The Rambler Vol.100 No.9

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

www.txwes.edu/rambler

April 9, 2008

Vol. 100, No.9

NEWS BRIEFS

Rambler wins 9 state awards

Congrats Rams!

The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (ranked 18th) extended its winning streak to a schoolrecord-tying 15 games.

Keep up the good work!

News Briefs

Get your tickets now Theatre Wesleyan’s 54th annual Spring musical Little Me finally graces the stage of TWU’s Thad Smotherman Theatre starting at 7:30 p.m. April 10-12, 17-19 and 2 p.m. April 13 and 20. Come support Wesleyan students and faculty in a production directed and choreographed by guest artist Joel Ferrell and featuring musical direction by Aimee Hurst. Tickets are $12 for general admission, $6 for faculty and staff and $5 for students with an ID. the box office can be reached Monday-Friday from 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m. at (817) 531-4211.

Get your books now!

The Eunice L. West Library is hosting the HalfPrice Scholastic Book Fair during normal business hours through April 10 and from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. April 11.

Purchases can be made at the circulation desk.

Become an RA! If you are interested in becoming a resident assistant during the fall 2008 semester, take note of these important dates: April 9: Applications due by 4 p.m.

April 14-25: Interview process.

April 30: Decision letters sent out.

For more information, e-mail housing@txwes.edu.

FAFSA time!

The office of finanacial aid reminds all students that it’s FAFSA time, for the 2008-2009 school year.

Remember that it’s mandatory for all students seeking financial aid. First, either complete your 2007 taxes or make sure your parents complete theirs. Next, get a pin number at www.pin.ed.gov. Next, fill out your FAFSA at www.fafsa.ed.gov and enter in the Texas Wesleyan University federal school code (003645). For extra information, visit the office of financial aid on the third floor of the administration building or call (817) 5314420.

Calling all alumni Wesleyan’s All Alumni Reunion will include a picnic in front of the Eunice L. West Library followed by a spirit rally with performance by current and former cheerleaders April 18. The Alpha Chi/Golden Shears breakfast and a performance of the spring musical Little Me take place on April 19. A full schedule and links to register can be found at www. txwes.edu.

GAME

ON Photo by Gaston Schoonover

International Games Day drew in crowds for games like kubb, five stones and floorball, seen above. Vernon Elisher, sophomore business marketing major, and Ryan Authier, junior psychology major, prepare to face off. Read the whole story on page 5.

TWU starts text message emergency system SHAMEKA HYATT STAFF WRITER

Nearly a year after 33 people died at Virginia Tech by the hand of a suicidal student gunman, another five people were shot to death by another suicidal student gunman at Northern Illinois University Feb. 14.

Startled students present on campus either tragic day feverishly text messaged fellow students and loved ones about the chaos that was taking place.

That “texting,” generally known to older generations as a new fad or frivolity, may very well have saved lives.

Now Texas Wesleyan, along with other schools across the nation, is implementing a text message alert system by the end of the semester.

This system will further ensure students’ safety in such situations as well as natural disasters or other emergencies.

“We need to notify students quickly to get them out of harm’s way,” said Jose Ortega, chief officer of information and technology center at Wesleyan.

Prior to the implementation of the text messaging emergency system, students could only get contacted in the

event of a campus emergency through Wesleyan’s Web site and e-mail.

Through the text messaging emergency system, students are assured that they can be reached immediately if a crisis arises on campus.

Administrators said they foresee great potential for the success with the program on the Wesleyan campus.

After shopping around and talking to various companies, Ortega, along with other Wesleyan officials, chose the company MIR3 to provide Wesleyan its text messaging alert system.

“This company proves to be very reliable,” said Ortega.

Wesleyan joins Rice University in the pool of higher education institutions in Texas that use a MIR3 text messaging alert system. Neighboring schools like the University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Christian University already use a similar communication system to text students in case of campus emergencies.

Along with other methods such as posting messages on its Web site, sending campus-wide e-mail and enabling a recorded information phone line, TCU uses TCU ALERT, its text messaging emergency alert system, to notify stu-

dents of emergencies on campus.

Holding a communications campaign in September 2007, TCU rallied huge student and faculty support for TCU ALERT, according to TCU spokeswoman Tracy Syler-Jones.

Around 2,000 students and 1,000 faculty members registered their cell phone numbers through the TCU portal Web site.

During a test run in October and an inclement weather day last year, the system proved successful, said SylerJones, missing only 10 people who complained via e-mail of not receiving a text message on the bad weather day.

“We were very pleased with the results,” said Syler-Jones.

A Web site similar to TCU’s portal will be put up where Wesleyan students can register their cell phone numbers to receive the text messages. Along with being notified in case of emergencies, students can also choose to be notified through the text messaging alert system about non-emergency events happening on campus.

There will be several options students can select on what information they would like to receive.

Wesleyan Law appoints new school dean SHAWN R. POLING EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

experience as a law professor and associate dean at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. “It is my pleasure to be asked to join in fulfilling the mission of Texas Wesleyan Law, a ‘young’ law school that already has a fine faculty and staff, great students and supportive alumni and friends,” said White.

