ORANGE Issue IV by ORANGE Magazine

A NOTE FROM THE EDITORS WHY MAGAZINES? I get this question a lot. As journalists, ORANGE staffers and I find ourselves constantly questioned about the track we plan to follow after graduation. When our peers think of trusty, traditional magazines, stacked in grocery stores and sitting in mail boxes, I feel they often think of horoscopes, fashion tips and celebrity gossip — and sure, there is plenty of that content to love in our magazine, and many others. But as a medium, magazines are so much more than the headlines on their covers. In a world of declining newspaper sales and falling readership, there is a reason why new grassroot zines and magazines seem to be popping up and resurfacing everywhere. To me, magazines have always been a beacon of light in the dark world of media: a place where flashy headlines, 15-second video features and internet story regurgitation exists. Magazines offer a way to take a hot news story and flesh out the details, or explore issues and ideas further. A way to include compelling photographs, beautiful illustrations, thoughtful typography and innovative design with these stories. Magazines are where important current issues and political trends can sit beside features on arts and culture, rejecting mutual exclusivity. Magazines can provide a holistic cultural representation of how we see the world. Maybe I’m being overzealous, but our hope for ORANGE — and I think the initial hope of our founders Jane Claire Hervey and Becca Chavoya — is to provide a space for students to create the kind of content they want to see, and to give that content to the community. Our staff has worked diligently all semester interviewing movers and shakers, writing stories, taking photos, drawing art and creating designs. Our editors have tirelessly scanned every line of this publication, while leading their sections in weekly pitching and publishing. Our social media team has posted countless tweets and posts. Not to mention, we did all this work while carrying out our daily lives, school work, other internships and jobs. So, why a magazine? Why invest our time and energy into making sure ORANGE thrives and lives on for semesters and classes of students to come? Because, we love it, and we hope you do too. Enjoy, Co Editors in Chief

SARAH JASMINE MONTGOMERY AND KRIS SEAVERS

TABLE OF CONTENTS 14

ATX

Diversity Matters

MUSIC 5-1-Tunes: Growl

The Thrift King: Paul Cantu Style & Identity

123

FOOD + DRINK

STYLE 76

Cracking Jokes in ATX

Stealthy Veggie Showstoppers

SPORTS Hot Wheels: Unicycling for the First Time

Psychoactive Drink Takes Root

BUZZ The Great Awokening

110

Campus Carry

100

STORY BY HANNAH MCMORRIS

COLLEGE CAMPUS AWAKENED: HOW UT AUSTIN ISN’T FAR BEHIND MIZZOU PHOTOS BY EMILY NASH

THIS IS A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE CAMPUS, but we are here, and we’re going to be a major focus. We’re going to make this a place for us and for our children to come to,” Brenda Burt says. Burt, lecturer and director of Undergraduate and Alumni Relations for Black Studies, sumxmarizes the thoughts of countless black students on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Starting in late 2015, UT became one of the many college campuses referenced in news media regarding racially-charged issues. From Yale to Kean to Howard University, college campuses are fraught with both tense and strained racial relations. Students have been anything but shy as they have begun trailblazing discussions concerning how effectively their universities address racial issues. Students at the University of Missouri made headlines when years of student dissatisfaction with university administration came to a head in November. Racial tensions at the university go back decades, but more

recent conflict began in 2010 when cotton balls, as a nod to American slave days, were scattered across the lawn of the Black Culture Center. Beginning in September of this year, there were increasingly more notable cases of racism across the campus. After a group of white students screamed racial slurs at black and openly gay Student Government President Payton Head, he expressed that incidents such as these make him feel excluded from his own campus. About a month later, a white student jumped on stage and interrupted a homecoming rehearsal put on by the Legion of Black Collegians. When asked to leave, he retorted by calling the members present the N-word. It wasn’t long after that a student used feces to draw a Nazi swastika on the walls of a dorm. Months of hate crimes like these culminated in increased tension, rallies and protests. Concerned Students 1950, an organization named after the date on which black students were first enrolled at the University of Missouri, outlined a list of eight demands.

The demands included the removal of the school’s president, Tim

for black students, as history suggests. According to the UT

Wolfe; an increased amount of black faculty and staff; and that

Austin Accountability Report, the black population at UT made

the demands presented in 1969 by the Mizzou Legion of Black

up 4.4 percent of the student body in the fall 2014 semester,

Collegians be met. In response, Wolfe held a private meeting

which is disproportionate to the 13.2 percent black population

with the Legion but was unresponsive when asked if he would

in the U.S. The lack of representation of the black community

meet their demands. Ultimately, no resolutions were made,

within the UT Austin campus has long been a point of contention

and no action was taken. The apathy of Mizzou administration

among students and faculty.

led Concerned Students 1950 member Jonathan Butler to go on a hunger strike for four days. His strike garnered attention

According to official university documents, in 1969, the Afro-

from athletes, who promised not to practice or play until their

Americans for Black Liberation presented a list of demands

demands were addressed. Three days after Butler ended his

to former UT president Norman Hackerman. The list was very

hunger strike on Nov. 6, Wolfe resigned, causing even more

similar to demands made by Mizzou students. In UT’s list,

racial tension. For now, people nationwide await the change

students outlined their principal dissatisfactions in which they

black students are demanding.

said the university “exposed them to racist attitudes and situations,

Racism across college campuses is

and

nothing new. UT in particular is no

their

stranger to discrimination, as it has

comprehensive list called for a

a deep-seated history of undeniable racism. At UT, most students have little to no knowledge of the school’s racial issues, perhaps suggesting that the school’s history is a taboo topic among students, faculty and administration. Arguably, lack of discussion is to blame for the way the university handles controversial issues today. In the words of Sandra Mere, textiles and apparels senior

RACISM ACROSS COLLEGE CAMPUSES IS NOTHING NEW. UT IN PARTICULAR IS NO STRANGER TO DISCRIMINATION

has

completely

essential

ignored

needs.”

Their

“Black Studies Department with 50 professors and instructors; immediate dismissal of Board of Regents member Frank Irwin; removal of racist faculty and staff; recognition of holidays in honor of Malcolm X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” among other demands. When

reviewing

the

blatant

and Black Student Alliance member,

similarities

“It’s not that [the administration]

universities,

doesn’t respond, but they do just

why there is still so much ground

enough so that they’re not ignoring

needed to be covered 50 years

people.”

after the crux of the civil-rights

attitude

that

this has

minimalistic plagued

the

between students

the

two

wonder

movement. What is holding the

university when it comes to controversial issues such as racial

university back from increasing the presence of an on-campus

discrimination.

black community? Why do students still carry some of the same burdens of black students in the 1960s?

To date, the university has been a part of three landmark Supreme Court cases concerning campus diversity. The first

Students and faculty alike have suggestions for how UT can

of these is Sweatt v. Painter, which allowed black students to

become more inclusive to the black community. Leonard Moore,

be admitted to the UT Law School under the Equal Protection

Academic Diversity Initiatives associate vice president and history

Clause in the 14th Amendment. With this decision in 1950, UT

professor applauds the university on its addition of an African

became the first southern university to be required by law to

and African Diaspora studies department, acknowledging that it

admit black students to its graduate programs. Six years later,

“is unheard of in 2015,” and hiring more minority faculty was a

the campus allowed for full integration. The 1950s were not long

step in the right direction. Burt says though this surge of minority

ago, and the transition from being an exclusively white university

hires is needed, it is now time for “the rest of [the colleges] to

to a university that accepted all races was long and treacherous

fall in line with doing that, so our students who are in the other

colleges also have the opportunity to learn from professors who are of different races.” This lack of adequate minority representation has plagued UT for decades. Mere is bewildered as to why, “in a class of 300, you can be the only black person.” Burt says the consistently low percentage of incoming black students is the fault of the university, because “it is impossible to remain the same percentage for 20 years, unless there is something in place to mandate that that happens. It’s just impossible, so the university needs to do a better job of recruiting students of color.” Students like Mere and Taylor Walker, who is a sports management senior and former president of UT’s Black Student Alliance, agree with this sentiment. Both feel they have no choice but to exercise their responsibility to educate students at their alma mater high schools about universities like UT. Both Walker and Mere talk of Alief, a low socioeconomic suburb of Houston, whose schools are easily overlooked when it comes to outreach and admission. UT representatives are quick to visit large, predominantly white schools in the Houston area. “What about the not-as-big schools that still have black students that are smart?” Walker asks. Mere cannot remember one university representative reaching out to her or visiting her high school. “Why does it have to be the students that went [to those high schools] that have to say, ‘Hey, can y’all come to our school?’” Walker says. “Why isn’t the university reaching out to those schools that are 80 percent black? If you want more black students, you have to go get the black students.” The incidents at Mizzou raise questions about how well students can truly impact their campus. When it comes to the black state at UT, Walker believes every predominantly white university has common issues, including opinions of black students not being heard and their needs not being met. Walker says the difference between Mizzou and UT is the way students have responded to the apathy of their administration. “The difference is, when we ask for something, they’re like, ‘Oh, we’ll get on it.’ But we fend for ourselves, so we have to make it happen in some other way,” Walker says. Walker believes students at Mizzou “grew tired of doing it themselves, and they wanted the university to do it.” This, Walker says, differs from the UT community because students can hold rallies, fight for change and be complacent with not receiving that change. “We’re like, ‘OK, nothing happened as a result of us making this statement, but at least our statement was seen,’” Walker says. “At Mizzou, they were like, ‘OK, we want this statement seen, but we’re going to try and do something, too. We’re tired of waiting for [the administration] to do something, so either you’re going to do it, or we’re going to rebel.’” If what Walker says is true, does this mean students are not radical enough to fight for racial change on campus? Or should UT, which is responsible for creating a harmonious campus climate, take more

1883: UT is founded. 1885: The first African American man applies for admission but is denied because of his race. 1950: The Supreme Court decision in Sweatt v. Painter allowed African American students to attend UT’s Law School and graduate programs. African Americans were not allowed to live on campus. 1953: African American students are permitted to live on campus in designated areas. One male African American student lived with three white males in the San Jacinto Residence Hall. 1954: The Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Topeka Board of Education said that all children, regardless of color, must be admitted to public schools and universities. 1956: Dorms at UT integrate and accept black students. The first black undergraduate students are also admitted during this time. 1959: Night Hawk Restaurant becomes the first restaurant on the Drag to integrate and serve black patrons. 1962: Ervin S. Perry becomes the first black, full-time professor employed at UT.

initiative when it comes to caring for its minority students?

1968: UT offers its first course in African American history, “The Negro in American History.” The Department of Black History was founded this same year.

Burt cites dialogue, or the lack of, as one of the most significant

1970: UT hires its first black football player, Julius Whittier.

setbacks to the UT student community. “The university should be a place where there can be dialogue, so that we can talk about issues we care about,” she says. But for that to happen, “Conversations about race have to occur, because if we don’t talk about it... there will be all of these issues, like blackface [theatrical makeup historically worn by minstrel performers but is today considered by many to be a racist practice], that will continue because people will not have sat down and had dialogue about what it is that makes me who I am, what makes you who you are, and what are those differences and how conflict can arise when we aren’t communicating.” Students at Mizzou have changed how college campuses approach racial discussion. Even at universities like UT, where the racial tension may not be as extreme, Mere expects administration is “trying to stop a problem before it starts” by sending out campus climate surveys and holding public forums. Mere also says she feels that the unification at Mizzou’s campus empowered students here. But UT has a very long way to go, and though the university is taking some necessary steps toward becoming racially inclusive, one thing is for certain: if UT doesn’t step up to the plate, then eventually its students will.

1974: 19th Street is renamed Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. 1977: UT names library after Ervin Perry and Carlos Castaneda (black and Hispanic professors) 1999: Martin Luther King, Jr., statue is revealed 2008: Abigail Fisher sues UT, claiming that she was denied admissions on the basis of her race. She’s white. 2010: Department of Afri can and African Diaspora Studies is established, devoted to studying the experiences of African Americans, indigenous Africans and people of African descent around the world. 2011: The Supreme Court agrees to hear Fisher’s case. 2015: UT removes Jefferson Davis statue. The Supreme Court will take another look at Fisher’s case and make a final decision this year.

porn, prayer and protests

EXXXOTICA EXPO COMES TO TEXAS

Depending on who you asked, the doors of

eXXXotica looks just like any other major

Dallas’s

Convention

convention, except here displays are filled with

Center served either as the entrance to the

Kay

Bailey

Hutchison

glittering 24-karat gold sex toys in place of

exciting world of adult entertainment or, as the

artisan soaps and handmade jewelry. Local sex

belligerent protesters wearing neon “FEAR GOD”

shop owners and escort services can rent out

T-shirts yelled, The Actual Gates of Hell. People

booths alongside traveling exhibitors, some of

lined up outside the convention center were

whom have been following eXXXotica since it

waiting to enter eXXXotica — ”the largest adult

was founded in 2006. Tickets sell to the general

event in the USA dedicated to love and sex” —

public starting at $40 for a 1-day pass. Exclusive

and it was day one of Texas’s first big porn fest.

3-day VIP passes run for an additional $100, and on Fridays, ladies get in free.

Bros in cargo pants and polo shirts waited patiently behind groups of spandex-clad women

The Dallas schedule featured hourly seminars

in platform heels and pastel wigs. Some people

covering everything in the industry: from open

held adult magazines or cameras; others sported

relationships and swingers to social media and

flashing plastic penis necklaces and carried

how to break into the world of amateur porn.

leather whips. They were flanked by stone-faced

As adult actress and writer Stoya told the Dallas

security guards and attentive convention center

Morning News, it is “the Comic-Con of porn.”

officials.

The show floor hosted vendors and artists as well as meet-and-greets with some of today’s biggest adult stars.

STORY AND PHOTOS BY LAUREN L’AMIE It’s not often that people in Texas get the chance to roam freely among porn stars, sex toys and cam girls all in one place. Dallas has a deeply religious population — the most evangelical in the country. In the buckle of the Bible Belt, sex positivity, especially in the form of a three-day porn convention, certainly isn’t met with open arms or open dialogue. The city had been anticipating a reaction from the community for months, since Dallas was announced as an eXXXotica tour stop in January. When eXXXotica billboards first appeared over Dallas area highways in late July, local religious organizations,

women’s

groups

and

opinion

columnists all voiced their concerns in local newspapers. Women’s groups like the Dallas Women’s Foundation condemned the event in a letter outlining their “concern and disgust.” The mayor reacted by saying he was “deeply concerned,” but couldn’t really take measures to discourage it. Conservative community members, like Dallas-area Catholic blogger Larry Roach, hosted prayer vigils in the parking lots of strip clubs in anticipation of the convention’s arrival. For a porn fest virgin, browsing the booths at eXXXotica sort of feels like browsing the pages of a NSFW Tumblr page in a crowded office. No matter your level of comfort or experience, bringing something that is normally deemed highly private, or even shameful, into an incredibly public space is new and bizarre — especially when there are picket lines standing just behind closed doors. Live BDSM demonstrations drew a huge crowd, with exhibitors fitting convention-goers into leather harnesses and modeling the correct way to strap a partner into a massive spinning bondage wheel. Nearby, cam girls from webcam site Chaturbate held live chat sessions throughout the day, pausing to take photos with fans and pass out recruitment information for anyone interested. Laura Bentley, a former teacher turned adult film star and sensuality coach, came to eXXXotica at

the request of her agent, but says her ultimate goal

and sexual rights for Texas women continues to be

is to be an advocate for women in sex work.

a hot button issue in Texas politics, and the porn industry is certainly not exempt from criticism.

“Out here in the Bible Belt, I can’t tell anyone or

Texas prostitution and obscenity laws are strict,

my neighbors what I do,” Bentley told me at her

with the intention of preventing sex trafficking,

promotional booth, which held prints of her latest

but because the definition of what is objectively

photos and DVDs. “I think the more we repress our

obscene varies between individuals, it is difficult to

natural innate sexual drive, the more problems

find a clear-cut solution.

we’re going to have. We need to be able to have this natural drive to have sex, to experiment and

Seated between dancers wearing glitter pasties and

explore that world.”

displays of high-end vibrators was Vicki Phillips, a volunteer with Restoration Hope Ministries — a

The founder, J.Handy, says that eXXXotica typically

safehouse for women and girls affected by sexual

welcomes 15,000 people through its doors over the

exploitation and domestic abuse. The booth was

course of three days. The Dallas venue sold just as

scattered with brochures and free candy and goody

quickly as any other location.

bags for anyone who stopped

As for the choice to host

eXXXotica in a city so adverse to the porn industry, Handy simply said Dallas was “next on the list.” “Dallas is in Texas, Austin is in Texas and Texas is Texas, and those are three different places,” Jenny Block, a Dallasbased, sex-positive author and

The idea is not to hit people over the head and tell them they’re all sinners — it doesn’t have to be obnoxious.

eXXXotica presenter told me as

ask

questions,

though

there were few takers. Although religious groups were stationed outside, loudly picketing from the hot convention center parking lot, Phillips told me the safehouse is one of the few religiouslyaffiliated groups that purchased an exhibitor booth at eXXXotica. “The idea is not to hit people over the head and tell them they’re all sinners — it doesn’t have to

she arranged copies of her newest book, “O Wow:

be obnoxious,” Phillips said. “Rather than being

Discovering Your Ultimate Orgasm,” on the display

condemnatory, which isn’t our job, [we] say, ‘Look,

in front of her. “In some ways we can be terribly

there is a better way. Let us talk to you about it and

liberal, and in some ways we are just preposterously

respect people for who they are.’”

not. I know people here are having sex, I know they like sex, but they don’t want people to know either

Larry Roach, a Dallas-area Catholic parishioner,

of those things.”

had a different idea. Weeks before eXXXotica’s debut, he blogged about the upcoming “expo of

Even in a growing metropolitan area like Dallas,

hedonism” and organized an all-male prayer vigil

sex work — and sex in general — is still taboo.

scheduled to meet outside of area strip clubs.

Texas has a long repressive history when it comes

According to Roach, a series of “unusual seismic

to issues like women’s reproductive rights and

activities,” or earthquakes in the Dallas area could

sex education. Today, Texas public schools are

be a “divine warning” for any “sexually oriented

authorized to teach abstinence-only sex education

businesses.”

classes. Recent state abortion restrictions have shut down clinics and decreased accessibility to

“If we’ve abandoned by and large our Christian

women across the state. The fight for reproductive

morality, it’s critical that we return to that,” Roach

told me before the exposition opened. “I feel that the

“generally pretty tame.” Lee, who has been traveling

direction the country has taken is destructive not only

with eXXXotica for 8 years, keeps coming back for the

on a moral level but on a natural level as well — that’s

atmosphere. “I feel more kinship to them because one,

the point of our effort — to remind men and women

I love that it’s a female-dominated industry and it’s

there is a god, and we all will be judged.”

very female-supportive and two, I’m a pervert just like everyone else,” Lee says. “I feel like I meet a lot more

Against these various divine warnings, the show

open-minded, like-minded people.”

went on without a hitch and welcomed many local sex shops and small business owners, even those

The eXXXotica show floor was far from the dark,

who should have felt the quakes. eXXXotica hardly

dangerous, sex-dungeon affair the local media painted

met the hedonistic standards that many locals were

weeks prior to the event. Yet, in true Texas tradition,

holding it to. It was mostly a cookie-cutter, standard

convention center and city regulations required

exhibition of what the adult industry is all about. In

spectators and stars to keep things under wraps even

some ways it was lacking critical representation from

behind closed doors. As the expo shut down at the

some of the biggest markets in the industry, featuring

end of each day, topless women had to cover their

predominantly white, heterosexual stars on the

nipples, performers and exhibitors traded in g-strings

mainstage.

and fishnets for t-shirts and jeans; shiny new vibrators and penis pumps were neatly tucked away before they

Fang Ling Lee, a painter and exhibitor with eXXXotica,

left the exhibit hall. Official convention center signs

said that with all the crazy, in-your-face XXX potential

placed by the exits offered one final farewell: “Please

a national porn convention holds, eXXXotica is

conceal your purchases until you are in a private area.”

D I V E R S IT Y MATTERS IN LAH 102H BY ZOYA ZIA at

Government, South Asian studies and women and

the University of Texas at Austin advocates for

gender studies freshman Priyanka Mara says she

a talented, diverse class, but doubts remain on

noticed the lack of diversity was a problem by the

whether LAH is achieving a well-balanced class. The

second or third lecture. “As I started sitting through

program’s students have expressed concerns about

classes, I realized it was uncomfortable,” Mara says.

the lack of diversity among the guest lecturers who

”I have never been uncomfortable because of my

THE LIBERAL ARTS HONORS PROGRAM

come in to discuss their specializations

race in an academic

for an LAH-required course.

setting. I just felt out of

According to the program’s description on the UT website, all LAH freshmen take the seminar class “The Idea of Liberal Arts” course abbreviation LAH 102H, where they hear about various liberal arts disciplines through lectures given by a different “leading scholar in their field” every week. Of the 158 students in the LAH class of 2019, 108 are female, as well as 19 non-

IF MINORITIES OR WOMEN VENTURE INTO FIELDS THEY ARE NOT STEREOTYPICALLY SUPPOSED TO BE IN, PEOPLE TAKE A SECOND LOOK

resident and foreign students, among

my zone. It didn’t bother me until it happened every single time.” Mara says that while students have observed a continuing pattern of white male professors, some

LAH

students

don’t consider it an issue. “For the most part, they are really

other minorities. However, most of the “leading

entertaining and good lectures,” Mara says, “But

scholars” and professors who have given LAH 102H

people who are represented all the time don’t

lectures — among them Chris Kirk, Ph.D., professor

empathize with not being represented.”

of anthropology; Daniel Bonevac, Ph.D., professor of philosophy; and Daniel Hamermesh, Ph.D., professor

According to Mara, a lack of representation can

of economics — are white men.

alienate women — in this case the majority of the class — and people of color. “It feels like we’re trying

to overcome a barrier, especially when we we know

A few weeks into taking LAH 102H, Mara approached

there are women and minority professors who are

LAH advisor Linda Mayhew about the issue. Mayhew

doing great work,” Mara says. “We wonder why we

recalls how last year, one student asked for more

can’t bring any of them.”

minority faculty, something Mayhew says LAH advisors are always working on. “This year we’ve

Juliet Hooker, government and African and African

had a lot of students ask for more female speakers

diaspora studies associate professor says the impact

and for more diversity from different minorities as

of not having diverse faculty is that

well,” Mayhew says. “There are some

students aren’t exposed to role models.

scheduling issues, as we do have three

“Students who come to UT think, ‘Oh, I

women coming in, but they all just

might want to become a professor or a

happen to be in the last three weeks of

graduate student,’” Hooker says. “They

the semester.”

want to see people who look like them who have achieved that. But without

LAH 102H does not pay the lecturers.

representation, students do not get that

The professors come on a volunteer

possibility.”

basis. However, Mayhew argues that some of the more diverse professors may not have the time to

Mara believes that by having diverse speakers,

give a lecture since they may be younger and still

minority groups are better represented and are thus

working on establishing themselves. “We look for

encouraged to pursue whatever career path they so

prestigious professors who have done significant

choose. “If minorities or women venture into fields

research in their field, who would probably get paid

they are not stereotypically supposed to be in, people

some stipends, but agree to do it for free,” Mayhew

take a second look,” she says. “Representation makes

says. “They are at a level in their career where they

society aware that anyone can do anything, and you

have time to give to us.”

don’t have to fit in a prescribed box. It stops people from taking a second glance.”

Even

with

accomplished

professors,

inequality persists, according to Osburn. In

one

specific

LGBT

“For those who say that we have the

community was notably unrepresented.

best professors in the university in these

English and history sophomore Duncan

lectures, it’s still a problem that many of

Osburn heard how a professor discussed

these professors are white guys,” Osburn

the psychology of sexual attraction and

says. “It really points out that there is

mating but only brought up heterosexual

an inequality among the diversity of

relationships.

professors at a university that touts itself

“As

lecture,

the

someone

who

queer and pretty active about LGBT stuff, it was

for having diversity.”

so disheartening to hear this,” Osburn says. “It is important for this kind of class to show diversity

In a 2014 report from the Office of Institutional

so that everyone can have hopes of becoming

Reporting, Research, and Information Systems, the

successful.”

office reported that out of 709 liberal arts professors,

533 were white. Out of 3,071 total faculty members, 2,388

with new mindsets would create a greater desire for

(77.8 percent) were white. Only 231 out of 1,013 professors

learning through the class and the university as a whole,”

were female (22.8 percent). “The professors went to

Osburn says.

college in the ‘70s, and there weren’t that many women or people of color who went to college then,” Osburn says.

Mayhew understands where student concerns come from

“These are tenured professors, providing evidence of how

and advises students to share their concerns with advisors.

long the university has been like this.”

