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December 4, 2012 • Vol. 95, No. 13
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Varsity Theatre still needs funds Daniela Fierro Web eDitor
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he Varsity Theatre located off of 4th Avenue in Canyon is still working on raising money necessary to revamp the projection and sound system, which will cost almost $100,000. The upgrade will allow the theater to play digital films, which has become the new standard in the movie industry. “There is some movement to a solution but we don’t know much more than that,” Gary Cathey, owner of the business, said. With a new Facebook page, Cathey encourages people to like it and leave any suggestions that might help the Varsity. “There’s some smart people in the college,” Cathey said. “I’m sure one of them will be able to come up with a solution.” 32-year-old J.J. Wilbur says he’s been helping out in the theater since he was 12 years old and would be sad to see it close down. “I would miss Gary too
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“It’s good to be a Buff,” says KWTS Sports Director Keltin Wiens.
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oPinion
The Prairie editor-in-chief says “goodbye.”
PAGE 11 DAniElA FiErro/ThE PrAiriE J.J. Wilbur stands in the Varsity Theatre concession stand. He has volunteered at the theater since he was 12 years old.
much,” Wilbur said. Wilbur says he helps with the popping popcorn, selling things in the concession stand and cleaning. “Everybody needs to come [to the Varsity Theatre] because it’s a very special place,” Wilbur said. Owner of the J.J. Resale Store, Teresa Wilbur, also volunteers
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at the Varsity. “I do everything in the show,” Teresa said. “I’ve helped out at concession stand, the projection room and box office.” Teresa said she’s been helping out for four-and-a-half years. “I think it would be terrible because it’s the only entertainment we have [in Canyon],” said
Teresa. “There’s nothing else because everything else is for the tourists.” Teresa said closing the theater would hurt the economy because of lost revenue. “It’s a historical place and I would hate to see it go because of that,” she said.
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Hotline Miami gameplay is “satisfyingly difficult and violent.”
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NEWS
December 4, 2012 | theprairienews.com
Local ASPCA holds weekly pet adoptions Megan Moore reporter
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very Saturday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Amarillo Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) holds dog adoptions at the Amarillo PetSmart off of Soncy Road. Cats are available for adoption throughout the week at the store. “We tend to adopt smaller dogs at PetSmart,” Kelley Mickey, ASPCA shelter manager, said. “I try to pick dogs that are well behaved and don’t act up or bark a lot.” The shelter has partnered with PetSmart for several years
now and the employees of the store are active in the adoption process. “After the adoption takes place, we have associates that help get food and whatever else they will need,” Todd Repp, store manager of PetSmart, said. The holiday season is a popular time to bring in a new addition to the family, but also provides an issue for local shelters. The ASPCA struggles to adopt larger dogs during this time of year. “It’s hard all year long, but during this season it’s harder to get big dogs adopted,” Mickey said. “Most people are mainly looking for puppies and kittens.”
Cold weather during the holiday seasons requires extra care for pets. Dogs can lose their sense of smell during a snowstorm and will also need their feet cleaned when entering the house again. They can accidently ingest things such as anti-freeze, which is lethal to the animals, when cleaning the snow off of their paws. Cats also search for warm places and will often find it inside a car hood and can be injured when a car is started. “Make sure you keep your pets warm and bring them in at night,” Mickey said. The adoption process is structured to find the best
possible home for the dog or cat. The shelter requires a prescreening form when someone is interested in adopting. This is so they can have information on the housing and fencing the pet will be around. The shelter will place the right pet with the right living situation. “I was living in an apartment so I knew I would have to have one [dog] that would be okay in a small place,” Shanelle Webster, junior Psychology major, said. “I wouldn’t ever buy a dog from a breeder. There are hundreds of dogs that need a good home.” The ASPCA houses on average about 80 dogs and 30 cats at their shelter located off
of Coulter Street. They are a no-kill shelter, which means they do not euthanize animals when the shelter fills up. People wishing to adopt a pet from a shelter must provide a valid driver’s license and be 21 years of age. If an adopter lives in an apartment, the shelter requires a copy of the lease with the landlord’s contact information. The shelter is locally owned and has served the Amarillo area for over 20 years. The adoption fee for cats and dogs are $100. This fee includes the animal being spayed or neutered, current shots and a microchip.
their hosts, President J. Patrick and Karen O’Brien. Director of Student Activities Skip Chisum explained that the event helps raise money for students involved in the music school. “The Renaissance Holiday Feast directly affects some of the students that are performing in it,” said Chisum.
