What the Frack? - Sul Ross State University

S KYLINE
VOL. 92, NO. 3
Sul Ross State University
OCT. 10, 2014
Lions and lizards and frogs, oh my!
Story & Photos by Shawna Graves
Editor-in-Chief
“Everyone be sure and test out that rock,”
Pam Gaddis said, pointing to a boulder in the narrow
and steep trail, “Not everything you see out here is
solid.” The boulder in question didn’t look different
than the others in the pathway, but it was loose, and
therefore unstable.
Many things required a second look during the hike
led by Gaddis through this stretch of West Texas sky
islands.
Hancock Hill Club members were on their way up, around
and back down a mesa at the Girl Scout Camp, also known
as Camp Mitre Peak. Gaddis annually invites Sul Ross club
members on these guided hikes.
Gaddis, a West Texas native, has been maintaining this
trail for several years. What started out as a short path to a
rappelling site turned into a delightfully adventurous daylong amble (and sometimes scramble) through some of the
prettiest and toughest features the Davis Mountains have to
offer.
Narrow passageways gave hikers a chance to practice their
Please turn to page 15
S KYLINE
VOL. 92, NO. 3
OCTOBER 10, 2014
CONTENTS
Editor’s Message
Well hello, and hello again,
This issue features some interesting voices: Abraham
Kamara gets personal in the Senior Spotlight, revealing
the impetus behind his inner strength. Quick to
smile and often quiet, Susanna Mendez is also in the
spotlight. Usually she is the one using her talent as a
photographer to showcase other people.
Some voices are just getting geared up, as evidenced
by the first game concert performed by the marching
band (Marching Band, pg. 14).
Other voices are finally being heard after weeks of
practice. “Moises: A Modern-Day Tragedy,” opens
tonight. If you can’t catch it this weekend, be sure to
do so the next, as this will be a very memorable play
(“Moises” pg. 9).
And of course, Lobo howls were heard loud and far
after the football victory over Wayland Baptist, as
evidenced by our cover photo.
Be inspired this fall. As the days grow shorter (and
colder), don’t go quietly into the night.
Kind thanks for reading,
Shawna Graves
Editor-in-Chief
SKYLINE Editorial Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Reporters:
Photo Editor:
Photographers:
Sports Editor
Design Editor
Designers:
Ad Sales
Distribution
Contributor
Advisor
Shawna Graves
Bailey Dunks
Malyssa Reed
Samantha Vela
Susanna Mendez
Magaly DeLeon
Stephanie Elmore
Elizabeth Livingston
Kaitlyn Wood
Adam Holmes
Eddie Molinar
Robert Oliver
Memory Colston
Susanna Mendez
Steve Lang
Cheryl Zinsmeyer
Office: 432-837-8061; BAB 106 & 108
Advertising: 432-837-8061
Fax: 432-837-8664
Email: [email protected]
Visit us at www.sulross.edu
‘Like’ Sul Ross Skyline on Facebook for the latest information!
4 ‘What the Frack?’ draws
local interest
5 SRSU Go: This app’s for
you!
9 ‘Moises: A Modern-Day
Tragedy’ opens tonight
12 Gaming Analysis Lab
opens
16-19 Lobos sports updates
Next Skyline:
Oct. 24, 2014
o n t h e c ove r
F R O N T: F re s h m a n d e f e n s i v e e n d J o s h u a Va l l e j o e x p re s s e s h i s s h e e r j o y o v e r t h e L o b o s ’
first win. Photo by Susanna Mendez
B A C K : C a n y o u s p o t t h e f ro g ? A c c o rd i n g t o D r. S e a n Pa t r i c k G ra h a m , t h i s w e l l - c a m o u f l a g e d c r i t t e r i s l i k e l y a n e a t v a r i a t i o n o f a c a n y o n t re e f ro g . S e e s t o r y o n
o p p o s i t e p a g e . P h o t o b y S h a w n a G ra v e s
Submissions policy: Email to [email protected]. No anonymous letters will be printed. The Skyline reserves the right to edit letters and submissions for grammar, spelling, space, profanity/obscenity or libel.
We reserve the right to refuse any submissions the staff deems necessary. The opinions expressed on these
pages are not necessarily those of Sul Ross State University or the Skyline staff. No person shall be excluded
from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity
sponsored by Sul Ross State University on any basis prohibited by applicable law, including but not limited to
race, color, national origin, religion, sex or disability.
3
What the
frack?
4
By Shawna Graves
Editor-in-Chief
Nearly 50 students and community members gathered
in the Espino conference center Sept. 26 for a student-led
educational panel on fracking. Three students gave ten
minute talks on topics related to fracking, from regional
geology to technical aspects. Community member Kay
Plavidal ended the event with a half-hour talk on risks
associated with fracking.
George Vaughan, Sul Ross geology grad student,
opened with an overview of Far West Texas geology.
“We’re going to speed through 1.5 billion years of geologic history,” he warned. He described the events leading
up to the formation of the oil-and-gas-rich Permian Basin,
one of three basins in Far West Texas.
The Marfa Basin, “closer to home,” as Vaughan put it,
could be among potential fracking targets near Alpine.
However, Vaughan found limited evidence of successful
exploratory operations, hinting that this region did not
look encouraging from an oil prospector’s perspective.
Vaughan further explained that the magmatism overlapping the Marfa Basin region was likely a factor in “cooking off” any oil that may have once been present.
Mitchell May, geology grad, followed Vaughn’s talk
with an overview of fracking. He explained that fracking
is part of a drilling technique used in low permeability
and low porosity targets, such as tightly packed sandstone and shale reservoirs. He ended his talk expounding
on the economic benefits, noting that a good well can be
productive for 30-40 years.
