Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 12

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 07 INDEX EDI TORI AL 2 | NEWS 3 | FEATURES 5 | ENTERTAI NMENT 7 | SPORTS 10 | VI SUALS 12

Islanders men and womens basketball teams manage back-to-back wins for homecoming
HALF OFF FROZEN FRAPS | 3-5 PM EVERY DAY
HAPPY HOUR
-fccc-free wifi-
-3 |ccc| :hcp:-
Islanders bring home
win for homecoming
see Homecoming on pg 10
Izzy the Islander mascot runs the court displaying Islander pride on the fag as anxious onlookers wait to hear the winners of the homecoming court
photo by Alexis De Leon
PAGE 3
PAGE 5
PAGE 12
Healthy Living
College Confes-
sions
Marine Ecology
Students Study Oso
Bay
by TREY SEAL
entertainment reporter
The debate on vinyl vs. CD
see Vinyl vs. CD on pg 8
by CHRISTINA BOOTHE
sports reporter
S
orority emblems stood tall as their respec-
tive pledges and members gathered around
them to cheer on the Islander Mens Bas-
ketball Team [15-4, 12-4 Southland] in their
fight against the Houston Baptist University
Huskies [6-23, 2-14 Southland] for the March
1 homecoming game.
In the womens game earlier that day in
the Dugan, the Islanders destroyed the Hus-
kies in a 90-65 face-off, and fans anticipated
a sister victory for the mens team. Students
and Islander alumni filled the American Bank
Center, keen on watching their successful
mens basketball team emerge victorious. The
crowd was filled with charisma, and energy
buzzed through the air as the cheerleaders
waved their pom-poms and the pep band
played an entertaining rendition of the Cupid
Shuffle.
Noise erupted in the stadium as the
Islanders basketball team ran onto the court,
fist pumping to the music and high-fiving
their fellow teammates. And then, the games
began.
In their second match-up against HBU in
two weeks, A&M opened on an 8-0 run before
Huskies could respond. The game went fairly
quickly, with the Islanders maxing out with
a 23-point lead in the first quarter with 11
seconds remaining.
The Huskies couldnt keep up as the
Islanders dominated on the court, garnering
38 points in the first half to the Huskies 18.
Jeff Beverly, Joy Williamson, and John Jordan
shone, acquiring 23 of the points in the first
half. As the clock ran down and the seconds
ticked by, HBUs Rob Lewis scored one final
three-pointer to end the period.
T
heres something special about laying the
needle down on a fresh piece of vinyl for
the first time. You have this quiet moment
of anticipation as you hear the silence of the
records edge followed by a slow buildup of
audio emanating from the speakers. Vinyl
is liking watching a movie on a film reel, its
the purest experience possible. What I mean
by this is that Vinyl is a format that doesnt
compress your music (the sound isnt altered).
So the drummer isnt going to have his beat
repressed in favor of the lead singers vocals.
For decades, vinyl has been hailed by music
aficionados young and old as the purest way
to listen to music. However, this opinion isnt
universal.
2 editorial
ISLAND WAVES
03.06.2014
a student publication of
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
AMY KOTULSKI
staf adv|ser
RUTH AIPPERSPACH
facu|ty adv|ser
NICK THOMSON
d|str|but|on manager
contact us
6300 Ocean Dr|ve
Unit 5783
Oorpus Ohr|st|, T 78412
(361} 825-5862
write us a letter
The ls|and Waves
accepts |etters no
|onger than 250 words.
|etters are subject to
ed|t|ng. Send |etters to
the ed|tor v|a ema|| at
editor@tamucc.edu.
about island waves
The ls|and Waves |s
a student-produced
pub||cat|on at Texas
A&M n|vers|ty-Oorpus
Ohr|st|. The newspa-
per |s pr|nted week|y,
except dur|ng summer
sess|ons.

S|nce A&M-Oorpus
Ohr|st| has no journa|-
|sm department, ls|and
Waves |s supported by
student fees and adver-
t|s|ng sa|es.
Any student or n|ver-
s|ty emp|oyee may sub-
m|t mater|a| for pub||ca-
t|on cons|derat|on. To
become a contr|butor,
ema|| or ca|| the ls|and
Waves ed|tor.
ALEXIS DE LEON
ed|tor-|n-ch|ef
MARIAM AMAYA
advert|s|ng manager
KATHLEEN RAMIREZ
features ed|tor
CHRISTINA BOOTHE
VICTOR CANALES
ANDREW LIGUEZ
TREY SEAL
staf reporters
AUBREY DANCER
|ayout ed|tor
|s|and waves staf
STEPHANIE WALLACE
manag|ng ed|tor
JUSTIN VU NGUYEN
advert|s|ng ass|stant
Letters to the editor
CONNER TICHOTA
news ed|tor
By Gracie Canales
T
he other day my son-in-
law was grousing about
not being able to remember
whether his socks were in
drawer A or drawer B of his
dresser. He also complained
about his memory and age.
Mind you, he is only in his
third decade of his life.
I told him that a favorite
character of mine, Sherlock
Holmes, once said that he
did not commit to memory
unnecessary bits of fact. He
said that his mind had a finite
amount of space and he did
not want to clutter it up with
bits of fact that were not
important to him.
A friend of his commented
that at least he remembered
that they were in his dresser
and that it was in one or the
other of his drawers. That
gave him a 50/50 chance of
finding his socks. It also only
takes about two seconds to
find his socks and therefore, I
dont see the dilemma.
In one of my jobs, I had to
know the laws and regulations
for the job I was doing and be
able to say that my choice
followed such and such law.
These laws were kept in books
that when placed on the floor,
the pile would stand four feet
tall. I was told not to even
think about memorizing each
and every law, but instead
to be able to quote in which
book and section I could find
that information. In this way,
I was only required to know
about ten books and the
chapters to each book. So,
when questioned it would
suffice if I replied, I do not
know the answer to that at
this moment, but I know that
I can find the answer in Book
#X and Chapter #X.
In these times, whenever
I need to find an answer to a
question, my daughter, who is
a computer whiz kid, simply
says to me Google it, Mom.
So, one day I texted her for
help and while I waited for her
response, I decided to Google
it, as my daughter suggested.
At this point I was retrieving
my auditory memory for the
instructions. Not only did I
find the answer, but was able
to clear the problem before
she ever got back to me. What
a sense of accomplishment
that gave me!
Another lesson I learned
about memorizing is that
to commit something to
memory you must do three
things. You must involve
your eyes, your hands and
your ears. So, if you want to
memorize a thing, you must
write it down and then read
it out loud in order to involve
your sight, auditory and
motor skills to commit the
item to your memory.
