Hilltop Views S t .
E d w a r d ’ s
U n i v e r s i t y
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Volume 28 | Issue 10
8 Entertainment: Fun Fun Fun Fest
A pack 13 Features: of food trailers
showcases Austin’s weirder side
invade Austin to serve unique cuisines
Martin to debut in ballet Kristina Schenck
hilltopviewsonline.com
Two 14 Viewpoints: students offer differing views on Austin’s bicycle culture
SGA president resists recall
kschenc@stedwards.edu
The president of St. Edward’s University will be cross-dressing for this year’s employee Christmas celebration. George E. Martin will make his ballet debut as Mother Ginger in Ballet Austin’s production of The Nutcracker. The performance and Christmas party will take place on Dec. 4 at the Long Center. “It was suggested that I play Mother Ginger, and in a weak moment, I said yes,” Martin said. Martin added that his role is in conjunction with the university’s continuous 125th anniversary celebration. “The folks who plan the annual Christmas party were trying to think of some way to make it different, special, for the 125th anniversary,” Martin said. “They also wanted to link it up to a community organization, and so it evolved into the idea that, well, maybe we can work with Ballet Austin to create an event that would be a little different than what we have annually that would be enjoyed by the employees of the university.” Ballet Austin invites a different local celebrity to play the role of Mother Ginger in each performance of The Nutcracker every year. Martin will dance in the footsteps of previous Mother Gingers, including Paul , founder of RunTex; Bill Powers, president of the University of
Ari Auber aauber@stedwards.edu
Courtesy of Ballet Austin
Little gingerbread children dance around Mother Ginger in The Nutcracker.
Texas at Austin, Texas Tribune CEO and Editor-inChief Evan Smith; Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell and other local celebrities. There will be no rehearsal or practice before the performance for Martin. “I think that’s how they kind of get you to agree to do it; they don’t entirely disclose to you what you have to do,” Martin said. However, Martin does have an idea of what his role entails because he has attended Ballet Austin’s performance of The Nutcracker in the past.
“They locate you atop a large rolling platform, and it’s dressed like a large woman with a very wide skirt, and under that skirt are children. As Mother Ginger comes out, she opens her skirt and the children run out,” Martin said. Mother Ginger makes an appearance in the second act of the ballet. She dances as part of the Sugar Plum Fairy’s court in the Candy Castle. Mother Ginger is a large gingerbread house who has little gingerbread children dance around her. After the dance is over, Mother Ginger and the
little gingerbread children leave the stage. Martin added, though, that seeing the play and being in it are two different things. “I really don’t know what to anticipate. My intention is to have some fun with the audience,” Martin said. Other notable people playing Mother Ginger in this December’s production of the Nutcracker include Marques Harper, fashion writer for the Austin American-Statesman; Rhoda Mae Kerr, Austin’s fire chief, and Mike Barnes, sports director at KVUE-TV.
An attempted recall almost unseated the president of the St. Edward’s University Student Government Association the day after she was sworn in. On Oct. 29, Leigh Anne Winger, a freshman who is not a member of SGA, raised the constitutionality of Krista Heiden’s succession to the position of SGA president. The recall effort would have required an equivalent of 35 percent of the people who voted for Heiden and then-presidential candidate Blanca Garcia in last spring’s election. The ticket of Garcia and Heiden received 488 votes, meaning that a minimum of 171 students would have to sign a petition to remove Heiden. If the effort had been successful, SGA would have immediately removed Heiden from office. Winger, a candidate for freshman senator in the Sept. 22-29 elections, was concerned that Heiden had not served enough consecutive semesters in SGA to be president. The SGA constitution requires a student to have served four consecutive semesters in SGA in order to run for president. Because Heiden has served five non-consecutive semesters,
having taken a break from SGA during the first semester of her junior year, Winger said she saw a conflict between constitutional code and Heiden’s succession as president. But SGA read the rules differently than Winger, Heiden said.
If the effort had been successful, SGA would have immediately removed Heiden from office.”
“The of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee (Celso Baez) interpreted the constitution to mean that the four semesters has to do with running for the presidency, not assuming it, as I did,” Heiden said. Garcia appointed Baez to the committee chairmanship. Baez had previously served as the campaign SGA | 2
Page 2 | NEWS
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Scarborough-Phillips Library receives new technology Leslie DeLaRosa ldelaro@stedwards.edu
In response to a student and faculty survey, the Scarborough-Phillips Library has received a digital makeover and updated work spaces. Forty-six computers were relocated into the library from other campus labs that are receiving upgrades. The library is piloting a new program called media:scape, in which up to six students can sync their laptops and project their work onto two screens when working in groups. St. Edward’s University’s Information Technology department and the library collaborated to jointly fund the new additions. “The response we received indicated that students liked the library, but could really use more computer power there and that the furniture could use some modernization,” said Digital Services Manager Eric Frierson. “The new space is in response to SEU student voices. We’re
Dyan Cannon
Students take advantage of newly designed work spaces in the library, which has added new computers.
listening.” Media:scape is accessible to all students until Nov. 16, at
which point student response will directly influence the library’s decision to go ahead
with the program. “It’s plug-and-play. There’s no setup required to use it,”
Frierson said. Students with Macintosh laptops, however, will have to
get adaptors provided at the front desk for checkout. “Media:scape is first-come, first-serve, and if you use it and fill out a feedback form, you’ll be entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card,” Frierson said. The library is planning to factor in student feedback on the program. “I like the fact that there are more computers in the library because you don’t have to wait in line for computers anymore, and the set up is pretty cool,” junior Angelina Stokes-Wickersham said. But she was also concerned about the decrease in allotted space reserved for group projects. “It’s kind of strange how there’s not as many areas where you can just go with a group and work because there’s the rooms upstairs, but downstairs there’s no little nooks and corners anymore where you can sign-out that section,” Stokes-Wickersham said.
SGA avoids experience of another president’s exit without the approval of the student body. As a result of the attempted recall, Heiden said that SGA will try to make their decisions more open and trans-
Continued from page 1
manager for Heiden and Garcia. Prior to that, Baez was a senator in SGA. He was unavailable for comment. Heiden replaced Blanca Garcia at the Oct. 28 SGA meeting, after Garcia resigned for personal reasons. Heiden had been serving as SGA’s vice president. According to the SGA constitution, one of the duties of the vice president is to assume the office of president in the event of the president’s resignation or removal from office. Winger ended her efforts on Monday, Nov. 1 after she discussed her concerns with SGA Advisor Marisa Lacey. “I feel that SGA is striving to accommodate the needs of the student body, and that under the leadership of Krista Heiden and the executive board, hopefully the students’ voices will be heard,” Winger said. Winger said she had heard
out there, our policies aren’t open enough.” Heiden’s succession into the presidency leaves SGA without a vice president. In the interim, Noah Corn, senator
Heiden said she wishes Winger had gone through more appropriate channels to bring up her concerns.”
Courtesy of SGA
SGA’s Induction Ceremony took place a month before Heiden replaced Garcia.
about Heiden’s succession as president when the membership offices on CollegiateLink changed to reflect Heiden’s new position. Heiden said she wishes Winger had gone through
more appropriate channels to bring up her concerns. “She has three senators representing her, the two freshman senators and the senator of her residence hall,” Heiden said. “She should’ve used one
of them to raise the issue instead of starting a recall.” Heiden also acknowledged that Winger started the recall because she saw that a crucial decision was seemingly being made behind closed doors,
parent for the student body. “SGA has been pretty open and transparent already,” Heiden said. “We have open meetings, and [the Nov. 9] State of the Campus Address will talk about legislation that we’re working on passing and any legislation the students wish us to look at. But I guess if we’re waiting for students to come to us with concerns instead of us pushing them
of the School of Humanities, is serving as president pro tempore. Corn and Student Court of Appeals Chief Justice Vianney Becerra, who swore Heiden into the presidency at the Oct. 28 meeting, are the two vice presidential candidates running in the special election, which starts Nov. 11 on CollegiateLink and will last until Nov. 18.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 10, 2010
NEWS | Page 3
Austinites want renewable energy
SGA to hold special election The Student Government Association is holding a special election to fill the vice presidential position vacated by Krista Heiden after former SGA President Blanca Garcia resigned. The elections are scheduled to be held from Nov. 11-18 on CollegiateLink. Here are the two vice presidential candidates’ platform statements.
Noah Corn
Wikimedia Commons
Austin Energy sells the most renewable energy of providers in the U.S. with the GreenChoice program.