Nathan Knox, also a SRSU geology grad, finished the
student panel with a discussion on the influence fracking
technologies have on fresh water supplies. The average
well job can use between 6,000-600,000 gallons of water,
and up to 5 million gallons throughout the well’s life, he
said.
Knox divulged firsthand experience from working in
oil-field water-well production.
“Frack water has to be pure fresh water to begin
with,” he said. This is because each well-site requires specific and unique formulas to break up the tightly packed
reservoir rock. He added that most post-drilling water is
not remediated; rather, it is pumped into deep-well injection sites. Deep-well injection is a contentious issue, but
Knox was quick to concede that engineers and chemists
are constantly trying to improve the process.
Plavidal, an instructor in environmental science and
former exploration geophysicist, spoke about risks. She
claimed that a desert region, in drought no less, should be
wary of any operation that requires such large volumes
of water. She detailed the specific chemical cocktails used
and the known risks associated with each. She spoke of
the damage the industry causes to the environment and
to human health from the inception of a well to the transportation and refinement of what comes out of the well,
and the hazards of the waste associated with that production.
Plavidal also mentioned the critical policy that deregulated the industry in 2005. The Energy Policy Act of 2005
meant that the Environmental Protection Agency could
no longer regulate fracking fluids. The Clean Air and
Water Acts have no authority at this time, which means
companies have virtually free reign over what chemicals
they use.
The talks ended with a short Q&A.
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
New mobile app can make your life easier
Students are on the go ... and so is SRSU
By Bailey Dunks
Reporter
SRSU Go is Sul Ross State
University’s new mobile application
available for iPhone and Android
phones. It was designed by Ellucian,
the company that also powers Banner.
After it was noticed that students
were using their mobile devices
more than ever, an app seemed like
an on-the-go alternative with easier
accessibility. SRSU Go was developed
to make students’ lives easier by
giving mobile access to most academic
information a student would need.
Last spring a committee at Sul
Ross got together to create the app. To
everyone’s surprise, not very many
colleges had such an app available to
students. Sul Ross is actually at the
forefront of the technology.
SRSU Go Basic Breakdown
The app is designed to make a
student’s life easier by giving mobile
access to essential online services. Here
is everything inside the application step
by step:
• Academic Info- Grades, Classes, Holds,
Course Schedule.
TECH Tools
• Campus Info- SRSU Website, Campus
directory, Campus Map, Important
Numbers
• Online Services- LoboOnline,
Prospective Students, Apply for
Admission
• Campus News- SRSU News, SRSU
Events, President’s Blog
• Social Media (quick access to SRSU
accounts on the following)- Facebook,
YouTube, Twitter, Flicker, Instagram
The SRSU Go app is available for
free download from the App Store and
Android App on Google Play.
by joe renieri
Who is Jacob Galindo? He’s an unlikely hero on campus, and while he may not have been bitten by a radioactive
spider or sent from Krypton in a pod to earth, his skills can save your bacon and your GPA if you ask for his help.
Galindo is your friendly, neighborhood Education Coordinator Librarian. That may not mean much to you rushing to class or cramming all night for an exam, but it can be the difference between a stellar research paper and a
sloppy mess. Galindo trains, advises and provides the best resources possible at Sul Ross for your research papers. And he’s got a few tips to help you save Mary Jane or Lois Lane if your research paper is about twentieth century
comic book love interests.
• Know your resources. The library’s website has many tools and databases to assist in finding books, articles,
magazines and movies to aid in your paper writing. There are even documents to help you format your paper in
APA or MPA styles. Go to library.sulross.edu and click on Instructional Materials and Tutorials. Once you know how
your professors want their assignments handed in, you can begin gathering resources. • If you have questions, ask. Like Spiderman, Galindo was easy to talk to and a good listener. And like Spiderman, that’s a big part of his job. He wants to help and a librarian is ready to help at the circulation desk on the first
floor of the library the entire time the doors are open, or you can chat via PC. To chat, you’ll go to the library’s website listed above and click on Ask a Librarian/Chat Service. You’ll also have the ability on that page to send an email.
• Webcat is the database that allows you to search for books, journals, magazines and CDs—any item the library
has a physical copy of to lend. The Webcat link is at the top of the library homepage, or there is a dedicated Webcat
computer on the first floor of the library. A tip: searching by subject can narrow your search findings down in a
helpful way, so try different search options to find the sources that will work best with your research topic. You can
also use the link on the homepage, Find Articles in Research Databases, to search for journal articles about your
subject.
• Interlibrary Loans, or the borrowing of items from other libraries, is also an option. Remember, the book or
item needs to be shipped to the library, so it can take 1-2 weeks for your item to arrive. If you have a paper due,
give yourself time for the book to come in.
• Galindo also mentioned choosing a topic you are interested in and passionate about. The process of researching and writing a paper can take lots of time and effort. He advises you spend that time on something that interests you.
At Sul Ross, we don’t require a Dark Knight or man clad in an iron suit, but when it comes to writing a quality
paper, it’s nice to know there are a few good people around the Sul Ross campus ready to help. Thank goodness no
one feels the need to wear spandex costumes to work.
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
5
Faculty Interview
Spring loves learning
... and Dean Martin
it; it’s not a romance by
any means. My favorite
book always seems to be
the one I’m reading at the
time but I really enjoy “A
Confederacy of Dunces”
by John Kennedy Toole.
I’m a little long in the
tooth about superheroes
but I am wild about Bugs
Bunny.”
