Volume 115 Issue 02
Trinitonian Serving Trinity University Since 1902
August 25, 2017
Solidarity vigil held to stand against hate Members of campus community come together to respect victims of tragedy KATHLEEN CREEDON
NEWS EDITOR On Monday, Aug. 21, the Humanities Collective offered a space for the Trinity community to gather and stand in solidarity with the victims of the Charlottesville riot, the Barcelona attack and other acts of violence. Students, faculty and staff were welcomed to the Miller Fountain to speak their minds about the recent events, to participate in respectful silence and to stand against hatred. The Humanities Collective is a group of faculty and students who act as a source for anything humanities related, both on campus and within the San Antonio community. They planned this event without hesitation to show their support for those affected both directly and indirectly by the acts of violence. “Humanities, although it is an academic area — distinguished from the sciences, connected to the arts, et cetera — nonetheless also represents a kind of value system, humanistic values. So, it seemed reasonably clear that one way we could kind of put the humanities forward is to be in support of people who have been affected badly by hate, to be against hate and in favor of sort of loving diversity in a community like Trinity’s and like San Antonio’s,” said Benjamin Stevens, visiting
A very exciting photo caption will go here. photo by PHOTOGRAPHER NAME
Students join hands in a circle to pray for the victims after the vigil, confirming the importance of coming together in times of hardship. photo by AMANI CANADA
assistant professor of classical studies and outreach coordinator for the group. The vigil was conceived when a few members of the collective were
unable to attend a similar rally in Austin due to obligations on campus. They decided that everyone who was required to be on campus during New
Student Orientation should still be able to express their sympathy. continued on PAGE 11
A reflection on Matthew Desmond’s “Evicted” Author pulls readers through the struggle of life in poverty MICAELA HOFFMAN
OPINION COLUMNIST Home does not exist for the families in “Evicted,” this year’s Reading TUgether selection. This study of the current housing crisis in the United States is an honest and heartbreaking work by Matthew Desmond. His dive in the dark waters of housing insecurity, poverty and greed is astonishingly candid. At times, I found myself hating the book; the words inside scream a truth I wish I could be deaf to, a truth that I was blind to in my time at Trinity. Desmond pulls us through the struggle of life in the shoes of those evicted in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Much like the lives of the subjects, the book transitions constantly from story to story; we visit the mobile homes and trailer parks, duplexes and inner-city apartments in disrepair;
we watch a mother struggle to shelter her children and a well-off nurse’s fall from grace into drug addiction. We cram together with families, friends or strangers into any square footage that can be afforded, any shelter that can be found. And when we finally catch a break and find that perfect place (after being turned down 89 times by various landlords) we are evicted once again. This time we will bounce in and out of a homeless shelter, while all of our belongings are repossessed as collateral by a storage company we couldn’t pay. We learn the ways of the poor with unparalleled intimacy. I could not read for more than an hour at a time. I felt sick and angry, even then. Lorraine Robles, a member of the San Antonio Housing Authority for over 12 years, helped me understand the relevance of eviction, homelessness and poverty in our city. San Antonio currently has 35,000 people on the wait-list for public housing and other forms of housing assistance. The housing crisis is more than just a story. Desmond conducted extensive research and found that 75 percent of those who qualify for housing assistance will never receive any form of help. One in four poor families spends over 70
Our Foreign Correspondent
An introduction to our abroad columnist, Soleil Gaffner, who is studying in Madrid, Spain this semester. PAGE 11 OPINION
percent of their income on rent and utilities. This creates serious material hardship, a fancy term for not being able to afford food, medical care, school supplies, work clothing — you can see the slippery slope. Eviction makes someone 15 percent more likely to be laid off and contributes heavily to student absenteeism. “Eviction can unravel the fabric of a community,” Desmond writes. The business of being a landlord and making profits off of the poor has grown, and is the primary employment for four times as many people today as it was in 1970. A landlord can evict a tenant for being a ‘nuisance,’ which is defined in terms of the number of calls made to the police in a set time period. In cases of domestic violence, many victims of abuse are stuck between the choice of calling the police for help and risking eviction. Criminal court gives everyone a right to attorney, but in civil court — where eviction cases are evaluated — there is no such law, and as a result, 90 percent of landlords have attorney representation while 90 percent of residents do not. It is up to the judgment of the landlord or property manager who is allowed to rent a house, and even though
Andrea Acevedo completes research Senior finishes virtual reality research depicting experience of life in detention centers. PAGE 15 PULSE
fair housing policies have existed to protect against discrimination based upon race and families with children, but enforcement is rare; in fact, families with children can be denied up to 70 percent of the time the search for shelter. Where are the checks and balances to this system? In “Evicted,” Desmond offers a solution: housing vouchers. Also known as ‘section 8’ housing, these are a public subsidy for rent; the tenant is required to pay only 30 percent of their income to rent and the federally funded voucher covers the rest. Currently, the federal budget for low-income housing is less that $41 billion, yet there are over $171 billion of homeowner tax benefits. The federal expense, therefore, is a difference of over four times currently benefiting those who own a home. By no means is this a perfect solution, though, for a number of reasons; besides the fact that a lot of policies would need to change in order to make this a reality, working in the private market remains a challenge for families. “[Section 8] is a whole different ball game,” Robles said. continued on PAGE 10
Intramural field dedication
Field dedicated to former Intramural director Jim Potter. PAGE 21 SPORTS
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 25, 2017
Staff
INDEX
editor-in-chief: Daniel Conrad managing editor: Alexandra Uri director of digital presence: Grace Frye business manager: Shivali Kansagra ad directors: Rebecca Derby news editor: Kathleen Creedon campus pulse editor: Emily Elliott 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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NEWS • AUGUST 25, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
Bell Center renovations nearing completion
Trinity athletic staff looks forward to the reveal of updated athletic center KAYLIE KING
NEWS REPORTER The William H. Bell Athletic Center has been undergoing various renovations since last December, including the addition of a new fitness center and the renovation of other areas of the Bell Center that needed to be updated. The university’s athletic staff is excited for students to see and to benefit from the changes that will soon be available to them. “We have several different fronts going on,” said Bob King, director of athletics. “The fitness center is a two-story cardio strength area, and on the weekend, it will have card access from the Bell Center lobby so you don’t have to go into a different entrance. That’s going to be the facility that handles most of campus-wide recreation. We think most of the campus — students, faculty and staff — will use that facility because it’s very general, and it’s got a lot of great new equipment in it.” Out of all the renovation projects, King is most excited about the new fitness center, which will be an all-glass facility measuring 8,000 square feet. “That is sort of the crown jewel,” King said. “When we started this project, we wanted to make sure that we address campus-wide fitness issues first and foremost.” Even though the athletic staff is most excited about the new fitness center, they are also looking forward to the changes being
made in the Bell Center’s existing spaces. “We took out five racquetball courts because that sport is really not very active anymore, and we made it what we’re calling the Sports Performance Center,” King said. “That is an area that has specialized strength equipment. Even though we’re going to make some hours available to everyone on campus, it’s probably not where everybody will end up being when it’s all said and done. It will really help us with our student athletes and strength conditioning, but also with injuries and rehab. Throughout the building we renovated locker room space to help with all the teams that are coming in.” The Bell Center is able to undergo changes due to $14.2 million of donated money. “We first started talking about this in 2007, so that’s 10 years later that we’re finally doing it,” said Seth Asbury, associate director of athletics for facilities and event management. “When you think of the second-floor fitness center that we used to have, and then the firstfloor weight room that we used to have — basically we’re combining those two rooms in the fitness center. We’re basically doubling the space, so now we’re going to be able to offer more pieces of equipment as well. We’re going to have 24 cardio-fitness pieces with highdefinition displays on them. You can sign into your Netflix account and watch a movie while you’re riding a bike.” There will also be a multi-purpose room in the new fitness center. Asbury believes that the multi-purpose room will alleviate some of the traffic that is currently in the Stieren Dance Studio and possibly serve as a space for new fitness classes. “When you take those two pieces, the weight room and the cardio room we had,
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Until renovations are completed, the Trinity community is asked to stay clear of construction. photo by CHLOE SONNIER
and take them over here [to the new fitness center], we’re still adding space,” said Sharon Jones Schweitzer, assistant vice president for external relations. King believes that the new fitness center is going to become a hub for the Trinity community to work out, study and hang out with friends. “We really want students to use this and to be here all the hours that we’re going to be open,” King said. The Bell Center renovations are a portion of Trinity’s new master plan. “The renovations also support initiatives within the Trinity Tomorrow strategic plan, to support a holistic experience for students which includes wellness and recreation as
well as supporting intercollegiate athletics at Trinity,” Schweitzer said. Trinity’s athletic staff are excited about the changes to the Bell Center and appreciate the patience that the community continues to show them. “We want everyone to know that we tried to build a facility for everyone to enjoy, that will feel friendly and safe,” King said. “We think we’re achieving that. That’s our goal.” Some locker room updates in the Bell Center have already been completed, along with simple changes such as new carpeting, new paint and new LED lighting. Other renovations are currently going as scheduled and should be wrapping up sometime during the 2018 spring semester.
Housing opportunities New developments in campus living offer new opportunities for students living on, near Trinity ISAIAH MITCHELL
NEWS REPORTER
Trinity’s expansions have led to new housing opportunities for newcomers and upperclassmen alike, with HOPE (Homeless Outreach Pursuing Education) Hall moving to Verna McLean Hall due to increased student interest and City Vista apartment complex opening up for upperclassmen move-ins. Melissa Flowers, director of residential life, describes HOPE Hall as an opportunity for students to help benefit their community through volunteer work. The hall focuses on experiential learning through consistent, substantial outreach to the homeless community in the surrounding area. According to a 2014 press release, former student Katie Ogawa first brainstormed the idea during an Alternative Spring Break in 2011 with fellow students Shelby Seier, Paige Patrick and Leah Wesselman, later joined by Cathy Davison and Ben Whitehead. Faculty and staff aided the students in making the service-oriented hall a reality by fall of 2012. In the 2014 press release, Ogawa said members of HOPE Hall commit to serving the homeless and to recognizing the importance of community and of all we can learn from those around us. As the only residence hall with students from all years. HOPE Hall continues to garner serious student interest for more than just its altruistic values. The hall also brings together students with similar priorities and focuses.
“The recurring volunteer opportunity fosters great relationships amongst students and also with those we serve,” said Asmara Lehrmann, junior HOPE Hall member. The close-knit community promotes intimate relationships between students. Because of this, many feel bonded with those they volunteer and live with. “I love that each of us volunteers weekly with the same group of students at the same community partner,” Lehrmann said. Many incoming and current students join Lehrmann in her interest in helping the homeless. Because of this, HOPE Hall has grown immensely from its start. In its initial days, HOPE Hall housed roughly three dozen students, who made peanut butter sandwiches for the homeless and aided the Christian Assistance Ministry in outreach efforts. Now, HOPE Hall has moved to McLean to house the service hall’s swelling numbers. “Moving to McLean allowed the hall to expand,” Flowers said. Flowers believes that good student growth was a major factor in the project’s continuing success. Retaining the close-knit atmosphere that has defined HOPE Hall since its early years while making room for more hands is one goal of the expansion. On the student side of things, Lehrmann echoed a similar concern. “I hope we are able to keep the intimate relationships that HOPE Hall was created for,” Lehrmann said. In addition to HOPE Hall’s expansion, the purchase of the City Vista has allowed for more space and opportunities for Trinity students. To meet the need for more single rooms, kitchens and common space outlined in Trinity’s Campus Master Plan, this fall semester marks the opening of Trinity’s newest housing expansion
continued on PAGE 5
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 25, 2017 •
NEWS
Corporal Larry Cox awarded new position TUPD officer is new community awareness resource officer
KAYLIE KING
NEWS REPORTER
CPL. LARRY COX engages with students. photo by ALLISON WOLFF
Larry Cox is Trinity University Police Department’s (TUPD) new community awareness resource officer, and he and other officers are excited to see what he can accomplish with his new position. The university had a community awareness resource officer in the past, but in May, Cox became the third person to hold the position. “We have had this position for a few years and are really excited that Larry has it now,” said Pete Perez, TUPD assistant chief. “We want to get the message out to the students: We’re here for you.” The community awareness resource officer works as a crime-prevention officer and with the Community Awareness and Resource Team (CART) to provide different serviceoriented programs for the university, such as student appreciation days, alcohol awareness programs and other events such as the After the Fire presentation. Perez hopes to see Cox further CART. by promoting the police department at New Student Orientation, hosting parent breakout sessions and possibly serving as an instructor for Rape Aggression Defense (RAD), a self-defense class offered at the university. Clint Ratliff, special events and training coordinator for TUPD, looks over TUPD’s
special projects, which Cox’s position falls under. Ratliff believes that Cox is extremely qualified for the position of community awareness resource officer. “Larry has a lot of experience,” Ratliff said. “He comes from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi. He was a police sergeant there. He’s been here just over two years so he’s had time to get to know the campus. He’s participated in CART programs under someone else’s guidance and when the position came open he applied for it, interviewed, and we felt he was the most qualified to get the position. He’s driven, he’s really personable with the community when he goes out there. He’s a really valid candidate for this, and I see a lot of good things coming from that area.” Cox explained his position as being the liaison between TUPD and the rest of Trinity’s campus community. “I would like to try to engage with the students more, with education on alcohol awareness, theft awareness,” Cox said. “Internet fraud is a big thing; I think more specifically I want to try to touch on that because with our day and age now, computer crime has just risen tremendously. We’ve got first-years that have arrived, they’re kind of
new to the experience, they’re away from home, so we just want to make sure that they’re taken care of.” Many of the events that the CART team is responsible for are very important to TUPD because they get to show students another side of the department. “We have events planned throughout the semester,” Cox said. “National Night Out is coming in October, which is a big one. We really like to engage with the community during that time just to show them that we’re not all about business, but we also are human and we like engaging with the campus as well.” Cox also expressed his excitement about working for TUPD and as the new community awareness resource officer. “Trinity is a great place to work for,” Cox said. “I’m so fortunate to be here. Our students and staff are phenomenal. There are challenges — you get to see new faces every so many years because they all graduate. So the challenge is to try to reconnect with the new people coming on and build that relationship.” Cox will be present at many of TUPD’s upcoming community engagement events. TUPD can be reached at (210) 999-7070.
