the Tuesday, April 3, 2012 Sunny 66°F | 39°F
Prairie THE STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF WEST TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY
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Student publications won 23 awards and a scholarship at last weekend’s Texas Intercollegiate Press Association convention in Corpus Christi. T�� P������ On-Site - Spanish News Writing: First Place-Maria Molina On-Site - Editorial Writing: Honorable Mention-Lisa Hellier Newspaper Division 3- Feature Story: Second Place-Ashley Hendrick Newspaper Division 3- General Column: Second Place-Maria Molina Newspaper Division 3- Photo Illustration: Honorable Mention-Maria Molina Online - Best Recurring Podcast: Third Place-Krystina Martinez, Maria Molina, Ashley Hendrick Online - Best Use of Mapping: Third Place-Georgia Romig Online - Best Interactivity: Second Place-Georgia Romig Online - Best Use of Data: Third Place-Krystina Martinez Online - Best Multimedia Package: Honorable Mention-Krystina Martinez Spanish Writing: Honorable Mention-Maria Molina Frank Buckley Scholarship: Maria Molina E������ F���� Yearbook Division 2 - Title Page: Third Place-Taylor Meyer, Jessica Shogren Yearbook Division 2 - Overall Excellence: Honorable Mention Yearbook Division 2 - Cover Design: Honorable Mention-Taylor Meyer Yearbook Division 2 - Sports Feature Photo: Third Place-Kylie Berry Yearbook Division 2 - Sports Package: Honorable Mention-Taylor Meyer, Jessica Shogren Yearbook Division 2 - Opening Spread: Honorable Mention-Taylor Meyer, Jessica Shogren Yearbook Division 2 - Organizations Package: Honorable Mention-Taylor Meyer, Jessica Shogren Yearbook Division 2 - Sports Action Photo: Second Place-Melissa BauerHerzog Yearbook Division 2 - Feature/Student Life Package: Honorable MentionTaylor Meyer, Jessica Shogren Yearbook Division 2 - Feature Photo: Honorable Mention-Kylie Berry Yearbook Division 2 - Academics Photo: Honorable Mention-Krystina Martinez Yearbook Division 2 - Academics Package: Third Place-Taylor Meyer, Jessica Shogren
INSIDE
Volume 94, Issue XXIII
JORDAN FRY STAFF WRITER
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he Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT) is partnering with Amarillo Area CASA to host the CASA Superhero 5K on April 14. The race will begin at the WTAMU Pedestrian Mall and will cover a 3.1 mile stretch of the entire campus, with a Kids 1K and Family Walk at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K starting at 9:00 a.m. The concept of the 5K originally began as a class assignment. Daniel Zewde, student athlete and Mass Communication major, explained that an assignment in a Public Relations and Publicity class he took was to develop a campaign for an organization. He said that as an athlete he looks for opportunities to get involved in the
community and CASA was a good �it. He then talked to Courtney Lee, director of Student-Athlete Services, about making his idea a reality. “I ran it by her and she really liked the idea,” Zewde said. Lee then contacted CASA about bringing the event to Canyon. CASA liked the idea as well and came to WT to discuss it further. “From CASA, the Executive Director, Barbara Richardson, and Funds Development Director/Race Coordinator, Valerie Fulkerson, came and spoke to our group about CASA and our student-athletes jumped right on board with everything,” Lee said. Fulkerson said CASA is thrilled with the partnership with SALT and that the partnership with WT was a “natural partnership.”
5K continued on p. 5
WT town hall budget meeting looks at the 2013-2014 year KRYSTINA MARTINEZ ASSISTANT EDITOR
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town hall budget meeting was held on March 27 to discuss updates for the 20132014 school year. “State appropriations have declined [14 percent] over the last couple of years,” WTAMU President Patrick O’Brien said in the meeting. Appropriations have dipped from $61 million in 2010 to $53 million for the 2012-2013 school year. In order to make up for the budget short-
falls, WT has proposed to increase designated tuition from $102.51 to $150, an increase of $10 per credit hour. Dr. O’Brien addressed in the meeting about whether the increase will cause WT to lose its competitive edge among other public universities. “Of the 37 public reporting universities, we’re 31st of 37,” he said. “Our tuition is relatively inexpensive than the other public universities in the state. We’re certainly below the median and we’re certainly below the average.”
Town Hall continued on p. 3
SPORTS:
NEWS:
FEATURE:
CAMPUS LIFE:
ONLINE:
Buffs split weekend series with Rams.
2010 report shows campus crimes on the rise.
Check out additional Readership WT pictures.
Priority registration starts on WT campus.
Check online for additional reporting throughout the week.
