Meet the faces behind the mascot R.B. loves to frolic with his fans and flirt with the ladies, and while electrifying the crowd is part of his job description, the bubbly personality doesn’t come with the costume. It’s the students inside the purple suit that bring R.B. to life. To make sure that R.B. is pumped and ready for his many appearances, three students were chosen to fill his big shoes and even bigger personality. Clayton W. Adams, Zayda Dorantes and Dallas A. Diaz are the students who make R.B. the sensation that he is. This is R.B.’s inaugural year, and each of these students has gotten him off to an “R.B. Stepping” start while garnering experiences that will last a lifetime. See Three Students pg. 3
First Copy Free
Feb. 14, 2011
Volume 13, Issue 8
theAccent.org
ACC Partners with University for Deaf pg. 4 Local bands release new albums pgs. 6-7 News → Crime & Safety
Bill: Guns to be legal on campus
Community celebrates Black History month pg. 8 Fashion Freakout shows off designs pg. 12
News → People
Professor rallies for Egyptians
Kinslow, Student Government Association oppose House Bill 1176 Karissa Rodriguez
Editor-in-Chief
The Texas Legislature joined five other state legislatures on Feb. 8 who have proposed bills in the last year to lift some or all of the restrictions on carrying concealed handguns on campus. Republican State Representative Van Taylor filed house bill H.B. 1167 that would make it legal for concealed licensed handgun (CHL) owners to carry concealed weapons on public junior college campuses. If signed into law, H.B. 1167 would take effect on Sept. 1. Both ACC administration and Student Government oppose legalizing carrying concealed weapons on community college campuses. “I strongly oppose efforts to allow concealed handguns on campus – as does ACC’s Student Government Association,” ACC President Stephen Kinslow said in an e-mail statement. “Despite what proponents say, the majority of public safety experts
See GUN LAW, pg. 5
Pete Perreault •Staff Photographer
LOUD AND CLEAR — While holding his son Sina Madaninejad-Casagranda, ACC Political Science instructor Roy Casagranda uses a megaphone on February 5 to rally demonstrators gathered in front of the state capitol to support political uprisings in Egypt and other nations in the Middle East.
Uprising in Egypt spurs ACC Political Science Professor Roy Casagranda to speak up about homeland, Egyptian political atmosphere Hilary Shepherd
News Editor
“Beautiful” is the word ACC political science Professor Roy Casagranda uses to describe the revolt taking place in Egypt that has now ended in its fourth
consecutive week. An effort to unclench the fist of autocratic Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, the protests began on Tuesday, Jan. 25. Thousands of Egyptians flooded Tahrir Square in Cairo, the capital of Egypt, and other
cities, like Alexandria and Suez. Inspired by the recent overthrow of Tunisian dictator Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali, protesters have demanded the removal of Mubarak’s regime by means of mass demonstrations. The rallies have triggered a
violent clash between Egyptian police and protesters. According to Human Rights Watch, an international advocacy organization, the death toll as of Thursday, Feb. 10 rests at almost 300. Since the early stages of the
uprising, Casagranda, an expert on Middle East politics, has actively supported the uprising by helping to organize rallies throughout Austin. To him, the Egyptian revolt,
See MUBARAK, pg. 5
News → Education
Students attend Texas Community College Day Student leaders meet state representatives and senators at the state capitol Natalee Blanchat
Campus Editor
Karissa Rodriguez •Editor-in-Chief
STUDENT SUPPORT — Community college students
gather in front of the south steps of the State Capitol for the welcome rally on Texas Community College Day on Feb. 2.
While rolling blackouts, bursting water pipes, and icy roads caused chaos throughout the state of Texas, students from different Community Colleges made their way to Texas’ capital city in order to represent their schools and make their voices heard to legislators at Texas’
Community College Day. Fifty community colleges were invited to attend the biannual event on Wednesday Feb. 2. Students at the event stood on the outside steps of the capitol building in chilly 20 degree weather in order to hear various legislators, including the House Appropriations Chairman Jim Pitts, and the Chairman of the Higher
Education Committee Dan Branch, address students and thank them for their participation. According to Branch, Texas has the second largest community college system in the nation, with 800,000 students enrolled in community colleges. “Ive been visiting community colleges around the state,” said Branch. “I really focus on the muscle of higher education, our community colleges.” According to Branch, he is working with legislators on reducing book prices, keeping tuition rates low and working
on receiving adaquet funding that will produce quality faculty and curriculum, even with a looming multi billion dollar deficit. “We cannot forget the future leaders at our community colleges. To do so would be a peril,” said Branch. Eight Representatives and three Senators sat down with student groups from each college, to discuss issues including the state budget, local environmental issues, and financial aid. ACC’s office of external affairs coordinated the event,
See community, pg. 4
FORUM
page 2
Forum → Column
RUN!
www.theAcce nt.org
Feb. 14, 2011
Forum → Editorial
Make your voice matter
WALK!
RAWK?! JAMIE ESTRADA-CARPENTER
Get your medal In November 2009, my sister finished her first half-marathon. When she showed me her medal, I thought to myself, I’ve got to get me one of those. I am not the type of person who wants a lot, but when I want something, I’m not stopping until I get it. I may complain a lot in the process, and it may take me a while, but I’m getting it. With that being said, after running mile after mile after mile, the question really starts to become, how bad do you want it? Before running my first half-marathon (13.1 miles) on Jan. 30, I had never previously ran 13 miles. Or even 12 miles. In fact, I had only run 11 miles. Once. So really, I had no idea if I was going to be able to finish this race, but I am not really unfamilar with embarrasing myself, I would really prefer not to tell everyone I was running a half-marathon and then not be able to finish it. When I woke up race morning and realized that my horrible allergies were going to accompany me on this run, I just about stayed in bed. I thought to myself: some days you are the pigeon and some days you are the statue. But statue or not, there I was at the start line. Just me and four thousand-plus people. Every mile was different but at the same time, they all start to blur together even though you know you are running for a long time, You wonder where the time went and (in my case) you hope you can finish. Except for mile 12. Mile 12 was my grateful mile. When I made it there, I knew I could finish. Like anyone who has ever been really close to getting something they wanted, it was surreal when I finished. It was actually a pretty quiet victory. After three hours and 13 minutes and 14 seconds, I accepted my medal. As students, we all have goals. Whether it is to graduate, transfer,learn a skill, there is a point where you are only 1.1 miles away from your medal. Zero in on that distance and focus and the reward will be immeasurable. Even if you are walking around like an exhausted zombie afterwards.
Chris Scott • Web Editor
Students need to speak up for themselves, colleges Staff Editorial As students of a community college, we have a direct impact on how we shape our education, and we should use our influence to persuade the Texas Legislature to lessen the severity of the massive budget cuts that have been proposed this biennium. The Legislature is proposing to cut community college funding this session despite an increase in student enrollment. It doesn’t make sense to cut funding at a time of rapid growth because community colleges will need more resources, funding and support from the state. Community colleges shouldn’t have to place the burden on their students by raising tuition, just like how ACC President Stephen Kinslow said will have to happen here at ACC. Students should follow the example of those who recently attended Texas Community College Day at the state capitol on Feb. 2 and voice their concerns about the legislature’s budget plans for community colleges. Hundreds of students from community colleges around the state showed up to Community College day and were told over and over again how our voices matter and that we should reach out to our representatives. They want to hear from us, thier constituents.
Forum → Reader Letters
Accent editors, along with ACC student leaders, met with numerous state representatives, senators and their aides at the event. All were very receptive to hearing what we had to say about the state of our education system and our concerns about budget cuts. That really is a testament that talking to those who represent us really does matter. We voted for these lawmakers to represent us. We should tell them how we want them to do just that by saving the financial aid program among other concerns like rising tuition costs. Under both the House and Senate proposals, financial aid funding will be cut by several hundred million dollars to many key state programs including Work-Study, Texas Grants and the B-On-Time loan program. The number of students receiving needbased Texas grants would decline from 86,830 to 27,135 by 2013 under both proposals because there would be no new awards, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. That is unacceptable. How can the state claim they want to improve college graduation rates, but then make it harder for students to attend college without financial aid? It is understandable that with an estimated $27 billion budget shortfall cuts will need to be made somewhere, but community colleges are
one of the many institutions taking the hardest hit and that should change. There are all sorts of community college advocates out there asking for the Legislature to save colleges from decreased state funding, but it’s not enough. Despite their best efforts, we believe what really counts is hearing from students directly. Students should take charge and be more proactive by calling or writing to their congressmen and telling them their viewpoints and concerns about the proposed budget cuts. What would be even better is if students share their stories with representatives about why they chose to attend a community college and how it has affected their lives. This way we can give our them a better picture of what they are proposing to eliminate. Here’s Accent’s message to our representatives: Community colleges are not a business and students are not manufactured products that can be reduced in desperate times. To find out who your local state representative is visit house.state.tx.us/members/ find-your-representative/ and to find your local senator visit senate.state.tx.us/75r/Senate/ Members.htm#FYI
Forum → Reader Letters
Doggett: Preventing SGA addresses students the Raid on Student Aid
Rep. Loyd Doggett
Guest Columnist
A few weeks ago, during his State of the Union address to Congress, President Obama focused on the future, arguing that each of us deserves the chance to shape our own destiny. He drew inspiration from Robert Kennedy, who said, “The future is not a gift. It is an achievement.” And in a powerful call-to-arms, the President challenged us all: “The future is ours to win. But to get there, we can’t just stand still… sustaining the American Dream has never been about standing pat. It has required each generation to sacrifice, and struggle, and meet the demands of a new age.” But with recent news that the Texas budget plan would cut $1.7 billion from higher education, the motto as recast by some state legislators is beginning to sound a lot more like “the future is yours if you’re lucky enough to afford it.” Balancing a Mismanaged State Budget on the Backs of Students— The Texas Tribune recently put these devastating cuts into numbers that should alarm: Out of the $1.25 that Texas cut out of its current budget, more than $500 million was drained from higher education. That’s more than 40% of all cuts made, while higher education’s overall share of the state budget is only 12.5 percent. That’s a formula for balancing the budget on
the back of Texas students. This doesn’t add up when you consider that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board estimates that for every dollar invested in public higher education, the state gets an eightfold return. Cutting the amount of students who would be eligible for student financial aid by almost half, closing community colleges that are the springboards to a more prosperous future for so many, eliminating the funds that Texas devotes to training Teach for America recruits, and cutting State support of our Universities is not only the wrong answer—is it a dangerous one. It is the wrong way to put us on a path to greater economic security. Unfortunately, Congressional Republicans aren’t offering better answers either. Almost immediately after taking control of the House of Representatives, Republican leaders began backing off their pledge to maintain support for Pell Grants. These grants are crucial in enabling millions of students in Texas and across the Country to obtain a college degree without being saddled with years-long, overly burdensome debt. Investing in Our Students is an Investment in the Future—Strategic investments in education are one of the best ways to help ensure that we one day see words like “Made in America” again. As college costs rise, access to student aid becomes even more critical to a student’s ability to pursue higher education. Though much work remains to be done to increase accessibility and affordability of higher education in our community, we have made great strides in the right direction over the last two years. With my support, Congress significantly simplified the nation’s student loan system and made the
single largest investment in college aid in American history. This means tens of millions of dollars more in Pell Grants for Central Texas students and $60 million more over the next five years for Texas to ensure all students have the tools they need to complete their college education. During the State of the Union, President Obama also called on Congress to make permanent my “More Education” tax cut that I authored to provide a $14 billion credit to help those seeking higher education. What does this tax cut mean for you? Tuition for a two-year degree at Austin Community College costs $3,480 over two years for a full-time student. The “More Education” tax cut, also known as the American Opportunity Tax Credit, makes the entire cost of that ACC education tax free. My hope is that the President and Congress can work together to make this cut permanent and good for $10,000 for 4 years of education. Investing in Helping More Students “Get There”— ACC began in 1973 as a singlecampus offering 30 career and transfer programs. I remember delivering an early commencement address to graduates in 1977. Today, ACC is an eight-campus college with an enrollment of more than 44,000 students—and it is still growing to help even more students “get there,” as ACC’s motto promises. This kind of growth warrants strategy, vision, and a plan for the future—and not just for ACC, but for all higher education in Texas—from top-tier research universities to community colleges and technical schools. Without federal and state investment, we will never be able to strengthen our commitment to higher education, to Texas’ students, and to our future competitiveness.
