Hilltop Views S t .
E d w a r d ’ s
U n i v e r s i t y
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Volume 29 | Issue 10
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FEATURES St. Edward’s University student group raising funds for disasterstricken Japan.
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ENTERTAINMENT “Proctorology” reminds evasive celebrities that it is time to pay their taxes again.
SPORTS Men’s and women’s golf teams putting in strong performances at tournaments.
Students’ sports photos featured in museum exhibit
Author holds Q&A at St. Edward’s The only thing you have to write about is what you know.” -Anne Lamott
Kristina Schenck kschenc@stedwards.edu
Allie Crain This photo will be in the main exhibit for the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum’s exploration of high school football.
Christina Villarreal cvillar3@stedwards.edu
This July, eight students from the St. Edward’s University photocommunications department will have their work featured at a local public museum. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum will host St. Edward’s students’ photos in an exhibit called Texas High School Football: More Than the Game. The exhibit, which will run from July 2011 to January 2012, is the first to explore high school football in Texas.
Last fall, photocommunications Professor Bill Kennedy taught a class that allowed
the photographers to document the cultural and social importance of Texas high
I’ve been dreaming about my first exhibition for a long time now, and this easily beats out anything that I dreamt up.” -Allie Crain students and alumni to work directly with museum curators. The museum wanted
school football. Students focused on several different aspects of football games, such
as the cheerleading, band, fans in the stands and mascots. The purpose of the exhibit was to display the impact that high school football has on the community as a whole, according to Kathryn Best, the exhibit content coordinator. She said that the museum wants to show how football games get everyone involved, not just the players on the field. The museum became interested in working with Kennedy when guest curator Photography | 2
Author Anne Lamott spoke at St. Edward’s University as a part of the Visiting Writers Series last weekend about parenting, her writing career and her most recently published novel “Imperfect Birds.” Lamott has written 15 fiction and non-fiction books, including New York Times bestsellers “Grace (Eventually)” and “Plan B.” She has also appeared on Stephen Colbert’s “The Colbert Report.” The event was held in the Mabee Ballroom in the Ragsdale Center on April 9. It was hosted by St. Edward’s in collaboration with the independent bookstore BookPeople. While attendance was free for St. Edward’s students and staff, tickets were $16.50 for non-St. Edward’s attendees. Those who paid for admission also received a paperback copy of Lamott’s “Imperfect Birds.” Professor Carrie Fountain worked with BookPeople to bring Lamott to St. Edward’s.
“BookPeople approached us because I think they wanted a bigger venue than they were able to offer. Anne Lamott was also interested in working with a smaller college,” Fountain said. Fountain gave the introduction speech. She mentioned that she reads a chapter of Lamott’s nonfiction book “Bird by Bird” with her Rhetoric and Composition classes. During her introduction speech, Fountain also told the audience that Lamott’s birthday was the next day and presented Lamott with a cupcake from Quacks 43rd Street Bakery. The audience sang “Happy Birthday” to Lamott before the scheduled reading. Lamott, a woman with tidy, shoulder-length dreadlocks, introduced herself while licking frosting from her fingers. She gave the audience the option to vote on how the event should proceed. “How many people want me to do the reading I’ve done six nights in a row?” Lamott asked, prompting laughs from the audience. Lamott | 4
Page 2 | NEWS
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 | Hilltop Views
Photography class focused on pictures of football games Continued from page 1
Joe Nick Patoski saw some of Kennedy’s images of high school stadiums in his magazine, BK Magazine. Kennedy and Patoski then developed an elective class that would give students the chance to build their portfolios by having their work shown at a premier Texas public museum. Until recently, students did not know whether the museum would feature their work. There was no guarantee that the photos taken in the fall would be part of the exhibit. However, a few weeks ago, Best told Kennedy that 53 images would be considered for use in the core of the museum’s main exhibit. Best said the museum is looking for very specific photographs for the main exhibit, and the curators will be able to choose from the pool of 53 images. Best had not planned to rely so heavily on these images but said that the material was so rich that curators did not need to look elsewhere for other images. In September, another exhibit will showcase student work for two weeks. Each student chose 10 of their images to be shown for a total of 80 images to be included in the exhibit. The exhibit will open on Sept. 21. The opening night of Sept. 23 will feature a guest speaker, Rice University Professor of Photography Geoff Winningham, the author of “Rites of Fall.” “Rites of Fall,”
Allie Crain
Crain captured cheerleaders at football games.
published in 1979, was the first book to document Texas high school football. A few students from the class will also be speaking about their work in a panel. During the course of the exhibit, a catalogue of student work will be on sale. Kennedy said that he wanted to prepare photocommunications students with real world experiences, such as the one offered last semester. He said it was a very intense educational process for students. “The photocommunications program, one of the best undergraduate photography programs in the nation, is dedicated to producing the next generation of exceptionally well-trained and successful photographers,” Kennedy said. One of the students in the class from last fall, junior Allie Crain, said that she was
very honored and excited to be working with Patoski and the museum for the project. “I’ve been dreaming about my first exhibition for a long time now, and this easily beats out anything that I dreamt up,” Crain said. Junior Christian Ryan Criswell also took the class, intrigued about the prospect of her photographs appearing in a museum. In a blog entry written for St. Edward’s Celebrating 125 Years website, Criswell said the football games she attended were about more than just football. “I learned that it wasn’t so much about the sports or the game of it, which kept me from going to games before...but more about being with friends, performing, proud parents, relaxing after a school week and traditions,” Criswell said.
NEWS BRIEF
Hilltop Views honored at TIPA Tristan Hallman thallma2@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views received three honorable mention awards at the recent Texas Intercollegiate Press Association Convention. Junior Danny De Los
Santos was recognized for a sports story written about the Rugby football club team on campus; senior Jake Hartwell received an honor for the critical review category for a review of Resident Evil 3D; and sophomore Emily Blasdell
was honored for her photo essay of Hillfest. The March 30–April 2 convention, hosted by the Hilton Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, recognizes the work of college newspapers from across the state.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 13, 2011
NEWS | Page 3
McCarthy series lecturer favors continued health care reforms Tristan Hallman thallma2@stedwards.edu
Health care in America is being threatened not only by spiraling costs, but by degeneration of ethical and civil discourse, a vice president of a Catholic health care network in St. Louis said last week. The hour-long lecture by Dan O’Brien on April 6 was the 14th installment of the Most Reverend Bishop McCarthy Series at St. Edward’s University. O’Brien, the vice president of Ethics at Ascension Health, a Catholic health care network, focused his speech primarily on health care, but also briefly touched on ethical policies in America on such topics as abortion, religion and the roles of government and individuals. Among those in attendance were Sr. Donna Jurick, executive vice president and provost; Fr. Lou Brusatti, dean of the School of Humanities; Fr. Rick Wilkinson, director of Campus Ministry, and
Courtesy of Kate Rosati
Fr. Lou Brusatti, Dan O’Brien and Bishop John McCarthy in Jones Auditorium.
administrators of the Seton Family of Hospitals. John E. McCarthy himself, bishop of Austin from 1986-2001, also attended. O’Brien, who was introduced by university President George Martin, began his lecture by reading Robert Frost’s poem, “The Road Not Taken.” O’Brien then
offered observations and his thoughts on the state of the politics of health care. “I was discouraged by the injustices in our health care system and by our national lack of will and lack of action to ensure coverage and access to health care for all,” O’Brien said. “It doesn’t take a long look down the road to where
it thins in the undergrowth to see that our health care system isn’t taking us where we need to go.” O’Brien voiced support for the health care overhaul bill passed last year by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama and derided those who opposed the bill for the values underlying
New College students get a “fresh start” Megan Ganey mganey@stedwards.edu
Tamara Clopton has made A’s in all of her classes since coming back to St. Edward’s University in 2009. Her transcripts, however, reflect a much lower representation of her New College efforts. Because Clopton decided to return to St. Edward’s, her GPA from 20 years ago has followed her and lowered her 4.0 to just above a 2.0. This lower GPA has disqualified her for academic and financial scholarships, even though she has risen to the top of her class. For this reason, New College professor Vikki Totten successfully proposed the “Fresh Start” policy, which allows students returning to St. Edward’s after 10 years to start with a fresh GPA. The policy will take effect in the fall semester. “I just got lost. I was one
of those people who just fell between the cracks,” Clopton said about her time at St. Edward’s when she first enrolled 20 years ago. “I wanted to prove that it wasn’t because I wasn’t smart enough, it’s just because I was overwhelmed. I was working full-time, and at that time my son was very young. I wasn’t myself — not the self that I am now.” The Fresh Start policy will allow Clopton, and other students like her, to prove that time does change a student. To have the policy apply to them, New College students must apply for consideration with the dean of their school and meet certain requirements. Some of the requirements include that the student must have completed 12 credit hours after re-admittance and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA during that time. Students who are currently enrolled are “grandfathered” into the policy and
have one year to apply to be considered. Totten, who wrote and proposed the policy, said that passing the Fresh Start policy fits in with the university’s mission statement. Because students transferring to St. Edward’s from other universities are not followed by their GPAs, Totten said it was unfair that former St. Edward’s students who wanted to return to St. Edward’s were followed by theirs. “Before, we would essentially have our former students paying forever for past mistakes or failures. One of the things in our mission statement really talks about a caring faculty and social justice,” Totten said. “I felt like changing that policy was much more in line with who we say we are in terms of how we think about our students and the fact that we care about them.” New College Interim Dean
Helene Caudill agrees that the Fresh Start policy fits the St. Edward’s mission statement. Caudill said that it will “put everyone on the same starting block,” which will help when it comes to graduate school applications and financial assistance based on merit. With the policy, Clopton will no longer have to worry about her old GPA damaging her chances at financial assistance. “[The Fresh Start policy] will make me eligible for scholarships, and that is very exciting to me because there is a lot of cost involved in going to St. Edward’s,” Clopton said. “Now I will get to graduate with honors, which I am more excited about.”
