Rambler 09.26.07

T

E

X

A

S

W

E

S

L

E

Y

A

N

U

N

I

V

E

R

S

I

T

Y

The Rambler

The students’ voice since 1917

Fort Worth, Texas

September 26, 2007

NEWS BRIEFS Hear from hall-of- famer Bob Simpson, chief executive officer of XTO Energy, will speak at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 2 in Martin Hall.

Simpson is named executive of the year for the Texas Wesleyan Business Hall of Fame.

News Briefs

The many doctors are in Join your fellow fans of Meredith and McDreamy for a Grey’s Anatomy party at 7 p.m. Sept. 27 in the lobby of Stella Russell Hall.

Stop by for the season premieres of Ugly Betty and Grey’s Anatomy, free food, trivia and prizes.

Get your game on Come hang out from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sept. 27 in Elizabeth Hall for a game night with door prizes, fajita nachos, beverages and many fun games.

College Republicans The TWU College Republicans meet at 12.15 p.m. Oct. 4 in BLC 206.

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.

Hey Mr. DJ Come join Texas Wesleyan and 89.7 Power FM for The Road Less Traveled Concert Series at 7:14 p.m. Oct. 14 in Martin Hall. Tickets are $5 in advance ($7 for general seating) and can be purchased through the Texas Wesleyan bookstore or the chaplain’s office in PUMC. Featured acts include Slingshot 57, One Minute Halo and Eimi Hall.

Discount movies Wesleyan movie buffs can get discount tickets to AMC theaters through the Student Life office. Tickets are $6.50 each and are good for any movie at any time.

You really need a facial...

A Coldwater Creek spa package is being raffled off Oct. 23 between games 2 and 3 of the volleyball match. The package is valued at more than $200 and includes a two hour and 30 minute essential facial, Swedish massage and “tempt your toes” foot treatment. Fliers are posted around campus. Tickets are $20, available from any volleyball player or coach.

Gay-Straight Alliance The Wesleyan Gay Straight Alliance meets every Friday at 12:15 in room B17 in the Eunice L. West Library basement. All students, faculty and staff that support human rights are encouraged and invited to attend.

Swimming anyone?

The pool has a lifeguard and is now open Mondays and Wednesdays 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays noon to 3 p.m. for open swim.

Vol. 99, No. 4

Total enrollment up from ’06, transfers down such as the admissions application available online further helped to increase undergraduate enrollment and increased full-time freshman enrollment.

STAFF WRITER By just putting the admissions application online last year, the total Coming into the fall 2007 semester, Texas Wesleyan University wit- amount of freshman admission applications submitted went up more than 30 nessed an increase in total enrollment, going from 2,774 students in fall 2006 percent.

Along with an increase in freshman enrollment this semester, the total to the current number of 2,866 students. Just shy of 2,000 full-time students enrollment of returning undergraduate students helped raise the undergraduand 870 part-time students make up the total enrollment for fall 2007.

In fall 2006, the total student enrollment was slightly lower (1,889) for ate total enrollment with its increase from fall 2006. In fall 2006, a total of full-time students and slightly higher for part-time students (885). 618 undergraduates returned. For fall 2007, the total of returning full-time Contributing to the increase in total enrollment for fall 2007 is an increase in undergraduate students has gone up to 684.

Happy with the results, TWU will continue with communications measthe numbers for undergraduate studies, the graduate school of business proures such as making the admissions application gram and the law school. available via the Internet, Alexander said. In Undergraduate enrollment this fall exceedaddition, school officials will also strive to fured the fall 2006 undergraduate total with a total ther increase undergraduate enrollment by conof 1,419 compared to the 1,372 students for fall tinuing increase advertising and marketing both 2006. There are 1,094 full-time undergraduates in and outside the Fort Worth area by utilizing its this fall, slightly more compared to the fall improved communications management system 2006 total of 1,005. and also by establishing a new “go center” for The number of full-time freshmen is 209, recruitment.

29 more than the fall 2006 full-time freshman Required by a state initiative for colleges, total of 180. “go centers” are spaces in high school that offers Improved communication to prospective high school students information about colleges students brought about the undergraduate and career options. TWU already has go centers enrollment increase for TWU. Improving its in Polytechnic High School, Castleberry High Communication Management System, a modSchool and Crowley High School. ule in its Datatel system, ensured that informaPhoto by Zainah Usman In addition to the go centers, TWU students tion about TWU was being sent to prospective students on a regular basis, according to Pati Student enrollment is up to 2,866 this semester. Campus have helped with recruitment efforts by going to area high schools.

Alexander, vice president of enrollment and events like the recurring poster sale are experiencing bigger crowds.

“These TWU students will help prospective student services. students at the high schools with filling out “With an improvement in our Communications Management System, it was easier to reach prospective admissions and financial aid applications,” said Alexander.

Along with the effort to increase undergraduate and freshman enrollstudents,” said Alexander.

“Prospective students were linked to the university better than in the ment, increasing retention rates is also a goal for official.

Some efforts, established by TWU’s retention committee, to increase the past.”

In addition to improved communication, making important documents total number of returning students See Enrollment, page 2

SHAMEKA HYATT

Burleson gains students, courses ANDREW CARVER STAFF WRITER

Wesleyan Burleson, about to enter its second year of operation, has once again experienced both improvements and growth, according to site coordinator Judy Arnold.

It officially opened its doors in January 2006, and Arnold said that the campus is now able to register students on site as well as extending hours for the cyber café in the student center. The enrollment has increased from 101 last fall to 125 this semester.

The campus recently added graduate education classes to the schedules. “[They] have been very well attended, and we hope to continue to offer more graduate classes in the future,” said Arnold.

Nicole Hammons, both a Burleson student and president of the Burleson site student organization Burleson Leaders Uniting Educators (B.L.U.E.), said she thinks each semester just keeps getting better.