“The Trinity Tomorrow strategic plan called for Trinity to do a comprehensive facilities plan, which is a pretty common practice among institutions, but Trinity previously didn’t have a big master plan. O’Neil Ford had sketched in some ideas, but not like how we think of a master plan now,” Graves said. Yet, Ford’s architecture is the very reason the Master Plan Committee has received quite a lot of backlash from students. Conflict over a proposed main entrance on Hildebrand Avenue and a north-south corridor along campus culminated in 84 students signing an open letter to the administration voicing their concerns.
New executive chef and dining options add to on-campus dining
of Houston after that university terminated its contract with the food service supplier in spring 2017. Robles played a large role in the hiring of Gorman. “He has many great qualifications, like ProChef III Certification and is a Certified Executive Chef, but the most amazing qualification is his drive to provide great food. During the summer the chef and the entire dining team made a commitment to produce amazing food experiences by sourcing local ingredients (as much as possible), developing more scratch-recipe-style cooking and focusing on fresh and delicious meals,” Robles wrote.
Master Plan in motion Changes in dining services Committee in charge of changes responds to student backlash
CATHY TERRACE
NEWS REPORTER
In the spring semester of 2017, the university issued a news release regarding its pursuit of a National Historic Designation. This announcement came alongside the completion of the Campus Master Plan, which aims to further develop Trinity’s campus in the upcoming years. “The Master Plan just informs some of your next steps. Rather than looking at facilities on an individual basis, it looks at the entire campus and what your strategy is for improvement over decades,” said Gordon Bohmfalk, director of campus planning and sustainability. Trinity’s plan includes several drastic changes to how the campus will be organized and navigated. With architecture originally designed by O’Neil Ford, renovations aim to make Trinity more accessible by changing several core features of his work. “It’s not a building plan, but it does make some recommendations for facilities and how you would handle pedestrian traffic and navigation, as well as design guidelines so that if there is construction, it’s done in keeping with the architectural voice and historic legacy of the campus,” said Sharon Schweitzer, assistant vice president for external relations. One of these changes includes the construction of a main entrance off of Hildebrand Avenue. Newcomers to Trinity often have a hard time knowing where to go; just two years ago, the administration sent out a survey to students and alumni asking them where Trinity’s entrance was. When results came back with no consensus, it became apparent that the campus needed some change. “The needs and circumstances had changed to the point where we needed to consider doing some sort of a clear entry for people visiting from the Hildebrand side” said Diane Graves, assistant vice president for academic affairs and university librarian. “It was the logical place to do that because that’s where people will come in from.” When Trinity was originally built, US-281, a highway which runs alongside campus, had not been constructed yet. Its addition has made it necessary for the master plan to be developed.
“O’Neil Ford had sketched in some ideas, but not like how we think of a master plan now.” DIANE GRAVES ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS
“The Living/Learning Corridor directly deviates from the east-west orientation of both the original campus design and the geology of the site. Ford’s plan for Trinity embodies the meandering nature of a liberal arts education and the idea that students create their own path. There is no singular route to completing our liberal arts education, as there is no singular route to or from any campus building. That’s the joy of moving through Trinity’s campus,” students wrote in the open letter. The administration has responded by both reaching out to students and continuing to address the necessity of campus revisions. “The president has sent a personal email to the students who signed that letter, and now, as many of the 84 who signed it have graduated, and so we’re in the process of sending out a letter to them as alumnus. He expressed how thankful he is that the students have such interest in the care and future development of the campus,” Schweitzer said, adding that Anderson will attend an upcoming SGA meeting in order to answer further questions.
KENDRA DERRIG
NEWS REPORTER
At the beginning of this fall semester, Trinity University Dining Services served up two major changes to the campus food scene. A new restaurant concept, Revolve, has opened for business in the Commons, and new executive chef Brent Gorman has taken over in Mabee Dining Hall. Revolve operates on a schedule of four rotating guest restaurants, including Which Wich, Papouli’s and Panda Express, with opportunities for new vendors as the program continues. Each Monday through Thursday, a different establishment will provide additional options for students beside Freshii, Taco Taco and Einstein’s Bagels. “Revolve is a fun way for us to add variety, lots of variety, without getting stuck in the single restaurant format. There are so many great styles and flavors of food that should be tried, and Revolve will help us provide those new concepts and keep things fresh for Trinity,” said Charles Robles, manager of dining services. “It adds options. It’s a lot more well-known, national restaurants, so it’s kinda a comfort food, especially for people that are out of state,” said Caitlyn Turner, sophomore. In addition to new hot-food choices, The Commons and Skyline now sell Blue Sky sodas, as opposed to Coca Cola products. Blue Sky is a more natural choice for soda because it uses cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. “The change to Blue Sky was to offer something fun and exciting and responsibly made,” Robles wrote, in an email interview. “As far as Blue Sky in Mabee, we’ll look into it, but we want to be careful not to lose its uniqueness by over providing the product line. We are very special in the fact that we are currently one of a handful of places that offer Blue Sky in San Antonio.” Although Panda Express may not be the healthiest addition to campus dining options, Brent Gorman, new executive chef, ensures healthier options in Mabee. Gorman plans to make the dining hall a destination for well-rounded meals made with quality ingredients. Gorman joins the Trinity dining team as an award-winning Aramark veteran, coming to Trinity from the University
“Revolve is a fun way for us to add variety.” CHARLES ROBLES MANAGER OF DINING SERVICES
Besides obvious aesthetic changes to Mabee, such as new bowls, shelves for fresh fruit and screens that display the day’s menu, students are already noticing Gorman’s touch in the kitchen in the quality of their food. “I think the soup is better. Last year, it felt like I was eating salt with a side of soup but now it’s soup with a side of salt,” Turner said. Michael Beckley, new food service manager, commented on these changes coming to Mabee. As food service manager, Beckley is responsible for making sure operations in Mabee run smoothly by ensuring food is prepared and on the line on time. “The major changes I see are higher quality equipment and overall better aesthetics. Also, fresher served foods and more choices for students,” Beckley said. In addition, methods of serving food in the dining hall are being altered for a more efficient meal period. “Making sure food is cooked closer to serving time. Also, stronger enforcement of company rules to improve the performance of our front line workers,” Beckley said. Robles spoke of continued efforts towards health and sustainability. “We are going to keep focusing on our commitment to sustainability and we are hoping to see more farm to table type ingredients from out of our garden and from the SA Food Bank’s new garden,” Robles wrote.
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 25, 2017 •
NEWS
Solidarity vigil unites campus community
continued from FRONT “We started talking, and that sparked the conversation of whether or not there was something we could do here of similar impact and address the same issues. Maybe we can be able to, through faculty representation, go to show that these are the values of Trinity and the guidelines we hope our community will respect while they’re here,” said Hannah Rusher, senior and student outreach associate of the collective. The Humanities Collective emphasizes the importance of leadership on campus, whether it involves students joining pre-existing clubs or initiating an event like this. Trinity provides the resources for students to realize ideas like this vigil. “ The main thing we hope is clear is that Humanities Collective is just one organization making use of the opportunity that Trinity provides to do these sorts of things in response to current events and ongoing crises, et cetera, and that opportunity is real,” Stevens said. “If students feel that particular issues in the world are not being addressed officially on campus, the door is open for them to approach the administration, staff, faculty and others and raise awareness.” Dozens of students and faculty attended the vigil, each there for similar reasons — to be respectful, to show support and to take advantage of their privilege and use it to emphasize voices that go unheard. “I feel like a lot of people want to show other people that we’re not all in the same mindset as the people who were protesting. There are a lot of people who believe that everyone is equal and that everyone deserves a
fair chance,” said Arianna Siddiqui, a first-year who attended the vigil. In creating the event, both Stevens and Rusher had anticipated that the vigil would show incoming students that Trinity is a place for all to feel safe and a place for students to take advantage of their voices. Rusher said she hoped first-years would pass by and see upperclassmen and faculty standing for what they believe in.
“I think that if things are going to change, we need everybody involved.” AARON DELWICHE PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION
“I come from a Muslim family — my parents are — and it can be rough growing up because you’ll encounter some things that made you pause and wonder if you’re wanted here, and growing up, that really sucked. I wanted to come to some place that didn’t care about your religion and accepts everybody, so being here really shows me that Trinity was the right decision. Being here reaffirms my decision that this is a place I can be safe and happy for all four years,” Siddiqui said. One senior expressed a similar feeling towards Trinity’s welcoming community. “It’s important. If we’re a community, I think when something happens, even if you don’t feel directly involved, it’s nice to show your support, and it’s nice to have unity,” said Faith Deckard, who spoke later during the vigil and is also
New housing options New developments in campus living offer new opportunities for students living on, nearby Trinity continued from PAGE 3 Flowers claims students love the freedom City Vista offers, and students agree. “I love the fact that all of the rooms are just a little different … The living area is spacious, we have access to a gym, there’s a grill, a pool … It’s wonderful,” said Madison Sawyer, a junior who lives at City Vista. City Vista is Trinity’s first apartment complex, and the decision-making process leading up to and beyond the Aug. 1 movein date has been guided by faculty and students. The apartment complex operates fully under Trinity’s authority and is, like the main campus, monitored routinely by TUPD. However, students in City Vista do enjoy more relaxed regulations, such as the allowance of hard liquor, and meal plans are not required. Flowers has optimism for Trinity’s newest expansion. Although Residential Life hasn’t yet had an opportunity to assess student feedback of the fledgling project, they hope to garner some soon through a large-scale survey. As students’ needs evolve, Residential Life will continue to try to help students make the most of their college experience.
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a member of the Black Student Union (BSU). “I think this shows that we care and that we value all human life, and I want to be at a university that feels that way.” Many agreed that unity and support for one another is the only answer in times of injustice and hatred. A vigil like this one shows that Trinity values its community and those in it above all else. “I think that if things are going to change, we need everybody involved — people of all ages, young people, professors — and I think this is really a great step. This is a way for the community to connect and to listen to each other and kind of gear up for the year ahead,” said Aaron Delwiche, professor of communication. Of the many difficulties surrounding acts of violence and injustice like the riots in Charlottesville, Deckard thinks prejudiced labels should be the first we conquer. “Labels are very powerful. Words are powerful, and they all carry assumptions, expectations, stereotypes,”Deckard said. “Sometimes a label becomes so large that we no longer see the person, we just see the label and what we think it means. If we’re ever going to make any progress, we have to get past the labels.” Tahlar Rowe, a senior and president of BSU, spoke to the crowd about how, in times like this, she feels alone. She emphasized the importance of each other’s support and reminded everyone that racism happens every day, and that it shouldn’t take racism at this level for people to realize that it’s happening everywhere. “If there’s something I can stress to you all, it’s to support one another, educate those around you who aren’t paying attention. A lot of us are hurting, and a lot of us are affected by this, and it can affect our academics and our enthusiasm,” Rowe said.
Danny Anderson, president of the university, also stepped for ward to add to the conversation. “I encourage you to think about being a part of the community, a part of the encouragement that Tahlar was talking about, a part of living beyond labels that Faith was talking about. Those are ways that being a part of a community like this asks us to shine a light so that we can dispel darkness,” Anderson said.
