Nov. 14, 2017
ThePRAIRIE
Vol. 101 Iss. 3
DLS brings Guggenheim Fellow poet to WTAMU campus Getting major, revered talents to little Canyon, Texas may seem like a tough sell, but West Texas A&M University manages to do it every year. Nov. 2 followed suit when a full Fine Arts Center Recital Hall crowd had the honor of welcoming Denise Duhamel, an award-winning poet and Guggenheim Fellow, for a poetry reading. “One of the reasons that we’re putting together the poetry project for the campus is to highlight another artistic opportunity that exists in the panhandle that I feel is just a little underrepresented sometimes,” assistant. professor of English Eric Meljac, Ph.D said. “We have a vibrant music program. We have a vibrant visual arts program. We have all these vibrant programs and one thing that we were kind of lacking was the poetic arts. Starting last year, we’re bringing these poets in to showcase the literary arts in
a more foregrounded kind of way.” When picking this year’s poet, Meljac said it seemed right to bring in a unique female voice. Coming thanks to a recommendation, Duhammel seemed like a natural choice. “Duhammel’s poetry was raw,” Meljac said. “It’s funny. It’s edgy. It’s all of these things, and I think there was a place here for her.” After sharing some of her poems that tackle a diverse group of themes such as poverty, planet preservation and Alzheimer’s disease, many students felt that her poetry was relatable and enjoyable. “I thoroughly enjoyed Duhamel’s performance,” sophomore English education major Rose Ehrhart said. “Her creativity is inspiring for me as a writer. Each poem had her distinct personality imprinted on it, but it seemed to resonate with how anyone might feel. I think sharing words and ideas with others through poetry must be exactly what she was meant to do.” Duhammel said she still has
Lecture series starts strong with controversial topic
WTAMU Wine To Water Chapter fights water crisis
Chavlovich, Buffs aim to build off Sweet 16 showing
Theatre students amaze in ‘Little Women’ musical
Fall Carnival and Trunk or Treat at WT
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Allie Smith Sports Editor
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Meljac has kept in to use an artistic poetry throughout his process. academic career. “I just think “I thought why not having a lot of share my love with the writing and then university?” Meljac just picking out said. “I decided to what you want start bringing in is easier than poets, and I’m going sitting there to try to do this waiting for the every year. Dr. Tyree best thought from the history to pop in your department and I are head.” putting together a Some advice project that we hope that she relayed to get off the ground the next day at a called the High smaller writing Plains Poetry Project, workshop for which is to make this the gender a sustainable, yearly studies program event where we bring was that getting Allie Smith/The Prairie a major poet in.” the first couple Denise Duhamel speaks during a Distingued Overall, Duhammel words onto the Lecture Series on Nov. 2 at the FAC Recital said that it was page can be the Hall. important to grow most daunting from scratch. It kind of just one’s knowledge of part. looks like death or a void or “If you are really serious something like that. I don’t language in order to be a and you want to sit down like a blank page. Just write well-rounded writer. “I know you think you are and write a poem, never something on it.” start with a blank page,” Meljac said that it was supposed to be writing, and Duhammel said. “It’s too important for WT students you should be writing every terrifying. Even if you just to learn lessons like these day, but you’ve got to read open up a book of poetry and that he hoped students a lot. Read contemporary and take a line and just write would be inspired by poetry even if you’re not from that. You’ll probably seeing talent of her caliber sure that you like it exactly get rid of it at the end but on campus. This speaker because I think that’s the you’re never just starting comes thanks to the interest only way to get better.”
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NEWS
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Nov. 14, 2017
Organizations, community members host Fall Carnival appreciated the community atmosphere. “I like how the ambulances are here and how it is a safe environment,” said junior mechanical engineering major Carley Hockett, who attended the event with transfer ambassadors. Even though the night was cold, it was still filled with music, games, candy and fun for students and the community.
