The Prairie Vol. 96 Number 3

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Shipman to Speak at Hall of Fame Jasmine Aranda reporter

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Buff Briefs

Laci McGee reports on the bat migration at WTAMU.

PAGE 3

SPORTS

September 10, 2013 • Vol. 96, No. 3

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TAMU will be welcoming Claire Shipman to the Communication Hall of Fame Banquet, presented by the Department of Communication. Shipman, bestselling author of Womenomics, senior contributor for Good Morning America and a former White House Correspondent for NBC will be featured as keynote speaker. She will be speaking about “How Women are Changing the World, from Politics to the Workplace.”

“Students who attend will have the opportunity to hear ABC National News correspondent Claire Shipman,” Dr. Trudy Hanson, head of the Department of Communication, said. “They will have the opportunity to meet four outstanding Communication Alumni who have had very successful careers.”

This is the department’s first year sponsoring the Communication Hall of Fame. This event

NEWS

Buffs football defeats Western State.

PAGE 7

FEATURE

Recruitment Week brings changes to WT.

PAGE 10 COURTESY OF DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATION Student Senators were elected to represent each of the colleges at WTAMU.

is designed to raise awareness about the Department of Communication, honor alumni and their accomplishments, present students with an opportunity to see what can be accomplished in their prospective careers, and participate in a meet and greet with Shipman.

Four Communication graduTODAY: iBelong Fair at the JBK Legacy Hall 10 a.m. - 1p.m.

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ates will be honored at this banquet. They include Matt Adams, Executive Vice President of Customer Solutions at Insala; Andy Justus, award-winning news anchor for NBC affiliate KAMR in Amarillo; Russell Lowery-Hart, Vice President of Academic Affairs at Amarillo College; and Guy P. Yates, Professor Emeritus WEDNESDAY: iCare Fair at the JBK Legacy Hall 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

of Speech Communication.

The event will take place in the Alumni Banquet Facility at 6 p.m. on Sept. 20. The money from each ticket purchased will support student organizations within the Communication Department.

THURSDAY: WT Football Watch Party at the JBK Legacy Hall 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

OPINION

Miley Cyrus and the media.

PAGE 11 FRIDAY: Student Government Bingo at JBK Commons/Legends starting at 7 p.m.

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NEWS

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

Students can Save Money on Groceries Matt Villegas Reporter

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n today’s economy, the cost of groceries is more expensive than ever. With the help of food boxes, First Christian Church of Canyon is making an effort to make it easier for all of us.

Food boxes are distributed once a month by Manna Ministries.

Also known as “Food from Heaven”, the food boxes are for anyone and everyone who is looking to save a buck or two on groceries.

“The boxes save money because they are 40 percent cheaper than going to the local grocery store,” Debra Huffman, Pastor at Manna Ministries, said.

These food boxes can feed up to four people for a week.

Accordng to a former college student, the food boxes are a smart choice for college students who live off campus and do not have a meal plan.

“I used the program in college and it is great for students on a budget,” Amanda Rogers, Editor of the Canyon News, said. “A lot of college

STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

PHOTO COURTESY OF AMANDA ROGERS Monte Winders, former WT Alumni Association president, Pastor Debra Huffman and Manna Ministries leader Sandy Russell pack boxes of food for. the “Food from Heaven” project.

students could benefit from it.

They just are not aware of it.”

The cost of each box is $34. It comes with full meals,

with options such as a fruit and vegetable box, chicken breast and ground beef. Manna Ministries places orders once

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Christopher Berryman Cheyenne Black B.J. Brittain Kristian Diaz Alex Gonzalez Jennifer Hendrick Laci McGee Sarah Jo Miller Natalia Molina

DESIGN EDITOR

Brooke Self

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Matt Watkins

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REPORTERS

a month, buys them in bulk and then distributes them to multiple churches across the panhandle.

There are no restrictions on who can buy a box.

“Order forms can be found at First Church of Canyon and we would like to begin distributing on the college campus,” Sandy Russel, Manna Ministries Project Leader, said. “We accept all forms of payment and are excited to help out everyone we can.”

Orders are placed once a month and must be placed two weeks in advance. It is ideal for people on a limited income, but everyone qualifies. It is a nonprofit, non-denominational program.