“It’s just going to depend on us putting the action forward. We can’t get comfortable.” FAITH DECKARD SENIOR BSU MEMBER
Before the vigil ended, Deckard stood up one more time to address what she thinks is the most important thing to take from such acts of violence. “We can’t get comfortable. I’ve heard so many times that things aren’t perfect, but America is the best we’ve got, and that even though people are getting shot, at least they aren’t in chains,” Deckard said. “We say that like it’s enough, and I’m not ignoring that we have made progress, and it warms my heart that we have made progress, but I’m not satisfied with that answer. There’s still progress to be made. There’s still change to happen. It’s just going to depend on us putting the action forward. We can’t get comfortable.”
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 25, 2017 •
NEWS
Committee created to encourage spirit
Athletic staff created an ad hoc spirit committee to foster more spirit on campus CATHY TERRACE
NEWS REPORTER
graphic by YESSENIA LOPEZ
As a new semester rolls around, campus leaders look for new ways to foster a more involved and a more exciting student experience. This initiative has led to the creation of an ad hoc spirit committee that maintains the goal to foster a more prideful environment with additional involvement at campus-wide events, such as football games. “At the end of June, Coach [Jerheme] Urban and Hugh Daschbach [senior director of Alumni Relations] called a group together to discuss home football game ‘fan’ experiences. What resulted was two ad hoc, temporary committees — one to review and consider amendments to the tailgating policy and another to consider the ‘fan’ experience — food, music, contests, etc.,” wrote Jamie Thompson, director for Student Involvement, in an email interview. “These groups are still convening, and we await more information and direction from the initial committee that is gathering in June.” Both committees are still in the process of developing their strategies, and the concept has been underway for only a couple of months. However, each has already developed an idea of what they would like to do in the upcoming semester. “Essentially, we’ve had one meeting so far, which was led by Jamie Thompson, and while we have no budget, no restrictions, what would the ideal student experience look like,” said Shannon Edmond, coordinator for student programs. A lack of a budget means the committee won’t be able to take any immediate action; however, they look forward to partnering with different organizations on campus to resolve funding. Once that happens, they hope to provide the campus with swag, music and themed sports games, which they hope will garner campus-wide support. Football games will be the focus of the initiative to revise the tailgating policy. However, as the spirit
committee receives more support, they hope to expand it to other sports, such as soccer. “In the past, we’ve had to shut it down as the game starts,” said Jeremy Allen, assistant director for Student Involvement and coordinator for Greek life. “We want it to be more open so that students can bring food, bring drinks and have a good time.” By revising the tailgating policy, organizations will have an easier time sponsoring such events. Some committee members believe that Greek life could be a partner that steps up to help sponsor these events. “We think it would be really awesome to have Greek life organizations be spearheads,” Edmond said. “Student organizations are our leaders and people will look to them.” Members agree Greek life will most likely be a large part of the push for an increased spirit presence. In planning tailgating events, Allen has already made an effort to include these organizations. “During alumni weekend, fraternity and sorority life is actually part of the all-campus picnic this year, which is right before the football game. Different alumni events will be going on, Greek life will have the Greek Carnival, other offices will also be involved in that,” Allen said. “It’ll be an all-encompassing opportunity.” As such, the committee intends to form more events as the semester progresses. While Trinity already undertakes many school pride initiatives, this group hopes to capitalize on them. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with school spirit. The committee [is just] looking at how to build on the successes that we’ve had. Trinity is a smaller school, and there are challenges with that, but there are also really cool things that can be done through small size,” Allen said. “It’s a unique setting at Trinity and the committee just wants to build that role as much as possible.”
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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
Welcome From the editor’s desk: digital first back home DANNY J. ANDERSON GUEST COLUMNIST
Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year. You can feel the energy and excitement around Trinity and sense it is stronger than ever. At the same time, many of you are juggling mixed emotions. As human beings, we have an ability to hold in our awareness, contradictory emotions and thoughts. Alongside the excitement for a new academic year in the presence of friends and faculty, many of you are concerned by the unrest we see in national and international headlines. Charlottesville, Virginia and Barcelona, Spain immediately come to mind. Our Trinity University values call us to respect the dignity and worthiness of every individual. They also celebrate the diversity and inclusivity that connect us all within a community. Put into actions, these values sustain the open, engaged, and civil dialogue that characterizes Trinity University. We strive to create learning spaces where you can experience uncomfortable conversations about challenging topics. At Trinity, we want you to explore for yourself how our core institutional values call us to promote diversity and inclusivity. We model the active listening and critical thinking that allow us to understand points of view that may be different from our own. Understanding and empathy can achieve the unity that racism, bigotry, hatred and violence cannot. This year, free speech may be challenged on university campuses. Competing forces may seek to pull us toward extremes and increase divisions. In this context, we must remain deeply rooted in our values. When forces test us, our roots give us strength. We must be proactive in our choices, rather than reactive in our responses. I have great confidence in you and have admiration for the role you will play as you become the leaders in our world. The experiences of the year ahead are a journey. At Trinity, faculty and staff serve as guides along the pathway as you discover and grow through your choices. I take pride in the words of wisdom by our faculty inscribed on banners around campus. There is one that I use as the screen on my phone, by Carolyn True in the music department, and it is great advice for the start of an academic year: “Plan the route; be open to the journey.” Danny J. Anderson is the president of Trinity University.
As we ring in the new school year, it’s time to set goals for the semesters ahead. Some of us aim to get good grades, while others say that they’ll finally visit the Bell Center — or at least start next week. The Trinitonian’s goals are like those of any student: we want to produce good work, make new friends and find our place on campus. We strive to make the Trinitonian indispensable on campus and in the wider-reaching network of alumni, parents, Tiger fans and San Antonio citizens. In the past, we’ve attempted to facilitate controversial conversations on campus, always pushing boundaries with the stories we tell. Now, we’re taking a new step forward. This year we plan to innovate not only in our content, but also in how we engage our audience. To accomplish this, we’ve taken on new initiatives for the year. One is to become a digital-first publication.
“This year we plan to innovate not only in our content, but also in how we engage our audience.” The Trinitonian has always a print-first newspaper. We stories each week and publish in print, then we upload
been write them them
online once the print edition has hit the stands. If you follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, you may have noticed that we’ve begun to publish stories during the week, in anticipation of the print paper’s release. We’re still working to hit our stride in this area, but by January 2018, we will have perfected the process. As a college newspaper, we can afford to take risks with format. We have the opportunity to try, fail and adapt in a safe environment. We’re students. We can and should push the boundaries of our publication and come out with a unique and engaging Trinitonian that gives our audience immediate access to the news, opinions and stories of our university community. At the core of this change is a shift in the newsroom’s culture. No longer will we be forced to push a story to print to meet page numbers; we will have the freedom to report on and curate stories that exemplify the mission and values of the Trinitonian. Deadlines will be driven by content and content will be driven by our audience. With an engaged, measurable audience, the Trinitonian can provide information in new and innovative ways that are imperative to our readers. Content is content, whether it’s read online or in print, but what we see at other successful universities is a tendency of students to embrace online media. We have tangible proof from our social media outlets that show how engaged our community can be when we use the
web to its full extent—and, right now, we are not. The good news is that we can. The website is more relevant to both our on-campus community and the far-reaching Trinity community as a whole. To bring this new iteration of the Trinitonian into being, we need the support of our peers. As student journalists, we work to serve our campus by providing immediate and captivating stories that spotlight the actions and passions of our students, faculty and alumni. We don’t have all of the answers to how this will work or what steps will need to be taken but we are driven to work tirelessly to find a model that works.
“To bring this new iteration of the Trinitonian into being, we need the support of our peers.” The best way you can help is to keep up with the Trinitonian and help us keep up with you. Follow us on our social media channels and send story tips to trinitonian@ trinity.edu. We want to work for you and we want to work with you; with hope, our enhanced digital presence will better equip us to do exactly that.
cartoon by YESSENIA LOPEZ
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 25, 2017 •
OPINION
New semester’s Ignorance and humility resolutions SARAH HALEY OPINION COLUMNIST
A few weeks ago, I was preparing to board a last-minute flight to a part of Mexico I’d never been to, along with someone I barely knew (who I’d met through a corporate intramural sports team during my summer interning at a Fortune 500 company). A Trinitonian and Trinity University alumna had just recommended a book to me. Her name is Kim Nguyen. The book is called “Vagabonding: An Uncommon Guide to the Art of LongTerm World Travel,” by Rolf Potts. I have yet to finish the book. Several sections of it so far have encouraged me to rethink certain ways that I approach life, work, travel and self. Consider the following excerpt from Chapter 3, “Keep it Simple”: “In March 1989, the Exxon Valdez struck a reef off the coast of Alaska, resulting in the largest oil spill in U.S. history. Initially viewed as an ecological disaster, this catastrophe did wonders to raise environmental awareness among average Americans. As television images of oil-choked sea otters and dying shorebirds were beamed across the country, pop environmentalism grew into a national craze. “Instead of conserving more and consuming less, however, many Americans sought to save the earth by purchasing ‘environmental’ products. Energy-efficient home appliances flew off the shelves, health-food sales boomed, and reusable canvas shopping bags became vogue in strip malls from Jacksonville to Jackson Hole. Credit card companies began to earmark a small percentage of profits for conservation groups, thus encouraging consumers to ‘help the environment’ by striking off on idealistic shopping binges.
“Such shopping sprees and healthfood purchases did very little to improve the state of the planet, of course – but most people managed to feel a little better about the situation without having to make any serious lifestyle changes.” Coming back to school at Trinity for the start of a fall semester is quite like the new year of the academic calendar. For some, it’s a similar to the champagne-popping-at-midnight variety. For others, it’s more along the lines of a most festive annual existential crisis. Many eyes sparkle with the freedom of self re-invention, whether it’s the starting of something new or the desire to break an old bad habit — is that an “I promise I’m going to do every single one of my assigned readings this year” I hear? How about some more reasonable, self-aware and achievable resolutions for this semester? In the spirit of keeping it simple, think about what Potts means in this excerpt. He claims many Americans have “convinced ourselves that buying things is the only way to play an active role in the world.” How can you contribute to positive change, both in the global world and in your immediate local lifestyle, in ways that do not rely on consumption? Here are two things I’m going to do that I invite you all to join me in: Do not buy a single new article of clothing for the rest of 2017; do not buy a single plastic bottled water or plastic bottled beverage unless your life depends on it. For the average Trinity student, each of these goals are easily attainable with some amount of self-discipline and creativity. To arrive at this school, one must have a bit of both. To succeed at this school, one must have a bunch of both. Thus, we are able to fulfill these small but impactful back-toschool resolutions. So why will the vast majority of us choose otherwise? Sarah Haley is a senior theoretical economics and environmental policy double major with a minor in mathematics.
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GABRIEL LEVINE OPINION COLUMNIST
The start of the school year is a time of high motivation and even higher confidence. Students are excited about the prospect of new classes, time management seems an easy task and by the end of the semester, we expect to have mastered several new subjects. This time last year, in my second Trinitonian article ever, I wrote about the importance of interdisciplinary study. At the time, I felt like this article was something to be unabashedly proud of for its clear articulation of a self-evident truth of which the Trinity community was apparently unaware. Rereading that piece now, its several flaws are apparent, such as its focus on interdisciplinarity as useful from the perspective of increasing competence at one’s primary major. Instead, I should have been defending interdisciplinarity in its own right: it can make one a better person and result in a more charmed life. The same type of overconfidence that led me to be excessively proud of that piece is present throughout the process of learning in both life and university. Upon discovering some previously unknown truth or fact about the world or the self, it is easy to view that discovery as universal, undeniable and indicative of some kind of special personal competence. In reality, this exuberant feeling often blinds us to the reality that this discovery is simply one small truth in
a sea of context and more complex explanations. In the context of classes, one vivid memory from the spring of my first year stands out, when I was halfway through Organic Chemistry I. We were doing a unit on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, an analytical technique in the world of chemistry research with principles similar to those of magnetic resonance imaging. At office hours, I asked Adam Urbach, my professor, for more detail about how NMR actually works and why different results are observed for different compounds. I expected the answer to be a brief explanation that the textbook omitted for some arbitrary reason. Urbach responded that he could teach a semesterlong course on NMR, invoking mathematical quantum mechanics, and still only scratch the surface of the answer to my question. This response opened up a chasm beneath the conviction that any and every subject could be fully known and mastered with a few weeks of study. The reality is that there is more knowledge and complexity in any given field than most people could hope to grasp in a lifetime, let alone a semester. Perhaps students used to internalize this lesson sooner, when research required not a keyword search in an electronic database, but physically walking past rows and rows of journals in a library and thumbing through thousands of pages to find one desired factoid. The physicality of this experience viscerally reinforces the enormity of collected human knowledge. Go to Elizabeth Huth Coates Library, wade into the stacks,
and find the collections of decades of journals, each dedicated to some minute subfield, from the topography of the Gulf Coast to algebraic mathematics. The experience is deeply humbling. This may sound like an endorsement of impostor syndrome: the feeling of secret incompetence that afflicts highly-qualified people in all fields at all levels of education. It is not. Rather, it is the basis of a frame of mind necessary to overcome both impostor syndrome and the Dunning-Kruger effect, wherein underqualified people overestimate their own competence. Instead of viewing this semester as an opportunity to master several new subjects, view it as an opportunity to gain just enough insight to appreciate the immense depth and breadth of every discipline. This is why a great class doesn’t solely attempt to cram in huge amounts of information, but teaches the style of thinking necessary to understand the nuances of a field and to dive into the depths of a field’s knowledge if necessary in the future. This also gets back to the importance of interdisciplinarity. The point of a liberal arts education isn’t to create students who can describe the works of Francisco Goya before solving a differential equation as a party trick. The point is to expose us to different styles of thinking so that we can navigate the vast collections of human knowledge and synthesize our observations and experiences of the world into a richer, deeper unity of meaning.
