Trinitonian Serving Trinity University Since 1902
Volume 115 Issue 03
September 01, 2017
Trinity alumna fills vice president position Former Tiger to join university’s communications and marketing department KENDRA DERRIG
NEWS REPORTER On Sept. 5, Tess Coody-Anders will begin as Trinity University’s new vice president for strategic communications and marketing; however, her connection to Trinity goes beyond this new position. Coody-Anders graduated from Trinity in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in communication. She was an active member of the Trinity community at the time, and TESS COODY-ANDERS returns to campus to fill new vice president position after graduating in 1993. served as an editor for the Trinitonian. Coody-Anders was available via email to photo by AMANI CANADA, file photo answer a few questions about her return to campus in a new role. “I feel that Trinity, and higher education White, vice president for information of experience in the healthcare marketing in general, is at an important inflection resources, marketing, and communication, field and is a leader responsible for the point. There may be no better time than now until the university decided to create Coody- growth of multiple marketing firms in the for me to give back to my alma mater. And Anders’ new position for increased efficiency San Antonio area. She is the founder and CEO of Wellvana, striving for personally, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity and focus on Trinity’s marketing. Deneese Jones, vice president for increased transparency in the healthcare to work with this leadership team, faculty and staff, and to be immersed in a culture academic affairs, took part in the selection industry through a digital platform committed to reasoned thinking,” Coody- process. She was pleased with Coody- for consumers. Michelle Bartonico, interim vice president for strategic Anders’ appointment. Anders wrote. “She was a fantastic interviewer, and communications and marketing, was a Coody-Anders was appointed by Danny Anderson, president of the she is a Trinity grad. She has a history of co-chair on the committee that selected university, with the help of a small successes, a lot of them in this area, and, Coody-Anders. “I feel confident in Tess’ leadership and committee that searched nationwide for to be frank, she was out of sight, as far as I am excited to have her at the helm of the the right candidate. The duties of the was concerned,” Jones said. Coody-Anders possesses over 15 years department,” Bartonico said. “With Tess’ position had been performed by Chuck
leadership, we can continue to build on the strong foundation and momentum from the past few years.” In her new position, Coody-Anders will be responsible for Trinity’s outreach to both alumni and future students. She joins a team that has greatly increased the quantity and quality of applications that Trinity receives each year. “I hope Tess can help us all tell the Trinity story strategically and widely so we can shine a light on all the great achievements of the university’s students, faculty, alumni and staff,” Bartonico said. Coody-Anders wrote of her vision for the future of the school and explained the importance behind making the Trinity experience more well known. “We are going to continue to build on the incredible work led by Dr. White, and push even harder to give Trinity the national profile it deserves. Our resources are not limited, and to be good stewards, we need to use data and predictive analytics to strategically guide our marketing communications. In five years, we will have made demonstrable progress in ‘owning’ a unique space in the hearts and minds of key constituents,” Coody-Anders wrote. As an alumna, Coody-Anders also had some advice for current Trinity students. “Despite your best laid plans, where and how you work, live and play will change over the course of time. Embrace it, and prepare for it by taking advantage of everything Trinity has to offer you. That top-notch liberal arts education will be valuable in nuanced ways you can’t anticipate right now. Also, use sunscreen,” wrote Coody-Anders.
The Barbaloots take Trinity’s rock talent on tour Two current students work with band mates to release EP ARIANA RAZAVI
A&E CONTRIBUTER Barbaloots, Dr. Seuss’ friendly treedwellers, have been a part of our pop culture for decades. Now it’s time to become familiar with the half-Trinity, allSan Antonio indie rock band that named itself after the cute bear-like creatures. “I’m afraid we’re going to get sued,” said Dominic Walsh, dr ummer for the band. Based in San Antonio, the Barbaloots’ sound can be compared to bands like Pavement, an alternativerock group from the 1990s, and modern alternative bands like Real Estate, a New Jersey-based indie band. Two of the four-man band are Trinity
students: drummer Dominic Walsh, a sophomore computer sci e nce maj or, and singer/songwriter/guitarist John Morgan, a senior music major. Both born and raised in San Antonio, they gre w up listening to rock-pop sounds like the Beatles. “ My m o m p u t o n t h e r a d i o a l o t w h i l e w e w e re d r i v i n g a r o u n d , s o I g o t i n t o a l o t o f p o p. So m e t i m e s i t’s n o t t h e b e s t m u s i c o n t h e r a d i o , b u t w h e n t h e re i s s o m e t h i n g d e c e n t … I ’d c h e c k t h e p e r s o n o u t ,” s a i d Mo r g a n , w h o i s c u r re n t l y i n t e r n i n g a t K RT U In d i e r a d i o. They both picked up instruments during middle school. Walsh began playing drums for his school’s jazz ensemble; Morgan saved his money up, went to a pawn shop and bought a guitar to teach himself. Walsh continued drumming for jazz ensemble throughout high school and is hoping to audition for the ensemble here at Trinity. continued on PAGE 14
Gaffner in Granada
Our foreign correspondent explores the Alhambra and learns about Spain’s Arabic past. PAGE 9 OPINION
DOMINIC WALSH, center left background, and JOHN MORGAN, center right, take the stage with The Barbaloots at Limelight on St. Mary’s Street. photo by KATHLEEN CREEDON
Roy Vega moonlights as artist The Aramark employee balances his time catering and creating art. PAGE 11 PULSE
Equestrian team saddles up for fall
Campus horse riders encourage others to join their team. PAGE 19 SPORTS
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SEPTEMBER 01, 2017
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editor-in-chief: Daniel Conrad managing editor: Alexandra Uri director of digital presence: Grace Frye business manager: Shivali Kansagra ad director: Rebecca Derby news editor: Kathleen Creedon arts & entertainment editor: Nicholas Smetzer sports editor: Julia Weis opinion editor: Julia Poage photo editor: Amani Canada graphic editor: Tyler Herron circulation director: Maddie Kennedy reporters: Kendra Derrig, Meredith Goshell, Elise Hester, Jess Jennings, Kaylie King, Isaiah Mitchell, Claire
Nakayama, Cathy Terrace, Hailey Wilson columnists: Austin Davidson, Soleil Gaffner, Sarah Haley, Mikki Hoffman, Gabriel Levine, Ariana Razavi, Manfred Wendt, Abigail Wharton copy editors: Evan Chambless, Joshua Gain, Cristina Kodadek illustrators: Yessenia Lopez and Andrea Nebhut photographers: Quinn Bender, Chloe Sonnier, Allison Wolff business staff: Sarah McIntyre and Tam Nguyen advertising staff: Melissa Chura, Jenna Flexner, Yusuf Khan, Benjamin Milliet, Jonah Nance, Regis Noubiab, Isla Stewart adviser: Katharine Martin
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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. POSTM ASTER: Send address changes to the Trinitonian, One Trinity Place, #62, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200.
08/26/2017 4:51 p.m. Location: Dick and Peggy Prassel Residence Hall Incident: Health And Safety Code : Chapter 481 Texas Controlled Substance Act 08/27/2017 12:04 a.m. Location: John W. Murchison Residence Hall Incident: Fire Alarm Compiled by KATHLEEN CREEDONW 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. ©2017. All rights reserved.
NEWS • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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New study area opens in Coates Library Library adds to variety of resources with creation of the Tiger Learning Commons KENDRA DERRIG
NEWS REPORTER On Monday, Aug. 28, the Tiger Learning Commons (TLC) officially opened on the third floor of the Elizabeth Huth Coates Library, combining the Student Success Center, Writing Center and Student Accessibility Services in a single space amongst the library’s countless other resources. To make space for the new area, located just past the circulation desk, library operations staff was relocated to the first floor. Diane Graves, assistant vice president for academic affairs and the university librarian, commented on the addition. “We’re very happy to welcome the new Tiger Learning Commons to the main floor of the library, and we encourage the Trinity campus community to stop in to see it,” Graves said. By moving the Writing Center from its previous home in offices on the third floor, the renovation opened up new spaces to study. “With that construction, we were able to carve out a new, small-group study room on the first floor. We know study rooms are in very high demand; we also know that the kinds of furniture we purchase for those spaces can be important, too,” Graves said. “We are strongly considering making it into a larger group study room and would love to get thoughts from students on the best use of that space, and how it should be furnished.” Jenny Lowe, director of the Writing Center, noted that including the Writing Center in the TLC will be extremely beneficial for students, who will now be able to study in a quiet, learning-focused space with writing tutors right on hand. “We will offer the same services as we did last year. Six days a week, we offer walkin, no-appointment-necessary tutoring. We have five, trained undergraduate peer tutors who are trained throughout the year to help all Trinity students at all
stages of the writing process. In addition to that, which has always been the bread and butter of the Writing Center, we have, over the past two years, developed a series of evening skills workshops,” Lowe said. Lowe is also excited to use the move as an opportunity for growth. “I would like to develop the Writing Center to include tutors that are trained in writing disciplines across the curriculum, so I’d love to have a tutor that specializes in business writing, love to have a tutor that specializes in science writing, just in different genres of writing,” Lowe said. In addition to new offices for the three centers and plenty of room to study, a new testing center has been worked into the TLC as part of Student Accessibility Services. “TLC has some new technology coming in. They’ll have a new testing center. The old testing center used to be in Halsell, so now it’s up there on the third floor. There’s about 31 computers for testing,” said Greg Longoria, director of academic technology. Over the summer, all of the computers in the library have been upgraded to Windows 10 under Longoria’s supervision. His department, located on the first floor, also offers Mac desktop computers, study rooms with projectors and a technology check-out service for items such as Chromebooks, iPads, video production equipment and Mac adapters. The library has also undergone more developments outside of the TLC, such as in Special Collections on the second floor. Special Collections houses materials that are too old, fragile, or valuable to leave the library, as well as the University Archives. “Special Collections is a great place to visit when looking for primary sources, particularly in our strong collecting areas like Texas history, the history of printing, music, space exploration and Latin American history,” said Colleen Hoelscher, special collections librarian. “We launched an updated version of our Digital Collections website this summer. Here you can see items from Special Collections and University Archives that we have scanned. We are continually adding more content to this site.” Anne Graf, First-Year Experience librarian, had advice for Trinity students on utilizing the library’s resources effectively. continued on PAGE 6
CAMILA ACOSTA, top, LORETTA RODRIGUEZ, center left, JESSICA PHILLIPS, center right and CHELSEA RODRIGUEZ, bottom, take advantage of the new space to do homework in the library. photo by AMANI CANADA
Trinity reacts to Reading TUgether lecture Matthew Desmond spoke about “Evicted,” a book about poverty in America
“What they do is they sort of solicit recommendations for books that members of the Trinity community think would make a good selection,” Jasinski said. “They kind of split up this list of books that gets suggested. They each read them, and then they come back together, and they talk about why they think KAYLIE KING one book might be better or worse.” NEWS REPORTER Jasinski does not serve on the Trinity’s annual Reading TUgether Reading TUgether committee herself, lecture took place on Wednesday, Aug. but she played an important role 23, in Laurie Auditorium. This year’s by suggesting the committee consider featured guest, Matthew Desmond, Matthew Desmond’s book, “Evicted.” spoke about his book “Evicted,” an “I had just heard Matthew Desmond ethnographic text that studies eviction on the Diane Rehm show on NPR,” as a means of understanding American Jasinski said. “I heard about this poverty. Desmond, professor of sociology book about this guy who had lived at Princeton University, is currently with low-income populations in visiting colleges across the country to Milwaukee, and what I loved about speak on his Pulitzer Prize-winning book. that interview was he actually brought Lisa Jasinski, special assistant some of the participants on the show to the vice president for academic with him because they could remain affairs, explained how a committee o f anonymous. I loved hearing about d i ve r s e i n d i v i d u a l s c h o o s e s t h e his project, and I loved hearing Reading TUgether book each year. about the way he did research.”