The food boxes are also a good way for student organizations on campus to get involved and do some community service.

The church will need volunteers to help distribute the goods and separate them into boxes. If you are interested in volunteering or would like to sign up for a food box, please contact First Christian Church of Canyon at (806) 655-3512.

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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.

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NEWS

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

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Toot’n Totum Helps WT Bats on Campus Marissa Rivera Rejporter

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oot’n Totum has partnered with WTAMU in a fund-raising effort to benefit the university by giving one person a chance to win a $10,000 pre-paid bank card.

Tickets will be sold for $10 each.

Tickets are available at Toot’n Totum locations throughout the Panhandle. They are also available on campus through various student organizations now through Nov. 3.

“This is our way of really engaging students in the university’s campaign, Share Your Pride,” Tim Bynum, senior development officer, said.

All proceeds from ticket sales will go directly to WT. Proceeds from tickets sales at

Toot’n Totum locations will go to the Toot’n Totum Endowed Scholarship Program as a part of the Share Your Pride campaign at WT. Ticket sales on campus will be divided with 50 percent of what students sell going to their organization while the other 50 percent will go to WT’s general scholarship fund.

“It doesn’t get any easier than this,” Bynum said. “There’s virtually no cost to the organizations thanks to Toot’n Totum.”

According to CORE consultant Lluvia Vidaña, about 40 organizations have signed up out of 130.

“We are expecting a lot more to sign up this week,” Vidaña

said. “It is a great opportunity for organizations having trouble with fundraising.”

Toot’n Totum has committed to partner specifically with WT for various fundraisers.

“We feel very strongly that education is the future of the work force in our area,” Melinda Batchelor, Toot’n Totum Director of Communications, said.

“We support higher education.”

Bynum anticipates that WT will raise over $100,000 over the next five years.

The winning ticket will be drawn on Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. at WT. The winner will be recognized when the Buffs play West Georgia at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium on Nov. 9 at 6 p.m.

Laci McGee Reporter

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est Texas A&M University is on a migration path for “primarily Mexican Free-tailed bats but also several other species,” Rick Gilliland, who works in Animal Damage Control, said. The bats can sometimes be seen flying over Jones Hall. One Jones Hall resident, Justin McClannahan, sophomore Graphic Design major, said he has seen a couple of bats.

“I was standing on the balcony one night and two bats were having a quarrel,” McClannahan said. “It was an interesting sight to see the two bats fighting.”

“Grounded bats can be sick,” Gilliland said. “They may also be juvenile bats learning to fly.”

Despite the danger, these winged mammals can still be neat to watch.

“I saw the bats right around the time it was getting dark out,” Isaac Silva, freshman Business major, said. “They looked rather mousey and once they landed they turned upside down.”

Mexican Free-tailed bats are thought to be one of the most plentiful mammals in North America. These bats live in a wide range of areas from the southern half of the United States all the way down to Chile and Peru in South America.

The Environmental Safety Office has stated that if you find an injured bat, do not handle it and call the Environmental Safety Office at 806-651-2134.

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NEWS

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

Area Police Discuss Recent Homicides C.J. Berryman Reporter

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t appeared the Amarillo area was on course for an annual low of homicides headed into the month of July. However, since July 28 there have been five homicides, four occurring in the month of August alone.

According to NewsChannel 10, the Amarillo area averages about one homicide a month.

There have been nine total homicides in 2013 up to this point.

One of the most recent homicides, involving the dumping of 29-year-old Lance Lee Hooser’s body at the 200 block of South Bryan in Amarillo, has area citizens concerned that possible drug cartel activity is prevalent in the area.

Lieutenant Erick Bohannon, Commander of the Special

Crimes Unit of the Amarillo Police Department, said drug cartel activity did not appear to be involved in Hooser’s death.

“We never rule anything like [drug cartel activity] out,” Bohannon said. “I can’t get into the details of why [Hooser’s murder] happened, but there was some initial concern that the uniqueness of the case might lead us down the road to gang activity; in the end that did not prove out.”

Bohannon said he most certainly would consider the Amarillo area and the Texas Panhandle a safe place to call home.

