27-5 - UTPB

The
Mesa Journal
Inside The MJ...
Page 2... Hallowe-elections
Page 3... What to watch (and watch
out for) on Halloween
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Fall
Schedule
October
Last day to drop* a course or
withdraw** from The
University... Oct. 31
November
Pre-registration for
2009...Nov. 1
Last day to submit Master's
thesis or projects...Nov. 3
Last day to add
self-paced courses... Nov. 3
Last day to take oral exams
(Graduate Students) Nov. 24
Thanksgiving Holiday
(Offices closed) Nov. 26-28
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Page 4... Featured Athlete, Shanna
Page 5... Death penalty speaker
Page 6... Do you believe in ghosts?
Page 7... Rod Stewart, professor
Page 8... Happy Halloween from the
MJ!
Happy Halloween!
Volume 27~ Issue 5
It’s the most horrific time of the year...
What to do in the holiday season that celebrates both tricks and treats
by Renae Ludrick
Staff Writer
T
he spooky history of
Halloween dates back centuries in
Europe,
when
Anglo-Saxon
England marked November 1st as
the start of the New Year. To combat pagan rituals and practices,
churches proclaimed the day to be
All Saints Day (it still is; check your
date book). Traditionally, on the
night before November 1st, (All
Hallow's Eve) people would ignite
bonfires on hilltops to frighten
away evil spirits. All Saints Day
was the day for which the dead
could revisit and demons and
witches roam.
As a way to appease roaming
spirits of generations past, people
would put food on their doorsteps.
Enter the now fondly known tradition of trick or treating, definitely
made better by the Hershey's corporation. Also pumpkins were
carved and lit to ward off evil spirits. This year pumpkins can serve
to showcase your favorite presidential candidate, while also serving as a way of scaring away haunting family members.
Nowadays, Halloween means
fun for every age. After enduring
many months without a holiday to
decorate, Halloween is welcomed
in with hanging skeletons and creating haunted houses wherever
possible. Halloween gives people
the chance to dress up as their
favorite character, without anybody questioning their sanity.
Horror movies take over television
weeks before All Hallow's Eve, in a
creepy build up to the last day of
October.
The best part, and therefore most
popular aspect of Halloween, is the
free candy. It's the only time of the
year when people buy candy in
bulk to give away to complete
strangers, and the only socially
acceptable time of the year to
accept candy from unfamiliar people.
If you are going Trick or Treating
this year, attending a Halloween
party keep in mind a few safety
tips as recommended by the UTPB
police department
-Carry a flashlight to see easier
and be easily seen.
-Never allow children to eat
candy which hasn't been inspected
by an adult.
-Wear comfortable shoes, not
only so your feet won't hurt as
much while collecting candy, but to
reduce the chance of tripping.
-Wear reflective tape on costumes to be easier seen by vehicles.
-Never cross a street in-between
cars; it is hard for drivers to notice
any pedestrians who are not crossing the street at designated cross
walks.
-Stay in pairs.
-If at a party, don't take drinks
from strangers, and throw out a
drink which may have been left
unattended.
The UTPB police department
will have extra personnel on patrol
for Halloween, to ensure safety for
everybody on campus.
photo by Romey Elguezabal
The university readies itself for Halloween by hanging festive
decorations all over campus, such as the Admissions office, pictured above.
Halloween activities will take place in the
Student Union on October 31.
December
Last day of classes Dec. 5
Semester Ends Dec. 12
Commencement Dec. 13
Open Registration for Spring
2009 begins in Dec.-Jan.
Upcoming
Events
October 30
“Enterprise Rent-a-Car”
campus interviews.
Learn how to dress professionally for job interviews.
Free pizza and drinks
October 31
Fourth Student Senate
Meeting, 5pm
Oct. 31-Nov.2
UTPB Parent’s Weekend
November 4
Native American
Heritage Month
Fast Horses
Performance
Multipurpose Room
7-9pm
November 20
Student Life
Thanksgiving Luncheon
Student Union
Commons
11am-1pm
Election strikes fear in undecided voters
How to ease the terror of voting season by focusing on the issues
by Renae Ludrick
Staff Writer
W
ith the word CHANGE
being the main focus of both
Barack Obama and John McCain's
presidential campaign slogan, it
can be hard to understand the difference in the policies of each candidate. Many even point out that
on the surface there appear to be
more similarities than differences
between the presidential hopefuls.
Staci Barrett, a graduating senior,
agrees saying, "Just listening to the
candidates speak, I get the idea
they both want to do the same
thing: fix the economy, reduce
taxes, make healthcare more
affordable. It’s hard to choose
which candidate will do the better
job, or even follow through on their
campaign promises."
Neither candidate comes across
as overly extreme in their party
ideology. Both candidates won in
primaries with large independent
votes, meaning they have broad
appeals and are not so limited to
traditional party stances. Jonathan
Kyle Webb, a junior, finds it difficult to choose between the candidates stating. "I agree with certain
policies of both McCain and
Obama." With so many key issues
coming to the forefront of the election, many voters are forced to pick
the candidate they identify with on
the majority of the issues, instead
of voting by strictly party identifi-
cation.
The differences between McCain
and Obama can be hard to spot
sometimes. One of the main difference between the candidates lies
directly in where they believe government should stand in everyday
life. Obama has introduced ideas
which involve strong government
activism, while McCain has suggested more of a hands-off
approach regarding certain issues.
Both candidates agree the economy needs to be fixed; each are proposing different solutions to fix the
economic and banking crisis. Both
candidates believe in more controlled government spending and
tax cuts, but for different income
brackets and businesses. Many
voters are left wondering where
candidates really stand on the
issues, and how it will affect their
futures.
The next candidate to be elected
44th President of the United States,
will have a profound impact on the
day to day lives of Americans for
the next four years. The future of
healthcare, social security, education, foreign policy, the war in Iraq,
civil rights, and the Supreme Court
hang in the balance. To help clarify
where McCain and Obama stand
on a few prominent issues in the
election, see the table on the right.
For more information regarding
the candidates please visit
www.barackobama. com and/or
www.johnmccain.com
John McCain
Make Bush's "temporary"
tax cuts permanent; cut corporate tax rate from 35% 25%; double child tax
exemption.
