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With no clear majority, mayoral runoff likely By Pierre Bertrand Daily Texan Staff After five months of campaigning, mayoral candidates Lee Leffingwell and Brewster McCracken are expected to head into a runoff following Saturday’s municipal elections. With 100 percent of Austin precincts reporting, neither Leffingwell nor McCracken received the majority vote needed to carry the race. The two candidates will have to wait until election results are presented at City Hall on
May 19 to determine the order in which their names will appear on the final ballot. “We canvass the results May 19 because state law requires us to wait on all mail-in and overseas ballots,” said Shirley Gentry, Austin’s clerk. “All results are unofficial and will remain unofficial until we canvass.” In early April, polls showed the top three mayoral contenders in a statistical heat. But vote totals on Sunday showed Leffingwell with 47.24 percent of the vote and Mc-
Cracken with 26.8 percent. Carole Keeton Strayhorn finished third, followed by David Buttross and Josiah Ingalls. “Frankly, yes, I am surprised [to have such a large lead],” Leffingwell said. “I knew we were ahead, but this is more than we expected, so I am pleasantly surprised.” Of the 450,715 registered voters in the city, 58,630, or slightly more than 13 percent, voted. State law also requires that an election board review the vot-
Lee Leffingwell speaks with supporters as he awaits election results at Hill’s Cafe on Saturday night.
Early election results
• Lee Leffingwell: 47.24% • Brewster McCracken: 26.8% • Carole Keeton Strayhorn: 21.43% • David Buttross: 3.84% • Josiah Ingalls: 0.69%
ing process to ensure that all ballots are correctly counted and that the number of ballots cast matches the number of individuals who
Rachel Colson Daily Texan Staff
RUNOFF continues on page 2
Despite help, theft still vexes campus
House tentatively approves making red-light cameras illegal across state Critics: Goal of surveillance system to make money, not to improve safety
Sara Young | Daily Texan Staff
Alfred Nauri browses through watches at Top Cash Pawn on South Congress Avenue on Wednesday morning. Items sold at this and other pawn shops are recorded by employees and delivered to the Austin Police Department to prevent theft. Recovery rates, though, remain low.
Police suggest locking up valuables, registering bikes to keep them out of pawn shops By Avi Selk Daily Texan Staff As one of the largest campuses in the United States, UT is a tempting target for small-time thieves of every variety. Bicycle and laptop thefts, gym thefts and vehicle break-ins — the most common campus crimes — accounted for nearly half of $266,000 in stolen property (excluding automobiles) reported to the UT Police Department last year. Most of that property will never be seen by its owners again, despite the existence of a massive electronic database that lets police check pawnshops across the United States for stolen items.
“Property crimes are real hard to clear,” said UTPD Chief Robert Dahlstrom. “Most of the time you don’t have any witnesses, you don’t have any evidence. You have a stolen bike, a stolen laptop. That’s it.” Each week, retired engineer John Gullatt drives an unmarked police car around to 20 registered pawnshops across Austin, filling a duffel bag with tickets containing serial numbers and descriptions for thousands of items. Gullatt and other volunteers help the Austin Police Department track about 53,000 pawned items each month. These records are combined with hundreds of thou-
sands more, submitted electronically to a national police database. But the database only helps APD recover about five stolen items a week, said Detective Jeff Olson of the department’s recovered property division. Most stolen property never shows up in the database because Austin’s 60 registered pawnshops are outnumbered by hundreds of secondhand stores and flea markets that do not have to report serial numbers, he said. “In some of those places, it’s just stolen property, and we have no way to track it,” Olson said. When UTPD Officer Larry Robertson was trying to track down a $2,000 Antoine Courtois trum-
pet stolen from the music building last year, the pawnshop database didn’t help. Robertson had to recover the trumpet in a more old-fashioned way — by posting a flier about the theft at Strait Music Company, a used-instrument music store. Five months later, someone called to tell him they’d seen it in a pawn shop in South Austin. But the trumpet case was an anomaly. UTPD cleared only about 5 percent of its thefts in 2008, down from 8.5 percent the year before. Police say thieves often travel to other cities to sell their hauls, and
By Erin Mulvaney Daily Texan Staff Cameras at intersections may get the red light from the Texas Legislature. A provision in a transportation bill passed by the House on Friday would ban red-light cameras in Texas and require cities to remove current red-light cameras when their contracts end. The House’s decision has stirred controversy in the city of Austin, which installed nine red-light cameras less than a year ago. The bill is intended to overhaul the Texas Department of Transportation and change its leadership. The House tentatively passed the bill on a non-record vote, and its amendments are subject to change when the bill reaches the Senate. State Rep. Solomon Ortiz, D-Corpus Christi, author of the amendment, said he has never believed red-light cameras were legal. He authored a bill at the beginning of the legislative session that would ban the cameras, but it died early in the session. He said that rather than promoting safety, the cameras are more of a revenue generator for cities. “The evidence is clear that red-light cameras do not achieve their stated public-safety goals and serve mainly as cash cows for cities,“ Ortiz said. “Meanwhile, they have been found to increase accidents at intersections, and there are serious concerns about their constitutionality.” A Rice University study documented an increase in accidents at intersections with red-light cameras in Houston and has called the effectiveness of the cameras into question, but Austin officials have said the cameras are an effective way to ensure safety. Austin police said there were more than 1,300 car accidents related to red-light running in 2007 and at least nine deaths in recent years. The Austin City Council entered into a contract for the cameras in an effort to make potentially dangerous intersections safer, said Reyne Telles, a spokesman for the city of Austin. The city has issued 7,087 tickets from the redlight cameras at intersections, which include 11th Street and Interstate Highway 35, and Ben White and Lamar boulevards. “The city of Austin does not support the legislation,” Telles said. “It takes away local
THEFT continues on page 2 LEGISLATION continues on page 2
Keeper of untold stories closes book on work at UT By Lena Price Daily Texan Staff After 10 years, 120 students and more than 400 hours of audio interviews, anthropology lecturer and oral historian Martha Norkunas held her last graduate seminar at UT on Friday. Six years ago, Norkunas started a project at the University to document the stories of underrepresented people in the Austin area. She helped her students find people in the community to interview about their lives and race relations in America. “I wanted to hear the voices of people who aren’t usually repre-
sented in history museums,” Norkunas said. “I started this project to have students do direct work with community organizations, and we helped a lot of museums realize what stories they were leaving out.” She has heard the life stories of everyone from the principal of LBJ High School to a former janitor at the Capitol. “Sometimes it was hard for me to carry so many people’s stories,” Norkunas said. “But in another way, I feel like I entered another world that I could never have known about through the generosity of people sharing their sto-
ries with us.” Norkunas grew up in a working class family, always listening to stories from her mother and grandmother. She didn’t realize the profound impact the stories had on her until she left home to study in France, where she lived with an oral historian. “I realized that there could be this amazing transmission of people’s memories, not over one or two generations, but over hundreds of years,” Norkunas said. “I was completely fascinated by that.” After getting a teaching position at UT, the bulk of Norkunas’ research focused on documenting
the history of African-Americans in Austin. Every year, Norkunas’ group of about 10 graduate students would conduct extensive interviews with black community members and try to expand their own understandings of race relations. “Black history in Austin just hasn’t been well-documented at all,” Norkunas said. “There wasn’t much primary source information. One of the goals of this project was to try to reconstruct African-American history in Austin.” Another goal of the project was
HISTORY continues on page2
Peyton McGee | Daily Texan Staff
Anthropology lecturer and oral historian Martha Norkunas discusses her future plans on Friday after teaching her last class as a UT lecturer.
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The Daily Texan Volume 109, Number 145 25 cents
HISTORy: Project spotlights racism From page 1 to encourage students to hold frank discussions about race and the history of racism. “I wanted to work with a group of students who had come from different racial and ethnic backgrounds, and be able to talk about race without falling all over ourselves,� Norkunas said. “And I matured in that sense, too.� All eight of the students in Norkunas’ class this year said conducting oral histories helped them feel more comfortable with interacting with different types of people. “I hadn’t realized before this class just how much race played a part in my thinking,� said Amanda McClendon, an information studies graduate student. “This class made us think about that more explicit-
CONTACT US Main Telephone: (512) 471-4591 Editor: Leah Finnegan (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor: Vikram Swaruup (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com News Office: (512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com Web Office: (512) 471-8616 online@dailytexanonline.com Sports Office: (512) 232-2210 sports@dailytexanonline.com Life & Arts Office: (512) 232-2209 lifeandarts@dailytexanonline.com Photo Office: (512) 471-8618 photo@dailytexanonline.com
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Stolen bicycles are almost never seen again. Of an estimated 8,000 on campus, 171 were stolen in 2008 — and three were recovered. Police recommend cyclists use both a cable lock and a ULock to secure their rides but acknowledge that not even this always stops a determined thief. Dahlstrom said registering a bicycle with Parking and Transportation Services is one of the best ways to protect it. “If you report a bike — whether a $100 or $1,000 bike — and you don’t have it [registered], it’s going to be almost impossible for us to get it back,� he said.