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FEATURE Prairie WTAMU Readership transitions from Honduras 2
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vital lifeline. They, too, were struggling to reconnect and �it the mold of their old lifestyles. Within the next days, ambassadors met repeatedly BRITTANY CASTILLO seeking comfort and STAFF WRITER compassion. Gatherings were always as dramatic as ten-year reunions, yet as comfortable as eturning to Texas casual conversation. from Honduras was much It was odd seeing harder than expected. The everyone so clean. readjustment made at the We now knew each Houston airport was minor other in exhaustion compared to visiting my and �ilth. Together family home in Amarillo on we survived a week March 8. absent of cosmetics Leaving Las Piscinas and masks, and meant abandoning a became a family. beautiful world for a more Each day in sel�ish one. The �irst night Canyon became back, I stayed in Canyon easier with the to process the transition. support of our travel There was comfort in advisers Kendra the isolation of my room, Campbell, director of because the silence First Year Experience welcomed my memories. and Dr. Wade Shaffer, I held my Honduras jacket provost. Without and fell asleep. their empathy, it The next morning in the would have been shower, I cranked the “C” more dif�icult to �ind knob higher remembering PHOTO COURTESY OF BRITTANY CASTILLO motivation for my the cold water in Honduras. Cows, chickens and mules roam the mountains of Honduras. schedule. When I returned to my
Part three of a three part series
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room, I turned on a Spanish speaking radio station and made black coffee. These Honduras imitations were familiar and helped con�irm my journey was real. Communicating with other ambassadors the �irst day back was much like using a
Staff 2011-2012
Editor- Maria Molina Assistant Editor- Krystina Martinez Web Editor - Georgia Romig Layout- Kati Watson Ad Manager- Sheri Gibbs Faculty Adviser- Butler Cain
Reporter- Ashley Hendrick Reporter- Melissa Bauer-Herzog Reporter- Ryan Schaap Reporter- Matt Watkins Reporter- Lisa Hellier Reporter- Brittany Castillo Reporter- Chyna Tinney
PHOTO COURTESY OF BRITTANY CASTILLO Honduran locals sort through tobacco leaves.
However, my priorities had shifted. My stressful days became absent of excessive anxiety and were replaced with friendship and laughter. The trip encouraged exploration of questioning who I was and who I could become. I kept Honduras with me to refrain from the materialistic lifestyle I had. I attempted to live simpler and shared my experiences explaining the beauty in poverty. Traveling abroad changed
Reporter- Jordan Fry Reporter- Daniela Fierro Reporter- Jessica Chandos Reporter- Jessica Bartel Reporter- Sarah Floyd Reporter- Jacob Cain Photographer- Alex Montoya
my life. One week in a foreign country showed more than a semester on campus. Leaving home tested my patience, questioned my values and built my character. As Charles Horton Cooley once said, “to get away from one’s working environment is ..to get away from one’s self; and this is often the chief advantage of travel and change.” So, what are you waiting for? Dare to explore and change your world. 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
The Prairie is a student-operated publication at West Texas A&M University. It functions to inform, educate, and entertain readers accurately and responsibly. It does not necessarily re�lect the opinions of the administration, faculty or students. The editorials that appear on these pages represent the opinion of the Prairie editorial board. The views expressed by other columinsts are the writers’ opinions and do not necessarily re�lect the board’s views. Advertising rates are available upon request at (806) 337- 2090 or at theprairiewt@gmail.com. WTAMU Box 60754, Canyon, Texas 79016. The Prairie is distributed on Tuesdays during the semester and has a circulation of 1,500. It is printed by The Amarillo Globe-News.
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NEWS Prairie 2010 U.S. report shows campus crimes on the rise 3
April 3, 2012
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ASHLEY HENDRICK STAFF WRITER
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ampus crimes are on the rise according to a 2010 report released by the U.S. Department of Education, the Secret Service and the FBI. The report, titled Campus Attacks: Targeted Violence Affecting Institutions of Higher Education, was released in response to the Virginia Tech incident that occurred in 2007 when VT student Seung-Hui Cho went on a campus shooting spree, killing 32 students and faculty. The incident not only sparked a federal investigation into crimes in higher education learning environments, but also sparked alarm in college students across the country,
including Nathan Nunez, former student of Amarillo College. “I think the Virginia Tech debacle is a good indicator of how fragile campus security is,” Nunez said via Facebook. “Campus police can hardly be expected to be in every hall, dorm and classroom.” Criminologist and Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Sociology Dr. Keith Price said, however, that even considering VT, there has not been a massive amount of crime upswings on college campuses nationwide. “There were several lives that were lost (at VT),” Price said. “Those are statistically insigni�icant looking at the whole crime picture. Scienti�ically, that’s a bleep that is .001 percent of violent crime
Town Hall continued students looking for a job.” from p. 1 Some students like
The increased tuition is estimated to provide WT with an extra $1.5 million in revenue. The University hopes to be able to implement several changes, such as hiring more full-time instructors, by the 2013-2014 school year (see graphic). Johnathan Davis, a freshman Animal Science major, has had teacher assistants in his IDS and Animal Science classes. “Maybe we could hire a few more full-time instructors but I like the TA’s,” said Davis. “I think that the TA’s or part-time instructors are good because most of them are
Stephen Bachmeier would like to see improved living conditions on campus. “[I’d like them to add] parking, or expand a dorm if they are going to add a new one,” said Bachmeier, a freshman Sports and Exercise Science major. “Or even increase the hours the Caf is open. Those seem the most bene�icial to everyone.” These will be several budget meetings that will be held in April. These will hammer out the �inal details. The full budget for the 2013-2014 school year will be approved by the TAMUS Board of Regents in August.
