October 15, 2013 • Vol. 96, No. 8
www.theprairienews.com
Hastings Entertainment closing its doors CJ Berryman
duced their debt by $17 million. The article said a report filed with the federal Securities and Exchange Commission one day earlier cited the closure of seven stores assisted in the reduction of that debt. In another article in the Amarillo Globe-News on Oct. 2, 2013, the company reported a net loss of $6.2 million in the first half of 2013. Both the Canyon location and the corporate office in Amarillo refused to comment on the store closure in Canyon.
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reporter
astings Entertainment, a local media retailer, will be closing its doors at the Canyon location on North 23rd Street on Nov. 3. The coffee shop attached to the store, Hardback Coffee Café, will also be closing. Hastings, a leading multimedia entertainment retailer that combines the sale of new and used books, videos, video games and CDs, was founded in 1968 and currently operates around 136 superstores. In an article in the Amarillo Globe-News on Sep. 11, 2012, Dan Crow, chief financial officer for the Amarillo retailer, said Hastings had generated $25 million in cash flow and re-
CJ BERRYMAN/THE PRAIRIE
NEWS
Victory Circle opens up to the public.
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SPORTS
The closing of the Hastings store in Canyon sends ripples through the community.
ENTERTAINMENT
Buffs suffer a heartbreaking Review of Shakespeare in loss to Tarleton State. Hollywood.
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HASTINGS on PAGE 2
FEATURE
OPINION
Connor Woods previews ALL PROCEEDS Pink Out Week.BENEFIT FOOTBALL GAME BREAST CANCER EDUCATION
Parking lots leave an impression on visitors.
PINK OUT
OCT. 19 AT 6PM KIMBROUGH STADIUM
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AND AWARENESS
PAGE 11 @The_Prairie
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NEWS
Hastings from 1 Dona DeOtte, senior grant
specialist for Sponsored Research Services at WTAMU, said she and her husband have been renting movies from Hastings since they moved to Canyon in January of 2005. DeOtte said they enjoyed being able to go to Hastings and grab a movie to watch if they had a long week or were feeling under the weather. “Will I miss them? Yes, yes I will,” DeOtte said. “I won’t drive to Amarillo to rent a movie. I could go pick up something to eat, rent a movie and be home in no time, but I’m not going to spend 30 minutes driving to Amarillo. It’s not that far of a drive [in general], but it’s far enough that you plan your day for going up there.” DeOtte said she and her husband will have to resort to going to the public library, at 1501 3rd Avenue in Canyon, to rent movies. “I’m just [disappointed] that they are closing, and from the looks of things a lot of people are,” DeOtte said. LaCenda Hartmen, owner of Lacenda Hartmen photography, has three kids – a six month-old, a two-year old and a six-year
STAFF
INTERIM EDITOR Tyler Anderson ASSISTANT EDITOR
old. Hartment has frequented the café multiple times a week over the last five years to get away to a quiet place with her laptops and get some work done. “It’s kind of my spot where I can get a lot of editing done,” Hartmen said. “I like this atmosphere – it’s kind of laid back and there isn’t a lot of movement as far as the noise. This is where I come to work, so now I’m going to have to find a new working spot.” Marilyn Fairless, flight attendant for United Airlines, originates out of Washington and makes frequent trips to Canyon to visit a close friend. Fairless has frequented the café throughout the years for their coffee and convenience, of both the location and the drive-through. “I’ll miss [the café] when I come back here, because I will be back,” Fairless said. “I will be back [to visit my friend] often. I was wondering why it was closing, and I was kind of wondering at first, ‘Will they keep the
DESIGN EDITOR Kati Watson
SPORTS EDITOR Matt Watkins
Megan Moore
ADVISER
WEB EDITOR
Dr. Butler Cain
Megan Moore
AD MANAGER Zivorad Filipovic
REPORTERS Christopher Berryman B.J. Brittain
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com coffee shop open?’ It seems to do fairly well.” Hastings has stopped receiving inventory at the Canyon location, and both the store and the café have sales going on almost all products at this time. Those sales are currently ranging from 10-50% off and are expected to increase as the Nov. 3 closure date nears.
TYLER ANDERSON/THE PRAIRIE Hastings in Canyon will be closing Nov. 3.
