PHOTO BY RIK ANDERSON

Andrea Findley
Editor

Taking his interest in government abroad, Dr. Dave Rausch, associate professor of political science, will head to Germany in June for the 2009 Fulbright German Studies Seminar.

The Fulbright Seminar will be an intensive learning experience about German government titled, “German’s Future: New Parties—New Solutions?”

The 14 individuals chosen to go will begin in Berlin, then travel to Erfort and end their experience in Frankfurt am Main.
Rausch will spend two weeks in Germany, discussing common voting practices, the role of the Bundestag, or Germany’s parliament, and also the country’s decisions with immigration.

Participants will also learn about new social and cultural trends in Germany, tackling issues such as education, demography, environment and energy policies.

“I’ve always been fascinated with Germany,” Rausch said. “I applied because I wanted to learn more about the new political atmosphere that is occurring in Germany right now.”

Rausch plans to incorporate the knowledge he gains while at the seminar into his classes.

“Germany is one of the three big players in Europe, along with France and Great Britain,” Rausch said.

Knowing more about Germany helps me build a good comparison of these three countries. Germany has an interesting election system where you vote twice, once for an individual candidate and then for a party. It will be interesting to take a close look at their election system and then use that in my parliamentary government class.”

Rausch joined the department of political science and criminal justice in 1998.

Dr. James Calvi, political science professor and Rausch’s colleague, said that Rausch continually tries to engage his students.

“He’s one of those people that eats, sleeps and breathes political science,” Calvi said. “It shows in the classroom that he loves what he is doing. Even in his online classes he tries to get students involved in their local government by having them attend meetings such as school board or city commissioner meetings.”

The Fulbright Program was established in 1946 and enables scholars to teach, research and learn about other countries. The program is designed to build mutual understanding of international issues.

Andrea Findley
Editor

WTAMU Student in Free Enterprise (SIFE) will compete at the SIFE USA National Exposition May 10-13 in Philadelphia, Penn. after receiving 15 consecutive wins at Regional Competition this month.

SIFE is an organization that allows business-minded students to reach out to their local and world communities through civic projects.

Jean Walker, finance instructor and SIFE adviser, had been with the program since it began in 1994.

“SIFE has been a growing organization over the past few years,” Walker said. “We have a nucleus of students that come in as freshman or sophomores and stay for several years, so there’s always strong continual leadership.”

The team is a diverse group of students with members from several countries including Ecuador, Bolivia, Trinidad & Tobago, Vietnam, Russia and Mexico.

Carolina Barbery, senior management major and co-president of SIFE, came to WT from Bolivia and helped execute the team’s Bolivian Bottle House project.

This project gained recognition among the top 20 teams at regional competition in the Environmental Sustainability Individual Competition. The team was also a top 20 finalist in the Program Sustainability Competition.

This is SIFE’s second year to be involved with the Bottle House project, first building a functional house made out of glass and plastic bottles for orphans and currently constructing a bathroom and kitchen for a mother and her three children.

“SIFE has changed my college experience dramatically,” Barbery said. “I joined three years ago and though I had tried to help others on my own, I now have a really good group of friends with the same aspirations to impact others. In SIFE, we empower so many people and learn invaluable skills in communication, leadership and presentation.”

The team is focused on national competition where they will give a formal video presentation in front of judges that reflects their efforts in market economics, success skills, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, business ethics and environmental sustainability.

At nationals, large and small universities compete against one another the first day to send 16 teams to the second day of competition.

SIFE has more than 60 members and will be taking 37 to national competition.

“Competition is a place for team bonding and idea generation,” Walker said. “SIFE is really about doing projects that benefit other people and what impresses me most about these students is that they have a passion for helping people through these projects.”

Andrea Findley
Editor

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS | Karl Rove with Former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.

Culminating the final year of college for 2009 graduates, Karl Rove will be in Canyon to give a pre-commencement address at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8 at the First United Bank Center.

Rove served as an active part of the Bush Administration as senior adviser from 2000-2007 and deputy chief of staff from 2004-2007.

At the White House, Rove oversaw the offices of Strategic Initiatives, Political Affairs, Public Liaison and Intergovernmental Affairs. He also managed the White House policymaking process as deputy chief of staff for policy.

After resigning from the White House in August 2007, Rove continued participating in the political realm as a contributor to the Fox News Channel, columnist for “The Wall Street Journal” and “Newsweek.”

University President Dr. J. Patrick O’Brien is in charge of choosing the commencement speaker. With a recommendation from Student Government President Amy Thomson, former president George H. W. Bush was also a possible speaker for commencement.

