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The Daily Texan Friday, April 24, 2009
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Groups fire off on concealed-carry bill
Law firm ask grad to defer job offer
Due to economic woes, new la having more trouble finding w
Paul Chouy | Daily Texan Staff
Left, Senior David Black of University Democrats debates concealed-carry legislation at the Jackson Geological Sciences Building on Thursday. Right, Physics freshman Tyler Rosen, a Young Conservatives of Texas representative, addresses questions regarding how concealed-carry legislation will affect UT. Some attendees wore empty gun holsters to show support for the bill, which is awaiting debate on the House floor.
Conservative, liberal organizations debate legislation allowing arms on campus By Hudson Lockett Daily Texan Staff Tempers ran high and laughter alternated from side to side of a sharply divided audience as conservative and liberal students took shots at one another’s arguments about concealed-carry legislation. Members of Young Conservatives of Texas and University Democrats debated the controversial bill Thursday in the Jackson Geological Sciences building. A few in attendance wore empty gun holsters to voice support for the bill, which would permit licensed holders to carry a concealed handgun on campuses of public universities and would prohibit the schools from passing any measures to prevent
“The University should be able to say that when you are on this campus that you are not responsible for protecting your life.” — Luis Soberon, University Democrats member concealed carrying. A team composed of three members of University Democrats debated a team composed of two members of the Young Conservatives of Texas and the chapter president of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. “The University should be able to say that when you are on this campus that you are not
responsible for protecting your life,” said University Democrats member Luis Soberon. Jeff Shi, president of the pro-concealed-carry organization, argued that licensing tests would weed out anyone likely to misuse handguns. “These are not just amateurs,” Shi said. “They have training that the normal person does not.” Young Conservatives member
Edward Oden criticized the use of Supreme Court opinions as evidence for constitutional limits on gun possession. “We can’t rest our argument entirely on the Supreme Court,” Oden said. “The Supreme Court is merely the interpreter of these documents, which are held high as our governing documents.” Eleanore Knox, a former University Democrats member who did not participate in the debate, said she was on the fence about the issue. “I can understand the argument that certain people would feel safer on campus,” Knox said. “But I feel that if the majority of students aren’t in favor of it, the Legislature shouldn’t be able to do it.”
By Priscilla Totiyapungprasert Daily Texan Staff With the economic downturn and a sl in legal work, some major law firms ar ing start dates for new hires. In the m some law school graduates must find ot practice. David Montoya, assistant dean of care es in the UT School of Law, said the lega began seeing a significant slump around ber and that law firms have been cutting a and staff members for the past several m “It’s more difficult for graduating to get hired now,” Montoya said. “Fun public interest organizations has decreas ernment agencies are having hiring fre there’s just a general slowdown in the am work available.” There has been concern that if the econo tinues to suffer, deferrals will continue might even be canceled, Montoya said. “I can’t predict the future, but we can h it’s at its worst right now,” he said. Even if graduates are hired, they are n anteed immediate work. UT law student Jhett Nelson said he kn ious people whose start dates have been to almost a full year away from when th hired. Nelson, who graduates this May, said to take a voluntary deferral with his l Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. will pay him a stipend during this delay, “Voluntary deferral is a way for firm onto the people they hire,” Nelson said. Montoya said stipends vary in amo that high-paying jobs offer $65,000 to $7 average. Law school graduates have options be struggling corporate firms while they w gin working, Montoya said. UT’s Career Launch Program offers g
LAW continues on page 2A
UT human resources will re-evaluate roles, clarify employee titles Current classification codes irrelevant to certain workers, create confusion By Mohini Madgavkar Daily Texan Staff University human resources officials have begun re-evaluating employee classifications in an effort to clarify current positions. Code 1000 employees — also known as administrative/professional personnel — are eligible for termination without cause at the end of each fiscal year. In the event that budgetary concerns or personnel requirements make a particular position irrelevant, the University could eliminate it regardless of the employee’s job performance. Julien Carter, UT’s associate vice president for human resource services, said the University could convert some Code 1000 employees to “classified” status, which would require administrators to give a concrete reason for firing an employee at any time. Carter said the University constantly re-evaluates various titles and position classifications to ensure they are appropriate. The staff conducted an unrelated title evaluation for Information Technology Services employees earlier this year to ensure their job descriptions were market-appropriate, but Carter said no one has been fired or has taken a pay cut as a result. “In most cases, we would not take away any money,” Carter said. “We would try to find a way to make sure the level of compensation
Mayoral candidates offer economic solutio By Pierre Bertrand Daily Texan Staff As the recession persists, the city faces the challenge of retaining and promoting jobs to spur economic recovery — a hot-button issue in this year’s mayoral race. The five candidates for Austin’s top seat are now tasked with offering ways to keep jobs in tact, especially within Austin’s green energy industry. Dave Porter, senior vice president of economic development for the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, said the city lost Solar Array Ventures, a solar start-up company conceived in Austin, to Albuquerque, N.M. Albuquerque offered better state incentives, so the company promised to build New Mexico’s first manufacturing plant.
MAYOR continues on page 2A
Early-voting locati
Early voting for the 2009 mu elections (including the may race and City Council races) Monday and runs through M
• University of Texas Flawn Academic Center Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–7 Sunday, noon–6 p.m.
• Travis County Courthouse 1000 Guadalupe St. Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–7 Sunday, noon–6 p.m.
Andrew Rogers | Daily Texan Staff
Mayoral candidates Carole Keeton Strayhorn, David Buttross, Lee Leffingwell, Josiah Ingalls and Brewster McCracken debate policy on April 15.
• Fiesta Mart Central shopp center 3909 North IH-35 at Delwoo Monday–Saturday, 7 a.m.–7 Sunday, noon–6 p.m.
Platform initiatives for the five Austin mayoral candidates Lee Leffingwell • Diversify Austin’s job markets and industries • Make structural changes to future city budgets without cutting from important departments • Hold a 2010 bond election and sell carbon credits to fund local renew-
Brewster McCracken • Maintain Austin’s semiconductor industry through the Pecan Street Project • Enact an across-theboard pay freeze of city employees and possible salary cuts when faced with budget shortfalls
Carole Keeton Strayhorn • Launch an immediate investigation of Capital Metro • Cut fat from city’s budgets from every department, including lobbyists • Make government contracts and purchases available to the public
David Buttross • Forgo his mayoral salary • Increase resident density in Austin’s urban core • Create single-member representative districts to increase representation of
Josiah Ingalls
• Forgo his mayoral sal • Emphasize • Give voice t underrepres individuals city
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Wire Editor: Bethany Johnsen www.dailytexanonline.com
World&NatioN
Friday, Apri
T he Daily T exan
NATION BRIEFLY
WORLD BRIEFLY
Former Nebraska teacher faces prison time for student affair
China exerts pressure on not to meet Dalai Lama
OMAHA, Neb. — A former Nebraska teacher who fled to Mexico with a 13-year-old student was sentenced Thursday to eight to 10 years in prison. Kelsey Peterson, 27, pleaded guilty in January to two state counts of first-degree sexual assault of a minor. She is to serve her sentence simultaneously with a six-year federal prison sentence for transporting a minor across state lines to have sex. She also must register as a sex offender. Authorities said Peterson was the boy’s sixth-grade math teacher at Lexington Middle School during the 2005-06 school year and started having sex with him in November 2006. They said she fled with him to Mexico after the district’s superintendent confronted Peterson about allegations of an inappropriate relationship with the boy. She was arrested a week later in Mexico after the boy called his mother.
