El Paisano Volume XXXIII, No.8

MC friend
Todd Aaron dies
MC friend and benefactor Todd
Aaron died Feb. 15. The Dorothy and
Todd Aaron Medical Sciences
Building was named in his and his late
wife’s honor in 2001.
Aaron loved Midland College and
supported all of its programs. He was
most proud of his affiliation with the
college.
According to Eileen Piwetz, MC’s
vice-president of instutional advancement, Aaron asked about the college
every time she visited him.
“Midland College is really a great
place. You all are doing such a fine
job,” Aaron said.
There were no funeral services.
El P a i s a n o
Volume XXXIII, No. 8
The Student Newspaper of Midland College
March 3, 2006
Campus ‘breaks’
for spring rejuvination
MC Icons
Spring Break
MC will close at 5 p.m., Friday,
March 3, for spring break and remain
closed the week of March 6. The college will re-open at 8 a.m., Monday,
March 13.
Study Skills
sessions set
The next Study Skills sessions are
6:30 – 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, March 14
and noon – 2 p.m., Wednesday,
March 15. Sessions are free of charge
and open to the public. For more information, contact Sue Alford at 6855525.
‘Impact of Gangs
in Midland’
The next course in Midland
College’s Community Awareness
Courses series is Understanding the
Impact of Gangs in Midland, which
will be 6:45-8:45 p.m., Tuesday,
March 14. The cost of the class is $36,
and the session is presented with the
help of officers from the Midland
Police Department. For more information, or to register for any session, call
Sara Lyons in the MC Workforce
Education department at (432) 6975863.
Page 8
Page 4
Page 2
Express
Guillen leads 2006
MC softball team
King & Queen
crowned
Making lists
Photo by Randy Rodriguez
MC’s first president, Al G. Langford, presents former MC basketall
coach, Jerry Stone, with a plaque before the Feb. 23 homecoming
game in Chap Center. Langford was president when Stone was hired.
Stone is the winningest MC coach and the only one to lead a team to
a national championship. Under his leadership, MC won the 1982
National Junior College Athletic Association’s men’s basketball
championship. Please see pages 4-5 for more on Coach Stone, the
championship team and other homecoming activities.
By Lindsey S. Chesser
Staff Reporter
With Spring Break beginning today
at 5 p.m., students and faculty are
anticipating a week away from campus.
Some students will be traveling,
some will party and others will be
working to save money. Whatever
MC students and employees choose to
do, they agree that it is nice just to get
away from the normal daily grind.
“I’m going to Mexico to visit my
family for Spring Break,” said MC
student Victoria Herrera. “We like to
hang out and there are lots of places to
visit. There’s downtown and clubs to
go to. I’m also glad to be leaving
homework, getting up early and just
the daily routine.”
Herrera is one of many this break
who will be traveling. According to
Student Monitor, a nationally syndicated market research study of the
college student market, 38 percent of
students will be traveling during the
break and 17 percent will be traveling
outside of the United States.
Along with Herrera, student Mary
Arenivas said she will also be traveling to Mexico for vacation. She also
said that while visiting cousins, aunts
and uncles, she plans to visit the
clubs, too. Clubs, drinking and partying have long been a common activity
among college vacationers and this
trend doesn’t seem to be slowing
down.
“I’ll be going to Houston and Dallas
to party,” said freshman Shereka
Hearne. “I’m going with about four or
five friends and we’re driving. We
don’t want to get drunk; we’re just
glad to be out and not doing schoolwork.”
With all of the fun and freedom that
goes along with the week, accidents
and incidents are more likely to occur.
SM reports that 97 percent of college
students 21 and older are likely to
drink during Spring Break. Not only
are legal students drinking, underage
students are joining the action with 97
percent of all college students under
the age of 21 drinking during Spring
Break. Even more of a reason to be
cautious is that males will drink an
average of 18 drinks a day and
females will have an average of 10
drinks a day.
“I know full well students are glad
to get a break,” said David E. Daniel,
MC president. “I understand how
tempting it is to go out and have a
good time, but there’s a right way and
a wrong way to do it. Students should
enjoy themselves in a way that won’t
endanger themselves or others. We
want our students to return healthy,
See Break, page 3
Creative Writing
awards March 20
Bruun came to Midland to play golf
The public is invited to attend the
awards ceremony for the 31st Annual
Creative Writing Contest at 6 p.m.,
Monday, March 20, in the
Roadrunner Room of Scharbauer
Student Center. Monetary prizes for
first – third place in three categories
will be awarded.
Each winner, including honorarble
mentions, also receives a certificate.
Refreshments will be served. Selected
writings from the winning entries will
be published in the Fall 2006 Tableau
magazine. For more information, contact Mary Williams at 685-4631.
By Michael Mancha
Page Editor
Of all the many international students who travel to the United States, and for all the reasons they
come, Midland College student Casper Bruun
made the long journey halfway around the world
for just one—he came to play golf.
Early in 2005, at the advice of a few friends who
played golf in Texas, Bruun contacted MC golf
coach Delnor Poss to express his interest in playing for MC. In August, Bruun left his family and
home town of Frederikshavn, Denmark for Texas
with a spot on the MC golf team.
Despite the major change in climate, Bruun said
he came to Texas for the weather. He is able to
play golf 10 months a year as opposed to only 6-7
in Denmark.
As a member of the MC golf team, he is not the
only international student on the team. Nearly half
of the team is foreign students from Denmark,
Sweden, England, South Korea and Canada.
Bruun said that the chance to play with these stu-
Ruthie Foster
to perform
Blues, gospel, folk singer/songwriter Ruthie Foster will be the spring
performer for the Phyllis & Bob
Cowan Performing Arts Series at
Midland College. Foster, a native
Texan who still lives in the state, will
perform at 7 p.m., Thursday, March
23 at the Al G. Langford Chaparral
Center.
For FREE tickets, call (432) 6854526, or order tickets online at
www.midland.edu/events.
Spring Transfer
Fair Day
The
MC
Student
Services
Department is offering Spring
Transfer Fair Day to put students in
touch with MC’s University Partners.
The Transfer Fair provides students
with information on admission, course
transfer, majors and financial aid
issues. The event will be 11:30 a.m.-1
p.m., Tuesday, March 28 in the
Roadrunner
Room
of
the
Scharbauer Student Center.
MC’s University Center provides
students opportunities to earn upperlevel degrees without leaving Midland
or to have a seamless transfer to a partner university. MC’s University Center
partners are Angelo State University,
Howard Payne University, Lubbock
Christian University, Sul Ross State
University and Texas Tech University
Health Science Center. For more information about the Transfer Fair Day,
contact Bob Haines, dean of
Enrollment Management at (432) 6854507.
dents is good for everyone.
“You learn a little from all of them,” Bruun said,
“It’s great, especially for the American players, as
far as getting to know our culture.”
Though the country of Demark has been influenced by American culture with places like
McDonalds and Starbucks and with things like
American films and music, Bruun said that life in
Denmark is really quite different than what he sees
here. Life is easier in Denmark. Healthcare is free.
School, even college, is paid for by taxes.
The economy works a bit like the Robin Hood
method. People in Denmark pay almost 50 percent
of their income, in taxes. The higher a person’s
income the more they pay in taxes. This is what
allows for college and healthcare to be free.
For a student like Bruun, everyday life is very
routine. It is common for people his age to live at
home and focus primarily on their school. They do
Photo courtesy of Casper Bruun
not work one or two jobs.
MC
golfter,
Casper
Bruun
of Denmark, poses with
“I go to school and I play golf, it’s very routine,”
his driver on the edge of the Grand Canyon.
See Bruun, page 3
BSO celebrates Black History Month
By Randy Rodriguez
Page Editor
The Black Student Organization
(BSO), formerly known as UNITY,
held a special Black History Month
event in the Roadrunner Room to
screen a film featuring one of hiphops predominant stars.
The Midland African-American
Roots Historical Culture and Arts
Council Inc. met with the sponsor of
the Black Student Organization and
decided to do this joint venture Feb.
23. This event consisted of showing
the movie Something the Lord Made,
which stars hip-hop artist Mos Def.
“This movie will underscore
African-American achievement—
which has been apart of the AfricanAmerican experience since 1619
when the first slaves hit the shore of
the United States” said James Fuller,
assistant coordinator of developmental studies. “It will also demonstrate
how one applies perseverance and
determination to reach a particular
goal.”
