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p.3 Tuesday, July 17 HI: 87 LOW: 74 facebook.com/TheHoustonianSHSU Volume 121 / Issue 5 Tuesday, July 17, 2012 p.2 Communications Professor responds to staff editorial ENTER THE HOUSTONIAN SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST TODAY! Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and be entered to win one of five grand prizes! THE HOUSTONIAN p.2 p.4 Viewpoints Arts&Entertainment/ Sports p.3 Three new coaches join SHSU athletic department MOVING FORWARD. A group of about 15 students had a chance to give feedback about the LSC expansion in a focus group meeting with Keith Jenkins last ursday. George Mattingly | The Houstonian LSC expansion, new health center on list of possible updates to university facilities SAM Center celebrates 10 years of service to students Several possible updates to campus facilities at Sam Houston State University are in the pre- planning stage, according to university officials who met with students last week. Associate Vice President of Student Services Keith Jenkins told members of the Student Government Association that potential updates to campus include an expansion of the Lowman Student Center, a new Health Center and updates to Pritchett Field and the University Camp. Jenkins told SGA that with the demolition of Smith-Kirkley the pre-planning to expand the LSC is in the works to address the growth of the student body. “Right now everyone knows that if you’re a student organization and you’re trying to get space in the LSC, it’s at a premium,” Jenkins said. “I would say that they turn down 35 percent of student requests for rooms.” He added that over the years, students have expressed interest in having carpeting in the LSC Ballroom, a bowling alley and an eating area in the LSC. e expansion of the LSC will be up for a vote in October. In the meantime, Jenkins said the university is going through what he called a “pre-planning” phase to meet with different departments on campus to get input about the expansion. However, Jenkins had concern about the time limit given for planning. He said that the university is being given three to six weeks of time for pre-planning for what would normally take three to six months. Other concerns were with the cost of the expansion. Jenkins said the estimated cost would be around $30 million, a price that might be difficult to cover. “e state legislature sets the cap [for the student center fee] at 100 dollars,” he said. “Our fee is at 60 dollars right now. If the students vote to go to the cap, it only gets us half way there.” With the challenges of the cost, he said planning could include contributions to cover the cost from donors and other departments involved in the expansion. Next, Jenkins discussed another item going on the student referendum in October. Another potential plan for university expansion is a new student health center. Originally, the plan was to use the existing site to expand the health center, but with King Hall also on the list of buildings to be demolished, Jenkins said it was a “strong possibility” that the new facility could be built on that site. Jenkins added that there were many female care issues that the university is not equipped to handle in the current health center and hopes the new center will help that. Jenkins said all research and student input have been gathered for the student health center and graphic renditions of what the building may look like will be available to students by August 22. SGA Treasurer Jimmy Williams expressed concern over congested parking around the areas of planned construction. While Jenkins could not give a definite answer, he said some ideas in discussions of the LSC expansion were to use the hilly topography of campus to build parking underneath the building to address parking issues, similar to the parking at Sam Houston Village. “ere is no finality to any of these ideas,” Jenkins said. “ese are just new ideas off the press.” Other proposed plans Jenkins discussed were of a new special event center near the coliseum to house the alumni center, parts of the academic advisement center and a new ballroom. While the special event center would have its advantages, Jenkins noted that the university would plan to use soſt money such as outside contributions and grants, not student fee money, to fund the building on the new facility. As a result, he said the access of the building to students would be more limited. Other potential construction plans include a new dining facility and residence hall on the south side of campus with new property purchased by the university. en, Jenkins updated SGA on other smaller-scale updates to campus facilities. He noted that the university is installing artificial grass on Pritchett Field to combat previous problems with last year’s drought that caused an “unplayable” field. e field, which costs around $1.1 million, will accommodate club sports, intramural teams and intercollegiate soccer teams. He said it will be completed by September 1. Next, Jenkins confirmed the University Camp, the home of Bearkat Camp, will be under construction this fall to meet demand from student organizations to have a retreat site close to campus. “ere will be overnight accommodations for 200 people, a swimming pool and one large meeting room and we’re