The Prairie Vol. 95 No. 11 by The Prairie WTAMU

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November 13, 2012 • Vol. 95, No. 11

Dr. Jessica Mallard named dean Alex GonzAlez RepoRteR

r. Jessica Mallard has been named as the new dean of the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities. Dr. Mallard was the director of the Attebury Honors Program and a professor of Communication Studies before becoming the new dean. After earning her Bachelor of Arts in communication from the University of Central Oklahoma she received her Master’s in Arts in Speech Communication from Penn State University in 1992 and her doctorate in 1994. Dr. Mallard joined the University back in 2002 teaching basic speech, Honors I IDS, among many other communication courses. Many colleagues see her new position as a new chapter. Dr. Kristina Drumheller, director of graduate studies in Communication, said more women in leadership positions is a great thing for the University. “She’s a great critical thinker and a problem solver,” Drum-

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Lady Buffs soccer concludes season.

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oPinion

Civic engagement doesn’t end with the national election.

PAGE 11 CourtEsy of thE WtAMu offiCE of CoMMuniCAtion And MArkEtinG

heller said. Dr. Mallard took the position, replacing Dr. James Rennier, who was the previous dean of the College of Fine Arts. “I went into looking at it from an interim position, only for a year, but over the course of time I came to really enjoy the position,” Mallard said. “I have a great faculty that support me.”

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There are five different colleges at WT. “I have such an exciting college to promote,” Mallard said. “Really something you can get behind and be excited about, with art shows, and recitals. I have a great team to work with here.” “She is extremely studentfocused and thoughtful and

thinks about what she does,” Dr. Stephen Severn, the associate professor of English said. “She’s well liked, and well respected. She has shown from her work through the honors program her administration skills. She’ll provide positive and effective leadership for the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts.”

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International Survivors of Suicide Day is on Nov. 17.

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NEWS

November 13, 2012 | theprairienews.com

More scholarships available to students RHA to host Feed-a-Friend Hayden Ratliff MCOM 3309

tudents in the College of Education and Social Sciences can get more financial help than they might think. There are scholarships available for students majoring in a field within the College of Education and Social Sciences. There are 56 scholarships available for Education majors,

14 available for Political Science and Criminal Justice majors and 20 available for Psychology, Sociology and Social Work majors. Each scholarship has its own set of requirements and specifications. Kasey Long is the Development Officer in Institutional Advancement. She says students have a good chance at getting scholarship awards.

“We try to keep it less specific so that more people can get them,” she said. Students can find lists of scholarships aimed at their particular department. Each scholarship listed gives the requirements of eligibility. Some give the amount of the scholarship and some say the amount varies. Mark Rohrer, a Criminal Justice major, said he was

Megan Moore not aware there were 14 some, but I didn’t know there reporter scholarships specifically for his major. “I didn’t know there were that many,” he said. Students have to opportunity to apply for scholarships that they were not even aware of. Jill Bramlet is an Education major and was not aware there are 56 scholarships available for students in her field. “I knew there were

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were that many,” she said. ver a hundred people will be Students can apply for provided with a meal on behalf scholarships on the WT website of the WTAMU Residence Hall using the WT scholarship Association and the Feed-A-Friend application. The deadline to program on Nov. 13. apply for scholarships for the Students who live on campus are 2013-14 academic year is Feb. 1. allowed to donate one meal from their meal plan to this program, which then donates the meal to the Salvation Army. “Only students with meal plans are allowed [to donate], unfortunately, because we are taking the meals from the Caf. They are pretty much already paying for it,” Tobie Browber, national communications coordinator for the Residence Hall Association, said. Students can go to both their residence hall or to the Dining Hall to donate one of their meals through Nov 13, when the dinners will be delivered. Students are only allowed to donate one meal. “We have students that want to donate more than one but only one meal is allowed,” Browber said. The program was announced at a hall

council meeting, which enabled residence assistants to inform their floors on the ability to feed someone else. “Donating is completely voluntary. I don’t use all of the meals I am allotted so I figured I would donate them to a better cause instead of letting them go to waste,” Raini Whitacre, an RA in Cross Hall, said. This will be the 17th annual food drive that the RHA has founded and there will be a Thanksgiving meal for the Salvation Army. “People are always appreciative and so is the Salvation Army. It is one night that the meal is taken care of,” Jon Behrens, director of Residential Living, said. The meals will be prepared and packaged in tinfoil pans and sent downtown to the Salvation Army building. RHA members will be serving the meals. “It is supposed to be cooler on Tuesday and cooler weather means more folks. There are over 100 typically,” Behrens said.

