November 23, 2009
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meets
EAST ACC
Students and instructors display artwork in East Austin Studio Tour
Volume 12, Issue 5
Brock Caron • Staff Photographer
ACC ART – Austinite contemplates the art
made by Leeza Henderson and several artists, Saturday Nov. 14, at this year’s East Austin Art Tour. The pots were made in Costa Rica when Henderson was studying abroad.
Sarah Vasquez Staff Writer
Four groups of ACC artist showed their work at the eighth East Austin Studio Tours (EAST) at Graphic Glass Studios on East 5th street. The tour has extended from a two day affair into a nine day, two weekend event. Different art mediums, such as, ceramics, paintings, sculpture, and jewelry fabrication were featured within the tight range of studios in East Austin. Attendees were able to enjoy art supply discounts, bike in movies, and artist talks hosted by various art-loving businesses and studios. Art Department Chair Gary Webernick and Art Studios and Exhibition Specialist, Julie Isaacson, helped organize the show by collecting artwork from the previous Steamroller Madness, Constitution Day exhibits and art created by groups of ACC students who traveled to Italy and Costa Rica. During the trip to Costa Rica, students built a kiln for the locals in the small village of Santa Elena. Using the kiln, that took approximately two days to build, the artists used donated local clay to create pre-Columbian inspired tiles. Unfortunately, a lot of the tiles never made the trip back to Austin. “The clay was very wet and it rained 50 percent of each day,” Mary Loren-Sinibaldi said. “It rained a lot. We couldn’t get the clay to dry. A lot of it dried unevenly. Mine was just the perfect thickness and it dried evenly.” Leeza Henderson was another ACC student to partake in the Costa Rica trip to create the artwork featured in the Tour. During the first weekend of EAST, she got to hang out with the other participating
Sarah Vasquez • Staff Photographer
NUMBER FIVE — ACC students’ and instructors’ art is displayed at Graphic Glass Studios at the eighth annual East Austin Art Tour. students and faculty, as well as interact with the visitors about her artwork. “Apparently, there was like 200 people walking in and out. It turned out really well,” said Henderson. Art student, Austin DeCaulp, had never had any of his art displayed until this years EAST. “I did this print and one of my teachers kind of liked it, and asked me to put it in the show,” said DeCaulp of his print “The Goal of Science the Aim of Religion.” “This is honestly my first year to do art,” said DeCaulp. “It lets me express a lot of ideas that would take a lot of time to say in words.”
Sarah Vasquez • Staff Photographer
CONTROVERSIAL ART — Woodcut print titled “Bible Story 7” is
displayed at the Graphic Glass Studio. ACC’s art instructor Ward Walker created the piece.
Art Dept. lobbies for more space CSPS has been busy, Dept. head petitions for more space Christopher A. Smith Campus Life Editor
A small exhibition space is being built in the remodeled gym at Rio Grande Campus, but Art Department Chair Gary Webernick said the department still needs a larger gallery. Webernick and the ACC Art Department are once again petitioning the ACC administration for more gallery space in which to display student and faculty art. Even with the addition of the 450 square foot space, Webernick said ACC will still have less gallery space per student than most other community colleges in Texas. The exhibition space, smaller than the average classroom at Rio Grande Campus, will only be large enough for a small one person show said Webernick, and it will not be able to accommodate the annual student and faculty shows. ACC currently does not have a gallery, and the Art Department is forced to display art in the HBC lobby, campus hallways and libraries, or to lease off-campus gallery space. Webernick is trying to get the department’s request for a gallery included in the ACC Master Plan. “When the school shifted into their master planning, we thought that perhaps we would be included in that process, and we still haven’t been,” Webernick said. “So there is a push to get the gallery exhibition space on the Master Plan.” Webernick, who was hired as a full-time instructor at ACC in 1992, remembers petitioning for gallery space since he first arrived. “We proposed a new exhibition
space for Phase 2 of Riverside Campus in 1992. We have put together a proposal every year since, without any success,” Webernick said. Because of the lack of a gallery, the department has been forced to look off campus for space to host the large annual student and faculty shows. Art shows have been held at various galleries around Austin, but because of the large number of pieces to display, it is often difficult to find a gallery willing to lease out the necessary space according to Webernick. When he was hired, Webernick said it was part of his job description to be in charge of the art department’s exhibits. “I was already aware that we didn’t have a gallery of our own, so we were acquiring spaces, leasing spaces or getting people to donate spaces,” said Webernick. The result was that the annual student and faculty shows were held at various locations around Austin. Webernick is petitioning to get a permanent exhibition space of at least two to three thousand square feet built for the department. If that is not possible, Webernick would at least want to lease a space yearly that would be big enough to host the student and faculty art shows. Without a permanent space, in which to display their work, Webernick says art students at ACC are missing out on part of the educational experience. “It is an educational component that actually completes the cycle of the production of making art. After it is made, every artist wants to show that art. And by not having a gallery space that actually allows the students to show continually, it doesn’t allow them to complete that process,” said Webernick. “Making the work is one thing that we teach,” ACC Art Studios
it’s not slowing down
Gallery Space
Gallery space compared to student population Student Pop. (Aprox.) 40,000
College Name Austin Community College Austin, TX
Square Footage 450 sq.ft.
San Antonio College San Antonio, TX
32000 sq ft
38000
South Texas College McAllen, TX
800 sq. ft.
25000
Brookhaven College Dallas, TX
1600 sq. ft.
11500
Delmar College, Coprus Christi, TX
1750 sq. ft.
10000
Shiphrah Meditz
Information provided by Art Department’s survey of community college galleries.
and Exhibit Coordinator Brent Baggett said. Learning to frame, and documenting, are skills that aspiring artists “need to make it in the art world,” said Baggett, but the current exhibit spaces on campus do not provide students with a professional area in which to accomplish that. “It’s a level of professionalism that is most important. To let students see work that other students are doing, to be given a chance to exhibit their work in what would be considered a professional space,” said Baggett. In an e-mail, Media Relations Coordinator for ACC Alexis Patterson said, “It’s no secret that with enrollments at a record high, space at the college is at a premium. The college must take into consideration all requests for space and weigh such requests against what is available, with priority given to educational and instructional needs.”
New Org. plans a full semester of new events for ACC’S politicly minded students
But, she added that, “this is actually a good time for departments to put in requests for future facility needs, because the college is embarking on an extensive campus master planning process.” Art student Valerie Hope was surprised when she found out that ACC does not have a gallery, noting, “ACC is such a big [school]. I was kind of surprised that they didn’t have anything anywhere.” Hope said that being able to display work created in class was “part of the educational experience.” “They have everything else at the school; why don’t they have a gallery?” said Hope. “I just feel like we are behind,” said Baggett. “It is not that we are asking for something that is over the top or unusual, it’s a standard for most schools to have that, and we would just like to have that standard met.”