Jasinski also helped with some of the logistics of getting Desmond to appear on campus. “I called the agents of the speakers, but ultimately the committee d e c i d e d a n d a g re e d t h a t ‘ Ev i c t e d’ w o u l d b e a good book,” Jasinski said. “Two weeks after we signed the contract, Matthew Desmond won the Pulitzer Prize. That made it even more timely.” In his lecture, Desmond told the stories of some of the disadvantaged individuals he met during his research and the structural forces that affected their hardships. “I happen to think that there are a lot of systemic forces that shape people’s lives,” Jasinski said. “Sometimes those forces might feel very large and impersonal. We might say things like, ‘Well, that’s just the way things are.’ I like to believe that it’s possible to change them.” MATTHEW DESMOND speaks to Trinity students in Laurie Auditorium.
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photo by AMANI CANADA
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 •
NEWS
Trinity works toward sustainable campus University takes action to ensure an environmentally conscious campus for future Tigers KAYLIE KING
NEWS REPORTER Several groups and organizations at Trinity have been implementing policies that make campus life more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Sustainability on campus is an ongoing process, and many members of the Trinity community are working to make sure this process is advancing. Charles Robles, food service director of Aramark, explained some of the efforts that he and other dining staff are making to move campus dining toward sustainability. “We’re doing our best with composting and growing our own [food], as well as trying to do the responsible thing with sourcing ingredients as close as we can,” Robles said. “Right now, in San Antonio, it’s kind of an awkward spot because it was never a big thing for sustainability, but luckily Austin, our sister city, has been working very hard to breach the system, so we’re able to reap some benefits off of them. Watching everything — the food, the waste — is a big part of what we’re doing.” Robles explained that some of campus dining’s current initiatives include collaborating with farms out of Austin and purchasing locally sourced ingredients from a certain vendor’s farmer’s market. There are also some things that Aramark has been doing for many years that Robles hopes will not go unappreciated or forgotten. “We got an herb garden that we’ve been doing — a lot of our salsas and our pickled stuff, we’re now doing from scratch here in-house — and that comes a lot from our garden that we’re growing out back,” Robles said. “We do composting, which is a huge program that we do. We’ve got these two huge composters on the loading dock that not a lot of people know about. It’s
illustration by ANDREA NEBHUT
neat — a lot of the fertilizer on campus comes from the produce and such that we composted. We’ve also made commitments when it comes to the way that we do our china, and cleaning and being responsible with the maintaining of the plates and the waste, as well.”
“We’re doing our best with composting and growing our own [food].” CHARLES ROBLES FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR OF ARAMARK
Food service is one major part of sustainability at Trinity, but other parts of campus are just as important. Sharon Curry, coordinator for sustainability and
support services and Eco Allies staff advisor, believes that sustainability is a topic that stretches across many departments on campus. Curry explained some of the past projects that Trinity has undergone to become more sustainable. “We started our recycling program in the 1990s,” Curry said. “In 2007, we did a large revamp on the recycling program. We added in-vessel composting for the dining hall for pre-consumer food waste. Almost the entire campus is reclaimed water through the SAWS [San Antonio Water System] recycled water program. That’s been in place now for almost 15 years, saving huge amounts of potable water. I’ve worked with the LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] building project — we have four certified projects and the fifth is pending certification. However, we’ve always integrated sustainability features into the work that we do just in building maintenance and
construction. Things like putting light sensors, motion sensors, high efficiency equipment, things like that are just part of our standard operating procedures.” Curry reinforced the idea that additional sustainability efforts are always in the works at Trinity. “We always are working on something,” Curry said. “A big initiative that we’re working on right now is how we assess our sustainability, and we put forth a proposal to use an assessment tool that is with AASHE [Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education]. We’re actually an institutional member organization of AASHE, and as a result, anybody who has an interest in sustainability can use their Trinity email to access all their member resources.”
continued on PAGE 6
illustration by ANDREA NEBHUT
NEWS • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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Trinity reacts to Reading TUgether lecture continued from PAGE 3
“I thought that his book in particular did a great job of taking something that’s abstract and invisible, and he made it so intimate and human. He has these individual cases, but he’s able to move past the anecdotal and help us see both big picture and human,” Jasinski said.
MATTHEW DESMOND addresses the audience’s questions after his lecture. photo by QUINN BENDER
Jasinski took a lot away from the book and hopes that students who read the book learned something as well. “He helped me as a reader, and I think he could be really valuable for students to help them understand different parts of America,” Jasinski said. “There’s so much diversity in that book that there’s going to be something in it for everyone. I had no idea that eviction was so common and how disproportionately it affects women and children. Desmond’s work is a really powerful form of social justice. He’s changing the agenda of what we should be talking about in America.” Chiara Pride, sophomore anthropology and political science double major, attended the lecture after reading portions of Desmond’s book and left feeling motivated to read the entire book. “He highlighted the fact that eviction is a problem that’s ignored because we focus on public housing and then focus on other marginalized groups without realizing that ,a lot of times, it’s an issue of the private renting market,” Pride said. “That was very interesting because I vaguely knew that problem existed, but he really drove it home.” Pride, who is interested in urban studies, took associate professor of sociology and anthropology Christine Drennon’s Research in Community Development class last
spring. She recommends this class for anyone interested in the things that Desmond spoke about at his lecture or in his book. “[Drennon] talked a lot about historical housing policy and how people are disenfranchised through things like redlining and structure of cities,” Pride said. “This was kind of an interesting follow-up to that because [Desmond] was really addressing the private market that is based in history but also is a very current problem.”
“Desmond’s work is a really powerful form of social justice. He’s changing the agenda of what we should be talking about in America.” LISA JASINSKI SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
Jullian Valadez, first-year biology major, also attended Desmond’s lecture. “I thought that the book, in conjunction with the lecture, provided a crucial insight on the topic of homelessness,” Valadez wrote in an e-mail. “The narrative wasn’t one of sensationalization, but rather a raw or grim depiction of what homelessness actually is.” Desmond’s use of true stories deepened the experience for many who read the book. “I found the use of narratives to be particularly engaging. The addition of a face invokes a sort of reality that empirical data, which the author used as well, alone could not. The walking through of the true lives and struggles individuals faced in America added a certain ‘identifiable person’ effect that pushes us as a community of Americans to take this issue of homelessness serious — and not as some distant problem,” Valadez wrote. Desmond concluded his lecture by explaining his proposed solution to the problems detailed in his book: expanding the housing voucher program. People can find ways to help the problem at a local level by visiting www.justshelter.org and getting connected with community activist and volunteer groups. “Evicted” is available to purchase online and in stores.
Six professors hired Newly promoted faculty discuss appreciation for Trinity community, tenure track positions CATHY TERRACE
NEWS REPORTER
As fall semester rolls around, Trinity welcomes new professors to its faculty. According to an email from Duane Colthrop, assistant vice president for curriculum and faculty development, he administration has hired six individuals to fill the roles of assistant professor, a position that is intended to be long term. “I’ve been here for two years, so I’ve basically been promoted. I was a visiting professor at first ... From there, you can get on the actual tenure track, which is what I’m on now,” said Dominic Morais, assistant professor of business administration. Morais completed his studies at the University of Texas at Austin, concentrating in physical culture and sports study. While at Trinity, he’s enjoyed being able to teach smaller classes, as well as the ability to help provide several scholarship opportunities for students. “My favorite part about Trinity is being able to see things click in students’ heads and knowing that I’m helping facilitate their growth as individuals,” Morais said. “It’s a place where I feel like I can actually make a difference in people’s lives.” Focus on student growth and research has made Trinity a more attractive place for professors. Not only do they have a better opportunity to further their students’ academic lives, but they’re also able to further their studies through research “[What drew me to Trinity was] primarily the dedication to teaching and student-centered research; I knew from the time that I was going into undergraduate I wanted to ultimately teach and do research with students.
When I went to the University of Texas, I realized the way a big university functions doesn’t focus as much on teaching and student-centered research,” said Orrin Shindell, assistant professor of physics and astronomy. “What I really wanted to do is come to a small college where teaching was a significant priority … as well as cutting-edge research.” Along with the ability for studentfocused research, Trinity’s size also plays a role in attracting new professors. Many of the new hires cited smaller classes as a very compelling aspect of working at Trinity. “For me, [the size of Trinity] is a positive. There’s a lot of great things that come with a small school; you have a smaller class sizes so you can really get to work with students and know them, also there’s a stronger sense of community, and I think I knew that on paper but I wasn’t fully prepared for how strong the Trinity community is,” said Benjamin Sosnaud, assistant professor of sociology. “I think it’s one of the greatest experiences so far — people really love it here, they want to be here, and they want people to have success here.” Many of the new professors also expressed an interest in going beyond just beyond the academic resources at Trinity. Both campus organizations and San Antonio itself offer a great deal of opportunities for community involvement, something that Sarah Erickson, assistant professor of communication, hopes to capitalize on. “I think there’s a sense of community, and the openness to talking to everyone and being really thoughtful and intellectually curious while caring — it’s a hard balance to strike, and I think that Trinity does it really well,” Erickson said. “We’re able to have conversations that are really difficult, but do it in ways that are respectful.” In addition to the four assistant professors mentioned above, Sajida Jalalzai, assistant professor of religion, and Jacquelyn Matava, assistant professor of music, have also been officially hired as assistant professors at Trinity.
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 •
NEWS
Campus sustainability efforts
Library TLC
continued from PAGE 4
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Curry highlighted the fact that the new Campus Master Plan takes sustainability into account. “The Campus Master Plan has a sustainability component to it and is going to start to influence and help drive some of the decisions that we make,” Curry said. “That is our guiding document now for facilities. A lot of people don’t realize that O’Neil Ford was a huge conservationist, so we’re kind of returning to our roots.” AASHE will be holding their annual conference in San Antonio this year, and a handful of Trinity faculty, staff and students will be presenting at the conference which will take place Oct.15–18. Students play a role in sustainability
on campus as well, especially through a handful of organizations. Kristen Rundstein, senior engineering major, is president of Trinity’s student group Eco Allies. “Our big event is during the spring semester; it’s Earth Week, a full week of activities,” Rundstein said. “We typically have an event every day. We try to do some volunteering activities both here on campus and off campus.” Eco Allies has also birthed several different projects in an effort to make Trinity more sustainable. “We aren’t in charge of it anymore, but there was the community garden in Storch,” Rundstein said. “It’s now become a class that students can sign up for. They’ll have garden work days, so we’ll help out whenever those come. Also, the Bee Alliance started as an Eco Allies idea and then became its own club.”
Rundstein hopes that Eco Allies will continue to implement ideas that improve Trinity’s sustainability. “My idea for the semester is to get a pollinator garden star ted so th at it g ets some hummingbirds and butterflies and bees in the area, specifically at Trinity,” Rundstein said. “ We were originally wanting to put hummingbird feeders in but that isn’t as sustainable because then they depend on the feeders, and you have to make sure there’s somebody there to take care of it throughout the year.” Curr y and Rundstein both believe that Eco Allies is one of the best ways for s tudents to get involved with sustainability efforts at Trinity. Students can get involved with the group by sending an email to Kristen Rundstein at kr undste@trinity.edu.
“ St a r t c o m i n g t o t h e l i b r a r y e a r l y i n y o u r Tr i n i t y c a r e e r, a n d i t w i l l become more comfortable for you the more you use it. Some people f i n d i t o v e r w h e l m i n g b e c a u s e i t ’s b i g o r i t ’s o r g a n i z e d d i f f e r e n t l y t h a n t h e y’r e u s e d t o , a n d t h e m o r e t i m e you spend here, the more used to t h a t y o u’ l l b e ,” Gr a f s a i d . The librar y hopes that these new changes will benefit the Trinity community and encourage more students to take advantages of the resources located on campus. If you have any questions or recommendations for improvement, visit the librar y or email Graves at dgraves@trinity.edu. The librar y is open daily, and operating hours can be found on Trinity’s website.