Texas Wesleyan University School of Law has appointed a new school dean in Frederic White.

“As the law school celebrates 10 years in downtown Fort Worth, we need a dean with the vision and passion to further develop the law school to its fullest potential. Dean White TWU Law Moot Court Wins Nationally: has the experience and knowledge to do this, and the entire In other news, Texas Wesleyan School of Law’s moot law school community will benefit from his appointment,” court team, composed of third-year students Jim Graham and said Dr. Hal Jeffcoat, Texas Wesleyan University president. Nathan Miller and second-year student Jennifer Fettinger White is the first African-American dean at the school of won first place in the 15th Annual John J. Gibbons Criminal law and the fifth dean of the school. His Procedure Moot Court appointment follows professor of law Competition. The competition was Cynthia Fontaine’s stint as interim dean March 29 at Seton Hall University for the law school. in Newark, N.J. “It was an honor to serve Texas “Nate, Jim and Jennifer have Wesleyan as interim dean during these been amazing for the law school last two years,” she said. “Dean White and its moot court program. I’m is joining an outstanding school and a tremendously proud to call them wonderfully talented group of people. I national champions,” said Rob have no doubt that the law school will Sherwin, director of advocacy proflourish under his leadership, and I look grams. forward to seeing what the future holds The national moot court win is for the law school.” the third for TWU Law, which preWhite is currently the dean of San viously won the Pepperdine Francisco’s Golden Gate Law School, a National Entertainment Law position to which he was appointed in Competition and the John Marshall 2004. In 1973 he was admitted to the Law School Information Ohio Bar after receiving his bachelor of Technology and Privacy Law arts from Columbia College and his Competition (Graham and Miller juris doctorate from Columbia also participated in the latter).

University School of Law. White has Frederic White

The Rambler brought home nine awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association’s convention and awards banquet April 35. The staff was awarded for a variety of work completed in 2007.

Staff alumna Amanda May received second place for an original illustration, and staff photographer Chey Bostock earned second place in the sports feature photo category. Managing editor Tiara Nugent earned third place for opinion page design and an honorable mention for a single subject layout on the keys to studying.

Also receiving awards for design were editor-inchief Shawn Poling and entertainment editor Colleen Burnie. Honorable mentions went to staff alumnus Mike Meier for sports news writing and to Nugent for headline writing.

The Rambler was also recognized for its Web site, receiving an honorable mention in the statewide category for student-produced sites.

“This award is particularly exciting because it was the first year we were able to enter the competition,” said Kelli Lamers, faculty adviser to The Rambler. “It also makes our staff proud to be able to enter the ‘studentproduced’ category.”

The site went live last year after being designed by Poling and Burnie. It was then enhanced by May, the former Web editor, and is now being maintained and enhanced by current Web editor Rachel Horton.

“This recognition is also notable because we were competing against every school — from major universities to community college systems — in the state of Texas. Only three other universities placed higher than us in this category,” said Lamers, Other categories are divided into divisions based on size of school and frequency of publication.

“This is not to diminish the other awards, because we are in a division that is quite challenging for a school of Wesleyan’s size,” Lamers said.

Wesleyan’s division three includes such schools as Tarleton State and Texas A&M Commerce.

Lamers, Poling, Nugent and Horton attended this year’s convention in College Station, Texas. The event includes a day of speakers, workshops and roundtables on college media.

“I’m so glad we upped the awards ante from last year,” said Poling. “Some were flat-out unexpected.

We are really proud of what we do and it’s amazing to receive affirmation from such an organization.”

TIPA will celebrate its 100th anniversary at next year’s convention and award banquet.

-The Rambler

News

2 April 9, 2008

The Rambler

National universities seek out loan alternatives COLLEEN BURNIE ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

How does going to college for free sound? For many students, going to college means amassing amazingly large amounts of debt and hoping that when you are handed a diploma you can find a job that will pay those loans back. As tuition rates continue to rise, the government and individual schools are finding ways to help take some of the burden off of families, particularly those in the lower income brackets.

In 2003, Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill that made the Be-On-Time loans forgivable for students who made good grades and graduated on time. Supporters found this to be a step in the right direction for many Texans. Now other schools throughout the nation are reaching into their own pockets to make higher education more affordable for the next generation.

From big to small, Ivy League to state, schools are all moving toward less debt for their students by replacing loan money with grants. This is an effort largely motivated by the pressure that large schools are receiving from the federal government to spend their endowment – donated funds that colleges invest and use the proceeds to support the school’s mission – on students.

“At a time when the cost of college continues to rise at an alarming rate, are wealthy colleges just hoarding, or is enough of their growing endowment meeting the public policy of fostering education and helping students?” Rep. John Tierney (D., Mass.) asked in College Journal.

The process of determining who qualifies for what is complex. After students fill out their FAFSA (free application for federal student aid), the financial aid departments at schools determine what the family should be responsible for paying. That figure is then subtracted from the cost of attendance and the financial aid office offers students a package of loans, grants and scholarships to make up the remaining “need.” Rather than offer loans, schools are becoming more inclined to pull money from their endowments, administrative budgets and fund-raising ventures to offer students grants.