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Today’s weather Flirtation is simply attention without intention.
Laptop theft is one of the most lucrative crimes on campus. UTPD received reports of 101 stolen laptops worth $71,000 last year. Most laptops are stolen from public areas like the Union Building or Perry-CastaĂąeda Li-
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ly, and it has affected how I relate to myself.� Theatre and dance graduate student Michelle Dahlenburg credits Norkunas for most of her development in the class. “She was one of the most inspiring professors I’ve ever had,� Dahlenburg said. “When I met her, she just seemed so present. She’s such a good listener.� Norkunas will start her new job as a full professor in the public history program at Middle Tennessee State University on Aug. 1. Over the summer, she will be working on a Web site that will make all 400 hours of audio interviews conducted at UT available to the public. “What I really hope is that I’ve influenced this group of people to think, ‘How can I apply my intellect to issues that are important in the community around me?’� Norkunas said.
Col. Christopher Bowman holds the soft ranks after completing the transfer of power to Cadet Col. Winston Bull at the changeof-command ceremony on the Main Mall on Saturday.
Melissa Dominguez Daily Texan Staff
The Air Force ROTC held its change-of-command ceremony on the Main Mall on Saturday, demonstrating a peaceful transfer of power between cadet colonels. The ceremony, which takes place every semester, began with a short parade, which symbolically shows the new commander the condition of the troops. Each colonel commander may hold his position only once throughout his time in ROTC, but it is a position that comes with a lot of responsibility, said Scott Davis, a philosophy senior and outgoing
brary, often while their owners are asleep or in the bathroom.
cadet wing commander. “It is a corp-led wing, so the commander is in charge of training the troops,� Davis said. Winston Bull, the newly appointed cadet colonel and history junior, said he brings his own philosophy for leading the troops. “In the Air Force, we have a strict enforcement of rules, but you have to break that up with a little fun, too,� Bull said. “I want to help build good leaders among the troops for the Air Force.� — Laura Ceglio
RuNOff: Leffingwell leads by almost 20 points
Vehicle burglaries At least $12,700 in property was reported stolen from 56 vehicles parked around campus last year, and police say car burglaries are on the rise across the city. Trinity Garage and the parking lots next to Red and Charline McCombs Field, east of Interstate Highway 35, are top targets, according to UTPD records. UTPD officers have been known to leave warning notes on the windshields of vehicles with MP3 players, iPhones, GPS devices and other valuables clearly exposed. If police can see it, Dahlstrom pointed out, so can thieves.
From page 1 cast their votes, a process that could take about five days. Therefore, the results as of Saturday night could shift as more votes are counted, said Mary Fero, spokeswoman for the Travis County Clerk’s office. On May 21, the Austin City Council is expected to declare a runoff election for June 13. Despite having to go back on the campaign trail for one more month, Leffingwell said he and his supporters are confident they can carry the runoff race. “We had a 20-point margin going into this thing,� Leffingwell said. “That’s pretty hard to overcome. We ran a very strong grassroots campaign, and that is the type of campaign that wins in the end.� At the end of early voting, the top three candidates outdistanced their other two opponents. Early voting results showed Leffingwell in the lead with 47.17 percent of the vote as of 7 p.m. Saturday. McCracken followed with 27.37 percent of the vote, Strayhorn
Gyms Campus gyms are prime places for students to get their cell phones, wallets or debit cards stolen, with 61 thefts reported last year. Nearly everything stolen from a gym is left unsecured, Dahlstrom said. Items placed in coin-operated lockers are rarely stolen. “There’s an easy solution,� he said. “It costs a quarter.�
with 21.32 percent and Ingalls and Buttross receiving a combined vote of less than 5 percent. Out of the city’s total registered voters, 6.34 percent voted early, constituting 28,314 votes. “Well I would have liked to have over 50 percent, but I can’t say I’m disappointed,� Leffingwell said. “I’m too happy to be disappointed.� In a statement released on his campaign Web site, McCracken said he will continue running for mayor for the next month, and he calls on the continued support of his backers to “concentrate all the activity and effort of the last five months into the next five weeks.� For Buttross, this mayoral campaign may be the start of a political career. Buttross said he has been approached by various conservative political groups in Austin to help revitalize their message. In the future, he said, he might join the groups to add some political weight and support in subsequent campaigns. “When I ran this time, I ran by myself because I had a mes-
sage to send, and I think I did a good job of sending it,� Buttross said. “You’ll definitely see me again.� In the meantime, Buttross said he will continue his day job in real estate. In other races, incumbents Mike Martinez and Sheryl Cole will hold on to their city council seats. Chris Riley defeated Perla Cavazos for Place 1, and Bill Spelman ran unopposed to take Place 5. The two polling locations around campus were quiet Saturday afternoon. Around 1 p.m., the four booths in the University Co-op sat idle as shoppers went about their business. Similarly, in the Flawn Academic Center, few people came to vote. Public relations senior Katey Gunn said she was in the Co-op to return her books and did not consider voting in the elections. “I guess I didn’t know about it until I heard people were already voting,� Gunn said. “It’s finals week. I haven’t had the time to research the candidates.�
LeGISLATION: APD cites fewer car accidents as a result of cameras From page 1
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control by undermining an initiative the city council voted to create.� Telles said the purpose of the program was not to generate
revenue but to ensure safety. “Regardless of if [the cameras] give one or 100 tickets, we pay a flat monthly fee,� he said. Austin has seen a 30 percent reduction in car accidents since
The Daily Texan
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opportunity that would make the city safer.� She said the program reduces accidents and changes the driving culture. Thompson said there is a lot of history behind the bill because there was a long process involved in installing the red-light cameras in the city. “[The state] doesn’t have the right,� Thompson said. “It’s about safety, and it’s disappointing to lose the opportunity.�
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the installation of the cameras, said Sgt. Kris Thompson of the Austin Police Department’s vehicular homicide unit. “We absolutely feel they are effective,� Thompson said. “I think it’s a mistake to take away any
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Director of Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jalah Briedwell Retail Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brad Corbett Account Executive/Broadcast Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carter Goss Campus/National Sales Consultant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Bowerman Assistant to Advertising Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.J. Salgado Student Advertising Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charles Moczygemba Student Advertising Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Derek Diaz de Leon Acct. Execs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ryan Ford, Landon Blackburn, Chelsea Anaya, Jared Barker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Aldana, Ann Marie Burnett, Kathryn Abbas, Jenn Muller, Justin Santilli Classified Clerks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa Lai Special Editions, Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elena Watts Web Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danny Grover Special Editions, Student Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Samantha Breslow, Kira Taniguchi Graphic Designer Interns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Thomas, Rodrigo Maycotte Senior Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felimon Hernandez
The Daily Texan (USPS 146-440), a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78705. The Daily Texan is published daily except Saturday, Sunday, federal holidays and exam periods, plus the last Saturday in July. Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591) or at the editorial office (Texas Student Media Building 2.122). For local and national display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified display and national classified display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified word advertising, call 471-5244. Entire contents copyright 2009 Texas Student Media.
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T he Daily Texan
WORLD BRIEFLY Statement says at least 180 militants killed in Pakistan ISLAMABAD — The Pakistani army says at least 180 suspected militants have been killed in the past 24 hours in the northwest’s Swat Valley and surrounding areas. The casualty figures given in the Sunday afternoon statement could not be independently verified. It also was unclear whether any of the deaths had been reported in army statements from Saturday. The statement says some 50 to 60 militants were killed Sunday in Swat. But it says the majority of killings occurred in neighboring Shangla district, with about 140 militant bodies found. It was unclear why the numbers given in the statement did not always add up.
Pelosi sits down with Iraqi prime minister in one-day trip
STR | Associated Press
Ethnic Tamil civilians move to safety following a shell attack in Tiger-controlled No Fire Zone in Mullivaaykaal, Sri Lanka, on Sunday. An artillery barrage killed at least 378 civilians and forced thousands to flee to makeshift shelters along the beach, a government doctor said.
