Issue No. 7
Fall 2023
Letter from the Editor Welcome to Moody Magazine’s fall 2023 issue. Whether you’re reading us in print or online, we’re glad you’ve chosen the Moody College of Communication’s source for insider and impactful storytelling. This semester proved quite busy and transformative for our team as well as the entire Communication Council (CC). This fall, Moody Magazine welcomed back many returning writers and designers, as well as talented new members. After the tremendous effort of our Summer 2023 News Memo by a small group, I am extremely grateful to have a more expansive team helping to put this special project together. I also want to offer a special shout-out to our Associate Designer, Grace Xu, who created our incredible cover. The production of this magazine wouldn’t be possible without her! Additional thanks to Emily Quigley for editing our stories and Dean Kyle Clark for his constant guidance! Our previous issue delivered many firsts. We published the most extensive summer edition ever, printed copies for the first time and moved closer to our goal of making Moody Magazine as visible as possible. This semester, we also pushed to diversify our coverage and cover every corner of the college and our students’ experiences. We also worked across the Forty Acres, collaborating on a creative competition with the Liberator Magazine, a product of the Liberal Arts Council. This project not only helped bring new eyes to our publications but gave students outside of our organizations a platform to share their work. As you read this edition, I hope each piece resonates with you, whether you’re a faculty member, student, staff member or just a die-hard Longhorn. Every story we’ve included has a story of its own behind it, and a true purpose. From Emmy Awards to European adventures, this edition has it all (or at least all we could make room for). Our team loves Moody College and has dedicated countless hours to putting this together, and I look forward to hearing from you, the reader, as you engage with our latest issue. Until our spring 2024 edition, happy holidays, happy New Year and thank you as always for reading. Hook ‘Em,
Logan Dubel
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Editor-in-Chief, Moody Magazine
@utmoodymag
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 4-5 ............................................................................................Meet the Staff 6-7......................................................................Moody College Updates 8-11 .....................................................Profile: Professor Korey Pereira 12-13 ......................................................................................BurntX Revival 14-15 .........................................................................Texas Policy Briefing 16-17..............................In Focus: Center for Media Engagement 18-23 ........................................................................Student Experiences 24-25......................................................................Feature: Frothing Fest 26-27 ..........................................................................Major Mood Board 28-31 .........................................................Writing Competition Entries 32 ................................................................Letter from the CC President 33 ....................................................Dates to Remember: Spring 2024 34-43 ............................................................................Photovoice Project 44-47 ...............................................................................Fall 2023 Recipes @utmoodymag
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MEET THE STAFF LOGAN DUBEL EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ALEX ROEDER CHAIR PAIR, CONTENT EDITOR, REPORTER & DESIGNER
Photos by Madison Morris
GRACE XU ASSOCIATE DESIGNER & SENIOR REPORTER
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KASSIE ARAQUE SENIOR REPORTER
Fall 2023 Issue
ALAYNA KOZAK SENIOR REPORTER
ALYSSA LINDBOLM SOCIAL MEDIA CONTRIBUTOR
SOFIA ALVARADO GENERAL REPORTER
KELSEY SIMMONS GENERAL REPORTER & DESIGNER
RAINNA GOEL SOCIAL MEDIA CONTRIBUTOR Moody Magazine
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NEWS SEARCH FOR NEXT MOODY COLLEGE DEAN ENTERS FINAL PHASE The selection process for Moody College’s next dean has entered its final phase, according to the Dean Search Committee. The committee announced three forums as the semester closes, allowing students to meet the prospective candidates face-to-face. The committee will seek feedback and survey students following the forums, as a final decision draws closer. The next dean will take the reigns from Interim Dean Rachel Davis Mersey, who will return to her role as Associate Dean for Research once a permanent successor is named.
MOODY ADVERTISING PROGRAM, UT PLACE ATOP NATIONAL RANKINGS Moody College and UT Austin continued to draw national praise this fall. Notably, Moody’s graduate advertising sequence, which includes Texas Strategy, Texas Immersive and Texas Creative, ranked as the number one program in the nation, according to College Raptor. Additionally, UT continued its run as the top public university in Texas, and jumped up to the ninth-best public school in the country, based on the latest rankings from U.S. News & World Report. Overall, UT sits at number 32 when stacked against all public and private universities, with standout programs in accounting, finance and marketing.
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Fall 2023 Issue
ROBERT MOODY, COLLEGE’S NAMESAKE, PASSES AWAY Robert L. “Bobby” Moody Sr., the businessman responsible for the historic $50 million endowment that transformed the Moody College of Communication a decade ago, passed away at 88 in November. At the time, the gift was the largest endowment ever provided for a public communication school. Moody and his foundation also guided the creation of the Moody Center and ACL Live at the Moody Theater.
NEW LEADERSHIP IN TEXAS STUDENT MEDIA By Kelsey Simmons, advertising freshman
With the promotion of Gerald Johnson to lead innovation at Moody College, Will Parchman took his place as the new director of Texas Student Media in November. TSM oversees The Daily Texan, the Texas Travesty, the Cactus Yearbook, KVRX 91.7 FM, Burnt X, TSTV and The Drag Audio. Parchman previously served as the director of student media at UT Arlington and worked in sports journalism. Alongside Johnson, other TSM professionals received promotions. Emily Cohen will now be the Director for Marketing, Agency and Advertising Operations, Frank Serpas III will now be the Assistant Director for Business and Media Operations and Marlies Arevalo will now be the Manager for Advertising and Revenue/Product Strategy. In conjunction with Cohen’s new role, TSM is launching a full-service, student-run advertising and PR agency with the Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations. TSM is phenomenally positioned to continue to be a national leader in the college media space moving forward, and I’m honored to play a role in that. My aim is to build on the legacy Gerald laid down these last nine years by continuing to grow our revenue strategy, build on the strong foundation of journalism excellence TSM is known for, and work to produce graduates who become national and global leaders in their space. With TSM’s incredible professional staff and continuing support from Moody buttressing our efforts, the future has never been brighter for TSM. - Will Parchman
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In Conversation with
Professor Korey Pereira
Emmy Award-Winning Sound Editor, Professor
By Sofia Alvarado, journalism freshman
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rofessor Korey Pereira and I started our interview in an unusual way — bumping into each other on the way to our meeting spot. After crossing paths on Guadalupe, he led me to the classroom we planned to meet in, as I had no idea where it was. Here, I got to see Pereira’s eyes light up as he showed me the equipment in the production room. The massive speakers, the mixing board and the cinematic lighting used for screenings — his passion for his craft immediately beamed through.