Wants to continue to
support Iraqi government and maintain
troop levels.
Proposes refundable
tax credit for individuals and families who
hold own insurance
policies.
Supports
families
choosing where children
will
attend
schools; proposes to
reform Head Start program, making the program more accessible
and receive more federal funding.
Wants
to
expand
domestic oil exploration; Tax credit to citizens who buy a zeroemissions
vehicle;
Commit 50% of vehicles
be Fuel-Flex Vehicles
by 2015; commit 2
Billion to develop clean
coal technology
Issue
Barack Obama
Tax cuts
Cut taxes on those filing less than 250K per
year, and raise taxes
on top 5% of income
filers.
Iraq
Has proposed a phased
withdrawal timetable
for removing troops.
Healthcare
Reduce insurance premiums, have preexisting
conditions
covered in policies,
make healthcare generally more accessible.
Education
Wants to have voluntary, universal preschool under "Zero to
Five"Plan,
reform
NCLB act to better
assess student performance,
recruit
more
Math
and
Science teachers
Energy
Plan
Immediate short term
relief from high gas
prices, put 1 million
Plug-In Hybrid Cars
on road by 2015; create 5 million jobs over
next 10 years to create
/ research renewable
energy resources
2
Opinion
, The Mesa Journal
How Buffy is like politics
by Kristen Gipson
Editor-in-Chief
I guess that my long-held
secret is out: I’m a Buffy fan. For
those of you who aren’t up to
date on your late-nineties trivia,
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was the
wittiest, most tongue-in-cheek
show that ever aired. Or, at least,
it was the only one with principals who got eaten by hyena-students or mayors who turned into
Apocalyptic demons.
These days, my television
viewing experience is usually
dominated by whatever politician is on the screen. However,
around this time of year, between
the political mud-slinging and
the bite-your-head-off political
analysts, the metaphorical blood
and gore of election season makes
me miss the days of Buffy, when
your monster had fangs and a
bumpy forehead and settled for
trying to take over Sunnydale.
Not that, of course, politicians
are in any way monsters. It does,
however, strike me as odd that
the most horrific time of year
coincides very neatly with the
election season. I guess that’s just
food for thought. (Or, if you’re a
zombie, it’s thought for food. Badum-ching.)
Politicians have a very important place in American culture.
As much as I may adore the witty
dialogue of my favorite television
shows, I am more and more con-
fronted with the knowledge that
politicans are not TV characters.
They may appear during prime
time more often than any episode
of Grey’s Anatomy. They may
become fodder for parodies on
Saturday Night Live and they may
feature on The Tonight Show more
often than Dakota Fanning, but
they’re real people. And, they have
real impact.
Politicians have, it’s true,
become more like celebrities than I
think the Founding Fathers would
have expected. They are expected
to be poised, refined, elegant, wellspoken, and most importantly,
never to make mistakes.
TV characters are supposed to
make mistakes. They are supposed
to fall, so that the writers can pick
them back up again and, in the
process, show the audience how
perseverance and hard work pays
off. Politicans can’t afford that luxury.
Yet, is it fair that my ninth-grade
hero was a vampire-fighting superstar, whose hair never seemed to
muss? Though she met every challenge that was thrown at her,
despite the odds; though she was
certainly more identifiable than
any presidential candidate, what
did Buffy really do for me? She
saved a make-believe, alternate
universe over and over again, it’s
true.
But politicians strive to become
real heroes, though they are often
portrayed as monsters. They have
the opportunity to touch lives, initiate change, and make history. They
have the ability to start and end
wars, to represent a nation of over
303 million people on a world-wide
scale. They have the initiative to
affect individuals and to, truly,
save the world.
Politicians aren’t easy to watch.
They’re not easy to care about.
They don’t always have perfect
hair, and they don’t do action
stunts. They do not (to my knowledge) fight vampires and the forces
of darkness, and they don’t even
have cute, broody boyfriends. But
despite all that, they’re real people,
who make a real difference in the
world.
As much as I love Buffy, she
can’t compete with them. And this
Halloween/Election season, I may
just pass up old Buffy reruns, and
watch the news instead. You never
know.... there may just be a fight
scene this time.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Kelly’s Corner:
Where there’s a will, there’s a way?
Where there is a will, there is a
way. That phrase has been tossed
around for years, especially when
parents are talking to their children
about getting what they want. It is
used to inspire them to work harder and do everything possible to
obtain what they desire. The question is, does a will really provide a
way? Is it possible to want something bad enough that somehow
the impossible becomes possible?
At first glance, this concept
seems far fetched and completely
impossible. It seems like something
that people say just to make a person feel better. It's like a child who
wants to save up money to buy a
pony. Their parents will probably
say, "Sweetheart, where there is a
will, there is a way. You just have to
work for it." That answer will probably make the child feel better and
in time they will forget about their
desire for a pony.
On the other hand, an older child
or perhaps a very motivated child
would take the statement as a challenge. They would become motivated and encouraged by such
words. They would do everything
within their power to make their
dream come true. If it meant sitting
outside every Saturday selling
Lemonade, they would do so. Their
desire would become an obsession,
a life's goal, until they were able to
make that dream come true.
A will and a way go hand in
hand. A will to do something provides the motivation that someone
would need to help to meet his or
her goals. It is this motivation
which creates a desire to work
hard and do the necessary things
that provide a way to get what
one wants. Without one, it is likely that there would not be the
other. It is an endless circle that
continues on through life.
I believe that a will does provide a way only with limitations.
There are certain things that no
amount of wanting or working
towards will every come true. I
don't see an uneducated, fast food
worker ever saving up a million
dollars no matter how much they
want it to happen. It might be a
good motivational tool to help
them get started in managing
money, which they then could
switch their desire to. A will can
provide a way; however, sometimes our desires must change to
match reality.
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The Sandstorm
Send in your short stories, poems, essays, and
artwork to the Sandstorm on a CD-ROM with your
name, address, telephone number, and e-mail.
Submission boxes can be found at
MB 4110 and MB 4102.
Cole Weathers
The political comic directly to
your left was drawn by talented
UTPB student, senior Cole
Weathers.