“We have new instructors, new students, and it’s just an exciting thing to see our campus grow,” said Hammons B.L.U.E. officially became a student organization as of last January, according to Dr. Kim Tyler, professor of education and the organization’s faculty sponsor.

“A group of students got together wanting to get involved with the community,” said Tyler.

Hammons said the B.L.U.E. officers received the privilege of attending Burleson Independent School District’s convocation this past year and got to listen to guest speaker Jonathan Mooney speak.

“B.L.U.E. members also volunteered hours of their time in the summer at Burleson ISD’s summer institute, which is a professional development week for teachers,” said Hammons.

As far as future plans for the organization are concerned, Hammons said that there is a possibility that they may have a team for the Relay for Life this April. They also anticipate bringing in guest speakers from local school districts and will again be participating in Bowling for Education.

“In the fall we will be finally plant-

See Burleson, page 2

Chance of a

lifetime Theater legend Marshall W. Mason to share wisdom with Wesleyan

Photo courtesy of Marshall W. Mason

discovering and nurturing the acting talents of William Hurt, Kathy Bates, Christopher Reeve, Jeff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Daniels and many others,” said Whitt-Lambert.

Every once in a while someone special takes He may be best known for his record-breaking time out of their busy, successful lives to drop in for 40-year collaboration with Pulitzer Prize winning a visit at historic Texas Wesleyan. playwright Lanford Wilson. Playbill certified their Last spring Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper star Mark venture as the longest collaboration between a writer Curry gave an inspirational lecture to students. The and director in the history of American theater. summer before, Academy A grand total of Award winner Denzel four of his producWashington scoped out tions earned Tony Wesleyan classrooms as awards, and there are possible sets for his upcomcurrently a total of 24 ing film The Great nominations credited Debaters, also starring to his work.

Forest Whitaker. Alumna “I have been Tamlyn Wright, who just excited about this won her third Emmy award, opportunity since I has visited and worked with met Mr. Mason in students on multiple occaJune,” Whittsions.

Lambert said.

This October, Wesleyan In June, Whittwill be visited by a star of Lambert was fortuyet another kind. nate enough to be Thanks to theater invited to attend department chair Connie Edward Albee’s Whitt-Lambert, theaterGreat Plains Theatre world giant Marshall W. Conference in Mason will provide a series Omaha, at which her of intimate lectures to theplay ICE was preater students. The Tonysented. Mason hapnominated Broadway direcpened to be there as tor was also the founding well. artistic director of the legMason served as endary Circle Repertory a luminary at the Company, which was event and has directdeclared “the chief provider ed Albee’s Who’s of new American plays” by Afraid of Virginia Photo courtesy of Google Images the New York Times.

Woolf? at the Mason has seen many of his plays, some Tony-nomi“Marshall W. Mason is nated, grace the stages of Broadway.

National Theatre of an icon in the theatre world.

Japan in Japan.

He’s been nominated for the Tony Award and the After sitting in on some of his sessions at the Obie Award five times each. He’s also known for See Mason, page 2

SHAWN R. POLING

News

2 September 26, 2007

The Rambler

Graduate exam to be more comprehensive in 2008 OMAR MANSOOR TECHNICIAN/U-WIRE

The Graduate Record Examinations are changing to become more comprehensive, effective in 2008, including changing the computer-adaptive exams and adding on experimental questions.

The exams were computer-adaptive last year and will remain that way this year, where the computer picked the route the test-taker would take based on his or her answers to the questions, according to Duane Larick, senior associate dean of the North Carolina State University graduate school and member of the council of the graduate schools.

In 2008, Larick said the exams will still be computerbased, but all users will be able to take the same route in answering questions and will be able to go back and review their answers.

“Since [the Educational Testing Service Advisory Committee] has changed to the computer-based test, one of the problems ... or complaints was that if you have a question response that you want to come back to, you couldn’t go back to it,” he said.

Larick said the GREs only change drastically when the committee feels these changes are necessary.

“In the revised format, you would have the opportunity to go back whereas you wouldn’t have that before ... the test will be virtually the same for grad students until 2008,” he said.

Alice Ballenger, a graduate student in international studies, said she thinks the educational testing service should have variations of the GREs similar to the ACT and SAT for undergrads.

“The format of the GRE should appeal to different types of learners ... I thought that the [current] test, being on the computer was very difficult and could be revised,” she said.

According to Ballenger, the people who wrote the GRE should have addressed these concerns.

Ballenger suggested that a more effective means of examining graduate students on their knowledge base is to test students based upon more than the typical verbal, quantitative and written format.

She said different formats of the GREs should be taken into consideration “Colleges take both SAT and ACT scores. Maybe they

should change the entire format of the GRE and come up with an entirely new one just like the ACT [in regards to the SAT].”

Larick said the computer adaptive system is for the sake of the administration, and therefore, further measures are being made to make the test more comprehensive for students.

He also said there have been proposals to alter the point scale and better evaluate student performance on the GREs. In November, the GREs will incorporate a few experimental test questions, complete and numeric entry questions, to eliminate guessing and better evaluate students on the materials.

Randy Wilson, a senior in computer engineering and potential GRE test taker, said as long as the educational testing service advisory committee has the intent of making the GREs more comprehensive for students, he supports changes being made to the GREs. “It sounds like from the improvements that they’re helping to make it more like a paper test ... so I think it’s helpful in comparison to past tests,” he said. “I feel it’s fair.”

Enrollment, from page 1

We are The Rambler take pictures

write articles

make money

include improving outside lighting on campus, hiring developmental coordinators, improving upper-level advising, improving safety and security on campus and establishing developmental classes for core subjects such as math and English.