Attack kills 378 Sri Lanka civilians By Krishann Francis The Associated Press COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — The bodies were laid out in haphazard rows in the mud, waiting to be buried. Some were covered with mats or sheets, photographs showed. One young boy was stripped to his waist, his head wrapped in a bloody bandage. They were among at least 378 civilians killed in an overnight artillery barrage in Sri Lanka’s war zone, according to government doctors, in what was the bloodiest attack on noncombatants since the civil war flared up more than three years ago. The U.N. said more than 100 of the dead were children. A rebel-linked Web site blamed the attack on the government, while the military accused the beleaguered Tamil Tigers of shelling their own territory to gain international sympathy and force a cease-fire. Health officials said a makeshift hospital in the war zone was overwhelmed by casualties, and the death toll is expected to rise. The first shells slammed into the tiny strip of rebel-controlled area along the northeast coast Saturday evening, soon after a Red Cross ship evacuating wounded civilians had left the
area, health officials said. About 50,000 civilians are crowded into the 2.4 mile-long strip of coast along with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam fighters, who have been fighting for 25 years for a homeland for minority Tamils. Hours after the attack, the dead and wounded continued to pour into the hospital, he said. As of Sunday afternoon, the bodies of 378 civilians had been brought in and were being buried by volunteers, but the death toll was likely far higher because many families buried their slain relatives where they fell, he said. The rebel-linked TamilNet Web site said rescue workers had counted 1,200 civilians killed in the attack. Among the dead was the rebels’ military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan. The government had recently sent medical supplies, but a shortage of physicians, nurses and aides made treatment of the wounded difficult, Shanmugarajah said. More than half the hospital staff did not turn up for work because their homes had been attacked, leaving many of the wounded untreated for more than 24 hours, said another health official. The shelling had subsided early Sunday, but a new bom-
bardment began about 6 p.m., the official said. Suresh Premachandran, an ethnic Tamil lawmaker, said the assault was the deadliest attack on civilians since the 1983 antiTamil riots that killed as many as 2,000 people and helped trigger the civil war. “In the name of eliminating terrorism, the Sri Lankan government massacres its own citizens. It is absolutely unacceptable,” he said, calling for the international community to intervene. TamilNet also blamed the attack on the Sri Lankan forces, which rights groups have accused of bombing and shelling the war zone despite its pledge to stop using heavy weapons. The Sri Lankan military denied firing the artillery and said that the rebels appeared to be launching mortar shells from one corner of the coastal strip into another section heavily populated with civilians. “I think the [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are] now trying to use these people as their last weapon to show the world that the army is firing indiscriminately and stop this offensive,” military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said. Reports of the fighting are difficult to verify because the government bars journalists and
The office of the President & the Texas Exes would like to congratulate
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Our Jean Holloway Teaching Award Recipient
The Jean Holloway Award was established through The Ex-Students’ Association in 1970 by Jean Holloway and her husband, Sterling Holloway, a former president of The Ex-Students’ Association. This award recognizes an individual whose commitment to students ������������������������������������������������������������������ and lives of those they teach.
aid workers from the war zone, but the U.N. confirmed a heavy death toll from the attack. “It seems beyond dispute that hundreds of civilians were killed overnight including more than 100 children,” U.N. spokesman Gordon Weiss said. U.N. figures compiled last month showed that nearly 6,500 civilians had been killed in the past three months of fighting as the government drives the rebels out of their strongholds in the north and vows to end the war.
BAGHDAD — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a surprise one-day visit to Baghdad on Sunday to discuss U.S.-Iraqi economic relations with the prime minister, the government spokesman said. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki asked Pelosi, a California Democrat, to shield Iraq from neighboring countries’ demands for reparations that date back to the actions of previous ruler Saddam Hussein, spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said. Kuwait still claims billions of dollars in war reparations from Iraq’s 1990 invasion and has refused appeals by Baghdad to reduce their demands and forgive about $15 billion in Iraqi debt.
Pope encourages Middle East Christians at mass in Jordan AMMAN, Jordan — The pope urged Middle East Christians on Sunday to persevere in their faith despite hardships threatening their ancient communities as 20,000 people filled a Jordanian sports stadium where Benedict XVI celebrated the first open-air Mass of his Holy Land pilgrimage. The pope was welcomed at the
stadium in Arabic by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop Fouad Twal, who recalled that Jordan has taken in more than 1 million Iraqi refugees since the start of the war, some 40,000 of them Christians. According to Vatican statistics, Christians are less than 2 percent of Jordan’s overwhelmingly Muslim population. Catholics from across the Middle East attended the service. Many held up flags from Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and other countries. The Mass came on the third day of Benedict’s first pilgrimage to Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories.
Three passengers on US-based flight bring swine flu to Japan TOKYO — Japanese authorities scrambled Saturday to track travelers who arrived on the same flight as three people diagnosed with the country’s first confirmed cases of swine flu. Australia also joined the ranks of affected countries with its first confirmed case. Authorities in Tokyo quarantined a high school teacher and two of his teenage students who returned Friday from a school trip to Canada on a flight from the U.S. after they tested positive at the airport. Since the outbreak began last month, several countries, including Japan, have screened air travelers for flu symptoms. But news reports said as many as 11 people on the Northwest Airlines flight from Detroit that landed in Tokyo on Friday avoided those screenings. Taiwan’s Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director-General Shih Wen-yi said 16 passengers who were on that flight — including two Americans and 14 Taiwanese — have arrived on the island. Shih said authorities are looking for them. Health and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe acknowledged it would be difficult to trace all those who came into contact with the three infected Japanese, who had visited Canada’s Ontario province on a home-stay program with about 30 other students. The three have been isolated and are recovering at a hospital near Narita International Airport. Compiled from Associated Press reports
OpiniOn
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T he Daily Texan
Editor in Chief: Leah Finnegan Phone: (512) 232-2212 E-mail: editor@dailytexanonline.com Associate Editors: Audrey Campbell Josh Haney Jillian Sheridan Abby Terrell Mary Tuma
GAllERY
NOTED IN PASSING Unfunding mandates As reported by the Houston Chronicle, President Barack Obama’s budget proposal has, in effect, halted any expansion of the U.S.-Mexico border wall, though it has provided some money for roads, lights and other “tactical infrastructure” in the area. In its budget, the White House called for less than half the amount of money the Bush administration did last year. For some reason, we don’t think the teabaggers of weeks past will welcome the President’s newfound frugality.
Where’s the passion? If there’s one thing college students should be great at, it’s campus-related activism. UT has a history of the practice, from the days when The Daily Texan battled with former Regent Frank Erwin over Vietnam-era politics to the presence of UT Watch, a small group of justice-minded students that was registered as a student organization from 2002 to 2005 (its still-functioning Web site, www. utwatch.org, is worth a few hours of every UT student’s time). But ever since University Democrats President emeritus Zack Hall packed up his Tax-Free Textbook campaign and moved on in life, the campus has not seen its share of civil disobediance, tongue-in-cheek or otherwise. The much-hyped bipartisan “Tuition Relief Now!” effort, put in motion in February by the College Republicans and the University Democrats, fizzled due to member flip-flopping and petty fighting before the movement could even get legs to stand on. Still, we shed a tear every time we see someone wearing one of those royal blue shirts made so earnestly for the TRN! campaign. We think about what could have been: lower tuition, coherent campus politics, students speaking truth to power. Maybe next year.
High on schoolwork A recent New Yorker piece told of the virtues and drawbacks of Adderall, Ritalin and Provigil usage, cementing the oftabused amphetamines into the annals of higher culture. The article not only grappled with the ethical ramifications of neuroenhancers but with their seemingly inconsequential ubiquity among such disparate groups as college students and professional poker players. We believe the argument that these so-called “study drugs” give their users an “unfair advantage” in life and work is well-worn at best. Any abused drug carries repercussions, whether physical or philosophical, and the user must bear that weight. Based on our experience with Adderall, a dose or two of the stuff may have gotten us through final exams that one time many years ago, but the unpleasant side effects and strange feeling of doctored intellectualism made us thankful for our natural brainpower (however fleeting it may be).
Free flow bill rolls on Last week, HB 670 was sent to Gov. Rick Perry’s desk, where it will, in all likelihood, be signed into law. The bill will give journalists a qualified privilege regarding confidential sources. Perhaps we’re getting carried away, but we’re wondering who would attend the public signing, if there were one — a picture of UT media law professor Robert Jensen standing appreciatively behind Perry would be Pulitzer-worthy simply on account of its absurdity.
