NEWS

Students Lacking at Artist Lectures
Ashley Dennis | Staff Reporter

The MSU Artist- Lecture Series has a problem.
For the past several years, the program has experienced a steady decline in student attendance, despite advertisements touting free admission for students and faculty.
“I’ve battled with the same question myself for the past seven years,” said Treva Clifton, Assistant to the Associate Vice president of Student Affairs. “It’s been an ongoing challenge to entice students to come to these events.”
Most students are offered extra credit from professors in exchange for their participation, but even this barter seems to do very little to increase attendance at ALS programs. Clifton says that students often pick up free tickets and never attend the event. 
“I think once students come, they realize the programs are beneficial. And we seem to get the same students to come back to other programs,” Clifton said.
Established in 1964, the Artist Lecture Series developed as a means to enhance the cultural and intellectual atmosphere of the MSU campus and the Wichita Falls community. Guests featured in the ALS programs have achieved national and international acclaim in their fields, and are chosen by a predominantly student-led committee. The program is also budgeted about $80,000 each year, which helps provide advertisements and fund travel and accommodations for guests.
“There are about nine or 10 members on the ALS committee, including a graduate student and an instructor (Alan Black),” said Crystal Williams, a junior business marketing major. Williams has served on the ALS committee for two years.
“We usually schedule at least three or four speakers each semester, and at the end of each semester we meet either weekly or bi-weekly to figure out speakers for the next year.”
Williams said she believes most students don’t attend ALS events because there are not enough speakers that the student body finds appealing. Most recently featured was Washington journalist Helen Thomas. Although nearly 100 patrons attended, few students could be found.
“I think the largest program that a lot of students came to was Ben Stein, but there was also the ‘Win Ben Stein’s Money’ program going on,” Williams said. “Plus, there’s only so much funding, so we can’t always get the speakers we want. I think if maybe we had one big speaker that the students were interested in and maybe two lesser known speakers, more students would probably attend.”
“I think most students are not aware of the program, and there aren’t enough publications advertising it,” said Casmint Edwards, a senior BCIS major. Edwards, who works part-time as a student assistant at the Clark Student Center information desk, said students rarely pick up tickets for entertainment purposes.
“Most of them are doing it for extra credit, so it’s usually faculty, staff and outside guests that go to the programs.”
Other students feel that ALS could benefit from better advertisement and a more diverse roster of speakers.
“Some of the speakers, students feel, are for older people. There aren’t enough young people,” said senior Hugo Erazo, another BCIS major
Senior sociology major Elliot Grant agrees.
“I guess the people that entertain us cost more, so they could use more money to bring in more people that will entertain the students. They [ALS committee] should also do more than just flyers. They should try and catch the people’s attention, talk to students, set up tables in the student center and make them more aware of what’s going on. You can only put up so many flyers. You have to cater to the students’ needs and know how to get to them.”
Despite the current state of the Artist-Lecture Series, both Williams and Clifton agree that the program will always have a permanent place at MSU.
“ALS will still be around whether or not students come,” Williams said.
“Most of the guest speakers are really nice and do their very best no matter how many people show up. The program is designed to broaden views and bring speakers students wouldn’t normally be exposed to,” Clifton said. “I think it’s important to at least be open to listen to others’ views, even if you don’t agree with them.”

Sources:
Hugo Erazo, BCIS major, senior
Elliot Grant, sociology major, senior
Casmint Edwards, BCIS major, senior
Treva Clifton, Assistant to the Associate Vice president of Student Affairs
Crystal Williams, business marketing major, junior


Vinson Hopes to Help Fund Birth Control
Camron Rushin | Editor-In-Chief

The Vinson Health Center hopes to start a program next semester that will offer birth control to students at a reduced rate.
“Birth control is extremely expensive, and, if you don’t have insurance, it’s difficult to buy,” said, Peggy Boomer, Vinson Health Center director.
The Vinson Health Center asked for $5,000 of student fees to fund this project. Boomer will be going over prices with Trott’s Call Field Drug at 4122 Call Field Rd. Boomer said the health center will try to split the price of the birth control with the student.
“Looking at low-end birth control, I’d estimate the student will pay about $12 a month,” Boomer said.
Boomer doesn’t want students to think the health center will be distributing the pills. They will only be prescribing and helping with the cost.
“The student will have to have pap exam, female exam and go through counseling before we write them a prescription.” Boomer said.
Students have mixed feelings about their student fees going toward birth control.
Senior psychology major Micah Cook said the pill eliminates responsibility.
“I’m against it because it’s promoting promiscuity while eliminating any responsibility or consequences,” he said.
Other students believe their money should be spent on different things.
“I don’t think it’s a good use of money, because it can be used for something more beneficial. Tuition is too high for us to take care of everybody,” junior psychology major Jessica Ballejo said.
Junior nursing major Brett Jackson and senior economics major Alisha Howell don’t see why students should pay for something that they can get for free at Planned Parenthood.
“I don’t think everybody should have to pay for a service that’s already offered downtown,” Howell said.
Boomer said the birth control offered at a state organization is only one type chosen by the state.
“Some students get their pills there and come to us and say they’re having complications. This way the student can get the right pill for them,” Boomer said.
Senior manufacturing engineering major Mark McKinzie said helping students pay for birth control is a good idea.
“It will prevent having to deal with the issue of abortion, adoption or early pregnancy,” he said.
Freshman mass communication major Bonnie Bolin agrees.
“College students are going to have sex, and it’s better to be safe than sorry,” she said. “Birth control isn’t just for preventing pregnancies, either; it can be used for other things.”
According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, 89,160 women in Texas had an abortion in 2000. About 55 percent of those women were in their 20s.
Editor’s note: Marianne Lechuga contributed to this article.