1. science
2. ecology
3. waste management
4. recycling

Midland College
Volume XXXV, No. 8
March 7, 2008
Check out the softball team, page 8
El Paisano
Student Newspaper
Campus recycling
Express Chaparral Royalty
effort begins anew
Time changes
Daylight Saving
Time begins at
2 a.m., Sunday,
March 9.
Remember to
spring forward
and move your
clocks
ahead
one hour before going to bed on
Saturday night. DST will be in
effect until Nov. 2, 2008.
Circle Drive open
Chaparral Circle Drive is now
open but drivers are cautioned to
drive carefully as construction
projects continue around campus.
MC closes
for Spring Break
Midland College will close for
Spring Break and Easter beginning Monday, March 17 through
Monday, March 24. Classes
resume at 8 a.m., Tuesday, March
25.
Beschloss/Smith
speak March 13
The Davidson Distinguished
Lecture Series presents, presidential historians, Michael Beschloss
and Richard Norton Smith speaking on “Dialogue on the
Presidency” at 7:30 p.m.,
Thursday, March 13, 2008 at the
Al G. Langford Chaparral Center.
Free tickets are available online
at http://www.midland.edu/events/
or by calling 685-4526 and can be
picked up at the Midland College
Foundation office in the Pevehouse Administration Building,
Room 141.
AEROS, March 25
The Phyllis & Bob Cowan
Performing Arts Series presents
AEROS, a breathtaking fusion of
theatre, art and athleticism, at 7
p.m., Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at
the Al G. Langford Chaparral
Center.
Due to spring break and Easter,
MC offices will be closed March
17-24. The last day to order tickets
by phone or online for AEROS is
March 12. Tickets may be picked
up on March 25 at the Midland
College Foundation office in the
Pevehouse Administration Building, Room 141.
Students honored
Students who achieved academic excellence during the spring and
fall 2007 semesters were honored
at a reception on Feb. 26. More
than 120 students made the President’s List which takes a 4.0
grade point average while carrying
12 plus hours. More than 130 students qualified for the Dean’s List
which takes at least a 3.5 grade
point average while carrying 12 or
more hours.
Hispanic group
offers scholarships
The Hispanic Association of
Colleges and Universities will
award more than $350,000 to eligible students who demonstrate a
financial need, meet program criteria and attend a HACU-member
institution at the time scholarship
awards are made (Midland College is a member of HACU).
Interested applicants can find
scholarship information and an
online application at https://scholarships.hacu.net/applications/appl
icants/.
Deadline for applications and
supporting documentation is May
23, 2008. Scholarships will be
awarded in August.
For more information, please
call (210) 692-3805 ext. 145.
Photo courtesy of Jan Reed. MC student activities
Queen Laura Ramirez and King Chad Madrid after the announcement
of the homecoming winners during the half-time of the Chaps vs.
Wranglers game on Feb. 21. Ramirez and Madrid respresented SIP
(Student in Philanthropy) and won by popular student vote. In the
Chaps’ final home game they beat Odessa College 87-79.
By Chris Speight
Staff Reporter
Several times in the past, recycling
has been discussed both formally and
informally on the Midland College
campus.
Last month, recycling was on the
agenda of the Faculty Senate.
President Katherine Allen, speech
instructor, and members Claudia
Hinds, assistant professor of biology,
and Terry Gilmour, associate professor of government, initiated the latest
movement.
The faculty senate approved a recycling program and formed a committee headed by Hinds.
The current campaign is being managed by a group of faculty members,
with additional help provided by
Student Government and Students in
Philanthropy.
“This program will not work if students are not involved,” Hinds said.
Student, Rebekah Karth, has been
involved with recycling since she
stepped off a bus from Michigan in
August of last year and saw aluminum
cans in the trash can.
“In Michigan, you can turn these
same cans in for 10 cents a piece,”
Karth said.
Karth wrote an English research
paper last semester that outlined steps
to solve the “recycling problem.” The
first step she proposed was to educate
students and faculty of the benefits of
recycling; the second is to provide a
means to make recycling easier for
everyone.
These are the steps that are being
implemented in the program, according to committee members. Members
have already started to educate colleagues and students on the new program with several meetings and
luncheons.
Although various students, student
groups and faculty have attempted to
initiate recycling campaigns at
Midland College before, none have
had the support in donations of this
campaign, Hinds said.
“We have office containers donated
from Ken Riley, MC physical plant
director,” Hinds said. “An anonymous
Keep Midland Beautiful donor provided several 30-cubic-yard containers that will go in parking lots.”
See Recycle, page 3
Higher voter turnout of 18-24 year olds expected
By Rebekah Karth
Staff Reporter
“I predict we’re probably going to
see a higher than usual 18-21
turnout,” said Terry Gilmour, associate professor of government at
Midland College.
The passage of the 26th
Amendment to the United States
Constitution in 1971 extended voting
rights to citizens who were 18.
The highest voter turnout in a presidential election by those in the 18-24
age bracket occurred in the 1972 presidential election, with 52.1 percent of
citizens in that age bracket voting
according to figures at
John McCain Tuesday clinched
www.youngvoterstratethe Republican nomination.
gies.org.
Since that time, voting Clinton won primaries in Texas,
in the same age bracket Ohio and Rhode Island, halting
decreased gradually until Obama's winning streak. Obama
the 1992 election when
won in Vermont.
48.6 percent voted. Voter
turnout in the 18-24 age
high turnout of young voters, was
bracket decreased to a low of 35.6 won by Bill Clinton, who “was pretty
percent in 1996, but rebounded to young, dynamic, much like Barack
46.7 in 2004.
Obama,” Gilmour said. “Obama’s
Higher turnout in the latest election definitely getting the younger vote.”
could have been influenced by war in
If a voter is registered in another
Iraq, Gilmour said.
Texas county from the one where they
The 1992 election, which had a will be on Election Day, “you can
request that a ballot by mail be sent to
you,” according to the Texas
Secretary of State Web site.
Residents of states outside of Texas
should check their state’s guidelines
for absentee voting and can “check
the
National
Association
of
Secretaries of State page for other
state Web sites,” said the Web site of
the Texas Secretary of State.
Information about any of the candidates is a click away with the Internet,
Gilmour said, and she recommended
visiting the candidates’ Web sites and
watching “the debates on television,”
See Voters, page 3
Spring Break plans vary among students
By Ashley Worley
Staff Reporter
Spring break is just around the corner and Midland College students
have plans varying from sleeping to
working in an orphanage.
Having a good time is most often
the theme for spring break.
“I think people are going to hang
out with friends, see movies and
party,” said student Carl Dennis.
Student Chelsea Varner agreed. “I
am going to Lubbock to visit some
friends,” she said.
Friends and parties aren’t the only
ways to have fun over spring break.
For some going to an air show to see
the Thunderbirds is where the excite-
ment lies.
“I’m going to an air show,” said MC
student Triston Hudgins. “I am a pilot
and I love this kind of stuff,” he said.
Sleep and work appear to play a big
role in spring break as well.
“I haven’t talked to anybody that
has special plans; probably most will
sleep and work,” said MC student
Miriam Craney. “The first half of the
break I am going to Sea World. After
that I am going to sleep a lot,” she
said.
“My plan for spring break is to
sleep and work,” said Melody
Wiseman, also an MC student.
However, there is at least one stuSee Spring Break, page 3
‘Big Top’ plays at Chap Center
By Justin McGill
Page Editor
Hoola-hoop cowgirls, male and
female acrobats, clowns and
Spongebob Squarepants were among
the many attractions under the big top
of the Al G. Langford Chaparral
Centerat this year’s edition of Circus
Gatti.
Circus Gatti, derived from the
American Continental and Canadian
International circuses and founded by
Major Matthew J. Gatti in 1963, has
been performing at Midland College
for more than 20 years.
This year’s performances spanned
over Sunday and Monday evenings,
and included a horse/pony showcase,
male and female acrobats, a juggler, a
dog showcase, a lady with a boa constrictor, Spongebob Square-pants,
Patrick Star, pony/elephant rides,
Poderito the clown and the almost
human gorilla.
Christiana Velez, 4, said that the act
she liked the most, was the lady acrobats that “twirled in the air.”
Alexis Polk, 3, said that she liked
seeing Spongebob Squarepants and
Patrick.
One act that was “death defying,”
was the Extreme Metal Ball Riders,
who rode motorized dirt bikes in a
See Circus, page 3
Photo collage by Justin McGill
Commentary
Page 2
Editorial
Let’s make recycling routine
On the front page of the March 8, 1990 El Paisano, is a story about how
Keep Midland Beautiful’s Sharla Hotchkiss, director at the time, had talked
to students, faculty members and administrators about the importance of
recycling.
According to the story, her efforts were met with much resistance. The
opposition included one professor saying he would recycle “when hell
freezes over.”
The college tried to recycle then, but without the proper organization and
follow through, it just did not work well.
