10/09/09

1A 1

THE DAILY TEXAN 1

TEXAN

GE

ERA

S:

PRESENT

COV BLE THE D

AILY

DOU

DOUBLE COVERAGE

H N — ASS RUS STO HOU AVE A P nsive tackleeleads fe ns nior de rn defe 6 WE H Se

Longho

LIFE&ARTS PAGE 12

The meat of the matter: Austin’s best barbecue

It’s buffalo season

— p.

TOMORROW’S WEATHER Low

High

55

73

5 Issue Vol. 4, 9 9, 200 Oct.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

www.dailytexanonline.com

Austin copes with growing pains

Jordy Wagoner | Daily Texan Staff

Kenneth Koym, president of the Imperial Valley Neighborhood Association and opponent of the proposed zoning restrictions, stands in front of the SH 131 Toll Road in far East Austin. City Council is considering a proposition to annex a portion of land between the SH 131 Corridor and FM 1973.

Nearby subdivisions fight what they say are unfair zoning restrictions

By Rachel Platis Daily Texan Staff As Austin continues to grow, some homeowners are examining the implications of expansion.

In early 2010, City Council will vote on whether or not to impose zoning restrictions on 2,300 acres of land in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction off of the State Highway 130 Corridor. The limited annexation would control land use for the proposed developments in the Whisper Valley and Indian Hills subdivisions.

Kenneth Koym, president of the Imperial Valley Neighborhood Association, is working to fight what he believes are unfair zoning practices.

The proposed development site of SH 130 is within five miles of the city’s limits surrounding Walter E. Long Lake near Manor, Texas. The Imperial Valley neighborhood lies between the affected area and the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, but there are no current plans for zoning or annexation.

“As a general contractor, the company just wants to make a big chunk of money,” Koym said.

“What makes this issue important to me is that it is opening up the door for more and bigger development.”

Taurus of Texas Holdings, LP, a Boston-based development firm, is proposing that 169 acres be desig-

nated for residential use, 23 acres for multi-family use, 232 for commercial use and 940 for mixed use.

Indian Hills and Whisper Valley will include 2,848 single-family homes, 2,700 multi-family homes, 2300 town homes, about 1 million square feet of retail, about 1 million square feet of office space and spaces for schools. The schools would be part of Manor Independent School District.

Altogether, the projects are about the size of Circle C Ranch, a suburb located in southwest Austin.

“Why are people that interested in properties up and down the toll road? It’s because they’ve been told there’s a steal to be had,”

Koym said.

In May of 2008, City Council authorized the negotiation of the development agreement for Whisper Valley and Indian Hills.

“The owners of the project have worked with the city to develop an agreement that was approved by the City Council,” said Virginia Collier, principal planner for the Planning and Development Review Board. “Part of this agreement addressed how the area will be brought into the city in the future.”

Full-purpose annexation is when an area comes into the city limits of

GROWTH continues on page 9

Fusion of UT offices conserves resources

By Hudson Lockett Daily Texan Staff The UT Office of Technology Commercialization — responsible for developing and commercializing intellectual property on campus — will be combined with corporate relations and restructured to handle contractual relations with industries and develop broader relations through corporate development, said Vice President for Research Juan Sanchez Thursday.

A task force, charged with finding a new director for the technology, made its recommendations to UT President William Powers earlier this month.

The moves come after years of declining federal research dollars for universities, making it imperative that UT find commercial sources of revenue for its research and technology.

Robert Williams, a pharmacy professor with extensive experience working with the technology commercialization, served on the task force that recommended candidates for the new director. Williams said he expected the president’s office to take action soon.

According to a September report by the National Science Foundation, over the last four years federal funding has dropped 4 percent, now accounting for 60 percent of academic research and development funding at $31.2 billion. Non-federal sources increased their share of total funding last year by nearly nine percent. They total $20.7 billion.

The goal of the technology is to find and shepherd intellectual property through the legal proceedings that patent and license the technology, making it safe to pitch to industry sources. Some researchers and deans familiar with the office said that a substantial amount of potentially valuable intellectual property on campus remains untapped.

Gregory Fenves, dean of the Cockrell School of Engineering, said that some technology developed at the engineering school has “tremendous commercial potential,” but UT does not do as good a job as peer universities at marketing that research.

TECH continues on page 2

Student group first to come out against Prop. 4 Young Conservatives of Texas oppose creation of research university fund

By Lena Price Daily Texan Staff The Young Conservatives of Texas, a statewide student organization, became the first group to declare opposition to Proposition 4 this week.

If passed, the proposition will create a new national research university fund for Texas schools. Seven emerging research universities, including four schools within the UT system, would eventually have ac-

cess to the fund if they meet five of seven criteria. The universities would have to award a minimum of 200 doctoral degrees a year and have an endowment of at least $400 million to access the money and fund research projects.

In its statement, the group said such a strong emphasis on funding research would shift the priority away from educating students at those schools.

“The premise of our entire argument is that we do not support university-based research,” said Tony McDonald, the YCT vice

Laboratory safety comes up short in inspections

By Viviana Aldous Daily Texan Staff Each inspection of UT labs in the last two years has, on average, turned up at least one deficiency in safety procedures.

Five staffers from the University’s Office of Environmental Health and Safety have performed more than 1,200 inspections this year with a checklist containing more than 30 points.

Any point not met results in a deficiency, said Dennis Nolan, the office’s associate director.

Nearly 4,000 inspections conducted from 2007 through last month resulted in an average of 1.2 deficiencies per inspection, according to statistics from Environmental Health and Safety.

The office is responsible for conducting lab safety inspections at least once a year in each UT lab, though some labs with “high activity or special hazards” are inJordy Wagoner | Daily Texan Staff

YCT continues on page 2

SAFETY continues on page 2

Kim Kuykendall, a nutrition junior, works in the chemistry lab in Welch for Chemistry 204.

Coalition campaigns against abusive tomato farmers UT graduate student asks Union food supplier to work with labor group

Maddie Crum | Daily Texan Staff

Kandace Vallejo of Fair Food Austin requests to meet with Henry Jackson concerning labor abuses in the tomato supply chain.

By Hannah Jones Daily Texan Staff Throughout the state of Florida, and across the United States, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers is campaigning to end conditions for farm laborers that it says meet legal standards for modernday slavery.

Based in Immokalee, Fla., the coalition is working to encourage major food service providers to not purchase tomatoes from

growers who have been convicted of labor abuse.

On Thursday, education graduate student Kandace Vallejo and other members of Fair Food Austin delivered a letter to Henry Jackson, Aramark’s business representative at the Texas Union, outlining their expectations for the company. Aramark is the food service provider of the Texas Union.

The letter asked Aramark to follow the recent example set by the Compass Group North America in working with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers to eliminate human rights violations in its tomato supply chain.

Partners of the coalition, including the Student/Farmworker Alliance and Fair Food Austin, are calling on major buyers of tomatoes to establish a code of conduct in their supply chains, pay a premium of one penny more per pound for their tomatoes and ensure that this penny is passed down directly to farm workers.

The coalition is urging students across the country to get involved by letting their campus food service providers know about a similar agreement made with Compass Group and demanding that Sodexo and Aramark require the same standards of their Florida to-

mato suppliers, according to material on its Web site.

Vallejo, a member of the Steering Committee in the Student/ Farmworker Alliance, wrote a guest column Tuesday for The Daily Texan. Vallejo said in the column that Aramark should establish an agreement with the coalition to demand higher standards of its tomato suppliers and end their role in Florida’s “harvest of shame.”

During the meeting in the Union, Vallejo asked Jackson to pass the letter to his supervisor

TOMATO continues on page 2

2

2

NEWS

THE DAILY TEXAN

Friday, October 9, 2009

TOMATO: Fair food

The light brightens

Volume 110, Number 88 25 cents

group to conduct campus initiative

CONTACT US Main Telephone: (512) 471-4591

From page 1

Editor: Jillian Sheridan (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor: Stephen Keller (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

Mary Kang | Daily Texan Staff

Sales representative Cindy Vackar and store manager Martha Millan select merchandise for Lights Fantastic, located on Burnet and St Joseph Boulevard, as builder trade division sales Janeen Sager looks over on Thursday afternoon.

Retail Advertising: (512) 471-1865 joanw@mail.utexas.edu

YCT: ‘Holy Grail’ of research is ‘an illusion’

Classified Advertising: (512) 471-5244 classifieds@dailytexanonline.com

From page 1 chairman of legislative affairs.

The YCT cited a 2008 study conducted by the Texas Public Policy Foundation, which found that to date, Texas universities have spent about $9 billion on research, and generate $8.3 million a year in income. McDonald said the majority of research should be conducted outside of universities setting. “So many of our classes are taught by teaching assistants or very young, inexperienced professors,� McDonald said. “And we are seeing that these ‘great’ professors are teaching practically no classes. The state would be better off using the money to teach students.�

The organization recommends putting the $425 million toward scholarships.

The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail managingeditor@dailytexanonline.com.

COPYRIGHT Copyright 2009 Texas Student Media. All articles, photographs and graphics, both in the print and online editions, are the property of Texas Student Media and may not be reproduced or republished in part or in whole without written permission.

TODAY’S WEATHER Low

High

54

72

— Tony McDonald, YCT spokesman “We’re trying to shift public opinion and get people to realize that this holy grail of research is an illusion,� McDonald said. “It just really wouldn’t be all that useful.�

McDonald said students should be the top priority of university instructors, and they can’t be when professors are focused on writing scholarly articles. “I can’t deny the fact that this is a great university,� McDonald

said. “But I think it needs to be reminded that the students are still the customers.�

Texas has three tier-one research universities — UT, Texas A&M University and Rice. California has nine such universities.

Criteria for becoming a national research university include membership in the Association of American Universities, placement in national rankings and the amount of federal research

TECH: Office aims to push for security of intellectual property rights

Time to make the doughnuts...

From page 1

breckenridge

Vail ™ Beaver Creek ™ Keystone ™ Arapahoe Basin

20 Mountains. 5 Resorts. 1 Price.

plus t/s

1-800"H@>"L>A9 ™ &"-%%",*)".)*(

“Some of our peer universities do a better job of identifying commercial opportunities for research that comes out of the labs that faculty and students are doing,� he said. “I think we have a tremendous amount of research that’s going on here, so we would like to leverage it as much as possible through the office.�

Fenves said young faculty from

THE DAILY TEXAN

This newspaper was written, edited and designed with pride

by The Daily Texan and Texas Student Media.

Permanent Staff

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jillian Sheridan Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen Keller Associate Managing Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .David R. Henry, Ana McKenzie Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremy Burchard, Dan Treadway, David Muto, Lauren Winchester News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sean Beherec Associate News Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pierre Bertrand, Austen Sofhauser, Blair Watler Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viviana Aldous, Bobby Longoria, Rachel Platis, Lena Price Enterprise Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Kreighbaum Enterprise Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hudson Lockett Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Green Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cristina Herrera, Nausheen Jivani, Matt Jones Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Thu Vo Assistant Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shatha Hussein Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Fausak, Lynda Gonzales, Olivia Hinton Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . May-Ying Lam Associate Photo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bryant Haertlein, Peter Franklin, Caleb Miller Senior Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Karina Jacques, Mary Kang,Tamir Kalifa, Peyton McGee, Sara Young Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Leigh Patterson Associate Life&Arts Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Brad Barry, Francisco Marin Jr. Senior Features Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Audrey Gale Campbell, Lisa HoLung, Ben Wermund Senior Entertainment Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Doty, Mary Lingwall, Robert Rich Senior DT Weekend Writer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amber Genuske Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Austin Talbert Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Will Anderson, Wes DeVoe, Blake Hurtik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Hurwitz, Laken Litman, Michael Sherfield, Chris Tavarez Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carolyn Calabrese Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Annika Erdman Associate Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Erik Reyna Multimedia Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juan Elizondo Associate Multimedia Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kara McKenzie, Rachel Schroeder Senior Videographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dane Hurt Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Richard Finnell

Issue Staff

Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hannah Jones, Nihas Wagal, Shabab Siddiqui . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nehal Patel, Jordan Haeger Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordy Wagoner, Karl Rosenfeld Life & Arts Writers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Solomon Wang Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tara Dreyer, Sameer Bhuchar, Jordan Godwin Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Megan Gottlieb, Michael Moran, Vicky Ho, Kelsey Crow Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Hailey, Rachel Weiss, Gabe Alvarez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Nam Nguyen, Katie Smith, Amelia Giller Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mustafa Saifuddin, Veronica Rosalez Wire Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Michaela Neumann Columnists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dave Player

Advertising

Director of Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jalah Goette 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Abbas Student Advertising Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Ford Acct. Execs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lauren Aldana, Anupama Kulkarni, Ashley Walker, Natasha Moonka Taylor Blair, Tommy Daniels, Jordan Gentry, Meagan Gribbin, Jen Miller Classified Clerks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa Lai Special Editions, Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elena Watts Web Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danny Grover Special Editions, Student Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kira Taniguchi Graphic Designer Interns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amanda Thomas 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.

The Daily Texan Mail Subscription Rates One Semester (Fall or Spring) $60.00 Two Semesters (Fall and Spring) 120.00 Summer Session 40.00 One Year (Fall, Spring and Summer) 150.00 To charge by VISA or MasterCard, call 471-5083. Send orders and address changes to Texas Student Media, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713-8904, or to TSM Building C3.200, or call 471-5083.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Texan, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713.

Texan Ad Deadlines

‘‘

We’re trying to shift public opinion and get people to realize that this holy grail of research is an illusion.�

dollars the school is awarded each year.

James Huffines, chairman of the UT system, has been traveling the state on behalf of Texans for Tier One, a group established to get Proposition 4 passed. The proposition has also been endorsed by the Houston Chronicle and The Dallas Morning News.

The Area 5 Democrats, an organization based near Houston, endorsed the proposition and Texans for Tier One. Jim Serrano, member and former chair of the Area 5 Democrats, said he hopes the University of Houston will eventually qualify to become a tier-one university. “I think [YCT’s] argument is reasonable, but I don’t agree with it,� Serrano said. “We would love to see more tier-one universities.