their arguments, as well as for spreading what he said was misinformation about the law. “We like to talk about the value of individualism and about the evils of big government, and it seems to ring true in our national psyche, identity and history,” O’Brien said. “But in fact, we are already deeply entrenched in government-reimbursed health care and have been for many decades.” The “angry voices” of the health care debate, he said, were unfortunately spread through the same technologies that have sparked revolutionary movements in nations across the Middle East. But the biggest concern about the immediate communication that O’Brien expressed was about a lack of local community. People are drawn to idolizing ideology, he said. “This new form of globalization and connectedness actually encourages and reinforces individualism more
than ever,” O’Brien said. “Now we can say we are citizens of the world while neglecting the community in front of us.” Ultimately, O’Brien concluded, the country needs to continue on the path of health reform that includes both the public and the private sectors and incentives for preventative medicine rather than just funding emergency care when it is too late. The Catholic health care model can serve as an inspiration to reform, he said. And the technology of today, while threatening, could be helpful to public discussions. “Contrary to what we might think, globalization engendered by the immediacy of the Internet and other communications media has not led, as some used to fear, to a single worldview or to a single cultural dominance, but to a proliferation of religious ideas and philosophical interpretations,” O’Brien said.
Becerra-Villarreal ticket win election Ari Auber aauber@stedwards.edu
Juniors Vianney Becerra and Ryan Villarreal will be the new president and vice president, respectively, of the Student Government Association after a landslide victory. Becerra and Villarreal overcame the opposing ticket of Karissa Eudy and Noah Corn by taking 61 percent of the vote over Eudy and Corn’s 39 percent. The 22-point win translated to a difference of 146 votes. Out of a total of 692 votes over the course of a week-long election that ended Monday at 5 p.m., the Becerra-Villarreal ticket had 419, and Eudy-Corn had 273. The total number of students voting seems to be
decreasing for the second year running. During last year’s spring elections, 770 students voted, which was down 25 percent from 2009, when 1,052 voted. This year’s elections also had nine students running unopposed for senator positions. Last year there was one other contested race — for sophomore class senator. Becerra, currently chief justice of the Student Court of Appeals, said she and Junior Class Senator Villarreal are grateful to have been elected. “There is a lot of work to be done, and we are fully committed to tackling each and every issue that comes our way,” Becerra said in a statement to Hilltop Views. “We will always put each student first and will fight for their needs.”
Page 4 | NEWS
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 | Hilltop Views
Sparks fly at Student Government Association candidates debate Paul Rocha procha@stedwards.edu
The Student Government Association presidential and vice presidential candidates debated in front of a full room of students on April 7. The large turnout in the Mabee Ballroom was not the only surprise as the debate started with a meet-andgreet rather than ending with one. The candidates walked around the room, shaking hands and introducing themselves to potential voters who were helping themselves to the courtesy finger food and sodas that were set up in the back. At 7:30 p.m., everyone was seated and the debate was underway. Senatorial Candidates
The first order of business was the introduction of senatorial candidates. Each candidate was given 30 seconds to let the audience know what sort of senator they would be and how they would serve their St. Edward’s University student body. Out of all eight candidates, two were new to SGA, two went over their time limit, and two took the last few moments to plug The Big
Event. After all prospective senators spoke, they were seated, and the presidential and vice presidential candidates were presented to the audience. The presidential candidates sat as their running mates took to the podiums on stage and the first line of questioning began. Noah Corn and Ryan VilVice President Candidates
larreal, the vice presidential candidates, had two minutes to answer each of the questions that were written and asked by moderators Phillip Lacey of St. Edward’s Advancement and former SGA President Austin Lytle. The candidates were first asked about their individual qualities or strengths that are important to being vice president and chair of the Senate. Corn stated that his two years of experience with SGA would provide him with the knowledge necessary to be a formidable vice president. “I have seen rules as they are written,” Corn said. He went on to list specific titles that he held within SGA and named a few of his. Villarreal’s response began, “Definitely. Actually, I dissent in strong disagreement.” “It’s about being passionate,
it’s about being proactive, it’s about a new vision for SGA. It’s not about rehearsing, it’s not about experience,” Villarreal said, though he did not clarify what “it” was. More questions were asked, and the candidates continued to contradict each other, Corn standing by his experi-
ence and SGA’s previous system of operating. When Villarreal’s turn to ask a question came, he pulled out a copy of Hilltop Views and read to Corn a statement Corn gave about his efforts in “stabilizing” SGA. Villarreal then asked Corn to give his definition
It’s about being passionate, it’s about being proactive, it’s about a new vision for SGA. It’s not about rehearsing...” -Ryan Villarreal
ence, Villarreal standing by his lack thereof. These positions were solidified as the moderator allowed each of the candidates to asked a question of their opponent. Corn questioned Villarreal on his experience with SGA and how it would benefit him should he be elected. “There’s all this legislative experience, but in what? Absolutely nothing,” Villarreal responded, criticizing both Corn’s emphasis on experi-
of stability and how he has brought it to SGA. Corn replied with his list of accomplishments with SGA this year, including appointing senatorial positions in what Corn describes as “turbulent times.” As Corn concluded his response, both candidates were seated, and the presidential candidates took their places on stage. Presidential Candidates
Presidential
candidates
Karissa Eudy and Vianney Becerra were given the same specifications for answering questions as their running mates, but for Eudy and Becerra, a 30-second rebuttal was allowed during the candidate-to-candidate questioning. The first question asked was about the presidential candidates and their respective running mates’ leadership styles and how they compliment and contrast each other. Becerra stated,“I have a very diplomatic style of governing. He [Villarreal] brings a little more of an assertive, aggressive style of governing. This is why we’re the best choice, because we balance each other out.” “I would say Noah and I are actually the opposite,” Eudy said, continuing the contrast that Corn and Villarreal set up through their portion of the debate. The candidates were later asked to list three goals that they would each set and meet should they be elected. Their responses are summarized as follows. Eudy’s three goals: •Be more proactive. •Require office hours for SGA members to be outside of the office.
•Increase communication within and out of SGA. Becerra’s three goals: •Establish common ground within SGA •Increase collaboration with staff •Increase the usage of social media The two candidates then posed questions to each other. Becerra asked a question about the internal structure of the judicial section of SGA and how Eudy plans to increase collaboration with specific positions. Eudy responded by saying that she wants to see the chief justice on the executive board. Eudy asked about Becerra’s relationships with administrators and how they’ll benefit her should she be elected president. Becerra responded by adding that she hadn’t developed any strong relations with administrators as of yet, but she looks forward to doing so if she were to be elected.
Lamott discusses parenting and inspiration for her books Continued from page 1
After only one person raised her hand, Lamott decided to begin the event with a spontaneous question-and-answer session and end with a short reading. She warned the audience that there would only be time for a few questions as a result of her chattiness. “How have you learned to let go of your son?” an audience member asked, referring to Lamott’s 21-year-old son, Sam. Lamott responded with a 20-minute answer. She said finding a community of people to relate to both for her son and her was a major part of the process of letting go.
Courtesy of Kate Rosati
Lamott read an excerpt from her new book.
“Yeah, I have children — me too. Hold on, I need to go get my tubes tied,” Lamott said, joking about finding other parents to relate to. “If
you’ve been an effective parent, you’re raising your child to let go.” After Lamott finished talking about parenting, another audience member asked Lamott to talk about her writing. “I think the greatest thing in the world is to find people to say ‘oh, me too,’” Lamott said, referring back to finding people to relate to. ‘Me too’ was Lamott’s most-used phrase of the night. Lamott said she often bases characters in her fiction novels on people she knows, and not one person has approached her to say they recognized themselves in any of the characters in her novels.