“I’ve heard the speculation, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s running rampant,’” Bohannon said. “I realize five homicides in a month is unusual, but when you look at the total, we are well within the

range of homicides we have in any given year.”

Brent Harrison, Chief of Police at the Hereford Police Department, said he hasn’t come across any drug cartel activity personally, but authorities never rule it out at the beginning of an investigation.

“Over the years, with the warring factions in Mexico, it’s going to spill over to the US at some point,” Harrison said.

“There’s a coalition of border sheriffs and they all try to stay very connected and utilize the same resources, as well as DPS. There’s obviously a concern.”

Harrison said the communication and cooperation between area police departments has always been healthy.

“We rarely work together, but when we do I’ve always got-

ten really good response from them,” Harrison said. “I’ve got [an acquaintance] who is a captain at APD, and I could get his take on [crime scene pictures] because he has seen so many different homicides. He can take a look at the pictures and tell me a little bit about it.”

Chief Shawn Burns, Chief of Police at WTAMU, said good communication is most certainly prevalent between area departments and the Amarillo area has a good system regarding the tracking of gang activity.

“Amarillo PD has a crime analysis that puts stuff out weekly,” Burns said. “The chiefs of police, we have a High Plains Police Chiefs Association where we meet every other month; a lot of the police chiefs are in the same room at the same time.

In addition to that we have the Panhandle Police Officers Association, which is open to any officer in the Panhandle, it meets in the other months. So every month, there is a meeting of some law enforcement association going on.”

Burns said cartel and gang activity is less likely to effect Canyon and WT not only because of the high volume of law enforcement in the area, but because the citizens of Canyon are well aware of their surroundings.

“It’s harder to blend in,” Burns said. “[Cartel activity] isn’t gonna go two or three days before it gets reported. There’s a good chance it’s getting reported when they move in the first day. It’s just how this community is.”

their families. They are not the only ones who believe that it is hard to make it off of low wages.

“I have worked for low wages before,” Oliver Holmes, junior Spanish major, said. “I had to work a lot of hours to be able to save up enough to be able to come to school this semester.”

In the past, these positions with fast food restaurants have been viewed as being predominantly for teenaged workers in need of pocket money. However, this is no longer the case.

In fact, only 16 percent of fast food workers are teenagers.

More and more adults trying to support a family are resorting to these jobs.

“This is actually very surprising, but I think a good bit of that is the generation before worked hard to make sure their kids were provided for enough to

have a good education,” Daniel Bonds, junior Sports and Exercise Science major, said. “That left them in a position where they have to struggle while their kids are getting an education.”

Another point that these workers make is that the government has failed to raise the minimum wage to keep up with the growing cost of living. They argue that everything has gone up, except for wages. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, if minimum wage were to be raised to keep up with inflation alone, the amount would be $10.74 by now. The $15 per hour that the workers are requesting is a bit over this and some students at WTAMU think that it is a little much.

“I think it is fair for them to ask for more money, but the things they are asking for are

unrealistic,” Bonds said. “They need to be ready to compromise more. If they were to make $15 an hour that would be terrific and everybody would be working at McDonald’s, but I don’t see how we could really do that.”

The fast food chains that these people work for have an entirely different view on the situation. They say the difference caused by higher wages would be passed on to their customers. In other words, if the workers were to be paid more, the people eating at these restaurants would have to pay more for their food. The restaurants also argue that only about five percent of their workers actually make minimum wage.

President Obama is currently working to raise the minimum wage to $9 per hour. He hopes that this will raise wages enough

that it will make a difference in the lives of workers but not hurt the job market and economy.

“I think he is trying for a good amount,” Lanie Hazle, sophomore Mass Communication major, said. “The strikers are asking for entirely too much money, but I think $9 is a good compromise that should really be passed.”

With this turmoil involving the minimum wage, Bonds has an interesting view on the situation.

“I’m just grateful that we live in a nation where we are provided and given the opportunity to get an education,” Bonds said.

“That we are able to reach jobs that we truly enjoy and provide a good living for our family, and that we are not forced to settle for minimum wage.”

Fast Food Strikers Demand Higher Wages B.J. Brittain Reporter

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housands of fast food workers, in over 50 cities across the country, walked out of their workplace on August 29 in an effort to bring awareness to their cause.

