Mar. 7, 2018
ThePRAIRIE
Vol. 102 Iss. 2
WTAMU receives $2.5 million a gift from Happy State Bank Happy State Bank offered $2.5 million to West Texas A&M for the university’s Agricultural Sciences Complex. The announcement of the donation was made on Tuesday, Feb. 27, and is one of the top five gifts that WT has received. “We understand agriculture and the importance of agriculture to this area,” said J. Pat Hickman, Chairman and CEO of Happy State Bank. During the announcement, it was also revealed that one of the newest facilities’ will be named the Happy State Bank Academic and Research Building. “We, in the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, are overwhelmed with the generosity of Happy State Bank in their support of excellent teaching and research opportunities for students and faculty in the Department of agricultural sciences. It’s an exciting time to be part of agriculture at
WT,” Lal K. Almas, interim Dean of the Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences said. This is not the first gift that the bank has given to WT. There have been various donations made to the university. However, this most recent donation is the largest that the bank has made in its entire history. “[This is] without question the largest donation we have ever made to anyone, ” said Hickman. The reception of the gift will help WT reach its financial aim for the Agricultural Sciences Complex. The complex will be home to many classrooms, research labs, offices and more. “To me, the donation means more opportunities for a better education, for example to learn how to grow crops more efficiently with less land to ‘feed the nine’ as mentioned at the ceremony yesterday,” senior agriculture business major Bailey Meadows said. Meadows believes that the donation will help the department grow as a whole. “I also believe that this
Students working with local organizations in S. Africa
Substance recovery group gains footing at WT
Hannah Nelson Senior Reporter
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said. “Somebody is going to have to work really, really hard to give me any kind of negative surrounding this partnership with WT. It’s all 100 percent positive, you’re helping our area, you’re helping kids, you’re helping agriculture, and it helps Happy State Bank.” Hickman he had a close relationship to WT throughout his Hannah Nelson/The Prairie life. He grew up and Happy State Bank recently donated $2.5 million to WT’s Agricultural lives in Canyon, his Sciences Complex. wife is a WT graduate, and his mom and opportunity will make us million for the bank, so for dad both worked at WT. more known on the map,” us today to be able to write a Meadows said. “With our $2.5 million dollar check it is For him, giving this gift new building we can have beyond our wildest dreams, was something he felt a better graduate program our wildest imagination,” both professionally and instead of top students Hickman said. “Who could personally he needed to do. transferring to another top imagine that we could write “My wife said last night, as program.” a check for greater then two we were headed off to bed, Happy State Bank is the times what we paid for the she said ‘your mom and third largest agricultural bank 28 years ago, that is dad would be so proud,’” Hickman said. “That has bank in the state of Texas. crazy.” The bank was founded 110 Happy State Bank was probably been, from a years ago in the town of founded just two years before personal point of view, Happy, south of Canyon, WT. According to Hickman, the sweetest thing that she and the first branch was built the bank and the University could have said to me or the sweetest thought that I have in Canyon 28 years ago. have a connection. “When we bought the bank “Its a real source of pride, it had.” in Happy we paid a $1,2 is very gratifying,” Hickman Buffs, Lady Buffs win LSC tournament championship
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Equestrian team continues Communication Week 2018 excellence with regional success
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NEWS
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Mar. 7, 2018
Students working with local organizations in South Africa Tova Kibal Senior Reporter Students at West Texas A&M are going on a service learning trip to Cape Town, South Africa, early March to collaborate with local organizations with the goal to make a social change. The students enrolled in the faculty-led program have been divided into three groups, each group working with a different organization. The three organizations are the Big Issue project, Aspire Youth and the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum. The students collected children’s books during WT Communication Week to bring with them on their two week trip to Cape Town. “I’m excited about getting a fresh perspective,” said Halei Story, WT graduate student. “...seeing those parallels of what is different, which hopefully gives me a refreshed perspective, and
being able to continue the fight at home.” This is Story’s first time outside the United States. She is one of the students working with Aspire Youth, an organization that gives out microloans to young entrepreneurs. The student group will highlight four youth in the program and put together videos for them, to be posted on their personal websites as well as Aspire Youth’s website. ‘‘It’s really just trying to highlight where they were, how Aspire Youth has helped them and why it’s important to join the program or even donate money to the program,’’ Story said. The students are visiting places like Table Mountain, that offers a 360 degree view of Cape Town and Boulders Beach, known for being populated by a colony of African penguins. The groups are also going on a safari and visiting the
STAFF OF THE PRAIRIE
famous Robben Island, where former President of South Africa Nelson Mandela sat imprisoned for 18 years. For graduate student Adam Gonzales, this trip is about more than service learning. Being a gay latino and a former catholic, he explained that he looks forward to being part of the majority again. ‘‘Here, I don’t always feel like I fit in. But over there, it’s going to be like ‘oh you’re just an American,’’’ Gonzales said. ‘‘I know it sounds weird to say, but i’m looking forward to experiencing that.’’ Hannah Ellis is a WT graduate student and the director for the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum group. The group’s goal is to help the museum increase its revenue and visitors, and they will be and creating videos and revamping the museum’s website to gain
Editors Nick Alvarado Austin Heinen
Emma Stonum/ The Prairie attention to the museum. Ellis will be working directly with the museum’s director on improving the museum’s business page on facebook. She believes the page could be a good platform to promote the different events the museum hosts, such as traditional dances and meetings. “If there is tourists in the area, they might be interested in coming and paying a small donation to watch the dances or come
and learn a little about the museum,” she said. Ellis believes it’s important that the students remember that they are not only representing WT but also the United States during they stay in South Africa. “When we are down there, we have to remember that we are guests in their country,” she said. “We kind of have to put some of our American, westernized, culture at bay and really listen and learn their culture.”
