Hilltop Views S t .
E d w a r d ’ s
U n i v e r s i t y
Volume 27 | Orientation Edition
a look at a 4 Take year of Hilltopper sports.
premier 5 Austin’s music festival lineup has been announced.
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hilltopviewsonline.com
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Check out the top eight places you should visit around St. Edward’s campus.
St. Edward’s welcomes new students to campus Aug. 17 the either transfer orientation the day before or the sixth freshman orientation starting the next day. Between 128 and 130 students are scheduled to attend each session. During the sessions, students will participate and attend events and shows, become familiar with campus offices and policies, receive ID cards, take language exams, learn to use university technology and register for classes.
Tristan Hallman After saying goodbye to its largest graduating class in history, St. Edward’s University is welcoming its largest ever freshman class to campus over the summer. A projected total of 775 students in the class of 2014 will arrive on campus over the course of six orientation sessions. The first freshman orientation session will be held the weekend of June 10 with the final session on the weekend of Aug. 18, which immediately precedes the beginning of the fall semester. The university will also welcome 250 transfer students,
Dean of Students Office
St. Edward’s University will welcome more than 1,000 new students to campus over the summer.
split into two orientation sessions, held Aug. 11 and 16.
International students will attend a one-day session on
Orientation Leaders
After arriving to orientation, the students will be split into groups of 11-15 students to be managed by
one of 11 Student Orientation Leaders. The S.O.L.s are sophomores Phil Oates, Mitch Harris and Shaniqua Adams; juniors Karissa Eudy, Amarette Edmonson, Reed Traphagan and Taylor Batch; and seniors Laura Sandoval, Ryan Schmidt, Erica Zamora and Sara Hoover. The S.O.L.s were selected from an application pool of more than 30 students after a series of interviews. In addition, the S.O.L.s underwent a week-and-a-half of training for eight hours per day in May to prepare for the sessions. Mitch Harris, a sophomore leader and theatre major,
spoke about his experience as a freshman during orientation. “I was, in all honesty, pretty not excited about orientation,” Harris said. “I wasn’t having it. You know, a lot of people meet their best friend at orientation, and that just wasn’t the case for me.” Harris said he decided to apply as a leader after his experience in the spring with incoming freshmen that came to audition for theater scholarships. His goal, he said, is to make the orientation experience better for other students than it was for him. CONTINUED ON | 3
Celebration begins for university’s 125th birthday Bryce Bencivengo Yenifes Trochez The year 2010 marks a significant milestone for St. Edward’s University. The St. Edward’s community will be celebrating the university’s 125th anniversary. Top university officials are encouraging students, faculty, staff and alumni to celebrate this occasion in variety of ways, specifically through a Web site established to commemorate the celebration. At the beginning of the year the university intro-
duced the celebratory 125 Service Challenge. Through the challenge, the university intends for students, faculty and alumni to reach a goal of 75,000 hours of community service for the year 2010, in celebration of the university’s commitment to the community and social justice. “Clearly giving back to the community has always been a part of St. Ed’s,” said Mischelle Diaz, director of communications. “It is a part of the holy cross mission. I can’t see this University celebrating any milestone as major as
125 years without a service component, so that’s what this is about. ” Regardless of the number of hours each participant dedicates to service, each volunteer opportunity, big or small, brings the university one step closer to achieving the 75,000-hour goal. Last year, the university contributed 63,000 hours of service, according to university President George Martin. “I want to encourage everyone to participate in service around the community whether that’s five hours or
125 hours,” Martin said in an e-mail to the university.
