The Prairie Issue 27

the Tuesday, May 1, 2012 Partly Cloudy 91°F | 54°F

Prairie THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY

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Step team hosts competition WT will change parking BRITTANY CASTILLO STAFF WRITER

T

he Texas Panhandle’s �irst step competition took place at WTAMU on April 27.

Men of E.X. Clusive and Lady E.X. Clusive, WT’s own step teams, hosted the event in Mary Moody Northen Hall at 7 p.m.

Local step teams, including the Amarillo Venom dance team, the Texas Tech step team, Greater Love Temple youth step team and Tascosa High School’s soloist, Joel Miller, participated in the contest.

Vice President of Lady E.X. Johnae Walton, a Nursing major, said hosting the show was a

chance to have fun.

“It’s one big competition. We’re actually not competing in this one because we hosted it,” Walton said. “It’s just a great time really.”

Walton is a founding member of WT’s Lady E.X. and is celebrating her second year with the close-knit group. “[The step teams] have become my family,” Walton said.

Loud cheers erupted from the audience when 16-year-old Joel Miller graced the stage. “[It took me about] 30 minutes to come up with a routine,” Miller, Tascosa step captain, said. “Four of us [from Tascosa] were supposed to open for the competition, but they bailed and I had to step up to the plate.”

Step team continued on p. 11

LISA HELLIER STAFF WRITER

W

TAMU, based on the recommendation of the parking committee and approval by Dr. Patrick O’Brien, will implement a single parking permit in the fall of 2012.

This will change zone parking to open parking, which will be available to anyone with a valid parking permit. Exceptions include visitor parking, handicap parking, �ire lane areas, loading zones and parking spots marked by signs.

According to the WT Parking

Space Utilization Report, 1,635 citations were issued to people parked in the incorrect zones during fall 2011. The report also shows that an average of 394 parking spots located in the interior of campus were not being used due to zone restrictions.

“While people would like to park interior to the campus they can’t because they have these different zones,” Vice President of Business and Finance Gary Barnes said. “We are trying to maximize the ef�iciency of the parking. “

Parking continued on p. 6

100K mountain bike ride honors wounded warriors MARIA MOLINA EDITOR

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overcome.”

Stockwell said Palo Duro Canyon is a beautiful place with well-maintained routes, an opinion shared by many of the participants at the bike ride.

“This is absolutely beautiful,” said John P. Szczepanowski, Gunnery Sergeant with the U.S. Marine Corps and a wounded warrior program coordinator. “Mathew [one of his colleges] and I are both from San Diego so we came out here and witnessed some of these Texan’s hospitality. It is just something I will never forget.”

Dan Gade, U.S. Army Major, said there were a couple of places around the route that, because of his leg amputation, are too steep. However, there were people positioned in these locations ahead of time to help him and others who needed it.

PHOTO BY ALEX MONTOYA

pril 27 marked the second day of the Warrior 100K mountain bike ride dedicated to the U.S. service men and women wounded during combat.

“There are 19 of us here and it is just a testament to all of us who have overcome these traumatic instances, overcome these obstacles, these barriers to get here,” Melissa Stockwell, a First Lieutenant of the U.S. Army and member of the Board of Directors for the Wounded Warrior Project, said. “Having President Bush here as our leader and just support riding with us and being there at the �inish line is what America is all about, and I think we are all extremely proud Americans with our injuries and with what we have Scan the QR code and like us on Facebook to receive updates!

INSIDE

Former President George W. Bush with the wounded warriors who participated in the 100K race.

100K continued on p. 3

SPORTS:

NEWS:

FEATURE:

CAMPUS LIFE:

ONLINE:

WT soccer gets ready for fall 2012 season.

Amendment to allow part-time students in Student Government fails to pass.

Page 3

Stacy Saultz wins two advertising scholarships.

Annual storytelling festival brings guest artist Barbara McBride-Smith.

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Check online for additional reporting throughout the week.

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FEATURE Prairie WTAMU student wins advertising scholarships 2

May 1, 2012

www.theprairienews.com

JORDAN FRY

STAFF WRITER

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tacy Saultz, a WTAMU junior Advertising and Public Relations major, is the recipient of two advertising scholarships – a $2,500 national Advertising Hall of Fame Legacy Fund Scholarship awarded by the American Advertising Federation and a $1,500 Advertising Education Foundation of Houston Scholarship.

According to the American Advertising Foundation (AAF), the Advertising Hall of Fame Legacy Fund Scholarship was established to re�lect the high ideals of the Advertising Hall of Fame and encourage future advertising leaders.

Candidates are evaluated on their academic achievements and volunteer efforts within the community. The scholarship provides �inancial assistance to an undergraduate student in his or her junior year who demonstrates a strong desire to pursue a the

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career in the advertising industry.