Kristian Diaz Tori Dinkfeld Alex Gonzalez Jenna Harrison Jacob Helker Faith Hinojosa Garrett Hottle Laci McGee Sarah Jo Miller Aurora Ortiz
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Buff News Brief
ootn’ Totum, the WT CORE Office and many WT organizations all over campus have come together for a student scholarship campaign with prizes and benefits. The student organizations received a packet filled with information at the September CORE Round Table meeting. “I think this fundraiser is a great opportunity for our student organizations,” Jayce Jane Apsley, junior Agriculture Media and Communication major, said. “Trying to raise money can have its struggles, but this particular event offers worthwhile returns to the community as well as to the organizations participating.” Alyssa Bonner, sophomore Advertising and Public Relations major, said she is not involved in the fundraiser but has heard of it. “I believe it is a really good opportunity for organizations to raise money and to get more community involvement and awareness,” Bonner said. Organizations must sell tickets for a chance to win a $10,000 pre-paid bankcard. The tickets
Marissa Rivera Sterling Rusher Morgan Smith Preston Thomas Luke Ware Connor Woods Argelia Villagrana
COLUMNIST
are $10 each; $5 goes to the WT scholarship fund and $5 goes back to the organization. There are also multiple prizes, incentives and giveaways that the CORE Office is offering. Students who sell five-50 tickets get different prizes from a car decal to a tailgate chair. The first, second and third place student who sells the most tickets will receive $50-$250 on their Buffalo Gold Card. Also, the organization that sells the most will receive a T-shirt, a pizza party and the organization name will be permanently displayed on the “I AM WT” Student Campaign Trophy. “It is a great opportunity to not only raise money for your organization, but to raise money for your school as well,” Ashlee Adams, CORE Consultant, said. The deadline for all ticket stubs and money is Nov. 4. The drawing for the winner will take place on Nov. 5 and will be announced at the WT football game on Nov. 9.
Jenna Harrison MCOM 3309
Christopher Brockman
WEB ASSISTANT Georgia Romig
LAYOUT ASSISTANT Cheyenne Black
Keltin Wiens
PHOTOGRAPHER
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
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 1,500 and is printed by the Amarillo Globe-News. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. -- First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
NEWS
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
UAA raises awareness Laci McGee Reporter
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n Oct. 10, the student group Unconventional Activist Alliance (UAA) raised money to donate to organizations that help those caught in human trafficking but as their name says they raised these funds in an unconventional way. Students volunteered to have themselves chained to the columns that support the shading for the benched area around the buffalo statue. For every dollar, that was donated the students would be chained for two minutes. “Right now, we have enough for them to be here until tomorrow at noon,” Melissa Hansen, a senior math major, said.
The students agreed to be chained up over night and other students would bring them pillows, blankets and food. With this display UAA is hoping to raise $1000 or more so that they can donate a significant amount to each of the five charities that they support, not all of these charities are national or international; one of these charities is locally based in Amarillo. “I feel that regardless of your religious affiliation, or political party that people can agree that this is wrong,” Molly Satterfield, a junior speech pathology major, said. “A bit of discomfort on my part is nothing compared to them.” Satterfield was one of the students that had been ‘chained up’ the longest.
“I’m planning on staying out here as long as I can,” Satterfield said. “I’m here solely to give attention to the cause,” Jasmine Schultz, a junior sports and exercise science major, said. UAA was joined on the West Texas A&M University campus by the Canyon High School speech and debate team. They started ‘End It’ as a service project and now it has turned into a group. “We are communicators and it is our responsibility to get awareness out there,” said Bella Barnett, a junior at Canyon High School. The dorms on the WTAMU campus also took up a collection for the UAA end human trafficking movement.
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Buff News Brief
n 1990, a publication called Ink Blot was the creative arts publication for West Texas State University. Three years later, WTSU was rebranded into WTAMU and the new creative writing journal was born: The Legacy. The Legacy is a creative writing journal with a twist. Each semester a competitive writing contest is held with the chance to win a first, second, or third place prize. WT students can submit their writing that will be read anonymously by a panel of editors for the chance to be published or win one of the writing contests. “For me, the best part is
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working with editors and writers,” Dr. Patricia Tyrer faculty advisor for The Legacy, said. One of the many events The Legacy puts on is Open Mic Night at Barnes and Noble. Once a month, the informal event brings students together to share poems, short stories, and essays. “It’s where everyone comes together and reads what they’ve wrote,” Treasurer and Staff Editor Bethany Jones, said. “It creates a really creative environment.”