According to www.finaid.com, a Web site devoted to answering financial aid questions, there are currently 56 schools in the nation who are offering some sort of loan replacement program. Some schools are offering no loans programs that eliminate loans from the financial aid package of low income students. In the case of Princeton University, the loans

Mortar Board inducts 16 new members

The Rambler ...is now interviewing for Fall 2008 senior staff, including page editors! www.txwes.edu/rambler

twurambler@yahoo.com

Meetings every Thursday free period in the Stella Russel hall lobby

CO-ED 4’S INDOOR VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT FUNDRAISER SATURDAY, APRIL 19TH, 2008 Texas Wesleyan University 1100 Collard Street Fort Worth, Texas 76105

SCHEDULE 7:30 AM Check-In & coaches’ meeting 8:00 AM *Pool Play *Rolling Schedule *Bracket play starts immediately following the conclusion of the Championship match.

are eliminated from the aid packages of all students, not just low-income students. In the case of other schools, it only applied to those students who fell below a specific income level.

Other schools are offering loan cap programs that institute a low cap on student loans for low-income students like the program in place at Brown University, or no parental contribution programs that eliminate the parental contribution but retain the student contribution along with the standard self-help level.

The University of Minnesota has implemented a Pell Grant match program that matches the student’s federal Pell Grant, thus significantly reducing but not eliminating the self-help level.

According to College Journal, families will still be able to take out loans such as the Stafford and Parent PLUS loans to replace their contributions, but many times they will not be offered in the financial aid package.

The only Texas school currently on board with the no-loan tuition is Rice University, but according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, other schools are starting to take notice.

Texas Christian University is increasing its financial aid 18 percent next fall. The University of Texas in Austin is offering its undergraduate students whose families make less than $40,000 a year full tuition and portion of their room and board, while those who earn less than $80,000 will receive half that amount.

According to Texas Wesleyan Financial Aid Director Shanna Hollis, schools cannot deny students loan packages if they are eligible. Even if loans are not offered up front in the package, loans are available if students need the money that goes beyond what is offered in endowment funds.

“We are always working to provide funding to all students with internal, federal and state funds before we look at loans,” said Hollis. “It’s important to always borrow conservatively, but we don’t want students to feel that they can’t borrow.”

Wesleyan has been focusing more and more on getting endowment funds up over the last few years.

“We are always exploring new avenues for increasing our endowments,” said Hollis.

“We are working closely with the advancement office to see how to best use the endowment funds that we have now.”

“There is a lot of strategic planning that goes into how to best award a student,” she said. “I applaud every school that works to creatively to get their students funding.”

TOURNAMENT FORMAT Co-Ed 4 person team must have one female on the court at all times.

The entry fee includes a t-shirt and prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place bracket winners.

Tournament format will consist of pool play and bracket play.

The top two teams from each pool will advance to a single elimination bracket.

TIARA NUGENT MANAGING EDITOR Sixteen candles flickered in the hands of 16 Wesleyan juniors March 4 in the Louella Baker Martin Pavilion during the conjoined Mortar Board initiation and Mortar Board’s annual Top Prof Banquet.

Mortar Board, a national honor society founded in 1918, recognizes college seniors for scholarship, leadership and service to their universities. Wesleyan’s chapter is today overseen

by Dr. Jane Moore, head of the mathematics department, and Dr. Betsy Alexander, associate professor of history.

“Originally, [Mortar Board] was an honor society limited to senior women, but in 1972 it became a co-ed honor society,” said Alexander. “I was inducted into Mortar Board in 1969 at Vanderbilt University.”

Inductees, who came from all academic disciplines and departments, were carefully selected for membership from the slew of applicants based on previous campus involvement, volunteer service and academic achievement.

Each inductee brought along a faculty member who has had significant impact on his/her personal and educational journey at Wesleyan. A segment of the day’s program was devoted to recognizing these outstanding faculty as students’ introduced their “top prof” and publicly thanked them for investment, support and guidance.

The main responsibility of Mortar Board members is to remain an active member by participating at meetings and any service projects planned throughout the year. In addition, members rotate vendor-duty at Wesleyan graduations selling roses for the convenience of graduates’ family members and friends to present to their successful student.

Nearly a quarter of a million members have been initiated into the 225 chartered chapters existing nationwide: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, astronaut on the Challenger Judith Resnick and professional football player Drew Brees, just to name a few.

Additionally, numerous international leaders and other notable figures have been named honorary Mortar Board members. In this category are the names of Former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, internationally-acclaimed poet Maya Angelou, former President Jimmy Carter and former New York Mayor Rudolph 2008 Inductees Giuliani.

Carlos Chiu “Being a Mortar Board member has been an honor this past Kevin Doskocil year,” graduating senior business major Meg Krause said. “Being Beth Fleagle an active member, it has also been beneficial to be able to put April Folta Mortar Board on my resume as well.”

Martin Garcia

Pool play will be two games to 25 points, 27 cap.