“The only thing you have to write about is what you know,” she said. Lamott said she based one fictional character in her novels on a person she referred to as “the world’s most negative person.” “We could walk outside and say, ‘oh, what a beautiful day it is,’ and she would be in the back saying ‘melanoma,’” Lamott said about the character she created. Though she does create fictional characters based on friends or acquaintances, Lamott said she never discloses secrets in her writing, whether fiction or non-fiction. “By the time I tell something, I know it’s universal,”
Lamott said in regards to writing about personal experiences and family members. After the question-and-answer session, Lamott read a few short passages from “Imperfect Birds.” A San Francisco, Calif., na-
tive, Lamott currently lives in Marin County, which she uses as the setting for many of her fiction and nonfiction books, including “Imperfect Birds.”
Corrections In the April 6 issue of Hilltop Views, the story, “Celebrated poet kicks off First Annual Literary Arts Festival” on page 6 incorrectly featured a photo of Michael Dickman. The poet that came to St. Edwards University was his twin brother, Matthew Dickman. In the same issue, there was an error in the story “Coed soccer scoring system confirms gender inequality” on page 13. There is currently only a co-ed indoor soccer team, and the option for a women’s team exists, but none have been formed yet.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 13, 2011
GAMES | Page 5
games
Look for the answers to both games in next week’s issue!
Answer to last issue’s Sudoku:
FEATURES
Page 6 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Student groups raise funds for Japan Danny De Los Santos ddeloss4@stedwards.edu
Angela Truong
1000 Wishes for Japan aims to help disaster victims.
The world watched in shock as an earthquake measuring a magnitude of 8.9 on the Richter scale rocked Japan on March 11. Then, a tsunami hit, leaving 12,600 people dead and 14,700 missing as of April 7. While aid organizations worldwide continue to call for donations for victims of the disaster, members of St. Edward’s University student groups the Asian American Association (or A3, as they are often called) and Asian Pop are collaborating on a
fund-raising event of their own. The students have titled the event “1000 Wishes for Japan,” during which they are selling three-inch pins for $2 apiece that read “United for Japan.” Additionally, they will be auctioning off an origami swan sculpture created by Christophe Chahine. According to Asian Pop president Roxy Mendoza, inspiration for the event came from Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who died of leukemia following exposure to radiation from the atomic bomb dropped on the city of Hiro-
shima on August 6, 1945. The story of Sadako’s death is tied to an ancient Japanese legend, which states that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted their heart’s desire. As she was dying, Sadako decided to fold 1,000 cranes with the wish that it would end her suffering and that of others. Because of this, the origami crane has become a symbol of peace. “Along with our fund-raising, we will be making 1,000 cranes and are hoping to exhibit them somewhere on campus,” Mendoza said. Students are invited to cre-
ate their own paper cranes and add them to the collection. So far, 1000 Wishes for Japan has raised over $200, which does not include funds that the group is expecting to receive from private donors. 1000 Wishes for Japan is scheduled to continue until April 14. “The disaster in Japan makes me realize how devastating earthquakes and tsunamis can be,” Mendoza said. “It makes me sad to see these tragic events go on in places all over the world.”
“Hot Dog Story” encourages viewers to think outside the bun Abe Clabby aclabby@stedwards.edu
For days, students all over campus were puzzled by posters for “Finding Yourself in America: A Hot Dog Story” which depict various people making crazy faces while holding hot dogs. Three nights last week, dozens watched the short play and got the answer to their pressing question: what is up with those hot dogs? The half-hour show “Finding Yourself ” was a series of off-the-wall scenes inspired by thoughts and personal anecdotes that were woven together to create an entertaining performance. Why Hot Dogs?
The all-American cuisine is a metaphor for humanity, according to those involved in the production. At our core, we’re all the same crimson tubes of meat — and it’s the condiments we choose that make us all unique. At one point in the show, junior Matthew Frazier pointed to someone in the audience and asked them how they liked their hot dogs. The answer? Lots of mustard and relish. “There!” Frazier said. “Can’t
we all just get along and customize our hot dogs as we wish?” There was even an a cappella R&B number about hot dogs, but “Finding Yourself ” was truly about much more. Beyond the Hot Dog
In one scene, two of the show’s actresses hearkened back to their first day of college, when they feared having the weird roommate as much as being the weird roommate. One thought of the classic one-cute-guy-inevery-class with a sense of possibilities, while the other dreaded that all of the cute boys would have girlfriends back home. Junior Ginger Grossman gushed about her journey to France and how she got the travel bug, and now she can’t imagine getting engaged to a guy and settling down. Junior Lainey Murphy shared a poem about embracing individuality. “Life is wonderful when you’re just being you,” she said. “Shakespeare said it best: ‘To thine own self be true.’” Junior Andrew Zimmer joined a conversation about high school, when “bad” meant “good” and how they
never knew which one people meant. “And I don’t know what a ‘Bad Romance’ is,” the actors all exclaimed, “but [expletive] it sounds exciting!” With eight different people sharing their musings and memories, anyone could watch the show and take home something different than the person sitting next to them. The idea and motivation behind creating “Finding Yourself ” came from the director and producer of the show, Meredith Montgomery. A Project a Year in the Making
It began when Montgomery received a Brown Scholarship to assist her to pursue a community service project. Like many other scholarship recipients, she chose the route of theater. In August of 2010, Montgomery selected a crew of eight volunteers who would eventually become her actors. The first four months were spent brainstorming. The actors recorded memories from their pasts and personal lives, and even made art pieces and poems to keep the creative juices flowing. In the writing
Dave Hernandez
“Finding Yourself in America: A Hot Dog Story” is about personal discoveries.
process, said one actor, they “found themselves” — hence the title. Then Montgomery sent out a 10-question sheet to the members of the group, asking them to choose two questions to answer. The questions were deep and introspective, until one that asked, “What is your relationship to hot dogs?” Some loved them, some hated them, and some could not eat them due to their religious affiliations. Regardless, everyone had an opinion about hot dogs. And so, with a solid common ground to build from, a show was born. After the show, Montgom-
ery and the other stars lined up to answer questions and talk about the play. According to one performer, hot dogs were just a relatable way to express the journey of self-discovery and knowledge. “We’re all trying to get an education, but we’re also trying to figure out,‘What are we going to with our lives?’ And most of us can fool each other into thinking we do know what we’re going to do.” The Future of “Finding Yourself”
The show was originally going to be performed for high school students, but the
schedule clashed with TAKS testing, so “Finding Yourself ” premiered at St. Edward’s instead. Montgomery is currently in talks to incorporate her show into Freshmen Orientations. More ambitious still are her plans for Cultural Foundations classes. If all goes according to her plan, future students would be able to make their own plays and find themselves — hot dogs or not.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 13, 2011
FEATURES | Page 7
‘Tique of the Week’ University reaffirms Holy Cross values [19th century clock] Wendy Cawthon Matthew Frazier wcawtho@stedwards.edu mfrazie2@stedwards.edu
‘Tique of the Week is an Austin-wide search for unique and interesting antiques. With dozens of antique shops around Austin, one-of-a-kind items from the past are not in short supply. Each week we’ll find a new favorite item and feature it as our “’Tique of the Week.” This week’s search for Austin antiques took us to Dreyfus Antiques on Lamar Boulevard. The store specializes in French antiques, including clocks, furniture and art dating back to the 19th century. Inside the store, beneath a ceiling covered wall-towall in chandeliers and light fixtures, there was a wide array of marble candlestick holders, decorative plates with scenes from the French Countryside, and a collection of grandfather clocks larger than we’d ever seen. The clock we chose to feature this week was a grandfather clock designed and built by Denis Blachin. The clock is hand-carved from pine wood and is estimated to have been built in
the 1860s in Bordeaux, France. The origin of the grandfather clock dates back to 1670 after the invention of a specialized pendulum that needed less room to swing back and forth and power the clock mechanism. Grandfather clocks were also originally called long-case clocks, since the pendulum was typically enclosed in a case beneath the face of the clock. The term grandfather clock comes from a popular song written in 1876 by Henry Work that was written about a clock that once stood in the George Hotel in North Yorkshire, England. According to the story, two brothers ran the hotel and there was a grandfather clock — or a floor clock as it was known back then — in the lobby. Both men grew old, and after one died, the clock began to slow and lost time everyday. Repairs were attempted, but nothing helped. After the second brother died, the clock stopped working completely. This 19th century grandfather clock, along with the history of the grandfather clock, make for a timeless ‘Tique of the Week.
Wendy Cawthon
The grandfather clock was made in the 1860s.
Hilltop Views Archive
Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel is a landmark on the St. Edward’s campus.
