Oct. 18, 2017
ThePRAIRIE
Vol. 101 Iss. 2
WTPD raises recognition for domestic violence awareness Allie Smith Sports Editor
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hen walking past the University P o l i c e Department or through the JBK, students will notice wooden human silhouettes painted purple with white squares of text on the front scattered throughout the hallways. This is not a scheme for Halloween or an art project. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and these are the stories of high school and college-aged victims. “It’s to bring awareness to domestic violence victims, whether it’s parents and families, whether it’s kids that are victims of domestic violence because of what goes on with their parents, whether it’s college students,” Sergeant Barbara Ferrara from the WTAMU Police Department said. “Whatever the case may be.” These silhouettes are provided by Family Support Services, an Amarillo-based non-profit that fills many needs throughout the Texas
Oct. 19, a day in which wearing purple shows solidarity with victims of domestic abuse. On that same day, WTPD will be in the JBK from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., raising awareness. “These are young, 17, 18, 19 some of them 16-year-old kids that have been victims of dating violence or dating violence homicide, and that’s an attention grabber for college kids,” Ferrara said of the silhouettes. WTPD is not the only group on campus making the effort to Jo Lowry/for The Prairie stop domestic violence The Domestic Violence Awareness Month silhouette outside the on campus. Groups WT Police Department tells the story of a 22-year old victim of such as faculty, staff dating violence. and even residential Panhandle. services…our students don’t “We pair up a lot with always realize that they have living assistants are receiving Family Support Services,” that resource available to the information they need to Ferrara said. “We’ve been them. Even if they haven’t better serve possible victims doing that for probably a made a police report, those and raise awareness. couple years now, largely are still services they can “We had Title IX and Clery Act training,” Stafford Hall because they’re trying to utilize.” bring more of their services These silhouettes are not Director Morgan Young to campus because they do the only actions being taken. said. “…We were trained in provide services for [a wide WTPD and Family Support taking them seriously when range of victims] and they’re Services are sponsoring they told us and allowing a non-profit. Those are free events like Go Purple Day on ourselves to be an open door. We were also taught that we
had to report those kinds of things if we heard about them so we had to inform whoever it was that was telling us this information that we had to report it.” Director of Student Counseling Services Dayna Schertler said that domestic violence hits closer to home than many students realize. “[A common misconception is that] it only happens to a small number of people and that if it is happening to you, you should be ashamed or fearful of asking for help,” Schertler said. “One in four women and one in seven men will experience relationship violence in their lives.” Overall, it is important that victims know they can get help. “Try to remain nonjudgmental and open to them talking to you about it,” Schertler said. “Let them know you are available even if they decide to stay [in the relationship]. It typically takes several attempts at leaving for victims to not return to the abuser due to the intensity of the cycle of violence in the relationship.”
Buff Branding welcome freshman class of 2021
Class of 2021 given warm welcome at convocation
Young volleyball roster rises to tough opponents
Buffs snap three game losing skid with homecoming win
Communication Hall of Fame 2017
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NEWS
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Oct. 18, 2017
Homecoming activities spark campus involvement Hannah Nelson Contributor
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crowd of West Texas A&M University students and faculty gathered outside the Jack B. Kelley Student Center. Music played in the background while students are signing waivers. The volunteers begin to gather in groups as one of the first few events in preparation for homecoming begins. Hosted by the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership (OSEL), the Work-AThon that took place on Oct. 6 is a campus improvement event that helps students get directly involved with bettering the campus. Just in time for homecoming, the OSEL plans this event to help make a difference on campus and to help excite the volunteer students for the upcoming homecoming celebration. “The horticultural staff, they do an amazing job with
taking care of the lawns and the trees and everything,” said freshman prevet animal science major Sierra Serna. “But then we have put in that extra step with helping pick up all the trash that people leave behind when the workers are not working.” Volunteers participated in a variety of activities including not just cleaning around campus but around all city of Canyon. While some students were busy Hannah Nelson/The Prairie raking up campus lawns, Students gather at the annual Work-a-Thon held at the Pedesother activities included trian Mall on Oct. 6. preparing downtown Canmany different majors and we’ve made here at WT.” yon for homecoming. classifications came together This event encourages “You want everyone infor the afternoon and con- school pride and contribuvolved because it’s hometributed time to their univer- tion. Many organizations coming,” Heather Bassett, sity. came out to the Work-Ajunior special education ma“It brings the Buffalo fam- Thon to give back to the jor, said. “It’s like the biggest ily together,” Rebecca Har- campus. event we have this year.” vey, sophomore nursing ma- “My organization, BOLT For the Work-A-Thon, stujor, said. “I mean, we’re all (Buff Outreach Leadership dents from multiple parts of Buffs, and we’re all celebrat- Team), we are also going campus were able to get ining homecoming together around and helping out,” volved and do some good on and celebrating the family Serna said. “We have a lot the campus. Students from
STAFF OF THE PRAIRIE
Editors Nick Alvarado Jonathan Espinoza
of members that actually are participating today.” The Work-A-Thon is one of the many events that the university celebrates to get Buffs in the homecoming spirit. Other events include Make It Maroon, an event at Amarillo’s Cadillac Ranch where faculty, students, community members, and even people passing through can spray paint all the cars maroon. “It’s a great event, it’s just relaxed and casual, and you get to be artsy and creative,” Assistant Director for Alumni Relations and University Engagement Barbara Palmer said. All these events will lead up to the homecoming football game on Oct. 14. On this day, the variety of people that are and will be involved get to come together. “It’s just kind of a building up point,” Palmer said. “It’s fun, it’s fulfilling, it’s a lot of energy and positiveness.”
