Hilltop Views S t .
E d w a r d ’ s
U n i v e r s i t y
Wednesday, April 14 , 2010
Volume 27 | Issue 10
The St. 9 Sports: Edward’s baseball team posts another win.
Austin’s 8 Entertainment: Psych Fest offers psychedelic distraction before finals week sets in.
hilltopviewsonline.com
Learn 12 Features: how to cook a
meal at four local Austin stores.
Campus faculty short on racial diversity Claire Cella
The diversity of the St. Edward’s University student body has always been a key selling point for incoming freshmen, but statistics show students won’t find the same diversity in their professors.
St. Edward’s has been recognized for its ability to promote and maintain an ethnically diverse student body. In 2006, The New York Times named the university to its “Colleges of Many Colors” list. The faculty, however, is a
different story. TerriLynn Varner, assistant professor of Humanities, is one of two African-American professors in the school, and one of four at the entire university. She said St. Edward’s is lacking in its representation of persons of color and
knows that the university is well aware of the issue. “While, I do believe that [St. Edward’s] is working on its commitment to significantly increase the diversity of our full- and part-time faculty, more still needs to be done,” she said. “They need to
break the glass ceiling.” The Numbers As of November 2009, Haven Street-Allen, director of Human Resources, said 11 percent of the 187 full-time faculty at St. Edward’s were members of minority groups. Within this group of 187, 54
are tenured and of these 54, 20 are women, 15 are minorities and none are African American, Street-Allen said. In comparison, 54.9 percent of the undergraduate population is white, while DEANS | 4
Garcia elected president Haleigh Svoboda In a landslide victory, sophomore Blanca Garcia and junior Krista Heiden will be the new president and vice president, respectively, of the Student Government Association. With 67 percent of the vote, Garcia and Heiden defeated the ticket of senior Hannah Kurtzweil and sophomore Samantha Cook, which received 33 percent of the vote. Garcia and Heiden more than doubled the raw vote tally of Kurtzweil and Cook, 488 votes to 240. “We feel very privileged; we worked so hard for this,” Heiden said. “There is a long list of things we want to do.” Garcia said the pair has a lot of work to do to represent students’ interests. “Right now, Krista and I need to sit down and develop a plan of what they want to work on first so they do not
have to back track,” Garcia said. “We will focus first on the students and start a plan, and we will start it before the end of the semester.” When she is officially sworn into office, Garcia will become the first junior to serve in the position since Lucy Garcia, who served as president during both the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 academic year. Total voter turnout appears to be down 25 percent from last year. This year’s election had an estimated 770 voters as opposed to the 2009 election, which had 1,052. However, there were also five competitive races last year as opposed to just two competitive races this year. Kurtzweil and Cook also did not begin campaigning until six days into the campaign cycle. “We got off to a slow start,” Kurtzweil said. “I went on a trip with my class for a week during Easter break. In all
Big Event unites students
honesty, Krista and Blanca will be great presidents and vice presidents next year.” The Student Government Constitution and Student Bill of Rights also passed with more than 85 percent in favor. This was the first year a constitutional referendum was put in place since 1999. The only other contested race was among three candidates vying for the two sophomore senate positions. Olivia Bouree and Andrew Guerrero won the spots with 38 percent and 34 percent of the vote, respectively. The third candidate, Fremen DeRuvo received 28 percent of the vote. All three are currently serving as freshman senators. The new SGA officers will take office May 1 and will be officially sworn in when the fall 2010 semester begins. hsvobod@stedwards.edu
Christina Villarreal This past weekend, 230 students, faculty and staff volunteered at over 14 residential sites in the Austin area. For the full article on the Big Event, see page 3.
Page 2 | NEWS
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 | Hilltop Views
SGA approves commuter meal plan relief proposal Haleigh Svoboda The Student Government Association has approved a measure to give 10 students $200 each to offset the cost of the newly required commuter meal plan for the 2010-2011 academic year. Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs Chris Duke authored the bill, and junior Executive Senator Mimi Valladarez and Behavioral and Social Sciences Senator Eric Bustos sponsored the legislation. The three worked together to allocate some of SGA’s remaining budget for this year to help alleviate the burden of the new meal plan mandate for students with difficult financial circumstances. “It is paramount that SGA
Christina Villarreal
Students are unable to buy entrée items in Texenza.
continues to highlight the ongoing commuter meal plan fiasco by providing immediate relief to students disproportionately affected by this non-industry standard mandate, and by other polices that continue nickel and dime students,” Duke said. In addition to the commuter meal plan, students will be unable to purchase entrée
items in Texenza after Auxiliary Services Director Mike Stone asked the coffee shop to hold the line on expansion to food items like pizza and pancakes. “They were becoming too much like a deli,” Stone said. “We want them to focus on what they do best.” The plan is currently awaiting final approval from Asso-
ciate Vice President of Student Financial Affairs Doris Constantine. In the April 8 senate meeting the author and sponsors of the bill, S.B. 17: Hilltopper Community Relief Act, opted to bypass the normal procedure by approving the measure on the floor without going through the committee hearing process. Applications are currently available and will be taken through April 23 from traditional commuter undergraduate students who feel they have an extraordinary financial circumstance. So far, three people have e-mailed Duke showing interest. “After we heard and read people’s stories and how it was directly affecting them, we had to help,” Valladarez
Residence Life and SGA clash Haleigh Svoboda Residence Life is pushing back against Student Government’s efforts to create residence-based represenation. In an e-mail, Residence Life Director Dave Rozeboom asked SGA to rescind legislation creating eight senate seats for the eight residence halls on campus. That is unlikely to happen, however as the residence-based represenation is now part of the SGA constitution, which was approved by students by an overwhelming margin in week-long election which concluded on Monday. Residence Life, however, was reluctant about the idea from the beginning because, among other things, the office already has a paid staff and an elected Residence Hall Association intended to address resident concerns. Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs Chris Duke said that Residence Life wanted SGA to rescind
the bill after Duke missed two scheduled meetings with Rozeboom and his staff regarding the legislation. SGA President Meghan Kuentz, a former Residence Hall Association officer, said that not working with Residence Life or failing to rescind the bill could have negative consequences for SGA. “[Rozeboom] can prevent us from using their space to do any sort of meetings,” Kuentz said during the April 8 senate meeting. “He can forbid us from marketing. He can stop the resident assistants from advocating on our behalf.” Duke said that he has no idea how he would go about rescinding the bill if it were to come to that. Duke said he apologized to Rozeboom on April 9 in person and hopes the conversation will move forward. “Mistakes have been made on my end and the associations end and I hope we can move forward,” Duke said.
