The Prairie issue XXV by The Prairie WTAMU

Volume 93

the Prairie

Issue XXV

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Dance will perform spring show

Annual Spring concer t will begin this week KRYSTINA MARTINEZ Copy Editor

TAMU’s Dance department will be putting on their annual spring dance concert from April 28-30. This year’s theme is the “True Colors of Dance,” where the performers will be able to showcase styles of dancing that may be unfamiliar to the audience. “There is a lot of variety between the pieces,” Devyn Dobson, a freshman Dance major, said. “Most of the dances will be colorful because of the theme.” Although one of the pieces in the show was choreographed by a visiting guest choreographer last semester, the dance department still had to spend weeks in rehearsal to prepare. “There’s a lot of work that goes into preparing for a show,” said Dobson. “Many weeks are spent [polishing] dances to be performance-ready. There is a lot of tech

work involved with lighting, design and sound as well.” Despite the pressure, freshman Dance major Ashley Williams feels con�ident about “True Colors.” “Everyone is really prepared for it,” said Williams, who has been dancing for 16 years. The Dance department hopes that “True Colors” will not only be a good representation of their hard work this season, but also something that the audience can enjoy. “It’s hard to say what people will like [because of the show’s variety], but hopefully the audience will enjoy all of the dances!” Dobson said. “No one really knows that we have a dance program or what dance is even about, so [the show] will get people’s attention,” said Williams. “True Colors of Dance” will open at 7:30 p.m. in the Branding Iron Theatre. For ticket information, call 651-2804.

MARIA MOLINA The dance team lifts Devyn Dobson.

MARIA MOLINA Left to right: Merissa Gero, Kaylyn Brown, Kati Watson, and Devyn Dobson.

MARIA MOLINA Taylor Hall practices his routine for the dance show.

The dance team practices.

MARIA MOLINA

Lady Buffs help HALI project

Team hosts fundraiser event at WTAMU’s campus Matt Watkins Staff Writer

he Lady Buffs volleyball team will be hosting a fundraiser for the HALI Project’s “Where The Learning Continues” program at WTAMU. The WTLC program gives young men and women with developmental disabilities an opportunity to

have a college experience with their age-related peers. The money that is raised will go to support teachers and mentors in the program. The event will be an exhibition volleyball match where the Lady Buffs will take on the Buffs football team. The HALI Project was

established in 1999 by Brad Thompson to serve the needs of children with special needs in the Panhandle. Thompson’s 20-year-old daughter, Hali, is the foundation’s namesake and inspiration. She is a specialneeds student who serves as an assistant on the volleyball team.

“Hali is at all of our home matches, helping our players get ready,” Jason Skoch, coach of the Lady Buffs volleyball team, said. “If you look closely, you will see her in a lot of team pictures.”

HALI project continued on p. 3

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WTAMU science organizations host Earth Day Fair booths teach students and public to help environment Ryan Schaap Staff Writer

n April 20th, WTAMU hosted an Earth Day event. The event, located at the Pedestrian Mall, had several booths where students learned about ways they can help the environment. The most well-known method is recycling, but Patricia Rodriguez, a graduate student, said that reusing materials such as water bottles and grocery bags is better. “Reducing how much plastic you use is better than recycling,” she said. Rodriguez was in charge of the Plastic and Environment booth. She said that ten percent of all plastic ends up in the ocean. The Alternative Energy Institute was also present at the fair to teach people about the importance of saving energy. Kenneth Starcher, associate director of the Alternate Energy Institute, is conducting research

