The Skyline Newspaper

Performers with the Chihuahua Symphony Orchestra who visited Sul Ross in September. Photo by Nicole Alfaro

Mexican-American Studies Program Looks To Expand

By Adam Cuellar
Skyline Reporter

Of the nearly fifty undergraduate degree programs offered at Sul Ross, few seem as tailor made for application in the Southwest region as Mexican-American studies. Falling under the School of Arts and Sciences, and more specifically the Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, the Mexican-American studies program is aimed towards students preparing for careers in Mexican-American administration, marketing, education, politics, law, or public relations.

The program is spearheaded by Dr. Mark Saka and Dr. Jesus Tafoya, co-chairmen of the Mexican- American Studies council. They are aided by administrators James Downing and Jim Case. Currently in its tenth year offered, the program consists of five majors and close to fifteen minors.

You'll be hard pressed to find a job listing seeking a prospective employee with a major in Mexican- American Studies. Rather, the degree seems to have many different applications in various careers. Co-chairmen Dr. Mark Saka described a few of the fields which best adopt the program.

"In terms of a minor, the fields of journalism, history, psychology, sociology, and even law would be ideal, particularly if you plan on working in or around the Southwest. A major would best be utilized in the fields of education, Spanish, journalism, and the various fields of social work.”

Some of the classes necessary for both minors and majors include multiple Spanish courses, education, English, history, Mexican-American studies, political science, psychology, sociology, and anthropology.

The program has coordinated with Mexico in the past to sponsor dancers, and most recently has hosted a symphony performance by the Chihuahua Symphony Orchestra of Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua that was a local hit.

On Nov. 14, the program, along with the Department of Languages and Literature, will present "An Afternoon with Denise Chavez,” in the Studio Theater, Francois Fine Arts building. Poet and writer Chavez was born in Las Cruces, NM, and teaches creative writing at New Mexico State University. She has written several novels and numerous plays and was awarded the American Book Award for "Face of an Angel.”

While the department has been a success so far, there are a few small changes Dr. Saka would like to see.

"I would like to see a few more students in the program. Also, I'd like to expand the travel and cross- cultural opportunities for our students. Being so close to the border is an advantage we should utilize more if we can.”

"The Rag” Competes For Hearts and Minds

By MaryAshley P. Gredell
Skyline Reporter

Suddenly and unexpectedly, the employees of "The Skyline” find themselves facing competition for news reporting on campus.

Sort of.

This past Oct. 4, a curious black-and-white printout mysteriously appeared in many of "The Skyline's” distribution boxes around campus. Entitled "The Sully Rag,” and citing that "There is no truth but this one,” the two-sided paper included stories that "The Skyline” reporters simply must have missed: herpes outbreaks, promiscuity competitions, and an interesting interpretation of the new cheerleading squad on-campus.

Certainly these are glaring campus issues that should have been reported by our own sponsored publication, right?
Not exactly.

"The Sully Rag” is a possible first for Sul Ross: an underground satirical newspaper driven presumably by students with a sense of humor and a sharp eye for the foibles of humankind in and around the Sul Ross campus.

The Rag "Wriders,” as they call themselves, wish to remain entirely anonymous. That makes sense considering some of the quiet uproar and disgruntled confusion their stories have elicited in their five publications to date.

The "Wriders” are not a first for other college campuses. The NoZe Brotherhood of Baylor University is a secret society who publish "The Rope,” a satirical paper which parallels Baylor's actual school publication, "The Lariat.”

Keeping their identities a comedic secret allows the NoZe Brotherhood to rip into the Baptist constraints of their campus and poke fun at actual news stories without fear of persecution outside of their pseudonyms.

Currently, the Baylor administration allows "The Rope” on campus, though it has been banned in past years.

Other satirical papers include "The Onion,” a national publication that takes on American politics, news, and culture with humor that appeals to millions of readers, on-line and in print. The online version can be accessed at http://www.theonion.com.

Dr. Paul Lister, Professor of English, has been part of the Sul Ross community for over thirty-six years and cannot recall another publication like "The Rag.”