in the United States.” Though WT is no stranger to violent crimes on campus, property crimes have been more of an issue since last year as the number of reported stolen personal items such as backpacks, laptops, and iPads increased. “Traditionally our biggest issue has been property crimes and when we’re talking property crimes, we’re generally talking burglaries and theft,” Lieutenant Patrick Coggins, director of police operations at WT, said. The University Police Department has been trying to implement efforts for theft and burglary prevention on campus, especially for residence halls. “Lock it or Lose it is the most recent one we’re getting out there,” Coggins said. “Secure
your property…even if you just go down to take a shower or brush your teeth, take the time to secure your room because the statistics would indicate a lot of these crimes are opportunistic, when people �ind stuff unlocked.” Despite the overall increase in crimes on campuses nationwide, students at WT have not felt the effects of such an increase. “I haven’t really noticed too much,” Sophomore Engineering and Technology Major, Dustin Dickson, said. “I’ve heard of it here and there, but I feel like [the UPD] lets everyone know pretty well by email.” Though Price said that statistically, crime rates for college campuses have not had a massive increase, the possibility of another shooting
What would WT like to do in 2013-2014 Add an Of�ice of Service Learning. Adding an Of�ice of Service Learning is part of the University’s �ive-year plan.
Add an Of�ice of Diversity and Inclusion. “WT has become much more diverse geographically,” Dr. O’Brien said. “ The �irst year retention rate for Hispanic students is 15 percent points below that of white, non-Hispanic students. The retention rate for AfricanAmerican students is half that of white, non-Hispanic students. We need to provide a support system for those individuals to be successful.”
Add more full-time faculty. In the town hall meeting, Dr. O’Brien said that at least four programs had parttime faculty teaching up to 50 percent of studet credit hours. “And we wonder, ‘why do we have a retention problem?’” he said. “We need to add more full-time faculty.” Expand on the WT Alumni Association from a local group to a national association. With the expansion, “we won’t be dealing with 2,200 alums, but 35,000 alums,” Dr. O’Brien said. “We need to put additional resources there.”
on campus could still happen. “Look at our campus,” Price said. “Can anybody walk on this campus that wants to? Can they bring a duf�le bag with a machine gun when they come? Could that happen right here today? Of course it could.” Coggins assured students that despite the general increase in campus crime, WT is safely secure within the con�ines of a small community whose crimes rates are signi�icantly lower than larger towns. “Canyon, Texas is just safer in general,” Coggins said. “If you take the crime statistics of Canyon, Texas and compare them to even the closest big city, Amarillo, you’ll see that Canyon itself has a lower instance of violent crime.”
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SPORTS Prairie Pure Hypocrisy Buffs split weekend series with ASU
KELTIN WIENS
KWTS SPORTS DIRECTOR
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wrote only a few weeks ago about the excitement and the heartbreak of the NCAA Championship Tournament. Let’s be clear: I love March Madness, I don’t like the NCAA. The case of Jamar Samuels is the latest reason why. Samuels is a senior on the Kansas State Wildcats men’s basketball team. He was undoubtably one of the team’s core players. Just minutes before an NCAA Tournament game on March 17, Samuels was suspended for the game against the Syracuse Orange over concerns about his eligibility. K-State lost the game to Syracuse, thus ending their season and Samuel’s career as a Wildcat. The suspension was an act of pure hypocrisy by the NCAA. Jamar Samuels was suspended for taking $200 from a former AAU coach and family friend. Better yet, that $200 was used by Samuels so that he could keep from going hungry. He couldn’t afford to eat. Samuels comes from a poor family, which left the AAU coach to lend him some money. Taking the money is clearly an NCAA violation, but that is not what I’m arguing. I want some better compensation for NCAA student-athletes. Samuels is at K-State on a full-ride scholarship. The bargain with Samuels, just like it is for every athlete in his position, is to get an education in exchange for basketball skills. This is a great system, but the scholarship only covers school and I’m pretty sure athletes have to eat too. The worst part is that the story ends right here. Samuels is 22 years old and he can’t do anything about the suspension. He has no rights to challenge the ruling. He can only be humiliated like some kind of criminal by the NCAA –– which made $10.8 billion in television revenue alone last year –– for taking $200 to eat. Nobody is condemning the NCAA for wanting to make money through television contracts, but shouldn’t there be some compensation for the athletes who make the money for the NCAA? My answer is yes. Institute some kind of program in which student athletes do get money to play sports. Not a lot of money, but enough to �ill the crevasses of college life. Enough money to eat, enough money for gas and enough money to be a college student. It’s impossible for student athletes to work so give them a little money and save yourself some hypocrisy.
