Hilltop Views S t .
E d w a r d ’ s
U n i v e r s i t y
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Volume 27 | Issue 4
7 Entertainment: Hilltop Views
The Barton Creek 12 Sports: Greenbelt offers students a
interviews actress Sarah Silverman.
chance to get outdoors.
hilltopviewsonline.com
Fine Arts 9 Features: Gallery hosts the Graphic Design Senior Exhibition.
Commuters to be required to buy meal plan Kayla Meyer
Returning St. Edward’s University students are currently guaranteed one thing in regards to their meal budgets–Bon Appétit will be taking a larger bite out of their wallets next year. Director of Auxiliary Services Mike Stone said the current meal plan fund is not large enough to support everything the dining service is providing. To accommodate Bon Appétit’s deficit, the dining service provider on campus, St. Edward’s has made the decision that all under-
graduate students will be required to purchase a $100per-semester minimum meal plan in Fall 2010. The university is contractually obligated to create an environment for both Bon Appétit and Texenza to be profitable, but Stone said that he could not disclose details about the contract or the budget of Bon Appétit, which is privately-owned. Stone said the university is also not directly responsible for closing the budget gap. For the first time, a meal plan will be required for commuter students, because all
Christina Villarreal
Students prepare to spend their meal plan dollars.
undergraduate full-time students will have to purchase a meal plan.
Currently, the costs of the meal plans at St. Edward’s are all higher than the costs
University cop arrested, resigns Bryce Bencivengo Tristan Hallman Authorities have charged a St. Edward’s University police officer with improper photography after they said he was taking pictures of women with his cell phone under stalls at an Austin department store. Brandon Jason Gilroy, 23, was arrested Feb. 9 after a Macy’s loss prevention manager at Barton Creek Square said that he witnessed Gilroy entering the women’s junior fitting room. The manager said that Gilroy was taking pictures of women with his
Austin Police Department
Brandon Gilroy was charged with improper photography.
cell phone, which Gilroy affixed to his shoe and slid under the stalls, without
their consent, according to an Austin Police Department report. On Feb. 11, Gilroy was charged by the Travis County District Attorney with a state jail felony. If Gilroy is found guilty, he will serve 180 days to two years in a state jail facility and will pay a fine of no more than $10,000. The Austin Police Department is asking anyone for information about other incidents involving Gilroy to come forward. Gilroy has resigned from his position as an officer after seven months of employment. He is currently free af-
ter posting $50,000 bail. According to the arrest affidavit, Gilroy said “that he did this to satisfy his curiosity about how to accomplish recording a female in a state of undress.” “The news of Officer Gilroy’s arrest is clearly very disturbing for St. Edward’s University,” said University Communications Director Mischelle Diaz. “The safety and security of our campus community is paramount, and our officers play an important role in ensuring that security.” GILROY | 2
at the University of Texas at Austin, St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Trinity University in San Antonio, Southwestern University in Georgetown and Dallas Baptist University, all of which use different food service providers. In addition to new requirements, all meal plan options will be increasing by 5 percent in the fall, and beginning in June, the university will not allow meal plan rollover between academic years. All unused meal plan dollars will go to the university and Bon Appétit.
This means that the highestcost meal plan has increased from $1550 to $2100 since Bon Appétit took over in the 2007-2008 academic school year, which will amount to a 35.5 percent increase in meal plan costs over four years. Options weighed Stone said before the decision was made, the administration looked to see if increases were even necessary. After Bon Appétit tried cutting expenses, reducing INCREASES | 3
SGA expels chief of staff Haleigh Svoboda The Student Government Association is now without the leader of its cabinet. The SGA Executive Board expelled Chief of Staff Nicholette Maiers Feb. 10 due to absences. “There was a clear majority—more than a twothirds vote—that was required, and Chief of Staff Maiers was expelled,” said Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs Christopher Duke. In response, Maiers e-
mailed a letter in regards to her expulsion to be read in senate. Director of Association of Events Samantha Cook read Maiers’ letter during the Feb. 11 senate meeting. In the letter, Maiers said that the absence review process was flawed and that the decision to expel her was personal. “[Executive Board] uses the absence review process as a gateway to evaluate how you are doing your job,” Maiers said. “I’m sure SGA| 2
Page 2 | NEWS
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 | Hilltop Views
SGA vacates two positions Continued from page 1
there were personal reasons brought up.” Although not present during the deliberation, Maiers said that she believes there is a personal vendetta involved because working with the same people for two to three years can create disagreements. The same individuals who approved Maiers’ nomination voted to remove the cabinet leader as well. Duke, who chaired the Executive Board meeting during which Maiers was expelled, said he believed the system worked because it holds members accountable in a fair process. “There are certain expectations that student government outlines, and if a person is in violation of that, then I think it is important that student government maintains [those requirements] to ensure that voters and students know that student government is going to conduct business fairly and to get the peoples’ work done,” Duke said. Maiers, who had accumulated four-and-a-half absences, said that the absences were a result of leaving SGA meetings early. “It has always been a policy that I can leave after I give my report because I do not vote,” Maiers said. Maiers also said that she had discussed leaving SGA meetings early with SGA President Meghan Kuentz, but no agreement had been reached. Maiers said she had also missed the first SGA meeting of the semester because she had to work. The responsibility of the chief of staff is to oversee the other cabinet positions and serve as a nonvoting
member on the Executive Board and at SGA meetings. The absence review process is based on how many absences a member accumulates per semester. Once a member has more than four absences, they are called before the Executive Board for a hearing. The SGA by-laws allow the member in question to present their case to the board and before their expulsion if the Executive Board upholds their absences. Recently, two additional SGA members also faced absence review on Feb. 10. The Executive Board also expelled Freshman Sen. John Zullinger who had eight absences. “He had some extenuating medical conditions, and we wish him well,” Duke said. Executive Senator of the Schools Zachary Peal also faced absence review with four-and-a-half absences, but the Executive Board did not expel Peal. Of Peal’s four-and-a-half absences, three were related to Cabo Lead. Duke said that SGA promotes leadership and that the Executive Board felt that by attending Cabo Lead, Peal was enhancing his leadership abilities and, therefore, did not expel him. There are 42 positions that make up SGA. The Senate is composed of 34 positions that are elected by the student body during two elections in the fall and spring semesters, while the Cabinet is composed of eight positions that are appointed by the president and approved by the Senate. During the 2009 election cycle, 25 of the possible 34
Police Blotter Date
Time
Incident
Feb. 2
1 p.m.
Theft
Ragsdale Center
Referred to Department of Public Safety
Feb. 2
9:09 p.m.
Warrant arrest
Apartments
Cleared by arrest
Feb. 3
9 p.m.
Criminal mischief
Parking garage
Inactive
Feb. 4
9:20 a.m.
Theft
Ragsdale
Under investigation
Feb. 4
8:36 p.m.
Assault
Ragsdale Center
Referred to Department of Public Safety
Feb. 5
Noon
Burglary of Vehicle
Parking garage
Under investigation
Feb. 6
12:36 p.m.
Theft
Basil Moreau Hall
Under investigation
Feb. 7
3:25 p.m.
Vehicle theft
Parking garage
Under investigation
Feb. 9
Noon
Burglary of a vehicle
Parking garage
Under investigation
Feb. 10
12:30 p.m.
Theft
Holy Cross Hall
Under investigation
Feb. 10
12:30 p.m.
Theft
Ragsdale
Inactive
Feb. 10
10:00 p.m.
