Issue #10 - Nov. 18, 2009

Hilltop Views S t .

E d w a r d ’ s

U n i v e r s i t y

Wednesday, November 18 , 2009

Volume 26 | Issue 10

Student protests display Tristan Hallman A Veterans Day celebration on the campus of St. Edward’s University was witness to an event that some veterans are used to seeing; an act of protest.

Acting alone, Alex Lamb, a senior at the university, took a shell rocket launcher from a military weapons display that was set up between the Main Building and Holy Cross Hall. Lamb said he

then attempted to walk to the Main Building to make a point to the administration.

Lamb said he walked about 20 feet before he was apprehended by force by Student Financial Services Veteran’s Affairs Coordinator Christina Garcia and her husband Luis Garcia, who was guarding the display.

Lamb said he did not believe he would make it all the way to the Main Building, but hoped the move would

prove a point.

“It was kind of an experiment to see what would happen,” Lamb said. “It is disgusting and contrary to the mission statement of St. Edward’s for them to allow such a display.”

Lamb also said he saw the event as a recruiting event.

Students had been allowed to pick up the weapons under military supervision. But the LAMB, 2

hilltopviewsonline.com

Martin’s pay unchanged Tristan Hallman St. Edward’s University President George Martin did not receive a pay raise this academic year, according to both Martin and the chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Martin and Kevin O’Connor, the chairman of the Board of Trustees and a former St. Edward’s student body president, said that the board decided not to increase Martin’s salary due to

an ongoing evaluation of the appropriate compensation for a university president based on the current state of the economy.

The decision not to increase the president’s salary, O’Connor said, had nothing to do with Martin’s performance.

“We unequivocally support President Martin and the goals he has established for his entire mission as well as his team,” O’Connor said.

But before this year, Martin’s salary was still increasing. He received a 7.5 percent increase from the 2006-2007 academic year to the 2007-2008 academic year, according to newly released figures published in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Martin’s base salary that year was $397,189, compared to $367,768 in the 2006-2007 academic year.

PRESIDENT, 3

Women’s soccer secures a spot in the Sweet 16 Kayla Meyer The St. Edward’s University women’s soccer team advanced to the Sweet 16, the third round of the NCAA Div. II Women’s Soccer Championships, after defeating the University of the Incarnate Word 1-0 Sunday.

The Hilltoppers began the first round of the NCAA Tournament by defeating the University of Central Oklahoma on Friday. After the match was kept scoreless through two overtimes, the Hilltoppers came out of a decisive penalty kick shootout on top 5-4 over the Bronchos.

Sophomore Goalkeeper Claire Tilton saved two of the Bronchos’ penalty kicks.

Senior Forward Kim Abbott

scored the game-winning penalty kick for the Hilltoppers.

St. Edward’s (16-3-1) outshot Central Oklahoma 217, and the Hilltoppers tallied nine corner kicks to the Bronchos’ one. This game advanced St. Edward’s to Sunday’s game against the second seed in the South Central Region, Incarnate Word, which had a first-round bye.

“I feel like it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of a special team,” senior Forward Stacey Copeland said. “I think the team unity, the way the coaches prepare us and our desire to win makes this a special year.”

St. Edward’s faced off against the Cardinals

Sports: Pink out. Page 12.

SEU, 11

Kayla Meyer

St. Edward’s University women’s soccer team advanced to the Sweet 16 after defeating Incarnate Word 1-0 Sunday.

Features: Thanksgiving options for those staying in Austin. Page 9.

Entertainment: John Krasinski makes directing debut. Page 8.

Page 2 | NEWS

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views

Lamb says he took weapon to make a point Continued from page 1

weapons, Christina Garcia said, were unusable and many were actually made of plastic.

She said that the event was intended to be interactive for students.

Lamb, a former Hilltop Views reporter and News section editor, said he did not put up a fight but was cursed at repeatedly by Christina Garcia and was not asked any questions before the two came up and grabbed him.

Garcia said that she does not remember what she said and that it was possible that she cursed at him. But that, Garcia said, was not the point because Lamb took property that did not belong to him.

Lamb, though, said that the reaction was the point.

“I assumed someone would confront me, but I did not expect them to not ask ques-

“What happened was that a non-violent action elicited a violent reaction.”

“They were very polite and they did not use force until he resisted.”

-Alex Lamb

-Matt Cahill, a witness

tions,” Lamb said. “What happened was that a non-violent action elicited a violent reaction.”

But Garcia said the reaction was not violent and she did not know Lamb’s intentions.

She said she yelled at Lamb to stop, but he continued forward anyway.

At that point, Garcia said she and her husband attempted to re-take the weapon and that Lamb was refusing to release it, leading to pulling back-and-forth.

“No one did anything in any way to hurt him,” she said. “All we wanted was for him to release the weapon.”

An eyewitness to the incident, senior Matt Cahill, said that he believed that the Garcias were restrained in their behavior and added that he believed Lamb refused to give up the weapon.

“He was not assaulted,” Cahill said. “They were very polite and they did not use force until he resisted. If anything, they just subdued him.”

While Cahill said he enjoyed the Veterans Day event, he said the weapons may have been a little much.

Still, Cahill said, Lamb’s actions were inappropriate.

“It was completely out of line and embarrassing to the

school,” Cahill said. “I’m all for writing a piece in Hilltop Views about how you disagree with the display, but taking a bazooka is a different story.”

Senior Kathryn Hamilton said she also witnessed the event and said she agreed with Cahill.

“I’ve never seen someone being so disrespectful toward the armed services,” she said.

“He obviously tried to make a scene.”

After the incident, Lamb said that he went to his 12 p.m. class. But then he decided to leave the class and preemptively visit the office

Police Blotter Date

Time

Incident

Location

Resolution

11/4

9:46 a.m.

Trespassing

Doyle Hall

Case closed

11/6

2:22 a.m.

Alcohol offense

Teresa/East parking lot

Case closed

11/07

1:00 a.m.

Harassment

Dujarié Hall

Under investigation

11/07

11:18 a.m.

Fraud

Hunt Hall

Under investigation

11/11

11:15 a.m.

Assault

Main Building

Under investigation

11/11

11:58 a.m.

Theft

Holy Cross Hall

Under investigation

11/13

2:30 p.m.

Theft

Hunt Hall

Under investigation

11/13

4:41 a.m.

Possesion of a controlled substance

Teresa Hall

Referred to Department of Public Safety

11/13

None given

Harassment

Basil Moreau Hall

No leads at present time

of Sr. Donna Jurick, the vice president and provost of the university.

Jurick referred Lamb to Dean of Students Lisa Kirkpatrick, whom Lamb said was receptive to listening to his point of view.

Kirkpatrick confirmed that she has spoken to Lamb, but said that she could not comment on their conversation.

The University Police Department is investigating the incident and could not offer comment, according to UPD Lt. Dan Beck. No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed yet.

Beck said the police will have to visit Camp Mabry to talk to members of the military.

Lamb said he has not retained legal counsel and does not know right now what legal actions he intends to take.

But for now, Lamb said the incident was not about him and that a dialogue will be

started. The display was a perversion of Veterans Day and against the mission statement of the school, he said.

“The reason I came to this school was because we believe in community and we believe in social justice,” Lamb said.

“This is about the hypocrisy of some in the St. Edward’s community.”

But Garcia, who had been planning the event for two months along with the University Programming Board, said that she intended the event to show a day in the life of a soldier.

She added that she did not believe that the event was an attempt to impress students with the flashiness of the military.

“The entire event was meant to be a celebration of veterans,” she said. “It was absolutely not a recruiting event.”

The remainder of the event went off without a hitch. At the end of the event late in the afternoon, St. Edward’s President George Martin gave an address as the flags were taken down. thallma2@stedwards.edu

Corrections: The article “Angers deadline extended, ” which appeared on page 2 on Nov. 11 has several errors. First, it indicates that all processes for financial aid for a semester abroad are the same as for regular semesters at St. Edward’s University. The statement is true for St. Edward’s affiliated study abroad programs, such as reciprocal exchanges and the semester-long Angers programs, but not true for all study abroad options. Also, the fall program at Angers this fall is not intended to have only a business school focus, since the courses offered include general education and Behavioral and Social Sciences courses as well.