Sterling Rusher Reporter
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NEWS
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Enactus empowers the local community Tori Dinkfeld MCOM 3309
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nactus, formally known as SIFE, is about empowering its students and the community. Enactus, which is a word formed from the ideas Entrepreneurial, Action, and Us, was an international rebrand because the focus of Enactus, according to Advisor Jean Walker, is more toward the entrepreneurial side of free enterprise. “Entacus better embodies what we are all about,” Walker said. Empowering the community is an important part of what Enactus does. Walker said one of the first Enactus members at WT, David Terry, defines entrepreneurial as treating some-
thing like you own it and being creative and innovative. Enactus has taken this idea and turned it to the community. Almost every night of the week, Enactus members of all majors and classifications, are involved in empowering the community through various service projects, including tutoring adults to help them receive their GEDs. The philosophy “give a man a fish and he eats for a day—teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime” is a major motto according to the Enactus webpage on the WT website. “We aren’t just about community service,” Walker said. “[Enactus] is about working with a group of people to empower themselves.
Brittany Smith the co-president of Enactus and a Masters of Business Administration Management student, has been involved since fall of last year. Her job as president is to coordinate all the service projects. “You get to see people who can’t give you anything in return,” Smith said. “[It] makes me realize how blessed I am. All of these projects lead up to the big competition in April in Cincinnati, Ohio. Enactus will take a team of 50 people out of the 100 members to compete for their two time championship spot in the top 20. At this competition, Enactus will join nearly 600 teams from all over the country. Up to eight members of Enactus will then have
the opportunity to go in front of a crowd of sponsors and represent WT in a 25-minute visual and Q&A. Not only does Enactus offer a chance for competition, but also for networking. Caity Kenny, a senior International Business major, who has been to the competition and has been an active member for two years, received the opportunity to intern for her current employer, Mondelez International. “It’s incredible,” Kenny said. “It’s nice to know that we are learning and giving back at the same
time.” For more information about joining the Enactus Team, contact Jean Walker at (806) 651-2515.
health and exercise definitely helps with that. Mentally fitness can relieve stress in several ways, in a group, as an individual, in a class and in a weight room.” There are a variety of areas that students can go to: aerobic classes, and playing basketball are just a few. They are now offering beginning yoga, power yoga, and paloxing. Paloxing is a mix of Pilates and boxing. Students can benefit from free fitness classes that are offered weekly and can carry that over to other areas of their life. “Stress is your bodies reaction to stimulus or difficult situations that your body reacts to in certain ways, like a racing heart, sweating, and your body’s feeling of fight or flight.” Wendy Hearn, Nurse Practitioner of Medical Services, said. She believes that stress can cause problems with sleeping,
can cause someone not to be as organized, and doesn’t allow for a person to be as tolerate of individuals because of stress. Stress lowers immunity, which causes sickness. You are more likely to contract a virus, bacteria, and overall sickness. “There are tons of positive affects that fitness can have on a person, first starting with your heart,” Taysia James, a certified personal trainer for the YMCA, said. “It lowers bad cholesterol, which helps with blood flow, so your heart doesn’t have to work as hard. This ultimately helps with stress and weight management”. Taysia teaches “total body fitness” as well as “silver sneakers” for senior citizens. “Fitness releases endorphins which is a chemical in the brain that causes hap-
piness, which is also what anti depressants do. This then raises levels of serotonin, which in-
volves elevation of mood. The change in mood then releases stress.” James said.
Tori Dinkfeld/ MCOM 3309 SIFE changes its name to Enactus.
