Hilltop Views S t .
E d w a r d ’ s
U n i v e r s i t y
Wednesday, March 31 , 2010
Volume 27 | Issue 9
The top 8 Features: three record stores in Austin for used CDs.
A recap of NCAA 10 Sports: men’s basketball Cinderella stories as March Madness winds down.
UPD looking to improve
The candidates in the president and vice president race for this semester’s Student Government Association elections are campaigning for big changes on campus. Presidential candidate Blanca Garcia and her running mate, vice presidential candidate Krista Heiden, are up against presidential candidate Hannah Kurtzweil and her running mate, vice presi-
University student plays at local Austin venues.
Michael McNally After two months, St. Edward’s University students, alumni, faculty and staff are off to a slow start on achieving the university’s goal of 75,000 service hours by the end of 2010. Lou Serna, director of the Office of Service and Community Involvement within Campus Ministry, said
UPD will soon buy new vehicles for next year.
being arrested Feb. 9 for improper photography. Gilroy was charged after taking cell phone images of women in a Macy’s dressing room. In July,
one officer will become a full time employee, but one officer will still be needed. “We normally operate with 15 officers, but right now we
Kateri Kugelmann
have 13.5,” Chief of Police Rudolph Rendon said. “With July being our target date, we
dential candidate Samantha Cook. Garcia is currently serving as a sophomore senator for SGA, while Heiden is the service director and temporarily served as chief of staff. Kurtzweil is currently serving as the vice president of Legislative Initiatives, with Cook serving as sophomore senator. The candidates all expressed hopes to get students’ voices heard more
clearly and to interact with the campus community more, among other things. Further Student Input “Blanca and I are very committed to advocating the student voice,” Heiden said. Garcia said one instance of unheard student voices is the recent decision to make commuters purchase a meal plan. “Students were angry because administration did not tell them about it until the decision was made,” Garcia
Although this achievement may seem daunting to prospective volunteers, Serna stressed that every little bit helps and encouraged everyone to register. “Whether it’s one hour, five hours, or 25, we are looking for everyone to register to help us get to that goal,” Serna said. Alumni are also encouraged to engage in the pro-
Despite this collective slow start, Serna said some students have already dedicated themselves to service.
UPD | 4
SGA candidates aim for change Haleigh Svoboda
12 Entertainment: A St. Edward’s
Service off to slow start
Jake Hartwell
Following a string of burglaries and thefts on campus, the St. Edward’s University Police Department is looking to make more changes next fall to meet national standards. UPD has made several improvements while pursuing accreditation from the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies. UPD received a grant to achieve CALEA accreditation by April 2011. CALEA demands criteria for highly respected and effective law enforcement, some of which UPD have yet to meet. One of the obstacles to overcome is the vacancy in UPD staff, left by Officer Brandon Gilroy. Gilroy resigned after
hilltopviewsonline.com
said. Strengthening the student voice is also the goal of Kurtzweil and Cook, who both want to hold SGA office hours outside the office. Cook said she wanted to get students’ opinions and feedback by sitting in the cafeteria at the same time each day in order for students to approach SGA officers to voice concerns. GARCIA, KURTZWEIL | 3
since the initial kickoff in February, 235 individuals have registered online and have contributed around 2,000 service hours of the targeted 75,000 hours. The university set the goal as part of its 125th anniversary and students have been asked to each perform 125 hours of community service this year. Last year, the university said students volunteered a collective 63,000 hours. “I actually got an e-mail from someone who already completed their 125 hours,” Serna said.
gram. “We are asking alumni from across the nation to get involved and help us reach our goal, because our hope is that people will continue to do community service as alumni,” Serna said. Members of the St. Edward’s community who want to contribute to the challenge can register online at stedwards.edu/service. The Web site also promotes service opportunities offered through the university’s Student Service STUDENTS | 2
Page 2 | NEWS
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Martin authors chapter in business strategy book Jen Obenhaus The president of St. Edward’s University will be adding “author” to his resume. George E. Martin, president of St. Edward’s, has authored a chapter entitled “Priorities and Principles: How to Set and Achieve Your Strategic Plan.” The chapter is featured in the recently-released book, “Updating Your Company’s Strategy.” “It’s fitting that the chapters of this book will be published during the university’s 125th anniversary,” Martin said. “Our story is one of bold ideas, resilience and perseverance. I was honored to be able to share the details of how we’ve become one of the best small universities in the country.” Martin’s chapter discusses how his business strategies for the university can provide insight for those needing to adapt or update an inert
business plan by combining past successes with contemporary business methods. “At St. Edward’s, we are reaching the end of a 10year strategic plan that has
“I was honored to be able to share the details of how we’ve become one of the best small universities in the country.” — George Martin
established us as one of the best small universities in the country, our vision when we began looking to the future after my inauguration as president in 1999,” Martin wrote in his chapter. “As a nonprofit and a university, of course, we operate a little differently than for-profit businesses, yet at the root, we are the same. Mission, custom-
Students seek more hours Continued from page 1
Council, as well as links to other service organizations outside of St. Edward’s. Once the year-long service challenge is completed, there will be a celebratory event in February 2011 thanking all those involved in the challenge and informing the community of the results. “My whole business is that we continue to do something and do more every year,” Serna said. “I think if we just stay at one point, we wouldn’t be living our Holy Cross mission and going forward.” Serna said that ultimately he believes the 125 Service Challenge is meant to test individuals as well as the
ers, employees, facilities, bottom lines — all of these drive our daily operations, and all of these have been critical to success with our strategic plan.”
St. Edward’s community as a whole. “I think it is a challenge, and that’s why we call on people to do 125 hours,” Serna said. “For those individuals who are going through that, it’s a lot of work amongst balancing academics and other activities, and we want to thank them for doing that. And as a community as a whole, 75,000 will be a great goal to reach for a university of our size and I’m very confident that we will.” mmcnall@stedwards.edu
Other experts that have authored chapters in “Updating Your Company’s Strategy” include William Burrus, president of American Postal Workers Union, and Raju Boligala, president and chief executive officer of HerbThyme Farms Inc. The 116-page book, published by Aspatore Books, explores practices for creating a
new and improved direction for today’s companies. Martin’s credentials make him an authority in the business field. With more than 40 years of experience in higher education, Martin also serves as chair of the Council of Independent Colleges, chair of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas and board of director for the American Council on Education. Martin holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from St. John’s University and master’s and doctoral degrees in political science from Fordham University. Since Martin was named president of the university in 1999, the freshman class has more than doubled from 368 to 757 students, and freshman retention has improved to 84 percent, helping to increase overall enrollment from 3,000 to 5,300 students, according to Marcie
Hilltop Views Archives
Martin’s chapter discusses his business strategies.