Rozeboom could not be reached for comment. Duke also apologized to SGA during the April 8 meeting for not fulfilling his obligations. “In senate, I wanted to explain what was going on, on the record,” Duke said. “I hope that my failures don’t become SGA’s failures.” But then things got heated. After Duke’s apology, Management and Business School Senator Robert Price said that he did not support rescinding the bill. “I want to say that I will never rescind this bill, so Rozeboom can stick it up his (expletive,)” Price said. Afterward, SGA issued a press release condemning Price’s comment. “Senator Price spoke up to express his dissatisfaction with the conversations between SGA, RHA, and Residence Life,” the press release said. “Senator Price spoke out before considering how his opinion would be received by his fellow senators, the di-
rectors, staff, and students working with Residence Life, and the entire student body. The Association as a whole does not agree with or support the statement or opinion of Senator Price.” Price later said that he was not thinking and that the comment just slipped out. “It was not an attack on [Rozeboom], who I do not personally know,” Price said. Price said that he plans on apologizing to Rozeboom, but said he will not apologize for stating his opinion. “I am not apologizing for my opinion, but for the words I used,” Price said. “It was an unprofessional thing to say in a professional setting.” After making these comments, Price is considering resigning from SGA. “In my mind, I’d rather resign than apologize or redact my statements,” Price said. hsvobod@stedwards.edu
said. Currently, SGA is in talks with Constantine on how best to offer the students the $200. Valladarez initially had the idea and wanted to take the remaining budget and apply it to all students, but she said she realized that the difference made was insignificant. Valladarez said she was then approached by Bustos, who said that the relief should be given out as a scholarship. “While we were unable to help all students affected, my hope is that the Hilltopper Commuter Relief Act of 2010 will help those student that are struggling the most,” said Bustos. SGA considered giving students Visa gift cards, but the organization believed there
was too much liability with allowing students complete freedom in spending the money. The plan that was proposed in the legislation is to give students the amount in Topper Tender. Another proposal would have the $200 applied as a credit to their tuition, directly offsetting the cost of the required meal plan. Duke said that this is in line with the organization’s previous stance on the imposition of fees on students. “SGA has firmly come down on opposing fees in the past three years,” Duke said, “The commuter meal plan was the last straw.” Applications will be available in the SGA office. hsvobod@stedwards.edu
CAMPUS BRIEF
Police have leads on campus burglary suspect Tristan Hallman The Edward’s University Police Department is close to catching a burglary suspect, according to UPD Chief Rudolph Rendon. “We have leads strong enough to warrant creating a lineup for our victims to identify the suspect,” Rendon said. Surveillance cameras photographed a man entering Ladybird Johnson Hall through a malfunctioning door after trying three other buildings. A student saw the suspect, who fled before taking any items. Rendon said the supect might be connected to another burglary at the University of Texas at Austin. If the suspect is iden-
tified, UPD will apply for a warrant, which will take time to obtain. UPD applied for a warrant on March 2 for Joshua Limon, who was apprehended while breaking into a car on campus, but did not receive the warrant until April 13. thallma2@stedwards. edu
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Police Blotter Date
Time
Incident
Not available
Not available
Burglary of vehicle
Location
NEWS | Page 3
Parking garage
Resolution Under investigation
Not available
Not available
Student conduct — excessive citations
On campus
Disciplinary referral
March 25
1:56 p.m.
Harassment
Off campus
Under investigation
March 26
1:33 p.m.
Criminal trespass
Parking lot adjacent to parking garage
Closed
March 27
9:41 a.m.
Disorderly conduct
Off campus
Closed
March 29
6:55 p.m.
Student conduct — excessive citations
Holy Cross Hall
Disciplinary referral
March 29-30
12 p.m.
Student conduct — excessive citations
Visitor parking lot behind bookstore
Disciplinary referral
March 30
3 p.m.
Theft
Parking lot near Woodward Office Building
Pending
April 1
8:32 p.m.
Driving while intoxicated
Assumption Cemetary
Closed
April 1-2
8 p.m.
Burglary of vehicle
Parking lot adjacent to Dujarié Hall
Pending
April 3
3:50 a.m.
Harassment
On-campus apartments
Disciplinary referral
April 4
Not available
Accident— hit and run
Parking lot behind RCC
Under investigation
April 6
12:01 a.m.
Accident— hit and run
On campus
Disciplinary referral
April 4-7
2:10 a.m.
Driving under the influence
On-campus apartments
Disciplinary referral
April 7
2:05 p.m.
Student conduct — excessive citations
On campus
Disciplinary referral
April 9
2:08 a.m.
Investigation
Ragsdale
Pending
April 9
4:14 p.m.
Criminal trespass warning
Fondren Hall
Closed
April 10
2:10 p.m.
Criminal trespass
Johnson Hall
Residential
April 11
4:10 a.m.
Consumption of alcohol by a minor
On-campus apartments
Pending
Students serve local residents Jake Hartwell This year’s Big Event service project, held April 10, contributed to the 125 volunteer service hours some St. Edward’s University students are trying to earn in celebration of the university’s 125th anniversary. “Big Event is a huge service event on campus, the biggest one we have,” junior Colleen White said. Students, faculty, staff and alumni gathered at 9 a.m. in front of the Alumni Gym to take part in this year’s Big Event, sponsored by the Student Government Association. After receiving a free breakfast and T-shirt, 230 volunteers of the 251 who signed up went in groups to 21 different sites. Volunteers went to professional and residential sites near campus. The professional sites were Capital Area Food Bank, St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Zilker Botanical Gardens, Umlauf Sculpture Gardens, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and New Generation Day Care. In addition to the professional sites, volunteers worked at 14 residential sites, homes in the Sherwood Oaks neighborhood close to St. Edward’s. “The residential sites are all like yard word, planting flowers, trimming bushes, window cleaning and stuff,” Director of Service Krista Heiden, junior, said. “Mainly we got a lot of letters from elderly people in the neighborhood, who wrote in saying how they couldn’t do it themselves.” Junior Julio Vazquez worked at one of the residential sites. “We just worked on cleaning up the lawn, just picking up weeds and stuff for around three hours,” Vazquez said. “I
felt like we contributed in a positive way because it was short, but we got a lot of stuff done.” Sophomore Brady Faglie worked at St. Ignatius. “We painted a couple of rooms and helped them out with that. It was very fulfilling,” Faglie said. “I really enjoyed it. I also got to know a lot of people that I didn’t know coming into the event.” Junior Joseph Luedecke is a member of the student organization, To Write Love on Her Arms, which is dedicated to finding help for people struggling with depression, anxiety, self-injury and suicide. He and his group worked at New Generation Day Care. “It was challenging, which was good. I was concerned we weren’t going to finish in time,” Luedecke said. “Serving just in general is something that I recommend, and this is great way to do it; it’s a safe way to do it.” Junior Lauren May helped clean a backyard and build a garden wall at one of the residential sites. “I’ve never seen this many people come out for Big Event,” May said. “I will totally be back next year. I think it’s an awesome cause. I hope it just gets bigger and bigger and bigger.” Volunteer groups started returning at 12:30 p.m. and were asked to fill out a survey, which Heiden said would be used to help improve the program in the future. After filling out the survey, volunteers received a coupon to Cabo Bob’s for a free taco, burrito or salad and a drink for the duration of the day. jhartwe@stedwards.edu
Page 4 | NEWS
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Deans discuss issues of diversity among faculty Continued from page 1
30.4 is Hispanic, 3.9 is African American and 10.9 is other ethnicities, according to the 2009-2010 FACT Book distributed by the Office of Institutional Research. The number of full-time minority faculty employed at St. Edward’s would have to almost quadruple to accurately reflect the diversity among the undergraduate students. The Reaction Sara Villanueva Dixon, an assistant professor of Hispanic heritage, said the diversity of faculty is not even close to representing the diversity of the students, especially in terms of the prominent Hispanic and Latino student population. Dixon said the mentor relationship between professors and students is influential in both the success and retention of students. She said it is important for students to have faculty that they can communicate with and relate to, and questioned whether the current faculty are able to
How the schools break down Humanities 64 full-time faculty · 2 African Americans · 1 Hispanic Natural Sciences 29 full-time faculty · 1 Hispanic Education 13 full-time faculty · 2 Hispanic Behavioral and Social Sciences 29 full-time faculty · 1 African American · 1 Hispanic · 1 Asian Management and Business 45 full-time faculty · 1 African American · 1 Hispanic · 2 Asian · 2 Indian
provide enough resources for students. Street-Allen said the university does not have a diversity quota in place, as some federal courts have found that such processes actually constitute reverse discrimination, but there is a general commitment to hire faculty with whom the diverse student population can identify. The diversity percentages have fluctuated over the years, Street-Allen said, but because St. Edward’s has a comparatively small population to start, it takes only a couple of people to change the statistics. Dixon suggested the university should specifically address the issue through a university-wide committee. “[A committee] would be able to be creative in terms of our hiring and recruitment process and figure out ways to achieve our goal,” she said. Recruitment and Hiring Sr. Donna Jurick, executive vice president and provost, said that she suspected that the university might never have a faculty that exactly reflects the diversity of the student body. “We wish we could do better, but it’s very difficult,” Jurick said. “I think we are trying very hard. We’re all interested and we’re all conscious of it.” She said numerous committees have informally looked at the issue over the years. St. Edward’s is currently looking to fill several faculty positions and a dean position. Every school within the university conducts its own hiring practices in partnership with Human Resources, Street-Allen said. HR first announces job openings on the university’s Web site, in the Chronicle of Higher Education and in other discipline-specific journals. Street-Allen said HR makes every effort to show
“We want to hire someone because they are a good teacher, not because they are a minority. Either way, you have to be even-handed in hiring. ” — Sr. Donna Jurick that St. Edward’s offers equal opportunities and is interested in recruiting minority applicants. Jurick said one of the ways St. Edward’s has been the most successful in hiring minority faculty is through maintaining close connections with post-doctorate researchers and adjunct professors. “They know us and they want to be here,” she said. “Those are situations in which [President] Martin and I are very supportive.” Varner said she started at St. Edward’s as an adjunct professor and was later offered a full-time position. She agreed that this is an ideal way to recruit minority faculty. HR also provides each school an extensive kit that guides search committees through hiring and includes faculty applications, a booklet of interview guidelines and best practices. Most of the school deans follow the kit almost exactly, but each also adopts their own practices for further evaluating applicants. Marsha Kelliher, dean of the School of Management and Business, said the campus visits are the most telling about how candidates will react in the classroom and fit within St. Edward’s. Overall, Jurick said St. Edward’s needs to remain legitimate in its hiring process, and should only hire when a position is necessary. She said that the university would never hire a minority for the sake of hiring a minority.