The Advertising Education Foundation of Houston Scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate commitment to the communications industry with internship or work experience, industry activities and participation in communications professions or campus organizations.

This scholarship is typically reserved for Houston area residents.

Saultz received one of nine Legacy scholarships and one of 11 AEFH scholarships. The University has had students receive similar scholarships, but Saultz is the �irst to receive these particular scholarships.

“I’m really excited,” Saultz said. “It will help me out tremendously next year. It’s a big blessing.”

Saultz applied for the scholarships after hearing about them from Lori Westermann, an instructor of Mass Communication, during an Ad/PR Society meeting.

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

“I’m thrilled she took the initiative and applied for the scholarships,” Westermann said. “I tell my students all the time that they can compete against other students and this is visible representation of that.”

Westermann said while hundreds of students applied for these scholarships, she can’t think of anyone more deserving than Saultz.

“Stacy represents the best of our students in this program. She is an extremely hard-working and sel�less team player,” she said. “She’s so sel�less that she didn’t even tell anyone she won these scholarships.”

Westermann was taken aback when one of the AEFH board members congratulated her for having one of her students win one of the scholarships. She thought he was mistaken, but he took out his phone and said it was Saultz.

“She said she didn’t want to make a big deal of it,” Westermann said. “Then she

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

said I was probably going to be mad because she also won a Legacy scholarship. She’s not one to draw attention to herself.”

Saultz currently serves as the secretary of the Ad/PR club and is brand manager and a presenter for Buffalo Advertising, the University’s National Student Advertising Team.

Saultz said she feels working with the NSAC team helped further her into advertising.

“In all aspects, it was a great thing to be a part of and it was the best real world-type

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

situation for advertising,” she said. “It really showed me what the industry will be like.”

After graduating, Saultz would like to work for a non-pro�it or cause-oriented organization and Westermann feels that Saultz’s sel�less nature would make her the right �it.

“It’s great to see someone as gifted as her take her sel�less spirit into these organizations,” she said. “That’s where her heart is and it’s refreshing and authentic.”

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 WTAMU Student Senate amendment fails to pass 3

KRYSTINA MARTINEZ ASSISTANT EDITOR

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n amendment to the WTAMU Student Government constitution failed to pass in the Student Senate meeting on April 23.

The amendment would allow parttime students to run for Student Senate.

Current requirements dictate that only full-time students can be considered for senators.

“There have been applications turned in of over-quali�ied students; however, they are not taking enough hours as our constitution dictates,” Senator Brianna Harvell said in the meeting.

“I think we are very much a commuter

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school...[and] they are still representatives of WT.” Student Government has been working to �igure out how to have part-time students represented. According to Harvell, the author of CA 20112, it was suggested that there should be a certain number of part-time students represented in each college like there are with graduate students. However, the number of senators would change every year to re�lect the current student population.

“My only concern here is that if you allow part-time students in, they should have a higher requirement of GPA just because they have less classes to go to,” Senator Ciro Baldiviezo said.

However, Senator and Vice Presidentelect Jose Lopez pointed out that such a

“I think that is a very cool micro view of what the American people are doing with returning veterans in the macro view, which is waiting for guys who need help and helping them when they need help, but not giving them help when they don’t need help,” he said. “I think that is very special and so this has been a really cool chance for me to kind of see what the American people are doing in a tiny little view of the big picture.”

This is the second year for the Warrior 100K ride, and it is part of the George W. Bush Presidential Center’s Military Service Initiative.

“I think �irst of all one of the reasons we have the W100 is to encourage people to ask that very question (how to support Wounded Warriors locally),” former President Bush said. “I think the best support you can give is help �ind jobs.”

He said there is support for helping the physically wounded.

“To welcome to the community and to encourage employers to go out of the way to hire somebody, I think it is probably the best gift someone in Amarillo can give to a vet,” he said.

He also said these warriors have a diverse set of skills.

“It seems like to me if you have somebody working with you that says ‘look I am not a sel�ish person, I am willing to serve something greater than myself,’ well that is what all these vets have done,” Bush said.

measure would be discriminatory. “[Just] because they’re part-time doesn’t make them half of a student,” Lopez said. “I feel like we’re pushing them aside in that sense.”

Senator Ellen Ward suggested that the Senate could create a “college” of part-time students, similar to the freshmen college model, as opposed to overhauling the requirements for all students.

After discussions, the amendment was brought to a vote and failed to pass the two-thirds vote requirement needed.

“I don’t think a part-time college would be appropriate because there is no ‘College of Part-Time Students’ like there is a College of Agriculture, Sci-

ence and Engineering, for example,” President-elect Nick Goettsche said.

“We had around �ive applications from part-time students this year, but could not accept any of them. I do believe it was a signi�icant amount to pass a bill allowing part-time students [to serve in Student Government].”

In another order of business, Miguel Sosa was appointed Student Body Chief Justice for the 2012-2013 school year.

