February 4, 2014 • Vol. 96, No. 17
www.theprairienews.com
Internships help students gain experience B.J. Brittain Assistant Editor
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ow can students earn class credit, gain valuable experience and even get paid? The answer is simple: internships. Internships can prove to be one of the most valuable experiences that students have while in school. There are many benefits to doing an internship while in school. “You get career confirmation, gain contacts, learn more about your field and get experience, learn about professionalism and sometimes you can earn credit and get paid,” Steve Sellars of Career Services, said. Students who have participated in internships greatly value the experience. “My internship has pushed me in ways that I did not imag-
NEWS
ine,” Tori Stone, a senior Mass Communication major, said. “I became a more prepared and well rounded employee. The experience has influenced me in ways to where I know what I want to do and what I don’t want to do. It showed me my limits, my weaknesses and my strengths.” Students who have gone on to begin their career also talk about the significance internships had on their education. “I think internships, even unpaid ones, are beneficial because you learn about work ethic and it gives you a beginner’s glimpse into the field you want to work in,” Julia Greif, a graduate student in Communication and Lead Analyst at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center, said. “Every in-
ternship helped me in some way towards my job now and previous jobs I have held.” Some students do not know how to find an internship or where to begin looking. For those who feel this way, there is an office on campus to help. The Career Services Office located in the Classroom Center offers help and guidance for students as they pursue internships. The first of the resources that they offer is the How to Find an Internship Workshop, which is offered every Thursday at 11:30 a.m.
INTERNSHIPS on PAGE 3
COURTESY OF WT CAREER SERVICES Internships are posted weekly in BuffJobs.
SPORTS
ENTERTAINMENT
FEATURE
OPINION
Study Abroad Fair at Legacy Hall.
Lady Buffs Basketball rolls to 11 straight victories.
Paradox Interactive cranking out new stuff for gamers.
Overcoming homesickness for WT students.
Thoughts from the State of the Union Address.
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NEWS
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
Herdsmen and others host Relay for Life Cheyenne Black Reporter
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n Jan. 30, the Herdsmen, the Herdsmen Hearts, and other citywide or� ganizations will participated in their annual Relay for Life event to help raise money for the American Cancer Association. The event will take place at the Buffalo Sports Park at 7:00 p.m. The whole community is invited to join in and help raise money for the cause. The Hearts started fundrais� ing for the Relay in the fall by primarily putting on bake sales to raise money for the event. “The whole organization is involved whether it’s baking for the bake sales, walking the track at the event, selling the hot co� coa, or making coffee to help everyone stay awake,” Renee Massey said, representatives to the Hearts and a senior dance major. To make sure everyone stays warm, the Hearts will be selling hot cocoa or making cof� fee. During the 12 hour relay, there are activities that people can participate in such as sand volleyball, Zumba, plays or live
STAFF
EDITORS Tyler Anderson Megan Moore
ASSISTANT EDITOR B.J. Brittain
music. There is also food that is around the track being sold and prizes being given out. For the teams or organiza� tion participating in the relay, at least one member must walk the track all night, due to the weather that is being forecasted for the walk. Everyone is al� lowed to take turns walking. “We expect to have a good crowd come to it and walk for the cause as well as raise money for it,” Jordan Gilmore said, an active member of the Hearts and a sophomore studying ani� mal science. When planning the relay, the Hearts had to make sure they had a representative from the group attend all mandatory meetings. They also had to plan on a fundraiser and ways to raise money for the relay. The Hearts even came up with their own organized schedule for who was to walk during the 12 hours. “During the event, we make sure we have everybody possible over there for the most active first 6 hours of the relay,” Madelyn ���������������������� Melchiors said, presi� dent of the Hearts and a senior
equine business major. Towards the end of the walk, people who stay for the entire time are al� lowed to camp and hang out. Since 1977, the Herdsmen have been WTAMU’s most spir� ited and traditional groups on campus. The group was formed due to the lack of spirit at foot� ball games by seven men who become the founding fathers. WT’s first live mascot was a 750 pound buffalo they named “Thunder”. The Herdsmen are the main organization who trains and cares for the current live mas� cot. When Thunder II was mas� cot, the Herdsmen became more than a spirit organization. They became recognized by West Texas State University. The Herdsman Hearts are the sister organization to the Herdsmen. The mascot is seen at each football game with the Hearts’ support. The Hearts raise money, oragnize events and support the Herdsmen at football games. Both organizations are also involved in the Pigskin Review, and many more events.
