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march 29, 2018
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Op-ed: Sweeties v. Kim’s | Page 2 Mental health matters | Page 3 Phangs sink into Dallas Page 6
Men’s BB defeats top opponents Pg. 8
Administrative Accounting Administration responds to faculty concerns over salary increases
Position
Increase
President.............................................................. 2% Chief of Staff........................................................ 23.13% Vice President-Business Administration (BA)........ 9.52% Associate Vice President-BA.................................. 7.19% Assistant Vice President-BA................................... 7.19% Vice President & Provost....................................... 11.57% Associate Provost*................................................ 2.79% Vice President-Media Relations............................. 6.25% *Only one of three received a raise
Total Salary Increases from FY2017:
$116,595
Data from Higher Education Administrative Accountability Reports FY2018 & FY 2017
Christian Aleman Todd Kleiboer Co-Editors The A&M - Commerce Faculty Senate met with upper administration members during its monthly meeting March 6 to discuss the concern of administration raises after faculty and staff were told there would not be raises this year. “I thought the raises were pretty large,” Faculty Senate President Chad King said. “My recollection is that some of these raises were five figure raises, tens of thousands of dollars, that’s a pretty big raise give everything else going on here.” State reports showing administrative salary raises circulated among faculty earlier in the spring semester, and President Ray Keck and Vice-President of Business Administration Alicia
Currin addressed these reports with King and other faculty and staff leaders in a meeting Feb. 12. “We were told that the raises were equity adjustments which are different than a merit raise,” King said. “We [the Faculty Senate] wanted an explanation of this, which we kind of already had, because I told the Senate my meeting with Dr. Keck told us that they were equity raises. I think a lot of people still wanted to hear that.” According to Currin, these raises for the top-level administrators such as the president or chief of staff were “marketbased” adjustments based on the outside salaries paid to other similar positions.
SEE ADMINISTRATIVE, PAGE 3
PAGE 2
Campus Comment Which gender do you think gets over relationships faster?
I think men get out of relationships faster simply because women hold grudges and we make a big deal out of things that aren’t that deep, however, it is to that female. -Teryn Pierce Junior
OPINION
Sweeties vs. Kim’s Donuts
Spencer Nelson Staff Reporter
The great debate in Commerce as students wake up every morning. Which is better? Kim’s or Sweeties Donuts? On Live Oak street, there are two donut shops in the City of Commerce that have been the local, sagar filled Hatfields and McCoys. In the west, Sweeties Donuts has been open since 1997, this early morning shop has served the Commerce and university community withers convenient drive through and simple dining area. Kim’s Donuts in the Eastern side of Live Oak street has been known for its more typical donut shop style and operations. Located down the street from the Honors College, Prairie Crossing. An easily accessible location for students living on the north side of campus. But what about the donuts? How different can they be? Why are people arguing about these businesses? Well, there was a selection of pastries chosen. This article will go over the sweeter treats that these two shops have. First up, the favorite of cop shows and anyone who wishes to have a pleasant fruity surprise in their first bite. The jelly filled. Between the two shops, there was some thought put into the comparison. In the east at Kim’s, they only have the traditional Raspberry filing for their donuts. A supple choice for this light and soft treat. While over at Sweeties, there are a few choices in what you can get. The two eaten for this article were strawberry and raspberry. When bitten into, sweeties have a denser dough with a
lot less of a sugary taste and the strawberry was very mellow for what most would expect from anything with a strawberry flavor. But the raspberry was much more tart in flavor which added a bit more of a flavor shock when eaten. Next up to the plate is the underdog of donuts. The blueberry donut. This “O” shaped pastry is essentially a plain cake mixed in with blueberries to give a
violet t o n e to the dough. At Sweeties, there was a lot more sugar, it was softer to the big and the thing layer of glaze would crumble off easily with a tap. Down the road at Kim’s, the dough would have a tougher shell after its been cooked but the inside is quite soft. Not fluffy but soft
The era of women’s contraceptive suffrage
I personally believe it depends on the type of individual you are. Some people move on quicker than others because each person has a different process. It also depends on who broke up with who because they have their reasons. The person least involved in the relationship will move on faster. When it’s gender based, men tend to get over a relationship faster because men on average will feel less pain physically and emotionally. Men express their pain differently too like they’ll get upset or find ways to keep themselves. distracted than to express emotion. Boosting their self-esteem through posting on social media or involving themselves and pretending it doesn’t hurt. when it comes to women, they lose much more because they plan to commit. They feel more depressed and they tend to be more intact with being social about it. -Robert Segura Sophomore
Many people’s stance on contraception lies within a very large grey area. Some strongly believe that the simplest form of birth control is to remain abstinent and that every pregnancy is a gift; others stick to the idea of women being able to choose what they want do with their own bodies. The complications that result in many standing between these two arises when rape and hypocrisy are considered. The fact is men can easily obtain condoms and more importantly, aren’t forced to carry around the very visible evidence of a one-time mistake. The sad and sobering fact of the matter is emergency contraception for many young women in conservative pro-life states is the more favorable option. Chances are that many girls living in pro-life states won’t be able to find an abortion clinic in their area, and they may not want to be faced with the tough decision of either giving their baby up for adoption or keeping the child so young. For a young woman, the favorable choice may be something quick that will stop the trouble before it really starts. The problem is that now laws are being put in place that are making it increasingly harder for teenagers (17 and under) to obtain the emergency contraception that they need. Like the women and girls of the early 1900’s, were slowly being backed into a wall with tighter and tighter restrictions put on contraception options from the long-term birth control to the emergency Plan b. Even though in 2013, the age restriction was lifted on Plan b, young women are still refused a medication that they have a legal right to purchase. According to an article from Reuters. com, a group of researchers had callers pretend they were doctors or
which is how the original plain cakes are meant to be cooked. It has been lightly glazed and this adds the right amount of sweetness to the donut. After another cup of coffee and enough water to fill Lake Superior, the Icon was put up to the test. The Modern Plain, the king of carbs, the sweet of the tooth, the first seen at cooperate board meetings or early morning fundraisers. Yes, it is the plain, the sweet, glazed donut. First is Sweeties. Though this donut has a chewy side, there is a crumbly glade along with it and an overpowering sweetness to the taste. At Kim’s, there is a fluffier side to the donut that adds an easier to chomp and a much less sweet taste that gives not a supercharged taste, but instead an easy to deal with flavor that makes an easygoing munch. After even more water and coffee to drown a blue whale, the cinnamon roll was tasted. At Kim’s, the rolls had a harder shell to create a harder crunch with the crumbly and loose coating. Judging by the browning of the pastry, this has been cooked longer to create an amber appearance on the outside. But there is more filling to add a better cinnamon flavor for Sweeties. These rolls are much chewier and softer to have a easier bite, but with that, you can also taste more of the yeast. This factor is made up with the extra icing. Throughout the years, these two have been trying to show the community which can bake better. Seeing who is able to perk up one’s morning a little better. At the end of the day, the choice is up to the individual, both have their own admirable qualities to where someone would choose one place over the other.
