09.30.16

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Trinitonian Butterfly Invasion

Uneven Olympic Coverage

Greek Athletes

American snout butterf lies take over San Antonio skies leaving Trinity with mixed feelings.

Paralympic athletes break World Records with less media coverage than Olympic athletes.

Debate begins over whether student athletes should be allowed to take a bid. PAGE 20 A&E

PAGE 4 NEWS

Serving Trinity University Since 1902

Volume 114 Issue 7

PAGE 22 SPORTS

September 30, 2016

Good Kids tackles difficult conversation Sorority surrounding sexual assault on campus charity Performance inspired by the Steubenville High School rape case in the works

KATIE FARRELL performs as Deidre, a character inspired by Anonymous, in the Trinity theater production of Good Kids photo by CLAUDIA GARCIA

BY ELIZABETH McENRUE

PULSE REPORTER

This weekend, the theatre department will debut the first show of its 2016-2017 season — Naomi Izuka’s “Good Kids.” Kyle Gillette, director of “Good Kids,” chose this play based on a proposal from Tim Francis, lighting

designer and technical director. “Good Kids” is from a series of plays commissioned as part of the Big Ten Theatre Consortium. This initiative aims to produce and publicize plays from American female playwrights and is meant to draw attention to the scarcity of new works by women. These plays must include at least six significant roles for college-aged women.

“This one has to do with sexual assault and the aftermath in social media, and how people treat things differently. It is such an urgently important thing to do for our campus for obvious reasons but for any campus, really,” Gillette said. “We do want to put more focus on how theatre can be a way to explore the dynamics of things like rape culture, stereotypes about gender

and sexuality. How we can prevent [sexual assault] and also be there for people who are survivors. And what is the culture surrounding it, trying to understand that.” Loosely based on the Steubenville High School rape case of 2012, “Good Kids” is set in a Midwestern high school in the present age of smartphones and social media. “Good Kids” examines the fallout on social media when a casual sexual encounter goes wrong. As part of the marketing campaign for “Good Kids,” Katie Farrell and Liz Metzger, senior theatre major and undeclared sophomore, respectively, created a photo series depicting scenes of sexual assault. The inspiration for the “Good Kids” promotional photos came from a photoset titled “It Happens” by Yana Mazurkevich, a junior at Ithaca College in New York. Mazurkevich got her inspiration from the Brock Turner case at Stanford as well as stories from her friends. “Liz and I were hanging out one day, and we saw the original set of photos that came about after the Stanford rape case. We were like, ‘Hey, I wonder if we could do something like this for “Good Kids”?’ It would be a really good marketing campaign, and it would also just be really impactful. It speaks a lot to the show itself,” Farrell said. Metzger said that her inspiration from the photo series were the accompanying quotes. Further, she like the diversity represented through the series. Continued on page 18

TUVAC serves San Antonio for 40 years Changes to club attract new faces BY COURTNEY JUSTUS

PULSE REPORTER

The Trinity University Volunteer Action Committee (TUVAC) has worked for years to connect the Trinity community with an abundance of volunteering

opportunities. About two months ago, the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success hired Scott Brown as an assistant director, giving him the opportunity to serve as staff advisor for the organization. “TUVAC has been around for over 40 years, so I know there’s a rich history here and that’s something I want to build on and enhance,” Brown said. “That requires listening and understanding what TUVAC’s

presence is, where we have been and where we want to go.” Brown works directly with five student coordinators to help plan different volunteering projects. He would like to link TUVAC activities to the Trinity Tomorrow plan, which seeks to build up opportunities for experiential learning through the cultivation of Trinity’s core values of impact, discovery, excellence, the individual and community.

“I think we’re well-positioned and increasing the number of experiential learning opportunities for students,” Brown said. “TUVAC can certainly be a vehicle for that because it really fits nicely into the core values of the institution. It empowers students to go out into the community, get a sense of what San Antonio is like, expand their worldview and make an impact through service.” Continued on page 17

night at Club Rio BY PHILLIP McKEON

NEWS REPORTER

Thursday, Sept. 29, the Alpha Chi Lambda sorority hosted their annual “Ignite the Night” philanthropy event at Club Rio. Ignite the Night has been happening annually for about a decade now. Lower ticket prices are expected to raise attendance levels. “Ignite the Night is a philanthropy dance for Alpha Chi Lambda, and we’ve been doing it every fall for about ten years now. It’s a whole bunch of fun, and tickets are a lot cheaper this year than they have been in previous years, so hopefully even more people will decide to donate this year,” said Annalisa Trevino, senior and president of Alpha Chi Lambda sorority. Alpha Chi Lambda works with An Orphan’s Bright Star to help children in Ukrainian orphanages. “All the proceeds go to An Orphan’s Bright Star, a charitable organization that sponsors orphanages in Ukraine. We partner with this nonprofit each year partially because it was actually started by an Alpha Chi alum, which is really cool. It’s very near and dear to our hearts because it’s something that was started by someone who we care a lot about as an organization,” Trevino said. A considerable number of Ukrainian children find themselves, for various reasons, living out their childhood in orphanages. “Of Ukraine’s eight million children some 96,000 live in staterun children’s institutions such as orphanages, boarding schools and shelters. Family poverty, unemployment, alcoholism and drug use are the main reasons for children being abandoned. Thousands of children also choose to run away from violence in their homes. They find refuge on the streets where they run the risk of contracting tuberculosis and HIV through injecting drugs,” according to UNICEF Ukraine. Continued on page 3


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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 •

NEWS

BRIEFS National

International

The Witte Museum is taking ownership of the White Shaman Preserve in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. The site was originally overseen by the all-volunteer group Rock Art Foundation. The Witte has had connections to the site for several years and displays many artifacts found at the site. The transfer will take effect in January.

For the first time in 50 years, a United States president has nominated an ambassador to Cuba. President Obama selected Jeffery DeLaurentis to serve at the embassy in Havana. He will still need to be approved by the Senate. This nomination comes after an effort over several years to thaw ties with the communist country.

The World Health Organization ( WHO) released a report on Tuesday that approximately 90 percent of the world’s population lives somewhere with poor air quality. Further, WHO stated that this air pollution crisis is a major factor in millions of deaths per year.

mysanantonio.com

nytimes.com

aljazeera.com

San Antonio

TUPD

SGA At this week’s meeting, SGA heard the funding requests of seven organizations. The total funding request was $24,030.74. Six of the seven requests were approved at this meeting. SGA also discussed upcoming events. Compiled by Alex Uri

09.23.2016 1:39 a.m. Location: William H. Bell Center Public intoxication

09.26.2016 12:13 p.m. Location: 538 K ings Court Harassment

09.23.2016 9:12 p.m. Location: William H. Bell Center Weapons

09.26.2016 9:47 a.m. Location: Coates University Center Theft

Staff editor-in-chief: Julia Elmore managing editor: Grace Frye business manager: Dzung Vu ad directors: Lauren Harris & Christina Moore news editor: Alexandra Uri campus pulse editor: Emily Elliott arts & entertainment editor: Dylan Wagner sports editor: Markham Sigler opinion editor: Daniel Conrad photo editor: Miguel Webber graphic editor: Tyler Herron layout editor: Katie Groke web editor: Abi Birdsell circulation director: Maddie Kennedy

reporters: Kathleen Creedon, Chris Garcia, Elise Hester, Courtney Justus, Elizabeth McEnrue, Haley McFadden, Philip McKeon, Alex Motter, Jeffrey Sullivan, Christiana Zgourides columnists: Alejandro Cardona, Max Freeman, Mia Garza, Sarah Haley, Joy Lazarus, Gabriel Levine, Alexander Perkowski, Emily Peter, Callum Squires, Nabeeha Virani copy editors: Soleil Gaffner, Julia Poage, Julia Weis cartoonist: Michael Miller photographers: Noah Davidson, Claudia Garcia, Henry Pratt, Will Insull business staff: Sarah McIntyre, Krushi Patel advertising staff: Melissa Chura, Jordan Williams, Nick Kim, Taylor Shelgren adviser: Katharine Martin

Index News......................................3-4 Opinion................................6-8 Live in SA..............................9-16

Pulse......................................17-18 A&E......................................19-21 Sports....................................22-24

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NEWS • SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

Sorority

continued from Front The sorority chose Club Rio based on the size of the venue. “We’ve been doing different clubs for the past two years but usually hold it at Rio since it’s one of the few clubs large enough and accessible enough to hold an event of this magnitude,” said Alex Cohen, Ignite the Night chair for Alpha Chi Lambda. Ignite the Night helps raise awareness of the struggles faced by these children. “Apart from being underfunded, orphanages in Ukraine have children that are at risk for labor and sex trafficking, and Ignite the Night is a good, efficient and fun way to spread this awareness throughout campus and possibly outside of campus. I’ve worked with humanitarian organizations before, helping displaced children to receive basic necessities like food, shelter, water and clothing. These children are in need of aid because they have little to nothing left and as an Alpha Chi, I’m proud to know that our organization is giving them a chance at a better life,” said Lauren Truong, a junior Alpha Chi. An Orphan’s Bright Star benefits children who, through no fault of their own, have found themselves in dire times. “This isn’t a local issue, and we may not ever actually meet these kids, but we’re helping provide them with the funds to make the most out of the bad situation they somehow ended up in. It may not fix everything, but every little bit helps,” Trevino said. An Orphan’s Bright Star works diligently to help improve the lives of these children. Alpha Chi Lambda is trying to raise more money than they did with last year’s fundraiser. “We have given upwards of $3,000 in a semester before, and that’s all for just one dance. That’s a pretty huge amount to raise, and we’re very proud of that, so we have got to keep going and raise as much money as we can so that we can help these kids get what they need,” Trevino said.

New mock trial club raises bar

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Students work to create courtroom-styled campus organization BY AUBREY PARKE

NEWS INTERN

First year Ben Brody is in the process of starting Trinity’s first Mock Trial club with the sponsorship of John Hermann, associate professor of political science, and Claudia Stokes, chair of the English department. Through weekly meetings, Brody hopes to develop a competitive Mock Trial team, create a forum for Trinity students to discuss controversial issues, and provide practical experience for students interested in law. In Mock Trial, two teams argue their cases before a judge in a courtroom setting. Each team is comprised of two co-attorneys and one witness. Brody’s passion for the activity stems from two years of experience in competition, including a State Championship title. “We want Trinity students to see the court process, understand issues better and expand their thinking,” Brody said. “It should have a ‘People vs. O.J. Simpson’ feel.” An average of 13 students have come to each of the three meetings held thus far. Instead of attending tournaments this year, club members plan to compete against each other on campus over controversial topics like marijuana legalization and abortion law. Students outside of the club may serve as the jury. Right now, meetings focus on the basics of Mock Trial, such as the roles of attorneys, juries and witnesses. Future meetings will include practice rounds, guest lectures and in-depth discussion of current legal issues. “The goal is to get newcomers to really understand Mock Trial so they can train next year’s newcomers,” Brody said.

graphic by TYLER HERRON

Several Trinity students have unsuccessfully tried to launch Mock Trial clubs in the past. “Becoming a legitimate organization is a very daunting process,” Hermann said. “Mock Trial is a great way of exploring divisive issues. Often people can’t discuss sensitive issue with reason and research. But Ben needs to explore how Mock Trial is related to debate. Does this add value to campus?” Brody acknowledged this challenge, but still sees Mock Trial as a more practical activity than debate. “It’s a setting where you aren’t just talking about issues but settling on a resolution. It’s a place to refine the skills needed for making this happen. We can give back to Trinity by getting students involved in the legal process,” Brody said. Kristina Reinis, a first-year founding member of the club, is motivated in part by her goal of attending law school. “For students who want to be in pre-law, debate helps somewhat, but this helps you get

used to the court system and actual litigation. Mock Trial helps you figure out what you want to do in life by applying knowledge in a careerfocused way,” Reinis said. The Mock Trial club is spearheaded by first years. Brody went around at NSO trying to gain support for the fledgling club. He collected over 40 signatures. “The students were so persuasive and passionate about it that I couldn’t say no,” Stokes said. Despite concerns, Hermann also sees potential in the club. “Ben is really an incredible young man. He seems to be resourceful. I think that if students have great ideas, that will contribute to the University. I’m going to find a way to help him,” Hermann said. Even though the process of becoming an official club could take nearly two months, Brody is actively recruiting members. Interested students should reach out via email (bbrody@trinity.edu).

Trinity emphasizes faculty-led study abroad Fair allows students interested in studying outside of the United States to learn about FLSA opportunities BY CHRISTIANA ZGOURIDES

NEWS REPORTER

Last Monday, Sept. 19, the Center for International Engagement held its annual Study Abroad Fair on the Coates esplanade. Eleven Faculty-led Study Abroad (FLSA) programs and roughly 20 outside program providers were at the fair. Recently, Trinity has been working to increase the number of FLSA programs available to students. “In 2010, it was only like Madrid and the Shanghai program ... In the past years we’re increasing the number to give more access and options for students to go abroad on Trinity’s programs,” said Andre Martinez, study abroad advisor. While some FLSA programs were initially independent of the Study Abroad office, there has been deliberate collaboration between all FLSA programs and the Center for International Engagement (CIE). “I believe that the collaboration between Study Abroad and our FLSA programs allows faculty more time to plan the academic portion of the program while we assist with the program logistics,” Martinez said. “We are assisting faculty with marketing, flyers, posters advertising, STEP registration for students, paperwork, plus much, much more.”

Katsuo Nishikawa-Chavez, director of the Center for International Engagement, explained that many study abroad programs are not as rigorous as Trinity classes, and there is often no continuity between what the student does abroad and what they do when they return to campus. Nishikawa-Chavez referred to this disconnect as a “Frankenstein approach.” “The idea of doing faculty-led is to avoid that disjoint,” Nishikawa-Chavez explained. “So that you’re prepared, you have that experience and it’s a high-quality experience, and then you come back and we help you to do something with that experience.” Benjamin Collinger, a sophomore who plans to major in international studies and history, explained the unique insights that Assistant Professor of political science Rosa Aloisi was able to provide on the Hague International Justice Program last spring since she worked in the field of international criminal justice in The Netherlands. “Dr. Aloisi was an intern in the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia,” Collinger said. “So we got to hear her perspective on the things that she had seen while she was working there, the people that she knew, and that’s something that you can only get from a professor, and that adds a whole different layer to it.” Nishikawa-Chavez explained that these “beyond the classroom” courses create cohesion between what students learn on campus and what they do while abroad. “So it’s a class, and at one point in the class you go abroad for a short period, and you leverage what you were learning in the classroom. So this is akin to a chemistry seminar with a lab component,” Nishikawa-Chavez said.

