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By Brittany BarclayContributing Writer

For the 2016-17 academic year, the Office of Multicultural Affairs named Nytesia Ross as the program’s student supervisor.

Ross is a mass communication major from Tyler, Texas. Her responsibilities include overseeing the student ambassadors, managing the OMA website and being in

charge of various events. There are six different organizations

within OMA. Ross is a four-year member of the OMA and is in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the Asian Culture Club.

“Just by being in the office I realized I had the opportunity to dive into different cultures,” Ross said. “I just stayed within this office to get the necessary skills to communicate effectively with all different types of people.”

OMA’s other organizations include the African Student Organization, Organizations of Latin Americans and Fashion n’ Motion.

According to OMA’s website, its mission is “to create a campus environment where all students, staff and faculty feel welcome and included.”

“Our office is about promoting diversity and promoting a platform in which people have conversations that may be difficult,” Ross said.

Ross said she is able to have conversations in the OMA that she can’t have anywhere else.

“I want to give people an opportunity to learn more about themselves, find a sense of their own identity, and by doing that, you ultimately are more understanding and empathetic of other people and their journey to discovering who they are,” Ross said.

Ross said OMA gives her a place where she can be herself.

“A lot of people have entered into my life that I know will be there,” Ross said. “On numerous occasions, I know that I can count on them, so that’s the reason why I love OMA. The family atmosphere that we have here, it’s like a safe haven. No, it is a safe haven.”

Ross is also involved with an organization called Kids Aspiring to Dream and has an internship with ESPN on campus.

In 2014, Ross participated in the Raise Up Project, a nation-wide competition designed for students to share their thoughts and experiences dealing with the education system through the art of spoken word.

Ross, along with four other participants, earned a $5,000 scholarship from the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation and had the opportunity to recite her poem “Teach Me” at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

Being a part of OMA has helped Ross overcome various obstacles.

“[I started] realizing that I had a voice, realizing that I shouldn’t be ashamed of my past and things that occurred in my past,” Ross said. “They made me who I am, and so my obstacle was overcoming that by asserting myself and being willing to do different things.”

Ross said her grandmother and mother inspire her to be great in everything she does. They taught her that “hard work is the

only way in which you will ever succeed.”“My entire life, it’s just been my granny,

my mother and I,” Ross said. “They’re the epitome of confidence and being strong and being resilient. They’re everything that encompasses being a real woman.”

Ross loves writing and reciting poetry and recently had one of her poems, “Baby, This World is Cruel,” published in SFA’s multicultural center.

Ross said she has noticed some people on campus who want to get involved but are not sure how to do so.

For more information on how to get involved with the OMA, visit the Baker Pattillo Student Center, Room 3.101 or call the office at (936) 468-1073.

Fast FactsNamed student supervisor of the Office of Multicultural Affairs for the 2016-17 academic year

Member of the NAACP and the ACC

Recipient of the Will and Jada Smith Family Foundation scholarship

Office of Multicultural Affairs names student supervisor

Online degree program named third in nationBy Parastoo Nikravesh

News Editor

“It’s a terrific thing to receive the national recognition, but it

is really a verification of quality that we already knew was in

place.”—Dr. Barbara Qualls,

assistant professor of secondary education and

educational leadership

SFA’s online master’s degree program in educational leadership was named the third best in the nation according to Educational Leadership Degree Programs, a website that ranks degree programs.

According to the SFA press release,

rankings were based on tuition prices, accreditation and size of the program. Site editors said SFA’s program “bolsters Texas’ status as the queen of online education leadership degrees.”

“It is a terrific thing to receive the national recognition, but it is really a verification of quality that we already knew was in place,” Dr. Barbara Qualls, assistant professor of secondary education and educational leadership and program coordinator at SFA, said. “Student response to the experience they have in our program is excellent. Also, our graduates consistently report success in acquiring leadership jobs and doing well in them. The goal is, of course, to improve educational leadership by better preparing the people who hold those positions.”

The program has been offered at SFA for approximately six years. Students can apply online, and candidates must have valid teacher certification, completed two years of successful teaching, a 2.75 GPA

and Texas residency.“Our program is exclusively for

current teachers who aspire to positions of leadership. The 30-hour program culminates in a M.Ed. with state certification as principal,” Qualls said. “The 18-hour program is for teachers who already have a related M.Ed. and are seeking the principal certification. The entire program is online—from application through completion. As a result, many of our students are quite some distance from Nacogdoches. Graduation is great fun because we get to meet our students for the first time.”

Interested students can apply online, and the program is administered completely online through Desire to Learn, the university’s online course-delivery system.

According to the SFA press release, students in the program experience interactive sessions with other students, real-time communication with professors

and extensive use of electronic media such as video production through SFA’s online program.

“As faculty of the Educational Leadership program, we are flattered to receive this outstanding recognition for our master’s degree in educational leadership,” Dr. Stacy Hendricks, interim associate dean, said.

“Many reasons contribute to the accolades given to our program. In addition to our academic rigor, much success of our program is due to the relationships our faculty members build with each of our students. As faculty members of an online program, we sincerely care about building a personal connection with each student and providing them with the necessary skills to excel as campus leaders on campuses across the state of Texas.”

Recruitment for the program occurs all

DEGREE, PAGE 3

Left photo by Audra Bridges/ The Pine Log; Above photos by Hannah Russell/ The Pine Log

Big Man on Campus winner Grant McKee shows off his award. Organized by Zeta Tau Alpha, the all-male beauty pageant took place on Saturday. Contestants compete in various categories, including talent and formal wear. Proceeds from the event support breast cancer awareness.