Are evaluations worth the trouble?
Briana Patt Staff Reporter
I think it depends on the situation. I dated someone for 2 years and the day after we broke up I didn’t care. However, I dated my first girlfriend for three months and was heartbroken the entire summer. -Landon Williams Sophomore
MARCH. 29, 2018
Cristhian Herrera Senior Reporter
photo courtesy
| pexels
teens and call pharmacies asking for emergency contraception. While the pharmacists correctly stated that there was Plan b available for the teens, they also said that the teenagers were too young to get emergency contraception without a prescription. To be more specific, the pharmacists were more willing to provide contraception without a prescription to male teens as opposed to teenage girls. The era of women’s suffrage may have come to an end, but the often favorable and unfair treatment of young men over women that continues to take place today serves as an example of the biased females face today. The fact is that these pharmacists have no right to lie to worried and naïve young women about the contraceptive options offered to them, especially in a matter so urgent. According to Reuters.com Plan b is a drug that has at most 72 hours to still be potentially effective, 24 hours for best chances. If a girl has been raped, what is she supposed to do if the pharmacist she visits lies to her and says that she can’t buy Plan b because she is not old enough. Not only is knowledge essential to preventing a heart-breaking situation like this, so is a doctor understanding of a woman’s and girls rights.
The East Texan, official student newspaper of Texas A&M University-Commerce, is published 6 times per semester during the Fall and Spring by students in reporting and editing classes. Content is solely the responsibility of the student editors and writers. The comments and views expressed in The East Texan do not necessarily reflect the beliefs of other students, staff, faculty, administration, or the Board of Trustees. The East Texan is located inside the Journalism building on the east side of campus in room 113. Single copies are available in Journalism 113 for an additional 25 cents. Letters to the editor are welcome and should be limited to 250 words. They will not be edited for spelling, grammar and libelous or malicious statements. We reserve the right to refuse publication. Letters should be typed or e-mailed and must include a signature, legal name, classification (grade level) and telephone number. Mailing address is The East Texan, P.O. Box 4104 Commerce, Texas 75428.
Every semester students buy exclusive seats to be able to sit in a classroom and be taught by a Ph.D. or faculty member who has earned their respective title to teach. Each college and university differ in the pricing of the seat but at A&M-Commerce the price for average in-state tuition is $8,723 per semester. Whether that comes from financial aid or out of pocket differs as well. Most students are not forced to buy that seat and a few factors will determine if they will continue to hold that chair on reserve for next semester. One of the most important influences in making that decision is whether the price was worth the goods. In simple terms, we are consumers paying for a service that we expect in turn to benefit our future. Would you return to a store or product company that delivered poor on their promises? Odds are you wouldn’t. “Your students have said this [about your class], what’re you going to do to improve that?” said Dr. Madeline Justice, Associate Provost for Faculty and Administrative Affairs. She is discussing the importance of student evaluations and how responsive feedback can better improve the path of education. “Students might say, ‘I don’t like the way this course was done,’ then it’s up to the professor and the department head to make suggestions on how that course can be changed or improved.” If nothing negative, or positive, is said about a teacher then it is assumed by the departments heads and deans that the professor is properly engaging students and performing their job. The question now becomes, do students accurately respond to evaluations with the proper dedication which they ask for? A typical response rate for an online evaluation, which will soon become the main delivery system for all students, is around 40 percent right now. According to Justice, the Faculty Senate, which is composed of one member elected by each academic department of the university and one professional librarian, will soon update the current questions of the evaluation forms. The last time this was done was at least four years ago. “There are different strategies that we are looking to try to make sure that the word gets out and that this is your opportunity to share your feedback,” said Mike Smith, Manager for Academic Technology. “We’re trying to be transparent and capture as much feedback as possible and make it easy for the students to do that because… we want to know if we are fulfilling our mission as a university.” The new questions and format delivery, which will be available to students via myLEO portal will attempt to be more user friendly and mobile friendly. The changes are expected to be available at the beginning of next semester.
