The Prairie Issue XXII

Volume 93

the Prairie

Issue XXII

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Quidditch will make a magical debut on April 8

RHA hosts ‘muggle’ Quidditch on WTAMU campus KRYSTINA MARTINEZ Copy Editor

T

hanks to the Resident Hall Association, the fictional game of Quidditch will make its WTAMU debut on April 8. Fans of the Harry Potter franchise will be familiar with the game, a popular sport in the books and movies.

“During one of our RHA meetings, we were asking for new ideas for events from our members,” Nicole Moore, RHA National Communications Coordinator, said. “One member suggested Quidditch,so we started to research and found out that there is actually an International Quidditch Association.”

The International Quidditch Association involves over 400

American colleges, 300 high schools, and groups from 12 countries who actively play the game on their campuses. Texas Tech University even has their own intramural team.

Since flying brooms do not exist, the Association plays a version of the game called “ground” or “muggle” Quidditch.

“You must hold a broom between your legs at all times during the game,” said Moore. “[Otherwise], the game is quite the same as the movie.”

Teams will consist of 7-10 people who must supply their own brooms, which

have to be at least 40 inches in length. Similar to the books and movies, teams are encouraged to dress up and provide team flags for supporters to wave in the name of team spirit. Not only will the tournament winner receive a trophy, but the best dressed team will be awarded as well.

“It will be awesome, and Harry Potter

Picture courtesy of jeorgie-books. blogspot.com

may make an appearance,” Charles Potter, a freshman Computer Science major, said.

“I used to be a huge fan of Harry Potter,” Natalia Rodriguez, a sophomore Wildlife Biology major, said.

“Although I’m not anymore, I’m fascinated by the WT Quidditch tournament. I bet it will be fun.”

The free tournament begins at 2:00pm on April 8 in the intramural fields. Teams can sign up in the JBK on April 5-8 or call the RHA office.

A ‘Day Without Shoes’ to raise awareness DAVID MERAZ Staff Writer

F

Blake Mycoskie donates shoes to children in need.

Courtesy of thegreenloopblog.com

or most people, shoes are a crucial part of their daily lives. However, in many countries around the world, children only dream about owning their first pair of shoes.

These children have never owned shoes and have been exposed to many diseases as a result.

In 2006, Blake Mycoskie founded TOMS Shoes and started a mission that would help children around the world who do not have shoes. The One for One Movement promises that, with every pair of TOMS purchased, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need.

“One Day Without Shoes” is a day to spark

awareness about the millions of children that have no shoes around the world.

“One Day without Shoes” is national so anyone can go without shoes this year on April 5,” Tim Vela, student body president, said. “The purpose is to raise awareness among college students of those in the world who do not have shoes.”

Last year, Student Government helped spread word about the event across campus through several unique endeavors. Brandy Roberts, current Student Body PresidentElect, was an integral part of this process, ordering shoes for students and then hosting the inaugural Style Your Sole Party, where students purchased TOMS Shoes and then decorated them together on WT campus.

TOMS continued on p. 3

2

the Prairie

FFA students, members gather to compete

Invitational helps prepare for state competition

RYAN SCHAAP Staff Writer

O

n April 1, more than 2,600 FFA (Future Farmers of America) students came to WTAMU to compete in the WTAMU Career Development Events. This invitational was an opportunity for the students to prepare for state competition.

The events were designed to test students/FFA members’ technical leadership, interpersonal and teamwork skills, and their knowledge of the subjects at hand.

To participate, students had to be FFA members and be enrolled in an Agricultural Science class.

These events are designed to help the students prepare for a career in agriculture by testing them in the following events: Livestock, Dairy Cattle, Meats, Horse, Dairy Foods, Land, Range and Pasture, Agronomy, Range/Pasture Plant ID, Entomology, Farm Business Management, Wool, Poultry, Cotton, and Ag mechanics.

Senior Agriculture Education major Jodi Gillespie checked teams

in and informed students how to fill out their Scantron.

“It’s a privilege to do this for class,” Gillespie said. “Getting to be around the kids and the Ag teachers is very worthwhile.”

