October 1, 2013 • Vol. 96, No. 6
www.theprairienews.com
Medieval Association hosts annual meeting Cheyenne Black
is you send out a call for papers. And then, people send in their proposals, a title and an abstract, in other words a short summary,’’ Dr. Bruce Brasington, history professor and President of TEMA, said. “Then what I try and do is I try to create sessions where the topics are more or less similar. “ A wide variety of the speakers are Masters and Ph.D. students. TEMA does not allow papers from undergraduates and has a separate conference altogether.
reporter
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he 23rd Annual Meeting of the Texas Medieval Association took place in the Legacy Hall from Sept. 27- 28. Medieval scholars, graduates and professors from all over the country participated in hearing speeches from their peers that have taken from weeks to years for their research to be completed. Unlike politicians who give the same speech over and over again with no new information, the TEMA only allows the paper once; speakers are allowed to reread the paper if the paper has had additions or improvements to the paper. “The way a conference works
LACI MCGEE/THE PRAIRIE
TEMA on PAGE 3
Devin Fields and Lane J. Sobehrad of Texas Tech University demonstrate how a Balista works.
NEWS
SPORTS
ENTERTAINMENT
FEATURE
OPINION
Jasmine Aranda takes a look at Hazing Prevention.
Buffs dominate Javelinas in Lone Star Conference play.
Preston Thomas takes a look at the new iOS7.
Review of the 5th annual Night Blow.
The movement for shuttle buses on gameday.
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NEWS
Remnant Trust visits WT Megan Moore Assistant Editor
the rarities displayed. A series of lectures is also presented along he Remnant Trust, a col- with of the collection. “I went big again this year,” lection of rare and original Dr. David Baum, professor of works, debuts on campus Humanities and director of for the fourth consecutive year. The Remnant Trust, said. “The The collection is made available theme for this year is West to faculty members, students meets West: Reading the Clasand members of the commusics on the American Frontier. nity for the duration of the fall There’s this great book element semester. Works by Lincoln, Jefin itself. I would like to find as ferson, Milton and writings from many names as I can to engage the King James Bible are a few of students with as many books as I can.” The first lecture is scheduled for Sept. 26 and will be presented by Baum in the Derrick Room of the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum. The reception starts at 5:30 p.m. and the lecture will begin at 6:30 p.m. Baum’s lecture is titled “1000 years of God: The Middle Ages and the Great Books of the Western World.” The works are made available to the community and can be a learning tool in the classroom. “This is a valuable MEGAN MOORE/MCOM 3309 learning tool. It compiles Areopagitica by John Milton is one work displayed . many texts in one place
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STAFF
INTERIM EDITOR Tyler Anderson ASSISTANT EDITOR
DESIGN EDITOR Kati Watson
SPORTS EDITOR Matt Watkins
Megan Moore
ADVISER
WEB EDITOR
Dr. Butler Cain
Megan Moore
REPORTERS
AD MANAGER Zivorad Filipovic
Christopher Berryman Cheyenne Black
that students can utilize for research purposes or if they are just wanting a source of important literature throughout the world’s history,” Nora Hyman, senior Graphic Design major, said. “It may take time for students to become aware that it [The Remnant Trust] is available, but once it is widely known this collection will be utilized very often by students.” According to Baum, his goal is to personalize the experience and create an immediate attachment to the books. “I want people to think about reading these outside of class. I want to stimulate the interest by the wow factor,” Baum said. The works are located at The Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum and are easily accessible to students. “Having these works on campus will intrigue the students to learn about these people when they can see their original and actual documents,” Caley Compton, junior Education major, said. “It’s so rare for such works to be available to students. I’m sure several students would love to see it.”
B.J. Brittain Kristian Diaz Tori Dinkfield Alex Gonzalez Jenna Harrison Jacob Helker Faith Hinojosa Garrett Hottle Laci McGee Sarah Jo Miller
October 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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Buff News Brief
ational Hazing Prevention Week began Sept. 23 and ended Sept. 26. Hazing is when a person, or student, is bullied and ridiculed in an embarrassing manner. PULSE and UPD organized events on Sept. 24 that took place in the JBK Commons. Events included games and balloon signings to raise awareness of hazing at WTAMU. “It is important to know about hazing so that we can learn how to prevent it,” said
Aurora Ortiz Marissa Rivera Sterling Rusher Morgan Smith Preston Thomas Luke Ware Connor Woods Argelia Villagrana
Brianna Arguello, a freshman majoring in Graphic Design. “For some people, hazing is difficult to recognize because it can look like friendly teasing or pranking. In reality, it is hurtful and dangerous.” Fredrick Williams, a graduate student and PULSE member, said by promoting awareness of hazing, it can potentially improve campus safety.