Fitness can ease the burdens of stress Morgan C. Smith MCOM 3309
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s a society, we are constantly reminded of fitness. Rather on television, through websites, or hearing about an amazing fitness program through a friend, it is hard to escape staying healthy. Stress tends to slow you down and causes you not to be as productive. This can have a huge affect on your health. How can fitness help with stress and especially in college students? College students are always under pressure to get assignments done before deadline, they are faced with final exams, as well as juggling extra curricular activities. “Some positive affects of fitness are first and foremost on your health,” Elosia Reyna Brooks, Associate Director of Recreational Sports, said. “Gaining weight jeopardizes your
Pregnant?
NEWS
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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Fed shutdown affects student veterans Brooke Self Reporter
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n Oct.1, 2013, the United States government began an official shutdown. A government shutdown is something that many people are not familiar with. According to USA Today, a shutdown happens when “Congress cannot agree on a spending bill — or if, in the case of the Clinton-era shutdowns, the president vetoes it — the government does not have the legal authority to spend money.” As of Oct. 4, Congress was in disagreement. According to USA Today, “The Republicancontrolled House has passed a spending bill that maintains spending levels but does not provide funding to implement the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.” This government shutdown has had an effect on many students, especially veterans who are enrolled in college courses. When the shutdown began, many student veterans were informed that they would not receive their government benefits right away. Many student veterans are unsure when, or if, they will receive their benefits and the situation is having a major impact on their lives. “With the government shutdown, I didn’t receive my benefits,” Chris Grepo, a veteran grad student, said. “Those benefits are really key to my survival while I’m in school. Without those benefits, I haven’t paid rent, haven’t paid my electricity bill, AT&T was nice enough to extend my bill out until I could pay, but all my other bills, I haven’t paid.” Grepo is also the single father of three children and is
concerned about how he will be able to continue to put a roof over their heads and keep them fed, without having to quit going to school. The option of dropping out of college is a reality that many veteran students are now facing. However, many people are trying to think of ways to assist these veterans so they can continue attending college until they can receive their funds. “I highly encourage that student veterans keep coming to school because we will figure something out,” Nune Perez, president of the WT Veterans Network and senior Senator of Student Senate, said. “I’ve been everywhere I can think discussing trying to raise funds. I know we have our Veterans Ball coming up and we’ll try to raise funds to assist veterans in situations such as this.” Perez is doing everything he can think of to try to figure out a way to help these student veterans at this time. “Granted, all the students at WT are great, the veterans, of course are unique because they’ve sacrificed a lot for our country and a lot for allowing students that have not served to actually attend college,” Perez said. “For them to not be able to afford the opportunity is kind of nerve-wrecking for me.” Although these veterans still believe that their university and community will come together to figure out some way to keep student veterans in school, some have sour feeling about how they are being treated by their government. “I feel abandoned,” Angel Delacruz, junior secondary social studies education major and treasurer of the Veterans Network, said. “The government promised when I became a ma-
rine, that they would take care of me for life. Right now, that’s not the way things are and I’m disappointed.” These student veterans, however, continue to have hope in continuing to attend school even though their faith in their government that they fought so hard to protect may be fading. “I consider it sickening that their playing chess with American lives,” Perez said. “I almost feel digusted, really, considering being a veteran, I am disgusted at the fact that I’ve swore to uphold the Constitution and I don’t know if any of these politicians actually hold that oath truth. I don’t know if the president even holds that oath truth.” Student veterans have been forced to think about how they will continue to pay their bills, some still believe things will work out eventually. “We do drastic things in drastic times,” Grepo said. “One of the things I will probably have to do is start selling my stuff. I have to do what I have to do to keep my head above water. But here at WT, we have a crazy way of making things work.” The longest and most recent shutdown lasted from Dec. 16, 1995, through Jan. 5, 1996; A 21-day government shutdown. Additional consequences of the shutdown include: not being able to visit national parks, some national museums are closed, all archives and most presidential li-
braries will be closed, unless they’re operated by a private foundation, food safety inspections will continue, food stamps and social security benefits will
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continue. For now, student veterans will have to play a waiting game as far as knowing whether or not their benefits will be issued.