Whenever I learn
something new, I write it
in my How to file. When
I learned how to make
Group emails I found it in
the Outlook manual. Later,
when someone else asked
me how to do it I could not
remember the instructions.
The first time I found it, I
couldnt find the manual and
then when I found it, I had
not bookmarked the page and
it took me a while to find it
again.
So, when I found it the
second time, I copied the 3
or 4 steps in my How to
file, which was much shorter
than the Outlook manual
and was able to retrieve it
much quicker whenever I
needed the instructions again.
Eventually, I did not have to
look up the instructions, but
it was nice to just go to my
How to file anytime anyone
asked me for the instructions
and get the answer quickly to
whoever needed it.
So, what this all boils
down to is that you should
make yourself a How to
file for items that you might
need to access over and over
quickly and then use Google
for the other items that
you dont need on a daily
basis. In this way, you have
your 50/50 drawers and can
retrieve information needed
much quicker and dont have
to worry about where in the
world did I store that kernel of
information? It has nothing
to do with age. It is just that
now that we understand how
our brain works (very much
like the computers we use on
a daily basis) we just need a
short cut to the path where
we have stored our little
kernels.
Kernels, Pearls and Bits of Wisdom
Advice on remembering things the old fashioned way without the use of Google
R
eading is an essential
skill in college and life.
Reading is an activity, but a
deeper meaning of reading
involves an understanding
of what is read, and then be
able to communicate that
information to professors,
bosses, co-workers, and
friends.
Students must become
users of the information
by thinking critically about
the content and why it was
written or assigned. Students
must carefully choose
what information to use in
their college studies, their
professions and their lives.
Good or academic reading
is important, it is a learned
skill and these authors want
to get the word out to TAMU-
CC students, that TAMU-CC
offers many resources to help
increase academic skills.
The purpose of The
Reading Corner is to help
students become better
college readers. Each article
will provide information
about reading skills that
help with academic success.
Some students have a lack
of concern for reading or
lack of skills in reading. The
National Endowment for
the Arts completed a Survey
of Reading in America and
reported this:
This report documents
a national crisis, reading
develops a capacity for focused
attention and imaginative
growth that enriches both
private and public life. The
decline in reading among
every segment of the adult
population reflects a general
collapse in advanced literacy.
To lose this human capacity
- and all the diverse benefits
it fosters - impoverishes
both cultural and civic life.
National Endowment for the
Arts (NEA). Reading at Risk: A
Survey of Literary Reading in
America (2004).
Academic help is available
at TAMU-CC through The
Center for Academic Student
Achievement (CASA). CASA
is a full service-learning
center, which houses a
variety of support programs
for TAMU-CC students. CASA
is dedicated to offering
informed and sound teaching/
tutoring support to TAMU-
CC. CASAs staff is trained
following the guidelines
of the College Reading
and Learning Associations
International Tutor Training
Program to ensure the best
tutoring practices for TAMU-
CC students. CASAs Writing
Center is well known for
practical help with college
writing projects and the
Reading Specialists are doing
the same for reading.
CASA Reading Specialists
help with reading by teaching
strategies that enable students
to understand and use the
information from textbooks
and notes. Additionally
reading specialists help
in understanding the
assignments. Reading
assignments may be
difficult because of a lack of
understanding or interpreting
the assignment incorrectly. It
should not be an embarrassing
problemlearning to speak
and read differently
academically is not always
easy. Reading specialists are
available Monday through
Friday and by appointment
to help achieve reading
success in the classroom.
Talk with a Reading specialist
at CASA Room 107 for more
information or to make an
appointment.
Note: Professors may
contact us for a Reading
Workshop in the classroom
or Department. Contact Dr.
Deborah Culbertson at (361)
825-2834 with any questions
or to set up a workshop.
The Reading Corner
Read to Survive, Read to Thrive in College - reading (and learning) resources at TAMU-CC
written by reading coaches Dr. B. McDowell and Dr. D. Culbertson
READING TIP
To get good at reading
practice reading. Read a print
book, e-book, and, especially,
a textbook. Reading exercises
the brain and reading improves
vocabulary, which aids in
understanding and reading
ease. How many practice to
improve skills for a favorite
video game, sport, music, or
whatever activity to relax or
entertain? Reading takes the
same practice. To improve
reading skills Go on and find a
cozy place then READ.
image courtesy of pixabay.com
3 news
ISLAND WAVES
03.06.2014
by CONNER TICHOTA
news editor
O
n Feb. 15, senior nursing students from
Texas A&M-Corpus Christi enrolled in
the Community Health clinical practicum,
participated in building a community garden at
the Antonio E. Garcia Arts & Education Center.
This event marked the official beginning of
the three week community outreach project
entitled Healthy Living Starts at the Roots.
Children were invited from the Garcia
Centers after school program, along with the
Corpus Christi community, to participate in
the project. The project involved building
an expansive 14-bed garden located behind
the Garcia Center. Once the project phase
has finished, the garden will be left for the
community to maintain and enjoy.
According to Kinsey Tipton, a nursing
student at A&M-Corpus Christi and Project
Leader of Healthy Living, the project has been
a unique experience.
I think it broadens our horizons, said
Tipton, We see a different section [of people]
than we are used to seeing. Were used to
seeing sick patients. This gives [us] a broader
aspect of how to treat a patient and not just
in the hospital when theyre sick. It gives [us]
more of a chance to connect with people on a
different level.
According to Dr. Suzanne Beltz, Associate
Professor of Nursing and faculty sponsor of the
Community Health practicum, this particular
practicum offers a variety of tactical benefits
for students in the nursing program. The
purpose of various practicums such as the
Community Health clinical within the Nursing
program is to provide students with real world
experience in various fields of nursing.
Community Health projects give the
students the opportunity to do a collaborative
project, said Beltz. They collaborate with
other disciplines and other organizations
[to create] a healthier, more educated
community... This particular site is focused
on education and health, with a lower socio-
economic population in mind.
The Healthy Living project was targeted
towards helping educate a socio-economically
disadvantaged community. The goal of the
collaborative project is to help educate the
community about issues regarding health
and wellness. Furthermore, it also teaches
members how to help one another and
participate in a group.
In order to meet such goals, the students
involved with the practicum had been planning
the project for several weeks. According to
Beltz after having been assigned a project
site, students were required to complete a
community assessment.
Where ever students are assigned to, they
have to complete the community assessment,
said Beltz. They have to look at the mission
of that site, what project they can do that
collaborates with [ the sites] needs. Then they
went to the literature to see what the benefits
of a community garden are etc.
After having determined that a community
would be a feasible project, the students had to
find the materials to carry out their plans.
We put a lot of work into getting it up and
running, said Tipton, It took three weeks to
get contacts from Home Depot [etc] and to get
the flowers and the seeds.
