Students and staff win Math, Chemistry and Physics department art contest

The Math, Chemistry and Physics department held an art contest to decorate their hall in the Classroom Center.

“We just moved in to this new area in the Classroom Center a couple of years ago and wanted to decorate the halls,” Nick Flynn, department head of the Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics department said. “Stacy Chase [instructor of Mathematics] came up with the idea and it is a good way to decorate the department.”

Flynn said the event was successful, which encouraged the department to make this contest an annual event.

“We are encouraged,” he said. “We had over ten submissions.”

The department planed to give awards to the first three places, however there was a tie for the third place.

The first place winner was Jesse Melson, a Music Education major. Second place was awarded to Chase Vernon. Tied for the third place was Linda Chenoweth, head of reference at the Cornette Library at WTAMU, and Social Work major Elena Vargas.

Vargas said she was excited when she heard she won third place.

“My art professor told me about it [the contest] Nov. 8 and it was due Nov. 10 so it was unexpected,” she said.

On the other hand, Chenoweth said she feels it is important for staff to also participate in this type of events.

“I think staff are not as visible as students,” she said. “It seemed an important thing that included faculty, staff and students.”

(L-R) Linda Chenoweth, Elena Vargas, Jesse Melson, Chase Vernon.

(L-R) Linda Chenoweth, Elena Vargas, Jesse Melson, Chase Vernon.

“Toys for Juarez” becomes a community toy drive

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On Dec. 14, Juan Gallardo, president of the WTAMU Hispanic Student Association, will be distributing toys to El Paso with other members of the organization. These toys will then go to “Realizando Sueños,” an organization that collects toys for children in Juarez, Mexico who have been impacted by the violence in the city.

“They [Realizando Sueños] had like 6,000 kids [last year], but they only collected 800 toys,” Gallardo said. “They sent over 5,000 kids back.”

He said the “Toys for Juarez” project started as a toy drop on campus and HSA expected to collect around 100 to 200 toys. However, after calling different companies around the community, the project got bigger.

“Our project got really big until we had an event not on campus, but that involved the whole community,” Gallardo said. “Our goal is now 5,000 toys because that is how many kids got sent back last year.”

Members of HSA will distribute the toys to El Paso and after that, the organization “Realizando Sueños” will take them to Juarez. Continue reading

Comedy Club Night to host Chad Daniels

On Nov. 29, CORE will be hosting Comedy Club Night in the JBK Legends. The show will feature Chad Daniels, who has performed on Comedy Central, the Late Late Show on CBS, and the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.

“The CORE office is always trying to give our students fun and interesting activities to enjoy,” CORE Advisor Stephanie Brackett said. “I asked some of my student consultants to get together and pick their favorite comedian to bring to campus.”

According to Brackett, there were comedy shows put on frequently when she was a student at WT. She was able to secure Daniels through her connections with several talent agents. Continue reading

Student Government hosts Mr. WT Pageant

On Nov. 16, WTAMU students gathered in the Jack B. Kelley Student Center to support the Mr. WT Pageant.

The Mr. WT Pageant is a show displaying the creativity, talent, and beauty of male WT students.  Student Body President Brandy Roberts and Student Government hosted the fundraising event catered to the Student Memorial Scholarship Fund.

“The Student Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship presented to a student in the same major of a student who has recently passed,” said Roberts.  “We grant the scholarship in the former student’s name as a way to honor them.”

Seven male contestants daringly walked the stage for three rounds hoping to wear the winning crown.

“We have a tie,” said Roberts into the microphone.  “And the winners are Sean O’Rear and Julio Marquez.”

Applause echoed in the JBK as both competitors were congratulated.  Other awards were given such as, ‘Mr. Congeniality’ and ‘Mr. Money Bags’ to two other participants.

“I was hoping to win, but was very surprised I actually did,” said Sean O’Rear, a History Education major.

Freshmen Nursing major Julio Marquez also admitted his surprise to winning and said he enjoyed being in the show.

“I had hopes [of winning] and dreamed big,” said Marquez.  “My favorite part of the show was being able to impress the ladies with my Enrique Iglesias song.  I not only sang it, I mastered it.”

Like the pageant contestants, audience members were also happy to support the cause.

Freshmen Music Therapy major Jonna Gallegos said she “loved the talent round [of the competition].  It was funny seeing what everyone had to bring.”

“The pageant had a better turn out than expected, it was a huge success,” said Roberts.

WT’s ASA teams up with the R-Word campaign

Photo courtesy of Alpha Sigma Alpha.

Photo courtesy of Alpha Sigma Alpha.

On Oct.18, Alpha Sigma Alpha teamed up with the R-Word’s “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign to help stop the used of the R-word.