Buff News Brief
he Victory Circle, located on the west side of campus, is finally finished. It is on the university’s west entrance, and construction crews have been working on this project for five months. This project cost no more than $1,042,000. This new landscape is expected to be completed by Oct.19. The landscape is a new home for the Eternal Flame, which is the school’s logo. The symbol was constructed by the WTAMU Alumni Association in 1996. “I think that the Victory Circle really helps cement school spirit,” Jessica Vallejos, a junior English major, said. “It’s a beautiful reminder to all WT students to keep the Eternal Flame alive in our hearts. Every time we see the Victory
Circle, we can be proud to be part of WT.” However, not everybody agrees with the new landscape design. “I don’t think it’s important for the university to have constructed a new entrance,” Lucy Armendariz, a senior Social Work major, said. “I thought it wasn’t necessary because there are other things to worry about like making more parking spaces on campus.” “The landscape looks great and even though it is a nice way to attract people, they could have used that money for students who needed financial help,” Jasmine Cruz, a junior Education major, said.
Argelia Villagrana MCOM 3309
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SPORTS
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Keltin Wiens’ Korner: Paying athletes
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have to confess; I’m friends with many, many student athletes on this campus. Through my work in public address, radio broadcasts and writing for The Prairie, I have come to know many of them. I have attended their practices, games, meets and other events to cheer them on or to cover them in some way. I have seen first hand their hard work, dedication and perseverance to the sports that he/she play day in and day out. This past off-season (see some of my previous rants), Texas A&M starting quarterback Johnny Manziel (or as some people know him, Johnny Football. I prefer Johnny Idiot) was embroiled in an autograph scandal in which he allegedly signed autographs in exchange for up to $10,000. This is an obvious violation of NCAA rules regarding player benefits. The actions, and the popularity of Manziel, has touched a debate that always seems to come around every football season in this country about student athletes receiving compensation for their services. I will fall on the side of not paying athletes for their work on the field. But, I will not argue in this column that it ruins
the competition through paying players nor will I try to side with the amateurism shield the NCAA puts up to counter these attacks. The first argument is based on what the money will be spent on. I say that, this money isn’t for food or pencils, it’s for the athletes to spend how they see fit. Think about it this way: if you were to pay young college football players, he’d probably spend the money on the same things I would buy: Xboxes and gadgets. Saying that the money will only go to food is ridiculous. As the rule stands right now, Alabama or Arizona never lost a football game because their players were hungry. Second, there is a reason that this debate comes up every year during football season. It’s because the argument seems to always begin and end with college football. To be fair, why wouldn’t it? It is the biggest moneymaker at most campuses across the country. But, as any student athlete will tell you, it’s not the only sport that is played. You could pay everybody on the football team $5,000, for example, as a bonus. What about the volleyball team? Men and women’s soccer
team? Baseball? Softball? You can’t get away with paying one sport or paying one sport more money than the other without a lawsuit for long. By compensating just one sport for their services is ridiculous and a huge slap in the face to the other athletes. Do football players work harder? Are they missing more class because of road games? Do they have any more drive or work ethic than any of the other student athletes? No. Thus, they shouldn’t be paid. Third, the debates that pop up about paying student athletes always seem to skip over one fact: who is going to be paying these athletes? Where is the money coming from? It is true that the NCAA does have a $10.8 billion TV contract with Turner Broadcasting for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. That does make up a huge chunk of their revenues. But, the NCAA is a non-profit organization. Thus, after their expenses, they distribute the rest of their revenue, roughly 60 percent every year, to their member institutions. Here’s the fine print, though, the institutions that get any money are Division I institutions and those that are in championships at
any level. Little West Texas A&M doesn’t receive any of the revenue from the NCAA. So, where does that leave us? That leaves us without a way to pay student athletes. In fact, WTAMU isn’t the only athletic department that can’t afford to pay their athletes. Most departments in the country are running in the red. In 2012, there were only 23 programs in the entire country that even made any money. Just 23. So where will the money come from? Well, that’s the million-dollar question. I’m not opposed to paying athletes. There are students on this campus and others that may put more work into their schooling and extracurricular activities and many don’t get paid either. That’s just the way it works. I’d like to get paid to broadcast games, but it doesn’t happen. I’m not opposed to the athletes either. In fact, because I know so many athletes, it makes it tough for me to argue against paying them. But, I’m not opposed to it because of its merit or the idea; I’m opposed to it because, from what I know about the system, I can’t see that it will work.