Campus Calendar: Nov. 13-27

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Tyler Anderson Addie Davis Hunter Fithen Alex Gonzalez John Lee Laci McGee Megan Moore Robin Mosier Phoebe Sinclair

Haley Sprague Rebekah St. Clair Preston Thomas Rubi Valencia Keltin Wiens Connor Woods

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LAYoUt ASSiStAnt Katie Nichols

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Dr. Butler Cain

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The Prairie is a student-operated newspaper at West Texas A&M University. It functions to inform, educate and entertain readers accurately and responsibly. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the administration, faculty or staff. The Prairie verifies the legitimacy of the advertising appearing in The Prairie, but cannot be held liable for any advertising claim made in this publication. The Prairie has a circulation of 1,500 and is printed by the Amarillo Globe-News. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. -- First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

WTAMU Theatre Production of Iphigenia 2.0: Nov. 13-17 at 7 p.m. Branding Iron Theatre

WT Jazz Band Concert: Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. Northen Recital Hall

Pulse World Kindness Week: Nov. 12-17 JBK Commons

Winter Clothing Drive: Nov. 1-23 Bivins Nursing Learning Center Benefits Amarillo Homeless

Compositional Studio Recital: Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. Northen Recital Hall

University Closed: Nov. 22-23

Lunar Bowling: Nov. 17 at 8 p.m. VHAC Lanes

CORE Ginormous Bingo: Nov. 16 JBK Commons

International Survivors of Suicide Day: Nov. 17 at 1 p.m. VHAC

Carol of Lights: Nov. 26 at 6 p.m. Old Main South Steps

NEWS

Residential Living pushes for more dorm residents Hunter FitHen reporter

ith the second semester swiftly approaching, WTAMU Residential Living is encouraging students who do not already live on campus to consider doing so in the near future. According to the Residential Living page on WT’s website, some of the advantages of living on campus are that students tend to earn higher grade point averages, are more likely to graduate in four years, have a higher retention rate than those living off campus, and are more satisfied with their overall college experience. “I think students do better in school when they live on campus, and they also have more of a social life,” Derek Swander, freshman Civil Engineering major, said. WT currently has 10 residence halls which house approximately 1,800 undergraduate and graduate students, and will be adding the new Founders Hall in the fall of 2013. Founders will feature air-conditioned rooms, multiple study lounges, a game lounge, and wireless internet. It will be WT’s largest and most state-of-the-art residence hall to date, capable of housing 400 new residents. “I think living on campus is great because you are more connected with people and organizations, and you don’t have to worry

as much about parking,” Amanda Grimes, junior Math major, said. “You also have better, faster access to campus resources.” Studies show that college students who live on campus have a variety of advantages available to them as opposed to students who do not, according to David Wilson, assistant director of Residence Life. “All of your expenses are paid for when living on campus, and your charges won’t change,” Wilson said. “Living on campus allows you to learn both inside and outside of the classroom by meeting people and getting connected with groups and events. Students living on campus also have access to 24 hour staff who are trained to help them with any problems that may arise.” There are particular exemptions allowing students to live off campus, and while they may succeed in college life they may still be missing out on some great opportunities. “The big thing I would say to encourage someone to live on campus would be that you can develop a connection to the University and to other students that you’re not going to find anywhere else,” Wilson said. “You’re going to learn life lessons and how to work with others, and make lifelong friends and memories that will stay with you throughout your life.”

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arah Alpar, a mixed martial arts fighter for Extreme Martial Arts Gym, is a junior attaining her Sports and Exercise Sciences degree at WTAMU. The former flyweight champion admits that her education has already played an important role in her training and in her everyday life. “The program has benefitted me a lot,” she said. “It has allowed me to see what I am doing right and wrong in my training and it has helped me in my coaching as well.” Alpar also tries to educate others on their own training schedules and regimens, and

she said the Sports and Exercise Sciences program has allowed her to help people gain the knowledge of how to better themselves. Alpar acknowledged that injuries are a major part of all sports and what she has learned in class has assisted her in how to manage injuries that occur to her and to others. “The department has courses that help individuals deal with psychological issues that come with injuries and people having a hard time recovering from them,” said instructor Kimberly Crowell. “Not everyone experiences a detriment,” Crowell said. “For those that do, we train to help them when they are struggling

