Rambler 09.12.07

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The Rambler

The students’ voice since 1917

Fort Worth, Texas

September 12, 2007

Vol. 99, No. 2

NEWS BRIEFS It’s a rush!

Kappa Alpha continues its 2007 rush events, which include a pool night Sept. 12 and a cigar and poker night Sept. 14. Both events begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Eunice L. West Library.

News Briefs

Calling all latin men!

Students interested in joining Lambda Theta Phi, the first national latin fraternity, can attend the last informational meeting during free period Sept. 13 in room B17 in the Eunice L. West library. Interested students can contact Daniel Bravo at dabravo@mail. txwes.edu.

Party with Ms. Stella All students are invited to the free Stella Russell Hall balcony party from 9 p.m. to midnight Sept. 20 for the musical stylings of DJ T-Thurm, free food, drinks and a chance to win a PlayStation PSP hand-held entertainment system.

Got paintball?

Student Life is looking for students interested in an all-day paintball extravaganza Sept. 21. Sign-up lists are posted around campus and at least 15 people are required.

Contact the Student Life office in the SUB for more information.

SGA wants you!

Texas Wesleyan University’s Student Government Association holds regular meetings every Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. in the Carter Conference Room. Free food and refreshment are provided.

See you at the chapel Chapel is held at free period every Tuesday in the Chapel of Polytechnic United Methodist Church, followed by a free lunch.

Chapel services this month include youth pastor Russell Clark (Sept. 18) and Jerry Chism, pastor of Arlington Heights UMC (Sept. 25).

Baptist Student Ministry TWU’s BSM invites you to come hang out and share a meal with other Wesleyan students. Baptist Student Ministries participates in ministry activities on campus, in the community and around the world.

Meetings with free lunch are Wednesdays at noon in the Carter Conference Room, on the second floor of the Sid Richardson building.

Make your mark now The Rambler is now hiring writers and photographers. Get paid and have fun helping produce Wesleyan’s oldest news publication.

Regular meetings are at 12:15 p.m. every Thursday in the lobby of Stella Russell Hall.

Photos by Kevin Keathley

Power in numbers Wesleyan students of all kinds turned out for a variety of rush week events including kick ball, water-fights and movie nights. Above, junior Britni Hollar, junior Liz Neal and sophomore Marquita Guyden show off their school spirit at a rush week social event. At right, the girls of Gamma Phi Beta demonstrate a pyramid for the nearby crowd of rush week attendees.

Trustee named as candidate for area bishop KEVIN KEATHLEY STAFF WRITER

Dr. Tim Bruster, a Wesleyan alumnus and member of the board of trustees, is up for the post of bishop with the Central Texas Conference of the Untied Methodist Church.

In 2008, Dr. Ben Chamness, also a Wesleyan alumnus and member of the board of trustees, will retire from the bishop position. With this announcement, it was up to the Central Texas Conference to select its candidate for bishop. The body decided to approach Bruster, the senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church in downtown Fort Worth.

The Central Texas Conference and the position of bishop are vital components to the United Methodist Church.

The General Conference of the United Methodist Church is a worldwide organization. It consists of annual conferences in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the United States. Every four years, the delegates elected by these annual conferences meet together to review the issues of the day, including theological, social and political issues, while considering social principles and

theological stances of the past.

There they publish the United Methodist Book of Discipline, which they review every four years. The last general conference was in Pittsburgh, Penn., in June 2004. The conference site changes to different jurisdictions of the country. An annual conference refers to the Methodist area governed by a bishop. First Methodist is a member church of the annual conference known as the Central Texas Conference.

When the annual conferences meet the year before the General Conference meeting, each annual conference elects an equal number of clergy and lay delegates. Sometimes the leader of the clergy delegation is asked by those elected if he or she would allow the delegation’s support for his or her election to the episcopacy, or the office of bishop.

That’s where Bruster comes in.

Some might wonder why Bruster would want to pursue the episcopacy when he is the pastor of a very large church. As Bruster said, a bishop is in a “unique position” to provide guidance and leadership within an annual conference in order to clarify the duties of the church and to focus its “vision for ministry.”

“[The office] has a real opportunity to affect positive change in the direction of Methodism,” said Bruster.

According to Bruster, a bishop is meant to provide “general oversight in leadership” for one or two annual conferences. He describes them as the executive branch of the United Methodist Church. They appoint all district superintendents and ordained ministers.

For example, every male and female minister present at First Methodist was appointed with the approval of Ben Chamness (or his predecessors), the senior pastor and the Staff-Parish Relations Committee.

It is their respective duties to cast the vision of the annual conference.

“They represent the larger denomination,” Bruster said.

The mission of this annual conference and the United Methodist Church is to “make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world,” he said.

Although the office of bishop seems to be a large undertaking, Bruster has no intention of giving up his dedication to Texas Wesleyan, he said.

See Bruster, page 2

Alumna’s business gains national attention SKYLA CLAXTON ADVERTISING MANAGER

car accident. A semi-truck pulled out in front of her car and they collided.

“If my car had been two inches over, I would have died,” Nelson explained.

After the accident, Nelson and her family were overwhelmed by the outhave been equipped reach from the Wesleyan community. Professors would stop by her home to visit with her.

“That is what impressed upon me the most,” Nelson said. “Wesleyan is like a family.”

Nelson attended her graduation ceremony, but couldn’t participate as she was in a wheelchair. During the ceremony, the president of the university gave a speech about Nelson and her determination. After the ceremony, students brought her cards, letters and poems of inspiration, which she still has.