Well, that was 18 years ago and we hope the attitude of those who use the
campus has changed.
MC’s Faculty Senate along with Student Government and Students in
Philanthropy are supporting a campus-wide effort to recycle.
Keep Midland Beautiful’s latest director, Doreen Richardson, spoke to a
group of those interested in helping. That meeting led to several luncheons
around campus and at some of the off-campus sites where more information
was distributed.
We found that an anonymous Keep Midland Beautiful donor provided
several 30-cubic-yard containers that will go in parking lots.
Containers that hold 50-gallons of material will be placed in the faculty
pools and other key areas to manage the mass of paper that is wasted.
Smaller containers will be available for instructors’ offices.
MC is working with Keep Midland Beautiful, City of Midland Utilities
and Butt’s Recycling.
As with any new project, everyone must “get onboard.” Instructors need
to talk about recycling in their classes and encourage students to help.
We need posters that outline the “dos and don’ts” of recycling.
When the recycling bins are in place, we all need to “police” the areas and
be sure that the appropriate things are put in the appropriate bins. Using
recycling bins as trash cans is not acceptable.
Most importantly, someone or some group must take responsibility for
managing the recycling efforts. Bins do not empty themselves. There must
be some organization in the disposal of what is recycled.
Maybe some campus clubs could handle this … or maybe the college
needs to hire a “recycling manager” to coordinate the efforts.
This is a big job but we think the Midland College community can handle
it.
After all, the college is considered by many to be a community leader and
as such should take the lead on such an important issue as recycling.
As stated on the flyer given at the initial meeting, “our efforts will set an
example that many in our community can and probably will follow. We have
the added advantage of influencing and molding young minds, future leaders. If by our efforts more students take up the cause, everyone benefits; the
college, the students and the community.”
Learning to recycle is just like learning other daily tasks … bathing,
brushing teeth, making the bed … it is a learned activity and as a college
campus, we should help teach it.
College Culinary
By Lindsey Stamper
Page Editor
Warm weather is finally heading
our way. Warmth and sunshine
scream outdoor activities like tennis,
jogging and picnics.
A great way to celebrate is to cool
down with some made-from-scratch
strawberry lemonade and a fun, fruity
and colorful fruit pizza.
Unlike my usual recipes, these
require a blender and an oven. So,
when you go home for spring break to
visit, impress your family with this
satisfying snack.
Strawberry Lemonade
Juice of one lemon
1 tbl. sugar
10 ripe strawberries, leaves removed
1 cup water
Put the lemon juice, sugar, strawberries and water into a blender and mix
until fairly smooth.
Serve over ice. Garnish with a
sliced strawberry or lemon on the side
of the glass.
Makes one glass.
Now let’s talk about the yummy
fruit pizza idea.
Fruit Pizza
1 roll of sugar cookie dough
Cinnamon sugar
1 (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
½ cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tub fat-free cool whip
1 sliced banana
1 carton sliced strawberries
1 carton blueberries
1 jar cherries
Any other fruit of your choice (kiwi,
grapes, etc.)
First, roll out the sugar cookie
dough on a round pizza pan. Sprinkle
with cinnamon sugar. Bake it according to the package’s directions. Allow
it to completely cool.
Mix the cream cheese, sugar and
vanilla. Spread mixture onto the giant
cookie. Then spread a layer of whip
cream on top.
Next, decorate your cookie with
fruit. On the outer layer, start with the
strawberries.
Work your way to the middle alternating the other fruits. Enjoy.
March 7, 2008
Forgive me for being so blunt...
By Ethan Higginbotham
Editor
I’m sure many students have been
sitting in class at the back of the room
and wondering why they bothered to
show up that day.
Now, I know it seems that I am
treading into the familiar “students
are lazy” waters, but in this case I am
compelled to take the side of the students.
I, too, have been in the situation
where I feel that I am gaining nothing
by sitting through an incomprehensive and pedantic lecture.
I understand that some teachers
simply do not have the ability to hold
the class’s attention, and in that situation I politely sit and at least attempt
to listen.
I do not, however, try as hard when
the instructor insists on reading the
text to us. I’m in college. I know how
to read.
In this situation, I’m not even trying
to listen anymore. I am focusing all of
my energy to make it look like I am
listening.
This is followed by a blank stare.
That’s the face I make when I have
tapped out to the inescapable submissive hold of absolute boredom.
Of course, this doesn’t bother me as
much as classes that hardly use the
textbook at all. These books cost just
as much as the classes. I don’t think a
$100 paper weight is a very smart
investment.
I’ve had at least a couple of classes
in which I rarely needed to use my
textbook, and in some cases I haven’t
even bought the book until the class
starts using it.
On the opposite side of the same
coin are the instructors who don’t
really “teach” the class, rather they
just talk and expect the student to be
able to distinguish essential information from “fun fact.”
While I appreciate the enthusiasm
shown for the class, I don’t want to be
in the middle of a math test when I
suddenly remember that a “jiffy” is an
actual unit of time for 1/100th of a
second.
While most students try to avoid
instructors who have a reputation of
having a difficult or challenging
course, I think they should also be
wary of classes who have a reputation
of being too easy. What? Did he just
say we shouldn’t take classes that are
too easy?
That’s right. I’m sure there are
some students who do not mind having a class in which they can shut off
their brains, but I think that if I am
going to spend money on something,
I should get something out of it.
I don’t live in Midland and I don’t
think I should have to get up early and
find a ride over here and then sit for
more than an hour in a class that isn’t
worth my time.
The same can be said about classes
that not only have easy assignments,
but also an instructor who rarely if
ever assigns work and is a little too
lenient with deadlines.
The same can be said about classes
that are notorious for letting out
before the end of class. I don’t mean
getting out five or 10 minutes early
here and there, I mean up to 40 minutes early.
I appreciate the extra “study” time,
especially if there is a test I need to
study for, but if the instructor is going
to make a habit of only teaching for
30 out of 80 minutes, then I suggest
we start the class 50 minutes later.
Does anyone agree with me?
Opinion
Lack of awareness hinders campus recycling
By Rebekah Karth
Staff Reporter
There is an apathy problem on the
Midland College campus when it
comes to recycling. Evidence of this
problem includes trash being put into
existing recycling bins and items that
are recyclable being thrown away. We
as a campus must become better
informed about the importance of
recycling and how it can be done.
Recycling has economic benefits.
According to a report by the National
Recycling Coalition in 2001 “more
than 56,000 recycling and reuse
establishments in the United States
employ approximately 1.1 million
people, generate an annual payroll of
$37 billion and gross $236 billion in
annual revenues.”
Recycling also yields net energy
reduction benefits, according to the
Environmental Protection Agency, “in
2000, recycling resulted in an annual
energy savings of at least 660 trillion
BTUs, which equals the amount of
energy used in 6 million households
annually.”
The environment benefits by materials being reused instead of discarded. “Recycling, including composting, diverted 79 million tons of material away from disposal in 2005,”
according to the Environmental
Protection Agency.
There is an apparent lack of awareness about the importance of recycling in West Texas. This is especially
true on the MC campus. I realized
how great a problem this is a few
weeks ago when I was in a discussion
with other students about what we
thought were some problems in the
City of Midland.
Even though students may hear
about the depletion of the ozone layer
in their science classes, some students
do not seem to understand or care
how recycling can be beneficial to
themselves and to the environment.
Plastic items, which do not decompose very well, are being discarded
instead of being recycled.
As I see it, the problem has two
parts. First, there is a lack of awareness regarding the importance of
recycling. The second part of the
problem is that there are limited
opportunities to do so.
The solution should begin with
education, because students need to
know why they should be doing
something before they will become
motivated to do so.
The first component of the solution
could be to heighten student and faculty awareness of both the environmental benefits of recycling and how
to do so effectively. Students and faculty could also be informed of the
opportunities already available for
them to be able to recycle.
Posters could be placed above recycling bins so that everyone can clearly tell which containers are recycling
bins and which are garbage bins. For
ease of use, both recycling and trash
containers could be placed next to
each other. Fliers could be posted to
inform students of the existence of
recycling bins.
The teachers from the science
department could have a series of special presentations explaining how
recycling can help the environment
and how students can benefit by living in a better environment.
Science teachers could offer extra
credit to students who write reports on
the impact recycling has on the environment. Students could also be made
aware about Texas Recycles Day in
November, when they can bring computer equipment, plastic, aluminum,
paper, etc., to the college campus to
be recycled.
The second component of the solution involves creating additional
opportunities for students to be able to
recycle. Once the student body is
aware of opportunities for them to
recycle and the reasons why they
should do so, additional means could
be provided so that more recycling
could be done. Additional recycling
bins could be placed around campus
so there can be no excuses to avoid
using recycling bins.
There are no means on campus to
recycle plastic materials. Many people drink bottled beverages, especially here in Midland. If the college
wanted to have plastic recycled on
campus, a small container could be
placed outside the Student Center.
The plastic could then be taken to
Butts Recycling, where plastic products grades one through six are recycled.
