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The South Texan

The South Texan is a student publication produced by Texas A&M - Kingsville students. The views, opinions and commentary do not necessarily reflect the views of the Texas A&M University system. The South Texan uses student fees in part to publish. Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for redress of grievances.
Philip J. Perez - Editor in Chief Mark Molina - Managing Editor Frank Garza - Associate Managing Editor Fares Sabawi - News Editor Joseph Frymire - Ed/Ops Colton Williams - Sports Editor Leslie Villeda - Entertainment Editor Liza Rodriguez - Social Media Jonathan Adams - Chief Reporter Arturo Leal- Photographer Alejandra Garza - Web Manager Moe Hill - Advertising Manager Gloria Salinas - Circulation Mgr. Maisavel Webb - Illustrator Josette Adame - Illustrator Dr. Manuel Flores - Advisor Don Fisher - Advisor Sigma Tau Delta - Copy Editors

Philip Perez - sotexmedia@gmail.com

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Editorial

Obama is back... and hes BAD!

This isnt the bi-partisan, limp-wristed, compromising president weve become accustomed to over the last three years. This isnt the absentee leader who promised hope and change and delivered normality and a moderate course. This isnt the impotently frustrated Barack Obama, who seemed fed up with our two party systems inability and unwillingness to compromise. No, the man who walked into Congress on Tuesday night to deliver the annual State of the Union address was an old friend we hadnt seen in a long time. Here was the man who could talk about the issues in a clear, understandable fashion in a way that left almost no room for argument. Here was the leader who could make a fool of his opponents with them barely realizing it. Here was the President we elected, one with passion, vigor and a desire to make our country great again. Our reinvigorated President received little to no love from his Republican friends. Some refused to stand during the 50 or so pauses for applause, and there were even a few scattered boos. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor waffled between not knowing whether he should be clapping for something, and looking as though he was simultaneously sucking on a lemon while desperately needing to fart. Theres no way to describe the minority response other than bizarre. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels often dipped into a jumbled, schizophrenic speech pattern, and somewhat resembled an alien in a human suit doing a bad impression of a political speech. By and large, the response eschewed any attempt at cognizant rebuttal, and instead chose to hammer home the usual Fear and Loathing in America lines that the GOP love so very much. But can you blame them? Nobody makes an

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Here was the President we elected, one with passion, vigor and a desire to make our country great again...

argument or gives a speech like our President. Obama described the disparate relationship between Washington and the rest of the country as a deficit of trust. He chastised Congress for their seeming ineptitude, presented a number of solutions and programs to mitigate the problems facing the nation, and placed the burden of proof upon the Electorate. Oh, our President certainly came out swinging. Because this isnt elected Obama, oh no, this is elect me Obama. And elect me Obama is a mean opponent. The GOP primaries have boiled down to two

likely frontrunners that no one really likes. Even the core Republican constituency seem unenthused by Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. These are the candidates that are going to take down the leader that ended the War in Iraq? These are the guys theyre going use to try to beat the President that killed Usama Bin Laden? Youre going to use an out of touch blue blood or a serial adulterer to try to win this election? Wow. Good luck, youre going to need it. Editorials are a collective effort of the South Texan editorial staff. The ideas, views and opinions in no way reflect the views or opinions of Texas A&M University - Kingsville, its administratration, faculty or staff or department advisors. For comments or concerns, please email the South Texan at sotexmedia@gmail.com.

Liza Rodriguez

Viewpoints: The legacy of Joe Paterno

him, he had done enough. There cant be any excuse to knowing that a child was molested, or even that children are still being molested, and not doing anything about it. How does one live with themselves? Even worse is that Paterno prioritized his precious career at Penn State and what Penn State did was use him as a scapegoat and a media mockery, throwing him under the bus. Paterno might have been remembered as Penn States best coach and a man who saved children. Instead, he is being remembered as Penn States best coach and an accomplice to Jerry Sanduckys child abuse. Thats what the ol career over conscience theory gets you. ormer Penn State coach and college football icon, the late Joe Paterno, passed away recently due to lung cancer, but was lung cancer the only reason for Paternos death, or was his death helped along by a broken heart? Whether it be through all the success he brought to the football program or whether it be through all the donations he made towards the school, Penn State was his life and held his heart for the past 65 years. Paterno once said, They ask me what Id like written about me when Im gone. I hope they write I made Penn State a better place, not just that I was a good football coach. In the midst of all thats going on at Penn State involving the Jerry Sandusky child molestation controversy, Paterno defended his beloved college, which was arguably the second love of his life and, instead of embracing his support, Penn State turned around and used Paterno as a national scapegoat,

Colton Williams

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oe Paterno was undeniably one of, if not, the best coaches ever in college football. That man is a legend. The terrible thing about his career is that now its overshadowed by the Penn State scandals. Paterno could have saved himself a whole lot of trouble and embarrassment if he had done what was the humane and right thing to do. When a member of the Penn State coaching staff reported to Paterno about witnessing Jerry Sandusky molesting a child, it would have been proper as a person to go and report it to the authorities. Yes, Paterno did do the right thing career wise; he followed protocol and reported the incident to his superiors. Those superiors failed in stopping Sandusky from molesting children, though. Thats when Paternos parental instinct, or just human conscience, should have kicked in. Why didnt he put himself in those kids shoes or those parents shoes? What if it was his son being molested? He might have been worried about his job, but didnt he think that even if Penn State fired

pretty much breaking his heart and destroying everything that he built, including his reputation. Paterno was fired by Penn State and labeled a bad man because he knew of the incident and didnt contact the right authorities. He did tell the athletic director, so he did the right thing in contacting his superiors and telling them what had happened and what he knew. It then should have been the athletic directors duty to inform the right authorities. This did not happen and, because of that, Paterno gets labeled a bad man. Thats not right. Could he have done more? Possibly, but what he did was the right thing in contacting his superiors and informing someone of what he saw. We cant label him a bad guy and tarnish a lifetime of good reputation because of what he could have done or didnt do, or just because some people say he is a horrible person for not doing more, because we, as the general public, dont know all the details. He wasnt perfect, but nobody is. Maybe he made a bad decision by failing to report to police about what he knew about the Sandusky incident. Or, perhaps he should have followed up? However, this should not overshadow his life and achievements. Tribute should still be given to him, he was still an important person to Penn State, no matter what happened off the field.

The Voice of Hoggie Nation

Do you think Joe Paternos legacy is tarnished because of the abuse scandal?

Aissa Nino

I dont think it should matter what he did in his personal life; he did a good job at being a coach.

Nutrition

Richie Garza

People always have something negative to say while a person is living. Now they want to leave Joe Paterno in a good legacy. Make up your mind, people.

Communications

Dylan Ochoa

Biology