Issue #3 - Feb 10, 2010

Hilltop Views S t .

E d w a r d ’ s

U n i v e r s i t y

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Volume 27 | Issue 3

8 Entertainment: A compilation of

St. Edward’s 13 Features: University honors Black

History Month with campus events.

Austin’s best venues to enjoy Valentine’s Day.

Tenured track safe for now Jake Hartwell

While there is a nationwide trend of universities moving away from tenured track professor positions, St. Edward’s University is not a part of it.

Sr. Donna Jurick, university provost, said that the tenured

grown in proportion to the student population,” Jurick said.

Jurick added that the number of faculty has increased with the amount of students.

“In 1998, we had 132 contracted faculty who were not adjuncts,” she said. “In Fall

Sr. Donna Jurick said that tenured track will remain in place at the university for the foreseeable future. track will remain in place at the university for the foreseeable future.

The tenured track for professors has been disappearing from campuses, according to a 2009 article from the online publication “Inside Higher Ed,” entitled “The Disappearing Tenure-Track Job.” Since the faculty population is proportional to the student population, Jurick said that tenured positions at St. Edward’s will remain open, so long as enrollment remains healthy.

“Over the past two years, the undergraduate population has almost doubled, and the faculty population has

2009, we had 226 faculty; it includes tenured professors.”

One possible reason for this trend is St. Edward’s steady enrollment.

To suspend the tenuretrack position, current faculty members would have to hold a discussion and vote. “[The faculty] would have to have some recommendation from the administration, and it would have to have the approval of the Board of Trustees. I don’t foresee that at the moment,” Jurick said.

Jurick said that, in a sense, tenure is already suspended at St. Edward’s and has been PROFESSORS | 4

hilltopviewsonline.com

A preview 9 Sports: of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

University ready for homecoming Allison Sanders St. Edward’s University Homecoming celebration is just around the corner, and Student Life has numerous events planned for the week.

“It’s a really neat year for Homecoming because we’re celebrating the 125th year anniversary,” said Katrina Woolery, assistant director of Student Life.

The Student Homecoming Committee is the creative force behind event planning and represents several large programs on campus that focus on school spirit. Woolery said that the committee has made just a few tweaks to Homecoming plans since last year, but they are trying to solidify the tradition by running a solid week of events.

The committee consists of

Hilltop Views Archives Students dish out food during the 2009 Homecoming Week at St. Edward’s University.

sophomores Jessica Nortman, Vinny Caruso, Beverly Pappas, juniors Colleen White, Samantha Cook, Sara Hoover and Sean Har-

rison, and senior Samantha Cruz. Woolery said that the committee has been working since October to plan the events for Homecoming.

The cost of putting on the event will not be known until after the event.

EVENTS | 3

Student financial need increasing Haleigh Svoboda Following a year of an economic recession and persistently high unemployment rates, St. Edward’s University is preparing for an increase in student need for financial aid.

Director of Student Financial Services Doris Constantine said the expected increase during the 20102011 academic year will be

similar to the increase last year.

Students’ need for aid was less dramatic this year than anticipated, but Steven Peterson, assistant director of Student Financial Services, said the economic impact this year was greater than in past years.

Like most other universities, the endowment fund of St. Edward’s decreased during the recession. St. Ed-

ward’s Controller Paul Sintef said that the university’s endowment decreased from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2009, but that the trend has changed.

“The good news is the endowments’ value has increased since June 30, 2009 through December 31, 2009,” Sintef said.

The endowment level was approximately $47 million as of Dec. 31.

Even though 56 percent of the endowment fund goes to financial aid, the university did not decrease financial aid from the endowment fund this academic year, according to Sintef.

In addition to the economy, St. Edward’s tuition will increase next fall.

The flat rate tuition per semester next school year will AID | 2

Page 2 | NEWS

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views

UPD investigates break-ins Haleigh Svoboda An unknown person broke into vehicles in the on-campus parking garage Feb. 5, the St. Edward’s University Police Department reported.

“We’ve possibly got a person of interest or a description of them, but we do not know who they are,” UPD Lt. Dan Beck said.

The vehicles involved were damaged by forcible entry between noon and 3 p.m.

Beck said that UPD is not releasing the number of vehicles involved because the investigation is ongoing.

“We’ve got every available officer working on it,” Beck said UPD sent out notification to students, faculty and staff via Student E-news to make the St. Edward’s community was aware of the break-ins.

The department also contacted other area universities such as the University of Texas and Concordia University to see whether they have experienced any similar incidents.

Beck said they might have more information available on the crimes early next week, but said that unlike

fast-moving television crime dramas, real investigations take time.

“If there is evidence to be processed by a crime lab, it will take a whole lot longer than an hour,” Beck said. “I’ve never gotten anything back from a crime lab in less than four months.”

UPD requests that anyone with information on suspicious activity in the parking garage, contact them at 448-8444 or at their office in Holy Cross Hall. hsvobod@stedwards.edu

Aid for students weighed Continued from page 1

increase to $13,042 for fulltime students and to $870 per-credit-hour for part-time students.

Students’ need for aid may be definite, but whether the U.S. Congress will pass legislation to end the Federal Family Education Loan Program, from which many St. Edward’s students borrow loans, remains uncertain.

The U.S. Senate has yet to deliberate on the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2009, which eliminates the loan program.

“At this point, there are so many unknowns,” Constantine said.

The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last September, but the contentious bill has since taken a backseat to the health care debate.

Since the U.S. Congress usually enacts legislation on July 1, this bill would have to pass the U.S. Senate before then to apply to the 20102011 school year.

“Worst case scenario and we did not find out until June, all we have to do is communi-

cate to students by the Web,” Constantine said. “If the legislation passes, we will be in contact within 48 hours.”

Whether or not lenders who offer loans through this program will continue to due so also remains a mystery.

“The majority of lenders we talk to are waiting to see if the legislation passes,” Constantine said.

Constantine said that Student Financial Services will make a decision to switch students to the direct loan program after spring break even if the bill does not pass and it becomes clear that lenders stop offering loans through this program.

St. Edward’s has already begun the transition to the Federal Direct Loan program by offering over 200 direct loans to incoming freshmen, according to Constantine and Peterson.

“We do not want anxiety or concern,” Constantine said.

“Everyone who wants a student loan will get one.”

Two announcements made

by President Obama in his State of the Union Address regarding student financial aid are contingent on the mandated switch to the Fed-

eral Direct Loan program.

The estimated $87 billion from the Federal Direct Loan program would allow for larger Pell Grants and more student loan forgiveness.

The maximum Pell Grant is going to increase from $5,350-$5,550 to $5,710 in 2011.

This increase in Pell Grants most likely will mean an increase in aid for those who already receive this grant, not an expansion of the grant to other needy students.

This results from the way a student’s Pell Grant eligibility is calculated, which is solely on income.

Constantine said a student who usually receives a Pell Grant might lose eligibility for the grant if their family’s income increases as little as $2,000.

Housing fair approaches Megan Ganey Students who plan to live on campus during fall 2010 will be assigned housing in the next few weeks. These students will be placed based on availability.

St. Edward’s University currently houses 1,386 students in residence halls and on-campus apartments. To live on campus, students must enter the Housing Lottery between Feb. 12 and Feb. 17 on EdWeb. Once students are entered in the lottery, they will receive random time slots based on the semester they entered the university. That time slot will correspond with a time during the Housing Fair for Returning Students Feb. 22-26, when actual housing sign up will take place.

Freshmen and sophomores have priority in on-campus housing because they are still adjusting to college life and living on campus gives them many resources to adjust successfully, said Brian Obert, associate director of assignments and facilities

said. Residence Life sets aside 670 beds strictly for freshmen.

Juniors and seniors, who

the Off-Campus Roommate Board online where students can sign in and create profiles to look for off-

“If you can’t get housing on campus, as a university we are doing what we can to help students get roommates.”