By Bailey Dunks
Reporter
Susan Spring is one of the most
down-to-earth instructors you will
ever meet. As a lecturer of English at
Sul Ross, there is nothing more in this
world she would rather be doing than
to teach. She said, “I’d rather teach
then eat!” Her love for her job shows
through each and every student that
is in or has taken one of her classes.
Spring surely won’t let you come out of
her class without learning how to write
a good essay. And if you don’t, well,
you will probably break her heart!
Where did you grow up?
“Houston! My children were born
there, my growing years were there;
I’m a Houstonian through and through.
God bless east Texas!”
What do you do to relax?
“I watch movies and I
love the NFL—I am a
nut! That’s what gets
me through the first
semester. I don’t really
follow college ball but
I surely love me some
Seattle Seahawks and my
Houston Texans.”
Where is your favorite place to eat?
“All my favorite restaurants are in
Houston but the place I always go to is
Niko Niko’s which is Greek food, but
I am also crazy for the Taco Trucks. If I
could eat tacos every day I would.”
Were you a good student in school?
“Yes, yes, yes. I did all my homework. I
loved school and I loved learning. And
I still love learning.”
If you could do one thing over what
would you do to change it?
“I’ve made more mistakes in my life
then you could imagine, but you
know what? I wouldn’t change a thing
because it’s gotten me here. I have
fallen flat on my face but I wouldn’t do
a thing to change it because I’m here
and living the dream.”
Who is your favorite performer?
“Dean Martin, that’s all I have to say.
He gives me goose bumps.”
What is the best concert you have
been to?
“I actually saw Frank Sinatra live in
Houston, and boy, was that cool.”
If you could live anywhere, where and
why?
“I would love to have a little house on
Lake Palestine, Texas. Because it’s east
Texas and that’s my blood.”
What is your dream vacation?
“I have traveled a lot and I love to do it
alone—you can do whatever you want
and you don’t have to worry about
anyone else but yourself. However,
my dream vacation is to spend a few
months in England and travel all over
Great Britain.”
What is your favorite quote?
“It is never too late to be what you
might have been,” by George Eliot.
What advice would you give to
students?
“I’d give the three magic words, READ
READ READ! The more you read
the better writer you will be, more
intelligent and more of a person, so
read!”
What’s your favorite superhero,
movie, book and why?
“My favorite movie of all time is “True
Romance.” It has every star in the
world in it and I highly recommend
6
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
Buying New is so “Old”
Story & Photos by Stephanie N. Elmore
Photographer/Reporter
Whether you’re a college student, have a large family,
retired or just on a budget, local Alpine thrift stores have
the perfect price to fit your wallet. There are four great
thrift shops that have all your needs and wants. Big Bend
Thrift Store, Deja Vu, Alpine Humane Society: The Thrift
Store, and The Bargain Barn.
Big Bend Thrift is always ready to fulfill your
fashionable tastes. From name brand shirts to stylish party
dresses, there is never a time where you will leave the store
empty handed. Besides clothes, there are always delicious
homemade snacks at the counter such as lemon bars,
chocolate chip cookies and banana nut bread. And don’t
forget to visit Big Bend Thrift on Saturday mornings; the
Farmers Market is set up early in the parking lot, so while
you shop inside, be sure to make your way outside and
check out all the fresh produce, crafts, plants and goodies
our local community members have to sell!
Déjà Vu has so many things to offer. From clothes, to
shoes, to home goods, there is always something new to
discover. With so many aisles filled with undiscovered
treasures, you’ll want to bring a friend along so they can
enjoy the items as well. Déjà Vu is a non-profit organization
which supports families in crisis. So when you shop also
know you’re helping out a family in big way.
Alpine Humane Society: The Thrift Store
706 N. 5th St., 432-837-3400
Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm
The Bargain Barn, Corner of E. Gallego and S. Phelps St.
Tuesday 1:30-4:30pm; Wednesday- Saturday 10am-5pm
Alpine Humane Society: The Thrift Store always gives a
warm, welcoming feeling when you enter. From children’s
games, to clothes, to a set of golf clubs, there is something
in this store for everyone. Make sure you have time set
aside so you can check out everything in this store because
there is such a great selection. Besides the clothing and
household items, make it a point to check out the “Cat
Room.” Alpine Human Society has cats and dogs available
for adoption, and although college kids cannot have a pet
on campus, they can always start looking for a pet for after
graduation!
The Bargain Barn also has many items in store for you.
Whether you’re looking for furniture to add to your house,
clothes for you or a family member, or just looking for a
gift item, Bargain Barn is the place to go. From the time you
enter the building until you reach the very back, there are
great items found around every corner. Even though you’re
rewarding yourself with a purchase, you’re also helping
out someone else as well. All proceeds go to West Texas
Food Bank, The Child Advocacy Center, and several other
ministries.
Thrift stores offer much more than just savings to your
wallet these days. A trip to your local Alpine thrift stores
can be a fun treasure hunt for you, family and friends. The
thought of coming home with something special that is
new to you can add a smile to your face at the end of the
day.
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
Big Bend Thrift, 104 W. Avenue A., 432-837-5599
Tuesday-Friday 11am-5pm; Saturday 11am-4pm
Déjà Vu, 203 N. Phelps St., 432-837-1522
Monday-Saturday, 10am-6pm
7
¿K Pasa?
Today through Sunday
Don’t miss the world premiere performance of a new play, “Moises: A Modern-Day Tragedy,” written by SRSU’s
own Liz Coronado Castillo. The play begins at 8:15 pm Friday and Saturday and
2 pm on Sunday in the Studio Theater of
the Francois Fine Arts Building.