“We’re hearing a lot more about this issue now because the student population is LAH is becoming more diverse

Plan II director Michael Stoff, who Mayhew referred,

over time, and we have a greater diversity of students

gave a lecture to LAH 102H and touched on the uneven

applying and getting into UT,” Mayhew says. “It’s sort of a

demographic distribution of professors. “We have a lot of

natural thing to want to see more diversity in professors,

speakers from his generation,” Mayhew says. “He talked

too.”

about how few women were in his class as a graduate student. If you look at tenured professors, about 80 percent

Mara suggests forming an LAH-sponsored organization

are male and 20 percent are female. Our percentages kind

that invites minorities, female professors and members of

of match in that way.”

the community to come and speak. “That way we’ll have the representation we need,” Mara says. “As people cycle

Hooker says one of the reasons underrepresentation still

through, there may be more diverse professors, but fast

occurs is because search committees still tend to want to

results won’t come through fighting for 102H.”

hire people like them. “It is harder to get people to consider minority candidates in majority-white departments,

While LAH students finish up the semester, there are

especially if they are doing research on topics that are

varied levels of interest in the issue. However, Mara pushes

different from what faculty already there are doing,”

for more diversity. “People of color and women in the

Hooker says. “It can be hard for minority scholars to have

program will feel more comfortable and take more risks

their research recognized as valuable and legitimate and

with their academic careers since minorities are generally

therefore be promoted.”

forced to pick the practical option,” Mara says. “Liberal arts is where literature, history, government policies come

Hooker has taught at UT for the past 12 years. She says

from. Minority voices and experiences in those fields are

while progress has been made, there is still a lot of work

important for our generation.”

left to do. She has heard seniors in her class say it is the first time they have taken a government class with a

For Mara, LAH’s intended goals say it all. “LAH is about

female professor. “Just think about students who have not

making us better writers and people to eventually go into

had a female authority figure and their idea of what an

the world,” Mara says. “Since minorities and women should

authority is is male,” Hooker says. “Not having a diverse

play an enormous role in how the world’s going to be in

faculty doesn’t prepare students well for what they might

the future, why shouldn’t that start now with LAH 102H?”

encounter in the job market, when they graduate.” Instead of petitioning for lecturer diversity in LAH 102H, Osburn wants students to recommend professors for their lectures. “Changing a class like this by bringing people

CRACKING JOKES IN ATX:

BY REBECA LAUPRECHT

ALTERNATIVE VENUES CONTRIBUTE TO GROWING COMEDY SCENE

FOR A PERFORMER, every moment on stage is the

PHOTOS BY BETSY JOLES

literal worst,“ he says.

accumulation of countless hours behind open mics and hanging in the back of concert halls waiting to

To Hafkey and many other comedians, Austin

perform. It was at one such venue that I first saw

provides an opportunity to grow as a comedian that

local comedian Joe Hafkey perform.

can’t be found elsewhere. “Austin is amazing,” Hafkey said, “The scene is huge, and there are a lot of people

Before Hafkey came to Austin, he worked at a comedy

from Comedy Central here all the time, people from

club in Richmond, Va., where he performed stand-

late night. People get booked here.”

up for the first time. He began performing stand-up regularly, and he eventually went on to host an open

Though it is larger than the scenes in other cities,

mic night of his own at another venue. Hafkey says

Austin’s comedy scene still provides a certain level

there were not a lot of opportunities to do stand-

of intimacy. Many of the stand-up comedians that

up in Richmond. He remembers participating in

participate in the scene know each other well and

Richmond’s bringer shows, in which each performer

are very familiar with the venues in which they

is responsible for bringing a certain number of

perform. Hafkey says Austin Java, Buzzmill and Cap

audience members, as a novice. “The worst possible

City Comedy Club as great venues to perform in and

time for your friends to see you do stand-up is when

watch stand-up around the city. Some venues provide

you’re first standing out because you’re horrible, and

opportunities for intimate stand-up experiences

in order to get on stage you had to wrangle all of

and some for large performances. Hafkey says at

your friends and get them to come see you at your

Cap City, “There’s the big room which is where the

JOE HAFKEY

weekend headlining shows happen, and as you walk in there’s a front lounge that seats like 120 people. That’s my favorite room in town.” As Hafkey described, there are many Austin spaces for comedy. “What’s cool about that is that people are constantly creating these spaces that are made for this — avenues for people for performance or viewing or what have you,” comedian Melody Shifflet says. Among these spaces are various bars, coffee

IF YOU HAVE A BAD SET, JUST GO TO THE NEXT ONE AND JUST REPEAT UNTIL YOU FEEL BAD ENOUGH TO JUST GO HOME

houses and comedy clubs that are homes to open mics and large-scale comedy shows. Shifflet’s favorites include King Bee Lounge, The New Movement and ColdTowne Theater. The New Movement and ColdTowne allow stand up comedians to develop their sets and gain experience. “The New Movement and ColdTowne are cool because you can just go there if you want to do something that’s kind of weird or different, and you’re kind of like, ‘I want an audience that’s going to roll with me,’” comedian Amber Bixby says. Bixby began visiting Austin comedy venues as a student at Texas State University. A few years later, she got a job in the city and began doing stand-up consistently. Bixby remarks that the Austin scene has grown incredibly fast in the past few years. “When I first started, there were three open mics a week, so it was really hard. But now it’s like three every night, so you can

AMBER BIXBEY

just go to one, and if you have a bad set, just go to the next one and just repeat until you feel bad enough to just go home,” she says with a laugh. Since moving to Austin, Bixby has taken on other projects as well. Alongside Dustin

Svehlak and Katie Pengra, Amber has created a web series called “Pretty Awful” about two shallow housemates and the chaos that abounds as they try to navigate art, romance and everyday obstacles. “With the ‘Pretty Awful’ characters I would like to think that I’m nothing like them because they’re terrible people, but awful people are pretty fun to write, turns out,” Bixby says. Unlike the material in her web series, Bixby says that her stand-up focuses primarily on her life experiences. She draws from her experiences as a young mother and dealing with depression and anxiety. Shifflet also draws from her life experiences for her stand up material. Like Bixby, she aims to use comedy to reveal some of the harsher truths of everyday life. “I think that also challenging yourself to reflect that hard on it and try to categorize what you’re talking about forces you to open up to more vulnerable truths that I think audiences appreciate more,” she says. For Shifflet and other comedians, stand-up is a form of self-expression. “I say to myself, if I don’t feel like going out to mics, ‘Well, where are you going to put all these jokes?’” Shifflet says. “‘Where do they go?’” Hafkey notes that the city is becoming a center for mobile and innovate young artists. “There was a scene in Chicago, but it produced like everybody that is famous right now,” Hafkey says. “Chicago wasn’t a big stand-up scene. They made it big, and I feel like that’s happening in Austin right now.”

ROOKIE’S GUIDE TO ATX COMEDY CAPITOL CITY COMEDY (8120 RESEARCH BLVD.): This venue hosts a weekly comedy show called PUNCH! The shows feature surprise guests and sought-after performers. Past featured comics include Chris Cubas, Ramin Nazer and Eric Krug.

AUSTIN JAVA (1206 PARKWAY): This coffee shop located in Barton Springs features free comedy shows every night at 8 p.m.

BUZZMILL (1505 TOWN CREEK DRIVE): This coffee shop used to be known for its events featuring live bands, but lately its open mic comedy nights are taking center stage. Known as the “Buzz Kill,” shows are held at 9 p.m. every Wednesday night.

COLD TOWNE (4803 AIRPORT BLVD.): Cold Towne features live comedy seven nights a week. From improv to film, this comedy club has shows that will meet anyone’s sense of humor.

THE NEW MOVEMENT (616 LAVACA ST.): The youngest comedy club in Austin, this East Side theater hosts shows four nights a week, starting with a monologue show at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays.

I N F L U E N C E R 20

NIA WESLEY YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Journalism HOMETOWN: Houston, Texas

STORY BY EMILY NASH AND MIA UHUNMWUANGHO PHOTOS BY JOSHUA GUERRA

M E E T

N I a .

and

navigating through society with power.

BECAUSE I’M A WOMAN.” IN YOUR

National Society for Black Journalists

Journalists have power. They have a

JOURNALISTIC CAREER, DID YOU

President Nia Wesley sat down with

lot of control over what society thinks

KNOW WHEN THAT POINT WAS

ORANGE

winning

and how they feel. We get to pick

FOR YOU?

the ATX Influencer Award to talk

and choose what to tell society about

In the classroom and at my internships

journalism, blackness and her plans to

something that happened, which will

— I’ve been at several internships — and

become a household name.

definitely shape the way they feel. As a

I’m always pretty much one of the only

black woman with power, I’m going to

black people in the entire building. It’s

WHAT WAS YOUR DREAM JOB

equate that to being a slave with a gun,

again, feeling your blackness, and that’s

WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE?

and it definitely makes people really

not always necessarily a bad thing all of

Well when I was little, it was doctor,

uncomfortable.

the time. But it’s definitely something

lawyer of course, and then it was

But at the end of the day, as a

I see black people struggling with,

lawyer for a pretty long time, but

journalist, it’s my job to have the

to move up in the journalism world

in high school I decided to take the

megaphone and to shout out the

sometimes. I know that I made the

journalism intro class, and I loved it.

issues of the communities that are

decision in my head that I’ve accepted

One of the first stories that I wrote got

not getting access to get their issues

the fact that this is going to be harder

on the front page of the high school

reported. I like reporting on issues that

for me, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.

newspaper, and I was like, “Hey, maybe

affect the black community, minority

And the type of person I am — as an

I’m pretty good at this.” I remember in

issues period. As a black journalist,

employee, journalist, period — when

10th grade I wrote an essay about what

it’s definitely a unique experience that

I market myself to a business or to

college I wanted to go to and what

is different from a white journalist or

someone I want to hire me, I’m going

I wanted to be, and the title of it was

male journalist. I’m female and black.

to make it where you can’t refuse me.

“The Bold Beautiful Black Longhorn

I would say that there are hurdles in

News Reporter” or something like that.

the industry, and it’s an extra weight

DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE ARE

So I decided in high school.

on your back, but it’s something I’m

TIMES

excited to carry along with me and

MARKET

YOU MENTIONED WANTING TO

own it and use it to my advantage to be

THAN

EVeRyONE

ELSE

BE A BLACK JOURNALIST. WHAT

successful and really make an impact

OVERCOMPENSATE

SINCE

YOU

HAS

on society.

ARE BLACK?

SENIOR

journalism

Magazine

BEEN

YOUR

major

after

EXPERIENCE

WHERE

YOU

YOuRSELF

HAVE

HARDER

I’m constantly setting goals and being

NAVIGATING THE WORLD AS A THERE’S

in competition with myself. You have

POINT

to compare yourself to what’s out

First and foremost, like you said,

WHERE YOU REALIZE, “THIS IS

there, but I really try to make it more

I’m black before I am a journalist, so

GOING TO BE A LITTLE HARDER

about me and competing against me

let’s just put that on the table. I’m

BECAUSE

until I ultimately feel that I’ll rise above

BLACK WOMAN IN A SPACE THAT

FOR

BLACK

IS NOT ALWAYS INCLUSIVE?

OFTEN

THIS

PEOPLE TURNING

I’M

BLACK

AND

everyone else. When I decided I wanted

can think back to so many clubs. I think my

BEEN SO CONFIDENT?

to do journalism, my dad drove me to the

parents instilled that into me. It was never

I never had behavioral issues, but I always

local neighborhood newspaper. We went in

just enough — you can’t just go to school

got in trouble for talking too much. I always

there, and we talked to the editor, and it

and come home. I’ve always been involved.

had a lot to say. I’ve been working on my

was the summer time and they agreed to

As far as the black community, the black

listening skills — to be a good journalist,

let me fetch copies, file and do stuff for the

community here at UT is ridiculously small.

you’ve got to be a good listener. Sometimes

summer. Then I started to do AP packets

UT needs to do a better job at recruiting

if you just listen, that’s when the real magic

with them, and they let me write up little

African Americans. It’s much more than

happens.

blogs, and then I ended up having my own

using black pictures on every pamphlet

teen corners column in the newspaper

to get recruits. You need to go into black

WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL POST-

every week. They extended it into the

neighborhoods and recruit black students

COLLEGE LIFE LOOK LIKE?

school year, so when school started, I was

who are capable of doing good here. Since

I’ve been studying to be a TV news reporter,

able to continue writing for them. That was

the community here is so small, why not be

so I definitely plan on applying to start-up

an instance in my journalism career that

apart of it and why not help make it better

news stations and smaller markets. I classify

started in high school, and it gave me a lot

for black students who don’t necessarily

myself as a multi-platform journalist,

of confidence to really push for my goals.

feel so supported? In the journalism school,

so I’m also open to multi-platform news

I never really dealt with that. I’ve always felt

outlets where I can exercise more of my

YOU DO A LOT OF WORK IN THE

good, even as a black student, but I know

digital skills and my broadcast skills. As

BLACK

other students in the architecture school

a journalist, I definitely feel like it’s more

PRESIDENT OF NABJ; WHEN DID YOU

or something like that who are not as

important to evolve with the field, and you

STARTREALIZING

comfortable.

know, it’s not all about being on the TV. I’m

COMMUNITY

THAT

AND

YOU

JUST

a true journalist, I want to get to people

HAD TO GET INVOLVED? I’m a natural born leader. Anywhere I go, I’m

YOU TALK ABOUT BEING A NATURAL

while they’re on Facebook and on social

going to find some sort of council [to join]. I

BORN LEADER — HAVE YOU ALWAYS

media.

what makes AUSTIN weird? illustrations by Elizabeth Kim

From the tower of garbage known as Cathedral of Junk to the holiday Leslie Cochran Day celebrated to honor the man in the thong and tutu, there are an endless number of people, places and things that keep Austin weird. The ATX staff compiled a short list of what truly makes Austin the unique city it’s known for.

to the chic downtown area with its wide

zoya zia

range of bars and specialty shops, each

In an age marred by division, the North Austin Muslim Community Center stands beside the Brentwood Oaks Church of Christ on Lamar Boulevard. Standing apart from trends of separation and conflict, Austin runs on this coexistence. It is a city where mosques and churches can be neighbours. More broadly, people from different backgrounds with different beliefs pursuing different ambitions can all claim residence in the Live Music Capitol of the World. Rather than promoting conformity, Austin encourages diversity. I see it when interfaith and intercultural events

introduce

Austinites

their

neighbours. I see it when I drive on North Lamar Boulevard. Austin inspires people to be the best versions of themselves, to

district has something different to offer. A personal favorite of mine is East Austin, which has a down-to-earth vibe. It’s filled with laidback locals, unique eateries and restaurants that pride themselves on their produce, as well as small boutiques that occupy the nooks and crannies in between the streets. Whatever your style is, there is an Austin neighborhood that will suit your aesthetic, though you may find yourself loving them all.

vianney torres How easy it is to mistake an Austin hipster for a homeless person? Oftentimes when you’re walking around on Guadalupe Street or downtown, it’s difficult to distinguish

respect and learn from one another.

your local hipster guy from someone who

michael saenz

the messy hair, the worn down beanie, the

What

makes

Austin

weird

actually needs money for food. Between dirty plaid button down, the rugged beard

are

the

neighborhoods and districts that define the city. From the famous South Congress

and the cigarette in mouth, it’s pretty easy to make the mistake of giving a dollar to someone who may not actually be in need.

hannah mcmorris The diverse group of both residents and tourists seen in Austin is unparalleled to other cities. As an outgoing introvert, I’m the type of person that can be content with walking down the streets of downtown Austin or South Congress and watch the countless, particularly distinct faces that pass me by. It’s refreshing to see college students who aren’t afraid to go against popular culture and truly be themselves. This city is the prime place to experience a culture different from yours, hear a conflicting opinion or two and see life through the eyes of another.

zainab ali If there is a surface in Austin, it’s probably covered in some form of illustration. Here, street art is the norm, materializing in the form of miniature gas-masked queens to elaborate psychedelic murals. There’s even an open space called Graffiti Park at Castle Hills where anyone can legally tag the walls. Oversized sculptures, like the giant fork in front of Hyde Park Bar & Grill, arise from seemingly nowhere. Almost anything, no matter how wacky, might be part of a masterpiece, like the Cathedral of Junk located in the backyard of a man named Vince. Most establishments are overflowing with unusual creativity, either stocked with obscure vintage collections, like at the store Uncommon Objects, or decorated with bright tiled mosaics that have become a part of Austin’s landscape.

jacqueline ramos If you moved to Austin after 2012, you might not know who Leslie Cochran, or simply Leslie, was. He was an Austin icon who was known for being homeless, often wearing nothing but a thong and high heels on Sixth Street and running for public office numerous times. Many Austinites believed he was the personification of “Keep Austin Weird” because of his minimal attire like thongs and tutus. Leslie was a kind-hearted individual who brought lots of laughter and joy to the streets of Austin. Sadly, he died in 2012 but is still commemorated today with a statue on the corner of Sixth Street and Congress Avenue, and on March 8, Austin celebrates Leslie Cochran Day.

emily nash What makes Austin weird is how weird it makes you. A month after moving to Austin, I impulsively dyed my hair blue that soon turned into a Christmas tree green. Not long after, I got my first tattoo… and then another… and then another, all within my first year living in Austin. Would I have done these things if I hadn’t moved out of the small, conservative city of Bryan, Texas? Probably not, considering the fact that every time I went home, I was guaranteed to get a few odd glances toward my green hair. They say going to college makes you reveal your true self, so maybe I’m just a natural born hardcore, punk rock gal. Or maybe the weird ass city of Austin made me this way.

cierra smith One of the things I noticed about Austin when I moved here my junior year of high school is that the weirdness doesn’t stay confined to downtown. My neighborhood is deep in West Austin and is one of the most eclectic places I’ve been to. Huge mansions are scattered next to manufactured homes, and there is a wide variety of people living in the area, like bikers, hippies, suburban moms, Boy Scout troops, skater kids longboarding down hills and wakeboarders cruising up and down Lake Austin. There are so many people from different walks of life in this place, and yet everybody chills at the same neighborhood park on the water to enjoy a summer day, embodying Austin’s carefree spirit.

Weird Homes By Kassidy Curry

In a city that embraces weirdness, an Austin couple created a business exploring the different personalities of the city’s homes. “To me, a weird home is a home that you go into and you remember it, it’s different,” Weird Homes Tour founder Chelle Neff says. “That person’s home really represents their personality and it stands out to you.” When they first decided to create the tour, Chelle and her husband David reached out to their friends on social media to help them find interesting homes. They began to tour

different homes around the city, often homes of artists, and created a tour of eight different houses for their first tour in May 2014. They had a tour May 2015 as well and will host one in May 2016. Some of the homes that have been featured in the tours are Bouldin Creek’s Casa Neverlandia — the Neffs’ favorite — and Professor Jeff Wilson’s dumpster home. For 2016, Weird Homes Tour is expanding to show homes in Houston. In future tours they plan to show homes in New Orleans as well. “I feel like in Austin, we don’t fit a mold or a box, we have a culture of everyone being diverse and different,” Chelle says. “I feel like our homes match that culture as well.”

by Mia Uhunmwuango & Emily Nash

People of Color As Depicted in East Austin Street Art

1700 East 12th Street: This art located on the side of a tattoo shop on East 12th street depicts young black girls and local Austin civil rights leaders Bertha Means, Willie Wells, and Willie Mae Kirk.

1161 Angelina Street: On a wall outside of the George Washington Carver Public Library is a large mural by John Fisher that pays tribute to slaves who did not survive the journey through the Middle Passage.

The east side of Interstate Highway 35 has roots that stem from the 19th century, when the land was offered to newly freed black slaves. The area was designated as the “Negro District,” and black people were prohibited from buying houses in any other part of the town. When integration happened in the 1960s, other racial minorities moved in, creating a distinct and vibrant community. The community thrived until the early 2000s when population in the city began to increase, and people looked to East Austin to supply their affordable housing and business needs.

Since then, East Austin has become an array of new residential spaces, restaurants, offices and businesses that marginalize the original groups who inhabited the area. Minority-owned businesses are being forced out of their leases, and the price of public housing is increasing. The process of gentrification doesn’t just take a toll on the economic aspect of the city, it silences the unique identity that people of color have created for themselves.

But if you look closely enough, the identity can still be seen in the corners and crevices of east Austin in the form of street art. Each picture captures a culture and persona of people of color who refused to be moved. The street art shines as a testament to the community’s resilience.

1823 E. 7th Street: Near the entrance of Planned Parenthood on East 7th street is a painting of a woman embracing the earth with â&#x20AC;&#x153;love yourself, love the worldâ&#x20AC;? inscribed around her. Around the art is a border of flags.

Love yourself, love the world.

Vibrant woman, Mama Sana.

1948 E. 12th Street: Similar to the street art on Planned Parenthood is a painting of a pregnant woman of color with the words “Love” on her belly and “Vibrant Woman, Mama Sana,” translating into “Healthy Mother.” The art promotes a pregnancy center in Austin.

We may have come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.

2000 E. 12th Street: On the side of Sam’s Barbecue in the middle of East Austin is a painting of Martin Luther King Jr. with a quote, “We may have come on different ships, but we’re in the same boat now.”

quiz

what type of A U S T I N IT E are you? You Are going out on a date with someone

The population is steadily rising in

from class. Where do you take them?

Austin. How do you feel about this?

• A night out on South Congress

• I think it’s great! Hook ‘em!

• Hike up to Mt. Bonnell and then go kayaking

• As long as they’re positively contributing to the

• Mozart’s coffee shop

Austin environment, it’s fine.

• A concert to see my favorite local band

• Austin is becoming too mainstream, so no thanks. • Get the f*** out!!!

Obviously, Austin is the music capital in the country. Pick a music festival to

Finals week is upon us, and it Is time to

attend:

pull some all nighters. Where do you go

• SXSW

to study?

• Austin City Limits

• Cafe Medici. Hook ‘em!!

• Ditch the Fest Fest

• In my eno :)

• Fun Fun Fun Fest

• Bennu Coffee • My house

You and your friends are going out to eat for lunch. Where do you go?

What Is a staple item in your wardrobe?

• Home Slice

• My UT hoodie. Hook ‘em!

• Homemade dinner from Wheatsville Co-op or

• Chacos

Whole Foods

• The Smiths t-shirt

• East Side King

• Tyler’s Shirt

• My favorite food truck If you were to have your own business It Is Saturday night! How do you spend a

startup, what would it be?

night out with your friends?

• Double-decker bus tour

• Hit up Sixth Street

• Organic scratch-made dog treats

• Stargaze at Zilker Park with our dogs

• A beard salon for men

• Go to a friend’s house and listen to vinyls

• A taco stand or something Tex-Mex related

• Go see a movie at Alamo Drafthouse… or the closest movie theater to my house

What’Is the best thing about Austin?

• UT!!!! Hook ‘em! It Is Sunday, aka errands day. What is the most important thing on your to-do list?

• Go buy snacks and q-tips at the CVS on the drag • Check on the tomatoes at the community farm • Go to Waterloo Records to look at new releases • Go to HEB and buy groceries

• I’m able to be in tune with nature and my health • the music and art scene • I know, I know — Austin is home. But I guess that’s also the worst part now because I have to see it change so much.

the tourist.

Clearly you’re not from Austin,

but you love the music scene, the food, and of course the campus culture. Since you’re not yet familiar with everything Austin has to offer, you still hit up the touristy places to visit; by the time you graduate from UT and live here for a few more years, though, you’ll know the ins-and-outs of Austin.

the granola.

What you love most about Austin

is how eco-friendly of a city it is. You love spending time outside, you are in-tune with the environment, and you appreciate the community gardens and the organic foods here, all of which is a big reason you decided to live in this environmental-friendly city.

the hipster.

What you appreciate most about

Austin is the art and music scene. You spend your free time exploring the city, looking for obscure vintage stores, small restaurants, and of course going to concerts at small venues. Big cities fascinate you because of all its oddities and rich culture, and Austin is the perfect city for you.

the native austinite.

Who the hell are all these

people moving to Austin?! You can easily spot out tourists, students, and the artists who moved here for the art scene. While you’re glad that people love your home-city as much as you do, you can’t help but feel annoyed at the flux of people moving to Austin. You truly know all of Austin’s quirks, from the subcultures to your favorite locally owned businesses, and you hope that, despite the changes being made, people can appreciate what you find to be the best things about Austin. illustrations by sonia margolin

austin Five

Albums from 2015 You Need to Hear story by bryan rolli

As 2015 draws to a close, every music publication worth its salt is hurriedly compiling its annual best-of albums list. But as critics sing the praises of Kendrick Lamar’s genre-bending hip-hop manifesto and Adele’s old-soul stylings and powerhouse vocals, it’s important to remember the artists making masterpieces in our own backyards. Austin is a prime example by default, and this year was rife with albums that pushed the envelope in any particular genre. Artists have to keep writing music in order to keep performing, so it’s essential to celebrate these achievements in order to preserve this city’s reputation.

Click-Clack Untitled” Mixtape

Eric Mikulak is a busy man. Under his stage moniker, Click-Clack, the 25-year-old MC has released a dizzying flurry of mixtapes and singles over the past two years, the latest being an untitled, 20song mixtape featuring his most adventurous work yet. Mikulak is a master of dynamics, handling the sing-songy banger “Talking Heads” and the cloudy “Long Days” with equal fluidity. He doesn’t shy away from his pop tendencies either, singing confidently and snarkily over tracks assembled by an all-star cast of producers you’ve probably never heard of — at least not yet. In the end, he’s still at his best when he’s flowing overtop jazzy, dreamy cuts like the yin-and-yang “Nahmeens” and “Yahmeens.” On “Untitled,” Mikulak’s execution finally caught up with his ambition.

Broken Gold’s roots are in Austin, but their music screams SoCal sunsets. Riverboat Gamblers guitarist Ian MacDougall crams his newest solo EP with shimmering guitar melodies, thunderous drums and indelible vocal hooks that straddle the line between melancholy and euphoric. The songs rock with abandon, evoking the spirit of a more on-key Dinosaur Jr. and a less nasally Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Broken Gold may describe themselves as “brambles thick, melodic post-punk,” but the chorus of “Turning Blue” is the perfect combination of arena rock and pure pop confection.

broken gold turning blue ep

Insvrgence Every Living Creature Dies Alone

Insvrgence are pissed off, and they’re letting everybody know. “Try as we might, we always fail,” singer James Wendt bellows on the aptly titled “Manifesto,” and from there, the politically charged hardcore band unleashes a 13-track tidal wave of fury that is both tuneful and aggressive, drawing equally on melodic hardcore stalwarts the Ghost Inside and deathcore behemoths the Acacia Strain. Anybody who’s unsure about the band’s racial politics need look no further than the “Social Darwinism” video, which pieces together chilling clips of police brutality as Wendt sings, “The dream is dead/a bullet right through the head/the institution kills to preserve their privilege.” No more questions.

There’s an alternate universe where the Beatles never broke up,

milezo heads on holiday

Bob Dylan never made Victoria’s Secret commercials and everybody liked the Beach Boys’ “Smiley Smile” at the time of its release. That’s the universe in which Milezo thrives. The brainchild of Miles Kelley, the quartet combines raggedy folk rock, dreamy psych-pop and wistful shoegaze to create an album that trods along effortlessly while still being inexplicably engaging. “Heads on Holiday” is not an explosive album — instead, the songs ignite slowly and simmer down gradually. But boy, is it fun to watch (and hear) them burn.

CAPYAC Movement Swallows Us I’m still not sure of the best environment to listen to Capyac’s new album: in a dark nightclub pressed up against hundreds of bodies moving to the music, or alone in your room with a pair of high-end headphones clapped over your ears. “Movement Swallows Us” is a brilliantly dense album, with new layers and textures revealing themselves upon every listen. Rich synthesizers and pulsing beats set the backdrop for chilly keyboard leads, and soulful, multitracked vocals catapult to the forefront of every song. “Movement Swallows Us” is instantly digestible, but you’re better off chewing on this one for a while.

-1 TUNES

gro wl

In a city overflowing with indie-rock bands, Growl fits

the bill perfectly. Their energetic, catchy sound and messy, morningafter

charm

have

made

them

mainstays at several local hotspots, while their collaborative songwriting efforts

reflect

their

youthful

camaraderie. With a new album in the works, Growl continues to grow and remain a favorite in the local scene.