The film depicts the trials and tribulations of Vivian Thomas, a then
assistant of Dr. Alfred Blalock, and
Photo by Randy Rodriguez
James Fuller, MC’s assistant coordinator of developmental studies, talks
to the crowd before the showing of Something the Lord Made during a
night of celebration on Feb. 21.
his struggle to become more than just
a carpenter’s son from the south while
simultaneously helping in the discovery of a treatment for Blue Baby
Syndrome in the 40s.
“I think they will see an excellent
example of someone who was determined, yet at the same time demonstrated a significant humility,” said
Fuller about the film’s protagonist.
“He didn’t go out of his way to
demonstrate in the context that most
people associate with the civil rights
movement. He did it in a very forceful, yet paradoxically, quiet way. He
used his intellect. He let his intellect
do the talking—and the walking for
that matter.”
And that was the purpose of the
evening, according to Fuller.
“We want to do several things,”
Fuller said. “One is to continue to dispel the stereotypical reaction that too
many people have relative to rap and
hip-hop artists and show the multidimensional talent that these individuals
have. At the same time, we wanted to
use this movie about Dr. Vivian
Thomas, who really overcame
tremendous odds as an AfricanAmerican in the early part of the 20th
century to achieve without formal college training.
I think if the audience, in particular
the young people, will study the
film—not just look at it for purposes
of entertainment—and study the characters in the film, they will get a very
powerful messages, or maybe messages, relative to what it’s going take
in the 21st for a diverse, global comSee Mos Def, page 3
Commentary
Page 2
Editorial
Coming ‘home’
Jerry Stone, former MC basketball coach, came “home” to Midland
College last week for a celebration of the past.
Before the annual homecoming game, MC’s 1,001st game, played on Feb.
23, Stone was honored by the college, friends and former players.
Al G. Langford, MC’s first president, attended and presented Stone with a
special plaque commemorating Jerry Stone Night at Chap Center.
Stone, the MC coach with the most wins and the only national basketball
championship, reflected on his time in Midland saying that when he left
Midland College, he had no idea how often he would compare things in his
life to his time at MC.
He continued to coach at the college and high school levels. Stone, 64, is
now retired.
Stone took over the two-year-old program in 1977 after four different
coaches had coached during the first two seasons. When Stone left after the
1987 season, his record was 275-67.
Stone built a strong foundation for the men’s basketball program … a program that today is considered one of the top junior college programs in the
nation. It is said that Stone was a stern disciplinarian who liked to recruit
smaller players who were not highly recruited. He molded his players into
well-working teams and taught them more than just basketball. He put
Midland and Midland College on the map when it comes to respected basketball programs.
During the 1981-82 season, the Chaps marched toward Hutchison,
Kansas, with the help of one of MC’s most famous players, Anthony “Spud”
Webb, from Wilmer-Hutchins High School in Dallas.
But Stone and Webb did not go to Kansas alone. The other team members
were: Puntus Wilson, Chuck Robinson, Rodney McChriston, Justin Morrett,
Chester Smith, Lance McCain, Jerome Crowe and David Thompson.
Webb later played in the National Basketball Association for 12 seasons.
Webb, at 5’7” tall, is the shortest player to ever win the NBA All-Star Slam
Dunk contest, which he won in 1986.
Stone and his Chaparrals provided us with a history on which to build.
And build we have. In the past MC had both men’s and women’s tennis
teams and a women’s golf team.
Today, the athletic programs at MC include men’s and women’s basketball, men’s golf, baseball, softball and volleyball. Student athletes have gone
on to four-year schools, national programs, pro circuits and successful
lives—lives built on the foundation of Midland College.
Obviously, not all MC athletes played for Coach Jerry Stone, but they all
played for Midland College … and Jerry Stone helped build their athletic
and educational foundations.
My Naked Planet
Have you ever noticed that columnists like to make lists? They talk
about things they like, things that
annoy them, things they remember
from the good old days. I’ve written a
few columns but I’ve yet to write a
list. So here are some of my grievances and everyday observances.
Let me ask you a question, when
was the last time you were craving a
soft drink, went to the vending
machine only to find that, one, it has
decided not to take dollar bills, or
two, IT’S SOLD OUT! Is there ever a
time when the coke machines on campus actually have something in them?
Our snack machines are full. As a
matter of fact they are full of every
moisture sucking snack available. On
top of that, who charges $1.25 for a
bottled drink? We are college students
for crying out loud.
You ever wonder why we drive on
parkways and park in driveways.
Is anyone else annoyed with the
local news’ obsession with weather?
It’s like one big ego-driven, “my radar
is bigger than your radar” contest.
Speaking of which, is it really necessary to have a First to Warn Live
Doppler 3000 Super Megaton Flux
Capacitor to tell me it’s going to rain?
This is Midland, it’s either hot or it’s
cold and sometimes it rains. Just walk
outside; you’ll see which one it is.
Have you ever known that person
who uses a lot of big words and cool
stories to sound like they know a lot
but they really have no idea what they
are talking about?
One of my co-workers loves to talk
about music. He knows a lot of bands
and obscure music history facts but
really has no idea what he’s saying.
Here are a couple of things he’s
said:Eric Clapton is nothing but a
poser. He’s just a decent guitar player
who copied everyone else; Hall and
Oates is one of the greatest duos of all
time; Nirvana is the worst band of all
time; the Rolling Stones really aren’t
that good;the Beatles and Bob Dylan
were overrated.
Radio just isn’t a fun thing anymore.
I used to enjoy listening to the radio.
Now it bores me. I remember back in
middle school, if the song was on the
radio, it was a hit. The music on the
radio was the soundtrack to my adolescence. I hear the radio now and it’s
just the same few songs played over
and over again. Even worse, everything sounds the same, so not only is
there no variety but they play it a hundred times a day. Now that I can buy
my own music, my radio rarely gets
any play.
Starbucks is no longer the evil
empire, Wal-Mart is. Support your
local Target and HEB. Together we
can rid the world of that stupid smiley
face.
Last but certainly not least, the following goes out to bad drivers: For
those of you who speed through
school zones, don’t pull over for
emergency vehicles and can’t respect
a funeral procession, you should be
March 3, 2006
By Michael Mancha
Page Editor
put in jail. What is so important that
you can’t slow down for a few minutes? There is no Nextel Cup waiting
for you at the end of your drive.
You know that little lever sticking
out of the steering wheel, that’s your
signal light. Please use it. And, no, it’s
not okay to signal two feet before you
turn. There is a coffee stain in my car
because of you.
If there is room between you and the
car ahead of you, I’m moving in there.
I’m not being rude and I’m not cutting
you off, it’s called changing lanes. Try
driving in a big city for a while, it’s
done all the time
Yield signs exist for a reason; they
tell you to slow down because someone else is coming fast from another
direction. If you don’t don’t get upset
when I run into you.
I suppose this won’t be the last
“columnist list” that you’ll read, but
it’ll be the last you read from me.
Everyone has things to complain
about. Complaining is most often just
a form of venting. Most of the time
there are great things that we miss
because the annoying things just seem
to stand out. With that in mind, I’ll
leave you with my favorite quote:
May those who love us, love us. And
for those who do not love us, may
God turn their hearts. And if He cannot turn their hearts, may He turn
their ankles so that we may know
them by their limping. May you live
as long as you want and never want as
long as you live.
The Good, The Bad
and The Ugly
By Angie Wennerlind
Page Editor
“Hey Bono, I’m glad you asked.
Life is still worth living.”
~Switchfoot
I have heard it said that life is like a
box of chocolates, a soap bubble, a
vapor, “an hourglass glued to the
table,” a journey or a race.
There are a lot of ways feebleminded souls have tried to explain it.
They’re all good analogies, but I think
that life is most like a book. Yes, a
book. Because life, at its core, is a
story.
We’re all involved in this huge
drama that contains characters, climaxes and a plot that thins and thickens through the years.
The only problem is that sometimes
the story doesn’t exactly come together. And that’s when the book of life
sucks. And when the book sucks, you
don‘t want to read it. You either put it
down or opt to buy the Cliff Notes
(like I did in more than one English
class).
I wish there were Cliff Notes to life
too, and that I could learn the hard
things by merely skimming over
them.
But the point is, in viewing life as a
story, one realizes that most of the
time the plot contains some heavy
stuff.
It’s no easy read, and it rarely ends
the way we want it. Like someone
else put it, “life’s hard and then you
die.”