There is nowhere to recycle glass in
the Permian Basin region. Glass “can
be recycled over and over again. In
fact, 90 percent of recycled glass is
used to make new containers. Other
uses for recycled glass include
kitchen tiles, counter tops and wall
insulation,” according to the EPA.
A committee composed of students,
faculty members and interested community members could be formed to
research and plan the founding of a
glass recycling facility in the Permian
Basin. This would benefit the community at large and give students
research and leadership skills.
Recycling on college campuses is
not a new idea. In fact, it’s not even a
new idea at MC. In 1990, there was a
push for recycling on campus, but it
failed.
Touting the importance of recycling
and caring for the environment, in an
area where the primary economic
resource has always been oil, is a
challenge. However, if the region is to
prosper as alternative sources of energy become the status quo, changes
will have to occur in the lives and
livelihoods of the citizens.
Change can be difficult to accept,
but it can be made easier if the change
is shown to be for the better. In order
for people to change their habits, they
must be convinced why they should
do something differently and then be
given the means to do it.
El Paisano Question: How would you feel if Hillary Clinton won presidency?
Dayna Epley
“I would hope and pray that all
the agendas and plans she made
don’t take place. I hope they get
ousted in Congress.”
El Paisano
The student newspaper
of Midland College
MC Student Publications
Andy Andrews
“I am not an American so it doesn’t really effect my lifestyle. I
know there have been women
leaders in Asia and they have
been very successful.”
Danielle Ruiz
“I don’t think she would make a
good president. Women are too
dramatic.”
Alex Pacheco
“I think she would be more
lenient against gay rights than
Obama because she’s a woman. I
think she would make a good president.”
Editor: Ethan Higginbotham
Reporters: Krystle Cantu, Lauren Disney, Andrew Eaton,
Zachary Forest, Rebekah Karth, Ashley Lee, Justin
Page Editors: Andrew Eaton, Justin McGill, McGill, Kierra Powell, Ismael Rosa, Jaclyn Shackelford,
Ismael Rosa, Lindsey Stamper, Shanley
Christopher Speight, Lindsey Stamper, Ashley Worley,
Wright
Shanley Wright, Jessica Youngblood
Advertising: Bailee Hennis
Photographers: Raquel Peña
Cartoonist: Michael Montalvo
3600 N. Garfield, AFA 185, Midland, Texas 79705
Lab Instructor: Karen Lanier
Adviser: Bob Templeton
Dean of Fine Arts & Communications: Billy Feeler
432-685-4768
email: studentpublications@midland.edu
Julie Fragoso
“I dont think its right for a woman
to have control over a country. In
the Bible it says that man should
control things, and the woman
should follow”
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.
www.midland.edu/studentactivities/studentpublications
News
March 7, 2008
Page 3
MC offers safe, fun dorm activities year-round
By Jessica Youngblood
Staff Reporter
When classes are over for the day
or week and things start to slow down
around campus, students who live in
the Midland College resident halls are
still keeping busy with extracurricular
activities and things going on around
the dorms.
Whether it is movie nights, Halo
tournaments, Texas Hold ‘Em or field
days, the residents always have something to do, according to manager of
the men’s residence halls, Jennifer
Whilden.
The students in the men’s dorm are
up all hours of the night playing video
games in the lobby and hanging out in
each other’s rooms, they can be a
handful at times, Whilden said.
“The first day that the residents
move into the dorms we have an
‘Alcohol Awareness’ program that
evening in the Jack E. Brown dining
hall,” Whilden said. “We want to
make sure that the residents know if
they are caught with alcohol or drugs
on campus, they will have major con-
sequences. We want to make the residence halls a safe environment for
everyone living here.”
In between Craddick Hall and the
men’s residence hall, there is a basketball court available for all residents.
On the south side of the dining hall
there is a sand volleyball court that
was built last spring, which is also
available for residents.
“After I’m done with my classes
and homework, I meet my friends at
the dining hall for dinner,” resident of
Craddick Hall, Derek Slaughter, said.
“After we eat, we usually throw the
football around in the parking lot or
get some people together for a game
of basketball. We always have something to do around here.”
The residence halls have at least
one planned activity a month, according to Whilden.
She said they have at least two
movie nights a month, where everyone from all three residence halls is
invited to watch a movie in the designated resident hall lobby.
“We have also had actvities like
‘Random Act of Kindness’ and the
‘White Elephant’ gift exchange before
the students left for Christmas break,”
Whilden said. “I love to get involved
with the students and participate in all
the events that are going on.”
The resident halls have “dorm room
checks” once every month to ensure
that the residents are keeping clean.
Small fines can be placed on students who aren’t keeping their room
in good shape, manager of Craddick
Hall, Louisa Ball, said.
“We check every dorm room once a
month to make sure that the students
are keeping them clean,” Ball said.
“We check the sink, shower, toilet and
overall cleanliness. We just want to
make sure that they are staying tidy.
Sometimes college students can be
messy. We want to keep the residence
halls nice, especially for students that
will be living here in the future.”
All students who attend MC can
workout in the P.E. building for free
from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
It offers workout equipment like
MCBHC provides quality counseling
when Herd was able to get a grant
from the Meadows Foundation and
the Fasken Foundation to start the
MCBHC, which opened in 2006.
The MCBHC “serves the community and students,” Herd said.
MC students and people in the
community are able to receive
“high-quality, low-cost services.”
ADAC students get the chance to
“apply knowledge and skills in an
actual, real-life counseling setting,”
Herd said.
ADAC students do this under
supervision of a licensed chemical
dependency
counselor
when
“they’ve completed at least six
ADAC courses,” Herd said. “Then
they can enroll in their first
practicum.”
The MCBHC has been meeting a
Voters
from
as ways to find out more about the candidates and the
issues of this election.
Issues of concern to students at MC include “immigration,” according to students Lara Boley and Allison Tull
and “the war,” according to student Mariela Campos.
Campos also said, “People should be involved, know the
issues.”
Polling places are based on county precincts. Polling
places can be found by visiting the Midland county Web
site.
In Texas, early voting is available for anyone starting 17
days before an election and ending four days before the
election. Those who vote in person do not need any excuse
to vote early, although those requesting a ballot by mail
do, said the Web site of the Texas Secretary of State.
“Most of you within the next four years are going to
Spring Break
from
dent who brought new meaning to spring break by combining fun with servanthood.
“My friend, Carl, has a really cool idea for spring
break,” Wiseman said.
Carl Moore decided to use part of his spring break to
work in an orphanage with children who have been taken
from their parents to alternative housing.
“I’ve recently returned from Mexico in a missionary
apprentice program and on March 15 I will be graduating
according to Ball.
“I feel very safe living in the
dorms,” said Elly Albers, a resident of
Craddick Hall.
“They are sure to make everyone
who doesn’t live here check in at the
front desk. To get into my room at
night after 10 p.m., I have to unlock
not only one, but two doors. It’s nearly impossible for somebody who’s not
a resident to get in and cause trouble.
It is a great feeling to know that I am
being protected.”
Feeling safe and making new
friends seems make MC dorm life a
good experience.
“I have met some really good
friends since I moved into the dorms,”
resident of Craddick Hall Bubba
Youngblood, said.
“There are students from many different towns and many different countries that live in the residence halls.
Everyone has their own story to tell,
I’ve met some very interesting people,
some that I can now call my best
friends. It has truly been a great experience living in the residence halls.”
Recycle
Community welcome
By Rebekah Karth
Staff Reporter
The Midland College Behavioral
Health Center (MCBHC) offers
counseling services starting at $5 per
hour to anyone in the community.
Individual counseling is from 4
p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday
and Thursday. Group counseling is 8
a.m. to 11 a.m. on Monday. To
schedule an appointment with the
MCBHC, call 686-4219.
The MCBHC is located at portable
building 6A and is “a facility that is
open to anyone who is seeking counseling for really any problem,” said
Chesly Herd, director of the alcohol
and drug abuse counseling (ADAC)
program.
The ADAC certification program
had been in place for several years
treadmills, weight machines, free
weights and a padded floor mat.
There is also a gym located in the
P.E. building where students can play
basketball, volleyball or any other
sport desired.
“I try to workout every day if I can
because I want to stay fit,” said Jacy
Welbourn, a Craddick Hall resident.
“I run around the circle of MC
because I feel safe and they recently
put in a nice wide sidewalk around the
campus. After running, I go to the
gym and lift weights and do an
abdominal workout in the P.E. building. They have all the equipment I
need, plus it’s free.”
Room and board for all of the residence halls is currently $1,800 plus
tax per semester.
This includes rent, 19 meals a
week, cable, local phone, Internet
service and a 24-hour help desk.
Each dormitory has somebody
working the front desk 24 hours a day.
Every visitor who enters the building
must check in and leave their I.D. at
the front desk for safety reasons,
community need. “People who
weren’t able to get services before
are now able to,” Herd said.
