Thursday, May 3, 2012 Established in 1925 Volume 89, Number 24

SKYLINETH

E

T H E S T U D E N T P U B L I C AT I O N O F S U L R O S S S TAT E U N I V E R S I T Y

“Aye, No! Part Dos,” writ-ten by resident playwright Liz Coronado Castillo and di-rected by professor of theatre Dona W. Roman, celebrated a successful opening weekend to full houses and appreciative audiences.

Many of our favorite char-acters from the 2010 produc-tion of “Aye, No!” return and embark on an excursion to Arizona.

A world premier produc-tion, “Aye, No! Part Dos” con-tinues to play this weekend, May 4 through May 6. Curtain time is 8:15 pm, May 4 and 5 with a matinee performance on May 6 at 2 pm.

Enjoy an evening under the full moon Saturday night as Sully Productions and the Teachers of Texas are sponsor the movie “Hop” at 8:30 pm at Kokernot Outdoor Theatre.

The event is free to all SRSU students and their families.

In the movie, Russell Brand provides the voice for E.B., a wanna-be rock star

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education 9TCLEOSE) announced that a former training coordinator for the Sul Ross State University Law Enforcement Academy has been indicted for allegedly tampering with a state licensing exam.

A Brewster County grand jury returned three indictments on April 16 against Kellie Powell, former training coordinator for the Law Enforcement Academy, according to a statement issued by TCLEOSE officials.

The three indictments charge Powell with tampering with a government record—specifically, the state licensing exam—by assisting students

‘Aye, No! Part Dos’ opens to rousing crowds

Free movie Saturday night

Grand jury indicts former training coordinator

All performances will be held in the Studio Theatre of the Francois Fine Arts Build-ing here on campus.

Advanced ticket sales are now available online or in per-son. Please visit www.sulross.edu/theatre for on-line tickets. On-line ticket sales customers will receive $1 off ticket price and reserve seating.

For direct ticket sales, con-tact the Fine Arts and Com-munication Department at Sul Ross State University at 800-722-SRSU.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars.

We hope to see you during our closing weekend.

Final weekend

while taking the exam. The three charges are state jail felonies, according to the TCLEOSE statement.

The charges are the result of an investigation conducted by investigators from the Enforcement Division of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education.

The statement issued by TCLEOSE concluded with,

“An indictment is no evidence of guilt and all defendants are presumed to be innocent.”

SR officials learned of the ongoing TCLEOSE investigation just prior to Powell’s August 2011 resignation.

“We sincerely regret this incident,” said Sul Ross

President Ricardo Maestas.“Sul Ross State University

strives to maintain high standards in all of our academic endeavors. We cooperated fully with TCLEOSE officials during the course of their investigation,” Maestas said.

Lloyd Dragoo, the former coordinator of the Middle Rio Grande Law Enforcement Academy at Southwest Texas Junior College in Uvalde, was hired November 2011 to replace Powell.

The fall 2011 Sul Ross Law Enforcement Academy graduating class achieved a 100 percent pass rate on the state licensing exam, according to the university’s statement.

drummer who leaves for Hollywood in pursuit of his dream. When he gets there he meets Fred, an out-of-work slacker with his own lofty goals.

Together the two encounter a series of hilarious mishaps and misadventures and in the end help each other recognize the importance of family.

Students, orgs awarded for hard work

The divas of ‘Aye, No!’ are back in this year’s ‘Aye, No! Part Dos!’ Photo by Ivonne Arellano

Kim Morrow, left, receives the Student Organization of the Year Award on behalf of the Sul Ross Honors Club from Leo Dominguez at this year’s Stu-dent Life Awards ceremony. Other winners were Johnathon Cruz, University Leadership Award; Black Student Association, Community Service Award; Morgan Pierce, Student Leader of the Year Award; and Cheryl Zinsmeyer, Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award. Congratulations to all the winners! Photo by Thalia Aparicio

Page 2 May 3, 2012

Submissions policy: Email to skyline@sulross.edu. No anonymous letters will be printed. The Skyline reserves the right to edit letters and submissions for grammar, spelling, space, profanity/obscenity or libel. We reserve the right to refuse any submissions the staff deems necessary. The opinions expressed on these pages are not necessarily those of Sul Ross State University or The Skyline staff. No person shall be excluded from participa-tion in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored by Sul Ross State University on any basis prohibited by applicable law, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, religion, sex or disability.