A crucial push for a gun-free campus By John Woods Daily Texan Guest Columnist How do you feel about handguns in elementary schools, preschools, hospitals and bars? UT’s campus includes all of these, and today, the potential passage of HB 1893 — a bill to allow concealed carry of guns on school grounds — would legalize guns in these locations. However one feels about guns in classrooms, almost everyone agrees that they do not belong in elementary schools or preschools. As currently written, HB 1893 makes no allowances for such sensitive locations. Hospitals, too, are traditionally gun-free; the oxygen lines necessary for surgery are combustible and could be sparked by bullets. The same applies to the many laboratories in hospitals and throughout campus. Gas and oxygen lines, along with hundreds of thousands of other flammable or combustible chemicals — not to mention strong acids and bases as well as an array of carcinogens — make these environments less than ideal for firearms. Even in states where licensed individuals may carry guns freely into businesses, chemical engineering firms are exempt. These businesses forbid employees to carry even mobile phones on the factory floors because of combustion risks. College campuses contain many environments like these and likely a host of other such places that have not yet been taken into account. If lawmakers get their way, universities have no way to restrict guns in such locations, leaving employees, faculty, students and children in danger. A final item of contention is the lack of restriction on ammunition and weaponry. In speaking with law enforcement, I learned that campus police carry certain types of ammunition to minimize the risk of bullets traveling through the thin walls of dormitories. If students are to carry guns on campus, University police should have final say as to which armaments are permissible. HB 1893 is ideologically motivated, with little consideration for the safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors at UT. And because the bill does not make provisions for ammunition policy or special restrictions on carrying in sensitive locations, it is simply not ready to be made into law. I suggest you join us today for a group study session in the Gallery of the House of Representatives. Wear burnt orange and bring your study materials and books. Your presence will make it harder for legislators to disregard your safety. If you can’t come, call your legislator, and get your family members to call too: You can look up your senator and representative at http://tinyurl.com/texaslege. Woods is a biology graduate student and a member of the Texas chapter of Students for Gun Free Schools.
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SUBMIT A FIRING lINE
Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are those of the editor, the editorial board or the writer of the article. They are not necessarily those of the UT administration.
E-mail your Firing Lines to firingline@dailytexanonline.com. The Texan reserves the right to edit letters for brevity, clarity and liability. We regret that we cannot print all letters we receive.
Things you should know before UT Dear Kentesha, As the semester wraps up, I wanted to send you a final communiqué. It has been a lot of fun getting to know and mentor you this spring through the Students Partnering for Undergraduate Rhetoric Success program. When I learned that your nickname at Houston Yates High School was the “Don Diva,” I was very excited to adopt the name “Dan Diva” in our messages. I was even more thrilled when you showed all of your friends our SPURS message board thread and I was greeted with loud shouts of “It’s Dan Diva! Let’s take a picture!” when your class visited UT in February. Helping you with your AP English class has been one of the coolest writing assignments I’ve had since I’ve been in college. During your visit here, you took a tour of the UT campus in an attempt to get a a better feel for college life. After my tour of UT, I knew that, one way or another, I would go to school here. My guide was equal parts knowledgeable and perky, and by the time we finished looking at the Tower, I was ready to turn in my application. Years later, I still love this school and it’s changed me a lot as a person. But, I realize there are some things I know now that weren’t necessarily advertised on the tour. I decided that in the interest of fairness, I might divulge some information about the University you may not have heard when you took your tour of campus. You mentioned to me that you’re a big fan of fashion, so you undoubtedly noticed all of the University apparel worn around campus. Students who attend the UT are proud to be here, and while I know very little about fashion — a fact you likely noticed once you met me — I do know that burnt orange is always in style around here. It should be noted, however, that much of this burnt orange clothing is produced through the use of sweatshop labor. The University knows this, and there’s actually a plan in place to give the workers that produce our clothing fair wages, but to date the administration hasn’t acted on it and isn’t very close to doing so. As it stands, the University is affiliated with the Fair Labor Association, an organization that always seems curiously lenient on corporations. This could perhaps be because several of them, including Adidas, Nike and Reebok, serve on its governing board. The newspaper you’re reading is at a crossroads. UT is one of a mere few universities that have their own printing presses (a fact mentioned during my tour), but recently the Texas Student Media board decided to put it up for sale (a fact likely not mentioned during your tour). Part of the reason for this is the expensive costs
associated with repairing the press, which would cost an estimated $125,000. Though The Daily Texan has a longer tradition at the University than Bevo and even our fight song, it was determined that saving the printing press (and the jobs of the people who operate it) simply wasn’t an option. The $179 million worth of renovations made to the football stadium recently was completely necessary, however. This is because the athletic program is far more profitable than our meager newspaper, which serves to inform the UT campus community on a daily basis and has produced ten Pulitzer prize winners. Quite simply, when it comes to University affairs, money talks. If you need any more proof of this, consider the fact that the very building in which The Daily Texan office is located was recently renamed after William Randolph Hearst, who is considered by some to be one of the fathers of yellow journalism and who happened to be a Nazi sympathizer during the 1930s. Our university takes tremendous pride in our stellar faculty, a fact that you’ve undoubtedly heard about during your tour. Since I’ve been a student here I have learned under some tremendous minds that have molded me into a better student and a more knowledgeable human being in general. One would think the University, if it plans on maintaining a world class faculty, would base a professor’s compensation on their academic abilities but this is not always the case. UT does not offer health care benefits to the partners of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender faculty and staff. Three quarters of the other universities in the country do. While this is unfair finacially, it is also absurd. To date, homosexuality has not been discovered to hinder or improve ones ability to do microphysics. Make no mistake, Kentesha — I love this school, partly because the classes I’ve taken here have challenged me to never take things at face value. As I’m sure you’ll learn once you ace your AP exam and attend university, every bureaucracy has its own little secrets. They’re not difficult to find if you dig, you just need the motivation to pick up the shovel. It’s been a pleasure mentoring you, and here’s to hoping the Dan Diva nickname will stick. Always keep writing. Dan Treadway Treadway is a political commincations junior.
Why I write, and why I’ll never stop By Wayne Cheong Daily Texan Columnist When I was a kid, I wanted to be a lawyer. Raised in Singapore, a post-colonial city-state, I wanted to dress in a black robe and frou-frou wig and preside over a courtroom. I wanted to gesticulate dramatically while verbally pressuring suspects to admit their guilt. Then I discovered that lawyers go to hell — you know, as kindling to keep the fires burning. So I decided on a more heavenly track. Looking back, the memories of my teachers are more vivid than anything else. It’s often said that their direction in your formative years affects how the rest of your life turns out. I can attest to this. My first year of high school, I had three different English teachers. The first, a teacher-in-training, found the stress of overseeing a classroom of pubescent hellions so great that she openly cried in front of us. The second asked for a transfer after my friend Noel asked what a “blow job” was. It was an innocent enough query — he thought it had something to do with woodwinds and just wanted corroboration. Then came the third teacher: Mrs. Poh. Often, to uphold a facade of attentiveness in class, I’ll concentrate on the tics of my teachers to keep me focused. Mr. Eberhardt sometimes played with the keys in his pocket. Dr. Smokewood al-
ways ended her sentences with “does that makes sense?” A psychology professor stroked his oversized dewlap. What I remembered about Mrs. Poh was the way she spoke. She wasn’t a stuck-up prig with “Queen’s English,” but rather, she paid close attention to language, giving each word its due respect. Syllables were enunciated. Grammar was carefully structured. When she spoke, there was a weight in her words that demanded attention. She was a few centimeters shy of being classified as a hobbit. She told us that she preferred to be described as “petite” rather than short. The statement was a veiled threat to anyone tempted to make fun of her height, told with a full smile and clenched teeth. She introduced journaling to us. “Write whatever,” she said. The concept of writing anything with no restrictions was mind-boggling to us. I started simply: I wrote about myself. My journal came back the following week red with Mrs. Poh’s corrections, bleeding like a crime scene all over the page. My prose was rife with spelling mistakes and awkward sentences. But despite this, at the end of my entry was a compliment on my writing and a note of encouragement. She wanted to see more. And I’ve been writing ever since. Two years ago, I decided to concentrate on writing for films. This is not to say I’m an expert at writing. I’m still learning, bettering myself. Writing is a lonely business and at times, the words don’t come easily — they just sit still in your head, fat and immobile. But I keep trudging on, hoping my words will prove their weight — if not just for me, for my teacher. Cheong is a screenwriting graduate student.
