12-06-11 by The Daily Texan

THE DAILY TEXAN Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900

For the fourth time, Longhorns volleyball goes for national title

Tunesday reviews The Black Keys, The Roots, Smashing Pumpkins, Amy Winehouse

SPORTS PAGE 7

LIFE&ARTS PAGE 11 >> Breaking news, blogs and more: www.dailytexanonline.com

TODAY Calendar Lomography

Check out experimental and creative photography at the Lomography Gallery Store grand opening from 6 to 10 p.m. at Ninth Street and Congress Ave. Admission is free.

‘Home Alone’ Actor Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McAllister in one of his first films, “Home Alone” tonight at 7 p.m. at the Alamo Drafthouse. Admission is $10 with an all you can eat cheese pizza party with the movie.

‘How Our Words Reflect Us’ Dr. James Pennebaker will be delivering a lecture on his computational linguistics research related to small function words and what we can learn from them. The presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. at the AT&T Conference Center. RSVP to info@austinforum.org. Make sure!

Today in history In 1865 The 13th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States is ratified, officially abolishing slavery across the recently reunified country.

Inside In News:

@thedailytexan

facebook.com/dailytexan

Regents negotiate state inmate healthcare debts By Jody Serrano Daily Texan Staff

After growing concerns over the state’s ability to pay for healthcare services for its inmates, the University’s Board of Regents has taken a solid stance on providing healthcare for the

state’s correctional facilities — pay the bills or find another provider. The UT Board of Regents approved a new agreement Monday between the University of Texas Medical Branch and the Texas Department of Criminal Justice guaranteeing UTMB will be paid the remaining $45 million for the

services it provides to inmates. If left unpaid, the agreement laid out measures to transition UTMB’s services out of the facilities or terminate them completely. UTMB’s total cost of services for the 2012 fiscal year is $430.5 million, including the $6.3 million left unpaid from the previous two year pe-

The Electric Reliability Council of Texas issued a 10-year outlook report last week stating that Texas could face rolling blackouts starting in the summer of 2012 because of reduced energy generation and increased demand. The report cites potentially extreme summer temperatures and power plant construction problems as factors that require rolling blackouts to maintain the reliability of the electrical grid. ERCOT spokeswoman Dottie Roark said rolling blackouts use controlled power outages to balance the energy supply. Electrical companies cut off energy to different areas in the electrical grid for 15 to 40 minutes until the supply is balanced, Roark said. Roark said the amount of energy held on reserve should equal 13.75 percent of the total energy generated in order to handle power outages and scheduled maintenance. Given the amount of energy that is currently produced and the expected demand, ERCOT predicts the percentage of energy reserves to drop to 12 percent during the summer of 2012. “The report is a signal to the

ENERGY continues on PAGE 2

Lawrence Peart | Daily Texan Staff

Loyal bar owner moves east By Claire Cardona Daily Texan Staff

The smiling, bearded face of bartender Denis O’Donnell will still greet you by name when you enter the bar. But it won’t be at Hole in the Wall, the bar at West Dean Keeton Street and Guadalupe Street frequented by

students. Come Friday, O’Donnell and co-owner Nathan Hill will open the doors of The White Horse, the newest addition to the East Side bar scene. The opening celebration, complete with a live white horse, will be the culmination of three years of searching for a venue and funding to start their

own venture. “I would hope that people on that side of town have the opportunity to walk into our bar and be romantically overwhelmed with bluegrass, jazz and the dim lights of a honky-tonk, with people two-stepping and twirling around on the floor that is so culturally different than what’s happen-

ing over there,” O’Donnell said. Well-versed in management and bartending, O’Donnell has performed on stage since he was 15 and worked behind the bar at Hole in the Wall for almost four years, serving as the day manager before leaving in

HOLE continues on PAGE 2

School of Architecture ranked second in nation By Megan Strickland Daily Texan Staff

In Sports: Why Texas’ 7-5 season is a success story page 7

In Life&Arts:

Take a look back at 2011 in the Year in Culture page 12

Quote to note

SPORTS PAGE 7

HEALTH continues on PAGE 2

Denis O’Donnell takes his place behind the bar at Hole In The Wall on Guadalupe for his final shift at the local haunt. With the help of his friends and other Hole In The Wall colleagues, O’Donnell will open up a new bar, The White Horse, in East Austin, with co-owner Nathan Hill.

The pros and cons of Teach for America page 4

— Michelle Kocher Setter

ey it still owes UTMB. Under the new agreement, UTMB will continue to provide healthcare services to the state for the remainder of the 2012 fiscal year, which ends in August, and will continue negotiations as to whether

By Nick Hadjigeorge Daily Texan Staff

In Opinion:

‘‘

riod, according to UTMB spokesman Raul Reyes. The state currently still owes UTMB $45 million, he said. The agreement demands the Texas Department of Criminal Justice request $45 million from its 2013 fiscal budget for healthcare from the Legislative Budget Board to cover the mon-

UT not to be affected by electrical blackouts

Texas A&M University faces bomb threats page 5

It’s very rare for a class to go to four Final Fours in four years. We’re an interesting bunch coming from all parts of the world, so we have a good mix and get along real well and I feel that really helps us on the court.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Fanny Trang | Daily Texan Staff

Kinesiology senior Griselda Onofre and her friends hold candles in front of the Tower on Monday evening in remembrance of Joaquin Luna, Jr., a high school senior who committed suicide Friday.

Competitive tuition and faculty accomplishments within the School of Architecture were likely factors in the school’s undergraduate program being ranked second in the nation for 2012. Budget cuts could threaten to bring that ranking down in the future, architecture dean Frederick Steiner said. UT’s ranking, compiled by DesignIntelligence, a journal that produces the only national rankings for accredited bachelor’s and master’s architecture programs in the United States, was second only to Cornell University. “Students definitely look to rankings, so it’s better to be ranked

high,” Steiner said. “I actually believe at the undergraduate level, we’re the best in the country. I think we’re stronger than Cornell who is ranked ahead of us. We are certainly the top public university in the nation at the undergraduate level.” DesignIntelligence did not respond to requests to disclose their ranking system on Monday, but Steiner said cost was a significant factor. Of the top 10 universities, UT was the least expensive in 2010 for in-state tuition at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, according to information compiled by the School of Architecture. “We are by far and away the

RANK continues on PAGE 2

Students dismayed by DREAM rejection By Megan Strickland Daily Texan Staff

Journalism sophomore Hector Gaucin said many undocumented students at UT have felt the same despair as Joaquin Luna Jr., a high school senior who committed suicide Nov. 25. Luna suffered from what his family said was depression stemming from the non-passage of the DREAM Act. Gaucin is campus relations co-director for the University Leadership Initiative, a campus organization dedicated to promoting the passage of the

DREAM Act, a document aiming to help provide amnesty to undocumented students. The organization held a candlelight vigil at the Tower on Monday in support of Luna. At the vigil, a crowd of 30 people sang songs of support, said prayers and held signs that said, “Yo soy Joaquin. We are Joaquin.” “In some way, most of us are Joaquin,” Gaucin said. “We have all faced and had hard times through high school or college. This is to show high school or college dreamers that

there is a support system here for them.” Clinical professor of law Barbara Hines said current immigration laws allow students such as Luna to acquire an education but leave them without a career path in their field of study as they would be considered illegal workers. She said the world would be different with the passage of the DREAM Act, a law that would create a road to citizenship for

DREAM continues on PAGE 2

Victoria Montalvo | Daily Texan Staff

The efforts of Professor Larry Speck have contributed to the School of Architecture ranking second nationally for 2012.

NEWS

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

HOLE continues from PAGE 1

THE DAILY TEXAN Volume 112, Number 94

CONTACT US Main Telephone: (512) 471-4591 Editor: Viviana Aldous (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor: Lena Price (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com News Office: (512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com Multimedia Office: (512) 471-7835 dailytexanmultimedia@gmail.com Sports Office: (512) 232-2210 sports@dailytexanonline.com Life & Arts Office: (512) 232-2209 dailytexan@gmail.com Photo Office: (512) 471-8618 photo@dailytexanonline.com

Jorge Corona | Daily Texan Staff

A woman walks beneath the powerlines on Fifth Street and Lamar Boulevard on Monday afternoon.

ENERGY continues from PAGE 1

Comics Office: (512) 232-4386 dailytexancomics@gmail.com Retail Advertising: (512) 471-1865 joanw@mail.utexas.edu Classified Advertising: (512) 471-5244 classifieds@dailytexanonline.com

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

COPYRIGHT Copyright 2011 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.

TOMORROW’S WEATHER High

Low

Audrey’s the new boss y’all.

market about future energy demands,” Roark said. “It gives them incentives to make new energy plants to meet that demand.” Roark said ERCOT is attempting to handle the generation shortage by increasing the number of customers paid to shut off their energy use during emergency situations. Roark said ERCOT is responsible for balancing the supply and demand of energy in Texas in order to make sure the grid’s equipment is always running at the appropriate level. If the demand for energy increases and the energy supply is not enough to handle the demand, the grid equipment can be damaged and cause an uncontrolled blackout. Juan Ontiveros, UT’s executive director of Utilities and Energy Management, said whether or not the rolling blackouts occur depends on what the energy market does, but the shortages will not affect the UT campus. “On the main campus, we selfgenerate all of the energy, including electricity, for the majority of the campus, which includes all of the research facilities,” Ontiveros said. “However, we do rely on the ERCOT grid as a backup in the event we were to experience an unexpected failure of generation.” Ontiveros said there is little chance for UT’s energy generation facilities to face problems,

THE DAILY TEXAN

This newspaper was printed with pride by The Daily Texan and Texas Student Media.

Permanent Staff

Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Viviana Aldous Associate Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Matthew Daley, Shabab Siddiqui Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lena Price Associate Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sydney Fitzgerald News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Matthew Stottlemyre Associate News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Pagan, Colton Pence, Huma Munir Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jillian Bliss, Liz Farmer, Allie Kolechta Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Austin Myers Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elyana Barrera, Ashley Morgan, Klarissa Fitzpatrick Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexa Hart Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mark Nuncio, Chris Benavides, Bobby Blanchard, Lin Zagorski Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Torrey Associate Photo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Edwards, Shannon Kintner Senior Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thomas Allison, Mary Kang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lawrence Peart, Fanny Trang, Danielle Villasana Video Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rafael Borges Associate Video Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jackie Kuenstler Senior Videographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ashley Dillard Senior Video Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ben Smith Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Aleksander Chan Associate Life&Arts Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Katie Stroh Senior Life&Arts Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ali Breland, Benjamin Smith, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julie Rene Tran, Aaron West, Alex Williams Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Trey Scott Associate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Austin Laymance Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick Cremona, Christian Corona, Lauren Giudice, Chris Hummer Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Victoria Elliot Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gerald Rich Associate Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Sanchez Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Doug Warren

and the University is committed to meeting the energy needs of the campus. “The main campus has experienced a reliability of 99.999 percent over the last 35 years,” Ontiveros said. “Over the last 10 years, we have made significant investments in the campus utility systems so that current and future campus energy needs are met reliably and cost-effectively.” Austin Energy spokesperson Carlos Cordova said all energy companies in Texas have to participate in the rolling blackout even if they have enough energy to meet their demands. “The voltage has to balance out. Otherwise, it creates even worse outages,” Cordova said. “Rolling blackouts are necessary to prevent a total blackout.” Cordova said Austin Energy has increased the number of circuits in their system over the past year and will be able to spread outages more evenly throughout the city in the event of a rolling blackout. Cordova said it is important for people to conserve energy to prevent potential shortages during the winter and summer seasons when energy use reaches its peak. “Everyone will have to continue to conserve until more generation is brought online,” Cordova said. “Especially if temperatures are as high as last summer and the drought continues.”

