Volume28issue25

Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

IslandWavesNews.com

JAM SESSION

News

Texas Surf Museum puts on annual Surftoberfest Page 4

Students showcase their talents at open-mic event

Also

by SAMUEL TRUJILLO • Page 7

October 19, 2017 Volume 28, Issue 25

Opinions Page 2 Campus Page 4 Entertainment Page 8

2 Opinion STUDENT PUBLICATION OF TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITYCORPUS CHRISTI

10.19.2017

Spooky Halloween recommendations

Michael Brode @michaelbrode

Cold fronts blowing in and giant pumpkins for sale everywhere can mean only one thing... Halloween is around the corner.

ISLAND WAVES STI | ISLANDWAVESNEWS.COM | VOLUME 26 ISSUE 20 08.27.15 Preparations for| this holiIslandWavesNews.com day vary among traditions and cultures and can include Editor-in-Chief everything from KitKats to JONATHAN FORNEY sugar skulls. Alongside taming that sweet tooth comes a Web myriad of movies, books and GERI LEMMONS, editor activities to help ring in this year’s Halloween.

Copy Editor “I really enjoy Halloween ILLI-ANNA MARTINEZ because it allows for you to be creative and it brings people Reporters together.” Junior communicaCATHARINA GARRETT tion major James Jones said.

MICHAEL BRODE Jones said he recommended ERIN NASH splitting Halloween viewing AMBER CASTILLO into three categories: horSAMUEL TRUJILLO ror, comedy and suspense. If BREE ORTEGA you’re unsure about which movies to fill into these catLayout egories, take Jones’ personal ISABELLA MOON, recommendations of “The layout assistant Strangers” (horror), “Hocus Pocus” (comedy) and “Silence Advertising of the Lambs" (suspense).

ALYSSIA CRAWFORD, More great movies, recomassistant mended by freshman engiQUYNHCHI QUACH, neering majors Jerod Williams assistant and Khorey Dakers, include Graduate Assistant the original “Scream” and “IT” TAIWO AGBAJE, movies, any of the “Jason” advertising manager and “Friday the 13th” movies, “Anabelle,” “Death Day,” "The Faculty Adviser Purge" and "The Conjuring”.

WENDY MOORE Aside from movies, most cities, including Corpus Christi, ABOUT ISLAND WAVES offer numerous attractions for Island Waves is a studentthe season. The Riddle Room produced publication at Texas of Corpus Christi gives visitors A&M University-Corpus Christi. an opportunity to race against The newspaper is printed weekly, a clock to make their escape except during summer sessions. from a room through riddles and puzzles.

Any student or University emFor the more scare-orientployee may submit material and ed audience, haunted houses opinions for publication are hosted downtown (Check consideration. To become a into a Haunted Hotel) and on contributor, e-mail or call the the historic USS Lexington Island Waves editor.

(Haunting on the Blue Ghost).

CONTACT US Halloween parties are an6300 Ocean Drive other staple of college stuUnit 5783 dents around this time of Corpus Christi, TX 78412 year. Be sure and party safe(361) 825-5862 ly. There's still time to finish editor@tamucc.edu your costume or think of one ads@tamucc.edu if you haven't already. From

JONATHAN FORNEY/Island Waves

Halloween movies and TV shows come in many varieties. A good place to start is by sorting them into categories.

intentionally cheesy couples' costumes to the most obscure references, Halloween is a chance to get creative and have fun.

If staring at a screen or inducing a scream aren’t your style, try checking out various pumpkin patches and corn mazes around the Corpus Christi area. The Rockin’ K Maze in Robstown recently opened up for their 2017 season and will remain open through Nov. 12.

Corpus Christi wouldn’t be the city it is without the annual Dia de los Muertos festi-

val hosted in the Marina Arts District downtown. This oneday festival, held at the end of October, will honor the souls lost in the prior year with altars, folk-art, music and more in an extravagant display of the city’s culture.

Finally, don’t forget about trick-or-treating. You might be too old to go door-to-door for candy (or you might not be, I won’t judge), but there are still opportunities to give to the community through this tradition. Trunk-or-treat events and other charitable trick-or-treat derivatives are

often open to anyone during Halloween season and allows the holiday spirit to be shared with those less fortunate.