BEIJING — China said that President Barack Obam not meet the Dalai Lama, th Tibetan spiritual leader, wh its the United States in Octo Although a meeting has confirmed, every president George H.W. Bush has met Lama, raising the ire of Chi says the Nobel Peace laurea on splitting Tibet from Chin “We firmly oppose the D gagement in separatist acti any country under whatev ity and under whatever na eign Ministry spokeswoma Yu said when asked to com a possible meeting. “We have made represen to the United States urging to honor its commitments a allow the Dalai to engage i ratist activities in the Unite she told a regular news con Jiang did not say what w happen if a meeting did tak China canceled a major sum with the European Union l because French President N Sarkozy met the Dalai Lam A White House visit for lai Lama would be seen as ful message to Tibetans and struggling for human right the world, but would come United States seeks crucial cooperation on several cris
Bristol Palin’s former boyfriend announces possible custody suit
Karim Kadim | Associated Press
A girl cries near the site of an explosion that killed 22 in Baghdad when a suicide bomber threw himself into a crowd Thursday.
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The father of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s grandson said Wednesday he would be willing to go to court for custody of the child, but he hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Levi Johnston said on CNN’s “Larry King Live” that he and 18-year-old Bristol Palin do not have a formal court agreement over visitation rights for their baby son, Tripp. Bristol Palin, the governor’s oldest daughter, gave birth Dec. 27 and the unmarried teenage parents broke up soon after that. Johnston has claimed in several national TV interviews that Bristol has limited his access to the baby. Johnston said he is not in a “big fight with the Palins.” He still likes the family and wants to work out an arrangement over Tripp, whom he said he hasn’t seen in two weeks. “I don’t think either of us want to go and go to lawyers and try to fight for custody,” he said. But if the situation doesn’t change, “I think we’re going to have to.” Palin family spokeswoman Meghan Stapleton issued a statement on the Johnston interview, saying: “Bristol is focused on going to college, raising Tripp, and advocating abstinence.” However, in an interview earlier this year with Fox News, Bristol Palin said abstinence is “not realistic at all.” Levi Johnston agreed: “I think all teens, or most, are sexually active.”
Bombings leave 78 dead in Iraq
12-year-old boy faces charges for murder of infant brother
By Krishan Francis The Associated Press COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The more than 100,000 civilians pouring out of Sri Lanka’s war zone have included people with untreated blast, mine and gunshot wounds — prompting the U.N. chief on Thursday to order an expert team to assess the “rapidly deteriorating situation.” Doctors Without Borders warned that civilian casualties are rising in the zone where the military is trying to finish off a 25-year-old insurgency, while the government pleaded for humanitarian aid. “I saw infants with dysentery, malnourished children and women, untended wounds, and people dressed in the ragged clothing they’ve been wearing for months,”
measuring just five square miles still controlled by the ethnic separatist Tamil Tigers. Reports on life there are limited because reporters are not allowed. Weiss said no food has been delivered to the war zone since April 1. “The conditions are absolutely awful. The people are living with a shortage of food and medicines and subjected to artillery and small-arms fire,” he said. The U.N. Security Council has asked the Tamil Tigers to lay down their arms and join talks to end the civil war. The U.N. also urged the government to give international aid agencies access to those affected by the fighting. Since September, only the International Committee of the
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said Neil Buhne, the U.N. humanitarian coordinator, after returning from the northern town of Vauniya, where tens of thousands of people are kept in overcrowded government camps. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking to reporters in Brussels, said he would immediately send in a team of humanitarian experts to monitor the situation and “try to do whatever we can to protect the civilian population.” The government says 104,862 civilians have escaped the conflict since Monday. Some 170,000 to 180,000 civilians now live in the government camps, said Gordon Weiss, the U.N. spokesman in Colombo. An additional 15,000 to 20,000 civilians remain trapped in the coastal strip
t
Compiled from Associated Press reports
Abu Omar al-Baghdadi, the head of the Islamic State of Iraq, could mark a setback to insurgents as they try to intensify attacks after a relative lull. In the past, however, Iraqi officials have reported alBaghdadi’s arrest or killing, only to acknowledge later that they were wrong. The U.S. military has even said alBaghdadi could be a fictitious character used to give an Iraqi face to an organization dominated by foreign al-Qaida fighters. The U.S. military could not confirm the arrest, said spokesman 1st Lt. John A. Brimley. In 2007, Iraq’s government reported that al-Baghdadi had been killed and released photos of what it said
was his body. Later, security officials said they had arrested al-Baghdadi. In both cases, the U.S. military said at the time it could not be confirmed — and the reports turned out not to be true. The two attacks — along with a suicide blast that killed three Sunnis who joined the anti-insurgent fight north of Baghdad — made it the deadliest day in Iraq since March 8, 2008, when at least 110 people were killed. The carnage in Baghdad showed insurgents were still capable of hitting the center of the capital. The devastated restaurant, to the north in Diyala province, was a reminder that the area remains an insurgent stronghold despite sustained offensives by U.S.led forces.
UN sends expert team into Sri Lanka
Guadallupe S
HOUSTON — The family of a 12-year-old boy accused of killing a 10-month-old baby by throwing him to the floor says the boy is innocent. They blame the baby’s 7-year-old brother. Officials say the 12-year-old was left alone last month at a Houston home with a group of younger children by the mothers of the two sets of kids. The other kids said they saw the 12-year-old throw the baby on the floor. But a spokesman for the 12-yearold’s family said Thursday the baby’s 7-year-old sibling held his little brother, who had been crying, and threw him down the stairs in the house. The 12-year-old is being held on a charge of capital murder.
olence in past years, but it has undermined confidence that Iraq’s security gains were on solid footing at a time when the U.S. military is shifting its focus and resources to Afghanistan. Thursday’s attacks happened as American soldiers who specialize in clearing bombs from roads boarded a plane from Iraq to the Taliban heartland in southern Afghanistan, part of the largest movement of personnel and equipment between the two war fronts. Iraqi authorities, meanwhile, say they have struck back at the heart of the insurgency: claiming they arrested one of the most wanted leaders of a militant network linked to al-Qaida. The reported capture of
By Brian Murphy The Associated Press BAGHDAD — Suicide bomb blasts tore through crowds waiting for food aid in central Baghdad and inside a roadside restaurant filled with Iranian pilgrims Thursday, killing at least 78 people in Iraq’s deadliest day in more than a year. The toll — at least 31 dead in Baghdad and 47 to the north in Diyala province — follows a series of high-profile attacks this month blamed on Sunni insurgents. The violence highlights potential security gaps as Iraqi forces increasingly take the lead role from U.S. forces in protecting Baghdad and key areas around the capital. The insurgent push is still nowhere near the scale of vi-
Red Cross has had access. Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said the government was working to grant more access to those who had left the war zone, but that will depend on the security situation. The Red Cross evacuated 350 wounded to a hospital outside the war zone Wednesday, and another evacuation was planned for Thursday, Red Cross spokeswomen Sarasi Wijeratne said. Only two ill-equipped, makeshift hospitals function in the war zone. Dr. Thangamuttu Sathyamurthi said his staff is struggling with a medicine shortage. Both the government and the rebels deny targeting civilians, but the U.N. estimates more than 4,500 have been killed in the past three months.