expanding the dining hall all for student organizations to utilize,” he said. One big advantage he noted was that there will be no rental fee for students, only the costs procured on the site such as food. Jenkins said the estimated completion will be next spring or summer. Lastly, Jenkins said the Agriculture Facility in I-45 will be moving to Gibbs Ranch on 75 North. Once the move is complete, there will be more room for more sports fields on the I-45 spot. Jenkins seemed to have a positive outlook on the proposed plans for university expansion, and is hopeful the new additions will make the campus better for students. “When students take pride in their institution, it reflects in every walk of their life,” he said. “It’s something a degree can’t measure sometimes.” GEORGE MATTINGLY News Editor Stephen Green | The Houstonian DECADE OF DEDICATION. Several other campus departments gathered in the SAM Center to celebrate its 10 year anniversary of service. A wide array of desserts and treats were laid out as members of the campus community crowded the SAM Center to celebrate 10 years of service to students at Sam Houston State University. As the name suggests, the SAM Center provides academic advising and mentoring to students, as well as time management and study skills sessions. e SAM Center has achieved some heſty accomplishments since opening in 2002. e National Academic Advising Association selected the SAM Center as a 2011 Outstanding Institutional Advising Program Certificate of Merit. Recipients of this merit are recognized for documenting innovative and/ or exemplary practices resulting in improvement of academic advising service. e SAM Center is accredited in much of SHSU’s increase in 4-year graduation rates, raising them from 17 percent of students graduating in four years to the now close-to-state-average of 30 percent. “I’ve been in education now for 45 years, and I’ve seen students change through the years,” Bill Fleming, Executive Director of the SAM Center, told the Texas Tribune. “I really believe now that students need more nurturing by others than when I went to school.” Fleming has been with the SAM Center since it began; in fact, many of the original advising faculty members are still working there. “I’ve been here the whole 10 years,” Wesley Boyd, Associate Director of Academic Advising, said. “We have a low turn-over rate for the people that work [at the center]. I think I have the best job on campus, and that’s why: It’s fun.” When the SAM Center opened, it was made up of 12 chosen faculty members from various disciplines and two professional advisers. Since 2005, eight additional advisers have been added, including one who serves as a traveling adviser who goes to feeder community colleges to advise students transferring to SHSU. “It’s never a dull day,” Boyd said. “e freshman who just leſt my office with their mother has a different set of needs than the senior who is about to graduate that walked out moments before.” Since its establishment, 16 universities have visited the SAM Center and some have even patterned their own centers aſter the SHSU model. It’s also been recognized twice in the U.S. News and World Report College Edition. At the celebration President Dana Gibson spoke along with former university president James Gaertner. Neither could be reached at press time. MCKINZIE BROCAIL Senior Reporter NATION & WORLD Many have called for the removal of a statue on campus of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno aſter an extensive report on the case was released last week. In contrast to recent reports that the Board of Trustees had reached a decision on the matter, the university released a statement on Sunday that denied any final decision had been made. “Contrary to various reports, neither the Board of Trustees nor University Administration has taken a vote or made a decision regarding the Joe Paterno statue at Beaver Stadium,” the statement said. Penn state denies decision over Paterno statue Ford Motor Company is set to begin the recall of more than 10,000 Ford Escape SUV vehicles to repair paddng that could get in the way of braking. e company said that the padding, which is wrongly positioned, could limit the space between pedals and cause drivers to hit the side the brake pedal when switching from the accelerator. Ford said the recall covered about 8,200 vehicles in the U.S. Ford, about 2,000 vehicles in Canada and a couple of hundred in Mexico, according to a company spokeswoman. e recall is expected to begin July 23. Ford recalls more than 10,000 Ford Escape SUVs Follow us today! @TheHoustonian A cousin of George Zimmerman, the man charged with killing a black unarmed teen, told Florida authorities that he molested her for 10 years when they were children, according to evidence made public on Monday. e release came aſter several attempts to keep it hidden by Zimmerman’s lawyer, Mark O’Mara. O’Mara believes the information is irrelavent to the case and should have been kept hidden because it could lead to “hostile publicity.” e cousin said the incidents began when she was six and Zimmerman was eight. She said the last incident occured when she was 16. Zimmerman accused of sexual assault of cousin Visit our website! www.HoustonianOnline.com
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Page 1: July 17, 2012