Students can find more information on the 125-service
Cory Hahn
The university is celebrating its 125th anniversary.
project micro-Web site, celebrating125years.stedwards. edu, which was launched during the first week of February. On this Web site, participants are encouraged to log their community service hours and share stories, videos, photographs and memories that express the milestones and accomplishments made at St. Edward’s University. The website also allows students to read the latest news about the 125th celebrations, view information on CONTINUED ON | 3
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Summer 2010 | Hilltop Views
Professor inspires writers Bryce Bencivengo St. Edward’s University has the privilege of having faculty that have both a diverse education and personal background. You will find faculty with a variety of degrees and hailing from all around the United States. Mary Rist, an English writing and rhetoric faculty, is no exception with degrees from Louisiana State University, University of Virginia and the University of Texas. After getting her Ph.D. from Texas she began looking for teaching jobs and found one at St. Edward’s working with international students in the fall of 1994. Rist is a native of New Orleans but has found a home with her family in Austin and at St. Edward’s. Since arriving at the university she has taught of variety of courses, been involved with the freshman studies program, taught freshman seminar courses, been area coordinator of the English writing and rheotircmajor and worked in the dean’s office in the School of Humanities. “I’ve served in a variety of places at St. Edward’s,” Rist said. “Including being involved with the freshman
seminar program.” A variety of majors have courses that help them better understand about the major they have chosen or what course of study may be right for them. “In teaching [the freshman seminar course] I help students better understand what the [English] writing major is, what they can expect and even how to justify to their parents that this is what they are studying.” Rist has two sons; one who graduated from Harvard University and another is studying engineering at Rice University. “I can definitely sympathize with all of the new freshman and especially there parents, said Rist. “I know how hard this time can be.” She also said that students should use this time to figure out what they like to do. “There are jobs for English wiitng najors just like for any other major,” said Rist. “It’s just all a matter of what you are interested in.” Rist also teaches American grammar, revising and editing and text and discourse analysis; all upper-division English writing courses. She also oversees the internship
program for writing majors. A writing internship is required for anyone who majors in English writing and rhetoric. “I was hesitant about majoring in English writing, but once I took American Grammar with professor Rist I knew it was the best major for me, and I knew I would excel and be able to polish my writing skills,” Jen Obenhaus, a former student of Rist, said. Rist stressed that her classes and the English writing major are extremely unique. There are a variety of classes that focus on how to both improve and understand a student’s writing. “I think students can expect to study what works and what doesn’t work in creating effective written communication,” Rist said. “You can also look to understand how to present yourself better to your readers.” bbenciv@stedwards.edu
Nearby coffee houses Ryan Lester Whether they have unique atmospheres or interesting menu options, there is no shortage of coffee shops in Austin that one can call home. Coffee shops can be great places to do homework, meet with friends, or waste away an afternoon. Here are five coffee shops that you could easily lose money and hours of your life to, but in the best possible way.
Epoch Coffee
One of two 24-hour coffee shops in Austin, Epoch is an Austin staple. Much like Blue Velvet next door, the interior has a vintage vibe to it. The tables show their age, and most of the furniture looks like it’s straight out of the 1970s. It’s a great setting for sitting down to focus on a term paper. There is an ample selection of coffees, teas, and food options including pizza, sandwiches, veggie wraps and a wide variety of desserts. While Epoch usually has plenty of seats, it can be hard to find a spot during peak hours. Around finals and mid-terms, the place is especially swarming with students cramming for their tests. Despite this fact, and the longer drive, Epoch is a great place to study or catch up with an old friend.
Ruta Maya
Mary Rist has taught at St. Edward’s for 16 years.
Proctor Anderson
Just a hop, skip and jump from St. Edward’s, Ruta Maya has distinguished itself as one of the most eclectic coffee shops in Austin. Their coffee is imported directly from Chiapas, Mexico and has a markedly bold flavor. However, describing the coffee only scratches the surface of what defines Ruta Maya. Something always seems to be happening at Ruta Maya. Every Tuesday, there is a poetry open mic night where local talents perform their poems on the big stage. This stage is also used by the many
Christina Villarreal
Epoch Coffee is open 24 hours, seven days a week.
musical acts that perform at the venue. Additionally, Ruta Maya offers swing and salsa dancing lessons, informal classes and lectures, and yoga several times a week. At Ruta Maya, you can have a good time without having to inject a single ounce of caffeine into your system.