- Associate Director of Residence Life Brian Obert Obert said are generally more independent than underclassmen, may live on campus if there is space.

“If [juniors and seniors] have to live off campus, they are probably ready,” Obert said. “We want to make sure we aren’t pushing people off if they are not ready.”

Residence Life provides resources for those students who need to find off-campus housing including a guide to living off campus, which gives tips on what to look for in a lease and how to choose a suitable neighborhood.

Residence Life also set up

campus roommates.

“If you can’t get housing on campus, as a university we are doing what we can to help students get roommates,” Obert said.

Students who want to live on campus but don’t get the room they want can sign up for a spot on a waiting list, Obert said. Residence Life prefers that freshmen and sophomores live in the community style residence halls and juniors and seniors live in the more independent style apartments. mganey@stedwards.edu

On-Campus Room Costs 2010-2011 Basil Moreau Casa Dujarié Johnson Hunt LeMans Teresa East Apartments

Private Room $3,450 $3,150 $3,175 $3,450 $3,450 $2,950 $3,080

Semi-private $2,900 $2,850 $2,900 $2,750 $2,750 $2,200 $1,900 $2,858-$3,477

Suite $2,700

Casita $3,150

$2,700

$3,150

$2,574-$2,583

hsvobod@stedwards.edu Corrections: An article in the Feb. 3 issue of Hilltop Views regarding replacing the late Professor Marilyn Schultz contained two errors. Assistant to the Dean Kim Livingston and Advising Specialist Natacha Martin were incorrectly identified as members of the faculty.

They are staff members in the Humanities Department. In addition, a poorly worded sentence may have left the impression that the Communication faculty were seeking to replace Schultz since before Schultz’s death on Jan. 10. Schultz had no plans to leave St. Edward’s University.

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Goat to be unveiled Caroline Wallace A new member of the St. Edward’s University community will be making his debut at the Homecoming tailgate party Feb. 20.

Pax, a two-year-old domestic Angora goat will be taking on the role of Topper.

Pax belongs to University Police Department Lt. Dan Beck, who purchased the goat with the hopes of encouraging school spirit.

Beck and his wife are St. Edward’s alumni, and they said the goat is an alumni gift to the student body.

But while Pax will be assuming the role of Topper at campus events, Beck is quick to point out that he is not an official university mascot.

“I’m not expecting anything from the university, “ he said.

“I own him, I feed him, and I’m responsible for him. He’s not going to be living on campus, and there’s not going to be goat poop everywhere.”

Beck wants to make Topper available to student organizations and their events, as well as for many other roles.

Caroline Wallace

Pax, Lt. Dan Beck’s goat

“It’s just student-oriented, student-driven,” Beck said.

“It’ll depend on what the students want and what the administration wants.”

Beck said UPD also plans on using Topper as a crimeprevention animal a la “McGruff the Crime Dog.” “People might not want to come over and talk about how to keep their bicycles from being stolen,” he said.

“But, they’ll come over and listen to us talk while they’re playing with Topper.”

Beck hopes that his goat will be an asset for the St. Edward’s community, and

many students are looking forward to his presence.

“I am so excited,” Freshman Kyle Nigro said. “This is exactly what the school needs to bring athletics to a new level and raise spirit on campus.”

Sophomore Kadence Hampton agrees that having a Topper is a good idea.

“I just want to meet him,” she said. “I’m really excited for a living, breathing Topper. I think it will increase school spirit among the student body.”

Beck is hopeful that the domestic goat will adapt well to crowds and be comfortable visiting campus.

And while Beck’s primary reason for bringing Topper to campus is to make college life more fun for the students at St. Edward’s, competition may play a slight role.

“Those people on the other side of the river, they’ve got their longhorn,” he said.

“Well by golly, we’ve got us a Topper if we want to have him.” cwallac2@stedwards.edu

NEWS | Page 3

Events to highlight week Continued from page 1

“We’re trying to incorporate the celebration of 125 years into Homecoming events,” Woolery said.

“We’re hoping that this year will be bigger and better than ever.”

In honor of the university’s 125th year anniversary, Student Life will introduce the 125 Service Challenge Feb. 15 at the Homecoming Kickoff on Ragsdale Lawn. The challenge invites students, alumni and faculty members to take part in 75,000 community service hours this year.

The kickoff will allow students to sign up for the challenge, vote for Mr. and Mrs. SEU and participate in games and raffles.

“It’s a fun way for friends to come together to do silly stuff,” Woolery said.

Homecoming festivities start on the morning of Feb. 14, when students can cheer on the Austin Marathon runners who will be running by the South Congress Avenue entrance to St. Edward’s. The Homecoming

Kickball Tournament will also take place on Feb. 14 on the practice soccer field from 1-4 p.m. Students, faculty and alumni are invited to watch the game and cheer on the teams competing for the Topper Cup Trophy as well as enter to win T-shirts and prizes.

“Even if you’re not competing on a team, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t show up,” Woolery said.

Students can help other teams earn fan points toward winning the Topper Cup Trophy just by coming out and supporting them.

“Fan points help a lot,” she said.

The Feb. 19 events at Homecoming will include a Pep Rally at 2:30 p.m. in the RCC as well as Casino Night at 9 p.m. in the alumni gym.

Woolery said that the goal of the Homecoming celebration is to celebrate St. Edward’s. Hoof prints will be painted on the streets around campus and large banners will be hung on South Congress Avenue to announce the Homecoming

celebrations.

“We’re trying to paint the campus with spirit and campus pride,” Woolery said.

A fireworks display on the front lawn of the Main Building will wrap up the festivities the night of Feb. 20.

“It’ll be a special edition to celebrate 125 years,” Woolery said.

Students can register their teams for Homecoming game and competitions with Student Life until Feb. 10.

More information on other Homecoming events can be found on the St. Edward’s Web site. asander3@stedwards.edu

Student Government looks to make big changes Haleigh Svoboda The Student Government Association made significant changes to its constitution during a Senate meeting Feb. 4.

The changes, which include Senate Bill 05, Senate Bill 07 and Senate Bill 04, will change the way the organization is run.

S.B. 05 would add a students’ bill of rights to the proposed constitution while S.B. 07: Constitution Referendum would allow students to vote to instate the proposed constitution during this spring’s SGA elections.

“These concepts are an ac-

cumulation of different conflicts and challenges we have had in the past three years,” said Christopher Duke, vice president of Intergovernmental Affairs.

At the beginning of each academic year, SGA goes through a constitutional review.. The last time that students voted to approve a constitution was in 1999. The proposed new constitution is four pages long.

“My hope is that by passing this new cleaner version of the constitution, we can have a very clean bill that students can understand for the first time as opposed to asking where something is in the

20 pages that we go under,” Duke said.

S.B. 05 passed with little discussion, and S.B. 07 was moved to the Intergovernmental Affairs committee.

S.B. 04: SGA Modernization Act of 2009 would establish the office of the vice president and would make the three existing vice presidential slots into chair positions.

The office of the vice president would also be the president of the SGA Senate and would remain as an elected position. The vice president would appoint the three chairs, which would be voting members of the executive

board and the senate.

Executive Sen. Zac Peal, who proposed the bill, said this bill would clarify which candidates are running for each position.

“This is a maneuver to understand who you are voting for in two people instead of potentially ten,” Peal said, “If you don’t understand what you are voting for, it is not legitimate.”

Sophomore Sen. Alex Simons said she believes the bill would increase cohesiveness of the senate.

“We are supposed to make things better on campus,” Simons said. “We can’t do that if we cannot work together.”

Vice President of Student Representation Alexis Konevich urged the Senate to vote against the bill, saying that if a representative of one class is appointed to a chair position than that class would be short one senator.

The candidates appointed to the chair positions must be elected members of the Senate with two consecutive semesters of experience in SGA. The bill would have the chairs serve 10 office hours a week compared to the 15 hours served by the current vice presidents.

Konevich also said that other ways to increase cohe-

siveness exist such as members following the orders of superiors.