Sports Editor Allie Smith
Adviser Nancy Garcia
Advertising Manager Adhi Viriya
Photographer Natalia Molina
The Prairie is a student-operated newspaper 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 staff. The Prairie verifies the legitimacy of the advertising appearing in The Prairie, but cannot be held liable for any advertising claim made in this publication. The Prairie has a circulation of 1,000 and is printed by The Pampa News. 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.
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NEWS
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Renovations, new building construction taking shape Taylor Buckley Contributor
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onstruction is happening all over the campus of West Texas A&M University for buildings new and old. Stan Peña, the head of construction for WT, shared about several major projects getting attention this year. These projects include the Agricultural Science Complex, the Engineering and Computer Sciences Building and Jarrett Hall. Construction on the Agricultural Sciences Complex on Russell Long Boulevard has been ongoing for six months, and according to the WT website, the facility is expected to be completed in the fall of 2018. “The new ag building will have a state-of-the-art meat lab and a café that sells the produced meat,” said Ty Lawrence, Ph.D., a professor of animal science at WT. This new building will allow the College of Animal Sciences and Natural Resources to split between buildings: The new agriculture complex will be dedicated to
Ahn Nguyen/The Prairie The new agriculture science building, located on the east side of the intramural fields, is taking shape. agriculture only, keeping the natural resources side of the department at the original location. “The ag complex will have three new lectures, five small lecture halls, six labs, and 51 new office spaces,” Peña said. The Engineering and Computer Science Building, located southeast of Old Main, has been under construction for nine to ten months. The project is in its final stages of being completed and will be finished within a month. “The main goal for this project was to renovate the entire second floor and redo the north entrance, which will have stairs and a lobby area for the building,” Peña said.
The final project undergoing construction is the renovation of Jarrett Hall, a residence hall that previously had no air conditioning. Jarret Hall is currently in the process of getting bids and is expected to be a ye a r - l o n g project. T h e university anticipates that Jarrett Hall will be completed by the fall of 2018 for the new freshmen arriving at
WT. “Jarrett Hall has been completely gutted with the intentions of redoing the inside,” Peña said. “This will include adding in 408 new
beds.” The Prairie will continue providing updates for each project as construction carries on.