Connor Woods
Cheyenne Black Alyssa Bonner Jacob Helker Laci McGee Sarah Jo Miller Brooke Self Jonathan Scott Preston Thomas
AD MANAGER
DESIGN EDITOR Kati Watson
ADVISER Dr. Butler Cain
REPORTERS
Finish the F ight!! The American Cancer Society “Relay For Life” team Books ‘n Boots is back in the ring, inviting you to join the fight against cancer at the Cornette Library gallery area on: Tuesday, February 11th, 3 - 7 pm For the latest and greatest Silent Auction yet! Items in the auction include: • • • • •
Books & art by WT faculty, staff & students An original painting by Bradley Chance Hays Fashion accessories Food items and gift certificates Various gift baskets, and much more! Hosted by the Cornette Library & WTAMU Veterans Network Relay For Life team, “Books ‘n Boots”. All prizes and refreshments have been donated by local vendors. All proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society & Relay For Life.
Contact Beth Vizzini at 651-2220 or bavizzini@wtamu.edu for further information.
SPORTS REPORTERS
LAYOUT ASSISTANT
Wyatt Miller Tanner Sims Jose Robledo
Cheyenne Black
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Christopher Brockman
WEB ASSISTANT Georgia Romig
PHOTOGRAPHERS Natalia Molina Jasmine Ruiz Thomas Koenig
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.
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
Clean up after games Cheyenne Black Reporter
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asketball games: fans attend them but some do not stop and think about what goes on after a game. Since 2002, these games have been held at the First United Bank Center, also known as the FUB. The 77,000 square foot building is cleaned top to bottom by four or five people in less than four hours depending on how much trash is left after games. “The toughest part of cleaning up is hoping that no one walks into the bathroom while in the process of cleaning it,” D’ann Jauqez, a university employee, said. “What makes the cleaning go by smoother is finding cool objects like a forgotten backpack or a pair of sunglasses. It makes the cleaning go a lot faster and more enjoyable.” Those who clean the FUB are the same ones who physically polish and maintain
the up keep of this campus. These workers can also sign up for overtime. “I put a sign up paper on my door and whoever wants more hours can come by and sign up,” Gabriella Rozales, supervisor for the cleaning crew located in the Physical plant, said. The SSC Services for Education Company took over custodial and maintenance duties for all schools in the Texas A&M System, including WTAMU, on June 1, 2013. The system hopes to see an estimated $92.3 million savings in cost over the next 12-year term since transferring to the new company. When the employees switched over and started working for both the SSC and WT they gained a five percent increase in their paychecks. The First United Bank Center also hosts events like the WTAMU graduation, the 2002 NCAA Division II National Championship Volleyball Tournament, concerts and high school basketball playoffs, and other events.
INTERNSHIPS FROM PAGE 1
“I like to tell the students that there is no Easy Button when it comes to internships,” Sellars said. “You have to find them, and what we try to do is walk alongside the students and partner with them throughout the process.” Many students find their internships on their own, although there are internships posted on Buff Jobs on the university website. It is just important to remember that there is not a single website that has every internship on it, so individual research into internships is a good idea. Once students find an internship, whether it is through the university website or not, Career Services offers even more assistance. They help students explore the possibility of getting credit for the internship, which is done through the respective academic departments. They also keep in touch with students while they participate in their internships to make sure everything is going well.
Internships are not meant to take the place of classroom learning but to supplement that learning. Internships are an important part of college education, and Career Services offers the resources to assist students in this area.
PHOTO COURTESY WT CAREER SERVICES Steve Sellars (right) with a former WT intern.