RANK continues from PAGE 1

cheapest, most inexpensive school,” Steiner said. “What keeps me up at night is if we will be able to continue to keep that ranking when obviously our budget is not increasing.” Steiner said the School of Architecture has filled faculty vacancies with lower ranking titles than their outgoing predecessors to save $52,000 in the past year. He said support from the university president and provost have helped navigate through budget cuts, but he

November to work on The White Horse. O’Donnell said he will miss Hole in the Wall, but the owner Will Tanner gave his blessing not only in words but in donated sound equipment and the “that’a boy” they needed to venture out. “I didn’t realize that this was my dream right off until I started working [at Hole],” O’Donnell said. “I’ve always played in bands since I was a young boy, and I’ve spent most of my twenties running other people’s business.” Hill, the former manager of Hole, met O’Donnell when they were working in management for Kerbey Lane Cafe. From then on, it was more or less fate. “We both worked really well together. We had similar goals and management style: that if you treat people well, they’ll work well for you,” Hill said. “If you meet Denis and he said, ‘Do you want to open a bar together,’ you say ‘Yes.’” The new bar will present a mix of musical styles from Delta blues and bluegrass on Wednesdays to twostepping on Thursdays and Fridays. On Saturday, they will look “outside the box” to draw talent from around the country. With the help of friends, The White Horse has been transformed from the former Club La Trampa. By the time it’s done, it will be outfitted with antique lights, pool tables and a bar that stretches across the length of

HEALTH continues from PAGE 1 UTMB will provide care in 2013. UT System spokesman Anthony de Bruyn said this was not the first time concerns about TDCJ’s ability to pay have been raised to the Board of Regents. “The Board approved an extension of the contract last month and prior to that concerns have been raised,” de Bruyn said. He said the Board was satisfied with the agreement both parties have come up with. Reyes said that out of UTMB’s

DREAM continues from PAGE 1 undocumented immigrants who complete two years of service in the military or at least two years at a fouryear institution of higher learning. “It would be a fundamental and important change,” Hines said. “Many DREAM students have already graduated. We would have more nurses and engineers. It would be a benefit not only to the students but to our country.” Feelings of isolation are something said he knows maintaining the quality of the program with less money is unsustainable. As Steiner and other administrators dealt with the logistics of funding, he said the fantastic work during 2011 by faculty contributed to the school’s 2012 ranking, which rose from seventh place last year. “Larry Speck won the Topaz medallion which is the highest honor for an architectural educator,” Steiner said. “The faculty also won quite a few awards and published several books that year, so we were quite productive.” DesignIntelligence added archi-

Issue Staff

Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarah Lawson, Lydia Hererra, Allison Harris, Sylvia Butanda Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sameer Bhuchar, Chijiote Okorie, Garrett Callahan Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chelsea DiSchiano Page Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allie Kolechta, Jaime Cheng Comic Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emery Ferguson, John Massingil, Claudine Lucena, Trish Do . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betsy Cooper, Rory Harman Columnist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Larisa Manescu, Samantha Katsounas Web Staff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Paxton Thomes, Mary Schaffer Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Zachary Strain, Elisabeth Dillon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jorge Corona, Marisa Vasquez

Advertising

(512) 471-1865 advertise@texasstudentmedia.com Director of Advertising & Business . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jalah Goette Business Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lori Hamilton Business Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amy Ramirez Advertising Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CJ Salgado Broadcast & Events Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carter Goss Campus & National Sales Associate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Bowerman Student Advertising Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Ford Student Assistant Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Veronica Serrato Student Acct. Execs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Casey Lee, Adrian Lloyd, Morgan Haenchen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paola Reyes, Fredis Benitez, Emily Sides, Hwanjong Cho . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Zach Congdon, Cameron McClure, Edward Moreland Student Office Assistant/Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rene Gonzalez Student Marketing Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Maryanne Lee Student Buys of Texas Assistant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lindsey Hollingsworth Senior Graphic Design . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felimon Hernandez Junior Designers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Casey Rogers, Bianca Krause, Aaron Rodriquez Special Editions Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Adrienne Lee Student Special Editions Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jordan Schraeder

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, Monday through Friday, during the regular academic year and is published twice weekly during the summer semester. The Daily Texan does not publish during academic breaks and most Federal Holidays. and exam periods. Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Daily Texan, P.O. Box D, Austin, TX 78713. 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. classified display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified word advertising, call 471-5244. Entire contents copyright 2011 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

Need to have your wisdom teeth removed? Don’t go to the ring. We have a research study. Right now, PPD is looking for qualified participants for a post-surgical pain relief research study of an investigational medication. Surgery for qualified study participants will be performed by a board certified oral surgeon. Receive up to $500 upon study completion and the surgery is performed at no cost.

12/5/11

Monday .............Wednesday, 12 p.m. Thursday.................Monday, 12 p.m. Tuesday.................Thursday, 12 p.m. Friday......................Tuesday, 12 p.m. Classified Word Ads 11 a.m. Wednesday................Friday, 12 p.m. (Last Business Day Prior to Publication)

For information, call

462-0492

Text “PPD” to 48121 to receive study information

a long wall. A green room for musicians and an outdoor patio are also to come and a trailer parked outside will serve traditional Mexican tacos. And as for the drinks, well, they’re what patrons of Hole have come to expect from the creator of the “Shitty Lemonade.” “We’re going to be cheap,” O’Donnell said. “Our place will be competitive in drinks and everybody will get a taste for the fabulous T.W. Samuels that will flow like crazy as our wild ass will be walking the floor with a bottle of whiskey and getting everybody crazy about the place.” With a lot of popular spots on the East Side, the new owners are sure they’ll offer something which lives up to Austin’s reputation for live music. “We wish that culture down there embraces this new alien honky-tonk, seedy, honest bar that remembers who you are and what you had to drink,” O’Donnell said. “There will be no arrogant jerk behind the bar — it will be a true place of community and, hopefully, a bastion of culture that keeps people wanting to move to this city for live music.” O’Donnell, who plays full time with a band called El Pan, will keep his ties with Hole, where his band will continue to play, and said he looks forward to seeing those regulars on his stage as well. The concepts of the two bars are different, but O’Donnell said the band in the corner will be passive enough so that people can still enjoy conversation and not be chased out of the room. It will also rely heavily on bi-weekly and weekly resident bands that will keep people coming back.

As for Hole, someone will have to fill the space left behind the bar and both men agree Rio Norris will be the one to hold the reins and surpass the standard for quality O’Donnell and Hill brought to the role. “It’s an honor to step in Denis’ shoes. I hope I don’t let him down,” Norris said. And although O’Donnell said he expects The White Horse will draw a new crowd, his regulars from Hole in the Wall, such as Dillon Tulk, insist they’ll be going across town to see the new place. “Denis is a phenomenal musician and an amazing bartender. He’s just that good at what he’s doing,” said Tulk, who has celebrated his birthday at Hole for the past four years. Hill, who deals more with the numbers side of the bar, said together they’ve built up some great clientele and he hopes to see them on the other side of a bar that they own. “I hope they embrace us,” O’Donnell said. “Everybody on that side of town better get used to the fact that I’m going to know every single person’s name that walks in that door and what they have to drink.”

11,000 employees, approximately 3,000 of them work in the state’s prison facilities. Both entities have been working together to provide healthcare to inmates since 1994. “For years, we would get supplemental appropriations after we had provided care, and they were not always enough to cover the bill,” he said. Reyes said UTMB always believed the new agreement with TDCJ would be approved. “Throughout all this, everyone needs to know that patient care was never interrupted,” Reyes said. “We continued to provide care at one of the lowest costs throughout the nation, and we’re thank-

ful that a solution has been worked out to make sure that the healthcare is continued.” TDCJ spokesman Jason Clark said UTMB and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center are the primary healthcare providers for the state’s 87 facilities of 120,000 inmates. He said biennial agreements are renegotiated based on legislative appropriations and renegotiated after each legislative session. Clark said the request to the Legislative Budget Board for $45 million from state healthcare service’s budget for the fiscal year of 2013 has not been approved by the Legislative Budget Board.

Hines said she often sees in her work with undocumented students. “For some of them, it’s very hopeless,” Hines said. “I have great admiration for them to carry on.” Journalism sophomore Juana Guzman, campus relations co-director for the University Leadership Initiative, said undocumented students like herself were hard-hit by the death of the aspiring engineer whose family received notice of his acceptance to UT-Pan American the same day as his funeral on Dec. 1. “As part of ULI, we focus on reaching out to undocumented students,” Guzman said. “The fact that

he was an undocumented student hit us very hard, but to know his hopelessness doubled that pain. We want everyone to know that we are not alone.” Spanish sophomore Jonathan Hernandez said he and his undocumented classmates had to keep fighting for the DREAM Act although they face challenges. “Let’s not give up,” Hernandez said. “Let’s not give up. Let’s take that hope and make it a reality. There are so many things to fight for — your friends, your family, your own dreams. Let’s keep fighting.”

tecture professor Larry Speck and associate professor Hope Hasbrouck to its list of “top 25 most admired educators of 2012.” These designations, released in conjunction with program rankings, are achieved through recommendation from architecture students and academics, which makes the accomplishment more rewarding, Speck said. “It’s the sort of thing you can’t campaign for or apply for, which is great,” Speck said. “I love it when you don’t apply and people say ‘Yeah, that’s someone I admire.’” Architecture graduate student Nelly Fuentes expressed her admiration for Hasbrouck. “She’ll be the last one to brag about herself, but her wealth of

knowledge and experience in the profession is quite impressive,” Fuentes said. “As a professor she is invested and insightful, particularly with regards to the making of place and representing landscape.” Architecture senior James Spence said he took a class with Speck freshman year and said talented instructors like him had to have benefited UT’s ranking. “UT’s strengths are the sure-fire reasons the school was ranked No. 2 in the nation,” Spence said. “Most of these strengths come from our staff. Not only are our professors very well versed in their respective fields of architecture, but they are deeply involved with the progress of their students.”

WHAT: Grand Opening of The White Horse WHERE: 500 Comal St., off East Sixth Street WHEN: Friday, Dec. 9 at 9 p.m. WHO: El pan, The Dalles East Cameron Folkcore, Clyde and Clem’s ONLINE: facebook.com/ TheWhiteHorseHonkyTonk

3 W/N

WORLD&NATION

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 | THE DAILY TEXAN | Elyana Barrera, Wire Editor | dailytexanonline.com

Discovered planet holds conditions ‘right for life’ By Seth Borenstein The Associated Press

Scott Applewhite | Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, center, meets with delegates from an Afghan women’s civil society during an international conference on the future of Afghanistan in Bonn, Germany, on Monday.

Afghanistan to need support until 2024 By Anne Gearan & Juergen Baetz The Associated Press

BONN, Germany — Afghanistan will need the financial support of other countries for at least another decade beyond the 2014 departure of foreign troops, Afghan President Hamid Karzai said Monday at an international conference. But the conference on the future of Afghanistan in Bonn was overshadowed by a public display of bad blood between the United States and Pakistan, the two nations with the greatest stake and say in making Afghanistan safe and solvent. Pakistan boycotted the meeting to protest an apparently errant U.S. air strike last month that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers along the rough border with Afghanistan. The strike

furthered the perception in Pakistan that NATO and the U.S. are its true enemies, not the Taliban militants that operate on both sides of the border. Pakistan is seen as instrumental to ending the insurgency in Afghanistan because of its links to militant groups and its unwillingness, from the NATO perspective, to drive insurgents from safe havens on its soil where they regroup and rearm. During the one-day conference, about 100 nations and international organizations jointly pledged political and financial long-term support for war-torn Afghanistan to prevent it from falling back into chaos or becoming a safe haven for terrorists. “Together we have spent blood and treasure in fighting terrorism,” Karzai said. “Your continued soli-

darity, your commitment and support will be crucial so that we can consolidate our gains and continue to address the challenges that remain.” Donor nations did not commit to specific figures but pledged that economic and other advances in Afghanistan since the ouster of the Taliban government in 2001 should be safeguarded with continued funding. The United States announced it would free more than $650 million in support for small communitybased development projects in Afghanistan, frozen because of financial irregularities in Afghanistan’s key Kabul Bank. Afghanistan estimates it will need roughly $10 billion in 2015 and onward, slightly less than half the country’s annual gross national product, to pay for its security

forces which are slated to increase to 352,000 personnel by the end of 2014. Organizer Germany and the United States had once hoped this week’s conference would showcase progress toward a political settlement between Afghanistan and the Taliban-led insurgency that 10 years of fighting by international forces has failed to dislodge. Instead, it became a status report on halting progress on other fronts and a glaring reminder that neither the Taliban nor Pakistan is ready to sign up to the international agenda for Afghanistan. Participating nations pledged their support for an inclusive Afghan-led reconciliation process on condition that any outcome must reject violence, terrorism and endorse the Afghan constitution and its guarantee of human rights.