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to find better alternative energy sources such as wind, solar energy, and biomass. “We are looking for renewable resources by data sites all over the state where data is collected and can be viewed on the Internet,” he said. Starcher listed the use of personal windmills which use about one-fifth to one-third of regular energy to power homes and businesses, as a prime example of renewable energy. Another organization present at the fair was Circle K International. They have a program called the “Six Cents Initiative” where money donated goes into making oral rehydration salt packets. These packets mixed with eight ounces of water will rehydrate and restore electrolytes. Each packet only requires six cents to help children rehydrate in rural areas of the world. “Our goal is to rehydrate the dehydrated,” Lauren Perkins,

junior Commutations Disorders, said. At the fair, she informed students about general water facts, such as the importance of water and ways to save water. The Panhandle Ground Water District also offered several ways to get involved. They have a children’s program called “Water Warriors.” This program teaches children how to conserve water. The district goes to 50 schools where fifth grade students take “The Water Warrior Pledge,” which states: “I promise to always turn the faucet off when brushing my teeth, to take shorter showers, to always be conscious of water use. I will also teach my family and friends about the importance of saving water.” Other booths at the fair featured useful information such as the reuses of coffee, endangered species and a water pong trivia risk game.

USEFUL WEBSITES Panhandle Groundwater Conservation District: www.pgcd.us Take Care of Texas: www.takecareoftexas.org Circle K International: www.circlek.org Wind Works: www.windworks.com

Homepower Magazine: www.homepower.com

The Prairie Editorial Staff 2010-2011 Editor- Maria Molina Assistant Editor- Katelyn Garrity Managing Editor- Randi Hudson Copy Editors- Krystina Martinez & Eva Harder Web Editor - Georgia Romig Faculty Adviser- Butler Cain

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 reflect 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 reflect the board’s views. Advertising rates are available upon request at (806) 651- 2410 or at theprairiemail@yahoo.com. WTAMU Box 60754, Canyon, Texas 79016. The Prairie has a circulation of 1,500 and is printed by the Amarillo Globe-News.

the Prairie HALI project from p. 1 The two teams will trade coaches for the event. Skoch will be coaching the football team, and Don Carthel will be coaching the Lady Buffs. Both coaches are enthusiastic about their respective team’s chances and also share similar sentiments towards the fundraiser. “When Brad [Thompson] approached us with this idea to help make people aware of what the HALI Project does for the people in the Panhandle, we had no problem jumping on board,” Skoch said. “I can see this being a fun evening and I would not be surprised if it ends up being quite competitive.”

Carthel expressed much of the same anticipation for the event. “I think it’s going to be a great event for a great cause and it will be very fun,” Carthel said. “I think the girls are going to hammer the boys since I’m coaching the girls. I’m looking forward to see the boys cry when they get hit with a volleyball.” The event will begin at 7 p.m. on April 28 at The Box. Admission will cost $1.00 for students and $2.00 for adults. The volleyball staff will also be hosting a skills clinic for middle school students at 5:30 p.m. before the event. The clinic will be $5.00 for students and they will get free admission to the volleyball match.

GRADUATION MESSAGES COUPON Bring this coupon and receive a $2 graduation message. Messages cost $3 without coupon. The Prairie reserves the right to review and not publish content if it is deemed inappropriate.

Readership WT share Cambodian experience 12 freshmen go on novel journey to foreign country Ryan Schaap Staff Writer

group of WTAMU students visited the Southeast Asian country of Cambodia as part of the freshman Readship WT experience. 12 freshman students won an allexpense paid trip to Cambodia through an essay contest discussing The Road to Lost Innocence, the Readership book for 2010. Over 300 students submitted an essay of which 12 students were chosen. “The trip was life-changing and it opened my eyes to ignorant issues in

the world, such as educational learning,” Samantha Pearson, a freshman Special Education major, said. Pearson met some children on the river who “were shy at �irst but once they opened up they had a lot to talk about.” Freshman Broadcasting major Sabrina Meck said Cambodia had a different infrastructure. “There was no trash management and the streets were very dirty,” Meck said. “Children wore ratty clothes and wore them everyday.” Due to the Khmer Rouge, a dictatorial regime that killed nearly two million