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Lead WT adds two new members to their program
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he LEAD WT program on campus has added two new members to the
team. The new members include faculty director, Aaron Hunt, instructor of education, and interim LEAD WT coordinator, Kimberly Cornelsen, assistant director of recreational sports. Both positions began their duties at the start of the spring semester. Hunt teaches education research and classroom management as well as serving as the director of accreditation for the department of education. Cornelsen joined the WTAMU staff in 2004 and teaches IDS classes. LEAD WT is a two-year program where students learn and develop leadership skills through four credit hours in leadership coursework in addition to eight credit hour courses associated with the student’s major. The program also focuses on real world application as well as student service. Final application deadline for LEAD WT is Friday, Feb. 14.
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
Buff News Briefs
Hospital for Children, a hospital in the Dallas area. The group members included Rikki Boelens, Marina Garcia, Alex Parra and Jared Pedigo, all senior students. TSRHC set guidelines for the students including that the design be affordable, easily assembled and printed on a 3-D printer. The group was able to partner with Dr. Dwight Putnam of TSRHC. After a few trial and error processes the team’s finished design contains no electrical components and is purely mechanical. Since the design is 3-D printable TSRHC can mass print the product for approximately $15 each.
Professional clothing drive to be held in CC
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he Society of Human Resource Management is having a professional clothing drive. They will be accepting clothing in both male and female attire of all sizes. The goal for this drive is to assist students to look professional when gaining a job or an internship. If you have professional clothing that you would like to donate there will be a drop box outside of Classroom Center 213A and the last deadline for donations will be on February the 14th. On February the 20th there will be
The Station For Your Generation
Engineering Class designs mechanical hand
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r. Emily Hunt teaches a mechanical engineering design class where she assigns students a special group project. This fall, one group took bungee cord, fishing line, nuts and bolts, and a 3-D printer to make a prosthetic hand for Texas Scottish Rite
91.1 FM
a station in the JBK for students in need.
Engineering team wins award at competition
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ongratulations to the engineering team who went to the 2014 TexasNew Mexico Steel Bridge competition in Arlington and won fifth place along with the Keith McBride spirit of competition award. The team members were faced with real-world engineering issues, serviceability, safety, and even more problems. The group of 7 students
finished in fifth place out of 15 another schools and finished ahead of teams such as Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at Austin and Southern Methodist University. The team was recognized with the Keith McBride Spirit of Competition Award. The award is given to the team that had outstanding professionalism toward other teams and competition officials, a positive and productive work ethic and a spirit of competitiveness. Information taken from the WT website and Rana McDonald
NEWS
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
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Study Abroad Fair today in Legacy Hall Laci McGee Reporter
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oday in the Legacy Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. is a fair put on by the Study Abroad office here at West Texas A&M University. This fair has representatives from several companies that help students to study abroad. These companies are ISA (International Study Abroad), Globalinks, API (Academic Programs International), CEA, ESC (European Study Center), School of Field Studies and AIFS. These companies are here to help any students who have ever considered studying in a foreign country. They will be able to tell students about the countries that they can visit and the classes offered in those areas. Also at the fair is Pace Rawlins; he can help DACA recipients to study abroad. “I want students that are interested in the summer to come because those program applications are still open,” said Carolina Galloway, Director of Study Abroad. Also at today’s fair will be Dr. Andy Reynolds and Chad Holliday. They are WTAMU professors who are in charge of faculty led trips coming up. Dr. Reynolds is leading a trip to Peru for the Spanish department and Holliday is in charge of the trip to Turkey for the glass program here at WTAMU. “You should study abroad for yourself. You have such a sense of freedom while abroad – this helps you grow personally,” said Alex Montoya, a senior Ad-PR and Broadcasting major who studied in Florence, Italy. Also at the fair are