Sunset bill hostage as the regular session ended. The underlying reason for Abbott’s call for a special session was to ward off a strong primary opponent. A number of grassroots activists were upset at what they perceived as the handsoff approach Abbott had taken when dealing with the state legislature, thus allowing all of the issues between the House and the Senate to transpire.
dues and city issues. The Senate then proceeded to race through Abbott’s agenda. This is largely due to the much more conservative nature of the state Senate compared to the state House. The reason for this difference is the size of the districts. All of the conservative senate districts contain the red meat of conservative candidates in suburban Texas. The House has much smaller districts, resulting in small primary turnout, so cross-over Democrats can swing the primary election in favor of the more moderate candidate. This results in the House having more moderate Republicans than the Senate. The House is also controlled by Straus, a man who could be described as a moderate. Compared to Patrick, Democrats in this state much prefer Straus. Straus acted the opposite of Patrick; the House operated much slower than the Senate as a result. The special session ended in controversy as the House ended its session before its dedicated time, and as a result property tax reform and the privacy bill failed to become law. The final night was a take-it-orleave-it situation for the Senate as the House had gaveled out and gone home, leaving a compromise out of the question. Abbott still was able to get about 10 of his legislative priorities passed. All things considered, conservatives should be very happy with the special session. Manfred Wendt is a junior political science major.
Gabriel Levine is a senior chemistry major.
Special session rodeo MANFRED WENDT OPINION COLUMNIST The Texas Legislature worked late into the summer this year. Greg Abbott, governor of Texas, determined that the state legislature didn’t get enough done during the regular session, so he called them back for a special session. Abbott had 20 agenda items for the special session. Normally, the Texas legislature meets for 140 regular calendar days and is considered a part-time legislature as it only meets bi-annually. A major reason for the special session was that the ‘sunset legislation’ had not been passed and was thus going to expire. The sunset legislation reauthorizes the Texas Sunset Advisory Committee, which is essentially the government watchdog for Texas’ state-funded agencies. The committee determines whether or not the agencies should be shut down, or reformed, or changed in other ways. As a result of the failure to pass the sunset legislation, a number of vital state medical boards were going to be automatically shut down, making it impossible for Texas to license vital medical professionals. The reason this vital piece of legislation was not passed during the special session was due to the hostile relationship between the Texas House and the Texas Senate. Dan Patrick, the lieutenant governor, who holds what is arguably the most powerful position in the Texas government, was upset at the lack of conservative legislation coming from Joe Straus’ House and held the
“This list, when released, will make for red meat in the primary.” Abbott put those concerns to rest at the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Policy Orientation for the special session. At that event, he promised that he would keep and publish a list of legislators who opposed his agenda, which is essentially a naughty list. This list, when released, will make for red meat in the primary. An effective way to obtain office in Texas is to run to the right of most elected Republicans. After the special session was gaveled in, both the House and the Senate worked very quickly to pass the Sunset legislation. Once the bill was passed, and medical professions across the state were saved, Abbott then proceeded to open the call to the rest of his special session priorities. His priorities focused on education reform, property taxes, privacy, abortion restrictions, union
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OPINION
A reflection on Desmond’s “Evicted” continued from PAGE 1
“If you have been in public housing, you have kind of been taken care of,” says Robles. The San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) provides a number of services to the families living in the units, including payment plan options if they ever get behind on rent.
“Like many of us, I grew up oblivious to my privilege. understood homelessness as a choice, poverty as a temporary circumstance and racism as a problem solved.”
Author MATTHEW DESMOND answers questions about “Evicted” in Laurie Auditorium. photo by AMANI CANADA
“A private lender is not going to do that,” Robles said. “SAHA has some leniency,” Robles said. “Everyone wants section 8 because then you can move wherever you want, and you can even move into a house.” Many families don’t realize the tradeoffs of moving from the public to private market for homes, and SAHA also offers
financial literacy classes in order to help bridge the gap. But it’s not easy. Not every private lender [landlord] wants to accept a Section 8 voucher. Additionally, one-on-one focus to teach families about real estate financial basics in San Antonio is expensive. “Our case managers are handling 150–200 residents — there’s just not enough funding for case managers,” Robles said. The Choice Neighborhood Grant, an initiative by the Obama administration, helped to pay for case managers and neighborhood revitalization. The East Side was able to improve sidewalks, roads, lighting and business facades. “That is an opportunity that has never been granted,” Robles said. Like many of us, I grew up oblivious to my privilege. I understood homelessness as a choice, poverty as a temporary circumstance and racism as a problem solved. My public high school — I am ashamed to say — has an indoor football field. Crime in my neighborhood was when someone didn’t clean up after their dog. These are things I had no idea were such luxuries until I began to study our urban condition. I feel shock and shame. Shock because our society has made it so easy for us to remain oblivious to the struggle of others. Shame because I have never taken full advantage of the opportunities that have filled my life. A loving family, an education, a home — it is easy to take it all for granted. They are gifts. They are opportunities. Let’s take advantage of them and give back. Micaela Hoffman is a senior business analytics and technology and urban studies double major.
OPINION• AUGUST 25, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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Introducing our foreign correspondent
because I would be a part of Trinity’s first semester-long abroad program. The things I’ll be learning, about myself as well as within my classes, are things I could never get at Trinity. I can’t stress the importance of following your gut if you believe you want to study abroad. Over 40 percent of Trinity students study abroad at least once, if not multiple times. According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, an organization that promotes international education, percentages of U.S. students studying abroad have been steadily growing each year. This could be caused by companies demanding internationally competent employees, but that’s an article for a different day.
SOLEIL GAFFNER OPINION COLUMNIST Studying abroad is something that I’ve always pictured myself doing, even when I was a kid. I think it was because my cousin spent a gap year abroad and I thought that was way better than going to the fourth grade, so I decided I wanted to do it, too. The process of studying abroad is not something that I would recommend for the faint of heart. I decided early on that I would take my junior year’s spring semester to go abroad, but Trinity had other plans. When I was talking with my professor, she told me to check out Trinity’s first faculty-led, semester-long study abroad program. I was afraid to study abroad, so having the comfort of knowing my own Trinity family would be backing me up while abroad made me feel safer. Unfortunately, as with all new programs, there are some glitches. I think it’s safe to say that Trinity tried its best to make this process as easy as possible, but I definitely ran into some problems when preparing to go abroad. Trinity partnered with IES Abroad to run the Trinity in Spain program. While this organization has a reputable background of experience — over 50 years, according to their website — I don’t find them very equipped to help students get to where we need to go.
“The process of studying abroad is not something I would recommend for the faint of heart.” Don’t quote me on dates, but I remember Trinity’s spring semester ended around May 10. A few days before then, I received my first email from IES Abroad that instructed me to log in to their online portal and begin turning in all the forms that were needed for me to study abroad. For the majority of the forms necessary, minus a background check and a physical examination, the due date was set for May 30. This would theoretically give students around a month to get their acts together. But! I had a family vacation
Don’t be a
“The things I’ll be learning, about myself as well as within my classes, are things I could never get at Trinity.”
illustration by ANDREA NEBHUT
planned from May 20 to May 30, which cut my timeline from 20 days to 10. This made things much more difficult. For an organization that has been sending students abroad for 50 years, I found it pretty difficult to find all the information I needed to get all of my paperwork in, the worst being the application for a visa. But that’s a different, equally frustrating story. The main problem was simply me having questions, and their email correspondence being less than informative. I had to send several emails describing my problem until someone finally realized that the website I was being sent to had not been updated, which explained why I was so damn confused. At this point, I think I had around three to five days left before I left for vacation.
The
After a lot of stress, back-and-forth emails and driving all over town, made harder by the fact that I’m an out-of-state student who was stuck in San Antonio for the summer, I managed to submit all of my forms electronically, as well as send off all of my physical paperwork via UPS. The amount of relief that I felt was overwhelming. Pending my six-week-long background check, I was definitely going to study abroad. Now, a mere week before my departure date, I’m feeling a different kind of anxiety. But, I know it’s all due to me being excited to finally get there. This article isn’t meant to discourage you from studying abroad in any way, shape or form. Even though I was frustrated, I knew it would all be worth it
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Compared to other schools, Trinity’s population of students who go abroad can be considered high. That’s one reason why I chose this university. I’m grateful that my school encourages its students to explore and expand, even outside of its cozy red-brick walls. One of my friends who recently came back from abroad really encouraged me by saying, “Even if you love Trinity, it’s good to get out. You need to escape the Trinity bubble every once in a while.” So, if you’re thinking of studying abroad: go for it. If you have the smallest inclination to get out of Trinity for a summer, semester or year, then go talk to a study abroad adviser before it’s too late. Over the course of this semester, I’ll be writing about my experiences, while in Madrid, Spain, on Trinity’s first ever semester-long program. I have no doubt that my time abroad will be special, even if it’s not the grand adventure that everyone makes it out to be. In the end, it’s good to leave the bubble every once in a while. Soleil Gaffner is a junior communication and Spanish double major.
Pulse
HAVE A STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD? Know a professor or student who embodies what it means to be a Tiger? Email us at trinitonian@trinity.edu to let us know about the people and events that should be covered in an upcoming issue.
Meet your new neighbors: some members of ResLife live on-campus
Non-student residents share their experiences sharing a home with members of Trinity’s community BY EMILY ELLIOTT
PULSE EDITOR
As you’re running down your HALL, desperately trying to make it on time to your morning class or hoping to grab your favorite Freshii bowl before the Commons close, you can expect to pass by some of your hallmates. Your fellow residents likely come from an abundance of backgrounds; you run into your international student suitemate and zoom past your over-eager resident advisor. However, if you’re currently living in the City Vista apartment complex, or were once a resident of Dick and Peggy Prassel Hall or Bruce Thomas Hall, you might have found yourself passing by one of your non-student neighbors. Several members of Trinity’s Residential Life staff have lived in the dorms alongside students. Melissa Flowers, director of residential life, has enjoyed sharing the many benefits of living on campus with her children and husband. “I’ve lived in McLean, Thomas and now City Vista. My favorite is legitimately a three-way tie; they each have special meaning to me. I first moved into McLean when I began working at Trinity in 2008. Trinity quickly became home for me,” Flowers said. It wasn’t long after moving into the dorms that Flowers introduced her family to on-campus living. “Two years later, I moved into Thomas with my husband, a Trinity alumnus. We welcomed our two children to that home. We adored it for its view of the football field, as my husband played for Trinity. Now, I am in City Vista and I adore the apartment layout and modern look. The pool also isn’t half bad, and I actually really enjoy the walk to campus.” Flowers said. Because she has lived in the dorms for so long, the experience has always felt normal to Flowers. “I’ve lived in campus housing for 17 years, exactly half of my life, so I don’t know any better. I am so spoiled with all of the great services like TUPD and the facilities services, and I adore the proximity to such great and free entertainment with the high-caliber athletics programs,
concerts, recitals, plays, speakers, you name it,” Flowers said. “Integrating my family into that life has been wonderful, and I also benefit from reliable and reasonably priced babysitters. The students have been so wonderful with my children. I am simply blessed.” Flowers isn’t alone. Rachel Boaz, assistant director for residential education, has also enjoyed the many benefits of living on-campus both while working for ResLife and while attending Trinity as a student. “I’m actually a Trinity alum, class of 2010, and I was on ResLife as a student, so I’ve lived in quite a few buildings. As a student, I lived in the old Winn, Isabel, South and Herndon. As professional staff, I lived in Heidi and Prassel. Each place has its own special qualities, but I really loved living in Prassel. My balcony overlooked Ledge Lane, and my favorite thing was to sit out there in the evenings and still be on campus, but face the ‘real world’ at the same time.” Boaz said. Boaz is now living offcampus, and has found herself missing living in the dorms. “I really do miss living on campus. I met some awesome students I never would have met if I hadn’t passed them in a study lounge every day,” Boaz said. Boaz lived in the dorms with her dog, Finley, who became popular amongst residents. “When I lived in Heidi, some hot water pipes burst in the winter. Outside, it looked like the lounge filled with smoke because the air was cold enough that the water created steam. Some sweet Swashbucklers ran in, I thought to check on me. The first thing out of their mouth was: ‘Is Finley okay?!’ All I could think was, ‘Thanks for your concern, y’all. I’m fine,’” Boaz said. Recent graduates have also moved into dorms. Callum Squires, class of 2017, currently serves as one of two community liaisons for City Vista. “It’s a great place to live. City Vista has beautiful building with really nice apartments. The members of the management team are great and there’s lots of nice little bonuses like breakfast tacos on the first day of class,” Squires said. Returning to live on campus has been a positive experience for those who have returned to live there. “It’s nice that I still know lots of the people who are living here because many of them are my friends, and I’m still with Trinity as an assistant coach with the men’s soccer team. So I’m happy to still be close to campus and living in such a nice apartment.” Squires said.