WASHINGTON — A newly discovered planet is eerily similar to Earth and is sitting outside our solar system in what seems to be the ideal place for life, except for one hitch. It’s a bit too big. The planet is smack in the middle of what astronomers call the Goldilocks zone, that hard to find place that’s not too hot, not too cold, where water, which is essential for life, doesn’t freeze or boil. And it has a shopping mall-like surface temperature of near 72 degrees, scientists say. The planet’s confirmation was announced Monday by NASA along with other discoveries by its Kepler telescope, which was launched on a planet-hunting mission in 2009. This is a phenomenal discovery in the course of human history,” Geoff Marcy of University of California, Berkeley, one of the pioneers of planet-hunting outside our solar system, said in an email. “This discovery shows that we Homo sapiens are straining our reach into the universe to find planets that remind us of home. We are almost there.” The new planet — named Kepler22b — has key aspects it shares with Earth. It circles a star that could be the twin of our sun and at just about the same distance. The planet’s year of 290 days is even close to ours. It

Photo courtesy of NASA

Shown in this artist rendering, Kepler-22b is a planet known to comfortably circle in the habitable zone of a sun-like star and possibly contain liquid water — a requirement for life.

USDA announces $50 million for Gulf river basins By Ramit Plushnickmasti The Associated Press

HOUSTON — The U.S. Depar tment of Agriculture on Monday pledged $50 million to a program designed to restore seven river basins from Florida to Texas in an attempt to show a blueprint for rebuilding the Gulf Coast’s fragile ecosystem is more than just another federal report. The USDA’s announcement accompanied the presentation of the final report of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force, a team established by President Barack Obama after the April 2010 oil spill that highlighted decades of environmental decline in the Gulf of Mexico. The task force’s plan for reviving the Gulf and the ecosystems and watersheds linked to it calls for rebuilding and conserving wetlands; cleaning polluted rivers and streams; st re ng t he n i ng c om mu n it i e s along the storm-prone area and better preparing them for the storms that brew over the warm ocean waters; and allowing more sediment to naturally flow downstream to slowly rebuild barrier islands meant to provide natural protection from storms. “We are all dedicated to making sure that the treasures we grew up with are still around for future generations,” said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, a New Orleans native who chaired the task force. Jackson and officials from other federal and state agencies made the announcements in Houston at a summit sponsored by the Harte Research In-

stitute for Gulf of Mexico Studies. The summit focuses on the Gulf, its importance to the U.S. economy and the need to reverse decades of damage and neglect. Jackson said the USDA project — an offshoot of an existing national program aimed at conserving, improving and pres er ving t he nat ion’s wa tersheds — is only the first of many initiatives she expects will be announced in the coming months. “I expect a flurr y of activity to get some meat on those bones,” she said. The Gulf of Mexico, long neglected and under-funded, is a vital part of the nation’s economy. More than 90 percent of the nation’s offshore oil and natural gas production originates in the Gulf and 13 of the top 20 ports by tonnage are in the region. If the five coastal states were a country, it would rank seventh in global gross domestic product. In 2009, the Gulf Coast produced 30 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. While this committee has been assigned the task of identifying problems and pinpointing possible solutions, Congress has been considering a bill called the Restore Act that would allow most of the penalties BP would pay for fouling the waters to go back toward restoring the environment in the five Gulf states: Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida and Texas. The House is to hold hearings on the proposed bill later this week. The first project administered by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service gives farmers and ranchers the finances they need to change

their land or water use practices to help clean, conserve and preserve the watersheds, said Harris Sherman, the USDA’s undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment. The USDA provides them with a “tool kit” of options for joining the program, he added. The program — called the Gulf of Mexico Initiative — also requires matching funds from state, local and nonprofit entities, and so the funds available could total some $90 million, Sherman said. Similar projects are already under way elsewhere, and have successfully reversed some damage done to waterways. The $50 million commitment to the Gulf Coast, however, is unique because it significantly increases the department’s funding to the region. Already, Sherman said, officials have met with ranchers and farmers in the area and are confident they will participate. The funding will be made available over the next three years, with the first $20 million available immediately. The seven river basins identified for immediate assistance are already on the federal Clean Water Act’s list of polluted waterways. In Alabama, the program’s goal in the Weeks Bay watershed is to reduce agricultural-related nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment running downstream and to preser ve wildlife habitats. In a watershed shared by Alabama and Florida, the program aims to reduce the sediments and nutrients that flow into tributaries of the Escambia River. The USDA believes this will ultimately “improve wildlife habitat and the quality

likely has water and rock. The only trouble is the planet’s a bit big for life to exist on the surface. The planet is about 2.4 times the size of Earth. It could be more like the gas-and-liquid Neptune with only a rocky core and mostly ocean. “It’s so exciting to imagine the possibilities,” said Natalie Batalha, the Kepler deputy science chief. Floating on that “world completely covered in water” could be like being on an Earth ocean and “it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that life could exist in such an ocean,” Batalha said in a phone interview. Kepler can’t find life itself, just where the conditions might be right for it to thrive. And when astronomers look for life elsewhere they’re talking about everything ranging from microbes to advanced intelligence that can be looking back at us. Chief Kepler scientist William Borucki said he thinks the planet is somewhere between Earth and gas-and-liquid Neptune, but that it has a lot of rocky material. It’s in a size range that scientists don’t really know anything about. Measurements next summer may help astronomers have a better idea of its makeup, he said. The planet is 600 light years away. Each light year is 5.9 trillion miles. It would take a space shuttle about 22 million years to get there.

NEWS BRIEFLY Amazon rain forest sees lowest annual destruction since 1988 SAO PAULO — Brazil’s government says annual destruction of the Amazon rain forest has fallen to its lowest recorded level. Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research tracks destruction of the Amazon by analyzing satellite data. They say about 2,410 square miles of the Amazon were destroyed between August 2010 through July 2011. That’s the lowest annual amount destroyed since 1988, when tracking began. And it’s down 11 percent from last year. The destruction peaked in 1995, when 11,220 square miles were destroyed. Some warn the drop is less a result of the government’s steppedup efforts to stop deforestation than by the global economic downturn, which has lessened demand for products that lead to the destruction.

Navy training mine washes ashore on Florida beach

David Phillip | Associated Press

Birds are shown at a colonial waterbird nesting site as a refinery stands in the background along the Houston Ship Channel in Baytown, Texas.

of water delivered to Pensacola Bay” and the Gulf. The project has similar goals for another Florida watershed. In Louisiana, it will focus on the Baratoria-Terrebonne estuary and the Mermentau basin, once again by reducing the harm fertilizers have as they f low downst re am f rom r iv ers and streams into the Gulf of Mexico. In Mississippi the

Jourdan River basin is the focus, while in Texas the goal is to clean up the Guadalupe River basin. Officials believe the project will improve water quality for thousands of residents in Pensacola, Fla., Mobile, Ala., and San Antonio. “We’re focusing on priority areas where we can get the greatest gains,” Sherman said.

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A bomb squad has removed a Navy training mine that authorities say washed ashore on Miami Beach in an area dotted by numerous condominiums. Police cordoned off the area around the mine with yellow tape Monday and kept bystanders away as Fire Rescue crews and a bomb squad examined the device. Fire Rescue spokesman Jesus Sola says photos of the mine were taken and sent to the Navy. The device, which is 6 feet long and 2 feet in diameter, was later loaded onto a truck and hauled away. Sola says the mine, which was painted white, still appeared to be live but it wasn’t as explosive as a regular mine. — Compiled from Associated Press reports

OPINION

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 | THE DAILY TEXAN | Viviana Aldous, Editor-in-Chief | (512) 232-2212 | editor@dailytexanonline.com

Ryan Edwards | Daily Texan Staff

A KIPP volunteer addresses students at a KIPP Austin campus. KIPP, which stands for Knowledge Is Power Program, is a national network of free, openenrollment, college-preparatory public schools. KIPP was co-founded by two Teach For America alumni, Mike Feinberg and David Levin, in 1994.

Point-counterpoint: Teach for America POINT

COUNTERPOINT

Time commitment insufficient for student success

Propelling education beyond the classroom

“

By Zoya Waliany Daily Texan Columnist

of our education system calls for drastic alterations, and TFA alumni are responding. Notable TFA alumni include KIPP Academy co-founders Mike Feinberg and In the midst of senior year, many UT students are David Levin and Michelle Rhee, former D.C. public applying for graduate and professional schools and ac- school chancellor. A Harvard University study in 2011 cepting offers at companies around the world. Some concluded that more founders of successful entreprestudents, however, have chosen a path less traveled neurial education organizations participated in TFA but increasingly important: Teach For America. Estab- than any other program. Our education system requires lished in 1990 to address the growing problems of the reform from all different sectors, from business to law American education system, the nonprofit trains recent to education, and the diverse careers of TFA alumni college graduates to teach for two years in urban and help account for these various reforms. TFA members rural schools, serving as leaders in their classrooms. become “lifelong leaders for fundamental change, reAs this organization continues to gardless of their professional sector,” expand, it increases understandas stated on its website, because TFA ing of the growing education crisis instills in its members the desire to in America and works to close the advocate for the vital education reachievement gap between students form movement in America. The benefit of TFA with low-income backgrounds and Furthermore, during the two-year is not necessarily their wealthier peers. term, TFA members work closely TFA critics claim that its memwith students in their classrooms to recruit teachers bers are not as qualified to teach who, facing added challenges of povas other incoming teachers with erty and unequal education, require but rather to teaching degrees. But to become personalized attention. In 2010, sturaise capability of a TFA corps member, students dents of TFA members in Tennessee undergo an intensive application scored higher than other students of education reform in process including interviews that non-TFA new teachers in reading, the future lreaders of require critical thinking skills. Stuscience and social studies, according dents from different backgrounds to a Tennessee report. America. are selected based on a number Alejandro Delgado, recruitment of factors, most importantly their manager at UT and a TFA alumcommitment to serving students. nus, recalls entering his classroom New TFA corps members receive in Brownsville, Texas, to find that rigorous training for six weeks, which teaches them in- only 53 percent of his 10th grade students had passed novative, efficacious teaching methods to transform the TAKS test the previous year. After spending the classrooms where students are struggling. The training year working with them, he helped 100 percent of his entails teaching a summer school course under the su- students pass the TAKS test. This past year, all of his pervision of a veteran teacher. Students must also pass students matriculated into college. Results like these ila test to move on to the next grade. Moreoever, were lustrate the significant change TFA members are actualTFA members not successful, school districts would izing around the country. not continue to invite them back. TFA, a teaching corps, refer to its members as corps Even upon teaching a class alone, TFA members are members or leaders. These titles are not to insinuate a matched with highly experienced teachers. Further- sense of elitism but rather to teach TFA members remore, the members continue to receive support and spect for the teaching profession. Teachers are seldom professional development from the regional TFA orga- thought of as leaders of our country the way that polinization. According to The New York Times, 63 percent ticians and businesspeople are. This archaic type of of corps members remain in the teaching profession af- thinking must end as we work to improve the education ter their two-year requirement is complete, with 31 per- system, the most vital element to ensuring our country’s cent continuing to teach in low-income neighborhoods, future success. With various outlets for guidance, from a retention rate similar to the percent of non-TFA new TFA’s assistance to support from veteran teachers in teachers in the same type of low-income, poorly orga- their schools, TFA members are leading their students nized school systems. to success. We need leaders in our classrooms, and TFA However, the benefit of TFA is not necessarily to re- is an effective source helping to create these leaders. cruit teachers but rather to raise capability of education Waliany is a Plan II and government senior. reform in the future leaders of America. The dire state

