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Wednesday, June 11, 2014 | Vol. 101, No. 14
Campus construction
Re-Guinnovated: Denton’s tallest building gets face lift
Six floors of Guinn Hall are currently being gutted and refitted with new fixtures, carpet and much more
Commute
I-35E overhaul ramps up
Construction and how it will affect your usual morning commute Alex Ancira Contributor aancira@twu.edu
Photography courtesy of Steve Adcock
A bathroom from Guinn that is gutted so that new tile and fixtures can be installed before students come back before the Fall 2014 semester.
Shelby Baker Editor-in-Chief sbaker3@twu.edu
Since 1969, she has given students a home away from home. She has spent years watching as they frantically studied, dated, and changed. After 45 years of mothering, Miss Guinn Hall is getting her own make-over.
Not even 24 hours after students moved out for the summer, construction teams moved in and removed all of the built- in furniture, doors, and flooring from floors six through 12 with the exception of 11.
Continues pg. 3 Photography courtesy of Steve Adcock
Above: Everything in the six floors being renovated is completely stripped, including the ceiling panels outside of lighting.
Student loans
POTUS gives memorandum on student debt
President Barack Obama signs order that will roll out the “Pay as You Earn” repayment program Shelby Baker Editor-in-Chief sbaker3@twu.edu Imagine this situation. Jane Doe is attending TWU for four years for Nursing. She works at Lenny’s Sub Shop and graduates with $15,000 in debt, plus
interest. Suddenly, the bills start coming in — $700 a month when she only makes $1000 right now. That leaves her with $200 to pay for rent, utilities, food, transportation, and whatever else she needs. The cap can lower the payment to $100 a month,
making it more affordable and possible for Jane to pay. The average college tuition has more than tripled over the past 30 years, leaving more and more students to take out student loans. The national average in student debt is nearly $30,000
for an undergraduate degree. There are ways though to pay off the debt through government programs. Capping loan payments at 10 percent is already a possibility for some, but the Pay As You Earn plan would allow 5 million
Continues pg. 3
As the Texas summer rages on, so too does the 35Express project for Dentonites and those who commute in and out of the Denton County area. Construction is currently underway on the Lewisville Lake portion of the project, having started after Memorial Day last month. Students commuting from Dallas will be temporarily affected by construction on the aforementioned portion and multiple lane closures as the project continues to advance forward. Additionally, the U.S. 77/Dallas Drive entrance ramp southbound on Interstate 35E will be closed for approximately 12 months, according to a tweet from 35Express. The 35Express project began in October of last year and will be ongoing through the midyear of 2017, so far as projections and project planning is concerned thus far. According to 35Express’ website, the project limits “extend 30 miles from U.S. 380 in Denton County to I-635 in Dallas County” and consist of three segments of development. The Northern segment consists of all I-35 road stretching from U.S. 380 to the Swisher Road (FM 2181) exit. The current phase of the project for this section focuses on increasing capacity along the bridges for easier access and widening both directions of I-35 to three lanes each. The Middle segment extends from Swisher Road to the President George Bush Turnpike. The project has planned to add another bridge for southbound traffic across the Lewisville Lake segment of the area while also adding two managed lanes for use, leaving frontage roads going northbound and granting both directions four lanes to travel with. The final segment of the project is the Southern segment, which will include raised ramps and bridges for the roads such as Belt Line Road and I-635. Additionally, interchanges will be added to the segment for driver convenience. The project as a whole is estimated to cost $4.8 billion, with $1.4 billion going directly to Phase 1 planning. The road will later be fitted with toll specific lanes that drivers may use.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE Opinions
Graffiti on campus........................2
News
Denton Texas Treasure.................3
Community
Twilight Tunes in Denton.............4
Volleyball coach awarded locally Amanda Clark Contributor aclark9@twu.edu
Last month, TWU volleyball head coach Shelly Barberee was awarded TWU Coach of the Year at the Greater Denton Sports Commission Awards Banquet. This was the fourth time Barberee received the award in her 11 years of coaching
at TWU. Barberee shared that she wasn’t too surprised to receive the award since the TWU Volleyball team had such a great season. She attributes her award to the success of the team and said it was nice to be recognized for their achievements. Although Barberee had a tough year with her sister passing away during the climax of
the season, through the support of the coach staff and the entire team, she broke the record for wins as a TWU volleyball coach and the team advanced to the regional tournament. “My favorite thing is all my athletes,” said Barberee. “ I do it for them. It’s a joy to provide a young athlete with an education, leadership, and teamwork. They mean a lot to me.”
