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Violent video games under questioning from parents.
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February 5, 2013 • Vol. 95, No. 15
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Dr. David Rausch honored by NFF
BJ Brittain reporter
Dr. David Rausch, Teel Bivins Professor of Political Science at WTAMU, is to be honored as the faculty athletics representative of the school by the National Football Foundation. The honor is part of the 2012 NFF Faculty Salute Initiative, which is being used by the NFF to honor the substantial academic contributions of faculty athletics representatives all across the nation. Aaron Mullane, former offensive lineman and recent graduate of WT, has received the recognition as a 2012 NFF National Scholar-Athlete. There are 15 schools in the country with National Scholar-Athletes. The NFF will honor the faculty athletics representatives from each of these schools. Fidelity Investments has taken a large role in supporting the 2012 NFF Faculty Salute Initiative by sponsoring the program. Each of the faculty athletics representatives who are to be honored will receive a $5,000 donation from Fidelity Investments, which will be used to support the academic support services for student athletes. “I will probably end up asking for the money to be sent to the Academic Support Coordinator so that it can be used for tutoring, or if
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Buffs crush ASU Rams.
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oPinion
The government still can’t get along with itself.
PAGE 11 Photo CourtEsy of WtAMu CoMMuniCAtion And MArkEtinG dEPArtMEnt
they need to hire another study hall person. Just to get it involved with academics somehow,” Rausch said. This financial gift is not the only benefit that the school will receive from the 2012 NFF Faculty Salute Initiative. The reputation of WT will also get a boost from this honor. “Additionally, as with any recognition like this, the reputation of WT is enhanced,” Dr. J. Patrick O’Brien,
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president of WT, said. “Folks are reminded we have a superb athletic program at WT. Not only do we win on the field of play, but we strongly support the well-being of our student athletes and we pursue the highest level of academic integrity.” In addition to the growth of the school, the reputations of both the College of Education and Social Sciences and the Department of Politi-
cal Science and Criminal Justice will be improved. This honor also brings to light the importance of the role of the faculty athletic adviser.
rausch on PaGe 3
fEAturE
Will conceal carry be allowed on WT campus?
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NEWS
February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Hobby Lobby continues to fight for rights aBigail graCe Miller reporter
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obby Lobby Stores, Inc. is currently fighting a legal battle in opposition of the Health and Human Services mandate which forces all large employers to offer the morning after pill and week after pill, without copay, in their health insurance plan. If Hobby Lobby fails to comply with the HHS mandate, the company will face fines up to $1.3 million per day. The retail chain, a Christian-
owned-and-operated company, currently provides a health care plan to all employees that is compliant with the religious beliefs that the founder, David Green, built the company upon. “By being required to make a choice between sacrificing our faith or paying millions of dollars in fines, we essentially must choose which poison pill to swallow,” David Green, Hobby Lobby CEO and founder, said. “We simply cannot abandon our religious beliefs to comply with this mandate.”
According to a news release issued by The Becket Fund religious law firm, Hobby Lobby is the largest and only non-Catholic-owned business to file a lawsuit against the HHS mandate, which criticizes the Obama administration for forcing companies to comply with the regulation despite religious convictions. Hobby Lobby’s leap of faith, though, has sparked conversation among WTAMU students. “Through Obama Care, the government is taking away the
religious freedom of not only these companies but also of all Americans by forcing them to go against their religious beliefs,” sophomore Cale Bloskas said. “I think that Hobby Lobby has the right to stand up for what their company believes in and not provide a service to their employees that goes against their religious beliefs.” According to Peter M. Dobelbower, chief legal officer for Hobby Lobby Inc., the chain will continue to fight for their religious rights.
ment of State, Clinton was the first First Lady to be elected to the United States Senate, and the first woman elected statewide in New York in 2000. She was re-elected to the Senate in 2006, and in the following year, she began her campaign for the presidency. In 2008, after losing the fight for the Democratic nomination she campaigned for the election of President Obama and Vice President Biden and was nominated by President-elect Obama to be Secretary of State. According to the U.S. Department of State, the sixty-eighth Secretary of State, John Forbes Kerry, was sworn in on Feb. 1 after 28 years in the United States Senate and four years as Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Commit-
tee.