Out of their total seven weeks of clinical,
the Community Health practicum students
spent their three weeks gathering supplies.
Some of the local sponsors included the
Beautify Corpus Christi Association, who
donated all of the soil, and Home Depot from
whom the students purchased all of their
lumbar supplies.
Although the students involvement with
the Healthy Living project is coming to a
close, the garden will remain the responsibility
of the local Corpus Christi community. Both
Beltz and Tipton emphasized that this will be
the key component to making the project a
success.
They [the students] are concerned about
sustainability, said Beltz. They dont know
who is going to help with the watering, the
weeding or anything.
Healthy Living Starts at the Roots was
continued on Feb. 27 and 28, and will conclude
on March 6 and 7.
Healthy living starts at the roots
A community project led by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi nursing students
A
s the semester comes to its halfway point, I
had the pleasure of taking three of our new
and dedicated reporters to San Diego for the
Associated Collegiate Press Conference.
These reporters took part in multiple
seminar sessions to build their skills and better
adapt to the changing world of newspaper
print. This may sound like a conundrum, but
we are no longer in a time where people wait
for the paper delivery every morning or every
week for the current issue to hit the stands.
Now Ipad reporting and website pdfs have
taken over and IW is working hard to catch up.
With the ACP, we were able to put the future
leaders of your University newspaper through
exciting and innovative training to better make
this a paper by students, for students.
I must confess, San Diego is my hometown,
so renting a car and exploring was also at the
top of the list. After surviving the hurricane
weather that was the storm that hit southern
CA during our stay, we ventured over to
Hollywood, walked the red carpet and took
pictures with waxy look-alike celebrities we
could only wish to have known.
Although I did not get to meet my future
husband Leonardo DiCaprio this trip, I did
get to walk in the footsteps of old Hollywood.
After indulging on macarons, we survived the
monsoon that hit late in the evening and went
back to San Diego.
We ended the trip with a great last day
of the conference and a wonderful keynote
speaker. Refreshed and inspired, we walked
the streets of Old Town and drove the bridge
to the Hotel Del Coronado and looked at the
architecture of old.
Now, back at the Island University, we are off
the plane, getting over our jet lag, and training
our staff members to put the best issues we
can out there. ACP 2014 was a success and, rain
or shine, we are more dedicated then ever to
keeping this paper a forum for the students.
Island Waves in San Diego
by STEPHANIE WALLACE
managing editor
above: features reporter Andrew Liguez and news editor Conner Tichota pose at Madame Tus-
sauds wax museum with Charlie Chaplin
left: ACP keynote speaker and Google employee Nicholas Whitaker, explains the importance of
technologies in media representation
bottom: managing editor Stephanie Wallace peruses the chocolate truffle selection at Hotel Del
Coronado
photos by Andrew Liguez
03.06.2014
4news
ISLAND WAVES
S
tudents and faculty at Texas A&M-Corpus
Christi now have a new channel of
communication, the Starfish system. Hosted by
the Center for Academic Student Achievement,
Starfish is an early alert software program that
helps identify students academic needs, allows
faculty to communicate with students and vice
versa.
According to John Fortiscue, a retention
specialist at CASA, the primary purpose of the
new Starfish system is to allow faculty and
staff to identify students who are academically
struggling. Once a student has been identified,
Starfish will alert the student to the various
academic support tools available on campus.
This [software] has enhanced early
warning capabilities for faculty, said Fortiscue,
Basically they are identifying student needs
at different points during the term. It does a
really good job of connecting the student to
academic recourses such as CASA.
According to CASAs website, the Starfish
system is connected to Blackboard and
monitors student progress in a class through a
series of progress reports. When an instructor
notices a student in need of academic help,
they can raise a flag and the student, as
well as various academic support services,
will be notified of their course progress and
any concerns. Typically, instructors will notify
students when they notice certain trends.
These trends include: poor class attendance,
low class participation, missing work, low test
grades, midterm grades below a C average, or
any student in danger of failing a course.
Once a flag , or an Early Alert, is raised,
students will be contacted by various academic
support services from A&M-Corpus Christi.
These services include CASA and Academic
Advising. Other programs such as Student
Engagement and Success and Enrollment
management may also contact the student
when an Early Alert is released.
The primary goal of the Starfish system is to
help students be successful.
The University would like to find a way
to have a streamline process for identifying
[a students academic] needs and connecting
students to support on campus, said Fortiscue,
But, they also support kudos. Kudos is like a
gold star; the students are receiving praise on
their course work [from faculty] through the
program.
Not only does the Starfish system aid
students who are in need of academic help,
but it acts as a communication tool allowing all
students to keep in touch with faculty. Faculty
are able to post their office hours, allowing
students easy access to view when their
instructor are available. Furthermore, students
are able to schedule appointments with their
instructors, academic advisor, the University
Health Center and other support programs on
campus.
The concept of the early alert system
is not new to the Island University per se.
Rather, Starfish is an updated system added to
Blackboard.
We had an older alert system. Banner Tools
is what it was called, said Fortiscue.
Starfish is a software program developed by
an outside provider called Starfish Retention
Solutions. This program is utilized various
universities throughout the nation, and their
mission is to help students achieve their
educational goals. Though the programs name
coincidentally fits the theme of the Island
University, according to the Starfish Retention
Solutions official website, the name was
derived from a story called The Star Thrower.
For more information regarding Starfish,
please contact starfish@tamucc.edu. To find
out whether or not a particular class is utilizing
Starfish, contact the instructor or login to
Starfish via Blackboard.
New
early alert
system for
faculty and
students
by CONNER TICHOTA
news editor
image courtesy of TAMUCC.EDU
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Have an Issue? Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question?
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Have an Issue?Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question?
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Have an Issue?Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question?
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Have an Issue?Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question?
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Have an Issue?Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question?
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Have an Issue?Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question?
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Have an Issue? Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question?
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Have an Issue?Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question?
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Have an Issue?Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question?
Have an Opinion? Have a Concern? Have a Question? Have an Idea?
Write to us.
Send letters to
Editor@tamucc.edu
5 features
ISLAND WAVES
03.06.2014
by KATHLEEN RAMIREZ
features editor
I
ts the bunny way or no way for my three boys.
Recently, Jojo, who is normally a very well
behaved bunny, has taken to chewing my stuff.
I thought this was a habit he had outgrown
seeing as how he hasnt chewed anything since
he was just a baby, but apparently I was wrong.
Lately, Jojo has chewed though various
wires and rubber items, including, but not
limited to, one iPhone charger, two laptop
chargers, one Nintendo 64 cord and a TV
remote. He has also recently tried scratching
and pulling at the carpet in my living room,
but that quickly ended after being placed in
timeout for a few hours.