The Mesa Journal
e-mail: mesajournal@utpb.edu
Want to be like Cole? Send in your comics to The
Mesa Journal, and see them published in one of our
upcoming issues.
mesajournal@utpb.edu
MB 2138 in the Student Union
552-2659
Staff
Editor-in-Chief: Kristen “The Slayer” Gipson
Assistant Editor: Kelly “Chaos” Wingert
Business Manager: Kenneth “Killer” Bitner
Staff Writer: Renae “Lunatic” Ludrick
Staff Photographer: Romey “Doomed” Elguezabal
Advisor: Dr. Nichole “Bloody” Vanderford
Layout & Design: Kristen Gipson
General Information:
The Mesa Journal is a student publication that provides information, commentary, and entertainment for The
University of Texas of the Permian Basin community. Editorial statements and advertisements do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UT Permian Basin adminstration.
Letter Policy:
All contributions, in good taste, will be edited for grammar, spelling, length (250 minimum), libel, profanity,
and personal attacks. All letters must contain the author’s name, major, academic classification, and contact
information. This information can be withheld upon request. Electronic copies of articles and letters are preferred.
Mission Statement:
The Mesa Journal is designed to inform, entertain, educate, and heighten awareness of students, faculty, and
administrators at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin. Staff members will be responsible journalists
by maintaining high ethical standards with fairness, accuracy, and balance.
Attention:
The Mesa Journal is s t i l l
looking for writers.
Oh, w r i t e r s ? W r i t e r s ?
W h e r e art thou, w r i t e r s ?
Call 552-2659 for more info or drop by the MJ
office in the student union.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Arts & Leisure
The Mesa Journal,
3
Sort of, kind of, very scary The Fifth Man
What to watch (and watch out for) this Halloween
by Kristen Gipson
Editor-in-Chief
There are connoisseurs of the
grotesque who can view even the
most gore-ific movies with a blasé
yawn, but for the rest of the us,
our Halloween viewing choices
are chosen based on individual
tolerance levels. There are those
who relish the horrible, and then
there are those who rejoice in animated, dancing skeletons. As a
guide, we have assembled a guide
to the scary, the not-so-scary, and
the scar-you-for-life scary. Our
three categories are: “You’ll die of
laughter,” which we recommend
for the faint of heart, “Keep the
closet light on,” for those who love
movies that keep on working after
the film has stopped rolling, and
“Hold on to your bunny slippers,”
which are classic horrors that many
viewers find difficult to watch in
one sitting. Here are our top three
choices in each category.
You’ll die of laughter...
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
This classic Mel Brooks flick usually flies under the Halloween radar,
but who doesn’t love Leslie Nielsen revising Bram Stoker’s classic character? This Dracula has an ornamental wig for fancy parties, is always
in control of his vampire minions, and is usually one step ahead of the
good guys. He also does a mean tango.
The best: Peter MacNicol as a stuffy, British Renfield. His syncophantic “yes, master”s are such a dramatic transformation from his reserved,
British character, they are almost shocking and certainly hilarious. Also
exciting is Mel Brooks’ commentary on the sexual reservations of the
Victorian period, which Nielsen’s Dracula seems to liberate almost without trying.
Other high points: Brooks’ impersonation of vampire expert Van
Helsing and Dracula’s dream sequence, in which he has a daymare. This
movie is also perfect for those who found Francis Ford Coppola’s
Dracula pretentious.
The worst: This is not a movie for those who are unfamiliar with
Brooks’ often immature humor. His tongue-in-cheek style, made famous
with movies like Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, and The Producers, is
not for everyone, and Dracula is no different.
Runners up:
Young Frankenstein,
another Mel Brooks
classic that chronicles the adventures
of
Froederick
Frahnkenstien,
Victor
Frankenstein’s grandson and his
hunch-backed sidekick, Eyegore.
A Nightmare Before
Christmas is a perennial stop-action animation, Tim
Burton masterpiece that celebrates
picture courtesy of
thedigitalbits.com
the very nature of Halloween by
following
protagonist
Jack
Skellington through his plan to
kidnap Santa Clause.
The best
thing about the movie? It’s good
for at least two holidays!
Keep-tthe-ccloset-llight-oon scary
The Ring
photo courtesy of
www.killermovies.com
Runners up:
Nightmare on Elm
Street is an eighties
Even though The Ring is sometimes regarded as passe, not frightening enough for hardened horror fans, it does fall between the extremes
of kiddie-horrors, such as Monster House and more edge-of-the-seat action
horror like The Exorcist. Yet, there is something about The Ring that is
creepily pervasive. No matter how few times you jump during the movie,
chances are you will never view your TV set the same way again.
The movie follows the story of a young girl whose horrible childhood
has caused her to create, with her apparantly demonic powers, a videotape that kills anyone who watches it. Rachel Keller (Naomi Watts), after
viewing the tape herself is forced to unravel the mystery of the girl’s past,
to save her life and that of her son, who has also watched the fatal film.
The Best: The Ring is more psychological than expected. It doesn’t hit
you over the head with gore or gruesome villains, but it will stick with
you afterward. Visions like creepy Samara Morgan climbing out of her
your television set or a voice on your telephone letting you know that you
have “seven days” left to live will leave lasting impressions.
The worst: The Ring’s creepiest moments have run through the popcultural marathon so many times that, however creepy or original they
are, they still seem a little over-done.
classic that spawned a ridiculous
amount of sequels, and still did it
well. The psychological terror of a
claw-handed killer haunting your
dreams is one that is guaranteed to
keep the light on for many, many
years to come. After all, if you
aren’t safe in your dreams, where
are you safe?
Hold-oon-tto-yyour-bbunny-sslippers scary
The Exorcist (1973)
No matter how advanced movie-making technology becomes, there
are only a few movies that, when viewed early enough in the formative
years, will scar a child for life, and The Exorcist is undoubtedly one of
them. Linda Blair portrays Regan, a little girl who has become posessed
by a demon. This movie makes sport of disturbing viewers on multiple
psychological levels as it questions the power of faith.
The Best: Regan projectile-vomiting pea soup all over the poor priest.
This scene has become so classic that, in its gross-out-factor, not even
gory movies such as the Saw series can compete with this traditionally
icky scene.
