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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017
@thedailytexan | thedailytexan.com
Volume 118, Issue 40
HEALTH POLICE
UT grant fills gaps in mental healthcare accessibility By Anna Lassmann News Reporter
Maria Mendez Senior News Reporter
With a new $1.8 million federal grant, UT will train students to improve mental health care for low-income and uninsured populations in Travis County. To address the lack of mental health care professionals in Travis County, the Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the federal grant to UT’s Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars program last Tuesday. Students in the multidisciplinary program will train with community partners, including local mental health authority Integral Care. “This grant is an amazing opportunity to address the longstanding shortage of mental health professionals,” said Kathleen Casey, a clinical director for Integral Care. “We have a much greater need for an expanded mental health workforce that is culturally and linguistically competent.” Austin’s recent growth has created a need for mental health professionals that can connect with underserved populations, Casey said. The program will focus on training 84 graduate students to become culturally aware mental health professionals. “As Austin grows, so does its diversity, and we know that the research is pretty clear that therapeutic bond is enhanced by working with professionals who are culturally competent and are from similar backgrounds as those that are seeking services,” Casey said.
illustration by rachel tyler | daily texan staff
Travis County offers 911 texting By Ashley Liu Senior News Reporter
Officials say texting allows easier contact with first responders. Those in need of emergency services can now text 911 instead of dialing in Travis County. The Capital Area Council of Governments launched the new function last Thursday with 31 call centers in Central Texas. The
service is now available through Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and Sprint. Although the service is readily available, Ann Treffer, emergency communication manager of UT Police Department, said messaging 911 is only a “best effort service.” “Providers cannot guarantee a message will be delivered,” Treffer said. “If you didn’t get a message back from the dispatch center, you have to assume
they didn’t receive the message, and then either text again or try calling.” Communicating an emergency through text might take longer because of certain limitations, Treffer said. “You can’t send group messages, emojis, pictures or videos,” Treffer said. “Also, try to refrain from using slang terms and abbreviations. It’s important for students to use regular building names and addresses if possible.”
Call centers do not automatically receive the cell user’s location, Treffer said, and texting through social media apps such as WhatsApp is not supported. “Remember, it’s ‘call 911 if you can, text if you can’t.’” Treffer said. “We still want our students to call if possible because texting will take longer.” Treffer said the new texting function will benefit many
TEXTING page 2
GRANT page 2 HOLIDAY
BUSINESS
UT hosts first Indigenous Peoples’ Week McCombs unveils IT-focused masters By Raga Justin News Reporter
The first Indigenous Peoples’ Week is being held through Friday by the Native American and Indigenous Collective. While Indigenous Peoples’ Day has been recognized at UT in past years, this is the first time a weeklong program of events has been organized. Alicia Ramirez, administrative assistant for the Native American and Indigenous Studies Department, said student groups were preparing for Indigenous Peoples’ Week before the Austin City Council voted to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day on Thursday and were not aware the high-profile decision would happen just days before their first event. “There’s definitely always been interest on campus, but that interest has gone up like 80 percent with
By London Gibson Senior News Reporter
anthony mireles| daily texan staff
From left to right, Mario Alberto Ramirez, Angela Lorena Vela, Dr. Mario Garza and Maria Rocha speak to UT students about the importance of observing Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
the announcement of Austin renaming the date,” Ramirez said. “There’s more media attention and notoriety. Hopefully, it’ll bring out more people and get more people involved with
the conversation.” Luis Carcamo-Huechante, director of the Program in Native American and Indigenous Studies, said the extension reflects the importance of
indigenous rights. “Across the years, students and members of our academic community have realized that to have only
INDIGENOUS page 2
A new McCombs School of Business masters program will fill the need for education in information technology and management skills starting in July 2018. The Master of Science in Information Technology and Management (MSITM) program will accept students from a variety of majors and backgrounds to develop skills working with emerging technologies in a creative space, program director Caryn Conley said. “There aren’t a whole lot of people out there with this skill in business to help figure out how we can use these emerging technologies to generate social value or business value,” Conley said. “This is the primary opportunity to create one of these programs with courses that bring business
NEWS
OPINION
LIFE&ARTS
SPORTS
Student group brings bluegrass music to campus. PAGE 2
Columnists call for openmindness to gun owners, real gun reform. PAGE 4
Bullock panelists discuss bootlegging booze in South Texas. PAGE 8
Outlook on Texas’ season takes a turn after Saturday’s win. PAGE 6
UT Athletics; Process color
together with these newer technologies.” For ten months, enrolled students will learn about a variety of topics including advanced programming, web development and technology design, Conley said. The program is 36 hours and lasts three semesters, beginning in July and ending in May. Only current UT undergraduates will have the opportunity to apply for the program early their junior year, said Briana Weiland, senior academics program coordinator for McCombs. These students will take their first semester of the program the summer between junior and senior year and finish the final two semesters the fall and spring semesters after graduation. Weiland said applying to the program early allows
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Tuesday, October 10, 2017T
CAMPUS
Bluegrass group brings music to campus
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AUSTIN WEATHER TODAY Oct. 10
TOMORROW Oct. 11
By Mason Carroll News Reporter If you walk by the Student Activity Center on a Friday afternoon, there is a good chance you will hear the sound of banjos, guitars and other instruments playing in harmony. Burnt Orange Bluegrass is a group of students that plays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. outside of the SAC every Friday. The president of the group, biology senior Matthew Lyons, encourages people who want to join in on the music to just show up and play. “All it is, is just a bunch of people hanging out on a Friday afternoon giving a kick to their weekend just having fun playing music,” Lyons said. “Everyone is smiling, having a good time.” Lyons first became interested in bluegrass music after coming to college and seeing a bluegrass show. “The next weekend was my birthday, and I went out and bought a mandolin … and then from there it kind of took off,” Lyons said. The group started when
TEXTING
continues from page 1 communities, along with being a safety-expanding service. “We are very excited to have the capability to help the hearing and speech-impaired community,” Treffer said. “We think it’s a great tool that’s available when the caller doesn’t want to be heard by an ongoing threat. For example, it could help the caller stay concealed during an active shooter situation.” Nursing sophomore Kyle Villenueva said dispatch is critical to getting emergency medial help. “Timing is everything in for EMTs,” Villenueva said. “It’s important that call centers understand what type of help is needed in order to dispatch the right team. I actually think texting might make it easier for students who have trouble with oral communication, especially under a stressful circumstance.”