Lasseigne, public relations associate at the St. Edward’s Marketing Office. “As we look ahead and begin to draft our strategic plan for 2015, we reaffirm our commitment to our mission,” Martin wrote. “We recognize both the opportunities and challenges presented by an increasingly global commu-
nity connected through technology, learning, and shared values. We look forward to forging ahead, with the spirit of our founders and the passion of our people to sustain us.” jobenha@stedwards.edu
Trinity debates religious sensitivity Associated Press Some Trinity University students are asking school trustees to drop the words “Our Lord” from their diplomas, arguing that the reference doesn’t respect the diversity of religions on campus. Sidra Qureshi, a Muslim student and president of Trinity Diversity Connection, is leading the charge to tweak the wording. The effort has won the support of student government, and trustees are expected to consider the request in May. “A diploma is a very personal item, and people want to proudly display it in their offices and homes,” Qureshi told the San Antonio Express-News in Monday’s editions. “By having the phrase In the Year of Our Lord,’ it is directly referencing Jesus
Christ, and not everyone believes in Jesus Christ.” The school’s president and other students defend the wording, saying the school’s Presbyterian roots are appropriate and unobtrusive. Founded in 1869, Trinity has been governed by an independent board of trustees since 1969 but maintains a “covenant relationship” with the church. President Dennis Ahlburg said Trinity should continue to foster a diverse environment but should not ignore its cultural and religious roots. “The fundamental issue is not so much what is on the diploma,” he said.“The fundamental question is, ‘Is Trinity a place that is accepting and supportive of all faiths?’” The debate started last year when Isaac Medina, a Muslim convert from Mexico,
noticed the wording on premade diploma frames. “I honestly feel like nobody actually noticed it before,” Medina said.“Now that it has been brought up, the institution is trying to find its own identity. Are we or are we not a religious institution?” When Medina applied to Trinity, university staff told him it wasn’t a religious institution and that it maintained only a historical bond to the church. He said he’d always felt welcome at Trinity, where the campus chaplain caters to students of all religions and the university recently dedicated a Muslim prayer space. So the reference on the diploma “came as a big surprise,” said Medina, who graduated in December. “I felt I was a victim of a bait and switch.” Qureshi and Medina initially sought a change only for students who desired it,
but university staff told them the school would not print custom diplomas. Ahlburg said he’s heard from many alumni and donors who oppose the change. Brendan McNamara, president of the College Republicans, also is against a change. “Any cultural reference, even if it is religious, our first instinct should not be to remove it, but to accept it and tolerate it,” said. “Once you remove that phrase, where do you draw the line?” Though Trinity has historically enrolled mostly white Christians, the university has taken pains to increase diversity. Since 1999, the share of international students has increased from 1 percent to 9 percent. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, March 31, 2010
NEWS | Page 3
Schools offer variety of new classes for students Jake Hartwell As students prepare to register for classes for the fall semester, they will have the option to select several new courses through each school. As St. Edward’s University continues to expand, more diverse courses in specialized fields are being offered. Some new majors, minors and tracks have been added as well. Humanities In the School of Humanities, a new emphasis for theater majors has been created, Musical Theater. Two new courses for the emphasis, Musical Theater Performance and Audition and Musical Theater Dance, have also been added. New to music department is a Guitar Ensemble course.
A new major, Catholic Studies, will be offered beginning in the fall. Two courses for the major, Catholic Intellectual Life and Catholic Intellectual Heritage, will be offered. In the religious studies department, a course called World Religions in Depth has, too, been added. Interactive Media Production and Design has been created for journalism students. Richard Bautch, the associate dean of the School of Humanities, said that the course was “designed to give journalism students multimedia training.” A course in copyediting has also been added for journalism. The School of Humanities has also approved a new major, Interactive Entertainment and Game Design, which Bautch said “will not
be implemented until at least next year [in the fall of 2011].” In addition, a creative writing track for English Literature has been created using existing courses. Natural Sciences The School of Natural Sciences has created a new major in their department, Clinical Laboratory Science. The school is also offering two new Advanced Topics in Biology courses: Human Ge-
netics and Human Anatomy and Physiology. In Human Genetics, students will gain a better understanding of “the tools used to locate and analyze genes involved in human disease and therapies derived from that understanding,” according to the course description. The School of Natural Sciences is also adding an Introduction to Astronomy course, which will satisfy the general education require-
ment for Science in Depth. In the mathematics department, a special topics course called Mathematical Biology will be offered to students. Management and Business The School of Management and Business has a new undergraduate course for the fall semester, AMA Case Competition. “ Students will collaborate to complete a marketing plan for submission to the American Marketing Association annual business-plan competition,” Dianne Hill, associate dean of the School of Management and Business, said regarding the course. Several new courses are being offered for the Master of Science in Computing Information Systems graduate program. Four new and
significantly revised courses are being offered for the degree—Intellectual Property and Cyberlaw, Business Intelligence with Data Mining, Modern Methods in Software Engineering and Operating Systems. For the marketing department, two graduate-level courses have been created. Consumerism and Social Responsibility “reviews the marketing practices that are applied at both the individual and societal level,” according to the course description. Marketing Laws and Ethics will examine what is legal, but not always ethical, through in-depth readings, applications, and case analyses. jhartwe@stedwards.edu
Garcia, Kurtzweil looking to increase student voices Continued from page 1
Garcia and Heiden also said they plan on getting students voices heard through more face-to-face interaction. Office hours policies require that students go to the SGA office in the Student Life department, located in Ragsdale; however, Heiden said that this time needs to be spent going out and talking to students. Improved Campus Relationships Kurtzweil and Cook are seeking to improve the relationship between students and administration. “One of my goals was to try to repair and make that relationship better,” Kurtzweil said. Heiden said that she and Garcia want to go to the administrative offices and let personnel know that they want to be involved because they have ideas for solutions. “I want to build mu-
tual respect,” Garcia said. “I want them to know that we can delegate solutions.” Campaign Funding Another first for this election is the increase in campaign funding. Senate candidates may spend $250, while presidential and vice presidential candidates can spend $500 on their campaigns. “I don’t have the ability to spend $500 at will,” Garcia said. Kurtzweil said that she does not think that she will spend anywhere near $500 on the campaign. “As of right now, I do not know how much we plan to spend,” Kurtzweil. Election Changes This semester, students will only vote on one vice presidential race. The legislation that SGA passed this semester consolidated the three vice presidential positions into one, and three vice chairs to be appointed by the vice president.