The article “University assesses computer competency,” which appeared on page 4 on Nov. 11 implies that much of the competencies are still based upon older and outdated software. The IT department does, however, offer computer competencies on all the latest university supported software: Windows XP, Vista, MAC OS X, Office XP, 2003, 2007 and Mac Office 2008.

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

NEWS | Page 3

University promotes professionalism Kelli O’Donnell First-year college graduates lack the professional workplace qualities that business professionals seek, according to a study conducted by York College of Pennsylvania in August 2009.

The study collected data from a random, nationwide sample of 520 human resources professionals as well as regional and state business leaders.

Most respondents to the study classified a strong work ethic, self-confidence and self-awareness, effective communication, and strong personal interaction skills as the most important traits associated with professionalism in the workplace.

The study found that 37 percent of respondents indicated that “less than half of the new graduates they hire exhibit professionalism in

Hilltop Views Archive Photo

The Career Planning office tries to teach business etiquette.

their first year on the job.”

“I am not surprised by the study’s findings,” said Robin Mathis, a St. Edward’s University professor of business communication. “The trend occurring in our society today is that we are allowing a little too much emphasis on self. Professionalism is about workplace etiquette and protocol, all of which concerns others.”

Andrea Reyes, a senior international business and entrepreneurship major, said she thinks first-year college

graduates are lacking proper social skills in the workplace.

Career counselor Emily Salazar said many employers agree that these graduates do not have developed social skills.

“Students have been in a vacuum all this time in the college world,” Salazar said. “Suddenly students are tossed out there into this whole other world.”

Mathis said that what she finds most alarming is how some students chose to communicate with her interper-

sonally in the last five years.

“I have seen at times that students can communicate a sense of entitlement or arrogance that doesn’t sit well with me,” Mathis said. “I worry that they will communicate like that on the job and suffer great consequences.”

However, St. Edward’s is taking the initiative to promote proper business etiquette in the workplace.

Salazar said the Career Planning office will be hosting an etiquette dinner before the job fair next semester. The dinner includes a “mocktail” hour followed by a four or five-course meal. The etiquette diner was started five years ago at the request of students who didn’t know how to act or dress during a job interview that included a cocktail hour and dinner at the Four Seasons.

“What I’m hoping to add this year to the dinner is a

fashion show to show students how to dress, as well as getting business professionals to come talk about proper business communication,” said Salazar.

Salazar also stressed the importance of LinkedIn, a business-oriented social networking site mainly used for professional networking.

“Every student should have a profile on LinkedIn,” said Salazar. “The profile should be strictly professional.”

However, there is some danger in using a social networking site for business communication.

“Students sometimes treat LinkedIn like Twitter, which it is not supposed to be used for,” Salazar said.

Internships are also necessary not only in obtaining jobs but learning the appropriate way to act in a professional situation.

“Internships are crucial,”

said Professor Kelly Mendiola. “Students are able to get real world experience that substitutes for job experience.”

Reyes said internships give students hands-on experience in the industry.

Mathis said she believes St. Edward’s is proactive in giving students the necessary experience to enter the workplace.

“The School of Business and Management does a great job at guiding students so that they gain their desired experience,” Mathis said. “Students can sometimes act as though SEU is lucky to have them, and I feel that they should feel blessed to be offered such a wonderful learning opportunity and communicate in a way that enhances and preserves the privilege of being here.” kodonne3@stedwards.edu

Martin’s compensation had been increasing Continued from page 1

Martin’s salary increase in the previous year was roughly $20,000.

Martin also received $126,356 in benefits in 20072008, including a $48,438 expense account, a housing allowance and health insurance. That amount increased roughly $10,000 from the previous year. Martin’s total compensation of $523,545 in 2007-2008 ranked him 20th among presidents at master’s granting institutions nationwide. He ranked 97th overall in total compensation among private university presidents in the nation.

In 2006-2007, Martin ranked 26th in master’s granting institutions and 98th among all private university presidents.

Only the presidents of Southern Methodist Univer-

sity, Rice University, Trinity University and Texas Christian University receive more compensation among private universities in Texas.

The median salary for all 419 private university presidents in the 2007-2008 year was $358,746, an increase of 6.5 percent from the previous year.

Martin said that those figures are not truly representative because they only show raw numbers and do not rate performance or tenure as factors.

Martin is celebrating his 10-year anniversary at the university. When he first arrived in Austin after he left his job as the academic vice president at St. Peter’s College in New Jersey, Martin was paid $183,330 and received $15,027 in benefits.

SMU President Ronald G. Turner, who began his term

as president in 1996, is the only president to have had a longer tenure at his university than Martin in the top five. When Turner started, he received $332,464 in total compensation. In 2007-2008, he earned $1,017,618.

Faculty and staff at St. Edward’s received a 3 percent salary increase this year. The decision to increase the salary was made by Martin.

“St. Edward’s really stands out in, for one, obtaining and retaining our excellent faculty and, two, actually providing them with a pay raise in the current economy,” Martin said.

Martin also touted his accomplishments, including increased fundraising, enrollment, study abroad opportunities, financial aid to students and the improvement and construction of facilities over his 10 years on campus

at the recent fall presidents meeting.

Martin’s compensation is determined based upon the recommendation of consultants that are hired by the Board of Directors.

O’Connor, who began his two-year term as chairman of the board of trustees in 2008, said that he is not in a position to comment on Martin’s standing among presidents.

“I can’t say that I’m particularly familiar with the way that other universities determine compensation,” O’Connor said. “We very carefully evaluate Dr. Martin’s performance on an annual basis.”

Martin, 65, has said that he hopes to stay at the university at least through 2015. thallma2@stedwards.edu

St. Edward’s Faculty Salary Survey How do President Martin’s salary increases since 1999 compare with that of the university’s faculty? Martin’s salary more than doubled in his tenure. The salary of faculty members has increased, but not by as much.

Dollar amounts in thousands.

Year

Professor

08-09 07-08 06-07 05-06 04-05 03-04 02-03 01-02 00-01 99-00

87.5 85.2 82.0 78.1 73.5 68.8 64.7 60.9 58.5 53.3

Assoc.

Asst. Instructor Professor Professor 69.7 68.8 66.8 63.7 60.9 58.4 55.8 53.1 49.3 46.6

56.6 55.1 53.6 51.6 48.8 47.2 45.2 43.9 41.6 38.4

45.2 44.0 39.9 36.5 39.8 38.2 37.0 35.4 N/A N/A

Information from the Chronicle of Higher Education

Page 4 | NEWS

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views

Housing sign-up now online

Rebecca Ruiz

Le Mans, Hunt and Johnson Hall are three of nine residence halls available for student housing.

Katy Johnson For St. Edward’s University students, the spring housing sign-up, which began on Nov. 2, was an uncharacteristic two weeks earlier this year. And even though Residence Life at St. Edward’s can house more than 1,300 students in nine residence halls and 178 apartments, there is always the potential for students to face difficulties finding on-campus living arrangements.

Residence Life made the decision to move the deadline two weeks earlier this year, in order to allow students who are enrolling at St. Edward’s for the first time or students who are looking to move on campus a chance to solidify their housing plans before the Thanksgiving break.

A new online application for housing is available to students via EdWeb, making the process easier. As a result, Residence Life has observed a significant increase in students seeking on campus housing, said Brian Obert, Residence Life associate director of assignments and facilities.

“This is, in large part, due to the automation of the spring housing application process,” Obert said.

Though it is unclear how

much campus housing is available for the spring semester, Obert believes the university has adequate housing to meet the student demand.

“As long as students are reasonably flexible, we expect that we can place them all in housing for the Spring 2010 semester,” he said.

Many upperclassmen chose to experience apartment life, but prefer to stay on campus.

The apartments on campus can only house 172 students, which means many students who are hoping to live in the apartments next semester may be forced to look for other options.

Obert said students who are unable to live in the apartments may want to look into rooms in the Casa, Casitas and Johnson Hall, as these options may be more financially affordable because they come furnished and live-in ready.

Students who are denied housing in their preferred residence should wait for Residence Life to find accommodations that will fit their needs, Obert said.

“We would like for students to give us an opportunity to make housing offers before they seek off-campus housing,” he said. “Residence Life will begin making housing

offers on Nov. 16. Students who have submitted a housing application and are awaiting housing offers should check their St. Edward’s email account daily for their offer.”