p.3Tuesday, July 17

HI: 87LOW: 74

facebook.com/TheHoustonianSHSU

Volume 121 / Issue 5 Tuesday, July 17, 2012

p.2Communications Professor responds to staff editorial

ENTER THE HOUSTONIAN SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST TODAY!

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and be entered to win one of five grand prizes!

THE HOUSTONIAN

p.2p.4

Viewpoints

Arts&Entertainment/Sports

p.3Three new coaches join SHSU athletic department

MOVING FORWARD. A group of about 15 students had a chance to give feedback about the LSC expansion in a focus group meeting with Keith Jenkins last Thursday.

George Mattingly | The Houstonian

LSC expansion, new health center on list of possible updates to university facilities

SAM Center celebrates 10 years of service to students

Several possible updates to campus facilities at Sam Houston State University are in the pre-planning stage, according to university officials who met with students last week.

Associate Vice President of Student Services Keith Jenkins told members of the Student Government Association that potential updates to campus include an expansion of the Lowman Student Center, a new Health Center and updates to Pritchett Field and the University Camp.

Jenkins told SGA that with the demolition of Smith-Kirkley the pre-planning to expand the LSC is in the works to address the growth of the student body.

“Right now everyone knows that if you’re a student organization and you’re trying to get space in the LSC, it’s at a premium,” Jenkins said. “I would say that they turn down 35 percent of student requests for rooms.”

He added that over the years, students have expressed interest in having carpeting in the LSC Ballroom, a bowling alley and an eating area in the LSC.

The expansion of the LSC will be up for a vote in October. In the meantime, Jenkins said the university is going through what he called a “pre-planning” phase to meet with different departments on campus to get input about the expansion. However, Jenkins had concern about the time limit given for planning. He said that the university is being given three to six weeks of time for pre-planning for what would normally take three to six months.

Other concerns were with the cost of the expansion. Jenkins said the estimated cost would be around $30 million, a price that might be difficult to cover.

“The state legislature sets the cap [for the student center fee] at 100 dollars,” he said. “Our fee is at 60 dollars right now. If the students vote to go to the cap, it only gets us half way there.”

With the challenges of the cost, he said planning could include contributions to cover the cost from donors and other departments involved in the expansion.

Next, Jenkins discussed another item going on the student referendum in October. Another potential plan for university expansion is a new student health center. Originally, the plan was to use the existing site to expand the health center, but with King Hall also on the list of buildings to be demolished, Jenkins said it was a “strong possibility” that the new facility could be built on that site.

Jenkins added that there were many

female care issues that the university is not equipped to handle in the current health center and hopes the new center will help that.

Jenkins said all research and student input have been gathered for the student health center and graphic renditions of what the building may look like will be available to students by August 22.

SGA Treasurer Jimmy Williams expressed concern over congested parking around the areas of planned construction. While Jenkins could not give a definite answer, he said some ideas in discussions of the LSC expansion were to use the hilly topography of campus to build parking underneath the building to address parking issues, similar to the parking at Sam Houston Village.

“There is no finality to any of these ideas,” Jenkins said. “These are just new ideas off the press.”

Other proposed plans Jenkins discussed were of a new special event center near the coliseum to house the alumni center, parts of the academic advisement center and a new ballroom.

While the special event center would have its advantages, Jenkins noted that the university would plan to use soft money such as outside contributions and grants, not student fee money, to fund the building on the new facility. As a result, he said the access of the building to students would be more limited.

Other potential construction plans include a new dining facility and residence hall on the south side of campus with new property purchased by the university.

Then, Jenkins updated SGA on other

smaller-scale updates to campus facilities. He noted that the university is installing artificial grass on Pritchett Field to combat previous problems with last year’s drought that caused an “unplayable” field.

The field, which costs around $1.1 million, will accommodate club sports, intramural teams and intercollegiate soccer teams. He said it will be completed by September 1.

Next, Jenkins confirmed the University Camp, the home of Bearkat Camp, will be under construction this fall to meet demand from student organizations to have a retreat site close to campus.

“There will be overnight accommodations for 200 people, a swimming pool and one large meeting room and we’re expanding the dining hall all for student organizations to utilize,” he said.

One big advantage he noted was that there will be no rental fee for students, only the costs procured on the site such as food. Jenkins said the estimated completion will be next spring or summer.

Lastly, Jenkins said the Agriculture Facility in I-45 will be moving to Gibbs Ranch on 75 North. Once the move is complete, there will be more room for more sports fields on the I-45 spot.

Jenkins seemed to have a positive outlook on the proposed plans for university expansion, and is hopeful the new additions will make the campus better for students.

“When students take pride in their institution, it reflects in every walk of their life,” he said. “It’s something a degree can’t measure sometimes.”

