— See TIPA, page 4

Building names, forgotten stories

By Jessica PriestWeb and Multimedia Editor

— See STORIES, page 3

Bearkats walk campus, attend courses often without knowing campus historyBy Mike SilvaSenior Editor

“Some of the first buildings produced on the 131-year-old campus still stand today.”

By Hugo LopezContributing Reporter

There are nearly 17,000 Bearkats in Huntsville, all comprising the quickly-expanding SHSU student body.

Almost all of those students walk the campus and surrounding areas everyday, passing a combination of offices, dorms, athletic complexes and other facilities, summing around 200 buildings total.

Even those unaffiliated with SHSU are likely familiar with the names for several buildings. It doesn’t take a current student to connect the “Dan Rather Communication Building” with the CBS news icon, or guessing that “Austin Hall” is named after the Father of Texas, Stephen F. Austin. And anyone who’s been around Sam since 2001

should know Mr. and Mrs. James Gaertner, the namesakes for the Gaertner Performing Arts Center.

But what about the Greshams, the Farringtons, or even the Lowmans? A l t h o u g h t h o u s a n d s of students frequent these facilities, named after prominent figures of SHSU history, how many really know the stories behind their names?

“I think knowing the history behind the campus’ buildings, whether they are dorms, or the Estill Building, is essential,” said SHSU archivist Barbara Kievit-Mason. “Knowing the history of the school you’re

graduating from, in my opinion, is very important. Everyone should know about how the school and it’s buildings came to be.”

Some of the first buildings produced on the 131-year-old campus still stand today.

T h e third oldest a c a d e m i c building on

campus was actually the sixth permanent structure on campus: the Administration Building.

Originally constructed as the university's first science building in 1916, the building was renamed 85 years later after Bobby K. Marks.

Marks came to then-Sam Houston State Teachers College in 1960, where he taught as a management instructor in the very building that would be named in his honor. He went on to serve as dean of the College of Business Administration and vice-president for academic affairs, and became the school’s eleventh president in 1995. Marks earned president emeritus honors upon his retirement in 2001, and also has a local street named after him.

Another original administration building is also still around. Those familiar with financial aid have become acquainted with another original administrative building that is still around known today as the Estill building.

Viewpoints...........page 2Campus...............page 3 Sports...................page 7Lifestyle...............page 4 Special.................page 8

Entertainment.page5Jessica Gomez | The Houstonian

African Student Alliance, Page 5

The Independent Student Newspaper of Sam Houston State University

Vol 117— Issue 20 Tuesday, April 5, 2011

INDEXVisit our website to participate in our latest poll or post your comments on the stories in this issue at HoustonianOnline.com

WHAT’S ON THE WEBSpecial.................page6

SYNTHETIC EFFECTS. Methylenedioxypyrolerone or MDPV is an analog of MDMA, the designer drug found in Ecstasy tablets. This means that MDPV’s chemical structure is similar to MDMA.

‘White Girl’ tempts students

IN LOVING MEMORY. Junior agriculture business major Chris Hambrick was killed in a single-car traffic accident on Wednesday, March 30. Hambrick, 22, was a Huntsville native, graduating from Huntsville High School in 2006. He was born on May 16, 1988, to Bob and Brenda Hambrick.

Photo courtesy of Amy Clouds

Students will need to watch their speed today, as the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) is establishing and relocating speed limit signs and zones on State Highway 75.

"Work [started] at 8 a.m. on April 4 on a speed limit and speed zone change on State Highway 75 with the city limits of Huntsville," John Byrd, TxDOT representative, said. "The work,

[which will include] establishing and relocating speed signs and zones, should only take two days."

According to Byrd, the work is expected to be complete by Tuesday evening.

Under Construction

The Houstonian garners awards at competition

Jared Wolf | The Houstonian

The Houstonian took home a total of 10 awards from the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, or TIPA, at its annual competition in Fort Worth this past weekend.

Sports Reporter Lotis Butchko, a senior print journalist major, received second place in the Feature Writing on-site contest.

In addition, the

Houstonian’s Editor-in-Chief Meagan Ellsworth received an honorable mention for a previously-published news feature story entitled, “Pot reform not ‘half baked’,” which appeared in the newspaper in October of 2010.

She also took home second place in the previously published headline category.

A designer drug chemically similar to Ecstasy sold as “bath salts” in smoke shops, “head” shops and even some gas stations is being consumed as a cocaine-like stimulant despite officials warning of its potentially deadly and psychotic effects. Methylenedioxypyrolerone or MDPV is an analog of MDMA, the designer drug found in Ecstasy tablets. This means that MDPV’s chemical structure is similar to MDMA.

SHSU forensic Science Program Director Sarah Kerrigan, Ph.D., performed toxicology testing on a bath salt sold under the brand name White Girl, which is labeled as not for human consumption.

However, White Girl contains mostly caffeine,

— See DRUG, page 3

Kats win two out of three, Page 7

Jessica Gomez | The Houstonian

Designer drug becomes popular substitute for illegal substances

Tech Talk linksYouTube.com video titles:

“Playmobil Apple Store Play Set from ThinkGeek” by ThinkGeek “ICT MxR Lab’s Response to Google’s Gmail Motion” by USCICT

Page 2Tuesday, April 5, 2011Viewpoints

houstonianonline.com/viewpoints

The individual opinions on the Viewpoints page are not necessarily affiliated with the view of The Houstonian or SHSU. The Houstonian is published semi-weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It is a news publication of Sam Houston State University, a member of the Texas State University system, and is produced by students. It is self-supporting and welcomes all advertisers. Those interested in placing ads or classifieds should call (936) 294-4864. The Houstonian is a member of the Associated Press.