“This was an emotional experience,” Nelson remembered.

Despite this setback, Nelson went on to graduate in 1993 and eventually became known locally and nationally for her wonderful accomplishments.

Teresa’s Treasures has been honored with numerous awards including the 2002-2004 Small Business of the Year, 2003 Mayors Award of Entrepreneurial Excellence, 2006 Mayor’s Global Award and 2006 Spirit of Inspiration award.

Also, Nelson was inducted into 2005-2006 Photo by Skyla Claxton National Who’s Who for Business Executives, was the Alumna Teresa Nelson opened the door to 2006-2007 Great Women of Texas recipient and was her gift shop Teresa’a Treasures in 2000, named the 2006 National Gift Designer of the Year. and now caters to more than 7,000 cus-

Wesleyan graduates tend to be shooting stars. We with the ability to go above and beyond and shine within our own lives and within our community. Graduate Teresa Nelson is no exception.

Nelson graduated in 1993 with a bachelor of business administration in economics/finance. While using her degree for a short time in banking, she aspired to someday own her own company. Nelson began designing gifts from her home after much prompting from a local craft mall owner who saw a demand in the gift basket market.

Finally in 2000, Nelson opened the doors to her very own business, Teresa’s Treasures. Her regular customers stop by to gaze at the variety of very unique and specialized gift baskets available. The designs range from baskets for birthday celebrations to baskets of baby gifts. During her first Christmas in business, Nelson made 1,800 baskets.

Now, seven and a half years later, that number is up to more than 8,000 at Christmas. The business serves more than 7,000 clients world wide from its south Fort Worth showroom, which features some 1,500 of her products.

Prior to this success, however, Nelson faced a setback. During the semester Nelson was supposed to graduate from Wesleyan she was involved in a terrible tomers across the globe.

See Treasure, page 2

News

2 September 12, 2007

The Rambler

20 great years

Head cashier celebrates two decades at Wesleyan However, to talk to her, you would never know it. Mitchell is committed to working with college students. Both her daughter, Carri, and her son, Chad, graduated from Wesleyan.

She had a reason: to save money on her daughter’s college tuition. That’s why Jane “I love the atmosphere, and I’ve always liked getting to know everyone,” Mitchell Mitchell applied to work at Wesleyan 20 years ago. said.

She and her husband had just finished paying for their daughter Carri’s first semesMitchell never expected that she would stay at Wesleyan for as long as she has but ter at Wesleyan when a friend recommended getting a job on campus. After realizing that knows that if she retired, not only would she be bored, but she would miss the interacworking on campus would save money towards her daughter’s tuition, she was sold. tion with the students.

Although the job she originally applied for, secretary to religion professor Dr. Glen “She’s always so nice to me, and I’m sure she has to put up with a lot,” said Ashly Ballard, was taken, she jumped at the Spencer, sophomore education opportunity to work in the cashier’s major. office as the sole cashier, handling stuAfter 20 years, Mitchell has seen dent accounts. At that point the office many changes, one being the online had a computer through which she could technology available to students. look up accounts, but she spent most of “As the years go on, they her time counting. improve things, and everything “I had to count everything back becomes more automated,” she said. then,” Mitchell said. “I even had to bal“I’m glad things are easier for stuance money taken in by the university.” dents, but I miss that closeness.”

She recalls many mornings spent Mitchell is reminded of the times unlocking and locking safes and carrywhen students had to come to the ing drawers of money up and down the cashier’s window and she was able to stairs of the administration building. personally assist them and be a part “They didn’t want me to take the of their college experience. She said elevator because they thought someone she misses the pre-Internet days could attack me and take the money,” when her life intertwined with the she said. “In reality, they could have lives of the students. thrown me down the stairs if they really Holding back emotion, she wanted it.” recalls the numerous students who Photo by Baryn Shephard have visited her after they graduated One of Mitchell’s past jobs includes Jane Mitchell started working at Texas Wesleyan 20 years ago when she was the only cashier sweeping floors at Alcon where her to say thank you and give her a hug. employed.

Her daughter and son both graduated from Wesleyan, and Mitchell plans to stick around mother worked. She and her sister spilt She calls her position more than the duty and were paid with a quarter. at Wesleyan for as long as she can. just a job, but rather a calling – one to After graduating from high school her parents offered to send her to college, but she which she has now dedicated two decades of her adult life. And retirement? Who knows. opted to work and helped to support her parents.

“I don’t have a time frame,” she said. “I’m 65, but I don’t feel 65. There’s just no “It was amazing I actually got a job here,” Mitchell said. “I’m not outgoing. I’m very reason.” quiet, and the thought of something new scares me to death.”

JULIE DAVIS & SHAWN R. POLING STAFF WRITER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Bruster, from page 1

Over the years, Bruster has served on the Advancement Committee and the Academic Affairs Committee at Wesleyan. Bruster has helped officials to solicit money from individuals and foundations to raise funds for the school and has helped work with the deans to review and evaluate policies and procedures in order to make recommendations in regard to the academic life of the university.

“I consider Wesleyan to be a very fine institution that [the Methodist church] can be very proud of,” said Bruster.

He believes that the university has improved since he joined the board of trustees in November 2003.

Dr. Lamar Smith, also an alumnus and member of the board, has approached Bruster about the possibility of having an annual Texas Wesleyan University Sunday at FUMC. Bruster said the ties between FUMC and Texas Wesleyan are primarily through trustees, such as Smith and himself. In addition, religion professors like Dr. Ron Ballard are encouraged to teach Sunday school.

