The Daily Texan 4-21-10

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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

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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

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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.

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Community unites after disaster

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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

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NEWS

FLAG: Service brings

Polish community, mourners together From page 1

tion has suffered many hardships over the past years. “The Polish people have been going down a rough road for a long time and now are left without the head of a country,� she said. “What are they supposed to do? It’s a tragedy.� Bernadeta Kaminska, a professor of Slavic languages and literature at UT, said it was sorrowful to see her home country suffer such a tragic loss. “You feel sorry, and you go back to reflect on what’s happened and on Polish history — I was feeling sorry for my country, for these Polish people,� Kaminska said. “I felt like crying.� She said the memorial service was a great way to bring the Polish community and mourners together to honor those who lost their lives. “We cannot participate together like the thousands of people who came from all parts of Poland did,� Kaminska said. “We can have our ceremony here to honor the people who lost their lives. I’m hoping it will give other people some idea that in those moments of sorrow, the Polish community [can be] brought together, and those who fight from different political views can also participate in religious ceremony.�

national tragedy that has hit everybody either born in Poland or with a Polish heritage.� The organization collaborated with state Rep. Eddie Rodriguez and representatives from the mayor’s office to provide a condolence book at the Capitol for the public to convey messages of sympathy to the Polish people. The book was available at St. Mary’s during the service for signing. Matt Curtis, a spokesman for Mayor Lee Leffingwell, said the book also has significant meaning for the mayor because of his personal connection to it, particularly sparked by his wife’s Polish ancestry. “Whether the mayor’s wife is Polish or what level relationship our office has had, it has been a tragedy of a global level,� Curtis said. “People around the world have deep and strong sympathies for people of Poland for what they’re going through. [The book] is a very Texan thing to do.� Zadrozna plans to forward the book to the Polish consulate in Washington, D.C., sometime next week. She said the president’s death came at an unfortunate time for Poland and that the na-

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

SIGNS: University defends restrictions From page 1

signs willy nilly.� Government entities such as the right to make reasonable time, University have the right to restrict place and manner restrictions on electioneering on the grounds of free speech to preserve University that entity, said Ashley Burton, goals and to protect its property spokeswoman for the Secretary of from damage, which Graves said State’s office. Joe Kulhavy, a lawcould be caused by posting polit- yer from the office, said it is comical signs. plex to ascertain whether the Uni“There is nothing in the state versity policy is in violation of election code that requires the state law. University to suspend or modify “There are so many subjecits rules regarding signs or other tive factual determinations that speech while an early voting poll- it would be impossible to have a ing place is on campus,� Graves conclusive answer without some said. “Further, our rules allow court ruling on the issue,� Kul‘electioneering’ and campaigning. havy said. We just don’t allow the posting of The Student Life Committee of

THE DAILY TEXAN Volume 110, Number 191 25 cents

Student Government is considering a resolution that encourages the University to reconsider its policy on political signs. The legislation was scheduled for a vote in Tuesday’s SG meeting, but representatives voted to reconsider it in the committee after they realized the legal discrepancies, liberal arts representative Philip Wiseman said. An infant version of the resolution was passed by the 2009-10 SG assembly, but former President Liam O’Rourke declined to sign it on his last day in office because of his concerns about the language and intent of the legislation.

CONTACT US Main Telephone: (512) 471-4591 Editor: Jillian Sheridan (512) 232-2212 editor@dailytexanonline.com Managing Editor: Ana McKenzie (512) 232-2217 managingeditor@ dailytexanonline.com News Office: (512) 232-2207 news@dailytexanonline.com

REP: Alternative to core curriculum proposed

Web Office: (512) 471-8616 online@dailytexanonline.com

years of Western history,� he said. “This will enable a true core curricalternative to the current 42-hour ulum where courses will build on Texas Core Curriculum, he said. each other.� “I suggest that universities are Raymund Paredes, commisallowed the option of students to sioner of the Texas Higher Edutake a sequence of interdisciplin- cation Coordinating Board, told ary books of ethics based on a the committee that the current remodel of ethical insight from 2,500 quirements are broad and that

Sports Office: (512) 232-2210 sports@dailytexanonline.com

From page 1

there needs to be more coherence to the curriculum. “Eighty percent of lower-division students concentrate on taking a range of 50 courses,� Paredes said. “We need to consider how we balance and understand Western civilization with the rest of the world.�

Life & Arts Office: (512) 232-2209 dailytexan@gmail.com Photo Office: (512) 471-8618 photo@dailytexanonline.com

GAME: Committee aims exhibit culture at UT self as “El Blaze.� The event was the last to be overleader, English senior Ed Roman, seen by Eric Camarillo, chairman spoke confidently about his team’s of the Mexican American Culture victory. Roman wore a blue Mex- Committee and an English and ican wrestling mask with yellow rhetoric and writing senior. “I can’t think of a better way to flaming eyes and referred to him-

From page 1

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

exhibit Mexican-American culture than through events like this,� Camarillo said. “Our mission is to reach out to everyone at UT, and we’ve tried very hard to do that. You can’t just have cultural exhibitions. You have to make it fun.�

Classified Advertising: (512) 471-5244 classifieds@dailytexanonline.com The Texan strives to present all information fairly, accurately and completely. If we have made an error, let us know about it. Call (512) 232-2217 or e-mail managingeditor@dailytexanonline.com.

COPYRIGHT Copyright 2010 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.

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Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jillian Sheridan Managing Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ana McKenzie Associate Managing Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Erin Mulvaney, Sean Beherec Associate Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeremy Burchard, Dan Treadway, David Muto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Lauren Winchester, Roberto Cervantes News Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blair Watler Associate News Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pierre Bertrand, Lena Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Claire Cardona, Viviana Aldous Senior Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald Rich, Audrey White, Alex Geiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shabab Siddiqui, Bobby Longoria, Priscilla Totiyapungprasert Copy Desk Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nausheen Jivani Associate Copy Desk Chiefs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cristina Herrera, Vicky Ho, Matt Jones Design Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Olivia Hinton Senior Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Shatha Hussein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Veronica Rosalez, Mustafa Saifuddin Special Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thu Vo Photo Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sara Young Associate Photo Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bryant Haertlein, Peter Franklin Senior Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mary Kang,Tamir Kalifa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peyton McGee, Daniela Trujillo, Bruno Morlan Life&Arts Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ben Wermund Associate Life&Arts Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amber Genuske Senior Entertainment Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rob Rich, Frankie Marin, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Ross Harden, Lane Lynch, Kate Ergenbright Features Entertainment Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gerald Rich, Mary Lingwall Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blake Hurtik Associate Sports Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Sherfield Senior Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Hurwitz, Laken Litman, Austin Ries, Chris Tavarez Comics Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Carolynn Calabrese Multimedia Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Juan Elizondo Associate Multimedia Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rachael Schroeder, Blas Garcia Senior Videographer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carlos Medina Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Murphy Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Doug Warren

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Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Collin Eaton, Hannah Jones, Radhika Sakalkale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Madeeha Khursheed, Priscilla Pelli Photographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Eric Ou, Amanda Martin, Katherine Medlin Sports Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Pagels, Matt Hohner Life&Arts Writers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Allistair Pinsof, Andrew Kreighbaum Columnist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emily Grubert Editorial Cartoonist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michael Murphy Page Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alexa Hart, Simonetta Nieto Copy Editors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alysha Behn, Keith Gardner, Nolan Hicks Life&Arts/Sports Copy Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alden Chiu Wire Editor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Melissa Jacobs Comics Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gabe Alvarez, Sammy Martinez, Katie Smith, Nam Nguyen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tyler Suder, Rachel Weiss, Brianne Klitgaard, Emery Ferguson Videographers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Veronica Sanchez Web Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kayla Young

Advertising

Director of Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jalah Goette Retail Advertising Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brad Corbett Account Executive/Broadcast Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Carter Goss Campus/National Sales Consultant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joan Bowerman Assistant to Advertising Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C.J. Salgado Student Advertising Director . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kathryn Abbas Student Advertising Managers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ryan Ford, Meagan Gribbin Student Account Executives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anupama Kulkarni, Ashley Walker, An Ly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cameron McClure, Daniel Ruszkiewkz, Lauren Aldana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Josh Phipps, Tommy Daniels Classified Clerks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Teresa Lai Special Editions, Editorial Adviser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elena Watts Web Advertising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Danny Grover Special Editions, Student Editors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kira Taniguchi Graphic Designer Interns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amanda Thomas, Lisa Hartwig Senior Graphic Designer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Felimon Hernandez The Daily Texan (USPS 146-440), a student newspaper at The University of Texas at Austin, is published by Texas Student Media, 2500 Whitis Ave., Austin, TX 78705. The Daily Texan is published daily except Saturday, Sunday, federal holidays and exam periods, plus the last Saturday in July. Periodical Postage Paid at Austin, TX 78710. News contributions will be accepted by telephone (471-4591) or at the editorial office (Texas Student Media Building 2.122). For local and national display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified display and national classified display advertising, call 471-1865. For classified word advertising, call 471-5244. Entire contents copyright 2009 Texas Student Media.