Sosa has served in many leadership positions, including Residence Hall Association president, Alpha Tau Omega philanthropy chair and secretary and Interfraternity Council (IFC) president and vice president. He was sworn in as Chief Justice on April 30.

ALEX MONTOYA STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Top Left: (L-R, foreground) Dan Gade, U.S. Army Major; former President George W. Bush and Melissa Stockwell, U.S. Army First Lieutenant after the 100K race.

Bottom Left: Dan Gade, U.S. Army Major (left), after the 100K mountain bike ride.

Bottom Right: Former President George W. Bush addresses the press after the 100K race.

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Get ready for a playoff system KELTIN WIENS

KWTS SPORTS DIRECTOR

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or you true college football fans out there, what I’m going to tell you will sound like sweet music to your ears. College football is considering a playoff system.

The most in�luential people among the Football Bowl Subdivision elite in Division I college football met last week in Hollywood, Fla., to discuss the future of the sport. Among those in the meeting were the eleven FBS conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, among other of�icials.

There were numerous ideas �loating about in the meetings that have been discussed relating to changing the current Bowl Championship Series system.

Under the BCS system, the two highest-ranked teams at the end of the season will play each other for the chance to call themselves the National Champions.

The BCS is hardly fair, giving six conferences (the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and the SEC) an automatic bid to play in the highly regarded BCS bowls.

Then, it gives at-large spots to teams both from within and outside the six “automatic qualifying” conferences.

The voting and polling for determining these tops teams doesn’t seem to be based on anything footballrelated; the teams are picked via a popularity contest and by computers choosing who are the best teams.

The teams are not picked by a face-to-face competition in which one side must out-smart the other to win.

The meetings in Florida were called to remedy that problem. On the agenda were various proposals, including a 16- and eight-team playoff system, which hit the trashcan. What was left was a four-team system with two semi-�inal games and then a National Championship game. The details of the games, or their locations, were not worked out at the time and will have to wait until the next meeting in June in Chicago.

I have to admit, this is a great step forward. I would like to eventually see an eight- or 16-team playoff for college football. But, perhaps the best news out of the meetings were the disposal of the automatic qualifying conferences, leaving an equal playing �ield for the occasional mid-major to sneak into the playoffs. The four-team playoff will allow for the regular season to still be meaningful to teams and will add some excitement to the boring, over-commercialized bowl season.

SPORTS Full of promise: Fall 2012 soccer May 1, 2012

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MELISSA BAUER-HERZOG so the year could be STAFF WRITER

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s the school year comes to an end, WTAMU spring sports wraps up for the season. But as spring

considered a rebuilding effort.

However, the spring season showed how the team has matured and come together since the �irst game last fall. While

PHOTO BY MELISSA BAUER-HERZOG One of the teams the Lady Buffs faced during spring season was the Amarillo Lightning. Here, Kelsey Wright (#8) fights one of the players off the ball.

athletes pack up their locker rooms, the men and women’s soccer teams are preparing for the fall season.

Both teams hit The Pitch this spring for a few informal spring games to refresh their playing skills after nearly �ive months off the �ield.

While the games didn’t count for more than just a freshener, it gave a decent look into what both teams will be bringing to the �ield next fall.

Men’s soccer took a while to get started last season, but when they hit their groove, they went eight games straight without losing during the second half of the season.

The team brought in many new players before the beginning of the season,

the team showed untold potential, the spring season also gave Head Coach Butch Lauffer a chance to evaluate what needs to be improved upon before conference action.

“With the team going �ive and zero [during the spring season], it was good to build con�idence but we still need to get better in certain positions that we are trying to �ix,” Lauffer said.

The men’s soccer team wasn’t the only one looking good on The Pitch.

Women’s soccer played in multiple spring season games to get back into the groove. The women’s team had a hard season in 2011, starting relatively strong before suffering many injuries and

knocking multiple players out of numerous games.

The women’s team managed to qualify for the Lone Star Conference tournament as the lowest seed despite the injuries and even made it into the second round. However, it took an overtime effort for the LSC No. 2 ranked Midwestern State University to boot the Lady Buffs out of the postseason.

The team was successful in their spring season games, taking on many different types of teams, from college teams they’ll be playing in the fall to club teams around the area. After their struggles from last year, the Lady Buffs look forward to rebounding with a healthy team in the fall.

“I’m really excited about next season,” junior Julia Greif said. “I know

that our coach, Chad Webb, has been really recruiting some good players. I know that we are getting a transfer and a few freshmen that are really going to make an impact on our program. I think that after this year and making it far in the tournament after coming in as the underdog, I think that lights the �ire for next season and where we want to be when it gets to conference tournament time.”

The schedules have not been released for next season as of press time. If last year is any indication, the teams will return to The Pitch at Buffalo Sports Park in early September with the regular season going until early November. want to make the NCAA tournament,” LeComte said. “We’ve got to win one game at a time.”