They are requesting to raise the wages of all fast food workers throughout the nation from the current minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour, to $15 per hour. This is quite a leap, but the workers feel it is quite necessary in the current economic climate.

This movement began nearly a full year ago last November.

Since that time, fast food workers have been seen striking and arguing for a higher minimum wage. These workers say that on their current wages, it is impossible for them to provide for

NEWS

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

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Tie Dye on the Lawn Alex Gonzalez Reporter

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n Friday, Sept. 6, many tables and buckets of water laid scattered throughout Terrill Lawn. It was WTAMU’s first ever Tie Dye Event. The event lasted from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and was organized by the CORE office. Students were to bring whatever article of clothing they wanted tie dyed including shirts, towels and even dresses. Even though the event was brand new to WT, the idea of having students tie dye articles of clothes wasn’t.

“Our new VP, Donna Eddleman, had done this event in the past at one of her old schools,” Stephanie Brackett, Assistant Director of Student Activities, said.

“It was a big success there so she wanted to try it here.”

Despite the sun and the soggy ground due to a water pipe that had burst while they were trying to get the event ready, students still seemed to enjoy tie-dyeing.

“It was really fun,” Christian Gonzalez, sophomore English education major, said. “I’m really looking forward to see-

ing how my shirt came out.”

The CORE office sponsors many events throughout the year, making it their goal to connect students to activities and get involved in what is going on around campus.

“With our events we really hope students who haven’t really met anybody new can come out and meet new people,” said Brackett.

The event was put together by many students who help out at the CORE office. They also bought all the supplies for tie-dyeing.

“A tie dye event just seemed like something fun, “ Caleb Hubbard, junior math major, said. “Something a little more relaxing as an event, that people could forget about the first few weeks of school and have fun.”

“The water line exploded, making it a little harder to get everything in order,” Amanda Kraemer, a grad student and English major who is also Student Body Vice president, said.

WTAMU Hosts a Leadership Conference PBTI-70080.01 Aug-Sept The Prairie-Amarillo.indd 1

Sarah Jo Miller Reporter

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he Leadership Board of the CORE office is teaming up with LEAD WT’s Winds of Change group to host the Leadership Summit on Sept.

21 in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center.

“The Leadership Board wanted a conference for high school students and we, as LEAD WT, wanted one for the college students,” Amber Black, LEAD WT Coordinator, said. “So we got together and created this event for everyone. We’ve been planning since last fall.”

As Jared Wesley, junior civil and mechanical engineering major and Winds of Change

group member pointed out, this conference is also open to other leaders.

“The event is an opportunity for local leaders, aspiring leaders in the college, community or high school students who have an interest in leadership to come and learn from proven leaders about leadership,” Wesley said. “It is designed so that the people who attend the event can come away knowing more about leadership and how to lead effectively.”

Speakers have been scheduled throughout the summit, which is from 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

“The keynote speaker is Price Pritchett, who is actually a WT

8/21/13 2:43 PM

alum and wrote a book called Hard Optimism,” Black said.

Hard Optimism is about “developing strengths for managing uncertainty, opportunity, adversity, and change,” as stated in the front cover of the book. In addition to Pritchett, there will be other speakers.

“The breakout sessions will be lead by successful area leaders such as Dr. J. Dirk Nelson, Mr. Mikey Littau, Dr. Donna Eddleman, Dr. Lance Kieth and others,” Wesley said.

According to Black, there will be two time periods between Pritchett’s keynotes for breakout sessions. Within each time period, there are five different choices of speakers’ sessions on

different leadership topics for each type of leader. That may include those who know their leadership abilities or are trying to discover them.

“There is leadership in everyone,” Black said. “Anyone can develop their leadership potential.

People usually see leaders as people in high positions, but all students have leadership potential. Developing that potential will help them be successful in college and beyond.”

According to Kelby Koelder, junior Agricultural Media and Communications major and Winds of Change group member, there’s one requirement, but much to get out of it.

“For $15, you can get a T-shirt,

lunch, snacks, dinner and leadership training from the very best in the Winds of Change,” Koelder said.

Black stated that students should register by Sept. 13.

“That will help us have a better idea of how many shirts and sizes to have,” Black said. “I think it’s going to be really fun.