Some students may be inquiring about new on-campus living arrangements be-

tracts do encompass a full academic year.”

Garrett Hall, a senior and president of University Democrats, moved back to campus this year because of the convenience of on campus living.

“As a president of an organization, I felt like it would be easier to stay in touch with students and student life,” he said.

Garrett currently lives in Johnson Hall, and pays nearly $800 a month, which he finds much more expensive than living off-campus.

“I would prefer to live in the on-campus apartments, but they are filled,” he said.

“I could move somewhere on campus that’s cheaper [other than Johnson] but it would still be more than off campus.”

Garrett finds himself nervous as the Thanksgiving break draws nearer and he still is without any definite plans for a home next semes-

“We would like for students to give us the opportunity to make housing offers before they seek off-campus housing,” said Obert.

cause of the higher cost of living in the new residences of Hunt and Le Mans Hall.

Obert said every semester students request permission to shift their housing assignment from one hall to another and these recent student requests are not unique to the new residential village.

“There are a variety of reasons for these requests: some are due to financial concerns, but others are in order to be closer to friends, or because they feel more comfortable in a different building,” he said.

“We work with students and try to accommodate requests as best we can, however, con-

ter.

“I don’t have a roommate and single bedroom apartments are a little pricey,” he said.

Further questions about the spring 2010 housing lottery or questions about on campus housing can be directed toward Brian Obert or Dave Rozeboom, director of Residence Life. kjohnso3@stedwards.edu

Tuition revenue remains stable The expected declines are causing many schools to budget conservatively and cautiously.

Kyle Nigro Some private colleges and universities are anticipating a serious decline in their tuition revenues for this year, according to a report from Moody’s Investors Service.

The report is based on a survey of 100 of 286 private institutions in the U.S. According to the report, nine colleges have already seen a decline in the 2009 fiscal year, and 29 more are anticipating one for 2010.

William J. Lucas, vice president of finance at Fairfield University, told the Chronicle of Higher Education that these results are likely due to colleges’ attempts to keep tuition increases minimal while increasing scholarship and aid.

Declines in revenue can have crucial effects on colleges and universities because these institutions base their budgets around this income. Therefore, the expected declines are causing many schools to budget conservatively and cautiously.

St. Edward’s University is not in any type of financial hotspot, and took precautionary measures in order to ensure that, said Rhonda Cartwright, vice president of Financial Affairs, “We did delay granting a salary increase for this year until we knew that our enrollment numbers would support one,” she said.

Cartwright said members of the St. Edward’s community can rest easily knowing

that the university’s financial security is not being challenged. In fact, after this past year’s enrollment numbers were secured, the university was able to grant a 3 percent increase in pay for all benefit eligible employees, which was effective as of Oct. 1.

“Not only did we not experience a drop in tuition revenue this year, but school officials are not anticipating one next year either,” Cartwright said.

Universities like Fairfield, a private Catholic institution in Connecticut, enacted a $5 million budget cut, which included cutting many university jobs.

According to the article released by the Chronicle of Higher Education, Fairfield also fell short of its previous freshman class enrollment by 25 students.

St. Edward’s, on the other hand, managed to top last year’s numbers, increasing the class by 15 students and setting a record for the largest freshman class in school history.

April Linton, a sophomore, said although St. Edward’s is financially stable, she hopes the university will not compromise the needs of the student body in order to make sure that our student body doesn’t decrease. knigro@stedwards.edu

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

GAMES | Page 5

Games

Check Out

Hilltop Views

Online

Today

Hilltop Views is offering the St. Edward’s University community a new way to find out about campus news and events. Hilltopviewsonline.com will offer the majority of what is available in the print edition and so much more. Online you will find additional stories, photos, podcasts, videos and interviews.

hilltopviewsonline.com

Look for the answers to both games in next week’s issue!

Answer to last issue’s Sudoku:

6 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views

ENTERTAINMENT

New EP swimming success

Woodwardstock in the works

Sharla Kew

Yenifes Trochez

Album Review

The first impression of The Eastern Sea was “Oh. Death Cab for Cutie.” And to be sure: the clear, sweet, suddenly soaring vocals, simplistic beats and overall song structure are very Death Cab, but this does not stop it from being good music. This is the sort of gentle, lyrical indie rock that we liberal arts college students eat up.

The music is lyric driven and as such features some wonderful imagery. They are a local Austin band which, aside from any patriotic feeling that may arouse, is a wonderful testament to the variety of sounds we get coming

“I might even go as far as to say that they are better than Death Cab in that their music has more variety...”

out of our fair city.

I might even go as far as to say that they are better than Death Cab in that their music has more variety, which is to be expected from a 10 piece band.

Their old stuff is more diverse than their new EP lets on. They experimented with more blatantly folksy guitar, Postal Service-esqe computer beats and songs with silly topics like kangaroos and one called “The Goddamn Truth.”

The new EP is more settled, being content with good musicianship and ambiguous relationship tales. Despite none of it being anything

you haven’t heard before, the Eastern Sea provides enjoyable music to sing along to or keep in the background while you do your Pre- Cal homework, or to pipe through your ear buds while you walk to class. skew@stedwards.edu

Album Review

Weezer tarnishes reputation

Ryan Lester There was a time when Weezer was one of the most important bands in rock.

Their ability to write memorable songs with confessional, wide-eyed lyrics earned them a great amount of respect and fame. “The Blue Album” and “Pinkerton” are considered by many to be two of the most essential albums of the 90s, and still withhold the test of time.

Sadly, the band continues its slow decline, kicked off by 2005’s “Make Believe” on “Raditude,” an album rife with over-indulgences that make one question whether this is the same band that penned “Buddy Holly,” “Tired of Sex,” and “El Scorcho.”

Perhaps the biggest problem with “Raditude” is that it sounds so forced. Lead singer Rivers Cuomo’s lyrics are now reminiscent of middle school Live Journal postings, with

such lines as “You are my baby tonight, and I’m your daddy,” from the song “I’m Your Daddy.” On “Love Is the Answer,” Cuomo sings “Love is the answer. You have got to trust in the world,” over a sitar and between verses sung in Hindi. It is almost embarrassing to listen to how cliché it all sounds.

Musically, it is hard to delineate between many of the songs on “Raditude,” as nearly every song has the same chugging guitars, quiet parts for variety, and an almost non-existent punch to them.

It’s the same sound that we have heard since 1994 with Weezer, just with all of the fun and effort sucked out of it. On “Can’t Stop Partying,” the band tries to shake things up by using a Timbaland-inspired backing track and incorporating Lil Wayne into

the mix. It results in a song so awkward and uninspired that even Lil Wayne sounds uncomfortable. That fact alone speaks volumes about this album.

What keeps “Raditude” from being a total loss is closing track “I Don’t Want to Let You Go.” The song marks the first time where Cuomo’s lyrics sound heartfelt and sincere, and it doesn’t follow the same musical formula as the rest of the album. It is proof that Weezer are still capable of writing a good pop tune.

However, as a whole, “Raditude” is an empty, emotionless, cliché album that you would do best to avoid. a half hoof rlester@stedwards.edu

The Digital Media Program and Digital Media Consortium have collaborated to produce St. Edward’s University’s Woodwardstock.

At its core, Woodwardstock is a non-profit benefit music festival. The event will have additional entertainment and will take place on the Main Building Lawn on Wednesday, November 18th, starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 11 p.m.

No money will be produced by the project itself, because it is a free event, however, donations will be accepted for a local non-profit charity, The Sunshine Kids.

“We would like to benefit this non-profit organization, but because there isn’t any way of controlling access to the event, we are just relying on donations for generating money for The Sunshine Kids,” said Joseph Filip, president of the Digital Media Consortium.

The event will highlight several bands with different tastes that will satisfy music lovers. The performing artists include Zealy 32, Focus Group, Ryan Harkrider, The Dandy Lions, Hour Band featuring Phranchyze and Meggan Carney and the Flying Trapeze.

In order to make the project successful, the event holders are divided into several different teams. There are two marketing teams, two production teams and a management teams.

“I’m in the marketing team, and we are in charge of sponsors, vendors, designing logos and try to reach out and talk to bands,” Filip said. “We are managing the Facebook

page, trying to get the event name out there. We are also making flyers and other fun advertising things like that.”