Kristina Schenck kschenc@stedwards.edu
With all of the planned changes in the coming year, St. Edward’s University is also trying to maintain its Holy Cross Catholic heritage as part of the 2015 Strategic Plan. “Going toward 2015, we really want to reaffirm who we are,” President George Martin said at the Feb. 23 president’s meeting. Playing a large role in achieving this goal will be Campus Ministry. The goal isn’t all about The University’s Holy Cross Heritage
Catholicism. St. Edward’s founders, the Congregation of the Holy Cross, are an international order of priests and brothers with a focus on education. “Education was the impetus for our Ministry,” Assistant Director of Campus Ministry Larry Atkinson said of the Brothers of the Holy Cross. The Holy Cross tradition is an integral part of the university Mission Statement, Atkinson added. “The courage to take risks, an international perspective, and the commitment to provide educational opportunities for students of varied... backgrounds,” as the university’s Mission Statement says,
are all important components of the Holy Cross tradition. Incorporating Holy Cross values into education can help students have “the competence to see and the courage to act,” Atkinson said. “We will not educate the mind at the expense of the hearts…to create a time better than ours,” Atkinson said, quoting founder of the Congregation of the Holy Cross Basil Moreau. Atkinson said he believes that expanding St. Edward’s into a global campus will help prepare students to be competent but passionate. Though Catholic in origin, the university’s Holy Cross tradition includes people of all faiths and backgrounds. “[Holy Cross tradition] was never meant to convert people,” Atkinson said. “It is to encourage people in their own faith journey.” Campus Ministry serves as a spiritual resource for Campus Ministry Upholds Holy Cross Values
the campus community, and seeks to make others aware of the Holy Cross tradition through organizing and hosting programs as well as community service projects. “Campus Ministry seeks to be a welcoming presence within the community of St. Edward’s University,” Atkinson said. “While our Catho-
lic character informs our role as educators in the faith, we minister to and with peoples of all faiths. Through the formation of heart and mind, in the Holy Cross tradition, we hope to catalyze both personal and communal transformation. Such transformation invites all people into the right relationships with self, others and God. These relationships are expressed through spirituality, service and social justice.” Though St. Edward’s is a
work at Campus Ministry to encourage the incorporation of Holy Cross values into the university curriculum. “By reminding the staff of what they bring to the mission and demonstrating how they play an important role in living out of the Holy Cross mission, then we can continue to live out our mission in light of the Holy Cross heritage we have received,” Atkinson said. In addition, Campus Ministry encourages staff and faculty to become involved in their programs. “We try to include faculty and staff in programs such as ASB [Alternative Spring Break] and as speakers for service and retreats,” Atkinson said. Atkinson praised President Martin for “recognizing the value” of the school’s Holy Cross tradition, and for “encouraging the living out of the rich heritage.” “I am thrilled, as are the other Brothers of the Holy Cross, of President Martin’s inclusion of Holy Cross values in the strategic plan,” Atkinson said. Junior Matthew Norris attended a Holy Cross high school, and he supports the incorporation of Holy Cross values into the 2015 Strate-
[Holy Cross tradition] was never meant to convert people...It is to encourage people in their own faith journey.” -Larry Atkinson, director of Campus Ministry
Catholic institution founded by the Brothers of the Holy Cross, Campus Ministry welcomes people of all faiths. “Each person at St. Edward’s is an essential part of the mission. Therefore, it is important that each person understand where the mission of the university gets its roots and meaning,” Atkinson said. Atkinson speaks with staff members as a part of his
gic Plan. “It allows current students to better understand Holy Cross tradition and education,” Norris said. “Having experienced Holy Cross education for the past seven years has allowed me to develop my personal character and better my understanding of Catholic tradition in society today.”
Page 8 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, April 13, 2011
ENTERTAINMENT
Mother Falcon seeks 100 string players Jonathan Coker
Think a more classically refined Ra Ra Riot, or if Jens Lekman threw a cathartic pity party with refreshments and a backing orchestra.”
jcoker@stedwards.edu
If you play a string instrument, now may be your opportunity to show your skills. Austin band Mother Falcon is on the hunt for 100 local string players. The players would accompany the ensemble band in its upcoming show at the Seaholm Power Plant on April 20 for the Fusebox Festival. The show will be free to the public. What’s Mother Falcon like? Think a more classically refined Ra Ra Riot, or if Jens Lekman threw a cathartic pity party with refreshments and a backing orchestra. Boasting about having upwards of 10 or more band members at once, the band’s musical performances blossom with orchestral buildups, chamber pop melodies and feathery jauntiness that resonates with weary sentiment. Mother Falcon’s latest theatrical endeavor hopes to retain these defining characteristics while exploring new ones. This experiment is a highly
Holly Aker Mother Falcon had another big performance last fall at Austin’s annual Fun Fun Fun Fest.
detailed set. Delving into a realm rich in musical textures, sounds, the effects of unison and eccentricity in arrangement, the band is constructing a show that flows like one stunning piece. “You might hear one portion of our songs and then
the rest 10 minutes later,” said Maurice Chammah, a Mother Falcon violinist. “We’re trying to have a lot of dramatic moments,” Auditioning 100 string players seems like a daunting feat. However, Mother Falcon members believe they have
completely annihilated that fear by refusing to acknowledge it. There is no audition process. Instead, the band is relying on the vastness of the proposed group to accommodate a large range of players on various skill levels. The band is also trying to
compose music that should prove accessible for amateur musicians. The search is reportedly going well, though the band is still searching for a high school program to bring out a “large chunk of students.” The performance will be at Seaholm Power Plant, a large venue with resonant acoustics. Keeping these cavernous characteristics in mind, Mother Falcon view the venue not as a vacuum of sound, but an opportunity for unheard of fullness. “The arrangements will really be about making the space fill with rich sounds and simple, stark textures, rather than, for example, trying to do the songs the same way we would in a crowded,
small room,” Chammah said. This idea originated from Graham Reynolds, a local composer and mentor to the band who is involved with the organization of Fusebox Festival. Mother Falcon ran with the grand project in hopes to take the audience on an unpredictable adventure. This unknowing sense of wanderlust is exactly what Chammah said he wants people to show up for. “The point is to explore what can be done with such a big, striking medium,” Chammah said. “We hope the audience wants to go on that ride with us.”
“Carousel” draws large crowds for opening weekend at MMNT Molly Williamson mwilliiaj@stedwards.edu
The Mary Moody Northern Theatre’s new hit production has been selling out fast. The production, a musical called “Carousel” runs April 7–17, showing Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. An additional show has been added for Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Directed by Michael McKelvey, the show was written by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein III and was first presented in 1945. Since then, “Carousel” has been performed countless times with Rogers himself calling it his favorite musical he ever wrote.
The show centers on Julie, who stops by a carousel with her best friend one day after working at a mill all day. There, Julie meets Billy, a carousel barker. Though Julie is not too keen on ever getting married — or the idea of romance in general — and though Billy is a gruff, hardhearted carousel worker, the two take a liking to one another to the chagrin of Mrs. Mullin, a widow who owns the carousel. Billy and Julie sing, dance and talk their way to romance and eventually more. But things eventually take a turn for the worse, leading Billy to find himself struggling to find a way to support his new family, even if it means supporting them from beyond
this world. “Carousel” chronicles the surprising story of love between two unlikely people and the lengths a husband and father will go to in order to protect and provide for the people he loves. “Carousel” opened to the public April 7 at 7:30 p.m. Word of the show has sparked high demand among theater-goers. Tickets have already sold out, but the box office allows people to join a ticket waiting list. One hour before the show, those hoping to see that night’s production have the opportunity to join the list and get the tickets of people who have already paid for their tickets, but have not shown up at the theater to retrieve them by show time.
Bret Brookshire
Elizabeth Newchurch and Joshua Denning perform a scene in “Carousel.”
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 13, 2011
ENTERTAINMENT | Page 9
Bright Light Social Hour turn spring concert into dance party Asta Thrastardottir athrast@stedwards.edu
Music was in the air at St. Edward’s University last week. Rebecca Butler, Battle of the Bands winner, started off the night by playing a set with The Richards, and The Bright Light Social Hour ended the night with a bang. Rebecca Butler’s sweet voice and tough guitar won the crowd over at Battle of the Bands on March 28 and again the Spring Concert on April 6. The Bright Light Social Hour then delivered a show that was unforgettable. The Bright Light Social Hour includes members Curtis Roush (guitar/vocals), Jack O’Brien (bass/ vocals), A.J. Vincent (keys/ vocals) and Joseph Mirasole (drums). Born and bred in Austin and Round Rock, the members of The Bright Light Social Hour do not mess around. The Bright Light Social
Aaron Reissig Bright Light Social Hour’s keyboardist A.J. Vincent plays in front of the Main Building.
