning header, when we got to the sweet sixteen,” Back said. The soccer team will be traveling to Florida Tech for the Doubletree Panther Invitational this weekend, where she will be playing the position of forward wearing number 12. The Lions will be returning for the LSC tournament Sept. 23, against the Greyhounds of Eastern New Mexico University. A lesson Back learned from her mentors is, “I am more than I think I am, and the harder I worked, the more it rewarded me.” With the all the recognition she received from the LSC, one way Back continues to pursue even more excellence is by “working hard and not taking it for granted, because when you take it for granted it’s not going to happen.”