Zeta Tau Alpha crowns Mr. Big Man on Campus

Photo by Audra Bridges/ The Pine Log

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Page 2

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OMA to host Muslim Spoken Word to shed misconceptions

Kashmire Maryam will be the featured poet for the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Muslim Spoken Word event. The event hopes to express the Muslim experience in the United states and as a student. It will be held at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the BPSC Theater. OMA is holding this event in response to several tragedies that have transpired recently. “One of the highlights of my career, as a motivational speaker and as a spoken word poet, is speaking with the guests who attend the event,” Maryam said. “I always learn so much from this experience. It inspires and rejuvenates my hope in humanity.”

Courtesy photo

By Taylor Antwine Contributing Writer

The Office of Multicultural Affairs will be hosting Muslim Spoken Word, an event to express the Muslim experience at 7 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the BPSC Theater.

“[The event is] educational yet entertain-ing,” OMA Assistant Director Dr. Griselda Flores said. “The audience will be able to learn more about the Muslim culture, re-ligion and experiences that Muslim stu-dents have experienced being Muslims in America.”

OMA is holding this event in response to several tragedies that have transpired recently.

“The horrible attack in Orlando this summer has made our hearts heavy, but the spirit of pride and hope still waives higher than that of hate,” OMA’s website said. “We know the action of a few individuals does not represent the whole population. Therefore, as the Office of Multicultural Affairs, we would like to encourage the SFA and Nacogdoches community to come together, recognize our differences with respect, and learn from one another that we can overcome hate and fear.”

The OMA hopes the event will stop ste-reotypes.

“There has been many negative stereo-types about the Muslim community that have been circulating around the country,” Veronica Weaver, OMA director, said. “We wanted to bring a program that highlighted the Muslim community in a positive way and also educated students, faculty and the community.”

According to Weaver, the goal of the event is to educate the SFA and Nacogdoches community about the American Muslim community. In addition, this event will promote self-empowerment. The feature poet is Muslim spoken word poet Kashmir Maryam.

“One of the highlights of my career, as a motivational speaker and as a spoken word poet is speaking with the guests who attend the event,” Maryam said. “I always learn so much from this experience. It inspires and rejuvenates my hope in humanity.”

Maryam hopes to clear up misconcep-tions about Muslims.

“I believe that in order for us to live in peace in our communities, we must make a concerted effort to understand one anoth-er,” Maryam said. “Humanity is the mes-sage that I promote. It does not matter what race or what religion an individual chooses to practice. The reason that I choose to speak at such events is to spread a united message of peace.”

Maryam said writing is a small part of what she does.

“A much larger chunk is in communi-cating my writing to the people. As a per-formance poet, I believe that oral poetry brings life to the words that I have writ-ten on paper,” Maryam said. “I find that through performance, my message is com-municated the exact way that I intend for it to be communicated. Poetry has provided me with the opportunity to unveil many truths and to clear up many misconcep-tions that run rampant in society today, particularly about Islam.”

Sororities host Jacks Charge By McKenna Robertson

Contributing Writer

“The Jacks Charge tradition at SFA has been a means for students to engage in

home football games. It is so important for our students to

get the opportunity to lead the football team in victory

at home. I am confident that Jacks Charge will go great. Panhellenic women

whole heartedly support the Lumberjack athletic team.”

—Stephanie Sogga

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Panhellenic sororities will be participating

in the traditional Jacks Charge at 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at Homer Bryce Stadium.

Jacks Charge is a run across the SFA football field that students are encouraged to participate in.

The run is considered both a sign of support for the Lumberjack football team, as well as an interactive way to involve more students at the games.

SFA Senior and Panhellenic President Stephanie Sogga looks forward to continuing the Jacks Charge tradition.

“The Jacks Charge tradition at SFA has been a means for students to engage in home football games. It is so important for our students to get the opportunity to lead the football team in victory at home,” Sogga said. “I am confident that Jacks Charge will go great. Panhellenic women whole heartedly support the Lumberjack athletic team.”

For more information on Jacks Charge and other tradition on the SFA campus, visit the SFA website at sfasu.edu.

SFA students attend ACL By Emily Brown

Staff Writer

Fifteen years ago, Austin City Limits Music Festival came to life. Over the last decade and a half, ACL has had hundreds of performers, from popular musicians to un-known artists, play at the legendary Zilker Park, where the festival is held every year. Thousands of music fans have also flocked to Austin, the live music capital of the world, including SFA students from over 200 miles away.

Students are drawn to seeing their fa-vorite bands live. The feeling of watch-ing a respected artist creates an indescrib-able emotion inside someone, SFA student Jonathan Dimego said.

“It’s unlike any other experience you can get at another concert or music festival,” Dimego said.

Dimego travelled four hours to see musi-cians perform while enjoying time with his friends.

“It was so great enjoying good music with people I don’t get to see often. We are all so busy, and it was great to experience something as amazing as ACL with them,” Dimego said.

Other students used ACL weekend as a time to get away. SFA student Casey Lyons used the festival as a way to escape the stress of school.

“I didn’t really have any expectations coming in other than to just have fun and relax, which was what I just did,” Casey. “I got to see different bands and just be a part of the festival.”

ACL showcases multiple artists from var-ious genres. This year, the lineup includ-ed Kendrick Lamar, LCD Sound system, Mumford & Sons, Radiohead and more. Each musician brings a different sound to the stage.

While the main performers are a big part of the attraction, countless unknown

bands also draw listeners. For some, they are able to see artists that wouldn’t nor-mally tour often. Others are able to discover new music.

Dimego was surprised that his favorite artist to see was Andrew Bird. He never listened to Bird much prior to the weekend but was impressed with his set.