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Wednesday, April 21, 2010

T HE DAILY T EXAN

Detroit ex-mayor fails to adhere to probation terms

Eraldo Peres | Associated Press

Indians protest the construction of the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam project outside the National Electrical Energy Association in Brasilia, Brazil, on Tuesday. The planned project to dam the Xingu River would be the third-largest such hydroelectric project in the world.

Companies win Amazon dam bid By Marco Sibaja The Associated Press BRASILIA, Brazil — A consortium of nine companies has won the rights to build one of the world’s largest hydroelectric dams, Brazilian authorities said Tuesday. Brazil’s electricity regulator, Aneel, said the Norte Energia consortium won the bidding process for the huge Amazon project, which is heavily opposed by environmentalists as well as Indians. The consortium is led by statecontrolled Companhia Hidro Eletrica do Sao Francisco, which offered a price of 77.97 reals ($57.12) per megawatt produced.

The other partners are all private. The consortium had only one competitor: the Belo Monte consortium, composed of six companies. The bidding for the Belo Monte dam was halted three times before a final appeal by the government allowed the winning bidder to be announced Tuesday. About 500 protesters gathered outside the Aneel building where the bidding took place to condemn the project, saying it will cause serious social and environmental damages. The government dismisses claims that the project will have

a negative impact on the environment or the local community. The $11 billion, 11,000-megawatt dam, to be constructed on the Xingu River feeding the Amazon, would be the world’s third-largest hydroelectric energy producer, behind China’s Three Gorges dam and the Itaipu dam that straddles the border of Brazil and Paraguay. Environmentalists and indigenous groups say Belo Monte would devastate wildlife and the livelihoods of 40,000 people who live in the area to be flooded. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva insists the dam is essential, saying it will provide

clean and renewable energy to fuel the South American country’s growing economy. Opponents organized protests across Brazil on Tuesday to condemn the project. Amazon Watch, a San Francisco-based group that works to protect the rain forest and the indigenous people living there, said thousands of people were engaging in coordinated protests in nine cities, including in Altamira, which would be partially flooded by the Belo Monte reservoir. The group said Indians began arriving by boat to establish a permanent village to block the dam’s construction.

By Corey Williams & Ed White The Associated Press DETROIT — Former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick violated terms of his probation by failing to report assets and turn over tax refunds, a judge ruled Tuesday, strongly suggesting he may send him to jail when he’s sentenced next month. Wayne County Circuit Judge David Groner said Kilpatrick could remain free on bond pending his sentencing on May 25, and ordered state corrections officials to prepare a pre-sentence report by May 18. Kilpatrick pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in 2008 after sexually explicit text messages became public, showing he had lied under oath about an affair with a staff member in a whistleblowers’ lawsuit. The 39-year-old resigned, served 99 days in jail, agreed to give up his law license, repay the city $1 million, and stay out of politics for five years.

Prosecutors claim Kilpatrick hasn’t paid enough toward the $1 million he owes Detroit. He has been making monthly payments of $3,000 while living in the Dallas area and working as a salesman for informationtechnology company Covisint. But prosecutors learned Kilpatrick and his wife have had other money, including $240,000 in loans, live in a rented mansion and drive fancy SUVs. The judge said Kilpatrick violated his probation by failing to surrender nearly $23,400 in tax refunds last year and a share of cash gifts from two people. Kilpatrick also illegally tapped a political fund for more than $36,000, the judge said. Failure to disclose the $240,000 in loans from prominent businessmen was another probation violation, he said. The Kilpatricks and their three sons live in the affluent Dallas suburb of Southlake.

Carlos Osorio | Associated Press

Former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick leaves Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit on Tuesday.

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OPINION

4

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

T HE DAILY T EXAN

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

GALLERY

VIEWPOINT

Politically charged

Few political figures are as divisive as Karl Rove — and during his speech Monday night, people from both sides of the divide voiced their opinions. In one row, a young protester, clearly cast as a fearless revolutionary in his mind’s eye, stood and screamed senseless, radical attacks until he was removed by the police. Nearby, a row of middle-aged attendees exchanged sighs, shakes of the head and knowing glances as Rove detailed the financial ruin he believes health care reform will inevitably bring to America. Rove, a master rhetorician, sank and soared along with the crowd, as easily spouting political philosophy as spewing politically charged insults at those with whom he disagreed — riding the wave of fear and discontent palpable in the room and in most political discourse today. Texas is at the epicenter of the growing divide between Washington, D.C., and the far right, as evidenced by Gov. Rick Perry, the state’s longest-serving governor, who graces the cover of Newsweek magazine this week. Newsweek features Perry as representative of the growing number of Americans nostalgic for a rosy past. Though Perry claims in the article that he “[doesn’t] care about Washington, D.C.,” and will not run for president, he has recently been setting himself up as the good old boy, the traditional American, against President Barack Obama’s “otherness.” Newsweek cites a recent Rasmussen Reports poll which shows that 24 percent of U.S. voters now consider themselves part of the tea party movement. A Harris Interactive poll shows that two-thirds of Republicans believe Obama is a socialist, 57 percent believe that he is a Muslim and almost one in four Republicans believes he may be the Antichrist. Perry, in the meantime, has been hard at work capitalizing on the growing paranoia and rage. He was one of the first Republicans to cater to the tea party movement, encouraging tea partiers who called for secession at a tax-day tea party, dubbing Rush Limbaugh an honorary Texan and dramatically refusing half a billion dollars from the federal government (while less dramatically accepting $16 billion) last year. Perry’s ability to cater to the far right has been effective. It carried him to an easy victory over his Washington-weathered opponent, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, in March. “I did run a [primary] campaign as us — Texas — versus Washington,” Perry told The Texas Tribune recently. “Washington is the center of bad public policy in most people’s opinion and has been for some time.” In the primary, tea party celebrity Sarah Palin endorsed Perry while Washington bigwigs (including Rove) supported Hutchison. Traditional Republican leaders were overshadowed and out-shouted by what was once thought of as a fringe group of radical conservatives. Perry was wise to ingratiate himself with the angry mob and not the Roves and Dick Cheneys of his party. Sarah Palin may not have succeeded in her race for vice president, but her defeat may have been a far greater victory for her, awakening the sleepy masses of Americans terrified of change. Perry was one of the first politicians to hop on the bandwagon, and now it appears that master Republican strategist Rove is on board. The line between tea partier and Republican is quickly fading, and fading along with it are norms of politeness and civil discourse. Watch for populist rage to dominate the ballot box in upcoming elections, both within Texas and without. — Jillian Sheridan for the editorial board

GALLERY

THE FIRING LINE In defense of the Fayette Power Project Michelle Camp’s April 19 Firing Line about coal power, “Help move Austin forward,” falls way off the mark and confuses an important issue. In her firing line, Camp writes: “[The] Fayette Power Project located outside of La Grange provides energy, but at a dirty cost. Austin suffers from some of the byproducts of burning coal, one of which includes high levels of ground-level ozone in our breathing air.” In fact, the ground-level ozone problem in Austin is mostly caused by NOx emissions from motor vehicles, not the Fayette Power Project (FPP), located 80 miles outside of town. In fact, one solution to the ozone problem would be to switch to electric vehicles powered by large coal plants in rural areas, such as La Grange. I’m not sure which other “byproducts” the author was referring to. However, as Austin seeks to recruit solar cell-manufacturing firms and replace “dirty” coal power with solar panels, we should be careful what we wish for. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group, solar manufacturing processes use toxic heavy metals such as arsenic and cadmium, which can leak into the environment. A sober assessment of the health and environmental risks associated with different energy technologies could help our community understand that there is no perfect energy solution. I recently had the chance to tour FPP as part of a class field trip and learned that the facility has installed SOx scrubbers, which remove more than 97 percent of the sulfur in the flue gas.