“We want to hire someone because they are a good teacher, not because they are a minority,” she said. “Either way, you have to be evenhanded in hiring. And you must hire in accord with what the school needs and with the particular position.” Dixon said increasing diversity is a challenge, but she thinks that there are ways to go about it without compromising laws, ethics or values. “Of course, first and foremost we want to hire trained and qualified faculty,” she said. “But I think diversifying needs to become a priority.” Cynthia Naples, dean of the School of Natural Sciences, said the school follows the law, tries to be fair to all applicants and find the best fit. The Competition Issue One of the contributing factors to the limited diversity at St. Edward’s is the institution’s focus on teaching and advising. Because St. Edward’s is small and strives to recruit professors who prefer teaching to research, the school deans said many applicants are lost to research institutions. In most cases, top-tiered research-based institutions are able to offer lighter teaching loads, more opportunities to pursue research and more financial support. Brenda Vallance, dean of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, said it is not the hiring processes at St. Edward’s that are the problem, but rather, the small initial applicant pools that lack diversity. “We are all running after
scarce resources in ethnically diverse Ph.D.s,” she said. Many of the deans noted that the faculty qualification for a Ph.D. degree eliminates many minority candidates because there are not as many minorities receiving Ph.D.s. Street-Allen said that within the total number of those who received Ph.D.s in 2009, only 9.6 percent were of African American and Hispanic descent. Dixon said minority students are still underrepresented on college campuses. She said that the differences in available opportunities, socioeconomic status, incomes and family expectations all potentially influence how many minority students are able to pursue bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. Jurick said St. Edward’s supports the McNair Scholarship program because it seeks to increase the number of minority students able to pursue higher education and thus, give them the opportunity to enter the job market with these degrees. St. Edward’s is not the only institution that struggles with faculty diversity either. A study in January at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology pointed to a significant need to increase the number of African-American and Hispanic professors in science and math depart-
ments. The study said faculty diversity is an issue that stretches across college campuses, and a number of other universities have reported similar findings at their own respective institutions. The Next Step Jurick said every dean is conscious of and encouraged to look at the issue. “Some disciplines are better at recruiting than others,” she said, “but I think we are all trying very hard.” While the university has a legal obligation to consider every applicant equally, regardless of gender or ethnicity, Varner and some of her colleagues feel they also have an obligation to ensure that students at St. Edward’s feel comfortable and that they can relate to the faculty that facilitate their education. Fr. Lou Brusatti, dean of Humanities, said he agrees and that the issue is at the front of his mind. Moving forward, he said he would like his department to better reflect the student body. “Diversity reflects the reality of what the United States is these days,” Brusatti said. “It’s an opportunity to hear other conversations in the world.” ccella@stedwards.edu
Corrections In the March 10 issue of Hilltop Views, there was an error in the article, “Environmental Club seeks to create green fee.” The figure indicating that the club needed 20 percent of the student body for approval was incorrect. The Environmental Club is looking to survey 20 percent of the students in order to judge how to move forward with the green fee. There were two errors in the Sports Section Top Ten in the March 24 issue of Hilltop Views. Cornell was defeated in the Sweet 16 and did not advance to the Elite Eight. Davidson was defeated in the Elite Eight and did not advance to the Championship game.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 14, 2010
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NEWS | Page 5
Fundreds still going strong Samuel Farias The Fundred Dollar Bill Project is still going strong, as both St. Edward’s University and the Austin communities come together to raise more money for the project’s mission. The Fundred Dollar Bill Project asks participants to create their own artistic representations of the U.S. $100 bills. The project provides templates for the bills, on which participants draw their own artistic expressions by hand. Each participant is allowed to submit one bill. The Fundred dollar bills are then mailed or given to a local collection site until the Fundred armored truck, which runs on waste vegetable oil, picks up the bills. The program raises money for neutralizing contaminated soil in New Orleans. The project’s founder, Mel Chin, came to the university to speak on behalf of the Fundred Dollar Bill Project. Chin, a renowned artist who was featured on the PBS series “ART21: Art of the Twenty-first Century,” created the Fundred Dollar Bill Project after visiting New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2006. At his address, Chin was hopeful, but realistic, about the fact that the project still has a ways to go. “Chin has been talking to every member of [the United States] Congress, one at a time—both democrats and republicans—to try to get the funding for the PayDirt project in New Orleans,” said Hollis Hammonds, assistant professor of art and Fundreds coordinator. The project supports Operation Paydirt, an organization that specifically targets the cleaning of New Orleans soil, as it is one of the most lead-contaminated cities in the United States. “[Project Paydirt] offers a
scientifically-proven method to neutralize hazardous lead that contaminates soil and compromises the health of children,” according to the Operation Paydirt Web site. The Fundred Dollar Bill Project is supporting Operation Paydirt by collecting 3 million Fundred bills that will ultimately be delivered to the U.S. Congress. Project leaders will request an even exchange of the 3 million Fundreds to obtain authentic funding of $3 million for Operation Paydirt. Chin said he is speaking with the Smithsonian and hopes that all of the Fundreds will become part of the museum’s collection. He also stressed that the Fundreds project is really a project for all people, not just the art world. The project had its first major push last month at St. Edward’s. On March 8, the Fine Arts department held a Fundred pick-up event where students and members of the Austin community were invited to enjoy music and baked goods. The bake sale at the event offered sweets in exchange for creative Fundreds cash only; no actual currency was accepted. “Our Fundred event went really well,” Hammonds said. “We turned in 3,000 Fundreds.” Hammonds added that the project is still going strong after the initial Fundreds pick-up. “We just distributed about 2,000 Fundreds at our recent Art and Community conference this [past] weekend to faculty and students at other universities in Texas who wanted to get involved,” Hammonds said. The Fundreds are scheduled to be delivered to Congress near the end of spring this year, and although the armored truck has already picked up the bills from St. Edward’s, the Fine Arts department will continue col-
lecting Fundreds through the spring semester. There might be other Austin pick-up events in the future, though none are officially scheduled yet. “There will definitely be more Fundred events on campus in the future,” Hammonds said. “If possible, we may do another bake sale before the semester ends, but if not, we will definitely have more events in the fall. We still need two million more Fundreds before they can be turned in to Congress, so the project doesn’t really end until at least three million Fundreds are drawn and collected.” Junior Nicole Ryder has been coordinating with other Texas schools and sites around Austin in order to get them involved in the project. “The project has been moving on steadily since the first pick-up,” Ryder said. “Faculty and students around Texas are still participating. Also, there are sites around Austin who have templates and drop boxes for those who would like to contribute, including Amy’s Ice Creams and Garden District [Coffehouse] on South Congress. ” Ryder added that, in addition to allowing drop boxes to be set up, Garden District Coffeehouse also donated vegetable oil for the Fundred armored truck to use to fuel its journey. The St. Edward’s Fine Arts department will continue to collect Fundreds until the project ends, though the end date is still unknown. “It is for a great cause, and we feel it is worth continuing our support of it,” Hammonds said. “We can really make a statement, make a difference. That is the main message at the heart of Fundreds, and St. Edward’s will continue to support the project until it is completed.” sfarias2@stedwards.edu
Page 6 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, April 14, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
ALBUM REVIEW
FILM REVIEW
Usher Raymond v. Raymond
Titans fails to succeed in 3D
Usher suffers growing pains
sound bad. The music is great, Usher’s vocals sound perfect and the lyrics are sincere. The dance songs make you want to dance, and the sad songs make you feel sad. Raymond v. Raymond does everything an R&B album should, but somehow the album still comes up lacking and leaves listeners wanting more.