As we sat by the mixing board to officially begin our conversation, I could tell this was someone fully in their element surrounded by these seemingly complicated and technical tools. However, working on his passion – audio engineering – was not what Pereira thought he would be doing when he first arrived to the Forty Acres. “I started my time at UT as a viola major in the School of Music,” Pereira said. “I came to UT with this idea that I was going to start a record label.”
But Pereira said he felt a shift in his interests when he went on a tour of the University of Texas recording studio in his freshman interest group. “I loved the idea and everything they talked about resonated with me because all through high school, I liked making films and was interested in capturing things,” Pereira said. “I saw this recording studio and heard they had recording classes. So, the next year I took recording classes and fell in love with the process of being a recording engineer.” As he began recording for musicians around the school, Pereira searched for more opportunities to get involved in the world of film, and he eventually landed an internship with Burnt Orange Productions to work on a feature film.
“I got brought in to do dialogue editing, they kind of taught us how to do that,” Pereira said. “Tom Hammond is the supervisor for all of Richard Linklater’s films. He was the supervisor for the class. So I got to learn from him how to edit dialogue, and because of my recording background, I talked my way into also doing the foley recording (post-production sound effects) for the whole film.” It was this connection with Hammond that led Pereira to one of his biggest projects, which he called a step into “the big leagues.” When asked about the comparison between working on larger projects such as “Boyhood” as opposed to smaller ones, Pereira described it as “an opportunity as an editor to delve in deeper and get to another level where you can listen to your work and know that’s absolutely the best that can be done.” Pereira went on to discuss other connections that have helped him ascend to this level. He said each bridge built allowed for another opportunity. “I was lucky enough to get connected with Tim Rakoczy, who supervises Robert Rodriguez’s films, and then I got into that circle,” Pereira said. “I started out as an assistant on “We Can Be Heroes.” By working with that crew, that plugged me into the L.A. scene, so my supervisor on one of Robert’s films put me up for “Stranger Things,” and from there worked on that.” “Stranger Things” was more than just another job opportunity. He received a 2022 Primetime Emmy for outstanding sound editing for his work on the series and has another nomination pending. Pereira called the experience “surreal” and a “nice affirmation.”
Illustration by Amie White
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“Getting a nomination was a huge honor, and then the awards were in this huge space, and everybody’s all dressed up,” Pereira said. “When you’re sitting here, you’re like, ‘Oh, this is so exciting,’ and then you have this self doubt. You think, ‘We’re not gonna win, it’s fine,’ but then, all of a sudden, you see your camera crew come over here. And you’re like, ‘Oh, no, we’re totally gonna win.’ It’s a whirlwind of ideas.”
His passions don’t just stop at sound design. Pereira finds that teaching fulfills him as well. “I got so much out of my experience at UT that I want to make sure I’m passing that on. So, for me, teaching was the way to do that,” Pereira said.
Still, after winning one of television’s highest honors, Pereira said his main takeaway is the importance of building relationships. “You find people you want to work with doing cool things, and then you just keep doing it,” Pereira said. Relationships like these and the connections you can make prove to be another reason why Pereira thinks UT is such a great place for students to get involved. “Going to UT and being in this environment affords you the opportunity to explore other options at a high level,” Pereira said. “For example, I did the Business Foundations program, and that was immensely helpful in my career. It gives you this fundamental understanding of how business works, and it’s taught by amazing professors who give you a jumpstart on your career.” He said the program also helped him to craft a professional reputation that served him well. “You’re creating a brand. If you’re a recording artist, you create an image that people are drawn towards, and I think the same thing happens in the film world,” Pereira said. “Even as a sound editor, you have an image.”
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Photos by Cassie Aquino
Fall 2023 Issue
Pereira said students across any major interested in recording and production skills, not just radiotelevision-film, can benefit from his classes. One of his courses, Sound Design and Mixing, focuses more on understanding the technology behind mixing. Pereira said he likes to create opportunities for students to listen to other working professionals talk about their experiences. “If you’re a journalism major or you’re a director, it’s equally important to understand the process. As a journalist, you’re going to be in situations where you need to record audio, whether you’re on-air talent or behind the scenes. Either way, you have to understand the technology,” Pereira said. “Some of the better stories are when you can feel immersed, and that’s all through sound.”
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As Pereira looks forward professionally, much of his work remained on hold until recently amidst the now-ended actors’ strike. But in Austin, he said he’s excited about making UT the ultimate destination for learning sound. “I would like to grow this program and make sure we have the best facilities and opportunities for students to gain the skills they need, but also the opportunities to go into the industry and be successful,” Pereira said.
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Burnt Revival
By Kassie Araque, journalism junior
“I don’t think that’s the type of journalism experience that our students get elsewhere in TSM or in classes."