The Hague program is one of seven facultyled programs that involves both an on-campus course and a short period abroad. The abroad component of these courses are staggered throughout the semester to accommodate different schedules. For example, trips to Cuba and London take place in December and January, before classes begin. Programs in Dominica and Nicaragua will take place over spring break, and programs in the Hague, Berlin and Iceland will take place in May. In addition, there are short summer tour options specifically for athletes, and six longer summer programs that include course credits. These faculty-led programs are part of a larger initiative to get more students to go abroad. “We need to be able to give everybody an international experience. And that means people with different schedules, with different abilities to pay and people with different interests,” Nishikawa-Chavez said. Taylor Moser, a junior majoring in communication and business, explained the importance of scheduling in her study abroad experience. “I’m super happy that they have these opportunities for people to go in the summer, because there’s a lot of majors that just don’t allow it,” Moser said. Moser explained that with her academic course load and involvement with athletics and Greek life on campus, she would not have been able to go abroad for a full semester. The upper division business course offered on the trip met a requirement for her major. This year, the Japan program will focus on political science and business, with classes at Kwansei Gakuin, a liberal arts university in Nishinomiya, Japan.

“Hopefully in the near future, engineering, psychology, C.S., accounting, chemistry and music students will all have programs that fit their needs and time constraints,” NishikawaChavez said in an email. “Japan is an example of this, it can work, Dr. Myers, the chair of the C.S. department really wants to see this be a reality and we are working with him to create the best experience possible for his students.” In addition to scheduling, many students worry about cost when deciding whether to go abroad. Nishikawa-Chavez stressed that President Anderson is very motivated to make study abroad financially accessible to more students. “We’re working on that, that’s one of the big components that we want to talk about. So nothing has been decided, the only thing that we know for sure is that there will be some money for need-based grants,” NishikawaChavez said. Several new trips are forthcoming: a program at Tec de Monterrey Mexico for business and entrepreneurship, a social sciences program in Vietnam, a U.K. summer school program for the humanities, a program in Italy for theater, summer school programs in Taiwan and Mexico, a program in Senegal and STEM programs in Mexico and Puerto Rico. Martinez emphasized the importance of starting early in planning your study abroad experience in order to plan ahead for graduation requirements. “I want to see every first-year student, if possible, come through first steps,” Martinez said. “Start early. That’s the biggest thing.” Students interested in going abroad are encouraged to sign up for a “First Steps” information session through the Trinity Study Abroad website.


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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 •

NEWS

San Antonio invaded by snout butterflies Trinity community meets swarm of snout nose insects with wide range of emotions BY KATHLEEN CREEDON

NEWS REPORTER

Recently, there has been an abundance of butterflies in San Antonio and on campus. These increased sightings have led students and faculty to question the cause of the influx and how long it will last. An invasion of this scale hasn’t been recorded in south Texas since 2012. The butterflies are known as snout butterflies because of their long, trunk-like noses and have come to San Antonio from overpopulated, resource-exhausted areas in search for both mates and food. The butterflies are following no particular path. They move in masses in many directions in order to find the resources they need. Kelly Lyons, biology professor, explained how the movement is different from what is usually considered a migration. “It’s not a migration; people think it’s a migration. If anything, it’s just mass groups moving from one place to another, so as resources deplete in one area, the population will move to another area in search of more resources,” Lyons said. The butterflies are in search of their main food source, the hackberry tree. The butterflies also eat the nectar from the flowers of the aster, dogwood, dogbane, goldenrod and sweet pepperbush plants.

A snout butterfly stops to get some nectar from a flower on campus. photo by MIGUEL WEBBER

Though the butterflies ultimately remove all of the leaves from the trees, the trees are able to replenish the leaves. “It’s amazing what plants can put up with,” Lyons said. These butterflies are attracted to the abundance of hackberry trees and their leaves that sprout after late summer rains followed by dry spells. The rain diminishes the snout butterflies’ predators and allows them to reproduce with more easily.

Fall Family Weekend Highlights Friday, September 30 6:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Men’s Soccer & Women’s Soccer vs Southwestern Paul McGinlay Soccer Field

Saturday, OctOber 1 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Family Weekend @ The Market 609 N. Campus Dr., between Coates Library and Hildebrand Avenue

12:00 - 1:00 p.m. Reception with Faculty ecoGround by Java City, Coates Library

1:15 - 2:00 p.m. State of the University Address with President Danny Anderson

Ruth Taylor Recital Hall 2:30 - 3:30 p.m. Faculty Lecture for Parents The 2016 Presidential Election: How We Got Here and Where We’re Going Fiesta Room, Coates University Center

For the full schedule: gotu.us/cfm1g

We’re glad you’re here!

“They go through boom-and-bust cycles. When we have a late, wet summer, there are plenty of resources for them in these hackberries. They have this big population growth,” Lyons said. The butterflies have caused issues with students. Some students reported dirty windshields and bumpers from driving through the masses of butterflies, and others said they have had butterflies fly into them while walking around on campus and other

locations in San Antonio. “They’re everywhere, and they keep running into windshields and causing stains,” said first year Delia Rogers. The butterflies have been seen off campus as well. First year Ian Pugh and a group of friends were bombarded by the winged insects on a trip off campus. “In the Target parking lot, we got swarmed with them — it was so bizarre,” Pugh said. Though the large number of butterflies has become a nuisance for students who drive, they have created fewer problems for those walking around campus. Despite the annoyance, first year Abigail Bowen is beginning to appreciate their beauty and presence. “I’d be driving around, and they’re literally everywhere,” Bowen said. “I woke up from a nap, and there were hundreds of them on my window, and it was beautiful.” First year Emily Bourgeois can also see both sides to the butterflies presence on campus. “I’m not a big fan of the fact that they fly at my face while I’m walking to class and trying to focus, but I like butterflies. I think they’re beautiful,” Bourgeois said. Some students have not noticed the seemingly ubiquitous butterflies. Even students who drive reported not realizing the large number of butterflies. “I didn’t really notice them. I guess I just haven’t been the places they’ve been,” said junior Chris Nkinthorn. These butterflies only fly through south Texas when the conditions are ideal. As they exhaust the resources available in San Antonio, sightings of butterflies will begin to dwindle. The butterflies are headed towards the Rio Grande River area. Their numbers are expected to decrease in the San Antonio area in the coming days.


ADVERTISEMENT • SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

Thinking Big About Your Career? Come learn about some of the prestigious, highly competitive, national and international scholarships and fellowships available to our best and brightest. Sophomores and juniors are especially encouraged to attend, but we welcome first-years and seniors as well. Major Scholarships & Fellowships Information Meeting Thursday, October 6, 4:00-5:00pm, Waxahachie Room (Coates) Some of the scholarships covered include: Beinecke Scholarship — the program seeks to encourage and enable (by means of a $34,000 award) college juniors ‘”to be courageous" in the selection of a graduate course of study in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Fulbright Scholarship — The U.S. Government sponsored Fulbright U.S. Student Program provides future American leaders with unparalleled opportunities to study and conduct research in other nations. The Fulbright program also provides teaching grants overseas to new graduates that are like "typical" Fulbright fellowships but require half-time English teaching in a wide variety of countries around the world. Goldwater Scholarship — The Goldwater Foundation seeks to support undergraduate students with a strong commitment to a career in mathematics, the natural sciences, computer science and/or engineering, Promising candidates show intellectual intensity in these fields and have the potential for significant future contribution. Rhodes Scholarship — The Rhodes scholarship funds two years of postgraduate study at Oxford University. Criteria are high academic achievement, integrity of character, a spirit of unselfishness, respect for others, potential leadership, and physical vigor. Interested candidates need to apply internally the spring before the October deadline. Marshall Scholarship — The Marshall scholarship funds two years of postgraduate study at any university in the U.K. Interested candidates need to apply internally the spring before the October deadline. Truman Scholarship — named for President Harry Truman, this merit-based scholarship awards up to $30,000 to college juniors who plan to pursue careers in government, the nonprofit or advocacy sectors, education, or elsewhere in public service. Includes leadership training and fellowship with other students who are committed to making a difference through public service. National Science Foundation — The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship provides three years of generous financial support for graduate students in the natural sciences, social sciences, math, and engineering. *And several others! Some of these take years to prepare for. Start thinking about them NOW! This ad brought to you by the Office of Academic Affairs.

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COMMENTARY Have an opinion? Want others to hear it? For a chance to be featured as a guest columnist, please submit your article to trinitonian@trinity.edu by Monday night to be in Thursday’s issue of the paper.

Opinion

Open letter for Trinity Theatre’s “Good Kids” The performing arts only stand to benefit from casting disabled actors to play disabled characters RUTH BANKS

GUEST COLUMNIST This Friday, Sept. 30, Naomi Iizuka’s play “Good Kids” will open in the Stieren Theater. “Good Kids” is an incredibly important play that addresses the issues of rape culture in our social media-driven world. As well as being written by a woman, which only 17 percent of published plays are, “Good Kids” features a diverse group of characters that allow for a much more inclusive theatrical experience than one might normally have. The narrator of the play, Deirdre, is even in a wheelchair. Unfortunately, there is an ablebodied actress in the role of Deirdre. It is easy to understand why this would happen; casting and working with an able-bodied actress is often easier than accommodating one that is mobility impaired, but easier does not mean better or right. When was the last time you saw a disabled artist on stage? It has probably been a while. Performance arts are inherently difficult to be involved in as a disabled person. I say this as someone with a handicapped parking placard, a list of doctors

in the double digits and an increased reliance on mobility aids. It is possible to find a place in the arts with impaired mobility, but it is an uphill battle (and anyone who has used a wheelchair knows just how much of a struggle going uphill can be). While I am grateful for my time in the Trinity theatre department, I’m starting to think that the reason my path was to leave it was so that I would be in the best position to start this conversation. An artform that is so inherently exclusionary of those with disabilities should not be trying to represent disabled people without first addressing the lack of disabled artists within it. The first question I was asked when I started digging into this production was “Well what would be your alternative?” So here’s a couple of options I’ve come up with after consulting with a disabled advocacy group: 1. The play should not have been done by this department. It is a great play, but if, as a department, we do not collaborate with disabled artists regularly, the production of this play should be left to more inclusive groups. Representation needs to be rooted in inclusion; otherwise it is appropriation.

2. An outside actress should have been brought in for the role. I know that sounds silly given that we are an educational institution and ideally all parts should be given to Trinity University students; however, it has happened before. During our production of “Pippin” a child actor was brought in so that the appropriate age of a character could be portrayed, and during “Mousetrap” this past season a professor was cast in a show because he was a great fit for the part, so why could the same not be done to accurately represent this character’s level of ability? There are many amazing disabled artists both in the San Antonio theater community and beyond, so if the department had its heart set on producing this show, a more appropriate cast member should have been brought in. This letter is not an attack on Trinity theater; I have a deep love for both students and faculty members involved. Instead, I want to start a conversation. Why did this happen? Why, as far as I’m aware, has no one blinked an eye at this? Disability representation in the arts has taken several huge steps forward in the past year

alone; ABC now has a show called “Speechless” that features a child actor with cerebral palsy, and this past season on Broadway the revival of “Spring Awakening” featured a large number of deaf actors. With so many steps forward in the artistic world, it is depressing to watch Trinity University take a step backwards. I am not asking for “Good Kids” to be boycotted. I am not asking for anyone to be punished. All I am asking is, in the coming weeks as this show opens and runs, please consider the fact that the Stieren stage has steps leading up to it and an able-bodied actress rolling around in a wheelchair on stage. As an artist who recently had to take a step back from theater largely due to my disability, I can tell you that that image nicely sums up what an able-bodied world the theater still is. So let’s talk about it. You don’t have to agree with me to participate in the conversation, but I think we owe it to ourselves and to our university to ask if we could do better than this, because, personally, I believe that we can, and that we must.

The Kaepernick conundrum I’m aware that I’m a little late on this, but writing a biweekly column creates some problems at times. I’m often a week behind everyone else. I’m also aware that pretty CALLUM SQUIRES much everyone under OPINION COLUMNIST the sun has given their opinion on this issue but, hey, if I can’t use this platform to jump on a bandwagon, what is it for? I’m talking, of course, about Mr. Colin Kaepernick and his national anthem protest. The truth of the matter is that this issue goes way deeper than showing respect to the anthem and the flag, but it’s certainly the embodiment of it in the national press right now. This is in no way meant to disrespect the U.S.A., but if this were in England, I would not be bothered at all. Patriotism is very different around the world. The United Kingdom is so divided that many of the countries within it do everything they can to distance themselves from England. I’m proudly European, British, half-Scottish and half-English, but am absolutely fine with saying that I hate the English national anthem. It’s an outdated, monotonous song with a racist verse we no longer sing. I know the words due to having watched enough international soccer games to last a lifetime, but I’m far more proud of my country for its successes rather than its flag or its song. The Kaepernick issue is not an issue to me at all. He is exercising his rights as a citizen of this country to peacefully protest and making a real statement in doing so. And I think it’s totally valid. How can anyone in this country really be surprised that these sort of protests are occurring when African-American men continue to be shot and killed in unprovoked incidents on a weekly basis? It pains me that a Trinity classmate and friend of mine tweeted last week that he’d been pulled over by a policeman and felt that his life depended on how fast he reached for his license and registration. There was no irony in that tweet. How can anyone be okay with this? I’m not police bashing — it’s an incredibly hard job

to enforce the law — but these tragedies keep happening and it cannot be simply by accident every single time. The issues and racial divisions in this country right now are at a particularly tense point. I’m well aware that with the first presidential debate this past Monday, Trump and his views are only exacerbating this situation. I can’t express how strongly I feel that a Trump presidency would be an awful stain on the history of both this country and planet as a whole. You may not like Clinton, but she’s undoubtedly the lesser of two evils in this situation. You will not convince me otherwise. But beyond Trump’s bigotry and blatant racism is the topic that some people are bothered by oppressed people expressing their displeasure. Kaepernick’s protest is viewed as a lack of respect for this country. If anything, it’s the antithesis of this. It’s a statement of disappointment. America IS the land of opportunity for all and CAN be the cultural melting pot that creates such great multicultural cities like New York. Kaepernick, and so many others, feel like this expectation is not yet being met when injustice is prevalent and people like Keith Scott are shot and killed. The genius of this particular form of protest is just how divisive it has been. America as a country is so proudly patriotic that going against the tradition of patriotically saluting the flag and anthem causes uproar in a way it wouldn’t anywhere else. And it’s 100 percent peaceful. So many people are taking notice, other players have joined in, even in other sports like Megan Rapinoe for the U.S. women’s national soccer team, this is only just beginning. If the American public reacts to this correctly, it should be a cause to unite around. Safety and protection for all citizens is simply a right that the constitution is supposed to protect. But who am I to comment on this? A foreigner in your country who doesn’t have a direct connection to this issue. Maybe, then, I can comment on it objectively. I have grown to love this place so much, and hate the fact that it can be so divided. If we can bring everyone back together, and eliminate issues like this, we really can make America great again.* *No Trump necessary.