Proctor Anderson On his latest album, Raymond v. Raymond, R&B singer Usher tries to woo listeners with songs about the anguish and depression of divorce. Despite the promising setup, Usher only manages to make his listeners equally anguished and depressed. Usher’s divorce should have provided him with the motivation to branch out and explore new ways to express himself in music. Instead, the album sticks to a familiar blueprint that leaves the listener wanting more. Almost all of the songs suffer from the same exact problem: For each one, there
panders2@stedwards.edu
are three earlier Usher songs that sound exactly the same. The two most enjoyable songs,“Lil Freak” and “Guilty,” are only good because they feature verses by guests Nicki
Minaj and T.I. Now that’s not to say that Raymond v. Raymond is a terrible album; more of the same can be a good thing. There aren’t any songs that
ALBUM REVIEW
Trio nearly massacres new album Meth, Ghost & Rae Wu-Massacre Proctor Anderson Wu-Massacre had the potential to be an incredible album, but it is unfortunately stuck somewhere between mediocrity and greatness. The album features three of the Wu-Tang Clan’s most talented MCs rapping about guns, money, drugs and the good life over classic WuTang-style beats. Ghostface Killah, Method Man and Raekwon all hold their own throughout the album, and a few special guests like Inspectah Deck, Sheek and Trife do a great job of mixing things up. The album also features a hilarious and
very vulgar skit featuring Ghostface’s good friend, actor Tracy Morgan. The biggest problem with Wu-Massacre is its heart. It feels like no one was really determined to make an incredible album, as if all of those involved decided that “average” would be an acceptable goal. A few of the songs, “Pimpin’ Chipp” and “Youngstown Heist,” seem like B-sides from old Ghostface Killah’s albums that were thrown into Wu-Massacre to bulk up a small track list. Hidden within the mediocrity of Wu-Massacre are a few gems that deserve attention. Both “Criminology 2.5” and “Meth v.s. Chef Part 2” are instant Wu-Tang classics. Hardcore Wu-Tang fans will find some enjoyment in
Wu-Massacre but may be disappointed with its length and quality. At the end of the day, it is hard to complain; average Wu-Tang is still bet-
ter than most hip-hop played on the radio. panders2@stedwards.edu
Chris Duke Warner Bros. captured the top box office spot as “Clash of the Titans” raked in $61.2 million over the weekend release. Loosely based on the Greek myth of Perseus, the plot follows Perseus (Sam Worthington from “Avatar”) as he travels across the ancient world, battling various demons to save the Greek city of Argos. Leaders of the ancient city-state challenge the gods by destroying a statue of Zeus. In return, the gods threaten to release the feared Kraken unless Argos realigns its faith in them. The movie delivers the expected, overthe-top action scenes that dominate Hollywood but lacks plot and character development. French Director Louis Leterrier (“Incredible Hulk”) paired up with a team of unknown writers to craft a disastrous plot, which can barely be considered a plot at all. Critics will scratch their heads while trying to figure out how the movie connects the dots to further the storyline. It seemed as if Leterrier and the writers double-downed on the above-average action scenes and struggled to fill in the downtime. For example, Perseus and his team of warriors chase down a foe, cut off his hand and then battle the large scorpion that his hand morphs into for 15 minutes. Clash of the Titans only briefly explains the background of the hero, opting instead to highlight even more special effects and
Associated Press
computer-generated battles with beasts. Another issue with the film is its blatant pandering to the new 3D revolution taking box offices nationwide. Make no mistake: This movie was not designed for 3D and is not worth the extra expense. Warner Bros. seems to have wrapped production and then slapped together a couple of scenes with the 3D effect, capitalizing on boosting the 3D ticket sales. The only saving grace of the movie was the dynamic duo of Zeus (Liam Nelson) and Hades (Ralph Fiennes). Both brought much needed credibility and acting power to a film that bet the house on snippets of action-packed fight scenes, 3D effects and a return to outdated ‘80s monster movies. cduke2@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 14, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT | Page 7
Aguilera back for more Danny Salazar
4
Christina Aguilera has changed her image once again. The Grammy Award winner has ventured into a new branch of music where very few artists have actually succeeded. A lot has changed for the 29-year-old since the release of her last album “Back To Basics,” the jazz and bluesinfused album that solidified her as one of music’s top contenders. Since 2006, Aguilera married, had a baby and starred in her first film role, “Burlesque,” co-starring Cher and Stanley Tucci. The Pennsylvania native has created a name and an image for herself. Starting as a Mousequeteer at the Mickey Mouse Club and leading to her debut single “Genie In A Bottle” in 1999, Aguilera took no time in becoming a household name. In 2002 she broke all molds of pop conventionalism with the release of her much-anticipated sophomore effort “Stripped,” an album which found her all grown up, much more mature and ready to call the shots in her own life. She wrote and produced most of the album, making it incredibly personal and tremendously controversial. In late 2008, she released
her first greatest hits collection, “Keeps Gettin’ Better: A Decade Of Hits,” which featured two new tracks “Dynamite” and “Keeps Gettin’ Better.” The new tracks promised a snippet of what
self a brand new woman. At first the song sounds like any other electronic infused pop track, but once her powerful voice breaks through the synthesizers, all bets are off. She manages to bring
Once her powerful voice breaks through the synthesizers, all bets are off. She manages to bring the song to life in a way that none of her contemporaries could do. was to come. Two years later, the promise has been delivered. Aguilera is not the same girl she was in her “Back To Basics” days. Now four years after the release of the album, she has come back with a distinctive sound. The new album is called “Bionic,” and it hits stores June 8. The first single “Not Myself Tonight” debuted on her official Web site March 30 and hit the airwaves April 5. Aguilera broke her silence with the pulsating threeminute track, revealing a side most of the world hadn’t seen since her “Dirrty” days. The song makes the claim that the singer has found in her-
the song to life in a way that none of her contemporaries could do. For the upcoming album, Aguilera has worked with Australian singer Sia, electropop band Ladytron and critically acclaimed English singer/songwriter M.I.A. With so many talented hands in this project, “Bionic” will prove to be a force to be reckoned with. On Jan. 22, Aguilera performed the song “Lift Me Up” for the “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief ” telethon. The soaring ballad was crafted with the help of long-time collaborator Linda Perry and will be featured in the upcoming album. “Not Myself Tonight” went on sale April 13 on iTunes.
dsalaza4@stedwards.edu
Page 8 | ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Psychedelic acts inspire fest The third annual Austin Psych Fest at The Mohawk from April 23-25 will feature many bands that continue the tradition of psychedelic music. A part of the festival’s mission statement is to “create fertile ground for artistic expression through music and visual art,” and judging by the selection of bands, it looks like the festival organizers intend to make good on their promise. Three-day passes are only $40. Here are five of the performing groups worth checking out over the three-day span.