Hour was originally formed in a university setting at Georgetown’s Southwestern University. The band has gone through a number of changes since then and has been creating a name for itself
in Austin. The band recently won a number of awards at the Austin Music Awards including Band of the Year and Album of the Year. There is really no proper way to describe the group’s
style of music. It includes mostly rock and roll with a little bit of dance and some old-fashioned southern soul. At times, the band’s music blends into a strangely perfect mix of sounds. The ini-
tially timid crowd could not help but sway to the music, slowly transforming the concert into a true dance show. The entire show was organized by Residence Life. St. Edward’s students responded positively to the performance. “It was like a lunar sex explosion,” freshman Spencer Hall said. “The only other way I can think of to describe them is as funky southern cowboys who just might be from another planet. After the show I kept asking myself, ‘How in the world have I never heard of this band before?’ Their radical stage presence and ability to interact with the crowd was surpassed only by their astounding musicianship.” In a brief interview after their performance, the band members admitted that they’ve had their fair share of bizarre memories involving overcrowded rooms in clothing optional co-ops, falling asleep under mattresses and
being pelted with flying objects on stage. “Being on the road is always a blast — just going to new cities and partying with new people,” O’Brien said. Next on the agenda for the band is a five-week tour of the Southeast, the East Coast and the Midwest while the band works on new material for its record. Although The Bright Light Social Hour is likely bound for greatness and playing sold-out shows everywhere, the band seems to be happy to just have a place to share music with fans. While the band has come a long way, members appear to cling to their Austin roots where their musical inspiration first emerged. The musicians share the motto of just having a good time with fun music and great hair. They also try to stay humble. When asked if he had any more thoughts on playing at St. Edward’s, Roush said, “Just, thanks for having us!”
[slapdash] “The Land Before Twitter”
Page 10 | ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 | Hilltop Views
FASHION COMMENTARY
ALBUM REVIEW
Headware looks more like headcase
New album from Lupe just shy of a fiasco Lupe Fiasco [Lasers] Jonathan Coker jcoker@stedwards.edu
Courtesy of Davey Lopez
This furry faux pas resembles cavemen couture.
Jonathan Coker jcoker@stedwards.edu
“It’s time to lose your mind and let the crazy out,” Ke$ha, popular glitter advocate, said in her most recent single, “Blow.” The song is basically about allowing your primal nature to break free (on the dance floor, of course), a sentiment that could explain Ke$ha’s own perverse attraction to a freakishly feral head piece, the SpiritHoods. The headwear line SpiritHoods claims to be “a symbol of the bond and the connection we have to our primal and wild natures.” However, this primitive bond between furry cap and our spirit animal comes off ridiculously campy, like Furries without all the kinky connotations. SpiritHoods are characterized by hanging slabs of faux fur superbly cloistering your face like a hirsute bear trap. The hoods come in a variety of animals from “Night Owls” to “Grizzly Bears” to some wacky lump of frazzled lint called a “Nasty Rabbit,” so you can parade around town pretending to be almost any fearsome creature of the animal kingdom. But there is a cost to the lunacy, and I’m not even talk-
ing about the absurd price range ($59.99–$199.99). Walk out of your room wearing one of these fauxfur head pieces and expect tragic looks of confusion, pity or childlike uneasiness. Maybe all three at once. Therefore, take this as a blatant warning: if you see one of these bestial accessories cavorting towards you on the street, don’t panic. Instead, stop what you are doing, turn the other way and run before the predatory cap swallows you whole. Lastly, don’t even worry about the poor sap whose already got the animal glued to their head for they are a lost cause — save yourself. Ke$ha graced the cover of the tragically hip “Paper Magazine’s Music Issue” in the summer of 2010 wearing her own SpiritHoods, aptly titled “Wolf.” It’s going for $129 at spirithoods. com if you feel like the seemingly scalped canine would be a worthy companion for your wardrobe (you really shouldn’t). And if you’re looking for a positive view in this discussion, don’t look twice, for it’s difficult to uncover a pro to this SpiritHoods’ debacle when they’re basically one big hairy con.
Creeping out from under Atlantic Record’s oppressive force emerges Lupe Fiasco’s third album, “Lasers.” It’s not too difficult to comprehend the circumstances that birthed this album: Atlantic demanded a more commercial piece opposing Fiasco’s own form of eccentric hip-hop. Thus, the album was delayed until Lupe fans across the world demanded its release. But instead of a commercial masterclass, they got a limp compilation. “Lasers” starts out with “Letting Go” and “Words I Never Said,” setting a tone of unrest, bitterness and internal dilemma that remains consistent for the duration of the album. “Till I Get There” plucks along effortlessly, bubbling like a satisfying flavor of lite-pop and is easily one of the most accessible tracks on the album. “I Don’t Wanna Care Any More” simply screams of Top 40 conformity but doesn’t really reach dance floor re-
vival nor feel-good anthem territory. Lead single “The Show Goes On” samples the eternally inescapable Modest Mouse sing along, “Float On,” latching on to the song’s coattails and showboating around in all of its sad glory. This gallivanting is amusing enough for radio play, but repeated listens disclose just how deflated the track is. Dive into the middle of the album to find Fiasco playing with extremes. “Beautiful Lasers (2 Ways),” probably the most earnestly morbid song on “Lasers,” somehow comes off like a more deprived and hopeless Drake just reeking of sap and banal pathos. In contrast, “Coming Up” rings with much of the enthusiasm that has gone missing lately in hip-hop. On standout, “Break the Chain,” Lupe actually mends the synthesizer and dance beats to his advantage, bouncing lyrics around the music instead of suffocating beneath the production gloss. The most memorable track, “All Black Everything,” calls to mind a rapper at his most boundless as he speaks of a world turned upside down, race tensions distorted, “Mal-
colm Little dies as a old man/ Martin Luther King read the eulogy for him/Followed by Bill O’Reilly who read from the Quran/President Bush sends condolences from Iran Malcolm Little dies as a old man/Martin Luther King read the eulogy for him/Followed by Bill O’Reilly who read from the Quran/President Bush sends condolences from Iran.”
“I’m telling you all of this from my therapist’s couch,” said Fiasco in “Till I Get There,” one of the prime moments where his character actually overpowers the record label monster. Although a chunk of his album comes off glib and pedantic, there are moments that Fiasco does manage to blast something memorable and something stunning our way.
Wikimedia Commons
“Lasers” is the third album from Lupe Fiasco.
ALBUM REVIEW
Welsh band’s debut full-length falls short Joy Formidable [The Big Roar] Ryan Lester rlester@stedwards.edu
The Joy Formidable, a London-via-Wales trio, is a band who are not ashamed of their M.O. Much in the same vein as Muse or even the Smashing Pumpkins in their heyday, the band’s debut album, “The Big Roar,” is filled with songs that aim for the rafters. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the band wasn’t picked up by major label Atlantic Records after releasing their first EP, “A Balloon Called Moaning,” last year, as the group will likely be a
big attraction come summer festival time. However, while the band is certainly competent and capable of some good musical moments, there is nothing about “The Big Roar” that is particularly memorable which can be a problem if the group’s aim is to fill stadiums. While there is nothing wrong with opening an album with a seven-minute track, “The Everchanging Spectrum of A Lie” feels self-indulgent more than anything. The song seemingly drags on and feels like it should end at several junctures before it actually does. It’s a good blueprint for what to expect of the rest of the album, though.
The band does everything in its power to make every note sound as earnest and epic as possible, and it occasionally they succeeds. Lead singles “I Don’t Want to See You like This” and “Whirring” both demonstrate the band at their most focused and coherent. Too often, however, the band gets lost in their ambitions. Vocalist/guitarist Ritzy Bryan has a decent singing voice, but her guitar skills get lost among the haze when the band goes for its biggest moments. In addition, all of the songs on the album begin to blend together and sound the same. The constant buildups and massive choruses keep coming at you with very
few moments to catch your breath. As such, the majority of the songs slip by unnoticed failing to make any sort of imprint. There is nothing inherently wrong with the music the band is making since this kind of Muse-inspired urgency has been relatively common in Britain for the last decade or so. However, in going for broke on their debut, The Joy Formidable have only partially succeeded in its quest to be the biggest band in the land. With only a few memorable songs and its repetition of the same sound, “The Big Roar” is more of a big missed opportunity than anything.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 13, 2011
ENTERTAINMENT | Page 11
PROCTOROLOGY
As tax day approaches, celebrities will inevitably forget to file Proctor Anderson panders2@stedwards.edu
Life is rough for the rich and the famous, what with all their money and drugs and expensive cars. I feel bad for them — I really do — but for the privilege of being Americans, there are certain things that we’re obligated to do. These things aren’t always exciting. Stuff like voting and staying politically informed are just two of the unpleasant things we are tasked to do. And worst of all? Taxes. Every April, United States citizens buckle down and file their tax returns, and then a few months later news inevitably breaks about celebrity X or celebrity Y owing the government outrageous amounts of money because of back taxes. On Monday, reports surfaced that Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne owe the U.S. government more than $1.7 million in back tax payments.