Photography courtesy of TWU Athletics
Head coach Shelly Barberee
Continues pg. 4
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Opinions
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Graffiti: horror be thy name
twulasso.com
Campus | Street art
Respecting graffiti as an artform will never happen so long as the phrase has stigma
Boston In Massachusetts, you can go to prison for graffiti. Boston has it’s own busters that cover the art free of charge.
Alex Ancira Contributor aacira@twu.edu Every good urban center has a healthy battle with the street artists that reside in it — it’s been that way and will always be that way so long as paint comes in a can. But the age-old question still persists in the court of public opinion: is graffiti even art at all? Debatable for certain. Famous anonymous British graffiti artist simply known as Banksy would, and often does, argue that graffiti is art and a form of political and social expression. Police and politicians historically have acted through legislature and collective enforcement of said legislature against the graffiti taggers. This suggests that graffiti is not art at all, but rather it is an actionable offense against a public space. The line in the sand can be easily moved, however. So the point is rendered moot, and the true value of the discussion lies not in what might be art but what is certainly not art. While some might argue that the top taggers from Los Angeles, New York City, or
Dallas Although Texas is extremely anti-graffiti, Dallas gives graffiti artists ‘free walls’ in an effort to curb the crime. Denton Graffiti is considered a public nuisance and services are offered to cover up the offending art.
Photo by Alex Ancira
A mural on a wall of Recycled Books and Records, a community project that is essentially a graffiti mural. It has been a fixture on the building since 2009, and has even been tagged on by others since. Why is this graffiti OK?
London (such as Banksy) are not artists, at least the point is open for discussion. Street “taggers” who, for example, splay a toxic array of expletives on a wall of a university building are almost certainly not artists by any broad definition. The TWU crime blotter came in late last month with a report of graffiti at Austin Place Apartments. The damages were less than $500 on the
The fact that graffiti is such a spectrum of crass to potentially high class works is a testament to how flawed the term is for the society that we live in. - Alex Ancira, Lasso contributor
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report, but the newsroom was genuinely interested about what the graffiti entailed and who might have been the criminal involved. We didn’t receive too much from the campus Department of Public Safety but that’s more a case of lack of news to report than cover ups or anything. To quote Police chief Elizabeth Pauley’s response: “It’s just local school kids coming onto campus. Happens every year about this time when local kids are out of school for the summer.” The types of graffiti I’ve seen thrown onto a wall by high schoolers or middle schoolers have definitely
lacked classical or even modern artist qualities. The Oxford English Dictionary defines graffiti as: “Writing or drawings scribbled, scratched, or sprayed illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place.” That, then, covers the gamut of all wall drawings in any way, shape or form whatsoever. One does not have to believe that graffiti can be art to notice that there is an easy distinction between the works of famous graffiti artists such as Banksy and Sever and these crudely scrawled works. When a word means anything or everything, it therefore means nothing
at all. The fact that graffiti is such a spectrum of crass to potentially high class works is a testament to how flawed the term is for the society that we live in. For the argument to even be fair, we need to adjust our thought process about the term graffiti, and reinvent the word so that there can be a distinction between the scribbles on the wall and the more well-thought out pieces used as either political or social commentary. Until then, graffiti in general will face a greater cultural stigma associated with the word, and why put all of it through the muck because of a few bad eggs?