Burglary
Apartments
Under investigation
Senate positions were filled. Currently, only 18 of the original 25 Senate officials are still serving in their positions. In total, 31 of the possible 42 SGA positions are filled, 26 of 34 in the Senate and five of eight in the Cabinet. The vacancies, expulsions and resignations that have occurred over the past year have resulted in 11 members that have been appointed by SGA who are mostly filling positions that are normally elected by the student body. hsvobod@stedwards.edu
Location
Resolution
Gilroy facing charges Continued from page 1
Gilroy is the son of two current St. Edward’s police officers. Diaz said Gilroy regularly worked the overnight shift. She said that he was hired after passing criminal, psychological and credit background checks. She said the psychological test they used is standard in the law enforcement hiring process. “We do have confidence in our hiring procedures,” Diaz said. “The university believes all precautions were taken.” Diaz said that there had
not been complaints about Gilroy’s conduct on campus and that she believes the incident was isolated to his offcampus arrest. University Police Chief Rudolph Rendon could not be reached for comment, and UPD and Human Resources have referred all questions regarding the matter to Diaz. Local media reporting on the arrest were asked to leave the university by Diaz, who gave a press conference at APD headquarters earlier in the day. However, some did not, and several gave live in-
terviews from campus. Gilroy’s resignation leaves UPD with one fewer officer when break-ins have become a concern. There are now 14 officers, including the police chief, employed by the university. During the overnight shift Feb. 11, a burglar broke into an on-campus apartment. The burglary followed a car theft and two car break-ins in the parking garage. bbenciv@stedwards.edu thallma2@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 17, 2010
NEWS | Page 3
Items at Outtakes cost more than local grocers Andrew Weber Jordan Jones, a sophomore living on campus, has problems budgeting for food. He often tries to put together a snack from on-campus convenience store, Outtakes, between classes, paying as much as $10, but winds up hungry soon after the snack. Jones said, that his meal plan of $1,600 ran out before the end of last semester, partially because of overpricing at Outtakes. “I think they exploit students that are stuck on campus into paying more,” he said. Jones is just one of many St. Edward’s University students who are trying to finance the cost of tuition, fees, housing, and a meal plan. Despite the comparatively-high cost of the items at Outtakes, Jones pays for the convenience. Outtakes sells items that are staples to any student especially those living on campus - laundry detergent, cough
Price Comparison (Sales tax included) Compiled by Andrew Weber
drops, condensed soup, shaving cream, and even Kaopectate. But some of these simple items are priced higher than market-value. Even the college staple of all college staples, Maruchan Top Ramen, costs $1.07 at
Outtakes compared to $0.65 at CVS, $0.36 at Randall’s, or $0.17 at H.E.B. This means that if a student eats ramen at least three times a week, in an entire 33 week school year, you could save $41.58 buying from
CVS, $70.29 buying from Randall’s, and $89.10 buying from H.E.B. But Outtakes compares its prices to other convenience stores in the area. Outtakes matches prices from Nicki’s Convenience Store and the Shamrock gas station, both located across the street from campus, said Brian Krellenstein, executive chef of Bon Appétit and manager of the Outtakes store. Bon Appétit General Manager Michael Smith said he understands the higher mark-up prices are a burden for students. The pricing of Outtakes is set by CoreMark, the owner of Bon Appétit, and certain amenities cost more to stock. Items like cereals, medicines, and other popular snacks like granola bars are highly requested by students, said Krellenstein. “Students should understand that we have to pay for the convenience,” Krellenstein said. Because the other stores
Christina Villarreal
Outtakes offers convenience, but at a premium cost.
buy in bulk, they pay less and do not have as high of a suggested mark-up price. “The suggested mark-up is completely outrageous,” Krellenstein said. “We simply don’t have the buying power as the other bigger stores.” Outtakes buys in relatively small amounts, meaning they have to split a case of a certain product. A product like cereal, which can come in a case of up to 68, has to be split because the store only needs about a quarter of a
case, if that. Although many of the prices of Outtakes are above market price, officials at Bon Appétit said that they try hard to keep preferred items on the shelves for students. But for some students like Jones, that simply is not enough. “I understand the convenience, from a marketing and convenience aspect,” Jones said. “But I think it gets to the point where it’s abusive.” aweber2@stedwards.edu
Increases in meal plan costs contested by SGA Continued from page 1
management positions andcutting service hours, the money coming in was still not enough to make Bon Appétit profitable, Stone said. Between the insufficient costcutting measures, student theft and meal plan dollars lost to Texenza, Stone said that increases were necessary. “The way [increases] have been done in the past is basically just to boost the meal plan rates, which has been primarily against students living in residence halls,” Stone said. “But the rate we would have to increase them to get the funding we needed looked to us to be problematic; a 10 percent [increase] for a couple years.” While increasing meal plan rates 10 percent for students
living in residence halls was another alternative, there were three other options considered in the discussion. The second option was to turn one of the dining facilities into an “all-you-can-eat” type of facility, where students swipe their card and would be able to eat without limit. “If you’re the person who’s going to want two entrees, three cokes and a desert, that’s a great deal for you,” said Stone. “On the other hand, if you’re a small salad person, all you care to eat is not a good deal for you.” In the “all-you-can-eat” option though, students would have a set number of times they could visit the facility a week and would be charged even if they missed a meal. The third alternative was
to cut out a portion of the funding to be used only in Texenza, but Stone said that option was so complex, they ruled it out. The fourth alternative was the commuter plan that was agreed upon, which spreads the support of meal plan funding across the student body. Miscommunication Stone presented the drafts of these four meal plan alternatives to the Student Government Association on Nov. 19, 2009, and on Jan. 28, three days before the Feb. 1 deadline to set rates. Stone said after the meeting, the implementation of the commuter plan went forward. “I don’t think anyone enjoys the prospect of increas-
ing costs, but the majority of the input we received in our various discussions with SGA members was that the proposed plan was the best of the options available to us,” said Stone. But SGA felt differently, passing a unanimous resolution Feb. 4 to express disapproval for the plan and its alternatives. Christopher Duke, SGA vice president of Intergovernmental Affairs, said that many SGA members did indeed believe the plan to be the least painful option of the four, but that the resolution was passed to reject all four plans in favor of negotiating an alternative. “If they tell me there’s no way but to raise the cost, I don’t buy that logic,” Duke said.
There was just one problem; just as Stone was unaware of SGA’s disapproval, Duke said Stone did not make SGA aware of the Feb. 1 deadline. Officials from SGA and Stone have been discussing the matter since. Expenses on the horizon St. Edward’s has expanded the dining services substantially over the past few years, including opening of Hunt Hall Café and The Huddle in January 2009. Despite needing more money to better cover current costs, Bon Appétit still plans to expand in the future. Stone said that Bon Appétit is paying for renovations to the bakery and coffee area of Hunt Café and is looking to add a mobile Outtakes-
like unit next to the library to its range of services. Bon Appétit believes that there is an increased opportunity for sales. However, like the construction of the new facilities, that means more costs to be covered. While university officials have discussed disallowing meal plan dollars to be spent at Texenza’s coffee shops, nothing has come to fruition. In the meantime, SGA hopes to negotiate to keep meal plan costs down. “Times are tough,” Duke said. “Americans across the country are tightening their belts. I think SGA and the university ought to use the same common-sense approach.” kmeyer2@stedwards.edu
Page 4 | NEWS
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Blood drives yield more Jake Hartwell Students at St. Edward’s University are becoming more willing to give blood. The most recent blood drive on Jan. 20 yielded 61 pints, or units, of blood, said Marcie Lasseigne, a university public relations associate. The amount of blood donated stands as an example of increases in recent years in the amount of blood donated at the university. Statistics from the Blood Center indicate that St. Edward’s placed last out of the five universities from which the organization collected in 2006, with 67 units donated. However, campus blood drives have become more active since then. According to Associate Dean of the School of Education J. Frank Smith,
Associated Press
Campus blood drives have become more common.
