1.22.16 by Trinitonian

MLK MARCH 8

STUDY ABROAD 7

NCAA CONVENTION 15

theTrinitonian

Vol. 115 Issue 15

Serving Trinity University, San Antonio Since 1902

January 22, 2016

SGA begins new year with fresh leadership President Brenna Hill begins the term with high hopes for the Trinity community BY JESSICA LUHRMAN

NEWS REPORTER

The Student Government Association is under new leadership after an election held last December. The study body elected Brenna Hill, junior urban studies and sociology major, as president, and Shivani Parmar, sophomore economics and entrepreneurship major, as vice—president. Hill and Parmar anticipate several changes to SGA under their leadership, including a plan to make SGA a more student— focused environment. “We’re trying to give SGA a stronger presence on campus. We want to create events where students can provide more feedback,” Hill said. The first step in increasing student participation is having students know who their senators are, according to Hill. “We want to have an ‘Improve Trinity Week.’ There will be events every day where students can come and meet their senators. We want to have more class representation so that students know who their senators are,” Hill said. Improve Trinity Week is slated to be in March this year. The goal is to have students express the issues they want SGA to address. SGA plans to change the funding request process for new organizations this year. “We’re making changes to our funding process. Right now our funding process goes through two stages: you submit a funding request to finance committee, who will then submit present you request to the entire senate

to vote,” Parmar said. “Because the finance committee is made up of senators, we want to cut out one of those processes and have the funding committee able to vote on your requests. It’s an expedited process.” Parmar added that the new funding process will not apply to funding requests that exceed $1500, which will need to be presented to the funding committee and the entire senate. The new funding request process will be a new amendment to the SGA constitution that the student body will vote on in the future. SGA wants to increase student participation by holding weekly hours in the Coates University Center. “We’re going to have hours in Coates where an

SGA Senator will have hours and be at a table, so students can stop by. We’ll have a suggestion box this year and a white board with an issue of the week where students can write feedback about the issue of that week,” Hill said. SGA, in conjunction with Sheryl Tynes, associate vice president for academic affairs, is currently discussing the prospect of having “activity—friendly scheduling” on campus. “Activity—friendly scheduling is basically having a block of time once a week where there are no classes scheduled. So everyone on campus is free for professors and students to meet as an organization, to have sports practices and to have meetings. We know that it’s really for Trinity students who are over-

involved with many of these meetings overlap and it’s really hard to choose. So we’re hoping to make everyone’s lives easier,” Parmar said. In the future, SGA anticipates collaborating more with organizations on campus. “We’re working a lot on sexual assault and general campus climate issues. We’re working with the Trinity Progressives on campus climate and mental health. We have senators going to Trinity diversity’s on race relations,” said Hill. Both Hill and Parmar have been involved in SGA since they were first—year students. Hill was elected as a first—year senator and then a sophomore senator before applying for president, and Parmar was a first—year senator prior to running for vice president. Jamie Thompson, director of Student Involvement and coadviser to SGA, has worked with Hill and Parmar since they were first—year students. “Our two new officers bring experience and a level of motivation to lead that is exciting. I’m thrilled by the ideas they are bringing to the table,” Thompson said. “Every time there is new leadership, it is so refreshing to see what they come up with.” Hill was motivated to run for SGA positions in an effort to give back to the university. “I wanted to give back to Trinity, a school that has given me so much already and trying to make it a better place and listen to student concerns. I’m interested in government and public policy as a career path, so I thought it would be a good opportunity to experience being a leader on campus,” Hill said. Parmar was driven by the desire to make a difference. “I was immediately driven to the leadership aspect of it and that you can immediately make a change if you want to,” Parmar said. “If you have a complaint, you can actually do something about it, given the chance. I think graphic by Sam Skory that’s really important.”

Administration issues warning to former fraternity Students cautioned against attending off campus events held by Pi Kappa Alpha BY TYLER BOELTS

NEWS EDITOR

Late Thursday afternoon Michael Fischer sent out a campus wide email warning Trinity students of the repercussions of attending any parties thrown by the group

NEWS...1-4

formerly known as Pi Kappa Alpha. An investigation conducted by the dean of students resulted in the discovery of parties thrown at an off campus location. “In the course of this ongoing investigation, we have learned that multiple events/parties have been held at 1011 Bitters Road,” the email from Fischer said. “We have further learned that these events/ parties may have been hosted under the auspices, intentional or perceived, of Pi Kappa Alpha or

OPINION...5-6

athletic teams, including baseball.” The former Trinity fraternity was previously embroiled in a dispute with the administration, resulting in their suspension and the loss their charter over the course of the past two years, after recommendation by Greek Council. Greek Council additionally released a statement following the email from Fischer. “About a year ago, Greek Council made the recommendation for the University to review the charter of Pi Kappa Alpha. After that

PULSE...7-9

recommendation, Greek Council effectively removed themselves from any and all jurisdiction over the organization. We remain committed to our 13 organizations that are recognized by Trinity University, and who, in turn, commit themselves to upholding the values and safety of our community,” said Jake Spitz and Rebecca Prager, co-chairs of Greek Council. Additionally, Fischer warned the student body of the dangers of

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT...10-12

attending any off campus parties held by the fraternity. “After attending an event/party, underage students were referred for care for severe alcohol consumption after returning to campus,” Fischer said. “For your own safety, please consider this a warning to avoid attending formal or informal events/parties at this location.” No further information has been released regarding the fraternity or the next steps of the University.

SPORTS...13-16

WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • JANUARY 22, 2016 •

NEWS

WEEKLY FORECAST

NEWS BRIEFS San Antonio FBI agents on Thursday arrested the father of Melvin Lee “Winks” Sullivan, as part of a national sex trafficking of minors crackdown. Last October Melvin was among 153 pimps arrested as part of Operation Cross Country IX, during which 149 victims were rescued. Documents from the arrests alleged Deam’s father also participated in the trafficking and beating of the underage girls. “Winks” was arrested after agents obtained a new indictment charging him and his son with sex trafficking by coercion. mysa.com

National Following closure the public school district of Detroit reopened all public schools on Thursday. The closures occurred following teachers staging mass sickouts for more than a week in protest of inadequate funding and deplorable condition. Nine out of ten public schools were closed Wednesday, coinciding with President Obama’s visit to the city for the North American International Auto Show. Complaints have been over mildew spread, building damage and a heavy rat presence. cnn.com

International Seven days after the region was cleared by health officials, a second case of the deadly Ebola virus has been reported in the West African nation of Sierra Leone. The region was declared to be free from the major epidemic after international effort but a recent case, the aunt of the 22 year old woman who died last week of Ebola, adds another death from the disease. The Ebola outbreak killed around 11,300 people and infected 28,600 others, mostly in West African countries like Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. According to officials however, such flare-ups were anticipated, as Liberia was declared free of Ebola last May but saw the return of the disease twice. bbc.com compiled by Luke Wise

Friday H 62 L 33

Saturday H 61 L 35

UPCOMING EVENTS 22 FRIDAY What: TUPD Stalking Awareness Event When: 11:00 a.m. Where: Coates University Center What: Spring Student Involvement Fair When: 2:30 p.m. Where: Prassel lawn What: Trinity Next Big Campus Initiative When: 2:30 p.m. Where: Northrup 040 What: Welcome Back Winterfest When: 2:30 p.m. Where: Prassel Lawn

27 WEDNESDAY What: Tuition Stop Day When: 3:33 p.m. Where: Coates

Sunday H 72 L 49

Monday H 75 L 43

Tuesday H 62 L 38

Wednesday H 61 L 38

Thursday H 67 L 42

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Opinions expressed in the Trinitonian are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Trinity University, its students, faculty, staff or the Trinitonian. Editorials represent the opinions of the Trinitonian Editorial Board. The first copy of the Trinitonian is free; additional copies are 50 cents each. ©2015. All rights reserved.

Identification The Trinitonian [USPS 640460] [issn 1067-7291] is published weekly during the academic year, except holidays and final exams, by Trinity University, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200. Subscription price is $35 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Antonio, TX. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Trinitonian, One Trinity Place, #62, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200.

Corrections In our previous issue the story Housing survey circulates Trinity campus, the reporter covering the story was Jessica Luhrman and not Alexandra Uri.