Shelby Baker • sbaker3@twu.edu Alexander Ancira • aancira@twu.edu Tiffany Lam • tlam6@twu.edu
London Home of artist Bansky, the city merely fines artists for law breaking and provides free walls. Minors not allowed. Los Angeles A mecca of graffiti, the city considers graffiti the worst form of vandalism and vandalism is wrong, so graffiti is wrong. New York As famous as the graffiti of New York city is, not everyone likes it. There’s even a task force in place to remove it.
Banning texting nice in theory Can a ban on technology really stop the widespread use? Monica Alcarez Contributor malcarez@twu.edu Technology today allows us to access the internet from a device as small as our hand and communicate with hundreds of people around the world with a click of a button. These things are fascinating and in many cases addicting — so addicting that people are using these devices while behind the wheel. I am all for the “Don’t Text and Drive” movement; there is no reason for an innocent person to lose their lives to the text message “wats up.” It is because of these sad circumstances that Denton has taken matters into its own hands and placed a ban on using cell phones while driving, unless it is a phone call. This ban includes: posting on social media,
The Lasso staff Editor-in-Chief
Detroit While technically antigraffiti, the public supports the Detroit Beautification Project, where graffiti artists from all over have painted murals on the city.
Denton law
checking email, surfing the internet, programming a navigation system (GPS), watching a video, viewing a photo, and playing games. Now, I am curious to see what the city of Denton will do in response to people still doing these “banned” things. Will the police pull people over? And speaking of the police, will they be held to the same standard as regular citizens? The last time a friend and I pulled up next to a cop he was using his computer to browse Facebook — so can I perform a citizen’s arrest or issue a ticket? I have the utmost respect for men of the law, but if they are to be policing us, shouldn’t they first start with policing themselves? The fine for not complying with this city ordinance is $200, but no word on how it will be monitored.
Cell phone GPS use is also frowned upon under the ordinance. The only accepted form of GPS is mounted and hands free. This poses an inconvenience to those who cannot afford a car with a built in GPS or a separate device. Setting up the GPS on the phone is a lot simpler than actually pulling out a separate device — and it’s not even as though we are using it to type or communicate. Not all college students come from within the area and GPS use is necessary to locate different places in town. I personally use my phone to look up places to eat while on the road sometimes; when I need to know the number for Pizza Hut or any of the vast restaurants we have in Denton, I Google it on my
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Graffiti Laws by the city
Maura Teague • maurateague@gmail.com Amanda Clark • aclark9@twu.edu Tammi Paul • tpaul1@twu.edu
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phone. There is no way for anyone to know the number for all restaurants and stores in town, and I don’t think carrying a phonebook around in the car will be any less dangerous. No, I am not saying look up paper sources while driving, but it is unrealistic to completely ban cell phone use in the car. And with Texas being one of the few states without a state-wide ban it creates confusion. This ban means well, but with the lack of continuity in each city it becomes almost invisible in the scheme of things. And the fact that it was not publicized well enough does not help the citizens of Denton follow the ordinance. This regulation went into effect May 20, but I am just hearing of it, and my peers had no idea this was even in existence. Mail
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News
twulasso.com
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Loan repayment presidental memorandum
3
Continued from pg. 1 additional borrowers to do the same as of December 2015. Also, any remaining balance after 20 years would be forgiven, and only 10 years for those serving in public service jobs. President Barack Obama unveiled his new memorandum during the White House event “Opportunity for All: Making College More Affordable” on June 9.