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fred_stewart@tamu-commerce.edu lit editor: Landon Williams
MARCH 29, 2018
NEWS Dog Walker needed
PAGE 3
Administrative salary raises cause concern amongst faculty
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Upper administration sets out to address pay raises, workload after Faculty Senate meeting
ilt wikimedia commons
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“Those [equity adjustments] were somehow based on a market comparative position internal to the A&M System calculation, that their [the administration’s] salaries were not sufficient,” King said. Faculty in the past had been awarded raises through a merit pool in which faculty would be eligible for a raise. However, faculty received a message last fall that there would not a merit pool this year due to budget constraints. “Instead what they gave us were one-time bonus payments,” King said. “The thing that’s unfortunate about that is it doesn’t go into our base salary so next year we don’t have that money, and of course your salary affects your retirement benefits, and it affects your summer stipends for teaching summer classes.” According to Currin, the administration is committed to a merit pool for faculty during the 2019 budget, but she could not elaborate on what cuts would be made if enrollment dropped further. “But we’ve made a commitment this time, we’re going to do a merit,” Currin said. “We’ll probably do it this summer, but if enrollment should drop anymore then we’re just going to have to cut.” Currin also said that the report is misleading because raises can happen at any point throughout the year and might be added to other adjustments and the report just shows the total raise for that specific year. “Another thing that’s kind of misleading about this report is they got adjustments over a year ago because actually it was in fall of 2016,” Currin said. “It shows a point in time to a point in time and has one time plus other permanent
Help Wanted What TAMUC students want in the next university president “I’m looking for someone to grow with the campus or somebody who has experience because I think the university is transitioning.” -Addison Jones, freshman
| michael barera
adjustments so it looks like a big raise.” King pointed to an administrative failure in communicating what type of raises would happen during the year, and once the situation was explained, faculty were more understanding. “I think there was concern about the perception that - benefit of the doubt to everyone involved - this should have been better explained along the way,” King said. “If there were going to be equity raises, that the language in explaining where the raises go probably should have been a little more clear. Again, I’m talking about the meeting, and this is what came up.” According to King, frustration had been simmering among faculty for some time, and this served as a conversation starter for those larger issues pertaining to no clear funds for faculty raises, transparency, lack of competitive faculty salaries, and faculty workload. “It’s not like these were secret raises,” King said. “We can set that aside...but it still doesn’t mean that we still aren’t frustrated about the fact that we essentially are going without raises this year.” The day after the meeting, Keck sent out an email to faculty stating that a “special faculty Task Force” would be created to “draft a multiyear proposal addressing workload, faculty compensation, and equity adjustments”, and by the end of the academic year, this task force should be “identifying desirable goals, benchmarks, and strategies.” “I would like for there to be a conversation about these long term plans and benchmarks and progress towards meeting each one of them,” King said. “Faculty salary, faculty morale, faculty workloads do affect retention of your faculty and your ability to recruit new ones.”
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“Be aware of what’s going on around campus and listen to us as students and our concerns.” -Sarah Garay, graduate student “One of the things I would like to see in the president is communication skills.” -Bryant Jackson, sophomore
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After The Drunken Mule in Commerce changed ownership in the fall, the bar announced that it would be closing indefinitely as of February 2018. Wednesday nights were College Night at the three local bars, but The Mule was the most visited of the three up until this school year. The country bar announced that management would be undergoing a change to ring in the new school year and with it some alterations to the way the bar handled business. This began with charging higher cover charges for all men, both over and under 21 years of age. After this change, many pressedfor-cash students began turning to the other two bars in town: The Rail and The Spot. Both of these establishments have lower cover charges and cheaper drinks. Noticing they were losing money, the management at The Mule made the decision that girls were required to pay a cover charge.
The Drunken Mule closes doors after financial battle to stay open
This attempt to save cash led to the Mule making another effort to saving money, and decided to close down for Wednesday nights. This came in December, and meant that The Mule was only open four hours a day from Thursday through Saturday, and was filled mostly with those who lived in the town rather than students.
Closing on Wednesday nights was the last move The Drunken Mule made before its closing in February of 2018. The bar scene in Commerce shrank to two, unless another contender enters the market or The Mule makes a comeback. The manager of The Mule did not respond to contact for a comment.
| the drunken mule
CAMPUS
PAGE 4
MARCH 29, 2018
Students win big at press Suicide survivor association convention to visit campus Todd Kleiboer Co-Editor
east texan photo
Members of The East Texan along with journalism and radio/television students competed at the annual Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention March 21-24 and attended workshops put on by professionals from around the state.
On-Site Contest Results Radio Announcing -English News Photo Headline Writing PR Crisis Management PR Release Writing Radio Announcing - Spanish Radio News Writing TV Sports Writing TV Announcing - Spanish Spanish News Writing-Spanish
2nd - B.J. Laudermilk 3rd - Keila Whitaker 1st - Todd Kleiboer 2nd - Brittany Beans HM - Kylah Roach 2nd - Eva Morales 1st - Ricky Moser 3rd - TV Sports Writing 2nd - Eva Morales HM - Christian Aleman
TIPA Student Officers Student President Student Vice President
Christian Aleman, Co-Editor-in-Chief Todd Kleiboer, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Food pantry opening pushed back
In an effort to focus attention on mental health issues, the Counseling Center will host Mental Health Matters Day April 2 in which there will be workshops and a keynote speaker. “Mental health matters every day, but this was a way to call the campus’s collective attention to issues around help-seeking behaviors, accepting the fact that mental health and mental health issues are a fact of life on a college campus, and what we as a college campus do about that,” Counseling Center Director Nick Patras said. The keynote speaker Kevin Hines, who is also a suicide survivor, will speak beginning at 2 p.m. about his journey and experiences leading up to the choice to attempt suicide. “Kevin is in that one percent survivor’s club from a suicide at the Golden Gate Bridge,” Patras said. “The fact that he survived, he feels that he’s called to be out here on the road talking about getting people to not be afraid to ask for help. That’s his mission, his work in life.” Two ‘Question, Persuade, Refer’ workshops, which are also offered throughout the year, will be offered at 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. in BA 343. Attendees will learn basic strategies to intervene when someone is considering the suicide option. “QPR is one of the oldest suicide gatekeeper training programs around,” Patras said. “It’s built on the premise that if anyone was walking down the sidewalk and fell with a heart attack, their chances of survival are enormously higher because most of us are trained in CPR. QPR is built on the same model to educate people on knowing how to ask the question, persuading the person then to seek help, and then knowing how to get that person to a referral.”