It’s your turn now....June 2007, I took my first class at Austin Community College. I was afraid, old or rather ‘non traditional’, shy and reserved. November 2006, I relocated to Austin from New Jersey. I obtained a job as the Assistant Manager at Jackson Hewitt. With tax season being over, I needed a new job, preferably year round employment. May 2007, I was hired as a part time afternoon teacher/office aid for an early child development center. I know alot about office work, but little about childcare. I learned that ACC had a short term certificate in Child Development that would give me the skills I needed to do my job successfully. I took one course at a time, one per semester, completing this program May 2008. I was so proud of my accomplishment and learned so much in such a short period of time, I continued on. As I continued with school, I moved up in rank at my place of employment. November 2009, that same job let me go. What I thought was a disadvantage turned out to be an advantage for me; I enrolled in ACC full time. Being on campus more, I became more involved with Student Life, started a club, met new friends, and began feeling like a part of the ACC family. May 2009, I completed another cerificate program. I was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa and Who’s Who Amongst American Junior Colleges.
Past college experiences were nothing like what I was experiencing at ACC. I learned about Student Government by attending a training led by past President Brad Burnet. I began attending meetings and ran for and was elected as your Distant Learning Senator, 2009-2010. I also became Chair of the Maslow Committee. A committee within SGA that provided workshops and leadership training for the students of ACC. With in the same term, the Director of Communication resigned; I ran for the positon and was voted in by the body. May 2010, I completed the coursework for an A.A.S in Child Development and began a certificate program in Small Business Management. The election period for the next administration was beginning. I campaigned for
Advertising 512.223.0122
and was elected your Vice President, 2010-2011. October 2010, the President resigned and I became President for the remainder of this term. Austin Community College offered far more that just an education. I have gained valuable hands on leadership experience, relationships, as well credentials needed to regain employment and excel in my career. So now, it’s your turn! The opportunities are there, the possibilities are endless. Four semesters ago, I was just a student! Today, I am so much more. I encourage you to get involved. What are you waiting for? For more information or to pick up an election package, email us: sga@austincc.edu or stop into a Student Life office. Best Wishes, Sophia Downing
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RRC, 4400 College Park Drive, Room 2107 Round Rock, TX 78665 Editor-in-Chief....................................................................................... Karissa Rodriguez Assistant Editor..................................................................................... Sarah Vasquez Photo Editor........................................................................................... Joey Gidseg News Editor ............................................................................................ Hilary Shepherd Campus Editor....................................................................................... Natalee Blanchat Layout Editor.......................................................................................... Elizabeth Brown Web Editor............................................................................................... Chris Scott Accent Adviser....................................................................................... Matthew Connolly Student Life Director.......................................................................... Cheryl Richard Student Life Communications Coordinator............................ Lori Blewett Lead Photographers Dana Manickavasagam, Edgar Rodriguez Writers Jamie Estrada-Carpenter, Bianca Flores, Megan Rue, Erica Bean, Nick De Cesare, Jason Witmer, Odin Amador, Jessica Blair, Ryan Janik Staff Writers Era Sundar Staff Photographers Pete Perreault, Adrienne Sparks, Dustyn Cope, Saul Hernandez, Michael Samaripa ACC President Dr. Stephen B. Kinslow Board of Trustees Dr. Barbara P. Mink—Chair; Allen H. Kaplan—Vice Chair; John Michael V. Cortez—Secretary, Tim Mahoney, Nan McRaven, Jeffrey Richard, Dr. Victor H. P. Villarreal, Guadalupe Q. Sosa, Dr. James W. McGufee 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 RRC’s Student Publication Office, Room 2107; e-mail articles to accent@austincc.edu or fax submissions to 223-0904. 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.
Feb. 14, 2011
www.theAccent.org
Page 3
News → People
Three students create mascot history
Joey Gidseg • Photo Editor
UP TO BAT — R.B. flashes a ready-to-go smile before dazzling fans young and old at the Brushy Creek Bat Festival. He listened to stories and posed for photos with his young fans and fellow bat lovers before participating in a dizzy bat activity. ACC introduced R.B. to the world on November 18, 2010 at the Northridge Campus and the mascot has made several appearances since.
Students auditioned for, won honor to play role of R.B. Bbhoggawact in public Era Sundar Staff Reporter
Clayton Adams Clayton Wayne Adams is a native Texan and an accomplished singer, songwriter and auctioneer. Adams, who came to ACC to expand his repertoire with a degree in radiology, has also gained the distinction of being the first person to don the Riverbat costume. Adams, 37, is no stranger to the world of mascots. In Houston, he was the celebrated Channelview High School Falcon, and as president of the Smithville New Generation Lions club, he also dons their Easter bunny and Lion mascot costumes when the need arises. “Maybe I’ll be Santa Claus next,” Adams jokes. Always the consummate performer, when he heard about the ACC mascot auditions, Adams knew he had to try out. Previous experience has helped the 6-foot-2 Adams contribute to functional aspects of the costume design. He was also able to advise the other students who were selected to portray R.B. While in the costume, a performer breathes in more carbon dioxide than normal. This can contribute to feeling light-headed. Breathing slowly in the costume is essential, Adams said. When asked what he thought about the mascot being a Riverbat, Adams said he loved it. “The Riverbat is unique. No other mascot fits Austin better. It’s not the usual cougar. We didn’t need to be a ferocious tiger or something,” said Adams Adams is proud to represent ACC as R.B., and looks forward to someday telling his 11-month-old son, and even his grandchildren, that he was the first one to wear the Riverbat costume. In addition to his mascot duties, Adams performs locally with his band. You can learn more about it at www. claytonadamsband.com.
mascot when she filled in as the Cedar Park High School Timberwolf for one week. When the opportunity arose to try out for role of R.B., the 21-year-old government major thought it would be fun and jumped at the chance. Encouraged by her boyfriend, Dorantes created a tape with tunes from the 1940s through the present for the Riverbat try-outs. During her audition, Dorantes was decked out in a pink bunny suit and recalls using some of Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ moves in her routine. Dorantes, a Flamenco dancer in her spare time, has learned to deal with unique situations while performing. She has learned to be especially mindful of those around her. Although R.B. enjoys interaction with the crowd, when it comes to his peripheral vision, he’s as blind as a bat. Young fans of R.B. have also provided teachable moments. Young children are sometimes scared by a “large mascot towering over them,” said Dorantes. In order to calm them, R.B. gets down to their level on one knee and then hugs their mom or someone nearby to show kindness. In order to prepare for R.B.’s performances, Dorantes listens to the R.B. Step and drinks plenty of water. Staying hydrated is essential in a mascot costume that can become very hot, very quickly. Dorantes said she looks forward to posing for pictures, interacting with the crowd and dancing when she performs. Making an appearance on Univision was one of Dorantes’ most memorable experiences in the R.B. costume.
“The Riverbat is unique. No other mascot fits Austin better.”
Zayda Dorantes
California-born Zayda Dorantes received her first introduction to the role of
Dallas Diaz Dallas Altagracia Diaz, a selfdescribed “army brat”, has lived in Kentucky, Colorado, and Fort Hood in addition to living in Austin. Diaz, inspired by her older, hearing-impaired brothers, came to ACC to become a sign language interpreter. However, it was her adventurous spirit and desire to get involved at school that led her to audition for R.B.’s role. “I wanted to let people to
know what a great school ACC is,” said Diaz. The 19-year-old salsa dancer is an avid performer and a member of the Austin Glee Club. She describes her mascot duties as the “best job ever” because of the wonderful people she gets to work with and the interaction with the crowd. Diaz was wholeheartedly in favor of the Riverbat as the college mascot. She lit up when she talked about watching the bats at the Congress Avenue Bridge with her mother. Before donning the Riverbat costume and doing the R.B. dance, Diaz listens to music to clear her mind. Her easygoing personality helps her handle the unusual situations that sometimes pop up while performing. Clad in green sweat pants and Spongebob slippers, Diaz described one of her R.B. related experiences. During a performance an eight-year-old boy came up to R.B., punched him in the groin and started laughing. “R.B. is a boy,” Diaz explained. “So I did the whole bending over thing, pretending to be hurt.” R.B. then rubbed his index fingers,or rather bat wings together in the customary sign for “shame, shame”. The boy’s mother scolded him, and R.B. was no worse for wear. No matter who wears the costume, R.B. represents a diverse student body. In turn, three individuals, with three different personalities and unique perspectives, unite to form as one engaging, unifying and spirited mascot.