Masterplan Concept Drawing for Trinity Bubble comic by MICHAEL MILLER

EDITORIAL

Deep in the art of Texas Since it’s located 80 miles south of the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capitol of the World,” it is easy to write off the San Antonio arts scene in favor of a short trip to Austin. Headlined with massive festival experiences, Austin claims the role of San Antonio’s cultured cousin that spent a gap year abroad, which, like, totally changed their life. But if Austin is our cultured cousin, San Antonio is definitely taking note, learning from Austin’s mistakes, and on the rise — and there is no better time to see that in the arts than now. Gone are the days of quiet bars, empty mic nights and echoing halls of empty art galleries: San Antonio is a hot spot of culture, and it’s time that we recognize this. Not only is the live music scene blossoming with the resurgence of locations like the North St. Mary’s strip, but San Antonio has also seen major growth in the improv comedy scene. Troupes such as Missed Opportunity, an all-women, long-form improv comedy troupe made up of Trinity alumnae, are cropping up and capturing the interest of many even outside the Trinity bubble. In

addition to performance art, San Antonio’s visual art scene has never been stronger. From street vendors out during the monthly King William’s First Friday celebration to international artists opening exhibits in its vast gallery scene, San Antonio’s visual art demands appreciation. San Antonio is home to several arts festivals. Examples include Maverick Music Festival, Mala Luna music festival, Jazz’SAlive and the annual celebration of local art and artists, Luminaria. Not only do these feature international superstars, they also highlight the arts close to home. Good music does not require hours of driving and hundreds of dollars to enjoy; it’s right in our backyard. Finally, the San Antonio art scene is a collection of old and new, traditional and modern, and is so unique to San Antonio that no other city comes close to matching our style. So it’s time we stop comparing ourselves to them. It’s time we claim our city and celebrate our arts for what they are. We are not small. We are not quiet. We are not dull. We are Live in SA.


OPINION • SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

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The state of the modern dance Senior reflects on formal dances from high school to the silver screen following TigerFest 2016 I grew up watching movies. Movies of older generations mostly; and, because I was the youngest and outnumbered by a house of men, they tended to be of the action or superhero JOY LAZARUS OPINION COLUMNIST variety. I managed not to rememember most of those plotlines. Instead, I discovered the incredibly misleading category of romantic comedies. I think the work in the earlier movies erred more on the side of romance than comedy, and now, with current releases, the opposite is true. But after years of diligent study, I can firmly attest that romantic comedies usually incorporate one certain kind of pivotal scene. For me, it started with Cinderella. She goes to the ball, dressed to dazzle by a fairy godmother, and loses a shoe but gains the prospect of a prince. And movies I saw following that had the same premise that involved either hope, expectation or insurmountable loss when it came to dances. Can you think of a romantic comedy that doesn’t involve a dance scene? The dance scene is like the pinnacle of the movie. Free flowing libations, nicely-dressed people and a cloud

of darkness punctuated by the ever-flashing strobe light leading to an unexpected end. The heroine wears a dress that makes you think she is at least 50 percent more attractive, but with mascara on. At TigerFest, I relived my highschool dance experiences, but with alcohol for purchase. Our chariot awaited in the form of a luxury chartered bus, complete with driver. The wristbands, complimentary chocolate bars and faculty members doubling as chaperones took me back to a younger version of myself. The venue had character and twinkling lights that lined the ceiling. This was unfamiliar territory, since my high school usually rented out hotel convention rooms and just removed the tables. Actually, I don’t remember much about my high school dance settings, besides for the half-decent DJ and the one or two slow songs that cued single people to run off in different directions. During my senior prom, someone pulled the fire alarm and we had to leave the premise for 20 minutes of our allocated threehour slot. It was magical. Dances, historically, have been as much about boys and girls as they’ve been about the dancing. Everyone is looking at or around each other, or trying to figure out where someone else is. I’m never entirely sure where to look, and often enough my eyes land on a

Meeting expectations

In the presidential debates, preparedness matters When Hillary Clinton walked out in a red pantsuit, the tone for the first debate was set. Fashion misgivings aside, if there is one thing Clinton demanded, it ALEX PERKOWSKI was respect. Coming OPINION COLUMNIST into the debate, voters’ expectations were for Clinton to win. Ten percent more of voters considered Clinton the favorite, according to a CNN/Gallup poll. Expectations were met. That is not to say that the debate did not matter. It did matter. To many Americans, debates serve as an important time to get to know both candidates, based on both their policy, and their character. Afterwards, the narrative given by the separate campaigns and the media will focus on the relative success and failure of each candidate to state their opinions and policy. Clinton came out prepared, and swinging. Donald Trump, who was hoped to lash out, did lash out. Thinking presidentially, Clinton was the better candidate. Interjections by Trump, interruptions by Trump and the standard long-winded rhetoric of Trump added to this idea of preparedness. Clinton said it herself when she stated, “Trump just criticized me for preparing for this debate. You know what else I prepared for? Being president.” It’s correct. In the policy areas covered tonight — the economy, the racial divide, national security and foreign policy — Clinton showcased policies backed up by facts. Her references were either to her own work, or to the realities of the past. Trump’s references included “a study that I read from somewhere,” Sean Hannity and himself. In terms of actual speech and rhetoric, Clinton was considerably stronger. She avoided attacking Trump out of the blue, while Trump repeatedly interjected as she or the moderator spoke. Besides avoiding the “presidential” look, Trump made numerous errors which will hurt him down the line. His first interjection, when Clinton spoke about him stiffing workers, was “That’s called business, by the way.” When she attacked him on not paying the federal income tax, Trump responded that it was “Because I’m smart.” Numerous times during

the debate, Trump would move toward the mic and say “Wrong” or “Not true.” This is another manifestation of the unpreparedness with which Trump came to the first debate. He was simply not ready for the environment, wholly different from the crowded debates of the Republican primaries. Despite the crowds attempts to rouse itself, both for Clinton and Trump, Trump was unable to bring back the energy and success he found at the hands of his many opponents. Most importantly, Trump got into an argument with Lester Holt, the moderator, about his support, or lack thereof, for the Iraq War. When compared to Clinton, who was calm and collected, and swallowed words instead of lashing out, Trump was a petulant child. Clinton still has her limitations, however. During the debate she lacked creativity, and missed strong jabs to throw Trump off his game. In retrospect, they definitely were not necessary, but a stronger and more prepared opponent would be able to speak more clearly and powerfully with Clinton as their contestant. Her talking points are rigid, and many times during the debate she referred to her notes. This is also not a negative, but against a stronger opponent, she would be hurting. Because of the nature of Trump, Clinton is able to avoid a lot of the spotlight, allowing her to shine more. When juxtaposed against the Republican nominee, she is prepared, cool and patient, traits a president needs. Clinton was able to continue painting her picture of Trump tonight, while avoiding the e-mails topic. Through discussions of the economy, she portrayed Trump as an out-oftouch billionaire who has hurt the working man. In the framing of the racial divide, she painted Trump as a racist, who discriminated against blacks in his past, and who propagated the birther conspiracy. Finally, in the realm of national security, she showed, once again, that a man who can be baited with a tweet cannot be trusted with nuclear weapons. Whether Trump was throwing back to the 1980s by attacking Japan’s automobile industry, or stating that China should invade North Korea, he showed a dangerous lack of understanding of the realities of foreign policy. Monday was an important first step for Clinton. But it is not her last.

friend dancing across from me. People seem to also have a strange tendency to congregate in circles and face inwardly, for protection purposes I guess. It’s this massive party that is really controlled by the music being played. The social structure at these events is framed by people milling around, trying to dance as much as they feel comfortable while also hoping that others aren’t watching. Which honestly was not the case this year, because the venue was two stories tall — anyone could lean over the banister and point and critique from above. And it is fun to watch other people dance.

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I think the whole construct of a dance is pretty strange. People moving in a dark room. Without the darkness, no one would feel comfortable dancing, and without the music, no one would dance. And despite the inkling that your cover might be blown and news gets out that this whole “feel the beat” business isn’t for you, the setting of a dance is infectious. It’s lively and fun and little uncomfortable which makes the whole situation all the more better. There’s just a large crowd of people, swaying, singing the same song. This year was by far the best TigerFest I’ve attended, as it was the only TigerFest I’ve attended, but it takes the cake.

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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 •

OPINION

The left’s race problem Trinity PRIDE: On being an ally ALEXANDER JACOBS

GUEST COLUMNIST

From an objective perspective, the mainstream left clearly enjoys depicting conservatives as evil or morally deficient. There is something empowering about skipping rational argumentation and going straight to accusing your opponent of being a bad person. Presumably, it’s that less effort is involved in discussion and makes others, without even processing both sides intellectually, side with you by default because you are a good person and they are not. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the issue of race today. It is commonplace for left-wingers to label conservatives as racist and liberals as the saviors of marginalized groups. The logic is basically that, because conservatives don’t want people involuntarily distributing wealth to the poor (who are disproportionately represented by blacks), tend to oppose affirmative action, believe in broken-windows theory and support the ‘racist’ police, they don’t care about black people and are racist. It’s a simple tactic and one that frequently gets thrown around college campuses. The people who are in the most uncomfortable of positions are black conservatives. To many blacks on the left, in some magical way, black conservatives are racist against their own race. It couldn’t possibly be that conservative blacks don’t believe in a victim mentality, do believe

that diversity of viewpoints is more important than the level of melanin in your skin, care about dealing with the problems of crime within their own communities via active policing, don’t like incentivizing a high singlemotherhood rate, which is directly related to many problems or just see that progressive policies are harmful to blacks, or at best aren’t working. No, people like Ben Carson and Clarence Thomas are plainly ‘Uncle Toms’ who hold their own heritage and color at arm’s length and side with the white racists. To characterize black conservatives like this is morally wrong. It means quite obviously that leftists care more about demographic diversity than they do ideological diversity. Protecting ideological diversity is of the utmost importance because arguing whether something is right or wrong is how truth is discovered. To demonize people who differ politically based on their race is to demonize human beings who want the best for their fellow citizens and are also in the pursuit of truth. It is 2016. One would think that humanity has moved on from demanding that certain races think a certain way, because we now know that viewpoints are determined by brains, not skin. Unfortunately, skin color still takes precedence in various ways. Hopefully some on the left are almost finished demonizing human beings because their race doesn’t match the political conviction they would like.

Genuine solidarity requires more than mere celebrations

ABIGAIL WHARTON

GUEST COLUMNIST

Coming out on the LGBT+ spectrum is more than wrestling with labels. It requires far more than a minute of stupidly blind courage and it’s more than saying you are now living authentically. As an officer in Trinity’s PRIDE group, we often get questions from straight and cisgender students regarding allyship. How can we help? Can we come to your events? The short answer is always yes. Please. More. The last few years have been record-breaking for the LGBT+ community. The federal government finally granted equal marriage rights and more and more states are protecting the rights of LGBT+ couples to adopt children. These are the things we usually talk about the most. It’s easy, beautiful and encouraging. We rarely see big conversations about how 2016 has seen an influx in transgender murders. As of September, we know of 21 deaths. A majority of these were transwomen of color. One of the most recent deaths to hit the news occurred only a day’s drive away in Tyler, Texas. In June, we experienced one of the largest shootings in our country’s history. We lost 49 LGBT+ lives in a single night in Orlando. Major TV shows killed over 200 LGBT+ characters in 2015 and 2016

seasonal runs alone. A majority of these character deaths were violent. Larger ally networks such as the Trevor Project have reported that calls to their suicide prevention hotlines have doubled since the passing of targeted legislation such as the notorious “Bathroom Bill” in North Carolina. The Republican Party is supporting a vice presidential candidate that openly supports conversion therapy and the defunding of HIV/AIDS programs. These issues have a nasty habit of trending for a day or two before dropping off mainstream radars, if they even manage to hit the news in the first place. It’s ugly and it’s uncomfortable, but these are the numbers and the issues your LGBT+ friends, both out and closeted, are confronted with each and every day. If you’ve ever been to a Pride parade, you may have seen a bunch of beautiful, laughing, rainbowwearing and glitter-speckled people carrying a banner that says something like “Give Us Our Flowers While We’re Still Alive.” This is where we need your allyship, my friends. We aren’t seeking special privileges. We’re seeking respect, support and recognition. We’re looking for friends with big voices and crazy ideas that address issues and not incidents. Our conversations need to be proactive and tailored to the community, rather than reactive to yet another hashtag. We’re

looking for allies that acknowledge that being straight and cisgender places you in a dominant group in American society. We’re looking for allies that know this privilege allows for greater impact and change if you amplify LGBT+ voices. At Trinity specifically, we need allies who show up for more than pizza night. Allyship is not dancing with us at gay clubs and going to drag shows. Come to our open dialogues. Propose and engage with research and participate in the tough conversations. Advertise our community events and bring us fresh ideas. Spend less time joking about our acronym and spend more time with us as people. LGBT+ lives are not awkward. They are very real and sometimes very complicated. To anyone affronted, offended or uncomfortable with the mere existence of LGBT+ people, I suggest recalling the words we so love to quote while defending certain amendment rights. We are all created equal and we are all entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I’ve been told before that if I don’t like the state of this country, I can leave. The fight for my place in this world has been long and hard, and I’m not done yet. LGBT+ people, like all Americans, deserve to live long lives free of oppression and fear, and we need help and collaboration to make this a long-haul reality. So here is your call to action.

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LIVE IN SA

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BY JULIA POAGE Lopez said. Latin and jazz music also overlap at Luna and Carmens De La Calle. Jazz attracts an older crowd in San Antonio, with natives of the city flocking to traditional jazz venues like Bohanan’s and Tucker’s Kozy Korner. A new venue, Jazz Texas, which is located at the

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a punk venue. Christiane Lau, a sophomore art and business double major from Houston, went to several shows this semester, one at the Korova. “The Korova tends to have more goth and punk and stuff like that … the crowds aren’t generally that bad, there were some ridiculous moshes, but it doesn’t get too insane, because it’s a smaller venue, so they can control the crowd pretty decently,” Lau said. “You can chat with people around you, it’s super friendly.” Lau plans to go with friends to the Korova’s upcoming Zombie Prom. For potential concert-goers who are interested in seeing nationally and regionally touring bands and artists, Gomez insists that the hype that Trinity students hear about Paper Tiger is justified. “People will tell you it’s Paper Tiger, but for good reason,” Gomez said. “Paper Tiger has something for everybody on the rock side of things,” Lopez said. The venue will host indie acts including Neon Indians, Saint Motel and Kishi Bashi in coming months. Other venues known for bringing bigger names to San Antonio are Limelight, the Aztec Theater, the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts and the Majestic and Empire Theatres. All of these venues are working hard to attract larger bands and national tours to the city. Since San Antonio venues are generally small, intimate and unique, concert-goers report having a more personal live music experience than they would have had in other cities. “I’ve mostly been to larger venues in Houston, so [here] they have a comfier vibe — you feel closer to the bands, you can actually see them up close,” Lau said. San Antonio’s music scene continues to grow and mature. Because of the diversity of both artists and venues in the city, it is distinct from the music scenes of other major cities.“There are not too many cities where you can go on one street and hear a classic San Antonio conjunto band, where it looks like your parents are hanging out there, next to young people appreciating it, and across the street might be a hip-hop night, and two clubs down, it might be a trans, LGBT club, because there is one on St. Mary’s, programming DJs for that crowd, and then Paper Tiger with a national act. I think that’s pretty diverse, and that’s pretty impressive,” Lopez said. “Wait up a few years and San Antonio will be right up there with y’all,” Gomez said. As San Antonio’s concert venues direct attention to local and regional music styles, the city is becoming a Texas musical landmark.