Somali men stand trial for attacking Liberian fr
MOMBASA, Kenya — T mali men, accused in a pira on a Liberian freighter, filed ly into the wood-paneled c magistrate took one look at dingy shirts, jackets and sa two were barefoot — and o court official to make sure “dressed properly” next tim Amid proposals for an in tional tribunal to tackle pir nya is implementing agree with the European Union a United States by putting th on trial, even if they are cau the high seas by other natio have not attacked Kenyan Thursday’s hearing was t court appearance for the me were tracked down by Frenc mandos and seized April 15 their skiffs in waters off Som lawless epicenter of the flou rate industry off the Horn of The pirate suspects had marched off a French frigat Wednesday and handed ov thorities in this Kenyan por Magistrate Catherine Mw journed their case until a b ing May 27. They will rema Mombasa jail until then.
North Korea decides to two indicted US journa
SEOUL, South Korea — Korea said Friday it formal cided to indict two U.S. jou arrested on its border with more than a month ago. Laura Ling and Euna Le nalists working for former President Al Gore’s San Fra based Current TV, were arr ter they allegedly crossed t from China on March 17 w porting on North Korean re North Korean media did n mediately detail charges und dictments, but said last mont women reporters would be p al on charges of illegal entry specified “hostile acts.”
Compiled from Associated Pres
OpiniOn
4A Friday, April 24, 2009
Editor in Chief: Leah Finnegan Phone: (512) 232-2212 E-mail: editor@dailytexanonline Associate Editors: Audrey Campbell Josh Haney Jillian Sheridan Abby Terrell Mary Tuma
T he Daily T exan
GaLLERy
VIEWPOINT
An open race? On Tuesday, the Austin Chronicle hosted a candidate forum it dubbed the “Hustle for Mayor.” The forum featured mayoral candidates Lee Leffingwell and Brewster McCracken in an informal discussion at the Mohawk downtown. But Leffingwell and McCracken are not the only candidates running for mayor. The three other candidates did not participate in the event. One of them, however, Josiah Ingalls, a housekeeper at the Hilton Austin, was not invited to participate but talked his way onto the stage where, according the Burnt Orange Report, he tried to “push his agenda of mental health services and poverty.” Burnt Orange Report called out the Chronicle for failing to invite candidates who were out of the mainstream to the event, writing, “The ultimate viability of any entity is not in its corporate support, or its over-stocked qualifications or even its electability, but its ability to be there, real and alive.” Wells Dunbar, the Chronicle political writer, challenged that definition of a viable candidate in his response to Burnt Orange Report, arguing, “Ingalls may be a well-intentioned dude, but that simply doesn’t qualify him to be an instant mayor, nor even a competent candidate. ... If he was elected tomorrow, do you think the homeless would be one iota better off, or would the entire city be thrown into disarray because he wouldn’t know the first thing about what he was doing?” What is the responsibility of a newspaper when covering an election as full of oddballs and misfits as Austin itself? We’ve pondered this question throughout the last week as we put together our own endorsements. Is a candidate without a college education or any government experience really qualified to serve as mayor of Austin? Absolutely not. Does that mean he is not worthy of our time and consideration? Also no. Candidates like Ingalls bring life to local elections. And as a representative of the grossly underrepresented citizens below the poverty level, Ingalls especially brings ideas to the race that would never occur to the bourgeois, Ivy League-educated corporate yuppie-types on the ballot. In his interview with us last Monday, Ingalls said he feels that his participation in the campaign has sparked discussion among other candidates about the problems confronting Austin’s poor. He said he has been inspired by the realization that even if he can’t win, he can make a difference. We hope he is right. Citizens have the right to speak up for their causes as candidates for political office. If their issues and their plans strike a chord with voters, then they have a right to serve in that office, no matter how short their resumes may be. For us, a lack of education is too serious to overlook when selecting a mayor. But we will not exclude Ingalls and his ideas from our coverage as irrelevant. We’re not ready to hand him the key to the city, but we are thrilled to hand him a microphone. Our endorsements will be released Tuesday. — Jillian Sheridan for the editorial board
GaLLERy
THE FIRING LINE a little mayoral flair, please? After watching the April 22 mayoral debate, I’m glad I chanced upon the broadcast and consequently won’t be casting my vote on the basis of the alliteration in “Lee Leffingwell,” Brewster McCracken’s rumored youth or either candidate’s ubiquitous campaign signs. Both of the “front-runners” were maddeningly boring — neither had any rhetorical substance or power, and both refused to engage in any meaningful debate, instead vaunting their endorsements, associations and weak claims of achievement. The mayor of Austin must not be a boring person. As the personal relation of Austin — its chief ambassador to federal, state and other, local governments — the mayor must command rhetorical power and an audience’s attention, be they one or 1,000. The mayor will have to compellingly present the case that Austin should be the recipient of federal and state grant monies, that businesses or entire industries should consider Austin as a base for long-term growth, and all the while do so in a manner that accurately reflects the character and values, diverse though they are, of our city. While Carole Keeton Strayhorn skewered Leffingwell and McCracken repeatedly on substantive issues, neither offered rebuttals and both spoke with such mundanity as to cause me to think they were operating in some kind of super-gravity environment. Still, Strayhorn is far from able to represent the best of Austin, simply in light of her status as an entrenched poltico with immense baggage. At the end of the day, businessman David Butross was able to make the most compelling case for the mayoral position. His views were informed on a street level: He has real exposure to issues facing Austin and real experience in dealing with them. Butross’ approach to goverment promises a more disciplined, goal-oriented direction absent the mired, chimeric and collosally uninteresting brain farts the “front-runners” chronically produce.