NEWS •

JANUARY 22, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

Criminal seeks refuge on Trinity campus BY PHILIP MCKEON

NEWS REPORTER

While the majority of students were home for winter break,

a young man wanted for aggravated sexual assault went missing from the halfway house he had been staying at. It was suggested that he had come to Trinity’s campus to seek shelter from the police with a Trinity student. On Jan. 5, TUPD sent out a

warning notice to inform the school about the situation, calling for the Trinity community to be watchful and report any sighting of him. The notice detailed that Decker “is a black male, 17 years old, approx. 5’6” tall, 126 lbs., with black hair and brown

eyes.” The notice continued community was watchful, to explain that Decker “has and there were some reports a warrant for his arrest for claiming to have seen Decker. aggravated sexual assault,” and “After putting out our Timely that the “Texas Department of Warning Notice, we did have Corrections advised us [TUPD] a couple of calls in regards to that Mr. Decker was to come possibly seeing Mr. Decker on to Trinity University where he campus. But after responding knows a student (unknown).” and investigating, it was not Mr. Assistant Chief Pete Perez Decker,” remarked Assistant disclosed more information Chief Perez. on what the Department of Frances Stone, a Trinity first Corrections had relayed to year, remarked that she was TUPD. not overly concerned about “The Investigator informed us Decker’s possible presence on that they had Mr. Decker not campus. show up to the halfway house he “I got the email over the break, was residing at. Upon looking so I figured that TUPD was into the aware of situation, t h e t h e i r. . problem, investigation and they revealed w o u l d that one take care possible of it,” said lead was Stone. that he Still, it is k n e w. . important someone to note at Trinity that, as of University Jan. 21, [who] he Decker Pete Perez might be has yet Assistant Chief of Trinity Police able to stay to be with. This caught. prompted “As of t h e . . . yet he has Investigator to contact TUPD.” not been seen or shown up to Perez .. stated. his residence,” stated. Perez. Given the nature of his crime, Perez also commented that TUPD believed it was important students should not hesitate that the Trinity community be to contact TUPD should they aware of the issue. run across Decker or any other “We issue these Timely suspicious activity. Warning Notices when critical “We would rather have twenty information comes across our false alarms than risk missing path,” said Perez. “Our main the one call where it’s actually priority is for the safety of our him,” said Perez. campus community in being Although Decker has yet to informed, but also having the be seen since spring semester extra eyes and ears is certainly began, if anyone believes they a plus.” have seen Decker, they should Having been made aware contact TUPD at 210-999of the situation, the Trinity 7070.

“

STOP

We did have a couple of calls in regards to possibly seeing Mr. Decker on campus.

January 27, 2016 Did you know that less than 65% of your Trinity education is covered by your tuition? Come by the tables to learn more about who pays for the rest of your Trinity experience. Games and prizes too! 3:00-4:30 p.m. | Coates Center Join us for a Super Nacho Hour 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. | Mabee Hall FREE cake!

See you there!

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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 20, 2015 •

OPINION • JANUARY 22, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

...

pinion

COMMENTARY

Have an opinion? Want it heard? For a chance to be featured as a guest columnist in our opinion section please submit your article by Monday night to be in the Friday issue of the paper. Email trinitonian@trinity.edu for any concerns or questions.

Looking forward to the new year: Seize the (syllabus) days

My determination when I began writing an occasional column for this paper was to focus on what was at the top of my “short list” — that ever looming array of concerns, issues, happenings tickling the back of my brain. Since candor is one of the characteristics I most admire, I have to acknowledge that I choose not to write about those “top of my concerns” issues this week. Nevertheless, because I refuse to stray far from the original intent of these pieces, I’ll mention a couple items on my real short list but deliberately not dwell on any of them. A few weeks ago Wilbur, one of the three toy poodle litter mates born of my champion Callie, died; I try to ignore the fact that his two siblings are also showing signs of their age. Two much admired and YOUNGER friends spent some time in hospitals as this last year ended — one with a life-threatening heart condition, the other with a tumor in her brain. Both are doing better, but their situations weigh heavily on my

mind and “short” list. Thirdly, I’ve been experiencing knee pain and occasionally have used a cane or walking stick. And, finally, a reminder of COLEEN GRISSOM a possible reason for The Short List the cane, I celebrated another Capricorn birthday and realize I’m not just the “senior member of the Trinity University faculty” by a couple of years, but by several! Admit it. You feel spared from a potentially quite depressing column. You are welcome. Since I am pretty much a “glass halffull” person, my reactions to losses and fears rarely throw me into a “slough of despond.” I don’t meditate. I turn to productive activity to avoid depression, whining and enervation. Therefore, at the top of my short list is probably what’s also on yours: how to prepare for another beginning, a new semester in ways that can make a

positive difference in my life and the lives of those with whom I interact. As many times as I have gotten ready for another term, I still get excited and respond happily to the challenge of creating syllabi, developing approaches to examining various texts, and assisting students in polishing their skills in reading insightfully and sharing their views confidently and convincingly. When I become focused on these chores, I do not dwell on distressing concerns, but I look forward to being once again in a classroom guiding discussions of contemporary literature and finding much delight as my students improve their speaking and writing skills. And, of course, I think often about that regular occurrence during the academic year — a re-examination (and, often, a defense of ) the value of a liberal arts education, especially of choosing English as a major or minor. No one wants to get me started on that topic because I will, without a doubt, soon begin to rant.

Just let it suffice that being able to read and to write well, developing empathy and understanding of others different from ourselves, thinking critically and insightfully about texts all combine to help create truly educated, fair-minded individuals who can and will make a positive difference in this damaged world. So, there you have it: my focus (and, I hope, also yours) is what I feel is most appropriate and useful as a new year and academic semester begin: seizing the opportunities this university provides to continue to (in the words of John Hoyt) “Figure out what you care about and live a life that shows it.” This is one of the best times and best places to conduct this exploration. Don’t think of this as a resolution you can easily break; consider it a beneficial goal well worth pursuing.

Coleen Grissom is a professor of English.

Sport in London at Christmas Winter break is never long enough, is it? You finish finals, briefly celebrate the semester being over and done with, board that plane to head home and catch up with family & friends and then... CALLUM SQUIRES Boom — you’re back in Northrup British Invasion at 10:30 on a Wednesday morning listening to a professor read through a syllabus. The cogs start turning in your brain again and suddenly you’re neck deep in homework... Where did that break go!? For me, it went on a mix of jet lag, hectic family Christmas events and friends parties, late nights watching the NFL and NBA, crying at Manchester United’s abject performances in the Premier League and, luckily, a fantastic few days helping out with a Trinity class in London. The Sport in London class was in the pipeline for a long time. I remember talking to Dr Tingle way back in the early part of my sophomore year about doing a couple of weeks exploring sports venues and cultural heritage sites in the UK and over a year later the trip was born. I’d been home for a few days already when I met the group of 12 of my fellow students, Dr Tingle and oach McGinlay at Heathrow Airport. It was weirdly funny watching some other people suffer at the hands of the Texas to London jet lag I experience twice a year. Not that I wish ill on my friends, but this whole trip allowed these lucky Tigers to see a bit of my life and how it works for me being part of the 10% of our campus that is made up of International students, and

one of three from the UK. It’s a bit different from the San Antonio life. This was exemplified by all the new experiences I was able to share with the 12 students on the trip. They learned about the pub and how one might take advantage of the legal loopholes presented by the differences in law between the United Kingdom and the United States of America. They saw the differences in the way sport is done in my hometown to how it is over here. Historic venues like Lord’s Cricket Ground and Wembley Stadium are completely different to those that you would find here, like the AT&T Center or Cowboys Stadium. The sheer monetary corruption of sport is still a few years behind in the UK. We’re not quite in American “monopoly central” zone yet... However, seeing Dr. Tingle transform himself into a QPR fan almost overnight was like seeing a caterpillar turn into a butterfly. The soccer bug is catching. But perhaps the most rewarding bit of the trip for everyone involved was a lunch and interview session that incorporated both my past and my present, and 12 of my high school friends met the 12 Trinity Tigers and my family conversed with Tingle and McGinlay. It’s amazing how different the lives of college sudents from two Western, English-speaking countries can be. Topics of flowing conversation included sorority and fraternity life, residency requirements, sports at university and, awkwardly, the perception of yours truly in England and the USA. I was worried that personalities might clash and conversation would stall, but I needn’t have even considered this. Learning from people from the other

side of the world is a powerful motivator for many people, and it should be for everyone. Studying abroad, as this definitely was, can really broaden a person’s horizons. However, there are definitely perils of trying to navigate a new city on a week’s notice. Bailing out two of my friends, who shall remain nameless, who walked us twenty minutes in the wrong direction on the way to Wimbledon was a stressful but fun experience. We jumped on a bus and just about made our tour on time. Coach McGinlay was not as quick to forgive the culprits as I was. All I can say is the sooner San Antonio adopts proper public transport and makes it work for everyone the better this city will become. You guys love your cars too much. So there you have it. That’s how I found myself back for the spring semester feeling more tired than when I left for the break. It was a lot of fun, as it always is, having Trinity people visit London. It’s strange seeing faces I associate so vividly with San Antonio halfway across the globe, but it’s exciting and fun to share my home with them. Open invitation to anyone who’s in need of a place to stay in London — get in touch with me. It’s truly one of the world’s greatest cities. And now for 2016... Hope you all have a wonderful year. And how about extending winter break by a week!?!?