The memorandum is divided into five sections, each addressing different aspects of borrowers and information regarding how to educate students on the loans and options available. A major trend in the memorandum is educating borrowers and families on income-based repayment plans. According to the press release from the White
House Press Secretary, the reason PAYE is so important is that student debt can potentially lead to “damaged credit rating, losing their tax refund, or garnished wages.” The Department of Education and the Department of Treasury will also work together to develop a pilot project, researching and testing the effectiveness of loan
“They’ve got so much debt that they can’t buy a house, they can’t think about starting a family, they can’t imagine starting a business on their own.” - Barack Obama, President of the United States of America
Guinn renovations
counseling programs for students. Obama made a point in his remarks that Americans now owe more on student loans than on credit cards. He believes students are unable to move forward in their lives with the debt. “They’ve got so much debt that they can’t buy a house,” Obama remarked, “they can’t think about starting a family, they can’t imagine starting a business on their own.” According to Director of Financial Aid Governor Jackson, 53 percent of TWU students have taken out loans to help pay for school. On average, undergraduates leave
with $15,622 in debt and graduate students with $27,500 in debt. The Federal cap limit for student loans for dependent undergraduates is $23,000. For independent undergraduates, the cap limit is $57,000. And for graduates, it is $138,500, including their undergraduate loans. According to studentaid. ed.gov, students eligible for PAYE must face partial financial hardship, defined as the monthly payment for a standard 10-year plan exceeds the amount paid under PAYE. The eligible student loans include the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program
and select Federal Family Education Loan Programs, including the subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans. Students must have borrowed since Oct. 1, 2007 and received a Direct Loan on or after Oct. 1, 2011. For more information regarding PAYE, visit studentaid.ed.gov.
Continued from pg. 1
The renovation is an ongoing project, the end goal being to completely redo the building’s interior. Last summer, floors 13 through 15 underwent renovation: old doors, lighting, and ceilings replaced, new paint applied, and the bathrooms redone. Before that, only a couple floors had been renovated. Housing receives no state funds or Student Service fees unlike other departments; all of the money comes from student rent. Housing had to gain special permission from the Board of Regents to pull $1.5 million from their reserves to pay for the project. This will be the biggest renovation Guinn has seen. “One challenge is aging buildings,” Director of Housing Dr. Joseph Berthiaume said. “Stark was built in 1967 and Guinn was built in 1969. They are in need
Photo by Alex Ancira
Above: The 14th floor student lounge, redone last summer as a sample of the current renovations. of modernization and refurbishment.” Berthiaume feels that redoing the student lounges is a high priority, as academic success is vital in college. The goal is to create a cozy and
home-like atmosphere to the “institution” interior. Student feedback has really pushed the project and helped to steer the renovations. “As Director of Housing, I’m always
looking for ways to improve student living,” Berthiaume said. “If students have suggestions or ideas, the Residence Hall Association is the voice for them, and they can bring ideas to us.
The new microfridges are due to student feedback. We were having a conversation with students and they asked not for bigger rooms, but to have a microwave in their rooms.”
Denton elections: Chris Watts elected mayor Alex Ancira Contributor aancira@twu.edu County election tallies have come in with the City of Denton to be led by a new mayor: Chris Watts. According to reports from The Denton Record-Chronicle and the City of Denton complete returns from the election, Watts won handily over his opposition, namely
Jean Schaake and Donna Woodfork, for mayor with 61 percent of the vote. Election officials stated that Watts held the lead after early voting results were released, with supporters from Watts’ camp expressing confidence that Schaake could not overcome the lead on ballot day alone, according to the DRC article by staff writer Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe. Watts
Denton named Texas Treasure Monica Alcarez Contributor malcarez@twu.edu
From our very own Little Chapel-in-the-Woods to the Old Alton Bridge where Denton’s county seat originally sat, Denton is a city full of old gems with a powerful history and strong presence. The City of Denton is now a Texas Treasure, made so by Texas First Lady Anita Perry and her initiative with the Texas Historical Commission. The honor of being a First Lady’s Texas Treasure was awarded to the City of Denton on Wednesday, May 28, at Denton’s historic Courthouse on the Square. Denton is the 10th city to receive this award, following most recently Paris in 2013, San Angelo
in 2012, and Brownsville in 2011. This award is a badge of honor for all in Denton whose hard work results in preserving and showcasing the historical landmarks that we have all over town. At the ceremony, a short video which helps highlight the pride and hard work the Denton community takes in their home was presented. Being recognized as a Texas Treasure will not only put Denton in a category above the rest statewide, but it will also be noticed nationwide and will bring historical tourism to a new high. Our city and all of its residents can stand tall with pride for this great city with a very long and captivating history.