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Rock ’n’ roll alive in House, Senate By Erin Mulvaney Daily Texan Staff With state Rep. Jim Dunnam, DWaco, on the keyboard and state Sen. Bob Deuell, R-Greenville, on the drums, the official “house band” of the Texas Legislature has been “rockin’ out” since the controversyridden 2007 legislative session. During the last legislative session, tension in the House and Senate was palpable. Sides were drawn and controversy loomed surrounding then-Speaker of the House Tom Craddick in the final days of a seemingly unproductive session. But after hours, Dunnam, head of the House Democratic caucus, Deuell, Republican Senate caucus leader, and other legislative staffers attempt to cut through the tensions by forming a band: The Bad Precedents. The bipartisan group was named the official band of the 80th Legislative session and has been performing gigs ever since. Dunnam said it provids the lawmakers and staffers with an opportunity to blow off steam during lulls in the session. A House resolution officially recognized the band in April 2007. The text of the resolution states, “RESOLVED, that the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas Legislature hereby encourages The Bad Precedents to keep on rocking in the free world.” The resolution also states, “Texas has a rich tradition of great music, and music is the universal human language that has the power to bring together peoples of all backgrounds and political affiliations … The Bad Precedents is a group of musicians linked by the common thread of service to the state of Texas.” The band played most recently in Waco, Dunnam’s hometown. The legislators plan to play at a sine die party at the end of this legislative session on June 1. Known to call up additional band members and even ask the audience about the lyrics to songs, the band may be a casual demonstration of wannabe rock stars living out their unfulfilled dreams. “[The band] builds goodwill and shows us that we don’t need to be fighting,” Deuell said. “That’s the way it’s supposed to be.” The permanent band members include Deuell, Dunnam, House doorman Vern Effenberger on vocals and legislative staffers Kelly Fine, Michael Garemko, Ross Peavey, Tommy Tynes and Jeff Rotkoff on guitar. Between six and eight members join the band from event to event, and sometimes as many as 14 people are on stage at a time. Dunnam said he came up with the idea for the band at a staff retreat, where he discovered that members of his staff were “pretty good” guitar players. “Initially, these guys play just to play and have fun, but some House members were interested in it,” Dunnam said. “It became a good thing to do because we have so much division at times on the floor, and it’s good for members to get together and realize we have a lot of things in common.” During the current legislative session, the band’s concerts have become charitable events. Last
Remembering longhorns who have passed
week, the legislators played at Shakespeare’s Pub on Sixth Street and passed a hat for SafePlace, a shelter in Austin that cares for victims of domestic violence. The band raised $650 at the event. “We felt like, if we are going to do this, let’s raise a little money,” Dunnam said. Dunnam recruited Deuell, a former professional drummer, to join the band. “Deuell and I don’t see eye to eye on policy issues,” Dunnam said. “I’m sure people said, ‘What in the world are Dunnam and Deuell doing on stage together?’” Deuell is the only member of The Bad Precedents with a professional background in music. He graduated from the University of North Texas with a degree in music and traveled around the country performing with various artists, including Ike and Tina Turner and Tom Jones, for the 10 years before starting medical school. When Deuell came to Austin, the live music capital of the world, he caught the music bug again and tried to pick it back up, and when he received a call from Dunnam, he agreed to join the band. “We are an unrehearsed rock ’n’ roll band,” Dunnam said. “Anyone who is brave enough to get on stage and play can do so.” Because of their high-pressure jobs, the band does not have time to practice. “Some of the funniest stuff is when some House members come up and try to sing,” Deuell said. “It’s just fun — a stress reliever, to say the least.” He said they play anything from “Don’t Stop Believin’” to “Louie, Louie.” “People who watch us know we have long hours during our day, and it’s an opportunity to take a deep breath and smile for a while,” Dunnam said. As head of the Republican caucus in the Senate, Deuell said the band’s first rehearsal in the Democratic Caucus room proved the bipartisan and peaceful nature of the band. He said he looks forward to playing with the band after long days of debating in the Senate. “We also don’t get to see the House members very often, and [Dunnam] and I are close friends,” Deuell said. “We can put the political stuff aside and just play music.”
Emily Kinsolving | Daily Texan Staff
Samantha Morquecho and friends wear matching shirts at the UT Remembers on Friday in honor of Sophia Garcia, who died two weeks before her high school graduation. Morquecho, who would have been Garcia’s roommate, said Garcia’s friends have since grown closer. Friday was a day of remembrance for the families and friends of the 157 UT students, faculty, staff and retirees who died in 2008. UT Remembers, a University tradition that began in 1998, brought together the families, friends, colleagues and coworkers of past Longhorns to honor the lives of the deceased through services and prayer meetings held on campus throughout the day.
A main service was held in the Tower Garden at 2 p.m., during which the names of the deceased were read aloud followed by the tolling of the Tower bell. At night, the Tower lights were darkened from dusk to dawn, with only the cap and observation deck shining white in remembrance of those the UT community has lost. — Andrew Martinez
UT alumna considered for Supreme Court By Hudson Lockett Daily Texan Staff Diane Wood, an alumna of the UT School of Law, is being discussed as a potential candidate to replace Justice David Souter on the U.S. Supreme Court. Wood, a federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit and senior lecturer at the University of Chicago School of Law, declined all interviews
through an e-mail from her assistant stating that she was following a strict “no-interview” policy. Wood received her bachelor’s degree in English from UT in 1971 and her J.D. in 1975. She then went on to clerk for Supreme Court Justice Harry A. Blackmun. Wood worked in antitrust and international law throughout her career before being nominated to her current po-
sition by then-Presdent Bill Clinton in 1995. Lino Graglia, a professor at the UT law school, said Wood is “a very able judge and a very able lawyer.” Graglia said he respects the professional history of Wood, who, after clerking and a brief stint at the U.S. State Department, went on to work at international law firm Covington & Burling LLP.
“That’s a very difficult firm to get with,” Graglia said. Wood, who in April gave a keynote speech at the 2009 Texas Law Review Association Banquet, regularly challenges the two conservative judges serving alongside her on the appeals court. “It’s a tough intellectual core, the 7th Circuit, and she is there and she holds her own,” Graglia said.
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Life&Arts
6
Monday, May 11, 2009
Life&Arts Editor: Ana McKenzie E-mail: lifeandarts@dailytexanonline.com Phone: (512) 232-2209 www.dailytexanonline.com
T he Daily Texan
Students strip down for charity in annual Undie Run Unique Austin event inspires nearly 2,000 clothing donations By Roxanna Asgarian Daily Texan Staff On Friday night, hundreds of students got together, stripped down to their undies and ran across the 40 Acres. And no, it wasn’t just a normal weekend night in West Campus. The second annual Austin Undie Run secured its standing as a finals-week tradition when half-naked, studycrazed students ran down the Drag and through campus, culminating in an epic swim in the Littlefield Fountain. Girls in lingerie rode the statues of winged horses while boys in tighty-whiteys splashed through jet streams of water, everyone soaking wet and exhilarated from the nighttime run. “Swimming in the fountain with all these people was a quintessential moment of my time here at UT,” said Hannah Carnes, a graduating art studies senior. “It was an amazing way to end my college experience.” The run was more than just a good time. The hundreds of students who attended the event took off and donated almost 2,000 articles of clothing to local charities like St. Vincent De Paul, Trinity Center and Lifeworks. Weston Carls, who started and organized the Undie Run at UT, said it was easy to find sponsors for the event because it combined the experience of taking part in something memorable with donating to a good cause. “It’s about giving back,” Carls said. “We all go about our daily lives and spend our own or our parents’ money buying clothes that sometimes never see the light of day. Why
Melissa Dominguez | Daily Texan Staff
Students stripped down to their underwear for the 2009 Undie Run. The participants ran down Guadalupe Street, across campus and into the Littlefield Fountain. Before the run, the students donated their clothes to various local charities. not take that stuff and make someone else’s day?” Before the run started, the students met in the parking lot at the intersection of 22nd and Rio Grande streets to enter contests for prizes and drink dollar beers courtesy of Pie Guys. Brothers Ty and Ethan, who withheld their last names, entered the Sexiest Undies con-
test in matching pink briefs speckled with white stars. “We found these on vacation in Boston,” Ty said. “We knew we were going to do this. A lot of people are entering, but I figure we can’t be beaten.” Another contest was for “Best-Themed Group.” A group of girls dressed as their favorite NBA players and there was a male group of Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles. But the boys from the UT water polo team showed everyone up, showcasing their swimming bods in matching speedos and team caps. Jennifer Blount, a visual art studies senior, said her first Undie Run was a success. “It was so exhilarating!” Blount said. “Looking back, I will be glad I did it.”
“Swimming in the fountain with all these people was a quintessential moment of my time here at UT.” — Hannah Carnes, art studies senior
Deaf performer draws crowds with inspiring dance routines Cruz Lane shares music by signing, singing, dancing around Austin By Rachel Meador Daily Texan Staff Cruz Lane turns up his iPod to near-maximum volume and shoves the buds into his ears. Blaring Eamon’s “I Don’t Want You Back,” one of several hiphop songs he performs, the fit 19-year-old begins dancing with Usher-like smoothness. Lane’s moves, however, come with a twist: He’s pairing his dancing with American Sign Language. “The first thing you must do when you choose a song is read the lyrics so you understand what it means,” Lane says of performing songs as a deaf entertainer. “You feel the music by speaking the words.” Lane’s hearing began to fade at age 3. Now, when he doesn’t
wear his hearing aid, he hears what he describes as echoing sounds. He moved to Austin from Greenville to attend the Texas School for the Deaf at age 14, where his interest in dance and music began to blossom. Now, he performs around the city in groups or by himself, singing, signing and dancing to popular music. “A lot of deaf people come to me because they feel frustrated that hearing people don’t think they can interact in listening activities like signing and dancing,” Lane said. “I tell them the bottom line: Just do it. They know that they know about music and love to sing and dance, and if they show it — people will talk about it and they will know too.” UT deaf education and deafness studies junior Eve Robinson saw Lane perform with a friend during class this semester and found the experience inspiring and encouraging.