Gillespie made sure to answer any questions the students had.

Senior Bailey Bryan from Stanton High competed in the cotton event.

“I love FFA,” Bryan said, “I grew up on the outskirts of the country working with rabbits, pigs and chickens.” Bryan said that getting to know and hanging out afterwards with her fellow students was fun.

Weston Born, teacher at Gruver High School, brought 12 of his students.

“The benefits for career development gives students the opportunity to think on their feet in a team commitment,” Born said Alfredo Rodriguez of Sunray High School brought 13 of his students to this competition. “Out of 13 years of teaching agriculture, it’s always good to see students succeed. WT has always provided quality contests.”

FFA students waiting to compete at invitational.

Ryan Schaap

The Prairie Editorial Staff 2010-2011 Editor- Maria Molina Assistant Editor- Katelyn Garrity Managing Editor- Randi Hudson Copy Editors- Krystina Martinez & Eva Harder Web Editor - Georgia Romig Faculty Adviser- Butler Cain 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 reflect 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 reflect the board’s views. Advertising rates are available upon request at (806) 651- 2410 or at theprairiemail@yahoo.com. WTAMU Box 60754, Canyon, Texas 79016. The Prairie has a circulation of 1,500 and is printed by the Amarillo Globe-News.

3

the Prairie TOMS continued from p. 1 “This year we are painting feet in the JBK, (Jack B. Kelley Student Center),” Roberts said.

“We are also hosting Style Your Sole along with Spring Fling, where we will be doing the same as last year.”

Students and teachers are expected to show up to class without shoes. However, students must wear shoes when they enter into the Dining Hall or CAF due to health code reasons.

“I am going to be barefoot on Tuesday,” Roberts said. “I believe the day with no shoes is a great attention grabber for a fantastic cause.”

Another event. part of the “21 Days of Change”, is Buff Soles which inspires students to help at a local level.

Dr. Buddy Young, director of the Baptist Student Ministry and committee member of the event, said that Buffs Soles is geared towards collecting new or gently-used shoes that will be

donated to those in need.

“The purpose is to collect the shoes so that we can give them to Mission Amarillo so that they can take them and distribute them through the counselors and through individuals to kids who need shoes in Canyon and Amarillo,” Young said.

All this week, students can participate in the event by dropping off their donated shoes in the JBK. Students and anyone interested can also pre-order a pair of TOMS Shoes in the JBK Informational desk and decorate them on April 16 at the Style Your Sole event.

Janey’s at 2500 from Amarillo will be selling TOMs at the event, just in case students want to be a part of the decorating experience but do not already own a pair.

KWTS News Director Colton Harada also contributed to this report.

GRADUATION MESSAGES CUPON Bring this cupon and receive a $2 graduation message. Messages cost $3 without cupon. The Prairie reserves the right to review and not publish content if it is deemed inappropriate.

Readership WT share Cambodian experience 12 freshmen go on novel journey to foreign country Ryan Schaap Staff Writer

A

group of WTAMU students visited the Southeast Asian country of Cambodia as part of the freshman Readship WT experience.

12 freshman students won an allexpense paid trip to Cambodia through an essay contest discussing The Road to Lost Innocence, the Readership book for 2010. Over 300 students submitted an essay of which 12 students were chosen.

“The trip was life-changing and it opened my eyes to ignorant issues in

the world, such as educational learning,” Samantha Pearson, a freshman Special Education major, said. Pearson met some children on the river who “were shy at �irst but once they opened up they had a lot to talk about.”

Freshman Broadcasting major Sabrina Meck said Cambodia had a different infrastructure.

“There was no trash management and the streets were very dirty,” Meck said.

“Children wore ratty clothes and wore them everyday.”

Due to the Khmer Rouge, a dictatorial regime that killed nearly two million

Cambodians in the 1970s, the average age of the Cambodian people is very young.

“I saw a lot of children running around playing,” Meck said. “I also saw a group of young boys doing Taekwondo. If the kids were not in school, they were in the streets.”