Jasmine Aranda MCOMM 3309
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Christopher Brockman
WEB ASSISTANT Georgia Romig
LAYOUT ASSISTANT Cheyenne Black
COLUMNIST
PHOTOGRAPHER
Keltin Wiens
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.
October 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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TEMA FROM PAGE 1
The speaker can be a graduate of any major provided the topic follows the subject. It has to have connections with the middle ages. The participants actively listened to each other’s presentations, then discussed their research. Brasington said he chose the plenary speakers because they are world-class scholars and he knows them personally. An example of a few people who participated Thursday and Friday were “Professor Richard H. Helmholz, who is one of the greatest scholars of law in the world,” Brasington said. “His work has been cited before the Supreme Court. And Professor [Wendy J.] Turner is a world specialist on medieval medicine.” West Texas has hosted this
NEWS
particular meeting twice, the first being in 1999. “We will be at North Texas next year,” Brasington said. TEMA started in 1991. The United States and Canada are under an organization called the Medieval Academia of America. The Academia has approximately 15 different regions that are under it. Because Texas is so big, it has its own conference. The conferences are not just Texas based, as people from Germany and South Carolina have attended to lectures. These readings are open to the campus and the public during the conference. “Hopefully there is a benefit for WT and there is definitely a benefit for us. Talk to each other about ‘Well what are you working on? Have you looked at this
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source or that one and do you know about that.’ You know you can do a lot of this by email or social media but there’s still something to be said about just some time together and building a deeper relationship,” Jeffery Hamilton, department chair of History at Baylor University, said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TEMA Texas Medieval Association logo.
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NEWS
October 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
College of Business students get help Tori Dinkfeld MCOM 3309
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he College of Business will be introducing a new tool to all incoming freshmen and pre-business majors. Go Team, a group of seventeen student mentors, will be ready to advise and direct incoming students. These seventeen mentors have been selected because of their success and involvement in the College of Business. The primary years at a university are vital for advising and engaging the students, according to Dr. Leigh Browning, professor of Business Communication and Marketing. The College of Business saw this as an opportunity to reach out to their pre-business students and meet them at the start of
their university education. One of the faculty members in charge of Go Team is Browning. The College of Business wanted Browning, who has been a professor at West Texas A&M for 22 years, to create a program that would engage the students directly. “I think it will dramatically change their experience,” Browning said. “And they will see from the very beginning that there are places they can go and people that are there to help them navigate their first few years.” Browning said she is excited about how this program is going to benefit the future of many business students. The students reaching students model has been very beneficial, according to Browning. The mentors, or ambassadors for the College of
Business as Browning called them, are just as excited about this. “Heck yeah, we are looking forward to it,” Elizabeth Castillo, a junior Accounting major, said. Castillo said she wishes she had something like this student mentoring students program when she was a freshman. She said if there was a program like this, she may have ended up in a different part of the College of Business. This mentorship covers it all, making sure that all incoming students know what to expect in each department of the college. “They are our future,” Castillo said. “This is why we are preparing them to be good leaders in the future.” Denise Day, an incoming freshman Business Management major, is equally
thrilled about this program. Day plans on taking her degree and opening a business of her own someday. Coming in with 30 hours has caused a press for time, and graduating high school from a class of sixteen has made her first year at WT a significant change. “It’s nice being new on campus and having somebody help us through our freshman year as business majors,” Day said. “An opportunity like this
will be helpful as a freshman.” Castillo said that not a lot of people know what is a part of the College of Business. There are many programs that make up the college, including Enactus, Accounting and Finance Club and the Omicron Epsilon Delta honor society. “[Go Team is] bringing the College of Business to our most important client, which is the students,” said Browning.