STAFF

sports editor: Aynav Leibowitz photo editor: Miguel Webber graphic editor: Samantha Skory web editor: Kim Nguyen reporters: Jessica Luhrman, Alex Uri, Philip McKeon, Sarah Price, Shree Deshpande, Sarah Tipton, Paige Perez, Grace Frye, Dylan Wagner, Emily Elliot, Momo Setamou, Sindey Hopkins columnists: Courtney Justus, Callum

Squires, Markham Sigler, Alex Hartzell copy editors: Daniel Conrad, Zach Wilson, Emily Wood photographers: Karina Duran, Jordan Leeper distribution manager: Maddie Kennedy advertising staff: Kayla Hood, Erin Patridge, Laura Campbell, Lauren Harris business staff: Krushi Patel, Jessie Taube adviser: Katharine Martin

editor-in-chief: Luke Wise managing editor: Claire Hoobler-Curtis business manager: Dzung Vu ad director: Christina Moore news editor: Tyler Boelts campus pulse editor: Julia Elmore arts & entertainment editor: Madison Smith

Callum Squires is a junior German studies major.

WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • JANUARY 22, 2016 •

Further discussion of campus climate is crucial By now, most of you have probably seen the barrage of fliers that Trinity Progressives (of which we’re copresidents — full disclosure) posted NICK SANTULLI around campus to AND BETH LEGG advertise its studentGuest Column only town hall on campus climate, taking place next Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in the Bell Center Dance Studio. If you’re anything like our good friend Alyx Purrkowsky, you might have immediately asked “Wait, didn’t Trinity Diversity Connection (TDC) already have this event in December?” The answer to this understandable question is a resounding and maybe-possibly-slightlydefensive NO. While TDC’s forum provided an excellent educational introduction to the topic, an honest evaluation of the inclusivity of our campus is still pertinent. Next week’s town hall will set the proper course of action in motion if necessary. When protests regarding universities’ atmospheres towards minority students erupted earlier this year at schools ranging from Mizzou to Yale to Claremont-McKenna, a clear signal was sent: many feel their campus climate excludes and marginalizes certain groups of students. Regardless of college size, prestige, or geographic location, this attitude holds firm, and it’s one that is exacerbated by administrators seen as callous and unwilling to listen. While Trinity is assuredly not plagued by the latter problem (#TigerPride), it is important that we respond to potential concerns regarding our culture proactively to ensure that our tight-knit community is as supportive and strong as possible. We need to have a sincere discussion of our campus climate towards issues of race, ethnicity, and otherness at large. That’s what the town hall seeks to provide: an honest evaluation of our campus from the perspective of us, the students, in a setting removed from the offices and classrooms of

upper campus. Our agenda isn’t to demonize the administration or divide the student body, but is to engage in productive dialogue. If we fail to discuss these issues openly and civilly, we risk allowing problems to fester until a breaking point is reached, resulting in lasting damage to the school’s reputation and, more importantly, its sense of community. The events at Mizzou are a telling example of the consequences of silence. By promoting a culture of respectful conversation, Trinity can sustain a campus climate that’s receptive to change and supports the needs of all students. Of course, discussion is not always enough — positive change often requires an accompaniment of action. That’s why Trinity Progressives plan to form a committee of students, faculty, and staff with an aim of drafting policy proposals based on the responses from the town hall. The committee will present recommendations to the administration that have the potential to improve Trinity’s campus climate and remedy any identified problems. Before finalizing any proposal, the committee will hold forums where members of the Trinity community can provide their input and make suggestions. We may not necessarily need to take drastic measures to adjust our campus climate, but a committee will provide an efficient medium for communication between the student body and concrete steps on the administrative side. So please, if you’ve had a notable experience with Trinity’s racial climate, whether positive or negative, or just want to help create a more inclusive campus, come to the event on Wednesday. Join the committee. Attend a policy forum later this semester. Engagement is key to impacting informed and positive change, and diverse opinions pave the path to progress, providing holistic understanding of our campus’ concerns and needs. Also, there will probably be snacks. On that note, we hope to see you soon. Nick Santulli,is a sophomore Political Science major and Beth Legg is a sophomore Urban Studies/Sociology double major.

A salute to syllabus week

Returning to campus following a lengthy w i n t e r break is an endeavor MARKHAM SIGLER that receives m i x e d My Column reviews. For some, the timing is right. You rekindled with your high school friends, the trip to Belize is appearing further and further in your rearview mirror, and you have grown weary of your mom asking, “How are you going to be productive today?” The vacation is over, you have accepted it, and your work routine and social life await. Some are less enthusiastic. (Not ready to let go of home cooked meals, lazy Tuesdays, or a general lack of responsibilities for Mabee and Einsteins, terribly busy Tuesdays, and a stacked Google calendar, you may find yourself questioning why you chose this life path.) You cannot help but wish, even a little bit, that your break from reality might persist. Variations of the two exist, sure, and while generally speaking you are either (a) ready or (b) not fully ready, I would suggest that in both cases, the idea of continuing one’s schooling is not enticing. Even for the go-getters who say they are “excited” to be back are more inclined to “be

excited” for non-school reasons. This inevitable situation gives rise to what is doubtlessly one of the most underappreciated, unheralded periods of time Trinity, and I hope other universities, offers: syllabus week and MLK day. Seldom recognized for its grace and mercy, syllabus week and MLK day allows the average students an unparalleled advantage in the art of readjusting to the struggles that the average Trinity student endures. Instead of being pushed maliciously into an overwhelming assortment of classes and extracurriculars, we are granted a few days of semi-school, where we sit at our desks and listen to an experienced and intelligent professor introduce attendance policies, grading strategies, and assignment patterns that theoretically we, the students at the qualified and highly regarded institution of Trinity University, should be able to read and understand on our own. Is there anything stopping our professors from emailing us the syllabus before class begins? For them to ask of us only to read through the syllabus in an effort to understand the nature of their class, and to assign a small reading or work sheet or short essay in preparation for the first day of class. It would not be scholarly for us as students to argue this logic, that enrolling in a class means that you