Ragsdale Center, where students, staff and faculty can easily make a blood donation. The Blood Center collects from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. “It doesn’t take a whole lot of planning on the part of someone to participate, and
“...you’re giving something precious. There is no shortage of need.” -Associate Dean of the School of Education J. Frank Smith who organizes the campus blood drives, 50 to 70 units are now collected at each individual drive. St. Edward’s holds several blood drives each year, usually in conjunction with the Blood Center of Central Texas. The next blood drive at the university will be on March 31. “We typically schedule no more than five in a year, typically two in a long semester,” Smith said. “And we try to schedule one during the summer.” Since participants must wait eight weeks between each donation, two each semester is about the most that can be scheduled, said Smith. The blood drives are held in the Mabee Ballrooms of the
generally only takes 45 minutes to and hour of your time,” Smith said. “But you’re giving something precious. There is no shortage of need.” Potential donors should note that illness, certain medications, global travel, recent tattoos or piercings and others factors can make them ineligible to donate. According to Smith, around three out of every four donors is accepted. “There are probably more faculty and staff that give blood,” Smith said. “I bet students are more than a third of the donations, but mostly it’s faculty and staff…It probably has something to do with all the tattoos and other behaviors that keep students from donating that most [faculty
and staff ] aren’t involved in.” The March 31 blood drive is sponsored by the College Assistance Migrant Program Alumni Association, and will be held on Cesar Chavez’s birthday. That drive will be part of a nationwide competition between universities with CAMP programs. St. Edward’s is a level four donator for the Blood Center of Central Texas, meaning that the university collects donations at least four times per year. When people donate, they can choose to become a member of the Blood Center of Central Texas’ “Hands of the Donor” program. As members of the program, donors collect points with each donation, which can be redeemed for prizes on the organization’s website. But free merchandise isn’t the only incentive to donate. According to the Blood Center, every unit of blood donated saves two lives. “Donating blood is super easy and super fast,” said senior Jeff Katz, who plans to attend the March 31 drive. “You never know who you’re helping.” More information about the Blood Center can be found online at BloodAndTissue.org. jhartwe@stedwards.edu
4
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 17, 2010
check out
Hilltop Views
GAMES | Page 5
games Look for the answers to both games in next week’s issue!
online edition at hilltopviewsonline.com
Answer to last issue’s Sudoku:
ENTERTAINMENT
Page 6 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, February 17, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW
Film spotlights rock poster art movement Duval Hilbert On Feb. 5, the Alamo Drafthouse at Lake Creek hosted the documentary “American Artifact: The Rise of the American Rock Poster Art.” The movie overall was very visual and entertaining, and director Merle Becker did a great job of chronicling the different eras of rock poster art. The film began in the 1960s, when the posters were
Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley, Hatch Show Print and Frank Kozik
a radio-free way to advertise “hippie” music. It ended in
the 1990s, when telephone poles were covered with punk
MOVIE REVIEW
New film, same spy plot Amber Burton “From Paris with Love,” the latest film from writer Luc Besson (“Taken”), opened at a surprising third place at the box office Feb. 5, even though critics’ opinions are all over the map. The plot revolves around James Reece ( Jonathan Rhys Meyers), an aide in the American embassy in France, who helps the CIA with small jobs on the side. In the film, Reece is thrown into a job with Charlie Wax ( John Travolta), a foul-
mouthed, rule-breaking and potentially psychotic American spy sent to France to bust a terrorist-based drug ring. While the plot is nothing new for spy movie fans, the chemistry between Travolta and Meyers, alongside the impressive—if slightly over the top—visual effects, makes the movie a fun ride. That is, if you’re willing to let go of reality for a bit, learn to read between the plotlines and figure some things out yourself. A real sleuth will be able to figure out the “plot twist,” but if you focus on the gunfire instead of the sub plots,
you won’t figure it out until it’s almost too late. And there is plenty of gunfire to hold your attention. The fight scenes, which mostly feature Travolta performing feats of action that no man his age or size should be able to do, are well choreographed and designed. Meyers plays the naïve wanna-be spy well, eventually giving up on understanding his partner in favor of following him around with Labrador-like attention. The film is riddled with references to other well known films, such as Bond flick “From Russia with Love” and “Pulp Fiction”— where Travolta also comments about a “Royale with cheese”—but “From Paris” comes up short in embodying the feel of these classics. Though it may not become a spy classic, at an hour and a half it’s a fun ride most should enjoy. aburton3@stedwards.edu
and grunge posters, and websites like gigposters.com were
archives for rock poster art. The film was mainly a collection of interviews with various artists, young and old, from around the country. They all reinforced the film’s overall message that the rock poster art movement is alive and well, and that making rock poster art is a genuine skill. What’s more, the movie showed that these artists are truly entrepreneurs because, even though they often design their art with little or no band consent, everyone seems to love the work they
do for music groups. Becker shows that the art of the rock poster is something that will be forever linked to music and does a great job of providing evidence for the impact it has on music and culture. After the movie, Becker and four rock poster artists gave an entertaining and interesting question and answer session. Also, the first 50 people at each of the two screenings received a free “American Artifact” movie poster. dhilber@stedwards.edu
CD REVIEW
New album, lil’ success Lil Wayne Rebirth
Proctor Anderson Lil Wayne is a lot of things: rapper, entrepreneur, Grammy winner and cough syrup enthusiast to name a few, but he is definitely not a rock star. After spending 10 years becoming one of the hottest MCs in the rap world, Lil Wayne decided to try and force his way in to the world of rock and roll. “Rebirth” is an album that has no real direction. Each song takes on a different rock subgenre, ranging all the way from nu metal to old school punk and pretty much every where in between. Unfortunately almost all of these attempts at rock fall flat. Wayne tries to mix his signature rap style into the songs with almost no success. Out of the 12 tracks on the retail release of “Rebirth,” only two are worth listening to. “Drop the World” and “Knockout” are at the very
least interesting if not quality songs. “Knockout” sounds like a mix between Blink 182 and Avril Lavigne and features a verse by Wayne’s Young Money label mate Nicki Minaj. “Drop the World” has absolutely no place on the album. It is really just a rap song with some extra guitar, but has a verse by Eminem that
puts it into the upper tier of the songs on the album. Spending more that two dollars on “Rebirth” would be a tragedy, so if you are really curious, I would recommend buying the two stand-out tracks on iTunes and calling it a day. panders2@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 17, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT | Page 7
Silverman returns to Comedy Central Holly Aker Caroline Wallace
After two successful seasons on Comedy Central, “The Sarah Silverman Program” returns with more demented and off-the-wall comedy. The show centers on a fictionalized version of comedian Sarah Silverman and her friends and family. It often satirizes the scenarios present in traditional, wholesome family comedies. In a recent interview with Hilltop Views, Silverman talked about what fans can expect from the upcoming season. Along with the gags, Silverman promises to deliver a host of familiar faces. “Andy Samberg plays my childhood imaginary friend who comes back all grown up and becomes a nightmare,” Silverman said. For Silverman, the experience of working with Samberg was a real treat.