Taylor Buckley Contributor The spirit of Halloween was in the air on Oct. 31 as people of all ages dressed up in costumes and enjoyed endless amounts of candy to kick off the holiday season. WTAMU got right in the middle of all the action and put on the 2017 Fall Carnival at the First United Bank Center. People from the community, along with several WTAMU clubs and organizations, helped at the community event. The Canyon Fire Department, Student Center, Block and Bridal, various fraternities and sororities along with many other organizations hosted games and activities and handed out candy to a large number of trick-or-treaters. The Darlings of WT had the theme of the Kentucky Derby and had an activity for kids to ride stick horses
Natalia Molina/The Prairie Members of F1rst Gen with candy during the fall carnival at the parking lot of the First United Bank Center on Oct. 31. down a race track. WT students and professors treating at the fall carnival. “Last year, we won the attended the event; many “It is fun seeing WT spirit award, and we are people from the community students interact with the hoping to win it again,” came to enjoy the event as community,” Henley said. said Krista Turner, a junior well. Gretchen Henley, who “It’s nice to have a safe area agriculture education major is a masters student studying to go trick-or-treating.” with the Darlings of WT. science in education, took Both Canyon residents Not only a large number of her daughter out trick-or- and WTAMU students alike
STAFF OF THE PRAIRIE
Editors Nick Alvarado
Sports Editor Allie Smith
Adviser Nancy Garcia
Advertising Manager Adhi Viriya
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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Lecture series starts strong with controversial topic in nation Taylor Buckley Contributor As part of West Texas A&M University’s goal to enhance education outside of the classroom, borderlands historian and professor Brian DeLay from the University of California, spoke to the campus community as part of the ongoing Distinguished Lecture Series (DLS). With the help of the Center for the Study of the American West (CSAW), the Hazelwood Lecture Hall in the PanhandlePlains Historical Museum was filled to overflowing. Carol Lovelady, director of the museum, introduced the first lecture of the season.
DeLay, the author of “War of a Thousand Deserts” and “North American Borderlands,” spoke about “The Texas Gun Frontier and The Travels of Mexican History.” He went into detail about Mexico’s engagement on the subject, the International Arms Trade and many other topics. DeLay gave the audience a series of dates that helped lay out the timeline for the amount of history he was discussing, and he said that April 21, 1836 marked the first major event in the course of Mexico’s independence. He further explained the history of guns and controversial points that began to rise during this
Hannah Nelson/The Prairie Above, DeLay’s published books stand on a table during the DLS event. To the left, Brian DeLay at the Hazlewood Lecture Hall in the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. Bottom the crowd listens to DeLay lecturing at the Hazlewood Lecture Hall in the Panhandle-Plains Historial Museum. time period. “Guns pour into Mexico for all these decades, yet the government never had enough,” DeLay said. As the night came to an end, Buster Ratliff, a developer of events who teams up with CSAW to promote events for the museum, said that the lecture “went great.” He appreciated that there was a large “mix of young and old people” to attend the event. The Distinguished Lecture Series, which started in 2007, has events
scheduled into February that relate to all different kinds of topics ranging from poetry reading to astronomy. “I appreciate that WT
offers an alternative learning experience to the classroom through DLS,” junior English major Lariat Adams said.
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Vietnamese Student Association hosts annual Cultural Night Ahn Nguyen Contributor The Vietnamese Culture Night was held in Legacy Hall last Friday, Oct. 20th by the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) at West Texas A&M University. The Vietnamese Culture Night is a regularly scheduled event that happens annually where Vietnamese students use this opportunity to promote the traditional culture of Vietnam. Traditional foods were prepared and served before the offical event started. Having to wait for just a little bit was worth it when the attendees could taste the original Vietnamese rolls and fried rice with the special sauce that only served in Vietnam. The Vietnamese Students Association also prepared moon cakes as special desert menu beside fresh ans tasty fruits. The event started at 7:30 p.m. and featured many traditional Vietnamese performances that were prepared by the VSA members. “We did not have a lot of time to prepare and gather together for the performance at the Vietnamese Culture Night. However, we are still trying our best to have time