April 3, 2012
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MATT WATKINS STAFF WRITER
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he No.22 WTAMU Buffalo baseball team hosted a four-game series from March 30 through April 1 against the Angelo State Rams. WT won the �irst and third games to earn a 2-2 split with ASU. The Buffs put up three runs in the �irst inning and another two in the second of the �irst game on March 30 to take an early 5-1 lead. The Rams scored a run in the third and fourth innings to cut WT’s lead to 5-3. The Buffs’ bullpen would hold ASU to one run in the ninth for the 5-4 game one win.
“It’s always good to win the �irst one,” Head Coach Matt Vanderburg said. “It makes for less stress tomorrow.” Senior Kendall Boone’s RBI single in the �irst inning of the early game on March 31 gave WT an early 1-0 lead. The Buffs would maintain that lead until the Rams hit a two-run homerun in the sixth to take a 2-1 lead. ASU would add an insurance run in the seventh en route to a 3-1 win. WT responded with a seasonhigh 19-run explosion in the 19-7 win in the second game of the day. The Buffs scored �ive in each the second and third to take an 11-2 lead. Junior Parker Wood hit two
homers and knocked in �ive runs in the two innings. After falling behind 2-0 in the series �inale on April 1, junior Jarvis Smith hit an RBI single and Boone drove in two runs to give WT a 3-2 lead after three innings. The Rams answered with six in the fourth inning and four more in the ninth on their way to a 13-7 win. Sophomore Steven Diaz (1-2) got the loss pitching three innings and giving up six runs on six hits. The weekend split gives the Buffs a record of 22-8 overall and a 9-3 mark in the Lone Star Conference. The Buffs’ next action is against the University of the Southwest on April 3 at 1 p.m. at Wilder Park in Canyon.
Sports Quiz for the week of April 2 CHRIS RICHCREEK
1. In 2011, Minnesota's Francisco Liriano became the �ifth pitcher from the Dominican Republic to toss a nohitter. Name three of the other four who did it.
2. Alex Rodriguez holds the record for most home runs by a third baseman for a season (52). Which two players tied for the second-highest mark? 3. Tom Landry was the �irst head coach of the Dallas Cowboys and stayed in that position for 29 years. How many head coaches has Dallas had since? 4. Entering the 2011-12 season, how many times had the Marquette men's basketball team been in the Final Four?
ANSWERS:
PHOTO COURTESY OF STOCK.XCHNG.
5. In 2009, the Chicago Blackhawks matched the biggest comeback in NHL history, rallying from a 5-0 de�icit to beat Calgary, 6-5. What other team had a similar comeback? 6. Who was the �irst coach to win three Major League Soccer titles?
7. Name two of the last three opponents in heavyweight boxer Vitali Klitschko's WBC title defenses. (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
1. Juan Marichal (1963), Ramon Martinez (1995), Jose Jimenez (1999) and Ubaldo Jimenez (2010). 2. Mike Schmidt and Adrian Beltre, with 48 each. 3. Seven -- Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey, Dave Campo, Bill Parcells, Wade Phillips and Jason Garrett. 4. Three times -- 1974, 1977 and 2003. 5. Calgary, which came back to defeat Toronto, 6-5, in 1987. 6. Bruce Arena, with three (1996, 1997, 2011). 7. Odlanier Solis (3/19/11), Tomasz Adamek (9/10/11) and Dereck Chisora (2/18/12).
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5k continued from p. 1 “We couldn’t be more excited about the new life and new blood that is being put into the race,” she said. “I really think this is going to be the best race we’ve had.” Zewde said one of the biggest reasons he supports CASA is because of their cause – representing abused or neglected children in court and advocating their best interests. “It’s a really fantastic cause,” he said. Lee said she feels the same way and �inds the superhero theme of the race to be representative of this. “We all care and love children dearly, and we really
need to speak up for all that are being abused and/or neglected,” she said. “This will be the day that anyone and everyone at this race will get to be a superhero, in some way, for these beautiful kids.” Fulkerson said the 5K is a good opportunity to come together as a community to raise awareness of April being Child Abuse Prevention month. “Child abuse is unacceptable and children can’t speak for themselves,” she said. “Nobody should suffer abuse, especially our children.” Zewde said that the 5K is something positive to be involved with and he hopes to get the community engaged in the cause.