It would make the Texas economy stronger.�

and set up another meeting time.

Jackson said that his company asked that he did not have a meeting with the group. “I don’t make purchasing decisions. [Aramark and the Coalition] are negotiating at a higher level,� Jackson said.

A statement was released from Aramark’s Corporate Communications stating that they have already met with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and sent a letter to their suppliers asking them to investigate the minimum wage and employment practices with the Immokalee tomato workers, and that Aramark does not contract with the growers or the farm workers in the purchasing of tomatoes. “If we were anybody else, we would not have been put off this long. Until today, we’ve been sidelined and ignored,�

Vallejo said. “Aramark has continued to put their head in the sand and pretend like nothing is happening.�

Marc Rodrigues, an organizer of the Student/FarmWorker alliance located in Immokalee, accused Aramark of purchasing tomatoes from Florida. “Due to the geographic location of Austin, some could be coming from California or Mexico, but it is very likely they’re coming from Florida,� Rodrigues said. “Even if they’re not, Aramark still has a role to play in this.�

Jackson said that he has not unpacked any boxes of tomatoes from Florida in the Union in the past two years. “I’ve never seen tomatoes from Immokalee, Florida,� Jackson said. “They’re from California or Mexico.�

Fair Food Austin plans to make presentations regarding the issue on campus in the upcoming weeks. “The next steps are to continue to do outreach and education at UT and in the Austin area,� Vallejo said. “I believe we should rightly have a say in matters like this when there’s human rights issues going on.�

10/9/09

Monday .............Wednesday, 12 p.m. Thursday.................Monday, 12 p.m.

Tuesday.................Thursday, 12 p.m. Friday......................Tuesday, 12 p.m.

Word Ads 10 a.m.

Wednesday................Friday, 12 p.m. Classified (Last Business Day Prior to Publication)

schools including Stanford, MIT and Georgia Tech were entrepreneurial-minded and interested in technology commercialization.

He said that the biomedical engineering department by far worked most with the commercialization office and had the most success with start-up companies and commercialization. “We have a huge amount of undeveloped IP on this campus,� said Andrew Ellington, a biochemistry professor. “As federal funding dries up, we’re more apt to look for commercial outlets, which requires that we generate and develop IP.�

Thomas Gilligan, dean of the McCombs School of Business, said that each step of the commercialization process adds value to a researcher’s work. He serves as an intermediary to introduce other deans to entrepreneurial practices. To reach the status of fully-licensed intellectual property, scientists often need

to be paired with the right entrepreneurs, he said. “At the beginning are the scientists or researchers who produce the pure knowledge,� Gilligan said. “They many times won’t have the skill or inclination to produce marketable technology.�

The technology, which reports to Sanchez, is funded by royalties and revenue from the technology it commercializes in the form of licensing and start-up companies.

Licensing revenue dipped to $6.8 million in 2007 from $8.4 million the previous year. The office rebounded last year to bring in $11.6 million under interim director Robert Peterson, associate vice president for research.

Commercialization at UT begins after inventors submit a confidential disclosure form to the office, which assesses the market viability of the research findings. If the research meets the commercialization office approval, the intellectual property will

go through patenting and other legal protection, as well as steps for negotiating with prospective companies, entrepreneurs and investors before ultimately being licensed. Compensation varies from case to case and is shared with inventors.

The length of the process also varies between projects for the office, which collaborates with the UT System and the governor’s emerging technology fund. “There’s no set amount of time,� said Betsy Merrick, associate director for marketing and public relations at the office.

Merrick said the University is aware of the untapped intellectual property at UT, but the office is expanding to provide additional expertise for researchers. “We’re growing our offices,� she said. “We’re very much focused on expanding our departments, stepping up the expertise that we provide.�

Xiaojing Zhang, a biomedical

engineering assistant professor, is listed among the inventors of multiple technologies offered for licensing at the commercialization Web site. The latest is a microchip that captures circulating tumor cells in the blood stream to detect and locate cancerous growths too small to easily detect visually. “The OTC has been very supportive,� Zhang said. “They clearly know the value of technology’s impact on society.�

Zhang said the office would benefit greatly by working with individual departments to sponsor research from the industry.

Zhang said technologies developed for one senior design project brought home the opportunity to leverage student invention, instead of letting all the benefits go to the companies collaborating with the department. “By the end of the program you really design something useful for the market,� Zhang said.

SAFETY: Student review aims to curb accidents in laboratories From page 1 spected more often, Nolan said.

Of the University’s 1,072 labs on campus, 3 percent, or more than 30 labs, were cited for not correcting safety deficiencies between August 2008 and July 2009. “Those deficiencies could range all over the place [in terms of severity],� Nolan said. “In comparison, there’s not a whole lot of data out there to compare to. We think it’s a pretty good number.�

Common safety deficiencies include the emergency eyewash not tested within one month, improper labels on chemical waste containers and chemicals not properly segregated or stored, according to office data.

Two chemical spills occurred in campus labs Sept. 24, leaving one student researcher injured.

Nolan said an improper label is “one of the more significant deficiencies,� but that neither of the two spills two weeks ago were

caused by common deficiencies. “There has been some type of spill approximately every three or four months,� Nolan said. “If we identify that there is a trend associated with a problem, we’ll come out with some guidance.�

Office director Peter Schneider said lab safety protocol includes lab inspections, a training program required for those working in a lab and a lab specific training program done in the lab by the lead researcher. “There’s a whole bunch of resources made available to people in the labs to make sure they’re operating safely,� he said. “For example, we provide information on what kind of safety glasses to wear and how to look up safety [information] for a particular chemical.�

Physics graduate student Thomas Jarvis was present during one of the chemical spills and said there were “pretty direct signs that something like this could happen.�

“[The University has] a culture of lax procedures with hazardous chemicals,� he said. “The safety protocols that we are using are not really acceptable. They would not fly in private industries.�

Jarvis said that each worker in the lab — five graduate students and four undergraduates — spent last week reviewing a complete curriculum of lab safety, to fulfill safety requirements.

The time frame to correct deficiencies varies depending on the severity of the safety deficiency.

Inspectors began classifying the most serious deficiencies as “critical deficiencies,� last week. “It’s a new type of way to inspect for us,� Nolan said. “All of our inspection items could potentially be a critical deficiency where it could be potentially lifethreatening. In the past we would give them about a month to correct it, but now they have 48 to 72 hours to correct it if it’s critical.�

Schneider said one example

of a critical deficiency could be a frayed electrical cord. “I was in a lab a couple weeks ago, and there was an electrical cord that was frayed,� he said. “In that case, instead of writing up a report and giving them 30 days to fix it, because it was immediately dangerous, we told them it needs to be fixed immediately.�

When inspectors cite deficiencies, the office requests the lab correct them, Nolan said. If they have not corrected it by the given time frame, the problem is reported to the dean of the respective college.

Schneider said with thousands of labs, an incident is “probably inevitable.� “The question is whether they’re serious,� Schneider said. “I’ve worked at a number of other universities, and I think the program at UT-Austin is very strong when it comes to chemical safety.� — Additional reporting by Andrew Kreighbaum.

3 W/N

Wire Editor: Micaela Neumann www.dailytexanonline.com

WORLD&NATION

3

Friday, October 9, 2009

T HE DAILY TEXAN

Relatives question why Tenn. officials took kids

By Travis Loller The Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A mother whose baby was kidnapped said she was devastated when child welfare officials took him into state custody shortly after he was recovered; she described the pain of that separation as worse than the knife wounds that the kidnapper inflicted on her.

Maria Gurrola, still recovering from stab wounds and a collapsed lung, started crying and shaking when she learned week-old Yahir Anthony Carrillo and his three siblings would be put into foster homes, said Norma Rodriguez, the cousin of Jose Carrillo, the baby’s father.

“She said them taking the kids away was a worse stab in her heart than the stab from the lady who took the baby,” Rodriguez said.

The children, ages 3, 9 and 11, were split up and put with strangers in two separate foster homes Saturday after investigators told the state Department of Children’s Services the couple was under investigation because of allegations that they had tried to sell the baby, Gurrola’s court-appointed attorney Dennis Nordhoff said.

On Tuesday, Metro Nashville Police announced the parents had been cleared of wrongdoing and the children were reunited with them.

DCS spokesman Rob Johnson said he could not comment on the case but said the department sometimes has to make tough decisions with only partial information.

“Our responsibility is to look after the safety and well being of the children who come to our attention,” he said.

Rodriguez said the children’s separation from Gurrola and Carrillo was devastating for all of them.

The couple’s 3-year-old daughter, who witnessed the Sept. 29 attack on her mother, had never been apart from Gurrola before she was placed with foster parents.

John Partipilo | Associated Press

Maria Gurrola gives baby Yair a kiss as her other children, Orlando, Estrella and Cristian, hang on the couch in Nashville, Tenn. Gurrola was reunited Tuesday with her newborn son after losing him twice, first to a kidnapper and then to state custody after someone claimed a family member had tried to sell him.

The child got sick on Wednesday and had to be taken to the hospital, Rodriguez said, and relatives blame her illness on the stress of being removed from her family.

Nordhoff questioned the need to put the already-suffering family through the trauma of separation. He said DCS is supposed

If they did have to be taken from their parents, staying with relatives would have been much less traumatic for the children, he said.

Johnson, speaking generally, said, “DCS always looks for relatives who already know a child as an alternative to state custody, but DCS must be able

to perform background checks and DCS must be able to verify people’s relationships to a family in question.”

The family is happy to be back together now, Rodriguez said, but that joy has been tempered by an ongoing baby trafficking investigation into family members.

Rodriguez said her sister, Jessenia Sigala, has endured harsh questioning from law enforcement.

“They were saying, ‘I know you did this. I know you did that. Tell me where the money is,’” Rodriguez said. “It’s making my side of the family a little more devastated.”

Berlusconi to defend himself on TV

Meleanie Hain wears her weapon, a loaded Glock 26, in a holster to her 5-year-old daughter’s soccer game, in this Sept., 23, 2008 file photo taken at Optimist Park in Lebanon, Pa. Police say Hain, who gained national attention when she openly carried a loaded gun to her 5-year-old daughter’s game, has been shot dead along with her husband in what appears to be a murder-suicide.

Jim Zengerie Associated Press

Gun-toting Pa. soccer mom, husband found shot dead

By Mark Scolforo The Associated Press LEBANON, Pa. — A suburban mother who became a voice of the gun-rights movement when she openly carried a loaded pistol to her daughter’s soccer game was fatally shot Wednesday along with her parole-officer husband in an apparent murder-suicide at their home in Pennsylvania Dutch country, authorities said.

Police released few details about the deaths of Meleanie Hain, 31, and Scott Hain, 33, but said more information would be released Friday after their autopsies.

“I’m devastated. I lost my daughter. I lost my best friend. The children lost their parents,” Jenny Stanley, Meleanie Hain’s mother, told WGAL-TV. Stanley added that the three children, ages 2, 6 and 10, are “hanging in there.”

Hain made headlines in 2008 when she attended a soccer game of her daughter’s, then 5, at a park with a Glock holstered on her hip in plain view, which upset other parents.

The sheriff revoked her license to carry and conceal a gun nine days later, citing a state law that

to try to keep families together, and there were plenty of relatives willing to take in the children, but DCS would not allow it because they were illegal immigrants, even though some of them had been in the country for many years without ever getting in any trouble. Gurrola is originally from Durango, Mexico.

prohibits certain gun permits from being given to people whose character and reputation make them a danger to public safety.

A county judge overturned that decision but questioned her judgment and said she had “scared the devil” out of people.

Lebanon County District Attorney Dave Arnold, who was at the scene Wednesday night, declined to comment on the facts of the case.

The Hains’ federal lawsuit against Sheriff Michael DeLeo and the county, alleging that he violated her constitutional rights and prosecuted her maliciously, was pending in federal court at the time of her death. Her attorney, Matthew Weisberg, said he hopes to continue the litigation.

Weisberg said Meleanie told him about six months ago she and Scott had separated, and three months ago she wanted to pursue a protective order against him. She wanted to have Scott’s name removed from the lawsuit, but that never happened, Weisberg said.

“Whether they’d reconciled in the last couple of months, I don’t know,” Weisberg said.

By Alessandra Rizzo & Ariel David The Associated Press ROME — Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi said Thursday he will go on TV and appear in courtrooms to prove that corruption and tax fraud charges in two trials against him are false.

The proceedings in Milan are to resume after a top Italian court overturned a law granting Berlusconi immunity from prosecution while in office. However, the main trial will have to start anew, lawyers said, making it unlikely that a verdict might be reached before the statute of limitations kicks in.

Still, Wednesday’s ruling by the Constitutional Court dealt a significant blow to the Italian leader, prompting a furious reaction

by Berlusconi, who said the decision by a widely respected court

was politically motivated.

The premier is already engulfed in a headline-grabbing sex scandal over his purported dalliances with young women. Last weekend tens of thousands took to the streets of Rome against his alleged attempts to curb freedom of the press. Then a court in Milan ordered his holding company, Fininvest, to pay a devastating $1 billion to a rival for a case dating from the 1990s.

Berlusconi sounded defiant over the two trials set to resume in Milan.

“These two trials are laughable, they are a farce, which I will illustrate to Italians also by going on TV,” he said. “I will defend myself in the courtrooms and ridicule my accusers, showing all Italians ... the stuff I am made of.”

Berlusconi has already ruled out stepping down, and his conservative allies, who have a com-

fortable majority in parliament, have rallied to his support.

“We’ll continue to govern without this law,” the ever-combative premier said on state radio. He added that he felt “absolutely necessary and indispensable to the democracy, freedom and well-being of this country.”

Berlusconi, 73, is still widely popular in Italy, despite accusations from his wife that he has had inappropriate relationships with far younger women and allegations from a self-described call girl that he spent a night with her.