“We train not just for sprains and broken bones, but even life or death [situations].” -- Lorna Strong

mentally with rehab or to get over the fear of injuring it again.” Crowell said the department’s psychology of injury course also teaches techniques such as goal setting, imagery, and positive self-talk to help the athlete or person through the rehabilitation process. “[Our trainers] are typically right there, hands on when injuries occur, but they are becoming more

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he Vietnamese Student Organization (VSO) at WTAMU is growing in membership, mission and campus involvement. The VSO has about 25 members this year. The president of the organization is Hieu Nguyen. He is a graduate student studying Environmental Science. He works to get students involved in VSO. “The mission of VSO is to help the new Vietnamese students when they come here,” Nguyen said. “We want to show the Vietnamese culture to the American and other students.” To share more about their culture, the VSO hosted a “Moon Festival” event for the entire student body on Oct. 7. The Wesley Foundation provided the location for this year’s annual event. There were approximately 150 people in attendance. The VSO shared food, fashion, music and many other aspects of Vietnamese culture. “They performed and sang and danced,”

Stock ExchangE Mooncakes are traditionally eaten at the MidAutumn Festival, or Moon Festival.

Hung Do said. “We shared my culture, the story of the full moon festival.” Do is a member of the organization. He is in the English program and plans to later study environmental science. The VSO also encourages its members to get involved in other areas of campus and other organizations. Luat Tran, VSO vice president, also plans to study environmental science after completing the English program. “Some Vietnamese students are members of SIFE and other organizations,” Tran said. “This helps with English and group work skills and studying about our major.”

medically oriented and diverse,” said Department Head Lorna Strong. “We train not just for sprains and broken bones, but even life or death [situations].” Crowell added that athletic training is now being geared to be more aware of signs and symptoms and potential risks of other issues an athlete may go through, such as diabetes. “We are not allowed to diagnose,” she said, “but the goal is to spot those symptoms and refer them for further evaluation.” Alpar said overall, the program has allowed her to make a lifestyle change for her own personal wellness. “I use [what I have learned] on and off the mats,” she said. “I want to reach my personal and

professional goals and [my edu cation] has helped me becom more aware of what I’m doin with my body.”

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SportS

November 13, 2012 | theprairienews.com

SPORTS

November 13, 2012 | theprairienews.com

Team comes together to be #Chuckstrong Lady Buffs soccer falls to Metro State

Keltin Wiens KWts sports Director

huck Pagano, the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, may not be the leader this nation needs but he is the one that many people in the country should pay attention to. Pagano was named the head coach of the Colts in January, replacing the embattled Jim Caldwell. The Colts finished a dismal 2-14 last season after their stud quarterback, Peyton Manning, was out for the entire season with a neck injury. The Colts canned Caldwell and brought in Pagano, the former defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. Pagano’s Colts drafted Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in the April NFL Draft, in the hopes that Luck could be the next Peyton Manning. The Colts struggled out of the gate and lost two of their first three games. Then, on Sept. 26, things appeared as if bad would turn worse. Pagano was diagnosed

with a form of leukemia. Bruce Arians was promoted to head coach in Chuck’s absence. Pagano spent the next month in an Indianapolis hospital, undergoing chemotherapy, watching the Colts play from his hospital bed. On Oct. 21, Pagano was able to return home, where he watched his team from afar. Chuck cleared a hurdle last week when he was given clearance by his doctors to return to Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis to watch his Colts play. After the Colts got a dramatic 23-20 win over the visiting Miami Dolphins, Pagano addressed his team in the locker room. If you haven’t seen the video, I’d recommend it. The footage still sends chills down my spine. “I’ve got circumstances. You guys understand it. I understand it. It’s already beat. It’s already beat,” said Pagano to his team. “My vision that I’m living is to see two more daughters get married, dance at their weddings and then lift the Lombardi

Trophy several times. I’m dancing at two more weddings and we’re hoisting that trophy together, men. Congratulations, I love all of you.” In the locker room, Pagano lifted his blue baseball hat with the familiar Colts horseshoe on the front to reveal his nearly hairless head as a result of the intense chemotherapy. In a show of support, more than 20 Colts players, including Luck, shaved their heads. The Colts are becoming a family around their head coach and the people are responding. Colts officials hung banners in each end of the stadium to promote the hashtag, #Chuckstrong, and Arians wears a button at every game that has two orange ribbons, the color designated to represent leukemia. Chuck’s strength when staring down a terrible disease like leukemia is one that is admirable, no matter which team you root for. But the team has also responded in other ways. Since