Kristina Schenck kschenc@stedwards.edu
Austin Energy is exploring renewable energy options, focusing strongly on wind power and increasing the availability of clean energy for customers. Senior Strategy Engineer for Austin Energy Mark Kapner spoke with the Ecology and the Environment Freshmen Studies class on Nov. 3 regarding Austin’s energy sources and what the future holds for the municipally owned electricity provider. Wind power is the most promising source of renewable energy for the state of Texas, Kapner said. “If Texas were a country—we won’t go any further there—we would be the sixth highest producers of wind energy,” Kapner said during his lecture. Though Texas produces more wind power than any
other state, renewable energy accounts for just seven percent of the state’s energy sources. A combination of coal, natural gas and nuclear power make up the rest of the 93 percent. In his presentation, Kapner noted that 10 years ago, Texas did not receive any of its energy from renewable energy sources. He projects the present 7 percent will more than double to 15 percent in the next five years. Wind energy will likely be responsible for much of Kapner’s projected growth. “Wind energy is the most rapidly growing and largest renewable energy source we have,” Kapner said. What this means for Austin Energy and its customers is increased access to renewable energy, available through Austin Energy’s GreenChoice program. GreenChoice is a voluntary green power program in
which subscribers pay a fixed price for fuel charges for five years. A fuel charge is the rate charged per kilowatt hour for the amount of fuel needed to produce power, which is used as electricity. “It’s available to all customers,” Kapner said. “We’ve had this program in place since 2000.” St. Edward’s University, a customer of Austin Energy, purchased 48,000-kilowatt hours of wind energy for the John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center at a fixed rate of 8 cents per kilowatthour, according to Director of Physical Plant Michael Peterson. Initially, the fixed price is higher than what customers outside the GreenChoice program are paying. The difference in price is a few cents per kWh. Since the price of fuel varies, customers can benefit from paying the fixed price if the price of fuel in-
POLICE BLOTTER
creases. Austin Energy uses the money generated from charging the higher price initially to purchase renewable energy. “For Austin Energy, the way we offer this fixed price is by doing long-term purchases of renewable energy,” Kapner said in an interview. According to a news release from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Austin Energy sold the most renewable energy to customers of all the electricity providers in the U.S through the GreenChoice program. Kapner said that this statistic is evidence that there are customers who want clean energy—and they are willing to pay a little extra up front for it. “When a customer signs … it sets an obligation to bring in green energy,” Kapner said.
Date
Time
Incident
Location
Resolution
Oct. 28
5:10 p.m.
Theft of Bike
Teresa Hall
Closed
Oct. 30
5:27 a.m.
Agency Assist
Off Campus
Closed
Nov. 2
3:50 p.m.
Damage of Property
East Hall
Closed
I, Noah Corn, am here to Revive Reason. In my services as a class of 2012 Senator, and Senator for the School of Humanities, I have contributed to nearly 20 pieces of legislation within the past year alone, all for the benefit of the student body. I strive to be a model of stability and oversight, responsibility and forethought. As Chairperson for the Legislative Initiatives Committee, I have instilled order in the legislative process, revolutionizing a fumbling system into a model of productivity. There, I also conduct legislation expressly called for by my fellow students, as well as intuiting perceived changes for the betterment of all. In the position of Vice President, I will lay out a plan for global change, a plan to keep calm and carry on, dependably, in our efforts to restore faith in the Association and hope for the future, but more importantly, to restore trust in ourselves. By reevaluating the values of SGA, I will return us to a representative body, one bound to the needs of the people, one that can be held accountable and not found wanting, one that entirely embodies the soul of the students. I will never abandon reason for madness.
Vianney Becerra I, Vianney Becerra, have decided to run for the Vice Presidency of the Student Government Association after witnessing the need for greater collaboration between the student body and our campus’s governing system. As a two year member of the Association, and Chief Justice of the Student Court of Appeals, I believe that I am sufficiently qualified to undertake the duties and responsibilities associated with the Vice Presidency. With a fair and unbiased opinion, which has been the result of heading our school’s judicial branch for the current academic year, I believe in strengthening the link between students and their representatives, as well switching the focus from inner office bias to the desires of our student body. If elected, I will work closely with the President of the Association and its three branches to ensure that cooperation and efficiency within and outside of its structure are accomplished. I will strive to increase outreach and interaction between Student Government and students in order to maintain that the students’ voices are heard. A political science major with the passion to defend the general welfare of each individual at St. Edward’s University, I encourage all students to vote this upcoming special election.
Page 4 | NEWS
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Even with limitations, textbook rentals still popular Cristian Salazar Associated Press
NEW YORK (AP)— Textbook rental programs at many of the nation’s colleges — touted as money-savers for students — are limited by the number of available titles, publishers who release frequent new editions and professors who believe their right to choose course materials is essential to academic freedom. About half the nation’s major college and university bookstores offered textbook rentals this fall, according to the National Association of College Stores, hoping to cut the $600-$900 students spend buying books each year. That’s roughly a fivefold increase from around 300 stores a year ago. But schools and publishing experts say the programs are expensive to start up and difficult to operate. In addition, there are complaints that rental prices are still too high, even though they can be as much as half the cost of a new book. Federal lawmakers, increasingly concerned that textbook costs create a barrier to affordable higher education, have endorsed a pilot program for rentals. Twelve schools were awarded up to $1 million each this fall under a congressionally mandated U.S. Department of Education program this fall to create rental programs, several of them targeting lower-income or first-generation immigrant college freshmen. In addition, a federal law went into effect earlier this year requiring publishers to give professors the price of textbooks and to list revisions to new editions; it also asks schools to release book lists early so that students can shop for best prices before classes begin. Publishers face no consequences if they don’t follow the rules, however. “We are prohibited even from enforcing it,” said Jane Glickman, a Department of Education spokeswoman. “It’s like guidance to the schools.”
In the end, students will decide how they get their textbooks — and they have an ever-expanding galaxy of choices. They can buy them new, shrink-wrapped at campus stores. They can search online for discounted used copies at numerous websites like Amazon.com or Bigwords. com. They can download them to their computers or rent them — from their campus bookstore, from online websites and even the publishers themselves. Two of the largest bookstore operators, Barnes & Noble and Follett Higher Education Group, have spent millions to build their own Internet rental portals in the face of competition from websites, stocking up on inventory and developing tracking software. Yet for all of the innovation from digital media and the Internet, prices are still set by publishers, who market directly to faculty. Faculty, in turn, decide titles for study, often without considering cover prices. That means students are still paying hundreds of dollars each semester. “It’s ridiculous. I think we pay so much for tuition al-
Associated Press
More schools are offering book rentals to compete with online textbook sites.
Schools have to stock inventory, possibly hire new staff and invest in computer software to track the books. And rentals carry risk, said Charles Schmidt, a spokesman for NACS. If a publisher changes an edition or persuades faculty to use a different one, the rental model won’t work. “You need to rent the book about three times to get the profit back,” he said. James V. Koch, an economics professor at Old Domin-
... students spent about $600 on textbooks for the 2009-2010 school year ...” ready, books should be at least affordable,” said Janelle Grant, 26, an East Orange, N.J., native and sophomore at the University of Richmond in Virginia. She said she shopped around this semester before deciding to buy and rent online, spending about $300. “I spent a lot of my summer searching for cheaper books.” NACS says about 1,500 of its 3,000 members are running rental programs this fall and more members are considering their own, but they are wading into the model with trepidation. Startup costs can be staggering:
ion University and former college president who has studied the textbook market, said that for a rental system to be profitable, books have to be standardized. “Some faculty members look at this and see it as a violation of their academic freedom,” he said. A survey of 100 campuses nationwide showed students spent about $600 on textbooks for the 2009-2010 school year, according to Student Monitor, a college market research company. The Student Public Interest Research Groups, a national advocacy group, says it’s more
like $900 per year. Rental programs took off this fall because Barnes & Noble and Follett got behind them. Each of the companies operates hundreds of campus bookstores. “The thing that made it go
is that the national bookstore chains finally started to leverage their power to offer rentals nationwide,” said Nicole Allen, of Student PIRGs. But she said rentals were far from perfect. “If the new price is outrageous, the rental price is
outrageous,” she said. Bruce Hildebrand, of the American Publishers Association, said students can buy cheaper versions of books in a variety of formats — but don’t. “The majority still choose the traditional, hardcover, full color textbook,” he said. A recent NACS survey found 75 percent of students preferred print over digital versions of textbooks. There also have been complaints about the high cost of electronic textbooks and limitations imposed on how many pages can be printed for free. Rentals, like the vibrant used book market, also are limited by constant revisions imposed on textbooks: The California State Auditor said in 2008 that new editions were published nearly every four years. Experts have compared it to the automobile industry, where manufacturers have an incentive to come out with a newer model to make the older model obsolete.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 10, 2010
GAMES | Page 5
games Look for the answers to both games in next week’s issue!
