The Prairie, Vol. 94, No. 26

the Tuesday, April 24, 2012 Sunny 95°F | 57°F

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President Clinton to speak at WTAMU on April 24 DINO GRIEGO STAFF WRITER

F

ormer President Bill Clinton will discuss the William J. Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative at the First United Bank Center on April 24.

The event starts at 8:00 p.m. and the doors will open at 7:30 p.m. The Distinguished Lecture Series committee said they expect the FUBC to reach capacity of 5,500, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early for seating.

Due to President Clinton’s recognized presidency and his future work, the DLS committee sought to recruit him.

“Clinton is a distinguished speaker,” Colton Risinger, a junior Political Science major, said. “Not only is he a former President, post-presidency he has been highly active in humanitarian work through his foundation and still has in�luence in foreign affairs.”

Not only is the event free to the

public, this event has had minimal cost for the University.

“It is not every day that one gets to listen to a United States President for free,” Brandy Roberts, a junior Business Management major and student body president, said. “There were no fees included to have the former president come to the University. However, WT did make a $100,000 donation to the Flight 93 Memorial.”

The Flight 93 Memorial honors the people who overtook Al-Qaida terrorists and brought down their plane to save the capitol from attack on Sept. 11, 2001. While more than ten years have passed, the memorial still requires additional funds in order to pay its respect.

“One of the committee members heard that Bill Clinton would speak in lieu of a donation to the memorial fund,” Roberts said. “All we had to do was make a donation to a great cause. We are considered an ‘honorary contributor’ to

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLINTON FOUNDATION Clinton at the second Clinton Global Initiative meeting.

the memorial, and we will have a plaque on the memorial due to our donation.”

President Clinton’s speech should be between 25-30 minutes with a question-and-answer immediately following. If a student is interested in

asking the president a question, the question should be submitted at dls@ wtamu.edu along with the name, major and classi�ication of the student.

degree in Psychology while Clint will complete his bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, and the two will walk across the stage and receive their diplomas at the same ceremony.

“It was really important once we realized we were able to graduate together to make sure we graduated together,” Clint said.

But in a twist of fate, it almost didn’t happen. Bailey recalled receiving a letter after applying for graduation informing her that she was one credit shy from being able to graduate.

Clinton continued on p. 3

Father and daughter graduate together from WT JORDAN FRY STAFF WRITER

must have his middle name, Wesley, as a last name. Clint walked his daughter down the aisle last October when she married a man whose last name was a ailey McKinney Wesley shares re�lection of her father’s. several things in common with her On May 12, Bailey and Clint will share father whose name, ironically, is Clint another major milestone – tossing their Wesley McKinney. Clint jokes that a graduation caps together as part of the stipulation of his daughter getting same graduating class. married was that whomever she married Bailey will be �inishing her bachelor’s Scan the QR code and like us on Facebook to receive updates!

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INSIDE

Father and Daughter continued on p. 2

SPORTS:

NEWS:

PHOTOS:

CAMPUS LIFE:

ONLINE:

Lady Buffs softball plays senior weekend.

Study finds that multi-generation households are increasing.

Student Government sponsors Memorial Service.

University Honor Banquet will recognize student achievements.

Page 9

Check online for more Shack-a-thon pictures.

Page 4

Page 3

Page 10

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FEATURE

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Father and Daughter continued from p. 1

“I �lipped,” she said. “I started crying.”

Bailey immediately went to her advisor who was able to substitute a class in for the missing credit and Bailey was back on track for graduation.

Bailey began WT in the fall of 2008 as an Education major, but later decided it wasn’t for her.

“I had always �lip-�lopped between teaching and counseling,” she said. “I really like helping people.”

After changing her major to Psychology, she knew counseling was what she wanted to do as a career.

Clint, who says he is on the “30-year degree plan,” originally came to WT in 1982 as an Accounting major. He withdrew after two years and didn’t go back until 2003 as an Education major. He again withdrew, but came back a �inal time in 2010 as a CIS major.

“I’ve been a musician all my life. I’ve been a worship leader and I’ve given guitar lessons in my studio for the last decade,” he said. “But I wanted a degree.

I wanted a job with a steady income.”

