The Rattler November 22, 2006 v. 94 #6 - Blume Library - St. Mary's ...

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Commentary14 www.stmarytx.edu/rattler The RattlerNovember 22, 2006Webmaster thanks The Rattler for fostering love of writingDavidGarzaWebmasterMajors: Biology,EnglishCareer Goal:AcademiaDear Rattler,Ever since I was in high schoolI had decided that my careergoals lay within the realm ofthe sciences. When I came to St.Mary’s, I welcomed the rigorouslectures of my biology courses andtheir grueling, compulsory labs,with open arms.I thought that these resourceswould help me to become intimatewith what I hoped to be my life’spursuit. Because of this ambition aswell as a genuinely shy demeanor,I became something of a recluseduring my freshman year.My days were spent either inthe classroom or in the library,studying by myself or, on rareoccasions, with a classmate. Theformula ended up working, andI achieved a satisfactory degree ofacademic success. Still, I felt likesomething crucial was missingfrom my college experience.During my junior year, mybest friend convinced me to tryout for a position on The Rattler’sstaff. Since I had some experiencemanaging a resource site for myfreshman biology class, I agreedthat Webmaster would be a perfectposition to apply for.Because my job was moreflexible, I tried to make myselfavailable to help the editorialstaff in other ways. For example,GRADUATING SENIOR COMMENTARIESI would sometimes writeemergency commentaries if one ofthe editors’ stories fell through.Time after time, I receivedmuch praise from my co-workersfor these endeavors. They wouldcommend my work and then tilttheir heads in confusion when Itold them my major was biology.When I confessed to them thatI always enjoyed writing andhad secretly entertained dreamsof composing material fortelevision comedy shows likeSaturday Night Live, they beganto gush encouragement.It was because of theirkind words that I ended uptaking unnecessary advancedEnglish courses.The commendations I receivedfrom my English professors thereconvinced me to change my minor“The Rattler helped nurturemy ability, inspiringmy creativity andinstilling me with thecourage I needed to pursuemy dreams.”to English.More and more professors keptencouraging me further still, untilultimately I took up English as mysecond major. None of this wouldhave been possible, however, hadit not been for the dear friends thatI made at The Rattler.It was because of my experienceat The Rattler that I finally came tounderstand that my passion inlife is writing. The Rattler helpednurture my ability, inspiring mycreativity and instilling me withthe courage I needed to pursuemy dreams.For the first time I felt like I havenot merely “made friends,” buthave met and become emotionallybound to a community ofkindred spirits.These were people with whomI shared the same vision, valuesand dreams.These people are at the heart ofa successful organization that I amproud to be a part of and foreverindebted to.For this reason, I want to thankall my friends at The Rattler for thememories they have shared withme over the years.Thanks to you, I leave myundergraduate career feeling notonly educated, but enlightenedand empowered.Editor finally findshis niche through oncampusinvolvementTimHennesseySports EditorMajor: English/communication artsCareer Goal: Entertainment JournalistArtistic childhood activitiesmirror future career goalsEdgar A. AlanisLayout/DesignManagerMajor: English/communication artsMinor: ArtCareer Goals:Graphic DesignerMarkers, crayons, paints, pens,pencils and anything else that canmake a scribble on a blank pagehave always been a major part ofmy life.As a child, I did not havemany toys, mainly because I didnot want them. It was my olderbrother who always wantedthe latest remote control car oraction figure.Instead, I passed the timemaking lines and shapes on paper,trying to create original artwork.I would take things from nature,mostly trees, and replicate themas best as I could using temperapaints or watercolors, and I wouldadd some creative element to it,like a bird’s nest or a tire swing.At the time, I thought nothingabout what I was doing. Drawingand painting was just fun for me,better than playing with whatevertoy trendy at the time.As a graduating senior whowants to pursue a career in graphicdesign, I see now how much IGRAPHIC ART BY EDGAR A. ALANISwas destined for this career path.Granted, with graphic design youspend more time working on acomputer, but every project beginswith a sketch, or a “dummy”or “comp” as it is called in thedesign world.I am lucky to have found acareer choice that allows me toincorporate what I love to do, andI wish to offer the same advice toanyone. If you are one of thoseindividuals who still does notknow what you want to do withyour life, take a moment to lookback upon your childhood. Youwill be surprised at what youcan find.I can’t remember how manygraduating senior commentariesI’ve read that stressed universityinvolvement. The only thing Icould think of as I read thesefarewell letters was how luckythese people were to be on theirway out. The importance of theirmessage, however, was lost on meduring my first three years.Now that the end is very muchin sight, the one regret I may haveis that I didn’t take advantage ofthe opportunities all around me.As a commuter student, mydays consisted of getting to schooljust before my first class andleaving as soon as I could after mylast one. A class schedule withoutany break, which allowed