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Page 3 • Wednesday, February 24, 1999
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ir the Center bis I was the picture of Texas
ament, will: 4 vlien Ella McGruder, one of
labitsforeffe ffsfp'ican-American females to
nd Ihe University, arrived to
eve a higher education. In her
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found a sense of animosity that to
day can only be imagined.
McGruder began classes in the sum
mer of 1976. After attending college at
the University of North Texas in the fall
of 1975, she transferred to A&M.
McGruder said she experienced
some hardships when applying to A&M.
“The process was a little difficult
in that I was an African-American
applying to a white-majority
school,” she said. “Thankfully, my
mother worked with a professor at
A&M, and he spoke to admissions
on my behalf. ”
McGruder said in those times the
campus was clearly separated into
Carino Casas/Tiik Battalion
student has ^K| ru( jer, one of the first African-Americans at A&M, said she will en
rage her sons to attend the University despite her negative experience.
two categories: black and white.
“It was a very hostile environ
ment. I can remember people look
ing at me as if I didn’t belong,” she
said. “I stopped raising my hand in
class. If I did raise my hand, it
would be overlooked, and the
teacher would give me no re
sponse. ”
McGruder said she felt like an out
cast outside of the classroom as well.
“1 would walk across campus and
never see another African-American
anywhere,” she said.
In an effort to unite the minorities,
McGruder tried to form a sorority.
However, the plan fell through due to
lack of members.
“Only 20 people could be congre
gated within the entire student body,”
she said. “I was going to join anoth
er sorority already established, but I
transferred too soon.”
McGruder transferred from A&M
to the University of North Texas the
following year, due to the distressing
environment.
“The only reason I even applied to
A&M was because I resided in Bryan
at the time and my mother wanted
me to be close to home,” she said.
“I was glad to leave campus, though,
and escape the prejudices and bitter
climate,” she said.
McGruder currently works for Pro
ject Unity in Bryan. She speaks open
ly about her experiences and gives in
sight as to how the campus could
improve.
“There still could be significant
changes to take place at A&M,” she
said. “We still have a long way to go
in incorporating more minorities and
organizations for minorities on cam
pus.”
McGruder said the campus today does
not seem much different from 1976.
“I have students in my church
classes tell me they too face discrimi
nation in the classroom and out,” she
said. “I really do not think the cam
pus has changed much in regards to
racial prejudice.”
McGruder said this prejudice still
exists only because people have a cer
tain mind set about minorities.
“Many professors and students al
ready have opinions ingrained in
them about how to view different cul
tures,” she said. “People discriminate
and stereotype because they do not
know better. Their attitudes could
change if only they would make an ef
fort to get to know others in a minor
ity race.”
Although McGruder was faced
with this discrimination directly, she
said she does not hold grudges
against A&M or its professors.
“I was young, and I took it per
sonally,” McGruder said. “Today, I en
counter discrimination so often I can
not concern myself with it. Prejudiced
people are just ignorant of other
races.”
McGruder said she would like to
see more organizations and involve
ment of minorities on campus. She said
other ideas for improvement on cam-
Fox Sports College Hoops '99
System: N64
Genre: Sports
Developer: Fox Interactive
There are some sports games
people can sit around for hours
playing with friends and have a
blast. This is not one of those
games. To put it simply. Fox should
stick to movies and television and
let game developers make video
games.
Developers like Electronic Arts
make fun sports games that also
have the stats, moves and plays all
sports fans require. Fox Sports Col
lege Hoops ‘99 has only basic game-
play with few special features.
Most of the development of the
game was put into the individuality
of the college teams, which is ex
cellent, but most college games
feature depth in team play for the
different colleges.
The game plays as a simulation
of college-level basketball with the
stats and seasons made to be realis
tic, but there are other games on
the market that produce better sim
ulation and have better gameplay.
Die-hard basketball fans will
love the realistic feel of Fox Sports
College Hoops ’99, but for the mon
ey, other college basketball games
tower over the rookie effort of Fox
Interactive. Fox should put more ef
fort into Fox Sports College Hoops
’00. (Grade: C)
— Kyle Whitacre
Crash Bandicoot Warped
System: Playstation
Genre: Action
Developer: Naughty Dog
Recreating the success of a
smash console hit with a sequel is
a dicey gamble. On one hand, peo
ple will buy the game because they
recognize the title.