Clint explained he has four the

Prairie

computers in his studio and eight computers at home and that he is always �ixing computers for friends, which was a driving force behind choosing his ultimate major.

“It’s --- I almost hate to say it’s a love --- but it pretty much is,” he said.

Another love Clint has is that of music, which he shares with his daughter. Bailey has been involved with the Wesley Foundation and has served as a worship leader. Clint also got involved when Bailey enlisted her father to �ill in for musicians who were unable to be there.

“I can’t put into words what it was like to play under my daughter as the worship leader,” Clint said. “It was an honor and the kids at the Wesley really took me in. Bailey and I have really enjoyed campus life together.”

Likewise, Bailey said she has enjoyed having her father as part of her academic experience.

“It’s kind of funny seeing him on campus, but all my friends like him,” she said. “He’s really relational.”

Clint has also helped Bailey

Staff 2011-2012

Editor- Maria Molina Assistant Editor- Krystina Martinez Web Editor - Georgia Romig Layout- Kati Watson Ad Manager- Sheri Gibbs Faculty Adviser- Butler Cain

become more aware of the resources students have available to them at WT and encouraged her to utilize them. Bailey said because her father is older, he isn’t “shy about pooling resources.”

“He’s been like…” she said. “A father!” he interjected.

“Students aren’t aware of the resources we have like Career Services. It’s like our personal employment agency,” Clint said. “And my professors have hand-delivered my résumé to employers.”

Clint said he feels this is due in large part to the ability to build a personal relationship with professors that isn’t available at other larger universities – that same professor relationship helped Bailey to be able to follow through with graduating in spite of her lacking credit.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are. If you press in and apply yourself, your professors will help you,” he said. “I couldn’t have made it without the awesome professors we have.”

Clint’s “30-year degree plan” has shown him that it’s never too late to change directions. He held the same occupation for

Reporter- Ashley Hendrick Reporter- Melissa Bauer-Herzog Reporter- Ryan Schaap Reporter- Matt Watkins Reporter- Lisa Hellier Reporter- Brittany Castillo Reporter- Chyna Tinney

April 24, 2012

www.theprairienews.com 20 years and had no immediate plans of leaving until he and Bailey were involved in a fatal car accident which claimed the life of Bailey’s brother and left Clint disabled for two years. Because he was disabled, he was forced to leave his current job, but found that it opened new doors for him.

“I would never have left my job if it wasn’t for that wreck,” he said. “We limit ourselves because we think we can’t do anything further than what we’re already doing, but there’s opportunity everywhere.”

After graduation, Clint is working for a medical software company where he will be

able to apply his degree and Bailey is currently applying to the graduate program at WT and will be working towards getting her LPC certi�ication.

And as they prepare to walk across the stage together, Clint said the experience he has shared with Bailey has been phenomenal.

“I’m not a very sentimental person, but this is very sentimental and very meaningful to me,” he said. “Bailey and I have always been very close.” Graduation will only further their close relationship.

“I’m sentimental, so I love it,” she said. “It’s such a neat story.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CAROL MCKINNEY Bailey McKinney Wesley and her father Clint Wesley McKinney.

Reporter- Jordan Fry Reporter- Daniela Fierro Reporter- Jessica Chandos Reporter- Jessica Bartel Reporter- Sarah Floyd Reporter- Jacob Cain Photographer- Alex Montoya

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

- First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution

The Prairie is a student-operated publication at West Texas A&M University. It functions to inform, educate, and entertain readers accurately and responsibly. It does not necessarily re�lect the opinions of the administration, faculty or students. The editorials that appear on these pages represent the opinion of the Prairie editorial board.

The views expressed by other columinsts are the writers’ opinions and do not necessarily re�lect the board’s views. Advertising rates are available upon request at (806) 337- 2090 or at theprairiewt@gmail.com. WTAMU Box 60754, Canyon, Texas 79016. The Prairie is distributed on Tuesdays during the semester and has a circulation of 1,500. It is printed by The Amarillo Globe-News.

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NEWS Prairie Study finds multi-generation households increase 3

KRYSTINA MARTINEZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

I

n a recent study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 63 percent of 18to 34-year-olds know someone who has moved back home because of economic conditions.

