Volume 75

Issue 12

April 26, 2004

Local Law Officials Frustrated

Billings Deals with Serious Meth Problem
said that the D.A.R.E. program is a good start, but it needs to continue through high school. He said that he has empathy for users of the drug. It is extremely hard to stay off it, once you are hooked. You can cure them by taking them out of the environment, but when they get back they use again. Living in a small community makes it more difficult, said Bryce. This is true beagrees with Lt. Bryce that Billings has a major meth problem. Meth is so prevalent it takes up all our time. The jails are full. Sometimes they call and say please dont bring anybody in. Weve had to slow down because of it, Vladic says. Vladic is a member of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. HIDTA is composed of members of the FBI, DEA, AFT, and local police. In a 1998 Time Life article Billings was referred to as the crank capitol of the universe. What, exactly, does that mean to the city of Billings? What By Jason Lillie kind of strain Photo Editor does that put on our local police force? How has the drug affected individuals and families in our community? In interviews with two local police officers many of these questions were answered. They provided a frightening look into the criminal world of our citys biggest problem drugcrystal meth. While there is a definite methamphetamine problem in Billings, Lieutenant Bryce, of the Billings Police department, feels that the moniker provided by Time is a little unjustified. He does admit that Billings has a severe meth problem. There are four officers in the city drug unit and Bryce says about 90 percent of arrests are meth related. Bryce says that the average users are adults in their 20s and 30s. Methamphetamine use contributes to other crimes as well. Bryce feels that many thefts, robberies, and forgeries are related to meth use. These crimes are closely related to meth because they provide the perpetrators with quick cash so they can get their next crank fix. Bryce feels that most bad checks and forgeries are definitely meth related. When asked how to remedy the crystal problem in Billings, he chuckled, and with an exasperated shrug of his shoulders said he didnt know. Its a war that cant be won, Bryce said. He added that awareness and education are two major factors for prevention. He standing on what to look for in regards to meth labs. Vladic says that you cannot tell who uses meth just by looking at them anymore. Housewives are taking it to lose weight. Corporate executives are using it. Every walk of life, every aspect of wealth. Its not just your mope with long hair, says Vladic. He added, Before I was in this unit I always heard the war on drugs, the war on drugs. I thought it was somewhere elsenot in Billings, Montana. Vladic says the worst thing about meth is its affect on families. Meth breaks up families. It makes you sick to go into homes and see kids nine or 10 years old with strung out parents. He also talked about the other end of the spectrum, Everyday I get a call from a mother or father whose son or daughter is hooked on methand their son or daughter is an adult. Vladic is also somewhat sympathetic to the users of meth. It seems to progress, you snort it or smoke it, then you main line it, he says. People try it for the first time and they get an intense high and feeling of euphoria. After using meth a few times they dont seem to get that intense feeling again. Theyre always trying to capture that first high, says Vladic. After becoming an addict, many users turn to dealing to support their habit. A majority of small time dealers started as users. Its a way for them to come in contact with more of the drug, says Vladic. As soon as a person is exposed to meth they are facing a potential felony charge. Being caught with any amount of meth is a felony in Montana. It does not matter if a person has a miniscule amount or an ounce of meth, it is a felony. Granted, the penalties vary de-

KRT Campus - Some Meth ingredients confiscated during a police raid HIDTA had 180 cause once a perfelony arrests last son gets out of The jails are full. Some- year in treatment, or jail, they tend to go times they call and say Y e l l o w s t o n e about 95 back to old friends please dont bring anyone in. County, percent of which and habits. It is Weve had to slow down be- were meth reusually a matter of lated. HIDTA time before they cause of it. also busted 15 are exposed to the -Sgt. T.J. Vladic labs in 2003. drug and use Vladic attributes again. Ive had people tell me theyve tried it once and the increase in lab busts to better training. Billings sent members of its powere hooked, Bryce concluded. Sergeant T.J. Vladic of the city/ lice force to Quantico, Virg. to train county special investigations unit with the FBI to gain a better under-

Continued on Page 3

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Rant & Rave: Moving On

Ive heard of this denial thing before. It exists when someone cannot admit that an idea or thought may be fact. After a lot of talking to myself out loud and a minimal amount of research, I have decided that I am can eat Top Ramen every day for four years and still like it. 7. You will take freshman English because it is a requirement. Sadly, you will inevitably have to teach this entry-level English professor about adverbs and the proper usage of adverbs. 6. Most students have to work. Jobs are necessary to support your shopping habit, beer binges, a car and rental payments. If you do not have a job, you are weird, or you eat Top Ramen seven days a week. 5. At some point in time you will have to give a speech in front of a class full of strangers. Everyone messes up at least once. If you feel the need to puke in front of the entire class, there are garbage receptacles located in every class room for this purpose. 4. Textbooks are expensive. This will not miraculously change or get any cheaper, so kwitchurbitchin; the only way to solve this problem is simply to not buy them at all. 3. Make friends, lots of them. Have at least one buddy in every one of your classes. These people are useful for a multitude of things: signing you in when you miss class, turning in assignments, informing you of tests when you miss class for weeks, and finally, they are useful as notetakers when you predictably fall asleep in Art History. 2. Sleep is a luxury. It is meant to be absorbed on Sundays and holidays. I have been told that researchers are now saying that nine hours of sleep is a requirement for a productive day. I call B.S. on that one; as a person who has gone days without sleep, I can attest that the best ideas come at 4a.m. and college students eventually adjust to the sleepless schedule and become very productive. Last but not least. (Drum roll) 1. Take lots of pictures. I have spent and developed at least 25 rolls of film from my college days, and when I look at my albums 50 years from now, I will be able to reminisce over the stupidity of college freshman. They will be good for a laugh. Just remember to discretely hide some of those pictures from your parents and your future spouse. You dont want to scare them. Now it is time to say my mushy goodbye. I would like to think that some things will change, but that a lot of things will remain the same at MSU-Billings; especially behind the door of SUB 225. I wish the best of luck to The Retort staff next year; each one of you has amazed me with your dedication and persistence this past year. As for the intelligent people, the ones who are escaping, I know that you will all go out and be the best people you can be and you will change the world in some significant way. When I think back, I have seen so many faces come in to the office and make their imprints in our little newspaper. I thank each of them for their input and support. To the ones I scared away, I am so sorry. I now know 20 people who can put up with all of my bull and still produce a quality newspaper. This is it for me. I plan to leave quickly and quietly. I need to run promptly after graduation, before the university notices the massive amounts of office supplies, photos, and cafeteria memorabilia that I plan to hijack before my departure. Just kidding! See you all out there in the real world. I hope that you make an impression on this university the way you have all made an impression on me.

1500 University Drive SUB 225 Billings, MT 59101 Business & Newsroom: 657-2194 Fax: 657-2191 e-mail: retort@msubillings.edu

Janna Huhtala Editor-in-Chief

Editors and Staff

Janna Huhtala Amy Whittle Richard Castillo Jed Barton Betsy Harris Jennifer Fenton Jason Lillie Adam Wickens VACANT Dan Hansen Jessalyn Remington Evelyn Irmen Aric Weber Linsey Lindgren Brook Madison Brett Harrison Alea Logan Michael Redstone Matt Beard Olivia Stief Rose White Jesse Kester Nancy Swanson Editor-in-Chief Business/Ad Manager Layout/Design Editor Sports Editor News Editor A&E Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor Creativity Editor Cartoonist Reporter Reporter Columnist Columnist Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Staff Writer Graduate Consultant Advisor

Guidelines & Policies The Retort encourages the submission of letters to the Editor. Letters must be under 250 words in length and include name, signature, and phone number. The Retort reserves the right to edit for space and possible libel. Letters should deal with subject matter relevant to the students, faculty, and staff of MSU-Billings. The Retort is published every other Tuesday. Letters must be submitted by the Friday after the most recent issue date. The Publications Board of ASMSU-B advises The Retort, leaving content decisions to the editors. Opinions expressed in The Retort are not necessarily those of its members, the university, students, student government, state government, or federal government.

not in it, denial, I mean. With 16 days and five hours, minus the nine days between the initial writing and publishing of this article, I am left with seven days and five hours until graduation. That equals a little over one week until my life, as I currently know it, is over. Dramatic, I know but, considering my post-graduate options at this point, I am not feeling too confident about my progression into the so-called real world. The only real world I know at present is the one that exists in three letters: MTV. Where is the film editing crew for my life? On the positive side, graduation means that I will not have to spend another moment worrying about which binomial variable is going to ultimately force out the important information needed for my impending Art History test. I always wondered why they call last minute study sessions cramming. I will also have the luxury of a normal schedule. No more 5a.m. Retort editing sessions and meals consisting of beef jerky and popcorn retrieved from the Rimrock vending machine. No more searching endlessly for misplaced disks, articles, and staff members. I will dearly miss the home I have built in the cozy little hole in SUB 225, The Retort office. I am sure the staff will notice I am gone because there will be a new body planted firmly in the layout shotgun position. In case they dont notice, I have already planned to have facility services replace the tattered carpet in the office that is even more noticeable as a path worn in front of the layout computer. On a more serious note, I am deeply saddened that there seems to be no concern whatsoever at my leaving. The remaining staff has quickly picked up where I left off without giving any notice to the tears welling in my eyes and the lack of my ever-present nagging. Just kidding, I know they have noticed the nagging. :) In my four years at Montana State University-Billings, I have learned 10 very important things. Ok, I have learned more than 10 things, but I will share only the important things with you. Top things to learn from Jannas college career: 10. Always wear flip-flops in the dorm showers. Planters warts are not a myth and they hurt like a son-of-a 9. If you have had one roommate your entire college career, there is something seriously wrong with you. It is customary that Housing sets you up with a freshman roommate who is either annoyingly like you or is your complete opposite. 8. You will eat Top Ramen. At the end of four years you will either love Top Ramen or despise it. No, on second thought, there is not a human being who

Meth Continued from Front Page

pending on the criminal record of the person caught; it is still a felony. Most jobs require that felonies be disclosed during the application process. Many first time users of meth are unaware of this, and once addicted it is too late. A person goes from user to smalltime dealer, then they get caught. They are now looking at prison. Vladic feels once a person is exposed to prison they are lost. Put them in prison and they come out hardened criminals. The system is broken somewhere and it needs to be fixed. We need some kind of treatment, he says. Vladic said that the best thing that can come from sending someone to prison, in most cases, is that people involved with meth close to the individual will change their ways. Vladic, like Lt. Bryce, is also at a loss when it comes to the matter of solving the meth problem. He feels the best thing would be for federal, state, local governments, and schools to step in and address the problem. We need to start perceiving it as a problem instead of closing our eyes to it, he says. Montana took the first step last year by sponsoring two seminars on the meth problem. The seminars brought speakers from larger areas, like California, to discuss things that they have tried and things that have worked in their areas. It is a good step. The only way to control this epidemic is through awareness.

Who Will Win A Playhouse

If you could design a playhouse and make it the coolest playhouse on the block, what would it look like and what would be in it? Students taking By Brett Harrison drafting and deStaff Writer sign in the Fall 2003 semester at the College of Technology did just that, designing a playhouse that is destined to be the coolest in whatever neighborhood it ends up in. The playhouse is currently on display at the Rimrock Mall in the center court, along with four others for the Playhouse Parade; and raffle tickets to win them are on sale. The one designed by the COT students comes with two stories, a slide, electricity, a computer and printer, a telescope, and several other toys. The playhouse, constructed by Fisher Construction, was built entirely with donated materials and labor. All five playhouses

Photo By Brett Harrison - Playhouse designed by College of Technology Students are being raffled off as part of the Playhouse Parade and the proceeds will be divided evenly among four charitable groups. The groups are The Family Tree Center, Habitat For Humanity, Child and Family Intervention Center, and the MSU-B Alumni Association, which will fund scholarships for MSU-B students. With the proceeds, the Alumni Association will fund one scholarship every year, each lasting four years, for a total of four scholarships. Students must continue to meet the criteria set by the Alumni Association to qualify for the scholarships each year. Raffle tickets, currently on sale for $5 each or five tickets for $20, can be purchased at the Rimrock Mall Guests Service Center. On May 1 the raffle ends and winners will be announced.