“

corps members and alumni. The long list includes companies such as GE, Goldman Sachs, Google and KPMG and graduate schools including HarCorps members of Teach for America, a nonprof- vard Law School, Johns Hopkins University School it organization that recruits talented young college of Nursing and Yale School of Management — all graduates and puts them in low-performing schools pretty big carrots to the TFA stick. for two-year periods, “could make up one-quarter But so what if the Ivy league-educated corps of all new teachers in 60 of the nation’s highest need members leave the classroom after two years? They school districts” by 2015, according to The Associ- still did more good for their students than a “reguated Press. While TFA advocates gleefully spread lar” teacher would have, right? the good news, its critics are not shy to point out Wrong. The assumption that a teacher with a dethe organization’s low retention rate — only 31 per- gree from an Ivy League university and a TFA certifcent stay in the classroom beicate from a six-week crash course yond their two-year contract, acis as equally qualified as an expecording to TFA’s website — and rienced “regular” teacher who has the resulting problems. TFA has spent many years in the classroom By consistently filling become a stopover in the career is false. A paper sponsored by the of many bright college graduEconomics of Education Review ... schools with new ates whose ultimate aspiration in June 2010 found that “teacher teachers every two is to land a cozy, well-paying job classroom performance is corin, well, anything that is not an related neither with the type of years, TFA is actually inner-city classroom. certification a teacher has earned, UT is currently the third largnor with the acquisition of an adperpetuating the est contributor of graduates to vanced degree, nor with the selecachievement gap, TFA and was the largest last year. tivity of the university a teacher About 5 percent of the 2011 gradattended. Only on-the-job trainperhaps even uating class went into the proing that comes with each year of widening it. gram, and why wouldn’t they? It’s experience in the classroom has like a golden ticket to any gradubeen regularly identified as a corate school or education-related relate of teacher effectiveness.” job a TFA alumnus wants upon Not only are TFA corps memcompleting his or her two-year bers no better prepared for the stint in the classroom. But that is exactly what is classroom than teachers with degrees in education, wrong with the program. but their total lack of experience endangers stuMost of TFA’s corps members are not in it for the dents’ learning. A June 2010 study by the Carolina long haul. They do not want to be teachers, but this Institute for Public Policy at the University of North is hardly surprising once you skim over the TFA Carolina at Chapel Hill found that elementary website. You will be hard-pressed to find the par- school math students “lose the equivalent of 21 days ticipants called “teachers.” Rather, they are “corps of schooling” with “inexperienced teachers,” that is, members” and “leaders.” No wonder most of them first- or second-year teachers. By consistently filling leave the classroom. The organization itself indoc- low-performing schools with new teachers every trinates this elitist idea that its members are meant two years, TFA is actually perpetuating the achieveto go on to bigger and better things after their con- ment gap, perhaps even widening it. tracts are up. TFA has a great mission and a strong program, True to their name, TFA “leaders” want to be in- but it is seriously compromised by its disregard for fluential policy-makers or businessmen or board keeping more of its corps in classrooms. The greatmembers of education nonprofits. Of its 17,000 est change will come from the classrooms, where alumni, less than one-third remain in the classroom students get one-on-one attention from their teachand 63 percent pursue careers in “the field of edu- ers, not conference rooms in state capitols where cation,” according to The New York Times — too policymakers argue and compromise over educamany chiefs and not enough Indians, as the old say- tion reform. Extend the contract to five years, and ing goes. Just look at TFA’s website, which lists doz- then we’ll see some real improvement in education. ens of graduate schools and Fortune 500 companies Hansen is a Plan II and public relations freshman. that “actively recruit” and offer “special benefits” to By Helen Hansen Daily Texan Columnist

RECYCLE

LEGALESE

Please recycle this copy of The Daily Texan. Place the paper in one of the recycling bins on campus or back in the burnt-orange newsstand where you found it.

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.

SUBMIT A COLUMN

SUBMIT A FIRING LINE

The editorial board welcomes guest column submissions. Columns must be between 600 and 800 words. Send columns to editor@dailytexanonline.com. The Daily Texan reserves the right to edit all columns for clarity, brevity and liability.

Email your Firing Lines to firingline@dailytexanonline.com. Letters must be more than 100 and fewer than 300 words. The Texan reserves the right to edit all submissions for brevity, clarity and liability.

5 UNIV

NEWS 5

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Graduate survey demonstrates student satisfaction, concerns By Rachel Thompson Daily Texan Staff

Joseph Brown | Associated Press

In this Nov. 19 photo, Robert Champion, a drum major in Florida A&M Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Marching 100 band, performs during halftime of a football game in Orlando, Fla. He passed away after the game, supposedly affected by hazing rituals.

FAMU probes hazing after studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death By Brent Kallestad The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Florida A&M President James Ammons said Monday the university is committed to breaking a conspiracy of silence that has for decades shrouded hazing practices at the school and finally resulted in a band memberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death. Ammons addressed an estimated 2,000 FAMU students Monday

night and then took several questions, many of which were about the media coverage that most in the audience felt portrayed the school in a bad light. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are going to eliminate this pattern of destructive behavior from our campus,â&#x20AC;? Ammons said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This code of silence hampers our ability to root out these insidious activities.â&#x20AC;?

Petitions were sent through the audience from student government leaders seeking signatures from students to pledge to stop hazing. Robert Champion, a drum major in the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famed band, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marching 100,â&#x20AC;? died in Orlando. It came hours after performing at the annual Florida Classic football game between the Rattlers and rival Bethune-Cookman.

Champion, 26, was found unresponsive on Nov. 19 on a bus parked outside a hotel after the game after he had been seen vomiting. Police have not been specific, but said they believe hazing played a part in his death. It also started a criminal investigation into whether FAMU officials have ignored past warnings about hazing.

A&M police investigate third bomb threat since 2006 By Jody Serrano Daily Texan Staff

The Texas A&M University Police are still evaluating leads on an alleged bomb threat at the A&M Evans Library, although they believe the threat was a hoax, said A&M Police Sgt. Allan Baron. The University Police issued a â&#x20AC;&#x153;Code Maroonâ&#x20AC;? this morning after they received word from an electronic source at Evans regarding a bomb in the building. University Police evacuated the Evans Library, Evans Library Annex, Cushing Library and the Student Computing Cen-

ter following the alert. Baron said the situation remained calm and under control, and students and faculty steered clear of the area until officials secured it. Baron said Texas A&M has had three bomb threats since 2006, all which turned out to be false alarms. He said every police response to a threat depends on the environment, resources at hand and what sort of things are in the building. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always something that can be learned,â&#x20AC;? Baron said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In days to come, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll have an after-action review to discuss it and see if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s things we needed to improve on.â&#x20AC;?

A&M biological sciences junior Andrea Zamora said she was waiting to get coffee in Evans when an officer told her to evacuate the building. Zamora said the officer did not tell her why they were evacuating. She said many students were angry because they had to leave while they were studying. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I received a text through â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Code Maroon,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and I was shocked because I could have been in serious danger but more so that the officer did not know to tell us,â&#x20AC;? Zamora said. She said that although the University Police acted very calmly

about the evacuation, she wished they would have known more at the time so they could tell students why they had to leave Evans. All evacuated facilities reopened after 5 p.m., according to A&M police officials.

Ninety-two percent of UT graduate students surveyed would recommend the University to friends, according to a student satisfaction survey the University conducted. Sociology professor Chandra Muller led a research team in conducting a survey to identify the strengths and weaknesses of UTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduate programs. The survey got online responses from 4,493 students, providing feedback on how well the school is succeeding in serving its students in both academic success and career preparation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something the graduate school is excited about,â&#x20AC;? said Graduate Student Assembly president Manny Gonzalez. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s going to give our organization a lot of ideas and things to work on in terms of policy suggestions to address a lot of issues in the graduate school and student issues.â&#x20AC;? The survey found that students are generally very satisfied with the faculty they study under. Eightysix percent said the faculty in their department aided their growth as scholars. According to the study, faculty members provide professional advice, assist with training and job placement and create a positive atmosphere for students. The survey also addressed student satisfaction with non-academic issues, including quality of life, which Gonzalez said was one of several factors that brought him to UT to pursue his doctorate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I picked UT because of the caliber of research that was occurring here. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s one of the best and brightest public research institutions,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;GSA has the privilege of working and meeting with graduate student leaders from other institutions, and we talk about these issues. It seems that Texas is a leader in terms of quality of life.â&#x20AC;? A major point of frustration among graduate students was difficulty finding information about funding for University sponsored

internships or research projects to help finance their education. Only 67 percent of students were satisfied with the availability of this information. The survey also found that students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics are more likely to receive funding than students in other areas such as education and humanities. Gonzalez said pointing out these flaws was an important part of the survey that will benefit the graduate school in the future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not everything in the graduate climate survey is positive, and using it as a marketing tool was never the purpose of the survey,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They recognize there are certain areas that graduate students feel concerned with, especially funding, and additionally, the experiences of underrepresented students. The graduate school is now aware of some of that and is planning on how to address those needs.â&#x20AC;? According to the survey, women were less likely to be funded and felt they had more limited career opportunities. LGBTQ students were the most likely to experience discrimination. In addition, students of color were less satisfied with their programs than white students. Graduate school assistant dean John Dalton said these discrimination issues are important and should not be ignored. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We encourage those students who feel they are being discriminated against to follow the Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policies and file a complaint,â&#x20AC;? he said. While Dalton said the survey was not created to recruit new graduate students, he said some of the data could help with recruitment in the future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will probably use a lot of the data in the survey in the recruitment process because such a high number of students express satisfaction,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They have wonderful things to say about faculty. I think it will help us attract graduate students to the University.â&#x20AC;?

Everybody counts on having safe, effective medicine for anything from the common cold to heart disease. But making sure medications are safe is a complex and careful process. At PPD, to help evaluate medications being developed â&#x20AC;&#x201C; maybe like you. You must meet certain requirements to qualify, including a free medical exam and screening tests. We have research studies available in many different lengths, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find current studies listed here weekly. PPD has been conducting research studies in Austin for more than 25 years.

to find out more.

> >Ă&#x160; B

Men and Postmenopausal or Surgically Sterile Women 18 to 50

Up to $1500

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI between 19 and 30 Weigh between 110 and 220

Men 18 to 65

Up to $1800

Healthy BMI between 18 and 33

Men and Women 18 to 55

Up to $1800

Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI between 18.5 and 31 Weigh at least 99 for Females and 110 for Males

Thu. 8 Dec. through Mon. 12 Dec. Outpatient Visit: 15 Dec.

Fri. 9 Dec. through Mon. 12 Dec. Fri. 16 Dec. through Mon. 19 Dec.

Fri. 16 Dec. through Mon. 19 Dec. Fri. 6 Jan. through Mon. 9 Jan. Outpatient Visit: 14 Jan.

XXX QQEJ DPN t t 5FYU i11%w UP UP SFDFJWF TUVEZ JOGPSNBUJPO

> >\> > >\> > > > >\> > >\> >

Ă&#x160; >= >A>=G49B:9 w> C >

6 S/L

7 SPTS

SPORTS

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 | THE DAILY TEXAN | Trey Scott, Sports Editor | (512) 232-2210 | sports@dailytexanonline.com

Texas trying to reach fourth straight Final Four By Chris Hummer Daily Texan Staff

When the four members of the recruiting class of 2008 came to the 40 Acres, they were a mixed bunch, hailing from all over the country, including Hawaii, Ohio, Illinois and Texas. Despite their geographical differences, for Texas’ benefit, the group came together quickly. Rachael Adams, Amber Roberson, Sydney Yogi and Michelle Kocher have had one of the most successful runs on the court by a class in Texas history. They have appeared in three Final Fours in as many years and have a chance to make it four in a row this season as the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA tournament. “It’s pretty special. It’s very rare for a class to go to four Final Fours in four years.” Kocher said. “We’re an interesting bunch coming from all parts of the world, so we have a good mix and get along real well and I feel that really helps us on the court.” When the four players entered the doors of Gregory Gym their freshman year, there were high expectations, but it’s hard for them to believe that they have accomplished as much as they have. “I came here with the intent of winning championships, and that is part of the reason why I picked Texas, because I believed [head coach] Jerritt [Elliott] and the rest of the coaching staff was capable of winning a championship,” Yogi said. Winning championships is something they have certainly done. This year’s senior class has won three Big 12 titles. However, they still have their eyes set on a more meaningful banner to hang in Gregory, bigger than the ones commemorating the Big 12 championships and the Final Four appearances. “I still feel that there is plenty of room for at least one or two more banners up there,” Roberson said with a grin, looking up at the empty space next to the program’s sole national championship banner. Even if the senior class doesn’t accomplish their goal, the impact that