representatives for the Gilman scholarship. The Gilman is a Nationally Competitive Scholarship that Pell Grant recipients may apply for. This scholarship requires students to be gone for either a full spring or fall semester or for at least four weeks of the summer. This scholarship is granted through the U.S. Department of State. Students must be in a program that is eligible to get credit at WTAMU to receive this scholarship. The emphasis of this scholarship is in languages to non-European countries. “[Studying abroad is] really valuable to education and who you are going to be,” said Laura Seals, Coordinator of Nationally Competitive Scholarships. The scholarship available through the Study Abroad Office is the International Education Fee Scholarship. This scholarship is currently in a transition process that will hopefully allow it to be available to more students. Those revising this scholarship are also attempting to make the application process simpler. To be eligible for this scholarship students must be taking a full load – during the summer this is a minimum of six hours. For all students hoping to study abroad remember that passports can take up to five weeks to receive. Passport paperwork and pictures can be completed at the USPS offices. “I’m planning on teaching English in Korea and I hope to gain professional experience,” said Briana Smith, a senior EC-6 Education major, who wants to study abroad. The Study Abroad office is
not the only way for students to explore the world. There are Nationally Competitive Scholarships that allow students to study abroad. The Critical Language Scholarship is one where students apply to one of 17 critical languages and the students who receive the scholarship are sent abroad to where the program is that year. There is an internship in Germany through DAAD; these internships are in sciences. The Boren scholarship is also available, for which applicants apply to a specific country. The emphasis for this scholarship is in national security and less commonly taught languages in regions critical to the United
States; for example students can apply that are interested in intercultural communication. There is a service component to this scholarship in that recipients work for the government after their return from their studies abroad. There is also the Fulbright Scholarship. This scholarship is a Nationally Competitive Scholarship that does not apply to a degree. The Fulbright can be applied even after graduation. Those who win this scholarship will spend a year in the country of their choice either teaching English or doing research – also on their subject of choice. The Nationally Competitive Scholarship office
representative is also at the fair today and will be more that happy to give more information to those interested. “Studying abroad is a fantastic opportunity to widen your horizons. I’m currently studying in Ukraine but in addition to meeting Ukrainians and some Russians, I’ve met so many people from the Middle East, South America and Latin America. You learn so many cultures when you’re also the foreign kid and you always have something to do,” said Danie Fierro, a Mass Communication major. She is currently studying abroad for her second consecutive semester.
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SPORTS
Amarillo Pro Wrestling scene needs mending Tyler Anderson Co-Editor
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he front-page article from Jan. 28 created excitement and overwhelming gratitude from THCW Nightmare Pro, and the reaction from WTAMU’s student populace was minimal. However, there was indeed comments regarding the story on The Prairie’s website that were quite negative. This brings me to one of two points harbored in this column. First off, The Prairie welcomes an open forum of discussion – from speaking to the staff, to writing to us and commenting on the web page where the story is located. As long as these posts are not laced with profanity, threatens individuals or bullies individuals outright, it is perfectly fine. This open door policy that The Prairie has is a journalistic ideal that we seek to uphold for all, whether they are students, faculty, alumni or the communities we are a part of and serve. Now that this point is perfectly clear, I want to address the professional wrestling community of Amarillo. First, let me lay down some groundwork. Currently, there are two pro wrestling promotions in the area: THCW’s Nightmare Pro and NWA Top of Texas (also known as ToT). While Nightmare Pro hosts monthly shows at The Wreck Room on the eastern side of the Amarillo Boulevard, NWA Top of Texas controls their own venue named “The Wrestleplex” off of the Dumas highway and runs