Today and Tomorrow
Celebrate Oktoberfest at Harry’s Tinaja,
412 E Holland Ave., at 4 pm for games
and German-themed food. Polka music
starts at 7 pm. There is no cover charge.
Saturday
Play for Parks: an Open-Mic
Fundraiser for Big Bend Parks and
Recreation for Kids, 6-9 pm at Plaine,
215 E. Holland Ave., in Alpine.
Sunday, Oct. 12
Enjoy music at the Alpine Community
Band Concert in Marshall Auditorium
from 3-4 pm. The event is free.
Monday, Oct. 13
The SSS Club holds its meeting in WSB
201 from 6:30-7:30 pm.
The Sul Ross Honors Club asks that you
wear purple every Monday this month
to raise domestic violence awareness.
Tuesday, Oct. 14
The Lobo Literati League Club Meeting
in Ferguson Hall room 209 at noon.
Wednesday, Oct. 15
An information table for Domestic Violence Awareness Month will be set up
on the first floor of the UC during lunch.
Candlelight vigil for Domestic Violence
Awareness month. Gather in front
the library at 6:30 pm to walk to the
courthouse as a group. Sponsored by
the SRSU Honors Club.
Thursday, Oct. 16
For Geoscience for Everyone Day, the
National Weather Service is hosting a
special SKYWARN training at 7 pm,
campus location to be announced.
8
A TRI-COUNTY BI-WEEKLY CALENDAR
Make plans to attend the Tom Lea
Reception: “The Brave Bulls Collide,”
an event sponsored by the Museum
of the Big Bend in the Gallego Center
room 129 from 5:30-8:30 pm.
Feeling lucky? Make tracks to SULLY
BINGO in the Espino Conference Center, 2nd floor of the UC. It is free to all
students with prizes at the end. Bingo
starts at 7 pm.
The Alpine Chamber of Commerce
October Mixer will be held from 6-8 pm
at Alpine Fitness. Entertainment will be
provided by The Doodlin’ Hogwallops.
October 17-19
If you missed it last weekend, or want
to see it again, be sure to attend the
original play, “Moises: A Modern-Day
Tragedy,” written by SRSU’s own Liz
Coronado Castillo. The play begins at
8:15 pm Friday and Saturday and 2 pm
on Sunday in the Studio Theater of the
Francois Fine Arts Building.
Saturday, Oct. 18
Good Neighbor Day Fiesta at Big Bend
National Park. Free to the public, this
fiesta is hosted at the Rio Grande Village
Group Campground. Events start at 10
am and carry through the day.
9-12 am, visit the Alpine Civic Center for
the Annual Community Health Fair.
The Lady Lobos volleyball team hosts
the University of Texas-Dallas at the
Gallego Center. Game time is 2 pm.
Monday, Oct. 20
The Conservation Biology Club meets in
the RAS room 130 at 5:30 pm.
The SSS Club Meeting starts at 6:30 pm
in the WSB room 201.
Academic Enhancement Seminar on
Calculating GPAs. Ferguson room 203
begins at 7:30 pm.
Tuesday, Oct. 21
The CFFA meets in the RAS room 135
from 6-7 pm.
By Malyssa Reed
Another Academic Enhancement
Seminar on Calculating GPAs from 2:303:30 pm in Ferguson Hall room 203.
Grab a friend and go to Sully Movie
Night: “Godzilla” in Marshall
Auditorium. Movie starts at 7 pm.
Wednesday, Oct. 22
An information table for Domestic
Violence Awareness Month will be set
up on the first floor of the UC during
lunch.
Take your lunch with you and attend a
Lunch and Learn Presentation in the
Espino Conference Center on the 2nd
floor of the UC from noon to 1 pm.
Represent! The SGA meeting will be
held in the WBS room 201 from 6:306:45 pm.
An Academic Enhancement Seminar
on Sentence Structure in Ferguson Hall
room 203 starts at 7:30 pm.
Thursday, Oct. 23
Another Academic Enhancement
Seminar on Sentence Structure in
Ferguson Hall room 203 starts at 2:30
pm.
Friday, Oct. 24
A presentation entitled Writing Scripts
for HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” is
scheduled from 7-9 pm in the Gallego
Center room 129. This event is hosted by
Big Bend National Park and the National
Parks Arts Foundation featuring
playwright, scriptwriter, photographer
and producer Howard Korder who will
be talking about his process in writing
the HBO series. Refreshments will be
available and admission is free and
open to everyone.
Have an event? Want an
audience? Share upcoming
events. Email Malyssa at
[email protected].
Whatever you do, be safe,
have fun and represent!
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
10% DISCOUNT!
for students with valid Sul Ross ID
Now Hiring
Juana (Beatriz Zamora) prays for Moises, played by Miguel
Peña in “Moises: A Modern-Day Tragedy.” The bilingual play,
written by Liz Coronado Castillo, opens tonight at 8:15 in the
Studio Theatre. Photo by Eddie Molinar
Written by Liz Castillo
‘Moises: A ModernDay Tragedy’ opens
“Moises: A Modern-Day Tragedy,” a new play
by Liz Coronado Castillo, opens the 93rd season of
the Sul Ross State University theatre program.
Directed by Dona W. Roman, Sul Ross professor of Theatre, “Moises: A Modern-Day Tragedy”
will be performed tonight through Sunday, Oct.
10-12 and 17-19 in the Studio Theatre. The new
play will also be presented later this month at Tarrant County Community College, Fort Worth, as
part of the Kennedy Center/American College
Theatre Festival (KCACTF) state festival.