Cambodians in the 1970s, the average age of the Cambodian people is very young. “I saw a lot of children running around playing,” Meck said. “I also saw a group of young boys doing Taekwondo. If the kids were not in school, they were in the streets.” Even though these people lived in poverty, they treated their guests with the upmost hospitality, sleeping on a wooden bench under an elevated house. “The people were very loving,” Pearson said. “They gave us their rooms that didn’t have any air conditioning and

no light. We had a small mattress to sleep on and a mosquito net to keep away the bugs.” This trip was a moving experience for the students. Each of them returned to WT with a different story to tell. Meck said that her favorite experience on the trip was when the Readership group visited a rural area where they waited for a bus to pick them up. However, the bus didn’t arrive on time, so the students had time to visit with children who were swimming in the river. “Instead of trying to change people,

the Prairie

4 Matt Watkins

Staff Writer

he WTAMU Buffs baseball team completed their weekend series with the Angelo State Rams with a doubleheader on April 23. The Rams completed a sweep of the Buffs via a pair of walk-off victories. Angelo took game one with an RBI single in the bottom of the ninth, earning a dramatic 9-8 victory. In game two, a WT error gave the Rams the 10-9 win. The Buffs scored �irst in game one when junior Kendall Boone hit an RBI single and junior Jess Cooper scored on a wild pitch in the �irst inning, giving the Buffs an early 2-0 lead. The lead would be short lived as Angelo State answered with seven runs on three hits and one WT error in the bottom half of the inning, giving the Rams a 7-2 advantage. WT began to come back in the sixth when junior Bryce Baugh cracked a three-run homer to make it 8-5. The Buffs would tie it in the seventh on a two run blast by Boone and a sac �ly by Baugh, making the score 8-8. Zach Klink’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth gave Angelo State their �irst walk-off win of the day 9-8.

The Buffs would strike early again in game two, taking a 4-0 lead after the �irst inning. The Ram’s Tate Allison cut WT’s lead in half with a two run shot in the second, cutting the score to 4-2. The Buffs plated four more runs in their half of the third to take a commanding 8-2 lead. Angelo State began to play chip away at the Buffs’ lead, scoring �ive runs across the third, fourth and �ifth innings, bringing the score to 8-7 after �ive. WT added an insurance run on senior Will Miller’s sac �ly in the sixth, giving the Buffs a 9-7 advantage. After the Rams added a run in the sixth, Allison’s solo homerun tied the game at nine all. A WT error that allowed Brent Denny to score gave Angelo State their second walk-off win of the day. Junior Zach Walker (2-2) got the losses in both games. He gave up one run on three hits in 1.1 innings of relief in game one, and two runs on two hits in 1.0 inning in game two. The Buffs will complete their LSC schedule this weekend in Canyon against Tarleton State. The �irst game is scheduled for April 29 at 6 p.m., followed by a doubleheader April 30 set to begin at 1 p.m.

EVAN GRICE Staff Writer

he #23 ranked WTAMU Lady Buffs finished up the road portion of their conference schedule on April 22-23 as they took on Tarleton State looking to keep up their strong play as the season winds down. Game one was a scrappy affair with the Lady Buffs falling behind 1-0 after one inning. RBI’s by juniors Meghan Brown and Whitney Midkiff gave WT the lead at 2-1 in the top of the fourth inning before TSU tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning. Brown struck again the very next inning with an RBI single followed by a sacrifice fly by fellow junior Kristina Myles to make it 4-2. TSU pulled one run back in the bottom of the seventh but it wasn’t enough as the Lady Buffs held on for the 4-3 victory. Junior Marci Womack picked up the victory on the mound (18-6) giving up three runs on six hits with six strikeouts in the complete game victory. WT claimed the series in game number two thanks to the Lady

Sports Quiz: How many can you answer? Chris Richcreek

1. Who are the only three major-leaguers to have both a 40-homer season and a 50-steal season? 2. Name the �irst Cy Young Award winner to have more wins the season after he captured the award. 3. Who holds the Big East record for most rushing yards by a freshman? 4. When Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings tallied 55 points in a game in 2009, it was the most by a �irst-year NBA player since when? 5. Who holds the Washington Capitals record for most assists by a player in his �irst two NHL seasons? 6. Name the only drivers to win both the Daytona 500 and the Rolex 24 at Daytona. 7. Who was the last male tennis player to hold all four major titles concurrently? (c) 2011 King Features Synd., Inc.