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oday, it’s hard to imagine any college campus without its trademark publications and student media outlets. Over a century ago, The Daily Texan began serving students across the Forty Acres and remains a dominant force as the most-awarded college newspaper in the nation. While Texas Student Media (TSM), which oversees the Texan and other campus outlets, has been a fixture for over 100 years, some of its entities had a difficult time solidifying themselves. One of these, Burnt X, has “returned from the dead” after a couple years of sporadic publishing and a hiatus. The publication’s adviser, Katey Outka, who also leads The Drag, a fellow TSM entity, said Burnt X aims to provide a space for pieces that don’t fit the mold of other platforms. “I felt strongly about it because the Burnt X style of journalism — buzzy pieces written with a lot of voice and style — is the type of journalism I spent most of my career doing,” said Outka, a 2013 Moody graduate.
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Co-editor-in-chief Hasina Shah, a journalism junior, said the publication serves as an alternative to the hard-news style of The Daily Texan and the broadcasts of Texas Student Television, allowing students to grow their portfolios. “It won't be a jokey kind of publication - it will still be very newsworthy, but a bit more lighthearted,” Shah said. According to the “Burn Book,” which serves as Burnt X’s how-to guide, the story goes that three students, just a bit younger than Outka, teamed up with then-TSM director Gerald Johnson to start the publication. Johnson had a goal of creating TSM’s first digital-only platform and, within seven months, accomplished it. “I remembered how cool it was that these three people I knew started this cool publication, and it felt really sad to let it go away,” Outka said. Current staff express the same passion for BurntX. “I love the idea of a UT lifestyle magazine and don’t want something so valuable to go away,” said Lillian Vest, Burnt X’s co-editor and a third-year journalism student, in an Instagram post promoting the magazine.
Fall 2023 Issue
Shah said the publication lacked the successorship and legacy of bigger publications on campus. Outka said the pandemic also played a role in its low participation. Now, the staff aims to focus on content, engagement and community to relaunch Burnt X. With pressure still on, Outka said the publication remains at risk and this semester could be the last. “I was told that this was more or less a make-or-break semester for Burnt X — that if we couldn’t pull together students who were committed to keeping it afloat, it would probably just disband,” Outka said. When she originally applied for Burnt X, Shah said her intentions were not to help lead the revival. In fact, when Outka offered the position of editor, she said she rejected the role since it was her first semester on campus. But, Shah said Outka reached out to her and asked if she would rather serve as a co-editor alongside two other students — Vest and Guido Peluffo, a journalism senior — which Shah accepted. The first round of applications, editing and publishing stories has been a success, staff members said. The leadership team felt disheartened after a thin audience at their first meeting for those interested in joining, Peluffo said. By the deadline, Peluffo said they had over 30 applications.
“I want to create a really inclusive, really diverse, really fun organization where people take it seriously and are passionate,” Shah said. The leadership staff said they hope their members will get resume-worthy experience and clips to add to their portfolio. They said they also hope to give them an outlet to explore topics they are passionate about without confining them to a certain niche or considering seniority like other campus outlets. Peluffo said sorting through pitches and articles makes him appreciate the creative people working with him, such as new writer Kimberly Andrade. “I just wrote my first story and got positive feedback,” said Andrade, a communication and leadership junior. “I’m so excited to see the ‘by Kimberly Andrade’ byline when it gets published.”
“That very first orientation we were like, ‘Oh, no, we're not gonna have enough people and the editors are gonna have to do every article by ourselves if we want this thing to work,’” Peluffo said. “We're happy we have a team now.” Shah said multimedia stories in the form of podcasts will be an expansion she’s interested in for the future, but simply taking Burnt X off the ground remains her top priority.
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POLICY BRIEFING WHAT’S HAPPENING IN TEXAS?
PREPARED BY COMMUNICATION COUNCIL’S POLICY COMMITTEE
Illustration by Amie White
What’s the policy committee?
The policy committee takes on the crucial role of staying informed about student concerns and responding accordingly. This involves active participation in UT Senate external general assemblies and UT Senate representative meetings, ensuring a strong connection to the broader student body. One of the primary functions of the policy committee is to craft and propose legislation tailored to address the specific needs and challenges facing students. In the past, the committee has exhibited its dedication to enhancing the student experience by drafting impactful legislation on diverse topics. These include reforms related to Moody’s pass/fail deadlines, streamlining the registration process for greater efficiency, and increasing Moody students’ accessibility to valuable resources such as the Adobe Suite. Through these efforts, the policy committee plays a vital role in advocating for positive change and enhancing the overall university experience for all students.
TEXAS LEGISLATURE Every odd-numbered year, the Texas Legislature, made up of the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate, comes together in a regular session to pass a two-year budget as well as many other laws that come from proposed bills filed by participating lawmakers. This past spring, the Legislature convened its 88th regular session and passed bills relating to various topics that are a high priority for the state. While many bills were passed, this list explains prominent bills that have a direct impact on student life, self-identity and safety.
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Fall 2023 Issue
House Bill 6: Allowing murder charges related to fentanyl poisoning What it does: HB 6 would allow the inclusion of the term “fentanyl poisoning” instead of “fentanyl toxicity” when a death certificate is being completed by medical examiners. The bill also allows the pursuit of murder charges against individuals accused of providing fatal doses of fentanyl to others as well as increases to the criminal penalty. The bill comes after a dramatic increase in overdose deaths related to fentanyl in the state, particularly in teenagers and young adults.
Senate Bill 15: Restriction of transgender athletes in collegiate sports teams What it does: SB 15, which had heavy support from Abbott, prohibits transgender athletes from being a part of college athletic teams that align with their gender identity. While the bill does not impact intramural sports, transgender athletes wanting to join official, intercollegiate teams are required to join teams that align with their assigned sex at birth. Additionally, the bill provides protections for people who report violations of this bill and allows for civil lawsuits to be filed against a college or university that is believed to be violating these terms.