The scandal erupted in the spring after his wife announced she was divorcing him.

Berlusconi says he is “no saint” but has denied ever paying anyone for sex or having any improper relationships.

The immunity law spared the country’s four top office hold-

ers — the premier, president and two parliament speakers — from prosecution while in office. It had been pushed through by Berlusconi’s coalition in 2008 when the premier faced separate trials in Milan for corruption and tax fraud tied to his Mediaset broadcasting empire.

The proceedings against Berlusconi, who denies all charges, were suspended as a result of the law, drawing accusations that it was tailor-made for the premier.

Berlusconi has a history of legal troubles stemming from his private interests and he has been either acquitted or cleared because the statute of limitations had expired.

But the Constitutional Court’s ruling said the immunity legislation violated the principle that all are equal before the law, paving the way for the trials to resume.

Sandro Pace | Associated Press

Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, foreground, gestures as he speaks to reporters on his way out of the Palazzo Grazioli residence in Rome, Wednesday. A top Italian court overturned a law granting Premier Silvio Berlusconi immunity from prosecution, allowing prosecutors to resume a corruption trial that could increase pressure on him to resign.

OPINION

4 Friday, October 9, 2009

Editor in Chief: Jillian Sheridan Phone: (512) 232-2212 E-mail: editor@dailytexanonline.com Associate Editors: Jeremy Burchard David Muto Dan Treadway Lauren Winchester

T HE DAILY TEXAN

GALLERY VIEWPOINT

A political attack on valuable research On Wednesday, Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., proposed an amendment that would prevent the National Science Foundation from funding political science research.

Political science isn’t “real science” — at least according to Coburn. On his Web site, the senator says the foundation should focus on “important scientific endeavors that can expand our knowledge of true science and yield breakthroughs and discoveries that can improve the human condition.” Apparently this condition precludes political scientists from conducting research.

Coburn would prefer that the money went to biology, chemistry, geology and physics — the worthy sciences.

Coburn sneers at a grant given to the University of Michigan to study American elections, saying that anyone interested in elections can just watch CNN, FOX News and MSNBC or read political commentary in the print media and on the Internet. It is disturbing that Coburn conflates academic research with the opinions of pundits, which are often formed to fit into a two-minute television segment or 500-word columns. Professors dedicate years to investigating problems and theories, allowing them to develop in-depth analyses that pundits could never provide.

In the same breath that Coburn praises the media as a source for information, he mocks a foundation grant given to “The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer” that allowed the show to provide live, gavel-to-gavel coverage of the 2008 Democratic and GOP national conventions. “NewsHour” is one of the few political shows that provides more than cursory coverage of issues and relies on discussion rather than sound bites. If Americans should turn to television for election information, as Coburn says, a grant funding “NewsHour” would be an especially appropriate use of funds.

Coburn’s logical inconsistencies do not stop there.

Juxtaposing a list of significant breakthroughs in natural science with a list of political science grants, Coburn tries to present political science research as frivolous and inherently inferior to natural science research. But the natural sciences do not have a monopoly on innovation and discovery. Political science research also yields the “real-world benefits” Coburn so urgently calls for. Perhaps those benefits do not come in the form of a chip or a pill, but they are worthwhile nonetheless.

Patrick Brandt, a political science researcher at the University of Texas at Dallas, received a grant to develop technology to predict the outbreak of violence in the Levant, South Asia and East Asia. The technology will be available to non-governmental organizations, inter-governmental organizations and other interested parties. Jennifer Merolla at Claremont Graduate University received a grant to study how terrorist threats affect support for democracy. Mark Crescenzi at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is using a foundation grant to examine violence against civilians in civil wars. Researchers studying violence, terrorism and civilian brutality are no less worthy of grants than their counterparts studying biofuels or robotics.

Coburn also says political science research siphons money from natural science research. But as the Chronicle of Higher Education points out, the budget to fund political science research makes up a tiny proportion of the foundation’s overall budget. In 2005, the foundation spent $9.4 million to fund political science research, but its total research expenditure was $3.7 billion. Furthermore, funding natural science research is far more expensive than funding political science research. While $9 million would go a long way in the political sciences, it would barely make a dent in funding natural science research. The contention that funding political science research is somehow financially impeding natural science research is just false.

The foundation says that “the continuous acquisition of new knowledge” is the single most important factor for intellectual and economic progress. Someone should tell Coburn that knowledge isn’t confined to the realm of the natural sciences.

— Lauren Winchester for the editorial board

THE FIRING LINE Earning our reputation Douglas Luippold’s “The value of elite professors” in Thursday’s Daily Texan shows he is considerate and aware of the hard work and importance of faculty and staff, but perhaps misunderstands the purpose and mission of an institution of higher learning. He claims that focusing our limited resources during these difficult economic times on those elite faculty who are already well off is the best thing for the University because “the value of the UT brand improves” and “the more marketable its graduates become.”

The function of this institution is not to churn out widgets; it is to educate. We are not in the business of industrial design, branding or product merchandising. Yes, we do all of those things, and we even teach all of those things, but it is not our mission. Our lofty goal here is to ensure that students learn and become productive, well-adjusted members of society. We certainly want our graduates to find positions of importance and influence in the world, but we want them to be qualified for those positions first. Creating only an appealing image for them and sending them into the world does no one any good.

Luippold acknowledges how rare it is for a student to actually have contact with these “rock stars” of academia, yet finds no issue with the fact that this means these people are an effective drain on our resources and, therefore, contrary to our very mission.

Luippold’s column encapsulates the very problem with focusing all of our resources and attention on an elite few: We lose sight of our mission. Rather than ensuring the health of our community so that we can best serve that mission, it becomes about self-aggrandizement and dysfunctional narcissism, about creating a career mill for a tiny population of our community.

Yes, we want our students to be marketable.

Yes, we want a stellar, world-class reputation.

But we earn those things, not buy them.

— Emil Kresl Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost

Learning English is officially important The problem with Ashley Shew’s “Officially prejudiced” column in Thursday’s paper is that she presents a logical argument and then completely ignores it.

If I were to move to a foreign country with a foreign language, I would learn that language to assimilate. But here in the U.S., we now take it as an offense that the language of the historically dominant majority of this country is English, and we take every measure possible to avoid “forcing” people to speak said language by offering everything in “press 5 for Spanish.”

It makes sense to speak a specific language for our country. Among other things, it helps children keep up in school, it makes offering various public services (especially emergency services) more efficient, and it makes it easier for people to be active in their community.

My great grandparents were immigrants from Germany and viewed learning English as a priority when they arrived. But our system is changing. In the past our society did not cater to people who viewed it as a privilege to be here. Today, we change our systems to fit those who feel entitled to be here without altering anything about themselves.

If immigrants want to be a voice in this country, they must speak in a language that the majority of people can understand. If learning a foreign language is so great that we make it mandatory in our public schools and universities, it should be equally as important for immigrants to learn the language of the nation in which they are now residing.

— Spencer Wall English and sociology senior

SUBMIT A FIRING LINE

RECYCLE!

E-mail your Firing Lines to firingline@dailytexanonline.com. The Texan reserves the right to edit for brevity, clarity and liability.

Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan by placing it in a recycling bin or back in the burntorange stand where you found it.

LEGALESE

SUBMIT A COLUMN

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, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees. All Texan editorials are written by the editorial board, which is listed in the top right corner of this page.

Have someting to say? Say it in print, and to the entire campus community. The Daily Texan Editorial Board welcomes submissions for guest columns. Columns must be between 500 and 700 words. Send columns to editor@dailytexanonline. com. The Texan reserves the right to edit all columns for brevity. clarity and liability if chosen for publication.

SPOTLIGHT ON COLLEGE COUNCILS

Students should create classes

By Lauren Ratliff Daily Texan Guest Columnist The Senate of College Councils recently passed legislation in support of Democratic Education at Texas, or DemTex. The proposal comes up next before faculty advisory councils.

These courses would be fundamentally different from any other course offered at UT: Students would have the opportunity to create their own classes.

The model was developed at the University of California, Berkeley in 1965 and is in use to this day with thousands of students enrolling each semester in about 150 courses ranging from Affordable Housing Issues to Harry Potter.

Many of UT’s peer institutions — including Tufts University, UCLA, UC Davis and Oberlin College — have similar programs.

These courses would enrich the undergraduate experience at UT by providing students with the opportunity to conduct research, present findings in a peer environment and receive critical feedback in a lowpressure environment. The research and discussion format encourages students to take an active role in their own education and prepares them for the “real world” where individuals work with their peers toward a common understanding of a topic.

Creating a course is fairly simple.

A student (aka “student facilitator”) develops an idea for a course,

gets the support of a faculty adviser, drafts a syllabus and submits the syllabus along with an application to a committee. The committee reviews applications and chooses the courses that would best add to the UT course offering.

It is important to understand that students would not be engaging in an anarchic environment. Courses would be sponsored by faculty members, who would be responsible for the academic merit of the course and have final authority over grades. The student facilitator would meet regularly with the faculty sponsor to ensure that the course is progressing in an appropriate manner, and the sponsor would offer suggestions to aid the path of discovery and discussion.

The relationship between the faculty sponsor and student facilitator would resemble that of an independent-study course.

The course itself would be rooted in discussion, and each discussion would be based on research performed by the students in the class.

Students would read about a topic, formulate questions, pose problems and hash them out with other students in the next class meeting.

In establishing a low-pressure environment for exploration, courses would be offered exclusively on a one-credit-hour pass/fail basis for students to fulfill an elective credit.

The courses have the potential to fill major gaps in UT curriculum.

Not only will students have the opportunity to investigate such rele-

vant topics as “Paris Hilton, Pink Flamingos and the Paparazzi in 20th-Century American Celebrity Culture,” but participants would also have the opportunity to accommodate themselves with research methodology and the use of academic resources.

Participation could come in many forms and would be open to any UT student. Serving on the coordinating board — which is responsible for spreading information about DemTex, mediating issues between course participants and University administration and finding a suitable solution for administrative issues — could be a rewarding experience for anyone interested in education administration.

The Student-Faculty Advisory Board, which would be responsible for the quality and integrity of DemTex courses through course selection and course evaluation, could be a good place for both students and faculty to become involved.

With the support of students and faculty, DemTex could become a reality at UT. With these exciting new courses, students would become more confident in their research skills, and the curriculum at UT would become even more enriching for undergraduates. Contact DemTex through utdemtex@gmail.com for more information.

Ratliff is a government senior and president of the Senate of College Councils.

The value of the printed word

By Dave Player Daily Texan Columnist The machines are coming! Quick, call Sarah Connor, Keanu Reeves — whoever it takes! The end is nigh!

Well, maybe not nigh, but we seem to be inching in that direction. Mankind stands at the precipice of a mechanized digital dilution of culture. And it’s all Amazon’s fault.

In late 2007, Amazon introduced the Kindle, a small electronic device that allows users to download and read books on a 6-by-4-inch screen. Readers can to store four gigabytes of content (approximately 3,500 e-books) with more than 300,000 titles available for download. It is essentially the content of a library with the convenience of a magazine.

Such an incredible device seems poised to overtake the social medium that has endured for centuries since Gutenberg: the printed book. The efficiency of the Kindle threatens to do to the publishing industry what the iPod and mp3 players did to CD sales.

By going digital, Amazon drastically reduces its operating costs by completely eliminating the need for publishing and distribution.

The print media industry has already started down the path to extinction. Newspapers and magazines have struggled to cope with the paradigm shift brought on by the Internet. Alternative media have slowly encroached on newspapers’ traditional readership. Web sites and blogs offer a wider variety of information, real-time updates and greater opportunities for user feedback and interaction. Even The Daily Texan has felt the sting. Last May, Texas Student Media sold our beloved printing press.

The extinction of the printed word may simply be another step in the natural evolution of media. After all, video killed the radio star. But it seems more and

more as though the Internet is the ultimate evasive species, slipping into all facets of life.

But don’t expect print media to go down without a fight. A strong nostalgia surrounds books. Picture a bookshelf full of classic works, the closest form to the physical embodiment of knowledge, each representing a subject mastered. It’s as if you can measure your intellect in shelf space. Now it’s megabytes. Can a flash disk really hold the same cultural power?

There is another issue at hand that promises to have a much deeper cultural impact. In pre-Internet society, the transformation of an author’s idea to a published work was a drawn-out process with a multitude of inputs and influences. After completing a work, the author sends it to a publisher who passes their own judgment on its merits. If approved, it is sent on to editors who rework the piece, adding their own voice and touch. From there it is further sculpted, illustrated, finalized, sent to printing plants, handled by shipping clerks, stock boys and cashiers before arriving in the hands of the reader.

Oh, the humanity.

But in today’s world of wireless networks, cloud computing and streaming downloads, it’s all just server space. Modern bloggers simply hit upload and let loose whatever birds were tweeting in their ears that day. One could argue that the direct relation between author and reader is an improvement on the literary process and produces a “purer” product. Even if that were true, that direct connection lacks the refinement of the traditional process, the idea that more perspectives and more cumulative knowledge creates a smarter piece of work.

Whereas once there were songs, soon it’ll all just be noise.

Player is a plan II junior.

5 UNIV

5

NEWS

Friday, October 9, 2009

Students support increased grants by ‘Raising Pell!’

By Nehal Patel Daily Texan Staff College student organizations across the nation led a campaign this week to convince their senators to support a bill that proposes larger Pell grants.

Raising Pell! Week of Action, an initiative hosted by the United States Student Association, Campus Progress and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, aims to amplify student support of the bill, especially through use of social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter. Students can send tweets to their senators through the association’s Web site. “With over 1,000 calls made to senators’ offices, the student voice is certainly having an influence on lawmakers,� said USSA President Gregory Cendana. “Senator [John] Kerry’s office said they got so many calls that students should stop calling because he got the message.�

The legislation, proposed by U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., chairman of the House Committee on Education & Labor, passed in the House of Representatives on Sept. 17. The Senate version of the bill is being drafted in the Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, said USSA Legislative Director Angela Peoples.

