The Skyline Newspaper

Photo: Students gather weekly to play indoor soccer in the Graves-Pierce gym. Photo by Jason Hennington

Indoor Soccer Attracts International Players

By Madeleine Cantu
Skyline Reporter

Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, played in over 200 countries and with millions of fans. It's a fast-paced, energetic game that requires skill and focus -- and, of course, the wish to have fun.

Sul Ross does not have a soccer club or team and hasn't for a while. In the fall semester of 2006, a group of students got together and played outdoor soccer. For the spring semester, however, Adam Rodriguez reserved a time slot at the Graves-Pierce gym on Thursdays, from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Now, approximately twenty-four students get together each week to play 6v6 indoor soccer. The group is mixed with intermediate to advanced players, from around the world.

Masahiro Ohnishi, for instance, is a student who came to Sul Ross last year from Tokyo, Japan, to pursue a degree in natural resource management. He's been playing soccer for 15 years and used to be in a semi-pro league.

Masahiro also plays on the Marfa soccer team once a week.

"When in Tokyo, I played with all kinds of guys, Filipino, Chinese," he says. "I found that lots of people wanted to play, so I started a team. We were so strong. Nobody could beat us!"

There is also Ani Ekweogwu, who is the gym supervisor and is currently enrolled in a masters program for geology. He is from Nigeria, and it is his first semester here. Ani has been playing soccer for 20 years, and like Masahiro, has played for school and club soccer teams. "Soccer really brings out the creativity in me. I get to display a lot of skills," says Ani. "It's very satisfying."

A little closer to home, there is also a player from Chihuahua, Mexico. Arlyh H. Lujan transferred from the Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua this semester for a degree in business administration and has been playing since he was a boy.

Despite all the different backgrounds and interests in education, these students all come together to have fun and interact, not only casually, but as a team.

As Masahiro says, "Soccer connects everyone."

Archives Exhibit Traces Chihuahuan Friendship

An Archives of the Big Bend exhibit traces the long history of friendship between Sul Ross State University students and faculty with neighbors and fellow educators in Chihuahua, Mexico.

Located in the Bryan Wildenthal Memorial Library, the exhibit includes photographs, newspaper accounts, and menus from the Archives' collections. The exhibit begins on the first floor in the case opposite the security gates at the entrance and continues on the second floor in the cases beside the doors of Archives of the Big Bend.

In April 1935, the Sul Ross basketball team played a three-game series against the Chihuahua State team in Chihuahua City, Mexico, winning one and losing two. The Chihuahua team was the Mexican national championship team that year.

In November 1935, Sul Ross students, faculty, and friends opened their dorm rooms and homes to 45 Mexican teachers attending the "First Educational Tour from Chihuahua, Mexico," sponsored by the university.

From 1930-1941, Sul Ross sponsored annual excursions to Chihuahua during the summer term. Students could earn one hour of credit in Spanish for attending lectures before the 4-day trip and submitting a report afterwards.

The promotional literature for the Sul Ross tours to Chihuahua promised participants opportunities "to study the language, history, arts, crafts, and other cultural patterns of Mexico under the 'spell' of ... Chihuahua" and "to establish lasting ties of friendship with the peoples of Chihuahua."

The entry of the United States into World War II at the end of 1941 brought an end to the annual trips until the summer of 1945. That year, Sul Ross conducted a full six-week summer term in Chihuahua, offering credits in History and Physical Education as well as Spanish.

In his address at the opening exercises of the 1945 Field School in Ciudad Chihuahua, Sul Ross President Horace Morelock estimated that 800 Texans had visited Mexico through the Sul Ross annual summer tours between 1930 and 1941.

For more information, contact Melleta Bell, (432) 837-8388 or mbell@sulross.edu.

Biology Faculty, Students Publish Seven Papers

Sul Ross State University Biology Department faculty and students published seven papers during the past several months, involving a variety of topics.

Graduate students Dan Leavitt, a May 2007 graduate; Jeff Bardwell, a December 2006 graduate; and Tim Mullet, currently working toward his M.S. degree in biology, along with Dr. Christopher M. Ritzi and Dr. Steven G. Platt published papers on a variety of topics. Papers included research on birds, bats and several different types of amphibians and reptiles.

Papers, where they were published and brief descriptions follow.

Bardwell, J. H., C. M. Ritzi, and J. A. Parkhurst. 2007. Dietary Selection Between Different Size Classes of Larval Jefferson Salamanders (Ambystoma jeffersonianum). Northeastern Naturalist 14(2): 293-299.

This manuscript discusses the ability of different sizes of salamanders to choose between available food types and sizes, thus maximizing their energy intake and diet. Smaller salamanders would eat primarily small prey, while larger salamanders would pass over the small prey items they normally devoured and selectively eat larger items, including each other in the largest samples.

Everson, B.L., C. M. Ritzi , D. W. Sparks, and J. O. Whitaker. 2007. Foraging Ecology of Eastern Red Bats (Lasiurus borealis) at an Urban-rural Interface. American Midland Naturalist 157: 365-373.