FBI and CIA On the Defensive

KRT Campus
Amid calls for a shake-up of the nations intelligence operations, the heads of the FBI and the CIA on Wednesday defended their agencies before the commission investigating the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks and said reforms were under way to correct past mistakes. At the same time, the commission issued scathing reports on failures at the two agencies, concluding that despite a cacophony of activity within the intelligence community, there still isnt a national strategy for sharing counterterrorism information. In an unusually frank admission, CIA Director George Tenet told the panel: We made mistakes. We all understood (Osama) bin Ladens attempt to strike the homeland, but we never translated this knowledge into an effective defense of the country. Under questioning from Democratic Commissioner Timothy Roemer, Tenet revealed that in August 2001 when the threats were so serious that they were blinking red, he said he didnt meet or talk with President Bush. CIA staff members briefed Bush, who spent much of that month at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. Commissioners warned Tenet and FBI Director Robert Mueller that theyre weighing an overhaul of the intelligence community. Bush, in a news conference Tuesday night, said he was open to the possibility of reforms. Theres a train coming down the track, Commissioner John Lehman, former secretary of the Navy, told Tenet. There are going to be some real changes made. But Mueller said in his testimony Wednesday afternoon that it would be a grave mistake to create a separate domestic intelligence agency. He warned that such an agency, modeled after Britains MI-5, might not protect civil liberties in the same way the FBI is legally bound to. Splitting up intelligence and law enforcement will leave both agencies with one hand tied behind their backs, Mueller said. But commission Chairman Thomas Kean said he was deeply troubled by reports of the FBI failing over and over again. The commissions staff report said the FBI still suffers from a shortage of translators, agents to do surveillance on terrorist suspects, and reliable sources within the Islamic community. In addition, problems persist with the bureaus analysts, a centerpiece of the FBIs drive to become more intelligence-driven. We heard from many analysts who complain they are able to do little actual analysis because they continue to be assigned to menial tasks, including covering the phones at the reception desk and emptying the office trash bins, the report said. The head of the FBIs Washington field office told commission investigators, as recently as last August, that he couldnt e-mail staff at the Department of Justice from his desk. And the field office, the second largest in the country, had just one Internet terminal per floor. Can you fix it? Kean asked Mueller. Because the FBI is absolutely essential to this war were talking about. I think we can and are fixing what is wrong with the FBI, Mueller responded. Change cannot be done overnight. The bureau is in the process of hiring 900 intelligence analysts, updating its archaic computer system, and working to bring on more translators in Arabic, Farsi and other Middle Eastern languages. The bureau is moving steadily in the right direction, Mueller said.

FBI Director Robert Mueller -KRT

College Students Losing Interest Ivy Guard Part of in Bush Campaign Commencement Tradition
KRT Campus
President Bushs support on col- more stable than it is now and gay marlege campuses has dropped substantially riage as an issue was not on the radar. in the past six months because of growSharp differences over gay maring student dissatisfaction with the war riage separate college students from the in Iraq, the weak job market, and Bushs overall population. Fifty-seven percent stance on gay marriage, according to a of college students support marriage bepoll released Thursday. tween homosexuals, while 61 percent of The survey from the Kennedy the overall population opposes it. Bush School of Governments Institute of Poli- in February announced his support of a tics at Harvard University showed col- constitutional amendment banning such lege students favoring Sen. John Kerry, unions. the presumptive Democratic nominee, Glickman said student support for over Bush, 48 percent to 38 percent. In- gay marriage reflects a more tolerant phidependent candidate Ralph Nader drew losophy and a desire of students not the support of 5 percent. wanting the government to tell them Among stuwhat to do dents who say they their These numbers ought to be a with definitely will vote lives. warning to the president, but in November, While Kerrys lead over Kerry is the they are not necessarily Bush widened to 56 apparent benlocked-in-stone good news for eficiary of the percent to 33 percent. shifting politithe Kerry campaign. The poll of cal attitudes, Dan Glickman, former 1,205 college stuthe poll notes Clinton Cabinet member dents reflects clear that support shifts in attitudes for the Massaon college campuses, which last fall gave chusetts senator is soft. More than a Bush higher marks than did the overall third, 37 percent, said they did not know public, as well as the nod in the Novem- enough about Kerry to hold an opinion ber election. In some ways, college stu- of him or do not recognize his name. dents are now more in sync with the gen- Much of Kerrys support, the poll sugeral public, with divided views on the gests, stems from a desire to find an alpresidents performance in office. ternative to Bush. Dan Glickman, the institutes diStudent worries about the job marrector and a former Clinton Cabinet ket remain dominant. By a 2-1 margin, member, said he wondered when the the majority of students think it will be war would start taking its toll on the somewhat or very difficult to find a job president. These numbers ought to be a after graduating. warning to the president, but they are not The college-age voter is being renecessarily locked-in-stone good news defined, as liberal and conservative lafor the Kerry campaign. bels no longer fit. Forty-one percent of The poll, conducted March 13-23 college students consider themselves inand with a margin of error of plus or mi- dependent, up from 38 percent last fall. nus 2.8 percentage points showed Bushs Fewer consider themselves Republican, job approval falling 14 percentage 24 percent, down from 31 percent in Ocpoints, from 61 percent to 47 percent. tober; and 32 percent Democratic, up Campus support for the Iraq war also from 27 percent. dropped from 58 percent last October to Although 62 percent of those sur49 percent. The war ranks as the top is- veyed said they definitely will vote in Nosue among college students, while the vember and 21 percent said they probably economy has been the first concern of will vote, young Americans are generally the general public. the least dedicated voters on Election Day. Much has changed since Octobers Surveys have shown increasing interest in campus poll. Six months ago former Ver- politics on college campuses, but in 2000 mont Gov. Howard Dean, the anti-war only 29 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds candidate, seemed poised to win the voted, compared with 50 percent of overDemocratic nomination and Kerry was all voters, according to the Committee for a distant second or worse. Iraq seemed the Study of the American Electorate. The angelic looking women of the MSU-Billings Ivy Guard will be dressed in their best on May 1 at Commencement. In February sophomore Amanda Mears requested Evelyn Irmen $960 from ASMSUBs Activities ConReporter tingency account to purchase new robes for the Ivy Guard ladies. The bill reads, That the sum of $960 be allocated from the Activities Contingency account to Commencement Committee account for purchase of 60 Ivy Guard robes at $16 each for the commencement ceremony on May 1, 2004. Once the bill was requested, it was introduced to the committee on February 10. By February 20 the committee held a hearing concerning the bill. It passed and was signed off by ASMSU-B President Carla Amerson on February 25. For those who know nothing about Ivy Guard, the group began when some professors at the College of Women seated the graduates at the commencement ceremony. It is now a group of 50 to 75 female students chosen for their academic achievements; they must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and are nominated by a faculty member. This year MSU-Bs Ivy Guard will have matching gowns. In the past there had been issues with getting everyone to match. Students had problems coming up with the money to buy the clothes needed. With the new robes, the only thing the Guard will have to worry about getting are the matching shoes and gloves, said Mears. This long standing tradition has now become uniformed. In the long run the cost of the robes was well spent.

MSU-B Gets Internationalized

The newly added International Studies minor at MSU-B has been a long time coming. Nearly a decade ago when Dr. Sexton accepted the Chancellor position at MSUBy B, he made it a Miranda Breding top priority to Columnist form a taskforce specifically to look into internationalizing the MSU-B campus. In the past, top leaders at MSUB held a stand-offish view of international studies, believing that foreign students represented more of a nuisance than an asset. However, over the past 10 years this view has made a drastic change and now MSU-B is rapidly becoming involved in our world on a global scale. In designing MSU-Bs very own International Studies minor, the university looked at other university programs and then meshed what they found with MSU-Bs specific curriculum. The International Studies minor was approved by the Montana Board of Regents in midMarch of this year. In reviewing MSUBs curriculum, the Regents noted that MSU-B does not offer enough languages. To counter this, the university is currently looking at the possibility of offering Japanese and Arabic. The core design of the new International Studies will have a flexible element to it. The core requirements of the minor include a course in Western or nonWestern history in order to give students a solid background for studying international topics, one foreign language course, an Introduction to Politics course, and a blend of applicable courses that are beneficial to understanding the rest of the world. In addition to the core requirements of the course, students will be able to add a concentration to their minor, such as a focus on Latin America, Art, Comparative Arts (theatre, film, music), or Business. To finish off the minor, students will complete a capstone project in their senior year. This class is still in the developmental stage, but will be worth one credit and be most comparable to something in between a senior art show and a senior thesis, according to Dr. St. John Robinson, chair of the Foreign Language Department. Dr. Robinson sums up the beauty of this new minor by saying, It will encourage students to go abroad and bring credits back and well have a home for them. One of the first students to receive this minor is Kim Hunter, a psychology major who studied in the Netherlands and traveled throughout Europe last year as an international student. Her International Studies minors concentration will be on cross cultural analysis and communications, which she says emphasizes peoples world view and how they live, so for counseling this will be beneficial. Kim also adds that [an understanding of world view] is beneficial for any job.

President Bush makes an appearance at the NCAA Championships-KRT Campus

Fighting Cancer with Relay for Life

Relay for Life is coming to Montana on July 9 and 10. Relay for Life is the American Cancer Societys signature activity. The event lasts from 7 pm, July 9, to 10 am, July 10. Evelyn Irmen What is Relay for Life? This funReporter filled overnight activity is a way to get communities across the country involved in the fight against cancer. Teams of people will be camped out at Billings West high school track. Each team will have a representative on the track at all times taking turns walking or running around the track. This event is for anyone and everyone. The outing is not an athletic event, but more of a community gathering. Teams can be formed from businesses, clubs, families, friends, hospitals, churches, schools, and service organizations. All teams share a common goal, that is, to support the American Cancer Societys mission. The mission, to eliminate cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer; saving lives; and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. The American Cancer Society was founded by 15 prominent physicians and business leaders in New York, in 1913, as the American Society for the Control of Cancer (ASCC). Cancer was a long-hidden disease; it has claimed 75,000 lives a year in the U.S. alone. Cancer is, a serious disease; it is one of the highest life taking diseases in the world. Get involved and help support the fight against cancer. Registration for Relay for Life begins at 3 p.m. and goes until 7 p.m. when the opening ceremony begins. Camp set up is from 12p.m. to 6:30p.m. and the survivor lap begins at 7:20 p.m. The parade of teams begins at 7:40p.m. If you prefer not participating in Relay for Life you can help in other ways. Be a volunteer. Take some time to drive a patient to an appointment or write a letter to your congressmen. If you have had any experience with cancer, take the time to share it with a fellow cancer patient. It doesnt take a lot to get involved, but it means a lot to be involved. Take the time to help someone.

Music Dept. Receives Donation

O n c e again the Music Department at MSU-B has received a generous grant from the Bair Family Trust. Last year they received $30,776 for two Alea Logan grand pianos Staff Writer and this year they are to receive $20,000 to help rebuild the outdated recording studio that is found in Cisel Hall. The equipment that is in the studio has not been changed since the hall was first built 19 years ago, although recording equipment has made some major leaps and bounds in technology since then. The new equipment and studio will allow students and guest performers to record themselves at a much higher quality than before. It is hard for students to know what they need to improve in their performance if they do not hear themselves objectively. The new equipment will allow the students to do this. It will also give them more opportunities to send off quality audition recordings for performances and to graduate schools. The new studio will also allow many of the students to learn how to utilize the new high tech equipment that is used in todays recording industry. They can be trained in recording and editing sound. This can help them as future teachers, performers, technicians, and in many other professions. The new studio will also allow MSU-B to compete for students that are interested in higher careers in the music industry. Marilyn Miller, MSUB Foundation CEO, said, In addition to the already outstanding students enrolled in the MSU-Billings Music Program, we now can compete for talented students who may have overlooked the university in the past. This will help the college in recruiting new students so that the music department can grow even larger and offer even more. The new equipment will consist of a sound mixer, microphones, software, mixing, recording and editing software and hardware, and recorders.

Contractors Flee Iraq, Even as U.S. Plans to Bolster Forces

KRT Campus
Foreign contractors scrambled to catch planes leaving Iraq on Thursday, even as three Japanese hostages were released and the Pentagon announced its beefing up U.S. forces in Iraq by extending tours of duty. In another tense day, an Iranian diplomat was killed in Baghdad, two American soldiers died, and top U.S. military officials warned that they cannot wait much longer before launching new offensive operations against insurgents in Fallujah and Najaf. The deaths of the two soldiers, one by a bomb and the other from an acute cardiac event, raised the April toll to 89, the most in one month since U.S. troops arrived in Iraq 13 months ago. Elsewhere, Arabic satellite television stations broadcast an audiotaped message said to be from alQaida leader Osama bin Laden. The tape cited the March 11 train bombings in Madrid and offered a truce with those European nations that withdraw their troops from Muslim countries. Several European leaders quickly rejected the offer. The State Department ordered all non-essential personnel at the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia and their families to leave the country. The move comes after a new round of violence between Saudi authorities and Islamic militants left four Saudi police officers dead this week. We are concerned. The threat level has gone up, Secretary of State Colin Powell said. In Iraq, Russia evacuated several hundred workers in three charter planes Thursday. Other countries also have urged their civilian contractors to leave Iraq until the crisis subsides. The latest developments followed the grim announcement late Wednesday that an Italian security contractor had been savagely executed by his captors. Leaflets were distributed in various neighborhoods in Baghdad warning residents to stay home for a w e e k b e c a u s e i n s u rg e n t s w o u l d transfer the resistance fire to the capital. It was signed by your brothers the Mujahadeen companies. Coalition officials have said that about 40 hostages from a dozen countries have been kidnapped, though many have been released. Japanese officials were investigating a report that two more Japanese civilians were taken hostage. The three Japanese released were handed over to the Islamic Clerics Association and later taken to the Japanese Embassy. When their blindfolds were removed, they initially didnt comprehend that they were free. I thought I would die, said Naoko Takato, 34, a volunteer aid worker. Is this really Baghdad? she asked. Takato later collapsed in tears of relief. The release was greeted with joyful screams in Japan, where family members of the hostages were in the midst of a news conference in Tokyo. Family members crowded around a small television set and broke into elated screams when the hostages appeared on screen. Wow, here he is! Noriaki Imais brother, Yosuke, shouted. Imais father, Takashi, collapsed on his knees and bowed to the television, putting his hands together as if he were praying, overcome with tears and unable to speak. A crowd of supporters surrounded the relatives, jumping for joy amid tears and laughter. In Washington, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced that 20,000 American soldiers whod been scheduled to return home would remain in Iraq for up to three more months. About 6,000 are in the National Guard or Army Reserve. The move will allow the United States to maintain 135,000 troops in Iraq in the coming months. Needless to say, we regret having to extend those individuals, Rumsfeld said at a Pentagon news conference. They had anticipated being in the country ... something like up to 365 days. But the country is at war and we need to do what is necessary to succeed. About 11,000 of the extended troops are from the Armys 1st Armored Division based in Germany and Fort Riley, Kan. Another 3,000 come from the Armys 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment based at Fort Polk, La. Several hundred more are from three other bases. The 6,000 guardsmen and reservists come from more than 20 states. Rumsfeld said Thursday that the death toll was worse than he expected. A year ago, he said, I certainly would not have estimated that we would have had the number of individuals that we have had lost in the last week. In a visit to Baghdad, Air Force Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledged a significant security challenge in Iraq. Referring to the situations in Fallujah and Najaf, Myers said negotiations were under way to bring peaceful resolutions, but he said those efforts cant go on . . . forever.