Students will not vote for the individual candidates in the presidential and vice presidential races due to a bill that established a ticket system in which presidential and vice presidential candidates run on a single ticket together. “I think the ticket system will allow [the president and vice president] to be on the same page,” Kurtzweil said. Two senators will be elected from each class and one senator from each of the schools. Sophomore Noah Corn is running for the School of Humanities senator position, junior Karissa Eudy is running for the School of Education senator position and sophomore Payden Johnson is running for School of Natural Sciences senator position. Junior Eric Bustos is running for the School of Behavior and Social Sciences senator position, and junior Aldaberto Vasquez-Paz is
running for senator position for the School of Management and Business. The two candidates for the senior class senator positions are incumbents Celso Baez III and Mary Michelle “Mimi” Valladarez, and candidates for junior senator position include Brady Faglie and Alexandra Simons. The two sophomore senator position candidates in-
clude Olivia Bouree, Fremen DeRuvo and Andrew Christopher Guerrero. Also, for the first time since 1999, students may vote for a new SGA Constitution and Student Bill of Rights, which will be available via EdWeb. Voting begins April 5 at 5 p.m. and ends April 12. For students seeking more information about the candidates, SGA is hosting a
“Meet the Candidates” event from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Student Life office, as well as a presidential debate from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in Jones Auditorium. Both events are April 6. For all the candidates full campaign platforms, see the Hilltop Views Web site at hilltopviewonline.com hsvobod@stedwards.edu
Page 4 | NEWS
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | Hilltop Views
Andre to be canonized
UPD seeks accreditation
Megan Ganey The Vatican plans to canonize a man who began his life as an ailing orphan in Canada as a saint. Blessed Brother Andre Bessette of the Congregation of the Holy Cross will be canonized Oct. 17, according to an announcement released by Pope Benedict XVI in February. His journey to sainthood began in 1978, when the church declared him to be Venerable, and continued in 1982, when he was declared Blessed. Bessette’s canonization comes over 70 years after his death at age 91 in 1937. Bessette will be the first member of the Holy Cross to be declared a saint, which would seem like an unlikely turn from his early relationship with the congregation. Bessette was burdened
“The service of the brothers from the Holy Cross is often unnoticed; therefore, a member being recognized in such high regard speaks volumes to the vocation.” — Fr. Rick Wilkinson throughout life with ill health and poor education, and he was almost turned away for those reasons. “He was a simple man, and that speaks a lot about who we are,” said Fr. Rick Wilkinson, director of Campus Ministry. After moving from Canada to the United States, Bessette worked at the University of Notre Dame as a doorman and soon became known as a healer.
Bessette devoted his time and services to St. Joseph, and he is credited for founding St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal in 1904. His humble life and his dedication to the church through prayer and service to those with poor health reflected the mission of the Holy Cross. “The service of the brothers from the Holy Cross is often unnoticed; therefore, a member being recognized in such high regard speaks volumes to the vocation,” Wilkinson said. St. Edward’s University has a building named for Bessette—Andre Hall—that houses faculty and adjunct offices as well as the School of Humanities. Fr. Lou Brusatti, dean of the School of Humanities, said that Bessette’s canonizations almost certainly wouldn’t lend itself to Andre Hall being renovated, despite some expressing the hopes that an update to the building would occur. “When the announcement was made about [Andre’s] canonization, I said to Sr. Donna [ Jurick], ‘Does this mean that there will now be a miracle and we’ll be able to renovate Andre Hall?’” Brusatti said. “The answer was, ‘I don’t think so.’”
Marketing Office Brother Andre Bessette will be canonized Oct. 17.
mganey@stedwards.edu
Andrew J. Willard Several vehicle burglaries have occurred over the spring semester in the parking garage.
Continued from page 1
should be able to fill the vacant post.” UPD recruits officers from police academies in and near Austin. They are in the process of finalizing their list of applicants. “We’re hiring certified officers, and no experience is required,” Rendon said. “We’re looking for those officers that have excelled in prior service or during the
they’re doing, but it does get old. ” Rendon said that the staff decrease has not resulted in reduced security and pointed to UPD’s situation response time, which is shorter now than last year. Rendon has set the deadline for hiring a new officer at July 1 so he or she can be trained during the summer. Another challenge for UPD has been the parking garage, where several crimes
“There are close to 200 different standards, and we’re about two-thirds of the way to accomplishing all of them.” — Rudolph Rendon academy and display the kinds of characteristics that we think will succeed in a university environment.” UPD is coping with the vacancy by paying overtime and with help from the Austin Police Department. Often administrative officers must work in the field to complete the staff. “Where we’re really hurting right now is night shift,” Rendon said. “They’re doing twice the amount of work and really enjoying what
have occurred over the semester. Motorists were required to swipe ID cards to gain access to the garage, but these plans have been temporarily abandoned. “It is not very reliable,” Rendon said. “The system goes down every other week almost, so that caused for traffic backup. It was my decision, until we were fully satisfied that the mechanism was working correctly, to keep the gates up.” Rendon said that the ID
swipe would be reinstated in fall 2010. The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement also made recommendations last year for improving UPD. At their recommendation for the dispatch center in Holy Cross Hall, UPD added an automated records management system and upgraded computers. Among the changes needed in communication are stronger contact with the Austin Police Department and more handheld radios. “Communication is number one [for achieving accreditation],” Rendon said. “We haven’t fully utilized all of our products that we’ve purchased, and we’re still learning about how to make them work here.” UPD’s Mazda Tributes are five years old. Rendon said they will be replaced with more durable Impalas this summer. “We have through April 2011 to meet the deadline, or we lose all our [grant] money,” Rendon said. “There is no doubt in my mind we will achieve it… there are close to 200 different standards, and we’re about twothirds of the way to accomplishing all of them.” jhartwe@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, March 31, 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:
Page 6 | ADVERTISEMENT
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | Hilltop Views
FEATURES
Hilltop Views | Page 7 Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Adjunct brings real world experience to classroom Ari Auber Students enrolled in Stephen Yanoff ’s presentational speaking class learn within the first week that he not only likes to tell a lot of jokes, but also that he brings with him a variety of hobbies and experiences that range from scuba diving to Wall Street finance. “My business career has provided an in-depth knowledge of the real world of business and commerce, which is where most students will end up,” Yanoff said. He draws on his experiences many times during his class at St. Edward’s University to teach students the skill of public speaking. For one class, he brought his scuba gear to compare the types of breathing used underwater to the types used behind a lectern.