“We can’t write into law that [SGA members] have to be nice to each other,” Peal said. “I can write into law how [SGA members] relate to each other because of how [they] are appointed.”

S.B. 04 would go into effect in the 2010-2011 school year unless SGA President Meghan Kuentz vetoes the bill and it is not overridden. hsvobod@stedwards.edu

Page 4 | NEWS

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views

Professors talking tenure Continued from page 1

at St. Edward’s and has been since 1998, when the faculty decided against an “up-orout” system.

“Normally when you use the word ‘tenure,’ that’s the connotation—that if you do not get tenure, then you must leave the university,” Brenda Vallance, dean of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, said.

The absence of an “up-orout” tenure system differentiates St. Edward’s from most other institutions.

A large number of universities require professors to apply for tenure after a certain period of time and mandate that they must leave should their application be rejected.

St. Edward’s participates in neither of these practices.

Furthermore, Vallance suggested that increasing numbers of adjuncts is not necessarily a negative occurrence.

“There are times when you want adjuncts, because they bring specialized knowledge that you don’t have among your full-time faculty,” Vallance said. “Or it’s so specialized that you would not hire a faculty member in that area.”

The School of Business has an entrepreneurship program that employs several adjunct professors. The Forensic Science program on campus follows the same practice. These fields are so specialized that St. Edward’s hires professionals as adjuncts.

Vallance also said that tenure has two sides to it. In the first place, tenure was established to protect the academic freedom of professors.

However, she also recalled an instance at another university where a faculty member thoroughly abused his tenured status.

Another practice differentiating St. Edward’s from other universities is the review process.

“Every faculty member is

Courtesy of Marketing

Henry Altmiller has taught at SEU for 37 years.

reviewed every year,” Vallance said. “Quite often, if you have a tenure system, you don’t review those people. Even tenured professors [at St. Edward’s] have a yearly review.”

Tenured professors at St. Edward’s—like all other faculty—do self-evaluations as well, where they are encouraged to set their own goals and assess their performance.

Of all of the systems that Vallance has experienced, she said that she believed the one at St. Edward’s is the best.

Professor Henry Altmiller has taught at St. Edward’s for 37 years and hasn’t applied for tenure once. He said suspension of the tenure-track at other universities would, because of the “up-or-out” system, have serious effects on educational quality and continuity. However, he thinks the case would be different at St. Edward’s.

“To grant or not to grant tenure at St. Ed’s would not have any adverse effects, I think,” Altmiller said.

Due to the growth at St. Edward’s over the past years, the university is now competing against different institutions, including Southwestern University, Trinity University and Rice University. Some believe that as St.

Edward’s moves into a new bracket of educational institutions—especially those that generate published academic texts—the tenure system might meet reform.

“My impression is that St. Edward’s is still in the process of hammering out tenure,” Assistant Professor Peter Austin said. “It is trying to figure out the best road.

It’s also figuring out where publishing comes into the equation.”

Austin said that he thinks St. Edward’s will find the best road.

“St. Edward’s takes care of its people and allows them to flourish,” he said.

As St. Edward’s steps into a new realm of academia, enrollment remains steady and the faculty body is strong.

Administration hopes to retain the personal touch that has been one of the university’s trademark qualities.

“I think I’d put our faculty up against anybody that has [up-or-out] tenure,” Jurick said. “I think we’re as rigorous as they are. I think we do it more compassionately.” jhartwe@stedwards.edu

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Check Out

Hilltop Views

GAMES | Page 5

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

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

Answer to last issue’s Sudoku:

Page 6 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, February 10, 2010

ENTERTAINMENT

The five best boutiques We already know what to expect from Austin institutions Strut, New Bohemia and Parts and Labour, but these boutiques are practically unknown to a majority of shoppers. Find out what makes these retailers popular with the shopping savvy.

1. Lovely Austin

1106 South First St.

Jackie Slanley

Lovely Austin specializes in consignment clothing, jewelry and decor.

Since opening in September 2009, Lovely Austin has prided itself on being “not your average thrift store.”

The store features a wide range of clothes, jewelry, shoes, housewares and accessories with everything from affordable jeans to high-end couture. The building itself is a salvaged home, so it should come as no surprise that many items for sale are used and recycled. Lovely Austin is a consignment boutique; sellers can bring in gently used items for resale, meaning there’s always something new.

The boutique also proudly works with local fashion and jewelry designers, giving customers a chance to support Austin’s local artists. With its ever-changing inventory and local feel, Lovely Austin lives up to its name.

2. Big Bertha’s

3. SoLa

This vintage shop has been a staple of Lamar Boulevard since 1995. Also specializing in resale, Big Bertha’s inventory is hand picked and includes everything from cowboy boots to Chanel dresses. The store also works with local designers to buy back reworked vintage items, designer items that have been updated or redesigned. The tiny shop is literally packed with hats, jewelry, shoes, dresses, jackets, belt buckles and new items that come in each week. Plus, each week Big Bertha’s features a half-off sales rack, making the store affordable and student-friendly.

This boutique describes itself as “Austiny-chic, casual, but trendy.” SoLa has been around for a little over two years and opened a second store on West 47th Street. The storeowner travels across the United States working with various vendors and artists to collect a wide selection of jewelry, purses, sunglasses, house-wares and trendy dresses that will be flying off the rack come springtime. SoLa is not unlike Urban Outfitters, with a similar feel and pricing.

1050 South Lamar Blvd.

Jackie Slanley

Big Bertha focuses on vintage and reworked clothes.

2005 South Lamar Blvd.

Jackie Slanley

There are two SoLa locations in the Austin area.

you’re not shopping at

Wendy Cawthon wcawtho@stedwards.edu

4. Peyton’s Place

215 Lavaca St.

Peyton’s Place has been locally owned since April 2007 and operates in downtown Austin. Customers can find everything from T-shirts to high-end dresses. While prices here are definitely a little higher than other local boutiques, the average shopper can usually find something they’ll love for around $30-$40. Peyton’s also works with local jewelry designers and carries all kinds of accessories, many of them under $20.

Jackie Slanley

Peyton’s Place offers casual and formal looks.

5. Let’s Dish

1102 South Lamar Blvd.

While this store is more antique than boutique, so many of the items at Let’s Dish felt too much like Austin to leave it out. Open for over 20 years, the store is a piece of Lamar Boulevard history. Next door to the Alamo Drafthouse, the shop is a favorite among film enthusiasts and theater fans. The storeowner is proud to call his antique store one of the few in Austin with “authentic vintage.” Let’s Dish features pieces from all eras, dating back to the ‘20s and ‘30s. Shoppers can also expect to see an eclectic selection of jewelry, and boxes upon boxes of hats in all shapes and sizes. Let’s Dish is also student-friendly and is featured in Austin’s “Vintage Around Town” guide for 2009.

Jackie Slanley

Let’s Dish has been open for more than 20 years.

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 10, 2010

ENTERTAINMENT | Page 7

MOVIE REVIEW

Film worthy of praise Ryan Lester Many comparisons can be made between the movie “Crazy Heart” and last year’s breakout film “The Wrestler.”

Both are excellent dramas that feature severely flawed—yet endearing—main characters, heartbreaking stories and a sense of optimism amidst hardship.

Led by the exceedingly talented Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart” succeeds because of the believability of the performances and the way it effortlessly documents the trials and tribulations of its main character.

Bad Blake (Bridges) is an aging country singer who has had many personal setbacks.

As an alcoholic with several failed marriages, he is barely making ends meet by playing shows in bowling alleys and saloons. Blake is losing his

4

relevance as a one-time star, which is only exacerbated by the Brad Paisley-like success of his former protégé, Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell). Despite nearly self-destructing several times, he is someone who loves what he does and never lets his situation get the best of him.

These qualities persuade journalist Jean (Maggie Gyllenhaal) to take a chance on Blake. Their relationship is both a source of inspiration

and pain for Blake, as his old habits come back to bite him in the worst possible ways.

