The Skyline Newspaper

Photo: Astronomy student Kyle Todd assists with telescope set up. Photo by Robbie McDaniel

Astronomy Program Hosts Star Party

By Robbie McDaniel
Skyline Reporter

The Sul Ross Astronomy program hosted a star party on Friday evening at the circle turnaround near Lobo Village #7. Rick Villarreal, teaching assistant with the Department of Earth & Physical Sciences conducted the program.
Astronomy and other students, faculty, staff and community members were in attendance.

Two telescopes were aimed at the heavens under the 1st quarter moon, shining brightly against the southern sky.

One view showed a closeup of our nearest astronomical neighbor, detailing craters and marias (those dark spots) on the bright portion of the moon. It has been said that the moon resembles "green cheese." It really looked like a big ball of concrete, with a severely pock-marked face. These blemishes are the result of pummeling by many solid bodies upon the Moon's surface in her formative years…eons ago. Astronaut Buzz Aldrin described it as a place of "magnificent desolation."

The planet Jupiter appeared as a bright star in the southwestern sky. Telescopic viewing revealed several of her moons, in aligned orbits.

When the stars began to reveal themselves, Rick gave a descriptive tour of the constellations. With the familiar "Big & Little Dippers" remaining below our horizon, the brightest and boldest of the night was "Cassiopeia – The Seated Queen." She appeared in the northeastern sky as a giant, lopsided "W."

From there, the tour proceeded with other, somewhat less vibrant constellations in the Perseus group, including other members of the "royal family"- "Cepheus – the King" and "The Princess – Andromeda." "Lacerta – The Lizard" was given the new, updated title of "Geico" by a creative member of the audience.

The evening was wrapped up with a telescopic view of the spiral Andromeda galaxy, our nearest large neighbor, at 2.5 million light years away and containing hundreds of billions of stars.

In the words of Marcus Aurelius (121-180 CE), "The universe is change; our life is what our thoughts make it."

Under the beautiful starry night sky, thoughts of the immensity of our planetary backyard, stretch the boundaries of imagination.

Ted Scown And Days Of Football Passed

By Andrew Ross
Skyline Reporter

In 1948, the Sul Ross State University Lobo football team accepted a bid to play in the third ever Tangerine Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

It would be a long way by bus from Alpine to Orlando for the Lobos, but as former player Ted Scown put it: "It wasn't that bad of a deal."

And for the 1948 Lobos, it truly was not. In a season that ended with the Lobos as the only undefeated team in the football-crazed state of Texas, and one of only twenty-six in the nation, the diverse team of World War II veterans and young recruits who had missed the draft outscored their opponents 431 to 113.

Scown, who grew up in Monahans and has remained in Alpine after two years of service in the Korean conflict, was the nation's leading scorer at halfback for the Lobos, racking up twenty-four touchdowns in ten games. He earned a place on the Little All-American team for Divisions II and III NAIA players, along with guard John Waldrum.

Scown recalled the five day bus trip to Orlando that included a stop "somewhere between Del Rio and San Antonio" for a barbecue hosted by the family of a cheerleader.

When they reached the Tangerine Bowl, they suited up in mostly leather helmets "though we did have a few of the new plastic ones by then," Scown added.

They were to play the Murray State Thoroughbreds from Murray, Kentucky. The Lobos went up 21-0 early on but Murray State, led by their MVP Dale McDaniels fought back late and when it was all said and done the Lobos walked away with a 21-21 tie game.

Scown ended up splitting MVP honors with Murray State's McDaniels and came back to Alpine as humble as ever. When asked how it felt to become the nation's leading scorer, an All-American, and a bowl-game MVP in only his sophomore season, Scown replied, "Oh, I felt 'bout the same."

But very few things are the same anymore. The Tangerine Bowl has become the Capital One Bowl and bigger names, like Peyton Manning, have held MVP honors. Helmets now have facemasks and instead of a seventy-five piece band, Sul Ross now has a few valiant volunteers. Our football program no longer offers to give the same room, board, and tuition scholarships that the 1948-49 football team received (not to mention a monthly $10 stipend "to just kind of blow off," as Scown put it.)

What has remained unchanged however is the heart of the Lobo football team. This season has seen two stunning overtime wins and the Lobos have already matched last year's win total.

The Lobos have three games remaining and a chance at the playoffs on the line...not too bad of a deal, as Scown might say.

"Evening of the Arts" Series Continues Nov. 2

On Friday, November 2, 2007, at Sul Ross University, the second event in this semester's continuing series entitled "An Evening of the Arts" will be presented. These outstanding programs -- a joint effort of the Theater, Music, and Art Divisions of the Department of Fine Arts and Communications -- include a concert of fine music, an art exhibit, a reception, and a theater production.

Beginning at 6:30 p.m., in Marshall Auditorium. Erin Lippard, mezzo-soprano, (Instructor), Michael Lippard, clarinetist (Lecturer and Director of the Sul Ross Concert Band and Jazz Ensemble), and Dr. Justin Badgerow, pianist (Assistant Professor), will perform compositions by Mozart, Rodrigo, Bernstein, McCabe, Weiner, and Bliss. Admission is free.