CAMPUS LIFE “At the end of the day, it’s always nice to give back a little bit,” he said. All proceeds received during the 5K will bene�it the children represented through the Amarillo Area CASA. Participants can register online at www.casa5k.com or over the phone. Canyon residents can call Courtney Lee at 651-4434 and Amarillo residents can call Valerie Fulkerson at 373-2272. If registered before April 9 at 5 p.m., the cost will be $25 for the 5K and $5 for the 1K Kids/ Family run. From April 10-14, the cost will be $35 and $5 for late registration.
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April is Child Abuse Prevention Month In 2011, there were 65,948 confirmed victims of child abuse in the state of Texas. The total cost of foster care and services for children in the state of Texas in 2011 was $380,487,624. This information was provided by Amarillo CASA
Jean Walker is honored by Amarillo Women’s Network BRITTANY CASTILLO STAFF WRITER
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TAMU’s Jean Walker was awarded the 2011 Dual Career/Lifetime Achievement Award by the Amarillo Women’s Network (AWN). Walker is WT’s Miller Professor of Entrepreneurship, and she created the Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) team 18 years ago, which wins regional awards annually. AWN member Lou Ann Garrett nominated Walker for the prestigious award in Jan. 2012. “Being named to the Miller Professorship of Entrepreneurship is a �itting tribute to her impact in our area and a compelling reason to honor her with AWN’s Career Achievement Award!” Garrett said in her nomination letter. Walker became a member of the AWN in the year of its establishment in 1980. “None of the rotary clubs in Amarillo let women join so there wasn’t anything
that they could join [to] make those business connections,” Walker said. “It’s been a broadening experience, and I’ve gotten to know a lot of people here really well through Amarillo Women’s Network.” Walker is the Director of the West Texas Center on Economic Education and conducts workshops statewide. In addition to professional networking, she teaches economics, personal �inance, and entrepreneurship. “I think that who you know is important, [and] what you know is important,” Walker said. “So, don’t look at one of those and totally ignore the other.” Clara Saenz, a Bilingual Education major, is inspired by Walker’s achievements. “As a female student, [Walker] motivates me to reach for my goals and represent successful women,” Saenz said. “It’s an honor to be at a university where women win such awards.”
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CAMPUS LIFE Prairie WTAMU students unaware of degree plan process 6
April 3, 2012
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JESSICA CHANDOS STAFF WRITER
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riority registration began on April 1. Students all over campus are signing up for classes and getting degree plans �inalized. WT students must �ile a degree plan after completing 60 hours. According to a survey of 50 students, 30 upperclassmen and 20 underclassmen, most upperclassmen are familiar with the advising process, but underclassmen seem to
struggle with the process. Carlos Aguirre, a student worker at the Student Success Center, said freshmen and sophomores need the most assistance. “We don’t get many questions about degree plans, upperclassmen know what to do. But the freshmen and sophomores have no clue,” Aguirre said. “[We] have a good process on informing people on how to register themselves.” Jordan Smith, a junior Advertising and Public Relations major, said Advising
Services is a big help. “I’m not quite sure when the sign ups are for me, but I know I can check with Advising Services and they are always helpful,” Smith said. Frankie Sanchez, a senior Broadcasting major, said he appreciates the assistance. “Registration has always been awesome for me,” Sanchez said. “I only had one big mess up, and that was my own fault. But I got into what I needed and the advisors were really helpful.” The survey shows that
across the board, most people have good feelings about the registration process. However, students still have issues when it comes to �iling their degree plans. “I �iled for my degree plan last summer and I just now got it,” said Jordan Smith. “If I had known it would take this long to get it, I would have applied sooner. It would have been helpful to have when planning for my last two semesters.” Most students are unaware that they can apply before reaching the 60-hour mark.
“[We] encourage students to apply for their degree plans before they reach 60 hours, but most just forget or wait until they have to,” said Carlos Aguirre. Sanchez said he updates his degree plan often. “I update my degree plan, once a semester, or at least once a year, to keep track of it,” said Sanchez. “Everyday, I have a fear that they missed something and I won’t get to graduate.”
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ENTERTAINMENT Last week’s answers
where’s your bin?
Look for the winning card in your copy of The Prairie on April 3, April 10 and April 17 to receive a $10 iTunes gift card.