Bracket play is 2 out of 3 games to 25 (cap @27); 3rd game to 15 (cap @ 17).

USAV rules apply.

Photo by Kevin Keathley

Concessions will be available. All concession and tournament proceeds will go the to Wesleyan Volleyball program.

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

TEXAS WESLEYAN VOLLEYBALL RETURN TO:

CHRISTY CLAWSON HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH

1201 WESLEYAN FORT WORTH, TX 76105

Dr. Ibrahim Salih and senior business major Megan Krause host the March 4 Mortar Board induction.

REGISTRATION $15 PER PLAYER INCLUDES T-SHIRT FOR EACH PLAYER. 4 PLAYER MIN. NO MAX.

TEAM NAME: __________________________ COACH _______________________________ Contact information:

Address: ______________________________ City, State

Zip

_________________________________________ Phone (area code)

Alternate Phone

PLAYERS: 1. ________________________

2. ________________________ 3. ________________________ 4. ________________________ 5. ________________________ 6. ________________________

For more information, call Christy Clawson at 817.531.4850 or email cclawson@txwes.edu

Whitney Greer Keegan Harry Britni Hollar Michael Kreitzinger Alex Musser Tiara Nugent Terri Price Amber Rayhorn Rene Rosser Katie Slaten Sarah Young

Opinions

“Everything is green.”

“I love the weather and being outside.”

Giving back?

I

honestly love being a Wesleyan student. Like every Wesleyan student, I can find faults to point my finger at, but numerous positive traits – like the personable faculty and friendly environment I picked this school for in the first place – far outTIARA weigh the faults. If I were to NUGENT go back three years, I would choose Wesleyan again. I am sorry, then, to sense a threat to the campus’ community. More and more I am hearing complaints on campus that there’s nothing to do and no one to do it anyway. Whose fault, may I ask, is that?

I am truly frustrated with the apathetic lack of participation on this campus. Not only are Student Life events and projects frequently under-attended, but other organizations – including almost every In order to lead, a honor society – on campus are fizzling leader must have out as well. Even pop- followers. ular and crucial organizations on campus, such as the Student Government Association, are suffering a decrease of involvement.

I can understand if the activities campus offers aren’t your ideal avenues of entertainment.

Based on event participation (or, should I say, lack of participation), I would guess most students feel that way. Rather than lament, make a

April 9, 2008 3

Don’t be apathetic. It’s time to evaluate the value of your on-campus investment.

move to let Student Life know what you want. If they don’t have that information, how can they be expected to channel their efforts and money into those activities?

Those societies holding on in spite of diminishing human involvement are being held above water by a sparse few and often the same few.

Recently, a certain honors group on campus hosted their once-a-year fund-raiser. Myself and one other person showed up to man the booth.

After endeavoring to contact 20 or so fellow members, we fall back on plan B: calling on a friend – who happens to be an anchor for more than one organization as well – from another major to fill in for us during class time.

I am tired of showing up to meetings with only one or two companions. I understand most college students are going to school full-time, keeping up with a family/personal life and working at least part-time to support themselves. I myself am no exception that stereotype, but can attest that most honor societies/organizations on campus demand no great chunks of your time.

Appearance at one or two short meetings a month plus maybe one activity is all that is asked.

Consider the situation of student leadership.

These proactive visionaries take on the daunting task of hauling a vanishing group out of regression, pouring time and energy into scheming events that will entice member participation. To try time after time to get even a handful of members to adhere to their commitment only to fail

time after time is both discouraging and depressing. In order to lead, a leader must have followers. A gross deficiency of supporters not only creates a weak society, but also inevitably drops a ball of failure on the leader.

I’m speaking mainly of students, but I regret to admit that I have witnessed a comparable lethargy in more than one faculty member. While I do not consider it to be the faculty sponsors’ task to recruit members or pick up any slack from student leaders, I do expect their specific duties to be accomplished and to have their support and encouragement in projects.

I’d thought my fellow students not cooperating or backing me was dispiriting, but having a faculty member cut down the triumph of a scholarly opportunity slashed my excitement and crushed my personal satisfaction.

So I ask each Wesleyan student to evaluate his/her investment in campus life. The rewards of involvement are far-reaching, impacting the organization itself, its leaders, the school, the community and yourself. Giving to others – especially when it calls for a sacrifice of yourself – provides the greatest degree of fulfillment, not to mention giving your mind a break from processing all those theories, equations, facts and statistics.

On the broadest scale, get involved to save student life on this campus from becoming extinct.

Tiara Nugent is a senior writing major and is managing editor for The Rambler.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Life imitates April Fool’s art

Big Brother rules my world “Knowing it’s almost the end of the semester.”

T

“The weather.”

Kenneth Jackson Junior Biochemistry Major

Amber Wade Junior Liberal Studies

“What is your favorite thing about spring?”