All it is, is just a bunch of people hanging out on a Friday afternoon giving a kick to their weekend just having fun playing music.” —Matthew Lyons, Senior
anthony mireles| daily texan staff
Burnt Orange Bluegrass performs in front of the SAC on Friday afternoon. They play every Friday evening and encourage other students to join them.
Lyons was a freshman, with three other players who have since graduated. Lyons said the group started playing together his freshman year, but it wasn’t until his sophomore year that they became official. “Fall semester of my sophomore year, we put together more formally,
Computer science sophomore Antony Yun said the texting service is a great innovation. “I think the ability to text 911 is a great resource to have,” Yun said. “Oftentimes, people are placed in situations where it would be dangerous for them to make noise by placing a phone call, and this improvement would provide them with a safer way to reach out for help.” While texting is a great resource to have, Yun said speaking to an actual person from the dispatch center would give him more relief in an urgent situation. “I don’t have to worry about typing out all of the pertinent information and waiting for a response,” Yun said. “Instead, I can focus on dealing with the situation at hand while having someone to guide me through my responses. I would only text if I were in a situation where I wouldn’t want someone else to know I had reached out.”
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Personal biases affect professor rating sites
what do you do at a daughter concert besides cry?
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News Reporter
With spring registration fast approaching, students are advised to be weary of professor rating websites when choosing classes. Websites like UT Life and Rate My Professors allow students to leave reviews for courses and professors. Mathematics professor Bill Wolesensky, the highest rated professor at UT on Rate My Professors said students should focus on reviews about content learned. “Of course there may be those bias’s … so of course that may influence responses,” Wolesensky said in an email. In April of 2016, psychological journal “Frontiers in Psychology” published an article saying extensive research has been conducted regarding the connection between teacher reviews and quality of education. The literature on the subject identified characteristics that affect ratings like professor looks, ethnicity and student and instructor gender. “It can be a sexist comment,” Wolesensky said. “It can be a racist comment … They shouldn’t even be allowed.” Student opinions can vary wildly on UT Life. About one professor, an anonymous commenter said, “by the linguistics of this teacher, you’d think you were border hopping the Valley and Mexico.” Another said
the same professor is “one of the most memorable and impactful professors (they were) privileged to have studied with.” Mechanical engineering senior Geena May said she usually avoids professor rating websites. “I think that most of the people who fill out Rate My Professors are the people who do poorly in the classes and want to get back at their professor, so you see a lot more negative comments than positive comments,” May said. Though these biases may exist, ratings can be informative, Wolesensky said. “If (the students) are using them simply to avoid certain things or get an easy grade, it’s a bad thing, but if you’re using it to find someone who has a learning environment that’s positive and those comments are repeated over and over, you can probably say that (students) will learn a lot in their class.” Wolesenky said. “If that’s how you’re using, it’s a good thing.” Kinesiology freshman Olivia Siciliano said she doesn’t let what she reads online be the deciding factor when she chooses a course. “The stuff you read on there, you have to take it with a grain of salt,” said Siciliano. “The class is honestly what you make it, you have to be willing to … adapt.”
and right around there is when we officially applied to be an organization, and we started meeting regularly outside the SAC, and it just kind of took off from there,” Lyons said. Over the years, Burnt Orange Bluegrass has grown and gained many members who all share a common love for the mu-
sic, including undeclared freshman Sammy Sanchez. “It’s just a great way to get musicians that like bluegrass to come together and play together and jam out,” Sanchez said. Civil engineering sophomore Teagan Wevv said bluegrass is a community and a family. “It’s a group of people
GRANT
continues from page 1 Dr. Stephen Strakowski, chair of Dell Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry, said the grant will provide support for minority groups and economically disadvantaged groups who have difficulty gaining access to necessary mental health treatments. “We want to be able to build an infrastructure to allow more people to enter the mental health care workforce in order to provide care to those in need,” Strakowski said. “It is important that we build strong relationships between the healthcare providers and the community.” Prior to this grant, the Steve Hicks School of Social Work received a smaller grant in 2012, which formed
that are bonded over this music, but also kind of this culture of coming together and enjoying stuff together,” Wevv said. The group is open for anyone to come out and play, and, if you show up, you will become part of the family. “The most unique thing is, when we come out here, we don’t know who’s going to be here,” Sanchez said. “So sometimes it’ll just be a banjo and a guitar or a base and a violin. So I guess it’s a different sound every time you come out.”
the foundation for the training and education of this new grant, said Robin Smith, clinical lead for the Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars program. The new program is a collaboration between the Dell Medical School’s Department of Psychiatry, the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, the School of Nursing and the College of Education’s Department of Educational Psychology. “With our previous program, we trained 18 students, most of whom are working in the Central Texas area … and are already beginning to fill the gaps in behavioral health care,” Smith said. “We are really excited to capitalize on that success and put more really highly trained professionals out there to meet the needs of Central Texas.” The selection process
for the 84 students has not been decided yet, Robin said, but 12 Master’s of Social Work students each will receive $10,000 over the next four years. She said students will benefit from the hands on work and financial support and provided by the program. “It will give students really good financial support while they’re in their placements or practicums,” Smith said. The local program is a step in the right direction, but improving mental health care in the U.S. will take more work, Strakowski said. “This is one piece of a very large effort to correct mental healthcare in central Texas,” Strakowski said. “But it is important to note that mental healthcare is an issue that needs to be addressed nationally as well.”