“Seeing how he created his music was just incredible. It’s one thing to hear an artist’s song, but it’s another to see them perform it.”

Lyons wanted to go to ACL for the experi-ence and was able to partake in the festival with her sister.

“It sounded like a fun event when my friends talked about it, and I wanted to check it out myself,” Lyons said. “Plus it’s my senior year, and I figured I probably wouldn’t have another opportunity soon again.”

However, many students don’t see the appeal of ACL. For Hannah Schiller, festi-vals are not an experience she wants to go through.

“It’s not the same intimacy as a regular concert, especially for the price you have to pay,” Schiller said.

“I’ve been to FreePress in Houston, and it wasn’t my thing. There are too many people who aren’t actually fans, and none of them really know the band.”

Still, given the opportunity, many would choose to go the festival again. For anyone debating on whether or not they should go, Dimego said that the festival is the best place to listen to music with fellow fans.

“You get to see a lot of artists you may not pay to individually see, but you get to see so many of them collectively,” Dimego said. “What ACL is and what it stands for is incredible. There are just so many artists that will blow you away.”

ACL is already set to go for next year on Oct. 6-8 and 13-15.

By Andrea NelsonStaff Writer

Culture shock is a term that is bound to be familiar to any SFA student who has studied or traveled abroad. Getting to experience a different kind of culture is widely accepted as an enriching experience, but experiencing a new culture can go both ways.

Benjamin Hardy-Phillips, an exchange student from Rose Bruford College in London, shared his experience with SFA during the first half of this fall semester.

Every fall, and on some spring semesters as well, Rose Bruford exchanges theatre arts students with SFA, and students from the London based college get an opportunity to study a new type of theater, as well as expose themselves to a different culture than their own.

“The course I am doing is American Theatre Arts, so a lot of the focus is on American plays and American History,” Hardy-Phillips said. “This means that I am fortunate enough to be here for one semester to throw myself into the American life to learn all there is about your culture.”

Hardy-Phillips starred in the recent musical production of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.

“It is rewarding to see the level of professionalism and dedication that SFA students exude,” Hardy-Phillips said.

“In the rehearsal room every one treats each other with the upmost level of respect, and nobody does anything to jeopardize the production. I really feel that we are achieving a great balance between having fun and getting the job done.”

As expected from a student who’s traveled thousands of miles away from home to study, Hardy-Phillips said he is both focused and enthusiastic about his profession. He will be directing a short scene for one of his classes in addition to the work he has already done on Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson.

“I’m primarily going into this industry for one reason and one reason alone, to have fun and provide fun for other people”

Aside from taste testing Tex Mex food, taking classes and stepping into the shoes of America’s seventh president, Hardy-Phillips mentioned that he gets a lot of questions from members of the department on exactly why he chose Nacogdoches over various other locations.

“It’s simply because it is so different from back home,” Hardy-Phillips said. “Plus, where else am I going to get some Tex Mex and Southern culture?”

Foreign exchange student participates in SFA theatre

SFA hosts Cooking Matters to create healthy lifestyles

Photos by Ronnie Chapman/ The Pine Log

On Monday Oct. 10, a seminar sponsored by the non-profit organization, Cooking Matters, was held on campus in order to teach students and faculty how to cost-effectively cook healthier meals. Justin Pelham, a clinical instructor for the human sciences department at SFA, hosted the seminar, and it took place Monday from 4-6 p.m. in the Human Sciences North Building, room 211. The seminar was the first in a six-week course, which will take place at the same time and location each week until Nov. 14.“Hopefully it’s an enriching experience for students to apply outside the class,” Pelham said.

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Page 3Wednesday, OctOber 12, 2016

From Page 1

year long.“We have a robust recruiting program

where we visit schools at staff development sessions, grad school fairs and invited meetings,” Qualls said. “We participate in state-level conferences as vendors. We are active presenters at academic conferences. By far the best recruiters are our former students, though.”

The program faculty hopes to continue

to grow enrollment but are also exploring ways to diversify the course offerings so that students whose goals are in leadership areas other than campus principal can be more personally served.

“We appreciate the support that the College of Education, as well as the entire University, provides for the program,” Qualls said.

“We have good access to resources and excellent freedom to evolve, improve and develop the program.”

Degree: Program namedthird in nation by website

Photo by Hannah Russell/ The Pine Log

SFA’s online master’s degree program in educational leadership was recently ranked the third best in the nation.

By Chyrell BellContributing Writer

One of SFA’s students majoring in the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture had the opportunity to intern at the National Park Service office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, last summer.

Emmanda Wilson of Houston was offered a paid internship working for the National Trails Intermountain Region last summer. According to Wilson’s blog, receiving a degree in forestr y at SFA has given her ma ny oppor t u n it ies to fuel her passion for the environment and

learn a lot about land management.

Wilson’s professor and mentor, Dr. Pat Stephens-Williams, gave her insight on how “perfect” this internship would be for Wilson.

“I’ve always been into dealing with connecting people to the environment and people to the outdoors and protecting our natural places. I’m very much interested in the communication side of things and the design side of things,” Wilson said. “Dr. Stephens told me ‘Oh this is a perfect fit for you.’ I told her alright. I definitely will go into it with an open mind.”

In her blog, Wilson discussed how she worked in an adobe office building, which to her was a “work of art.” She added that her mentors were, “seasoned park service interpreters with many cool stories to tell.”

Wilson said she stayed busy with a variety of projects, including creating artwork, making Junior Ranger programs and working on a mobile media tour app for the trails.

“The National Park Service agencies do a lot more for the American people than we realize,” Wilson said. “This was a wonderful professional development for me.”