“I feel that the ladies of Alpha Sigma Alpha all understand the importance of Spread the Word to End the Word,” Ashley Anne Paredes, freshman Music Business major and ASA president, said. “It is something simple that everyone can do.”

The R-word alluded to is the ‘retarded’. The word has become a part of everyday speech, whether it is used as an insult or even in a joking manner. Continue reading

WTAMU’s Tennis Club creates fun environment for players

Joe Tamayo plays in a practice match. Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog.

Joe Tamayo plays in a practice match. Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog.

In 2007, a group of WTAMU students created the WT Tennis Club.  Today, the club is still active and travels to events across the region to compete against both Division I and II schools.

However, the club’s main purpose is to give tennis players, both recreational and former competitive players, a chance to get back on the court.

“There are many, many high school tennis players — and even tennis stars — walking around on our campus who would enjoy playing at the club level against club teams from other universities,“ club sponsor Dr. James Hallmark said. “We want to get them involved. There are others who have played a great deal as they were growing up and are really good recreational players.  They too are welcome and have a place to be on our club.“ Continue reading

“Día de los Muertos” celebra la vida de los que fallecieron

as Sociales ya empezó a decorar para el Día de los Muertos. Photo by Alex Montoya.

as Sociales ya empezó a decorar para el Día de los Muertos. Photo by Alex Montoya.

Web Editor’s Note: To read this article in English, click here.

La segunda celebración anual por el Día de los Muertos en WTAMU se llevará acabo del 2 al 4 de Noviembre. El Departamento de Educación y Ciencias Sociales junto al Departamento de Consejeros Educativos son los anfitriones del evento.
Yvette Castillo, profesora en el Departamento de Educación dijo que en Oaxaca Mexico la celebración dura una semana.

“La gente va a los cementerios y honran la vida de aquellos que fallecieron, trabajan juntos como familia para limpiar el cementerio y traen ofrendas con objetos que eran especiales para aquellos seres que murieron,” dijo Castillo.

La primera celebración anual por el Día de los Muertos fue el año pasado. Castillo dijo que el departamento nunca imaginó que iban a tener tantos participantes. Continue reading

Ghost haunts Stafford Hall

Stories have spread on the WT campus about the haunting of Stafford Hall. Though details vary from person to person, the all female dorm has been rumored to be haunted by ghosts that like to disturb and scare the students.

“I haven’t seen a ghost, but you do get the sensation that one is around when no one else is around and something randomly goes wrong or a door shuts, and you know that no one is here,” Jennifer Pickens, senior Equine Business major, said.

According to Pickens, in one story a couple got into a fight at the end of units F and D, and the girlfriend was accidentally pushed down a spiral staircase. The floor is not quite level, and sometimes students get the sensation that they are falling when they walk in that area. It also occasionally smells like freshly popped popcorn because it is a snack the couple had been making on that night.

“My old roommate is scared to go up to H unit,” Pickens said. “She thinks it’s the most haunted unit in Stafford for the rumor that someone hung themselves up there.”

In some versions the student is a boy and in another it is a girl. The believed result is that the person now wanders around haunting the dorm.

“I don’t believe in ghosts or anything but I’ve heard stories,” Amanda Smith, junior Music Education major, said.

In a ghost story told to her, a serial killer was in the basement and attacked and killed a girl going to do her laundry.

“I’ve never felt anything,” Trazi Cooper, junior Math Education major, said.

Cooper has experienced the sensation of ghosts in her own home but never felt a presence when she roomed at Stafford Hall. Cooper has heard the popcorn story as well as a story about a ghost named Charlie.  Charlie is considered an active ghost who likes to move things around and open and close doors.

Also, Pickens mentioned that there are many cases of the fire alarm going off for no reason and with no plausible explanation.

Smith was told that an exorcism was executed in Stafford Hall in the past. She can see the crosses and holy oil still placed throughout the building.

“I do think it is very entertaining to say that Stafford is haunted whether it is or isn’t,” Pickens said.

WTAMU attracts athletes from around the world

Daniel Angloher plays against Midwestern State. Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog.

Daniel Angloher plays against Midwestern State. Photo by Melissa Bauer-Herzog.

While the United States has struggled with its political image in recent years, its reputation when it comes to college sports both for the athletes and the fans is still intact. And this reputation can be credited for attracting college athletes from all over the world.

“The fans are way more fanatical than [Thailand] but I love it. It’s so fun to be out there and play a sport or even be in the crowd. It’s just fun, I love it,” golfer Hammerli Sriyai said.

America places a lot of significance on college athletics, offering college scholarships that aren’t available to athletes in other countries. This, among other reasons, attracts international athletes to colleges all over the US.

WTAMU doesn’t escape the notice of these athletes when they make their college choices. Continue reading

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