Arians became the coach, the Colts are 5-1 to bring their overall record to 6-3 and the Colts are in the early playoff discussions. The surge is also thanks to the brilliant play of Luck, who threw for a rookie-record 433 yards against the Dolphins. A day after Pagano’s emotional post-game speech, it was announced that Pagano’s cancer was in remission. He is not cancer free, but the disease is on the run. Pagano has started a second round of chemotherapy and that will last four to six weeks. After the second round, Pagano will face yet another round of chemo after the first of the year. The story of Pagano’s fight and a team coming together to play for one man is why I love sports. Politics and sports don’t often mix, but I think Chuck’s story speaks to the nation as a whole. As another presidential election has come and gone, the American people have chosen who they want their leader to be

for the next four years. Whether Tyler Anderson you wanted Barack Obama to sporTs reporTer continue as president, or you he Lone Star Conferwere looking for the fresh face ence Women’s Soccer of Mitt Romney in the White Champion Lady Buffs House, I’m sure that both sides can agree that the issues and fell to Metro State of Denver in the problems facing this coun- the first round of the NCAA Divitry have divided Americans sion II Tournament, 4-1, on Nov. more than ever before. It could 9. Falling behind from early on, be easy for our leaders to turn the WTAMU Lady Buffs failed to away from each other when the score until late in the match. other side doesn’t agree. It also In the beginning of the match, could have been easy for Chuck it was evenly matched as both sides traded shots before Metro Pagano to give up. Although we are divided in State’s Noemy Polanco scored a deep trench of partisan senti- off a cross from Brandi Farley, ments, this nation will not turn who was given the assist. After on itself, particularly when we the half, it was then when the find something or someone to rally around. We don’t want to be divided anymore. America wants its dream back. Pagano also wants his dream. It is his endless pursuit of that end that leads a group of men and a nation of fans to unite together behind one man’s struggles. This is what we want. Everybody wants to be #Chuckstrong.

for the remainder of the set, WT picked up a 25-16 opening-set win. The Lady Buffs began set two with a 6-2 lead. With a 9-8 lead, WT would go on a 9-2 run to take an 18-11 lead. The Lady Buffs would clinch the second set by scoring five straight points while on top 20-15. After the Javelinas started set three with a 6-5 lead, WT would outscore TAMUK 20-4 for the rest of the set, clinching the sweep. The Lady Buffs began the long run by scoring 10 straight points on the Javelinas.

Junior Laura Iwuchukwu led WT offensively with 14 kills on the night, senior Stormi Lancaster and sophomore Kameryn Hayes each finished with nine kills. Senior Lacy Hayes dished out 42 assists and senior Lauren Beville tallied 18 digs. The Lady Buffs began the first set against the Cardinals taking a 6-2 lead into an early UIW timeout. WT had a 9-4 lead when a 10-2 run gave them a 19-6 advantage. Each team scored six points from that point, but the Lady Buffs took set one by a 25-12 score. WT took an early 4-3 lead in

set two before going on a 10-2 run to take a 14-5 lead. The Lady Buffs were able to hold off the Cardinals and take the second set, 25-13. The third set began with each team trading points. WT had an 11-10 advantage when a 7-2 run gave them an 18-12 lead into a UIW timeout. The Lady Buffs clinched the sweep with a 7-1 run to win the set 25-13. Junior Halie Harton registered 11 kills on the afternoon to lead WT’s offense. Junior Ashley Davis, who started for the first time since Sept. 1 due to injury, and Lancaster each

had 10 kills. Hayes dished out 42 assists and Beville got 18 digs for the Lady Buffs. WT finished the season with a 27-4 overall mark and a 17-3 record in the LSC. The sweep of UIW marked the 22nd time this season the Lady Buffs swept their opponents. WT will start the LSC Championship tournament on Nov. 15 as the No. 2 seed and will face Abilene Christian at 2:30 p.m. “Once [Kameryn] Hayes gets back we’ll have good depth and I like our chances in the [LSC] tournament,” Davis said.