Iraqis loot an American military humvee after it was hit by an IED on a highway leading to Airport Road in Baghdad - KRT Campus

Passion Dialogue Intriguing

The dialogue that took place on campus surrounding the movie The Passion was engaging and educational and lasted the entire Betsy Harris afternoon on April 6 in the News Editor Library. The panel consisted of professors Thomas Rust, Deborah Schaffer and Lisa Kemmerer. Adam Wickens was a student panelist, and Rev. Kim Woest United Campus Ministries Pastor. All of the speakers had distinct perspectives that led to a well-rounded discussion. Professor Rust, history, began the dialogue with a power point display titled Less as it was and More as we Want it. Rust, said that like any historian who goes to any movie he is usually plagued by the historical inaccuracies. The Passion was no exception. While he claimed he was moved as a Christian by the movie, he couldnt help noticing that Jesus looked Italian instead of Jewish, the clothing was not authentic, and the language was probably not the dialect that would have been used at the time. More problematic than that, he felt the portrayal of Pontius Pilate

was most likely inaccurate, given who he was and the time period. Rust educated the audience on several different aspects of the Roman Empire and the time period in which Jesus Christ lived. Professor Schaffer was the second speaker and admitted that she had not seen the movie and she had no intention of seeing it. Schaffer brought up the stereotyping of Jews in the movie as bloodthirsty, rich, evil characters responsible for the death of Christ. She felt the movie could set off emotional triggers in prejudiced people, therefore promoting anti-Semitism. Schaffer fairly admitted anyone has a right to make a movie. However, she brought up the issues of the movies reliance on violence, lack of consideration concerning stereotypes, possible impact on Jewish-Christian relations, and the fact that Hitler often used Passion Plays to promote his agenda. Schaffer ended by saying she deplored the inaccuracies of the movie and the message some people were getting from it. Adam Wickens, a student at MSUB and a Youth Director for the First Baptist Church, was the third speaker. Adam felt the inaccuracies of The Passion could be overlooked as the movie was an

emotional experience for him and his youth group and a way to reach a youth culture that is already media saturated. Wickens felt that many people got caught up in the hype instead of the message. He found the movie a positive vehicle which fostered many different denominations coming together and aided in creating a dialogue between Jews and Christians. Wickens brought up the concept of the commercialization of Christianity and the moral implications, as well as the relationship between technology and Christianity and how it will progress in the future. Wickens held his own speaking with the veteran professors. Rev. Woeste followed Wickens with the view that her main concern with The Passion was that is was too visceral and thus overshadowing any logic. She felt the movie portrayed God as bloodthirsty instead of merciful, gracious, kind, generous and protective. She felt the movie portrayed evil and suffering unrealistically with absolutes and no gray areas. Although Woest did mention that the movie portrayed women surprisingly strong and intelligent, the main question for her was: Did it empower me and convince me to fight evil? She replied with a disheartening, no, for guilt, anguish, and loath-

ing, are anything but empowering. Professor Kemmerer was the final speaker and the most controversial. Kemmerer saw The Passion as a call to action to stop innocent suffering. She kept her speech short with a quote from a 19th century clergyman comparing Christ to an innocent lamb and then promptly showed a 10 minute video of animal cruelty. The difference between her video and The Passion, of course, was that her footage was real. Kemmerer entreated the audience to take an active role in stopping the suffering of many abused animals. Kemmerer gave the impression that she is a doer and not a talker. Her perspective was the most unique of the panel. Following the speakers, a discussion ensued with Professor Rust mediating. The discussion started cautiously but quickly became lively. Many people expressed different perspectives and posed questions. One could only come away from the dialogue on The Passion feeling enlightened and educated on many different aspects of Christianity, history, and personal ideologies. As one man in the audience clearly stated, Fifty million people could see this movie and have fifty million different ideas about it.

Book Buy Back

On April 27 through May 4 Beezers, also known as Jackets and Company, will be buying back books in the Petro Theatre Lobby Brook Madison from 8 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Students will Staff Writer also be able to sell books back inside the store from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Although book buy back is a chance to score some cash, there are limitations. Beezers will only buy books back if a text will be used next semester, if there is limited highlighting, and if the text is in good condition. On top of that, students will only receive 50 percent of the purchased price. Should a text be declined, a student can still sell the book back to the wholesaler, but will only receive 5 to 35 percent of the new valued price. The wholesaler will also buy back a book that is being used nationally and is in good condition. Along with the wholesaler, Internet sites, such as awesome-prices.com, bookbytes.com, and a variety of other places, offer good prices for books that Beezers will not buy back. For example, most Spanish books are outdated by the time a student wants to sell the book back, but most sites on the Internet offer 30 percent of the used value. If a student is determined, finding someone to buy a text is as easy as looking on the Internet or finding the wholesaler. Just remember, students do not need their original sales slip and only need a book in decent condition.

The Retort staff would like to express our most sincere admiration for your accomplishments, achievements, and efforts in which we all shall benefit from for years to come.

So Long Doc, Dont Forget to Write

With the end of this academic year MSUBillings will lose one of its longest serving and more colorful professors. Dr. James Frigugletti, Professor Emeritus of History, will bring to an end a teaching career that spans 40 years, 28 of them instruction on how to teach consisted of an incident on my first day at Harvard where I asked a secretary in the history department exactly what I was supposed to do and her reply was anything you want. He laid out his teaching philosophy in a 1976 article published in The Chronicle of Higher Education. In the article Frigugletti encouraged his colleagues to do all things to make their classes as stimulating as possible, not to just lecture their students and expect them to regurgitate that lecture, but to engage them fully in the subject matter. He wrote, Remember that students are human beings, too, and that they resent being treated like stenog-

By Jed Barton Sports Editor

at MSU-B. Born and raised in Ohio, Frigugletti got his undergraduate degree from Western Reserve University (now known as Case Western Reserve University) in Cleveland before obtaining a Ph.D. in History from Harvard University. In addition to teaching at MSU-B, Frigugletti also spent time teaching at Harvard, the University of Rochester (N.Y.) and Case Western. His unique blend of expertise, passion for history, and humor made him a favorite amongst students who took his classes. To enliven his talks he often used accents, impersonations, and illustrations. All this in spite of the fact that he claims his

raphers or tape recorders whose only function is to take down and play back your (the professors) words. A specialist in the field of French Revolutionary history, Frigugletti has given presentations, as well as written books, reviews, and articles in both English and French on several aspects of that topic. Despite having eastern roots and an eastern education, Frigugletti plans to remain in Billings, he says I am impressed by the clean air and bright blue skies even if I dont own a pickup with a gun rack and havent fully adapted to my surroundings after 28 years. As to what his days will be spent do-

[Photo courtesy of James Friguglietti] Shown giving a lecture on Napoleon, will retire this spring after teaching at MSU-B for 28 years.

ing, he plans to keep mentally alive by continuing his research, spending time in the library here at MSU-B, as well as traveling to all corners of the world to study and participate in professional conferences. Last summer he spent two months in the United Kingdom researching the life and work of historian George Rud and this summer he will go to Melbourne, Australia to deliver a paper based on his findings to the 15th George Rud Seminar in French History. He also plans to return to Australia the following year to attend the 2005 International Congress of Historical Sciences in Sidney where he will be a member of a panel discussion on historical encyclopedias and dictionaries from across the globe. Also in the works for Frigugletti is a biography of the noted French historian, Alphonse Aulard, as well as several articles that in his own words he has been putting off for years. Despite all these plans Frigugletti says he will miss being in the classroom, and that contact with students has been a part of my life for the past 38 years and has given me perspective on how history affects people of varying generations and life experiences.

MSU-B Loses One of Its Finest

V i c t o r i a before she completely stops teaching. Coffmans office is Coffmans list of awards runs as long full of books, but as everything else in her resume, but her unlike some other reward for teaching has been her students. professors offices, When asked what she would miss the most hers looks like its in about not teaching she does not miss a beat transition, ready for in saying, My students, the classroom is something new. such a magical place, and I feel that they Her students really make a difference. Coffman has Betsy Harris all file in to hand in been teaching for 37 years and she feels that papers, not while many things have changed, the stuNews Editor their even realizing that dents really havent. She admits that there they will be her last students as a full time are a lot more non- traditional students, professor at MSU-B. working students, and single Coffman is retiring next year. mothers, but they still all have She has been working since that instinct that makes them 1965 and feels its just time want to learn. for a change. She admits that Coffman feels there she will have to force herself have been many defining monot to make commitments. ments in her career, almost too She has a hundred books she many to write about, but she hasnt read and family she is has watched the way culture looking forward to spending has changed and feels the factime with. Coffman admits ulty were more connected in that retiring is exciting and the 60s and 70s. They actuscary, but she is looking forally used to meet in the facProf. Victoria Coffman ward to working on her writPhoto by Jennifer Fenton ulty lounge a half hour a day ing and her study of geronand talk. tology. She recalls the passing of Bruce Oftentimes as students, we groan Meyers, a creative writing teacher with a when we get assigned another research pa- reminiscent sadness. Coffman recalls the per. If we would take the time to check out threat of a new world with the beginning of some of our professors resumes we would online classes and now marvels at the realize how many papers theyve written! strength and advantages of the online curCoffman is a perfect example of this. Not riculum. But once again, what she has loved only has she directed over 50 plays, her list the most is watching her students leave of publications and papers presented are school and develop self-worth and a reaenough to make any student queasy. son for being. Coffmans life has been in education and It is evident that Coffmans stuher resume proves it. dents feel the same way about her for Coffman has a B.F.A. in Speech/ whenever her name is mentioned, it Theatre, an M.F.A. in Childrens Theater, brings a sincere smile of fondness to their and a Ph.D. in Theater. She is well edu- faces and usually a story or two. Alcated to say the least and she has given back though Coffman is finishing up this seso much to her students. She teaches intro- mester, packing up her office, and getduction to the theater, interpersonal com- ting ready for her new life, she isnt too munication, communication and literature, busy to say that, Before it is all over, and global cinema. She will still be teach- Im sure I will quietly close my door and ing three classes a semester for three years shed a few tears.