Answer to last issue’s Sudoku:
Page 6 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, November 10, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
SXSW accepting volunteers for ‘11 Asta Thrastardottir athrast@stedwards.edu
South by Southwest, Austin’s film, music and interactive festival coincides with St. Edward’s University’s spring break. But while some students are yearning to attend during their break, many cannot afford the high prices of a badge. Yet some savvy students have discovered a secret: an easy way to enjoy the festivities without breaking the bank is to volunteer. The main job of volunteers is to “welcome the international community of artists and industry professionals to Austin and to South by Southwest,” according to the SXSW volunteer website. SXSW hires more than 2,000 volunteers, who may work in the Austin Convention Center, the film and music venues, or other locations around town. There are two types of volunteers: conference volunteers and music production volunteers. Conference volunteers work at the Aus-
South by Southwest volunteers stuff thousands of swag bags for registrants.
tin Convention Center and other venues around town, including theaters and parties, while music production volunteers work at clubs, on the streets and behind the scenes at showcases. With nearly 40 different conference crews, conference volunteers can participate in everything from transporta-
tion to photography to registration. Volunteering may be seen by some as a good idea. To others, volunteering is necessary to pass a class. Associate Professor Tere Garza requires students in her Communication and Pop Culture course to offer their services as a volunteer at the festival for a
Caroline Wallace
minimum of 40 hours. “By volunteering, students become an essential part of the conference community, ensuring that the conference functions as professionally and as smoothly as possible.,” Garza said. “In exchange, they are able to participate in various events and gain valuable knowledge as well as ex-
perience.” Garza said that volunteering at the festival will be a learning experience for students that will help them in their careers. “Attending conferences and conventions is a requirement for most professionals, entrepreneurs, as well as academics,” she said. “Students have the opportunity to increase their global understanding by learning about international music, film and emerging technologies. They also have opportunities to engage in an exchange of ideas with local, national and international artists, conference attendees, and a diverse group of (SXSW) volunteers.” Sophomore Caroline Eck, who previously volunteered, said she enjoyed her experience. “I saw a bunch of free shows,” she said. “I met a lot of new people and made some good friends. I even saw Jonah Hill and Bill Murray.” The application process is simple. A person just has to visit the Volunteer Online Information Database and
create a volunteer record. Later, a volunteer will need to attend one of two volunteer calls in January in order to sign up for a schedule. Volunteers must be able to work a minimum of 30 hours or 3 shifts during the event, depending on their crew type. When a conference volunteer works for more than 30 hours, they begin to receive perks such as a T-shirt. If a person volunteers 50 hours, they receive a film badge (which allows access to SXSW film events), an interactive badge (which allows access to interactive panels and speeches) or a music wristband. Working for 60 hours guarantees a person a gold badge, which grants access to all SXSW film and interactive events, or a music badge, which grants access to all SXSW music events. Returning volunteers are allowed to work 80 hours to receive a platinum badge. SXSW began to accept applications on Nov. 1. To apply, visit their website at volunteer.sxsw.com/apply.
Vandals guitarist talks past and present at FFF Fest Caroline Wallace cwallac2@stedwards.edu
It has been 30 years since California punk veterans The Vandals started tearing up the Orange County scene. But even though most of the band, consisting of vocalist Dave Quackenbush, bassist Joe Escalante, drummer Josh Freeze and guitarist Warren Fitzgerald, are now well into their forties, with marriages, children and day jobs that range from studio drumming to alcohol distributing, The Vandals still find time to come together to rehash old hits like “Oi to the World,” “Anarchy Burger (Hold the Government)” and “My Girlfriend’s Dead” for generations of fans. “We do about 15 shows a
year, sometimes more, sometimes less, sometimes way more,” said Fitzgerald in a sitdown interview with Hilltop Views at last weekend’s Fun Fun Fun Fest. “It’s like fishing buddies. We all have other things going on, [but] we get along, so that’s what it is. We’ve all known each other for so long, and there’s no real artistic tension because we’re not really artists.” Fitzgerald said that while playing the old songs together is sort of like riding a bicycle, he also noted that riding a bicycle is much more difficult without practice. “The bar is very low with punk rock,” he said jokingly. “Fortunately, we can play incredibly terribly and as long as something interesting happened, or it’s loud, then
it’s fine.” Fans who discovered the band in the 90s, when they really started to come into prominence on a national level, probably heard of them for one of two reasons. The first reason was because of their drummer. Freese is one of the most well-known drummers in the industry. Beyond being a member of The Vandals, A Perfect Circle and Devo, he’s played as a studio drummer for everyone from Rob Zombie to Miley Cyrus. The second, Fitzgerald, along with Escalante, is known for founding Kung Fu Records. The seminole nineties independent label is responsible for launching the careers of bands like The Ataris, Ozma and Tsunami
Bomb. Recently, the record label put out an album for the reggae-punk band Knock-Out, but Fitzgerald acknowledges that as the music industry changes, so does Kung Fu Records’ roll in it. “It’s so expensive to manufacture a physical product when you don’t need to,” he said, adding that the way bands break has changed too. Fitzgerald said that 12 years ago, The Vandals would take up-and-coming Kung Fu Records acts on tour to gain exposure. “Well, now you could teach your cat to do something really stupid, and four million people could see it in no time,” he said. “So, it’s kind of changed the dynamic. We’re
not as active with new acts; it’s [about] keeping the catalog out there.” Even with a sporadic tour schedule, The Vandals have maintained a steady fan base, and it was evident all weekend at Fun Fun Fun Fest as dozens of people scurried around Waterloo Park donning T-shirts with the “Peace Thru Vandalism” album art, even if they weren’t yet born when the album was released. The fandom reflects an ongoing effort on behalf of Fun Fun Fun Fest to keep the punk lineup solid, mixing contemporary acts with more seasoned ones. This year’s Festival saw The Vandals joining with other heavyweights like Bad Religion, The Dwarves, The Descen-
dents, and the Casualties, on the black stage, which is traditionally reserved for punk and hardcore acts. “They should call it ‘guesswhat-decade-this-is’ stage.,” Fitzgerald said. “If you were to just read the list of bands that are performing, it could very well have been one of three, maybe four decades for some bands. “We’ve played every type of venue and every type of scenario with The Dwarves and Bad Religion, especially,” he said, adding that what he was looking forward to most at Fun Fun Fun Fest was a chance to hang out with these old friends. For more Fun Fun Fun Fest coverage, check out pages 8 and 9.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 10, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT | Page 7
MOVIE REVIEW
Drafthouse Films launches with release of ‘Lions’ Caroline Wallace cwallac2@stedwards.edu
Because the Alamo Drafthouse just wasn’t satisfied with simply being your favorite movie theater in town, owner Tim League and company have launched their latest venture – a distribution company appropriately titled Drafthouse Films. The company is diving right in, and its first release will be “Four Lions,” the newest effort from British writer/director Chris Morris. “I’ve been a huge fan of Chris Morris’ comedic television and radio for years. To launch our new distribution
Courtesy of Drafthouse Films
Four Lions is now in limited release. It is playing in Austin at the Alamo S. Lamar.
ALBUM REVIEW
label with what I consider to be a modern classic is a dream come true,” League said in a press release announcing the deal. It’s worth saying that “Four Lions” is probably the best terrorist comedy you’ll see all year. Too bold? How many terrorist comedies have you seen this year? The film follows a group of bumbling, accident-prone Jihadists living in suburban Sheffield, U.K. After these Muslim Brits are radicalized, a colossal failure in Pakistan leads them to return to the UK to plan the perfect suicide bombing. Terrorists may not seem like a recipe for comedic suc-
cess, but the film’s distinctly British humor is both hilarious and strangely goodhearted. Apart from the main characters’ dim-witted demeanors, “Four Lions” paints a surprisingly realistic portrait of a strange world in which middle-class suburbanites decide to blow up buildings without being overly sympathetic or being turned into cartoons. “Four Lions” is a fresh comedic look at the other side of an ideological battle that so often infiltrates our headlines, yet is rarely illuminated in the way the film manages to do with humor and ease.
ALBUM REVIEW
Album channels past greats Glee star releases album Elizabeth & the Catapult The Other Side of Zero Danny Salazar dsalaza4@stedwards.edu
One year after the release of their virtuoso debut album “Taller Children,” Brooklyn natives Elizabeth Ziman and Danny Molad have released their sophomore effort titled “The Other Side of Zero.” The duo, better known as Elizabeth & The Catapult, has released a brilliant new project, which exhibits a sense of maturity and assertiveness that many other independent bands lack. The band fuses an ideal blend of indie and alternative rock, a well-crafted pop sound and folk soul that would make any child of the 1960s weep with excitement. Their music blends the sounds of folk-singer Joni Mitchell, contemporary singer/songwriters Martha Wainwright and Fiona Apple and the pop brilliance of Elton John possessed in the 1970s. In no way is the album a
dated body of work or one that tries too hard. On the contrary, it is a creatively delightful pop album woven with sincere and tongue-incheek lyrics, which only Ziman knows how to deliver. From her subtle whispers in tracks like “Open Book” and “The Other Side of Zero” to the raw quality of “Time (We All Fall Down)” and “Go Away My Lover,” the band’s singer and songwriter knows what her voice is capable of. This is what many albums and artists are missing these days: a lead singer who knows what depths her voice is capable of reaching while still challenging her limits, and a band that not only puts effort into crafting honest
music, but also performs it stunningly. The lead single “You and Me” is an upbeat indie pop gem, which would fit perfectly in anyone’s collection. Whether you enjoy the raw honesty of a traveled singer/ songwriter (“Do Not Hang Your Head”) or the ecstatic intensity that well-crafted folk music can achieve (“Thank You For Nothing”), you will find a place within this band and especially amongst the layers of “The Other Side of Zero.” This album proves that you don’t always have to be loud in order to have an impact, nor do you have to be quiet in order to look within yourself.
Courtesy of Elizabeth & the Catapult
‘Zero” is the indie band’s second album.