Ryan Lester
rlester@stedwards.edu
Friday
The Raveonettes Arguably the most popular group on the bill at Psych Fest, The Raveonettes have built a reputation on noise-heavy pop songs. They use distortion and electronics in much the same vein as bands like The Jesus and Mary Chain. Their latest release, last year’s “In and Out of Control,” could have easily been a proverbial downer as the band took on serious subjects such as drug addiction, rape and suicide. However, the songs never wallow in their loathing, and they are structured well enough to make the message effective. Their Psych Fest performance shouldn’t be missed. Courtesy of Austin Psych Fest
Saturday
The Black Angels The Black Angels seem like an almost perfect choice for Saturday’s headliner. The Austin band has gained a reputation for their solid live shows and throwback sound. Stylistically, they have been compared to everyone from Austin psych pioneers the 13th Floor Elevators to the Brian Jonestown Massacre. When the band played SXSW this year, Christian Bland’s guitar work and Stephanie Bailey’s thundering drums were thoroughly impressive. Lead vocalist Alex Maas sings in a nasally voice, but it perfectly compliments the music. Instrumentation is the primary focus with the Black Angels, and on that they do not disappoint.
Pink Mountaintops Pink Mountaintops is one of many side projects from singer-songwriter Stephen McBean, who is best known for Black Mountain. However, Pink Mountaintops are entirely capable of standing alone. One of the most impressive things about the group’s third album, “Outside Love,” was its musical diversity. Whether it was the stripped-down acoustic guitar and 8-track-sounding vocals of ” While We Were Dreaming,” the folk-like, sunlit haze of “Holiday,” or the wall of distorted guitars and pronounced drums in “Execution,” the side project’s songs proved that they are to be taken seriously.
The Raveonettes are headlining Friday’s show.
Camilla Stephan
Warpaint Although they only have an EP to their name, Warpaint have gained a considerable buzz in the music press, and for good reason. The all-female band combines dense guitar work, a tight rhythm section and layered vocal harmonies, which have drawn comparisons to Cat Power, to form songs that sound lush and dreamlike. None of the songs on their “Exquisite Corpse” EP are shorter than four minutes, demonstrating the band’s dissatisfaction with fitting the traditional three-minute pop song structure. They are a young band with enormous potential and some very strong songs—a band that will undoubtedly impress fans both old and new.
Sunday
Pure Ecstasy Much like Warpaint, Austin’s Pure Ecstasy have received a lot of hype without an official album under their belts. The trio, fronted by singer-songwriter Nate Grace, uses guitar and vocal reverb to create a sound that is at once familiar and refreshing. Listeners may become easily lost in their music, as the relaxing sounds summon images akin to lazy days on the beach. Transcendence may be one of the most sought-after qualities in psychedelic music, and Pure Ecstasy have it down quite handily. They are a band that makes quality, feel-good music, and are another Austin band with the potential to make it big, given the right opportunity.
SPORTS
Hilltop Views | Page 9 Wednesday, April 14, 2010
SEU sweeps UTPB Emily Blasdell The St. Edward’s University baseball team, currently fourth in the Heartland Conference, took on the University of Texas at Permian Basin, who are third in conference. In a four-game series, the Hilltoppers swept UTPB with aggressive hitting and pitching. “Any time you have a team like UTPB come into town and you take all four games
from them, you know you are playing the game like it should be played,” Kimball said. The Hilltoppers (27-17, 23-15 HC) began the series with a double-header on April 9. Junior Tim Laine set the tone with strong pitching that would continue throughout the weekend. Allowing only two hits in the first four innings, Laine picked up his first victory. On the offensive end, con-
stant hitting by the Hilltoppers allowed for five runs by the fifth inning, including a first career homerun by freshman Tim Redden. Fans could see the team’s excitement and unity as the team ran onto the field to cheer on Redden as he crossed home plate. Junior Dustin Johnson, allowing only one hit, picked up his first save as he closed the shutout, 5-0 for St. Edward’s. In the second game of the double-header, senior Chandler Mosser didn’t waste any time in getting runs on the board as he hit a homerun off the first pitch of the inning. The Falcons were not going to give it to the Hilltoppers that easily. They came back to get a lead of 2-1 in the fourth inning. After junior Adam Shank’s fourth double of the afternoon, the Hilltoppers took the lead again in the fifth inning. Finally,
Andrew J. Willard
The Hilltoppers swept UTPB in a four-game series.
SEU | 10
Men’s soccer team cuts spring season early Bryce Bencivengo The St. Edward’s University men’s soccer program decided to skip its final match and practice of the spring season. The team was scheduled to host the Laredo Heat, a Professional Development League team April 10. The canceled practice was slated for Friday. “I am disappointed we had to miss the end of our spring season because we weren’t mentally or emotionally healthy,” Head
Coach Brian Young said. “However, I think this will make our team better going into the fall season.” The match with the Laredo Heat would have signaled the end of St. Edward’s University’s 45-day non-championship season. During the non-championship season, or spring season, teams play a variety of opponents not normally available during the fall season. They also evaluate returning talent. The men’s soccer team is the defending Heartland
Conference Champion and has key players returning from that roster. The team currently has 18 players on the roster, but not all of them played in the previous spring matches. “I am really looking forward to winning another Heartland Conference title and playing an outstanding, challenging schedule to put us in position to make the NCAA tournament,” Young said. bbenciv@stedwards.edu
COURTSIDE CHRONICLES
The voice of remorse— Tiger’s return to golf As Tiger Woods returned to golf, Nike released a controversial new commercial featuring Woods and the voice of his deceased Sports Commentary father. It shows a remorseful Woods standing in a blown-out background, possibly a golf course, dressed as if he were standing on the tee box, ready to start a round. Woods’ eyes stare straight ahead, his eyes near tears, as his father’s voice is played. “Tiger, I am more prone to be inquisitive to promote discussion,” he says. “I want to find out what your thinking was. I want to find out what your feelings are, and did you learn anything?” As the commercial ends, the flashes of cameras illuminate Woods, and the screen fades to black with the iconic white swoosh. It seems like the people at Nike are trying to do a few things with this commercial. First off, they are playing the sympathy card, which is the obvious reason for using his father’s voice. Nike does something more though: It gives the viewer a look into Woods’ mind. It’s obvious that Woods’ ongoing sex scandal weighs heavy on his mind, even on the golf course. Nike also emphasizes the relationship Woods shared with his father, a mix of respect and fear. Woods’ father was known for pushing him as a child. Unless Woods is going for an Academy Award, it seems as if there is true remorse in his eyes. This is exactly what Nike wants to convey to the public, and it seems to have worked to an extent. Woods’ welcome at the Masters was far from insignificant. It seems the golf world had missed Woods. Associated Press Back from his four-month hiatus, he received the same magnitude of cheers as in previous years. “It felt normal. . . the reception was incredible all day,” Woods said in a recent interview. And it was, in fact, normal for Woods. He posted a 68 in round one, finishing at four below par. He also finished at two under in his second and third round, coming into the final day at eight under in the second pairing with KJ Choi. On the last day of the Masters, however, Woods began to fade. He played aggressively as usual but made mistakes that are rare for his playing. Bogeying three of the first five holes, Woods appeared to be dropping out of the chase. However, he fought back in his usual way, shooting an eagle and two birdies in the last four holes of the front nine. During the second nine, Woods followed excellent play with unnecessary mistakes. He maintained a more modest poise this tournament, his emotions kept in check more than usual. He finished the back nine two below par with a 34, finishing the tournament at eleven under. It wasn’t good enough, as Woods tied for fourth with his playing partner, Choi. He was beaten out by Anthony Kim, who posted an impressive 65 on the final day and took third. Englishman Lee Westwood, who was co-leader at one point, fell behind and finished second at 13 under. The leader, finishing at 16 under and winning his third Masters, was Phil Mickelson. Mickelson hadn’t preformed very well since the beginning of the year. However, this weekend showed the winning combination of his aggressive play and powerful drives. Although Mickelson won the green jacket, Woods said he was happy with his play and the support of the professional golf community. Things may be back in full swing for Tiger and his game. Nolan Green
ngreen2@stedwards.edu
The Hilltop Views’ column, ‘Courtside Chronicles,’ appears every other week in the sports section and is written by Hilltop Views contributor Nolan Green.