Bennu Coffee
A relative newcomer to the Austin coffee scene, Bennu Coffee on Austin’s east side has made quite a name for itself during its short existence. Like Epoch, Bennu is a 24-hour establishment, and finding seating during peak hours can often be a gamble. However, spending time there is always a great experience. Bennu’s specialty mochas are named after several great works of literature with selections including “The Great Gatsby,” “Pride and Prejudice” and “Oliver Twist.” They also serve breakfast tacos from Torchy’s, another Austin favorite. Perhaps the best thing about Bennu, though, is its overall atmosphere. It has a very homey feel with plenty of comfortable chairs and wooden tables. A grandfather clock rounds out the decor, serving as a reminder that you have not slipped into a fantasy world where your homework is magically completed.
Bouldin Creek
A South Austin landmark, and only a five minute drive from St. Edward’s, Bouldin Creek is a favorite amongst the young and old alike. On any given day you are bound to find undergraduate and graduate students studying, as well as a healthy population of people in their late 30s to early 40s sitting outside, discussing the events of the day. Bouldin’s food selection is quite extensive and vegetarian friendly. Omelets and tacos are staples on the breakfast menu. Lunch includes sandwiches and salads as well as interesting hot dishes, such as a vegetarian take on fajitas and a plate of red and black beans over rice. Bouldin Creek also offers a wide variety of coffees, blended drinks and teas. The one downside is there are few seating options indoors, and though the covered patio has heat lamps in several spots, it can be tough to concentrate on a cold night if you’re not bundled up. However, on a beautiful Austin day, a trip to Bouldin Creek is well worth it. rlester@stedwards.edu
Hilltop Views | Summer 2010
ORIENTATION EDITION | Page 3
SEU welcomes 1,000 new students Continued from page 1
Changes
Once the orientation sessions begin, the new St. Edward’s students will take part in a few new events. For the first time, students will participate in a competitive scavenger hunt on campus. “Every orientation group will have the opportunity to bond with their peers while enjoying some competition and bragging rights,” said Assistant Dean of Students Connie Rey Rodriguez. The scavenger hunt will incorporate different parts of St. Edward’s University’s history as well as the opportunity to explore the campus, Rodriguez said. The 2010 orientation sessions will also see changes to the way it presents students with opportunities to become involved on campus. An event called Campus Connections will replace
the usual Student Life-only involvement fair. Campus Connections will feature Campus Ministry and Campus Recreation rather than just Student Life. The university is also using Facebook for the first time to provide more information to students about their upcoming orientation sessions. “We all know orientation can be awkward at first, but [Facebook] gives them a chance to get to know each other before they come here,” Rodriguez said. “It also allows us to send out reminders and helpful information before students arrive.” In the past year, St. Edward’s has begun to embrace social media. Many campus offices now use Facebook and Twitter in efforts to better connect with students. The university also utilized Whrrl, a social network Web site,
to collect pictures and text messages during the recent May graduation ceremony.
Orientation Setup
The orientation sessions are planned by the Dean of Students office and the Orientation Advisory Board. The board consists of faculty, staff and students who consult with the Dean of Students office to make recommendations for orientation programming. “Orientation would not happen without the collaboration between these university offices to ensure the best possible experience for the incoming class,” Rodriguez said. The task of implementing orientation programs was led by a group of four Student Orientation Coordinators. The coordinators are juniors Yara Ashwari, Brent Johnson and Jessica Nortman and senior Paulina
Rojas. “This is a group of talented student leaders who have been working since April to plan and synchronize the many pieces that go into make this program a success,” Rodriguez said. thallma2@stedwards.edu
School’s 125th Continued from page 1
upcoming events, connect with former students, and even decorate and share your own Hilltopper mascot. Homecoming weekend was also a large part of the anniversary festivities. Alumni were given a special opportunity to return to the hilltop and connect with both current students and alumni. In October, the university will hold its 125th birthday party, which will be a celebration of both the history of St. Edward’s and those who apart of the university community. There will be a special birthday cake shaped like the iconic red doors on Main Building and a special appearance by Pax the goat, representing St. Edward’s mascot. “I think what our main message in our events and in the micro site and in the magazine and in all the
things that you’ll see, is that we’re very proud of where we’ve been.” Diaz said. “We have a tremendous history of successes and perseverance, but we’re even more excited about where we’re going. We want to make sure that the entire university community understands not only where the university has been and the significance of that, but more importantly where we’re going, and the excitement about what we’re going to do next.” bbenciv@stedwards.edu ytroche@stedwards.edu Additional reporting completed by Proctor Anderson and Wendy Cawthon.