Staff Writer
The Center for Student Political Studies (CSPS), the new student volunteer branch of the Center for Public Policy & Political Studies (CPPPS), is up and running. This organization will focus on public policy issues, and has several politically themed events on the agenda. CSPS was conceptualized in September when the Student Government Association’s Parliamentarian, Avy Gonzalez, talked with Director of CPPPS Peck Young about creating a student organization focused on public policy. “We’re very, very excited about it (CSPS). They have a great deal of potential. We’re looking forward to working with them,” said Young. CSPS has a busy semester coming up. “Our mission is to provide student access to forums and workshops, to plan major political events, lobby legislators, and be involved in political campaigns and internships,” Gonzalez said. The CSPS has already taken part in a couple of events in the month since it began. “We’ve had breakfast with the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Jim Pitts. On Nov. 14, a workshop
on writing effective resumes and dealing with the government on both state and national levels, was held at the Capitol,” Gonazalez said. CSPS will be attending The Center for Politics and Governance’s Perspectives Series on Nov. 20 at the Bass Lecture Hall. The event will feature Mayor Bill White of Houston. “I’m really excited to have this opportunity to go to forums and have the ability to meet new people who have worked with politicians and know the ins and outs of how it [politics] works,” said CSPS Secretary, Paul Theobold. ACC History Professor and CSPS member, David Lauderback said “This is a remarkable group of very energetic students who are going to make a difference. They are optimistic and ambitious.” In 2010 CSPS will attend a health care forum event at the Capitol that will feature a mock congressional joint committee composed of real-life doctors, nurses, and other medical personal. They are also hosting “How to Fix the Economy,” an interactive student event at Eastview in March. “There are plenty of opportunities and exposure to the political process,” said Gonzalez. “The networking opportunities for people who want a career in politics are amazing.”
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Karissa Explains
Forum
it ALL
Turn off the Lights Karissa Rodriguez Layout Intern
The Zilker Park Trail of Lights has been an Austin tradition for 43 years and is a long-standing family tradition of mine that I’m sure I share with nearly all students and Austinites alike. I’ve braved the cold, parking issues, and throngs of people and strollers in order to view the dazzling array of sights and sounds every year, as long as I can remember. However, I will not be attending this year, because the Austin City Council has downsized the Trail of Lights and is effectively destroying the spirit behind the tradition. The City of Austin has decided that this year’s event will still be free to the public, but will be scaled back in order to save money, moved to another section of the park and renamed the “2009 Zilker Tree Holiday Festival.” The trail will be scaled back to the point of not only half the number of displays located around the Zilker Hillside Theatre on a foot trail, it will only last nine days (Dec. 13-21) instead of the typical two weeks it normally runs. Running the trail for only one week is a travesty. The trail was super crowded in the past, and I can only imagine the difficulty of trying to squeeze in the thousands of attendees in less time. I’ve decided not to attend just because of that reason. I do not feel that searching for parking, and walking in an even larger crowd of people will be worth a shorter trail. The Parks and Recreation Department will really need to up their game and find businesses and organizations that will provide outstanding displays this year if they want to keep Austinites interested and entice them to continue attending future events. However, that may be a huge hurdle for them, considering the city council is only willing to pay a third of its normal budget this year. In previous years, the Trail of Lights has cost the city up to a
million dollars. The trail is one of many local noteworthy events, and it is a shame that the council is not able to afford to maintain such a tradition. The council is completely at fault for ruining the Trail of Lights simply because they took too long to find a private vendor to run the site. It is a disgrace that the council waited until last month in order to begin accepting bids from event planning companies. The cost of the Trail of Lights has been a well known issue since last year’s event. For the council to wait until two months before this year’s event is appalling. The public is going to suffer because of the lack of initiative and planning by the council. They should have began planning for the event or seeking a private vendor over the summer, instead of delaying the decision until there would not be enough time for anyone to plan and provide a substantial event for the public. The council had approved charging up to $5 as an entrance fee earlier this year, but city officials said the decision for the city to operate a smaller display means that they will not have to charge an entrance fee. The charge to park will also be decreased to $10 per-car. The only good decisions the council has made concerning this issue is that they are not altering the Zilker Tree event, and that this year’s trail will remain free. However, to be honest, that is not remarkable. I would have gladly paid admission to either keep the trail the way it was or hire a private vendor to maintain it. In order to keep the Trail of Lights an Austin tradition in the future, the council needs to make smarter decisions in a timely manner. The only way to salvage this year’s event is to require the help of volunteers who are willing to sacrifice their time in order to maintain the same spirit instilled in the Trail of Lights into the new and unimproved “Zilker Holiday Tree Festival.”
For
Devons ’ Sake
The spirit of Thanksgiving Devon Tincknell Staff Writer
Dwarfed by the 400 pound yuletide gorilla that is Christmas, Thanksgiving is a holiday that never really gets its due respect. Widely regarded as a preamble to the real holiday season, Thanksgiving has been bullied and demeaned by commercial interests until now, where it is merely the placeholder before Black Friday. Unlike Christmas, whose murky backstory is hung with New Testament legend and pagan solstice leftovers, Thanksgiving’s meaning is one very few bother to investigate. Nobody needs a monologue from Linus to explain what Thanksgiving is about. We learned about its origin in elementary school, and the imperialist fable of starving colonists breaking bread with generous natives only reinforces our collective guilt about that whole genocide thing. Fortunately, Columbus Day is the holiday that bears the burden of our forefather’s small pox blanket sins, but that still leaves Thanksgiving with a tale that no one, outside of a classroom play, is eager to retell. Unless you count Disney’s “Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale,” Thanksgiving does not have that much cinematic appeal. Christmas movies are only outnumbered by the endless renditions of “Jingle Bell Rock” played ad nauseam throughout malls, but once you separate Christmas with the Kranks and the Santa Claus sequels (basically anything with Tim
Allen) from the pile, you are left with more than a few bona fide classics. Whether they star Santa himself, or just a plucky little girl, Christmas films invariably feature a quest for a Grinch’s redemption followed by a self congratulating bout of holiday cheer. The paltry pile of films featuring Thanksgiving are not enough to make a leftover sandwich. If their scarcity was not already an insult, they further demean Turkey Day by presenting it as a background set for dysfunctional family melodrama. The only true Thanksgiving classic, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (which, thankfully, the Alamo is showing this year) is not just hilarious, but it is the singular film that presents Thanksgiving as the wonderful reward at the end of a long journey, making all the hardship suffered, enroute, worth it in the end. I have never lived in close proximity to much of my extended family, so growing up, Thanksgiving was a nuclear family affair, and not much of one, at that. It was not until I left home that my love of T-Day began to grow like an expanding post-feast waistline. Though I secretly dislike the term “Orphan’s Thanksgiving,” feeling that it demeans the importance of friendship, the Thanksgivings I have spent sans family have been the most memorable (well, depending on how much “holiday spirits” I imbibe) and the most fulfilling. Coming together with people you are not genetically obligated to spend time with makes the holiday a much more
w w w.the Accent.org
November 23, 2009
Perry’s endorsements through the looking glass
Super conservative power players come out for Perry, students need alternative candidates before the primary -Staff EditorialEndorsements are starting to roll in, at least on the Republican side, as the primaries for the Texas gubernatorial race draws nearer. These endorsements help paint a picture of the candidates, and what they stand for. Despite the fanfare surrounding former Vice President Dick Cheney’s support of Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, it is Governor Rick Perry who is seeking an unprecedented third elected term. It is more important to know which of the conservative powerplayers are throwing their support behind the tea party attending, succession threatening, tuition raising incumbent. First up on the endorsement list is President of the Texans for Life Coalition, Kyleen Wright, while Wright works as a pro-life activist, she is also very vocal about the fact that abstinence only education is necessary. She has said that she is grateful to have such a “loyal friend” in Perry, who vetoed legislation that would have allowed an evil organization like Planned Parenthood to take away parents’ rights to control the sex-ed information available in schools, and in their communities. The next endorsement comes from the President of the Conservative Republicans of Texas, Steven Hotze. This endorsement is really heartwarming as Hotze and Perry only just patched up their relationship consensual affair. Plus, almost every Orphan’s Thanksgiving is a potluck, due to my peers reluctance to tackle an entire feast single-handedly, and thus the meal ends up as an overstuffed cornucopia of nostalgic classic (yams with tiny marshmallows!) and modern, tofu based alternatives. Whether it is the tryptophan in the turkey, or the egg nog in my belly, I always finish off Thanksgiving with an immense, almost delirious, feeling of satisfaction. It would be easy to blame it on that fourth plate of pumpkin pie, but I like to think that the warmth I am feeling is spiritual rather than gastronomical. Surrounded by friends indulging in their food comas, we traditionally put on a classic Christmas film, for lack of a better alternative, and drift away in a stuffed stupor. In that moment of full belly bliss, I feel like I understand the true spirit of Thanksgiving, more than any other holiday out there. And for that, I give thanks.