Keep an eye on your Islander email or Google “What to do for Halloween in Corpus Christi” for more fun and spooky opportunities popping up around the city this month.

There's no shortage of things to see, watch or do this Halloween season. So pop some popcorn, put the finishing touches on that costume and stock up on your favorite candy. This Halloween is full of possibilities.

Campus 3

10.19.2017

Vegas shooting impacts community greatly SAMI BREE ORTEGA Staff Writer

O

n Oct. 1 in Las Vegas, first responders responded to several calls about a shooting that took place at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, where Jason Aldean was performing for concert goers who wanted to see live country music.

This was the fourth year the Harvest Festival took place. The Route 91 Festival said more than 22,000 country fans had come to see new artists perform. Big country artists such as Blake Shelton, Dierks Bentley, Miranda Lambert and Dwight Yoakam performed at the festival in the past. The festival was said to feature some of genre’s biggest stars from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1.

“I’ve always heard about this concert and I’ve always wanted to because it’s Las Vegas,” senior communication major Megan Martinez said. “To think that I almost went is very crazy.”

Around 10 p.m. that evening, Gunman Stephen Paddock opened fired on the concert crowd from his 32nd floor room at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Billboard news said the Mandalay Bay sat about 400 yards away from the festival. Staying on the 32nd floor gave Paddock a clear view of the concert audience.

“I first heard the about this when I was walking in the UC and stopped to read it,” junior kinesiology major Mario Carrete said. “I don’t know if it could have been prevented because it’s a concert and from what I know, this guy came from a

distance and started shooting people. Sometimes in this world people do wrong things for terrible reasons.”

According to Billboard, at least 58 victims were killed and 515 were wounded, which labeled this massacre as the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history. Las Vegas police said they believe Paddock acted alone on this. However, CNN also said Paddock had multiple firearms in his hotel room that were purchased legally.

“I just wish this didn’t happen,” sophomore marketing major Iris Longoria said. “All these innocent people died and I feel like the world in general just needs to get better.”

Paddock was a 64-year-old retired accountant who had several government jobs previously

and owned properties in multiple states across the country.

He had been divorced twice and according to news sites such as CNN and Billboard, Paddock had a love for gambling and playing poker.

“I feel like people are more united in this situation,” Carette said. “However, after every national crisis is when people come together, which is amazing but the real goal should be this unified country without having to have something so tragic as a shooting.”

To help the families of victims from this tragic shooting, a go fund me account www.gofundme.com/dr2ks2-las-vegas-victims-fund has been made. At the time of this article’s writing, the account has raised $10,601,333 to keep Vegas strong.

German tradition hits Texas coast for a cause MICHAEL BRODE @michaelbrode

E

very year, visitors and locals alike make their way to the 300 Block of Chaparral Street in downtown Corpus Christi for a coastal take on the long-time German tradition Oktoberfest.

Surftoberfest, Corpus Christi’s annual one-day German-inspired festival, has now become the major fund raising source for the Texas Surf Museum.

Event creator Liz McCampbell, said the past two years of the festival were a learning process.

“There were a lot of aspects and I thought ‘this might be a stretch, this “Surftoberfest”’ but the more you dig into it, there’s many aspects that really just work with the brand,” McCampbell said.

After three years of successful operation, Surftoberfest now draws in thousands of visitors and brings more attention to the Texas Surf Museum than

Photo by MICHAEL BRODE/Island Waves

Surftoberfest gathers participants for food, music and a good time.

ever before. “It’s Surf Club’s biggest day of the year and I’ve never seen as many people in the museum as this year, so that was awesome,” McCampbell said.

This year is the first Surftoberfest that has been used as a Surf Museum fundraiser, something McCampbell said was the plan from the event’s inception.

“We really focused on making

that brand a thing and then when we got to the third year where we felt good about it and it was steady and easier to manage,” McCampbell said. “Then we decided that it would be the perfect opportunity to and move the direction of it being our main fundraiser. It made sense just to switch it over and make sure it benefited the museum.”