On the other hand, the sequel
needs to raise the bar for video
gaming even higher than the origi
nal title or it will be considered a
flop.
The creators of Crash Bandicoot
Warped knew the risks going into
development and have emerged
from their programming and play
testing with a sequel worthy of car
rying on the Bandicoot bloodline.
Unlike other console superstars
(Lara Croft comes to mind) whose
sequel games are little more than a
new look and some new stages,
the third game in the Bandicoot se
ries pushes the envelope with all-
new moves that are easy to learn
and some very new twists on the
strangely scrolling stages every
body loves to lose their temper
over.
The result is more than a drab
sequel to an established gaming
dynasty.
Crash Bandicoot Warped is an
incredible mix of the Crash of the
past and a Crash gamers can look
forward to in the future. (Grade: A)
—Stephen Wells
Sixth Annual
Texas Film Festival
February 24-28, 1999
Version 6.0 Upgrade Your Independence
Wednesday, February 24
Origin of the Species
7:00 p.m.
Cinemark Hollywood, USA
A moving and gently humorous parable of human evolution.
Origin of the Species unfolds over a weekend in a summer
house, where six late-twenties friends have united for the past
nine years. The retreat incites a series of life crises that force
them to confront their relationships and lives, leading
them to discover what it really means to grow up.
Floating
9:30 p.m.
Cinemark Hollywood, USA
When a wealthy new family moves into Van’s old
house, he is tempted to abandon his disabled, alcoholic
father for a chance at the life he once had. Then his new
friend Doug reveals the dysfunction beneath his own
family’s perfect facade. Floating chronicles Van’s
struggle to come of age in a violent period of emotional
and financial bankruptcy. _
Engineers in Film, by Jeremy Valdez, Library Annex Rm. 417B, 4:00 p.m.
Thursday. February 25
aturally Native
7:00 p.m.
unemark Hollywood, USA
aGrone.AgF Naturally Native follows the lives, loves, pain, joy and
th^arlanU^ re ' at ‘ ons hips °f three sisters as they attempt to start their
s L^nwn business. Of American Indian ancestry, but adopted
i jaADavid Lee,cate by Iwhite foster parents, each sister has her own identity
ihardPaddack^'^igglgg anc j j ias chosen a very different career path. A
eid Christian RobbinS' 11 ■ 4 . / r
isonstarcii. touching love story of family and culture. Naturally Native also interweaves a subtle, but strong wake-up call
ihysiempien,SAite' regarding the treatment of Native people in corporate America; and also provides some insight into the tribal
infostructure and gaming issues.
/agene'. ,
^Gabriel RueneS'" 1
(ike Norfeldt,.
B^Cariio Casas,
i, Danya Day, Bob®
rkins, Meriisa Sonia'''
mas. Lisa Kreick,
sica Wegener
The Intervention
9:30 p.m.
Cinemark Hollywood, USA
Matt Hirsch is a writer who’s lost faith in the power of writing.
Lately, he’s had suicidal inklings. They’re not quite tendencies yet,
but with a little practice he thinks he can get them up there.
Nothing’s particularly wrong with his life, but then nothing’s
particularly right, either. Matt believes he’s learned what life has to
offer and would just as soon kill himself, if only he had a gun. Unfortunately, he doesn’t feel strongly
enough to take action - it’s passion that’ll kill you every time.
Workshops: Remake. Dr. Marian Hide, Library Annex Rm. 417C, 2:00 p.m.
(Free Admission)
The Film Consciousness and Poetry, by Dr. Paul Christensen, Library Annex Rm. 417C, 4:00 p.m.
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Information: $3.00 Individual Screening; $15.00 Festival Pass (All Screenings). Purchase Tickets at the MSC Box Office (845-1234) or at Cinemark.
i ’or More Information: Call 847-8478 or 845-1515, or check out our web pages www.texasfilmfestival.org or films.tamu.edu/festival
Battotaifacan:’- _ r »
ik Persons with disabilities please call 845-1515 to inform us of your special needs. ^»^The Sixth Annual Texas Film Festival is a presentation of the MSC Film Society of Texas A&M.
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