shows every Saturday evening. For years, the folks behind NWA Top of Texas sought to be the only pro wrestling promotion in town. In its wake, the West Texas Wrestling Association (WWA), Amarillo’s Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Renegade Outlaw Wrestling (ROW) have ceased to exist due to the diligence of those who run NWA Top of Texas. This created bad blood between the wrestlers who have worked for either organization throughout the years. This has also led to fan attrition, prompting those are very much interested in Amarillo independent pro wrestling to not risk spending the $10 fee to watch shows at The Wrestleplex and do something else on a Saturday night. Sadly, the only people attending ToT’s shows (as found out by many sources in the business) nowadays are mostly family and friends of the wrestlers. The first four comments, as found by our website moderators, came from the same IP address, meaning that an individual making the comments were creating ‘sock puppets’ to attempt to sway people to come to ToT’s shows on a Saturday evening. While one may judge either show on their own terms, other individuals on the comments section pointed out that the individual’s posts were laden with flaws. Is it because this person saw that there was indeed something ulterior with the coverage Nightmare Pro has gotten from KVII’s Daybreak and the article
that made it on the front page of The Prairie due to a simple convenience? Or could it be out of desperation by the person to make sure that his or her voice was heard? In talking with a friend in the business about the situation the other day, they explained that the powers-to-be at Nightmare Pro have set aside their worries about this vocal minority and want to create their own niche. In short, it’s water underneath the bridge. So why can’t the owner of NWA Top of Texas realize that he’s hurting this community rather than helping it? This individual cannot tolerate another company other than their own in the area. They let their ego (or let the ego of others) get the best of them and want to make sure that they are the only place to wrestle or to go watch professional wrestling. If this continues, all they will preside over is a smoldering crater – where no wrestler will want to work and where no fan will be interested in their product. I have friends on both sides of the fence. By setting egos and overwhelming personalities aside, I do in fact get along with the owners and wrestlers from both organizations. All in all, by learning tolerance and agreeing to disagree will not only be helpful, everyone will have taken a few steps that are vital to the future of professional wrestling in Amarillo. This doesn’t apply only to the fans, but also for those who are behind the curtain.
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
wants YOU! Who we are looking for next semester: Reporters Sports Reporters Multimedia Layout Designers Photographers For more information, email theprairiewt@gmail.com or come by the Fine Arts Complex, Room 268.
Come join an organization that has been serving the WT community since 1919.
SPORTS
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
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Amarillo Bulls split with the Brahmas Jose Robledo Sports Reporter
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he Amarillo Bulls took on the Lone Star Brahmas on Jan 31 and Feb 1, taking their 32-12 record into the Amarillo Civic Center. Over the weekend, they split with the Lone Star Brahmas, winning on Jan. 31 3-1, while the Brahmas exacted revenge on Feb. 1, winning 2-0. The first 20 minutes marked a dominance of the game by the Bulls that took a total of 12 shots while the Brahmas took only 4, most of which were near the net. At minute 15:14 Brady Ferguson took the puck unassisted and in between two defenders found an opening and scored at the lower left side of the net. With 1:39 left on the clock, Bulls player Timmy Moore is placed in the penalty box for boarding. The Brahmas attempt to tie the game with less than a minute to go, coming up only with nearly misses at the net. At the end of the first