Courtesy Photo

SFA student Emmanda Wilson spent the summer working as an intern for the National Trails Intermountain Region. “This was wonderful professional development for me,” Wilson said.

By Bethany BaldwinContributing Writer

SFA students have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate research programs, and the School of Honors offers resources for students interested in undergraduate research.

“Research is the way students excel,” said Jennifer Crenshaw, administrative assistant of the School of Honors, “and it is not just for honors students.”

Crenshaw said most students connect with research through professors or, if they are an honors student, through completing an honors contract. An honors contract allows a student to receive honors credit for a course not designed for honors by doing extra work approved by the professor and the dean of the School of Honors, Dr. Michael Tkacik.

Chelsea Campbell, SFA senior psychology major, attended the Southwestern Psychological Association Conference in April 2016 as a junior. She said her professor, Dr. Lauren Brewer, encouraged her to continue her research and present it at the conference.

“My professor encouraged me a lot and walked me through [the research process],” Campbell said. “I was still early into college. It can be a scary thing to start, but the professors are really supportive. I want to say thank you to Dr. Brewer. She has been very supportive and encouraging through the whole process.”

Campbell presented two studies at SWPA: Need for Cognition and Verbatim Recall and Implicit Theories of Intelligence and Their Effects on Personality.

Students with research to present can petition their department of study for financial support to present their work at a convention. The Student Activities Department divides grant money specifically designated for undergraduate research among the six colleges at SFA. The colleges then decide whom they will fund through different means, including but not limited to, a list of minimum criteria and an application process.

Honors students can petition the honors department to match the funding given by their college of study, but the college must already be funding the student.

“It’s so outside the realm of normal classes,” Crenshaw said.

She said it is impressive for a student to be pursuing what many teachers and

scholars pursue to gain tenure or academic acclaim.

The conferences undergraduate research students attend almost always include both students and professionals in the field of study. Last year, SFA fully funded four students to attend what Crenshaw described as one of the most popular research conferences in the country, the National Council of Undergraduate Research.

“To send a student to that level of conference gives them that edge they need in their field,” Crenshaw said. “It’s a great way to showcase your skills and network with other people in that field.”

Daniel Fansler, a junior majoring in creative writing, attended the annual International English Honor Society conference in Minneapolis in March.

“It was a little overwhelming at first,” Fansler said. “Lots of new people, lots of people, and it was in a city I had never been to, Minneapolis. I shared a hotel room with a guy from Arizona I had never met who turned out to be a decade older than me. It was also a lot of fun.”

Fansler presented a series of poetry with the overall theme of “coming home.”

Allison Pratt, a senior majoring in rehab services and president of the Honors Student Association, has been to several conferences presenting research. Her first conferences were with professor Dr. Dusty Jenkins. Jenkins approached Pratt about doing a research project together, and they presented it at SWPA.

“The first time I went I was terrified,” Pratt said. “I felt really intimidated because I felt everyone else would know more than I did, but once I got there it was a very inviting and accepting environment.”

Pratt said the next conferences she attended were much more enjoyable because she understood the experience was about an exchange of knowledge and excitement of the field.

Pratt, Fansler and Campbell each said the experience of presenting research at a conference as an undergraduate was worth the effort and initial fear. They said they would encourage other students interested in presenting research to “go for it.”

For more information on undergraduate research and conferences, visit the website http://www2.sfasu.edu/orsp/undergradresearch.html or http://www.sfasu.edu/honors/urc/.

School of Honors provides students research resources

Forestry student interns with National Park Service

By Joshua CliffeContributing Writer

The Sophomore Scholars and East Texas Miracle Team will be hosting a come and go 24-hour Game Day charity event from 3 p.m. Oct. 14 to 3 p.m. Oct. 15 at the Axe Handle Cafe.

The game day will consist of a collection of board games, card games and video games. The event will feature: a billiard tournament at 4 p.m., a Super Smash Brothers tournament at 7 p.m., followed by Free Play from 1 a.m. to 8 a.m.

“There will also be prize winning games, like Jenga and Scrabble,” said Molly Moody, assistant director of student engagement, “and you will be able to bring your own game consoles and just plug in and play.”

Tickets cost $10 to come and participate, and participants will be allowed to come and go as they please.

All of the proceeds for the event will go to Extra Life, a charitable organization that allows participants to, as their slogan suggests, “Play Games. Heal Kids.”

“Extra Life is an organization that benefits Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals by fund raising through gaming avenues” Jeff Wright, host of the Game Day and partner of East Texas Miracle Team, said.

“This money is being raised to benefit the Christus Trinity Mother Frances in

Tyler,” Moody said. “The money is being raised to go to their neonatal intensive care unit.”

Extra Life is owned by the Children’s Miracle Network, which raises money for varies hospitals and select “champions,” according to the network’s website, that have a “remarkable medical story from each state.”

The event will be hosted by Jeff Wright, past Champion Child.

“I was born with an undiagnosed autoimmune disorder. By the age of 4 my parents lost count after 400 days in the hospital,” Wright said, “When I was 6, I contracted a tumor on the lowest section of my spine that threatened the use of my legs.”

He went on to say that CMN was there to comfort him and his family by playing with him and informing him of what upcoming surgeries would look like.

“He received funds and was cured based upon the funds he was given because of the Children’s Miracle Networks,” Moody said. “He will be livestreaming video games at the event and accepting donations [To Extra Life]”

The East Texas Miracle Team’s goal is to raise $3000 for Mother Francis in Tyler.

“If we reach $5,000, I am shaving my legs, a coworker is shaving his beard and another is shaving his head,” Wright said.

For more information, email Moody at moodymk@sfasu.edu.