“A lot of hearing people just assume that deaf people live in a silent world and they can’t experience music or sound, but that’s not the case,” Robinson said. “It is an easy conclusion to make that if you’re living in a silent world you’re missing out on a lot of information and have a limited world view. But take Cruz for example — just because he experiences music in a different way than us doesn’t mean he has a lesser understanding of it. He breaks it down on the floor.” Last summer Lane was invited to New Orleans to compete at the National Association of the Deaf Conference. Though his favorite genre is R&B because it “inspires people to feel,” he performed a routine to Taylor Swift’s “Do I Make You Proud,” which earned him a place in the top five contenders. Now he is working on a video
DANCE continues on page 7
Tamir Kalifa | Daily Texan Staff
Cruz Lane, a deaf performance artist, signs the lyrics and dances to R&B music by feeling the vibrations. Lane plans to pursue music performance at the Rochester Institute for Technology.
Photo courtesy of Jaimie Trueblood
Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf run through explosions in a scene from “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.” LeBeouf recently spoke to the Texan about his role in the movie.
‘Transformers’ star promises explosions LaBeouf speaks candidly about upcoming movie, college, favorite co-stars By Michael Thompson Daily Texan Staff With “Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen” little more than a month away from its release, Shia LaBeouf revealed in an interview with The Daily Texan that the new Michael Bay action blockbuster is, in fact, not Shakespeare. He quickly rattled off answers in a straightforward manner, talking about the filming process, his disappointment about college and his professional urge to work with co-star Megan Fox. The young actor had a fresh approach to summer movies. Daily Texan: How is the second movie going to top it off? Shia LaBeouf: It’s [expletive] bigger, stronger, faster, better — it has to be. You got to realize you know this movie is being made by a lot of dudes who have a lot of pride. There’s no way that we’re going to promise you something and then
have it be a piece of [expletive]. It would just be a real problem for everybody’s psyche. I think that definitely, like, the easiest way that I could point at and say that it’s going to be a better film is it’s definitely the most explosive thing that you can possibly buy tickets to this year. We broke like four or five Guinness World Records making it. DT: So, having worked on the first film, did you find it was easier or harder to prepare for the second film? SL: Again, it’s not “Elephant Man.” We’re not making “Citizen Kane.” It’s not like some crazy Stanislavski emotional preparation stuff, you know? It’s none of that. A lot of it is physical exertion. So having to physically exert yourself when you have a broken hand is rough. So that made it difficult. It’s just a very physical, physical movie and [Michael Bay] makes you do as much as possible because he has seven or eight cameras going at once. And situations like that arise every day and you wind up putting your actor in the middle of it.
DT: How does your character change? How does he evolve from the first one? SL: Well, Sam saved the world the first time, right? So just imagine Brad Pitt going to Trader Joe’s to go get a granola bar. He’s trying to go to college and have a normal life. And as you know, college is a humongous, humongous deal for kids who didn’t enjoy their life in high school because it’s a chance to start over. And Sam was this nebbishy, neurotic, dorky kid in high school who fell into the most ridiculous situation. DT: Can you relate to the whole college theme? SL: I wanted to go to college — [expletive] man. I wanted to go to college so bad and I was going to go. I was set to go. And at the last minute a guy named Steven Spielberg called up and had a plan for other things. And I wasn’t going to be like, “Well, listen, Steven, you’ve got great ideas and all, but I don’t think so, boss, I’m headed to school.” So I didn’t do that, because I’m not insane.
TRANSFORMERS continues on page 7
CLASS/ENT P7
7
Life&Arts
Monday, May 11, 2009
Book Review
‘Pygmy’ sure to haunt, delight fans Palahniuk’s latest book comments on America with humor, intelligence
in the U.S. in the broken English of a non-native speaker. The irregular structure and cultural confusions (such as Pygmy’s liberal use of Listerine as a cologne) provide much of the novel’s humor and allow Palahniuk to stretch his already well-developed satirical muscle. Take, for example, the way Pygmy addresses the old lady who greets him inside Wal-Mart, saying, “Venerate ancestor, much respected dying soon rotting corpse.” It’s lines like these that provide the comic element of the novel — jokes meant to provoke laughter not only because of Pygmy’s butchered English but because of his simplistic, yet true, take on American culture. Over the years, Palahniuk has established himself as a highly intelligent observer of American life, a cynic in touch with the absurdities of capitalism and the greedy actions it inspires. He unleashes his perspective in his trademark minimalist style, penning short, choppy sentences rife with seemingly mundane details and enough sadism and sex to make your mother disown you just for reading it. But what brings it all full circle is Palahniuk’s ability to give his work a heart. Despite scenes like the brutal sodomizing of a school bully in the Wal-Mart bathroom or a fellow terrorist’s attempted drowning of a priest during a baptism, there are still positive elements to be found. The rape forces the bully to accept his own homosexuality, and we soon discover the priest is perhaps the least godly man in the book. Twisted resolutions, but hopeful ones nonetheless. “Pygmy” is another in a long line of stellar novels from Palahniuk. While the book will haunt you, maybe even scar you, if you perse-
By Robert Rich Daily Texan Staff One of these days, Chuck Palahniuk is going to run out of gimmicks. The author, known for penning the generation-defining “Fight Club,” structures each of his novels around a certain technique. In “Haunted,” it was a series of interrelated short stories linked by plot-advancing narrative chapters. “Rant” took the form of a transcribed oral history of the eponymous title character. And just last year, “Snuff” was told via the shifting viewpoints of would-be porn stars waiting in the green room for their moment of glory. Just a year later, Palahniuk is back with “Pygmy,” a characteristically nihilistic tale from one of the literary world’s most unique voices — or its biggest shock writer, depending on who you ask. “Pygmy” is the story of a 13-year-old foreign exchange student living in the U.S. with a typical American host family — mom, dad, brother and sister, all endowed with stereotypical qualities, like mom’s compulsive battery theft to power her numerous vibrators or brother’s Ritalin-addled hormonal sexuality. What we quickly find out, however, is that Pygmy is not just any foreign exchange student — he is also a terrorist in his homeland, sent to the U.S. to execute Operation Havoc and kill as many citizens as possible. The gimmick this time around is that the tale is told via Pygmy’s dispatches home, recounts of his life
From page 6 with Pat Green, who watched him perform and, after wiping the tears from his eyes, asked him to be a part of his upcoming show and single. “Sometimes people need some love,” Lane said of his routines. “So I give it to them.” In August, Lane will move to New York to attend the
E! FRE on l y
Rochester Institute of Technology, one of two prominent deaf colleges, where he will continue to pursue his goals and work toward a degree in music performance. “I love music and I love performing. I feel so relaxed,” Lane said. “Not a lot of deaf people go down this path, so it means a lot to me to make the Deaf community proud.”
trANsformErs: LaBeouf puts
college on hold for film career From page 6 DT: So who from the first film did you most look forward to working with again on “Transformers?” SL: Okay, now which — hmm. Interesting. I mean the obvious is — right? I’m a red-
ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFLY
Funny man Fallon graduates from college after 14 years
vere you will come across the sweet morsels of a love story, the hopeful tale hidden beneath. If you’re nothing more than a sicko, Palahniuk’s got you covered. But if you want something a
bit more real, a little more life-defining, Chuck’s got you covered there, as well. Just do a little dig1 ging — there’s something hidden for you beneath that shooting at the model U.N.