Interested in joining the Hilltop Views? We are looking for student writers and photographers. Visit our table during the Campus Connections portion of orientation or attend our weekly meetings in the fall. To find out more information about our meetings, check our website at www.hilltopviewsonline.com.
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Summer 2010 | Hilltop Views
Hilltopper athletics capture spotlight in 2010 Kelli O’Donnell Five Heartland Conference Championships, two new head coaches, an all-American women’s soccer player, and a top-20 nationally ranked golf team all headlined an exciting 2009-2010 St. Edward’s University sports season.
Volleyball
In November, the St. Edward’s Volleyball team (23-11) advanced to the Heartland Conference Championship match after a 3-1 win over the University of Texas-Permian Basin. St. Edward’s went on to lead their opening match in the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament two sets to one, but eventually fell to Dallas Baptist University in a 3-2 loss. The Hilltoppers had three players: Ashley Vander Hey, Chelsea Barsamian, and Courtney Trevino named to the All-Heartland Conference Team. In April, St. Edward’s volleyball players Michelle Hundt and Courtney Trevino won the annual Heartland Conference Sand Vol-
leyball Doubles Tournament, beating 22 other teams, including three other Hilltopper teams.
Basketball
In basketball action, Andre Cook was named the new men’s head basketball coach for the 2009-2010 season. Cook joined St. Edward’s from Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, N.Y., where he served as head basketball coach from 20042009. Cook took the place of former head coach Ryan Marks who is now head coach at the University of Texas-Pan American. The men’s basketball team ended their season at 12-16, losing to St. Mary’s university in the opening round game of the Heartland Basketball Tournament. This was St. Edward’s fifth consecutive appearance in the Heartland Conference Championship. The women’s basketball team ended their season with a 9-20 record, advancing to the Heartland Conference Championship for the fifth straight season as well. The Hilltoppers won an overtime
game against Lincoln University in the opening round of the tournament but eventually lost to the University of the Incarnate Word in the semifinals.
Tennis
Brenda Niemeyer joined St. Edward’s as the new women’s head tennis coach for the 2009-2010 season. Niemeyer previously coached at the University of San Antonio, a Division I tennis program, where she was the head coach for eight years. Russell Sterns had previously coached both the men and women’s teams. In April, the women’s tennis team advanced to the championship match of the Heartland Conference Tournament by sweeping St. Mary’s 5-0. Eventually, Incarnate Word, defeated the Hilltoppers 5-2. The 26th-ranked St. Edward’s women’s tennis team placed four members, Paige Rachel, Audrey Tompkins, Mary Bain, and Elizabeth Jacobi, on the All-Heartland Conference Team. The St. Edward’s men’s tennis team ended their season with a 14-10 record. The men won their second-consecutive Heartland Conference Championship, were the region’s number one ranked team, and advanced in the NCAA tournamen to the Elite Eight for the second time in school history.
season long. At the NCAA South Central/Midwest Super Regional the Hilltoppers shot a closing round 313 to finish 14th overall. Collin Mayer and Matthew Hatcher were also named to the All-Heartland Conference First Team.