It’s going to be a good day with cool T-shirts.”

“If the students wish to attend they need to go to the WTAMU home page, go to the student life tab, scroll to the bottom and click on the LEAD WT link,” Wesley said. “Once there, click on the Leadership Summit link and register.”

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SPORTS

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

Keltin Wiens’ Korner Prairie Sports Columnist Keltin Wiens weighs in on any and everything sports each week.

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t’s nice to see football season in full swing again: high school, college and professional football will accompany the changing leaves for yet another fall. But it’s not just football season that strikes America, it’s Football Fever, most notably in the obsession and the popularity of fantasy football. Luckily, Peyton Manning and his seven touchdowns on Thursday night against Baltimore helped me out this week in my fantasy league.

This football fever helps to create another condition in the world of football: dollar fever.

This is especially true in the professional ranks of the sport, but is seeping into the college side of things. Recent conference realignment is the perfect example of this sickness.

On Saturday, Notre Dame and Michigan played for the last time in the foreseeable future in Michigan Stadium, known as The Big House. It was just the second night game in the 86-year history of the venue and the largest crowd to ever watch a college football game of 115,109 was on hand to see Michigan beat Notre Dame 4130.

The rivalry between the two schools, separated by less than 150 miles, dates back to 1887 and the Wolverines and Fight-

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ing Irish have met 41 times since then, with Michigan stealing victories in 24 contests.

The two programs rank No. 1 and No. 2 in winning percentage. The rivalry will take a hiatus beginning in 2015 because of Notre Dame’s agreement to play mostly Atlantic Coast Conference schools (a move that financially benefits both sides) starting that year.

The decision to take a break from history has created a national debate about the importance of the rivalry from a practical, traditional and historical point of view. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly even said that he didn’t think that Michigan was one of the Fighting Irish’s main rivals, a statement that had Michigan incensed that he would say such a blasphemous thing.

But through all the debate, I haven’t seen anybody asking whether or not we should end the rivalry. In my mind, the answer is yes.

In Major League Baseball, there is a feeling that in order to succeed, you have to kiss the ring of the history of the game; baseball fails to recognize change or is, at the very least, slow to adapt to it. Thus, in our changing world, baseball’s revenues and television ratings are dropping, while football’s are

only climbing higher and higher.

College football’s pursuit of the almighty dollar is one that serves to buck the trend of tradition in the sport. Who says that college football must adhere to traditions anyway? By continuing to get wrapped up in the history of the game and those that have played it in the past only prevents us from focusing on the now, focusing on the current team on the field.

Nobody says you can’t have the history. But, by continuing to focus on the past and believing that historic rivalries or coaches must remain in place in order for the sport to be successful is out of date and is not a vote of confidence for the current team.

All rivalries in sports should take a break every now and then because it tends to shake things up. Ending rivalries grabs headlines and has fans and alumni of schools talking about the football program. It also helps to keep things fresh.

In other words, shedding tradition and focusing more on the present than the past is a way to keep programs or sports from getting stuck in a rut. I think that football should go after what’s best for itself. And what is best for football right now is some new dynamics and dead rivalries.

Reporters Multimedia Layout Designers Photographers For more information: email theprairiewt@gmail.com or come by the Fine Arts Complex Room 268.

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SPORTS

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

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Lady Buffs Dominate the BritKare Classic CJ Berryman Sports Reporter

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he No. 10 WTAMU Lady Buffs volleyball team enjoyed a very successful weekend, as they went 5-0 on their way to claiming the BritKare Lady Buff Classic title held on Sep. 5-7 at “The Box.” Two Lady Buffs, redshirt senior Laura Iwuchukwu and senior Halie Harton, were named to the All-Tournament team and redshirt freshman Lauren Britten received MVP honors.

The action started for WT on Thursday when the Lady Buffs swept the ThunderWolves of Colorado State-Pueblo in three straight sets [25-17, 25-18, 2513]. It was the school’s 400th victory at the The Box.

“You have to take some pride in that,” said senior Lee Golden.

“Just coming in and looking around, you know there is some history here. It’s self-pride and respect for wearing the jersey.