JAGUARS

NCAA BASKETBALL ST. JOHN’S

DETROIT

SPOTLIGHT Thomas Allison | Daily Texan file photo

Rachael Adams is one of four seniors on the Longhorns’ roster. Along with Michelle Kocher, Amber Roberson and Sydney Yogi, Adams has helped Texas advance to three consecutive Final Fours. Texas faces Kentucky in the third round of the NCAA tournament Thursday.

they have made on the program has already been felt. Texas volleyball has taken a clear step forward in its level of play and in recruiting since their arrival, as evidenced by the 2011 recruiting class that includes three of the top 15 recruits in the nation. “It’s definitely crazy to think that’s what we’ve done because we walk around thinking it’s normal, but really it’s not,” Roberson said. “We have to take a step back and realize this is what you are doing and what you have done for the program. It’s nice to know everyone appreciates that.” Their time here is not quite through and they would still like to accomplish the group’s ultimate goal. “Winning a national champion-

Recapping the ups and downs of 2011

It’s an odd thing to call a 7-5 season a success — especially at Texas. But, all things considered, this year was one. Think about it. The Longhorns never found a quarterback out of their three candidates. They played 18 true freshmen. The heart of the team was lost for the season with three games left to play and the best receiver and two top running backs were hobbled for the final stretch. Despite all of it, Texas didn’t lose a game it was truly supposed to win — excluding a weird 17-5 loss at Missouri — and won one game it wasn’t supposed to, a 27-25 thriller at Texas A&M. 2011 might not be the great wall the Longhorns wanted to build when they began their brick-by-brick mantra in early August, but it’s better than a mountain of rubble. Let’s take a look back at the best — and worst — moments of one of the more interesting seasons in the Mack Brown era. Best win: Texas 27, A&M 25. One for the record books, and the best game between two mediocre teams

NFL CHARGERS

FOOTBALL

By Trey Scott Daily Texan Columnist

SIDELINE

that you’ll ever see. Best storyline: The comebacks of Blaine Irby and Fozzy Whittaker were most impressive. Irby’s was the most impressive — the tight end overcame a gruesome knee injury — as he opened camp as the starter and finished his season with a touchdown catch in the final three games, including a one-handed, toe-dragging score in the back of the end zone against Baylor. Whittaker didn’t have to battle through any awful knee injuries — although, sadly, he will soon have to — but shed his label as “injury-prone” and established himself as one of the more dynamic players in the nation, returning kickoffs for touchdowns in consecutive games, along with seven total scores on offense, in just a half a season of action. Best quote: It’s a tie between David Snow’s “I hate everybody” (not named Texas) and Mike Davis’ “We were so high up [at the top deck at DKR during an offseason workout], I could see Shamu.” Hero: Justin Tucker, who became the next famous Texas kicker with a 40yard boot in the final seconds to beat Texas A&M in the last scheduled game between the two rivals.

SEASON continues on PAGE 8

ship would be a huge accomplishment. We’ve taken a step each year as far as growing as a team and this is the year to put it all together. It would be the ultimate conclusion to our four years here,” Roberson said. Lighting the tower orange would be the sweetest reward of all for the lumps and bruises these four seniors have taken to make themselves better. “It would show how much our hard work pays off,” Yogi said. “We have stayed all summer the past three summers training early in the morning and doing things on our own to get better. I think the reward of winning a national championship will be so, so sweet, showing Lawrence Peart | Daily Texan file photo that our hard work in our time here With a team-high 121 blocks and the squad’s second-best hitting average did pay off.” at .388, Rachael Adams has proven to be vital to Texas’ postseason run.

Diggs to play on brother’s home turf

After helping Texas take down North Texas and UCLA, Myck Kabongo was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week. The freshman point guard scored 16 points on 3-of-4 shooting from the field while making both of his three-point attempts and notching seven assists in a 73-57 victory over the Mean Green last Tuesday. Then, he dropped 13 points and eight assists on the Bruins in a 69-59 win this past Saturday. Kabongo shot 60 percent from the field, 60 percent from beyond the arc and 80 percent from the free throw line while posting a 5-to-1 assist-toturnover ratio over the two contests. The honor marks the third time this season a Longhorn was handed a weekly accolade from the Big 12 as junior guard J’Covan Brown earned conference player of the week awards Nov. 14 and Nov. 21.

Case McCoy @CaseMcCoy6

Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan file photo

“What’s up San Diego! Time to get our minds right and go beat Cal! Excited to spend Xmas with my team #leggooo #beatcal”

Quandre Diggs, returning a punt against Texas A&M, will play at Qualcomm Stadium, where his older brother and former Longhorns defensive back plays home games for the San Diego Chargers. By Austin Laymance Daily Texan Staff

Quandre Diggs is used to following in his brother’s footsteps. The freshman cornerback came to Texas a decade after his older brother, Quentin Jammer, starred with the Longhorns as a defensive

back. Diggs is the latest pupil of secondary coach Duane Akina, who mentored Jammer for one year before he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the first round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Diggs is familiar with the Texas program: Akina, head coach Mack Brown and co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite all worked

with Jammer and was a major reason the freshman chose to play in Austin. He’s also familiar with Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, the site of the 2011 Holiday Bowl, where the Longhorns will take on California on Dec. 28.

QUANDRE continues on PAGE 8

BASKETBALL

By Trey Scott Daily Texan Staff

Lawrence Peart | Daily Texan Staff

Position: Guard Height: 6’ 1” Class: Freshman Hometown: Toronto, Canada

TWEET OF THE WEEK

Horns looking to extend win streak to four

Senior Blaine Irby makes a one-handed catch in the back of the end zone against Baylor on Saturday, his third straight game with a touchdown catch.

MYCK KABONGO, #12

While most students study and sleep their “dead days” away, the Longhorns will play host to UT-Arlington. Texas (5-2) has won three straight games since a 0-for-2 showing in New Jersey and is looking to build off some of the momentum earned after a 69-59 win Saturday at UCLA, one that head coach Rick Barnes called the “best team effort we’ve had all year.”

“Guys were moving around, we ended up out-rebounding them and, as the game wore on, we got VS. better defensively,” Barnes said. Because the Longhorns didn’t reDate: Tuesday, Dec. 6 Time: 7 p.m. turn anybody from last year’s startPlace: Frank Erwin Center ing five — this year’s top scorer, TV: Longorn Network J’Covan Brown, was the sixth man in 2010-11 — this season has presented its fair share of challeng- have out-rebounded their opponent es and growing pains. With just four of seven times this year. “I think our posts guys have one player on the roster taller than 6-foot-7, the team faces a size defi- worked pretty hard this year, and I cit in the post nearly each game. DeHORNS continues on PAGE 8 spite that though, the Longhorns

SPORTS BRIEFLY Okafor earns All-American honors, first Longhorn to do so since 2009 For the first time in two seasons, Texas is not only going to a bowl game but bringing an All-American with them. Junior defensive end Alex Okafor was named to the AFCA All-American team Monday, making him the first All-American since Colt McCoy, Chris Hall and Earl Thomas were chosen to be All-Americans in 2009. Okafor, a local of Pflugerville, Texas, has made 53 tackles this season, including 14 for loss. His seven sacks and 17 quarterback hurries are both team highs. He joins Michigan State’s Jerel Worthy, Illinois’ Whitney Mercilus and South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram as a defensive linemen named to the AFCA All-American squad. Okafor was one of five players from the Big 12 and one of four Texans selected to the team.

— Christian Corona

8 SPTS/CLASS

SPORTS

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

HORNS continues from PAGE 7

VOLLEYBALL

Huskers fall to former Big 12 foe By Lauren Giudice Daily Texan Staff

The first two rounds of the tournament saw five upsets â&#x20AC;&#x201D; leaving three Big 10 teams in the dust. Nebraska, the No. 2 overall seed with one of the largest volleyball fan bases in the country, fell to Kansas State in five sets. Ohio State defeated No. 14 seed Tennessee and will now face No. 3 seed Illinois in the Sweet Sixteen. Michigan upset No. 11 seed Stanford and will now take on Florida, who upset No. 6 seed Northern Iowa. Texas head coach Jerritt Elliott said there are no guarantees in this tournament anymore. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being able to have [the team] watch Nebraska lose to Kansas State sends a message that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no gimmes and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been telling them that all week long and all year long,â&#x20AC;? Elliott said.

SEASON continues from PAGE 7 Julia Bunch Daily Texan file photo

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

The regional has six of the top 18 ranked teams, according to the most recent coachesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; poll. Because of this regional, No. 1 ranked USC will be taking on No. 3 Hawaii on Friday. If Nebraska, the Big 10 champion, had made it past the second round, it would have been in this regional. USC won the Pac-12 and Hawaii won the Western Atlantic Conference Championship. But because they are seeded 7th and 10th, they face each other in the Sweet 16 with the Rainbow Wahine looking to take advantage of playing on their home court.

Being able to have [the team] watch Nebraska lose to Kansas State sends a message that thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no gimmes and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been telling them that all week long and all year long. â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jerritt Elliot, Head Coach

Championships â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but this is a ver y different year for the team. They lost seniors Blair Brown, Arielle Wilson and Alyssa Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Errico. The team went 26-6 this year and are the No. 8 seed in the tournament. Penn State not They swept both Liberty Uniinvincible this year versity and the University of T h e N i t t a n y L i o n s h a v e Delaware in the first two rounds won three consecutive NCAA of the tournament and face off

â&#x2122;˛ day, month day, 2008

UNS AD IRNE FOR ONL

E! E R F d wor

ad s

on l y

HOUSING RENTAL

360 Furn. Apts.

GARAGE EFFICIENCY Quiet residential area close to campus/shuttle. Student/nonsmoker/ no pets. $400 ABP. 4313366

EMPLOYMENT

790 Part Time No experience necessary. Training available. Age 18+. 800-965-6520 ext. 113

791 Nanny Wanted

PART-TIME NANNY FOR SPRING Looking for enthusiastic Spanish-speaking nanny for two girls (6 and 4), M-F afternoons, Arboretum area. Email resume, references to vstidvent@ austin.utexas.eduASAP. Starts early January. 512-241-0966

SPRING SEMESTER NANNY Looking for sweet, enthusiastic nanny for two firstgrade girls, M-F, 2:45 to 5:45, southwest Austin. Email resume to ccwilliams1@gmail.com, references ASAP. Starts early January.

800 General Help Wanted

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

against No. 9 UCLA on Friday while Texas is playing the University of Kentucky. The Nittany Lions and the Longhorns will face each other again if they make it out of their regional semifinals. They have defeated Texas in the Final Four the last two years. The Longhorns beat Penn State earlier this season in five sets.

R E C YC L E YOUR COPY OF THE DAILY TEXAN

Runner-up: The Texas defense, which kept the team afloat for most of the season. Worst loss: The 17-5 loss to Mizzou never should have happened. And it was made possible by the crushing loss of Whittaker, who suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the first quarter of the game. If the Longhorns were given a do-over, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d win that thing in their sleep. That sleepy game in Columbia is the difference between 7-5 and 8-4. Best hire: Manny Diaz, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not even close. Even though it had to go up against elite offenses in

Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M and Baylor, the Texas defense finished the regular season ranked the 14th best in the nation. Best rehire: Duane Akina, who came back to Texas after a month at Arizona in the offseason, has developed his next great crop of defensive backs. Next year will be a very strong one for the Texas secondary. Worst development: The ongoing quarterback saga, which was played out so long that Texas enters 2012 with no answer at the position. Garrett Gilbert gave way to Case McCoy, who gave way to David Ash,

who gave way to Jay Leno, who gave way to Conan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien, who gave way to McCoy, who gave way back to Leno. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m so confused. Goat(s): All involved in the creation and distribution (or lack thereof) of the Longhorn Network. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a shame that a TV channel has to overshadow the Longhornsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; efforts on the field and trigger a shift in conference realignments so drastic that the Big 12 lost two 100-year-old rivalries (Texas A&M-UT and Missouri-Kansas), but no column documenting the peaks and valleys of this year can go without mentioning the Longhorn Network.