Mark Salling Pipe Dreams Danny De Los Santos ddeloss@stedwards.edu
Gleeks can breathe a sigh of relief – Mark Salling’s character Puck hasn’t been written off “Glee.” In fact, Salling has been doing some writing of his own, and will be returning to the ensemble cast of the popular Fox musical series with a new solo album on the shelves. Before appearing on “Glee,” Salling, a native of Dallas, performed under the pseudonym “Jericho” and released an album entitled “Smoke Signals.” Salling’s second album, “Pipe Dreams,” was released Oct. 25. Salling released “Pipe Dreams” under his own record label, Pipe Dreams Records, and also wrote and produced each track on the album, which was seven years in the making. The result is an eclectic mix of indie rock mixed with country and folk inspired beats. But fans of the show be warned: Salling’s sound is
Wikimedia Commons
Mark Salling plays Puck on Fox’s ‘Glee.’
completely opposite of the material his character sings on “Glee.” Salling’s first single, “Higher Power,” is a mellow jazz-rock track that sets the feel for the entire album. Salling raps on “Illusions,” a song about making sense of what is presented in the media, yet he also explores a soft rock sound similar to an R.E.M. song with “Willing and Wonderful.” Still, most of the tracks on “Pipe Dreams” sound a bit too familiar. The lyrics are well thought out, as they should be after seven years, but the direction of
the album is all over the place. The album also lacks a radio-friendly mainstream appeal, meaning that many “Glee” fans may be disappointed. Fans can, however, take solace knowing that “Pipe Dreams” shows that Salling hasn’t given in to the fame he’s received for playing Noah Puckerman on the show. Salling’s popularity will not soar from the album, but his love of music and songwriting comes through loud and clear, resulting in an easy listen for fans of 1990s alternative rock.
Page 8 | ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views
FUN FUN FUN fest
Comedian takes on stereotypes
Now in its fifth year, Fun Fun Fun Fest is held annucally at Waterloo Park. The three day, four stage festival ran Nov. 5-7. Here are some of the highlights:
friday
Caroline Wallace
Chris Hardwick hosts G4’s Web Soup.
Weird Al does parodies galore
Holly Aker
Weird Al had many costume changes during his set.
Ryan Lester rlester@stedwards.edu
Performing in Austin for the first time in more than six years, Weird Al Yankovic pleased longtime fans and relative newcomers with his spot-on parodies, showmanship and an onslaught of laughs during his two-hour set Friday. The night started with his now customary polka updates of popular songs, targeting everyone from Lady Gaga to Justin Bieber. From there, Yankovic and several of his band members went through no less than a dozen costume changes, each one reflecting the music they were making fun of. Yankovic donned a blonde wig and green-striped sweater to look like Kurt
Cobain during “Smells Like Nirvana” and the whole band came out clad in Devo costumes for longtime fan favorite “Dare to Be Stupid.” The hilarity continued throughout the night, with Yankovic entering in on a segway for “White & Nerdy” and removing layers of clothing in the vein of James Blunt during “You’re Pitiful,” finishing the song in a fashionable SpongeBob shirt/tutu combination. The performance finally came full circle when he and his band emerged in Star Wars attire for the encore. Weird Al delivered a highly entertaining performance, and one that confirmed that after almost 30 years, Yankovic has lost none of his edge.
Caroline Wallace cwallac2@stedwards.edu
Stand-up comedy is a vulnerable profession. To stand on a stage, all eyes on you, desperately trying to elicit laughter from an often skeptical audience, requires a game plan. In this case, it’s best to find a little common ground with the people. Comedian Chris Hardwick, best known as the host of G4’s Web Soup, did just that Friday, engaging his Austin audience with tales of rednecks, geeks and hipsters. His performance was also filled with self-
deprecating humor. As he told tales of growing up as a geek in Tennessee, the audience easily related, even joining in on quintessential redneck southern rock anthems as Hardwick led them on stage. While joking with the audience about his self-imposed sobriety, Hardwick passed out his “free drink” tickets to the crowd, who were all too willing to oblige. Hardwick later made a special appearance in the following set, joining Weird Al Yankovic in an encore chorus of “Yoda,” letting his geek flag fly.
Young rapper proves herself rlester@stedwards.edu
With an almost ungodly amount of energy and swagger, Tampa Bay rapper Dominique Young Unique demonstrated why she is an artist to watch out for. Her abilities with a microphone were nothing short of jawdropping, as she delivered her flows in a rapid fire fashion that would make any of her male counterparts on the radio blush. Songs such as “The World
monster-alien race, they Holly Aker each look different. They all haker@stedwards.edu have a similar armor-based, Legend has it that Gwar Viking-like costume, but came to Earth eons ago each member puts a differafter being banished from ent spin on it. For example, their home planet for being the guitarist has a huge too brutal and epic. As long bear trap for a head with as they have to stay on our horns coming out on each planet, they’ve decided to side, and the bassist dons a do one thing: decimate the Trojan-styled costume. The human race by playing the drummer, meanwhile, has a most face-melting, bone- vicious-looking dog head. crushing metal known to As is normal for Gwar man. shows, the band brought Those who saw the band some celebrity impersonGwar Saturday night at this ators on stage and then weekend’s Fun Fun Fun preceded to “kill” them in Fest and lived to tell about a cartoonishly violent manit would certainly agree. ner during the middle of The band donned their songs. normal uniforms, brought After the show, audience plenty of fake blood and members were soaked in a played one of the best sets bright red liquid intended of the weekend. to resemble blood that was Although each Gwar dispersed into the festival member is from the same crowd.
MGMT gets crowd dancing Caroline Wallace cwallac2@stedwards.edu
saturday
Ryan Lester
Monster aliens decimate festival
Is Mine” were delivered over original and unique beats, providing the perfect backdrop to her dynamic rhymes. She trotted around the Blue Stage like she owned the place, leaving the audience captive in her wake. Her commanding presence and technical skills would be more than enough to provide a breath of fresh air to mainstream rap, as she possesses the talent and maturity to make it on the world stage. Did I mention she’s only 18?
With all-too-popular hits like “Time to Pretend” and “Kids,” MGMT was one of the biggest names to join the Fun Fun Fun Fest lineup this year. Placed in the 8:45 p.m. time slot Saturday, the Grammy-nominated band competed for audience attendance against punk heavyweights Bad Religion and rising electro/hip-hop star RJD2. But MGMT
had no problem drawing an expansive mass of listeners. As you might predict, the aforementioned singles were definitely the crowd favorites of the night, while there was significantly less singing along to the tracks off of 2010’s “Congratulations.” One of the set’s highlights came when the majority of the band wandered over to the vacant adjoining stage for one song, giving the audience members skewed to the far right a brief front row treat.
Caroline Wallace
MGMT headlined the orange stage Saturday night.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 10, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT | Page 9
sunday
Hotdog eating contest gets gross Holly Aker haker@stedwards.edu
Veggie hotdogs are not known for their appetizing taste. While they can be very delicious, a good veggie dog is a rare commodity. With that said, only two words can describe the veggie hotdog eating contest held on Sunday afternoon at Fun Fun Fun Fest: disgusting and awesome. Twelve people participated in the eating contest held on the yellow stage, and the contestants were made up of every kind of person: little girls, old guys, hipsters, punks, vegetarians, omnivores and a guy in a Lifesavers costume. Despite their outward appearances, they were all hungry and ready to eat a bunch of veggie dogs. The contest, hosted by Mike Litt, started off slowly. Everyone casually picked up one hotdog at a time and slowly chewed and swallowed each bite in a fashion that would make any mom proud. Many audience members, thinking that no one was going
Caroline Wallace cwallac2@stedwards.edu
Contestants eat as many veggie dogs as they can in hopes of winning.
to eat enough veggie dogs to puke, left the stage before the contest was even half over. Unfortunately for them, they missed the best part of the whole contest. After one contestant got bored or sick of eating veg-
gie dogs or maybe both, he started throwing his leftover hotdogs into the audience, which inspired the rest of the contestants to do the same. Eventually it became an allout war with veggie dogs flying everywhere and hitting
Holly Aker
multiple people in the face. When everything finally calmed down, scores were tallied, and the winners were announced, with first place going to a young man under the name The Asian Persuasion.
Asian band puts pun in punk rock Holly Aker haker@stedwards.edu
Peelander-Z is not from around here. Although the Japanese action comic punk band is based in New York City and all the members are originally from Japan, they’re actually from area Z on the planet Peelander. Or so they say. Despite their out-of-thisworld origins, the band took the time this weekend to visit Austin and Fun Fun Fun Fest. Playing the Blue Stage on Sunday afternoon, Peelander-Z put on quite the over-the-top show. The first thing anyone notices about Peelander-Z is their costumes. Although the band will argue with anyone that they’re not costumes
Mother Falcon serenades crowd
Caroline Wallace
Band members wear brightly colored costumes.
but merely their skin, each member of the band wears a brightly-colored outfit that matches their names: Peelander Red, Peelander
Green, Peelander Yellow and Peelander Pink. The costumes are a collage of all different kinds of clothing, including fishnets, col-
ored leopard print leggings, studded jackets, leather jackets, crazy glasses and brightly colored wigs. While their costumes are the most noticeable aspect of the band, their performances are just as memorable. Their FFFF show was packed with crazy antics and almost too much excitement. Toward the end of the show, the band took apart the entire drum set, unloaded it into the middle of the crowd and then started up their set again. The guitarist also had a fondness for mounting the rather tall amplifier stack and jumping off the stack in the middle of the set. With so much energy and fun, it was almost sad to see their set come to an end.