Trey Brown Philosophy senior
To secede or not to secede Your April 20 secession article never really did address the legal issue beyond saying that there was “a document” somewhere that prohibited it (“Talk of secession raises questions of legality, sparks media rumpus”). It’d
Those who can, teach
Educational inequality is the greatest civil rights issue t try faces. Slavery and institutionalized discrimination are By Merrit Martin without true equality of opportunity, that de jure equality Daily Texan Columnist It is even more dangerous to the social fabric of our country tant oppression, in fact, because it conceals the underlying ties in a shroud of legality and self-congratulation. Withou Some liberal arts majors have known since birth that they want to the American educational system will be only a means to be doctors, lawyers or college professors. For the rest of us, the job privilege for a few while pretending that it provides oppor search facing us after four years is the source of some anxiety. When all. And without teachers dedicated to their students, no t we were filling out our college applications, we might have harbored reforms will have any effect. some romantic notion of following our academic passions during our Truly equal educational opportunity is vital to promote r time in school, indulging in Shakespeare and Plato and Rousseau and social equality in this country. But all students, rich and poo then magically emerging as fine upstanding citizens, ready to make good schools, effective teachers and access to a quality ed a difference and change the world and do great things. Then we got Teachers certainly aren’t the only things that determine stud to the career fairs and realized that we would more than likely have ucational outcomes, but they are important. In choosing to t to settle awkwardly into the business world or the show students that their lives are imp public sector after all. Or we’d have to teach. That you — that their lives are important, per was the perennial option. As Nelson Mandela said, educatio And yet, at least for many of my liberal arts most powerful weapon you can use t peers, the thought of a teaching career came off Teaching isn’t an the world. And there are many things as an admission of defeat. Should they take their unfortunate back-up do to help. If you’re willing to give a c degrees straight back into the classroom, they’d plan. hours a week, you can tutor students a be resigning themselves to the same meaningarea schools; teach an adult reading clas less existences as their old teachers. They would acy Austin, a local non-profit; or mentor not change the world. They would not do great at KIPP, a charter school dedicated to im things. achievement for underserved students. I I’ve been planning since high school to be an educator, and these attitudes have always irritated me. Granted, willing to give a whole summer, teach for Breakthrough C teaching isn’t for most people, but everyone should recognize that tive, where high schoolers and undergraduates help midd education is of the utmost importance to people’s lives. Aside from students prepare for college. If you are willing to give two the truisms that attest to education’s importance in creating democ- your life, consider Teach For America, which places talente racies, innumberable studies have shown that greater educational at- ates in classrooms in some of the nation’s most underserved tainment is linked to higher incomes and better health — and health nities. And if you’re willing to spend your entire career in room — well, you’re probably already in UTeach or majori is one of the top predictors of overall life satisfaction. Countless studies also have shown that access to quality educa- ucation. Reports suggest that up to a third of the teaching corps co tion in the U.S. is far from universal. In its 2008 report, “The Condition of Education,” the National Center for Education Statistics within the next four years and that America’s classrooms notes that “gaps in achievement and high school and college grad- all the new talent they can get. Not everyone is meant to t uation rates between white and minority students continue.” Drop- those who do will have a daily opportunity to do great thin out rates for African-Americans and Latinos continue to be higher make great money). Teaching isn’t an unfortunate back-up than those for whites, too. The report also found that in 2004, only a way to promote equality, inspire young people and open about half of low-income status 12th graders expected to gradu- those in need. ate from college, compared with 87 percent of high-income status Martin is a Spanish and religious studies sophomore. seniors.
demonstrated that the secession of 1861 had been legal after all. Gov. Rick Perry can say what he likes. If Texas ever did secede, it would be the voters of the state, not he, who would make that decision. But to write the secession talk off as more partisan bickering is, I think, shortsighted. There are many people of all persuasions both angry and fearful of all these bailouts. In the ’80s, a trillion-dollar debt seemed insane, but now we’re staring at a trillion-dollar deficit. Everyone knows we can’t indefinitely spend beyond our means without it catching up to us, but no one seems to care as long as his or her own party doesn’t get the blame for it. The media has been warning us for years about the dangers of an everincreasing debt but has gone silent recently. Why should bad policy suddenly become good policy just because a different party controls the White House? You can try to argue that we’re spending money we don’t have on good things now instead of bad things, but the key point in that is that we’re spending money we don’t have. I do not want to secede, but I can envision scenarios where I might change my mind. And one of those scenarios involves the federal government flatly refusing to even try to get its economic house in order until the day it all comes crashing down.
Graeme Cree Online reader
Micromanaging abortion? I am not one to agree with the ACLU or its leadership very often, but Texas executive director Terri Burke unwittingly says something intelligent (“Controversial bills debated in committee,” April 22). “Many women are forced to have this procedure,” she says, failing to specify whether she means “abortion” or “viewing a sonogram.” I suppose she probably means the latter, but then why use “many” instead of “all?” Regardless of her intentions, she does bring up a point that NARAL, Planned Parenthood, NOW and all the other pro-abortion ilk try to keep quiet: that more than a few women are coerced into abortions by their families or significant others. Why else would Nancy Keenan, NARAL’s president, state in an address given here at UT that the choice should be “up to the woman, her doctor, her family and her God?” This, after decades of ranting that the “choice” should be solely up to the woman — a position that experience has proven untenable. No, Burke has (probably unintentionally) brought up an excellence point: that more often than not, there are plenty of people “behind the scenes” who are pressuring the woman into having an abortion.
are willing to “help” the woman make “her” choice to kill her unb child, why not have a bill that requires any people named by the w view the sonogram with her? If it is her family or significant other pressuring or even coercing her into choosing abortion, if they ens she is not alone in choosing death, why should she be alone in see life which will soon be snuffed out?
JC Physics graduat
Horowitz no better than a cable talk show host
The irony in David Horowitz’s “Academic Freedom Bill” is tha conservative attempting to use government power to promote ide have been rejected in the open academic marketplace. Under the g of “intellectual pluralism” and “academic diversity,” Horowitz de equal respect for theories that cannot earn it on their own merit. H demand that “individual scholars are left free to reach their own c sions about which methods, facts and theories have been validated research” is a very anti-conservative call to intellectual relativism. This stubborn unwillingness or inability of conservatives to ada demia is why universities appear to have an liberal bias and is the activists like Horowitz exist. How can conservatives claim abstine education is effective in the face of overwhelming counter evidenc they proclaim that data are in the eye of the beholder? How else c reconcile the flood myth with geology or paleontology but by und the very idea of knowledge itself? For these reasons, Horowitz is nothing but a dishonest agitator comes to the topic of academic reform. He does not have a serious in improving schools, or he wouldn’t be running a traveling Jerry tour through any university willing to host him. Rather he wants tional instruction to resemble one of his cable television appearanc one is as correct as one is loud and obnoxious, facts be damned. If went to Horowitz’s event and saw the tone of his supporters and testers against him, then you got a small taste of the reform he esp
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Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the edito
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News
Friday, April 24, 2009
Professors predict retiring members of Supreme Court
By Matt Stephens Daily Texan Staff Serious changes could be made to the Supreme Court during President Barack Obama’s administration, two government professors said during a panel at Batts Hall on Thursday night. Sarah Weddington, an adjunct government professor, said she believes as many as three Supreme Court justices could retire during Obama’s administration, including Ruth Bader Ginsburg, John Paul Stevens and David Souter, all of whom are considered among the liberal wing of the court. Ginsburg, 76, was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, while Stevens — the oldest member of the Supreme Court at 89 — has had health problems as well, Weddington said. She said she believes Souter is unhappy in Washington and could retire to go home to New Hampshire. “Justice Souter doesn’t like Washington, but I just don’t believe that someone gives up the Supreme Court just because they don’t like the town,” Weddington said. this coun- With the current division of over. Butfour conservatives, four liberals is a farce.and the tie-breaking ninth jusy than bla-tice, Anthony Kennedy, Wedg inequali-dington said every seat is imut reform,portant and could effect the o preserveSupreme Court’s makeup and rtunity forhow it votes. top-down Associate government professor H.W. Perry Jr. said liberal justices might consider retiring racial and now with a more liberal presior, deserve dent in office, but he said there ducation. are more things to consider bedents’ ed-yond the political affiliation of a teach, younew justice. portant to “Most people begin talking riod. on is the to change s you can couple of at Austinss at Litera student mproving If you are Collaboradle school o years of ed gradud commuthe classing in ed-
about alignment in the court — more conservative or liberal — but those of us who study [the Supreme Court] know that it’s more complicated than that,” Perry said. He said Obama is considering several candidates in the event that a justice were to retire, including Sonia Sotomayor, a justice on the U.S. Court of Appeals; Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a Democrat; and Solicitor General Elena Kagan, former dean of the Harvard Law School. Perry said that their race, gender and position should all be taken into consideration. “There’s been a real change in the makeup of who makes it to the Supreme Court,” Perry said. He said many suggest Obama will take someone unaffiliated with the federal judiciary, branching from the current trend of picking from within the system. Perry said many past Supreme Court justices who have made serious impacts were not judges prior to their appointments. With issues such as affirmative action, gay marriage and statutory interpretation all ripe for discussion in the Supreme Court, Perry said he thinks a new justice would sway the vote on important social issues. Government senior Garrick Smith said he thinks it is important that students understand why Obama’s administration could change the face of the Supreme Court so that they can make educated decisions when voting for their legislators. “For an unelected body, [the Supreme Court] has a tremendous impact on our rights and our structure of American government,” he said.