Twenty-four hour game day to raise money for charity

SFA students log almost 200,000 service hours

Whether cleaning out gutters, rak-ing yards or painting homes, statistics produced by the SFA Office of Student Engagement show SFA students logged al-most 200,000 hours of volunteer service in 2015-16.

“There is a proven added value to a college experience when students are ex-posed to, and directly serve, the local com-munity,” said Molly Moody, SFA assistant director of student engagement, leader-ship and service. “The Office of Student Engagement, through leadership and ser-vice programs, promotes a variety of op-portunities for students to engage with the Nacogdoches and global community.

“Whether it be The BIG Event, volunteer-ing with Nacogdoches ISD, at a local senior care facility, or at Millard’s Crossing, stu-dents are able to learn about the residents who live in this city all year, the history of a place that they call a home away from home, and the many ways that they can contribute to a culture of caring that will impact this community for a lifetime.”

Students volunteered a total of 193,337 hours assisting communities in 2015-16 compared to 106,775 hours in 2014-15. Moody said the increase resulted in part from an added emphasis on service-hour reporting.

“The amount of service our students

humbly pour back into this city is phe-nomenal,” said Moody. “So much so that many chose not to record their hours of service because they do not feel they need the praise. I honestly believe a truer figure is around 500,000. Leadership and service programs focus our conversation on the importance of service and the added value it brings to the educational experience.”

The BIG Event is, as its name suggests, the largest volunteer event of the year. Approximately 1,500 students served more than 120 sites in Nacogdoches County on a single day during the 2016 event. Other small volunteer events occur throughout the year, including out-of-town service events hosted during spring break.

Though projects ranging from small to large are ongoing all year, organiza-tions that log the most service hours tradi-tionally include Driving Jacks, Traditions Council, Students Activities Association, Dancers Against Cancer and Jack Camp.

“As an institution, we are constantly reminding students that the most im-portant project in college is themselves,” Moody said. “Service-learning experi-ences, be it volunteer work or serving in a leadership role in a service-driven organization, are some of the most trans-formative experiences in which a student can participate.”

CMYK

EntertainmentPage 4 The Pine Log 2016

By Steven CerkiewiczVideo Editor

I think it’s best to go into a movie not knowing anything about it. I remember doing that with M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Sixth Sense,” and by the end of it, I was completely blown away. It allows the film to take you down a winding road where you have no idea what is going to pop up. I did that with “The Girl on the Train,” and it made for an awesome experience.

“The Girl on the Train” follows Rachel, a drunk divorcee who watches her former neighbors and fantasizes about their lives on the train she rides to work. After a day of drinking, Rachel sees one neighbor, Megan, cheating on her husband. Since Rachel believes

Megan’s life is perfect, she chases after her, blacks out, then wakes up covered in blood. The next day, she finds out Megan has gone missing. Rachel becomes interested in the case and tries to solve the mystery, while Anna, the woman her husband cheated with, and her husband try to prevent Rachel from acting crazy. The film stars Emily Blunt, Rebecca Ferguson, Haley Bennett and Luke Evans.

The story is a whodunit mystery filled with twists and turns. The focus of the film is on the three women mentioned before, tied together by strange events that lead up to the disappearance of Megan.

The best part about this movie was the characters, all unreliable narrators. Rachel is a drunk, Megan keeps a lot of

things ambiguous to her therapist and Anna is biased against Rachel. This kept the mystery alive. You never really know who did what. It also gives an “outsider looking in” feel to the film. Since the characters are unreliable, you never really get into their heads. You are just observing the events and not really rooting for a certain character. It makes for an interesting experience.

Blunt’s performance was, by far, my favorite. She seemed so helpless and distraught that you had no choice but to feel sorry for her, but other moments made you think otherwise.

This was one of the most interesting films I’ve seen all year. After a summer of disappointment, it was nice to see something so well put together that was great through the end.

By Andrea NelsonStaff Writer

With SFA being so prominent in the city of Nacogdoches, it should come as no surprise that the community is both heavily influenced and involved with the school, its students and faculty.

In the College of Fine Arts, the Dean’s Circle illustrates the community’s impact in a big way.

The Dean’s Circle, according to its mission statement, provides endowed professorships and recognizes “outstanding students in art, music, theatre and music education with the annual Dean’s Awards.”

Every September, the Dean’s Circle holds an event to introduce April award winners to the community. This year, students and faculty alike were given the opportunity

to present work to attendees at a special Spotlight on the Arts ceremony, bringing in four faculty members to present work in various subjects of the arts in addition to the four Winner’s Circle student award recipients at this year’s event.

“It’s more than my job. It’s my life. It’s what I do,” Dr. A.C. “Buddy” Himes, dean of the College of Fine Arts, said.

Himes said the community members of the Dean’s Circle are a source of extra support for fine arts, and the money raised by the Dean’s Circle is used to push the Fine Arts programs even further than they could go with just the university funding.

“We want to move beyond the status quo and aspire for ideal levels of excellence,” Himes said.

Student excellence is a big subject for a lot of the Fine Arts faculty, according to

Professor Angela Bacarisse, who represented theatre in the Spotlight displays.

“I made a very specific decision to display the work of our students,” Bacarisse said. “I found it important to feature that what I do doesn’t happen unless the students are learning.”

Himes said that many of the students in the College of Fine Arts aren’t aware of the Dean’s Awards, and that receiving the highest honor in the College often comes as a surprise to hardworking students.

“Winning the Dean’s Award is incredibly humbling,” said Taylor Dobbs, this year’s theatre recipient. “When I graduate in May, I will be the first person in my family to have a degree in higher education. Where I come from, college isn’t part of the conversation. I am so proud of myself, and that isn’t a feeling I have had many times in my life.