MCCOMBS
continues from page 1 students to know what they will be doing after they graduate and gives them the freedom to look for an internship in the gap between graduating and beginning the program. She also said early UT admissions will be freed from some application requirements. “One of the perks of applying earlier on like that in their junior year is that they are waived the GRE and GMAT requirements,” Weiland. “They won’t have to take that standardized test, which is really nice.” In-state tuition for the program is $38,000 while out-of-state students will pay $43,000, slightly less than some other current McCombs masters of science programs like those of business analytics or finance. The program has been in the works for about five years now, said Prabhudev Konana, associate dean of instructional innovation. Konana said he first proposed the concept in 2011 to
INDIGENOUS
continues from page 1 activities within one day is not enough for the many themes to cover,” Carcamo-Huechante said. “It has that double dimension; to reflect critically on a difficult history. And on the other hand, it’s a moment to honor indigenous legacies in this region. I think that’s why it has become not a day, but a whole week.” The week comes at a vital time in the country’s political climate, said
zoe fu| daily texan staff
The Master of Science in Information Technology and Management (MSITM) program offers education in information technology and management skills. The new program will begin in July 2018.
previous dean Tom Gilligan, but it was put on the back burner until earlier this year when current McCombs dean Jay Hartzell supported pushing the idea forward. Konana said the biggest growth in business today comes from advanced technology like cognitive computing and artificial intelligence. He said this new program will help to fill a lack of undergraduate education in this area at UT and across the country. “(The program) shows leadership in terms of think-
ing creatively and thinking about creating the talent that is in big shortage today,” Konana said. Fostering education in the field of information technologies and management will benefit the business community and UT students on the whole, Konana said. “Today, many U.S. companies go to other parts of the world to get this talent, and we should be producing that here,” Konana said. “This is the talent we need, and we need to develop that kind of talent.”
Jessica Sanchez-Flores, Iberian and Latin American languages and cultures graduate student. “With everything that’s been going on, I do hope that it has a positive impact on the UT community,” Sanchez-Flores said. “It’s been centuries since colonization occurred, but I think there’s been new systematic ways that we still see the colonization of not just indigenous people, but many minority groups. And with this political context in which we are currently in, having
this calls attention (to the fact) that it happened long ago but still continues to happen not only in those communities, but even here on campus.” Hosting Indigenous Peoples’ Week is ultimately part of a broader duty, Ramirez said. “If we weren’t doing this, it would be silencing the histories of native indigenous people in Texas who are still here and go to UT and are part of the staff,” Ramirez said. “To not do anything would be a problem.”
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Speaker series educates on disability awareness on campus By Mason Carroll News Reporter
College is a difficult time in any student’s life, but for those struggling with a physical or learning disability, it can be that much more challenging. To combat this, the Texas Center for Disability Studies has partnered with the Steve Hicks School of Social Work to host the Disability Awareness Speaker Series in accordance with Nation-
al Disability Employment Awareness month. “We all learn differently,” School of Nursing professor Tracie Harrison said during the series Monday. “We don’t fit one particular mold, and if we overlook that fact, we can overlook some really great people and some really wonderful accomplishments. According to the Texas Center for Disability Studies website, the center works to create a better world for people with
disabilities through research, education, practice and policy. Zaccheus Ahonle, School of Social Work assistant professor, said disabilities awareness is important because of its widespread impact. “For many of us, the question if not whether we will have a disability or have a family member, relative or friend with a disability, but ‘when,’” Ahonle said in an email. “Most people would either have a disability at birth or acquire a
disability as a result of aging or life changing events like an accident or illness.” Throughout the month, the School of Social Work will be hosting seminars for the Disability Awareness Series from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Mondays. Ahonle said people with disabilities are underrepresented in the workforce but are a diverse and talented group. “Talent has no boundaries,” Ahonle said in an email. “Because you have a disabil-
ity does not mean that you lack talent or that your ability goes away. Disability is just an aspect of an individual with a disability.” Students across campus came out for the session like social work graduate student Zully Guerra, who works with children with disabilities and has seen her father struggle with disabilities related to colon cancer. “I just wanted to learn more about how I can help
spread the word, especially among populations who are not so familiar with disability,” Guerra said. It’s important to get students with disabilities the resources they need to succeed, Harrison said. “What’s important is learning what they need to learn and doing their best,” Harrison said. “Putting the other stuff behind them … and get what you need to do your best in this environment.”
CITY
‘Purricane’ adoption benefits rescued cats By Tehreem Shahab
Austin Pets Alive! staff member Rae Morrison holds Sprite, a calico cat at their main adoption center. Sprite is only one of the many kittens at the shelter who are still in need of a home.
News Reporter
Austin Pets Alive! is hosting the Purricane Adoption Special for cats rescued from areas affected by Hurricane Harvey. The special, which waives the adoption fee for cats, started on Sept. 11 and will continue throughout October. The shelter usually has cat adoption specials in the summer and fall, because kittens are born between March and October. In addition to the 1,000 kittens APA! usually puts up for adoption, this fall, it received an influx of 3,000 cats and dogs from Houston and Southeast Texas. Since APA! started their Harvey reliefs, 1,400 animals have been adopted, said marketing manager Lindsey Picard. Picard said the shelter has received a lot of support in their efforts to rescue animals from affected areas. “We received an incredible amount of donations from crates to leashes, to kitty litter, anything we needed to save these animals,” Picard said. “We have also had an amazing outpouring of support from volunteers, we had people coming in from all over the country to help us and people taking days off from work to come help us.” Biochemistry senior Joyce Tong said adoption specials can be financially beneficial to students. “Adoption specials are great because they lower the cost to adopt so that can make it more accessible for students to
tristan ipock daily texan staff
get an animal,” Tong said. “When you get a new pet, you’re paying for all of their food, their bed and their vet bills. So lowering the adoption fee can make it easier.” The APA! shelter is a no-kill shelter and specifically works to save animals at risk of euthanization. Tong, who has volunteered with APA! and other no-kill shelters, said miscon-
ceptions about certain breeds can cause pet owners to face housing difficulties. “Usually most of the apartment complexes will have a high fee for pets,” Tong said. “Sometimes they won’t allow a pet specifically because of its breed, regardless of its temperament.” Anthropology senior Mackenzie Finklea adopted a cat from APA! a year ago
and encourages people to get to know the animals who initially appear upset. “A lot of people don’t adopt because the animal seems aggressive,” Finklea said. “But that is just by virtue of their circumstance. The animals are upset and uncomfortable because they want to go home with you.”
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karen panilla| daily texan staff
Panelists at a UT-Austin National Association of Black Journalists discuss their experience transitioning from college to the work force Monday evening,
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TODAY
Meet representatives from over 100 graduate programs around the country!