he was the Democratic nominee for President of the United States. “He has served in the military for our country and from that ex-
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he United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton completed her four-year term on
Feb. 1. WTAMU Junior History major Olivia Trabysh has admired Secretary Clinton for her compassion and leadership. “Her advocacy for public service is right on point with the type of transitional leadership America needs to reverse its current down turn in many sectors internationally,” Trabysh said. “The government’s responsibility is to take care of its people, not just regulate commerce.” According to the U.S. Depart-
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Editor-in-ChiEf Ashley Hendrick WEB Editor Daniela Fierro Ad MAnAGEr Zivorad Filipovic dESiGn Editor Kati Watson
CoPY EditorS Brooke Self SPortS Editor Matt Watkins Photo Editor Alex Montoya rEPortEr Tyler Anderson Brittany Castillo
WTAMU Junior Finance major Leif Knippers is hopeful of Secretary Kerry’s contribution. “Secretary of State Kerry has first-hand experience with foreign affairs through his father having lived in Norway and working at the embassy there,” Knippers said. “Kerry will offer experience to the Obama administration.” In earlier years, Kerry served in the United States Navy and returned from Vietnam with a Silver Star, a Bronze Star with Combat V, and three Purple Hearts. Two years before joining the Senate, Kerry was elected Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts in 1982, and in 2004,
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Hunter Fithen Alex Gonzalez John Lee Laci McGee Megan Moore Tori Nicholls Phoebe Sinclair Rebekah St. Clair Preston Thomas Keltin Wiens
Connor Woods Abigail Grace BJ Britain Tori Dinkfeld Reba Underwood Morgan Buie Jennifer Hendrick WEB ASSiStAntS Ernesto Arizpe Georgia Romig
Rausch from PaGE 1
“Number one, it brings recognition to our University, national recognition to our University,” Dr. Eddie Henderson, Dean of the College of Education and Social Sciences, said. “And I think, importantly, it brings recognition to the role of the faculty athletic representatives.” Every school in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) is required to have a faculty athletics representative on staff. The faculty athletics representatives are responsible for the academic welfare of the student athletes in their respective schools. Rausch has been the faculty athletics representative for WT for the past 10 years. His responsibilities include going to meetings for the NCAA, giving the WT coaches yearly exams and maintaining the academic welfare of evposure he will be able to provide ery student athlete at WT. opinions and guidance for the on“It is a great honor for Dr. Dave Rausch going conflicts we continue to face to be recognized by the National Footabroad,” Knippers said. ball Foundation as one of the top Faculty Athletic Representatives in intercolle-
“Hobby Lobby discovered a way to shift the plan year for its employee health insurance, thus postponing the effective date of the mandate for several months,” Dobelbower said. “Hobby Lobby does not provide coverage for abortion-inducing drugs in its healthcare plan. Hobby Lobby will continue to vigorously defend its religious liberty and oppose the mandate and any penalties.”
Hillary Clinton steps aside for Senator Kerry
Brittany Castillo reporter
February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
LAYoUt ASSiStAnt Katie Nichols PhotoGrAPhErS Thomas Koenig Cale Bolaskas GrAPhiC dESiGnEr Christopher Brockman AdViSEr Dr. Butler Cain
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.
giate athletics,” O’Brien said. “It is well deserved on Dr. Rausch’s part. He is a steadfast and tireless advocate for student athlete well-being at WT and for the maintenance of academic integrity.” Dr. Rausch believes that being the faculty athletics representative for WT has changed him as a professor and that this change was for the better. “I am much more understanding when a student has to miss for a school related event,” Rausch said. “And I don’t mean for just athletics. I mean for things like dance or band too.” “Those students, because of the complexity of their schedules, really do require a significant amount of advising, and good advising,” Henderson said. “Someone who is sensitive to the requirements of their athletics and those responsibilities and try to help them build schedules where they can be successful. The most important thing is that it brings recognition to the role and Dr. Rausch has filled that role in an outstanding manner.”