an advertising major. The event left a good impression on people who attended. “I came here b e c a u s e I‘ve never been in the Vi e t n a m e s e C u l t u r e Night before, so I would like to learn more about V i e t n a m ese Ahn Nguyen/The Prairie culture. It was The Vietnamese Student Association perform during Cultural Night at Legacy Hall on Oct. way much 20. more fun and interesting than between each other schedule stage with “That Bat Ngo” that attended, following up to practice. We have put in a which was about the family with the traditional game. I expected”, Marguerite lot of time and effort to do lifestyle of the Vietnamese. The game was bamboo pole Wang, a graphic design our best, and to introduce Anyone who attended the dancing, in which four to major said. the beauty of Vietnam to event also got a chance to six people hold everyone,” Thao Ho, a win a handmade gift from two sticks of member of VSA said. the Vietnamese Students bamboo each Beside the traditional Association by answering and clap in a dances and performances questions about the Vietnam four by four in Vietnamese, traditional culture. In addition, everyone rhythm, while dresses like “Ao Dai” dance, could see the behind the another dances “Banh Troi Nuoc” dance, scenes preparation and in and out of the VSA members also gave work of the Vietnamese the sticks. “The people who came to the event Students Association. People game was so a taste of modern pop music could see the hard work, as much fun. It from Vietnam. They put out well as all the fun that the was hard to an outstanding “ Tuy An.” Vietnamese students went get the rhythm contemporary dance stage through to make a perfect right, but once that portrayed the passion and memoriable event. you started, about love of Vietnamese Finally, the event ended up you couldn’t younger generation. They with the picture of the VSA stop,” said also delivered a funky style members with all the guests Esteban Ponce,
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NEWS
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WTAMU Wine + Water Chapter Fights Water Crisis Callie Shipley Copy Editor With a commitment to providing clean water for those who need it most, the West Texas A&M University chapter of Wine + Water fights the water crisis through a passion for creating a higher standard of living across the globe. The WTAMU chapter of Wine + Water raises money to go on international service trips each year and helps provide fresh water by digging wells, providing ceramic water filters, hosting education programs, and helping in other ways as needed. According to the Wine + Water website, founder Doc Hendley, launched the international organization in 2007. WTAMU students started a local chapter of the organization after the university selected Hendley’s book, “Wine to Water: How One Man Saved Himself While Trying to Save the World,” as the common reader in 2014. As a new group on campus in 2014, the Wine + Water chapter won Organization of the Year at WTAMU, Leadership team member Elijah Roach said that the WTAMU chapter is considered one of the best Wine + Water student chapters in the nation.
Callie Shipley/The Prairie The Wine + Water team in Nepal helped provide water to benefit about 1,500 people through digging trenches for water pipes and completing other service projects. “Being just a service Africa. So far, the WTAMU Christa White has served on organization but also being chapter has served on trips trips in the Amazon and in really close to each other to Uganda, the Amazon, Nepal since she joined Wine makes things really great, and Nepal. + Water. and for our new members, While the total cost for “It blows your mind how we always want to push these trips depends on where blessed and thankful we doing things together and the students travel, students should be here and how getting to know each other must raise at least $1,000 to different it is in other places through the service,” Roach pay for the service project for people,” White said. said. “A lot of our members and their living expenses. Since many of the women just have a general generous Then, they must also raise in these villages must travel and giving heart.” the funds for their airfare. hours to retrieve fresh water, Through its projects, Wine The students raise this Wine + Water helps make + Water serves communities money both individually and wells more accessible for in the Amazon, Cambodia, as a group with fundraisers the community in Nepal. Nepal, the Dominican held throughout the year. White said that women Republic, Haiti and East Leadership team member walked up a mountain for