The MCBHC recently gained a
new clinical director, Ronald Meyer,
who is a licensed chemical dependency counselor and a licensed marriage and family therapist.
Herd said that “there’s a huge
need” for more people to become
ADAC counselors because many
“current workers are retiring.”
After receiving licensure, initial
salary for an ADAC counselor in
this region varies around $30,000 $35,000, Herd said.
More information about the
ADAC program is available from
Herd in the Abell-Hangar Science
Faculty building, room 128 or by
calling 685-4729.
page 1
graduate; you need to be concerned about who’s going to
take over,” Gilmour said.
Voters must be registered at least 30 days before an
election. While the Texas primary has passed, it is not too
late to register for the general election in November. In
order to register, one must be at least 17 years and 10
months old.
Midland county residents can download a registration
form at http://www.co.midland.tx.us/Elections or pick up
a form at such locations as the Texas Department of
Human Services, the driver’s license office and the
Midland county public main library.
Local issues on the ballot may include (depending on
precinct and party): U.S. Senator, railroad commissioner,
state Supreme Court Justices, criminal appeals judges,
state representative, county commissioner and constable.
page 1
from the program in Lubbock,” Moore said. “From there I
am going to work with kids in an orphanage in Fort Worth.
When I go I spend time playing with the kids,” he said.
According to Moore, true religion is to visit widows and
orphans.
“So, I am going to serve God through the orphans,” he
said. His plans stem from his understanding of the book of
Luke in the Bible, chapter 17, verse 10: “…we are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”
Circus
from page 1
to participate in another act.
metal-caged sphere.
The Tuscado Troop, a seven-man
The element that made this act more
death defying, was the addition of a acrobatics act from Columbia, South
10-year-old named Christian, who was America, wowed audiences by
going to ride a bike himself in the cage attempting to create a seven-man
pyramid, with Christian on top, while
along with two other riders.
Katie Lovett, who was in atten- walking across a tight rope.
Already at the edge of your seat, the
dance, said that the act was, “too dangerous for a 10-year-old to be doing.” troop made it across the rope and
Christian impressed the audience by Christian yet again left audiences
making it out in one piece, just in time impressed.
--
from page 1
parking lots.”
encing and molding young minds,
Containers that hold 28-quarts, sim- future leaders. If by our efforts more
ilar to the size of an office trash can, students take up the cause, everyone
will be available for the offices of fac- benefits; the college, the students and
ulty members.
the community.”
Committee member and math proAs for the future, Tomás Hernández,
fessor Sonia Ford said that “containers biology instructor, said he thinks that,
that can hold 50-gallons of material “just getting them [students] to care
will be placed in the faculty pools and will be tough.” Hernández said he has
other key areas to manage the mass of recycled since he was in college.
paper that is wasted.
“Participation is the big thing,”
The Chap Center, Abell-Hanger Hinds said. “If we can get enough peoScience Faculty building and dorm ple in all areas to encourage others it
parking lots will hold containers that will be a big help. Communication is
are 30 cubic yards each.”
very important.”
MC is working in conjunction with
“Ideally in six to nine months I hope
Keep Midland Beautiful, City of to see an ‘Eco-Group’ here on campus
Midland
Utilities
and
Butt’s as well as having everyone on campus
Recycling.
having an idea that recycling is a
Morris Williams Jr., the city of necessity,” Hinds said.
Midland superintendent of solid waste
According to Hinds, an Eco-Group
said, “The campaign will start by recy- is an environmentally conscious group
cling paper and cardboard first. As the that is in place at many four-year uniprogram gains success, plastic and versities nationwide, such as
aluminum will follow.”
University of Texas and University of
Doreen Richardson of Keep Colorado. They help with the recyMidland Beautiful discussed the eco- cling effort.
nomic benefits that are possible with
“I think that a student environmenrecycling. A “Cash for Trash” program tal group here on campus would help
enables recyclers to get money back promote awareness, educate, do projfrom their recycling efforts.
ects, participate in Earth Day and help
Giving the money earned through us haul trash around,” Ford said.
recycling to student groups who were
Apathy towards the program and
in charge of helping with the program recycling in general is a concern
was discussed.
shared by faculty and students.
A flyer given at the meeting said:
“There is a problem on the MC cam“The college is considered by many to pus with an apparent attitude of apathy
be a community leader and as such toward the concept of recycling,”
should take the lead on such an impor- Karth said
tant issue as recycling.”
“The real question is how do we get
And it continued “Our efforts will apathetic students involved? Until it
set an example that many in our com- hits them in the pocket book in a posmunity can and probably will follow. itive or negative way, they will continWe have the added advantage of influ- ue to be apathetic,” Hernández said.
News
Page 4
March 7, 2008
Angel Food Ministries lends helping hand
By Lauren Disney
Staff Reporter
Permian Basin citizens now have a
way to stretch food budgets for only
$30 once-a-month, which can feed a
family of four for one week or an
individual for a month.
The provider is Angel Food
Ministries, a non-profit, non-denominational national organization.
This benefit comes in the form of a
box but contains a variety of fresh and
frozen meat, vegetables and even a
dessert.
The food is never out-of-date, dented or of second-hand quality, according to the angelfoodministries.com
Web site.
There are no applications, qualifications or limits on the amount that
can be ordered. Additional food specials, including extra meat choices,
are discounted at $15-20 a box.
Distribution is handled through
eight host church sites in the area:
North Birdwell Lane Methodist, Big
Spring; Christian Church, Midland;
CrossWay Church, Midland; Church
on the Journey, Midland; Second
Baptist,
Midland;
CrossRoads
Fellowship, Odessa; West Odessa
First Baptist, Odessa; Faith Church of
the Nazarene, Odessa.
Janet Taylor, volunteer Angel Food
Coordinator for Christian Church of
Midland, said that most sites accept
food stamps (EBT), cash, checks or
money orders and that the food would
normally cost about $60-$80 for the
same quantity in a regular grocery
store.
“Those interested in the program
can view the menu online or at any
host site; pre-payment is required
upon ordering; the food is delivered at
the end of the month from a warehouse in Georgia and pick-up is
required at the host site,” Taylor said.
The program is funded by a grant
from the United States Department of
Agriculture and is recommended by
such pastors as Joel Osteen of
Lakewood Church in Houston.
According to Taylor, the Permian
Basin currently averages
about 900 orders a month,
with at least 500,000 families served nationally on a
monthly basis.
“Anyone of any income
level can participate. Since
there are no ordering limits, those taking advantage of the program are not
taking (food) away from those less
fortunate,” Taylor said.
“This program is especially great
for college students, as it would last
up to an entire month for a single person,” Taylor said. “Parents can order a
box for their child in the host city
where the school is and the student
can pick it up.”
Some sample menu items from the
March menu include chicken breast,
pork, French fries, mixed vegetables,
waffles, milk, butter, soup and macaroni-and-cheese.
In addition, there are three specials
that can be purchased for an extra
$18-$20 each. More information is
available at the national Web site:
www.angelfoodministries.com,
including menus and a list of host
sites.
By Shanley Wright
Page Editor
Local St. Patrick’s Day celebrations
seem to be few and far between, especially since St. Paddy’s Day falls on a
Monday this year. A Guinness beer
along with a green shirt for CatholicIrish, orange for Protestant-Irish and
some music by Dropkick Murphy’s or
Flogging Molly just may have to do.
For a pre-St. Patrick’s Day celebration the 6th Annual Scottish-Irish
live performers of Celtic music and
dance.
“I just usually wear green and go
out for a drink,” said Heather Bullard,
a former Midland College student
with Irish/Scottish heritage.
Matt Vanley, an MC student, said,
“If I feel like it, I’ll go looking for a
leprechaun to find a pot of gold.”
After the Great Potato Famine in
Ireland in 1845, more than a million
Irish people began to pour into
America to escape starvation. They
realized they had strength in numbers.
Soon the St. Patrick’s Day parade
became a symbol of strength for the
Irish Americans.
“The first St. Patrick’s Day parade
took place not in Ireland, but in the
United States. Irish soldiers serving in
the English military marched through
New York City on March 17, 1762,”
according to www.history.com.
“I am really proud of my heritage, I
like everything Irish. I even know the
story of St.Patrick,” Bullard said.
St. Patrick was the patron saint of
Ireland. Once a pagan he superimposed the sun, a powerful Irish symbol, onto the Christian cross to
become what is known as the Celtic
cross, stated www.history.com. St.
Patrick died March 17, around 460
A.D.
It is no longer just an Irish holiday.
St. Patrick’s Day is now observed
around the world: Japan, Singapore
and Russia.
Until the 1970s it was held as a religious holiday, Irish law stated. Pubs
were to be closed on March 17. In
1995, the Irish government saw a
tourism opportunity and began a
national campaign.
“Last year, close to one million
people took part in Ireland’s St.
Patrick’s Festival in Dublin, a multiday celebration featuring parades,
concerts, outdoor theater productions
and fireworks shows,” according to
www.history.com.