“We still have a lot to be proud of...It’s been a good season. I couldn’t ask for anything better.” --Leslie Briggs flood gates opened as the Roadrunners scored two goals by Kelci Newlin with Abby Rolph and Karisa Price provided the assists and Abby Rolph knocking in a goal of her own in the 59th minute of the match. The Lady Buffs countered with a goal in the 75th minute

he No. 10 WTAMU Lady Buffs volleyball team closed out their regular season schedule by hosting the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas for Senior Night and the Incarnate Word Cardinals on Nov. 9 and Nov. 10. WT swept both matches, building momentum going into the Lone Star Conference tournament this weekend. The Lady Buffs started set one against Kingsville with a 5-3 lead when they went on a 12-4 run to build a 17-7 lead. Despite being outscored 9-8

even expected to make it out of the conference. It’s been a good season, I couldn’t ask for anything better.” With the elimination, the Lady Buffs end their season

with a 13-7-1 overall record while Metro State moves forward in the tournament with a record of 14-5-2 overall.

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Lady Buff volleyball sweeps two straight matches

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by senior defender Becky Peth, which was her first goal of the 2012 campaign. However, the Roadrunners proved to be too much as Aubrey Fondy goal and Shursteen Sharpe assist helped Metro State move on the NCAA Division II tournament. “One of the best and hardest things about soccer is that no matter what is said about the team on paper, it’s about whoever is the best team that day wins,” said senior striker Leslie Briggs. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case for us on Friday. But we still have a lot to be proud of - making it into the postseason when we weren’t

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Review: Lamb of God and Hatebreed Brooke self rePorter

he sounds of electric guitars, double bass drums and loud, harsh screaming filled the air at the Lonestar Ampitheatre in Lubbock, Texas on Nov. 3. Hundreds of death metal fans gathered in the theatre’s indoor venue, the Lonestar Pavillion, to rock out to four face-melting, hardcore metal bands on the crisp autumn night. The first band, Sylosis, a British metal band, opened the show as concert-goers continued to pour into the venue. Following Sylosis was In Flames, a Swedish metal band that formed in 1990. They got the crowd going with their mixture of heavy screaming and some slower melodies within some of the songs. When they played one of their more popular singles, “Take This Life,” at the end of their six-song

set, the crowd sang along with the band throughout the entire song. When the time came for In Flames to head offstage, the crowd continued praising them by chanting “In Flames! In Flames!” even after they were off the stage. Next to rock the stage was the Grammy nominated, metalhardcore band from Connecticut, Hatebreed. The hardcore juggernauts, who have performed in both Amarillo and Lubbock several times before, said they were “happy to be back with all the crazy […] Texans who have always supported metal music.” Hatebreed got the crowd amped up with their in-your-face music and songs that were among the favorites of many of the concert-goers. “This was my second or third time seeing Hatebreed and they are always one of my favorites,” said Brittani Morales, a 20-yearold metal fan. “I know a lot of

their songs, so I like to just scream the lyrics and let loose. No one at these concerts cares if you act crazy, because everyone else is acting just as nuts as you are.” Out of the four bands, Hatebreed got the most interaction from the audience. The site was like that of a crazy rock party that is usually seen only on television or in movies. When Hatebreed questioned the audience for not being energetic enough, the audience responded by throwing several people up in the air to surf across the crowd. At a few points during the remainder of Hatebreed’s set, several people were literally climbing across the ceiling, hanging from the fixtures and monkey barring their way over the crowd, including a rocker who was in a wheelchair, who was lifted from his chair and proceeded to swing across the ceiling like Tarzan.

“You West Texans are some of the most amazing, hardcore […] we have ever performed for. Thank you so much for continuing to support metal music,” Jamey Jasta, Hatebreed’s lead singer, said. Headlining the show was Lamb of God, a death metal band from Virginia who have been touring every year since 2000. Lamb of God’s opening was extremely political, given that the show was only three days before Election Day. The stage was dark, with a low melody playing amidst the nearly silent venue. Suddenly, a large screen on the stage begins playing the famous political ad, “Daisy,” which was used in Lyndon B. Johnson’s 1964 campaign for presidency. Once the crowd realized what was playing on the screen, they erupted with cheers, supporting the statement that the band was making. After their meaningful intro,

Lamb of God capped off the show with a rowdy, head banging, fist throwing set that the audience seemed to appreciate. Throwing their fists and devil horns in the air, the crowd jumped around tirelessly, screaming along to the music. When the show was over, the crowd had not yet had enough and proceeded to chant until Lamb of God came back on the stage to perform two more songs. “All in all, it was a great night full of face-melting metal music that I will not soon forget,” said Wesley Fitzgerald, a 28-year-old concert-goer. “My fiancé and I had a great time. We were kind of disappointed when it was over, but it was definitely worth the forty dollars for the ticket and the drive from Amarillo.” The four bands will wrap up their current tour in Orlando, Fla. on Nov. 19.