The study, entitled “The Boomerang Generation: Feeling OK about Living with Mom and Dad,” said that “the share of Americans living in multi-generational family households is the highest it has been since the 1950’s, having increased signi�icantly in the past �ive years.”

The “boomerang generation” is named after young adults who move out

Clinton continued from p. 1

“He will be discussing both of his foundations,” Roberts said. “These are both parts of Bill Clinton’s philanthropic efforts, which follow the theme of the event: philanthropy and WT’s donation to the Flight 93 Memorial.”

Several people have critiqued both the speaker and the amount of money spent on bringing him to campus.

However, others have applauded his efforts and are encouraging their classes to attend this event.

“I know some people have been, at times, critical about the amount we are donating,” Matt Maples, associate director of Student Activities, said.

“But this event is signi�icant for both the University and the community.

We have a chance do provide much needed conversation about national and global affairs.”

In conjunction with the event, those attending are encouraged to bring peanut butter to bene�it the Snack Pak 4 Kids program. Snack Pak 4 Kids provides amenities to feed students over the weekend period.

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of the family home for a time and then “boomerang” back.

Alissa Gardner, a 25-year-old graduate of Texas Woman’s University, currently lives with her parents.

“I moved home the semester before I graduated to save money,” she said. “I pay for a lot of my own stuff. However, I don’t have to pay rent and my parents help pay for groceries and whatnot. I’m sure I could help pay for more seeing as I have a full-time job, but I’m appreciative that they’re willing to help me out as much as they do.”

According to the survey, adults between the ages of 18 to 24 are more likely to be boomerang kids. Forty percent currently live with their parents,

and many of them never moved out in the �irst place. For adults in the 25-34 age range, 12 percent currently live with their parents.

“There are times though when I really wish I had my own place,” Gardner said. “I like being independent, but I’m grateful that I have a family like mine that I love being around.”

The study also noted that 68 percent of young adults living with their parents are satis�ied with their family life.

Furthermore, 34 percent said “living with their parents at this stage of life has been good for the relationship.”

“I have noticed that to some extent I can speak to my parents along the line as friends,” Abby Zotz, a junior

International Business major at WT, said.

Zotz took a break from school to return home to Windthorst, Texas.

Although she enjoyed the break, she felt the stigma that’s often associated with living at home as an adult.

“I feel like I somewhat failed having to move home, and then sharing a room with my twin sister like I was 12 again,” Zotz said. “It’s comfort and discomfort.”

Zotz has since returned to WT and has resumed her studies. She encourages students to think before they move out.

“If you decide to move out, do it without reservation,” she said. “It’s easier to think of yourself as your own provider if you do not have ‘cold toes.’”

Photos from another ONE Sessions

PHOTO BY ALEX MONTOYA Eric Brown (Center) working the dolly camera.

PHOTO BY ALEX MONTOYA Producer Brandon Newberg (standing with headset) leading his team.

PHOTO BY ALEX MONTOYA WT Broadcasting students who were part of the production of ONE Sessions.

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SPORTS Prairie Pat Summitt: Softball team loses final home series 38 years later 4

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MELISSA BAUER-HERZOG STAFF WRITER

KELTIN WIENS

KWTS SPORTS DIRECTOR

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at Summitt, the head coach for the Tennessee Lady Vols Women’s Basketball team, ended her career on April 19. For fans of women’s basketball in the NCAA Division I ranks.

After 38 years, Summitt stepped down from her job eight months after being diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type. Summitt handed over her whistle to Holly Warlick, a former player of Summitt’s and assistant coach for the past 27 years.

Summitt is the winningest coach in college basketball history, with her win-loss record standing at an impressive 1,098-208. Summitt’s Lady Vols won their sixteenth overall Southeastern Conference last month. The Lady Vols made it to the NCAA Tournament all 38 years of Summitt’s career, never being seeded lower than No. 5 and never �inishing the season with a losing record. Summitt also led her teams to 18 Final Fours and eight National Championships. The 18 Final Four appearances are tied with both the UCLA and North Carolina men’s teams for the most appearances in NCAA history.

Summitt even has two basketball courts named after her (UT Martin and University of Tennessee).

Summitt’s time at Tennessee touched not only the players she coached, but also the whole nation.