Sports Editor Allie Smith
Adviser Dr. Nancy Garcia
Online Editor Mason Bray
Photographer Natalia Molina
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 1,000 and is printed by The Pampa 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.
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NEWS
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DLS speaker gives insight on water resource issues Hannah Nelson Senior Reporter
R
ethinking one of the world’s prime resources and looking at the future of water and water revolution. This and more was discussed by DLS Speaker Dr. David Sedlak. Environmental engineering professor from the University of California at Berkeley, and author of “Water 4.0,” Dr. David Sedlak spoke at one of West Texas A&M University’s Distinguished Lecture Series event held Feb. 20th inside the Alumni Banquet Hall. “The country is undergoing a water revolution, and that water revolution is mainly happening in cities, because cities are running out of water as a result of population growth and a change in climate,” Sedlak said. “One of the key ways in which cities are addressing that water scarcity is by recycling their wastewater back into the drinking water supply, and increasingly we are also going to see desalination as an answer.” A key topic Sedlak discussed was water revolution. The lecture
awesome opportunity that he decided to come out,” Senior Caitlyn Cecchini said. One audience member Dr. James R. Clark retired Dean and Professor Emeritus, Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences. While attending, Clark was able to increase his knowledge on the retreatment of water. “The retreatment of water to use to Hannah Nelson/The Prairie drink, I mean I knew Speaker David Sedlack following his lecture at the Alumni that some of that was going on but I have not Banquet Hall. followed that and kept presented three water innovation now and what revolutions that have will be coming in the future up with that,” Clark said. Clark attended the event happened in order to aid the through his knowledge and interested in the lecture topic water issues that have been experience. “And that idea works and and the issue of water. presented. “We need to keep research “Water revolution means that becomes a revolution that we are content to bump and it spreads to other places money flowing so that along with our existing water and after that revolution, we people can explore different systems until they no longer can’t even remember what ways to conserve water, treat meet our needs, and when the problem was because the water, whatever,” Clark said. “You know I am as guilty as they cant meet our needs problems solved,” During the lecture, anybody, I flush that toilet, anymore we struggle, and faculty, and my wife does load and loads we fight, and we complain, students, and then we come up with community members were of wash every day, and I do able to learn about Sedlak, have a green lawn in the an idea,” Sedlak said. summertime.” Sedlack also presented his work, and water. The audience members “Besides my major being his thoughts and ideas of were not the only “Water 4.0”. A topic present environmental engineering, in his book “Water 4.0: The I’ve kinda been interested beneficiaries of the night. Past, Present, and Future in some water processes and The lecture allowed Sedlak of the World’s Most Vital we have had to read Dr. to gain knowledge as well. “I came partially to raise Resource.” This is his take on Sedlak’s book in class before. awareness of ways in which what is happening in water I thought it was a pretty
we might make our water systems more efficient and I also came to learn,” Talking to a wide variety of people has given Sedlak the ability to learn from the people he meets and the place he is at. “I [mostly] enjoy meeting people in a different parts of the country who have had different experiences in water and learning how they are responding to their water security challenges,” Time was taken out of the last part of the lecture for audience members to ask Sedlak questions. The first couple of people to ask questions received a copy of Sedlak’s book. “The question and answer part of the program is the time you really get to understand how the audience interpreted what you had to say, because they will ask questions that show whether they understood it and which parts of the lecture they found most useful,” Overall, the DLS event was a great night for everyone to learn about the resource of water. Just about any water problem can be solved if people set their minds to it, come together, and collaborate,” Sedlak said.
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Mar. 7, 2018
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Student-led substance abuse recovery group gains footing at WT Allie Smith Sports Editor WT has a new student health initiative forming, fueled by a passionate member of the student body. The Summit is a collegiate substance abuse assistance group that was born ready to expand and serve WT. A Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor since 2011, master’s counseling student Pace Lawson headed this initiative and plans to become a Licensed Professional Counselor to work with those looking to recover from addiction. “I flunked out of college in 2005 because I was too busy partying and addicted to cocaine,” Lawson said. “A support group like ours will hopefully provide a person on the verge of self-destruction a place to connect and reboot, without having to drop out and start all over, like I did. The group is also for people already in recovery; for those who have overcome addiction and are looking for a place to connect and make friends with likeminded people.” The group meets every Friday morning at 10:00 downstairs in the Jack B.