Many of these students involved in the Feast not only performed, but they also had specific tasks. “I am a jester, which is a lot of fun. We get to run around [and act] crazy!” Maggie Gagnon, a sophomore Music Education major, said. Others in the Music School participated in the feast as well.
JP, a freshman Music Education major was a table waiter to the lords and ladies. “I got to be a waiter for this event, and this is my first time doing something like this so I am excited!” he said. The celebration began at 6:45 p.m. with a traditional wassail bowl and songs. The evening continued with a feast of
foods from the Renaissance era. There were pieces performed by the School of Music to accompany the Renaissance theme, as well as puppetry and story-telling.
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Tyler Anderson Addie Davis Hunter Fithen Alex Gonzalez John Lee Laci McGee Megan Moore Robin Mosier Phoebe Sinclair
Annual Renaissance Feast benefits WT Music School phoebe Sinclair reporter
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he Canyon community joined WTAMU’s CORE Center and the Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities for the annual Renaissance Feast. Noble lords, ladies, and jesters gathered at the Hazel Kelley Alumni Banquet Hall to celebrate with
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TOP: Feast attendees enjoy the Renaissancestyle festivities. BOTTOM RIGHT: School of Music students perform for feast attendees.
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PPHM to host Christmas open house WTAMU students prepare for finals Brooke Self reporter
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he Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum will be opening their doors for a Christmas open house on Friday, Dec. 7 and Saturday, Dec. 8. The museum will be completely decorated for the season as people explore the different themed rooms throughout the museum. “We have all kinds of great activities going on,” Tammy St. Pierre, PPHM retail operations coordinator, said. “We’ll have role players in Pioneer Town,
entertainers in the Derrick Room, crafts for kids in the basement, the Merry Fiddlers come and perform and we will have Santa here in [the] Hazlewood [Lecture Hall].” With all of the activities people can participate in, St. Pierre said this is a great thing for families to attend, especially since it is free to anyone who wants to explore the completely decorated museum. “Seeing all the people that come is the best part for me,” St. Pierre said. “When we’ve got people waiting in line to come in the museum, it’s very exciting
to have it really come alive like it does with that many people. In the two days, we’ll usually see about 5,000 people in that seven and a half hours.” The people who work at the museum say they love the Christmas open house because they enjoy seeing the museum full of people and families. “Throughout the year, of all the things we do, everything is geared towards either the adults or the kids, whereas this is very much geared towards families. It’s fun just watching families go around and experience the museum and see
the decorations, choirs, crafts, cookies and everything else,” Buster Ratliff, PPHM operations coordinator, said. The Christmas open house is an event that the museum has put on for more than 30 years and many of the workers have had the chance to experience it for many years. Becky Livingston, a PPHM special projects coordinator, has worked at the museum for 14 years and said her favorite part about the open house is seeing all the decorations. “I love the museum decorated,” Livingston said.