PHOTO BY MELISSA BAUER-HERZOG 2011 LSC Co-Freshman of the Year Conrod Goulbourne (#15), playing against UT Permian Basin in a preseason game at WT, looks to return to the field in fall 2012.

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SPORTS Prairie Lady Buffs softball eliminated in LSC semifinals 5

May 1, 2012

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MELISSA BAUER-HERZOG STAFF WRITER

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he No. 24 Lady Buffs traveled to Denton, Texas this weekend to compete in the Lone Star Conference tournament as the defending LSC Champions.

WTAMU entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed after dropping two of three games to No. 2 seed Texas Woman’s University on April 20-21.

Before the tournament started, the teams all gathered for LSC’s annual awards on April 26. Alyssa Lemos and Marci Womack were placed on the AllAcademic Team due to their scholarly success while Allie Cran�ill and Kim LeComte were both given Golden Glove Awards. Cran�ill, who had an extremely successful �irst season at WT, was named the LSC Freshman of the Year and put on the All-LSC �irst team with teammate Kim LeComte. Meghan Brown

and Marci Womack were both named to the All-LSC second team while Renee Erwin rounded out the list with a spot on the third team.

The Lady Buffs step onto the �ield for the �irst time for a Friday afternoon game against Abilene Christian in the quarter�inals. WT made an impact quickly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the �irst inning to take the 3-0 lead.

The Lady Buffs waited until the third inning to add to their total, grabbing another run off a Lacey Seidl single to left �ield.

The Wildcats would get their only run of the game off of a bases loaded walk in the top of the sixth inning. The Lady Buffs wouldn’t let the team get close in scoring, adding another run in the bottom of the sixth to win the game 5-1. Marci Womack picked up the win in the circle, only recording �ive hits and six strikeouts in the complete game win.

WT took on Angelo State in the Sat-

urday semi-�inals for a chance to move on to the Championship game that night.

However, the Rambelles started their scoring early, bringing in their �irst run of the game in the bottom of the �irst inning. Both teams went scoreless in the next two innings but ASU would hit a streak in the bottom of the fourth, scoring six runs off of four hits.

The Lady Buffs tried to rebound in the �ifth inning, scoring two runs off of bases loaded walks. The inning ended with a score of 7-3 in favor of the Rambelles. The scoring didn’t end until the �ifth and �inal inning when the Rambelles scored four more runs to take the game 11-3.

Senior Marci Womack picked up the loss with her three innings in the circle, giving up seven of the games 11 runs. Womack was named to the LSC All Tournament Team for her work this weekend.

“It was a good year,” Head Coach

Kevin Blaskowski said. “We won at least 35 games for the 4th year in a row. I was very proud of the individual efforts of a number of players. Offensively, Kim [LeComte], Meghan [Brown], Allie [Cran�ill] and Renee [Erwin] had good years. Marci [Womack] was very good despite suffering from a foot injury all year. I feel like we have a strong nucleus to build on. It’s going to be very dif�icult to replace Kim [LeComte], Meghan [Brown] and Marci [Womack]. They have de�initely left their mark on our program.”

The Lady Buffs now have a record of 35-18 overall this season with a conference record of 16-11 for a 59 percent win-rate in the Lone Star Conference.

WT still has a chance to continue their post season depending on if they are selected to move on in the 2012 NCAA Division II Post Season Selection Show.

WT Baseball ties LSC series, Sports Quiz clinches spot in tournament CHRIS RICHCREEK

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he WTAMU Buffalo baseball team wrapped up their regular season schedule with a four-game series against the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds on April 27-29 in Canyon. WT split the series with ENMU, but were able to clinch a spot in the Lone Star Conference tournament.

The Buffs opened the series on April 27 with an 8-1 win.

Senior Justin Kuks (9-0) tied the single-season school record for wins by giving up only one run in eight innings. The victory also earned WT a chance to compete in the LSC tournament for the �irst time since 2006.

“We expected to make the tournament, but we’ve got to keep getting better,” Head Coach Matt Vanderburg said.

The Buffs started strong in the �irst game of the doubleheader on April 28 by jumping out to a 6-0 after the third.

The Greyhounds responded by scoring two in the �ifth, three in the sixth and two more in the seventh to rally for the 7-6 win.

The defeat ended any hope the Buffs had of being the one seed in the LSC tournament.

WT won the second game of the day by pitching six consecutive scoreless innings in a 3-2 win. ENMU scored two in the �irst and failed to push anything else across as WT scored two in second and one in the third.

The Buff’s bats were quieted

on Senior Day, April 29, the �inal game of the year. While trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the �ifth, senior Nick Marquez hit a solo home run and sophomore Patrick Ramirez got an RBI single for WT’s only two runs on the day. The Greyhounds would add two more runs to their total and pick up a 5-2 win to close the season.