To make St. Patrick’s Day an official holiday visit Guinness.com. If
you are 21 or over you can sign the
petition for Proposition 3-17. It
“requests that St. Patrick’s Day be
made an official holiday not only to
officially commemorate the spirit of
this day, but to celebrate and honor St.
Patrick himself,” according to
www.propsition317.com. The brewers at Guinness need 1 million votes
before midnight March 16 in order to
present this motion before Congress.
St. Patrick’s Day met with modest fanfare
Faire is taking place March 7-9 at the
Horseshoe Arena.
There will be vendors as well as
Continuing Ed offers ‘Instant Guitar/Piano’ classes
By Justin McGill
Page Editor
The Instant Guitar for Hopelessly
Busy People continuing education
class at Midland College offered participants a crash course into the basic
building blocks needed to set a foundation for a long-lasting musical
experience.
The course is the first guitar class to
be taught by Craig Coffman, who also
teaches piano and the Instant Piano
for Hopelessly Busy People continu-
ing education class.
The class, which lasted for two and
a half hours, covered the basics of
guitar playing, with the help of a selfinstruction book.
Students learned how to tune the
guitar, the basic chords, how to conquer the fears of strumming and were
shown some advanced techniques.
“One of the first things you’re
going to want to do is learn how to
tune your guitar,” Coffman said.
The guitar can be tuned by match-
ing strings to the correct pitch on a
piano, by a handheld, electronic tuner
or by ear.
After tuning the guitars, Coffman
shifted to the basic chords students
should remember when playing the
guitar.
There are many chords that can be
learned when playing the guitar, but
the few that were used to get students
started, were the G, E minor, A, C, D
and E chords.
To play the chords, students took
their left index, third and fourth fingers and placed them firmly on the
specific string and fret and added a
specified strum.
Coffman said that many students
might “feel a little bit overwhelmed,”
but he encouraged them to remember
that “practice makes perfect.”
Coffman briefly discussed strumming and put students’ fears of strumming to rest by explaining that most
professional musicians just strum the
guitar and don’t over analyze while
they are playing.
Coffman finished the class by skipping ahead in the self-instruction
book. He gave students a sample of
finger-picking techniques and other
techniques they will encounter as they
make their way through the book.
Coffman reminded students that it
would take time, practice and probably months to finish the self-instruction book, but that with their newfound skills in guitar, they would
“have a job for the rest of their lives.”
News
March 7, 2008
Page 5
What does MC lack? Money-saving tactics
By Ismael Rosa
Page Editor
Starbucks, career-related classes and more
sports programs are just some of the ideas students and faculty would like to see at Midland
College.
MC offers a variety of classes, programs and
facilities to its students and faculty. Some people
see the college “fine the way it is” but others
seem to want more from their experience at MC.
MC student Joe Lujan said he thinks it would
be a great idea to have a football team.
“MC needs more sports and it would attract
more people,” Lujan said. A football team could
encourage more students and opportunities.
According to MC student Creede Reinecker,
football would be great because everyone likes
the sport.
Reinecker said that something else that might
be interesting would be a little shopping center
that’s open all day.
When it comes to meals and snacks, MC has
a cafeteria, the Jack E. Brown Dining Hall. If
not interested in the cafeteria food, the
Chaparral Grill in the Schaubaurer Student
Center offers a variety of drinks, meals and
snacks.
According to MC student Jackie Cazares,
Starbucks “would be awesome and convenient.”
She said she thinks it would be beneficial for the
college and its faculty and students. “The best
thing about a Starbucks is that it will offer a bigger selection of snacks and drinks to the college,” Cazares said.
“Starbucks on the campus would motivate a
lot more people to come to class,” said MC stu-
dent Luis Moreno.
Moreno said he would also like to see more
classes that are related to more careers instead of
just basics.
A class Moreno said he would like to see
offered is Petroleum Engineering. Moreno is
active in intramural sports and would like to
have any of the intramural sports become official programs at MC.
Monica Valdez, MC student relations specialist, would enjoy seeing a television station at the
college. It would give students in this field an
opportunity to get experience in their chosen
field, she said.
Valdez also said that a dental program would
also help students who can’t afford programs at
bigger colleges.
Valdez also said Starbucks, Burger King or
any small snack places would be great to have at
the college. What she would also like to see are
more programs for kids. These programs can
help kids in the community and help students
get involved, she said.
According to Susan Benham, another MC student relations specialist, having a swimming
pool would be enjoyable for students and faculty to relax at MC.
According to Dale Williams, MC counselor,
requests for classes and programs that MC doesn’t already have, rarely happen.
“It’s limited what we can offer and there’s not
much that we don’t offer,” he said.
“Starbucks would be nice and there might be
plans for a coffee shop at the college, but MC
does a good job about what we need and have,”
Williams said.
Battle of the Bands
7 p.m., Friday, April 4
Scharbauer Student Center
Bands on board so far:
My Corporate Sellout
Yakuza Crime Boss
Oh Infamous City
The Great Divorce
And others to come …
If you know any bands please contact:
Chris Dailey @ cdrebel2535@suddenlink.net
Jeremy Lysinger @ shaggy911@sbcglobal.net
Free for Midland College students (please bring ID)
$5 admission fee to the general public
By Lindsey Stamper
Page Editor
Considering almost all college students
struggle somewhat financially, smart moneysaving tactics can have an impact on students’
finances and their futures.
Many people turn to budgeting to start saving money. Having a budget may help direct
money into different areas so it is not all spent
in the same place.
Students should know their cost of living.
They should make a list of mandatory monthly expenses so they understand where the
money has to go. Planning should pay off.
“One way to save money in the long run is
to take all the courses you can at a community college,” said Jan Reed, Midland College
student activities director.
Attending a community college before a
university usually saves money. It is also
important to make sure that classes will transfer to the desired university. This way, money
will be saved and time will not be wasted,
Reed said.
“Where you go does make a difference in
cost—both in tuition and living expenses. An
example is that housing in Austin is almost
double that of College Station. The tuition differs, too,” Reed said.
Food is one of the top priorities in a college
student’s life. Grocery shopping in college,
instead of eating out, is another money-saving
choice.
“Stay away from your favorite food places
and stores,” said Kathleen Chaney, MC sophomore. “This will help reduce the temptaName:
Smoothie King
Fazolis
Great American Cookie
Luca Pizza
Tropical Stop
Sincerely Flowers and Gift Shop
Ski Skeller
Super 8
America’s Best Value Inn Motel
Cactus Lanes
Clarion Hotel
Vela Bay Seafood
tion.”
MC sophomore Cortney Curtis offered the
following tip.
“When shopping for groceries or everyday
items, always purchase the generic brand.
More times than not, you can’t even tell the
difference.”
Eating out may sound easy and quick, but students should think twice.
“I spent so much money on eating out,”
Curtis said. “I suggest not eating out unless it
is absolutely unavoidable.”
Gloria Hernandez, MC sophomore, suggested eating in the cafeteria as much as possible if living in the dorms. “After all, you’ve
already paid for it,” Hernandez said.
“Just use your common sense on things,”
Hernandez said. “Walking to class is an obvious solution to save gas.”
Books and supplies are more costly necessities.
According to collegescholarships.org,
before a student thinks about buying a new
textbook at the campus bookstore, they should
check around campus. Borrow if it’s possible.
If not, buy used college textbooks on sites like
Amazon.com.
“There are lots of online options for buying
cheaper books,” Reed said.
It seems difficult to save more and spend
less. However, it is never too late to start saving.
Some area businesses offer discounts to MC
students.
Usually a current college I.D. is all that is
needed. Please see box.
VIP Discounts
Discount:
.50 cents
10%
10% $5>
Buy 1 slice get 1 free
20%
5% any silk flower arrangement
10% excluding sale items
Special rate
79.00 w/disc. 67.15
$ 2.00 game/ free shoes
Steven directly
free tea with meal
Address:
2200 W Wadley
4505 W Loop 250
4511 N. Midkiff
4511 N. Midkiff
4511 N. Midkiff
4410 N Midkiff
3327 W Wadley
3828 W Wall
3904 W Wall
3920 W Wall
4300 W Wall
307 N Midland Dr
Entertainment
Page 6
Music Review
Vampire Weekend
makes auspicious debut
Photo courtesy of vampireweekend.com
By Andrew Eaton
Staff Reporter
There’s something refreshing in
seeing a much-hyped-about band
actually deliver the goods. Why?
Because it rarely happens.
Vampire Weekend found themselves in that predicament only a few
months ago. Their demo CD had been
circulating around the Internet on
countless music blogs, first on the
African music audioblog “Benn loxo
du taccu,” and again on Stereogum.
Interestingly enough, the album
being reviewed here sounds nearly
identical to that original demo. Aside
from a few mastering changes and the
delegation of song Ladies of
Cambridge to a B-side on the stellar
Mansard Roof single, there are virtually no differences. “If it ain’t broke,
don’t fix it,” indeed.