NEWS
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WT offers five week class Laci McGee RepoRteR
H
istory 1301 and 1302 courses are now being offered by continuing education at WTAMU. These courses are five weeks long each and are taught at an accelerated pace. The History 1301 course, however, was canceled due to lack of registered students for the course. If the History 1302 course has a minimum of five people registered for it, then it will begin on March 18 after spring break. Each of these courses costs $595 and are taught during the regular semester, but they are not geared toward students already enrolled and taking class at WT. Dr. Jean Stuntz, associate professor of History, is
teaching these courses. “[We are] trying to reach out to people not already enrolled as students,” Stuntz said. Lower level classes are most likely all that will be offered though the accelerated program with Continuing Education, at least as far as History courses go, according to Stuntz. In upper level courses, there is too much reading required for these accelerated courses. “I think these courses are fast, vigorous approaches to the topic and attract those students unsure if they’re prepared to enroll full-time for the next two to four years,” Shae Crawford, senior English major, said. Andrea Porter, director for Continuing Education, is hoping the Continuing Education program will grow to include
students from other campuses in the A&M system. These courses are taken on extension credit, which means the courses do not have to follow the WTAMU semester. “Continuing Education is about distance learning,” Porter said. Continuing Education is hoping to offer more accelerated courses like History 1301 and 1302. What courses should be offered is being researched by Associate Professor of the Department of Communication Dr. Kristina Drumheller. Continuing Education also offers Education on Demand, which are courses that are taken at a student’s own pace. “[Being] flexible on time makes a world of difference,” Porter said.
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NEWS
February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
NEWS
February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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Violence in video games: what’s too much?Summer camp job fair comes to WTAMU John Lee RepoRteR
Psychiatry (AACAP) video game exposure has had negative effects on children. ost in all the gun control de“Children and adolescents can bate that has seemingly bebecome overly involved and even come a snowball effect after obsessed with videogames,” the AAevery shooting is the government’s CAP stated on their website. “Spenddecision to request more studies ing large amounts of time playing done on the connection between these games can create problems video games and violence. Games and lead to poor social skills, time like Grand Theft Auto, Mortal Komaway from family, school-work, and bat, Resident Evil and Doom have all other hobbies, lower grades and been in question because of the vioreading less, exercising less, and lent nature of the games. Add popubecoming overweight [and] aggreslarity of games like Call of Duty: sive thoughts and behaviors.” Black Ops and Halo 4 among young But a report from The Entertainchildren and there is a concern that ment Software Association issued video games are linked to a violent a different statement on their webnature as children grow up. site. “Children imitate what they see,” “Numerous authorities, includChrystal Klem, mother of four, said. ing the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. “My boys get rowdy after playing Surgeon General, Federal Trade fighting games. They tend to want Commission and Federal Communito wrestle. I, however, do not believe cations Commission have examined that violence in a video game is to the scientific record and found that blame for a child acting out or for it does not establish any causal link behavioral problems.” between violent programming and Maxwell Hanson, a father of violent behavior,” the ESA said. “The two, said what he feels comfortable truth is, there is no scientific rewith his children playing depends search that validates a link between on the type of violence. Cartoonish computer and video games and violence, such as Halo, and objective violence, despite lots of overheated violence, such as Call of Duty, is difrhetoric from the industry’s detracferent from that of Grand Theft Auto tors. Instead, a host of respected reIV, which Hanson said is “senseless.” searchers has concluded that there “Personally, I think that is no link between media violence and violent crime.” Just as any other hot topic in United States culture, there are two sides to this debate. Schmitt believes the studies are called for not only because of recent shootings but an increase of other society trends. “Curiosity I suppose,” Schmitt said. “Maybe they notice the increase of obesity, sedentary lifestyle, cases of ADHD, hyperactivity. Not to mention all the school shootings.” Hanson believes that it is finding something to blame negative trends of society on. “When things like that [Newtown shooting] happen people want something on which to blame John Lee/The Prairie or want a cause because they want Call of Duty, Halo 4 and Resident Evil are popular among children and include violence. to be able to put fault or liability on
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[children playing violent video games] would depend on the type of violence,” Hanson said. “As far as I’m concerned, the Call of Duty’s, the first-person shooters, I have never seen them as being too violent, but things like Grand Theft Auto where you’re adding in more of the picking up random people in cars and killing them for no reason and mowing down people in a vehicle, that’s a little bit different than being put into the role of a first-person shooter where you’re part of a task force trying to perform an objective.” Brittney Schmitt, an avid gamer and certified medic, has an issue with children playing violent video games, but also believes that the parents should have more control over what they let their children play. “I have a problem when parents let their kids play violent video games. That kind of stuff desensitizes you,” Schmitt said. “For instance, when a medic wants to get desensitized to all the senseless carnage that happens out on the streets they get prepared by looking at various photos of mutilations and horrible stuff like that.” Studies have been disputed on the effect video games have on children. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