Soccer
The St. Edward’s men’s soccer team finished their year as Heartland Conference Champions, their first conference championship since 2000, and seven athletes were named to the All-Heartland Conference team. Coach Brian Young led his team to an 8-8-2 overall record and was named Heartland Conference Coach of the Year. The women’s soccer team finished their season with a 16-3-3 record and advanced to the NCAA Championship Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. The Hilltoppers eventually fell in the Round of 16 to West Texas A&M University in penalty kicks. The team had seven all-conference performers, five all-region performers, and senior Kim Abbott was named first-team all-American, the first in program history. Coach Nick Cowell was named South Central Region Coach of the Year, and led his team to 16 victories, the third most wins in school history.
SEU Sports Information
Women’s volleyball played a 23-11 season.
Softball & Baseball
The St. Edward’s softball team finished their season with a 34-21 record. The team claimed the Heartland Conference regular season title but eventually fell to St. Mary’s in the Heartland Conference Championship game in a 7-6 decision. Lexi Stephens was named Heartland Conference Player of the Year, and the team sent seven other members to the 2010 all-Heartland Conference Team. Baseball season at St. Edward’s came to an end with a 35-22 record and a fourth
place finish in the Heartland Conference Standing. The Hilltoppers fell after two close games against TexasPermian Basin in the Heartland Conference Tournament. Senior Dexter Moreno was named Heartland Conference Player of the Year, and the team sent seven members to the All-Heartland Conference Team. This year the total is five conference championships and marks the end of another year in St. Edward’s sports. kodonn3@stedwards.edu
Golf
SEU Sports Information
Senior Reggie Shanks tips in a miss by teammate.
The St. Edward’s women’s golf team won the Heartland Conference Championship and advanced to the NCAA West Regional Tournament where they finished fifth, falling short of the NCAA Super Regional Tournament. Freshman Jacy Benites was named Heartland Conference Player of the Year. On the other side, the St. Edward’s men’s golf team also claimed the Heartland Conference title and was ranked in the Top-20 nationally all
Andrew J. Williard
Baseball had seven players named to the All-Heartland Conference team.
Hilltop Views | Summer 2010
ORIENTATION EDITION | Page 5
ACL performers announced Caroline Wallace From the time music fans waded out of the Dillo Dirt sludge at last year’s mudsoaked ACL weekend, they were already dreaming about the next year’s lineup. While some people delight in picking fantasy baseball teams and predicting the March madness bracket, for many Austinites, picking and predicting the Austin City Limits musical festival lineup is a sport all its own. But Internet rumors and personal theories were put to the test March 18 when the official 2010 ACL line-up was announced. This year’s festival, scheduled for Oct. 8-10, now has 113 bands confirmed. Old timers and young rock aficionados alike will be pleased to see groups like The Eagles and Phish joining this year’s lineup. The group of headliners is rounded out with ACL veterans Muse, rapper M.I.A, eccentric performers The Flam-
ing Lips and The Strokes, who are spending the summer headlining festivals to promote their forthcoming album due next January. Other big names scheduled to grace the stage include Vampire Weekend, Gogol Bordello, Yeasayer, Spoon, Norah Jones, Monsters of Folk, LCD Soundsystem, Blues Traveler and Robert Earl Keen. Fresh off their South by Southwest performances, buzz bands Broken Bells, the XX, Mike Snow and Dawes will be making their returns to Austin. And, of course, local bands are getting in on the action. Austin performers gracing the stage include metal band The Sword, West Virginia transplants Asleep at the Wheel and Western Vinyl signees Balmorhea. Held in Austin’s Zilker Park, the three-day festival has been an annual tradition for music fans since it was established in 2002. But, believe it or not, there is more to ACL than music
Sharla Kew
Girl Talk performed last year at the Austin City Limits Music Festival on the XBOX 360 stage and is returning to the festival this year.