The bill proposes an investment of $40 billion to increase the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship to $5,550 in 2010 and $6,900 by 2019, according to the Committee on Education

and Labor’s Web site. The bill will also strengthen the campus-based Perkins Loan program that provides low-cost federal loans to students.

All new federal loans would be converted to the Direct Loan program as of July 2010, instead of relying on lenders subsidized by taxpayers. Under the bill, interests rates on subsidized federal loans would be kept low by making them variable starting in 2012. Without the bill, interest rates are set to jump from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent in 2012, according to the committee’s Web site.

Student support for the “Raising Pell!� campaign spans 12 to 15 states, Peoples said. “[Students] are excited about the monumental piece of education reform and are committed to organizing until the Senate passes a student aid reform bill that has similar components of the House version,� Cendana said.

Although there is no definite time frame for the completion of the bill, it is expected to be introduced in the next couple of weeks, said Pedro de la Torre, advocacy senior associate of Campus Progress. “Congress has a lot on its plate right now because of the health care debate,� de la Torre said. “Hopefully by November, we’ll see some major movement on the Pell grant bill, though. The main challenge is making sure that [the bill] doesn’t change with amendments that might be harmful to students.�

Maddie Crum | Daily Texan Staff

Leena Bartra leads the discussion at an Asian-American culture luncheon while Kamela Syed and Natasha Paheja look on.

Students discuss Asian identity

By Shabab Siddiqui Daily Texan Staff Asians are all career-driven, good at math, quiet and will end up as either engineers or doctors.

Right?

Stereotyping was among the issues discussed during the Center for Asian American Studies’ new monthly lunch series Thursday afternoon. The first session was titled, “How do you define yourself?�

Led by UT psychologist Leena Batra, the student dialogue focused on issues Asian and AsianAmerican students face on a daily basis. “We wanted to open up a discussion with Asian and AsianAmerican students and get them talking about daily life,� said the center ’s program coordinator Kenyatta Dawson. “To be able to discuss these kinds of issues allows for the development of

these undergraduates.�

Some of the topics discussed included gender roles defined by culture, educational choices and dating and marriage issues. Batra said the challenge for many students is picking and choosing between different cultures. “There’s just a lot of expectations of culture and identity today,� Batra said to the group. “And the media has a lot of expectations it conveys through television and movies. It’s about finding out what are some of the identities you cherish.�

The focus of the dialogue was the “model minority myth,� the notion that Asians are a model minority group that other minorities should emulate. “People automatically assume that Asians are smart,� Dawson said. “[The stereotype] is the main one that students face, and

is especially pertinent to those in academia. It’s about dealing with the positives and negatives of that situation.�

According to a study conducted in 2006, Asian-Americans make up 14 percent of the student body at UT and 17 percent when international students are included. Dawson said the broadness of the word “Asian� leads to identity issues for many students. “I think the diasporic nature of Asian-Americans creates a unique situation,� she said. “You have Indian-American students who ask, ‘Am I Asian?’ And you have students that are half-Asian and halfsomething else. We’re just trying to get these students to find more out about themselves.�

The event was limited to students only. Dawson said in the past the presence of too many adults turned the program into

an educational affair rather than a dialogue.

Mai Koythong, a Thai-American, sophomore business and advertising major, said the discussion-oriented format created a better atmosphere. “It’s much more relaxed,�

Koythong said. “I felt I could say what I wanted to say and not feel judged.�

Natasha Raheja, an Asian studies graduate student, said she came because the topic relates to her thesis, which focuses on community building in diaspora communities. “It takes me outside of the books,� Raheja said. “I was able to see and hear if the issue is actually a problem for everyone and how it relates to everyone.�

The series’ next dialogue, titled “Dating and Romance: Got Health?� will be held Nov. 5 in GRG 220.

Arts & crafts

Heather Fojtasek, left, and Nancy Grace Howard, right, look for materials on how to make a baby quilt Thursday afternoon at The Quilt Store, located on West Anderson Lane.

Kari Rosenfeld | Daily Texan Staff

James J. Mulva, chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips, answers a question from the audience during a question-and-answer session Thursday evening as a part of the McCombs leadership forum.

Oil executive stresses importance of ethics

By Nehal Patel Daily Texan Staff For James Mulva, chairman and CEO of ConocoPhillips, passion is everything. “My work is so important to me that it becomes intoxicating,� he said.

As a speaker for the McCombs School of Business Leadership Forum, Mulva participated in a question-and-answer session with former McCombs dean George Gau Thursday evening.

Mulva spoke about ethics in the business field and his experiences in the oil industry. “If you don’t have a good reputation and integrity, you don’t have a lot to offer to people,� he said.

Mulva has worked in the oil industry for 36 years. After graduating from UT in 1968 and earning a master’s degree in business administration finance in 1969, Mulva joined the Navy. He began working for Phillips Petroleum Company in 1973 and served as chairman and CEO from 1999 to 2002.

When the company merged with Conoco, he served as pres-

ident from 2002 to 2004. “I underestimated the challenge of putting two companies together, but I learned not to stop every day to re-invent the wheel,� Mulva said. “You have to stick to a plan and make sure everything fits it.

There’s a thrill in growing and developing a company.�

Mulva also said that the key to being successful is having a team of key people, not just with intelligence and money. “In one of my classes, we learned about the law of inner circle from ‘The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership’ and it was exactly what [Mulva] described,� said finance junior Ruchi Bhambhani. “I agreed with his main point about being passionate for your work.�

Business senior Ilya Keperman appreciated the practicality of Mulva’s advice. “It’s easy to learn about ethics in class, but who really knows how to apply it?� Keperman said. “Listening to [Mulva’s] experiences helped us see how ethics works in the business field.�

NEWS BRIEFLY

nity college sites around the nation to pilot the new system. By 2011, the project is planned to be expanded to 20 pilot community colleges.

The Lumina Foundation is dedicated to increasing access to postsecondary education in the U.S. President Obama also has an American Graduation Initiative and hopes for the U.S. to have the highest global percentage of populations who earn a college degree.

Obama also wants to increase the number of community college graduates by 5 million by 2020. — Hannah Jones

Foundations team up to urge Americans to pursue degrees Funding for an effort to create a national voluntary accountability system for community colleges was granted Tuesday to help increase the number of adults in the U.S. with degrees or certificates.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Lumina Foundation for Education are funding the project with $1 million in grants and are choosing eight commu-

Mary Kang Daily Texan Staff

-#''#)# '#. *+#,1 "((% ( / * '$+ &('! ," ,() % / + "((%+ #' +- " , !(*# + + * ) ++ ! * , + (* #*+, ,#& , $ *+ +,- ', + (* + +,- ', -%,1 * ,#( ' . * ! 0) ' #,-* + ) * +,- ', (, ,( & ',#(' / ( * & *#, + "(% *+"#)+ * '!#'! *(& ,( -%% ,-#,#(' (* 1(- # /"# " + "((% ,( ,, ' & $ +-* 1(- * .# / ," ,+ ( % *' &(* .#+#,

& #%

(* %%

6 S/L

6

NEWS

Friday, October 9, 2009

Screening for mental illnesses prevents jail time

By Jordan Haeger Daily Texan Staff The significant drop in juveniles committed to Texas Youth Commission facilities since 2000 can be attributed to increased screening for mental health issues before they enter the criminal justice system, said members of a panel on youth justice issues Thursday.

The Texas Public Policy Foundation, a conservative think tank, hosted the panel to discuss ways to keep juvenile offenders in Texas from becoming adult criminals.

The panel included state Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Plano, who is vice chairman of the House Committee on Corrections.

In 2000, the commission committed 2,558 new offenders. In 2008, the number of commitments dropped to 1,582, according to the commission’s Web site.

“It means we’re doing something right,” Madden said.

During the 81st legislative session, lawmakers cut more then $100 million from state youth lockup budgets and reallocated $48 million to juvenile probation departments, according to the foundation’s Web site.

Texas juvenile criminal justice officials were authorized to screen incoming youth for mental disorders in 2001. To reduce the size of the commission’s population, lawmakers have stressed evaluating the offender’s mental health before committing them, Madden said.

These offenders can then be diverted into the mental health system instead of the criminal justice system, Madden said.

Panelists at the forum agreed that mental health issues are a growing problem within the juvenile criminal justice system. Harris County already employs one psychiatrist to evaluate youth offenders. Harvey Hetzel, the county’s chief juvenile probation officer, said they will use their portion of the $48 million in funds to hire at least one more.

Fifteen to 20 percent of juveniles in the Harris County system are diagnosed with serious mental issues, he said.

Juvenile offense officials at the panel said they are seeing rising numbers of mental health issues in young offenders, but Hetzel said the rising numbers could be

Kari Rosenfeld | Daily Texan Staff

State Rep. Jerry Madden, R- Plano, spoke as a part of a panel on youth justice issues for the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Marc Levin is the director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation Center for Effective Justice. Levin helped facilitate the panel Thursday. attributed to the criminal justice system getting better at identifying problems.

Vicki Spriggs, the executive director of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission said it is not uncommon for young offenders to be prescribed several different medications for mental and be-

havioral disorders. These youth offenders come from low socioeconomic backgrounds and cannot afford to consistently see the same doctor, she said.

Michele Deitch, a professor in the LBJ School of Public Affairs, advocates for smaller, more local residential settings for juve-

niles instead of state institutions.

In a local setting, children can rely on teachers, mentors, families and local employers for jobs, she said.

“These community facilities benefit public safety by pointing youth in the right direction,” Deitch said.

Some 14-to-17-year-olds are tried as adults, which means they may end up in prisons and jails with adults. Deitch said the number of teens in state jails should be limited to only those who have committed the most heinous offenses.

“They don’t become an adult

Businesses find success using social networks for publicity

By Shabab Siddiqui Daily Texan Staff A mere four years ago, only the coolest kids had Facebook accounts. Then came the less cool kids, middle-school kids, uncool kids and finally, their parents. Now, corporations can be added to that list.

The “2009 Tribalization of Business Survey,” released earlier this week, revealed that 94 percent of surveyed companies plan to either maintain or increase their investment in social media and online communities.

Three organizations, Deloitte, Beeline Labs and the Society for New Communications Research, worked together to create the report.

The study concludes that to realize the full benefit of social media, business leaders must integrate tools like Facebook and Twitter into their traditional publicity methods, instead of just using them as add-ons.

Steve Cook, owner of the Tex-

as-based accounting firm Cook and Associates, said his business decided to reallocate their advertising resources from traditional media to these new mediums. Along with a Web site, the firm also maintains a blog and a Twitter account.

“I noticed over the last few years that whatever I do, [my staff] doesn’t do,” Cook said.

“They don’t read newspapers, and they don’t read magazines. Everything they do is on their computer. Today, you see kids whose hands are married to their [cell phones], and I was thinking, if I want to talk to these kids, I was going to need to speak their language.”

Cook said he was one of the first among his accounting peers to try out the social networking route of advertising, and that it has already started showing positive returns.

“We realized it was going to be a long gestation period, but we’ve already had some suc-

cess,” he said. “We’ll have customers that call and tell us that they heard about us through our blogs or our Twitter or our Web site.”

While Cook’s firm is a large, multi-city company, smaller businesses are finding social media outlets useful as well. James Daniels is a professional writer who helps companies create advertisements. He maintains a Facebook, Twitter and blog.

“It’s just a way of trying to get the word out,” Daniels said.

“None of it costs me anything, and I can put those [outlets] on my business card. Plus, having a blog allows me to show off my handiwork on a regular basis.”

Bob Birlingmair, owner of Step Up Aviation, a private flight school, said a number of his customers are UT students and he uses Facebook to keep in touch with them.

“Social networking is becoming bigger and word of mouth is the best form of advertising,” he said. “We’re kind of formalizing word of mouth.”

While companies’ use of social media and online communities is primarily targeted toward adults, students are also benefitting from the move.

“It’s the new way to communicate,” said Greta Fenley, a career advisor at the McCombs School of Business. “Some companies are using it to broaden their presence. For students, it’s helpful because it allows easy access. Some students are lining up interviews in the parking lot. It’s a totally different generation.”

But she said it was important for students remain very careful.

“It could also be a trap for students not protecting themselves,” Fenley said.

“Students need to be presenting themselves well at all times.”

just because we label them as an adult,” she said.

Madden said that the reforms have already saved money, but legislators need to see significant results from the policy changes before the next legislative session, when they will be facing a budget shortfall.

Andy Jones, president of Texas College Democrats and vice president of University Democrats, speaks at a press conference held by the University Democrats and the Texas Sierra Club.

Jordy Wagoner Daily Texan Staff

Student groups back coal reduction

By Nihas Wagal Daily Texan Staff Students from across the city met at the steps of City Hall to show their support for clean, renewable energy in Austin.

Groups such as the University Democrats, St. Edward’s Campus Democrats and the Sierra Club discussed the benefits to students and the community of divesting from the Fayette Coal Plant. A coalition of partners including the Sierra Club, Public Citizen, Environment Texas and PowerSmack have all submitted proposals for divesting from the plant.

“We have an exciting announcement today,” said Brittany Dawn McAllister, student outreach director for the Sierra Club. “We have the backing of the entire University of Texas student body, as our Student Government this past Tuesday evening passed legislation supporting Austin Energy’s divestment from the Fayette Coal Power Project and their moving toward greener, cleaner energy,” The Fayette Coal Power Plant is a three-unit plant located seven miles east of La Grange. Austin Energy owns 50 percent of units 1 and 2. According to a report by the Sierra Club, Aus-

tin Energy’s portion of the plant pumps out about 4.5 million tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases every year.

“We continuously work with community groups with prodemocratic agendas, and we have backed every council member in the past, so we feel they will do right by us and the city of Austin,” said Andy Jones, vice president of University Democrats.