As an athlete, you better come out and show up, especially at ‘The Box.’” Golden had a team-high 13 kills in the opening match, and Harton followed up with 10 kills of her own. Junior Kameryn Hayes had 26 assists, and Harton and Britten chipped in with eight digs.

WT played two games on Friday, the first against UT-Permian Basin and the second against Western State Colorado University. The Lady Buffs swept the first match in three straight sets [25-18, 25-17, 25-16].

Iwuchukwu had a team-high 14 kills, followed by Harton with 12 and Hayes with 10. Hayes had 27 assists and freshman Kyli Schulz recorded 20. Britten racked up 17 digs while Harton tallied 15.

In the second game against Mountaineers, the Lady Buffs dropped the first set, 19-25, before steamrolling to victory by taking the next three sets [2512, 25-13, 25-20]. The first set was the only set WT lost over the entire weekend.

Harton led the team offensively with 12 kills, followed by Golden and sophomore Lexi Davis with seven kills each. Hayes tallied 24 assists and Britten recorded 15 digs.

WT finished things off on Saturday with victories over Lub-

bock Christian [25-17, 25-17, 25-12] and UC-Colorado Springs [25-20, 25-21, 25-21] to grab the title.

Iwuchukwu lead things offensively for the Lady Buffs against the Lady Chaps with ten kills; Harton had six kills and Davis had five. Hayes had a team-high 22 assists and Britten finished with eight digs.

After the game, Lubbock Christian head coach Jennifer Lawrence hadrespectful words for the WT squad.

“Of course WT is good, they are always good,” Lawrence said.

“We like playing them; they are solid and strong. We are really young right now. We can’t make unforced errors when we play someone like WT, because they are going to take advantage of it.

remaining in the first. Vaughn would also throw a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior Aaron Harris for a 17-0 advantage after one.

Vaughn would connect with senior Torrence Allen on a fouryard touchdown pass to give WT a 24-0 lead with 4:38 left in the half. Less than a minute of game time later, Vaughn would hit Johnson for a 24-yard score to increase the Buff’s lead to 31-0. WT would take a 34-0 lead into the break after a 29-yard field goal by Castillo with 0:26 remaining.

The Buffs would be the only team to put points on the board in the third quarter. WT scored on a 10-yard pass from Vaughn to senior Trevor Hammargren for a 41-0 lead with 6:19 remaining in the quarter.

Western State would finally

get on the board when Ron Dickerson found Travis Haney for a 72-yard touchdown strike to cut the deficit to 41-7. Vaughn would hit Allen for a 28-yard touchdown to answer and make it a 48-7 game. Two touchdown passes from Brett Arrivey, one to Vince Delmonico and one to Lukas Adams would make the final score more respectable, but would not be enough to get the Mountaineers in the game.

Vaughn completed 37 passes out of 57 attempts for 470 yards and a career-high six touchdowns in the

first game of his senior season.

Allen caught 12 passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns, and Johnson made three receptions for 53 yards and two scores in his WT debut.

WT is off to a 1-0 start for the

They are playing well.”

The Lady Buffs captured the title against the Mountain Lions behind Davis and Golden, both recording nine kills apiece.

Hayes chipped in seven kills and had 21 assists, and Britten finished off her strong weekend with eleven digs.

“We were mentally very stable,” said WT head coach Jason Skoch. “That’s the most important thing moving forward. The mental side is better.”

WT will head to Denver, Colorado, to participate in the 2013 Colorado Premiere with their first match slated to begin at 12 p.m. on Sep. 13 against the 4-0 Spartans of Tampa.

No. 3 Buffs blow out Mountaineers, 48-21

Matt Watkins Sports Editor

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he No. 3 WTAMU Buffalo football team opened their season by traveling to Gunnison, Colorado, to take on the Western State Colorado University Mountaineers on Sept.

7. The Buffs emerged with a 4821 victory to snap a skid of four straight season opening losses, two to Grand Valley State and two to Colorado State-Pueblo.