is preceded by Mayor Mark Burroughs, who has reached the city law term limit for mayors of Denton. Watts is an attorney and real estate investor and developer who recently held a position on the Denton City Council, which included a run on a committee for a proposed property code ordinance that left some residents questioning whether Watts
had a personal bias in the decision. The election has featured, according to Denton County elections administrator Frank Phillips, an “unusually high turnout.” The election for the City of Denton was roughly 8.45 percent, compared to 2012’s 6.88 voter turnout percentage. For some cities such as Bartonville and Oak Point, voter turnout was
even higher, ranging from 27-39 percent of registered voters. On the turnout, Phillips said: “It’s almost unheard of in city elections. The turnout in some of the towns was phenomenal and the largest I have seen since I have been here.”
Dr. Phyllis Bridges honored through endowment Tiffany Lam Contributor tlam6@twu.com
In honor of Cornaro Professor of English Dr. Phyllis Bridges for her 42 years of contribution to teaching at TWU, an endowment scholarship has been established by those whose lives she has touched. When asked how she felt when learning of the endowment, former student of Dr. Bridges Erin Marissa Russell said: “It makes perfect sense for Dr. Bridges’ friends to have set up this endowment in her name because she has worked for the well-being of students financially and academically throughout her career.” Another former student Elizabeth
Brownlow agreed: “It’s fitting because Dr. Bridges’ most important focus is the success of her students.” An endowment establishes a fund whose principal balance is invested to keep generating income indefinitely. The principal amount is preserved and the interest earned is used to fund scholarships for future TWU pioneers. The committee that is raising the funds is co-chaired by Dean of the TWU School of Physical Therapy emerita Dr. Carolyn Rozier and Vice President for Student Life emerita Dr. Glenda Brock Simmons. To learn more about the endowment or to contribute, contact Development Officer of
Photography by Susan Sponsler-Carstarphen
the Office of University Advancement Patrice Frisby by phone at 940898-3863 or by email at pfrisbby@twu.edu.
Residents will be happy to know that not only will there now be a microwave in every room, but an actual freezer as well. Last year, Jones Hall received the new appliances as a trial, seeing if the building could handle the electrical load. It worked very well, as the appliances conserve energy and reduce the electrical draw. Despite the renovation, there will be enough space to accommodate all summer activities and orientations. If the project stays on schedule, the renovations should be finished by the first week of August.
Campus Blotter Suspicious person A suspicious person was arrested May 31 at Lowry Woods Community. Fire alarm A report of a triggered fire alarm was made May 30 at Lowry Woods Community. An arrest was made on possession of marijuana. Criminal trespass An arrest was made May 27 at Lowry Woods Community on the charge of drug paraphernalia possession. Assault Police responded to a report of assault May 18 at Lowry Woods Community. No arrest was made. Stolen property A report of a stolen bike was made at 1000 Oakland St. No arrest was made. Trespass An arrest was carried out May 14 at Austin Place Apartments. Criminal trespass An arrest was carried out May 7 at 1700 N. Bell Ave. on the charge of criminal trespassing. Harassment A report of harassment was made May 16 at 307 Administration Dr. No arrest was made. Assault An arrest was carried out May 6 at 1700 N. Bell Ave. on the charge of assault.