For the most part, Ive been able to stop
him before he did too much damage. He did
however manage to completely destroy my
iPhone charger beyond repair, but that was my
fault for not giving his royal self the attention
he felt he so rightly deserved. Apparently,
ignoring your bunny for homework is not
a good enough excuse in their eyes, and is
grounds for destruction of your property.
Additionally, Jojo has taken to jumping on
top of me and waking me up whenever I nap on
the living room couch; his way of demanding
my undivided attention. Needless to say, my
afternoon nap was cut short Friday after his
fluffy little body woke me up three times in the
span of 20 minutes.
It was only after I gave him a, I kid you
not, 30-minute long face massage, that Jojo
decided I was forgiven for ignoring him. He
then proceeded to demonstrate his forgiveness
by licking and grooming my entire hand before
hopping away.
Since then, Mr. Jojo has returned to his
normal, well-behaved self, and has even taken
to following me around my apartment like a
puppy whenever he wants something. He has
also demanded more face massages and will
nudge my hand if I so much as remove my hand
from his face.
The moral of the story, dont ever ignore
your bunny.
by VICTOR CANALES
entertainment reporter
C
ollege-Confessions. A new trend following
the expansion of mass media monoliths
Facebook, Twitter, and various phone based
mobile apps dubbed College-Confessions,
are sites where college students can post any
personal experience or thought anonymously.
The catch is the college where they attend
is shown as well, which has also reinvented
a much older trend. Many male students
have begun to post lewd pictures of female
students, usually sent via a form of picture
messaging, referred to commonly as sexting.
These pages originally sprung up on several
individual campuses, and have now expanded
with the aid of Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, and
mobile apps for Android and Apple phones.
However the impact of these pages is still
in question. An instance last October raised the
issue of a Boston College confession where a
male student anonymously confessed that he
had sexually assaulted three intoxicated fe-
male students,
I put her clothes back on her and tucked
her into my roommates bed, said a confess-
er. When she woke up the next morning
she had no recollection of the prior night. She
thanked me for being a gentleman, which I
chuckled at under my breath.
The student responsible confessed hours
later that it had been a cruel joke, but never-
theless the school and authorities prompted
an investigation of the matter and have since
ruled it as a hoax. Despite the ruling, several
students on the campus organized an event
dubbed, A Response to Boston College Con-
fession #7122 to highlight the very serious
issue of sexual assault on college campuses.
This trend has followed many sites which fea-
ture individual postings, especially ones that
feature anonymous posting capabilities, and
has brought to question the limitations of free
speech.
In respect to the fact that most, if not all,
of the pictures featuring female students either
undressed or in acts with other students with-
out their consent and knowledge is morally
deplorable, the responsibility falls upon the
moderators of these sites to remove or prevent
these types of posts in the same way as other
websites cannot allowing depictions of vulgar
pictures of children or other similar explicit
material. At the same time posts without pic-
tures such as, Ive been faking a British accent
since I got to Brown and its gotten me so much
----- , (Brown University) and Is it weird that I
pretend to get drunk and hide hidden cameras
in the rooms of individuals I hook up with?
(Texas State University #10175) one can only
help but notice the generally apathetic state of
the confessors. The argument is that with the
localization of these sites, the student contrib-
utors and subscribers feel a form of closeness
and thus the posts are more personal and it is
merely an avenue to express oneself without
fear of judgment. The inverse of that these
sites represent a very real stereotype of college
students mentalities and it reinforces ignorant
and often derogatory perspectives, particularly
of racist and sexist views.
image courtesy of THEDAILYCITY.COM
03.06.2014
6features
ISLAND WAVES
by KATHLEEN RAMIREZ
features editor
FRESHMAN
SPOTLIGHT
W
hen hes not busy with school or work,
Ray Dorame, Texas A&M University-
Corpus Christi freshman, likes to spend his free
time making and playing music.
I love playing so much, its where I can
find myself after a long day at school or work,
Dorame said. I was kind of the oddball in the
family, neither of my parents were musicians,
so thats how I know my love for music is
real because it wasnt taught to me, I found it
amongst myself.
Dorame is currently the bassist for a local
metal band called Revision. Described as
having a unique sound, Dorame and his
band mates play at numerous shows and are
currently working on an extended play album.
Were just a group of guys who deeply love
music, and as we put our minds together, we
feel like we can accomplish anything through
our music. My band mates arent just any
regular friends, theyre my brothers, and when
were not practicing or on stage, were hanging
out as a family, Dorame said.
Originally born in Tuscan, AZ, Dorame
moved to Corpus Christi when he was four
years old. Although he originally didnt see
college in his future, Dorame said he is really
happy he decided to attend, and is grateful for
the opportunity.
If it wasnt for my girlfriend (above on left)
I wouldnt be back in school, shes the one who
pushed me to go back and Im really thankful
for it, the freshman said. I picked Texas A&M
University-Corpus Christi because it was here
in town so I can stay close to my family. Ive
also heard a lot of good things about it, and
what I like most about campus is the scenery.
Currently majoring in criminal justice,
Dorames first exposure to the world of law and
forensics came when he was just a child.
To be honest, I choose criminal justice
because I grew up watching Law and Order,
and its just something I grew to love, the
freshman said. Im really not too sure on what
I want to do after graduation though.
Although taking a full load of classes,
playing in a band and working part time can
be a bit overwhelming at times, Dorame says
he is able to do so by carefully planning out his
schedule.
Its really hard to balance everything,
but I tend to keep my school stuff first, then
make time for everything later, the criminal
justice major said. Staying organized is really
important, its a big part of college life.
Dorame encourages other students to stay
on top of their homework and recommends for
everyone to learn how to manage their time.
My advice would be, just go to class and
have fun. Its really easy to just miss class and
not worry about it, but if you miss class youll
end up stressing about something you missed.
Sooner or later the fun ends, so go to class, even
if you dont want to, Dorame said.
Visit facebook.com/revisionsofficial for
more information on Dorames band Revisions.
S
aving citizens by moonlight. Leaping tall
buildings in a single bound. And fighting
off villains in an epic battle of good versus evil
while wearing spandex tights and masks. They
are superheroes.
In honor of the number of hours wasted on
superhero movies and comic books, several
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi students
share their favorite superheroes of all time.
Batman
By day, he is a billionaire extraordinaire
known as Bruce Wayne. By night, he is
Batman, a crime-fighting vigilante who serves
and protects the citizens of Gotham City, all
the while dressed as a bat. Despite not having
any superheroes powers, Batman is one of the
smartest and greatest superheroes. Combined
with his physical ability and technical
ingenuity, Batman is one hero to be reckoned
with.
Alyssa Garza, graphic design major, says
she has been a fan of Batman for as long as she
could remember.