TOP: CALLUM SQUIRES poses in his bedroom at his City Vista apartment . Squires is a community liaison, and his main role is helping to foster a positive and tight knit community while ensuring everyone is able to live happily and in comfort while at City Vista. BOTTOM: MELISSA FLOWERS poses with her two pet dogs in her City Vista living room. Flowers also shares the apartment with her husband and two young children, who frequently visit the pool and hang out in some of the apartment’s lounges and game rooms. Photos by ALLISON WOLFF
PULSE • AUGUST 25, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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Student Programming Board offers several events for Welcome Week
The annual program features a visiting comedian, a movie night and the Cashmere Cat concert to conclude the celebration of students arriving CLAIRE NAKAYAMA PULSE REPORTER
With everyone getting into gear and preparing for a great fall semester, Welcome Week is back with a lot of events meant to excite new students and allow them to get accustomed to Trinity. Welcome Week is run by the Student Programming Board (SPB), a university-sponsored organization that plans events for students. Some of the many activities of Welcome Week include laughing with comedian Samuel Conroe, enjoying a movie night and, of course, going to the Welcome Week concert. This year, Norwegian DJ Cashmere Cat will be performing. Although it seems like Welcome Week is new, the Student Programming Board has been planning events even before first-years were admitted. “We actually started booking, planning and budgeting for that starting in October of last year,” said Aroosa Ajani, director of SPB. As far as the duties of SPB, they are responsible for near everything when it comes to preparing for the Welcome Week events. “SPB does all of it, from start to finish. We first have to talk to the broker who will then get in touch with the artist, we talk about prices, we get some options based on the available dates and we choose the artist to the best of our abilities. Everything from setting and proposing the budget to managing the
O-Team members ELIZABETH BROUSSARD and COURTNEY JUSTUS look at the Welcome Week calendar. Photo by AMANI CANADA
event the day of is actually entirely done by us,” Ajani said. While the concert seems like the main event of the week, others are more excited for other events, like Samuel Conroe, who will be the visiting comedian. “I am most looking forward to the comedian. I like funny movies such as Pineapple Express and stand up comedians such as Jim Gaffigan, so hopefully this guy is good and can make me laugh as much at those things do,” said Wyatt Allgood, a senior history major and SPB entertainment chair. SPB chose four people to have the opportunity to meet Cashmere Cat in person
following his performance on Friday. One of these winners, Natasha Sahu, a sophomore neuroscience major, is looking forward to interacting with the performer. “SPB had a contest on Facebook where, if you were the one of the first four students to name an artist he’s worked with, you get a free backstage pass. I commented with ‘Halsey’ because my friend mentioned the night before that she had collaborated on a song with him. I had vaguely heard of him before I learned he was performing, but otherwise I’m not really familiar with his music,” Sahu said. The concert is Ajani’s favorite event, despite all of the hard work and responsibilities that
go into making sure the Welcome Week event runs smoothly. “The execution on the day of has to go smoothly, and it’s a full day job. I love the challenge of it and, when it goes well, it’s crazy to think that all of that is happening with a group of ten students that are committed to making that [happen] for the rest of the student body,” Ajani said. Sahu also noted that, for first-years, Welcome Week is something that they will never forget. “It was nice because it was the first event I went [to] with my new friends so it was definitely a bonding experience. I think the idea of the concerts is really great to pump up the students before classes start,” Sahu said. Welcome Week is a staple at Trinity, and each year SPB will continue to help the school’s first week of the year start off right. “I think that Trinity should definitely continue doing these kinds of concerts in the future and they should even get some more well-known artists, especially ones that a lot of students love or are familiar with and that [are] trending that year. It’s a cool event for all of the new students because they get a chill welcome and also get to be introduced to opportunities to interact with and meet other people who are at Trinity too,” Sahu said. For those who have experienced Welcome Week multiple times, the event is one many look forward to attending year after year. “I think Welcome Week does exactly what it says it does — welcomes us all back to campus, starts the year off with a bang, gives the first-years a chance to get to know each other and sets the tone of how we go about things at Trinity. It’s a great way to come back and melt into the college environment before things get crazy,” Ajani said.
USE CODE “BACK2SCHOOL” FOR NO SERVICE FEES ON GA TICKETS THROUGH 9/15!
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 25, 2017 •
PULSE
Professors share their routines to get ready for the upcoming busy semester Faculty members discuss the various methods they use to prepare themselves and improve lectures for the upcoming fall semester MEREDITH GOSHELL PULSE REPORTER
Every year, many students scramble at the last minute to order their textbooks, buy new notebooks and organize their planners to prepare for going back to school. But what about the professors? What does the beginning of the semester look like for the people on the other side of the classroom? “When one semester ends and the class climate survey results arrive, I go through them carefully, class by class, taking notes about what students wrote in evaluating their experience in each course, ” said Coleen Grissom, professor of English and former dean of students. The professors also prepare for the new year in more fun and superstitious ways, such as organizing their clothes in specific ways and trying to pick out a special outfit to wear for the first day of classes. “I have to dress differently once school starts, so that I can fully enjoy my last few days of wearing shorts,” said Ruben Dupertuis, associate professor of religion. “I’m also a pen freak, so I always have to have my Lamy pen with me for the first day back too. It’s a German pen and it’s the cheapest fountain pen that’s really good.” Another large aspect of preparing for the school year comes from changing their syllabi and adjusting it to students’ needs. The professors often review their class climate
COLEEN GRISSOM, professor of English and former dean of students, reads in her office during a quiet time before classes start up again for the fall. photo taken by AMANI CANADA
surveys and analyze what worked and what didn’t from the previous year, usually in ways students wouldn’t necessarily think. “On occasion, I re-organize a class entirely and write a brand-new syllabus,” said Michele Johnson, associate professor of biology. “But usually, I revise the syllabus based on what new information we’ve learned since I last taught the class, what current issues are affecting our students and the world and student feedback from previous semesters. Overall, the most beloved thing about the new school year is the students. From reconnecting with their students from
previous years to meeting participants in all of their new classes, professors enjoy preparing to see students once again. “What I most love is being there when these bright, articulate people start developing and using their own critical judgment, articulating and explaining reasons for it and exploring their views and those of their peers in constructive, non-confrontational discussions,” Grissom said. “Before my very eyes I often see students read more insightfully, write with greater clarity and speak confidently, and sometimes even enthusiastically, about what we’re studying together.”
A large part of going back to school includes meetings within the different departments, planning their courses and other administrative tasks. They also often discuss the direction of the department and what they hope to accomplish for the year. “We’re always thinking about our current students and how to take care of them and we’re thinking about our future students. We also think about our past students,” Dupertuis said. “Yesterday, we had an alumni gathering and just really think about connecting forward and connecting back with students.” Despite planning, the fate and results of a class can never be truly predicted. “It’s exciting to think about where you end up at the end of the semester. A lot of what we do is getting the classes going and one of those examples is planning how to make sure we have all the classes we need in Pathways because this is a relatively new curriculum that we’re all transitioning to,” Dupertuis said. Before classes get under way, there are a few things students can do in order to make a strong first impression. “I like for students to introduce themselves to me, and to help me learn more about them as individuals. I can teach a more effective class when I know what experiences and goals students are bringing,” Johnson said. Regardless of what a professor has planned, the students best interests are first priority. “I once taught Jennifer Egan’s brilliant, hilarious, but eccentric and demanding ‘A Visit from the Goon Squad’ just prior to semester break. It was a disaster because, in spite of lacking my permission, my students seemed to have other responsibilities and interests. They need an ‘easy’ reading for that dreadful ‘midsemester season,’ so now I try to provide it,” Grissom said.
PULSE • AUGUST 25, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
ANDREA ACEVEDO poses in a communication classroom where she would work on her research. photo by AMANI CANADA
Senior explores a new virtual reality Andrea Acevedo completed research in the communication department that will allow participants to experience immigration detention centers. CLAIRE NAKAYAMA PULSE REPORTER
This past summer, senior communication major Andrea Acevedo worked with Aaron Delwiche, professor of communication at Trinity, to utilize virtual reality to shed some light on immigration detention centers, which directly affect San Antonio. Acevedo’s project, the Butterfly Project, was a part of the Mellon Initiative, a summer research program for students majoring in the arts and humanities. Immigration detention centers are a large part of the immigration process in which people are taken by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and detained for months or even longer. “I set up this project like a museum talking about immigration systems. Picture a museum hall with different exhibits. Instead of an actual story, it’s like a museum,” Acevedo said. Delwiche worked with Acevedo to help her develop her ideas. “We developed the idea together, and I had worked with Andrea in previous classes. I knew that she had the right personality for this type of project, and I knew that she was interested in virtual reality,” Delwiche said. When it came to using VR, Acevedo and Delwiche decided that the technology would help inform viewers about what it feels like to be in a detention center. “Virtual reality doesn’t make sense for certain types of stories. In this case, what we were trying to do was look at a situation that most people have not experienced and that, when you do experience it, could lead to a certain amount of empathy for people to understand what conditions refugees and asylum seekers face in detention camps,” Delwiche said. Acevedo modeled everything in a program called Maya and eventually put it into High
Fidelity, a social virtual reality space in which users can edit things within a virtual world. Although Acevedo was not able to visit a detention center, she came up with other ways to create a model for her virtual experience. “We had to find a lot of existing photographs and, based on different objects inside the photographs, I was able to create a rough scale of the rooms,” Acevedo said. Delwiche had some previous experience working with virtual spaces, but as always with ever-changing technology, it was a learning experience for both of them. “About 10 years ago, I formed a startup company with three other people that created things in virtual spaces like High Fidelity, but for educational and corporate clients. I was able to draw on that experience for Andrea, but much has changed with the new equipment, so she just got her hands on the equipment and was off to the races. She did a ton of work on her own, and it was really amazing what she did,” Delwiche said. Reactions from the viewers were mixed, but virtual reality still has the potential to be a platform for various stories. “One thing we find from research time and again is that audiences have completely different reactions to the same content. For some, I think it’s likely that technology overshadowed the story,” Delwiche said. One of the people who experienced this virtual reality was Zhaoxi Liu, professor of communication, who was intrigued by the idea of using a new type of technology to connect with viewers. “That was the first time I went into the virtual reality created by a student. The layout of the space was nicely done. The individual stories in the virtual world were very touching,” Liu wrote in an email interview. Even though the summer is over, this project isn’t. Acevedo hopes to expand her project and develop the virtual reality into a narrative with more depth for viewers during her senior year. “I am hoping to continue this for my capstone, so maybe for the second part of this I can interview one specific person and create a narrative,” Acevedo said.
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AE &
Breaking the mold in the AAA game industry Ninja Theory’s “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice” succeeds as an independent, AAA-quality game. Who knew that a thoughtfully written game for a reasonable price would make people happy?
Hollywood’s gender pay gap wide as ever A recent Forbes list brought to light a huge disparity between the pays of Mark Wahlberg and Emma Stone, this year’s highest paid actor and actress. As far as overpaid jobs go, at least make things even, y’all.