THE MIX • SQ U EE R• Z GE A • TOB V I N O TI CE EB OR R N K TE X O

When it comes to finding concert venues in San Antonio, most Trinity students have heard of the Paper Tiger and know that bars and coffeeshops in the city may have live music at times. However, San Antonio haas a rich, historical music scene that deserves exploring. The city’s many concert venues host countless different genres, and the venues themselves are helping to bring a fresh sound to the landscape of San Antonio. The N. St. Mary’s strip, located just blocks away from campus, is home to some of the most unique and eclectic venues in the metropolitan San Antonio area. JJ Lopez, the general manager of KRTU, the campus radio station, has seen the St. Mary’s strip transform into a diverse mix of concert venues since he moved to the city in 1995. “What’s important to talk about is the new activation of the St. Mary’s area, which is just right down at the bottom of the hill, where I think you can find a really great intersection of everything from DJs and bands, from classic San Antonio conjunto music being played in the same venue as indie bands and blues bands: all the way up St. Mary’s, you can catch traveling and touring national acts as well as local DJs playing either R&B and hip-hop, or even soul DJs. All of that can be found just on St. Mary’s,” Lopez said. While many San Antonio venues have a specific genre that they host, they tend to welcome most genres. “I think there are different venues that concentrate on specific genres of music, and I think that whatever the audience is, there’s something for everyone,” Lopez said. “Most of these venues can host everything, but they tend to lean one way,” said Benji Gomez, Trinity senior and events and promotions manager for KRTU. There are several exceptions to Gomez’s view that venues have a genre that they are most partial to. Most apparent is The Mix, a bar on the St. Mary’s strip where audiences can find anything from local indie bands to hard edge jazz bands to DJ nights. Latin music has always been a mainstay of San Antonio culture, and the St. Mary’s strip is home to a new venue that focuses on traditional San Antonian styles of music. “On St. Mary’s, you’ve got the Squeezebox, which is probably the newest venue on St. Mary’s, and they’re specializing in classic San Antonio music, but they’ll also host a jazz band and some blues bands, and they’ll have some DJ nights that play nothing but old soul. Squeezebox is pretty diverse, and the crowd is old people mixing with younger people,”

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Pearl Brewery, is seeking to freshen up the local jazz scene. “It is, I believe, partly owned and operated by Brent Watkins, whose South Texas Jazz Quartet was at Bohanan’s for years … now he’s at Jazz Texas. They’re going to be featuring and programming local music but I think they’ve got their eyes on some national acts, which will be really refreshing,” Lopez said. Music-lovers searching for a harder sound will be glad to hear that there several venues in the city that cater towards punk, hard rock and metal audiences. Hi-Tones, located on the St. Mary’s strip, hosts punk, hip-hop and hard rock acts. The Korova, which is near the River Walk and the Tobin Center, is also known as

BY SOLEIL GAFFNER San Antonio is a big city and, fortunately, is never short on festivals of all kinds of attend. Luckily for Trinity students, many of these festivals are right in our neighborhood and provide the perfect outing for any boring weekend. The Gruene Music & Wine Fest will be Oct. 6 to9, with a different event each day. Thursday, Oct. 6, there will be a special selection of wine that is, specifically, not from Texas. While enjoying the distinctly non-local wines, you can also enjoy live music, and the featured performance from Margo Price, a famed country singer. Friday’s concert features Jack Ingram, Charlie Robinson and Bruce Robinson. Saturday, the Marshall Tucker band takes the stage. Finally, Sunday will feature multiple bands to enjoy while you attend the specialty beer tasting. New in San Antonio is the Mala Luna Music Festival, which will be at the famous Lone Star Brewery in Southtown district. This festival, held on Oct. 29 and 30, will feature many famous artists that appeal to a college-aged audience. Travis Scott, G-Eazy and Steve Aoki will be performing, among other highend artists. The festival will also feature many musicians from San Antonio, with a goal of shedding light on the local talents living right in the neighborhood. The Mala Luna Festival goes further to support local artists by donating a portion of ticket sales to the Network for Young Artists, a local nonprofit that provides art classes to San Antonio’s youth. Diwali, the Festival of Lights, is an exciting celebration filled with lights, food and music. Held on Nov. 5 in La Villita from 5 to 11 p.m., the festival commemorates the triumph of good over evil. Over the course of the night, there will be live Bollywood music, endless dancing and countless vendors.

From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of Alamo and Nueva St., there will be a performance that honors 13 states and their unique traditions. If you have a burning desire to do so, you can also buy a floating candle for $1 to be released to float with hundreds of other candles along the San Antonio River. Finally, at 10 p.m. there will be a fireworks display to end an amazing night celebrating the Indian traditions of Diwali.

The following weekend, Luminaria takes place all over San Antonio. Luminaria is a festival celebrating the contemporary artists of San Antonio. Over the past 8 years, they have featured creative demonstrations of light displays, hosted countless dancers and actors in performances as well as introduced San Antonio to the innumerable amount of musicians in live shows. According to their website, Luminaria has had over 1 million attendees, hosted over 3,000 artists and shown over 900 performances. If you’re still in San Antonio over winter break, try spending New Year’s Eve at Celebrate San Antonio. Starting at 5 p.m., it features three separate stages where live music will be playing all night. The festival will also have an endless supply of carnival games and food to enjoy as you wait for 2017 to roll in. Finally, as the year draws to a close, there will be a fantastic fireworks display that has brought in people from all over the world. The best part is that it’s completely free to the public. Finally, one of the most famous music festivals in Texas, the Maverick Music Festival, will be right next door in La Villita on April 6 and 7 of 2017. It will host over 40 bands and DJs that will be playing on three separate stages in Maverick plaza. The Maverick Music Festival hosts artists who are usually characterized as alternative or indie, and has hosted many famous performers in the past. Some of their highlights include Public Enemy and Wild Child, among others. Overall, San Antonio is known for their numerous festivals that always prove to have something for everyone. While attending Trinity, why not try to attend these famous festivals? There will always be plenty of good food, music and people. San Antonio has a lot to offer; don’t hesitate to check it out.


LIVE IN SA

A day in drag

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An exploration of the San Antonio drag scene BY ALEXANDER MOTTER

photos by GRACE FRYE

Last Friday, I stopped being a man. A huge influence to San Antonio culture is drag and drag culture, a way for individuals to express an identity different from their everyday one. So, I embraced this mentality and became someone radically different from myself, in the process learning more about myself and the greater LGBT population in the city. Before I could don my pencil skirt or dramatic eyeshadow, I needed a better understanding of the culture. Amy Stone of the sociology department specializes in gender nonconformity, teaching a class which encourages students to develop a drag persona and watch cult classics like “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” She invites actual drag queens and kings to class to discuss cosmetics. “Some of the stuff we read about gender nonconformity is really sad. I wanted something that was a little more playful about the fun and joy that comes with playing with gender,” Stone said. The idea for this class came out of her personal interests in the expression of self came this class, where Stone inserted some of her own personal experiences about drag. “I’ve gone to drag shows frequently,” Stone said. After attending these shows and making friends with several performers, Stone began experimenting with the art form. “We’d have drag nights where we’d all go to dinner together in drag, or go to this thing called the drag closet where you can just put on drag for the night.” However, while we live in a culture that more visibly blurs the lines of traditional gender roles such as long hair on men, strict divisions still exist between male and female clothing, cross dressers and drag queens. “Some cross-dressers just want to wear average everyday women’s clothes, whereas drag queens need glitter, really big eyelashes and an outfit that very few women would ever wear,” Stone said. This issue carries with it so many minutiae that even the definition of drag isn’t clearly defined. “Drag [acts as] a performance art (e.g. it happens on stages, like theatre or dance) while cross-dressing need not be (e.g. one could cross-dress for the day in one’s ordinary life),” said Andrew Kania, professor in the philosophy department. Kania is no stranger himself to partaking in drag. “I’m a rank amateur, but I cross-dress with my students whenever we do this exercise, and I’ve participated in a couple of Trinity drag shows,” Kania said. While he noted that Trinity exceeds many institutions in terms of inclusiveness, there is still more work to be done. After many years of involvement in student drag shows, Kania gave up his performance work in lieu of the classroom because of several unsightly experiences. “I observed many instances of homophobia (e.g. frat boys shouting fag at the performers),” Kania said. Even in 2016, trying drag retained difficulties for a cisgender male like myself. Certain retailers refused to allow paying customers to try on bras just because they appeared male, there were no shoes made in my large

size, and people even within a safe space such as Trinity glared at me with disgust. A see-through shirt, seafoam makeup and spiky Jessica Simpson shoes lack subtlety, yet so did the murderous looks or gawks given to me in passing. This unwanted attraction developed a shame within me, a feeling that when I bought my skirt or walked to Coates to work on this story, something about me was inherently wrong. In an ironic sense of déjà vu, I felt just as self-conscious walking around campus in drag as I did as an openly gay freshman at my all-male high school. But sometimes, negative perceptions turned out to be just that. When I walked ,shaking, to the thrift store counter and purchased my first blouse, another shopper asked to borrow it after the experiment and to own my outfit with pride. When I ducked into the P.O.D., too nervous to brave Mabee, the kind cashier complimented my outfit and asked to see my shoes because “[I] must be going out tonight.” This same kindness was shared in one of the hubs of queer life in San Antonio: Heat Nightclub. Heat embodies everything drag defines, expression of the self regardless of appearance or sexuality. Drawing big names in the drag world like Kim Chi and Naomi Smalls as well as local patrons, the staff, like bartender Eric, have learned a lot from being around the clientele. “I’ve been in the strip for about a year,” Eric said. He experienced firsthand the nightlife catered specifically as a haven for the gay community. “I’ve actually never worked in a gay club before working here. As a straight guy, it’s definitely something new to see people in drag. But, the more I’m around it, the more comfortable I feel, and you stop seeing someone dressing up as a girl as much as you see another person.” “Personally, I would believe San Antonio is accepting of drag culture. I’ve actually seen people in drag at the mall and here on the strip. I’ve seen a lot of straight people at Heat too, which shows how accepting it is,” Eric said, concluding our encounter highlighting the prevalence of drag culture throughout the city. It was at Heat where this affirming positive energy built to a climax and I felt a sense of belonging in my foreign clothing. Standing in front of drag queens lipsynching to save their lives, the makeup, which initially made me feel silly, helped me connect to these confident goddesses. The next time I get dressed while listening to Beyoncé (which is everyday), I won’t be straightening my long black wig or perfecting my wingtip eyeliner. What will remain is the newfound confidence I developed embracing my feminine identity as well as this microscopic but illuminating view into the society’s overbearing enforcement of gender roles. San Antonio offers a multitude of places to express personal sexuality, and only through challenging our beliefs through extreme methods like drag can people like me become stronger advocates for equality.

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Catching the ears of listeners:

podcasts are making a comeback and Trinity students are all about it BY ALEXANDER MOTTER

Podcasts are no longer just for your parents and grandparents. After a huge burst in popularity several years ago, podcasts seemingly fell off the radar, patronized only by those unwilling to move with the fast-paced current of the internet. However, the sweeping mainstream appeal of series such as “Serial” has brought this seemingly archaic medium back into the public eye (or ear). Reagan Herzog, sophomore political science and communication double major and co-creator of the pop culture podcast “Trash Talk,” initially came up with the idea for the podcast after having surgery to remove her wisdom teeth last spring break. “We were texting about ‘Degrassi’ and said,‘We’re really funny, we should do something.’ At first Danielle suggested YouTube videos, but that’s a lot of work, and then you have to look nice. After we decided podcasts, it became pretty obvious what we would talk about is TV, because most of what we do together is watch TV together,” Herzog said. Podcasting has been a unique way for Herzog to bond with people on campus, “A lot of people who I’m not particularly close with at Trinity listen to the podcast, and some of my close friends won’t,” Herzog said. Many assume podcasting to be a casual conversation between friends. “After every episode of a season we’d open a Google Doc and write down what happened. It’s nice because when you’re in the podcast, even if you’re not watching the show, you can riff off of the ridiculousness,” Herzog said. After being a big fan of podcasts for years, Herzog anticipates that serious news and political broadcasts will become more prevalent as the medium becomes more successful. “When you say media, you think books, newspapers: even now, social media is a big thing. Podcasts, definitely, I think could emerge as its own separate platform,” Herzog said. Danielle Trevino, co-creator of “Trash Talk” and an art and communication double major, describes her newfound fame as a podcaster. “People at Trinity have stopped us to take selfies like, ‘Oh, you guys are walking together, let’s take a picture,’” Trevino said. One of the most difficult challenges has been listening to their own voices while editing the podcast. “There’s a reason that Reagan edits all the podcasts, because I still can’t stand it,” Trevino said. While the two try to limit their edits to the podcast, one

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podcast episode sticks out to Trevino to this day. “There is one podcast episode we had to delete because my mom ended up finding the podcast and I told Reagan, ‘You need to give me the login so I can delete this one episode,’ because the stuff we talk about in this one episode, I do not want my mother to know about,” Trevino said. The rise of podcasts has also sparked a growing interest on campus. First year political science major Ben Brody has been listening to podcasts since ninth grade, when he was immersed in gaming podcasts like those managed by Rooster Teeth in Austin. “I watched that for about three years, then junior year, I stopped listening to that one,” Brody said. However, what brought Brody back to listening to podcasts is their versatility. “It’s perfect for if you’re doing something really monotonous and you want some background noise, but some kind of educated background noise. I would do laundry, or do really basic homework that didn’t require a lot of critical thinking,” Brody said. One of his favorite podcast is Higher Ed, a collaboration between the Edward Burger, the president of Southwestern University, and KUT, the UT radio station. Brody described it saying “It’s about lifelong learning and a really education one I really enjoy. It’s very short, it’s 30 minutes and a good way to start the day.” The flexible duration of each listen is something very appealing to Brody. “I don’t listen to much of the entertainmentonly podcasts: I would argue that almost all podcasts are entertainment, but I prefer news-oriented stuff,” Brody said. “When it comes to someone speaking to you, you have radio, television and podcasts. A podcast is usually run by a smaller group of people. It’s their time, they’re not buying a slot from someone else. They can take a longer time crafting narrative so it feels more personal, less like a monetized television show than a real human being,” Brody said, emphasizing the importance of the rising medium of podcasts. Podcasts offer a unique way of providing interesting material in a short amount of time. Through the power of words and the human voice, broadcasters like Reagan and Danielle share their insights with audiences like Ben Brody both on campus and on the world wide web. If you’re interested in hearing more about Trash Talk, please subscribe to the podcast on the iTunes store.