Although McCampbell consid-

ers it uncharted waters in terms of a fundraiser, she said she is confident Surftoberfest was the way to annually bring in the money needed to keep the museum free and open to the public every day. McCampbell said she believes that in addition to the benefits for the museum, Surftoberfest will help build the community and draw the people of Corpus Christi downtown. “None of us like money, you know how surfers are,” senior environmental science major and Texas Surf Museum employee Emily Shapiro said. “We try to be worry free and money can be very worrisome.”

McCampbell remains confident her creation will only get better.

“Every year you tweak things and we won’t have it down pat until probably the fifth year because there are so many moving parts and different elements to the whole [festival] but we’re getting close,” McCampbell said.

Don’t forget to Like or Follow us on Social Media! @IslandWavesToGo

O N L I N E

Island Waves News .com

This week on our website, IslandWavesNews.com, readers can find stories about: • Hispanic Heritage Month just wrapped up. Check out some photos from the events held around campus • The Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi school of Arts, Media and Communications put on their annual Bailando performance. Learn more about the events at our site.

• The Weil Gallery recently unveiled its new “Bears/ Hunt” exhibit.

Halloween is just around the corner. Next week will be our special Halloween issue of Island Waves. It’ll be filled with feature stories and other spooky themed content.

Be sure and grab a copy on stands starting Oct. 26 The same day our special issue makes its way to stands, Island Waves will host a Halloween-themed photobooth.

Prizes and plenty of photo opportunities will be available to those who participate.

Check out the Island Waves social media channels for more information as the date approaches.

This semester brought a number of new faces to the Island Waves staff. Readers can put faces to the names of their local student newspaper by checking out the “About Us” section of our site.

The fall 2017 semester is picking up steam. Make it another good week, Islanders.

ON THE COVER:

PHOTO BY SAMUEL TRUJILLO

4 Campus Students celebrate Veterans Day at Island University

10.19.2017

JULIA MAURER Contributing Writer

T

he office of Veterans Affairs at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi will host a Veterans Day Celebration to honor veterans for their sacrifices and service on Nov. 10.

Veterans Day celebration will be held in Hector P. Garcia Plaza at 11 a.m. and will be open to the public. At the start of the event, TAMU-CC ROTC Color Guard will do the posting of colors. TAMU-CC’s Student Veteran Organization president will give a speech, and presentations

will be given by university officials.

“Both my dad and grandparents both served and it’s just always been a day to honor and celebrate our veterans for their services and sacrifice and just kind of with everything going on in the world right now it’s just, there just couldn’t be a better time to do that,” said Savannah Blackmar, a veterans record specialist at the Island University.

The music department will perform the Star Spangled Banner. There will be a presentation of the reef during the event. The children from Early Childhood Development Center will

attend and each will carry an American Flag.

Just as students go to school every day, military members go to work every day, and to them, it is just their job. Ana Rivas is a student worker at Veterans Affairs as well as a Navy veteran who spent just under 10 years in active duty for the Navy.

“As far as we’re concerned we went to work, we did our job,” Rivas said.

“It’s kind of nice to be reminded sometimes that it’s a little bit more than that.”

This event gives the public and stu-

dents the opportunity to show their appreciation to veterans for all of their hard work.

“I think it’s great that TAMU-CC and the ROTC are taking the time to put something together for Veterans Day,” said Levi Boland, a student veteran attending TAMU-CC. “I know most of the Vets here don’t walk around looking for recognition for their service but knowing that it’s something that is not unseen by the university is pretty great, and it is something that I’m sure is appreciated by those men and women here that have served.”

Taco y Latinas inspires entrepreneurship in students ERIN NASH @ErinJohnnae

A

s part of Hispanic Heritage Month, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi hosted Tacos y Latinas on Oct. 5 from 6 - 7:30 p.m. in the University Center Anchor Ballroom A. Free and opened to the public, the Tacos y Latinas presentation featured Corpus Christi entrepreneurs Gerald Flores and university alumna Elena Flores, both entrepreneurs who have created and founded their own brands.