Joey Gidseg • Photo Editor
BAT-URDAY — Dallas Diaz smiles with her mother through the R.B. suit at the Brushy Creek Bat Festival held at the Brushy Creek Community Center Pavilion in Round Rock, TX
A look back at the bat
Era Sundar Staff Reporter
For 37 years, ACC had been mascot-free. However, that changed when a giant purple Riverbat burst onto the campus scene in November 2010. Complete with his own dance and theme song “R.B. Step,” ACC’s new mascot R.B. is a testament to student initiative. In July 2009, Avy Gonzalez, former parliamentarian of Student Government Association (SGA), urged SGA to begin developing a mascot. “While walking around campus, we’d see everyone else’s mascot, but not ours,” said Gonzalez, who served as co-chair of the Mascot Search Committee. Learning of the student-led initiative, ACC’s marketing department joined the cause and the Mascot Committee was formed. The committee was focused on a creating a mascot that would stand the test of time. “We needed the right mascot to ensure longevity,” Gonzalez said. The mascot selection process lasted an entire year in order to
allow as much community involvement as possible. Input came from students, faculty, staff and focus groups. Choosing a unique feature of Austin seemed like the best way to represent ACC, so Gonzalez suggested the Riverbat. More student suggestions poured in, and after a community-wide vote, R.B. was declared the winner. R.B.’s official name is R.B. Bbhoggawact, and the name represents the full scope of the ACC community. R.B. stands for Riverbat, and Bbhoggawact is an acronym of the eight counties served by ACC with a few vowels thrown in to aid pronunciation. The color purple was chosen for R.B. because it is regal and represents pride and excellence, according to Brette Lea, executive director of public information and college marketing. “These words represent our college and our students. They are both extraordinary,” said Lea, who also served as co-chair of the Mascot Committee.
NEWS
page 4
www.theAccent.org
News → Facilities
ASL expands beyond classroom
Feb. 14, 2011
News Briefs
College adresses campus safety A memo regarding safety on campus was released on Jan. 27 by ACC President Steven Kinslow and Vice President of Student Support and Success Systems Kathleen Christensen in response to the recent shooting in Tuscon, Arizona where the shooter attended Pima Community College. Texas does not allow involuntary mental health screenings unless the individual is seen as a threat to themselves or others, according to the memo. If that is the case, the student must be referred for a mental health screening to an ACC counselor, a dean of student services,or a ACC mental health officer consult and as a teamagree to the referral.
Library seeks tattooed students
Michael Samaripa•Staff Photographer
INSTRUCTION — ESOL Professor Erin Bunce explains an English grammatical concept to her ESOL Grammar Class. This program helps hundreds of Deaf students achieve their academic goals in a more Deaf “friendly” environment.
ACC partners with Gallaudet University as regional center for deaf students from eight southwest states Natalee Blanchat Campus Editor
With a variety of deaf study courses, a recent partnership with Gallaudet University and a new visual aid program, ACC has become a destination school for deaf students across the globe. Gallaudet University, currently the World’s only liberal arts university for the deaf, signed an articulation agreement with ACC, naming the college The Southwest Gallaudet University Regional Center(GRUC). The agreement allows students to take more than 45 undergraduate courses with over 20 major areas of study that transfer between both institutions. Austin Community College received a $200,000 grant through the program in order to be the host school of GRUC. The responsibility entails overseeing the deaf program for various community colleges in the southwestern region of the U.S. including Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Oklahoma along with Texas. According to Patti Singleton, the counselor for deaf students at the Riverside campus, the goal for the established system of regional centers is to provide
program services, workshops, professional development, and training for deaf students. “The city of Austin has a very large and vibrant deaf community with at least 25,000 deaf people living here,” said Singleton. “We’re like the mecca for the deaf community because we have the Texas School for the Deaf here. Students come from all over the state to go here and we have a large group of deaf faculty members. There are not a lot of deaf programs out there like the one here.” Gallaudet offers different programs including postsecondary education and professional training opportunities. With a community of over 150 deaf students currently enrolled at ACC, it was a natural partnership, according to Singleton. “It will be an incredible thing for Austin Community College because it has put us on the national map,” said Singleton. “It’s a very exciting time.” Director for the Gallaudet University Regional CenterSouthwest, Arlene Gunderson, has the responsibility of visiting the seven states served by the center, overseeing what services for the deaf are needed, whats already implemented and what needs to be changed.
According to Gunderson, being the hosting center has many advantages because it’s easier for people to get resources for transfer courses, improving job skills, and any support they might need on decisions about future college endeavors. “I feel like ACC is a perfect place to have this center, mostly because the deaf community is very large here,” said Gunderson. “Through the program we will be able to build relationships throughout the region.” The partnership with Gallaudet university isn’t the only new program that’s being integrated into the deaf studies curriculum. Two years ago, the English for Students of Other Languages(ESOL) classroom, upgraded to Echo 360, a new visual aid technology that records in-class lectures, allowing students to review the lectures at home through Blackboard. According to Erica Domatti, an ESOL professor at Riverside, most deaf students go their entire lives being taught strictly in American Sign Language(ASL) but all of their textbooks, internet sources, and take-home materials are in English, which is a different language to deaf students.
However, with Echo 360, students now have a visual learning tool in their “native” language, ASL. “Since Echo 360, I’ve seen a significant turning point in student’s learning ability. They have become more confident in the concepts and confident in the material because they are able to review it,” said Domatti. “This program truly is amazing for deaf students.” Symone McClure, a special education major, moved from the Bahamas in January 2010 so that she could start taking classes under the ESOL program. According to McClure, she moved to Austin because colleges in the Bahamas don’t offer free interpreter services for students who are hard of hearing. In order to get the proper instruction she needed, McClure would have to pay out of pocket. Now through ACC, McClure receives free help from ASL interpreters, as well as deaf tutoring and counseling services. “When I came in from the Bahamas, I had a really hard time and a lot of frustrations,” said McClure. “The visual aid programs at ACC are really helpful, making it easier for me to learn.”
Community College Day provides forum for students to speak to Texas Legislature members continued from pg. 1 made appointments to meet with legislators, and provided students a handbook with talking points regarding legislative issues such as textbooks and the state budget. “I believe student organizations recognized the value of being involved,” said the Special Assistant to the President for External Affairs, Linda Young. “Law makers also saw how important it was to involve students, especially during the process of changing a law.” One ACC student, Samantha Davis, the distance learning senator for Student Government Association(SGA), thought that the event was not only informative but also a way for college students to get to know their legislators on a personal level. “I think it was a fantastic experience that most students would rarely get a chance to do,” said Davis. “Even at a university level not very many students get to go to the capital and lobby their cause.” According to Davis, one disappointment was the
evasiveness congressmen used when speaking in terms of the budget. “The only thing that bothered me was that people kept using the euphemism “cuts,” but they never actually said job cuts. There are a lot of jobs at stake right now, which kind of dehumanizes the issue,” said Davis. While many legislators were not in attendance, instead being represented by legislative aids, a few legislators including Senator Kirk Watson and Representative Mark Strama, took the time to sit down with students and answer their questions. When Student Government Association(SGA) representative Jason Haydon asked Senator Watson what he thought about the budget, Watson replied, “I think the budget is a disaster, but its not entirely a natural disaster. I think the budget has been so badly mismanaged for years now that it has become harder and harder to sustainably balance the budget. As a result, its become harder to make investments in things that are patently good for Texans,
including public education and higher education.” According to Watson, who was also the mayor of Austin from 1997 to 2001, he has worked closely with ACC in order to incorporate different types of educational programs that would specifically cater towards creating new jobs. “I think that’s one of the great things about community colleges, they can partner with the community to meet specific needs,” said Watson. “I’m a big believer in community college.” Regina Washington, a student at Brazoport Community College, who is currently working on receiving her nursing certificate as an LVN, attended the event and was surprised by the response of compassion from legislators and committee members towards students. “I thought it was amazing. I truly appreciate that the legislators and people involved care about community colleges. I’m thankful to know that we have a lot of people supporting us on getting our dreams and our goals accomplished,” said Washington. Brazoport, is amoung three
Texas community colleges including Frank Phillips College, Odessa College, and Ranger college, that were proposed on Jan. 18 to be closed down to reduce the current $27 billion deficit by $39 million dollars under a priliminary spending plan. Washington has hope that legislators will work hard to save the community colleges. “We were reassured [by legislators] that everything was going to be just fine, and for us to just keep on focusing and keep working hard,” said Washington. Representative Strama is proposing an increase of taxes on out of state companies that sell goods into Texas over the Internet, in an effort to bring down the deficit, Strama disregarded Washington’s worries, believing that by finding alternative means to lower the deficit, the four colleges will not be cut. Strama Hinted, “I doubt the four community colleges proposed will shutdown. When all is said and done I suspect that the legislature will find a way to keep those four open.”
Library Services is looking for students with literary-related tattoos for their next READ campaign poster, “Tattooed ACC Students.” The campaign was implemented to support literacy as well as to promote the library’s services for students. Students with tattoos are encouraged to submit photos by the end of February. Tattoos must be appropriate and must be a quote from a book, pictures of books or a reference to literacy. “Tattoos mean you’re passionate about something, and we want to show that you can be passionate about reading and learning, too,” said Saidah Ochoa, reference librarian at South Austin Campus.
Learning lab tutors to meet, collabotrate Learning Lab Managers will hold their yearly tutoring conference at the Eastview Campus on Feb. 18. The conference, “Success by Design: A Collaborative Approach to Student Retention,” will offer 35 presentations on topics ranging from stoichiometry to developmental writing. Tutors will have the opportunity to meet colleugues from other departments, as well as add credentials toward their College Reading and Learning Assocation certification, according to Bill Cheek, Learning Lab manager at the Riverside Campus, roughly 300 people are expected to be in attendance. “The conference is a way to improve our tutoring,” said Cheek.