Joshua Castro, editor-in-chiefBrooke Bankston, features/designerCara Bonin, assistant editorPeter Dindinger, photographer/reporterAngela Greenroy, features editorJazmin Gonzalez, reporterSharoya Hall, reporter/columnist

Jason Hennington, photo editorBrian LaLima, sports reporterThalia Aparicio, photographer

Rachel Barrett, reporterIvonne Arellano, photographer

Tim Rowe, distributionSteve Lang, columnist

Office: 432-837-8061; BAB 106 & 108Editor: 432-837-8187

Advertising: 432-837-8187 or 8061Fax: 432-837-8664

Email: skyline@sulross.edu

Visit The Skyline online at www.sulross.edu/pages/4393.asp & add us on Facebook

THE SKYLINE

2011 Sul Ross State University Leadership Award Winner

STUDENT PUBLICATION OF SUL ROSS STATE UNIVERSITY

Cheryl Zinsmeyer, adviser

For movie times call432-837-5111

ABOVE: Sul Ross freshman Guillermo Sanchez, Fabens, left, registers to vote. Brian Shugart, deputy registrar, right, was accom-panied by volunteers Gail Shugart, Bennett Jones and Lydia Jones as they registered students on campus Monday, April 30 in the UC.

AT RIGHT:Sul Ross payroll assistant Libby Dalton registers to vote on campus Monday. Monday was the last day to register and still be eligible to vote in the May primary elections. Photos by Cheryl Zinsmeyer

Final Exam Schedule

Class time Exam timeMon/Wed/Fri Mon, May 78 am 8 am10 am 10:15 am1 pm 12:30 pm3-3:30 pm 3 pmMon night 6 pm

Tue/Thu Tue, May 89:30 am 8 am11 am 10:15 am2 pm 12:30 pmTue night 6 pm

Mon/Wed/Fri Wed, May 99 am 8 am11 am 10:15 am12 pm 12:30 pm2 pm 3 pmWed night 6 pm

Tue/Thu Thu, May 108 am 8 am12:30 pm 10:15 am1 pm 12:30 pmThu night 6 pm

Final exams in labs and physical educa-tion activity courses will be given during the last class period of the semester.

If you’ll be here through May and registered to vote in Brewster County, consider attending the Brewster County Candidate Forum May 12 at 2 pm in the Alpine ISD Admin-istration Building Auditorium, 704 W. Sul Ross Ave.

Democratic Party primary candidates running in con-tested races will be on hand to answer questions and present their viewpoints. John Waters, publisher of the Big Bend Ga-zette, will serve as moderator.

Candidates includes Brew-ster County Attorney: Steve

Houston and Sandy Wilson; County Commissioner Pct. 3: Eduardo Vega, Ruben Ortega and Marcos Paredes; County Commissioner Pct. 4: Mike Pallanez, Ruben Losoya and Van Neie.

Early voting for all pre-cincts in May 14-25.

Regular voting for the May primary election is May 29.

For questions about voting or early voting, or for an appli-cation for absentee voting, call elections clerk Kathy Moreno, 432-837-6230 or 2214.

County candidates forum May 12

The Skyline wishes everyonea safe and happy summer!

We’ll be back with a new look next fall!

The Lucky One

&

National Premiere

The Avengers in 3D

OPINION Page 3May 3, 2012

This is the 411 Hun

By Sharoya Hall

Trending TopicsBy Joshua Castro

EDITORIAL

Angela GreenroyReporter

The end of the semester is upon us and most of us are thinking about finals and summer. But, what about the Student Government Associa-tion candidates and elections?

Did you show up at the UC to vote earlier this week?

The slate of candidates was president: Johnathon Cruz (unopposed); vice president: Bowie Adams and Josette Delgado (treasurer for the past year); secretary: Sadie Sacra (unopposed); treasurer: Gina Medina (parliamentarian position for the past year) and Lessli Ruiz (secretary for the past year).

Two new names—Adams and Sacra—were introduced on the ballots for the 2012-2013 school year.

Unfortunately, there was no campaigning, so a name is all the student body received this year and the majority of us would know the face of Willy Wonka better than any of the current or hopeful executive officers. And unlike local and national elections, we can’t take the short cut and vote a straight ticket for either Democrat or Republican.

Does a student need to be a member of the “in” crowd to know more than a name? Any student that has not been involved with extracurricu-lar activities such as student organizations or sports is at a disadvantage when it comes to recognizing these leaders of the student body unless a class has been shared with one or more of them.