Currently, the church allows religion majors to work or volunteer, and they plan to collaborate on various types of internships in the future. As to a Sunday dedicated to celebrating Texas Wesleyan, the future holds nothing but possibilities.

“It’s a strong possibility that I would welcome,” said Bruster.

Not to forget his religious obligations, Bruster is just as serious about his work as a Wesleyan trustee as he has been in his work as a clergyman. He considers his appointment to serve as senior minister at FUMC a high point in his life and has worked hard to bring the church community to the “next level of effectiveness and service.”

Bruster said he is thankful that he has been there to “help people grow in their faith,” to be there for them during their faith journey, to lead congregations to the next level of service and effectiveness and to have had the honor of having served wonderful congregations.

“I feel blessed to have been involved with individuals and families at the most pivotal moments in their lives,” said Bruster.

Treasures, from page 1

Just this March the company received the Clear Channel Media Award for Excellence in Business.

“I am very humbled by these awards.” Nelson reflects. “You cannot have pride, but that doesn’t mean you cannot be proud.”

The business philosophy that Nelson follows is reflected in the company’s mission statement noted on the company’s Web site, www.treasuresbyteresa.com: “To provide beautiful, high-quality gifts at a fair price while exceeding our customer’s expectations and to provide a Christian, uplifting work environment, in which our employees can grow and succeed. We strive to earn the respect of our community and colleagues through fair and ethical business practices, community involvement, and high moral standards, all the while, honoring the One who has honored us with this entrepreneurial opportunity!”

Nelson said the work ethic and high moral standards possessed by herself and all her staff have proven to be extremely successful.

“You must have respect and commitment to service,” said Nelson.

In college you pay to write papers

At The Rambler we pay you to write papers www.txwes.edu/rambler

National college, political officials call for private student loan reform MATT DONNELLY THE DAILY FREE PRESS/ UWIRE Politicians, universities and loan companies are working together to restructure a shattered private student loan industry that has come under fire in previous months after reports that university officials have been fired for accepting kickbacks for recommending specific lending companies to students.

U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo began investigations in early May in Massachusetts to determine whether relationships between schools and private lending companies in the state were improper.

In addition, Cuomo discovered during his investigation that some lending companies were discriminating against applicants based on what school they attend — some historically black schools were hit with higher interest rates — and other factors not directly tied to their credit history, according to a June 6 New York Times article.

“We absolutely need to revamp this industry,” American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers spokesman Barmak Nassirian said. “There needs to be a complete overhaul in student lendings — there is too much stress and debt to approach this in a conventional way, and we need new and innovative options.”

Nassirian said that the industry’s downfall stems directly from the “failure of the government to protect students” and said there is far too little oversight focused on the relationship between schools and lending companies.

“The ideal distance between the two should be arm’s length,” he said.

“Lenders should compete on the basis of service and what they offer to students — not what they offer to a third party — the school.

“It allows third parties to have a say in who gets which loans, and that’s a decision the students should be making for themselves,” he added.

Karin Pellman, a spokeswoman for the private student lending company My Rich Uncle, agreed and said that students lose out when they are not given the opportunity to choose.

“What we’re seeing in the industry is fallout and conflict of interest,” she said. “Lenders are being viewed by admissions officers as customers of loans, and the current direction is not in the best interest of students.”

Pellman also agreed that more government intervention is needed to make the student loan market safer and more cost-efficient for students.

“Since the investigations, the government has taken a much closer look.

They’ve come down hard on the Department of Education and they’re coming down to assist the borrower’s right to choose,” she said. “There are laws that prevent these unacceptable relationships but they are simply not being enforced.”

Pellman said My Rich Uncle, founded in 1999, works with students and not directly with financial aid offices. She said that financial aid officers complicate the student loan process and the relationship between student and lending company would be “ideal” without them.

Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is one politician that has recommended reforming the student loan industry by simply relying on federal student aid and eliminating private subsidies — which he called “wasteful and unnecessary” — he told The Daily Free Press in May during a telephone conference with college newspapers.

Though Pellman agreed change is necessary and imminent, she believes the step is overstated and unnecessary.

“We do need to open the road to banning the preferred lending list offered by colleges to students,” she said. “But the cost of education is rising four to six percent each year and federal loans are not enough.

“The private student loan market is worth $18 billion; it’s one of the fastestgrowing sectors of consumer finance, and it’s a viable market.”

Opinions

“I was in the training room and already watching the news when it happened.”

“My teacher turned on the TV and we watched it for the rest of class. I had no idea how big it was.”

“I was in seventh grade English.

The teachers brought in a TV and we waited it out.”

September 12, 2007 3

Healing won’t be forced on victims A look at New Orleans’ journey to reconstruction and healing post-Katrina

D

rive East through downtown and you will see a their property.” billboard calling all of the Katrina victims home.