News → People
Green engery club takes on leaderhip role Avoiding loss of club status, Renewable Energy Student Association looks to future Hilary Shepherd
News Editor
The Renewable Energy Student Association (RESA) selected this semester’s leadership team on Feb. 11 after the organization’s status with the office of Student Life was in jeopardy earlier this school year. The student-run organization, which was established in 2008, has been in “pending” status since fall 2009. In order for the greenfocused organization, which includes over 50 members – a mixture of students, faculty members, and industry professionals – to become an official campus organization, at least three leadership officers must attend the Student Life department’s Nuts and Bolts workshop on Feb. 18. Becoming an official organization on campus is just the first step in RESA’s transitional stage, according to Jason Shaw, the newly named co-chair of RESA. “We’re trying to help RESA become a viable organization, with members who are enthusiastic and ready to get involved,” said Shaw. This spring, Shaw said the organization plans to host a number of events, network with industry professionals, and collaborate with other organizations who share a common interest. “For our members, we’re going to bring in real people from the industry so they’ll get to meet them, speak with them, and maybe talk about future job opportunities,” Shaw said. “We’re also trying to broaden
our scope and our involvement in other areas, such as electric vehicles, energy efficient buildings, and green business practices. If we just focus on solar and wind, that’s limited.” This month, RESA will attend an event featuring Doyle Beneby, CPS Energy CEO of San Antonio’s municipal utility that is organized by Solar Austin, a local non-profit that focuses on renewable energy. Beneby will discuss topics such as solar energy and green power at the event. According to Shaw, Solar Austin is under the natural chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES), a national solar energy organization that RESA will become connected with in May. “ASES isn’t just focused on technology itself, but supporting energy efficiency, electric cars, things like that. Those are good reasons become part of the organization, because it will give the opportunity to get training in different areas of technology,” said Shaw. Training, to Shaw, is a key aspect that RESA will focus on. “What areas have job growth in Texas? The health industry, the IT industry, and renewable energy. I want to honor and support training in all three areas, but my main focus is mainly on renewable energy. If we focus on training and education in that area, job opportunities will come.” In April, RESA will hold an election to choose new officers for the summer and fall semesters
Feb. 14, 2011
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Mubarak resigns after protests continued from pg. 1 which was spurred through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, came as no surprise. “There is no political freedom in Egypt,” he said. “You can’t criticize the government. You can’t criticize Hosni Mubarak. If you do criticize, you can find yourself in a little bit of trouble. As a result, Egyptians have learned to hold in their frustration and resentment. They don’t get a chance to voice it. The reality is that this revolution has been 41 years in the making.” The real surprise, according to Casagranda, is the way the revolution is taking place. “The uprising is secular, meaning it’s not being driven by religious concerns. It has gone out of its way to show that it’s a Christian and Muslim uprising. It seems to be totally democratic at its core,” he said. “It’s been unbelievably inspiring to me. It has been such a pleasant surprise.” Like riots in past years, freedom-starved Egyptians are protesting against a repressive, corruption-ridden government that has faced opposition from the public since 1981, when Mubarak came to power. But this uprising – a “revolution” according to Casagranda – could result in the emergence of a new, democratic political system, he said. “There’s a possibility that the government will collapse right now, and there’s this question of what will replace it. And the hope, of course, is that it would be a democratic institution.”
The revolt, which has continued to grow despite the government’s enforcement of a curfew and effort to block Internet and mobile phone services, has been marked as the largest anti-government protest in Egypt’s history. “There’s no doubt that there’s a massive amount of anger being unleashed here. But there’s also been a massive amount of humanity being unleashed. That’s one of the things I think is beautiful about this.” On Feb. 11, Mubarak, who served as Egypt’s longest running leader, was forced out of office despite an earlier announcement he made declaring that he would step down from office in September. Even if Mubarak was not forced to resign, protesters showed signs that they would not discontiue the rallies. “I doubt the Egyptians are going to be OK with him staying in office until September,” said Casagranda. “I think they want him gone right now. They had very substantial successes, and I don’t think they’re done. I don’t think the concessions that Mibarak has given are enough to appease the majority of the people.” Amid the ongoing unrest in the Arab country, Casagranda, who spent part of his childhood in Egypt, still plans to visit soon. “At the end of the day, Egyptians are out there in the streets protesting and risking their lives. And if that makes things hard for me a little bit, it’s a small thing compared to what they’re doing.”
News | Page 5
News → People
Student to Participate in beauty pageant
Joey Gidseg•Photo Editor
BEAUTIFUL — Student Sabrina Holland will bring her platform of connecting the hearing to the deaf and the hard of hearing to the forefront in the Capital of Texas Plus American Pageant happening on Feb. 25 at the Doris Miller Recreation Center.
Sabrina Holland hopes to win Capital of Texas Plus American Pageant to encourage other women Dana Manickavasagam Staff Writer
After suffering years of ridicule and being teased due to her weight, Holland had low self-esteem. “I got picked on. I got called names. It wasn’t very good. You don’t feel good about yourself, but I’ve learned to grow with it and accept myself for who I am,” said Sabrina Holland, an Austin Community College student. She is participating in the Capital of Texas Plus American Pageant and is hoping she can encourage other women to be accepting of themselves and show that beauty is on the inside.
“I want to encourage younger people and let them know that beauty comes from within. It’s not about how you look. We’re all different. I mean, God made us all different, different shapes and different sizes. It would be awkward if we all looked alike,” said Holland. To prepare for the pageant, Holland went to Dallas for boot camp where she learned correct form and balance for the runway. She also received training about the pageant interview process. “My platform is to connect the hearing to the deaf and the hard of hearing,” said Holland. Holland first started learning sign language in Virginia where
the church community was bridging the gap between the deaf and the hearing by offering sign language classes. After learning everything that she could at church, she started taking classes at school. After moving to Texas, Holland started classes at ACC to become a medical assistant and slowly added sign language classes to her schedule. “You know how you hear people singing with beautiful voices? I don’t have a beautiful voice, but I can sign beautifully,” said Holland. Holland recently led an event called Talk to the Hands at the ACC Riverside Campus where students were taught the
alphabet and basic phrases like “My name is” and “How are you?” If Holland wins The Capital of Texas Plus America Pageant, she will move on the the state pageant and hopefully to the national level. After the pageant, Holland plans to graduate in May. Holland has applied to transfer to Gallaudet University and continue signing and become an interpreter. The Capital of Texas Plus America Pageant will be held at 7:30 on Feb. 25 at the Doris Miller Recreation Center. Tickets can be purchased through Holland at shollandperry@yahoo.com.
Gun law changes proposed College carry per state ME
WA VT
MT
NH
ND
MN
OR ID
WI
SD
MI
WY IA
NE**
IL
CO
CA
KS
NM**
OK**
NC SC
AR MS
AK
TX**
VA
AL
GA
**Currently, Arizona, Florida, Oklahoma, Nebraska, New Mexico and Texas legislatures have proposed bills to either lift some or all of the restrictions on campuses according to local state legislatures.
LA FL**
Pete Perreault •Staff Photographer
HEAR OUR VOICE — After a rally in front of the state capitol on Feb. 5, demonstrators from various groups supporting political uprisings in the Middle East embark on a march down Congress Avenue to Ladybird Lake and back.
Carry prohibited by state law HI
MD DC
KY
MO
TN AZ**
RI
DE
OH
IN
WV
UT
NJ
PA
NV
MA CT
NY
Carry not prohibited by law, decision is with the college/university Concealed carry prohibited, open carry generally legal Carry Specifically authorized
sources: opencarry.org, concealedcampus.org
continued from pg. 1 believe such laws would make our campuses less safe. At a minimum, decisions regarding concealed handguns should be left to the local control of publicly elected trustees.” Representative Taylor disagrees. “I think that everyone has the right to carry a weapon to be safe anywhere,” said Taylor when asked why he authored H.B. 1167. “Students should have the right to defend themselves on or off college campuses,” explained Taylor, who is a card carrying CHL holder. In a phone interview with Taylor, the representative did not address why he tailored H.B. 1167 to only include public junior colleges when asked, but did so in a press release issued by his office. “Community and technical colleges are very different atmospheres from four-year higher education institutions,” Taylor said in the press release. “Typically, the students are older and spend less time on campus. They deserve the right of self defense off and on campus.”
Concealed carry generally legal, open carry prohibited Graphic by Elizabeth Brown, Layout Editor
The debate on whether or not to allow concealed weapons on college campuses is a heated debate and advocates who support legalizing it strongly support H.B. 1167. “Taylor is definitely a strong supporter of this issue, and we are glad to see him taking this approach of using junior colleges or community colleges as a stepping stone toward legalizing concealed carry on all Texas college campuses,” said Scott Lewis, Texas legislative director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC). SCCC is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization that supports the legalization of concealed carry by licensed individuals on college campuses. Lewis, an ACC student who is currently taking a break from classes to lobby for SCCC, believes opponents of H.B. 1167 should become more aware of the facts that support this type of legislation. “Currently, there are 71 college campuses in the US that allow licenced concealed carry on campus. About half of those have allowed it for an an average of about five and a
half years. The other half began allowing it beginning the Fall 2010 semester. Not one of those colleges has seen a full resulting incident of gun violence, a single result in gun accidents or a single result in gun threats,” said Lewis based on data collected by SCCC. Concealed carry is allowed in most public places in Texas and Lewis believes that all college campuses should join that list. “This is not causing problems throughout the rest of Texas, it’s not causing problems on the college campuses outside of Texas where it’s allowed, and it’s not going to cause problems on college campuses,” explained Lewis. Opponents of the H.B. 1167 disagree with Lewis and believe that passing H.B. 1167 would create new problems on college campuses. “The University of Texas shooting happened just a few blocks from ACC Rio Grande Campus, so I’ve been increasingly interested in the gun debate on college campuses since then,” said Ryan Ingram, a creative writing major at ACC. Ingram strongly opposes legislation that would allow
students to carry concealed weapons on a community college campus. “I think this new bill is a terrible idea,” Ingram said. “God forbid it, but if someone like [UT student] Colton Tooley began shooting here at ACC, I really don’t think bringing more guns into the situation would really help. I think it would just increase the number of injured people because there would be more bullets flying around.” SCCC disagrees with students who share Ingram’s stance and the organization believes that allowing a person with a CHL and who is properly trained to use a gun will not add to dangerous situations from escalating like the UT shooting incident that occurred on Sept. 28, 2010. In order to obtain a Texas concealed handgun license, a person must be at least 21 years of age (18 for members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces), not have any felony convictions, not have any pending felony charges and not have any Class A or B misdemeanor convictions within the past 5 years among several other provisions.
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Feb. 14, 2011
Arts → Music
Five bands, five genres: Local bands release albu
Edgar Rodriguez•Lead Photographer
Candi & the Strangers Release date: February 5, 2011
Edgar Rodriguez Staff Writer
Candi and the Strangers released their second album, 10th of Always on Feb. 5. After the group lost one band member, they gained a new member in the form of a producer in early 2009 forming the current line-up: lead singer Samantha Constant, organist John Constant, vibraphone player Angie Rose, drummer Greg rose and the producer Erik Wofford. The newest album 10th of Always is a change from the previous album. “When we did the first record, we were just getting our sound together, and that was really important. We actually figured that out as we were recording. Whereas with this new record, we knew exactly how we were going to lay the songs out,” said John Constant, organist. Despite the established sound the band has become known for from their first EP, Candi and the Strangers is not afraid to experiment with new sounds and fans can look forward to just that on their newest album. “I mean yeah, you’re never done. We like to experiment, who knows where we are going to go from here, but there is no point is saying all right, this is us were going to keep doing the same thing,” said Wofford. The new direction the band is taking in 10th of Always is inspired by a movie they wrote music for. “We worked on a movie…last year, we did a lot of orchestration in that, and so when we were recoding this new record (10th of Always), we wanted to integrate that.,” said John Constant. “It was something different we were doing on the side, and as we brought it into the studio we figured we liked electronic strings for this particular record more than real strings. That happened just naturally because of other things we were doing, so I imagine more sounds will come along too.” When asked about an online comment describing the band’s music as “[something] you could totally trip balls on acid to, while hanging out with your kids,” band members laughed and explained how it was a very ironic statement. “None of us do drugs. The way I see it is, if you can, make music to evoke the feeling of…being in another world and not on drugs,” Erik said.