However, upon realizing his mistakes, the country singer decides to get his life back in order, giving the film a redemptive quality.

Bridges’ heart-wrenching performance has “Oscar” written all over it. He injects emotional depth and an ungodly amount of grit into the character.

Gyllenhaal does a great job portraying a broken, single mom, who just wants someone to treat her right. Farrell’s performance as the star that wants to help his mentor, and Robert Duvall’s performance as Wayne, round things out with aplomb.

“Crazy Heart” pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It is a striking achievement and one that will undoubtedly withstand the test of time. rlester@stedwards.edu

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Rome’ sticks to clichés Wendy Cawthon With Oscar season upon us, many are flocking to the theaters hoping to guess which of our favorites will take home that golden statuette.

“When in Rome” will not be among the lucky few. But, at the very least, it could make for a good date movie.

Valentine’s Day perhaps?

The movie follows the story of Beth (Kristen Bell), a workaholic curator for the Guggenheim, and her complete lack of a love life. Beth is not destined to be loveless forever though; her prospects greatly improve after the first 20 minutes of the film.

When her sister announces

her engagement, Beth travels to Rome, the city of love, for the wedding.

After a series of embarrassing moments at the reception—and being shot down by the best man ( Josh Duhamel)—a distraught and drunk Beth stumbles into Rome’s famous Fountain of Love, where one can toss in a coin and wish for love. Seeing the fountain as a cruel joke, Beth takes five coins thrown in by five men before traveling back to New York.

Following the formula of the classic romantic comedy, Beth soon finds herself overwhelmed by the men who have fallen in love with her because of the fountain’s magic. Each one is more ridiculous than the last. All predictability aside, the mov-

ie does feature some wellknown names in the comedy world that help distract from the wandering plotline: Danny Devito, Will Arnett, Dax Shepard and Jon Heder play the suitors. And in case you were wondering, Pedro from “Napoleon Dynamite” is there too.

If you haven’t become too cynical about romantic comedies yet, “When in Rome” is a pretty good way to kill a couple of hours, although you may just want to rent it.

If you’re sick of the Valentine’s Day hype already, don’t worry; summer blockbusters will be here before you know it. wcawtho@stedwards.edu

Page 8 | ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views

Theater to take on Peer Gynt Patrick Jones Mary Moody Northen Theatre launches a new play, “Peer Gynt,” on Feb. 11. The play was written by Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen and translated by Robert Bly. The play details a man’s journey of self-discovery from youth to old age. It is one of the last major plays to be fully written in verse. “‘Peer Gynt’ is sort of an epic play that chronicles the life of a man who lives his life by avoidance,” said junior Kel Sanders, a theater major featured in the production. “It incorporates a lot of Scandinavian mythology, like trolls.”

Sanders, who plays 10 roles in the production, said the audience should expect “a lot of spectacle in this show.” “‘Peer Gynt’ requires a ridiculous amount of props and costumes,” he said. “In the final scene of the play, I’m going to be on stilts. There are masks, a giant puppet, trolls, sex-crazed satyr girls and an eight-foot tall devil.

And six of us are going to be playing musical instruments at various times.”

Many students are anticipating the play’s premiere.

“I expect a lot, because Ev Lunning is directing the play,” said Lindsley Howard, a freshman theater major. “Ev used to be the artistic director of the theatre. He made Mary Moody Northen what it is today.”

Freshman Cameron Allen caught a sneak peak of the play and singled out the “phenomenal cast and style of storytelling.”

“There’s lots of singing and instruments,” Allen said. Music is a big deal in it, and the sets are fantastic.”

Despite the impressive technical aspects and fantastical elements, Sanders stressed the importance of the story and emotions expressed in the play.

“There are beautiful moments that show a real struggle,” he said. “Hopefully, the audience will walk away both thoroughly entertained and touched by the story.”

“Peer Gynt” runs from Feb. 11-21. pjones4@stedwards.edu

Bret Brookshire

Peer Gynt portrays a journey of self-discovery.

Valentine’s Day for lovers and haters Compiled by Gabby Pineda and Hilltop Views Staff

Whether you love it or hate, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. No matter what your opinion though, Austin has gpineda@stedwrads.edu something for everyone.

Chocolate-covered strawberries are a favorite delicacy on Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s at the Melting Pot 13343 Research Blvd.

For fondue-frenzied couples on Valentine’s Day, the Melting Pot has a special Valentine’s menu and prices for couples. On Feb. 13, the Arthur Murray Dance Studio is hosting dance-and-a-meal at noon and 4 p.m. However, the $120 per couple dance lessons, the $130 per couple meals and tricky reservation process may turn away all but the wealthy patrons, or the deeply in love, for whom price is no object. Those in newer relationships or with thinner wallets can try do-it-yourself fondue at home, which—for the price—may turn out better than the Melting Pot.

Christina Villarreal

Truth & Beauty/The Bach Project at the Long Center for the Performing Arts 701 W. Riverside Dr. The Bach Project is a ballet featuring music composed and inspired by the profoundly emotional Johann Sebastian Bach.

A bit of classical culture can be the perfect ingredient to spice up any romantic outing. The Bach-inspired pieces written

by Philip Glass and Graham Reynolds will add a contemporary element to the immortality of Bach. With seats priced from $24 to $74, this night of music and ballet is sure to be a passionate component of any Valentine’s celebration. Performances occur Feb. 12 and 13 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 14 at 3 p.m.

Anti-Valentine’s Day Event at Plucker’s

Esther’s Follies’ Love Struck on Sixth Street

9070 Research Blvd.

Get on over to Plucker’s if you want to express your disdain for Valentine’s Day. You can join other naysayers for $1 beers and 50-cent wings all day on Feb. 14. Plucker’s will host a beer pong tournament with chances to win some prizes, including a $250 Plucker’s gift card. Hosted in conjunction with the 101X radio station, this event is anything but lovey-dovey.

525 E. Sixth St. For a comedic spin on Valentine’s Day, head over to Esther’s Follies, Austin’s famed comedy theater. The night will feature a magic show from magician Ray Anderson, who will unveil his newest trick: wet levitation. The show will also contain sketches inspired from current events and political controversies. The show will run from Feb. 11 to Feb. 13 at 8 p.m. General admission tickets cost $20.

Valentines Dance at Midnight Rodeo

Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Valentine’s Eve Party

2201 E. Ben White Blvd.

A good old-fashioned hootenanny, Midnight Rodeo is the perfect place for country dancing fans. With drinks, dancing and the occasional contest, the Valentine’s Dance is a “Texas Dancehall Tradition.” Midnight Rodeo is also one of the few dancehalls that allows entry to patrons aged 18 to 21. The event costs $8.50 and begins at 10 p.m. on Feb. 13.

801 Red River St. What could be a better way to celebrate Valentine’s Day than delicious barbecue at one of Austin’s most famous and respected venues? White Dress, The Mercers and The Sour Notes will provide the musical entertainment for the night.

At a measly $8, the Stubb’s Valentine’s Party leaves you with enough dough to get your Valentine a special something. The show starts at 9 p.m. on Feb. 13.

SPORTS

Hilltop Views | Page 9

SEU picks up numerous wins Kayla Meyer The St. Edward’s University athletic teams picked up 13 wins between Feb. 4-7.

After a rough start in the season, both the St. Edward’s men’s and women’s basketball teams were each able to secure two wins this weekend against conference rivals Newman University and Lincoln University.

The men’s basketball team (10-12, 5-6 HC) defeated Lincoln 72-69 on Feb. 4.

The Hilltoppers then defeated Newman, who were first place in the Heartland Conference, 59-57 on Feb. 6.

Senior Cory Griffin helped the team with 16 rebounds and nine points.

The women’s basketball team (6-16, 4-5 HC) also defeated Lincoln, 59-51, on Feb. 4. Senior Kelli Payton led the Hilltoppers that night with 22 points.