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Dialing In

Trinity women discover passion for radio

photo by GRACE FRYE

BY NABEEHA VIRANI KTRU is a Trinity-owned radio channel that began streaming to the San Antonio community in 1976. It broadcasts jazz music throughout the day, but has an Indie Overnight program from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Two Trinity juniors, Mary Feit and Sidney Hopkins, host “Burnin’ Down the House” on Indie Overnight, which airs every early Wednesday morning from 12 a.m. to 1 a.m. All radio programs are run by Trinity students under the supervision of the KRTU professional staff. It’s a nonprofit and noncommercial organization that prioritizes education. Students can register for and take “COMM1120 Apprentice: KRTU Host/ Trainee” which allows them to become interns where they can then produce, manage, develop or even host a show.

Feit and Hopkins are products of this apprenticeship. “Mary and I both took the KRTU class in the comm section and loved it,” Hopkins said. “We did one live show together and really enjoyed it and asked our instructor Kory Cook if we could have a show.” “Burnin’ Down the House” is now a weekly show. “The name comes from the first time Sidney and I were in the studio. We were so nervous. Sidney had this irrational fear that we would burn down KRTU,” Feit said. The hour-long show consists of nonstop Indie music as well as knowledge about the bands whose songs Feit and Hopkins play. “We mostly talk about any experiences or information we have with/on the bands we’re playing,” Hopkins said.

“We are pretty normal radio DJs, announcing the name of the song and the artist. I like to tell people if the band is in town or if we can expect new music soon. Sometimes, I’ll talk about seeing the artist live or how I discovered the song/band. I try to add in something extra so that it’s not just ‘here’s what you heard and here’s what you will hear,’” Feit said. This show is a way for both of them to share their love and passion for indie music, as well as discover new areas within the genre. “Mary and I have really differing tastes in indie music — she listens to more of an upbeat beach-y feel, while my indie taste is really angsty. We switch around sometimes, but I absolutely love coming in and seeing what Mary’s put on the playlist,” Hopkins said.

Off the air

KRTU crew hosts live concert series in San Antonio BY KATHLEEN CREEDON Early last year, then-junior Benjamin Gomez and the KRTU Indie Overnight staff came up with the idea of KRTUesdays, a liveconcert series that introduces San Antonio to new indie music on a weekday. “San Antonio doesn’t really have too much happening on weekday nights,” said Gomez, the events and promotion manager of indie Overnight. “The whole idea was that we could do something bigger in San Antonio on weekdays.” The KRTU staff also acquired new broadcasting equipment that allows them to live broadcast much more easily. They decided to put it into action with a new concert series. “It all started with wanting to utilize our remote-broadcast service, which is going out to a venue and

recording the concert and being able to interview the musicians,” said Kory Cook, program director. KRTU tries to find local bands that represent the sound they play on-air. Cook explained how unimportant the listing of acts is, whether a band is headlining or plays last. Rather, the bill overall is the most important thing. “Always try to make it local; I think that’s the most important thing,” Cook said. “I think San Antonio has more good bands than we’ve ever had before.” Along with promoting music in San Antonio on off-nights, KRTU wanted to introduce outside bands to the local scene. Many of the bands booked are acts that play mid-sized stages and that have big followings. “Sometimes it doesn’t work out,

considering we’re a small station and can’t provide as many funds as other places can to bring in cool acts, but we try our best,” said John Morgan, indie Overnight Music Director. “We try picking bands who really wouldn’t have a spotlight in our city.” However, the group of interns has succeeded in bringing large crowds to their first three events in this series. Their goal is to prove that music events don’t need to be restricted to weekends. “We want to make sure that we can show San Antonio that we can throw these killer events on an offnight, and we want to make sure that we can expose national and regional touring acts,” Gomez said. Continued on page 15

Feit and Hopkins want to expand their show. “I want to hopefully add another day of the week,” Hopkins said. “One of my goals is to continue this show for the rest of my Trinity career. I really look forward to doing it every week. In fact, sometimes I wish we had more than an hour because I love playing my music,” Feit said. As well as having future goals for “Burnin’ Down the House,” Feit and Hopkins want students to get a taste of indie music. “I’d like for them to have a good variety of indie music to listen to while staying up late maybe doing extra homework or just relaxing,” Hopkins said. “I personally hope that our listeners just enjoy an hour of music. Every show, Sidney and I fill our hour with

music we actually listen to. If people use our show to discover new music, that’s cool too,” Feit said. Because Feit and Hopkins both discovered their passion for radio and now have an opportunity to share it, it’s clear that there’s an advantage to having hands-on experience that caters directly to a specific career. “Before the KRTU class I’d never considered being on the radio before, but this is something I’d definitely consider as a career path,” Hopkins said. Feit also sees radio in her future. “I want to pursue a career in radio. While this show is more music focused, it’s still something that I enjoy doing. That helps me know I’m on the right path,” Feit said. To listen to the livestream, you can go to the KRTU website, www. krtuindie.org, or tune into 91.7 FM.


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Framing the scene: San Antonio art galleries on the rise BY MIA GARZA

In the past, San Antonio has been overshadowed by the cultural oddity of Austin and the overabundance of museums in Houston, but San Antonio is starting to have an up-andcoming cultural scene all of its own. Concerts, festivals and restaurants usually steal the spotlight when it comes to a city’s scene, but the many art galleries that have bloomed in the past few years are garnering quite a bit of attention. “The San Antonio art scene has been in a state of creative growth over the years. I’ve even seen a change in the past two years that I’ve become more involved in the arts. San Antonio is such a big city, one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., if I’m not mistaken, and yet there is still such a sense of local support,” said Casie Lomeli, senior gallery assistant at

Ruiz-Healy Art and Trinity alumna. There are a plethora of places to go to see contemporary art in San Antonio. The McNay Art Museum, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, the San Antonio Museum of Art, Blue Star Contemporary Art Museum, ArtPace, the Linda Pace Foundation, Cinnebar and Ruiz-Healy Art are few of the more popular galleries and museums to chose from. Ruiz-Healy is a unique niche which focuses on contemporary Latin American and Texas artists. “Many of our Texas artists are established and very involved San Antonio artists such as Ethel Shipton, Nate Cassie, Jesse Amado and Leigh Anne Lester, just to name a few. The owner and director, Patricia Ruiz-Healy, selects the artists for our roster,” Lomeli said.

Arts United San Antonio, an arts advocacy collective started by Lomeli and her professional peers, is a group which seeks to foster open source communication, collaboration and cross-promotion between visual arts organizations and galleries in San Antonio. Groups like these are what help foster an ideal place for a contemporary art scene in San Antonio. Fiona Lane, a Trinity alumna who interned at Ruiz-Healy while studying at Trinity, describes the art gallery scene in San Antonio as vibrant and growing. “[The art gallery scene has] grown so much. Because San Antonio is a city with amazing culture, lots of diversity, and doesn’t have a high cost of living, lots of artists are attracted to living there. With more artists,

more galleries and art events have grown up around them which is so incredible,” Lane said. At Cinnabar, an art gallery located on S. Alamo St., international artists as well as local artist are brought in by word of mouth or online research. Heather Knudson, assistant director at Cinnabar, said, “The gallery scene in San Antonio is thriving right now. There’s a lot more than there used to be. Local artists are the base, but we are also trying to bring in artists from other cities.” They host “Artist Talks” open to the public to showcase artists. Other art galleries have similar events. Luminaria is an event put on by the City of San Antonio once a year. It’s free to attend and displays a variety of art forms that are meant to be viewed at night, during the

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day, both indoor and outdoor. From theater performances, media and dance to visual and literary works, there is no lack of entertainment at this festival. Luminaria is just one of the many art festivals that showcase contemporary art. Events like First Thursday, put on at the Blue Star Arts Complex, and Second Saturday, put on at South Flores District, give art enthusiasts the opportunity to see art at a convenient time of day without having to make an appointment. It’s also a fun event for young people in San Antonio to attend. Ruiz-Healy Art is located at 201-A E Olmos Dr. and is open Saturday to Tuesday, 10 a.m to 4 p.m. Cinnabar Art is located at 1420 S Alamo St and is open Wednesday to Sunday 12 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

San Antonio Art Museums & Galleries Blue Star Contemporary 116 Blue Star Thurs 12 to 8p.m. Fri to Sun 12 to 6p.m. Hildebrand Art Gallery 735 W. Hildebrand Ave. Mon to Sat 11a.m. to 4p.m. San Antonio Museum of Art 200 W. Jones Ave. Wed to Thurs; Sat to Sun 10a.m. to 5p.m. Tues & Fri 10a.m. to 9p.m. San Antonio Art League Museum 130 King Williams St. Mon to Fri 10a.m. to 3p.m.

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KRTU concert series Continued from page 13

By showcasing these acts, KRTU intends to welcome more outside acts and festivals into San Antonio. Though these bands that are unfamiliar to the San Antonio scene often worry they won’t draw a crowd, KRTU reassures them that through their relationships with Do210, Paper Tiger, the Mix and their own following, there will be good press. “It’s a big idea of KRTU stepping in to show the community, big regional musicians, and everybody else involved that we can do big things in San Antonio,” Gomez said. “People show up not knowing any of the bands and leave thinking, ‘Wow, that was amazing. All of those bands are now favorites of mine.’” The KRTU team recognizes the experimental nature of this series as a way to better themselves in the art of broadcasting. “We’ve been trying to live-broadcast at our events, and sometimes it was a hit.

Sometimes it was a really big miss, but that’s okay,” Morgan said. “Similar to what happened to Space-X recently when their rocket blew up. In a sense, it’s necessary, so you know how to make it better next time.” The interns hope to build off of this experience and create an atmosphere that welcomes a weekday music scene, while also introducing a wider-range of acts that fit the indie genre. “These things we’re doing are the beta to a series we really want to have in the future,” Morgan said. “This is definitely a precursor to something much bigger than ourselves, and I’m excited to see what the station is going to do with it.” KRTU will continue this series Oct. 18 at the Paper Tiger. This “Sound on Sound” edition of the concert series will offer a ticket giveaway to the Sound on Sound music festival in November. The event is free for all ages and begins at 8 p.m.

A laughing matter BY ALEJANDRO CARDONA Improvisational theater is synonymous with Chicago and New York, where iconic venues like The Second City and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater have acted as breeding grounds for the comedic avantgarde of the past few decades. Although San Antonio has neither the iconic allure of Chicago nor the coolness of New York, there is a quickly growing improv culture in town which has a philosophy and history purely unique to the city. There is an underground comedy club below the Magic Time Machine, and it’s a petri dish for homegrown comedy, hosting acts that range from stand-up to sketch and improv. The Alamo City Improv has built its nest at the Blind Tiger Comedy Club, and has restlessly hosted a show every weekend for a year and a half. The company is dedicated to growing the local improv culture. “In the art community in San Antonio, there is a vibe that says you gotta go to Austin or L.A. or New York,” said ACI’s Cary Farrow IV. “The city is ripe with opportunities, and the people who are choosing to invest in it are getting a lot out from it.” The Alamo City Improv is not the only improv group in town. Studio 185 is the home of ComedySportz, a family-friendly comedy franchise akin to 90’s hit show “Whose Line is it Anyway?” The Denials feature a rotating cast that performs and hosts open practices at the Overtime Theater. In the eighties, when the artform was still new to Chicago (and the world), famous rivalries were bred between theaters. With theaters competing for audiences and students, it is a dangerous pitfall for any improv community. But not in San Antonio. Recently, Alamo City Improv hosted a community improv show at Studio 185, which saw performers from ACI, ComedySportz

and The Denials coming together for one celebratory mega-show. “I prefer to operate from an abundance mentality,” Farrow said. “I think the more one of us succeeds the more people are interested in improv in general.” The community show also featured Missed Opportunity, an all-female improv troupe started by Trinity alumni. “It was a great experience to meet the other players, support their shows and hang out with them afterward,” said member Maddie Smith. “Missed Opportunity didn’t go into the community show hoping to plug into a community, but we felt naturally compelled to be friends with the people we met.” The arrival of an all-female improv troupe this early is a good indicator that San Antonio’s improv culture already differs from early experiments in Chicago and New York. In his oral history of Second City, “Something Wonderful Right Away,” improv historian Jeffrey Sweet described the makeup of early Chicago improv groups as “white men in ties,” a configuration that slowly became multi-racial and gender-diverse. Missed Opportunity is already taking steps towards ensuring proper representation by hosting all-female workshops. “The idea was to have a fun, safe space for women to relax and play together because, quite often, women will feel like a minority at improv jams and workshops,” Smith said. “Attendance was great and we all had such a great time because of the unparalleled amount of support.” San Antonio might soon be able to boast of a much larger comedy scene — but only time will tell. As Smith puts it, “It should happen organically because people enjoy hanging out together and sharing a passion for improv.” Both around town and on Trinity’s campus, troupes are cropping up left and right. So look around — you need only ask to get involved.

photos provided by BENJI GOMEZ LEFT AND BOTTOM RIGHT: POP PISTOL performs at KRTUesdays. TOP RIGHT: RIDERS AGAINST THE STORM performs at KRTUesdays. The next event of the series will take place on October 18.