The production team is in charge of setting up the venue, finding a location and getting lights and electricity to the stage.

The management team makes sure that everyone and everything is being paid for and that the fine details for the event are taken care of.

Woodwardstock was conceived in late August of this year. After several months of planning, students are eager to see the outcome of the event.

“The Digital Media Consortium students have been excited to experience and work with the behind the scenes of event planning,” Filip said. “All the planning that goes into music events, such as ACL, must be done for Woodwardstock, on a much smaller scale, of course. This opportunity has been a lot of fun and a great experience for everyone in the class. Bands, music, wrestling, all night long; it’s going to be very exciting!

The event is meant to have a really good time!” ytroche@stedwards.edu

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

ENTERTAINMENT | Page 7

Jay-Z and N.E.R.D. entertain Frank Erwin Center

Proctor Anderson Hip-Hop is a genre best experienced live and Jay-Z is one of the most talented em-

cees in Hip-Hop. Basic deduction would lead one to believe that if both of those statements are true, then combining them would make for one incredible performance. On Nov. 11 at his sold out concert at The Frank Erwin Center Jay-Z did exactly that, wowing the crowds with his performance.

Pharrell Williams and his rock-funk band N.E.R.D.

opened the show playing a few of their own songs and a few of the famous rap songs Williams produced like “Drop It Like Its Hot” and “Beautiful.”

After N.E.R.D., the stage went black and a 10-minute countdown began. When the countdown ended Jay-Z rose up from beneath the stage and for the next 90 minutes had the audience in the palm of his hand. When he said bounce, they did. When he told them to sing louder, they did.

The night began with JayZ and his 10 piece backing band playing new material like “Run This Town” and “D.O.A.” but the music quickly started to all blend into a powerful mix of music from the last 13 years of his career. Just as things would start to slow down, the rapper would bring on special guests to perform with him.

Bridget Kelly, J. Cole, and Jay-Z’s usual hype man and friend Memphis Bleek all got on the mic and helped out through out the evening.

Williams even came back to the stage to sing with Jay. While all the songs were great, a few truly shined during the concert. The live backing band made the already classic “Izzo (H.O.V.A.)” and “99 Problems” sound even better. Eventually Jay-Z left the stage and then quickly came back for the encore in a true rock start style. The encore, which alone would have satisfied the audience, featured hits like “Hard Knock Life” “Young Forever” and a performance of “Big Pimpin’”

that turned into an emotional memorial to the fallen Texas rapper Pimp C. It was evident that Jay-Z has mastered both rapping and performing. Jay didn’t just hold the audiences attention for an hour and half, he entertained and left them wanting more while at the same time leaving at the perfect time. No one was left unsatisfied. panders2@stedwards.edu

Movie Reviews

Movie Reviews

The Fourth Kind falters

Film brilliantly bizarre

The filmmakers should have settled on a documentary or a horror film, not some clumsy Frankenstein combination.

Jake Hartwell “The Fourth Kind” is a difficult film to get your mind wrapped around. It is certainly frightening, but the full effects only set in hours after viewing. “The Fourth Kind” focuses on believability and widespread appeal, but in the process forgets to tell a story.

It is an original film: the creators have pieced together archived footage—of course its authenticity cannot be guaranteed, as it could simply be a convincing style—alongside filmed reenactments with actors. While this method is novel and does wonders to establish the events in the film as true, it makes the film disjointed at best and annoying at worst. The filmmak-

ers should have settled on a documentary or a horror film, not some clumsy Frankenstein combination.

The film spends so much time grounding itself in reality in fact that it entirely forgets to keep up a plot. Of course frightening mystique results from unresolved conflict, but the conflict could have at least been a bit more tangible or definable. Then again, the indescribable nature of extra-terrestrial phenomena has always been a staple of the genre, so it really comes down to whether you prefer horrifying answers or the pure terror that comes from having only disturbing questions.

By refusing to give any answers whatsoever, the film leaves itself open for interpretation by the viewers. This openness and lack of resolution is what brings the full effects of terror to audiences, hours after the theatre, as

they lie in bed fathoming the horrors that may visit them in their sleep. The film does not offer viewers any solace when they awaken unscathed the next morning, as it raises the observation of how easily we forget traumatic events.

The questions as to the truth of memory are sure to keep more than a few members of the audience on edge for days after seeing the film.

In its sum, “The Fourth Kind” barely presents anything new to abduction stories. The basic events are similar to plenty of other films, and the filming style is choppy, although an admirable attempt at innovation. But the true genius of the film lays in the question it raises: “How can I be sure this isn’t already happening to me?” jhartwe@stedwards.edu

Amber Burton “More of this is true than you might think.”

The statement attempts, but can never fully prepare audiences for the strange sights they are about to see.

“The Men Who Stare at Goats,” which opened in third place at the box office this weekend tells the unbelievable (maybe) true story of the First Earth Army, a top secret division of the U.S. Army whose goal is to create psychic soldiers, or Jedis.

Ewan McGregor stars as Bob Wilton, a journalist on the hunt for a story that will help him find himself again.

Through a series of bizarre coincidences, Wilton meets Lyn Cassady (George Clooney), a man who claims to have been a part of the Jedi Warriors of the First Earth Army. Cassady believes that he has been reactivated for a mission, and Wilton accompanies him on his journey, hoping for a story.

The pair encounter many interesting characters on their search for Cassady’s

mission, including many goats that Cassady must free to redeem himself for killing one with his mind back when the First Earth Army was still around.

The film is as brilliant as it is strange, with witty dialogue and just the right amount of absurdity. Even after the film is over, it’s hard to decide what was just witnessed.

It’s hard to take any of the story at face value, but it’s not the events of the movie that drive its plot: it’s the simple journey to find something that can be believed in and to find something that puts you in touch with what truly makes you who you are.

And if you happen to run into a few goats along the way, well, just don’t stare at them too long. aburton3@stedwards.edu

Page 8 | ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views

Krasinski directs “Hideous Men”

Independent Film Channel

Holly Aker Caroline Wallace Before anyone had ever heard of Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company’s resident funnyman Jim Halpert, New York waiter John Krasinski was planning his foray into directing with the screen adaptation of “Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.” Seven years later, the actor, best known for his role as on NBC’s The Office, has finally brought his brainchild to the big screen.

The film is based off the book of the same name, written in 1999 by the late David Foster Wallace. It contains fictional interviews and short stories in which the male subjects reveal their repulsive characteristics, fantasies and behaviors.

Krasinski, who adapted the screenplay, also directed and acted in the film.

Krasinski said his motives with the film are twofold.

First, to draw further attention to Wallace’s work, and secondly to create a conversation about the provocative topics discussed in the film.

Krasinski said one of the highlights of his career was actually getting to elicit story feedback from Wallace prior to when filming began. “[Wallace] said he was trying to write a book about a character that you never see or hear from, but through all the guys around her, you get to understand what she’s all about,” Krasinski said.

When adapting for a visual medium, Krasinski made the choice to create a narrative and further develop the female lead.

The story follows Sara Quinn, a recently dumped, graduate student doing her dissertation on male sexuality. Quinn assembles a

lineup, all of which reveal themselves to be sexually deranged, misguided men suffering from a wide range of fears and inferiority complexes.

The film has a largely nonlinear, experimental style, and reveals more about each character with the story’s progression.

As part of the ensemble cast, Krasinski plays the role of Sara’s ex-boyfriend. However, this was not part of the original plan.

“I actually was planning on not being in it at all,” Krasinski said. “In the end, the reason why I was in the movie at all, was because an actor dropped out about two weeks before we were shooting.”

Krasinski and the producers felt that since the movie was such a unique project, someone wouldn’t have time to learn the lines, let alone

grasp their concept in only two weeks time.

“I think the only thing on my resume that allowed me to do that part, was the fact that I had read the book 150 times,” he said. “And, I will say it was the most terrifying performance I’ve ever done.”

The film, which brings up many heavy subjects, will leave movie-goers thinking.

“I really hope that people leave the theater and can’t decide what they think of the movie for a few minutes until they talk about it, so that was my big goal,” Krasinski said.

To read our complete interview with Krasinski, see the related Q &A. haker@stedwards.edu cwallac2@stedwards.edu

To read the full interview with John Krasinski and watch the movie trailer log on to hilltopviewsonline.com.