National Association of Black Journalists discusses careers By John Melendez News Reporter
The UT-Austin National Association of Black Journalists organized a panel of . recent UT-NABJ graduates , on Monday to discuss the t transition from college to the work force. Nia Wesley, San Antonio CBS affiliate KENS5 digital producer and former UT NABJ president, said journalism is an experience-based career. “I did just every internship I could probably get my hands on,” Wesley said. “It’s about getting your hands dirty, because there is only so much you can learn in the classroom.” The rest of the panelists then spoke about their advice on obtaining experience and getting their foot in the door after college. Alex Samuels, Texas Tribune’s first ever community reporter, talked about
taking advantage of every resource UT has to offer. “Use college to find out what you like and what you don’t like,” Samuels said. “Because when you get into the real world they’re going to have all these expectations for you, and it’s going to be weird and crazy.“ Mbiyimoh Ghogomu said his entrepreneurial ideas are largely what landed him his job as lead editor and copywriter for IBM designs. Ghogomu started a news blog with a friend while in college and called it the single best thing he did. “If you can start your own thing, even if it’s just your own personal blog, and you’re maintaining it regularly, (it’s) a good way to keep your passion and keep your writing skills sharp,” Ghogomu said. Luqman Adeniyi, a news associate for CNBC, is currently in New York and was
present via video chat. Malcom Thomas, NABJ member, said his goal is to be a political journalist, and the panelists convinced him to take advantage of school resources more often. “I’m not going to say that I’ve been (using the resources) so far,” said Thomas, political communications and African studies junior. “But, this was definitely a motivation for me to get there.” Brianna Stone, journalism senior and UT NABJ president said although the panelists are her friends, their advice is still important to her. “As a senior about to graduate, I’m very nervous and anxious about (finding a job),” said Stone, a former Daily Texan reporter. “It’s a different perspective hearing about (the panelists’ jobs). Hearing them talk and knowing they were once in my shoes is a feeling of relief.”
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LAURA HALLAS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
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Tuesday, October 10, 2017
COLUMN
Diversity in literature is a feasible necessity By Emily Vernon Senior Columnist
Though books are often touted as escapes, the publishing industry is grossly homogeneous. Despite this, literary awards often highlight diverse narratives, stressing the importance of books as vehicles of social change and vestibules for expansion and knowledge. The National Book Award, one of the highest literary achievements, carries a special platform in advocating for diverse narratives. At the very least, a nomination can highlight one of a variety of issues. At its best, a nomination will inspire readers to pick up a book they normally wouldn’t and learn something. Thankfully, this year’s selection committee is listening to those fighting for diverse books, and 2017’s finalists seem to inch closer to breaking a long held belief in the superiority of white male authors. Fifteen of the 20 shortlisted authors are women, and the majority of the books reflect unique cultural experiences. But while this year’s finalists are a sign of progress, the fight has yet to be won. Let’s start with the gender issue. The National Book Award has come closer to gender parity, but that’s hardly a progressive feat considering the publishing industry is dominated by white women. Nevertheless, novels written by women have historically been dismissed as inferior and tossed
iillustration by adria twyman | daily texan staff
to the side. For proof of this, we can look at educational requirements. Throughout high school, my honors and AP English classes rarely required reading written by women. It gets better in college, but students often have to seek out classes that focus on diverse literature. However, the issues in school curriculum are reflective of those in the publishing industry. In 2015, author Catherine Nichols sent her novel to 50 literary agents and received only two requests for a copy
COLUMN
of her manuscript. She sent it to 50 more agents using a male pseudonym and, under this new name, received 17 requests for a manuscript. The issue is compounded by the racial homogeneity the publishing industry’s workforce, which in turn has resulted in historically homogeneous narratives — and it’s not because only white people write worthwhile books. It’s absolutely crucial there are books available that reflect different experiences.
Books act as mirrors, allowing readers to find characters and stories they can relate to while also encouraging literacy. Those who feel part of the culture dominating the publishing industry have the luxury of seeing their experiences mirrored in almost every book they pick up. Unfortunately this isn’t the case for everyone, which can diminish interest in reading — especially in children, whose reading habits start early. Yet every person deserves to feel validated in their experiences, and there are certainly authors who write books that do this. They just need to be published and elevated. Those who love and work with literature also speak of books as windows, as mediums for teaching a variety of diverse human experiences. The United States is not a homogeneous country, yet intense social segregation persists. Reading will by no means fix all of our issues, but it’s one way those who live in “bubbles” can expand their understanding of the world. Everyone deserves to have a voice, so we must better emphasize the greatness present in non-white, non-cisgendered literature. We need diverse books. While the National Book Award is giving us that, the nominations still aren’t reflective of general reading habits. But activism can change that, so avid readers can’t be complacent. Vernon is an anthropology and rhetoric and writing junior from The Woodlands.
COLUMN
We must not vilify gun owners Banning accessories is a disin the wake of Vegas tragedy traction from real gun reform By Liam Verses Columnist
I woke up Monday morning to five news alerts sitting on my phone. “Massacre,” “shooting” and “death” appeared across the screen. I sat there at the foot of my bed, shocked that while I had been asleep, such a horrific event occurred. After I read the news, I went on Twitter to find tirades against gun owners. Condemning all gun owners is not the way to respond to a mass shooting. I remember the first time I shot a gun. It was a 20-gauge, double-barrel shotgun. After that day out on the range, I realized why so many Americans — four in 10 households — own guns. Guns provide safety, embodying the rugged individualism and total self reliance emblematic of this nation. I grew up in the Texas Hill Country, where I knew it would likely take 15 to 20 minutes for the nearest police officer to come to my aid in case of a home intruder. Is it so insane, then, that I slept with a shotg u n under
my bed when my parents were out of town? Does liking guns or believing that I should be able to own one for self-protection really make me some crazy redneck? More importantly, does slamming the 1 in 3 American adults who own guns, people who are your neighbors, teachers, friends and coworkers, give you the moral high ground in the gun control debate? The gun lobby gives money to politicians, sure. But it’s not the money that makes the National Rifle Association so powerful: It’s the NRA’s members, all five million of them. It’s a broad Second Amendment support base, which consists of the roughly 1 in 2 Americans who want to protect gun rights. Seventy-two percent of Americans believe that most people or almost everyone should be able to legally own guns, and 56 percent of Americans believe that people should be able to carry guns in most or almost all places. Guns remain entrenched in American culture. Guns are tied to the ideological, cultural and historical identity of the United States. Enshrined in our founding documents and numbering over 300 millions, guns are here to stay. Chastising Americans who cherish their guns does not set the right tone after Las Vegas. Finding comprehensive measures to combat mass shootings and deaths are a priority. But to those who would broadly blame guns and gun owners as the problem: Narrow your focus. The cyclical nature of the gun law debate, in which a shooting triggers an outcry which in turn triggers responses that have nothing to do with the nature of the shooting wears out Americans. Most gun owners are responsible and law-abiding, and most Americans don’t want to take away others’ guns, but those who are unreasonable continue to dominate the gun debate. That cannot continue if we want these unspeakable tragedies to end. Verses is a Plan II and environmental engineering freshman from San Antonio.
illustration by priyanka kar and weatherly sawyer | daily texan staff
LEGALESE | 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.