The presentation included how they started, the challenges faced continuously as a brand, where they’d been and how they wanted to tell the story of their individual brands and provide inspiration to those who want to launch their own brand.

“I really wanted to feature people from our Hispanic Heritage Month community that are making an impact in various ways,” English professor and Hispanic Heritage Month coordinator Andrea Montalvo-Hamid said. “I’ve seen their clothing brand online and I know them, so I thought I would invite them to share their experience because I think it’s important to not only embrace our culture, but to students who want to start a business and what steps you need to do to take that.”

Taco Gear, an apparel company created and founded by Gerald Flores, focuses on celebrating the taco on hats, shirts and other designs. The most favored shirt design was “Give Me Tacos or Give Me Death,” celebrating the Mexican staple. The taco represents the Latino and Mexican-American culture, how far the food has come in all

Photo by ERIN NASH/Island Waves

Elena Flores, Gerald Flores and Andrea Montalvo-Hamid at their table at Tacos Y Latinas where they promoted entrepreneurship.

races and all kinds of people and the millions of people enjoying tacos now as opposed to how it used to be. “[Our Brands] Indicate that the cultural aspect of our Mexican-American heritage is authentic and we treat it with respect and our brands represent that,” Gerald Flores said.

Sew Bonita, a Mexican-American influenced company created and founded by Elena Flores, creates handmade bags and clutches using bright fabrics and elaborate designs to represent the vibrancy of the culture, along with a

woman empowering T-shirt line especially Latina women.

“I want them to feel strong and courageous, and to feel empowered by wearing a simple T-shirt with empowering words,” Elena Flores said. “We also want to empower Latinos and specifically to support one another, there are tons of small Latino businesses that need support.”

Montalvo-Hamid said the purpose of Tacos y Latinas was to inspire young Latinos about the pros and cons of the business, learn about the

cultural aspects, clothing brand online and from people from the community, anywhere they’re from, they can start a business.

“I want them to feel like anything is possible,” Elena Flores said. “If you want to start a business or a clothing brand, it’s doable and there’s a whole world of people that have multiple jobs, like us, to be passionate about something, focus on it, nurture it and take care of it. Channel your identity and use that to catapult you into the business.”

Campus 5

10.19.2017

Smoke Free 2020 aims for healthier tomorrow SAMUEL TRUJILLO @SamTrujillo14

T

exas A&M University-Corpus Christi was one of 20 universities and colleges across the United States to receive the 2016 Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative Grant from the American Cancer Society and CVS Health Foundation.

Through this funding, in conjunction with the Tobacco Free Generation Project, the Island University launched and maintained a tobacco-awareness program known as “Smoke Free 2020” throughout the 2016-2017 academic school year. The goal of this initiative is to prepare students and staff for a 100 percent tobacco-free campus by the year 2020.

The program offers Islanders a variety of educational resources that focus on the dangers of tobacco along with support and additional resources for those who are interested in kicking the habit. Dr. Amanda Drum, executive director of Strategic Engagement Initiatives, is the overseer of this initiative. “[We are] able to refer students to the local Tobacco Prevention and Control Coalition and YesQuit.org, enabling students to obtain free online and/or telephone coaching support as well as other tools and resources to quit smoking,” Drum said. “In addition, all students are welcome to seek assistance from the University Counseling Center for short-term counseling services to address personal problems that inter-

Photo by SAMUEL TRUJILLO/Island Waves

Cigarette receptacles line the outer edge of the Island University’s Center for Sciences building as a part of the Smoke Free 2020 initiative.

fere with the demands of college life and their academic success.”

This initiative stretched far beyond the Island University as well. Nineteen other schools across the United States received funding in 2016 as a part of the American Cancer Society’s Tobacco Free Generation project. While it’s ultimately up to each university to decide how their grant money is spent, all 20 campuses do have common resources that they share with one another.

“As part of the initial grant class, we have participated in shared online educational programs and support,” Drum said.