Even though these people lived in poverty, they treated their guests with the upmost hospitality, sleeping on a wooden bench under an elevated house.

“The people were very loving,” Pearson said. “They gave us their rooms that didn’t have any air conditioning and

no light. We had a small mattress to sleep on and a mosquito net to keep away the bugs.”

This trip was a moving experience for the students. Each of them returned to WT with a different story to tell.

Meck said that her favorite experience on the trip was when the Readership group visited a rural area where they waited for a bus to pick them up.

However, the bus didn’t arrive on time, so the students had time to visit with children who were swimming in the river.

“Instead of trying to change people,

the Prairie

4

Sports

Buffs declaw Tigers Lady Buffs compete at LSC Crossover

EVAN GRICE Staff Writer

A

fter a frustrating series against Kingsville last time out in conference play, the WTAMU baseball team was looking to rebound against East Central. The two teams played a crucial three game series at Wilder Park on April 1-2 in Canyon.

In the series opener, the Buffs got off to a hot start by scoring four runs in the first inning on four base hits. Junior Jess Cooper had the highlight of the inning with a based loaded double to left field.

ECU got one back in the top of the third inning to make the score 4-1. Cooper tallied another RBI in the bottom half of the inning as he scored fellow junior Kendall Boone to make the score 5-1 in favor of the Buffs.

Boone scored senior Tyler Reagan on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it 6-1. Junior Jordan Easom increased the lead to 8-1 with a two-run double to left field. Easom finished off his day with a solo homerun to left center in the bottom of the seventh inning.

ECU tried to make a game out of it but were only able to muster two runs and they eventually fell 9-3 to WT. The Buffs offense was led by Cooper who went 3-for-4 with four RBI on the day. Jordan Easom drove in three RBI while Boone and senior Garrett Campfield each drove in one RBI. Junior Justin Kuks got the victory pitching for the Buffs (6-1) going 6.0 innings while giving up three runs on three hits with four strikeouts.

WT kept their momentum going in the second game of the series. After leading 9-5 after three innings of play, the Buffs scored five more runs to take the 14-6 run-rule victory.

Senior Will Miller paced the offense for the maroon and white going 4-for-4 with four RBI and three runs scored. Miller also hit a two run homer in the bottom of the third inning.

Junior Irving Camacho got the victory on the mound for the Buffs (6-3) giving up six runs on five hits with three strikeouts in 3.0 innings of work.

ECU fell victim to the series sweep in game three as the Buffs offense continued to explode in the series.

WT finished off proceedings with a 15-5 victory.

Miller once again was the catalyst for the Buffs offense going 4-for-4 with four RBI. Just like in game two, Miller hit a homerun; this time it was a three run homer to right field.

Senior Jonathan Paez got the victory (3-0) pitching going 5.0 innings giving up five runs on nine hits with four strikeouts.

WT’s overall record now stands at 24-10 with a 13-8 mark in LSC play. The Buffs will be looking for revenge as they travel to Plainview to take on Wayland Baptist on April 5. First pitch from Pioneer Field is set for noon.

Team defeats UCO, fall to Cameron and MSU EVAN GRICE Staff Writer

E

very year the Lone Star Conference puts together a crossover tournament to pit the North division against the South division in a weekend of competitive softball. The 2011 edition promised to be one of the best ever with multiple ranked teams such as #2 ranked Angelo State and the #18 WTAMU Lady Buffs. WT took part in the event on April 1-3 on the campus of Angelo State in San Angelo, TX. Central Oklahoma provided the �irst opposition for the Lady Buffs. Junior Meghan Brown laid down a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the fourth inning which allowed fellow junior Kimberly LeComte to make the score 1-0 WT. RBI singles by junior Kristina Myles and freshman Alyssa Lemos in the bottom of the

By Chris Richcreek

sixth inning increased the lead to 3-0. UCO struck back in the top of the seventh to tie the game at 3-3. Myles knocked in senior Kaitlyn Witte on an RBI single for the game winning run to give the Lady Buffs a 4-3 victory.