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NEWS ∙ WT celebrates Hall of Fame inductees Will McAfee Reporter
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n, Sept. 29th, The West Texas A&M University Mass Communication Department inducted three new members into the WTAMU Communication Hall of Fame. These three inductees included owner of Roaster’s Coffee Craig Gualtiere. Executive Secretary of the Texas Speech Communication Association, Lou Ann Seabourn as well as Director of Broadcast Engineering and associate lecturer in WTAMU’s Department of Communication, Randy Ray. “The [inductee] nomination process beings in May,” Dr. Trudy Hanson said, Department Head of Communication. “We post a notice on the website, we release press releases about soliciting nominations from the community, then a committee of communication professionals. No faculty members are a part of that, [or] meet to make the selection.” These communication professionals are selected by faculty members to serve on the committee for two years. Each of those who
Oct. 18, 2017
were inducted have an extensive background in the communication field. Gualtiere is WT Communication alumnus from 1996 where he went on to serve as Randall County commissioner, Amarillo Traffic Commissioner, and on the Amarillo Airport Board. Since 2007, Gualtiere also served as a special production assistant for the National Football League. “Im just a below average guy who’s been able to some above average things” Gualtiere said in a feature documentary that was made for each of the inductees that night. Seabourn is a West Texas State University Communication alumnus from 1976 receiving both her bachelor’s degree (1976) and her master’s degree (1983). She was a part of the WTAMU speech faculty for 13 years after teaching in the Amarillo Independent School District for nine years. She later transferred to Amarillo College (AC) to become the coordinator of off-campus programs and then the director of extended programs at AC and associate dean of instruction in 2006 at AC. “It is truly an honor to be inducted into your [Communication] Hall of Fame” Seabourne said in
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her acceptance speech. The final inductee was a crowd favorite being 1984 WTSU alumnus, Ray, who received his bachelor’s degree in radio/film/television rand later received his master’s in mass communications from Middle Tennessee State (2002). After performing in a successful Christian rock band that toured twice in Europe and had numerous singles on Christian radio, Ray managed Sunset Record in Nashville, TN. He joined WTAMU’s faculty in 2002 where he has since taught Ahn Nguyen/The Prairie multiple production Randy Ray, WTAMU director of broadcast engineering, gives classes, served as an his acceptance speech on being inducted into the communicaadvisor for the National tion hall of fame on Sept. 29 at Legacy Hall. Broadcasting Society, and been the brains WTAMU Communication for their support and in the behind WTAMU’s national Department who is early creation of 1910 PR. award winning live music in his or her career. This The final award, Eternal program, “One Sessions”. years recipients were Eva Flame, was given to honor “Not only did I find a Harder for her work with someone who may not home, but I found a calling, America’s Promise Alliance have graduated from and that calling is for media and Shay Ward, Project WTAMU but whose and it’s a love for teaching Manager at Flag Ship Credit substantial contributions and training and mentoring Acceptance. have made a long lasting the next generation of The Community Partner impact on the Department communicators,” Ray said award was given to a local of Communication. This in his acceptance speech. business or organization awards was given to Dr. Several other awards were which has provided support Jessica Mallard, Dean of given out to members of the for the Department of the College of Fine Arts and community. Communication and its Humanities for all of her The Rising Star award was programs. This award was service to the department given to a graduate of the given to MCMC Marketing and its expansion.
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NEWS
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Class of 2021 given warm welcome at convocation Alaina Africano Contributor
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est Texas A&M University held its annual freshmen convocation ceremony last Thursday, where former NASA Chief Scientist Ellen Stofan along with university staff and faculty welcomed the class of 2021. With 1,400 freshmen students in attendance, Stofan discussed scientific innovation along with the topics of women entering the STEM, science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, and the importance of diversity, which are linked to the freshmen common reader “Hidden Figures.” She charged the students to become “a better you” throughout their college career and defined diversity as a combination of talent along with a vision, a plan, and access to the proper resources. In addition to Stofan’s keynote speech, students heard from both University President Dr. Walter Wendler and Student Body President Chandler Huddleston. While they gave separate speeches, each emphasized the importance of the college experience and the
power of achievement. “Sometimes it gets kind of repetitive to hear over and over again to “finish what you started” but just to hear it from Dr. Wendler and to have it in a kind of mock trial of how the ceremony is going to go, I think it carried a little bit more weight to it,” said Shelby Lain, freshmen agriculture education major. Convocation aimed not only to help freshmen visualize their future graduation ceremony, but to welcome them to university life as well. “It’s kind of a teaser in that see what’s coming, you’ll make it, we know you Savannah Wesley/The Prairie will, this is what we want to treat you to. It’s a welcome WT student body president Chandler Huddlestone speaks at Freshman Convocation held to the college community,” at the First United Bank Center on Oct. 6. said Dr. Ann Fry, director differently to,” Dr. Byron about it. And we want to enrollment at the university. of first year experience and Pearson, professor of history, expose our students to the “It’s a promise of what’s to learning communities. said. greater world, it’s not just come,” Fry said. “That you WTAMU staff and faculty The ceremony highlighted West Texas, that we are are now a member of this also played a role in this the idea of diversity because a member of a greater community and we welcome long-standing tradition. of the freshmen common community,” Fry said. you with open arms and Faculty from every reader “Hidden Figures.” Staff and students ended we’re glad you’re here.” department came dressed in The book and the ceremony the ceremony their graduation caps, gowns served as a reminder to each by singing and other regalia to help student that they are now the WTAMU students further visualize not only a part of the college alma mater. their graduation. community but a global The freshmen “It’s neat, I think not only community as well. in attendance for the freshmen to see that “Diversity in STEM fields is then processed you guys are part of a cohort not just a WT initiative but it out as a class and that everyone is striving is a national initiative, there for the first towards the same goal, but is a national conversation time since their you also get to see us a little
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Oct. 18, 2017
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Leadership, growth aids Smalley to potential career path Jonathan Espinoza Assistant Editor
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he past few seasons of West Texas A&M University’s musical theatre program have left audiences wanting more. From standout productions like “Jane Eyre” and “Brooklyn: The Musical”, theater-goers have seen an incredible depth of talent take the stage, season after season. Whether it is acting, singing or dancing, the students who grace the stages in the Sybil B. Harrington Fine Arts Complex, do so as professionals seeking to further their craft. With actors raising the bar, it is a difficult task to single out one or two who have left not only a legacy on the stage, but also on the people who surround them. One such person is senior musical theatre major, Laurel Smalley. Tasked with bringing to life the fierce Velma Kelly from “Chicago” and the veritable diva of Paradice in “Brooklyn: The Musical”, Smalley is an actor’s actor who puts others first, which is no surprise to those who know her. “She is a great collaborator,” said Stephen Crandall, department head of art, Theatre and Dance.