Since funding for the Smoke Free 2020 initiative has ended, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi’s Islander Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team, ‘I-ADAPT,’ has taken up its mission of spreading awareness and moving Islanders closer to a tobacco-free campus while the university awaits new grants. Drum said students who are interested in promoting healthy choices and being a part of the Smoke Free 2020 initiative are encouraged to get involved with I-ADAPT either through joining their team of peer educators or participating in their numerous awareness events on campus.

“The smell of smoke around campus is definitely noticeable,” sophomore accounting major Andy Garcia said.

“I think a smoke-free campus would be a nice change that a lot of students would welcome.”

Students who are interested in learning more about the Smoke Free 2020 initiative and getting involved with the program can visit ei.tamucc.edu/ Smoke-free/ for additional resources and information. Students who are interested in learning more about The University’s I-ADAPT team should contact Delaney Foster or visit http://seas. tamucc.edu/ei/iteam/ for details.

McNair scholarship reapproved for graduate program AMBER CASTILLO @AmberCastillo27

T

he TRIO McNair Scholars Program grant received approval for another five years at Texas A&M UniversityCorpus Christi.

The McNair Scholars Program is required to serve at least 30 students per year. The program is federally funded through the Department of Education and is committed to graduating lowincome, first generation college students, especially those who have been marginalized in Texas higher education. This program is aimed toward students who aspire to pursue doctoral degrees by allowing them to partake in research and scholarly actives.

“This is a highly effective program,” director Dr. Patricia Spaniol-Mathews said. “However, it is a very small program, but that is what allows the students to take full advantage for their research.”

The McNair program has been at the Island University since 2007. However, Spaniol-Mathews took over the program in 2011 and has had the honor of writing the grant twice, in 2012 and 2017. The new grant went into effect as of Oct. 1 of this year.

There are requirements that must be made to keep the program alive and maintain the federal performance. Sixty-seven percent of program participants must be low income based and first-generation students, 80 percent

must complete research or scholarly activities, 40 percent must continue to enroll in graduate school the next academic year, and 17 percent of the McNair participants must attain a doctoral degree within 10 years of their bachelor’s degree.

“This is a great program to be in because it preps you for graduate school,” Spaniol-Mathews said. “Our students are a step above the average student graduating because they have done a research project that has been published, but they have already presented at a national conference, which most students will not have in their resumes. So when you put that you are a McNair Scholar student on your resume they will already know that you

know what you are doing therefore it will make your graduate career a lot easier.”

Project Manager Anabel Hernandez said all majors are welcome to apply and students can be accepted any time of the year if there are spots available.

Students must also have a 3.0 GPA to be considered.

“We allow sophomores in the program but, only juniors and seniors conduct research,” Hernandez said. “We also have workshops that allow them to prepare themselves for grad school, so they will already know more or less what to expect.”

For more information about the McNair Scholars Program visit mcnair. tamucc.edu/Contact.html.

Entertainment 7

10.19.2017

Students showcase creativity at open-mic event

SAMUEL TRUJILLO @SamTrujillo14

T

exas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s student engagement division, also known as University Center Programs, launched its Patio Jam a new series of open-mic events on Oct. 5. on the University Center’s patio.

Patio Jam is a campus-wide openmic event that gives students the opportunity to get up on stage and preform anything they’d like in front of an audience filled with their peers and fellow Islanders. Open to all Islander musicians, storytellers, comedians and poets, Patio Jam offers a diverse array of the music and art that exists within the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi community.

“It’s an opportunity for students to come out, have a good time and have an outlet for their artistic abilities,” event host Tyren Duncan said.

Audience members were treated to a variety of performance art and music as each of the five performers had something different and personal to share. Computer science major Antony Lametrie got things rolling at Patio Jam when he took the stage with his guitar and performed a few of his fa-

Photo by SAMUEL TRUJILLO/Island Waves

Audience members watch as a pair of performers take the stage during the first ever Patio Jam.

vorite songs. Lametrie’s performance was followed up with an intermission where Duncan explained the main idea of the event and what he hoped to see at upcoming Patio Jams.

“We want to make this a regular event where students have an artistic outlet,” Duncan said.

Think you might be Pregnant?