The Buffs �inished the season 29-17 overall and 16-12 in the LSC. WT will be the number four seed in the tournament, which begins May 5 in San Angelo, Texas.

“It doesn’t matter who we play, if we don’t get out of the funk we’re in offensively it will be a short tournament,” Vanderburg said.

KINGS SYNDICATE

1. In the 2009 and 2010 major-league seasons, only two players compiled at least a .300 batting average, 20 stolen bases and 20 home runs. Name them.

2. How many different seasons has Alfonso Soriano compiled at least 35 home runs and 30 steals?

3. In 2001, the Rams’ Kurt Warner became the third quarterback to lead the NFL in completion percentage, touchdowns passes and passing rating in the same season for a second time. Name the two to do it before him.

4. The 1981-82 North Carolina men’s basketball team, which won a national title, had three players who ended up among the top �ive slots in the NBA Draft. Name two of them.

1. Hanley Ramirez (Marlins) and Shin-Soo Choo (Indians).

2. Four (2002, ‘03, ‘05 and ‘06).

3. Sammy Baugh (1940, ‘47) and Steve Young (1992, ‘94).

4. James Worthy (No. 1, 1982), Michael Jordan (No. 3, 1984) and Sam Perkins (No. 4, 1984).

MATTHEW WATKINS STAFF WRITER

ANSWERS:

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CAMPUS LIFE Prairie Hispanic leaders lecture series motivate students 6

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ASHLEY HENDRICK STAFF WRITER

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he Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages wrapped up the spring semester with a �inal guest speaker that ended their semester-long Panhandle Hispanic Culture and Leadership Lecture Series.

Three guest speakers – whose Hispanic heritage helped shape who they are as leaders – visited the WTAMU campus to discuss with students the importance of hard work, self-con�idence and heritage.

“I think it’s wonderful for students and I think it’s great for the community,” Dr. Bonnie MacDonald, department head of EPML, said. “As a department, as a college and as a university, we seek every opportunity we can �ind to create

Parking continued from p. 1

As a result of the single parking permit, 872 zone spaces would open up.

“It is simpler to explain to everyone that if you have a valid parking permit, you can park on any space on campus that is open,” Barnes said.

“It will certainly cut down on the confusion and the complaints.”

Meri Lyn Odell, director of Police Administration, said that at the parking committee meetings she attended she saw more resistance from faculty than the students out of the groups representing.

“It’s going to be a good thing,” Odell said. “With any change, there’s going to be growing pains. Once we all settle down into the pattern of our parking it’s going to be better.”

Abigail Rangel, a freshman International Business major, said some residence students already have trouble �inding spots and the single parking permits might make it even

outreach opportunities.”

The �irst guest speaker of the semester was Evelina Solis, a motivational speaker from Dallas whose academic and coaching resource, Sol2Soul, has inspired other faculty and college students around the region.

“She’s Hispanic and she travels around to regional universities to motivate or talk about student leadership,” Assistant Professor of Spanish and Spanish Program Director Dr. Andrew Reynolds said.

The other two speakers provided more of a local �lare to the series.

Roy Urrutia is the Director of Public Affairs of Atmos Energy West Texas Division and focused his discussion on what it means to be Latino in his lecture titled Mexican-American, Chicano, Hispanic, Latino; Really, Who Are We? Lilia Escajeda , Amarillo City

more dif�icult.

“Those parking spots are for us [residential hall students], and they’re convenient for us, and then there are a lot of people who don’t live on campus that come in and take in all the parking,” said Rangel. “I think they need to just build and invest in a new parking lot in general.”

Barnes believes the �low will work out well because so many students will be going on and off campus.

He said student living on campus would already be parked early in the morning, most faculty and staff have more standard coming-andgoing times, night students should not have to deal with crowded parking and commuters park at more random times, but will not be limited to speci�ic zones.

Odell said the bus system is a great opportunity for students, especially commuters.

“Everyone who has given it an opportunity just �inds it

Commissioner as of 2011, climbed the ranks in the �inancial world to land herself a director’s position of Amarillo National Bank. It is a feat that was rarely accomplished for a woman in the 1970s, according to Reynolds.

“The obstacles that people have to overcome as immigrants really resonate well with a lot of students who are kind of in the same boat,” Reynolds said. “I think they see a lot of people struggling in the community and they’re here trying to better themselves…and sometimes they need these people who have gone through these same trials to serve as examples. It inspired a lot of students.”

Senior Bilingual Education major Isabel Ramirez got to sit down and talk with Lilia Escajada for a one-on-one conversation.

to be very helpful and easy,” she said.

There are three buses that run from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. The buses start at the First United Bank Center and stop near the Agriculture and Natural Sciences building, the west side of the Pedestrian Mall, the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex and the Virgil Henson Activities Center.