Buffs scored nine runs over the last three innings to claim an 11-6 victory. Freshman Alyssa Lemos paced the offense with four RBI followed by senior Kaitlyn Witte with two RBI. Junior Shelbey Cockrell got the victory pitching for the Lady Buffs (18-6) giving up six runs on eight hits with 15 strikeouts in the complete game victory. TSU struck back in the series finale as they used a walk-off two run homer to claim a 6-4 victory over the Lady Buffs. Witte once again was a spark for the Lady Buffs with two RBI on the day. Shelbey Cockrell was tagged with the loss (18-7) as she gave up two runs on two hits with four strikeouts in her 2.0 innings of relief. WT’s overall record now stands at 36-13 with an 11-7 record in LSC play. TSU falls to 21-23 overall with a 9-9 record in LSC play. The Lady Buffs will return home to take on NAIA member Lubbock Christian who is ranked #7 in the nation in a doubleheader on April 26. First pitch from Lady Buff Yard is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

Sports Quiz Answers

1. Brady Anderson, Barry Bonds and Ryne Sandberg. 2. Milwaukee’s Warren Spahn won 21 games and the Cy Young in 1957, then won 22 games in 1958. 3. Pitt’s Dion Lewis, with 1,799 yards in the 2009 season. 4. Earl Monroe tallied 56 points in a game in 1968. 5. Nicklas Backstrom, with 121 assists (2007-09). 6. Mario Andretti and A.J. Foyt. 7. Rod Laver, in 1969.

Sports

Buffs lose against Angelo State Lady Buffs take series from TexAnns

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President Obama receives scrutiny A d m i n i s t ra t i o n c r i t i c i s m i s a n o l d i s s u e JES ROSKENS Staff Writer

ince the �irst moments he took of�ice, President Barack Obama, has received criticism for his executive decisions. Lately, some of his biggest critics have been members of his own party. Looking at President Obama’s term compared to other presidents, though, WT Political Science Department Head Reed Welch and his colleague Dr. David Rausch agree that the amount of criticism is relatively normal. “I think different democrats saw different things in him, and when he strays from that they criticize him,” Welch said. His comments toward Israel to the institution of social healthcare and how he handled the budget has brought criticism from all sides. With recent decisions like devoting U.S. military forces in Libya, democrats have publicly stated

Courtesy of sportsgrindent.com

their disagreement with this move. In an interview with MSNBC,

Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio said that he thought the president’s order of this action

was an “impeachable offense.” The recent budget cuts, amounting to $38 billion dollars, also sent some democrats into a fury. “What [President Obama] has done politically does not �it what I think should be done morally,” said Rep. Charles Rangel [D-Harlem] to the New York Daily News. According to Reed, the president is receiving criticism, even from his own party, because he has been addressing important issues. The main focus of his �irst term has been the two issues arguably most important to the American people: the federal budget and the economy. “You’ll be criticized no matter what you do,” Reed said. “It’s a battle over values; it’s a battle over scarce resources, and you’re going to have �ights over that.” Rausch also pointed out that presidents tend to “play the middle” once they get to the middle of their terms and have learned how to function in their political environment. They often become more moderate

Amarillo mayoral candidates

GEORGIA ROMIG

Staff Writer

CANDIDATES

Grady (Cory) Traves Age: 36 Job: Food-service equipment technician Rodney W. Johnson Age: 25 Job: Foot orthotics company owner Drew Alexander Age: 69 Job: Restaurant franchisor David H. Grisham Jr. Age: 50 Job(s): Pantex security of�icer and fundamentalist pastor