Candi and the Strangers’ sophomore album 10th of Always takes a more psychedelic approach in comparison to their self-titled EP. However, fans needn’t worry too much as the change in musical styling is minimal and only reflects how Candi and the Strangers is experimenting with their sound. Immediately upon listening to “Still A Star,” the first track of the album, the group’s psychedelic approach shows as you get taken away by a soothing melodic voice backed by electronic sounds. Songs such as “Children Of The Tone” and “Nico Regrets” really shows what this indie band is: a mix of wondrous electronic sounds and bliss. It’s just the kind of music you can just sit around and chill to after arriving to your apartment, tired from working an all-day shift. Putting on some Candi and the Strangers, you instantly escape as the music captivates and transports you to another world. A brief four minutes of escape leave you wanting for more. You can’t just give one song a listen without wanting to hear the rest of what the album has to offer.
Pete Perreault * Staff Photographer
Drew Smith Release date: February 5, 2011
Bianca Flores
Staff Writer
Drew Smith from Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir released a side project album Ted Songs on Feb. 5. Smith began a new side project from his other band Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir with different members, differently arranged songs, and a different sound. He was raised on folk music, but he focuses on what is considered Americana pop. Those that have heard Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir know of the more electric instruments and bigger band sound. “It’s different people, and that’s exactly how I picked them, to get some new blood on some brand new songs,” said Smith. “I wrote all the songs. Then we got together and worked out all the arrangements and who was playing what and when.” Ted Songs introduces different characters and tells their stories that can be somewhat uplifting like in “Squeezing The Elephants.” Then there is a whole different turn in the heartbreaking “Bending Like a River Flowing.” “I wrote (that song) to get something off my back. It’s about just everyday anxieties, and meditating your way out of it. That’s why there aren’t very many words in the song. It focuses more on the instruments,” said Smith. The band got together around this time last year and played during 2010’s South by Southwest. Ted Songs was recorded during a snow storm last winter at Shabby Road Studios in Brooklyn, New York. Even though Drew Smith and this band won’t play live any time soon, Drew Smith’s Lonely Choir can be seen at one of the other venues around town. “We decided to just release (the album) and have an one-show-only kind of thing and have the music out there,” said Smith. The album artwork for Ted Songs was drawn by Dave Schwab and consists of a collage of black and white ink drawings of different characters like Abe Lincoln, Superman, Jack Kerouac, and even an elephant. Buried in between these characters, there are different vices such as cigarettes, stacks of cash, and food. This album is a story in and of itself. “These songs have a lot of characters in them, a lot more than normal. I think it’s just a time frame I was in,” said Smith. “For some reason my wife and I were reading a lot of Shel Silverstein poems, and I think that that had a lot to do with all the characters.”
Saying that Drew Smith and his backing band are an Americanapop four-piece with a tad bit of folk is the most accurate way to describe the delightfulness consumed on the five tracks on the album Ted Songs. With the fiddles, guitars, and mandolins, you simply can’t ignore Drew Smith’s powerful and soulful voice and the similarity of Philadelphia psychedelic band Dr. Dog. The leading track “Squeezing the Elephants” feel as if you got on a swing for the very first time, enjoying the experience, and just ignoring the rest of the world. You’re simply happy. Then there is the track “Bending Like a River Flowing” which goes in a very different direction from the rest of the album. With Smith repeating the line “bending like a river flowing,” you get a glimpse of how Smith feltto get something off his chest. It sounds heartbreaking with him vaguely howling “and all the debt I owe, it begins to die, slowly slips away… now I can start my life.” It feels like being lost in an enchanting forest, running in circles, and trying to get home like in Alice in Wonderland. Ted Songs makes you feel certain ways, listen to different stories, and learn about different characters. It’s short, sweet, and very delightful.
Stereo A Lie Release date: February 12, 2011
Megan Rue Staff Writer
The stylishly-clad guys of Stereo I length album which fuses American 8. Written in the span of about two members are all truly happy with. Th fact that the band felt no pressure or “We went into the studio, record wanted to get a really accurate reflec We didn’t want to have any regrets a Glynn Wedgewood. Despite the satisfaction Stereo Is passed, the road to the day has not b Before Wedgewood brought his brithe joined and left the band IV Thieve “I never intended to play in IV Th felt pulled in different directions (wh in this band (Stereo Is A Lie),” said W Bassist Marcus Pina joined after s “I went to see Stereo Is A Lie play said Pina. The members see the record as a lyrics are a raw reflection of Wedgew of the world. “Lyrically, the album represents c bulls--t lyrics,” said Wedgewood. The band released the album via M label in Austin, which was co-founde principally run by Chris Klein who h related duties of the label. The band i “Business is a headache that ends Wedgewood. The guys are active members of th played in venues including The Paris The Ghost Room on Feb. 12. Stereo Is A Lie will focus on playi with upcoming shows planned in Au
the listener to keep up. Many b distracts from the main point), The record keeps its momen which showcases an almost crim Won’t” is a bit of a change of pa take center stage. In “Stops,” wh the strongest tracks, organ-like Wedgewood’s distinct wail. The strongest components o and guitar work. They’re both s work so well together. The prod It exemplifies everything tha and provides a fuzzy, spacey atm intricate layering of the instrum to Muse, and dare I say - The Sm Stereo Is a Lie has crafted an the perfect soundtrack for inter
Feb. 14, 2011
ums
www.theAccent.org
With the holidays now over, school is back in session, and everyone is settled in for the new year. February became a busy month for five local bands. Each band, all from different genres, are debuting albums to the masses. Accent sent out reporters to find out more.
Sarah Vasquez • Assistant Editor
o Is
Is A Lie released their debut fulln and British brands of rock on Feb.
years, the end product is one that all This satisfaction is partially due to the r time restraints while in the studio. ded three tracks, and hit delete. We ction of what we hear in our heads. about this album,” said vocalist
A Lie feels now that release day has been the most straightforward path. -pop stylings from England to Texas, es. Thieves, I just kind of stepped in… I hile in that band). There are no egos Wedgewood. seeing Stereo Is A Lie play a show. y, met Glynn, and stayed in touch,”
cohesive body of work. The album’s wood’s honest perception on the state
complete bleakness. I can’t write
Monolathe records, an independent ed by Wedgewood. Monolathe is handles the majority of the businessis happy to have the help. s up eating so much time,” said
he Austin music scene, and have sh, The Mohawk, and just recently
ing regional shows for the time being ustin, Houston, and San Marcos.
The first track of Stereo Is a Lie’s selftitled record “What We Do” begins with their signature fuzzy, loopy guitars. The drums, keys, and vocals then enter one at a time until there is a sound that perfectly sums up the entire album: controlled chaos. Throughout most of the album, there is a lot going on, challenging bands try to do too much (which but for Stereo Is a Lie, it works. ntum through “It’s Too Late” minally catchy guitar riff. “I ace as the bass line and vocals hich happens to be one of e synthesizer haunt Glynn
of the record are the keyboard so intricate, yet they manage to duction is fantastic, a great fit. at is great about the songwriting mosphere. The beautiful and mentation warrants comparisons miths? n intricately woven symphony, rgalactic travel.
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Adrienne Sparks•Staff Photographer
Sphynx Release date: February 20, 2011
Erica Bean Staff Writer
It’s ten in the morning on a Saturday, and Aaron Miller is holding a Starbucks coffee. His attention is set and ready for the morning rehearsal with his band Sphynx. Sphynx is a trio. Cory Dennis plays the synthesizers and vocals. Todd Harris is on the drums, and Miller takes care of the guitar and vocals. There are a half a dozen guitars that line the walls, and a black Baldwin piano in the corner. No musical instrument gathers dust in this room. The rehearsal begins as the walls of the studio are hit with a punch of sound from the speakers as the guitar chords are being tuned. The band is self-releasing their first EP on Feb. 20, and when asked about the pressure of it, they are quick to answer. “We were definitely nervous for a few months,” said Harris. “But now we’re to the point where we’re excited,” said Miller. As far as their hopes for their music, the answer comes easy. “We don’t like being predictable …hopefully people don’t always expect the next part of the song,” said Miller. Both Miller and Dennis have been friends since they were two, and about five years ago, Dennis met Harris through his sister. Once they became brothers-in-law, they got more serious about the instruments they each play and what that could turn into. Being friends for as long as they have has definitely played a part in the way they agree on the creation of their music. “If we don’t like something, we just throw it out there,” said Dennis. “We have a very majority rules system,” said Miller. Their single “Razberry Wine” has quickly caught the attention of The Austin Chronicle and also the website Indie Current and record/music promotions company Vagabond Collective. But they’re ready to take it to the next level. Their next out-of-Austin show is in Denton on March 10 to make their music more accessible for those who live outside of Austin. Their goal for the next five years is to get out of the local scene, and Cory Dennis isn’t afraid to reach for possibly, one day, “winning a Grammy.” “We’ve had a great time…it’s been really great, but our next goal is to get out of Austin. It’s kind of a trap. There are so many bands. People start to forget about you pretty easily if you stay in one spot for too long. The secret to being a big band in Austin is not playing in Austin that much,” Miller said. Sphnyx is set to play their EP release show at The Parish on Feb. 20 with L.A.X., Final Exam, and Grundel in The Bronx. Don’t let the synthesizers fool you. Sphynx isn’t your typical ‘80s sounding band. They’ve got a contemporary twist and are double threat with distinct vocals. Austin is a city full of bands trying to make it big, and Sphynx has a very distinct sound. The most prominent sounds on the album are the opening beats to “Razberry Wine,” possibly reminding the listener of ‘80s movies The Breakfast Club or Ferris Beuller’s Day Off. Their music sounds like it’s trying to get away with trouble - the good, fun kind of trouble. Sphynx takes music and recycles a bit of history and puts a bit of soul to their songs. Sphynx has vocals that match the beat, and their music seems to flow effortlessly smoothly with their sound. There are no displaced rhythms or guitar strums on this album. To hear their EP, go to sphynx.fourfour.com. Their album Human Beast debuts online n Feb. 19. Those that attend the release show on Feb. 20 at the Parish will receive a free hard copy of the EP. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.