“I also love that it’s free because it gives people an opportunity to come visit, who might not otherwise have that opportunity.” Livingston said since the event is non-commercial, it’s more about the true spirit of Christmas than some other things might be. “It’s totally something you can do and enjoy as a family and its perfect for people of all ages,” Livingston said. People can explore the decorated museum from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
ligion and to as always go into it with an open mind.” The organization is dedicated to its members. They try to make everyone feel welcomed and have a sense of belonging. “One of our goals is that we welcome absolutely everyone,” said Anders. “Whether you believe in God, Gods or no god at all, you are welcome here. If you have an established religion or if you are trying to figure out what your world belief will be, it does not matter. This is a place for everyone.” The organization has also found its home at a local coffee shop. This is because they wanted a welcoming environment for all. “We hold our scheduled and regular meetings at Palace Coffee Company,” said Anders. “This is mostly because I wanted an environment that wasn’t like a classroom. I wanted a space that was inviting and welcoming. Ultimately I wanted a place where we could build a community. “ The Student Interfaith Dia-
logue also goes to different places of worship in order to view the religion and its artifacts from the religion’s perspective. “We enjoy going to places of worship as we went to a synagogue and got to see the menorah and look at the scrolls,” said Anders. “So we went to the actual setting and put our hands on these artifacts.” Many students around the WT campus believe that it is important to have organizations like the Student Interfaith Dialogue. “America is the melting pot so it is important to understand the way people live because we do share spaces, even if we do not with their beliefs,” Michael Nuberger, a WT freshman, said. Anders also believes that this is a crucial part of their organization. “There are so many things in this part of the world we don’t get exposed to,” she said. “It is [imperitive] that we expose people to different types of religion because we have a lack of
knowledge, which leads to believing common stereotypes.” Anders also believes it is fundamental that one is ready to listen, voice their own beliefs, and engage. “When you come into our space, we simply ask you to listen to other people, but also know you have a voice and are incredibly valuable to what we are trying to do here,” she said. “We
ask you to speak from a personal perspective such as ‘I believe.’”
Organization seeks community through religion Connor WoodS reporter
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here are many religious organizations on campus. In a place that many people refer to as the Bible Belt, it is sometimes rare to hear the point of view of different religions. However, one WT organization exposes its members to the vast differences, but also similarities that religions across the globe share. The Student Interfaith Dialogue is an organization that values promoting interfaith exploration. The President of the organization, Ellie Anders, describes what goes on in a typical meeting. “Monday was our last meeting this semester,” said Anders. “The religion that we decided to delve into is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What we did was we had the Stake speak to our organization at our final meeting. The Stake is the leader of the church and our goal was to understand this re-
Alex GonzAlez RepoRteR
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he Christmas holiday is just around the corner, but before students depart for family festivities, they must first face one more stressed filled, caffeine fueling and sleep depriving week of final exams. “I usually stress a lot, but I still end up passing,” Elizabeth Perkins, senior Mass Communication Electronic Media major, said. “In my mind I just look at it as just another test and not a final.” Finals can have a major impact on overall
performances and many students spend days studying for an exam that might only take a few hours to complete, but the stress of finals is different for every student, depending on their classification and major. “I think freshmen stress about finals the most,” Dr. James Calvi, associate dean of the College of Education and Social Sciences said. “It’s a first time experience with them and [it’s] different in high school where they took tests. I do notice students do better on the final exam since they know what is
expected.” Nevertheless, the difference in stress levels also means different ways of dealing with stress and preparing for the exams. “I think each student has their own strategy when it comes to finals,” Westermann said. “Many benefit from doing group study sessions. Other students really do good by locking themselves in a quiet room and studying.” Different psychological standpoints can also affect a student’s performance.
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The U.S. News & World Report offers several final exam tips for students: 1. Plan a Schedule: during finals week, so writing down when it’s time for fun and studying is crucial. 2. Be Realistic: When it comes to creating a study schedule, be realistic and set reasonable expectations. Students’ brains still need a break from all the studying, so relaxing and hanging out with friends is also important. 3. Take care of your body: Students should take care of their physical selves. If they treat their bodies right during finals, such as getting enough sleep, they will be refreshed when it comes time to that big test. 4. Eat Well and Exercise: This can really take a lot off the brain and help clear the mind for some studying.