Senate Bill 17: Banning of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion offices in universities What it does: With this bill, universities will not be able to keep or create DEI offices, hire employees to work in DEI or mandate any DEI training to hired faculty and admitted students. Additionally, universities must create and adopt policies that ensure that their campuses remain in compliance with the state’s new law. The legislation also states that the hiring process cannot consider DEI and cannot require diversity statements, or written statements explaining how diversity is included and considered in one’s work. While many restrictions are now in place regarding the presence of DEI in universities, the bill does not affect student organizations, course instruction, guest speakers, admission, data collection or faculty research. With SB 17 now in place, Texas has joined Florida as one of two states to ban DEI in higher education.
Senate Bill 18: Solidification of university faculty tenure What it does: The Senate sought to completely ban tenure but agreed to the House’s counterproposal. The new law gives more power to change tenure in the future to state lawmakers instead of university systems themselves. The bill doesn’t change much about how tenure currently works, but university regents are now required to clearly lay out how tenure is granted, how tenured faculty are supervised and evaluated and how tenured faculty can be terminated. Many are concerned that the bill presents very broad reasons for termination and could allow universities to fire faculty on unreasonable grounds.
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c u o F
s
In
with Sam Woolley and the Center for media Engagement By Alex Roeder, Chair Pair & former Editor-in- Chief
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or over a decade, Samuel Woolley, assistant professor and program director at the propaganda research lab, has been doing important work researching and combating misinformation and disinformation. His research spans across many platforms but centers around artificial intelligence, social media and journalism organizations. Woolley works with Moody’s Center for Media Engagement to conduct research and come up with solutions to make the information ecosystem better function. This includes empowering students to educate themselves on misinformation and disinformation while encouraging them to take an active role in changing the information landscape. The center, from which much of Woolley’s work stems, exists to help democratize journalism. The research conducted there focuses on political communication. It’s about studying (false content) using empirical methods to study how this content spreads, who spreads it and why, and to study what the effects of this are upon society,” Woolley said. “How does all of this harmful, misleading, manipulative content online affect public opinion, especially during elections?”
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Woolley said there are three avenues to study in this research — producers of content, the content itself and how the public receives and processes the information.
Fall 2023 Issue
“Historically, my study has been upon the political campaigns, the PR firms, the grassroots organizations, the corporations and even terrorist organizations that use the internet to spread propaganda for the purpose of manipulating public opinion for a variety of purposes,” Woolley said. Education is key to help audiences better distinguish false content from the real thing, Woolley said. “The biggest thing I think is necessary is media literacy in public schools,” Woolley said. “(People need) informational literacy, better campaigns online and more community-oriented education platforms for people to learn about how they’re being manipulated and what constitutes evidence versus hearsay.” Public policy and judicial precedent are also a piece of the puzzle, he said, especially with how outdated the law is compared to current technology. “It’s like looking at a manual for a 1950s VW Beetle and trying to use it to fix a Tesla,” Woolley said. “We’ve got to have new law to make sure we understand how this stuff should be governed.” However, Woolley recognizes that right now, it’s not glamorous for students to go into the nonprofit work and academic research that can create change in these sectors. But, with all these needs emerging, Woolley said he hopes students take a special interest. “In the next 10 to 20 years, there’s going to be so many jobs in law, in business and policy and in academia, that are focused on creating positive change in the technology ecosystem,” Woolley said. “Students should specialize in that because they’ll be able to find gigs.” Students such as political communication junior Jordyn Tunnell are taking Woolley’s advice. Tunnell currently serves as undergraduate research assistant in the journalism vertical at the Center for Media Engagement. There, she studies coverage of the 2020 election using TikTok and local news. “We’re looking at different local news stations and how they specifically reported on it and how that impacted the way people in certain areas believe that the election was stolen,” Tunnell said. “We’re doing research on the journalism that was done and the outcomes it had on our democracy.” Tunnell has also completed research with UT’s Annette Strauss Institute and the J.J. Pickle Undergraduate Research Fellowship and has integrated her work as a key aspect of her degree. Before she heads to law school, she said she wants to continue her engaging work with these programs and the fun perks they provide. “For the Tiktok stuff, we got special approval from the university to have Wi-Fi to use TikTok on the university Wi-Fi,” Tunnell said. “It’s interesting, and I’ve really enjoyed the experience. I will probably do it for the rest of my time at UT.”
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Praiya Smith
Major: Radio-Television-Film Role: UT Football Media Intern Dear Moody Mag, When an injury during my soccer season sidelined me, I began investing my time towards taking pictures and recording video content of my high school sports teams. I shared my work on Instagram, where I received positive attention. After two years of working for my high school teams, the creative media director for the UT Austin football department, Derek Ochoa, reached out to me with an internship offer. Thanks to his faith in me and my skills, this opportunity has allowed me to showcase my talents to a wider audience and get the ultimate
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Saturday football dream any student could ask for during their freshman year. On top of this, I’ve created a multicultural community around my work. My internship revolves mainly around photography and content creation for the UT football page and media coverage for the UT football team. I work with a team of amazing UT student interns and have found an uplifting and welcoming family with them. I am constantly brainstorming with my peers for ideas after each game, and am always
Fall 2023 Issue
searching for ways to improve. The connections I make through this amazing opportunity are the most rewarding part of the job. Getting to be on the field and seeing DKR from the players’ view is something I never imagined I’d experience.
Moving forward, I plan to use this internship to further connect with the team through the content I learn at Moody. I feel very supported by and involved with Moody College. Hook ‘em, Praiya Smith
Tatom Hoffmann
Major: Advertising Role: Giant Noise Digital Intern
copy for the company's social media platforms. I am excited to return as an intern again in the spring.