So who are these people? We don’t know because they didn’t tell us. No posters were displayed throughout the cam-pus, no emails were sent to introduce themselves, and no campaigns were held. Yet, four of these people will be making very important decisions in the future that concern the entire student body.

What do they stand for? Are they simply filling a position for the sake of their academic resume or are they serious about representing their fellow students? Is SGA just a clique of good friends looking after their own inter-ests? Or will we see serious issues addressed and improve-ments made next year? Will the student body government

be run according to the con-stitution or will they make up rules as they go?

A look at the election pro-cess should have everyone’s eyebrows raised. According to the SGA constitution there should be an election commit-tee with the sole purpose of handling elections. Some who made it to the polls took notice of the fact that the current president and secretary were handing out the ballots.

Another section (Section 6. Parliamentarian) in the con-stitution states that it is the job of the parliamentarian to “administer all Student Gov-ernment Association elections, unless his/her name is on the ballot in which case he/she shall submit in writing to the President and Vice President a request to be released from his/her duty.”

It is also the duty of the parliamentarian to “appoint polling officials to assist the election committee during elections.”

Did Medina, our current parliamentarian, appoint Cruz and Ruiz as polling of-ficials? If she must request to be released from her duty, is it acceptable for the current president and secretary to be polling officials? How do stu-dents know they aren’t filling out ballots with their names on them? Are they going to count their own votes, too?

Some students might con-sider this election fraudulent and the purpose of holding elections is to give each stu-dent a voice.

It’s the student body’s job to hold the SGA accountable.

The purpose of the SGA is to: act as a liaison to faculty, administration and staff on behalf of the student body; act upon the suggestions and concerns expressed by student body; foster recognition of student rights and the uni-versity responsibilities to the students; act in the student’s best interest when participat-ing in the development of the university policy; represent students by sitting on univer-sity committees; and demon-strate leadership, honesty and integrity.

If you feel that you have been represented poorly, take a stand and speak up for fair elections and officers who will “demonstrate leadership, honesty and integrity.”

Do you know who represents you?

“We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”

- Max DePree

For most of our lives, we live in a very steady state. We do things the same way, day after day, and life seems to be peaceful, comfortable and easygoing. We stick to what we know and go through the same motions. Are we afraid of change? Or are we just stuck in our comfort zones?

A comfort zone is a place where we hide in order to protect ourselves from the unknown. It often shows in our attitudes, work ethics, personality, and our social life. It sounds senseless but some of us set certain stan-dards within ourselves. It’s not all bad, but sometimes

those standards we abide by harm who we are and the people around us.

For instance, I used to be the type to say, “I won’t speak unless spoken to.”

Not as a rude tactic, but because of fear of rejection and the fact that I’m shy. I would walk in the middle of a crowd and wouldn’t acknowl-edge their presence.

How rude, right? You’ll be surprised how a simple “hello” or “hey, how’s it going” could make someone’s day and give them a sense of who you are. I would constantly hear that I was rude, stuck up, or mean; completely opposite from the type of person that I am.

As someone who is trying to pursue a career in commu-nication, I knew I needed to change my mentality on being

sociable. The point is to stop let-

ting fear make your deci-sions, and start making them yourself.

It will take some time to get used to this new way of thinking, but before long you’ll automatically begin questioning your fear and stop letting it control you.

There’s no room for adventure and excitement in your comfort zone; in fact, over time you might feel overwhelmed and trapped by boredom and fear. Perhaps it’s time to stretch those limits a little.

Not only will your life become more exciting, but you’ll also build confidence and improve your luck.

Push yourself beyond your own edge.

An update from last week, May Day protests for Interna-tional Workers Day happened all over the world. Most were peaceful but there has to be those hoodlums that start wreaking havoc. In case you missed what happened, just imagine something similiar to the protests back in Decem-ber, but with only a handful of clashes with police this time.

Texans from Austin to El Paso all gathered to show their intolerance to the current sys-tem. In El Paso, even migrant workers showed up to protest. I guess my Tío got tired of breaking his back in the fields for less than minimum wage.

In other news, a Supreme Court judge ruled that a Face-book “like” is not protected by the first amendment in Bland v. Roberts.

In a statement signed by Judge Raymond Jackson, the court said “It is not the kind of substantive statement that has previously warranted constitu-tional protection.”

In this case, four former employees of a Sheriff’s office

in Virginia were claiming that they were wrongfully fired after “liking” a page of their boss’ opponant when he was running for re-election back in 2009.

This case could very well be appealed. Even though the group did not actually make any statements themselves, the first amendment is meant to be very broad and cover a wide range of forms of expres-sion.