"My attitude toward 'The Rag,' is good news and bad news,” said Lister.

"The good news is that it reminds me of my Ph.D. days in the late 60s and early 70s: there was a lot of creative activity going on outside the classroom. What I like about 'The Sully Rag' is that it shows some people taking an independent interest in intellectual matters.

"Also, the writing is very good. In the one issue I saw, it talked about the needless obscurity in a lot of modern writing. That was extremely well done.”

Of course, an underground paper is designed to ruffle a few feathers, and does so even for supporters like Lister.

"The bad news, and this is just me speaking of course, I don't appreciate the obscenity that goes in a lot of this. I think that probably every underground paper ever written has articles like that, so it does go with the territory,” said Lister.

Some student reaction to "The Rag” shows evidence that some people aren't getting the joke. Roman Villarreal, a pre-law student from Rio Grande City, is a "Rag” reader recruited via their online MySpace page, which can be accessed at http://www.myspace.com/sullyrag.

"It makes me laugh,” says Villarreal. "I don't see how people can get angry about it and miss the whole point of it.”

The "Wriders” themselves seem optimistic about their five issues in print thus far, and don't appear worried that some on campus might be outraged. One "Wrider,” who wishes to remain anonymous, stated "It is refreshing to have a paper on campus that exemplifies what students are capable of. So often, the students are presumed to be emotionally decadent zombies who are akin to children in their sense of fun.

"The school, and society for that matter, are still reeling from the 'politically correct nineties' that the only legitimate entertainment and newspaper material are fluffy and bereft of the type of speech actual college students use.”

That, in fact, may be the dearest "truth” which Sul Ross' underground paper wants to impart to its readers.

Trick-Or-Treat With Equine Science

By Robbie McDaniel
Skyline Reporter

Residential Living RA, Tommy Cude, organized a group of ghouls, goblins, princesses and superheroes of all ages, for a trip out to the Range Animal Science facility on Halloween to start the night of trick-or-treating. Sul Ross' Equine Science program invited the Alpine community to the horse barn for a treat rarely seen on Halloween or any other night. The tiny horses were all dressed up and ready to meet costumed youngsters.

A scene right out of the Old West greeted visitors upon their arrival. A tiny black horse with his bones "visible” was in a cemetery in front of rows of tombstones, accompanied by his handler and a masked cowboy. Just inside the facility were more equine impersonators to entertain and amuse the crowd. Included in this cast were a ballerina, a Sul Ross football player, 3 caballeros, and Winnie the Pooh. Handlers allowed the kids to pet and pose for photos with each character and passed along candy and good wishes for a Happy Halloween.

The kids got a literal "hands on” experience with a Clydesdale at the end of the tour. This beauty seemed even bigger than usual after the parade of diminutive cuties leading to the finale. The little visitors took turns climbing on a stool to place their painted white handprints on the massive horse.

A big "Thank You” to the Sul Ross Equine Science program for staging this unique delight for the children of Alpine.

Lobo Gridder Thompson Learns From Work Ethic

By Steve Lang
News and Publications

Thanks to a Sul Ross State University graduate, Derek Thompson found his way to Alpine from East Texas.

Just like Alpine, Coldspring, Texas, lies off the beaten path. Sul Ross graduate Joel Prado, Thompson's high school mentor, proved to be a connection between the two towns.

Thompson, a member of the Lobo football team, balances a rigid schedule as a student-athlete and construction worker.

The routine is nothing new. In high school, the Sul Ross freshman attended classes, participated in football, track, and competition cheerleading, then worked 12-hour shifts on Saturday and Sunday at McDonald's in Conroe.
At Sul Ross he arrives at the weight room at 6:00 a.m. to be able to balance his practice and class schedules, a work study position, and a side job taping sheetrock for a local contractor.

Recently, Thompson has been able to sleep late a couple of hours each day, arriving at the weight room at 8:00 a.m., then attending his first class at 9:00 a.m.

On afternoons and weekends, he is a reserve linebacker for the Lobos.

While teammates may express weariness at the practice routine, Thompson gladly anticipates donning pads each day.
"I find practice relaxing. Practice cheers me up,” he said.