STUDENT CATERING Do you have a late night study session coming up? Are friends coming over to celebrate a special occasion? Student Catering is your on-campus solution.

A full student catering menu can be found online: www.cafebonappetit.com/stedwards Independent Film Channel

Independent Film Channel

FEATURES

9 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views

The Austin Primer

Peter Pan Mini-Golf charms locals Jeni Obenhaus

Photo by Shanna H.

The Tyrannosaurus Rex is one of the many figures at Peter Pan Mini-Golf.

The Austin Primer is a biweekly column that will feature various facets of Austin that locals love most.

Sitting atop a small, hidden hill off of Barton Springs Road, Peter Pan Mini-Golf has given Austinites cheap, fun thrills for over 50 years.

Founded in 1950, this miniature golf course has attracted locals with its simple charm and character. The colossal figures that adorn the faux mini-golf greens—including a vivacious-looking Peter Pan; a tall, orange Tyrannosaurus Rex; and a goofy, white rabbit—give Peter Pan

Mini-Golf its magnetism.

Senior Caitlin Ireland said that playing mini-golf, and playing at Peter Pan MiniGolf in particular, can be a great icebreaker on dates.

“Nobody can really be good at mini-golf, so nobody can be super bad either, so it’s nice,” said Ireland. “You can tease your date and just have fun together, which relieves some of that awkward tension.”

Another aspect of Peter Pan Mini-Golf that helps lighten everyone’s mood is the course’s alcohol policy.

Mini-golf players can bring

their beer of choice to tote around the golf course while they play the holes.

Peter Pan Mini-Golf is also exceptional in that it’s been a family owned and operated business since opening half a century ago.

Clifford Dismukes first opened the course under the name Varsity Links. The course was then passed to Glen and Jack Dismukes, where it was renamed Peter Pan Mini-Golf.

Today, Clifford Dismukes’ nephew, Mike Dismukes, with the help of other family members, runs the miniature

golf course after inheriting it.

Peter Pan Mini-Golf has won many of the Austin Chronicle’s “Best of Austin” awards, including “Best Miniature Golf ” in 1991, 1993 and 1994, and “Best Place to Celebrate a Birthday II” in 1992.

Locals have been big fans of this miniature golf course for decades now, and that won’t soon change. For some oldfashioned fun, check out an Austin favorite, Peter Pan Mini-Golf. jobenha@stedwards.edu

Peter Pan Mini-Golf Address

1207 Barton Springs Phone

(512) 472-1033 Hours

Monday-Thursday, 1-9 p.m.; Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight; Saturday, 9 a.m.midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.

Price

$5 per person for 18 holes, or $7 per person for 36 holes

The Manual

Students have options for the Thanksgiving holiday Jeni Obenhaus The Manual is a biweekly “how to” column that features ways St. Edward’s University students can learn quick projects, practical fixes and cheap ways to have fun and survive in Austin.

For students, the Thanksgiving holiday is always a welcomed reprieve from studies and a chance to travel home to see family.

However, if you’re like many other college students, the holiday can often feel like a time for cramming in much-needed time with friends or last-minute studying for upcoming finals, all while low on the dough. What can a college student do?

Try filling your holiday break with these cheap, multitasking ideas. jobenha@stedwards.edu

Have a Thanksgiving Meal in Austin There are several local places that are offering make-do meals for Thanksgiving. For starters, The Driskill Grill will be serving a classy Thanksgiving meal special. “Enjoy a lavish holiday brunch or six course price-fixed dinner with wine pairings,” according to the restaurant’s Web site.

For a more traditional dinner, go to the Driskill 1886 Café and Bakery located in the Driskill Hotel.

On Sixth Street, Katz’s Deli and Bar offers a traditional turkey plate and many other homey, wholesome options. Also, it’s open 24/7, so no need to worry about getting there in time.

Threadgills will be open until 10 p.m. on Thanksgiving. This Austin classic will be serving turkey and dressing, and its famous strawberry rhubarb pie.

Go home with a friend If you live too far away to head home this Thanksgiving, consider trekking home with a friend or roommate. Not only can you can spend some quality time with your travel buddy, but you can attain that traditional family feeling that often comes with this holiday.

Host a Potluck Party for Friends

Volunteer in Austin

There’s no reason you can’t enjoy a festive dinner with your friends before you travel back home to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family.

Hosting a potluck dinner party is a cheap, simple, and fun way to spend time with friends. Easy potluck dishes include cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, a garden salad, green bean casserole, and—of course—desserts like cookies, cupcakes, and pies.

Set out your dishes on a table, grab some drinks, play some board games, and watch some football before you head to back home.

The Thanksgiving holiday is meant to make your reflect on what you have. What better way to appreciate all the great things in your life by giving back to the community? If you stick around Austin for long enough, you can check out women’s shelters, homeless shelters, retirement homes, and hospitals to see what you can do to help out those who may not have much.

For example, the Thundercloud Subs Turkey Trot, benefiting Caritas, needs help on Thanksgiving Day. You may contact Molly Sipe of Caritas at (512) 646-1251 or msipe@caritasofaustin.org for details.

Also, Austin’s Operation Turkey is in need of volunteers to help cook food, to sort donations, to package the food in to-go containers and to deliver the food.

If you sign up as a volunteer in the upper right-hand corner of the Web site (www.operationturkey.com) where it reads “Newsletter & Volunteers,” the organizers will send you details via e-mail.

All you have to do is show up at one their locations at 9:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving morning.

Page 10 | FEATURES

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views

Career Planning Office offers advice to students Jake Hartwell As the end of the fall semester approaches, it’s more than the right time for students to think about graduate school; the Career Planning Office is a great place to start. With several counselors and numerous resources, Career Planning can help students with any facet of the process.

The first thing to consider is which schools interest you. Career Planning uses several Web sites to help students decide which schools best fit their needs.

John Lucas, one of Career Planning’s career counselors, said that this is the most commonly used resource of the Career Planning Office.

Students should generally choose two to three “dream schools,” competitive schools—which Lucas says are programs where students have about a 50/50 chance of being accepted— and fallback schools. Some students, pre-med majors in particular, will have a different sort of list, as their field is highly competitive, and there are fewer “fallback” schools. Professors can also be helpful at this stage of the planning process, as they know which schools offer strong programs in your field of interest.

The next step is test preparation. Medical students take the MCAT in the spring of their junior year, so they should take a preparation course or self-prepare during the fall semester.

Other students should prepare over the spring for the summer GRE or LSAT. Career Planning sponsors a few test preparation courses on campus and can help students find test preparation resources around Austin if other courses are full.

“We offer an LSAT course

Eloise Montemayor

It is important to start preparing for graduate school early.

on campus at a greatly reduced rate. Students can take it for $495, compared with courses at Kaplan or Princeton that can cost $1,300. I think we’ll be offering the MCAT on campus as well,” said Lucas.

They also help students self-prepare for the test if they opt to not take a preparation course.

In the fall of senior year, students should be filling out applications, writing resumes, developing curriculum vitaes and writing personal statements, all tasks with which Career Planning can provide assistance.

“Most students don’t hear about personal statements until they start applying,” said Lucas.

Personal statements are around two pages long and tell the school why you want to attend and what you want to do in the program.

These statements are one of the most important aspects of graduate school planning that Career Planning helps with.

The office also provides information on financial aid for graduate school. Lucas said that federal and state grants for graduate school are generally sparse, but there are plenty of loans.

Additionally, admission to

a Ph.D. program usually comes with a full waiving of tuition. Doctors and lawyers are less fortunate, and they can rack up between $75,000 and $150,000 in debt throughout their stint at school.

In this poor economy, graduate school is particularly important matter to consider.

“For students thinking about delaying graduate school for a year or two, it makes much more sense to go right away in this economy,” said Lucas. “By the time you come out, hopefully the economic situation will have turned around significantly.”

For students interested in graduate school assistance, you can visit the Career Planning Office in Moody Hall 134. Career Planning also offers several workshops each semester, with a detailed schedule for the spring semester available after the Thanksgiving holiday.

“From day one, do as well as you can in your classes.

Start the process as early as possible and attend some of the workshops,” said Lucas. jhartwe@stedwards.edu

4

SPORTS

11 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views

Women’s volleyball just misses regionals Kayla Meyer The St. Edward’s University volleyball team fell within two points in a loss to Dallas Baptist Saturday in the Heartland Conference Tournament championship match.