Two other workshops named ‘Exercise as Mental Medicine’ and ‘Faith & Mental Health’ will also be held in the MRC Classroom at 4 p.m. and Wesleyan Campus Ministry Center at 6 p.m. respectively. “It’s really a full day around mental health and mental wellbeing and who are we as a campus around mental health issues,” Patras said. Patras said that the complexity and severity of mental health issues has grown in the past several years, and he sees this event as bringing more awareness to these issues and starting a conversation about them. “Rarely do people come to the Counseling Center to talk about roommate issues or being homesick anymore,” Patras said. “It’s much more complex mental issues, and so we all need to be involved in creating an environment that encourages people to seek professional help when they need and to decrease the stigma.” This event has been in talks since Patras became director in September, and the on-campus suicide in October sparked a conversation that opened the eyes of the campus, indirectly helping the formation of the event. “Part of this is just a response to new leadership looking at how we can do things differently, making changes, building on the great foundation that was here,” Patras said. “I can’t deny the fact that the suicide did cause all of us to have a consciousness awakening.” This event is in line with Student Government Association’s mission of empowering students according to SGA Senator and Treasurer Bryant Jackson. Jackson said that this event is “great” and “something that is needed on this campus.” “This is the first step to show that mental health is a priority on this campus,” Jackson said. “By listening to testimonies, students can be delivered from their situations.”
Food, toiletry donation shortage delays operation date to mid-April
wikimedia commons
Todd Kleiboer Co-Editor Due to slow donations and little marketing, the opening date for the campus food pantry was pushed back to mid-April from mid-March. Nikki Barnett, student case manager, said that the pantry has received 400 pounds of food and 200 pounds of toiletries from Samaritan Inn, a homeless shelter in McKinney, but explained that the number is a little misleading. “400 pounds sound like a lot of food,” Barnett said. “But when you
| staff sgt. nathan maysonet
actually put it on the shelves, it comes out to less than you expect.” The 200 pounds of toiletries, according to Barnett, will be helpful and are usually not expected from a food pantry, and Barnett hopes to give out school supplies to students soon. “Sometimes people just don’t have the money to afford these things,” Barnett said. “I want to be able to give them what they need.” According to Barnett, the pantry will start its marketing campaign the week of April 2 before its opening in mid-April and will open the pantry
at least once a month. The opening will also allow the pantry to give out items before they expire. “We’ll have to play it by ear,” Barnett said. “If there’s a lot of demand, then we’ll have change our schedule and maybe open twice a month or something like that.” The pantry’s grand opening will be in the fall as students return for the new semester. Students in desperate need can also call Barnett or the Office of the Dean of Students during business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) to receive emergency supplies. “The last thing I want to do is to turn someone away,” Barnett said. “I want to try to reach the students in need with this pantry.” The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life is holding a canned food drive for the pantry March 26-29, and Barnett will place donation boxes in various places around campus including S.E.E.D.S. and the College of Humanities, Social Science, and Arts. “People are free to drop anything off in the boxes,” Barnett said. “There’s been a lot of interest in getting donations to us, and we want to make it possible for as many people to donate as possible.” The food pantry is located in Craddock Hall Unit 1A.
Hi there. You’re probably wondering where the rest of the story went. Well, you see...
photo courtesy
| kevinhinesstory.com
Kevin Hines will be speaking as part of the Counseling Center’s Mental Health Matters Day on April 2 at 2 p.m in Ferguson Auditorium.
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MARCH 29, 2018
PAGE 5
FEATURES
Major companies change their point of view on firearms
Joseph Miller Staff Reporter In the wake of a tragic school shooting, many companies are reevaluating their relationships with firearms. The mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida sparked a rise in gun reform talks and actions. Several major corporations and retailers in the United States have altered their procedures in selling firearms and ammunition, placing restrictions that are more strict than federal law. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Walmart were the first two major retailers to enact more strict standards just days after the tragic events in Parkland, Florida. Walmart has stated they will no longer sell firearms and ammunition to anyone
under the age of 21. They have not sold assault-style rifles since 2015, citing low sales. Dick’s Sporting Goods stated they would immediately stop selling assaultstyle rifles and ban the sell of all guns to people under the age of 21. “When we saw what the kids were going through and the grief the parents and the kids who were killed in Parkland, we felt we needed to do something,” Dick’s Chairman and CEO Ed Stack said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” One day after the decisions by Walmart and Dick’s, other companies such as Kroger and L.L. Bean also adopted stances to not sell firearms and ammunition to anyone under 21. “In response to the tragic events in Parkland and elsewhere, we’ve taken a hard look at our policies and procedures for firearm sales,” Kroger Co. said in a release. Seattle-based outdoor retailer REI went another route saying it is halting future orders from some brands whose parent company also makes assault-style rifles and ammunition. Other non-retail companies have also made changes in their policies after Parkland.
Hertz car rental, MetLife Insurance, and Delta Air Lines, among others, have publicly ended their relationships with the National Rifle Association. Many people have praised the actions of these an d other companies, while others are less concerned or feel that the measures are not enough. “It doesn’t affect me that much, I buy my guns from a licensed firearms dealer,” Texas A&M University-Commerce student and veteran Preston Chapman said. “I think changes do need to be made in how easy it is to get firearms without so much as a safety class at least.” Dick’s also made changes in their firearms selling procedures in 2012 after the Sandy Hook shooting in Newtown, Connecticut. After this incident, Dick’s stopped carrying assault-style rifles in their main stores, but began carrying them in their hunting and outdoor retail chains a few months later. The decisions of many of these companies seem to also be beneficial business moves. L.L. Bean says that it only sells firearms at its flagship store in Maine and Kroger has sold gun from 44 of its Fred Meyers stores. Kroger has also
Gun concerns within community and in nation continue to arise
Students are evacuated from police from Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
Tyler McDonough Staff Reporter Recently following the Parkland school shooting in early February, President Donald Trump doubled down on his support for the controversial idea of arming teachers as a protective and preventive measure against school shootings. “Armed Educators (and trusted people who work within a school) love our students and will protect them,” Trump Tweeted on Feb. 24, 2018. “Very smart people. Must be firearms adept & have annual training.” On the federal level, firearms are prohibited in school zones under the Gun-Free School Zones Act, which was passed in 1990. The law states that it’s illegal for anyone to possess a gun within 1,000 feet of a school. This legislation, however, allows for some exceptions. One of the most notable sections of the act does not apply to people with concealed carry permits. Some states have prohibited concealed carry weapon on school grounds, but not all states do. Another exception is that adults can be allowed to carry firearms on school property with school permission. As of 2013, schools in 18 states have allowed adults to carry guns with some form of school approval. In Texas, 172 school districts allow teachers and staff to carry guns in their schools according to a statewide
review of board policies by the Texas Association of School Boards. Commerce High School Principal Steve Drummond gave his thoughts on the recent news regarding teachers carrying guns in schools. “I agree that when the district places signs around campus that teachers have the right and ability to protect students and themselves, it will deter potential attackers to the campus,” he said. “I also feel it has to be strictly controlled, and regular training have to occur to ensure safety.” Recently, Drummond met with the Commerce ISD Police Chief along with members of the Hunt County Highway Patrol and discussed this issue. “I favor a system where the firearms would be kept in a secure place in the classroom and only accessible through fingerprint scanning devices,” Drummond said. “There are districts employing this method and only upper administration and law enforcement actually know how many staff on campus have access to firearms.” He did note that this was his personal opinion, not speaking for Commerce ISD. Commerce ISD does have the Police force. Chief Joe Venable, Officer Dave Contreras, and K-9 CoCo are assets to Commerce ISD and Commerce High School. They are here to educate, protect, and serve in a variety of roles and duties.