F.E. (SandraDunn) Dunaway Age: 53 Job: Full-time graduate student Paul Harpole Age: 60 Job(s): Car dealer and former Amarillo City Commissioner Roy D. McDowell Age: 69 Job(s): Truck sales and parts companies owner William Jean Age: 38 Job: Electronics technician

Steve Dawson Age: 42 Job: Employment service business developer Jim Brokenbek Age: 68 Job: Retired campus minister Ryan Vigil Age: 21 Job: Part-time 911 dispatcher

than most republicans or democrats. “He realizes, as a president, he wants to be seen as doing something,” Rausch said. “If he just attacks and attacks and doesn’t come up with ideas that republicans will buy into, he will be a one-term president.” By using this moving-to-themiddle strategy, according to Rausch, President Obama will get criticism from his fellow party members, saying that his choosing to compromise with the republicans is more likely to be seen as “giving in” to their demands. Overall, the criticism of any president, despite his or her party af�iliation, is nothing new, Rausch and Reed agreed. “It’s traditional,” Rausch said. “Republicans will attack him; democrats more liberal than him will attack him, and democrats more conservative than him will attack him.”

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News

The Dodos releases third album Neko Case contributes to ‘No Color’ DANNY GROSS

KWTS Music Director

he San Franciscobased duo, The Dodos, released their third album with a more polished sound and an array of songs that carry listeners from start to �inish with ease The Dodos are made up of Meric Long, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, and Logan Kroeber, in charge of all things percussion. Despite having only two members, The Dodos give us a sound that feels like it should be �illing a stadium. Long and Kroeber have crafted their unique sound with an atypical approach to their instrumentation. Kroeber never uses a kick drum on

Photo courtesy of caffeine-headache.net

his kit and favors his toms and rim shots from the snare drum. He also tapes a tamborine to his foot during live shows. Long, while using traditional guitars, also

brings out an eclectic mix of string instruments including a Springtime guitar and a Tafelburg drum guitar. The Dodos can’t really be pigeon-holed into

one category of music. However, their music contains elements of singersongwriters, folk, rock, and a variety of vocal styles. Meric Long’s soft-spoken words easily ebb and �low with what one might describe as urgent shouting in a melodic manner. His words demand attention and he has no problem drawing listeners in. With driving rhythms and furiously paced acoustic guitars, The Dodos carry on from their last albums Visitor and Time to Die. However, their latest efforts are more in line with their earlier works. Gone are the vibraphone and horns that made their last album such a deviation from their norm. No Color includes a myriad of harmonies, keys, and backup vocals from indie rock

goddess Singer. Song-writer Neko Case contributes to this album, pushing it to the point of just plain awesome. Songs like “Black Night” and “Don’t Stop” show the variety that can be seen on No Color. Each song pulls us in and at the end, you can’t wait for the next to begin because you want to keep listening and hear what else The Dodos have in store for you. No Color is The Dodos’ third album with Frenchkiss records and can be found in stores and on iTunes now. ***All of the songs mentioned in this article can be heard on KWTS 91.1, as well as on the KWTS website: www.wtamu.edu/kwts

TOMS founder visits WTAMU’s campus Students bring some criticism for shoe program KRYSTINA MARTINEZ Copy Editor

hrough WTAMU’s “21 Days of Change” campaign, TOMS shoes were the talk of the university in the days leading up to CEO Blake Mycoskie’s visit. Students scrambled to order shoes from the JBK, at the online store, or make last minute shopping trips to Janey’s at 2500 to purchase a pair of TOMS. The company is well-known for its “One for One” campaign, which donates a pair of shoes for every pair of TOMS sold to children overseas. Despite the good intentions, some have criticized the company and its “buy one, give one” business model as a clever marketing ploy. “Some students who participated in A Day Without Shoes or wear TOMS seem to think of themselves as a good person or even label others