Page 10 | SPORTS
Wednesday, April 14, 2010 | Hilltop Views
SEU tops conference opponent Continued from page 9
Places to hit a golf ball in the Austin area
Associated Press
LIONS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE This course has been one of Austin’s most enjoyable courses since it opened in 1934. A regular round on a weekend costs $21.50, while weekdays cost $19.50.
PETER PAN MINI-GOLF At the low price of $6 for 18 holes or $9 for 36 holes, Peter Pan Mini-Golf is a favorite of St. Edward’s University students. Where else could you play golf with a giant Tyrannosaurus Rex?
the Hilltoppers secured their lead in the sixth inning with a double by senior Jeremy Houser and a triple by freshman Taylor Johnson, who ended up stealing home soon after. The final run came from a sacrifice fly by senior Dexter Moreno to bring Redden home. Senior closing pitcher Jonathan Burns and senior catcher Drew Kimball came in at the top of the 7th to close the game at 6-2. Burns struck out three batters in a row picking up his third save of the season. Sophomore Matthew Anderson (2-1) walked away with the win by allowing only one hit and no runs. On April 10, UTPB
brought a tougher offense, but it was not enough to split the series. The Hilltoppers successfully continued their fight to sweep the Falcons. In the first inning, Moreno continued the team’s habit of scoring early in the game with his first of three homeruns and seven RBIs of the afternoon. The Falcons followed in the second inning with a homerun to tie the game. In the same inning, Houser hit a home run to left field to take back the lead. The third inning brought a run by Redden and Moreno’s second homerun, bringing the score to 6-1. The Falcons tried to come back by scoring four more runs, but it wasn’t enough
to take the lead. The Hilltoppers scored one more run off junior Eric Morgan’s homerun in the sixth inning before Burns and Kimball closed the game out at 7-5. Sophomore starting pitcher Jeffery Rohrbach (5-0) picked up the win. In the final game of the series, the Hilltoppers again immediately scored in the first inning on a RBI-single by senior Adam Wolotira. It wasn’t until four runs in the fourth inning by the Falcons, including back-to-back homeruns, that the Hilltoppers took the lead back 6-4. In the sixth inning, the Falcons tied the game at 66, but the Hilltoppers immediately took the lead back again when Moreno drove in two runs with his third
homerun of the afternoon and tenth homerun of the season. Burns and Kimball ended the game in the top of the seventh with a 1-2-3 inning. Relief pitcher Dustin Johnson (3-2) picked up the win and Burns, the save. The Hilltoppers will play another four-game series April 16-17 against Oklahoma Panhandle State in Goodwell, Okla. “The best thing for us is to stay focused on our goal of winning as many games as possible and playing hard each and every day,” Kimball said. eblasde@stedwards.edu
GREY ROCK GOLF CLUB Formerly known as Circle C, this club is home to the St. Edward’s men’s and women’s golf invitationals. It is known for its regularly pristine conditions, even in the winter.
JIMMY CLAY/ROY KIZER GOLF COURSES Close to campus, this location offers two separate courses for play. Ranging from $22-28, the Jimmy Clay and Roy Kizer courses are
Hilltop Views needs two
affordable for students.
RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE Formerly known as the Austin Country Club, Riverside is a nice, student-friendly course. The 18-hole facility is known for being a good, low-cost course that is close to campus.
WILLIE NELSON’S CUT-N-PUTT This nine-hole course is owned by Willie Nelson. It’s got a really laid-back atmosphere, and you might even catch a glimpse of Willie Nelson or Billy Bob Thornton who visit frequently.
SHADOW GLEN GOLF CLUB Shadow Glen is a 7,100-yard, par-72 golf course with scenic views, over 50 feet of elevation change and many water features. It is located in Manor.
FOREST CREEK GOLF CLUB This 7,147-yard, par-72 golf course is located in Round Rock. A snack bar and cafe, a three-tiered practice range, putting green and a short game area are some of the offered amenities.
PINE FOREST GOLF CLUB
Designers
Looking for students with:
» »
for Fall 2010
a knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop publication layout experience a plus
Duties will include:
»
working with newspaper editors in a group environment to create newspaper layouts and in-house advertising
»
working Mondays and Fridays
Pine Forest is known as one of the finest public golf courses in Central Texas. It is located in Bastrop and has a beautiful natural landscape with a unique layout.
BUTLER PARK PITCH & PUTT This nine-hole, 27-par course is a great place for anyone from beginners to advanced golfers. While it is only $7 for the first round, the course only takes cash. Compiled by: Kayla Meyer
Submit an application (available on hilltopviewsonline. com), resume, and any available clips to the Hilltop Views Office, Andre 116.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 14
FEATURES
Hilltop Views | Page 11 Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Doerr brings diverse experiences to classes Sharla Kew Joseph Francis Doerr, adjunct professor at St. Edward’s University, has spent a lot of time in classrooms. With a B.A. in English from the University of Texas at Austin, an M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Poetry, an M.A. in English Literature, and a Ph.D. in Modern American and British Poetry from the University of Notre Dame, he started college without any idea of what he wanted to do. Doerr got enough credit from his Jesuit high school to start college as a sophomore and used the free year he felt like he had earned to explore. He only took classes that intrigued him, worked as a runner for a commercial
art company and “wondered what [he] ought to be doing with [his] life.” At 21, Doerr dropped out of school and joined his brother’s band, The LeRoi Brothers, one of the bands that helped establish Austin as the live music capital of the world. According to the Austin Chronicle’s Austin Music Database, Doerr “joined the band in the mid-1980s and kicked new life into it...Joe Doerr... kept them one of the hottest acts through the decade.” For the next 10 years, Doerr toured with three bands: The LeRoi Brothers, Ballad Shambles and Hand of Glory. When Doerr turned 31, he went back to school. He
attended UT Austin for 18 months and got a full fellowship to Notre Dame based on his GRE scores. Doerr has taught at Austin Community College and Notre Dame. Before coming to work at St. Edward’s, he also worked as a construction worker and a professional painter. He worked on the medical arts complex that lines the stretch of William Cannon Drive between West Gate and Manchaca. “Those buildings look as fine as they do because yours truly sanded, sealed, painted and stained them into order,” he said with a smile. Doerr re-joined The LeRoi Brothers in 2005, and played festivals in Scandinavia and France. The band often plays at the Continental Club on
South Congress Avenue. Doerr’s other band, Churchwood, which formed in 2008, “is the most creative and interesting band [he’s] ever been in.” Doerr described the band as a mixture of blues, punk, country and psychedelic. When not involved musically, Doerr gardens and writes. His book of poetry, “Order of the Ordinary,” was published in 2003. Doerr is currently editing a collection of essays on the poetry of John Matthias as part of Salt Publishing’s “Companion” series. Matthias and Doerr became good friends when Doerr attended Notre Dame, where Matthias was a professor. “[Matthias is] the poet I consider to be my greatest
writing mentor,” Doerr said. Doerr has taught at St. Edward’s for nearly five years. He said the university is “a place that values real education and critical thinking.” He said he wanted to teach at St. Edward’s because it had a familiar and similar feel to Notre Dame. “Furthermore, as a Holy Cross institution, the Humanities are still alive and well here,” Doerr said. Doerr teaches Rhetoric and Composition I and II, both honors and regular levels. He has also taught Intermediate Poetry Writing. Beyond the mechanics of English, he hopes that his students realize that not everything is as it seems. “One should always question so-called authority; that
if something appears to be too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true; and finally, that the most important faculty that any human being possesses is the imagination,” Doerr said. skew@stedwards.edu
PHOTOGRAPHERS Hilltop Views is looking for an Assistant Photo Editor for Fall 2010/2011 academic year. If you are interested in applying, please stop by Andre Hall and pick up an application. The applications are located above the blue Hilltop Views Drop Box between Room 119 and Room 117. Deadline: Noon on Monday, April 19.