This award has inspired me to take my opportunities seriously and achieve at the highest level.”

Himes said that he wants students receiving these awards in art, music and theatre to be an inspiration to the other students around them. He hopes for students “to be motivated and inspired by what [they] see other students doing…that is the real value of these.”

In the future, Himes hopes to add another endowed professorship to the program and eventually have three separate awards for music, art and theatre professors. Himes also hopes that the Dean’s Circle can increase the intensity of the student awards in the future and raise enough money to award students with even more impactful scholarships to aid their higher education in the arts.

By Brooke MosleyStaff Writer

After the success of her hit Youtube series, Issa Rae is known for being the “Awkward Black Girl,” but after the premiere of her HBO comedy “Insecure,” Rae makes the smooth transition from awkward to insecure.

“Insecure,” co-created by Larry Wilmore, is a half-hour comedy following the life of Issa Dee (played by Rae) and her best friend Molly as they try to navigate relationships, adulthood, and being black women in south Los Angeles. This show has similar qualities to Rae’s web series “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl,” such as internal monologues and passive-aggressive raps from the main character. However, “Insecure” has a more in-depth and raw approach to fit the format of HBO.

At the beginning of the pilot, we meet Issa Dee as she is visiting a class for her job at a nonprofit organization named We Got Y’all where she is the sole black employee. During her presentation, she is mocked and questioned by students about her relationship status, job, way of speaking and style.

Issa’s insecurities lie in the topics brought up by the students as the show continues. For example, she considers ending her five-year relationship due to the uncertainty of where it was going. Issa poses the question, “How different would my life be if I actually went after what I wanted?” and is seen throughout

the episode debating the version of herself she wants to be, as well as the different aspects of her life she wants to pursue, such as rapping.

We also meet Molly, a well-liked lawyer who knows who she is and seems to have her life together, unlike her best friend Issa Dee.

Watching this series was like taking a breath of fresh air from the sea of shows that depict struggling or dangerous black characters. Rae herself has said in interviews that she wanted to create a show that displayed “regular black people living life,” and I believe she did just that. Although the series takes on a different characterization approach, Rae excels in incorporating a great deal of black culture without necessarily being stereotypical.

The show also does a great job displaying the close bond between two black women, something that isn’t regularly displayed on TV anymore. Although the two characters are opposites of each other, Molly’s sophisticated nature balances out the quirky and passive-aggressive nature of Dee. There was great onscreen chemistry between the actresses, as well.

Even with the knowledge that most comedies are only 30 minutes, I found myself not wanting the show to end by the time the credits were rolling. If you are in search of a fresh new show filled with laughter and insecurities, check out HBO’s “Insecure” every Sunday at 9:30 p.m.

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om Review: ‘Insecure’ is the new ‘Awkward’

@thepinelog

Dean’sCircle

College of Fine Arts recognizes outstanding SFA students

October 2016

Oct. 14-15- Sunset Baby

Oct. 17- Captured Memories: The Songs of

Charles Ives

Oct.18 -Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band

Oct. 20- Opera Workshop Scenes

Oct. 20- Dec.9-School of Art ‘Works of Devon

Nowlin’ Oct. 25- Choral Union and

Women’s Choir

Oct. 26-Woodwired Duo

Oct. 27- Jan.14- SFA Alumni Showcase/ Art

Exhibition

Oct. 27- A Capella Choir

SAA CINEMA OCTOBER 13th, 14th, & 16th

7 P.M. “The Secret Life of Pets”

9:30 P.M. “Nerve”Showing on Thursdays, Fridays & Sundays

SFA Students $2 Faculty/Staff $3Community $4

CMYK

Page 5Wednesday, OctOber 12, 2016

Opinions@thepinelog

COLUMN

OPINIONS EDITORANNA CLARKE

SPORTS EDITORDEVIN BROOKS

ADVERTISING MANAGERMORGAN OLIVER

WEBMASTER/SOCIAL MEDIAKATHRYN GARDNER

NEWS EDITOR PARASTOO NIKRAVESH

PHOTO EDITORJACKIE CONDE

ENTERTAINMENT EDITORNADIA OULAHNA

COPY EDITORMICHAEL HERRINGTON

VIDEO EDITORSTEVEN CERKIEWICZ

Fall 2016 Editorial BoardOpinions

Policy

✓ Write a letter to Grinding the Ax. Follow the guidelines on the left. Sign your name, and your letter will likely appear on this very page.

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FEEDBACKOpinions expressed in this section of The Pine Log are those of the individual writer or cartoonist and do not necessarily reflect those of the university, its administrative officers or its Board of Regents.

Letters should be typed and should include the student’s hometown, classification, campus identification number and phone number for verification purposes. We reserve the right to edit letters for space, spelling, grammar and potentially libelous material. Letters should not be longer than 300 words. Any letter that does not follow this criteria will not be published.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFJOANNA ARMSTRONG

When October comes around, everyone, especially students, gets excited for Halloween. Parties are planned, and costumes are considered. We start lighting candles with names like “fall leaves” and “pumpkin pie latte.” Although we are in Texas, we pull out the sweaters that will keep us warm because we want so badly for the weather to cooperate with the season. And though there is happiness in the air for the break from the heat, Halloween is supposed to be full of scares and pranks. Unfortunately, people are taking this a little too far.

Over the past couple of months, there have been many creepy clown sightings. States have reported people dressed up in these extremely scary costumes standing at the edge of woods or even out in the street staring at passersby. Others have reported clowns trying to convince children to follow them into the woods. Although there haven’t been any actual kidnappings or assaults from these clowns, and it could just be a giant joke, it sends a chill and

fear through the towns where these cases have been reported.