alone. The festival also features an array of vendors and sponsors, showcasing everything from local handicrafts to cutting edge technology. For hungry festival-goers, gone are the days when your available food options ranged from hotdog to hamburger. Last year alone, ACL hosted
30 local food and drink vendors. Dubbed the “Austin Eats Food Court,” vendors offered up adventurous culinary delights like Guinness Steak & Potato pies, Tandoori Rubbed Veggie Skewers and Green Chili Pork Tacos, in addition to refreshing lemonade, fruity smoothies,
choosing greener methods of transportation to and from the festival. While we can expect the announced musical lineup to remain fairly stagnant, it is always subject to minor changes. Performers like Lily Allen, the White Stripes and Amy Winehouse have all dropped from the schedule in years past for one reason or another, and it is not uncommon for bands to be added closer to the performance date. Three-day passes have already sold out, but individual tickets to each day of the three-day festival are still available for $85 at this time. cwallac2@stedwards.edu
and of course, beer. Organizers have also made a considerable effort to keep the festival eco-friendly. Through the Rock & Recycle program and a partnership with Green Mountain Energy, they are encouraging attendees to offset their carbon footprints by recycling and
Want to get in on the fun but you can’t cough up the price of admission? • Volunteering is a great way to get the ACL experience without adverse effects on your wallet. • Volunteers must be 18 to apply and live in the Austin area, and a $10 application-processing fee is also required. • Volunteers take on many of the “front of the house” operations of the festival, like greeting attendees and super vising the kids areas, in exchange for a festival wristband and t-shirt. • Volunteer applications go out at the beginning of August. Go to Aclfestival.com to apply.
Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 28, 2010
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Hilltop Views | Wednesday, April 28, 2010
ENTERTAINMENT | Page 7
top eight Places to go around St. Edward’s.
games
Magnolia Cafe Open 24 hours 7 days a week, this restaurant is the perfect place for those late night cravings. With a wide variety of choices on the menu, Magnolia caters to everyone.
Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds has been an Austin favorite for over 25 years. The store offers a wide variety of costumes, wigs, makeup, props, masks, accessories, decorations, hats, boots, and more. Lucy’s is the place for all your themed party needs.
Strut
Strut is a women’s boutique right across the street from St. Ed’s. Strut offers a wide selection of trendy dresses, tops, shoes, and accessories. Strut is also known for having some of the best sales in town so keep your eyes open the next time you go shopping down SOCO. Courtesy of Strut
Town Lake Park Town Lake is the perfect place to go for any outdoor activities. The park has 10.1 miles of hiking and joging trails as well as fields for soccer, rugby, volleyball, baseball, and football. You can also rent kayaks, paddle boats, and row boats on the lake and enjoy the Austin skyline.
Amy’s Ice Cream
Amy’s is a popular ice cream shop with a location across the street from St. Ed’s. With many varieties of ice cream, frozen yogurt, and toppings to choose from you can design your own personalized flavor. They also offer discount to St. Ed’s students so make sure to have your student ID and while you’re there try the St. Ed’s flavor known as the “Hilltopper.”
Home Slice Pizza
Home Slice is the place to go if your craving NY style pizza. Home Slice sells by the pie or the slice and offers homemade pizzas as well as salads, pastas, and sub sandwiches. You can dine-in or carry out almost any day of the week except Tuesdays. Courtesy of Homeslice
Monkey See Monkey Doo Monkey See Monkey Doo offers novelty gifts, action figures, and unique gadgets for the home or office. Whether you’re looking for Chuck Norris merchandise, collectible action figures, or decorations for your dorm.
Hey Cupcake Hey Cupcake is perfect for those times when your sweet tooth gets the best of you. Hey Cupcake has 8 regular flavors to choose from such as red velvet, double dose (chocolate), vanilla dream, and sweetberry (strawberry). If you’re ever down SOCO look for the trailer with the big cupcake on it and that’s Hey Cupcake. Compiled by: Daniel De Los Santos
Answer to this issue’s Sudoku:
Page 8 | ORIENTATION EDITION
Summer 2010 | Hilltop Views
Campus Places Whether you’re looking for a place to talk with friends or do some last minute studying there are plenty of places around campus that will meet your needs. St. Edward’s University campus is full of beautiful landscaping and architecture that makes it both an Austin and a Texas landmark. The main building (pictured directly to the left) was declared a Texas historical landmark. Photos by Daniel De Los Santos