MARCH 2018 COMMUNICATION COUNCIL
PHOTO COURTESY: DRAGAN HIGHRESOLUTION.PHOTOGRAPHY
CONTENTS
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MARCH 2018
STAFF LIST
EDITOR MAYA HAWS-SHADDOCK WRITERS ASTRID ALVARADO DANA HAVLIN MARCUS SLOAN ROOPA NAGARAJAN SARA WILLIAMS DESIGNERS ALEXA CHUNG EMILY WARD JOSEPH WALLACE MICHELA NEWHOUSE URUB KHAWAJA
CONTENTS 03 05 07 08 09 10
CAPPY’S SPOTLIGHT MOODY REP INTERVIEWS NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT SXSW SPOTLIGHT ROOVIEWS MONTHLY MOOD
MOODY MONTHLY
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CAPPY’S SPOTLIGHT
SPOTLIGHT: CAPPY’S PLACE By SARA WILLIAMS Morning routines can be rough. Waking up after what feels like seconds of sleep, throwing on some clothes (or just deciding that your sweats and t-shirt will do), impatiently glaring at the red hand at the crosswalk, and sliding into your seat just as the tower bell sounds is an all-too-familiar routine. The tragic aftermath? Growling stomachs across college campuses. Luckily, Moody students don’t have to suffer, thanks to our friends at Cappy’s Cafe! To show our gratitude, we’re shining a spotlight on unsung hero Mekala Garay, a Cappy’s employee (and possibly the first smiling face you see in the morning).
“I couldn’t stop laughing, and I never did figure out who did it.” When she’s not whipping up a macchiato, cappuccino, or her personal favorite, an iced Carmel latte, you can catch Garay in a local Austin bar or park, accompanied by her “grumpy old dog.” Garay says, “My favorite thing about Austin is all the dog parks and how dog-friendly it is here.” Next time you need a morning pick-me-up or a quick bite before class, be sure to stop by Cappy’s and say hi to Mekala! Cappy’s is located in the BMC and is open every weekday from 7:30 a.m to 2:00 p.m.
Mekala Garay hails from Fort Worth and has been working at the Moody Cappy’s since the beginning of last semester. Although she’s worked at several different coffee shops, her experience at Cappy’s stands out. “These are the best managers I’ve ever worked for,” Garay says, “and I really feel like I’m treated fairly. Everyone is usually very nice and it’s easy just to talk to people.” As she reflected on her work experience, one specific customer encounter came to mind. “Once while working I got air-dropped a picture,” Garay smiled,
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MARCH 2018
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PHOTO COURTESY: ANNA FARIZ ARCHITECTUREDSGN.COM
MOODY REP INTERVIEWS
MOODY REPRESENTATIVES INTERVIEWS
By MARCUS SLOAN
In the wake of a tumultuous Student Government Executive Alliance Election, or rather elections, it is easy to feel drained and removed from a campus that is supposed to have the best intentions of the students at heart. Regardless of who you voted for or which platform points you supported, those of us that kept up with elections are tired. However, it is important to remember that the SG President and Vice President are not the only people who now find themselves representing the voice of the student body. Universitywide Representatives and College Reps alike are preparing for a new year, new challenges, and new triumphs. I had the privilege of corresponding with the two new Moody College of Communication Representatives that were elected. Bryten Otting, a Junior RTF and Government double major, and Mariana Lozano, a Junior Corporate Communication major, both spoke to me about their motivations and their plans as representatives for our college.