Just last week, Nacogdoches had its first sighting, allegedly outside of Social House and Legends apartments. Whether it was real or not, social media around the area blew up, and people started posting statuses to friends asking them to stay safe and not walk home alone.

There is a huge problem with this. First, people don’t take their safety as a joke. Second, these “clowns” don’t know who has what kind of fear response.

Fight or f light is a concept that has been around for a long time. Some people have a natural response to run when they are put in a dangerous situation, and others immediately get ready to fight for their lives. It is an automatic response that should not be messed with because it can have results that do too much damage.

These clowns pose a huge threat to themselves and others. If this really is a joke, as most people believe, it can have dire consequences. In

fact, one of these creepy clowns was shot recently, which just shows that people are not messing around.

Maybe these clowns think it’s funny to watch people run in fear, but what happens when they aren’t the type to run? Keeping oneself safe is a part of the natural order of the human condition, and people will go to all lengths to make sure they are protected. We have animal instincts, and when messing with those, you put yourself in grave danger. This is not a joke to a lot of people; it is a major threat. These clowns are asking for trouble.

Sure, October is the month for Halloween, but that’s just one day. If these clowns were dressing up then, it would be accepted because it is a day dedicated to scary. But when you change the social norm, citizens are thrown off, and that causes havoc.

Don’t mess with people’s ability to protect themselves. It is not a joke. Hopefully in Nac, we won’t have any more reports, but if there are, don’t be surprised if something bad happens to the people taking this lightly.

Creepy clown joke has gone too farIllustration by Olivia Boan/ The Pine Log

Coming to SFA, I applied with the idea of being a geology major. At orientation, I switched to environmental science. After three months, I learned it wasn’t for me. Since the end of my first semester until now, I have been completely confused as to where I stand with my major and my future. But that’s okay.

There’s this stigma created from infancy that if your parents expose you to a specific job enough, be it veterinarian, firefighter, doctor, etc., you’re more likely to become one. In reality, figuring that out takes a lot of concentration and time. Please, don’t feel uncomfortable sitting in on a class you think you might like for a day. Ask questions of people in the areas of study you’re interested in. It’ll be worth it, I promise. Also,

if you’re unhappy or unable to take the workload of whatever it is you’re currently studying, you should think about going undecided. It’ll help you in several ways.

Going undecided makes you focus on whether or not you want a Bachelor of Science or a Bachelor of Arts. This is important because if you like the STEM focuses, you’ll probably want to get a Bachelor of Science. If you’re more into art and languages, you should consider a Bachelor of Arts.

Being an undecided student has helped me focus on my core classes and get them done faster. Who knows? Depending on what I end up declaring, I might be able to graduate early.

This gives you time to not only think about a major but also a

minor as well. For example, say you’re currently a biology major, but you’d kind of like to major in environmental science. But you don’t know much about it. This is the time to get involved with the environmental science department. Figure out what clubs and organizations they have to offer so you can get your feet wet without taking classes. It is a wonderful way to figure out what you like to do.

A lot of people refuse to accept the idea that, no matter how much money you make, if you don’t like the job, you’re going to be miserable—no matter where you work, who you work with or what your position in the company is. Passion should be applied when finding something you love. It’s not about the first boy you kiss; it’s

about the last boy you kiss. That doesn’t mean you can’t get hired for a job based on just your minor or get hired to work for a school district when you majored in marketing. The job field today is so diverse, so you have many opportunities. Now is your time to experiment with those opportunities.

I know campus for freshmen can be really intimidating and overwhelming, especially the first semester. But for the most part, everyone at SFA wants you to succeed and be happy. Just about anyone will be willing to help you with that. I hope everyone, sophomores (like me) and freshmen alike, finds what they love to do. School shouldn’t be a chore. You should love what you study, and that’s what college is about.

AXE’EMadvice column

– Each week, The Pine Log will be featuring an advice column. The staff

will be answering questions about anything from relationships to general

life issues, and everything in between. To submit your questions, email The Pine

Log at sfasupinelog@gmail.com.

I feel my professor has a vendetta against me. I know the grades I am getting should be higher, and I feel that he singles me out during discussions. What should I do?

—Anonymous

Answered by Devin Hogue

First, you are probably not the only person who feels that way. Personally, I have felt the same way. It is hard to tell if the teacher is trying to question your intelligence in a helpful way or embarrass you.

Sometimes, professors feel that questioning people out loud can be beneficial for the whole class, because other people might also not know the answer. Unfortunately, someone has to be the guinea pig, take one for the team and get a little embarrassed.

But the professor could also be being petty, as well. We have to remember that professors are people, too. They have feelings, and they honestly may not like some students. Personalities do not always mix, but that should not stop someone from doing his job to the best of his abilities.

It may be helpful for you to go to the professor during office hours to talk to him about the assignment. It may help you for the next assignment.

If you feel like he blatantly dislikes you and is treating you unfairly because of some prejudice, that’s a different story. You should go to the higher authority and report it. You are going to need proof and maybe a witness. Hopefully, that is not the case, but you don’t want your GPA to be placed in jeopardy because of a professor who doesn’t

like you. Most of the time, talking

to the teacher will solve any miscommunication. There are going to be people at future jobs and schools and even some family members who don’t like you for one reason or another. How you deal with those types of situations could make a big difference. Try to be the bigger person, and your conscience will be clear.

“If you feel like he blatantly dislikes you and is treating you

unfairly because of some

prejudice, that’s a different story. You should go to the higher authority and

report it.”

Undecided major gives room for growth

COLUMN

By CynthiaCOGAN

“Being an undecided

student has helped me

focus on my core classes and get them done faster.”

