Then there were five: GOP candidate gives up bid

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Krystina Martinez

On Jan. 19, Texas Governor Rick Perry announced that he was ending his election campaign, just days before the South Carolina primary.

Although Perry’s campaign started off strong, the announcement came as no surprise since the governor had a poor turnout in the New Hampshire and Iowa primaries.

“[He] was his own worst enemy,” Dr. Leigh Browning, WTAMU Associate Professor of Mass Communication, said. “Media were not that mean to him. His lack of foreign policy and debate fumbles were his undoing.”

Prior to the Republican National Convention, primaries and caucuses are held in every state to select delegates. Presidential candidates have the opportunity to spar with each other in debates that occur at every primary. The process lasts up to eight months and in this time, the candidates are under intense media attention.

“I don’t think [Perry] was ready for the intense scrutiny a presidential candidate gets,” Dr. Dave Rausch, Professor of Political Science, said. “While much of the scrutiny is unfair and a lot of it is unnecessary, the lengthy process invites detailed scrutiny.”

With Perry out of the race, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Buddy Roemer battled it out at the South Carolina primary on Jan. 21 following Florida on Jan. 31. The candidate who seizes the coveted Republican nomination will have to keep a few things in mind.

“It is important to remember that the nomination process is a marathon, not a sprint,” said Dr. Rausch. “Several of the candidates have shown the ability to be great sprinters, but then they tire, or slip, and another candidate jumps into the lead. The results of the South Carolina primaries may be the best indicator of who will be the successful candidate.”

Dr. Browning pointed out that these candidates will have a long road ahead of them.

“[The campaigns] will quickly move away from substance and toward a fight with the Democrats,” she said. “These guys will all start liking each other again very soon. What you will see happening is some of them begin to jockey for a Vice President roll.”

Once the fight for party nominations end, the fight for voters begin and candidates may find themselves struggling to get votes. Some people, like junior Biotechnology and Biology major Prinav Bhakta, feel that the election season is too long and that it causes people to lose interest by the national election.

“[It’s hard to pay attention] with classes and all,” said Bhakta. “I might not even vote this time around. There are not any candidates that I’d be interested in representing me or my country.”

WTAMU offers outdoor experience for students

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Lisa Hellier

Virgil Henson Activities Center. Courtesy of lavinarchitects.com.

WTAMU’s Recreational Sports/Outdoor Pursuits program offers faculty and students the opportunity to experience the outdoors in a fun and interactive way.

“Recreational Sports/Outdoor Pursuits has been the best-kept secret on campus for quite some time,” Bill Banks, assistant Recreational Sports director and director of Outdoor Pursuits, said.

Through the Outdoor Pursuits program, students get the chance to learn about and master outdoor living skills by participating in different activities.

The lengths of the trips vary, but they are mostly weekend-long adventures that cost, on average, about $60. Trips are offered in the fall and spring semesters and come as packaged deals that include food, transpor•tation, instruction and equipment. Trips vary to include activities such as rock climb•ing, snowboarding/skiing, caving, mountain biking and mountaineering.

For each trip, two mandatory meetings are held. The first meeting is set up to review the itinerary, discuss health issues and talk about proper clothing. At the second meet•ing, attendees package food and prepare backpacks.

According to Banks, members attending the trips learn a variety of different lessons. Banks jokes that what he teaches is not out of an episode of Man vs. Wild, but rather more necessary and less drastic skills. Students who go on the mountaineering trip learn things like how to operate a single burner stove and cook a meal. It is just one of many things incorporated into teaching people to thrive outdoors.

“We are about goal-setting, common sense, good judgment, safety, and just as impor•tant, having fun,” Banks said.

On May 20, students will be heading out on a five day, four night trip that will first take them to Durango, Colorado for whitewater rafting. From there they will head to Arches National Park in Utah to explore arch rock formations. The trip costs $200 per person.

“I am most excited about seeing some•thing new and doing something I’ve never tried before,” Allison Ware, Sports and Exercise Science major, said. “Many people don’t know that these places even exist and the things you take away from trips like these are hard to describe to other people – that’s why you have to experience it for yourself.”

The Outdoor Pursuits Center also offers other services. “Our Outdoor Pursuits Center is the hub of our Outdoor Education program,” Banks said.

The center rents out equipment which WTAMU faculty, staff and students are eligible to obtain at affordable prices.

Clubs and organizations also have the option of scheduling a private trip separate from the pre-scheduled events. Anyone interested can meet with Banks to discuss the budget and goals for an excursion.

For any questions about the outdoor trips or rental services, contact the Recreational Sports office at 651-2353.

Spring Fling draws an all-ages crowd

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Krystina Martinez

TOMS Style Your Shoes being auctioned by the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum.