GEORGE MATTINGLYNews Editor

Stephen Green | The Houstonian

DECADE OF DEDICATION. Several other campus departments gathered in the SAM Center to celebrate its 10 year anniversary of service.

A wide array of desserts and treats were laid out as members of the campus community crowded the SAM Center to celebrate 10 years of service to students at Sam Houston State University.

As the name suggests, the SAM Center provides academic advising and mentoring to students, as well as time management and study skills sessions.

The SAM Center has achieved some hefty accomplishments since opening in 2002.

The National Academic Advising Association selected the SAM Center as a 2011 Outstanding Institutional Advising Program Certificate of Merit. Recipients of this merit are recognized for documenting innovative and/or exemplary practices resulting in improvement of academic advising service.

The SAM Center is accredited in much of SHSU’s increase in 4-year graduation rates, raising them from 17 percent of students

graduating in four years to the now close-to-state-average of 30 percent.

“I’ve been in education now for 45 years, and I’ve seen students change through the years,” Bill Fleming, Executive Director of the SAM Center, told the Texas Tribune.

“I really believe now that students need more nurturing by others than when I went to

school.”Fleming has been with the

SAM Center since it began; in fact, many of the original advising faculty members are still working there.

“I’ve been here the whole 10 years,” Wesley Boyd, Associate Director of Academic Advising, said. “We have a low turn-over rate for the people that work [at the center]. I think I have the best

job on campus, and that’s why: It’s fun.”

When the SAM Center opened, it was made up of 12 chosen faculty members from various disciplines and two professional advisers. Since 2005, eight additional advisers have been added, including one who serves as a traveling adviser who goes to feeder community colleges to advise students transferring to SHSU.

“It’s never a dull day,” Boyd said. “The freshman who just left my office with their mother has a different set of needs than the senior who is about to graduate that walked out moments before.”

Since its establishment, 16 universities have visited the SAM Center and some have even patterned their own centers after the SHSU model. It’s also been recognized twice in the U.S. News and World Report College Edition.

At the celebration President Dana Gibson spoke along with former university president James Gaertner. Neither could be reached at press time.

MCKINZIE BROCAILSenior Reporter

NATION & WORLD

Many have called for the removal of a statue on campus of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno after an extensive report on the case was released last week.

In contrast to recent reports that the Board of Trustees had reached a decision on the matter, the university released a statement on Sunday that denied any final decision had been made.

“Contrary to various reports, neither the Board of Trustees nor University Administration has taken a vote or made a decision regarding the Joe Paterno statue at Beaver Stadium,” the statement said.

Penn state denies decision over Paterno statue

Ford Motor Company is set to begin the recall of more than 10,000 Ford Escape SUV vehicles to repair paddng that could get in the way of braking.

The company said that the padding, which is wrongly positioned, could limit the space between pedals and cause drivers to hit the side the brake pedal when switching from the accelerator.

Ford said the recall covered about 8,200 vehicles in the U.S. Ford, about 2,000 vehicles in Canada and a couple of hundred in Mexico, according to a company spokeswoman.

The recall is expected to begin July 23.

Ford recalls more than 10,000 Ford Escape SUVs

Follow us today! @TheHoustonian

A cousin of George Zimmerman, the man charged with killing a black unarmed teen, told Florida authorities that he molested her for 10 years when they were children, according to evidence made public on Monday.

The release came after several attempts to keep it hidden by Zimmerman’s lawyer, Mark O’Mara. O’Mara believes the information is irrelavent to the case and should have been kept hidden because it could lead to “hostile publicity.”

The cousin said the incidents began when she was six and Zimmerman was eight. She said the last incident occured when she was 16.

Zimmerman accused of sexual assault of cousin

Visit our website!www.HoustonianOnline.com

Page 2: July 17, 2012

Page 2houstonianonline.com/viewpoints

Tuesday, July 17, 2012 Viewpoints

PAWS UP to the Student Advising and Mentoring (SAM) Center for celebrating 10 years of service to students.

The individual opinions on the Viewpoints page are not necessarily affiliated with the view of The Houstonian or SHSU. The Houstonian is temporarily published weekly on Tuesdays during the summer. It is a news publication of Sam Houston State University, a member of the Texas State University system and is produced by students. It is self-supporting and welcomes all advertisers. Those interested in placing ads or classifieds should call 936-294-1495. The Houstonian is a member of the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association and Associated Collegiate Press.