Dear Sam Houston Students, Staff and Faculty and Alumni:

The Houstonian would not survive were it not for the continued involvement and dedication of the SHSU student body. We welcome all column submissions and letters to the editor. If at any time you feel the need to express an opinion, please do not hesitate to email your thoughts or drop by our office in the Dan Rather communications building. We look forward to hearing from you and thank you as always for your continued support of the Houstonian.

Stephen GreenViewpoints Editorsgreen@houstonianonline.com

Letter to the Student Body

The housTonian sTaff

SECTION EDITORS

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Editorial

Mike Silva.............................................................................Senior EditorJessica Priest.......................................................Multimedia/Web EditorErin Peterson..................................................................Associate EditorStephen Green..............................................................Viewpoints EditorBrandon Scott.........................................................................Sports EditorThomas Merka........................................................Entertainment EditorJared Wolf.................................................................Graphic Coordinator

Meagan Ellsworth...............................................................936-294-1505

STAFFKolby Flowers..................................................................Senior ReporterLotis Butchko.................................................................Sports ReporterJessica Gomez......................................................................PhotographerApril Sanders............................................................................Copy Editor

BUSINESS MANAGER

ADVERTISING MANAGER

HEAD ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Robin Johnson.......................................................936-294-1499

Advertising

Brittany Hampton..............................................936-294-1500

Branden Price.......................................................936-294-1503

Chelsea Boyd................................................................................

Chanel Montgomery...................................................................

Faculty Adviser

Advertising Deadlines Tuesday’s Issue............... Friday at 2:00 p.m. Thursday’s Issue........... Tuesday at 2:00 p.m.

All cartoons courtesy of creators.com.

Comedy Corner

Have a question for the Houstonian Staff? Would you like to respond to an article or advice column?

Email the Houstonian and we will respond to you! Contact sgreen@houstonianonline.com for more information regarding responses or for any questions regarding the newspaper.

It seems that even the Supreme Court isn’t immune from acting like high school teenagers... I mean Congress. Like Congress, the court has divided itself into factions, liberals vs. conservatives, which has turned what should be an independent organization into the second arm of the Presidency.

The issue this time, in Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization vs. WInn, was if a state funded program (Arizona Christian School Tuition Program) that gives tax credits to parents who enroll their children in private schools violates the constitution on grounds of separation of church and state.

In a 5-4 decision, the court voted against the petitioner and held that there was no violation of church and state separation in the program. I have to agree with the majority opinion, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Let’s imagine for a moment that the government was giving money, like a check, to parents to fund private education, including

religious private schools. If that was the case, the government would be directly funding religious schools, therefore, violating separation of church and state.

Unfortunately for the petitioners, Kathleen Winn and others, this wasn’t the case.

The reason I side with Kennedy is that other people aren’t being harmed by tax credits, the parents are simply not paying as much for their child’s private education, which I say may be a good idea.

According to the Center for American Private Education, private schools score anywhere from 70 to 130 points higher on the SAT than students in public education. In an age where those scores are becoming increasingly important, maybe giving tax breaks to these people may not be a bad idea.

But that is a topic for another day.

Another argument made was that because the parents receive the tax credits, they spend the money saved on religious schooling. Come

on, people, that is a private decision. If they wanted to spend the money they saved on, let’s say, a heated toilet seat cover, more power to them.

Had the court ruled with the petitioners, any tax credit could come into question by breaking the constitution somehow. What people do with their own money is their business. Not the governments, unless it harms someone else. In this case, it doesn’t.

Give parents a break, it’s their job to choose where their child goes to school and the quality of education they receive.

In addition, these parents already pay an education

tax that goes to public schools, which most kids benefit from. This is a way that the government is, in a way, exempting them from paying some of the tax. They are paying for a service they aren’t using.

The tax credits given aren’t infringing upon the pocketbooks of other Americans. So why slap someone’s hand when they are doing no harm? Get off their backs and complain about legitimate concerns.

ScotusFeed: Don’t bite the hand that doesn’t harmStephen Green agrees with recent opinion in AZ Christian School Tuition Org. v Winn

- Stephen is the Viewpoints Editor for the Houstonian and member of the Elliot T. Bowers Honors College..

What do crispy pork rinds made from dead pigs, Arsenic Based Sea Monkeys, Bonsai Kitty Plush toys, De-3D glasses, and Edible Gummy iPhone Cases have in common? They are all products that were completely f a b r i c a t e d created by the website, ThinkGeek.com

April Fool’s day has steadily become a day, of not only huge disappointment, but a day of great embarrassment for myself.

Several tech companies now use that day to prank a world full of people waiting for the next piece of innovative technology and I am a huge fan of innovative t e c h n o l o g y. No matter how r i d i c u l o u s it may be. Because of that, I am p r o b a b l y one of the most gullible people when it comes to April Fool’s Day Tech Pranks.