Spring Fling brought the party to WT on April 16, featuring entertainment for all ages. Sponsored by CORE, it was an opportunity for the community to come together to see local bands, play carnival games, and enjoy a good Snow Cone.
Highlights included a rock climbing wall, a mechanical bull, and a game called The Wrecking Ball. Many people, young and old, tried their hand at the rock-climbing wall, one of the most popular games of the event.

There was also Style Your Sole booth for people to decorate their TOMS shoes, which were also sold at the event. These custom shoes saw a variety of designs, from paint splatters to landscapes.

“Style Your Sole is an awesome way to explore your creativity” Taylor Meyer, a junior Graphic Design major and owner of Taylored TOMS, said. “I think people really enjoy the freedom they have when decorating their own TOMS.”

When they weren’t playing games or painting shoes, students stretched out on the grass to watch local bands compete in a Battle of the Bands, the main draw of the afternoon. There was a diverse array of competitors, ranging from rock groups like Archimedes Watch Out and Five Floors Above to hip hop groups like Team Glory. However, each attracted a different age group.

“[Neverblu] played really well for [what looked like] a first time band,” JR Alvarado, a freshman theatre performance major, said.

“I like [the Fordham 4's] sound and style,” Emily LeGrande, a freshman Sports and Exercise Science major, said. Her mother, Sharon LeGrande, came to visit for the weekend and also enjoyed the diversity of the bands.

“I like the cellist [of the Fordham 4],”Sharon LeGrande said. “They’re really unique.”

Team Glory brought something different to the competition with their slick beats and Christian rhymes. By the end of their set, people were dancing and wanted to take pictures with the group.

“We expected that people may or may not like us,” Mike Loera of Team Glory said. “We’re different, but some people like that.”

Attendees voted for their favorite band via text message, and in the end, Team Glory won. The group will open for Hawk Nelson on April 21 in the First United Bank Center.

“This will be a great opportunity for us,” said Loera. “A lot of people know them and we’re both Christian groups.”

As for the Spring Fling, party-goers seemed to enjoy themselves and some students expressed a desire to see such an event happen again.

“We should have more events like this,” Jacob Kemp, a General Studies major, said. “It would be cool to get more organizations involved in the future.”

WTAMU offers students GRE prep courses

Posted on April 19, 2011 by Lisa Hellier

Cracking the GRE. Courtesy of Creative Commons.org.

Students preparing to attend graduate school have a few difficult steps to take before they can begin to work on their master’s degree. Certain requirements are needed to get into graduate school and an important one includes the General Records Examination (GRE).

The GRE is a standardized test that is an admission requirement for many graduate schools. It is administered by the Educational Testing Service of Princeton, New Jersey. Generally, it is a computer-based exam but print versions are available in certain geographic locations where needed. The cost of the exam can vary from $160 to $210 depending on different factors such as location and circumstances. The typical components of the GRE include verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning and analytical writing.

“It’s not testing all this knowledge you gained in your entire college education”, Kristina Drumheller, Communications assistant professor, said. “It’s not going to cover your major. What it is really meant to do, what we’re hoping, is that it has predictive value of your ability in graduate school.”

WTAMU offers students the chance to partake in GRE prep courses that allow them to practice and review for the exam. It cost $100 to attend four classes that are three hours each. Two of the classes focus on the quantitative aspects of the test and the other two classes review the analytical and writing portions of the exam. A book and other supplemental material are given to students who take the prep courses.

“GRE scores are important to graduate schools during their admissions process,” Reanne Campsey, Graduate Student Association president and Communications graduate student, said. “You are doing a disservice to your very valuable time and to your hard earned money if you do not take the time to prepare for this test.”

The GRE prep course instructors are very knowledgeable about the exam and its components in order to help students do their best to prepare.

“Taking the GRE prep course is very helpful because the instructors have a great deal of extremely helpful information about taking the test and they can help you reason through the difficult questions that you encounter while studying,” Campsey said.

The GRE prep courses helps students by providing them with a better idea of what the exam will be like and what kinds of questions it might include. It reviews the general set-up of the test and its instructions.

“Obviously the material is going to be different when you get into the test but having the exposure and experience to the types of questions that are asked is valuable to you,” Drumheller said. “You want the spend the time to really figure out the answers to the questions and not all your time reading the instructions.”

Campbell found the classes very helpful when preparing for the exam.

“I had not taken a math class in several years, and it helped to have a person to answer any questions I had,” Campsey said. “I also learned a lot of strategies for taking the GRE.”

Students can check out the WT website to sign up for the GRE prep courses and can locate the GRE website to register to take the GRE. Students can contact the graduate school for more information.

Counting down to finals

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Maria Molina

3 days until…

The Amarillo Museum of Art opens their art show featuring WT and AC students’ and professors’ artwork.