OPINION

EDITORIAL

Here’s to the future First and foremost, welcome back! We hope everyone had a wonderful and relaxing holiday break, whether you found yourself celebrating Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza or whatever else. With every new semester and every new year, we often reminisce about the past year and the excitement, drama, sadness and joy we experienced. 2015 was a crazy year; from the horrific and sad attacks across the world to the horrific yet amusing presidential horse race, 2015 was nothing short of, well, exhausting. And 2016 seems to be starting off just as 2015 left us — bewildered and anxious — anxious for a new year that might bring with it some new found hope in a fight against Daesh overseas, hope in our political system and hope in our test scores. The year has only just begun yet with it come some major stories and news. Currently in the midst of award season, the Oscars found itself embroiled in heat. After a stark white list of acting nominations, many have voiced their concern at the Academy. The likes of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee have announced that they will not be attending this year’s show, with many calling on Chris Rock to step down from his hosting position. Nominations lack the inclusion of many thought to be potential award winners: Idris Elba from Beasts of No Nation, Will Smith from Concussion and Straight Outta Compton. But this isn’t the first time we’ve seen such a lack of diversity from the show; 2016 marks the second consecutive year we’ve had 20 all white nominees. The backlash that the nominations have garnered is cause for optimism; with enough support and enough vocal dissent we can continue to wage a war against racism and for inclusion, no matter how long it may take. We don’t want awards to be given to minority directors or actors by the Academy because they feel obligated to do so for fear of public backlash — we must have an Academy that is reflective of our feelings of inclusion and diversity, where all are met with equal and just treatment. Other major news that emerged from early this year is the possible readdition of a ninth planet. No we’re not talking about Pluto. We’re talking about “Planet Nine,” ten times the size of Earth and rotating 20 times further away than Neptune. That means it take around 10,000 to 20,000 years for it to orbit

will prepare for it, even if it means sacrificing an hour of your not-exactlysmall winter holiday. And I think most of us honest with ourselves would agree; syllabus week is by no stretch of the imagination an imperative part of the course. Skipping the first day of the majority of courses I have taken, in retrospect, would have been better suited to a more productive enterprise. Syllabus week is obviously a waste of valuable time, right? Wrong. We need and appreciate syllabus week and MLK day before the spring semester much the same way coffee drinkers need and appreciate caffeine in the morning. Without syllabus week, handling these first few days of the spring semester would be very unpleasant, and no one likes unpleasant. It does not matter if you believe you are mentally, physically, and emotionally prepared to resume your Trinity bubble experience, or long for just one more day in your winter break cocoon, syllabus week and MLK day is there for you, an unsung hero in an unforgiving time, buffering reality, and allowing us, the Trinity student body, time to soak in this new semester. Whether or not you receive the homage you deserve has never stopped you. We do not deserve you, but we need you.

Markham Sigler is a junior Chinese studies and International studies double major.

the sun. Of course this discovery isn’t about to appear in every astronomy and science textbook across the world just yet. The planet has yet to be actually observed, but due to some mathematical modeling and computer simulations, evidence points to the planet’s existence (whose size makes it a clear cut planet, not like everyone’s favorite ex planet Pluto). Sure the addition of a new planet in our solar system may not affect your daily life but still, it’s pretty damn awesome. And finally, while not really breaking news of 2016, the presidential race continues on. With the final debates before the Iowa Caucus over with, the sides seem less clear every week. On the right we have everyone’s favorite slightly (a possible understatement) racist, xenophobic and toupeed uncle Donald Trump battling against the Southern darling Ted Cruz. Recent polls put the two within two points of each other, both ways. On the Democratic side we have the same front-runner in former Hillary Clinton but with Bernie Sanders, Simon and Garfunkel enthusiast, still holding steady. Polls for the Iowa Caucus show Clinton with a nice 9 point lead on the Bern but a New Hampshire poll puts him ahead by 3. Basically, polls aside, the race is shaping up to be, as it is every year, a nice, long and bloody battle. Regardless of who you support, as long as it isn’t Trump, make sure you get out and vote. It’s still a ways off we know, but doing your part as an active citizen is crucial. You may think your individual vote may not count — and if you’re voting for O’Malley or Paul you may be statistically right. But that shouldn’t matter. The importance of the vote isn’t bound to whether or not it has an effect on an election or whether your party’s candidate does or doesn’t get elected — it’s important because it endorses, in a meaningful way, a certain view of society. Protests are important even if they don’t change opinion or accomplish their goals. Participating in our system is our inherent right, a right of all citizens to advocate your own principles and voice your own opinion. So get off the couch, get registered, and go out and vote. With only three weeks into the new year, 2016 is shaping up to be another hell of a ride — here’s hoping it brings with it the right changes.

CAMPUS PULSE

• JANUARY 22, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT “It’s hard for you to understand what a luxury being a student is, but trust me, when you’re old, you’ll wish you could be a student again. So, before you graduate, be sure to take a class you feel slightly guilty about takinga class that doesn’t seem to have a practical purpose or doesn’t fulfill a requirement, but simply satisfies your curiosity or feeds a passion.”

Kelly Carlisle, English

ulse

Traveling Tigers

CLINT SCHROEDER, BRIA WOODS, JOSHUA MANTON, and LUCKY BYAS traveled to London, England to study the impact of sport on society.

photo submitted by Bria Woods

Students returning from London and Cuba trips tell of their experiences abroad during Winter Break BY EMILY ELLIOTT PULSE REPORTER For many students, winter break is an awesome opportunity to catch up on sleep, relax and recuperate from the stressful fall semester. While many students use the hiatus in this fashion, other students use the month-long opportunity to expand their education and gain new experiences by traveling. This winter, Trinity sent two groups of students abroad; one group ventured to Cuba, and the other journeyed to

London. Although each trip abroad offered varying adventures and opportunities for the groups, the ability to go abroad this break was a mind-blowing experience for each

CAROLINE GRAND traveled to Cuba and got to encounter the culture, as well as the wildlife, while there. photo submitted by Joseph Khalaf

participant, as everyone returned with new stories and memories to share. Students who went abroad to London this winter primarily learned about the impacts of sports on English culture, and the timing of the trip allowed students with other university obligations to participate. “A sports trip in London that didn’t conflict with my baseball commitments at Trinity was a perfect fit! The baseball season makes semester abroad trips impossible, so this trip over Winter Break was exactly what I needed and my parents were all for it,” said Drew Butler, a senior marketing major. The trip provided never-ending opportunities for the participants to learn about sports throughout their trip. “I learned how much of English culture revolves around sports. From all the different teams in London, and all the different sports that go on, you are constantly surrounded by sports. Everywhere you go you are provided an opportunity to engage with others and immerse yourself in sports,” Butler said. This trip allowed participants to explore several areas of sports culture in London. “We were able to go in player locker rooms, royal suites, and training rooms at some of the most prestigious sporting venues in all of London,” Butler said. Trinity faculty worked hard to make the trip beneficial, allowing the students to experience as much as possible. “The trip was set up and run without a single hitch. Dr. Tingle and Coach McGinlay organized the trip to perfection, and they took time out of their holidays to set up a trip of a lifetime for us. Our whole group is incredibly grateful for that, and without them the trip would not have been possible,” Butler said. Other students were able to visit Cuba as it began to open its doors to more visitors for the first time in decades. “I chose to go abroad mainly because I really wanted to see Cuba before it becomes overwhelmed by US tourists,” said Joseph Khalaf, a sophomore accounting major. This trip allowed participants to explore and educate themselves on the vastly different politics of Cuba. “The experience I had while in Cuba has corrected a lot of my preconceived ‘socialism-is-bad’ thoughts. Seeing it in practice has allowed me to appreciate a different form of

government. One of the discussion topics during the trip was ‘Who is more free?’ because there is so much criticism towards ‘the system’ in the United States,” Khalaf said. This trip introduced the students to several aspects of politics that they hope they’ll take more notice of as they observe their surroundings back in the states. “It was very interesting to see all of the Cuban government propaganda and now I feel I am more likely to notice similar practices in the U.S.,” Khalaf said. Some participants chose to go on the Cuba trip to learn more about its environment. “I’m really interested in how biology interacts with foreign policy issues, so the Cuba program was a perfect fit for me,” said Olivia Roybal, a first year Biology major. “Cuba has remarkably intact ecosystems, especially for being a Caribbean island. Cuba’s political and economic climate is a major contributing factor to this, and the Cuban government has an interesting and active relationship with environmental protection, so I jumped at the opportunity to witness this firsthand.” The interactions that this trip provided with students allowed them to gain first-hand knowledge about Cuban citizens and settings. “I liked talking and interacting with Cuban people. I also really enjoyed learning about sustainable, nonindustrial agriculture. We toured a few urban organic farms and a few rural organic farms that were fascinating, especially in contrast with American farming practices,” Roybal said. Ultimately, the trip provided insight on how politics have negatively influenced our perception of Cuba. “This trip highlighted that Americans are generally ignorant about Cuban history and the country’s relationship with the United States. With the eventual lifting of the embargo, it is even more important for Americans to have an objective understanding of Cuban history,” Roybal said. The opportunity to go abroad was a life-changing opportunity for all involved. As each of the participants traveled for varying reasons, each came back with memories of experiences unlike any other. Students interested in pursuing the chance to study abroad are encouraged to reach out to the faculty members of the study abroad office in Chapman 245.

WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • JANUARY 22, 2016•

CAMPUS PULSE

Hrabowski inspires audience at twentieth annual MLK lecture Lecturer’s stories emphasize the value of education, honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. BY MOMO SETAMOU PULSE REPORTER “I want to say to San Antonio, good evening,” Freeman A. Hrabowski III said as he began his address to Trinity students, faculty, and community members who attended the MLK commemorative lecture last Thursday. University president Danny Anderson introduced Hrabowski as the guest speaker of the commemoration of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, and welcomed him to an atmosphere filled with anticipation and excitement in Laurie Auditorium. All in attendance were eager to hear Hrabowski’s thoughts on Dr. King’s legacy, and on the social responsibilities that university campuses across the country have in ensuring that every student is afforded the best education possible, regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic status. From the time Hrabowski was a little boy, he was fascinated by the study of mathematics and always searched for a way to

better his education. However, as an African-American child from the south, his pursuit of learning during his childhood was difficult because everything handed down to his school was often discarded, not updated and not of beneficial use to the African-American children for which these hand-medown materials were left. Being plagued by the injustices of not receiving the best education possible because of the color of his skin, as well as growing up and seeing the fervor at which Dr. King spoke about seeking equality among all people, Hrabowski was inspired to become involved in a peaceful protest at the age of twelve in Birmingham, Alabama, which consequently landed him in jail and kicked out of his school. Fueled by these reoccurring atrocities, Hrabowski made it his life mission to empower his students to strive for anything and everything they wanted to achieve in their lifetime. “We are empowered to think about our future and this dream is not just for one type of people, but it is a dream about

the possibility of the future of mankind,” he said. Hrabowski highlighted that his passion for wanting a better future for all stemmed from the type of person that Dr. King was. He illustrated Dr. King as an individual who spoke up for a group of people when no one else would, Hrabowski explained the importance of learning from the likes of Dr. King and stressed the importance of everyone being capable of doing things just as extraordinary as Dr. King.

Many students were impacted by Hrabowski’s message. “I think the lecture was very interesting because he talked a lot about how the time period he grew up in affected the people in his life, and the chances of being able to obtain an education,” said first-year Ella Oduguwa. “The atmosphere was very attentive, and I did not see a single person not fully interested in what the speaker [Hrabowski] was communicating. His anecdotes really connected with the

audience.” Hrabowski challenged members of the audience with the challenge to look within themselves and contemplate questions of race and inequality issues that are still prevalent in America today. “Each of us has a story, but remember that as you prepare to lead, because you will be a leader; think about what you want your legacy to be. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”

Texas country star Roger Creager to perform at Concert for the Cure 2016 Greek organizations team up to host annual philanthropy concert Saturday

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BY SIDNEY HOPKINS PULSE REPORTER On Jan 23, the 11th annual Concert for the Cure will be held at Cowboys Dancehall at 8 p.m. The event is sponsored by Trinity sorority Gamma Chi Delta and co-sponsored by Trinity fraternities Kappa Kappa Delta and Phi Sigma Chi. The concert raises money for children with cancer to attend Camp Discovery. Camp Discovery is in Kerrville, Texas, and offers activities such as swimming, horseback riding, canoeing and crafting for over 100 children ages 7-16 who either have cancer or are in remission. They are under care of pediatric oncologists and specially trained nurses while attending the camp. Camp Discovery is free of charge for attendees, and events such as Concert for the Cure raise funding so that it remains free and available for the increasing number of children that attend each year.

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Continued on page 9

CAMPUS PULSE Continued from page 8

Concert for the Cure was created in 2005 by Amy Walton, who is a Trinity alum and was a member of Gamma Chi Delta during her time at the university. Walton founded the Concert for the Cure Foundation, and

she attended the camp for 10 years after being diagnosed with leukemia. Walton returns every summer as a volunteer counselor as well. In 2005, Trinity’s annual Welcome Week Concert had been canceled, and Walton created what was known as Dance Marathon as

a replacement for the concert as well as a method of raising money for an important cause. The event was originally in the Bell Center and its proceeds went to the American Cancer Society. It then moved to Mabee Dining Hall, but became large enough to be moved off campus

OLMOS PARK CHEVRON

Hildebrand

McCollough

• JANUARY 22, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

Next to Taco Taco

Student and Faculty Special 10% Off All Parts and Labor $5.00 Off Oil Change Wheel Aligment Brake Repairs Tune-ups Air Conditioning State Inspections

in 2009 and was open to all of San Antonio. The event began being hosted at Cowboys Dancehall in 2010. Gamma Chi Delta has continued the tradition every year as it remains an important cause for the sorority. This year, student Nicole Thomason is the event director for the Concert for the Cure, and hopes to get all of Trinity’s campus involved to raise as much money as possible for the many children that will be benefitted by this fundraising. “We really want it to be a campus-wide event, and involve everyone at Trinity,” Thomason said. Leading up to the concert, the women of Gamma Chi Delta along with members of both the Kappa Kappa Delta and Phi Sigma Chi fraternities have created several opportunities for fundraising. For Gamma president Laura Campbell, planning began in the summer to gather fundraisers and meet with the heads of the Concert for the Cure Foundation. Several members of Gamma

Chi Delta attended the camp to experience their fundraising in action. “I’d like to have members visit every year to actually see how we’re helping these children,” Campbell said. The Greek organizations have had numerous fundraisers at places including Chipotle, Order Up, Bombay Bicycle Club and more. The fundraiser at Bombay Bicycle Club was especially helpful due to its immense popularity in the San Antonio community. Phillip Lopez, president of Kappa Kappa Delta, helped get his fraternity involved in fundraising, as they had participated in a prior year. “We told alumni that we were joining the foundation again to remind them of their past in the fraternity,” Lopez said. Keeping in contact with Kappa alumni helped garner philanthropy, and the fraternity was heavily involved in helping their fellow Greek organization in fundraising. He said that the co-sponsoring also “helped strengthen relations between Greek organizations.” This year, the concert’s headliner is award-winning Texas country singer Roger Creager, who has performed for the concert twice before. The opening act, Trinity alum Aaron Einhouse, has also performed in the concert several times. Tickets will be sold all in Coates from 12-2 p.m., as well as T-shirts for the event. All Trinity students are welcome and encouraged to attend, as Concert for the Cure is an opportunity to show camaraderie between Trinity students as well a chance to support children in need.

Interested in sports? Love to write? Then work for the Trinitonian!

We are currently hiring a sports reporter! For inquiries email us at trinitonian@ trinity.edu

WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • JANUARY 22, 2016 •

SPB Spring Semester Schedule

TODAY 2:30-5:00 PM Prassel Lawn

Inflatables, food, drinks, involvement fair, and more!

Coming Up! January 30: Winter Formal Dance, 8-10 PM, Skyline February 6: Skyline Swing, 7:00 PM, Skyline February 12: Chocolate Fest, 2:30-5:00 PM, Esplanade February 13: Spoken Word Artist, 8:00 PM, Skyline February 25: 9:09 Movie, Mabee March 5: Skyline Swing, 7:00 PM, Skyline March 31: 9:09 Movie, Mabee April 2: Skyline Swing, 7:00 PM, Skyline April 9: Spotlight, 7:30-10:00 PM, Laurie Auditorium April 28: Senior Roast, 7:00-8:00 PM, Skyline April 29: Destress Fest, 2:30-5:00 PM, Esplanade

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT•

DC TRAILERS

STAR WARS

This week, two of the most important trailers ever were released: “Suicide Squad” and “Wonder Woman.” “Suicide Squad, ” which will be released Aug. 5, 2016, featured two minutes of very quick cuts of the film to the tune of “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. “Wonder Woman,” which will be released June 23, 2017, featured Gal Gadot being a badass.

AE 11

JANUARY 22, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

Amidst all the hype surrounding “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Disney has decided to push back the release date of “Star Wars: Episode VIII” from summer 2017 to Dec. 15, 2017. There is no information about what caused this date change. Writer and director Rian Johnson has stated that the film is still in preproduction.