ThinkGeek.com is a site that actually exist and yes I do visit it f r e q u e n t l y. However, the next prank I saw is perhaps the prank that hit me the hardest. The PLAYMOBIL(TM) Apple Store Playset, also known as the iStore. Described as an “Awesome Mini Apple Store”, the site says this toy helps introduce children to the magic of Apple. If it were real it would have included the store, figures, and over 60 accessories including fake iPods, Macbooks, and the optional Line Pack to simulate Apple Product launches.

The toy store included Apple’s Genius Bar, Kids Corner, Display Tables, and a Keynote Theater where Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduces new Apple Products. I was devastated after clicking the “Buy Now” button and being met by an April Fools Page. I want this product and I

want it now. Want to see the fake product in action? It’s on Youtube.

Google is often named the King of internet p r a n k s around April 1 and yet I fall for it every year.

I even fell for Google’s

“TISP,” or Toilet Internet Service Provider. one year (Yes, internet service that comes from your toilet which was obviously was fake). This year’s Google prank was “Gmail Motion.” This program would allow you to send an email using body movements. To open an email, use your hands to make a movement as if you were opening an envelope.

To reply to an email, point back with your thumb. Here comes the humor, to send the message, you would use body movements to lick a stamp and place it down. While Google meant this as a prank, some people made it a reality. A team from U n i v e r s i t y

of Southern California’s Institute for Creative technologies created the software using Microsoft’ Kinect for the XBOX 360. See it for yourself in the video on Youtube.com.

What have I learned from all this? Absolutely nothing. I will still be the same gullible techie I have always been known as. One might think that I would be able to foresee this knowing that its that time of year again and this is the sort of thing that happens. No.

The excitement of ridiculously unnecessary technology is too much for me to think clearly and I click my way into a world of embarrassment.

TechTalk: April fools

- Kolby is a freshman mass communication student and the Houstonian senior reporter.

While a few of the Houstonian editors and I were sitting in on the Editor’s Roundtable workshop at the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association convention, our ears were barraged with many editors from across the state, saying their paper endorsed politicians.

This didn’t extend to only state and national candidates, but candidates running for student government offices.

Needless to say, we had to retrieve our collective jaws from the floor in disgust. That was the last talking point and up until then, we agreed with the way other papers are handled.

While we see this exists and has been a long standing tradition, we have to disagree with the status quo.

Other student publications say that they serve the public interests by making endorsements. Their argument is that because they have read all of the issues, understand the candidates’ platform, and, in some instances, interviewed them, they are saying who the best candidate is.

Those editors definitely have the right, and the ability I might add, to give a highly educated opinion. But should they? We think this is bad for a number of reasons.

One is that is opens up the paper to corruption. An editor of a student publication could make the endorsement against the

will of the staff, corrupting the true view of the editors.

The second danger is that it can be bad business. Take this for example: In the 2008 Presidential election, if a newspaper endorsed either McCain or Obama, they would have, typically, alienated half of their readership.

While it may be tradition of newspapers to support certain candidates, angering half of a readership seems ill-advised.

Just because someone has the authority to say who they believe the best candidate is, doesn’t mean they should. It is generally understood that the opinions page, which most of the endorsements come from, is seperate from the rest of the paper. But when readers see an editorial, or a piece written as the opinion of the editorial staff, they could consider it to be the opinion of the paper, not the staff like they should.

If an editor wants to endorse a candidate on his own, more power to them. But this Houstonian editorial staff would rather solely present the facts of the candidates and let the reader decide who is the best candidate is for them. Who are we to make their decision for them.

Maybe our generation should be the one to stop the endorsements. We are the bridge between Generation Y and Z, it’s our job to pave the ethical path for our future.

Ban endorsements

Kolby Flowers reflects on the technological disappointment delivered by many companies

cents...twoOur

“April Fool’s day has steadily not only become a day, of not only huge disappointment, but a day of great embarrasment for myself.”

Kolby FlowersSenior Reporter

Would you like to write for the Houstonian? Do you have an story idea? E-mail Associate News Editor Erin Peterson at erp008@shsu.edu to become a contributor.

GOT NEWS TIPS?

Page 3Tuesday, April 5, 2011News

houstonianonline.com/news

Tuesday, April 5:- 11 a.m. - DIVERSITY TALKS Part II - LSC 307- 12 p.m. - 12th Annual Juried Student Exhibition - Gaddis Geeslin Gallery, Art Building F- 12:30 p.m. - Graduate School Information Session - CHSS Conference Room 340- 7 p.m. - Miss Sam Houston Pageant - LSC Ballroom

Wednesday, April 6:- 11:45 a.m. - “Backpack to Briefcase” Fashion Show - LSC Ballroom- 12 p.m. - 12th Annual Juried Student Exhibition - Gaddis Geeslin Gallery, Art Building F- 8 p.m. - Dance Spectrum Concert - PAC Dance Theater

Campus Calendar

Please recycle your copy of The

Houstonian

The following candidates were disqualified from running in the 2011 SGA Election after not attending the manditory candidate meeting on March 30:

- Adrienne Armstrong- Cristal Calderon- Chidera Eneh- Jacob Hoyt- Keelan Jones- Joe Lewis III- Philichell Pewitt-Hemphil- Jennifer Pool- Tobias Steen- Ashton Winfree

SGA Election Update

Originally built as SHSU’s first library in 1928, classes and administrative offices migrated in amidst the growing popularity of the new Gresham Library in the 1960s.