6 days until…

The 2D/3D art show begins in Mary Moody at WT.

9 days until…

The last day to drop or withdraw from the University.

45 days until…

Dead day.

48 days until…

The beginning of finals.

Zombies scheduled to attack on March 23

Posted on March 22, 2011 by David Meraz

Humans vs. Zombies. Are you ready? Photo by David Meraz.

March 23 will mark the beginning of a war among humans and zombies at WTAMU. WT students will participate in the first game of tag, put on by the Residential Hall Association at WT. Any WT student is allowed to play. However, they must have attended a pre-game meeting before spring break to be allowed in the game.

“Humans vs. Zombies (HvZ) is a game of moderated tag, commonly played on college campuses,” Miguel Sosa, RHA president, said. “Human players must remain vigilant and defend themselves with socks and Nerf guns to avoid being tagged by the growing zombie horde.”

At the beginning of the game, all students will start out as humans, except for one randomly student chosen to be the original zombie. It is his or her job to tag as many humans as possible and convert them into zombies.

“Humans win by surviving and zombies win by turning everyone to zombies,” Sosa said. “Humans survive by outsmarting the zombies and stunning them with their Nerf blasters or socks.”

Humans can either carry an approved Nerf gun or solid white socks to throw at the zombies. If the zombie gets hit by either the Nerf bullets or the sock, they are stunned and unable to attack a human for 15 minutes. The zombie stuns are timed and ends every 15 minutes on the hour, making it easier for the players. This means that if a zombie is hit at 1:05, they must wait only ten minutes until 1:15. The stuns will end exactly on the hour, a quarter after, half after and fifteen till the hour.

“I’m really excited to play,” Steven Scott, freshman Sports and Exercise major, said. “It is going to be intense, since there will be multiple people against you at all times, trying to turn you into zombies.”

Scott is a resident of Guenther Hall and said he wouldn’t buy a large Nerf gun.

“I don’t want to spend too much money, but I feel it’s better to have a smaller gun to make you agile to be able to run better,” Scott said.

All humans and zombies are required to wear a bandana. If they are human, they wear it on their arms and if they are zombies, they wear it around their foreheads.

To tag a human, a zombie gently touches the back of the humans shoulder. After a zombie tags a humans, the zombie must say “Shazaam” to make the tag official. Zombies must “feed” or must not go without tagging a human for at least 48 hours before being disqualified from the game. Once the zombie tags a human, the human will give the zombie his or her unique PIN or number and the zombie must go to the game’s website and report the tag.

Once the game has started, the players may not shoot in the following locations or risk being disqualified: dorm rooms, bathrooms, academic buildings, the library, the Hastings Electronic Learning Center (HELC), Activity Center, the First United Bank Center (FUBC), the Box, the dining hall and the Jack B. Kelley Student Center (JBK).

The game will last five days. The last day to play will be on March 27. There is no grand prize, only the satisfaction of either surviving and remaining human or the satisfaction of unleashing a zombie horde.

Greater Book Series, literary discussion for all

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Kati Watson

The Greater Book Series was started by WTAMU English professor Bonnie Roos and it is open to all members of the community. Continue reading →

SIFE aids Food Bank

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Maria Molina

The SIFE team partners with High Plains Food Bank. Photo courtesy of SIFE.

Every semester, SIFE joins with the High Plains Food Bank, in an effort to help families in need.

This project benefits families of low economical resources by providing food in the 29 counties of the Texas Panhandle.

Marco Jimenez, SIFE marketing leader for the Food Bank Project, said that the organization is helping the food drive in three different ways.

The first one is through the collection of non-perishable food. The High Plains Food Bank distributes an average of 375, 000 – 400,000 pounds of food per month. SIFE contributes every semester by collecting food in the WTAMU community.

“The best way to help is through the collection of food,” he said. “Our goal this semester is 5,000 pounds.”

SIFE’s Chief Operating Officer, Karina Linardy said that the deadline to turn in cans is in April.

“We are already 2,000 pounds,” she said.

Another way in which SIFE helps with the “High Plains Food Bank” is by assisting and helping organize the garden that the “Food Bank” has in Amarillo.

SIFE also supports the “Kids Café Program”. Through this program, the “Food Bank” serves more than 750 meals to children at risk.

Linardy explains that SIFE members go every Friday to San Jacinto and Monday-Friday to Maverick.

“We help serve food and interact with kids to be like role models,” she said.

In addition, the organization started a nutrition program in Maverick that takes place every Friday.

“We teach them how to eat and live healthy,” Linardy said.

SIFE is currently in the process of collecting the 3,000 pounds left to meet their goal for the collection of food. Jimenez said that students can help by depositing non-perishable food in the SIFE room located in the Classroom Center room 301.

Tag Archives: Lifestyle – Student Life