Maria Rubalcaba Senior Education Major Julie Randolph Graduate Student Nurse Anesthesia

The Rambler

he time has come to make an executive decision. It’s 2 a.m. and Big Brother After Dark has just ended. Now I have a choice: go to sleep, or re-watch the evening’s Big Brother 9 episode. What to do, what to do…

Hi. My name is Shawn R. SHAWN R. Poling, and I am a Big BrotherPOLING holic. Yes it is me, the outspoken hater of reality television, who is addicted to what is probably the worst of all reality shows.

In the wake of the writer’s strike, my DVR’s list of recorded programs was quite empty, so I was forced to feed my large television appetite with reality television. Top Chef, Project Runway, Your Mama Don’t Dance, High School Confidential and even High School Reunion made at least one guest appearance on my DVR’s ever-revolving list of recordings.

But alas, even after my favorite fictional shows slowly return to the air, Big Brother 9 remains alive and well on my DVR. The night of this season’s premiere, it had been eight years since I had given up on season one of Big Brother, and it’s time to remind myself why.

Put simply, Big Brother is the laziest reality show in history. It broke out onto the scene shortly after Survivor, clearly a more realistic approach to reality, ala The Real World or Road Rules. But the contestants of Big Brother aren’t trying to survive on a deserted island, hold down jobs, host events, party all night, travel the country or even leave the house.

In fact, they don’t do anything. Every year the contestants are locked in the house without television, phones, computers, books, music, games, etc.

Two or three hours out of the week, they compete in a brief physical or mental challenge for food

privileges (losers eat slop), head of household privileges (ability to put two contestants up for eviction by the house), or the power of veto (ability to take someone down from the eviction block). One is evicted a week, and the last one left wins half a million dollars.

Otherwise, they are sitting and talking, recorded by literally HUNDEREDS of cameras and microphones. Viewers not only have the option of watching any of the three weekly one-hour episodes, they can also enjoy Big Brother After Dark, a three-hour block of uncensored live camera feed airing nightly from 11 p.m.-2 a.m. If that’s not enough, you can pay and register online to watch live camera feeds from the house 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Now, I haven’t registered online for the 24 hour camera feed, but I’m almost there. I watch all three weekly episodes and yes, I do record After Dark every night.

I’m ashamed of my new obsession, but I can’t help but embrace it. More than any other reality show, you get to know the people living in the constraints of the show. After all, all the contestants have to do is talk, strategize and backstab. You get to see them manipulate each other, get manipulated, fight, scream, cuddle, confess, laugh, eat, cry, smile, hide, scheme…and then pour their hearts out to us, the viewer, in the sealed diary room.

In a strange way, you bond with everyone as you get to know them better than you know your own family. I love Shannon (you go girl!), Natalie’s the stupidest person alive, Matty and Joshuah were scumbags that deserved to be evicted, Adam’s a whiney baby of a pushover and Allison is probably schizophrenic.

It may be crazy, but I love it. I can’t wait until tonight’s episode!

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

I enjoyed reading The Lambler article (March 26) by Acorn Spielberg about the dinosaur egg found during demolition of the Boyd House making way for Wesleyan’s first themed night club, “Dinosaur Rapture.”

Curiously, while Spielberg was writing said article, I was spending time with one of the latest additions to the geology/computer science departments, Pleo the dinosaur robot. Pleo is a week-old baby Camarasaurus, a plant-eater from the Jurassic period. It is a very advanced robot containing cameras so it can see, microphones so it can hear, speakers so it can roar and sensors so it can walk and respond to pats on the head and scratches on the back. It is powered by 14 motors and has 106 gears.

Pleo is so advanced that it has to be “birthed,” and that is what I was doing when Spielberg wrote the Lambler article.

I think there can be no doubt now that life imitates art, and I can hardly wait to drink a Jurassic cool one at the Dino Rapture.

Dr. Bobby Deaton Professor of physics and geology

Dr. Bobby Deaton’s robotic pet dinosaur

Rambler Ratings

The Rambler Founded in 1917 as The Handout Harold G. Jeffcoat, Publisher Kelli Lamers, adviser Tiara Nugent, managing/college life editor Colleen Burnie, entertainment editor

Dear editor,

Shawn R Poling, editor-in-chief Bryce Wilks, sports editor Skyla Claxton, advertising manager

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 Wesleyan Law School’s national Moot Court victory.

Thumbs down to the temporary closing of Boogie Burger.

Thumbs up to the newlypaved driveway to Elizabeth Hall.

Thumbs up to the campus’ upcoming emergency text messaging plan.

©2003. Paid for by Army ROTC. All rights reserved.

FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS AND PAID SUMMER INTERNSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR TWU SOPHOMORES! Scholarships include $4500-$5000 yearly stipend and $1200 per year for books.

For more information contact: LTC ROD JOYCE 817-531-4273 rjoye@txwes.edu

ARMY ROTC. START STRONG.

Sports

The Rambler

Quick Quotes “All my career, all I have ever really done, all I ever have accomplished, is to talk about the accomplishments of others. We can't all be heroes. Somebody has to stand on the curb and applaud as the parade goes by.”

