Photo courtesy of SAGE

On March 2, 2008, Oprah Winfrey debuted her philanthropic reality show “The Big Give.” In every episode, competitors in the television series would travel to different U.S. cities, donate to special organizations, assist in several service projects and empower people in socio-economic needs.

Unfortunately the program only lasted one season; however, the concept still thrives, especially through S.A.G.E. (Students Assisting In Good Endeavors) here at WTAMU.

For the past two years, S.A.G.E. has perpetuated what Oprah started causing a stir in campus activity.  Last Saturday, five campus organizations gathered together and targeted the needs of people in the Canyon-Amarillo area.

“This is our second year, and we’re only getting better,” Brittni Henderson, co-chair of Buffalo Big Give, said. “We set up this event on National Make a Difference Day, and we hoped to really make a change within the community. We want to help transform this area and instill a little more happiness.”

S.A.G.E encourages campus organizations to be more involved within the community and believes that Big Give can be a possible apparatus.

“This year, we had a couple of Greek societies and people from the eternal flame,” Henderson said, “but there wasn’t a huge turnout. We really want people to join in next year.”

Groups can only spend one hundred dollars on their idea. If they have the best presentation, their organization will receive five hundred dollars for their general fund.

“One team gave out pumpkins this year to kids in a hospital,” Andrew Mastriano, co-chair of Buffalo Big Give, said. “Last year, the WT football team went and played basketball with kids who just really needed that experience. Whatever we do, we do it for the people.”

The main goal of Big Give is to allow campus organizations to see the people in the area and witness the lives of people who need a positive encounter.

“We want to make an impact,” Mastriano said. “S.A.G.E. directs the people and orchestrates the event, so we often times don’t get to witness the impact; however, we get to hear the stories of lives being changed by just one visit.”

“F-R-E-E, that spells free-
Credit report dot com, baby
Saw their ads on my TV
Thought about going but was too lazy
Now instead of looking fly and rollin’ phat
My legs are sticking to the vinyl and my
posse’s getting laughed at.”

Those lyrics bombard almost every station on your television. From the “Renaissance Fair,” to “Bicycles,” every new skit has a catchy jingle that separates these ads from the competitors, even the “caveman” campaign.

This year Maroon Productions decided to select this parody by launching a series of videos seen on the WTAMU home page.

Dr. Leigh Browning, director of broadcasting, decided to take this idea and build the level of attention it could create on campus. By calling and speaking with different representatives of Free Credit Report, she opened the doors to several possibilities.

“We are so excited,” Browning, said. “The ad agency hooked us up with the Free Credit Report Company and they were excited as well.”

Creating a partnership between WTAMU and this company enhances the broadcasting department through several compliments and future goals.

“They are posting our videos on their site and on their Facebook pages in the not too distant future,” Browning said. “This means national exposure to the University, but more importantly, it means we have to bring our ‘A’ game to the forefront on this one.”

The beginning of the year looked bountiful, especially when discussing the opportunities Maroon Productions could experiment with and try out.

“The crew was sitting around a table considering everything from a takeoff of a reality show, to sports, to scripted drama,” Browning said. “Then one of them mentioned Free Credit Report.com and everyone lit up! That was it, and we were off and running with the new campaign.”

Maroon Productions plans to increase its level of commitment in order to keep on giving out national quality, but also to see their planned partnership do well.

“I think everyone is excited to see what happens in the next couple of months,” Amie Merydith, Maroon Productions director, said. “We’ve been in communication with Free Credit Report and they’re equally excited about the campaign.”

Hoping to see the Credit Report Band on campus, Dr. Browning and Maroon Productions want to open its studio to have the company show up and do a commercial on campus.

“We want them to join us in this campaign,” Merydith said. “And hopefully they can put us on their Youtube website.”

Now that the campaign is starting to lift off into something grander, Dr. Browning hopes to see the students reach their potential.

“This is their campaign,” Dr. Browning said. “I have assisted with production logistics and technical considerations, etc., and my only contribution to the lyrics has been two words, ‘fo sho.’”

“Other than that, students write all lyrics and decide concepts. They went through training at the beginning of school on university branding, and they know they have to cover certain things, but the creative freedom on this project is pretty high.”

PHOTO | DINO GRIEGO - Artist's rendering of the remodeled JBK

Dino Griego
Staff Writer

Since 1910, West Texas A&M University has continually been seeing change. Financially, the college gives people a great degree for a great price. On a global scale, the administration makes sure that the technology is up-to-date and competitive at a national level. From a top of the line HD studio, to a newly renovated classroom center, to an up and coming sports complex, WT makes strides to enhance the future.

During Oct. 6-7, students will vote on another progressive motion–the JBK expansion. Last year the referendum failed, leaving a logistical nightmare for the influx of college freshmen. However, this year people are looking hopeful to see a significant change.

“We built the Jack B. Kelly student center to accommodate approximately 6,000 people,” Dr. Don Albrecht, vice president for student services, said. “Now, we’re having to use that space to provide for almost 8,000 students and falculty. We don’t have enough room.”

With such a big project at hand, people are hesitant to vote for a potentially high fee increase, an increase most collegiate students do not want to pay.

Others have concern about incoming freshmen and their participation in voting. The campus stresses not working for the first semester and a fee increase could be costly in years to come.