The worst: This movie is not for those who startle easily, or have a
habit of ruminating over scary movies before they fall asleep. However,
after the first (or second or third) view, the movie loses its scariness to an
almost laughable level.
Recommendations: Watch this movie in the evening hours, get yourself hyped up on sugar, and bring a viewing buddy. Even if you are a
hardened horror fan, this is a guaranteed good time with a friend, especially if they’re extra-jumpy.
Runners up:
The Shining, the
remake of Stephen
King’s novel by the same name. In
this movie, a frustrated writer
brings a whole new meaning to the
advice “Don’t quit your day job”
when he takes a position at a
haunted hotel that just can’t keep
photo courtesy of www.cyber-cinema.com
its horror to itself. Pretty soon, Jack
and his family are basking in the
terror of the hotel. The best part of
this movie: the book is just as scary,
if not more so.
Horror story winner, Thomas E. Sweatt
The boy came home from class one evening, a painted sunset filling the canvas
of his rearview mirror. The engine of his car roared as he eagerly accelerated, wanting nothing more than to fill the frame of his favorite chair and to bask in the final
olfactory countdown to a homemade supper. The boy wished for the bar that wound
around the edge of the kitchen, extending to the living room that would no doubt be
set with the silverware, glasses, and plates that adorn his most favorite of ceremonies. Lost in thought, the boy instinctively pulled his car into the long driveway of
the home he longed for. It was a beautiful home, albeit modest in comparison to
some of the nicer houses that inhabited his pristine neighborhood. It was a good
distance outside the city, and the occupants felt all the more safe for it. The boy
appreciated the separation. The city, he thought, was rife with excess-- unnecessary
complications that slowed the important processes in life-- like thought. The boy was
in constant thought, and the decision to move back home to put the finishing touches on his undergraduate education reflected this fact. He had seen the city, had survived its clutches, had emerged victoriously, and now he returned to where his heart
lay: home. He thought of all these things on a daily basis and as he reentered his
home, every day became an affirmation of his decision. Today was no exception,
and a smile grew on his face as he reached toward the handle of the front door.
The boy opened the door.
The smile that had quickly grown into a grin vanished even faster. The boy looked
into the main room of his house, and he saw four men, three of which were unnaturally occupying a space behind each member of his family. The fourth smiled a
toothy smile and approached the boy. The fourth man spoke.
"Welcome home," he said, lowering his head slightly, so that his eyes peered at
the boy beneath his brow.
"What is this?" the boy replied calmly, thinking.
"Just a visit."
A second of silence passed, and in that second, the boy's senses relayed the
information shock had rendered useless in his mind when he first walked through the
door.
The boy again saw four men. The first, a tall and burly fellow, with long, dark hair,
parted in the middle to frame his chiseled face, was standing behind the boy's mother. The second and third resembled each other so strikingly that the boy assumed
them to be twins, although he immediately realized that information to be, at the
moment, at least, irrelevant. They were blonde, short, and stocky, with barreled
chests that made the giant beside them seem gangly. They appropriately stood
behind each of the boy's blonde little sisters, both of whom were young women in
their teens. The fourth man's appearance still hadn't registered when the sound of
silence was broken with a shout.
"Do what they say!" the boy's mother cried, uncharacteristically. She was normally an individual of admirable composure, especially in stressful situations-- a
result of both having a personality inclined toward such behavior and a husband
whose work demanded constant travel. Involuntarily, and under his breath, the boy
wished for his father.
The boy nodded slowly, not meaning to agree, but only meaning to buy his mind
a few more precious seconds of thought. The gesture worked, and as the boy
opened his mouth to buy more time, his mind caught up with his senses, and he saw
the fourth man. He had been aware of his presence when he walked into the house,
but only now did the boy really see the fourth man. He was tall, like the first, but
rather than the casual clothes of the others he led, he wore a black suit with a
maroon dress shirt and no tie. His hair was brown and short, revealing a receding
hairlines and age not shared by the other men. His face was hard in both angle and
what appeared to be texture. Although he was not as big as the others, his veins
bulged where visible, and the suit clung to a presumably hardened muscular form.
The next second ended before the boy could speak.
The fourth man interrupted.
"Have a seat," he signaled to the same comfy chair that had earlier been the
object of the boy's daydream.
"I believe I'll join you and the others in standing," the boy replied, with an assurance that could have only preempted action.
The fourth man detected the confidence, and in what seemed like a flash, was
behind the boy, his arm wrapped tightly around the boy's neck. The boy's sisters
screamed simultaneously, struggling to break free from the similar grips they were
now imprisoned by.
"You were gonna' make a move," the fourth man said in the boy's ear, chuckling.
"I can always tell that look. That look when a boy tries to be a man." The fourth man
continued, resisting effortlessly, as the others had, any semblance of struggle the
boy or his family could mount.
It was at this time that the boy resumed thought. The shock was wearing off, and
the momentum built from earlier observations, coupled with a growing anger,
allowed the thoughts to come more quickly now. The boy realized the blinding speed
with which the fourth man had moved. He realized that the three men holding his
family hadn't wavered an inch, in spite of the adrenaline-fueled attempts of a grown
woman and two younger ones. He realized that these weren't men at all.
Before the boy could form a name in his mind to punctuate his conclusion, the
fourth man forcefully turned the boy's head to the side, where he laughed at the
intended sight. The boy's dog, an enormous chocolate lab, lay dead on the floor.
His throat had been ripped out, although there wasn't a trace of blood anywhere, and
the thought of what had been done to produce that gruesome scene made the boy
wince involuntarily.
The boy thought.
The fourth man seemed satisfied with the boy's reaction to the kill, and nodded
to the others with an air of finality that made the boy, if only for necessity's sake,
regain that former assurance.
The boy's fists tightened.
Aware, but too confident to care, the fourth man opened his mouth and barked
an order to the first: "Supper's on!"
At the sound of his voice, the three men tilted the heads of the boy's family and
tore ravenously at their necks. The boy was fighting against the grasp of the fourth
man violently, something he'd been doing since his fists had clinched.