Wastewater and wasting water By Emily Grubert Daily Texan Columnist

We need to change the way we regulate water quality. I’m an environmentalist, but I think that being a whole-systems environmentalist uncomfortably forces the conclusion that some water-quality standards are too strict. Let me lay out some of my biases, then explain why we need to look critically at the way we set water-quality standards. My background is in air quality. The massively resource-limited Environmental Protection Agency is responsible for air, land, water and other issues, and because of this, too many resources are allocated for marginal improvements to water quality based on flawed metrics at the expense of air quality: We still pay almost no attention to indoor air quality (though we spend more than 90 percent of our time indoors, on average), and we struggle to reduce ozone levels, particulates, heavy-metal emissions and other airborne threats to health. So there’s that issue: Environmental systems are interrelated, even in the funding allocated to maintaining their quality. Sure, it would be nice to get all of some listed contaminant out of a small stream — we’ve done a lot for water quality under the current system. But there are more pressing issues in both water and other environmental systems, and the water regulation system is failing to address underlying causes of water problems. I mentioned getting all of the listed contaminant out of a small stream. There’s issue No. 1: What do we regulate? Obvious-

And the coal from Wyoming the author referred to? The plant burns it in part because it has significantly less sulfur than the nearby Texas lignite. In addition, a low NOx burner has recently been installed to further reduce harmful emissions. If cap-andtrade legislation is eventually passed, a CO2 scrubber may be installed as well. There are certainly some environmental problems with coal power. However, as far as ground-level ozone is concerned, coal power is more likely to be part of the solution than the problem.

ly, there are a lot of things we don’t want in our water. Right now, the EPA regulates around 90 contaminants, with many more on a waiting list for assessment that must demonstrate likely harm. The assessment process is long, expensive and difficult. Findings often generate lawsuits by polluters, and novel contaminants can be discharged into water for long periods of time before they are regulated. Our water-quality regulations are responsive, so the contamination has usually already occurred by the time we figure out it’s bad, and then we remediate instead of prevent. That’s hard. Issue No. 2: We use high-quality water when we don’t have to. Potable water is controlled by regulations intended to prevent you from getting sick from drinking lots of it for many years. Given how hard it is to get water up to these standards, why are we still flushing our toilets and watering our lawns with it? Wastewater recycling, or using treated wastewater as a freshwater supply, is something many people pretend to like. Many regions, including Austin, redirect some treated wastewater for nonpotable uses, like irrigating golf courses and supplying cooling towers. The grass really doesn’t care if the water contains more of something than would cause problems in 1 in 100,000 people from 70 years of drinking a few liters of it a day. So nonpotable reuse is an obvious move from a water utility’s point of view. Treating wastewater for discharge into rivers or oceans takes a lot of energy, and the water is very clean at the end. Why waste it? The problems are usually the cost of installing a dual piping system — with one set of pipes for potable water and a second for reclaimed water — and attracting demand. Back to the “Why waste it?” question:

All that freshwater we’re discharging after use is a valuable freshwater supply. Austin’s reclaimed-water project has been in place for decades, and the nonpotable supply it produces meets 90 percent of drinking-water standards. That’s without wanting to get to drinking-water standards. But people don’t like the idea of reusing treated wastewater for potable purposes, even though a lot of regions do it anyway. They call it “unplanned indirect potable reuse,” which basically means that an upstream community uses and treats water, then discharges it into a river for the next town to use. We don’t know we’re violating health standards when the standards don’t exist, which validates some arguments against potable reuse. Drinking-water standards were designed based on the characteristics of groundwater, not treated water, so we haven’t carefully considered contaminants such as hormones from birth control and other human-affecting contaminants that end up in wastewater. We could. We need to restructure our water-quality regulations to allow us to consider wastewater reuse for potable water, or we need to carefully consider whether uses like irrigation and flushing toilets really merit the use of hard-earned, highquality drinking water. Right now, we’re spending a lot of time putting out water-quality fires lit by regulations that were almost designed to be inefficient. We need to reconsider acting to remediate whether to prevent, whether drinking water is required for all uses and whether the contaminants we regulate are really the most concerning ones. Happy Earth Day. Grubert is an energy and Earth resources graduate student.

GALLERY

— Alexander Voice Graduate chemical engineering student

A rowdy audience Last night, Karl Rove gave a speech here at UT with predictable content. There were also protesters that predictably yelled at him. They were predictably escorted away and arrested or cited by police in a civil manner. What I would not have predicted was the response of the audience to these protesters. A substantial number of audience members yelled and screamed at the top of their lungs for police to “TAZE HIM! TAZE HIM!” and “Get him the f#$% out of here!” in a manner that was disturbing in more than one sense. I was very surprised by the hatred, vitriol and police violence called for by a substantial number of audience members when confronted with protesters that event organizers expected and were perfectly well-prepared to handle in a civil way.

— Jesper Marklund Microbiology graduate student

LEGALESE Opinions expressed in The Daily Texan are not necessarily those of the UT administration, the Board of Regents or the Texas Student Media Board of Operating Trustees.

5 UNIV

5

NEWS

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

McCombs council works to up disability visibility

Eric Ou | Daily Texan Staff

Chemical engineering senior Michael Yee receives feedback on his presentation from Russell Hinds, a judge for the 10th annual Idea to Product (I2P) Competition.

Competition shows off tech ideas Feedback round aims to provide information, inspire new solutions By Madeeha Khursheed Daily Texan Staff Students strived to fill new market niches with innovative technological solutions to problems in the feedback session on Tuesday for this weekend’s Idea to Product Competition. The competition, which encourages students to present their technologies and commercialization plans, will hold its semifinal and final rounds on Friday and Saturday. At the feedback session, held at the Applied Computational Engineering and Sciences Building, student groups presented their proposed projects to the

judges — which included faculty, entrepreneurs and industry leaders — who provided their comments, both positive and negative. “The objective of the [competition] is to allow these students who [have been working on a] technology to turn it into a business,� said Kevin Lacey, a student volunteer and geosystems engineering and hydrogeology junior. “This feedback round is where local successful entrepreneurs come to provide their feedback before the competition starts so [participants] can make adjustments to their strategies.� The competition tests both the technical aspect of students’ proposals as well as the marketing research they have put into them. Students had to identify a problem, find a so-

lution for it, create a business around that solution and eventually find a market for that product, said Jared Mendeloff, a participant and biomedical engineering senior. The projects included a realtime glucose-monitoring device and a process for converting organic waste into petroleum. “It’s not a business-plan competition where you’re trying to create a company,� program director Luz Cristal Glangchai said. “In this competition, they’re just trying to find a market match.� Teams from previous years brought in industrial partnerships and research funding for the University, Glangchai said. The 12 groups will compete for three finalist positions, with prizes including $8,500 in

cash and a chance to represent the University at the I2P Global Competition. The competition gives students hands-on commercialization experience, mentoring and feedback from experienced entrepreneurs on the UT faculty and from industry professionals, Lacey said. It is a studentled event, coordinated by the I2P Program and the Technology Entrepreneurship Society with support from the Chair of Free Enterprise. “The winner of this goes to the global competition, where they have people from everywhere — Colombia, even Japan,� Lacey said. “The whole point is to bring UT up to the ranks of MIT and Harvard as far as starting up businesses and commercialization is concerned.�

By Radhika Sakalkale Daily Texan Staff The business school’s McCombs Diversity Council hosted its first disability awareness panel to educate students and faculty about the misconceptions of disabilities and to promote diversity. The program, slated to be held annually, featured five panelists, four of whom had either a physical or mental disability. The fifth panelist was the president of Deaf Events and Friends, a student organization on campus that advocates for deaf awareness. Eric Kuan, council president and an MIS and business honors senior, said few people really understand or know how to assist those with disabilities. “[The] McCombs Diversity Council has always been interested in bringing together people of different ethnicities and religions, but something that we missed out on is disability awareness,� Kuan said. The panelists addressed the issues they face in their daily lives at school, in the workplace and among peers. They opened the program with a discussion of the discrimination they face regularly, and they advised attendees on how to treat those with disabilities. “Many people don’t understand or recognize that disability is part of diversity,� panelist and business senior Nida Din said. People often have misconceptions about people with disabilities, which affects the way they are treated, said panelist Rebecca Romano, a speech language

pathology junior. “A misconception about deafness is that it is an invisible disability, and [people] often tend to overexaggerate and yell,� Romano said. UT provides accommodations for those with disabilities, including Services for Students with Disabilities. The program is part of the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement and provides resources, such as speech interpreters and carbon-copy paper for note-taking, for students with disabilities. “One cool thing about UT is any time I want an interpreter, they will provide it, but I need to tell them in advance,� Din said. Din recalled one incident where her partners for a group project informed her of a meeting via text message one hour before it was scheduled to take place. Because she needed to notify her speech interpreter at least one day in advance, Din was not able to attend the meeting or work on her project. All of the panelists said that despite their disabilities, they were determined to achieve their goals for the future. Din said she wants to be an attorney for the deaf and hard of hearing and that she hopes to advocate for their rights in the workplace. Although she is a rhetoric and writing sophomore, panelist Emma Tran said she is also pursuing her growing interest in neuroscience. “I hope that I may one day be able to help bridge the disconnect between the nonscientific and the scientific community,� Tran said.

ISLAM: Non-Muslims attend forum awareness events geared toward different people through“I came here to remember out the year. many of the things I feel I’d for“[We hold] these events to disgotten [about Islam],� said Mat- pel any kind of misconceptions thew Shane, a government senior they have or any kind of confuwho identified himself as Jewish. sions related to Islam,� Moham“I’m interested in everything, and med said. “That’s the idea beit reminded me of many things I hind the event, just open diaalready knew.� logue so people can learn from MSA has several different each other.�

From page 1

T H E U N I V E R S I T Y U N I O N S A D V I S O RY C O U N C I L

congratulates

J AC O B B I N T L I F F

P AL –

RECIPIENT OF THE 2010 M AKE A D IFFERENCE

A WARD

Jaspreet Singh Pal, BBA’95, created the Pal—“Make A Difference� Endowment in The Texas Union in 2006 to support the annual Pal—“Make A Difference Award� . The award encourages university leadership and public service by recognizing a student whose individual program or initiative has made a significant contribution to campus life or the broader community.

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6

NEWS

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Reggae festival lights up Austin without incident

Amanda Martin | Daily Texan Staff

Education junior Jose Soto and civil engineering junior Johnny Kim observe the city of Austin’s “Imagine Austin� display on the West Mall on Tuesday afternoon. The display allowed students to state what type of development they would like to see in Austin in the next 25 years.

City seeks student input on plan By Chris Thomas & Collin Eaton Daily Texan Staff The city of Austin is giving UT students and the community at large the opportunity to share their vision of what Austin should look like in the year 2039. Volunteers at an information kiosk on the West Mall took students’ opinions Tuesday for Speak Week, a series of events put on by the city and the Comprehensive Planning Citizens Advisory Task Force that will end April 29. Throughout the week, city volunteers will set up informational kiosks around foot-traffic hot spots, such as malls, stores, public parks and community centers, to collect input from the public regarding the city’s transportation needs, land use, health services and housing. Speak Week is part of the Imag-

ine Austin Comprehensive Plan, an initiative orchestrated by the city to determine how best to improve Austin. The initiative kicked off last October with an open house in which individuals were asked questions about Austin’s strengths and weaknesses and how Austin should look 30 years from now. “The purpose of Speak Week is to revolutionize the way that we, the city of Austin, engage with the community,� said Larry Schooler, a community engagement consultant who is in charge of the event’s volunteers. “The idea is to go to where people already are rather than have them come to us in traditional town hall meetings.� Spanish senior Eddy Arias said the public and students should be able to give their input on the planning of Austin. Arias said factors

such as housing and public transportation affect him personally. “When it comes to public transportation, I rely on taking the school shuttles,� he said. “I was telling the volunteer there’s a lot of traffic, and if we’re going to double the amount of citizens by that time in 2039, can you imagine the traffic? It’s going to be even worse. Using that highway is not going to help, so we need to work on developing public transportation.� Volunteers will provide questions to residents that are based on input received during Imagine Austin, said Garner Stoll, assistant director of the city’s Planning and Development Review Department. “A draft vision statement was drawn up from the more than 5,600 people who responded,� Stoll said. “Speak Week is meant to further

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ratify [the responses].� At UT, volunteers asked students where they think different residential types, like suburban areas and mixed-use commercial and residential buildings, belong in the city. “Everything from townhouses to bungalow-style homes and different levels of mixed-use — it’s all about residential areas, so [we ask students], ‘Where do these things belong?’� said Drew Johnston, a community and regional planning graduate student. “[We ask students to indicate if] they belong on the edge of the city, do they belong on busy roads, or even downtown.� The West Mall kiosk will remain until Friday. The kiosk will close for the weekend and then resume operation from Monday to Wednesday. Questions are expected to take under 10 minutes to answer, with a shorter and longer version. For more information, visit ImagineAustin.net.

Attendees blatantly smokBy Bobby Longoria ing marijuana in close proximiDaily Texan Staff As the smoky haze hovering ty to an officer will provoke enabove Auditorium Shores dis- forcement, but arresting a large sipated after the Austin Reg- mass of people is unrealistic, gae Festival, Austin Police De- Perry said. “There is no way that we are partment records show that arrests made during the event going to run in there and viowere few and unrelated to late everybody’s rights because one or two or 10 people may be marijuana use. Only two public intoxication smoking marijuana,� he said. Since its inception in 1994, the arrests were made outside the festival’s gates. From what of- festival has been one of the largficials are aware of, no arrests est fundraisers for the food bank, were made within the festival’s Qunell said. Qunell estimates the event atlimits, food bank spokeswoman Kerri Qunell said. The event was tracted about 60,000 people per staffed by 11 APD officers and 20 day, but the amount of money and food generated over the security guards. weekend is not “APD presyet known. In ence, it is in 2009, the fessome ways tival collectsymbolic but ed $200,000 in other ways APD presence, it is and more than real,� festival 10,000 pounds event coordinain some ways tor Hugh Forsymbolic but in other of food, feeding more than rest said. “It’s ways real.� 690,000 famia little bit of across Cenmuscle to try to — Hugh Forrest lies tral Texas. In its keep people in Austin Reggae Festival 15-year history, order.� Forrest said event coordinator the festival has garnered more APD has been than 350,000 invaluable in pounds of food providing safefor the hungry ty for the event. He said that the officers’ less ag- and impoverished. Whether or not the event has gressive approach in enforcing marijuana laws reflects policies become popular for marijuana use instead of charity is not consistent with the city. APD officers providing se- a concern for the food bank, curity for the event were paid Qunell said. But she added that by the Capital Area Food Bank, what’s important are the event’s with funds provided by ticket proceeds, which benefit hungry sales. APD Cpl. Scott Perry said families. Throughout the festival’s exisit is typical for officers attending large events to be paid by the tence, there has not been a maevent promoters themselves, not jor incident to raise concern for APD, Perry said. by the city. “Everybody in the city and The festival is treated like any other event by APD and does not APD know this is the bank’s bigreceive special treatment for mar- gest fundraiser, cash-wise, and ijuana-related arrests, Perry said. they rely on that for the rest of the This also applies to “4/20,� an un- year,� event coordinator Pat Costiofficial marijuana smokers’ holi- gan said. “Maybe they are not stirring up things because of that.� day that occurs April 20, he said.