President Barack Obama has announced that Summitt will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Although Summitt is not coaching anymore, she will continue to touch lives through The Pat Summitt Foundation she created last year. The Foundation gives grants to nonpro�it organizations to promote education about Alzheimer’s, give support services to patients and their caregivers and to research and eventually exterminate the disease.

The Foundation’s marquee event this year was the “We Back Pat” week in the Southeastern Conference to raise awareness about the disease and the Foundation.

Pat Summitt has touched us in so many ways, it is truly sad to see her go from Knoxville. But she will continue to use her name to �ight early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type until she can’t anymore.

Yes Pat, �ight the same way you �ight a bad call on the court.

We will �ight with you.

T

he last home series of the season for the Lady Buffs was a weekend full of important events .The “Strike Out Cancer” weekend sponsored by Texas Oncology was also senior weekend and a battle for the second spot in the Lone Star Conference.

Texas Woman’s University started the scoring in game one on Friday night. WTAMU wouldn’t let the Pioneers take a breath, scoring two runs in the second for a 3-1 lead. The next few innings was a battle of wills as TWU picked up four runs to take a 5-3 lead before WT tied up the game. The Lady Buffs ended the scoring in the fourth inning, taking an 8-5 lead that would hold for the rest of the seveninning game.

TWU started the second Friday night game scoring in the �irst inning.

The teams battled back and forth throughout the game to get the lead. It looked like WT would pick up the win in the �ifth inning when they took a 5-4 lead due to an incorrect scorecard and added another run in the six inning. However, the Pioneers came back and score �ive runs in the seventh to win the game 9-6. Senior Marci Womack was recorded as the pitcher for both of Friday night’s games, taking her record to 19-9.

“We played six pretty good innings tonight, but we didn’t �inish the seventh inning,” Head Coach Kevin Blaskowski said. “They have momentum now.

They came and took a game away from us in the seventh inning so they are going to carry

PHOTO BY MELISSA BAUER-HERZOG Seniors (L-R) Kristina Myles, Kim LeComte, Marci Womack, Meghan Brown and Whitney Midkiff after the weekend’s games.

the momentum into the series �inale tomorrow.”

Blaskowski’s words rang true as the Saturday game started. The Pioneers scored �irst, picking up three runs early in the second inning.

The three runs would force Womack out of her

The weekend ended with a ceremony honoring the team’s �ive seniors. The team also presented senior Kim LeComte with a banner on the center�ield fence honoring her career accomplishments at WT. “It’s crazy, I had no

PHOTO BY MELISSA BAUER-HERZOG Marci Womack midpitch in game one.

�inal home game after just an inning and a half.

By the end of the inning, the score would be 4-0.

The game continued to go TWU’s way as they scored eight more runs in the �ive remaining innings, leaving the Lady Buffs with a score of 12-0.

The Lady Buffs got four runs on the board in the �inal minutes of the game, but it wasn’t enough for the team and they dropped the game 12-4 giving them a series loss of 2-1. The Saturday loss was the Lady Buffs’ �irst since 2008. Womack picked up the loss in the circle for the third game of the series, but both Amber Spencer and Adriana Garcia made an appearance in the circle during the game.

idea [about the banner],” LeComte said. “That’s something growing up, watching sports, that you see all the time happening to the big name players, but you never think it’s going to happen to you.

It’s awesome, it’s unreal.”

The team will travel to Edmond, Okla., on April 24 for a double header before heading to Denton, Texas for the 2012 LSC Tournament on April 26-28. WT will enter the tournament as the No. 6 seed and take on Abilene Christian at 4:30 p.m. on April 27.

“We got to take it one game at a time and we have to stay focused if we want to make the NCAA tournament,” LeComte said. “We’ve got to win one game at a time.”

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SPORTS Prairie WT Baseball drops first LSC series against UIW 5

MATTHEW WATKINS STAFF WRITER

T

he No. 30 ranked WTAMU Buffalo baseball traveled to San Antonio for an important four-game series against the Incarnate Word Cardinals from April 20-22. The Buffs were tied with Angelo State for �irst in the conference and had two series left in the season when they lost three of four to the Cardinals.