Hometown orchestral favorites Mother Falcon christened the orange stage Sunday afternoon, drawing a far larger crowd than their opening time slot would predict. With towering vocal harmonies and rich instrumental layers, the ensemble group of nearly 20 members delighted a crowd of family, longtime friends, fans and new converts. From violins and trumpets to accordions and bassoons, Mother Falcon accomplishes a sound that so many indie bands achieve with the aid of additional studio musicians, but aren’t able to recreate with as much mastery in a live show. On the contrary, Mother Falcon shines in the festival setting, as lead vocalist Nick Gregg’s impressive, frontman-worthy vocals float
Caroline Wallace
Nick Gregg is Mother Falcon’s lead vocalist.
ever-so-delicately over the rich sounds of instrumental splendor. Like the band’s performance at this year’s Austin Music Awards, which scored them a standing ovation, this performance at Fun Fun Fun Fest suggests, in the conscious effort to avoid a “soaring” metaphor, that Mother Falcon is, well, going places.
Hold Steady set lives up to hype Ryan Lester rlester@stedwards.edu
In a perfect world, The Hold Steady would occupy the spot Kings of Leon hold in the popular conscious. The New York via Minneapolis band combine giant classic guitar hooks and vocalist/guitarist Craig Finn’s vivid accounts of epic nights out and the variety of inhabitants of the underground scene in a way that is both memorable and effortless. Many music publications have hailed the band as one of the best live acts in the world, and their orange stage set handily proved
them right. Despite losing keyboardist and key member Franz Nicolay earlier this year, the band still managed to churn out many of their best songs without a hitch. Finn was a live wire throughout, making grand gestures with his arms while telling his tales and urging the audience to get involved. Meanwhile, he and the band kept things loud and energetic, with songs like “Stuck Between Stations,” “Hurricane J” and “Sequestered In Memphis” providing enough epic riffs to fill spaces twice the size of Waterloo Park.
SPORTS
Page 10 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Former student played in Sweden
Sports Information
Kim Abbott was a semifinalist for the NCAA Division II Woman of the Year award.
Zachary Graham zgraham@stedwards.edu
Former St. Edward’s University soccer player Kim Abbott was a familiar face around the university’s soccer field until she graduated last May, but now she is working to integrate herself into the Norretan Soccer League in Sweden. “I never had ambitions to play overseas,” Abbott said. “But I always wanted to keep playing after college.” Abbott was a four-year starter for the Hilltoppers and was All Heartland-Conference First Team three times. She also helped lead the Hilltoppers to three NCAA Tournament berths, pushing the team to the Sweet 16 for only the second time in the women’s soccer program history. Abbott was a successful student athlete at St. Edward’s as well. During her time on the hilltop she was named to the Dean’s List eight times and received the Robert Noyce Teaching Scholarship for aspiring math and science teachers.
Her greatest accomplishment, however, came after her senior season when she was chosen as one of 10 semifinalists for the NCAA Division II Woman of the Year Award. Currently, Abbott and former Hilltopper teammate Stacey Copeland have taken their talent to Sweden. “It is the league under the pro league, so we don’t get paid,” said Abbott. “But it was great learning about the Swedish culture and great to play against new players and competition.” The Norretan League runs from July to the end of October, and the Missouri City, Texas native does admit to getting homesick at times. “I miss playing with the girls at St. Edward’s,” Abbott said. “They were the best teammates ever.” The transition from a college athlete to life after college was not simple either, as Abbott found that there was less structure to soccer life after college. “St. Edward’s prepared me to leave my comfort zone for a bit and get to have all the
experiences I have been so fortunate to have since graduation,” Abbott said. “It also helped me to develop more of an awareness of the rest of the world.” After the season concludes, Abbott said that she will tour a few other European cities with Copeland and head back stateside in the next few weeks. She has been watching her former teammates plow through their soccer schedule this year and is proud of the work they have done. Being the veteran she is, Abbott offered some words of wisdom for the current crop of women’s soccer players, who just clinched the Heartland Conference championship. “They are having a great year, and they deserve it,” Abbott said. “As the competition gets tougher, stay confident, stay together as one, and keep playing hard for each other out there.” There is one thing that Abbott says is at the top of her to-do list once she returns to Texas. “I will be getting a taco from Taco Cabana immediately,” Abbott said.
Team loads up on freshmen Russ Espinoza respino2@stedwards.edu
The dawn of every new sports season brings new faces and renewed optimism for the season ahead. Head Coach Jennifer White’s 2010-11 St. Edward’s University women’s basketball team features a batch of new recruits from all over the state of Texas. Freshman Hilltoppers Kendra Field, Maddie Wheeler, Mykel Bradshaw, Stephanie Dekkers, Shanae Lowrance, and redshirt freshman Kelsee Barr supply fresh talent for a team striving to improve on last season’s 9-20 record and fourth place finish in the Heartland Conference. Combo guard and forward Field comes from Faith Academy in Marble Falls, where her 19.7 points-pergame earned her first-team all-state, Texas Basketball Magazine all-state, and first team all-Central Texas honors by the Austin American Statesman following her junior season. Field’s exemplary play helped Faith Academy amass a 94-18 record during her time there. Wheeler comes to St. Edward’s from nearby Cedar Park. The highly recognized 5-foot-10 guard rejected scholarship offers from Cornell University and Yale, among others, because she was impressed by White and her coaching staff, the St. Edward’s campus, and the university’s close proximity to her family’s home in Cedar Park. Unfortunately, Wheeler suffered an injury in in the team’s first scrimmage against Baylor University that will prevent her from playing this season. She has exercised a medical redshirt and will make her playing debut next season. “Hopefully I will come back stronger and better next year to make up for lost time,” Wheeler said. “Everyone on the team has been extremely supportive and helped me to stay positive.
I think that really displays what an awesome group of women we have on this team, which helps them to be the best they can be on the court.” Forward Kelsee Barr is a redshirt freshman from Lake Dallas High School who was also recruited by other programs—Southern Mississippi State, Tulane, Colorado, Vermont, and Air Force, among others prior to landing at St. Edward’s. “I had two official visits planned after St. Edward’s, but once I came here and spent a couple of days in Austin and with my teammates, I didn’t even go on the other visits,” Barr said. “I just loved the academic recognition the school receives as well as the beautiful campus.” Like Wheeler this year, Barr had to bide her time before playing because of last year’s redshirt status. “I’m looking forward to the first game I can play in,” Barr said. “But other than that,
I’m excited to play Abilene Christian because my sister went there, and that rivalry is still fun.” Barr said she is also looking forward to playing against St. Mary’s University. “We barely lost to them in the semi-finals last year, and revenge would be sweet,” Barr said. Rockwall, Texas’ Shanae Lowrance garnered similar acclaim during her span at Rockwall Heath High School. She was named first-team all-district her freshman through junior seasons, and she was also awarded freshman of the year. Lowrance stood out as the top 4-A rebounder in the Dallas/Fort-Worth area her freshman and sophomore seasons and was her district’s leading scorer during her junior year. The new wave of Hilltoppers will play on the home court for the first time on Nov. 12 when the team hosts the St. Edward’s shootout tournament.
Sports Information
The Hilltoppers welcome six freshman this season
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Fall seasons wrapping up Zachary Mayer zmayer@stedwards.edu
Fall sports are wrapping up at St. Edwawrd’s University, and the women’s soccer and volleyball and men’s soccer teams have been working to advance to their respective NCAA tournaments. Here is a short recap of how the Hilltoppers have fared this fall.
Women’s Soccer
After finishing the season 16-1-1 overall and 9-1 in the Heartland Conference, the St. Edward’s women’s soccer team is well on its way to repeating last year’s success that brought the team to the NCAA Div. II Sweet 16. Amanda DeLaFosse, a senior forward from Houston, attributed the team’s stellar season to the group of selected leaders on the team. “We have a group of leaders elected by our coach every year, and the ones for this year are Bethany Bennett, Olivia Collado, Emily Arnold, Troi Jorgenson, and Kelly Boyd,” DeLaFosse said. “They’re the ones who keep us pumped up during the games and take on the captain duties.” The highlights of the women’s soccer season include a 2-0 victory over Midwestern State, a 5-1 win over Central Oklahoma and a 7-0 win over Texas A&M University International. The team was undefeated in the regular season until the season finale 1-0 loss to St. Mary’s University on Nov. 6. The team’s lone tie was a 2-2 match against West Texas A&M. The Hilltoppers will host the South Central Regional playoffs. The team will face the winner of a match between No. 4 Abilene Christian and No. 5 Angelo State on Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.
