First Copy Free
Feb. 28, 2012 theAccent.org
Volume 14, Issue 9
NEWS Community remembers Esme Berrera | Page 4
NEWS Scientists, students celebrate Darwin Day | Page 5
LIFE & ARTS PTK promotes bone marrow drive | Page 7
News → Community
LIFE & ARTS Rio Grande Campus Gallery exhibits ACC art works | Page 10
Marathon goes distance for charity
LIFE & ARTS Seasonending fashion trends rich at downtown Austin store DuO | Page 10 Janice Veteran • Staff Photographer
SEA OF PEOPLE — Runners racing down North Congress at the start of the Livestrong 5K. The events of Sunday Feb 19 brought out runners of all ages.
LIFE & ARTS ’This Means War’ film proves action, romance, comedy mix well | Page 11
LIFE & ARTS ’Bullhead’ film follows tortured. addicted character through pain, loss | Page 11
Livestrong event reaches milestone, attracts diverse crowd, unites Austin Serena Kelley Staff Writer
Eighteen thousand runners braved the wind and chilly early morning weather to raise money for charity in the 21st annual Livestrong Marathon, Half Marathon and 5K event Feb. 19 in downtown Austin. When the bullhorn sounded at 7 a.m., thousands of spectators cheered the runners who represented all 50 states and dozens of countries around the world. The event’s slogan is 26 miles for 26 charities. The money raised goes to benefit each of the 26 charities under Livestrong’s philanthropy program and this year marked a milestone in that the 150,000th participant crossed the finish line. Austin Community College students were actively involved in all aspects of the event. Reinaldo Johari was one of them. “I enjoy every moment of this event, and the participants do as well. Even though some people may not be physically able to race, they are still pushing for others,” Johari said.
Jon Shapley • Photo Editor
OPENING MOMENTS — Runners channel past the starting line of the LIVESTRONG Austin
Marathon and Half Marathon. “This is an event close to my heart which I will continue to volunteer in.” ACC student and professional triathlete Randy Stringer participated for a
fourth year. “This event has definitely helped the community and put a lot of awareness into Lance’s [Armstrong] work,” Stringer said. “Not just as a running
event, but to the reason why we are running. It is a great way for all these charities to be recognized.” Members of ACC’s Fire Training Academy also
volunteered at the event. Cadet William Mullins was a first-time volunteer. “As firefighters, our job is to be out there supporting the community and this is an extension of that,” Mullins said. “There is a lot of correlation between firefighting and selfless service. We want to show that this is not just something we do, but this our life.” Event coordinator Jeff Hahn said, “This event is the ultimate expression of health and fitness in this city, an attribute Austin is well known for and this marathon takes on the influence of that.” Livestrong founder and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong, who is also a professional triathlete and seven-time Tour de France winner, was also in attendence. He congratulated Austin for being “the coolest city in America,” before going on to run the race himself. Recognized as the greenest race in North America, Livestrong Marathon is Austin’s only marathon and one of the largest combined marathons and half marathons in the country.
News → Community
ACC students arrested at equal rights protest Protestors seeking marriage equality turned away by county clerk’s office, 2005 referendum on marriage cited as reason Raymond Weyandt
Staff Writer
Three women, two of them Austin Community College students, were arrested the afternoon of Feb. 14 while participating in an equal rights protest at the Travis County Clerk’s Office in Austin. Brittney Tovar, secretary of ACC’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA), said she wasn’t scared although she had never been arrested before. Iana Di Bona and her partner, GSA member Tiffani Bishop, were also arrested after refusing to leave the clerk’s office. They joined dozens of
protesters at the Valentine’s Day action, which was organized by GetEQUAL Texas, a community organization that works for marriage equality and other rights for gay and lesbian citizens. The sit-in was part of a series of protests taking place across the country and across Texas amid a nationwide call for marriage equality. Approximately 40 demonstrators filled the county clerk’s office for the Valentine’s Day event. Bishop and Di Bona joined five other couples in requesting a marriage license. One by one, the couples were denied licenses based on their sexual orientation. When it
was their turn, Bishop and Di Bona, who celebrated their anniversary on Feb. 14 received the same answer as the other couples from county clerk Dana DeBeauvoir. “Perhaps in the future, I could issue you a marriage license, but until that day I’m afraid I have to turn you down,” DeBeauvoir said in a video shot by a demonstrator at the event. The Texas Constitution was altered by referendum in 2005, defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. “When that language became law,” DeBeauvoir said, “it became impossible to issue
a marriage license to anything other than a heterosexual couple.” While DeBeauvoir said she was doubtful that this change in the law can easily be overturned, she had nothing but encouraging words to offer the protesters. “I wish them luck in court with it,” she said. “I share their concern that [the law] does not provide civil rights for everybody.” Hundreds of people have since watched the footage online, which shows the three women being arrested by Travis County constables and led to waiting patrol cars. Tovar, Bishop and Di Bona, were held for roughly six hours at the Travis County Jail before being released on bail. Their lawyers are confident that the charge of obstructing a walkway will ultimately be dropped. “I’ve never felt this kind of
instantaneous community love and support,” Tovar said. In the days following the arrests, Tovar said her Facebook page lit up with messages from friends and supporters. Michael Diviesti, lead Texas organizer for GetEQUAL, said the organization experienced a similar increase in visitors to its website and social media sites. “There are a lot of people saying ‘thank you’ and a lot of other groups now wanting to work with us,” Diviesti said. “People are taking bold actions. We need our lawmakers to quit making laws that hurt us.” ACC history professor David Lauderback commented that the actions of the students arrested during the Valentine’s Day protest were no different than actions taken by civil rights leaders in the 1960s. “These students are following in a well-established tradition by college students
in America,” Lauderback said. “Sit-ins can be a very popular, very effective technique for effecting social change.” ACC student Claudia Rivero said she found out about the event online and believes that officials went too far. “I feel like these students were using their right to speak freely,” Rivero said. “ It wasn’t necessary to arrest them; they were simply speaking up and asking for the same rights as everyone else. It just isn’t fair.” Diviesti said GetEQUAL plans to organize a similar protest in March in response to the attention generated by the arrests. Bishop is confident that the next demonstration will draw even more supporters. “We need equality in Texas,” Bishop said, taking Di Bona by the hand. “If you know someone who is LGBT, if you care about someone who is LGBT, you have to speak out.”