But I wonder sometimes if we
aren’t a little picky. Seriously, what
alternatives exist if we just randomly
decide that this life isn’t good
enough?
What if we decide to send life back,
like food at a restaurant, because it’s
not exactly “what we wanted” or
“ordered?” Or when we’re mad at the
author of this life for scripting it like
it is? They are legitimate questions.
That’s another thing; life is full of
questions.
I have a friend who asks really
good ones.
“Is it worth it?” he asks. “Life and
everything?”
Is the book, in the end, really worth
reading?
There is a speaker/author, Rob Bell,
who thinks so.
He talks about the simplistic joy he
gets when bouncing on the trampoline
in his backyard with his sons.
He writes, “sometimes when my
boys and I are jumping and one of us
starts laughing, we all start laughing.
We’re jumping and we’re short of
breath and we’re sweating and we’re
having such a great time.
When we’re too exhausted to jump
anymore, we’ll lie down on the mat
and stare up at the vast blue sky
above.
I’ll be there on my back, and I’ll
say a short prayer: God, I can’t
believe I get to live this life.”
El Paisano
The Student Newspaper of Midland College
Editorial Staff: Michael Mancha, Randy Rodriguez,
Kimberly Trimble, Angie Wennerlind
Reporters:
Lindsey Chesser
Julie Davis
Alan Eskew
Jessica Gonzales
Morgan Gotcher
Michael Montalvo
Rachel Powers
Ember Rogers
Adam Villarreal
Joshua Wilson
Photographers:
Lynn Blakeney
Melissa Broten
Kimberly Trimble
Randy Rodriguez
Cartoonists
Michael Montalvo
Tommy Simmons
Lab Instructor:
Karen Lanier
Adviser:
Bob Templeton
Comments and views expressed in
El Paisano reflect the thoughts
of individual student writers and do not
necessarily reflect the beliefs or opinions
of other students, faculty members,
administrative officers or the board
of trustees. El Paisano is a member
of the Texas Community College Press
Association and the Texas Intercollegiate
Press Association. The publication and its
student staff members have won
numerous statewide awards.
MC Student Publications 3600 N. Garfield, AFA 185
Midland, Texas 79705 432-685-4768
email: [email protected]
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit
by Kimberly Trimble
of...
Page Editor
One of my all-time favorite movies
is the original Willy Wonka and the
Chocolate Factory staring Gene
Wilder.
The reason that this is one of my
favorites is not because there is a deliciously dreamy chocolate waterfall
and delectable blades of edible grass;
the reason I adore this movie, Veruca
Salt.
For those unfamiliar with this film
and its recent, popular remake staring
Johnny Depp, Veruca is one of five
children who receive a golden ticket
that grants her admission to the factory of reclusive candy-making guru,
Willy Wonka.
Veruca is without argument a
spoiled brat. She is automatically
given the desires of her heart and has
no reason to think that the world does
anything but revolve around her. I
wanted to be Veruca. I still do.
Veruca’s personality can be
summed up through the lyrics of her
personal ballad, “I don’t care how, I
want it now.”
Don’t we all have that mindset
sometimes? I know that I could easily
dance around golden goose eggs
singing of my endless desire for more.
In a fast-food society filled with
extreme over-indulgence, can we ever
have enough? Will we ever be able to
satisfy our insatiable appetites?
We live in a world where even
minute rice that actually takes five
minutes to cook takes too long, one
hour photo shops seem to drag out
sixty minutes, people go at midnight
to pick up the latest Harry Potter
book or go see the final installment of
the new Star Wars movies.
We want everything that the world
has to offer and we want it super-sized
and in a to-go box.
We rush everything. We want the
perfect romance but we don’t want to
wait for the right timing, so we rush,
hence the divorce rate.
As a side note and a personal word
of caution to everyone out there: if
one more person gives me that pitiful
look and tells me “don’t worry, you’ll
find someone,” they are getting
punched in the face.
It doesn’t matter if it is a guy or a
girl, a friend or a relative stranger,
they’re getting hit.
The thing is that I’m not worried
about finding someone because I’m
only 19 and I’m fabulous.
In fact, two of my most incredible
and amazing female friends are single.
But guess what, they are both okay
with that. Maybe it isn’t the ideal, but
it is reality. They aren’t willing to
abandon the search for “Mr. Right”
and settle for Mr. Right Now.
Let’s face it, if you go with the theory of “only one right person for
everyone,” then all but one relationship is destined to fail.
Yes, I realize that can be an
extremely depressing statement and
outlook, but it is true.
Now, stepping off my soapbox, I
realize something else: the insane part
is that although we are inclined to
want everything, and want it right
now, we are becoming perhaps the
laziest society that the world has ever
seen.
We have abandoned sit-down meals
for drive-thru service, personal meetings for messaging sessions on
MySpace and we have even traded in
department stores for eBay.
The problem: we all want to meet
someone special, but we don’t want to
leave the comfort of the couch to do
so.
This leaves me with a question, are
we all becoming destined to take a
ride down the “rotten egg” chute, or is
there still hope to be labeled a good
egg?
Only time will tell.
Commentary/News
March 3, 2006
Quo Vadimus
By Randy Rodriguez
Page Editor
I have run out of things to write
about. This is not something that
someone of my ilk is adept to dealing
with on a regular basis. I have no
ideas left in my head—no good ones
at least.
I had an idea of doing a “What
bothers me today” piece, but everything bothers me so that would be too
long. I toyed with the idea of writing
about my love of William Burroughs
novels and Allen Ginsberg poems, but
no one would find that interesting. I
started writing about the evil
empire—Starbucks—but I don’t think
I can beat that dead horse any more
than I already have.
Writing should not be this complicated. Writing comes from a place
inside that works all the time. It is like
the blood flowing through your veins;
it is like electricity powering your
mind, that relays into your arms and
down through your hands and into
your fingers; it is natural, honest and
pure.
But over the past few months I have
found that writing has become hard.
Writing has become a chore when it
was once a relief valve. At my best, I
can sit down and write a 20-page
essay on the theme and symbolism of
Paradise Lost, then write a complementary piece about Milton explaining how he was angry with the church
when he wrote his most famous
poem.
Now I struggle to get past the first
10 words of this column; a column
which is my only outlet to reach a
broader audience. And that is the most
frustrating, ‘fubar’ thing I can endure.
I am a writer. Not a good one, but a
writer nevertheless. I have a drive and
purpose when I am writing. It gives
me a sense of accomplishment and
satisfaction knowing that I have created something that could possibly
affect someone who reads my words.
I try not to compare myself to others, but, think about it this way: What
would happen if a surgeon’s hands
began to shake uncontrollably or if a
fire-jumper lost his nerve? Now I am
not comparing myself to people who
save lives, but I feel that my writing
ability is what makes me, well, me. It
does not define me, it is what ‘me’ is.
I have been able to morph into several different styles of work during my
stay here on this planet like caterer,
photographer, commissary director
and a myriad of other projects, but
nothing gives me that feeling of self
like writing.
And that is the rub. That is that
unconquerable flaw with the human
experience. When you find something
that you love, you do not let it go
without doing everything you can to
hold on for just a few more moments
of exhilaration, of believing in something.
But that flaw is the most endearing
quality of every person who has ever
taken a breath. It is that flaw that
gives us hope that all the murders and
missing people, all the rape and
aggravated assaults, all the starving
children and impoverished are not in
vain, but will lead to someone championing the cause of the greater good.
If one person gives to a charity, if
one person gives blood, if one person
reads this column, then maybe that
love will not fall at the wayside and
be forgotten like so many truths have
in the past. That is why this flaw is
not only a badge of honor, but also a
necessity of life.
But what do you do when the well
is empty? Do you give up and say,
“Well, I had a good run.” Or do you
continue to pound on the keyboard
trying to find your voice once again. I
have a process I go through when I
write. I find my idea, then I talk to
myself about it for an hour or two;
next, I write some notes in my writing
journal, write a rough draft and then
head for my computer.
But without the ideas, how do I get
to step two? Maybe this is the time to
say I’ve had a good run. Perhaps it is
time to try something different. It may
be getting to the point that I should
become an civil engineer. But then
again, what would I do at four in the
morning when I get a flash of inspiration that tells me that I should have a
pen in my hand telling the world “I
have something to say and I will be
heard?”