Kelley Student Center systems for years. the University of Texas “Most universities have Maroon room and is at Austin’s program as a aimed at being universally what’s called a collegiate student and continues to welcoming for anyone in recovery program that work with substance abuse the student body struggling does basically what [The in Amarillo as one of the Summit does],” Lawson lead Licensed Master Social with this disorder. “Really all it takes is said. “Stephanie Black- Worker for the Amarillo people,” Lawson said. “We Nunn was heavily involved Recovery from Alcohol and need passionate people on in the collegiate recovery Drugs program. As someone campus that have recovered, program at the University of in recovery herself, she said or are recovering from Texas. Texas Tech has one that programs like these addiction, to dive in and that’s probably more than are crucial to the university a decade old. It’s just one of environment. help out.” This initiative fills a void those things that campuses “Because addiction takes across the country have off from ages 18 to 24, currently present at WT. “The group is for people started to build into their addiction is a huge social who want to get sober service model.” and public health crisis and people who want to Black-Nunn learned from going on in our country,” stay sober,” Summit Black-Nunn said. member and student Jo Lowery/The Prairie “Recovery is life and The Summit meets on Fridays at 10 am in Justin D. said. “I we’ve got to keep and the JBK Maroon Room. want to stay sober. really have a space My life has gotten for people to stay in tremendously better recovery. You know, since I got sober but often times, alcohol I found that having use and college go support is one of the hand and hand. It key things, among is kind of part of the having a program to culture, unfortunately, work. I know when I but people die during was in college before, that time.” I needed a recovery Black-Nunn said that group so now I want recovery programs to get that started for like The Summit are people who might what helped her get be in that same through her graduate situation.” and post-graduate WT is not the first work. After spending to take this step for time at schools where students. Other substance abuse universities have been recovery programs making this a part of existed and others their student health where they did not, she
accredits a large amount of her success to the support groups that included others her age going through similar experiences and stress patterns. “Being able to have a place where they have that support for people in recovery or people who are needing to seek recovery or people who are seeking recovery so that they can become educated and further their lives [is important],” Black-Nunn said. “I basically went from only having a GED to when I got in recovery, I went back to school and now I have a masters degree in clinical social work.” Lawson said that there has been help from all over to support this idea as it comes to fruition and despite the group’s humble beginnings, this small idea has the potential to be mighty. “I can’t complain about any lack of support,” Lawson said. “It’s been pretty easy for people to understand what we’re doing. Right now, because it’s a new thing, it’s just me and one other student in recovery. I hope [to] reach the few other people on campus in recovery as well. It’s not a large audience, but they’re out there.”
Mar. 7, 2018
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FEATURE
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Saunders continues to pursuit her passsion, reflect time at WT Jo Lowry Junior Reporter Classmates and staff can feel like a big family when doing something with a passion. This is what Tiffany Saunders felt when she went to West Texas A&M University. “When I went to college, I didn’t feel like I was in college, I felt like I was just doing something I loved,” Saunders said. The Austin ISD media services coordinator got her start in her field at West Texas A&M University, where she served as sports director in 1998 and g e n e r a l manager in 1999. She graduated spring 2000 and quickly found her niche in the sports broadcasting world. “When I was eightyears old, I knew I wanted to go into broadcasting of some sort,” Saunders said. W h i l e Saunders
chased after broadcasting in college, she also reached for other goals. During her last year at WT, Saunders attained an intern sports broadcasting position at NewsChannel 10 where she received the position of weekend sports anchor, which made her the first female sports broadcaster in Amarillo history. During Saunders’ career, she was in the right place at the right time when she received a position in a newspaper, as a teacher, and all within a year of moving closer to her family. Saunders was not the only
female sports director at WT throughout the years. In fall 2009, Tammy Valentine got the position as well. She had the same passion as Saunders, and wants to encourage women to reach for what they want. “The key to achieving success for young women is ‘zooming out’ and really focusing on adding value to an organization’s bottom line,” Valentine said. With the experience of being in broadcasting, Valentine founded her own digital marketing company called LuckyTamm Digital Marketing. Looking back, Valentine values the experiences she got at WT. “WTAMU will always be near and dear to my heart,” Valentine said. “I believe the people, the program, and the faculty support is a huge reason why it’s the best.” Women have recently had more of a difficult time getting their name recognized in their respective fields, but Ryan Hazelwood has a different perspective of how it was. “When I was in school, we did not
Photos provided by Tiffany Saunders think about those things [progression of women}, we just put the best people for the position on staff,” Hazelwood said. Hazelwood was a Mass Communication major from 1997-1999 and is now the news director for KOAA5 in Colorado Springs. Hazelwood felt that putting Saunders in the sports director position was the best decision for the best outcome.