“I try to combine [oratory and rhetoric] to make teaching more interesting and relevant.” -Adjunct Stephen Yanoff
Eloise Montemayor
Stephen Yanoff teaches presentational speaking.
A native New Yorker who has retained his accent, Yanoff pursued various interests before becoming a presentational speaking professor. “My archaeological and history hobbies have introduced me to Greece and Italy, two of
the most important centers of ancient oratory and rhetoric,” Yanoff said. “I try to combine both areas to make teaching more interesting and relevant to all students.” He went to Texas A&M University despite receiving
a wrestling scholarship from Columbia University. Once there, he stopped playing sports and started writing comedy plays instead. After college, he returned to his home state and tried his hand as a playwright and stand-up comedian in New York City. To earn a living, he went to work in the high-risk insurance business, but his office was two blocks from the World Trade Center, and, after the 9/11 attacks, it became inaccessible. He eventually decided to move to Austin.
“I always loved Austin when I was in Texas as a college student,” Yanoff said. “It has lots of culture and great weather. Plus, I wanted to be near my daughters.” Once in Austin, he became involved in charity work and other projects. His favorite is the Go Project, which allows special needs students from the Austin Independent School District to take classes and receive job training at St. Edward’s. He does not limit his time simply to teaching and helping the community, however. As an avid scuba diver, he
dives around the world for archeological artifacts. His current project is to locate, with other divers, the last base of famous French pirate Jean Lafitte on Padre Island, where a rumored $500 million in gold is said to reside. “The best teachers, in my humble opinion, are those that have actually accomplished something off-campus,” Yanoff said. “But have not lost their love and appreciation of academics.” He loves to teach at St. Edward’s and finds his colleagues to be inspirational. “There are so many teachers here who want to help students,” he said. “They really seem to care, and it’s great to be part of a university that does such great work.” aauber@stedwards.edu
Film series focuses on health insurance struggles Rhiann Janak Hector was a hard working American. He went to work on time and often stayed late to finish up his duties. But when Hector contracted gangrene, an infection that kills cell tissue, he lost his job, medical insurance, home and left foot. Hector is one of 46 million uninsured Americans, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau. The 60 percent of uninsured adults that passed on receiving Medicaid last year found themselves in Hector’s shoes and in an all too real nightmare. In an effort to educate the community on the uninsured and exchange ideas about how to better the community, KLRU, Austin’s community television station, screened Hector’s story at the Alamo
Drafthouse South Lamar on March 25. Hector’s story was the third and final installment in The Live United Film Series entitled “Critical Condition,” produced by United Way and PBS. The Live United events focus on education, financial stability and Hispanic engagement and combine film screenings followed by a moderated discussion with community leaders, issue experts and community representatives. The free screening of “Critical Condition” gathered about 70 viewers to watch a short film documenting Hector’s current troubles. Following the screening, a panel of three experts opened discussion to the audience. Some individuals were reluctant to sympathize with Hector. “I just don’t empathize with him,” said audience mem-
ber Jennifer De Groot. “My dad had gangrene. [Hector] didn’t treat it soon enough. He could have prevented it.” Other audience members voiced the opinions that people should be heavily educated on personal responsibility and that insuring people would only be a disincentive to real progress. “Education is a major step we are taking,” said panelist Lil Almonte, director of outreach at El Buen Samaritano. “We don’t know Hector’s prior circumstances, but he wanted to be treated and couldn’t be, and that is a problem,” said panelist Jose Chomacho, executive director at the Texas Association of Community Health Centers. “Uninsured people are costing all Americans money. Who do you think pays for ER visits of the uninsured?
Asscoiated Press
TK
You do—insured tax-paying Americans do.” After being questioned by the audience, the panel members introduced many ways individuals can help KLRU educate the Austin commu-
nity. If you are interested in volunteering for the community, United Way asks you to volunteer at the upcoming Spring Day of Caring April 23. For further information,
visit http://www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org or http:// www.klru.org. fjanak@stedwards.edu
Page 8 | FEATURES
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | Hilltop Views
An Austinite’s guide to used CDs Whether you’re saving money on a newer album or rediscovering an old favorite, there are many merits to buying your CDs used. Austin has no shortage of record stores that sell old CDs at a fraction of their original price. Here are three of the best spots to get more music for less money. Each store has its own qualities and knowledgeable staff members that can help you find whatever you are looking for. Ryan Lester
rlester@stedwards.edu Cheapo Discs 914 N. Lamar A few blocks north of Waterloo is a staple in the Austin record shop business. Cheapo Discs can boast a wider and more diverse selection of used CDs and a completely unique atmosphere. Like Waterloo, the store keeps all of its latest arrivals in the same area. However, the new arrivals section at Cheapo is absolutely daunting, as you Regina Shelton can easily spend a couple of Cheapo Discs has a wide variety of used CDs. hours looking through their massive selection of recent acquisitions. Cheapo also mixes in used CDs with new ones. So if you are looking for a certain artist, you can find a used copy of their newest album along with a brand new shrink-wrapped copy. Another way you can save money is by finding CDs that have a green price sticker on them. These discs, called “Skuf ” discs, are more scratched than your average disc, but this knocks down the price significantly, and the discs will usually play just fine. If you are just going to rip an album into your iTunes library, it’s a great way to get albums extremely cheap, as the “Skuf ” discs usually run anywhere from $4-$6.