efforts of others and the impact a w a r d s have on the program as a whole. “ L a s t year, we got to compete in the Kennedy C e n t e r theatre arts festival for college level s t u d e n t s, ” Smalley said. “We got to Photo courtesy of Laurel Smalley bring our p rod u c t i o n “She seems to always be of ‘Brooklyn: The Musical’ interested in being a part of to San Angelo and it got the whole and is certainly Director’s Choice. This modest in her own ability. year alone, we have already She seems to be really interested in helping lift had so many transfers and everyone else up, she is new freshman the festival interested in being lifted has caught the eye of, and it up by others. With theatre has definitely added another being such a collaborative drive to our department, art, she is really invested in which was already so closethat and doesn’t shy away knit.” Recognized for not only from trying to be a good part her talent, Smalley has made of the team.” a name for herself among Although she was named her teachers, peers and Outstanding Leading Actress friends. On stage, she is able in a musical for her role as to command a performance Paradice, in “Brooklyn: The Musical” at the Kennedy in such a way that her drive Center American College to succeed is undeniable, Theatre Festival, Smalley and in the classroom her is quick to recognize the desire to learn is not lost on
anyone. Although Laurel will soon take her final bow as actress at West Texas A&M University, her future is as bright as the lights of Broadway, a place where many people see her performing one day. Friend, fellow cast mate and senior advertising and public relations major Cody
Johnson had this to say when asked where Laurel would be in five years: “Probably starring in a new Broadway musical opposite Jason Sudeikis or, more likely, Ben Platt. I honestly do think she will be finding work in New York City though, She has that ‘it’ factor, you know?”
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FEATURE
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Black chosen as new career services director Natalia Molina Photographer
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mber Black is known as a passionate matchmaker. Her aim, however, is not to help people find their perfect partner. Her goal is to help students discover the right match between their passions, strengths, and interests, and a job that will be rewarding both professionally and financially. As the new director for Career Services, Black has the credentials that allow her to bridge the gap between the college experience and the real world challenges of finding a job. An alumnus of West Texas A&M University, she earned her B.B.A in marketing and M.B.A with a concentration in finance. Black has ample work experience in the banking industry, having worked for Wells Fargo, Citibank, First Capital Bank of Texas, and Midsouth Bank before joining the staff of West Texas A&M University. Initially, she worked as the Student Success Center manager from 2009-2011. Then, in 2011, Black became a coordinator for the Dyke and Terry Rogers Leadership Education & Development Program, and
after a year, she became the director. While working with Rogers LEAD WT, she also became the coordinator for the undergraduate business program for the College of Business, and she then became a director as well as an instructor of finance. Now, Black has accepted the position of director for Career Services. “I don’t think there can be anything more fulfilling than when a person gets a job,” Amber Black sits on the handshake chair in the Jack B. Kelley student center. Natalia Molina/The Prairie
Black said. Black is aware that students work hard to earn their degrees, and she believes that this hard work should be rewarded with improving their earning potential and through acquiring the types of connections and opportunities that may be the doorway to the jobs they aspire to obtain. Career Information Specialist Brooke DePue looks forward to experiencing the abilities that Black will bring to the Career Services team. “Having Amber join our team is so exciting,” DePue said. “One of Amber’s skills is connectedness; she is a very relational and genuine leader. We are happy to have her as part of our team.” For Black, however, her purpose is not simply helping students find jobs: just as important is encouraging students to discover what their strengths and passions are, as well as helping them recognize the marketable skills they are acquiring both in the classroom and in their part-time jobs. To help students develop new skills, Black has found numerous ways for Career Services to give students an idea of what they may encounter outside of college. There have been
and will be numerous events this fall that aim at giving students many of the tools they will need in the job market: mock interviews, an etiquette dinner, resume workshops, and internship orientations, to name a few. The main goal of these events is to boost visibility and outreach for students. Many students don’t really understand what Career Services does, and for this reason, Black and her team will visit more classes to inform the students about networking events and what Career Services can do to help students. Classroom presentations are only the first step. “I’ve done eight in the last couple of weeks I’ve been here, and we talk to the students about their strengths and how they can use them in their future career and in the classroom,” Black said. Her own ample work experience, including that of being a faculty member, gives Black a broader perspective of the many things that can be done to help students. “I hope we can go further in the connections with faculty and helping faculty to learn what we do so they can tell the students,” Black said.