hours several times a day to bring back water. As a result of Wine + Water’s work, a reservoir tank can now reach the water taps of the individual households in the community. “You go over there and you just see how thankful these people are that we’re there to help them have clean water and that they don’t have to do what they were doing previously,” White said. “It just really changes your perspective on everything, honestly. That’s why going on those trips is a really big part of the organization because you get that outlook on it. Those people are always thankful that we’re there to help them.” The organization also seeks to improve the standard of living on a local basis through community service projects that include work with Habitat for Humanity, Special Olympics, and other organizations. White enjoys being a part of Wine + Water because she said that, no matter what, she always has people she can count on. “It’s like a family,” White said. “We’re all close and just getting to hang out and do these really important and meaningful projects together is something
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F1RSTGEN Celebrates National First-Gen College Student Day Savannah Wesley Contributor On Wednesday, Nov. 8th, West Texas A&M University celebrated National First-Generation College Student Day. This day is intended to celebrate those who are the first in their families to attend college. F1RSTGEN is a new student organization dedicated to helping and mentoring said students. “[First-generation] students are culturally diverse, imminently talented, and dedicated to the college experience as trailblazers for their families,” WTAMU President Dr. Walter Wendler said. “We are happy to have [firstgeneration students] at WTAMU and are continually striving to develop ways to connect and support their success.” “About 47 percent of WT’s student population is first-generation,” said Joaquin Mendez, a senior management major and vice-president of F1RSTGEN. With half of WT’s students being firstgeneration, the campus has multiple ways to support these students including F1RSTGEN. This organization encourages
Much like half of WTAMU’s s t u d e n t population, Cordova is the first in his family to attend college and intends to assist other first-generation students as much as he can. “You don’t have to be firstgeneration to be in the organization so anybody can join,” Cordova said. F1RSTGEN is a resource open to all students and their main focus is to “maintain their operation on campus” so they can continue Savannah Wesley/The Prairie to help students in The officers of F1RSTGEN at a table set up in the JBK serving donut in celebration of National Firstthe future. Generation College Student Day. “I’m proud to recognize involvement within the He intends for the network for all students F1RSTGEN and all of community and teamwork organization to promote a on campus.” F1RSTGEN those who work hard to through mutual support positive interaction of the wants to bring awareness support our students,” Dr. between students. The members of the community, concerning the value of the organization even persuades first-generation and legacy first-generation students to Wendler said. “Please take first-generation students to students alike. the campus culture and in today’s ‘First-Generation obtain a degree higher than “We seek ways we can the community and wants College Celebration Day’ as a bachelor’s. connect students with to create an environment an opportunity to recognize, Dr. George Pacheco Jr., community activities, and are of unity and support that honor and congratulate our Director of Experiential working to build a network facilitates individual and first-generation students on the accomplishments and Learning and the QEP with for students to mentor other group goals. the Office of Academic students,” said Dr. Pacheco. Jonathan Cordova, a senior offer thanks to those who Affairs, is a co-advisor to the “F1RSTGEN wants to criminal justice major, is the work hard to ensure their F1RSTGEN organization. become a strong support secretary of F1RSTGEN. success.”
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SPORTS
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Buffs, Lady Buffs in action
WT senior tight end Junior Pome’e runs with the ball during the game against Western New Mexico on Nov. 11 at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
Rylan Gerber attempts to save the ball during the game against Western StateColorado on Nov. 11 at the First United Bank Center.
From left, Warren Witherspoon, Jordan Johnson and Ben Arbuckle celebrate after scoring a touchdown during the game against Western New Mexico on Nov. 11 at Kimbrough Memorial Stadium.
Reagan Haynes dribbles the ball down the floor during the exhibition game against Wayland Baptist on Nov. 4 at the First United Bank Center.
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Ryan Quaid shoots above a Western State-Colorado defender during the game on Nov. 11 at the First United Bank Center.
Abby Spurgin shoots the ball as she is fouled by a Wayland Baptist defender during the exhibition game on Nov. 4 at the First United Bank Center.