FACULTY SPOTLIGHT “I’m here for the year as the Entrepreneur in Residence, and I’ve started and run two successful companies, so if any student or staff member is interested in getting advice for their company or idea, please feel free to email me at mmudge@trinity.edu or come see me.” Michelle Mudge-Riley, entrepeneur in residence

Trinity police prepare for Night Out event Annual function, also supported by Black Student Union, will be free for all visitors to attend BY COURTNEY JUSTUS PULSE REPORTER Next Tuesday, on Oct. 4, the Trinity University Police Department (TUPD) will host a Trinity Night Out from 6 to 9 p.m. on Prassel Lawn. The purpose of the event is to spread awareness about crime and safety, especially for those who live or work on a college campus. “What’s great is that you bring people who don’t know each other together to talk about safety and other important issues,” said Corporal Paul Morales, a TUPD officer. “They can learn about what they can do to keep community safe. If you see something suspicious or not normal, you need to let the police know. It’s about getting the community involved.” Most states observe National Night Out in August of every year. Texas experiences higher temperatures during August, however, so most cities in the Lone Star State elect to celebrate National Night Out in

October, when the weather is cooler and more bearable. “Just being able to speak to the students and make a difference is my main goal,” Morales said. “That way everyone can learn something. My role is to educate and create community outreach. We want to share a wide spectrum of knowledge with people.” TUPD has partnered with Black Student Union in order to make this event possible. Several TUPD officers will be present to talk to students about safety and help them get to know one another. Members of BSU will also be present to help facilitate the event. “We’re excited about the relationship we’ve built with the Black Student Union,” said Chief Paul Chapa of TUPD. “Tahlar Rowe, the president of BSU, and others have been so gracious as to make flyers and help promote the event in different ways.” TUPD officers also hope to ultimately achieve a greater sense of community through major events, such as Trinity Night Out. “Our goal as police officers at Trinity is to let people know that we are a part of the community. We want to ensure that they can always count on us to be part of their experience at Trinity in a positive way,” Chapa said. Chief Chapa will be present throughout the entire event to talk

Pulse

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graphic by TYLER HERRON

to students and answer any questions they might have. “I serve as the chief of police. During the evening, I’ll be there talking about our many different programs that we’ll be promoting and I believe I’ll also be behind the grill,” Chapa said. At Trinity Night Out, students can get free snow cones, lemonade, sausage wraps and “cop-corn.” There will also be an inflatable obstacle course and a dunking booth where students will be able to dunk several staff members, including TUPD officers and possibly even Dean David Tuttle. “I would tell everyone to dunk an officer and compete with them in games. This is the time to do it,” said Sergeant Clint Ratliss of TUPD.

“We’re normally the ones you see when things have gone wrong, so this event also really helps to put a more personal face to all of our officers on staff. ” TUPD officers want students to have a good time while also becoming more aware of the roles of the police on campus. They also hope this event demonstrates how everyone can work to create a safer environment on campus. “We’re trying to get the community to interact with us and with each other, to raise awareness and put ourselves out there,” Ratliss said. Officers recognize that neighborhoods across all of Texas will be also partaking in some similar events. In response, they are gearing the event towards students living on a college campus, while recognizing

that the purpose of the event comes from the desire for reliable and secured safety in neighborhoods all across San Antonio, as well as the state of Texas. “Every city in Texas will be doing the same thing on the same night as us, hopefully with the same mission,” Morales said. Trinity Night Out has been graciously sponsored by Aramark, Monster and Kiolbbassa Sausage. The event does not have entrance or participation fees. All members of the Trinity community are welcome and encouraged to attend, especially students. For more information about Trinity Night Out, the Trinity Police Department and Black Student Union encourage contacting them so they may address any concerns.

facets of unrelated material into her education is frustrating. “I already know what I want to do, I already know I’m going to be good at it, and I already know I’m not going to use logarithms in my stage management career,” Parris said. More often than not, classes that are no longer offered initially received a negative backlash, but eventually they fade out of the community’s memory. The only class that Jennifer Henderson, professor and chair of the communication department, can recall as no longer available is an animation course, for example. “The course ended many years ago when a professor retired, so no one currently on campus would have even know that it had been an option,” Henderson said. Claudia Stokes, chair of the English department, offered a plausible explanation for the minimization of these classes. “I understand that students are disappointed, but, in my view, current faculty should be able to develop their own courses, not teach classes developed out of the interests of retired colleagues,” Stokes said.

Stokes went on to explain that faculty members will also often request information pertinent to their research interests to be a part of its shelves. “However, once those faculty retire, those requested texts no longer get much use,” Stokes said. In an attempt to free space for more relevant literature, the library has been forced to remove large quantities of books and prepare them for waste removal. Two of the most popular classes that are no longer offered, Chemistry of Crime and Chemistry of Art, were geared towards students not in a STEM major who were interested in completing their Common Curriculum requirements for science. These courses, developed by Nancy Mills and Michelle Bushey, allowed for a certain degree of flexibility. For example, the Chemistry of Art course was capable of being taught simultaneously with Studio Art for Chemists or with another course entitled Chemistry for the Visual Artist. As with the animation class, or several courses in the English

department, the two professors who used to teach these courses have retired. Christopher Pursell, professor and chair of the chemistry department, revealed that another significant issue with handling these lost classes is trying to find potential staff members to teach them, as finding qualified professors can be time-consuming and challenging. “While the chemistry department is interested in developing and teaching courses for non-science majors, we are unable to do so at this time because we are woefully understaffed,” Pursell said. The amount of time and resources necessary to teach a class often limits the continuation of these studentfavorite classes. Pursell even extended this idea to the current programs in the chemistry department. “Even now, we cannot teach the required courses for the pre-health and science students without term and part-time faculty,” Pursell said. Other options remain for students to enroll in to fulfill each component of their liberal arts education. These options can be found on Tigerpaws each semester.

Faculty provide refresher on retired classes Professors explain the disappearance of popular common curriculum courses BY ALEXANDER MOTTER

PULSE REPORTER

Trinity offers a great variety of classes, and sometimes a class offered one semester will be absent from the curriculum afterwards. For students interested in taking these unique subjects, it can be frustrating to see something you planned on taking next semester no longer available. However, faculty and department chairs on campus have a different and unexpected story to tell. For first year theater major Alex Parris, math has not been an enjoyable experience, and that disenjoyment continued when she was placed into one of the precalculus sections after taking the course her senior year. “That’s a whole three-hour credit I have to take to get into the requisite class that is then another three-hour

credit class that will have no impact on my life,” Parris said. If Trinity creates more classes that synthesize liberal arts majors with their STEM counterparts, students like Parris would be interested and more compelled to complete their Pathways requirements sooner. In their absence, however, she feels alienated when it comes to selecting her STEM courses. “It’s going to be a whole bunch of people who are going to use this for the rest of their lives, and me who is hoping to just get a C to pass and move on,” Parris said. Parris is considering double majoring in communication in addition to her theater major. This means she faces the reality of taking 18 hours next semester to graduate on schedule. “I understand that the point of a liberal arts education is to see and try everything, but I feel like they’re trying to stretch us in too many directions at once,” Parris said. Parris is no stranger to theater and communication, as she began interning at theaters when she was 15 years old, so incorporating


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TUVAC

Continued from front page As the staff advisor of TUVAC, one of Brown’s goals is to enhance and increase the number of volunteer opportunities in the community, particularly for Trinity students. “We seek to understand what students’ needs and interests are regarding volunteering and community service. We do site visits in the city of San Antonio and really listen to the students, getting a sense of what their needs are and then trying to find the match between student interest and community organization interest, making sure that we provide enough opportunities for our students to get involved and to serve,” Brown said. From the beginning of his time at Trinity, Brown saw how involved Trinity students are in volunteering. He is grateful for the opportunities he has had to work with the TUVAC coordinators and other students. “The five coordinators that I’ve worked with so far have been incredible,” Brown said. “I’m learning more about what it means to be a Trinity student, and every day I’m amazed at how they can balance all those competing responsibilities.” Brown hopes that TUVAC will integrate the five core values so as to promote even more learning and growth for their many volunteers. “Because TUVAC is under the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success, I think there is an opportunity there to integrate experiential learning components around education, service and the reflection component,” Brown said. “My vision moving forward is to figure out how to make these volunteering opportunities more educational and reflective in nature, so that we are enhancing the learning opportunity.”

Good Kids Continued from front page “There were quotes at [Mazurkevich’s] first shoot which were about women who were just wearing bras and [having] paint thrown on them, and quotes people had said to them like, ‘Your skirt was too short’ or ‘You were asking for it.’ I really loved those quotes, but the pictures were very hard to recreate. And then I saw the ones that were after [Brock Turner] had been released early and the idea that it happens anytime, anywhere, by anyone. I think that does perpetuate some of the problems, and it can easily be seen that way, but it’s not just a girl at a party with a short skirt. And so I really wanted to combine these two ideas — that it’s also boys, and they’re athletes and that females aren’t always the survivors. It was mostly seeing those pictures and being like, ‘Holy shit, these are powerful. We could do something like this too,” Metzger said.

Last January, TUVAC underwent a restructuring so that there were volunteer coordinators who could help on a larger scale. This was established in place of having program heads for individual events. Each coordinator is in charge of a specific cluster, such as animal welfare, environmental protection or the food bank. “When I became a volunteer coordinator, my biggest problem was really getting people to commit to the events they’d signed up to attend,” said Pooja Bollampally, a senior sociology major and volunteer coordinator for TUVAC, “But everyone that did go was very passionate about it.” Bollampally is in charge of the health and wellness cluster, which provides her with plenty of opportunities to work with hospitals and the San Antonio AIDS Foundation, among A group of volunteers made up of various students and staff members express their excitement for volunteering with TUVAC as they depart for the Trinity Gives Back event that the organization helped to organize last February. several other organizations. “One of our biggest events File photo is San Antonio State Hospital,” “One thing I really appreciated is that I never about San Antonio’s central and relevant Bollampally said. “We go to mental hospitals saw anyone on their phone at volunteering social, economic and environmental issues,” to give a sense of normalcy to patients there events,” Bollampally said. “People were always said Elizabeth Sanchez, a junior accounting because there is a large stigmatization around making sure that they were truly involved and major and recruitment coordinator for the mental illness and how a lot of people aren’t communicating as much as they could.” organization. really accepting of others who have been TUVAC coordinators and volunteers have Anyone with a desire to help others and serve diagnosed with mental illness, so we go to talk found abundant volunteering opportunities in the San Antonio community is encouraged to them and help them feel accepted.” in the city of San Antonio and hope to make to join TUVAC. The organization always Bollampally has been volunteering with more members of the Trinity community welcomes new members and hopes to increase TUVAC since her first year at Trinity and aware of the quantity of chances to help out their following even more this year. For a is excited to see other students get involved their city. calendar of upcoming service opportunities like she has. She admires how devoted new “I hope that TUVAC can be more involved organized by TUVAC, be sure to check out volunteers have been at their events. with bringing awareness to Trinity students their Facebook page. Derek Hudson, sophomore theatre and communication double major, photographed, edited and created the type for the entire photo series. “Based on the comfort levels of the two people — how well they knew each other, how well we knew them — we’d come up with some different kinds of poses to try out. Some of them obviously are more graphic than others, and that was entirely based on who we were working with,” Hudson said. The photo selection process occurred in two separate parts. “The first part of picking which ones we ultimately wanted to release was just based on examining the technical aspects of the photos: were they focused properly, did the lighting look good, was it flattering of whoever was portrayed? And then from there it was more of an artistic decision — a big part of it was the victim looking at the camera. A lot of that was interpreting, ‘What are they saying? What do they look like?’ in this photo. For what I was able to do, I was really happy with the diversity of experience we were able to portray.”

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The topic of sexual assault is not new to Trinity Theatre. In her Theatre for Social Change class, Farrell was able to explore the difficult topic of sexual assault in depth with her peers and professor. “During the class, we compiled a list of social issues that we feel are really influential around the campus, and of course sexual assault came up. So we ended up really focusing on the aftermath of sexual assault. How do people react to it? How do you tell your friends? As a friend, what do you say?” Farrell said. For Metzger, developing and maintaining sexual assault awareness on campus started well before “Good Kids.” “It started off with the Refourmers, my entrepreneurship class. As the year went by, because of personal experiences — my own and others around me — it became something that I was truly passionate about. It was hard for me to talk about sometimes; for a while it was very hard. But it’s something I knew I needed to talk about to, first of all, understand my own feelings about it, and then to understand the misconceptions I had about

it,” Metzger said. After performances this weekend on Oct. 1, and next weekend, Oct. 6 through 8, there will be a talkback session with the cast as well as various campus organizations. Topics covered will include rape culture on campus, gender and sexuality, alcohol and social media with speakers from the Coalition for Respect, the Rape Crisis Center, Counseling Services, athletics and Greek life. “We’re hoping that these pictures, just like these talkbacks, aren’t just about coming and seeing the show, but are really a way of having this conversation, which is an uncomfortable conversation, teased out. We want to make it really relevant to as many students, faculty, staff and others as possible,” Gillette said. Performances are this Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Next week, performances will be held Wednesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, faculty/staff, alumni and $6 for students; they can be purchased online or at the box office Monday through Friday from 2-5 p.m.


AE &

Debate reaches 80 million Tuesday night’s presidential debate between Trump and Clinton claims title of most-watched debate in American history. Maybe claims “most-watched comedy” as well?

No Man’s Sky faces false advertisement woes The “2nd Coming”-turned-controversial Hello games title faces an investigation by the Advertising Standards Authority for posting allegedly misleading promotional material on its Steam page.

Diversity in television improving, reaching minimum standards

From token hiring to 22-minute exile, “Good” TV’s dismal casting record finally goes beyond white, male, 40s for protagonists

BY ALEJANDRO CARDONA

A&E WRITER

Movies and television have struggled for decades with the inclusion of all races and genders in their lineup, both on-screen and behind the camera. It’s a vestige of a whitewashed American identity which is quickly fading. In fact, the most recent cover of WIRED declared, “From Netflix to FX, television finally looks like more of us — all of us.” It’s hard to disagree — television is more diverse now than it has ever been, and movies … well, they’re trying. But a more interesting metric for a cultural shift is not in the number of shows representing racially and genderdiverse characters, but the runtime of those shows. We’ve had diverse characters featured in half-hour sitcoms, but does that change extend to hourlong shows as well? The answer used to be no, but it’s quickly changing. It’s hard for millennials to imagine this, but there was a time when television was considered a wasteland of content. It was a low-brow, hodge-podge of sitcoms and soaps. David Chase, the creator of “The Sopranos,” famously hated that he wrote for television, which is partially why his HBO megahit feels more like an extended movie than an hour-

long cable drama. In his book “Difficult Men: Behind the Scenes of a Creative Revolution,” Brett Martin traces television’s rise as a rich medium for character studies and deeply textured dramas. His through-line is a number of shows about (and created by) his titular men: “The Sopranos,” “The Shield,” “Deadwood,” “Mad Men,” “The Wire” and “Breaking Bad.” These were all, with the exception of “The Wire,” hour-long dramas about morally-decadent white men in their forties. The key word being “hour-long”: it’s a

metric that helps separate true diversity from something not very far from tokenism. Hourlong shows are usually dramas, while half-hour shows tend to be branded as sitcoms. Because of this, diverse casts were for many years relegated to the realm of sitcoms, while the Tony Soprano parts got written for (and by) white men. If you’re not buying it, compare “Breaking Bad” with “Weeds.” These are both shows about someone in their forties living in the suburbs who starts selling drugs. Their premises are virtually identical, but “Weeds”

graphic by TYLER HERRON

has a female lead. Walter White gets an hourlong drama, while “Weeds” gets branded a sitcom and given 26 minutes. The tide is turning, and diverse characters are finally receiving serious amounts of screentime. Netflix has “Orange is the New Black,” “Master of None,” and “Luke Cage,” an upcoming Marvel show whose titular character is a black superhero. ABC secret weapon Shonda Rhimes made “Scandal” and “How to Get Away with Murder,” which are both successful hour-long dramas with a black female lead. I like to imagine that Shonda Rhimes is the television executive equivalent of a snake charmer. There are fun risks being taken at networks like the CW, where the lady-centric sitcom “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” received an hourlong slot, something rare for a show so decidedly comedic. Its quad-Emmy success is revolutionary, not just for a female-led comedy, but for the full-length cable-sitcom format in general. The lines are fading everywhere in terms of genre, length and audience expectations. We can and should keep asking for more. Transgender shows like “Transparent” and Asian-American sitcom “Fresh Off The Boat” are still in the half-hour arena, but will soon graduate into the hour-long stage. WIRED was not overly optimistic: it is indeed a good time to look for diversity in your television screen. There are still some changes to be made — Native Americans, for example, are nowhere to be seen in television (the helmets of NFL teams notwithstanding). If this trend continues, the TV box will soon represent the endlessly expansive American identity in increments of no less than 43 minutes, plus commercials.