of Sam and Patrick, played by Emma Watson and Ezra Miller, and eventually he finds acceptance in a new group of friends. What follows is an emotional, dramatic and often funny experience that changes Charlie’s life forever. The film retains signs of its origin as an epistolary novel in occasional monologues from Charlie as he writes letters to an imaginary friend. In them he reveals much about his character including previous issues with depression, but as he begins to spend more time with his newfound friends the letters become infrequent asides. The interactions the others have with Charlie show their effect on his

character, as he grows and becomes a more active and stable individual. The major arc of the plot revolves around the feelings that Charlie develops for Sam as they continue to spend time together, including helping her study to improve her SAT scores for admission into her college of choice. Through the rollercoaster journey of Charlie’s first year as a high school student their relationship remains the focus, but other subplots involving Patrick, a sudden an unintended relationship, and Charlie’s dark past. The actors all deliver remarkable performances; though through valiant effort Watson’s native accent still slips through,

but at every given opportunity, Miller is the real scene-stealer. His character Patrick, an eccentric and hyperactive senior with a unique energy, is an attention grabber any time he appears on camera. The supporting cast is full of quirky misfits, who all fit into their roles well and on a whole the cast believably portrayed a band of outcasts and social rejects. Overall, the film was very enjoyable. The plot was full of emotion and surprises and the actors delivered it excellently. The movie is one that viewers can reflect on and use to think about their own lives and how they view other and, cliché as it sounds, the importance of

friendship shines through.

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Movie Review: The Perks of Being a Wallflower Preston thomas rePorter

“

The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” a film adaptation of Stephen Chbosky’s novel of the same name, follows the story of troubled teenager Charlie, played by Logan Lerman of Percy Jackson fame, and his struggles as he begins his first year of high school. Anyone who felt awkward or out of place during their own time in high school will immediately relate to the character of Charlie, who enters the school with no friends and terrible social skills. He manages to meet and befriend two of his senior classmates, the quirky step-sibling combo

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Amarillo Survivors of Suicide host event After the election, it’s business as usual Rebekah St. ClaiR RepoRteR

marillo Survivors of Suicicde will be holding an event in honor of International Survivors of Suicide Day on Nov. 12, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. in the Virgil Henson Activities Center (VHAC). Registration can be completed online at www.facebook.com/AmarilloSOS or by calling (806)-4574993. The event is to help people who have lost a loved one to suicide learn to cope and will have local resources and suicide professionals present. “I think it [International Survivors of Suicide Day] is a great program and I believe in what they do,” Will Crafton, vocalist for NameSake, a band

from Georgia, said. He helps the people who reach out to him through music and shows his support to those who are having a difficult time. “I get messages every day, and I point the people in their [suicide prevention networks] direction. I want to help them get their lives in a more positive place,” Crafton said. The pain that survivors of suicide endure is excruciating and difficult to deal with alone. Amarillo SOS gives survivors a safe place to talk and share experiences so that survivors know they are not alone. “I think it is going to be a great experience,” Jessica Cummings, senior Social Work major, said. On average, seven deaths

by suicide occur daily in Texas according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Those who are suicidal do not always display signs. The classic signs include loss of interest in things that use to bring pleasure, sadness, despair and alternating high moods to low moods, according to DSHS. Reaching out for help is not something that many do when they feel the symptoms; however, those who do seek help may realize that they affect many more people than they thought. The underlying causes of suicidal thoughts are usually linked to some type of mental health disorder, such as bipolar disorder and depression.

Suicide Hotline:

1-800-273- TALK (8255)

WT Counseling Services: (806) 651-2340

The Suicide Hotline and WT Counseling Services offer free help to anyone in need of help.