Nick Alvarado/The Prairie
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Winter sports kick off, fall teams begin post season Nick Alvarado Editor-in-Chief As some sports end, others kick off their season across West Texas A&M University. The fall season is vastly coming to a close with volleyball and cross country seeing post-season experience. The Lady Buffs closed their regular season slate by winning four of their last six games and will play in the Lone Star Conference tournament in Stephenville as a five-seed, facing against Texas A&M-Kingsville. “It’s going to come down to getting our girls primed for the weekend,” head volleyball coach Jason Skoch. The winner of the WT/Kingsville match on Thursday would see themselves in the semifinals on Friday facing either top seed Tarleton or Eastern New Mexico at 5 p.m. in Wisdom Gym. In cross country, Canyon hosted the South Central regional meet on Nov. 4, with the men impressing as hosts. Geoffrey Kipchumb finished 28th to lead the team with a time of 32:01:85. Owen Hind followed at 32nd, running
in 32:08.92. Amarillo native Briggs Wittlake placed 36th with a time of 32:19.79. “We didn’t look good at one and two as I would have liked,” said head cross country coach Jake Krolick. “Briggs [Wittlake] went leg for being a freshman Reid Splawn having an off-season up to this point. It’s great to see the local guys come through.” The Buff cross country season continues as they head to Evansville. Ind., on Nov. 18 for the national meet held at the Angel Mounds Course. The Lady Buffs, who placed seventh as a team, were led by freshman Erman Jepleting placing 23rd with a time of 22:22.53. Finishing close behind was Nikola Hrelec in 24th, running in 22:23.18. Mallory Shehan placed 69th, running in 23:44.09. “Last year, we were 14th,” said Krolick. “They finished seventh. This group of ladies should be proud of the efforts that they put forth.” Athletes being tabbed to all-conference awards were Hind, Ryan Thompson, Wittlake, Benedict Westhenry and Kipchumba for the men. WT as a team were ranked as team champions of the conference
w h i l e three missed field Thompson goals from freshman was named kicker Alex Schrag, newcomer mishitting from 39 of the year yards, 43 yards and 48 and Wittlake yards. The Buffs close garnering the season on a 3-8 freshman mark in a rebuilding of the year. year. K r o k l i c k Nick Alvarado/The With new starts, the was named Prairie Buffs and Lady Buffs coach of the WT cross country run- hit the hardwood ner Owen Hind runs for the first time this year. On the during the South Cen- season. tral regional meet at women’s The Buffs used a The Range in Canyon s i d e , strong second half, on Nov. 4. Je p l e t i n g, forcing nine turnovers, Hrelec, Kelly McCaskill as WT picked up the win 83and Aubri Wrye were 63, against Western Statenamed to the all-conference Colorado. performancers. “To start the season off For Buff football, the team 2-0 with in-region games is saw chances squander in the really big for our program,” season finale against Western men’s head basketball coach New Mexico in a 21-17 loss Tom Brown said. “What we on senior day. told our guys is a great team Senior quarterback Ben win. I thought playing these Arbuckle went 17-for-31, teams gets us ready to play throwing 237 yards on two good teams.” touchdowns. Junior running Leading the team was back Warren Witherspoon Jordan Evans, tallying 25 led all rushers with 75 yards points, collecting six boards on 21 attempts. Freshman while shooting eight-for-18 Brandon Blair followed from the field. David with 26 yards on two Chavlovich basketed 21 attempts. Avery Lewis led points, recorded eight assists the team receiving with 64 and went a perfect nine-foryards on four catches and a nine from the free throw line. touchdown. Senior tight end Ryan Quaid chipped in 17 Junior Pome’e finished with points with nine rebounds 43 yards on two catches. and shot seven-from-12 from The big achilles’ heel was the floor.
The Buffs now will head to Colorado for games against Adams State, a team that WT beat in the season opener, and Colorado State-Pueblo. The ninth-ranked Lady Buffs tipped their season off on the road in Colorado, facing UC-Colorado Springs and Regis, a team that WT faced in the regional tournament last season. In the second game on the second day, the Lady Buffs edged out Regis in a regional rematch from last season, 58-53. Hightower again led the team with 15 points. Harris chipped in 13 points, collecting eight rebounds and recording three assists. CeCe Wooten tallied 13 points, eight rebounds and shot 66 percent from the floor. In a 61-34 win against UCCS, sophomore Lexy Hightower collected a team high 13 points and recording three assists. Deleyah Harris contributed with nine points. The Lady Buffs return home to face University of Science and Arts in their home opener on Nov. 16 prior to taking part in the Pak-A-Sak Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 24-25.