period, Amarillo led the Brahmas, 1-0. With a different momentum than the first period, the Brahmas came into the second period wanting to win. There was a lot of physical contact between the players. A total of six penalties were called and three fights broke out. At the 11th minute, with a scramble in the net, Hunter Stanley of the Brahmas scored with an assist from Anthony Mousseau. A couple of minutes later, at the 17th, Roman Ammirato and Mike Davis go 2 on 1 against the Brahmas defense. Mike Davis took advantage the defender’s position and passed the puck to Roman Ammirato. Ammirato scores on the ensuing play, restoring the lead for the Amarillo Bulls. The final period had the Brahmas hungry for the tie the game as they outshot the Bulls 8-5. At the last minute of the game, the Brahmas pulled their goalie wanting to head for overtime. That was an unsuccess-
ful strategy that the Bulls took advantage of. With seconds remaining on the clock, Mike Davis scored on an open goal with assists by Brady Ferguson and Joe Grabowski. “A good game played. The team does a great job in most of the faceoffs. They are really good at keeping their heads in the game and staying focus.” Amarillo Bulls Head Coach Dennis Williams said of the Jan. 31 game. On Feb. 1, the Brahmas scored quickly in the first period by Jan Hudecek, assisted by Todd Koritzinski. Despite being behind, the Bulls outshot the Brahmas 12-10. That was not enough, however, as defenseman Johan Steen scored with assists by Gordie Helmuth and Hunter Stanley as the Brahmas took a 2-0 lead at the end the first period. The second period, Bulls had a better performance as they sought to even the contest. The Bulls out shot the Brahmas
12-4, but were hampered by great saves by Brahma keeper TJ Black. The visiting Brahmas didn’t want to risk being outplayed defensively by the Bulls for the rest of the game, trying to secure their lead at 2-0. In the final period of the game, the Bulls kept pushing forward, trying to score. Amarillo outshot the Brahmas yet again 10-5, but TJ Black main-
free throw line, they were an impressive 23 of 29. WT won this game by being consistent, beating out TWU in points in the paint and points off turnovers leading 32-22 and 24-17 respectively. At halftime, WT led 40-33 and came into the second half strong shooting 13 of 24 closing out the game. TWU tried to come back but it was not meant to be as the Lady Buffs were able to come out on top. On Feb. 1, the West Texas A&M Lady Buffs defeated rival Eastern New Mexico University with the help of strong defense,
consistent shooting, and winning the rebound battle. WT started out strong stringing together several runs throughout the first half, closing out the half on a 21-5 run. WT shot 54.5 percent from the field on 30 of 55 for the game and hit 9 three pointers from range. WT outrebounded ENMU by 11 dominated defensively forcing 19 turnovers and holding a 26-5 lead in defensive rebounds. WT outscored ENMU 40-20 in the paint and 22-14 in second chance points, which made a huge impact. Devin Griffin had a game
tained his stout defense. Although Amarillo had 34 shots on goal, Black saved every shot. This made him the star of the match. In power plays, Amarillo went 0-5 as the Brahmas went 0-3. Amarillo Bulls will be playing again on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15, as they will host the Lone Star Brahmas again, at the Amarillo Civic Center at 7 p.m.
JOSE ROBLEBO/THE PRAIRIE
Amarillo Bulls face off against the Lone Star Brahmas on Jan. 31.
Lady Buffs winning streak continues Tanner Sims Sports Reporter
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he West Texas A&M Lady Buffs extended their winning streak to 11 games as they defeated Texas Women’s University 81-65, and Eastern New Mexico University 82-54, on Jan. 25 and Feb. respectively. The Lady Buffs have matched their best start since the 20092010 campaign by being 8-0 in LSC league play and 17-1 overall. On Jan 25, the No. 7 West Texas A&M Lady Buffs defeated
Texas Women’s University in Denton despite the game seeing high number of fouls and was physical throughout. Lady Buff scoring leaders in the game were senior forward Devin Griffin and senior guard Raven Gerald. Junior guard Lacee Logan added to the offensive effort adding 14 points. WT shot 50.9 percent for the game on 28 of 55 from the field. They were able to get on a roll by hitting 4 of 7 from beyond the arc. WT shot well at the free through going 18 of 24 from the line. TWU shot 40.4 percent from the field, going 19 of 47. At the
high 20 points while junior forward Chontiquah White added 16, and sophomore guard Danielle Logan scored 12 points. Six Lady Buffs scored in double figures throughout the game. With the win, the Lady Buffs improve to 17-1 overall and a perfect 8-0 mark in the Lone Star Conference. TWU falls to 5-4 in LSC play and 9-9 overall, while Eastern New Mexico falls to 4-4 in the LSC and 6-11 overall. The Lady Buffs continue LSC play against Angelo State in the First United Bank Center on Feb. 5 at 5:30 p.m.