Summer Business StaffSummer Editorial Staff

George MattinglyNews/Viewpoints Editor

Molly WaddellA&E/Sports Editor

Matt FrazierWeb Editor

McKinzie BrocailSenior Reporter

Karen LeeFaculty Adviser

Chelsea BoydAdvertising Manager

Stephen GreenEditor-in-Chief936-294-1505

Paty MasonBusiness Manager936-294-1500

Brianna DrisdalePromotions Manager

PAWS UP

PAWS UP to below 90-degree temperatures for the past eight days.

PAWS UP to former Viewpoints Editor Karmen King for celebrating her day of origin on Sunday.

1789 - Robespierre, a deputy from Arras, France, decides to back the French Revolution.

1812 - Great Britain signs the reaty of Orebro, making peace with Russia and Sweden.

1861 - Union and Confederate troops skirmish at Blackburn’s Ford, Virginia, in a prelude to the Battle of Bull Run.

1862 - National cemeteries were authorized by the U.S. government on this day.

1867- Harvard School of Dental Medicine was established in Boston, MA. It was the first dental school in America.

1872 - The Ballot Act is passed in Great Britain, providing for secret election ballots.

1877 - Inventor Thomas Edison records the human voice for the first time.

1935 - Ethiopian King Haile Selassie urges his countrymen to fight to the last man against the invading Italian army.

1955 - Disneyland opened the gates to “The Happiest Place on Earth” in Anaheim, California.

July 17

1545-King Henry VIII of England watches his flagship, Mary Rose, capsize as it leaves to battle the French.

1743- The New York Weekly Journal published the first half-page newspaper ad.

1799-The Rosetta Stone, a tablet with hieroglyphic translations intoGreek, is found in Egypt.

1848- The first Women’s Rights Convention convenes in Seneca Falls, N.Y, organized by Lucretia Mott and Elizabeth Cady Stanton.

1870-France declares war on Prussia.

1976 - Nadia Comaneci, the 14-year-old star gymnast from Romania,stunned those watching the Olympic Games by executing perfect form to collect a perfect score of ‘10’ from the judges.

1992-America’s reigning pop princess Whitney Houston wed R&Bartist/bad boy Bobby Brown.

July 18

TODAY IN HISTORY

Visit our website!www.HoustonianOnline.com

Uniformly unjustMolly Waddell wants the U.S. Olympic Committee

to keep team uniforms homemade

Letter to the student bodyDear Sam Houston Students, Staff, Faculty and Alumni:

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

George MattinglyViewpoints [email protected]

This is in response to the “Below the Belt” editorial in the June 26 Houstonian. While the editorial writer is entitled to his/her opinion, I am compelled to call several issues to your attention. The first is a factual error.

You say “the curriculum committee is actually slimming the core down from its current 42 hours to 36.” This is false. The state mandates that every institution maintain a 42-hour core. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) has further mandated 36 of those hours, with each institution to decide how the remaining 6 hours will be allocated.

The charge of the SHSU Core Curriculum Committee was to make recommendations as to how the University should allocate the remaining 6 hours of the institutional option, NOT, as you say, “protecting a relatively small department.”

The committee is following their charge to follow the THECB guidelines to ensure that the core at SHSU provides students with competency in not only written communication, but also oral, aural, and visual communication.

The difficulty in doing so, is in balancing this with providing the other basic competencies at the same time. The committee is

trying to make recommendations as to how the University will use those remaining 6 hours in our core.

In the next phase, the Committee will establish guidelines for courses to be added to the various core components. Every course will need to be reviewed to determine if it is still appropriate for the core. These decisions will focus on the content of the course, not the department in which it is originating.

Two other errors need mention. If a Communication Studies class is added to the core, it does not have to be a single course that is added. Other universities have multiple choices from which students may choose.

As a matter of fact, SHSU is one of a very small minority of colleges and universities in Texas that do not require a Communication Studies class as part of the core. And many of them do give several options as to the speech/communication studies class the student may choose.

The other error is your proposal of adding to the core Coms 3372 for Nursing students. While this would undoubtedly be a fine addition to the Nursing program, it could not fit into the core since it is an advanced course, and only freshman and sophomore courses

can be included in the core.Finally, the entire tone of your

editorial is one of disparaging communication studies, both as a discipline and the SHSU department. Some of your opinions do not merit a reply. The discipline long predates the U.S. university system, with its origins in ancient Greece and Rome. At SHSU, our department has in excess of 150 majors and 100 minors.