me toget on and off campus as quicklyas possible, was a goal I strived forevery semester.The only thing I lookedforward to each year was theend of it, when I could head backhome to Hawaii.Then, late in my junior year,I decided to start writing for TheRattler. After one semester ofwriting, one thing became clear tome—I had been missing out!Here I was, rushing to get offcampus everyday, unknowinglymissing out on the bestpart of college.With The Rattler, Lambda PiEta, and all the organizationsI’ve joined since then, I foundindividuals who shared the samepassions and interests.I found family.I know I’ve experienced morein the last year than I have in theprevious three.Now, less than a monthbefore I graduate from college,my excitement for the future istempered by the fact that I reallyonly experienced one year of it.If I could give one bit of adviceto my fellow students, it would bethis: Don’t be like me.Get involved, go out there,start taking part in the universityactivities. College isn’t just aboutthe classroom; it’s about thepeople, too.Goodbye San Antonio, hello Ho Chi Minh CityFor the last three months,every day I have been anxiouslycounting down to Dec. 16, mygraduation day.It’s senioritis, isn’t it?During the four years of mystudy in the United States, theone question I am asked mostoften is, “Are you going back toVietnam after you’re done withyour study?”My usual answer: “I will,eventually. But I’m going tograduate school first. I don’t wantto risk being denied a visa to comeback to the States.”I have since changed my mind.I want to go home, as soon as I can,whether or not graduate schoolis in my plan. For four years, Ihaven’t been home once.I remember being shocked thefirst time I heard my youngestbrother’s voice cracking on thephone, crass, deep, sounding justlike his older brothers’. Where isthe shy boy with a high-pitchedvoice saying bye to me at theairport? I want to see him again,before he grows into a man.I want to see my 80-year-oldgrandma, too, before she leavesme for good. It tugs at my heartwhenever I call and hear hertrembling voice on the phone. Shenever says it, but I know she fearsthat she won’t see me again.Of course I also want to seemy parents, my sister, my aunts,my uncles, my cousins and all myfriends. I miss them.Silly me, I used to believe thathomesickness could be cured byAmerican pills.AnhNguyenCopy EditorMajors: English,philosophyMinor: English/communicationartsCareer Goals:DevelopmentResearcher
SportsNovember 22, 2006 The Rattlerwww.stmarytx.edu/rattler 15Steroidstake awayfrom magicof sportSamanthaRoqueLast month, everybody knewChargers linebacker Shawne Merrimanas an exciting playmaker,the 2006 Defensive Rookie ofthe Year.Merriman’s impressive 54 tackles,10-sack rookie campaign lastseason earned hima starting spot inthe Probowl.In his first year,he was beginningto build a reputationas a hardworkingand talentedfootball player.Now he is known as just anotherprofessional athlete who testedpositive for steroids. After twofailed drug tests, Merriman’s reputationwill forever be tarnished.Why do many athletes risk theircareer and reputation by injectingthemselves with performance-enhancingdrugs?The only reason I can think of isthe pressure put on them by theircoaches, teammates, fans andeven themselves.Of course, football is not theonly sport where the problem ofsteroids rears its ugly head. Majorand Minor League Baseball, bicycling,and even track have to dealwith this issue.Professional sports have becomemore of a business of it’s-allor-nothing,winning at all costs.With players accountable toteam owners and fans more thanto themselves, there is far moreriding on how well they performthan just being a simple W or L inthe sports section the next day.When aspiring athletes imaginetheir moment of glory, whetherit is winning the World Series oreven the Tour de France, I do notthink steroids play a part in it.Also, I doubt that they picturetheir victory being questioned andeventually taken away as was thecase with bicyclist Floyd Landis.Landis became the improbablewinner of the Tour de France thissummer. He came back in the finalstages of the race when nobodyexpected him to win, which gaveall the underdogs out there a senseof hope.He showed how hard work anddetermination could pay off. Peoplebelieved in human spirit andthe will to overcome.Then the story broke that hetested positive for synthetic testosteroneand his subsequenttest failed.Now, when athletes break records,it seems natural to questionwhether they achieve the accomplishmentsthrough pure talent orwith the assistance of illegal performance-enhancingdrugs.Our faith in professional athleteswill never be as it was in thedays of Hank Aaron and otherpros who relied solely on their talentrather than steroids.Rattler recognized for academicsBy TIM HENNESSEYSPORTS EDITORDeann Lopez named Academic All-District by national sports magazine.By ALLEN PERKINSSTAFF WRITERAugust brings cooler weather,end of summer vacations and thebeginning of school. In the worldof college football, August bringsthe pre-season ranking polls.The polls are based on howteams finished in the previousyear, combined with which playersreturn to each team. Regardlessof the year, filling the top 10slots are schools rich in tradition,such as the University ofSouthern California, Texas andOhio State.The pre-season polls originallybegan as a way to generate excitementfor the upcoming season andto boost the sales of the magazinesin which they are found.As college football fanaticsknow, these polls mean so muchmore. Where you rank in the preseasoncan hold you back duringthe regular season. This season,Rutgers fans know this caveat alltoo well.Rutgers, usually the perennialloser, was undefeatedcoming off the biggest win inits history against erstwhileJunior mid-fielder Deann Lopezhas been recently named ESPNThe Magazine/CoSIDA AcademicAll-District by the College SportsInformation Directors of America.Lopez, an education major, wasnot even aware she had receivedthe honor.