Senior linebacker Kyle Voss was suspended indefinitely before the game as a result of the recent NCAA investigation at WT. The Buffs opened the scoring with a field goal by senior Sergio Castillo with 10:40 to go in the first, followed by a 13-yard touchdown pass from senior Dustin Vaughn to junior, Northern Illinois transfer, Anthony Johnson for a 10-0 lead with 6:24

first time since 2008. The Buffs will participate in the Lone Star Football Festival on Sept. 12 as they have a playoff rematch from last season against No. 20 Chadron State College at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

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ENTERTAINMENT

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

A Brave New World on Civ V expansion

Preston Thomas Reporter

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t its release, many longtime fans of Sid Meier’s Civilization series decried the fifth entry as being simplistic and dumbed down compared to its predecessors. The game’s one-unit-per-tile system, lack of elements such as religion and espionage, and overall streamlined design was a turnoff to hardcore fans of Civilization. The release of the Gods and Kings expansion pack assuaged many misgivings some fans had about the game with the reintroduction of religion and espionage and a tune-up to the game’s diplomacy features; however, not everyone was happy yet.

Now a new world for Civilization V is dawning; a Brave New World, the latest major expansion pack for the game.

The DLC brings 9 new civilizations to the game: Assyria, Brazil, Indonesia, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, the Shoshone, Venice and the Zulu. The biggest changes come with the major overhaul of the existing culture system, the United Nations style World Congress which has been added for more complex diplomacy, the new trade routes system, and a bevy of game balance changes and tweaks.

First up, culture is now entirely different. Before Brave New World, winning a culture victory was as simple

as spending culture points to complete seven policy trees, which give various bonuses and abilities to your civilization, and building a world wonder, now the object of a culture victory is to spread your civilization’s culture to every other nation until it is the dominant culture in the world. The spread of your culture can be increased by linking trade routes, producing great works of art, literature, and music, and increasing tourism through buildings and policies. The ten social policy trees of preBNW Civilization have also been revamped to make way for the new ideology system.

The three trees of Autocracy, Order, and Freedom are now the three ideologies, one of which a nation must choose once it reaches a certain point in the game. Naturally, alliances will form amongst those with the same ideology and wars will break out over it. The influence of a nation’s culture also comes into play when ideologies begin popping up; if a civilization with Order is massively popular then cities of other nations will also desire that ideology.

If it goes too far, cities will even rebel and defect to another civilization.

Once a civilization has met every other civilization on the map and researched the printing press technology, they will become the founder of the new World Congress.

From banning certain luxury

resources, embargoing a civilization and nuclear non-proliferation treaties to massive projects such as Olympics style games and an International Space Station, members of the World Congress can propose a variety of resolutions that will affect the flow of the game. If a player proposes a resolution, say to make Shinto the official world religion, then other nations that follow Shinto will be happy and friendlier while those that don’t will become angry and even hostile.

Trade routes are an interesting new facet of the game’s economy. Upon re-

searching the proper techs, caravans and cargo ships can be built and sent out into the world. While the owner of the unit gets the greatest benefit from the trade route, the receiving city will also reap beneficial gold as well.

Trade routes also mimic the spread of technology, when trading to a civ that possesses technology you don’t have you will receive bonus science points but the same goes for your opposite number if you’re more advanced.

Trade routes may also spread religion across the world and having a trade route with another civilization increases

the spread of your culture to them.

Between the major additions and the minor tweaks, Civilization V is getting brawnier with each expansion pack and, for many; it now stands up to its ancestors. Players will once again tell themselves, “Just one more turn,” and proceed to spend the next hour beating up Spain or carving out a Roman empire. With the new systems and tools Brave New World puts in their hands, players can take the reins of their chosen nation and build a civilization to stand the test of time.

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GAMES

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

Can YOU finish first?

We are giving away $10 iTunes gift cards.

Finish the three puzzles with the correct answers and turn it in at FAC room 103.

Last Week’s Answers

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10 FEATURE

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

Recruitment week and change at WT more accessible to freshmen.

“This year we have moved all of the recruitment events As freshmen begin their first few weeks at WTAMU, on campus so more students many are rushing to differ- have the opportunity to go to these events,” said reent organizations to find cruitment committee memwhere they can become ber Casandra Ruiz. connected. Some students Ruiz believes it is important will find their place in to make these events accesGreek life, and this year sible to students so that they fraternities and sororities get connected. improved the recruitment “The experience of recruitprocess. ment gets you involved on “Instead of promoting campus and allows you to individual chapters we are meet new people, especially promoting ‘Go Greek,’” for incoming freshmen.