Students apparently see much merit in our offerings. Our courses fill early every semester even without a required class in the core. And our faculty teaching evaluations are among the highest in the university. Your characterization of the department as one “struggling to maintain enough students to retain its degree plan” is without substance.

When you tackle important academic issues such as these, try to get your facts straight before spreading misinformation in your editorials. As I think of it, the title of your editorial was most appropriate. It was a blow below the belt.

*Professor Thibodeaux is a professor in the Communications Studies department.

Letter to the Editor: Below the BeltProfessor Terry Thibodeaux responds to staff editorial

on core curriculum changes

PAWS DOWN

PAWS DOWN to the non-enforcement of the campus wide tobacco policy, which has led to people continuing to smoke on campus.

PAWS DOWN to gas prices back on the rise. It was nice while it lasted.

PAWS DOWN to the recently-discoverd cicada killers near the Dan Rather building, causing the main entrance to be blocked.

The U.S. Olympic Committee has done a huge injustice on the Olympic Team. How they even thought they could get away with having the opening ceremony uniforms be made in China is beyond me.

After the announcement of the location of manufacturing people all over the U.S. became outraged, and rightfully so; not only is it unpatriotic but China is one of our biggest competitors in the Olympics.

What makes the situation worse is that Ralph Lauren, the creator of the uniforms, has manufacturing sites in the U.S. but according to them it is too expensive to make them here.

The Olympics is one of the many events that gives countries a chance to be patriotic, walking around in their nations colors and wearing the flag after winning the gold. On top of that “Make it in America” has been a huge trend the last couple of years with some companies vowing to only make their items in America and with American resources. There have also been houses made completely out of American materials, even though its more expensive patriotism has grown stronger and people are willing to do it.

Patriotism is not the only reason that these made in China uniforms are bad. It also has to do with job creation.

Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.): “It’s not just a label, it’s an economic solution,” Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) said. “Today there are 600,000 vacant manufacturing jobs in this country and the Olympic committee is outsourcing the

manufacturing of uniforms to China? That is not just outrageous, it’s just plain dumb. It is self-defeating.”

Sen. Bernie Sen. Sanders (D-Vt.) agrees with Israel.

“There is no reason why U.S. Olympic uniforms are not being manufactured in the U.S.,” Sanders said. “This action on the part of the U.S. Olympic Committee is symbolic of a disastrous trade policy which has cost us millions of decent-paying jobs and must be changed.”

To add salt on top of injury the Ralph Lauren logo is bigger than the American Flag and as 68-year old army veteran George Borgstede told the Star-Ledger, “It is the U.S. Olympic

team, not the Ralph Lauren team.”Ralph Lauren has said that this

year the uniforms will stay the same, but in 2014 they will be “local.” This is unacceptable.

The simple solution to this is to get rid of the uniforms and start over with American materials. Several small companies have offered to redo the uniforms and have them done in 2 weeks, but instead of going with this we will just keep them the same.

MOLLY WADDELLSports/Arts & Entertainment Editor

Page 3: July 17, 2012

Page 3houstonianonline.com/news

Tuesday, July 17, 2012Arts&Entertainment/Sports

Michael Vick, of the NFL, came out with a new clothing line to change his image as the dog fighter. It has been three years since Vick was

released from prison for his role in a dog fighting ring. “V7” is the

name of his new clothing line that acknowledges his sins with t-shirts

that read, “It’s not how you start, it’s how you finish.”

Michael Vick acknowledges his past image

Athletics department announces first football opponent

Bearkats on the ballotTwo SHSU football players named as contenders for

prestigious Walter Peyton Award

For the first time ever, two Bearkats were put on the ballot for the Walter Payton Award Thursday.

Tim Flanders was a late addition to the ballot last year, but this is the first time Richard Sincere has been on the list.

They are two out of 20 players in the Football Championship Subdivision to be recognized by the Sports Network as the top contenders to take this season’s honor.

“It feels good. Blessed. Happy,” Flanders said. “Last year got put on late and came in 7th. Not bad. I can always do better. Now I have the whole season. Everybody on that list are playmakers. But there is only one winner.”

In the 2011 season, Flanders ranked number four in the nation in scoring (144 points), number 16 on rushing (109.6 yards per game) and number 24 in all-purpose yards (137.2). In the Southland Conference Flanders set single season records for touchdowns (24), points, and rushing yards.