Story by Amanda Pinney Photos by Bryan Rolli

Up until 2013, Growl experienced several

compositional

changes.

The group originated as a twopiece between lead singer/guitarist

guitarist Sam Houdek. They settled

sound identical, but still fall under

Santiago Dietche and drummer Kent

on the name Growl simply because

the garage-pop umbrella. “All of

Hale. Guitarist Jonny (who prefers his

it wasn’t already taken. “Everybody

our songs now have a very cohesive

last name to remain a secret) made

hears Growl and thinks that we are

sound,” Hale says. Growl released its

the band a three-piece, giving them

some kind of metal band, and that’s

first EP, “Gallery” in February 2013,

a newfound momentum for several

definitely not what we are,” Hale

followed by “No Years” in January

months. They eventually grew to

says. “I kind of liked the dichotomy

2014. Their growth is obvious, as

five, and subsequently dropped one

of that.”

there’s a clear progression from the

member, settling on their current four-member crew, completed by

reckless indie-rock vibe of the first The band avoids writing songs that

EP to the softer, more sentimental

“Everybody hears Growl and thinks that we are some kind of metal band, and that’s definitely not what we are.”

sound of the second. “For the first EP, we were all about having

have friends who were doing well in the scene,” Houdek says.

it sloppy and loud and very low-fi, garage-oriented,” Houdek says. “With the second record, we tried a little preemptively to

Eventually, these humble house shows evolved into gigs at

have it be polished.”

esteemed venues and local festivals, including a live session during SXSW 2014 and a spot on KUTX’s MAPJAM 2014, where

Like so many bands trying to catch a break in the Austin scene,

the band played to an audience of more than 1,000 people.

Growl solidified its fan base through house shows and co-

Although Growl has performed at a variety of venues, their

op parties in their early days. Much of the band’s initial gigs

main haunts have been Cheer Up Charlie’s, Hotel Vegas and

came from friends who had a presence in the music industry

the recently closed Holy Mountain, which previously served as

and connections to local venues. “We were really fortunate to

their home base. “Austin has been such a cradling town for us,

which we are super thankful for,” Dietche says.

their early EPs as “thrown-together,” as they were still finding their footing.“It sounds like exactly what it is,

But they aren’t limited to the Austin scene. The band

which is early band recordings,” Jonny says. “Stuff is

has successfully completed three tours, two in the

a little bit all over the place, and you can kind of hear

southeastern United States and the most recent one

overlap. It sounds a little bit immature — we were

on the West Coast in January. They first hit the road

developing.”

in August 2013 — just four months after becoming a four-piece — and immediately had their first brush

While those EPs served as a starting point, the band

with hardship when their van was stolen on the

has a new idea of what they can accomplish now. “We

second night of the tour. Their gear was safely in the

learned what sounds best with our band, and we are

venue at the time, but they had no clothes or means

trying to apply it to this new record,” Houdek says.

of transportation. Growl will follow up the release of their debut fullCanceling the tour and heading home seemed like

length with another tour, and they’ve applied to play

the obvious solution at first. But with the help of

this year’s SXSW — anything to stay busy. “It’s been

family and friends, the band rented a new van and

a steady climb,” Dietche says of the band’s tenure.

persevered. “The decision to keep going on that tour

“We’ve put in a lot of effort over the past three-and-

was a defining moment,” Houdek says. “We could

a-half years or so, and I think it’s yielded exactly what

have just gone home because it sucked. But we didn’t,

we put in.”

and the tour ended up kicking ass.” Growl’s two EPs can be found on both iTunes After two EPs and three tours, Growl is ready to make

and Spotify, as well as a live session available on

a new record with a different sound to reflect their

Bandcamp.

experiences, due out this spring. The band describes

I N F L U E N C E R

JOEY OAXACA YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Elesctrical Engineering HOMETOWN: Grapevine, Texas STORY BY EMILY GIBSON PHOTOS BY SARAH MONTGOMERY

M E E T

J O E Y.

INSTEAD of sitting in front of a

WHY HAVEN’T YOU MADE A BAND?

I used to work at a tech company up

television or a mountain of books,

I just don’t have time. I wish I did. I have

north, and I still kind of do, but not

electrical

Joey

so many friends in bands so it feels like

really. I just don’t have time to go up

Oaxaca spends his Sunday nights in

I should, but I haven’t had the time or

there and work. It’s called Avenson

front of a soundboard, mixing audio

the opportunity, really.

Audio, and it’s up in Pflugerville. That

engineering

senior

was actually founded by a former

for a live band on KVRX Local Live. TELL ME ABOUT HOW YOU GOT

KVRX guy, who went here back in the

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO STUDY

INVOLVED

2000s. He was studying EE too, and

ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING?

LOCAL LIVE.

now he has a tech company that makes

Yeah, I guess. I didn’t really know what

Oh, wow, that’s far back. Okay, I was

pro audio equipment.

I wanted to do, and my dad was an

a freshman at UT. I made a bunch of

I actually met him through my other

electrical engineer, so I went with it.

friends at orientation and we were all

job at a studio on the East Side called

It seemed interesting. I kind of wish I

enthusiastic freshmen. I think KVRX

Cacophony

hadn’t done it. I wish I had done physics

was tabling by Gregory Gym, and then

founded and is owned by the guy who

instead and then gone into engineering

we went to a show downtown at the

ran Local Live from like 1998-2002.

afterwards. You get to do a lot of cool

Parish — it was their back-to-school

I met him through Local Live, from a

stuff in engineering, but you don’t get

showcase that they throw every year.

band we recorded here once who was

to appreciate it as well as if you were

That was the first time I started getting

really impressed with the sound stuff

studying physics.

involved. It was a really cool show. A lot

and introduced me to him. I started

of bands I work with now were playing

interning over there at first, and then

DID YOU GROW UP MUSICAL?

that show.

he kind of made me his assistant and

No. I took piano in middle school for

I lived in Dallas, and there’s not much

started paying me for stuff. I still do

like five years. I was good at piano, but

music there, at least not really good

that. So it’s been a chain of KVRX.

then I quit. I guess I thought it was lame

live music. So when I first saw good live

or uncool because I was a shithead

music, it blew me away. I got so excited

SO IT’S LIKE A FAMILY.

middle school kid. So I quit, and then I

about it and I really wanted to get into

I’ve gotten all of these jobs because

forgot everything. I was kind of musical

the music scene in Austin.

of KVRX. We all take care of each

WITH

KVRX

AND

Records,

which

was

other. It’s really good to know alumni

in high school I guess – I started playing guitar in high school, and that’s really

YOU’VE HAD A FEW JOBS AROUND

because they have businesses and

when I started getting into music. But I

TOWN, TELL ME ABOUT THEM.

stuff established. And since you’re

didn’t grow up with musical parents or

First, I’m a full time student, and that’s

KVRX, they know what it’s like, because

anything.

a job in itself at UT. I’m the production

they were like that when they were a

manager at KVRX, which means I run

kid. They know that all you want is the

DO YOU STILL PLAY GUITAR?

Local Live. So I oversee all of that. So

opportunity to do something, and they

Yeah, definitely.

that’s one of them.

give it to you.

TELL ME A BIT ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.

working with them there was awesome. I

DOES

For Local Live, I do all the recording. And

also got to work with Adrian Quesada, who

DIFFERENT?

then for bands, I record music for them.

is a Grammy-winning producer. There were

Different, for sure. I think better, but I don’t

It’s always a weird process of recording,

a lot of cool session musicians who came

know. It’s all preference.

because

in and played there, so that was a cool

it’s

never

straightforward

SOUND

BETTER,

process of, ‘Hey I want to record you,’ or

experience.

WOULD

‘Hey I want you to record us.’ It’s more like

I got to work on the new Golden Dawn

TRADITIONALIST?

I’ve met people, and then we’ve gotten

Arkestra record that’s coming out sometime

I’m a mix of a traditionalist and an extreme

into the conversation about how I work at

next year. That one is cool because they

experimentalist, I guess. That’s kind of

a recording studio and their band is cool,

gave me credit as a sound engineer, so my

weird. It’s a weird mix because they’re

so we should work together. And then it

name is on it now. I’ve never had that before,

extreme opposites, but I’ve taken a lot from

happens.

and it’s on a big album that’s actually well

both sides.

So I guess what I do mostly is record EPs

known — so it’s exciting.

and albums for bands, get their music out

My own stuff? Man. The Summer Salt

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR IDEAL

there and try to help them express their

album, because we didn’t touch a computer

POST-COLLEGE LIFE TO LOOK LIKE?

music the best way they can. So that’s it in

the whole time. We did the whole thing to

I graduate in May. I don’t know what the

very simple terms.

tape, which was a big thing for me because

fuck I’m going to do afterwards. I’m trying

I’ve never gotten an opportunity to do it all

to stay in Austin for a little bit. Who knows?

AUDIO

analog before. Music now is all digital, so

I’m just going to start looking for jobs and

CHANGED THE WAY YOU LISTEN TO

doing it the way they would have done it

see where that takes me. If I can find a job

MUSIC?

in the ‘40s or ‘50s when they didn’t have

in Austin, that’d be tight.

Oh, for sure. I don’t think I can ever listen to

computers was really cool.

HAS

WORKING

WITH

YOU

SAY

YOU’RE

music the same way as I did before I started recording. You just hear so many different things. You’re listening for so many different things. You’re actively listening when you’re recording. I feel like being a recording engineer for so long, I’ve trained my ears to hear these things, these little subtleties in the music. So whenever I listen to music recreationally, I can’t not listen that way. I listen to music in such an active way.

WHAT’S THE MOST EXCITING THING YOU’VE EVER WORKED ON? In general, I helped record a band at Cacophony

called

Holywave.

was

awesome. They’re incredible. They’ve been one of my favorite bands for a while, so

ORANGE music roundup:

best austin concerts of 2015. This Christmas, you will sit around the dinner table with your family and they will ask you how college is going. One of your grandparents — or maybe a hip uncle — will lean forward, cock an eyebrow, flash a knowing smile and say, “Austin, the ‘Live Music Capital of the World,’ eh?” You will smile meekly and nod, because, I mean, really, if only they actually knew what this place was like. But at the end of the day, they’re right, and Austin still deserves its reputation because thousands of artists grace our city limits every year. So next time the opportunity arises, tell them about some of the best concerts you saw this year. Nobody will judge.

illustrations by dani muñoz I left Zilker satisfied. Check out the live taping on YouTube if you missed it.

Amanda — Walk the Moon at Stubb’s Nothing quite conveys youthful enthusiasm and unapologetic freedom of thought than a Walk the Moon concert. Maybe there was something in the fall air that night, but the camaraderie of the crowd was utterly intoxicating, as they thrived off the

Jim — The Strokes at Austin City Limits Music Festival

high-energy anthems off the band’s newest album

I could write a small novel on this show, but in

airwaves in 1985. Dancing was obviously required

short: The Strokes show at ACL was by far the most

during “Shut Up and Dance,” the quintessential

rock ‘n’ roll thing that happened this year. In a year

heart-pumping millennial theme song. Aside from

full of pimping butterflies and general Sufjan-ing,

the overwhelming energy, there was a degree of

it was honestly refreshing to see a band willing to

spirituality and acceptance among the audience.

put forth only the smallest unit of effort in their

Rainbow lights flooded the stage during “Different

performance. That’s not an insult — The Strokes

Colors,” a song that emphasizes the need to

are effortlessly incredible live performers. I sang

love all people regardless of skin color and

along with thousands of others as the band blew

sexual orientation. One of the most unique and

through a set that covered hits from their entire

invigorating moments of the night was the “drop

discography while still finding time for some

your baggage” ritual associated with the song “I

surprising deep cuts. Frontman Julian Casablancas

Can Lift a Car,” where lead singer Nick Petricca

mumbled genuinely terrible banter along the lines

encouraged us to become carefree by lifting the

of “Austin City Limits… Love me some city limits!”

weight of imaginary cars over our heads. With the

that somehow managed to be endearing. The

euphoria of the crowd floating in the air and hands

Strokes started late and left early, but that night,

raised to the sky, I felt free.

that would have sounded right at home on the

Armando — Kraftwerk at Bass Concert Hall I never thought I’d get to see the pioneers of electronic music, Kraftwerk, in my lifetime, and when I got the chance on Sept. 25, it was everything I’d hoped and dreamed for. The show was practically flawless, with all four members playing every note in perfect unison. The show was billed as a 3D experience. It was surreal seeing a concert through the lenses of cheap 3D glasses and actually enjoying it. Equally strange was having to sit down the entire time and resist the urge to get encore, when the band brought out robot versions

Bryan — Kendrick Lamar at the Moody Theater

of themselves to perform, of course, “The Robots.”

I, too, could write an extensive think piece about

The crowd lost their mind, and it was hands-down

Kendrick Lamar’s transcendental “Austin City

one of the best shows I’ve ever seen and ever will

Limits” taping — one steeped in hyperbole and

ever see.

quasi-religious platitudes deeming him to be the

up and dance my life away. The highlight was the

Belicia — Calliope Musicals at Utopiafest

modern messiah of hip-hop. And I probably wouldn’t get much objection, considering he is rap’s most beloved critical darling. But honestly, that would

The best show I experienced this year wasn’t in

be doing his show a disservice. Because that night,

Austin, but at Utopiafest — a festival two hours

Lamar struck a chord, both musical and emotional,

south of the city on a ranch surrounded by hills

that will reverberate far longer and louder than

that served as a natural amphitheater for 2,000

any high-brow assessment of his performance and

audience members. The last performance of the

what exactly it means in terms of “the big picture.”

weekend took place at 3 a.m. on the acoustic stage

I can only describe it in the most elemental terms:

— a small plateau at the top of a candlelit path where

a dazzling display of lyrical and vocal prowess, a

guests could sit or lay down and gaze at the Milky

masterful control of stage dynamics and audience

Way. Austin-based band Calliope Musicals always

interaction and a call for a better world in which

puts on a compelling show, but the stripped-down

“complexion don’t mean a thing.” I still have a hard

acoustic set and small audience of about 75 people

time articulating my thoughts and feelings about

made this one even more intimate. After lead singer

Lamar’s performance because it was so powerful,

Carrie Fussell handed out candles, we swayed to

but I will say this: once he took the stage, nothing

the music with our flames held high, sniffed and

was the same.

shed tears as the weekend drew to a close and the band sang, “I dreamed this dream would never die.” Utopiafest was my dream, and I wanted it to last forever.

quiz

what austin music festival are you? By ARManDO MAESE Which experience have you encountered the most?

A drunk frat guy telling you to stop looking at his girlfriend Getting a taco shot directly at your face Getting so high you forget who you are Not showering for three days Which one of these movies do you like the most?

The Avengers Pulp Fiction Dazed and Confused Spring Breakers

WHAT WAS your favorite band in middle school?

The Beatles System of a Down Pink Floyd Diplo

WHICH CELEBRITY WOULD YOU WANT TO PARTY WITH?

Matthew McConaughey Bill Murray Andy Warhol Charlie Sheen

Where ARE YOU MOST LIKELY TO GET IN a fistfight?

Your hometown Wrestling ring The backyard of 21st Street Co-Op Sixth Street

AustinCity CityLimits LimitsMusic MusicFestival Festival Austin You’reaapretty prettypopular popularperson. person.People Peopleknow knowabout aboutyou, you,and andthey theywant wanttotobe bearound aroundyou. you. You’ve You’ve You’re gotsomething somethingfor foreveryone, everyone,and andyou’re you’reeasy easytotoget getalong alongwith. with.You Youmight mightget gettoo toodrunk drunkevery everynow now got andthen, then,but butyou youdon’t don’thave havetototry tryvery veryhard hardtotomake makefriends friends——they theyall alljust justgravitate gravitatetoward towardyou. you. and Andno nomatter matterhow howbad badyou youget, get,people peoplewill willstill stillhave haveaagood goodtime time——kind kindofoflike likethe theACL ACLlineup. lineup. And

FunFun FunFun FunFest Fest Fun Youdon’t don’thave havetototry trytotobe becool. cool.You’re You’renaturally naturallyin-the-know in-the-knowon onwhat’s what’ship hipand andwhat’s what’sbound boundtoto You getpeople peoplehyped. hyped.Just Justlike likeyour yourcousin cousinACL, ACL,you’re you’remostly mostlyaacrowd-pleaser crowd-pleaserbut butcan canconnect connectwith with get eventhe themost mostpretentious pretentiouspeople. people.You Youalways alwayshave havesomewhere somewheretotobe beatatnight, night,and andyou youmight mighteven even even partyhop. hop.Known Knownby byassociation, association,you younever neverhave havetototry tryhard hardtotoget getpeople’s people’sattention. attention. party

LevitationFest Fest(Austin (AustinPsych PsychFestival) Festival) Levitation Youhave havealways alwaysbeen been“that” “that”kid. kid.You Youknow, know,the theone onewho whofinds findsout outabout aboutthings thingsbefore beforeeveryone everyone You else.The Theone onewho whodoesn’t doesn’tstudy studyfor fortests testsbut butstill stillgets getsthe thehighest highestgrade gradeininthe theclass. class.Frankly, Frankly,you’re you’re else. kindofofweird, weird,and andyou youmay maynot notbe bethe themost mostpopular popularperson, person,but butthe thepeople peoplewho whoare arewilling willingtotohang hang kind withyou youlove loveyou. you.You Youmight mightbe beaalittle littletoo toomuch muchfor forsome somepeople peopletotohandle, handle,but butyou youdon’t don’treally really with carebecause becausethey’re they’reaabunch bunchofoflames lamesanyways. anyways.Stay Staytrue truetotoyourself. yourself. care

EuphoriaFest Fest Euphoria Everyoneknows knowsitit——you youlike liketotoget getfucked fuckedup. up.You Youare arethe themadman madmanofofthe theparty. party.So Sowhat whatififyou you Everyone can’tremember rememberwhat whathappened? happened?Other Otherpeople peoplecan, can,and andthey’ll they’llbe besure suretototell tellyou youall allabout aboutit.it.Some Some can’t your,ahem, ahem,“antics” “antics”might mightbe beininpoor poortaste, taste,but butthat’s that’sOK. OK.No Noone onereally reallycares, cares,because becauseyou’re you’re ofofyour, SOmuch muchfun. fun.You Youhave haveaawillpower willpowerthat thatmany manyenvy. envy. How Howcan canyou youendure endurethat thatlifestyle? lifestyle?No Noone one SO knows,but butkeep keepon onkeepin’ keepin’on onbuddy. buddy. knows,

Psychoactive Drink Takes Root n cortright story by rave ez andra martin photos by alej

My lips and tongue become numb. I look

out of character for my introverted personality.

down at the coconut shell in my hand, still half-filled with a murky brown liquid. The thick taste of earth and

I am at SquareRüt, one of the only bars in Texas serving

grit is strong, but I bring the shell back to my lips and

up a unique beverage called kava tea. The beverage

drain the remaining tea. Stacks of board games and

is made from the roots of kava plants, which are

metaphysical books rest on the coffee table. Offbeat

grown in South Pacific islands such as Fiji, Vanuatu,

instrumental music, a cross between jazz and reggae

the Samoas and Tonga because they require heavy

rhythms, drifts out of the speakers above the bar.

amounts of shade and moisture. Kava grows best in a tropical climate because it flourishes as an understory

“I assume you’ve got the numbing now,” Scott Pingel

crop, growing in the lower levels of rain forests. For

says, sitting across from me in the comfortable chairs.

centuries, the root has been used ceremonially and

“If you haven’t, it’s coming.” My entire mouth is definitely

was acclaimed for its relaxation properties. It is made

tingling, bordering on numbness. A few minutes later,

by drying and grinding the root and then mixing it in

I feel at ease and sink a little deeper into my seat.

water without any additives. Pingel, SquareRüt owner,

Worries of upcoming exams and assignments fade to

was first exposed to the drink in South Florida before

the background of my thoughts, and soon I am warmly

bringing it to Austin. “If this product was going to work

conversing with random strangers at the bar, something

anywhere in Texas, that would be Austin,” he says. “So if

Pingel

recommends

drinking 12 ounces, or three —

coconut

shells

SquareRüt’s

vessel

of choice — to get the full effect. “After the first shell, you get the numbing,” Pingel says. “And then you should kind of feel your jaw relax a little bit. It’s going to start at the top and work it’s way down. The second shell, when you get into it, you’re going to feel your shoulders

it didn’t work here, it wouldn’t work anywhere.” SquareRüt has seen a constant uptick in sales since they opened their first location on South Congress four years ago with regular monthly growth of 25 percent. Pingel and his wife own two locations, one on North Lamar and another on South Congress, with a new location opening on Barton Springs in the near future. Other than

physically drop. So it’ll be like you just got back from a massage. It’s almost that intense. And then the third one just kind of helps relax the rest of the body.” University of Maryland Medical Center doctors researched the effects of kava tea on the body in 2014 and found that the

So it'll be from Zhi, a local company, as well as like you just espresso beverages and chocolate. got back from Currently, Pingel is preparing to a massage. launch a brand of kava lemonade called KavaChiller. Despite its It’s almost growth, few people seem to know that intense. exactly what kava tea is, let alone kava tea, SquareRüt serves up tea

its interesting effects. Once consumed, chemicals called kavalactones in the root cause a temporary numbing of the mouth, tongue and lips. Its users claim that, after the initial reaction, kava tea is an excellent substitute for relaxants, antianxiety drugs, insomnia medications and alcohol.

chemicals in the plant which give it its active properties cause muscle relaxation and promote better sleep, while also

containing

anesthetics

that relieve pain and cause the temporary numbing. Often used as a substitute for drugs such as Xanax, some people rely on kava tea to unwind and naturally treat

emotional, mental or social disorders John Miller, a regular SquareRüt customer, finds himself at the kava bar five days a week to ease his social anxiety. “My actual anxiety got worse in about the last two years, three years, just that early mid-

20s stuff that happens,” Miller says. “It’s been

for the hundreds of thousands of Australians who

helpful ever since to have kava because you know

suffer from Generalised Anxiety Disorders (GAD).”

some other substances that are available, such as alcohol, can be too impairing. They can create

One of the major upsides of the drink compared

a habit that is not sustainable. Whereas kava is

to alcohol is that it only takes a small amount

something that is not as severe, not as powerful.”

to get the desired effect, and once that effect has been achieved, drinking more kava will not

According to Miller, the use of kava tea as a

intensify the sensation. “You’re not going to be

substitute for alcohol is quite popular. “If you

impaired, you can sit here and drink 20 of them

Google ‘alternatives to alcohol,’ I believe kava tea

and never experience any kind of buzz or any

is one of the first things that pops up,” Pingel adds.

impairment,” Pingel says. “That being said, 12

Because it creates a sense of relaxation and social

ounces is about all you need because you’ll kind

ease without the worry of inebriation or bodily

of plateau a little.” Kava actually has a reverse

harm, many health professionals recommend

intoxication effect — the more regularly exposed

kava tea as an ideal alternative. The use of kava to

to kavalactones, the less you need to drink to feel

combat anxiety was supported by a 2013 study led

the desired effects.

by the University of Melbourne that was published in the Journal of Clinical Pharmopsychology.

SquareRüt’s atmosphere is also relaxing in

The research concluded that “kava could be an

itself. A cross between a coffee shop and a bar,

alternative treatment to pharmaceutical products

soothing music and artwork make the space

feel comfortable. From the large chairs beside stacks

important to many Austinites. “We’re seeing kava bars

of board games to the bar offering tea and espresso

popping up at a pretty rapid rate right now,” Pingel says.

beverages, the place has less traffic than most buzzing

“Do I think it’ll be a Starbucks? Probably not, but there

coffee shops and bars. “I notice a lot of people really

is some traction with kava right now.”

coming out of their shell here,” Miller says. “I notice a lot of groups that come in with one energy, leaving with

Regardless, some products can be appreciated for their

a completely different energy. Often you’ll have them

unfamiliarity and valued for their obscurity, like the

playing Cards Against Humanity after just having sat and

underground music scene. Pingel is content staying

talked. There’s often a levity to this place that I really

rooted as a local independent business, rather than

enjoy.”

forcing kava into mainstream culture to become a name brand. Luckily, Austinites can appreciate the exclusivity

Alisha Penna, a server at SquareRüt and massage therapy

of Texas’s few kava bars, allowing full appreciation of

student, agrees that the product and interior make an

this exotic psychoactive beverage. “I’m happy where

ideal social atmosphere. “It’s just that feeling of coming

we’re at,” Pingel says. “Certainly, we still have a lot of

to a friend’s house,” Penna says.

room to grow here in Austin. But certainly we’re the only one in the state of Texas — so when you come here, it’s

The use of kava tea in mainstream society still remains a little obscure. But Pingel and others are confident it is

an experience.”