I got an e-mail recently from someone whom I hold in high regards. As I
read the e-mail, I began to think about
where I get most of my inspiration. I
started thinking about the events in
my life that shaped who I am today. I
began to reminisce about the days
when I was at my best. Those days
when life was simpler and waking up
was not symptomatic of some deeper
need to make up for the mistakes of
yesterday.
Then I started to write about my
favorite memories of the past few
years—ironically around four in the
morning.
But I hit that wall again. I started
well, but around 300 words in, I
found that those words had no meaning. They lacked a substantive agenda.
So I walked around my neighborhood for a while to stop the screaming
voice in my head.
When I got back to my house, the
sun was already coming up, the
screaming was still there and I still
had nothing to write about. Perhaps I
am just living in the past too much.
Maybe I have squeezed all the
mileage out of the past that I can and
I must start making new memories to
fill the void that has been left by past
regrets and failed attempts to become
more than what I am right now.
This is usually the point where I
wrap it up with some quirky anecdote
or some fortune cookie wisdom.
But seeing that I have no blood
flowing to wherever ‘it’ comes from I
will have to leave you with this: Is
what you are doing what you are supposed to be doing?
Is what you are doing what you are
capable of doing?
Cleaning up?
Opinion
Editorial cartoons ignite Muslins
By Michael Montalvo
Staff Reporter
In recent months the world has witnessed controversy about the printing
of 12 editorial cartoons
depicting the Islamic
prophet Muhammad.
Of 40 artists invited
by Jyllands-Postento
give representations of
Muhammad, only 12
responded with cartoons for fear of repercussion by Muslim
extremists.
Death threats have
been made, murders
have taken place and
there have been riots,
all of which were
brought about by the
fact that Kåre Bluitgen
was having trouble
finding an artist to
illustrate his children’s
book on Muhammad.
The 12 cartoons have
been reprinted in many
countries since the
original date and as the
controversy increased,
more countries began
to print the cartoons to
show
support
to
Denmark and its fight
for freedom of speech.
Several countries have
yet to print the cartoons
including the United
States.
“It doesn’t surprise
me,” said former MC
student Michael Barratt, “in a world
where we are more concerned with
what celebrities do and fashion …
then something like free speech might
be overlooked.”
However, Muhammad is not the
only religious figure to be caricatured.
Jesus, Buddha, God and more have all
been through the process with little to
no ridicule.
But when the Islamic Prophet was
caricatured, the same people enjoying
the other cartoons turned and began to
picket with signs reading: “Go to
hell,” “Be prepared for the real holocaust,” and countless variations of
“exterminate those who insult Islam.”
Still the United States will only
Bruun
Bruun said.
Students learn English as part of
their education. There are no school
sports to play but regardless of this,
for Bruun, sometimes school was the
second choice. Most of his time was
spent golfing.
For Bruun, being far from home
and traveling to other countries is
something that is not foreign to him.
“I have gone to Hungary, Germany,
Italy, France, Switzerland and Austria
playing trumpet in a band and playing
golf,” Bruun said. “My family is missing me but they feel good about it.
Break
recharged and ready to go for the rest
of the semester.”
Students will be doing other things
besides just partying. Hearne said that
she plans to go with her friends to
have grills made. Grills are retainerlike pieces made to fit onto the front
teeth.
They are typically made out of silver or gold and are occasionally
embellished with diamonds or stones.
She also said that getting tattoos is a
popular thing to do and she might
even get one of her own.
Less exciting are those students
who will instead be spending their
week working.
“I’m going to be working at the
mall,” said Victoria Sims, MC student.
“I will probably be at work most of
the week. I’m not completely excited
about Spring Break because work
thinks that it’s a reason to work me all
the time. It should be my break, I’ve
Mos Def
Photo by Randy Rodriguez
Director of Maintenance Ken Riley pushes a broom in
the new sculputure studio addition to the Allison Fine
Arts building.
Page 3
print descriptions of the cartoons
instead of the cartoons themselves.
“I’m surprised [the cartoons] are not
being printed in America,” said one
Midland city police officer, who
wished to remain anonymous.
“Maybe they feel like it’s a threat to
national security; part of our country
was based on freedom of speech, if
people want to see the cartoons they
should be able to, the government
shouldn’t be able to stop that.”
It has been theorized by some MC
students that the American press will
not reprint the cartoons for fear of
similar fates as two French editors
who were terminated or resigned and
then brought up on criminal charges.
Tucker Carlson of The Situation
with Tucker Carlson has even said
that the media were being cowards for
refusing to reprint the cartoons.
According to the officer, “We’re
already in a war with them; they want
to scare us to win; they want to instill
fear in us.”
They may be succeeding in instilling that fear
with the numerous death
threats and the murder
of Theo Van Gogh, a
filmmaker who depicted
Muhammad in a film.
“Americans feel that if
it doesn’t directly apply
to them, then it’s of no
concern,” said Juan
Pablo, MC student. “I
know if it doesn’t apply
to me, I won’t care
about it.”
“People need to be
reminded, they’re trying
to forget 9/11 and don’t
want to bring crap down
on themselves,” said the
officer. “Not only as a
cop but as a person, I
don’t believe in censorship; if you don’t want
to see it, you don’t have
to look.”
After a recent investigation, Danish regional
inspectors ruled that
they could not find any
degrading content in the
cartoons in question.
This has left Denmark
standing by its decision
to print the cartoons
despite
numerous
threats, riots and boycotts the nation now
faces. They have refused to apologize
for enforcing their constitution which
states that “censorship and other preventative measures shall never again
be introduced.”
“During times of war, censorship
has been more relevant. In World War
I the espionage act restricted free
speech,” said Todd Houck, Ph.D,
assistant professor of history.
More recently public opinion may
favor censorship, but thepress is free
to report as it sees fit.
“I guess if one religious figure is off
limits then all should be,” Houck said.
“Those opposing the cartoons are justified in non-violent protesting, but
they don’t have the right to kill.”
from page 1
They know it is something I want.
They support me.”
Bruun said he has become comfortable with being far from home but he
still talks to his family several time a
week. And this past winter he spent 28
days back in Demark getting his fill of
the two things that he said he missed
most, family and food.
Having only lived here a few
months, the biggest thing that Bruun
said still shocks him about America is
the obsession with football.
“It’s incredible,” Bruun said.
“There is church, family and foot-
ball.”
Bruun said that he is enjoying his
time here in America. He spent last
Thanksgiving in Las Vegas and plans
to take a trip to South Padre Island for
spring break.
Bruun said that eventually he will
return to Denmark to be a pro golf
teacher and hopefully have a family of
his own. While here at MC, he plays
in the jazz band and enjoys the normal
thing like movies and music – except
country. Country music and cowboys
is something, he said, he has not yet
gotten used to, yet.
from page 1
worked hard for it,” Sims said.
MC students are not the only ones
ready for a break. After half a semester of preparing and teaching, teachers
need a chance to regroup themselves
for the final weeks.
“My wife is working and my kids
are at other colleges that are not on
Spring Break,” said Bob Peetz, criminal justice professor. “I have no plans.
I’ll just be hanging out around the
house.”
Daniel said he is looking forward to
spending time with his wife at their
place in Ruidoso, N.M.
“We haven’t been in several months
so we will probably get it all cleaned
up,” he said. “We enjoy the mountains
and the view. We enjoy the time to
rest, read and recharge. We also have
many friends who have homes there
and sometimes we get together for
dinner.”
For psychology professor Donna
Thompson, the break will not be as
enjoyable and relaxing as others. She
said she will fly to Illinois to care for
her mother whose health is deteriorating.
Also going on during the Spring
Break is basketball. March 9-12 is the
regional tournament in Lubbock for
both the men’s and women’s teams.
Many students and faculty will be
cheering on the Chaps.
“Although my wife and I are going
to Ruidoso,” Daniel said, “we will try
to see as many of the tournament
games as we can.”
Daniel also said that Spring Break
may be a great way for some students
to catch up in their classes and be
more prepared for the final weeks of
the semester.
“It’s a fast track to the end,” he said.
“There’s no time to waste. Some consideration should be given to final
exams. It is a great time for students to
work on some class work and be a bit
more prepared than when they left.”
from page 1
munity to overcome all of these inhibitions and use their talents and the resources around them to make for a more unified, global society.”
As for the evening as a whole, the main purpose was to show the myriad of African-Americans who had, and have,
their fingerprints on the world around us, according to Fuller.
“All the artwork that you’ll see here is a part of my wife and my personal collection,” Fuller said. “The reason we
chose those pieces was to demonstrate the diversity of the African-American experience.”