“If we wait any longer, the cost to build will only be more expensive in the future,” Albrecht said. “This increase is modest compared to other endeavors this University has had to make. The fee is an affordable price.”

Having more students on campus reflects a working community, a community where communication trickles down from the president to the students. Still, having so many people on campus without accommodating them doesn’t shed a positive light for WT.

“Everyday the JBK reaches its full potential,” Albrecht said. “We’re more crowded than ever. Our organizations have less space. People have to wait longer for our services.”

“Could we live without the renovations? Yes. But would the JBK expansion allow us to better utilize the facility–definitely.”

In order for the referendum to be voted on by the students, the WTAMU Student Senate had to argue over this issue.

“We had several heated debates,” Tim Vela, president of student senate, said. “We wanted to give the best possible referendum available, and that meant we had to hash out all of the lesser points.”

“We worked hard, and each senator had their opinion, but ultimately we decided it was time to let the students put their voice to use.”

As part of student government, Kenny Clift, a sophomore corporate communications major, finds the issue very easy to settle.

“Basically we’re overburdened,” Clift said. “When we’re reaching a critical level and not able to satisfy the needs of each student, change must happen.”

“Am I happy about the fee increase? Not really, but I will do my part to make WT a better college, that should go without saying.”

For more information about the fee increases, Dr. Albrecht has information in his office located inside the JBK.

“If I had to tell a student who was on the fence one thing,” Albrecht said, “The time to build is now.”

PHOTO | DINO GRIEGO - The current JBK

Readership WT Selections: 2006 - 2009

Dino Griego
Staff Reporter

The Plans
Walking down the streets of Turkey, each student feels a sense of awe, wonder and excitement.

As they meet the family they’ll be staying with, another emotion sets in–doubt. How will they accomplish all of their goals? Are they ready both emotionally and physically? Is their capacity to understand the world around them already at its limit? Did their class adequately prepare them for the road ahead?

Without letting them falter, their leaders encourage them, allowing the students to believe in themselves and  empowering them to see the scope of the world through a different lens.

The Ideas
The goal of Readership WTAMU is to help broaden horizons.

This year, the story revolves around Khaled Hosseini’s book “A Thousand Splendid Suns.”

This program, in its fifth year, helps introduce incoming freshmen under a broad theme.

As students begin acclimating into college life, the common reader unites people in the core curriculum to share an experience. To further the educational goals of the program, two years ago WT added a traveling component that took people across international waters.

With Elie Wisel’s “Night,” Readership ambassadors went to Poland and learned about the Holocaust, visited concentration camps and witnessed a small portion of an immense suffering.

Last year, Valentino Ding visited the WT campus and discussed the hardships of being a “lost boy.” After reading “What is the What” by Dave Eggers, the Readership ambassadors went to Africa and served. They did mission projects, built latrines, and taught about water sanitation, Malaria and AIDS prevention.

In “A Thousand Splendid Suns” Hosseni opens up a conversation dealing with the lack of women’s rights in Afghanistan. The students this year will literally be creating a movement by helping change the way a whole society views a specific demographic.

“I came up with this idea based off an experience I had as a student at WT,” Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, associate provost for academic affairs and director of Readership WT, said. “I went to New York City with some fellow students and dived into a completely different world. With that idea in mind, I wanted students to see a world beyond the Panhandle.”

The Hopes
The shock that awaits these new ambassadors will only widen as they realize the cultural barriers from Turkey and how they relate to America.

“I hope to contextualize the world for our new ambassadors,” Lowery-Hart, said. “I want these freshmen to notice that the big problems over there, are really big problems over here as well. We need to focus on the ‘big picture’ and see how it affects the smaller picture.”

While the importance of “A Thousand Splendid Suns” reaches all aspects of a typical American life, this trip will open up doors to engross themselves within the culture.

“Afghanistan is a vital part of national security,” Lower-Hart said. “We see this issue on the news everyday. Right now we’re debating whether or not to send more troops into Afghanistan. By going to a city where Afghan refugees reside, we will be able to understand the conflict in Afghanistan a little better. I find this to be a very important educational journey.”

The Experiences
As a Readership ambassador to Africa,  Stayce Perez, sophomore nursing major, understands the impacts such a trip can have.

“I feel honored to be called a WT Readership Ambassador,” Perez said. “Africa will always be my trip, but I’m so excited that the new freshmen will be going to help fight for women’s rights. I’m even a little envious that they get to sleep in caves.”

In order to participate in the contest:

1. Step one: Be a freshman.
2. Step two: Write a 1000-1500 word essay describing how the book impacted you. Not a summary, but a response. How did this book relate to your life for example.
3. Step three: Meet the deadline. The reflective essay must be turned in by Sept. 24

“If I had to tell this class one thing,” Perez said, “I would tell them to put one foot in front of the other and give it their all. When I sent in my paper, I had no idea I would go to Africa. Even if you doubt yourself, your abilities or your confidence, still go for it. You never know what will happen.”

The Goals
Ultimately what this trip comes down to is a personal development and finding a small part of you in a worldwide concept.

“I think these topics are worthy of a campus community,” Lowery-Hart said. “I want students to develop a solid responsibility to improve lives.

What is happening with women in Afghanistan has an effect of the lives here in Canyon. We need to see this culture because understanding is the first step to solving.”