Michael Samaripa•Staff Photographer
Mother Falcon
Release date: February 26, 2011
Sarah Vasquez Assistant Editor
Mother Falcon isn’t the typical rock band. Instead of four members that each take on the role of guitarist, bassist, drummer and vocalist, the band members instead consist of a handful of classically-trained musicians playing classical instruments such as the violin, the cello, and the double bass. However, recording a full-length album with the almost-20 members that form Mother Falcon can prove to be a challenge. “Mixing was a challenge,” said Matt Puckett, a member of Mother Falcon. Puckett plays the saxophone and glockenspiel as well as sings. “You have to balance... There’s 19 people playing, and there’s more instruments. Then you have to balance all the vocals too. There’s like 20 something tracks (per song),” said Yun Du, one of the violinists. “Oh there’s more than that,” said Matt Puckett. “We’re looking at some of the songs that probably had 34 tracks to mix together which is a lot.” With that many members in a band, there was careful planning on when was the right time to have everyone together for the recording process. “There’s always that sweet spot beginning of August, where people haven’t left for school yet, but they just got back from summer vacation. That’s where it has to be done,” said Du. Instead of recording each instrument one track at a time, the band decided to record each song live with everyone performing their parts at once. While it could have been easier with scheduling if they didn’t go this route, Mother Falcon wanted to capture the ensemble feel that comes out during a live performance. “I really wanted everybody to able to play together at the same time because so much of our music is dynamic,” said Puckett. “It involves watching cues from other people. When we recorded, it was just recorded in a church. We were in a circle just like we are in rehearsals. So we look at each other... Whereas when we’re playing in the headphones to tracks that are already recorded, it’s, I feel, like a less dynamic experience typically.” Now that the album is finished and ready for the masses, the band is preparing for their album release on Feb. 26 at the Central Presbyterian Church. This is the same church the album was recorded in. “It should be pretty cool. It’ll be a rare experience. I hope it’ll be a rare experience for a lot of people, because it’ll sound pretty much how it sounds on the record. That’s the goal,” said Puckett. The moment the strings swell into the opening track of Mother Falcon’s Alhambra, the listener is immediately swept away from the notorious rock scene. Rather than standing in a grungy, beer-smelling venue, the album’s live recording brings people into the comfortable seats in an open auditorium. Mother Falcon uses their classical music education to bring this genre into the ears of all music fans. It’s high art for the common people. It merges traditional orchestra movements with today’s indie rock music. Instead of electric guitars and bass guitars, the band uses violas and stand-up basses as well as other instruments (including an accordion) to form the foundation of the music. Nick Gregg and Claire Puckett take turns sharing vocal duties as their voices lightly float over the tunes stepping away from the spotlight. In Mother Falcon, every musician works as an ensemble letting the music be the main focus. The album isn’t perfect though. With about 20 members, the band is very limited in the amount of time allowed for rehearsing and recording the songs for the album. While the quality of music falls into an incredibly higher standard than most bands in Austin, there are several moments when just a little bit more time to get that note just right would really make Alhambra pretty close to perfection. However, it’s those small imperfections that give this up-and-coming band character.
CAMPUS LIFE Feb. 14, 2011
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Campus Life → Rio Grande
Water damage delays gallery
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Campus Life → Eastview
Gospel show inspires Event showcases local talent, celebrates black history Nick De Cesare
Dustyn Cope • Staff Photographer
DAMAGED— The Steve Kramer Retrospective postponed due to significant water damage at Rio Grande.
Sarah Grover Staff Writer
The Steve Kramer Retrospective art show was scheduled to open Feb. 1, on the ground level of the newly renovated building 3000 at the Rio Grande Campus. However, due to water damage in the art gallery, the opening of the exhibit is postponed until further notice. The exhibit, which was scheduled to be displayed until March 10, was constructed in memory of ACC’s late ceramics professor, Professor Steve Kramer, who passed away in August 2003. Efforts are still in progress in discovering the origin of the water leak. Until a conclusive cause is found and the problem is fixed, the Kramer Retrospective gallery and other future art exhibits are on hold, according to the Art Studios and Exhibition Specialist, Brent Braggett. According to Braggett, there is no specific timeline for the reopening of the exhibit. Braggett estimates that the scheduled show might not be open until next semester
which will allow more time for publicizing the event. This time extension would also allow Kramer’s daughter, who lives in St. Louis, Missouri, plenty of time to come down and see the show. That way, she can take part in the tribute to her father. “If I have it my way, I would like to do the exhibit another semester so that there is plenty of time to advertise,” said Braggett. “Even if the water leak was repaired this week, I wouldn’t want to put up the show immediately before advertising it for a month.” There are also plans in the works for the school’s first fundraiser show, allowing community members from Austin to submit some of their work. The proceeds from the art exhibit fundraiser will go towards the Steve Kramer Scholarship that is currently being offered at ACC. Once reopened, the retrospective will display many of Kramer’s pieces. “Kramer’s work was really varied. He had work in stone, wood, acrylic paintings, and water color, but is primarily known as a ceramic artist. It’s all really good stuff,” said Braggett.
Staff Writer
The importance of gospel music within the African American community was the main theme at the 11th Annual ACC Gospel Extravaganza. The event, hosted by the ACC Community Outreach program at Eastview, allowed students, staff and local community members the chance to come together and celebrate Black History Month, on Feb. 6. The Extravaganza featured over ten different performances, showcasing a diverse array of styles and positive messages, ranging from hip-hop to a cappella , to spoken word, and even mime. The group, Anointed Master Mime, presented a spirited mime routine set to a modern gospel song,that synced their facial expressions and body language along with the lyrics of the song. The five female comprised of the group, wore black costumes with white face paint resembling a harlequin. Another performer, B.L.U.E., performed a song entitled “Throwed,” recounting his story of falling off a religious path and the hardships he faced using hip-hop as a vehicle. The audience gave a thunderous round of applause for his performance.
Pete Perreault •Staff Photographer
SPIRITED—The Gospel Extravaganza Choir, comprised of ACC instructors, administrators, and
law enforcement, inspire an Eastview Campus gathering on Feb. 5 as part of Black History Month. Many of the performances touched the audience on a highly emotional level. One performer,Tia Miller, performed a song which produced a standing ovation from the crowd. At one point, an audience member had to leave the event because she was so affected by the music’s spiritual message. According to the ACC Director of Community Outreach, Loretta Edelen, who helped organize the program, explained the purpose of the event and the reason for its longevity is twofold: to celebrate gospel as it relates to black history and to showcase local talent. Edelen also hopes that people will see the spiritual significance that gospel has presented throughout history. “It is the power that has sustained us; the belief in God
Career forum informs
Sarah Vasquez
Assistant Editor
Students met with employers for potential job opportunities at the Career Forum and Marketplace on Feb. 5 at Eastview Campus. The career forum and marketplace was sponsored
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Reverend B.W. McClendon from the St. James Missionary Baptist Church, addressed event-goers and communicated a message about how music is a very universal language, one that can applied to everyone. “Music is an expression of what is in a person’s heart. It connects us with the struggle, regardless of our ethnicity, it connects us with God,” preached McClendon from the pulpit. “It’s not where you’re from,” continued McClendon, “it’s where you’re headed.” Upcoming Black History Month events hosted by ACC include: African American Prose & Poetry on Feb. 16 at Northride, Overcoming Your Obstacles to Educational Excellence on Feb. 22 at Riverside, and Guy Bluford, the first African American in space, on Feb. 23 at Eastview.
Campus Life → Round Rock
Campus Life → Eastview
Students seeking job positions get a chance to meet employers
and the spiritual aspect of gospel that has sustained us throughout the years,” said Edelen with a smile. “There is promise in the future with the young talent at this concert as well as a great respect for tradition with the artists who have been performing for a long time.” A new addition to this year’s event was the introduction of the ACC Gospel Extravaganza Choir, which is comprised of students, faculty and staff from around the Austin Community College system. Roy Shipp, the district police patrol officer for ACC, held the title of master of ceremony. According to Shipp, the induction of the new Choir signifies that, “every year you want things to go a little bit better, a little bit higher.” Another highlight from the event was when guest speaker,
by the Austin area chapter of the Texas Association of Black Personnel of Higher Education as one of the events at ACC in celebration of Black History Month. Several local businesses participated in the event and sought out students to potentially hire. Hugo Pineda, a building construction technology major, attended the forum after his Saturday class. “I was taking a class when a guy went in there and showed me one of the flyers,” said Pineda. “There are so many different sources for jobs here. That makes it easy for us.” Among the list of vendors were Goodwill Industries, City of Austin, Omni Hotel, Sell State Reality and Jimmy Johns as well as several ACC
departments. Vendors had a wide variety of jobs available for students to receive information for and each company had careerspecific jobs in mind for potential employees. “Currently, the city is gearing up for the summer. There’s an increase of activity with Parks and Recreation,” said Rochion Green, employment services specialist with the City of Austin. “It’s just a great opportunity for the City of Austin to connect with students.” Goodwill Industries was also on-hand to offer assistance in securing a job. “We’re here to basically offer interview, resume, and application assistance to those looking for employment,” said Ana Freeman, veteran
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job placement specialist for Goodwill Industries. “Especially to those who have barriers to employment, such as a criminal background, or they’re welfare recipients, chronically unemployed, or dislocated workers, meaning they just recently moved into the area,” said Freeman. These services with Goodwill are also offered year-round at their four locations. Overall the career fair was a success, according to Dorado Kinney, dean of student services at Eastview Campus. “[There was a] great turnout by vendors. I think all the vendors minus one who said they’ll be here are actually here,” said Kinney. “So I think it’s wonderful that they’re willing to come out and support the students at ACC.”
Eastview students were asked: What would you ask your state representatives and senators?
Board of trustees meet
Dana Manickavasagam • Lead Photographer
Board members Jeffrey Richard and Tim Mahoney laugh at a comment during the board of trustees forum sponsorted by the Student Government Association. The SGA held a Forum at the Round Rock Campus Wednesday February 9.
Students voice their opinions at Round Rock SGA board of trustees forum Era Sundar Staff Reporter
Darrell Hubbard
Hayder Hussein
Nora Herrera
Game Design Specialization
International Business
Office Administration
“I’d ask what are you doing to better serve the students who are in college? What I mean is we have all these different resources and a lot of students don’t know about most of them. How will you promote and improve services so students can succeed in school? Most incoming freshman from different high schools aren’t prepared and are hugely uninformed about what the school offers.”
“Why would they cut education funds and then spend 1.5 million on what I call the “dinosaur” ramps under I-35? I work with tutors all the time, and with the cuts I’m worried they may disappear. Why would they close down and combine high schools, but build a new courthouse that isn’t necessary?”