The facility was named after one of the most notable individuals of the school’s history: Harry Estill.

A graduate of then Sam Houston Normal Institute’s first class in 1880, Estill was an administrator and taught English and Latin. He served as the school’s fifth president from 1908 until 1937, the longest tenure in SHSU history. Upon his retirement he was honored with the title president emeritus.

“I remember when Estill was still the school library,” said 1950 SHSTC alumnus Joyce Loden. “In my time, the campus was already growing a lot. I think it’s great that a lot of the same buildings that were around

in my time there are still here today.

“I’m very proud to say I attended Sam Houston, especially because of all of its history, and it’s only continuing to expand.”

Arguably, the two most visited facilities on campus are the library and the student union, though neither is the first of its kind.

There were two student social centers at SHSU: Austin Hall and the Student Union Building --later referred to as the Music 2 Building, Academic Building 2, and today, the Margaret Lea Houston Building, named after Sam Houston’s second wife-- until 1964, when the Lowman Student Center came to be.

It was named after the seventh president of SHSU, Harmon Lowman, who served from 1942 to 1964.

During his tenure, the campus grew, especially in areas of residence halls and instructional facilities, as SHSU became the first

completely air-conditioned campus in the world.

Honored as a Distinguished Alumnus in 1984, Lowman helped expand the student population beyond 5000 in his last year.

Just four years after the construction of the LSC, the Newton Gresham Library became the school’s third library, built to complement the overflowing Estill Library.

Gresham graduated from SHSTC in 1924, before attending UT Law School and teaching at public schools.

He was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1977, mainly because of his storied involvement with the board of regents, State Teachers Colleges of Texas, from 1959 to 1965, where he was president from 1963 to 1965.

“I think it’s interesting to know about the history of SHSU, especially its biggest influences,” senior Vanessa Nelms said. “I’ve been here for years, and as

much as I know about the school, there seems to be a lot more history to it than most people know about.”

Students of all specializations have taken at least some courses in general studies here on campus.

Those who have filled math, English, science, and history classrooms before moving on to courses within their majors are undoubtedly familiar with a handful of buildings: the Evans Complex, the Farrington, and the LDB.

Part of a campus expansion in the 1950s, the Music 1 Building popped up in 1952. The development continued in 1959, when the Evans English Building arrived on the quad. The two edifices were then connected, forming today’s home for the Departments of English and Foreign Language: The Evans Complex.

George P. Evans had a seasoned resume of teaching periods throughout the country, including

stints in Louisiana, the University of Texas, and Stanford. Evans also taught for several years at SHSTC before dying in 1956.

Today’s science building is named after the renowned 20th century professor of chemistry, Claude Farrington.

The local native graduated from SHNI in 1893, just two years after graduating from Huntsville High School. He taught chemistry from 1901 to 1944, before dying in 1956. The Farrington Building was constructed in 1959 in honor of the late professor.

Built as one of many new facilities in the mass campus renovation of the 1980s, the General Purpose Classroom Building sprung up in 1985. It wasn’t until 1990 that the building was donned its current name: the Lee Drain Building.

Drain, who was president of the student body and alumni association, was appointed a member of the Board of Regents, Texas State University System, in

1971, with reappointments in 1977 and 1983. The 1950 SHSU alumnus was also honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by SHSU in 1984, which made renaming the GPC Building easy.

“In the old days, faculty members would pick reputable people from within their department for building names,” Kievit-Mason said. “Once names have been narrowed down, the Board of Regents has to approve the prospective names before they are given to the buildings.”

With ‘master plans’ to expand the campus further through 2020, the names of modern school icons will likely accompany the establishment of new facilities.

More names to accompany the already vast campus will surely leave many questions and curiosities for future students to discover. Maybe they’ll wonder, “Who was this Dana Gibson?” only to learn about another storied figure in SHSU history.

From BUILDING page 1

The following are the student-related crime statistics

for the month of March, according to University Police

Department records.

Daily UPD Activity

April 3:- A male Huntsville resident was arrested during a traffic stop when it was determined that he was wanted on an outstanding warrant for theft.

March 31:- During a traffic stop, female university student was arrested and charged with Driving While Intoxicated.

Four high school students were awarded $500 in scholarships each from the Internal Physics Scholarship Fund during the inaugural, annual catapult engineering contest on April 2.

The competition, which lasted from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m., was judged based on distance and accuracy, and the funds awarded were contingent upon whether the students register at the Sam Houston State University and declare physics as their major.

The winning team was from C.E. King High School, of the Sheldon Independent School District in Houston and was composed entirely of AP physics students.

“The winning catapult threw a softball more than 500 feet in the air across the length of an intramural soccer field. These devices, which had to fold up to no more than a one cubic meter dimension, demonstrated wonderful ingenuity and technical ability,” Joel Walker, Ph.D., the Society of Physics Students advisor

and physics professor, said. “We couldn’t have been more impressed.”

The catapults were welded together from raw metal stock and used highly tensioned cording to store the potential energy used to throw the softball, Walker said.