Saunders is pursuing her passion for broadcasting in Austin as the manager of the Austin Independent School District TV station as well as teaching a media class. She considers herself lucky in everything she has been fortunate enough to pursue. “I want to do everything,” Saunders said. “I want to try to do everything that I’m interested in or have a passion for.”
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ORG. SPOTLIGHT
Mar. 7, 2018
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Campus program offers financial guidance for students Hannah Nelson Senior Reporter
An on-campus program focused on teaching students money management skills. From student loans to budgeting this program is dedicated to helping Buffs learn financial independence. Buff Smart is an oncampus program that started in August 2017. The program focuses on giving students the ability to acquire financial knowledge. “Our main goal with Buff Smart is to give student tools and resources to help them manage their money effectively that way they graduate with as little debt as possible,” Meghan Williams said, who is a Buff Smart Coordinator. One way that Buff Smart has promoted itself is through their classroom presentations. Buff Smart come into their classroom to talk about topics such as student loan debt, credit cards, and budgeting. “We’ve had several students that have seen our classroom presentations and then come in they come in for a one-on-one coaching session,” Williams said. “They get to thinking, how can I be different, how
can I make sure I can pay off my student loans that I’ve taken out before I graduate.” The main resource that the organization offers to students are the one-on-one peer coaching sessions. This is when a student can schedule a time to meet individually with a peer financial coach. “We like to talk to each buff separately because every buff has their own path,” said senior business law major and peer financial coach, Joseph Cannon. Peer financial coaches are students at WT who have been trained to help other students Photo provided by Joseph Cannon with financial and the one-on-one situations. They also work coaching sessions and the closely with what Buff Smart curriculum that goes into does and teaches. that,” Williams said. “They are the ones that are This semester Buff Smart creating the presentations is hosting a six-week course
“It just basically goes over loans, credit cards, having a plan for future, budgeting, all that good stuff. All the basic stuff you need to know to manage your money,” Williams said. Each week focuses on a certain chapter within the book. Students who have attended each of the six events will be placed in a drawing for a scholarship. “It does take some hard work and it takes some discipline and so I hope that students can realize that and want to put in the work,” said peer financial coach and junior bachelor of business administration major, Stephen Coffey. These meetings are completely confidential. To learn more about Buff Smart or schedule a peer coaching session email BuffSmart@ wtamu.edu or visit their office at 115D the Classroom Center. “We are not a fast fix, that started Feb. 14. The course is based on the book but we will help them and “5 Mistakes You Can’t give them those tools and Afford to Make in College” resources so that they can written by Anthony Oneal go on and be successful,” Williams said. and Rachel Cruze.
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SPORTS
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Buffs,Lady Buffs win LSC tournament championship Austin Heinen Co-Editor The West Texas A&M basketball teams went off to Frisco for the Lone Star Conference tournament, from March 1st to March 4th. After having each team with the regular season title, both teams went all the way to win the tournament title as well. The Lady Buffs (27-4) started the tournament Thursday afternoon against Midwestern State. However, the game wouldn’t conclude until Friday afternoon as a leak in the roof of Dr. Prepper Arena caused the all further action to be postponed until the next day. WT would go on to win 70-49 and then defeat Texas A&M- Commerce the next day 68-55. Then finally, the Lady Buffs faced Tarleton State in the championship game where the WT came out victorious 80-66 to give the Lady Buffs their 14th tournament title and head coach Kristen Mattio’s first LSC tournament title at WT. Mattio feels good knowing that her players got to cut down the net. “We had a couple players that had never
potential regional hosting rights on the line. Despite trailing by 11 points at two different points of the game WT dug deep for an 80-76 win, where senior guards Jordan Evans and David Chavlovich both scored 21 points. Chavlovich now moves closer to the all-time LSC scoring record, being nine points shy. “They’re both guys who have been in the program for a long time,” WT men’s head basketball coach Tom Brown said. “They know what to expect, we don’t really have to tell them all the time. When you have