“I’d ask for more financial help with school, and assistance with living. Some of us from South East Texas, such as the valley, struggle financially, and these days it’s hard to work and maintain good grades at school. Transportation is a big issue too, seeing as some of us can’t afford the luxury of owning a car. It’s hard to rely on the bus, and/or arrange rides both to and from school.” All interviews and photos by Dustyn Cope
Students spoke up Wednesday as the Student Government Association hosted its first board of trustees forum at the Round Rock Campus. Louella Tate, the dean of student services at Round Rock, said, “Despite today’s weather conditions, it was an excellent turnout for our first student forum. So many students took time to ask questions and share their opinions with our board members. It was a very engaging discussion.” Board of trustees members Tim Mahoney and Jeffrey Richard answered student questions on topics such as tuition, parking, add/drop issues and campus food service. Some issues had immediate solutions. Concerns over insufficient microwaves in the student lounge were addressed by Campus Manager Judy
VanCleve who said that another microwave would be in place that afternoon. Other issues like parking continue to be monitored. Refreshments were provided and attendees enjoyed pizza, salad, cake and beverages. Students declared the meeting a success. Science major Connor Haunte said the meeting went “better than expected” because of the board members’ direct answers to student questions. Psychology major Sarah Lopez said the meeting was informative and the right issues were covered. Zachary Salinas, the Round Rock SGA senator said the meeting was productive and “it was wonderful to have the board come.” Similar forums will be held at the Riverside Campus on Feb. 24 at 12:00 p.m., at the Rio Grande Campus on March 8 at 6 p.m., and on March 19 at 6 p.m. at the Cypress Creek Campus.
Feb. 14, 2011
www.theAccent.org
Natalee Blanchat
Campus Editor
When Travis Schneider moved from Pasadena to Austin in 1990, he believed attending Austin Community College was an affordable way for him to get a head start on his education. His head start ultimately led him down a path where he now finds creative ways to raise money to fight cancer. Schneider chose to attend ACC because his grandfather, a business man, inspired him to get a degree in business administration. “I thought it was something I would be good at,” said Schneider.
Campus Life | Page 9
Learned What I’ve
Travis Schneider
In 1992, Schneider began working for Motorola in Oak Hill while still attending ACC classes. During his time at Motorola, Schneider worked in various positions, moving up in the company from a starting semi-conductor position, to a more prestigious position in document control. Eventually, he was able to save up enough money to buy a house in Cedar Park. This allowed him the freedom of broadening his horizons to start taking classes at the Cypress Creek Campus as well as Northridge Campus. After obtaining an associate degree in business administration, Schneider continued to work for Motorola until tragedy struck his family in 1998 when his grandfather, James Willis Hodson, became ill and bedridden. Once he learned the sobering news about his family, Schneider thought the best thing to do was move to Houston in order to take care of his grandfather in a time of need. Schneider cared for his grandfather until he passed away on June 10, 2009. Shortly after, his grandmother, Betty Ruth Hodson, was diagnosed with pancreatic caner when physicians found a tumor on her bile duct. “It was really hard when my grandmother got sick because she kept trying to convince herself that it wasn’t cancer, but I think my relatives and I knew what it was. It took her along time to die. Watching her get sicker and sicker, slowly deteriorating, was really horrible. After everything that happened with my grandmother and what I watched her go through, Ive come to hate cancer. I watched it kill my family,” said Schneider. In order to raise money for her cancer treatment, Schneider made the decision to try to publish a children’s book that he had been working on, prior to his grandfather’s death. He submitted the book, titled “The Adventures of Stewy the Seagull,” to a publishing agency for review in January 2010. Unfortunately, by the time the book was finally released in stores, it was too late. Schneider’s grandmother passed away in October 2010. “The Adventures of Stewy the Seagull” didn’t have enough time to receive the proper circulation. “I just wanted to write a story about a happy seagull. It was released in August 2010 and the amount of time it takes a book to mature and grow is sort of like planting a seed. If it’s going to do well, you’ll know from the publisher in about six months or so which just wasn’t enough time,” said Schneider. “Once you get cancer it grows very quickly.” Even through the hard times, Schneider has found beacons of hope. Not only did he find a passion in writing, he also found an outlet for fighting the one thing he truly hates, cancer. Currently, he is in the process of restoring antique automobiles that he plans to auction off and donate those proceeds to the American Cancer Society. “Right now I’m working on restoring my father’s 1990 Dodge Daytona that I plan on selling once its ready,” said Schneider. In addition to raising money to fight cancer, Schneider has decided to continue his writing and work on harnessing those skills, “I’ve decided that I really like writing. I enjoy it. If somebody enjoys the book that’s great, but if it doesn’t do so well, that’s fine too.” Schneider said. With the obligation of helping his grandparents gone, Schneider is working on getting his life on track and hopes to go back to school and attend a four-year university. “Getting a business degree actually helped me and taught me how to write. They have a very good structural set up of English and literature classes through the business administration program at ACC,” said Schneider.
Dana Manickavasagam • Staff Photographer
Campus Life → Events
Intramural program offers recreation, fun Floorball, dodgeball, other activities added to popular sports offerings Saul Hernandez
Staff Photographer
Student Life’s Intramural Sports and Recreation program is hosting multiple events throughout the month of February and into March. Events include bowling at Westgate Lanes, volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball, etc. This semester, a variety of new sports were added to the Intramural Sports and Recreation roster including woman’s basketball, floor ball, and dodge ball. Original intramural sports that have been apart of the program since it first opened include men’s basketball, women’s volleyball, and soccer. The first men’s basketball game of the season kicked off on Feb. 10, at Virginia Brown Recreation Center. According to the Coordinator for Intramural Sports and Recreation, Tracy Partin, the series of sports was brought about in order to provide a program so that students could meet new people and work with each other towards a common goal, and achieving this in safe and friendly environment. “The only thing we’re taking a waiting list on is right now is men’s basketball. The deadline is March 11, but what we will probably do is put up a possible waiting list just in case we need to add more students,” said Partin. “They can contact me here at the Student Life office or go to the Student Life website if the want to get directly
Saul Hernandez • staff photographer
Phillip Hagen in the red shorts scores 2 for The “B” Team. Although Too Live put up 12 points The “B” Tea comes away with the win 13-12. invovled.” Anyone who is interested and wants to get involved is welcomed, regardless of whether or not you already have a team put together. According to Partin, one goal this year is to try and visit each campus, that way students can learn more about the Intramural Sports program and possibly become interested in getting involved. As of today, students only hear about the program through word of mouth on their campus, which doesn’t necessarily give all of the essential information. Currently, there are over two hundred students involved in ACC campus sports, a number that Partin would like to see grow. “Our goal mainly is to get more of a word out to students so that we can be able to provide them a good, quality program,” said Partin.
Other upcoming Intramural events Women’s Soccer South - Mondays @ 6:30 p.m. Men’s Soccer South - Mondays @ 8 p.m. Women’s Basketball South - Mondays @ 8 p.m. Men’s Basketball Central - Thursday @ 6 p.m. Women’s Volleyball Central - Thursdays @ 6 p.m. Co-Ed Floorball Soccer Dodgeball Round Rock - Mondays @ 6:30 p.m. For more information: Tracy Partin Intramurals Coordinator (512) 223-9REC (9732) tpartin@austincc.edu
LIFE & ARTS Page 10
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Arts → Games and Tech
Sequel worth wait
Feb. 14, 2011
Arts → Music
No Champions rocks
Photo courtesy of Capcom
Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds released 10 years after period of legal issues Jason Witmer
Staff Writer
After ten years of waiting, gamers can compete using some of the strongest Marvel Comics heroes and villains against the roster of famous characters from video game company Capcom in the newest addition to their fighting game franchise: Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (MVC3). Voted one of the “Most Anticipated Games of 2011” by Gamespot, this fighting game is dropping on Playstation 3 and Xbox 360 on Feb. 15. Developed by Capcom, (the company responsible for video game classics such as Street Fighter and Megaman), this game boasts a huge roster of 36 playable characters on a three-versus-three match much like it’s popular tournament predecessor. All of the favorite Marvel veterans are featured in the game such as Captain America, X-Men’s Storm, and Spiderman. Alongside these favorites are several new fighters such as Albert Wesker (Resident Evil 5) and Dante (Devil May Cry), all with their own unique fighting styles and special attacks. While both teams consist of three fighters, only one can fight at a time against each other. These characters can be switched out at any time for their teammates. Every character has a Special Gauge (a bar that is used to measure their power) that fills up when
the player uses special attacks (more complicated button combinations other than just smashing a button), and can be expended to perform incredible game changing moves such as Ryu’s Shinkuu Hadoken that shoots a giant laser beam across the battlefield and cripples anything in it’s path. Marvel vs. Capcom 3 also features an extensive singleplayer mode that is more in-depth than the original Marvel vs. Capcom, and contains unique endings for individual characters. MVC3 will also include an online mode playable on Xbox Live or Playstation Network services. Prior to every match online, player’s can view their opponents’ fight history including wins, losses, and even fighting patterns and tendencies. Why did a second sequel for this popular game take ten years to be released? According to Capcom, they finally re-acquired the Marvel license after a period of legal issues that placed the series on hiatus. It might be a cliche, but your patience has been rewarded. A player won’t get fast-paced, colorful, and incredibly fun and addicting gameplay anywhere else other than Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds. All the critics agree that this game is as GamesMaster magazine puts it, “the most explosive, fan-pleasing 2D fighting game the world’s ever seen.”
Sarah Vasquez • Assistant Editor
ROCKING OUT —(left to right) No Champions Jamie Martinez, Brady Black, and Adam Gibbs perform at Emo’s Inside during Free Week. The punk rock band is fairly new to the Austin scene, but the members have been playing in previous bands for years.