Care to Dance? IT Dept has a Ball

Submitted by: Jennifer Leonard Ph.D, Faculty Sponsor
The Information Technology Society is hosting a formal dance on Friday, April 23, 2004 to honor our seniors and their families. L.O. Vet, The Black Listed Comedy Troupe, and Tribal Drums will provide entertainment and door prize drawings (provided by Beezers) will be held through-out the night. The dance starts at 7:30 at the Northern Hotel at Broadway and 1st Avenue North. Tickets are $10 per person, $17 for a couple, and $27 for a family of 3 or 4. While the dance is formal black tie is NOT required. The tickets are available from any IT Society Member and will be sold at the Student Union on April 21st and 22nd during lunch hours

Atkins Diet Tips for the Summer

Surviving the Summer and Then Some:

While some students may be dreaming of summer and the emancipation it offers from the scheduled lifestyle school creates, those students who are on diets may not be so Adam Wickens excited. Part of any successful diet is disCopy Editor ciplined eating, and school offers a nice, structured framework to make that possible. Summer, on the other hand, is notorious for

being unstructured and laid back. If youre looking to do the Atkins diet this summer, here are some tips for you. These tips will also work well with other diet plans. Drink lots of water! This is probably the most important thing you can do. Everybody needs more water in the hot summer months, but people who are on the Atkins diet need even more. High protein diets put extra stress on your kidneys, which process protein for you. Drinking lots of water will help your kidneys and keep you healthy. According to www.atkins.com, you should drink about 64 ounces (half a gallon) of water per day. Plan your meals out ahead of time. Staying away from easy junk foods means you will need to use some planning to prevent yourself from being hungry with nothing to eat. One good method is to plan what you will eat the next day before you go to bed. You can put some meat in the refrigerator to thaw that night instead of having to nuke it the next day when you are in a hurry. Planning your meals will remove the hassle of thinking up a meal on the

fly. It will help you avoid excessive snacking because you can plan your snacks ahead of time as well. Keep Atkins friendly snacks on hand. Snacks come in real handy when your schedule falls apart due to unforeseen circumstances. In the event that you cant prepare the meal you had planned, having good snacks around can save you from cheating by eating some quick and easy carbs. Some good snacks are string cheese, nuts, peanut butter, celery, or fruit. Please note that most of these snacks wont work well for the induction phase. If you need to snack on the induction phase, a good option is a low-carb protein bar. There are many varieties of these available at your local supermarket or grocery store. Strategically placing snack bars in your car glove box, backpack, and in your house could come in handy. Exercise! While this should be a nobrainer, it is still worth pointing out. Take advantage of the long, warm days and work your body. You will see your best diet re-

sults if you combine them with regular exercise. Stick with it. If you happen to cheat on your diet, dont give up. Dont let one mistake ruin all of the progress you have made. Everybody messes up sometimes, so just keep on keeping on and dont be too hard on yourself. Learn from your mistakes and avoid situations like the one that caused you to cheat. Try to find a diet partner. There is strength in numbers. Having a friend to talk to about your struggles can help keep you on track and can provide you with some personal accountability. You can also exchange tips and advice. A second perspective can often show you new things you would not have thought of on your own. With a lot of perseverance, you can accomplish your diet goals for the summer. Think of how nice it will be to come back to school in the fall trimmer and feeling better. Good luck and have a great summer.

Follow the Powwow Trail

What is the powwow trail? The powwow trail is for those hardcore people who will drive up and down the highway following powwows across the state and the country. Some By people may prefer Michael Redstone to go to one or two; Staff Writer others cant stand it if they miss more than one. One of the things that a person will need when they are on the powwow trail is camping gear if you are not planning on staying in a hotel. Depending on the size of the powwow, there are usually places to camp. Camping is usually free, but once again, depending on the size of the powwow, there might be a fee to pay in order to camp. If you dont have camping gear, dont be afraid to sleep in your car. It might be advisable to drive a truck, van, station wagon, etc. These types of vehicles are roomy and they are easy to convert into a camper. You can easily put sleeping bags in the back and have a reasonably good night of sleep. Most powwows will have shower facilities someplace so that you can be clean and not have to go without showering for three days. Powwows are fun because you get to visit with old friends and make new friends. Most powwows are in the summer. There are many great powwows that are happening all over the state of Montana during this time. Here is a list of some of the powwows that are happening, not all are listed. June Vanderburg Camp 06/07/04 - 06/18/04 Arlee, MT 406-675-0160 Hot Springs Homesteader Days Celebration 06/11/04 - 06/13/04 Hot Springs, MT 406-741-2662 Red Bottom Celebration Third Weekend in June-Fort Peck Reservation Dates For 2004 - 06/18/04 - 06/20/04 Frazer, MT 406-768-5155 ext 338 Badlands Celebration Late June-Fort Peck Reservation 06/25/04 - 06/27/04 Brockton, MT 406-768-5155 ext 376 July Fort Kipp Celebration 1st weekend-Fort Peck Reservation Poplar, MT 406-768-5551 Arlee 4th of July Celebration July 4 weekend-Flathead Reservation 07/01/04 - 07/04/04 Arlee, MT 406-745-4984 4th of July Powwow 07/01/04 - 07/04/04 Lame Deer, MT 406-477-6284 Valley of The Chiefs Powwow and Rodeo 07/02/04 - 07/05/04 Crow Agency, MT 406-638-3774 North American Indian Days 2nd week-Blackfeet Reservation 07/08/04 07/11/04 Blackfeet Tribal Fairgrounds Browning, MT 406-338-7276 Wahcinca Dakota Oyate Celebration 07/15/04 - 07/18/04 Poplar, MT 406-768-5186 Hays Community Powwow 3rd weekend-Fort Belknap Reservation Mission Canyon Hays, MT 406-353-2527 Iron Ring Celebration 3rd weekend-Fort Peck Reservation Poplar, MT 406-768-5155 Standing Arrow Powwow 3rd weekend-Flathead Reservation 07/16/04 - 07/18/04 Elmo, MT 406-675-0160 - 406-675-2700 or 406-634-0690 1st Annual MTTA Gathering of Artists 07/16/04 - 07/17/04 Pablo, MT 406-675-0160 Bitterroot Valley All Nations Powwow 07/23/04 - 07/25/04 Hamilton, MT 406-363-5383 Milk River Indian Days 4th weekend-Fort Belknap Reservation 07/23/04 - 07/25/04 Fort Belknap Powwow Grounds Fort Belknap, MT 406-353-2901 August Wadopana Celebration 1st weekend-Fort Peck Reservation 08/05/04 - 08/07/04 Wolf Point, MT 406-768-7463 - 406-653-3476 Rocky BoysAnnual Powwow 1st weekend-Rocky Boys Reservation 08/06/04 - 08/08/04 Rocky BoysAgency Box Elder, MT 406-395-4282 - 406-395-4478 White River Cheyenne Powwow 2nd week-Northern Cheyenne Reservation Busby, MT 406-477-6284 Heart Butte Celebration 08/12/04 - 08/15/04 Heart Butte, MT 406-338-7521 Hays Powwow 08/13/04 - 08/15/04 Hays, MT 406-353-2205 Burnt Hole Rendezvous/Historical Reenactment 08/15/04 - 08/21/04 WestY ellowstone, MT 406-646-7110 Crow Fair and Rodeo 3rd weekend-Crow Reservation 08/19/04 - 08/24/04 CrowAgency, MT 406-638-3793 - 406-638-2601 Fort Kipp Celebration 08/27/04 - 08/29/04 Poplar, MT 406-678-3491 Oil Discovery Celebration 4th weekend-Fort Peck Reservation Poplar, MT 406-768-5155 September Northern CheyenneAshland Labor Day Powwow Labor Day weekend-Northern Cheyenne Reservation 09/03/04 - 09/06/04 Ashland, MT 406-477-6284 - 406-784-2883 Poplar Indian Days 09/03/04 - 09/05/04 Poplar, MT 406-768-3826 Chief Plenty Coups Day of Honor 09/04/04 Pryor, MT 406-252-1289

Native American children wrap a rhythm on ceremonial wood drums covered in deer skin - Photo courtesy of Americas Library

By Adam Wickens April 1 - April 15

4-1 One MSU-B student came out on the losing end of a good deed. The student loaned an item to another student who loaned the item to yet another student. That student then pawned the item. The case is being handled by the Billings Police Department pawn division. 4-1 An in-dash CD player was stolen from a car in the parking garage. The victim says the car might have been unlocked. Dont let this happen to you. Campus security would like to remind students again that theft really picks up at this time of year. Make sure to lock your car and secure any valuables before you walk away. It is a good idea to keep valuable items such as CDs, purses, and wallets out of sight so they dont make

good targets for a would-be thief. 4-3 A campus security officer on the night shift observed a vehicle parked in an unusual manner on Mountainview Drive. Upon further inspection, the officer decided there was reasonable suspicion that the driver was drunk. The Billings Police Department was notified and handled the situation. 4-4 A vehicle was vandalized in the parking garage. The vehicles tires were flattened, it had been keyed or scratched with some hard object, and the hood ornament was bent down. There is suspicion that the hood ornament was bent in an attempt to steal the vehicle. The owner of the vehicle concedes that there were no caps on the tires valve stems and that they might have gone flat on their own, but that is unlikely. 4-6 Four wheeler tracks were dis-

covered on the soccer field at the COT. The Billings Police Department has been notified and is observing the area in hopes of catching the perpetrator or discerning that persons identity and whereabouts. 4-7 A student reported that a business card had been left on his or her windshield. There is a campus policy of no solicitation. That includes leaving things on windshields as well as not soliciting in the dorms and other campus buildings. Students are encouraged not to deal with solicitors. There is a great potential for fraud and there are many legitimate channels of consumer activity in the community. If you are solicited, you should contact campus security. 4-12 A man walked into a campus office and requested paperwork to sign up for classes. The man was observed having tremendous difficulty with the paper-

work and it was discovered that he was intoxicated. The man admitted that he had stopped by because he was from out of town and had nowhere to go. 4-14 An unknown person removed and did not replace a manhole cover on campus. It is suspected that the person had dropped something into the hole and was trying to recover it. If you lose an item in a manhole, please notify facilities services so they can reclaim the item for you. Not replacing a manhole cover could create a dangerous situation, especially in this case as it was done at night and a jogger could have fallen in. Remember, if you observe or are the victim of a criminal act, be sure to contact campus security immediately at 675-2147 so the matter can be dealt with in a swift and proper fashion.

Well fellow Bargain Hunters, it is spring. Spring has sprung or sprung has spring, however that saying goes. Now that the weather is warmer, we are looking for those lighter and airier By clothes that wont Michael Redstone make us uncomDuring Staff Writer fortable. my spring minibreak, I had a chance to go shopping again. I wasnt looking for anything in particular; I just wanted to wander in stores to see what I could find on sale. After awhile the brightness of the sun was beginning to bother me. I began to worry about those crows feet that might develop at the corner of my eyes from all the squinting I was doing. I had a mission: to find the perfect pair of sunglasses. I am a person who goes through many pairs of sunglasses a month so I cant afford to buy those designer label sunglasses that they sell in the mall. I am always losing my sunglasses or breaking them because I am a klutzy person who

forgets where I put my sunglasses. I was playing a game of basketball once, and it was outside. I dont know what happened (I think Michael Jordan possessed my body for an instant) and I went for a lay up and the person who was guarding me tried to swat me. He ended up swatting my sunglasses and breaking them in half. Needless to say, I had to go out looking for another pair of glasses after that. I try not to buy sunglasses that are over $10 because like I said, I am not the richest person in the world. I am lucky if I have that much money in my wallet right now. So I went from store to store pricing sunglasses and looking at their different styles. The first place I went was the mall. The reason I went there first was so that I could look at designer styles to get an idea of what I might want. The great thing about sunglasses is that you can almost always find a cheap imitation pair of the real thing. I looked at Ray Bans, Calvin Klein, and other big labels. As I was looking, I kind of wished that I wasnt so forgetful and klutzy, so I wouldnt break my sunglasses all the time. I tried on a few pairs, and I found some that I liked. So I left and went in search of a pair of sunglasses that were similar to the designer glasses. The first place I looked was at this little stand in the

mall, where they sell slightly cheaper versions of the real thing. They had some nice styles and their prices were reasonable, but I was sure that I could find a better bargain somewhere else. I went to Target, and they too had a good selection of sunglasses, their prices range from $8 to $12 for their sunglasses. I moved on to Wal-Mart from there. I thought, Wal-Mart has always been good to me in the past, they might be good to me again. How can I forget the two for $1 boxes of macaroni and cheese? When I got there I went straight for the sunglasses rack, and after pawing through their selection I found them. A nice pair of simple black sunglasses with UV protection and everything, and the great thing was they only cost $4.95. They are kind of chunky,

but that is the great thing, I have found that I cant wear those little wire rimmed glasses because they break all the time. Another great thing about my sunglasses is that they dont have a nose piece on them. This makes it easier to wear my sunglasses as a temporary head band and I dont have to worry about the nose piece getting stuck and tangled in my hair. I had that happen to me once and it wasnt pretty. So fellow bargain hunters I will leave you for the summer. Good luck on your finals and dont stress out. Keep your eyes peeled for those sales that can jump out of nowhere and dont spend $10 when you can spend $5. There is always a cheaper version out there

Compiled by Matt Beard

Name: Olivia Munroe Year in college: Junior Age: 22 Favorite song: anything by Mary J. Blige Favorite professor: Dr. Plank, French and Simon Atkins, marketing. Professor Pet Peeve: One that doesnt make eye contact. What is your opinion on our schools Meal Plan policy? I can only give my opinion from what I hear from my teammates. I dont have the meal plan, just flex dollars, and Im happy with that because I dont want to be on the meal plan. I dont want it because it seems like were so forced to eat there all the time. Name your top three favorite bands and tell how they have influenced how you live your life. I dont really listen to live bands, but, if Id have to choose an artist, definitely Mary J. Blige. She tells the story of her life which reflects other peoples lives. Sada; and she talks about being in love and out of love Everyone likes to hear songs about love. She also talks about her life and what shes been through. I like people who talk about their life story. It helps me make decisions in my life for both the good and the bad. You make decisions in life where sometimes you have to hurt someone. Its not really what you want to do, but sometimes its the right thing to do. Do you think that bands put subliminal messages in their songs? Definitely; all kinds of bands like rock bands and rap artists, too. They put those messages in their songs. Im not sure if they do it on purpose. Sometimes they want to appeal to a certain audience and boost their ratings. It depends on the artists. Some do it for attention, to boost their sales and to promote an image. Some artists dont mean to do it; they dont know theyre doing it, but they do it. Does the Al-Qaeda have anything to do with why were at war with Iraq? Id definitely say the Al-Qaeda played a part in it. Before the U.S. government had control over Saddaam Hussein, it wasnt until the Al-Qaeda got involved that we made an effort to go to Iraq.