Her experience teaching personal finance gives her a very real understanding of why students have to earn a living wage that allows them to support their families with their careers. Black herself has faced the challenge of learning the ropes of a new job in a few weeks. “Learning a new job is very humbling,” Black said. “I thought I knew my job, but I soon realized how much I have to learn.” With a determination to do their best for students, Black and the rest of the Career Services team serve as the true matchmakers: the kind that do not simply want to find an adequate match for the students, but the right match through providing them with all the tools they will need once they enter the job market.
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This Is Not a Time to Get Political
s we deal with the aftermath of the horrific events in Las Vegas on Oct. 3, it is important that we as people, and as Americans, realize that what happened was truly a dark day in American history where 59 people were killed and over 500 injured when 64-year-old Stephen Paddock opened fire down upon a crowd attending a music festival in Las Vegas. This is truly a heinous crime that must not be forgotten. Too often today people turn on the news only to hear about how another mass shooting has occurred. Americans are becoming desensitized to these hideous
acts of violence. A student on campus today said they she had heard a politician say something about gun control, and how they used a mass shooting to push their agenda. She couldn’t remember which one it was when she said she heard that politician use the death of multiple people to further a political agenda. The biggest problem is that she couldn’t remember which mass shooting it was because they have become so common not only here in the US but also in the all over the world. Not only that, but politicians don’t even wait until those killed are cold before using their deaths
as a platform to push their political agenda. Whether it is about gun control or terrorism when so many lives are lost senselessly like the events that happened in Las Vegas, that is not the time to get political. Another student on campus said that she knows someone that was at the concert with her friends for a bachelorette party. She said that the girl now walks around with the constant feeling that her back is expossed and that she can no longer be in groups larger than three people. My cousin goes to Oklahoma State University where they celebrated Homecoming, he told
me that walking around the campus he could see snipers positioned on several buildings. We have become so paranoid of an attack at any social gathering that we have to take such extreme measures such as this. Some people may argue “If not now, when?” Saying that if we wait too long then it will get forgotten and become old news. There will be a right time but not when the bodies haven’t been released to families yet. Let families mourn and lay their loved ones to rest in peace. Because what has happened is far from peaceful.
As a journalist, I try to stay as far away from political articles and political topics. After waking up the following moring and reading the notification on my phone about how a gunman had opened fire on a crowd of concert goers, I felt numb the entire morning. Seeing that politicians were already on news outlets shouting for a change in gun laws. That is was an isolated incident when it is a prime example of domestic terrorism. All I could think about was “what about the victim’s families?”
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ORG. SPOTLIGHT 9
ASME promotes networking for engineering majors Jonathan Espinoza Assistant Editor
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est Texas A&M University has seen a recent growth in its engineering programs. With the expansion of both its graduate and undergraduate programs, the Prairie is spotlighting the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), a student-led organization on campus that seeks to promote networking between students and the professional engineering world. Melissa Chavez, ASME president and senior mechanical engineering major, and Samantha Golden, ASME vice president and senior mechanical engineering major sat down with the Prairie and talked about ASME and their hopes for the organization. THE PRAIRIE: What has been the most interesting thing that has happened to you while a member of ASME? CHAVEZ: We had a speaker come out last week from Altura Engineering, and I actually had the opportunity to intern with them his summer, and it’s really exciting because it
shows what ASME can really do for students. GOLDEN: So many students now are desiring to have experience or time in front of potential employers, and it is something that is a reality now. It’s exciting for me when I get to see students meet that potential employer or get that job. What motivates you to make ASME succeed? CHAVEZ: Having our underclassmen really work with the upperclassmen I think that is something that hasn’t be done before and that is really important to all of us, that everyone feels welcome and that
they all have a place in this organization. GOLDEN: I would have to say the student body. Coming into engineering can be very intimidating and daunting to a lot of younger faces, and for us to be the best, we really have to help one another. What is something that most people do not know about ASME? GOLDEN: A lot of times in engineering, or even STEM, women are vastly underrepresented, but within ASME, all of the upperclassmen are females, which helps diversify the organization.