Some of the artwork on display included: a print of the first woman Buffalo Soldier; “80 John” Wallace at the King
Ranch; a piece that reflects the New Orleans tradition; and a print of Bill Pickett.
Page 4
Homecoming
March 3, 2006
Will McAdoo, Meghan Wilson crowned
king, queen on night to remember
Krista Blagrave and
Brady Sullivan (left)
being introduced
during halftime of
Midland College’s
homecoming game,
Feb. 23.
Madeleine Ringqvist
and Fukamanju ‘Fox’
Sikazwe enjoy the
evening’s festivities
as they prepare for
the announcement of
the voting results.
Cheri Hurley and
Cole Arthur (left)
representing MC’s
Ambassadors as
they are introduced
to the crowd at the
Chap Center.
Pepe tires to loosen
up the homecoming
court as he offers
shoulders massages
to some of the
nominees.
Meghan Wilson and Will McAdoo (above) standing in excitement seconds after they are named king
and queen. Representing Student Government, Wilson and McAdoo were crowned during the
homecoming festivities at halftime of the men's basketball game with New Mexico Military Institute,
Feb. 23.
Photos by Melissa Broten and Randy Rodriguez
El Paisano
Forest Allen (above) gives some
words of encouragement to the
homecoming court before the
basketball game Feb. 23. While
Jashe Fuller and Matt Sydnor
(left), representing Black Student
Organization, joke with one
another as master of ceremonies
Jan Reed (not pictured) gives a
brief biography of both students.
Angie Wennerlind and MC Boyd,
representing the Orchestra,
sizing up the competition as the
prepare for the winning couple to
be announced.
From left to right, Nicole Velador and Josue Amezcua, Angie Wennerlind and MC Boyd, Meghan Wilson and Will McAdoo, Krista Blagrave and Brady Sullivan and Michelle Armstrong and
Efrain Rodrigues (above) react as Wilson and McAdoo are named MC’s homecoming king and queen 2006.
March 3, 2006
Coming Home
page 5
Some prominent members of MC's past and present were on hand to honor former men’s basketball coach Jerry Stone Feb. 23 during a ceremony before the Chaps homecoming game against
New Mexico Military Institute. From left to right: former MC President Al Langford, former player and current women’s basketball coach Ron Jones, Stone’s daughter Marci Stone, Stone and
his grandson Jacob, former player Anthony "Spud" Webb and MC President David Daniel.
Spud Webb and MC golf coach,
Delnor Poss, (upper left) talk
before the ceremony for Stone.
Poss is the man responsible for
bringing Stone to MC.
Before the ceremony, Webb and
Stone (left) greet one another.
Stone coached Webb during
MC's '82 national championship
run.
Stone, with his grandson Jacob
at his side, (right) addresses
those in attendance about his
tenure as head coach for the
Chaps.
During the ceremony, Webb
regales the crowd about his time
playing for Stone (bottom right).
“I knew it was special to me, but I
didn't know it was that special to
you.” These words from the winningest coach in Midland College
basketball history personified the
feelings that ran rampant in the
Chaparral Center Feb. 23 from the
fans and from the former players of
Jerry Stone.
During a ceremony before the
game between the Chaps and New
Mexico Military Institute, MC
President David Daniel, former MC
President Al Langford and former
players Ron Jones--current women's
basketball coach--and Webb, all
spoke in honor of Stone and
rehashed stories of the days when he
paced the floor for the Chaps.
Langford presented Stone with
plaques commemorating the '82
championship team and his 10-year
career with MC.
“It really surprised me that this
many people showed up,” Stone said.
“And for everything they did, I just
wasn't ready for it.”
During his tenure, Stone compiled
a 275-67 record while leading the
Chaps and a 812-396 record over his
coaching career. He guided the
Chaps to a National Championship in
the 81-82 season with MC greats
Anthony “Spud” Webb, Chester
Smith and Puntus Wilson.
But Stone said that the accomplishments on the court were nothing
compared to the feeling of just being
at MC.
“When I think about coaching basketball for 40 years, Midland College
is what I think about,” Stone said.
“Midland College is just special. And
it wasn't just the winning. The people
got behind our program and there
was a lot of pride out here.
“I think because it wasn't a nationally know program, that's part of it;
we kind of built something here. I
find myself saying ‘we’ now like I'm
still here.”
Stone also was able to reminisce
with some familiar faces he had not
seen for many years.
“I like seeing my former players,”
Stone said. “Your former players are
the guys who went out and did it,
and I really appreciate them. There is
always that bond and I always loved
seeing them because we talked about
things that we would never have
talked about while we were here."
Photos and story by Randy Rodriguez
El Paisano
Coming Soon...
Jerry Stone will be featured in the upcoming Chaparral magazine due out in May. Stone will share his memories of
the first game he coached, his days at Midland College and his thoughts on life after coaching.
Page 6
Entertainment
March 3, 2006
Concert Review
Rising new bands shake city walls
Kimberly Trimble
Page Editor
Crimson Soul’s “On the Run”
tour to promote the group’s first fulllength album, Time Stands Still,
ended this past weekend with a final
stop in Midland.
The Midland High School auditorium was the location of this monumental concert and a well-received
“homecoming” for the headlining
band which hails from Big Spring.
The three members of Crimson
Soul packed up and moved to Dallas
to attend school and further their
musical career in August of 2005.
Brandon Tant, lead vocalist and
guitarist for the band, said that it was
nice to be back in West Texas and
that he appreciated all the local support.
The opening act for the evening
was Odessa-based Christian group,
Rich Like Me.
The show started a little relaxed,
and more than half an hour behind
schedule, but the members of Rich
Like Me were able to pump up a rel-
and screaming with little purpose.
Don’t get me wrong, I admire
these young women and their energy,
but perhaps I’m just getting too old
for this.
When Levi Smith and his two
band mates hit the stage after a solid
introduction from Rich Like Me, the
girls really started screaming.
In the middle of Smith’s set, the
stage lights went out, and no, this
wasn’t an intended
dramatic effect.
Like true professionals, with the
microphones and
amplifiers still having power, Smith
led
his
team
through the darkness and managed
to keep the audience’s
attention
with a mysterious
www.myspace.com/richlikeme
appeal.
ages with a cluster of tween girls
A personal highlight of the
perched in front of the stage, per- evening was an improvised rendition
forming synchronized hand gestures of She’s Overrated, which included a
atively lifeless crowd and get people
on their feet.
The guys of Rich Like Me definitely had a core fan base in attendance who sang along to their more
noted, previously released tracks.
The band was impressive with
energy and dedication to both the
music being played and the greater
message being broadcast.
This was certainly a show for all
Movie Review
www.myspace.com/crimsonsoulrock
modern spin when Smith examined
how the Winter Olympics are overrated. It was hilarious.
What more is there to say? Smith
is brilliant, drummer Justin Lentz is
masterful and Trevor Wiggins is
amazing.
Simply put the Levi Smith Band
rocks.
The lights went dim, the bass guitar sounded and the curtain opened
to reveal the band of the evening,
Crimson Soul.
The group started its set with the
song 4 a.m. which has been growing
in popularity on their Web page.
Bass player Burke Atkerson
rocked the stage with a slightly
intriguing, yet devilish quality while
drummer Ryan Tant was consistent
in his delivery and performance.
However, it was lead singer
Brandon Tant who really commanded the stage and the audience
through the course of the set with his
swift movements and piercing
vocals.
Despite a few technical problems
and a lighting scheme more fitting
for a third-grade ballet recital, the
show as a whole was entertaining.
Granted, the $10 cover charge
seemed steep as most local area concerts are free, but the money was
well spent in order to support and
further the goals of three extremely
talented groups of rising rockers.
Movie Review
Fear always good film quality Real issue avoided
By Julie Davis
Staff Reporter
There is something about human
nature that makes being scared a good
thing. Maybe it is because most of us
live a very safe and easy life and want
to be excited.
Many films such as The Ring and
The Ring 2 are scary but not realistic.
How many people do you know
who have found a videotape and then
have their house fill up with water as
a dead girl climbs through their television set?
If you have the patience to sit
through a slow-developing film and
want to be scared in the end, When a
Stranger Calls, rated PG-13, by
Simon West is the next film you
should see.
The film starts out slowly and then
picks up pace as Jill, a 16 year old,
takes a babysitting job as punishment
from her parents.