In “Moises,” Castillo, Sul Ross resident playwright, details the hard-hitting issues surrounding
culture and the stigma of mental illness among
Latinos. Moises is silently fighting against what
he fears is happening to him. Appearances are
important, and by all appearances he lives the
perfect life: a Border Patrol agent with the perfect
house, great friends, and Esperanza, his loving
wife. However, all is not what it seems.
For the past eight years, the Sul Ross theatre
program has been developing a new area of study
that focuses on bilingual material (English/Spanish) plays by Latino playwrights and new plays
by Latinos. In 2011, Castillo’s original bilingual
play, “Aye, No!” was performed at the KCACTF
Region VI competition in Amarillo.
Curtain time for “Moises” is 8:15 pm Oct. 10-11
and 17-18, with 2 pm Sunday matinees on Oct. 12
and 19.
Tickets are $8 for general admission and $6 for
seniors. Advanced tickets are on sale now: www.
sulross.edu/theatre or call 432-837-8218. Sul Ross
students are admitted free with a valid student ID.
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
101 N. 7th St.
Alpine, TX 79830
432-837-3611
We’re Your Go-To
for Western Wear!
JOHNSON FEED &
WESTERN WEAR
2600 E. Hwy. 90
Since
1979
432-837-5792
9
Sul Ross State
Rodeo Results
By Mattie Dunshee
Contributor
Another successful rodeo is in the
books. Fifteen colleges from Texas
and New Mexico came to Alpine
for the three-day annual National
Intercollegiate Rodeo Association event
Sept. 25-27.
Now that the dust has settled, the
final results are in!
Tarleton State University took
top honors for the men’s team, while
Odessa College walked away with the
win for their women’s team.
On the individual level, Seth
Cooke of Weatherford College tied
with Coulter Lane of Tarleton for the
Men’s All-around title. Lauren Bane of
Tarleton swept away the competition
to take home the Women’s All-around
title.
Sul Ross cowgirl Randi Robinson
took sixth in the breakaway roping and
the women’s team placed sixth overall.
Thank you to everyone who helped
to make this event so successful. We
look forward to seeing you again next
year!
Barrel racing photo by
Magaly DeLeon
Steer wrestling photo by
Stephanie Elmore
10
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
Miss Rodeo Sul Ross 2014
Hallie Smith
Hallie Smith, 20, a sophomore animal science
major from Alto, was crowned Miss Sul Ross
Rodeo 2014 Sept. 27. She succeeds last year’s
Miss Rodeo, Katie Savage.
First runner-up is Samantha Kauks
(below left), 19, a junior natural resource
management major from Rosharon. Danielle
Lucero, 19, a junior animal science major
from Gardendale, was second runner-up.
Above, from left: Miss Rodeo Sul Ross 2013,
Katie Savage; Miss Rodeo Sul Ross 2014,
Hallie Smith; Danielle Lucero and Samantha
Kauk. Photo by Stephanie Elmore. Other
photos courtesy Dana Jones.
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
11
SRSU’s Gaming
Analysis Lab
Keep Calm and GAME ON
By Samantha Vela
Reporter
Hiding in the southwest corner of the first floor of the Brian
Wildenthal Memorial Library, in room 110, exists a forever
changing digital world full of Pacman and zombies.
The newly established Gaming Analysis Lab will be opening its doors soon. Those involved in creating the lab are
excited for this opportunity for gaming technology students
and those interested in expanding their knowledge of gaming
while playing both historical and modern digital games. The Gaming Analysis lab harbors several game consoles
(XBOX 360 and its Kinect device, PS3 and a Nintendo Wii),
along with two dedicated PC gaming computers with monitors that have the ability to play graphics in 3D.
The support and donations of the Sul Ross system, along
with the local community, are greatly appreciated because
one spark has now become a flame to create the new lab. The
Gaming Analysis Lab is a great way for the Sul Ross community to understand and expand their knowledge and perfect
the art form of electronic gaming and simulation while literally getting hands-on experience to be successful in this rapidly
changing technology after graduation.
Although the new lab’s capacity allows for only four students at a time, any Sul Ross student is welcome to visit. Avram Dumitrescu, assistant professor of Arts, Gaming
and Communication, and Jose Cabrera Zuniga, Student Technology Center Coordinator, are in charge of the lab and also
helped in planning it.
“Today we have advanced computers, but soon we will
have 3-D masks,” Zuniga said. “We want our students to enjoy and be enthusiastic about technology and the change that
comes with it, so they can continue to learn and have many
possibilities to succeed,” Zuniga said.
If you are interested donating any type of gaming material,
games, and/or consoles, contact Dumitrescu at adumitrescu@
sulross.edu or Zuniga at [email protected].
12
Left, Christian Cosper watches as
Elizabeth Kneeskern creates a game
model. Right, Elean Delgado has
a question for instructor Avram
Dumitrescu. Photos by Steve Lang
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
sully senior spotlight
Abraham Kamara and Susanna Mendez
By Malyssa Reed and Shawna Graves, Skyline staff
Abraham Kamara was born and
raised in Monrovia, Liberia.
Few may be aware of Liberia’s
unique place in African (and United
States history) as the oldest independent country in Africa. After abolishing
slavery, the U.S. sent willing free slaves
to Africa to set up the country of Liberia. But the country has been ravaged
by war and power struggles, and Kamara grew up in a time of war.
“I was lucky for the most part because my dad worked. He was very
hard working, so most of the time he
was able to take us out of the country
for short periods of time where we
could continue our education.”
After 2005, things started to get
better under Liberian President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf. “We thought [the corruption and war] was going to change
with the female president. In Africa it
is a big thing: a female is like a mother
figure; you expect nurturing and care
from a mother figure. That’s how we
saw it,” Kamara said.