To get to the championship match, the Hilltoppers defeated the University of Texas at Permian Basin 31 on Friday. This was the third-straight win this season against the Lady Falcons for the Hilltoppers.

Texas-Permian Basin (1620) won the first set 25-23, but the Hilltoppers (23-11) came back and won the following three sets 25-23, 25-

15 and 25-17.

St. Edward’s tallied 61 kills that night. Sophomore Courtney Trevino led the attack with 16 kills, followed by sophomore Lindy Luleff with 14. Sophomore Ashley Vander Hey contributed 11 kills and freshman Ale’tra Ware tallied eight kills despite not playing until the end of the first set. Junior Chelsea Barsamian had a match-high 48 assists and seven service aces.

Defensively, the Hilltoppers had 91 digs. Leading the team was freshman Michelle Hundt with 27 digs. Trevino followed with 19 digs and Vander Hey contributed 15.

Junior Stacie Robertson tal-

Nolan Green

Sophomore Ashley Vander Hey had 33 kills over the weekend.

lied 14 digs.

The win led the Hilltoppers to Saturday’s game against Dallas Baptist (23-11).

The Lady Patriots took the first set 25-16. The Hilltoppers fought back and took the next two sets 25-20 and 32-30. The Lady Patiots took the fourth set 25-16, which led to the fifth set.

Dallas Baptist took a 9-4 lead midway through the fifth set. The Hilltoppers were down 12-7 before coming back to tie the score at 1313. The Lady Patriots scored two-straight points to win the set on a kill by Heartland Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player Kaylyn Frink.

The Hilltoppers’ attack managed to total 63 kills.

Leading the way was Vander Hey with 20 kills and Trevino with 15. Barsamian had 53 assists and eight digs.

Defensively, the Hilltoppers dug the ball 101 times.

Hundt acculmulated 36 digs, followed by Vander Hey with 17 digs, Trevino with 15 and Robertson with 11.

Barsamian tied Lady Patriots setter May Allen with a match-high 53 assists.

Vander Hey, Trevino and Barsamian were named to the 2009 All-Conference Tournament Team.

Earning spots in the 2009 All-Heartland Conference Volleyball Team were Vander Hey, Trevino, Hundt, and junior Pam Osborn.

For the individual awards, Hundt was named Freshman of the Year, and Head Coach Sean Donahue was named Coach of the Year in the Heartland Conference.

SEU women’s soccer advances to Nationals Continued from page 1

(15-2-3) in the third match-up this season. In the first meeting, the Hilltoppers earned a 2-1 victory in Austin. However, the Cardinals won 1-0 in the second match-up in San Antonio.

On Sunday, the only goal of the game came in the 32nd minute when senior Defender Alex Podowski headed the ball into the net from a corner kick by sophomore Midfielder Bethany Bennett.

Kayla Meyer St. Edward’s kept possession the majority of the Senior Kim Abbott goes up for a header to clear the ball. game, outshooting the Cardinals 13-4 and allowing no other is a one-goal game. It’s [them].”

West Texas A&M adshots on goal for the Car- a good rival but with good sportsmanship.” vanced to the third round dinals. Tilton and the HillThe Hilltoppers will face after defeating Truman topper defense stopped the few breakaway chances for #13 West Texas A&M Uni- University 1-0 Sunday. versity (15-2-3) Nov. 20 at “Our team knows we can Incarnate Word.

“I thought the game was a the University of California play with the top teams,” said Cowell. “We are just gogood exhibition for Div. II at San Diego.

“We [are] match[ed] up ing to enjoy it and see where women’s soccer,” said Head Coach Nick Cowell. “Both against a team we’ve played it takes us.” teams can play at a high lev- already,” said Abbott. “We kmeyer2@stedwards.edu el. Every game we play each are confident about the way we will match up against

kmeyer2@stedwards.edu

Kayla Meyer

Freshman Sara Singleton fights an Incarnate Word defender for the ball.

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

SPORTS | Page 12

SEU athletes support breast cancer awareness Claire Cella As part of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, the St. Edward’s University’s fall athletic teams all hosted breast cancer awareness events this October. Donning pink jerseys on the soccer field and the volleyball court, the teams raised about $2,100 in total for the cause.

Lizzy Lepore, a senior volleyball player, highlighted the significance of these events.

“I feel it is so important to support this cause because not only are we raising money to help researchers get closer to finding a cure, but we are influencing others to devote themselves to the cause as well,” Lepore said.

The women’s soccer team was the first athletic team to host an event, beginning their regular season with the Kim Yeatts Memorial Classic in the fall of 2007.

The classic was created and envisioned by the Yeatts family and endorsed by Head Coach Nick Cowell and the team in honor of Kelsey Yeatts’ mother, Kim Yeatts, who passed away from breast cancer in 2007. Kelsey Yeatts, a former defensive player, graduated in May 2009.

In commemoration, the team wore pink uniforms created specifically for the game.

Pink T-shirts were also available for sale at the game and donations were collected to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Cowell said the classic was set up to raise awareness for breast cancer among women.

“It is great that we can do something to help such a noble cause,” Cowell said. “It is also an important educational tool that will help them be aware this cause at such a young age.”

In the classic’s second year in 2008, the team was able to raise $1,067 by the end of the match.

This year, however, Cowell decided to shift the focus of

the classic to raising awareness among the athletes of the other teams at St. Edward’s by handing out information.

“We have moved more towards an educational goal rather than a fundraising goal,” Cowell said.

And this goal seems to have been accomplished.

The women’s volleyball team hosted its second breast cancer awareness event this October, and the men’s soccer team also created a classic inspired by the Kim Yeatts Memorial Classic.

On Oct. 2, the women’s volleyball team sponsored a Dig Pink! benefit and raised $1,500 to donate to the SideOut Foundation to support its fight against breast cancer.

The money collected far exceeded their original goal of $1,000, Lepore said.

The team accepted donations at the game, but also has a Web page as part of the Side-Out Foundation Web site which also allows donors to give money online, Lepore said.

Dig Pink! is a national rally and campaign in which both high school and college volleyball matches are held t o educate people about the disease and raise funds towards a cure.

Lepore said she felt a difference in how the team played on the court against Texas A&M-Kingsville that night.

“Our team seemed to have a selflessness about us upon realizing that this game was more than just about us and our goal of reaching the national tournament,” Lepore said. “It was bigger than that and I think the motivation that we were playing for a cause and making a positive difference made us play more like a team than ever before.”

Last year, every volleyball team in the Heartland Conference hosted Dig for the Cure events, said Sean Donahue, head coach.

The women’s volleyball team raised a total of over $4,500 in the past two years, and the Heartland Conference as a whole raised more than $27,000.

“I think it is a cause we can all relate to,” Donahue said. “You ask just about anyone and they know someone who has been affected by breast cancer.”

The men’s soccer team was also successful in their own endeavor, collecting over $600 for the cause.

The team hosted the first annual Pam Nannen Memorial classic on Oct. 30. The classic was dedicated in honor of Pam Nannen, the mother of senior Forward Josh Nannen, who passed away from the disease this summer.

Nannen said the idea was inspired by the women’s soccer te am’s event.

H e said Head C o ach Brian Young thought it would be a great idea to make an annual event just like the Kim Yeatts Memorial Classic.

During the game, donations were collected to be made toward the Cancer of Life Foundation, said Nannen, which was his mother’s favorite organization. T-shirts were also sold, and the players donned pink uniforms during the match.

Nannen said it felt amazing to have so many people at the game who truly cared.

“The game was very emotional for me,” Nannen said.

“I stepped on the field with a slightly different purpose

SEU Sports Information

The men’s soccer team wore pink breast cancer shirts at the Pam Nannen Memorial Classic.

than usual. Of course you always want to win and do your best, but this game was all about honoring one of the most important people in my life. It truly was an honor to be playing for her.”

Young said he is already generating ideas and making plans for next year’s classic in order to make it a bigger and better event.

Nannen said after the game, other players approached him and say they were glad they could win the game for his mom.

“I feel like everyone was touched in some way by the event, and everyone was glad to be apart of it,” Nannen said.