who refuse to participate as a bad person,” Bomb Chavengsaksongkram, a sophomore Computer Science and Mathematics major, said. “Many of these people are not aware that they are falling into a marketing campaign or ‘trend’ that TOMS has created to sell more shoes.” The TOMS website states that they are a “for-profit organization with giving at its core.” Mycoskie was inspired to start up TOMS after visiting Argentina in 2006 and witnessing first-hand the effects of podoconiosis, a soil-transmitted foot disease, on children who did not own a pair of shoes. After selling his online driver’s education program, Mycoskie used the money to finance TOMS. Although he initially had only 250 shoes for sale, demand for the shoes grew to overwhelming proportions. TOMS sold its one millionth pair of shoes in Sept. 2010, and is well on its way to selling two million shoes. With popularity comes criticism,

which Mycoskie understands. “Anytime that you have a successful business, there is going to be criticism,” said Mycoskie. “The thing that we try to focus on is the actual results of what we’re doing. It’s not so much about the cost to help this [issue] but the fact that these [foot] diseases are debilitating people and ruining their lives.” The cost of a pair of TOMS runs around $40-$50, depending on the type of shoe purchased. However, some argue that the cost of shoes in third-world countries is not more than $5. “[TOMS] could easily be giving away two or three pairs of shoes instead of just one,” Eddie Torres, a sophomore pre-Nursing major, said. “[They] are making way too much money for the price they sell their shoes.” Chavengsaksongkram, a native of Thailand, believes that shoes are not the answer to helping children in third-world countries.

“Shoes are not very difficult to access, unlike medical supplies which are rare in third-world countries,” said Chavengsaksongkram. “I can also assure you that TOMS’ trendy shoes will not last longer than a couple of weeks in a harsh environment.” Although purchasing TOMS shoes is one way to help children in developing countries, Torres said there are different and more efficient ways that one can make a difference. “If [people] really want to help, they should sponsor a child through World Vision,” he said.

FRANKIE SANCHEZ TOMS CEO Blake Mycoskie autographs a flag.

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WTAMU employee does more than clean Carol Schawo shows love and passion for campus MARIA MOLINA Editor

he takes out her metallic chakra pendulum and moves it back and forth. The pendulum is her instrument to help ghosts around campus cross over. “I will say, ´Identities are you there? I want you to go to the light,´” she said. “I don´t see them. I feel them with me and help them cross over.” Her name is Carol Schawo and she has worked at WTAMU as a janitor for 32 years. She can be found everyday in the JBK cleaning very meticulously, but always with a smile on her face. “She is always happy and full of energy,” Kyle Baker, Music Performance major and worker at the JBK coffee shop said. “She is full of energy even when she busts her butt every day.” Carol explains that she likes her job most of the time and that currently she is going through an “ef�iciency thing” in which she gets her job done faster. “We´ve been short-handed so I dust and sweep too and still get done before

FRANKIE SANCHEZ Carol works every day at the JBK.

three,” she said. “It is not my job to clean the tables, but I want them to look better.” Deniase King, a co-worker and friend, explains that Carol is “picky at work” and does her job with extreme dedication, especially considering the size of the JBK. “This is no small [place],” she said. “People eat drink - people stay here.” Dr. De´Arno De´Armond, assistant professor of Marketing and Finance, has worked at WT for 10 years and said he has always seen Carol work hard and for extra time. “ [Carol] works so hard on things people take for granted,” he said. He remembers a particular