Dear Moody Mag,
Hook ‘em,
Throughout my experience as an intern at Giant Noise, I have learned valuable technical advertising skills that aren't taught in the classroom. Creating digital content for large companies within and outside Texas has taught me how to become more confident in scheduling posts, finding user-generated content and copywriting in different tones. Having a good understanding of these technical skills will continue to reward me in my academic and professional career in advertising.
Tatom Hoffman
Having experience interning at an advertising agency gives context to the material in my classes. I can relate my classwork to my intern projects and, on the other hand, I develop a deeper understanding of the class material by applying it in the office. I work alongside outside companies to curate their social media feeds. My tasks include scheduling posts, editing and finding content, reaching out to influencers and writing
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Alexa Georgelos
Major: Advertising Minor: Interior Design Role: Lead Graphic Designer at The Drag Audio Production House Dear Moody Mag, Working at The Drag Audio has been a truly rewarding experience. It’s given me the opportunity to work alongside other creative and talented individuals to craft one-of-kind stories through audio and visual design. Since there is a variety of storytelling in our productions, there is so much opportunity to explore different design styles and continue to grow my design skill set. I’ve learned so much from working with the marketing team about the combination of design and promotion which I’ve been able to apply in my work and my classes at Moody. After my freshman year, I was looking for a way to use my experience in graphic design, so I reached out to The Drag Audio. Katey Psencik Outka happily brought me on staff as a
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graphic designer and I'm now into my second year with The Drag — we’ve all accomplished so much and it’s been a blast! In addition to the many other creative projects we have going on at The Drag, I recently had the amazing opportunity to redesign the logo! Hook ‘em, Alexa Georgelos
Fall 2023 Issue
Campbell Williams
Majors: Radio-Television-Film, Plan II Honors Role: Producer and Host at The Drag Dear Moody Mag, I joined The Drag this past summer, and was super excited to be placed on an oral history project in partnership with the LBJ School of Public Affairs documenting Barbara Jordan’s time teaching at the school. (Jordan was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate since Reconstruction and later became the first Southern African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.) In my role, I have had the opportunity to talk to a range of interesting people who were fortunate enough to learn under Professor Jordan, including professors, attorneys, business executives and even NASA specialists. By interviewing these alumni, I have gained a newfound appreciation for not only UT history, but also the power of audio to immortalize her legacy. I hope my project is an example of the awesome opportunities students have here! I only just transferred into the Moody College of Communication in the spring and was especially drawn to Radio-Television-Film for
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the ability to identify and tell unique stories through audio and visual formats. My experience at The Drag has enlightened me to opportunities in audio. Throughout the rest of my college career, I hope to continue learning more about the possibilities of producing stories, no matter the format. Hook ‘em, Campbell Williams
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LETTERS FROM STUDENTS STUDYING ABROAD Though the Moody we know and love stands at the corner of our campus, connected by the iconic bridge overlooking Dean Keeton, Moody students aren’t confined to this charming area. In fact, you can spot your fellow classmates thriving thousands of miles away, scattered across the globe from London to Singapore. Here’s an exclusive glimpse into what some of these adventurous Moody students have to share about their experiences abroad.
Gefei “Fay” Ye
Major: Radio-Television-Film Program: London Study Abroad Dear Moody Mag, I am currently studying abroad in the UK and absolutely adore traveling around to explore this captivating country. One of my favorite activities is strolling through the streets in the rain. It provides a unique and enchanting experience every time I venture out to explore a new city. This experience has been incredibly rewarding. It has broadened my cultural understanding, given me a unique perspective on cities when walking in the rain and allowed me to form lasting friendships with both locals and fellow international students. It's been a remarkable journey of personal growth and a deep appreciation for the world's beauty, even in its rainy moments.This experience enriches my education by expanding my cultural understanding, fostering adaptability, and improving my interpersonal skills, which are all valuable assets for my academic pursuits. My study abroad experience was truly unique and fascinating. Living in a different country and
exploring the UK provided me with a wealth of new experiences and personal growth. Engaging with diverse cultures broadened my horizons, and walking in the rain added a special dimension to my adventures, making them even more memorable. Hook ‘em, Gefei “Fay” Ye
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Fall 2023 Issue
Andres Cooke
Major: Radio-Television-Film Program: Nanyang Technological University in Singapore Dear Moody Mag, Living in a place that’s completely new to you, and then slowly coming to understand things about culture, history and why people eat and speak the way they do, it builds confidence. But more importantly, once you meet a person, and are able to put the name of a country and culture to a face, it changes the way you think about that place and injects empathy and understanding into your world view. Doing things like a student exchange makes the world a little smaller, which is a cool thing to be a part of. Experience manifests itself in art in different ways. As someone who is considering going into documentary filmmaking, having a bigger, more intimate understanding of places outside of where you grew up helps you tell
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better stories. Now, I have some frame of reference about southeast Asia, so when I’m depicting people from this area or with cultural ties to this area in my work, I can give a more complete and nuanced picture of them. One of the best things about going to a school like UT Austin is that there are so many opportunities to do cool stuff that you would almost never stumble into without being a part of an institution like this. I had pretty much decided as soon as I got accepted into UT Austin that I wanted to study abroad during my junior year. I chose Singapore because I had never been to Asia, knew almost nothing about this side of the world, and wanted to learn through experience. I am super grateful to UT Austin, Texas Global, and Moody for giving me the chance to do this. Hook ‘em, Andres Cooke
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in New Heights
By Grace Xu, advertising sophomore
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Wright, now a senior advertising student, conceived the idea as a freshman, combining two of his favorite ive vocals, reverberating guitars, glimmering things: vintage clothing and concerts. By attending synths and floor-shaking beats define much of Austin’s a Frothing Fest event, audiences can browse many entertainment scene. However, these sounds might goods sold by small vendors and stay for mesmerizing be less expected when serving as the background performances by local artists. music for a shopping spree at various thrift pop-ups around West Campus. But that’s what Frothing Fest is “I was trying to make the vendor market experience all about. something a lot more interactive,” Wright said. From its humble origins as a garage sale in front of his apartment, to regularly selling out shows, Baxter Wright, the founder and visionary behind Frothing Fest, a clothing company that also hosts concerts and vendors, now reaches new heights. Wright’s event entity creates a space for students and concert-goers to let loose and immerse themselves in expression. With its iconic blue logo and whimsical posters designed by Chase Taylor, Frothing Fest is becoming a West Campus staple, having held successful events such as the West Campus Block Party.