With an increase in undergraduate and returning student enrollment, other student enrollment populations experienced an increase this fall, and therefore, contributed to the increase in total enrollment. The total enrollment of full-time undergraduate readmitted students increased this fall with a total of 27 versus the total of 19 in fall 2006. Part-time readmit students account for a total of 16 this fall, slightly higher than the fall 200 total of 10. Along with increases in certain categorical aspects of TWU enrollment, some decreases have occurred in some areas of student enrollment.

The full-time transfer student and part-time transfer student total enrollment has decreased this fall. Full-time transfer students make up 174 students on campus this fall, slightly lower than the 188 total of fall 2006. Part-time transfer students sum up to 65 this fall, falling short of the fall 2006 72 total.

Concerning the graduate education program, total enrollment in this academic area experienced a decline this fall in total enrollment of returning students. This fall, full-time graduate education returning student enrollment is nine compared to the total of 16 in fall 2006. Part-time graduate education returning student total enrollment this fall is 61, less than the fall 2006 total of 90.

Along with a decrease in returning students total enrollment for graduate education, overall graduate education total enrollment decreased. Full-time graduate education total enrollment this fall is 23 in contrast to the total of 25 in fall 2006. There are 91 part-time graduate education students for TWU this fall. In fall 2006, part-time graduate education students accounted for a total of 99.

In addition to its decreases in returning students and overall student enrollment, TWU’s graduate education program has also seen a decrease in new students. Graduate education students make up 114 students in the overall TWU student body this fall, less than the fall 2006 total of 124. The total enrollment for the graduate school of counseling is 38.

Along with graduate education’s decrease in total enrollment, the graduate professional counseling program and the graduate program of nurse anesthesia (GPNA) witnessed declines in total enrollment. The graduate counseling program’s total enrollment this fall is 77 after having a total of 90 in fall 2006.

GPNA’s total enrollment fell slightly short this fall with a total of 377, a little less than the fall 2006 total of 379. This decrease can be explained by the fact that GPNA had to shut down some hospital sites last year.

“GPNA students have to do their clinical training in hospitals,” said John Martin, GPNA director. “We had to shut down the two hospital sites because they were not offering adequate training to our students.”

GPNA is in the process of talking to new hospital sites in order to boost student enrollment back up. Despite the slight decrease in enrollment, GPNA is doing well and is academically stronger than before, said Martin.

The graduate business program saw a tremendous increase in total enrollment this fall with a tal of 57 students. This is up from 57 in fall 2006.

The law school saw an increase in total enrollment as well. This fall, there are 766 law school students, greater than the 752 total of fall 2006.

Burleson, from page 1

ing our flowers donated by the alumni association, we will have a float in the homecoming parade and will be participating in the campus Halloween costume party and contest,” Hammons said.

The campus has made a point to become active in its surrounding community. They received second prize in Burleson’s Annual Parade of Lights last year and won the Business of the Year Award from the Burleson Area Chamber of Commerce for 2006.

Arnold said the thinks the future for Wesleyan Burleson is extremely bright with all the things that they have going on.

“There are always changes and improvements going on here,” said Arnold. “We are constantly improving student services.”

gain experience

Mason, from page 1

meet new people www.txwes.edu/rambler (currently under construction)

twurambler@yahoo.com

conference, Whitt-Lambert introduced herself to Mason and invited him back to Texas to work with Wesleyan students. About two weeks later he sent her an e-mail.

“Once I’d caught my breath, I read on and realized that he was accepting my offer to come to Texas Wesleyan,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe my own good fortune when I was able to sit in on his sessions at the conference and then meet and talk with him one-on-one. In addition to being someone I’ve read about in my theater textbooks, he’s also a very nice guy,” said Whitt-Lambert.

This won’t be Mason’s first time to work with students. He has taught for more than a decade at Arizona State University as a professor emeritus and plans to stop by the University of Akron after leaving Wesleyan.

During his time at Wesleyan, he will present different seminars from Oct. 5 to Oct. 7. The 10 a.m. morning sessions on the first day (intro session followed by Q&A) and second day (focusing on his new play experience) are open to anyone who would like to attend. There will also be afternoon sessions and evening activities exclusively for theater students.

“It’s really hard to quantify how much our students will benefit from this workshop,” WhittLambert said.

“This is an opportunity for us all to learn from and interact with someone who has worked all over the world as a director...to be able to turn to page 306 in the CAMBRIDGE GUIDE TO AMERICAN THEATRE, point to his name and say, ‘I know him.’”

For more information contact the theater office at (817) 531-5867 or eheebner@txwes.edu.

Opinions

The Rambler

Advertisements must have standards too

Which of your textbooks is hardest to read?

“They’re all pretty easy.”

“My English book.”

Brent Thomas Freshman Excercise Science Major Kassy Tengra Junior Elementary Education Major

H

ave you ever thought about how this world would There are three or four young kids sitting at the table and, when the be without advertising? Think about it: What youngest boy finally gets his soup, his only remark is “Hey, I didn’t know would happen if there were no billboards, no coupons, there was chicken in this soup.” This campaign was brilliant because all it and, heaven forbid, should we be without those famous takes is a cute kid saying something equally as cute to make the consumer Super Bowl commercials. No matter how funny or remember the product. clever these commercials are, have you ever quesLast but certainly not least are the Geico commercials with the cavetioned the way companies market to us as consumers men. If that doesn’t beat a Viagra commercial, what does? or thought a company went too far with its advertising Now I understand that, as a culture, we are no longer immune to cercampaign? tain things like profanity, nudity, violence and sex. But at what point do JULIE When I was a kid, I we say enough is enough?