QUANDRE continues from PAGE 7

The Angleton native started nine games this season and his team-high three interceptions were the second most for a freshman in school history (Chris Carter had four in 1993). Diggs was also in the top 10 in tackles (48) and tackles for loss (4), and tied the team lead with two forced fumbles. But the success is nothing new for Diggs, who was a top recruit in high school and has learned from the gameâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best. Jammer isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t his only kin that played professionally; cousin Cedric Woodard spent six years in the NFL after starring at UT as a defensive lineman in the late 1990s. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really grown up in a high profile football family,â&#x20AC;? Akina said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He has been around high quality football, so he knows how to prepare, he knows how to train in the off-season. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s worked out with the best in the world, so heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not intimi-

dated by anything. For him to come in and learn as quickly as he has is really something.â&#x20AC;? But Diggsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; impressive pedigree isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t the only reason why heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s become one of the Longhornâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best players. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a football junkie with the same love for the game as the young boy who used to beg Jammer and thenroommate Applewhite to play catch with him outside their apartment in Austin a decade ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the time I met him in first or second grade heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always had a football in his hand,â&#x20AC;? Applewhite, who quarterbacked UT to a pair of Holiday Bowls from 2000-01, said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Always had the latest stats. The latest Sportscenter highlights. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always been a gym rat. And heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s continued to be that way as heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s grown up. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s got an infectious attitude, a lot of energy and enthusiasm. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a guy thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a straight baller.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great just to be able to play in the stadium that your older brother plays in,â&#x20AC;? Diggs said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the same as here. So hopefully weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go out and execute and win the game.â&#x20AC;? Diggs typically spends the holiday season in San Diego anyway, where his family gathers to spend time with Jammer and cheer him on as the NFL season winds down. Heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never been to a bowl game â&#x20AC;&#x201D; most of the Longhorns havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t either â&#x20AC;&#x201D; but heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s taken in countless Chargers games over the past 11 years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been to plenty,â&#x20AC;? Diggs said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So I know the stadium. I know the ins and outs of the stadium. I know San Diego in and out. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited to be able to go back out there.â&#x20AC;?

CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIEDS THE DAILY TEXAN

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

800 General Help Wanted GYMNASTICS COACHES Seeking former gymnasts and cheerleaders to coach gymnastics classes. Beginner through team levels. Part time hours. Jason 512-259-9995 EARN $1000-$3200 A month to drive our brand new cars with ads. www. FreeCarJobs.com

875 Medical Study

BARTENDING! $300/DAY POTENTIAL

â&#x20AC;&#x153;

Honolulu Regional causes tough, early matchups

think our guards are battling, too,â&#x20AC;? Barnes said. Forward Alexis Wangmene agrees. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everybody is making an effort to go get the rebound,â&#x20AC;? he said. Texas is also trying to groom in a new point guard, Myck Kabongo, who was named the Big 12 Rookie of the Week for his efforts in the Longhornsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; last two wins, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 assists per game. Kabongo â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a five-star recruit â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Elisabeth Dillon | Daily Texan Staff file photo struggled through a few of the earlier Myck Kabongo drives to the hoop during Texasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 73-57 win over North games (four turnovers against Rhode Texas last Tuesday. The freshman guard, who had 16 points and seven Island, five against Oregon State, three against North Carolina State) assists in the game, will be looking for a similar showing Tuesday. but is starting to see the floor better. when he gets in a hurry, he doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t,â&#x20AC;? up things. If he continues to work at it, â&#x20AC;&#x153;When he slows down, I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think Barnes said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When he plays at the he should be excited to see how much thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s any question he sees things, but pace he should play at, I think he picks of a better player he can become.â&#x20AC;?

Texas swept its season series with Kansas State this year. But the Wildcats pulled off the biggest upset of the NCAA tournament, yet beating No. 2 overall seed Nebraska, 3-2. The defeat marked the first Huskers loss to Kansas State since 2003.

x ID 3122783

880 Professional

ASPIRING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS Earn an income you deserve, Company looking for online trainers. Flexible hours, work from home.

875 Medical Study

BUSINESS

11% 4UVEZ 0QQPSUVOJUJFT PPD conducts medically supervised research studies to help evaluate new investigational medications. PPD has been conducting research studies in Austin for more than 25 years. The qualifications for each study are listed below. You must be available to remain in our facility for all dates listed for a study to be eligible. Call today for more information. .FO BOE 1PTUNFOPQBVTBM PS 4VSHJDBMMZ 4UFSJMF 8PNFO UP Up to $1500 Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI between 19 and 30 Weigh between 110lbs. and 220lbs. Thu. 8 Dec. through Mon. 12 Dec. Outpatient Visit: 15 Dec.

www.2dreambigger. com

keep an eye out for the super TUESDAY COUPONS clip and save!

every week

.FO UP Up to $1800 Healthy BMI between 18 and 33 Fri. 9 Dec. through Mon. 12 Dec. Fri. 16 Dec. through Mon. 19 Dec.

.FO BOE 8PNFO UP Up to $1800 Healthy & Non-Smoking BMI between 18.5 and 31 Weigh at least 99 lbs for females and 110 lbs for males Fri. 16 Dec. through Mon. 19 Dec. Fri. 6 Jan. through Mon. 9 Jan. Outpatient Visit: 14 Jan.

THE DAILY TEXAN CLASSIFIED Regular rate 15 words for one day=$12.50/ for one week=$42.08/ for two weeks=$67.20 & $.50 per additional word. All ads appear online at no charge unless you opt for enhancements which will incur additional nominal charges.

940 Opportunities Wanted

YOUR AD COULD BE HERE!

CALL 512.471.5244 or self-service to submit Ad at dailytexanonline.com x ID 2860257

SEE WHAT OUR

ONLINE SYSTEM has to offer, and place

YOUR AD

NOW!

DailyTexanClassifieds.com

recycle

930 Business Opportunities

dailytexanclassifieds.com

t QQEJ DPN UFYU iQQEw UP UP SFDFJWF TUVEZ JOGPSNBUJPO

ADVERTISING TERMS There are no refunds or credits. In the event of errors made in advertisement, notice must be given by 10 am the fi rst day of publication, as the publishers are responsible for only ONE incorrect insertion. In consideration of The Daily Texanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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 attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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.

9 COMICS

COMICS 9

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

SUDOKUFORYOU

SUD OKU FOR YOU

9 7 8

9 3 8 7 1 6 1 9 7 5 3

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

Arrr matey. This scurrvy beast is today’s answerrrrrr. Crop it out, or it’ll be the the fishes for ya!

3 4 5 7 9 1 8 6 2

9 8 7 2 4 6 5 1 3

2 1 6 8 5 3 7 9 4

6 2 4 5 3 8 1 7 9

8 9 3 4 1 7 2 5 6

5 7 1 9 6 2 4 3 8

7 5 2 3 8 9 6 4 1

4 6 9 1 2 5 3 8 7

1 3 8 6 7 4 9 2 5

Yesterday’s solution

1 6 5 4 3 2 9 7 8

7 4 3 9 8 1 5 6 2

2 9 8 7 5 6 4 1 3

3 2 7 6 9 4 8 5 1

4 5 6 8 1 7 3 2 9

8 1 9 3 2 5 7 4 6

9 7 2 1 4 3 6 8 5

6 8 1 5 7 9 2 3 4

5 3 4 2 6 8 1 9 7

10 COUPS/SPT/ENT

10 LIFE&ARTS

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

REDDIT continues from PAGE 12

CHASE THE DEMONS AWAY

Jorge Corona | Daily Texan Staff

A man runs on Gregory Gymâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s indoor track on Monday night. Running is considered a useful stress-reliever for individuals with heavy academic workloads.

Radio superpower moves into the daily deals business By Ryan Nakashima The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Broadcasting giant Clear Channel Radio is getting into the daily deals business in a partnership with radio station rival Cumulus Media Inc. As part of the deal, Clear Channel will add Cumulusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; 570 radio stations to its iHeartRadio online listening service. In exchange, Clear Channel will share in some of the financial benefits of Cumulusâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; daily

deals business called SweetJack. Both station groups will advertise SweetJack bargains on radio stations in more than 60 markets where SweetJack is in business, including San Francisco, New York, Dallas and Atlanta. More markets are expected to be added soon. Clear Channel, which is privately held, owns about 850 radio stations nationwide and is the top radio broadcaster in the nation, reaching 238 million listeners a month. Cumulus, a publicly listed company, is

ranked third with 570 stations. Clear Channel kicked off its iHeartRadio online radio service in September in a challenge to market leader Pandora Media Inc. Both services allow online listening over mobile devices to music that fits certain genres or sounds based on artists. Clear Channel is keeping this so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;custom stationâ&#x20AC;? service free of ads through April 1 to build up its audience. Clear Channel also offers streams of radio stations from different cit-

ies, which come with ads. By tying up with Cumulus, Clear Channel is taking a stab at another booming online business â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that of online coupons â&#x20AC;&#x201D; led by upstart Groupon Inc. Clear Channel Radio CEO John Hogan said the deal shows that traditional radio companies are staying relevant with techsavvy consumers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It shows we can and do compete effectively in the digital space,â&#x20AC;? he said in an interview.

of course). Ne e d relat ionship advice? Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a subreddit for that. Interested in DIY projects? Check out /r/homebrew. Want erotic pictures of minors, fully clothed and in provocative poses? Talk to Anderson Cooper â&#x20AC;&#x201D; his buzzedabout investigation of /r/jailbait led to its removal by Reddit. Whatever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re into, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most likely a subreddit for it, and if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not, then you can make it. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the American dream â&#x20AC;&#x201D; with way more pictures of hairless, blind, skin-diseased dogs than the Founding Fathers probably intended. Social news sites t hat a l low us ers to vote democratically on the content arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a new thing. Digg, Fark and Metafilter, to name a few, have all been around for years. What makes Reddit a true 2011 phenomenon is its recent tremendous growth (Reddit re corde d 1.6 billion page views per month recently â&#x20AC;&#x201D; about four times the traffic the site received last May), and with that growth, the siteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s influence on current events has grown as well. When redditors arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t submitting photos of masked women wearing fullbody pepperoni pizza costumes in /r/wtf, asking celebrities like Zach Braff questions in /r/iama and commenting on riveting science inquiries like â&#x20AC;&#x153;why canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t you burp or cry in outer space?â&#x20AC;? in /r/ askscience, they might be serving up a heaping, controversial helping of Internet vigilantism. In O c t o b e r, for e x a mp l e , 23-year-old Hillary Adams of Corpus Christi uploaded a video she had recorded six years earli-

er of her father William Adams, a judge in Aransas County, verbally and physically abusing her. When she submitted the video on Reddit, it was upvoted to the front page and viewed thousands of times â&#x20AC;&#x201D; all within several hours of its being posted. A redditor soon discovered Adamsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; personal information and he began receiving calls, e-mails and pizza deliveries, courtesy of redditors from around the world. Local and national media caught wind of the events and several hundred articles and one Anderson Cooper interview later, Adams was suspended from the bench. Behold the power of millions of 25- to 44-year-old middle class men ( R e d d i t â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s l e a d ing demog raphic, according to r e c e nt s u r v e y s ) w ho are brow s ing Reddit instead of working. Reddit encompasses too much information (i.e., the entire Interne t ) to b e c on tained in one little cultural essay. Regardless, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a site worth checking out for yourself, if not for the unedited avalanche of news, opinions, ideas and general bizarreness, than at least for the opportunity to set your friendsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; homepage to /r/spacedicks (that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a recommendation). Browse at your own risk, however, lest you end up abandoning productivity while incoherently questioning the value of videos of German cops being drunkenly tickled with sex toys. In the interest of saving you from yourself, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll answer that question for you: Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s totally worth it, especially around the 35 second mark.

Behold the power of millions of 25- to 44-year-old middle class men (Redditâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leading demographic, according to recent surveys) who are browsing Reddit instead of working.