Residence hall face-lift recalls original style University looks to the past for inspiration for renovations to residence halls ISAIAH MITCHELL
NEWS REPORTER Trinity has recently renovated the McFarlin complex, one of the oldest building complexes on campus, using scientific instruments to reach back to the 1950s for stylistic guidance. The McFarlin complex, composed of Isabel, Myrtle and Susanna residence halls, was somewhat worn. The university recognized the complex was in need of an architectural face-lift and wanted to keep sustainability and student preference in mind during the renovation. “ We really got a lot of use of it. It’s one of the earliest buildings constructed here at Trinity,” said Gordon Bohmfalk, director of campus planning and sustainability. “ We put in new flooring, new sinks, new interior closets and new paint.” Melissa Flowers, director of residential life, added in an email that tubs were re-enameled, student room doors were switched from physical keys to Tiger Card access and new dressers were put in. Additionally, in an effor t to restore a historic look in the paint job, the university decided to use the origin al colors, dating back to 1952.
The Myrtle (left), Isabel (upper right) and Susanna (lower right) residence halls were updated this summer in time for fall semester. photos by QUINN BENDER
However, because the paint colors are not listed on the schematics, Campus Planning had to find another way. “We investigated the historic paint samples on the building by taking chip samples and putting them under a microscope,” Bohmfalk said. “Trinity blue has actually become bluer over the years. We matched a blue that we found in the paint.” When asked what new housing plans the university had in mind n e x t , B o h m f a l k s a i d C i t y Vi s t a f i l l e d the need for new upperclassmen housing, offering the campus 141 n e w a p a r t m e n t u n i t s . In t h e n e a r
f u t u re , t h e u n i v e r s i t y w i l l f o c u s o n re n ov a t i o n s o f t h e e x i s t i n g d o r m i t o r i e s , n a m e l y some of the older buildings. Flowers said Facilities Services made the decision to renovate, which was fully supported by Residential Life since it would provide a better experience for students living on campus. “We look forward to receiving comprehensive feedback next month when we will implement our housing survey,” Flowers said. Certain student opinions differed, however. Luke Ayers, a resident of Myrtle, expressed frustration about current problems
with his building, claiming that lights, air conditioning and plumbing were still shoddy. “ Do n’t g e t m e w r o n g ,” A y e r s s a i d . “ I a p p re c i a t e w h a t t h e s c h o o l d i d i n re n ov a t i n g t h e b u i l d i n g , b u t a l o t m o re i s s t i l l re q u i re d i f t h e d o r m i s g o i n g t o b e l i v a b l e i n t h e l o n g t e r m .” Fl ow e r s n o t e d t h a t a p l a n l i k e t h i s takes months to solidify and was c h a l l e n g i n g t o c o m p l e t e ov e r t h e c o u r s e o f a s u m m e r. Sh e a d d e d t h a t most anecdotal student feedback h a s b e e n p o s i t i v e a n d Re s i d e n t i a l L i f e p l a n s t o m o re a c c u r a t e l y survey student attitudes about the dormitories next month.
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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
From the editor’s desk: weathering the storm We can’t be thankful enough that Hurricane Harvey was as kind to us as it was. The university sustained minimal damage, notwithstanding fallen tree branches and other minor inconveniences. San Antonio is lucky to have experienced relatively little hardship this past week. In fact, we’ve been able to act as good stewards to our neighbors. According to the Rivard Report, an online news source for San Antonio, the city was able to shelter more than 1,000 evacuees from across the state. Our food bank has served tens of thousands of meals to displaced Texans since the hurricane made landfall this weekend. As fortunate as we San Antonians are, not everyone in the Trinity community came out of this weekend unscathed. Even just among the Trinitonian’s news staff, we’ve seen families and friends lose homes, transportation, clean water and electricity; some of us have been distracted all week by constant updates on social media channels. Our hearts go out to those Tigers
who call the Gulf Coast home. Some may balk when experts call Harvey the most harmful hurricane to hit Texas in decades. But it’s hard to argue these fine points when the destruction is so apparent in Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, Rockport, Houston, Beaumont and more. We only wonder how students hailing from the Caribbean and other nations in the storm’s path must feel. What would it be like to study in a foreign country and watch, from afar, as their homelands are ravaged by a major storm — and see only endless media coverage of damage in Texas? The tight deadlines and turbulent nature of news reporting, unfortunately, meant that we had to finish up our current assignments before turning our attention to the stories of Trinity students who’ve been weathering the storm. We anticipate undergoing a thorough report of how students, staff and faculty have handled the hurricane. Until then, let’s highlight how we
“We anticipate undergoing a thorough report of how students, staff and faculty have handled the hurricane. Until then, let’s highlight how we can help one another.” can help one another. Student Government Association has organized service events at the San Antonio Food Bank and solicited donations in Mabee, but there is more to be done at the food bank. The volleyball team plans to
host a donation drive this Saturday, Sept. 2, and we’re sure to see the various Greek organizations on campus begin promoting their own benefit events in the near future. TUVAC is working with the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center to bring a blood drive to campus in early October, and we’ve heard that the music department may sponsor therapy events for the children of displaced families. Those who have been personally affected by the storm are encouraged to contact Stephen Nickle, university chaplain, and Gary Neal, director of counseling services and of health services, to inquire about a support group for Harvey’s victims. Here in the newsroom, we hope to keep in touch with these and other major events related to the hurricane. Keep an eye on the paper in the coming weeks to hear more about its effects on Trinity’s response. If you or anyone you know has a story to tell, we’re all ears, as always.
First generation Pathways problems EVAN CHAMBLESS GUEST COLUMNIST
The Pathways curriculum is not as straightforward as the name suggests. As a junior, I’ve been attempting to navigate this curriculum — with little success — since its implementation in the fall of 2015. Only a few of the requirements — fitness education, quantitative reasoning, natural sciences, digital literacy and the ever-notorious First Year Experience (FYE) — have been one-stop shops to fulfill. My peers and I have spent countless hours during each registration season discussing the multitudes of grievances regarding almost every facet of the curriculum’s requirements and how they make us feel powerless. I am not here to argue against the merits of a liberal arts education — of which there are many — but rather to moan about the sloppiness in which it has been implemented recently at Trinity. Compared to the simple Common Curriculum, which includes comprehensive requirements and a large list of classes that fulfill each, Pathways is stressfully convoluted. This includes the six main requirements — all of which I had to research in order to write this: the First Year Experience (FYE), Approaches to Creation and Analysis, the Core Capacities, the Interdisciplinary Cluster, the Major and Fitness Education. Of these six, four have around six sub-categories that require one or two classes each. I’d liken Pathways to an obstacle course, one that has to be navigated while treading water with a blindfold
on. Every time I felt like I was beginning to head in the right direction and complete a requirement, I’d fumble backwards at the realization that both classes for a single requirement have two prerequisites and aren’t offered until three semesters later.
“I’d liken Pathways to an obstacle course, one that has to be navigated while treading water with a blindfold on.” These complications and frustrations seem to stem from the fact that most classes Trinity offers are not yet under Pathways. From what I understand, it is a lengthy, paperwork-heavy process for professors to get just a single course approved under Pathways, and I sympathize with those who have been doing so for the past two years. But, according to the information I’ve gleaned from my advisors and professors, the requirements for approval are very restrictive and discount otherwise strong classes. For example, take the description for oral and visual communication (OVC) requirement, part of the Core Capacities: “Two designated courses that require significant oral presentation supported by visual products and provide substantial instruction in oral and visual communication.”
As an art minor, I have taken one lower-level and three upper-level studio classes, all of which have encompassed the research, creation and in-class critique of personal work. But I won’t be done with the first of the twoclass OVC requirements until the end of this semester. This is because the lower-level sculpture class I am taking this fall is the first of my art classes to fulfill the basic guideline of having a power point presentation assignment, of all things. Who knew that students could communicate in ways other than reading off slides? This restrictive approval process also
“Every time I felt like I was beginning to head in the right direction, I’d fumble backwards at the realization that both classes for a single requirement have two prerequisites and aren’t offered until three semesters later.” hurts students who plan on spending a semester abroad. Most courses offered at foreign universities are not approved by the registrar’s office, ultimately making it hard to take classes for anything other
than a major during that time. Because professors are still just starting this course approval process, many classes are being added into the curriculum every semester in a hodgepodge manner, which is less than ideal for students on an eight-semester-long time crunch. Just imagine the vast course options next year’s incoming first years will have upon registration compared to what my confused peers and I experienced two years ago. This is what really set me back because, as an undeclared first-year, there were plenty of introductory-level courses I wanted to sample, but I felt bound to the demanding Pathways curriculum. Many of the classes offered are narrowly focused with limiting prerequisites. Even the university’s example schedule for a student taking pathways for eight semesters —typically four years— includes a disclaimer saying that it doesn’t necessarily account for pre- or corequisites. It would be an understatement to say that I would’ve appreciated it if the university had waited until most classes had undergone the vetting process for Pathways before they put it into action. I regret that I’ve realized my predicament and constructed my argument against Pathways too late in the game. I’ve done a lot of complaining, but at least I’ve gotten through the thick of it with my lovely advisors Kate Ritson and Shana McDermott. Who knows, I may become a super senior — keep an eye out for some more of my complaints in the fall of 2019! Evan Chambless is a junior economics major with an art minor.
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 •
OPINION
Vamos a España: exploring the Alhambra SOLEIL GAFFNER OPINION COLUMNIST
Professor BLADIMIR RUIZ, center left, explores the Alhambra with students while in Granada, Spain. Photo by SOLEIL GAFFNER
Growing up in northern Virginia, I considered myself lucky to be so close to so much history. A 20-minute drive could get me to our nation’s capital, and I can’t tell you how many times I visited colonial Williamsburg on school field trips. While our history is special, it’s only about 200 years old. I had never stepped foot in anything older until we arrived in Granada, Spain. For our first “field trip” of the Trinity in Spain program, we visited the 1,131-year-old Alhambra. The Alhambra has a very long history, longer than much of what we see in the United States. Its beginnings were first recorded in A.D. 900 as a fortress, but much of the Alhambra’s significance comes from its rebirth in the 13th century, when it was reconstructed and revitalized by the Moorish leaders. The influences of these extensions is evident, and this was left largely unchanged by the Christian reconquest in the 1400s. The Alhambra was then converted into a palace for Spanish royals King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella. What’s truly fascinating about the Alhambra is that you can see each power’s influence. The sultans of Granada had a unique style of architecture, and their inscriptions on the walls are still visible all these years later. Angel Gonzalez, a professor from IES Madrid who is serving as our host, teacher and tour guide, explained that since the Alhambra was so beautifully created, both artistically and architecturally, the new royalty couldn’t bring themselves to destroy it. Instead, they added to its beauty, bringing a mishmash of Catholic and Muslim influences into the palace. The Arabic inscriptions on the walls, Gonzalez explained, were actually intended to be the building itself ‘speaking.’ He said that the inscriptions were praises of Allah, as well as the building professing herself as ‘beautiful’ and a work of art. The inscriptions also contained dates of building and poetry about the beauty of the Alhambra and Allah. The influences that inspired the Catholic rulers were drawn from rich
European history, especially Italian art. The colors were vibrant, and family crests and royal symbolism was imprinted in tile on walls and doors. Having a professor like Gonzalez made this experience especially rewarding. He told us about how Granada, being the last Moorish stronghold to be taken by the Christian Reconquista, has some of the strongest ties to the old Al-Andalus (what Spain was before it became ‘Spain’). I saw this in architecture of the buildings, the dime-a-dozen tourist shops and also the pride of Granada. There weren’t only tourists inside the Alhambra when we visited; local Spaniards visit also, to pay their respects to the history of their land. I believe the first lesson that I’ve learned about Spain while being abroad is how much pride they have in their country. As Gonzalez explained while in the gardens of the Alhambra, Spain has not had an innocent history. Their exploits have included the Reconquista, the Inquisition, the colonization — and subsequent destruction of much of the Americas —, just to name the big three. But Spain is proud. There is evidence in many cities of Spain — like Toledo, Sevilla and Granada — of different groups of people living as neighbors. Christian and Muslim neighbors sharing recipes, music and culture with one another. Simply surviving next to each other, and enjoying the other’s culture as its own way of living. Gonzalez also explained how the Muslim majority of Al-Andalus permitted the existence of Christianity, because they saw themselves as all brothers of the same God. This allowed communities to open to followers of both Islam and Christianity. This also allowed for a unique blend of cultures that Spain continues to be proud of today. Walking in the same hallways as those who did the same hundreds of years ago is an awe-inspiring experience. You realize how small your reality is, and how quickly history is happening. We are privileged enough to step in their shoes and use this wisdom in our world today. Simply setting foot in the Alhambra and seeing a rich history that has come and gone; it’s a humbling experience. Soleil Gaffner is a junior communication and Spanish double major.