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SPORTS
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Chavlovich, Buffs aim to build off Sweet 16 appearance Austin Heinen Reporter For a team to be successful, it is important that its seniors have their best years yet. This gives West Texas A&M men’s basketball’s senior guard David Chavlovich a tall order. The title of all-time leading scorer tends to go to a senior as they hang up their jersey at the e n d of their last season, but this is a title Chavlovich
wore when he walked into this year’s first practice. He snagged the title last season, Feb. 5th against Texas- Permian Basin. The record was previously held by 1993-1997 alum Martin Lattibeaudiere. Though this is a big accomplishment, Chavlovich still has not gotten what he came here for. “I came here to get [championship] rings,” Chavlovich said. “I haven’t gotten a ring yet and it’s going to look great on my finger after this year.” This goal has always been the expectation and head coach Tom Brown said Chavlovich h a n d l e s expectations well. “He plays really loose,” Brown said. “He plays very confident. He wants to win and he’s a guy where it doesn’t matter if he scores just 10 points a game as long as we win and he’s happy. That’s a great quality to have
out of a player like David and his caliber because he’s a fantastic player.” H i s teammates consider him one of their go-to guys. Fellow senior guard Jordan Evans sees him as the leader championship teams need. “That’s the type of guy who does it all,” Evans Nick Alvarado/The Prairie said. “We Above photo, Jordan Evans attempts to drive to the basket during the feed off him. game against Western State on Nov. 11 at the First United Bank Center. I was blessed The left, David Chavlovich shoots over a Nebraska Christian defender to have a guy during the exhibition game on Nov. 4 at the First United Bank Center. like Chav in three sophomores, three WT, they have become a high school [named] Isaiah juniors. So we have a nice reality. Taylor and now I have David balance. We’re not young, “It’s been a blessing,” Chavlovich. He does a lot for we’re not old… but some Chavlovich said. “I could us and I’m blessed to have a young players that came in only imagine the things I teammate like that.” that are going to have to step have accomplished. It was Including Chavlovich, the up.” all just stuff I dreamed of Buffs (2-0) have seven players The title of leader has as a kid, honestly. I’m just returning and six new faces often been synonymous with happy I came here. I had this season. That mix of Chavlovich and for good other offers, but I feel like players has WT projected reason. He said he is never I made the right decision.” second in the preseason LSC worried about where the WT will continue their standings. Coach Brown team is ranked, preseason season with road trips to expects all 13 players to have polls or his accomplishments. Adams State and CSUa leadership role this season. He said he dreamed of Pueblo on Nov. 17-18 as “We’ve got some talented these successes when he was part of the LSC-RMAC young kids,” Brown said. younger and that thanks to Challenge. “We got four freshman,
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LINEUP
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Pep Band becomes more than just sound for athletic events Allie Smith Sports Editor The Band of the Box. The Pep Band. Those people who play music during timeouts at sports events. Whatever you know them as, you know who they are if you have ever been to a volleyball game at the Box or basketball game at the First United Bank Center. “The Pep Band’s main purpose is to support our Buffs and Lady Buffs athletic teams,” Pep Band Student Director and senior music education major Bruno Gutierrez said. “We play at both volleyball and basketball games and have made appearances at a couple baseball and softball games. We also do our best to help uplift spectators and help lighten the mood when a game’s pace slows down or becomes very heated.” The Pep Band is a pivotal piece of the sports fan’s experience, performing songs that range anywhere from the WT Fight Song to Eye of the Tiger. “The members of the pep band are entertainers and team supporters,” Gutierrez said. “We make sure we can play music at a very high level and cheer
and yell for our teams no matter the score. The musicians are goofy fun people that play music amazingly. The atmosphere is fun and wild yet very professional.” Members said their goals revolve around the fans and the atmosphere they provide at events. “The best part of pep band is that our job is to bring energy to the game and audience members that attend them,” senior music business major Ross Edge said. “Most people probably don’t realize how much it means to the group when we receive compliments for playing.” Players of the saxophone, trombone, trumpet, drums set, guitar, bass guitar or keyboard can audition when each school year begins. “I think that we’re really Photo courtesy of Bruno Gutierrez trying to play the best that “It’s basically our job to feel too boring… We can say we can, but it’s very casual,” accompany the cheerleaders something that’s funny and senior guitar performance and help bring energy to tell that it’s getting the other major Alex Wargo said. “It’s the room because we’ve team irritated. That’s really not like normal at school. been told that when we’re part of our goal, to just be It’s not very serious. We’re not there, it’s really quiet,” part of the game and feed trying to play well but have Wargo said. “Part of what into the energy.” fun.” we do is shout ridiculous Wargo said that one of the Outside of playing music, nonsense at the players and best parts of being in the band members said they the fans just to keep it light- band is how other teams enjoy the emotions they hearted and fun and keep the respond to the heckling. evoke from players and fans. energy up so it never starts to “I just like to play but I
can tell that when we’re getting a reaction, the energy is going up and everybody gets more outrageous and add to it and build on it,” Wargo said. “It’s fun. You can see the crowd getting into it and laughing and clapping. They’re hearing and paying attention. Pretty much we’re trying to have fun, watch the game and it’s a job for all of us so it’s always good to have a job where we’re getting to play our instrument.” As this semester winds down, so does the career of Student Director Gutierrez. He said that his job made a positive impact on his college career. “My favorite part of working in Pep Band is the fact that I get to lead these incredible musicians and get to watch some very entertaining basketball or volleyball matches,” Gutierrez said. “There is nothing that gets you more pumped than watching a Lady Buff volleyball player throw down a spike in front of bunch of defenders or a Buff basketball player slamming a mean dunk.”