“It will be a paradigm shift to use the First United Bank Center as over�low parking or for parking that is not available on campus and ride the shuttle service,” Barnes said.

The permit prices will remain the same and those who want to park at the First United Bank Center do not have to purchase a parking permit. This rule will remain in effect next year, but will be evaluated the following year.

“You can’t change everything at one time,” Odell said. “We want to evaluate, and we’re going to see how the parking patterns are.”

“She motivated us in so many ways,” Ramirez said. “She told us not to walk with our head low, but to always feel that we were somebody and to walk with your head up high and conquer the world.”

Professors and administrators of the EMPL department had been thinking of developing a lecture series for years, according to MacDonald, but Reynolds put that thought to action when he became program director.

“There was a lack, I think, of contact between the Hispanic program here and the Hispanic students in general,” Reynolds said. “I really wanted them to come and share their experiences and the importance of the Spanish language…how they were raised up and how that’s kind of a core of their identity.”

SING hits WTAMU again

PHOTO COURTESY OF ETERNAL FLAME The Delta Zetas dance during University SING.

Congratulations to Delta Zeta and Phi Delta Theta for winning University SING.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ETERNAL FLAME The Alpha Tau Omegas dance to Back Street Boys.

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ENTERTAINMENT Last week’s answers

where’s your bin?

This week’s winner is Kaleb Dale. Look for the winning card in your copy of The Prairie on May 1 and receive a $10 iTunes gift card.

May 1, 2012

www.theprairienews.com

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ENTERTAINMENT

MAy 1, 2012

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Top pop, country singles and albums as of April 30 Top 10 Albums

Top 10 Pop Singles

Top 10 Hot Country Singles

1. Lionel Richie No. 4 “Tuskegee”

1. Gotye feat. Kimbra No. 2 “Somebody That I Used to Know”

1. Blade Shelton No. 2 “Drink On It”

2. Adele No. 2 “21”

3. Nicki Minaj No. 1 “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded”

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

5. One Direction No. 5 “Up All Night”

4. One Direction No. 4 “What Makes You Beautiful”

4. Monica new entry “New Life”

6. Bonnie Raitt new entry “Slipstream” 7. Gotye No. 15 “Making Mirrors”

8. Alabama Shakes No. 16 “Boys and Girls” 9. Rascal Flatts No. 3 “Changed”

10. Hoodie Allen new entry “All American (EP)”

3. The Wanted No. 3 “Glad You Came” 5. Justin Bieber No. 5 “Boyfriend”

6. Flo Rida feat. Sia No. 7 “Wild Ones” 7. Nicki Minaj No. 6 “Starships”

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

9. Kelly Clarkson No. 8 “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)” 10. Katy Perry No. 9 “Part Of Me”

2. Blade Shelton No. 3 “Drink On It” 2. Lee Brice No. 1 “A Woman Like You”

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

6. Jason Aldean No. 7 “Fly Over States” 7. Jake Owen No. 3 “Alone With You”

8. Carrie Underwood No. 8 “Good Girl” 9. Zac Brown Band No. 11 “No Hurry”

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

(c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.

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CAMPUS LIFE Prairie Panhandle Storytelling returns to WT for festival International students get involved to share stories 9

May 1, 2012

www.theprairienews.com

DANIELA FIERRO STAFF WRITER

S

ince 1991, the Panhandle Storytelling Guild has held festivals for the WTAMU family and surrounding community.

On May 4, they will hold their annual festival with this year’s theme being ‘Lives and Legends’ with guest artist Barbra McBride-Smith.

“I’ve never met McBride-Smith in person, but we’ve watched her [story] telling in class throughout the semester,” Jere Ellison, Vice President of the Guild, said. “Her mix of familiar Greek tales with a ‘southwest’ twist should be appealing to all who attend.”

Dr. Trudy Hanson, head of the Department of Communication, said the festival will follow its normal format, with a few changes.

“We’re following the same formula for the festival,” Hanson said. “But this year, we will have three international students and they’ve chosen stories in their interests.”

Hanson said there will be two children’s concerts in the morning, a workshop with McBride-Smith at 1:30 p.m. in the Fine Arts Complex room 185 and a performance at 7 p.m. with McBride-Smith and WT graduate students in the Branding Iron Theater.

“One of the things the students have worked on [is] getting sponsors from the community to help with the costs,” Hanson said. “And [the event was] also

made possible from the funding by the Guest Artist Series.”

Ellison will be performing a scary tale named “Lockers,” by author Roberta Simpson Brown.

“We have a lot of going on at the festival,” said Ellison. “The guest speaker does amazing work …and we have a wide range of stories going on: family, scary, inspiration and folk.”

Joe Phan, a graduate Communication student, is a member of the Guild as well.

“It is my honor to be one of the students to perform at the show,” Phan said. “My performing will be different because I am not performing alone.”