The thing that makes the film the
most terrorizing is the setting and
plot. Most everyone baby-sits … and
many may have been scared, as the
night gets longer and darker.
This film takes that to an extreme.
As Jill answers every anonymous
telephone call, the killer gets closer to
his target and the scariness of the film
intensifies.
After the last phone call Jill
receives, the caller makes his point
very clear. He’s not a prank caller.
He has one thing in mind, Jill.
Even the very last scene leaves you
scared and uneasy. It’s not a happy
ending that leaves you feeling safe.
I left the theater with an uneasy
feeling. I never want to baby-sit alone
again.
I didn’t have a nightmare about the
film but now every time the phone
rings, I wonder who is calling.
As far as other reviews of the film,
I had a very hard time finding a single
one that had anything good to say
about it.
It is a film that you have to follow
to get your questions answered; there
are many things that don’t just have
the answers written all over the screen
for you.
But I liked the movie, so it is a good
thing we have different movies for
different people. The Austin Powers
films got good reviews and after two
minutes of it, I had lost all interest.
www.akamai.net
Video Game Review
New game stands at forefront of gaming
Josh Wilson
Staff Reporter
With the coming of a new generation of gaming, comes a new generation of games. At the forefront of this
new generation is Perfect Dark Zero
for the Xbox 360.
Granted, most release day titles for
a system tend to be a little shoddy, but
Perfect Dark Zero is a big disappointment.
From the get go Perfect Dark Zero
is pretty spectacular, everything is
shiny and robust, just what everybody
was promised from the Xbox 360, but
go a little deeper and everything isn’t
as nice and polished as you’d think.
The environments are great in
Perfect Dark Zero but the game play
itself is horribly done.
When you go into a first-person
shooter, you expect for your opponent
to take cover and engage you in a
Watch for
the next
El Paisano
on
March 24
img.engadget.com
decent battle, but you won’t find that
here.
Instead of taking cover, the enemy
is out in the open and if they are trying to hide, their repetitive move-
ments are easily figured out.
Along with the horrible artificial
intelligence, the frame rate at which
the game runs slows down big time
resulting in lag.
But not everything is gloom and
doom for Perfect Dark Zero, the
game has a great online feature to it.
Perfect Dark Zero and Xbox Live
are a great couple. In the online portion of the game, you can specify
exactly what kind of game you want
right down to the weapons.
For those people who like to taunt
their opponents into submission,
Perfect Dark Zero is microphone
enabled so you can talk as much trash
to the person you are blowing away
as you want.
All in all, Perfect Dark Zero is not
the worst game around, and it’s not
the greatest. I’d call it mediocre at
best.
Income Tax Service
Morgan Gotcher
Staff Reporter
North Country could be applauded for its attempt to put a real issue in the
spotlight if the viewer was not required to be sedated and extremely
gullible. The story it’s based on is landmark in today’s work environment;
however, the license taken to make this story film-worthy is almost unforgivable.
New on DVD this month, North Country presents the true story of Josey
Aimes, the first person to spearhead a class-action sexual harassment lawsuit. Her struggles in the iron mines of Minnesota are compounded by her
chauvinistic father and her rebellious son, escape from an abusive husband
and are topped off with extreme sexual harassment at her job. Only a lawsuit could resolve these dire circumstances.
Charlize Theron plays the lead role and is supported by respected actors
such as Frances McDormand, Sissy Spacek, Woody Harrelson and Sean
Bean. All the protagonist roles are portrayed very well, but the roles of the
sexual predators and chauvinists are laughably over-the-top.
The screenplay desperately tries to evoke every ounce of sympathy for
the heroine. The length of the film also tries the viewer’s patience in the
interest of driving this point home.
The climax of this film takes place in a courtroom accompanied by outrageous behavior on the part of the prosecution’s lawyer, played by Woody
Harrelson. The judge and defense lawyer stand silent as a witness is badgered mercilessly into a last-minute and case-saving change of testimony.
After the unlikely victory, all of Aimes’ financial and family problems are
immediately solved, and the movie comes to an abrupt but welcomed end.
The story of Josey Aimes has its place in history but not on the silver
screen. The trials were overindulged while the drama appears almost completely fabricated. It is a shame that sexual harassment awareness could not
have been presented in a more credible fashion.
Spring Break Top Ten
1. Buy a plastic kiddie pool and sit out in your front yard in a
swimsuit and floaties. Remember, safety first.
2. Have a staring contest with your pet.
3. Bake a “Spring Break” cake and use dyed green coconut
for grass.
4. Put on a production of Hamlet in the middle of the mall.
5. Put on flip-flops and pretend to ice skate through Hobby Lobby.
(The floors there are really slick and perfect for skating.)
6. Make a wallet out of duct tape.
7. Perfect your origami.
8. Have a hula hoop contest at Wal-Mart.
9. Play in the downtown fountains.
10. Avoid getting arrested.
Midland College Foundation, Inc.
3600 North Garfield
Midland, TX 79705
Announcing Upcoming Spring 2006 Events . . .
The Phyllis & Bob Cowan Performing Arts Series
and Friends of the Series present
Ruthie Foster
Short form - $10 and up
E-file for a quick return
Blues, Gospel and Folk Singer/Songwriter
7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 23, 2006
The Davidson Distinguished Lecture Series,
Midland College Foundation, Friends of the Series
and Bank of America present
H.W. Brands
Historian and American Author
7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 6, 2006
Notary and bookeeping
services available.
Mark Your Calendar for Fall 2006 . . .
John Updike
Call 694-0158
American Author
7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 14, 2006
www.midland.edu/events
Sports
March 3, 2006
Page 7
Sport Chaps putting up big innings, solid wins
Shorts
Golfers win
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND – Leroux
Ferriera led the Midland College
golf team to another spring victory
at the University of TexasBrownsville
Invitational
in
February.
MC shot a 328 to finish 17 strokes
ahead of New Mexico Junior
College in the four-team tournament. The tournament was limited
to only one round because of the
weather as wind chills were at 25
degrees and to go with rain and drizzle.
UT-Brownsville was third with a
349 and Texas A&M International
was fourth with a 352.
“Conditions were unbearable, the
worst I’ve seen in many years,” MC
coach Delnor Poss said. “Scores
were okay considering the conditions.”
Ferriera won his third consecutive
medalist title with a 77 score, while
teammates Kevin Carrigan was third
with an 81. Other MC scores: Chase
Watkins, 85; Brady Shivers, 85; and
Wynand Snyman, 85.
The golf team continues spring
play.
Campbell
beats Tiger
Former MC golfer Chad
Campbell defeated Tiger Woods in
match play on Friday, Feb. 24, at the
Carlsbad, Calif., Match Play
Championship.
Campbell, standing to the side of
the 18th green with a 1-up lead, he
was so certain that Woods was going
to make a 12-foot birdie that
Campbell said he was already planning his tee shot on the first extra
hole. But then the unexpected happened—Woods missed his putt.
Even though it was match play, the
buzz around the course was all
about Campbell beating the No. 1
player in the world.
Support MC teams
Five MC athletic teams are competing right now … get out and support our teams. Both basketball
teams are playing—usually on
Mondays and Thursdays. The softball and baseball teams are both off
to a good start and the golfers play
throughout the spring semester.
Remember, students are admitted
free with a current school I.D.
By Randy Rodriguez
Page Editor
The bats are still on fire as Midland
College baseball continues its assault
on the scoreboard with a 31-run day
against Ranger College Feb. 26.
The Chaps opened up a home and
home series against Ranger at
Christenson Stadium after the scheduled doubleheader was cancelled due
to poor field conditions in Ranger.
Tim Smith led the Chaps in game
one going 4-for-4 with three RBIs and
three doubles as MC rolled to an 11-3
victory. The Chaps jumped out to a 50 lead before Ranger got three back in
the top of the third. But after that,
Brad Cuthbertson put the clamps on
the Ranger offense before turning the
game over to Chelo Gonzalez in the
sixth. Cuthbertson gave up two hits in
the game as he earned his third win.
Game two was an exhibition of the
offensive potential the Chaps have
been waiting for all season as they put
away Ranger 20-12. Down two runs
in the fifth, the Chaps put a 12 spot on
the board with key hits from Aaron
Powell, who went for three hits and
four RBIs in the game. Ranger
responded with seven runs of their
own in the top of the sixth, but the
onslaught from the MC juggernaut
rallied to get all seven runs back in the
bottom half of the inning. Danny
Photo by Randy Rodriguez
Jamie Armendariz (sliding in) comes in to score the first run of the game
for the Chaps as Logan Forest (33) waves him in. The Chaps swept a
weekend set from Luna College Feb. 18-19.