Fall fashion: Dress your best for back to school ARIANA RAZAVI A&E CONTRIBUTOR
Time to go back to school! And guess what that means? Fall is approaching, or as some like to call it, pumpkin spice season. As the seasons change, the fashion trends change, so here is a highlight of the five top trends for this fall. Red is this fall’s color. Spotted on the runway multiple times from designers like Victoria Beckham, Max Mara and Fendi, it was evident this would be the big color of the season. In addition, Givenchy even did a tribute to 27 of its most iconic looks from the past 12 years, but recrafted them all in red. So put your red lipstick aside and make room in your closet for a pair of power-red pants. Many distinct patterns presented themselves on the runway. Specifically, plaid dominated in both menswear and womenswear. When people think of plaid, many think of flannels or 1990s grunge, but what is trending now is 1970s plaid. But what’s the difference? 1970s plaid is much lighter in color, so it doesn’t look as angsty. So next time you browse through Urban Outfitters be sure to look for a plaid dress or crop top with lighter color schemes. Red velvet is not just delicious, but it will be in vogue. Designers like Jason Wu and Alberta Ferretti formalized this fabric on the runway by showing velvet nightdresses, jewelry, suits and boots. So when formal season comes around, be sure to purchase velvet attire. Another notable trend for men is quilted jackets, such as bombers and blazers. They
are usually seen on grandfathers, but now it seems like people of all ages will be wearing them since brands from J. Crew to Converse will have them available for the season. This outerwear is comfy, cozy and might make you look like a balloon. Of course, you’ll be a stylish balloon. Good news for country fans and cow herders: western wear is in mode. So make western wear great again by rocking your finest pair of cowboy or cowgirl boots! Designers like Raf Simons, creative director of Calvin Klein, are putting their own modern twists on country attire this season. Ashley Williams’ fall collection consisted of cowhide crop tops, while steel-toed boots appeared on Stella McCartney’s runway. Obviously as college students, we cannot afford fresh-off-the-runway looks, nor do we care to. But it is important to always look your best, which is not hard if you are smart about the way you shop. So here are some names of a few online brands that are not only stylish but cater to students’ needs by having great sales or giving studentsdiscounts. ASOS is a U.K.based website that carries a ton of brands for both men and women. It is a lot like Amazon, but specifically for clothing. They also give a 10 percent discount to students. In addition, Topshop, my personal favorite, offers a 10 percent student discount too, but has a 20 percent student discount for limited time only. NastyGal, a Los Angelesbased women’s clothing brand, has had a 40-percent-off sale all summer, but as of now their sale has gone up to 50 percent off, so it is worth emptying your bank account! Men, don’t worry; River Island, a less-popular version of Urban Outfitters, has a great sale too right now — up to 50 percent off — so go make it rain. So whether you decide to rock red or cruise down in a country look, have fun with it and make it your own!
Rock a pattern and avoid angst by choosing 1970s plaid — the older, mellower cousin to the grungy plaid of the 1990s. photos by CHLOE SONNIER
Red is the color of the season — so whether it’s a statement piece or an accessory, be sure to sport some this fall.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • AUGUST 25, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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Everything you need to know about Cashmere Cat AUSTIN DAVIDSON A&E CONTRIBUTOR
I can honestly claim that before my friend told me that Cashmere Cat was performing for the Welcome Week concert, I had never heard of him. He has a unique and rather odd name that doesn’t suggest what kind of music he makes. When I heard the names Drake or Kendrick Lamar for the first time, I just had a feeling they were rap artists. But ‘Cashmere Cat’ is a rather mysterious and strange name To answer the question of who he is and what he’s made, I put his name into the beautiful search engine that is Google and slowly began to understand the backstory of this illusive man. Cashmere Cat is from Halden, Norway, and just recently moved to Los Angeles to continue his ever-growing musical career. He has a rather large following on Soundcloud (392,645 followers, to be exact) and has produced for and been featured with some pretty big-name artists, including Kanye West, Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, Jeremiah and Ed Sheeran, just to name a few. He mainly worked in his hometown until he remixed Jeremiah’s song “733 Love.” It was an instant hit on Soundcloud. Jeremiah heard it and asked his producer to fly Cashmere Cat to Los Angeles to begin to work with him. Cashmere Cat’s surprising jump into the spotlight of the LA music scene has only helped his career, allowing him to work with important artists and continue to strive to add his unique sound to the music scene.
graphic by TYLER HERRON
After learning about Cashmere Cat’s interesting beginning and the many big names he has worked with, I began to listen to his large array of music. I won’t claim to be a musical expert or say that everyone will love his music, but his songs all have an interesting and distinct quality to them. Each has a different sound, whether it be a flowing piano solo or a string section in the middle, and when you add the vocals of the multiple superstars he works with, it creates a refreshing and fun sound. My personal favorite song is his remix of Miguel’s “Do You.” It starts out with some small, rhythmic bells and then goes into a slowly growing bass beat before finally adding the vocals. Another song I enjoyed was his remix of “Wolves,” a
track from Kanye West’s latest album “The Life of Pablo.” Cashmere Cat made the beat and sent it to Kanye, from there Kanye sent him updates as the song was created. While Kanye’s newest album had its ups and downs, “Wolves” was a breath of fresh air, with a great beat and charismatic vocals that work together to create a solid hit. 3lau, last year’s Welcome Week concert headliner, was a DJ from Las Vegas who had a more mainstream sound. My experience at the concert was a mixed one. I liked the environment and enjoyed dancing and having a good time with others, but the music was lackluster at best. It seemed I had heard all of 3lau’s songs before. There was nothing different or
strange, and the whole concert consisted of some vanilla sounds being blasted at insane speeds and painful volumes. Yet, when I’ve listened to Cashmere Cat, it’s been nothing like that. If this concert is anything like the last one, it should be a good time. Thankfully, it seems the musical talent has been upgraded to make the experience even better. The best word to describe Cashmere Cat is ‘different.’ From his shy demeanor on stage, to his apparently friendly and open offstage persona, he is different from the normal sound, and that’s what makes him so sought after. I think when he comes to the Welcome Week concert, his unique nature, sound and obvious star attraction will all combine to create a really good time.
Meet the Press
Find out what the editors of the Trinitonian have to say about anything and everything.
o in g u yo o be d o t e r o Whe Antoni ed? San tertain en “Hardbodies. Enough said.” ALEXANDRA URI MANAGING EDITOR
“I went to the IMAX Palladium to catch a flick, and I had a blast.” TYLER HERRON GRAPHICS EDITOR
“The Paper Tiger! It’s great both for the smaller shows and big-name events.”
“The Paper Tiger, especially for local and smaller touring acts!”
“I was going to say Paper Tiger, but I guess that’s not cool anymore. So I’ll go with SAMA.”
GRACE FRYE DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL PRESENCE
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 25, 2017 •
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Trinity students research theater in Italy over summer ABIGAIL WHARTON A&E CONTRIBUTOR
Juniors Alexis Jarrett and Beverly Morabito got the extraordinary opportunity to take their own craft abroad in Italy this summer alongside Kyle Gillette, associate professor of theatre and director of theatre here at Trinity. The theater company Teatro Potlach calls the small city of Fara Sabina home. Since the 1970s, they have been honing and perfecting site-specific theater and gaining notoriety for their performances of “Invisible Cities,” a loose adaptation of Italo Calvino’s novel of the same name. The story consists of many cities described in short vignettes, while the theater piece transforms a city through short performances. “‘Invisible Cities’ is in the style of a reverse parade. The spectator goes through a course where they come upon the actors and performers. The performance is different each time it is executed.” Jarrett said. In 2015, Trinity hosted members of Teatro Potlach and wove a performance of “Invisible Cities” into the many nooks and crannies of the Ruth Taylor Fine Arts Center. Dozens of students, faculty and staff contributed to the endeavor with monologues, music, elaborate sets and costumes. Walking through the course at Trinity, the audience could experience dozens of miniature scenes. In one room an actress welcomed the audience into her dressing room for an interview. Around the corner someone was singing. The next room might have held dancers. Down the stairwell the audience may have seen a fierce duel between fencers or found loud workshop full of seamstresses. An actress may have been dangling from the rigging on the mainstage, while another gave a monologue from her seat at the back of the theater. Backstage was full of welders and carpenters shouting over power tools and a frazzled physics professor gave a lecture. Every story was different, but you walked away with the sense of having encountered a busy metropolis. The performance on our campus
PINO DI BUDUO (right) writes on ALEXIS JARRETT (left) during an exercise in interactive theater. photo provided by ALEXIS JARRET
was totally unique and will never be repeated exactly at it was seen here, therefore honoring the tradition of the concept. Two years later, “Invisible Cities” still touches the work of the Trinity community. Kyle Gillette’s book, inspired by Teatro Potlach’s history, Calvino’s novel, the memories of the actors and the traveling performances, is in the works. Art major Beverly Morabito will be providing illustrations for the book. Morabito was also able to launch her own project: a children’s story based on the production’s original source material that studies the concept of community.
“My book mirrors the structure of the ‘Invisible Cities’ novel, in that it is a small collection of stories and poems, not one continued storyline. Throughout these stories I explore what it means for something to be a city,” Morabito said. She explained how the impact of the entire “Invisible Cities” project is a factor in both of the forthcoming books. “I spent a lot of time in the theater library going through the archives of past performances. I also spent a lot of time wandering through the city and sketching,” Morabito said.
While in Italy, the whole team observed theater workshops, dug through the company archives, interviewed residents and Potlach members and dwelled on personal memories of past travels. “Invisible Cities” encompasses a novel, a theater piece, a history and a community. “Some of these things may appear in one or both of the books, but more than anything they serve as inspiration for the creation of words and images that go beyond historical facts and photographs,” Morabito said. This is not a foreign concept considering the idea at the heart of “Invisible Cities.” “The purpose of site-specific theater is to make the space in which a performance takes place as much of a participant as a lead actor,” Morabito said. Alexis Jarrett, a theatre major, created a project that picks up on this and shines a light on the details of the production itself. “It was actually really special because this site where they had this ‘Invisible Cities’ is where they had the very first ‘Invisible Cities,’” Jarrett said. “Finding out how this worked in a practical sense was the focus of my research. In the productions they use enormous cloth, lighting and projections in an outdoor setting. I followed and documented the technical team as they set up and took down the production,” Jarrett said. Jarrett is in the process of producing a film on her research. “I am making a documentary titled ‘Many Visions of Theater’ that will focus on the construction of an ‘Invisible Cities’ performance, as well as site-specific theater in general,” Jarrett said. Jarrett has never tackled a film project before, but she’s not letting that stop her. Authenticity of experience is driving this project. “I really like making things. It was easier for me to record and video what was happening and also be a part of it. I feel like I couldn’t really capture that in writing,” Jarrett said. Moving forward, Jarrett sees a bright future in filmmaking. “It’s kind of my base. It’s what I’m building. It’s my little Frankenstein’s monster,” Jarrett said.
Both Morabito and Jarrett will be working on their research this coming fall.
Replace school with screen AUSTIN DAVIDSON A&E CONTRIBUTOR
Conventionally, to get a good, stable job in this world, I’d need at least a master’s degree. Or if I really want to get to the big times I’d need a Ph.D. But I think there is a possibility that I can achieve those levels of intellectual hierarchy by different means. I have watched countless hours of movies and TV shows in my 19 years on this earth, and from them I have gleaned priceless and timeless knowledge no professor nor parent could pass on to me. Like when I watch “House of Cards,” I am learning that the toxic world of politics is dangerous and wrought with corruption. Or when I watch “Breaking Bad” and learn that if you have a large trailer, a master’s degree in chemistry and a psychotic partner, you can build a drug empire and ruin the reputation of Albuquerque, New Mexico. TV shows and movies can discuss and analyze complex topics and ideas without forcing viewers to sit and listen to someone try and explain them. In “Arrival,” director Denis Villeneuve’s latest masterpiece, I learned that an alien species will one day land 13 massive
spaceships in random locations across the earth and eventually teach the human race to not kill each other over little things and learn to cooperate. The film also dealt with complex ideas like time, love and how Amy Adams hasn’t won a single Oscar, but Nicholas Cage has. If I ever wanted to become a doctor, I could just watch “Grey’s Anatomy.” All I have to do is push through the absolute garbage acting, and if I really listen to what they are saying, I can figure out how to date McDreamy before he gets killed by bus (which, by the way, is easily the stupidest way to kill off a character ever). Additionally, if I wanted to learn how to be a successful and surprisingly likable serial killer, I could just watch “Dexter” to see the character carve his way into our hearts and nightmares. In “The Fate of the Furious,” Paramount Picture’s latest successful attempt at tricking the sheep into watching Vin Diesel try to act, I could learn that friends are family and practical laws of physics, conventional means of communication and the basic techniques of acting aren’t necessary to make a billiondollar hit in the box office. While Trinity has many great professors and students, none of them could teach me the things that movies and TV shows can. cont. on PAGE 19
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT • AUGUST 25, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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Rashaad Newsome brings new exhibit to McNay Unconventional media piece focuses on black lives and LGBTQ empowerment ABIGAIL WHARTON A&E CONTRIBUTOR
The Harlem ballroom scene, voguing and New Orleans bounce music are hallmark traditions of LGBTQ history. They are also key thematic pieces in Rashaad Newsome’s body of work. While not something you would typically encounter in an art history survey class, Newsome creates forceful commentary on systemic oppression. Newsome’s piece “KNOT” is currently on display on the McNay Art Museum’s AT&T Lobby wall, and will be in San Antonio through January. With it comes the unique opportunity to engage with unconventional media and multi-layered subject matter. “KNOT” celebrates race and sexuality through a video installation with colorfully rich and spatially intense visuals. Dancers in Christian Louboutin heels move across fantasy landscapes that mix baroque architecture with hip-hop flair. They improvise in the quick, rhythmic movements characteristic of voguing and bounce. Though popularized through contemporary hip-hop music videos and pop culture icons like Madonna, these dances have deep and often-overlooked roots in the black LGBTQ communities of New York City and New Orleans. The bounce and ballroom subcultures have acted as expressive platforms for gay, transgender and gender non-conforming youth of color for decades. Newsome was raised in New Orleans and works primarily in New York City. To understand his work, one must understand the connections between the music, the dances and the communities they came from. Bounce music draws from the call-andresponse chanting traditional to Mardi Gras, often dealing with sexual innuendos or callouts between neighborhoods in New Orleans. Bounce is often credited with the creation of
School & screen cont. from PAGE 18
One of my many dream jobs is to be a film director, to lead people much more talented than I and try to create a cohesive and fun 90-minute film while hoping that it makes enough money for me to pay off the producers. I can’t learn those skills from a chalkboard or by paying $45,000 a year at some liberal arts college in San Antonio. I can only learn the true nuance of the silver screen by gluing myself to it for years and years until I have a full grasp of why Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson is the most successful actor of 2016. Being a film buff isn’t for everyone. Some people enjoy eating healthy and sweating a lot, while I enjoy plopping myself on my bed and watching “Friends” for the fifth time. Everyone has their own way of finding happiness and learning outside the classroom. But if those health nuts and gym rats ever get tired of tearing their muscles apart, the newest season of “Game of Thrones” is superb. I would love to learn how to ride a dragon.