photo courtesy
| mercury news
“Personally I trust our officers and witness them regularly making tough decisions, like myself, I think they have our student’s best interests at heart and try to avoid creating a criminal record for students when possible,” Drummond said. The Commerce ISD police force conducts training and drills with the schools and has a good relationship with other area agencies to garner their help when needed. “Everyone at CHS realizes we could be facing life and death situations, at any time. It is an area of focus and concern at CHS and in CISD. Safety is a top priority,” Drummond said. An anonymous non-Commerce ISD teacher recently commented on the news stating “I believe that fully trained teachers (or professors) are very capable of being prepared, should the need ever arise, to defend and protect their students. However, there should and must be training. Teachers are trained in the business of instruction, not law enforcement. However, protecting students has become the norm. I must add that schools should stop the perpetrators from entering places of education in the first place. I also believe that preparation as to how the teacher will safely and effectively conceal the weapon is of the utmost importance. Sadly, I believe this is our new norm. Like it-no, accept it-reluctantly and cautiously.”
cited low interest and sales figures for firearms decisions. Delta Air Lines also cited low usage of the discount that was affiliated with the NRA. There has been some speculation and questions to if the three-year age increase makes a difference or question the specificity of the measures. Statistics from the ATF in 2016 show that the national average possessor age of firearms recovered or traced is 35-years-old. ATF statistics also show that of firearms recovered or traced, pistols were in greater number than rifles, yet these measures seem to aimed strictly at rifles. While there is much debate over the issue, some companies are not waiting and installing more strict control on guns.
Commerce veteran shares thoughts on Parkland shooting Todd Kleiboer Co Editor Screams echoed throughout the halls of Building 12 of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as shooter and former student Nikolas Cruz rampaged, killing 17, an unforeseeable and unpredictable tragedy. A scene like the one that unfolded in Parkland could be described as a ‘warzone’ as SWAT teams swept through the small high school in their search for Cruz, and students were obviously shaken by the event. However, high school students are typically unprepared for the storm of bullets that hails from the barrel of a military-grade rifle, but veterans, especially those who have seen combat, are trained to expect the worst. This is a veterans’ viewpoint on what the students could have been feeling in those terrifying minutes. Vicente Romero served in the U.S. Army as a specialist and saw combat during his service. Q: Can you describe your emotions and feelings in a combat situation? A: The first time I was in a firefight, I didn’t know what was happening. I was scared, y’know. It was back in 2005. You get a lot of, y’know, fear running through you, uncertainty, confusion. You don’t know what’s really going on. It seems like it lasts forever, goes on for days, but really, most firefight only happen five, 10 minutes. That’s usually how long bullets last your complement that you carry around. After that, we would always go out on night missions, and it was, y’know, you start getting used to it. It starts becoming the norm. The fear doesn’t go away, but more and more gets replaced with adrenaline, almost like you want it to happen. You’re asking for it. You go out on your night patrols, and you get to the areas where you know that it’s about to pop off, you start getting a little excited. Your self-preservation starts going out the window. You want the excitement of what’s about to happen. You tend to in normal society, y’know, lose your mind a little bit, but the fear still exists. Not the fear for your own self-preservation, but the fear for your friends. It might be the last moment you ever get to spend with them. You don’t know. You want it [the firefight] to happen, but at the same time you don’t. There’s been a lot of times where roadside bombs would take out the truck in front of me or the truck be-
hind me. That, you never get used to, this instantaneous explosion at close range. You never get used to that. Even to this day, loud noises, y’know, going to the shooting range and that first shot makes me jump. Q: What do you think the high school students in Florida felt once bullets started flying? A: They’re just kids. I was 19 when I first when to Iraq. I can see, y’know, where they’d be coming from. They’re scared kids. It goes back to my first firefight. Terrified, not knowing what to do, not knowing how to react, not knowing where it’s coming from, a lot of unknowns. The only difference between my experience and theirs is that I could shoot back and defend myself. They are defenseless, defenselebabies. I would assume
east texan photo
| joseph miller
Vicente Romero served in the U.S. Army.
it was a very, very uniquely terrifying experience. It’s life-changing. No one would ever forget that. Q: As a veteran, what would you say to those students? A: Main thing is if you need help, seek it. Don’t let your pride get in the way of, y’know. Don’t think, ‘Oh, I can handle it.’ If you have – especially after a traumatic event – if you have issues dealing with it, seek help. Talk to a friend who shares that experience with you. Talk with teachers. Talk to your parents. Talk to psychologist, psychiatrists. Get help because if you don’t, it’ll eat you up inside, and you get to a point mentally where you just tip over that edge. There is a point where it’s too late where you’ll be psychologically scarred for life, and nothing anybody says or does will help you. Get help. Talk to somebody. Don’t be too proud.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Vesperteen stuns audiences
Despite difficulties, Mainland perseveres through show Landon Williams Staff Reporter
Photo Courtesy | Ashton Collins Front man, Colin Rigsby, performing at the Prophet Bar.