Once the intermission was over, the show carried on with back-to-back slam poetry, hip-hop and rock music performances that set the bar for future Patio Jams.

Being the first of its kind, some of the main focuses of the evening were setting the tone and spreading the

word for future Patio Jams.

“This was our first [Patio Jam] and I think it went well,” Duncan said.

“We’re just trying to get even more people out here in the future.”

Patio Jam will continue as a campus event and will be held on the first Thursday of every month at the University Center Building’s south Patio. It is located on the backside of the building. The event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

The first event was a way to gauge interest and get the word out about Patio Jam. The soon-to-be monthly event gave students a sample of things to come and what sort of performances they can expect in the future. Lametrie said he hopes future Patio Jams continue to improve.

“It’s a great idea and a great event,” Lametrie said. “I feel like it will only get better with time.”

Students interested in signing up to perform at the next Patio Jam (set for Nov. 3) can contact University Center Programs in person or through their various social media accounts such as Twitter or Facebook.

Upcoming events at the University Center can be found at their website: studentactivities.tamucc.edu

CORPUS CHRISTI’S SCARIEST HAUNTED HOUSE

FRIGHT NIGHT

HAUNTED HOUSE 2017 You’ve got this. We’ve got your back.

Pregnancy Test • Limited Ultrasound Cost Free • Confidential • Consultation 361-991-2008 • ccpregnancy.org

FRIGHT NIGHT

HAUNTED HOUSE

VALID WITH SCHOOL ID ONLY ONE PER PERSON CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER

6 Campus

10.19.2017

TONight Night out

7pm UC Lonestar FREE T-SHIRTS,* GIVEAWAYS, COMMUNITY & CAMPUS RESOURCES *While supplies last

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER: KEITH EDWARDS, PHD

twitter.com/SEAStamucc facebook.com/tamuccSEAS

For more information or to request disability related accommodations, please contact Angela Walker at angela.walker@tamucc.edu or 361.825.6219

Photo by Catharina Garrett/ISLAND WAVES

Visitors of the Full Court Press gallery were invited to enjoy refreshments and view the work.

Youth artists connect at FCP event CATHARINA GARRETT @imacat_moo

O

n Oct. 5, the Island University’s Full Court Press (FCP) hosted a North American Juried Print Exhibition.

Artists from all over the North American continent were invited to submit one to five works of art so FCP jurors could have a selection for the final exhibition. Margaret Simpson and Tom Druecker of Slugfest Printmaking Workshop and Gallery in Austin served as the jurors for the exhibition. Out of 500 submissions, a total of 70 works were chosen for the exhibition.

Ryan O’Malley, associate professor of art at the Island University, launched FCP in 2014 as an extension of the university’s printmaking program.

He started the North American Juried Print Exhibition to curate and develop young students into inspired and experienced artists.

“Students get exposure to different ideas and techniques different from my skillset,” O’Malley said. “It’s definitely an amazing educational component.”

Events like this are self-perpetuating in nature, where funding for FCP’s projects come from the participation of artists, buyers and exhibition applicants. Students from across Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma attended the exhibition, intermingling the ideas of the many young artists in attendance.

“All of them have come here to see the lectures and printmaking demonstrations,” O’Malley said. “I’m trying to showcase that sort of network between

students from different places, because that’s sort of the foundation that keeps these events going.”

Montana Kompelien, senior fine arts major at the Island University, said he was very pleased with the turnout of people and featured works at the exhibition.

“Professor Ryan O’Malley worked very hard to bring together a diverse community of printmakers,” Kompelien said. “In the few days that we had together, we learned about our evergrowing community and what potential they hold for the program’s future.”

Kompelien said his favorite part of the event was the setup of the exhibition itself because it allowed him to get hands on and personal with the selected works.

“I was very excited to see prints from around the country and the world,” Kompelien said. “It is always good to get a sense of what other artists are creating.”

The selected works were featured in the Island University’s off-campus gallery, the Islander Art Gallery, at the Hamlin Shopping Center. Every cent made from the FCP exhibition went toward paying visiting artists, covering exhibition costs and paying special guests at the other events held as part of the FCP symposium.