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udy t s uld here o c u w If yo ad any ere h w o , abr world go? e u in th uld yo wo “Stockholm, Sweden.” NICK SMETZER A&E EDITOR
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OPINION• SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
The merits of our creative failures NICK SMETZER GUEST COLUMNIST
Classes begin, and if you’re anything like me, you can already feel yourself falling back into your old routines. Sleeping as late as possible before rushing to class, gravitating towards the same three lines in Mabee; as strange as it is to say, with all of the stress of the new semester, it is not that difficult to operate on a kind of ‘autopilot.’ And as anybody who has driven with cruise control can tell you: having things on autopilot is great for convenience’s sake, but it makes it so much harder to be engaged. I’ve found that the easiest trick to overcoming this malaise is to throw yourself into creation — find a tool that you have never held before, and learn how to use it to make something beautiful. In my particular case, I spent much of last semester trying to wrap my head around creating electronic music. This probably isn’t the most herculean task I’ve ever put myself through, but it’s been a very long time since my childhood piano lessons — between my nonexistent knowledge of musical theory and the byzantine layouts for the music creation softwares I’ve been using, I found myself more than a little overwhelmed.
photo by CHLOE SONNIER
In the beginning, it felt less like I was creating music, and more like I was hitting my head against a wall. Hell, it took me an hour before I could figure out how to assign volumes to the shrieking noises I was making. It felt frustrating and pointless, but little by little, I slowly found little ways to speed up the process — shortcuts and tricks that helped me make a little bit more progress each night than the one before. After a certain point, something peculiar happened:
it stopped feeling like a chore, and more like something I actually wanted to do. I’m not going to say that I’ve become some kind of music production champion, but, the way I see it, the fact that I’ve made a few songs I’m not entirely ashamed of is a mark of progress. The idea of coming home from school- and work-related stresses only to engage in something stressful for the purpose of relaxation is not the
most charming one, especially since it is infinitely easier to simply consume the creations of others. Why bother making a short film when there are so many movies out there for your viewing pleasure, streamable with a few clicks of a mouse? Why struggle to learn to paint when there are so many great paintings that already exist — some of them masterpieces that could make your work look amateurish in comparison? This pressure, this need to find
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immediate success in all of one’s endeavors, is as pervasive as it is false. It is a self-imposed limit that I have only recently discovered was not protecting the quality of anything I created. Rather, for too long I had let it frighten me from attempting anything new at all. It would be a blatant lie to say that my musical creations are brilliant — but, if it weren’t for all of them, successes and failures alike, I wouldn’t have gained such confidence in my creativity over these last few months. The amount of unique creative classes offered at universities has been made fun of in the past — insert your ‘underwater basket weaving’ comments here. Yet, I can honestly say that the bizarre and strange classes I’ve taken at Trinity have been my favorites. This semester, I’ve enrolled in an electronic music course offered by Trinity’s own Brian Bondari; with any luck, I’ll gain some practical knowledge that will make my ill-fated attempts at making music a little less so. I highly suggest that anybody who has a similar inclination towards creation do the same. Go ahead, take that wood sculpture course, or that class on screen printing. Try your hand at learning to paint, taking photographs or learning an instrument. And know that if you fail, you’ll be in good company. I’ll be here, failing right alongside you, until one of us makes something kind-of-sort-of OK.
Balancing rationality and empathy GABRIEL LEVINE OPINION COLUMNIST
Last summer, I was in Seattle, where recreational marijuana is legal and potent. To celebrate our country’s independence, I took advantage of a July 4th sale and bought a joint for a fourth of the price of the San Antonio black market. (The strain was Granddaddy Purple, for those interested). One night, I smoked a bit more than I intended and soon a veil of clear, deep purple fell upon the world; wild animals moved and morphed and fought in the flames of a fire pit. As beautiful as that visual element of the high was, the highlight, and the point of this anecdote, came in a sudden sense of complete bliss unlike any I’ve experienced. Gazing into the purple night, I felt utterly relaxed and happy, filled with a certitude that all in the world was good and all events happen for the best. This feeling was intense and real, as undeniable and selfevident as the equality of man asserted in the Declaration of Independence. This, I thought, was what people call a spiritual experience. The feeling didn’t last more than 10 minutes, and for the rest of the high, and when I was sober the next morning, I wasn’t convinced that what I had felt was actually reflective of some supernatural order. However, after some confirmatory online reading and conversation with religious acquaintances, I realized that I now truly understood the depth and apparent realness of personal spiritual
experience that many serious believers present as justification for belief. More importantly, having not truly understood that kind of experience before, I realized how shallow any prior intellectual understanding of religious experience I professed would seem to a religious person during a debate about belief. My arguments would be far less likely to connect or convince because I didn’t really understand or appreciate the reality of their experience. This illustrates a critical gap in how rational argument and thought are popularly understood and defended and the importance of experience and, failing that, empathy as necessary correctives. Specifically, I suspect that many people, including myself, imagine that we can objectively evaluate claims and evidence on their merits, disregarding our personal biases in the process. In reality, our ingrained biases impede our objectivity in ways that barely register beyond the sneaking discomfort of cognitive dissonance. One manifestation of such bias is a tendency to simply dismiss arguments or evidence we disagree with without giving them deep consideration. Another is a failure to seek out evidence that contradicts our pre-existing beliefs with the same enthusiasm that spurs the search for affirmatory evidence. Experience and, where experience is impossible, empathy can serve as correctives to this problem by temporarily shifting our mental sympathies to a side we disagree with. At that point, it becomes easier to fully explore and appreciate the facts and arguments that that side may present. For example, my experience growing up Jewish and my personal
knowledge and connection to the history of Jewish persecution make it far easier for me to understand the arguments that social justice activists make about the legacies and realities of discrimination, even though I don’t, and never will, have the experience of being black in America. What about someone with no personal experience of discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, or ability? Empathy can do the job, though it is more arduous. In my experience, reading history that vividly described the continuous indignities heaped upon American blacks in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War, through Reconstruction and into the present day, followed by intense, lengthy internal reflection enabled me to come closer to understanding American history from an AfricanAmerican perspective on a personal level. This was without drawing any conscious connections to my Jewish heritage. This approach can be applied universally to truly understand everyone from white supremacists and Islamic extremists to vegans and prolife activists. Of course, this is not to say that empathy and empathic experience should replace efforts at objective, rational thinking. Far from it. Actions or opinions based purely on emotion are almost always bad. Consider the number of people who, in light of the human tragedy of flooding, criticized the city of Houston for not ordering an evacuation in anticipation of Hurricane Harvey. These people’s emotional concern was well-founded and
Screenshot of one of Twitter user @emmerttrensin’s posts.
laudable, but an evacuation would likely have stranded thousands of people on roads that subsequently flooded, causing many more deaths. Objective thinking is desirable and necessary to determine the right answers to questions of morality, policy and the intersection of the two. However, our individual realities and modes of thought are fundamentally emotional. This is what it is to be human. Empathy and direct
experience allow us to attain the visceral, emotional understanding of opposing views necessary to fully understand them. Without that full understanding, rational, objective thinking and analysis is impossible beyond scientific questions. It turns out that, to be rational, it’s necessary to get a bit emotional. Gabriel Levine is a senior chemistry major.
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 •
OPINION
Clashing shades of red
Illustration by YESSENIA LOPEZ
MANFRED WENDT OPINION COLUMNIST
The Republican primary in Texas has a reputation for being a bloody, polarizing affair. A primary is an election held before the general election by parties to determine who will be their nominee for the general election. The primary is where different factions inside of a party go to fight for party domination; oftentimes when the dust settles, two to three different factions inside the same party have won primaries in different areas of the state. Think of the Republican presidential primary in 2016, and how different candidates won different areas of the state based on how well they reflected the views of the people living in those specific counties. The movement conservative versus establishment Republican civil war is still in full swing for the soul of the party even after the election of Donald Trump. The movement conservative wing, the more conservative wing of the party, has successfully elected Ted Cruz, a conservative firebrand, Greg Abbott, who currently holds the record for suing the Obama administration, and Dan Patrick, the man who hired Rush Limbaugh. In addition to electing bold conservatives to important positions inside the state government and deciding who Texas sends to Washington, they have also turned Texas into a singleparty state at the state legislature level. The Republican Party currently hold a 20-11 majority in the state Senate and a 95-55 majority in the state House. In spite of the large electoral majorities, the Republican party in Texas still has a long list of things that it wants to accomplish. With the party holding a large majority in both chambers, it is not Democrats who are causing the problems. The lack of legislation has been the result of the movement conservative wing of the Republican party of Texas and the establishment wing being unable to compromise on key pieces of legislation. This issue is due to the fact that factions inside the same party hold very different views on important governing issues. The establishment and movement conservatives have very different stances on the life issue, property taxes, regulation and education. On the movement conservative side stands Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Sen. Ted Cruz. All three are big names with big war chests who sound like they are willing to get their hands involved in the primary. In the movement conservative column also stands most of the state senate. This helps explain why the state senate was able to pass a significant amount of Abbott’s special session agenda.
On the other side stands the Republican establishment, at this time represented by Joe Straus. Straus is a representative from San Antonio who represents the Alamo Heights area. He is the Speaker of the House, but don’t let that title fool you about his popularity in the house. He became speaker of the house in 2008, when there was an abnormally low number of Republicans due to the quakes of Obama’s landslide victory. In 2008, the Republicans only held a two-vote majority in the House. Moderate Republicans used this to their political advantage and wrestled the gavel away from Tom Craddick, a conservative, and gave it to Straus with the assistance of all of the Democrats in the House. The way in which Straus became speaker has left a sour taste in the mouth of movement conservatives for the better part of a decade. Straus was also the bane of the movement conservatives’ existence during the special session. He openly likened Abbott’s special session agenda to “horse manure.” He then proceeded, as he has historically done, to have the House move very slowly while attending to its business. This is in stark contrast to the Senate, which raced through the governor’s special agenda. To make relations worse between the movement conservatives and Straus, he also adjourned the House earlier than necessary in the special session, resulting in a number of bills failing to reach the governor’s desk. This keeps in line with his historical precedent of killing conservative legislation by not putting it on calendars, using other parliamentary procedures to prevent the bills from making it to the floor where they would be voted through by conservative Republicans. The tensions that have been described in the past paragraphs will come to a head on May 5 and 22, the dates for the runoff elections that will be held when candidates don’t break the 50 percent majority barrier. Both factions inside the Republican party will be fighting to try to become the dominant force inside the party so that they may direct legislative efforts as they see fit and attempt to mold Texas into their image. In my opinion, it is likely that Straus and Abbott will be the twin lightning rods that light up the Texas sky on those nights as different candidates attempt to run for or against one of these two men. It remains to be seen whether Abbott will be making primary endorsements. If he does make that decision, the primary will be even bloodier. As in every political season, expect the advertisements to only get nastier as both factions attempt to assert dominance over the other. While these two factions share a political party, they have very different interpretations of what conservatism is and what the Republican party is. This is a battle that will be fought across Texas, all the way from El Paso to Port Aransas. Manfred Wendt is a junior political science major.