O’Brien said Rove was chosen to hopefully begin a trend of nationally known speakers at spring commencement activities in the future.

O’Brien said that in the past, commencement speakers have been locally known individuals, but that the University hopes to continue bringing more nationally known speakers to all of WTAMU events.

“He [Rove] is an extremely well know individual,” O’Brien said. “I hope he will challenge graduates to strive for excellence and engage in public service.”

Before Rove made his way to presidential politics, he was president of Karl Rove + Company, a public affairs firm that dealt with Republican candidates, non-partisan causes and non-profits.

Rove has also taught graduate students at University of Texas (UT) Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs and UT undergraduates in the journalism and government departments.

He has been a member of the boards of regents for two Texas state universities. Rove’s pre-commencement address is open to the community and free to attend.

Web Editor’s Note: Make your voice heard! Vote on our poll about Rove’s address.

Andrea Findley
Editor

My final semester at WTAMU has been an adventure.

As a senior, I have attempted to be a real adult for once and leave the drinking games and embarrassing weekend stories behind me.

Unfortunately, last Saturday added to my list of “Oh my gosh” stories.

I’m doing an internship at a local TV station, and as all interns know, life isn’t always fun as an intern.

My supervisor asked me if I’d be the Easter Bunny at the Spanish station’s annual Easter Egg Hunt. Like usual, I didn’t think through my answer before I said “Sure, that’ll be fun.”

For the record, I do not speak Spanish.

As soon at I arrived at the park, I realized this was a day I’d never forget. Kids were already playing and Tejano music was blasting from the DJ’s speakers.

Soon, I found myself in the back of a van…putting on a huge white bunny head and fake bunny slippers. We had slyly hidden the bunny costume in a box as we toted it around so the kids’ fantasy of the Easter Bunny wouldn’t be crushed.

Once inside the costume, it felt like I had smoke something earlier in the day. Everything felt heavy and disproportionate.

I couldn’t see anywhere except directly in front of me and the wind kept throwing my bunny head backwards—almost tipping me over completely.

Despite those facts, the second I stepped out into the open field I felt awesome. I’ve never felt that loved in my life. Everybody wanted a hug and a photo with me —The Easter Bunny.
One little girl was attached to my bunny legs every time I looked down, while other kids would have nothing to do with the Easter Bunny.

And, honestly the whole concept of a gigantic bunny that hides eggs for little kids is creepy.

The anchor eventually dragged me up to the front and started telling me stuff to do.

Again, I don’t speak Spanish. After a few minutes of complete confusion, I just started dancing. I thought maybe in her millions of words she had said tango.

I assume that’s what she said because as soon as I shook my little bunny tail everyone started cheering.

After that, I continued to take some more photos with the kids. As a natural reaction, I kept smiling for each photo even though no one could see my face.

Now, it was time for the official Easter Egg Hunt. I was taken to the front of the crowd and told, this time in English, “They want you to put up your arms and when you’re ready for the kids to go, put your hands down.” Simple enough.
I did just that — I put my hands up and then put them down after a few seconds. Instantly, I hear the event organizers behind me yell “OH NO!”

I was supposed to wait until they counted to three. I wasn’t told this and if they had counted to three I don’t know if I’d have caught on to “Uno, dos, tres.”

After that I was ready to go. Sometime during the day, I had noticed several very peculiar hairs imbedded in the lining of the bunny head and was anxious to get out of it and take a shower.

Overall, I wouldn’t trade being the most loved person in that park for anything.

Andrea Findley
Editor

Last week Jay Leno made television history when President Obama went on “The Tonight Show.”

There has never been a sitting president on a late night TV show before. Leave it to Obama to break the barrier—that seems to be his trademark.

As a devoted Leno fan, I watched the monologue with anxious excitement.

This was a big deal, especially for my generation. We seem to live and breathe through alternative news. Traditional news just isn’t cutting it for us anymore. News is better with a big cynical dose of humor.

I like watching Obama speak, he’s definitely gifted at maintaining his audience’s attention.

Although, this was a different kind of interview—he wasn’t just going on Leno to goof around.

It was Obama’s first real discussion about the AIG (American International Group, Inc.) bonuses.

The whole atmosphere of late night television gave Obama an advantage.

Honestly, I would have half-heartily sat through Obama’s same speech if it had been in front of a podium.

With Leno there, asking questions I want to know, it made it easier to digest Obama’s answers.

Along with the rest of us, I’m fuming about the arrogance and irresponsibility of AIG.

I blame the president and his administration and I want him to admit it.

Granted, he wasn’t in power when the contracts were signed, but he’s the one that has to fix it.