Jorge Corona| Daily Texan Staff
By Sam Groves Senior Columnist
The number I keep coming back to isn’t 59, the number of people killed in last week’s mass shooting in Las Vegas. It also isn’t more than 500, the number of people who were injured. To be sure, both of those numbers are horrific. But the number I can’t stop thinking about is 47. That’s how many guns the shooter owned, including 33 acquired in the past year. He smuggled 23 of them into that hotel room and used them to commit the deadliest mass shooting perpetrated by a single person in recent American history. These are all striking numbers, but the gun lobby and pro-gun politicians were quick to latch on to a different number: 12. That’s how many “bump stocks” investigators found attached to the shooter’s weapons in the hotel room. Briefly, a bump stock is a tool that can be attached to a semi-automatic weapon in order to increase its rate of fire, making it more like an automatic weapon. The Las Vegas shooter used these devices in his attack to kill with greater efficiency. Texas Sen. John Cornyn was among the first high-profile Republicans to open the door to banning bump stocks in the aftermath of the shooting. He was later joined by eight other Republican senators, and on Thursday the National Rifle Association added its voice, calling for additional regulations on the devices. After so many mass shootings have been met with inaction from Congress, these developments might seem encouraging. But in truth, they represent a political tactic meant to substitute the tiniest possible gun control measure for any semblance of real change. That’s not to say that banning bump stocks is a bad idea. It’s a good idea: All
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they do is make deadly weapons even more dangerous. And the technique of bump firing can be employed without the use of a special device. In fact, banning bump stocks is such a good idea that Sen. Dianne Feinstein proposed it way back in 2013 as part of wider ranging piece of gun control legislation. At the time, Cornyn dismissed the bill wholesale, calling it “a solution in search of a problem” and saying that the law would have “zero effect.” The NRA was even more dead set against the bill, going so far as to question Feinstein’s mowivations for introducing it. In fairness, the bill contained plenty of measures that both Cornyn and the NRA have consistently opposed for years, including a ban on assault weapons. Nevertheless, they’ve only just now joined the cause of banning bump stocks, and it’s not hard to figure out why. Drawing attention to bump stocks distracts from issues opponents of gun control would rather not discuss. Here are just a few of those issues. First, a system that allows someone to amass such an immense stockpile so quickly without triggering any alarms is clearly broken. Second, 30 percent of U.S. adults own guns. Third, owning a gun triples your chances of killing yourself and doubles your chances of killing someone else. Fourth, the United States has the highest rate of gun violence of any developed country in the world. But that’s not a conversation that progun politicians like Cornyn want to have, and it’s certainly not a conversation that the gun lobbyists wants to have. Instead, they want us to talk about bump stocks. And we will. With some luck, we might do the bare minimum and actually ban these devices. But don’t hold your breath. Groves is a philosophy junior from Dallas.
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Tuesday, October 10, 2017
ACL FESTIVAL
Gaps in ACL security allow for easy trespassing By Ruben Paquian Life&Arts Reporter
Whether it’s because one didn’t have the money, refused to pay the two hundred bucks or were too busy preparing for midterms, you may be one of many students still without ACL tickets. For most, scalping a ticket is far too expensive on a college budget, but that doesn’t stop some determined souls from trying to get into the festival any way they can. Every year, dozens of festivalgoers try to sneak their way into ACL for free with little luck, but occasionally, a few get through. Austin Community College student Johnny*, is one of those lucky few — and according to him it was wasn’t hard at all. According to Johnny, he and a group of approximately six others got to the park for last year’s festival early Friday morning of weekend one with the intention of getting into the park. Without any set plan on how to get in, the group found the main entrance open and unattended. “We got to the park at like 7, 7:30 (a.m.), and we just walked right through the gates,” Johnny said.
BLADERUNNER
continues from page 8 genuine or simply her programming directive. Could it be both? It seems K doesn’t appreciate that he, like all other replicants, is a miracle. When he catches wind of earth-shattering revelations that could change the future for replicants as a species, K descends into a labyrinthine web of lies that calls into question the very nature of his
illustration by johnathan daniels| daily texan staff
Once inside, the group thought they would have to hide to keep from getting caught, but, as it turned out, that wasn’t necessary. “The first thirty minutes we didn’t know what to do,” Johnny said. “We thought identity, and his stoic demeanor gradually unravels. Due to its weightier themes and more expansive plot, “2049” is more epic than its predecessor, which was a startlingly intimate affair set in an oppressive dystopian world. Yet, it is also constantly in conversation with the original, drawing upon old ideas to inform new ones. For example, Gaff ’s origami unicorn gets a spiritual successor in a wooden horse. “2049” works in
we were all just gonna have to like sit in the porta potties and wait but ended up not even being that. We just sat at a bench and our plan was if anybody stopped us we would just say ‘yeah we’re working at one of the tandem with the first film, and both pictures end up elevating each other. Gosling is stellar as the leading man, carrying a strong and enigmatic presence that greatly serves the mystery behind his origin. de Armas is affecting as Joi, imbuing her with a lovely innocence that makes you forget that her coding is in binary instead of DNA. Other members of the cast, including Jared Leto as a villainous replicant manufacturer and Sylvia Hoeks
shops waiting for our shift to start,’ but nobody came (to question us).” The group waited until the park was opened to the public before they left their post for a day at the festival. The following
as Luv, a Terminator-esque replicant assassin, superbly contribute to the drama. Amid this wonderful ensemble, Harrison Ford reprises his role of Rick Deckard and doesn’t waste a second of his performance. Deckard is a grumpy, weary old man who has left behind his broken world. It’s up to K to help him finally become whole again. In a similar vein, “2049” picks up the pieces left behind by “‘Blade Runner” and gives us catharsis.