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Pulse
Caterer Roy Vega moonlights as artist Vega goes part time in order to focus on art, seeks to display work on campus CLAIRE NAKAYAMA PULSE REPORTER Trinity’s dining services employees are involved in many hobbies outside of their jobs. One of them, Rogelio “Roy” Vega, is an Aramark caterer by day and an artist by night. He started developing his skill later in life than many other artists do, but his art has improved with diligent practice. “I started doing my art at age 35, when I got divorced from my first wife, because I wanted to keep busy,” Vega said. “I did it for five months, and then quit for two years. Something told me to go back and do it again, and that time, my art got better and better.” Since his return to the craft, Vega has been incredibly prolific in his artistic output. “I got married six years ago, and now I have 1,200 sketches. I had never sketched so much. Right now I have about 300 colored pieces that are finished,” Vega said. Vega’s sketches are all done in pen and filled in with colored pencil. His work is available in anything as big as 22-by-28-inch posters to standard paper-sized digital prints. “All my drawings are different, and have unique shapes and faces. I turn my drawings upside down as well, so you can look at it both ways,” Vega said. A few times a year, Vega will display his bright and colorful art at venues all around San Antonio. His favorite place to go has been the Central Market on Broadway, where he has shown his work several times. Balancing his time between sketching and catering, Vega has still managed to grow his business and create more artworks every day. “I go to art shows whenever I have the time. My job here is demanding, but starting this year I’m going to go part-time to concentrate more on my art,” Vega said. Vega also hopes to open an exhibit on campus, potentially in the Coates University Center. Students have asked him to show his artwork before, and he’s had major success selling pieces. “I would like to have an art exhibit here on campus. I had an art show two years ago in the Skyline [Dining Room], and I showed four tables. I did it because one student was raising money for the Battered Women’s and Children’s Shelter, and I gave 10 percent of whatever I sold,” Vega said. When asked what motivates him to keep producing art, Vega admits to a goal commonly held by artists. “What keeps me going is that one day, I might become famous. I want the world to see what I do, because I haven’t seen this kind of art out there right now, and I need to take it out and show it to everyone. I don’t want to keep it at home and have no one see it,” Vega said. As far as advice goes for other aspiring artists, Vega hopes that they will persist in their work and keep creating content for others to see. “Just keep doing your art, no matter what people will tell you. Some people will tell you that you’ll never make it in the art world. But if you like it, keep doing it. And who knows? You might become famous one day,” Vega said. Until Vega opens an exhibit on campus, students may see him serving refreshments at gallery exhibitions in the Dicke Art Building.
ROY VEGA, top, shows off two of his sketchbooks in Mabee Dining Hall. The line art is completed in pen before Roy completes the works with colored pencil. top photo by CLAIRE NAKAYAMA, bottom photo by AMANI CANADA
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 •
PULSE
Stacy Davidson helps students find Academic Success, empowerment
Director of academic support center leads advising sessions and directs students to resources in the library’s new Tiger Learning Commons CLAIRE NAKAYAMA PULSE REPORTER
The academic support team at Trinity has many resources for students dealing with the many stresses of college. Stacy Davidson, the director for Academic Success, has been with Trinity for three years and is known on campus as the go-to person for all your academic needs. Janett Muñoz, a senior biochemistry and molecular biology double major, met Davidson on an admissions panel and has been working with her ever since. “It was my sophomore year and I was on a parent panel with her. I remember loving her down-to-earth and genuine character,” Muñoz wrote in an email interview. “I really liked her vibe! It was great that we met, because I actually used the Academic Success Center that same semester because I was drowning in work.” Alex Motter, a sophomore business analytics major, sought advice from Davidson after hearing a presentation of hers during New Student Orientation week. “She was really funny because she knew that I knew that I was doing too much, so she helped me laugh at a lot of the stuff I was doing,” Motter said. “I think she offered a lot of professional insight while also being really
friendly and personable.” Outside of the Academic Success Center, Davidson will also be teaching a portion of the Social Justice FYE this semester. “I have prior college teaching experience, and Dr. [Sheryl] Tynes, my supervisor, was very interested in having a staff person from the student affairs side involved and working closely with first-year students,” Davidson said. One of Davidson’s many passions is diversity and inclusion. She serves as the advisor for the Black Student Union, a student organization that promotes the empowerment of Trinity students of color. “I couldn’t be here if I wasn’t helping them in some way or engaging with them in meaningful ways. The easiest way for me to do that was to serve in an advisor role. It’s not just about helping run the organization — it’s also about building leadership in these executive board staff members, and it gives me an opportunity to build meaningful relationships with students,” Davidson said. With all of the positions at Trinity that Davidson has to juggle, she still manages to find the time to make every student’s concerns heard and attended to. “She has bomb advice for anything you want clarity for, because she is that amazing. Trinity is so lucky to have Stacy working with us. The impact she is making is revolutionary, and the lives she is impacting are endless,” Muñoz wrote. Motter says that Davidson improved his confidence and willingness to look to others for help.
STACY DAVIDSON, right, instructs junior SEEMA GAVVALA in the Academic Success Center. photo by CHLOE SONNIER
“I thought of getting help or talking to others as an impediment to success, but it’s really just taking advantage of all the resources you have at your disposal,” Motter said. “If you’re able to help correct some of your lifelong problems for completely free, and it’s included in your education, you should take advantage of that.” The biggest advice from Davidson for any student having troubles is to ask for help when needed. “It’s not about waiting until you’re struggling, and it’s not just about struggling
students. It’s about all students of all abilities getting the help they need [in order] to be their very best. That’s why you come to a small school, because there are so many resources to take advantage of,” Davidson said. Davidson, along with the Academic Support staff, are a valuable resource for the university that students can benefit greatly from. The Tiger Learning Commons, where the Academic Success Center and additional study spaces have been relocated, opened to students on Monday, Aug. 28, on the left-hand side of the Coates Library’s main floor.
Pathways reaches two-year milestone MEREDITH GOSHELL PULSE REPORTER
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Two years ago Trinity University changed their program for general education requirements from the Common Curriculum to a new set of requirements called Pathways. Pathways was created to accommodate new academic goals for Trinity students to better expose them to different areas of academia and become well-rounded students. “I know we had had Common Curriculum for about ten years,” said Jennifer Reese, academic records analyst. “Everything changes and the world around is changing and we want to take advantage of that and make sure that we change for our students and that they have the best advantages for what we offer.” Since being implemented in 2105 every incoming first year has been put on the Pathways system. However, students who entered previously were still enrolled in the Common Curriculum program. One of the biggest changes from the Common Curriculum system to Pathways was the way courses were divided up. However, both systems encourage students to take courses in areas outside of their major. Junior political science and ethical philosophy major, Abigail Schneebeck, appreciates this aspect of Pathways. “I have liked Pathways. It’s sometimes frustrating to be forced to take classes in fields that do not interest me, but in the end it has been really reassuring to know that I am definitely choosing a path that fits me the most after being exposed to so many other fields,” Schneebeck said. While the approaches in the Pathways program are similar to the understandings of the Common Curriculum, the core capacities have new requirements, such as oral and written communication, digital literacy and engaged citizenship. They also have
interdisciplinary clusters, which are comprised of three classes that focus on a particular topic within academia, but are offered by different departments. Students have to take seven of their eight classes from the different clusters, ensuring that there is a variety of departments and academic interests represented. “I think Pathways has been 100 percent successful in exposing me to different areas of academia,” Schneebeck said. “Because of Pathways, I chose to add philosophy to my degree along with political science. While I had to take classes that I didn’t want to pursue a degree in, I never would have taken a philosophy class without Pathways.” Another change is the new digital literacy requirement. While students on Common Curriculum had that requirement, there was an option to test out of it. With Pathways, the student must enroll in a digital literacy course, no matter their previous skill set. “The clusters are designed to open the students up to different options,” Reese said. “So maybe they take a class in a cluster that they may think, ‘You know, I really like this,’ but I don’t want to major in it so maybe I’ll take it towards a minor. It’s supposed to open them up to different ideas and course subjects.” Seniors on the Common Curriculum program mostly enjoyed it, but have agreed that some changes needed to be made. “I’ve really liked Common Curriculum,” said Zack Klein, a senior English and business administration major. “I think it has done a pretty good job of exposing me to different areas of academia. My only complaint is that I think it should require students to take more math/science classes. Common Curriculum favored the humanities and arts more than the sciences, and students would be more well rounded if they were required to take more math or science classes.”
Trailer for fourth season of “Black Mirror” drops Cover your webcams with tape, because the upcoming installment of this sci-fi anthology series is sure to make us briefly aware of our technology addictions.
“Game of Thrones” approaches its final season As fantastic as last week’s season finale was, it’s also a reminder that we’ll have to wait until 2019 to see how this wild ride concludes
AE &
graphic by TYLER HERRON
Concert canceled: A Cashmere Cat-astrophe? Answering questions about the Welcome Week concert that never was NICK SMETZER A&E EDITOR
AUSTIN DAVIDSON A&E CONTRIBUTOR
Trinity’s annual Welcome Week concert is one of the largest events put on by the university. With performances from high-profile musicians, this event signals the kickoff not only to the academic year, but to the social year, as well. Older students reconnect with their friends at this concert after spending a summer apart; first-years create some of their first new friendships, bonding over their enjoyment — or maybe lack thereof — of the year’s headliner. This August, there was a sense about campus that this year’s concert would be
different from those of the past. With mysterious Norwegian DJ Cashmere Cat as this year’s musical talent, we at the Arts and Entertainment section were anticipating an event as unique and cutting edge as the headliner himself. Instead, the concert proved to be different in an entirely different way — it did not happen at all. On Aug. 25, the Trinity student body was informed of the cancellation of Trinity’s annual Welcome Week concert in anticipation of Hurricane Harvey. Though Houston and many surrounding areas of southeast Texas have been ravaged by the tropical storm, Trinity — as well as the rest of San Antonio — has thankfully weathered the event relatively unscathed, aside from some harsh winds and minor flooding. With San Antonio no longer in range of the tropical storm, the sudden cancellation of the Welcome Week concert has left several questions in its wake. In order to find out the exact details of the event’s sudden change, A&E contributor Austin Davidson conducted an interview with Shannon Edmond, of Trinity’s Student Involvement department. AD: So here’s the question: is the event going to be rescheduled? SE: Yes. [There’s] not a specific date as of now, [but] hopefully before the end of the first semester, and hopefully before Thanksgiving. Due to both the busy
illustration by YESSENIA LOPEZ
schedules of the university and the artist, the date at this time isn’t available. AD: Have we already paid him? SE: No, he didn’t even fly into Texas. He was supposed to fly out to Houston but couldn’t due to Harvey. We are still in contact with him and his agent. AD: Where does the money go if all of these plans fall through?