WT fell behind 3-0 after the �ifth inning of the series opener. The Buffs

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would get a run on an RBI by junior Justin Henderson in the seventh, but would lose the game 3-1. Junior Ryan Houston (4-3) got the loss pitching seven innings and giving up three runs on six hits.

In the �irst game of the doubleheader on April 21, WT got off to a 4-2 lead after three innings. Incarnate Word rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at four all. The Buffs would get a 6-4 win from a two-run double by senior Jess Cooper, who went two for four at the plate with two doubles and two RBIs. The win was head coach Matt

Vanderburg’s one-hundredth win at WT. “It was good to get 100 wins at WT,” Vanderburg said. “I’ve had a lot of good players and a good coaching staff to help along the way.”

WT would be shut out by the Cardinals in the second game on April 21.

UIW scored a run in the �irst, fourth, �ifth innings and two in the sixth for the 5-0 win. Junior Billy Gonzalez (5-2) got his second consecutive loss after �ive wins, going �ive innings and giving up three runs on eight hits.

The Buffs would come just short of

rallying late in the series �inale. UIW took a 7-1 lead over WT into the sixth inning. WT put up two runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to comeback and tie the game 7-7. The Cardinals would �ind a way to push a run across after two Buff errors in the bottom of the ninth to get an 8-7 win.

The series was the �irst Lone Star Conference series the Buffs have dropped all season. Their record stands at 27-15 overall and 14-10 in the LSC. The last series against Eastern New Mexico will be on April 27 at 7 p.m.

WT’s Women soccer team Men’s soccer defeats prepares for next season West Texas Sockers 2-1

T

he women’s soccer team returned to the Pitch on April 19 for an impromptu preseason game against the Amarillo Lightning. The team has spent the last month traveling and preparing for next season, when they will make another run for the playoffs.

T

Kelsey Wright handles the ball midfield.

he men’s soccer team played their last home game of the preseason on April 22 at The Pitch. The Buffaloes took on the West Texas Sockers, a professional developmental league team, from Midland during the afternoon match and scored two goals in the second half to defeat the Sockers 2-1.

Five WT players block the WT net in the second half.

Becky Peth and another player turn to chase down the ball.

PHOTOS BY MELISSA BAUERHERZOG.

Yvette Bedoy stops the ball by the goal.

Rodrigo Morin prepares for his next move while surrounded by opponents.

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CAMPUS LIFE

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Amarillo-based group performs after WT softball game D F ANIELA

IERRO

STAFF WRITER

A

J Swope and the Last Train Home performed 14 songs after the Lady Buffs’ softball game on April 17.

The four-piece Americana group was sponsored by Blu Energy to perform.

Alumni student AJ Swope said he likes to write lyrics that are like history, much like their song that is also named after their debut album, Hotel St. James.

“Hotel St. James is supposed to be one of the most haunted hotels in New Mexico,” Swope said. “There just stories I like to come up with and I put them into music.”

Swope said around 90 to 95 percent of the songs performed were self-composed.

“We’ve got a little bit over 20 original

songs,” said Swope. “But we also put in a couple of music covers in there so the audience can recognize.”

The band was formed three years ago with friends and some eventually moved on, said Swope.

“Jordan McClain, who plays the drums, and I played during high school,” he said. “Ben, who plays lead guitar, soon came and then Steven joined and he plays bass.”

Swope said this is the best line-up for the band that they’ve ever had.

“It’s an incredible feeling knowing that all the work you have put in is now out there,” Swope said. “I’m proud of the guys, am thankful for the people who dig our music because it takes time, money and work.”

Bass player of the band and WT Music major Steven Ronk said he describes the music to be Americana.

“It’s like Texas country, little bit of was great.” blues, alternative rock,” Ronk said. “A After becoming good friends with little bit of everything- Americana.”

Swope, Seals was present when the band Ronk said he has been part of the did their recording. band for three months and was part of “It’s the �irst time [the band has] recording one track, Hotel St. James. come to WT,” said Seals. “But AJ is an “We practice around 25 to 30 hours a alumni and he likes to come and hopeweek,” Ronk said. “Five hours a day.” fully we make this a yearly event.”

Ronk said it’s his �irst actual recording he’s been a part of and feels it’s a great experience.