Paralympics lacking proper coverage Athletes’ recordbreaking performances given substandard airtime from media The 2016 Rio Paralympics, an international sporting event for athletes with disabilities, began on September 7 and ended just NABEEHA VIRANI last week. Over the course of A&E WRITER eleven days of international competition, differences between Olympics and Paralympics gained attention. As some of you may have noticed, there hasn’t been much coverage on the Paralympics. For the Olympics, NBC had a livestream of almost all events, and other news channels and websites constantly reported Olympic results. For the Paralympics, NBC also had a livestream of events, but results and records weren’t publicized by any other major news outlets. Further differences between the Olympics and the Paralympics include their differing reception and recognition of their athletes. It’s clear that Olympic athletes are revered around the world. They’re the best of the best, the creme de la creme. We’re familiar with their names and see their faces on cereal boxes and TV commercials. But most Paralympians don’t

get these endorsements or coverage. Why aren’t disabled athletes treated the same way? To try to fix this disparity, we first have to understand what it means to be a paralympian and how the Paralympics is organized. Sporting events and eligibility rely on categories that are broken into ten impairments. Eight of these disabilities are physical impairments, with vision and intellectual being the exceptions. A large challenge within the Paralympics is accounting for the range of disabilities each impairment effects. According to Emory University School of Medicine, the difference between an impairment and disability is that an impairment is “any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure or function.” A disability, then, is “any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity.” There are 23 sports during the summer games and five in the winter games. Some sports have multiple events that vary based on the type of disability an athlete has. This classification system is vital to the organization of the Paralympics. It breaks down athletes based on disability and impairment and provides a system that ensures each athlete is participating fairly and against valid competitors. Because of the range of disabilities and impairments, there are 528 medal events in the summer games and 72 in the winter games. In the Rio Paralympics that just ended on Sept. 18, China topped more than 170 countries with a total of 235 medals. The U.S. came in fourth place with a total of 115 medals. Three of the 2,347 total medals won by Paralympians went to the men who medaled

in the 1,500 meter race. Algeria’s gold medalist Abdellatif Baka, Ethiopia’s Tamiru Demisse and Kenya’s Henry Kirwa, as well as Algeria’s Fouad Baka, who came in fourth place, all ran under three minutes and 50 seconds. These times would have won them the gold in the Olympics, because in this exact race during the previous month, the United States’ Matthew Centrowitz won gold with a time of 3:50. Furthermore, 396 Paralympic and 210 world records were broken during the Paralympics. Swimmer Daniel Dias of Brazil became the most decorated Paralympian of all time, with 24 medals. That’s four medals fewer than Michael Phelps. Siahad Rahman of Iran became the first powerlifter to break 300 kg and even lifted up to 310 kg. Omara Durad of Cuba is the world’s fastest female para-athlete, winning all three races she competed in and breaking world records for two of them. The Paralympics don’t only demonstrate global harmony and acceptance, but they also show that despite having what we may see as setbacks, these athletes have taken a chance to show the world who they are and what they can accomplish. “25 percent of the population of Brazil has some visual deficiency. I hope to inspire those people,” said Antonio Tenório Silva, a judo silver medalist who lost the vision in his left eye during childhood. Paralympians don’t see their physical or visual impairments as something that stops them from succeeding. During the Paralympics, boundaries are pushed and glass ceilings are broken. If only there were more media coverage on these incredible athletes to demonstrate the importance of the Paralympics.

Athletic Overview

• 23 sports in summer games • 396 Paralympic records broken • 210 World Records broken • 2,347 total medals won • 24 medals won by Daniel Dias, most decorated Paralympian of all time • 4 Paralympic athletes ran the 1,500 meter under 3:50, the bar for Gold in Olympics last month • 310 kg lifted by recordbreaking Iranian powerlifter Siahad Rahman


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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

To the awful parkers Nye still “Science Guy” on new show

How do we define our generation? Will we be defined by our great technological advancements and innovations? Will we be remembered MAX FREEMAN for our success in A&E WRITER our enterprise to end world hunger and bring worldwide peace? Or will we be held back by a reputation for horrendous parking? Now, I don’t have a car with me this semester, so I’m not directly affected, but on my way to class I have noticed a significant drop in the student body’s parking performance. Multiple times I have seen cars parked too far over the lines to be tolerated, forced to remain in cringe-worthy positions because drivers failed to respect the very lines on the road that give society order. Still, I think I can sympathize with the drivers who defy the parking code. I get it, a couple inches over the line isn’t going to hurt anybody, right? Or maybe the parking job was done in a rush and in the heat of the moment there was no time to correct for minor mistakes. But this is bigger than being an aesthetic problem. This is an identity problem. Attending a liberal arts school like Trinity connects students with each other on our pursuit of becoming well-rounded individuals. In fact, Trinity University has made it clear that part of its goal for students is to seek the highest level of excellence in “learning, service, leadership and personal integrity.” Parking is the opportunity for us to put this idea into practice. First and foremost, we must learn how to park. We’re young drivers, so we’re still learning to perfect the art and craft involved in maneuvering a two-ton vehicle

into a certain position. But, this doesn’t make it any less important to know than the subjects we are taught in class. It won’t be easy to develop this skill either, and like all learning, this problem will not be solved overnight. After we have brought our skills to an acceptable level, we must also understand that there will always be some days in which people fail to meet the community’s parking standard. In the process of learning, we must understand how parking takes leadership and is a form of community service. Parking starts improving once people take the initiative to lead by example. It is a kind of leadership that affects people long after the deed is done. An excellent parking job will shine in the parking lot and cause other drivers to look at it and say, “Damn, that is one beautifully positioned monster truck in between those two white lines! I wish I could do that!” It seems trivial, but abiding by the lines can make someone’s day a million times easier than if they had to deal with parking next to a savage. And perhaps above all, the way we park is a message to represent our personal integrity. A bad parking job can say, “Hey, I don’t care about others,” while a good one can suggest the driver actually acknowledged the difficulty of parking in a certain spot and made an effort to keep society civil and orderly. Although most cars around Trinity don’t identify who their driver is, they do leave a message about what that person is like — if we see a horrendously parked car on campus, then we have to live with the idea that we may live in a dorm or go to a class with the person responsible for such a monstrosity. So, if we can still save our generation and define who we are, let us at least go down in history as one that knew how to park.

Interview style freshens up classic formula Bill Nye’s goal, in his original series more than two decades ago, was that he might be able to change the world through bringing attention to the importance EMILY PETER of science. Years A&E WRITER later, his plans have changed very little. His new show, expected to premiere in the spring of 2017, will be called “Bill Nye Saves The World.” Nye started out on PBS as the quirky bow tie-wearing scientist in the 90s, and his program made its way into many science classrooms. This show made science approachable and easy to understand for any audience through a blend of humor and facts. From elementary school children learning about solids, liquids and gases to the high school biology classes introducing the intricacies of the carbon cycle, students were able to tackle topics with ease. His goal may be the same, but Nye is using a talk show format to reach audiences in a new way. Since the earlier years of his first program, Nye has been widely known as “The Science Guy.” As his popularity grew, he spoke about his program on a number of panels and even made appearances at colleges and universities for lectures and commencement speeches. His original show aired 100 episodes until 1998, and were watched long after. The goal of Nye’s new program, “Bill Nye Saves the World,” is

to further execute his original hope with this popularity. To explain the scientific issues relevant to our modern world and inform people about topics that range from global warming to the vaccination debate are among many of the objectives Nye plans to meet. There are also plans to include experiments, demonstrations and qualified special guests to speak on various topics. A Netflix spokesperson reported that the show plans to “tackle a topic from a scientific point of view, dispel myths and refute anti-scientific claims that may be espoused by politicians, religious leaders or titans of industry.” This unbiased approach entertains the goal of showing others the world through a scientific lens. With Netflix as the new primary medium for programming, Nye believes in the talk show and its potential to help him change the world: “Since the start of the ‘Science Guy’ show, I’ve been on a mission to change the world by getting people everywhere excited about the fundamental ideas in science … With the right science and good writing, we’ll do our best to enlighten and entertain our audience. And, perhaps we’ll change the world a little,” Nye said in an interview. “Bill Nye Saves the World” will explore science and its impact on the political arena, pop culture and society. Each episode of the series will examine a topic from a factual point of view and seek to explain the great question science asks of us: How does it work? Although the show’s primary goal may be to inform, Nye envisions his show inspiring old and young minds alike. While he’s busy saving the world, Nye may also get to show his new audience a sense of wonder for things unknown.

Baan Esaan: North Thai food done right and now it’s gone

Good Kids

by Naomi Iizuka September 30-October 2, October 5-8 Stieren Theatre in Ruth Taylor Theatre Building Fri. & Sat. 8pm, Wed. & Thurs. 7pm, Sun. 2:30pm Student $6, Faculty/Staff $8

Last Friday, my friend and Trinitonian alum Kim Nguyen took me to eat North Thai cuisine, a type of food I knew nothing about. I DYLAN WAGNER had no idea I was A&E EDITOR about to consume one of the most delicious combinations of marinated meat, apples and white-hot spiciness I’ve ever had. Baan Esaan, a quietly modern eatery right off of South Presa in Southtown, looks like a bar so heavily remodeled that the bar is all that’s left. All two of the servers sauntered between tables, dripping with sweat. We’d just missed the lunch rush on the restaurant’s last day of operation. Named after the eponymous northeastern region in Thailand, Baan Esaan does not try to Anglicize its menu in any way. It took a very patient server (and the always patient Kim) to explain what each dish was, how it was served and the spiciness rating associated with each. After frantic deliberation, I decided on the nam thok pork (thin strips marinated in a thick sweet-spicy sauce) with a side of apple somtum (granny smith apple salad with tomatoes). This came with sticky rice which, for the uninitiated, is a cylindrical lump of rice that is just the right consistency to rip chunks off to dip in meat juices. The real treat in going to Baan Esaan, at least for a spice hound like myself, is the commitment to authentic Thai flavors. Not only was the pork deliciously flavored with

chilies, onions and mint. You can order anything off of the menu at one of three spice levels: Mild, Medium or Spicy. Now, I know that most restaurants don’t really mean it when they say “spicy,” but at the same time I know Thai cuisine’s reputation for sending white boys to the bathroom, usually crying tears of spicy blood. So of course, I told the server I wanted my nam thok Spicy. Kim and I had to wait a while for our food to arrive, as there were still only two people keeping the other customers happy. Meanwhile, the owner, Albert Smith, emerged from the kitchen in a cloud of steam to shake hands and talk with the regulars. With the number of “it’s a damned shame” faces and shaken heads, Baan Esaan looked awfully wellliked to close. My confusion was answered when Smith, half-Thai and impressively bearded, came to share sentiments with Kim, a regular herself. After excusing himself back to the kitchen after thanking Kim for her frequent patronage, we asked our server why the restaurant was closing at all. “Just politics,” our server shrugged. Apparently the victim of a real estate squabble gone poorly, Baan Esaan stands a good chance of reopening in some form or another thanks to its quality and popularity. Finally, our food arrived. After my nose hairs singed off, I took a wary bite of the nam thok and was transported to some Lovecraftian horrorscape of flavor too spicy and delicious for my mortal brain to comprehend. After I returned to reality, Kim had finished eating. We mopped up my tears and departed, and I wonder if I’ll ever taste such flavor again.


ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

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Criticism for Kanye West’s Saint Pablo Tour: Devilishly Disappointing Yeezus stiffs Austin stop of domestic 2016 tour with lackluster show

I used to love Kanye. And I will admit, albeit begrudgingly, I somehow still do. But when I sit SARAH HALEY down to OPINION COLUMNIST remember the 21st night of September, wherein I piled into UT Austin’s Frank Erwin Center along with over ten thousand other eager concertgoers for the Saint Pablo Tour, I can’t help but feel salty. And it’s not hard to understand why. The Life of Pablo (TLOP) is an incredible album. As someone who has spent her life observing and adoring Kanye West, it was the culmination of so many of his other creative techniques from the gospel roots of The College Dropout (2004) to the electro-punk strippeddown minimalism of Yeezus (2013). TLOP is a truly raw, spiritual experience from start to finish. Not being pleased with the Saint Pablo tour itself is, then, in no part due

to any problem I have with the content of the album he’s touring. So why exactly am I disappointed and frustrated with his performance in Austin last week? Maybe it was the fact that Kanye ended up starting the show about 2 hours late, a move so incredibly unprofessional I felt insulted by how little he valued the time of his loyal fans, many of whom drove hours to come see him. Maybe it was the fact that he performed for barely an hour for us in Austin, after giving Houston a 2+ hour extravaganza the night before. Maybe it was the fact that his merch was composed of $95.00 long-sleeve Gildan t-shirts – you know, the same brand of shirts that cost $2.00 at Walmart – sporting designs that could’ve been devised in Microsoft Paint. Maybe it was the fact that I bought tickets way back in June as part of the Tidal Presale, tickets which put me out more than a couple of Benjamins. Maybe it was the fact that I felt like I did more vocals at the show than Kanye actually did, as he severely overused the “stop singing and hold the mic out to the crowd” move. I’m sure my saltiness is due, in no small part, to the previous concert experience I had with Kanye: the Yeezus tour, an earth-shatteringly magnificent auditory and visual spectacle that has proven impossible to forget.