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MARCH 2018
MOODY REP INTERVIEWS
BRYTEN OTTING 1. What inspired you to run for this position? I was inspired to run for Communication Representative by the ambitious nature of Moody students. I love Moody and believe we have some of the most talented and driven students, and I ran to guarantee they aren’t neglected or unheard within the campus as a whole. 2. What do you feel like you can bring to the role? I feel I will bring a new energy to the role. I plan to stay fully engaged with the voices and concerns of Moody Students. I will be transparent in everything I do regarding my position and will bring a strong commitment to representing students’ values. 3. What does representing the college of communication mean to you? Representing the Moody College of Communication to me means that I, along with my fellow representative Mariana Lozano, will ensure Moody plays an active role in decisions that affect Moody and UT as a whole. I am honored to represent my peers, so I will take responsibility in making sure their best interests are met. 4. If there was one thing you would want the Moody student body to know about you, what would it be? Well, if I were to ambiguously define myself by one specific thing, I would like the Moody student body to know that my first concert was Destiny’s Child when I was two years old. Take this as you will. Although, disregard the danger of a two-year-old being at a general admission concert, as I cannot speak for whoever was responsible for me that day, but I was Jumpin’ Jumpin’. Anyways, I would like to also inform and quickly ask the student body to use the following link to voice any concerns or issues they would like to be addressed or discussed throughout the next year. It will be a way for me to hear any views I may not be aware of and to better represent Moody. Thank you! https:// goo.gl/forms/qMduVgGnvnuJ0Icq1
MARIANA LOZANO 1. What inspired you to run for this position? I transferred into Moody my second year here at UT and have never felt more at home. When I first heard about this position, I felt inspired to represent those who have fostered the best learning experiences for me, whether it be inside or outside of a classroom. I saw an opportunity to forge an enduring, considerate environment for my fellow classmates and took it. 2. What do you feel like you can bring to the role? As a Latina woman, I think that I can offer some new perspectives on situations that need them. I am excited by the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of Moody students and UT in general. By being attentive and approachable, I hope to be the voice of those who have felt silenced before and bring actual change where it is needed. 3. What does representing the college of communication mean to you? I honestly consider the College of Communication one of the most diverse and engaging colleges here at UT. It is a great honor and privilege that I will be able to serve them and be their voice in our student government. I hope that I will be able to voice Moody students’ issues and create a community full of diversity, excitement, and unity. 4. If there was one thing you would want the Moody student body to know about you, what would it be? I would want everyone to know that they have a friend in me who would love to discuss school issues, books that are made into movies, and all things Beyoncè.
MOODY MONTHLY
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NON-TRADITIONAL STUDENT
WHO IS CONSIDERED A “NON-TRADITIONAL” STUDENT? By DANA HAVLIN
The Non-Traditional Student Organization at the University of Texas considers “anyone who is not your typical first time, full time, straightout-of-high-school college student” to be non-traditional. Any student who identifies with one or more of the following categories:
What types of financial aid options are there for non-traditional students? The Office of Financial Aid offers several scholarships specific to Continuing and Transfer Students, but is more limited in financial aid options for the other classifiers of a non-traditional student. In 2016, UT received an “experimental U.S. Department of Education program that will allow nontraditional students to have access to $17 million in financial aid”, according to a press release from the University. “According to the Department of Education, the goals of the experiment are to test new ways of allowing Americans from all backgrounds to access innovative learning and training opportunities.” Why do non-traditional students feel disconnected from campus life?
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VETERAN RE-ADMIT or RE-ENTRY NON-DEGREE STUDENTS OLDER THAN AVERAGE STUDENT WORKS MIN. 20 HRS PER WEEK WHILE ENROLLED HAS A SPOUSE/PARTNER AND/OR DEPENDENTS COMMUTER/ONLINE/DISTANCE LEARNEERS PART-TIME ENROLLMENT
MARCH 2018
For many students who don’t live the traditional campus life, their reality is often characterized by living further away from campus than the rest of us. On and off-campus student living is not ideal for people with dependents or those who work away from the campus area. Living on or near campus is a privilege that many traditional students take for granted. Proximity to campus makes joining student organizations easier, as it is more convenient for traditional students to meet on campus with fellow members. It is especially difficult for UT students with families to get involved in student activities when most of the events that make campus life great occur in the evenings, when families spend quality time together. There is a similar experience for commuter or online students, where there is a physical separation from the campus culture that traditional students take for granted often.
SXSW SPOTLIGHT
SXSW SPOTLIGHT SXSW SPOTLIGHT SXSW SPOTLIGHT SXSW SPOTLIGHT By ASTRID ALVARADO Every spring, SXSW attracts thousands of people to downtown Austin for nine days of innovation within the tech, film, and music industries. While celebrities are known for taking the spotlight at SXSW, University of Texas at Austin students also had the chance to share in the fame. Undergraduate and graduate students from the Radio-Television-Film department at UT Austin submitted their own films to be seen in the UT RTF Longhorn Denius Student Film Showcase. Graduate student Kenya Gillespie was among those chosen to showcase his film at SXSW and had these things to say about his experience:
MOODY MONTHLY
What did participating in the SXSW community screening mean to you as a director? How was your experience? The SXSW community screening meant a lot to me since this was my first time making a documentary. I was honored to be recognized alongside other wonderful RTF filmmakers. The screening was well-attended and well-received by the audience, which made the experience that much better. What does your film mean to you and what impact do you hope it can bring to its viewers? My documentary “The Crystal City” is about the remains of a WWII internment camp--which held German, Japanese, and Italian internees--in a small desert town in southwest Texas and the stories of some of the survivors who were eventually deported to Germany and Japan. Even though I don’t have a personal connection to the place, I felt drawn to the site of the internment camp when I first visited it, partly because of my own Japanese heritage. I hope the film compels viewers to step into the space and time of WWII in Crystal City and to question their understanding of history and memory. The dehumanization of “the other” and the threat of deportation of minorities are topics that are unfortunately still prevalent today, and I hope that my film shows that we still have a long way to go toward acceptance and understanding.