morning they attempted to do the same thing, but this time the same entrance was guarded. Still determined on getting in, they squeezed through a gap they found in the fence. Now in the park, the
DUCKTAILS
continues from page 8 ily replaceable by a plethora of other up-and-coming and established indie acts. Jersey Devil is definitely worth a listen, and many of its songs will easily find their way to your lo-fi Spotify playlist, but Mondanile’s attempts at creating something fresh and different ends up putting himself in the same mold as many of his contemporaries such as Ariel Pink and Mac DeMarco. Ducktails is suffering
group had the same plan as the previous day, just hang out until the park opened. This time, they encountered a staff member, but Johnny said he just walked right passed them. “He just walked by us, and he said, ‘What’s up, guys? You(‘re) the first ones in the park right?,’”Johnny said. “The park doesn’t open for another two hours. I’m sure he knew, he just didn’t say anything.” Due to the recent shooting in Vegas and the growing frequency of mass shootings, the festival is working with the Austin Police Department to step up security this year, according to a report by the Austin American-Statesman. Although Johnny was glad to get in without paying, he voices his concern on how those who sneak in also bypass the safety pat down as well. “Sneaking in, you can bring in whatever you want,” Johnny said. “Nobody’s there to check you. That’s a little scary considering what’s happening now.” *Names have been changed to protect the anonymity of sources.
JERSEY DEVIL ARTIST: Ducktails GENRE: Rock SCORE:
from the growing pains of a culture saturated with 1980s nostalgia attempting to transform and transcend previously explored material. Hopefully, Mondanile will continue to trek forward in his solo career, discovering new ways to get over his salad days.
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MICHAEL SHAPIRO SPORTS EDITOR
@texansports
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
FEATURE
Outlook shifts as Texas prepares for Sooners By Trenton Daeschner Assoc. Sports Editor
In the wake of Texas’ 40-34 double-overtime victory over Kansas State on Saturday night, junior linebacker Malik Jefferson was asked a question that no one would have asked after the Longhorns’ season opener. Can Texas win the Big 12? “If we put our minds to it,” Jefferson said. After moving to 2–0 in the conference with a home win over the Wildcats, Jefferson and his teammates are starting to believe. The last time Texas started 2–0 in the Big 12 was in 2013, when only two members on the Longhorns’ current roster were on that team. 2–0 in conference play is a far cry from where the Longhorns were following their season-opening 51-41 loss at home to Maryland, a game that now seems like an eternity ago. Texas appeared to still be stuck in the mud after three-straight losing seasons under former head coach Charlie Strong. Since then, Texas has rattled off three wins in four games — and came within
gabriel lopez| daily texan file
Junior linebacker Malik Jefferson prepares to tackle Kansas State running back Alex Barnes during the Longhorns’ 40-34 double-overtime victory at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Jefferson finished with 10 total tackles on the day.
a hair of beating then-No. 4 USC in Los Angeles — to improve to 3–2 overall. “The sense on the sideline — just our demeanor and our attitude — is headed in the right direction,” Herman
said. “We’re not a finished product yet. Don’t know that we ever will be this year, but we are headed in the right direction.” At the moment, Texas and No. 6 TCU are the only
undefeated teams in conference play. Not even No. 12 Oklahoma is 2–0 in the Big 12 after suffering a shocking loss at home on Saturday to Iowa State — a team that the Longhorns beat 17-7 on the
road on Sept. 28. But now comes a crucial test yet for a team that appears to be formulating its identity — the AT&T Red River Showdown against the archrival Sooners. The
Red River Showdown has always been a monumental game for both programs. It defines careers, molds legacies and often plays a role in crowning the Big 12 champion. “We’ve been thinking about that one,” senior linebacker Naashon Hughes said. “This is my last one, and I definitely want to go out with a good taste in my mouth.” The Longhorns may be a long way from a finished product, but they have two critical things heading into Saturday’s showdown with the Sooners — a winning record and momentum. Saturday’s game at the Cotton Bowl will be the Longhorns’ most pivotal game yet. It’s a chance for Texas to truly assert itself in the Big 12 spotlight and dampen national doubts about its program. But no one in the Texas locker room has put too much emphasis on that. Instead, it’s all business. “Keep doing what we’re doing,” sophomore wide receiver Collin Johnson said. “Keep playing Texas Longhorn football and play the way that we redefined it to be.”
BIG 12 NOTEBOOK
FOOTBALL BRIEF
Cyclones stun Sooners in Norman, Horned Frogs escape Mountaineers
Herman briefs media following Texas’ double-overtime victory
By Dawson Hinkley Sports Reporter
The Longhorns earned their second conference win of the season over the weekend, winning in double overtime against Kansas State. However, Texas wasn’t the only Big 12 team in action over the weekend. Here’s how the rest of the conference games played out. Sooners fall to Cyclones Oklahoma had been rolling through its competition this season with little resistance prior to Saturday’s matchup with Iowa State. Besides a hiccup against Baylor in which they narrowly squeezed out a victory, the Sooners have shown complete dominance over their competition. But that changed when the Cyclones strolled into Norman as 30.5-point underdogs. After starting 4–0 and taking down the likes of Ohio State, Oklahoma became the favorite to win the Big 12 and represent the conference in the College Football Playoff. No one expected a 3–2 Cyclone team to take down an Oklahoma squad led by Heisman candidate Baker Mayfield. But they did.
The Sooners initially built a 24-10 lead around their star studded offense and stout defense. And while it seemed as if Oklahoma would take that 14-point lead all the way to the final buzzer, the Cyclones had other plans. Iowa State rallied back to take the lead with four minutes remaining before a touchdown catch from receiver Allen Lazard knocked off the Sooners to the tune of a 38-31 final score. The Cyclones gave Mayfield a taste of his own medicine postgame, planting an Iowa flag in the middle of the Oklahoma logo. And to make matters worse for the Sooners, they dropped out of the top-five with the loss, falling to No. 12 in the top 25. Texas Tech lights up scoreboard Texas Tech was on a 10game win streak against Kansas when it rolled into Lawrence on Saturday afternoon, and that double-digit streak wouldn’t be snapped this weekend as the Red Raiders scored over 60 points against a hapless Jayhawk defense. Texas Tech’s offense showed a new burst in its rushing game in the form of senior running back Justin Stockton.