DAVIS remember commercials Have you ever been watching TV that advertised Vlasic pickwith a friend – guy or girl – when the les, M&Ms at Easter time and who could forSummer’s Eve commercial comes on? It get the older woman throwing the tire through is hard to miss: the mother and daughter the window at Discount Tire (that one has walking hand in hand on the beach disrecently reappeared)? But what about now? cussing that “fresh feeling” that one of Today we are inundated with commercials them is apparently concerned about? Is about erectile dysfunction and genital herpes. that awkward or what? I have to ask, There is the one I saw recently where a why on earth does that product need to bunch of men were sitting in a bar playing be advertised? If a woman wants or Viva Viagra to the tune of Viva Las Vegas. needs that product, all she has to do is go Mind you, there is not a woman around but at to the feminine hygiene aisle at the local the end of the commercial all the men disperse drug store and figure it out. That specific and lead the viewer to believe that they have a product is so customized that I wonder if partner waiting at home to take advantage of it would be more effective to put adverCourtesy of Google Images the benefits of Viagra. Give me a break. How tisements in a gynecologist’s office many of you guys sitting around with your guy Campbell’s soup is one company that has very successfully instead of on television. and frequently used the “cute kid technique” in marketing. friends sing Viva Viagra and discuss the intiBut there is no doubt that advertising mate details of your personal life? I mean really, this commercial was so works. I have taken advantage of many advertisements as I am sure most stupid it was funny. And guys think it’s ridiculous when women go to the have you have also. I have purchased products because of advertisements, restroom in groups. and I have also stayed away from products because of marketing. I know One of the most creative commercials I have seen is the one where the that companies are in business to make money, and they spend a lot of guy is on the porch eating pizza. As mosquitoes fly all around him, he advertising dollars in order to make a profit. sprinkles Tobasco on the slice of pizza, takes a bite and smiles. When a All I am saying is that sometimes it would be more appropriate to mosquito bites him and then explodes, giving the viewer the impression keep certain products and services off television. But then again, if their that the insect exploded because the Tobasco was so hot. What a great advertisements didn’t work, I wouldn’t be talking about them. advertisement for Tobasco.

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

Another one I love is the advertisement for Campbell’s Chicken Soup.

iPhone not actually an iBuy item

Newest ‘gotta-have-it’ sacrifices quality and still charges big bucks

I

“Business law.”

n today’s world of constant technological advancements, nothing lasts very long. Your new Dell computer will be obsolete in a year or two. The video game system you are saving up for might not survive the fierce competition and be gone by SHAWN R. the time you finally have the POLING money. The iPod nano you bought last year has already been discontinued and replaced with a newer, compact model (with video! Grrr).

Still, despite all of this technology craziness, all of these temporary “gotta-have-it” devices are coated in enough coolness to keep you whipping out your wallet every few months.

The latest device to take over our schizophrenic society: the iPhone.

I have to admit that before I actually got my hands on one I was already obsessed. Those snazzy commercials foretelling its arrival in stores (however misleading) were unforgettably cool. The iPhone looks like a Blackberry on an acid trip and there are no buttons or keys to press! OMG! But then one of my friends managed to purchase an iPhone the day of its debut. He and I gathered a couple friends over to experience the new device communally, all of us sure that after our meeting we could die happy.

The best thing about the iPhone is the touch screen. Touch screens used to be what made sitting in an ATM line bearable. Now the iPhone makes it possible to carry one around.

Worried about carpel-tunnel from your unhealthy texting habit? Just buy the iPhone and your texting worries are over. Instead of jamming down those nearly microscopic numbers and letters, you can lightly tap away messages to your heart’s content. Even better, the screen doesn’t have the share room with a keypad, so it covers the entire front of the phone. Genius!

But shortly after we marveled over the uber-

“Economics.”

Jeff Mullin Junior MIS Major Toby Rochau Sophomore Business Major

September 26, 2007 3

cool touch screen, our joy and amazement faded. movies from iTunes, your video options are Underneath the gloss and sheen of that beautiful severely limited. YouTube videos, which usually touch-screen (which is surely the only reason the look terrible on a decent computer, look even darn thing costs so much) is nothing but a worse on an iPhone.

Blackberry.

That brings to mind the audio.

I will say The iPhone comes from Apple, the text messagknown for the iPod, the holiest and ing application best-sounding of all portable audio is cool. The predevices. So the iPhone should at least dictive/correcsound good, right? Wrong. The sound tive texting is quality during calls is worse than that great, and on any Motorola phone ever created. makes texting A few iPhone owners I know rave simpler than about the built-in iPod that displays ever. Even betalbums’ art like a photo album. ter, it displays What’s the big deal? Every iPod your text mesmodel except for the screen-less Shuffle sages as “condisplays album art as well. On top of versations,” so that, the iPhone still sounds bad! referencing In reality, if you actually have the what Jenny money for an iPhone, wouldn’t you texted you three have an iPod already? Walking between messages before classes on Wesleyan’s main campus, it’s her current mesextremely hard to spot a student withsage requires out the white iPod brand earbuds absolutely no lodged in his/her ears. effort at all. But For that matter, it’s even harder to find at the same a student without a cell phone and laptime, the top as well.

Blackberry does So what is the point of the iPhone the same thing. but a device that combines three Courtesy of Google Images The iPhone machines into one at the sacrifice of gives you the option of going through your audio and visual quality. Yes, that touch screen voicemails in any order just like an e-mail is cool, but Blackberry is already working on a account, and it allows you to merge calls togeth- model with a touch screen. On another thought, er instead of keeping one person on hold. But is the iPhone isn’t much sturdier than a regular that really cool enough to pay between $400 and phone, and I know plenty of people who have $600 dollars? stepped on their cell phone screens, ruining Then comes the video. With the iPhone it’s them for eternity. Break your iPhone, and you’re possible to watch high-quality movie downloads without a phone, an iPod and a hand held comin widescreen by simply tipping your phone puter. sideways. Semi-cool, but I would rather watch All in all, the iPhone is iPointless, unless movies at home on a big TV with surround you just want to waste your hard-earned money. sound.

Shawn R. Poling is a senior writing major and is And if you don’t want to pay for high-quality editor-in-chief for The Rambler.