“I haven’t been a huge part of the recording of the album,” said Ronk. “It feels great to do this though.”

Sports and Exercise Science major Brent Seals said he’s known the band since his friend Johnny used to play bass for the band.

“I had talked to the head coach PHOTO BY DANIELA FIERRO about bringing the band and sent him (L to R) Lead guitar player Ben Cargo, drummer a few of their songs,” said Seals. “Then Jordan McClain, bass player Steven Ronk and AJ Swope performing in the Lady Buffs Sports Yard. we got Blu Energy to sponsor which

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Prairie

ENTERTAINMENT Last week’s answers

where’s your bin?

Look for the winning card in your copy of The Prairie on April 24 and receive a $10 iTunes gift card.

April 24, 2012

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ENTERTAINMENT

April 24, 2012

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Top pop, country singles and albums as of April 23 Top 10 Albums

Top 10 Pop Singles

Top 10 Hot Country Singles

1. Nicki Minaj new entry “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded”

1. fun feat. Janelle Monae No. 1 “We Are Young”

1. Lee Brice No. 2 “A Woman Like You”

2. Adele No. 3 “21”

2. Gotye feat. Kimbra No. 3 “Somebody That I Used To Know”

3. Jake Owen No. 1 “Alone With You”

3. Rascal Flatts new entry “Changed” 4. Lionel Richie No. 2 “Tuskegee”

5. One Direction No. 6 “Up All Night”

6. Of Monsters and Men new entry “My Head Is an Animal” 7. Soundtrack No. 5 “The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 and Beyond” 8. Madonna No. 1 “MDNA”

9. Marvin Sapp new entry “I Win” 10. Shinedown No. 4 “Amaryllis”

3. The Wanted No. 4 “Glad You Came”

4. One Direction No. 9 “What Makes You Beautiful” 5. Justin Bieber No. 2 “Boyfriend” 6. Nicki Minaj No. 6 “Starships”

7. Flo Rida feat. Sia No. 7 “Wild Ones”

8. Kelly Clarkson No. 5 “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” 9. Katy Perry No. 8 “Part of Me”

10. Carly Rae Jepsen No. 10 “Call Me Maybe”

2. Blade Shelton No. 3 “Drink On It”

4. Lady Antebellum No. 4 “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” 5. Miranda Lambert No. 7 “Over You” 6. Rascal Flatts No. 6 “Banjo”

7. Jason Aldean No. 9 “Fly Over States”

8. Carrie Underwood No. 10 “Good Girl” 9. Taylor Swift No. 5 “Ours”

10. Tim McGraw No. 11 “Better Than I Used to Be”

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

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CAMPUS LIFE Prairie Honors Banquet will honor outstanding students President O’Brien will give out Silver Buffalo Award 9

ASHLEY HENDRICK STAFF WRITER

W

TAMU’s 33rd annual University Honors Banquet will take place in the Alumni Banquet Hall April 27 at 7 p.m.

The banquet will recognize outstanding students and organizations that have exhibited leadership and dedication throughout the year at WT. “To get this kind of recognition is really important,” Dr. Don Albrecht, vice president of Student Affairs and chairman of the honors committee, said.

“We give the biggest awards a student can get.”

These awards range from various scholarships to

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outstanding organization, outstanding president of an organization and outstanding advisor.

“It is the only university honors banquet to honor students and it varies,” Engineering major and President of the Leadership Board Valeria Swope said.

“Students within organizations on campus like sororities and fraternities and the service organizations, just all the different organizations that we have on campus [participate in the banquet].”

Director of Student Activities Skip Chisum said since other departments on campus – such as the Athletic department – have their own

awards banquets, this one will recognize the works of students and organizations that don’t fall under a particular college or department.

“We really try to pick up students and awards and scholarships that may not fall in any other category,“ Chisum said. “The banquet is a vehicle to show the rest of the campus community, ‘this is what we do’ and other people don’t always get to see.”

Some of the University’s highest awards will be given out at the banquet, including Man and Woman of the Year, which honors one male and one female student out of the entire WT student body for their accomplishments.

University SING comes back to WT after absent for three years DANIELA FIERRO STAFF WRITER

S

ince 1992, WTAMU has held singing and dancing competitions until they were halted three years ago.