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UT teams up with AISD middle scho Experimental program focuses new curriculum on technology, teamwork By Molly Triece Daily Texan Staff Parents of Martin Middle School students were introduced Thursday night to New Tech, a proposed East Austin middleschool program that would pool resources from UT and the Austin Independent School District. The partnership would give Martin Middle School the opportunity to facilitate the program, which centers the curriculum around technology and teamwork rather than test preparation. UT would get the opportunity to provide UTeach students with hands-on classroom experience. The UTeach program allows math, science and liberal arts majors to obtain teacher certification while completing their
Astronauts reflect on historic Apollo 8
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Paul Chouy | Daily Texan Staff
Former NBC News anchor Jim Hartz, left, hosts a discussion with Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell and William Anders in honor of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Centennial and the 50th C Sandersanniversary of the creation of NASA. te student
The three astronauts who flew the Apollo 8 mission shared their experiences Thursday at the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum. “I was quite pleased to be an Air Force officer at he is a eas that and to have the chance to be a part of Apollo 8,” said William Anders, the mission’s lunar-module guise emands pilot. The crew members described what it felt like to be His conclu- weightless. d by
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“You can do things with the push of a finger,” said James Lovell, the command-module pilot for the mission. “It’s a nice environment.” Frank Borman, the mission commander, described his appreciation for his crewmates. “I had complete confidence in these two people,” Borman said. “I couldn’t have had a better crew than Jim and Bill.”
— Jonathan Babin
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undergraduate degrees. “It’s still just being discussed as a proposal,” said Deb Duval, director of UT’s Division of Diversity & Community Engagement. At the community meeting, Paul Cruz, the district’s assistant superintendent for education services, outlined the areas of the proposal that are already mapped out. “At the core is a student-centered project and problem-based teaching strategy that is tied to both content standards and school-wide learning outcomes,” Cruz said. Cruz highlighted the increasing significance of technology and its importance in students’ education at Martin Middle School. “We engage students in learning and let them interact and let them do the research, and the teacher facilitates that learning,” Cruz said. Under the New Tech program, students would be provided with
resources such as individual mini-laptops to do their own research. Cruz said the quality of the program is central, because it keeps each student actively involved and cuts back on any detachment from the classroom atmosphere. When Thursday’s meeting opened to questions, parents expressed concern over several issues, from what would happen to the school’s current curriculum to whether courses in government would be included in the program. Joe Moore, who has taught at Martin for the past 14 years, said he eagerly anticipates the program. He also expressed concern that other middle schools might start competing for the program. “You will get lobbied from every part of town,” Moore said. Cruz assured the parents and teachers that the program would be implemented at the school and said discussions are being
held to gather commun port to garner the schoo approval. The program implemented in fall 201 earliest, Cruz said. “We are completely same page when we ta community,” said Greg UT’s vice president for and community engagem is our mission to connec sources of the Universi needs of the community. The UT Elementary S located in the same area tin Middle School and feed students into the p program. Any resources ed on the New Tech p would benefit students ready attended a UT ins Vincent said. “This is a wonderful o nity for leveraging our es,” Vincent said. “Make take: AISD is the best sc trict in the country, and a horn, we will continue those partnerships.”
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University to unveil statue honoring Barbara Jorda Memorial to commemorate dedication to community, commitment to civil rights By Jonathan Babin Daily Texan Staff The University will unveil a bronze statue of Barbara Jordan today, marking the first time a woman will be honored with a statue on campus. Jordan, who was the first black woman from Texas to serve in Congress, also taught at the LBJ School of Public Affairs from 1979 until her death in 1996. “I think the women who came up with the idea were really on target when they looked around the campus and didn’t see themselves depicted,� said Sherri Sanders, the director of the statue project. “They felt they needed to see a strong female leader, and I feel Barbara Jordan was the perfect selection.� The ceremony, which will be held by the Battle Oaks at 24th
Street and Whitis Avenue, celebrates the career and life of a woman who inspired many during her career as a politician and teacher. “From my perspective as a student, she was a champion of students,� said Dera Barlow, a government senior who cochaired the project. “Her statue will represent everything that was her. I feel like it is intertwined with my own legacy now as a student at UT.� Seven years ago, the incoming class of the Orange Jackets, a women’s service organization, chose Barbara Jordan to be honored with a statue for her status as a role model who has made a difference to people in Texas and at the University, said Leslie Blair, a spokeswoman for the division of diversity and community engagement. The statue of Jordan joins other Austin tributes to the former congresswoman, including a sculpture at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport and
an artist’s rendering at Kinsolving Dormitory. “While she was here [at UT], she really did impact everyone she came into contact with,� Barlow said. “They saw her everywhere on campus and around Austin. I think that’s why she has had such a strong influence.� Jordan, who was an advocate for civil rights, gained recognition for her commanding speeches during the Watergate hearings and was the first African-American to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. “I think having someone who was a role model for so many and who really gave a voice to the voiceless and had such an incredible sense of ethics was important,� Sanders said. “I think with it being the first female statue, we really wanted to choose someone who was not only a role model for the UT community but also for the state of Texas.�
Jacqueline Gilles | Daily
Biology sophomore John Williams practices unveiling the Barbara Jordan statue with fellow students ceremony in front of the Union on Thursday afternoon.