This paper documents the nightly movements of eastern red bats at the Indianapolis International Airport. While numerous studies exist concerning red bat movement in forests, little work is present from within the ever-growing urbanization occurring in North America. The study finds that red bats, considered to maintain large active foraging areas in the wilderness, commonly have very small (only several hectares) foraging areas near urban areas.

Leavitt, D. J., J. M. Mueller, and C. M. Ritzi. 2007. Phrynosoma cornutum (Texas Horned Lizard). Winter Activity. Herpetological Review 38(1):80.

This short communication represents an unusual observation made during the collection of temperature regulation data of Texas horned lizards in Big Bend National Park. It is commonly believed that when it starts to get cold outside, the lizards go underground and bury themselves, not moving on the surface again until outside conditions are right again. Through thermocron data and radio telemetry, it was found that the choice of winter site can change midwinter. The study's results show a lizard moving from one burrow location to another, potentially seeking a more favorable microclimate in which to spend the rest of winter. This sort of observation is only possible through continuous and detailed study of an animal.

Leavitt, D. J., T. C. Mullet, C. M. Ritzi, and J. R. Skiles. 2007. Hyla cinerea. Geographical Distribution. Herpetological Review 38(1):97.

This new distribution record denotes the first observation of the green tree frog (Hyla cinerea) in Big Bend National Park.

Such observations and documentation are important to accurately understand where an organism lives, and allows us to better understand its population structure (is it increasing its range and spreading across the country, or is it shrinking and potentially in danger).

Platt, S.G., J.S. Tasirin, I. Hunowu, S. Siwu, and T.R. Rainwater. 2007. Recent distribution records of estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in northern Sulawesi, Indonesia. Herpetological Bulletin 100:13-17.

This paper documents the occurrence of estuarine (saltwater) crocodiles at three localities in Sulawesi.

It also provides some data on reproduction (e.g., phenology, clutch size, and habitat,) significant because there are few records of estuarine crocodiles in Sulawesi and populations have declined dramatically over the past 50 years. This paper compliments an earlier investigation conducted in 1998 in which distribution and status of this species in Sulawesi was reviewed.

Platt, S.G., T.R. Rainwater, S. Snider, A. Garel, T.A. Anderson, and S.T. McMurry. 2007. Consumption of large mammals by Crocodylus moreletii: field observations of necrophagy and interspecific kleptoparasitism. Southwestern Naturalist 52:310-317.

This paper provides behavioral observations of crocodiles in Belize dismembering and consuming cattle carcasses as well as pirating and consuming a tapir killed by a jaguar.

It is significant because consumption of large mammals by Morelet's crocodile is poorly documented and these prey, even though rare, are likely an important food source. Furthermore, although expected to occur among generalist predators such as crocodiles, kleptoparasitism among this group is poorly documented (only two examples, one dating to the late 1700's, could be found).

Leavitt, D. J., C. M. Ritzi, and S. G. Platt. 2007. Late nesting of ncaled quail (Callipepla squamata) in Big Bend National Park. Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society 40(2): 83

This paper documents the latest known successful nesting attempt for scaled quail.

The observation in Big Bend National Park illustrates that scaled quail are more flexible in terms of when they can try to rear young than was previously known. The ability to have late clutches of eggs increases the reproduction potential of this species, and further supports the existence of healthy populations of scaled quail for the future.

For more information, contact Ritzi, (432) 837-8420 or critzi@sulross.edu

Election Results In

Thirty-two students were elected Student Government Association senators following recent elections.

The SGA meets each Wednesday, 5:30 p.m. in Warnock Science Building, Room 201. Jaime Rios, Roma, is the SGA president.

Senators, their hometowns and area of representation are:

Animal Science: Megan Alvarez, Spring Branch; Cole Evans, Alpine.

Behavioral and Social Sciences: Monte Piper, Sugar Land; Kimberly Shoebotham, Alpine.

Biology: Jamie Gallego, Balmorhea.

Business Administration: Jessica Carpenter, Mountain Home; Robert Corral, El Paso.

Criminal Justice: James Aldridge, El Paso; Adriana Pacheco, Alpine.

Computer Science and Mathematics: Stephanie Marshall, Kermit; Joan King, Alpine.

Education: Karla Dixon, Presidio; Christine Gallardo, El Paso

Fine Arts and Communication: Russell Calder, New Braunfels; Jessica Gutierrez,Edinburg.

Industrial Technology: Juan E. Garcia, San Antonio.

Languages and Literature: Courtney Hallcy, Odessa.

Physical Education: Chris Garcia, Del Rio.

Interdisciplinary Programs: Krystle Corral, El Paso.

Classes: Freshman, Amanda Bolander, Missouri City, Anais Marin, Uvalde; Sophomores, Micaela Martinez, Fort Stockton, Chantil Stapp, Junction; Junior, Jason Harrell, Ozona, Joel Natividad, Balmorhea; Senior, Janice Mitchell, Austin, Emilio Garza, Pharr; Graduate, Sidney Benard, Dodge City, Kan.

At Large: Joseph Torres, Alpine; Jessica Alvarado, El Paso; Jackie Martinez, Alpine; Lauren McBride, Fort Worth.