WT’s chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers officers, left to right, president, Melissa Chavez and vice president, Samantha Golden Jonathan Espinoza/The Prairie
CHAVEZ: A lot of organizations typically do a lot of get-togethers or social events, and we are trying to implement that, but we really focus on the employers. I think that’s something that stands out because that goes to show that we care about the students and are setting them up for success. Who has been your most influential mentor up to this point in your life? CHAVEZ: I would definitely have to say my mom. She has always been very supportive of anything I do. Looking at where she came from, and how she got to where she is now has been so inspirational to me. She came over here from Mexico when she was 18, got her citizenship, became a CNA, LVN, RN, and now, she is a nurse practitioner. GOLDEN: My brother has always been very supportive. He just graduated from medical school, and I’m soon to graduate from engineering, and we have always had a sibling rivalry, but we are very supportive of each other, and he has been a great mentor in that sense. Right now, in this moment, what is worrying you the most? CHAVEZ: Senior design!
It is very challenging, but it’s also very rewarding. We get to implement everything we’ve learned up to this point, design something from the ground up, see it work, and for me, that is something that is very satisfying. GOLDEN: I would have to agree. Senior design really comes in and sums up your experience and education at WT, and it gives you the opportunity to succeed. What are some big things that can be expected from ASME? CHAVEZ: We really want to include the underclassmen, and that is something that we did different this semester. We decided we wanted to have a position for an underclassman as well as an upperclassman. We wanted to set a foundation and revamp the whole program and get everyone involved. GOLDEN: I want to see ASME have more of a presence on campus. We have some really cool events coming up. We are organizing an engineer tailgating for homecoming, and we are really excited about that because it will give people an opportunity to network with upperclassmen and alumni.
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Women’s golf builds on experience, gains momentum Allie Smith Sports Editor
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oming off a convincing win in their home tournament this past weekend, the ninth-ranked Lady Buff Golf team is looking sharp. After a second place regional preview finish and a ninth place finish at the national preview, WT looked to settle score back in the panhandle. “We just had our home tournament and dominated,” senior Mattye Mason said. “We won by like 19 strokes. We’re pretty stoked about that. We shot an 18 hole and 36 hole record. It makes us really pumped for the next one.” The roster includes seven returners, a anomaly from past years when there is at least one newcomer. WT is looking to prove themselves again this weekend in Lawton, OK. “We have all returners this year, so we have no new ones, which is really nice because nobody’s having to adjust,” Mason said. “Everybody’s been here before. Everyone’s done it. We’re all pretty bonded by now because we had a whole year... We all respect each other and get along.” The Lady Buffs’
Photo courtesy of Keith Bartley Senior Mattye Mason drains a putt during fall competition.
experience helps them navigate a game that strays from a traditional approach. “You can win as an individual and you can win as a team,” Mason said. “It’s definitely different from other sports because in other sports, you either win as a team or you lose as a team. In ours, our team can lose but you can still win the tournament individually. It’s definitely different.” Mason said that despite this change, the team
mentality is still there. “I want to play good myself but I also think about my team so I’m like, ‘If I play good, it means we’re going to do better as a team,’” Mason said. “Every athlete has to have a certain level of confidence or kind of cockiness, like swag kind of. We have to be very zoned into our own game, like each shot is our shot. But it’s also the team’s shot. If you start to melt down or something, maybe have a bad hole or
something, you just think, ‘Oh, my teammate probably had a good hole so it’s okay that I had a bad one because I know they have my back.’ So you just go to the next hole thinking, ‘Brand new. Just keep going.’ You have teammates to back you up if you have a bad day. You still want to win individually... but you really want to play good so your team wins because in the end, your team can get you to regionals and nationals. Our team rank is what gets us to regionals. If the team wins, we go to nationals. It’s a lot harder to do all that by yourself.” Even for returners, though, there are still lessons yet to be learned. “This upcoming tournament has been one I’ve been looking forward to,” junior Kaylin Millholland said. “One, because I have never seen the course and two, because the team has been performing well the last few tournaments and I have been very proud of the hard work everyone has been putting in and am excited to see that hard work come to life this next week.” It is crucial that players continue to get better and build on the accomplishments they have already had.