- Vin Scully Hall of Fame Broadcaster

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

Upcoming Events April 9 3 p.m. JV Baseball @ North Lake

April 9, 2008 5

It’s All Fun and Games

With finals approaching and bringing stressful times, students blow off steam by playing games like kubb, nine stones and boule. Huh? TIARA NUGENT MANAGING EDITOR

Students hailed Wesleyan’s 2008 International Games Day with pleasure April 4. A handful of patrons turned out for five stones and boule on the mall, but kubb – a game similar to bowling played with sticks rather than balls – brought in the day’s record-high crowd.

Sweden native Joakim Soderbaum, president of the Wesleyan International Club, believes kubb is so well-liked because of its simple rules and adaptability to the desired level of difficulty.

“It seems like kubb is turning into a favorite; several people played last year too,” said Soderbaum. “Kubb was the only one of the games [offered this year] that we actually had last year too, and I am sure we will have it next year as well due to its popularity. I even had one person asking me where she could buy her own kubb game.”

In light of the difficulty in scheduling studentfriendly practice times, the Wesleyan floorball team has faced challenges getting off the ground, but the

thriving team’s connection to one another and devotion of much energy and hard work to the young sport and team’s cause is paying off. Though the turnout was small as far as numbers are Junior business psycholo- concerned, the game itself proved to be gy major Dean quite a competition.

Barrett was “I am impressed by how good one of many some players have become after only a who tried out couple of practices,” said Soderbaum. kubb at The last weekend of April holds at International least one more game for the Wesleyan Games Day April 2. Kubb floorball team, complete with a real is like bowling, rink and the “official” works. except played A vigorous practice session by the with sticks table tennis team – dominantly comrather than posed of international students – balls and pins.

For the second wrapped up the day.

Overall, the International Club year in a row, kubb attracted deems this year’s sports day a success. the most parAs for the future of International ticipants Games Day, Soderbaum feels confiamong student that International Games Day is dents and facdestined to become a noted Wesleyan ulty. tradition.

Photo by Tiara Nugent

5 p.m. Softball @ Texas Woman’s April 11 *3 p.m. Baseball vs.

Northwood April 12 Noon Softball @ Houston Baptist 1 p.m. Baseball @ Northwood 3 p.m. Baseball @ Northwood April 13 *2 p.m. Baseball vs.

LSU-Shreveport *4 p.m. Baseball vs.

LSU-Shreveport April 14 Men’s Golf @ The Brickyard Classic Indianapolis April 15 4 p.m. Baseball @ Oklahoma City Men’s Golf @ The Brickyard Classic Indianapolis *denotes home game

Sports Briefs Rams move to No. 18 in nation, tie consecutive wins record By sweeping a Red River Athletic Conference doubleheader from College of the Southwest, the No. 18 ranked baseball team (26-8) extended its winning streak to a school-record tying 15 games.

The Rams took game one 10-0 and game two 92.

At 15, the Rams tied a school record that was set in 1980, four years before any of the current Rams were born.

During the streak the Rams have hit .407 as a team and have outscored their opponents 166-49.

Included in the 15 wins are seven against nationally ranked competition.

Senior pitchers Aaron Wimpee and Steven DeFratus each picked up their sixth wins of the season.

The Rams are currently atop Red River Conference standings at 9-0.

- Sports Information Office

Although there has been a struggle to schedule student-friendly practice times, the Wesleyan floorball team is pressing on. An April 2 exhibition for International Games Day sparked more interest among students and faculty. The team’s connection to one another and devotion of much energy and hard work to the young sport and team’s cause is paying off. Though the turnout was small as far as numbers are concerned, the game itself proved to be quite a competition. “I am impressed by how good some players have become after only a couple of practices,” said team co-founder Joakim Soderbaum. The last weekend of April holds at least one more game for the Wesleyan floorball team, complete with a real rink and the “official” works.

Photo by Gasten Schoonover

Hendon leads hopeful golf team Tune-ups approaching for links-lovers on their way to nationals KEVIN DOSKOCIL STAFF WRITER

The Texas Wesleyan golf team has now completed half of its spring tournament schedule. The Rams remain positive and look to build on a successful season to propel them to a strong finale.

Outstanding individual performances have highlighted the teams’ season so far. However, it is only a matter of time before the squad fires on all cylinders and continues their confident march toward the 57th Men’s National Golf Championship.

Senior Mitch Hendon has continued his consistent golf play, racking up two more top-five finishes this semester. He said a variety of things have come together to make the season successful.

“A lot of hard work, patience and reaching a level of maturity that has helped me overcome pressure situations,” he said.

Hendon has accumulated a 72.84 stroke average this season and ranks 11th in the NAIA individual standings only one and a half strokes behind the national leader, Bruno Buccolo, of Oklahoma Christian.

“I am confident our team is going to be a factor in the national championship. We have a great chance to compete for the national title this year,” said Hendon. “A team win this year can prove we have the potential. Personally, I am playing with a

lot of confidence and am looking forward to fin- place in the 2008 Sleep Inn & Suites Classic in ishing my senior year strong. I hope to be celebrat- Edmond, Okla., March 24-25. Hendon led the ing come national tournament time in May.” squad with outstanding individual play firing The Rams rounds of 71-73-76 to capture r e c e n t l y third place in the tough windy claimed third conditions. Villarreal added place in the rounds of 77-76-75 for a top-20 UST Texas finish in the 71 player field.