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Community
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
twulasso.com
Local | Entertainment
Twilight Turns turn it up
Twilight Tunes take center stage on Thursday nights for city Shelby Baker Editor-in-Chief sbaker3@twu.edu Summer: a magical time in Denton when the lighted trees shine in the square and musicians decorate the courthouse lawn. Nothing quite beats the quaint, welcome scene of Denton’s annual stage for Twilight Tunes. Brainchild of Downtown Development Director at the City of Denton Julie Glover, the event began 21 years ago when the square saw a fall in business. This was a time when the square was dying as malls moved in and shops closed up — someone had to think of something to keep downtown alive. Glover, who earned her MBA at TWU, started Twilight Tunes to revitalize downtown Denton by drawing in people and their business. She worked through the Denton Main Street Association to build
an event that was free and people could enjoy at any age. In the years since, Twilight Tunes has grown. Denton Main Street Association representative Christine Gossett took over the running of Twilight Tunes and other Main Street events 11 years ago, and has watched part of the process. “The beauty of Twilight Tunes is not so much how it has changed,” Gossett said. “It’s still a free concert on the courthouse lawn, the same as when it started. It’s small scale, relaxing and simple.” The program is popular for artists as well, as interest begins the December before the actual event takes place. Gossett looks for different genres that appeal to a wide audience and fit for all ages and backgrounds. The most important aspect though is the focus on local musicians and bands, just like when it
started. “My favorite part is watching all the people who get up and dance on the sidewalk,” Gossett said. “It ranges from toddlers who dance with their parents to seniors who show everyone else how it is done, doing dances like the Jitterbug — dances lost on us.” Twilight Tunes takes place every Thursday through July 3, with a special performance the morning of July 4. For more information, visit http:// www.dentonmainstreet.org/ home/events.php or check the Denton Main Street Association’s Facebook page.
Photo by Tammi Paul
Volleyball coach award
The historic courthouse on the square overlooks the lawn that Twilight Tunes takes place on Thursday nights.
Continued from pg. 1
At her core, Barberee is a team coach. She wants her success to be a reflection of the success of the team and to carry herself in a way that her team would be proud of. Barberee shared that to this day she coaches in
honor of her sister. As Barberee looks to the new season, her expectations are high. The team lost five seniors, which was a tough blow, but the Pioneers are also gaining six new freshmen that Barberee is excited
about. She wants to continue success from last year. She doesn’t see any reason they won’t advance again. Barberee said: “We’ve got a fire and I’m excited for a new year.” For more information
on the TWU Volleyball team, visit https://www. twuathletics.com.
Tex-Mex makes its way to the Denton historic square
Dallas | Art
Hogue exhibit blows through town
Dallas Museum of Art features former TWU faculty member
“A dust storm hit, an’ it hit like thunder; It dusted us over, an’ it covered us under; Blocked out the traffic and blocked out the sun, Straight for home all the people did run …” - Woody Guthrie, “Dusty Old Dust”
DMA upcoming exhibits From the Village to Vogue: The Modernist Jewelry of Art Smith – 6/14/14 to 12/7/14 | Focus II Gallery Mind’s Eye: Masterworks on Paper from David to Cézanne – 6/29/14 to 10/26/14 | Chilton I Gallery Concentrations 57: Slavs and Tatars – 7/18/14 to 12/14/14 | Focus I Gallery Isa Genzken: Retrospective – 9/14/14 to 1/4/15 | Barrel Vault and Hanley, Lamont, Rachofsky, and Stoffel Galleries Bouquets: French Still–Life Painting from Chardin to Matisse – 10/26/14 to 2/8/15 | Chilton II Gallery
Photo courtesy of Alexandre Hogue, “Drouth Stricken Area,” Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas Art Association Purchase. Copyright of Olivia Hogue Marino & Amalia Marino
Former TWU faculty member Alexandre Hogue’s oil on canvas titled “Drouth Stricken Area.”