The devices, which took several months to build, were likely used in high school competitions throughout the year, he said. Sam Houston State was just the last stop on their tour and for finalists only.

Although this year’s event only boasted an attendance of eight students, Walker thinks this is a good starting point.

“This year, I challenged the [Society of Physics Students, or SPS,] to come up with an event, and we feel like it was a tremendous success,” he said. “The physics department intends to build on the success and experience of this first contest in future years by expanding the number of participating schools and teams.”

The event itself was organized by SPS member and senior physics major Andrew Tenchard.

“The students [of the organization] really organized and managed the event from top to bottom,” Walker said.

SPS is an organization

that meets every Friday at 1 p.m. in Farrington Building Room 303, and it currently has 10 to 15 members. The organization addresses the following

items on their meeting’s agenda: work graduate school preparation, plan upcoming events and work on individual engineering projects, to name a few.

A student does not have to be a physics major to join either.

“This organization is open to all majors,” Walker said. “We actually have one member who is not a physics major, and she’s an officer.”

There is no grade point average requirement either, he said.

Overall, Walker said the purpose of the society is to promote camaraderie among physics students at the university.

“We feel it’s important for students to have a network to bounce ideas off of when coursework gets difficult,” Walker said. “Physics is a difficult degree, and this is just a way for them to share their experiences.”

For more information about the SPS, visit its web site at https://shsu.collegiatelink.net/organization/society-of-physics-students or call Physics Professor Joel Walker, Ph.D. at 936-294-4803.

Going the distance

Photos courtesy of Joel WalkerPREPARING FOR TAKEOFF. AP physics students at C.E. King High School prepare to launch their catapult during the catapult engineering contest at SHSU as they compete for $500 in scholarship money.

High schoolers compete in catapult contest, win scholarshipsBy Jessica PriestWeb & Multimedia Editor

MDPV and small amounts of local anesthetics Lidocaine and Benzocaine.

“Snorting or smoking MDPV can kill you,” Kerrigan said. “This drug is extremely dangerous.”

High doses of MDPV can cause intense, prolonged panic attacks in stimulant-intolerant users, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

“Users have reported bouts of psychosis induced by sleep deprivation and

becoming addicted after using higher doses or using at more frequent dosing intervals,” according to the DEA.

Animal testing showed that MDPV can release higher levels of dopamine, the DEA reported.

One male student at SHSU who wished to remain anonymous experimented with the White Girl bath salt with a friend. The student said he was told by an employee of a pipe and tobacco shop that the bath salt would give him the same effects as cocaine.

“We snorted most of it,” the student said. “Cocaine hits you instantly, but this didn’t. The effects took about an hour to hit.”

The student said that it felt like he had snorted a line of Adderall.

“I just wanted to talk and entertain myself,” he said. “There were no visuals; I didn’t feel like any dopamine was there, which is what makes you be in the best mood ever.”

However the student said the effects were nothing like cocaine.

“The effects of cocaine

last 20 to 30 minutes,” he said. “This lasted hours and hours and hours and hours. I probably got 15 minutes of sleep the whole night.”

Several overdoses have been reported in the United Kingdom, including some that led to death, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center.

Bath salts containing MDPV have been banned in the UK for a year.

Several U.S. states in have already outlawed MDPV. Idaho, Kentucky, Utah, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, North Dakota

and Wyoming have enacted legislation to make the substance illegal.

Kerrigan said that a bill is being pushed to ban MDPV. When the substance is illegalized it will be a Schedule I under the Controlled Substance Act meaning that it will be sitting next to other hard drugs such as heroin and LSD.

Although several other states are also considering making MDPV illegal, at this time Texas is not one of them.

From DRUG page 1

Page 4Tuesday, April 5, 2011Lifestyle

houstonianonline.com/entertainment

The headline in question was used for a feature story written by a contributing reporter and SHSU alumnus Kara Vaughan. It read, “Holy text for safer sex,” and dealt with the controversial reception of the Atheist, Agnostic, Humanist and Free thinker Association, or SHAAHFTA’s event, “Cannons for Condoms,” which asked students to give up their religious texts for condoms, pamphlets or sexual educational information.

“[There were] some humorous heads,” TIPA judges said in a released document, “Most hit the focus of the topic.”

Thomas Merka, a junior

mass communication major, received honorable mention for a previously published critical review. He has served as the Houstonian’s Arts and Entertainment Editor for the past two semesters.

Jessica Gomez, junior photography major, and Jared Wolf, junior mass communication major, were also recognized for their collaborative efforts on a graphic utilized for an article entitled, “University conducts safety walk.” They won third place in the photo illustration category. Gomez was recruited for the university’s art department and has served as the Houstonian’s photographer for the past two semesters.

Wolf also received an honorable mention for a map information graphic he created for an article

entitled, “Red tide floods the nation,” which recorded the Republican’s historical majority gain in the House of Democrats in November of 2010. The map depicted the districts Republicans won during the midterm election.

Wolf is the Houstonian’s graphic designer. He also works with the university’s athletic department to film the Bearkat Sports Report and various athletic events and games. He also works for Recreational Sports as a graphic designer and collaborates with the marketing team.

Brandon Scott, a senior print journalism major, received an honorable mention for his editorial entitled, “Honoring classmates,” which was published in September of 2010 and touched upon the

university community as well as the Houstonian’s reaction tragic passing of three university students: Robert McCurry, Rick Chiapetta and Heath Schielack.