“Legally Blonde” is a cinematic masterpiece Sarah Tipton

A&E WRITER

I know half of you reading this are already laughing. How can a female-led comedy about a seemingly ditzy blonde going to Harvard Law School to try to win back her man be one of the best films ever created? Well, because it is, so screw you. When you really take a closer look, “Legally Blonde” is actually pretty unconventional for a female comedy. Sure, there are jokes about appearances and some women knowing more about fashion than others, but at its core it is probably one of the most feminist movies out there. Let’s begin with analysis of the main character Elle Woods. At the beginning of the film, Elle is focused on one thing: winning the douchetastic Warner back after he left her behind to go to Harvard and find “a Jackie, not a Marilyn.” (Sidenote: A man has never said words that made me want to punch him more). Elle applies herself and proves not only Warner, but also her school counselor and parents, and gets

into Harvard based on her own merits and test scores. Elle has a rough start to say the least. The other students view her as “less than” because she is blonde and seems ditzy, and she finds that Warner has already proposed to another girl. Here’s what is important though: Elle never has anything negative to say about another person, especially a fellow girl. When Warner’s new fiancé is horrendous to her out of jealousy, she does not respond in retaliation. Instead, it fuels Elle to be a better person and focus on her studies more than ever before. Speaking of Vivian, here is another example of excellent character growth in the film. As it becomes clear that Elle is not trying to ruin her relationship with Warner and as she begins to understand what a real loser he is, Vivian actually befriends Elle. The friendship is unsteady at first, with a bond over what a moronic cretin Warner truly is, and it almost falls into shambles when Vivian assumes (which makes an ass out of you and me) that Elle has slept her way into the prestigious internship with Callahan after seeing him preposition Elle for sex. When she realizes that Callahan was sexually harassing Elle, Vivian realizes “what an idiot” she had been, quickly comes to Elle’s aid and returns by her side as Elle kicks lawyer butt and wins a case. Elle

has a plethora of other supportive female friends who help crush the Bechdel test to the grounds, such as Paulette, Brooke, Serena, Margot, and even one of her professors. In the end, Elle succeeds in school and becomes valedictorian in order to impress nobody except herself; she is not longer seeking validation from the human equivalent of a walking piece of feces, or any other man or woman. Which, brings up one of the most amazing things about the film that no one realizes: ELLE NEVER KISSES OR HAS REAL ROMANTIC TENSION WITH HER LOVE INTEREST EMMETT. Please read that line again, because it is 100% a true statement. Elle and Emmett’s relationship is one that is built and thrives off of pure support, as any good relationship should be. Their romantic relationship is almost an afterthought, with the only real hint at it being that the ending shots say that Emmet is going to propose to her after law school graduation. There is no big romantic moment because this is not a romantic film but rather about one woman’s journey to becoming accomplished and realizing her full potential on her own. Elle Woods does not need a man, but it just so happens she gets one. I rest my case for why this is one of the best movies ever made.

More Movies For Professional Women “Devil Wears Prada” (2006) Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway) and Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) are two working women who dedicate their lives to professional accomplishments. Andy is a young wannabe-journalist who works as Miranda’s assistant. She struggles to decide exactly what she needs to do to be true to herself and ultimately be happy. Miranda is an executive at the fictional Runway magazine and faces the hypocricies of being a “bitchy” woman instead of a “powerful” man.

“Erin Brockovich” (2000) Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts) is a single mother of three who uses her street smarts and likablility to file and win a lawsuit against Pacific Gas & Electric Company despite having no background in law. The film is based on a true story and accurately captures the challenges that come with being a woman in a field dominated by men. Often, Erin is negatively judged for her appearance, but she quickly asserts herself and gains the respect of her peers.

Lies we tell ourselves each semester Spotlight Weekend Event

Concert for the Cure with Roger Creager Saturday January 23 Doors Open 7:00 p.m. Cowboys Dancehall $10 (21+) / $20(18-20) 18+ only

Paige Perez

A&E WRITER

It’s the greatest time of year: the time when students and professors alike lie to themselves about what they can reasonably accomplish during the new semester. You are not alone. In case you are still in denial about the fact that nothing about your academic experience is going to change at all, here is a list of the most common school-related resolutions and how to avoid falling back into them. But be warned: you’re still probably going to fail.

“I’m not going to fall asleep in class anymore.” Suuure you’re not; because deciding to not sleep is the cure to being exhausted all the time. If you’re really determined to avoid this pitfall, you have many options: drink 3 cups of coffee before every class, take notes constantly so your muscles have no time to rest, or (God forbid) actually get enough sleep at night. Failing any of those, the last resort would be to chug a lot of water before class. It’s impossible to sleep while you’re thinking of how badly you have to pee.

“I’m going to start being punctual!”

Yeah, right. If you’re not naturally one of those super-humans who are on time to everything, forget about it. The only way to achieve this one is to leave nothing to chance. Pack your backpack the night before. Choose your clothes before you go to sleep and lay them out, ready to go. Triple check that you have everything you could ever need at then some — if you leave room for things to go wrong, they absolutely will.

“This semester, I’m going to keep my room clean!”

There’s only one way to keep your room looking like it’s from an issue of L.L. Bean, and that’s by not living in it. Stay as far away from the residence hall as possible, at all times. You can’t make a mess if you’re never around.

“I’m totally not going to forget to call my mom!”

This may be the only resolution you actually fulfill, but don’t get too excited. You’re only going to do this one if you’re 1) calling to beg for money, or 2) begging for permission to drop out of college. Hey, Steve Jobs got his start in his parent’s garage, and you can too! Just don’t forget to ask your dear mother how she’s doing every time

she visits you in the basement to do your laundry.

“This year I’m finally going to work out!”

I’m sorry, but moving your arm as you lift Doritos to your mouth doesn’t qualify as a rep. Does running away from your problems count? (Weight loss tip: crying isn’t generally encouraged, but in this case you’re technically eliminating excess water weight. Gotta lose that freshman 15 somehow.)

“I’m totally not going to regret this 8:30 class!”

You’re completely delusional. Unless your 8:30 is an independent study in naptime, give up now.

“It’s time to take school seriously.”

Blah blah blah. We all tell ourselves we’re going to care more, eventually. That day is not today. The fix here is to just accept it and do all your work at the beginning of the semester while it’s still relatively easy. Then at the end, when your life is out of control and you can only passively watch all your dreams go up in flames, you’ll be able to worry slightly less about your GPA. (Only slightly.)

“Maybe I’ll start drinking less.”

Please. You’re going to need it.

WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • JANUARY 22, 2016 •

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

The “Levees” broke: Q&A with Trinity alumni rock band BY MADDIE SMITH

A&E EDITOR

“Levees” is a San Antonio rock band that consists of Kody Anderson (singer and guitarist), Kyle Anderson (guitarist), Jeff Palacios (bassist) and Skyler Ellis (drummer). Kyle and his brother, Kody, graduated from Trinity University in 2011 and 2014, respectively. They are performing at midnight on Jan. 23 at Limelight on N Saint Marys St. This will also be the release of their new self-titled E.P. The interview was conducted with Kyle Anderson. Q: Can you give a brief description of your origin story? Where did you meet? How did you decide to form a band? A: I think our music begins with our place of birth, New Orleans. We’ve been surrounded by blues and jazz music our whole lives — they’re the rhythms our hearts beat to. After moving to San Antonio to go to Trinity, we carried the spirit of our home with us. Our music hearkens back to where we’re from, while incorporating what Texas has to offer — blues as well, but with a Western, desert tinge. We believe your geography shapes your psyche, so our music blends the worlds that have shaped our minds. That’s where our name comes from. Growing up, we lived a block from a levee. It was this structure that protected us as we drove by the beautiful wrath of the Mississippi; it was this monolith of our being. Music is flowing through us, in us, all around us, and our job as musicians is to channel that power, much like a levee does. Q: How would you describe the music you make in terms of genre and style? A: Our go-to description is that we sound somewhere between The Doors and the White Stripes, hoping to give people a sense of our dark, bluesy sound that captures the essence of older rock set in today’s musical landscape. Q: Who have been your greatest influences? A: Our influences span from early delta blues to modern rock and roll. We love Robert Johnson, Johnny Cash, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, Radiohead, Bjork and so much more — anything that bends boundaries and enlivens the spirit. We’re also influenced by poetry, literature, film and the world we experience in our day-to-day lives. Q: What has been your favorite venue/show? A: We’re hoping that this Saturday will be our favorite show! We’ve put so much energy into getting this show together, and it’s been an exciting process to be arriving at this point. Having stewed our hearts and souls into our debut EP, we’re eagerly looking forward to what will happen this weekend. Q: Describe the song “Your Spell.” A: “Your Spell” is, in one sense, a reflection on the constant entertainment of the modern world. People can spend every moment of the day somewhere else, and this song is a critique of that escapism — of never actually being there. It’s the internal voice about the battle between comfort and creativity — watching Netflix versus writing

music. We all have dreams, and the modern world tends to interfere with them, so this song’s about fighting the constant barrage of today’s culture. In another sense, it is whatever you want it to mean. Q: Do you have any advice for college-aged musicians? A: I’m not sure if we’ve done enough yet to feel like we can give believable advice, but in our own worldview we believe that persistence and constant dedication are of vital importance. You must work on your craft every day and pour your dreams into it, which means putting lots of painstaking hours into your work. There’s a pervasive myth that artists only work when they are inspired — if you want to make it, you have to work every day. Period.