“My favorite part is when it’s all finished,” O’Malley said. “It’s a lot of running around, managing a lot of artists, working with faculty and coordinating a whole bunch of events at once, but at the end of the day the whole thing is about the students.”

8 Entertainment Texas jazz festival set to return to Corpus Christi

10.19.2017

DOUGLAS CUBBERLY Contributing Writer

T

he 57th Annual Texas Jazz Festival is coming back to downtown Corpus Christi.

The three-day festival will kick off on Oct. 20 at 5 p.m., and takes place among the historic homes in Heritage Park, located at 1581 N. Chaparral Street. The festival lineup features more than 60 bands this year, with some of the most talented jazz musicians from all over Texas, as well as New York, New Mexico, New Orleans, Florida and many others. Jazz bands from several local high schools and colleges will also be featured. The Islander Jazz Band will perform on The HEB South Stage starting at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“I’m really excited,” said Danni Scharf, senior communication major. “I went for the first time last year, and had a blast.”

There will be four music stages this year, and as always, entry to the festival is free of charge. To go along with the jazz, there will be more than 100 food, drink and art vendors throughout

PHOTO BY DOUGLAS CUBBERLY

The Texas Jazz Festival will return October 20th with an expansive amount of musical talent that appeals to a large audience.

the festival grounds.

In 1959, Skip Vetters and Joe Gallardo were students at Del Mar College and members of the Jazz Club. They asked Gallardo’s uncle, Al “Beto” Garcia, if he would bring his jazz group the Student Union Building and perform for a couple dozen students. More than 150 showed up, and the Texas Jazz Festival hasn’t looked back, continuing to grow in size and popularity for the past 57 years.

In 1987, approximately 17,000 people

attended. This year, organizers are expecting at least 50,000 festival goers.

Free parking will be available at Corpus Christi City Hall and the Nueces County Courthouse. The Texas Jazz Festival has partnered with the Corpus Christi RTA to provide free shuttle service for attendees from those locations.

The Park-n-Ride shuttles will operate all three days of the event, and will run every 20 minutes. There will also be paid parking near the event site.

Although it is mostly outdoors, the

Texas Jazz Festival is a rain or shine event.

“The weather was perfect last year,” said Dougie Ryan, a senior media production major. “The musicians are incredible, tons of food options, and the beers are ice cold. What else could you ask for?”

The festival runs until midnight Friday and Saturday, and until 8 p.m. on Sunday.

For a schedule of performances, visit: www.texasjazz-fest.org/lineup.

10 Entertainment

10.19.2017

Wild Texas Film Tour visits the Island University KEANNA WHISENHUNT Contributing Writer

A

ward-winning filmmaker and conservationist Ben Masters hosted the Wild Texas Film Tour on Oct.5 at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s University Center Anchor Ballrooms.

The Wild Texas Film tour made its official debut in San Antonio and will tour in 12 cities across the state of Texas. Produced by documentary producer Hillary Pierce, the tour showcases a series of short films about wildlife, conservation and outdoor adventure.

The series, which is co-sponsored by the Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi College of Liberal Arts, offers students, faculty and the public an opportunity to learn about conservation issues and ways to get involved.

“Is there anything more important than conservation? Obviously not,” Masters said. “It’s my passion, it’s my

life. It’s what I have always loved and to be able to take some of these stories that don’t often get spotlight and share them with people. I just think it’s really cool.”

Pat Murray, national president of the Coastal Conservation Association, said he wants these films to bring about conversation on important issues surrounding conservation of marine species and wildlife.

“All of it matters. The thing is, the number one thing we can do is exactly what Ben is doing: get more people involved,” Murray said. “The more people that are involved in conservation.

There is nothing but good that will come from it.”

The Wild Texas Film Tour is sponsored by the Borderlands Research Institute, YETI, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation (TPWF), TPWF’s Stewards of the Wild and King Land & Water.

Guests in attendance had the opportunity to speak with many of the man-

agers, researchers and owners of these organizations. Epic, an Austin-based company that makes meat-based protein bars and snacks, supported the film tour and handed out free product samples to guests during the showcase. All of the films shown have been produced in regions all over Texas.