Brand New $100 Note Christopher Brockman Graphic Designer
Pregnant?
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he U.S. government will be issuing new onehundred dollar notes on Oct. 8. The new notes still feature Benjamin Franklin and Independence Hall but now include new security features. Color shifting ink, a 3-D security ribbon, and raised printing will be joining the already existing security thread and poirtrait watermark on the upcoming bills. Previous iterations of the note will remain legal tender and the consumer need not trade their older bills for the new. Additional information on the notes can be found on the official website of the launch: www.newmoney.gov.
THE FEDERAL RESERVE The new note features additional security features to thwart counterfeiters.
NEWS
October 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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CORE Office helps get students involved Jenna Harrison MCOM 3309
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ampus Organizations, Resources and Entertainment, also known as the CORE, has started off the semester with a wide variety of events including a tie dye event, a free movie night, Tuesday’s at the Tank, and Taste of Mexico. “The CORE Office does more for WT than most people know. Like the name says, it is the core. All organizations flow through them and they are what makes the WT college experience happen,” Kylie Jones, junior Communication Disorders major, said. According to Caleb Hubbard, Public Relations Education Con-
sultant, CORE’s purpose is to make events run and boost student morale. “Enjoying college life is what
we’re here for after you make that connection with an organization,” Hubbard, said. This year there are some
JENA HARRISON/MCOM 3309 The CORE Office offers services to students on campus.
changes, and one of the main changes is the Director’s position. Matt Maples, the Associate Director of Student Activities, is the new interim director of the CORE Office. Caitlin Robb, CORE Consultant, said the CORE is trying to work on student involvement and variety. She also said finding something that everyone can be involved in is a big goal for the CORE this semester. CORE is working on a new project right now that is not ful-
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ly developed. They are trying to get a new organization or committee to brainstorm about different ideas and events for the CORE to host. “It is just going to be a group of college students to make campus involvement stronger,” Hubbard said. The committee would consist of people from different organizations and backgrounds. The CORE Office is currently doing research and is in the process of pitching ideas.
Buff News Brief
T students, faculty, and staff are waiting for the arrival of the new parking spaces located south of the Virgil Henson Activities Center and behind Jones Hall. About three years ago, the university had a master plan to demolish the Silver Creek Apartments, which was purchased for $1,450,000, for additional parking spaces on the east side of campus. The university took steps that led up to clearing of the building. “We purchased the property in May. We had a contractor lined up, first of all, to do the asbestos abatement. As a state university and state agency, we had to go through those environmental surveys and the environmental assessments. So after we purchased the property, we did the environmental assessment of the land itself, which was all cleared,” Gary Barnes, the Vice President of Business and Finance, said. In addition, Barnes stated
that they had to check for radioactive dump on the ground as well as a gasoline distillation, which it came out clear. They also did an asbestos abatement survey. They found asbestos in the building and did an abatement. Soon after, they demolished the building. It will take months before the project will get completed. “We hope that it’ll be ready by the time the students come back from Christmas break,” Barnes said. There will be 420 spaces available in the new parking lot. “I think it’s a great idea because we need extra parking spots, especially for those who pay for parking stickers and don’t get to use them because there isn’t a spot available,” Daniel Marin, a junior Business major, said. “It is a much needed addition, and we should have had new parking spaces months ago, so it’s about time,” Alyssa Duncan, a junior English major, said.