Whether it was the force of desperation with which the boy fought, or simply the
neglect the fourth man's confidence and amusement had inspired, the fourth man
actually stumbled forward toward the winding bar. He quickly regained control of the
boy of the boy and turned his gaze forcefully, once again, to a scene of death.
The boy fought, the boy screamed, the boy cried.
The boy thought.
"What about me?!" the boy screamed in agony. "Finish me, you filthy coward!"
The boy's derision was now solely aimed at the fourth man. "I'll bet you like boys.
I'll bet that's why you saved me for last. Well, come on, then, you perverted son of
a bitch! Eat me!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, the boy's eyes flashed toward the bar. He
knew the men were too fast for him to surprise, so he had to anticipate. Just as he
thought, the fourth man let out a feral snarl, threw the boy towards the bar, and
stalked slowly towards him. The boy spun with the force of the turn and sprawled
across the bar. The glasses and plates, the previous inhabitants of the bar, slid and
crashed with speed and thunder; all but one glass, which the boy caught with the
hand concealed behind the bar. The fourth man smiled and turned to take one last
look of pride at yet another scene of terror taking shape before him.
The boy moved.
Throwing the glass with all the might he could manage, the boy did so at the stillturned back of the fourth man. The fourth man, hearing something behind him,
turned to complete his final set piece.
The glass met the face of the fourth man with the combined force of his rapid turn
and the boy's desperate strength. Before he could wipe the broken glass from his
eyes, the blinded fourth man was on the floor, toppled by the force of a collision with
the leaping boy's body.
On top of the captor, the boy didn't think.
As a result of instinct, revenge, a natural inclination to recreate the last thing he
saw, or a combination of all three, the boy bit hard at the neck of his captor. His skin
was hard, but the anger with which the boy tore at the fourth man's exposed neck
more than overcame the added resistance.
The fourth man was shocked. His blood flowed freely outward from the growing
gape in his neck, and his strength seemed to flow with it. The other three men
looked down in horror at what they were seeing. Not even their animal thirst could
keep their faces from mirroring the boy's own expression just minutes earlier. But
this scene was not one of their creation.
The boy continued his attack, even though the fourth man had "died" minutes
ago. When the blood from the fourth man had ceased to flow, the boy looked up.
He was alone.
As the boy stood, he saw that the three men had not finished their meals, as the
blood continued to run from three lifeless bodies on the floor. The boy couldn't think;
he could only smell the blood pooling around him. The boy crouched down and
drank his supper.
2nd place: “Demon Hunter” by David R. Phillips
The fifth man arose.
3rd place: “Hell is What You Make It” by Jack R. Ploss
HM: “The Day I Thought I Had” by Kortnei D. Niblett
4
Sports
, The Mesa Journal
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Upcoming Cross Country:
Runners breeze through Saturday meet
Sports:
Men’s Soccer
by Renae Ludrick
Staff Writer
Oct. 31
Nov. 2
vs St. Edward’s
University
vs University of the
Incarnate Word
Women’s Soccer
Oct. 28
@ University of the
Incarnate Word
Nov. 4
@ Newman University
Nov. 6
vs St. Edward’s
University
Nov.8
vs. University of the
Incarnate Word
Swimming
Oct. 31 @ Hendrix Classical
Invitational
Nov. 1
@ Hendrix Relays
Nov. 13 UTPB/McMurry Dual
Meet
Nov. 21- @ College Swimming
Invitational
22
Women’s
Basketball
Nov. 15 vs College of the
Southwest
Nov. 17 vs Texas A&M Kingsville
University
Nov. 20 @ Tarleton State
University
The day was a little warm, but
true to West Texas weather, there
was a cool "breeze," in other
words, perfect conditions for a
race. For one of the last races of the
cross-country season, UTPB hosted
its fifth annual cross-country invite
on Saturday, October 11 on the
Comanche
Trails
course.
Competing universities in attendance
included
El
Paso
Community College, Eastern New
Mexico
University,
Hardons
Simmons University, and Sul Ross
University.
For the women's team, the starting gun was fired at 10:30 a.m. on a
5K (3.1 miles) course.
Ariel
Renteria of UTPB placed second in
the meet, and first for the UTPB
team at 20:47.29, only 1:39 away
from beating the course record
which is 19:09.22.
Following
Renteria on the UTPB team Yomi
Bueno finished in tenth at 22:25.54;
Kayla Hahn came in at seventeenth
with a time of 24:16.87. Jessica
Urquieta finished in 25:04.59, and
Jessica Alvarez completed the
course at 27:33.83.
The men's race begun shortly
after the women's at 11:15 a.m.,
and was an 8K course. There were
over forty competitors in the event.
The first Men's UTPB runner to finish was Marcus Hinshaw with a
time of 30:44.78.
Shortly behind
Hinshaw was Seth Tullar finishing
at 31:07.78 and David Phillips with
a time of 33:36.35.
by Kelly Wingert
Assistant Editor
@ Ft. Lewis College
Dec. 5-6 CSU - Pueblo
Tournament
Dec. 13 @ College of the
Southwest
Dec. 15 vs Wayland Baptist
University
Dec. 18 @ Midwestern State
University
Men’s
Basketball
Top: The Cross Country teams pose together, all smiles, after their meet on October 11.
Bottom: The Men’s and Women’s teams stretch together in a circle as they prepare for practice,
following their October 11 meet.
Shanna Dees
Nov. 24 vs Abilene Christian
University
Dec. 3
photo by Romey Elguezabal
Athlete in the spotlight
Nov. 21 @ Eastern New Mexico
Nov. 29 vs Tarleton State
University
photo by Romey Elguezabal
Most athletes are focused exclusively on sports, often having a bad
reputation for not completing
schoolwork. People often look at
them as arrogant or cocky individuals who care about nothing but
sports; however, that is not true of
all athletes. Softball player Shanna
Dees is an example of a responsible, well rounded athlete.
Shanna Dees is a junior at UTPB
majoring in Child and Family
Studies with a minor in Special
Populations.
"I am going to school to be a
teacher. I want to teach kindergarten and also kids with minor
disabilities," states Dees. She
already has an associates degree
from Odessa College. In addition,
Dees is a pitcher and outfielder for
t h e
U T P B
softball
team.