Volleyball
The St. Edward’s University women’s volleyball season is winding down as the Hilltoppers (17-13, 11-1 HC) look to advance beyond the Heartland Conference tournament this year. The Hilltoppers are on a
hot streak after having a subpar start to the season (7-11, 3-2 HC). The team turned the season around (10-2, 90 HC since) beginning with a win against St. Mary’s and claimed their third straight Heartland Conference Championship. Freshman Mary McNamara said the team managed to move forwawrd because of hard work and cohesion. “After the St. Mary’s game where we came back and won in five – that was definitely when we brought out our competitive side,” McNamara said. “We came together and realized how good of a team we can be.” McNamara also attributed the turnaround to the leadership on the team from junior Ashley Vander Hey and sophomore Michelle Hundt, both on the court and in the locker room.
Men’s Soccer
The St. Edward’s men’s soccer team finished the regular season with a 10-5-2 overall record and a 6-2 record in the Heartland Conference. The Toppers pulled out a win against 17th ranked Eastern New Mexico and a tie against the second-ranked Midwestern State after losing to the latter in the first match-up this season. Dushane Ashman, a junior defender, said that he knew the soccer team was going to be good the moment the team won against Eastern New Mexico. “They were ranked in the nation,” Ashman said. “We were down one to nothing, and we came back and won it three to one, and that’s when I knew we were going to be really good.” Ashman said the team’s leadership has helped players succeed this season. “(Goalie) Matt Moore is definitely the team leader on this team,” Ashman said. “He yells a lot, and he’s very vocal in the locker room. But I’m also pretty vocal in the locker room so I would have to say I am a leader too.”
SPORTS | Page 11
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Cowboys coach knocked off horse Russ Espinoza respino2@stedwards.edu
At season’s beginning, Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones waxed rhapsodic and entertained utopian visions of an extravagant and unprecedented homecoming for “America’s Team” at this years’ Super Bowl in Dallas. In hindsight, Jones would sound dramatically less delusional had he been discussing the 0-8 Buffalo Bills. The ignominy of the Cowboy’s disgraceful midseason record of 1-7 has the football world entranced and confused in dual measure. The wretchedly ugly play of the NFL’s most valuable and recognizable franchise, which has appeared in eight Super Bowls with five victories, would be the equivalent to the New York Yankees (both rich in legacy and perpetually attractive on paper) lurching into the All-Star break at 10-71. Torrents of questions and criticisms have been kicked up into a blinding dust storm by fans and media alike surrounding where to assign blame—or how swiftly the axe should fall. Well, the axe finally fell, and it do so finally, mercifully on poor, likeable Wade Phillips. “Enigmatic” represents the
Associated Press
The Cowboys fell 1-7 after a loss to the Packers.
group who allowed 15.6 points-per-game last season, but 29 points-per-game in 2010. The sick wedding of
This year, the Cowboys were supposed to be different.”
most obvious designation the Cowboys’ have earned thus far under Phillips, who received the pink slip Monday after an embarrassing 45-7 primetime loss to the Green Bay Packers. How is one to reconcile the disparity between the Cowboy’s 33-15 record during Phillips’ first three seasons against this year’s horrendous start? Astonishingly, the Cowboys returned 10 of 11 defensive starters from 2009’s 115 playoff team—a manic
Dallas’ porous defensive— for which Phillips called the plays—to its knack for illtimed penalties and celebratory theatrics reflects why the Cowboys are chained to their worst start since the Cowboys first season under owner Jerry Jones. Of course, the 1989 Cowboys were akin to displaced children from a broken home: the team’s legendary hat-donning patriarch, Tom Landry, fizzled out the year before, and new owner Jerry
Jones and new head coach Jimmy Johnson took over the franchise. The team, very much in transition then, blundered its way to a 1-15 record with rookie quarterback Troy Aikman under center. But this year’s Cowboys were supposed to be different. The expectations were high. Instead, the Cowboys have illustrated that any good train wreck must be replete with valuable cargo: the Cowboy legacy, a proud and avid fan base, a prettyboy quarterback, egomaniacal wide receivers, and a Steinbrennian incarnate— Jerry Jones—catatonically slumped in the owners’ box, and, of course, those lofty aspirations. Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo’s fractured left clavicle sustained against the New York Giants was a mere twist of the knife for
an already-hemorrhaging team full of talent but lacking in the win column. Firing the head coach was standard operating procedure with a team this mired. Indeed, making the change is always the most convenient and most sensible option in lieu of broadly razing coordinators and releasing conspicuous dead weight personnel—which would yield far more upheaval. But Jones’ rationale for keeping Phillips dangling was largely financial since he contractually owes Phillips money, and was only marginally tethered to his ethos of not changing coaches mid-season. Though the decision violated his code, and will slightly undermine the holy bottom-line, Jones took drastic but necessary action by firing Phillips. However it happened, it turned out that Phillips’ message and methods were dead on arrival this season: the abundant penalties and lack of discipline chiefly signaled a void in central leadership. Coach Wade certainly does not come complete with a temperament to assert, yell, or intimidate a team this dysfunctional bac to respectability. Coach Wade’s predecessor, Bill Parcells, was such a coach, but the Cowboys (although with largely different personnel and coming off of several losing seasons) went a stagnant 34-30 under his direction for four seasons. It is safe to assume that even a draconian taskmaster like Parcells couldn’t have significantly curtailed the penalties, brain-lapses and unwarranted bravado out of a team so undisciplined. Ultimately, whether it is a holding call to nullify a game-winning touchdown in Washington, or crippling excessive celebration penalties in back-to-back close games, or even the general lethargy on display in humiliating losses to Jacksonville and Green Bay, the Cowboys seem to have quit this year, and needed a change.
FEATURES
Page 12 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Project spurs creativity
Finishing a novel in one month is considered by many to be a daunting task, so the organizers of NaNoWriMo in Austin have scheduled a number of opportunities for participants to get together and share in the experience. More information is available online at nanowrimo.org
Asta Thrastardottir athrast@stedwards.edu
Every year, November brings chilly weather, Thanksgiving and NaNoWriMo. National Novel Writing Month is an annual novelwriting project in which participants are challenged to complete a 50,000-word original novel project in one month. The purpose of the project is to encourage people to write, especially the ones who have thought about writing a novel but are daunted by the time and energy commitment associated with doing so. It encourages professionals and amateurs alike to dedicate one month to writing an entire novel. NaNoWriMo was founded in San Francisco, Calif., when a few friends began what they called “noveling.” This creative writing goal began 12 years ago with only 21 participants in the first year. The friends sat around, loaded up on junk food and caffeine and typed away at their computers for hours on end. “[We] wanted to write novels for the same dumb reasons twenty-somethings start bands,” said founder Chris Baty on the NaNoWriMo website. “Because we wanted to make noise. Because we didn’t have anything better to do. And because we thought that, as novelists, we would have an easier time getting dates than we did as nonnovelists.” When the project first began, the writing month was July, but it was moved to November in the second year “to more fully take advantage of the miserable weather.” NaNoWriMo’s popularity has been growing over the years, and in 2009 nearly 170,000 people wrote over 2.4 billion words in the event. To participate, students can go to the website, sign up and begin writing. A participant must start from scratch—
Writing events Nov. 10 | 8 p.m.
Nov. 22 | 2 p.m.
Write-in at La Madeleine
Hampton Library write-in
6:30p.m. Nov.11 | 10 a.m.
Pflugerville write-in
Write-in Red Table Coffee
7:30p.m.
8:00p.m.
Write-in at Austin Java Co.
Write-in at Strange Brew
Nov. 23 | 6 p.m. Nov. 12 | 1 p.m. Hampton Library Write-in
Round Rock Write-in
7:00p.m. Write-in at Genuine Joe’s
Nov. 14 | 12 p.m. Leander Write-In
Nov. 24 | 8 p.m. Write-in at La Madeleine
Nov. 15 | 2 p.m. Wikimedia Commons A tidy workspace can be essential to keeping one’s thoughts in order while writing.
nothing written before Nov. 1 is allowed in the novel. If 50,000 words of fiction are written by Nov. 30 at midnight, the participant “wins,” no matter if the story follows any real plotline or central idea. To quote the website: “Win or lose, you rock for even trying.” The project is about quantity, not quality. The word count of 50,000 words in one month equals to 1,667 words a day, every day. Due to the time crunch, the project forces participants to stop overanalyzing each sentence and just write, without being afforded the luxury of obsessing over the quality of the work. There are no prizes for completing the novel except personal satisfaction and a certificate. The main goal is simply to accomplish the challenging feat and end the project as a novelist. The list of reasons for participation on the website is long: “To actively participate in one of our era’s most enchanting art forms! To be able to make obscure refer-
ences to passages from our novels at parties. To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.” The website says that past participants “started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle school English teachers. They walked away novelists.” NaNoWriMo veterans have a lot of tips on how to make it through the month. Many claim that they could not have done it without the community forums, and without the company of the supporters who are also engaged in NaNoWriMo. There are various groups that meet all over the country during the month of November to help and encourage people to continue writing, ensuring that participants don’t have to go through the seemly impossible task of writing a novel in one month alone. Another thing veterans encourage newcomers to do it just write and not edit; editing the novel slows down the
process and causes participants to lose a lot of precious writing time. Former winners encourage having a plot or some sort of outline mapped out, so as to not get stuck suffering from writer’s block. Many also encourage the idea “Write or Die,” emphasizing the importance of the self-discipline it takes to sit down and write for hours out of the day. NaNoWriMo claims to be a creative process that welcomes and rewards any writer willing to take up the challenge. In fact, one novel created during the month, Sarah Gruen’s “Flying Changes,” was even a New York Times bestseller. Anyone who has always wanted to write a novel but was too afraid to try now has a chance to show and improve his or her creative ability through this project. The task is not impossible, as proved by the many people who have finished it. It just takes time, discipline and, as veterans say, more than a few cups of coffee.