Junior Shelbey Cockrell got the victory on the mound for WT (14-5) giving up no runs on no hits in 0.1 innings of work.

Luck was not on the side of the Lady Buffs in their second game of the tournament against Cameron. WT took the lead late in the bottom of the sixth on a �ielding error which scored LeComte. Cameron however, had other ideas as they scored two runs in the top of the seventh to snatch the 2-1 victory.

Cockrell was tagged with the loss in the contest (14-6) giving up two runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts in the complete game effort.

Game three featured the #3 ranked Midwestern State Lady

Mustangs and ace Brittany Tanner. The game more than lived up to the hype as WT starter junior Marci Womack went pitch for pitch against the MSU standout. Unfortunately, it was the Lady Mustangs who ultimately found the breakthrough and plated two runs to claim the 2-0 victory.

Womack was credited with the loss (12-4) giving up two runs on six hits with two strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work.

Tanner gave up no runs on two hits with 11 strikeouts in the complete game effort.

WT’s overall record now stands at 26-10 overall. The Lady Buffs were scheduled to �inish the tournament with games against Southeastern Oklahoma and East Central.

WT will stay on the road for an LSC south division series against Texas A&M Kingsville which will take place on April 8-9. First pitch from Kingsville is set for 5 p.m.

SPORTS QUIZ

1. Who holds the record for the longest Division I college baseball hitting streak?

2. In 2010, Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay tossed the eighth perfect game in N.L. history. Name the pitchers for the 6th and 7th ones.

3. When was the last time before the 2009 NFL season (Indianapolis, New Orleans) that the top playoff seed in each conference made the Super Bowl?

4. Who was the last Kansas State men’s basketball player before Denis Clemente to have at least 1,000 points in a two-year career?

5. Name the last American taken in the top �ive picks of an NHL Draft.

6. How many races did Kyle Busch win in the three main NASCAR series in 2010?

7. When was the �irst time no American male tennis players were in the ATP’s top-10 ranking?

Answers 1. Oklahoma State’s Robin Ventura hit in 58 consecutive games in 1987.

2. Montreal’s Dennis Martinez (1991) and Arizona’s Randy Johnson (2004).

3. It was the 1993 season (Buffalo and Dallas).

4. Mitch Richmond (1986-88).

5. Zach Bogosian was the third overall pick by Atlanta in 2008.

6. He won 24 races (three in Sprint Cup, 13 in the Nationwide Series and eight in the Camping World Truck Series).

7. It was August 2010.

(c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

5

the Prairie

Man-made mice sperm could cure infertile men

Wo m e n m a y a l s o b e n e f i t f ro m re s e a rc h GEORGIA ROMIG Web Editor

A

team of Japanese scientists have managed to extract a sample of sperm from mice.

It is one of the most complex substances produced in the body and one that has puzzled researchers for years. It will be able, scientists hope, to provide hope for infertile men.

Sperm has been created before, CNN notes, but until now no man-made sperm had yet to produce results.

Or baby mice in this case.

Perhaps �ittingly, like making babies, making sperm takes time too.

In most mammals it is a

process that lasts a month or more.

Scientists told James Gallagher of the BBC that rather than working with individual cells as in previous studies, they studied sperm fragments.

“It’s one step in �inding therapeutic help for infertility. Lots of avenues are being explored,” Dr. Rocky Ward, assistant professor of Biology at WTAMU, said “Maybe this is ultimately the answer, maybe not. We’ll see.”

But the researchers, working at Yokohama City University Graduate School, found out more than the fertility levels of the team’s work, according to their report in Nature.

They also found that the

fertile sperm could be frozen and saved for later use.

This could be great news for former cancer patients, whose fertility is often compromised by chemotherapy and radiation. These patients, according to the Telegraph, cannot currently preserve their sperm before the disease robs them of their reproductive abilities.

The samples stayed frozen for months, the report said.

This study may help is women. However, producing fertile eggs for females (both mice and human) is much more dif�icult.