“I actually found out from [myfriend]. People kept congratulatingme, like professors, and I hadno idea what they were talkingabout,” said Lopez. “I would justsay thank you. I thought it was forDean’s List or something.”To be eligible for the ESPNThe Magazine/CoSIDA AcademicAll-District team, athletesmust have a cumulative GPA ofat least 3.2, a requirement Lopezmeets easily.With a 3.7 GPA, Lopez has alwaysplaced an emphasis on hergrades. She said she is grateful forESPN’s recognition.“Dean’s List is one thing.Through the athletics department,we focus a lot on keeping our GPAup,” said Lopez. “But it’s ESPN, amajor organization, and they recognizedme for [my academics].That meant a lot to me.”This award was meaningfulto her family also, especiallyher father.“My dad has been a coachhis entire life and he is an avidviewer of ESPN, so it was a hugething for him,” said Lopez. “Hewas really proud of me. [Myparents] were really pleased andreally excited.”According to Lopez, the key toher academic success is rememberingthat academics is whatbrought her to St. Mary’s in thefirst place. With constant travelingand training, it would be easyto lose sight of her purpose incollege, but Lopez keeps thingsin perspective.“Athletes have a hard time balancingtheir time. It’s a matter ofpriorities,” said Lopez. “Just like Iknow that soccer is a huge priorityin my life, I always remember thatI am on the team because of mygrades. I’m in the school becauseof my grades. So it’s just gettingyour priorities straight.”With strong commitment to academicsand dedication to universityathletics, Lopez sees this awardas a validation for her hard workin the classroom.“Well, because grades are myfirst priority and I work reallyhard in school, I think it’s cool thatthey can integrate that aspect intoan athletic award,” Lopez said.With this season already inthe books, Lopez is now backin the classroom full-time,looking to boost her alreadyimpressive GPA.“While I’d love to get the awardnext year as well, I’m not going tochange my approach,” said Lopez.“I’m going to study and preparethe same way I always do.”As a member of the women’ssoccer team this season, Lopezfinished third in points scoredand tied for the team lead in assists.Her performance helped theLady Rattlers reach the cusp of thepost-season, just missing out on aberth with a record of 10-4-5.COLLEGECORNERthird-ranked Louisville.After 136 years playing football,this is the first time they have beenranked in the top 10.With last weekend’s loss toCincinnati, their Cinderella seasonmay be over but Rutgershad little chance of sneaking intothe national championship inGlendale, Ariz. even if they hadwon out.Why, despite their flawless recordas of last week, could theynot leapfrog teams that alreadyhave losses on their records?The answer is simple: the preseasonpolls.In last week’s Bowl ChampionshipSeries poll, undefeated Rutgersranks behind three teams withone loss. The teams ranked aheadof Rutgers started in or around thetop 10 while Rutgers was excludedin the pre-season’s top 25.PHOTO BY TIM HENNESSEYRutgers’ biggest opponent yet: the pre-season pollPHOTO COURTESY OF REUTERSRutgers head coach Greg Schiano has done a terrific job this season,taking an under-performing team and turning them around.PHOTO BY DEREK SMOLIKAbove: In addition tothe strong emphasison grades theSt. Mary’s SportsDepartment has,Lopez takes it uponherself to focus onher studies all yearlong. As a junior,Lopez currently carriesa cumulativeGPA of 3.7.Left: While playingfor the Rattlersin 2006, Lopeztied for the teamlead in assists andwas third in pointsscored. Her presenceon the gameday was integral tothe Lady Rattlers10-4-5 record forthe 2006 season.Voters will not move Rutgersahead of these one-loss teamsunless they feel the differenceis significant.Rutgers’ only ranked opponentthis year was Louisville, whereasa team such as Florida will playabout 5-6 ranked teams over thecourse of the season.Due to the preconceived strengthof their conference and their traditionof losing, Rutgers faces a hugedisadvantage in terms of the nationaltitle hunt.Still, there exists one last,albeit dim hope.All chances hinge on Rutgers’road game against West Virginiaon Dec. 2. If they can run the tablewhile a few other teams lose, theymay be able to sneak in.Regardless of what happens,this Cinderella season for Rutgerswill be remembered forever.Considering Rutgers was 1-11 in2002 and was the laughing stockof college football, this is anunbelievable turnaround.Unfortunately, due to the preseasonpolls, this Cinderella maynot be “dancing” in any bowlthis season.
Page 1 and 2: First place winner of the American
Page 3 and 4: NewsNovember 22, 2006 The Rattlerww
Page 5 and 6: FeaturesNovember 22, 2006 The Rattl
Page 7 and 8: FeaturesNovember 22, 2006 The Rattl
Page 9 and 10: ttlerres November 22, 2006MANAGING
Page 11 and 12: EntertainmentNovember 22, 2006 The
Page 13: CommentaryNovember 22, 2006 The Rat

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