Classifieds
ALBANY, N.Y. — He’s a comic, actor, “Saturday Night Live” veteran and “Late Night” talk show host. Add one more thing to Jimmy Fallon’s resume: college graduate. Fallon, 34, finally got his bachelor’s degree Saturday, 14 years after he left an upstate New York college to pursue his
THE DAILY TEXAN
uns ad irne for onl ad s
music performance degree
CLASSIFIEDS
day, month day, 2008
d wor
DANCE: Lane plans to earn
blooded American man, age 22, so there’s that. I think probably John Turturro. I think honestly Turturro was so insane, man. Turturro is like one of the craziest people I’ve ever come across in my life, not even on some actor stuff, just on some people stuff.
comedy career. The television and film star picked up his degree in communications and spoke to graduates at Saturday’s College of Saint Rose commencement. “There’s always going to be someone out there like that movie critic, who doesn’t believe in you or who thinks your head is too big or you’re not smart enough or whatever,” Fallon told the graduates. “But those are the people you need to ignore, and those are the times you need to just keep doing what you love doing.” — Associated Press
3B
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Monday, May 11, 2009
SPTS P9
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Monday, May 11, 2009
WoMen’s Tennis
WoMen’s GolF
California 4, Texas 1
Cal douses Texas’ quick start, sends Horns home By Rishi Daulat Daily Texan Staff The start was too good to be true. No. 31 Texas, though missing its top singles and doubles player Vanja Corovic, thoroughly dominated ninth-ranked California at first and second doubles. Texas’ Amanda Craddock and Krista Damico pulled the most shocking upset of the day as the young makeshift doubles tandem defeated the No. 7 team of Mari Andersson and Jana Juricova. At No. 2 doubles, Caroline Larsson and Stephanie Davison scored an upset as well, taking down Cal’s No. 35 duo of Claire Ilcinkas and Marina Cossou. Ultimately, though, Cal’s depth prevailed at singles.
The Golden Bears hit their stride in the singles session, taking four straight matches. At No. 1 singles, No. 11 Juricova proved too much for Texas’ top freshman Damico, while Cossou, Ilcinkas and Bojana Bobusic also earned victories for the Golden Bears. After the string of singles victories, the match was over with Cal taking the team win, 4-1. California cruised through its first round match against Long Island, 4-0. Texas’ match against Pepperdine in the first round was the complete opposite. The Horns started out lethargically and were blown out at the first and second doubles spots. But as the team has done recently during conference play, Texas
dominated its opponents in the singles session. Texas’ top player Corovic surprisingly did not participate in the singles or doubles sessions, yet Damico filled in well at the first singles spot and earned a 6-4, 6-3 win over Anamika Bhargava. Maggie Mello, Craddock and Davison all earned comfortable, straight-set victories to close out the 4-1 win. The Golden Bears next face No. 8 Georgia Tech. The young Texas team played tough even when missing many top players due to various injuries this season. The team loses one senior, doubles specialist Marija Milic, and the team hopes to build on this year ’s NCAA experience.
Rupp: Catcher highlights win From page 10 Rupp made one of the biggest plays in Sunday’s game. After sailing through the first four innings, Taylor Jungmann, Texas’ starting pitcher, hit a wall in the top of the fifth when he allowed three runs. With two runners still on base, Rupp made an unprecedented fielder’s choice with an unassisted double play that tagged out Texas A&M runners Kyle Colligan and Joe Patterson. Colligan was en route to home plate when he looked up to see Rupp charging at him with the ball. Unfortunately for Patterson, who was
sprinting from second to third, he did not see Colligan in the run down between third and home, and both runners ended up getting tagged out by Rupp at third base. “That’s something you don’t see everyday, is it?” Rupp said. “We took advantage of the mistake the guy on third base made. I didn’t see the guy coming to third until he was almost at the base, so I did whatever I could to get him out.” Rupp’s gritty play saved the Longhorns from facing a tied game. “I’ve never seen it before,” Garrido said. “An unassisted double
play at third base by a catcher is quite an unusual play. But really, all plays are big plays when there’s one run or so separating two teams. Hitting is not the only part of the offense that matters — it’s run scoring that separates the teams at the end of the day.” The Aggies completely outhit Texas 13-5 and were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position. They definitely had chances, but they failed to convert. After winning 11-9 in extra innings Friday night and losing 3-0 in game two on Saturday, the Longhorns pushed through all adversities to seize their most important win to date on Sunday.
DROPPED: OU rolls Horns before falling to Mizzou From page 10 Barnhill said. “We just really worked hard this whole time, and we were ready to come and try to get them this last time.” Texas was in the opposite position heading in to face Oklahoma later on Saturday night. The Longhorns swept the Sooners at home during the regular season, ending one of the two games in five innings.
“Every time you get to the Big 12 championship, you’ve got familiar opponents,” head coach Connie Clark said. “Obviously they are a good ball club, and they probably have redemption on their mind with us.” Oklahoma second baseman and leading hitter Amber Flores, a finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, needed to redeem herself after Barnhill shut her down in the regular
season series. She made a statement in bottom of the fifth when she hit her second home run of the day. “Our focus has been about managing the moment and staying pitch-to-pitch,” Clark said. “I think in that regard, we did a nice job in the two games that we played.” Freshman right fielder Courtney Craig led the Texas offense, going three-for-four at the plate.
stRong: No. 5 Tennessee to face Texas on Thursday From page 10 No. 4 singles 6-1, 6-1. Kutrovsky won his match 6-4, 6-3 to give Texas a 3-0 lead while Damico was locked in a tough match against Martin Kildahl at No. 3 singles. After taking the first set 6-3, Damico went down 5-4 in the second. Starting at three set points
against him, Damico took charge and saved all of the points to tie it up 5-5. Damico then broke Kildahl’s serve and served out the match to get the fourth point necessary to put away the Huskies for good. “I think we’re playing as well as we have all year right now,” Center said. The Longhorns need to be on
their game this coming week, as the team will travel to College Station on Thursday to take on No. 5 Tennessee in the round of 16. The Vols (23-6) defeated Duke 4-1 in the second round. A win against Tennessee could put the Longhorns in a rematch against Georgia, the team that ended their national championship bid last year.
Sara Young | Daily Texan Staff
Freshman Megan Rosenfeld follows through on a swing earlier in the year. The Horns will be following up their strong performance at the West Regional in the nCAA championships.
Horns battle into NCAA meet Strong finish at West Regional earns Texas trip to championships By Matt Hohner Daily Texan Staff The Texas women’s golf team went to the Valley of the Sun for the weekend and brought back its golf clubs, tan lines and a spot in the NCAA championships. After the tournament, the women jumped into the pool, in uniform, to cool off from their hot performance on the links. Even coach Martha Richards took a dip in the water. “They first wanted me to jump in the water hazard on [hole] 18,” Richards said. “That water looked a little unsafe, and there was no quick way out.” The Longhorns will book a flight to Owing Mills, Md., to play for the women’s title after an impressive performance at the NCAA West Regional in Tempe, Ariz. The team shot 9-over par, tying for fourth in the standings. Arizona State scorched the competition
WEIRD: Opportunistic Horns continually thrive in odd games From page 10 On Sunday, the Longhorns’ pitching staff held on to a lead that the Aggies’ defense gave them. With one out in the first, Travis Tucker doubled down the third baseline. Brandon Belt followed with a walk. And then things got strange. Russell Moldenhauer hit into what appeared to be an inningending double play. Instead Aggie first baseman Luke Anders struggled to find the bag and Moldnehauer was called safe. “It didn’t cost us the game. It didn’t cost us a run,” said Texas A&M coach Rob Childress, who came out on the field to argue the call. “We still had the opportunity to get out of the inning, but we didn’t do it. It is a disappointing loss.” Texas catcher Cameron Rupp ripped a grounder to Aggie third baseman Caleb Shofner, but Shofner sailed the throw to first wide, allowing Tucker to score on the error and prolonging the inning. The four runs that would follow were enough for Texas to eke out
a 5-4 win on Sunday, capturing the weekend series. Brandon Loy drew a walk off of Aggie starter Barret Loux, who would then bean Kevin Keyes to bring home another Longhorn run. With the bases loaded again, Texas left fielder Tim Maitland, starting in only his second game of the season, pushed a single through the right side of the infield, driving home two more runs. “When coach told me I was starting, I was excited,” Maitland said. “It felt great to get a big hit. I really needed it. The team really needed it in that situation.” Maitland, who typically comes on as a pinch runner and defensive substitution late in games, got the nod from Garrido on Sunday because of his quickness in left field. “Because I put him in for defense, that is the reason [he got the big hit],” Garrido said. “They had hit so many fly balls hard — to the wall, in the alleys — in the two games before. In this ballpark I wanted to give our pitchers a chance and have our best
defense in there. I put him in for his defense and he hit three balls hard.” After Maitland’s huge single, another throwing error from Shofner allowed Keyes to score. Texas’ five first-inning runs, the product of two Texas hits and the two costly Aggie errors, were unearned — and all Texas needed to hold off A&M. “They need to create a new category for us,” Garrido said. “I don’t know what it is going to be called, maybe runs scored without the benefit of a hit.” Texas starter Taylor Jungmann was continually in trouble. In four innings of work he allowed 12 Aggie base-runners. But it wasn’t until the fifth, when he allowed three straight singles to load the bases before walking in a run, that the Aggies capitalized. Freshman Austin Dicharry, worked out of the jam in the fifth and earning his sixth win of the season, allowing only one run on one hit. Texas A&M left 12 runners on base Sunday, hitting 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position. Texas made every play it needed to
make — plus an absurd, unassisted inning-ending double play in which Texas catcher Cameron Rupp tagged out two Aggie runners near third base. “That play from Rupp was awesome,” Maitland said. “I see big ol’ Rupp running down the line and I yelled that the other runner was coming over to third. That play was really amazing. It actually made Rupp look quick.” Rupp, a former linebacker, tagged Aggie center fielder Kyle Colligan, who was retreating to third after crashing toward home on a slow chopper to Dicharry. Rupp then switched direction, diving to tag Joe Patterson as he slid into third for the second out. “It was a crazy play,” Rupp said. “I didn’t see the second guy until right when he dove. When he dove, I dove. I like to stay behind the plate, I don’t go chasing guys normally.” Rupp’s abnormal play was the perfect way to secure a Big 12 title in an abnormal season. “Rupp looks weird, it was a weird play,” Garrido said. “But this is Austin. We are doing our part to keep Austin weird.”