day in which Carol was concerned that she did not have enough time to clean the outside windows of the Classroom Center in preparation for Homecoming and the Centennial Convocation. “Carol´s concern for the beauty of our building really hit home with me in that she cares about how the place looks, how it smells, how it is perceived by not only our current students, but potential future ones as well,” De´Armond said in his nomination to Carol. “In many cases, Carol may understand more about retention than many of us.” This inspired him to nominate Carol as Outstanding Staff Supporter this year, an award which Carol won. This award is very meaningful for Carol. She said she is not used to receiving recognition and praise. “I cried because I am not used to it. I wasn´t honored much growing up,” she said. “It is nice that someone recognized that in me, that I work so hard.” Even though she enjoys her job, her ultimate dream is to have a healing facility. In 1999, she got her massage therapist license and she wishes she could practice more often so

she can help and heal people. Wildlife Biology major, works “I am a child of a light,” she at the coffee shop located at the stated. “I have this gift. I was JBK. She won a trip to Turkey told I am a pure spirit and when thanks to an essay she wrote someone is not, I know it.” for WT Readership last year For Carol, everything around and she thinks that Carol gave everyone is about energy and her good luck. attraction. ”She gave me that good luck “Your computer is in your I guess I needed to win the trip solar plexus in stomach,” she and stuff,” she said. “But even if explained. “Some people are that had nothing to do with me toxic and get your energy.” winning the trip, at least it had She also explained that healto do with the fact that it gave ing works only if the person me con�idence and security in believes in it. Some, however, myself before they announced do not believe this works. She is the winners for the trip.” aware, but does not care about Carol said she tries to enjoy what others think. her life to the fullest and states “A lot worry about me that that something that she dislikes know me, but they don´t know is super�iciality. my gift,” she said. “Some people “I want to be as real as I am, are not meant to understand, I don´t want people to change it is rare that people can get on me,” she said. “I am happy being my level and understand me.” myself.” Carol thinks that Deniase understands her better than other people. They have known each other for four Photo courtesy of Carol Schawo years, but it is only in the past year that their relationship transformed into friendship. Deniase believes in Carol´s gift and said that unlike others, her gift is real. “A lot use it as a gimmick to make money,” Deniase said. “Carol doesn´t do that. Carol and Dr. De’ Armond at the award ceremony. Natalia Rodriguez, a

don’t have to teach the same way to every class, so I modify the lessons to custom-�it each class.” Another one of WT’s honorees is Paula Schlegel, instructor of Communication Studies. She was previously honored in 2007-2008 with a Faculty Excellence Award from the College of Fine Arts and Humanities. Schlegel said that she considers WT to be a great place to teach. “I love WT because the faculty and staff care about the students´ success,” she said.

Students’ comments and critiques on the end-of-year professor evaluations determine the faculty who are honored. It’s not surprising that both Horsley and Schlegel were quick to commend their hardworking students. “My students are special in the same way that everyone’s students are special: each one is a unique individual with strengths and weaknesses,” said Horsley. “We try to build on the strengths and turn the weaknesses into strengths.” Schlegel noted she feels inspired by her students to

WTAMU sweeps Teaching Excellence Awards Laura Stevens Staff Writer

TAMU has long been recognized as a great place to get an education. This year, students’ feedback at semester evaluations was able to select 80 faculty members for the A&M System Teaching Excellence Awards. Selected by The Texas A&M University System, over 250 recipients were awarded $697,500. WT bested the system’s 10 other campuses, with 80 outstanding faculty members recognized.

One of this year’s recipients is David Horsley, professor of freshman English composition. This is his �irst time being recognized. “What makes me proud is the fact that my students themselves chose me for this honor,” Horsley said. “That’s a nice feeling.” Horsley said that WT gives him unique teaching opportunities. “I like teaching here because of the freedom I’m given to teach in whatever way seems most effective with a particular class of students,” he said. “I

stretch her comfort zone.

“They remind me that the process of doing something new and often intimidating is rewarding,” she said. “They also remind me to have fun” Both Horsley and Schlegel felt grateful for the acknowledgment. “It is an honor to be recognized for doing something I am passionate about,” Paula said. “I work hard to personalize the information I teach in my courses in ways that students can apply to their personal and professional lives.”