‘‘

7 SPTS

SPORTS

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

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Wednesday, April 21 , 2010

T HE DAILY T EXAN

SIDELINE

SOFTBALL

Hill’s mechanics f ire up Texas’ at bats By Matt Hohner Daily Texan Staff If members of the Texas softball team were making a movie, it would be easy to recognize the roles everyone would play. The players star as actors — some in lead roles, some supporting. Head coach Connie Clark presides over it all as director. But for any movie to be successful, it needs a top-notch producer, who often goes overlooked and underappreciated. Assistant coach Corrie Hill is the producer for the Longhorns. Hill helps in the recruiting process and supervises the offensive production for the Longhorns. Texas has been known as a school for producing quality pitchers in a pitcher’s ballpark. The offense, however, hasn’t traditionally been on par with the pitching. But, since Hill’s arrival in Austin five years ago, she’s been producing nothing but hits. “My job was to get the whole offense rolling,” Hill said. “The whole nation was telling them they couldn’t hit. I wanted to make the offense a prowess.” The Longhorns will look to keep the sizzling bats swinging as they take on Texas A&M at Red and Charline McCombs Field tonight. The added offense that Hill has brought to the Longhorns helped Texas earn its second consecutive trip to the Women’s College World Series in 2006, a Big 12 regular-season title in 2006 and trips to the NCAA regional in 2007 and 2008. Hill doesn’t bring a fancy approach to hitting; instead, she prefers a simple philosophy. “We try to hit the ball as hard as we can every time,” Hill said. “It’s about proper mechanics.” Hill is known as the “Big Chill” around the clubhouse for her laid-back attitude, and the

BASEBALL

TEXAS 21, UTARLINGTON 2

Horns blast Mavericks, extend streak By Austin Ries Daily Texan Staff The Longhorns have gone a long while since the last time they struggled to score runs. They continued that streak by racking up a season high of 21 hits during Tuesday night’s 21-2 win over an outmatched UT-Arlington squad that left their pitching staff somewhere on Interstate Highway 35. You can point back to last Friday against Texas A&M, when Texas needed two extra innings to win on an Aggie error, but Friday

WIN continues on page 8

NBA Playoffs Milwaukee 86 Atlanta 96 Miami 77 Boston 106 Portland 90 Phoenix 119 Oklahoma City 92 LA Lakers 95

MLB American League Kansas City 3 Toronto 4 Texas 6 Boston 7 Tampa Bay 1 Chicago White Sox 4 Cleveland 1 Minnesota 5

National League Colorado 10 Washington 4 Milwaukee 8 Pittsburgh 1

Bobby Longoria | Daily Texan Staff

Hitting coach Corrie Hill, right, watches as some of her Longhorns take their at bats in a game earlier this season. Longhorns have carried that relaxed vibe into the batter’s box, shrugging off bad calls and waiting for the perfect pitch. “I don’t need every call to go my way,” Hill said. “You have to have confidence to be in the box because everything is against you when you’re in there.” The players have responded, especially this season. “A lot of the game is mind control,” sophomore Courtney Craig said. “I get into these slumps, which are all in my head, and [Hill] just gets me back online. [She] tells me to stop thinking so much and just to go out there and have fun

and play, and that is when it comes together.” In 2009, the Longhorns set team records in batting average (.295), runs (281), hits (471), home runs (58), slugging percentage (.469) and RBIs (265) in 60 games. In 2010, Texas has already broken the home-run record through 40 games with 66, and is on pace to break even more. Clark is impressed not only with the slugging but with the total offensive package as well. “The nice thing is that we are doing well offensively, overall,” Clark said. “We have great at bats, we’ve taken many walks and the home-run record is just

another thing that shows how strong we are at the plate.” “Everybody says hitting is contagious,” Hill said. “Anytime you can feed off each other, and they know they’re not out of any game. They know with a couple swings of a bat they’re right back in the game.” Texas has put a greater emphasis on recruiting solid hitters in the offseason to complement its rock-steady pitching. “We’ve got the team going in the right direction, bringing in power-hitting recruits,” Hill said. “They’ve bought into the simple system of positive thoughts, basic mechanics and a bit of freedom.”

The Longhorns’ new covered training facility has paid off well for Texas. The covered area features three movable hitting bays and an additional skill development area. The facility also boasts wireless technology that allows UT coaches and athletes to record and immediately analyze swings, throwing motions and overall form. “They can come up and hit at any time of the day and hit in the cages,” Hill said. “Automatic pitching machine that throws different pitches, get a lot of swings in.” The Longhorns will need their record-breaking offense tonight as the rival Aggies visit Austin.

NASCAR

NASCAR better-perceived in person By Robert Rich Daily Texan Columnist FORT WORTH — I was raised on racing. I’m a true fan of motorsports, given my Saturday nights at the local dirt track and watching the likes of Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Terry Labonte on television. This past weekend, I was able to take that fanaticism one step further by attending the Samsung Mobile 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup event at the Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. The race was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, but the Seattle-like weather that plagued Texas for much of last week was still around. And although it never once poured rain, a steady mist and high humidity prevented track-drying efforts, which inevi-

tably postponed the race until the next day. On Monday morning, I saw my first NASCAR vehicle. Traditionally, even if the outlook for the weather is poor, the cars will be lined up on pit roads under tarps on Sunday until word of whether the race will happen is announced. In this particular case, officials must have had no hopes whatsoever to get the race in because the cars weren’t out, leaving me to sit in mostly empty stands for about five hours. But lodging for the evening was procured, the rain stopped on Monday and all was well. One thing that’s for certain is that television coverage does absolutely no justice to what actually takes place during a NASCAR event. Until you’re there

Rodger Mallison | Associated Press

Jeff Gordon (24) crashes during the NASCAR Sprint Cup on Monday. and you hear the roar of an 800- the deepest bass at a concert to plus horsepower V8 engine and shame, you can’t appreciate it. I feel the rattling, rumbling vibraNASCAR continues on page 8 tions in your chest that put even

Cowboys don’t need much in draft

NFL DRAFT

David Zalubowski | Associated Press

Oklahoma State wide receiver Dez Bryant carries the ball last season.

By Jim Pagels Daily Texan Staff It’s a shame that video of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones’ rant last week was cut short. While we got to hear his brutally honest opinions on former coach Bill Parcells and draft prospect Tim Tebow, it would have been nice to hear his thoughts on wide receiver bust Roy Williams and the perilously thin Cowboys offensive line. With the 2010 NFL Draft starting tomorrow night, the Cowboys don’t appear to have any major holes that need to be filled. They could, however, use some help on the receiving corps or at left tackle. After a disappointing 2009 draft, the Cowboys are looking to select some of the positions that didn’t pan out last year. Dallas has the No. 27 pick of the first round. Without a pick in the first two rounds, the 2009 draft class seemed destined to collapse, especially after week one of minicamp, when its practice facility came crashing down on top of them. While none of the players were injured in the collapse, three of the team’s