FIELDING continues from PAGE 12

THRONE continues from PAGE 12

NOSTALGIA continues from PAGE 12

in the movies: dreamy, inviting and home to endless possibilities. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Henr yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (and Harbachâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) optimism that the dream â&#x20AC;&#x201D; of working hard and being rewarded, of college in the United States being cherished as a place for self-enrichment and personal growth â&#x20AC;&#x201D; is still possible, still recognizable underneath the worn, beleaguered face of double-dip recession America. Harbach makes â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Art of

out and counting. The entire album was recorded in person, with both men in the studio together, and the resulting chemistry is powerful. This chemistry is realized in the video for the single â&#x20AC;&#x153;Otis,â&#x20AC;? which features Jay and Kanye performing in matching denim and white in front of a desert warehouse, practically giddy with shared energy: Jay-Z repeatedly throws a brotherly arm around Kanyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoulders, Kanye

dismisses, Scorcese portrays his setting as a beautiful, elegant time and place, but is far more concerned with making an impassioned stand for film preservation. Scorceseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s film is less about nostalgia than it is the importance of film history, but still functions as an examination of the importance of the past in its own way. After all, the films Scorcese wants to preserve are the ground floor of the skyscraper of cinema, and throughout the film, various characters are discussing how movies are a special place, one where dreams can come true and

Fieldingâ&#x20AC;? feel like a great work of literature without letting his story get weighed down by its own importance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t that feeling of disappointment like after you finally see the movie that won Best Picture and it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t live up. This is a first novel that finds a way to take all the separate, disparate makings of â&#x20AC;&#x153;highbrowâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;lowbrowâ&#x20AC;? and renders them null, a truly populist work and bright mind revealed.

SUPER

wildly launches himself around in the background while Jay raps into the camera, and Jay smilingly mouthing along with Kanyeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words, seemingly unable to help himself. Their â&#x20AC;&#x201D; dare I say the word â&#x20AC;&#x201D; bromance is so winningly adorable itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s almost sickening. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the playful partnership between big brother Jay and little brother Yeezy that makes Watch the Throne a defining album of 2011.

SUPER

# " && $ ! ! " ! ! % " !

PRINT COUPONS ONLINE AT: http://www.dailytexanonline.net/coupons/

TEXAS STUDENT MEDIA

5IF %BJMZ 5FYBO t 5457 t ,739 t 5IF $BDUVT t 5IF 5FYBT 5SBWFTUZ

SUPER

& TU 4U t )BODPDL 4IPQQJOH $FOUFS ! 3FE 3JWFS t XXX NZHBUUJT DPN

SUPER

,#*. #3.%&0&% )*021

Please present coupons with incoming orders. Coupons not valid with other offers or 3 Pant Specials. Only one coupon per visit.

7 ,, !/0+ 3#0#.2&&% 7 #-& #6 #3.%06 7 06 ,&#.*.( &04*$&

troubles can fall away. Films this year have taken long looks at the medium, its history, and how important it is for audiences of all ages. While Allenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Midnight in Parisâ&#x20AC;? cautions against too much focus on the past, films like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hugoâ&#x20AC;? or â&#x20AC;&#x153;Super 8â&#x20AC;? make an argument thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just as convincing, painting movies as much more than a trifle or distraction, showing us how pictures of the past can be important, fulfilling, or even, every once in a while, magical.

06 $,&#.*.( /' /0 -/0&

Please present coupons with incoming orders. Coupons not valid with other offers or 3 Pant Specials. Only one coupon per visit.

7 /31&)/,% 2&-1 ,&#.&% ) ,% , % 7 ,2&0#2*/. &04*$&1 7 #-& #6 #230%#6 &04*$& 1& ,&$2&% ,/$#2*/.1

Open Monday - Friday 7am - 7pm Saturday 9am - 3pm

#0 !&12 ,4%

338-0141

! 2) #. .2/.*/

236-1118

&% *4&0

&52 2/ " 0&.$) 0&#%

472-5710

SUPER

$3OFF

(Reg. $13.95)

www.supercuts.com

"'#"! ( "! + & # $& # & ! " & "!% "& ( ) & !+ "& $ " $ " % ( ' ! "'#"! ( # $ '%&" $ % #$ % !& "'#"! #$ "$ &" # + !& " % $( , '# $ '&% ! $ !& *# $ %

$5OFF www.supercuts.com

"'#"! ( "! + & # $& # & ! " & "!% "& ( ) & !+ "& $ " $ " % ( ' ! "'#"! ( # $ '%&" $ % #$ % !& "'#"! #$ "$ &" # + !& " % $( , '# $ '&% ! $ !& *# $ %

3120 Guadalupe Austin, Texas 78705 512-451-2696

EZâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brick Oven & Grill is original, fun and noisy. EZâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is about fresh, healthy and tasty food, trans fat and MSG free. Burgers, pizzas, salads and signature dishes all made from scratch daily. Save $2 on any entree with your student or faculty I.D. (limit one entree per person per visit). Sign up for additional discounts by texting EZ5 to 45384.

$3 off any Car Wash / Oil Change with coupon or student id

www.arborcarwash.com

Come as you a re. 3918 North Lamar / Take Out / 512.302.1800 / EZsRestaurants.com

11 ENT

LIFE&ARTS

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Check the Life&Arts pages every Tuesday for new music reviews

Early Pumpkins digitally remastered By Robert Starr Daily Texan Staff

In the realm of â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s alternative rock, few bands stand on the same tier as the Smashing Pumpkins. Led by guitarist and vocalist Billy Corgan, they produced a body of work epic in scope, focusing more on albums than individual singles. Songs range from slow to fast, quiet to loud, but all managed to fit thematically on the same disc, taking the listener on an emotional journey that canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be contained in a three-minute single. However, where Corgan and the Pumpkins deserve the most recognition is that in a time of Generation X cynicism, they produced material with a bold vision that could easily be dismissed as pretentious. Maybe it is, sometimes, but a group willing to take chances is always more interesting than one playing it safe.

And when those chances pay off, as is more often than not in the case of the Pumpkins, the result is something very special. The early albums from the Pumpkins, Gish and Siamese Dream, now available in remastered sets, introduced listeners to the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinct sound while they were in the middle of discovering it, which turned the hard and dirty rock of the early â&#x20AC;&#x2122;90s into something unexpectedly beautiful. The recording of said albums was not always so beautiful. During the Siamese Dream sessions, Corgan suffered from extreme writerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s block and feelings of inadequacy, not to mention drug abuse, forcing himself to work harder than any mortal should and dragging the rest of the band along with him. And while the ends may not quite justify the masochistic means, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tough to argue with the results â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Siamese Dream

is one of the few true alternative rock masterpieces. EMI is re-releasing all of the Smashing Pumpkinsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; albums over the next couple of years, with remastered sound and a ton of goodies for the fans in multiple formats. The question isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t whether or not you should buy them, but which package is right for you. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re starting out with the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first two albums, Gish and Siamese Dream, and, so far, EMI has gone all-out, producing something that no fan should overlook. The re-releases come in digital download form, available from the usual sources (Amazon and iTunes), though audiophiles may want to get the lossless downloads from the official Smashing Pumpkins website. These digital downloads come in normal and deluxe varieties, with the latter featuring a bunch of extra demos and previously

unreleased recordings. Devoted fans will probably want to order the deluxe edition CDs, which sound fantastic and include liner notes, photographs and DVDs of live performances as well as gorgeous packaging. These are more than worth the extra money, even in a time when physical media seems to be dying out. The liner notes are especially worthwhile, featuring interviews of Corgan by journalist David Wild, which provide some insight into the madness that went on behind the scenes. Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also the vinyl releases, which may feature even better sound quality than the CDs. However, with these, you lose the convenience of being able to listen to them on your iPod and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re also missing out on most of the really cool extras that come in the deluxe set. It might be a bit pricey to do so, but for the fan devoted enough to buy the vinyl editions, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

Posthumous album benefits youth in need By Anjli Mehta Daily Texan Staff

When listening to Amy Winehouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s posthumous release, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hard to believe the tracks were recorded within the past decade. When it comes to jazz, Winehouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sumptuous alto vocals boast an authenticity her musical peers could emulate but never master as she did. After Winehouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s death in July, producers Salaam Remi and Mark Ronson opened the vaults to Winehouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unreleased material as far back as 2002 to compile this album. Album sales go toward The Amy Winehouse Foundation, which raises funds to support vulnerable youth. For those eager to hear what some of the songs on Winehouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2006 release, Back to Black, couldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve sounded like, the album features stripped-down versions of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tears Dry On Their Ownâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wake Up Alone.â&#x20AC;? Lionessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; version

of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tears Dryâ&#x20AC;? is slower and sheds the originally released trackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heavy accompaniment, instead opting for a harmoniously blended choir. The track is less dynamic than the originally released version, making room for Winehouse to milk each note and, in turn, fully convey the heartbreak the song describes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wake Up Aloneâ&#x20AC;? is refreshed with sweetly simple strings but held back by a dilatory tempo. When Winehouse echoes at the end of the track, each line resonates â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a reminder that sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no longer with us. Fans can rest assured cult favorite cover â&#x20AC;&#x153;Valerieâ&#x20AC;? is on this album. The song, originally performed by English rock band The Zutons, takes on a slightly more relaxed tempo as it boasts more soul and less pop. Reggae infuses the jazz rhythms of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Day Will Comeâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girl From Ipanema.â&#x20AC;? Both tracks bubble and brim with tropical beats and the brighter,

sunnier side of Winehouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice. On â&#x20AC;&#x2122;60s cover â&#x20AC;&#x153;Girl From Ipanema,â&#x20AC;? Winehouse nasally scats just before surfing into a rich and soulful riff. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s songs like these that make it easy to forget that this album is a product of this decade and not of a dreamier, more glamorous time of record players and piano bars. Winehouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last known recording, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Body and Soul,â&#x20AC;? is a duet with jazz singer Tony Bennett. The duet is a throwback that will excite true jazz fans but bore those who prefer Winehouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more upbeat and pop-infused songs. The stars show little traces of a generational gap as their voices compliment each other and cling to demure and understated jazz vocals. A drumroll kicks off the sultriest cover, â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Song For You,â&#x20AC;? where Winehouse sensually croons with conviction. She sings to a secret lover, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve acted all my life in stages with 10,000 people watching/But weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re alone now and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sing-

Remarkable new releases captivate fans By Eli Watson Daily Texan Staff

A bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true challenge lies in how they manage to remain relevant. This is what separates the good from the bad â&#x20AC;&#x201D; if one can captivate rather than remain stagnant, the results are often successful. Although both groups have been around for some time, Ohio blues-rock duo The Black Keys and Pennsylvania hip-hop collective The Roots have continued to challenge contemporaries in their respective fields. Following 2010â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Brothers, The Black Keys present El Camino, a combination of polished production from producer Danger Mouse, and hard-driving guitar and drums. Unlike its predecessor, El Camino shows the band exchanging their soulful, moody beginnings for something more upbeat and lively. For example, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dead and Goneâ&#x20AC;? opens with pounding bass drum, and reverberating Beach Boys surf guitar. Along with the gospel choir-like claps and background vocals, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dead and Goneâ&#x20AC;? is vibrant with beach-y energy and vigor. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Run Right Backâ&#x20AC;? struts with a sexiness that features distorted, ZZ Top riffs and unrelenting, pulsating drums. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hell of A Seasonâ&#x20AC;? is irresistible. It punches with a subtle punk rock aggressiveness: Vocalist Dan Auerbach fearlessly croons over Patrick Carneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s thrashing drums. El Camino embodies the biggerthan-life sound The Black Keys have always been known for. The melodic choruses accompany the duoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gritty abrasiveness, allowing for moments of pure sweetness from unholy racket. The group confidently strides with simplified musicianship, making each song memorable for their kooky hooks. Although the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more refined sound may seem to take away from the roughedged dirtiness of Brothers, El Camino comes off as the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most sensual

The Black Keys El Camino

Genre: Garage Rock For those who like: The White Stripes, The Kills

The Smashing Pumpkins Gish and Siamese Dream

Genre: Rock For those who like: Nirvana, Hole, Early â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;90s Alternative

Grade: A probably a good idea to order the deluxe CDs as well. The remastering sounds fantastic and the albums deserve to be listened to with good headphones. Even Gish, which came out 20 years ago and was produced independent of any major record company, sounds crystal clear. And though the assorted bonus tracks included are of varying quality, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing that sounds bad at all. The home demos sound much better than weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come to expect from such material, with minimal hiss and distortion. Ultimately, thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not much one needs to say about these releases. The

Lioness: Hidden Treasures Amy Winehouse

Genre: Jazz, Soul

ing this song for you.â&#x20AC;? Sure to be the For those who like: next fan favorite, this track proves that Anita Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Day, Adele Winehouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voice can make you forget that a song was originally performed by someone else, in this case, rock â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; roll Grade: Ahall of famer Leon Russell. On Lioness, Winehouse purrs lyr- tion that is equal parts heartwarming â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it serves as a stinging remindics that may be difficult to make out and heartbreaking. This album does er that the world has lost a truly but are beautifully stained with emo- more than pay homage to Winehouse mesmerizing musician.