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This idea to transform the traditional vendor market experience opens news doors for self-starting creatives. For vendors, it serves as an opportunity to showcase their handcrafted goods and connect with interested buyers, and for musicians, it offers a stepping stone to perform for fresh crowds. Growing in popularity, Frothing Fest holds a dedicated fan base that eagerly anticipates each event. Wright’s devoted following watched him grow as an event coordinator, as the company establishes itself as a unique coalescence in the local music and fashion scene.
Fall 2023 Issue
Images Courtesy of Baxter Wright
“There’ve been a lot of people who have met their best friends at Frothing Fests and a lot of people come back every single time, so we’re really trying to build a community out within the festival,” Wright said. Frothing can serve as a versatile platform for both emerging and established artists, where up-and-coming performers can foster an environment to gain exposure and well-known artists can share their passion for music to an intimate setting. “We have a very mutualistic relationship,” Wright said when describing his relationship with artists. “It’s not like I’m another artist that they feel the need to compete with.” These opportunities have allowed Wright to work with his favorite artists, such as Merlyn Wood from the former band Brockhampton and the acclaimed Matt Ox. Audiences at Frothing events also can witness the rapid growth of artists. Austin-based indie rock group West 22nd went from performing its debut single to celebrating the release of a full EP on Frothing stages.
“It’s cool to see someone who’s a student who has been able to grow something from literally a garage sale into a festival” said Wright, reflecting on his own journey. “I think it makes people supportive.” As Wright prepares to graduate, he said he plans to shift Frothing’s focus, taking the company beyond West Campus. He aims to reach college campus audiences across Texas and expand further through partnerships. More recently, Frothing contributed to the Rainbow Coalition, a student-run nonprofit organization that seeks to enact change through supporting minorities, and participated in kicking off South by Southwest. With fresh eyes on Frothing’s unique charm, its journey of artistic expression and a vibrant community resonates across campus and beyond.
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Illustrated by Grace Xu
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Fall 2023 Issue
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Moody Mag & The Liberator Present: ‘PERSPECTIVES’ WRITING COMPETITION Congratulations to the winners of our first creative competition in partnership with the Liberator Magazine! For our inaugural collaboration, we asked students to share a vision for their “tomorrowland.” Students shared ideas about the future, both personal and broad, and what success means to them and the evolving natural world around them. Stay tuned for details about our next competition in the spring. We are extremely honored to offer students a platform to have their work published!
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Fall 2023 Issue
DORM WINDOW BY MAYA MARTINEZ
For me, my success is not defined by the amount of money I want to make or fame I receive. I want to experience the world, explore as much as I can, and most of all make a positive difference with the life path I chose to take. That’s what this photo represents to me: I look forward and see a bright future shaped by my own perspective. I may not know what it contains yet, but I know there’s something outside that window waiting for me, and that I just have to go out and get it.
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Image Courtesy of the Liberator Magazine
BY ALEXANDER GREEN
What does the future hold for me? As I age and wither into the old man I want to be, I hope to have succeeded in many ways. I’ve always envisioned my future to be one filled with stories and laughter. A man that has spent his life telling others the greatness that he has seen in the world. Every story that I hope to craft by the time I’m an old man will be derived from the life that I have lived, (not the lives of others, but actually mine); all the most joyous and beautiful moments, and the most sorrowful and debilitating ones too. I’ve always had a firm grasp on what a su ccessful life would look like for me. Since the moment my fingers grasped that Magic Tree House book, my path was paved out before me. It’s surreal to find myself living out that dream, seeing the writing I put into the world. It’s also a little terrifying. I like to think that all that I have done will flood into my mind as I sit in my library, surrounded by books, and hopefully loved ones, that lean in to hear Grandpa Green dole out what it means to be a man, or something like that.
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As a writer, the old man has penned dozens of stories about death, this most untimely adversary. Yet, the presence of the reaper is not so daunting. A familiar feeling. One that he has witnessed countless times, both in his stories and his life. He should feel angry, shouldn’t he? He’s watched as the pale rider stole the lives of friends and family with little hesitation. He bucks in his mind, fighting against this sudden feeling. The walls in his mind rocket up. The legion in his mind is called to defend. Every bell and alarm signals off to fight against this tyrannical feeling. His muscles tense and spasm, his mind reaching for things to hold on to. He’s scared. A son without his father. What is there for the old man? He’s lived so long, it feels like there’s little left. His body is slow to respond. His mind is no longer as sharp as it once was. Words don’t have the same meaning anymore.
As I sit in my library, enshrined in numerous books, ones penned by authors who I looked up towards, and ones that I have written, my life comes back to me. I crane upwards to them, and towards the books that are placed at the top of the library, signifying a goal I wish to reach. ‘The old withered man, hands calloused from writing for decades, vision all but faded as he proofreads his final book.
Even with his demise looming over him, his being cannot muster the strength quickly enough to retaliate.
He knows it’s the end.
Death pushes inside, walking past the exhausted guards: seeping into every alleyway and sewer in this shattered city.
It’s odd.