Name: Sam Hartpence Year in college: Sophomore Age: 20 Favorite song: Here Comes the Sun, by The Beatles Favorite professor: Snyder, physics Professor Pet Peeve: Professors who dont speak very well, and when they contradict themselves in their own lectures. Name your top three favorite bands and tell how they have influence how you live your life. P e a r l Jam, The Beatles, and Led Zeppelin. I dont hang around a lot of people who listen to heavy metal and a lot of punk. I guess the people I hang around influence me. Do you think that bands put subliminal messages in their songs? Anybody will say that their song can be interpreted in a certain way, but there are five other people behind them who will interpret that same song in different ways. I feel that its up to the listener. There probably is if theyre willing to hear it. Does the Al-Qaeda have anything to do with why were at war with Iraq? I still havent seen actual real proof that Al-Qaeda were even behind 9/11. You look on C-span and they show Osama bin Laden talking with some other guy about how great the towers went down, but whos behind the translation of those videos? As far as Im concerned, it may just be a bunch of propaganda, but Im not backing the Taliban. I think what they do is wrong but as far as the war in Iraq whether or not we are justified in going in and looking for him and Al-Qaeda and Sadaam is regardless because I think for the first time in US history, we have actually thought about whether or not we are justified. Most of the time theres not debate over justification. It was something we thought about. Usually we just bomb the hell out of em with or without justification. How do you feel about the recent deaths of American soldiers in Iraq? You have to expect it. We are setting up their government and telling them what they need to do. Right now were in Iraq and people get mad at that. Just the fact that were in there with weapons is going to make them listen to us. People have to expect it.

Name: Robert Peterman Year in college: Freshman Age: 20 Favorite song: Holiday Inn, by Chingy Favorite professor: Mark Gayle, Web Design Professor Pet Peeve: Saying one thing and doing another. What is your opinion on our schools Meal Plan policy? Its going to be a lot better next year because they have a lot more options. Itll be a lot more flexible then it has been in the past. Name your top three favorite bands and tell how they have influenced how you live your life. Ludacris, Bone Thugs, and Petie Pablo thatll probably change in a month though. I try not to let music influence my life as much as watching other people and learning from them and their mistakes. Do you think that bands put subliminal messages in their songs? It all depends on the band. Some do and some dont. I think some hide subliminal messages or messages that are just open to interpretation. Does the Al-Qaeda have anything to do with why were at war with Iraq? Yeah, I think they do. Not so much as us being at war withAfghanistan, but theAl-Qaeda basically started it by hijacking the planes and all, but Iraq is protectingAl-Qaeda and thats why we went into Iraq. How do you feel about the recent deaths of American soldiers in Iraq? I think the last two wars (this one and Desert Storm) have lessened the impact on war in general on the public, because with the media coverage that wars get now, is a lot more than the Vietnam War, the Korean wars, and all the ones before that. In those wars, tens of thousands of people died on our side and it wasnt really thought of as such a big deal. And with the media coverage of the war its really publicized. Take Jessica Lynch for example. Shes the only P.OW. to ever have her college paid for. She doesnt even have to pay taxes. Thats unfair to other P.O.W.s and their families who are missing in action.

Where Will You Live This Summer?

Its the month of April, Easter has come and gone, and hopefully everyone has registered for classes for the fall semester. Now, if papers and finals By Brett Harrison werent enough Staff Writer to worry about, there is one more thing to consider: where to live this summer. Many may already be planning on heading home for the summer to mooch off mom and dad, and theres nothing wrong with that. Nothing beats free rent and moms home cooking for a few months. But, for whatever reason, some of you have decided thats not for you. The freedom of having your own place away from mom and dad, and no worries of tests, papers, and lectures for a while, sounds good. If youre thinking of staying in Billings for the summer instead of going home and dont have a place lined up yet, I have a few suggestions. First, if you live in the dorms, dont overlook staying in the dorms for the summer. The rates are $430 per session for a single room or $345 per session for double occupancy, which comes out to be $322.80 per month and $258 per month respectively. Considering all utilities are covered, thats a very reasonable price. It also eliminates time spent looking for a place and trying to find roommates if you have to share rent. Even if you dont currently live in the dorms you might be able to move in for the summer. For those looking to live off campus for the summer, here are a few suggestions. A good first place to start looking is the Student Union bulletin board postings, located outside of the housing office and adjacent to Beezers book store in the SUB. If youre in the market to rent an apartment or house, keep an eye out because the postings do change periodically. Lea Geraud in Facility Services is a good resource for university owned properties for rent. According to her, there are no current vacancies and there are about 10 people on the waiting list. But, it wouldnt hurt to talk to her and get your name on the list just in case something does open up. The classified ads in the Billings Gazette are also a good place to look. There are a variety of apartments and houses listed. Houses can range anywhere from $550 plus utilities to over $1200 a month plus utilities. But keep in mind, you get what you pay for and it may not be worth it to live in a junky house in a bad neighborhood just to save a buck. There are a few rental agencies in town that can help find apartments and houses for rent, three of which are Alliance Properties, Metro Property Management, and Professional Management. They have lists of rentals available for you to look at, and if you see something you like there will be an application to fill out. There will be a $15 dollar application fee at Metro Property Management and a $30 application fee at Professional Management. There are also quite a few apartment buildings in Billings. Its a good idea to give them a call and ask about available units, prices, and any specials they might be running. Friends are also a good resource. Sometimes by talking to people and putting the word out that youre looking for a place to rent, you might find a place that wouldnt have come to your attention otherwise. One last thing to keep in mind is to make sure you read the rental agreement and have all questions answered before you sign it and move in. Then there are no surprises and both the tenant and landlord know what to expect from one another. For example, in some cases of renting a house, the owner might require the renter to mow the lawn and keep up the yard. Finally, plan ahead. It might take longer than expected to find a place to live that youll be happy in. Whereever you decided to live, whether alone, with friends, or at home with the parents, I hope everyone has a fun and safe summer.

Summer Internships: Beat the Heat

School is almost over and the drab hours of watching paint dry cant be more exciting than the Cooperative Education internBrook Madison ships offered for Staff Writer students this summer. Summer internships, which provide a number of employment options, offer a variety of opportunities and can even add credits to a major. Usually an internship provides three credits, depending on the hours a student puts in. Not only do internships provide credits, but give graduates something positive to put on their resume. Students can find a list of internships on the MSU-B website or go to Career Services for more information. Internships are listed by college and major. If a student does not find what they are looking for, Career Services can help develop an internship that is more fitting. As for the selection, there are hundreds of internships listed that include almost every major. If a student is in the College of Arts and Sciences, there are opportunities to be a wildlife technician, learn production or management at an art organization in New York, or be a youth mentor for children and teens ages12-18. If a student, on the other hand, is in the College of Business, they can develop their abilities in commercial real estate, networking, performing arts management, and marketing. Some of the opportunities provide pay, while other only offer experience. Television stations, for example, are unpaid internships, but offer hands-on experience with photography, anchoring, reporting, and producing. There are also internships which provide room, board, and pay. History majors have an opportunity this summer to work with private, federal, and state agencies on conservation projects that provide room, board, and get a stipend of $50 to $160 a week. There are also internships that can get a student out of Billings for a few months. Disneyland, Washington D.C., and New York are just a few places that offer interesting internships over the summer. So, if watching paint dry doesnt satisify those boring summer nights, try finding an internship. Instead of spending all summer at home, an internship can give students a little excitement, while adding to their college education.

Get a Leg up on the Dog Days of Summer

By Brook Madison
Anyone interested in taking classes this summer? After a pause, a groan, and a sigh, some students will have to answer yes to that painful question. Summer session, which offers over 250 courses to both graduates and undergraduates, allows students to choose from three different time slots to begin classes. The first session is May 13 through June 14, second session is June 17 through July 19, and third session is July 22 through August 23. Its also good to know that the first session mainly offers courses for undergraduates, while the second session offers workshops and classes for graduate students. Although second session focuses on graduate programs, there are still undergraduate courses being offered. Registration has already begun and students will be able to sign up any time before the start of class in first and second session. Classes will be on campus and at the College of Technology. Students will be relieved to know that there will be a variety of classes offered, including the Teachers Institute which includes over 30 courses.

Classes will offer skills in the areas of art, technology, customer relations, and academic training. If a student would like more information about summer courses, there is a Summer Session Catalog in the Office of Admission and Records, online, or you can contact someone at 657-2158. Summer is almost here, so register for classes soon.

Steamy Summer Dating Advice

The dog days of summer are well on their way as the spring semester nears its end. How can you keep things cool when the summer sun heats things up beBy Jessalyn Remington tween you and that summer Reporter fling? Although you may be looking for a meaningful relationship, not everyone is on the same page. Summer flings are all too common, especially if you plan to travel. Here are a few things to remember that might keep you out of trouble. 1. Beware of soldiers who are home on leave this summer. Keep in mind that no matter how appealing your military man might be, he is only on leave. This sort of thing is probably temporary. 2. No matter what anyone tells you, it is possible to become pregnant while underwater. 3. Just because he has a six pack and a nice tan does not mean he is Mr. Perfect. 4. Drinking can inhibit your judgment, so make sure you do not wake up next to someone really ugly. 5. The things you do over summer vacation can make it back to your boyfriend; your mother; or your boss; so keep it clean. 6. Sex on the beach may sound appealing, but sand in your panties is not. 7. Dont blow off your friends for a summer love, no matter how magical it seems. 8. If you are not taking summer classes, do not become too involved this summer. Remember that the fall semester will surely throw a wrench in your perfect, laid-back lifestyle together. 9. A summer fling is perfectly acceptable as long as both parties are aware. 10.Remember to be yourself. If you run into your summer crush some time in the future, you want him to know that you were honest. 11.Be careful when interested in coworkers and close friends. Keep in mind that if it does not work out, you may regret your decision to take it to the next level. 12.Less studying means more time. If you are not taking classes, do not lose sight of your future plans and goals. 13.Cool things down a bit with your summer love by tipping back a few. 14.Spend time with your friends and your warm weather companion at the same time. Try camping or hiking for a relaxing break from reality. 15.Dont do anything I wouldnt do, and if you do, name it after me.

Bottoms-Up, Perverts
A Piece of A** 1 Shot Amaretto 1 Shot Southern Comfort Ice Cubes Top with Sour Mix Purple Hooter 1/3 oz Chambord Raspberry Liquer 1/3 oz Vodka 1/3 oz Triple Sec Sex on the Beach 1 oz Vodka 3/4 oz Peach Schnapps Cranberry Juice Grapefruit Juice Panty Dropper 1 oz Vodka 1 oz Sloe Gin Top off with Half and Half Big Stick oz Sloe Gin oz Southern Comfort oz Peach Schnapps Island Girl 1 oz Stoli Vodka 4 oz Guava Juice 1 Splash of Cranberry Juice 1 Dash of Orange Juice Source: Webtender.com Split Beaver 1 oz Gin 1 oz Peach Schnapps Fill with Tonic Water Wet Dream oz Amaretto oz Blue Curacao oz Crme de Banane oz Sweet and Sour 1 Splash Pineapple Juice oz Raspberry Liquer Tattooed Love Goddess 1 oz Vodka 1 oz Vanilla Schnapps 1 Godiva Liquer Fill with Half and Half Dirk Diggler 2 oz Jagermeister Fill with Root Beer Horny Toad 1 part Kahlua 1 part Triple Sec 1 part Half and Half BFD 1 1/2 oz Vodka 1 1/2 oz Triple Sec 1 Splash Everclear Fill with Grapefruit Juice

STD FYI: Where to Find Help

By Jessalyn Remington
It can be difficult to find help when faced with an unplanned pregnancy or an STD, but these things are impossible to handle on your own. There are several resources available to you, so why not use them? Sometimes people have a difficult time asking for help because they are ashamed or embarrassed. There is the common fear that individuals will be judged if they choose to seek help. There is also the expense involved. There are several places to go for confidential, inexpensive care.

Student Health Services is a good place to start. They offer frequent, confidential STD testing and can prescribe medications and birth control. However, prescriptions have to be picked up elsewhere. They are also affordable since MSU-B students are required to have health insurance. Intermountain Planned Parenthood offers several helpful services and is confidential. They are also affordable and offer care at reduced costs or on a donation basis according to their patients financial situations. If you are sexually active, it is important to become familiar with one of these organizations. Talk to a doctor about which form of contraceptive fits best into your lifestyle. If you find a doctor that you are comfortable with, it will make it much

easier if you have an emergency. It is also a good idea to get tested for STDs regularly. That way, you can catch the disease before it progresses, and if you notice anything abnormal, you have a regular doctor that you are comfortable talking to. Find a good friend that you feel comfortable talking to about sex-related subjects.