I was aware, as I stood there looking at the wreckage of neighbor“Fort Worth took you in, now New Orleans hoods, that it would take years to rebuild what Katrina had torn down. I wants you back,” the sign declares. listened as students around me made comments about how they were “so Just weeks after the two year anniversary of sick of hearing about New Orleans,” and I knew that if I were one of the Katrina, and the world looks into the Big Easy and sees people who had to deal with the consequences of that storm on a daily that not much has changed. The progress basis, that I would is slow, as people slowly return to their hope for people to home. be more understandCOLLEEN I was in the Crescent City just ing and willing to BURNIE weeks before the Category 3 storm hit listen. the city, and I watched the homes of my Now, two years loved ones get washed away by the mismanagement of the later, it seems that Corps of Engineers and the corrupt Louisiana government we as a nation and and then continued to watch while our federal government New Orleans as a failed to provide a real solution for the people whose lives city have not learned were torn apart. anything. The Corps I was also in the city on three different occasions after of Engineers are the storm to help with the relief effort and pray over New making the same Orleans. It was during these trips that I was able to see the mistakes with levies, destruction that had come with this storm and how much the New Orleans Photo by Colleen Burnie was lost. government is still The wreckage Katrina left behind is not a simple mess to clean up My heart has ached for New Orleans ever since those not using the money or, for New Orleaners, an easy loss to take. trips. I was able to experience the culture, music and they are given the unique personality of the Marti Gras city, and I was there to witness its right way and the nation is still not prepared to handle another national collapse. disaster of that kind of latitude.

As I walked through the Lower Ninth Ward for the first time after the According to the August issue of Time magazine, only a third of New storm, I remember asking my friend and Wesleyan alumnus Tony Orleans’ population has returned. But how can we expect people to return Leverett why the government didn’t just clear away all of the debris and to a city, where the possibility of losing everything is still so real and start over. close?

Colleen Burnie is a senior writing major and is the entertainment editor for The “Property rights — one of the foundational American rights,” he said.

Rambler.

“The people who own these lots have the right to choose what to do with

Banning pot causes more problems Instead of stopping Americans from using marijuana, prohibition of this herb simply has handed a lucrative market to KANSAS STATE COLLEGIAN/UWIRE criminals. With legitimate businesses banned from producing or selling a popular product, gangsters stepped ug. 2 marked the 70th anniversary of the start of one of the great in to fill the void. social experiments in American history. Sadly, the experiment has With prohibition keeping failed miserably and should have ended years ago. the price high, there always will The first national anti-marijuana law, the Marijuana Tax Act, was be new growers ready to replace signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on Aug. 2, 1937. each one who is busted. There has Though disguised as a tax, the law functioned as the first federal ban been little progress made on the possession and cultivation of marijuana. The ban continues in various forms to this day. Now, 70 GUEST COLUMN for the tens of billions of dollars spent seizing mariyears later, we can see this program has not preventjuana plants and arresting ed the use of marijuana in the United States. users at the rate of nearMarijuana use increased after the drug was banned. In 1937, marijualy 800,000 per year. na use was rare in the United States because marijuana virtually was These costs are even more unknown to many parts of the country, according to a study conducted at tragic when considering the scithe University of California, San Francisco.

The federal government has estimated in the pre-prohibition era, about entific experts who consistently report marijuana is a far safer drug 1.2 percent of the population had tried marijuana by age 35. In recent than alcohol or tobacco — it is less decades, figures show the range to consistently hover at 40 to 50 percent, addictive, much less toxic and is less according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Marijuana is now our nation’s largest cash crop by a whopping margin. likely to induce aggression or violence. These results According to Americans for Safe Access, an organization based in were found in a study by Dr. Oakland, Calif., the 2006 U.S. marijuana crop was valued at $35.8 billion Andrew Weil and Dr. Norman Zinberg by street pricing, exceeding the value of corn ($23.3 billion) and wheat in a Dec. 13, 1968, issue of Science. The ($7.45 billion) combined.

Drug Enforcement Agency no longer allows Opponents of the drug will argue marijuana would be more widely the possession of marijuana for research purused if legalized. In the Netherlands, adults are allowed to possess and poses, thus newer studies have not been conducted. purchase small amounts of marijuana from regulated businesses. Rates of Courtesy of Google Images It’s time to learn from our nation’s disastrous marijuana use are lower there than in the United States. attempt to ban alcohol. Instead of the futility and According to figures collected from both the U.S. Department of destruction of prohibition, let’s put marijuana under a common-sense sysJustice and the Netherlands Ministry of Health in 2005, 17.1 percent of tem of taxation and regulation, just like alcohol and tobacco.

Netherlands residents age 12 and older had tried marijuana, compared to 40.1 percent in the United States.

CASSAUNDRE BRADEN

A

“I was at work and heard coworkers talking so I turned on the news.”

Liz Clowdus Junior Paralegal Studies Major

Cameron Stapleton Junior Mass Communications Major

How did you find out about the events of September 11th?

John Kuethe Junior Business Management

Sandra Ayala Senior Business Management/ Spanish Major

The Rambler

Rambler Ratings

The Rambler Founded in 1917 as The Handout Harold G. Jeffcoat, Publisher Kelli Lamers, adviser Zainah Usman, photo editor Jack Walker, sports editor Skyla Claxton, advertising manager

Shawn R Poling, editor-in-chief Tiara Nugent, managing/college life editor Colleen Burnie, entertainment editor Amanda May, Web editor Member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association.

Opinions expressed in The Rambler are those of the individual author only and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas Wesleyan community as a whole.

Letters to the editor: The Rambler, a weekly publication, welcomes all letters.

All submissions must have a full printed name, phone number and signature; however, confidentiality will be granted if requested.

While every consideration is made to publish letters, publication is limited by time and space.

The editors reserve the right to edit all submissions for space, grammar, clarity and style.

Letters to the editor may be subject to response from editors and students on the opinions page.

"We are not afraid to follow the truth...wherever it may lead." -Thomas Jefferson Address all correspondence to: Texas Wesleyan University, The Rambler, 1201 Wesleyan St., Fort Worth, TX 76105.