Frisby got the win and Brian
Anderson recorded his fifth save of
the year.
The Chaps were home to take four
from Luna Community College, 10-1,
1-0, 5-0, 13-0, Feb. 18-19. In the 101, game one victory Saturday, the hit
parade began as MC put all 10 runs on
the board in the first three innings.
Riley Curry and Logan Forest each
had RBI singles in the first to get the
offense rolling, and Nirmall Dijkman
had a three-run double in the second.
To compliment the Chaps potent
offense, Cuthbertson threw seven
dominating innings allowing one run
on three hits with 12 strikeouts.
In game two, starting pitcher Frisby
needed only 55 pitches to get through
six shutout innings before handing the
ball to Anderson, who got the save in
the 1-0 affair. The offense for both
teams was held in check by Frisby and
the Rough Riders’ starter, Jesus
Martinez. Frisby and Martinez dueled
to a 0-0 through 5 1/2 innings until
Tim Smith’s lead off double in the
bottom of the sixth put the go ahead
run on second. Dijkman drove Smith
home with a game-winning single in
the inning.
The great pitching continued on
through Sunday as Flynn Stachowski
and Barry Keifer picked up the wins
as the Chaps finished off the sweep of
Luna 5-0 and 13-0.
Stachowski went six strong in game
one as the Chaps offense took care of
business early staking their starting
pitcher to a 2-0 lead after one. Jamie
Armendariz led the offense with two
hits and two RBIs.
Game two featured Smith and his
three hits and three RBIs. MC as a
team scored 13 runs on 12 hits as they
cruised to the 13-0 victory—thanks in
large part to a seven run fourth.
Stephen Hermann, Armendariz,
Dijkman and Forest had two hits each
with Dijkman driving home three.
Next up for the Chaps is a three
game road trip to face Weatherford
College, Richland College and Cedar
Valley College March 4-6 before
returning for a home and home
against New Mexico Junior College
March 11-12.
The doubleheader scheduled for
Saturday in Ranger was canceled due
to a wet field. The games were made
up on Tuesday, Feb. 28.
No scores from the games were
available at press time.
Lady Chaps need one more win
By Ember Rogers
Staff Reporter
The Lady Chaps played their last
home game of the season Feb. 28
against the No. 3-ranked Odessa
College Lady Wranglers. With the
win, the Chaps could have secured a
playoff spot and taken down a huge
undefeated opponent. Sadly, it was a
disappointing ending on Sophomore
Night as the Lady Wranglers forced
some big turnovers in the final stretch
to take the game 72-62.
The Lady Chaps kept the game
tight, going into the locker room at
halftime with a 29-25 lead, and led by
as much as six in the second half. But
then Lyza Koubiteb was given a technical foul for arguing a foul call early
in the second half. That five-point
swing seemed to put momentum in
Odessa’s favor.
Koubiteb led the team, dropping 16
points on the Lady Wranglers.
Danesha Wright poured in 11 while
sophomores Addie Lees, Rachel
Brazell, and freshman Aysun Akova
each added 10.
A week before taking on powerhouse Odessa, the Lady Chaps traveled to New Mexico to take on the
Lady Thunderbirds of New Mexico
Junior College. Despite a game high
32 points from Brazell, the Lady
Chaps fell to NMJC 76-75.
The Thunderbirds came out fighting and led the Lady Chaps 50-44 at
halftime.
“New Mexico came out and shot
the ball well and hit several 3’s,”
Coach Jones said. “We battled back
and we did a good job of getting back
into the game, but we did the same
things that have allowed us to get beat
all season.”
As well as Brazell’s 32 points,
Akova stepped up, adding 19 of her
own, with Lees contributing 10 in her
first game back from a concussion.
On Feb. 16, the Lady Chaps took on
the Howard Lady Hawks at Chaparral
Center. In the last meeting between
the two teams, Midland won on a last
second lay up by Trenisha Williams
so they knew that the game would not
be a cakewalk.
However, this game wasn’t quite as
exciting as the Lady Chaps went into
the locker room with a 33-18 lead and
put the game away, soundly defeating
the Lady Hawks 61-40. The Chaps
broke down Howard’s offense with
some great defensive play, holding
“We did a great job defensively in
the Lady
the first
Hawks to
half but
just 23 perthen we
cent shootstarted to
ing
and
get on our
forcing 24
heels in
turnovers.
the second
O n c e
h a l f , ”
a g a i n ,
Jones said.
Brazell led
“ I t ’ s
the
team
almost
with
15
like we’re
points and
playing
p u l l e d
not
to
down six
l o s e .
rebounds
Clarendon
w h i l e
took it to
Akova conus in the
tributed 10
second
Photo by Randy Rodriguez
points.
half.”
J u s t Nola Taylor (with ball) goes up over Howard
T h e
three days defender as Beata Widding (11) and Jennifer Pena L a d y
before the (20) look on. The Lady Chaps won 61-40.
Chaps had
Lady Chaps defeated Howard, they a big scare in the second half when
fell short against Clarendon College, Lees went for a loose ball and her
losing 70-66. Like every other confer- head collided with the floor. She was
ence game the Lady Chaps have lost, taken to an Amarillo hospital where
they couldn’t hold onto a halftime she stayed overnight with a concuslead and things fell apart in the second sion. Brazell led the team with 17
half.
points while Akova added 12 points.
Men’s basketball gears up for postseason
By Ember Rogers
The Chaps seemed to
Staff Reporter
have no problem with
The number 11 ranked Midland
New Mexico schools
College Chaps were not looking for
when three days before
style points in their last home game of
defeating NMMI, they
the season against the Odessa College
traveled to Hobbs to
Wranglers on Feb. 27. Despite an ugly
take on New Mexico
game, the Chaps took down the
Junior College.
Wranglers 72-55, clinching the numOnce again, the Chaps
ber 2 seed in conference behind the
proved why they are one
nations top team, Howard College.
of the top teams in the
The Wranglers defense caused
nation, defeating the
many headaches for the Chaps, forcThunderbirds 69-53.
ing 22 turnovers, but some key shots
Calasan led all scorers
from the outside and some inside
with 22 points while
work by Daviin Davis quickly shut
Victoria added on 15
down any momentum the Wranglers
and Arturus Valeika conhad going.
tributed 10.
The Chaps pulled away halfway
Coach
McCasland
Photo by Randy Rodriguez
through the first half when Davis Daviin Davis soars above a Howard defender as also credited Midland
scored eight points in a 12-2 run he and the Chaps faced-off against the
native Jordan Coffman
against the Wranglers and the Chaps No. 1-ranked team in the nation.
for his hustle on both
never looked back.
sides of the court.
ningest coach Jerry Stone and former
“We got caught up in their physical MC and NBA superstar Anthony
“His play won’t show up on the stat
game at times and we got sloppy, but “Spud” Webb to honor Coach Stone sheet but Jordan did a good job of
all you can do is execute against and watch their old team continue to guarding
and
rebounding,”
them,” Davis said. “If you execute on win.
McCasland said.
offense and then get back and play
The biggest challenge for the Chaps
“It’s nice to come back here for a
defense, you will come out on top.”
came
on Feb. 16 with they hosted the
tribute to Coach Stone for putting
Davis led the team with 26 points, Midland on the map and getting me number one ranked Howard College
pouring in 14 of those in the second out of the ghetto in Dallas to come Hawks. Despite leading by as much
half. Nemanja Calasan poured in 10 here,” Webb said. “I can’t thank him as 16 points in the first half, the Chaps
of his 14 points in the second half.
couldn’t hold on, losing for the third
enough for that.”
February 23 also brought good
Calasan recorded a double double time to Howard this season 73-57.
news to the Chaps as they easily won scoring 18 points and pulling down 10
Once again another big name was
the homecoming game against New rebounds. Freshman Kyle Victoria in the crowd of 2,400 fans as Texas
Mexico Military Institute 72-42. was also a key factor, adding 17 Tech coach Bobby Knight attended
Perhaps more exciting than the game points and six rebounds. Once again, the game to watch Charles Burgess,
was the special guests in the crowd. Davis had a good performance with the Howard College star who will be
Midland College’s all-time win- 15 points and seven boards.
playing for Knight next year.
