The Wichitan - Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls Texas

MIDWESTERN STATE UNIVERSITY | April 26, 2006

FRONT PAGE

Walker won't talk while you walk
Chuck Norris appearance at graduation turns out to be hoax
Marianne Lechuga | For The Wichitan

Rumor had it and flyers circulated around campus that “Walker, Texas Ranger” himself was going to be the guest speaker at graduation this year. But Chuck Norris fans brace yourselves, because there’s no truth in that.

“Chuck Norris is definitely not our commencement speaker,” Debbie Barrow, executive assistant to the president said. “We’re delighted that two of our distinguished alums will be coming back to give our commencement addresses in May.”

Barrow also coordinates commencement activities. Barrow had received a phone call from a professor who had seen the flyer taped outside the doors of Bolin who faxed it over to her. Another flyer was sighted on the doors of Moffett Library.

Chuck Norris fan and sophomore Steven Kundert first heard about the rumor sometime in March. A friend of his had sent out a bulletin on the Myspace Web site announcing that Norris would be at graduation.

“She had heard about it from her youth minister who is actually an English professor at MSU,” Kundert said.

About a week later he saw the same flier as he was passing by the Bolin building.

“I remember jumping up and down because I felt like it had confirmed the rumor because it looked so real and legitimate,” Kundert said.

The prankster or pranksters, who are still unknown, went through some trouble to make the flyer look genuine. They even produced a fake stamp of approval from the Clark Student Center Office. However, the font of the stamp on the bogus Norris flyer is actually in a different font than the actual stamp of approval the student center issues.

According to Dean of Students Dail Neely, the director of Student Development Sophia Rodriguez decided to change the stamp so that it could not be duplicated. It now has Rodriguez’s initials as part of the approval stamp.

“It showed they were real clever about it,” Kundert said. “They made it look as real as possible.

Kundert was convinced because the flyer listed actual facts about Norris including his martial arts accomplishments and not the facetious made up facts passed around on the Internet for laughs claiming, “There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.” Kundert admits he believed the rumor was true for a long time.

“When I found out it was fake I was a little disappointed, but I still want the rumor out there because I think it’s still funny,” he said.

Kundert said he made a joke with his friends that if Norris really did com to graduation they should all go dressed as ninjas.

“But my friend Daniel said no I wouldn’t want to get killed by Chuck Norris,” Kundert said.

For Norris fans that want to catch the action star even if it’s not at graduation, they can still watch him roundhouse-kick the bad guys in re-runs of “Walker, Texas Ranger.” For more outrageous Chuck Norris facts visit chucknorrisfacts.com.

Prodigy tackles college at age 13
Katy Poole | For The Wichitan

By all accounts he is a regular college student, attending classes full-time. The only difference is he was born in the 90’s. 1992 to be exact. Austin Howard is a 13-year-old finishing up his freshman year here at MSU double majoring in Mathematics and Physics.

When Austin was 12 and attending McNeil Junior High here in Wichita Falls, he was offered the opportunity to take the ACT. Duke University has the Talent Identification Program and offered the test to 7th graders who scored in the top tier of the TAAS/TAKS test. Austin’s test results showed that he is in the top one percent of 7th graders who took the test and he is in the top five percent of everyone who takes the test.

These scores prompted Austin to make the decision to start college instead of moving on to the 8th grade. He was accepted into MSU through the ACCESS program, traditionally a program for high school seniors with good grades to attend college courses.

The transition from junior high to college for Austin wasn’t as hard for him as many might think. To him, it was about learning, and nothing more. He says, “I’ve always been an avid learner, so you know, throughout my whole school journey it didn’t matter what grade I was in. I’m always trying to strive to learn and advance.”

Austin began his college career this past fall and chose MSU because it is here in his hometown, but he feels lucky to have a university like Midwestern State.

When it comes to Austin’s choice in majors he says, “I have always loved the maths, and the physics and the sciences. I love just about all kinds of learning, but I’ve always loved those. It was almost a natural choice for me.”

Although classmates notice Austin’s age difference at the beginning of the semester, he knows that over time the novelty of it wears off. “As the semester goes on I just become another student. I am just like everybody out here trying to do the best I can. It’s kind of what we’re here for,” he says.

Austin hasn’t encountered any negative aspects here at the University concerning the age component. In fact, it has been just the opposite for him. He notes, “All the students, all the faculty, all the staff have all really treated me with respect and really welcomed me.”

School is primary in Austin’s life right now, but he also has a love for music. He has taken private piano lessons with Dr. Ruth Morrow for eight years now and has played the organ at his church for about three years. Austin also plays the Carillon, or bell towers, here on campus. He hopes to “maintain a friendship” with classical music throughout his entire life.

Other than music, Austin also enjoys jet skiing, four wheeling and bike riding to name a few. He says, “Really I am a kid. I do kid things. It’s not like I am abnormal or anything, but I do play like any other kid does.”