When I was a little girl, I went into our
living room one day where my dad was
relaxing after work. He was watching Batman
Forever on VHS, and I sat next to him on the
couch, and within five minutes I was hooked,
Garza said. Lets just say thats how we
bonded for the next eighteen years. We even
started collecting together, anything that was
Batman. And even when I left home to attend
college, he would call me just to tell me what
new collectable he found.
For computer science major Ian Yarbrough,
Batman is more than just a movie character.
Batman has always been a constant in my
life, seeing it on television, reading about it
in comics, but when I lost my parent, it kind
of became someone that I could look up to,
Yarbrough said. Kind of like, even though
I lost someone very close to me, I can bring
something positive out of it and try my hardest
at doing said positive thing.
Thor
Based off of Norse mythology, Thor is the
god of thunder who comes from the magical
realm called Asgard. As the son of Odin, lord of
the Asgardian gods, Thor possesses the power
to summon the elements of lighting, rain, wind
and snow. He is also the sole welder of Mjolnir,
a magically enchanted hammer crafted for him
by his father.
I like Thor because hes based in actual
mythology and is the god of lightening,
and thats sick, Biomedical major Matthew
Rodriguez said. Actual mythology is legit.
Chris Hemsworth did an awesome job
at playing Thor, and even looked perfectly
identical to the comics.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Made up of leader Leonardo, prankster
Michelangelo, inventor Donatello and bad boy
Raphael, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a
team of four teenage, talking turtles that live
in the sewers under New York City. Trained
by their rat sensei and adopted father Master
Splinter, the turtles become skilled warriors
in the art of ninjutsu, and use their skills to
protect the city from criminals, alien invaders
and evil overlords. While the TMNT may not
seem like your typical superheroes, there
is something to be said about four mutant,
anthropomorphic turtles.
Jeremy Martinez, business major, seems to
think so.
I dont have a favorite superhero, but if I
had to pick one, I would pick the ninja turtles.
I like them because they were like second cops
for me, Martinez said. The ninja turtles were
a part of my life when I was younger, and when
I was scared to walk down drains.
by KATHLEEN RAMIREZ
features editor
7 entertainment
ISLAND WAVES
03.06.2014
M
any famous franchises in histories have
been trilogies such as Star Wars, Indiana
Jones, and Toy Story just to name a few.
Movie trilogies have been around since the
early days of film starting around 1910 with
a total of fourteen trilogies made according
to Wikipedias list of film trilogies. The trend
boomed around the 1970s where a total of one
hundred ninety seven trilogies were made.
After seeing that triple the movies equals triple
the money, Hollywood began its crusade upon
the film industry.
The trilogy is great for telling epic stories
that can make an audience connect to a
character as they grow through various trials
and tribulations. In recent years however,
Hollywood has turned the trilogy into a ploy
to make more money from their movies. More
often than not, they run by the logic of three
times the movie equals three times the money.
Many movies (especially animated) receive
sequels that have no consistency in terms of
production crew, cast, etc.
In the past, three movies was generally
considered a respectable stopping point for the
franchise. More often than not, the third movie
of many franchises feels more tired and worn
than its predecessors. Around the late 2000s
to early 10s a disturbing trend began to occur:
the two-part finale. When the news first came
out that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
would have a two-part finale. By splitting
a movie into two, you could make sure to fit
more of the story from a book adaption into
its film equivalent. Its potential is great but its
execution generally falls flat.
Upon its release, Harry Potter and the
Deathly Hallows Part 2 earned a worldwide
gross of 1.34 billion dollars. This eclipsed
part 1s 960 million dollar revenue by nearly
half. This clearly caught the attention of
major Hollywood studios who in turn had a
mathematical epiphany about profit potential.
Soon after, Summit entertainment, the studio
behind the Twilight Films announced that
they would be ending their book based film
series with a two-part finale as well. This was
followed by an announcement Lionsgate that
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay would employ
the same tactic.
This is a disturbing trend for film to be
taking as it appears to punish the viewer for not
watching the movies as a home video release
(where studios earn the highest percentage of
revenue). This also makes film an experience
more akin to watching a television show. In
the early days of cinema (starting around
1912 with Thomas Edisons What Happened
to Mary?), there were movies called serials. A
serial was a motion picture that came out in
multiple individual installments that would
range from individual plots to chronological
stories. Patrons would attend a theatre on a
weekly basis for a low admission fee in order
to catch up on a cliffhanger or to see another
episode featuring their favorite characters.
The serial worked for one reason, the
only entertainment device that most families
had in the home was a radio. Movie serials
gave the viewer the episodic nature of their
favorite radio stories with the addition of
accompanying visuals. As Television broke
into American homes throughout the 1950s,
movie studios adapted the format to fit the
burgeoning new market.
When it comes to adapting stories to the
film, part of the charm is the constraint of the
medium. Movies such as Fight Club, The Sound
of Music, and The Godfather (not including its
sequels) are examples of masterful transitions
from book to film that are in no way exact
replicas of their source material. Each director
used the constraints of time and budget in
order to craft an experience that was unique
to film.
The trend doesnt appear to be letting up
either: Sony recently made the unprecedented
announcement of an Amazing Spider-man
quadrilogy after the success of its initial
installment.
Hollywood needs to do us a favor and stop
beating franchises into submission. I yearn
for the time where a great film could come
out, leave a lasting impact on the world and
then be preserved as a fantastic standalone
story. If Hollywood keeps this cycle of greed
going, there will be a day where nearly every
theatrical release in a calendar year is just a
sequel to last years hit.
by TREY SEAL
staf reporter
The Problem with Trilogies...
images courtesy of GALLERISTNY.COM, EARNTHIS.NET, HOPELIES.COM
T
hinking of way to commemorate Womens
History Month 2014? If so, the Islander
Cultural Alliance has organized such an event.
To celebrate Womens History Month ICA is
hosting Ladies Night on Monday, March
24, 2014 starting at 6 p.m., featuring musical
entertainment by Scarletta from Nashville,
Tenn.
Ladies Night is an event sponsored by the
ICA every March to celebrate the month with
a night of festivities. Despite being dubbed a
Ladies Night, the event is welcome to all
and any that wish to come participate, enjoy
the music and socialize. Festivities such as
giveaways, crafts, snacks and more will be
available, with Scarletta generously providing
the soundtrack for the night.
For those who are unfamiliar with Scarletta,
they are a high energy country/rock trio from
Nashville, Tenn. who are making Texas A&M
University- Corpus Christi the first stop of
many Texas colleges such as the University of
Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) and Texas State
University. They have been touring full-time,
but took the time last year to record a new
album and even participate in the popular
show The X Factor.