The government has placed a lien on one of the family’s Los Angeles homes. The Osbournes’ daughter Kelly, who currently serves as one of the hosts of E!’s “Fashion Police,” has owed back taxes to the state of California in the past. America’s favorite dysfunctional family are not the only celebrities to have trouble paying their taxes. Willie Nelson, Nic Cage, Wesley Snipes and Girls Gone Wild’s always-classy owner/ spokesman Joe Francis have all made names for themselves as celebrity tax-evaders. Val Kilmer, Xzibit, Sinbad, Ja Rule, Survivor winner Richard Hatch and Baldwin brother Stephen Baldwin have all also struggled to make their annual tax payments to the government. Now, to be fair, it really is harder for celebrities to file their taxes. They typically bring in more money then your average citizen and that
There’s an entire industry of tax experts...who do this job on a daily basis. There is absolutely no excuse for millionaires to not pay their taxes.”
Wikimedia Commons
Cage is notorious for his tax and financial problems.
money is usually coming sporadically and from multiple sources. I’m sure it gets hard to keep track of all that, but it’s kind of important. So important, in fact, that they’ve developed a thing
called Turbo Tax to help you get through it very easily. Now, I realize that this might seem like a lot of work to celebrities, but I promise, in the end, it’ll be worth it. So, hop in your Escalade,
drive to Best Buy and drop $59.99 on the 2010 edition. Or better yet, go to the website. Then all you have to do is fill out a few blanks and press submit. That too much for you? Head to an H&R Block where there are professionals that make a living off of filing people’s taxes. Okay, to be fair, I don’t know H&R Block’s policies off the top of my head, and, in all seriousness if Nic Cage strolled into his nearest tax consultation chain store, they probably wouldn’t be able to work out all of his problems in a quick 15-minute session.
That isn’t the point. The point is that there are reliable and trustworthy professionals who will file your taxes without stealing your money. There’s an entire industry of tax experts and, in the case of Patrick Cox, tax masters, who do this job on a daily basis. There is absolutely no excuse for millionaires to not pay their taxes. Whether you’re the washed-up brother of Kabletown executive Jack Donaghy or just an average citizen, paying your taxes is almost as important as being on television or in movies. Almost.
Weekly ‘Flix Fix Aykroyd unveils mystery behind UFOs in documentary Jake Hartwell jhartwe@stedwards.edu
Weekly ‘Flix Fix takes the legwork out of wading through thousands of film choices on Netflix, bringing you the most truly bizarre, quirky and outright amazing gems instant streaming has to offer.
“Dan Aykroyd Unplugged on UFOs”
Somewhere underneath the amateur cinematography, cheesy title cards and fuzzy UFO footage of “Dan Aykroyd Unplugged on UFOs” lurks utter genius. After more than 30 years of his comic antics, it’s tough to tell whether this one deserves a serious look or another round of laughs. Over the course of the
Courtesy of Jay Lee
Dan Aykroyd reveals that he is a believer.
film, essentially a 100-minute interview with Ayk-
royd, the film’s host and the comedy veteran discuss
every facet of UFOs from government cover-ups, to mass sightings, to the mechanics of interstellar travel. Their discussion is calm, collected, seemingly intelligent and entirely opposite the semi-coherent ranting of UFO-enthusiasts portrayed by most mainstream sources. By the end, viewers must decide if the host and interviewee are either madmen or perfectly sane people in a mad, mad world. Neither choice is comforting. The film is technically appalling. The title sequence looks like director David Sereda cobbled it together with Microsoft WordArt. Much of the source footage is barely discernible, yet oddly creepy. The lighting
makes Akyroyd’s characteristic eyebrows look like swollen face-knuckles and the scene transitions are awkward at best. But every spoken word grows on you, festering in your mind like some psychotic brain fungus. Behind those eyebrows lies a complex man. So, if you’ve got a NetFlix account, it’s well worth it to at least experience such a character. However, that suggestion is insidious. Be warned, the charming, chain-smoking visage of Aykroyd has an irresistible effect. The cinematography is a clever ploy, its amateurism luring viewers into a false sense of security: “Look, someone learned to use Windows MovieMaker
and believes in aliens. How quaint!” And that’s how they get you. Halfway through the film, as the abduction section begins, the eeriest of tones befall this once pleasant cult experience. Even though it sounds insane, it becomes difficult to ignore the possibility of alien abduction — impossible to ignore, in fact, the possibility that you have already been taken. So take a look at “Dan Aykroyd Unplugged on UFOs.” At worst, it’s 100 minutes of Dan Aykroyd being genuinely awesome, and at best it’ll forever change the how you think about your place in the universe — if you’re gullible at least.
SPORTS
Page 12 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Cheerleading competition opens up new opportunities Kristina Schenck
Biggest Fan: Zac Graham and his Pittsburgh Steelers
kschenc@stedwards.edu
Meredith Bard
The Texas Collegiate Cheer Championship provided a new opportunity for collegiate cheerleading teams to compete, according to St. Edwards University Cheerleading Coach and Spirit Director Anne Mary Carney. St. Edward’s, along with Carney’s company, Nationwide Cheer and Dance, hosted the competition. The competition was held in the Recreation Convocation Center on March 26. All of the collegiate cheerleading squads in Texas were invited to compete. Six cheer squads competed in the event, including Huston-Tillotson University, St. Mary’s University, the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, Howard College, Tyler Junior College and St. Edward’s. St. Edward’s won a firstplace trophy in partner stunt, a second-place trophy in skills routine, and a second-place trophy in the cheer division. Howard College took first place in the cheer division. The competing cheerleading squads represented Division I, Division II, and Division III schools as well as junior colleges and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. “What’s really unique about it is this just doesn’t happen,” Carney said. “College cheerleading does not have this level of competition.” According to Carney, 80 percent of college cheerleading is made up of small colleges and universities. The only opportunity for college cheerleaders to participate in competitions is to go to the three collegiate cheerleading competitions called Nationals in Florida or California, Carney said. Nationals are sponsored by the National Cheerleading Association and are often broadcast on ESPN. The NCA is a part of Varsity, the governing company for high
mbard@stedwards.edu
Emily Blasdell
Six squads were contenders in the competition.
school and collegiate cheer. “They’re pretty much geared towards elite and large universities and programs,” Carey said, in regards to the competitions organized by the NCA. Because attending Nationals is costly, a program at a smaller university “doesn’t have the money and the support to make it all the way to Florida,” Carney said. The Texas Collegiate Cheer Championship at St. Edward’s gave schools in Texas the opportunity to compete without the high costs associated with Nationals. “It’s an exciting thing for St. Ed’s and the fact that we’re doing it is going to give St. Ed’s a lot of recognition,” Carney said. As a part of the event, Carney organized a coaches’ session to discuss the new competition and the new scoring sheets. “I had new scoring sheets developed because it’s never been done before,” Carney said. The cheerleading coach from Baylor University also spoke at the coaches’ session to discuss safety and what the Baylor cheerleading squad does to prevent accidents and injuries. The event also provided recruiting opportunities for both St. Edward’s and the other schools in attendance, as well as networking opportunities for coaches, something Carney said “there is just not a whole lot of.” Carney said St. Edward’s
will host the Texas Collegiate Cheer Championship again next year, and the event competition will also include an area high school competition. In addition, Carney plans to have a recruiting clinic at the event, an area of college cheerleading she said is “completely neglected.” “Junior[s] and seniors in high school in the Austin area can come after the competition and do a clinic, and all the coaches from the university are there and can recruit and watch what’s up and coming,” Carney said. The St. Edward’s cheerleading team will also attend the Midwest Collegiate Championship at Maryville University in St. Louis, Mo. This event will be similar in nature to the Texas Collegiate Cheer Championship in that college cheerleading squads from all levels can compete without the costliness of attending Nationals. Carney said the most important thing about the Texas Collegiate Cheer Championship and the Midwest Collegiate Championship is that they give college cheerleaders from smaller colleges and universities the opportunity to compete — something the NCA does not do. “I think it’s a niche that they haven’t dealt with,” Carney said. “They haven’t ever made competition accessible for teams that can’t travel. And I am.”