Phan will be performing with Edward Chung, a student from Taiwan.

“We will bring the laughter to the

audience with a Korean foliate called ‘The Green Frogs’,” said Phan. “I hope everybody will enjoy our performance.”

Phan said he and Chung have been working on their performance for two weeks and are very excited.

“As a student from Vietnam, I found it exciting for international students to join activities on campus,” he said. “We don’t have many good activities for students like this in Vietnam.”

The festival will have something to offer for all age groups and interests.

“Every part of [the festival] will be interesting,” said Phan. “It’s tough to choose which one is the best, but I think once the audience participates, they will �igure out which is best.”

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CAMPUS LIFE Prairie SIFE will travel to nationals 10

BRITTANY CASTILLO STAFF WRITER

W

TAMU’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team will be traveling to Kansas City for the national competition.

SIFE President Marco Jimenez, a Business Administration major, said the team will leave at the end of May. “The SIFE USA National Exposition will be on May 22-24,” Jimenez said. “Our team will be leaving on May 21 and be back on May 25.”

The SIFE presentation team will use a multimedia presentation to showcase projects to SIFE sponsors. Speakers on the team include Manuel Garcia, Alex Long, Navdeep Uppal, Erin Stodghill, Jordan Cox, Juan Carlos Ramirez, Cedric Nguimatsa, Emilee Cavaness and Yu-Hsian (Jimmy) Tseng.

“Our SIFE team basically creates multiple community-based service-learning projects which focus on community need and have a triple bottom line – people pro�its and planets,” Jimenez said.

SIFE Vice President Alex Long said the team has intensely prepared.

“For nationals, we’ve added a few lines to various parts throughout the script, so I’ve been memorizing those,” Long said.

“Our team has worked hard all year so I can’t wait to see how we place with the judges.”

Freshman SIFE member Natalie Watts, a General Business major, said she’s proud of the group.

“I have the privilege of being on an excellent SIFE team, and the work of the whole team enables us to keep moving forward every year,” Watts said. “We have quali�ied for nationals the past 17 years.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF SIFE SIFE team after winning regionals for the 18th year.

WT jazz bands attend festival LISA HELLIER STAFF WRITER

F

rom April 19 to 21, WTAMU jazz band students attended the 42nd annual Greeley Jazz Festival hosted by the University of Northern Colorado and sponsored by Jamey Aebersold.

“This guy is probably credited to be the biggest jazz educator ever, releasing at least 25 books of jazz for students,” Nathan Hoover, sophomore Music Education major, said.

Each student was a part of one of the WT ensembles, which included Jazz I, Jazz II and Jazz combo.

“It is a great event that allows us to get the West Texas name out there playing great music,” Shannon Gray, Mass Communication major, said.

“I look forward to Greeley every spring semester. The music we play is fun and entertaining. This festival gives us, as students, a chance to see

amazing musicians and how they perform that we wouldn’t get to see otherwise. “ None of the WT groups competed, but they performed for judges in order to get critiqued and hear ideas about how to improve.

Hoover said the judge for his group chose to miss his lunch break in order to work with the students.

“He was very insightful and knowledgeable of what we were doing and how it could be better,” he said.

Attendees have the option to attend clinics about improvisation, listening skills and rhythm as well as the chance to watch concerts and take part in question-andanswer sessions.

“There were many great concerts with great musicians,” Juan Ramirez, junior Music Education major, said. “Live jazz is one of the greatest things in this world. Jazz is a truly unique form of music. It’s one that you can express yourself through

improvisation, and it’s probably the only form of music that started in America.”

Freshman Joey De La Garza received an Outstanding Musicianship award at the festival for his performance.

“He really earned it and worked so hard,” Nick Scales, director of Jazz Band II, said.

Scales said that the festival is a big deal.

“Students get to hear music up there that we don’t get here,” he said.

Scales said he hopes that, in the future, WT will be able to bring a jazz musician to campus to work with students and perform. He said the future of the jazz bands is growing as interest in the program is growing.

“I know I am, as well as the rest of the people who went, on �ire and inspired by all the performances that took place and are ready to take our playing to the next level,” Hoover said.

May 1, 2012

www.theprairienews.com

11

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Prairie

CAMPUS LIFE

May 1, 2012

www.theprairienews.com

Music Department prepares for Spring Concert SARAH FLOYD STAFF WRITER

T

he WTAMU Department of Music is getting ready for their �inal concert of the spring on May 2. All three bands from WT (Symphonic, Concert, and University) will perform as well as a special guest artist.

John Stacy, a French horn player, said they are anticipating a high turnout.

“Attendance for these concerts is usually pretty positive,” he said. “The student

body is quite supportive of what we do here. I would encourage as many people to attend, as all three groups performing are top notch.

Some really �ine musicians are performing, and the music we are performing is also interesting and quite exciting.”