The band explores a very different
subgenre: “Upper West Side Soweto”
as they describe it, or even better,
“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.”
Translation: New York, Ivy league
indie pop-rock.
These subgenres the band have
dubbed themselves are pretty spot-on
descriptions; think Paul Simon’s
Graceland by way of The Strokes’ Is
This It.
The driving percussion perfectly
complements the African pop influ-
ences and yes, even the classical
western style. The music prowess on
display by this band is exemplified
not by lavish production or complicated melodies, rather the guys of
Vampire Weekend keep their songs
tightly knit and surprisingly reserved.
A perfect example was one of their
early successes with the song Cape
Cod Kwassa Kwassa. The song is
rather subdued, a song that flirts with
a dancing drum rhythm and a hiccupy
guitar line. It’s so startlingly simple
and it manages to say more about the
band’s versatility than most other
bands can in an album.
The biggest grief from non-enthusiasts emphasizes the clean cut “preppiness” of it all. Why should they bother changing though? Too many bands
now are too quick to dirty up their
music to give it a texture that really
just feels superfluous. That’s not to
say that rough noise to shave off the
edges doesn’t work to great effect for
bands like My Bloody Valentine for
instance, but Vampire Weekend has
drawn their line in the sand; between
rock and pop, they’ve made their
choice–they’re pop first.
The other highlights of this eponymous debute: Oxford Comma, A-Punk
and Campus. Oxford Comma’s sly
jabs at money-flashing are playful
and witty, but the humor’s there too –
there aren’t nearly enough references
to Lil Jon in indie-rock these days, so
thank God for that. “Campus” benefits from a expertly-crafted, softlysung hook by vocalist Ezra Koenig.
“A-Punk” however, is just drumbanging fun – download it immediately.
Vampire Weekend, the album and
the band, benefit from just being
refreshingly fun. What a way to kick
off music in 2008. Rated 8 ½ out of
10.
March 7, 2008
Movie Review
Vantage Point excites, intrigues
imdb.com
By Zachary Forest
Staff Reporter
Vantage Point is now out in theaters.
The movie stars Dennis Quaid (The
Day After Tomorrow), Matthew Fox
(Lost), Forest Whitaker (Fast Times at
Ridgemont High), John Hurt
(Syriana) and Sigourney Weaver
(Alien film series).
The story is told from different
character’s perspectives and is based
on the Asian film Rashomon.
The movie follows the events leading to and after a presidential assassination attempt and a terrorist attack.
The attempt and attack take place
right when the president is about to
give a speech at a peace conference.
Quaid and Fox are Secret Service
agents assigned to protect the president of the United States (Hurt).
Whitaker plays a tourist who videotapes the attempt and terrorist attack.
Weaver plays a news producer
whose crew is at the event.
The film is told from the views of
the producer, Secret Service agents,
Whitaker’s character, the president
and the terrorists.
When I went to see it, the audience
moaned each time the movie would
go to a different perspective.
This movie is very exciting.
Moviegoers will enjoy it.
Vantage Point is rated PG-13 for
violence, extreme action and some
mild language.
DVD Review
Pirates 3 unleashes swashbuckling fun
By Zachary Forest
Staff Reporter
It’s time to set sail with Captain
Jack Sparrow and his crew again in
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s
End now on DVD, blue ray and highdefinition DVD.
The movie stars Johnny Depp (A
Nightmare on Elm Street), Orlando
Bloom (Lord of the Rings trilogy),
Keira Knightly (Bend it like
Beckham), Geoffrey Rush (House on
Haunted Hill), Chow Yun-Fat
(Bulletproof Monk), rocker Keith
Richards and more.
The movie, based on the popular
ride at Disney theme parks, continues
where Dead Man’s Chest left off as
Captain Barbossa (Rush) along with
Elizabeth Swann (Knightly) and Will
Turner (Bloom) and the rest of the
crew of the Black Pearl as they head
to World’s End to rescue Captain Jack
Sparrow (Depp).
Along the way they encounter
Captain Sao Feng, a Chinese pirate,
T-Shirt Design Contest
Midland College Drama Club is holding a T-shirt design contest. Entries
should include the drama club’s Greek symbols or name, Alpha Psi Omega
(!QS), and should avoid profanities or vulgar images. All entries must be
received by Friday, March 14, 2008. The winning design will be used as this
year’s club T-shirt and the winner will also receive a special gift
from the drama club members.
Please refer all questions to Evelyn Armstrong at earm462@mail.midlan.edu.
Any format is acceptable. Entries can be turned in at the student activites
office in Scharbauer Student Center, or at the call board outside of the
Wagner-Brown Auditorium, Allison Fine Arts bldg.
imdb.com
who offers them a ship to go there.
After they rescue Sparrow, they
head to Shipwreck Island to have a
meeting with the Pirate Lords, including Captain Teague (Richards) who is
Sparrow’s father and king of the
pirates.
The meeting is to decide if they
need to release Calypso, a sea goddess from Greek mythology, to help
them in the battle with Davey Jones
and the East India Trading
Company—a battle that will decide
the fate of all pirates.
Will Sparrow and his friends defeat
Jones or go down fighting like the
pirates they are?
The movie answers questions fans
have been asking such as: Whose
heart did Davey Jones put in the Dead
Man’s Chest? Tia Dalma and the
mystery surrounding her are finally
answered. Also, the fate of the prison
dog, from the ride with the keys in his
mouth, is revealed along with what
those keys open.
The DVD features a behind the
scenes look at the making of the
movie as well as a featurette on the
pirate lords, bloopers, a featurette on
Jack Sparrow and his father and more.
Fans of the ride and the movies,
will enjoy seeing this installment in
the series.
Next El Paisano, April 4
March 7, 2008
Sports
Page 7
Basketball teams seeded No. 2 at regionals
Chaps
From staff reports
The Chaps men’s basketball team went into
the National Junior College Athletic Association
Region V Tournament in Belton as the No. 2
seed out of the Western Junior College Athletic
Conference. The Chaps played the opening
game of the tourney yesterday, March 6, against
Collin County Community College, the No. 2
seed out of the North Texas Junior College
Athletic Conference. The winner of that game
will play the winner of the Weatherford/South
Plains game on March 8.
In Borger last week, the No. 7 Midland
College men’s basketball team clinched a share
of the WJCAC title with a 92-87 victory over
Frank Phillips College on Thursday, Feb. 28.
Coupled with a 73-71 upset by Western Texas
College over Odessa College, the Chaparrals
will share the title with the Wranglers. The title
is the first for MC since 2004 and first under
head coach Grant McCasland in his four years
at the helm.
The Chaps (27-3, 13-3) were led by two of
their sophomores as Tyrone Appleton equaled a
game-high with 27 points, while Darris Santee
added 26.
“I’m just so proud for our guys and our sophomores,” said McCasland about winning the
WJCAC. “Our guys put so much work into this
season and we were able to finish with the best
regular season record since I’ve been here. I
couldn’t be more proud for this group. It’s a
credit to our sophomores, they were the difference tonight. As you can see they put us on their
shoulders just to put us in position to win the
title.”
Early in the game, Frank Phillips had MC on
its heels as the Plainsmen packed it in defensively and played behind the Chap post players.
McCasland added his team missed eight 3pointers in the first half and were out of a
groove as FPC took a 40-34 halftime lead.
McCasland said in the second half his team
turned it up defensively and took the lead early
in the period. MC held as much as an 81-73
advantage with 3:41 remaining in the contest.
David Terrell added 12 for Midland College.
On Feb. 21, MC played Odessa College in
their final game at home this season. It was also
MC’s annual homecoming.
Brad Kelleher led the Chaps with 20 points
and his aggressive play helped the rest of his
team as they defeated No. 5 OC 87-79 at Chap
Center.
The win kept MC’s conference title hopes
alive.
The loss for OC, which had a 14-game winning streak snapped by the Chaps, meant they
had to wait to see if they would clinch their first
league title since 2001.
On Feb. 19, there was no way Tyrone
Appleton was going to allow the MC men’s basketball team to fall victim to an upset on its
home court.
The highly-recruited Appleton keyed a huge
first half comeback with 10 of his team-high 23
points in the critical first half as the Chaparrals
erased an early 18-0 deficit to defeat Western
Texas College 91-67 at Chaparral Center.
“We always feel we’re in the ballgame,” said
Appleton, the preseason NJCAA All-American,
who’s had 19 scholarship offers from Division I
programs. “We had heart and pulled it off,” he
told the Midland Reporter-Telegram.
With the victory, the Chaps improved to 25-3
overall and 11-3 in theWJCAC. The win also sat
up a showdown against league leader Odessa
College.
The Chaps could have very well gone into
that big rivalry game with the Wranglers limping thanks to what could only be described by
MC head coach Grant McCasland as a “nightmarish start.”