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Top pop, country singles and albums as of April 2 Top 10 Albums
Top 10 Pop Singles
Top 10 Hot Country Singles
1. One Direction new entry “Up All Night”
1. fun feat. Janelle Monae No. 1 “We Are Young”
1. Taylor Swift No. 3 “Ours”
2. Adele No. 2 “21”
2. Kelly Clarkson No. 2 “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You)”
3. Guns N’ Roses No. 31 “Greatest Hits”
4. Bruce Springsteen No. 1 “Wrecking Ball” 5. Passion new entry “Passion: White Flag”
6. Whitney Houston No. 6 “Whitney: The Greatest Hits” 7. Drake No. 7 “Take Care”
8. Various Artists No. 3 “NOW 41” 9. Gotye No. 16 “Making Mirrors” 10. fun No. 13 “Some Nights”
3. The Wanted No. 4 “Glad You Came” 4. Adele No. 3 “Set Fire to the Rain”
5. Gotye feat. Kimbra No. 5 “Somebody That I Used to Know” 6. Nicki Minaj No. 9 “Starships”
7. David Guetta feat Nicki Minaj No. 6 “Turn Me On” 8. Drake feat. Rihanna No. 7 “Take Care” 9. Flo Rida feat. Sia No. 12 “Wild Ones” 10. Katy Perry No. 10 “Part of Me”
2. Jake Owen No. 2 “Alone With You”
3. George Strait No. 4 “Love’s Gonna Make It Alright” 4. Dierks Bentley No. 1 “Home”
5. Lee Brice No. 9 “A Woman Like You” 6. Blade Shelton No. 6 “Drink On It”
7. Lady Antebellum No. 7 “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” 8. Montgomery Gentry No. 10 “Where I Come From” 9. Rascal Flatts No. 11 “Banjo”
10. Miranda Lambert No. 12 “Over You” (c) 2012 King Features Synd., Inc.
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CAMPUS LIFE Prairie Coffee Memorial Blood Center to host blood drive 9
GEORGIA ROMIG STAFF WRITER
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TAMU is hosting a Blood Drive from April 2 to April 5. Donations are taken at the JBK Student Center and the “Bloodmobile”, located in front of the Dining Hall from 9 to 6 p.m. The drive will be sponsored by the Coffee Memorial Blood Center. Since 1949, CMBC has
ASHLEY HENDRICK STAFF WRITER
April 3, 2012
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provided life-saving blood products and transfusion services to patients throughout the high plains. One of their regular donation stops is WT. Their last donation drive was on Feb. 6 - 9. CMBC recently put out a call for donations to help people injured during Spring Break. As written on their Facebook Page on March 29, “Coffee Memorial was already facing an uphill battle with the blood supply
following the automobile accidents over Spring Break. However, with several local traumas last night, our blood supply is in critical need of several types in this order of emergent need O-, A+, B-, O+ and A-.” According to the Coffee Memorial Blood Center website, all eligible donors will receive a free Coffee Memorial umbrella or other gift. Additionally, donors will also be entered into a
daily drawing sponsored by the Residence
Hall Association. The residence hall with the
most donors will win a pizza party.
INFORMATION FROM COFFEE MEMORIAL BLOOD CENTER WEBSITE
West Texas A&M Agriculture Department sponsors T.A.G. JESSICA BARTEL STAFF WRITER
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he Agriculture Gathering (T.A.G) will take place on April 25 at 6 p.m. in the Agriculture Education Center. T.A.G’s purpose is to recognize student accomplishments, develop stronger relationships at WTAMU, and gather everyone in the agriculture family. Professor of Agriculture Dr. Lance Keith said the evening is for celebrating students and giving a farewell to graduating seniors. “T.A.G is an opportunity to highlight student accomplishments by faculty and be a student activity at the same time,” Keith said. The ceremony will be led by Dr. Dean Hawkins, and include various professors of the Agriculture department.
Competitive teams and organizations being recognized include the Equestrian Team, Stock Horse Team, Entomology Judging Team, Agricultural Ambassadors, Agricultural Business Club and many others. There will also be a special presentation of the Charles Smallwood Leader Award and multiple awards for outstanding seniors and freshman. “[T.A.G] is a great opportunity for active students to get together and celebrate each other’s success,” Dr. Tanner Robertson, assistant professor of Agricultural Media and Communication, said. Lacey Roberts, an Agriculture Communication student, said she is excited for her �irst T.A.G event. “I’m excited to go this year. This event is just a great social event and way to wrap up the 2012 spring semester,” Roberts said.