“I think it is very possible that they will try to replicate their results with female eggs,” junior Wildlife Biology major Samantha Tessneer

said. “Although I can imagine it will be much more dif�icult because of the complex reproductive system in females.”

The study could have an impact on the study of mice as well as the study of humans.

If future tests are successful, it will be a challenge to make sure the research remains ethical.

“All research must be ethical. Human research must reach a higher standard. Research that involves manipulations that can produce changes to genomes is especially worrying,” Ward said. “That doesn’t mean the work shouldn’t be done, but it should be done right, with overview by other biologists

and bioethicists.”

Scientists have warned that this is just one study and it will need to be tested and replicated.

Whether or not scientists will be able to create working sperm for humans remains to be seen.

So far, none of the experiments have worked on humans.

“That’s usually a very long time. Human research must always be carefully considered and painstakingly conducted,” said Ward. ”Investigations into human therapies can take many years.

Manipulations that involve germ lines, such as this work, are especially problematical.”

Nursing Department holds free health fair

Students educate community about health FRANKIE SANCHEZ Staff Writer

FRANKIE SANCHEZ WT students attend the health fair.

O

n March 29, the Nursing Department held a free health fair for students and faculty as a major project for the community.

The health fair included a variety of tests such as blood sugar and blood pressure.

“Our goal is to educate individuals and the community about their health,” senior

Nursing major Mateo Camps said. “Several of the conditions we are testing for today are preventable with diet and exercise, so that’s what we are trying to get across.”

After each of the three tests, the nursing students had pamphlets that listed how the individuals’ test results compared to what professionals consider as acceptable.

These informational pamphlets also listed information about the topics, local resources to contact for more information and how to correct or prevent problems with the individual’s health.

“I wanted to participate in the free health fair because I’ve made a lot of healthy choices in my life in the past two years and I wanted to make sure I was still on track.” Senior English major

Erin Zeigler said.

More information about the free health fair and testing is available by calling WTAMU Heath Services at 806-355-5721.

FRANKIE SANCHEZ Erin Zeigler gets a free health check.

Thank & Support the Advertisers Who Make Your WTAMU Directory Possible

wtamudirectory.com

6

the Prairie

Entertainment

Art Critic: A reunion in Never Land BRITTANY BUSCH Guest Writer

D

uring the February First-Friday Art Walk at the Sunset Center, I came across a painting by an unnamed artist. Though I did not know who had made the work, I knew exactly what the work depicted. It was gripping.

At first, it seemed merely to be a distorted portrait of Michael Jackson. After observing it for a minute or so, I found that the visible distortion of the portrait was caused by the overlapping of another image: Peter Pan. Only later did I discover that the painting, (Michael) Pan, was the work of local artist Jon Revett.

Immediately when I saw Revett’s painting, I grasped a deep understanding of its significance because I knew necessary information about Michael Jackson.

One of the most basic facts about the King of Pop is that his whimsical home is named “Neverland Ranch” after the fantasy island of Peter Pan. Psychologists have also claimed that Jackson’s intentions behind his infamous cosmetic surgeries might be linked to his absent childhood, as he began his music career with the Jackson 5 while he was still a young child. Jackson’s surgically upturned nose and pasty white skin are surprisingly similar to Disney’s interpretation of Peter Pan, a boy who never grows up.

This is the content that originally caught my eye.

I then gave my attention to the formal principles of design Revett used to convey this story with gripping seriousness rather than mockery.

Overall, the artist’s employment of design principles succeeds in unifying the composition.

The use of line in this piece works on many different levels. The lines break up the space to distort Jackson’s face into an almost cubistic style.

This, in turn, creates various shapes throughout

also mesmerizing manner.

While Peter Pan’s bright orange hair leaps to the forefront of the viewer’s sight, Jackson’s bright red lips follow right behind.

This dual push and pull for attention from the viewer, which might normally be seen as unintentional or negative, works well in this particular piece because

Courtesy photo

the canvas, producing a jigsaw-puzzle quality. At a quick glance, I saw the Michael Jackson face with no mistake. However, when I viewed it with more intent, this frontally oriented face becomes increasingly harder to find, as it dissolves into the Peter Pan face painted in a three-quarter view. For me, it took twice as long to discover the cartoon figure interacting with that of the Pop music icon. These overlapping portraits fight against one another in a somewhat distracting but

that tension encompasses the meaning and message.

