1
LIFE&ARTS PAGE 12
SPORTS PAGE 7
Industry draws game developers to Austin
Softball coach keeps sizzling bats swinging
NEWS PAGE 6
Reggae festival sets weekend ablaze
THE DAILY TEXAN Wednesday, April 21, 2010
TODAY
Serving the University of Texas at Austin community since 1900
TOMORROW’S WEATHER
www.dailytexanonline.com
Calendar Of a poetic nature
Poetry on the Plaza, presented by the Harry Ransom Center, celebrates the four classical elements of earth, wind, fire and water. HRC Plaza, noon to 1 p.m.
the loss of President Lech Kaczynski, his wife and numerous other state and military leaders, according to society President Beata Zadrozna. “It’s a connecting process,” Zadrozna said. “This is a
FLAG continues on page 2
SIGNS continues on page 2
Caritas of Austin hosts a dodgeball tournament for charity. Admission is three cans of food. Anna Hiss Gymnasium 133, 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Car smarts
Bevonomics discusses purchasing and owning your first car. WEL 3.266, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Longhorn Olympics The Federation of Lesbian, Ally and Gay Sports hosts the first Longhorn Olympics, featuring sports competitions, an obstacle course and a bounce house. Clark Field, registration opens at 5:30 p.m.
Peyton McGee | Daily Texan Staff
Super sluggers
Softball bats up against Texas A&M. Red and Charline McCombs Field, 6:30 p.m.
Today in history In 1836 Texas forces defeat Mexican troops under Santa Anna at San Jacinto in the fight for Texas’ independence.
Inside In News: Student entrepreneurs turn their ideas into products page 5
In Opinion: Editor examines divide between GOP and Washington page 4
In Sports: Dallas may seek to bolster offensive line in NFL Draft page 7
In Life&Arts:
Hump Day deconstructs myth of casual hookups page 12
‘‘
Quote to note “I don’t believe in saving runs. I believe in an abundance, and there’s enough runs for everybody. You can get as many as you want based on your performance.” — Augie Garrido Texas baseball head coach SPORTS PAGE 7
Monsignor Frank Kurzaj speaks with Alexandra Meub in front of a memorial for former Polish President Lech Kaczynski, who died in a plane crash earlier this month, at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Tuesday. During the Mass, Meub served as a symbol of the Polish children whose parents died in the plane crash.
Memorial service commemorates Polish president, nation’s leaders By Priscilla Pelli Daily Texan Staff Several Polish flags surrounded a room of 60 people who congregated at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Tuesday to honor the 97 national leaders who died in a plane crash in Russia. The Austin Polish Soci-
ety hosted a memorial service and Mass to commemorate the death of Poland’s president and 96 other country leaders on April 10. The plane was en route to Katyn, Russia, so that the two countries could join together on the 70th anniversary of the mas-
sacre of 20,000 Polish nationals by the Russian secret police. This was one of the first actions Russia took to acknowledge the Katyn tragedy and an opportunity to move on. The society held the service for Austin’s Polish community, which was deeply moved by
University’s sign policy sees further deliberation By Audrey White Daily Texan Staff Representatives from Students for Debra Medina and UT administrators are debating a University policy that prohibits posting political signs on most parts of campus, which some students say may be a violation of free speech rights. Adam Rosen and Tyler Rosen, former engineering representatives in Student Government and co-presidents of the political group, first confronted the question of political sign posting during early voting days of the February primary elections. Adam and Tyler Rosen staked a 4-by-8 Debra Medina sign outside the Flawn Academic Center, which functioned as a polling station for that primary election. Their sign was removed under a University policy that prohibits unattended signs except on designated kiosks and bulletin boards, said Jeff Graves, UT’s associate vice president for legal affairs. The Rosens became concerned that the University’s policy might violate the state’s election code concerning electioneering near polling stations. Since the incident, Adam and Tyler Rosen said they have consulted with the offices of the Texas Secretary of State, UT Legal Affairs and UT Student Activities and Leadership Development to find the most appropriate way to amend the policy so students can post signs during elections. However, the University has the
Dip, dive, dodge
Learn about the leadership development cycle at the final meeting of the Leadership Series sponsored by the UT Leadership and Ethics Institute. RecSports Center Games Room, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
69
81
Community unites after disaster
Step up
Low
High
Students celebrate Latino culture By Collin Eaton Daily Texan Staff Spicy beef fajitas and chicken tamales jumped out of their flaming bins Tuesday as students lassoed piñatas, danced and sang for prizes at Noche Gigante, a student-organized night of entertainment. A diverse group of UT students packed into the Texas Union Ballroom to enjoy Latino culturethemed games, such as “Familia Feud,” dancing competitions and Spanish-word Twister. The event was part of Noche Caliente, an annual series hosted
by the Mexican American Culture Committee of the Union’s Student Events Center. Inspired by the popular Mexican game show “Sábado Gigante,” Noche Gigante is different from other events because it incorporates games, food and other activities, said sociology junior Felicia Peña, incoming chairwoman of the Mexican American Culture Committee. The competitions landed some students prizes such as paper shredders, desk organizers, water filters and a “Glee — Volume One: The Road to Sectionals” DVD set.