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SportS
December 4, 2012 | theprairienews.com
SPORTS
December 4, 2012 | theprairienews.com
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So, do we call this magic? Lady Buffs basket- Lady Buffs volleyball wins 12th regional Keltin Wiens KWts sports Director
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have often wondered what it must be like to be on a campus where a football team is doing something it isn’t supposed to. Utah and Boise State are the schools that come to mind when I think about that. Well, get your glass slippers ready, WTAMU Buffaloes, because you are a Cinderella. In case you missed it, on Dec. 1, the WT football team traveled to Pueblo, Colo., to play the Colorado State-Pueblo ThunderWolves in the NCAA Division II quarterfinals. The Buffs avenged their season-opening loss to The Pack by beating No. 1 and top-seeded CSU-P with a 34-13 victory. Leading the highflying WT offense that afternoon was Harlon Hill, Trophy finalist and junior quarterback Dustin Vaughan with 324 yards on 2438 passing with three downs and one interception. Senior
running back Khiry Robinson led the WT rushing attack with 120 yards on 26 carries. Receiver Nathan Slaughter exploded for 170 yards on seven catches for two touchdowns. The win gives WT a 12-2 record and a berth in the NCAA Division II semifinals. The Buffs will travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., to play the Rams of Winston-Salem State University on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 5:30 p.m. It is the first time in school history that WT football has gone this deep into the NCAA Division II postseason and they are one win away from going to Florence, Ala., to play in the National Championship. We can talk about stats and history all we want, but the most impressive part about the entire postseason run by the Buffs is that WT is a six seed in the playoffs. There are only four Super Regions in the country and a team must be one of the six best teams in the region. To say
that WT snuck into the playoffs after losing to Midwestern State on Nov. 3 is an understatement. West Texas wasn’t supposed to beat Chadron State in the first round; the Buffs weren’t supposed to beat previously undefeated Ashland University in Ohio in the second round and the Buffs weren’t supposed to be in the semifinals. Yet, WT has busted the bracket and the Buffs are continuing to make history. The WT playoff run has created a compelling and riveting story that the Division II world is talking about. The playoff has created drama and upsets in a way that only a playoff bracket can do. I, for one, will be the first one in line to take the Buffs to the ball to meet Prince Charming if we should get there. But the situation right now is the Rams of Winston-Salem. Regardless of what happens on Saturday, I’m proud to be a Buff.
ball tumbles to 2-6 tyler AnDerson sports reporter
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he WTAMU Women’s Basketball squad continued their current skid to three games this past week with a loss to Abilene Christian at the First United Bank Center 81-76 on Nov. 28 before dropping a double overtime decision to Angelo State 7771 in San Angelo on Dec. 1. On Wednesday, despite falling behind as far as 23-16 in the first half, the Lady Buffs clawed back to keep it close going into halftime, with a score of 41-39. However, just as the Lady Buffs developed a lead early in the second half, the Wildcats ran away with the game in its last legs to give the Lady Buffs their second home loss of the season. The Lady Buffs were led by junior guard Lacee Logan with 15 points, sophomore forward Chontiquah White added 14 points and junior guard Casey Land tallied 14 points.
Buffs basketball rebounds after loss MAtt WAtKins sports eDitor
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he No. 18 WTAMU Buffalo basketball team traveled to San Angelo Texas to play their second Lone Star Conference game of the season against the Angelo State Rams on Dec. 1. After a one-point loss to Abilene Christian in the Buff’s first LSC game on Nov. 28 in Canyon, WT bounced back by routing ASU 73-44. The Buffs opened the first half with a 10-4 lead with 17:28 remaining in the first
half. The Rams would go on a 14-6 run to take a 16-18 lead with 12:39 left in the half. WT answered by outscoring ASU 25-10 across the rest of the half to take a 41-28 lead into the break. The Buffs shot 17 for 25 from the field for 68 percent in the half. Seniors Donald Sims and Nate Drayton led WT with 10 points a piece in the first half. With a 41-29 lead in the early stages of the second half, the Buffs would go on a 26-9 run to claim a 30-point advantage, 67-37, with 4:45
left in the game. WT would outscore the Rams 32-16 across the entire second half, not allowing ASU to even score 10 points in the half until there were seven minutes to go in the game, on their way to the 73-44 win. “We were proud of the way we bounced back after the loss to ACU,” Head Coach Rick Cooper said. The Buffs would finish the night shooting 28 of 46 for 61 percent from the field. Sims led the team with 13 points and 10 rebounds and senior Darnell Jackson also scored
13 points for WT. Drayton and sophomore Tez Dumars each finished with 12 points. “We are still very much a work in progress, but we believe we have a chance to have a very successful season if we continue to improve as we have so far,” Cooper said. The Buffs record now stands a 7-1 overall and 1-1 in the LSC. WT will travel to Wichita Falls on Dec. 5 to take on another LSC-rival in Midwestern State. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
On the other hand, ACU’s Renata Marquez led the Wildcats with 19 points, Sadie Dickinson scored 18 points and Kelsey Smith hauled in 16 points. On Saturday, The Lady Buffs and the Rambelles of San Angelo fought a see-saw battle that had WT taking a 37-32 advantage going into the half. The Rambelles made a comeback of their own to force overtime, as both sides fought on into the second overtime before Angelo State scored 10 to WT’s 4 points. This pushed the Rambelles past the Lady Buffs in the game of attrition. Logan once again led the Lady Buffs in points, scoring 27 points while White put in 18 points.