Another formal tension arises between the realistic image of the human face of Jackson and the cartoonish hand-drawn head of Peter Pan. While Peter’s rendering is more linear and flat, Jackson’s face is painted in a more tonal and three-dimensional portrait style. The artist did, however, cleverly unify this dichotomy by painting with an overall texture that connects the two iconic images.

The color of this work

is vivid, using deep reds, vibrant yellows, and a stark black. Striking highlights also give the piece dramatic contrast; against the bold black marks, the pale skin tones jump out at the viewer, while the red lips seem to glisten with their white sheen. This broad scale of tonal values, along with the physical scale of the work itself, seems to scream out at the viewer.

The way the paint was applied is intentionally messy and expressive. The almost angry sweeping motion of the brush strokes, combined with the bruises of shadows that dance across the canvas, powerfully contradict both the serene expression on Jackson’s face and Peter Pan’s innocent grin. The applied paint intentionally lacks smooth transition or blending. This gives the work a texture so animated and loud that I had the urge to run my palm across it. Michael Jackson’s artificially enhanced porcelain skin is now rugged and tough, as if the artist wanted to reveal the surgical scarring on Jackson’s face.

Revett’s painting presents a collection of contradictions, yet its formal choices work together to merge this complex content into a coherent whole. The

audience’s natural reaction is going to be an emotional one, an element that the artist utilizes to his advantage. Especially in light of the recent tragedy of Michael Jackson’s death, the loud and vibrant colors flowing so gracefully across the canvas, juxtaposed with the rough texture and almost violent brushstrokes, communicate a bittersweet surprise. It is both hard to look at and hard to look away from.

This painting exhibits a deep understanding of the principles of design in its composition. Revett employs line, shape, color, and texture to reach out to and engage his audience.

His content is challenging and unconventional, but also rewarding for the viewer. This oversized portrait of the King of Pop and his eternally youthful counterpart is surely not one to miss.

Brittany Busch is a Studio Art Major studying both painting and sculpture at WT. Jon Revett is a WT graduate (BFA, 2002 and MFA, 2009) and is now an Instructor of Art History and Studio Art here at WT. He maintains a studio at Sunset Center Art Galleries in Amarillo. His painting currently resides in his studio.

the Prairie

7

Entertainment Winner

Congratulations Shaun Leutwyler for winning the last iTunes gift card. Shaun’s picture will be available in the next edition of The Prairie.

the Prairie

8

Buffalo Bookstore, home for the generations of WT tales KATELYN GARRITY Assistant Editor

FRANKIE SANCHEZ Sharon Stevens and Joe Don, owners of the Buffalo Bookstore.

T

wo West Texas State students mingle among the books in the Buffalo Bookstore in the late 1950s.

One, a pretty girl, heads to the soda fountain at the back of the store. The smell of coca-cola syrup and the sound of �izz bubble up from the top of her soda. A boy comes to her side to buy his own coke.

A conversation is struck up and eventually, not that day, but later on, the boy asks the girl to marry him.

Fast forward 60 years to 2010 and the same boy and girl are in the Buffalo Bookstore. This time the smell of musty books, coffee and peppermints aren’t the only things to meet them, so does Sharon Stevens, one of the owner of the store.

“The alumni that come in that door are looking

for people,” Sharon said. “They want to share their stories. That couple was from the 50 graduating class at WT. They came back for the centennial.”

The Buffalo Bookstore doesn’t have a soda fountain any more. It’s been through some changes over the years. It’s been through four owners in over 60 years. Joe Don and Sharon Stevens have owned the Buffalo Bookstore for four years and they’ve already made an impression on WT students.

“The owners are some of the nicest people you will ever meet,” Leah Moore, WT freshman, said.

“They care about each and every customer and treat them like family. They both are sources of incredible knowledge for pretty much everything.”