In an interview with Nathan Stoops,
founding member, vocalist and fiddle player
for the group, he commented that they have
received very positive results from playing
college showcases such as that of Ladies
Night, and when they were contacted about
the show at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi,
agreed wholeheartedly. Stoops said, we have
toured extensively, playing 150 shows last
year. We have even more planned for this
year. The three week tour, which will see
the band playing shows in Texas, Oklahoma
and Louisiana, is also to help promote their
upcoming album, Rocking Chair, which is
due to be released on March 10, 2014. The
album was recorded last fall and features
six new songs. Stoops also noted that he
wanted to urge everyone to visit their website
Scarlettamusic.com, Facebook page (facebook.
com/scarlettatrio), and YouTube channel.
by VICTOR CANALES
entertainment reporter
photo courtesy of JAMIE REEDER
03.06.2014
8entertainment
ISLAND WAVES
The Vinyl record finds its roots in 1877 when
Thomas Edison created the phonograph, a
device that used a vibrating needle to impress
an imitation of sound waves into a circular
tin disc. The very first recording made on the
device was Edison reciting the classic childrens
poem Mary had a Little Lamb. In 1887, an
inventor by the name of Emil Berliner improved
upon the technology with the invention of the
gramophone. The Gramophone introduced
the wax record that we know today by using
the template of a tin record to press multiple
uniform copies in an efficient and affordable
manner. Berliners innovation brought music
ownership to the mass market.
The Compact Disc, was released in 1982 by
Philips Corporation to transition music into the
digital era. Like vinyl, CD contains imprinted
sound waves on the bottom of the disc, these
bumps are microscopic and thus cannot be
seen by the human eye, in order to prevent
them from rubbing off due to friction, a plastic
coating is laid upon them. As a digital format,
CD uses computers in order to get a perfect
representation of a sound engineers mix.
Professor Bobby Lewis, a video production
teacher and long time musician/aficionado
,knows good sound due to his intense passion
for the medium.
Id pick vinyl any day. Sonically, you cant
beat it (especially when using a great pair of
headphones) and I love to stare at the album
art, sleeve, etc. while listening to it. It feels like
going back to an era where music wasnt taken
for granted. When you listen to a vinyl record,
youre forced to stop and appreciate an entire
album from beginning to end and I feel we just
dont do that enough nowadays, said Lewis.
For the purpose of finding my opinion on
the debate, I decided to listen to The Beatles
I am the Walrus. Starting with the CD
version, different instruments come in with
different pitches, an experience that felt three
dimensional, while Ringos drums lead you
into the song with rich fidelity as they cue John
Lennons silky smooth voice. The band begins
to play and you hear every click, beat, and riff
as the song leads you into its bizarre world. For
four minutes and nineteen seconds, I couldve
sworn the beatles came back to life and were
playing a concert in my skull.
When listening to the song on vinyl, I
noticed that the volume never fluctuated
when it came to different instruments or
effects. It can be compared to the experience
of a concert, it felt like I was hearing Lennon
and the band in the studio. The sound was not
nearly as entrancing as that of the CD but it
did have a certain nostalgic quality to it. The
sound of the needle as it glided over the bumps
and grooves imprinted its own unmistakable
sound upon the room that gave it a charmingly
imperfect but relatable feel.
The truth is CD does have what can be
considered a perfect replication of the sound
engineers mix. This is due to the digital nature
of the format which uses computers to digitally
write the music on the disc. According to an
article on Popular Science.com, the grooves of
a vinyl record contain small replications of the
sound waves that come from the instruments.
Thus there is no scientifically possible way for
vinyl records to have the sound quality of a CD.
This is because the bumps would have to be
perfect replications which is nearly impossible
for a machine to replicate. Over time the
grooves become worn down and as a result the
record player adds the sound of its own wear
and tear to the music.
When comparing CDs to digital however,
files come in a variety of qualities.The MP3
compresses tracks for the sake of space, as a
result certain parts of the master track are lost
(such as subtle sounds). iTunes use a format
known as AAC, it has a smaller file size than
MP3 but still has a similar quality of sound.
The different mediums are suitable for
different experiences. Vinyl is better for a more
relaxed atmosphere due to their soothe, soft
sounds that stay at a constant volume. CDs are
better for a more personal listening experience
within your home. Digital is obviously better
for storing on your everyday devices for
immediate listening.
While its wonderful to be able to
download an entire album on your phone while
waiting in line or in a drive-thru, it also means
that music has become more dispensable. We
live in a culture where we are are constantly
being hammered by emails, text, etc. and as
such we are forced to exist while putting up
with a certain amount of noise. Weve become
somewhat desensitized and music has now
become a part of that noise, which is sad. There
is a quote from Robert Bresson that I really
like, cinema, radio, television, magazines, are
a school of inattention: people look without
seeing, listen in without hearing. For me, the
best cure for this is a pair of KRK headphones
and Close to You by The Carpenters, on vinyl
of course.
Vinyl vs. CD continued from page 1
AUBREY DANCER layout editor
T
he time for the Universiy musicians to come
together and share their creative musical
accomplishments with the community is
coming up soon. For those unfamiliar with the
event, which is sponsored and organized by
the Campus Activities Board, any band with an
active member who is also an active student at
the University can sign up to play for a chance
to win up to $500 and showcase their talents
to all who attend.
All genres are admissible, however along
with an entry form filled out by the attending
student, all bands are required to submit a
demo of at least five minutes to determine
the final 10 contestants and two alternates.
The judgment is based on the strength, quality
and consistency of these recordings. Ergo, be
sure to bring your best material to the table
before the deadline for demos, which is March
14 before 3:00 pm. The deadline for the entry
forms is March 19 before 3:00 pm. Entry forms
can be found online or one can be picked up in
the University Center, room 123. A mandatory
meeting for selected bands will be March 21
at 5:00 pm, where general guidelines, sound
equipment, and order of the bands will be
discussed.
The date and time for the event has been
set for March 27 from 6 pm to 9 pm on the East
Lawn. Selected bands are required to be there
no later than 4:45 pm to allow time to unload
and get ready for sound check which will be
being promptly at 5:00 pm.
Contestants will be ranked on a variety
of elements, which, as per the official entry
form, include technical skill, creativity, stage
presence, vocal skill and most importantly
audience connection. Five official judges
will review the acts and will note audience
participation to decide the first, second
and third place winners, who will receive
$500, $350, and $200 respectively. For more
information or questions regarding the event
one can contact the CAB by phone (361) 825-
2363, email nelda.hernandez@tamucc.edu, or
visit them at the University Center, room 123.
by VICTOR CANALES
entertainment reporter
BATTLEOFTHEBANDS
XXXIV 2014
9 ads
ISLAND WAVES
03.06.2014
Island Waves
Texas A&M Uni versi ty- Corpus Chri sti
st udent newspaper
contact us in the newsroom
(361) 825-5862 editor@tamucc.edu
Now Hiring
Copy Editor
Layout Assistant
News Reporter
Sports Reporter
applications now being accepted
career-services.tamucc.edu
03.06.2014
10 sports
ISLAND WAVES
by CHRISTINA BOOTHE
sports reporter
B
rian Urlacher, a former professional
football player for the Chicago Bears, was
a menacing linebacker who sent sweat down
his targets back. The man could tackle, and at
six foot four inches, 258 pounds, any opponent
knew that the hit was going to be a rough one.