that you can start working with your freshman, the sophomores, it’s nice to have that.” David Chavlovich was named the tournament MVP after averaging about 20 points per game and seven assists. With Frisco being roughly 40 miles away from his hometown of Arlington, Chav was happy Austin Heinen/The Prairie to have the opportunity to The Buffs celebrate their win with the conference play so close to his family. tournament trophy at Dr. Pepper Arena in Frisco on “It’s great, I have a lot of Sunday, March 4 after topping UPTB. family members come out even had a chance to the started their tournament here, a lot of friends and net before,” Mattio said. action on Friday at Kitty they just love watching me “When you seen them have Macgee Arena in Denton, play,” Chavlovich said. that opportunity, that’s what TX against Eastern New “They haven’t seen me play fuels you as a coach and you M e x i c o . since high school, so want everyone to walk away Despite seeing Sophomore guard Megan Gamble cuts the it’s great to come out with a piece of net during a once 30 point net after the Lady Buffs topped Tarleton to here and I kind wish their career at some point, lead drop to 13, win the conference tournament title. our regional was out and it’s so hard to do.” WT held on for Austin Heinen/The Prairie here but I’m glad it Sophomore guard Megan a 86-70 win. back at home.” Gamble was named the The Buffaloes The Lady Buffs tournament MVP after then brought earned the two averaging 14 points per their semiseed in their region game as well as three steals, final game to and will play their and four rebounds. Gamble Dr. Pepper first game against says she just felt like she had arena against Arkansas-Fort Smith to step up to help the team’s Texas A&Min Lubbock, March success. Commerce. 9th at 2:30. The “I just felt like I needed The Buffs won men earned the top to step up this weekend,” a physical seed and will host Gamble said. “I knew we game, 73-63 the south central were going to have three and then met regional tournament. tough games regardless of UTPB in the Their first games is who we were going to play. championship against Colorado I had a lot of confidence game with the School of Mines on coming into this weekend.” t o u r n a m e n t March 10th. The men’s basketball team title and
8 SPORTS
Mar. 7, 2018
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WT Athletics announces new apparel deal with Under Armour Austin Heinen Co-Editor
The West Texas A&M Buffaloes announced a fresh off the press, seven- year partnership with Under Armour to outfit all 17 teams in the department, with a potential three-year extension in the future. WT’s new equipment will ship from the Cardinal Sports Center in Lubbock, TX. The Buffs will join a exclusive crew sponsored by Under Armour, with programs such as NCAA DI Auburn, Wisconsin, and Texas Tech Universities. Director of Athletics Michael McBroom believes that this deal can only positively affect the university and department. “I think it’s great for the university to be associated with a well-known brand,” McBroom said. “The key for us is the quality of their gear and the ability to provide for all of our teams. We are not a typical athletic department. We have [programs ranging from] equestrian to football, track and field and Under Armour can handle that.” McBroom said the best part is that Under Armour also wanted to be the provider to WT athletics. “They just made it very clear from the onset,”
Nick Alvarado/ The Prairie INSERT INCREDIBLY INSPIRING BASKETBALL LINE SO WE CAN ALL MOVE ON WITH OUR LIVES PLS McBroom said. “We’re one of the top programs in Division II and they like to affiliate with winning programs and successful programs at any level.” One of the school’s winningest programs is the women’s basketball team. Head coach Kristen Mattio believes that wearing a brand like Under Armour is an exciting way to gain recognition for WT programs across the country.
“Anytime we can be recognized by a national brand is great,” Mattio said. “We think West Texas is national as well. You should be able to go across the country and understand what West Texas A&M means. To have the name of Under Armour behind us, I think that’s great.” Another sport that is excited about this news is Buff Football. Head coach Hunter Hughes said having
a first-class sponsor will make WT a top choice for future Buffs. “I think when our players and recruits come in and they see that we are with a program such as Under Armour, I think it’s going to bring massive dividends,” Hughes said. “Under Armour is the big name right now. There’s a lot of olympic athletes wearing Under Armour, a lot of professional athletes that wear Under
Armour and endorse Under Armour, and a lot of top DI programs wear Under Armour and we want to be a top Division II program with Under Armour.” Keep an eye out to see West Texas A&M athletic teams sporting the Under Armour logo to kick off the 2018-19 season. They will have two years to transition from the gear provided by the previous sponsoring company, Russell.
Mar. 7, 2018
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SPORTS
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Buffs extend winning streak to five games in sweep of Tarleton The No. 14 WT baseball team extended their winning streak to five as they took all four games against LSC opponent Tarleton State. These games do not count towards their conference record but definitely helped build morale as they continue to head forward into the heat of their season. The Buffs’ sparked a dominant offense that highlighted the final three games of the series, plating a whopping total of 44 runs in their three days of play.
Only the first game had a score where WT scored less than 14 runs. In the series opener and the tightest round of this non-conference fight, junior right-handed pitcher Joe Corbett struck out 12 batters while pitching seven innings in a 3-2 victory. Senior outfielder Jimmy Cubillos’ pair of sacrifice hits that scored Nelson Paredes in the fifth inning and Blake Weaver in the seventh inning. in the opening game of the series. These ended up being the key to the Buffs’
claim to the win column. In game two, the bats were firing for both teams showed up as the Buffs plated 10 runs in the seventh inning that was key in a 16-13 win. Senior infielder Luis Amaro fanned a grand slam into left field en route to the walk-off victory. Junior catcher Tag Baxter went three-for-four from the plate with an RBI and recording a double. Third baseman Darius Carter went two-for-four offensively, tallying two doubles and three RBIs respectively.