after Hotze publicly accused Perry of being too soft on illegal immigration. Perry supports strategic fencing of the Texas border. Hotze has also recently expressed his concern that President Obama has followed through on his promise to support a militant homosexual agenda because, according to Hotze, Obama is “hellbent on continuing to push against the morals and will of not only the U.S. Congress, but the majority of Americans.” This is clearly the other majority of Americans, not the majority that elected Obama a year ago. Next, is Reverend Rick Scarborough, founder of Vision America, and author of such works as “Enough is Enough,” and “Liberalism Kills Kids.” Scarborough is concerned about the “destructive demands of the movement to normalize homosexuality,” and for over a decade has run an organization trying to convince pastors to get back into politics in order help to restore conservative Christian values (church) back into politics (state). He also rallies against antihate crime legislation, he supports the impeachment of liberal judges, because it would scare other judges into “doing what they were put there to do,” and has publicly expressed concern that Obama is not really an American citizen. The biggest name on the list of crazy people for Perry is, runner up of Ms. Alaska 1984 herself, Sarah Palin.
She supports Rick Perry, because “He walks the walk of a true conservative. And he sticks by his guns,” and we all know how she feels about guns. She is a pro-life, ultraconservative Republican poster girl who is convinced that health care reform will lead to government run “death panels” that will decide if unproductive members of society, like the elderly, live or die. If paling around with these homo phobic, anti-choice extremists is not enough to turn you off to a Perry 2010 victory, consider his track record with education. Perry deregulated tuition, which has led to an over 58 percent increase in tuition costs. It was under Perry that the six drop rule passed, and also under him that the bill to make textbooks tax free failed. He has been nothing but detrimental to higher education in Texas. Unfortunately, Perry does not seem to have any plan to ‘go rogue’ and step down from office. As the incumbent, he is likely to end up on the ballot. It is important that students understand that the governor has an even more direct impact on issues like deregulated tuition, the six drop rule, and whether or not textbooks will become tax free. It is important to look into the endorsements candidates are receiving, and what platforms they are running on, so that when Election Day rolls around there is someone on the ballot students can support. It should not just be Perry and his friends. They are all mad there.
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Editor-in-Chief..................................................................................................................... Sarah Neve Assistant Editor.......................................................................................................... David Rodriguez Photo/Web Editor...............................................................................................................Hanlly Sam Layout Editor.........................................................................................................................Chris Scott Layout Intern............................................................................................................Karissa Rodriguez Campus Editor..................................................................................................... Christopher A. Smith Office Intern................................................................................................................... Teodora Erbes Accent Adviser........................................................................................................ Matthew Connolly Accent Coordinator.......................................................................................................... Lori Blewett Student Life Director................................................................................................... Cheryl Richard Writers Trevor Goodchild, Shiphrah Meditz, Michael Needham, Devon Tincknell, Sarah Vasquez, Brynne Harder, Matt Iserman, Elisia Hartin, Sonia Onescu, Brooklyn Thiel, Diana Leite Photographers Brock Caron, Kevin Forester, David Saenz, Nick Sabala, Sarah Vasquez Artists Karen Kuhn, Brock Caron ACC President Dr. Steve Kinslow Board of Trustees Nan McRaven– Chair; Veronica Rivera—Vice Chair; Dr. James McGuffee— Secretary, Dr. Barbara P. Mink, Allen Kaplan, Jeffrey Richard, John-Michael Cortez, Tim Mahoney, Raul Alvarez All rights reserved. All content is the property of Accent and may not be reproduced, published or retransmitted in any form without written permission from the Office of Student Life. Accent is the student newspaper of Austin Community College and is printed by the Austin American-Statesman. Accent is published biweekly. ACC students may submit articles for publication in Accent to RGC’s Office of Student Life Room 101.1; e-mail articles to accent@austincc.edu or fax submissions to 223‑3086. ACC does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation or disability. Accent offers ACC’s faculty, staff, students and surrounding community a complete source of information about student life. Accent welcomes your input, as well as information about errors. If you notice any information that warrants a correction please e-mail accent@austincc. edu. Individual views, columns, letters to the editor and other opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of Accent.
November 23, 2009
News Briefs
Fire Academy celebrates move to Austin with open house
The ACC Fire Training Academy is celebrating its move to its new facility on Dec. 2. The Academy is hosting an open house at the facility it shares with the Austin Fire and Police Department located at 4800 Shaw Lane in southeast Austin. This is the Academy’s first semester in its new home after 19 years of being located in Taylor, TX. “We are the Austin Community College Fire Academy, and we just felt we needed it back in Austin,” said Paul Menches, Chair of the Fire Protection Technology Department. Menches said the Taylor location served the Academy well but that “it just made sense for us to be located in Austin and be assigned to a campus.” The open house is from 10:30 am to noon, is open to the public, and will be followed by a demonstration by the Fire Training Academy cadets.