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By Avi Selk Daily Texan Staff Police are searching for two North Austin men suspected of raping and prostituting an 11-year-old girl last year. An arrest warrant was issued this month for Fernando Luna, a 20-year-old gang member who police say kept the girl in his house for months, drugging her and renting her out to as many as 50 men in exchange for cash. Police also have a warrant out for Joel Vega, 20, a former house painter who they suspect was one of the first to rape the girl. The victim, currently in the custody of Child Protective Services, has told her therapist what she can remember of a nightmarish yearlong ordeal. “This case is extremely rare,� said Sgt. Raul Ortegon of the Austin Police Department’s child abuse unit. “We see it and we think, ‘Oh my god.� The girl, a U.S.-born Hispanic with a history of sexual abuse, lived with her mother and attended school in Austin until early last year, when she ran away from home. “She was growing up like a regular girl. Then it got ugly,� said Detective Tina Schaan, the investigator on the case. The girl lived on the streets until some time last spring, police said, when she and a friend showed up at Vega’s duplex near Reagan High School to buy marijuana. Schaan said Vega raped the girl that day and later introduced her to Luna, who took her into his house near Interstate Highway 35 and E. St. John’s Avenue. Luna allegedly forced the girl to have sex with him and various paying clients he brought over, threatening to put her back on the street if she refused, Schaan said. “Where’s she going to go?� Schaan said. “She’s 11. She’s a runaway. She doesn’t think like you and me.� Police started running across the girl in the fall — even discovering her in a car with Luna at one point. They suspected she was being abused but said she wouldn’t share any information. The girl was finally turned
o v e r t o C h i l d P ro Services in October a was discovered passed North Austin parking Once off the street of Luna’s house, the g telling her story to he pist. But the only na remembered of the d men she said raped h Luna’s and Vega’s, w knew as “Pingua.�
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Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Bit of back-andforth 5 “___ Warning” (“Das Rheingold” aria) 10 “Yeah … whatever!” 14 Cherry ___ 15 It goes a long way before the Olympics 16 ___ Independent Press Awards 17 Their parts are usually unusual 20 Hero, to some 21 Name on a Chinese menu 22 You don’t want them to be dashed 23 Took a course? 24 Surreal beginning? 25 Surreal ending? 26 A person who’s short might run to it
28 Some Windows systems 29 Comparison component 32 Not merely having wet clothes 39 Later 40 Provide what’s missing 41 Faline’s mother in “Bambi” 42 Fathers and sons 43 Heat on the street 44 Series standout, briefly 47 Apnea specialist: Abbr. 48 One of a pair of mice in “Cinderella” 50 Oscar nominee for “Stand and Deliver,” 1988 52 Abbr. on a residential street sign
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE L E G S
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53 Very big 56 Just know 59 Can 60 Less formal 61 Dreaded letters for a procrastinator? 62 Reason for parental scolding 63 Basket on a court 64 Coastal bird
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Down 1 Letters on old Russian maps 2 Chocolaty treat 3 They include amaretto and sloe gin 4 The Emperor, The Empress or The High Priest 5 Condensation indication 6 As bad as can be 7 Get all dapper 8 Very close, in a way 9 Al Green’s “___La-La (Make Me Happy)” 10 Jam ingredients 11 1984 Talking Heads concert film and hit album 12 Dictator’s opening 13 Utter guilt, with “up” 18 Assembly call 19 46-Down preceder 26 “___ Place,” 1971 Orson Welles movie
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37 Schubert’s “The ___ King” 38 Stopping point: Abbr. 45 Crop-damaging animals 46 19-Down follower 48 Lot 49 German diver 50 Wastes
51 Royal from the planet Alderaan 54 Cauterize 55 It shows many matches 57 Grp. with East and West divisions 58 Tabasco title: Abbr.
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
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Roth takes the prize for worst rapper From page 6B video games, as if someone took the soundtrack to “PacMan” and told her to put the most ridiculously bad rapping she could think of over it. Without a doubt, she did just that. I think when I play “Mario,” I’ll just stick to the music that’s already there. Thanks anyway. Now, I’m not saying Lady Sovereign is the worst rapper on the planet — Asher Roth is making a strong case for himself with the idiotically simple “I Love College” — but Jigsaw is more ridiculous than the cover for Eminem’s upcoming Relapse. Lady Sovereign hit the brown note with such frequency and rapidity in the album that it might literally be impossible for me to listen to music for at least a month. What a futher mucker.
meal: Yummy
brunch foods for the happily hungover soul MOONSHINE from page 6B running, I feel like I am being blasphemous by saying that I find the food ordinary. Not terrible by any means, but unexceptional. For about $16 you get to choose an assortment of dishes, from Green Egg Scramble to deviled eggs, but I was hardpressed to find one out of the selection that could shock and awe me like Enoteca’s polenta and Eastside’s eggs benedict. I have to say that the best items were the simpler ones such as the vegetable omelette, where the fresh ingredients managed to overcome the lack of inspiration. It wasn’t all mediocre, mind you. The service was impeccable, the Bloody Marys and mimosas will only cost you $3.50 and the genuine southern atmosphere cannot be surpassed. If Saturday night has left you devilishly hungry and you’re looking for a place that can provide you limitless pancakes, grits and breakfast casseroles for a fairly moderate price, then Moonshine will be your best bet. 303 Red River St. Brunch hours: Sunday, 10 a.m.2:30 p.m.
Napalm Death bucks corporate conformi Metal band makes epic changes to create the hard grindcore genre By Andy O’Connor Daily Texan Staff “Multinational Corporations,” the first song on Napalm Death’s groundbreaking debut, Scum, only had two simple lyrics: “Multinational corporations/genocide of the starving nations.” That very song established the U.K. grindcore band’s anti-corporate stance, so what the hell was the band doing at an event sponsored by Scion in 2008? Napalm Death played a free South by Southwest day party, which was also sponsored by Vice magazine, at Stubb’s with Motorhead, Enslaved and High on Fire. Free Motorhead sounds awesome (and it was), but vocalist Barney Greenway claims that he wasn’t aware of the Scion connection until he arrived at the venue. He and the rest of the band are extremely skeptical about corporate-sponsored events. “Corporations are always quick to jump on things where they think they can find a market,” Greenway said. “I don’t want to be anyone’s corporate spokesman.” While the members of Napalm Death all shun the 9-to-5 lifestyle, Greenway hesitates to call the band an escape from the real world. “I’ve never been the boy in the bubble. I’ve always known where I’m at,” Greenway said. “For me, it’s a purpose. It’s not an alternate reality.” Grindcore has always maintained an anti-corporate stance, probably because Napalm Death had a hand in inventing the genre. Despite its common association with death metal, grindcore arose from hardcore punk, taking the tempos to their logical limits. Three minutes is considered a long song, and structures are either loose or nonexistent. Both of
EASTSIDE from page 6B holland-aise sauce. I thought it was the most savory breakfast dish I had ever had, that is, until I had Eastside’s eggs benedict. The eggs benedict plate was essentially the Blue Plate Special with muffins and ham replacing the smoked salmon and shrimp cake base. Despite the removal of the opulent ingredients, the ham’s palatability and the muffin’s consistency allowed the no-frills eggs benedict to overshadow the Blue Plate Special. It just goes to show how far a simple but well-made dish can go. 2113 Manor Road
Napalm Death’s Embur Herrera Greenw Mitch H clockw top, pla rock Em outdoo Sunday
Courtesy Nepalm
ture of Napalm Death’s music, but he uses music as a way “of dealing with human situations as an alternative to violence.” “If we can’t deal with stuff by taking common-sense routes and diplomatic routes between ourselves, then I really think we still got a lot to learn,” he said.