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SPORTS
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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Tarleton State rallies past Buffs, 31-27
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he No. 4 WTAMU Buffalo football team traveled to Stephenville, Texas on Oct. 12 to take on the undefeated No. 21 Tarleton State Texans in an important Lone Star Conference matchup. After building a 27-3 halftime lead, the Buffs were outscored 28-0 in the second half, including 21-0 in the fourth quarter. The loss snapped an eight game winning streak WT had against Tarleton dating back to 2003. Senior linebacker Taylor McCuller recovered a fumble by the Texans running back on the first offensive play of the game. The Buffs offense would quickly strike first on a seven yard pass from senior Dustin Vaughn to fellow senior Jace Jackson, but the point after attempt would be blocked, giving WT a 6-0 lead with 13:13 remaining in
the first. The missed PAT attempt was the first time in a school-record 95 tries that senior Sergio Castillo, Jr. has missed a kick after a touchdown. After a 30-yard field goal by TSU, senior Aaron Harris capped off a long Buffs drive with a one-yard touchdown run to make it a 13-3 ballgame after the first. WT would capitalize on senior Curtis Slater’s third interception this season when sophomore Geremy Alridge punched in a five-yard score to make it a 20-3 game with 12:56 to play in the half. The Texans would miss a field goal on their ensuing drive, leading to Vaughn throwing his second touchdown to junior Anthony Johnson from six yards out to give the Buffs a 27-3 lead at halftime. Vaughn’s two touchdown passes leave
Volleyball:
Women’s Soccer:
Lady Buffs vs. Midwestern State at The Box, 7 p.m.
Lady Buffs vs. Eastern New Mexico at The Pitch, 6 p.m.
Oct. 18
Upcoming Home Schedule Oct. 18
Oct. 19
Lady Buffs vs. Cameron at The Box, 8 p.m.
Football: Oct 5.
Buffs vs. Angelo State at Kimbrough, 6 p.m.
Men’s Soccer: Oct 18.
Buffs vs. Eastern New Mexico at The Pitch, 8 p.m.
him at 91 for his career, just one shy of WT all-time leader Keith Null. The only points of the third quarter would come on a oneyard quarterback sneak by Aaron Doyle cutting the Buffs lead to 27-10 after three quarters. After Vaughn’s first interception of the season just 48 seconds into the fourth, senior Kyle Voss recovered a fumble two plays later to get the offense back on the field. Despite the miscue, the TSU momentum would continue after a defensive stop led to Jake Fenske throwing a four-yard touchdown to Clifton Rhodes III to make it a 27-17 lead for WT. Fenske would get the momentum firmly on the Texans side with a 63-yard touchdown toss
to Le’Nard Meyers to make it a three-point game, 27-24 in favor of the Buffs with 5:38 left on the game clock. After another WT three-and-out on offense, the TSU offense would drive 85 yards in nine plays, capped off by a five-yard touchdown from Fenske to Meyers with 44 seconds remaining to clinch the comeback. The Buffs offense was outgained for the first time this season as Tarleton stacked up 560 yards to WT’s 360. The Texans rushed for 133 yards and passed for another 427. WT finished with 105 rushing yards and 255 passing yards. Harris led the ground attack with 17 carries for 66 yards and one touchdown, while Alridge had 12 runs for 43 yards and
a score for the Buffs. Vaughn finished 25 of 43 passing for 255 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. Senior Torrence Allen led the receivers with five catches for 74 yards and Jackson finished with four catches for 51 yards and one touchdown. The Buffs are now 5-1 1overall and 2-1 in the LSC, while TSU is now 5-0 and 4-0 with a two-game lead over WT and Midwestern State in the LSC standings, both teams the Texans have already defeated this season. The Buffs return to action Oct. 19 at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon as they host the Angelo State Rams at 6 p.m.