She
began
playing
softball
because
h e r
father
encouraged her
to
and
has been
playing
for the
past sixt e e n
years.
D e e s
practices roughly two hours a day
with the team as well as putting in
any extra practice time possible.
Her athletic hero is Mickey Mantle;
however, the
t r u e
influence to
pursue
the sport
lies with
h e r
f a t h e r.
"He got
me into
t h e
g a m e
and has
always
m a d e
m
e
strive to
be the
photo by Kelly Wingert
best,"
claims Dees.
Dees views playing softball as
Nov. 15 vs College of the
Southwest
Nov. 18 vs Western New Mexico
University
Nov. 21- Tarleton Classic
22
Nov. 24 vs Abilene Christian
University
Nov. 29 @ Angelo State
University
Dec. 1
vs Midwestern State
University
Dec. 4
@ College of the
Southwest
Dec. 15 @ Abilene Christian
University
Dec. 18 vs Angelo State
University
Dec. 30 @ Midwestern State
University
photo by Romey Elguezabal
UTPB’s Falcon Ultimate team helps out at the Empty Bowls benefit on October 16.
The ultimate frisbee team sponsored the event, which raised money for the West
Texas Food Bank.
more than just a sport and a way
to stay in shape. "Being an athlete
teaches you discipline and how to
work well with others around
you," explains Dees. Participating
on a sports team has to her to be
disciplined, responsible, and how
to get along with others. She has
learned "how to be a better person
and balance everything you have
going on in your life," states Dees.
Away from the softball field,
Dees must balance schoolwork,
leisure time, and a job. "I work
Monday, Wednesday and Friday
‘til 12 and class Tuesday and
Thursday with softball Monday
thru Thursday at 2:00 pm,"
explains Dees. She finds herself
not having much leisure time;
however, she is able to fulfill all of
her requirements. In the small
fractions of spare time she does
find, Dees enjoys working out and
hanging with friends.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
On Campus
The Mesa Journal,
New MODE of organization The
by Kristen Gipson
Editor-in-Chief
2008 has been a big year for the
Marketing Organization for
Development and Experience
(MODE) club, mostly because this
is their first year.
Founder Michael Correa was
struck with the idea of founding
the organization while surfing the
internet.
“This summer I was researching the different collegiate organizations, and I came across the
American Marketing Association
(AMA). I discovered that we
could compete with TSU in a
national competition. I immediately called AMA headquarters to
find out how to start a chapter,”
Correa said.
According to Correa, it wasn’t
long before MODE has met their
membership requirements, and
their active membership has been
growing rapidly in the last months.
“It didn’t take long for MODE to
grow its own identity, feeding off
of the creativity and enthusiasm of
its membership. We plan to make
a positive impact at UTPB, and we
see the opportunities our campus
has to grow,” Correa said.
MODE is currently working with
other organizations and independently
to
bring
previously
unplumbed experiences to UTPB
students. Among their goals are to
prepare students for future careers
by providing them with job shadowing opportunities, guest speakers and professor luncheons, and
asking business professionals to
give students private tours of their
companies. MODE also recently
hosted a Halloween event for
Children with Cancer and brought
in a cancer awareness speaker.
According to Correa, there are
many benefits to belonging to
MODE.
“When going to a job interview
you could say, [that you are] a
member
of
the
American
Marketing Association, of the
Alpha Mu Alpha National Honor
Society, helped to develop a marketing strategy for KODAK (yes,
the picture company, helped plan
and coordinate events, and used
your talents to serve your community,” Correa said.
MODE is UTPB’s first marketing
club and Official Collegiate
Chapter of the AMA.
Death Penalty
Speakers discuss controversial death penalty issue
by Renae Ludrick
Staff Writer
On October 15th the students of
Professor Terry Marroquin's Death
Row class gained a unique perspective on how the death row and
prison system works in Texas. Due
largely to the work of Raul Puente,
a student of the class and employee
of the Shepperd Leadership
Institute, the class had two interesting speakers who brought a personal insight on the inner workings
of the Texas Corrections system.
The speakers who addressed the
class were, Dr. Karen C. Johnson,
LPC who worked as the Chief
Psychologist for the women's unit
at the Texas Department of
Corrections in Gatesville, TX for
almost five years. And James
Barnes, a licensed Chaplin for
twenty five years, who has been
and continues to be a personal
Chaplin for those, serving on death
row, along with local corrections
units in the West Texas area.
Dr. Johnson was introduced to
the class first, and shared some
experiences about her time in
Gatesville, particularly with the
four women serving on death row.
Recalling her personal time of see-
Students man the booth at the MODE bake sale in the foyer of the Mesa Building. The event
helped raise money for Children with Cancer.
CSA hosts pro-life event at UTPB
For the Catholic Student
Association (CSA), October isn’t
just a time to focus on the horrors
of Halloween, but what they fear
is a growing issue among
Americans: abortion. On October
21, the CSA hosted a Pro-Life Day
of Silent Solidarity at UTPB. The
day of symbolic silence was meant
to draw students’ attention to the
issue of abortion.
According to the Pro-Life Day of
Silent
Solidarity
website,
standtrue.com, since January 22,
1973, over 50 million have had their
voices silenced through abortion in
the United States. Participants in
the event are asked to give up their
voices for one day and wear red
armbands to signify their feelings
on the matter of abortion. They are
also given pamphlets and information about the current statistics on
abortion in the United States.
“It’s a personal choice,”
Elizabeth Mendoza said.
This year there were over 4,766
schools registered in the Pro-Life
Day of Silent Solidarity event.
Participants hope to bring to light
information on abortion that they
feel students might not get elsewhere.
“I spoke to about six or seven
pregnant girls and about four of
them told me that they were thinking about getting abortions, but
after we talked, they changed their
minds. It was an awesome day,” a
participant in the 2006 Pro-Life
Day of Silent Solidarity said.
Abortion was legalized by the
Supreme Court in the United States
in 1973 in the case of Roe v. Wade,
but remains a controversial topic.
Wanted:
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ing the four at least two times a
day brought a new light as to life
on death row.
"My job was to rehab them by
talking about their past… and
really to help them adjust to their
new life" says Dr. Johnson. For
such a solemn discussion, Dr.