Junior left handed pitcher Dalton Tillison picked up his first win of the season as he pitched an inning and a third. The defense did their part in game three of the series as they offense did not fade away, earning a 14-3 victory. Zach Dixon picked up the win in a solid showing on the mound with five strikeouts as Braden Baker struck out six as he picked up his second save on the season. Nick Canas led the team, hitting two-for-four from the plate, finishing with three
to take the series from the TexAnns. Junior Kylee Moore continued her solid offensive outing as she sent two to out of the confines of Schaeffer Park throughout the weekend as she ups her tally to 10 homers so far on the season. Senior Kilee Halbert and junior Shayne Starkey shined in their respective performances in the` week, with Halbert striking out a total of 13 batters in two games and Starkey recording five strikeouts in the wins. In the rubber game of the series, Moore homered to left field to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first
inning. After a solo homer from the TexAnns, Starkey homered to right field that scored Allie Smith to take the lead back, 4-2 in the bottom of the second. Tarleton responded with solo home runs of their own in the third and seventh inning from Georgia Capell that knotted the game back up at four. Hardin then homered into center field that brought in McBroom with a 2-1 count as the Lady Buffs took the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday, March 3. Errors were the defining factor in the second game,
where the Lady Buffs fell in what was the first game of the twinbill on Saturday, 14-6. The defense struggled with seven errors as the wind blew south-southwest at 15 mph on a clear day. The Lady Buffs did see the lead at one point in the bottom of the first as Starkey walked as bases were leoaded, bring in Hardin and advancing Moore and Smith. Capbell had the response for Tarleton in the third inning, hitting a two-run homer down the left field line off a full court to take the lead back, 3-2, prior to a eight run sixth inning for the
RBIs and a double. In the final gae of the series, Darin Cook struck out 10 batters en route to a 14-4 victory. Christian Loya and Canas each had home runs respectively in the fourth and fifth innings. The Buffs will look to keep their winning ways rolling as they make the long road trip to Kingsville to face the Javelinas in a four-game series starting on Friday, March 9.
- Allie Smith
Lady Buff softball earn sweep as Hardin hits historic walkoff The No. 9 WT softball team took the first and last games of their three-game Lone Star Conference opening series this weekend as they ramp up conference play The Lady Buffs bounced back from a road loss to regional rival Lubbock Christian by taking two games in a three-game series against Tarleton to ramp up Lone Star Conference play. A four-year starter and two-time NFCA All American, senior Ashley Hardin tied the career record of home runs in walk off fashion to claim the Lady Buffs’ 6-4 victory
TexAnns. McBroom and Moore were the only player to record RBIs in a defensive opening game to the series. The Lady Buffs will start a eight-game road skid with a quadruple header against Western New Mexico in Silver City, NM on March 9-10 followed by double headers against Regis University on March 13 and Colorado State-Pueblo the next day. They will finish the Spring Break tour at home against conference rival and last year’s national championship runner up, Angelo State on March 1617.
- Nick Alvarado
10 LINEUP
Mar. 7, 2018
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Equestrian team continues excellence with regional success Allie Smith Sports Editor
the best of their ability. The amount of teamwork and effort from everyone really showed this weekend in the success we experienced. As for nationals, it’s important to keep pushing yourself in the weight room as well as in practice. Even though life gets a little crazy during the spring semester, it is important to keep your priorities in-line, and keep giving the team your maximum effort.” Another name to mention in a conversation regarding youth and finesse would be sophomore Rayleigh Rowell. Just in the last two weeks, Rowell has claimed titles which include, but are not limited to, Regional Reserve Champion in Advanced Horsemanship last weekend
The Panhandle of Texas is proud of its agricultural roots and often, natives grow up working closely with livestock. West Texas A&M honors that local culture in the best possible way with a nationallycompetitive and awardwinning Equestrian team. The understanding that ribbons and titles come with the execution of repetitive quality riding has transcended each generation of WT riders. Age is not the deciding factor in the acquisition of championship hardware. For example, consider Kendall Woelmer. She took home third place this weekend in WTC. She is a sophomore Photo courtesy of Maggie Murphy in the program and is competing in the top classes of riding. Yet, she consistently takes some of the highest titles in her division. “This weekend went great,” Woellmer said of last weekend when she took the title of Region High Point Rider. “Everyone put on their game faces and competed to
to help the team become the Region High Point Team. She has had two successful years with WT and shows no signs of breaking stride anytime soon. “The spring semester is the culmination of all of goals that we have been working towards all year,” Rowell sad. “I feel blessed to be a part of such a supportive team and to be a part of the team is a once in a lifetime experience. It’s an honor to be competing at this level and I am looking forward to finishing the season strong.” Of course, with age comes maturity, which works towards a rider’s advantage. This can be seen in senior Maggie Murphy as she continues to fill her trophy case. After a 7th place
finish at Nationals last year for Individual Novice, she continues to produce titles. She earned Region Reserve High Point Rider, 3rd place in Open Horsemanship, and Open Reining Reserve Region Champion last weekend. “For me personally, my mind set is having an attitude of striving for excellence not perfection, keeping in mind that just one ride- no matter how important- still does not define me as a rider,” Murphy said. This team continues to bring medals back to Canyon and members say that a lot of it can be attributed to the their relationship as mentors and friends. “This team has made a major impact on my life here at WT,” Wo el l m e r said. “They really are the best example of the family environment that is experienced all across the WTAMU campus. Aside from a lot of life lessons and experiences, the girls have become