“I love the girls on the team,” Millholland said. “They are my family and I love the hard work and dedication every one puts in. Being so close to everyone we all can focus on one thing, and that’s performing well on the golf course. It is very important to have a close knit team, in my opinion, because we all push each other to be the best we can be and support every one on and off the golf course.” As the year-long season continues, Jameson said that the maturity of the team will continue to set the Lady Buffs apart. “Performance in tournaments is a direct reflection of preparation and mental processes,” Jameson said. “Our team is committed to having a beneficial mindset. Mindset is critical in golf because we have five players who are all competing on different holes, but I can only coach one at a time. Even if I am not with a particular player, she knows how to approach every situation on the course. I really trust in their course management decisions and ability to execute their strategies.” The Lady Buffs will finish their fall season at the Oklahoma Intercollegiate in Fort Sill, OK on Oct. 16-17.
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SPORTS 11
Buffs hold on for homecoming victory over Adams State Austin Heinen Reporter
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est Texas A&M (34) snapped a three-game skid and it could not have come at any better time. The defense forced Adams State (3-4) five turnovers to clinch a 17-14 homecoming victory. The defense continued its trend of forcing turnovers and helped set up great opportunities for the offense. Forcing three interceptions and recovering two fumbles on the night, the defense produced game-changing numbers. Head Coach Hunter Hughes said that he knew the defense was going to have opportunities to make plays in this game. “We knew they were going to put the ball in the air,” Hughes said. “We had to make some adjustments. We adjusted well. I thought the safeties read the ball well, and I thought that we played well today.” Junior defensive back Chazz Slatinsky was responsible for two of the three interceptions and had six tackles. Slatinsky said that turnovers in any game will greatly increase your chances of winning. “If the defense can force more turnovers, it’s highly
myself, I’m going to do whatever it takes to help us win this game.’” Though a 3-4 record may have not been the situation this team wanted with five games left, it is clear that progress and improvements are being made in Coach Hughes’ first year. “I think this game was big for our guys and for us to move forward,” Hughes said. “We’ve played hard and have done the right things, and we’ve just come up on the short end sometimes. I think we’ve been in every single game with the exception of last week. Some previous weeks didn’t turn out our way, but this week turned out our way.” The Buffaloes will Nick Alvarado/The Prairie now return to Lone WT’s Daelin Young sacks Adams State quarterback Nick Rooney during the homecoming game on Star Conference Oct. 14 at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium. play as they face two conference heavyweights possible that we will win,” Junior running back Warren shown after this muchin LSC leader and No. 5 Slatinsky said. “That’s what Witherspoon was a big needed win. “We needed this win really Midwestern State on Oct. we needed to do. We came reason for this improvement. into this game talking about Witherspoon ran for 160 bad,” Witherspoon said, 21 in Wichita Falls and host how we have lacked those yards on just 18 carries, who rushed for a career-high another tough opponent in lately. We were able to put averaging nine yards per 160 yards and a touchdown. No. 10 A&M-Commerce it on them [Adams State] carry. Coach Hughes talked “I feel like the team and I on Oct. 28. The final two about getting his running aren’t used to losing, so I games will include a travel tonight.” The offense seemed to be backs to run downhill. After put some of it upon myself to Angelo State on Nov. 4 improved, especially with getting results like these, saying, ‘Hey, we are going and the regular season finale the Buffs rushing attack. improvement has been to win, this game, and told on Nov. 11 against Western New Mexico.