Landon Williams Staff Reporter Vesperteen was unorthodox in everything they did. For example, frontman and founder Colin Rigsby was also the drummer. When he wasn’t holding down the rhythm, he was waltzing across the stage with a microphone in one hand and a drumstick in the other, flipping either of them periodically. He didn’t limit the wrath of his drum sticks to just the drum set either, he tapped them on the nearest objects at his disposal like the front of the house speakers. Saying that Rigsby was theatrical in his movements would be an understatement. If you couldn’t hear what he was singing at the show, his facial expressions were able to communicate everything he was attempting to say. The drum set was the key part of the entire performance, and it was set
up front and center onstage. The set was made up of clear drum shells with LED lights that strobed and changed color to the music. There were no high hats on this kit either. Instead, electronic pads were set in place to simulate different sounds at the band’s discretion. When Rigsby was playing the drums, he would often times only play with one drumstick. On the most intense parts, he would keep the microphone on its stand and drum with a second stick, but most of the show was spent demonstrating his miraculous gift of musical multitasking. Nothing can be absolutely perfect, and he did a drop a drumstick on one or two occasions. However, that type of thing happens and didn’t inhibit the entertainment of the performance. The entire show felt different, but in a good way. I spent most of the time watching with my mouth wide open
in disbelief about how well everything worked together. Normally there is a running joke among bands that drummers shouldn’t be given microphones, but Vesperteen blows that out of the water. If this is statement of how great drummers can perform, then all drummers should be given microphones. In addition to the original music that was performed, the band also surprised the crowd with two incredible covers of “Sweet Child Of Mine” by Guns and Roses and “Crazy” by Gnarls Barkley. Vesperteen is the type of band that you don’t necessarily need to do your homework on before seeing to have fun because you’ll feel right at home and enjoy yourself no matter how well you know the music. The combination of their catchy songs and a refreshingly new stage performance makes Vesperteen a pleasure to watch.
MARCH 29, 2018
Mainland couldn’t seem to catch a break during this show. The doors opened long before they were finished sound-checking, the sound engineers couldn’t get the mix right, and their keyboard wasn’t even turned on during a couple songs. Whenever they were facing annoying obstacles, Mainland would handle each instance with poise and grace. They turned each problem into a humorous moment while maintaining an image of professionalism during their opening performance. Their actual performance of the show was eye-catching. Opening bands do not often have many opportunities to give a thought-provoking, creative performance. They generally only have half the stage to perform on since the main act’s gear is set up, so even theatrical movements that are available can be limited. In my opinion, an opening band’s job is to give a taste of what they can truly provide. They are given the task of proving themselves by demonstrating that they can be phenomenal with limited resources. Mainland’s show was not considered phenomenal necessarily by the
performance each member gave but by how they handled opportunities given to them that were out of their control. At one point, fans started throwing roses at them, and they integrated the roses into the show and used them as accessories. During the end of a song, frontman Jordan Topf got a nosebleed. No one had any orthodox way for him to clean his nose, so he ended up settling for a tampon. He performed the next few songs with a tampon stuck up his nose. It made the show special, funny, and entertaining. Instances like those showed that the band could create interesting moments at the drop of a hat while also making the best of the worst circumstances. All of this on top of their catchy music, foot-tamping tempos, and friendly smiles made them extremely pleasant to watch. There were a few moments where a guitarist was a beat late on a trash-can ending or a pedal wasn’t switched off in time, but the average ear won’t catch things like that. Overall, their performance was memorable, and I’m looking forward to experiencing their headline tour in the coming months where they will have full creative freedom.
Photo Courtesy | GrimyGoods
Phangs on a ‘don’t miss’ tour
Commerce takes on professional wrestling
Photo Courtesy | Angelina Celest
Jake Germany faces crowd while performing “Happy Season.”
Landon Williams Staff Reporter
East Texan Photo | Joseph Miller Commerce, Texas welcomed regional independent professional wrestling group on March 3. The Texas Independent Professional Wrestling [based in Leonard, Texas] presented live wrestling matches. The event took place Commerce Parks and Recreation Gym, located at 1512 Pecan Street near the Commerce Square and was open to all the public. Advertisement read, “former WCCW, NWA, GWF and ECW superstar Rod Price,” “Former GWF and Mid Atlantic superstar Bam Bam Richardson” and much more. The next upcoming show will take place April 7th in Whitewright, Texas
The club scene is the place where all bands are born into and where most bands die. It often seems like a black hole where even the most talented artists fight for shreds of recognition among never-ending ticket sales and poorly promoted events. Although, in some rare cases, particular artist’s club shows feel like a gift. Attending these shows feel like getting an all-access, VIP pass into a movement that you were lucky enough to catch before everyone else did. Phangs’ performance at the Curtain Club felt exactly like that. Phangs is the brainchild of producer/ songwriter Jake Germany. He is currently on tour supporting the release of his latest album, Happy Season. He is based out of Nashville, Tenn. but originally is from Dallas. I’m not sure if a sort of hometown reminiscence played a part in his spectacular performance at the Curtain Club, but one thing is definitely for certain. Do. Not. Miss. This. Tour. Germany is a seasoned performer and knows exactly what he is doing. He can expertly lead the crowd, control the stage, and set the mood like no other. His natural tendencies make you feel like you are a part of the performance, and his movements onstage feel
like second nature reactions to his true emotions. It was truly surprising how much energy the show contained. I’ve seen bands with half-a-dozen members struggle to keep the audience interested, but Phangs keeps every eye in the club set on him from the beginning of the show to the end. Phangs’ only member is Germany, but he is joined onstage by other musicians when he performs. On this particular tour, the show consisted of just him and a drummer. His stage set up is fairly simple, but that’s because he doesn’t need much to entertain the crowd. The equipment he needs to perform is just a laptop, a small keyboard, and a drum set. That’s it. This simple recipe is the perfect mixture for a genuine, highintensity performance that leaves you wishing for multiple encores. He makes sure to take advantage of all the space he has onstage. The lack of extra members gives Germany the perfect opportunity to jump around, glide from one side of the stage to the other, and express himself in diverse ways. After the show, he stayed as long as necessary to meet the audience that made the show possible. He made it completely clear that he is wholeheartedly invested in his fanbase. I believe that an artist’s actions offstage are just as important as what they do onstage. When it comes to Phangs, he has both sides of the coin covered.