Grade: B-

The Roots Undun

Genre: Hip-hop For those who like: Mos Def, John Legend

Grade: A and attractive album yet. Whereas The Black Keysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; power relies on the unity between cacophonous guitar and drums, The Rootsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mixture of soulful, hip hop-driven arrangements and insightful lyrical content is the definitive component of one of hip-hopâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most intriguing groups. Taking a break from providing funky interludes on â&#x20AC;&#x153;Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,â&#x20AC;? The Roots return with their 13th album, Undun. They have always prided themselves on being at the forefront of eclecticism. From the Radiohead-sampled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Atonement,â&#x20AC;? to the social commentary that is â&#x20AC;&#x153;How I Got Over,â&#x20AC;? The Roots find pleasure in pushing the boundaries of the vast collection of genres their music encompasses. Undun continues in a similar path as its predecessors, but shows the bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth as captivating storytellers. Opener â&#x20AC;&#x153;Dunâ&#x20AC;? foreshadows the crescendoing brilliance of the album. Spacey synths segue into â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sleep,â&#x20AC;? a brief, psychedelic-funk odyssey that transitions into the laid-back â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kool On.â&#x20AC;? Featuring a call and response between Jimi Hendrix riffs and gospel church or-

gans, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kool Onâ&#x20AC;? swaggers with guest appearances from Greg Porn and Truck North. The uplifting â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Other Sideâ&#x20AC;? showcases vocalist Tariq Trotterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s distinctive vocal delivery. Alongside the militancy of Public Enemyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chuck D and the insightful narratives of Mos Def, Trotterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-your-face delivery compliments the fluidity of the musical arrangements backing him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Step in my arena let me show yâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;all who the highness is,â&#x20AC;? Trotter confidently proclaims, his voice revealing a discomfort with the world that surrounds him. Undun is beautifully dark. With each song there is one giant step into the unknown, revealing feelings of loneliness, cynicism and acceptance. The production is nearly impeccable; from the piano-driven Sufjan Stevens-featuring â&#x20AC;&#x153;Redfordâ&#x20AC;? to the raucous free-jazz apocalypse of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Possibility,â&#x20AC;? Undun is riveting in that it shows a musical growth that is cohesive and veracious. It moves like a well-written orchestral piece, calm and serene one moment, powerful and grandiose another, leaving you mesmerized until the very end.

albums were remastered with care and treated with respect. The goodies included with the deluxe edition arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t essential, but theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re definitely worth listening to and the DVDs are a great way of seeing the band in its prime, though the video quality isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t anywhere near what DVD is capable of. Gish and Siamese Dream are both classic albums and have gotten the re-release they deserve. Fans owe it to themselves to update their dusty old copies and, for those who arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t familiar with them, these releases provide a perfect opportunity to acquaint themselves.

NT STUD E

2011 ce ter all, po and a slow ly volatile yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s filmm to better da Many f into the pas movies the future. Loo an elaborate and workin and a big-b shared joy o son back to

12 LIFE

LIFE&ARTS

Tuesday, December 6, 2011 | THE DAILY TEXAN | Aleksander Chan, Life&Arts Editor | (512) 232-2209 | dailytexan@gmail.com

Illustration by Lin Zagorski

The Life&Arts senior staff combed through this year’s pop culture and selected the artists, albums, books and movements that they think, in one way or another, helped define 2011. This is the second in a two-day series. Below illustrations by Betsy Cooper

REDDIT By Aaron West Daily Texan Columnist

2011 is the year that I almost didn’t graduate because I was on Reddit too much. I’m still trying to decide if it was worth it (I’ll know for sure when my diploma is mailed to me, or when it isn’t). Some might argue that my time spent on Reddit was actually worthless, but to those people, I have only one question: “What is the intrinsic value of a video that features an inebriated German guy harmlessly poking a policeman in the back with a dildo?” (Check the end of the article for

the answer.) Anyhow, beware, innocent cybertraveller! In times of deep procrastination-induced delirium, you too might find yourself clicking around Reddit for hours and muttering that question and others like it to yourself (not too loud, though — what if someone heard you and thought you were weird?). And if that situation should ever befall you, just remember that /r/woahdude is the only subreddit where a homemade, leotard-heavy musical tribute to a Christmas kitten and a video that ponders the beginning of infinity can exist in Internet harmony. For those who are woefully but productively uninitiated, Reddit is a con-

tent-sharing site (the 53rd most popular website in the U.S. — right after pornhub.com) that brands itself as “the front page of the Internet.” It’s divided into smaller communities called “subreddits” which can be created by anyone, focus on almost anything and operate under whichever rules the subreddit-creator chooses. It all gives Reddit a very loose, Wild West sort of feel that can be liberating and overwhelming at the same time. Registered users, who are called “redditors,” submit posts and links that other redditors comment on, sometimes quite hilariously, sometimes not. Redditors can then vote submissions and comments up or down, which dic-

tates their rank and where it appears on the site’s pages. There are more than 90,000 subreddits, some with more than half a million readers (/r/politics), some with as little as 34 (/r/AustinDiscGolf ). The subreddits cover a seemingly endless smorgasbord of subjects that can end up taking you down Internet wormholes you might regret getting sucked into (the “Not Safe For Lunch” tag that adorns some of the freakier stuff can be a useful guide to not getting a face full of, for example, a picture of a slack-jawed lady breastfeeding a chimpanzee — unless that’s exactly what you were hoping to see,

REDDIT continues on PAGE 10

MOVIE NOSTALGIA By Alex Williams Daily Texan Columnist

2011 certainly wasn’t a banner year for America. After all, political gridlock, massive protest movements and a slowly collapsing economy have made for a fairly volatile climate, and it’s no surprise that many of this year’s filmmakers took it upon themselves to look back to better days. Many films were, in one way or another, looking back into the past, and more importantly, reflecting upon the ways movies themselves are a major part of the past, present and future. Look at J.J. Abrams’s moving “Super 8,” constructed as an elaborate tribute to Spielberg adventure films of the 1980’s and working both as a nostalgic walk down memory lane and a big-budget exploration of the ways cinema and the shared joy of working on something you love can put a person back together.

Other films were interested in what exactly makes movies so compelling to us, and explored the subject by taking romanticized looks back at Hollywood’s history. Films like “The Artist” and “My Week with Marilyn” are both fairly detached examinations of stardom, and the ways that a star’s on-screen image can be simultaneously corrosive and fulfilling, the stars gladly bringing about their own emotional or financial ruin off-screen so that their fans can continue to admire them in theaters. However, no two films capture nostalgia and the importance of film more effectively and succinctly than Martin Scorcese’s “Hugo” and Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris.” Both films are by verifiable masters of cinema, relocated from their trademark New York City locale to the wonders of Paris, France, and both make very different arguments concerning nostalgia. “Midnight in Paris” is one of the year’s great success stories and easily one of its finest films. Allen surrogate Gil (played by Owen Wilson) is a writer wishing he could live in the Par-

is of the past, and finds himself magically transported back so he can rub elbows with some of history’s most remarkable artists, including Ernest Hemingway, brought to life by a splendid performance from Corey Stoll. The film captures everything that makes a yearning for the past so special, from the swooning vocals of Cole Porter performing live in the corner to the sheer beauty of 1930’s Paris, but also functions as a condemnation of nostalgia, demonstrating how it can be just as creatively destructive as it is inspiring and as dangerous as it is seductive. Even though Allen stresses the importance of living in the present, one can’t help but notice the undeniable sense of romance and wonder that defines much of “Midnight’s” appeal. Meanwhile, Martin Scorcese’s “Hugo” is a film with a very different agenda on its mind. Set entirely in the Golden Age that Allen’s film simultaneously idolizes and

NOSTALGIA continues on PAGE 10

WATCH THE THRONE By Katie Stroh Daily Texan Columnist

Jay-Z and Kanye West’s relationship lends itself to a big brother-little brother comparison. Jay is undoubtedly the big brother: always unflappably calm and confident, he radiates a remarkable quiet charisma that reportedly can instantly silence a room full of people, and which presumably comes from knowing that you’re said to be the greatest rapper of

your time. Kanye, then, is the little brother: spoiled, attention-seeking, self-involved, prone to tantrums, energetic to the point of hyperactivity, trying desperately in his own outlandish way to live up to his mentor. His messy, self-indulgent posturing undercut by occasional fits of disarming honesty and introspection makes him a strangely endearing figure. On their own, each man is currently a defining voice in music and the wider world of pop culture in their own right. When paired together, the two have created an album that, despite (or perhaps because of) its overall incoherence and propensity to indulge Kanye’s

more theatrical tendencies, is an incredibly fun musical space to hang out in. Released in August, Jay-Z and Kanye West’s collaborative album, Watch the Throne, has essentially dominated the bulk of my musical life for the past four months. I have yet to tire of it, despite the fact that it’s become a habit to give the album a full listen-through every couple of days, and it seems I’m not the only one. Watch the Throne has proved a point of fascination for countless others this year, expressed through blogs, Twitter feeds and the current success of their Watch the Throne U.S. tour. Although Watch the Throne is ostensibly a fairly equal collaboration between Jay-Z and Kanye

West, the album ultimately has Kanye all over it. His penchant for meticulous, opulent production is present almost to the point of oversaturation, and his deft, bombastic rhymes, like “luxury rap, the Hermes of verses/sophisticated ignorance, write my curses in cursive” can’t help but overpower many of Jay-Z’s lyrical contributions. Which isn’t to say Watch the Throne is just a Kanye West album that happens to feature Jay-Z. Their back-and-forth throughout the album is electric and thrilling, a vital part of why Watch the Throne is still addictive four months

THE ART OF FIELDING By Aleksander Chan Daily Texan Columnist

The Internet has, as told by countless critics, poets, technology prognosticators and weary elders, splintered the way Americans interact with the culture. So far removed is the man replaying YouTube videos of teenagers crashing their skateboards into sidewalk railing from the other seated next to him watching a movie on his iPad. That classically fraught, punishingly binding 19th century phrenology of what is “highbrow” and “lowbrow” has in many ways, completely gotten away from itself — your bandwidth a circuitous, self-perpetuating tube that keeps you stocked in essays on modern semiotics or, if you are so inclined, the Kardashian family.

So when Chad Harbach, meek and composed, a founding editor of literary journal n+1 (a thrice yearly published gospel for the affluent), released his first novel, written over the course of 10 years and bought for an unheard-of price for a first-time author of $650,000 by publishing group Little, Brown & Company, it appeared that the culturati had christened its new prince. How blessedly, then, does “The Art of Fielding,” Harbach’s consuming, warming story of a talented young baseball player plucked to play ball at a small liberal arts college on Lake Michigan, fly completely in the face of how we’ve been tempered to read cultural texts over the last decade. At once utterly affluent and highbrow, with its character obsessed with the works of Herman Melville, it brilliantly shifts to engaging fictional sports writing. Baseball,

long maligned a dull sport made of nothing but swinging sticks and sabermetrics, has never felt so enthralling as Harbach writes it. His prose — so smooth, so comforting in its expert control — tells of Henry Skrimshander, a lanky young baseball maven with the kind of unshakable principles of integrity, romanticism and honor that portends future high school English essays. He catches the eye of a player from the Westish College Harpooners, a thirdtier team that desperately needs the kind of star power Henry can bring. With Henry brought into the fold, the narrative unfurls; through the eyes of his gay roommate; the college president, head over heels for a student crush; his manic depressive and newly single daughter; and Mike Schwartz, the team captain who dis-

covers Henry and unknowingly puts in motion his own unraveling. And in the grand tradition of great American novels, none of these stories of friendship, baseball or mental health, is more paramount than the one it tells of love. Yes, this includes a love for sportsmanship and the love for another, but also a hopeful testimony to college. When Henry takes his first steps on to Westish College campus, seeing the rustic architecture and towering bronze statues, he likens it to college

FIELDING continues on PAGE 10

THRONE continues on PAGE 10