Liberia is a beautiful country. Kamara says he could stand on his front
porch there and feel the sea breeze on
his face.
He started his undergraduate
classes at Lone Star College in Houston,
and later transferred to the University
of Houston to work on his geology
degree. He came to Sul Ross this past
spring and quickly became involved
with the geology program and remains
popular as a group fitness instructor at
the gym.
He decided to transfer here because
of the geology program, the atmosphere of Sul Ross, and the time that it
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
would take to graduate, he said.
Kamara’s favorite thing about Alpine is its proximity to Big Bend National Park. “It’s like the park was made
for geologists,” he said. “If you understand rocks, you understand plate tectonics. If you understand what makes
up the earth, then you can appreciate
what the Big Bend National Park is.”
In addition to his fitness instruction,
Kamara currently works at the tutoring
center in Ferguson Hall, room 213.
His advice to undergraduates is:
“This is the land of opportunity, take
those opportunities. You can work at
McDonalds making $7.25 an hour, and
you can make that $7.25 for the rest of
your life, but you won’t do anything
for yourself. Or you can sacrifice four
years, go to college, focus, and within
the first five years after completion you
can establish a life for yourself. Don’t
look at what you can have right now;
make the sacrifices for what you can
have tomorrow.”
Kamara graduates in December and
plans to work or attend graduate school
afterward.
You may recognize her as the face
behind the camera (with colorful hot
pink streaks of hair): Susanna Mendez
has been a Skyline photographer for
over three years. And although she
shuns the limelight, she can be spotted
taking photos at almost every event. In
fact, her campus job afforded her one of
her most interesting college experiences
when she got to photograph the Lobos’
game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
last fall.
Mendez grew up in Temple, Texas.
Her major is Psychology with a minor
in English. She is vice president of the
Psychology Club, and president of Student Support Services Club (SSS).
Liz Castillo, advisor for SSS, says
Mendez is a very hard worker. “She is
very active in SSS and with the club.
She was the Vice President last year and
is the President this year. She is always
willing to help us out with anything we
need and she is always willing to help
other students. I think that she really
understands the nature and purpose of
the club, which is to help our younger
students find their place at Sul Ross
and foster an atmosphere that encourages them to become leaders. “
Last year as Skyline photographer,
Susanna won two awards at TIPA conferences: first place for sports action
photo and honorable mention in photo
story. She has been a reliable, dedicated
photographer, honing her skills and eye
for a good picture. That is what earned
her the position as photo editor this
year.
Between classwork, a campus job,
and two clubs, Susanna stays busy. Balancing school, work, and play can be a
challenge. Still, she says it’s important
to have fun during one’s college years.
“I know you have to get a degree,” she
says, “but have fun. Don’t get to the finish line and realize you didn’t enjoy it.”
Participating in the annual whitewashing of the Bar-SR-Bar on Hancock
Hill has been another memorable event
for Mendez. “Everyone was having so
much fun, there was paint going everywhere, and it brought all the clubs
together as a school.”
Susanna’s best memories at Sul
Ross will be ongoing. That’s because
the friends and cool people she has met
will be in her life for a long time.
What will Susanna do after
graduating in May? “I honestly don’t
know,” she says. She might take a
semester off and pursue graduate
school options in counseling or social
psychology, or she might go straight
into the work force. For now, though,
she says, “I’m just here.”
Perhaps the better question is,
what will Sul Ross do after Susanna
graduates and moves on?
13
Photo by Magaly DeLeon
Lobo Marching Band returns to Jackson Field
By Malyssa Reed
Reporter
People cheered and danced, and
Sully even played the quads at the Sul
Ross State’s Lobo Marching Band’s first
game show of the season Sept. 20. Dr.
QuintThurman, Provost and Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs,
congratulated the band, saying they
made an outstanding performance.
Before people started filling up the
stands, the band played a pre-game
show featuring the SRSU Fight Song,
“YMCA,” “Hey Baby” and “Hail to the
Fleet,” as well as a few songs from the
halftime show. Immediately before the
game started, the band played another
short show featuring the fight song, the
alma mater and the national anthem.
They continued to play throughout the
game until the halftime show.
Storm clouds started to gather, but
the band had no fear. They played the
halftime show featuring “Any Way You
Want It” and “Don’t Stop Believing”
and ended with the fight song. Soon
afterward the rain came, postponing
the game for 90 minutes.
“I thought it was a great new start
for the Lobo Marching Band,” band
director Christopher Dobbins said.
“We started new traditions like the
pre-game concert, brought back old
traditions in the pre-game show, and
put on a great start to our halftime
show. There is much more excitement
to come!”
You can check out photos and a
short video from the first public performance of the Lobo Marching Band on
the SRSU Music Programs’ Facebook
page. Make plans to join them for the
rest of the home games.
14
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
Lions and lizards ...
Photos by Shawna Graves
Continued from page 2
best “sideways shimmy” in order to
get through. There were curious crevasses that beckoned the more agile
climbers in the group to explore. There
was lots of “up;” and at the top - a
beautiful expansive vista – green valleys for miles.
The whole mesa top was covered
in waist high native grasses and wildflowers, lending an herbaceous perfume to the air. Hikers were delighted
by the butterflies resting on the oak
trees. Everyone was impressed by the
incredible camouflage of the frogs,
perfectly suited to the pink and black
speckled rocks.
Mountain lion tracks padded recent
muddy spots. Critter holes, ant hills
and lizards were abundant. Silvery
flashes of fish brightened the pools. Oh
yeah, there were deep, clear pools fed
by loud gushing waterfalls near the
end of the trail loop.