Inter-Fraternity recruitI think it’s a really great ment counselor Edward thing, and a way to get conAkinyemi said. “With ‘Go Greek’, we are trying to tell nected. In my experience joining a sorority helped me people to go out there and stay on campus,” said Ruiz. test your feet in the water, and we promote Greek life According to Brianna Griswold, each fraternity and as opposed to promoting sorority values the recruitindividual chapters.” ment experience.

Greek life has also made “This year our sorority other changes as well to is focusing on the whole simplify the recruitment aspect of going Greek in process. general. It’s really important “For the fraternities we for us to have as many girls have combined with the sign up and for as many to sororities to have one recruitment week,” Akinyemi have the opportunity to go through rush as possible,” said. “It used to be sororities get the second week Griswold, junior Advertising and Public Relations and the fraternities get the major, said. third week, however this year we have brought more With meeting new people comes nerves as well. hype to the freshmen by combining both weeks into Griswold has some words of wisdom for those who go one week.” through recruitment.

All of the recruitment activities have also been made “When people say it’s rush Connor Woods Reporter

week, it really is a rush.

That’s the feeling you get. I think that the girls are a lot of times really nervous, but we try to let them know we are just as nervous because we are, because we’re meeting them and they’re meeting us.

We also give them the insight that we’ve been in their shoes and it’s perfectly fine to be nervous,” Griswold said.

Share your Greek recruitment story with the rest of WT at

theprairiewt@gmail.com

Pregnant?

opinion 11

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

Miley Cyrus takes over the news world

T

he day after Sunday, August 25, all news programs seemed to explode with coverage of the previous night’s events. What was the event that had everyone going so crazy? The event was not some country crisis, nor did it have anything to do with Syria, strikers or Obamacare, but the VMA’s was the news of the week. Everyone who had a television was being subjected to watching Miley Cyrus grind all of the VMA stage and Robin

Thicke’s junk. Over and over again people watched as Cyrus bounced about the stage in her flesh-toned top and panties, sticking her tongue out and grabbing Thicke’s “package.” We also watched as she proceeded to put her booty on Thicke, bend over and attempt a dance move called “twerking.”

Whether or not this display from the former Disney star and daughter of Billy Ray was distasteful and raunchy is not the problem we see here. The problem comes when this dis-

play is played over and over again on what are thought to be respectable news programs.

The problem comes when we give more attention to what a 20-year-old pop star is choosing to do in her life rather than paying more attention to actual news. The display that Cyrus put on was shocking and that made it news. However, did we really have to watch it more than once? Did her raunchy and what some people are calling “ratchet” performance have enough news value to continue covering

throughout the following week?

When it comes to things like this, we have to be cautious on how much we cover it. Once Cyrus’ performance comes before other news stories that have more value, we have crossed the line from news to plain entertainment. There is no harm in popping in on the program to say, “Hey, if you missed it last night, here’s what Miley Cyrus did on the VMA’s.”

However, after that mention, it’s time to move on. Are we really more concerned with what the

former Hannah Montana is doing at the VMA’s now that she’s getting older and trying to find her identity than what is going on outside of MTV? If so, then we fear for our nation and our news organizations. As shocking as this performance may have been, there were more important things going on in the country and those issues should have been addressed first, before going on a weeklong “look-whatMiley-Cyrus-did” binge.

Question of the Week “How much news time should entertainers get?”

The Prairie will be asking a Question of the Week every Tuesday through Facebook and Twitter. Reply to our Question of the Week post on Facebook or use the hashtag #ThePrairieAsks on Twitter to respond. Student responses will be printed in the next edition of The Prairie.

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PHOTOS

September 10, 2013 | theprairienews.com

This Week in Photos: Campus Activities Natalia Molina Photographer

This years RHA mud pool was held at the old bond fire site.

Students putting in colors to their clothing items.

Junior Rigo Arce getting the teams ready before the pull.

Students pose for a picutre after a winning pull.

facebook.com/theprairiewt

Sophomore Jose Robledo participating in the Tye Dye event.

Friday September 6, CORE hosted a Tie Dye Event on Terrill Lawn.