The women’s team then went on to dominate Newman 60-47 on Feb. 6.

The men’s baseball team and women’s softball teamrecently began their seasons on a high note.

The baseball team (5-2, 5-2 HC) swept Lincoln in a four-game series on Feb. 6 and Feb. 7. The Hilltoppers dominated Lincoln 16-2 and 12-2 on Saturday and 4-3 and 11-10 on Sunday.

Junior Dylan Schuch ended with game-winning hits in both of Sunday’s games.

Kateri Kuglemann The softball team (4-2) Senior Reggie Shanks reaches for an offensive rebound. played in the St. Mary’s D.II College Classic in San on Feb. 6, the Hilltoppers 1) also picked up a recent Antonio this weeknd. The fell 3-4 to Texas Woman’s win, upsetting Div. I the Hilltoppers came out of the University and 6-9 to An- University of Texas at San tournament even, with two gelo State University.

Antonio 4-3 on Feb. 7. wins and two losses.

After the tournament, the The women’s tennis team The women first defeated softball team defeated #22 (0-1) also played but lost Southeastern Oklahoma West Texas A&M Universi- their only game to Lamar State University 8-0, then ty, 8-4 and 7-1, in a double- University 1-6 on Feb. 5.

Eastern New Mexico Uni- header on Feb. 7. versity 19-4 on Feb. 5, but The men’s tennis team (1kmeyer2@stedwards.edu

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

U.S. athletes to watch in the 2010 Winter Olympics

Associated Press

LINDSEY VONN (ALPINE SKIING) Almost every major U.S. media outlet named Vonn the face of the 2010 Olympics. In the past two years, she’s won back-to-back World Cup titles as the first American woman to do so.

SHANI DAVIS (SPEED SKATING) Davis has ample opportunity to perform well in individual competition in Vancouver. In Torino, he was the first AfricanAmerican to claim an individual medal at the Winter Olympics.

ERIN HAMLIN (LUGE) At the 2009 World Championships, not only was Hamlin the first American to claim the title but more importantly, she broke the German’s formidable 99-race winning streak.

BODE MILLER (ALPINE SKIING) Miller is known for going big or going home. His reckless yet

Olympic torch ready to burn again Jake Hartwell The Olympics have long been a cherished, global tradition in which nations show their respect for each other in friendly, but fierce, competition. With some

great athletes from nations all across the globe, the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games are sure to be exhilarating.

The games will feature more than 80 countries and will begin with the open-

Associated Press The 2010 Winter Olympics will be in Vancouver, Canada.

ing ceremony on Feb. 12 at 6 p.m. They will be hosted in Vancouver, Canada, and broadcasted by NBC. Teams to watch this year include Germany, which dominated the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy, with 11 gold medals.

The U.S. is also expected to perform well with returning champions such as speed skater Apolo Ohno and snowboarder Shaun White.

Austria, Canada, Russia and the Scandinavian countries have also consistently exhibited outstanding Winter Olympic appearances.

The U.S. has a team of 216 athletes, including 87 returning Olympians. With 25 medals, the U.S. came in second place in the total medal count at the Torino Games.

Long track speed skater

Chad Hedrick and ice hockey players Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter are just three of Team USA’s 31 returning medalists.

The Canadian ice hockey team has something of a home-field advantage, the top spot in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s world rankings, and a lot of expectations weighing on its shoulders. Of course, the 2010 Winter Games are loaded with admirable athletes, like Norwegian Alpine Skier Kjetil André Aamodt—returning, amazingly, for his sixth Winter Olympics.

No specifics about the opening ceremonies have been released, but Canada has allocated a $20 million budget for it alone. David

aggressive skiing style has earned him a reputation as a talented yet unpredictable performer.

LINDSEY JACOBELLIS (SNOWBOARDING) Jacobellis is best known for a devastating fall in Torino that cost her a gold medal. However, since then, she’s racked up two World Cup titles, the World title and a gold at the X-Games.

KATIE UHLAENDER (SKELETON) After placing sixth in her Torino Olympic debut and winning two World Cup titles, Uhlaender’s father died of cancer in 2009.

She’ll head to Vancouver with newfound strength and courage.

SHAUN WHITE (SNOWBOARDING) White has become the poster boy for American snowboarding.

His undeniable talent, charismatic demeanor and fiery head of hair have kept him a favorite going into Vancouver.

RACHAEL FLATT (FIGURE SKATING) At 17 years old, Flatt skated to her first women’s national title in January and secured her spot on the U.S. Women’s team for Vancouver, ousting veteran competitor Sasha Cohen.

STEVE HOLCOLMB (BOBSLED) Keratoconus, a degenerative eye condition, has not prevented Holcolmb from greatness. He recently won the four-man title, the first American to do so, at the 2009 World Championships.

EVEN LYSACEK (FIGURE SKATING) Lysacek is coming off the high of winning the 2009 World Championship. He placed fourth overall in Torino, only after suffering from dehydration and the flu.

OLYMPICS | 10

Compiled by: Claire Cella

Page 10 | SPORTS

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views

BENCH WARMING

Winter Games not less inspiring than summer The Olympics are just days away and while the Winter Games are considerably less popular than the summer variSports Commentary ety, it doesn’t mean there aren’t intriguing story lines.

Every two years the Olympics come around and inspiring stories of hard work and sacrifice capture this country and often the world’s attention.

This Olympiad will be no different.

In a variety of disciplines there are incredibly compelling story lines, not the least of which is American snowboard cross rider Lindsey Jacobellis’ bid for redemption after a shocking end to her bid for gold in Torino, Italy, in 2006.

Jacobellis, with gold clearly within reach, decided on a celebratory trick off the second to last jump of the course. This trick ended with her on her rear and the gold medal slipping away. With four years between her and her failed attempt at gold in Torino, Jacobellis hopes to bring home the gold that she should have had in 2006.

Shaun White, “the flying tomato,” arguably the world’s most recognizable action sports star, hopes to back up his 2006 gold in Torino and his four consecutive medals at the Winter X-Games with another gold in the sport he dominates: snowboarding.

The Americans have dominated Olympic snowboarding since it debuted in 1998 in Nagano, Japan, and the success is expected to continue with a team anchored

by White and women’s halfpipe star Hannah Teter.

Internationally, Iran is Associated Press sending its first woman to the 2010 Winter Games.

Marjan Kalhor, 21, will compete in both the alpine slalom and the giant slalom events. Kalhor, who will head a four-member Iranian team leaving on Monday, the only one from the Middle East, will follow in the footsteps of countrywoman Homa Hosseini, a rower who was Iran’s flag bearer in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

This is an incredible achievement for a country with an extremely conservative government. Ultimately, no one knows how good her chances are of winning a medal, but her being able to compete is an inspiration to many in her country.

Lastly, there is always the battle for international pride in the medal count. The United States fell just four medals shy of Germany in 2006 after coming in second to the Germans in 2002 by just two medals. This year, the United States is looking to top the medal count for the first time since the 1932 games in Lake Placid, N.Y. The Olympics display the best in the world at a variety of sports. Discipline, dedication, sacrifice and incredible achievements are all going to be on display in Vancouver, Canada, for just under a month.

Bryce Bencivengo

Olympics to commence Continued from page 9

Atkins, the executive producer of this year’s Olympics, plans to “deliver spectacular, truly Canadian Ceremonies in 2010.” China’s ceremony in Beijing, an epic five-hour display, will loom in the background.

The mascots for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games are all based on creatures from Canadian Aboriginal myths.

Miga, a small sea bear (half orca and half bear), snowboards while Quatchi, a Sasquatch, is a hockey goalie.

Sumi, the Paralympics mascot, is a mixture of the mythical thunderbird and a black bear. Mukmuk, an unofficial but highly popular mascot, is

a marmot.

The first event, a ski-jumping qualification round, will be at 10 a.m. before the opening ceremony. Medal events begin on Feb. 13.