From the highway, a passerby
might never suspect the life teeming
within these towering boulders. But on
this early fall hike led by Gaddis, Hancock Hill Club members were granted
access to a few of West Texas’ well protected secrets.
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE AREA
You’re invited to take advantage of our beautiful surroundings and get involved. You’ll not get an experience like
these anywhere else!
• Davis Mountains State Park Fall Retreat
The Oct. 17-19 retreat includes two nights of camping at
Davis Mountains State Park, an afternoon of hiking at Davis
Mountains Preserve, a hands-on service project, evening
star party, good food, and good company.
The retreat is sponsored by the Society for Conservation
Biology, Sul Ross State University and UT-San Antonio
chapters.
If you want to participate, a $20 registration fee is due
by Oct. 15. Contact Christine Cosby to reserve your spot,
[email protected].
• Rio Grande River Cleanup
Participants will spend the weekend of Nov. 7-9 camping
on the scenic Rio Grande in Texas’ Big Bend. In addition to
floating the river, campers will work to improve watershed
conditions.
A $15 per person registration fee is due by Oct. 31. Contact
Leslie Hopper to reserve your spot at [email protected].
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
15
Raehgan Shaw meets the ball at the net as Reilly Junge looks on. Photo by Susanna Mendez
Lady Lobos volleyball deep into ASC Conference play
By Elizabeth Livingston
Sports Editor
The Lady Lobos volleyball team
traveled to University of Texas at Tyler
Sept. 19, where they competed hard in
three sets but lost 25-10, 25-11, 25-20.
Sophomore middle blocker Raehgan
Shaw led the team with 6 kills, junior
setter Clarissa Hernandez had 8 assists,
and Katie Reeves added seven and also
had five digs. Athena Gundy, freshman, had two blocks in the match.
The following day the Lady Lobos
traveled to UT-Dallas to take on the
16
Comets. After a
third set rally, the Lobos fell short 25-8,
25-9, 25-21.
Outside hitter Alilee Church had
seven kills and McKenna Thomas, a
libero, had 15 digs. Katie Reeves had 6
assists and Clarissa Hernandez added
5 assists with 8 digs along with Lauren
Aldaña.
The following week, the volleyball
team took on LeTourneau University
and East Texas Baptist University in a
double header Sept. 26 in Alpine. The
Yellowjackets won in four sets, 23-25,
25-20, 25-21 and 25-11.
The Tigers of ETBU won in three
sets, 25-15, 25-13, 25-8. In both matches
combined, Shaw had nine kills and
Reilly Junge had seven. Hernandez had
28 assists while freshman setter Katie
Reeves had 11. Defensively, McKenna
Thomas had 25 digs, Hernandez 17,
and Aldaña had 19.
Head Coach Dewayne Roberts said
that the Lady Lobos “have to get back
to work, get ready for our matches next
weekend, and continue to improve.”
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
Volleyball takes on McMurry in non-conference game
By Elizabeth Livingston
Sports Editor
The Lady Lobos played McMurry
University in a non-conference match
Sept. 30 in Abilene. Unfortunately, McMurry held on to win 25-16, 25-19 and
26-24.
Reilly Junge and Alilee Church,
outside hitters, led the team with seven
kills each. Lauren Aldaña, outside hitter; Carly Montero, middle blocker;
and Erica Fuentes, middle blocker, each
had 6 kills. Katie Reeves, setter, had 26
assists. Aldaña had 11 digs and Reeves
had 10. Church, Montero and Fuentes
also had two blocks.
The Lady Lobos did really well even
though they tried a completely different lineup.
Coach Dewayne Roberts said they
have been working on staying close
for an entire game and “not letting the
Raehgan Shaw and Reilly Junge watch as Laura Aldaña lunges to save the
ball. Photo by Susanna Mendez
other team make long runs and we did
a better job of that tonight.”
The Lobos travel to Abilene again
tonight where they will take on Hardin-Simmons University, then travel to
Brownwood where they meet Howard
Payne Saturday night.
Their next home game is Saturday,
Oct. 18 when the University of TexasDallas visits the Gallego Center. Game
time is 2 pm.
Clarissa Hernandez bats the ball as Alilee Church and Alayna Ramirez run in to
make the return. Photo by Stephanie Elmore
Cross Country competes two consecutive weekends
By Elizabeth Livingston
Sports Editor
The Lobos cross country team
traveled to the Ricardo Romo Classic, hosted by the University of Texas
at San Antonio, Sept. 19, and then to
Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene
on Sept. 26.
At the Ricardo Romo Classic, the
men finished seventh with 237 points
and the women finished eighth with
200 points. At the HSU Stampede, the
men finished sixth with 154 points and
the women again finished eighth with
207 points.
In San Antonio, Guillermo Sanchez,
senior, finished 65th in 19:50.1; Damian
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
Lopez, junior, finished 74th in 20:40.4;
William Serrano, freshman, finished
82nd in 22:05.1; Delfino Guzman, junior,
finished 87th in 24:19.8; Tamarius Wilson, freshman, finished 90th in 26:15.2;
and Kevin Gutierrez, freshman, finished 91st in 26:18.5.
In Abilene, Sanchez finished 24th
in 24:22.80; Charles Green, freshman,
finished 27th in 27:05.08; Lopez finished
31st in 28:14.42; Taylor Sanders, freshman, finished 3th in 29:16.03; and Gutierrez finished 37th in 31:00.67.
For the ladies in San Antonio, Ale
Ruiz, a sophomore, finished 47th in
24:50.2; Victoria Tate, junior, finished
48th in 25:20.1; Kaleigh Bruce, junior,
finished 50th in 25:42.0; Jaycie Lubbers,
freshman, finished 53rd in 27:06.9; and
sophomore Shelby Stegent finished 59th
in 30:01.7.