The Rio Review literary journal hosts release party for authors
The Austin Community College student literary journal, “The Rio Review,” will host its release party on Dec. 2. The journal features student poetry, fiction and non-fiction prose, and artwork. The journal is published every semester and this will be the 23rd issue. “It’s remarkable for a two-year college to have a student run literary journal of this caliber,” said Charlotte Gullick, Chair of the Creative Writing Department and Senior Faculty Advisor for The Rio Review. The journal includes works by 12 different student authors. “It is very exciting to get published, and we want to give students who are published in it the opportunity to celebrate,” said Gullick. Six student editors produced the journal with the help of Gullick and four other faculty advisors. The deadline for submissions to next semester’s issue is Dec. 19. The release party is open to the public at 7 p.m. at the Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater.
Student Government forms new DREAM Act committee
The Student Government Association (SGA) has formed a DREAM. Act Committee in order to study the effect of the DREAM act on undocumented students at ACC. This committee was formed after Jose Torres, President of the University of Leadership, a group that is trying to mobilize support for the DREAM Act at colleges, made a presentation about the DREAM act at an SGA meeting on Oct. 30. The DREAM Act stands for the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. It affects the children of immigrants that are not citizens, but have completed secondary education and are now attending college. “My goal is to get ACC to sign a resolution to prove we support the DREAM Act. This is a resource we work to support. The only way to stop the crime in our city and community is to make sure all the young people attend a university and get a good education,” DREAM act Chair Blanca Gonzalez said. “We’re (SGA) not taking a stand right now…The first thing is awareness and to see how many students are actually being affected.” Director of Communications of SGA Sophia Downing said.
News www.theAccent.org
Great Big-Green award Parking garage awarded three star green rating Michael Needham Staff Writer
The parking garage at Austin Community College’s Rio Grande Campus was officially awarded a three star rating by the Austin Energy Green Building Program on Thursday, Nov. 19, at ACC’s Great Big Green Get-Together. The garage is ACC’s first green building. Austin Energy awards the rating for the design, construction, and operation of sustainable buildings. Some factors that led to the garages rating were the use of local construction material, recycled material, and the use southfacing glass storefronts reducing the need for electric lighting, among other things. “Sustainability isn’t a trend here, it’s a policy,” Media Relations Coordinator Alexis Patterson said. Students, staff, and faculty were invited to enjoy a morning of environmental celebration. The event started with the presentation of the award to ACC President Stephen Kinslow. Kinslow expressed his satisfaction with the handling of waste created by building the parking garage. Eighty percent of construction debris were diverted from the landfill and used for recycling. “This shows the power of focusing on sustainability design,” Kinslow said. Kinslow hopes the future of ACC will follow suit. In five years ACC could be the largest community college in Texas, with more campuses being built and current campuses undergoing renovation, Kinslow said. “These are all opportunities
Karissa Rodriguez • Staff Photographer
ENERGY BUILDING — Board of Trustees Chair Nan McRaven and Secretary Barbara Mink help
unveil a replica of a plaque that will be installed on the Rio Grande parking garage. to incorporate green energy standards,” Kinslow said. “I think it’s really timely for us to be practicing this.” Student John Pifer was impressed by the event. “This shows that an affordable community college can have a green facility,” Pifer said. After the award ceremony, attendees were encouraged to visit booths set up by various organizations. These organizations shared one central purpose: to help the environment. Bill Morrison, Adjunct Professor of electronics and advanced technology, stood at a table to spread the word about Riverside’s Renewable Energy Program. Passers-by were tempted closer to their table by a wind turban, solar thermal modules, and photovoltaic systems the group had put on display. Capital Metro also had a table at the event. They came
Media dept. helps save turkeys Donations accepted until Thanksgiving Michael Needham Staff Writer
This Thanksgiving, $25 will save a turkey’s life. The Rio Grande Campus media center, room 225, is accepting donations on behalf of Farm Sanctuary’s Adopt-ATurkey Project. Last year they sponsored three turkeys. This year they hope for more. “Just because you’re going to eat a turkey doesn’t mean you can’t save one too,” ACC staff member Stephanie Bogdanich said. Once rescued, a sponsored turkey is sent to a farm sanctuary in California, and a picture of the turkey is sent back to the donator. Students are invited to see the pictures of last year’s turkeys at the Rio Grande media center. Originally Bogdanich started supporting the foundation with one fellow employee. Then, more members of the media center staff started to show interest. Before they knew it, faculty wanted to donate as well. “It was a Thanksgiving miracle where everyone wanted to chime in,” Bogdanich said. While many of the media center employees are vegetarian or vegan, there are some meat eaters like ACC student and staff member Xochitl Gostomski that support the project. “I eat meat,” Gostomski said. “It’s not don’t eat meat, it’s don’t support corporate farming.” Gostomski feels that turkeys, as well as other animals, are mistreated by corporate farms. “It helps to take turkeys from this situation, and put them in a better place until they die,” Gostomski said. ACC staff member Andrea
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to talk about the new Green Pass that allows ACC students to ride for free starting Jan. 5. Maria Garza, Capital Metro community involvement specialist, invited students to use the new program. “ACC students can take advantage of free rides even if it’s just to go to the store,” Garza said. The celebration also attempted to teach students how they can make a difference. “We will inform our faculty and students why the building is green,” said Andy Kim, ACC Environmental Stewardship Director, “and they will be able to take this knowledge and go out and practice in the real world.”
Nick Sabala • Staff Photographer
GOING GREENER — A n SGA Minor-
ity Senator Blanca Gonzalez encourages students to write their thoughts on how to make ACC greener.
New corp creates jobs for students Shiphrah Meditz Staff Writer
Brock Caron • Staff Artist
Junker feels that saving a turkey can be even better than not eating a turkey. “Rather than just a change of diet, we’re getting to the heart of it,” Junker said, “to give an animal a nice long life.” Media center employee Jennifer Hill is known for her turkey saving enthusiasm. In fact, she got in trouble for her over aggressive donation requests, Bogdanich said. “I think that everyone that walks through the [media
center] door should pay three dollars to help the turkeys,” Hill said. At first Bogdanich’s supervisor teased her about the fundraiser, but eventually he was on board. “This year he is all for it,” Bogdanich said. “He shows people the pictures of the turkeys from last year.” ACC faculty members are donating to the cause again this year. “We just got another $50
contribution today from a faculty member,” Bogdanich said. While faculty and staff are helping out, student contributions are sparse. “Very rarely do we get students unless they see the signs,” Bogdanich said. The new tradition has changed the way some people think of the holiday. “We think of Thanksgiving now as save a turkey day,” Bogdanich said.