“You know what it is, black and yellow, black and yellow.” The song lyrics by Wiz Khalifa became the unofficial anthem of the Pittsburgh Steelers this year as the team competed in Super Bowl XLV this past February. Zac Graham, sophomore shooting guard for the St. Edward’s University men’s basketball team, has strong ties to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Although Graham was born in Austin, his father’s side of the family is from Pittsburgh. Graham and his family have been to Pittsburgh many times for family vacations. “The first football game I remember seeing was when I was 5,” Graham said. “It was Super Bowl XXX and it was the Steelers and the [Dallas] Cowboys.” At the party for this game, Graham remembers rooting for the Steelers with his dad while everyone else was cheering for the Cowboys. His passion for the Steelers was sparked and has not faltered since. Besides his family ties to Pittsburgh, Graham also loves the team for its tradition. Steelers fans wave the infamous yellow “Terrible Towel” as a way to cheer on their players and support the Steelers’ dynasty. Graham has five Terrible Towels of his own. Graham also supports the Steelers for their style of play. “I think their rough play represents the fans well because the people of Pittsburgh are a tough bunch,” Graham said. “The Steelers win with defense, and you don’t see that a lot in sports anymore. Most of the credit has to go to their
Courtesy of Zac Graham
Graham has five “Terrible Towels” of his own.
defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who refined the zone blitz.” Graham said the Steelers’ unique style of play helps fans relate to the players on a deeper level. “I think the tough style of play really allows the fans to connect with the players because I think a lot of the Steelers fans feel like they can relate that to their lifestyle,” Graham said. Graham said the Steelers have the most Super Bowl wins of any team in the NFL. The Steelers have played in eight Super Bowls and have won six times. One of those appearances was in this year’s Super Bowl, in which the Steelers played the Green Bay Packers. “The Packers definitely deserved to win the game this year because the Steelers made too many mistakes in the first half,” Graham said. “I was definitely proud of the team for making the Super Bowl
because they went through a lot of adversity.” Graham explained that the Steelers faced problems on the field, as the Steelers were fined heavily because of illegal hits. He believes that some of the fines were questionable. Of all his memories, Graham narrowed his favorites down to two moments in Steelers history. “Either Santonio [Holmes] making the winning catch in Super Bowl XLIII or them winning Super Bowl XL,” Graham said. In Super Bowl XL, the running back and Pittsburgh hero Jerome Bettis returned to his hometown of Detroit for the big game in his last season. The Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals and held off a late drive by former Super Bowl MVP Kurt Warner to claim its sixth Super Bowl title in its history.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 | Hilltop Views
SPORTS | Page 13
Golf teams swing strong at tournaments Danny De Los Santos ddeloss4@stedwards.edu
The St. Edward’s University golf teams are at work preparing for Heartland Conference Tournament on April 18 and 19 at the Tera Vista Golf Club in Round Rock, Texas. Senior Dylan Davis said the teams are fully capable of performing well at the conference tournament. “Every tournament we’ve been to this season has been showing steady improvements,” he said. “I think conference will be the tournament where we get everybody on our team playing well.” Men’s Golf
Courtesy of Sports Information
Wallis Spears was named Golfer of the Week.
On March 29, the men’s golf team placed 17th at the Dallas Baptist Patriot Invitational. The Hilltoppers combined for a 902. Senior Matthew Henson shot a 75 in his third round, totaling 219 in all three rounds. Henson finished the invitational in a
four-way tie for 32nd. Junior Santiago Quintero shot a 72 in his third round, making a cumulative total of 220 and finishing in a five-way tie for 36th. On April 5, the men’s golf team improved their performance by placing 12th at the Kickingbird Classic in Edmond, Okla. The Hilltoppers combined for a team total of 915. Henson shot a 75 and 73 in his last two rounds, resulting in a total of 225 and finishing the tournament in a five-way tie for 25th. Senior Matt Rogers shot a 75 in his last two rounds, resulting in a final score of 228 and finishing in a five-way tie for 39th. Davis shot a 78 and 74 in his last two rounds, resulting in a total of 229 in the tournament. Davis finished the tournament tied for 44th. Women’s Golf
The St. Edward’s women’s golf team is currently ranked sixth in the nation by the Golf World/Nike Preseason Coaches Poll and fourth in the NCAA West Region Rankings. The women’s golf team finished fourth overall out of 18 teams in the Grand Canyon Women’s Invitational held in Goodyear, Ariz., on April 4–5. The team shot 39 over par. Sophomore Wallis Spears shot 76 in the first round and 74 in the final round to tie for seventh place. It was her eighth top-10 finish of the season out of nine events. Sophomore Jacy Benites finished 16th in the tournament, shooting a 73 in the first round and an 80 in the second round. Spears was named Heartland Conference Golfer of the Week on April 6 for the sixth time in her collegiate golf career. Spears has a 75.3 stroke average, the lowest stroke average on her team and in the Heartland Conference. Both teams will be back on the green for the Heartland Conference Championship on April 18–19 in Round Rock.
ATHLETE PROFILE
Baseball player Eric Morgan
Courtesy of Sports Information
Eric Morgan plays baseball for the Hilltoppers.
Emily Blasdell eblasde@stedwards.edu
Senior baseball player Eric Morgan plays left field and third base for the Hilltoppers. Emily Blasdell: What year are you and when do you graduate? Eric Morgan: I’m a senior and will graduate next fall. EB: What are you studying and what would you like to do with it after graduation? EM: I am majoring in Kinesiology. I want to coach or be a strength and conditioning coach. EB: Where are you from? EM: Salt Lake City, Utah (801, baby!). EB: What do you put on your pizza? EM: Doesn’t matter. I like all pizza. EB: If you had a super power, what would it be? EM: To be able to appear wherever and whenever I wanted. EB: What are you currently listening to? EM: I’m watching the Red Sox/Yankees game. EB: What was the last movie you watched? EM: “Due Date.” EB: What do you eat for
breakfast? EM: Breakfast tacos or cereal. EB: Do you have a pregame ritual? EM: I listen to music. EB: Are you a MAC or PC? EM: PC. EB: What has been your favorite homework assignment ever? EM: No homework is ever worth remembering. EB: Dr Pepper or Coke? EM: For sure Dr Pepper. EB: What are your favorite professional sports team? EM: Utah Jazz, Red Sox and Dallas Cowboys. EB: What is your favorite home-cooked meal? EM: My mom’s London broil. EB: What is your best baseball memory? EM: Playing in the state championship game my junior year in high school. EB: What is the best advice someone ever gave you? EM: “If you can’t outsmart people, outwork them” or, “Life will reward those who work hard.” EB: What is something most people don’t know about you? EM: I’m Mormon.
VIEWPOINTS
Page 14 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, April 13, 2011
OUR VIEW
Texas voter ID bills forget mail-in ballots When the Senate and House of the Texas Legislature passed voter identification bills SB 14 and HB 16, they hoped to protect against the most prevalent forms of voter fraud. With the passing of these bills, Texas voters will now have to present a government issued form of identification at polling precincts, hopefully making it more difficult to commit voter fraud. However, the legislature missed the mark. The most common forms of voter fraud facing Texas happen not at the polls, but with mail-in ballots, which the voter ID bills did not address. In 2006, the Texas Attorney General’s website targeted voter fraud as a crucial problem, focusing almost entirely on fraud committed
through mail-in ballots. But the legislature failed to address these concerns with the recent voter ID bills. The lax regulations and enforcements for mail-in ballots have allowed practices like vote harvesting, which involves paid political workers going to the homes of “shutin” voters and encouraging them to vote for a specific candidate, to flourish. Another major problem with mail-in ballots is how often the deceased manage to vote, a longstanding form of voter fraud. Since names often remain on voter registration lists even after death, candidates can use those names as votes to boost their numbers. Lyndon B. Johnson only won his Senate seat in 1948
due to the 202 confirmed ballots cast for him by dead voters, earning him the sarcastic nickname, “Landslide Lyndon.” Some researchers
Lee O’Daniel by 1,311 votes. Many of these votes were also the subject of alleged fraud. The problem persists today: The names of over 6,000
The most common forms of voter fraud facing Texas happen not at the polls, but with mail-in ballots, which the voter ID bills did not address.” estimate that thousands of ballots from deceased voters were cast during that election. Even then, the idea of using votes from the deceased was not an original one. Johnson lost his first senate race to W.
dead people were found on Dallas County’s voter registration list in 2007. Even more recently in the 2008 election, an investigation by Texas Watchdog found that 4,000 people in Harris
Country were deceased and still registered to vote. If voter fraud through mailin ballots is a bigger issue than fraud at the polls, than why did Gov. Rick Perry make voter ID an emergency item at the beginning of this legislative session? Why did the legislature focus on passing it? The answer, as it has been for many of the legislature’s initiatives, is that voter ID is a partisan issue. When the voter ID bill passed in the House, the record was split along party lines at 101-48. All of the votes against the bill came from Democrats. Increasing the partisan weight of the issue, some conservatives expressed worries that illegal immigrants would infiltrate Texas elec-
tions in 2010. Instances like these have tied voter ID to illegal immigration issues in the minds of many Texans. There is no evidence indicating that voter fraud at polling places — on the part of illegal immigrants or ineligible citizens — occurred in 2010 on any organized or significant scale. The statistically relevant instances of voter fraud are perpetrated through mail-in ballots. Republicans estimate the cost of the voter ID bill at $2 million, but Democrats set it at $14 million. However, in financially tight times, the legislature should do its research before spending any amount of taxpayer money on any bill, especially one that ignores the problem it purports to solve.