Joe Don and Sharon have set aside a section of the store to exhibit the works of local authors.

Sharon walks down the row pointing to a book and explaining who everyone is, what great things they’ve done and their tie to Canyon. She knows who they are and where their mother, although she’s passed on, used to live. As much as these men and women are authors, Sharon is a story-keeper and a storyteller. She rolls through a list of amazing stories �illed with WT and Canyon history. Joe Don says Canyon means a lot to him and Sharon.

“I guess we’re just proud of the community and the panhandle and we try to pass that on,” Joe Don said.

The store has had patrons from all over the world to pass that message onto. Some are visitors returning to remember the University while others are here for the �irst time.

“A man came in from England,” Sharon said. “He had served in WWII and his dad had served in WWI. He was a �lag bearer for the queen.”

Sharon has many stories. Stories of the founders of the Sigma Nu fraternity. Stories of students journeying through college. Stories of travelers in need of assistance.

“We can’t choose their memories for them,” Sharon said.

But ever visitor to the store, who will take one, leaves with a bag full of memories. In the bag they’ll �ind mementos of the musical drama Texas, copies of WT’s newspaper the Prairie, copies of Amarillo Magazine, an inspirational quote and most importantly snacks. Sharon blends up a special bag of goodies to give out to people who pass through.

The salty-sweet concoction is just one way Sharon says thank you for the new memories she makes with every new customer.

“I think the goodie bags are a very valuable and brilliant idea,” Leah said. “I believe they show that Joe and Sharon truly care about their customers.

They take time to make each bag by hand, cutting each slip of paper, assembling the bags, and then making sure each customer has at least one. Also the quotes on the paper can be rather inspiring.”

Joe Don and Sharon would never dream of calling themselves inspiring.

“We’re like anybody else,” Sharon said.

“Everybody is just glad to tell them where to go, what they’re looking for. Everybody in this community is glad to share. We’re just perfect because we’re right here.”

The Prairie attends TIPA in Fort Worth, Texas Staff brings home three awards and an officer DAVID MERAZ STAFF WRITER

The Prairie staff after competing at TIPA.

T

he WTAMU Prairie staff traveled to Fort Worth last week for the annual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association (TIPA) Conference. TIPA is the oldest collegiate press association in the United States and it has become one of the largest

and most respected collegiate groups in the country.

There are many opportunities at TIPA for students who attend. There are contests, which include magazine, radio, television, online, two divisions of yearbook, two divisions of literary magazine and four divisions of newspaper and many on-site competitions.

This year students who traveled to TIPA included Randi Hudson, Krystina Martinez, David Meraz, Maria Molina, Georgia Romig, Jes Roskens, Frankie Sanchez and Matthew Watkins, accompanied by faculty adviser Dr. Butler Cain.

These students all participated in different onsite competitions at the TIPA conference.

“I really liked how we could exchange ideas with staffers from other school publications and get tips from media professionals,” Krystina Martinez, copy editor said. “It was really insightful and I came away with a lot of ideas for the future.”

The staff returned to Canyon on Saturday, but not without winning some awards at the TIPA banquet.

The Prairie staff won awards in the categories of Page One Design, Sports Page Design

and Spanish On-Site News Reporting.

“I think that going to TIPA will help the Prairie gain experience of how it will be in the real world,” Maria Molina, Prairie editor said.

“Getting ideas from TIPA and bringing them home will help make our paper better.”

Over 500 students attended the conference. On the last day, students met to discuss the conference and to elect new TIPA of�icers for the upcoming 2011-2012 year. Molina will be the new parliamentarian for TIPA. Her job includes meeting with Photos by the other of�icers to discuss the planning of the next

conference, which will be held in Corpus Christi.

In the past, student involvement in TIPA was not big. The changes for the upcoming year include working with social media to be able to communicate with members a lot easier.

“It feels good to be able to be part of a change,” Molina

FRANKIE SANCHEZ Maria Molina (right), editor of The Prairie, was elected as TIPA parliamentarian.