SE: It will go back into the budget to then be used for other events. Despite the turmoil caused by tropical storm Harvey, it seems as though Student Involvement has not given up on providing Trinity’s students with a bigbudget, high-profile event. This is one Trinity tradition that will weather the storm, albeit a bit delayed.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Photography exhibition highlights artists of Mexico ABIGAIL WHARTON A&E CONTRIBUTOR
The early 1920s saw a drastic change in the way the world perceived photographs. The transition from commercial product to work of art was nurtured by many famous names, but the San Antonio Museum of Art’s (SAMA) exhibition entitled “Intercambios” analyzes the exchange of ideas facilitated by Edward Weston, Tina Modotti and several Mexico-based artists. The Mexican Revolution and the establishment of a democratic government encouraged a new and unified Mexican identity, one that sought modernity while recognizing and reconciling the diversity of Mexican indigenous traditions. At the same time, the American art world was experiencing the beginnings of the photosecessionist movement. Photographers were departing from realism and exploring their own interpretations of a given subject matter. ‘Intercambio’ is the Spanish word for ‘exchange.’ In the 1920s, Mexico established an active Ministry of Public Education, which commissioned political and socially relevant murals in many public spaces. This open discourse became a platform for familiar faces in the Mexican muralist and social realism movements: Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera, Anita Brenner and Jean Charlot, to name a few. Californian artists Edward Weston and Tina Modotti brought photo-secessionist ideas with them to Mexico City in 1923, and took part in the rich exchange of politics, art and social movements. Before long, Mexican artists were helping build photography into the robust art form it is today. “Intercambios” lines the walls of the SAMA’s Golden Gallery, next to the
contemporary art rooms, on the second floor. All of the pieces currently belong to the permanent collection. While work by Weston and Modotti can be seen at the beginning of the exhibition, a majority of the photographs are by Manuel Alvarez Bravo and Manuel Carrillo, and all of the subject matter deals with Mexican life or tradition. Bravo’s work shows a great deal of photo-secessionist influence. Like Weston, his compositions make monuments of the commonplace. Familiar objects are enlarged or framed in a way that approaches complete abstraction. A wrench romanticized in this style ceases to be a wrench and is transformed into something softer. Bravo titled the image “Instrumental.” A woman shrouded in darkness with most of her features obscured becomes “A Portrait of the Eternal.” Carrillo is fond of playing with geometry. His subjects are often split diagonally or viewed through odd angles, as if the viewer were directly above or below the composition. Two of the images are from a series in which Carrillo focused on mothers and children. Through also approaching abstraction, these pieces capture quiet and tender moments of domesticity in a way that is altogether unique. Also worth noting are the photographs of murals, people, home goods and landscapes. The pictures are soft and uncluttered and allow the viewer into a moment of Mexican life. Tina Modotti captured a now-famous portrait of Anita Brenner, a scholar and intellectual who wrote extensively on the culture and history of Mexico. This exhibition captures the essence of an entire decade of art and societal change. Just across the hall, SAMA’s permanent modern and contemporary Mexican art is displayed, where one can view work by more artists living and working during the time, including Rivera and Charlot.
KATIE SIBLEY, junior, appreciates the modernist photography exhibit at SAMA. photo by AMANI CANADA
Under scrutiny, modernist photography can appear nonsensical, but the departure from strict photojournalistic compositions established photography as a true art form rather than a commercial tool. Though small, this exhibition is informative and necessary. Modern art and artists are often discussed within the context of the social
upheavals of World Wars I and II, creating a Eurocentric and sometimes mindlessly white-washed timeline of art history. “Intercambios” reminds the viewer of the contributions of Mexican artists to modern art, as they saw their own intensely political and socially tumultuous cultural changes.
The Barbaloots take Trinity’s rock talent on Cal. tour cont. from PAGE 1
DOMINIC WALSH, left, and JOHN MORGAN, right, relax between performances. photo by KATHLEEN CREEDON
During his junior year of high school, he also began drumming for a band named 16Pysche. Morgan spent his high school years playing bass, guitar, piano and singing for two bands: March of the Mind and Sioux & Fox. The two did not know each other personally until their bands played a show together, and from there they managed to keep in touch. “We both didn’t have shoes on and had our toe nails painted,” said Morgan. That’s when they knew it was meant to be. But Morgan went off to college at Trinity, joined Sioux & Fox and recorded an EP with them. During his sophomore year, he went on an independent path and began working on a solo project using his Thomas dorm room as a studio. “It was during quiet hours, so people always got mad at him,” Walsh said. The name of Morgan’s EP was, fittingly, “Quiet Hours.” He then created a second solo EP his junior year, titled “McLean”, which he recorded in his McLean dorm room. It was during his junior year that Morgan started the Barbaloots. Walsh did not join the band until after a few friendly jam sessions. “The summer after my senior year of high school … my friend Sean asked me if I’d be interested in playing drums for [the Barbaloots],” Walsh said. Now, they have have a single called “Started” that can be found on their
Facebook page, which has over 200 likes, as well as on Bandcamp. They do not have any upcoming concerts in San Antonio, but they’ve already booked a week-long California tour in November, where they will play several venues with another San Antoniobased band called Elnuh, for which Dominic also plays the drums. In the future, they hope to sign with a record label, but as of now they are focused expanding their fan base. They hope the release of a new EP, named “Chill The F#ck Out” in honor of the band’s favorite phrase, will help. They’ve been recording at the home studio of Daniel Puente, a former bandmate of Morgan’s, who helps them mix and produce their music. Fortunately for them, the independent music community is growing in San Antonio, so there is hope for the Barbaloots to become better known. “When I first joined it, people told me it was starting to grow,” Walsh said. Yet as the scene grows, Morgan is getting ready to graduate, while Walsh still has two years of college ahead of him. The band plans to still jam. “I’m not going to stop making music,” Morgan said. So, Trinity students, go on Facebook and like their page to show some support and keep up with their work. Be sure to listen to “Started” and look out for the upcoming EP on their Bandcamp profile as well.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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World Heritage Festival memorializes SA missions United Nations remembers San Antonio’s rich and varied history ABIGAIL WHARTON A&E CONTRIBUTOR
Starting on Sept. 6, the city will be buzzing with the annual World Heritage Festival, a week of programming designed to celebrate the San Antonio Missions and raise funds for the nonprofits that preserve the historical sites. San Antonio has four Spanish missions that have, with the Alamo, been named World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Organization for Education, Science, and Culture (UNESCO). All of the structures date back to the 18th century, and were built by Spanish settlers seeking to educate and convert Native American tribes. The Alamo was famously used during the Texas Revolution by the Second Flying Company of San Carlos de Parras and then by a Texian army during the Battle of the Alamo. Though monuments to bloodshed and colonialism, these structures are inextricably linked to San Antonio and Texas history. Mission San José, the largest site, is often referred to as the ‘queen’ of San Antonio’s
missions. The building was completed in 1782 by Coahuiltecan workers and Spanish designers using Texas limestone. It’s estimated that the mission housed and fed up to 300 occupants at a time. San José is home to the Rose Window, a famous and well-preserved example of Spanish Colonial ornamentation. Mission Concepción is one of the oldest unrestored stone churches in the United States. There isn’t much left of the vibrant exterior paint, but on the inside of the mission visitors can still see frescos that were brought to life roughly 250 years ago. Mission San Juan Capistrano has a bell tower and a chapel that are still in use today. The mission is close to the river and sits on fertile land that once allowed for a completely self-sustaining community. There is a Romanesque archway on the site denoting the location of a half-completed church space that was abandoned in the late 1700s when the population of the mission began to decline. Mission Espada is the southernmost structure in the city and maintains an irrigation system, an aqueduct and a dam. Espada was almost lost to a fire in the 1820s, but maintains an architecturally unusual, but unique set of doors and stone archways. The World Heritage Festival will be hosting dozens of events in September, including lots of free and collegestudent friendly events that discuss history through art and community celebrations. The opening reception takes place on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Plaza de Armas Gallery. Contemporary artists will be displaying work inspired
by oral history, photographs, maps and historical records. On Thursday, Sept. 7, visitors can attend a sunset picnic at Mission San Juan Capistrano. Picnic dinners and drinks need to be pre-ordered, but jazz music and hayrides are provided. The following night, Mission Concepción will be presenting “Restored By Light,” a night of light installations where one can see what the mission would have looked like with its original paintings and exterior frescos. Local music and food trucks will be there to complete the evening. In addition to the joint biking and walking event Tour de las Misiones on Saturday, Sept. 8, the Mission Park Pavilion will host local folk artists and musicians. The festival
ends with a mass at Mission Concepción on Sunday, Sept. 9. San Antonio is an old city with a long and complicated history. The missions are centuries-old relics and reminders of war, occupation and colonialism, yet they are the foundations of the thriving city we know today. Historically significant findings are still pulled from the missions today and they continue to stand as valuable educational tools for organizations like the Legacy Program at the University of Texas at San Antonio and surrounding Texas school districts. The World Heritage Festival celebrates this aspect of the missions and will provide a rich platform for artists, musicians and makers alike to share their own history with the city.
illustration by YESSENIA LOPEZ
Your best friend is waiting for you. Meet us on September 11th and 12th in the Fiesta Room to take a photo with your new bestie!
All Photo Days: 9/6 Library 7:00-9:00pm • 9/7 Library 7:00-9:00pm 9/11 Fiesta Room 10:00-2:00pm • 9/12 Fiesta Room 10:00-2:00pm
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The cinematic treasures hidden in Coates Library AUSTIN DAVIDSON A&E CONTRIBUTOR
As you walk into Trinity’s rather cozy and quaint library, you are flanked by a cafe and a help desk, but just to the right lays a treasure: a stand filled with endless possibilities and wonder. This past week, the legendary display has “La La Land” and “Moonlight,” two films that, if you haven’t watched them, should take priority over sleep, food and health. They are fantastic cinematic experiences and unforgettable in every possible way. “La La Land” is Damien Chazelle’s latest masterpiece. His first major film, “Whiplash,” was a huge hit — with a spectacular soundtrack and an Oscarwinning performance from J. K. Simmons, it cemented his place in the eyes of all major studios to lead their next Oscarcontending film, and he delivered. “La La Land” follows the lives of Sebastian (played by the perfect Ryan Gosling) and Mia (played by the wonderfully talented Emma Stone) and explores what it’s like to be a dreamer in the land of entertainment. From the wonderful sets, to its dance numbers and the best original soundtrack I have heard in my life, it’s one of the best movies in the 21st century. While I understand many people will disagree with such a sweeping statement, all I ask is for them to just watch it one time and then they too will be swept away in its old-time Hollywood magic. This was also one of the most-awarded films in recent history, competing with “Titanic” and ‘“Lord of the Rings:
illustration by YESSENIA LOPEZ
Return of the King” for most awarded; it did exceptionally at the Oscars, but it lost out in farcical fashion to an incrementally better film, “Moonlight.” Few films could have beaten “La La Land” for Best Picture, but “Moonlight” was just a bit better. “Moonlight” captured an emotion, a feeling that I have never witnessed on a screen. It held you close and pushed you to look inward and bring back feelings and memories from times in life that should be forgotten. I have seen my father cry while watching three films: “Saving Private Ryan,” “Up” and “Moonlight.” The entire theater I was in quietly sobbed as they watched shot after beautiful shot expose the complicated and sad life of a gay black teen in Miami. I watched, entranced,
as the main character grew up in a world filled with hatred and bigotry. While I want to go on, I hope this is enough to make you watch this film yourself. Both of these movies are in the library, for free. Movies that capture an experience unlike anything I have seen in my short life. Movies that are well worth the time they ask for and are worthy breaks from the constant barrage of work college students face. Another great piece of entertainment the library has is the “True Detective” series. I saw it on that shelf all of last year, and yesterday when I asked the help desk they told me it was currently checked out, and for good reason. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey
star as detectives who have to investigate ritualistic murders that continue to happen in the strange world of southern Louisiana. It’s beautiful, evil and unique, and one of the few shows on TV that I know that has made people contemplate if there is good in this world. A masterpiece from start to finish, it is the perfect escape. College can be oppressive at times. It robs you of time, sleep and money — all while asking you to turn in an assignment the next day. But college also is filled with new friendships, knowledge to be found and libraries that give you access to amazing free movies. As long as it has those three things, anyone can survive it.