End of An Ear offers low prices on quality used CDs.
Regina Shelton
End of An Ear 2209 S. 1st St. If you’d rather avoid the hustle and bustle of downtown, End of An Ear is great place to get your used CD fix in South Austin. Aesthetically, End of an Ear feels more like a record store you would stumble into in New York City or San Francisco, which gives the store a unique charm. Of the three record stores profiled, End of An Ear has the smallest selection of used discs, but it is also a much smaller store. However, if you do find an album you want, chances are that you might not have to pay very much for it. Used discs in great condition can be found for as low as $3. Additionally, the store has a massive selection of vinyl, both used and new.
Waterloo Records 600 N. Lamar Regarded by many as Austin’s flagship record store, Waterloo Records boasts a sizable collection of both used and new CDs as well as vinyl for those who are nostalgically inclined. Dedicated to almost half of the store’s size, Waterloo’s used disc selection is wide and varied; older albums usually cost around $5 or $6, and newer albums cost around $8 or $9. Like Cheapo Discs, Waterloo also has a special section dedicated to albums they have received that week, separated by the day they were received to ensure you can find the most up-to-date arrivals. Occasionally, you can find an artist’s entire discography in the used section. However, you may leave disappointed if you don’t have an idea of what you’re looking for before you go. Of course, if you have the time, you can always spend an afternoon browsing the section to see what surprises you can find. Whether you are looking for a golden-oldie or a new favorite, Waterloo veterans advise that you should always approach the used section with an open mind. You never know what might be hiding in the bins.
Waterloo Records is Austin’s most well-known store for used CDs.
Hilltop Views Archive
SPORTS
Hilltop Views | Page 9 Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Softball hits nine home runs over weekend Kayla Meyer The St. Edward’s University softball team remains undefeated in the Heartland Conference with an 11-0 record. The Hilltoppers proved why they are first in conference as they tallied up a total of nine home runs on the road this past weekend. The St. Edward’s softball team (23-11, 11-0 HC) played conference opponent Newman University in Wichita, Kan., and non-conference #18 Emporia State University in Emporia, Kan. The Hilltoppers swept Newman in a three-game series on March 26-27. The team won the first game 5-0 with the help of sophomore Miranda Yeager, who hit a solo home run in the third inning, and freshman Brianna Bozon, who hit a three-run
home run in the sixth inning. The Hilltoppers kept the home runs coming as they won 16-0 in five innings in game two of the doubleheader. St. Edward’s had 14 hits, including five home runs. Sophomore Meagen Bailey hit two home runs. Junior Lexi Stephens and freshmen Sara Todd and Ally Valdez each hit a home run. On March 27, the Hilltoppers won 13-0 in five innings to sweep Newman in the three-game series. St. Edward’s got on the board early as senior Lisa Paul hit a home run, putting the team ahead 2-0. In the second inning, a home run by freshman Marissa Thome, her second home run of the season, made the score 3-0. An RBI single by Valdez and a two-RBI single by
Bozen in the second inning made the lead 6-0. An unearned run in the third inning and six runs in the fourth inning allowed the Hilltoppers to pick up the 13-0 victory. On March 29, the Hilltoppers took on #18 Emporia State in a doubleheader. St. Edward’s did not come home with any victories, losing 210 and 0-2. The Hilltoppers are set to take on a doubleheader against Angelo State on April 7 at 2 p.m. St. Edward’s will then play in a three-game series against Texas A&M International University. The doubleheader against the Dustdevils is set to begin at 2 p.m. on April 9, and game three will begin at noon on April 10.
SEU Sports Information
kmeyer2@stedwards.edu
Senior Lisa Paul was one of eight players to hit a home run against Newman.
Page 10 | SPORTS
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | Hilltop Views
SEU men’s rugby team plays UT Cinderella Stories in NCAA Men’s Basketball
VILLANOVA WILDCATS ‘85 Eighth-seeded Villanova, who had never made it past the Elite Eight, beat three of the top seven teams in the country, and then beat highly favored Georgetown 66-64 to win the national title.
GEORGE MASON PATRIOTS ‘06 After defeating four consecutive higher seeds, including No. 1 seed UConn in an overtime thriller, George Mason is one of two 11th-seeded teams to achieve a spot in the Final Four.
TEXAS WESTERN MINERS (UTEP) ‘66 The Miners defeated Kentucky 75-65 with an all African-American starting lineup, winning the school’s only men’s basketball national title. They were portrayed in the movie, “Glory Road.”
DAVIDSON WILDCATS ‘08 Stephen Curry carried the team, averaging 31.6 points a game. With an enrollment of 1,700 students, Davidson was finally defeated by Kansas in the championship game.
Kateri Kugelmann
The St. Edward’s University rugby team played the University of Texas on March 26 in a friendly scrimmage. The Hilltoppers lost 10-15 after UT scored in the last five minutes of the game.
Hilltop Views needs two
KANSAS JAYHAWKS ‘88 The Jayhawks got off to a mediocre start, finishing the regular season 21-11. Yet, “Danny and the Miracles” became the team with the most losses to win a national championship.
NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK ‘83 The Wolfpack clinched a birth in the tournament by defeating UNC and UV. They went on to defeat the Phi Slama Jama team by dunking an air ball to win the national championship.
LOYOLA MARYMOUNT LIONS ‘90 LMU made its mark with a scoring average of 122.4 points per game and making it to the Elite Eight, despite losing star Hank Gathers who passed away during a game earlier in the season.
RHODE ISLAND RAMS ‘98 As an eighth-seeded team, the Rams defeated Murray State, Kansas and Valparaiso in the NCAA tournament, but lost to
Looking for students with:
» »
A 32-4 record puts the Bulldogs with the best record amongst the final four teams standing. Some oddsmakers have even given
for Fall 2010
a knowledge of Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop publication layout experience a plus
Duties will include:
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working with newspaper editors in a group environment to create newspaper layouts and in-house advertising
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working Mondays and Fridays
Stanford 79-77 in the Elite Eight.
BUTLER BULLDOGS ‘10
Designers
them a 4-1 chance to win the final four.