something other than themselves, ‘here is the reason why he did it.’ It’s not because he chose to do it or because he was messed up psychologically,” Hanson said. “People want to be able to put blame on something so there is a reason why it happened.” Both Hanson and Klem believe there is nothing else that the video game industry can do to fix its image when it comes to children and video games. “It is believed by so many people that it’s just how it is. People have to blame someone or something for how their child acts,” Klem said. “Video games are in the spotlight right now. When in fact it is really just the lack of good parenting; teaching your children morals and
values that go beyond what they rebekah St. clair watch, hear or play and see what a rePorter difference it makes.” he summer camp job fair is Among the policies passed in the being held Feb. 5, 2013, in past, and arguably the most sucthe JBK Legacy Hall near the cessful, is the establishment of the Entertainment Software Ratings food court. The job fair will be held Board or ESRB ratings. These are from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Twelve ratings placed on video games that summer camps from the Texas and not only tell a parent what age the New Mexico area will be in the fair. game is appropriate for but also The event is sponsored by Student what is in the game. For example: Career Services and REC Sports. All of the summer camp jobs Halo 4 is rated “M: for Mature” for are posted on the Career Services “Blood and Violence.” “I think the video game industry website. The camps are targeted has done a pretty good job,” Hanson toward children through middle said. “We [as parents] also have the school with a few that may ESRB ratings that are supposed to incorporate high school. Some of be used to inform parents of what the camps include CETA Canyon, the games are rated and what the Philmont Scout Camp, Girl Scouts games contain [within] themselves.” of Texas Oklahoma Plains, Hidden Falls, and 4H. “We post jobs for camps on
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the student employee base from Washington state to Maine,” Barb Zellers, assistant to the director of Career Services, said. The summer camp job fair gives students an opportunity to meet with the employers of the camps. Some students have found the event to be helpful with connections and job searching. “I think the job fair is a very great thing,” Krystal Robles, junior Psychology major, said. “The job fair will give students exposure to the community and help build positive relations between the students and the workers in Canyon. It is also benefiting the students by providing job opportunities that would have been more difficult otherwise.” Summer jobs are an asset to students who would like to be able
Students adjust to new class schedule Phoebe Sinclair rePorter
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Chris BroCkman/The Prairie
he spring of 2013 marks the beginning of WTAMU’s new class schedule, which includes shortened classes on Monday and Wednesday and adds class time on Fridays. “Before this semester I had not had classes on Fridays, but now since the new schedule started up I have multiple classes during that day,” junior Business Education Major Chance Autry said. “I used to be able to go home on the weekends or use that free time to study.” According to junior Sociology major Danny Taylor, WT’s reason behind the schedule is due, in part, to funding issues. “The school was looking for new ways to receive funding,” Taylor said. “By having the classrooms full more days of the week they could show that we need more classroom space. Students being able to get their classes in before lunchtime would be able to take more classes.
More funding means a more variety of classes that students are able to take. That is one thing that frustrates me the most, when classes fill up too quickly and you aren’t able to take the class you need to take. ” Advantages and disadvantages of the new schedule have students taking both sides of the issue. “I prefer having Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes because I like being able to spend the afternoon studying and working,” freshman Music Composition major Misael Tambuwun said. “Also, I enjoy getting a little extra time in class to meet with my teachers.” For freshman English major Yvette Lujano, the new class schedule conflicts with her work schedule. “One of the big downsides of Friday classes is how it conflicts with work schedules,” Lujano said. “I didn’t have to worry about working and taking classes until this semester. Now I have to plan it around when my classes will be.”
to work with children and make a little money during the summer break. “I think summer jobs for a little extra cash is great,” Christopher Tocci, senior Music Business major, said. “The job fair will give students the chance to find one.” One of the best ways to be prepared for the job fair is to bring questions for the employers, according to Zellers. Informational interviewing is on the Career Services website at www.wtamu. edu/career. Students can go to the website to get help with finding the right questions to ask potential employers at the job fair. Appropriate dress is also important to make a good first impression.
“Dress nicely to be taken seriously, and bring a resume,” Zellers said. If students have questions about making a resume, Career Services has two or three small group workshops every week for an hour. Students can even post their resumes onto the WTAMU Career Services database. “I have used the student career services to help me produce a well written resume, and it was very helpful,” Robles said. Another job fair will be held on Feb. 28, 2013, for students who might not otherwise be able to make it to the summer camp job fair. “Career Services advises students to come because it is a
good way to find a job within a person’s major and is targeted especially towards the students who are graduating in the spring semester,” Zellers said.