Intercollegiate Coach Kevin Millikan is optiMarch 17-18 in mistic about the remainder of the Fort Worth.

Rams’ season.

Strong individ“I see many positives from our ual performancseason so far. We have clearly not es by Paco played up to our potential and we S a r a c h o are trying to find a way to get (Fourth, 74-70), things going at the same time,” he A r m a n d o said. “It is that time in the season Villarreal where we are going to have to (Fifth, 71-74) prove we can do it.” and Mitch Texas Wesleyan Golf will find Hendon (Fifth, its next action on April 14-15 in 73-72) gave the Indianapolis at the Brickyard Rams a good Classic. This will be its final tuneshowing in their up before heading to the Regional home tournaChampionship in Lubbock, Photo by Kevin Doskocil ment.

Texas, where they will face the The golf Senior Mitch Hendon has accumulated a 72.84 top two teams in the country, team most stroke average this season, which is good enough Oklahoma Christian and r e c e n t l y for 11th in the nation. He is just a stroke and a Oklahoma City. claimed fourth half off the pace of the national leader and plans on getting even better by season’s end.

Entertainment

6 April 9, 2008

The Rambler

Music students tour Bean Town visit to the von Huene Workshop, one of the nation’s top-ranked makers of early instruments, primarily recorders; a student-led tour of the New England Conservatory, where 2007 music GUEST CONTRIBUTOR graduate Mark Appling is now a graduate student; attendance at a concert by the Boston Members of Texas Wesleyan’s music department visited greater Boston over spring Symphony Orchestra, with legendary pianist Leon Fleisher playing the Beethoven Emperor break to fulfill a degree requirement for music majors. The group was led by music profes- Concerto and half-day visits to two art museums – the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, with its sors John Fisher and Jerry Bierschenk and included students Andrea Talladino, Caitlin spectacular music instrument collection room, as well as the utterly unique, privately-owned Fanning, Jeremy Smith, James Brennaman, Janna McKinley, Jessica Steels, Ryan Amador, Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.

The group also took two separate full-day trips. The Roman Coronado and Sylvie Ndjungu. Adjunct first was to Concord, Mass., which included Sleepy vocal instructor Joe Davisson, department coordinaHollow Cemetery, Walden Pond and the Old North tor Dan Loudermilk and parent Sandra McKinley Bridge, which is referred to by Ralph Waldo Emerson: rounded out the list of travelers.

“By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag The students were all from the Music Travel and to April’s breeze unfurled, Here once the embattled farmEnrichment class, a class in which all music majors ers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world.” at Texas Wesleyan must enroll once during his or The other day trip was an outing to Salem, Mass., her undergraduate career. Trips are offered annually with its Witch Museum and House of the Seven Gables. and alternate between domestic and international The final day of the trip was free for follow up and destinations. Previous sites chosen have been New optional activities. Some took the opportunity to ride the York City (’04, ‘06); Salzburg-Vienna (’05) and three-and-a-half-hour day train to New York City and Paris (’07). In order to receive credit, students are back. Others set out for Cape Cod by car, and still others required to attend group activities and keep a jourvisited the Boston Red Sox’s home venue, Fenway Park. nal of their experiences.

There was even a bonus: on the first night, a pro“My trip to Paris was amazing,” said sophoposal – and acceptance! – of marriage. All in all, the stumore Stephanie Darbo. “I wouldn’t have traded it Photo courtesy of John Fisher dents seemed very pleased with this trip because they saw for anything.”

Wesleyan music students tour historic Boston during spring break. and learned so much. Certainly all came home with memScheduled activities included welcome and ories to last a lifetime. farewell banquets in locally-owned, upscale Boston restaurants; an all-day walk on the 16stop Freedom Trail (which was enjoyable despite being windy and bitterly cold that day!); a

DR. JOHN FISHER

Horror flick leaves its audience in Ruinns T

here’s something in the dark waiting for you, and if you’re not careful, it could kill you. Scared yet? What if I tell you the thing you are supposed to fear is a plant? Yes, a killer plant.

That’s the order of the day in Dreamworks’ latest horror release The Ruins, a surprisingly scary flick that also features one of cinema’s most original villains in years.

We begin the story predictably enough with four friends (it’s always four, isn’t it?) vacationing in a foreign country. This time they’re in Mexico and decide to join a fellow tourist (there’s always a plus one!) on the search for his brother, who hasn’t returned from the site of an archeological dig at an ancient Mayan temple. After a strange and violent SHAWN R. run-in with the local Mayans, the group is forced to the top of the temple, the natives POLING refusing to let them leave.

At this point, The Ruins seems like just another Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Hostel or Turistas, pitting the silly Americans against inbred cannibals, organ harvesters or seekers of human sacrifice.

Probably thinking the same thing, the tourists journey into the temple, only to discover that the real enemy is flesh eating/parasitic foliage, and the last thing the Mayans want is for the dreaded plant life to spread outside the temple.