twerking and similar gyrating dances. Voguing is the language of the New York City drag ballroom scene. The dance exaggerates model poses and emphasizes personal attitude and stage presence. Bounce and ballroom both deal with creating a sense of grandeur and magnificence in the midst of communities that are often restrained by poverty and low socioeconomic status. During traditional bounce and ballroom events, people come together to make the wildest party atmospheres possible. It is a form of escapism. It is taking a handful of hours out of hardship and indulging in the highs of a good party. At first glance, “KNOT” is confusing and mildly obscene. The dancers are scantily clad and the dancing itself can be misconstrued as overtly sexual. If “KNOT” were shown on TV, any mother would certainly change the
channel. But Newsome rightly claims a space for himself in the art world by showcasing what some people pointedly try to ignore. Bounce and ballroom are homes to disenfranchised LGBTQ people of color, one of the most marginalized populations in the United States. We often define success in terms of education, health and elevated socioeconomic status, things that are not easily attainable for this community. Individuals that struggle to bootstrap themselves into these rigid parameters are often looked down on, and the ‘otherness’ of their subculture often further separates them from what we consider a legitimate lifestyle or art. The documentation of these creations and continued interpretations of these traditions are vital for the preservation of an inclusive and expansive art scene. This is not the first time the McNay has shown an exhibition featuring an artist
of color or a member of a marginalized community. In 2014, the museum displayed Guillermina Zabala’s video installation entitled I, Me, Light, which explored the diversity of self-defined identity within the culture of San Antonio. The Carver Community Cultural Center is a continuous platform for black artists’ work in our city. Work can be seen on stage and in their gallery this season. Newsome’s installation at the McNay, however, seems to be part of the rising trend of examining the connections between an artist’s identity, cultural context and work. Additional work of his, both traditional and unconventional, can be seen through his online portfolio. Trinity hosts student groups that offer support to the greater campus community. Connect with Black Student Union and PRIDE for more information.
S P U O GR G N I T O PROM Y T I S R E DIV NITY AT TRI N
graphic by TYLER HERRON
Sports
Hey Tigers! This is where we’ll feature athlete spotlights. Email sports editor Julia Weis at jweis@trinity.edu if you know any athletes who should be featured here!
Goals: A season preview on women’s soccer
The women’s team expects an exciting, yet challenging season to kick off on September 4
The defensive prowess of the Tigers is what allows the team to keep possession of the ball for the majority of the game. “One of the things we will be focusing on is defending as a team, which will lead to offensive success,” Kelly said. Cole explained how the players rely on outside crosses and wide balls to make the job of the opposing defense harder.
ELISE HESTER
SPORTS REPORTER The Trinity University women’s soccer team can score more in a single game than some competitors score in an entire season. The Tigers, 21-time Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) champions, play one moment at a time while staying aware of and prepared for the future. With each goal they score, the Tigers work toward a higher goal. “We’re taking it one game at a time right now and always focus on our next game,” said senior forward Julia Camp. “Long-term, we want to win the National Championship. That’s our ultimate goal.” The Tigers are back and ready to fight for their shot at the ultimate goal. Returning to the pitch are 20 players, seven of whom were starters, fresh off last year’s 23-1 record; they were undefeated in the regular season. The Tigers fell in the quarterfinals of their 22nd NCAA Tournament to Washington University in St. Louis, who went on to win the NCAA championship.
“I am really excited to see what the new incoming freshmen are going to bring to our team. JULIA KELLY SENIOR MIDFIELDER
“We have a lot of people returning, so I think we’re just all really looking forward to building on what we had last year and continuing to get better,” Camp said. New recruits also promise to add fresh blood to an already dominant roster of athletes. The first years include three defenders, two midfielders, a forward and a goalkeeper.
“Passion translates to wins.” JULIA CAMP SENIOR FORWARD
Senior forward SABRINA PESCATORE cuts through her opponents. Photo by CHLOE SONNIER
“We have a lot of great players coming back. We also have a strong incoming class and a handful of players who were injured last year,” said senior midfielder Julia Kelly. “I am really excited to see what the new incoming freshmen are going to bring to our team and how we will build on our foundation from last year.” The Tigers have spent the summer counting down the days until they could play again with their teammates. “I miss the team so much,” said junior midfielder Chelsea Cole. “There is just something about the feeling of getting out on our field and playing together again. It’s exciting to see all the energy and all of our hard work over the summer play out.” “Everyone is super excited. Our season is my favorite time of the year, and I think I speak for the team when saying that’s true for everyone,” Camp said. “It’s been a long wait and we can’t wait to play again.” With that excitement comes an expectation and preparedness for the challenges ahead. “The hardest challenge will just be getting
used to playing with each other again. It always takes a little bit of polishing for things to look the way they should, and we still have a lot of work to do with that,” Camp said. The Tigers begin their season Sept. 1–2 in Virginia Beach, Virginia against Christopher Newport University and Virginia Wesleyan University, both of whom, like the Tigers, are nationally ranked. “They’ll be two tough games, but we plan on winning,” Camp said. At the helm of the team is head coach Dylan Harrison. The Trinity soccer alumnus is beginning his sophomore season coaching the team with a greater knowledge of his players gained from his first season last year. “Everyone was a little unsure of what to expect at the beginning of last season, but I think [Harrison] is unlike any other coach. With him we have more confidence and play more relaxed. We are more grateful for him than he knows,” Cole said. “Dylan is really good at finding what each individual player can bring to the game and encouraging them to do what they do best at all times.”
“We like to switch the field, get the ball out wide, and score off of crosses,” Cole said. “The majority of our goals are scored in the six-yard box. As long as we make good runs, crosses from the outside are hard to defend, so we will try to get the ball out wide as much as possible. We also have players with a lot of pace on the outside that are able to beat defenders and put crosses in. We like to build the attack out of the back when we can, instead of trying to beat the defense with long balls, which is just another part of being a possession-oriented team. And when we don’t have the ball, we do our job and half of someone else’s job until we get it back.” “We plan on working really hard and just enjoying every minute of it,” Camp said. “Passion translates to wins.” “I am also excited for our disco ball locker room speaker,” Cole said. “It was a personal request of mine for the locker room. Oh, and I am also excited to win games. That’s the most important part.” The Tigers host Sul Ross State University in their opening home game on Monday, Sept. 4 at Paul McGinlay Soccer Field, before hosting Aurora University on Sept. 8 at 5 p.m.
Volleyball looks to take down D-III national champions The Tiger women will face off the reigning champions, the Calvin College Knights, on September 1
The tiger volleyball team prepares for the upcoming tournament. File photo
HAILEY WILSON
SPORTS REPORTER Fall sports are upon us, and with the beginning of the season come preseason games. Usually, teams schedule a few nonconference games to gear up for SCAC action. The women’s volleyball team is setting the bar particularly high this year.
On Friday, Sept. 1, the Tiger women’s volleyball team will have an opportunity to defeat last year’s Division III national champion, the Calvin College Knights. Each year, Trinity University hosts the Trinity National Invitational, where teams from all over the country convene in San
Antonio to get some preconference games in. This year, the Tigers will be hosting teams from Washington, California and Michigan. Calvin was ranked the No. 1 women’s volleyball team in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The Tigers were ranked 14th in the nation. The Tigers have six starting players returning to the team this season, including First Team All-American Kirby Smith and All-Region honoree Madeline McKay. Although the Tigers have a strong core, one of their best assets is the wide range of talent on the team. “There’s not really one star,” said sophomore setter Katrina Lieberman. “We all feed off of each other really well and I think our team chemistry is really good.” Assistant coach Aly Lilley stressed that the Tigers are preparing for the game as if it were any other. “We treat every one of our matches as important as one against a team like Calvin. We are focusing on all skills, but working hard to specifically improve our team defense,” Lilley said. The Tigers rarely think of one match as adequate preparation for the entire season. “All of our games mean a lot to the team,” Lilley said.
Lilley emphasized that all of the matches this year are going to be tough. “Playing teams like Calvin, California Lutheran and Wisconsin-Whitewater will definitely prepare us to play at a high level consistently and right from the start of our season,” Lilley said. The Tigers play eight different top-25 seeded opponents this season, and six of those teams are in the top 10. During the Trinity National Invitational, the Tigers square off against sixth-seeded Cal Lutheran and 23rdseeded Wisconsin-Oshkosh. “We have an amazing opportunity to play some of the greatest teams in the country,” said sophomore middle blocker Maggi Linker. “It gives us a special opportunity to treat every game the exact same.” The Tigers will then travel to Thousand Oaks, California to play in the Cal Lu Fornia Invitational. They’ll see even more competition there, facing seventh-seeded Claremont Mudd Scripps. The Tigers’ first game is on Friday, Sept. 1 at 3 p.m. against Whitman College, followed by the 7 p.m. game against Calvin. The Trinity National Invitational will be held in Calgaard Gymnasium. In case you can’t make it to the game, they will also be broadcast live on the Tiger Network.
SPORTS • AUGUST 25, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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Meet the most improved runner on Trinity Men’s XC
Despite injury and setbacks, Trinity Men’s Cross-Country runner Andy Cottrell just won’t give up JULIA WEIS
SPORTS EDITOR Sometimes it’s not the star of the team that deserves the attention. Sometimes it’s the guy who wasn’t born with natural talent, but who has clawed and fought his way to reach the top. Andy Cottrell is a junior on the Trinity cross-country and track teams. Over the course of the past five years, Cottrell has run thousands of miles to get to where he is today and has faced many obstacles, but persevered nonetheless. “If you just compare how I was running five years ago in high school to now, it’s just completely different. A lot of that is coaching, and having good teammates and being in the right environment,” Cottrell said. “But I was a baseball player until I was about 16 and then I changed [to cross-country]. So it’s not like it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life; it’s just something I worked for.”
“I think when you’re in a sport, especially like cross-country, it just creates this lifestyle.” ANDY COTTRELL JUNIOR RUNNER
Throughout his running career, Cottrell has dealt with three stress fractures, meaning he was set back several months of training compared to his teammates. During the weeks of swimming and biking he did to regain his strength, there were moments where he doubted being on the team was worth it at all. “I guess it’s hard not to have thoughts like that when you’re super involved in something,” Cottrell said. “I just kind of fought
through it. But yeah, it’s tough. It’s a very demanding sport.” Cottrell spent his first year at Trinity catching up to the guys who quickly became his best friends on campus. “Andy came in with injuries, so that was difficult for him,” said Michael Erickson, a senior cross-country captain. “There’s a lot of extra work you have to put in behind the scenes, and I don’t think other people on the team always realize that. He came back the next year and really outperformed what everyone thought he could do.” Last fall, Cottrell was named by his coaches as the male representative on the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship team. He won 9th place for the men at their conference championship race and was named the Trinity University Cross-Country Tiger of the Year. “I got [the Tiger of the Year award] for most integrity and improvement, and it was a huge surprise, so that was really nice,” Cottrell said. While the runner himself may be humble, his teammates and coaches speak very highly of him. “Andy’s dealt with a lot of adversity compared to some of the other kids that have it a little easier,” said Emily Daum, head cross-country coach. “He’s always kept a really positive attitude about it, and that’s something I will always admire in him and it’s something his teammates can look up to.” Cottrell’s teammates find his place on the team to be invaluable. “He’s probably the most grounded person on the team. You need people like that on the team,” Erickson said. After a surprising comeback during his sophomore year, the team expects him to succeed even more his junior year. “We weren’t really expecting Andy to do what he did. It’s a really neat thing to see someone transform as he did and become one of the top guys on our team over just the course of a year,” Daum said. As for his running plans for after college, Cottrell suggested that the way he runs may evolve, but that it will always be a part of his life.