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ISLE OF DOGS MARCH 2018 DIRECTED BY WES ANDERSON WRITTEN BY WES ANDERSON STARRING SCARLETT JOHANSSON, BILL MURRAY, EDWARD NORTON, BRYAN CRANSTON, JEFF GOLDBLUM
By ROOPA NAGARAJAN
ROOVIEWS
ROOVIEWS
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Many people looked forward to Isle of Dogs as the successor to Wes Anderson’s timeless and critically acclaimed Fantastic Mr. Fox, his first foray into stop motion animation. Anderson’s movies are recognizable by the way he frames his shots and how his characters interact with the screen itself. The deliberate quirkiness lends Wes Anderson movies a certain charm that is instantly attributable to him or his influence. Check out /r/AccidentalWesAnderson to see what I mean.
7/10
dogs that talk, love, and cry has a place in many audience members’ hearts, including mine. I found myself tearing up during multiple scenes, especially those that demonstrated the unfailing loyalty of dogs.
If you’ve seen the trailer, you have a general idea of what Isle of Dogs is about. Dogs are vilified as a threat to health and society, and the country of Japan throws them to the isolated Trash Island. As I mentioned before, the plot of Isle of Dogs is weak. Obviously, Isle of Dogs is far from acci- Every story set in an alternate universe/ dental. In fact, it feels like one of the most reality requires enough world-building to deliberate efforts Wes Anderson has made draw parallels to the world we know. Isle to make a movie that looks and feels like of Dogs has almost none of this. it’s his. Compared to the effortlessness of Grand Budapest Hotel and Fantastic Isle of Dogs is largely about the pro-dog Mr. Fox, there are many instances in Isle characters, including a white foreign exof Dogs that seem simply extraneous. Is change student who works at her school’s it entertaining and visually pleasing to newspaper. The other characters, all paswatch? Of course. But for a movie with a sive but one (the main villain), are an1 hour 40-minute runtime, Isle of Dogs ti-dog. Megasaki City, the fictional city focuses too much attention on aesthetic Isle of Dogs takes place in, is run by Mayor over substance, and that’s where it suffers. Kobayashi, who is also the head of the anti-dog initiative. The anti-dog argument is There are a ton of pleasing elements in based in being pro-cat, but this is someIsle of Dogs, and they raise the movie up thing largely ignored and overlooked enough for it to be an entertaining expe- throughout the movie. As a result, the anrience full of heart. Dogs, for one. Any ti-dog organization is a silent and shallow movie with dogs, about dogs, starring villain in the film.
MARCH 2018
ALBUM
BOOK
MOVIE
RESTAURANT
MONTHLY MOOD
PHOTO COURTESY: BSNSCB.COM
TAPIOCA HOUSE
If you ever crave for some boba in the middle of the night, this tiny shop in Guadalupe will be your best friend. It made one of the best boba in town. Not only it serves top notch drinks, it also serves fulfilling food. The speed of serving also another plus from this little shop. Though you won’t get much if you are looking for a photogenic restaurant. But again the most important thing about a restaurant is the food.
LOVE, SIMON
Tender, sweet, and familiar, Love, Simon is the mainstream romcom that queer teens have been asking for, for years. It captures a nuanced perspective of the coming-out experience that the majority of queer films fail to recognize. Nick Robinson, Simon, brings a likeable groundedness to his first lead role (you may recognize him from the first Jurassic World film) that is only further accentuated by the talent of his supporting actors. However, the true charm of this film is that it blends in near seamlessly with any other teen romance movie. It is important to recognize that queer audiences haven’t had a movie like this to look to. Time and time again the queer experience is boiled down to hypersexual, unhealthy, toxic relationships when represented on screen. Love, Simon is a breath of fresh air.
A MAN CALLED OVE WE BEEFIN’ - AT WENDY’S
MOODY MONTHLY
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