After the press conference, students divided up to lobby, the mayor’s office and city councilmembers’ offices.

“The students came well prepared and presented their perspectives. There’s a good chance their options will be discussed,” said Lewis Leff, a city council policy aide. “The mayor has recently put together a generation task force and they, along with other commissions’ recommendations, will be taken into account at the next council hearing.”

Non-attainment areas are areas that have failed to meet federal standards for ambient air quality, according to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Web site. Texas meets federal air quality standards, with the exceptions of El Paso, Houston, Galveston, Brazoria, Dallas-Fort

Worth and Beaumont-Port Arthur. Austin is classified as one of three Early Action Compact Areas, regions that have submitted a plan to develop strategies to reduce emissions to meet air quality standards.

“Though we’re dangerously close, we can avoid hitting nonattainment statutes simply by pushing more aggressive standards that outlined in Austin Energy’s Generation Plan,” said McAllister. “Austin Energy itself predicted that wind power will be cheaper than coal power within the next 10 years, and moving to renewable sources of energy will decrease the burden our ratepayers feel.”

Initiatives on the environmentalist groups’ agendas include Austin Energy increasing its energy efficiency goal from 800 megawatts to 1,000 megawatts, increasing on-site solar and other renewable power in its portfolio and phasing out the Fayette Coal Power Project by 2020.

“We ask these things of the same individuals we elected to lead our city into a brighter future. We aren’t asking too much, we’re simply asking them to follow through on the promises on which we elected them,” Jones said.

7 SPTS

SPORTS

Sports Editor: Austin Talbert E-mail: sports@dailytexanonline.com Phone: (512) 232-2210 www.dailytexanonline.com

7

Friday, October 9, 2009

T HE DAILY TEXAN

Sooners look to end Texas dominance

Weekend Previews SOCCER

WEEKEND: Texas vs. LoyolaChicago and Oklahoma State

WHERE: Mike A. Myers

Stadium and away WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m. and Sunday, 1 p.m.

VOLLEYBALL

SATURDAY: No. 2 Texas vs.

Oklahoma

WHERE: Gregory Gym WHEN: 12 p.m.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING

FRIDAY: Orange-White meet WHERE: Lee & Joe Jamail

Texas Swim Center WHEN: 3 p.m.

NFL

Romo tries to improve as leader of Cowboys

Sara Young | Daily Texan file photo

Ashley Engle and Jennifer Doris will try to add another win to the Longhorns’ 33-2 all-time record against Oklahoma in a match which is expected to draw a big crowd to Gregory Gym on Saturday afternoon.

Volleyball takes center stage in match one week before Red River Rivalry in Dallas

By Jordan Godwin Daily Texan Staff It’s a matchup that’s been anticipated for months, and thousands of students are expected to flock to the site Saturday to witness the heated rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma.

Don’t panic, freshmen, you didn’t book the wrong frat train to Dallas. We’re talking volleyball here.

Yes, the second-ranked Texas football team will take on a slightly weaker Oklahoma team than expected next

Saturday, but this weekend, the secondranked volleyball team will take on a slightly better Oklahoma team than expected. Although unranked, the Sooners have a respectable record of 11-4 and a conference record of 4-2 after falling in five sets to Big 12 North bullies Kansas and Nebraska.

Historically, Texas volleyball has dominated the Sooners, with a 33-2 all-time record against them. But one of those losses came last season when then-third-ranked Texas hosted un-

WOMEN’S SWIMMING

Horns ready to make a splash as season begins

By Tara Dreyer Daily Texan Staff The women’s swimming and diving team starts the 2009 season with the annual Orange-White intrasquad meet at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. The team will divide into two evenly matched teams, an Orange team and a White team, and compete against each other.

Texas returns 18 letterwinners this year, including 10 All-Americans, from the 2009 squad that finished fifth at the NCAA Championships last year.

Those returning include sophomore Kathleen Hersey, who was the 2009 Big 12 Swimmer and Newcomer of the Year; sophomore Karlee Bispo, who had two topfive individual finishes last year at the NCAA Championships; and sophomore Katie Riefenstahl, who earned All-America honors in the 200 backstroke. Also, sophomore Sophomore Shelby Cullinan, one of two returning Longhorn divers, warms up for the team’s opening meet today in the Orange-White intrasquad competition.

Paul Chouy Daily Texan file photo

diver Shelby Cullinan returns after obtaining All-America finishes in the 3-meter and platform diving events.

Today’s meet will be made up of several swimming and diving events.

“We will swim some ‘off’ distances to keep it light,” said fourthyear head coach Kim Brackin.

“I’m expecting to see a sense of team-building and true competitiveness. There will be some good, competitive races.”

These meets are designed to give the newcomers a feel for what competition at the collegiate level is like and to help prepare the team for the upcoming season.

“The focus is not so much on next week but what we can do in this moment,” Brackin said. “I’m looking for really good racing skills.”

The Longhorns’ next meet is Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at Missouri.

ranked Oklahoma. Head coach Jerritt Elliott has only reminded this season’s team of that loss once.

“We know what they did to us last year and how disappointing it was,” said junior outside hitter Juliann Faucette. “We definitely don’t want that to happen again.”

The stakes will undoubtedly be high for this weekend’s redemption game, and Gregory Gymnasium is expecting a packed house.

“But I can’t go to the volleyball game

on Saturday,” said economics junior Anthony Nguyen. “There’s a football game.”

Luckily for students and those in their usual Saturday burnt orange, the folks with Texas Athletics realized there were two games scheduled for Oct. 10. No big deal – start one at noon and one at night.

“We want everyone to come out early,” Elliott said. “There are only 270 seats on the floor, and the remainder

VOLLEYBALL continues on page 8

SOCCER

Unbeaten streak at stake for Longhorns this week Underclassmen keep contributing to Horns’ success in Big 12 play

By Sameer Bhuchar Daily Texan Staff After last weekend’s success, consisting of a tie against Missouri and a win over Kansas, the Texas soccer team (5-5-2; 2-0-2 Big 12) hopes to channel their momentum into strong performances against LoyolaChicago and Oklahoma State this weekend.

“We are at a point now where we have to win every game,” said head coach Christopher Petrucelli after last week’s win against Kansas. “Every game right now is a big game for us, so we are going to play like it were any conference game. We’re going to play hard.”

The Longhorns will have to play hard to climb to the top in the tough Big 12 conference.

Texas sits firmly in third place in the conference with 8 points.

But first place Colorado (7-6-0; 4-1-0 Big 12) has 12 points and Texas Tech (8-4-1; 3-0-1 Big 12) has 10 points.

The Longhorns will try to continue their home field dominance Friday with what is being called the “Myers Advantage.”

When playing at home at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium, Texas has achieved a record of 60-9-8 (.831) since 2002 and possesses a record of 79-19-9 (.780) since the stadium opened in 1999.

“We are always a little more comfortable at home. We have a great setup, and we’ve got all these supportive fans,” Petrucelli said. “The weather is gen-

Peter Franklin | Daily Texan file photo

Freshman Alexa Gaul has saved the Longhorns from falling behind in the Big 12 standings. Gaul was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for her performance against Missouri and Kansas. erally perfect and the view of downtown really adds to it. It’s just a nice place to play, and our team has become comfortable with it.”

Petrucelli also has the coaching advantage against LoyolaChicago as he is 3-0-0 against them.

After Friday’s home game against Loyola-Chicago, the Longhorns will travel to Stillwater to take on Oklahoma State (76-0; 1-4-0 Big 12).

On paper, this game looks like it has the makings of an easy Texas victory. The Cowgirls are second-to-last place in the conference with only 3 points. Coach Petrucelli, however, disagrees with that assumption.

“If you look deeper into the league, you can see that awaywins are hard to come by,” Petrucelli warned. “There have only been two away-wins in the entire conference this year, so almost no one has been able to win on the road.”

A crucial component of Texas’ surging offense has been the play of the underclassmen.

Thirteen of Texas’ 15 goals have come from the underclassmen, and eight of the 11 starting jobs are taken by sophomores or freshmen.

“It was bound to happen because we have so many,” Petrucelli said. “They make up such a large part of our squad. They are getting better and more comfortable. They’ve really adapted more to the speed of the game,” One of those young stars is freshman goalie Alexa Gaul who picked up her first conference award as a Longhorn when she was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Gaul made a career-high seven saves against Kansas.

Friday’s game will be played at 7 p.m. at Mike A. Myers Track and Soccer Stadium, and Sunday’s away game at 1 p.m. can be followed live online via GameTracker on texassports.com.

By Schuyler Dixon The Associated Press IRVING — Tony Romo learned from Troy Aikman that it’s not always “lollipops and chocolates and fun times” for the quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys.

These days, Romo’s chats with former QBs amount to therapy while he endures talk that he’s gone from an undisciplined turnover machine to a conservative handoff fiend who misses receivers when he does throw.

Or talk that he didn’t know it was fourth down before the final end zone incompletion in Sunday’s 17-10 loss at Denver.

Or three-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady secondguessing his frequent passes in the direction of Pro Bowl Denver cornerback Champ Bailey last weekend.

On Thursday, Romo said those chats help because the quarterbacks tell him their time was no bed of roses, either.

“There’s a lot of hard work and effort and a lot of people beating you down,” Romo said Thursday, surrounded by cameras and recorders at his locker. “You have to have a stronger belief in yourself than the disbelief of others.”

Heading to winless Kansas City on Sunday, the Cowboys are 2-2 when their legion of critics figured they would have to be 3-1 or 4-0 to have a chance to end a 13-year stretch without a playoff victory, the longest in franchise history.

Romo was at the focal point of both losses, his three interceptions leading to three touchdowns for New York in the Giants’ 33-31 win and his fumble jump-starting the Broncos when they trailed 10-0 in the second quarter.

“Last week doesn’t indicate what kind of football team this is,” Romo said. “It doesn’t make us waver in our belief of what we can accomplish this season. We feel very strongly going forward. Now we’ve got to go out and do it.”

Dallas won its opener at Tampa Bay thanks to several long passes from Romo, but a 21-7 victory against Carolina featured just one offensive touchdown and a lot more success running the ball than throwing it. Suddenly everyone wanted to know whether the Cowboys were transforming Romo into the leader of a grind-it-out offense.

Now everyone wants to know where Romo is mentally after another pedestrian passing day in Denver that included several bad throws to open receivers.

“Tony’s fine,” Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said.

“He’s going to do well because he works so hard at what he does. He’s a talented guy that cares. I think he’ll do better and better.”

At the very least, Phillips, the Cowboys and their quarterback insist Romo can count

ROMO continues on page 8

8 SPTS

8

SPORTS

MLB

Fantastic Freshmen

Colorado steals one from Phillies to tie series 1-1

By Rob Maaddi The Associated Press PHILADELPHIA — Cole Hamels isn’t going to breeze through this postseason. Yorvit Torrealba hit a two-run homer, Aaron Cook pitched effectively into the sixth inning and the Colorado Rockies beat Hamels and the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 Thursday to even their NL playoff series at a game apiece.

Huston Street pitched out of trouble in the ninth to secure the win for Colorado. He retired Shane Victorino on a soft liner to second to leave the potential tying run — Game 1 winner Cliff Lee — at second base.

Hamels, the World Series and NLCS MVP last year, looked nothing like the guy who was so dominant during Philadelphia’s championship run last October. The left-hander allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings. He didn’t stick around after departing, rushing off to be with his wife, Heidi, who was in labor with the couple’s first child.

The best-of-five series shifts to Denver for Game 3 on Saturday. Jason Hammel (10-8) will start for the wild-card Rockies against a yet-to-be-announced pitcher. The Phillies could use Joe Blanton, J.A. Happ or Pedro Martinez.

Blanton pitched one inning in relief, allowing a run. Happ faced one batter and got knocked out of the game when Seth Smith hit a hard liner off the lower part of his left leg. X-rays on Happ’s leg were negative.

Making his third start since a shoulder strain sidelined him for most of September, Cook allowed three runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. The righthanded sinkerballer got 12 of his 15 outs on grounders or strikeouts.

After Lee turned in a masterful performance in his playoff debut Wednesday, the Phillies were counting on Hamels to give them a commanding 2-0 series lead. But Hamels hasn’t been the same pitcher since going 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five postseason starts last year. He was 1011 with a 4.32 ERA this year, and

now is 0-7 in day games.

The Phillies are trying to become the first repeat champions since the New York Yankees won three World Series in a row from 1998-2000. No NL team has done it since the Cincinnati Reds in 1975-76.

For the second straight day, the Phillies had the largest crowd in the six-year history of Citizens Bank Park. There were 46,528 fans packed in the ballpark, waving their white-andred “Fightin’ Phils� towels. Now, there’s no guarantee they’ll see another game this year.

Jayson Werth’s solo homer off Rafael Betancourt in the eighth got the Phillies within a run and whipped the fans into a frenzy.

But Franklin Morales came in and retired Raul Ibanez on a sharp grounder. Street, who was 35 for 37 in save chances in the regular season, started the ninth.

He walked pinch-hitter Matt Stairs with one out. Lee, who became the first Phillies pitcher to steal a base in the postseason in Game 1, ran for the slow-footed Stairs. After Miguel Cairo flied to right, Jimmy Rollins singled to right. But Street got Victorino to end it.

Trailing 4-0, the Phillies finally got going in the sixth. Victorino led off with an infield single and advanced to second on second baseman Clint Barmes’ throwing error. Chase Utley followed with a single and Ryan Howard lined an RBI double into the right-field corner, chasing Cook.

Jose Contreras came in and struck out Werth. But Ibanez followed with a two-run single to cut it to 4-3.

After Happ was forced out in the seventh, Scott Eyre came in with the bases loaded and nobody out. He struck out Carlos Gonzalez before Dexter Fowler ’s sacrifice fly made it 5-3.

Eyre retired Todd Helton to end the inning.

The Rockies took a 3-0 lead in the fourth when Torrealba connected off Hamels. Torrealba had just two homers in 213 regular-season at-bats, but he ripped a hanging curve into the seats in left.