Austin Conservation Corp, a new organization created by ACC’s Center for Public Policy and Political Studies (CPPPS), now offers students the job opportunities maintaining and building parks around Austin. The CPPPS held a press conference at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center on Nov. 11 to announce their plans for the Conservation Corp. The corp will work to restore Austin area parks, with a focus on the Lady Bird Lake and Trail system. “We had good press coverage,” said the CPPPS director, Peck Young. “The whole point (of the conference) was to show the community what we do.” Trail construction, maintenance, landscaping, park development, tree planting, recycling, flooding prevention, and erosion control are some of the many operations under way in the near future for the corp. “We decided to focus on Lady Bird Lake because we are deeply concerned about the condition of the Lake trail systems. Actually, Lady Bird was reluctant to have the park named after her because of the inconsistent maintenance problems due to periods without funding. So, Austin mayor (Lee Leffingwell) talked to the head of the parks department to see if maintenance could be possible with less money,” Young said. The organization also has the support of many prominent members of the Austin community: former Texas
Governor Mark White, Austin City Council member Mike Martinez, and Vice President of the Board of Austin Community College’s Center for Public Policy and Political Studies, Gerald Hill. The corps will offer training in environmental and conservation work and can prepare students for future careers as a park ranger, manager, civil engineer, botanist, biologist, forester, environmental scientist and more. The CPPPS will oversee the corps which has a budget of about $250,000. Goodwill will pay members, and Austin Energy will provide money for a supervisor of the work crew. To join, one must be and ACC student or planning to enroll by the following semester. “Every twelve weeks we get new students recommended through Goodwill. Most of these young people will be ACC students, others will be enrolling as students in the coming semesters,” Young said. ACC already supports the organization with 12 students. Corps CPPPS and the Austin Conservation Corps share the focus to bring attention to the environment in belief that, since part of a community’s responsibilities is the conservation of natural resources, and because public policy plays a role in regulating the community‘s efforts, the two are necessarily integrated. Young said, “It’s a good way to earn money, get experience in the workforce and classroom, and get experience in leadership skills.”
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Campus Life w w w.the Accent.org
ant ant Student and staff at n’ opinions Rio Grande ave Campus
UT Professor Dr. Daniel Hamermesh recently said in an article in The Daily Texan that UT is not “[ACC] or Texas State University. We [UT] should be training the leaders of tomorrow to think.” Do you agree?
“It’s not fair to distance other colleges from UT. Most students from ACC pursue UT to transfer to, and many UT students take ACC classes. Also, many UT professors teach at other colleges as well.” —Natalie Rusnak, Art Major
“Not justifiable. I have had professors that have taught at that institution [UT] and ACC, and others that would not teach there because they didn’t like the vast body size, feeling they wouldn’t make a difference on a student’s life like they would at a smaller school.” — Shane Michaels, English Major
“UT is only admitting the top 8% of incoming freshmen, leaving [Austin area] students to turn to ACC. Many ACC students transfer to UT so really ACC is planting the seed [of success] with UT only watering it.” — Marylin Lee Taylor , Campus Manager
“Not completely true because there are students that attend other universities that receive great educations.” — Emily Ellis, Kinesiology Major
“Practically anyone with a computer or library card can become educated without having to attend school.” —Sweetie’ Louise Diome , Nursing Major
“Dissagree. UT does accept ACC credits. Not all UT students have gone there four or six years. They might have transferred from another college.” — Maurillio Licea , Criminal Justice Major
Hamermesh’s response when questioned by Accent: “ACC is a community college. I see the role of a community college as two fold in my own personal opinion. I’m not an education expert, but I am a tax payer. One is that a community college ought to make up for the failures of high school. Secondly, a community college ought to be very important in the job matching of particular vocations and occupations to industry. That’s its role. It’s not a substitute for a four year college or a university, nor should it be attempting to provide those kinds of outputs.”
Planetarium, professor celebrate astronomy Brooklyn Thiel Staff Writer
The Austin Planetarium, which is still in development, has helped to cosponsor ACC Professor Dr. Jim Heath’s lecture series celebrating the International Year of Astronomy. Professor Heath was among the dozen or so people who first entertained the idea of building a planetarium in Austin. Heath, professor of Astronomy and Physics, hosted a lecture entitled “On the Shoulders of Giants, Part III: Galileo and Kepler in 1609” on Nov. 13. ACC students, along with the public, were invited to Cypress Creek campus for the third lecture in a series meant to educate people on astronomy. The lecture was followed by a star party lead by Torvald Hessel. Hessel is the executive director of the Austin Planetarium. The International Year of Astronomy, according to Professor
Heath, is “the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei being the first person to use the telescope for organized observations”. “It is also the 400th anniversary of Johannes Kepler publishing his book Astronomia Nova,” said Heath. Kepler’s book provided evidence that the Earth goes around the Sun. The United Nations in conjunction with the International Astronomical Union have worked together to declare 2009 as the International Year of Astronomy. These two organizations have held events all over the world promoting astronomy. One more lecture is scheduled for this year on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at Cypress Creek Campus in Cedar Park, Room 1102. The goal of the International Year of Astronomy is, said Heath, “to make people aware of the history of astronomy and to get people looking up at the stars.”
November 23, 2009
New RGC Office Building Gym turned into faculty office space Brynne Harder Staff Writer
Left empty for 35 years, Austin High’s former gymnasium on West avenue will soon be filled with students. On schedule and on budget, the gym is expected to be open for the summer 2010 semester as RGC Building 3000. ACC first occupied the building in 1975 when Austin High moved, and purchased it in 2003. Except for storage, the building was left empty which added to the reconstruction challenges. Lead paint and asbestos had to be removed from walls, window glazing and pipe insulation before new construction could be started. In addition, there were City of Austin permitting issues due to proximity to the Shoal Creek and from necessary street closures while the water line for the surrounding area was upgraded. “This is an 80-year-old building, originally designed as a basketball gym, and we are changing the use,” said Robert Ryland, project manager. “It really had been neglected; it wasn’t in any shape to be used for recreational use or anything. It was kind of derelict.” Building materials were also updated to improve efficiency. This included insulated windows, and high efficiency heating, cooling and lighting systems. A third floor was also added to provide additional square footage. However, the basketball gym was originally built with tall windows that don’t completely match with the new floor to ceiling levels. As a result, Ryland said that a steel construction was used for the floor that should still provide a very natural appearance from the outside. RGC Building 3000 will provide more than 38,000 square feet made up of five general purpose classrooms, offices for 60 faculty and a central plant for heating and cooling. The offices are a variety of sizes based on existing window openings, but Ryland said they are around 100 square feet. He also added that the classroom and office sizes meet the standards set for the South Austin, Cypress Creek and Round Rock locations. With this additional space, current crowding in the main building and offices will be
Karissa Rodriguez • Staff Photographer
RIO BUIDLGING — A construction vehicle moves dirt from the construction site for the new building on the Rio Grande Campus. The building will serve as office space and classrooms.
