WEDNESDAY
October 21, 2009 Vol. 92 • No. 20
ONLINE:
www.therambler.org
The Rambler The voice of Texas Wesleyan University students since 1917
Former detention officer finds calling in academics College Life, page 4
Music department fills up its October calendar A&E, page 5
Students gain unique perspective on world
Poly UMC pastor now university chaplain Eunice Nicholson
emnicholson@mail.txwes.edu
Students, faculty and staff can enjoy workshops, entertainment and foods from around the globe during International Week.
Wednesday, Oct. 21 Lunch at Dora’s Latin American Cuisine Arroz con Pollo verde (Rice with chicken & cilantro) Brazilian black beans Noon An International Reception hosted in Armstrong-Mabee School of Business Center Foyer 12:15 p.m.-1:15 p.m. International Studies presented by Dr. Jay Brown; Nenetta Burton Carter Building Room 112
Thursday, Oct. 22 Lunch at Dora’s Spanish Cuisine Paella (Rice with vegetables & chicken) Churros (fried pastry) Noon-1 p.m. International Fair (International foods, crafts and more); Louella Baker Martin Pavilion 7:30 p.m. Music of the Americas Concert featuring music department soloists; Martin Hall
Laura Rosser | Rambler Staff
Friday, October 23 Lunch at Dora’s Indian Cuisine Chicken Curry Bhutta (Roasted Corn) Makki (Indian bread) White rice ***These events are open to everyone. International students are encouraged to wear their native dress.
For Texas Wesleyan’s new chaplain, Dr. Robert Flowers, it was church that made him feel accepted and part of a community growing up. “It was church that accepted, nurtured and loved me when I was a kid,” he said. “I did not understand the theology, but I understood and liked the way it made me feel.” A sense of belonging was especially important to Flowers because, as part of a military family, he moved around a great deal. And because he is half Japanese, he is very much in tune with racial sensitivity. Eventually he would find both in the Methodist church. The experience of this kind of spiritual community has led Flowers to his role as pastor of Polytechnic United Methodist Church and his newest role of Wesleyan’s university chaplain. He wants to show the same kind of acceptance he received to the Wesleyan community, but he wants people to know that it does not matter what religion they are. “We are not trying to convert them,” he said. “Creating an interfaith ministry is the right thing to do. Showing hospitality, sensitivity and creating a sacred space for all students in my vision.” Flowers said he wants to provide a sacred space that is acceptable to Christians, to Muslims, to Buddhists and beyond. He said this includes providing the correct kinds of food and place for prayer. Currently, the Polytechnic Church and Flowers offer a Tuesday nondenominational chapel service and a Thursday Bible study among its of-
CHAPLAIN, page 3
Female student fulfills childhood desires to box Jonathan Resendez
jlresendez@mail.txwes.edu
Not many girls at Texas Wesleyan can say they’ve brawled numerous times with men and women – but 23-year-old boxing sophomore Allana Huggins can. Majoring in business administration and chemistry, the Fort Worth native competes daily in the classroom as well as the ring. Her life is comparable to the hill sprints she runs along the Trinity River six days a week: the ups and downs are tiresome, yet rewarding. Born to a Mexican immigrant mother and white father, Huggins credits her boxing desires to childhood memories of frustration and bullying. “The other kids couldn’t stand seeing a light-complexioned girl who was mixed [race] and could speak fluent Spanish,” said Huggins, referring to her peers at All Saints Catholic School, a predominantly Hispanic private school in Fort Worth’s north
side. “They didn’t know a lick of Spanish, and they constantly gave me hell because I was over-weight,” she said. After watching her older brother get pummeled in his first boxing match, an experience that split his eye and led to an emergency room visit with their sobbing mother in tow, Huggins said she knew immediately she wanted to become a boxer. “I wasn’t that good at soccer or basketball, so I looked at boxing as a different way to get in shape,” she said. Unique exercise or not, her father was reluctant to support her at first because of her sensitivity to others. She was prone to crying after the constant ridicule of her classmates, she said, which was something her father saw as a major deterrent. “I didn’t really like it at first and didn’t want her to do it,” said Tim Huggins, Allana’s father. “Her mom said she was going to take her down [to the gym] anyways, and we figured after the first time she got hit
“I remember my eye being swollen and bleeding from my nose but feeling like, ‘Look Daddy, I’m not crying.’”
Allana Huggins
sophomore
she’d want to stop.” After a couple of weeks of training, his daughter was excited about losing 8 pounds. She lost not only weight, but some blood too after sparring for her first time. “I remember my eye being swollen and bleeding from my nose but feeling like, ‘Look Daddy, I’m not crying,’” she said. The 12-year-old started to grow as a fighter, and her prowess in the ring eventually inspired her younger brother, Chap, to pick up the gloves. Their father said he remembers his daughter always beating up her younger brother in the boxing ring as they grew up. He remembers her natural strength making her a good, physical fighter.
“When she was about 14 she broke my nose,” said Chap Huggins, who has since become a Golden Gloves state champion. “When she fights she’s mean, strong, powerful and explosive.” At 18, the older sister went to Buenos Aires, Argentina, as one of two women boxers representing the United States in the Pan-American games. After defeating women fighters from Canada, Puerto Rico and Brazil, she faced her toughest match, both inside the ring and out. “The other team manager would flip us off and the crowd would spit on me from the balconies,” she said.
BOXER, page 3
Renee Greer | Rambler Staff Allana Huggins is the only female Texan to win a gold medal in boxing.