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Matt Watkins sports Editor
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he No. 9 WTAMU Lady Buffs volleyball team traveled to the campus of Regis University in Denver, Colo., to participate in the NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament from Nov. 29 to Dec. 1. WT defeated the No. 23 University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Lions, the No. 12 Colorado School of Mines Orediggers and Lone Star Conference rival, the No. 11 Angelo State Rambelles en route to winning their 12th Regional Championship in team history and earning a spot in this week-
end’s Elite Eight hosted by West Florida University in Pensacola, Fla. In the first match, the Lions grabbed an early 9-12 lead when the Lady Buffs went on a 12-4 run that gave WT a 21-16 advantage. WT fell behind 2223 when the Lady Buffs scored three-consecutive points to take the first set 25-23. WT took an early 6-1 lead in set two going into a UAFS timeout. The Lady Buffs extended their lead to 14-6 when the Lions took their second timeout of the set. WT outscored UAFS 11-6 to win the set 25-12.
With an early 5-4 lead in the third set, the Lady Buffs would go on a 20-7 to win the set 2511 and complete the first round sweep. WT had an early 11-6 lead in the first set of the second match against CSM when the Orediggers went on a 5-1 run into a Lady Buff timeout to cut WT’s lead down to 12-11. WT responded by outscoring CSM 13-8 to win the set by a 25-19 score. The Lady Buffs started set two with a 6-4 lead when an Orediggers run of 8-3 gave CSM a 9-12 lead. An 8-3 WT run gave
the Lady Buffs the lead back at 17-15. An Orediggers run of 6-2 into a Lady Buff timeout gave them a 19-21 advantage. CSM would finish the set, outscoring WT 4-3 to earn the 22-25 set win. The Orediggers built a 10-12
lead in set three before a 5-1 WT run put the Lady Buffs on top, 15-13. A 6-1 run by CSM gave them a 16-19 lead. Trailing 16-20, WT outscored the Orediggers 11-5 to pick up a 27-25 win.
ONLINE SpOrtS
Sports reporter Tyler Anderson weighs in on the realignment in the Big 10 conference. Sports reporter John Lee reports on the Buffs football team’s ascension to the semi-finals.
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ENTERTAINMENT
GAMES
December 4, 2012 | theprairienews.com December 4, 2012 | theprairienews.com
Wii U wows gamers who could get it John Lee RepoRteR
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intendo hoped to change the gaming landscape once again by releasing the all-new Wii U on Nov. 18. With many stores either sold out or in limited quantities, the supply may have a difficult time meeting the demand just in time for the holidays. Nintendo fans that had an opportunity to get the system have been impressed. “The ease of use [has been most impressive],” Wii U owner Max Hanson said. “The kids have actually been able to play it. The graphics are really good, compared to the previous Nintendo system. They are in HD. The mobility of the tablet, being able to play in a different room is huge. My kids want to play Mario, [so] I can let them play Mario and I can watch something else.”