The support of a caring friend can make it much easier to go to the doctor. Your friend might also have advice to give from personal experience. Take control of your future and protect yourself, or the consequences could have a lasting impact on your life and everyone in it.

Faculty Turnover
Editor The Retort If we compare ourselves to the past, we overlook the present. If we do not advance the present, we overlook the future. I am responding to the front page article, FACULTY TURNOVER. I want to address not the negative tone of the article, but a few of the writers conclusions, some of which are true, some of which are not. My wife was hired as a professor in the College of Business in June. I have a perspective of the College of Business of which Ms. Logan may not be aware. We spent time with Dean Joe Michels, department chair Lorrie Steerie, and many of the faculty on our campus interview. There was a common theme voiced by most of your College of Business educators: the students come first. I have found nothing in our first year that contradicts this refrain. The curriculum is an important part of a students first culture. Many changes have been made this year. A university curriculum must be infused with new ideas, including up-to-date subject matter and innovative teaching techniques. The article implies the department does not retain the best professors, I disagree. Current faculty members are energetic, innovative, and student-oriented people who care deeply for the futures of the College of Business graduates and are undeserving of the writers criticism. The accreditation process is not something the college says it is working toward, as Ms. Logan says. The College of Business holds meetings every Friday to work through the many requirements for accreditation. Accreditation of The College of Business is one of the most important efforts on the campus at this time. Perhaps the turnover rate in the College of Business is high. Three new tenure track professors were hired this year. Those three, while experts in their fields, are oriented toward the needs of the students. Retirees, lack of accreditation credentials, and problems with administration may be among reasons for high turnover. The MSU-B College of Business is blooming! Faculty are heavily involved with students both inside and outside the classroom. For example, the Information Technology Society has grown from dormant to fifteen members who meet every other Wednesday. The members have visited the Computer Museum in Bozeman, put on a wine and cheese social for employers the evening before career day, and are raising funds to attend Comdex in November. The IT Society is sponsoring a formal dance April 23, an event which will reflect the enthusiasm, abilities, and innovations of the students and professors of your MSU-B College of Business. I suggest Ms. Logan visit with current students and faculty to discover for herself their perspectives on the issues. Ben Leonard Billings, Mont.

Response from Editor

First of all, I would like to thank those who participated in interviews and submitted information that went into the controversial article, Faculty Turnover: Is the COB in Crisis? I cannot stress enough the importance of having good sources who are willing to share their concern in articles that are as sensitive as this one turned out to be. When we assigned this story back in February, there was a bit of resistance from staff writers. There were few who felt they had the time required to research, interview, and write a comprehensive article that addressed the issue of faculty turnover. Alea Logan, a new recruit to the staff, took the story willingly and became rather obsessed with her research. After two months of hard research and the intense labor in procuring contacts, Ms. Logan presented her notes and final draft to The Retort advisor and me. We felt that the story about the faculty turnover in the College of Business was noteworthy, and that was the story we published. It should be noted that the story was not originally intended to be specifically about the College of Business. However, the facts presented themselves, and that was where the story became focused. There has been some controversy over those contacted for the article and, based on the notes I have seen, I stand by our reporter and her effort to contact all parties involved in the debate. It is my understanding that those who responded negatively were people that Ms. Logan attempted to contact and who, in fact, did not return her phone calls. After the Faculty Turnover article was published on April 12, people began to come out of the woodwork and there were several on the opposing side of the article. Even though some were upset over being neglected in the initial interviews for the article, there were employees in administration who would not deny that there was truth in the article. I encourage these people to write in and become available to our staff for a follow-up article to be published in the first issue of the fall 2004 semester. As for the response that we have received, both positive and negative, I am pleased that there was a response at all. In the past, we have tried unsuccessfully to provoke student interest. It wasnt until we distributed surveys that we learned what subjects the students wanted covered in The Retort. Articles like the Faculty Turnover story are possible because of student and faculty participation in The Retort. I encourage every able body to voice their opinions to our staff so that we can investigate matters of importance to the campus community. Feel free to contact us by email (retort@msubillings.edu) or by phone (657-2914). We look forward to serving you as a true student newspaper, run for and by the students. Truly, Janna Huhtala Retort Editor 2002-2004

COB Wants to Recruit Teachers

Dear Editor, The College of Business is too often separated from the rest of the campus. The students that attend the COB are part of the Montana State University-Billings system just as any other department on campus. The COB is spoken of as a separate entity and that doesnt just harm the COB, it harms our entire university. It is vital that the university pulls together and supports every department and every college. The COB is currently in the accreditation process, which can take up to 10 years. While there are some strict requirements for the accreditation, the benefit to students and faculty alike will more than make up for the tedious process. In fact just being in the accreditation process shows the dedication of our faculty and administration. Throughout the accreditation process and beyond, the faculty is dedicated to continually improving our learning experience. The turnover rate is not a huge issue for the COB. In order to recruit the best and the brightest faculty, some turnover is expected and normal. The COB wants to recruit teachers who put teaching first. The administration supports their faculty; they want new ideas and innovation, after all, thats what the changing business environment is all about. The administration does not personally monitor the facultys teaching; faculty is regularly reviewed by their peers who can give positive support and constructive criticism as needed. The students are the number one priority of the administration and faculty at the COB. Without a doubt, their learning experience and well being is put ahead of any other concerns of turnover, accreditation, and the like. The administration and faculty are proud to support their students, and the students are proud to support their teachers. Lets encourage the entire MSU-Billings university system to support and encourage each other. This will lead to a heightened university experience for everyone involved. Yacine Zerizef Chair, COB student Advisory Board

And . . . were off! I guess this is my last article of the semester. What should I do to go out with a bang? Hmmm. Its hard to By Aric Weber think of anything. Columnist Oh. I just thought of something, but Ill tell you later. So, now what? Well regrets? Sure, Ive had a few. I regret using semicolons as often as I did. They dont really do anything. They just turn two sentences into one sentence. I suppose theyre useful if youre on number of sentence constraints, but how frequently does that happen? Not very. Vonnegut calls them transvestite hermaphrodites in Timequake. I believe anything Kurt Vonnegut says. This makes me a more selective person in that I choose to believe only that which one specific person tells me. I hope that being more selective makes me more selectable. Ladies? Okay, well now Im thinking that maybe this article should be where I lay it all out on the line. Everything that Ive ever done that I regret. Or havent done and regret not doing. Off we go: In, like, second grade or something, my friend Kevin and I found this pond behind an apartment complex in the Heights. There were newly-born tadpoles in this pond and we threw them against rocks. Sorry, I guess. Boys will be boys, and all that. I dont think that I really liked it while I was doing it (past the initial splat, that is). In, like fourth grade or something, I faked being sick a lot so that I could go home to read comics and watch television. Sorry, Mrs. Goodheart. In fifth grade, I started playing the flute. In seventh grade, I traded it in for a trumpet. I was pretty good at it too, until lessons had to stop because my teacher got cancer. He ended up passing away. I dont

think Ive played in about five years. Sorry, Frank. One night while I was at Dennys at roughly two in the morning, my friend Zak tried unsuccessfully to stop a fight that had erupted between the table at which he was seated and the one right next to it. I wasnt at either table. I stood up quickly, and froze. I didnt know what to do. Sorry, Guys In The Fight. I dont know what I even couldve done, considering the fact that Ive never been in a fight. I regret never adding something in one article where I asked readers to respond to the Retort, or to e-mail me at aric7780@hotmail.com, subject: Retort:

I regret not applying myself more to my schooling. I sometimes forget about homework. Sorry, professors. I regret not submitting anything to this years Rook. The Rook, for all of you who dont know, is our campus literary journal. Its a place where students can have their art, poems, and stories published. There may not be one next year unless enough people raise hell. Some art is not art without an audience (depending on the art). Its important for people to have a voice, but if a tree falls in the woods . . . Support your independent artist, dammit! You school with poets, and playwrights, and sculptors, and painters, and

I regret being presumptuous enough to where I string together this scenario where people actually read my article, think it over, and then comment on it via e-mail, or in a bar, or however it happens. Sorry, whatever the opposite of pride is.
or to me personally in the halls; or in a crowded bar where you cant really hear anything anyway and when you approach me and say whatever it is you say and I dont really understand you and I just nod and then I regret not taking the time to actually listen instead of just pretending to listen and then order a drink. Sorry, Hypothetical Reader. I regret writing that long of a sentence. Sorry, Actual Reader. I regret being presumptuous enough to where I string together this scenario where people actually read my article, think it over, and then comment on it via e-mail, or in a bar, or however it happens. Sorry, Whatever The Opposite Of Pride Is. I regret farting that time. Oh, no one noticed? Never mind. It didnt happen. musicians, and on and on. Theyre interesting people, but dont take my word for it (remember Reading Rainbow?). Sorry about being so militant, but there almost wasnt a Rook this year, and even after my friends Abram and Mike among others, fought tooth and nail for his fellow students to have a chance at a voice and won, it still came close to not happening. I regret not saying things to people immediately after I think of them, like: I think youre beautiful, or I dont think you should treat people that way, or You shouldnt have to fight tooth and nail to get a budget for a creative outlet that helps the students it encounters, or I like the way you smell, or Hi, or Hey, Man! Whats it take to get an Oh! Henry bar in the candy machine, or Yip yip yippidy doo!

I regret missing that article that I missed that time. Oh, no one noticed. Never mind, it didnt happen. I regret tripping Brett in seventh grade when he was going into the music room and I was coming out. He was short; I thought that kind of stuff was funny back then. I regret using a semicolon in that last paragraph. Oh, no one noticed? Never mind, it didnt happen. I regret smoking, but now Im addicted. Whatya gonna do? I regret not being able to separate my Scottish accent from my Irish accent very well. I regret naming my hamster in sixth grade, Crud. She used to sleep directly beneath the water bottle thing and every morning I used to wake her up by giving it a tap. Shed flip over, chest heaving, and Id laugh. I regret that, too. Sorry, Crud. I regret that two of my regrets within this article have to do with animal cruelty. I hope it doesnt make me seem like Im still that way, because Im not. I regret knowing that a trend among serial murderers is that, as youngsters, they more often than not participated in animal mutilation. I guess their mutilation must be severe because what boy doesnt? I mean, come on. Guys? I regret not being able to think of something incredible to end this article. Something that would make you, the reader, smile and say, I guess hes right, and then put down the paper and go about your summer. I regret being prideful again and presuming that any reader would look to me to impart wisdom or advice. I guess Ill just leave you with something that Vonnegut said, Maturity is a bitter disappointment for which no remedy exists, unless laughter can be said to remedy anything, or how about Peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God, or even Life happens too fast for you ever to think about it. If you could just persuade people of this, but they insist on amassing information. Take your pick. Theyre all pretty good, I think. Love, Aric.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Its smarter to put your thoughts down on paper than to go shouting them out. You have a new set of consequences to consider. Dont make a mistake. Taurus (April 20-May 20) Its just about time for you to get yourself a special treat. Youve been patient long enough. And you dont have to tell anyone about this. Gemini (May 21-June 21) For the next several days therell be chances to make extra money. Or perhaps youll be saving by finding good deals. Dont talk much about what youre doing. Cancer (June 22-July 22) Finish up whatever remains on your to-do list. Youll soon face a new challenge, so youll need the wiggling room. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) Your buddies are full of helpful suggestions, but do they really know the full extent of whats required? Listen to them, but decide for yourself. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) Youll soon know who your true friends are. You dont want to hang out with people who dont share your values, anyway. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) The more you learn, the more valuable you

become to yourself and to others. Learn how to take on more responsibility. Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Offer yourself a juicy prize for coming as far as you have. Now, see how much farther you and a loved one can get over the weekend. Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Consult with a person whos always exciting, and set some goals for the future. You wont accomplish them all right away, but youll have an idea of where youre going. Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan 19) Theres plenty to do over the next couple of days, so youd better draw up a schedule. You dont want to hurt someones feelings by forgetting to spend time with them. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) A wonderful meeting of the minds leads to a brand-new project. Dont get too carried away with the similarities, though. Realize that there will be conflicts. Thats what will keep you interested. Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) After youve cleaned up the place a bit, therell be time for some serious bonding. Work out the rules youll live by and put yourselves on the path to success.