with a score of 22-under par. This will be Texas’ second straight NCAA championships appearance under Richards, who said this team was the best No. 17 seed ever to play in the tournament. “All year we’ve been doing the right things as far as attitudes and practices,” Richards said. “Talent doesn’t always produce the results at the time when it needs to be produced.” Richards said she is proud of her team’s mental toughness. “I’ve been telling the girls to keep believing,” Richards said. “Keep doing what we’re doing, and this week we saw results of that. The first two rounds were our best rounds all year.” The Longhorns had to fight off the desert sun and dry heat all weekend, but the weather never affected their play. “I didn’t think it was that bad,” said senior Kelley Louth. “We had ‘sunbrellas’ to keep us cool and drank a lot of water to keep us hydrated. Coming from Texas, we deal with the heat a lot. We’re pretty used to it.” The Longhorns have had trou-
ble putting together low scores consistently this season but managed to do it over the course of this weekend’s tournament. They look to maintain that recipe heading into the championship. Senior Kristin Walla carried the team en route to one of her best career finishes, carding a score of 1-under par. Her impressive display led to a ninthplace finish in the individual standings. “It was mixture of determination, belief in myself and just allowing us the freedom doing what we do best,” Walla said. Louth had a 1-over par score, which was good for 18th in the individual standings. “We played really well this weekend,” Louth said. “Everyone has some strokes that they can shave off. We’re on an uphill ladder to success, and we’re peaking at the right time.” Junior Shannon Fish ended the tournament scoring 4-over par, while freshman Nicole Vandermade finished one stroke behind Fish for 5-over par. Caney Hines rounded out the team with a score of 24-over par.
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Sports Editor: David R. Henry E-mail: sports@dailytexanonline.com Phone: (512) 232-2210 www.dailytexanonline.com
T he Daily Texan
tExaS 5
tExaS a&M 4
Horns drop Aggies, secure Big 12 championship Longhorn closer secures series victory, pushes team to conference title
Emily Kinsolving | Daily Texan Staff
texas pitcher Cole Green slings a pitch during Saturday’s 3-0 loss to texas a&M. While Green and the longhorns struggled on Saturday, texas captured the series over the aggies and the Big 12 regular season championship with a 5-4 win on Sunday.
Texas transfoms A&M’s miscues into title, continues weird winning ways By austin talbert Daily Texan Staff In its final Big 12 regular season game, Texas scored five runs in the first inning to secure the win in what became a typical 2009 Longhorn game —
which is anything but typical. The Longhorns managed to secure one constant: their fifth Big 12 regular season title, the third that they have won in the last four years. “We put ourselves in posi-
tion, put us into a probable position to win it,� said Texas head coach Augie Garrido. “Despite what happened against Kansas and Kansas State, we have done what it takes to be in position to win a Big 12 title, be a top-
eight seed and host a regional and a super regional. It started with pitching and defense, and it came down to pitching and defense.�
WEIRD continues on page 9
By laken litman Daily Texan Staff Texas head coach Augie Garrido predicted that the win of this weekend’s Texas-Texas A&M Lone Star Showdown at UFCU Disch-Falk Field would all come down to the final pitch on the final day. And it did. With No. 8 Texas (36-12-1, 17-9-1 Big 12) leading No. 14 Texas A&M (33-18, 14-10 Big 12) 5-4 in the top of the ninth inning in Sunday’s rubber match, senior pitcher Austin Wood made the final pitch that gave the Longhorns the series win. “There was a runner on second base with two outs,� Wood said. “[Catcher Cameron Rupp] called an outside fastball, and all I had to do was sink it. It was a pretty good way to finish this series off.� With the fate of the game in his hands, one might think Wood would get nervous with the pressure, but that was not the case. He was able to close out the game, scattering three hits over 2.2 scoreless innings to pick up his 13th save of the season. “If I worry about getting a strikeout, then they’ll get a hit,� he said. “I just gotta worry about making my pitch and whatever happens, happens. It was a pretty cool feeling
to see how our players reacted and how the fans reacted. Even though we haven’t won the Big 12 yet, it feels like we did today.� Texas’ win over A&M, coupled Oklahoma’s loss to Oklahoma State, gave the Longhorns their fifth Big 12 regular-season title and their third in the last four years. “We did our job this weekend,� Wood said. “[Sunday] we battled back and showed what we were made of. This win means a lot but that’s not our final goal. Our final goal is to get to Omaha and win the national championship.� It was evident on Sunday that baseball games are not won in the first inning. The Longhorns were up 5-0 after the first inning but ended up winning the game and the series by one run. Texas proved to have a short-term memory on Sunday, forgetting about the past two games and focusing solely on the task at hand. In the first inning, the team came out and took advantage of every mistake Texas A&M made. The mayhem at the bottom of the first inning ended with the Longhorns making five unearned runs on two hits with the help of two Aggie errors. “We’ve been talking all year that we have got to capitalize on the other team’s mistakes,� Rupp said. “And we did that today in the first inning and thank goodness it was enough to get by.�
RUPP continues on page 9
SOFtBall
Oklahoma 6, Texas 2 (Big 12 semifinals)
Sooners beat Horns in semis By lena Price Daily Texan Staff After earning a first-round bye and beating Nebraska (34-17) in the second round of the Big 12 championship tournament Saturday, the Longhorns (38-18) couldn’t make it past the semifinal match against top-seeded Oklahoma (40-14). Missouri (45-9) went on to upset Oklahoma in the championship game of the tournament. In game one against the Huskers, the Longhorns set a school record for most runs scored in a Big 12 tournament game. At first, the game looked like it could have been a repeat of Tex-
as’ two regular-season losses to the Huskers. Nebraska took a 2-0 lead in the first, but Texas was able to respond in the bottom of the same inning. Nebraska pitcher Molly Hill threw two consecutive walks, and freshman shortstop Lexy Bennett hit an RBI single to push in the runner on second. Hill struggled with giving up walks throughout the rest of the game, allowing six walks and five hits. After the top of the first, the Huskers never took back the lead. Texas secured a 10-5 win by scoring five runs in the fifth and sixth innings.
Horns head to ’Bama
Texas starts double elimination NCAA regional play Friday with Chatanooga in the Tuscaloosa Regional.
Sophomore pitcher Brittany Barnhill earned the win for Texas. She threw the first four innings for Texas, and junior Erin Tresselt relieved her in the fourth. “We were definitely very excited going into this game because we dropped two to Nebraska during conference,�
DROPPED continues on page 9
MEn’S tEnniS
Texas cruises through first two rounds
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texas’ Dimitar Kutrovsky powered texas through two rounds, winning his match against Washington 6-4, 6-3.
By Evan Knopp Daily Texan Staff “We’re ready to take on anyone.� Those are head coach Michael Center’s sentiments going into the round of 16 of the NCAA championships. No. 12 Texas made quick work of first-round opponent Sacred Heart 4-0 on Friday in what was probably the most decisive victory of the season. At No. 1 doubles, Ed Corrie and Kellen Damico completely dismantled Mike Syer and Adam Gant 8-0 for the first victory of the day. Another easy win from Josh Zavala and Jon Wiegand gave Texas the doubles point to wrap up that portion of the competition. Sacred Heart didn’t stand a chance one-onone either, as not a single member was able to win more than two games in a set. Texas’ Dimitar Kutrovsky, Miguel Reyes-Varela and Jonah Kane-West gave up only three games combined. Washington, which had rallied from down 3-0 to Texas Tech to take the victory, faced Texas in the second round. A day made a world of difference, as the Horns had to fight for every game to eventually win the double point. Corrie and Damico lost a close match 8-6, but the other two Texas teams picked up the points by winning their matches 8-5 and 8-6. Texas then went up 2-0 after Miguel ReyesVarela made quick work of Derek Drabble at
STRONG continues on page 9