Meet the Press
Find out what the editors of the Trinitonian have to say about anything and everything.
est b e is th r art t a Wh eum o been mus you’ve ibit to? h x e “Escher in Het Paleis, at The Hague in The Netherlands.” KATHLEEN CREEDON NEWS EDITOR
“A José de Almada Negreiros exhibit, in Lisbon.” GRACE FRYE DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL PRESENCE
“In recent memory, the Aboriginal exhibit in the SAMA this past spring.” AMANI CANADA PHOTO EDITOR
“There was an Impressionist gallery in Dallas. I saw a Monet and a Manet.” NICK SMETZER ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
“The Cy Twombly Gallery at the Menil in Houston. It was humbling.” EVAN CHAMBLESS COPY EDITOR
Have a burning question for the editors? Tweet it to us @Trinitonian
Sports
Men’s soccer chases 20th SCAC championship Just one away: Coach Paul McGinlay guides the men’s team towards another successful season
Cartee has helped coach the Tigers to five SCAC championships and five NCAA playoff appearances. “Coach McGinlay called me in the summer of 2012 and I leaped at the opportunity,” Cartee said. “It is a tremendous honor to coach at my alma mater.”
“Coach McGinlay has built this program from the ground up.” EDWARD CARTEE ASSISTANT COACH
The men’s soccer team prepares for their upcoming game this Friday on Paul McGinlay Soccer Field at 7:30 p.m. photo by ALLISON WOLFF
HAILEY WILSON
SPORTS REPORTER From the outside, many varsity teams at Trinity look the same. Winning histories and coaches with tenure make up a large portion of our athletic programs. Back-to-back conference championships are common, as are offensive and defensive player-of-the-year awards. One team, however, stands above the rest. Trinity men’s soccer has been nothing short of dominant since the hire of head coach Paul McGinlay 26 years ago, in 1991. McGinlay is one of the best active soccer coaches in the nation; his teams have won the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) 19 times, including the past 15 years consecutively. With an all-time record of 215-13-8, McGinlay is one of the all-time top-five soccer coaches in the NCAA in terms of winning percentages. It is no surprise that McGinlay has also been honored as the SCAC Coach of the Year 14 times.
Year after year, McGinlay and his program dominate in not only the SCAC, but also in the national tournament. The men’s soccer team has competed in the NCAA Division III National Championship 20 times in the last 21 years. McGinlay has also coached 31 All-Americans during his tenure, as well as several players who have gone on to play professional soccer. How does McGinlay do it? What makes his teams so successful? For some, it’s really simple. “Coach McGinlay has built this program from the ground up and he is the primary reason why Trinity is one of the premier men’s soccer programs in the country,” said Edward Cartee, men’s soccer assistant coach. Cartee, a former Tiger soccer standout, graduated from Trinity in 2009. Recruiting is another reason why the Tigers are so successful. Cartee praises the team’s defensive unit and midfield, along with phenomenal team leadership. “Every year our team always features an impressive array of talent,” Cartee said.
For his sixth season assistant coaching, Cartee is focused on winning not only the SCAC, but the national championship. “We have outstanding leadership, and I’m excited about our team’s chemistry … I’m looking forward to seeing our team accomplish great things this season,” Cartee said. While winning another SCAC championship is a goal, senior defender Daylon Gordon has his eyes set on something bigger. “We are always looking to defend the SCAC title, but the ultimate goal is always a national championship,” Gordon said. “I believe we always have the talent to get there every year and I do not think that changes this year.” The Tigers return seven starters from last year’s squad and are predicted to win the SCAC again this year. Despite their strong core, Gordon believes the first-year class will be key this season. “When you combine their useful enthusiasm with the experience from the upperclassmen, I believe that makes for a very good team capable of bringing home a national championship,” Gordon said. Gordon also stresses the importance of having a common goal and high standard for the team. “By setting our standards high, everyone must work hard and support one another to reach those lofty goals,” Gordon said. Gordon emphasizes the role of student support during the team’s quest for a national championship. “A big part of our success is due to the support we get from our family, friends and fans who constantly motivate us every game,” Gordon said. The team will face the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor on Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at Paul McGinlay Soccer Field.
Hester’s Laughletics: finding the humor in broken humeri Former and current athletes tell some of their funniest sports stories, some more painful than others you’ve probably done something stupid or had something silly happen. Lots of our fellow Trinity students have also had mishaps happen in sports and have done stupid things in games.
“I tackled myself in a football game.” BLAKE FRAMPTON SENIOR COMMUNICATION MAJOR
Illustration by ANDREA NEBHUT
ELISE HESTER
SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR In the third grade, I got hit in the face with a basketball that had rolled into some poison ivy earlier and had poison ivy all over my face for several weeks. In the ninth grade, wearing a big, sweaty lion mascot suit during a midday
six-man football game, I tripped over a little girl and my head fell off. Turns out I’m not alone. As a high school senior, a teammate of mine got hit in the balls during a soccer game, and then later in the same game got hit in the balls again, and then again — three times in one game. We all make mistakes. Chances are, if you’ve ever played a sport,
“There was this one girl I didn’t like on my softball team when I was in middle school. In practice, she was about to catch a pop-up and I was like ‘Hey, (her name)!’ and she looked over and the ball hit her in the nose. Her nose started bleeding and I started laughing and she had to go to the hospital. I felt really bad later, though,” said Emily Reck, sophomore communication major. “I wore the wrong shoes for tennis and I slipped during a match,” said Katie Warford, sophomore art major.
“I was 10 and playing soccer. My friend was the goalie. She punched the ball and it went into our goal,” said Erin Crooks, junior communication major. “I got hit in the face with a basketball and it broke my glasses. I wasn’t even playing. I was watching,” said Joyce Palmer, junior urban studies major. “I tackled myself in a football game,” said Blake Frampton, senior communication major. “I broke my wrist in a basketball game. Well, in a scrimmage, on the way back to the bench. I tripped over a piece of tape and broke my wrist,” said Morgan Block, junior geoscience major. “One time at a championship meet, I peed in the warm-up pool. It had taken me like 30 minutes to get my race suit on so I wasn’t about to take it off to pee! So I peed in the corner of the warm-up pool, and when I got out, I heard a couple of girls giggling ‘Did you do it over there?’ I came up to them and said ‘Did y’all just pee in the pool too?’ And they said ‘What? No. That’s disgusting!’” said Hannah Larson, junior accounting major. Like what you saw? Stay tuned for more of “Hester’s Laughletics” in the near future.
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SPORTS
More pep to our step: What’s up with the one-time pep rallies? Column: Athletes perform better when fans cheer them on in the stands, so let’s support our Tigers this year HAILEY WILSON
SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
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Many of Trinity’s traditions are celebrated as a first-year during New Student Orientation (NSO). Between the Tower Climb, Convocation Ceremony and signing of the Honor Code, Trinity encourages first-years to get acclimated to campus during the orientation process. Many first-years say their favorite NSO event happens on the first Saturday of orientation. During this year’s NSO, Trinity hosted their third annual Tiger Rally for the class of 2021. Members of the Orientation Team (O-Team), Residential Life, Stand Band, Student Involvement and athletic teams all rally together to get new students excited about our athletic programs. This year, the students had the opportunity to learn the fight song, meet the captains of the fall sports teams and watch the men’s soccer team hold an inter-squad scrimmage. Esther Kim, assistant director for orientation programs and Student Involvement, explained what Trinity’s pep rallies are for. “We have these to showcase our athletes and all of their successes from being a student athlete,” Kim said. Kim played a huge part in planning the NSO pep rally, which involves a ton of communication and coordination with O-Team, student involvement and athletics. “We had foam paws, noisemakers, Trinity tattoos with LeeRoy and the fight song,” Kim said. Members of the football team, cross country team and
Illustration by YESSENIA LOPEZ
women’s soccer team lined up to cheer and welcome the firstyears to Paul McGinlay Soccer Field before the pep rally. Hannah-Elyse Konyecsni, a junior member of O-Team, was thrilled to showcase her #TigerPride to the class of 2021. “I think the pep rally is a great example of how supportive Trinity students are to their fellow students,” Konyecsni said. “This is true of all events on campus, but sports are definitely [some] where you get to be more vocal with your excitement.”
Yet, despite all of the excitement generated by the event, this is the only pep rally held the entire year. Why is that? As an athlete, I can attest to the fact that nothing is cooler than having fans at our games. When I look up into the stands and see my best friends and classmates cheering me on, it’s an absolute game changer. “It’s a psychological thing,” said Justin Ventura, junior quarterback. “If you see a lot of people there cheering you on you feel a sense to play better.” More pep rallies could lead to higher game attendance, more school spirit and even better athletic performance by our teams. According to the NCAA website, fan attendance causes athletes to experience ‘physiological arousal,’ or a feeling of being fired up. This, in turn, increases athletic performance. Trinity is working on incorporating more of these pep rallies into the school year, but it’s going to take a few years to make this change. “That’s what we strive to do in three to five years,” Kim said. Student Involvement hopes to plan these events for all of the athletic teams, no matter the season. “Trinity is a community and we want to make sure that each individual feels welcome and feels a sense of camaraderie within the student population and faculty and staff,” Kim said. Whether you’re a die-hard sports fan or not, make an effort to go support your fellow Tigers this year. All of the athletic schedules are on Trinity’s online calendar. You may not realize it, but you could change the game. It’s all in your hands.