Andre Cook, head coach for the men’s basketball team, said he plans on supporting

breast cancer efforts in late February. Although nothing has been definitely decided, he knows that February is when all the basketball coaches are involved in Coaches versus Cancer program.

Coaches versus Cancer is a national campaign that unites the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, in a an effort to make a difference in the fight against cancer, according to the Coaches versus Cancer Web site.

The women’s basketball team, also, has no definite plans, but Head Coach Jennifer White says the team may host a pink night at one of their basketball games, either at home or on the road.

And White said in the past, her players have ran in the

Race for the Cure in support of the cause.

Donahue said he is proud not just of the athletic teams for their worthy aspirations, but also of the entire St. Edward’s community for their support because of the considerable time and effort people have put into the fight.

“We sometimes get caught up in the daily grind of our lives and don’t think about things like breast cancer until it affects us in some way,” he said. “So, it is good to have a reminder of helping others even when you are not personally affected.” ccella@stedwards.edu

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views

SPORTS COMMENTARY

Agassi still respected after admitting drug use Nolan Green Andre Agassi, one of the best tennis players in the world during his career, as well as one of the most charitable athletes, has just published his autobiography, “Open,” where he admits to using crystal meth during his career.

Wait, what?!

It’s true. Agassi admits to using crystal meth for around a year during 1997.

He then lied about it to the ATP after failing a drug test and continued to play out the season.

Well, at least that explains how he went bald. It also explains why he failed to win a major, or any other high ranking tournament in 1997, as well as why his marriage to Brooke Shields fell apart.

“I’m surprised crystal meth is the only drug he’s used.”

But in all seriousness, I’m not surprised. I’ve watched Agassi play while he was in his prime. He was a wild, crazy, spandex-wearing maniac who knew how to play the sport.

I’m surprised crystal meth is the only drug he’s used. I do respect Agassi for his openness in his book, and although some people viewed his confession as just a ploy to sell more books, I think he just wanted to come clean, to let people know what he had done.

He also admits to wearing a wig during a large amount of his matches; obviously he didn’t like be-

Associated Press

Andre Agassi released an autobiography titled, “Open.”

ing bald.

Although most of the tennis world is shocked, is this one confession really as bad as the sports of baseball or football? I think not.

Performance enhancing drugs are rarely seen in the tennis world, and none of the tennis players are running illegal dog fighting rings.

Agassi, after that year of drug use, got his act together, winning multiple slams. After retiring in 2006 he has focused mostly on charity, working with the Boys and Girls Club, three of his own charities, as well as Athletes for Hope, a charity made up of many of the top sports stars. Athletes for Hope is an organization that helps professional athletes become involved in charitable causes and volunteer in their respective communities.

Although there is no excuse for pro athlete’s drug use, Agassi’s year of crystal meth use is nothing more than a small mark on his character. His admitting to wearing a wig has got almost the same amount of news coverage as his crystal meth use.

Overall, Andre Agassi is one of the most respected, skilled and giving tennis players in the history of tennis, and I’m sure he will continue to be a role model and an inspiration to many. ngreen2@stedwards.edu

SPORTS |Page 13

Coach’s Corner:

Amy Coulter St. Edward’s University’s Athletic Department hires coaches from a wide variety of backgrounds. The Coach’s Corner offers an in-depth look at the background of the coaching staff. only got to coach them part Q: You have received a of the school year. Another Bachelor’s in Science in KiQ: You lead the St. Edward’s big difference is the ability to nesiology from Texas A&M University women’s softball recruit in college and the in- University and a master’s deteam to set a 45-22 record ability to recruit at the high gree in Human Services from and took them to the Heart- school level.

St. Edward’s, all while being land Conference ChampionQ: Do you believe your involved in softball. What adship for the first time. With all coaching methods teach your vice do you give the women these accomplishments, what students not only how to be softball players in order for do you believe is your greatest successful on the field, but off them to successfully manage accomplishment as the head the field as well? both academics and sports? softball coach?

A: My coaching style has A: When I first got to St. A: One of my greatest ac- changed tremendously over Edward’s University I was the complishments in the eight the past four years. In that assistant coach, and we were years that I have been at St. time I have adopted two little coming off a 12 – 36 record so Edward’s University is the boys who have changed my there was a lot of work to do positive relationships I have outlook on life and coaching. I within the recruiting and debeen able to develop with my believe in developing the veloping of our athletes. This student athletes. We work as whole person, not just the work took a lot of my time. I a team, as a family, and I re- athlete. Our student athletes really wanted to get my masally enjoy being around them. have to deal with a variety of ters and I also wanted to win Second to that is when I took life’s challenges, just in their some games. I tell my players a group of young ladies (2008 role as a player on the softball something that my new assisseason) to the College World team. They put in many hours tant once told me, “Winners Series. It was a great feeling on the field and in the weight get up earlier than everybody knowing that the majority room and that leaves little else, that’s why they are winof the players had spent four time for studying and a social ners.” I use this advice with years working hard to accom- life. We teach them time man- my players. I tell them to manplish something that, at times, agement, how to overcome ad- age their time and to get up a seemed impossible. So that versity and how to handle fail- little earlier to start their day year we not only went to the ure. I take the “treat them as I off with some studying or a World Series, but we finished would want my own children good workout to put them in third. As a team, we have done [to be] treated approach.” This the right frame of mind for something no other team in mindset has helped me build any challenge that might come the South Central Region has positive relationships with my their way throughout the day done; we have made it to the players and in return, we to- or week. post season four years in a row, gether, have won many champosted four 40-plus win[ning] pionships. ytroche@stedwards.edu seasons in a row and won the South Central Region in 2008. This is a huge accomplishment for the softball program. We also, for the first time in school history, won the regular season conference and the conference tournament.

Q: Before coaching at St. Edward’s, you coached at Westlake High School and Duncanville High School.

What do you find different about coaching university women?

A: The biggest difference is the amount of time you get to spend with your athletes.

In high school, many of them Regina Shelton played another sport and I St. Edward’s Women’s Head Softball Coach Amy Coulter.

Yenifes Trochez

VIEWPOINTS

14 Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views

Editorial

Plus/minus fails without total application After Peter Austin, assistant professor of University Programs, completed a study that found that more than 80 percent of surveyed schools employed a plus/ minus grading scale, the St. Edward’s University Faculty Senate began deliberating the implementation of such a system on campus.

If a plus/minus system can be applied and used fairly across the entire university, then it should be implemented. Currently, the grading system needs more definition. Letter grades—A+, A, A- and so on—are self-explanatory, the faculty senate would need to determine how these letters would

Eloise Montemayor

translate into a numbered scale for a four-point GPA. So far, none of these particulars have been established.

The faculty senate conducted a referendum of the faculty on the issue. According to James Payne, associate professor of political science, the majority of the faculty did not vote in the referen-

dum. The results came back that 60 percent of the faculty are in favor of an optional plus/minus grading system.

Implementing a plus/minus system could increase the value of a St. Edward’s degree, help those in the future who want to pursue graduate school, law school or any other higher

degree program and create a fair distinction between those who make an 80 in a class and those who make an 89—just a few of the reasons why a plus/minus grading scale is an excellent idea.

However, this system is only beneficial if it is properly and fairly implemented.

The plus/minus grading scale cannot be optional for faculty use. The possibility of an optional plus/minus scale would create the chance that two students doing the same work in the same class taught by different professors could potentially earn the same numerical grade but different letter grades,

which would hinder the equality in grading the system hopes to achieve.

Without a mandatory plus/minus system, an influx of students will search for professors that do not use plus/minus, complicating the registration process.

A secondary issue, one that Baylor University resolved, involves eliminating pluses and minuses in the A grade category. An A- cannot exist without the possibility of achieving its counterpart, an A+. A fair system would make an A+ more valuable than an A, disrupting the four-point scale.

To remedy this problem, the plus minus grading scale

could begin with a B+ and continue downwards.

Lastly, current students at St. Edward’s should not be subject to a change in the academic bulletin unless it occurs during the semester they enter. Otherwise, current student’s GPA will be skewed, and dissention will ensue.

A plus/minus grading has significant merit, but in its current incarnation would make an adequate system worse. We should look to improve our grading system and in turn the worth of a student’s degree, and that happens through a fair, sensible and uniformly executed plus/minus system.