Newsroom: 531-7552 Advertising: 531-7582 Fax: 531-4878 E-mail: twurambler@yahoo.com

Thumbs up to the IT department for quick and successful solutions to our needs at the Rambler.

Thumbs down to the bookstore for not keeping up with orders.

Thumbs up to the new up-todate computers in the ARC computer lab.

Thumbs up to the financial aid ladies for saving students and their accounts!

College Life

4 September 12, 2007

The Rambler

Looking for a way to work? Want a Toyota?

National non-profit organization offers help to low-income students with children Ways to Work President Jeffrey E. Faulkner teaches men to fish rather than giving them one salmon dinner.

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR “We firmly believe in the value of making loans for cars, not just giving them away,” said Need a car? It’s a little well known fact that Texas, and Metroplex residents in general, Faulkner. “We carefully screen our applicants to make sure they can afford the loan. The act are dependent on their vehicles, even addicted some would say. Well now there is a solution of paying it back helps them develop sound financial habits, and it also begins their work of building a payment history that will eventually allow them to take advantage of greater finanfor those in need, who don’t have the credit or bank roll to get one on their own. cial opportunities.”

Ways to Work is a national program that works out of nonThe requirements of the loan are that the profit offices all over the nation to help low income parents get to borrower be employed for at least six work or school, and helps them secure a more stable financial months, or be enrolled in school, be a parent future. and be unable to get a load from a bank or “Not only is it great that these people get a car at zero to 8 percredit union as well as agree in writing to cent interest,” notes Sheri Mata, director of career services, “but repay the loan. A referral is required and can they also get help with their finances.” be obtained in the Career Services, located in The program, which was founded in Wisconsin more than 20 the Academic Resource Center. years ago, recognized the growing need of working parents for In 2006, Ways to Work commissioned a reliable transportation to their jobs or schools, particularly in areas study to assess the results of their outreach. such as Fort Worth-Dallas where the public transportation system The results were tremendously positive, does not offer comprehensive options for transportation. showing that the availability of reliable trans“A car can help students get better paying jobs, better jobs, portation led to better job attendance and betkeep them from being late and alleviate the stress from car issues,” ter overall quality of life by allowing more said Mata. family time. The take home pay of borrowers The Ways to Work program will offer low interest loans up to $4,000 to its recipients for a reliable used car, help in building Courtesy of Google Images increased by an average of 41 percent.

There are other alternatives for students credit and counseling for repayment.

An efficient and reliable vehicle makes a working student and parent’s life without children as well. Car dealers such as According to the Ways to Work Web site, the cars that loan considerably easier by decreasing stress.

Toyota and Volkswagen have college grad recipients receive have been thoroughly repaired, are fuel efficient programs. Students who are six months away from graduation or less than 24 months out of and come from companies such as Toyota and Honda.

To date, the program has assisted more than 25,000 families with loans totaling more graduation are eligible for financing without any credit history. The only requirement is a commitment letter from an employer or future employer. than $40 million.

“There are options for today’s students in need of reliable transportation,” said Mata.

According to a story that was published in Profitwise News and Views in May 2007,

COLLEEN BURNIE

Photos by Kevin Keathley

The Greek organizations of Texas Wesleyan pulled off a phenomenal rush week Sept. 3-7.

Alpha Kappa Kappa was no exception. Fun events that week included kickball and a waterfight, both favorable previews of events yet to come.

Give of your natural resources . . .

. . .And enter the realm of capitalism .

WRITE FOR THE RAMBLER.

Rush

Rush

Rush

Living apart from the crowd I

JULIE DAVIS

f someone were to ask you to define character, what would you say? Would you say it is one’s morals, one’s standards or possibly a combination of the two?

Character is one of those traits that is difficult to define but simple to recognize. I have heard it be defined as who you are in the dark – when no one’s looking.

Character will set you apart from the crowd. It shows the world who you are and what you are. If you have it, it shows and if you don’t, it shows even more.

So, as we continue on this journey called life, let us remember that character is always a good thing to have on our side. You will never have to make excuses for having it, but you may find yourself in a position having to explain why you don’t.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions.

Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character.

Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

— Unknown

Julie Davis is a senior English major and is a staff writer for The Rambler.

Sports

The Rambler

Quick Quotes “To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice the gift.”

-Steve Prefontaine, deceased University of Oregon distance runner and holder of many American track and field records

Upcoming Events Women’s Volleyball @ Paul Quinn 7 p.m., Sept. 12 Men’s Soccer @ West Texas A&M 2 p.m., Sept. 12 Women’s Soccer @ West Texas A&M 4: 30 p.m., Sept. 12 Women’s Volleyball Double Header @ SAGU Sept. 13 Game 1 vs. SAGU @ 3 p.m.

Game 2 vs. Wayland Baptist @ 5 p.m.

Log on to: www.ramsports.net for the latest game information and profiles of your favorite Wesleyan Teams and Athletes

Numerology 101

89

The minute that forward Theo Nabassi scored a game-tying goal in the Rams season opener. A regulation soccer game is 90 minutes long.

15

Seconds left in double overtime when Nabassi scored the game-winner.

14

Number of kills and digs registered by senior outside hitter Sandra Ayala in the Sept. 9 volleyball game against UT- Brownsville.

50

The length in feet of Paco Saracho’s birdie putt on the final hole of the Fort Worth City Men’s Golf Championship.

4

The length in feet of Saracho’s par putt on the final hole of the championship that sealed a one-stroke victory in the tournament.