Page 12 | FEATURES
Wednesday, April 14, 2010| Hilltop Views
Cooking courses for college kids College is stressful enough with all the late night studying, papers to write, and the balancing act between school and work. On top of that, college also means living on your own and fending for yourself when it comes to meals. However, there is an alternative to attempting to cook on your own which often results in a messy kitchen or a hole in your wallet when you resort to going out for dinner, again. Several grocery stores in Austin offer a wide variety of cooking classes for all tastes and skill levels. Most classes are typically held around lunch and dinner time, providing you with a cooking lesson and a meal of your own making. Grab a spatula and your appetite and learn how to cook tomorrow’s dinner at one of these local cooking classes. Kaitlin Meilert
kmeiler@stedwards.edu
The Natural Epicurean Academy of Culinary Arts 4709 Sagebush Trail (512) 476-2276 You don’t have to be enrolled at this culinary academy to learn how to prepare vegan and vegetarian meals. Natural Epicurean offers beginning level community classes on how to prepare meals using all-natural ingredients. Professional chefs teach students how to add variety to vegan and vegetarian dishes, cook with health-supporting foods and healthy whole grains, transform raw and living foods into delicious meals and bake sweet desserts without the sugar. Natural Epicurean classes cost $45 to $65 each and are held at Casa de Luz at 1701 Toomey Road. Class times vary, so check Natural Epicurean’s class and events calendar at naturalepicurean.com.
Central Market 4001 North Lamar Blvd. (512) 206-1014 Whether you want to prepare a healthy, hearty meal yourself or watch-and-learn as a professional chef does the cooking for you, Central Market has you covered. Offering demonstration and hands-on classes, Central Market’s Cooking School shows students different cooking techniques–from how to make the perfect omelet to how to handle a chef ’s knife–and teaches them how to prepare a healthy meal. Since classes are held at a grocery store, everything you need to cook the meal you just made (or ate) is at your fingertips. Chefs hand out a recipe packet to help you shop for ingredients and prepare meals at home. Demonstration classes range from $45 to $ 65, while basic and hands-on classes range from $65 to $70. A bit pricey? No worries! Hands-on classes taught by the CM Cooking School staff start at $25. Find the North Lamar location’s class schedule at Central Market’s Web site.
Whole Foods 525 North Lamar Blvd. (512) 542-2340 Travel to Italy for pizza, jump to Japan for sushi, and wake up in France for a Parisian breakfast, all within the Culinary Center at Whole Foods. At a Whole Foods cooking class, students learn to cook at home, perfect basic cooking techniques, and prepare exotic meals. Along with hands-on instruction and demonstration classes, Whole Foods offers Lunch Express David Shankbone from noon to 1 p.m. on Whole Foods offers both hands-on and demonstration-only cooking classes. Wednesdays and Fridays. Whole Foods’ lowest priced class, Lunch Express includes a chef-prepared meal and a quick cooking lesson for $18. Demonstration classes range from $25 to $50 and hands-on classes are $65. The North Lamar location’s class schedule can be found on the Whole Foods Web site.
Thai Fresh
909 West Mary Street Unit B (512) 494-6436 Thai Fresh not only offers authentic prepared Thai dishes but offers classes where you can learn how to make it all yourself. Thai Fresh’s small, public cooking classes give students hands-on experience preparing a fresh Thai meal. Classes are conveniently held at dinner time from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and cost $55. The store also stays open after class so you can shop for the ingredients you’ll need to make the meal at home. And don’t forget to bring to-go containers Daniel De Los Santos because the leftovers are all Thai Fresh offers a variety of authentic Thai ingredients as well as classes. yours! If you’re looking for a creative idea for a birthday party, family gathering or a romantic night in, Thai Fresh also offers private cooking classes for an intimate Thai cooking experience in the comfort of your own home. Your cooking instructor can do the grocery shopping for you, but you might want to tag along to learn what to buy and where to find it for your future Thai cooking needs. Private classes also cost $55 per person, plus the cost of groceries (about $15 per person). Find Thai Fresh’s class schedule at thai-fresh.com.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 14, 2010
FEATURES | Page 13
Cathedral of Junk under scrutiny from officials Sharla Kew Vince Hannemann has been building the Cathedral of Junk for over 20 years, and now his structure is in danger. Towering 33 feet above a quiet South Austin neighborhood off St. Elmo Street, the Cathedral attracts admiration and visitors from around the world. It is featured on RoadsideAmerica.com and in several guidebooks. The intricate structure is pieced together from scrap metal, concrete, ironing boards, shopping carts, glass bottles, crutches and other found or donated objects. “I didn’t know it was going to get this big,” he said. “Who could anticipate this? This wasn’t my grand plan.” Code enforcement officials are asking Hannemann to get a certificate of occupancy and a building permit for an auxiliary structure or face demolition. Hannemann and an army of volunteers dismantled the part of the cathedral that was next to the fence and removed nearly 1,800 pounds of scrap metal. “A lot of people laugh, like, certificate of occupancy, what does that mean?” Hannemann said. Because no one lives in the Cathedral, “occupancy” seems erroneous, but it’s the same story with elevators. Each elevator has an occupancy rating, which is the number of people it can safely hold. Hannemann also said that although some of the city’s problems with the cathedral are “legitimate beefs,” the fact that “the very same code enforcement people” didn’t have any objections six months ago is bothersome. Ronald Potts, an assistant division manager for the city’s code compliance department, has compared the cathedral to the Aggie bonfire.
games
Look for the answers to both games in next week’s issue!
Rachael Olan
The Cathedral of Junk is a South Austin landmark.
“If it’s not built by an engineer, bad things can happen,” Potts said. Bob Ratliff, a cathedral supporter and volunteer, disagreed. “[The cathedral] is sound, sturdy, and amazingly well puzzled together. If a tornado came through South Austin, the only thing left would be the Cathedral of Junk. ” Gwendolyn Norton, another volunteer, said she’d “like to see [the code enforcers] try [to demolish the cathedral,” as the structure consists mostly of steel and concrete. The efforts to save the cathedral are being led by Elizabeth Lay, who was directing a play set at the cathedral when the troubles with code enforcement began. Lay and the rest of the cast and crew immediately refocused their efforts to raise awareness about the problem and save the cathedral. Lay is the creator of the Save The Cathedral Of Junk group on Facebook, which has over 7, 000 members. Lay also created the Web site and blog savethejunk.org. Lay and the rest of the thespians-turned-crusaders organized Junk Fest, a fund raiser
at Spiderhouse cafe on March 28. They raised $1,200 and plenty of awareness and enthusiasm. The money will go toward permits, professional fees for engineers, architects, surveyors and any other costs incurred while getting the cathedral approved. The cathedral also has friends working for the city—the mayor’s office and the city council in particular. “It’s not just about keeping Austin weird. It’s a growth issue. How do we maintain the real character we have and what people love about this city as we grow and mature into a bigger city?” said Austin Council Member Laura Morrison. Regardless of whether the Cathedral of Junk survives this ordeal, Hannemann will not give up his junk hobby. “I think we can get something done [with junk] out in the country with a bunch of volunteers … it wouldn’t just be a one-man project, it would be something bigger and better,” Hannemann said. skew@stedwards.edu
Answer to last issue’s Sudoku:
VIEWPOINTS
Page 14 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, April 14, 2010
OUR VIEW
Recent ruling threatens net neutrality Last week the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) had limited power to control the actions of Internet service providers. The decision reversed an earlier FCC ruling in August 2008 that had promoted net neutrality The earlier ruling declared it illegal for Comcast Corp. and other Internet service providers to restrict or block content online. The issue arose after Comcast was caught blocking users that where using file sharing programs to download big movie files. Comcast had voiced concern that these
file sharing programs were causing huge slow downs for other users trying to connect to the same Internet. The court ruling from last week’s hearings will make the FCC’s previous decision—that restricting and blocking content is illegal—no longer true. The panel of judges ruled that the FCC does not have the legal power to order these providers to stop interfering with consumers’ access to services. In other words, Internet service providers, like Comcast and Time Warner, can now slow down, speed up and block certain Web sites at their own will with out facing any legal repercus-
This court ruling, that allows service providers to control the Internet, threatens to destroy the equality that makes the Internet such an incredible tool. sions. As college students, it is undeniable that the Internet has changed the way we operate in our day-to-day lives. Whether through checking our e-mail accounts or Facebook pages, reading breaking news online or registering for classes, we have become increasingly dependent upon the Internet.