Photo by: JB Lyde

KYLE ANDERSON, SKYLER ELLIS, JEFF PALACIOS, KODY ANDERSON

A Trinity ID Gets You 1/2 Price Pizza

Vodka Specials Wednesday and Saturday All Cinco Vodka Martinis are $5

All Day!

Beer Specials Tuesday and Thursday Happy Hour prices on all beer

Happy Hour 4pm to 7pm Tuesday - Saturday 1/2 price pizza $5 Grilled Caesar $5 Truffled Fries

Make art? Submit your work in Coates Library’s 2016

Student Art Purchase Competition Deadline:

February 26, 2016 For more information: libguides.trinity.edu/studentart

SPORTS •

JANUARY 22, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

ATHLETE INSPIRATION “Happy National Polka Dot Day. I’ll save you a special spot right next to me at the Polka Party.”

- Polka-llama

ports

Studying sports across the pond:

A sport management winter break to London

The twelve Trinity University students, accompanied by their advisors JACOB TINGLE and PAUL McGINLEY, as they visited the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Twelve Trinity sport management students study abroad in London, England BY DANA MCLAUGHLIN

SPORTS REPORTER Over the winter break twelve Trinity students, accompanied by director of experiential learning and professor Jacob Tingle and men’s soccer coach Paul McGinley spent fourteen days across the pond in London, England as part of brand new program called “Living Sport in London.” This unique learning opportunity stemmed from Tingle’s class “Sport in Society.” The confluence of business and sport management was on display for the students as they toured the historically-rooted and widely-renowned British sport landscape. This trip allowed senior Drew Butler to examine up close many of the different topics that he had learned about in sports management classes. He noted that through opportunities like this at Trinity, he was able to look at sports marketing, sponsorship and sales on display at the venues and lectures that they experienced in London.

“I was shocked by how much everyone in London is immersed in the sports culture in the city,” Butler said. “Everyday life usually involves some sort of sports involvement, whether it’s reading one of many articles in the daily paper covering British sports, attending a local sporting match or watching one at a pub while sharing a pint with some friends.” Likewise, senior Haley Holcomb said that her experience in London throughout the trip tied the minor and major sport related-topics and lessons from her classes at Trinity on an international scale. “This experience also opened up my views to how large the global sport industry really is and how many people are integral and connected within this industry,” Holcomb said. By visiting landmarks like Wembley Stadium, home of the British National team, the grounds of Wimbledon and even the main headquarters of the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), the students were able to examine first hand the realities of club and team ownership, the role of sport media, athlete development, revenue production, and the historical evolution of sport stadia. Visiting the grounds of Wimbledon was a dream for junior Hilary Hoffman. Hoffman described walking around the grounds and sitting in the stadiums as surreal. Hoffman even commented that there didn’t even

Athlete Spotlight

need to be a match occurring for it to be an amazing experience. One other unique destination toured by the group was the Lord’s Cricket Grounds, which was Holcomb’s favorite destination because the visit was “informative about both the sport itself, and this stadium. [Cricket] is a sport I have grown to become really interested in, and will try to learn more in regards to how it is played and famous teams,” Holcomb said. As for Butler, it was hard to top the tour at Wembley Stadium, as he named this his favorite part of the trip. “Everything was so amazing,” Butler said. “But the stadium stands out as my favorite because it has been such a huge venue in sports history, and the best players in the world have been there along with the biggest bands.” Butler’s reflections on the trip also highlighted how evident it was that England is such a sport-based society, more-so than America. “Even though we have more sports in the states, the culture in London is much more immersed in the sporting world than Americans typically are, and it appeared that a much larger percent of the population was more involved in sports in London, than people are in the United States,” Butler said. Aside from sporting venues, the group’s tour of London would have been incomplete

photo by Bria Woods

without day trips to Stonehenge, the Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Abbey Road Studios crosswalk made famous by the Beatles. Prior to the trip, the students read “Sport and the British: A Modern History” by Richard Holt in order to prepare them for Tingle and McGinley’s daily lectures about the various sites and venues that were on the itinerary for the day. “The learning experience we received in London was more that I could have ever gained in a sports management class at Trinity, primarily because we were completely immersed in a sports culture and looked at sports education from the inside rather than outside looking in” said junior Abby Sheppard. “Everything we had once learned at Trinity in classes such as “Sports in Society” and “Sports Management” were magnified in the culture and put into real life rather than just reading about them in books.” This trip is expected to be the first of many opportunities for Trinity students to explore the dynamic and vast sport landscape of London. “We were all very lucky that the Experiential Learning Program at Trinity, lead by Dr. Tingle, gave us this opportunity,” Sheppard said.

Senior left-handed pitcher Hometown: Tucson, Arizona What is your most memorable moment? Pitching in the first College World Series game that Trinity has ever been to.

y a r G Ryan photo by Sarah Price

What is your favorite part about the Trinity baseball team? The camaraderie with, not only our large class of seniors, but with the entire team and the way we play the game together. What is your favorite childhood memory? Getting my first real baseball glove on my eighth birthday.

WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • JANUARY 22, 2016 •

SPORTS

NFL conference championships pick ’em BY SHREE DESHPANDE

SPORTS REPORTER

AFC I’m not going to lie, I’m not very excited about this game. But first, here’s some history. According to Pro Football Reference, this is the 17th Manning-Brady Bowl. Tom Brady has dominated the overall head to head, but the games thus far have been full of drama and innovative scheming by the Patriots and whichever team Manning’s been on. Young(er) Manning and Young(er) Brady matchups were some of the best quality football games of the past decade.

22 FRIDAY

Diving @ Home vs Fredonia, 3:30 p.m. Men’s Basketball @ Univ. of Dallas, 6:00 p.m. Women’s Basketball @ Univ. of Dallas, 8:00 p.m.

WEEKEND GAMES Swim & Dive @ Univ. of Redlands 10:30 p.m. Swim & Dive @ Home vs Fredonia, 6:00 p.m. Men’s Basketball @ Austin College, 4:00 p.m. Women’s Basketball @ Austin College, 6:00 p.m.

23 SATURDAY

Fast forward to 2015, and this Manning-Brady Bowlfeatures the older, broken Manning model and Gary Kubiakcoached (Texans fans, aren’t they like the 2012 Texans if we’d succeeded in getting Manning?) Denver Broncos against ageless Tom Brady and the Patriots, led by evil Sith Lord Bill Belichick. I don’t think this game is going to be particularly exciting because the Patriots have had Manning’s (and Kubiak’s) number in the past. Belichick, the cheater that he is, has made his name for doing very creative things on the defensive side of the ball to confuse opponent offensive players and coaches. Couple this with Kubiak and Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips’ seeming recalcitrance to change and adapt their game plans, and this game could be ugly quick.