The Alamo Battles with The Prince & Me

in which so many lost their lives and the courage of the men who stood through it all to fight for a cause they truly believed was worth dying for. The emotions the film produces help everyone reflect on the reality of war then and now. This film was worth waiting for. Originally planned to be released in 2003, The Alamo was held back for re-editing and finally hit theatres last weeked, and although missing some of its parts, it was still everything that was expected. I dont believe anyone could be disappointed. The film was amazingly produced. The film does credit a lot to the actual events and people. Someone did quite a bit of research to make this movie realistic. The characters are portrayed well. None of the character flaws are at all glossed over or hidden. Most of the reasons they had for ending up at the Alamo in a heroic position were anything but heroic, and yet you cant help but find something to like in them, even if its just in their determination to stand up for what they believe. Crockett, especially, is portrayed in a real life role. The living legend is portrayed as someone who is trapped in a role by his own fame. He is not portrayed as the backwoods folk hero of our youth, but as a real man who has flaws just like any other person; and yet because of the fact that he is famous, must deal with them a lot more. Bowie is a very dynamic character and a rough one, but true to history, he can only take up half of the story. He spends much of the film sick and infirm. Travis is portrayed as the man he really was, a swindler who left his pregnant wife and who has a roving eye for prostitutes and money. Yet, because the movie is so honest about who these men really were, the characters are more likeable than those old fashioned heroes they were all once portrayed as. The director did a great job in selecting the right men for the roles except for the roles of Houston and Travis. However, the acting didnt seem to hurt the overall story as much as it could have. The technical aspects in the film are awesome, as usual. It doesnt seem like much now days to see the special effects and true to life scenery on a screen, but someone still has to do the work. Whoever worked on the technical team for this movie did a good job. The scenery is beautiful if you can take time to look at it in the midst of the bloody battle. All in all, Disney and Touchstone have another hit. Would you expect anything less?

By Alea Logan Staff Writer

The Alamo
In 1836, for 13 days, less than 200 Texans held a fort against thousands of Mexican soldiers in a battle that would cost most of them their lives. Remember the Alamo, is a cry that would be repeated in many battles after this. That is exactly what Leslie Bohem, Stephen Gaghan and John Lee Hancock do with the script of the new film The Alamo. It is a riveting story that follows the soldiers before and during this historic battle. It brings to life the actual event that many of us skimmed over in our history books. The film follows the famous characters of Lt. Colonel William Travis (Patrick Wilson), James Bowie (Jason Patric), Sam Houston (Dennis Quaid), and Davy Crocket (Billy Bob Thornton), as well as a few other characters. However, it shows the futility of such a battle

Above: Billy Bob Thornton as Davy Crocket - KRT Campus Below: Paige (Julia Stiles) and Eddie (Luke Mably) - KRT Campus

4 Stars

The Prince & Me

The Prince and Me is a modern day fairy tale. It is reminiscent of Disneys movie a couple years ago called The Princess Diaries, although aimed at a little bit older age group. It is about people who are actually at an age in which they could realistically fall in love and get married. That is half of the dilemma of the film. Paige (Julia Stiles) is a college student diligently working toward her lifetime goal of becoming a doctor when she meets Eddie (Luke Mably). Eddie is actually Edward, crown prince of Denmark. Sick of his life, he traveled to Wisconsin to see what it was like to be a normal college student among other things. He sees Paige and is convinced that they are meant to be together. Paige finally gives into Eddies incessant requests and soon they fall in love. The problem comes when Paige finds out that Eddie is really not who she thought and that if she wants to be with him, she must give up her life long dream. Is Eddie worth it? Well I wont spoil the ending, but I

will tell you what I thought of the film. It was great. Just the right amount of humor mixed with a little drama and a good, although clichd plot made the movie worth sitting through. Stiles, as usual, is excellent. She really makes it believable that she could be in love and still want a career. Mably also does a wonderful job

playing her costar. The crown prince is just a little selfish and has a lot to learn. Mably does justice to the script in showing us the flaws of his character as well as his lovable side. What made the movie really worth seeing was the fact that it was realistic. Although it has all the aspects of a fairy tale, the prince, the

pauper he falls in love with, the unsupportive mother, the old king, and the discerning advisor, it really doesnt have the cheesiness of one. The fact that falling in love does not constitute a life of happily ever after was portrayed very well in this film. It really makes clear the complications that romance can cause in life. It shows that you really do have to work for a happily ever after ending. There was something missing in the movie, however. I think it was the fact that there was too much story fit into too little time. It just seems to me like there were either too many cuts made or that the screenplay was written to a deadline and the ending was rushed. The story could have been developed a lot more. It seemed more like a bunch of really good scenes thrown together, rather than a well thought out plot. Yet it was still a very entertaining movie, probably because, like I said, the individual scenes were very good as well as the acting. If anything, the lawnmower racing scene is worth seeing the movie for.

4 Stars

15 Minutes More for Andy Warhol

Andy Warhols Dream America opened on March 27 at the Yellowstone Art Museum. The exhibit includes 88 pieces on loan from the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation. Billings is the first stop on a seven-city tour lasting two rare opportunity to enjoy an extensive sampling of Warhols style. Admission is $5 for students, but free passes are available at Holiday Stationstores. Other sponsors for the show are the Billings Gazette, PepsiCola Bottling Company, Steve and Jennifer Corning, and Hi-Q Technology, Inc. The show runs through July 18. The youngest son of immigrant parents, Andy grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Warhol majored in pictorial design at the College of Fine Arts of Carnegie Institute of Technology. Upon graduation, Warhol began work as a commercial artist in New York City. Immediate success made the great American dream a reality for Warhol. Dream America is a parody of American life and the American dream. Warhol blurred the line between what is and is not art, he seperated original creation and reproduction, and ultimately differentiating fantasy and reality. We each separately live our own version of the American dream, yet no one can deny the communal influence that popular culture has on each of our lives. In America, Warhol said, And you live in your dream America that youve custom-made . . . just as much as you live in your real one. Critics of Warhols art complain that his screen prints are superficial and consumeristic. Linda Ewert, Education Director at YAM, argues that Warhols work makes a statement about our society at a given point. Ewert believes that Warhols art asks what meaningful action society can take next. Parallels between the 60s and post-9/11 society can be drawn. Were still asking ourselves the same questions, i.e., what now? at what cost? and what lasting contribution besides war will our generation make? Further similarities can be recognized between Warhols preoccupation with celebrity and pop culture and our continued fascination today. Andy Warhols obsession eventually earned him his own celebrity status. American Idol and Survivor, along with other reality television shows are similarly manufacturing fame and stardom for our generation. Ewert remarked that the Shadows portfolio is the visitors favorite. The six screen prints with diamond dust are the most abstract pieces of the show. Ewert suggests Shadows popularity is partly because in our lives of constant stimulation we find calming tranquility in the minimalist expanse of the sparkling gray powder. Warhol had a vision of gallery art becoming accessible to people from all walks of life. Andy Warhols work proves the theory that art is merely marketing or visual communication. Check out Dream America for yourself and see what Warhols work says to you.

Olivia Steif Staff Writer

years. The exhibit showcases a broad spectrum of Warhols work. On display is the complete Cowboys and Indians portfolio from 1986, the year preceding Warhols death. The Marilyn series, completed in 1967, comprise the earliest pieces in the show. Also on view is Campbells Soup 1, perhaps the most recognizable of Warhols work. Because of the size of the exhibit and inclusion of several complete suites, the show offers a

Saturday Night Fever: Stayin Alive and Well

By Olivia Steif
Disco cult classic, Saturday Night Fever-the musical, took the Alberta Bair Theaters stage on April 3. Since most of us students here at MSU-B were little more than a twinkle in our fathers eye when the movie was released in 1977, let me provide some background. The story takes place in 1976 Brooklyn. Tony Manero, played by Tony Gonzalez, is the guy everyone looks up to. He is good-looking, popular, and most importantly, he can really shake it on the dance floor. The entire plot line is centered around an upcoming dance competition at the local discotheque, 2001 Space Odyssey. Norman Wexlers screen play, adapted for the stage by Nan Knighton, is reduced to a mere skeletal outline of the original. The basic plot and sub-plots are simplified to set the musicals pace appropriately with the disco soundtracks tempo, yet include all the underlying themes. Youve got your unrequited love, your teen pregnancy, your date rape, and even suicide all broken down to an eight-count. Heidi Suhr was prefect as Annette. She is the girl from the block who has worshipped Tony forever. Of course, Tony does not reciprocate Annettes feelings and we the audience find no redeeming qualities in her character either. Ins t e a d , To n y s h e a r t b e l o n g s t o St e p h a n i e M a n g a n o , p l a y e d b y Kristin Piro. Stephanie is a bit older, a little more refined and much prettier than Annette. In truth, Stephanies character is shallow and unlikable; and Kristins voice leaves something to be desired as well. Shea Rafferty, as Monty the DJ/ dance instructor was a delightful scene stealer. Monty was humorous, an accomplished dancer and his costumes were the best of the cast. Montys trademark was picking a snuggie every time he exited the stage, a deed which was received with raucous laughter and applause. Another praiseworthy performance was provided by Susan Grady as Tonys mother, Flo Manero. Although only in two scenes, Susan effectively projected the image of a neurotic, guilt-trip-laying ItalianCatholic matriarch. Featuring BeeGees hits like Jive Talkin, Stayin Alive, and of course, Night Fever, the music was fantastic. Even the stuffiest suits were seen bobbing their heads in time. Perhaps it was only the case in the balcony, but the music did get too loud occasionally. Arlene Phillips choreography during the dance competition was especially impressive. The routines were quite showy and the dancers executed the steps expertly. After seeing the dancers capabilities at the end, I only wished there had been more technical moves throughout. In spite of dramatic elements, such as, Tonys friend Bobby Cs suicide and Annettes rape, Saturday Night Fever managed to pull off an upbeat and playful vibe. This was probably because the musicals focus was quickly and sometimes awkwardly shifted from tragedy right back to the disco-music and dancing. Any disturbing plot twists were simply skimmed over, only mentioned to provide integrity with the movie. The result was a light-hearted and gay performance. I even left the Alberta Bair that Saturday night wanting to put on my-my-my-mymy boogie shoes

Music of Summer: Concerts, Tours, and More

Wi t h t h e end of the semester wrapping up and summer coming around the bend, many us students are pondering on By Jennifer Fenton what to do with our time. Sitting A&E Editor at home on our duffs seems nice but who wants to become a permanent part of the furniture? There is always the thought of lying out in the sun all day and working on our tans, but that also comes with a risk of getting skin cancer. You could get one of those summer jobs where you work 40 plus hours a week and never even get a chance to see the light of day. It seems that no matter what it is that you choose to do there will be some sort of pain and anguish brought to our sorry pathetic lives. So, why not add some excitement to our lives and go to a concert. Hundreds of concerts are going on nation wide. Some of them will require a road trip, but with a reliable car and some friends it could turn out to be the trip of the summer. No matter what type of music you like to listen to, there are plenty of concerts to choose from ranging from country to rap. There are also a variety of weekend concert series that are taking place near and far from Billings. So, with a little more money and a camping opportunity you can enjoy not only one performer but many. In Grand Junction Colo. there will be Country Jam, a four day concert series headlined by Reba Macintyre. Country Jam will also be taking place in Eau Clair, Wisc., the headliner will be George Strait for that concert. Linkin Park headlines the Project Revolution tour featuring Snoop Dogg, The Used, and Korn in Englewood, Colo. Something else worth seeing is the Vans Warped Tour in Bozeman. The concert features many performers, such as NOFX and Flogging Molly. You can also turn to the internet for more concert dates and locations. Also, the local fair always has some kind of concert, whether it is boring or not, anything is better then sitting around. In Cheyenne, WY., they have the Frontier Days which feature four nights worth of concerts and rodeo. The tickets are cheap and should fulfill your activity book for all four days. Keep in mind that some of these may run you a little short on cash but anything is better then spending fifteen dollars a day on fast food and seven dollars a day for movies. If you get a lot of friends involved the cost of the road trip slims down and tickets are inexpensive. It is well worth it and would save you from gaining those 15 to 20 pounds from sitting around. If you cant swing the big bucks then save up for a local concert, the tickets may be a little bit more, but you wont have the cost of the road trip. As you prepare to graduate or just sit around and wait for another semester to begin, keep in mind your health, well being, and your checkbook. Make sure to take in lots of concerts because it will increase your culture and music appreciation and it will be tons of fun.