6

Number of former or current Rams baseball players that either joined the professional ranks or were monumental in the highly regarded summer collegiate leagues. They were Ryan Riddle, Jason Diaz, Billie Hicks, Ross Elmore, Brandon Frazier, Victor Burgos and Hayden Lackey.

3

Players from last year’s men’s varsity basketball team, Jeremy Fox, Dane Dmitrovic and Fred Eshon, that remain on the squad. The team will feature 12 new faces this winter: four freshman, two sophomores, four juniors and two seniors.

September 12, 2007 5

Cowboy Contenders New coach, look and new stadium underway give fans reason to cheer The Dallas Cowboys may be donning the unchanged uniforms from years past and sporting the same star on their helmets as they have for decades, but this year’ team is definitely a different squad from seasons of JACK before. In Sunday’s season WALKER opener, they gave good reason for their abundant fan base to look forward to a year of success.

Although they narrowly escaped with a victory in a high-scoring and action packed game, they demonstrated plenty of reasons why they will contend for a Super Bowl championship this season and strike fear into the hearts of opponents all over the NFL. In Sunday’s initial regular season contest, Dallas hosted a formidable NFC East division rival in the New York Giants. It may have appeared imminent to some that quarterback Tony Romo may have botched the game late in the fourth quarter after throwing a bad interception late in the fourth quarter on their own 30 yard line. Shortly thereafter the Giants took advantage of the mishap with a quick strike from quarterback Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress in the end-zone to put the game within reach at 38-35 with less than five minutes remaining in the game. Then, with 3:03 left to play, Romo stepped up and threw a deep shot to second-year receiver Sam Hurd, a 51 yard touchdown strike that finally put the game safely out of reach, and proving that Romo is the competent quarterback that we all knew he was.

Although his 345 passing yards for four touchdowns and his 9-yard third quarter scamper to the end-zone for another score may not erase what happened in last years playoff game, it was a significant step in doing so.

After week one competition, Romo stands above all other play-callers as the NFL’s No. 1 passer, and him and his offense by all means bailed out a defense that was struggling intensely with the arsenal of offense that the Giants used to assault Dallas through the air over and over again.

Indeed the fourth-quarter was seemingly uncomfortable for many fans, but when the final whistle blew, it was evidenced to all Cowboys supporters that there’s something special about this squad. Even Terrel Owens might concur.

The wide receiver is finally healthy and spearheading a lethal core of both agile veteran and young and speedy receivers, and things are finally starting to look in sync in Dallas; at least more then they have in times of yore.

Under former coach Bill Parcells, the Dallas offense was all about maintaining possession of the football and running down the game clock. Judging by Sunday’s triumph, the Cowboys are sporting an entirely new offensive character, recognized by their fast attacks, perpendicular aerial assault and, of course, the result, big plays.

This is plenty of reason for fans to be hyped up about this season. The Phillips 3-4 defense did allow 438 yards of total offense and of course the 16 fourth quarter points they surrendered wasn’t the most pleasant late game experience for supporters. But, each game is an experience in its own, and you can bet that you won’t be seeing the same sloppy secondary you did in Sunday’s final period in the next few games.

Strong safety Roy Williams is a sensation when it comes to defending the run, and coach Wade Phillips is a former defensive coordinator. Look for him and current defensive coordinator Maurice Carthon to attempt to alter some of that aggression into Williams more proficiently defending the pass. And look for them

to do this successfully. The late strike that went right over William’s head in the fourth quarter will not happen again.

Keep in mind that Dallas also has some disabled list issues, with a small handful of defensive impact players inactive.

Moving on, let’s not forget offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Ring a bell? Garret backed up Hall of Fame quarterback Troy Aikman back in the ‘glory days’ when the team won three Super Bowls. Now he’s the offensive guru, and if Sunday’s game was his first exam for a grade, he definitely did well.

Whatever Garrett’s dispatch was on Sunday night, it was by all means successfully carried out by his running backs and wide receivers, and that is something to look forward to in games to come, especially for those fans that fancy a high-powered offense.

Dallas should contend for a Super Bowl this year. They might even capture a first round bye in the playoffs. Now, of course this was just the first game of the season and there is still much blood, sweat and tears to be lost in order to maintain their winning record. But, the Metroplex should still be energized for the rest of the season to be a flourishing one.

With the new coaching staff, a mix of experienced veterans and flashy youthful athletes, Dallas will be considered a highly dangerous opponent for every team they square-off against this season.

Years ago it was Jay Novachek, Michael Irvin, Emmitt Smith, Daryll Johnson and Aikman making noise as one stealthy unit.

Now it’s Jason Witten, Marion Barber, Julius Jones, Owens and Romo bursting onto the scene as an explosive group of talent for years to come. Look out, NFL.

Jack Walker is a junior mass communication major and is the sports editor for The Rambler.

After Rams golf goes low in season opener, team sets high standards for rest of season of teammate Mitch Hendon and Texas Christian University’s Franklin Corpening by a single stroke.

“This was my first tournament win in the U.S.,” said Saracho.

Texas Wesleyan Golf had a dominating performance in the 2007 “Winning this tournament means a lot to me especially after recovering Fort Worth City Golf Championship. from my hand injury.”