Maura Teague Contributor maurateague@gmail. com In the 1930s, the Dust Bowl, the worst man-made ecological catastrophe in American history, struck prairies in the Texas panhandle. Over-farming combined with seasonal drought and harsh winds brought dust storms so thick they eclipsed the sun. Americans in the Great Plains lost their entire livelihoods: crops, livestock, and homes. Even their lives were lost to fatal cases of pneumonia caused by dust inhalation. Fertile grasslands were transformed into a desert so desolate, so uninhabitable, that it prompted the biggest migration westward since the Gold Rush. Texas artist and TWU Art faculty from 19311942 Alexandre Hogue witnessed both the causes and the consequences of the Dust Bowl firsthand. In response, he painted The Erosion Series. According
to the Dallas Museum of Art, “The Erosion Series … served as an alarm to the public and an accusation and rebuke to powers that, through encouraging poor farming practices, had helped to produce the greatest agricultural disaster in American history.” The large paintings feature emotional renderings of desolation, death, and abandonment. The corpses of cattle and the skeletal remnants of homesteads are overtaken by the dust. Hogue depicts erosion by wind and water with a detailed fidelity, adding a sense of eerie reality to the scenes. Hogue’s brushstroke is subtle and precise, and pieces are rendered in a simultaneously realistic and symbolic style the artist himself called “psychorealism.” Although visually the paintings are evocative of surrealism, Hogue’s “psychorealism” differs in that the symbols in Hogue’s paintings are intended to communicate specifically, logically, and
Cafe Herrera Denton
clearly with the viewer. The artist is not plumbing the subconscious, but rather is trying to communicate a clear message about the impact of humanity’s technologically stream-lined greed on the environment. His message is directly communicated in the painting “Mother Earth Laid Bare,” in which the symbolic body of a nude woman merges with the earth, head turned away, helpless as her grass garments are being ripped away by an aggressor, leaving her vulnerable to the elements. The exhibition features sketches displayed sideby-side with finished paintings, offering visitors a glimpse into the artist’s rigorous and painstaking process. The series is on display at the DMA through June 15. For more information, visit http:// www.dallasmuseumofart.org/ press-release/alexandre-hogueerosion-series.
Alex Ancira Contributor aancira@twu.edu Denton’s historic square may have a lot, but it certainly doesn’t have everything a Dentonite could wish for in a night out on the town. Luckily, one more item can be crossed off the list as a sit-down Tex-Mex restaurant has taken a spot on the square in the form of Café Herrera. The restaurant is part of a local chain from Dallas, easily accessible from the DART lines. A huge plus for the Denton location is how spacious the inside feels after entering. Yes, there are many tables for different parties to be waited, but overall there’s a comfortable openness that makes it easy to relax and enjoy the food and festivities. The atmosphere for the restaurant is modern in look and feeling, which suits the location. With a somewhat industrial use of stone flooring and simple woods, the restaurant boasts a contemporary chic vibe, adding a new type of internal appearance along with a different cuisine to Denton’s square. Now we move on to the most important aspect: the food. First off, the food is not incredibly expensive for a sit-down restaurant. Across the square, you could easily go to The Abbey Inn or Lone Star Attitude Burger Company and spend about as much without trying. Second, the service is really fast and helpful, with waiters that seemed concerned about how everything was and whether I needed more chips and salsa or more to drink. The portions are definitely hardy and leave enough food at the end of a meal to take some home for another time. The salsa is an extremely wet blend of standard salsa stock (tomatoes, cumin, paprika, onion) and fire-roasted garlic that adds a pleasantly stingy bitter flavor to the
courtesy appetizer. The enchiladas, which could be considered one of the Tex-Mex staples, were excellently fried and topped with smooth creamy cheese. The quesadillas were also excellent, comprised of a blend of cheeses melted into hardened flour tortillas and cut for convenience. What really seemed to make Café Herrera worth checking out is the freshness of the ingredients. Tex-Mex is all about the flavors and how they blend together for a cohesive and distinguishable taste, and Café Herrera hits that concept on the nose. The best aspect of Café Herrera is what the restaurant brings to Denton’s historic square. With a frozen yogurt shop, a community theater, pizza place, a few bars, a british pub, an ice cream shop, comic shop, record store, and a used book store built in an opera house, Denton’s square is easily one of the most diverse night life spots in the DFW area. Throw a Tex-Mex restaurant into the mix and, well, it doesn’t get much better. Compared with offthe-square Tex-Mex fixtures of Denton such as El Guapo’s, Herrera Café (confusing, I know), Rusty Taco and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Café Herrera is very middle of the road. The pricing is fair and what you might expect for a sitdown restaurant, offering food that is fresh and good but not necessarily great. They don’t have the best tacos (Fuzzy’s or Rusty come to mind) or the best enchiladas or tamales (that goes to Herrera Café), but they certainly are very good for the price you pay, especially when put next to On the Border or any other major chain. Come out to Café Herrera if you’ve been craving Tex-Mex that doesn’t require leaving Denton’s night life for even a second to get to.