Matt Slocum | Associated Press

Colorado Rockies’ Carlos Gonzalez slides safely into home plate to score as Philadelphia Phillies catcher Carlos Ruiz catches the ball during the first inning of Game 2 of the National League series.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Maddie Crum | Daily Texan Staff

Freshman Kim Bruins pitched the first three innings in the Longhorns’ 12-0 win against Navarro College in their home opener of the fall seaSo far so good for the Brittany Barnhill-less Longhorns who beat Navarro College 12-0 Thursday night in their home opener of the fall exhibition season.

Freshmen pitchers Kim Bruins and Blaire Luna first saw action in front of their home crowd and combined for a three-hit shutout for the Longhorns, who only scored in two innings.

A five-run fourth began the scoring when Raygan Feight hit a two-run single, which was followed three batters later by a Loryn Johnson three-run homer.

Texas put up seven runs in the sixth, including a two-run homer by

catcher Amy Hooks.

The Longhorns continue their fall season with a doubleheader on Oct. 23 at Red & Charline McCombs Field.

Head coach Connie Clark also returns to her alma mater today where she will be inducted into the Cal State Fullerton Hall of Fame. Clark had a 53-7 career record with a 0.37 era as a Titan pitcher. Clark joins Texas baseball head coach Augie Garrido in the Cal State Fullerton Hall of Fame. — Dan Hurwitz

VOLLEYBALL: Horns welcome Sooners From page 7 are in the mezzanine. So get to the gym early and claim your spot.�

Those spots were highly coveted at the previous home rivalry match with Texas A&M. The 270 student seats filled up faster than the Wendy’s at Jester at 12:51 p.m., and more than 900 students roared from the mezzanine.

Elliott is hoping for an even bigger and wilder army of student fans to support the undefeated Longhorns on Saturday. “Bring signs or dress up in a costume, and help make this a really fun sporting event for you and everyone involved,�

Elliott said.

You heard him — go ahead and dig out last year ’s Halloween costume. Studies show that approximately one in three radio-television-film majors dressed up as the Joker in 2008.

One in four females at UT wore skimpy versions of everyday uniforms. These probably won’t work on Saturday, but you’ll find something. “We encourage you to be loud and really make Gregory a fun

SPORTS BRIEFLY Decision to play Bradford tabled until Friday NORMAN, Okla. — Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops is waiting another day to make a decision on whether Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford will play against Baylor on Saturday.

Stoops had said at the start of the week that he didn’t plan to announce whether Bradford would play until Thursday. But Sooners spokesman Kenny Moss-

Sara Young | Daily Texan file photo

Rachael Adams and Sydney Yogi celebrate a Texas victory by singing “The Eyes of Texas� in front of a packed Gregory Gym. The Longhorns look to remain undefeated against Oklahoma on Saturday. atmosphere for everyone in the gym,� Elliott said.

If you can wake up and finish your cartoons by noon Saturday man said Thursday that Stoops had put off the decision until Friday.

Bradford has missed the past three games for No. 19 Oklahoma (2-2) with a sprained AC joint in his right, throwing shoulder.

Redshirt freshman Landry Jones has started in place of Bradford, winning back-to-back shutouts against Idaho State and Tulsa before a 21-20 loss at Miami last week.

Bradford has said he hoped to play this week to prepare for next week’s game against No. 2 Texas. — The Associated Press

morning, head over to Gregory.

Grab a few tailgaters on your way: General admission tickets are just $3 with a Colorado football tick-

et. If you didn’t get the chance to buy your ticket for the Oklahoma game next weekend, this might be the closest thing to it.

ROMO: Chiefs awaiting

struggling quarterback From page 7 to four. Video from a local TV station caught Romo holding up three fingers and talking to officials after Romo threw incomplete on third and fourth down from the Denver 2 in the final seconds.

Talk radio lit up with speculation that Romo didn’t know it was fourth down, and the chatter was loud enough for the team to issue a statement ex-

plaining that Romo saw a down marker with a “3’’ and thought the referees might have made a mistake. Phillips and Romo told basically the same story the next two days. “That’s kind of ridiculous,�

Phillips said. “Somebody saw him talking to [officials] and just went off on some ludicrous statement that Tony didn’t know what was going on or something. It’s amazing what happens.�

732-2211

9041 Research Blvd., Suite 240 (Austin) Hwy 183 @ Burnet Rd., above Black-Eyed Pea

! "

#$ % & ' ())*+ , ())* , -.../())*

LM Otero | Associated Press

In this Sept. 20 file photo, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo watches the game against the New York Giants in Arlington, Texas.

9 CLASS

9

STATE&LOCAL

Friday, October 9, 2009

National survey finds Austin pays high wages

By Nihas Wagal Daily Texan Staff Austin ranked 56th out of 77 cities in highest occupational wages, according to statistics released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The survey looked at the average wages for the month of May in 77 cities across the country.

San Francisco and New York City ranked the highest.

Workers in the Austin-Round Rock area earned an average of $20.59 per hour in May 2009. Occupational group averages ranged from $10.98 per hour for service workers to $33.77 for employees in management, business and financial occupations.

Regional Commissioner Stanley W. Suchman noted that wage data was reported for workers in a wide range of occupational groups, including computer and mathematical science, business and financial operations and office and administrative support. “Larger companies have a better chance of being selected and included in the survey, but every employer in the city has the potential to be chosen. After a company is picked, we look at the pay records of different selected employers,� said Cheryl Abbot, regional economist for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The National Compensation Survey data covered state and local and 274 estabday,governments month day, 2008 lishments in Austin with one or more workers in private industry. Agricultural establishments,

RTISE NT E V D E A STUD !

YOUR NIZATION ORGA

private households, the self-employed and the federal government were excluded from the survey.

This sample of establishments represented a total of 733,300 workers in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson counties.

Compared to other cities in Texas, wages in Austin rank fairly well, Abbot said. The highest wages in Texas are in Houston, which average $22.88 per hour, and the lowest average wages were in Amarillo at $16.74 per hour. “In Texas, as the size of the city increases, the wage amount is also going to increase,� said Abbot.

These standards reflect the cost of living for each city. Wages tend to be higher in larger cities with higher costs of living. “Austin has a high percentage of people with specialized training and degrees, making it more skewed towards jobs with degree requirements. Service industries are very low, and more needs to be done for people with no education past high school,� said Jack Kirfman, political action coordinator for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the union that represents city and county employees. “We need to look harder at federal programs to re-train these people who don’t have college degrees — that way our base wages comprising service areas will increase.�

Good vibrations

Jordy Wagoner | Daily Texan Staff

California native Vince Sayer plays the accordion for passers-by at a bus stop at 11th Street and Congress Avenue. He taught himself to play the instrument seven years ago.

GROWTH: Infrastructure comes with taxes 1

From page 1

Campus

CLASSIFIEDS “People who move there will

Austin, residents pay taxes to the city and are provided with public services such as public safety and road services, Collier said.

This annexation may be achieved in the developments in 15 to 45 years. “Full annexation of the whole area could be considered in the future, but wouldn’t happen for many years,� Collier said. “Indian Valley is a quiet area and some residents may be wary of development near the area, but we don’t have plans to annex Indian Valley anytime soon.�

The city of Austin does not have utility or wastewater lines extending to the area, but since the city considers it a desired growth corridor, bonds will be issued to extend water lines, said Jerry Rusthoven, manager of career and planning at the planning and development review department.

“From a municipal planning have an assessment paid on their prospective, cities will always anproperty to pay off water,� Rust- nex property as developers come hoven said. “The area will not be in and annex properties as develannexed until the bonds are paid opers do,� Rusthoven said. “This off.� is what cities are Still, some resiall about.� dents are wary of Rusthoven also the plan.

What makes this issue said that it is bet“They won’t ter for growth in important to me is be paying taxes, Austin to expand that it is opening up east rather than but they will be receiving water,� the door for more and west.

Koym said. “We is an area bigger development.� of “This call that a land town where grab.� — Kenneth Koym we want to see Though the development and Imperial Valley growth as opNeighborhood Neighborhood posed to the west Association is also concerned about Association of town over the being incorporataquifer,� Rusted into the city hoven said. and having to On Sept. 17, pay taxes, Rusthoven said annexa- the Imperial Valley Neighbortion is always a possibility for resi- hood Association and representadents living on city outskirts. tives from the development com-

Weekly Rates: $100 – Large $50 – Medium $25 – Small

CORKBOARD‘‘

Contact Joan at 512-232-2229 or email joanw@mail.utexas.edu

Mary Kang | Daily Texan Staff

Maria Lopez cleans the kitchen of Korean grocery store Han Yang Market while Hannah Chong washes vegetable Thursday afternoon.

UNS AD IRNE FOR ONL d wor

ad s

on l y

CLASSIFIEDS THE DAILY TEXAN

E! E R F

3B

pany met to discuss zoning and annexation. Steven Metcalfe represents Taurus of Texas and is a partner at Drenner & Golden Stuart Wolff. “The meeting went okay, and there were concerns voiced about growth,� Metcalfe said. “But we also had many people come up to us and say, please, bring infrastructure, jobs and vitality.�

Metcalfe said that, though growth will come to the region, Imperial Valley Neighborhood Association members should not be too concerned about traffic coming into their neighborhoods. “SH 130 exists, and it’s the preferred route for the city of Austin,� Metcalfe said. “The neighborhood association is worried about traffic, but SH 130 is there and our traffic studies show that the development would put very little traffic in their neighborhood, but on the toll road.�

ADVERTISING TERMS There are no refunds or credits. In the event of errors made in advertisement, notice must be given by 10 am the first day of publication, as the publishers are responsible for only ONE incorrect insertion. In consideration of The Daily Texan’s acceptance of advertising copy for publication, the agency and the advertiser will indemnify and save harmless, Texas Student Media and its officers, employees and agents against all loss, liability, damage and expense of whatsoever nature arising out of the copying, printing or publishing of its advertisement including without limitation reasonable attorney’s fees resulting from claims of suits for libel, violation of right of privacy, plagiarism and copyright and trademark infringement. All ad copy must be approved by the newspaper which reserves the right to request changes, reject or properly classify an ad. The advertiser, and not the newspaper, is responsible for the truthful content of the ad. Advertising is also subject to credit approval.

Self-serve, 24/7 on the Web at www.DailyTexanOnline.com HOUSING RENTAL

370 Unf. Apts.

HYDE PARK / NORTH CAMPUS 1-1’S Very spacious one bedroom apartments located at 302 W. 38th St. Available for IMMEDIATE move-ins or for any time in October. Only $695 a month, and rent covers most bills!!! CABLE IS FREE!!! On the UT shuttle, laundry facilities on site, POOL and WOOD FLOORS!!! Available to show any time between 9-5, M-F. Please visit our website at www.wsgaustin.com or give us a call at 512-499-8013

$650/MO IN WEST CAMPUS Immediate move-ins for West Campus. As low as $650!!! Studios & 1-1’s available. Located at 2104 and 1911 San Gabriel St. Most bills paid!!! FREE parking!!!

Located on the UT shuttle. Close to everything, and a great atmosphere.

Call us at 512-499-8013 to set up a time to view the apartments. Office hours are M-F 8:30 to 5:00. Visit our website at www.wsgaustin.com or simply give us a call.

400 Condos-Townhouses

STUDENT CONDOS FOR SALE! 1 block north of UT! New construction, 2/bed-2.5/ bath plus study/optional 3rd bedroom, Hardwood floors, granite countertops, ceramic tile, crown molding, and stainless appliances. Big balcony with view of UT football stadium. Move-in now, Spring 2010, Summer 2010, or Fall 2010 semester. 1150 sq. ft. $329,500$349,500.

TVQFS UVFTEBZ $0610/4

DMJQ BOE TBWF

FWFSZ XFFL

# # š š '$%! & # # š # " ! $

plus t/s

510 Entertainment-Tickets

NEED A FEW LAUGHS?

Forget about grades!

Relieve your stress! www.GiggleDog. com

WANTED TEXAS/OU TICKETS ANY AREA CASH PAID CLOSE TO CAMPUS 512228-9535, 512-629-8731

ROUND ROCK/SOUTH AUSTIN/BEE

Great opportunity generating leads at The Home Depot for AT HOME SERVICE $10/hr + comm Part time/ weekends a must Call 512-381-3628 or fax/ email resume to 512-381-3618 / jcoburn@ ars.com

Call 512-467-9852 for a showing!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

766 Recruitment

Sales Support Associate needed

20 Mountains. 5 Resorts. 1 Price.

EMPLOYMENT

Caves

breckenridge

www.speedwaycondosphase2.com

530 Travel-Transportation

LFFQ BO FZF PVU GPS UIF

530 Travel-Transportation

EOE/AA/M/F/V/D

1-800-SKI-WILD ™ 1-800-754-9453 600 West 28th St, Suite #102

EDUCATIONAL

590 Tutoring

HIRING GRAD/SR ENGLISH MAJOR

+ /- 20 hrs/week. email eltadli@ yahoo.com 512634-7509

610 Misc. Instruction

NEED EXTRA WRITING HELP? Sharpen your skills with Ambassador’s Ink: experienced college writing assistants!

Visit us at www.ambink. com or contact us at either ink@ambink.com or 440-376-4247 for proofing, revision, and tutoring services. Highly competitive student rates available!

x ID 2855693

780 Employment Services

LEADERSHIP Enjoyable quick reads.

Non-fiction short stories kickstart your career. Book and eBooks from $0.99 www.yesyouyesnowleadership. com

790 Part Time

BARTENDING! $300/DAY POTENTIAL No experience necessary. Training provided.

Age 18+. 800-965-6520 ext 113

790 Part Time

IT IS an opportunity for students to gain degree related resume building experience while studying! You will gain experience as a personal trainer, work with clients who have health, fitness, & sports conditioning goals that will be of interest for students studying & intent on majoring in a fitness/health related field.