Metal fans do tend to lean toward the conservative end of the political spectrum, and while Greenway finds that peculiar, he realizes that a genre is not always associated with one mode of political thinking. “All music is a microcosm of wider society,” he said.
WHAT: Napalm Death with Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Toxic Ho WHERE: Emo’s WHEN: Sunday
PRICE: $15 advance, $
indie: Allen debuts yearly movie; Cera charms yet aga From page 6B
‘The Girlfriend Experience’ — May 22
Courtesy
oductions of 29 29 Pr
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Sundance and will be available On can hate more than the Nazi Party, and zombies are the perfect creaDemand on Thursday. tures to have all kinds of gory havoc wrecked upon them. With its ‘Moon’ — June 12 tongue is planted firmly in cheek, Sam Rockwell is great in every the film and looks to be a good role he plays. Seriously, every role. time for all who loved “Shaun of Add Rockwell, some Kevin Spacey the Dead.” as the voice of a robot and Duncan Jones, David Bowie’s son, to the mix, and something good is bound ‘Whatever Works’ — June 19 Woody Allen is back with his to come of it. Rockwell plays an astronaut finishing up a three- requisite film (he’s been making year stint on the moon accompa- a film a year since “Annie Hall”), nied only by GERTY, his computer but this time he’s got a new weap(voiced by Spacey). Just as his tour on. Allen has cast everyone’s favorof duty is about to wrap up, things ite misanthrope Larry David as his start to get strange, and Rockwell’s lead, and Evan Rachel Wood is the latest young ingenue with daddy sanity is brought into question. issues to be featured in one of his films. ‘Dead Snow’ — June 12
Steven Soderbergh has blazed a trail as a truly unique director. With a filmmaking strategy that walks the line between commercial and art house, Soderbergh has been able to hop back and forth between big-budget studio films and micro-budget indie films with continued success in both arenas. “The Girlfriend Experience” is a day in the life of a high-end call girl, played by porn star There are really only two words Sasha Grey. The largely that need to be said concern- ‘The Hurt Locker’ — July 10 improvised film got great ing “Dead Snow”: Nazi zombies. Back in the early ’90s, Kathreviews when it played at There are not many things one ryn Bigelow forever changed
ENOTECA from page 6B hours making sure these pancakes left the kitchen flawless. In fact, the Enoteca chefs are so confident in their pancakes that they send them out pre-drizzled with the Vermont maple syrup and do not offer any other source for extra syrup unless requested. Trust me, you won’t need to. If the pancakes are not enough, I strongly recommend the a la carte Anderson Mill toasted corn polenta ($4). Who would have thought that boiled cornmeal, basically grain mush, could taste so exquisite? Freshly grounded and mixed into cheesy and buttery perfection, it is by far Enoteca’s best side. 1610 S. Congress Ave. Brunch hours: Sunday, 10 a.m.– 3 p.m.
these factors account for avantgarde composer John Zorn’s early support of the genre. Upon initial listens, it may come off as a blur of noise, but there are intricacies and influences from other genres — you just have to look for them. “Napalm is a mish-mash of many different things,” Greenway said, citing American death metal, European hardcore and the band Swans as influences. Extreme music is intentionally polarizing — why shouldn’t it be? Ironically, while many bands have no problem talking about such James Dobson-approved topics as sodomizing Jesus or nuclear holocausts, somehow politics tend to be a taboo subject. Napalm Death, throughout its career, has always made political and social issues a staple of its lyrics. While Greenway does understand most metal listeners’ disdain for modern politics, he said Napalm Death is not about supporting candidates or parties. “For me, it’s more about free thought, it’s more about humanitarianism,” he said. “Every system, in the end, if it’s suppressing people and suppressing their wills and desires, then it’s not a good thing.” Napalm Death believes in liberation and learning to cooperate with humanity, as opposed to dividing, fighting and killing each other. As such, some of its songs railing against power can be applied to religion. Greenway, an atheist, is critical of organized religion’s influence over society. “How is it that we can’t believe in ourselves, that we can’t trust ourselves to go through life being happy, tolerant and peaceful?” Greenway asked. “Isn’t it more liberating to know your own mind, to know you don’t need a third party to justify your life?” He clarified that people “do have the freedom to believe, and that’s absolutely cool with me.” Greenway identifies himself as a pacifist, which may not make much sense given the violent na-
y of Fir
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cinema with a little film “Point Break.” Never be bank robbing, presidents Swayze and surfing be bined in such a frenetic, manner. Jeremy Renner the head of an elite bomb Iraq. The two-minute tra tense that it’s tough to ev ine how nerve-racking t film will be.
‘Paper Heart’ — Augus
Charlyne Yi doesn’t b love, but Michael Cera is change all of that. The t couple in real life and h for quite some time, whic “Paper Heart” somethi anomaly. Yi set out to ma umentary about love, and meta twist, Cera pops u vide some loving. Th looks adorable. Yes, I did the word “adorable.”
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Life&Arts Editor: Ana McKenzie E-mail: lifeandarts@dailytexanon Phone: (512) 232-2209 www.dailytexanonline.com
T he Daily T exan
Luminous fashion to hit the runway By Amber Genuske Daily Texan Staff The designs are complete. The models are chosen. The garments are fitted. The runway is set. Years of dedication and months of planning have prepared the textiles and apparel seniors for their last college experience: the fashion show. This year’s show, called Luminous, is organized by the University Fashion Group and will be held at the Erwin Center. Petra Lampertz, a textiles and apparel senior and head of production for the fashion group, said the group wanted a word that would evoke a special kind of imagery. “Luminous is bright and fresh, and it encompasses a broad spectrum of things,” she said. Planning for the show began more than a year ago to prepare for the professional fashion show, and the group worked closely with lecturers Karen Bravo and Eve Nicols to coordinate the event. The fashion organization is in charge of much of the planning, from designing the runway to booking models, to running the backstage during the show and more. “It takes a lot of hard work from everyone in UFG, the seniors and our teachers,” Lampertz said. “It takes organization and passion to make this event a huge success, which is so exciting.” More than 20 seniors will present their work, which consists of a bridal or evening gown and a collection of three cohesive looks. A panel of designers, fashion journalists and retail workers judged each piece as it was finished throughout the semester. Those results will be calculated, and awards will be presented to collections for various categories, including innovation and marketability. With the help of the University Co-op and donations from companies, the fashion show has gained widespread recognition, with nearly 5,000 in attendance last year. Instead of using volunteer models, the University Fash-
thE BRown notE
Lady Soverei fails to rule th rap persuasio
Artist hits a foul note with disappo album that fails like a ‘futher muc
By Robert Rich Daily Texan Staff My freshman year, I ran across that son Me or Hate Me” by Lady Sovereign. I didn ularly enjoy it, but the horribly catchy natu tune ensured that it would take up residen head and never leave. There are even tapes from my old tape that contain the sounds of my roommate an reating the song. A bit nerdy, yes, but we’d g and play the tape at a faster speed to hear munk voices. Oh, how times have changed Now comes the baffling part. When I did search on Lady Sovereign, I discovered she tual “rapper” who has several albums and s her name.