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Oct. 18, 2017
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Lady Buffs show improvement with wins at home Allie Smith Sports Editor
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wo matches in as many days is a pretty tall order for any team. With a roster laden with underclassmen, the Lady Buff volleyball team’s challenge became slightly more complex. WT embraced the test and passed with flying colors as they snagged a win against Dallas Baptist University on Friday and another Saturday afternoon from Texas A&M- Kingsville. “The message we learned this weekend after talking to the girls is we have to make sure to be aggressors and not so passive,” head coach Jason Skoch said. “We also need to start boosting them up… It’s a mind game with these girls right now. The more we help them feel like they are on the offensive, I think that will help us fix a lot of our woes.” The Lady Buffs made quick work of DBU on Friday as they took the match 3-0. Despite a lighter hitting night, they got the job done to start some momentum rolling into Saturday’s conference match up. “It was good to get a win and be back in The Box,” sophomore Selena Batiste
said. “We kept the lead at the end but in the middle and at the beginning, we have to start stronger. We didn’t really have as much energy as we have in the past and we just need to start enjoying it when we’re up.” The match against the Lady Patriots was hardly finished but WT was already looking forward to the next day. “It’s exciting to be back in conference and playing at The Box,” junior Larami Lancaster said. “We’ve only lost one game here so we kindof have that home dominance. Honestly, if we just come out swinging, I think we’ll come out with the win… Tomorrow we’re going to come out with the right mindset by knowing the ball is coming to us and with it on our side of the court, we can get it done.” Although the Lady Buffs came out in the win column on Friday, they agreed that some tweaks were due to take down Kingsville. “We just have to come out strong,” Batiste said. “We know that Kingsville is a really good team but we know that if we control the energy and our environment, we’re going to succeed.” Skoch was already considering how to approach the game the following day
while he cleaned up the court from the DBU game. “With every coach, our struggle is enjoying the moment because we’re always thinking about how what we did today is going to come back to us in a game a month from now,” Skoch said. “You have to be futuristic but you also have to enjoy the moment.” Skoch said that it is important for the team to recognize that sometimes a little luck goes a long way. “I want perfection in practice but in a game, I’ll take a point any way we get it,” Skoch said. “It’s okay to know when you’re lucky. I have to drive that home more. In a game, I don’t care how. Just get the point… There’s a Nick Alvarado/The Prairie difference between WT freshman outside hitter Erin Clark hits the ball during match practice and a game. on Oct. 7 against A&M-Kingsville. You play like you “We just had a different home and then struggle on practice but practice is there approach with the girls and the road so you have that to make you better.” it didn’t hit me until after the different approach. Losing When the sun set Saturday Kingsville match,” Skoch can get to you. It was neat night, the Lady Buffs proved said. “One of the coaches to see that [the team] had that skill - and maybe a tiny at Kingsville was like ‘You a really good response. [It bit of luck - was on their side guys are different beasts at was] just a fun weekend to despite dropping one set to home’... Most teams are show some positives on some the Javelinas. doing abnormally well at character. It was fun.”
Oct. 18, 2017
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SPORTS 13
theprairienews.com
Buffs, Lady Buffs in Action during homecoming week
Nick Alvarado/The Prairie Kevon Thomas intercepts a pass in the end zone during the homecoming game against Adams State on Oct. 14 at Kimbrorough Memorial Stadium.
Nick Alvarado/The Prairie Justin Houghtaling prepares to throw as pass during the homecoming game on Oct. 14 at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
Nick Alvarado/The Prairie Erin Clark prepares to kill the ball over a Texas Women’s defender on Oct. 14 at the Box.
Nick Alvarado/The Prairie Crystal Thomas goes up for the ball during the match against Texas Women’s on Oct. 14 in the Box.
Nick Alvarado/The Prairie Warren Witherspoon follows his blockers as he runs the ball during the homecoming game against Adams State on Oct. 14
Nick Alvarado/The Prairie Kamille Jones hits the ball as a pair of Texas Women’s players attempt to block during the match on Oct. 14 at the Box.
14 GAMES
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Oct. 18, 2017 theprairienews.com
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Oct. 18, 2017 theprairienews.com
COMICS 15
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PHOTO
Oct. 18, 2017
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Communication Hall of Fame 2017
Rising Star Award Recipient, Eva Harder. A writer and editor at the nonprofit America’s Promise Alliance.
Rising Star Award Recipient, Shay Ward. He currently works as a project manager for Flagship Credit Acceptance.
Community Partner Award Recipient, Mary Coyne. She has been actively involved in helping the Department of Communication launch its student-run public relations agency, 1910PR.
Eternal Flame Award Recipient, Jessica Mallard. Currently serves as Dean of the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.
Hall of Fame Inductee, Craig Gualtiere, “People Person.” He is the owner/operator of Roasters Coffee and Tea and since 2007 has served as a special production assistant for the National Football League.
Hall of Fame Inductee, Lou Ann Seabourn, Inspiring Teacher. She taught in the Amarillo Independent School District from 1976-1985 and then joined the Speech faculty at WTAMU from 1985-1998.
Hall of Fame Inductee, Randy Ray, “Dig In.” Ray has served as the Director of Broadcast Engineering in WTAMU’s Department of Communication. He is also the author of Thank the Lord for Leroy.
KTWS gives Randy Ray a special gift, a shovel with his quote “Dig In” and a bass strap with the One logo and his name.
The Event Planning class taught by Professor Vanessa Dirksmeyer helped plan and coordinate the event.