“The best editorials were those about local issues,” TIPA judges said. “This is something your readers can’t get anywhere else. Local is most important.”

In addition, Stephen Green, a freshmen mass communication major, was elected Secretary of TIPA. As secretary, Green will be in charge of planning events at the next TIPA conference and will connect to student journalists throughout the state of Texas. TIPA officers serve for one year. Green is currently the Houstonian’s viewpoints editor.

The Houstonian staff is most proud of its Harry

Potter special issue, which appeared on stands on Nov. 19 and was designed to mimic the fictional newspaper of the series, “The Daily Prophet.” The Houstonian received third place in the category of special edition for this achievement.

“Third place [goes] to the Harry Potter Issue just because of the creativity and pushing the envelope,” TIPA judges said. “You did a lot of things ‘wrong’ or against newspaper design and layout tradition, but you did it well. Very creative.”

The Houstonian is a part of the Newspaper Division Two in the TIPA organization. It competes against schools like Stephen F. Austin State University, University of Texas in Tyler and Del Mar College, just to name a few.

Overall, the Houstonian placed 10th in sweepstakes, its staff recognized with an honorable mention and the newspaper in general received an honorable mention for its overall excellence.

The Houstonian is the twice-weekly, independent student publication of Sam Houston State University. It’s been a testament to the university’s history for an estimated 113 years, chronicling such monumental events as the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. It also has esteemed alumni, such as former CBS anchor Dan Rather, who now reports for his own television magazine program on HDNet.

From TIPA page 1

The hats are strung up along the walls, in no particular order of shape, size or color, as if they had been hung on a first come, first serve measure. Even the ceiling is lined in cowboy hats, some leather, some straw; their colors go from black to brown to gray.

The oldest of them all is across from the main bar. It’s the hat of Jupe Allen, a marshal from Amarillo, Texas, from 1898. His hat still looks like freshly stretched leather, with frays around its three tips. His great-great-grandson would later bring the hat to The White Elephant Saloon and ask that it be displayed. Owner chef Tim Love couldn’t resist.

The hats have become a staple of the bar, which is the oldest in Ft. Worth, originally constructed in 1890, before moving to the new accommodation in 1975. Among the 495 hats are those of country legends Jack Ingram and Roy Clark. Mostly the hats come from people who have in some way contributed to the Stockyards in Ft. Worth. Rather than be political, financial or social contribution, they are, of course, invitation only.

As the first wave of people walk in from outside, they smile and ask, “Is this where they filmed Walker: Texas Ranger?”

The bartender, Ox, smiles back and says, “Yes. Would you like to more about it?”

The White Elephant has never been known by any other name in Ft. Worth, but for television audiences in the late 1990’s, this bar by all accounts was called CD’s, named after friend and mentor of Chuck Norris’ character, Walker.

Even behind the bar, there is one hat that sticks out more than any other. CD’s hat, which has a Texas Ranger symbol above it, is hung to remind all the customers that this was the famous bar of the late 1990’s.

As Ox begins to tell the new customers of the bar and its history, he points to pictures and signs about its history. The White Elephant was a men’s only bar in the early 1900’s. It was known for gun fights and high-stake poker games during that time. And today is home to the last legal gun fight, where Luke Short battled Timothy l. Courtright to the death.

The bar sat next to a dance house, but that is as close as women were allowed. Now

women gather for drinking inside the red walls and Ziegenbock lights as music plays, while the bartender goes along with the role of both entertainer and drink dispenser.

I’m a cowboy, on steel horse I ride, and I’m wanted, dead or alive.

Ox answers the questions of the new people, and right before they are about to walk away, he stops and says, “Don’t forget about the 20,000 to 30 ,000 elephants here.”

“The elephants stand for power and prosperity in the Asian culture,” Ox says. “They are supposed to have their trunk up and pointing to the east. With 20,000 elephants, that’s kind of hard to do.”

The bar’s policy on the

elephants is very strict: You can add to it, but you can’t take away from it. Because of that, the bar has amassed a huge collection.

Inside their case, which is locked away in the back, to the right of the bar, are elephants that vary in size. Some are no bigger than your pinky nail, and others are as big as a German shepherd.

Some of them are tables, some are creamers, some are penny banks, and others are just statues with broken tusks.

One of the new customers taking a look is Warren East, a tourist from London, who has just now found this bar.

“It’s amazing,” says East. “Back in England, we always think of a place like

this in Texas, but this is the only one I have found.”

East has never seen Walker: Texas Ranger, but he really seems to like the hats everywhere.

“Are these famous Texas people?” asks East. “Maybe they were famous musicians.”

East is accompanied by his friend Jeremy Chuck, another man with a British accent who has moved to Ft. Worth in the past year.

“I work for a group out of Grapevine,” Chuck says. “I love coming here because this is what I think of when I see Texas. Plus, they have great prices.”

East and Chuck stand over a game of pool, finishing pints by the minute.

Back at the bar, Ox is

putting on a show for some new people who have just walked in. Ever the showman, Ox pours down a line of Bacardi 151 and sets it on fire. Dabbing his fingers in the alcohol, he sets his fingers on fire and flicks it at the people.