Singapore Cuisine Shines in ATX story By Felicia Rodriguez photos By miranda chiechi

Charles Hall, owner of the nainai food trailer,

Hainanese chicken rice.

has established himself as the new face of great Singaporean eats in the Austin community. His trailer

Hall has always had a love for his grandmother’s

brings the flavors and style of Singapore cuisine in

chicken rice soup, but when he started school at UT

the form of three generously-portioned menu items,

in fall 2010, he noticed no other food could fill the

all thanks to Hall’s grandmother.

void he had for his favorite dish. It was because of this very absence that the journey to create the nainai

“Nainai means grandmother in Chinese, and as for

food trailer began. “I would always make time to have

inspiration, it is all in the name,” Hall says. “To be

dinner with my grandparents,” Hall says. “But when

more specific, the inspiration comes from the real

Mimi told me she was making chicken rice [soup], I'd

nainai, my grandmother Mimi, and the many meals I

skip lunch to save room for that fourth bowl.”

had at my grandparents’ house growing up as a kid.” Hall had an interest in cooking since a young age Hall's grandmother, Constance "Mimi" Schnatter,

but became truly fascinated with the science and

was born in Eerie, Pa., in 1931. After marrying Hall's

art of cooking when he watched “Mind of a Chef”

grandfather at the age of 17, they traveled around

with David Chang on PBS. “One year of work for a

the world, and Singapore was one of the places they

restaurateur who specializes in franchises and a

called home for almost a decade. They moved back

couple of downloaded culinary school textbooks

to America and settled in Fort Worth, Texas, where

later, and I was set on the idea of bringing Singapore

Hall’s grandmother created her own version of

chicken rice to Austin just like my grandma made

spice absorbs itself into the broth, taking the soup to a new level. Hall considers the nainai chicken rice the “star of the show” at his new trailer. “It’s served exactly as my Grandmother would at dinner at her house, and as a result it’s actually a bit of unintentional Asian-American fusion,” Hall says. The “star of the show” also comes in a second form, known as the Hainan chicken rice. This dish is served the traditional Singaporean way with soup on the side. “We use the same fresh ingredients as our nainai chicken rice to give you a similar experience as if you were eating at a hawker stall in Singapore, only you don’t have to take a transcontinental flight,” Hall says. “Basically it’s got all the flavors of our soup just without the broth in the bowl for those people who are looking to get a dry rice bowl.” The last menu item is the chicken wing confit, which Hall created from his love for chicken wings and an evolution of an old recipe. The citrus and ginger pepper dry rub adds a crispy coating to the chicken wing dish that packs a crunch through every peel-offthe-bone bite. “For two years in a row, [I] was a participant in a cooking competition for charity, and I used a recipe where we battered the wings and was always disappointed with how they came out on the actual day of the competition,” Hall says. “The breading was uneven, too thick in spots that it was like a fried Panko ball and not enough to encase the chicken in others.” The chicken wing confit — a French recipe for duck confit applied to a chicken wing and combined with house-made lemon ginger pepper dry rub — was the solution. Hall says he only offers three meals on the menu in order to it,” Hall says. “The food trailer was just the most

deliver fresh food to all customers. He says the focus is on

readily available vehicle to allow me to share my

doing the best job possible and making everything fresh every

love of chicken rice.”

single day in order to serve as many people as possible. This allows for quality meals that will make people come back for

In Singapore, the chicken rice is served on a plate

more and possibly allow him to expand in the next five years.

with a mound of rice, topped with chicken and

“If the demand is there, I would definitely extend the brand into

sides of spicy sauce and soy with a small cup of

a full-fledged restaurant,” Hall says. “With the right space and

soup. “At my grandma’s house we had a big pot of

equipment, we could be serving hundreds of people a day.”

soup, a rice maker and all the trimmings laid out on the table,” Hall says. “It was only natural to put

Hall’s current focus is on the present and waiting to see whether

it all in the same bowl, and in the process nainai's

the nainai food trailer will attract Austin locals and non-Austin

chicken rice came to life.”

folks alike. With the support from his family and friends, he says he has many people to thank for where he is now. “I’ve gotten

The aromatic chicken broth and the jasmine rice

all kinds of support from my family and friends,” Hall says. “I

are some of the interesting flavors that came from

wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for my grandparents, who not

the favorite chicken rice meal Hall grew to know

only introduced me to all these exotic cuisines but also invested

and love. Add in some chile garlic sauce, and the

in the business to get me to where I am today.”

wrap, spicy hummus with marinated carrots, roasted Brussels sprouts, buffalo macaroni and “cheese” balls and chocolate-raspberry mousse for dessert. Here, ORANGE Food + Drink editors Melyssa Fairfield and Megan Prendergast share their experiences from The Blind Cafe. Melyssa: Darkness. Complete and utter darkness. I can hear voices all around me, close and far away, but I feel isolated and alone. When I decided to go the traveling The Blind Cafe to focus on writing about the food, I actually didn’t think about what it would feel like to have my most familiar sense taken away from me.

blind

DINING By Melyssa Fairfield and Megan Prendergast

The Blind Cafe is a traveling organization that, according to its website, aims to deliver “inspiring positive social change” by hosting dining events in total darkness. Facilitated by legally blind volunteer speakers and servers, the dinners encourage communication and education between sighted people and blind people. The experience came to Austin Nov. 3-5 and was held at

Megan: One of the wait staff leads us to the top of the staircase in groups of six. Once we reach the top, he tells us to start a mini conga line. I place my shaking hands on the shoulders of the guy in front of me, and Melyssa rests her hands on mine. He leads through a winding hallway into complete darkness. As we all lose our sense of sight, everyone begins to comment on the incredible darkness of the room. The wait staff seats each group of six at their own table and tells us there is a bowl of bread in the middle of the round table. Melyssa: After a minor freak-out at the initial adjustment to the black room, I began to calm down and talk to Megan. “As long as there aren’t any mushrooms on the plate, I’m good,” she says. Voices from the other diners are echoing loudly, and the room feels massive. Remembering what

The American Legion house.

the director of the cafe, told me before we went in

The Colorado-based cafe hosts pop-up events across America,

the table, I reach over where I feel my plate is and

and the organizers find chefs local to each area to prepare the food. Local holistic health coach Dustin Lundewall was chosen for the dinners in Austin. To make The Blind Cafe as inclusive as possible, the menu is entirely vegan and gluten-free (besides the bread). Lundewall’s all-vegan menu included a tasting plate of roasted stuffed mushrooms, an Asian-dressed vegetable lettuce

about there being a bread basket in the middle of slide my hand until I feel a container. I grab two slices of bread for Megan and I, fearing that I might not like what I find on my plate. Megan: Melyssa hands me a slice of bread, and I take my first bite, momentarily forgetting about the

With the fear of the first bite out of the way, I plunge into this new culinary experience of eating things without being able to see them.

darkness that we were sitting in. Encouraged to talk to

things without being able to see them. I find what feels

other people by Lundewall but too overwhelmed, I sit

like a small, round biscuit that’s crumbly and tangy.

eavesdropping to the conversations around me — there

No idea what it is, but it tastes delicious — savory and

is a young high school couple to the right of me and an

crunchy with a little bit of a spicy kick (toward the end

older couple across from me.

of the meal, the chef tells us it’s a buffalo mac and cheese ball). The next thing my fingers find is slimy,

Melyssa: I finish my bread and decide to explore my

and I immediately realize it’s a mushroom. “Megan, I

plate, sticking my hand aimlessly in front of me and

found a mushroom! Be careful!” I say and hear Megan

attempting to pick up what I imaging is some solid

gasp. No worries for me, I love mushrooms, and these

piece of food on the round paper plate in front of

are stuffed with something I can’t quite place but

me. What I feel is definitely not solid and sticks to

balances the earthy taste of the roasted mushroom

my fingers. After a little more clumsy searching I find

perfectly.

some small, hard bits of food that run into the sticky substance. Mustering all of the bravery I can, I bite into

Megan: I would not consider myself a picky eater at

what I realize is a marinated carrot and some herb-

all. I love tasting new cuisines and dishes. But there

laced hummus.

is one food I refuse to eat: mushrooms. There is something about them — the smell, the look, the taste,

Knowing all of the food on my plate is

the texture — that I just cannot stand. So of course,

vegan and gluten-free, I am curious and ready to

sitting on my plate were three stuffed mushrooms. No

dig in. Exploring my plate, my hands get messy as I

thank you.

Megan:

accidentally dip my finger into the scoop of herb-y hummus. After touching most of the food on my plate

Melyssa: After twenty minutes of eating passes, a Q&A

(with clean hands, of course), I finally take my first

session with some of the blind volunteer staff kicks off.

bite of food: brussels sprouts. I am not the least bit

The staff discusses everything from how they became

disappointed because brussels sprouts are my kind of

blind to how they handle everyday tasks without

comfort food. As I become more confident with food

conventional sight. The overall consensus from the

on my plate, I began sampling more and more of the

volunteers is that they can do anything a seeing person

snacks.

can do, just in a different way.

Melyssa: With the fear of the first bite out of the way,

Megan: It was interesting and quite emotional to hear

I plunge into this new culinary experience of eating

the stories of the blind wait staff: how they lost their

I love tasting new cuisines and dishes. But there is one food I refuse to eat: mushrooms.

vegan chocolate mousse.

sight, how they adapted to their new lifestyle, the struggles they face from their lack of sight, and a few hilarious anecdotes from their lives. On more than one occasion, Richie, one of the blind wait staff, has been unnecessarily assisted in the bathroom. Faith, another one of the blind wait staff, tells us that she too has experienced uncalled

By Megan Prendergast

for help in the bathroom.

This vegan chocolate mousse recipe

Melyssa: Shortly after the Q&A, I feel a hand brush my shoulder and

is inspired by the dessert at The Blind Cafe. Makes two servings

ingredients.

let out a startled squeak. “Hey, it’s just me, Faith, I’m trying to give you your dessert,” a voice says. I reach up and take a small plastic cup with a lid and get excited because, you know, dessert. I pop the lid off and scoop out rich and creamy chocolate with a hint of raspberry. Richie’s band Constellation Prize starts playing a song, and the music instantly calms me.

1/2 cup vegan chocolate chips (semisweet or dark)

Megan: As the evening comes to a close, Rosh asks the diners if we

6 ounces coconut cream, chilled

are ready. He lights a candle, which lights up the room, but only

overnight

slightly, and people begin to exclaim their misconceptions of the

A few raspberries

room, which was much larger than both Melyssa and I had imagined. After Rosh gives his final remarks, people begin moving around and making their way to the exit. The Blind Cafe continues to tour across America, aiming to bring more of the dine-in-the-dark experience to as many people as possible. The cafe will return to Austin Feb. 2-4. Get tickets online at theblindcafe.com/austin

directions. • Melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring after each increment. Set aside. • In a medium mixing bowl, use an electric whisk to whip chilled coconut cream until fluffy. • Add melted chocolate (except for one tablespoon) to the bowl and whisk again until chocolate is fully incorporated. • Divide mixture into two serving dishes. Top with remaining melted chocolate. • Chill in refrigerator for 1-3 hours. • Before serving, top with a few raspberries.

enjoy!

Our Favorite Winter Holiday Dishes in Austin Sara Donovan Turkey Cranberry Sandwich Thunderbird While I love Thanksgiving, I love Thanksgiving leftovers even more. My family and I spend the few days following our turkey day feast fighting over Tupperware containers, trying to spoon some of our favorites dishes onto our plates. Thanksgiving leftovers are also a time for a person's creativity to flourish. How many ways can you really eat turkey? Thunderbird Coffee makes a creative twist on the classic leftover-turkey sandwich. The turkey

cranberry sandwich combines sliced turkey and spicy cranberry jelly, topped with Havarti cheese, fresh spring greens and red onion on grilled ciabatta bread. Biting into the sandwich transports me to the holiday season, and it's a simple yet satisfying way to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers in Austin all year round.

Felicia Rodriguez Rocky Road Bread Pudding Perryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steakhouse This dish reminds me of being home for the Christmas holiday, sitting by the fireplace with homemade bread pudding and hot chocolate. The rocky road bread pudding from Perryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Steakhouse takes that to a whole new level. A giant marshmallow sits on top of a large chunk of bread pudding mixed with caramel sauce, chocolate chips and butterscotch. The combination is incredible. I love that it's not too sweet, so it's something I can eat the whole way through. The first time I had this dessert, I was with my parents, and they were treating me for ending my first semester of college on a strong note. Since then, we go to Perry's every fall semester as a delicious way to start my Christmas break before coming home for the holidays.

Jiayi Sun Spring Roll Rice Bowl Cafe

Photos by Jamie Medina

This dish reminds me of Spring Festival, or Chinese New year, which is an important festival in China that happens in January and February. On the eve before Spring Festival, every family will sit around a table, enjoying

dishes, and spring rolls will come last because it is the most traditional and the most important. It has a very tempting look — a fresh yellow coating with green, pink or dark red inside. As you pick up the spring roll, oil may drip gently off. It has a crispy outside as it is fried, and the inside can hold vegetables, meat or red beans. Because spring is considered the beginning of a year in China, people have spring rolls to call for a totally new year and wish for love and luck. Rice Bowl Cafe serves spring rolls that are as crispy and delicious as those at my home.

Alejandra Martinez Capirotada Fonda San Miguel Capirotada is Mexican bread pudding that is a popular dish around winter time. This dessert is not like any other bread pudding. It is a mixture of dried fruit, nuts, white cheese, butter, cinnamon, bread, spices and cloves. Its sweet and warm melting structure is best enjoyed when it is cold outside with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. I like the dish because I make it every winter with my mother and makes me feel at home. Fonda San Miguel serves Capirotada, and it reminds me of the rich and heavenly recipe my family and I make back at home.

Anshuman Singhal Roasted Butternut Squash with Soy Sesame Glaze Eastside Cafe Time and time again, this roasted butternut squash with an umami-rich soy and sesame glaze brings me back to the holiday season. For me, the butternut squash is quintessentially autumnal, as it’s always present at our Thanksgiving dinner spread. The preparation of the squash at Eastside Cafe is raw and natural, paying total homage to the earthy, clean flavor of the gourd itself. The dish starts with a whole butternut squash, cut it in half and roasted it in the oven until it’s tender. What makes the dish for me is the dark, amber glaze pooled into the middle of the squash. The glaze is thick and sticky, packed with soy sauce, sesame oil and warming ginger. The combination of the savory sauce and fresh, vibrant butternut squash just screams “holidays!” to me.

The combination of the savory sauce and fresh, vibrant butternut squash just screams “holidays!” to me.

Alyssa Arnold PB&J Donut Gourdoughâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Around Hanukkah time, it is traditional to eat foods that have been fried in oil. While potato pancakes are a popular option, my favorite is sufganiyot, or jelly donuts. The PB&J donut from Gourdough's is an upscale version of the jelly donuts I used to get as a special treat with my dad during Hanukkah. The PB&J donut has a delicious grape jelly filling and is topped with peanut butter frosting and peanut butter morsels that offset the sweetness from the jelly. Of course the fact that all of this goodness is on top of a giant fried Gourdough's donut only makes it better.

Mae Hamilton Luo Buo Gao Shanghai Chinese Restaurant During the 15-day celebration of Chinese New Year, people eat all sorts of foods that are supposed to bring them good luck. Luo buo gao, or daikon cake, is a simple dim sum staple that consists of only shredded daikon (a mild-flavored radish) combined with rice flour and water. The cake can be served

steamed or fried, usually with oyster sauce or soy sauce on top. I personally prefer the fried kind because that's what I ate growing up. Daikon cake is called "cai tao gui" in Taiwanese which sounds like the phrase for "good luck," so people will eat daikon cake in hopes of bringing in some good luck for the New Year. The daikon cake at Shanghai Chinese Restaurant is served fried, gooey and moist with no sauce, just how my mom makes it.

Katie Samuelsen Mini Pies Tiny Pies What says Thanksgiving more than pie? Not only is pie one of my favorite desserts, it is also commonly my birthday cake, as my birthday usually falls on or near Thanksgiving. Tiny Pies is the perfect place to fill your pie craving and your cute food craving all in one place. The mother-daughter team creates their wide range of pies with as many local ingredients as possible, and their handheld pies are adorable and delicious. If you want apple pie, pumpkin pie with chai whipped cream or pear apple ginger, it's not too much of a commitment to get all three. It's a winwin!

By Katie Samuelsen

Do you want more food on your feed? To us, nothing sounds better. We like to think of Instagram as a visual menu of all the great places there are to eat in ATX. Here are a few accounts that will keep you inspired, hungry and in-the-know on Austin food.

@keepaustineatin

If you want to keep your Insta-feed colorful and aesthetically pleasing, you should follow @keepaustineatin. Lesa Rossick, a farm-to-table obsessed Iowa native, founded this Instagram account. Her love for food and eating local brought her to Austin and led her to create her mouth-watering account. Recently, her posts have been all about desserts, but there are tons of great restaurant suggestions mixed in.

@austinmymouth

This account includes endless pictures of yummy ATX food captioned with endless hashtags. There are lots of tacos, pizza and sandwiches too. Of all the accounts mentioned, this one is the most down-to-earth. It feels like it’s being run by your close friend who just happens to be a major foodie, complete with hashtags like “#pooppoison #clogging #alll #arteries” on Piranha Killer Sushi’s cheese and rice bowl.

@austinfoodmagazine

If you’re an aspiring chef or have interest in finer foods, this Instagram is the one for you. @austinfoodmagazine’s channel often features the work of chefs or fancier restaurants around town. Though these dishes may not be as attainable for most of us, they sure are fun to look at.

@austinfoodstagram

If you want to stay in the loop of Austin food life, this Instagram account is for you. They’re always on top of new openings and specials, from promoting free tacos at Chilito for Fun Fun Fun Fest to snagging a table at the opening of downtown sushi restaurant RA Sushi. On top of everything, the blogger who runs it is a big Longhorn fan.

@dine_atx

If @dine_atx were a food, it would be a chopped salad full of many tasty ingredients. This Instagram account is a well-cultivated collection of photos taken by foodies all throughout Austin. Anyone can submit photos, so this posts capture food from all corners of the city. From clams at Cantine Italian Cafe to chocolate covered bananas at Bananarchy, this Instagram is a comprehensive account of the multitude of food options in ATX.

ORANGE EATS

Stealthy

Veggie

by Megan Prendergast and Melyssa FairFIeld

Showstoppers

photos by Megan Prendergast and Yanhuan Ji

Veggie burgers are not just for vegetarians, and these beet veggie burgers will please vegetarians and carnivores alike. This recipe takes plain ol’ black bean veggie patties to a whole new level.

Smoky Beet Burgers

Directions

Makes six burgers

Burger patties Ingredients •

1 small red onion, diced, about 1 cup

•

3 garlic cloves, minced

•

1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

•

1 1/2 cups peeled and shredded beets, about 2

1. Heat oil over medium heat in skillet. Once hot, add diced onion, garlic and a pinch of salt. Cook until fragrant and onions have softened, stirring continuously. Remove from heat and set aside. 2. Using a food processor, puree chickpeas until

medium-sized beets or 1 large beet

smooth. In a large mixing bowl, add onions, garlic

•

1/2 cup quinoa, cooked

and pureed chickpeas, and mix until combined. Add

•

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

shredded beets, cooked quinoa, cumin and smoked

•

1 1/2 tablespoons smoked paprika

•

1 teaspoon cumin

paprika. Stir. Add oat flour to the mixture, and stir

•

1/2 cup oat flour

•

salt and pepper to taste

Extras •

Burger fix-ins of your choice

•

6 burger buns, toasted

3. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. 4. Press about 1/3 cup of the mixture into a biscuit cutter to shape into six patties. Arrange patties on baking sheet. Refrigerate for 15 minutes — this will help the patties keep their shape while baking. Bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through. Or pan-fry patties on the stove, about 5 minutes on each side over medium-high heat. 5. While patties are cooking, prepare burgers with fixins. Add beet patties to your burger, and enjoy.

until the mixture holds together.

Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese

Directions

If you crave creamy, decadent macaroni and cheese

and the out-of-the box variety just isn't cutting it anymore, this recipe is perfect for you. The addition of butternut squash to a simple cheese sauce even sneaks some veggies into your diet, making it a delicious alternative to the old box mac and cheese

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F Cook pasta according to package instructions,

but take it out 1-2 minutes before done so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not completely cooked. Set pasta aside. 3. Puree 12 ounces of roasted butternut squash (no skin) until smooth. Add a splash of milk or vegetable stock if the squash is too thick or

standby.

difficult to blend.

Ingredients

butter over medium heat and add

12 ounces cavatappi or any other short pasta

2 tablespoons flour, whisking together until flour is

12 ounces roasted butternut squash 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese 1 cup milk, any unsweetened, unflavored kind 1 cup vegetable stock 4 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons flour Salt and pepper to taste

Start the cheese sauce. Melt 4 tablespoons of

light brown, about 2 minutes. 5. Add the milk (I used unsweetened almond milk) and vegetable broth to the pan and whisk lightly for 3-4 minutes until the mixture starts to thicken. 6.

Stir in the pureed squash until it is fully

incorporated, then add all of the cheese, stirring until completely melted. Add salt and pepper to taste. 7. Add pasta to sauce and mix until all of the pasta is coated. 8. Divide mixture among small individual dishes or one large dish, cover top of pasta with cheddar cheese and bake for 20 minutes until top is bubbly.

Carrot Apple Spice Sangria

Directions 1.

Pour wine and spiced apple cider into a

Sangria may have a reputation for being the

large pitcher and stir.

ultimate summer drink, but this spiced sangria

is a great fall or winter alternative. The spices

to the pitcher.

and apple cider are deliciously aromatic, and

3. Add cinnamon sticks, allspice and nutmeg to

the addition of carrot juice makes for a hearty

the pitcher and stir.

winter cocktail.

Chop apples, discarding the core, and add

Let sangria sit in the fridge for at least 3

hours, preferably overnight to let all of the

Ingredients

flavors meld together.

1 750-ml bottle of dry white wine

5. Fill glasses halfway with sangria and top with

2 cups spiced apple cider

carrot juice until glass is 3/4 full. Serve with

8 ounces carrot juice

cinnamon sticks.

3 medium or large apples 3 cinnamon sticks 1 teaspoon allspice 1 teaspoon nutmeg

growing community story by katie samuelsen. photos by betsy joles.

Every day, drivers set out from one East Austin farm with trucks

full of freshly harvested organic fruits and vegetables. They deliver these items throughout Austin, just to come back and do it all again the next day. The Johnson’s Backyard Garden community supported agriculture system (CSA) brings farmers and people closer together and provides convenient nutrition for hundreds of Austinites. But how does community supported agriculture work? Through Johnson’s Backyard Garden’s CSA system, members engage in a partnership with the farm. Members pay in advance and receive a weekly share of the harvest. Food is harvested on the East Austin farm and is delivered that day to one of the 30 grocery stores, markets, office parks or individual homes and offices. Members of the CSA choose between four sizes of boxes, whether they want to pick up their box or would prefer it delivered and if they would like to add additional items such

as eggs or fair-trade organic coffee. Each CSA box has 8 to 12 different types of vegetables inside. Johnson’s Backyard Garden also hosts events such as potlucks and cooking workshops. They have an online recipe database to help their members find ways to cook the food they receive in their CSA box. Johnson’s Backyard Garden is more than just an access point to fresh local produce. They’ve

CSA boxes is something to “experience fully and do religiously” as opposed to gratuitously eating the “in season” foods at the grocery store. She thought she was generally eating seasonally before signing up for her first CSA box but quickly learned differently. “The first tomato of summer is the best tomato of your life,” Postler says. “You don’t have to do a lot with healthy ingredients. They have a good flavor.” After a year in the CSA membership program, Postler wanted to get more involved. She now works for Johnson’s Backyard Garden as their volunteer coordinator. “It’s a good time and you meet a lot of cool people and can exchange a lot of recipes,” Postler says about the work-share program she leads. “I’ve made a lot of friends, like Adam who comes on Tuesdays. He makes drinks like kombucha with the things he gets in his box. Adam is teaching me about making drinks, and I’m teaching him about the all different ways to cook the vegetables we receive in our CSA boxes. You can really learn a lot.” Postler has also learned to pickle, ferment and preserve foods from the people she’s volunteered with.

you don’t have to do a lot with healthy ingredients. they have a good flavor.

created a unique community through their CSA program. Holly Postler, an active food blogger and local organic food enthusiast speaks of her CSA experience. “I kind of just did it. I didn’t think,” Holly says about why she signed up to begin receiving CSA boxes a year ago. “It was a little overwhelming at first, but it trains and challenges you to use new vegetables and eat seasonally.” According to Postler, eating seasonally with food from the

Anyone can volunteer on the farm or in the barn at the garden, and according to the garden’s CSA manager Ada Broussard, everyone that does receives one CSA box as a thank you. Volunteering on the farm is labor intensive but rewarding, according to Postler. “You see where your food comes from, and you learn about it,” Postler says. “It’s eye-opening.” Volunteering in the barn is less strenuous than volunteering on the farm. The tasks are easier than harvesting vegetables and include washing, bagging and boxing vegetables for delivery. Monica Ford, the operations lead at Wheatsville, has been overseeing the CSA deliveries for four years. “If you can afford it, it’s worth it,” Ford says. “It’s cool to see people come every week. There’s this woman who bicycles here every Thursday with her son in this dome thing on the back of her bike. She gets her vegetables then bikes home balancing her box. It’s cute.” Boxes are also delivered to people’s homes, where people like Pamela Lenzen receive them. Lenzen is new to Austin and has just recently begun receiving CSA boxes. “We just moved from the NYC metro

area four months ago, and I can’t drive, won’t ever be able to,” Lenzen says. Lenzen, a cancer patient who is often at home, says she moved here because she “wanted peace and trees.” She adds, “It’s a little scary not being self sufficient. With this at least I’ve always got a good healthy salad in the house.” She says she is “inspired by the quality, interesting ingredients.” Lenzen specifically recommends the fresh kohlrabi with hummus. She adds that she’s had some success juicing the items in her CSA box using wellness activist Kris Carr’s recipes. The company and the community around the garden have grown a lot since their humble beginnings. “Johnson’s Backyard Garden literally started in a farmer’s backyard in East Austin,” Broussard says. “It was just him growing food, then 20 or 30 of his neighbors wanted in. They would come pick up food from him every week, and that’s how the Johnson’s Backyard Garden began.” Now, the garden is growing food year-round and has around 80 employees. With the help of their members, the organization donates around 150 shares a year to the Austin Settlement home, a place for children and young adults who have suffered trauma, abuse and neglect. They also sell a lot of their fruits, vegetables and herbs at local farmers markets. Though the majority of the food grown at Johnson’s Backyard Garden goes to the CSA program, the surplus goes to restaurants, grocery stores and other locations. “The CSAs are still our bread and butter,” Broussard says. “People are more deeply understanding of where their food comes from. You see the delivery driver who works for us come from our farm to your doorstep. There’s no middle man.” By seeing each other weekly, the members of the CSA form relationships with each other and with the JBG employees. “There’s always a really interesting and really great relationship between our drivers and our customers,” Broussard says.

The garden is also used for Food is Free Austin, a movement that encourages neighbors working together to build a community around growing food. The Austin chapter of the Food is Free gardening movement uses the garden’s vegetables, seedlings and compost for their farm to feed their chickens and to host community potlucks with Earphoria, an Austin music hostel. Nico Graham runs Food is Free Austin and sometimes volunteers at Johnson’s Backyard Garden. “Volunteer experience is great,” Graham says. “It’s one big happy family working at JBG. The freshest organic veggies and awesome people.” He remembers a specific time a few years ago at a potluck where the garden’s employees brought some vegetables, the Food is Free volunteers played live music and they both fed the community together. Johnson’s Backyard Garden’s employees also helped plant sprouting onion in the Food is Free community spiral garden. “We’re a motley crew. We goof off a lot, but we get the job done. It’s hard work,” Postler says on the work environment at Johnson’s Backyard Garden. The impact JBG has made on the Austin community and agricultural system through increasing the accessibility of local and organic produce is very visible. “I got involved to make a difference in the local food system and to encourage more people to buy locally and organically,” Broussard says. To those who are wary about the responsibilities of getting involved in the CSA box program, she says: “Remember the reasons you’re doing it. Of course, you have to eat and you want to eat healthy, but more than that you’re supporting local farmers, the local economy and Austin small business.”