Perhaps the newest feature on the Wii U is the touchscreen controller, called the GamePad controller, which many have compared to a tablet. The GamePad controller adds a dimension to the game in which gamers can view different menus and functions on the gamepad. Some games even allow you to play the entire game on the gamepad while someone else can watch TV. Some of the functions the GamePad controller include: providing a screen to look for a fair ball while playing baseball, holding the golf ball on the tee while you use the Wii remote to hit the ball and providing crosshairs while the television is in full view of what your shooting. Some games, such as Zombie U, use the touchscreen controller to open different menus like the avatar’s bag of supplies in the game. “[I like] the way they inte-
grated the tablet into some of the games,” Hanson said. “Using Zombie U as an example, you use the tablet as a night vision, looking into your backpack if you need to move items around, radar [and] your mini-map. Just the way the tablet is integrated is amazing,” Along with Zombie U, the Wii U launched with titles such as New Super Mario Bros. U, Madden NFL 13, Disney’s Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two and Nintendo Land. There are also 23 other confirmed games that launched with the Wii U that came out previously on other systems, including Assassin’s Creed III, Batman: Arkham City (Armored Edition), Darksiders II and Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Some games set to come out in the “launch window” of the Wii U’s release date and March 2013 are 007 Legends, Pikmin 3, Rayman Legends and Wii Fit U.
“I am interested to see how they adapt those to the tablet and the Wii U,” Hanson said. “They just came out with [Call of Duty] Black Ops II as part of the original launch titles, as well. I haven’t had a chance to play that yet, but I think it will bring a lot more attention to the system, for sure. Mass Effect 3 is on the Wii U as well.” The excitement of having more than just a few games stems from Nintendo’s usual lack of having third party games. Thirdparty games refer to games that are not produced by one of the three major console producers. For example, Microsoft’s Halo, Nintendo’s Mario and Sony’s God of War are first-party games because they are exclusive to their respective companies. Whereas games like Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed, Activision’s Call of Duty and EA Sports’ games are third-
party games because an outside party makes them for release on multiple consoles. With Nintendo’s previous consoles such as the Wii and the Nintendo 64, their controllers and sometimes graphics engines were too different from their contemporaries, Microsoft and Sony. Though the Wii U has the hype and excitement of the new console and the games to go right alongside it, it is going to be hard for gamers to get a hold of, especially in the holiday season. “Nintendo’s Wii U sold 400,000 units during its first week of sales, and Nintendo’s president has said the console is ‘virtually sold out’ at retailers,” Chelsea Stark of Mashable reported on the website. “For context, the Wii sold 475,000 units during its first eight days in the U.S. marketplace in 2006.”
themed masks, each conferring different bonuses such as increased punching power or speed. The sheer violence of Hotline Miami cannot be understated; with each punch, swing of a knife, or pull of the trigger, a spray of pixelated blood will gush from your intended victim. Attacks are lethal and the vast majority of your blows will kill in one hit, but the attacks of enemies are just as lethal to the player. This combination of fast paced movement and brutal combat creates a tactical environment. Players must be cautious but confident with their actions, carefully planning each movement then following through without hesitation. Mistakes are punished with unflinching bru-
tality; the mobsters can move and attack just as swiftly as the player and a mistimed swing or poorly chosen move will end with a “game over” screen. Dying is little more than a slap on the wrist. After restarting, players are sent back to the last checkpoint in a split second, free to throw them back into battle almost immediately. At the end of each level, players are “graded,” based on how they played, rated on such metrics as speed, variety, and boldness. Backing up the gameplay is a unique visual style that makes the game feel like a bad drug trip. Behind the pools of pixelated blood and battered bodies, the world is a pulsing wall of color, oscillating back and forth wildly. Cementing the atmosphere is the old school soundtrack. Driv-
ing rhythms and thumping bass pound away as the player tears through enemies and when the last foe falls, the aggressive music fades into an eerie soundscape as the player backtracks through the carnage to leave the level. On the surface, Hotline Miami is a well-crafted and competent game that would easily be worth the $9.99 price tag on Steam. However, there is one last element of any good game that propels Hotline Miami to being a great game. The story weaves a theme of distrust, mystery and darkness through the game. In occasional cut-scenes, the protagonist is confronted in an unreal dream world by three figures wearing animal masks who question the actions of the player. The protagonist’s grip on the
world becomes increasingly unhinged as the killing continues, seeing corpses in odd places and letting his home become a mess of dirty dishes and garbage. Phone calls direct the player to larger and larger targets, while the threads of a conspiracy involving the mysterious callers materialize around the player. Hotline Miami goes beyond simply being a satisfyingly difficult and violent game. It makes players question their actions in the world as well as questioning the reality around the protagonist. Many may be unsettled by the level of extreme violence, but anyone looking for a great game at a good bargain would be well served by picking up Hotline Miami, then picking up the phone and listening carefully.