Argelia Villagrana MCOM 3309
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SPORTS
October 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Keltin Wiens’ Korner
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’m just going to tell you right now, this is a Penn State column. And, in no way do I, nor will I ever, approve of the child sex abuse issues that come with the Penn State scandal. Ever. It’s terrible and vile and I wish that it was eradicated. But, it is an issue that we have to deal with. Got it? Good. In July 2012, NCAA President Mark Emmert announced unprecedented sanctions against the Penn State Nittany Lions for covering up a multi-year child sex abuse scandal involving several key members of not only Penn State’s football program but their upper echelon of university administration. Former Lions coach Jerry Sandusky was, according to testimony from Mike McQueary, a former PSU graduate assistant, identified as the perpetrator. The fallout included the firings of legendary head coach Joe Paterno, president Graham Spanier and athletic director Tim Curley. In June 2012, Sandusky was found guilty on 48 counts of child sex abuse. The next month, Louis Freeh, who was commissioned by the university to analyze the scandal, came out with a scathing report that detailed the cover-up and that Penn State had a culture of football first. This opened the door for Emmert. The sanctions included a considerable loss of scholarships, a $60 million fine
Prairie Sports Columnist Keltin Wiens weighs in on any and everything sports each week. and a four year post-season bowl ban. This ignited a firestorm of criticism of the NCAA’s jurisdiction. On Tuesday, Emmert announced that, because of Penn State’s progress towards change, the scholarship punishment (considered to be the most severe) would be reduced and that Penn State can get back all the scholarships lost after the 2014 season. I, for one, applaud this move by Emmert. Here’s why: back when the Freeh Report came out, there was a tremendous amount of understandable public outrage at the crimes and the culture at Penn State. So, less than a week after the report, the NCAA handed down their punishments. The problem here, though, is twofold: 1) the NCAA did not conduct their own investigation, and; 2) the scandal was about criminal issues at Penn State, there were no actual NCAA violations. Thus, the NCAA didn’t really have a place to be handing down sanctions. In the communicating of messages, there are two different people or groups involved: the sender and the receiver. The message in the Penn State case is simple: the culture of football first needs to change and that those responsible should be punished.
In an effort to send a message and flex the NCAA’s muscle, the body decided that they should be the sender of that message and that Penn State should be punished through by handing down sanctions to those who had almost nothing to do with the crimes, rather than the issue being solved in the justice system. The move to slowly give Penn State back their lost scholarships is a move to save face for the NCAA. I’m not the only one who has those same criticisms of their move to punish Penn State and the organization, and their decisions have been under intense scrutiny ever since. So, even though Penn State has made progress in changing the culture, this move was not about recognizing that progress; it was about the NCAA trying to walk away with its tail between its legs. It admitted that it was wrong and I think the NCAA is better for it. Now, if we can just figure out this health care bill.
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SPORTS
October 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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Volleyball extends winning steak to six CJ Berryman Sports Reporter
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he No. 12-ranked WTAMU volleyball team won all three games played this past week to extend their winning streak to six games. The Lady Buffs swept New Mexico Highlands on Sep. 21 [25-16, 25-16, 25-22], swept Arkansas Fort Smith on Sep. 27 [25-18, 25-16, 25-17] and defeated St. Mary’s in four sets on Sep. 28 [25-16, 21-25, 25-19, 25-16]. Versus the Cowgirls of New Mexico Highlands, WT was led offensively by senior Halie Harton with 14 kills and 11 digs for a double-double, followed by junior Lauren Bevan with 13 kills and senior Lee Golden with eight. Redshirt senior Kameryn Hayes had 33 assists and redshirt freshman Lauren Britten
had nine digs. Against the Lions of Arkansas Fort Smith, the Lady Buffs were led offensively by sophomore Lexi Davis with a career high 13 kills, followed by Bevan with eleven and redshirt senior Laura Iwuchukwu with ten. Hayes doled out 21 assists and freshman Kyli Schulz recorded 16 assists of her own. Britten tied a career high with 17 digs. “After our struggles over the past weeks we sort of gave up on the freshman setters and have been running a 5-1 [scheme],” head coach Jason Skoch said. “Well, it didn’t work and a small group of the players are carrying too much weight and it can’t last the entire season. So, early last week we told them we are running a 6-2 regardless and they need to prep for that. Kyli [Schulz] had a couple bad mo-
ments but otherwise did quite well.” Against the Rattlers of St. Mary’s, WT was led offensively by Davis with a career high 14 kills, followed by Iwuchukwu with 13 and Harton with twelve kills and ten digs for a doubledouble. “Lexi [Davis]... is wired the right way for competitive athletics. Skoch said. “ She is a baller and we knew she was small for middle blocker, but her will to win is amazing. ” The Lady Buffs will head to Stephenville, Texas, on Oct. 4 to face off against the TexAnns of Tarleton State at 7 p.m. before turning around and heading to San Angelo, Texas, for a highlyanticipated match-up with the No. 7-ranked Belles of Angelo State on Oct. 5 at 2 p.m.