Sponsored by CORE, SING will return on April 25 for a $1 admission fee and the judged performance will be April 26 for $3 at 8 p.m. in the Mary Moody Northen Hall.

“University SING is the name of the competition,” CORE consultant Nicole Moore said. “It hasn’t been done in the last three years so the CORE of�ice decided to bring it back.”

The organizations participating this year are Tau Beta Sigma, Kappa Kappa Psi, Chi Omega, Alpha Tau Omega, Delta Zeta and Phi Delta Theta.

“SING is going to be awesome,” Nicole Moore said.

“The night will be so much fun and it’s a past-time of WT so I encourage every student, faculty and staff to come.”

CORE consultant Brianna Moore said each organization chooses its own music genre and creates its own playlist. “[The organizations] choose their own genre they want because it is free-for-all this year,” she said. “They have a deadline to turn in to us to

listen and approve.”

The competition is between their peers and friends, Brianna Moore said.

“It will be cool to see what they have been working on,” she said. “And since the theme is open, they can do anything.”

Brianna Moore said organizations can use costumes if they wish and that it can de�initely aid their chances of winning.

Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at the JBK information desk and the night of the event at the door. Any questions call the CORE of�ice at 651-2313 or Nicole Moore at 806-216-0395.

“It’s really based on their entire career at WT and all the wonderful things they’ve done,” Albrecht said. “They’re strong academically, they’re strong campus leaders and they’re strong volunteers.”

WT President Patrick O’Brien will also give out his own Silver Buffalo Award which, in the past, has been received by individual students and entire organizations.

“We don’t know what he chooses to give,” Albrecht said.

“It’s whatever he decides he wants to do. If he wants to recognize a team or a person, and he’s done both, those will

be awarded as well.”

The theme for this year’s banquet, according to Swope, is Derby.

“We want all the women to wear their nice fancy hats and the men to be nicely dressed and everything,” she said.

Over 200 guests are expected at the banquet this year, but it is open to any guest who wishes to attend. Tickets are $15 and includes both dinner and banquet activities for the evening. Tickets are available through April 25 and can be obtained at the Student Information Center in the JBK.

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CAMPUS LIFE Prairie Students receive scholarships at Memorial Service 10

April 24, 2012

www.theprairienews.com

JESSICA CHANDOS STAFF WRITER

Haley Smith with the mother and father of Jeffery Weiss (June 6, 1986 – March 10, 2012).

The recipients of the scholarships from left to right: Elizabeth Newall (sophomore Plant, Soil and Environmental Science major) in memory of Drissa Diarra; Caitlyn Parks (sophomore Sports and Exercise Science major) in memory of Chase Schulte; Mary Trimble (sophomore Business Administration major) in memory of Clayton Topliff; Angelica Pallares (senior Accounting major) in memory of Mary Gonzalez and Hayley Smith (junior Psychology major) in memory of Jeffery Weiss.

Friends and family of the scholarship recipients and donors ďŹ le in before the ceremony begins.

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Prairie

CAMPUS LIFE

April 24, 2012

www.theprairienews.com

Newspapers search for a new ad business model MARIA MOLINA EDITOR

T

he newspaper industry has struggled to �ind a business model to balance online and print revenue.

A 2012 study by the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism shows newspaper’s digital gains in advertising revenue don’t make up for print loses.

According to the research, “for every $1 gained in digital, $7 are lost in print revenue.”

Executives involved in the study “con�irmed that closing the revenue gap remains an uphill and existential struggle.”

Overall, the digital revenue grew 19 percent on average. However, the print ad sales, which accounts for 92 percent of the overall ad revenue of the papers studied, fell by an average of 9 percent.

Allison Nottingham, digital sales operation manager for the Dallas Morning News, said print is still larger and brings more revenue to her paper, but digital is starting to catch.

“Print paper is never fully going to get away,” she said. “Print is valuable, but shrinking.”

Kim Bruce, instructor at the Department of Communication in WTAMU, said the shift from traditional print left the industry unprepared, but online advertising can be effective.

“With online advertising you can actually know how many people view it, how many people clicked it… you can actually know all of these numbers,” she said. “That, for newspapers, is a huge bonus in actually selling.”