Flanders was named to six All-American squads following the 2011 season, including American Football Coaches Association and Associated Press. He was also named Southland Conference Player of the Year.

“I feel blessed and honored to be in the same category as some of the guys on the list,” Sincere said.

Sincere was the number three rusher in the SLC (979 yards), and number seven in scoring (78 points).

In 2011, Sincere was named

College Sporting News first-team All American and the SLC Offensive Player of the Year. He was also a first team All-Southland offensive section and two-time Southland “Offensive Player of the Week” (Central Arkansas and SFA).

“It is a heck of an honor for both of those guys and the football program,” head coach Willie Fritz said. “They each had a great year in 2011 and I think we will follow up with an even better year in 2012, as individuals and as a team.”

This is not the first time that there have been Bearkats on the Walter Payton Award ballot. Quarterback Dustin Long was the Payton Award runner-up in 2004. Quarterback Josh McCown finished seventh place in 2001. Other SHSU finalists were quarterback Chris Chaloupka 13th in 1999, quarterback Rhett Bomar 14th in 2008 and running

back D. D. Terry 16th in 2006.After the season, the most

outstanding player in the FCS will join a list of Payton Award greats such as Steve McNair, John Friesz, Brian Westbrook, Tony Romo, Brian Finneran, Armanti Edwards and 2011 winner Bo Levi Mitchell.

The Payton Award Watch List can undergo revision during the 2012 season. A panel of about 175 sports information and media relations directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries will receive the ballot after the regular season on November 19. The top three vote-getters will be invited to The Sports Network FCS Awards Presentation.

The Bearkats football season will start September 8 at 6 p.m. in the Elliot T. Bowers Stadium against The University of Incarnate Word.

MOLLY WADDELLSports/A&E Editor

The Sam Houston State University athletics announced new changes for the athletic department, according to gobearkats.com.

Brandt Kieschnick will now lead the golf team, Paul Ridings will be the new associate athletic director, and Terrence Rencher will be the new assistant men’s basketball coach.

Kieschnick graduated from SHSU as a four-time All-Southland performer and twice conference “Golfer of the Year.”

Kieschnick has served as first assistant golf professional at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity. His duties at the club included managing the golf operation; hired, trained and scheduled a staff of 30; conducted tournaments; served as a golf instructor and played PGA events.

Prior to working at the club, Kieschnick was the assistant golf coach at SHSU for two seasons from 2003-2005.

Kieschnick is a PGA professional who played four years as a touring pro following his graduation from SHSU. He was in the Tight Lies Tour, Hooters Tour, Nationwide tour, qualified for the 2006 and 2010 PGA National Assistants’ Championship and participated in the PGA Tour Qualifying School three times.

“Sam Houston State is extremely fortunate to hire an individual with playing experience at a high level and knowledge of the history and success of the Bearkat golf program,” director of SHSU athletics Bobby Williams said. Kieschnick is one of only three men golfers in SHSU sports history

to earn All-Southland Conference honors each of his four years of competition (1996-1999).

Kieschnick will officially begin his new job on August 1. He replaces Ronnie Choate who started the Bearkat golf program in 1961-62, retired in 1993-94 then returned to coach the program in 2007-08.

Ridings has been the director of the SHSU sports information department since July 1989.

Ridings oversaw the athletic department’s public relations activities, coordinated athletic publications, publicity, the athletic department website and statistical reporting to the SLC and the NCAA, during his 23 years at SHSU.

Before joining the Bearkat staff in 1989, Ridings served as assistant athletic director at Southern Utah State (1988-89), associate sports information director at SMU (1980-88), public relations director for the Dallas Tornado Soccer Team (1976-79), and sports information director at Trinity University (1971-75).

Rencher comes from Tulsa where he helped direct the Golden Hurricane to a 17-14 overall record and a third-place finish in the 2012 Conference USA race.

“We’re excited to be able to hire such a quality individual whose basketball background speaks for itself. Terrence brings a wealth of experience to Sam Houston State,” head basketball coach Jason Hooten said. “The leading all-time scorer for his alma mater, an NBA draft pick and playing professionally both in the NBA and in Europe - those all are wonderful experiences that he will bring to our basketball program. He will be a tremendous asset for

Bearkat basketball.”Rencher is a University of Texas

graduate where he was the all-time scoring leader at UT where he scored 2,306 career points and ranks sixth in career assists (440). As a freshman, he was named Dick Vitale’s National Freshman of the Year and the Southwest Conference Freshman of the year in 1992. His senior year ended where he was named as an all-conference selection in 1995.