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EDITORIAL 11
American voter movement toward progress continues A year after Donald Trump was elected to the Presidency of the United States, American voters spoke again in favor of change and progress. The leadership of this country became more diverse last Tuesday, November 7 as multiple glass ceilings regarding gender and ethnicity were shattered. For example, one of the biggest stories of the night came in the form of Danica Roem. She became the first openly transgender state lawmaker in Virginia when she ousted Republican Del. Bob Marshall, who first suggested the bill that
prohibited transgender citizens from using the bathroom of the gender they identify with. Hoboken, New Jersey elected Ravinder Bhalla as mayor, marking the first time a Sikh American has been elected to be mayor of a city. He overpowered racist advances towards him as his campaign was mocked with flyers and photos with phrases such as, “Don’t let terrorism take over our town!” Another big Virginia win came in the election of Democrat Justin Fairfax as the state’s next lieutenant governor. He became only the second African
American to win a statewide election in the state. Worth noting is that this comes only about three months after the white supremacist rally at Emancipation Park in Charlottesville, which left one woman dead and 33 injured. Liberian refugee, Wilmot Collins is now only the second mayor of Helena, Montana to be a African American. The last African American mayor was Edward Johnson, who was elected in 1873. There are others. Andrew Jenkins is the first openly transgender African American woman to be elected to a city council of a major U.S. city when she was
elected to the Minneapolis City Council. Jenny Durkan is Seattle’s first lesbian mayor. New Jersey’s new lieutenant governor is Sheila Oliver, who is now the first female African American to hold this position. Charlotte, North Carolina elected Vi Lyles as its first female African American mayor. Yvonne Spicer is the first ever mayor for Framingham, Massachusetts (which was just voted to city status) and is a female African American. Virginia’s House of Delegates gained its first two Latinas in Elizabeth Guzman and Hala Ayala. There are more than we at the Prairie can realistically list in a short editorial,
but the point is that the American public made a stance for progress this week. It goes to show how important individual voting is and that even though we are in college, we have to put our voice out. Whether we like things the way they are or we want them to change, sitting by and watching it happen will never get anything done. Imagine if some of the voters in these areas had ignored their right to vote. This progress never would have happened. Go out and use your rights that so many people have fought and died for. Obviously, votes count.
12 ENTERTAINMENT
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Theatre students amaze in ‘Little Women’ musical Hannah Nelson Contributor In a story of passion, drive, love and family, audience members follow the March sisters through struggling times as they become “Little Women.” For a variety of dates this past October, the West Texas A&M University theatre program presented “Little Women: The Musical.” This production follows the story of the March sisters and specifically focuses on the life of Jo. Directed by Andrew Barratt Lewis and set in the Civil War era, the story follows Jo as she dreams and works against the traditional female role during this time period to become a writer. “I love the character of Jo, who is our main character,” director Andrew Barratt Lewis said. “She is just fiery and she’s going after what she wants.” Rehearsals for this production began on the first day of classes for the fall semester. A lot of work went into making every aspect of the story come together. “Anytime with a musical, we have music to learn, dances to learn, and then of course all the scenes,” Lewis said.