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CAMPUS LIFE Prairie Android app development class open for fall 2012 10
JACOB CAIN STAFF WRITER
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he WTAMU Computer Science department will offer a class in app development in the fall. “We’ve already begun discussing what student projects might look like and
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some of those may well be in a collaboration with civil and mechanical engineering,” H. Paul Haiduk, instructor of Computer Sciences, said. “Developing apps for data acquisition in our labs…we’re pretty excited about it.” Haiduk will also teach the class in the fall. Vance Morris, a senior
Computer Science major, offered his opinion about why the class would focus on apps for the Android rather than Apple. “In my opinion because Android is an open platform, the type of apps have more potential for engineering apps… and you don’t pay Apple anything,” he said. Vance
mother of three teenagers. They both said they would �inish high school if they could do it over again. “I could have a better job. I could not be struggling,” said Rhodes. “I could �inancially provide food and clothes for my kids without food stamps and stuff, and pay cash up front.” Coronado is currently unemployed, but will take her last test to complete her GED this month. “A high school diploma helps you �ind a better job and go to college,” said Coronado. “I tell my kids I want them to succeed and not have to work in fast food places all their lives. A better education will get them a better job.” A high school education followed by a college degree has served local high school teacher Richard La Mascus well. He sees more than money as his reward for acquiring education. “Education provides more than income,” said La Mascus. “It provides a lot of choice in life where you can do more. Frankly, my wife and I both have a good quality of life and we’re happy. Choice is as
important as the money.” Education is still proving itself useful for La Mascus as he gets older. “Education makes me more money with my mind and I don’t have to worry about the physical exertion as much,” said La Mascus. “Something a lot of young people don’t take into account. Hurt yourself like I have, then you’re out of luck if you don’t have an education.” La Mascus hurt his back when he was younger and it still limits what he can lift up without experiencing pain. Before moving into education, La Mascus worked a program called Moving into Tomorrow, which helped single parents get a GED and get or keep a job. This job helped him decide he wanted to become a teacher. “About 90 percent of my efforts were a big waste because there was more than an education barrier there,” said La Mascus. “I reached a point where I wanted to reach people at an age where it wasn’t too late. Why I teach, hoping to make a difference and instill the importance of value on education.” The gap between the wages
won third place in the last IBM Master the Mainframe competition. The open software found on the Android is the primary reason the class will focus on the platform, rather than Apple. Students like Mark Warren, a freshman Computer Science Software Engineering major, are excited for the class.
“I think that (the class) is smart for WT, it’s where programming is going,” said Warren. “Mobile apps are a large part of software engineering that people don’t think about.” The capacity of the class will be limited to about 25 students.
Educational level increases earnings in the U.S. ALISA WHITE MCOM 3302 JOURNALISM RESEARCH
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ducational level increases earnings, which may encourage more people to �inish high school and pursue further education. The trend at Amarillo High School has been slightly higher than the state average of high school graduates even though the total number of high school graduates has declined slightly between 2003 and 2009. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, education has paid off with the more educated workers earning more money. In 1975, only 63 percent of adults had a high school diploma, while in 2000, 84 percent did. In 1975, only 14 percent had a bachelor’s degree or higher while in 2000, 26 percent had at least a bachelor’s degree. An increase in earnings is associated with each increasing educational level. This is the experience of local residents Melissa Rhodes, a 22 year old single mother of two children ages two and one, and Maria Coronado, married
of workers with high school diplomas, and workers without high school diplomas, has also grown. In 1975 workers without a high school diploma earned 0.9 times what a
worker with a high school diploma made and by 1999 workers without a high school diploma earned only 0.7 times the average of high school graduates.
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CAMPUS LIFE Prairie Exotic species hunting resticted across Texas 11
ANDREW GARAY MCOM 3302 JOURNALISM RESEARCH
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he U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service ruled a restriction on the hunting of certain exotic species living on hunting ranches across Texas. Information from the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife – Associated Recreation showed there are 1.1 million hunters that come to, or live, in Texas and spend about $2.2 billion on expenditures. Results from the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University show that from the hunting section of this survey the exotic hunting industry alone has a $1 billion economic impact in Texas. According to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) website, the HSUS �iled a lawsuit in 2005 over the exemptions under the Endangered Species Act that allowed the captive hunting of the dama gazelle, scimitar horned oryx and the addax. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, these animals are critically endangered or extinct in their native lands, but information from the Exotic Wildlife Association shows that these animals are thriving on the 637 exotic hunting ranches Texas Parks and Wildlife surveyed. Information from the Exotic Wildlife Association website showed that under the exemption, land owners were able to sell surplus animals in their herds for pro�its that will contribute to expenses required to maintain the rest
April 3, 2012