When I “like” a page, I feel like I’m making a statement, “I like this right here, this is how I feel too,” or, “I wish I would have said that first!”

So that is absolutely a way that the people of FB (Facebookians? Facebookers? No, that could easily become Face-boogers) express them-selves.

The court ruling in favor of Roberts is like them saying that if you’re out protesting and you get a sign from some-one else and start marching around with it, that you can’t do that because it’s not your sign. That it’s not your state-

ment to begin with.Madness, I tell you. On a happier note, now

you can become an organ donor on FB?! What else are they going to come up with!? A bill paying app? Or how bout a download food app?

FB announced on Tuesday that it has added a new feature to the already confusing new website layout. Users can now make it “Facebook official” that they’re organ donors.

If you aren’t an organ donor, they also added a link in the same area so you can easily register to become one.

Users can go to their timeline, click on “Life Event,” select “Health and Well-ness,” and add the new option “choose Organ Donor.” Then they can add where and when they registered and include a personal story, picture or video, according to ABC in their exclusive interview with FB CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday.

Well, this is my farewell to ya’ll! Have a great summer, and fight for your rights!

Interesting news from the crazy life of Facebook

Page 4 May 3, 2012 Page 5

As the spring semester draws to a close, it is a time to show appreciation, recognize achievements and just have some fun before final exams start. This is the case at Sul Ross where our roving photographer Thalia (you can call her “Jimmy”) Aparicio captured some of the action on film.

End-of-semester events extravaganza

Appreciation lunch for physical plant employees

2011-12 Student Life Awards

Student Support Services spring picnic Sully Productions’ Zombie Fest

It’s time for

Late-Night Breakfast!

Monday, May 710 pm until Midnight

UC Dining Hall

Breakfast served by supportive University faculty and staffSponsored by ARAMARK and Student Life

NEWSPage 6 May 3, 2012

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Four students get tutoring certificationAfter much hard work and

serious commitment, three current tutors and a former tutor from the Academic Learning Center were certified as Level One tutors by the International Tutor Training Certification Program of the College Reading and Learning Association at a ceremony held in the Academic Learning Center (ALC) on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.

The four individuals are Rachel Barrett (writing tutor), Alice Harman (writing tutor), Billy Jones (former Chemistry tutor; currently a Chemistry TA), and Heidi Trudell

Pictured at left are are Alice Harman of Midland, Dr. Stein, Heidi Trudell of Houston, Alex Hardison from San Antonio, and Rachel Barrett from Pecos. Harman, Trudell, and Barrett received Level One certification from the International Tutor Training Certification Program of the College Reading and Learning Association. Not pictured, but also certified, is Billy Jones from Sweetwater.

(writing tutor).According to Dr. Kathy

Stein, Director of the ALC, “The tutors had to complete a minimum of ten hours of training as well as engage in at least 25 hours of one-on-one tutoring before they qualified for this certification. It usually takes multiple semesters for a tutor to meet the requirements. I am quite proud of the level of commitment that these students brought to the certification process as well as how personally they take their responsibilities when tutoring their fellow students.”

The tutors will continue to be available to students needing help with their studies through next week. The last day of tutoring will be Thursday, May 3. The ALC is located in Ferguson Hall 213. If you have any questions about tutoring hours, please call 837-8408.

Extended library hoursThursday, May 3 8 am to 10:30 pm

Friday, May 4 8 am to 5 pm

Saturday, May 5 Noon to 9 pm

Sunday, May 6 Noon to 10:30 pm

Mon-Wed, May 7-9 8 am to 10:30 pm

Thursday, May 10 8 am to 6 pm

Friday, May 11 8 am to 5 pm

Sat-Sun, May 12-13 CLOSED

NEWS Page 7May 3, 2012

THEA TESTINGSaturday, May 58:30 am to 1 pmEspino Conference Room, 2nd floor UC

REGISTER at Career Services & Testing, UC 211

NO LATER THAN APRIL 28Cost is $44

($29 to Evaluation Systems, $15 to SRSU)

QUESTIONS? Call 837-8178 or 837-8357

SRSU Annual PLANT SALE!!

FRIDAY, May 4 - 9 am to 5 pmSATURDAY, May 5 - 9 am to noon

The plant resources center will be selling a selection of NATIVE trees, shrubs, perennials, cacti and other arid adapted plant.

All plants were grown at SRSU from local seed and/or cuttings. We also have a small selection of non-native house plants and ornamental Agaves for sale.