For more information about careers go to www.wtamu.edu/ career or Career Services in Student Success Center, Suite 113.
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SportS
February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
SPORTS
February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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Ravens win Super Bowl WTAMU Buffs beat Lady Buffs triumph against Angelo State Angelo State Rams A W T Keltin Wiens KWts sports Director
ell that would have been cool, wouldn’t it? Early in the third quarter in Super Bowl XLVII, the San Francisco 49ers were down 28-6 to the Baltimore Ravens. Then, out of nowhere and on the biggest stage in American sports, the lights in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome went dark. After a 34 minute delay, the 49ers came roaring back to score the next 17 points and got as close as 3129 with 9:57 left in the game. San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick failed to connect on the two-point conversion and the Ravens went on to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history, 34-31. The 49ers were within inches at times of having a shot to complete the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history at 22 points. Let me say this: congratulations to the Ravens on a great victory over one of the NFL’s proudest franchises. If you missed the game, it was a doozy. A hard-fought win
for the gritty, grind it out Ravens over the 49ers and their read option offense run by Kaepernick is not a small achievement and to do it in the Super Bowl? Well, that’s a tough task. My hat goes off to my colleague at The Prairie, Tyler Anderson, and his correct pick of the Ravens. Well done, my friend. But, picks and scores and odds don’t matter anymore. What matters is that the 47th version of the game that was started between the American and National Football Leagues is now history and all the storylines going into the game are also written into the history books. Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco, the former Delaware Blue Hen, is a Super Bowl MVP and has proven himself among the game’s best. John Harbaugh, the head coach of the Ravens, proved that older brother does know best in beating his younger brother, Jim, the head coach of the 49ers. Kaepernick’s long-legged, physical running style is taking the NFL by storm almost completed the largest comeback in Super Bowl history. And finally,
there is Ray Lewis. Lewis, the inspirational linebacker for the Ravens, announced in December that after 17 seasons as one of the most feared linebackers in the league, he was going to hang up his cleats. The team’s emotional leader got his team to rally around him one more time and Baltimore had improbable road wins against Denver and New England. With his second Super Bowl ring, Lewis cements his Hall of Fame status. His retirement signals that we won’t have to hear him babble for another five years when he has a bust in Canton, Ohio. Finally, after all the hype, all the microscopic inspection of the two teams in the Super Bowl, the commercials and a super-charged halftime show by Beyoncé, it is time for the offseason. That’s the cruel reality of the Super Bowl: after all the excitement, we wake up on Monday and realize we have to wait until July to see football again. But, if all the Super Bowls were as good as this one, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
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he WTAMU Buffalo basketball team hosted the Angelo State Rams on Feb. 2 in Canyon. The Buffs took advantage of strong shooting and a number of Rams fouls to get an 8267 win, marking the first time WT has won consecutive games since Dec. 29 through Jan. 3. ASU began the game with a 3-7 lead over the Buffs, but a 12-4 WT run gave the Buffs a 15-12 lead early in the first half. WT took advantage of several Rams fouls to go on a 14-2 run while on top 1918 in the latter part of the first 20 minutes. The Buffs would take a 38-28 lead into the break. “Last time we played them we got the inside pretty easy and we tried to follow the same game plan,” said senior Donald Sims. Sims and redshirt senior Mason White led WT with 10 points each at the half. The Buffs shot an impressive 14 of 20 for 70 percent from the floor, three of five for 60 percent from three-
point range and seven of ten for 70 percent from the line. Both teams went back-andforth during the second half. WT and ASU nearly traded bucket for bucket and point for point the entire half. The Buffs shot 64 percent from the field, 50 percent from downtown and 93 percent from the stripe to earn the victory. WT had five players reach double-digit scoring, led by Sims, who finished the night with 21 points and 11 rebounds. White and senior Darnell Jackson each scored 16 points for the Buffs, and senior Kennon Washington and sophomore Tez Dumars each tallied 10 points. WT shot 28 of 42 for 67 percent from the field, six of 11 from beyond the arch and 20 of 24 for 83 percent from the free throw line on the night. The Buffs are now 14-6 overall and 6-6 in the Lone Star Conference. WT reached the .500 mark in conference play for the first time since Dec. 8 with the win. The Buffs will next play Midwestern State in Canyon on Feb. 6 with tip set for 8 p.m.