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ENTERTAINMENT
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
Paradox Interactive making new games Preston Thomas Reporter
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aradox Interactive, developers of successful strategy titles such as Crusader Kings II and Europa Universalis IV, have been very busy as of late. Starting in January they began teasing fans on their forums by dropping hints about two mysterious projects codenamed Armstrong and Nero. On Jan. 23 at the 2014 Paradox Convention, the veil was lifted and the two upcoming games were revealed to be Hearts of Iron IV, a continuation of their World War 2 grand strategy series, and Runemaster, a new IP in a new direction for the studio. To add to the anticipation for the new releases, Paradox also announced Rajas of India, a new major DLC for Crusader Kings II making the huge addition of the Asian subcontinent with its attendant cultures, reli-
gions, and nations. There is also Hearts of Iron IV, formerly known as Project Armstrong. This grand strategy game is a revival of the great and terrible conflict of World War II. It was welcomed all the same. For those unfamiliar, the Hearts of Iron franchise allows players to take control of any of the world’s nation during a time period that roughly covers the buildup to, duration of and aftermath of the Second World War. Players manage every aspect of their nation; diplomacy, industry, research, espionage and of course military matters are all at the fingertips of the player. While the game’s scenarios are generally primed to follow history, the player’s intervention can lead to new possibilities for the conflict. Something as minor as a victory where there would have been a
loss or as major as conspiring to install a fascist government in Canada and invade the US from the north. Details on the new game have been sparse so far, with fans speculating on potential features. One feature that has been revealed is a planning mode, new to the series. This mode allows players to draw their war plans directly on to the map; charting out troop movements, defensive lines and prospective attacks. The players units will then automatically follow these plans, which can be changed on the fly to react to new information such as unexpected resistance from a flank. The presence of the plans also gives spies an interesting use in attempting to steal enemy plans. Fans wait in anticipation for more feature reveals and the game’s eventual release, currently set for early 2015. Runemaster, formerly Proj-
ect Nero, came as a surprise to many. Paradox, mostly known for developing strategy titles, announced the game would be an RPG infused with elements of Norse mythology, touting tactical turn based combat and an ambitious plan for replayability. The claim that no two playthroughs will be the same is one often tossed around in game announcements, and all too often an expectation that the games fail to achieve. With Runemaster, Paradox is promising a large, completely procedurally generated world that is completely new with each new game. Similarly, the games quests boast procedural generation and emergent storytelling. The actions of the player will directly impact the quests, with their deeds and abilities being noted by the game. Brimming with ambition, Runemaster is set to release late 2014.
Finally, Rajas of India was another major announcement to come out of Paradox Convention 2014. The expansion is set to add a bevy of new features to accommodate the Indian addition. Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism join Catholicism, Islam and the pagans in the religion department, each faith facilitating different styles of play; with Hindus geared towards conquering, Buddhists focused on research and seeking knowledge, and the Jains fostering a harmonious and peaceful kingdom. With India coming in the world map gets a major expansion, adding more provinces to Africa and central Asia as well as opening up the formerly inaccessible Red Sea to naval travel. The most important addition may be the inclusion of war elephants. Because who doesn’t want to take over Medieval Europe with war elephants?
Pregnant?
GAMES
February 4, 2014 | 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.
Answers from
January 28th
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10 FEATURE
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
WT students overcome homesickness Alyssa Bonner Reporter
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oing away to college can be a bittersweet transition in a person’s life. It comes with saying goodbye to friends, family and classmates, along with the excitement of a new environment, new friends and a new start. For some, it also comes with homesickness. Homesickness is a natural thing, and it can happen to anyone. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines homesickness as a longing for home and family while absent from them. When students are homesick, they also long for the friends and the
familiarity they left behind. Those who suffer from homesickness may think they are alone in their suffering, but they can take heed in the fact that they are not. Freshmen and upperclassmen alike are among those who experience homesickness while away at college. Students who are suffering from homesickness may benefit from others who share their experience with it. Tori Stone, a senior Mass Communication major, and Brenden Huckabee, a freshman Biology Pre-Med major, spoke with The Prairie and shared their experiences with homesickness. The Prairie: When did you
experience homesickness? Tori: I immediately felt it the second my parents left me at college. The thought of being by myself and being six and a half hours from my family bothered me. The Prairie: What kind of homesick sentiments do/did you suffer from? Tori: The thing I miss the most is just the functionality of my family. I am such a big family person that when I wasn’t able to see my family, it was hard. Brenden: I missed my family. The Prairie: When you were homesick, how often did you have contact with your immediate family?