CMYK

SportsSFA Athletics | Intramural Sports | Sport Clubs

@TPLSports

The Pine Log 2016Page 6

SFA ScoreboardCROSS COUNTRY: Men and women win the Aggieland Open

BASKETBALL: Midnight Madness set for 8 p.m. Friday at the WRJC

VOLLEYBALL: Ladyjacks defeat UIW 3-1 behind McIntyre’s 17 kills

FOOTBALL: Lumberjacks falter in double overtime 35-28 at NichollsPhoto by Hannah Russell/ The Pine Log

By Juwan LeeStaff Writer

The NFL and college football seasons have returned for another exciting year of underdog stories, remarkable comebacks and emotional games. This means the endless debates of whose team is better will once again make an appearance. When listening to people talk about sports, I wonder if people are truly aware of the words that come out of their mouths. The steady rise of social media in the world of sports has far too often let us see fans seemingly ruin the enjoyment that comes from watching sports.

In 2012, Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell passed away at the age of 86. Cleveland fans have a serious disdain for Modell. In 1995, he attempted to move the Browns to Baltimore and ended up retaining the contracts of all Browns personnel, moving them to Baltimore to establish the Ravens franchise. Well, one Browns fans held onto that grudge for more than a decade and decided to film himself urinating on the former owner’s grave. Now to the fan, it is a funny joke, as he does not have any personal connection to Modell. To Modell’s family, it is embarrassing, hurtful and frustrating to see someone disrespect

a member of their family like that.Often, I believe fans look at players as machines instead of humans

who share the same emotions they do. When a player gets injured, the only thing we focus on is, “When can he play again?” rather than how much they have to go through during the rehab process. This was evident when San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman tore his ACL in the game before the Super Bowl. Instead of a moment of silence for the player, fans thought it was appropriate to throw trash at him while he was being carted off the field.

This is not just an epidemic of poor sportsmanship throughout the country, but a change in how fans view players in general. Just look at how a group of fans have turned on various athletes because they are expressing their opinion on injustice in America. The ironic part is I have not met one person who stands at home when the national anthem is being played, but that’s not the focus of this column.

There is sort of an unwritten code of conduct for how sports fans should act. We all love to debate, cheer and boo other teams. Leave it at that. Do not attack athletes personally. Why involve yourself in the personal lives of other people? A person’s annual salary should not justify negative comments from people who have not made it in their profession.

By Nick IreneStaff Writer

SFA’s struggles continue

as the Lumberjacks dropped their second straight game with a 35-28 double overtime loss to the Nicholls State Colonels after squandering a 14-point lead Saturday afternoon.

In a game where the statistics where almost dead even, the only statistic that mattered at the end was the final score. The quarterback carousal continued as Zach Conque and Hunter Taylor split snaps with Conque getting the majority of them. SFA burst out of the gates early by scoring two Conque touchdowns (a 30-yard pass to Joshua West and a one-yard run) in under three minutes to start the game. Wide receiver Tamrick Pace continued his strong season, registering his second-straight 100-yard receiving game and his fourth-straight game with a touchdown. Hunter Taylor struggled, throwing for 45 percent and an

interception. Conque threw for 14-25 for 204 yards and was responsible for all four of the Jacks’ touchdowns. Defen sivel y, sen ior linebacker George Stone would get the lone turnover for the Jacks, snagging an interception late in first quarter and finishing with 10 tackles.

Colonels’ quarterback Chase Fourcade went 17-25 with 195 yards, throwing two touchdowns and running in two more, including the one-yard run to seal the victory for Nicholls in the second overtime. Running back C.J. Okpalobi had another strong showing as he rushed for 70 yards and received an extra 67 yards scoring two touchdowns.

A real turning point in the game came late in the first half when Conque threw an interception to Nicholls’ corner Christian Boutte to set the Colonels up in Jacks’ territory leading to the tying score before the half. This was Boutte’s second interception of the season. Colonels’ wide receiver Damion Jeanpiere

took a 25-yard pass to tie the game in the first overtime. In the second, Fourcade powered in for a touchdown, but it was Sully Laiche who saved the day for the Colonels when he stripped Jacks’ running back Kijana Amous and forced a fumble at the 12-yard line.

The recovery by Allen Pittman sent the 9,002 in attendance at John L. Guidry Stadium away with a happy, hard-fought win and gave Jacks’ coach Clint Conque a very sour reunion with his alma mater.

Nicholls has competed with all the FBS teams on their schedule, from losing by one point to South Alabama to almost knocking off the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens.

Nicholls moves up to 2-3 for season with a 2-1 record in the conference. The loss drops the Jacks’ record to 3-3 with 2-2 in the Southland Conference. The Jacks look to rebound at 3p.m. Saturday, October 15, against the Southeastern Louisiana Lions at Homer Bryce Stadium.

The fans need to respect the athletes The national sports fan base needs to learn how to act civilized in and out of the spotlight instead of taunting and applauding when athletes get seriously injured

SPORTS COLUMN

Juwan LeeSTAFF WRITER

“Do not attack athletes personally.”

Colonels cut down the LumberjacksLumberjacks falter late against Nicholls in a double overtime thriller to move to 3-3 overall on the season

Photo by Hannah Russell/ The Pine Log

Hailey Hunt and Chole Fowler control the ball during a match versus UTSA.

Upcoming Games

• Oct. 15 vs. Southeastern Louisiana @ Homer Bryce Stadium 3 p.m.

• Oct. 29 at Incarnate Word 6 p.m. • Nov. 5 vs. Central Arkansas @ Homer Bryce Stadium 3 p.m. • Nov. 12 at Houston Baptist 2 p.m.