His mind fails. He cannot fight. The walls drop. The stone walls that once kept himself locked away, now wooden and rotted, betray the stalwart man. His legion, nothing more than tired men and women who no longer believe in their city, crumbles away to the unwanted visitor.
Fall 2023 Issue
Death seeks to envelop him. The darkness blossoms further. Latching onto grand monuments and structures in this once holy city. Death constricts all he is.’ Oh, how foolish this old man is. He does not see all that he has done. The lives he has changed, and the lives that have changed him. It’s not just him in this city. ‘A beautiful woman in his past, with kind eyes and a kinder heart. Someone who believed in him. Someone who had seen his writing first. Not just someone, but the one. He holds on to that memory so tightly, feeling his imaginary knuckles growing white as he clutches tightly to the memory. ”Oh.” He is an old man, what use is there in struggling against this plight? Death shall reap the soul of this frail visage. He’s scared. He doesn’t want to forget her. He sees her so clearly, despite his fragmented vision. It’s the only thing that has been clear to him, “why does death want to take her too?” Silence… He does not. The old man feels the presence pass, a tremor in his hands, a twinge in his eye, a flutter in his heart. He heaves one great sigh, realizing it was not threatening, simply an acknowledgment of things to come. Well, he should probably get this book published soon. It would seem his time is closer than he thought. The future means death, an end to me and my stories. As I dance with my future, I tend to grab the hand of death tightly. Forever the partner that I am forced to waltz with, a most practiced and confident one.
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An unwanted engagement, for there is another I’d wish to give myself to.
Suddenly, he is impassioned to write so fervently that he won’t even notice the horrid messages. When I get to the point where I publish my first book, my hope is that I can help one person. To give someone a story that they can enjoy and relate to. Not to change them, but to show what has worked for a sodden old man. He wasn’t always slow or impatient. He once stood as tall as you. He still believes, even if it is altered. That is success.
Yet, for death, I am cheating. The stories that I will have written will be remembered, my name kept alive by the characters that I made. I dance with death, but it’s only because I have someone watching over me. Success is this. To have written enough stories that I embed myself in the literature of humanity, a scribe that will be remembered for their creativity and genius, that will be taught to every ravenous mind seeking to Life is incredibly complicated. Success for elevate themselves’… humanity is indescribable. In 60 years, the issues of the world will be the same. A new That’s a lie. The old man fearing death mask may be adorned, but people will believes that to be true, but I am him. I know always fight for love and safety, that much what is real and what is not. His mind has is true. fallen, mine has not. I like to think so much will change too. To create beautiful stories is true, yet he and There’s a part of me that sees the success I both know we do not write for the world. A of humanity as a shift away from the arts. successful future is to write a book and hand When the stories and tales of man are it to my partner and say “Hey, I wrote this. offloaded to AI. Do you like it?” I know that penning a book for the world is impossible, as much as I’d Maybe it isn’t that bleak, but maybe there is like to create something for everyone. I know some truth to it. What does it mean to create I can’t. I know that I can’t help everyone. I meaningful works of fiction and poetry? know that someone will hate my writing. I That’s depressing, but what if that means know someone will despise me for what I harmony for people? What if the focus is have written. shifted towards humans figuring out humans through speech, rather than That’s good. written words? That is success. For someone to feel passionate about something I wrote.
I don’t know. I can barely see a day ahead of my own life, let alone humanity in 60 years. So, instead of focusing so much on To revere or disparage. The old man in that the actions and outcomes of others, I will chair has received horrible messages about focus on me. While I conceded the point his work. People wonder why he pursued a about helping the whole world, I would be certain narrative.. It’s going to hurt. It hurts remiss if I didn’t impact the world in some him. It killed him. way. In the future, that old man has sacrificed everything so that others may thrive. Yet, there comes a moment when someone Success in the future may mean that he is picks up a piece of writing. They read it. They no longer Alexander Green. The old man find something in it that gives them support, was able to help the world in the way I or a new perspective. In this most precious want, but he gave it all up. That is an moment, all of the work that he has done aspect of success in the future. An old man has been made worth it. who has given it all for everyone else.
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President’s Message Hello, my name is Madison Morris and I am honored to be this year’s Communication Council president! Here in CC, we serve as the official student governing body of the Moody College of Communication and operate under the Senate of College Councils. Through professional development events, passing legislation in the UT Senate, and service, we strive to serve the student body by addressing concerns and implementing changes that Moody students want to see. This spring, our council is accepting applications for our new membership class, and I would like to invite you to apply! We will host information sessions in the Student Leadership Suite leading up to the application deadline at the end of January where you can hear from current members and ask questions. Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates! I also want to give a huge congratulations to the magazine committee for publishing yet another amazing issue of the Moody Mag. I hope you enjoy reading this issue as much as the committee enjoyed putting it together! Also, check out the new policy podcast, created by the media and policy committees! The first episode dives into UT Senate and its latest legsilation. You can find this episode linked on our Instagram. More episodes to come next semester! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our members, who can often be found in our Student Leadership Suite on the second floor of the DMC. Keep an eye out for when applications go live at the start of each semester by following us on Instagram and Twitter (@UTCommCouncil).
Madison Morris
Communication Council President
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Fall 2023 Issue
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spiring in n a d te ia it in s ur committee images to vividly capo f o e n o r, te s e This sem g everyday eriences. This project in z li ti u t, c je ro P Photovoice s their unique cultural exp ht on a variety of s ding lig d e h s , y ture and exprem e rn u jo r the rich le fo b n a o rk ti a ia c re re p a p n a has bee ng a deeper unity. ri te s fo d n a s e v omm perspecti tapestry of our c
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Moody Magazine’s Fall 2023 Recipes
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Fall 2023 Issue
Iced Pumpkin Brown Sugar OAT MILK Shaken Espresso Ingredients • 3 shots of espresso • 1/4 tsp Pumpkin Spice Syrup • 1-1/2 cup Oatmilk • 1 tbsp brown sugar • 1 tbsp Honey
Directions 1) Add honey and brown sugar to your cocktail shaker, or cup with a lid. 2) Fill a bowl with water and ice.