Four-year letterman leads team on and off field
Coaches applaud the two-time All-Conference player for his dedication and energy he brings to the team JESS JENNINGS
SPORTS REPORTER There’s no doubt that Trinity’s football team works hard as a unit every day, but some of them deserve an individual spotlight every now and then. Head coach Jerheme Urban says Mitchell Globe, senior linebacker, has been an exemplar of the Tiger football team over the past three years. Globe has been playing and excelling at the linebacker position since well before his time at Trinity. “I’ve been playing at linebacker really all throughout my life. I tried to play tackle football as soon as I could. I think that was about fourth grade,” Globe said. Globe was recruited for Trinity football by assistant coach Jim Dawson. Though originally from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Globe has lived in San Antonio since he was fourteen, and played high school football at Tom C. Clark High School. “Coach Dawson reached out to me and, the more I found out about [Trinity], the more I realized it was a great fit,” Globe said. Globe marveled over his first year at Trinity and the influence he felt from his older teammates. “It’s great. As a first-year, you get to look up to all these older guys,” Globe said. However, Urban recalls that, even as a first-year, Globe stood out and above his teammates in terms of energy and intensity. “From the first day Mitch walked on campus as a first-year, he has brought an intensity and practice tempo second to none,” Urban said. By his sophomore year, Mitch was hitting the field as a starter and showing a level of independence and intrapersonal competition befitting a leader. “His greatest achievement was stepping into a starting role as a sophomore and playing to his potential rather than comparing himself to the upperclassmen around him and the linebackers that came before him,” said Brant McAdams, assistant coach and defensive coordinator. The leadership qualities that Globe possessed early on have manifested in his position on the team now as a senior and role model to the younger players. Though he embraces this status, he made sure to
MITCHELL GLOBE has excelled on the Trinity football team during his four years here. photo by QUINN BENDER
emphasize the camaraderie he feels foremost with all of his teammates. “As a senior, I’m taking on more of a leadership role, and that’s cool because you get to be friends with these guys but, at the same time, you get to help them out and show them the ropes. They’re smart guys. They pick it up quick,” Globe said. McAdams also commented on Globe’s growth as a leader and the developing ways in which he has demonstrated it on the field. “His leadership has improved over his career from being the lead by example to developing into the motivational and accountability leader,” McAdams said. Globe’s presence on the field is not limited to his capacity as a leader. Rather, his coaches expressed that his qualities are even more
overwhelming at his field position. “He plays with a true, reckless abandonment between the white lines and is constantly trying to improve his craft. His physicality and intensity are definitely two of his calling cards,” Urban said. “Mitch is a very physical football player and he plays every play with maximum effort, which sets the tone every day for the guys on defense. He is a walking example of bringing your best to every class, meeting and practice,” McAdams said. The coaches summed up Globe’s athletic aggression and skills eloquently; his own words are more succinct. “I like to hit people,” Globe said. Globe’s energy and execution have been sources of motivation for others involved
in the program over the years. Globe’s competitive spirit and the influence it has over his fellow teammates takes being a ‘team player’ to a higher level. “I believe that many players and coaches have fed off of Mitch’s enthusiasm over the last three years. He is always a team-first player and strives to lead by example. We can count on Mitch to bring energy every single day,” Urban said. McAdams commented that Globe’s enthusiasm and athletic ability fosters a similar sense of determination in the players who surround him on the field. “On the football field, you only have one choice to respond to Mitch’s influence: Bring your best effort and intensity. If you don’t, it becomes obvious quickly that you won’t outplay him,” McAdams said. Globe commented continuously on his appreciation for the environment that the coaching staff has created for the team. He expressed additional gratitude to the kind of collegiate experience that Trinity has offered him as a player. “It’s a great type of team Coach Urb runs. It’s very character-focused. He wants to make each man on the team a better man and he does that with love,” Globe said. “It’s a great atmosphere to be a part of. It’s fun every day. We’ve got an ex-NFL stud coaching, we’ve got coach [Mike] Clark who was the top strength and conditioning expert around the whole national league [plus] a staff with tons of experience and knowledge. It’s top of the line.” At the beginning of his senior year, Globe has already made some impressive strides as a Trinity football player, and all signs point to another great year for him as a Tiger. “Some of Mitch’s achievements will be a four-year letterman and three-year starter. He has been recognized as an All-Conference player the last two seasons and will look to do the same this fall as we enter into the SAA,” Urban said. Globe wishes to recognize and thank his dad, family, brothers on the team and the entire coaching staff. He also expressed gratitude to coach Urban for the recommendation. You’ll have to wait until Sept. 23, 7:30 p.m. to catch him on the field.
SPORTS • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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Equestrian team saddles up for the fall
Campus horse riders encourage newcomers to join the little-known club team this semester
The Trinity University Equestrian Team consists of eight women who compete during the year, and they are always looking for new members. Contact them via their Facebook page or email a member. photo provided by SIMONE GARCIA
JESS JENNINGS
SPORTS REPORTER Trinity’s best-kept secret is larger than you think. Few people on campus are aware of the presence of the Trinity University Equestrian Team, but it’s time that everyone saddled up and learned a little about it. The club reaches out to new students at the student involvement fairs in the beginning of each semester, but membership remains relatively small. “Many people aren’t aware we have a team, and once they find out that we have a team they’re like ‘Oh, that’s something I’d be interested in.’ We have a booth at [student involvement] fairs, which is where we do a lot of our recruiting,” said Chelsea Runacres, who has been the president of the equestrian club since her second semester as a first-year. The team meets and trains at the Hill Country Riding Academy, owned by coach Stephanie Cook. Members are not required to have their own horses. “Our coach has a personal barn and property in [Bulverde]. She competed and rode for West Point in college. She has lots of private clients and her own horses, totaling about twenty. We have lessons with her as a team,” Runacres said. The time commitment for the team is individually flexible and fairly lax, though it is recommended that competitors train at least once a week. “The schedule works throughout the week however it fits with your schedule. It requires as much dedication as you have time to give it,” Runacres said. Vice president Erin McGee confirmed that the equestrian experience is what you make of it. “One of my favorite things about the team is that it’s not a huge time commitment,” McGee said. “We ride once or twice a week and only have three horse shows a year, so only three weekends are used for showing. Honestly you
can put as much time into the team as you want. You definitely get out what you put in, and our coach understands that school comes first.” Cook is one of 19 certified horse riding trainers in Texas; she instructs equestrian team members and trains them at her Bulverde riding school. “We offer lessons for all students here at Hill Country Riding Academy, consisting of 30 minutes of cleanup, untacking and grooming the horse. All told, the students will spend at least two hours here at the barn each time they ride. We also have team building functions on Sundays, which could be bareback lessons, switching horses, etc.,” Cook said.
“It’s fun and a little nervewracking; you have to kind of ‘cowgirl’ it up.” CHELSEA RUNACRES PRESIDENT OF EQUESTRIAN TEAM
Though some of the members entered the club with prior riding experience, Runacres assures those who are interested but lack previous involvement in equestrian activities that they should not be intimidated and are encouraged to seek more information on joining the team. “Our size means we don’t do cuts really, so you can come in with no experience. We represent Trinity in the entire division at all levels,” Runacres said. The team competes under the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The club faces teams competing for regional universities like Louisiana State University, Texas State University, University of Texas at Austin
and Rice University. The division offers competition for all levels of experience. “The IHSA has two purposes. One is to allow students who already know how to ride to continue riding throughout their college years — ensuring they will keep their skills current and stay active in equestrian activities after graduating,” Cook said. “The second purpose is to introduce riding as a ‘life’ sport to those who have never had the opportunity to be around horses before. Sometimes as much as 50 percent of the TU Equestrian Team is comprised of beginning riders. We are able to safely introduce the riding experience to students at a reduced rate, all while they are contributing members of a team.” Runacres and McGee commented on the benefits they’ve felt over the years from joining the club. Runacres’ involvement in the team has reached areas of her life including confidence and personal growth. “It’s fun and a little nerve-wracking; you have to kind of ‘cowgirl’ it up. Don’t let nerves get best of you,” Runacres said. “Practice and practice and say ‘Hey, I’m gonna make this work.’ [It’s] all this confidence of, ‘I can make this giant animal do what I ask it.’ Especially first-years who are going through big changes in life — it’s a great tool to have for confidence, professionally, in the classroom and all that. I’ve seen that kind of progression and personal growth. The team has meant a great deal to McGee. “Being on the team has helped me to meet people that I probably wouldn’t have met otherwise. My freshman year, I didn’t know anybody at Trinity, but joining the team helped me to quickly meet people and see friendly faces on campus. I also feel like I’m more a part of the Trinity community since I’m able to ride and compete for the school. I love that I can represent Trinity,” McGee said. Though equestrian sport typically lies on the more expensive side of the athletic
spectrum, the equestrian team is united in its effort to make participating and competing more affordable for the average Trinity student.
“If you’re thinking
about joining, do it.” ERIN MCGEE VICE-PRESIDENT OF EQUESTRIAN TEAM
“It’s a way to make a sport that is normally more financially demanding more accessible to college students. You need only your own personal gear or clothes to compete on the team. We pay our coach a very discounted student rate for lessons,” Runacres said. “We also fundraise to pay for travel, and Trinity provides entry fees and membership fees for the NCAA division. I know that I and some other members couldn’t be a college student without the club, so we add it into our budget, but we try to do convenient payment plans and fundraising and often have donated clothes and gears.” Cook encourages all students to seek more information on the club and contact the members either by email or the Trinity University Equestrian Team social media. “Please come on out and try us out. We have lots of amazing horses, ponies and miniature horses who would love to meet you,” Cook said. McGee also expressed her hopes that more students might try to get involved this year. “Right now we have eight girls on the team, but we’re hoping to expand this year. We’re a small team, but we really get to know each other and we really have a lot of fun at the shows,” McGee said. “If you’re thinking about joining, do it.”
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • SEPTEMBER 01, 2017 •
SPORTS
Trinity hosts variety of summer sports camps
Tennis and soccer help serve community and recruit athletes
Nike collaborated with the Trinity tennis team to host youth camps this past summer. photo by ALLISON WOLFF
ELISE HESTER
SPORTS REPORTER During the summer, the action at Trinity did not stop, as the beautiful campus became home to several summer sports camps. Both the Trinity soccer and tennis programs hosted a variety of camps for children, students and adults. For soccer, youth camps and ID recruitment clinics served two specific purposes: to serve the community and to recruit. Meanwhile, the tennis camps served the community through programs aimed at children and adults. The two youth summer camps, which took place in June and July, serviced young soccer players from the community and taught them skills of the game while making sure they had fun. The kids who attended this day camp played indoor soccer during the lunch break, and even got to go swimming. “We have an excellent program based around teaching technical skills, fundamental tactical principals, playing a lot of fun, competitive games each day,” said Edward Cartee, assistant men’s soccer coach. “You get to work with some really talented players who have some really bright futures in the game.” The ID clinic, which this year was the first weekend of August, is organized for elite-level high school soccer players. “The purpose of those camps isn’t as much skill instruction as it is evaluation and identification of prospects,” Cartee said. “You’re working with high-level players and selecting those you think could contribute to your squad in the future.” High school soccer players who attend the clinic are interested in playing either at Trinity or at one of the other universities represented at the clinic, including the University of the Incarnate Word, St. Mary’s University and the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley. Division III coaches from all over the nation show up for three days full of intense soccer. Patrick Cunneff, first-year soccer player from Houston, was first noticed at the summer ID clinic. “They didn’t realize until last year that a lot of the kids that they actually do get, they first see at the camps they have here,” Cunneff said. There were 14 states represented at the August ID clinic, from places like Arizona, New Mexico, California, Florida and Maryland. “We’re primarily drawing in-state people, but not exclusively,” Cartee said. The camp also allowed high school players
to learn from experts in their respective fields. Members of the San Antonio FC coaching staff, including head coach Darren Powell and goalkeeper coach Diego Restrepo helped instruct the kids. “[Students] were able to get a lot of exposure not only to the college environment at the camp, but also the professional environment that we are fortunate enough to have here in town,” Cartee said. “The thing about the camp I attended it was definitely challenging, but a lot of fun,” Cunneff said. Meanwhile, summer tennis camps served different purposes. Like soccer, tennis also offers camps for younger players. The kids’ camps were week-long day camps that ran from 8 a.m. to 11a.m. and featured drills to teach the youngest players. “We had three kids this past camp who had never touched a racket before, so we had to teach them how to play,” said Jacob Carrillo, assistant women’s tennis coach. “Kids who knew more, we just wanted to get them more match play and fixed what needed to be fixed.” The tennis camps are sponsored by Nike. This year was Trinity University’s first year running Nike tennis camps. Carrillo explained that Nike takes care of all the media and promotion, and also sends prizes to give the kids. “Nike’s [camps] are serious and fun and we want to make it as fun as possible. The last day is full of fun and games and we’re competing against each other,” Carrillo said. “It’s like a free-for-all.” In addition to youth camps, Trinity tennis also hosted adult camps during the summer, which were three-day weekend events. “The dynamic for the adults is a little more relaxed because you have adults out there that already know the rules and know what not to do, so it’s really more fun with them ‘cause it’s a lot more one-on-one time and they can understand things better than our kids,” Carrillo said. The camps were a great way for Trinity to reach out to the community and help children gain skills. “It’s great to see young players in our area and community discovering a greater passion for the game of soccer, the joy that they feel playing it on the field and how enthusiastic they are about going back and practicing even more,” Cartee said.