Johnson had the class cracking up
in several instances retelling some
of the humorous instances.
Professor Marroquin is beginning her second year teaching the
class, and so far comments "the
response has been very positive,
students are very open-minded
when taking the class." In the
class, students examine the history of the death penalty, while
examining past and current cases
of death row inmates. The UTAustin graduate began working
on final appeal cases for death
row inmates in Oklahoma,
Mississippi and Illinois. Her past
experience gives students a firstperson viewpoint on all the innerworkings of such intense trials, as
well as personal accounts of actual inmates. Currently professor
Marroquin works in a federal
court in Midland, involving civil
rights lawsuits for the West Texas
region.
G
O
F
A
L
C
O
N
S
!
photo by Romey Elguezabal
by Kristen Gipson
Editor-in-Chief
5
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photo by Romey Elguezabal
The Catholic Student Association hands out arm bands and
information for their Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity event on
October 20, 2008.
(432)366-2000
4007 JBS Parkway
(across from the university)
$9.95
With this coupon
6
, The Mesa Journal
Falcon Voices
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Meet the Staff
Kelly Wingert, Assistant Extraordinaire
by Kristen Gipson
Editor-in-Chief
What is your best Halloween
memory? I’ve never really been
into Halloween, so I don’t have that
many memories.
I guess my
favorite thing would have to be
going to Hallowed House in
Midland.
What’s the best costume you’ve
ever worn? The worst? My best
costume was a McDonald’s milkshake. The worst was when me
and my sister were Raggedy Ann
and Andy, and I had to be Andy.
What terrifies you? I’m terrified of
spiders. They have 8 legs, which is
freaky-looking, plus you swallow
them in your sleep, which is gross!
What is the most horrific thing
about being a college student?
What’s the best? The best thing
would have to be growing up and
spreading your wings away from
parents. It’s a chance to discover
who you are and what you stand
for. The most horrific would be
the thought of getting out of college. All I have ever known is
school. It is scary to think of being
out of school and having a career.
What novel, short story, or
movie, do you recommend for getting into the Halloween spirit?
The Oath by Frank Peretti.
Trick or treat? Treat, please! I
don’t really like having tricks
played on me. Plus, treats are
yummy and make me happy!
photo by Romey Elguezabal
Students from various organizations, such as the UTPB
Honors Club and Falcon
Ultimate helped out on
World Hunger day to fill the
pantries of the West Texas
Food Bank. UTPB art students constructed handthrown bowls, which the
public was able to fill with
soup, bread, and beverages,
for a donation of ten dollars.
The UTPB jazz band was
also at the event, providing
entertainment. The event
took place on October 16 at
St. John’s Episcopal Church.
photo by Romey Elguezabal
Rock the Pink
photo by Romey Elguezabal
Kelly Wingert is a junior this semester, and possibly the best
Assistant Editor in the world! She enjoys participating in
walking and running competitions, playing with her dog,
Howdi, and being outside.
What do you think?
“Do you believe in ghosts?”
“I do not believe in
ghosts!”
Breast Cancer Awareness month draws to a close
by Renae Ludrick
Staff Writer
Even if pink isn't your favorite
(or even tolerable) color, it is next
to impossible to not get into the
"pink" spirit of October. Before
Halloween decorations take over
office, school and home space,
pink
floods
onto
nearly
every surface
of
everyday
life.
Taking
over
everything
from
yogurt lids, the
White House,
and NFL football fields.
For the past
two decades
October
has
been "officially" designated
as
Breast
C a n c e r
Awa r e n e s s
Month. In an
effort to raise
awareness
regarding the
detection and
treatment of a
disease
that
affects
more
than 1 in 8
women in their
lifetime,
the
"pink-washing"
for
October
has
had a drastic
impact in raising awareness.
"Before such
strong efforts
were made to raise awareness
(regarding breast cancer), many
women were uninformed at the
risk and danger associated with
the disease, meaning there was a
much lower survivor rate in years
past" says Jennifer Wersal a representative for the Susan G. Komen
foundation in Fort Worth, adding,
the most "important thing for
women to do is understand early
detection is critical, which means
going in (to your doctor) for regular exams and self-examination."
To date, there are no known prevention steps for women and men
to make regarding breast cancer,
which makes early detection even
more crucial. Statistics repeatedly
stages. The survival rates are
around 80% when treated in the
beginning stages, compared to 50%
around twenty years ago" says Dr.
John Heggars, a retired surgeon
who worked at St. Lukes Hospital
in Houston, along with several
other hospitals.
Dr. Heggars noticed the growing
success has
been largely
attributed to
the awareness
efforts made
in part by
non-profit
g r o u p s .
"Even
fun
activities like
the Race for
the Cure, and
Cooking for
the
Cure
bring
so
much attention to the
disease, giving
many
people
the
right information and
screening
access
that
wouldn't
have
been
available
before."
Due to the
efforts made
by the Susan
G.
Komen
foundation,
National
Breast Cancer
Foundation,
many
photo by Kristen Gipson and
o t h e r
prove the sooner breast cancer is research and awareness groups, the
detected, the higher the survival survival rate has increased dramatrates and the less invasive treat- ically and given way to new medment procedures need to be done.
ical procedures for treating the dis"For a disease which has such a ease. For more information regardlarge impact on our society, regular ing breast cancer screenings, facts
medical exams need to be a priori- and treatment, please visit
ty with women. Breast cancer is so www.komen.org.
much easier to cure when its
detected and treated in the early
photo by Renae Ludrick
Wilma Rodriguez
Criminology
Junior
“Yes, I saw a ghost
once at my parent’ss
house. ”
Ilynn Berdoza
Kinesiology
Junior
photo by Renae Ludrick
“No, I do not
believe in ghosts.”
photo by Romey Elguezabal
Chris Parnell
Industrial Tech
Senior
“Yeah, I saw a ghost in
Big Spring, at a haunted
lake.”
Jacob Petrowski
Accounting
Sophomore
photo by Romey Elguezabal
"I have never seen a
ghost, that I
remember.”
photo by Romey Elguezabal
Ashely Ramirez
Accounting
Junior
On Campus
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Spotlight On...