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MARCH 29, 2018
finalscore
hotshot
West Texas A&M beats Angelo State, breaking their perfect conference record.
Angelo State’s Trent Baker’s ERA as of March 26 after 12 games of which he saved four
8-2
.93
photo courtesy
From WT Media Relations March 22, 2018 Down by as many as 17 points with less than 10 minutes in the game, No. 11-ranked West Texas A&M mounted a great comeback, but came up just short in an 85-79 loss in the Elite Eight semifinals to No. 2-ranked Ferris State Thursday evening in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Buffs senior David Chavlovich scored a gamehigh 33 points with 19 points
in the second half as the Buffs cut the deficit all the way to three with 32 seconds left. The season ends for WT, but the record-breaking campaign included the programs first Elite Eight semifinal, a Lone Star Conference regular season title for the first time since 1994, a LSC tournament title and a South Central Region title for the first time since 1998. The Buffs won its first game in the Elite Eight with the quarterfinal win over Le
Moyne and the 32-4 record marks the best in program history. The senior class of Chavlovich, Jordan Evans, Rylan Gerber and Tommy Gove went 96-35 in the last four years putting WT back on the national map with back-to-back trips to the NCAA Tournament and the Elite Eight semifinal run this season. Chavlovich finished with a game-high 33 points, as he was 12 of 26 from the field
Four track and field athletes given honors
with four triples to complete a storied career for the Buffs. He finished his career with a LSC record 2,490 points and led all active career-scoring leaders in NCAA Division II. Chavlovich also set the league career marks for field goal attempts (1,912), 3-pointers made (388) and triples attempted (1,062). Ryan Quaid had another double-double for the Buffs, his 17th of the season, as he scored 21 points and pulled down 13 rebounds, while Gach Gach added 10 points and nine
| lonestarconference .org
rebounds. WT struggled shooting with a season-low 35.2 percent (25 of 71), but was 10 of 26 from behind the arc and 19 of 23 from the line. Ferris State had four players in double figures led by Drew Cushingberry, who had a team-high 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Hankins also had a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. The Bulldogs move on to play Northern State in the championship game Saturday.
Ace softball players awarded
PlayersMarch of22,the Week 2018
Men’s Track
Men’s Field
Hitter Mariah Jameyson
Pitcher Jordan Withrow photo courtesy
From LSC Reports Week of March 26, 2018
Charles Greaves A&M-Kingsville
Trivett Jones Angelo State
Women’s Track
Women’s Field
Kara Bickham Tarleton State
Kaitlin Lumpkins Angelo State
HITTER Mariah Jameyson, A&M-Commerce Jameyson had another outstanding week at the plate, hitting .875 with seven hits, three home runs and five RBIs. She had an on-base percentage of .909, reaching base on 10 of her 11 plate appearances, with a slugging percentage of 2.125. In the first game of the No. 9 Lions’ three-game series against A&M-Kingsville, Jameyson had a single, a double and a home run and scored two runs while also bringing in two. She then went 3-for3 in the second game of the series, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game in the Lions’ eventual win. In the final game of the series, Jameyson had two walks and hit a walk-off home run in the seventh inning to help the Lions sweep the series. The senior leads the LSC in batting average, hits, RBIs, slugging and on-base percentage. PITCHER Jordan Withrow, Tarleton State Withrow was marvelous in the pitching circle once again as the
Good work, student athletes!
West Texas falls in the Elite Eight
| respective lsc member websites
sophomore went 3-0 in four starts over the week to lead the TexAnns to a 7-0 record in five days, a 12game winning streak, and the 30-win plateau for the second straight season. The right-hander from Trenton started four games and went the distance in three of them, boasting a pair of complete-game shutouts. She started her week by coming within one strike of Tarleton history as Withrow took a perfect game down to the final strike before allowing a single up the middle for the only sign of life from St. Mary’s. She went on to sit down the next batter quickly to cap off a complete-game, one-hit shutout of the Rattlers. She followed up by closing out her week with another shutout, this time over league rival Western New Mexico to lift Tarleton to a 2-0 victory in the final conference game of the series. For the week, Withrow threw 25.0 innings while holding opposing hitters to a mere .145 batting average for the week and boasting a 1.68 ERA with 26 strikeouts. She continues to lead the Lone Star Conference in strikeouts by a wide margin with 168 - compared to the next highest total of 95. She is 32 strikeouts away from becoming the first TexAnn pitcher in program history to strikeout 200 in a season.
SPORTS
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MARCH 29, 2018
Game Schedule
March 29 & 30: Softball at Eastern New Mexico March 29-31: Track and Field at Bobcat Invitational (Texas State) April 2 & 3: Men’s Golf at DBU Patriot Classic Softball
Late inning heroics lead to sweep
The Lions dugout was all smiles as the team won their 12th straight game March 24.