“He’s like a little brother,” she said. “He’s such a wideeyed angel, a little Jewish angel.” Bill Maher, Bradley Whitford, Josh Malina and Patton Oswalt are also among the guest stars expected to appear. Even TV legend Ed Asner will make an appearance as a Nazi war criminal. Silverman also revealed that one of her biggest fears in real life will be featured on the show. “A couple of things this season came from my fear of necks and how necks are so vulnerable,” Silverman said. “And because we wrote that in, I have to get a Frisbee in my neck.” Silverman elaborated on her neck phobia. “This is my take on the neck: Why isn’t there bone there?” she said. “There’s so much important stuff in your throat. Why isn’t it protected by some extended rib cage or bone? It freaks me out. It’s
so easy to get to.” Silverman is known for her envelope-pushing, sometimes controversial comedy. However, she has her breaking point when it comes to what she will and will not say. “If something strikes me [as] meaner than it is funny, then I don’t want to do it,” she said. “I don’t like fat jokes about women … it usually just bums me out. We live in a country where fat men still deserve love, and fat women, at least in white America, it’s like they don’t deserve love or something. That’s scary to me and upsetting.” With this season, Silverman and her writing team are still sticking to the formula that has made the show successful thus far. But they are aiming to outdo themselves. “I think, even though our goal so often is to be just aggressively stupid, you’ll see a definite amount of growth this season,” she said. “The characters are so much more
Courtesy of Comedy Central
The third season of the Sarah Silverman Program airs Thursdays at 9:30 p.m.
defined and I just think it’s the funniest and best season yet in terms of quality and character and story. I think that we’ve definitely passed
ourselves. So, we’re hoping people tune in.” haker@stedwards.edu cwallac2@stedwards.edu
To read our full interview with Sarah Silverman, go to our Web site hilltopviewsonline.com.
MOVIE REVIEW
No love for “Valentine’s Day” Jake Hartwell “Valentine’s Day” was not necessarily bad, but it certainly wasn’t anything special. The structure of the storytelling was somewhat compelling, but turned into a confused, mangled excuse for a plotline as the filmmakers struggled to tell six or seven different stories at once. The cleverest move the film made was centering the plot around a florist—on Valentine’s Day. Now that’s interesting, almost poetic. Yet, it was impossible to sympathize with a character played by the laughable, blundering lump of uninspired flesh that some refer to as “Ashton Kutcher.” The Kutcher problem was
symptomatic of a far greater ailment. Start looking at the cast—Kutcher, Anne Hathaway, the two hottest Jessicas in Hollywood, Patrick Dempsey, Jamie Foxx, and about ten other A-listers—and you realize that more was spent on casting than production. Just as an aging businessman uses a shiny car to compensate for his deficiencies, so does “Valentine’s Day” compensate for its deficiencies with shiny, happy people. Of these deficiencies, perhaps the most glaring was the utter lack of any consistent meaning. Some of the subplots added absolutely nothing to the film as a whole. The Taylor Swift-Taylor Lautner union makes it painfully obvious that the film is simply trying to hit as many audience demographics as possible. In that
sense, the film is a perfect example of profitable pop culture at its pettiest, but those admirable few looking for an illuminating exegesis on love would have more success reading Valentine’s cards in the supermarket By far, the greatest parts of the film were storylines about the football player, the airline gentlemen and Julia Roberts’ character. In fact, the movie probably could have subsisted on these two subplots alone. Instead, it draws connections between 12 or more major characters, transforming the potentially charming stories into a baffling mess. But at least with the all-star female cast, it’s a hot mess. jhartwe@stedwards.edu
Page 8 | ENTERTAINMENT
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Ben Kweller to play on campus Caroline Wallace The University Programming Board will be treating St. Edward’s University students to a concert by musician Ben Kweller. The show will be held March 26 on the Main Building lawn. Kweller, now an Austin local, has gained notoriety for his high-profile festival performances and collaborations. His musical style blends numerous genres, including folk, country, indie and rock. Kweller’s most recent album, “Changing Horses,” was released in 2009. It was recorded in Austin and received widely positive reviews. While the concert will be
Steve Hopson Photography
Kweller is set to perform on campus March 26.
free, donations will be collected at the performance to benefit the American Red Cross. Students will also be able to contribute by entering a raffle for an electric guitar
and purchasing custom event T-shirts and concessions. UPB has hosted similar concerts in recent years with well-known musicians like Okkervil River and Bob Sch-
neider. UPB music coordinator Faith Chonko thinks it is important for UPB to coordinate these kinds of campus events for several reasons. “There’s the typical answer that it’s Austin and music is important for the city, but I think also a lot of people can’t necessarily make it off campus or don’t have the funds to pay for a show,” Chonko said. “So we try to offer a free show with someone recognizable that they are going to enjoy.” The show will also feature an opening act, which will be announced closer to the performance date. cwallac2@stedwards.edu
Drafthouse mocks “Transformers” Patrick Jones Let’s face it: Hollywood thinks the movie-going public’s collective IQ is comparable to the Olsen twins’ combined—and that’s not saying much. It’s a depressing fact that every summer the most bloated and downright awful movies gross a couple hundred million dollars, then fade into obscurity in a culture plagued by short-term memory that rivals Guy Pearce’s in “Memento.” So by the bones of Japanese filmmaking genius Akira Kurosawa, we should be eternally thankful for Austin’s own Master Pancake Theatre. The concept is simple: Four comedians wisecrack their way through various cinematic atrocities, whether bigbudget or shoestring. Master Pancake Theatre, formerly Mystery Sinus Theatre, borrowed its concept from cult television show “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” which featured a man and his two robots making fun of bad
movies. The catch with Master Pancake is that they do it live at the Alamo Drafthouse, Austin’s Mecca of all things cinema. This month, the comedic foursome is taking on Michael Bay’s adaptation of cult cartoon “Transformers.” “Transformers” may have been one of the highest grossing films of 2007, but the Pancakes riffed without mercy at a recent performance. Before the film started, the audience picked a phrase— too lewd to reprint here—to shout whenever anything transformed. From then on, Master Pancake had the audience in hysterics with sidesplitting, cutting observations about the film’s failings. The jokes targeted confusing action scenes with remarks like, “These would be really cool if we knew what was going on,” blatant product placement, Shia LeBeouf ’s unrealistically attractive girlfriend (Megan Fox) and more. The jokes were fast and furious, and some mem-
Christina Villarreal
Most Master Pancakes are held at the Alamo Ritz.
bers of the audience found little time to breathe between raucous bursts of laughter. Halfway through the film, the projector stopped and the lights came up as the comedians took to the stage to perform a 15-minute sketch about Transformer boot camp, where Transformers attempted to dissect pop culture to blend in better with humans. Despite some roughness, the comics never missed a beat and seemed to have fun even through the
under-rehearsed bits. Master Pancake Theatre absolutely slaughtered “Transformers.” If you’re looking for a bawdy and hilarious time out at the movies, don’t see a new release. Stop by the Alamo Drafthouse Ritz or South Lamar for Master Pancake Theatre and enjoy Hollywood movies the way they never wanted you to. pjones4@stedwards.edu
SXSW launches app for iPhone
Wendy Cawthon The 2010 South by Southwest Festival is only weeks away, and this year’s schedule features more than 2,200 events. Luckily, The Social Collective has released my.SXSW, an iPhone application to help you get the most out of the experience by keeping track of scheduling and events. The Social Collective is an organization that helps festival and conference hosts build, customize and manage social networking sites that support and promote their event. The application features the full SXSW schedule with all performances, films and conferences. It also includes an interactive map—with driving and walking directions—and updated news feeds loaded with information on this year’s events. My.SXSW also includes My Card, a portion of the application that acts as a social networking tool. You can enter your e-mail or other social networking information and exchange information with anyone who also has the application on their phone.