At 7:30 p.m., in the Francois Fine Arts Building, a reception will be held in conjunction with a gallery exhibition featuring the art work of Denise S. Ortega, a senior art major. Miss Ortega's work will be displayed in the Art Gallery from October 29 through November 9.

At 8:15 p.m. the award winning musical production of "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," by Clark Gesner, will be presented in the Studio Theater of the Francois Fine Arts Building.

Tickets for the musical theater production are $8.00 for adults and $6.00 for children and senior citizens. Sul Ross faculty, staff and students receive complimentary admission with a current I.D. card. Activity card holders are admitted at half price.

Next week's "Evening of the Arts" is an exciting opportunity for the citizens of Alpine to experience the finest in entertainment, presented by world-class artists from our own community.

Student Leaders See Stars: As Logo For QEP

Student leaders who have been serving on the SRSU Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) committee as well as others representing Student Government, Student Athletic Association Council, and other major student groups, met this week and chose the Milky Way galaxy as a logo for the project.

"Stars is a good logo for us because we all strive to be the best at what we do and associate reaching for the stars with being the best we can be," said student committee member Will Montano.

The QEP, "Enhancing Academic Learning through Student Engagement," is the result of the past year and a half's work by a large committee working on SRSU's upcoming reaccreditation review. Student leaders have been charged with publicizing the project that covers three major areas: enhancing the use of West Texas in learning, encouraging individual ideas to inspire student engagement, and organizing seminars for faculty development.

The idea began with student QEP member, Moises Morales, who said he was willing to "step out" of his role as a SRSU basketball player during half-time (if the coach approves) to grab a microphone and help promote the project. Student leaders have volunteered to wear star badges as a visible trigger for making themselves available to questions. They will also be passing out stars to others who are interested in becoming part of the SRSU All-Stars. Their goal is to have everyone on campus wearing stars by the time the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools visits campus in the spring.

Stars represent one of the real assets of West Texas as well as providing guidance, inspiration, mystery, a sense of humility, and all of the many themes that run through the QEP. From the Star of Bethlehem to "Star Wars" to rodeo stars, from black holes to nebulas, stars provide numerous creative promotional opportunities. Our galaxy also provides a visual reminder that we are all in this project together and that being a "star" actually means being one in a million, each unique, and each making an important contribution. When photographed by NASA, the Milky Way even appears to be wearing Lobo red.

"Stars represent Texas and being one piece of the universe. We can all come together and reach our full potential," committee member Kenzi Miller said.

The night sky is also full of Lobos. In addition to the Lupus Constellation and Canis Major, according to a Pawnee legend, Sirius is the Wolf Star and travels the Wolf Road (the Milky Way). The Wolf Star, jealous over not being invited to the council of animals held to decide how the Earth was to be created, released death into the world. So the Pawnee made a medicine bundle out of a wolf pelt to remind them what jealously could do.

The students are still working on a slogan. Some of the ideas include: Reach for the Stars, Sully Stars, Stars over SRSU, and Follow the Stars.

Student leaders who compose the core star committee are Andrew Ross, Cade Woodward, Jackie Martinez, Moises Morales, Jaime Rios, Janice Mitchell, Kenzi Miller, Lacy Cox, Tori Neugebauer, Will Montano, and Trey Darby.
Anyone interested in becoming a star should contact one of these members.

The chosen logo is a royalty-free artist's illustration of our 30-million-star Milky Way Galaxy based on star surveys conducted by astronomers using the Spitzer Space Telescope.

Rangras Are Royal Sponsors

By Madeleine Cantu
Skyline Reporter

Homecoming week showcases some of the biggest social events of the year: the pep rally and the bonfire today, the lighting of the Bar SR Bar on Friday, and the parade before the big game against Hardin-Simmons University on Saturday.

At half-time everyone in attendance will watch the coronation of the newly elected Homecoming King and Queen. The crown, tiara, scepters, and diamond wrist watches they receive are all sponsored by Dr. Rangra and his wife.

Mrs. Rangra owns Anju's Fine Jewelry, located on 115 East Holland, which has been in business since 1984. Anju's Fine Jewelry partially sponsors the homecoming royalty's accessories.

"My husband and I have been sponsoring homecoming since 1994," Mrs. Rangra said proudly.
"We also sponsor the university softball team and the rodeo."

Dr. Rangra, a professor of chemistry, has owned the Rangra Theatre since 1981. One night a month, the theatre lets students with an ID in for free to see movies.

The Rangra's also sponsor the Kundan Lall and Ram Pyari Rangra scholarship for SRSU chemistry students and a scholarship for Marathon High School students who are interested in majoring in a science at Sul Ross.

As you enjoy homecoming events this weekend, remember that a select few have done a great deal to make your homecoming experience a night to remember.