quarterback Dustin Vaughn threw a seven-yard touchdown to senior Trevor Hammargren to give WT a 14-7 lead with 7:38 left in the half. Sophomore Geremy Aldridge brought the Buffs lead up to 21-7 on a one-yard run with 4:11 to go. A 26-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by senior safety Curtis Slater and a 41-yard field goal by senior Sergio Castillo, Jr. sent WT into the break with a 31-7 lead over the Javelinas. Castillo’s field goal made him the highest scoring player in WT history with 335 points after the kick. Castillo finished the game with 343 points and still has seven regular season games left to increase his record. The Buffs would increase TAMUK’s already large deficit to 38-7 on the opening kick-
off of the second half as senior Nathan Slaughter returned the kick 95 yards for a score. After Slater forced a fumble that was recovered by the WT defense on the next Javelina drive, Harris scored on a two-yard run and again from 33 yards out on the next Buffs drive to give him three rushing touchdowns on the night, and give the Buffs a 52-7 lead with 6:49 remaining in the third. WT would replace the starters for the rest of the game, and the team did not miss a beat. Junior quarterback David LeHockey replaced Vaughn and threw two touchdowns, a 26-yarder to junior Jeremy Watson and a 23yard pass to sophomore Word Hudson for a 66-7 lead after three quarters. Castillo capped off the scoring explosion with
COURTESY OF ALBERT GOMEZ/ALBERT GOMEZ PHOTOGRAPHY Junior Lauren Bevan celebrates a score.
Buffs rout Javelinas in Kingsville Matt Watkins Sports Editor
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he No. 4 WTAMU Buffalo football team traveled down to Kingsville, Texas, for a matchup of 3-0 teams against the Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas on Sept. 28 at Javelina Stadium. The Buffs got touchdowns from their offense, defense and special teams en route to a 69-7 blowout of the Javelinas. The first quarter ended with WT out front 7-0 after a oneyard run by senior Aaron Harris with 6:52 remaining. TAMUK answered with a 10-yard touchdown pass to tie the game 7-7 and scored their only points of the game with 10:47 to play in the second. The Buffs offense began to find their groove when senior
a 36-yard field goal to complete the rout. As a team, the Buffs ran for 118 yards and passed for another 301 yards. Vaughn was 25 of 33 passing for 227 yards and one score. LeHockey finished five of seven for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Junior Jamison Sterns ran the ball six times for 44 yards in the latter part of the second half. Harris ran the ball seven times for 43 yards and three scores. Senior Jace Jackson led the receivers with six catches for 72 yards. WT is now 4-0 for the first time since 2008, with a 2-0 record in the Lone Star Conference. The Buffs will return to Canyon for Homecoming on Oct. 5 against Central State at 3 p.m.
Upcoming Home Schedule
Soccer: Oct. 1
Buffs vs. UTPB at The Pitch, 7 p.m.
Oct. 5
Buffs vs. Midwestern State at The Pitch, 8 p.m.
Football: Oct 5.
Buffs vs. Central State at Kimbrough, 3 p.m.
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ENTERTAINMENT
October 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Ag Comm students work at the Rodeo Aurora Ortiz MCOM 3309
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uring the Tri-State Fair and Rodeo, the experience of working at the rodeo for some Agriculture Communications students coincides with a seminar that is taught by Dr. Tanner Robertson, Assistant Professor of Agriculture Science. “Dr. Robertson is doing great things for the Ag Comm students,” Dr. Don Topliff, said referring to the students who get an in-depth opportunity
provided by the Agricultural Media and Communications degree provided within the Department of Agricultural Sciences. These students get the chance to be a part of the TriState Fair and Rodeo, which is a two-week process of learning in the rodeo communications world. Students are given the chance to take photos, film live and do other media driven tasks. Working the rodeo has its intense moments being that in some cases students are filming
right along side “the pen,” which is the area where the animals used in the competition are held and where the riders enter the arena to compete. The hours are long and the work is sometimes exhausting. “Dr. Robertson is very unique in his teaching style, in that he is more concerned with creating assignments that result in experience,” Chanelle Davis an A g r i c u l t u ra l Media
Buff Entertainment Brief
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T students across campus have been reacting and adapting to the seventh version of Apple’s iOS, released Sept. 18. The update comes with a number of tweaks and polishes to Apple’s previous services, as well as integration of some new features. The update’s arrival was marked by a large spike in WT’s bandwidth usage the hour of the update’s release, and overall Apple reported a 35% adoption rate across its user base. Two major features of the update are the inclusion of Apple’s file sharing app Airdrop, which allows users to share files between a number of supported Apple devices, including mobile devices as well as computers. iTunes will now be a platform for a free ad-supported music streaming service similar in functionality to Pandora. Users of iTunes Radio will be able to create custom radio stations, purchase songs, and browse the songs they listened to previously. This release marks a change in
Apple’s previous policy regarding new updates and compatibility with older devices. Users with an unsupported device would, instead of downloading the new update and causing problems with their phone or tablet, be prompted towards the latest version of iOS compatible with their device. Reactions to the update have been mixed at WT, with some students loving the update, others hating the changes, and some indifferent. “There’s some new stuff, but it feels like the same old iPhone,” Josh Mullins, sophomore English Education major, said. “It feels like Apple is trying to catch up to Android.” “I feel like it has a lot more customization, accessibility, and better access to apps,” Trent Mcanear, sophomore CIS major, said. “This brings them up to par with Android. I like the feel for it.”