Did I mention how Manning was old and broken and Brady isn’t? Patriots: 24 Broncos: 13

NFC The NFC Championship Game looks to be the more entertaining of the two games on championship Sunday. The Carolina Panthers and the Arizona Cardinals boast two of the most high-powered offenses in the league, led by two very strong MVP candidates in Cam Newton and Carson Palmer. These two teams aren’t slackers on defense either. Luke Kuechly has been in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation ever since he’s been in the league, and would probably have won it this year if it weren’t for a dude named J.J. Watt. The Cardinals will be without

their own Defensive Player of the Year candidate Tyrann Mathieu, who tore his ACL late in the regular season. RIP. Honey Badger or no Honey Badger, this game figures to be a shootout. For me, the biggest and best battles will occur when the Panthers have the ball. You should figure their offense to be a healthy mix of power runs, screens to the running backs, passes to Greg Olsen and dabs. Newton will do Newton things: dab, refuse to go down, score a rushing TD and throw for a couple more. The Cardinals’ defense has as a bunch of playmakers in the secondary that can move front, back, and side to side like no other unit in the NFL. One of the Cardinals’ safeties, Deone Bucannon, made the transition to inside linebacker this season and is wrecking shop. However, for Bucannon

and the Cardinals’ defense to succeed in containing Newton (can you really stop him anymore?) the Cardinals front must control the line of scrimmage. Calais Campbell is a player that the average fan may not know, but has worked in a variety of roles along that line. He and the rest of the defensive line must maintain their gap integrity and contain Newton as a rusher and passer. Bucannon has led the team in tackles by proving he can move sideline to sideline and downhill to stop the run. In this game, he will have to play spy on Newton. I like Bucannon in this matchup. Cardinals: 31 Panthers: 24

SPORTS •

JANUARY 22, 2016 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

Trinity student-athletes attend NCAA convention NCAA convention hosts five Trinity student-athletes BY SARAH PRICE

SPORTS REPORTER Five Trinity Students attended the NCAA convention this past week, the most of any Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. SCAC invited 22 student athletes, the most of any conference in Division III. While the students were there, they attended business meetings, luncheons, lectures and the NCAA honors celebration. The students were sent to let their voices be heard while also learning a great deal of what actually goes on behind the doors of the NCAA. Trinity representative and junior football player Julian Turner spoke on his favorite part of the convention. “I didn’t know there were so many people involved in the success of student athletes, and it was really cool to see the process,” Turner said. Some of the lecture topics included how to move on after their athletic career and how to handle sexual assault. At the first opening business session, three student representatives, one from each division of the National Student Athlete Advisory Committee, were able to directly ask questions to the presidents of all three divisions. One of the questions included discussing the student-athlete attributes and sharing with the community by

continuing to carry them even after their collegiate experience. The presidents spoke on what it means to be an athlete and how sport can help develop great young adults with traits such as leadership, discipline, time management and health and wellness awareness. Another topic of discussion was the competitiveness of youth sports and how kids are specializing in one sport at a very young age. Some ideas for helping out included putting something together like the NFL Play 60, giving examples of burn out so the athletes are aware of what can happen and promoting this within the NCAA to further the growth of the children. The students also attended the Division III student forum where school representatives were able to speak about topics at their schools to make them known and fix them. They also showed the students the “It’s On Us” campaign that recently made its debut to help spread awareness about sexual assault prevention. This movement is something the Student Athlete Advisory Committee came up with because they see the issues on campuses and are able to share that with the NCAA staff in order to actually effect change. The students also attended a luncheon where Condoleezza Rice spoke with the NCAA president and took questions from the audience. She spoke on her support for student athletes, her childhood and how she got to where she is today.

The student-athletes that attended the NCAA convention alongside NCAA president MARK EMMERT. photo by Sarah Price

One topic that kept getting brought up at the convention was how student athletes need to be involved with other things on campus in order to not have that feeling of separation from the student body, and that is something that Trinity does so well. As student-athletes at the Division III level, they are allowed and encouraged to be involved with many other things to help them get the whole college experience. By being involved on campus, athletes are able to grow more relationships and have something else to put time into besides their sport, allowing them to make an easier transition once their time as a collegiate athlete is done. The convention gave the students a voice by allowing them to speak their opinion in discussion with athletic directors and commissioners from around the country.

This would not have happened five years ago because at that time, they had at utmost 20 student athletes attending the convention, and that number has grown tremendously within the past couple of years. The NCAA is working on making sure the students are heard, and hearing their opinions of those directly affected allows them to make more educated decisions. After all the long meetings and debates the students received tickets to the NCAA Honors Celebration honoring the top ten student athletes in the NCAA as well as some silver anniversary awards.Some of the recipients included Russell Maryland, Steve Smith, Chris Howard and Dikembe Mutombo. After the awards the students were able to go and talk with all of the honorees. Attending from Trinity, Cheyenne Duncan spoke on her experience. “Having the opportunity to hear

all the athletes’ different stories was inspiring,” Duncan said. “If anything it showed me that athletes are a wide, diverse group of people that can come together no matter the circumstances and be able to relate and support each other.” The convention provided a great experience for our student-athletes in hopes that they will share the discussions and topics they learned with their campuses. The NCAA plans to have even more for the student athletes in the following years for them to attend at the convention and really get more involved. Next year’s convention will be in Nashville, Tennessee and has the intention of inspiring even more student-athletes. To learn more about the “It’s On Us” campaign, go to ItsOnUs.org for more information about the next convention.

Saturday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 a.m. | Bell Center - Webster Gym

Taco Breakfast

Tiger Rally

Departure from Trinity

Agencies

Schools

Parks

The Inauguration of Danny J. Anderson

ADVERTISMENT• JANUARY 22, 2016

• WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

rock‘N’

roll

San Antonio Marathon and Half Marathon

Trinity Rolled! Congratulations and thank you to the Trinity University community for the outstanding show of support, spirit, and pride during the December 6 San Antonio Rock ’n’ Roll Marathon! Please congratulate the following Trinity and affiliated runners who competed the Eighth Annual Dean of Students Half Marathon Challenge and Kayla Mire Food Drive: Faculty and Staff: Rachel Boaz Nels Christensen Tim Francis Marcos Hernandez John Jacobs Pete Kelly-Zion Esther Kim Mark Lewis Brant McAdams Alfred Montoya* Aaron Navarro* Seth Nelson Maria Paganelli David Pena-Alfaro Patricia Rogers-Cooper

Simran Singh Jamie Thompson David Tuttle Alumni: Helene Barnes Gabi Cagleris Kevin Culver Hillary King* Lauren Krummel Steffanie Mortis Jennifer Lewis Don Philbin McKenzie Quinn Ben Whitehead

Students: Annie Andrews Bridget Bey Alexa Bird Angela Bourianoff Anthoula Christodoulou Shelby DeVore Erin England William Farner Sean Farrell Rachel Felger Jack Fiedler (IR) Bryan Fowler Dakota Frederick El Grande Amy Grice

Rebeca Hays Mikki Hoffman Evan Hunter Katie Jones Kassie Kelly (IR) Maddie Kennedy Tanner Kohlfield Devina Kumar Caroline Kutach Brigette Lee Laurel Meister Irene Minderhoud William Mobley Kayleigh Murphy Marcella Muysson McKenna Parr Erin Patridge

Brenda Ramos Alex Rojas Tito Sandigo Jessie Taube Emily Taylor Sarah Van Alsten Family Members: Craig Frederick Gustavo Sandigo Chris Kennedy Lisa Kennedy Jim Quinn Katherine Quinn Simon Thompson

Special Congratulations to Trinity alumnus Mark Greene who won the overall full marathon. (He did not train with us as he couldn’t keep up.)

Some feeback from runners outside Trinity: “Without question it’s the most enthusiastic and uplifting portion of what is one of the most difficult sections of the course” --“I want to thank your students for the enthusiasm they displayed while cheering on the runners” --“Hats off to Trinity for having great support throughout campus”

*Full Marathon

Food Drive In 2015 we collected 857 pounds of donations and $1,339. Multiply the money by ten and you have 13,390 plus 857 for a total of 14,247 food pound equivalents. ---

Food drive over time: 2015 - 14,247 pound equivalents Total over 8 years 73,147lbs of food equivalents One semi is 40,000 pounds of food, so we have filled nearly two semis. If 100 pounds equals one grocery cart. Total grocery carts collected in eight years is 731. One meal is 1.28 pound s. Total meals provided equals 57,146 meals.

Special thanks to:

Alumni Relations, Aramark, Athletics, Bookstore, Cheerleaders, Conferences and Special Programs, Facilities Services, Fraternities and Sororities, KRTU, Marketing, President's Office, Residential Life, Stand Band, SGA, Student Life, TUPD, TUVAC, Chinmay, Megan, Lyndsey, Lyric, the VVOT, and all the organizations, departments, groups, and individuals who made this a special event.