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Hotline Miami: satisfyingly difficult, violent game
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We are giving away $10 iTunes gift cards. Finish the three puzzles with the correct answers and turn it in at FAC room 103.
pReston thomas RepoRteR
otline Miami is an ultra violent top-down action game developed by the two-man team of Dennaton Games. In the game, players control an unnamed man who begins receiving mysterious phone calls in coded language instructing him to go out and kill Russian mobsters while wearing a mask. Backed by a soundtrack and visuals inspired by the 1980’s, these unexplained missions are the center of the brutal and fast paced gameplay. Using a wide variety of melee and ranged weapons, the player progresses through each level, leaving a trail of death and destruction. At the beginning of each mission, the player chooses one of a wide variety of animal-
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Proper Style builds rap, hip hop scene in Amarillo Brooke Self Copy editor
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f they were asked if they expected their music careers to take off in the way that it has in the past few months, the guys at Proper Style Records probably still would have been as confident in their talent as they are today. They are creating a buzz about their record label and artist roster not only in Amarillo, but also in even bigger cities, such as Dallas. They are bringing well-known hip-hop artists to Amarillo to perform and their budding music careers have now started to take off. For a group of guys who came together by coincidence, the guys that make up Proper Style Records have worked together to create something that is new to the city of Amarillo and are getting air play on mainstream radio stations. Their music videos are consistently getting views on YouTube, with one of their videos reaching more than 32,000 views. “It all started when I met my CEO and he introduced me to my co-member, Rilla Boy,” Chris Garcia, known by his stage name CG the Prodigy, said. “He got us together and it kind of just started as an idea and it grew. Now it’s in full effect.” Garcia has been putting videos on YouTube for a couple of years now and his most recent music video, “Wala,” which was uploaded only a month ago, is close to reaching 10,000 views. “The best part about this is seeing how it’s growing and we’re leaving an impact,” Garcia said. “Every time we do an event, we are leaving an impact and people are starting to realize that this is actually something real.” Proper Style Records most recently brought well-known fast rapper, Twista, to Amarillo to perform at Wild Card in downtown Amarillo. When they opened for Twista, the guys of Proper Style were humbled by all the support they got from the crowd. Chris “RillaBoi” Flores, who assists in making beats and also produces the music,
said they are living their dream. “We all love to do this music stuff,” Flores said. “We’re doing what we want to do and hopefully we can make it a living.” Getting everything up and running was the most difficult part about making Proper Style what it is now, but the journey has been exciting. “We all had a good little plan of what we wanted to do and just to get it in motion was kind of hectic at first, but now that we got everybody into it and on the same page, everything’s been poppin’ off,” Flores said. Another member of Proper Style Records, Lukas “L-Sweet” Dominguez, has also been making music videos for several years. The most recent music video that he did alongside his fellow member, Faruk, called “69 Camaro” is now being played on radio stations in the area. The video has hit 32,126 YouTube views as of Dec. 1. “It definitely is a blessing and I see us doing bigger [and] better things,” L-Sweet said. “Once [the video] gets enough views, we’re hoping to maybe get some endorsements and advertising.” L-Sweet said he met the other members of Proper Style Records through his friend and fellow rapper, Faruk Jiwa. “Faruk kind of knew these guys and he said that they heard our album and they liked it, so he brought me around and I promoted a show and they got in the show that I was actually putting together,” L-Sweet said. “They were a good group of guys and we all vibed well together, so I slowly got in contact with them more and more and here we are today.” L-Sweet and Faruk have collaborated on an album called The Lyricist Lounge, which includes their hit, “69 Camaro.” The album will drop on Dec. 18. To watch their music videos and see what Proper Style is all about, people can go to www.youtube.com/properstyle806. People can also get more information about future shows by visiting any of the artist’s Facebook pages or www.facebook.com/ realproper.