The Biology Club will also have tomato, pepper and other garden plants for sale.

Please bring cash or check - no credit cards. For information, call Patty Manning at 837-8242

At the SRSU Biology Department greenhouses, behind the Warnock Science Building on SRSU Campus.

Sharoya HallReporter

“Helping yourself while

helping others” is one of the favorable terms used to describe volunteering. It has been proven as a form to enhance sociability, learning skills, mental and physical health, and career opportunities.

Students have many choices for volunteer workConsidering Alpine is

a remote area, available volunteer work may seem slim to none or nearly impossible. Current and former Sul Ross student volunteers think otherwise.

“[Alpine] is always in need of volunteers. Students can provide their services to a few organizations in the community,” Marlett Garcia,

recent Sul Ross graduate, said. “It is just up to the individual to find out about the events, offer their services, and start projects on their own when they want.”

Garcia is well-known in the Alpine community for her volunteer work with numerous projects such as collecting toys for special education children in Mexico and doing presentations on domestic violence through the Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend. As an undergraduate, she stayed informed on the events that were happening in the community. She approached many organizations and dedicated her time to help with their events and duties.

“I love doing community service/volunteer work. It allows me to work with individuals, families, and communities,” Garcia said. “It gives me a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, because I know that I helped someone and to me that means a lot.”

Israel Morales, sophomore, is also giving back to the Alpine community in a dominant way. He is a transfer student from El Paso, and has recently become a volunteer at the Déjà Vu Thrift Store, which is only partial to his

long list of volunteer work in the area. Some of his efforts include volunteering at The Gathering Place, the Child Advocacy Center, and West Texas Food Bank. Other help includes campaigning with Roy Ferguson and Pete P. Gallego, and translating for the Ferguson Law Office.

“I barely moved here in a February and I already have a list of supporters,” Morales said. “For me, volunteering is one of the greatest references.”

Volunteer work is not only about giving back to the community, it also helps to improve the lives of others; it is rewarding, and helps to build strong relationships with the community. According to Morales, it is a great way for students to stay busy and away from trouble.

“Staying out of trouble is a definite factor,” Morales said. “[Volunteering] keeps you real busy, busy enough to where you are not only doing

yourself a favor, but others as well.”

Getting involved in the community is the easy idea, but finding the place to do it may seem difficult for Sul Ross students. Most organizations are looking for people to do volunteer work. Local newspapers, radio, and the internet have played helpful roles in fulfilling the need for these organizations. Available volunteer work located in Alpine includes:

The Family Crisis Center of the Big Bend; Déjà Vu Thrift Store; West Texas Food Bank; local churches; The Museum of the Big Bend; and Alpine Public Library. This isn’t a complete list by any means.

“Students should volunteer because it opens new doors and new opportunities,” Morales said. “You’re not only able to help others, but you have a chance for this opportunity to help you as well.”

The Texas Chapter of Alpha Chi welcomed eight new members and seven returning members during an induction ceremony on May 2 at Kokernot Lodge.

Alpha Chi is a national honor society which is limited to the top ten percent of the junior, senior, and graduate classes.

All academic disciplines are admitted into this society.

This year’s list of first time initiates:

Todd Cantu, James Dean, Angela Greenroy, Adam Heidrick, Anthony Morales, Jamie Seabourn, Laura

Villaseñor, and Kaitlin Ybarra. Returning members: Jodi Carnes, Grace Fox,

José Guevara, Kim Morrow, Kitty Sibayan, Rebekah Whitehead, and Desiré Williams.

Also, the $1000 Gene and Lucille Hendryx Alpha Chi Scholarship will be awarded to one of these students who will be enrolled during the Fall 2012 and Spring 2013 semesters.

The recipient of this scholarship will be announced prior to the closing of the current semester.

Alpha Chi welcomeseight new members

NEWSPage 8 May 3, 2012

Jamie Turner’s entry “My Eddie” was the first place winner in the annual juried student art exhibition last week. Judith Loya was winner of the People’s Choice award, which is awarded based on popular vote. Other student winners were Vicki Chavira, second place; Sylvia Davis, third place; and honorable mention went to both Charles P. Carter and Alexander Costea. Photos by Thalia Aparicio

Jason HenningtonNews Writer

Six Sul Ross State University students are preparing to attend the American Society for Microbiology Conference in San Francisco, California June 16-19.