But perhaps his rivals would be less fearful
if they knew what Urlachers superstition was.
Before every game, Urlacher would consume
two chocolate chip cookies (neither more nor
less), in order to play at the level he wanted to.
Tiger Woods, too, brought a ridiculous
superstition to his game. On Sundays, he
would wear red. Believe it or not, Woodss
mother informed him, because of his status
as a Capricorn, red was the color that enticed
his capabilities. And while some athletes, like
Woods, mold their superstitions off of Mean
Girls, others take to drastically unhealthy
traditions to keep their game alive.
Caron Butler, a small forward for the
Milwaukee Bucks, drinks a full two-liter of
Mountain Dew on game day, half the bottle
before the game, and the rest at half time. The
jury is out on whether or not the poor man will
develop heart palpitations or diabetes.
Then, of course, theres the great Wayne
Gretzky. The star hockey player not only put his
gear on in the same order before every game,
but he also routinely covered the blade of his
stick with baby powder. Talk about weird.
But the most entertaining, if not repulsive,
superstition comes straight from the Argentine
soccer fields. Goalkeeper Sergio Goycochea
was paranoid about the penalty kicks that were
to be taken against him.
So, before every penalty kick that he had to
block, Goycochea would urinate on the field,
regardless of the cameras or fans that could see
him. When asked about this rather atrocious
habit, Goycochea responded absently, No
one complained. We may never understand
this crazy superstition, but one thing can be
certain: Goycochea was famous for his talent
for stopping penalty kicks.
So why do they do it? Why do all these
professional athletes, who are so outrageously
successful, have weird idiosyncrasies that they
insist upon catering to? There are many theo-
ries. One of the more profound ones is found in
an article from Psychology of Sports.
In said article, Dr. Richard Lustberg express-
es his opinion that superstitions held dearly
by athletes are merely psychological cop-
ing mechanisms. Superstitions are a coping
mechanism to deal with the pressure to suc-
ceed. Athletes begin to believe- they, in fact,
want to believe- that their routine of choice is
enhancing their performance. In reality, it is
just practice and confidence that make them
perform better. (Lustberg, Mayberry, 2010).
What Dr. Lustberg suggests, in a sense, is
that these athletes are insistent upon finding
something almost supernatural that they can
cater to in order to have good voodoo for their
game. What they often dont realize is that the
results they are looking for are from not luck,
but instead from their massive amounts of
dedication to the mental and physical aspects
of their sport.
Dangerous, though, is when the supersti-
tion fails to present a means of coping with the
stress of solitary devotion to an intense game.
This is the danger of athletics. The sport as-
sumes full ownership of its participants.
Unfairly, each player lacks the time to take
part in other interests and invest in other pas-
times of importance to them because their
game, quite literally, has made them a slave.
Some players enjoy this servitude. They serve
a mistress they love, and they would never
change that fact. Others feel less enamored.
There is a very valid reason for why most
professional athletes have some form of a su-
perstition: they are slaves to the game that
they play, and they cope with the stress by cre-
ating an enigma that they placate to.
Just like an accountant make take the edge
off of a long day at work with a nice Whiskey
Sour, or a plumber may sit down on his front
porch as dusk with a cigar, athletes look for
ways to de-stress themselves.
However, because of the high intensity of
their jobs, their tools for calming their nerves
come into play more regularly and stick out
more vibrantly than other less flashy habits do.
The question now seems to be: are student ath-
letes this way as well? Do they have tricky su-
perstitions that they stick to in order to achieve
success?
Read again next week as we interview some
students on campus to ask them about their
self-made rules for success.

editors note: information on specific superstitions
held by professional athletes obtained from Bleacher
Report.
The superstitious game: Part 3
The third installment of examining the ins and outs of
superstitions in the world of sports
The homecoming court made their
way out during half time to the sound of
cheers from their respective organizations.
Duchess nominees Ashley Alvarez, Jezzica
Dimalanta, Liz Dombrowski, and Maria Rogers
represented the sororities, while Mariam
Ghanem, Nelda Hernandez, and Sarah Wright
stood for the Panhellenic Council, Campus
Activities Board, and Islanders Dance Team,
respectively. The lone Duke nominee,
Charles Saunders, represented the Delta Chi
fraternity. For the position of Queen, Audry
Baldwin, Stella Drouillard-Salom, Sarah Foley,
Cecilia Gonzalez, Hannah Lockwood, Daniliz
Marrero, and Chelsea Smith, stood for their
various councils, associations, and sororities.
King nominees included Matt Daniels, David
Norris, Geordan Strain, and Greg Summers.
After a brief announcement for each member
of the party, the victors were announced.
Liz Dombrowski, representing Delta Delta
Delta, was crowned duchess, and her duke
counterpart was Saunders. King and queen
victors were David Norris, representing
the Islander Anglers, and Cecilia Gonzalez,
representing I-ADAPT.
The crowd roared for their new royalty and
remained entranced by the Islanders Cheer
and Dance teams as they promenaded onto
the court to perform their half-time routines.
And then, after a very entertaining show, the
second half of the basketball game began.
Once again, Islanders players John Jordan and
Rashawn Thomas exceled, scoring 22 of the
27 points for the half. After some monstrous
slam-dunks and four exciting fast breaks, the
game came to a close, with an Islander victory:
65-45.
In an after-game interview, when asked
about the double-bye that the win against
HBU, Jordan said, It was very important for
us to get over .500 and for us to get that no. 2
seed so we can get that double-bye for obvious
reasons. I mean, you only play two games in
a conference tournament, so thats what were
aiming for.
Coach Wilson, too, commented on the
nights win against HBU and its importance
as it pertains to the Southland Conference
Tournament in a few days. Well, its
important. I mean, its that time of year in
March where crazy things happen and you just
have to stay focused and handle your business.
Thats been our theme: were just trying to
play in the moment live in the moment and
worry about what we have control over, and
winning is whats going to give us the best
possible seed.
With this victory, the Islanders were
granted a double-bye in the conference
tournament, which occurs in Katy over Spring
Break. Its only uphill from here, folks. Take a
leisurely Spring Break and cheer the victorious
Islanders as they take on competitors of the
Southland Conference in the Merrill Center in
hopes of taking home the gold and advancing
on to March Madness.