Stockton ran for 161 yards and one touchdown on only 15 carries. He was joined by junior running back Desmond Nisby, who added to the Raiders’ impressive rushing total with 93 yards and four touchdowns. Texas Tech’s victory extended their undefeated streak in Lawrence with a final score victory of 65-19, dropping the Jayhawks to 1–4 on the season. With the victory, Texas Tech squeezed into the top 25, entering this upcoming week No. 24 in the nation. Horned Frogs narrowly escape Mountaineers With Oklahoma’s loss this week, TCU is in prime position to usurp the Sooners as the top dog in the Big 12. But first, they had to escape West Virginia. The battle of top 25 opponents was a back-and-forth affair throughout. TCU scored in the final minutes on a diving rushing touchdown from quarterback Kenny Hill to break a 24-24 tie, resulting in a 31-24 victory for the Horned Frogs. With the victory, TCU remained unbeaten and moved up to No. 6 in the AP poll. West Virginia fell to a 3–2 record with the loss.
HOUSE; Process color
By Alex Briseno Senior Sports Reporter
The AT&T Red River Showdown seems to be coming at the right time for Texas. Coming off a 40-34 double-overtime victory over Kansas State and a 17-7 win over Iowa State, the Longhorns now look much more confident than they appeared in their season-opening loss on Sept. 2. The Longhorns (3–2, 2–0 Big 12) now sit atop the Big 12 standings tied with No. 6 TCU heading into Saturday’s battle with No. 12 Oklahoma. Two days removed from Texas’ double-overtime victory. Here’s what head coach Tom Herman said in his press conference Monday afternoon. No starter announced despite Ehlinger’s strong effort Although freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger put together an impressive performance on Saturday night, during which he threw for 380 yards and two touchdowns in Texas’ double-overtime victory, Herman is not ready to name him the starter for the Red River Showdown on Saturday. And he has more than one reason. “(Ehlinger) made a lot of mistakes,” Herman said. “There’s no doubt he also
played really tough and well and physical, but I don’t know what good it tells me to tell Mike Stoops and Lincoln Riley what I feel about my quarterback situation.” Herman said if sophomore quarterback Shane Buechele is not 100 percent, Ehlinger will most likely have the job for Saturday. He also said that if Buechele shows some improvement in practice, then both quarterbacks will be evaluated before a decision is made. Texas’ struggles in kicking game continue Texas, we have a problem – the Longhorn kicking game. Junior kicker Joshua Rowland missed two field goals Saturday night, missing from 27 and 45 yards, respectively. The latter try came with 0:02 left in regulation, costing Texas a walkoff win in regulation. That would come two overtimes later. “I’m still trying to figure out the whole kicking thing,” Herman said. “We kicked (with Rowland) last night. He was 15 for 15 with six made from beyond 50 yards. Tomorrow we’re gonna put more pressure, have the whole team stand around him screaming and yelling, but that’s not 100,000 people with the game on the line.”
Herman said if Rowland and the kicking game becomes problematic, they will “not repeatedly perform the same act and expect different results.” However, the coaching staff will exhaust all possible avenues to prepare Rowland for any game-winning situations. If Rowland doesn’t show some signs of improvement in Dallas, look for a kicking change in the near future. However, don’t expect too many field goal attempts. Herman has repeatedly expressed his distaste for field goals, specifically short attempts. That was obvious when the Longhorns opted to go for it on fourth and goal early in the game and failed. “I hate 20-yard field goals, man,” Herman said. “It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to me in terms of cost benefit. I think faced with the same situation again, you’re gonna see us go for it again.” Despite questions surrounding both quarterbacks and the lack of a kicking game, Texas has plenty of reason for confidence after starting 2–0 in Big 12 play. However, keep an eye on both positions throughout the week as the Longhorns prepare for the Red River Rivalry.
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Freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger rushes past a Kansas State defender during Texas’ victory Saturday night. Ehlinger ran for 107 yards en route for the win.
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Tuesday, October 10, 2017
CROSSWORD; Black
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MORGAN O’HANLON LIFE&ARTS EDITOR
@thedailytexan
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
OFFBEAT
Bullock remembers bootlegging of booze By Acacia Coronado Senior Life&Arts Reporter
The stereotypes of 1920s prohibition are typically limited to thickly accented mafia leaders and elaborate speakeasies in the heart of New York. But in the South, the law quietly gave way to a new generation of contraband, smuggling and outlaws. This afternoon, a panel will gather at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum to discuss bootlegging in the southern borderlands during the prohibition era. The program, presented in conjunction with the Texas State Historical Association, will take place as part of the longer running prohibition era exhibit, “American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition,” which will be on loan from the National Constitution Museum until Jan. 6. “We wanted to highlight more Texas-specific ancestry related to prohibition,” said James McReynolds, public programs manager for the Bob Bullock Museum. “There are a few key figures from the national prohibition story that are from Texas.” During the event, McReynolds said the speakers, who are experts on different facets of borderland smuggling in the 1920s, will not only take audiences back to bootlegging times, but will also discuss how Texas tied into the national prohibition issue and how this correlates to present day political arguments. George Diaz, an expert on the topic and a presenter for the event, said he was
inspired to research this topic because he grew up on the border. Diaz has since authored the book “Border Contraband: A History of Smuggling Across the Rio Grande,” which looks at 100 years of contraband smuggling from 1848 to 1945 after World War II. He said the issue started with tariff evasion and trade taxes, and by the 20th century, smuggling became lucrative through prohibition. “When prohibition began, the people who were smuggling alcohol were locals who basically saw opportunities,” Diaz said. “The men would purchase alcohol in Mexico and put it on the backs of mules or donkeys and smuggle alcohol through the brush country in South Texas. These tequileros would get in shootouts with Texas Rangers and customs and border patrol agents.” Brendan Payne, another expert and panelist, said he has focused on the response of different races and ethnicities to prohibition throughout the state, how religion was used to oppose prohibition and the role that the state of Texas played in the only constitutional amendment that has ever been repealed. “The more research I did, the more I realized Africanand Mexican-Americans were essential parts of the anti-prohibition coalition in Texas,” Payne said. Joseph Locke, who will also be speaking, said he has looked into religious support for prohibition in the state and the way the values of Texans played a
illustration by rachel tyler | daily texan staff
part in their support or lack thereof for prohibition in the 1920s. “This was pushed overwhelmingly by religious leaders,” Locke said. “To understand that when so many people were fighting against prohibition, they felt themselves fighting
MOVIE REVIEW | BLADE RUNNER 2049
against this mixing of religion and politics.” Diaz said it will be interesting to see how these arguments on past laws can correlate to today’s political issues such as border security and the approaches today’s citizens take in regard to government and laws. He
said it is important we take a step back and look at what lessons we can learn from our past. “There is a lot of talk about securing borders and that talk … is based on the false narrative that once upon a time borders were secure,” Diaz said. “In
reality, borders have never been secure.” This, Diaz said, is just one example of how government efforts to prohibit movement at the border have only increased criminality and the ways in which issues of the 1920s haunt us today.