Compensation $15.00.

This is a contract job.

You will have to be working early am Tues/ Thurs & Sat. If you are self directed, respectful of self & others, responsible individual: email brightnearly007@hotmail.com

800 General Help Wanted

STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In Austin. 100% FREE To Join! Click On Surveys.

RECYCLE 800 General Help Wanted

800 General Help Wanted

800 General Help Wanted

SURVEY TAKERS NEEDED:

NEED PEOPLE TO

Make $5-$25 per survey.

GetPaidToThink.com.

post ads online. Social networking knowledge a plus.

Paid every Friday. See paycheckonfriday.com

FT & PT SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS

Get your education, training and experience now!

Work with the BEST at Stepping Stone School!

Hiring FT & PT subs at all locations. Flexible schedules, great perks!

Apply online or at 1910 Justin Ln. www.steppingstoneschool.com/ employment.html

EARN EXTRA MONEY Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a mystery shopper.

No Experience Required.

Call 1-800-722-4791

810 Office-Clerical

PT RECEPTIONIST NEEDED Busy, downtown real estate mgt company looking for PT receptionist, Mon-Fri. flexible hours, 6-10 hours/wk. Please call Christine at 512-4690925

Must know how to drive standard, be physically fit, and have good customer service skills. Apply online at www.centraltexasvalet.com

800 General Help Wanted

COPSD CASEWORKER Intern, Prefer: BA in Social Sciences. Special Training; Experience/ knowledge in Motivational Interviewing and Good Chemistry. Licenses; LCDC, LCDC CI, LPC intern, LMSW Intern. Apply http://www. atcmhmr.com

XBUDI XFFLMZ GPS UIF

BRIGHT STUDENT NEEDED

TVQFS UVFTEBZ

for half time position at small company that makes flight analysis software for airlines.

Must be a quick learner and able to work independently. Email your resume to employment@ ausdig.com

IPHONE DEV NEEDS PROGRAMMERS!

800 General Help Wanted

Must own Intel Mac and know Obj. C info@24bot.com

870 Medical

Seeks College-Educated Men 18–39 to Participate in a Six-Month Donor Program

ages 18-28 wanted for physique photography. $200-$500. 927-2448.

Sports-Minded Students Apply, Work Outdoors!

Flexible Scheduling, Management Available Top Gun Promotions 512 473 0399

HIRING VALETS

860 Engineering-Technical

MUSCULAR MALES

ATTENTION $20.00/ HR!

910-Positions Wanted

Donors average $150 per specimen.

Apply on-line

www.123Donate.com

890 Clubs-Restaurants

BARTENDER OPENINGS. Earn up to 300/day. No experience require. Will train. Call now 877-7715194 x1002

DailyTexanOnline.com

$0610/4

910-Positions Wanted

ASSISTANT TO OPERATIONS MANAGER WANTED. 20 hours weekly. Hard working, kind, problem solver, self motivated.

Excel & Publisher, adobeInDesign a plus. Variety everyday. Resumes only. operations@ amysicecreams.com.

All Transportation, Announcement, Services & Merchandise ads are 50%off regular rates and appear online at no charge unless you opt for enhancements which will incur additional nominal charges.

For more information or assistance please call Classified Clerk at 512-471-5244 or email classifieds @dailytexanonline.com

10 COMICS

10

COMICS email us@ ound.com jobs@cabh

Is Looking For

Part-Time P t Ti w// flexible ibl hours h and

Street Team Members incentive bonuses! for our iPhone App launch.

3 5 2 7 9 1 3 3 2 2 8 6 4 5 9

Yesterday’s solution

2 8 7 8 1 2 1 6 7 3 8 5 1 9 5

1 3 5 6 8 7 4 2 9

2 7 9 3 1 4 8 6 5

4 8 6 9 2 5 3 7 1

7 9 8 5 3 6 1 4 2

5 6 1 2 4 8 7 9 3

3 4 2 7 9 1 6 5 8

6 2 3 8 7 9 5 1 4

8 5 4 1 6 2 9 3 7

9 1 7 4 5 3 2 8 6

Grill & Bar (512)476.1090 1500 Barton Springs Rd.

www.romeosrestaurants.com

#&70 #6$,4 BU UIF DFOUSBM TUPSF 4UVEFOU %JTDPVOU 5IVST 1PTUFST 4BMFT BOE 3FOUBMT 5XP GPS 0OF 5VFT BOE 8FET

t 8FTU UIt

t 8FTU &MJ[BCFUIt

Friday, October 9, 2009

"/48&3 1&& 8&& 4 #*( "%7&/563&

11 ENT

11

LIFE&ARTS

Friday, October 9, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Couples’ fails to reach star-studded potential

Courtesy of Frank W. Ockenfels

John Rich, one-half of the country music duo Big & Rich, will perform the national anthem Saturday at UT’s football game against Colorado.

Country artist preps for UT debut

By Emily Macrander Daily Texan Staff Country music artist John Rich, one-half of the multiplatinum group Big & Rich, will perform the national anthem at this weekend’s UT football game. Rich took a few minutes away from his Country Music Association board meeting to speak with The Daily Texan about football, his solo album and what it means to be a Texan.

The Daily Texan: You’re singing the national anthem at the UT versus Colorado game. How did that come about?

John Rich: It’s pretty cool. I’ve sung the national anthem at everything from the Daytona 500 to events in Washington, D.C. — a lot of high-profile stuff, but I’ve never sung at a University of Texas Longhorns game. Not only have I never sung at a UT game, I’ve never been to a Longhorns game in Austin.

The way it came about was, I was having a little dialogue with coach Mack Brown, and he said, “Would you ever consider doing the national anthem at a game?�

I said, “Absolutely.� He suggested UT versus Colorado, and I said, “That sounds perfect.� We locked it down. I’m very excited to come in this weekend and sing our coun-

try’s anthem.

DT: You live in Nashville now.

How did you become a Longhorn fan?

JR: I grew up in Amarillo, and up there, there are a lot of Red Raider fans. And I support the Raiders, but at heart I’m a Longhorn fan. If I’d been responsible and I’d gone to college, I would have gone to UT. Now I’m married to an Aggie.

DT: Oh, no.

JR: No, I’m kidding. That makes for interesting back-and-forth comments while watching football.

I love the coaching at UT. I think coach Mack Brown is one of the greatest coaches of all time and will go down in history. I’m a cardcarrying, flag-waving member of the Longhorn Nation.

DT: Can you tell me about your role with ESPN and how that has shaped your career?

JR: Big & Rich wrote the song that has been the theme song for College GameDay for five years, “Coming to Your City.� Mack came up to me earlier this season, and he said “Man, every time I hear that song, I know it’s time to play some football.� For me, having a song that I wrote become synonymous with college football, that’s a pretty awesome thing.

DT: Do you have a favorite foot-

ball player?

JR: I’m looking forward to meeting our kickass quarterback, Colt McCoy. Of course, I’ve been watching him play since he was a freshman, and he’s grown to be better and better. Man, I’d really just like to high-five with the whole team.

They’re doing such a good job.

DT: What’s your best memory as a Longhorn fan?

JR: Back at the national championship game, ESPN flew Big & Rich out to California to watch the game. I sat there in the middle of the crowd and watched the whole thing just as a fan. Steve McNair was sitting right next to me.

He was talking about Vince. It was a really great experience. I think I drank enough beer to float a bass boat.

DT: This year, Big & Rich took a break, and you came out with you own solo album, Son of a Preacher Man. How is the solo album different from typical Big & Rich stuff?

JR: Big & Rich is two guys put together [who] couldn’t be more different. When you put what Big Kenny does and I do and you put it together, you get something that neither of us would produce alone.

On my own, I have opinions and want to talk about the way I was raised. The songs on my new al-

bum would have never been on a Big & Rich album.

DT: How does your upbringing shape your writing?

JR: I grew up in a double-wide trailer in Amarillo. We were poor to lower-middle class. That’s how of a lot of Americans live. To grow up and see others take your tax dollars, I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, Republican or independent, nobody is happy to see that. Nobody is clapping their hands saying, “I’m so glad that CEO got a $9 million bonus check.� I sat down after watching the news and wrote “Shuttin’ Detroit Down,� and coast to coast it’s become an anthem for people.

I always tell people, “I grew up in Texas, but I live in Nashville.� I love the independent spirit that Texans have, the pride and the music.

You have everyone from Don Henley to Stevie Ray Vaughan. It’s flavor. Growing up in the Panhandle, there a lot of hardworking, proud people who live up there. I feel like those are the traditions that gave me identity, and that’s why I’ll always be a Longhorns fan.

DT: How can fans keep in touch?

JR: I’ll be Tweeting from the game Saturday. Follow me: @johnrich.

GANAS: Owners

Brian Mays plays chess with a friend inside Sam’s Bar-B-Que Thursday night.

keep business local, family-run From page 12

Peyton McGee Daily Texan Staff

BARBECUE: Low prices trump ‘rustic’ locale From page 12

Sam’s Bar-B-Que 2000 E. 12th St., Call (512)4780378 for hours Upon entering Sam’s Bar-BQue, the first things you notice are the signed photographs of famous singers, athletes and UT alumni, all of whom have dropped in for some Sam’s smoky goodness.

In confirmation of this display of star-studded endorsements, the meat here is sure to satisfy — and at a reasonable price.

For about $7, you can get a meat sandwich and two sides. Inside

ENTERTAINMENT BRIEFLY ‘Accidental mummy’ exhibit makes first stop in Detroit Thirty-six mummies on loan from a Mexican museum are making their U.S. debut at a $2 million exhibition in Detroit.

the small booths which occupy the comfortably cozy house, you sit and wait for your selected meat to be served on butcher paper.

Stick with the ribs here since they have some of the smokiest flavor you’ll find anywhere.

Gnawing around a smoky bone is a joy not to be overlooked in life.

Lean brisket, though a bit dry, is offered here, so for those nonpurists who enjoy healthier barbecue options, this is your place.

As a complement to the meat, the tomato-based sauce is a nice change from the traditional smoky sauce. It has a nice tangi-

ness without being too sweet.

For more adventurous eaters, Sam’s also serves mutton, or sheep meat. With a very gamey flavor, mutton definitely requires an acquired taste. But for those who do enjoy it, mutton can be quite a treat; tender, hearty and flavorful, it’s definitely the dark horse on this limited menu.

Located on the less fortunate 12th Street, Sam’s offers more of a rustic atmosphere than most.

However, the barbecue joint’s late hours (open some nights until 1 a.m.) make this spot indispensible for satisfying those midnight munchies.

The “Accidental Mummies of Guanajuato� goes on public display this weekend at the Detroit Science Center. The museum is the first of seven planned U.S. stops for the mummies.

The Science Center is in talks to finalize the touring exhibit’s stops.

The bodies had been accidentally mummified in the Mexican mining town of Guanajuato more than

a century ago.

Local lore contends the bodies were preserved because the city’s water is rich with minerals and sulfur. But Ronald Beckett, former cohost of “The Mummy Road Show� on the National Geographic Channel, says researchers believe hot weather dried out the bodies.

Compiled from Associated Press reports

“The fashion world has a higher failure rate than any other business. There’s a 90 percent fail rate, so the odds are against us,� Lucio said. “I just didn’t want to wake up 20 years from now thinking, ‘We had that great idea and never did anything about it.’�

The business is mostly family-run. Lucio’s cousin, Danny, works as a model and spokesman for the line. Danny said the fact that the line is being started in Brownsville, as opposed to a national fashion hub like New York, is not discouraging. “It’s awesome because, God willing, when things do take off, they’re going to say, ‘Where did you come from?’ We came from home,� Danny said. “Our first meeting was in Eddie’s living room. It didn’t matter if we’re in an office or my cousin’s kitchen talking about it over dinner.

Brownsville is the home. If anything, it makes it more real, it makes it more legit, because it didn’t take place in Hollywood or New York where all the trends are and where every day there’s something new.�

Danny said the line will remain true to the unique culture of the Valley. “As the generations keep going, we lose a little bit of our culture and our heritage,� he said. “Down here in the Valley, when we travel into Mexico, we’re not Latino enough, and when we travel north, we’re not American enough. We have our own culture down here, and it’s fun to exploit it and literally wear it on your sleeve.�

pens with any bearing on the plot; the characters are perfectly content to spout out uninspired oneliners about the increasingly absurd hotel attendants; and mediocre, surprisingly vulgar sex jokes are the only humor within miles.

In every star-filled scene, each actor seems content to dull their sparkle. The jokes feel rote, and the character development is nonexistent. With the exception of Jason and Cynthia, none of the couples have any realistic development or growth at all. They say different things to one another in the beginning than they do at the end, but you never know why. As the perfunctory climax rolls onscreen, you can’t help wondering if the characters played by Favreau, Davis, Love and Hawk even have an arc they could identify.

To be fair, a few jokes hit the sweet spot, but they come from the supporting cast. Ken Jeong gets laughs on every beat in his turn as Jason and Cynthia’s therapist, and Colin Baiocchi is hilarious and absurdly cute as Dave and Ronnie’s youngest child. But the fact that the funniest characters in a comedy are on-screen for less than five total minutes is unfortunate. “Couples Retreat� brought out all the big guns and came up short. Next time the studios bring together such a talented cast, they should also bring a script.

By Robert Doty Daily Texan Staff “Couples Retreat� packs an allstar cast onto an island, hoping and praying that sparks will fly and jokes will kill.

Unfortunately for anyone looking forward to this film, the flaccid characters and vapid plot drench the film and extinguish the sparks before they have a chance to take hold. The film does better with humor but never realizes the potential of the excellent cast. “Couples Retreat� follows four couples — Dave and Ronnie (Vince Vaughn and Malin Akerman), Jason and Cynthia (Jason Bateman and Kristen Bell), Joey and Lucy (Jon Favreau and Kristin Davis) and Shane and Trudy (Faizon Love and Kali Hawk) — as they travel to an idyllic island resort that specializes in renewing marital bonds.