venging an early season heartbreaker to the Rambelles earlier in the 20122013 campaign, the Lady Buffs evened its season series with ASU with a 54-48 victory this past Saturday. Despite the slow start by both squads, the Lady Buffs were able to cruise early on before having to hold off Angelo State in the final minutes. Sophomore forward Chontiquah White led the Lady Buffs with 16 points while fellow sophomore Jordan Vessels hauled in 10 points
to aid in the winning cause. With these efforts and a strong first half, the Lady Buffs used a 14-7 run and a strong defensive stand to keep the Rambelles to a 13 point first half. However, led by Jennifer Lapp’s 15 points and Haylee Oliver’s 10 points, Angelo State used a 30-20 comeback to put the Rambelles within three with over four minutes left to go in the contest. It was then that Lady Buff junior guard Raven Gerald sank a huge three pointer to avoid a potential tie ballgame. This prompted the desperate Rambelles to foul and rely on WT missing charity points from the stripe. To put the game
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Sophomore Chontiquah White drives the lane against ASU. Cale Bloskas/The Prairie
Junior Raven Gerald attempts a free throw. Cale Bloskas/The Prairie
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away, the Lady Buffs made seven free throws to keep the game out of Angelo State’s reach. With the victory, the Lady Buffs regain their recent winning ways with an 8-5 Lone Star Conference record and improve to 12-10 on the year. The Rambelles stumble to an 8-11 overall tally and drop to 5-8 in Lone Star competition. Continuing with the second leg of their two-game home stretch, the Lady Buffs return to the First United Bank Center for a Pink Out game on Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. as they host the Mustangs of Midwestern State.
Junior Devin Griffin pulls up for a jump shot. Cale Bloskas/The Prairie
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ENTERTAINMENT
GAMES
February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Papa Roach and Stone Sour rock the Aztec Brooke Self reporter
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he air was crisp as the masses of rockers piled into the Aztec Music Hall last Friday. People restlessly buzzed about awaiting the arrival of the bands on stage, at which point the entire building would be filled with the sounds of the evening: a collection of chart-topping rock songs that would be sure to make the night unforgettable. As people were standing in lines for drinks, with excitement building as they conversed with their fellow rockers about the night to come, the stage lights went down and the crowd piled toward the stage. The night had begun. The drums and guitars began blaring, filling the large metal building with the sounds of rock. Front man for Papa Roach, Jacoby Shaddix, burst onto the stage and began performing the band’s most recent single, Still Swinging. After the first song, Shaddix commented on how great it was to be back in Amarillo, after not being
able to perform here for a while, and thanked the crowd for always being supportive. Papa Roach has frequently put on shows in the Texas panhandle and has rocked out in Amarillo many times. After his short speech, Shaddix and the rest of the members of Papa Roach continued the show, performing many of their popular, chart-topping singles and also some of their lesser-known songs. As they performed, the room was filled with energy that would not let up until the band left the stage, and would build up again when the next band began rocking. Shaddix, known by Papa Roach concert goers as one of the best showmen in today’s rock concert scene, has continually said how awesome it is when he comes to Amarillo and Friday night was no different. “I just want to thank all of you for coming out tonight and to those of you who have been here since the beginning,” Shaddix yelled at the wailing audience before the last song they would perform that night. “You guys are amazing.” The crowd screamed back in approval as the band performed its infamous first hit, Last Resort. Before he left the stage, Shaddix was sure to have the crowd show love to the other members of the band by introducing each one before thanking the crowd one last time. When they left the stage, the big ball of humans who had been bunched together from shoulder to shoulder for about an hour immediately fell apart as people dashed either to one of the portable potties located at the back of the building, or to go grab a drink before the next band came on stage. Many people who were determined to keep the spot near the stage that
they had so desperately fought for at the beginning of the show, stayed where they were and some sat down on the ground to rest during the break between bands. Suddenly, just as it had happened the first time, lights went down and people swarmed to the stage. This time it was Stone Sour who would take the stage. As people whooped and hollered with excitement, ready to continue their evening of rocking out, the music began and Corey Taylor, front man for Stone Sour, began singing the lyrics to their 2010 hit, Say You’ll Haunt Me. After performing a few more of their heavier songs, the guys from Stone Sour slowed it down a bit with their very first hit single,
Bother, and audience members waved their cell phones and lighters back and forth as the slow melody pulsed through the air, giving the crowd a chance to rest somewhat before they began again with the more upbeat songs. At one point during their set Taylor had the crowd sing the lyrics to Through the Glass, after which he seemed to be quite pleased. “Wow,” Taylor said with a look of amazement. “You guys are [explicit] awesome.” As they continued their set, the crowd continued showing support with high levels of enthusiasm right down to the last bars of the last song, and even a little bit after that. Taylor and the rest of the members of Stone Sour were called back
on stage by an audience chanting, “Stone Sour, Stone Sour, Stone Sour!” They performed one more song before officially ending the show, pleasing all of the rockers who came out to support them, and who, in turn, received a night of memorable live performances by both bands. Even after the show was over and there were no signs of it going on any longer, fans stuck around trying to catch a glimpse of a band member or find a keepsake from the bands until the point where security began making people leave the building. It was a sure sign that the evening had been a success for both the bands and the fans.