Rambler Ratings

The Rambler Founded in 1917 as The Handout Harold G. Jeffcoat, Publisher Kelli Lamers, adviser Zainah Usman, photo editor Colleen Burnie, entertainment editor

Shawn R Poling, editor-in-chief Tiara Nugent, managing/college life editor Skyla Claxton, advertising manager 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 Wesleyan security guard John for resucing me when my car broke down.

-- Linda Lee

Thumbs down to waiting in the SUB for service.

Thumbs down to the food in Dora’s. It’s not as good as last year.

Thumbs down to the broken printer in NBC 102.

Corrections The correct titles of Theatre Wesleyan’s one act plays are LAUNDRY AND BOURBON and LONE STAR. The photo was courtesy of Theatre Wesleyan.

These were incorrect in the Sept. 19th edition. The Rambler regrets these errors.

College Life

September 26, 2007

The Rambler

Where will your college journey take you?

Seminar for freshmen promotes beginning smart career habits and ethics today TIARA NUGENT MANAGING EDITOR

“How many of us want to graduate and get a job making $75,000 a year?”

Hands shot up all over the Science Lecture Theater on the afternoon of Sept. 18th, as energetic SaRatta Reeves, representative of Making It Count, grabbed her freshman audience’s attention.

“The Ultimate Road Trip: Campus2Career” is a presentation that has typically been on the Ram Camp agenda for the past several years. This fall, however, it was decided that Ram Camp should focus more on incoming students getting to know one another and the campus without simultaneously overwhelming them with pointers on success. But administrators still wanted to provide the helpful tips.

“The session gives really valuable information, and we still wanted to give it to freshmen,” explains Jenny Houze, administrative assistant of Student Life.

Reeves presented students with an illustrative booklet containing the basic points of her presentation and took off on a peppy discourse detailing the victorious college lifestyle – one that prepares a student for a smooth entrance to the workforce. The journey to a career commences the moment a student lays a foot on campus, so the time to begin wise lifestyle choices is now.

“Start small, but dream big,” Reeves said.

Everyone must start from somewhere, and quite frequently that somewhere is located at the bottom of the totem pole. Reeves pointed out that if you stick with that job (whether it be homework or with a business) and handle your responsibility with diligence, rewards and advancement will come. As the old adage goes, if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well.

Next, set relevant, attainable short-term goals within long-term goals. Wishing to graduate with academic honors makes a worthy ambition indeed, but to avoid discouragement or feelings of stagnation on the road to long-term victories, purpose each semester to make the Dean’s List, or, even simpler, to make an A on this week’s American history test.

Aspirations do not descend to reality with continual conscious efforts. How much time do students “schedule” for entertainments like TV, Blackberries, Facebook, MySpace, etc.?

Implementing an “8 to 5” mentality for the “job” of college will not only free students’ nights and weekends for whichever pleasures they so desire, but will also aid in focused and completed studies. If focusing on homework comes hard to you, try re-locating yourself to a place where your textbook is the coolest thing in front of you (on the third floor of the library, Internet cannot call your name!).

By the way, those textbooks sitting on the desk (the ones you paid $400-$600 for) aren’t for dorm decoration or backpack weight. Sure, you may be able to ace that test or even the entire class without ever reading a word of the textbook, but think how much information you are cheating yourself out of in the process, not to mention the

HA

HA

HA

HA

Laughter It’s the best medicine

W

hen was the last time you laughed? I mean the kind of laugh that made your stomach hurt. If you have to think about it, then it JULIE has been too DAVIS long. Laughing is not only good for your mental state, it is good for your physical state as well. Research has shown that laughter increases your heart rate, boosts the levels of immune cells and even helps blood flow remain normal. Laughing can also help reduce stress. It can make you feel better when you’re having a bad day, make a good day better or just flat out make you a happier, healthier person. So the next time your day has gotten off to a bad start or something happens to raise your stress level, think of your most embarrassing moment, watch a funny movie or, if you must, just force yourself to laugh – you might just find that laughter really is the best medicine.

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

money you’re wasting. Novel concept.

Reeves also encouraged students to consider which professions are in demand when selecting a major.

According to a Making It Count survey, only 50 percent of college graduates actually settle into a job related to their degree. Double or hybrid majors give graduates more offer to employers, as students therefore possess a deeper specialization in that job field.

Internships bid well for students as well. At no cost or risk to the student comes the chance to interact with workers in the field, get a feel for the duties and demands of that career and also slip a foot into the door of an upstanding company.

Speaking of the corporate world, what do you project upon entering a room? Whether accurate or not, appearance does speak louder than words, so monitor the way in which you execute that spectacular job performance.

Attendees of the Campus2Career seminar agreed it was a resounding success in itself.

“This was something perfect for any student. It wass informational, entertaining and useful,” said Joe Brownn, director of Freshman Studies. “We’re going to do it again in the spring through Student Life.”

Freshman pre-law major KeUndreia Moore said the program provided good, valuable advice.

“The time management part was very true,” she said.

“I slip with that a lot.”

Reeves notes that the passion she portrays in her job blossoms from how close her message hits home; without guidance and forced to learn from her own mistakes, it took Reeves a while to get on track.

“I wish I would have had something like this when I was in college,” she said.

“I love talking to people and motivation a success.”

Photos by Kevin Keathley

Bush signs bill serving students’ wallets A

re looming federal loan payments getting you down? Anxious about all the cash you’re going to have to fork over when you leave this pricey private university? Well, fellow students, help is soon on the way.

According to the Associated Press, President Bush recently signed a bill that will cut $20 billion in government subsidies allotted to student lenders and funnel that money back to the students in the CHUCK form of increased financial aid. This new bill will FAIN increase the Pell Grant from $4,310 a year to $5,400 a year by 2012 and will slice interest rates in half, bringing them down from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent over the next four years. The legislation also offers a “loan forgiveness program” in which a student’s debt is absolved if he/she spends 10 years in a public service industry (i.e. teaching or nursing).