Mike Howard, a long time customer of the bar, laughs when he does. He has seen it so many times, nothing shocks him now.

“You know what I love about this bar?” says Howard. “You can meet people from all over the world in here.

I have taken them out with me before to show them a good time. We have got some funny stories, but I wouldn’t let you put them in print.”

By Lotis ButchkoSports Reporter

The Houstonian sports reporter recieves 2nd place at Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Competition with feature story

The Ol’ White Elephant

THE WHITE ELEPHANT SALOON. This authentic Old West saloon opened in 1976 near the location of the original White Elephant in Fort Worth. Fort Worth had its most notorious gunfight in the original White Elephant Saloon in 1887. The saloon’s owner, Luke Short, outdrew and killed popular “Longhair” Jim Courtwright, a former Fort Worth city marshal.. The gunfight is re-enacted each February 8 in the street in front of the present-day saloon. The saloon is also noted for its collection of hats, collection of white elephants and gifts from patrons from all over the World.

Photo courtesy of Texas Eagle | Flickr

Page 5Tuesday, April 5, 2011Arts & Entertainment

houstonianonline.com/entertainment

History through artJubilee Theatre’s latest production tells story of first African American theatre

The Houstonian staff traveled to Forth Worth last week to attend the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association conference to compete in news related contests. While there, I competed in a critical review competition and got to see the Jubilee Theatre’s production of “The African Company Presents Richard III.”

It has been said by many artists and historians alike that art serves as a time-capsule for history. The Jubilee Theatre in

downtown Fort Worth, TX proved just that with their production of “The African Company

Presents Richard III,” a play that chronicles the beginning of African American theatre.

The play is set in 1821 and tells the story of the first black theatre company in America as they battle against the forces of class, race and tradition in order to stage a production of Shakespeare’s “Richard III.” Through the play, the audience learns the hardships that each character has been through because of their race in a

white dominated society and how those hardships are what drive them forward in their lives every day.

In the play, the manager of a wealthy theatre that is in the process of producing their own production of “Richard III” learns that the African Company of New York is producing the same show. To solve this so-called “problem” he has the theatre shut down through underhanded social connections. Instead of bowing at defeat, Billy, the manager of the black theatre, strikes back hard by staging the “black” production of “Richard

III” in a hotel ballroom next door to the wealthy theatre. Although the show has a tragic end, where the members of the black theatre are thrown into jail, the show leaves audience members with a feeling of hope and inspiration due to the incredible message this play exudes.

The artistic director of the Jubilee Theater’s production of this show stated it best when he said that the overall message of this story is the message of people lifting themselves up through art so that they too can feel like kings and queens.

The overall production of this show was impressive. The Jubilee Theatre created a piece of moving art that pushes the audience through an emotional catharsis and allows them to actually feel the struggle it took for the African Company of New York to find solace in art.

Although successful in getting the message across and drawing emotion from the depths of the audience’s souls, this show was lacking in a very important area of theatre. The year this play is set in is 1821 but a combination of accents, costumes and set design make the show

feel as if it is set several decades later. Despite the lack of attention to the time period, which could be critical in other shows, the mix up did not affect the overall effectiveness of this particular show.

Through the hard work of the Jubilee Theatre, audience members will leave “The African Company Presents Richard III” feeling not so lost in the shadows, but will, instead, feel like they’ve been lifted into the light. Remember, we can all feel like royalty through true art.

By Thomas MerkaEntertainment Editor

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The “Dance Spectrum: Beyond” presentation hosted by the SHSU dance program will feature alumni and student-recognized performances Wednesday through Saturday in the Performing Arts Center Dance Theatre.

The concert will feature students performing modern and ballet pieces choreographed by dance faculty members, including Jennifer Pontius, Jonathan Charles, Andy Noble, Dionne Noble and Erin Reck.

“Beyond” will also feature guest alumni Alicia Carlin and Julie Holcombe performing an aerial dance, and senior Bachelor of Fine Arts candidate Jessica Cantu’s “Just Let Me Breathe,” which was honored by inclusion in the gala concert of the American College Dance Festival South-Central conference.

“Aerial dance is done on silk ropes that are rigged; dancers are on the ropes,” said Pontius, who is also the dance program coordinator. “It is super cool.

“Alicia and Julie are members of Blue Lapis Light, a professional aerial dance company in Austin,” Pontius said. “They dance from skyscrapers there; it’s amazing. The choreography Alicia and Julie will perform here is their own, though, not from Blue Lapis Light’s repertory.”

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $12 for students and senior citizens. Performances will begin at 8 p.m. each evening, with a 2 p.m. Saturday matinee.

For more information, call the dance program at 936-294-1875, and for tickets call 936-294-2339.

By Thomas MerkaEntertainment Editor

‘Spectrum’ to ascend on Sam

Jessica Gomez | The Houstonian

ACTING IT OUT. ASA puts on a beauty pagent skit during their annual event, ASA Presents.Left to right: Elizabeth Opara, freshman; Mariel Kanene, Junior.

ASA puts on pageant

HUNTSVILLE -- The Sam Houston State Bearkats took the first game against the Northwestern State University Demons last Friday by the score of 3-2.

Starting pitcher Matt Shelton went seven innings, giving up only two runs, on four hits, with 8 strikeouts and one walk.