Stacy, who plays in the University band, also said the concert gives him and others the opportunity to play more music.

“I wanted more playing experience,” he said. “I was

Step team continued from p. 1 Excitement in the auditorium grew with every passing act.

Lady E.X. supporter Marley Sparkman, an Agricultural Media and Communications major, enjoyed the enthusiasm from the performances.

“Our campus is very conservative,” Sparkman said. “And then you come to something like this where you can be excited and be loud and just get to express yourself. My favorite part is all

PHOTO BY BRITTANY CASTILLO WTAMU steppers entertain the audience.

already in the Symphonic band, but wanting to play more, I auditioned for University and Concert bands just to play more. More music is more fun, or at least to me it is.”

Stephanie Meadows, a freshman percussion player, joined the band for her love to music as well. As someone who has been performing for seven years, she knows exactly what it is like to be part of a music group.

“We are expected to practice outside of band and come to all

the individuality in it.”

After judge deliberation, Greater Love Temple was awarded �irst place.

However, participating dancers enjoyed celebrating the art of self-expression.

“Not a lot of people get to express them by dancing, but I put everything that I have into it,” Miller said. “So it’s actually like I’m talking to you, but through dancing emotions.”

rehearsals. We want students to enjoy the music we play,” said Meadows.

B.J. Dyer has been the drum-line captain for three years in the Symphonic band.

He describes the upcoming concert as “interesting.”

“We’re playing two pieces

by Wagner, Rienzi and Elsa’s Procession to the Cathedral,” Dyer said. “We’re also playing a really pretty piece called Dusk, a Spanish march called Lola Flores, and we’re commissioning a piece by Luigi

Zaninelli for alto saxophone and band called Suite Concert ante.”

The guest artist will be Daniel Loudenback of Odessa, a saxophone extraordinaire.

He will be accompanying the Symphonic band.

The concert will be held at the Mary Moody Northen Recital Hall at 6 p.m. The Symphonic concert will start at 8 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.

the

Prairie WT dance concert captures flight through dance 12

May 1, 2012

www.theprairienews.com

RYAN SCHAAP

space where there is nothing left, but to grow and get bigger until eventually you just �ly away.”

Meek’s piece, which she and the dancers choreographed, was called ance in Flight, a dance concert “Fairer Winds,” which is the idea that that took place April 26 through 28, many people carry emotions and showed that dance can be interpreted memories in their clothing. based on the aspect of �light. Seven “Sometimes those memories and pieces were emotions must choreographed be shed to push by both resident through to fairer faculty and guest winds,” said Meek. artists from as “’Fairer winds is a far as northern sailing term from Michigan. olden times when Some pieces sailors would not represented say goodbye but headwinds, would say, ‘I will such as “Into the see you in fairer Wind, Directly,” winds.’” choreographed Meek, as and performed the director of PHOTO BY RYAN SCHAAP

by Matthew “Rollin” by Jonathan Charles opened “Dance in Flight.” Dance, helped the Lindstrom and dancers keep their movements clean and Leslie Meek. made sure the guest artists’ pieces were “This represents headwinds that maintained throughout the year-long can push you to struggling but also can process to get the show on stage. She had pull you to ease, which ‘Into the Wind, to be sure the pieces kept the integrity of Directly’ interpreted,” Meek, director of the movement that the guest artist sees Dance and program adviser, said. and that it stays with the piece through “For ‘Into the Wind, Directly,’ it’s a the entire year. relationship in the wind,” said Lindstrom, “The girls were beautiful tonight, I guest artist from northern Michigan. think they are so talented,” Lindstrom “Sometimes the wind blows you from said. “I’ve taught all over the country and the back and it’s easier to move through, when I come here, they’re professional, and sometimes there is a head wind and they’re well trained and they are a great you’re frozen against that and it’s like a example. I would work with them after male and female relationship.” they graduated.”

Meek and Lindstrom met at the Marissa Gero danced in a piece, Interlock for the School of the Arts choreographed by Jamie Johnson, called in Northern Michigan where they “Percorso,” which depicts birds in �light. developed a great working relationship.

“We do bird-like movements and I feel Lindstrom agrees they “recruit well like I’m a bird,” said Gero. “I’m the head together.” Lindstrom’s piece, which he goose when we are in our ‘V’ pattern choreographed, was called “Focus on a leading my team on and it’s powerful to Distant Point.” me.”

“For me,” said Lindstrom, “I had this idea about a moon that I’ve always wanted to see hovering over the stage and what it would feel like to be in this empty

STAFF WRITER

D

PHOTO BY RYAN SCHAAP Diondra Ross in Jamie Johnson’s “Percorso.”

PHOTO BY RYAN SCHAAP Dancers in Matthew Lindstrom’s “Focus on a Distant Point.”

PHOTO BY RYAN SCHAAP “Fairer Wind” by Leslie Meek depicts strenght and fear through flight.