Since SXSW has so many events jam-packed into nine days, one of the biggest complaints from frequent attendees was that they missed events, because they didn’t know the times and places of performances. Also, each day has several events that begin at the same time. My.SXSW helps you customize your own schedule on your phone ahead of time and avoid any confusion. After paying the price of this year’s ticket fee, which range from $325 to $1,225, SXSW-goers will be relieved to find that this application is free for all iPhone users. After registering with SXSW and downloading the application, you can log in and see all of your customized information. There’s no word yet on whether or not the application will be available for Blackberry or other smart phones, but there’s always next year. wcawtho@stedwards.edu
FEATURES
Hilltop Views | Page 9 Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Graphic Design kicks off Senior Exhibition Emily Blasdell Every year, St. Edward’s University celebrates the accomplishments of graduating seniors who have studied one of three art disciplines: Graphic Design, Photocommunications and Art. A reception on Feb. 5 began
the Graphic Design Senior Exhibition, currently on display in the Fine Arts Gallery until Feb. 25. On the night of the reception, the gallery was filled with family, friends, faculty and students excited to see the products of talented seniors who have been diligently working to complete
Emily Blasdell
Sylvester Sanchez’s showcase in the gallery.
their final showcases. On display is work from 20 Graphic Design seniors whose projects range from a mock frozen yogurt company to the marketing of a book to dream journals and design experiments. Each project is different from the next. Senior Fernando Villanueva’s final project is a visual timeline that demonstrates rites of passage in a person’s life. He said he had to change his idea a few times before he settled on what he really wanted to create. Villanueva said he was inspired by propaganda and quinceañeras. He usually works with prints and paper but hopes to expand his abilities to working with the Internet. Senior Erica Bogdan said she took her inspiration from her fascination with dreams. “I wanted to create a userfriendly journal that will help others to track down and remember their dreams,” she said.
Emily Blasdell
Students and faculty show their support of the seniors at the Graphic Design Senior Exhibition Feb. 5 in the Fine Arts Gallery.
Bogdan encourages dream journal users to find connections between real life and dreams. Her creative display includes a vanity with a mirror, giving the display a homey feel. Inside a drawer on the vanity are a number of dream journals available for people to take and use. Bogdan even provides a website that allows anyone to print a larger version of the journal.
Senior Erin Murray decided to market a book she was in the process of writing. She began writing the book, “The Blessed,” for National Novel Writing Month. Murray then realized she could use the book to create her final senior project. She designed the book cover and created a poster and CD to go along with the book. Many seniors also have var-
ious projects they have completed throughout the year on display. The Photocommunications Senior Exhibition will be on display March 5 to April 1, and the Art Senior Exhibition will be from April 16 to May 8. eblasde@stedwards.edu
Student Life offers aid to student-sponsored clubs Michael McNally St. Edward’s University has been home to many student clubs over the years. Some have been tremendously successful, while others seem to collapse at the starting line. So what is the difference between a successful club and a failing club? Is there some secret formula or key to longevity? Senior Sunil Rathore, president of the Academy of Science, said clubs succeed if they offer unique and desirable events and opportunities to their members. “I focus on three things in creating events and structuring AOS: helping our mem-
bers get into graduate/professional school, community outreach and socializing,” Rathore said. Rathore said the group hosts a series of guest speakers, tours graduate schools, volunteers, fundraises and goes on annual camping trips to keep its members engaged. Junior Alex Gay, president of Hilltop Herbivores, the on-campus group to support and promote vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, said some clubs disappear because of lack of interest or lack of time to hold events and meetings. Gay also stressed the importance of effective leadership, which was a problem
Christina Villarreal
Sophomore Amarette Edmonson and Senior Cory Griffin use community poster supplies in the Student Life office.
during his brief experience running the club in fall 2008. “[The club] fizzled [out] due to a lack of leadership and initiative,” Gay said. Sophomores Tony Voong, Natalie Rivera and Tiffany La co-founded H.O.U.S.E., or Helping Others Understand Service Everyday, this semester as a way to offer unique and additional service opportunities to students. Although leadership, motivation and opportunities have been offered as secrets to club longevity, Marisa Walden, an assistant director of Student Life gave a different reason clubs survive. CLUBS | 11
Page 10 | FEATURES
Wednesday, February 17, 2010| Hilltop Views
American Dilemmas pilot sections focus on service Claire Cella For years, students at St. Edward’s University have associated the American Dilemmas course with a 15page research paper on a social justice issue. However, for the past four semesters St. Edward’s has been piloting alternative sections of CULF 2321 that have not required completion of the typical paper. The new sections are part of the university’s effort to reassess American Dilemmas and keep the Cultural Foundations curriculum current, modern and tuned into the student body, said Todd Onderdonk, assistant professor of University Programs. Onderdonk said the pilot sections still accomplish the same learning objectives but do so through other activities and assignments, including debates, civic engagement, service learning and other creative ideas proposed by experienced professors at St. Edward’s. One major goal of American Dilemmas has been to prepare students to write their Capstone paper in their senior year, said Onderdonk. Established fully in 1991, the Cultural Foundations curriculum provides students the opportunity accurately demonstrate their knowledge and abilities through a wide variety of courses based on the university’s mission statement, said Marianne Hopper, dean of University Programs. American Dilemmas uses economics, sociology and political science to analyze current social problems in a research paper. The paper offers valuable exposure to research, extended writing and social problems that students might not have had up until that point, Onderdonk said. In recent years, professors in University Programs noticed the academic caliber and preparedness of St. Edward’s
Christina Villarreal
Timothy Braun’s American Dilemmas class is required to volunteer six times over the semester.
students was increasing, said Susan Loughran, an adjunct professor and one of the first to teach Capstone. Many students didn’t seem to need additional preparation for Capstone, and the department began to ask whether the American Dilemmas paper was still necessary. There was also the occasional negative student evaluation of the course and complaints among the students that the paper was repetitive, Onderdonk said. University Programs was also striving to incorporate civic engagement and a commitment to service in its general education requirements, Loughran said. “We looked closely at the mission statement and that’s when we had an ‘aha!’ moment,” Loughran said. “We realized an ethical person needs to take action on an ethical decision. It’s not enough to just decide.” Timothy Braun, an adjunct faculty member who is currently teaching a pilot CULF 2321 section, said it is also important to find a balance
between research and interaction when making decisions about social issues. While University Programs acknowledged that many students do a lot of service, the department considered making service an academic requirement, Loughran said. Onderdonk said the Association of American Colleges and Universities was a helpful resource in this endeavor,
sity Programs began to pilot American Dilemmas sections largely designed by individual professors and faculty. The new sections allow St. Edward’s students to give and get something from the course, while still teaching the fundamental concepts of American Dilemmas: research, solution and moral reasoning. Loughran, Braun, Ad-
“I’m actually getting to see the effects of these issues firsthand...”
by providing guidelines and scholarship on creating a liberal arts curriculum based on civic engagement. The department researched other small liberal arts institutions whose mission statements emphasized social justice, like LeMoyne University, Belmont University and St. Joseph’s College of Indiana, among others. In the fall of 2008, Univer-
junct Faculty Russell Moses and Adjunct Faculty Amy Wright are teaching the four CULF 2321 sections with a civic engagement emphasis this semester. Students in Loughran’s class volunteer once a week at Covington Middle School as tutors and aides. They are keeping journals of their perspectives and observations about the social issues they
see in the school and the American education system. At the end of the course, they will research and analyze a social issue they saw at Covington and present as a paper and to the class, Loughran said. Madeline White, a sophomore in Loughran’s class, said she enrolled in the course mostly to avoid the 15-page paper, but is really enjoying the course’s new focus. “I’m actually getting to see the effects of these issues first-hand within [Covington],” she said. “It’s more real, and adds something else on a whole other level to learning. It’s definitely something that should be done more [in education].” In Braun’s course, students pick a non-profit organization from a list he compiled and volunteer with the organization a minimum of six times over the semester. Students will give an oral presentation and write a reflection about their experience, Braun said. The department is curious about the outcome of the pilot sections.