Photo courtesy of Callie Hisek This production consisted of 10 actors around 20 crew members, scene changes, and an orchestra. Lewis also worked with Art, Theatre, and Dance Instructor Crystal Bertrand, who choreographed the musical. “Meshing all of those pieces together makes for a really great product, but it takes a lot of work to finetune so that nothing gets neglected,” Lewis said. Since the musical is based off the “Little Women” novel, both the director and choreographer used the book as a reference during production. “We talked about it with the cast a bit, and we actually
had Dr. Monica Hart from the English department come and talk to us about the novel and about Louisa May Alcott’s life,” Lewis said. Bertrand was excited to be a part of the production because of the personal connection she had with the book when she was growing up. For Christmas one year, Bertrand’s aunt came to her and gave her three books, and one of the books that Bertrand received was Little Woman. “She said this is “Little Women,” and she said, ‘You know, Crystal, this book is very much of importance, and I want you to read it,”
Bertrand said. Her aunt explained the character of Jo and how Bertrand could learn from Jo’s character. “She said there is more to a woman than just great shoes,” Bertrand said. Many aspects went into Bertrand’s choreography of the production including researching the time period, looking at the stage set-up, and working with costuming. “I wanted to bring something to the production that was within that time period,” Bertrand said. While the dances all had specific aspects that made them unique, the characters also had different aspects to
them that brought emotion to the story. One of the main things that director Lewis hoped audiences would take away from the story was the power of Jo as a character. “Jo goes wholeheartedly for what she wants, but she remains kind and loving and nurturing,” Lewis said. Actress Laurel Smalley, who played Marmee March, said that this was a great role for her to grow. “She could be the loving mother, but she also had to be the strict mother and reprimand the girls,” Smalley said. “I felt like it really pushed me as an actress, not just a singer and a dancer.” The message of Smalley’s character also deeply spoke to her for daily life. She was able to learn a lot from the character of Marmee and from “Little Women.” “A mixture of looking into the future and being prepared as a young artist but also being graceful and helping others and being selfless,.” Smalley said. Now that the “Little Women” production has come to an end, the theatre department will continuing preparing for “Much Ado About Nothing,” with performances beginning Nov. 9.
Nov. 14, 2017
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ENTERTAINMENT 13
Senior dance students showcase skills in ‘Falling into Dance’ this, so it’s a really proud moment to be able to show my For select dates, the work over the past senior dance majors of four years in colWest Texas A&M Unilege.” versity will be presentTo learn more ing “Falling into Dance” about production at the Happy State Bank dates and for tickStudio Theatre on Nov. ets, visit the WT 30 and Dec. 1-3. This website or call production is a show(806) 651-2804. case of solos and groups Students who presdances that the eight seent their Buff ID nior students have prewill be able to repared. ceive free admis“They’ve been asked sion. to create a solo on them“The dancers are selves, and then they also incredibly talenthave to do a group work ed, and we are just on their fellow dancers, very proud of their and they are not allowed accomplishments, to dance in those,” said and its really excitLeslie Williams, an asing to be able to sociate professor of art, see pieces that they Savannah Wesley/The Prairie theatre and dance. have been working Choreographers of “Falling into Dance” pose at the Mary Moody North Hall Dance Studio. “Falling into Dance” is on,” said art, thea two-act concert. with student lighting design“My piece is kind of per“This is my creation,” atre and dance instructor “This is the first time for ers. sonal,” senior Bailee Burch Burch said. “No one else has Crystal Bertrand. many of them that they “They take care of the en- said. “I’ve done a lot of miswill be creating a substan- tire production aspect of it,” sion work in Kenya and so tial piece of their own with Williams said. “The faculty mine is about Christians in their own voice,” Williams oversee everything, but it’s Kenya, how they live in such said. all theirs. It’s their show.” poverty, and it is really a hard The seniors started from Students involved in the life, but still at the end of the the ground up to complete production are able to dem- day, they have so much joy their pieces. The students onstrate what they have because they love the Lord.” have control of all aspects learned from their time at The production of “Fallof the performance in- WT through their perfor- ing into Dance” is the culcluding creating auditions, mance, and some students mination of these students’ scheduling rehearsals, and have also used their choreo- degrees. It is a specific time deciding on costumes. The graphed pieces to tell the au- where the students show students also collaborate dience about who they are. their progression at WT.
Hannah Nelson Contributor
14 GAMES
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Nov. 14, 2017 theprairienews.com
Nov. 14, 2017
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COMICS 15
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PHOTO
Nov. 14, 2017
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Fall Carnival and Trunk or Treat at WT Organizations sponsored a trunk for the Trunk or Treat in which students and the community participated.
Natalia Molina /The Prairie