Trapped between two untimely and violent deaths, the five youths struggle to survive, hoping they will be found and rescued.

Now you are probably thinking, “what’s so scary about a plant?” The notion of a killer plant most often brings to mind Little Shop of Horrors or Day of the Triffids or something equally silly. But if you think about it, carnivorous plants, like the venus fly trap, do exist. And they don’t actually eat animals, but instead absorb their nutrients, and the iron in human blood would be awfully beneficial to a hungry plant.

Taking that into consideration, and without spoiling the scares or the plants’ tactics, the killer plants of The Ruins almost seem realistic. That brings me to the gore. If the evil plants are realistic, the gore of the film might as well be real. Shy or squeamish viewers need not apply, because almost all of the imaginatively graphic violence happens on-screen and up close. After watching countless horror films, even I had to cover my eyes at certain moments. The film’s climax was met with a resounding “Oh, my God!” from the packed audience.

And for those looking for something besides scares and gore, the film’s young cast packs quite a punch.

Supporting actors Laura Ramsey (The Covenant), Shawn Ashmore (must-see indie thriller Solstice, X-Men’s Iceman) and Jonathan Tucker (Pulse) bring the proper amount of dread, paranoia and fear of the unknown to their characters, all of which are given plenty of dramatic and scary situations to work with.

That being said, all three talented actors are blown out of the water by Jena Malone (Saved and Stepmom), a truly gifted young actress who really brings the film to life. Every moment of her electric performance was perfection, creating one of the most believable and strong lead female characters in a long time.

The biggest surprise of the film was that it was actually entertaining. I’m not saying The Ruins is my favorite horror film, but it is without a doubt the best horror film of 2008 (not to mention the first one to actually scare viewers). It has scares, atmosphere, dread, a solid plot and even some beautiful scenery of Mexico for good measure.

So if you’ve been disappointed by Shutter, One Missed Call, or any of the other lame horror films of 2008, hurry up and catch The Ruins. After all, the next one on the way to theaters is the Prom Night remake, and that can’t be any good.

Photo courtesy of Dreamworks Studios

The Ruins takes an unlikely plot and creates one of the goriest and scariest movies of the year.

A

Wednesday

L OOK

On Campus:

9

*Methodist Student Movement meeting: Poly UMC, noon, free lunch served

To submit an event for the calender, e-mail twurambler@yahoo.com.

On Campus:

12

* Little Me:Thad Smotherman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

On Campus:

10

Friday On Campus

11 Jazz Band brings the tunes COLLEEN BURNIE

*Baptist Student Ministry: Sid *The Rambler staff meeting: * Gay Straight Alliance Stella Russell Hall lobby, Richardson Building, noon, meeting: B17 basement of 12:15 p.m. free lunch served the library, 12:15 p.m.

AHEAD Saturday

Thursday

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

Sunday On Campus:

13

* Little Me: Thad Smotherman Theatre, 7:30 p.m.

Off Campus: * Ram Jam: University Mall, 11 a.m. * Movie Releases: Smart People and Prom Night.

Monday On Campus:

14

* Little Me:Thad Smotherman * Last day to drop a class Theatre, 2 p.m.

Off Campus: * Rahr & Sons Brewery - Free Off Campus: Tour and Tasting: Rahr & Sons * A.R.T.S.: Fort Worth Brewery, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. * Fort Worth Symphony Community Arts Center Orchestra - Beethoven!

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Free) Beethoven! Beethoven!: Bass Performance Hall, 2 p.m

Tuesday Off Campus:

15

* Dinner & A Movie: Ferre Ristorante & Bar, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m ($25.95) DVD Releases: Juno and Lawrence of Arabia (two-disc collector’s editon.)

ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Wesleyan’s jazz band is gearing up for a good time in this spring’s concert.

“There is less of a theme this semester than there was in last semester’s swing concert,” said Jeremy Smith, a junior who will play the bass guitar and sing in the concert. “You might notice a lot of solo work in this concert.”

The production will include more than 10 pieces to excite the ears and get the foot tapping. Two of these were also in last spring’s concert.

“Rompin’ At the Reno is from last semester’s concert,” said Smith. “It was an audience favorite, and we just had to do it again, and the same for Kay-Do.” Dr. Bryan English, director of the band will play trombone, his primary instrument, throughout the entire concert.

“It’s always fun,” said Smith. “Having

the director playing with the band instead of directing requires a lot of listening amongst the musicians. We really have to work as a team instead of individuals.”

Smith will be adding vocal features on three of the concert’s pieces, one of which, Last Pay Day, he arranged.

The concert will feature some of the ensemble members in solo roles.

“Billy Privette on the alto sax gets a lot of opportunity to let loose,” said Smith.

“And of course Ricky Johnson on the keyboard is always incredible.”

There is something for everyone in the lineup, including a piece that was written for intermission.

“Intermission Riff is exactly what it sounds like. Originally performed as a transition, it’s just a good fun tune.”

The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m.

April 10 in Martin Hall. Admission is free and open to the public.