Rod Stewart, the instructor, not the singer
by Kelly Wingert
Assistant Editor
Rod Stewart is relatively new
to the UTPB faculty
as he has only been
teaching here since
2007; however, he is
by no means new to
teaching. Stewart is
currently in his 39th
year of teaching,
with the previous 38
years having been
carried out in the
Ector
County
Independent School
District.
Stewart
instructs Freshman
English
and
Sophomore British
Literature as well as
being instrumental
in the dual credit
program. Dual credit
allows high school
students to receive
credit for a course on
both the high school
and college level.
Stewart currently
has three Masters Degrees. He
received a Masters in English and
School Administration from Sul
Ross University. Stewart also has
Masters in Counseling from
UTPB. Stewart picked counseling
because he wanted to help students; however, being a school
counselor did not suit his expec-
ter, thus helping them to learn. As a
teacher it is also important to "challenge their feelings, emotions, and
who they think they are", states
Stewart.
Outside of the classroom,
Stewart has a
few interests.
He loves to
travel
and
has been to a
variety
of
places. A few
of
these
include the
Netherlands,
P o l a n d ,
Australia,
H u n g a r y,
C a n a d a ,
Mexico, and,
his favorite
p l a c e ,
Scotland.
S t e w a r t
recently had
the opportunity to visit a
castle owned
by
people
from which
he
is
a
photo by Kelly Wingert
descendant.
In addition to being a world
you feel, I can't make you learn",
claims Stewart. He will use just traveler, Stewart enjoys bowling
about anything to touch his stu- and fishing. During a sanctioned
dents emotions. Stewart believes game, Stewart's best bowling score
that "memories are attached to feel- is 299; however, he admitted to
ings, and that is all learning really throwing a few 300's in practice.
is." He strives to makes his students His biggest fish ever caught was an
feel some emotion so that they will 8 pound bass out of Lake
attach memories to the subject mat- Champion.
tations so Stewart uses his acquired
knowledge to motivate and teach
the students.
Stewart has implemented his
own philosophy when it comes to
teaching students. "If I can't make
Nature Nugget
Bats: Nature’s flying rodents
by Kelly Wingert
Assistant Editor
It may not seem to be true but bats are
the only mammals capable of true flight.
The other mammals such as flying squirrels, flying possums, and colugos actually
glide rather than fly, which tends to confuse people. The bat is capable of flying
because its forelimbs are developed as
wings. These wings look similar to an
open human hand with a membrane
between the fingers that also stretches
between hand and body.
A common myth surrounding bats is
that they are blind or nearly completely
blind. This is simply not true. Bats’ eyes
are often small and poorly developed
which leads to poor visual acuity. A bats’
vision is used as an aid in navigation especially at long distances. Instead of relying
complete on vision bats use a process
known as echolocation, an ability they
share with dolphins and whales.
Echolocation is used when a bat emits a
high-pitched sound and listens to the
echo; this is how they locate prey and
other nearby objects.
The physical structure of a bat is actu-
ally rather interesting and different from
most mammals. Mammals have one-way
valves in their veins which prevents the
blood from flowing backwards. In addition to the veins, bats have this mechanism in their arteries as well. Bats also
have very flexible finger bones. The
bones lack calcium and other minerals
near the tips, which make them more
flexible than most mammals' bones. The
cross-section of these finger bones is flattened instead of circular which also aids
in flexibility. In addition to flexible finger
bones, the skin on their wings is much
more elastic and can stretch more than
most mammals.
The bat has many culture aspects. It is
considered sacred in Tonga and West
Africa. Native Americans view the bat as
a trickster spirit, while the Chinese claim
it is a symbol for longevity and happiness. In Western Cultures, the bat is associated with night and its foreboding
nature, as well as made into fictional
characters like Dracula and Batman. The
United Kingdom protects bats under the
Wildlife and Countryside Acts; even disturbing a bat or its roost can be punished
with a heavy fine. Bats are in no danger
of becoming extinct; however, they
should be respected nonetheless.
photo courtesy of www.nps.gov
A common myth surrounding bats is that they are blind or nearly completely blind. Though a bat’s eyes are often small and poorly developed which
leads to poor visual accuracy, a bats vision is used as an aid in navigation
especially at long distances.
The Mesa Journal,
7
Rhetoric and Recognition
English dept. gains NCATE certification
by Kristen Gipson
Editor-in-Chief
The National Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education
had exciting news for UTPB’s
English professors and instructors
on Monday, October 20: the
English department received
NCATE certification for its English
Education track.
Professional accreditation indicates that the performance of
future teachers has been rigorously assessed by strict standards and
guidelines by their school, and is
important for any profession.
Congratulations to UTPB
English for all the hard work.
photo by Renae Ludrick
UTPB English professors (from left to right) Dr. Todd
Richardson, Dr. Sophia Andres, Dr. Rebecca Babcock, Dr.
Nichole Rougeau-Vanderford, and Mrs. Maureen Page pose
for a photo on October 20, 2008 celebrating the English
department’s NCATE certification recognition.
Left:
Students
argue issues
at the student debate
on
Thursday,
Oct. 23,
hosted by
the Young
Republicans
and the
Young
Democrats.
8
Community
, The Mesa Journal
Happy Halloween!
ve
Lo e
I
th s!
70
photo by Cindy Sanchez
The Mesa Journal staff wishes all UTPB students a treat-filled Halloween.
Please, be safe and don’t do anything we wouldn’t do!
Above, left to right: Kenneth Bitner (Shaggy), Renae Ludrick (wizard),
Kristen Gipson (Buffy), Kelly Wingert (Dorothy), Dr. Nichole RougeauVanderford (Princess Pea), Emilie Vanderford (Little Red), and Romey
Elguezabal (I Love the 70s!). Can you guess this year’s theme? That’s
right: TV characters! Hope your costumes are as awesome as ours!
10%
off
4023 JBS Pkwy
Odessa, TX
79762
Mon-Fri:
11:00am-2:00pm
5:00pm-9:00pm
Sat-Sun:
11:00am-9:00pm
(432) 550-5533
UTPB students in groups of 4 or more
with a valid I.D. get ten percent off!
Please, no split tickets!
Thursday, October 30, 2008