Turtle Rock Studios, creators of Left 4 Dead, have been acquired by Take-Two Interactive. The rights to Homefront were sold to Crytek. According to the email, some of the company’s other assets will remain part of the bankruptcy case. Darsiders developer, Vigil, was shut down, but the 35 developers found a new home as Crytek’s new American division, allowing them to remain in Austin, Texas. The fate of other employees of the various divisions of THQ is less certain. Those who were working with the auctioned properties may or may not retain their position through the transition to new owners while the majority of those remaining will be laid off, leaving a skeleton crew to facilitate the shifts of ownership. Students at WTAMU have expressed their concerns toward the demise of THQ and the uncertain future of the game franchises affected by the bankruptcy case. “It kind of worries me, how they might change,” Sports and Exercise
Science major Tyler Potts said. A large number of titles and series will be up in the air, not limited to those included in the auction. THQ held license agreements with several groups including Nickelodeon, Disney, Pixar, and WWE. “It’s kind of sad, though it puts it in perspective,” Stephen Enriquez, freshman Computer Science major, said. “Those companies aren’t invincible.” In their email, CEO Brian Farrell and President Jason Rubin bid farewell to all their former employees. “The work that you all have done as part of the THQ family is imaginative, creative, artistic and highly valued by our loyal gamers. We are proud of what we have accomplished despite today’s outcome… Thank you all for your dedication and for sharing your talent with the THQ team. We wish you the best of luck and hope you will keep in touch.”
THQ closes its doors due to financial struggles preSton thomaS reporter
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ollowing a long series of financial struggles, which culminated in bankruptcy, videogame publisher THQ has closed its doors. The publisher’s various properties and development studios were auctioned off after a judge denied THQ’s original plan to offer the company as a whole. In an official email given to Kotaku by a former employee, the company detailed the results of the auction and the futures of the former THQ employees. The results of the auction were: Relic, developer of Company of Heroes and the Dawn of War series, was sold to Sega. THQ’s Montreal studio, which included the team working on South Park: The Stick of Truth, was sold to Ubisoft. Saints Row developers Volition and the Metro franchise have been sold to Koch Media, the parent company of Deep Silver, who most recently published Dead Island.
Can YOU finish first? We are giving away $10 iTunes gift cards. Finish the three puzzles with the correct answers and turn it in at FAC room 103.
Last Week’s ansWers
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February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
WT students discuss concealed carry U.S. Government still can’t get it together I T Megan Moore reporter
he idea of concealed carry on a university campus is not a new one, but it has instigated an actively new organization on the WTAMU campus called Buffs for Concealed Carry. Travis Brown, sophomore Plant and Soil Science major, has founded the organization on campus and has been working with campus officials and the police department on the issue. “We’ve discussed a lot of the issues and concerns everyone has for it,” Brown said. “The biggest thing is that we all need to work together. We all want safety on campus. We are very concerned with working with the police and the campus so
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that no one feels threatened with concealed carry on campus.” A bill has been filed with the Texas legislature to allow concealed gun carry on all campuses. If the legislation passes, campuses will be required to allow concealed carriers to have their firearms with them. If the legislation doesn’t pass, then each university will be able to make their own call on whether to allow it or not. WT students will be able to vote on the issues and express their concerns or support. “If the legislation goes through then we won’t have to work with anybody,” Brown said. “The other route is to work with your campus. It goes through student government, the board of regency, and the faculty government.”