“One of [the films] is about whitenose syndromes and bats,” Masters said. “One of them is about mountain lion behavior in the state of Texas... what they eat and where they live.

One of them is about bringing back species like the antelopes that were killed off during the European expansion in Texas.”

Masters said some of the films were produced by other Texas filmmakers but the process of making these short films has its challenges.

“The most difficult thing about making films like this is funding,” Masters said. “There is no money in film and

there is no money in wildlife, but the reward is far beyond that. I always use the church analogy. Where else can you go that everybody turns off their cellphones and they can’t talk for an hour and a half while they sit there and watch a movie? [Filmmaking] is an amazing tool to show people...the audio, techs and visuals allow them to see something they normally wouldn’t be able to see.”

Murray said he looks forward to the outcomes of this film tour and the impact it will have on viewers.

“I hope that inspiration transforms into action for people,” Murray said.

“If they take the momentum that they’ll see in these films and put it to work in their lives, then we can make this a lot better.”

For more information on the Wild Texas Film Tour and upcoming tour locations, visit their website: www.wildfilmtour.com

Islander faculty celebrate Hispanic-inspired music JONATHAN FORNEY @jb4nay

A

udience members watched members of Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi’s music department and members of the South Texas Chamber Players (STCP) perform pieces by Hispanic composers from around the world during the Fiesta Concert at the Performing Arts Center.

The annual concert was organized by Islander professor of viola and violin Dr. Jose Flores. He said he wanted members to get a familiar sense with classical music, but with a distinct twist.

“I call these pieces clásico with a Hispanic flair,” Flores said.

Flores and his fellow musicians performed pieces made by composers from various Hispanic countries: from Spain to Flores’ native Venezuela. The performers themselves reflected the global nature of the pieces selected. For example, pianist and assistant professor of music at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Dr. Dino Mulic hails from Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Mulic collaborated with Islander collaborative pianist Dr. Sangmi Lim to perform “Histoire du Tango”. The piece was originally composed by Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla before being adapted for four hands on piano by Japanese composer, Kyoko Yamamoto.

Mulic and Lim performed the piece while sharing a single piano. Mulic said playing this way is complicated but doable.

“It’s very difficult because you have to move and shift positions very quickly,” Mulic said. “But I hope you [the audience] enjoy it.”

Prior to every performance, Flores took a moment to speak with the performer about themselves and the piece they were performing.

Carrying on the international variety of both the show’s content and performers, the musicians performed traditional Mexican folk song, Venezuelan waltzes and several more pieces. Members of the Islander faculty came from all over the world. Korea, Brazil and Venezuela are just a handful of countries the musicians came from.

After the first six performances, a brief intermission allowed Flores and company to ask audience members to sign in to show give their sponsors an idea of the turnout. Merchandise was also sold during intermission.

Following the intermission, Flores took the stage again to introduce the STCP. The group is comprised of musicians from around the world with a desire to promote the music of Latin America to audiences. They hold an annual concert at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi for

Photo by JONATHAN FORNEY/Island Waves

Dr. Jose Flores (left) performs “La Paloma” alongside fellow South Texas Chamber Players, Michael Moore (center) and Mia Hagarty (right).

its Hispanic Heritage Month festivities.

Flores is a member of the STCP and continued to introduce each piece to give the audience better context of the upcoming performance. The group performed pieces by Mexican and Spanish composers to wrap the concert.

The next event on the School of Arts, Media and Communication’s agenda is the Dia de los Mozart opera workshop.

The workshop will be held from Oct. 2728 in the Performing Arts Center and will combine the traditional Mexican Dia de los Muertos festivities with the work of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

For more information on upcoming concerts, visit the Performing Arts Center’s website. To learn more about the South Texas Chamber Players, visit their Facebook page.

10.19.2017

Entertainment 11

JONATHAN FORNEY/Island Waves

BIG SCREEN TV’S • FREE WI-FI DAILY BEER SPECIALS

$8.50 LUNCH $9.50 DINNER

FREE DRINK at the UC Cove when you take the Dining survey!