Taking titles in both the collegiate “We have a solid team and we’ll and men’s championship divisions, definitely have a solid season if we Wesleyan junior Paco Saracho and 1997 continue to play like this, he said.” graduate of Texas Wesleyan Matt Dunn Hendon, a 2007 Second Team Alltook first place in their respective diviAmerican, was optimistic about the sions. Saracho proved to be the best of team’s first performance of the 2007the collegiate players, while Dunn won 2008 season. the men’s championship flight. Both “The team had a solid showing in players finished with a final round 206. the first tournament with three playThe three day tournament that took ers in the top five.” Hendon said. “If place over Labor Day weekend was held we continue to play like this the rest on three separate courses: Rockwood, of the year we’ll have a good chance Meadowbrook and Pecan Valley River of taking home the [conference Course. Saracho’s solid opening round and/or national] title.” of 64 (-6) at Rockwood placed him atop The Ram’s Golf unit will see its next the strong field of college players after action Sept. 10-11 in Abilene, Texas the initial day of competition.

Photo by Kevin Doskocil for the Charles Coody Intercollegiate With rounds of 70 and 72 the final The Wesleyan Rams golf team walked away with a trio of trophies at Diamondback Golf Course. two days, Paco was able to stay ahead from the 2007 Fort Worth City Golf Championship.

KEVIN DOSKOCIL STAFF WRITER

Sports performance of the week TWU men’s soccer and forward Theo Nabassi

To vote for the sports performance of the week, e-mail twurambler@yahoo.com with your vote.

A

s the fall sports season kicked off two weeks ago with a men’s soccer game at Martin Field, home of the men’s and women’s varsity soccer teams, a tremendous talent from Togo emerged on the Wesleyan sports scene.

In his first collegiate game, the 27-year-old attacker netted a game-tying goal with just moments remaining in the contest (vs. Manhattan Christian College) to send the game into overtime.

After the first extra period expired and the competition remained knotted at two goals apiece, the sensational striker found the back of the net with 15 seconds left in the second overtime slot off a direction from senior captian Eddie Hernandez, sealing the thriller for the Ram’s and giving the team a healthy 1-0 start for the season.

Since then, the Rams have won two more games and lost just one to nationally ranked Sooner conference member Oklahoma City. That contest also went into overtime, and Nabassi now has 10 points on the season (3 goals, 1 assist).

Nabassi was recently named Conference player of the week, according to the Red River Athletic Conference Web site.

The Wesleyan men, under second-year head coach Josh Gibbs, are off to their best start in years at 3-1. At press time, they were ranked fifth in their respected region, according to the NAIA Intercollegiate Athletics Web site.

Coming off wins against the University of Mary-Hardin Baylor and Mid-America Christian University, the team is only gaining momentum. Gibbs was quoted online, at Ramsports.net, saying, “We have some very dangerous players.”

- Jack Walker

Entertainment

6 September 12, 2007

The Rambler

Playboy announces the launch of PlayboyU.com The new social networking site exclusively for college students MATT SPIALEK THE DAILY VIDETTE / U-WIRE

After making a name through magazines, television shows and parties, Hugh Hefner is at it again.

This time Playboy is targeting college co-eds through a social networking site known as Playboy U. According to an Aug. 22 Playboy Enterprises press release, playboyu.com is strictly for college students 18 and older. Those who do not have a .edu at the end of their e-mail will not be allowed to create an account. As the site reads, “Sorry, high schoolers, old dudes and your Mom can’t join.”

Chip Ross, director of Playboy U, explained that nudity is also not allowed on the site, and the social network is for girls and guys alike to join.

“The Playboy lifestyle means a lot more than nudi-

ty,” Ross said referencing Playboy’s reputation for the party atmosphere and cool social scene. Ross explained that instead of nude or provocative photos, Playboy U offers blogs and forums on social issues such as dating and relationships. Each topic has advice and opinions directly from user dialogue, and Ross hopes to get more expert advice as well as the site progresses.

To distinguish themselves from other social networks, the Aug. 22 press release explained that Playboy U has its own radio show, which debuted on SiriusSatellite Radio, and Playboy’s transition to the social network is considered to be a smooth process.

“I think there is a natural tie between the college life and the Playboy life,” Ross said.

And this is not the first time Playboy has reached out to the college demographic. “We are now just bringing that to life on Playboy U,” Ross added.

Playboy’s move to the social network comes at no better time as technological advances are opening up new media avenues.

“Twenty-five and unders are moving away from the print media. They are going to the Internet,” Jim Munz, Illinois State University instructional assistant marketing professor, said.

“We are trying to find new ways to expand and reach people through these mediums,” Ross said.

Although the site is fairly new to the World Wide Web, Ross said it already has a few ISU students logged into the network.

Other social networks like Facebook and Myspace are open to high school, college and non-students. Only time will tell the future of Playboy U, but for now Ross said the social network lives by a simple mantra, “Celebrate the social side of college.”

WineStyles brings a taste of culture and fun to Fort Worth COLLEEN BURNIE ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Wino. It’s the name given to people who marvel in a wonderful pairing, who find happiness not at the end of the bottle but in the journey of getting there, those who cannot help but soak up the culture and flavor that accompanies a good glass of wine. For the winos out there, Fort Worth has a store that was designed just for you: WineStyles, a store that is everything wine.

“Our store focuses on small production vineyards,” said Montgomery

Plaza store owner and manager Gigi Sullivan, “which allows us to have really great wines in the $10-$25 range.”

The store is organized by style of wine -- smooth, bold, crisp, etc.-rather than by type, which allows novices and traditionalist to step out and try something new.

“In addition to being a retail store, we are also a place where you can come in, open a bottle of wine, drink it and take home what you don’t finish,” said Sullivan.