Students across campus have differing opinions on the issues, but all will play a key role in getting it executed on campus. “My greatest concern with the ability to carry a concealed weapon on campus is whether or not students or faculty would undergo extensive and recurring psychological testing before WTAMU would allow such,” Shae Crawford, senior English major, said. “The most frightening aspect is the unknown. Since we live and go to school in the panhandle of Texas, in a fairly conservative region of the country, ownership of guns is common.” There are many issues that the university and campus police department will have to address and implement safety procedures on
campus. “The gun threat is very real. Several shootings have occurred in the last year, and so it’s reasonable to imagine implementing such laws to allow for concealed carry on campus,” Crawford said. “But, that doesn’t mean it isn’t frightening to imagine walking through the JBK (Jack B. Kelly Student Center) amongst a crowd of people you don’t know who could or could not have a gun packed and strapped to them, and whether or not their mental health is pristine enough to carry such a weapon amongst a sea of strangers.” To obtain a license, there is a class and application that must be completed beforehand. The application fee is $140. The fee is non-
refundable and is not in addition to what will need to be paid for the class. “Go online and apply with the Texas Department of Public safety,” Cody Wilhelm, lead instructor at Modus Operandi, LLC, said. “You can do that before or after you take a class. A lot of people will wait and do the class first because they like the direction that we give them filling out the application. The DPS requires a class that is a minimum of ten hours. You have to meet the minimum proficiency on both the written test and shooting test.” The class focuses on four fundamental topics that are required by the law. If you meet all of the requirements a license will be mailed to you in roughly 60 days.
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t’s finally happening. The Obama administration and the Senate are finally getting along and over a long-standing controversial issue, no less. President Obama announced last week his plans for immigration reform and the Senate actually agreed with him, for the most part. The plan includes a proposal for a more straightforward path to legalize the 11 million undocumented immigrants already in the U.S. Sounds great, but the Senate wants a little more. According to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fl.), no illegal immigrant already living in the U.S. should become a fulltime citizen until more border
security is implemented. He said illegal immigrants in the U.S. would be granted “probationary legal status,” but would not receive a green card until the border is secure. Of course, the Obama administration disagreed, arguing these actions would cause a state of legal limbo for the 11 million. The pathway to citizenship must be more straightforward and faster. It is quite tenacious for the Obama administration to finally come up with such a reform the likes of which haven’t been seen since the immigration reform of 1986. It is also very impressive to get the Senate to sign on to such a reform. Alas though, what comes
up must come down and as expectations get higher and higher for the reform, it will all come crashing down if the administration and the Senate do not find a suitable solution to their differences in the plan, no matter how miniscule they are. We thought this was a sign that members of the U.S. government were actually playing well together and that the rest of the Obama term was going to be rainbows and unicorns, as far as immigration was concerned. It should not come as a surprise that this is not the case. The case is this: immigration is a solution-less controversial issue that will continue to be such until someone in the administration or
the Senate gathers up the courage to swallow their pride and start negotiations. Yes, they both agree on the reform plan, in a general sense, but when it comes down to the nitty-gritty details, it all falls apart like always. It is a good start though. That much can be said. It shows Obama has some guts to take the challenge of immigration on at the start of his second term rather than putting it on the back burner for the next president to handle. The ball for immigration reform has started rolling. Now the only thing to figure out is how to get both teams to get along without beating each other up. Otherwise, they will delay this
reform even longer, getting nothing done, again.
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QuesTion of The Week “Should West Texas A&M University allow students and teachers to carry concealed hand guns on campus and in classes?” 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.
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February 5, 2013 | theprairienews.com
This Week in Photos: Echo and rush week Alex MontoyA & thoMAs Koenig Photo editor & PhotogrAPher
Kappa Alpha recruiting new members during rush week.
Jacob Powell (Senior), Jake Wyers (Junior), Leif Kurtis (Senior), Fred Williams (Senior), and Kevin Johns (Sopohmore) recruiting students for the spring rush week.
Nelly’s Echo performing live in the Legacy Hall.
Artist Nelly’s Echo getting into his music while playing in the Legacy Hall.
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Students gather in the JBK Legacy Hall to hear Nelly’s Echo perform live on Jan. 29
Omega Delta Phi displaying their letters in the JBK during rush week.