11 picks last year were placed on injured reserve before the season even started, and two others missed significant time with injuries sustained in the preseason. Along with those injuries, the Cowboys will have to provide an answer for the disappointing Roy Williams and their offensive line issues. Williams was traded from the Lions to the Cowboys during the 2008 season for Dallas’ first-, third- and sixth-round draft picks in 2009. After signing a six-year, $54 million contract — $26 million of which was guaranteed — it looked as if Williams robbed not only the Cowboys’ 2009 draft but Jerry Jones’ pocketbook, too. The former Texas star reeled in only 38 catches for 596 yards last season and was quickly replaced by undrafted receiver Miles Austin, who has yet to be offered a contract extension after his 2009 Pro Bowl season. This has caused many to believe that Dallas is planning to overhaul its receiving corps in the next couple of seasons. The Cowboys could also use some help on the offensive line. After allowing the Vikings’ pass rush

to tally six sacks in their divisionalround playoff loss in January, the Cowboys cut ties with veteran left tackle Flozell Adams. For now, it looks like four-year veteran Doug Free will replace Adams this season, but the Dallas offensive line will lack the depth that carried it through injuries last season. Jones will have to draft a suitable backup who can eventually work his way into the starting roster within a couple of seasons. While Dallas would like to draft a wide receiver or safety in the first round, most of the premier talent at those two positions will likely be gone by pick No. 27. The top two safeties in the draft, Tennessee’s Eric Berry and Texas’ Earl Thomas, are projected to go in the top 20, along with troubled Oklahoma State receiver Dez Bryant. This will likely force the Cowboys to select an offensive lineman in the first round, something Dallas hasn’t done since 1989, which was before Jones took ownership. Some of the top offensive linemen who may be available at No. 27 include Maryland

DRAFT continues on page 8

Philadelphia 3 Atlanta 4 F/10 LA Dodgers 9 Cincinnati 11 Chicago Cubs 0 NY Mets 4 Florida 5 Houston 7

SPORTS BRIEFLY Texas RB Vondrell McGee arrested on DWI charges Senior running back Vondrell McGee was arrested at 3 a.m. Sunday for allegedly driving while intoxicated. He was charged with a first offense DWI, which is a class B misdemeanor punishable by a maximum fine of $2,000 and/or jail time of up to 180 days. According to the report filed by the Department of Public Safety, McGee was pulled over for driving with his headlights off. The officer said in the report that he detected alcohol on McGee’s breath and that his eyes were bloodshot. McGee registered breathalyzer readings of 0.125 and 0.126. The legal limit in Texas is 0.08. McGee has played in 35 games for Texas and has started in seven. Last season, he rushed for 300 yards on 56 carries and scored two touchdowns. Needless to say, coach Mack Brown is not happy with McGee, but as of right now, McGee will live to play another day at Texas. “We’re aware of Vondrell’s situation and are disappointed anytime one of our players is accused of wrongdoing,” Brown said. “We take a strong stance against drinking and driving and will thoroughly investigate this situation to get more details. We’ve talked to Vondrell and his family and decided, as of now, he will miss at least the first game next season and will be working with the scout team until he is eligible to play.”

Two Longhorns opt to transfer in hopes of more playing time

Junior defensive end Russell Carter and safety Ben Wells announced Tuesday that they will transfer because they want more playing time.

In 2009, Carter played in nine games and recorded five tackles, one for a loss and a quarterback pressure. He played in five games in 2008 after redshirting in 2007. Wells played in all 12 games in both the 2008 and 2009 seasons, primarily on special teams. He posted 12 tackles, one for a loss, one sack and one interception, and he returned one blocked punt for a touchdown during his career at Texas. Though they are leaving Texas, both Carter and Wells said they are very appreciative of head coach Mack Brown, the coaching staff and their now-former teammates. Neither player has announced which school he will attend in the fall, but Brown wishes them luck in their endeavors. “We appreciate everything Russell and Ben did for our football program,” Brown said. “They are nice, young men who told us they had a great experience but felt the best opportunity for more playing time was to transfer. We wish them the best of luck in the future.” — Laken Litman

8 SPTS

8

SPORTS

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

WIN: Longhorns score 21 runs, continue to rally throughout night From page 7 games are designed as pitching duals. Since then, Texas has scored 43 runs in three games to win its 13th straight — the longest win streak since 2005, with 16. “I don’t believe in saving runs,� head coach Augie Garrido said. “I believe in an abundance, and there’s enough runs for everybody. You can get as many as you want based on your performance.� Twenty-one runs was a season high for Texas, scoring at least four in four separate innings along with three home runs to blow out the Mavericks. “The ball is looking huge right now,� said freshman Cohl Walla, who finished 4 for 5 on the night

with three RBI. The baseball may as well have been a beach ball as eight Longhorns had a multihit game and only one starter went without a hit. The first big inning for Texas was the third, when it spawned from textbook “Augie ball.� Connor Rowe reached on a single, then Jordan Etier bunted him over and Cohl Walla singled up the middle to score Rowe. Brandon Loy then walked before Tant Shepherd hit a high fly ball to UTA first baseman Jordan Vaughn, who couldn’t squeeze it to keep the inning alive. Texas made the Mavericks pay. Cameron Rupp drilled a fullcount fastball over the left field fence to put the Horns up 4-0.

“We are sustaining rallies no matter how many outs, and it looks good for us right now,� Rupp said. “One thing we do is try and start over every inning and continue the rally.� The carousel continued for Texas in the bottom of the fifth with a leadoff bunt single from Walla, who then scored from a double down the left-field line from Loy, who broke the Texas record for sacrifice bunts earlier in the game. Then Kevin Keyes scored Loy from third with a deep sacrifice fly to the second baseman. Jordan Weymouth later reached an infield single before Russell Moldenhauer scored Shepherd and Weymouth on a double down the left-field line to put Texas up 9-1.

“This was the best Tuesday,� Garrido said. “The confidence is growing on offense, and we are taking better at bats and recovering from swinging at bad pitches.� Texas added another four runs in the sixth starting with back-to-back home runs from Etier and Walla. Then after Shepherd singled and Rupp doubled, Keyes drove both in with a single up the middle. Texas added on with another eight runs in the eighth inning off six hits and three walks. “The hard thing is not to develop expectations — that’s the killer,� Garrido said. “You have to get back Bobby Longoria | Daily Texan Staff to your role as a hitter and player and have courage and conviction Sophomore shortstop Brandon Loy rounds third and sprints home Tuesday night during Texas’ 21-2 romping over UT-Arlington. to stick with that.�

DRAFT: Owner has sights on Bryant huge fan of Bryant and may even be in discussions to move up in the tackle Bruce Campbell, Rutgers first round to take him. tackle Anthony Davis, Oklahoma Bryant was ruled ineligible halftackle Trent Williams, USC tackle way through the 2009 season after Charles Brown and Indiana tackle failing to report his interaction with Rodger Saffold. former NFL star Deion Sanders. The However, it is commonly known Cowboys have handled problem around the league that Jones is a players recently, though, signing the

From page 7

likes of Adam “Pacman� Jones, Tank Johnson and Terrell Owens. Before Bryant’s suspension, he was widely considered the best collegiate receiver in 2009 and a possible Heisman contender. If Jones has his way, the former OSU Cowboy might just become a Dallas Cowboy.

NASCAR: Despite stereotypes, race is a must-see event From page 7

Whole Earth Provision Co.

was a fan going in, so I didn’t need convincing, but for someone who’s on the fence or claims that it’s boring, seeing it live just might change his or her mind. On television, the speed looks reduced and the cars appear to be cruising leisurely around the track at times with all the space in the world. In reality, this is nowhere near the truth. Speeds at Texas Motor Speedway routinely top 190 mph, and Monday’s event was 334 laps. For that many circuits, drivers flew around the corners, fighting to control beastly cars in what actually isn’t a huge amount of space. When you’re going that fast and someone’s driving right next to you, it’s anything but leisurely.

The main thing that becomes strikingly clear at NASCAR events is that the sport simultaneously destroys and reinforces the stereotypes associated with it. The culture of NASCAR is anything but “redneck.� The majority of the drivers in the series are silver-spoon-born pretty boys — like Jimmie Johnson and Jeff Gordon, both California natives — and the amount of money that goes into building, maintaining and understanding the engines and all the equipment used to work on them is staggering. At the same time, the fan base still contains a hell of a lot of good ol’ boys. At the event Monday, there was a lack of teeth, an abundance of beer and a few potbellies peeking out from under shirts. But, they had a great time, and who can fault them for that?