CORNELL BIG RED ‘10 In the Elite Eight, first-seeded Kentucky ended the Cinderella story for Cornell, an Ivy league school that doesn’t offer athletic scholarships, defeated Wisconsin. Compiled by: Jeremy Ortiz
Submit an application (available on hilltopviewsonline. com), resume, and any available clips to the Hilltop Views Office, Andre 116.
Application Deadline: Wednesday, April 14
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | Hilltop Views
SPORTS | Page 11
BENCH WARMING
MLB tries to revitalize tarnished image With the 2010 NCAA basketball tournament being whittled down to the Final Four, Tiger Woods returning to professional Sports Commentary golf and the NBA regular season coming to a close, there is a lot going on in the sports world. Lost behind all of these stories is the start of Major League Baseball’s spring training. Spring training has been fascinating enough to fill as many story lines as an MLB regular season. America’s pastime has had to overcome the stains of the steroid era and has had a hard time doing it. Each year the sport has been dealt tough blows as some of its greatest players admit to using performanceenhancing drugs. The young talent poised to improve so many major league teams this season has renewed the interests of many fans. The highly touted number-one pick in the 2009 draft, Stephen Strasburg, started the spring season with promise, only to be sent to the minor leagues. Strasburg was the Associated Press Washington Nationals’ best pitcher Joe Mauer signed a seven-year $184 milin spring training, but manager lion deal with the Minnesota Twins. Mike Rizzo sent the pitcher to their double-A affiliate anyway. Strasburg is the future of the lowly Nationals. The manager and the front office don’t want to risk injuring him from improper mechanics or overworking him by playing him too soon. Also in the American League, the Minnesota Twins signed hometown-hero Joe Mauer to a long-term deal. Mauer, the American League’s Most Valuable Player of 2009, was signed to a seven-year, $184 million dollar extension, signing him with the team through the 2018 season. This is the first time the stingy Twins have spent big money to keep a talented player on their roster. With the opening of their brand new, publicly funded stadium, the team had to keep Mauer. The Seattle Mariners have spent the off-season acMy Predictions: cumulating both young and veteran talent, signing a variety of young players to major and minor league AL West: Seattle Mariners contracts. They also signed veteran infielder Chone AL Central: Minnesota Twins Figgins. These signings have skyrocketed expectaAL East: New York Yankees tions for the Mariners in the AL West, and many Wildcard: Chicago White Sox writers have put them at the top of the list of teams to look out for in October. NL West: Los Angeles Dodgers The MLB season seems to be more wide open NL Central: St. Louis Cardinals than in years past. Some of the same teams will NL East: Philadelphia Phillies remain at the top, but look for new contenders to Wildcard: San Francisco Giants make deep playoff runs. Bryce Bencivengo
4
World Champion: Cardinals
bbenciv@stedwards.edu
The Hilltop Views’ column, ‘Bench Warming,’ appears every other week in the sports section and is written by Co-Editor-In-Chief Bryce Bencivengo.
Page 12 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, March 31, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT
St. Edward’s musician books Austin gigs Brett Powers On the back patio of El Arroyo Downtown, with pitchers of dollar margaritas and flowing beer, St. Edward’s University junior Shane Smith played a three hour,
no-break set blending Americana country and acoustic folk rock into his playlist. The singer-songwriter from Tyler continued his infiltration of the Austin music scene Thursday with the happy hour performance.
New to Austin, Smith got his start playing gigs in East Texas bars. There, he made a name for himself with the band he calls The Six Gun Saints. The band moved to Austin about six months ago, and in the transition,
Courtesy of Shane Smith
The Six Gun Saints have released their first album, “I See the Miles.”
MOVIE REVIEW
Cast shines in Runaways Jake Hartwell “The Runaways” is a film that chronicles the rise to fame—and fall—of the allfemale rock group of the same name. Expressing drug addiction, alcoholism, underage indulgence and other themes too racy to discuss here, the film tries to stick to the grit of the story and succeeds almost flawlessly. Dakota Fanning’s performance sparked particular controversy, but she was the perfect choice to play the excessively controversial lead singer, Cherie Currie. Some of her scenes are so real and disturbing that viewers may feel as if they have been
transported to dingy ‘70s bedrooms and backstages. Kristen Stewart’s brilliant performance as Joan Jett, arguable queen of rock ‘n roll, definitively proves that the detestable Isabella Swan of “Twilight” is the result of poor writing, not poor acting. Stewart captures every bit of rebellion and energy demanded by her role. In fact, her portrayal of Jett’s raw, powerful songwriting session could be the best scene in the film. Ultimately, the film’s authenticity makes it great. Viewers don’t just watch the scenes; they feel them. From early-day streetwalking to narrowly escaping rabid fans, each step of the Runaways’ rugged path is a part of the
experience. Most importantly, the film completely rocks. The lewd single “Cherry Bomb,” Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” and everything in between will absolutely demand that viewers run home and head-bang to their hearts’ content. jhartwe@stedwards.edu
Smith has been picking up solo-acoustic shows all over Central Texas, making connections and promoting the band. Smith and The Six Gun Saints have already released their first album, titled “I See the Miles.” Almost all the songs on the album contain an interesting narrative, like a modern cowboy reflecting on life, with fascinating historical insight. This unique perspective shows itself in songs like “The Raven,” dedicated to the dark poetry of Edgar Allen Poe, and “Tyler’s Blues,” dealing with love, loss and good friends. During his 5-8 p.m. time slot, Smith played all the songs off the album, firing up the patio crowd with toetapping hits like “Kaufman County Lines” and bringing them back down with the darker haunting tones of “Abner Bridge” and “Adios.”
Upcoming Shows April 1
Stephenville, TX
City Limits
8 p.m.
2
Ft. Worth, TX
The Moon
9 p.m.
9
Austin, TX
Ross’ Café
7 p.m.
10
Austin, TX
Poodie’s Bar
8 p.m.
15
Austin, TX
El Arroyo
5 p.m.
23
Austin, TX
Hill’s Café
7 p.m.