December 4, 2012 | theprairienews.com
opinion 11
December 4, 2012 | theprairienews.com
The Prairie editor bids adieu to WTAMU
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t was a long and frustrating biggest names in my industry, journey, but completely attained extremely valuable worth it. I came into WTAMU work experience and even got to as a transfer student in 2010. I hang out at Twitter headquarters. graduated high school in 2007, I’m not saying this to brag, but spent a semester at the University I am saying it because these of Texas at Arlington, dropped out opportunities are available, not to help my family financially for just for students in big schools, two years and returned to school but also for those here in Canyon, to finish my degree. America. To say I was worried was an I never thought good things understatement. Of course, I could happen to me. I thought that was excited to return to school, the “big breaks” only happened to but I was afraid of how my long the privileged, or the rich. If I have absence from academia affected learned anything at WT - trust me. What if I forgot everything me, I have - it’s that hard work I learned? What if I didn’t like will take you places. It sounds so being a Mass Communication cliché, but if you are passionate major? What if I wasn’t cut out about what you do, that passion to be a journalist? Why am I in will translate to an incredible the panhandle of all places? work ethic, which will then lead With the help of some great you to those “big breaks.” professors and colleagues, I was I wouldn’t say college is the able to come into my own as a best time of my life. I would professional. I recently had the consider it a blessing for me chance to go to San Francisco because not everyone has the as a part of the Online News privilege to attend and at one Association Student Newsroom. point in my life, I thought I would I rubbed shoulders with the never finish. I can personally say
that college has helped shaped me professionally and personally. Fellow WT students, I hope you consider yourselves blessed as well. I have spent two years working for The Prairie as a reporter, copy editor and assistant editor, and one semester as the EIC. I used to joke with our adviser, Dr. Butler Cain, that he only trusted me with the paper for one semester. In my time at The Prairie, I have seen it grow from a struggling publication trying to re-capture its former glory to a publication that has great content and a large pool of talented journalists. The final product has made all of those moments of frustration and threats of flipping tables worth it. I won’t say that it’s because of me because it has really taken the work of past and current staffers to make The Prairie what it is today. I want to say thank you to everyone (past and present) at The Prairie and at the Wesley
Foundation, the campus ministry in which I’ve been heavily involved in since day one of my WT journey. You all have been instrumental in shaping me as a person and words cannot express how grateful I am for you all being in my life. I also want to say a special thank you to Dr. Butler Cain (or Uncle Butler), for being a valuable mentor of mine. Thanks for listening to me whine about editor problems, life problems and everything in between. Of course, I would like to thank the family as well. Thanks for being my long-distance cheerleaders. I will return to civilization (Dallas) for a short time before I move to Washington, D.C. for an internship with National Public Radio (NPR). Finally, I would like to give all the glory to God - yes, I said it - for everything up to this point and everything in my future. Effective immediately, Ashley Hendrick will be taking over as the new Editor-in-Chief of The
Prairie. I have no doubt The Prairie will be taken to new heights and Ashley will curbstomp any accomplishments I have contributed to the paper. Stay classy, WT!
Sincerely, Krystina Martinez Former Editor-in-Chief The Prairie
QuesTion of The Week
“Do you think we’ll see more of Korean pop because of PSY?” “I’ve found myself listening to more Korean pop other than PSY. Maybe PSY opened a door for Kpop here in the US.” -Valeria Rodriguez 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.
CoRReCtion: The sports column for the Nov. 27 issue was incorrect. The date that the MVP was announced was on Nov. 15, not Oct. 15. The Prairie regrets the error.
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PHOTOS
December 4, 2012 | theprairienews.com
This Week in Photos: Carol of the Lights Alex MontoyA Photo editor
The WT band and chorale took part in Carol of the Lights on Nov. 26.
Christmas lights are always part of WT’s holiday decor.
Interim Provost Dr. Wade Shaffer ended the festivities by turning on all of the campus lights.
Christmas lights illuminate campus.
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