What’s more important than our reliance on the Internet is what the Internet can do. The Internet makes us all equal. Whether it’s a service, an item or a program, people now have the ability to create something, spread it and even sometimes make money from it, without having to fight big corporations just to be
heard. A large majority of us will spend the rest of our lives working with the Internet in some capacity and we cannot allow our Internet use to be inhibited by major corporations. This court ruling, that allows service providers to control the Internet, threatens to destroy the equality that makes the Internet such an incredible tool. People have already expressed concern that major companies will able to unfairly control and restrict online content. For example Comcast, which is in the midst of merging with NBC Universal, will have the ability to slow down or
even block content from competitors. It could then make its content, like news from msnbc.com or videos on Hulu, easier to view, give favor to users that subscribe to its Internet service and essentially, limit our exposure and access to diverse and valuable content. During his campaign, President Barack Obama promised to put laws in place to protect the Internet from these threats. The Obama administration has yet to pass any legislation, but this most recent decision intensifies the need for government action to protect the quality of Internet content and our right to view it.
Tea parties doing more damage than help to U.S. Danny Salazar A group of especially conservative Americans chose to begin a movement, based on the historic Boston Tea Party of 1773, to protest the
increase in taxes. President Obama campaigned on an aggressive tax reform platform that would help the lower and middle classes while increasing taxes for the wealthiest 1 percent
of Americans. The conservative protestors decided that taxing the people who can afford more was un-American and unconstitutional. Many disagree, but some have decided to make
Associated Press
Tea Party members protesting government spending at a rally.
their opinions vocal and even violent. That is where the Tea Party movement found its place and its voice. This movement has managed to violate any sense of reason, logic or simple common sense. It is hard to determine if this movement began when former President George W. Bush signed the famous “bank bailout” into law back in 2008 or simply when Obama signed into law the Recovery and Reinvestment Act in early 2009. What is certain is that this movement has managed not only to question the nationality of the president but also to divide America. It has become incredibly common for some to label people who disagree with this movement as “socialists” and even “communists.” People don’t realize the extent of the consequences that their misinformation has on the people they are supposed to
be representing. Voicing your opinion and seeking political and social justice are all rights protected by the First Amendment. But when this opinion is expressed through violence and aggression, a truly sickening demonstration of their hostility, a line is crossed. And it’s getting worse. Even now, in the second quarter of 2010, the Tea Party movement continues to gain fuel and supporters. When people are scared, they act in extremely irrational ways, including joining this movement. That’s not to say there isn’t merit to some of the things the group is trying to accomplish, but like so many situations, the ends do not justify the means. This movement is not just about disagreeing in political issues; it is a threat to the core of what America represents. It has become a black sheep in the landscape of the
American dream. Whether you think the Recovery Act and the newly passed Health Care Reform Law are good for the nation or not, you can hopefully agree that violence and fear-driven hatred are not solutions to changing whatever may be wrong with this country. dsalaza6@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 14, 2010
VIEWPOINTS | Page 15
Children need failure in order to operate in society Jake Hartwell A few days ago, I was relaxing on the couch and subjecting myself to the caustic environment of the modern American sitcom, as I am occasionally inclined to do. Amidst the banal, forgettable themes that usually appear in sitcoms, a thought-provoking issue emerged—one I’d like to share with you. The father had taken his son to the school’s biannual track and field event in the spirit of good old healthy competition. There was just one problem: This kid was not athletic. That sentence is an understatement; the kid was
the victim of unprecedented levels of athletic failure. He could barely hold himself upright, let alone take on the 40-yard dash. Despite his complete lack of physical viability, the kid brought home his weight in complimentary trophies. As manly sitcom dads are often disposed to do, the father launched into an indignant rave about the foolishness of giving trophies to everyone. I wrote it off as stereotypical, stoic-authoritarian-sitcom dad behavior—that is, until it started making sense. Most people had similar experiences as children. I played youth soccer for a couple of years and amassed an ungod-
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ly number of trophies while exercising little energy and less care. Everyone was re-
attain unbridled success. Unfortunately, the world doesn’t work that way, and
If kids aren’t ever allowed to experience the ups and downs of hard work and dedication, they can never truly become adults. warded because “everyone is special,” or some hippie, newage mumbo-jumbo like that. You see, at some point a change occurred in the way people thought about success. Parents, educators, coaches and the like realized that successful kids tended to have a lot of self-esteem. Committing a classic logical fallacy, these people then assumed that, if given high self-esteem, children would
the methodology is still setting up kids to fail. The fact is that success begets selfesteem—not the other way around. Every time a child is given reasonless hope, he or she is prepared for eventual, crippling failure. Imagine children who have been protected from failure for their entire lives. By the time they enter the real world, they have unwarranted egos and no methods for
coping with failure. They apply for jobs far beyond their skills, play terrible music that no one wants to hear and audition for acting roles they don’t have a chance at getting. After their obese egos are punctured and deflated, they plummet to the ground, unequipped with the emotional strength to cope with failure. They then live in boxes by the sides of roads and play poorly tuned guitars for a year or so until they finally snap out of it. The effect of the “everyone wins” mentality on dedicated, hardworking kids can’t be ignored either. As they watch other children obtain the same rewards for less work, they can lose all motivation to excel. As the little blonde boy from The Incredibles elegantly pointed out, saying that everyone is special is the
same as saying that no one is. Self-esteem is not a quality that people should inherently possess. No, self-esteem is earned with backbreaking labor and, eventually, sweet success. If kids aren’t ever allowed to experience the ups and downs of hard work and dedication, they can never truly become adults. So let kids fall short for once. It’ll give them the necessary skills to cope with greater problems later on. And who knows; maybe after Junior fails at pee-wee football, he’ll put his energies into reading books, learning calculus or something else more productive than bashing his delicate skull against hard things. jhartwe@stedwards.edu
LETTER TO EDITOR Eloise Montemayor Photo Editor Daniel De Los Santos Assistant Photo Editor Sharla Kew Videographer Melissa M. Martinez Copy Chief Arianna Auber Jake Hartwell Mary Hennessy Anna Whitney Copy Editors Christy Torres Advertising 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.
Two-million out of forty-million people suffering with AIDS in Africa have never received any kind of treatment. The numbers are shocking. Even more riveting is the fact that international measures are in place to solve this problem, but they are blocked with the economic power of pharmaceutical companies lobbying for stringent protection for their intellectual property rights. A compulsory drug license is a method of making essential medicine more affordable and available to people in resourcepoor communities in times of emergency. In 2006, Thailand issued a CDL for an AIDS cocktail. Within 48 hours the pharmaceutical industry made a public outcry and soon after the US placed the country on a “Watch List” and restricted economic trade. Is the west having a relapse into its old imperialism ways? Just like a recovering addict that was just introduced to its old friend, the West is exerting its economic power to get another hit. The revenue generated in developing countries for life saving treatments does not trump the cost of human life wasting away without access to the treatment available. Profits, small margins available for medicine in the least developed countries, do not go before the right to health. We as members of Western society need to make our voice heard. Lobby harder than the pharmaceuticals! Tell a friend, talk about it over drinks and dinner, spread the word that people in other parts of the world deserve access to the medicine we have available. With enough support we won’t relapse into the times of New Imperialism. Societies of the West, to imperialism? Just say no!
Lila Milford lmilfor@stedwards.edu
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Wednesday, April 14, 2010 | Hilltop Views
student spotlight
alternative to conventional photography photos by rebecca ruiz