While winos can feel right at home in WineStyles, novices are also wel-

come.

“We have free wine tasting every Tuesday night from 6 to 8 and a Wine 101 class on Sept. 23,” said Sullivan.

The store also features live music a few times a month and Bunco nights.

“Our customers tell us what they want and we do it,” said Sullivan. “We have a lot of fun!”

Fort Worth has three WineStyles locations, one on Camp Bowie, one on Hulen, and one in Montgomery Plaza near Target off of Seventh Street. For more information on the store or events visit www.winestyles.net.

Courtesy of Google Images

Danielewski experiments with the novel R

eading is fun, for the most part. I find it to be just as entertaining as If that wasn’t confusing enough, in Only Revolutions Danielewski takes his experimentelevision; both are great options if I don’t feel like being very tation a step further. The novel is told from the point of view of Hailey and Sam, two active. It’s simple. Your eyes travel left to right, up and down, from page “young” immortal lovers who experience a variety of history’s greatest moments together. to page in a very logical manner. Reading doesn’t take much work.

The plot is definitely less complicated than that of House of Leaves, but the writing That’s unless you pick up a novel by a young novelist named Mark isn’t. The story is told separately by both Hailey and Sam but can only make sense when Z. Danielewski. His two novels, House of Leaves and Only the two are read together. The novel has two front covers, each page Revolutions, look completely normal at first glance. When you split between the two monologues, each going in a different direction. finally open the front cover of either, you realize something is How to read such a book? First you read eight pages worth of one different. Take for instance Only Revolutions, which includes monologue, then flip the book over and read eight pages in the other SHAWN R. directions on how to read the book so it makes sense. direction. To make things just a little bit harder on the reader, instead of POLING Before taking a chance on either book, you have to take a a common fiction style of writing, the stories are told in a mix of poetry step back and follow these three simple steps: and ramblings.

1.) Forget everything you know about the common novel form.

I can say without a doubt that these two novels are challenges to 2.) Keep a thorough dictionary handy. complete. Both stories are excessively but stylishly fragmented, and 3.) Don’t travel too far from a mirror. taking an extended break from reading one only sets you behind.

Confused yet? Let me explain.

Reading Only Revolutions made me feel like a translator.

The majority of House of Leaves is written like a textbook (with footnotes, It’s easy to tell that Danielewski is a man of many words. He gradmost of which have their own footnotes), chronicling the theatrical release and uated from Yale with an English degree and considers his two main the following controversy of a documentary, The Navidson Record. The docuinterests to be writing (anything) and semiotics. He plays around with mentary followed the journey of the Navidsons in their new home, which just words, style, color, meaning and form. happens to be bigger on the inside than it is from the outside. Even stranger, mysSound like a writer you’d be interested in? Maybe not, but terious doors appear and disappear, leading into a never-ending, ever-changing Danielewski’s novels are two of my favorite literary works. True, readlabyrinth of darkness. ing normally doesn’t require a mirror, and most authors don’t color cerNow try to keep up with me. The book’s “author” is named Zampano, who Photo courtesy of Amazon.com tain words to express meaning that is never explained, but each book went mad writing his manuscript. Some words are missing, some are crossed out, Only Revolutions explores feels like a literary journey. House of Leaves has even another dimensome pages have less than 10 words, and some passages are written upside down new literary techniques. sion to its world; Danielewski’s rockstar sister Poe recorded her album and backward (hence the mirror).

Haunted as a companion to the novel, meant to be played during.

After his disappearance, the manuscript is found by a tattoo artist, Johnny, who also Once I understood how his books “worked,” I really got into reading them. goes mad and splices in his own story into the text. Finally, Johnny discovers that there is Danielewski asks more of you that most authors. It’s up to you, the reader, to piece togethno proof that the Navidson Record actually exists, not to mention all the footnotes and er the puzzles that are his novels. I’ve never had more fun reading. sources also seem to be fake.

Shawn Poling is a senior English major and is the editor-in-cheif for The Rambler.

T HE W EEK A HEAD To submit an event for the calender, e-mail twurambler@yahoo.com.

Saturday Off Campus:

15

Wednesday On Campus:

12

Thursday On Campus:

13

Off Campus:

14

* The Rambler staff meeting: * Methodist Student Lobby of Stella Russell Hall, Movement meeting: Poly UMC, noon, free lunch served. 12:15 p.m.

* Movie Releases: The Brave One, Kind of California, Across California, In the Valley of * Baptist Student Ministry: Sid * Teching Circles: Orientation Elah Meeting: University Club, Richardson Building, noon, 12:15 p.m. free lunch served * Grapefest: Grapevine Main Street, all day * Bleu Edmondson plays live: Off Campus: 8.0, 5 p.m. * The Killers: NOKIA Live at Grand Prarie, 8 p.m.

Sunday Off Campus:

16

Monday Off Campus:

17

* Graoefest: Grapevine Main * Wearing Todd: Sherlock’s * How I Found My Way by Arlington, 7 p.m.

Getting Lost: A Photographer’s Street, all day.

Odyssey: Amon Carter *Carousel: Irving Arts Center, Museum, 11 a.m. www.lyricstage.org * Grapefest: Downtown Grapevine, all day. *Alumni volleyball match: gym, 6 p.m.

Friday

Tuesday On Campus:

18

attention!

The Rambler wants you!

* Student Government Meeting: Carter Conference Room, noon * DVD releases: The Condemned, We Are Marshall, and Grindhouse-Death Proof

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www.txwes.edu rambler