“I’m hoping students will be able to identity one or two aspects that they can then explore not only in Capstone, but in their lives,” Braun said. This semester offers University Programs the first opportunity to assess the success of the pilot sections, because the students who took the first pilot course in Fall 2008 are currently enrolled in their Capstone courses. University Programs can monitor their progress to determine how well they transition to Capstone without the 15-page paper. Based on the results, University Programs will decide if they want to permanently expand and incorporate the pilot sections into the curriculum, Onderdonk said. While the pilot sections are evaluated, many American Dilemma’s sections still require the 15-page paper. Onderdonk said it is essential for faculty to explain the necessity behind the paper and why it is taught. Despite any lingering criticism, Onderdonk said he believes in the paper. “The paper is all about Catholic social teaching and encouraging students to make moral ethical decisions,” he said. According to student course evaluations thus far, the pilot courses have been popular, Onderdonk said. In addition to American Dilemmas, the American Experience courses are also being reformed and modernized, said Onderdonk, who is also the American Experience coordinator. These courses are currently being planned for Fall 2011. “We want to balance the need to give students a consistent intellectual experience in these courses while giving instructors freedom to use their own creativity and training,” Onderdonk said. ccella@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Clubs offered assistance
FEATURES | Page 11
Austin welcomes Bishop
Continued from page 9
“The secret or key to a successful organization is a plan and a willingness to be committed to [that] plan,” Walden said. On-campus clubs and organizations shouldn’t feel daunted by the challenge of succeeding. The offices of Student Life offer several opportunities for club leaders to learn how to attract members as well as set and follow their goals in order to encourage club longevity. Walden put together the Recognized Organizational Council for this purpose. The ROC provides funding that any official student organization can request twice a month. Walden encourages club members to take advantage of this service. “A lot of organizations don’t come and ask us for anything—it’s there for them,” Walden said. The ROC also offers the ROC-star Training Tour, which provides training and workshops to increase club retention and motivation. Students may also request workshops, which cover a variety of topics. Walden said clubs that engage in the ROC-star Training Tour can benefit greatly. “If organizations are developed and trained and constantly learning and
...leadership, motivation and unique opportunities have been offered as secrets to club longevity. evolving, then fundraising, recruitment and retention of members can fall into place,” Walden said. Walden said even nationally affiliated organizations, such as the AOS, need successful club management to survive. “It goes back to continuity,” Walden said. “There could be a local organization with an awesome and engaged advisor that could be just as successful as an organization with a national office. I wouldn’t say that being a national organization is a guarantee of success.” Walden said clubs that don’t offer career-related activities and themes can be just as successful as those that do. “The Hispanic Student Association has been incredibly successful and has had long longevity, and it’s not academically affiliated,” Walden said. Regardless of the type of club involved, all members seem to desire the same thing: fun and friendship. According to an involvement inventory taken by
St. Edward’s students during freshman orientation, students indicated making friends as the primary reason to become involved in any on-campus organization. “It’s the family within the family of St. Edward’s they’re looking for,” Walden said. Walden said club members and prospective club founders at St. Edward’s shouldn’t fear failure; the offices at Student Life provide all the tools to succeed and are very receptive to students’ ideas. “I really want students to do what they want to do,” Walden said.
Kelly West / AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN
Bishop Joe Vásquez will be installed March 8.
Melissa Martinez The first Mexican-American bishop to lead the Diocese of Austin, Bishop Joe Vásquez, will be installed March 8. Vásquez, who has been an auxiliary bishop in the
gorian University and North American College in Rome. The Diocese of Austin has approximately 500,000 Catholics. Pope Benedict XVI selected Vásquez to serve the diocese Jan. 26. In a speech in Austin Jan. 26, Vásquez said he was
mmcnall@stedwards.edu
“I look forward to working with and serving... this great Diocese of Austin.” -Bishop Joe Vásquez
Galveston-Houston Archdiocese since 2002, will be replacing current Archbishop Gregory Aymond, who left for the New Orleans Archdiocese last August. Since Aymond’s appointment, Monsignor Michael Mulvey has led the diocese. Mulvey was appointed bishop of the Diocese of Corpus Christi Jan. 18. Vásquez, the oldest of six, was born in Stamford, near Abilene. He served as a priest in the San Angelo diocese for 17 years after attending St. Mary’s Seminary, the University of St. Thomas in Houston and the Pontifical Gre-
humbled and honored by the appointment. “I look forward to working with and serving the priests, the deacons and the religious men and women and the lay faithful of this great Diocese of Austin,” Vásquez said. Junior Eric Chapa said he didn’t know much about Vásquez when he first heard about the appointment. He had, however, heard that since his youth, Vásquez has known the value of hard work. “Sometimes young people forget what it means to be passionate enough about what they want in life, to
work really hard for it,” Chapa said. “I think Bishop Vasquez’s story and history is a good testament to that.” Vásquez, whose grandparents came to Texas from Guanajuato, is bilingual and often addresses audiences in both English and Spanish. “Whenever possible, it is important for bishops to emerge from the community they are serving,” Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Steve Rodenborn said. “As a Texan and a MexicanAmerican, he more fully relates to his diocese.” Chapa said not only does he find it important that Vásquez is the first Hispanic bishop in Austin, but also, at 52, he is younger than most bishops. “He’s valuable in promoting a culture of vocations in young people but also a culture that appreciates all cultures,” Chapa said. “His energy and willingness to build a rapport with young people and young families is going to be valuable to the diocese.” mmartinp@stedwards.edu
SPORTS
Page 12 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, February 17, 2010
SPORTS COMMENTARY
Greenbelt offers exercise Duval Hilbert As we head into the warmer months of this semester, and ultimately summer, St. Edward’s University students should start discovering the wonderful nature that Austin provides.
Originally from New Orleans, a town not necessarily known for its nature scenes, I must say that I simply marvel at the beauty of Barton Creek Greenbelt. It’s the first place to go to for any nature lover or active person this spring.
Photo by Julia Duffy
Austin Greenbelts offer plenty of outdoor activities.
The Barton Creek Greenbelt is a gem of natural wonder, a part of the river system that flows throughout Austin when the rain supplies enough water. The greenbelt areas are always free, and you can hike, bike, climb, picnic, swim, kayak, dog walk or just relax at any of the many entrance locations in Austin. If you are looking to get adventurous, you can hike or kayak the 7.9 miles around the entire Barton Creek Greenbelt in a day-long adventure that ends up at Zilker Park. Descending into the greenbelt and getting to the river below will sometimes cause adventurers to question if they are still in Austin; it is simply that breathtaking and extraordinary. Austin Parks and Recre-
ation does a magnificent job keeping the trails clean, as well as biker friendly, so there’s no such thing as a bad greenbelt in Austin. Each is amazing in its own unique way, as the elevations and cliffsides change constantly on the trail. However, not every greenbelt entrance offers everything described. Some greenbelts are better for hiking, some for swimming and some for climbing. Also, one should note that it is always good to visit the greenbelt for the first time with a veteran greenbelt explorer. For more information on the greenbelts, visit texasoutside.com/bartoncreekgreenbelt. dhilber@stedwards.edu
Outdoor activities to do in the Austin area
HIKE THE GREENBELT
The greenbelt runs through much of Austin, particularly in the Barton Creek area. With beautiful terrain, it’s perfect exercise for the adventurous.