I N F L U E N C E R

AUDREY NGUYEN YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Philosophy and Biology HOMETOWN: Houston, Texas

STORY BY KRIS SEAVERS PHOTOS BY SARAH MONTGOMERY

M E E T

A U D R E Y.

AUDREY Nguyen isn’t afraid to get

volunteering with the UT Micro Farm

probably have this romanticized notion

her hands dirty. This semester she

during its first planting season in the

about what farming is gonna be like.”

served as the project co-director of

spring of my freshman year, summer

So I went out there, I got my hands

operations for the UT Micro Farm, a

2013. Previous to that, I had really taken

dirty and I ended up falling in love.

student-run farm that grows food for

advantage of being able to walk into a

In terms of day to day stuff, I’m largely

the local community through organic

grocery store and just have any of the

in charge of running work days. I create

and sustainable farming techniques. In

produce I wanted, no matter if it was

a to-do list, manage volunteers. My co-

her four years at UT, she has launched

in season or not where I was. I didn’t

workers and I work together to create

a mentorship program for incoming

really think about the time and energy

a planting plan. It’s really, really cool

freshmen at UT, disk jockeyed for KVRX

that went into getting food from the

because at the Micro Farm, we have a

and participated in Texas Spirits. This

farm to my fork. I feel like the whole

ton of autonomy. It’s totally bottoms-

semester Nguyen was also selected for

experience has been really humbling

up. The students have control, so it’s

the Texas 4000 team, and she will bike

and very eye-opening. It’s helped me

really great. We go on trips, we plant

from Austin to Anchorage, Ala. in the

live more deeply.

beds, we also sell our produce. My co-

summer of 2017. This new project will

Food

very

worker does more of the produce side.

mean leaving her position at the micro

collaborative. The farm wouldn’t be

I manage pest control and fertilizing

farm, but the experience has left her

as successful as it is without my co-

interns, and I also manage fundraising

with a new perspective on food and

director, my assistant director, our

and outreach interns.

living sustainably.

amazing team of interns. We have seven

something

that’s

phenomenal interns this semester that

WHAT

WHY HAVE YOU CHOSEN TO STUDY

have just blown it out of the water. It’s

UT MICRO FARM IMPACTS THE

BIOLOGY AND PHILOSOPHY?

really insane. And of course the farm

COMMUNITY?

I really enjoy how both allow me to

wouldn’t be able to function without

We’re located in East Austin, much

contextualize life. Philosophy allows

droves of volunteers coming out each

of which has been identified as a

me to ask questions and be OK in

week to help maintain everything. So

food desert by the USDA, meaning

not knowing the answer. So it helps

food for me is something that is really

its residents lack access to healthy,

me cope with all the uncertainty in

collaborate and interdisciplinary.

affordable

life. And biology — that gets pretty

ARE

SOME

food

WAYS

options.

THE

like to feel like we are a small part

miserable, just the never knowing. But

HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED

of the solution by donating some

biology is really tangible. It’s really cool

AT THE FARM, AND WHAT’S YOUR

of our produce to the Blackland

to be able to look at a leaf and say OK,

ROLE THERE?

Neighborhood Center right down the

I know why that’s green. Just looking at

I got involved because I initially

street from us. We actually just built

it, I understand why this plant is vital

didn’t know what I wanted to do after

and planted a bed for them. They say,

for my existence.

graduation, so I thought about doing

‘OK, this is what we need, and this is

the Peace Corps. I was looking what

what we’re lacking.’ We’re able to plant

WHAT DOES FOOD MEAN TO YOU?

I could do with the Peace Corps, and

that and sow the seeds and make that

I guess my meaningful relationship

sustainable agriculture sounded really

happen. So that’s really rewarding.

with food really started when I started

cool. But I had in my head, “OK, I

We also sell to the Division of Housing

spanning across all mediums and create a

and Food Services on campus, so some

playlist, weaving musicality into different

WHAT WOULD BE ON THE MENU?

of our produce will actually get used in

themes based on interpretations of and

Probably some dank Vietnamese food. I

campus dining halls, which is really cool.

reactions to the work. It’s also part talk

love Vietnamese food. I’d maybe take him

[Thanksgiving] week we actually sold

show, and I try to have a guest in the

to somewhere in Bel-Air. We’d probably

over 200 pounds of sweet potatoes. It

boost with me every other week just

go family style, that’s my favorite. Order

was really fun. We were able to have our

to get their perspective on it. It’s cool

a bunch of different dishes and everyone

last meeting of the semester in J2 eating

because I’m able to have really awesome,

gets to try everything.

the sweet potatoes that we grew, so that’s

intriguing conversations with local artists,

cool.

versus me just interpreting the work and

WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL POST-

We also have weekly farm stands on

putting my own spin on it.

COLLEGE LIFE LOOK LIKE?

campus on over by West Mall right in

I like to read, I like going outdoors. I love

After school, I think I’m going to open

front of the FAC.

hiking. I have a lot of hobbies.

up a floral shop/event company. There is a movement within the United States

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR FREE

ANYONE

for slow flowers or flowers grown within

TIME

LIVING OR DEAD TO HAVE DINNNER

the U.S. because a lot of the flowers are

RUNNING THE MICRO FARM?

WITH, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

imported. Working at the Micro Farm has

I do a lot. I am a DJ with 91.7 KVRX, so I

Hands down it would be James Turrell.

really opened my eyes to what it means

have a weekly specialty talk show called

He’s an incredible artist and visionary

to be sustainable.

“Element 79.” I select a work each week

whose chosen medium is light.

OUTSIDE

CLASS

AND

YOU

COULD

PICK

T F I R H heT

g n i k

STORY BY NANCY HERNANDEZ

PHOTOS BY MADDY HILL

Decked out in acid-wash jeans and a yellow jacket with M&M patches, Paul Cantu walks into Savers, an Austin thrift store, with a camera in hand. Some may recognize Cantu as a fellow Longhorn on the 40 Acres, but for 160,000 YouTube subscribers and 21,800 Instagram followers, he is a thrift store tour guide with over 100 “Trip to the Thrift” videos. For the past five years, people from all over the Internet have checked in on a weekly basis to see his latest thrift finds. Cantu jokingly proclaims himself a “thrift god,” but this hasn’t always been the case. Cantu says the inspiration for his thrift videos came to him during his senior year of high school while browsing YouTube for fashion videos, a subject that has always interested him. “I stumbled upon this dude who made thrift videos, and I was like, ‘These are cool,’” Cantu says. He thought the YouTuber found cool stuff, but the videos were boring. “I was like, ‘I can make these more entertaining,’” Cantu says. From the beginning, his friends were supportive of his thrifting hobby. Cantu’s parents, however, were skeptical of his new endeavors and questioned his spending habits. “They would be like, ‘What are you going to do with all that? You don't have room for all that,’” Cantu says. “But I had a scheme in the back of my head the whole time.” The scheme involved the creation of unique thrifting YouTube videos. In his videos, Cantu can often be seen sifting through racks of clothing, making comments about their quality and whether or not they are worth the price. Cantu’s success did not happen overnight. As time passed, Cantu learned that consistent content was the key to success. His contagious energy, witty comments and vibrant smile also keep viewers coming back to his channel. He went from having zero followers to now over 160,000 subscribers. Through his thrift videos, Cantu has built up a loyal following of devoted fans, and even a few haters along the way. His growing fan base, as well as competition from other YouTube personalities, has increased the pressure on Cantu to set his videos apart. Viewers expect him to drop four to five videos per week, a difficult task for Cantu, a full-time studio art major and residential assistant at an on-campus dorm.

Behind each of his videos, which average 16

he doesn’t really limit his budget per store, but

minutes, are hours of recording and editing. He

he does have to set a price limit per item if he’s

tries to cover three to five different stores when

buying for himself. “If I’m buying something for

filming but knows his chances of finding amaz-

myself personally, like a jacket, I’ll spend $14

ing pieces are better if he covers more stores.

max for myself,” Cantu says. “As for my shoes,

“If I hit over five stores, it’s going to be super

I won’t spend more than $20. That has to be a

long… but I’m guaranteed to find stuff,” Cantu

rare pair of shoes.”

says. As someone who isn't afraid to repair holes and Unlike other YouTube thrifters, many of whom

patch up items in less-than-desirable condi-

mostly focus on ‘90s fashion, Cantu covers all

tion, Cantu also has a few DIY tutorial videos

types of clothing. Cantu buys anything from

for fixing up clothing on his channel. The titles

hard-to-find sport jerseys to “loud crazy” piec-

range from “How to acid wash a snapback” to

es, like cheetah print jackets. Cantu says that

“How to clean, paint and restore Jordan 7’s.”

if there is a low likelihood of finding the same clothing article again, he’s more likely to buy

Initially Cantu made videos to entertain view-

it. Although Cantu says he personally likes the

ers, but his success made him realize he has an

“little ratchet stores” best because of their wide

influential voice in the community. He has be-

range of interesting pieces, he doesn’t visit the

come more cautious of where clothing comes

same stores in every video.

from, as well as the labor that goes into making it. “He’s evolving into a more politically minded

While Austin has some good spots, Cantu says

person, but in a very playful, satiric way,” says

the prices tend to be higher because Austinites

Margo Sawyer, Cantu’s Installation Sculpture

are “hip to thrifting.” When shopping for others,

professor.

for g n i h t e g som n i y u b e a k i l If Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;am , y l l ona s r for e p x a f l m e s 4 y m d $1 n e p s l l Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; jacket, myself.

His videos allow him to share his views about the con-

for himself but never actually wore. Today, he mostly

sumer’s impact on the environment in a casual, open

thrift shops for his followers and his online store. Can-

manner. “His point is to promote the idea of saving

tu says he sometimes buys vintage items just because

money and not being such a consumer,” says Jacob

he thinks his followers will find them cool, rather than

Starr, Cantu’s longtime friend. “He wants to show peo-

to make money off of resale. “I don’t care if I’m making

ple that they don’t need to spend a lot of money to

profit,” he says. “I just want something to show I appre-

achieve a certain style.”

ciate them.” HFV is based online, but Cantu is working on opening an actual store in the future. Cantu plans

It was just a matter of time before Cantu found a way

to design his own clothes rather than just resell thrift-

of dealing with his ever-growing wardrobe, a product

ed ones. “It’s going to be reused and recycled clothes

of constant thrifting trips. After followers who want-

because I really don't want to sit here and create more

ed to buy the items he “copped” bombarded him

harm to the environment,” he says.

with emails and direct messages on Instagram, Cantu launched High Fashion Vintage, or HFV.

Cantu’s long-term goals come as no surprise to Sawyer, who says she’s watched him grow during their

Starr, the vice president and other mastermind behind

three years working together. She says that from the

the online store, says he doesn’t remember exactly

get-go, he has been interested in fashion as well as his

who came up with the name and idea first. “I remem-

art. Sawyer has no doubt that his fearless and pas-

ber ranting about HFV forever, telling him this could

sionate personality will allow him to thrive wherever

turn into something big,” Starr says. Eventually, the

he goes because he doesn’t hold back.

duo created an HFV website where they resell their finds, as well as an Instagram account to promote their

Once Cantu truly puts his mind on something, he’s go-

latest vintage pieces.

ing to create it. “His talent with art and his dedication in any field will allow him to do anything,” Starr says.

Cantu started out by selling the pieces he bought

“I can promise you, it won’t be working a nine-to-five.”

BOUTIQUE OF THE WEEK

Gypsetter Travelling Boutique

Next to a taco truck in South Austin Brewery’s parking lot awaits

The idea for Gypsetter came to Laley while visiting her mom in

a bohemian paradise in a gigantic green trailer. Customers move

Denver. After having dinner at her favorite restaurant, they walked

in and out of the brewery, poking their heads past the deep ma-

outside to see none other than a traveling boutique. Her mother

roon curtains that accent the entrance of Gypsetter Traveling

instantly suggested that Laley would be great at running a small

Boutique.

boutique, thanks to her short-lived retail experience at Urban

Owner Erica Laley welcomes passersby into her store with a bright

Outfitters. Laley jumped from job to job, doing everything except

smile. Inside, shoppers browse faux-suede and fringe jackets and

thinking of starting her own store. However, with great support

paisley jumpers. Tomorrow, the green truck will be in another

from her parents, Laley decided to open Gypsetter Traveling Bou-

parking lot or inside another festival’s grounds, a new set of cus-

tique here in Austin. The truck opened in February of last year,

tomers poking their heads through the doorway with curiousity.

putting a retail spin on the city’s food-truck culture.

Run by Oklahoma-native Laley, Gypsetter Traveling Boutique ties

Laley parks her truck and sets up shop at popular Austin events,

‘70s inspired bohemian style with rocker chic.

constantly keeping tabs on happenings around the city.

Story by Nikki LaSalla

Photos by Paula Horstman

“I definitely think there is a new take on how we style the ‘70s look.” In the past year she has parked at South

store, which is pep-

by Southwest and the Bandit Town Tex-

pered with lace-up

as Bound music festival, as well as the

tops

Long Center’s Fourth of July celebra-

with funky quotes

tion. “I want my clothes to cater to the

like “I give good

music scene and the festival goer,” La-

head-ache.”

ley says. She is currently in search of a

has also embraced

more permanent location for her bou-

the country twist in

tique and says she has plans to start a

Austin’s culture. She

brick and mortar in the future.

found pieces from

The truck itself started out as a fam-

other locations in

ily affair. Her dad, Greg, installed all

Austin,

of the shelves, the dressing room and

fringe earrings and

wallpaper. “I got lots of input her from

colorful

her, especially once she chose mer-

“Clothing was hard

as part of the Gypsetter team. Andrea

chandise,” he says. “[The store] fits her

to find locally,” she says. “But a lot of

Cascos, a close friend, says there have

great, and it was perfect for her per-

the accessories and jewelry are hand-

been times she’s helped Laley make

sonality. It was definitely a challenge

made and came from local places.”

a sale because she’s told a customer

to build because it was so different

Laley also makes sure that the clothes

how great they look.

than any regular retail store.” Layley

in her shop tell a story. “I definitely

More than the interiors, however, it’s

has created a cozy, vintage-inspired

think there’s a new take on how we

Laley’s own charm that gives the truck

space by using picture frames found at

style the ‘70s look, like on ‘American

its homey vibes. “I’ve been with her

Uncommon Objects, dark wood floors

Horror Story’ with Lady Gaga,” Laley

since the beginning, and I saw her build

and a ceiling wallpapered in a paisley

says. By figuring out what’s popular

the shop with her father,” Cascos says.

print. A cousin gave her an old picture

through her Facebook and Instagram

“She’s just so welcoming.”

of Willie Nelson to hang above the

presence, she restocks fan favorites

The shop is constantly moving loca-

check-out stand, which draws custom-

like denim bellbottoms and Bandit

tions but the overall theme remains

ers’ attention and has become an icon

Brand tank tops. “Instagram has been

the same, allowing for clientele to

of the store.

huge,” Laley says. “A lot of times when

know what to expect. Laley, in turn, has

Laley has the unique ability to pick

I have people that come to events,

found her passion. “This is my dream

items for the store that make it a part

they’ve found out through Instagram.”

job,” she says. “Owning your own busi-

of Austin’s cultural landscape. From

Laley says she wants her customers

ness is difficult, but worth it. I’m living

simple wool turtleneck sweaters to vi-

to feel like they were stepping into a

the life I want.”

brant, floral rompers, Laley knows how

friend or family member’s home to sort

to find items customers can only buy

through a closet-full of treasures. Her

Follow Laley’s traveling shop on

at her shop. Brands like Cotton Can-

friends often stop by Gypsetter to offer

Instagram @gypsettertravelling

dy and Bandit Brand are staples in her

support, and she even considers some

and

t-shirts

Laley

including

wallets.

closet : l a n o i s s e f con i n u r b e i k jac r by jenna meltze g guo photos by xinton

Moving from the land of combat boots

and makeup on. I would go out in public like that.”

what to expect when she left behind New York City’s

headstrong personality, which is reflected in her fashion

to the land of cowboy boots, Jackie Bruni did not know edgy fashion scene for Austin’s conservative charm. Culture shock turned into an opportunity for Bruni to show Austin her unique city style when she started her own blog, SoHo to SoCo, which now has over 2,000

Growing up in New York City, Bruni developed a sense. “I think my style shows how much of a risk-taker I am,” she says. “I try to stray away from the norm.” Bruni confidently rocks her unique clothing choices — feeling positive and comfortable in her own skin while wearing

followers.

an outfit is all that matters to her.

Bruni’s grandmother used to make custom couture

This winter season, Bruni is excited to break out her fur

dresses for her to as a child, and her mother was in the textiles industry, so it wasn’t long before Bruni began to work with textiles herself. “When I was five, I was making dresses for my Barbies and putting on fashion shows,” Bruni says. “If you look at my baby pictures, they’re all of me dressed up in crazy costumes with tons of jewelry

vests. “They’re so cute and timeless and can really make an outfit. You can layer them or wear them on their own and their super warm,” she says. There isn’t a single word that can describe Bruni’s style because it is constantly changing with her mood. “I

think I’m definitely more edgy, but one day I can be

incredible. I still haven’t worn it yet because I’m too

grungy, and the next day I could look more refined,”

scared that I’ll ruin it,” Bruni says.

she says. “I think that’s the best part about fashion. Your persona can change with your outfit.”

Bruni’s internship helped her figure out how to balance a conservative style with her own added

Bruni first decided to create an Instagram to

edgy touches. “Even though I’d have to look more

showcase her outfits and personal brand after

professional, I’d still pair an outfit with really cool

receiving multiple compliments from people about

jewelry or accessories to make it more me,” she

her clothing choices. “It’s a great way to show

says.

people what I’m really passionate about and to get my name out there,” she says. It is Bruni’s hope to

As an Austin transplant from New York, one of the

learn more about herself and her style with the

fashion capitals of the world, Jackie’s expertise in

feedback she receives from her Instagram.

the latest styles inspires her followers to be unique and to express their individuality through their

If she had to choose her favorite item in her huge

clothing choices — no matter how outlandish they

walk-in closet, Bruni says it would have to be her

may be.

beaded Anna Sui chiffon top. The shirt was given to Bruni by the iconic designer herself after she

Follow Jackie’s style on her Instagram account

completed a summer internship with the label. “It’s

@soho2soco

S T Y LE

N D I E T IT Y

BY MAE HAMILTON AND RACHEL RASCOE PHOTOS BY MIRANDA CHIECHI, KRISTIN EVANS AND MADDY HILL

In a time where media misconceptions constantly surround gender and sexuality, ORANGE sat down with five UT students to talk style and identity. Moving beyond labels and outfits, these dialogues revealed how fashion choices can express ideologies and experiences as well as daily whims. These students serve as inspiration for unrestrained individuality and expression through style, uninhibited by judgements and expectations.

JUAN

“People usually make the assumption that I’m

JUAN VILLAREAL 21, URBAN STUDIES

gay from the way I dress.... It’s annoying. I just tell myself to forget about it. Before I tried on drag, I thought boys should be boys and girls should be girls. After experimenting with drag, I got to explore more of my feminine side and [I learned] to not care about what other people think as long as I look good. I consider myself to be a creative person, so my style is just another way for me to express myself. It also represents how comfortable I am with my masculine and feminine sides. It really comes down to trying to please other people as to why we limit ourselves to heteronormative styles. I believe fashion should be fun and people should be free to experiment with whatever they want.”

“I just wear what I’m comfortable

live in America are a lot more

with. I’m really interested in hip

conscious of the way they dress.

hop, so a lot of the things I wear

Style is a much bigger thing there.

are inspired by that. I like how

I’m just used to how people value

Drake dresses, the new Kanye

style there. I always try to look my

West collection and Rihanna. I’m

best.

DANA SULEYMANOVA

an artist, so I’m also influenced by the art I’m exposed to. I think

I definitely get dirty looks from

style is important because if I

older people. I’m not sure if it’s

look good, I feel better. It helps

because of the way I dress or if

my self-esteem and confidence.

it’s because I don’t pass off being

19, STUDIO ART

extremely feminine. I think it’s I was born in Russia. Because of

pretty funny though.”

that I feel that people who don’t

DUNCAN OSBURN

“I really started opening

the way you walk and talk

up to the idea of being

isn’t gendered. But people

non-binary last semester.

will still call buns on men

‘man buns.’

realized

wasn’t

comfortable being labeled as a man. When I realized

I try to dress as gender

that being non-binary was

neutral

a thing, I was like, ‘Oh my

usually wear a lot of

god! Where has this been

loose-fitting clothes that

all my life?’

conceal my form so you

possible.

can’t really tell what it is.

19, ENGLISH AND HISTORY

Clothes aren’t gendered.

I usually don’t let my hair

Just because dresses are

out because that’s a big

used by more women

indicator. My next thing I

doesn’t mean dresses are

want to do is experiment

a feminine thing — just like

with makeup.”

how hair isn’t gendered or

“I have gotten less self conscious

people outside of the binary,

about how people perceive me,

like nonbinary, agender, etc. is

so I’m more able to wear what I

detrimental.

want. Most of my friends, I’ll take them shopping and they’ll be

I like to respect the fact that I

like, ‘Why are you buying that?

can’t assume anyone’s identity.

That is hideous,’ and I’m like,

Usually

‘Exactly, I love it. It’s great.’

for pronouns until I’m told otherwise.

ELIZABETH BERG 19, RADIO TELEVISION FILM

just

they/them common

sense and more respectful. Just

clothing is gendered is kind

the phrase ‘preferred pronoun’ —

of fucked up in the first place.

the fact that you have to say it’s

The fact that most stores and

your preferred one rather than

companies cater to the gender

your actual pronoun — is kind of

binary is really exclusive of

iffy too. It’s your pronoun.”

wifebeater the next day. That’s

everyone has is that you’re

another important part of style—

slutty, especially if you wear a

to not get caught up in having

lot of skimpy clothing, and then

to look a certain way everyday.

it’s doubled because people

You can still be stylish and look

think that gay people in general

like trash one day. That’s fine.

are slutty. They just think that guys sleep around with each

I identify myself as male. I feel

other. I guess that you could

like genderfluid fits better, but I

assume that I’m gay or pan or bi

don’t think it’s really authentic.

or queer from my outfits, which

The problem with identifying

is not fair to other men who

myself myself as male is that

want to wear other clothes.

when I do that, I’m checking off what the asker defines male

I could dress super nice or

as, and I would define male

super feminine one day, and

differently. So I would say male,

then wear sweatpants and a

but with an asterisk.”

20, JOURNALISM

It’s

say

In my opinion, the fact that

“I think the general assumption

DAVID STERNBERG

I’ll

DESIGN IN ACTION: AT HOME WITH

callie

JENSCHKE JENSCHKE JENSCHKE

Hailing from a family of contractors and architects, Callie Jenschke has design in her blood — and all over the walls of her eclectic home. Her walls are painted in rich hues of green, blue and gold, a refreshingly far cry from the all-too-ubiquitous minimalist aesthetic most designers tend to favor. She doesn’t shy away from textures and patterns, pulling inspiration from a variety of styles and cultures and blending them together seamlessly. This could only be her home and no one else’s. “I shop a lot of flea markets from all over New York, around L.A., Florida,” Jenschke says. “I constantly am searching for crazy, funky stuff.”

Story by Caitlin Phan

Photos by Thea Robinson

Hailing from a family of contractors and ar-

must-see design destinations in October.

chitects, Callie Jenschke has design in her

As it turns out, Instagram played a big

blood — and all over the walls of her eclec-

role in the curation of a Vogue-approved

tic home. Her walls are painted in rich hues

showroom. While Jenschke loyally follows

of green, blue and gold, a refreshingly far

the careers of her favorite artists and

cry from the all-too-ubiquitous minimal-

designers, she also uses them to find new

ist aesthetic most designers tend to favor.

artists, designers and potential vendors for

She doesn’t shy away from textures and

SUPPLY. She admits to being obsessed with

patterns, pulling inspiration from a variety

home goods and, as a result, always keeps

of styles and cultures and blending them

her eyes peeled for different and exciting

together seamlessly. This could only be her

home goods. “We’re constantly scouring

home and no one else’s.

the market via Instagram or through small,

“I shop a lot of flea markets from all over

offshoot shows,” she says. “Instagram is

New York, around L.A., Florida,” Jenschke

a huge help and has completely changed

says. “I constantly am searching for crazy,

the way we search for new and inventive

funky stuff.”

resources.” If one of her favorite designers

Jenschke, a local interior designer and

posts a mood board and she spots a fabric

ORANGE Magazine alumna, earned a

she loves, she can easily track down the

degree in journalism during her time at

fabric’s vendor. From there she will contact

the University of Texas. She landed editor

them to obtain the fabric for SUPPLY.

positions at several home magazines in

College students might find it hard to

New York City, including Metropolitan

decorate drab dorm rooms and uninspiring

Home and Martha Stewart’s Blueprint. After

apartments on a tight budget, but Jenschke

a few magazines closed, she decided to

suggests checking out garage and estate

leave the world of unpredictable journalism

sales. “You can find the coolest things

and co-founded Scout Designs in 2010. “I

for $5,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be

was always really interested in the visual

designer; It can be some weird object.”

side of creating photos and producing

She found her favorite 1950s-era Asian

I really like Sunroom. She does

photoshoots,” Jenschke says. Though she’s

armoire in a “creepy” Los Angeles furniture

an amazing job and I like what

no longer a writer, she says her journalistic

warehouse which she then shipped across

sense of curiosity and editor’s eye help with

the country to NYC. Buying art is another

she’s curated. And Olive over

her design.

way to easily personalize your space,

She found her way back to Austin and

according to Jenschke. Her favorite cloud

founded her own interior design firm, Native

painting was purchased from a man in the

Design, in 2013. Along with partners Kim

streets of New York for a low cost of fifty

West and Kristin Gish, Jenschke recently

dollars. “You can make art out of a lot of

opened SUPPLY Showroom in September, a

things,” Jenschke says. “You just have to

curated space which showcases their savvy

think outside of the box when it comes to

taste in home furnishings. West is a fellow

decorating your space, whether it be where

designer and founded her own firm, Well

you shop or what you use to decorate your

“I also love Deep Eddy, the

Dressed Space. “[Jenschke] has a really

walls.”

pool,

sophisticated aesthetic,” West says. “She just

After journalism school, Jenschke didn’t

knows what looks good and has that innate

think she would end up on this path —

Actually, I swim if it’s a warmer

taste level.” Gish, handbag designer and

today, however, her work is proof that the

owner of Kage Handbags, acknowledges

learning doesn’t stop after you graduate.

the versatile element of Jenschke’s design.