BJ Laudermilk Sports Editor The No. 9 A&M-Commerce Lions softball team celebrated the program’s first ever top ten ranking with a dramatic sweep of Texas A&M-Kingsville, with each game going down to the wire. In game one, the Lions led 5-2 headed to the top of the seventh inning. The Javelinas loaded the bases with nobody out, and had the go-ahead run at the plate. Selena Rima came in to pitch and got a double play for two outs and prevented any runs from scoring by getting a foul out to end the game. Mariah Jameyson led the Lions at the plate, she had three hits in three at-bats, including a
double, a home run, two runs scored, and two runs batted in. Then in the doubleheader the next day, the Lions used some late game heroics to finish off the sweep. In game two of the series, A&M-Commerce jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third thanks to home runs from Kinsie Hebler and Bri Sims. The Javelinas would respond by scoring six runs in the next two innings to take a 6-4 lead. Things would remain that way until the bottom of the seventh inning. After the Javelinas got the first two outs of the inning, the Lions would rally. Hebler worked a walk and with the Lions down to their final strike, Jameyson sent a pitch soaring over the right-center
field wall to even the game at 6-6. Sims was next to bat, and after she worked the count full, she homered to nearly the same spot as Jameyson, giving the Lions the walk-off win 7-6. The third and final game of the series was just as exciting, as the pitchers for both teams kept runs off the board throughout. The Lions got the game’s first run as Sims drove home Ciera Nunez in the bottom of the first inning, and the 1-0 lead held until the third inning. After A&M-Kingsville tied it up at 1-1, the game would remain that way until the bottom of the sixth inning. Monica Cherry led off the inning with a triple down the right field line, and was driven home on a two-run home run
Column
east texan photo
by Kayla Kilcrease, the Lions pulling ahead 3-1. In the top of the seventh, Katie Dean looked to finish off the Javelinas and earn the sweep by finishing off the complete game. She got the first two outs of the inning, but with a runner on, a game-tying homerun was hit by A&MKingsville, evening the game at 3-3. Emily Otto, the winner of game two, came in to try to keep the game tied, but with the go-ahead run at second base, a single to right field looked to give the Javelinas the lead, but a great throw from Vanessa Avina was in time and Jameyson tagged the runner out to keep the game tied. In the bottom of the seventh inning, after a strikeout to start the inning, the first pitch
Jameyson saw was hit way out of the park to left-center field, the Lion with their second straight walk-off home run in a 4-3 win. A&M-Commerce has now won 12 games in a row, extending their record to 28-3 on the season. With the sweep, they improved their conference record to 13-2, moving into a tie for first place in conference with Angelo State. Jameyson’s performance earned her LSC Hitter of the Week honors again, her fourth award of the season, all coming in the last five weeks. Jameyson hit .875, with seven hits, three homeruns and five RBIs. Her on-base percentage was .909 and she slugged 2.125 in the A&M-Kingsville series.
| drew ivery
Jameyson leads all of Division II in slugging percentage, second in RBI, and in the top five in batting average, on-base percentage, hits, and homeruns. The No. 9 Lions hit the road for a series with Eastern New Mexico (15-19, 8-10 LSC). The Lions play a doubleheader March 29 before concluding the series March 30, playing Thursday and Friday due to the Easter holiday. The next opportunity to see the top ten squad in action at home will be April 4 when a Heartland Conference squad comes to town in Rogers State (26-8). The Lions then face a huge rival at home in No. 15 West Texas A&M (26-5, 9-3 LSC) April 6 and 7.
Golf
Empowering para-athletes the UTA way Golfers ‘chip’ away as LSC tournament nears Zach Cottam Senior Reporter In the large world of able-bodied sports, athletes are able to gain full-ride scholarships, make millions of dollars per season, and gather endorsements from large companies. However, those kinds of privileges are not commonly available to those who are physically disabled. This past weekend, the University of Arlington’s intercollegiate wheelchair basketball teams, the Movin’ Mavs and Lady Movin’ Mavs, returned home from the National Intercollegiate Wheelchair Basketball Association’s National Championship Tournament to put on a scrimmage, with the women coming off of a national title and the men victorious in the third place
game. Wheelchair basketball has been a part of collegiate sports since 1948, and UTA integrated the program in the 1970s. Since then, the men have won eight national championships and the women have won two. Athletes on both the men’s and women’s teams are offered full rides for their involvement on the team. This is an opportunity that isn’t offered at most colleges across America, as less than 15 universities have an eligible intercollegiate team. This scholarship gives physically disabled college students the opportunity to participate in collegiate sports and receive economic assistance to obtain something far more important: a college degree. More colleges should offer full-ride athletic or academic
scholarships to wheelchairbound student athletes as well as increase the amount of intercollegiate sports available on-campus. It’s a shame that only a select few schools hold teams at this time as wheelchair basketball is one of the most intense collegiate sports. Listening to the smashing together of wheels and watching players drain three-pointers while sitting down is captivating and entertaining. Texas A&M-Commerce has the opportunity to offer wheelchair basketball to students, and depending on how the program does the first couple years, the move to monetize and fund half-tofull scholarships to athletes would be a move that would look good for the school, both from a public relations and a financial standpoint.
Tyler McDonough Staff Reporter
The A&M-Commerce men’s and women’s golf teams were in action over spring break with the women traveling to Midwestern State, and the men traveling to the regional preview at West Texas A&M. March 12-13 saw the women participate in the Mustang Invitational at Wichita Falls Country Club finishing 9th in a 19-team field. Six conference teams were in the field, with Midwestern State finishing second in the tournament, and West Texas A&M finishing in a tie for third. The Lions finished ahead of Angelo State, Cameron, and Western New Mexico. The Lions fired a team total of 324 (+36) in the first
round of the tournament, and 327 (+39) in the second round of the tournament. Sophie-Charlott Hempel led the Lions shooting 15 over par for the tournament with rounds of 80-79, finishing in a tie for 17th. Paige-Lee Garris and Lauren Leslie finished right behind Hempel with identical rounds of 81-82. Makena Thomas shot 82-84, and Lauren Bentley rounded out the Lions with scores of 83-88. The Lions have one more spring tournament before the Lone Star Conference Championship. The women look to improve their regional ranking at the Henderson State Spring Invitational April 2-3 in Mountain Home, Ark. March 19-20 the A&MCommerce men participated in the NCAA South Central Regional Preview in Amarillo.
West Texas A&M hosted the tournament. The Lions placed 9th in a 23-team field with a team total of 23 over shooting 293 in the first round, and 297 in the second round. Six other conference teams were in the field with the Lions only falling to West Texas A&M. The Lions finished ahead of Western New Mexico, Midwestern State, UT-Permian Basin, and Cameron. Lucas McCubbin led the Lions with 143 total with scores of 71-72. Zach Burch and Blake Hartford finished behind McCubbin with 6 over totals. Wilfredo Sanchez shot 75-76, and Garrett Landers rounded out the Lions with rounds of 76-80. The Lions are back in action are back in action April 2-3 at the Dallas Baptist Patriot Classic in Irving.