Readership WT group selected elizabeth humphRey Copy editoR

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very year, WTAMU hosts a contest called Readership WT where the entire freshman class is given a book, which they can choose to write an optional 1,000 word essay about. A select number of students are then chosen to go on an all-expenses paid trip to a location relevant to the book. This year, the Readership WT book was The Heart and the Fist by Eric Greitens. Thirteen students have been chosen to travel to Bolivia, which is one place Greitens encountered during a mission trip in his book. “Right now we’re doing our passport process. Now we have to send in all our passport stuff then we’re taking a course next semester about the language and culture,” freshman finalist and Advertising-Public Rela-

tions major Tessa Davis said. The finalists went through an interview process with a committee consisting of Dr. Wade Schaeffer, First Year Experience director Kendra Campbell, and peer leaders. “We went through a first round of group interviews, after about a week or a week and a half we had second interviews,” Davis said. “We met in Old Main and Kendra Campbell said the President couldn’t make it, but that he wanted her to tell us that we had all made it.” People attending the trip will consist of 13 WT freshmen, Kendra Campbell, and peer leader Daniel Zewde. “As a peer leader, we were required to read the book and submit an essay after we had read the book, and I told Kendra [Campbell] that I was interested in going on the trip as a peer

leader,” Zewde said. Finalists will spend the next semester preparing for the trip. “We are taking a course next semester that will probably be about the language, culture, and what to do and what not to do,” Davis said. Readership Ambassador and peer leader Jarrett Jackson believes he was “blessed” by his own Readership experience in 2010. He went to Turkey with 16 other students. “It was overwhelming, culturally awe-inspiring, physically exhausting, but the greatest ten days of my entire life,” Jackson said.

he election is over. Can we get an amen? It was certainly an exciting, and at times ridiculous, election season. In the end, President Barack Obama has been re-elected, securing 303 electoral votes and winning the popular vote as well. The public will be anticipating former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s next career move. Maine and Maryland passed gay marriage laws and Colorado and Washington State legalized recreational marijuana use. Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, has voted on statehood. The Republican Party controls the House of Representatives and the Democratic Party controls the Senate.

So now that it’s all said and done, now what? If this is anything like the 2008 election aftermath, there will be a few weeks of an uplifted mood in the nation, or at least the 51 percent of voters who voted for President Obama. There will be complaints by those who voted for Governor Romney, calling everything unfair and the election rigged. There will be calls for bi-partisanship and working together. However, after the “honeymoon phase” is over, things will go back to “business as usual”; more filibustering in Congress and general lack of interest about politics on the citizen level. Those who are interesting

QuesTion of The Week

“What do you think of the results of this year’s election?” “Even though I don’t necessarily agree with the re-election of President Obama, I am thankful for our right as Americans to vote. Multiple other countries don’t have this right and are under dictators...it could be much worse for Americans.” -- Audrey Jones

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

will bicker about “evil Democrats” or “out-of-touch Republicans,” which really doesn’t do anything in terms of finding a solution to our nation’s problems (the vitriolic nature of our political parties is another editorial for another time). Frankly, it’s a cycle that needs to stop. Politics does not occur once every four years. It is living and breathing and affecting the lives of average citizens daily. It’s great that many people turned out to vote in this election. As it was mentioned earlier, several states have passed their own laws concerning gay marriage and marijuana use, thanks to the citizens that voted. What are the implications of

those laws and how will this affect other states? We’ll find out soon, but will the public still be interested then? Does anyone even remember Hurricane Sandy anymore? The storm is long gone, but the damage remains and the East Coast needs help rebuilding. What about our Congress? We will have a divided legislature once more, which may prevent much-needed laws to be passed if the current filibuster system continues. Do you remember China? As much as the presidential candidates hammered on it in the debates, no one seems to be paying much attention to the major leadership change in its govern-

ment that occurs every decade. This could have a huge impact on China-U.S. relations. Thankfully, life goes on after the presidential election, the political Super Bowl on steroids, but remember: politics is not just the election. It’s what happens in the federal, state and local level as well. Get educated. Find out what’s going on in the world. In the Information Age, it is so easy to catch up on the world’s events that it’s almost laughable. Educating yourself on the day-to-day issues empowers a person more than he or she may realize.

PHOTOS

November 13, 2012 | theprairienews.com

This Week in Photos: Change in Seasons Kati Watson Design eDitor

Holiday #Hashtag Project! Capture your favorite holiday moments and submit your best #nofilter photos to Instagram with the hashtag #wtprairie. We will pick the best ones and share them on the Nov. 27 print edition. So go shoot some great photos!

JBK expansion near its final stages before grand opening.

WT Baptist Student Ministries and Navigators partner with Mission Amarillo to collect shoes for area children.

One of the sets on Iphigenia 2.0 that will run through Nov. 17.

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Last minute advising continues at the Student Success Center.