BIKE RIDE AT MCKINNEY FALLS
Enjoy biking at McKinney Falls State Park near Slaughter Lane and First Street. This park also has a Frisbee golf course, basketball and tennis courts.
PETER PAN MINI-GOLF
For an affordable $5, you can enjoy a fun and relaxing game of mini-golf at one of the best courses in Austin.
FRISBEE GOLF AT ZILKER PARK
Lacrosse falls short in close game
Zilker Park, located right off of Barton Springs Road, just might be the locals’ favorite park. The 18-hole course is one of the longest in the city.
CLIFF JUMP AT PALEFACE PACE
For a small price, you can camp at Paleface Pace for the night, which has a legal cliff jumping area. Just make sure to be safe.
VISIT A CLIFFSIDE OFF 360
Right off of Capital of Texas Highway is one of the best nighttime views of Austin. The man-made trail leading its way up a cliff is truly a sight to see.
HAMILTON POOL
After an hour’s drive east, you can see the amazing beauty of this natural swimming site and hiking area called Rymers Ranch.
SWIM AT BARTON SPRINGS
The most famous natural spring in Austin, Barton Springs, is at a constant and refreshing 68 degrees. For the brave, it’s a great way to wake up.
KAYAK ON TOWN LAKE
Anyone can rent a kayak in Zilker Park by the hour. If you choose to kayak when the dams release water, you can experience some challenging waves.
FLOAT THE RIVER
Andrew Willard
The St. Edward’s University men’s lacrosse team lost 7-8 to Stephen F. Austin in a close game on Feb. 13. Sophomore Vinny Caruso scored four goals in the game.
For a small fee, anyone can float their troubles away as they relax in a tube on the Guadalupe or San Marcos River. Compiled by: Kayla Meyer
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 | Hilltop Views
COURTSIDE CHRONICLES
Canada gets an “eh” for effort On the morning of the 2010 Winter Olympic opening ceremony, disaster struck when 21-year-old Georgian luger Sports Commentary Nodar Kumaritashvili, who would have been competing in his first Olympic games, died in a tragic training accident. Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled while traveling at over 90 miles per hour, flew over the track’s wall and hit a steel pole. As a precaution, the luge track was temporarily closed to be inspected, but many lugers were not looking forward to racing on that track. Many Olympic athletes and fans saw this tragic event as a bad omen for the beginning of the Olympics and looked to the opening ceremony for relief. And all troubles aside, the opening ceremony was incredible. Canada couldn’t have done a better job at easing the sorrows and doubts. Embracing and showcasing the large amount of diversity that the country possesses, Canada started off with a display of their native culture as the four Canadian tribes welcomed the athletes to the games in ritual style. Following the introduction of all the Olympic athletes, Canada then really proved they could put on a show. Tribute was paid to the Canadian’s French heritage with a great fiddler performance, and the show was finished with another tribute to Canada’s special and intimate ties to nature, specifically the bears and birds of the region. After a quick performance by Sarah McLachlan, the torch entered the arena and was lit by four Canadian stars: Steve Nash, Nancy Greene, Catriona LeMay Doan and the great Wayne Gretzky. Even though a mechanical malfunction delayed the torch lighting, viewers barely noticed. Following the lighting of the torch, there was a moment of silence for the Georgian luger, whose death put a somber note on these Winter Games. Though the Winter Olympics started off on a bad foot for all competitors, the opening ceremony cleared away any looming worries, and so far, the competition has been fierce and exciting. Associated Press As for American athletes, things seem to be just heating up. On Feb. 13, American women’s freestyle mogul skier Hannah Kearney beat out Canada’s Jennifer Heil for the gold medal. Kearney was a favorite in Torino, but finished a disappointing 22nd. On the short track, American speed skater Apolo Ohno got lucky in the 1500-meter race. Three Korean skaters were poised to sweep the medals. But as the finalists took the last turn of the race, Korean skaters Lee Ho-Suk and Sung Si-Bak wiped out, taking themselves out of the competition. With second and third place up for grabs, Ohno slipped into second place and American speed skater JR Celski took third. Korean skater Jung-Su Lee won the gold medal. With the Winter Olympics already living up to their expectations and still so many events left on the schedule, it is hard to tell how the tally will end, but there is one thing for sure: the competition is going to be fierce and entertaining to the very end. Nolan Green
ngreen2@stedwards.edu
The Hilltop Views’ column, ‘Courtside Chronicles,’ appears every other week in the sports section and is written by Hilltop Views contributor Nolan Green.
SPORTS | Page 13
VIEWPOINTS
Page 14 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, February 17, 2010
EDITORIAL
Board of Education key for primary voters The clear focus of the March 2 primary is the gubernatorial races in both parties, but the elections that should draw equal attention are those for the Texas State Board of Education. The board has been an embarrassment for the state, with jumbled priorities and more than questionable decisions. In this election, voters have the opportunity to correct the problem that is plaguing public schools in this state. The issue is not underfunding, poor teachers, or overcrowding. The issue is the incompetent members of the Texas Board of Education. Par for the course in these down-ballot primaries is to vote for the name you
recognize or, most likely, the incumbent. However this election, Texas voters need to pay significant attention to this group of individuals, who play a vital role in setting policy for the state’s public schools. This group of 15 elected persons controls the $22 billion public school budget according to the Texas Education Association. They make key decisions about policy and curriculum for the more than 1,000 Texas school districts and the five million students in this state. In recent memory, the Board of Education has been in the news for some perplexing decisions and comments. One such example is the
These men and women control what shapes the minds of students in this state, and their failures directly affect students and their education. board’s removal of Bill Martin Jr. from their list of approved reading because they believed he had authored books on Marxist theories. They had in fact mistaken Bill Martin Jr., the children’s writer, for another Bill Martin, a professor at DePaul University and a scholar on Marxism. This incident was a part of the revision of the social studies curriculum in Texas schools.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR In response to Hilltop Views’ editorial on Jan. 27 titled, “School slow to respond to tragedy in Haiti,” I, as a student member of the St. Edward’s community, am displeased with the manner in which the editorial on Haiti addressed such a very important matter. Although I respect the writer’s passion, the language and tone of the letter extremely offended me. During my time at St. Edward’s, I have been involved in several organizations that promote social justice awareness and responsible action. Therefore, I found the accusations made against St. Edward’s students and these student organizations as being illegitimate until now flippant and a representation of the author’s ignorance of the matter. As an active student leader, I feel a responsibility to my peers to clarify that this tragedy has not gone unnoticed by a great number of students here at St. Edward’s. Many of the student organizations that were defamed in the article, in fact encouraged members to support Campus Ministry to create an organized response from the St. Edward’s community. Moreover, to separate Campus Ministry’s efforts from that of students ignores the reality that many students actively participate in Campus Ministry’s work on a regular basis. In my opinion, the author has caused more harm than help by discrediting the student population. If this paper really wanted to get its message across, it should have reported the information on the front page where students passing by could see it own your passion, do not displace the responsibility on others. This comment could have been a positive call to action; instead, it was a negative attack on students who have spent their time here dedicated to serving the St. Edward’s community. Respectfully, Carol Filip Unity Coalition Director of Organization Outreach cfilip@stedwards.edu
During this same discussion, a minority of the members of the board also tried to create a limited curriculum in social studies about religions and how they have shaped history. This proposal not only gave a glimpse into the viewpoints of some of the members of the board but also gave a clear indication of the kind of direction they want to take in public school
education. To clarify, there is no problem with the study of religion and its effect on history. Quite the contrary in fact; this is critically important. It is the exclusion of all else but religion, which these individuals were seeking, that limits the scope of history and doesn’t give students a realistic chance to gain knowledge. The incidents listed above are not the end of the failings of this group of lawmakers. They have forced the legislature to try to subvert the authority of the board by passing laws outside of their purview. Many of these elected officials have also become outspoken about a variety of topics. Includng their dislike
of what they are in charge of, public schools as well as the legislature’s call for a code of ethics and restrictions on cronyism. Each member of this board needs to be held to an incredibly high standard of accountability, a standard that is currently lacking to a great degree. These men and women control what shapes the minds of students in this state, and their failures directly affect students and their education. This cannot be tolerated. This school board primary, on March 2, requires the utmost attention of all Texas voters to ensure the futures of this state’s school children.