While all of those things collectively were enough to make me feel disrespected and ripped-off, I also was confused by the setlist. Yes, we got some key throwbacks like Stronger, Heartless, Touch the Sky and Can’t Tell Me Nothing, which energized the crowd and helped me feel a little bit less angry at Ye. Considering this was indeed the Saint Pablo Tour, however, there were more than a handful tracks of that were conspicuously absent. Both 30 Hours, my personal favorite track off TLOP, as well as No More Parties in L.A., a unanimous fan favorite, were not performed. Highlights and FML were also no-shows. Perhaps most strange was the lack of the actual tour namesake track, Saint Pablo, a six minute masterpiece we all had expected to hear at the show. I assume that the gaps in the setlist were a result of the show starting about 2 hours late, which just frustrates me even more. Kanye had an arena full of people who support his lifestyle out of our own pockets, and he couldn’t even be grateful enough to his fanbase to give us the show we paid for. As someone who has seen over fifty individual acts live, none of which were in festival environments, that’s something I have never before encountered and hope to never encounter again. Don’t get me wrong; it wasn’t all bad. I did have fun dancing my

face off, and what songs he did play sounded pretty fantastic on the Erwin Center’s sound system. The small square stage that levitated above the general admission crowd, which was a pulsating mosh pit that looked like the sickest party since T-Pain at Trinity last fall, was cool. The rest of the stage set up seemed like an impressive feat of engineering. The red lasers during Ultralight Beam were trippy and gorgeous. Yet having been spoiled by Yeezus, the minimalism Kanye was going for on this tour really seemed to fall flat, as jaw-dropping visuals have come to be a key part of the big concert venue experience. I’m sure if I was a wee-bit more obedient of a

fan, I would call it “art” and refuse to criticize it, but I’m not that blindly adoring anymore after having been ripped-off by the West’s offensively short performance. Yet if I’m being completely honest, I’m still a sucker. If Kanye came back to Austin or San Antonio tomorrow,I would drop everything and go. I love and respect him as an artist that much. But my experience at Saint Pablo made me feel like maybe I shouldn’t love and respect him that much, considering it isn’t mutual. Despite being a lifelong fan who thinks his music has only gotten better with each creative project, I’m left feeling like I really do miss the old Kanye.

graphic by TYLER HERRON


Sports

THE BABE SEPT.

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In 1927, Babe Ruth set the single season record for home runs at 60. This number wouldn’t be topped until Roger Maris slugged 61 in 1961. Most amazing about the number 60 was how it fared versus the league. The average amount of home runs hit per team in 1927 was 58, 2 less than Ruth hit on his own. When Maris hit 61 homers, the average team hit 153, and when Barry Bonds finished with 73 in 2001, the average team hit 185. What made Ruth special, and created this godly aura that surrounds his name to this day, is his talent’s timely transcendence. That’s what makes The Babe, The Babe.

One or the other?

Students discuss balancing Greek life and athletics BY ELISE HESTER

SPORTS REPORTER Approximately one in four Trinity students is involved in Greek life, while on average, one in every five students plays on a varsity athletic team. Inevitably, there is quite a bit of overlap between athletics and Greek life. “We have athletes [in Greek life] that represent most of the teams,” said Jeremy Allen, coordinator for fraternity and sorority life. Among athletes involved in Greek life, participation in their organization is often seen as having a positive impact on their personal and athletic lives, especially with regards to leadership, as former president of Phi Sigma Chi and varsity swimmer Jake Spitz speaks to. “From a leadership perspective, it doesn’t take a great deal of effort for a captain [of a sport’s team] to motivate his team, but in Greek life you’re dealing with a myriad of personalities who all have different reasons for being involved,” Spitz said. An athlete’s presence in a Greek organization can also bring about higher game attendance, said Janie Thompson, senior goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team and president of SPURS sorority. “I get to get our game schedule out there,” said Thompson. “Being a part of Greek life and soccer is a good way to bring the community together even more and support each other.” Some coaches, however, have expressed doubts about the positives of Greek life among athletes, especially during the first year. Sean Ethridge, head men’s golf coach, has discouraged his players from going Greek until their sophomore year. “This is the first year that I have strongly discouraged participating in Greek life activities for first-year students only,” Ethridge said. “I felt the need to give them the necessary time to adjust to the academic rigors of Trinity, as well as the

graphic by Tyler Herron

practice and travel schedules of being a nationally competitive golf program.” While Ethridge acknowledges that Greek life has its benefits, it also takes up a lot of a student’s time, particularly during new member orientation. The drawbacks of this can manifest themselves at inopportune times. “I think if you’re a student athlete struggling to managing time and priorities, this is where it can catch up to you. The demand on your time, and mostly your evenings, are what can cause the largest issues I’ve seen,” Ethridge said.“You have a recipe for stress, low academic achievement, and less than ideal performance.” Additionally, there are the needs of the classroom. Aspiring Greeks who do not play a sport only need to have a GPA of 2.30. Those who do play a sport must have a GPA of 2.60. Added time commitments, plus a higher standard, can be daunting. However, Thompson has found the combinations of commitments to be positive, as they have learned valuable time-management skills. “I’ve definitely learned to manage my time as best as I possibly can,” Thompson said. An argument can be made for the advantages of waiting to go Greek until one’s sophomore year, as first-year athletes are still

Vegas releases NBA predictions BY MARKHAM SIGLER

SPORTS EDITOR

The MLB regular season is closing in on its prolonged conclusion, and the NFL and college football seasons are officially in full swing, which can mean only one thing – it is time to start thinking about basketball. Vegas released their omniscient over/under predictions for NBA team’s regular season win totals this past week, and there’s plenty to ruminate on. Here’s four teams whose predictions jumped out. NEWS FLASH: This past year, the Golden State Warriors eclipsed Michael Jordan’s Bulls’ 1995-96 record win total of 72 games by defeating their poor opponent in 73 of 82 games. After subsequently succumbing to the Cleveland LeBron’s in the greatest finals of our lifetime, Steph Curry and the gang decided to perform a great disservice to competition-enthusiasts everywhere by signing The Durantula aka Kevin Durant aka The-Ember-That-Will-Stoke-Russell-Westbrook’s-BeautifullyIntense-Fire. Analysts and fans alike wrung their hands in a mixture of disgust, shock and depression for about 48 hours, questioning the underlying ethics and incoming implications of KD’s decision – will we ever wonder who the favorite to win the title is again? Has the formation of the most powerful starting lineup in basketball history been inevitable ever since the 2008 Celtics offseasoned their way to a title? Will Russell Westbrook become so energized that he spontaneously combusts on Nov. 3 at Oracle Arena (when the Thunder and Warriors play for the first time) after dunking on Zaza Pachulia to cap a 12-2 run mid-3rd quarter that brings the OKC Thunder within 2? Regardless of our well-intentioned queries, this fact remains: Vegas set the Warriors over/under at 66.5 games. That’s 0.5 less than the San Antonio Spurs won last year, yet still rather high considering they were forced to replace Andrew Bogut, Mo Buckets, Leonardo Barbosa and Festus Ezeli with spare parts afforded only by the minimum wage. Additionally, after falling in seven games to a much more physically active, conditioned team in the finals, one must believe Steve Kerr and the man upstairs, Jerry West, will much more consciously rest their

stars over the course of the regular season, even if that means suffering losses in games that may have been otherwise won. Finally, while Durant is doubtlessly a unique talent – an elite shooter, whose combination of reach and mobility make him an impossible cover – his implementation into an offense will sacrifice worthwhile chunks of not only what make him effective, but that which made all-stars Klay Thompson and Draymond Green household names this past season. Come playoff time, the Warriors will almost certainly be primed for another trip to the finals, but these sacrifices could very well cause regular season strife that will cost the team some gimme games that would’ve been won last year. Verdict: Under When the Chicago Bulls dealt Derrick Rose’s shell to the New York Knicks, nostalgia set in. It was the right move. The Bulls bamboozled Phil Jackson into giving them Robin Lopez, a cheaper, healthier, better-haired version of Joakim Noah’s shell, and Bulls fans remorsefully recognized the end of one of the modern NBA’s great what-ifs and waited for their next move. Two weeks later, embattled assist-hunter Rajon Rondo was signed to a two-year contract. In a lesser-known, equally distressing move, sharpshooter Mike Dunleavy was traded to the LeBron’s. “Ok,” Bulls fans thought. “Maybe this will work. Two guards (the other being Jimmy Butler) who don’t particularly enjoy shooting 3’s in today’s 3-happy game? We must be employing a very advanced form of basketball reverse psychology that is too nuanced for the other 29 teams and their overly critical fans to understand.” In a shocking move a week later, Dwayne Wade became a Bull. If I were a Bulls fan, I would’ve been ecstatic for about 2 and a half minutes. “Dwayne Wade himself! Aw, yeah, suck it Heat fans! He’ll tutor Jimmy, and with an IQ like his married to Rondo’s savant-like vision, our offense will be too funky to handle. I wonder how Coach Hoiberg will utilize Dwayne and Rondo in his free-flowing, ball-movement oriented fast-break offense? Oh wait, Pau went to the Spurs? Everyone is laughing at us?” Continued on Page 23

adjusting to life not only as a college student, but as a collegiate athlete as well. “I feel that by discouraging participation, student athletes will actually feel less pressure to jump into something that they might want to consider the time demands of a bit further,” Etheridge said. For some students, even those not involved in athletics, Greek life is too much to handle right out of the gate their first year. “About a quarter of the students that have signed up for our master recruitment list are sophomores or juniors, mostly sophomores,” Allen said, “For certain students I think that’s definitely helpful so if certain teams have that mentality, we’re willing to recognize the importance of that. So I think there are definitely sufficient reasons to make that argument.” Ultimately, the opportunity to engage in two different arenas of college life provides a good learning environment for maturing students on the cusp of adulthood, and the real world. “The leadership opportunities in Greek life are unparalleled, but they cannot come close to what athletics can teach someone about personal drive and how to struggle for success. I think when the two of them are combines, they develop a young person into an extraordinary adult,” Spitz said.

Eyes on the prize BY ELISE HESTER

SPORTS REPORTER Last weekend, Trinity women’s tennis competed in the ITA Regional competition. The ITA competition, which is a separate entity from NCAA tennis, sees the players competing as individual athletes, as well as pairs of doubles partners. Those who qualify at regionals will be awarded a spot to attend the ITA Nationals. Both the singles player and doubles team represented by Trinity placed second in the overall competition. No. 1 seed Liza Southwick, a senior, won runner-up. “The hardest part of the tournament was having so many people advance to the final day of match play, yet nobody moving on to ITA nationals next month,” said Marie Lutz, senior tennis player. Lutz and Southwick, the No.1 seeded double team, had won the Regional A Doubles Championship each of the past two years, but lost this year to UT Dallas’s team of Kathy Joseph and Melanie Marlin, the No. 2 seed. The Tigers will now focus their attention on preparing for the spring season, which will open at home on Feb. 1. This weekend, the Trinity men’s tennis team is headed to the men’s Division III ITA Regional competition, with the same goal in mind the girls held. “There’s always that goal that if you win regionals, you get to continue on to nationals,” said Chas Meyer, senior tennis player. “It’s a lot of tough matches, a lot of competitive matches, but at the end of the day, if you play well and you work through it, there’s a nice little reward.” The boys foresee their biggest competition being the host school, University of Texas at Tyler. “Me and Adam [Krull] played our hardest match against UT Tyler and barely won in a tiebreak, and this year they got two or three new Brazilians that are really good,” junior Matt Tyler said. “I think we have a shot of at least making it to the finals of regionals and hopefully qualifying for nationals.” Despite being an individually played sports, Tyer says communication is key to performing well. “The biggest thing is probably communication,” Tyer said. “[Communication] is what really separates teams that win from those that don’t.”


SPORTS • SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

23

Las Vegas Continued from page 22

At this juncture Bulls fans crumpled in agony, their myopic delusion likely their final fond memory of the Bulls for years to come. To add insult to injury, Vegas predicts 38.5 wins this year, 3.5 less than last and good for 12th in the Eastern Conference. Keep your chin up Bulls fans. Somewhere Tom Thibedou is chuckling softly, drinking a glass of whiskey in the freezing cold while Karl Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins practice their 360 windmills. Verdict: … Under? The Celtics are quickly becoming everyone’s favorite League Pass team. Brad Stevens may already be a top five basketball mind, and Al Horford is a legitimate star who can relieve Isaiah Thomas’ offensive burden while bolstering a defense that features the unflappable Avery Bradley, plus Swiss army knife Jae Crowder. The Celtics won 48 games last year, and while they fell to the more seasoned Atlanta Hawks in the playoffs, all the time Danny Ainge spent stockpiling assets is manifesting itself into a team Vegas considers second best in the Eastern Conference (following the LeBron’s), predicted to win 51.5 games. These guys are about as hungry as a bunch of 25-year-old millionaires can be following their first round exit, and Horford will only serve to further catalyze their ascent into the elite. Verdict: Over

I’m not usually inclined to slander, so believe me when I say that the Vegas-clone who predicted the Houston Rockets would win a measly 41.5 games must have had one too many before coming into work. Following a disappointing year discolored by The Cancer formerly known as Dwight Howard, the Rockets added second-option extraordinaire Ryan Anderson and natural-born scorer Eric Gordon, not to mention Nene, who is still a quality NBA center that can graciously mentor Clint “The Freak” Capella and Tyler Ennis, a solid backup point guard siphoned from the Milwaukee Bucks for Michael Beasley. Many aver our 2014-2015 western conference finals team was an apparition, citing an obscure statistic that suggests our opposition missed open shots at a higher rate vs. the Rockets than any other team (that sounds extremely made up). While my lawyers discuss this statistic’s validity, an indisputable truth is that James Harden is a top five player finally surrounded by good outside shooting, and an offensive genius of a coach who realizes the importance of maintaining a consistent rotation (good freaking riddance, JB Bicketstaff.) This being said, I strongly disagree with any prediction that puts a team with James Harden and a cast of at least semi-competent basketball players on the same level as the Minnesota Timberwolves. Verdict: Over

Everything from player profiles to game day reporting. Take your passion to the next level and bring your love for the game to the forefront with the Trinitonian.

We are looking for Self-motivated, outgoing students with customer service oriented attitudes and experience Excellent communication skills A team player *Preference will be given to students who will commit to both semester and summer employment

Perks of the job Great pay, flexible semester schedule, professional work experience, add work experience to your resume Free room and board during Summer Employment

To apply send resume and cover letter to: Justin Michaelson at jmichael@trinity.edu Deadline for application submission is Wednesday October 19th. Applicants selected for a follow-up-interview will be contacted the week of October 24th.

President Danny Anderson and Kimberly Anderson welcome everyone to Fall Family Weekend!


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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 30, 2016 •

SPORTS


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