Preston Thomas Reporter
and Communications student, said. WTAMU has created a relationship with the Tri-State Fair and Rodeo to provide experiences for students that will allow them to already be familiar with what goes on behind the scenes. “By working with the fair, students get to meet industry representatives
and build local and national networks in agriculture and communications,” Dr. Tanner Robertson said. The TriState Fair and Rodeo provides these Agricultural Media and Communications students the chance to work closely with people who work for companies like GAC. Portions of the rodeo can be watched online at www.gactv.
GAMES
October 1, 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 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Art Department holds annual Night Blow
Laci McGee Reporter
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ast Friday evening was the West Texas A&M University Art Club’s fifth annual Night Blow event. The evening consisted of three visiting artists from Seattle, Washington, who together made two glass pieces. The visiting artists were Charlie Parriott, Katrina Houde and Courtney Branam. Night Blow is a fund-raising event for the WT Art Club; the event helps to fund their study abroad to see art in different ways and it helps to buy their supplies. Night Blow also funds a newly started Art
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Club scholarship. “We rely on our donors to help us with our fine art,” Kevan Long, a graduate student in Sculpture and Glass, and Art Club treasurer, said. Friday night was open to the public but it was also a night for the patrons. Approximately 300 patrons filled the main foyer of Mary Moody Northen Hall for the dinner. Afterwards, the patrons and public alike had the opportunity to watch the visiting artists create works of art from scratch. “It is a great event for a great cause,” said J.T. Hanes, a patron of the Art Club. Nearly 500 people were
Buff Feature Brief
OOM! went the drum. The crowd fell instantly silent as the deep wave of vibration reverberated around the room. A drummer, dressed in traditional Vietnamese clothing, stood alone in front of the crowd. WTAMU’s Vietnamese Student Association hosted the Full Moon Festival on Sept. 21 at Baptist Student Ministries. Traditionally, the festival was a celebration of the harvest season. Today, however, the festival is about celebrating cultural tradition with friends and family. “Just like Americans share their culture, we wanted to share ours too,” Linh Vu, junior Accounting major, said. A fashion show of men’s and women’s traditional clothes from different regions within Vietnam were modeled. Several styles of festival dances, with some involving fans,
were performed. Guests were served a more modern take on Vietnamese cuisine. They were served seasoned shredded chicken, white rice, rice crackers, and Mooncake, a traditional desert. Vietnamese students dressed as a lion and a man started dancing. Through interpretive dancing they told the story of a lion that came from the sea. After it terrorized a village, a mysterious man came to tame the lion and send it into the mountains. But the story says that whenever the village had a celebration, the lion would come to celebrate with them. “The lion dance was really cool,” Bruce Zhang, freshman General Business major, said.