May
4 New Braunfels, TX
He also had plenty of time to play some of the new material he’s been working on. This includes a playlist of 14 songs with titles like “Moonshine” and “Life’s Like a Canvas.” Smith also likes to pull cover songs from a weighty list of artists that have served as long-time influences to his music. His acoustic guitar harmonica set-up lends itself well to timeless songs like Bob Dylan’s “Wagon Wheel,” Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Pris-
Billy’s Ice House 8:30 p.m.
on,” and Merle Haggard’s “Mamma Tried.” Smith’s solo shows by bar light are a must see for anyone interested in good singing-songwriting, and even better times. Find out more about Smith and The Six Gun Saints by visiting www.myspace.com/ ShaneSmithband or Facebook-ShaneSmithmusic. bpowers@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, March 31, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT | Page 13
Out and about: the best gay nightclubs in Austin
For years, gay bars have been places where the LGBT community could come together and openly socialize. Today, gay bars attract people from all different walks of life for various reasons, including loud and upbeat music, entertaining drag queens and the freedom to express oneself without judgment. Here are three of Austin’s most popular gay bars. Danny De Los Santos
ddeloss4@stedwards.edu
Oilcan Harry’s
211 West 4th St. 18+ Oilcan Harry’s prides itself on being one of Austin’s longest running gay bars. Opened in 1990, the bar was rated one of the top 50 clubs in the world in 2007 and 2009. Friday and Saturday nights are the busiest nights for the bar. Sunday and Monday are karaoke nights, Tuesday is Ladies Night, Wednesday is the Mascara Show (better known as a drag queen show) and Thursday is College Night with great drink specials all night. Oilcan Harry’s recently added a sports bar called Score. As Austin’s only gay sports bar, Score is open seven days a week and offers sports fans great specials for every major sporting event. The bar also owns Austin’s biggest gay festival, Splash, and plays an active role in the community by holding several toy drives throughout the year and sponsoring local softball teams.
Danny De Los Santos and Christina Villarreal
Oilcan Harry’s recently opened Austin’s first gay sports bar called Score.
Rain
217 West 4th St. 18+ Wednesday - Friday; 21+ Saturday - Tuesday Located on West 4th Street near Oilcan Harry’s, Rain was voted Austin’s best gay bar for the past three consecutive years by the Austin Chronicle. Thursday nights at Rain are the most popular for St. Edward’s students as the club’s College Night draws in hundreds of college students. The event includes an all-male amateur strip contest with host Bobby Cook. Those under 21 get in free on College Night until midnight. Plenty of drink specials are offered throughout the night. Monday is free billiards night, Wednesday is karaoke night and Friday and Saturday are hip-hop, house and electro night with DJ Dallas. On Sunday evenings the staff at Rain shows appreciation to customers by offering barbeque and various special events.
Kiss and Fly is the largest gay club in Austin.
Kiss and Fly
Rain offers College Night on Thursdays.
Danny De Los Santos and Christina Villarreal
Courtesy of Kiss and Fly
404 Colorado St. 18+ As the largest gay bar in Austin, Kiss and Fly has a 1,000-person capacity, three levels, 16 bartenders, six bars, a full-service smoking patio and several cage dancers. Kiss and Fly is Austin’s newest gay club, having celebrated its one-year opening on March 20. Friday is Kiss and Fly’s busiest night because the club offers Reverse Happy Hour from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. with no cover until 1 a.m. The club also offers Latino Night on Wednesday, Co-Ed Hip Hop Strip Off on Thursday and French Kiss Sunday, when female impersonators from all over Texas perform. Kiss and Fly is the only gay club that stays open till 3:30 a.m. on Friday and Saturday.
VIEWPOINTS
Page 14 | Hilltop Views Wednesday, March 31, 2010
OUR VIEW
Hilltop Views endorses in SGA elections For the first time, Hilltop Views will weigh in on the Student Government Association elections by endorsing a vice presidential and presidential candidate. But before we explain our selection, it is important to understand why we have chosen to endorse candidates, why SGA is an important organization on the campus of St. Edward’s University, and why students should vote in the upcoming election for the 2010-2011 academic school year. SGA’s stated purpose is to be the liaison between students and St. Edward’s administrators, and thus, the students elected to become a part of SGA should actively work to satisfactorily represent student interests to administrators, faculty and staff. This intermediary role is vital to the students on this campus now more than ever. In the past four years, students have become outraged and disappointed by a variety of decisions made at the university: parking garage fees, the technology fee, the disbandment of the cross-country program and, most recently, the commuter meal plan mandate. When we, as students, voice opinions about St. Edward’s and the decisions that have been made that affect us, we want the administration to listen. We want our beliefs on key issues to matter, because these crucial decisions ultimately affect our educational experience, our daily lifestyle and our wallets. It is especially important that our thoughts on issues be communicated considering that many students spend tens of thousands of dollars to attend St.
Courtesy of Blanca Garcia and Krista Heiden
Hilltop Views endorses the Garcia-Heiden ticket for the 2010 SGA elections.
Edward’s for four years. As students, we have a vested interest in making St. Edward’s the best university it can be for us and for future students. Decisions made now will not only affect us immediately, but the value of our degree in the future. The president and vice president of SGA have the opportunity to open doors, make connections and communicate with administrators that the rest of the student body cannot. The president even has a seat on the Board of Trustees, which is consulted or is the final say when making a number of important university decisions. And by voting in the SGA elections, students are given the chance to elect the most qualified leaders to be represent them and who they think can best communicate their needs and wants. The election also allows students to chose where they think university funds should go. A little known fact but an important consideration in the SGA elections is that the
winner of this presidential election will receive a full scholarship for the year they serve, and the vice president will receive a scholarship that will cover two-thirds of their tuition.
cohesiveness of the organization. These changes have also altered the way the president and the vice president are elected. In the past, SGA had one president and three vice presidents-Legislative Initiatives, Student Representation and Intergovernmental Affairs-who all ran separate campaigns. This year, there will only be one vice president and each candidate will run on a ticket with a presidential candidate. Previously, the president has also served both as the leader of the organization and as the chair of the senate. Now, the president will serve primarily as an executive for the entire organization, while the vice president will serve as the leader of the senate.
We have a vested interest in making St. Edward’s the best university it can be...Decisions made now will not only affect us immediately, but the value of our degree in the future.