NoFx - Punknet.com

The Yellowstone Perk Scores Everday Victory

There is a place where the noise from booming, bassblasting speakers is overlooked by the hard and strange stares you get from people you had By no idea even exMatt Beard isted. In fact, the Staff Writer people that have spiky hair and pale complexions at this place even blend in with a sense of belonging, whereas in a more common crowd these individuals who vacate the inside of the Yellowstone Perk would be considered misfits. But they fit in rather well. Here are some directions on how to get there: drive on Main Street in the heights. Once you reach the intersection that takes you to Highway 87, turn left on Highway 87 and cross the bridge that comes up almost immediately after this left turn. On the right of the road you should see a sign that is barely visible and reads, The Yellowstone Perk. As soon as you go through the front door at 7 p.m. on a Saturday night (this is assuming that you dont dress like a punk or head-banger), after going through the toil of actually finding the place, you notice the atmosphere is slightly different and uncommon as you walk through the small and homely entry-way to the gaming room. There are no gambling machines, which leaves the smoky mist and booze that you usually come with them cleanly out of the picture and makes way for a fun (not in a dumb or childlike manner of speaking) and rebelliously good time. You eventually find your way past the pool players and videogame junkies to where all the noise is coming from. Enter with caution and earplugs and be prepared to inhale a lethal dose of testosterone and estrogen, packed into an anarchic atmosphere of punks and occasional moshing (without the loss of teeth, that is). Not to worry, the floor is carpeted to break your fall if you should do so. As Nirvana once said, it Smells Like Teen Spirit! Bands that resemble Nirvanas hard, loud, and energetic grunge play regularly on the small, but comfy, stage. Punk and emo-punk bands share the stage every Friday and Saturday night in the Yellowstone Perk in Billings. Local bands like Struck Down jump from the small stage and yell into the microphone, while sometimes you can catch an out-of-state band like Everyday Victory, from Portland, OR, coming to rock out. Struck Down is an emo trio, while Everyday Victory was a four-piece alternative punk band that sounds like the new A.F.I. Everyday Victory actually got the gig at the last second and graced the crowd with a masterful performance. The Yellowstone Perks slogan is, Good Food, Good Times, and I think this saying definitely justifies what The Perk is all about. If youre lucky, you could catch the next new and promising band coming through Billings at the Yellowstone Perk.

EverydayVictory performed at The Yellowstone Perk - Courtesy of Everydayvictorymusic.com

Jacket Tennis Closes 4th for the Season

Men and Women Witness Tough Play Against Bozeman and at PacWest Tennis Championship
In two weeks of intense tennis match-ups, the Men and W o m e n Yellowjackets saw defeat against, Division I, team the MSU Bobcats; The By MSU-Billings Janna Huhtala mens and Editor-in-Chief w o m e n s teams also sat at fourth place in the PacWest Tennis Championships in Laie, Hawaii. The womens team tried to maneuver around the Lady Bobcats on April 2 in Bozeman, but they were trapped 7-0 in singles and doubles play. Brianne Roney lost to Vera Vasileva in a 3-6, 0-6 match while Amanda Schlosser and Lee Sowada both felt an identical chill of defeat against Bozeman, losing their respective matches 0-6 and 1-6. Becky Fry tried to hold back Bozemans Katy Clarke, but she too fell 0-6, 2-6. Jenni Howe tried to muster some strength in a battle against Remy Clark, but couldnt pull off a victory in either set (0-6, 0-6). Bobcat Anna Hockett pulled one over on Margot Merrill-Johnson, but Merrill-Johnson didnt go without a fight taking 2-6 and 1-6 in the match. In doubles play against the Lady Bobcats, Roney and Sowada fought Vasileva and Ivette Duran, finally conceding the match (2-8). Doubles team Schlosser and Howe also battled the Bobcats for a win, but were crushed in a 0-8 match. Tia Smith and MerrillJohnson saw the same defeat against Clarle and Clark ending their match 0-8. The men set out against the Bobcats with equal determination and stamina. Paco Sanchez tried to snuff out his opponent, Frederico Ueltschi, but he was bumped off after 1-6 and 3-6 matches. Sergio Diaz must have felt a wave of deja`vu when he two lost 1-6 and 3-6 against Bozemans Braden Olson. Kellen Malone and Adam Stutts matched up for some intense volley in Bozeman, but Malone was unable to pull of the victory and eventually fell to Stutts (5-7, 2-6). Jose Garcia and Tej Chigateri faced off on the court, but Garcia was unable to pull a win falling Chigateri 16 and 0-6. Ryan Smith was able to dart around Bozemans Jake Berriochoa, pulling two games off in each set. Smith couldnt hold Berriochoa off in the end and he was also trounced (2-6, 2-6). Andres Calabro, who has been playing some of the best tennis seen from the Yellowjacket men this season, couldnt steal another win from Cameron Mayo of Bozeman. Calabro released the match into the hands of Mayo in 1-6 and 1-6 duels. Yellowjacket Mens doubles competition didnt fare well either. All three doubles teams felt overpowered by the Bobcats and the tourney saw Calabro and Smith fall 0-8, Sanchez and Malone fall 2-8, and Sean ODaniel and Garcia fall 3-8. The Jackets then traveled on to Laie, Hawaii to play in the PacWest Tournament on April 7-11. MSU-B met the No. 1-ranked teams in the nation on Friday [April 9] at the PacWest Tennis Championships and was shutout in both matches. The mens team fell 8-0 to Hawaii Pacific. Hawaii Pacifics mens team is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation and they are the defending PacWest champion, finished second at last years national tournament. In more significant play the Hawaii Pacific Sea Warriors won all six single matches against the Yellowjackets, with MSUBs Andres Calabro fighting a tough battle in the No. 6 spot against Phillip Eiseler. We knew we were going to have tough matches, Calabro said, but the weather was really hot and humid. Calabro fell 7-6 (6), 6-4 in the last moments of the game, but he felt encouraged by the team play he saw in Hawaii. The team played their best in Hawaii. Everybody gave everything, he said. The men faced off against No. 6 seeded Western New Mexico in their final match but the results of those matches were not available at press time. First Round Results #1 Hawaii Pacific 5, #6 Chaminade 0 #3 Hawaii-Hilo 6, #4 MSUBillings 0 #2 BYU-Hawaii 6, #5 Western New Mexico 0 Second Round Results #1 Hawaii Pacific 8, #4 MSUBillings 0 #5 Western New Mexico 4, #6 Chaminade 3 #2 BYU-Hawaii 5, #3 Hawaii-Hilo 0 Final Round Results #3 Hawaii-Hilo 5, vs. #5 Western New Mexico 0 #1 Hawaii Pacific 5, #2 BYUHawaii 2 (Championship) #6 Chaminade vs. #4 MSUBillings The Lady Jackets were no match for the top-ranked Seasiders in the days late match, losing 5-0 to the two-time defending national champions; BYU-Hawaii has won 94 consecutive matches and is favored to capture its third-straight national championship. MSU-Billings managed to win three games in the six single matches against the Seasiders, and three games in the three doubles matches. The Lady Yellowjackets, beaten but not broken, faced No. 6 seed Western New Mexico in a final match on April 10, but those results, again, were not available at press time. First Round Results #3 Hawaii Pacific 9, #4 MSUBillings 0 #2 Hawaii-Hilo 5, #5 Chaminade 0 #1 BYU-Hawaii 7, #6 Western New Mexico 0 Second Round Results #5 Chaminade 5, #6 Western New Mexico 1 #2 Hawaii-Hilo 5, #3 Hawaii Pacific 0 #1 BYU-Hawaii 9, #4 MSUBillings 0 Final Round Results #1 BYU-Hawaii 5, #2 Hawaii-Hilo 0 (Championship) #3 Hawaii Pacific 5, #5 Chaminade 0 #6 Western New Mexico vs. #4 MSU-Billings

Final standing for the PacWest Conference Championships were as follows: Mens Seeding 1. Hawaii Pacific 2. BYU-Hawaii 3. Hawaii-Hilo 4. MSU-Billings 5. Western New Mexico 6. Chaminade Womens Seeding 1. BYU-Hawaii 2. Hawaii-Hilo 3. Hawaii Pacific 4. MSU-Billings 5. Chaminade 6. Western New Mexico

Off to the 19th Hole

The home stretch of the season for the Ye l l o w j a c k e t mens and womens golf squads began with both teams taking to the links for the University of South Dakota tournament, held April 4 and 5 at The Bluffs Golf Course in Vermilher 29th place, and Elizabeth Marshall who finished in 33rd place with a score of 183. The mens team played April 12 and 13 at the Cal-State Stanislaus Invitational at the Turlock Country Club in Turlock, Calif. This tournament presented the Jackets with possibly the toughest field they faced all year. Seven out of the top eight teams in the west region competed. Against this field the Jackets managed to finish 18th shooting a 54 hole total of 953. Top individual performers were Haas whose 228 was good enough for 43rd place and Norman who finished in 78th place with a score of 239. The women also were in action on April 12 and 13 playing in the Bear Springs Invitational at Pelican Lake Golf and Country Club in Windsor Colo. The Lady Jackets shot a score of 748 to finish in sixth place for the 36-hole event, leading the way for the team were Amanda Rabenberg whose total of 182 landed here in 22nd place and Clifford who finished 2 shots behind Rabbenberg in 23rd place. The MSU-Billings mens golf team will complete their second season of competition this week as they head to Greeley Colo, to play in the University of Northern Colorado Invitational. The womens squad played its final tournament Apr. 19 and 20th at Nebraska-Kearney.

Softball Makes History

By Jed Barton
After going 9-22 through the first 30 games of the season, the Ye l l o w j a c k e t s o f t b a l l t e a m h a s turned a corner winning 10 of their last 15 games, breaking the record for most wins in a season, set at 15 last year. MSU-Billings winning ways began with their own Yellowjackets Invitational held March 19 and 20, as they defeated Northern State (S.D.) and Valley City State (N.D.) twice each to win the tournament. The Jackets next saw action April 2-4, at the Easton Tournament of Champions in Modesto, Calif., notching only one win in pool play, an extra innings victory over Cal State-Chico. MSU-B fared better in elimination play, defeating both the host Cal StateStanislaus and Hawaii-Hilo before losing to nationally ranked Humboldt State (Calif.) in the championship game of the consolation bracket. The following weekend the Jackets returned home for a four game set with Pac-West Conference foe, the Sea Warriors of Hawaii Pacific. The Jackets swept the Saturd a y d o u b l e h e a d e r, w i n n i n g t h e nightcap 8-5 on an extra inning t h r e e r u n w a l k -o ff h o m e r u n b y Layne Pavey. HPU and MSU-B then split the two games the following d a y, T h e J a c k e t s w i n n i n g t h e opener 6-4, giving head coach Jeff A m u e n d t h e 2 0 0 th w i n o f h i s colligate coaching career. The Yellowjackets will end the year hosting a three game series with Northern Colorado at Cenex Stadium May 1-2. Saturday will be a doubleheader with games at 3 and 5 p.m. The rubber game of the series and season is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.

Jed Barton Sports Editor

lion S.D. The mens team shot a two round team score of 618 to finish tied for sixth place with Dakota Wesleyan, 35 shots behind tournament winner St. Cloud State (Minn.). Individually, the men were led by Chris Haas who shot dual two over par 74s, to finish with a total of 148. Also finishing well for the Jackets were Judd Norman and Andy Eames who both shot 154 for the two day event. The womens squad finished the tournament in eighth place, shooting a two day total of 769, finishing 31 shots behind seventh place Briar Cliff (Iowa), and 112 shots in back of tournament champion South Dakota State. Individual leaders for the Lady Jackets were Julie Clifford whose score of 180 earned

Top Left: Stephanie Cochrun celebrates with her teammates Top Center:Theresa Campbell performing a text book swing Top Right: Sara Hanly manning the hot box against Hawaii Pacific Bottom: Anna Henderson makes an easy stride to second All Photos by: Jason Lillie

Yellowjacket Sports
State of the
besides MSU-Billings, consists of Western New Mexico University, Brigham Young University-Hawaii, The University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hawaii Pacific University and Chaminade University. As of fall 2004 the conference will sponsor championships in nine sports including, womens volleyball, mens and womens cross country, mens basketball, womens softball, mens and womens tennis, as well as mens and womens golf. In addition to the conference sports the Yellowjackets also field teams in womens basketball and mens and womens soccer. In order to comply with NCAA regulation the Pac-West will be adding a tenth sport to its championship roster for the 2005-2006 year; for demographic reasons this will be a

Athletic
womens sport, but basketball, the solution preferred by MSU-B, is not a likely candidate. We will, along with WNMU (the only other school in the league with a womens basketball team), propose womens basketball when we meet to discuss the issue, Gray said, but the Hawaii schools have already communicated to us that they would prefer a sport that requires less travel and fewer scholarships. Bowling is the likely sport to be chosen at the meeting of conference athletic directors to be held at the end of this month. The lack of conference representation for some MSU-Billings teams and the refusal of other Pac-West members to consider adding those sports begs the question, why dont we join another conference? It is just not

Department
that simple, replied Gray who added, of the three Division II conferences that are of interest to us geographically, The Great Northwest Conference and Rocky Mountain Conference have a freeze on taking new members, and the North Central Conference requires its members to sponsor Football. Also under consideration in the near future is the reintroduction of baseball. A feasibility study was conducted this past winter with the objective of fielding a team for the next school year. Gray says, Our talks with members of the larger Billings baseball community showed that the resources that we needed to get started next year were all ready earmarked to support the effort for a new Cobb field, but otherwise the response was quite positive and the decision was made to wait and try to bring back baseball in 2005-2006.

The 20042005 school year will mark the Montana State University-Billings athletic programs 25 th year of NCAA Division II competiJed Barton tion and 12th year Sports Editor of membership in the Pacific West Conference. We remain committed to the Division II philosophy of offering opportunity for as many student athletics as possible, and making sure that the education of those student athletes is our top concern, said MSU-Billings athletic director Gary Gray. The Pac-West Conference, which

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