Homecoming continued from page 1
right (clockwise): Ceci-
lia Gonzalez crowned
homecoming queen; Zane
Knowles reaches for the
jump ball; the cheerleaders
and dance team perform
at the half; David Norris
crowned homecoming king
by University president
Flavius Killebrew and wife
Kathy Killebrew
photo courtesy of Stephen Garcia
photo by Alexis De Leon photo by Alexis De Leon
photo by Alexis De Leon
Selfes with student athletes
by CHRISTINA BOOTHE
sports reporter
11 sports
ISLAND WAVES
03.06.2014
F
or this weeks issue of Selfies with Student
Athletes, we interviewed Emmanuel
Tonie, a freshman from Maryland who plays
basketball. Aside from being a spectacular
athlete, Emmanuel is a very sensitive
person, who likes long walks on the beach
and puppies. Not really, but check out this
interview some things may surprise you.
Get to know Emmanuel a little better and
maybe sit down and have a chat with him
Get to know Islanders student athletes one self-taken portrait at a time
right: Mens basketball player Emmanuel Tonie
and sports reporter Christina Boothe try their
best to be hard photo by Emmanuel Tonie
Name/Nickname: Emmanuel Tonie/E-Man
Age/Year: 19/Freshman
Sport/Position/Number: Basketball/Shooting
guard/#4
Hometown: Bowie, Maryland
Major: Communications/Media
Favorite Song: Three-Way Phone Call R. Kelly
Favorite Movie: Glory Road
Favorite Book: The Bible
Favorite Hobby (aside from the sport you
play): Writing poetry.
If Im not on the field/court/track or at class,
Im usually at a friends house or by the
Camden pool.
If you sit next to me in class and want
to strike conversation, a sure bet is
to talk to me aboutTell me a joke!
Hilariousness=friendship.
Favorite Quote: The harder you work in
peace, the less youll bleed during war.
Brandon Jennings
The person I look up to most is: My Father
My athletic inspiration is: My Father and
Michael Jordan
My celebrity crush is: Katy Perry
G
erald Johnson, the owner of Turf Sports,
and former student at Texas A&M
UniversityCorpus Christi, sat down to answer
some questions regarding his success in the
Corpus Christi area with his training facility.
Turf Sports services athletes all throughout
Corpus Christi, from young kids with dreams
to professional competitors in the city. His
words especially ring true for business
students, as they are filled with wisdom and
advice for how to start your own business.
Q: Has your status as a Texas A&M
University-Corpus Christi alumni been
beneficial to you in the start of your business?
Johnson: Yes, it has. Ive definitely looked
at it as something that gives me credentials.
I put my best foot forward because Im an
alumna.
Q: What did you study at the Island
University and how did it prepare you for your
current career?
Johnson: I switched majors a lot. I was
initially in criminal justice/pre-law, then
communications, and I ended up taking
business classes and graduated with a
communications degree with emphasis in
sales and marketing. This adaptability has
been a chief aspect in going forward and
taking my business plan to the next level.
Q: Are there any specific classes or
professors that stood out to you and aided
you in your success as a student and as a
professional businessman?
Johnson: Dr. Blanco, who teaches in
the business school, inspired me. I cant
remember all of the names of professors who
had an impact on me, but they definitely
gave good advice and had good hands that
put me in the right direction. Their classes
helped me understand business. Dr. Blancos
emphasis on Disney and customer service was
huge thats what Disneys all about. In any
industry, theres always going to be problem
with service, but with Disney, their customer
service is a way of separating themselves
and being a cut above. Its all about the little
things and details, which Disney emphasizes.
Q: There are many students at A&M-
University Corpus who want to do what you
do. Do you have any advice for them on what
they can do now to benefit themselves in the
long run and set themselves up for success as
professional businessmen?
Johnson: Two things: Get out there,
and work. Establish your credits, establish
yourself in the workplace, and find out about
customer service. Dont be afraid to be
adventurous. Be a door-to-door salesman, be
a waiter, get yourself out there. You have to
be able to do everything from the top of the
food chain to the bottom, and your employees
need to know that youre willing to do that.
If youre doing something brand new, you
cant rely on anybody else to deliver your
image. You have to be willing to put yourself
out there. You need to get with a business
developer, have your numbers correct, have a
vision, and be able to do the work. The main
thing is, dont look at where you want to go,
think about how you have to get there.
Q: Do you have any trademarks, as
in things that you do to ensure quality
and unique genuineness with your
customers? When you read reviews about
your company and hear feedback from your
customers, is there a trend in what they say
they are pleased with?
Johnson: Quality - quality service
and expert trainers. How we handle our
customers and having a professional
environment. I dont just look at my
trainers as employers, I let them embody
and empower who they are. The main
compliment is that the trainers have a lot
of autonomy, which allows them to bring
who they are to the training facility. This
isnt one generic brand this is an array of
different people, and I look to bring different
professionals in to bring variety. I want them
to be who they are.
Q. You mentioned an expansion what
does that entail, and what should we expect
from Turf Sports in the future because of it?
Johnson: All I can say is that we definitely
have plans on doing a bigger facility, a
hundred yard field. I cant really give many
details on that right now, but in the future Ill
be able to tell more.
To sign up for a training session head to
6458 Saratoga Boulevard today. Get a great
workout and support a fellow Islander.
Turf Sports Complex founder Gerald Johnson
(right) stands with Courtney Hawkins (left) of the
Chicago White Sox in the complex`s recent add
on Rock`s discount vitamins-n-more
photo courtesy of Gerald Johnson
The details behind Turf Sports Complex
by CHRISTINA BOOTHE
sports reporter
03.06.2014
12 visuals
ISLAND WAVES
above: Seniors Greg Purtle and Derek Mangold pull the shallow
seine to collect organisms
right: (left to right) undergraduates Lily Walker, Meghan Martinez,
Jacob Harrison and Heidi Ballew exam their samples for poly-
chaetes (marine worms) and microscopic organisms
below: Graduate assistant and doctoral student Luke Tornabene
helps students identify various fsh species
Students in Dr. Jennifer Pollacks BIOL 4436 Marine Ecology
class embarked on a 24 hour study (known as a diurnal) Friday
February 28. Students arrived at 12 noon and left just before
noon Saturday March 1. Graduate students volunteered to help
undergraduate students sample Oso Bay every four hours of
the 24 hour period. Studies were run for water quality, plankton,
benthic organisms (bottom-dwellers), core samples and shallow
to deep water dwelling marine organisms.
Insane for
Science
photo by Alexis De Leon
photo by Alexis De Leon
photo courtesy of Jeff Janko

Вам также может понравиться