Hampton Library write-in
Nov. 28 | 2 p.m.
6:30p.m.
Write-in Cafe Caffeine
Pflugerville write-in
7:30p.m.
Nov. 29 | 2 p.m.
Write-in at Austin Java Co.
Hampton Library write-in
6:30p.m. Nov. 16 | 6 p.m.
Pflugerville write-in
Round Rock Write-in
7:30p.m.
7:00p.m.
Write-in at Austin Java Co.
Write-in at Genuine Joe’s
Nov. 30 | 9 p.m. Nov. 17 | 8 p.m.
Last-chance write-in
Write-in at La Madeleine
Dec. 6 | 6:30 p.m. Nov. 18 | 10 a.m.
Pflugerville wrap-up party
Write-in Red Table Coffee
8 p.m. Write-in at Strange Brew
Nov. 19 | 1 p.m. Hampton Library Write-in
Nov. 20 | 2 p.m. Write-in: Wells Branch
Nov. 21 | 2 p.m. Write-in Cafe Caffeine
Daily: Online chats at 9 p.m.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 10, 2010
‘Tique of the Week
Matthew Frazier This Oliver Standard Visible Typewriter No. 3 dates back nearly 110 years.
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.” An unusual gift from a St. Edward’s University professor sparked our interest and has become this week’s ‘Tique of the Week. When jokingly asking for the typewriter she noticed on Bro. George Klawitter’s desk, junior Lainey Murphy got more than she expected when she was given the Oliver Standard Visible Typewriter No. 3. The machine, which has traveled throughout Klawitter’s family for years, recently found its way to Austin from California. Although the 22-pound typewriter, which dates back to 1901, is able to properly compose any last-
minute papers, Murphy says she has yet to “carefully oil the machine and reassemble the ink ribbons.” The keys show a bit of wear and tear, and only 28 remain, showing fast fingers have been using it for nearly 110 years. The history of this machine dates back even longer than Klawitter’s model.
typing process and keep often-used-together letters away from each other. This is how today’s modern “QWERTY” keyboard came to be. After all of the kinks were worked out, the typewriter quickly became a staple in homes, offices and places of business around the world. As long as the user didn’t make any mis-
FEATURES | Page 13
Festival provided edibles both tasty and unusual Kelli O’Donnell kodonne3@stedwards.edu
Austin played host to the first Gypsy Picnic Trailer Food Festival on Saturday at Auditorium Shores. The festival featured over 30 mobile food vendors, local live music and a cook-off. With new food trailers appearing almost daily in different areas of Austin, it is no surprise that a variety of these vendors seized the opportunity to come together for an afternoon to let Austinites experience a selection of trailer food cuisine. Admission to the festival was free of charge, allowing local foodies to spend their money on the unique cuisine, which ranged from cherry doughnut holes to green chili chicken empanadas and crawfish pie. Some of the most popular trailers at the festival included:
Gourdough’s
Big fat doughnuts are the exact words to describe these delicious treats. Whoever thought to put bacon and maple syrup on a big fried doughnut (known as the “Flying Pig”) won over the hearts and stomachs of many
at the festival. Apart from offering their popular “Flying Pig,” Gourdough’s also offered “Cherry Bombs,” sweet little doughnut holes covered with cherry sauce and cake batter.
Short Bus Subs
Short Bus Subs features some of the most celebrated hot sandwiches in Austin. One of their most popular deli offerings is “The Bully”: salami, pepperoni, capicola, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, oregano, and peperoncini all on toasted wheat bread. Short Bus Subs is always on the move, driving to local businesses for lunch, downtown for late night snacks and other various Austin locales. Locations by day can be found on the Short Bus Subs website.
Mmmpanadas
The pumpkin-filled empanadas from Mmmpanadas were the big hit of the day, selling out quickly. Customers then turned to the green chili chicken empanadas, which combined a fresh and spicy chicken and chillies inside a warm and flaky crust. The soy chorizo with Brie empanada was also a popular option, and could fool meat eaters with its hearty soy fill-
ing. Mmmpanadas also offers pineapple cinnamon, mango ginger, s’mores, spicy black bean, and BBQ chopped beef empanadas.
Coolhaus
This roving ice cream trailer offers delectable and original ice cream flavors in between freshly baked cookies for an unbelievable ice cream sandwich. Some of their flavors include “dirty mint,” butter bacon, lambrusco, balsamic fig, mascarpone, and chocolate chipotle. With 30-plus vendors at the event, it was difficult for festival-goers to try everything, but these trailers stood out by serving some of the most creative trailer food cuisine. Festival-goers were also privy to the news that the well-known barbecue restaurant Salt Lick will be going mobile and serving their famous meats out of a trailer located at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Rio Grande Street. The trailer will also offer sloppy nachos, tacos, quesadillas, and beef or smoked chicken grilled cheese sandwiches, and is set to open Nov. 10.
The machine... recently found its way to Austin from California.” Christopher Latham Sholes patented the first useable typewriter in 1868. Other versions of the machine had been previously attempted, but were not practical for everyday use. Typists did notice, however, that Sholes’ keyboard often jammed and was frustrating to use. James Densmore, a colleague of Sholes, came up with the solution of splitting up the keys and rearranging them to slow down the
takes, the machine was a huge convenience and cost around $100 around the time it was first released in the 19th century. Adjusting for time and inflation, this would equate to about $1,500 in 2010, whichsounds about right for the cost of a new Mac today. When asked if her new typewriter had any interesting history, Murphy replied, “It typed up the first known copy of the Constitution... Just kidding.”
Kelli O’Donnell
The Gypsy Picnic Trailer Food Festival celebrated unique cuisines in Austin.
VIEWPOINTS
Page 14 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, November 10, 2010
OUR VIEW
Motorcycle helmet laws need change Many people have the dream of hopping on a motorcycle, revving up a too-loud-tobe-comfortable engine, and cruising down the road with the sun on your face and the wind in your hair. But many don’t consider that choosing the wind in your hair over a protective helmet could be a fatal choice. In 2009, 426 people involved in a motorcycle accident died in Texas, according to the National Highway Traffic Administration. Out of all of those people, 275 were not wearing a helmet. Furthermore, the NHSA
estimated that 105 of those people could have survived if they were wearing a helmet. Texas is one of 20 states,
cycle simply need a motorcycle health insurance plan or a training and safety course. Just as in other cases, like
It’s time to forget the aesthetics of riding a motorcycle sans a helmet. in addition to the District of Columbia, that does not require helmets for motorcyclists aged 21 years or older. In Texas, a majority of people who are able to ride a motor-
the ability to carry a concealed handgun, a safety and training course can be appropriate. However, when it comes to riding a motorcycle, how does a training and safe-
ty course prepare a person for a collision with the pavement or with another vehicle? In 2009, The New York Times reported that a study by the University of Michigan revealed that states that implement a mandatory helmet law experience a 30 percent decrease in motorcycle fatalities. The study, “Donorcycles: Do Motorcycle Helmet Laws Reduce Organ Donations?” also found that motorcycle fatalities are the number one source for donated organs because, other than the head, the organs are usually in great condition.
In the case of helmet laws, statistics reveal just how ineffective current law is when it comes to motorcycle accident fatalities. Of the 426 people who died last year in Texas, only 20 were under the age of 21, while 282 were between the ages of 21 and 49. Although the latter figure represents more age groups, it speaks for the effectiveness of the current helmet law. Individuals who do not have to wear a helmet run a higher risk of dying in an accident. Enacting a stricter helmet law would also help to create a generally accepted so-
cial norm. There was once a time when seat belts weren’t required in cars. Now, seat belts might be a little uncomfortable for some, but for most people, and especially for younger generations, wearing one has become second nature. It’s time to forget the aesthetics of riding a motorcycle sans a helmet. Not to say that a helmet will save your life every time–nearly half of all motorcyclists in fatal accidents are wearing a helmet. But, at the end of the day, a helmet could be the only thing between life and death.