These individuals are elected to do students’ work and are well compensated for doing so. It is important that students have a say over who most deserves to receive up to a combined $43,000. This year, SGA committed itself to overhauling the entire legislative system by eliminating seats, changing position responsibilities and expanding representation to residence halls. SGA leaders say this is in order to improve the efficiency and
This change in SGA’s structure allows the Hilltop Views to clearly, efficiently and easily pick who we think will do the best job leading the organization. In this year’s presidential and vice presidential election, both sets of candidates are focusing on many of the same issues that currently face the university and us as students. We believe that both sets of candidates were able to highlight students’ concerns
and offered valid ways on how to help alleviate them. All four candidates presented impressive resumes of service and leadership in both SGA and other St. Edward’s endeavors. After interviews with all four candidates and a lengthy debate between members of the editorial board, we finally came to a unanimous decision. For the 2010 SGA Elections, Hilltop Views has chosen to endorse the ticket of Blanca Garcia and Krista Heiden. Although both tickets are running on very similar platforms, we believe that Garcia and Heiden have a more direct approach to solving the problems identified by students and members of the organization in the past academic school year. We believe that presidential candidate Garcia’s demeanor and approachability will benefit her relationships with both students and university administrators. Vice presidential candidate Heiden’s executive experience working as director of this year’s Big Event and her longtime involvement with SGA will serve her well as the chair of senate. Garcia and Heiden communicated a strong desire for a more cohesive vision for the organization and stressed that their main priority is returning the organization to the “basics.” They cited the power and the strength of SGAs voice at the university in the 1960s as a standard they wanted to revive in the upcoming year. They also emphasized that “student” is the largest part of the organization–a part that they want to be accurately reflected and that we
feel has been lost recently. A weakness of the SGA’s role on campus in the past has been the disconnection between clearly seeing the views of the students and acting upon them, compounded by the lack of understanding students have about SGA’s purpose and function. Garcia and Heiden want to increase the transparency of the organization to alleviate this. They also want to demand this same transparency of the university’s administration. In the upcoming year, they want to establish a relationship with the administration that is mutual and in which both entities recognize and respect the value of each other. We believe that this direct and progressive vision is critical to SGA’s ability to achieve its purpose and to communicate the needs and wants of students. Within SGA, they have specific plans to increase the efficiency of the organization’s practices and make it more accessible for students, encouraging them to become both more interested and more involved in their endeavors. We encourage all students to have their voice heard by their student representatives both by electing them and by seeking them out once they are in office. The first step is to elect qualified candidates to SGA, and you can do that by voting on EdWeb April 5-12.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, March 31, 2010
VIEWPOINTS | Page 15
Movie theater ticket prices should not increase Proctor Anderson Last weekend movie theaters owned by Regal Entertainment Group, AMC Entertainment Inc. and Cinemark Holding Inc. introduced an increase in ticket prices around the country. The companies increased traditional 2D ticket prices by around 4 percent, 3D tickets by 8 percent and 3D IMAX tickets by almost 10 percent, according to the Wall Street Journal. This means if a family of four wants to go see the recently released DreamWorks animated movie “How to Train Your Dragon,” they’re going to have to spend over $40 on an hour and a half
Theater companies have increased ticket prices around the country.
of entertainment, and that’s before buying the long overpriced concessions the the-
ater offers. While waiting in the theater, disgruntled by the light-
Stock.xchng
ness of their wallet, the family would be exposed to an array of advertisements for
local businesses and Coke products. This very same family could, after waiting a few months, rent the movie at Redbox for $1 per day. They would enjoy a very similar hour and half of entertainment, without the commercials. Sure, if you watch it at home, the movie will be in 2D and the screen will be significantly smaller. However, on the plus side, snacks are cheaper, you can wear your pajamas, and hit pause when you need a bathroom break. With such a significant gap between the price of movie tickets and the price of movie rentals, people can’t be expected to regularly shell out the cash to see a movie in the
theater. The bigger screen and better sound don’t justify the vastly higher cost of seeing a movie in a theater. panders2@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views Judicial elections require reform 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.
Christopher Duke
Last month’s primary tied up various loose ends in a long-awaited, highly anticlimatic drama for both the Republican and Democratic primaries. As expected, incumbent Gov. Rick Perry will face former Houston mayor, Bill White, to land the state’s top job. However, the primary run-off to select Supreme Court Justice has yet to be held. Six Republicans filed and failed to capture a 50 percent majority after Justice Harriet O’Neill, a fellow Republican, announced retirement. The leading candidates, Rick Green and Debra Lehrmann, will face a run-off. Rick Green, a former legislator from Dripping Springs, has zero courtroom experience. More embarrassingly, in 2001, Green was ranked as on of the “Worst Legislators” by Texas Monthly. He was also investigated by a grand jury for excessive lobbying efforts. The winner faces Democrat Jim Sharp. A case like the above is the per-
The Texas Tribune/Morgan Smith
Rick Green and Debra Lehrmann are in a run-off for the Texas Supreme Court.
fect example of why the state should reform the method it chooses judges. Texas remains one of the few states that elects its judiciary in a partisan election. Instead, Texas should adopt an appointment, merit or a hybrid system of the two to best ensure the integrity and independence of our courts. An appointment system relies on the governor to nominate and the legislature to confirm judicial appointments. A merit system comprises of
a committee that generates a list of “qualified” candidates and, from there, the governor appoints to the states’ various benches. Other states such as California appoint judges that serve 12 years and run in retention elections. Judges should be given life appointment to the bench to isolate them from undue influence. Judges must carefully craft opinions that are acceptable to the electorate. Furthermore, judges in Texas must raise a campaign war
chest that subjects them to catering to special interests. In particular, many judges juggle getting checks from donors while reviewing cases from the same clientele. Contributions to judicial races became such a problem that in 1995, Texas enacted caps on individuals and firms to limit some races that had exceeded a one million price-tag. cduke2@stedwards.edu
Page 16 | PHOTO ESSAY
Wednesday, March 31, 2010 | Hilltop Views
BEN KWELLER
Ben Kweller performed for St. Edward’s University students March 26. The concert, hosted by the University Programming Board, benefited the American Red Cross. Students had the opportunity to purchase T-shirts and enter in a raffle to win various prizes, including a signed electric guitar by Ben Kweller. Photos by Emily Blasdell.