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Art courtesy of BLGY Architecture
alleviated. Another benefit is the possibility that using the gym will save the campus money as ACC will no longer have to lease the Attache and Peach Tree buildings. The entire cost of the gym renovation will be about $8 million. “The main intent is to provide better office and classroom space. The two rented properties were not designed as academic buildings and do not entirely support our programs. In addition, they do not meet modern building codes in terms of handicap access, fire safety and energy efficiency,” said Ryland. Re-designing the property
extended to the outdoors as well. Technical and code requirements required removing the former band hall. This area will be replaced with a simple landscaped courtyard with a small outdoor stage and seating. The drama department doesn’t currently have any plans for performances on the stage, but Shelby Brammer, Department Chair of Drama, said that it will be used at some point. “There’s nothing like performing outdoors or viewing something live outdoors. There’s noise and other environmental elements that are outside our control, but that’s part of the experience,” said Brammer.
“We’re just glad to have a space that will encourage performance and offer students and pedestrians another tranquil, pleasant place to hang out.” Because of the gym’s age and history, the plans were designed with the goal of maintaining the building’s original exterior appearance. “I have met many folks over the course of the project who tell stories about playing basketball there when they were young. We are pleased that we are able to preserve such a neighborhood fixture and put it back into service for the college,” said Ryland.
Twisters are the soccer champs Karissa Rodriguez Layout Intern
Karissa Rodriguez • Staff Photographer
THE TWISTERS — Team members of the Twisters proudly
show off their first place trophies for a team photo. The Twisters defeated the Dream Team 12-9, Nov. 16 at SoccerZone in South Austin.
Over 60 students in 11 teams competed in this year’s soccer tournament resulting in the undefeated Twisters beating the Dream Team during the championship game on Nov. 19 to win first place. “We had a lot of new students participating from all of the campuses,” Student Life Coordinator Jennifer Flowers said. The winning team consisted of six players who never met before participating in the soccer tournament hosted by Student Life’s Intramural Sports and Recreation program. “We didn’t know each other, so we practiced to get to know
one another before the season started,” Twister’s team captain Reda Ayoubi said. That practice paid off as they worked well together as a team during the season and the championship game. “It was good and fun,” Ayoubi said referring to the championship game, “hopefully they continue the program,” he continued. “It’s still too early in the planning process to say for sure what Student Life will look like next year, but budget cuts are not being made within Student Life, just a little rearranging to make room for increased orientation services. Whatever we come out with, student engagement is always our priority,” Flowers said.
Golf Fiesta raises money for scholarships Matt Iserman Staff Writer
The ACC chapter of the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE) hosted their first ever Golf Fiesta. All proceeds from the tournament go toward providing scholarships to Latino students in need of financial aid. The event took place, Nov. 13, at the Riverside Golf Course next to the Riverside Campus. “We are very proud of the students we have already awarded scholarships to and look forward to helping more Latino students in the future,” said Shari Rodriquez, President of Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education at ACC (ACC TACHE). “We’re going to try to host the tournament again next year.
We had a lot of fun doing this,” explained Rodriquez. There was very little student participation in the event, which TACHE plans to change next year. TACHE is a non-profit statewide organization of professionals in higher education whose goals include educational advocacy, networking, recruitment, retention, and mentoring students to assist them in successfully reaching their academic goals. ACC TACHE is composed primarily of ACC faculty and staff members, according to Laura Juarez, Associate Professor of Biology and former ACC TACHE President. TACHE is primarily involved in fundraising and increasing Latino faculty at ACC. The tournament began at 8:00 a.m. on Friday with an awards ceremony at 1:00 p.m. complete with a few beers and
burgers. Burgers were provided by the Tin Cup Grill. Among other sponsors, Henna Chevrolet offered a Chevy Silverado to any golfer skilled enough to nail a hole in one on the tenth hole, a 166 yard par 3. The event had originally been scheduled to take place Oct. 27, but weather conditions forced the event to be delayed.
GOLF SCRAMBLE
— Angelica DiazMiranda, daughter of ACC Professor Mariano DiazMiranda, attempts to line up her putt. David Saenz• Staff Photographer
November 23, 2009
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Musical to help fund choir trip “1940’s Radio Hour” to raise money to fund trip to Carnegie Hall Sonia Onescu Staff Writer
ACC’s choir program generated buzz this week when its much anticipated production of “The 1940’s Radio Hour” debuted on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at the One World Theatre. Set in 1942, “The 1940’s Radio Hour” captures the essence of this time period with 20 musical numbers that incorporate song, dance, and pop culture concepts into one big musical production. After competing in a nationwide community choir audition, ACC’s choir was recognized and chosen to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City in April. The money raised from ticket sales to “The 1940’s Radio Hour” will be used to help cover the cost of the trip to New York. “The 1940’s Radio Hour” ran from Nov. 17 to19. Under the direction of ACC’s choir director, Dr. Jim Shepherd, as well as co-director, choreographer, and former ACC student Tamia Zulaya, “The 1940’s Radio Hour” captures a play within a play by integrating both theatre and choir into the mix. Working to bring out the best in the theatre portion of this production, Zulaya discussed how important student input was in bringing a fresh new take on this production, “I asked the students every day of rehearsal what ideas they had, what they brought. I always was open to whatever ideas they had.” As a result, “The 1940’s Radio Hour” incorporates elements such as comedy, mock commercials from the era, and much more. The musical takes place
Teodora Erbes • Staff Photographer
GETTING READY — Tiffany Leigh Coghill, Jenny Schmerber get ready for the musical before the opening night.
Teodora Erbes • Staff Photographer
FOUR BOUNTINEERS — from left: Jenny Schmerber, Lauren
Llyse Klein, Jordan Gott and Tiffany Leigh Coghill perform as the Four Bountineers in ACC’s musical “1940’s Radio Hour.” during the second World War in a little New York radio station. It was originally written by Walton Jones. “I knew we had the group for it this year because we built the choir program over the last couple of years. I knew I finally had the group that could really pull it off,” said Shepherd who had wanted to do this production for some time. For Shepherd, “The 1940’s Radio Hour” not only represented a personal achievement as a director, but also a much more significant effort to raise money for his students as they encounter a once in a lifetime opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall.
Teodora Erbes • Staff Photographer
LOVE SONG — Jenny
Schmerber and William Cody Querner play characters Bountineer #4 and B.J. Gibson, respectively, in the musical.
Teodora Erbes • Staff Photographer
SLOW DANCE — Katie Walther (foreground) plays the role of Ginger Brooks in the ”1940s Radio Hour” musical at the One World Theatre, Tuesday, Nov. 16.