The Demons struck first

in the top of the first inning when left-fielder Colin Bear hit a single to drive in the first run of the game. Second baseman Chris Herbert drove in the second run of the game on a ground-out.

The Bearkats were not far behind in the bottom of the first when second baseman Ryan Mooney hit a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Chris Andreas. He would advance to third on a wild pitch by

starting pitcher Luke Irvine, and then scored the first run on a single by centerfielder Mark Hudson.

Third-baseman Kevin Miller led off the bottom of the second inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by shortstop Braeden Riley. Then catcher Doug Oney doubled in Miller to tie the game at two.

The game would remain tied until the bottom of the seventh inning when Andreas

walked and advanced to second, then to third on consecutive wild pitches. He scored what turned out to be the game-winning run on a single by firstbaseman Daniel Nottebart.

Michael Oros came in the top of the eight inning in relieve of Shelton and worked two innings to get the save and preserve the victory for the Bearkats.

The second game would go to the Demons by the score of 3-0. Secondbaseman

Chris Herbert led off the top of the sixth inning with a walk, then catcher Matt Farmer doubled to move him to third. Designated Hitter Ryan Keele was intentionally walked to load the bases. Then Pinch Hitter Stephen Gandy hit a single to drive in the first run of the game. Shortstop Nick Hinojos hit a two-run double to increase the lead to 3-0.

Starting pitcher Jacob Williford went 6 2/3 innings, gave up only three hits, and walked four to get the win.

The third and final game went to the Bearkats by the score of 3-0. Starting pitcher Brad Kimbrel went the distance, struck out 9 and walked one, improving his record to 3-1.

“It’s a big motivational boost,” Kimbrel said. (“As

long as we keep it going with the hitting and the defense, it will be fine.”)

Second baseman Ryan Mooney went 2 for 3 with a single that drove in the first run of the game.

Designated hitter Chris Andreas went 3 for 4 with a double that drove in the second run of the game.

The Bearkats would add another run in the bottom of the eight inning on a RBI double by leftfielder Luke Plucheck.

“Baseball is a game of momentum,” Andreas said. [“Kimbrel did an awesome job today and we had to put runs on the board to support his outing.”]

The Bearkats host the Baylor Bears tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Don Sanders Stadium.

Page 7Tuesday, April 5, 2011Sports

houstonianonline.com/sports twitter.com/HoustonianSport

Bearkats win weekend conference series against Demons

SHSU track makes deligent effort to serve others

Cheval John Staff Blogger

Track team serves community

“Those are the moments coach (Mark) Johnson talks about being ready for, just making big pitches in your spots. I was fortunate enough to make some quality pitches and get out of those innings with nobody hurt.” - Brandon Kimbrel

Want more SHSU sports?Listen to our podcast: houstoniansport.podbean.com

The Houstonian Sports Show i T u n e s

Henry Jordan

HUNTSVILLE - In February, track and field co-captain Scottie Jones approached notable members of the Sam Houston and Huntsville communities about potential community service projects for the entire 80-plus members of the team to adequately participate in.

This would be the team’s first organized project and an idea all team captains actively pursued at the beginning of the year. Jones eventually linked with the Huntsville Hospitality House, which has assisted the families of prisoners since 1986. The staff provides these families with physical as well as emotional support, giving temporary shelter, food and counsel.

The objective of the community service project, which track and field participated in on Sunday, was to clear the house of all existing flooring so that new flooring could be installed. It required the team to get its hands dirty, removing all furniture from the 7,000 square foot facility with 48 beds which see an estimated 1,250 people annually.

Co-captain Henry Jordan believes it is important to give back to the community for two major reasons.

“As a team, it does get the community to realize a little bit of who we are and that we do care,” Jordan said. “We want to get out there and show them even

though we as students are only here for 4 to 5 years that we want to play a role in the Huntsville community. We want to grow and grow with the community and show we are a part of the community.

“Second to that, we want our athletes to know a little bit more about the community. With the Hospitality House, not many people knew what they did or why they were so helpful and beneficial to the community.”

Jordan also notes the importance of setting an example for younger athletes at Sam Houston. In 2007 and 2008, the team did similar work, moving furniture and cleaning an elder’s home. But it was not a unified process like the project at the Hospitality House.

This project was mandatory for all track and field athletes, ordered in conjunction with the coaches of the team and captains.

“For the future of the team and the future of the relationship between the community and the university, these students have to realize the important role we play in the community,” Jordan said.”We as leaders really have to step up and show this is something we need to do.”

Of course, all the athletes aren’t necessarily “handymen” so the idea was to divide task for different skill sets. But Jordan says they still wanted to be challenged.

“It will definitely be a learning experience for some people,” Jordan said before

the project.Throughout the summer,

the track and field team will discuss future projects, none of which are set in stone at the moment due to the uncertainty of the community’s needs. But what captains like Jones and Jordan would like to see in the future is one major project each semester, for the entire team to participate in.

For now, as one of the lesser recognized sports at the university, these athletes are content with imprinting the community wherever they may be needed.

Brandon Scottbscott@houstonianonline.com

Scottie Jones

HEAD FIRST. Infielder Ryan Mooney (aboveslides safely into second base in a weekend conference series against NorthwesternPhoto courtesy of SHSU Athletics

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