The sports in this year’s Winter Olympic Games are Alpine Skiing, the Biathlon, Bobsled, Cross-Country Skiing, Curling, Figure Skating, Freestyle Skiing, Hockey,

Luge, Nordic Combined, Short Track, Skeleton, Ski Jumping, Snowboarding and Speed Skating.

Two weeks of strong and thrilling competition will follow the opening ceremony, and they will end with the closing ceremony on Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. jhartwe@stedwards.edu

Student trained in the luge Kayla Meyer The 2010 Winter Olympic Games will be memorable for many; however, this year is significant for one St. Edward’s University student in particular.

Freshman Kayla Gonzalez will be watching these Winter Games thinking she could have been there. This would have been the year for Gonzalez to qualify for the Winter Olympics in the luge, if

bbenciv@stedwards.edu Courtesy of Kayla Gonzalez

The Hilltop Views’ column, ‘Bench Warming,’ appears every other week in the sports section and is written by Co-Editor-In-Chief Bryce Bencivengo.

Associated Press

Quatchi, Miga and Sumi are the 2010 Olympic mascots.

Kayla Gonzalez would have qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

she hadn’t stopped training.

Gonzalez said she began training for the luge when she was 13 and tried out for the USA Luge Slider Search held by the USA

Luge National and Olympic Team coaches and athletes.

There, Gonzalez said she learned the basics about street luge, including steering and stopping.

The USA Luge Slider Search’s primary purpose was to recruit potential lugers to compete in future Winter Olympics.

Even though Gonzalez said making the cut was rare, she was brought onto the Olympic training team with hopes of qualifying for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

She said the workouts were intense.

“I was trained not to black out, because luge is the fastest sport on ice at 90 miles an

hour,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said her biggest achievement was that

she never crashed her sled, as that was a rare accomplishment for many lugers.

Gonzalez said the ideal body type for a luger is to be small but have a large upper body.

“You have to be built but compact to fit in the sled,” Gonzalez said.

Gonzalez said her training for the luge got very expensive, and due to financial reasons, she chose to discontinue it.

Although she will not be in Vancouver for the Winter Games this year, Gonzalez said she is still looking forward to watching them. kmeyer2@stedwards.edu

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views

SPORTS | Page 11

SPORTS COMMENTARY

Voting for NBA All-Star game needs reform Duval Hilbert Fans have reason to cheer as the NBA season heads into its second half. There are a few surprise teams in Atlanta and Phoenix, but the main reason for excitement is the fast-approaching NBA All-Star game.

The All-Star game has long been a favorite all-star event of any of the big four sports—basketball, football, hockey, baseball—because of the dunk contest and three point shootout, among other events that accompany the game during the weekend.

However, the actual game may be heading in the wrong direction this season.

The problem is Allen Iverson. Fans voted for Iverson to be a starter for the Eastern Conference squad this sea-

son, despite the fact that he has only played in 22 games this season; three with Memphis Grizzlies and 19 games with the Philadelphia 76ers.

While I am one of Iverson’s biggest fans, I cannot agree with anyone who thinks he is more deserving than some of the players left off the Eastern squad, notably Atlanta Hawks’ Josh Smith.

Smith is the defensive anchor for a surging Atlanta Hawks team that currently sits third in a top-heavy Eastern Conference. Iverson is currently riding the bench on a 16-31 team that has no hope for the playoffs.

While Iverson may not even play in the game due to injury, the fact that he was voted to start by fans shows the game is not about talent, but popularity and celebrity.

It becomes clear that using fan votes to determine who is a starter in their respective conference is a horrible practice that needs to be stopped immediately if the All-Star game hopes to keep any shred of respectability.

Nonetheless, the All-Star game players actually care about winning and in the fourth quarter, one can witness some of the best basketball played.

With superstars Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade, and others competing, the NBA AllStar game should be a fun event to watch. The game, to be played in the new Dallas Cowboys’ stadium, is scheduled for Feb. 14.

Allen Iverson was selected to start in the NBA All-Star game.

dhilber@stedwards.edu

Associated Press

FEATURES

Page 12 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Poetry club returns to campus after hiatus Michael McNally Perhaps one of the most elusive and mysterious clubs at St. Edward’s University is the Poetry Club.

Many St. Edward’s students, like Freshman Emily Eubank, don’t even know the club exists.

“I didn’t know it existed, but I think it’s an awesome idea since I write poetry myself,” she said.

The club meets on top of the parking garage every Wednesday at 10 p.m. and members take turns reading original poems to the group.

Junior Zane Goodwin said he thought the group could be beneficial to St. Edward’s students who are interested in poetry.

“I think we need to encour-

age creative expression in a world where written poetry isn’t appreciated as much as lyrical poetry in song,” he said. “Most people with poetry writing talent apply it to song writing, but I think it’s important we don’t lose sight of where poetry came from.”

The Poetry Club was originally founded in 2007 but went on hiatus during Fall 2009 because many of its members either graduated or were occupied with work.

Abe Clabby, a junior, revitalized the club this semester.

Clabby said part of the purpose of the club is to support and foster self-expression among its members, primarily through writing and appreciating poetry.

Many members view the opportunity to share their

Christina Villarreal

Abe Clabby reads a poem on the roof of parking garage during a recent poetry club meeting.

works as a kind of escape.

“I feel that when we are up there on the roof, everything else is kind of left behind...

we are in our own space, far away from work and obligations and everything else in life,” he said.

None of the members claim to be poets by profession and, incidentally, none are creative writing majors at St. Edward’s.

Despite being relatively intimate and secluded, the club does welcome new members.

In fact, pamphlets with a poem describing when and where the Poetry Club meets were scattered around campus last week. The pamphlets were found in locations ranging from tree branches to the pages of a library book.

Clabby said new members shouldn’t feel nervous or daunted about joining the club.

“It’s not like you are joining our society,” he said. “We’re in the same society.”

Individuals seeking fellow appreciators of poetry and

a community supportive of self-expression should venture to the top of the parking garage and take a chance, Clabby said.

“You can see the whole city from up there. It’s literally a different world view,” he said. mmcnall@stedwards.edu

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 10, 2010

FEATURES | Page 13

PRIMER

Coffee spots offer downtime, study environments Ryan Lester Whether they have great atmospheres or interesting menu options, there is no shortage of coffee shops in Austin.

Coffee shops can be great places to do homework, meet with friends, or waste away an afternoon. Here are five coffee shops that you could easily lose money and hours of your life to, but in the best possible way.

Epoch Coffee (221 W. North Loop Blvd.): One of two 24-hour coffee shops in Austin, Epoch is an Austin staple. Much like Blue Velvet next door, the interior has a vintage vibe to it. The tables show their age, and most of the furniture looks like it’s straight out of the 1970s.

It’s a great setting for sitting down to focus on a term paper. There is an ample selection of coffees, teas, and food options including pizza, sandwiches, veggie wraps and a wide variety of desserts.

While Epoch usually has plenty of seats, it can be hard to find a spot during peak hours. Around finals and

mid-terms, the place is especially swarming with cramming students. Despite this fact, and the longer drive, Epoch is a great place to study or catch up with an old friend.

Ruta Maya (3601 S. Congress Ave.): Just a hop, skip and jump from St. Edward’s University, Ruta Maya has distinguished itself as one of the city’s most eclectic coffee shops. Their coffee is imported directly from Chiapas, Mexico and has a markedly bold flavor.

However, describing the coffee only scratches the surface of what defines Ruta Maya, where something always seems to be happening.

Every Tuesday, there is a poetry open mic night where local talents perform on the big stage. This stage is also used by the many musical acts that perform at the venue.

Ruta Maya offers swing and salsa dancing lessons, informal classes, lectures and yoga several times a week. You can have a good time without having to inject a single ounce of caffeine into your system.

Quack’s 43rd Street Bak-

ery (411 E. 43rd St.): Featuring some of the best baked goods in town, Quack’s is a coffee shop that is a double threat to your pocketbook.