Anthony Morales, El Paso; Desirae Melton, Fort Davis; Jonathan Navarrete, Odessa; Laura Tang, Westminister, CA; Rachel Milan, Ft. Stockton; and Jodi Carnes, Uvalde, along with faculty adviser Dr. Jackie Denson, will be representing Sul Ross with two poster presentations at the event.

“Basically you submit an abstract and it gets accepted,” Denson said of the process of being chosen for the conference.

Tang, Carnes, and Milan will be presenting a poster in molecular microbiology ecology; communities and organisms, titled “A Survey of the Microbial Diversity from Two Distinct Locations within the Chihauhaun Desert Research Institute; a Perpetual Spring and a Desert Soil Site.”

“Tang is my grad student, and Carnes and Melton have been working on this project with her,” Denson said. “They’re actually looking at some unique organisms in the Chihauhaun desert here. We’re doing a survey, which is going to end up involving the

all of the Big Bend, and the Big Bend Horse Ranch.”

The students are looking at organisms and how they are involved in the nitrogen cycle. They are trying to determine if the organisms are contributing or accelerating the nitrification process.

“There is a process going on in this area where nitrification is making the pH of the soil go up and it’s effecting plant life and productivity,” Denson said. “We’re doing a unique survey looking at that.”

Melton, Morales, and Navarrete will be presenting a second poster titled A Survey of the Prevalence of Select Diseases within Feral Swine (Sus scrofa) and Javelina (Pecari tajacu) of Trans-Pecos Texas, and is also a McNair project. Navarrete and Morales were McNair students last summer, and Melton is currently a McNair student.

“We have been collecting animals and blood specimens and conducting analysis in the lab to see what diseases theses animals have been exposed to,” Denson explained. “We’re looking at influenza, the West Nile virus ,and the parasite Trichinella to see if it is common or non-common in this area.”

According to Desnon, no influenza was found in this area, but believes the lack of domestic swine farms could be the reason.

“It varies where you have a lot of domestic swine, the

wide population picks up the influenza from the domestic animals,” he said. “West Nile virus we have several tentatively positive animals.”

The student worked collaboratively with Dr. Richard Webby from St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN and Dr. Kristen Benard from the School of Veterinary Medicine in Madison WI. Webby reviews the samples for influenza, while Bernard reviews the West Nile samples.

“We combined three different projects to do this poster because ASM is a very big meeting,” Denson said.

The expected attendance at ASM is from 8,000 to 10,000. Denson explains that the annual meeting moves around to different cities every year.

“It’s the biggest national meeting in Microbiology,” he said.

ASM will hold various talks and presentations throughout each day, and poster sessions twice a day.

“It’s very intense. It’s starts at seven in the morning, and there is even stuff going on at night,” Denson said. “It’s nice because it lets you pick and choose what you want to go an listen to. If your interest are purely medical, there’s that, or if your interest are medical, there’s that stuff. It’s a very dynamic meeting.”

For more information on ASM, visit their website at www.asm.org.

Students prepare for California conference

Billy OvertonContributor

As a college student I have had to make a dollar stretch longer than the Great Wall of China.

Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration but the money we students have has to last and when you are in college it never does.

How can you make money last in an overpriced town in the middle of nowhere? First, you have to understand what a need is and what it isn’t.

New tennis shoes is not a need, food is. Going out to eat is not food, it’s a luxury like the new tennis shoes.

I would encourage students to make a budget, but we’re talking about college kids. I would say, give yourself an allowance, but like I said, we are talking about college students!

The idea is to just remember the basics first. Pay the bills, then pay yourself. Bills are not always rent or electric; you have to know that groceries are bills, too.

Make sure to just get the harsh realities out of the way first, then move on to the fun things.

Secondly, don’t get desperate; always remain in control.

Desperate people can make

really bad decisions. Even when you find yourself in dire straits, remain in control so that whatever decisions you do make are ones of planning.

I asked random students how they spent their money and how they worked around a limited income and most said they just hold on until their student loans come in.

Your student loan is not a magic bullet that will fix everything. This is a loan you have to pay back so spend it as wisely as possible.

What about those living outside of campus in rent houses or apartments who must pay additional bills? Most of those students have either a part time or full time job just to keep up. Those on work study don’t make enough to feed a family, so they seem to have a more realistic idea of expenditures.

On an overall basis, college students have one thing in common: few know how to regulate their money and most of them can’t wait to buy that big screen TV when their loans come in.

Keep your money close and don’t look at shiny baubles in the store. Planning for the future seems easy enough to remember, but then again I’m just a college student.

Now where did I put my new sneakers?

Money is the root of all college students