Protecting gay rights the federal government’s job Katy Johnson Maine became the 31st state to block same-sex marriage through a public veto referendum held Nov. 4. Another loss of gay marriage rights could have a profound effect on the gay rights movement in the United States.

Over half of the voters cast their ballot to repeal a state law that would have granted same sex couples the right to wed, a statute passed by the legislature in May and signed

by Democratic Governor John Baldacci.

The campaign against same sex marriage in Maine mimicked the controversial effort in California last year, where Proposition 8 overturned a state Supreme Court ruling allowing civil unions. In fact, Maine voters were exposed to nearly identical TV commercials and attack ads that were used to campaign against gay marriage.

One such ad featured parents lamenting that their children were being taught about same-sex marriage in school, an ad which was sponsored by groups lead by Schubert Flint Public Affairs, the same firm who directed media relations for anti-gay marriage groups in California. Maine Attorney General Janet Mills rebutted the ad’s claim, saying that Proposition 1 would have had “no impact on education curriculum taught in Maine’s public schools.”

In many ways, this comes as no surpirse. Los Angeles Times reporter Bob Drogan commented that Maine would be unlikely to break traditional rules against gay marriage, as voters have repeatedly rejected measures for anti-discrimination protection based on sexual orientation.

But that tide seemed to be changing when voters approved a referendum grant-

Associated Press

Frank Schubert, campaign director for Stand for Marriage Maine, claims victory at a post-election rally Nov. 4.

ing the protections and equal opportunities for homosexuals in housing, employment and other areas in 2005. But it seems when left up to the voters, a state that went heavily to Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential election isn’t really ready for change.

Maine’s vote to repeal a law that gives couples of the same

sex the right to marriage is nothing but oppression of the majority. James Madison wrote in Federalist Paper 10 that a large representative republic protects against individuals or groups who might promote their own goals in spite of the interest of society as a whole.

Maine and California’s re-

sponse to to gay marraige exemplifies how our representative government has failed.

Those who were elected to represent the interest of their constituents, to make laws that would benefit society as a whole, were overruled by the few.

The state and national supreme courts were created to be the final interpreter of the constitutionality of laws, and yet it was the public who voted against the ruling the court made. How is representative government supposed to function as it was intended if the public, who the government represents, is unable to uphold the laws they enact for the benefit of society? What would happen if we had left civil rights reform up to the states?

Jennifer Schrauth. the secretary of the St. Edward’s University Democrats, believes that the goverment should have acted in its prop-

er role: knowing what is best for its people. “[The government] must step up and say homosexuals deserve the same rights as everyone else,” Schrauth said. “Ultimately, those rights need to be granted by the federal government so that they are the same and equal in every state across the United States. Separate but equal is not equal.”

In America, heterosexuals who enter into marriage receive tax write offs, discounts on medical care, education and home loans, the joint filing of tax returns and more.

Without marriage equality, those who are in a same-sex relationship are denied these basic rights. Separate is not equal and everyone, including gay and lesbian couples, should be treated equally under the law. kjohnso3@stedwards.edu

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, November 18, 2009

VIEWPOINTS | Page 15

Greek Life can exist, thrive under certain conditions Jake Hartwell In case you hadn’t noticed on Facebook, much of campus is engaged in a heated debate regarding Greek Life on the St. Edward’s University campus.

Advocates argue that Greek fraternities and sororities will foster the vibrancy they claim our campus is so lamentably lacking. Others allege that Greek social organizations will harm the community, due to their reputation as exclusionary, elitist and often dangerous. The Student Government Association resolution that introduced the argument into campus discourse offers little or no meaning to the terms, so de-

fining “Greek Life” is of utmost importance.

The bill states that “[t]he Student Government Association will investigate the interest in, implementation of, and organization of Greek Life on St. Edward’s Campus.” The resolution is not a push to instate Greek Life on campus, but is merely supposed to gauge student interest and, most importantly, encourage St. Edward’s students to define “Greek Life.”

As the St. Edward’s community is based on invaluable codes and morals, Greek Life must be compatible with St. Edward’s commitment to a meaningful and responsible community. My goal is to outline the implications

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Hilltop Views is a weekly student newspaper published by the School of Humanities and serving the community of St. Edward’s University. The opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the university, whose mission is grounded in the teachings and doctrine of the Catholic Church.

Letter Policy: Hilltop Views welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters may be edited for space, grammar and clarity.

Letters will be published at our discretion. Anonymous letters will not be printed.

and limits of the term “Greek Life” on campus in order to assist the campus and SGA in defining it. If the Greek Life mentioned in the resolution falls anywhere short of these specifications, then it must not be introduced.

Fraternities and sororities, if implemented, would not have their own houses, a decision about which the St. Edward’s administration is adamant. Greek houses foster irresponsibility and danger and make observing and regulating the organizations difficult by encouraging secrecy. Fraternities and sororities may live in close communities similar to the Living Learning Communities currently on campus, but nothing more.

Arbitrary guidelines may not determine membership—this includes one’s beer chugging skills or ability to recite the Greek alphabet while receiving a paddling.

Staff and faculty must approve the guidelines, ensuring that they conform to the

Wikimedia Commons

Some soroities and fraternities are disparaged for the exclusivity they promote.

zational activities must be entirely public and devoid of confidentiality. Potential members must receive a full disclosure of the tasks they will be required to perform.

All pledges and organizational activities must be approved by staff and faculty and encourage members towards bettering themselves in ways that are compatible with the values St. Edward’s holds.

All organizations must be

Greek Life can rescue the community from the staleness advocates assert is present...

school’s focus on academic success and responsibility and service within the community.

Admission guidelines may not be exclusionary in any way. Admission must be given to the members most capable of fulfilling the approved requirements. Applicants should not be chosen or rejected on the basis of race, religion, academic discipline, social status, financial status or family history. Jimmy Johnson may not be given priority over Jake Hartwell just because Jimmy’s brother is a legacy and his father is on the board of an oil company.

All pledges and organi-

self-sufficient. University tuition revenue may in no way benefit fraternities or sororities. The membership fee for joining the organization must cover all costs. Furthermore, a percentage of all membership fees should be set aside to allow free membership to economically disadvantaged students, which would compose 10 percent or more of the total members. This will prevent the elitism and exclusion based on wealth and upbringing that makes many Greek organizations infamous and loathsome.

Members must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0. Following a drop

below 3.0, members will be given a semester to exhibit improvement. Lacking this, the assumption that membership in the fraternity or sorority hinders the academic success of the student can be made, and they must be expelled from the organization immediately without a refund of membership fees.

Social organizations should never impede the true purpose of a university education, and any signs of such interference must be rectified immediately.

A set and considerable percentage of all organizational events must benefit a virtuous cause. This may include community service, charity, academic assistance or anything else approved by the St. Edward’s University Mission Statement. This will assure that St. Edward’s fraternities and sororities do not fall into the trap of meaningless social activity without the goals of bettering oneself and making a contribution to society.

Upon violating any of the above rules, organizations would be sanctioned and made to perform service to the community to repair their transgressions. Three offenses would result in the temporary termination of the fraternity or sorority manage the apparent disregard for a meaningful and responsible community. The

organization would re-open the following year under new leadership. Multiple cases of termination would suggest that the Greek Life system is irreconcilable with the values of St. Edward’s, upon which the entire system should be discarded.

Greek Life can rescue the community from the staleness that advocates assert, is present, but it must be implemented delicately. Far too many Greek organizations cause undesired traits to fester in their members and larger communities. The St. Edward’s community is based on admirable grounds; it simply needs to be closer and stronger. The specifications listed will ensure that Greek Life does not lay waste to the unique and desirable qualities of our community.

Greek Life should be desired for the social benefits it can offer to students, not the reprehensible activities that are largely responsible for their popularity. Students advocating Greek Life for the seamy acts that transpire on other campuses should seriously reconsider their stances, because this behavior will never be tolerated at St. Edward’s University. jhartwe@stedwards.edu

MILES

Page 16 | PHOTO ESSAY

for a

MISSION

On Sunday, Nov. 15, many students, faculty and staff participated in Miles for a Mission, a non-competitive 5k run/walk that benefits Campus Ministry outreach programs such as Alternative Spring Break, International Immersions, S.E.R.V.E Austin and Hunger and the Homelessness Awareness Week Food Drive.

Photos by:Dyan Cannon

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 | Hilltop Views