"I might feel tired from work and classes, but getting to practice is a way of getting away from everything.
"When practice is over, it's back to reality again,” he smiled.

Coldspring is located on the edge of the Sam Houston National Forest in San Jacinto County, about 11 hours from Alpine, population 5,786 and Sul Ross, with about 1,850 students. Thompson enjoys the small-town atmosphere and readily grins at his football nickname, "Country.”

"I was looking for a school where the environment was safe and friendly,” he said.

"My mentor [Prado] suggested that I come out here to check it out, and I liked it.

"I wake up in the morning, touch the window in my room to see if it's cold, so I know how to dress. Then I get outside and feel the breeze, and it never felt so good.”

Opposing ball carriers may not express the same feeling after coming in contact with Thompson, who has a handful of tackles while playing in six games thus far.

Does he have a favorite game so far?

"All of them, because I'm playing college football,” Thompson said. "Not many people are doing that, especially not from my hometown.”

"Derek is another of our outstanding freshman class talent,” said Sul Ross head coach Steve Wright.

"He is one of our hardest workers, has great feet and explosive quickness. Some time in his career, he is going to be a dominating player.”

Thompson credits his progress to his work ethic, one that extends to the classroom and the job site.

"It's practice, practice, practice. A lot of dedication and hard work,” he said.

"Sometimes it pays off and sometimes not, but you just have to continue to work hard.”

From early morning weight-lifting to late-night studying, Thompson puts in 16-hour days.

"I prefer to stay up at the dorm or working rather than going out,” he said.

"I'm the first child in my family to move out of the house and to go to college. My whole family is my motivation. My parents have worked hard all their lives, and that's what keeps me going.”

Class work is challenging, but Thompson meets assignments with the same zeal as he takes on opposing blockers.

"Learning is my favorite subject,” he said. "If I can learn how to do...whatever, I can do it all.”

Sully Productions Makes Indoor Laser-Tag a Blast

By Madeleine Cantu
Skyline Reporter

Pew pew pew! The blaring of "Whoop, there it is!” overhead. The sound of armor packs informing you in matter-of-fact tones that your shields are down.

Saturday, Nov. 3, saw roughly 25 students hashing it out in one of the UC's conference rooms for Sully Productions' second annual afternoon of laser-tag.

Sully Productions is funded by the university, which gives the group a certain amount of money per year for scheduled activities such as comedians and bands, and Rangra Night at the Rangra Theatre.

Each year, Sully Productions sends two students to the National Association of Campus Activities (NACA). There they gather ideas and talk to agents, who specialize in providing the equipment for the campus activities through various companies that go to colleges all over the United States.

"Last year, we had the laser-tag outdoors. The wind kept blowing everything over, so we decided to have it inside this year,” said Bailey Frederickson, who played a big role in making this available for students. Her job on Saturday was to sign up the teams that would be playing against each other, and making sure that those students who didn't have a set team got into one.

Inside the room, the only lights were those flashing by overhead lasers, strobe lights, and the flashing armor that marked you as a member on either the red or green team. The point of the game is to win the most points by shooting members of the other team with a laser gun. The armor packs have sensor boxes located at the back or chest, each 600 points, and shoulders, worth 900 points. Each team also has a base, and within a certain amount of time, teams are able to "shoot” the opponent's base for extra points. There are penalties for "getting shot” and for shooting one's own teammates.

The reigning champions for a five-win undefeated streak named themselves "The Ninja Turtles.” The team was composed of J.B. Moore, Kendal Chilcott, Robert Mason, Eddie Ruiz, and Kody Kubala.

When I asked them what their strategy for success was, Kendal stated gravely, "There is no mercy in war.”

I find that fitting, considering one teammate alone scored 19,000 points in a seven-minute match. (For comparative purposes, I, who have played laser-tag perhaps a handful of times in my life, scored 3,286 points in one match. And my team lost pretty miserably.)

All in all, the laser-tag event was a blast. Students who missed it this year, look forward to it next fall, as it is definitely something that's not worth missing.