He is also a part of the Math Club here at MSU and a member of the nation wide group, Society of Physics Students.

If all goes as planned, Austin should graduate from MSU right around his 17th birthday in May, 2009. He says, “I do plan to go on and get my PhD.”

He has a goal for himself to “work with NASA or in the private sector with cutting-edge technologies” but he remains open-minded to what the future may hold for him. He remarks, “You can’t really narrow your focus at this age or at this stage because right now I’m getting my physics and mathematics double major. So, I can’t tell you who’s going to employ me and what they are going to employ me for.”

Austin has a personal philosophy and it is apparent that he lives everyday by that philosophy. His motto is the Latin words “Carpe Diem.” Directly translated, these words mean seize the day. For Austin it means so much more. He says, “You got to take every moment of life and do the most with it as you can and not try to rush through your life but to just not waste life and enjoy every moment and everyday.”

Austin appears to be a grounded young man and is used to the media having an interest in him. He thinks it is beneficial for there to be publicity for some of the good things going on in the community, but he says, “I don’t try and personally take the spotlight cause it’s just not all about me.”

Austin’s final words on being a college student here at MSU: “I think it is a great University. I am privileged and very lucky to be a part of it. It has been wonderful.”

Commencement prayer up in the air
Michelle Ward | For The Wichitan

This year, the president’s office has a decision to make about the student-led prayer at graduation. Some professors and students have complained about being offended by the prayer.

The prayer at the commencement services in nothing new, but this May might be different. Deborah Barrow, the president’s executive assistant, said the office has received several complaints from faculty members and students about the prayer. She said it is not the intent of the university to offend anyone.

“We are acutely aware that people feel strongly on both sides of the issue,” Barrow said. “A prayer has traditionally been given at MSU commencements to solemnify the event.”

Several years ago, following the Supreme Court ruling concerning prayer at high school ceremonies, MSU changed its practice so that any prayer would be student-initiated, she said.

“At that time it became out practice to ask the Student Government Association President to handle the prayer as he or she felt appropriate,” Barrow said. “Since that time, the Supreme Court has refused to rule on cases dealing with prayer at college commencement ceremonies and no other changes have been made at MSU.”

Faculty and students are required to attend graduation. Gary Goldberg, associate art professor, has attended every ceremony in the past but doesn’t plan on attending in May. He is writing a letter to the Provost’s Office explaining why he can’t attend. The letter says he will not attend graduation until the school is able to provide a prayer that is un-offensive to him.

“There is no need for public prayer in a state fostered university,” he said. “I find it very offensive no matter who is saying it.”

Goldberg doesn’t believe the gym is the right time or place for religion. Graduation should be a time to celebrate the students’ accomplishments, he said.

“In church it is different, you know what you’re getting,” Goldberg said. “But in a gym, I shouldn’t have someone’s religion thrown down my throat. Telling someone to pray is a pretty serious thing.”

He agrees with separation of church and state but said he would be fine with a prayer that encompasses all religions, a generic prayer that covers all faiths or non-faiths. He said there are hundreds of prayers out there like this.

Goldberg has let the president’s office know his feelings. He is Jewish and believes there are a lot of people that feel the same way he does. He said most Christians haven’t ever heard a prayer that is offensive to them because they’ve only heard one type of prayer their whole lives.

The program for graduation will be finalized at the beginning of May, Barrow said. Students may request to not attend graduation through the Associate Provost’s Office. Faculty members must notify the dean of their college, who in turn notifies the Provost’s Office, Barrow said.

At this time, the there have not been any letters submitted to the Associate Provost’s Office or the Provost’s Office requesting an absence from the ceremonies.

The Student Government Association President Will Morefield said the administration expressed to him that there were some complaints about his spoken prayer at the December ceremonies.

A Christian, he is strongly for the prayer at graduation and would be deeply offended if the prayer were cancelled. He believes it is important but realizes everyone doesn’t feel the same.

“In the world we live in today, we must recognize other faiths,” Morefield said. “In order to provide equal opportunity, it would best fit to hold a moment of silence.”

Morefield respects the administration’s upcoming decision and said he would be more than honored to lead the prayer again.

Cowboy Logic
Candidate seeks student help

Kinky Friedman, Independent candidate for governor, will be making his way to Wichita Falls including a stop at MSU next week on his quest to get his name on the ballot in November.
On Tuesday, May 2, Friedman will host a VIP dinner for compaign donors at Texas Roadhouse starting at 5 p.m. Following dinner the public is invited to a free outdoor concert. Entertainment will be provided by Tommy Alverson, Randy Brown, Amos Staggs and Carol Alvis.
He will be in the Comanche Suite in the Clark Student Center on Wednesday, May 3 from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friedman will meet and greet students, professors and the public to share his cowboy logic.
Come hear Friedman talk about his plans for Texas. Tehre will be an opportunity to sign his petition at both events.
For further details on both appearances call 782-0884.