The race itself was heartbreaking, for me at least. I’ve been a Jeff Gordon fan since I was a tyke, and for the better part of the day, I was ecstatic. Gordon’s car was clearly the best on the track, and he led the most laps at the event. But after a late race caution bunched the field together and put Gordon in eighth, he found himself wrecked with only 17 laps to go as he was charging toward the front. Denny Hamlin, driving with a torn ACL muscle that was surgically repaired only two weeks ago, took the checkered. But, as I filed out to my car, I found myself thinking the same thing I always do about NASCAR when the driving-in-circles or it’sboring arguments get thrown out: Critics be damned, you’ve got to experience this.

9 CLASS

9

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

VIDEO GAME REVIEWS

‘Red Steel’ flails; ‘Just Cause’ fails to fulfill mission Red Steel 2 (Wii)

By Allistair Pinsof Daily Texan Staff

Just Cause 2 (Xbox 360/PS3/PC)

Courtesy of Jennifer Taylor

Keith Elam, better known as Guru of the rap duo Gang Starr, died of cancer Monday evening.

Gang Starr rapper dies of cancer By Andrew Kreighbaum Daily Texan Columnist Legendary hip-hop duo Gang Starr, which had faded from the music scene in recent years, saw member Keith Elam, better known as Guru, pass away Monday night. Elam died at the age of 43 after a long battle with cancer that only recently became public. Elam teamed up with DJ Premier in 1989 to record No More Mr. Nice Guy, the first of six albums Gang Starr released. Controversy has surrounded a letter he purportedly released from the hospital through his associate Solar, disowning DJ Premier. Elam was already estranged from his family, according to media reports. It may be tempting for fans to use the passing of one of the genre’s trailblazers as an opportunity to bemoan the current state day, month day, 2008

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of the hip-hop scene. The genre’s death has been proclaimed repeatedly over the second half of the past decade, thanks to an obsession with materialism, partying and pointless violence. Guru had little to do with the intellectually exhausted rap of recent years and — despite the implications of the Gang Starr name — very little connection to the gangsta rap that flooded the New York hiphop scene in 1994. Don’t get me wrong; I love Nas and Biggie as much as the next guy. And Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) was a musical revelation to a rap novice. But Gang Starr was working, alongside better-known acts such as A Tribe Called Quest and Public Enemy, to make hiphop a legitimate genre before most of those rappers had recorded their first tracks. DJ Premier provided the

duo with a distinct sound based on samples of current hip-hop and classic jazz, which was featured in Spike Lee’s “Mo’ Better Blues� in 1990. Although the label is fairly recent, Guru can rightfully be called one of hip-hop’s first “conscious� MCs. In 1992’s “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,� he made a warning to fellow MCs who had lost sight of artistic pursuits in favor of fame and wealth. In other songs, he rapped about damaging relationships, the AIDS epidemic, biases in the educational system and media depictions of blacks. He was also highly aware of the hip-hop tradition that he was following, although it never diminished his penchant for lighthearted boasting. The most salient features that set Guru apart from the rappers who have been criticized in recent years are his pure lyrical skills and abil-

ity to evoke time and place without ever sounding dated — a talent that has given more hardcore rappers like the Wu-Tang Clan and Notorious B.I.G. lasting appeal. Hip-hop fans saddened by the news of Guru’s demise should avoid the familiar refrains of, “They don’t make hip-hop like that anymore.� Better to remember Guru’s achievements in their own right, including his collaborations with several jazz greats outside of Gang Starr. Guru also knew that one of hiphop’s most valuable assets is its evolving tradition. “I bet you couldn’t name more than one pioneer,� he rapped in 1992’s “Flip the Script,� “‘cause you didn’t pay dues, and you got 1 on outta’ nowhere.� Now, Guru himself can be remembered as one of those pioneers.

For a sequel that no one asked for, “Just Cause 2� stands out among free-roaming action games in a way that the original didn’t. As you jump from a helicopter at the start of the game, freefalling into an enemy base, the first thing that stands out is the scope of the game’s world. It is enormous. You will often fly a jet from continent to continent as you travel to your next mission; these trips offer both an amazing spectacle and a sense of boredom as a result of the prolonged lack of action (although there is a “warp� system introduced early on). The missions themselves are woefully outdated: The escort mission with brain-dead A.I. rears its ugly head from 2003, along with amusing yet frustrating-to-control air races that recall “Pilotwings.� The strengths of the game are the scope of the world and the ways you traverse it with a grappling hook and parachute, allowing you to become your own makeshift parasail. Better yet is the grappling hook’s ability to tie any two objects together. This opens the combat up to all sorts of hilarious antics. Link an enemy to a gas canister, shoot it and watch it fly off along with its victim. Unfortunately, it’s only a matter of time until you exhaust the possibilities and wish there were a better game to embody such impressive settings and clever ideas.

I really enjoyed the first “Red Steel,� the hyped and criticized Wii launch title that experimented with first-person motion controls years before “Metroid Prime 3.� There were many flaws — mainly, the swordplay — and “Red Steel 2� addresses almost all of them. Somehow, that’s not enough to make this sequel much of an improvement. This is partly because of the fact that it is no longer novel to have a first-person shooter on the Wii, and anyone who owns another console will find the game to be a very shallow experience compared to its contemporaries. The game comes bundled with the Wii MotionPlus, Nintendo’s awkward attachment to the controller that makes it perform like you thought it would when you first purchased the console (mostly because of its improved tracking of wrist positioning and movement). It can be both fun and tiring to swing your remote around for hours, pulling off sword combos and juggling enemies in the air with your six-shooter until your wrist goes limp. The game attempts to entice the player with loads of collectibles and upgrades, but it’s not enough to veil the fact that the mission structure, enemy design and level design are unimaginative and redundant. You’ll be given new weapons and sword techniques, each more difficult to execute than the last, but all the game needs to do is give the player a new challenge and a sense of urgency to keep him or her engaged. These are problems that a peripheral system like MotionPlus can’t fix.

Grade: C+

Grade: C+

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11 ENT

HUMP: College students exhibit

less promiscuity than expected From page 12 contemporary sexual nomenclature, “casual� has taken on more and more nuanced meanings. After speaking with students and friends, I learned that casual sexual relationships can apparently mean anything from acquaintances who call each other when the bars close to two people who have mutually decided relationships don’t fit in their lives right now but still want to have sex. By and large, the main facets of a casual sexual relationship seem not to be the relationship’s shortterm duration or even lack of emotion, as Walsh would have us believe. For most of the people I talked to, the determiner was the expressed mutual choice to not commit to an official relationship. “Sex is casual when you aren’t sure that it is going to happen again,� a friend of mine reminded me. “But that doesn’t mean that the sex is going to be bad or emotionless.� More importantly, the undercurrent of Walsh’s (and others’) arguments against casual sex among college students is based on the assumption that casual sex necessarily correlates with promiscuity or multiple sexual partners. But the statistics for college sex show a different story. In the course of an average school year, 46.7 percent of UT students reported having intercourse (vaginal, anal or oral) with a single partner, according to the 2008 (the latest available) National College Health Assessment data for UT. Just 11.1 percent of students reported having intercourse with two partners, and only 1.9 percent reported having intercourse with five or more partners. In stark contrast to these statistics is the myth that students are engaging in a steady stream of casual sexual encounters. According to a 2001 study by the Institute for American Values, a “nonpartisan� think tank dedicated to the “renewal of marriage,� 91 percent of students report that