The Chaps started out hot in the
first half, using a 15-0 run to lead the
Hawks 21-5, the largest deficit
Howard had faced all year. The
Hawks refused to go down quietly
though, as their full court press forced
turnovers and brought them back to
within three points.
Unfortunately only Tim Crowell
could get started offensively, scoring
12 of his 19 points in the second half.
Calasan and Valeika were both shut
down, scoring a total of three points in
the second half.
Next up for the Chaps is the Region
V Tournament in Lubbock. The Chaps
will be looking to defend their Region
V championship.
Page 8
Diamond Lady Chaps
March 3, 2006
Monique Corralez #4
Position: Outfield
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 4"
Hometown: Midland, Texas
Brianna Dairy #1
Position: Pitcher/Utility
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 7"
Hometown: Abilene, Texas
Karena Dial #6
Position: Outfield
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 5"
Hometown: Moreno Valley, Calif.
Pamela Espinosa #11
Position: Outfield/Catcher
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 6"
Hometown: Midland, Texas
Christina Guillen #5
Position: Infield
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5" 7"
Hometown: Chino, Calif.
Maritza Martinez #3
Position: Infield
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 2"
Hometown: Midland , Texas
Elizabeth Oberst #18
Position: Pitcher
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 5' 4"
Hometown: Benicia, Calif.
Marina Poddubskaya #2
Position: Pitcher
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 5' 10"
Hometown: Tuchkovo, Russia
Adrianna Rico #25
Position: Infield
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 7"
Hometown: Artesia, Calif.
Natalia Sergeeva #11
Position: Outfield
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Left
Throws: Left
Ht: 5' 4"
Hometown: Tuchkovo, Russia
Tawna Lei Tagaloa #27
Position: Catcher/Infield
Class: Sophomore
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 4"
Hometown: Diamond Bar, Calif.
Amanda Evans #13
Position: Catcher
Class: Freshman
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 7"
Hometown: Rialto, Calif.
April Haywood #9
Position: Pitcher/First
Class: Freshman
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 9"
Hometown: Parkland, Wash.
Kayla Hitchcock #7
Position: First
Class: Freshman
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
Ht: 5' 10"
Hometown: Hemet, Calif.
Chelsea Nelson #8
Position: Pitcher/First
Class: Freshman
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 10"
Hometown: Flower Mound, Texas
Remaining Lady Chap Softball 2005 Schedule
Natalie Zavala #2
Position: Infield
Class: Freshman
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 2"
Hometown: Carson, Calif.
Nicole Garcia
Assistant Coach
Entering her third season as assistant
coach, Garcia is a former Lady Chap
who played for Coach Ramos. She
was one of the players who established
the winning tradition for the MC softball program. Garcia is from
Riverside, Calif. and graduated from
Murrieta Valley High School. While at
MVHS, Garcia excelled in fastpitch
softball, was a scholar athlete and was
a memeber of the student senate.
Garcia earned a BA in child and family studies with a minor in English
from UT Permian Basin. She is working on an MS in kinesiology while
raising her daughter, Audrey.
Heather Krausse
Position: Red Shirt - Outfield
Class: Freshman
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Ht: 5' 7"
Hometown: Midland, Texas
Tommy Ramos
Head Coach
Going into his eighth season, Coach
Ramos is the constant that allows the
Lady Chaps to excel. The 2005 Lady
Chaps ended the season with a fifth
consecutive WJCAC Conference
Championship finishing with a 53-141 season. The fifth conference title
earned him 2005 WJCAC Coach of
The Year. In the seven-year history of
the Lady Chap softball team, Ramos
has led the program to a 337-98-1
record, winning 77 percent of all
games played. Ramos is an MC and
UT Permian Basin graduate. Ramos
and his wife Yolanda have three children; Tomas, Breanna and Sarah.
Date
Opponent
March 3
*Howard
March 4
*Western Texas
March 10-11
Maricopa Tourney:
Central AZ, Pima CC, Paradise Valley,
March 22
*Odessa
March 24
*Clarendon
March 25
*Frank Phillips
March 29
*Odessa
March 31
*Clarendon
April 1
*Clarendon
April 5
*Western Texas
April 14-15
*Howard
April 19
*Western Texas
April 28
*El Paso
April 29
*El Paso
May 6-7
Region V-West Tourney
May 18-20 NJCAA National Tourney
Location
Time
Midland
4 p.m.
Midland
1 p.m.
Phoenix, AZ
Mesa CC, South Mountain CC
Midland
4 p.m.
Clarendon, Texas
1 p.m.
Borger, Texas
Noon
Midland
4 p.m.
Midland
4 p.m.
Midland
1 p.m.
Snyder, Texas
1 p.m.
Big Spring, Texas
1 p.m.
Snyder, Texas
1 p.m.
Midland, Texas
4 p.m.
Midland, Texas
1 p.m.
El Paso, Texas
TBA
Plant City , FL
TBA
*Denotes conference games
Ladies riding 11-game win streak
By Randy Rodriguez
Page Editor
Since a 7-5 loss to Blinn Junior College Feb. 10, the No. 3-ranked Lady Chaparrals (18-3-1) (6-0) have been kicking tail and taking
names while riding an 11-game winning streak.
The Lady Chaps handled the Frank Phillips Lady Plainsmen easily, 2-0, 5-0, 10-2, 5-3, sweeping a two-day series at Ezell Softball
Complex Feb. 24-25. Frank Phillips came up against the golden left arm of Elizabeth Oberst in game one Friday and could not find a
way to get to the sophomore pitcher. Oberst notched 13 strikeouts and allowed only two hits while getting her sixth win of the year.
Natalie Zavala provided MC’s offense driving in two runs in the fourth for the 2-0 victory.
Game two of Friday’s doubleheader saw more of the same from the Lady Chaps as they once again shutout the Lady Plainsmen 5-0.
This time, it was Kayla Hitchcock providing the thunder for the Lady Chaps with a two-run blast in the fifth. Christina Guillen and
Natalia Sergeeva chipped in with RBIs in the sixth to clinch the win. Maria Puddubskaya threw 5 1/3 strong innings before Oberst come
on in relief to notch her first save of the year.
Saturday’s two game set was marred only by the weather as the Lady Chaps continued their domination taking both games, 10-2, 53. Down 1-0 after the top half of the first, the bats came to life early and often for the Chaps as Karena Dial lead off the bottom of the
first with a solo shot to center on-route to a 3-for-4 day and three RBIs. Amanda Evans had a homerun in the third and Guillen went 2for-3 with two RBIs. In the fifth, the run-rule came into effect as the Lady Chaps put six on the board. Chelsea Nelson got her sixth victory of the year tying for the team lead.
Game two proved to be a more challenging assignment for the Lady Chaps. In an early 2-0 hole, the Lady Chaps came back to score
one in the first, three in the third and one in the fifth to secure the victory. A late inning rally was put down by Oberst as she recorded
her second save of the year. Sergeeva and Zavala each doubled and added three RBIs between them. April Haywood threw 5-plus
innings to get her third win on the season.
With the sweep of Frank Phillips, the Lady Chaps stayed undefeated in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.
MC swept Odessa College to open their WJCAC play Feb. 22, 2-1, 5-1. Oberst shone through in the first game with one run on one
hit in the 2-1 victory. The Lady Chaps offense was led by Sergeeva (2-for-3) and Anna Rico (2-for-4).
Game two saw Nelson allow 10 hits, but the Lady Wranglers could only muster one run in the third as MC took the game 5-1.
The Lady Chaps traveled to Fort Worth Feb. 17-18 to take part in the Cowtown Tourney beating Paris Junior College, Blinn Junior
College and Butler County Community College, 3-0, 6-1 and 4-0.
In game one of the tournament for the Lady Chaps, Nelson struck out two in the 3-0 victory over Paris. Sergeeva scored two runs
with Rico and Guillen adding a double and triple respectively.
MC’s four-run fourth led the way as the Lady Chaps avenged the loss to Blinn JC from earlier in the season. Dial and Sergeeva did
the damage for the Lady Chaps combining for four hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Oberst scattered three hits and allowed one run in
the 6-1 win.
The final game saw MC hold Butler to one hit in the 4-0 shutout. Guillen went 1-for-3 with two RBIs and Poddubskaya had six strikeouts in the victory.
On deck for the Lady Chaps are two conference opponents, Howard College and Western Texas, March 3-4 before the Maricopa
Tourney in Phoenix, Arizona March 10-11.