3) Brew your espresso and add it hot into the cocktail shaker. Mix. 4) Place cocktail shaker into the bowl of ice cold water and let it sit there until cooled. 5) Add the pumpkin spice syrup.
6) Add as much ice as you’d like into the shaker or cup. Place lid on shaker or cup, shake for about 30 seconds. Shaking the espresso gives it a stronger, smoother, frothier feel on the tongue. 7) Pour espresso mixture into a cup of your choice. Notice how much fluffy foam there is! 8) Pour oatmilk over, serve, and enjoy!
Chef’s Note A cold drink in the morning might sound crazy to many but not for me nor my fellow iced coffee lovers! This yummy pumpkin treat doesn’t only give you an energy boost, but is also a great way to mark the start of cold weather. I am passionate about coffee and my dream is to someday have my very own DeLonghi Espresso Machine but for now, I’ll have to stick with my stovetop espresso maker. Typical college student things. Experimenting with drink making, especially coffee making has been a hyper fixation of mine. This recipe has been altered, nit-picked and deleted over a period of what seems like million years but I’ve finally mastered it! - Jules Cavazos, Communication Council Internal Director
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Houskové Knedlíky Ingredients
Directions 1) Cube the half loaf of french bread into 1” pieces. Set aside.
• 1 egg 2)Warm up all of the milk in the microwave. The milk should be • 1 packet Frieschmann’s instant yeast slightly warm to the touch. • 1 cup of whole milk • All purpose flour (about 3 cups) 3) Take half of the warmed milk and whisk in the full packet of the • 1 tsp salt instant yeast. Take the other half and whisk in the egg and the salt. • Half a loaf of slightly stale french 4) In a large mixing bowl, pour in both halves of the milk. Then, start bread, cut into 1 inch cubes kneading in the flour. Mix in about 1 cup at a time. Add flour and knead until the dough doesn’t stick to the sides of the bowl. My Babí says to try to try to reach the consistency of play-doh. 5) Mix in the cubed french bread. 6) Take a sauce pan and fill it with about three cups of water. Start warming the water on the stove (place the stove on low, you only want the water to be warm so that the yeast rises faster). Place the bowl of dough over the sauce pan. No part of the bowl should be touching the water. Place a kitchen towel over the top of the bowl. Let sit for 45 minutes. 7) While the dough is rising, fill a large pot (should be able to hold 6 quarts) with about 4 quarts of water. Salt the water and then bring to a roiling boil. 8) After 45 minutes, the dough should be doubled in size. Take it out of the bowl and onto a floured surface. Cut the dough in half, then roll into oval shapes. Make sure to pinch the ends of each roll shut. You should have two rolls of the same size. If they seem misshapen or lumpy, you can wet your hands with water and smooth out the surface of the rolls. 9) Place one of the rolls in the boiling water. Boil for 25 minutes, making sure to flip the roll at the halfway mark. 10) Once the roll is cooked, take it out. Using string or a serrated knife, cut the dumpling into slices, about 1 inch thick. 11) Repeat steps 9 and 10 for the other roll. 12) Enjoy with any type of meat or dipping sauce! (Or you can pan fry them for breakfast like I like to do!)
Chef’s Note
In the 1970s, my mother’s parents moved from what is now the Czech Republic to Texas. Growing up, my mom fondly remembers all of the traditional Czech dishes that my Babí (the Czech word for grandma) would cook for her family. Every year for Christmas, my Babí spends all day in the kitchen preparing some of her favorite holiday dishes. Above is her recipe for her bread dumplings, or houskové knedlíky. Traditionally, these are prepared with roasted duck and red cabbage for holiday dinners, but they are also commonly eaten with any type of cooked meat and sauce combination. My family always eats them for Christmas Eve dinner, so when I eat these dumplings, I think of the holidays and spending time with family! For leftovers, I enjoy them seasoned, pan fried in butter, and eaten with scrambled eggs and sausage! - Quinn Radtke, Communication Council External Director
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Fall 2023 Issue
Caldo Directions
Ingredients • 3 lbs short ribs • 1 onion (diced) • 1 can rotel tomatoes • 5 potatoes • 6 zucchinis • 1 bunch cilantro (chopped) • 3 ears of corn cut in circles • cubbed summer squash (2 lbs) • Cumin ( 3-4 teaspoons) seeds or ground • 4 boxes organic beef broth • 1 Jalepano diced • Beef boil lion cubes (4) • Water
1) Cut the meat from the bone, leaving some on the bone, and cut into cubes. 2) Cook the meat and bones, seasoned with salt and pepper, in oil until brown. 3) Cook the onion, then stir in the broth and tomatoes. Simmer until the meat is tender. 4) Add water, return to a simmer, then add carrots and cilantro. 5) Stir in the remaining vegetables and cook until tender. 6) Ladle into bowls and add garnishes 7) Serve w cilantro and lime wedges
Chef’s Note My Grandpa Johnny passed away before I was born and his Hispanic culture has been carried out by my Grandma. My Great Grandma taught my Grandma this recipe and it has been passed through generations. This Caldo recipe is special to me as my Grandma serves it every Christmas to honor and remember him. Caldo is a Mexican beef soup that is served on special occasions and it is the perfect soup for cold weather. My Grandma also makes me this soup when I am sick and my Grandma’s cooking is a memory I will always cherish. It helps me feel connected to my Grandpa although I have never met him and feel his presence in our family to this day. - Kelsey Simmons, General Reporter & Designer
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