During his career in the NBA, Rencher played point guard for for the Miami Heat and Phoenix Suns in 1955-96 and for the Florida Beach Dogs and Grand Rapids Hoops of the Continental Basketball Association form 1996-97. During his career in Europe from 1997 to 2006 Rancher was named “Most Valuable Player” in Italy and Germany and was a part of All Star team selections in Italy, Germany, Croatia and Israel.

Before Tulsa, Rencher coached two seasons as an assistant at Texas State University and was a graduate assistant under Rick Majerus at Saint Louis University.

After graduating college, Rencher was the 32 overall selection in the 1955 NBA draft by the Washington Bullets and played one season in the NBA with Miami and Phoenix.

MOLLY WADDELLLSports/A&E Editor

The Sam Houston State University football team will start off their 2012 season against the University of Incarnate Word Cardinals on Saturday Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. in the Elliot T. Bowers Stadium.

The Bearkats return 50 lettermen including 19 starters from the 2011 team that went 14-1, ranked number one in the nation, and reached the National Championship game in Frisco.

The Cardinals now compete as a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference, and finished their 2011 season 0-10. They began playing football in 2009.

Sixteen-year veteran of the NFL in a career that includes a Super Bowl Ring from his days with the Los Angeles Rams, Larry Kennan, is the new coach for Incarnate Word. His team has 21-fourth year players returning including 12 senior starters and six players who earned All-LSC honors.

Even though the loss to North Dakota State in Frisco last January ended a school record 16-game winning streak, the Bearkats still have a couple of streaks intact.

SHSU has won its last 10 home games, the longest streak in SHSU football history since the 15-game winning streak from 1985-1988.

The Bearkats have not lost a regular season game since losing to McNeese State in 2010.

Returning players include running back Tim Flanders who was SLC “Player of the Year;” Richard Sincere who was “Offensive Player of the Year;” safety Darnell Taylor who was “Defensive Player of the Year;” J.T. Cleveland and Dax Swanson who received All-American recognition.

Other players include quarterback Brian Bell; wide receiver Torrance Williams; defensive lineman Andrew Weaver and defensive backs Kenneth Jenkins and Robert Shaw.

Season tickets for Sam Houston State football now are on sale both online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets and at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium.

Season ticket holders are guaranteed seats for home games at Bowers Stadium, the “Battle of the Piney Woods” at Reliant Stadium Oct. 6.

Post-season playoff games at Bowers. Season ticket holders also have first priority on tickets for road games at Baylor and Texas A&M.

For more information, please call the Sam Houston athletic ticket office at (936) 294-1729. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

MOLLY WADDELLLSports/A&E Editor

Athletic department welcomes new faculty, staff members

facebook.com/TheHoustonianSHSU

Follow us today! @TheHoustonian

Visit our website!www.HoustonianOnline.com

ON TOP OF THE GAME. Tim Flanders and Richard Sincere are two out of 20 football players in the Football Championship Subdivision to be recognized by the Sports Networ as top contenders for this season’s Walter Peyton Award.

Jessica Gomez| The Houstonian

Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboy’s wide receiver was arrested over the weekend for domestic violence. The incident reportedly involved a woman that Bryant had been romantically involved with.

The details ofthe arrest are scarce and the Cowboys have no comment at this time.

Dez Bryant arrested for domestic violence

First Lady Michelle Obama denied President Obama a kiss on the ‘kiss-cam’ at the basketball game of the U.S. vs Brazil.

When the ‘kiss-cam’ first showed the Obama’s they missed it, when they were shown again the first lady wouldn’t kiss the president who appeared to lean in for a kiss. She just smiled then shook her head.

Obamas don’t kiss on kiss cam

Charlie Sheen announced Monday that he will be donating $1 million to the United Service Organizations. It is the largest single contribution ever from an individual.

The money will come from 1% of his profit from his new show Anger Management, which he guaranteeswill be at least $1 million.

Sheen to donate $1 milion to USO

At the ‘Dark Night’ premier in New York Monday night the movies stars kept plot details a secret.

The stars who were at the premier said they were threatened their life if they revealed anything about the movie. ‘Dark Night’ comes out Friday.

‘Dark Knight’ stars reveal no teasers

Page 4: July 17, 2012

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