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ENTERTAINMENT
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Shakespeare in Hollywood hits the stage Megan Moore MCOM 3309
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hakespeare in Hollywood premiered Oct. 3rd in the Happy State Bank Theatre of the Fine Arts complex with seven different show times for the performance. “Each audience member brings their preconceived ideas and/or curiosity about Shakespeare to play. In many ways, Shakespeare and his works are the common ground shared by actors and audience for this comedy,” Royal Brantley, director of Theatre, said. The theatre department has been preparing for the show since early August. “All cast members auditioned
in late August, were selected for a callback session, and then were cast the first week of school,” Brantley said. “We [the faculty] wanted open our season with a comedy.” The show is based off of an actual Shakespeare play, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, with an added comical twist and characters based off of actual historical figures. “It’s absolutely hilarious and people should come see it because there’s something in it for everybody,” Katie Tuttle, junior Theatre major, said. All Theatre majors are required to audition for the show, but any student is welcome to try out for the performance.
“I actually auditioned for a different role but I always trust the director’s choice because he always knows what is going to work the best,” Tuttle said. “One huge part of the show is humor. I have learned that focus is crucial in order to not break
character. I honestly have to tell myself that the show isn’t funny in order to overcome the urge to laugh.” Each show has been sold out with audience members ranging in age, some being long time theatre patrons.
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“I went to all of them [the shows] last year. I was pretty familiar with the play beforehand,” Angela Sims, junior Psychology major, said. “I think I liked the ending the best.”
GAMES
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Can YOU finish first? We are giving away $10 iTunes gift cards. Finish the three puzzles with the correct answers and turn it in at FAC room 103.
Last Week’s Answers
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10 FEATURE
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Preview: Zeta Tau Alpha Pink Out Week
Connor Woods Reporter
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hen you think of the month of October, you often think of the changing of the seasons as well as Halloween, but the month also takes on some brighter colors, as October is breast cancer awareness month, a time when you are encouraged to “Think Pink.” This week Zeta Tau Alpha is reminding everyone of the importance of breast cancer awareness with the organization’s fourth annual “Pink Week.” All events leading up to the game throughout the week will be held in the JBK East Commons from 12:15 p.m. until
1:00 p.m. This week started off sweet as Monday featured a favorite pink treat, as ZTA made cotton candy and stressed students to be aware of the breast cancer issue. Be sure to be camera ready on Tuesday, because you will get your opportunity to make a few memories with some pink. “Tuesday will be a photo booth with lots of pink props that someone can pay to participate in,” Emily Gross, member of Zeta Tau Alpha said. However bring your game face on Wednesday, because you can pay to play in a game of Bra Pong, where you can have a chance to play in an inventive new game.
You might want to attend Pink Week on Thursday ready to compete once again, and also come on an empty stomach. “ZTA is partnered with Yoplait, so Thursday will be a Yoplait yogurt eating contest,” said Gross. There are events that will be continuing throughout the week such as a banner that will be set up in order for people to pay to kiss with red lipstick, and a sexiest legs competition. The highlight of the week will be the game as WT fans will root on the Buffs to another victory, but also support a good cause, and there will be incentives for participating. “Everyone who wears pink gets one dollar off their ticket
to the game,” Ashlee Adams vice “Adams said. president one over programing So if you have some free time for Zeta Tau Alpha said. at lunch, swing buy to take part You can also give donations in the Pink Week festivities outside the gate, and buy a because the goal is near. ribbon to hang outside the stadium for a loved one who has or had breast cancer. All proceeds for the week will go straight toward a good cause. “Our money goes straight to Zeta Tau Alpha and breast cancer awareness and education and they split the money up to TYLER ANDERSON/THE PRAIRIE different places, Pink Out Week is aimed toward kissing away cancer.
WHO’S WHO APPLICATIONS NEEDED!
Each qualified entry will be submitted to a University Standing Committee made of administration, faculty, staff and student body for possible selection. WT’s quota to enter each year is 150 students. The students who are awarded the recognition into the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges and who complete the Who’s Who student profile in its entirety and submit it to the national headquarters between September 1, 2013 and May 1, 2014 will be eligible to win one of three scholarships in the amounts of $5,000, $3,000 and $2,000. QUALIFICATIONS v Classification – at least junior (total 60 hours or more) or be a graduate student v 2.75 cumulative WTAMU GPA v Enrolled full-time unless this is final semester v Transfer students must have already completed two long semesters at WT v Not previously selected to Who’s Who DEADLINE
Application forms are available online https://apps.wtamu.edu/forms/whoswho.php and are to be completed and turned in no later than 5:00 p.m., Thursday, October 31, 2013.