11

LIFE&ARTS

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

hooking up is very common or fairly common on their campuses. The study is cited on Walsh’s blog in an effort to create a visceral image of how pervasive “hooking up� is in college. But continually, self-reporting of sexual activity among college students about their actual behaviors — like that found in the college health data — contradicts the prophesying done by older people. The numbers of casual sexual encounters aside, gendered expectations regarding casual sex is the crux of Walsh’s argument against hooking up. What has always bothered me about this argument is that it adopts the popular trope that women use sex to get relationships and that casual sex inherently entails a woman’s broken heart. This simply is not true. Not only does each woman have distinct desires, she has the ability to avoid these kinds of relationships if she decides she doesn’t want to participate. For some college-aged women, casual sex is not the preferred kind of sexual relationship. Zoja, a recent UT graduate, uses common-sense emotional risk assessment to avoid the potential hurt feelings that come from the fleeting nature of casual sex. “I’ve always wished I could have casual sex, no strings,� Zoja said. “But if I’m [having sex with] someone that I actually like ... then I probably like them on a level beyond just [sex].� Even more contrary to the popular ideology that women are the only casualties in the casual-sex arena, men are not devoid of the desire for a long-term, committed relationship. “I have thought something was mutually exclusive only to find out that it wasn’t,� said David, an architecture junior. “I’ve realized that if I’m not outspoken about [what I want], then it is usually taken for granted that I only care about [sex].� Casual sex happens, with vary-

ing frequency and in different groups. The economic model of sexuality, where the availability of casual sex disrupts the relationship market, may very well be true for some of our campuses’ subcultures. However, the acceptance of the idea that men are only interested in the “cheapest� form of vagina and that women will go to any means necessary to get a boyfriend are a little too outdated. It seems that both men and women who participate in regularly occurring casual sex understand what that kind of relationship means. And even more importantly, the people — both male and female — who do want a relationship still want one, no matter how “cheap� sex is. So even if Susan Walsh thinks the “cost of sex is plummeting,� I think there is quite a bit more going on in sexual relationships between college students today. Because, as much as some old folks would hate to believe, we are people, too.

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12

GAME: Developers choose Austin for business

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From page 12 at War� and 2K Games’ recently released “Bioshock 2.� Arkane’s games can best be described as being designed for Spector fans by Spector fans, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that Colantonio chose to move to the city that was the birthplace of many of Spector’s titles. Colantonio views the community aspect among developers as a contributing factor in choosing to move to Austin. “We can talk to most [other developers] — we see each other often in bars. It’s not like some cities where people are very protective about what they do,� Colantonio said. “We share more; it’s often that we use other people from other companies to playtest our own games.� Whereas Colantonio expanded his company from Lyon to Austin, Kain Shin, who worked under Colantonio at Arkane’s Austin studio, took a different route. “I quit my last job so that I could move to France,� Shin said. “I realized that I missed speaking English and I missed Austin, so I came back. It took me leaving it to realize that.� While Austin game industry veterans continue to build their legacy, there is a new generation of Austin game designers gain-

ing momentum. “Richard Garriott and Warren Spector are luminaries but they are not necessarily known to the new generation, this being the generation that graduated after 2005,� Shin said. One of the leading faces of this generation is Michael Wilford, CEO of Twisted Pixel Games, an Austinbased studio that has worked on a series of exuberant, colorful games for Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade service: “The Maw� (2008), “‘Splosion’ Man� (2009) and the upcoming “Comic Jumper.� These games are a throwback to the days of zany mascots and simple, refined game design. “We all have a similar sense of humor,� Wilford said, describing the nature of the studio and the origin of “Splosion’ Man.� “We were all sitting around, talking about what kind of game we wanted to make, and we loved the idea of seeing big panes of glass shattering in games and big, huge explosions. We were like, ‘What if we made a whole game just based around shattering glass and explosions?’ We just kept piling on to this crazy idea.� After Wilford left his job in Chica-

go, he moved to Indiana along with company co-founders Josh Bear and Frank Wilson to form a game company out of Bear’s mother’s house. After completion of “The Maw,� they decided to move out of Bear’s mother’s place and start somewhere new. “We were having problems finding experienced game-development talent in the Midwest, so we started looking around. We considered Seattle, Raleigh and a whole bunch of other places, but Austin just blew them all away. Low cost of living, low cost of business, the weather, the quality of life — just everything we need is here,� Wilford said. “We’ve been here for a year and a quarter, and none of us are planning on ever leaving.� Austin studios continue to form and expand, thanks to the support of local government, a talent pool and a rich history. The result: Austin developed games such as “Darksiders� (Vigil Studios), “Metroid Prime Trilogy� (Retro Studios) and “Star Wars: The Old Republic� (Bioware Austin) that have been receiving acclaim and hype in 2010 — making everyone else wonder what’s so special about this city.

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LIFE&ARTS

12

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Life&Arts Editor: Ben Wermund E-mail: dailytexan@gmail.com Phone: (512) 232-2209 www.dailytexanonline.com

T HE DAILY T EXAN

Generational gap complicates stats for ‘hooking up’ HUMP DAY By Mary Lingwall

Rene Huynh | Daily Texan Staff

Michael Wilford is the CEO of Twisted Pixel Games, an Austin-based studio that has worked on a series of exuberant, colorful games for Microsoft’s Xbox Live Arcade service. His games are a throwback to the days of zany mascots and simple, refined game design.

Uncover Austin’s game culture Editor’s note: This is the second in a five-part series that focuses on Austin’s video game industry: the history, the creators, the fans and the culture that surrounds it. By Allistair Pinsof Daily Texan Staff Collected within the UT video game archive and housed in the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History are numerous internal design documents and concept artworks for many of the greatest games that were and some that would never be. Like so much about the history of video games, from Japan to Austin, the development processes and conditions under which video games are conceived remain shrouded in mystery.

Austin’s game industry dates back to the early ‘80s, when game designer Richard Garriott was shipping disks in Ziploc bags from his bedroom and game producer Warren Spector was studying film at UT. These two men would go on to build Origin Systems, Austin’s first game studio, but they can hardly take credit for where the industry has gone since those days. “One of the reasons that Warren Spector was passionate about creating the archive is that when he was a graduate film student [at UT] in the early 1980s — at the same time that he worked at Steve Jackson Games — he was confronted with the extreme lack of documenta-

tion regarding early film history, and he didn’t want the same thing to happen to the game industry,� said Zach Vowell, an archivist for the collection. Design documents serve to conveniently plan and dictate how the production process should work but don’t necessarily reveal how things end up happening. From the chaos of a game’s final weeks of development (they call it “crunch time�) to inside jokes among staff, it’s difficult to learn about the studio culture that these creative works are born in without being a part of it. Perhaps, then, we should start by talking to the current leaders of Austin’s game industry to gain insight into the cre-

ative process and what drives developers to Austin. Raphael Colantonio is the CEO and studio director of Arkane Studios, a developer based in Lyon, France, that opened an Austin branch in 2007. They have worked on PC and console games that draw heavily on the roleplaying aspects Spector once explored. The studio’s first release in 2002, “Arx Fatalis,� was a brilliant homage to Spector’s first major project at Origin in 1992, “Ultima Underworld.� Along with developing its own games, the studio outsources its talent to other developers to complete work such as designing levels for Treyarch’s “Call of Duty: World

“The low percentage of students actually having one-night stands may dispel the perception that most college students are routinely having casual sex,� said Jefferson Singer, a professor of psychology at Connecticut College, in a news brief released last Monday on the findings of his study on casual sex and college students. This came as a bit of a surprise to me. It seems that everywhere I look, people are trying to convince me of all the wild, casual sex occurring on college campuses. I’m learning that this is really only because talking heads take every opportunity to reinforce the idea that casual sex is happening in epic proportions on college campuses, not because anything is actually changing regarding the sexual behaviors of young people.

“Guys are less likely to spend their emotional resources when the real transaction cost of sex is plummeting or has hit rock bottom,� wrote Susan Walsh, author of the blog “Hooking Up Smart,� in a March 2009 post on the “relationship recession.� “They take each day as it comes, seeking short-term gratification in the form of casual hookups,� she added. But there are pieces of Walsh’s statement that are often accepted as fact but need to be examined further. First of all, how do we define “casual sex� or “hooking up�? These words refer to a variety of actions and attitudes. The vagueness of their meaning is further obfuscated by the generational gap between those who actively participate in the discourse on casual sex, hooking up and college culture and the actual college students they are talking about. As verified by my 56-year-old mother, for generations past, “casual sex� has carried the connotation of a one-night stand, and usually an anonymous one. But in

HUMP continues on page 11

2008 sex-partner statistics for UT

GAME continues on page 11 Source: National College Health Assessment

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