There is a wide array of sweets and sandwiches with several vegan options. Everything is made in-store and from scratch.

The baristas at Quack’s make a mean vanilla latte, and their “Sunset Cooler” combines hibiscus iced tea and lemonade to a great effect.

Nestled in the eclectic Hyde Park area, Quack’s has a good amount of seating, and sitting at one of the several tables outside allows you to soak in your surroundings. If you’re in the market for something sweet to liven up your coffee shop experience, you can’t do much better than Quack’s.

Bouldin Creek (1501 S. First St.): A South Austin landmark, and only a five minute drive from St. Edward’s, Bouldin Creek is a favorite amongst the young and old alike. On any given day you are bound to find undergraduate and graduate students studying, as well as a

Christina Villarreal

Epoch Coffee is open 24 hours, seven days a week.

healthy population of people in their late 30s to early 40s sitting outside, discussing the day’s event.

Bouldin’s food selection is quite extensive and vegetarian friendly. Omelets and tacos are staples on the breakfast menu. Lunch includes sandwiches and salads as well

hot dishes, such as a vegetarian take on fajitas and a plate of red and black beans over rice. Bouldin Creek also offers a wide variety of coffees, blended drinks and teas.

The one downside is there are few seating options indoors, and though the covered patio has heat lamps in

several spots, it can be tough to concentrate on a cold night if you’re not bundled up. However, on a beautiful Austin day, a trip to Bouldin Creek is well worth it. rlester@stedwards.edu

St. Edward’s celebrates Black History Month Jake Hartwell St. Edward’s University has a tradition of respecting and valuing diversity on its campus. February, Black History Month, gives students a chance to celebrate the contributions made by black students at St. Edward’s and black people across the globe.

Organizations on the St. Edward’s campus, including Multiculturalism and Diversity Affairs and University Programs, are putting on several events throughout February to celebrate Black History Month.

One of the events, the Black History Month Social, took place on Feb. 2, when students and faculty met in Fleck Hall to socialize and discuss their favorite black figures. Among the choices were Geoffrey Canada, whose revolutionary antipoverty program is changing Harlem; Stevie Wonder, a music icon and civil rights activist, and Etheridge Knight, a brilliant poet.

The next event is Feb. 11 and hosted by the Students of African Heritage Association in conjunction with Multiculturalism and Diversity Affairs. The event called,

Students can have a great time and learn about the contributions of African Americans...

“Music for the Soul,” is a night of music meant to honor the contributions African Americans have made to music over the years. St. Edward’s students will perform music in the genres of R&B, Soul and Jazz. The night of music begins at 7 p.m. at the Hunt Le Mans Plaza. It will be accompanied by free hot chocolate and apple cider. SAHA will

also be selling cupcakes.

On Feb. 23, University Programs is showing “Traces of the Trade.” The film chronicles the journey of director and producer Katrina Browne, as she discovers that her ancestors were the largest slave-trading family in the United States. Sure to be a socially conscious and enlightening spectacle, the film

begins at 7 p.m. in the Jones Auditorium. Dain Perry, who appears in the film, and his wife, Constance, will lead a discussion following the film.

Perry has worked for prison reform and has served in his community for many years.

On Feb. 25, the final event, “Black History: Past, Present, and Future,” will be held in Fleck 305 at 6:30 p.m. It features keynote speaker Joah Spearman, a graduate of the University of Texas and entrepreneur. Spearman will discuss his new book, “Real Role Models,” and future opportunities for young, black businesspeople.

Jeannetta Williams, an assistant professor of the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, will also speak at the event. Students will be given an opportunity for group discussion, and snacks will be provided.

These events will bring students opportunities to experience the university’s focus on diversity and social justice. Students can have a great time and learn about the contributions of African Americans throughout history. jhartwe@stedwards.edu

VIEWPOINTS

Page 14 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, February 10, 2010

EDITORIAL

UPD must enforce new parking rules Good parking spaces at St. Edward’s University are things to be coveted, fleeting gems worth fighting for.

And fight we do.

Happily, the university has made strides to improve on-campus parking in recent years. The 20092010 changes to the parking policies have been the most effective changes so far, but they must be enforced to remain effective.

Eliminating curb parking has improved campus safety, and the consolidation of parking lots and permit categories has made it easier to discern what permits are required in which lots.

The combination of Dujarié and Moreau Hall permits with residence permits allows residents more parking options than in the past. Also, the new hangtag parking permits

are cheaper to produce and allow students, faculty and staff to move their permits between vehicles.

Despite these positive changes, drivers with green tags or no tags at all often occupy on-campus apartment parking spots, taking away spots designated for residents. Being able to park in front of the apartment in which one lives provides a sense of safety and security,

especially at night. This feeling of safety is lost when residents have to park four or five buildings away.

The University Police Department’s Web site states that “The responsibility of finding a legal parking space rests with the vehicle operator and lack of space is not a valid excuse for violation of any parking regulation.”

So, although parking spots may be scarce, non-

residents cannot park in lots specifically designated for residents. UPD must make a special effort to ticket nonresidents parked in resident spaces.

The parking garage on campus is open to registered vehicles free of charge, and members of the St. Edward’s community should take advantage of it. Resident lots are clearly marked, and therefore it’s not okay for

non-residents to park in resident parking.

Commuters and non-residents will continue to park in resident lots unless there are repercussions. UPD needs to ticket cars parked in resident parking illegally, just as they did with cars parked illegally on curbs, which worked beautifully.

Keep those tickets coming, UPD.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Last November, the St. Edward’s University Police Department gave the go-ahead for a suspension of the campus-wide gun ban to allow representatives of the United States military to set up an arms display on Ragsdale lawn. This was done in conjunction with a larger Veterans Day celebration, which also included informal recruiting stations, a Humvee, bipod longbarreled rifle, and an evidently faux rocket launcher.

I was the student who briefly disrupted that display by walking away with the rocket launcher to bring it into the main building, and was subsequently jumped by two display managers.

To set the stage here, the facts as I experienced them were that a non-violent action meant to bring attention to the hypocrisy of ‘social justice SEU’ allowing a tasteless arms display was in turn met with clear and immediate violence, further reinforcing my (and others’) current opinion that the military represents little other than brute force nowadays.

However, that did not come across in the article because certain key elements of that story were omitted from publication. To this day both the student and faculty management of the Hilltop Views have proven unwilling to consider them, and in the faculty advisor’s case, to even listen to them. They actually banned me from working as a reporter, by e-mail, even in light of my years’ worth of contributions to that publication.

The key fact that the HV omitted is that I had the red hand marks of a Mr. Garcia, husband of SEU’s financial aid counselor, Christina Garcia, on my neck for five days following the incident. I sent the HV photos taken of my neck over the course of several days to document my claims, but this was never acknowledged. I have repeatedly brought this up, and the HV has sidelined me.

Furthermore, I filed charges with UPD against Mr. Garcia before the article was published. UPD twice took photos of my neck. Yet, progress has since to be made on that case, and I don’t think it is unrelated to the fact that UPD was in charge of approving of the display, or the fact that I was harassed and dissuaded from pressing charges by that department. Of course, none of this has been mentioned to the public. Other omissions include the voices of support or understanding I have received from the majority of student, faculty and administrators whom I have talked with.

Now, why should it make some so blindly furious to point out that the military is currently being used to create more trouble than good? It is no secret that the now three wars in the Middle East with direct American involvement are the most unpopular and destructive wars since Vietnam. Every day media outlets run stories of how many civilians had to die in order to target one or a handful of terrorists, who are, by the way, multiplying like the Hydra.

Many seem to think I am some sort of ideologue because I care. My question for those of you who said I should be expelled, arrested and/or deported to Russia is this: Do you understand why we have a military? The right reason isn’t to enforce a global Monroe Doctrine, nor to continue the Bush Doctrine of pre-emptive war. The reason is more in keeping with valuing civil liberties than anything, as they are what set this country apart.