a major part of my life. Through the highs and the lows, they are always there supporting me.” As they continue towards semi-finals at Black Hawk College in Galva, Illinois and then onto national competitions, having that kind of a bond becomes the final variable in a championship equation. “There’s nothing better than having a team behind you cheering when you go in the pen,” Murphy said. “My teammates are my greatest competition and push me to be better every day. I owe all my success to their support.” Age does play a factor when the word ‘last’ begins to show up. Last competition. Last bus trip. Last ride. That word is surreal for seniors but then again, age cannot dictate everything. “For me, of course I want to make my senior year the best, so it is very important to me,” Murphy said. “But in all honesty, no matter what, I am going to be proud of the hard work I’ve put in this year, and throughout my entire college career, so personally when I look back I’m just pushing play on what I’ve already been preparing for.”
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In our previous print edition, The Prairie announced that the KWTS 91.1 radio station at West Texas A&M University had hired Ashley Venable as its first female sports director. Soon after printing and posting this story online, we learned that our story contained a major factual error: Several other female sports directors have worked for KWTS throughout the station’s history. With our resolve to report the truth standing strong, we take this opportunity to share about what we have
EDITORIAL 11
We are here for our readers learned from this incident, and how we will strive for accuracy moving forward. When the news of Ashley Venable’s position was first brought to our attention, we had no reason to doubt that Venable was the first female sports director. We followed procedure, interviewed multiple sources about the historic nature of Venable’s hire, and felt confident in the story we produced. Through comments on social media, we soon learned about the other female sports directors that had held Venable’s
position, including Tiffany Saunders, the first female sports director of KWTS who served in 1998. We immediately started working to verify the information and reached out to Saunders (read more about Saunders and her story on page 5). This new information should not take away from Venable’s success. As shown by the mistaken belief that Venable is the first female sports director, KWTS has seen very few female sports directors throughout its history. Venable takes her stand as sports director
in a field that remains male-dominated, and her determination and hard work is worthy of recognition. This issue has served as a learning experience to teach us how to vet information better and how to handle our mistakes when they arise. We appreciate our readership for holding us to a standard of truth, and we ask that our readers speak out whenever they question or disagree with the stories we report. This process of questioning and this accountability to our audience leads us to
truth, which is always our ultimate pursuit. In the future, we will remember to hold ourselves to this same ideal, and we will verify and evaluate our information accordingly. While we cannot promise that we will never make another mistake, we can promise that we will work our hardest to avoid mistakes, and we will always bring the truth to light if an error is made. We may not be able to serve our readers with constant perfection, but we will always serve our readers with constant integrity.
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Belmont University, WT ink partership to expand music business program Hannah Nelson Senior Reporter Sharing a passion, teaching students, and building careers. Belmont University has recently siged a partnership with WT to sponsor the growing music industry program. “It was a question of seeing an opportunity to serve a broader constituent of students and recognizing that we have a lot of students who have interests that went beyond what our program used to be limited to,” Dr. Robert Hansen School of Music Professor and Department Head said. Students at WT are able to take classes and receive credit hours at Belmont University. Students can take up to 19 hours worth of Belmont classes at WT’s tuition rate. “It has been very exciting to see the interest that it has generated for sure, and how the program has evolved since we first started talking about it, it has been a four to five year process, and their are a lot of hoops to go through when you add a program.” Hanson said. This degree has recently been approved by the National Association of
Schools of Music to insure the adequate for WT to offer. “It is not just getting it added into the universit y, which is one huge process of creating curriculum in a new program, but because we are an accredited program, we also have to have the Photo by Rik Anderson approval students will have the ability of our accrediting body.” to get certified in Avid Hansen said. ProTools for recording Students are able to sit in a technology. WT’s Professor WT classroom and take the of Music Steven Dolezal is same class, at the same time, actually has the top ranking as students in Nashville, TN in the nation for Pro Tools. through online connections. “I’ve been able to learn “I’ve been writing songs multiple things throughout since I was 12. I never my college experience. thought I wanted to study From being able to write music but my Dad told me scores to improving my that he sees my true side performance image. Also,I when I write songs and learned that there are many that I should pursue music. ways to succeed in the Music Obviously, I took his advice Industry and that if you seriously,” junior music work hard, you’ll make it business and composition far,” Funes. major Alexandra Funes said. During the partnership While studying at WT process, many faculty
members from WT were able to travel to Nashville, twice, where they met with repesentatives from Belmont University. “To partner with Belmont University just shot it to the moon,” Hansen said. “This is something so original and so unique that no other school in the country has what we have with Belmont and they don’t have that with anybody but us. Coordinator of music business, Dr. Bobby D. Bledsoe has worked in the music industry for over 35 years, worked to create a program here at WT to help
students that share his passion for music. “I tell every student that thinks about my program that the quickest way to Nashville is through my program,” Bledsoe said. For Bledsoe, he hopes that the program will continue to grow and for it to gain more students. He also hopes that as the program grows they will be able to increase their resources with more scholarships and endowments. “The sky is the limit for where this can go, and I am very passionate about it,” Bledsoe said. “I am out selling it everyday because we have got to get the word out to people [so that they] know that they can come here and go 4 years then go to Nashville and get a job.” Bledsoe believes that with the program will be a great tool for students and with hard work students can succeed. “ I think I’m going to gain a lot of knowledge in my field and I’m going to be more competitive in the music industry,” Funes said. “Talent isn’t more valuable than knowledge.”