I wanted him to say, “Go ahead—blame me.”

He didn’t outright say that, but he didn’t pass the blame either.

I think as Americans that’s all we really want anyway, we want our leader to be honest.

And that’s what he did.

He was honest and human.

He didn’t talk down to viewers.

He gave simple and direct answers and put me more at ease about the economic crisis.

I’m still unsure if he can follow through with his campaign promises, but I haven’t lost hope.

Leno devoted about 20 minutes to the interview and asked more journalistic questions than usual. Leno didn’t hold back. He asked questions that probably made Obama gulp before answering.

My favorite Leno comment was, “It’s frightening that the government can decide to tax these bonuses 90 percent. That could mean the government can decide to tax anyone like that…”

Of course President Obama gave a very political answer, but it made me feel good that Leno could ask something like that without a publicist pulling Obama out of the studio.

The ideas Obama discussed for the future could really make a difference if they get changed.

He talked about changing laws so credit card companies could no longer financially rape consumers.

He discussed the advantage of rewarding careers in medicine and education instead of having college students flock to investment banking.

He pushed opening credit lines for student loans and small businesses outside of the banking system.

There’s always something to criticize, though.

Obama made a comment about his 129 bowling score being “like the Special Olympics or something”—obviously offensive to those in the Special Olympics.

(He later apologized to the chairman of the Special Olympics.)

Not to mention Obama’s references to Air Force One.

There’s so much money that goes into maintaining the President’s lifestyle (the White House makeover, his expensive suits and travel accommodations) it seems almost ironic for him to talk about the struggling economy.

But, in today’s world, we wouldn’t respect someone who didn’t seem to have it all.

That’s probably half of the reason he was elected in the first place—with a picture perfect family and successful career, Americans were intrigued with Obama. We want that, we want something better than right now—he’s our symbol of hope.

Overall, the interview was a genius strategic move.

The people behind the President recognize that today’s political-minded Americans aren’t always trapped inside political pundits and evening news shows.

Some may call our generation lazy for getting our news from comedic outlets, but shows like “Late Night” and “The Daily Show” are more honest than traditional news.

This interview didn’t reach people who don’t watch “Late Night,” but for people who do, it was acknowledgment from the President that we still matter.

E-coli bacteria. Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

Andrea Findley
Editor

Among countless research endeavors Dr. Guy Loneragan, associate professor of animal science, has hit a milestone for the beef industry through a collaborative research project with Kansas State University.

Loneragan, along with Dr. Dan Thomson of KSU, recently received approval from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for a conditional license for the first E. coli vaccine for cattle.

The vaccine, E. coli O157 Bacterial Extract, not only changes the beef industry, but also benefits the everyday beef consumer.

E. coli O157 does not make cattle sick, but each year the bacteria effects 70,000 people in the U.S. , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Most people recover, but serious complications can result such as kidney failure. Usually contaminated beef is the culprit for E. coli related illnesses.

“Consumers in the U.S. are very lucky because they have the safest food supply anywhere,” Loneragan said. “But as we have seen with salmonella in peanut butter, it’s certainly not perfect. To maintain the consumer’s confidence in products we need to help improve these instances that are not perfect. This is another step to ensure consumers can be confident that we are expending all efforts to develop the best interventions to maintain and enhance the safety of beef.”

As for the beef industry—this development has been a long-awaited goal.

“The beef industry have been investing millions of dollars in the last two decades or more into interventions to improve and enhance the safety of beef,” Loneragan said. “Most of the interventions have been impacting plants. The goal has recently been to develop interventions that we can use in live animals so we can improve the efficiency of the interventions in the plant.”

Sample collecting was conducted in a real-world setting in a commercial feedlot in southwest Kansas over a 98-day period.

Thomson and KSU students randomized cattle to either receive the vaccine or to receive a placebo.

Ten pens of 60 to 70 cattle received the vaccine and 10 pens did not. (Each animal was vaccinated or received the placebo 3 times).

The results show cattle with the vaccine are 85 percent more likely to shed E. coli O157 than cattle that received the placebo. Not only that, but if the cattle still shed bacteria they shed 98 percent less concentration of bacteria.

“During the years leading up the actual sample collecting, we worked on optimizing the protocol,” Loneragan said. “After the samples were collected they were analyzed for E. coli and the data was sent to me for analysis and for me to write the report.”

Funding totaled $150,000, which was co-founded by the manufacturer, Epitopix, as well as the beef industry.

Combined efforts of the beef industry have totaled $20 million, while private entities have spent more than 10 times that amount.

The vaccine will enter commercial use this month, but it will take several months before it’s readily available.