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of the herd. The new ruling, declared by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, shows ranch owners will no longer be allowed to breed, transport or harvest any of these three species without the required permits necessary to do so that come with annual fees. Prior to the ruling, no permits were necessary for these three species for transporting and selling for hunts. According to the All About Exotics website, it appears the new permitting system will act much like those currently available for other endangered species. All About Exotics shows permits for these animals generally take a minimum of six months to acquire and violations of the permitting system come with harsh penalties due to their direct violation of the Lacey Act. This is one of the reasons most current ranch owners of the oryx, addax and dama species are choosing to sell all of their current stocked herds, according to All About Exotics’s web page. “The ruling is not good for the three species. As a result of the ruling, we have already taken more of these animals in the past month than we took in my ten years of out�itting. We have multiple hunts scheduled over the next month to kill out what we have of our remaining herds,” said Michael Marbach, executive director of COA Out�itters. He said Texas Parks and Wildlife puts a lot of pressure to maintain habitat for wildlife “If we have a species that continues to propagate on our properties, we are taking away from the food and water
sources for the other animals.” Marbach said. “Without being able to keep our herd at a quality level. We will not be able to allow these animals to range free on our properties.” According the The HSUS’s website, this is their �irst step to put an end to captive hunting, which is considered hunting inside of a high fenced enclosure that prohibits the animals from escaping the property easily. Their goal is to end captive hunting and eventually all forms of hunting, HSUS’s web page shows. The “60 minutes” video by CBS News about the species ruling shows animal rights groups claiming that the hunts are too easy. “I don’t think you create a life to shoot it,” said Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals. “I don’t want to see their value in body parts,” Feral said on the video. “If they are only created to be hunted, I don’t want to see them exist in Texas.” The “60 minutes” video shows that Feral owns a reserve in the native land of the scimitar horned oryx that contains currently 175 oryx to be used to help build the species back up in their native land, the Sahara desert in Africa, where they were currently presented as extinct by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Information from the “60 minutes” CBS news video reports that ranches, as the one showed in the video, only allow 10 percent of a herd to be culled. The pro�its made from selling that 10 percent to trophy hunters will help pay for expenses required to maintain
the remaining animals of the species. The Exotic Wildlife Association webpage shows they are sponsors of the Sahara Conservation Fund, whose mission is to reestablish these three species back in their native land of the Sahara desert. Funds for the materials needed to establish reserves in the species’ native land are developed through excess hunts Exotic Wildlife Association members are able to contribute, according to the Exotic Wildlife Association web page. “The HSUS’s motivation on the surface is to save any and all animals. Doing so in this way they have signed a death
warrant,” said Gary Mobley, owner of the Mobley Ranch. “The only motivation to save a species is allow hunting and attach a monetary value to the animal,” Mobley said. “If you can’t sell the animal for pro�it, why raise it?” According to Texas A&M University’s AFPC report, the exotic wildlife industry in Texas supports 14,383 jobs. With the new restrictions being placed on these particular exotics and the high rate of ranch owners selling their remaining stock, it could hurt the future pro�its of the ranches and affect employment opportunities for the exotic wildlife industry.
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Prairie Amarillo Zoo will host Thompson Park cleanup Participants will clean up lake and creek shorelines 12
April 3, 2012
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LISA HELLIER STAFF WRITER
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n April 14, the Amarillo Zoo will be hosting a cleanup project in which participants will help clear up lake and creek shorelines throughout Thompson Park. The event will last from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m “We selected the lakes since they are adjacent to the zoo and are enjoyed by many visitors in addition to local and migratory wildlife,” Mike Boley, Amarillo Zoo visitor services coordinator, said. “Each year thousands of waterfowl and songbirds visit the lake for shelter and food, and keeping the water and shorelines clear of trash bene�its them. Plus, other wildlife including turtles, frogs, �ish, insects and small mammals depend on the lakes for survival.” Volunteers are invited to attend a free hotdog barbecue that starts at 1 p.m., right after
PHOTO BY LISA HELLIER Thompson park littered with trash from lake.
the clean up. “We’re helping the community and the community is helping us,” Amarillo Zoo Educator Jessica Hammons said. “We do [volunteer projects] every year, and the community gives 100 percent to make it better for everyone.” Rebecca Mitchell, an Amarillo College student and Amarillo Zoo volunteer, said the area gets a lot of trash scattered about and believes it is important to help clean it
PHOTO BY LISA HELLIER Members of the comunity will pick up litter from the lake.
up for the environment and the local wildlife. Mitchell is the secretary of a program called STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Club), and after she mentioned the
PHOTO BY LISA HELLIER Trash floats at the edge of Thompson lake.
clean up project, the group decided to help. “It is a great way to get our name out because we are a brand new club,” Mitchell said. The Thompson Park clean up is in conjunction with Amarillo Zoo’s Conservation Celebration- Bringing Back the Wild event taking place on April 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is an event designed to educate people of all ages about the importance of protecting endangered species. There will be exhibits and activities focusing on endangered wildlife, recycling and conversation. “The zoo does many special events each year to encourage visitors to come out and learn
about wildlife and the natural world plus learn how they can play an important role in making sure we have a healthy environment in the future,” said Boley. “The zoo plans to develop and organize other efforts where folks, young and old, can take an active role in shaping the environment for the better.” Project organizers request that everyone volunteering wear suitable clothing for outdoor work and that each person brings a pair of sturdy work gloves. All volunteers have to sign a volunteer service agreement prior to or at the day of the event.