ALBUM REVIEW | JERSEY DEVIL
Blade Runner 2049 revamps Ducktails’ Jersey Devil relies on classic, maintains original feel 80s nostalgia, lacks originality By Pierson Hawkins Life&Arts Reporter
copyright insert alcon entertainment, and reproduced with permission
Ryan Gosling gives a stellar performance amid awe-inspiring special effects in “Blade Runner 2049.”
By Charles Liu Life&Arts Reporter
Science fiction and noir blend together once again in this incredible sequel to Ridley Scott’s 1982 masterpiece, “Blade Runner.” With Scott’s blessing, Denis Villeneuve carries forth a classic sci-fi world, its characters and its themes into “Blade Runner 2049,” shaping an emotional, thought-provoking tale of man and machine that filmgoers didn’t know they needed. Though the films chronologically take place 30 years apart, not much has visually changed between the world of the first “Blade Runner” and that of “2049.” The sequel’s dark, ambient cityscapes with neon lights and flying cars will provide comfort to old fans while amazing the new. The special effects are powerfully realized and a
joy to analyze, sure to make viewers wish for a pause button to help spot all the details sprinkled throughout the picture. Cinematographer Roger Deakins perfectly captures the glorious and monumental scope of Scott and Villeneuve’s vision of a high-tech future, and it is best seen in IMAX, for which “Blade Runner 2049” is specially formatted. Of course, the replicants — lifelike androids engineered to be mankind’s slaves — also return to ask the film’s central philosophical question: What does it mean to be human? The line between man and machine continues to blur in “2049.” Unfortunately, there is no time to mull over this conundrum for the titular blade runners, who “retire” rogue replicants with bullets. Our conduit into this unforgiving setting, K (Ryan
BLADE RUNNER 2049 MPAA RATING: R RUNNING TIME: 163 minutes SCORE:
Gosling), is an LAPD blade runner who we first meet eliminating his target, Sapper Morton (David Bautista). Before dying, Sapper laments to him, “You’ve never seen a miracle.” A replicant himself, K is unmoved by these words. He’s monotone and efficient. His strongest personality trait is his steely glare — at least, until he gets cozy with Joi (Ana de Armas), his holographic girlfriend who is one of many produced for lonely men. While K’s affections appear authentic, it’s unclear whether Joi’s reciprocation for K’s love is
BLADERUNNER page 5
Ridgewood, New Jersey, native Matt Mondanile co-founded the band Real Estate with a couple of high school classmates and quickly became an Indie rock staple with their debut 2009 self-titled release. Their one-of-a-kind mix of preppy lyrics, peppy beats and wildly distorted guitars caught the attention of large audiences, who cheered their blend of psych, surf and sunshine pop. Meanwhile, Mondanile remained loyal to his solo moniker, Ducktails, releasing several LPs during the duration of his flagship project. Jersey Devil signals Ducktails’ first studio album since Mondanile departed from Real Estate earlier this year in order to realize his full potential as a musician. Mondanile left the anxious city of Los Angeles — where Real Estate mines their breezy California tunes — for his lofty hometown, opting to seclude himself in his mother’s basement. Honing in on his solo project, Mondanile self-recorded his newest album on tape machines and mixed his LP in Sonic Youth’s Echo Canyon studio in nearby Hoboken, New Jersey. Ducktails creates a sonic make-up dominated by chillwave synths, concise drum machines and twangy guitars, picking up on the experimental and droning roots that defined Mondanile’s homemade style in his early LPs: Landscapes and Ducktails. Jersey Devil also sees an increased influx of vintage influences such as Steely Dan and Billy Joel. In “Keeper of the Garden,” Mondanile serenades
copyright new images limited, and reproduced with permission
Former Real Estate band member Matt Mondanile returns to solo project, Ducktails, with new album Jersey Devil.
his mother behind a bombardment of reverberating tones. In fact, much of side-A renders itself a huge deviation from Real Estate, including the opener “Map to the Stars” and “Solitary
It’s possible that Mondanile believes if the song has “star” in the title, it needs to sound more dream pop-y.” Star.” It’s possible that Mondanile believes if the song has “star” in the title, it needs to sound more dream pop-y. These spacey melodies creating a laid-back atmosphere with fuzzy synths and terse drum machines, aided by a concrete progression of deep bass lines and distorted guitars. Yet, the composition of these songs feels less authentic as
if Mondanile cherry-picked his favorite tropes from the current Indie rock scene. In songs such as “In the Hallway,” listeners are greeted with familiar chords and jazzy ride cymbals that often snake their way into many Real Estate songs. Mondanile finds himself at home in the slick guitar riffs, making for one of the most feel-good songs on the record with simplistic lyrics and a relaxed cadence. Many of the lyrics allow themselves to be easily imposed upon by the listener. In “Lover,” Mondanile imparts, “I understand you’re mad/I hope that time will pass/ And someday we will speak again.” These are no doubt catchy as hell, and Mondanile demonstrates a lazy croon not fully utilized by Real Estate, but the ambiguity in his words displays Mondanile’s greatest weakness in meaningful songwriting. In effect, Mondanile fails to fully capture his audience, leading the record to be eas-
DUCKTAILS page 5