“To be a home editor, you’re not really

“Not only does she appeal to women but

writing a lot,” she says. “You’re actually

she also appeals to men,” Gish says. “She

just selecting product and you become an

has an edge to her design aesthetic that

expert in those products. You’re constantly

appeals to everybody.”

being educated.”

Vogue named SUPPLY one of Austin’s six

As an interior designer and cofounder of SUPPLY Showroom, a huge part of Callie Jenschke’s job is to find and rave about her favorite things. ORANGE asked Jenschke about some of her favorite places in and around Austin that have caught her design-savvy eye.

Favorite Home Goods Store “Well, there’s one home goods store that’s my favorite, and she’s also a good friend — Nannie Inez. She has such an amazing curated space. She has great taste and her home objects are killer.”

Favorite Boutiques “If I had a bazillion dollars, it would be Kick Pleat, but I don’t.

on the east side is a great shop.”

Favorite Restaurant “My current running favorite is Launderette.”

Favorite Outdoor Spot during

the

summer.

day. I love ending my day with a dip in the pool or starting my morning with a dip in the pool.”

N F L U E N C E R

STORY BY ESTEPHANIE GOMEZ, PHOTOS BY JOSHUA GUERRA

NISHIKI MAREDIA YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: History & Government HOMETOWN: Austin, Texas

M E E T

N I S H I K I .

UNIVERSITY of Texas sophomore

online and our printer Jeff. We like to

WHERE DOES INSPIRATION COME

Nishiki Maredia co-founded the online

do our own social media, though. We

FROM?

apparel store 1950 Collective with

don’t want to outsource that.

The biggest thing that we can offer to the people who are buying our shirts

Boston College student Angela Lin. The business has seen success in the

WHEN DID YOU SEE 1950 GROW?

is that we’re in their age group, and we

online community, accumulating over

We started out tiny. We spammed our

like all the same things. Basically, what

friends on Facebook, and on Instagram

we would like, we try to put out there.

we used #tagforlikes. Eventually we

Right now, a lot of our designs are very

figured out that fandoms have big

minimalist, nothing too flashy. We also

accounts. They have a ridiculous

like to incorporate memes. With the

amount of followers, so we reached

“Hotline Bling” shirt, we know it isn’t

out to them. We told them we’d love

going to be as popular in a couple of

it if they promoted us, and if people

months. We know some of our designs

bought

will fade in and out. When we went to

them, we’d love to send them free

the 1D concert last year, they were still

stuff. A lot of it was just asking people

using pictures from when the band

on Instagram or on fan accounts to

just started. The most important thing

become ambassadors.

is just growing with our audience and

16,000 followers on Twitter, 42,000 followers on Instagram and a shoutout from Buzzfeed Style since its start in January 2015.

HOW

DID

1950

COLLECTIVE

START? Angela and I were always big One Direction fans. We noticed that all the merch was awful and overpriced. We were like, “We can definitely do a better job because we’re not old men who don’t know their demographic.” We are their demographic. So we started designing, reaching out to fan artists, and it honestly just blew up on Instagram. It’s such a dedicated fanbase.

WHERE DID THE NAME COME FROM? 1950 is the number of miles between UT and Boston College, where my cofounder Angela goes.

HOW BIG IS THE OPERATION? At the start of the school year, we realized, “Woah, this is a lot.” Now, we have an intern for packing, an intern for creative design, an intern who keeps us updated on what’s happening

merchandise

because

staying current. HOW

SUCCESSFUL

HAS

THE

BUSINESS BECOME?

THERE

PRESSURE

We just hit 100K in revenue at the

CONSTANTLY

start of November. In terms of profit,

PRODUCTS?

we have yet to do our finances. We did

We have a reputation for being there

them at the start of the school year, and

for the big moments. When an album

we’ve just been putting them off. We’re

leaks, we’re right there, and we’re

lucky enough to not be too concerned

listening to it with the fans. Our designs

about the money. We just generally

will come out before the official merch

have a pay-out when we need it. At the

does. But as One Direction takes a

start of the summer, Angela was in L.A.

break, we’re thinking we should too.

PRODUCE

TO NEW

and I was in D.C., and we both needed money to pay for our apartments. She’s

HOW DO YOU JUGGLE BEING

actually in town this week, so we’re

A STUDENT AND RUNNING A

going to meet up during Thanksgiving

BUSINESS?

Break and figure it out so we can get to

It is a lot, but Angela and I have

holiday shopping.

meticulously drawn-out planners. It’s definitely easier with our interns for

1950. Once they started taking care of the

people wearing our stuff. It’s crazy, and we

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR IDEAL

nitty gritty stuff, it became more relaxing.

definitely freak out. We also encourage

POST-COLLEGE LIFE TO LOOK LIKE?

I’m so glad Angela is the person I’m doing

the people who buy our stuff to send in

I would want to take a year off to travel.

this with because communication with her

pictures to feature them on our Instagram

I’m at UT on scholarship, so I want to save

is so open. If I had a really crazy week last

because it’s actually very hard to find a

up the 1950 money and use it to travel

week, and she had a really crazy week this

diverse group of models — different body

for as long as I can. I’m currently at that

week, we just picked up the slack for each

types and different races. I guess they’re

sophomore year point where I’m like,

other.

not really being told to put themselves out

“What am I going to do with my life?” I

there. [Using Instagram], we know we’re

definitely just want to make a difference,

going to get a good group.

which I know sounds cheesy. Right now, I’m

DID

YOU

EVER

IMAGINE

DOING

trying the non-profit route. I think it’s the

SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

most direct way I can help. I would want

Not at all. Angela wants to go into the music

WHAT’S

business, and I probably want to work with

DESIGN?

to start my own non-profit and focus on

a non-profit. We love fashion, but it’s not

I’m personally a huge fan of our social

issues that are important to me. I think I

what we imagined doing. You can definitely

justice/feminist line. The artists we started

could use a similar model to what we use

see bits and pieces of what we love in 1950

working with are just ridiculously talented.

for 1950.

Collective. We work with up-and-coming

I love wearing them around.

artists. Recently, we came out with two designs for Syrian refugees and the Paris attacks. All the money goes toward helping Syrian refugees.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE INSPIRATION? Fashion makes you feel confident, and some days you’re like, ‘I need to look nice because it’ll make me feel good.’ Inspiration-wise, I like pretty dramatic looks. I love Rihanna and M.I.A. Angela and I had our highest day of sales a month ago, and I was on a high and thought, “I’m going to buy a fur coat.” I definitely love very patterned and fun pieces. Besides that, I don’t think I’m particularly dramatic. I’m honestly such a stickler for finding sales and sticking to what I can find there.

HOW DOES IT FEEL SEEING PEOPLE WEARING YOUR SHIRTS? Angela actually just went to a One Direction concert in Boston, and she saw a bunch of

YOUR

FAVORITE

SHIRT

When Do You Feel Most Beautiful?

This past year has seen its fair share of beauty trends, from clown contouring to crescent moon eyebrows, but in our opinion the best look will forever be a natural one.

Maddy

I feel the most beautiful with the sun shining on my face and wind in my hair. Mix that with some great music, a bikini and my favorite jewelry and I’m exactly who I want to be. Whether it’s driving down Highway 290 on a lazy Sunday afternoon or walking along the beach with the waves kissing my ankles, I feel most beautiful on a sunny day.

Itohan

I feel most beautiful when I’m completely natural and casual. I’ll be wearing absolutely no makeup with my unruly curls in a messy bun with my glasses, favorite worn out tee and high-top black converse. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE dressing up, but it’s so refreshing to go through the day barefaced and in comfortable clothing. By removing the things that keep me from seeing my real self — makeup, fancy clothes, tame hair — I’m able to truly appreciate my own beauty.

Mae

I feel most beautiful when I'm with my mother. Being around someone who is confident no matter what makes me feel beautiful. The sort of inner beauty my mother exudes is hard to find. My mother taught me that although outer beauty is the thing people will notice first, it's how you treat people that makes you the most beautiful.

Steph

I feel my most beautiful when I’ve had a full-night’s sleep. Anyone who knows me will agree that this is a rarity. After waking from this almost mythical-like slumber, I feel refreshed and unstoppable. My skin always looks clearer and feels softer. Sometimes, there’s even a natural rosy tint to my cheeks — a change from my usual deathly white pallor. I feel like Sleeping Beauty and I think, “This... this is what it feels like to conquer health.”

BY ANGELA BONILLA After a whirlwind of style and beauty trends, 2015 is coming to an end. In the beauty scene, a lot of trends changed the way our generation and the world see beauty.

KYLIE JENNER LIPS This year, Kylie Jenner’s full lips became iconic. Kylie Jenner lips are achieved with a nude or light pink lip liner to extend the outline of your lip followed by filling in the outline with the same liner.

OMBRE HAIR

Angela

Ombre hair is easy to maintain with minimal salon vis-

hair is in its natural state and I have no makeup on. I can

shades. We are currently seeing this popular hair trend

I feel the most beautiful when I have my glasses on, my look at myself and I see that natural beauty is best and that I am beautiful. I never saw myself as that when I was younger. I usually feel like this either in the mornings when I'm getting ready or at night before I go to sleep.

its and also offers many different options for different evolve into “sunset hair,” a warm-colored take on traditional ombre.

THICK EYEBROWS Say goodbye to thin eyebrows and say hello to bushy brows. Thick eyebrows are easy to maintain and allow a more natural, youthful look. Square corners are all the rage right now.

CONTOURING This trend highlights the areas in the face such as the cheekbones and forehead and allows for a slimmer-looking face. This concept takes simple makeup and turns it into an art form.

WAIST TRAINING Waist training with a corset has become a popular trend

Nikki

among many who hope to achieve a perfect hourglass fig-

I feel the most beautiful when I'm truly being myself. I

ure.

know it sounds cheesy, but when I'm feeling the most carefree and joyful toward the people I care most about,

MAN BUN

I see a better version of myself who's most beautiful trait

The man bun look has been around for about a year and

is her kind personality. Whether it's wearing my favorite

is still going strong. This hip do gives off a cool and styl-

outfit for date night or singing along to Disney movies

ish vibe, and with stars like Justin Bieber rocking the long

in my pajamas, I feel the most beautiful when I can just

fauxhawk, you can only expect the look to gain popularity.

be me.

EYELASH EXTENSIONS Eyelash extensions are used to get the full, thick eyelash look that many people want to achieve. Kim Kar-

BEAUTY AND HAIR TRENDS OF 2015

dashian-level lashes are attainable for anyone with the will to pay for these fake lashes.

WHITE-GRAY HAIR White-gray hair is the edgy hair trend that makes a bold statement. Trendsetters all around the globe are dying their hair white-gray and sharing the gorgeous look on Instagram #grannyhair.

Nancy

I think I feel the most beautiful whenever I'm really happy. I love being in new places where I don't know anyone around me — whether it’s people watching in the middle of New York's High Line or catching the sunrise at Mount Bonnell. The feeling of simplicity and freedom brings me joy. Changing up my everyday scenario makes me feel alive and excited. It's pure bliss.

Jenna

I feel the most beautiful when I don’t wear makeup, because people can see my true self without my trying to hide behind the shield that is painted on my face. I love waking up with a fresh, clean, makeup free face, knowing that this is the real me.

Rachel

I feel the most beautiful when I’m with my best friend. At home during the summer we would go swimming, lay out in the sun, get slushies at Sonic and take pictures of each other with disposable cameras all day. I think I feel the most beautiful with people who I can fully understand and appreciate.

Caitlin

As Laverne Cox’s character Sheena says on “The Mindy Project,” “Confidence comes from amazing outfits and perfect makeup.” She’s not wrong, but I feel the most beautiful and confident when I’m not worried about how I look. I love being too busy and too distracted to give my appearance a second thought.

ORANGEMAGAZINE.CO

MORE CONTENT MORE STORIES MORE MEDIA MORE ORANGE

the great awokening:

rising social awareness. Each morning across the Forty Acres, students rise from the comfort of sleep. Some find it more challenging than others to wake up. Sleepyheads miss their 12:30 p.m. classes while early birds see a colorful sunrise. Whether students rose with one alarm or twelve snoozed alarms, not all students “woke” up. Popular and youthful, “woke” has emerged as a term for social awareness.

Story by Zoya Zia Illustration by Hunter Tanem

why wokeness matters “Woke is just looking at the world through a different lens,” business and sociology sophomore Yanusha Yogarajah says. “It is all about unlearning what society has taught you to think, unlearning the rigidities of life.” Yogarajah first heard the word “woke” in a Tumblr

post about the stigmas against darker skin tones

Being aware of that pushback is what it means to be

in South Asia. “Having lighter skin is considered an

woke.”

element of inherent success and beauty,” Yogarajah says. “By being ‘woke,’ I look at this deeply ingrained

Nursing junior Zebiba Salih has experience with that

thought in the South Asian community and get into the

pushback, feelings of alienation and exclusion. “As a

process of unlearning it.”

person of color, I cannot afford not to keep up with current events and what goes on,” Salih says. “It literally

Over time, Yogarajah learned to accept her darker skin

affects me.” Salih was not always woke, but she started

tone. She is conscious of how lighter skin is promoted

reading more after Michael Brown’s death last August.

in the community. “I need to make sure I don’t succumb

Police officer Darren Wilson shot Brown, a black

to the stigma and don’t hate myself from it,” Yogarajah

teenager, at least six times. “I started getting involved

says. “Having darker skin doesn’t

by looking at institutional

mean I am ugly or that my trajectory is

racism,” Salih says. “I wanted

to be in shambles. That’s a lot of what white supremacy is, placing a sense of subordination.” Yogarajah

thinks

being

woke

important for people of color since they may feel pressure to change their identities to fit in. “The world is not always working in our favor so I can’t blame those who may want to

being woke has a lot to do with keeping the integrity of your identity and the value you give to the world

to feel safe and secure, to know about society so that I can prepare myself and help others see what is happening.” Salih points out the presence of confederate symbols and 3.9 percent black population at UT as evidence of why everyone should be woke.

do that,” Yogarajah says. “But being

“They had to put so much

woke has a lot to do with keeping the

effort and work into doing

integrity of your identity and the value you give to the

a simple thing like taking down the Jefferson Davis

world.”

statue,” Salih says. “I feel like black lives are not really the priority on the campus. There are not a lot of us

Given centuries of oppression, Yogarajah notes that

here at all.”

unlearning has to start somewhere. “We’re not at the bottom of the ladder and we have value as well,”

Jadala says that for change to occur, the public has

Yogarajah says. “To unlearn any notions of saying we

to be involved. “Minorities are marginalized and

are worthless or that we have lesser value, it is all about

people need to pay attention to this,” Jadala says. “It is

unlearning what history has brought upon us.”

necessary for them to be woke. There’s only so much I, as an individual, can do.”

Business honors freshman Rachana Jadala also emphasizes being aware of historic violence. “The

Yogarajah agrees that everyone, “even those with

system we live in was created with ‘the common man,’

privilege,” should be conscientious to other people’s

so basically the white, cis, heterosexual, land-owning

experiences. “It is good to make sure you are not

male,” Jadala says. “At the point where everyone else

perpetuating the system,” Yogarajah says. “You can be

is asking for space in this country, there’s a pushback.

an actor within the system that can help deconstruct

101

negative processes.”

of hashtags. “You can’t just look at one source, you have to stay educated and continue to dig deeper,” Salih

For Yogarajah, cultural appropriation at Halloween is

says. “Trying to keep up with the hashtags on social

an example of furthering negative processes. “Students

media is really important. Following certain people on

undermine the issue and think they do no harm by

Twitter makes a difference. Shaun King and Deray are

wearing costumes that make mockeries of different

some of my favorite accounts that share other sources.”

people,” Yogarajah says. “However, we need to make sure we do not perpetuate stereotypes.”

Yogarajah gets her news from multiple, non-mainstream media outlets. She says she tries to keep an open

Yogarajah views the student protests at the University

mind. “Always being willing to listen to and offer new

of Missouri, Yale and Ithaca as demonstrations of

perspectives is important because people experience

a dissatisfaction with the status quo. “Systems of

things very differently,” Yogarajah says. “If you don’t

oppression are still so real, even though we try to hide

understand something, try to be mindful when you ask

them and say things are better,” Yogarajah says. “Being

questions but be willing to ask questions.”

woke helps us understand how much we need to work on to confront issues instead of turning them away.”

With resources like the Multicultural Engagement Center and Counseling and Mental Health Center,

how to be woke Being woke can start with a few simple keystrokes. For Salih, it was all about social media. “My Twitter used to just be all about sports, comedy and laughing,” Salih says. “Then I saw a side by side image of how militarized Ferguson was compared to the Middle East, and it really stuck with me. A simple retweet can inform someone.” Twitter provides Jadala “a system to connect with other advocates and learn about other people’s perspectives.” Among those who Jadala follows are sex workers and queer professors. “I am able to hear about their everyday thoughts and how they are involved with being woke,” Jadala says. “Media is so individualized that their stories can be put out there. It gives marginalized communities a voice that I can amplify.” Salih says she tries to stay open-minded by looking at a variety of articles. She also emphasizes the importance

Yogarajah considers the University of Texas at Austin a great place to stay woke. “UT has so many examples of wokeness,” Yogarajah says. “The Gender & Sexuality Center provides an open space for people with different identities.” Jadala is involved with the Gender & Sexuality Center. She says the center gave her ways to advocate, besides tweeting. “They have pamphlets where you can learn about healthy relationships, and they also have lectures and speakers,” Jadala says. “The center allows me to be woke, not just the word but with an action past that. I tabled for Planned Parenthood, and learned about joining counter-protests.” Classes can serve as avenues of wokeness as well. Last year, Yogarajah took “Performing Blackness.” Although she says she never felt more uncomfortable with ideas presented in a class, she says she learned from it. “Trying to understand what blackness is from a black professor was new,” Yogarajah says. “We were talking

about white passing, which is when someone who

to feel able to assert her voice. “Allies provide

is black can pass as a white person. It was so eye-

security and safety,” Jadala says. “If they are just

opening to see how people can alter their identity,

‘female’ opinions or ‘black’ opinions, they can be

denying their blackness.”

easily dismissed. Allies should use their privilege to support the message.”

Above all, Jadala considers people as important resources. “Looking at Facebook’s ‘your friends are

Yogarajah says she is in the process of staying

attending these events’ platform, I have been able to

woke, trying to make sense of “this third place” of

see events that are held by other organizations, like

being Asian and American. “There are a lot of given

the Palestinian Solidarity Committee and the Syrian

definitions of society of what those two mean and I

People Solidarity Group,” Jadala says. “Being able

don’t think I agree with them,” Yogarajah says. “I am

to see and go to these events and provide solidarity

conscious of the hurt that has come around people

for groups I am not directly involved in is not only a

that have not recognized stigmas against dark skin,

resource to learn but is also an avenue to support

for instance. It is super unhealthy because there is so

other ‘woke’ organizations on campus.”

much inherent value that we are not taught to value.” Still, Yogarajah has some mixed feelings with

awake & awoke With great knowledge comes a great responsibility to stay woke. Causes for change can overlap, depicting layers of oppression. “There are different struggles and intersectionality is very important,” Salih says. “For example, there is a solidarity with Palestinian liberation and Black Lives Matter.” Yogarajah has mainly focused on being woke on racial issues. However, she says she understands how feminism upholds wokeness in the unlearning of patriarchy. “There is a lot of unlearning to do and having different sectors can help deconstruct any type of toxic structure,” Yogarajah says. “There’s no disadvantage to learning as much as you can about the world.” Salih says that having white allies is important so

“woke.” “When you say someone is woke, you put them on a pedestal of having supreme knowledge or consciousness,” Yogarajah says. “Wokeness is a process, with no end, limit or stopping point. I like the term ‘being woke’ since it exudes we are still in the process of learning. There is constant learning and conscious learning, making sure those around you are also in this process.” Each morning across the Forty Acres, students wake up. Sleep is necessary and ignorance is bliss, but the world can no longer afford to have passive youth. “I think that the reason why wokeness is a part of my lifestyle now is that I can no longer see myself not being socially aware,” Salih says. “Events affect my life, my family’s life, my ethnicity. It is a huge disadvantage and really bad to not be woke in this time and age. It would be dangerous too, because you would be passive towards oppression.”

that they can “understand their privilege.” Expanding upon that, Jadala says allies are necessary for her

103

THE STATE OF WOMEN IN ENGINEERING AT UT AUSTIN

What does an engineer look like? For many years, people have answered this

question

with

variety

stereotypes. The common perception of engineers is that they are nerdy, isolated, white and male. The #ILookLikeAnEngineer hashtag went viral in trying to give a different answer. What does an engineer look like? Contrary to popular opinion, they look like you. Over the summer, hashtags such as

#ILookLikeAnEngineer

#WomeninStem

were

and

created

a medium to showcase the role of women in important STEM fields. Women took to social media to shift public as

perception masculine

engineering

field

and

have

conversations about the issue of getting more young women to enter the industry. In October, a male engineering

student

Eastern

Washington University wrote a letter to his female counterparts, stating that he and they are “unequal.” Though the thesis seemed racy, the student expanded by acknowledging that he did not face the discrimination and dissuasion female engineers faced growing up, and continue to face, as women in a STEM field. That

conversation

was

originally

brought to the University of Texas at Austin in the ‘90s, when the Women in Engineering Program, an organization staffed

full

time

university

employees, started as a way to try and bring more female students to the Cockrell School of Engineering. The program works as an umbrella

STORY BY MIKAILA RUSHING

ILLUSTRATIONS BY JESUS ACOSTA

organization for many of the smaller organizations

“I think there’s still gender stereotypes,” says Maddie

for women in engineering, such as the Society of

Drake, president of the Women in Electrical and

Women Engineers, Women in Mechanical Engineers

Computer Engineering. “I think they’re passed down

or Women in Electrical and Computer Engineering, as

from generation to generation. Moms teach the girls

well as many others. It works to connect organizations

to cook, dads teach the boys about cars.”

and provide a safe community for women engineers.

#ILookLikeAnEngineer aimed to help shift social perception by bringing attention to women in

Tricia Berry, the co-director of the Women in

engineering, showing people that engineers can come

Engineering Program at UT Austin, says some people

from anywhere and be any gender. Female engineers

question the program’s fairness because it only

from companies like NASA and Google showcased

provides opportunities to women. But she says men are

themselves, shedding light on just how many women

welcome to join the groups though they aren’t the target

work as engineers in important fields.

demographic. “Where we still have underrepresented grounds, if we don’t have a focus on what’s going on

“I think it’s aiming to break down those stereotypes,”

there, or a support network in place…then we have

Berry says, “I think it’s hard to break through when

the possibility that we can go backwards…Our aim is

you don’t have other role models in [STEM fields]

to put ourselves out of business,” Berry says. “If we

to say ‘Oh, I could go do this’ or you don’t have the

could get to 50

understanding

percent

and

women

aren’t

what

those

opportunities are

needed anymore,

for everybody.”

that

S a y y e d a

would

fantastic. But we

Saadia

still have a lot of

Razvi,

mechanical

work to go.”

engineering senior and president of the Women in

Over the years awareness has increased about the

Mechanical Engineering organization, points out that

lack of women within STEM fields, specifically in

more than just simple stereotypes may be getting in

engineering. More people have begun to try and fill in

the way of women pursuing STEM fields.

those gaps by encouraging women in these fields and discussing the things that can impede women from

She says that many girls within the classroom may feel

pursuing STEM professions.

discouraged when facing math and science growing up. Saadia attended an all-girls school in Pakistan

Engineering faces a major gender inequality. According

and moved to the U.S. later in her high school career.

to the American Society for Engineering Education, of

Something she has noticed since entering co-ed

all the universities in the United States, approximately

education and learning more about reaching out to

only 18 to 20 percent of graduating engineers are

women through her organization is many girls feel

women. According to the Huffington Post, only 11

as if they are taking more risk when speaking up in

percent of women actually make up engineers in the

math or science. Boys are encouraged to take that risk,

work field. These numbers reflect the skewed nature

answer the questions given to them, and if they fail,

of gender within the engineering field, which is often

then they can try again later with no repercussions.

seen as a result of social perceptions and harmful

But many girls feel dissuaded from doing the same.

stereotypes.

“It’s the social stigma associated with it,” Saadia says. “There’s a risk we’ll come off as the dumb person in

the room who doesn’t know math or science.”

a group we felt like we were engineers and we could

It doesn’t help that assumptions are often made about

actually solve a problem. And we can have an impact.

gender, even within the classroom. More masculine

And I think that is what is the most powerful thing about

examples are used in technically based fields, and

being an engineer for me.”

language can often isolate young girls. Despite this, there is also an acknowledgment that Berry says women’s dreams in STEM fields can

STEM fields have a long way to go before the challenges

experience a “death by a thousand cuts,” where

facing women engineers are gone. While the enrollment

microaggressions and casual exclusions can begin

of women in the Cockrell School of Engineering is just

shape women’s perception of

under 30 percent — twice what

themselves and their roles in

it was when the Women in

the work field. “These little things over time can add up and start to make you doubt whether you should be here, whether you belong or not,” she says. Saadia advocates that general math and science need to be taught differently in early schooling. Teachers need to learn to choose words and examples carefully, to make sure they are not causally excluding women from the conversation. But

even

with

these

challenges, women can find rewarding opportunities.

WE NEED TO

Engineering Program started —

ADVERTISE, WE NEED WOMEN IN THE MEDIA, WE NEED TO DEPICT THESE

it still is not an equal reflection of gender within consumerism, and still says little about the actual employment rate of women in the industry after graduating. And this is most likely why #ILookLikeAnEngineer garnered so much positive

IMAGES OF WOMEN

attention. It acts as a vehicle

WHO ARE ENGINEERS

harmful stereotypes and social

WHO DON’T LOOK LIKE

for women to speak out against perceptions. It aims to more accurately portray the reality in STEM fields by showing both women who are already there as well as the women who are missing. Most importantly, it shows that anyone can be an

engineer and brings role models for young girls into

she and other women in mechanical engineering came

the spotlight. “We need to advertise, we need women

together to help design a toy for girls that could help

in the media, we need to depict these images of women

establish an interest in constructive projects as well

who are engineers who don’t look like that stereotype,”

as more social areas. She explains that as they were

Saadia says. “We need more women showcased, in the

brainstorming, many expressed frustrations with how

spotlight, to encourage other girls or the next generation

limited they had felt in childhood and how many

to see and have role models and these different kinds

assumptions they felt were made on children’s behalf.

of engineers. And think, ‘If they can be one, I can be

“We felt empowered at that moment,” Saadia says. “As

one too.’”