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ENTERTAINMENT 13
Inside scoop on ‘Cuphead’: Get ready for a kerfuffle Will Amos Senior Reporter Cuphead is a simple, but incredible run-and-gun shooter that involves the player defeating bosses more than running through levels. It’s story is quite simple. Cuphead and his pal, Mugman, decided to go roll the dice in a casino owned by The Devil. Cuphead lost after trying to gamble for it all, so they plead to The Devil to not take their souls. The Devil offers for them to collect the souls of debtors of The Devil in place of their souls. Now, Cuphead, and Mugman if there’s a second player, need to defeat a myriad of bosses to save their souls. The game is simple in it’s design, but nevertheless difficult. The games levels are mostly boss fights but occasionally break out into run-andgun sections similar to Gunstar Heroes or Contra. Cuphead and Mugman have plenty at their disposal. This ranges from a variety of weapons to a decent amount of passive changes to them. Cuphead has a parry
system where if the player is mid-air and hits the jump button at the right moment against a pink projectile, they avoid damage and build up a super meter as well. The super meter allows for devastating attacks depending on what weapon the player is using. Cuphead has amazing style in spades. It draws from 1930’s style cartoons and has the same amount of lunacy in it’s design. Bosses will change and shift about, becoming bizarre in the blink of an eye. Bosses have multiple, imaginative forms
that just add to the surreal look of it all. The music is phenomenal as well. The soundtrack fits the 1930’s aesthetic with sounds like jazz to ragtime. The sound effects are amazing as well. Every sound helps immerse you in the classical cartoon world. The difficulty could be offputting to some, but they do give an easy option of sorts. When selecting a boss fight, the player can pick to play on simple rather than normal. The simple mode makes the game significantly easier for those who just want to enjoy
the look of Cuphead. The cooperative feature is well-integrated as well as being drop-in and dropout with ease. The game is much easier with a second player as whenever a player dies, the other player can parry over a ghost version of the dead player and revive them. Cuphead does what it sets out to do and makes the medium of video games all the more richer for it. What makes this more amazing is that this is from a first time video game developer. It’s hard, but fun gameplay,
fantastic presentation, and generally good design make it a worthwhile purchase. This game comes in at a fantastic nine out of 10 well-timed parries. Much like performing a parry, Cuphead requires skill to beat all of the challenges that lie ahead. While some people might shrug at the idea of challenge. Many people will enjoy how hard Cuphead is due to the sheer satisfaction of beating such a challenge. The game is currently sold for PC and XBOX One.
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Communication Week 2018
Game Show Students prepare to participate in a game of “Flip Cup” for the first event of Communication Week.
Game Show Junior Khashari Wilson describes an object to his opponent in a game of “Box of Lies.”
Alumni Table Talk Keynote Speaker Jill Whitfield spaks o students about her experiences in the entertainment industry.
Celebrity Dress-Up Day Senior Sarah Young, Senior Megan Nelson, Senior William McAfee, Senior Halle Hebbel and Jonathan Espinoza pose as celebrities.
Celebrity Dress-Up Day Senior Megan Nelson as Emma Stone posing with her friend Matthew Block, a junior.
Project Runway WT students participate in Dr. Mary Liz Brooks’ version of Ellen’s dancing musical chairs.
Project Runway West Texas Idol took the stage with Dr. Nancy Garcia impersonating head judge Jennifer Lopez with Senior Allie Smith and Junior Tova Kibal.
Project Runway Dr. Mary Liz Brooks as Ellen celebrates her second Project Runway victory.
Junior Staff/The Prairie