The bill passed in the House with a 292 to 97 vote and in the Senate with a 79 to 12 vote.

For many of today’s students, loans are the only conceivable way to pay for school. Not everyone enjoys the luxury of financial support from their parents or guardian, and most students (including yours truly) have to work full and/or part-time jobs just to survive. The pressures of work, school and the demands of daily life leave little time to complete the daunting tasks required for most scholarship or grant programs, making student loans the only option available.

In light of recent events, however, loan services have proven themselves as an unreliable resource.

A student loan bribe scandal of late, involving thousands of schools has shed a light on the unchecked business practices of these federal lenders. The People Weekly World reports that six schools (University of Pennsylvania, New York University, Syracuse University, Fordham University, Long Island and St. John’s University) have already settled out of court for their involvement in the scandals and have agreed to pay out $3.27 million to students for inflated loan prices.

If student lenders are overcharging students, receiving payment from thousands of people and still seem to have enough money left over to bribe large universities, why should they get billions in government aid? If that money is there to help students with school, why

not spend it on helping students with school instead of contributing to the American peoples’ staggering debt problem?

While the majority of lawmakers consider the bill progressive, beneficial and a win for the American people, a few Republican representatives disagree. The Washington Post reported Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon as saying, “Students will go back to paying higher rates in four years or tax payers will have to foot the bill.”

As a taxpayer and a student, I respond to McKeon’s comment with a resounding, “So what?” Spending money on the education of those who struggle to or cannot afford it sounds like a great idea to me. After all, taxes exist to sustain and improve the society in which we live.

What better way to improve and guarantee the sustainability of our society than to educate as many people as we possibly can?

In our modern society, which seems to place very little value on education and/or those who are educated, the passing of this bill is a step in the right direction, even if it means (God forbid) we may have to pay a little extra in the long run to help out our fellow man.

Courtesy of Google Images If money for this program is not replenished and taxes do increase in order to help the less fortunate Americans attend school, I would consider it a worthy investment, one with limitless return.

Chuck Fain is a junior English major and is a contributing writer for The Rambler.

Sports

The Rambler

Quick Quotes “Golf is a game whose aim is to hit a very small ball into an even smaller hole, with weapons singularly ill-designed for the purpose.”

-Winston Churchill Former British Prime Minister and Nobel Prize Winner

Upcoming Events Coming Up This Weekend on Campus . . .

Sept. 29 Woman’s Soccer vs. UT Brownsville @ 5:30 p.m.

Men’s Soccer vs. UT Brownsville @ 7:30 p.m.

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

Sports Briefs Rams sweep RRAC awards Sept. 24 Te x a s We s l e y a n U n i v e r s i t y ' s Liz Meng, Evoni Darling and Ashley Mock swept the Red River Athletic Conference P l a y e r, S e t t e r a n d L i b e r o o f t h e We e k a w a r d s f o r t h e p e r i od Sept. 16-23.

Rams battle to scoreless draw Sept. 23 T h e Te x a s We s l e y a n University men's soccer team (5-3-1) played the University of St. Thomas Houston (4-21) to a scoreless draw after two overtime periods at Martin Field.

Rams roll to win over saints Sept. 22 T h e Te x a s We s l e y a n University volleyball team won a match over Our Lady of the Lake University three games to none.

Rams win first conference game Sept. 21 T h e Te x a s We s l e y a n University men's soccer team played under the lights at Martin Field for the first t i m e e v e r o n F r i d a y. T h e Rams (5-3, 1-0 RRAC) took a 2 - 1 w i n o v e r Te x a s C o l l e g e (2-5-2, 0-1) in their confere n c e o p e n e r.

Lady Rams take big win Sept. 21 In their Red River Athletic Conference opener at Martin F i e l d , t h e Te x a s We s l e y a n University women's soccer team (4-4-2, 1-0 RRAC) took an impressive 7-1 win over Te x a s C o l l e g e ( 2 - 3 - 2 , 0 - 1 ) .

Rams dominate Sept. 21 T h e Te x a s We s l e y a n University volleyball team improved to 12-8 with a win over Bacone College (0-9) at t h e S i d R i c h a r d s o n C e n t e r.

The Lady Rams easily took all three games by scores of 30-15, 30-18 and 30-13.

-Compiled from ramsports.net

September 26, 2007 5

Wesleyan soccer dominates BRYCE WILKS STAFF WRITER

There were no complaints about a low scoring soccer match Sep. 21 when the Lady Rams defeated Texas College 7-1 in their Red River Conference opener at Martin Field.

The victory pushed the Lady Rams to 4-4-2 on the young season and indicated the kind of offensive firepower they are capable of showing.

Senior midfielder Aubrey Rice netted her first goal of the season in the fourth minute with a booming kick from the top of the box.

Rice is the two-time defending 3-D Award recipient for the club and was excited to get the team started offensively.

“I’m a defensive midfielder and not too much of a scorer usually, but a teammate set me up in good position to take the shot,” Rice said.

In the 16th minute, freshman Christina Zimmerman collected a defended corner kick and booted it in to make the score 2-0.

Junior defender Danielle Parks charged up the field and delivered her fifth career

the day.

Women’s soccer action will resume at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Martin Field. It will be the first game ever between Wesleyan and UTBrownsville.

The men’s soccer squad achieved a much more “soccer-like” victory in game two of the night, defeating Texas College 2-1.

Lights were installed at Martin Field prior to the season, allowing the second half of the game to be played after dark for the first time.

Freshman forward Leo Cubrilo put the Rams on top with his third goal of the season in the 28th minute.

The score remained 10 until halftime, as both teams relied heavily on strong play from their goalkeepers.

Sophomore Toby Rochau recorded eight saves, while the Steers keeper rejected five shots.