Moreover, too many young servicemen and women are coming back home only to kill themselves. The domestic casualties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan triple when you take into account suicides. Just between 2005 and 2007 the military suicide rate increased 26 percent, according to the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, four-star general Eric Shinseki. And the president still does not write letters of condolence to families of military suicides.

Something is seriously wrong with that picture, and somehow I don’t think the answer is encouraging more guns and more gun nuts.

I have been raised to respect people who use their consciousness to devote their lives for the security and well-being of their fellow women and men. I think a lot of people who join the service fit that description. Even some journalists.

I came to St. Ed’s because I liked what was told of its commitment to social justice. I am committed as well. But I will probably leave being at least a little disillusioned with St. Ed’s, at least as long as it encourages what was being demonstrated that day.

Alex Lamb alamb@stedwards.edu Editors note: The editors are pleased that Alex Lamb has accepted the invitation they extended last semester, immediately after the Veterans Day incident, to write a Viewpoints piece. Lamb was also quoted extensively in both the print and online news articles covering the incident. The editors did not fire Lamb from the staff of Hilltop Views, as he asserts here. They did reassign him from his position as a news writer to, had he accepted it, a position as a Viewpoints writer. That offer of reassignment stands and the editors hope that Lamb will continue to contribute Viewpoints pieces.

Lamb no longer covers news for Hilltop Views because his decision to engage in a public political protest violated a central principle of mainstream journalism - the requirement that reporters keep their political views private. Hilltop Views is at work on its own, updated ethics policy, which the editors will publish online when it is completed. In the meantime, editors and writers are prohibited from making public political statements, participating in political protests, holding political office or otherwise engaging in activity that could compromise the newspaper’s obligation of neutrality.

Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 10, 2010

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Notre Dame University was recently in the spotlight, but not for their sports or academia. Recently the school’s newspaper published a cartoon in which a baseball bat was referred to as the “quickest way to turn a fruit into a vegetable.” This comic was a direct attack towards the gay community, and many people throughout the U.S. and around the world reacted to the publication. The newspaper’s editor resigned shortly following publication and the president of the university issued a statement denouncing the comic, but little seems to be happening to ensure that discrimination against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community at Notre Dame doesn’t happen.

Following a protest by students who were requesting that the school add sexual orientation to its nondiscrimination policy, Notre Dame officials referred to their “Spirit of Inclusion,” which states that the school welcomes gays/lesbians and promotes tolerance.

Unlike St. Edward’s University, which has included sexual orientation under its anti-discrimination policy for students and employees, Notre Dame feels that adding the group could hurt its ability to follow Catholic teaching.

Stating that a university is “welcoming” is not enough when hate crimes against LGBT people remain prevalent. Regardless of beliefs on marriage or homosexuality in general, it is essential that all schools protect the students that attend them. Anti-discrimination policies including LGBT people should be commonplace in all schools in order to promote an understanding of diversity and to keep schools safe places free of taunting and bullying.

Andrew Guerrero andrewguerrero1@gmail.com

Hilltop Views 3001 S. Congress Ave.#964, Austin, TX 78704 Phone: (512) 448-8426 Fax: (512) 233-1695 seuhilltopviews@yahoo.com www.hilltopviewsonline.com Bryce Bencivengo Claire Cella Editors-in-Chief Jen Obenhaus Tristan Hallman News Editors Proctor Anderson Rachel Winter Viewpoints Editors Holly Aker Caroline Wallace Entertainment Editors Phillip Bradshaw Amber Burton Features Editors Kayla Meyer Sports Editor Shaun Martin Head Designer Blair Haralson Alyssa Palomo Designers

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.

VIEWPOINTS | Page 15

Faculty lacks tech skills Megan Ganey We have all been there.

Sitting in class trying to tell the professor how to get to a Web site or watching them type in a complete URL, as we twirl our thumbs at lost time and feel the familiar impatience that comes with our technologically savvy generation.

Many times in class the flow of discussion has been halted because a professor doesn’t know how to open a new tab in a Web browser or turn up the volume of the speakers. As students, are we supposed to sit there and let professors figure it out to spare their dignity, or do we

just tell them to look for the little universal speaker icon?

The technological resources in campus classrooms should enhance learning, not interrupt it.

This situation wouldn’t be so frustrating if we as students didn’t have to labor through Excel spreadsheets, graphs and faux PowerPoints to fulfill our computer competency credit.

Why should we suffer at the hands of Microsoft Office in order to graduate if our wise and studied professors struggle with Internet Explorer?

I don’t think I can stand one more lecture staring at a lime green, text-heavy Pow-

erPoint or watching a professor meander through the desktop searching for a link.

I understand that it’s a new and exciting teaching tool, but if you choose to use it, please use it knowledgeably.

Please, I beg of you.

St. Edward’s University needs to set up a mandatory workshop for professors that is equivalent to our computer competency requirements. The classroom would be more efficient, and professors could enlighten us with their intellect without the distraction of their computer incompetency. mganey@stedwards.edu

Celebrate Feb. 14 a bit differently Jake Hartwell Ah, Valentine’s Day: The day when everyone comes together in rituals filled with corn-syrup chocolates, chubby pygmies and folded paper that somehow manages to cost $3.

Now, I don’t want to sound like a haughty adversary of consumerism, but…well, I’m a haughty adversary of consumerism. I could bore you with the thousand reasons true love cannot and should not be expressed through material goods, but you’ve probably heard it all before.

Instead, here are five fun ways to stick it to Valentine’s Day. 1. Rearrange your local shopping mart.

Hide the Valentine’s cards behind your own homemade “My consolations for the death of your creativity” cards. Put romance novels in the meat freezer. Build a diaper fort in front of the birth control section. Heck, build diaper forts everywhere.

Diapers can be used to construct all sorts of fascinating, impromptu architectural

projects. The possibilities are endless; bring a friend and be imaginative!

2. Go to a nearby skate park and watch teenagers fall down.

Maybe I’m just being fastidious, but I’ve got a 16year-old brother and nothing irks me more than the way

priced chocolates left you obese and feeling lonely? Are you losing faith in the human race and yourself? Nothing puts things into perspective like a good war movie.

Think you’re having a bad day? Well, that guy just got stabbed in the face. Go watch “Braveheart,” from back when

The real point of sticking it to Valentine’s Day is showing people that affection can be expressed without the help of a multinational corporation. his friends talk to each other.

If you’re feeling a little down on Valentine’s Day, nothing will cheer you up more than watching people you detest intentionally introducing their faces to cold, hard concrete. Microwave yourself a bag of popcorn and drive on over; it’s cheaper than a movie and twice as fun.

3. Watch war movies.

Are pink and white decorations accosting your eyeballs at every turn? Have over-

Mel Gibson was a competent actor. You think you know pain? You don’t know pain like Mel Gibson knows pain.

4. Play with fire.

You have to face it at some point—you can broadcast your strong disapproval of a corporately sanctioned holiday with as much tenacity as you wish, but those few daring friends are still going to give you something. But fear not, my stubborn revolutionaries! As Todd Lewis of the

Toadies once moaned, “Fire is bright, fire is clean.” Show your sheep friends how edgy and ascetic you are with a Hallmark bonfire. Not only will it be a source of warmth in this schizophrenic Texas February, but the carcinogenic toxins present in the cards will make the flames turn pretty colors. It goes without saying that starting greeting card fires is dangerous and highly frowned upon by local authorities.

5. Be a serial hugger.

These listed activities are what some people may label “mischievous” or, at worst, “morally reprobate.” Though the things listed above are more fun than exchanging overpriced novelties, the real point of sticking it to Valentine’s Day is showing people that affection can be expressed without the help of a multinational corporation.

So give someone a hug—it won’t kill you. Hug your family, your friends and even strangers if you can muster the courage. There’s no telling who needs it the most. jhartwe@stedwards.edu

Page 16 | ADVERTISEMENT

Wednesday, February 10, 2010 | Hilltop Views