The Chaps were actually down by as many as
23 (27-4) in the first half. It didn’t help matters
that the Chaps missed their first 16 shots and
turned the ball over four times before Giorgi
Gaprindashvili finally hit a basket at the 11:55
mark.
“You hope it never happens to you,” said
McCasland of the bad start. “I can’t explain how
it happened; I just know how we got out of it.”
The Chaps got out of it by playing defense as
McCasland went to a full court press and started pressuring every Westerners’ inbounds pass.
“We confused (the Westerners) a little bit
there and they didn’t know how to react,”
Appleton said. “We’ve worked on that full court
press a lot in practice.”
Slowly but surely, MC took back the momentum. Kelleher (12 points) hit some big 3-pointers and Appleton kept driving in for layups and
drawing fouls for trips to the free-throw line.
MC tied the game at 36 with 1:02 remaining in
the first half before WTC took a 38-36 lead into
the locker room.
“I thought the crowd was the difference in the
game,” McCasland said in the MRT. “We needed a run there and they were giving us some
energy. I thought they hung in there and they
kept cheering for us. Our guys just played hard
and didn’t give them any easy looks on
defense.”
McCasland also credited his sophomore
leader for giving his team a spark.
“(Appleton) played with a purpose tonight
and that’s what we need from him,’ McCasland
said.
Added Appleton, “I just felt I had to step up and
be a leader. I figure if I play hard, everybody
else will too.”
The Chaps took over the second half as the
Westerners appeared to run out of gas.
McCasland, however, said he was concerned
that it would be his team which would be the
one to tire in the second half.
“Coming back from such a big push at halftime, I tried to give them some energy in the
locker room,” McCasland said. “But I could
hardly hear myself because everybody was
coughing. I was hoping that didn’t zap us.
That’s where depth was huge for us.”
Greg Hill scored 14 points for MC, with
Darris Santee and Marcus Washington each
adding 10.
Editor’s Note: Information for this story
came from mywesttexas.com and the
Midland Reporter-Telegram.
Baseball team playing strong
From staff reports
The Midland College baseball team poured on
the offense in their opening Western Junior
College Athletic Conference doubleheader
Sunday, March 2, but the team did not ignore
playing defense either as they kept New Mexico
Military Institute from scoring many runs.
With pitching at a premium for the back-toback doubleheader scheduled at Christensen
Stadium, bullpens figured to take a more prominent role for two days. MC survived the early
conference test by getting clutch relief performances which enabled the hitting to hold up and
sweep NMMI 13-6 and 11-3.
On paper, it looks as if the Chaps (10-6 overall, 2-0 WJCAC) routed the Broncos (5-10, 0-2),
but they needed some big late innings to finally
pull away in both games, according to the
Midland Reporter-Telegram.
“I thought that both games were a lot closer
than the scores indicated,” MC coach David
Coleman said in the MRT. “We had to bring our
closer in during the eighth inning of the second
game.”
And Cole Stephens did his job. With MC leading 4-3 heading into the eighth inning, Stephens
relieved another reliever, Aaron Haley, who had
come on after Kyle Maynor had thrown seven
solid innings, but then he walked two batters
with one only out in the eighth.
Stephens struck out the next two hitters to end
the inning and earned the save, even though the
Chaps scored seven runs in the bottom of the
inning to bring the game to an early end.
However, the best MC relief appearance on
the day came in the first game, as Brandon
Williamson came on in the third inning to
relieve Jordan Chambers, who allowed the first
three runners to reach base via an error and two
walks.
The Chaps led 8-3 when Williamson came in
the game and gave up a two-run single to
Matthew Delgado. But that was the extent of the
damage from NMMI.
Williamson ended up pitching the final five
innings and allowed only three hits and one run.
Not until the Chaps scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth did Williamson take the mound
with a nice cushion.
“I was just trying to keep us in it and if going
the whole way was what I needed to do I was
happy to do it,” Williamson said in the MRT.
“We just got a big enough lead that we didn’t
need to use Cole at the end.”
The Chaps had 12 hits in the first game, as
Carson Grizzard set the tone with a two-run double in the first inning which helped the Chaps
take a 6-0 lead. Grizzard drove in three runs,
while Blake McNabb and Chad Stang both had
three hits and drove in two runs.
The Chaps were effective in the second game
with 12 hits. Matt Roam was 3-for-5 and drove
in four runs, including a two-out, two-run single
which capped a seven-run eighth inning and
ended the game due to the eight-run rule.
Travis Lee and Ryan Burnett each had two
hits and drove in two runs for MC in the second
game.
In Cisco on Feb. 26, MC starting pitchers
Ryan Turner and Taylor Walton combined to
allow three earned runs during a doubleheader.
Though neither received a victory, the
Chaparrals earned a split with Cisco Junior
College.
The Chaps (9-7) were shut out in the opener
but rallied to win 3-2 in the second game, scoring in their last at-bat on a wild pitch. Walton
allowed two runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings in
his first start of the season. Cole Stephens
recorded the win in relief.
Turner limited Cisco to one earned run on five
hits in a complete game during game one but
didn’t receive any run support. The teams combined for 20 hits over two games.
At the West Texas Spring Tournament, the
Chaps made two early leads stand up in winning
twice on Monday, Feb. 18, to close the West
Texas Spring Tournament.
The Chaparrals defeated Butler County (Kan.)
Community College, 4-2, and held off Ranger
Junior College, 12-8.
The team split two games to open tournament, losing to Hutchinson (Kan.) Community
College, 2-1, early in the afternoon before
defeating Western Texas College, 10-2, on
Sunday, Feb. 17, at Christensen Stadium.
The Chaps finished 3-1 for the tournament.
The games planned for Monday, March 3,
against NMMI were postponed due to the
weather and are rescheduled for 3 p.m., Tuesday,
March 25.
Editor’s Note: Information for this story came
from mywesttexas.com and the Midland
Reporter-Telegram.
Lady Chaps
From staff reports
The Lady Chaparral basketball team went into
the Region V tourney in Belton as the No. 2 seed
and will face Temple College, the No. 3 seed out
of the North Texas Junior College Athletic
Conference at 5 p.m., today, March 7.
In Borger on Feb. 28, The Frank Phillips
College women’s basketball team used a strong
second half to upset No. 16-ranked Midland
College Lady Chaparrals, 68-65, at the Borger
Community Activity Center.
MC ended the regular season at 25-5 overall
and finished in second place in the Western
Junior College Athletic Conference with an 11-3
mark.
The Lady Chaps led by as much as 37-18 with
six minutes remaining in the first half before
Frank Phillips (19-9, 6-8) closed the half on a
13-0 run to pull to within 37-31 at the break.
“It’s disappointing more than anything,” said
MC coach Ron Jones about the loss. “The game
didn’t mean anything as far as seeding or the
conference standings, but you would like to have
some momentum going into next week’s regional tournament.”
Jones said Frank Phillips didn’t take its first
lead until there was less than 15 seconds remaining in the game.
“We just didn’t do the things that we were
doing while we were playing well,” Jones said.
“I don’t think we were competitive tonight. I
would guess (Frank Phillips) got 15-20 points
off offensive rebounds.”
Tori Slusher led the Lady Chaps with 16
points, while Lyrell Barfield added 12.
At the last home game this season, the No. 16ranked Lady Chaps beat rival Odessa College
75-57, on Feb. 21. It was homecoming at MC.
Freshman guard, Dymond Morgan, was the
spark of the game with 15 points off the bench.
Sophomores Sylwia Zabielewicz had 17
points and Tori Slusher added 12 for the Lady
Chaps, who improved to 25-4 overall and 11-2 in
conference play.
MC also guaranteed itself no worse than a
No.2 seed in the National Junior College
Athletic Association Region V Tournament in
Belton in early March.
On Monday, Feb. 18, behind the play of Lyrell
Barfield and Zabielewicz, the Lady Chaps started fast and never let up in a 95-56 victory over
the Lady Westerners at Chaparral Center.
The night began with a tribute to Breast
Cancer Awareness as the Lady Chaps warmed up
in special “pink” T-shirts. The team also presented pink and purple basketballs to breast cancer
survivors in the crowd.
The Lady Chaps improved to 24-4 overall and
10-2 in the Western Junior College Athletic
Conference and shook off a sluggish performance from last Thursday when they had to go to
double overtime for a 75-69 victory.
Barfield and Zabielewicz made sure the Lady
Chaps didn’t have to worry about having a victory. The sharp-shooting Barfield poured in a
game-high 26 points, while the 6-foot-5
Zabielewicz muscled her way inside for 25
points and 13 rebounds.
When Barfield and Zabielewicz weren’t scoring, their teammates were hustling for loose
balls, playing solid defense and rebounding
tough.
Western Texas (12-14, 5-6) was held to 30 percent shooting, and the Lady Chaps out-rebounded the Lady Westerners 53-32.
On Feb. 14 in Clarendon it took two overtimes
but the No. 20 Lady Chaps came home with a
76-69 victory.