In order to catch up to the online era the newspaper industry needs to stay relevant, said Bruce.

“The primary thing they need is to be missioned minded in the news [and provide] objective, well-researched news,” she said.

The news industry is now more than

15 years in the transition to digital.

According to the research, one issue the industry is facing is whether it can grow different kinds of digital revenue.

“Newspapers have focused on trying to sell advertising online that is similar to what they sold in print. That advertising was largely built around printed display ads and classi�ied.”

Nottingham said social media “is the big thing” and the key is not to only advertise in the website. “[The main technique] is constantly adding products,” she said. “ Launch an app, partner with other digital vendors for Facebook marketing, for example.”

Another platform that is growing is mobile advertising which Bruce said will grow more in the future.

“There are so many opportunities because when you think of mobile you think of the text-type advertisement, the platform where you are on an app, you have a banner ad or a bumper add,” she said.

However, the research shows mobile is currently a small part of the newspaper revenue. “In late 2011, on average, mobile accounted for only .9% [sic.] of the digital revenue stream of the papers that provided us with data-less than even video and targeted advertising. This is still a nine-fold increase from a negligible .1%[sic.] a year earlier at these papers.”

Analysts have suggested the newspaper industry must �ind additional revenue streams beyond advertising. About half of the papers that provided proprietary data in the research said they were trying to use non-traditional methods of revenue.

According to the research, the most common of these methods involved “digital agency,” a concept where newspaper companies act as “online marketers and consultant for local businesses---helping them with everything from search engine optimization to building websites to utilizing social media platforms.”

Bruce said newspapers that use the digital agency method need to be careful of maintaining a clear distinction between news and advertising.

“Really a digital agency is a PR job,” she said. “ There has always been a clear distinction between news and advertising. Those people that are acting in the digital agency capacity are still on the sales side and that would just have to be distinct because of other ways that could sway what a newspaper covered.”

Nearly all the executives of the researched newspapers agreed that in order to transition to digital revenue their advertising sales staff needs to

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change.

According to the study, “one of the broadest �indings in this research, indeed, is the degree to which all of the executives talked about the need to re-train and re-tool sales staffs that had been trained to sell print advertising.”

For the most part, these companies also said the industry wants to handle the transition internally without the help of outside companies. Eighty-four percent said there is a formal digital ad sales training program in their staff and 92 percent said their priority is to hire people with digital ad training or experience.

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Prairie Students shack up to raise money and awareness 12

JACOB CAIN

STAFF WRITER

T

he WT Alliance hosted Shack-A-Thon/ Give-A-Goat on April 18 to raise money and awarness about poverty in Africa.

This time, the money raised was sent to buy goats in the

April 24, 2012

www.theprairienews.com

Turkana region of Kenya where “it hasn’t rained for �ive years, and the people have to take a 24-hour trip to get water, and that water has typhoid,” Milton Jones, president of the Christian Relief Fund, said.

Over the past years, the events have raised a total of over $62,787 to buy 867 goats for Africans in need.

“[The event] was a great success,” Kent Mereness, director of the Church of Christ Bible Chair, said. “It amazes me how the sel�less actions of WT students are impacting people for good on the other side of the globe.”

Jones said he thinks Shack-AThon is a unique event. “I don’t know any university that does

anything quite like it,” he said.

“The campus ministries unite to help people.”

Dr. James Hallmark, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs for the Texas A&M University System said he feels that Shack-A-Thon draws students together for a good cause.

“It really is rewarding to know that students can have

a lot of fun and show their creativity…it really is a great thing,” he said.

Twenty-nine different shacks were built with designs ranging from pirate ships to a redneck theme. Shacks were judged and awards were presented at the end of the event.

PHOTO BY JACOB CAIN Participants gather together for a group picture.

PHOTO BY JACOB CAIN Junior Scott Cooper hiding in the “THUGloo”

PHOTO BY JACOB CAIN JD Thompson works on his shack.

PHOTO BY ALEX MONTOYA Kaleb McLean counts up the goats given in the past years.

PHOTO BY ALEX MONTOYA Sophomore Shelby Laney adds fine detail to her shack.

PHOTO BY ALEX MONTOYA Sophomore Dallas Peoples works on signage.