106

Saadia describes an experience from last year, when

from fangirl to phenomenon anna todd and the rise of fanfiction

When Anna Todd began writing

One

Direction

was

fanfiction,

she

too embarrassed to tell anyone, including her own husband. After one billion reads online, a halfmillion dollar publishing deal and a movie adaptation with Paramount, she’s decided to stop caring so much what people think. The 26-year-old former Waffle House waitress grew up in the small town of Dayton, Ohio. After marrying her boyfriend right out of high school, the newlyweds relocated to Texas, where the Army had stationed him at Fort Hood. She

bounced

between

majors

at the local community college, unsure of what she wanted to do with rest of her life. “My dream would’ve been to be a writer, but I didn’t think it was realistic, so I didn’t even entertain it,” Todd says. She found it difficult to relate to the other Army wives at the base, many of whom were older than her and already had children. That’s when she began to spend more time on her computer, eventually discovering and immersing herself in the online world of fandoms — from “Harry Potter” to “Twilight,” to

By Lauren Beccue

‘90s boy band Hanson. “I felt like I

PHOTO COURTESY OF Dario Lopez-Mills/AP

had somewhere that I fit in finally,” she says. “It was just a

which has now evolved into a five-book saga, reimagines

place where everyone loved the same thing.”

One Direction member Harry Styles and the rest of his bandmates as normal college students at Washington

The One Direction fandom, whose fervent dedication

State University. The erotic romance centers on the

to the British boy band borders on hysteria, was one of

tumultuous relationship between Tessa, a college

those places that Todd found a virtual home. By following fan accounts on Instagram and reading Tumblr posts, she found stories featuring the band members. Written by fans, the fictional tales were posted on Wattpad, an online writing community that’s part publishing platform, part social network. The books were updated chapter by chapter, and users could comment on each paragraph

freshman and Harry (renamed

I felt like I had some: where that I fit in finally

or even message the author directly. After

Hardin in the published book for legal reasons), an alcoholic student with anger issues. Apart from

his

tattoos

and

other

described physical attributes, the volatile character bears virtually no resemblance to the actual boy band member. Todd, who wrote the majority of the book on her smartphone,

devouring all of the books on the site that she deemed

updated her story on Wattpad with new chapters

“readable,” she ran out of material. One day, since no one

multiple times a day. She finally began to realize her

was updating with new chapters, Todd decided to write a

story’s unprecedented popularity when it received over

story she would want to read herself.

one million reads in two months. Suddenly, offers from book agents and publishers flooded her inbox. “Honestly,

Written under the pen name imaginator1D, “After,”

I thought it was fake at first,” she says. “Like it was a

teenage girl pranking me or something.”

Jennifer Bergstrom, vice president and publisher of Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books imprint,

The email from Wattpad offering to represent

says that while she and others in the publishing

and promote “After” to publishing houses turned

community were “skeptical” of fanfiction early

out to be very real. Getting a publishing deal

on, they’ve taken the approach of evaluating each

wasn’t difficult either, given the number of reads

novel on a case-by-case basis. “I would venture

online. “They were like, ‘We’re going to go to New

to say that few publishers have the same reserves

York and meet with all these publishers and then

that they did a few years ago, and nobody today

you get to pick one,’” Todd says. All of the so-

can deny that authors rooted in fanfiction offer

called “big five” publishers — Simon & Schuster,

something positive in terms of discoverability,

Macmillan, HarperCollins, Hachette and Penguin

publicity and reach,” Bergstrom says.

Random House — vied for the rights to her story. Todd eventually settled on a four-book deal

While fanfiction has a longer history than just the

worth around $500,000 with Simon & Schuster. A

past few years, its proliferation and visibility is

week later, Paramount acquired the movie rights.

something new. Wattpad now boasts more than 40 million users, with 11 billion minutes spent

nobody today can deny that authors rooted in fanfiction offer some: thing positive in terms of discoverability, publicity and reach While critics were swift to denounce Todd’s perceived lack of writing prowess and the novel’s origins on Wattpad, the potential for success was undeniable. E.L. James’s “Fifty Shades of Grey” had already proven that despite critical panning, a fanfiction written by a first-time author could top bestseller lists around the world and produce a blockbuster film. By the time “After” came around, publishers had stopped scoffing and started catching on to the phenomenon.

reading on the site each month. This rise in online self-publishing has made it possible for authors to acquire sizeable platforms and readerships before they ever approach a publishing house. Todd, who recently returned from a European book tour, attributes the majority of her success to these story-sharing sites, as well as social media. Without Twitter and Instagram, she says she doubts “After” would have ever been published. Despite the series topping bestseller lists around the world, she still doesn’t have a literary agent and doesn’t plan to get one in the near future. “They just don’t get Wattpad and the Internet and fandoms,” says Todd, whose fifth novel “Before” hit shelves Dec. 8. But the “proud Wattpader” knows better than to abandon the online fan base that made her famous. After all, the Internet is where she found her first home.

109

TH E D E BAT E INTENSIFIES Starting on August 1, 2016, exactly 50 years after the infamous UT Tower shooting, students will be able to bring concealed handguns inside classrooms and dormitories on campus. Senate Bill 11, also known as the “campus carry” law, allows concealed-handgun license holders to carry weapons in public university buildings in Texas. Despite staunch opposition from many state university leaders and students, including UT Chancellor William McRaven, Gov. Greg Abbott signed the bill into law in June. While some private institutions have already opted out of the law, public universities like UT are mulling their options.

ALTHOUGH state law has allowed concealed handguns on the grounds of public university campuses since 1995, SB 11 extends it into all university buildings. The law does, however, include a caveat that lets college presidents designate certain “gun-free zones” on their campuses. In response, UT President Gregory Fenves established a 19-member working group, which delivered him their 25 recommendations regarding implementing SB 11 on Dec. 10. The working group held two public forums, the first of which was on Sept. 30. Before opening the floor to public comment, Steven Goode, a UT law professor and chair of the working group, stressed that the university’s regulatory power regarding campus carry was limited. According to the law, the rules and regulations implemented by each university “may not prohibit” or “have the effect of generally prohibiting” concealed carry on campus. However, an overwhelming majority of speakers at the forum voiced their opposition to the presence of handguns in any buildings on campus.

By La ure n B e ccu e

“Allowing guns in the classroom violates our deeply held belief that classrooms should be treated as a sanctuary,” public affairs graduate student Jon Brandt said at the forum. “As students, we grew up expecting that regardless of our families’ social or economic backgrounds, we could come to the classroom and be in a safe, nurturing environment.” Others spoke in favor of the legislation, urging the university to implement as few restrictions as possible. They argued that responsible, permit-holding gun owners were not a threat to others. “We are not vigilantes. We are not a danger to this campus. We are not the bad guys you read about in the news,” law student Justin Stone said. The day after the forum, students, faculty and parents held a rally on the West Mall

to protest campus carry. As the protests were coming to a close, news broke that a student had opened fire on the Umpqua Community College campus in Oregon, killing 9 people. Currently, Oregon is one of seven states that allow concealed carry on campus, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. As social media was flooded with posts about the shooting and the issue of guns on campus, students at UT joined the discussion. Summer. @SummerrArielll In the midst of this, we still have Campus Carry supporters on our own campus #GunFreeUT #NotOnMyCampus

Zach Rodriguez @ZachRodriguez This keeps happening day after day. We cannot and must not let this continue. #GunFreeUT

Jesus De La O @delao27 #GunFreeUT my ass you want to leave the students defenseless in-case of an incident. What happened in Oregon cound have been prevented.

Social media may have also played a part in warning of the Oregon shooting. Federal officials investigated a suspicious exchange on a 4chan message board that occurred the night before the massacre, where an anonymous user posted, “Some of you guys are alright. Don’t go to school

tomorrow if you are in the northwest.” On Faculty Council at the University of Texas Oct. 5, UT police were of a nearlyOn at in Austin a unanimous resolution tomorrow if you are notified in the northwest.” all passed “educational spaces,” including identical threat, also posted on 4chan urging the administration to ban claiming guns Oct. 5, UT police were notified of a nearly classrooms, dorms and offices, that read, “Don’t go to tomorrow if at in itAustin all “educational spaces,” including tomorrow if you are in school theposted northwest.” On passed unanimous resolution identical threat, also on 4chan would create a“an uneasy and potentially you’re Austin.” UTPD announced they if classrooms, dorms and offices, claiming Oct. 5, near UT police were notified oftomorrow a nearly urging the environment administration to ban guns that read, “Don’t go to school hostile for intellectual were investigating the threat, but stated at it would create “an uneasy and potentially identical threat, also UTPD posted on 4chan all “educational spaces,” including you’re near Austin.” announced they in inquiry.” However, in his address to the thewere time there reason to believe hostile for intellectual that read, “Don’twas go “no to school if at classrooms, dorms offices, claiming investigating the threat,tomorrow but stated councilenvironment before theand vote, President Fenves this a credible threat our campus.” However, in his address the you’re near Austin.” UTPD announced they inquiry.” it would create and potentially theis time there was “noto reason to believe said that while“an heuneasy understands theto faculty’s Students still took to Twitter to express council before the vote, President Fenves were thethreat threat,tobut at hostile environment for to his intellectual thisinvestigating is a credible ourstated campus.” concerns, there are limits regulatory their concern. said that while he understands the faculty’s the time there “notoreason However, in his address to the Students stillwas took Twittertotobelieve express inquiry.” power. concerns, there the are vote, limitsPresident to his regulatory this is aconcern. credible threat to our campus.” council before Fenves their power. said that while he understands theso faculty’s Private institutions are not limited. Gravedigger concerns, are limits toincluding his regulatory Private there universities Texas @BrennaAlien Gravedigger Private institutions areSouthern not so Methodist limited. power. Christian University, @BrennaAlien Private universities including Texas “Non-credible” okay and how tf do they University and Trinity University have Gravedigger Christian University, Southern Methodist Private institutions so limited. all chosen to opt are out not of campus carry. “Non-credible” okay and how tf do they know what’s credible? Pretty sure ALL @BrennaAlien University and Trinity University have Private including Baylor universities University President KenTexas Starr knowshould what’sbe credible? sure ALL threats seen as Pretty credible?? all chosen to “little opt out of campus Christian Southern said he University, had doubt” thatMethodist hiscarry. college “Non-credible” okay and how tf do they threats should be seen as credible?? Baylor President Ken Starr University and Trinity have wouldUniversity follow suit. In University November, Texas know what’s credible? Pretty sure ALL said he had “little doubt” that his college all chosen to opt out of campus carry. State University, a public institution threats should be seen as credible?? would follow suit. President Inwith November, Texas Baylor University Ken released Starr that must comply the law, State a restricting public institution said heUniversity, had “little doubt” that his college recommendations guns from JULEZ that must comply the law, released would follow suit.with In healthcare November, Texas childcare facilities, buildings @PRESHUSJULEZ recommendations restricting guns from JULEZ State University, a public institution and even the University President’s house childcare facilities, healthcare @PRESHUSJULEZ that must comply with the law, buildings released and surrounding grounds. UTPD email: “Shooting threat not crediand even the University President’s JULEZ recommendations restricting guns house from email:this “Shooting threat notsuvive credible.UTPD PS: @PRESHUSJULEZ watch video on how to and surrounding grounds. childcare facilities, healthcare buildings Within the framework of UT’s working ble. PS: watch this video on how to suvive a shooting.” ????? and even the University President’s group’s recommendations, four house general UTPD email: “Shooting threat not crediWithin the framework of UT’s working a shooting.” ????? and surrounding grounds. topics were covered: how handguns must ble. PS: watch this video on how to suvive group’s recommendations, four general be carried and stored, where handguns topics howofhandguns must a shooting.” ????? Within the framework UT’s working mustwere not covered: be carried, measures to be be carried and case stored, where group’s recommendations, fourhandguns general taken in the of violated restrictions carried, be topics werebecovered: howmeasures handguns must A must and not proactive measures to ensureto campus taken in the case of violated restrictions carried and stored, handguns few days later, UT alum Jessica Jin planned be safety. Gun Free UTwhere responded saying proactive measures tomeasures ensure campus Students still took to against Twitter campus to express must not be the carried, tostating, be a “strap-in” protest carry. and they reject recommendations, A few days later, UT alum Jessica Jin safety. Gun Free UT responded saying their concern. in the casefeel of violated Instead of carrying handguns to campus on taken “If gun carriers unsafe inrestrictions storing their planned they reject the recommendations, stating, proactive measures to ensure the first aday“strap-in” of the fall protest semester,against students and weapons, they should leave themcampus at home.” campus carry. Instead of carrying gun carriers feel unsafe in storing theirthe A will fewbring days later, UT alum Jin at “If safety. GunforFree UT responded saying dildos. “Just about Jessica ashandguns effective Students Concealed Carry Texas, to campus on the first day of the fall weapons, they should leave them at home.” planned a us “strap-in” protest against reject the recommendations, protecting from sociopathic shooters, they Texas chapter of the non-profitstating, national semester, students will bring dildos. “Justthe “If Students for Concealed Texas,their the campus carry. Instead of carrying handguns gun carriers feel unsafe in storing but much safer for recreational play,” organization, stated theCarry recommendations about as effective protecting us Texas chapter of basic the leave non-profit national to campus on the atdescription first day ofreads. thefrom fall theywith should them at home.” Facebook event’s More weapons, “[conflict] handgun training.” sociopathic shooters, much safer for to organization, the recommendations semester, students willbut bring dildos. “Just Students for stated Concealed Carry Texas, the than 10,000 people have signed up recreational play,” the Facebook event’s “[conflict] with basic handgun training.” about as effective at protecting us from Texas chapter of the non-profit national participate. Whether these recommendations will go description shooters, reads. More thansafer 10,000 sociopathic but much for organization, thetorecommendations into effect stated remains be seen, given the people have aren’t signed up participate. recommendations will go recreational play,” the theto Facebook event’s “[conflict] with basic handgun Students only ones who have Whether heavy these restrictions placed training.” on university into effect remains to be seen, given theby description reads.opposition More than 10,000 expressed their to the law. At presidents and these working groups Students aren’t the only ones who have heavy restrictions placed on university people have signed up to participate. Whether these recommendations will go present, more than 1,300 UT professors have the law. expressed opposition to the At presidents these by into effect and remains to working be seen,groups given the signed atheir petition started by the law. advocacy present, more than 1,300 UT professors have the law. Students aren’t theUTonly ones towho have group Gun Free refusing allow guns heavy restrictions placed on university signed a petition started In byto the advocacy expressed their opposition the law. Atthe presidents and these working groups by in their classrooms. November, group Gun Free UT1,300 to allowofguns present, more than UTUniversity professors have Faculty Council atrefusing the Texas the law. in classrooms. In by November, the signed a petition started the advocacy attheir Austin passed a unanimous resolution group Gunthe Freeadministration UT refusing to to allow urging banguns guns in their classrooms. In November, the Faculty Council at the University of Texas

inspiring

female

directors.

As Hollywood has focused increasingly on gender and racial diversity, several female directors have managed to break into a heavily male-dominated profession. If you’ve had your fill of Spielberg and Cameron, take a look at these five women who are making great movies and busting down barriers.

story by mary dolan. illustrations by dani muñoz

elizabeth banks. Banks is primarily known as an actress (“The Hunger Games,” “Pitch Perfect”) , but she caught Hollywood’s eye earlier this year by directing the well-received “Pitch Perfect 2.” Banks is already lined up to direct “Pitch Perfect 3,” and has two other movies in the works. Although Banks tends to play ditzy, quirky characters, she has shown that she (and other female directors) should not be dismissed. Movie to watch: “Pitch Perfect 2”

kathryn bigelow. Bigelow had a fairly standard filmography until 2008, when she directed the Best Picture Oscar-winning “The Hurt Locker.” In the process, she became the first woman to win the Oscar for Best Director (and beat her ex-husband James Cameron to the win). Since then, she has directed the Oscar-nominated “Zero Dark Thirty” and become an icon for women hoping to get a shot at the director’s chair. Movie to watch: “The Hurt Locker”

sofia coppola. Coppola is the daughter of acclaimed director Francis Ford Coppola, and for a while, she was mostly known for her heavily-criticized performance in his film “The Godfather Part III.” However, after directing the film “The Virgin Suicides” in 1999, she quickly became a director to watch. She received an Oscar nomination for Best Director for her 2004 film “Lost in Translation,” and she worked with “Lost in Translation” star Bill Murray on his upcoming special “A Very Murray Christmas.” Movie to watch: “Lost in Translation”

ava duvernay. DuVernay followed a similar path as Bigelow. After directing mostly smaller films and TV shows, her profile suddenly received a boost after directing 2014’s Best Picture nominee “Selma.” Unfortunately, DuVernay failed to receive a nomination for Best Director, which some perceived as an unjust snub on the Academy’s part. Had she received a nomination, she would have been the first woman of color to be nominated for the honor. However, DuVernay has other projects in the works and will more than likely get a second chance — and inspire other women of color to do the same. Movie to watch: “Selma”

patty jenkins. Since making a critically-acclaimed splash with her third directing effort “Monster” in 2003, Jenkins has stayed quiet and directed mostly TV episodes. However, she has been tapped to direct the 2017 big screen adaptation of “Wonder Woman,” which will focus on the title character after she makes her debut in this year’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.” Helming such an anticipated and woman-centric film will certainly boost Jenkins’s already enviable profile, as she will be the first woman to direct a DC Comics film. Movie to watch: “Monster”

113

TRUMPING THE POLLS

THE UPCOMING 2016 ELECTION features

Story by Aliyah Conley Illustration by Hunter Tanem

[Trump],” says Sonnenfeld.

a diverse array of candidates from illustrious and varying backgrounds. However, one republican

Although “authenticity” seems counterintuitive

candidate has the whole world gripping the edge

for a reality TV star, Trump’s candidness does

of their seats with his promise to “Make America

resonate with voters who are fed up with the empty

Great Again” — Donald Trump. Billionaire, big

rhetoric of traditional politicians. Jacob Hacker,

business mogul and reality TV star, Trump seems

a Yale University political science professor, has

like the last person who would be interested

been following the Trump campaign closely since

in becoming commander-in-chief. So how did

its launch. “What’s striking to me is the extent to

someone with no political experience and who

which his lack of scripted-ness, and the degree of grandiosity in his campaign,

coined the phrase “you’re

and actually, the offensive

fired” on his reality show, “The Apprentice,” go from

THE PEOPLE

being simply meme-worthy

WHO STUDY POLITICS KNOW THAT THE ODDS ARE VERY MUCH AGAINST HIM

to a serious front runner for the Republican Party? Yale University management professor Jeffry Sonnenfeld explains in an article for “Yale Insights,” Trump

things he sometimes says, have all been interpreted as a sign of his genuineness and his fitness for office at a time when there’s a sense that politicians are distanced from reality and not willing to say what they believe,” says Hacker in an interview for “Yale Insights.”

“is selling an image” that The

many Americans find

supreme

irony

Trump’s image is that, in spite

refreshing. “Trump projects a notion of, ‘I’m in charge, I know what’s going on,

of his wealth and fame, he comes across as the

you can relax,’” says Sonnenfeld.

candidate most in-touch with the hopes and desires of the general public. Trump’s departure

This reassurance in the face of what many people

from and explicit condemnation of “political

see as a period of political and infrastructural

correctness” allows him to give the impression

instability, uncertainty and transition is ultimately

he is not merely a political pawn but someone

what

working autonomously.

makes

Trump

appealing.

Perhaps

most importantly, “despite all the bravado and grandiosity, there is an authenticity about

Images aside, what is the likelihood that Trump

could actually win the Republican nomination, and who are his supporters? National and state polls show Trump leading with support from working class and retired Republicans. Is that enough to win an election? Having stepped on countless toes on the issue of immigration, it seems as though Trump is creating more and more opposition among Latino voters. Trump’s controversial immigration plan consists of tripling the number of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, a “mandatory return of all alien criminals” and building a physical wall along the US-Mexico border. In addition, Trump argues that the wall should be paid for by the Mexican government. The sensationalization of the Trump campaign has Democrats and Republicans alike concerned regarding the future of the Republican party and a deepening divide between liberal and conservative America. However, Hacker, like many other political analysts, is doubtful that Trump’s success will last past the Republican primary. “Trump really does not have many established positions. He has so far benefited enormously from the fact that he’s the story himself. The people who study politics know that the odds are very much against him,” says Hacker.” Essentially, Trump’s popularity may be an

1. THIS CANDIDATE IS A FOLK MUSICIAN AND WAS THE INSPIRATION FOR AN ALLEN GINSBERG POEM. a) Hillary Clinton b) Ben Carson c) Marco Rubio d) Bernie Sanders 2. THIS CANDIDATE APPEARED IN A FILM WITH JOHN TRAVOLTA AND JOAQUIN PHOENIX. a) Bernie Sanders b) Chris Christie c) Martin O’Malley d) Donald Trump 3. THIS CANDIDATE IS FLUENT IN SPANISH. a) Marco Rubio b) Bobby Jindal c) Hillary Clinton d) Jeb Bush 4. THIS CANDIDATE WAS ACTUALLY BORN IN CANADA. a) Ted Cruz b) Martin O’Malley c) Carly Fiorina d) Rand Paul 5. THIS CANDIDATE READ ‘GREEN EGGS AND HAM’ ON THE SENATE FLOOR. a) John Kasich b) Bernie Sanders c) Ted Cruz d) Rand Paul 6. THIS CANDIDATE ONCE WORKED IN A FACTORY SLIMING SALMON FOR A WEEK.

of the Republican majority.

a) Bernie Sanders b) Mike Huckabee c) Hillary Clinton d) Donald Trump

Most scholars and politicians are skeptical of Trump

7. THIS CANDIDATE DOESN’T DRINK COFFEE, TEA, OR ALCOHOL (EVER).

illusion created by the media and not a true reflection

becoming a tangible threat. They perceive his popularity to be the product of the Republican minority and sensationalized media coverage. But what does Trump’s

a) Carly Fiorina b) Jeb Bush c) Donald Trump d) Hillary Clinton

popularity in the 2016 election cycle mean for the future

8. THIS CANDIDATE HAD SERIOUS ANGER ISSUES.

of the Republican Party? That’s a question political However, in this election, one thing is clear: Americans

a) Donald Trump b) Ben Carson c) Jeb Bush d) Ted Cruz

aren’t quite ready to say “you’re fired” to Donald Trump.

9. THIS CANDIDATE HAS HIS OWN VIDEO GAME.

scientists and the media have yet to grapple with.

a) Bernie Sanders b) Donald Trump c) Martin O’Malley d) Rand Paul 10. THIS CANDIDATE WROTE A LETTER TO NASA AT AGE 12 TO INQUIRE ABOUT BECOMING AN ASTRONAUT.

How well do you think you know the potential commanders-in-chief? Test your knowledge with these candidate fun facts.

a) Ted Cruz b) John Kasich C) Bernie Sanders D) Hillary Clinton

ANSWERS: 1. D 2. C 3. D 4. A 5. C 6. C 7. C 8. B 9. A 10. D

I N F L U E N C E R

SAMUEL GARCIA YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Business HOMETOWN: Mission, Texas

STORY BY SELAH MAYA ZIGHELBOIM PHOTOS BY JOSHUA GUERRA

117

M E E T

S A M U E L .

INSPIRED by his childhood herding

knew from personal experience this is

people, and that’s where a lot of his

goats and his late father’s work

the perfect size for three dairy goats.

business came from. He did an amazing

representing

marginalized

job for the Valley and really cared for

people,

Samuel Garcia started a nonprofit to

WHY DID YOU HERD GOATS?

the people there. He saw to it that a

provide dairy goats to poor people in

I was a really entrepreneurial kid.

lot of things were implemented to

the Rio Grande Valley as an additional

Goats came into my mind because

help people and encourage diversity.

source of income. Since the first goats

I’m from a rural area, and I liked the

So when he passed, I thought, ‘What

arrived a year ago, he has become a

thought of goats and raising animals.

better way to honor his legacy than

bestselling author and won several

My dad was a defense attorney in the

to continue helping the people in the

awards.

Valley, and he was gifted a herd of

Valley?’ I attribute a lot of my success

goats by one of his clients. He leased

to being from the Valley.

WHAT DO DAIRY GOATS AND

out a little piece of land, and that

POVERTY HAVE TO DO WITH EACH

was that. I raised them for six years. It

WHY DO YOU CONTRIBUTE A LOT

OTHER?

wasn’t a profession. It was more like a

OF YOUR SUCCESS TO BEING ROM

As a kid in the Rio Grande Valley, I

hobby, but I did a lot of time every day

THE VALLEY?

raised goats for six years. Then the

with them.

It’s common for someone to hear you’re from the Valley and think,

summer of my sophomore year, I went to Argentina, where I learned

WHY

POVERTY

‘Maybe this kid isn’t the smartest.’ But

about business practices in emerging

SOMETHING THAT’S IMPORTANT

I think growing up in the Valley is an

markets. One of the things they do is

TO YOU?

incredibly special environment. It’s a

group people together to confront low

My dad was an attorney in the Valley,

border town. People think of it as an

margins. If you’re raising grain, there’s

but he wasn’t just an attorney. He

obstacle, and everyone tells them that

not too much money to be made

passed away a month before I came

it is, and they just believe it. I saw it a

off it. There’s really high costs, and

to college, and on his obituary, there

lot more as an enabling factor. It gave

you’re probably not going to make it.

are just the most insane comments.

me a lot of things that were unique

However, if you split those high costs

People saw my dad as a champion of

to focus on that nobody else had. It’s

with other grain farmers, then you can

the underdog, someone who is going to

an incredibly supportive community.

do it. I thought this idea was incredibly

fight for you when no one else would,

If one kid in Dallas does well, people

applicable to the Rio Grande Valley,

someone who represented people

are like, ‘Well, that’s normal. We’re not

especially where poverty is the most

who didn’t think they have voices,

going to get behind you.’ In the Valley,

rampant in an area called the colonias.

immigrants

first-generation

it’s insane. Everyone’s behind me,

In order to get basic plumbing,

Hispanics who didn’t think it was their

super excited. People were cheering

everyone who lives in the colonias has

right to reach out to the legal system.

for me like I’m their own kid out

to live on at least a half-acre of land. I

My dad reached out to a lot of those

there.