Punk rock band working on two new albums in hopes to gather more attention with fans, record labels Sarah Vasquez Assistant Editor
No Champions is a fairly new band to the Austin punk rock scene. The band formed in the later part of 2008, but they are still distinguishing themselves from all the other bands in this town. However, three of the four members, Brady Black, Jamie Martinez, and Adam Gibbs, have been playing in other bands for years. Black and Gibbs were part of Air Tight Alibi, a dark melodic hardcore band that frequently shared the stage with Martinez’ then-band Firekills during the early 2000s. Having performed together so much, it became inevitable that the three members would eventually form their own band. “Firekills had just ended. So Jamie and I got together and started writing some songs,” said Black. Bassist Stephen Lane joined later, adding the last piece to the
puzzle. “We did a three piece thing for awhile and then we had added Steven who we’ve known since high school. He came in to play bass. That’s pretty much how it came together,” said Black. No Champions, then went into the recording studio in February, 2010 to record their debut album “Ape Shit.” However, the album wasn’t released until November 2010. “We sat on it for a little bit because we weren’t sure what we wanted to do with it,” said Gibbs. “So we ended up actually putting it out in late 2010 while we worked on some other stuff and then finally got together. That cd took some time to put together.” Gibbs helped record the tracks in a studio he was working for at the time, Ohm Recording Facility. “I mixed it and tracked what I could. I didn’t track myself on the drums. The studio manager and owner of that studio did the
parts that I couldn’t do. When I couldn’t be behind the board, he was doing it. Otherwise, I did it,” said Gibbs. Gibbs also earned some recording experience from his classes at Austin Community College as a commercial music management major. He has completed his course work for graduation, however, there is one small set back. “I finished all my audio stuff about a year ago. I still have one unrelated class to take which is not anything to do with audio. I can’t seem to get into that class,” said Gibbs. No Champion currently has in the works another album as well as an acoustic album. The band performed a low-key show with just acoustic guitars and a small drum set that sparked an idea for the acoustic album. “This is just going to be a completely different side of what (we are) because we played a couple of acoustic shows per the request of our friends from the Buzzkillers. It went off
really well. We enjoyed it. So we decided we’re gonna record some of that stuff as well,” said Gibbs. “It opens up a different side of us. Our electric show is really loud and fast and abrupt,” said Black. “We’ve reworked a few of the different songs. In fact, our fastest, loudest, heaviest song is also by far the prettiest acoustic song that we do. It’s bizarre, but it’s a lot of fun.” With South by Southwest Music Festival (SXSW) quickly approaching in March, No Champions hopes to grab more people’s attentions. “Maybe when SXSW comes, we’re just trying to impress and get the name out,” said Black. “Either way, we’re going to continue to write and create and have fun with it and just treat it like it’s a half-job. It’s like the coolest job you could ever have, but you don’t get paid for it, but it’s ok. It’s a labor of love. We’re just gonna press on and just keep pushing it and see what we can do. “
Arts → Music
Shapes Have Fangs debut gritty success Odin Amador
Staff Writer
Shapes Have Fangs asked the Twitterverse “Are we dead?” in December 2010. Months later, they seem to have answered their own question with a resounding “Hell no!” by releasing Dinner in the Dark. This local band’s debut is a gritty, lo-fi escape from the hi-gloss popular fare oozing from your car radio. Dustin Coffey and Skyler McGlothlin, proprietors of South Congress recording studio Laguna Studio, together with Skyler’s brother Evan McGlothin and Josh Willis, have produced an entertaining premiere effort. The album opens with the dissonant, ragged title track daring you to decipher its distorted vocals by cranking the volume ever higher, an exercise as satisfying as it is futile. The mud-caked rock tunes strut, swagger, and creep by at a steady pace until the instrumental “Terlingua,” an apt soundtrack for a Mexican standoff or a suicide girl photo shoot. This project’s musical departures (the jarring, experimental “The Spoils” and “Sulphur and Mercury”) ask to be enjoyed away from the party, where the listener can digest them in private. Dinner In The Dark is, ultimately, a dirt crossroads by a dive bar; after last call flushes us out into the street, we’re left wanting more, wondering what’s next.
Nicole Atkins • Mondo Amore
Soulful singer shows a moodier, darker side of her in this blues-y and psychedelic follow up to 2007’s Neptune City.
...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead • Tao of the Dead
Finally a new album from this local alternative rock band, reminding the copycats how it’s supposed to be done.
The Boxer Rebellion • The Cold Still
Photo courtesy of Reverberation Appreciation Society
London-based band delivers an album filled with tight, enthralling indie rock tunes. Being around for ten years, it comes as no surprise.
La Sera • La Sera
Enchanting debut from Vivian Girls’ Katy Goodman that will provide the soundtrack to those ‘60s-era dreams.
Feb. 14, 2011
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Life & Arts | Page 11
Arts → Food
Food for thought: Valentine’s Edition Valentines is a holiday to celebrate love and romance. If you are looking for a unique place to take that special person besides the campus cafes, here are some suggestions. Jessica Blair
Staff Writer
Northridge Campus: Ryu of Japan
Cypress Creek Campus: Athens Restaurant
1540 Cypress Creek Rd # 113, Cedar Park Finding Greek style food is hard in Austin as there are only a handful around the area. This is one good one you can find near your classes at Cypress Creek Campus. Their specialty is Athens Grilled Chicken Plate. It has chicken marinated in Mediterranean spices grilled on an open flame, and served with rice, hummus, and a pita bread. Their service is just as good as their food and always served with a smile. The atmosphere is very calming and relaxing. $
11101 Burnet Road, Austin If you have a hankering for Japanese food, this is the place to go. With their specialty, the Sushi Dinner, that comes with eight pieces of the chef’s choice sushi and a tuna roll, you will leave with a full belly. The service is a little slow during their busy hours between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 pm, but the food is well worth it. $$
Edgar Rodriguez • Lead Photographer
Fortnight Forecast
Robyn Feb. 17, 8:00 p.m. ACL Live at the Moody Theater The girl who got big in the ‘90s for her hit “Show Me Love” is back with her trilogy album Body Talk.
The Pulp Fiction Quote-Along Feb. 24, 7:00 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse Ritz “Oh I’m sorry, did I break your concentration?” One of Quentin Tarantino’s most memorable films (with tons of hilarious and simply awesome quotes) will be showing at the Ritz. Hit men, mobsters, wives of gangsters, and a boxer...c’mon, let’s do this!
Sphynx EP Release Show Feb. 20, 8:00 p.m. The Parish The ‘80s dance guys are releasing their EP you won’t want to miss. Great line-up with L.A.X., Final Exam, and Grundel in the Bronx, plus your great friends equals a great night.
Saul Hernandez • staff photographer
Pinnacle Campus: Verona Ristorante Italiano
7101 W Highway 71, Austin This is a great place to eat Italian food. Their specialty is Pollo Milan which is diced chicken sauteed in butter and garlic sauce with mushrooms, spinach and a touch of red pepper and is served over linguine pasta. They have wonderfully fast service in a great romantic setting. They have secluded booths, so this is a perfect place to be if you want to be with that special one. $$
Edgar Rodriguez • Lead Photographer
Scale: $ = 1 dollars and under an entree $$ = 15 to 20 dollars an entree $$$ = 20 to 25 dollars an entree
Arts → Movies
Film professor records uncle’s life on screen Documentary captures counterculture life of icon in family through archives Ryan Janik Staff Writer
Since early 2005, ACC Radio Television Film Professor Philip R. Fagan has been working on a historical documentary and accompanying book titled “Philip’s Shadow: A (sub) Cultural History featuring the Actor Philip Fagan.” This documentary has been made possible using a 2008 grant from the Texas Filmmakers’ Production Fund. It chronicles the life of Professor Fagan’s uncle. The history of the American Underground is missing a lot of information, according to the professor who has collected a massive archive of information about his late uncle, Philip Norman Fagan, who wandered North America and Southeast Asia as an artist, an actor, and a spiritualist during the countercultural movements of the late ‘50s and ‘60s. Using a large stockpile of footage, letters, photos and interviews with notable historical figures, family and people that knew him, as well as original lithographs from Warhol, Professor Fagan is trying to make a documentary that fills in the missing information about American
Underground history. The documentary, “answers the question Warhol survivors and scholars have been asking for three decades: What became of Philip Fagan?,” according to Professor Fagan. Philip N. Fagan ran with motorcycle gangs and set a speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats as a teenager before he dropped out of high school and joined the Navy. After the service, he studied in the cutting-edge Mexican theater scene with the spiritualist and filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky. There he performed on stage in the first of Jodorowsky’s “Panic Movement” theater shows in Mexico. Shortly after this, Philip N. Fagan found himself in Andy Warhol’s “Factory” in New York City. He starred in many of Warhol’s underground experimental films and screen tests. There has also been “speculation by many that he was Warhol’s lover… which isn’t the whole story,” noted Professor Fagan. From 1965 to 1969, Philip N. Fagan traveled to Southeast Asia after being inspired by a trip to Japan while in the Navy.
There he studied as an ascetic monk in a monastery in a small village in Thailand. “He was just on a crazy spiritual quest. He was sick of art, sick of all the decadent people of the underground and just sullied by the people of the New York scene,” said Professor Fagan. On the counter-culture “hippie” movement, he added that “Philip was very anti-drug and anti-alcohol. He was very much of his time and yet, out of his time.” Professor Fagan’s documentary and book addresses issues such as Philip N. Fagan’s relation to Warhol, his mystical time in Asia and finally reveals the details surrounding his mysterious early death in Forth Worth, TX, which the professor “usually doesn’t discuss.” “He was the ‘Forest Gump’ of the Beat Generation...He led a pretty damn interesting life,” explained Professor Fagan on why he thinks his uncle’s story is an important one to tell. You can follow the continuing project and find more information about the Philip Norman Fagan Project at Faganfilm.com.
page 12 | Life & Arts
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Feb. 14, 2011
◀ CROWD PLEASER — A photographer stares up at one of the many models showcasing a vintage design for the fourth annual Fashion Freakout. The show attracted hundreds of people from all over Austin on Friday, February 4, 2011 despite below freezing temperatures. ◀ Sarah Cummings models a headpiece by Rima Hyena Jewelry. Look: Laced with love
▲ Model Devon Orr Look: Prototype Vintage
Dana Manickavasagam Staff Writer
Fashion aficionados braved cold temperatures to see vintage fashion shine on the catwalk on Feb. 4 at the Mohawk for Fashion Freakout 4. The models showcased custom collections from local vintage shops, Prototype Vintage Design, New Bohemia, and Laced with Romance. The female models wore long flowing skirts, boots, and hats that reflected a modern bohemian style as well as short flirty dresses reminiscent of the ‘40s era. Male models displayed plaid, flannel, and denim sporting a natural rustic look and a casual suit look from the ‘80s. Comedian Matt Bearden entertained the eclectic crowd between sets commenting on the beautiful and sometimes half-dressed models, and cheering for the crowd who attended despite the below freezing temperatures. Leader of the Gang, a Gary Glitter cover band, provided the musical entertainment.
▲ Maggie Martine models a hat by Rima Hyena Jewelry. Look: Laced with Romance
▶ Leaders of
the Gang, a Gary Glitter cover band who performed at the show, ends the set with a bang.
▲ Model Samantha Coray Look: New Bohemia
The Mohawk | Austin, TX 2.4.11 Clothing by: Prototype Vintage Design, Laced With Romance New Bohemia Hair and makeup by Avant Salon & Spa All photos by Joey Gidseg • Photo Editor