Campus Life | page 5
Sign language musical to raise money for ASL event Elisia Hartin Staff Writer
The American Sign Language Friends United (AFU) presented the first ASL Fusion: A Sign Language Musical Performance at the Eastview Campus on Nov. 17. The musical performance was held to raise funds for ASL Rocks which is an annual festival that will be held at the Eastview campus on April 17, 2010. “Although it’s the first, it won’t be the last,” said event coordinator, Roberto Sandoval. Over two hundred people attended the performance, said Sandoval, exceeding their expectations. AFU was created in the fall of 2007 to provide opportunities outside of the classroom where students and users of ASL can meet, socialize, and improve their skills and understanding of one another. Student Deadra Tatum said that before she had ever studied ASL she had always wondered if deaf people even had their own form of music. She had no idea that “music interpreted into American Sign Language could be so beautiful,” said Tatum. Teodora Erbes • Staff Photographer There were eleven different performers, and several performed SIGN MUSICAL — Russell Harvard signs on a song by the multiple times. All American Rejects at the ASL musical on Eastview Campus Russell Harvard Tuesday, Nov. 17. interpreted two songs, one by The All-American Rejects and another by the Black Eyed Peas. Russell is a deaf actor who has been in such films as There Will Be Blood, Gerald, and Signage. He is currently in production for the movie Matt Hamill which will tell the story of a UFC fighter. Harvard is Deaf and he comes from a family in which deafness goes back three generations. “It is important for ASL students to know how to [interpret] songs,” said Harvard. Harvard also had some advice for other performers, “you have to get the Teodora Erbes • Staff Photographer audience involved if you want to have a successful ASL MUSICAL — Shelby Mitchusson signs on “Love Addict” by Famperformance.” ily Force 5 at the ASL musical.
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Life & Arts w w w.the Accent.org
Notable, and L iv w e Ne David Rodriguez Assistant Editor
Books
“Raymond Carver [A Writer’s Life]” is a well researched, thoughtful and decade long effort in biography form, with the subject being Carver, one of the greatest American short story writers ever. The London Times claimed that Carver is “the Chekhov of middle –America.” Authored by Carol Sklenicka the biography will be available Nov. 24 from Scribner. “Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog: The Amazing Adventures of an Ordinary Woman,” is Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Lisa Scottoline’s second book. This is a collection of her columns from the Inquirer and they promise to cover topics such as the lack of a bra and the art of interruption. The collection looks to be hilarious and glaringly truthful. It will be available Nov. 24 from St. Martin’s Press. “I Slept With Joey Ramone: A Family Memoir” is a telling biography written by his brother, Mickey Leigh, about one of the most influential men to play rock-n-roll and punk rock music. Legs McNeil collaborates with Leigh, merging their two memories together over the decades, concerning the iconic Joey. The biography will be available Dec. 1 from Touchstone. “Knives at Dawn: America’s Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse D’Or Competition” is the epic journey of the American culinary team at the prestigious 2009 Bocus D’Or competition. This is the real Top Chef, but for international high stakes and bragging rights. Food writer and sports journalist, Andrew Friedman, authors this fast paced behind-the-scenes look at the highly competitive world of haute cuisine. The book will be available Dec. 1 from Free Press.
Music Piano legend Pinetop Perkins, Carolyn Wonderland and southern rock Dertybird will be playing Wednesday, Nov. 25 @ Antone’s. Perkins is a legend and Carolyn Wonderland and Dertybird both put on a great show. The doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets range from $15 for general admission to $30 and $40 for V.I.P. tables. The Woxy Local Residency Series Kickoff presents Neon Indian and Tunnels playing Friday, Nov. 27 @ Stubb’s inside. Neon Indian is worth checking out. The doors open at 9 p.m., it is an all ages show and tickets are $10. Ska legends, The Skatalites, will be inducing audiences to skank in a two night stint Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28 @ The Flamingo Cantina. The Skatalites are old-school (though they have a revolving membership), and they put on an amazing and energetic show, not to mention they usually sell jerk chicken at the Cantina. Definitely worth checking out, they will not be touring forever, or maybe they will? The doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $15. Very eclectic and wonderful performers Café Te Cuba will be performing Sunday, Nov. 29 @ La Zona Rosa. I saw the quartet in Houston when I was a young teenager and they were amazing, and they are still doing it after all these years. The doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets are $35 pre-sale and $40 at the door.
Movies Rec. 2 is the latest, cutting edge, zombieish, ghoulish flick, in the vein of 28 Days Later (2002). The co-writer and director, Juame Balaguero, also wrote Los sin nombre (1999), a film shown at SXSW’s Film Conference earlier this year. Rec. 2 is filmed in that reality, hand-held, quick pan camera style, which I am not a big fan of, but it looks good. Rec. 2 premiered at Austin’s Fantastic Fest in September, and they usually pick some good ones. The film is slated for release Nov. 23. Ninja Assassin looks awesome and fun. I imagine it offers no deep commentary, and it definitely does not require an active audience, but sometimes mindless entertainment is necessary. Director James McTeigue was the first assistant director on The Matrix (1999), so he probably knows something about a sock-em-up flick. The movie is slated for wide release on Nov. 25. Home is one of those ‘we are destroying our planet’ films, a complete contradiction in itself, but it looks visually stunning. The message, though relevant, seems a little past the stages of alerting the populace to the problem. If anything, check Home out for the cinematography. The documentary is slated for release Nov. 27. Psycho Jesus documents the insanely intriguing world of death-rock-rap by following around one of the most controversial bands involved in this movement, Juggalo. Director Rokki James Hollywod has a penchant for obscure and twisted subjects, he also directed Andre: Heart of the Giant (2007). Psycho Jesus looks culturally frightening. The documentary is slated for limited release Nov. 27. Woody Harrelson is everywhere and in everything and his latest is Defendor, a dark action/comedy/drama in the vein of Blankman (1994), but a little more serious. Harrelson (The Messenger, 2009) plays a crazy wannabe crime fighter rapidly getting in way over his head. The film is slated to open Dec. 1.