Creative Commons encourages originality through sampling Ryan Lester rlester@stedwards.edu
Sampling is a concept that has been around since the early days of funk and hiphop, with many of the best songs from that era having been sampled at some point. In more recent years, however, copyrights for sampled works have been harder to come by, especially for independent artists, and the legal ramifications for breaking copyright looms over artists’ heads. If copyright laws were to be revised, especially in terms of sampling, it could lead to more original and creative works and possibly help relieve some of the antagonistic feelings many people have toward the music industry. The process of obtaining copyright licenses is a long and drawn out process. Australian group The Avalanches featured nearly 3,500 samples on their 2000 debut album, “Since I Left You,” using everything from spoken lines in movies to deep cuts
Wikimedia Commons
The Beastie Boys helped open copyright laws by allowing its music to be sampled by other artists.
from lesser-known albums to Madonna. The liner notes for the album contain several copyright acknowledgements. The band has yet to release a follow-up, though they have been working on clearing samples since 2009. Many major labels have the
financial resources to pay the fees for using a sample and can afford to give a portion of the royalties to the original artist. However, independent groups like The Avalanches or artists who are just starting out are at a disadvantage. They may not have the money
to clear samples. If copyright laws were to be changed to the point where the process was easier and fewer royalties had to be paid to the original artists, more artists would be able to sample other works to create something inventive and exciting. One possible form of more open copyright laws already exists. In November 2004, the Beastie Boys graced the cover of Wired Magazine alongside the title “Fight For Your Right To Copy: The Free Music Revolution Gets Real.” Packaged with the issue was a CD full of music, with songs from the Beastie Boys, Spoon and David Byrne, among others, which gave people permission to do with the songs what they pleased. All of the artists allowed you to swap songs with others over the Internet without fear of retaliation. Thirteen out of 16 artists gave users permission to use the songs as samples in their own work. They allowed users to
sell these songs as their own, as long as the end result was “highly transformative” of the original and as long as songs were not used in commercials. The article, and the concept behind it, was a huge victory for Creative Commons, a non-profit organization that pushes for the legalization of sampling and building upon existing creative works. If more artists were to follow in these footsteps and subject their work to Creative Commons licenses, which combine different copyright licenses to remove barriers, the possibilities would be practically limitless. Another possible effect of revising copyright laws is that it may help to people to reevaluate the negative image of the music industry. Sampling is one method of artistic expression that corporate executives are exceedingly harsh on, giving off the idea that they are ready to pounce on anyone who uses someone else’s work to bol-
ster their own. If laws were to be changed, however, people may see the industry as more open to the sharing of ideas and more accepting of the notion of reinterpretation, which may actually help in the long run. This is not to suggest that we get rid of intellectual property rights. If someone samples a work without attributing the original artist or uses it improperly, they should still be punished by copyright law. However, if laws were to be revised to make it more accessible for artists to use other’s work in a constructive way, it can both help the music industry reshape its image and bring about more creative uses of the original source. This would give fans and artists new avenues of interpretation. Through the use of Creative Commons and future revisions of copyright laws, sampling can return to its proper place as a vital source of inspiration for musicians everywhere.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 13, 2011
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Killer whale attacks come as a result of stressful captivity Caroline Wallace cwallac2@stedwards.edu
Whether it’s an escaped gorilla or a serial-killing whale, every once in a while, a captive animal grabs headlines for attacking a human. The incident usually sparks a national debate over the morality and safety of holding wild animals in captivity. But once the next big story breaks, the headlines quickly subside and the animals remain caged. It’s been just over a year since Tilikum, a 30-year-old killer whale at SeaWorld Orlando took the life of experienced trainer Dawn Brancheau just before a public performance. What was most shocking about the attack was that Tilikum had
Associated Press
SeaWorld’s killer whale, Tilikum, killed three people.
killed before — twice. After a yearlong hiatus, it was recently announced that Tilikum is back to performing in SeaWorld’s shows. While trainers can no longer swim with the whale, they will still be conducting shows from the shallow portion of the pool. This has caused outcry because Brancheau
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Hilltop Views is a weekly student newspaper published by the School of Humanities and serving the community of St. Edward’s University. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the university, whose mission is grounded in the teachings and doctrine of the Catholic Church. Letter Policy: Hilltop Views welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters may be edited for space, grammar and clarity. Letters will be published at our discretion. Anonymous letters will not be printed.
was not actually underwater when Tilikum attacked her, yet she still suffered fatally. The fact that Tilikum is once again performing in SeaWorld’s shows is outrageous, not because of the danger to just the trainers but to the whale’s wellbeing. There have only been a handful of wild killer whale
attacks on humans throughout recorded history, and none of them resulted in a fatality. However, according to ABC News, captive whales have attacked humans approximately two dozen times since the rise of marine parks in the 1970s. Many have been fatal. This statistical disparity suggests that it is highly dangerous to hold whales in captivity. But it is not just unfortunate for the humans who interact with them; captivity also takes a devastating toll on whales’ quality of life. SeaWorld’s slogan reads, “As real as it gets,” but there is nothing real about the stark walls and claustrophobic habitats that confine the animals, in many cases for their entire lives.
Killer whales have much shorter life spans in captivity. They are deprived of the highly structured, matrilineal social orders and long-standing migration patterns that characterize their lives in the wild. They are also robbed of many of their natural food sources. Killer whales are considered apex predators, meaning they have no natural predators in the wild. That view from the top of the food chain, coupled with the stress of captive life, could be responsible for their attacks on humans. When SeaWorld opened in 1964, it was probably the first time many visitors saw a killer whale outside of shaky nature documentaries and encyclopedia photographs. But in a world of Planet
Earth, YouTube and Animal Planet, we can now learn more about these creatures than ever before without having to venture into the “Splash Section.” But what happens now? After nearly 28 years in captivity, SeaWorld cannot exactly throw Tilikum back into the ocean like some catch-and-release fish. Once an individual animal has its own Wikipedia page, it’s safe to say it probably isn’t a great candidate for life in the wild. Hopefully, Tilikum’s transgressions will serve as a reminder that marine parks are relics of the past, made increasingly obsolete with time. The more we learn about these species, the clearer it is that they belong in the wild.
Gay acceptance more cultural than legal Rina Gandhi rgandhi@stedwards.edu
Gay acceptance in the United States is on the rise. If a network wants a show to survive, it seems like it has to have a gay character. A slew of well-known figures as diverse as Lady Gaga and Cindy McCain promote selfesteem and being happy with oneself, regardless of sexual orientation. Unlike in other countries, U.S. gay pride marches are usually not met with violence. When news broke that many gay and lesbian teens were committing suicide due to bullying, journalist and author Dan Savage launched the “It Gets Better” campaign, and an outpouring of support for LGBT youth ensued. It seems that our culture has moved towards a general acceptance of gays and lesbians in society. Frankly, it is “cool” to be cool with LGBT individuals. In fact, U.S. Immigration and Citizenship Services, the facet of the Department of Homeland Security that processes visa applications, released a statement saying that it would no longer
deny applications from immigrants who are marrying U.S. citizens of the same sex. These applications will be labeled “pending,” allowing the gay immigrants to remain in the U.S. as the Defense of Marriage Act’s constitutionality is decided.
1996. The Act also enables states to choose whether or not to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, which has proved contentious because many argue that the Full Faith and Credit Clause of the Constitution requires all states to recog-
There are — and probably always will be — people against same-sex marriage, but a recent ABC/Washington Post poll shows that 53 percent of Americans support it.” This change appeared to be a small sign of the government’s quiet move toward repealing DOMA, which federally defines marriage as between one man and one woman. The attitude toward gay and lesbian marriage has shifted in recent years, but USICS’s statement was a concrete example of the move towards change — or so we thought. President Clinton signed DOMA into law on Sept. 21,
nize marriages performed in other states. However, most states do not allow same-sex marriages or recognize samesex marriages performed in other states. USCIS’s change could have indicated the beginning of the end for DOMA, but that hope left as quickly as it appeared. Citing the need to follow the law regardless of what may come in the future, USCIS has returned to denying same-sex petitions. This
could be code for, “We don’t anticipate a change in current policy, so we’ll continue to act as we always have.” Unfortunately, our laws and agencies do not reflect our cultural progress. There are — and probably always will be — people against same-sex marriage, but a recent ABC/Washington Post poll shows that 53 percent of Americans support it. However, this number does not include people who favor same-sex marriage benefits or some legal union for same-sex couples in lieu of marriage. Included in these numbers are some Republicans and, surprisingly, evangelical Christians. Even some people who initially voted for DOMA have come forward and called for its repeal. Although our laws still bar gay and lesbian couples from receiving the 1,138 federal rights, benefits and privileges of federally recognized marriage, the climate is changing, and USCIS’s earlier choice to allow same-sex petitions is a testament to that. There is still a long way to go on the slow march toward equal rights, but at least the nation is on the path.
Page 16 | PHOTO ESSAY
Wednesday, April 13, 2011 | Hilltop Views
BRIGHT LIGHT SOCIAL HOUR Photos by Aaron Reissig