Sterling Rusher Reporter
thought to have attended this year’s Night Blow event. Along with getting to see glass art made right before their eyes, those who came were also treated to a performance by WT dance majors. The dancers performed with the ovens used for heating the glass behind them as a glowing, fiery background. Some of the performers danced on sheets of wood and inside rings of molten glass that glowed yellow-orange and caused the wood to burn where it touched. “It is amazing to watch the artists work,” said Michael Lewis, another patron of Night Blow. Ceramics students also had their artwork for sale. They placed four ceramic pots in a Raku kiln that had heated them to 1,800 degrees. Once the ceramic pots were at the correct temperature they were then placed in reduction, meaning an airtight container full flammable material. The different materials creates tints like iridescent coppers and smoky hues on the heated ceramic. “If the heated ceramics were oxidized then they would turn green,” said Jacob Gillette, a senior Art major. A local Amarillo artist was also present at Night Blow, Christian Luginger. He made two goblets and an ornament before an audience. “I hope they get inspired in art,” said Luginger. He has been working glass 15 years and studied glass blowing on the island of Murano in Italy. “I like doing glass blowing demonstrations,” Katrina Houde, a visiting artist, said, “because it helps people create a different
relationship with art – makes them closer to it.” Charlie Parriott and Courtney Branam work together often at the Tacoma Museum of Glass, where they do demonstrations of glass blowing and invite other CHEYENNE BLACK/THE PRAIRIE Patrons attend and celebrate the Night Blow event. artists to do the same. One of the things that children can do at working on setting up a studio in the Museum of Glass is to draw Dallas. She creates her artwork a picture that the artists then as she does so the “people can take and make into a work of see the creative process,” said Ray. She has known that she glass art. “They are learning and we wanted to be a glass artist from are learning,” said Parriott. the age of eight. At the Night Blow event, “This is meant to help change patrons had the opportunity the way they [kids] feel about to purchase 30 student and objects in their everyday lives professor-created glass and engage the children in the artworks and two made by the creative process.” visiting artists. “We are hoping In the main gallery of MMNH was displayed the work by the to raise as much as we did last current Artist in Residence, year,” Chad Holliday, Dorias Carolyn Ray. She has been at Alexander Professor of Art, said. WT for the past year and is now
CHEYENNE BLACK/THE PRAIRIE Members of the WT Dance Department performed while the stage is set on fire.
OPINION 11
October 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
Shuttles should aid in game day rides
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or most college students, freshman year is their “make or break” year with a particular university. It decides whether they should stay at this new place they call home, start the transfer process to another university, or head home to work until their priorities are all together. While West Texas A&M does a great job in enticing freshmen to come to Canyon with its fine facilities and pleasurable experience, there is a feeling that the game day experience is lacking. For the freshmen who have no means to catch a ride to Kimbrough Stadium or don’t
QUESTION OF THE WEEK “Do you think WT should provide a shuttle to take students to games?”
The Prairie will be asking a Question of the Week every Tuesday through Facebook and Twitter. Reply to our Question of the Week post on Facebook or use the hashtag #ThePrairieAsks on Twitter to respond. Student responses may be printed in the next edition of The Prairie.
necessarily care about walking to the First United Bank Center, they are indeed missing out on an important part of the college experience. That is where the Buffalo Express, WT’s shuttle bus line, comes in. Their primary focus is to give students a ride from the First United Bank Center parking lot to campus, due to the lack of on-campus parking on weekday mornings. The familiar maroon and white shuttles run from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and provide a quick lift around campus. The Buffalo Express could aid in the initial college experience by offering a lift to those who
lack the means to enjoy Buffalo football and basketball games and tailgating activities. However, it does take time and resources to assemble the shuttle buses together and pay the personnel who drive the buses to and from WT’s respective venues. It’s a topic that has been brought up by the Student Senate and was discussed at length. However, it’s proving to move along too slowly. WT could end up losing momentum that it has recently gained with the largest enrollment the university has ever tallied, if this important issue cannot be resolved and resolved soon.
If Student Senate, The Prairie itself, or any other organization sent out a survey asking for information about the prospect of a potential shuttle to and from Kimbrough, it would be a welcomed commodity for WT’s students, supporters, and staff. In a nutshell, instead of having to deal with the small parking lots that surround Kimbrough, it would free up the lots around the stadium for tailgating activities and ease the burden of traffic around the venue. Even those who do have the transportation wouldn’t have to deal with the never-ending traffic issue of getting to and from
Kimbrough. This way, they can park on campus and hitch the ride with the Buffalo Express. So what does that sort of opportunity cost? Yes, there is the rising price of gasoline and the extra hours that the drivers must set aside from their weekends to make this possible. But it pales in comparison to the value that this idea can provide for everyone. Sure, there is a cost to undertaking such a task. There will always be a risk with any venture, but it is a challenge that is doable and can be done swiftly for the greater good of our student populace, staff, and supporters.