Events and Features The South Austin Museum of Popular Culture is holding a photography exhibit entitled “Creating Change: Austin in the 70s.” The exhibit will feature the works of Alan Pogue, possibly Austin’s most renowned and influential photographer. Pogue is a pioneer, and really accomplished things other photo-journalists could not, due to his out-of-the-box approach. The exhibit runs through Dec. 12. For more notable, new and live suggestions visit theaccent.org
November 23, 2009
Unwritten falls short Following Hellblazer and Lucifer, Michael Carey’s Unwritten is dissappointing Diana Leite Staff Writer
With Michael Carey’s most recent project, “The Unwritten,” it seems he was abducted by aliens and replaced by an illiterate doppelganger. “The Unwritten,” a series in progress, is being published by Vertigo, DC’s seal for graphic novels intended for mature adults. The new series hit the shelves July 9, and is currently on its sixth issue. It tells the adventures of Tom Taylor, a rather bitter and unfulfilled man, whose only real accomplishment is his birthright. Taylor’s father was the author of an extraordinarily successful book series named after his son, the “Tommy Taylor” chronicles, and written in a “Harry Potter” style. The comic’s plot begins with Taylor’s father’s fans obsessively stalking and harassing Tom. The father’s fans fluctuate from love for the writer’s son to declarations of him being a dreadful impostor. The first issue leaves the readers hanging. Tom Taylor is kidnapped by a mentally unstable fan, who really thinks he is the book’s arch villain, he is then later saved by another equally as disturbed enthusiast. Is the crazy fan right? Is he a real villain transported from the book to the real world? And what about Tom’s father, how and why did he disappear? These are the questions Carey goads the reader with to continue their interest in the series. Carey’s new comic hardly has the same effect some of his former works have had. With a plot line just short of silly, not to mention boring, the only thing readers might think after the final page is ‘yeah, sure, I would not mind knowing what is going to happen next, but it is not worth
the gas, and the drive to the comic store to find out.’ The bright side for the publisher, and Carey, is the one dollar price per issue. “The Unwritten’s” beginnings left a bitter taste. Maybe it is Carey’s personal diatribe about annoying and harassing fans, or the lack thereof? The simple fact that issues 1 through 5 are still available (in a rather large quantity) at specialized stores is proof that Carey’s latest work lacks. Regardless, Carey has penned some amazing comics; “Hellblazer” (#s 175–215, and #229), the “Lucifer” series and “Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere” (#s 1-9) published by DC Vertigo. He has also done some issues of “X-Men Origins” and various “X-Men: Endangered Species” issues, both published by Marvel. “Lucifer” (Vertigo, 20002006), the graphic novels, are Carey’s collective masterpiece. The story is about the devil, Lucifer Morningstar, and his reign as the treacherous king of the underworld. “Lucifer” is one of the many spin-offs from Neil Gaiman’s prestigious saga, “The Sandman” (Vertigo, 19891996). Unfortunately, this is the only spin-off that made it into a full grown monthly comic book, while the others ended up as mini-series titles, such as “Death”, and “Lucifer’s” predecessor, “The Sandman Presents: Lucifer.” Carey delves into more theology with “Lucifer” than just using pre-Satan as the main character. God’s most faithful Archangel of creation, Michael, is exiled, angel Amenadiel is dead, and Duma, the guardian of silence, is damned by the end of the 40th issue. No matter how many angels Morningstar tricks or how many he kills, the fans will
still find him likeable. His charms are masterfully displayed in ink as a forty something, handsome blond playboy, always donning a black suit. He is pure evil; the only blessing he grants between the first and the 75th issues are death, and earthly disgrace. Carey also partook on the writing of one of the greatest horror graphic novels ever printed in “Hellblazer,” which inspired the film, Constantine (2005), named after the comic’s main character. Many faithful fans, before the film was released, argued against the mischaracterization of John Constantine. In the comic he is a blond and British demon hunter. But, in the movie, he is a black haired American without an accent, in the form of Keanu Reaves. Although, not what the more discerning fans were hoping for, the film was a hit. Original Constantine trademarks such as his British wit coupled with a lower class attitude, gave way to a classier, darker and more realistic character that enabled the stories successful translation to the big screen.
Both photos by Hanlly Sam Photo/Web Editor
But, concerning Mr. Carey’s most recent work, there is time to recover - and by recovery, somebody should aid in the replacement of this evil doppelganger and rescue the real Carey from whatever alien force has possessed him.
Hideous Men, captivating adaptation David Rodriguez Assistant Editor
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men is a wonderfully surprising and inventive collection of cinematic vignettes. The film was adapted from the late David Foster Wallace’s novel of the same title, published in 1999. It follows Sara (Julianne Nicholson) on a non-linear coping journey through her interviews with men about their sexual hang-ups and prowess, for the most part, while she works as a teacher’s assistant to an aloof, yet insightful, Professor Adams (Timothy Hutton), whom is also a subject. The format of the film draws you into the detachment of Sarah, and it allows the audience to see these men as she does, essentially the audience is interviewing the men.
Sarah is conducting these interviews after her long-time boyfriend, admittedly, cheated on her. While Sarah is a privileged woman, functioning in a privileged society and dealing with her emotional turmoil in a privileged manner it is easy to look past this and identify with the often hilarious and telling monologues she is recording. Interestingly enough, the standout interview is accompanied by a theatrical rendition of his story, Subject #42 (Frankie Faisson, The Wire), steps from the interview room into his monologue about his father’s job as a bathroom attendant in segregated times, is incredibly moving and well performed. Even odder to the rhythm of the film was that the interview contained no sexual catharsis, as practically every other interviewee attempts to reach.
Photo Courtesy of Woodshed Entertainment
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men is a fascinating case study of the male psyche and its neurotic tendencies For first time director John Krasinski (Leatherheads, 2008) this
is an amazing piece of work and he adapted what was always assumed to be the un-adaptable in Wallace’s work.
2012, mindless, fun, entertainment Trevor Goodchild Staff Writer
If you felt déjà vu watching 2012 directed by Roland Emmerich (Stargate, 1994) you are not alone. Emmerich also directed Independence Day (1996) and The Day After Tomorrow (2004). 2012 seems to be a remake of the latter with a few extras thrown in for color. 2012 stars John Cusack (The Ice Harvest, 2005) as Jackson Curtis, who is a limo-driving author caught up in what is, literally, the end of the world. Cusack goes to Yellow Stone National Park with his kids, and there he stumbles across secret military operations indicating the drastic events to come. Meanwhile, Chiwetel Eljiofor (American Gangster, 2007) as Adrian Helmsley, is an altruistic geologist who
advises the President (Danny Glover) on the timeline of destruction, while the very rich make a plan to survive. 2012 is heavy with special effects, and the plot is weakened by a lack of consistency, realism or originality. If you want to see a movie where someone out runs an earthquake in a limo, then watch this one, but if originality is what you seek, good luck. All clichés of epic and catastrophic humanity threatening films are prevalent. What was worse than the myriad of clichés was the tidy Disney-like conclusion. Most will be too caught up in watching California slide into the ocean or the crumbling Eiffel Tower to notice. For an adrenaline rush, this film is fine. But, 2012 is a fun movie containing mindless action-sequences beginning
Photo Courtesy of Columbia Pictures
from the first ten minutes of the movie. The plot gives absolutely no background to the Mayan ideal of the world ending at 2012, which is the whole inspiration for the film, not to mention its namesake. It was amusing to see Woody Harrelson (The Messenger, 2009) as Charlie
Frost, the conspiracy theorist bum with a passionate end-oftimes obsession. It was an epic action movie to outdo action movies. Overall, the only way to enjoy 2012 is not to take any of it seriously.
November 23, 2009
w w w.the Accent.org
Life & Arts | page 7
F U N U N F N U F FEST
09
Fun Fun Fun Fest was jam-packed with music, skateboarding, comedy, mud on Sunday, tallboys, a goat and a mechanical bull. The Accent previewed over 50 bands, shot video and damaged only one camera. To see comprehensive coverage please visit the multimedia section of the web site at theaccent.org all photos by: Sarah Vasquez, Hanlly Sam background image courtesy of Oven Fresh