OPINION 11
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Breaking Bad Finale: so Breaking Sad Jonathan Scott Contributing Reporter
T
he obituary concluded, “A private memorial was held by his family. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a drug abuse prevention charity of your choice. He will be greatly missed.” While the publication was a reputable one, The Albuquerque Journal, the obit was a farce. Rather, it was a commemoration of television’s Breaking Bad character Walter White. Breaking Bad garnered such a dedicated following in its short five-season run that someone took the time to request that a real newspaper run a fake obituary for Walter White. Then the newspaper, no doubt indebted to the show for all the publicity generated for its city, ran it in its
Nation & World section. These Breaking Bad fans are downright obsessive. Forgive me if you’re already a fan of the show. I know it’s nothing new, but I also know there are those of you who haven’t seen it. Now is the perfect opportunity to see what all the fawning is over. Every episode is waiting patiently for you to buffer it through your favorite streaming service. You no longer have to wait for a week before the next one airs, and you don’t have to experience any of the grueling breaks between seasons. Those long breaks when fans pondered how low of a level Walter would stoop to next, or if Jesse would save himself from his tender-hearted stupidity. All the adulation is heaped
Parking issues
P
arking is a never ending discussion amongst students on campus. Complaints about parking lot availability can be heard almost daily and some students wonder why they have even purchased a parking permit when they have to park on the street anyway. Although there is a project underway to create new parking spots, that doesn’t help the condition of the current ones. The parking lot nearest the Fine Arts Complex, for example, is in terrible shape. There are cracks,
pot holes, and chunks of asphalt everywhere. This not only causes problems for students parking or walking across the lot, but also to the appearance it gives WT. College kids should be able to take pride in the way their campus looks, and although the majority of the campus is up kept and beautiful there is one thing missing, decent parking lots. Majority of campus visitors arrive on campus by car and their first impression can be altered by the gaping holes they have to park next to.
upon the show because it is... it was phenomenal. It had film quality components wrapped into one-hour slices. Breaking Bad is... has been revolutionary for basic cable. It gives film directors another medium to consider, and this is pertinent, especially right now as Hollywood is struggling to keep up with the shift toward our new methods of media consumption. Beyond that, it allows creators more freedom to tell their story without the two-hour constraints inherent in a theatre released film. Aside from its high production value, innovative character development, and the darkness one could only previously expect from HBO or David Fincher, Breaking Bad lends itself to modern viewing habits. In fact,
most get hooked once they start watching, stealing away every spare 47 minutes one has, with the thought of always squeezing in one more episode to watch. If you’re averse to addiction, however, you can watch a single episode in under an hour. Please don’t judge trendy TV-haters, it’s not unlike that book that you couldn’t put down, and read into the wee hours of morning... then called in sick the next day not because you were tired, but because you realized how disgusting it was to have not left your couch for ten hours. Recently, Breaking Bad received MetaCritic.com’s highest rating ever, and that’s without camouflaged, bearded hillbillies. The show represents the beginning of a massive shift in how we will experience quality
media in the years to come. As Hollywood continues its bigbudget fade to insignificance, television is just hitting its stride. “He will be greatly missed,” while in a fake obituary, conveys an honest truth. Walter White took us on a ride. Expertly written characters and scenes drew us in to levels of discomfort only assuaged by our knowledge of their imaginary composition. These characters taught us that actions have consequences, and redemption is worth rooting for. Most of all Breaking Bad showed us that we don’t need to throw our TVs out the window, because it’s not all Honey Boo-Boo and the CW, and for that Walter White, you will be greatly missed...
12
PHOTOS
October 15, 2013 | theprairienews.com
This week: The Prairie game winners Every week, The Prairie gives away a $10.00 iTunes gift card to the first person to successfully complete our games section. Congratulations to our September winners.
WINNERS
TYLER ANDERSON/THE PRAIRIE
TYLER ANDERSON/THE PRAIRIE Marlee DeMots is the Vol. 96, No. 4 winnner.
The Prairie wants your help! Tag us in your photos on Instagram @theprairiewt and Twitter @The_Prairie Your photos could appear in the next edition of The Prairie!
Stephanie Garica is the Vol. 96, No. 1 winner.
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