ANDY COTTRELL is excited for this cross-country season. Photo by JULIA WEIS
“I think I’ll keep running but it’ll be in a different way. I’d like to get into some longer distances, like marathons. I think when you’re in a sport, especially like cross-country, it just creates this lifestyle. It kind of sticks with you, even after you’re done,” Cottrell said. You can catch Cottrell racing through the Olmos Basin at the first cross-country meet of the year on Sept. 1 at 7 a.m.
Intramural field to be dedicated to former IM director The Trinity community will come together to celebrate Jim Potter on August 25th at the IM field JESS JENNINGS
SPORTS REPORTER Trinity’s intramural (IM) field will be dedicated to alumnus and former IM director, Jim Potter. The field and scoreboard will take his name officially at a dedication event this Friday, where he will celebrate and be celebrated by friends, family, Trinity and all welcome merrymakers. A small reception will be held on the field at 4 p.m. this Friday, Aug. 25, before the ceremony and unveiling of the scoreboard at 5:30 p.m. Students and faculty are encouraged to attend and celebrate Jim Potter and his legacy, which will finally be solidified on Trinity’s campus. “We have been working on approval to name the field in Jim’s honor for many years,” said Bob King, director of athletics. The event will host Jim and his family as well as any who wish to join and bear first witness to the newly christened field and scoreboard. The ceremony will also serve as an unofficial kickoff for the 2017 Hallympics, which will be the first IM event to take place on the Potter Field. “It’s a ‘mix and mingle’ of those who worked for him in the past and those who want to come and celebrate him, a living legend of Trinity, if you will,” said Kristen Harrison, associate athletic director for recreation and sports camps. “Everyone is encouraged to come participate and be there for the unveiling.” The man of the hour, Jim Potter, was Trinity’s IM director for over 30 years before he retired from the position in 2000. Those on campus who were able to get to know Potter before he retired count themselves lucky. Many people agree on his exemplary character and the strong influence he held over Trinity. Heather Haynes Smith, assistant professor of education, worked under Potter in the IM office before he retired. Smith spoke fondly of Potter’s demeanor around the office and the environment he
JIM POTTER pictured during his time at Trinity. Photo provided by KRISTEN HARRISON
helped create for his workers. “The intramural office was the coolest place on campus. He always asked about how all of us were doing and was there to talk to if you needed support or advice. I am so thankful I met him and got to work with him and all the fun IM staff. They were like family and took care of me,” Smith said. Much of Potter’s influence and many of his implementations have stuck around Trinity’s campus. Members of the athletic department, like King, hope that Potter’s impact sticks around for the long haul.
“The current [recreational] sports programming was designed by Jim. His policies, procedures and [operations of recreational] sports are still being used 17 years into his retirement. I think that Jim elevated the status of recreational sports on campus. He was a dynamic leader with a great passion for his work,” King said. Harrison, who is entering her second semester with Trinity, is excited to bring back some of the traditions Potter established. Even with the limited time she has had
with TU’s athletic department thus far, she expressed her appreciation for Potter and excitement for the dedication. “I’d like to revive some of the sports he had at Trinity. It’d be great to have the Jim Potter sportsmanship award for IM sports renewed,” Harrison said. Harrison also hopes that first-year students and others unfamiliar with Potter will attend the event and put a face to the name of the new field. The first-years will be the first class to know the IM field formally as the Jim Potter Intramural Field throughout their Trinity experience. “First-years can see a name and face together. They will see the name ‘Potter Field’ and will remember who it was that it was dedicated to. It’ll start from them,” Harrison said. King is excited to honor Jim Potter with the field and see the completion of the work and devotion that the athletic department has made in making this event happen for him. King is confident in the importance that the dedication will have for Potter and his loved ones. “I know that [the dedication] means a great deal to Jim and his family. I want to thank the many people who worked on this tremendous day for Jim, and I’m sure he is grateful to all of those people as well. I also want Jim to know that the athletic department is honored to have a field on campus in his name,” King said. Potter’s daughter Christa Scannell also spoke on his behalf regarding their family’s excitement and the support they have received. “This has been such an exciting process. Since Dad got the call from President Danny Anderson, there has been an outpouring from former students and staff over email, Facebook, sending letters, talking about what IM meant to them,” Scannell said. For those interested, you can register for intramurals at its website, imleagues.com/trinity. Students are encouraged to get involved, experience the excitement and celebrate the legacy of the man who made it all, or at least most of it, happen.
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 25, 2017 •
SPORTS
Trinity football switches to SAA conference
The team will take on completely new opponents this year, eliminating old rivalries in the SCAC
Illustration by ANDREA NEBHUT
JESS JENNINGS
SPORTS REPORTER Trinity football is tackling a new conference this semester. With an influx of first-year players and new teams to face, Tiger football is changing the game. Until recently, the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) hosted all of Trinity’s varsity sports teams. However, this year SCAC decided they did not have enough competing teams to support a functioning football league and dissolved the section. With the teams splitting into new divisions, the Tigers have left behind certain rivals and traditional faceoffs, such as the Texas Lutheran University Bulldogs, but the players are excited to enter a larger and more competitive league. “We’ve been playing in the SCAC for a long time. We got to know the same teams, so I’m excited about getting to play new teams and see the new competition,” said Reese Matthews, sophomore defensive end. Tiger football has joined the Southern
Athletic Association (SAA) and the schedule has them facing teams such as Austin College, Berry College, Birmingham Southern College, Centre College, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, Rhodes College and Sewanee. The association involves more interstate matchups and, as such, the Tigers will be traveling by air significantly more than they have in the past. “We’ve got five away games and we are flying to all of them. I think we are all excited about traveling. Five flights is a big deal for a DIII school so we are excited to put our name out there, and we know that when we come home we will have people excited to welcome us back and see us play,” Matthews said. The Tiger football team is taking to the air and stepping outside of Texas more often. The Trinity name will follow the team to new corners of the country. “We are looking to be undefeated away and at home,” Matthews said. The SAA football division is larger, newer and more nationally extensive than the SCAC. Head coach Jerheme Urban mentioned
some of the benefits he has foreseen of joining a new and potentially more compatible league like the SAA. “We’ll be seeing some tradition-rich rivalries within the SAA and getting back into a conference with schools that are academically aligned with Trinity,” Urban said. The team, however, has focused sparingly on studying the new competition and has instead directed their attention towards uniting their efforts. They’ve watched some footage of the new competitors, but have firmly expressed their commitment to focusing on themselves and the games that are closer at hand. “We’ve been focusing on ourselves, trying to get our techniques ready. We’ve been watching some footage on the other special teams but mostly we have been preparing for this scrimmage with TLU and then going up against Hendrix,” Matthews said. Jordan Williams, senior free safety, also spoke strongly on the team’s confidence and the importance of their head-game for the upcoming season and all the changes it will bring. “We have a new mindset from last year. We’ve gone in with mindsets [that] win. We can’t win without having a relationship that shows on the field, in order to get the job done. The SAA is built upon harder teams that will bring the hat and the mentality to win. I’m not saying it’s gonna be easy, but we have a team where we are all built on community, brotherhood and love,” Williams said. Williams and Matthews, both returning players, are also excited for the first-year players who will enter the SAA with their arrival to Trinity. Though there is something to be said for nostalgia and tradition, both players believe that the conference change will offer more benefits than drawbacks for the first-year Tigers and the future of Tiger football. “It was cool for me last year to see how we played against TLU and Southwestern, so the freshmen might miss out on that, but it’s cool for them because they get to come in right with the new change and this new conference will be regular for them,” Matthews said. The Tigers seem to show excitement for the competition, confidence in their program and pride in each other. “We’re excited to be out there on the field and do what we do best, which is win,” Williams said.
FALL 2017 LEAGUES Team Registration Deadline: August 30, 2017 at Noon
09/09 Tubing 09/16 Pace Bend Cliff Jumping
10/28 Mission Trail Biking 10/04 Canoeing
09/23 Horseback Riding
09/23 Lost Maples Hiking
10/07 Volunteer Dog Walking
10/07 Robber Baron Spelunking Spelun
10/21-10/22 Camping
Thanksgiving Backpacking Trip
10/28 Mission Trail Biking
Flag Football
Indoor Volleyball
Divisions:
Divisions:
CoRec (M & W) - Thursday Corec (M & W) - Monday and/or wednesday Men - Sunday and/or Wednesday Men - tuesday Woman - Tuesday
Women - Sunday
Register at IMLeagues.com/Trinity
Follow us @ TU_Recreation Questions? Contact Kristen Harrison at KHarris3@Trinity.edu
SPORTS • AUGUST 25, 2017 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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Spring championship recap Track and field and tennis shine at national level
Less than 5 minutes from campus!
Junior WILSON LAMBETH and senior MATT TYER fought hard at Tennis nationals. File photo
HAILEY WILSON
SPORTS REPORTER For most Tigers, the month of May signals one thing and one thing only: the start of summer. Yet, for a few Tiger athletes, the month of May brings on a whole new meaning: May is championship season. Last spring, several track and field athletes competed in the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Matthew Love, a senior from New Braunfels, Texas, represented Trinity in the men’s discus. Love finished in 11th place with a mark of 46.23 meters. Molly McCullough, a junior from Portland, Oregon, placed 15th in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11 minutes, 5.19 seconds. Senior Britney Sullivan competed in her fifth consecutive track and field championships; she finished in 12th place for the women’s triple jump. “I prepared by really relaxing my mind a lot,” Sullivan said. “I practiced my technique and form, and took a lot of rest.” Sullivan emphasized the importance of having fresh legs before all of her races. She does a 30-minute shakeout prior to the race, and relaxes up until it is her time to hit the runway. “Right before the event, you line up in order,” Sullivan said. “They announce your name and your school and you wave to the crowd. It’s really exciting because you’re about to hop on the runway and compete in front of all of these people.” At the 2015 outdoor nationals, Sullivan finished 19th, and she finished 13th at the 2016 indoor nationals. She plans on qualifying for the championships again this year. “I’m thinking about making a few changes to my technique to make things more efficient,” says Sullivan. “I’m just going to take better care of my body and making sure it’s ready for a sixth national championship.” Two Tiger athletes earned men’s and women’s All-America honors at the Division III Championships. Senior Cody Hall placed fourth in the men’s 110-meter hurdles, which earned him his second All-America accolade.
“It feels great to finally see my hard work manifesting into accomplishments at the national level,” Hall said. Hall prepared himself for the championships just like it was any other meet. “I avoid psyching myself out by sticking to my routine and viewing each race as just another race,” Hall said. While Hall does try to downplay what is at stake, he admits how exciting it is to compete with some of the best athletes in the country. “Knowing that all the other athletes warming up around you and competing are within the top 20 in the country for [Division III] in their respective events really makes competing at that level so much fun,” Hall said. “The fans show up in big numbers at nationals and cheer for every race, so I always feel like someone is in my corner while I’m running.” His key to success? “I always have to have my favorite race day meal before I compete — Frosted Flakes,” Hall said. Ayriel Coleman, a sophomore from Galveston, Texas, placed seventh in the women’s triple jump. Her mark of 11.98 meters broke the school record, and Coleman became Trinity’s first track and field athlete to earn All-America honors as a first-year. Track and field wasn’t the only sport to compete at the national level last spring. Tiger men’s tennis duo Wilson Lambeth and Matt Tyer competed in the Division III Men’s Tennis Doubles Championship in Chattanooga, Tennessee in May. Lambeth and Tyer came up short in the quarterfinals to Carthage College. The two were the first doubles team to advance to the NCAA quarterfinals from Trinity since 2010. “Last season was the first time we played together so some things were different than our last partners,” Tyer said. “Time and experience playing together has helped us constantly improve match by match, which we hope will continue throughout this next season so we can have another chance at nationals in the fall.” Lambeth and Tyer will have a chance to redeem themselves, as they’ll both be returning to the court this year.
UPCOMING EVENTS Volleyball
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • AUGUST 25, 2017 •
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