3-D films are passing fad Proctor Anderson James Cameron’s Avatar is a great film, and it has made buckets and buckets of money to back that up. As Avatar grossed over $2 billion film executives watched and began to scheme, “Hmm, if Avatar can make $2 billion and it was in 3-D, then maybe we can just make our movies in 3-D and they’ll sell like hot cakes!” I hate be the bearer of bad news, but I’m fairly certain that a little bit of 3-D isn’t going to save the ailing film industry. Within the next two years there are at least 36 films that will be released in 3-D. Among these are “Shrek 4,” “Tim Burton’s Alice and Wonderland,”“Hood Winked 2: Hood Vs. Evil,” “Step Up 3-D” and a sequel to the 2001 talking animal classic “Cats & Dogs.”
My question for film companies is do these movies really need to be in 3-D? And are people really interested in shelling out a couple ex-
...a little bit of 3-D isn’t going to save the ailing film industry... tra dollars for some lackluster 3D dance sequences in an unnecessary sequel to a mediocre Channing Tatum movie? I’m not, and I imagine others might share my sentiment. Nine times out of 10 3D is just a gimmick. James Cameron just got lucky.
He built new technology to make his vision possible, and it worked. It made the world he imagined come to life and people loved it. 3-D won’t save the movie industry; the only thing that can do that is talented filmmakers, writers, and actors creating worlds and stories the viewers can relate to and become immersed in. The film industry is facing a lot of problems; problems with ticket sales, pirating are overspending just to name a few. Being stuck in two dimensions isn’t a problem. Filmmakers need to figure out a lot of other things before they venture off into the world of 3-D. panders2@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, February 17, 2010
VIEWPOINTS | Page 15
Repeal of ‘Don’t ask don’t tell’ important to nation Danny Salazar In this year’s State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama proposed a congressional repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy implemented by former President Bill Clinton in 1993. The policy entails that no member of the army can engage in a homosexual act, state that they are homosexual or bisexual, or marry or attempt to marry a person known to be of the same biological sex. In layman’s terms the policy dictates that if you are gay, bisexual, lesbian or transgender you have no place in the armed forces. You can join, but you must keep your de-
sires, thoughts, feelings and relationships an absolute secret from the rest of the world. Now, Obama wants to repeal this policy and make the army a safer place for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. The voices from both political parties have been heard, and their message is loud and clear. A great number of Republicans want to keep this policy, as they claim the repeal of it will actually harm the army. It’s unclear if it is merely a political move for the Republican Party, as they have become the party of “no,” but what is certain is that they are playing with people’s lives.
It is important that no group of citizens go underrepresented... These people are the same people who are right now fighting for their security and well-being. On the other hand, Democrats are in unanimous support for the repealing of the infamous policy. They argue that it is the right thing to do, not only for the LGBT community but also for the nation. It is not only about human rights but also about what is best for the union. To let these men and women serve openly could guarantee a
larger number of people signing up for service. It could also enable a better working environment in the armed forces. When you embrace a group of people and make them feel as if they have a voice and a place, they respond. This open attitude is how America can not only better protect itself against the likes of terrorism but also create a more unified nation. Currently the Unite States finds itself fighting two wars in the worst economic crisis
since the Great Depression and struggling in a number of other fronts. It is important that no group of citizens go underrepresented or mistreated for who they are. America boasts about its ability to offer freedom and a fair chance to every citizen. Yet in the year 2010, the nation still finds itself in the midst of a civil rights battle. What Obama is trying to do is to reintegrate these men and women onto the core of the American nation and onto the level of first class citizens. While the nation has previously shown acceptance for the LGBT community, it still resists accepting these men and women as deserving first
class citizens. In recent years the community has seen a great number of advances. Yet it is puzzling to figure out why they are still marginalized for something they have no control over. It is crucial that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” gets repealed, not only for the safety of our nation but also for the acceptance of all American citizens. It is in this spirit that this great nation was founded and in which it must move forward. dsalaza4@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views Brief look at the GOP candidates 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
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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.
Chris Duke
A recent poll conducted by the state’s top newspapers indicates the Texas primaries will not be as widely contested as previously predicted. About a year ago, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison announced her campaign to challenge incumbent Governor Rick Perry for the 2010 race. Many predicted an all out, nail-biting, to the wire, partisan wrangling between two of Texas’ GOP superstars. Perry leads Hutchison with 45 percent of likely Republican primary voters, while 29 percent back Hutchison and 17 percent support Debra Medina; 8 percent remain undecided. According to the Texas Ethics Commission, Perry & Hutchison have similar access to cash on hands, but Hutchison outspent her opponent almost two to one. However, Perry has outraised her three to one in contributions. Various factors help explain the recent poll and fundraising skills. Rick Perry: The longest
Associated Press
Gov. Rick Perry is seeking a record third full term.
serving governor in state history (since 2000) is running for a third term. Perry has campaigned on principled conservative leadership and job creation. Perry touts his record of cutting taxes, reducing spending, enforcing reasonable regulations, and enacting tort reform as the reasons why businesses and people flock to Texas. Texas has fared better compared to others during the national recession. It is uncertain if voters will link Perry to that feat. But Perry must admit some failures during his tenure. Under his watch, education
remains stagnant, his TransTexas Corridor tested private property rights, hyper-partisanship has further split the Legislature, and a revolving door of lobbyists continue to put Texans’ interest second. Kay Bailey Hutchison: Texas’ senior US Senator has characterized herself as a true leader that will beholden to Texas, not special interests. Hutchison has come out strongly against the now scrapped TTC and wants to dial down the political rancor in Austin. Hutchison has the big name donors and supporters- including former Vice President Cheney but it’s unclear if she has the backing of the large grassroots supporters that often make or break an election. Hutchison needs to come clean and have clear answers to her beliefs on abortion and when she is going to resign to win over reluctant supporters. Debra Medina: A party chairwoman turned candidate is probably the most unexpected turn of events this political season. Medina
has aligned herself with the tea party activists and began gaining support after the first televised debates. Medina has proposed eliminating all property taxes and suggested replacing it with a broader consumption tax. Additionally, her campaign has highlighted the growing anger against incumbents in both Austin and Washington. But, Medina stumbled upon the wrath of Glenn Beck when she felt the US government may have aided in the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center. The most recent polls were conducted prior to her remark; it is yet to be known how her remarks will affect voters. Whoever wins the March 2nd GOP primary will face against likely Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Bill White. cduke2@stedwards.edu
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SEU RAMS RUGBY
Wednesday, February 17, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Photos by: Kateri Kuglemann