Tori: When I was homesick, I contacted my family every time. If you ask my mom, she says I tend to call often when I am upset or missing home. Brenden: I contacted them pretty often. The Prairie: How did you overcome your homesickness? Tori: I think making a home here was important. I had to make a family of friends and adults that I felt I could trust as much as I did my family. I had to immerse myself in the college life and make it my new way of life. Brenden: I think contacting my family helped. I got involved in an organization and did stuff
to keep my mind off of it and stay busy. The Prairie: What advice would you give to freshmen or transfer students who are suffering from homesickness? Tori: Jump in even if you’re afraid. Immersion is key. Find those people that you can be yourself around and feel comfortable around. While friends, family and organizations help students overcome homesickness, Counseling Services is another place where students can go for help. The Counseling Services page on the WT website has a list of tips to help students prevent and/or overcome homesickness.
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OPINION 11
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
Thoughts about the State of the Union B.J. Brittain Assistant Editor
A
s I turned off my television last Tuesday night after the 2014 State of the Union Address, I was torn. I felt both emotional after a touching and dramatic end of the speech, and disappointed that college education was by and large ignored in the address. As with any political speech, there were both positives and negatives, although the amount of each probably differs between Republicans and Democrats. To keep from sounding too political and argumentative, it is best to begin with the good and then offer criticism. The high note of the address came at the very end, when President Barack Obama honored a wounded soldier who served in Afghanistan. That soldier was U.S. Army Ranger Sgt. First Class Cory Remsburg, who was badly injured by a car bombing. The Commander in Chief talked of Sgt. Remsburg’s injuries and sacrifices, although he did not take the responsibility for his being in that situation. These remarks from President Obama were met with the greatest applause of the night. Everyone in the chamber, including the Supreme Court Justices who had been still throughout the speech, stood up and applauded Sgt. Remsburg for his sacrifices for the country. While some question the morality of using wounded soldiers for applause in a speech, the effect was astounding. The response of everyone in the chamber to Sgt. Remsburg shows that there is still hope
that there can be unity in the country, and that no matter a person’s position on the war, our soldier’s are still honored and respected for their sacrifice, something that cannot be said about other times in America’s history. The sight of both Democrats and Republicans standing together to honor this man inspired great hope. Now, while the end of the speech was inspiring, the same cannot be said about the rest of it. Being a college student, the most important thing, in my mind, to hear the president speak about was college education and tuition. I was sadly underwhelmed. While President Obama did spend some time speaking on the subject of education, only a small fraction of that time was about college education. The most important point that he wanted to get across on education was for a reform of early
childhood education. He spent a good chunk of time talking about mandatory pre-kindergarten throughout the country, reasoning that a strong start will help the country’s students. Is this really where the focus should be? Yes, it is important to get a strong start, but the majority of real world application learning that students do is in universities. This subject was almost entirely neglected in the address. The only mention of college education was that it needed to be more “accessible” to all students. This is not the same as it being “affordable.” Students may have access to college, but paying for it is a different story. As any good politician knows, word choice is important, and Obama made full use of it. College tuition keeps getting higher and higher, and while more high school students may have access to colleges (I have
not seen any numbers to support that and I am not sure how you could prove it), everyone in college pays ever growing tuition rates. More and more college students are entering the work force in debt due to their student loans. If we are going to make college easier to access for all students, we first need to make it affordable. There is no point in helping students get into college when they will leave with more debt than they know how to handle. It just does not follow reason to go in that order. College affordability is something that plagues college students, no matter where in the country they are. Yes, it is important to give more students access to higher education, what with online programs and the like, but being able to afford the education is more important and should be the primary focus. As a college student, it is not
uncommon to walk through campus and hear multiple students complain about their finances and wonder about how they will be able to afford to pay their tuition and eat that month. It is sad to hear, but with tuition going up throughout the nation, and college accessibility the main focus now, the problem is not likely to go away anytime soon.
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12
PHOTOS
February 4, 2014 | theprairienews.com
CORE held Holocaust event at WTAMU Jessica Malacara Photographer
Left: Dathan Reeves reads about the victims of the Holocaust during the event. Right: Sophomore Casandra Ruiz and Senior Alex Montoya attended the Holocaust event.
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