She introduced herself and spo like a dyslexic person!
Maxx Scholten | Daily Texan Staff
textiles and apparel students and members of the University Fashion Group set up the stage and displays for their end-of-the-year fashion show to be held tonight. ion Group is able to hire professionals from Webber Productions. In addition, Sephora and Pink Salon and Gallery contribute workers, cosmetics and hair styling services for the evening. “It is academically like a reallife project,” Nicols said. “They
learn a lot, and they grow a lot to be able to put this event on.” The pre-runway exposition will display projects from various levels of the textiles and apparel program as well as an exhibit of the School of Human Ecology’s historical fashion collection.
WHAT: Luminous Fashion Show WHERE: Frank Erwin Center WHEN: Tonight, 8 p.m.; prerunway exposition at 6:30 p.m. ADMISSION: Free
Yet deep down, a part of me still believed gimmick, some ridiculous advertising cam Burger King or the like. To my dismay, Sov still around and putting out records. In fac this month her album Jigsaw dropped, and, or not, it still sucks. The sheer fact that Sovereign decided should be her genre of choice is a strike ag already. I don’t know who told her otherw “the biggest midget in the game,” as she call may be the worst rhymesmith in said game The title track boasts of the intellectuall line “My heart is like a jigsaw puzzle/pick fix it for me.” You just can’t teach that kin cism, ladies and gentlemen. There’s also an insanely clever bit from t duction to “Pennies” that finds Sovereign “Yeah futher muckers, it’s Lady Sovereign. troduced herself and spoke like a dyslexic Oh, that crazy girl. The overall feel of the album is one o
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The greatest brunch joints to cure your weekend hangover munchi Eastside Cafe
It’s Sunday afternoon, and you wake up with a headache. The previous night is just a blur. Somewhere in the realm of haziness and lucidity, you feel the familiar tightening at the pit of your stomach, and then a low grumbling reverberates throughout your body. Stuck in a proverbial limbo between breakfast and lunch, what do you do when your body craves breakfast food and the McDonald’s morning menu ended hours ago?
The answer, of course, is brunch. Brunch touts some of the greatest — and greasiest — comfort foods and is not only man’s greatest hangover cure, but it is also a throwback to a simpler time. Here are some of my favorite Austin brunch spots to help you rediscover the beauty and simplicity of an old American tradition. — Emma Tran
Enoteca Vespaio
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Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill Emily Kinsolving | Daily Texan Staff
Eastside Cafe’s Blue Plate Special includes charming brunch delicacies for $13.95. Eastside Cafe is quaint. From its beautiful organic gardens — which provide herbs, vegetables and spices for the kitchen — to its endearing cooking and gardening gift store Pitchforks & Tablespoons, there is no denying that this is a picturesque restaurant. For Eastside, it’s not just about providing its customers comfort food; it’s about providing them the comforts of home-style cooking. When you step inside the cafe, you are hit with a wave of nostalgia from a time when breakfast was always warm and ready. No matter what you had planned for that day, there was always time for mom’s home-
cooked bacon. Eastside’s brunch menu consists of conventional Texas fare with offerings such as migas and eggs benedict, but there is also an additional Chef’s Specials Menu that showcases some of the more creative cuisine. I opted for the Brunch Blue Plate Special ($13.95) from this menu and eggs benedict ($10.95) from the regular brunch menu. The Blue Plate Special started with a foundation of two well-portioned smoked salmon and shrimp cakes. Poached eggs were nestled just above them, daubed with a creamy chipotle
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I am including Moonshine on my list of brunch spots, only because it’s one of the better brunch buffets I’ve encountered. This is, in truth, less for its food and more for its rustic southern charm complete with a cozy
front porch and wide-mouth jars for water glasses. As the winner of the Austin Chronicle’s Reader’s Poll “Best Sunday Brunch” two years
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Emiiy Kinsolving | Daily Texan Staff
the Moonlight Patio emphasizes simplicity in its brunch buffet.
Emily Kinsolving | Daily
Enoteca Vespaio takes buttermilk pancakes to another leve pancakes are topped with berries and vanilla gelato. Enoteca is the more casual, friendlier and — dare I say it — cooler cousin of the neighboring Vespaio Ristorante. It is essentially an upscale and refined La Madeleine in the tradition of European bistro cafes and offers a delectable assortment of pastries and coffee. At first glance, the menu prices look a little steep. High-end items such as crab cakes are priced at $16, and not-so-high-end items such as semolina and buttermilk pancakes go for $9-$12. But believe me when I say that $10 for two pancakes at Enoteca is worth every penny. I ordered the golden-brown pancakes topped with blueberries,
raspberries and vanilla g Crisp on the outside and ly soft on the inside, the ately priced pancakes w lutely immaculate. I kept telling myself th was a plain semolina an milk pancake. There wa son it should taste this g every time I took a bite, shut off for a few mome capacitating bliss. The ta of the fruit, the starchine pancakes and the sweetn the syrup and the vanill all blended into harmon proportions. It seemed as if the che
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Summer sequel exhaustion may cause moviegoers to investigate indie fil By Alex Regnery Daily Texan Staff Ah, the summer film season is swiftly approaching, and what’s one to do but prep for three months of consuming blockbuster action spectaculars and countless buckets of buttery popcorn? With such films as “Termina-
The Rise of Cobra,” it’s quite clear that this summer will have plenty of epic movies playing at the multiplex. But, strangely, there’s something different about this summer. There are some films coming out that might make you, gulp, think and feel. A slew of inde-
that is clear from the film’s super cool trailer, but with the cast and crew Jarmusch has compiled, it’s all you need to know. Master cin‘The Limits of Control’ — May 1 ematographer Christopher Doyle Writer/director Jim Jarmusch is (“In The Mood For Love,” “Paraback with his first film since 2005’s noid Park”) is lending his eye to stellar “Broken Flowers.” His latest the film, and several Jarmusch veteffort tells the tale of a professional erans such as De Bankole, Tilda leased this summer. Here are our top picks.
‘The Brothers Bloom’ — May 15 In 2006, Rian Johnston broke onto the film scene with the exceptional and refreshing “Brick.” Mixing the worlds of Dashiel Hammett and John Hughes, Johnston created a unique film where “yegs,” “dames” and “gats” once
Bloom,” it looks as thou ston is moving about as from his dark first film a with a fun con caper. W Ruffalo and Adrien Brod titular con artists and Weisz as their lovely ma ston may have the first p film of the summer.