In Abilene, Tate finished 32nd
in 22:24.65 Lubbers finished 35th in
29:16.03; Jessica Lubbers, freshman,
finished 43rd in 24:44.60; Shelby finished
46th in 26:14.97; and Irlanda Vargas,
sophomore, finished 48th in 28:23.59.
Coach Antuan Washington was
pleased with his team’s performance
and said the team is trying to get ready
for conference. The Lobos’ next meet is
the Texas Lutheran Invitational.
17
Lobos battle Trinity in home opener
but come up short, 6-14
Freshman quarterback James Davis opts to keep the ball for yardage. Photo by Susanna Mendez
By Elizabeth Livingston
Sports Editor
Sul Ross State University football
team had their home opener at Jackson
Field Sept. 20 against Trinity University.
Despite a late-game effort, the Tigers
came out on top 14-6.
Trinity came close to scoring in 13
plays, driving for 63 yards, on their first
possession, but the Lobo defense held
them on the SRSU 14, forcing them into
a field goal that missed left by Payton
Kisor.
The Tigers’ first score came on
Williams’ two-yard run after they drove
69 yards in six plays with 12:51 left in
the first half.
Trinity increased their lead when Jai
Boatman intercepted a Davis pass and
went 54 yards for a touchdown with
7:50 remaining in the first half.
After a 90-minute delay due to
weather, the second half was ready to
start. The Lobos got on the board after
linebacker Casey Sonier forced and then
recovered a fumble by Trinity’s running
18
back at the TU 26 yard line with 12:16
left to play.
In nine plays, the Lobos covered the
distance until Brian Thomas, running
back, got the final yard to cut the lead
from 0-14 to 6-14. The PAT was blocked
and a penalty was called, but running
back Otis Edwards was stopped short
on an attempted two-point conversion.
The Lobos got the ball back on
their 14 yard line, where freshman
quarterback James Davis gained 11
yards on a keeper, but the Lobos were
unable to pick up another first down
with 1:45 left on the clock. That allowed
Trinity to pull out the win, 14-6.
Davis rushed 14 times for 79 yards,
while completing 12 passes for 26 yards.
Freshman Stephen Slater punted 9
times with a 40-yard average, which
included a 59-yarder in the third
quarter.
Sonier made 12 tackles, 6 which were
unassisted, and Earl Hines had nine
stops—five of them solos—and one of
three sacks.
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
Lobos hang on for first win of the
season over Wayland Baptist, 27-24
Photos by Magaly DeLeon, Stephanie Elmore, Susanna Mendez and Michelle Yezak
By Elizabeth Livingston
Sports Editor
The Lobos hosted Wayland Baptist
University Sept. 27 at Jackson Field and
held on to score their first win of the
season.
The Lobos jumped to an early lead
after James Davis connected with
Cordrick Mobley for a 20-yard pass
after he already had a 47-yard run from
scrimmage on the first possession.
WBU came back but failed to score on
a missed 37-yard field goal attempt by
Daniel Martinez.
The Lobos were stopped, but the
Pioneers were awarded a safety when
Davis received an intentional grounding
when he threw an incomplete pass from
his end zone.
Sul Ross continued their lead on a
5-yard scoring run by Deonte Hester, a
freshman running back, after the Lobos
drove 89 yards in nine plays. The Lobos
then scored again when Davis raced 90
yards from scrimmage to score, making
the score 20-2 after the extra point was
blocked.
The Pioneers tried to make a
comeback in the third quarter. Quinton
Shafer intercepted a pass from backup
quarterback Greyson Secades and
returned it to the Lobo 19, where
Campuzano’s 16-yard scoring pass to
Josh Bailer made the score 20-9.
WBU then received their second
safety of the game when Colton
Brownson, senior quarterback, was
sacked in the end zone by Nathan
Askins.
The Lobos got on the board again
after driving 75 yards in eight plays.
Davis connected with Xavier Jefferson
for 42 yards and after a penalty, Davis
hit Mobley from 24 yards out to score.
The score was now 27-11 with 12:47
remaining in the game.
The Pioneers scored, making it 2717, after they drove 65 yards in eight
plays, with a one-yard touchdown pass
by Evan Hearn. Campuzano’s pass for a
two-point conversion was incomplete.
The Lobos received the ball at
midfield after an onside kick attempt
failed out of bounds, but then lost it
again when Davis’ pass was intercepted
at the Pioneer 39. WBU drove 61 yards
to score on Hearn’s four-yard run,
making it 27-24.
The Lobos tran out the clock
after Joshua Vallejo stopped WBU
quarterback short, forcing him to throw
three incompletions, ending the game.
James Davis rushed 19 times for
204 yards and completed 14 passes for
182 yards. Calvon Henderson caught
5 passes for 96 yards, while Mobley
caught a pair of passes for scores. Casey
Sonier, Fernie Gonzalez and Daryn
Young each had 6 tackles and sacked the
WBU quarterback 7 times.
The Lobos improved to 1-3 and
travelled to Goodwell, OK where they
took on Oklahoma Panhandle State
University. Due to press deadlines,
results were not available for this issue.
Tomorrow, the Lobos host the
University of Mary Hardin Baylor on
Jackson Field. Game time is 1 pm.
The Lobos hit the field at the start of the game, ready for action. Their fans were not disappointed when Sul Ross
defeated Wayland Baptist. Photo by Susanna Mendez
The Sul Ross Skyline, October 10, 2014
19
18
The Sul Ross Skyline, September 20, 2013