In the 58th minute, the Steers knotted up the score as forward Roberto Galvan slipped a shot past Rochau.

In the 68th minute,

goal in the 38th minute, pushing the lead to 3-0.

The Lady Steers’ only Photos by Kevin Keathley scoring threat of the first period was blocked on a Both the men and women played their first conference matches Sept. 21 at Martin Field.

Crowds watched as players like John Kuethe racked the score up to 2-1 for the men. spectacular leaping effort from Wesleyan goalkeeper Brittany O’Brien.

With only five ticks remaining until halftime, freshman Candice Reeves capitalized on an assist from Zimmerman, making it 4-0 at the break.

Eight minutes into the second period, the scoring attack resumed with Reeves adding her second goal of the game.

Senior Loren Clark scored in the 66th minute, and junior Brianna McKernon capped off the day with a goal in the 69th minute.

A converted penalty kick with 14 seconds remaining ended the team’s shutout bid and made the final tally 7-1, as the Rams out shot the Steers 47-9 on

senior Ekene Onuoha had a throw in, which rebounded and ended up in sophomore Chase Richeson’s possession.

Richeson unleashed the eventual game-winning shot, scoring his second goal of the year and putting the Rams ahead for good.

Josh Gibbs serves as both men’s and women’s head coach, and, according to ramsports.net, was pleased with the effort that his team gave in the victory.

“This was a remarkably well played game from both sides,” he said. “It was good to come out on the winning side of this one and get that first conference win.”

The Rams’ next home game will also be their chance to record conference win No. 2 against UT-Brownsville. The game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Sep. 29.

MP3s take excercise to the next decibel RACHEL HORTON STAFF WRITER

You see them everywhere – in the mall, the grocery store and the library.

They are the constant companions of most people ages 13 to 65 and are considered one of the hottest items on the market. They were also the death of your portable CD player and Walkman. That’s right. They are the MP3 players.

Not only are MP3s a part of your everyday routine in music and entertainment, but they are also mediums that can provide highly-trained athletic specialists that will walk, run and lift you through your everyday (or every other day) workout routine.

The concept of reverse psychology and the power of motivation are definitely at work behind this fairly new industry. Like the story of Tom Sawyer and the white-washed fence, an activity is only work when viewed as such, and as long as you are making progress in your activities, you are likely to continue. Utilizing these two principles, companies such as Podfitness and iTrainer have combined famous, well-qualified fitness professionals and your favorite music to create a customized workout online that usually requires no more than your MP3 player, a pair of tennis shoes and a minimal monthly fee.

Podfitness, for example, will have you set a goal of weight loss, muscle toning or endurance training and then select the methods you would like to use to meet that goal and how long you want to train in each session. Then, once your methods and goals are determined, you will be able to review trainer bios and select one to coach you through your workout. Don’t forget to select your music!

Podfitness lets you select your unprotected music from either Zunes or iTunes to develop a playlist that will keep you going when the going gets tough.

As you go through your routine, the voice of the trainer fades in and out over your selected music to encourage and instruct for your optimal performance.

Overall, the new MP3 or iPod industry opportunities are quite numerous and entrepreneurs are smart to take advantage of those opportunities.

Just remember that no matter how accessible getting in shape, training or working out may be, your level of commitment and achievement ultimately depends on iAction.

Photo courtesy of Google Images

The newest wave of excercise technology is audio personal trainers, which can be downloaded from sites like iTunes.

Entertainment

6 September 26, 2007

The Rambler

Area restaurants serve up great sandwiches O

K, let’s face it. Everyone loves a good sandwich. That is unless you Awesome Deli Sandwiches don’t eat carbs.

Subway is just fine if you are a bird or Jared enthusiast. If you are honest with yourBut if you are one of the extremely lucky people who aren’t afraid self, Subway is the McDonald’s of delis, so don’t act like you are feasting at the Rainbow to stuff yourself full of bread and cheese and condiments, you know the Room every time you are consuming less than 6 grams of fat. That said, I know where you profound power of a great sandwich. can find a real deli sandwich.

As Matt LeBlanc’s character Although I don’t understand the name, The Great Joey (of Friends and Joey) would Outdoors is a great place to spend your time sandwiching, say, a sandwich is the perfect gift even though it will cost you a couple bucks more than for any occasion. He specifically Subway. They have a lengthy menu and countless choices to SHAWN R. cited a cheesesteak sandwich, choose from (take that Subway!) including everything from POLING but I truly believe it goes for classic to signature creations. Try out the Invention, a pretty any sandwich. basic deli sandwich with the addition of cream cheese. Get it In my many sandwich journeys across the toasted for true sandwich nirvana, then balance yourself out Metroplex, I have come across some of the greatest, with a banana milkshake made from their delectable homeand some of the worst, sandwiches ever. Take hint made ice cream. I feel fatter just writing about it. from me, and either haunt or steer clear of the folI normally steer clear of food courts, but Ridgmar Mall’s lowing sandwich-supplying establishments.

Which Wich is to die for. (There’s also one at the new Really Good Burgers Arlington Highlands shopping center.) Their bread is nothing Nothing is better than a great burger. You can short of amazing, and you have 50 different choices from 10 find them anywhere these days, from Mexican sandwich categories of what to fill it with! Two of the best are restaurants to gas stations, but my three burgers the Buffalo Shrimp from the seafood category and the trump all others. Be prepared for burgerliciousHummus and Bell Pepper from the vegetarian category ness! (around $7 for just a sandwich).

A burger should never be pricey, but some of McKinley’s Fine Bakery and Café the burgers at the new Pappas Burger on Forrest Now I can’t send you on a wonderful sandwich journey Park Boulevard are worth the price tag (expect to without warning you about a place that might make you give spend about $8 on a standard burger with fries). up sandwiches altogether.