Opposing Viewpoints: Austin’s growing bike scene FOR Mary Fisher mfisher@stedwards.edu
I consider myself lucky because a car has only hit me once during my nearly four years of bike riding in Austin. I have been tapped a couple times, most recently because a taxi decided it would be a good idea to put the car in reverse when stopped at a red light. But compared to all my other bike-riding friends, I’m in good shape. The frequency that cyclists are hit seems strange, considering that Austin is known for being a bike-friendly city. Compared to Portland, Austin does not seem bike friendly at all. In Portland, drivers are extremely aware of their two-wheeled friends. They stop where bike trials intersect main streets to let bikers pass, maybe because Portland is a smaller city, or because the majority of the population bikes. Whatever the reason, most cyclists dream of Portland. Admittedly, cyclists can do crazy things. Or, more accurately, they may appear to do crazy things. However, there is usually a reason behind our craziness. Take, for example,
why cyclists weave in and out of busy city traffic, doing anything they can to keep from stopping. Cyclists need to keep pedaling to maintain efficiency. It is especially difficult for people on single speeds or fixed gear bikes to regain momentum once stopped. Single-speed riders have to work extra hard to pedal up hills, which happen to be abundant in Austin. In many cases, cyclists will have to stop completely if they cannot maintain their speed and momentum biking up Austin’s hills. They physically cannot continue to pedal. Stopping at stop signs or traffic lights makes it harder to start moving again because of the lack of momentum. Therefore, when cyclists stop, it actually slows down all the cars behind them. For this same reason, when cars are stopped at a traffic light, cyclists will usually bike in between the traffic lanes until they reach the intersection. Though cyclists may seem crazy, it is all about efficiency and safety. All cyclists ask is that you be aware of them. There are the select few who bike for the adrenaline rush, but the majority of us advocate ef-
ficiency and safety, not recklessness. We try to stay in the bike lines, which is not always possible if buses or debris are in the way. In those cases, we will take up the entire lane because almost no one abides by Austin’s threefoot ordinance, which states that all cars need to maintain a three-foot distance from cyclists. No cyclist is going to attempt to take on a two-ton machine—we know who will win.
AGAINST Patrick Jones pjones4@stedwards.edu
Most Austinites are used to the sight of bicyclists by now. What was once a fairly rare specimen in Houston, Dallas and San Antonio has migrated to central Texas and flourished. It seems there are more cyclists every year in our fair city. As the allure of bicycling grows stronger for more people, a certain number
Stock Image
The number of bicycles in Austin increases each year
of cyclists are determined to promote and maintain a “culture of cool” around their mode of transportation. You often see them brazenly cutting through traffic or running red lights. You often smell them at parties. And you often hear their drunken elegies to their dearly departed fixed-gear bike, not unlike some 50-something dad’s preening quasi-erotic poetry about his classic Mustang. Bicycling has been elevated from a way to get around to a subculture—a lifestyle even. The invention and popularization of the bicycle at the end of the 19th century promised mobility. Not only was it faster than walking, but social movements like women’s suffrage were greatly aided by the bicycle. Bicycles were the ultimate in egalitarianism: if one put in enough work, anyone could ride a bicycle to wherever he or she wanted. Over a century later, bicycles are “cool.” Many young people flock to bike co-ops and repair programs to learn maintenance and eventually get a bike of their own. Many participants in these programs, unfortunately,
are unhelpful and rude. Bicyclists themselves mirror this exclusivity and pompousness. Something can’t be cool if everyone thinks it is, right? After all, bicycles are as much a status symbol to us as expensive cars were to previous generations. For us college-age young adults, bicycling means we “don’t really need a car to get places,” or we “want to exercise more,” or we “like French stuff.” Essentially it’s the same thing as the generational flair of being environmentally friendly. Bicycling is not inherently a bad thing. Alternatives to the automobile should certainly be encouraged, but I don’t see people taking to the light rail in north Austin with the same cultish fury of lifestyle bicyclists. So, bicyclists of Austin, I beg of you: please stop being so full of yourselves. Bicycles are a means of transportation, not a lifestyle. And if the bicycling lifestyle really is a superior way to do things, why not be more helpful to those trying to improve themselves? Also, stop running red lights and stop signs.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 10, 2010
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Fat acceptance movement deserves skepticism Ben Osheyack bosheya@stedwards.edu
A developing civil rights movement has recently fallen into the public eye, and it can’t get up. The Fat Acceptance Movement, also known as the Fat Liberation Movement or Fat Power, is a civil rights movement calling for the cessation of negative attitudes towards overweight persons. The movement began in the 1960s, with the 1967 “fat-in” as its first widely known rally. In Central Park, a group of approximately 500 people gathered to burn dieting books and eat together. Currently, the FAM influences many blogs and ‘zines against fat discrimination. Contemporary groups like
the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance provide special needs scholarships and host rallies for fat acceptance. While it is safe to say that most people are against the discrimination of any group, a closer look at some of the claims made by fat acceptance groups may shed the weight of discrimination. The movement claims that there is rampant prejudice against overweight persons in the workplace. According to the website of the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance, a 2007 study of over 2,800 Americans found that the likelihood of reporting weight-based employment discrimination compared to ‘normal’ weight adults was 12 times more
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The movement also claims that healthiness and obesity are not mutually exclusive.” likely for overweight adults, 37 times more likely for obese persons and 100 times more likely for severely obese adults. However, the website does not provide citations for the study or the statistics. Discrimination against the overweight may be present in the workplace, but this group is not supplying proof of it in a credible fashion. The NAAFA website also states, “some companies are planning to regularly charge overweight employees unless they meet standards for weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure.” Again, these facts are devoid of references or examples. Furthermore, jobs that have certain physical requirements do so because those lacking a particular level of physical prowess would perform the
job poorly. For example, firefighters, police officers and EMS teams need to be able to move and act quickly to provide the services for which they are paid. If overweight individuals could perform physically demanding tasks at the same proficiency as individuals at normal weights, the requirements would not be there. As mentioned before, some of the foremost claims of the movement are those against anti-fat legislation, commonly known as the fat tax. Fat taxes, like those in Alabama and South Carolina, are surcharges levied on foods that undergo heavy amounts of processing. The purpose of these taxes is to discourage the consumption of foods that contribute to obesity. Groups like the International
Size Acceptance Association claim that these taxes are a slight against overweight and obese individuals. While it is true that the decreased consumption of these foods will in effect change the person that an overweight individual is, the purpose of the tax is not to force them into a skinnier society. The taxes are present to create a healthier, longer-living populace. In the same way that smokers continue to buy tobacco products that are detrimental to their health despite the considerable tax, those who enjoy eating unhealthy foods must pay a luxury fee for them. The movement also claims that healthiness and obesity are not mutually exclusive. The practice of Health at Every Size, a lifestyle proposed by a professor at Michigan State University, is widely promoted by FAM groups. The HAES dogma states that people should practice self-acceptance with no regard for their weight, discard regimens for eating and “[relearn] to eat in response to physiologic hunger and full-
ness cues. Additionally, physical activity should “support increasing social, pleasurebased movement for enjoyment and enhanced quality of life.” HAES promotes a passive system to become healthy and leaves the definition of what a healthy person is up to the individual. While a considerable number of health experts support the HAES system, many say that a more regimented path is necessary to achieve physical well-being. As of 2007, the United States holds the world record for the obese and overweight, with 74 percent of adults classified as such. As such, it is difficult to view this group as an oppressed minority. The fact is, overeating is a choice made by a person, and the consequences are his or her own responsibility. It is not an inherent quality outside of the realms of human control. You can be your own person and be fat if you want to. But people reserve the right to judge you, and that is your weight to carry.
Nicole Ryder Advertising Designer Daniel De Los Santos Christina Villarreal Photo Editors Sharla Kew Videographer Arianna Auber Copy Chief Wendy Cawthon Stephanie Grogan Danny Salazar Anna Whitney Copy Editors Samantha Littlepage Advertising Manager Gio Reyes Business Manager Jena Heath Faculty Adviser
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.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Hilltop Views, The sensationalized headline “Half of graduates jobless” that appeared in the November 3rd Hilltop Views may have left readers with an inaccurate picture of employment prospects for our students. The statistics quoted in the article were accurate but left out other factors that affect the percentage of students employed at the time this survey was administered. It is important to understand that students complete this survey six weeks before their graduation date – a time when many students have not yet completed and/or begun their job search. According to
the National Association of Colleges and Employers 2010 Student Survey, only 24.4% of students had secured a job upon graduation. Looking at that survey result, St. Edward’s students are actually tracking ahead of the national average. Additional statistics provided by St. Edward’s Office of Institutional Research show that 82% of St. Edward’s alumni are gainfully employed within a year of graduation and only 4.9% actively seeking employment. Career Services recently developed the Beyond the Hilltop survey to better understand the post-graduation plans of our graduating seniors at the point of
graduation. This tool will further help us enhance the programming and services we currently provide. The Career Services staff has long understood the struggles of the job search process especially in a challenging economy. Each year we connect more than 700 students and alumni to internship and employment opportunities through our Fall Internship Fair, Spring Job & Internship Fair as well as numerous employer information sessions from industries that have job opportunities in the Central Texas area. Career Services maintains constant communication with local employers and has facilitated over 1,000 internship and
job postings on our Hilltop Careers database with the goal of connecting students to opportunities. This past year, Career Services conducted 2,842 one-on-one appointments and over 50 workshops specifically geared toward developing resumes and cover letters and creating successful strategies for networking, job searching and interviewing. The extensive individual counseling in these areas are also just as important to securing employment as the direct connections provided to employers. Thank you for your time.
Barbara Henderson barbarah@sttedwards.edu Director, Career Services
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Photos by Holly Aker
Wednesday, November 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views