With the win, MC improved to 23-4 overall
and 9-2 in the Western Junior College Athletic
Conference. Clarendon College dropped to 1313 and 3-8 in the WJCAC.
Head Coach Ron Jones said his Lady
Chaparrals were never sharp, and as a result,
Clarendon gave them all they could handle.
But in the second OT, Jones said his team was
able to get some stops, make some baskets in
transition, and more than anything, forced the
Lady Bulldogs to miss some shots.
“It was strange, the whole evening,” Jones
said in the MRT. “The energy was okay, it wasn’t great. And we did a lot of things to hurt ourselves.”
MC was a paltry 11 for 28 from the free-throw
line, plus Jones said his team allowed too many
offensive rebounds to a Clarendon team, which
MC beat 89-52 on Jan. 14 at Chaparral Center.
Clarendon led 34-31 at the half, but then both
teams were tied at 59 at the end of regulation and
then tied at 65 at the end of the first overtime.
MC actually trailed 65-62 with six seconds
remaining at the end of the first overtime before
Jessica Wallis hit a 3-pointer to send it to a second OT.
Editor’s Note: Information for this story came
from mywesttexas.com and the Midland
Reporter-Telegram.
Appleton commits
to Big-12 power, Kansas
From staff reports
Tyrone Appleton verbally committed to the University of Kansas on
Feb. 25.
Appleton chose the Jayhawks after taking official visits to Kentucky
and Iowa State. He had also considered Texas and Indiana among his top
five and had a total of 19 scholarship offers from Division I programs.
Commitments are non-binding and Appleton won’t be able to sign
until mid April, when the signing period begins for NCAA basketball.
Appleton said when he and his dad, James Dye, went to Lawrence,
Kan., for his official visit, they were impressed with what they saw.
“We liked the coaching style and we liked the players, but my dad also liked the academic situation they have,” said Appleton, who has started in every game this season and is averaging 12.5
points, 5.3 assists and 1.8 rebounds per game.
“I liked the players, that was the big thing for me. They get along real well. They’ll tell you the
truth and they’ll tell you that you have to come in and work hard for everything you get.”
Recruiting interest in the 6-foot-3, 190-pound guard picked up after last year when he helped
lead the Chaps to a 28-9 record and the NJCAA National Championship. As a freshman at MC he
averaged 14 points, 3.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists after switching over from his natural shooting
guard position to point guard.
Prior to this season, Appleton was named as a preseason first-team NJCAA All-American and
was regarded as the No. 3 junior college prospect by jucojunction.com.
MC Coach Grant McCasland said Appleton should fit in nicely with the Jayhawks, who run
similar things to the Chaparrals.
“When they saw him, they could see in their system,” said McCasland about the Jayhawks’
recruitment of Appleton. “He could play anywhere. I don’t see a school where he couldn’t play.
What he brings to a team is what every coach wants. He’s tough, he can guard any of the three
guard positions and he only cares about one thing and that’s winning.”
Editor’s Note: Information for this story came from mywesttexas.com and the Midland
Reporter-Telegram.
Softball team sweeps Clarendon
From staff reports
CLARENDON—The Midland College softball team improved to 9-1 in the Western Junior College
Athletic Conference with a doubleheader sweep of Clarendon College on Saturday.
The Lady Chaps won the opener 7-0 and took the second game 6-2. Mindy Scott pitched a shutout
in the first game as MC (17-6 overall) made the most of 10 hits.
In the second game, Clarendon amassed nine hits but Alex Riedeman worked out of several jams
with the help of three double plays. The Lady Chaps broke the game open with a two-run sixth
inning.
MC committed two errors the entire day.
“Defensively we did a great job in both games,” MC coach Tommy Ramos said. “Offensively they
did a good job executing and moving runners when we needed to.”
The Lady Chaps completed a successful WJCAC road trip, adding to their sweep of Frank Phillips
College on Friday.
BORGER—The MC softball team didn’t have much trouble in a Western Junior College Athletic
Conference doubleheader sweep over Frank Phillips College on Friday, Feb. 29.
The Lady Chaparrals got solid pitching from Alex Riedeman and had 13 hits in a 9-1 victory in
the first game. And then in the second game, MC belted out 17 hits, including 10 doubles, in a 193 rout of the Lady Plainsmen in five innings.
The Lady Chaps improve to 15-6 overall and 7-1 in WJCAC play.
MC Coach Tommy Ramos said he thought his team came out kind of slow in the first game but
picked it up as the game went along. Nina Cabrales was 3-for-4 with a triple, while Amber Kamaka
was 2-for-3 to lead the Lady Chaps.
Ramos said his team started executing in the second game and pitching was a little stronger with
Carly Britton starting for MC in the circle.
“We started playing to the level we’re capable of playing,” Ramos said.
The Lady Chaps broke things open with a nine-run third inning as MC had four doubles in that
frame.
Rebecca Gawlista and Dina Ortiz each had three doubles, while Lindsey Robillard was 2-for-2 with
a double to lead MC.
Editor’s Note: Information for this story came from mywesttexas.com and the Midland
Reporter-Telegram.
Diamond Lady Chaps
Page 6
Nina Cabrales
Dessie Farmer
Position: Third Base
Class: Sophomore
Hometown:
Mira Loma, Calif.
Position: Outfielder
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Sun City, Calif.
Karina Nava
Lindsay Robillard
Position: Short Stop
Class: Sophomore
Hometown:
Riverside, Calif.
Position: Catcher/Outfielder
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Hesperia, Calif.
Position: Pitcher
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Benicia, Calif.
Melissa Di Pane
Annessa Garcia
Position: Outfielder
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Temple City, Calif.
Rebecca Gawlista
Katy Griffin
March 7, 2008
Erin Ho
Position: Center Field
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Portland, Ore.
Position: Utility
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Midland, Texas
Mindy Scott
Alexandra Borrego
Carly Britton
Position: Outfield/Pitcher
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Midland. Texas
Position: Pticher/Infielder
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Midland, Texas
Brooke Hernandez
Taylor Howard
Amber Kamaka
Position: Infielder
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Riverside, Calif.
Position: Catcher/Infielder
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Position: Infielder
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Midland, Texas
Position: Outfielder
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Mililani, Hawaii
Alex Riedeman
Dina Ortiz
Logan Zamora
Position: Pitcher
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Snohormish, Wash.
Position: Catcher
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Monahans, Texas
Position: Infielder
Class: Freshman
Hometown:
Sun City, Calif.
Nicole Garcia
Assistant Coach
Entering her fifth 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.
Tommy Ramos
Head Coach
Going into his tenth season, Coach Ramos is the
constant that allows the
Lady Chaps to excel. The
Lady Chap softball team
finished 2007 with a 409-1 overall record and a
conference record of 288 winning their conference. Led by Coach
Ramos, the Lady Chaps
softball program won
five consecutive WJCAC
titles (2001-2005),
seven consecutive NJCAA
Region V Tournament
appearances (three
Region V Championships) and three appearances in the NJCAA
National Softball
Tournament (2001-2003)
finishing 7th, 4th and
7th. During his nineyear tenure as head
coach, Ramos has compiled a career record of
419-122-3.
MC Softball Schedule
Remaining Games Spring 2008
Sonja Mikeska
Head Trainer
In her twelfth year at MC,
Mikeska started the MC athletic training program. From
Magnolia, Texas, her interest
in a career as an athletic
trainer began as a studenttrainer at Magnolia High
School. After high school, she
enrolled at Angelo State
University in San Angelo,
Texas. There she worked as a
student-trainer and ultimately
as a graduate assistant trainer.
She earned her bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in Kinesiology from Angelo State.
*Mar. 7
*Mar. 12
Mar. 14-15
*Mar. 19
*Mar 20
*Mar 26
*Apr. 4
*Apr. 5
*Apr. 11
*Apr. 12
*Apr. 18
*Apr. 19
*Apr. 25
*Apr. 26
May 3-4
May 15-17
Odessa College
Odessa, Texas
Western Texas
Snyder, Texas
Eastern Arizona.
Thatcher, Ariz.
El Paso CC
El Paso, Texas
El Paso CC
El Paso, Texas
Western Texas
Snyder, Texas
Odessa College
Midland, Texas.
Odessa College
Midland, Texas
Howard College
Big Spring, Texas.
Howard College
Big Spring, Texas.
Frank Phillips College Midland, Texas
Frank Phillips College Midland, Texas
Clarendon CC
Midland, Texas
Clarendon CC
Midland, Texas
Region V West Tournament
Midland, Texas
NJCAA National Tournament
Plant City, Flor.
*Conference games
BOLD = home games
1 p.m.
1 p.m.
TBA
2 p.m. MST
11a.m. MST
1 p.m.
4 p.m.
1 p.m.
1 p.m.
1 p.m.
5 p.m.
Noon
4 p.m.
11 a.m.
TBA
TBA
GO
DIAMOND
GIRLS
Position: Right Field
Class: Sophomore
Hometown: Stafford, Texas