FIGHTING

and

WHEN DID THE FIRST GOATS

was mostly people from the Valley

So I took the things that were unique

ARRIVE

who bought it, and a lot of people from

about me and formed them into this

THROUGH YOUR INITIATIVE?

UT shared it. The title, “How Goats

idea. I worked hard at it. It won me one

It was a year ago. I bought the goats,

Can Fight Poverty,” gives it all away. It

of the highest service awards at UT, I

picked them up and delivered them

details my idea, the methodology, why

went on to be honored on the Texas

that same day. The family was really

it works, some anecdotal stories, how

House floor and wrote the book, which

excited. They had had some previous

to make money and how to finance

is still the top book in the topic of

herding experience before, but they

the project.

agriculture. It goes to show that if you

THE

COLONIAS

be yourself and just do what you’re

had never had goats of their own.

good at, people notice.

People were really excited to have

WHAT

something to take care of and a little

HAS

source of income too.

INITIATIVE PRESENTED?

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR

I’ve heard that if you focus on doing

IDEAL POST-COLLEGE LIFE TO

WHAT HAS THE FEEDBACK TO THE

the things you like, if you do them

LOOK LIKE?

SUSTAINABLE GOAT INITIATIVE

well, you’ll see results. People, in the

I would hope to be an attorney

BEEN LIKE?

business school especially, think it’s

practicing somewhere. I would hope

People in the Valley really like it. I went

a great idea to join these established

to own my own practice at some point

on to write a book about it over the

organizations and go down the beaten

with my brother and hopefully be

summer, and the book experienced

path. What I’ve done is step away and

running a nonprofit or on the board

a lot of success relatively quickly. It

say there’s power in being yourself

of a nonprofit that’s fighting poverty

became a bestseller in 12 hours. That

because who you are nobody else is.

somewhere.

OTHER THE

OPPORTUNITIES

SUSTAINABLE

GOAT

sports

TA ACOS

0 2 l l 6 1 fa l l a L NAIK

U Y RAH ORY B

ATION

TR ILLUS

US BY JES

P A REC

SEPT. 11: SERENA’S MAGICAL SEASON DERAILED In one of the biggest upsets in tennis history, Vinci

OCT. 6: YOUNG ASTROS TAKE DOWN THE MIGHTY YANKEES

defeated Williams, the No. 1 player in the world, by

The Houston Astros took Major League Baseball by

winning two of three sets in the U.S. Open semifinals.

surprise this season, riding their combination of power,

Williams was bidding to win accomplish the rare feat

speed and great pitching into the playoffs. American

of winning all four major titles in one season. The fact

League Cy Young Winner Dallas Keuchel shut out the

that Williams dominated the first set and was playing

Yankees over the first six innings and the Houston

some of the best tennis of her career, made Vinci’s win

bullpen finished New York off en route to a 3-0 win

all the more unbelievable. Three weeks later, Williams

and an appearance in the AL Division Series against

announced that she would be ending her season

the eventual World Series Champions, the Kansas City

because of nagging injuries that had been bothering

Royals. To provide some context on the improbability

her throughout the season. The announcement marked

of the Astros’ victory, the team salary for the Yankees in

a heartbreaking end to what could have been a historic

2015 was $217,758,571, while Houston paid its players

season.

$72,464,200, less than a third of the Yankees’ payroll.

OCT. 10: THE RED RIVER RUNS BURNT ORANGE With over 230 yards of rushing from freshmen D’Onta Foreman and Jerrod Heard, unranked Texas defeated the No. 10 Sooners despite coming into the game as 17-point underdogs. Charlie Strong’s defense limited Boomer to 278 total yards and 67 yards rushing while sacking Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield six times. Despite leading Texas to a 4-8 season, Charlie Strong won the most important game of the year, buying himself at least one more year in Austin. The Longhorns seemingly knocked OU out of both the playoff picture and Big 12 title contention win the win, but the Sooners won seven straight games and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff.

OCT. 17: MAYHEM IN MICHIGAN Call it “Kick Six, Part Two” or simply, “The Play,” but there is no denying that the botched-punt-fumble-recovery-return touchdown will go down as one of the greatest, craziest plays in college football history. If you haven’t seen it already, click the link above to experience the full madness of the play. Michigan State went on to win the Big Ten Championship and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff. However, had Michigan’s punter held on to the snap and punted the kick away, Ohio State would have played in the Big Ten Championship and would most likely have earned a spot in the College Football Playoff in place of Michigan State.

121

NOV. 1: THE ROYALS FINALLY GET CROWNED

DEC. 12: FOUR STRAIGHT FINAL FOURS

After coming from behind to defeat the Houston

With a spectacular victory over the Florida Gators in

Astros in a game where the Royals were 6 outs away

the Austin Regional Final of the NCAA Tournament,

from losing the American League Division Series,

Texas Women’s Volleyball advanced to its fourth

the Kansas City Royals cruised to a championship

straight Final Four. The slugfest against Florida

by defeating the New York Mets 7-2 in Game 5.

lasted all five sets, with the Longhorns finally

Kansas City won the title with virtually no perennial

prevailing 17-15 in the last set on a kill by Paulina

superstars on its roster and a payroll that only

Prieto Cerame. Led by Big 12 Player of the Year,

ranks as the 16th most expensive in the league.

Amy Neal and our 2015 ORANGE Sports Influencer,

The Royals squad was fueled by a never-say-die

Molly McCage, Texas will attempt to win its fourth

attitude that led countless comebacks throughout

National Championship.

the season and a lineup that boasts the most topto-bottom consistency of any group of hitters in

DEC. 12: DUB NATION LIVES UP TO ITS NAME

baseball. It took 30 years of dwelling in the cellar of

On pace for a 78-4 season, the Warriors were off

the division and enduring a heart-breaking loss in

to the best start in NBA history at 24-0. However,

the World Series last year to bring the trophy back

on Dec. 12, the Warriors lost on the road by 13

to Kansas City, but that’s what makes this year so

points to a below-average Milwaukee Bucks team,

much sweeter for the Royals and their fans.

descending back down to Earth. But not too much. The Warriors are still considered the best team in

NOV. 15: HOLLY HOLM SHOCKS THE WORLD

the NBA and will continue to be heavy favorites to

In her UFC 193 Bantamweight Championship fight

win the NBA Championship barring a big collapse

against Ronda Rousey was supposed to continue

or devastating injuries. It will be interesting to see

her undefeated career without too much opposition

if Golden State can continue its dominance and

from Holly Holm, an 18-time boxing world champion.

achieve a greater record this season than the 72-10

However, the event, attended by a record 56,214

mark set by the 1996 Chicago Bulls. As long as MVP

people in Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium, saw Holm

favorite Stephen Curry is leading the way in the Bay

pull off the unthinkable by landing a roundhouse

Area, the end of the streak should mark nothing but

kick to Rousey’s head for the unimaginable KO.

the end of an amazing accomplishment.

Many have referred to Holm’s victory as the biggest upset in UFC history.

HOT WHEELS HOT WHEELS HOT WHEELS Unicycling for the First Time

Story by Selah Maya Zighelboim ILLUSTRATION BY JESUS ACOSTA from the unicycle. Once I got on, I became less afraid of falling off and injuring myself. I didn’t like I was too far from the ground. After I mastered the art of getting on and off of a unicycle, it was time to learn how to actually ride one. This consisted of me getting on the seat, putting one hand against the wall and the other on Jacobson’s arm and peddling. I did this over and over again, getting a little farther each time. Every attempt ended more or less the same way. I would get to a place where I didn’t feel quite balanced, or I would lose momentum, and I would slip off the front of the unicycle properly. While I practiced, Jacobson told me about his own unicycling experiences. He taught himself in a few hours when he was a teenager after seeing someone on television unicycling. Jacobson says a unicycle is a great way to get across Austin, especially downtown. He unicycles through the green belt and other scenic routes and once even unicycled from San Antonio to Austin. When

I broke my arm the first time I tried to ride a bicycle. I’ve broken several other bones too, mostly from just walking around and tripping over my own feet. Needless to say, I am an extremely uncoordinated person. So when I received the opportunity to take a one-hour free unicycling lesson, I was a little

Jacobson used to have a desk job, he would take breaks by riding his unicycle around the office. “All you’d see above the cubicle wall was my torso gliding by,” Jacobson says. At the end of the lesson, Jacobson suggested I visualize

hesitant to accept.

a place I wanted to reach on unicycle. I picked a white

I accepted anyway, and one week later, I hopped

unicycle. This time, I made it almost all the way to my

line on the parking garage ground and got back on the

on a unicycle for the first time.

goal, about 15 feet.

On a drizzly day in late November, I met up with

I never actually rode the unicycle by myself. I kept one

Austin Unicycling School owner Reid Jacobson in a covered parking garage, which Jacobson said was the perfect location for a unicycling lesson. Though I had concerns that learning to ride a unicycle before a bicycle was like learning to walk before I could crawl, Jacobson assured me that someone doesn’t need to know how to ride a bicycle first —

hand on the wall and the other on Jacobson’s arm the entire time, so I can’t quite say I actually learned how to ride a unicycle or that I ever did it successfully. Overall, unicycling wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be, but it was more of a workout than I expected. Jacobson says a person can usually learn how to

though it certainly helps to be familiar with wheels.

unicycle — to the point of being able to get around the

The first thing I needed to learn to do was dismount

and I could be a pro.

city — after two sessions with him. So, one more hour,

123

by Caden Kinard

pros of paying college athletes

cons of paying college athletes

The NCAA is a modern day

catch-22. The creation of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in 1906 declared that athletics are an extracurricular avocation in which “student-athletes should be protected from exploitation by professional and commercial enterprises.” Enterprising in non-exploitation has led to a monopolistic exploitation by the NCAA and the universities it governs. Through media contracts, endorsements, sponsorships and any other form of revenue, the NCAA and its institutions are the only ones who can profit from college athletes’ performances and their images. The final tournament for basketball, March Madness, brings in about $550 million on TV rights alone, and the contract for ESPN to broadcast the College Football Playoff has an estimated value of $500 million per year. Contracts of athletic directors and coaches usually are littered with performance-based clauses, creating a division between academic and athletic goals. Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith receives an extra $75,000 if the Buckeyes make it to the Final Four or a BCS Bowl game. Athletic directors’ and coaches’ careers are dependent on winning. Athletes are an integral part to revenue at universities, and athletics have become a new form of institutional exploitation. The capitalistic culture in college athletics has made studentathletes become student or athlete. Counselors and professors encourage athletes to make academics a lower priority because of the athletic rigor required to meet the economic demands for athletic budgets. Athletes are being used. The NCAA requires athletes to have insurance before

playing in their sport, which the athletic programs should be paying for, but not all of them are. This leaves many players with bills due after leaving the program without financial aid. With the lack of individual proper academic advice and low graduation rate, athletes are ending their college athletic careers without direction. The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics was created “to ensure that intercollegiate athletics programs operate within the educational mission of their colleges and universities.” They’ve admitted the system is flawed. The “amateur” status was created when millions of dollars didn’t exist in the NCAA. The mantra has changed. The Knight Commission proposed athletic scholarships should be for five years instead of four. Athletic eligibility should depend on degree progress, and graduation rates should be criteria for certification by the NCAA — simply, “no pass, no play." Financially, the commission proposed reducing athletic costs. But everybody knows too much money is invested in college athletics to change. If academic standards are not changed, then athletes should be willing to make money from their image and abilities, especially when most do not play professionally. Universities act like a scholarship is a fair trade of resources, but when institutions don’t prioritize academics, what are the athletes actually getting? It’s a one-sided affair. Athletes devote 40-hour weeks to sports and attend school full-time while schools make millions off their abilities. Isn’t it time for the actual players to make some of the money they generate?

by Corey Tatel I used to be so firmly

against paying college athletes that I wouldn’t even listen to the other side of the argument. After watching several documentaries and reading many articles, I’ve come to acknowledge the legitimacy of the idea due to the corrupt nature of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which makes large profits from college athletics but doesn’t share any portion with student athletes. But at the end of the day, I believe the cons of paying college athletes simply outweigh the pros. This very complicated issue has moral, financial and practical implications that must be taken into account. The debate centers around questions of whether paying college athletes along with their already free tuition is fair to other students, the financial implications of who will provide the funds and whether paying student athletes would make them professionals with the ability to negotiate and unionize. For the sake of this argument, college football players will be addressed because they bring in a large majority of the funds that schools make off of college athletes. The biggest problem that college football faces is an overall attitude of entitlement among players. College football players have been told they were great from a very young age. They’ve been elevated on a pedestal above the rest of their peers. Coaches have been recruiting them and other students have been looking

up to them since grade school. When a young player is treated like he is above those around him from a young age, it eventually inflicts attitude that the player is superior to the rest of the population. This overall attitude of entitlement among college football players stretches to all aspects of life, both on the field and off. On the field, it affects the players’ work ethic. College players are told they’re the most talented players in the world and that their skills are superior from the day they start playing the game. Players rely on their athleticism in high school football and because they are so much more talented than other high school players, it is reinforced. But what happens when they get to the collegiate level and everyone is just as talented as they are? It’s difficult to develop a work ethic over night. These players have relied on their superior athletic ability their entire lives, and their resulting attitude of entitlement can often get in the way of their athletic success at the next level. We’ve seen player entitlement become a problem at our own university as much as any campus in the country. “[University of Texas] kids have always been entitled,” an anonymous college football coach said in response to media criticism of Charlie Strong. “They’ve given everything. They’re usually four or five star recruits that don’t feel like they have to work. They thought they could just show up.” Paying athletes would only compound this problem. If coaches

already have problems getting athletes to work hard due to their sense of entitlement, money is only going to make matters worse. One of the reasons players are still motivated to go out and work hard is to get to the professional level so that they can make money. If the incentive is removed by paying athletes in college, who knows how many other schools are going to face the problems Texas has? Sadly, the culture of entitlement affects players’ academic performance. It’s reasonable that college athletes miss more class than the average student given their intense travel schedules. However, it is not reasonable that so many college athletes skip class even when they are not traveling or competing. Throw more money athletes’ pockets, and the superior attitude will only increase the apathy toward academics, which could reduce class attendance even further. We live in an age where athletes are getting into more legal trouble than ever before. It now seems like a weekly occurrence that ESPN is covering a story on the legal trouble of a college athlete. On Oct. 31, Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett was arrested for driving under the influence, and a video released by TMZ revealing his conversation with a police officer is proof of how far the culture of entitlement has stretched. “I’m the quarterback at Ohio State… Officer, there’s nothing you can do?” Barrett asked the officer who was giving him the citation. Barrett truly believed that being the quarterback at Ohio State put him above the law and his actions would not be held accountable because of who he was. Many players feel that they are above the rules because of who they are and make poor choices as a result. If these players were to be given money, there would only be more poor decisions to follow.

125

I N F L U E N C E R

MOLLY MCCAGE YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Corporate Communication HOMETOWN: Spring, Texas

STORY BY RAHUL NAIK PHOTOS BY JOSHUA GUERRA

M E E T

m o l ly.

SHE is a member of the 2012 Big 12

in your academics, you work hard on

“Just do you. You don’t have to do

All-Freshman Team, 2013 First Team

the court, and you try everything you

anything else. Just play, we’ll handle

All-Big 12, 2014 AVCA Third Team All-

can to succeed. And, I think that was

the rest.” I didn’t even realize there

America, 2015 First Team All-Big 12,

a gift to myself, just having the best

were so many other things we had to

a six-time member of the Academic

coaching staff, the best teammates

deal with. Now I do, but they were good

All-Big 12 First Team, and a four-time

around, the best counselor around, so

about that. They told me that I didn’t

member of the Big 12 Commissioner’s

it’s great.

have to be spectacular, just consistent, and that’s what I wanted to be for my

Honor Roll. The list goes on and on

team.

for Molly McCage, a middle blocker

HOW MUCH DID IT MEAN TO

for the No. 3 Texas volleyball team.

YOU TO BE NOMINATED FOR THE

She was recently named one of

SENIOR CLASS AWARD?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OFF-

10 finalists for the Senior Class

I think it’s cool because it looks at not

THE-COURT ACTIVITIES YOU GET

Award, the nation’s most-renowned

just your athletic achievements. Here,

INVOLVED WITH IN YOUR FREE

award for senior student-athletes

athletes are stressed to get involved

TIME?

across the nation, which recognizes

with their community and try hard in

Well, our team is huge on volunteering,

athletic, academic, and philanthropic

the classroom. I think that I’ve always

especially this year. Mirta Baselovic,

accomplishment. Whether it be on

been that Type A person, and I think

one of our sophomores, her and I are

the court, in the classroom, or in the

that it’s cool to be recognized for

the student-athlete representatives,

community, McCage excels, which is

not just your height or your athletic

and this Sunday we volunteered at

why she was chosen as our Fall 2015

abilities.

Orange Santa, we did the Longhorn Halloween,

Sports Campus Influencer. Sports

and

we’re

just

really

editor Rahul Naik sat down with the

THE 2012 SEASON WAS PROBABLY

involved in giving back. I mean, we

corporate communication senior to

PRETTY CRAZY FOR YOU. YOU

have so many fans come to our games,

discover the fuel that drives the star

CAME IN AS ONE OF THE HIHEST-

and we see all these little girls, and

Longhorn.

RANKED

FRESHMEN

THE

it’s so cool to see them light up, you

NATION,

BECAME

STARTED,

know, because then they come to our

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO

AND THEN WON A NATIONAL

games. We need them as fans. I also

PLACE FOR TEXAS?

CHAMPIONSHIP.

CRAZY

spend a lot of time reading, probably

To play for Texas is to represent

WAS IT TO EXPERIENCE THAT IN

reading that I shouldn’t do; I should

something bigger than myself. I knew,

YOUR FIRST COLLEGE SEMESTER?

probably be reading for class. That,

coming here, that the tradition for any

It was a lot. I mean, my freshman year

and spending time with my roommates

athletic sport was to work hard and to

was not easy, and I know now the

(Amy Neal and Kat Brooks), who are

uphold the tradition here. You know,

things I wish I would’ve known. But

also my teammates. I don’t actually

you’re put up on a pedestal already, as

I think at the time, I had really good

get sick of them. They’re actually nice

an athlete. That means you work hard

upperclassmen, and they were like,

people.

HOW

what are the things you want to share

I have a ton of appointments and stuff

COURT MEMORY?

with people and what are the things you

to make. I do try to squeeze in time for

Oh, okay, I’ve mentioned this before, but

don’t want to? And I’m still figuring that

social life, but at the same time, I love to

it’s my favorite. When we beat Nebraska

out, you know, even though I’m about to

sleep, so I would rather sleep.

in 2013 in three on their home court to

leave.

WHAT

YOUR

FAVORITE

ON-

go to the Final Four, not only did we have

DURING THE SEASON WHAT DOES A

Cane’s in the locker room waiting for us,

HOW DIFFICULT IS IT TO BALANCE

TYPICAL DAY IN THE LIFE OF MOLLY

but Nathan Mendoza, our director of

VOLLEYBALL

MCCAGE LOOK LIKE?

operations, danced on the court. It was

SOCIAL LIFE, FRIENDS AND FAMILY?

This year, since I’m a senior, class doesn’t

hilarious! He’s so funny. He did his little

There are some things that you just have

start till 10 a.m. I tried to get the later

“Nathan shuffle.” I love that moment.

to give up, and I knew that coming in. In

classes. So, I go to class from like 10

high school, I did too, so it’s not a huge

a.m.-12 p.m. Then, we go to our dining

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT ALMOST

problem. I do have a couple of friends

hall, which is in the North End Zone, and

NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT YOU?

here that are not volleyball players that

I eat lunch. After that, we usually have

Oh, gosh…oh I don’t know. I am a very

I played with in high school that just

practice in our facility in B2, which is

open person. I mean, I do have a journal,

stopped playing or that I just went to

new and opened this February. And then

and all those thoughts are in my journal

school with. And I don’t see them often,

we practice from about 1-4:30 p.m. After

– all the things that I don’t want to share

but they’ve been great, like, I’ll see them

that, we go to weights, which lasts till like

with people and just things I want to

once a year, and they’ll still be my friends.

5:30 p.m., and then I go to the dining hall,

share with myself later on. I don’t know,

I do have a very planned out calendar, so

back upstairs. We literally just stay in the

I think part of college is just to figure out

I keep everything written down because

North End Zone. I eat dinner, and then I

WITH

ACADEMICS,

usually either head to study hall, or I

really detailed Harry Potter question.

in China or France or just playing in a

just go home and do homework.

So it’s like cool questions that I get to

different country. It’s such a different

interact with the fans, you know.

volleyball world that I haven’t been a part of, so I just want to experience it

WHAT’S IS ON OF YOUR PROUDEST YOUR

SPRING

all. And plus, you get to travel, so why

LOOK

not? And then, maybe come back and

things. So, what sticks out to me right

CONSIDERING YOU WON’T HAVE

just work for a marketing firm here in

now is our athletics doctor, Dr. Bray,

VOLLEYBALL IN THE FOLD?

Austin or Denver, wherever life takes

has a daughter, and she came to a

I don’t know, there are so many things

me, you know.

game, and she’s deaf. She’s just always

I’ve wanted to try on campus that I

been kind of quiet. He told me that

haven’t been able to do and so many

WHO HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST

she’s not very outgoing, and I had no

people I want to hang out with that I

ROLE

idea. She came to the game, and there

haven’t been able to see, so it’s kind of

YOUR LIFE?

were kids on the court to sing “The

like the first day of college again. I want

My sister, my sister’s huge. She’s 30

Eyes of Texas” with us. And she was

to play professionally, but it’s tricky

right now, eight years older than I

just standing there by herself, so I just

because their season starts in August

am, and she’s just extremely strong-

grabbed her and asked her to sing “The

usually overseas, since they don’t have

willed, and she will get anything done.

Eyes of Texas” and she did. I had no

professional volleyball here. And so,

She gets things done, but she’s also

idea that little moment had such a big

sometimes they let Americans come in

extremely caring to the people who

impact on her because then she went

January, but I’m not graduating till May.

have ever been in her life, so I’ve been

home and told Dr. Bray that it meant so

So, I’d have to come back, and it’d be

looking up to her my whole life. She’s

much to her, and it’s so cool be on the

tricky. I do want to graduate, whether

my best friend. Also, in a way, I look

court and interact with girls like that. I

that’s going there or staying here. If I

up to my teammates around me. There

had no idea, so it’s just those little, tiny

don’t leave, I want to get an internship.

are certain things that I would not have

things.

I’ve spoken to Train 4 the Game to do

handled well, and my teammates do.

sports performance training, but I’m

Amy (Neal), whenever Jerritt keeps

WHAT IS THE #MONDAYSWITHMILLY

also a communications major, so I’m

yelling at her, she just stays so calm,

HASHTAG ON TWITTER?

trying to find something that’s kind

and she doesn’t let drama affect her.

Oh! So, Susie, our media lady, posts

of related to my major instead of just

She’s always herself, and that’s one

#MondaysWithMolly on Twitter and

volleyball all the time.

thing I look to her for. Nicole Dalton is

ACCOMPLISHMENTS?

WHAT

DOES

What’s really cool are all the little, tiny

SEMESTER

Instagram every Monday. People just

MODELS

THROUGHOUT

one of my best friends. She’s extremely

submit their questions, and every

WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL POST-

positive about everything, despite her

Monday, I just answer their questions.

COLLEGE LIFE LOOK LIKE?

three surgeries, despite everything

It’s mostly about, like, how do I increase

Oh gosh, I would love to play for as

that’s gone on in her life. But she’s still

my vertical or how do I get recruited at

long as my body lets me – and play in

so positive. Yeah, my sister and my

Texas? But then there are some that are

different countries. I don’t want to just

friends.

cool, like there’s one fan that knows

stay in one. My friend, Khat Bell is in

that I love Harry Potter, so he’ll ask a

Korea right now. I have a couple friends

129

S R O T U B I R T N O C FALL 2015 ISSUE

COVER PHOTO Sarah Montgomery

COVER DESIGN Jesus Acosta

EDITORS IN CHIEF Sarah Montgomery Kris Seavers

MANAGING EDITORS Samantha Grasso Lauren L’Amie

DIGITAL ISSUES DIRECTOR Selah Maya Zighelboim

CREATIVE DIRECTORS Jesus Acosta, Ryan Hicks, Sarah Montgomery

MARKETING DIRECTOR Faith Ann Ruszkowski

SECTION EDITORS Jesus Acosta, Melyssa Fairfield, Emily Gibson, Estephanie Gomez, Jonathan Gomez, Joshua Guerra, Maddy Hill, Belicia Luevano, Rahul Naik, Emily Nash, Jan Ross Piedad, Megan Prendergast, Karla Pulido, Rachel Rascoe, Bryan Rolli, Katie Samuelsen, Emma Whalen, Mia Uhunmwuangho, Lauren Ussery

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Zainab Ali, Alyssa Arnold, Lauren Beccue, Angela Bonilla, Aliyah Conley, Raven Cortright, Kassidy Curry, Mary Dolan, Sara Donovan, Melyssa Fairfield, Emily Gibson, Estephanie Gomez, Mae Hamilton, Jim Hampton, Nancy Hernandez, Maddy Hill, Caden Kinard, Lauren L’Amie, Nikki LaSalla, Rebeca Lauprecht, Belicia Luevano, Armando Maese, Alejandra Martinez, Hannah McMorris, Jenna Meltzer, Rahul Naik, Emily Nash, Itohan Osagie, Amanda Pinney, Megan Prendergast, Caitlin Phan, Jacqueline Ramos, Rachel Rascoe, Felicia Rodriguez, Bryan Rolli, Mikaila Rushing, Michael Saenz, Katie Samuelsen, Kris Seavers, Anshuman Singhal, Cierra Smith, Jiayi Sun, Corey Tatel, Vianney Torres, Mia Uhunmwuangho, Zoya Zia, Selah Maya Zighelboim

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Miranda Chiechi, Kristin Evans, Joshua Guerra, Xintong Guo, Maddy Hill, Paula Horstman, Yanhuan Ji, Betsy Joles, Lauren L’Amie, Alejandra Martinez, Jamie Medina, Sarah Montgomery, Emily Nash, Megan Prendergast, Thea Robinson, Bryan Rolli, Mia Uhunmwuangho

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS Jesus Acosta, Ryan Hicks, Elizabeth Kim, Sonia Margolin, Dani Muñoz, Hunter Tanem