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HOMECOMING
October 1, 2013 | theprairienews.com
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Central State West Texas A&M Marauders University
T
he No. 4 WTAMU Buffalo football team will host the Central State Marauders for Homecoming 2013 at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium in Canyon on Oct. 5. For those who may be wondering whom Central State is and where they’re from, here is some helpful information. CSU is located in Wilberforce, Ohio. The Marauders are members of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, which is a part of Division II just like the Lone Star Conference, after moving from the Great Lakes Valley Conference this season. CSU is 0-3 so far this season after finishing 4-6 with a 4-4 mark in the GLVC in 2012.
The Marauders’ highest point total this season is 20 against Morehouse College two weeks ago. Two opponents, Benedict College and Morehouse, each scored 42 points for the highest total against CSU thus far. As a team in 2012, the Marauders averaged 23 points a game while giving up 34 points per game. CSU piled up 1133 passing yards last season and 579 rushing yards for a total of 1712 yards for their offense. Senior quarterback Michael Wilson threw for 1031 of those yards and rushed for another 414 of them. Wilson was 79 out of 166 passing for 48 percent with
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1031 yards and 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. Wilson was also the leading rusher, carrying the ball 61 times for a total of 414 yards and four touchdowns. Senior Jeremy Turner had 21 catches for 330 yards and two scores to lead all receivers, while senior Steven Heard caught 21 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns. Head Coach E.J. Junior III will lead CSU into Canyon to play the Buffs. Junior has coached the Marauders since 2009. He was also an All-American linebacker for the Alabama Crimson Tide under Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant and a first round selection in the 1981 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Matt Watkins
Sports Editor
H
omecoming week is finally here! Stay busy this week with the many homecoming activities leading up to the big game on Saturday. The traditional student activities this week range from Tuesday’s Midnight Weenie Roast to the Pigskin Revue and The Revivalists Concert on Friday. “This week I am really looking forward to seeing everyone at our events. We are all hoping for huge crowds at each,” Tobie Browder, RHA president, said. “Getting students out of their rooms, meeting new people, and just having a great time is always the best part of homecoming week.” Today brings about the second day of festivities, as well as the first day of free lunches. At noon in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center, the Catholic Student Center will host a free lunch for all students. Wednesday, the Baptist Student Ministry, at the same location and time, provides another free lunch. “Events like these are good because they bring people, no matter what belief, together,” Caleb Hubbard, Catholic Student Leadership Team of CSC, said. “It’s a way that we as campus ministries can give back to the communities.” Not only will there be free lunches. Students can find more free food at the Midnight Weenie Roast at the Buffalo Sports Park and the Midnight
Pancake Breakfast. “It’s so fun, because we usually have a huge crowd, and we also have music,” Browder said. “Midnight Pancake Breakfast is my personal favorite. There will be tons of pancakes and other breakfast foods, along with music and dancing.” The next event hosted by RHA is the traditional Tractor Pull, which Kacy Springer, RHA member, said is her favorite event. It takes place on Wednesday at 5 p.m. at the Buffalo Sports Park. “There is a big crowd every year, and students really get into the competition; it can get pretty loud and the competition is always a hit,” Springer said. “I’m on a couple of teams this year, both of them being from Centennial Hall, and we are looking forward to dominating the competition this year.” After the grueling tractor pull, WT hosts Doc Hendley, author of Wine to Water, will speak at the Freshman Convocation Thursday at 5 p.m. at the First United Bank Center. Friday, the student alumni board will host the Pigskin Revue and Concert featuring The Revivalists which will begin at 7 p.m. at the First United Bank Center. Finally, Saturday starts off at 10 a.m. with the Homecoming Day Parade followed by tailgating and cheering our Buffs on to another victory!
Sarah Jo Miller Reporter
@The_Prairie