Education sophomore Caitlin Boyle won a round of Twister early in the night by keeping her knees off the ground and her hands and feet placed on spaces with Spanish nouns such as “el pollo,” which means “chicken,” and “el paraguas,” which means “umbrella.” An hour into the festival, six official five-person teams battled in “Familia Feud,” a buzzer-beating survey-answer game. Team “El Blaze” won the first round with 98 points. The team’s
GAME continues on page 2
Eric Ou | Daily Texan Staff
Members of the Latino Comedy Project perform a skit at Noche Gigante in the Texas Union Ballroom.
House considers more core classes Forum addresses myths By Hannah Jones Daily Texan Staff The Texas House of Representatives Higher Education Committee sought public input Tuesday to address the possibility of adding more courses to state universities’ core curriculum. The current curriculum requires 42 hours in a wide range of subjects, including the fine arts, humanities, social sciences and mathematics. The committee held a public hearing to discuss planned suggestions to legislators that could require additional curriculum emphasis on ethics, Western civilization and American tradition. While the House is currently not in session, the interim committee listened to invited testimonies from higher education experts and professors, who provided insight and their own proposals for the respective charges. There should be more flexibility in the curriculum for the humanities, said Lorraine Pangle, an associate government
about followers of Islam
Amanda Martin | Daily Texan Staff
Dustin Meador, chief clerk of the House’s Higher Education Committee, talks with an audience member at a public hearing Tuesday morning. professor and co-director of UT’s Thomas Jefferson Center. The Jefferson Center is a liberal arts department that focuses on integrated studies. “I think we are not doing as good of a job focusing on what matters most for the students,” Pangle said. “There needs to be a focus on courses that can
be synthesized.” UT philosophy professor Robert Koons said in his testimony that the core curriculum should better address ethics and civic leadership. His proposal would provide Texas public universities with an
REP continues on page 2
By Madeeha Khursheed Daily Texan Staff A forum Tuesday night attempted to clarify common myths about Islam and American Muslims in an effort to both inform audience members and bridge an ideological divide. Sheikh Islam, a local religious leader, addressed the basics of Islam to a diverse audience in the Will C. Hogg Building. The forum was hosted by the Muslim Students Association and included a brief presentation explaining how American Muslims are no different from other Americans. “The purpose of the event is to give an introduction to Islam, kind of an open forum,” said Sabina Mohammed, an accounting senior and president of MSA. “It’s meant so that anybody who has any questions about Islam can ask us as practicing American Muslims or the local Sheikh, who can give [them] more detailed answers.” The sheikh discussed the five
pillars of Islam: testifying belief in Allah and the Prophet Mohammed, prayer, alms giving, fasting and pilgrimage. The first and most important pillar differentiates a Muslim from a non-Muslim, although it is the overall beliefs and actions that make a man a true Muslim, he said. “There’s some extra benefit in all these pillars,” he said. “It’s not just physical but also spiritual.” Jihad, defined by the sheikh as the struggle in the way of God, was also discussed and distinguished from the concept of simply killing to promote religion. Despite the low turnout, the audience had a significant number of non-Muslim attendees. Questions were raised regarding polygamy, contemporary Islam and Muslims in America, and the fundamental tenets of Islam in comparison with other religions of today.
ISLAM continues on page 5
TIP OF THE DAY
In the dining hall, eat locally grown foods and take only what you will actually eat to help limit food waste. Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy
PRESENTED BY