Jason and Cynthia, hoping to save their dying marriage, are interested in the ‘renewing’ aspect of the resort but can only convince the others to go by telling them they won’t have to participate. Upon arrival, however, the other couples discover that they must participate in the dreaded ‘couples skill-building’ activities, which range from one-on-one therapy sessions to early morning yoga, in order to stay. Let the hilarity begin. Woo! Here the film morphs into a sketch comedy show starring middle-aged couples on a beautiful island. Almost nothing hap-

Courtesy of Universal Pictures

“Couples Retreat� never takes advantage of the star-studded cast.

QUARTET: Musicians seek success

with spontaneity, emotive impact these circumstances, hopefully classical music takes the audience to a place they may not have been before and in that way is emotionally fulfilling.�

In addition to spontaneity, the quartet also focuses on communicating to the audience on an emotional level. “I think the priority is the emotional impact for us,â€? Walther said. “We try to look for the wit and charm and characters. We’re always telling a story, and we want to tell the story of each individual piece. We’re more interested in playing each piece differently than sounding like the TakĂĄcs Quartet.â€?

The TakĂĄcs Quartet performs tonight at the McCullough Theatre, adjacent to Bass Concert Hall. The performance will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the quartet. Student tickets are $10. For tickets, call (512) 471-1444.

From page 12 encounter the Voyager probes.

The TakĂĄcs Quartet is particularly renowned for its interpretation of the Beethoven quartets. A concert review printed in the Guardian proclaimed, “If late Beethoven is the Holy Grail of quartet-playing, then the TakĂĄcs Quartet has found it.â€?

So what is the TakĂĄcs Quartet’s secret to success? “Although we rehearse a lot, we like to feel the freedom onstage if the music takes us in a different direction from what we have discussed. It is important that an audience feels spontaneity in the act of performing,â€? Dusinberre said. “Students who attend our concerts often comment on the immediacy of the experience, the fun dialogues between each player and the sense of a team working to create something greater than the individual parts. Under

David Fear, TIME OUT NEW YORK

LA WEEKLY

FILM THREAT

THE NEW YORK TIMES

A TOORR QQ&&A

IREECC # #T!!

!!

DIR ! ! %% # # %" " # # ! ! " " % $"$" " " # #

#

# ! %%%%%% ! # # " " ! !

ALAMO

#*#- )1% !

www.drafthouse.com -(" " !" 5 #/" " " 5 0+" " !" 5 ,+ '0-."!" 3/-# " .',2 0& www.WELIVEINPUBLICTHEMOVIE.com

#$4 #4 .',2

12 LIFE

12

Friday, October 9, 2009

LIFE&ARTS

Life&Arts Editor: Leigh Patterson E-mail: lifeandarts@dailytexanonline.com Phone: (512) 232-2209 www.dailytexanonline.com

T HE DAILY TEXAN

String quartet aims More meat, none of the frills for perfection with Beethoven pieces

By Elana Estrin Daily Texan Staff Classical musicians have likened the string quartet to a bottle of wine, a marriage and an octopus, to name a few. The world-renowned Takács Quartet (pronounced tahkOSH’) thinks of itself as a toreador in a heated bullfight.

“The bull is the sound we’re all making, the wild thing we’re all trying to control. It’s alive and breathing,” said violist Geraldine Walther. Like any good toreador, she adds, “It’s a lot of fun.”

The Takács Quartet will take the bull by the horns tonight in a Texas Performing Arts-hosted performance of three Beethoven string quartets, the repertoire that earned them a Grammy for Best Chamber Music Recording in 2002.

Each quartet on the program represents one of Beethoven’s three stylistic periods. To represent Beethoven’s early period, characterized by faithfulness to the classical tradition of Mozart and Haydn, the Takács Quartet will perform Beethoven’s String Quartet Op. 18 No. 2.

“It’s like a meringue or anything light and sparkling,” Walther said.

“It’s very youthful and sunny — so optimistic, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. It’s full of energy.”

Beethoven’s middle period reflects his initial dedication to Na-

poleon combined with his anguish upon realizing that he is going deaf. The Takács Quartet will perform a sample from this tumultuous period of Beethoven’s life with Quartet Op. 74, also known as “Harp.” The piece received its nickname from a passage in the first movement in which the four musicians pluck their strings, creating a harplike effect.

As a nod to Beethoven’s late period, the program closes with String Quartet Op. 130. Beethoven was completely deaf when he composed this experimental quartet.

One highlight is the third movement, which first violinist Edward Dusinberre deemed “one of the saddest, most beautiful pieces of music that we get to play.”

Walther agreed, adding, “It’s one of those moments that just tears your heart out. It’s reflecting on life. It’s just a perfect, perfect piece of art.”

NASA also considers it a perfect piece of art. A recording of this movement was included on the Golden Record, a collection of cultural mementos from Earth that accompanied the two unmanned Voyager spacecrafts launched in 1977. The Golden Record is intended to impress intelligent extraterrestrial life forms who may

QUARTET continues on page 11

Photos by Peyton McGee | Daily Texan Staff

Above: Brian Mays has operated his restaurant, Sam’s Bar-B-Que, for 31 years in a small house he says is the former home of Stevie Ray Vaughn. The restaurant walls are covered with pictures brought in by patrons over the years. Below: Joseph Hawkins, owner of J. Kelly’s Barbecue, slices brisket in his restaurant Thursday.

Austin boasts two impressive barbecue joints east of IH-35

By Solomon Wang Daily Texan Staff Everyone knows about the great Salt Lick Bar-B-Que and the prominent Rudy’s “Country Store” and Bar-B-Q, which has many locations in Austin. What meat fanatics are missing out on, though, is authentic hole-in-the-wall barbecue. Luckily, a handful of these no-frills meat joints are just across the highway in East Austin.

J. Kelly’s BBQ

Ellen Appel | Associated Press

The Grammy Award-winning Takács Quartet, above, is set to perform tonight at the McCullough theater.

For hungry first-timers, the four-meat plate is a necessity. At $12.99, it’s a bargain, as you also get a choice of two sides (options include baked beans, coleslaw and potato salad). Meat choices are chicken, brisket, ribs and sausage. Normally, ordering chicken at a barbecue joint isn’t advised, but J. Kelly’s definitely smokes an outrageously juicy bird. Brisket and ribs, the staples on which barbecue is normally judged, may not be their forte, but they still won’t disappoint. The real gem at J. Kelly’s is the sausage, exploding with liquid grease upon your first bite. How can you go wrong? The one thing you should do to best savor your meat, however, is to avoid the restaurant’s overly sweet sauce.

J. Kelly’s also offers banana pudding and peach cobbler for dessert, with the banana pudding being the top choice. It’s the perfect

900 E. 11th St., Hours and menu at jkellysbbq.com.

After 27 years under the name Ben’s Longbranch Inn, this humble barbecue joint still offers some killer choices to bust your diet. If the weather’s nice, enjoy your succulent selections on the outdoor picnic patio.

The options here are served the old-fashioned way — you head through the cafete- conclusion to this deeply satisfying meal. ria-style line before telling the cashier what BARBECUE continues on page 11 you want.

Literary publicist blends traditional, new media State representative starts

By Robert Rich Rusty Shelton wants you to buy books.

As managing director of Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists, he’s found himself immersed in a rapidly changing environment, where the old, traditional means of publicizing a client’s work are being replaced by new and innovative ideas.

That’s not to say he isn’t up to the challenge, however. A UT graduate in corporate communications, Shelton came to P&P (as it is affectionately called by clients and employees) through an internship he did with the company his junior year and ascended the company ladder from there.

Now, he’s part of the creative force behind fresh ideas like the Tweet the Author series and the fantastic Austin Makes a Book project.

I showed up for my interview for the internship decked out in a full suit. My interviewers were in jeans and laughed at me when I showed up. But I got the internship, perhaps thanks to taking it so seriously. Once I was there, I loved the pace and the challenge of helping good books grab attention in a competitive media environment.

A good book is one you talk about for all the right reasons.

Aside from finance, I doubt there are two industries that have gone through more upheaval over the past few years than book publishing and mass media. We’ve got a foot in both industries, and while there’s lots of talk about doom and gloom, it is an exciting time to be in both fields.

Working in [public relations] only works if you love to build relationships. And work your ass off.

PR firms clinging to an approach that focuses only on traditional media will have a tough time seeing the end of the decade.

We’ve been ahead of the social media curve and established ourselves as a firm that does both traditional and new media very well. We created a very successful campaign called The Noticer Project, which helped put Andy Andrews’ book “The Noticer” on The New York Times bestseller list for 12 weeks.

Tweet the Author is a series on Twitter where we host live chats with top authors. It’s like a virtual book signing; people can interact with their favorite authors from their couch, their desk at work, etc. live via Twitter. We hosted one for bestselling fantasy

clothing line for Latinos

Peyton McGee | Daily Texan Staff

Rusty Shelton, UT graduate and managing director of Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists, works on innovative projects. author Brandon Sanderson this summer, and it was so popular that he actually reached his limit of Tweets in an hour — a rule none of us even knew existed. He had to log in from his wife’s account to finish the chat.

Austin Makes a Book is one of the coolest projects on our plate right now. It’s a crowd-funded social experiment: 100 different people, 100 different pages. We’re asking for submissions from Austin residents, and the first 100 people to send something in and

contribute $30 toward the cost of the books will be published. So far, submissions include song lyrics, a book excerpt, poems, a series of haikus and, my personal favorite, a retelling of Star Wars from a local 5-year-old.

Once we have 100 submissions, we’re going to throw a release party where everyone gets a copy of the book and gets to meet all of their awesome co-authors.

Phenix & Phenix is more wellknown nationally than in Austin.

We’re out to change that.

Bestselling author discusses latest work, previous travels

By Emily Macrander Daily Texan Staff Elizabeth Gilbert, author of The New York Times No. 1 bestselling memoir “Eat, Pray, Love,” will speak tonight at the Paramount Theatre.

Gilbert will discuss life since the breakout success of her last book, including the inception and development of her latest work, entitled “Committed: A Skeptic Makes Peace With Marriage,” due for release later this year.

The talk will be followed by a

question-and-answer session with the audience and a book signing.

Gilbert’s memoir “Eat, Pray, Love” chronicles the time she spent traveling alone around Europe and Asia after her divorce.

Around her 30th birthday, she realized she needed to change her life. She had been depressed for three years and was unhappy with her marriage. Funded by the advance for her book, the author took off on a yearlong excursion to discover what she really wanted in life, she said.

Gilbert visited Rome, where she learned to speak Italian and ate rich pastas and pizza. She then went to India and connected with a native guru and a cowboy who taught her to explore her spirituality. Her journey also took her to Bali, where she met a medicine man, learned about decadence and met her future husband.

“Eat, Pray, Love” has been hailed

by The New York Times as one of the 100 most notable books of 2006.

Gilbert was named one of the 100 most influential people in the world

by Time Magazine in 2008. Most fans don’t know that the movie “Coyote Ugly” was actually developed from a memoir published in GQ magazine about the years Gilbert spent bartending.

She is among the most successful female travel writers of this century, and tonight, Austinites will have the opportunity to hear her recall some of her travels. The doors and bar at the Paramount Theatre will open at 7 p.m., and Gilbert is scheduled to speak at 8 p.m.

to the fighting crowd.

By Ben Wermund “I did martial arts all my life,” Daily Texan Staff The visage of a matador in red he said. “I’m a big, big fight fan and black, eyes downcast with a and of all these young, dynamic determined demeanor, sprawls fighters.”

But slowly he began to feel the over a red cotton background.

Floral patterns shoot up and line could be something else.

“It’s so much more important outward from behind the dancing flames of a bonfire. Below him lies than that,” Lucio said. “There the outline of a bull’s head and the are a lot of religious-inspired [designs]. I want to include all LatiSpanish word “ganas.” “‘Ganas’ is hard to trans- no cultures. There’s Spanish-influlate directly,” said Eddie Lucio enced art, Día de los Muertos images, Aztec IndiIII, a Texas state an-inspired art. I re p re s e n t a t i v e wanted to marfrom Brownsry traditional elville, while sitting on an overThis is for the Latino ements to a line that allows peosized faux-leathcommunity to ple to be fun and er couch in his office. “Essentially, celebrate our culture.” trendy.”

The images it’s passion, de— Eddie Lucio splayed broadly sire, will, love — everything you Texas Representative across his shirts and hoodies — n e e d t o o v e rwinged skulls and come and sucthe Virgin of Guaceed. ‘Echale gadalupe rest on nas:’ do it with beds of ornate floral patterns and your whole soul.”

Ganas is the name of Lucio’s brightly colored streaks — easily new clothing line, which launched recall his most obvious influencSept. 16 in Brownsville as a sort of es: Ed Hardy, Affliction, MonarLatino version of FUBU. Lucio chy and Marc Ecko.

“These are all folks who saw a said everywhere he looked he saw Hispanics adopting styles intend- void in what they wanted to celed for other cultures and subcul- ebrate,” Lucio said. “They are on tures. He said it’s a void he hopes the progressive, cutting edge of fashion, but they’re celebrating a Ganas can fill.

“There has never really been a type of art. For them, fashion is ‘For Us By Us,’” he said. “This is that much more of an art form.”

He said his occupations, both for the Latino community to celebrate our culture. This could po- as an elected official and the tentially turn into the Latino ‘Just head of a clothing line, will influence one another. The issues he Do It.’” The idea for Ganas came to has worked on as a state repreLucio through a series of small sentative and the people he has inspirations. Lucio, a mixed mar- met will influence the line while tial arts fan, recognized a pas- the struggles he has faced trying sion in the Latino community to get a small business up and for Hispanic mixed martial arts running will inform him of the fighters and saw the potential to hardships of being a small-busistart a brand along the lines of ness owner.

TapouT, which caters primarily

‘‘

GANAS continues on page 11