Since you’re already paying that much, skip the Never dare enter McKinley’s “Fine” Bakery and Café plain cheeseburger and spring for something riskier, (University Park Village) unless you are a trophy wife or lady like the bleu cheeseburger ($9.75). I normally can’t who lunches who is fully prepared to overpay for miniscule stand blue cheese, but it’s genius to team it with portions of seriously unsatisfying foods and desserts. thick bacon and crunchy onion rings, served next to There are “full-sized” sandwiches hidden on the menu, a pile of spiral-shaved fries. but McKinley’s specializes in smaller-than-a-Matchbox-toyPhoto courtesy of Google Images car-finger-sandwiches, most of them filled with either olives Like some burger with your cheese? Head on over to T.G.I. Friday’s for the Cheesy Bacon or bacon and some thick, unidentified condiment. Their soup Pappas Burger offers a great bleu cheese burger for $9.75.

Cheeseburger (around $8 with fries and a drink). It is watery and flavorless, and the color to it must be a dye. may seem like a normal bacon burger, but instead of just American cheese, the burger also My last hope for McKinley’s was left in the dessert display. I decided to try out a cinincludes a breaded and fried cheese patty. Think of a burger and mozzarella sticks comnamon roll and chocolate petit four. Neither selection satisfied. The cinnamon roll tasted bined. Amazing! Team it with the fried macaroni and cheese appetizer (the best I’ve ever artificial and plastic-y, and the petit four was nothing more than a square of cake encased had) and you are set for one cheesy meal. in milk chocolate.

Finally, for the perfect burger. Little did you know it lives at IHOP. Yes, IHOP burgers Even worse, a friend and I were given the evil eye from countless Prada and Chanelcan be better than a stack of pancakes. Take a risk and try out their egg, bacon and cheeseclad lunching ladies who made us look homeless by comparison. I will forever be traumaburger. It may sound gross at first glance, but putting an egg over a plump beef patty and tized, but I still say, long live the sandwich. piled with crunchy bacon in a crusty parmesan bun is pure burger heaven. In true IHOP style, your bill be less than $10 including the tip.

Shawn R. Poling is a senior writing major and is the editor-in-chief for The Rambler.

Ready to get spooked?

Cutting Edge open for Halloween early birds

E

t n e e m m e r n i t a X rt e t En

file photos

Kappa Alpha hosts the third annual mud volleyball tournament from noon to 7 p.m. Sept. 29 in the felid behind Stella.

Proceeds from this entertaining event go to muscular dystrophy research.

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

Saturday On Campus:

29

Wednesday On Campus:

26

Thursday On Campus:

27

Friday On Campus

28

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

* Gay Straight Alliance meeting: B17 basement of the library, 12:15 p.m.

* Baptist Student Ministry: Sid * Frisbee Golf: all over campus, 12:15 p.m.

Richardson Building, noon, free lunch served * Let’s Make a Deal: Student Union Building, 12:15 p.m.

* International violinist Mikhail Barash: Martin Hall, 7 p.m.

Sunday On Campus:

30

* Flag Football: all over cam- *Declaring Space: works of Mark Rothco, Barnett pus, 12:15 p.m.

Newman, Lucio Fontana and Yves Klein: exhibit opens at *Mud Volleyball: Behind Stella, noon- 7 p.m., proceeds Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth go to muscular dystrophy. *Dallas Cowboys vs. St. LouisRams: Texas Stadium, noon

Monday On Campus:

1

Tuesday On Campus:

2

* Business Hall of Fame *Sneak Preview - All Majors: Executive of the Year Bob contact admissions, 9:30 a.m.- Simpson: Martin Hall, 9:30 a.m. noon. * Student Government Meeting: Carter Conference Room, noon * DVD releases: Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, 1408 and Jericho: Season One

ven though you can’t really tell by the weather, summer is drawing to a close and autumn will soon set in. That means many things, but one of my favorites is Halloween. And with Halloween comes haunted houses. But you’re still wearing shorts and it’s not even October you say? Cutting Edge Haunted House says it’s never too early.

Most haunted houses begin operation around the beginning of October, but Cutting Edge, located at 1701 E. Lancaster, decided to open its doors early this year. They’ve been going at it since a stagERIC gering Sept.8.

WONG While some may say Cutting Edge opening almost two months before Halloween is too early, I think that it’s a great way for people to be able to enjoy a haunted house on their own terms. It’s better than trying to work it into your short October schedule, only to find that the day you chose to go was the same day everyone else chose to go too.

Those extra days the house stays open allow the crowds to become more dispersed, resulting in shorter lines. This subsequently solves that annoying problem of congestion.

The Fort Worth-Dallas area alone has more than 30 haunted houses. Despite having so many houses to choose from, year after year there “... nothing is more frustrat- seems to be ridiculously long lines.

This often leads haunted houses to attempt to ing than seeing the group in accommodate large volumes of people as quickly as front of you get scared.” possible, which leads to congestion in the mazes, inability of the actors to give each person a proper performance and an overall poorly run haunted house.

Any haunted house patron can tell you that nothing is more frustrating than seeing the group in front of you get scared, only for you to know exactly what’s going to happen over and over again, essentially making the entire ordeal a waste. However, one haunted house might be able to fix that annoying problem this season, Cutting Edge.

Scheduling convenience, shorter waiting times and better scares: It’s a wonder that the other haunted houses aren’t doing the same.

So swing by a haunted house early this year if you haven’t already. Almost all of them will be open soon.

And to the naysayers of haunted houses coming early: Christmas lights start to make their appearance plenty early, so why should haunted houses have to wait? When it comes to Halloween’s festivities, the earlier, the better.

For more information Photo courtesy of www.umcrookston.edu on Cutting Edge, visit www.cuttingedgehaunted- Cutting Edge offers a fun way to enjoy the Halloween season long before it actually begins. house.com.

Eric Wong is a freshman biochemistry major and is a staff writer for The Rambler.