accent issue 1

First Copy Free

Sept. 20, 2011

Volume 14, Issue 1

theAccent.org

Memories from ashes News → Crime and Safety

Karissa Rodriguez

Editor-in-Chief

Expecting to see nothing but ash where his family’s home once stood before the Bastrop County wildfires engulfed his neighborhood in flames, 22-year-old John Beauford drives towards his home on Tall Forest Drive preparing himself for the worst.

“I just can’t believe all this destruction,” Beauford says to his girlfriend Samantha Rogers as they drive past the remains of his neighborhood. Home after home is burnt to the ground and a bleak sense of dread takes over the car’s passengers.

Slowly Beauford pulls up in his driveway and he and Rogers gasp as they observe the scene before them.

Before them lies the charred remains of Beauford’s home where his mom had arrived earlier to sift through the remains to find anything salvageable.

Part of a brick wall remains where their garage used to be and serves as the only semblance that a house once stood there.

“My dad taught me how to fix cars in that garage,” Beauford said. “He used to have this old junker, a Ford F150, it always broke down and my dad would teach me how to get it up

and running again. I loved spending time with him in that garage.”

Rogers gently places her hand on Beauford’s shoulder but he quickly pushes her away stating that he’s okay.

But he’s not.

As soon as Beauford steps out of his car he notices his mom, Maggie, sitting on the remains of their front steps crying and holding something in her hands. Tears start spilling from Beauford as soon as he spots his mom sitting alone among the ashes.

Beauford moves to sit next to her while Rogers waits in the car not wanting to interrupt the pair.

“This was your dad’s,” Maggie tells Beauford as she shows him a charred pocket watch. “He wanted to give it to you a few years back but he just couldn’t remember where he put it.”

Beauford’s dad, Jack, died from Alzheimer’s disease in 2008 and Beauford, who had already moved to Austin to attend Austin Community College, decided to move back in with Maggie.

“I searched everywhere that I could think of to find this watch after he died,” Maggie said. “Even without the Alzheimer’s Jack could never remember where he put anything.”

“Where was it?” Beauford asks his mom.

“I found it in a tin cookie jar,” Maggie told him.

“He always did love your snicker doodles, Mom,” Beauford said causing Maggie to laugh for the first time in days.

The tin cookie jar, along with a fire resistant lock box holding important documents was all that the Beaufords and Rogers could salvage from their home that day.

The Beaufords’ home was one of over 1500 homes destroyed in the Bastrop County wildfires which consumed over 34 thousand

acres in the area, or about 25 percent of Bastrop County, Mike Fisher, the county’s emergency management coordinator said during a press conference on Sept. 13.

900 ACC students live in Bastrop County according to 12th Day Class Data reported in ACC’s Fact Book for Spring 2011.

“I don’t know what’s next for me, but I think that I’m still going to take my classes.”

Beauford said. “I’m only taking two and I kind of need something to keep me grounded.”

ACC students who are affected by the fires are asked to contact the Support Center Specialists at their campus to inform the college about their situation.

Affected students can also apply for the Student Emergency Fund, which is a resource for qualifying students who encounter an unforeseen financial emergency or catastrophic event which would otherwise prevent them from continuing their education at ACC. The Fund awards a maximum of $500 per student.

To be eligible for consideration for the Student Emergency Fund a student must have already completed at least 15 credits at ACC, be registered for at least 6 credits in the semester when the emergency funds would be applied, be able to demonstrate his/ her current financial need with supporting documentation, and have a minimum 2.0 GPA and 50% credit completion rate and be in good standing.

“I’m happy to see that ACC is taking some efforts to help us out,” Beauford said.

“However, for me personally, I won’t be taking advantage of them because I want something other than the fire to focus on. I just can’t let this fire take over my entire life.”

In the meantime, Beauford and his mom plan to apply for federal aid from FEMA and take advantage of other disaster relief organizations such as the Red Cross.

“I’m hoping to rebuild the house my mom raised me in,” Beauford said. “We may not have much, but we have each other and I’m going to do everything I can to make our lives whole again.”

See FLEEING, pg. 8-9 for more student stories

Lauren Sams•Staff Photographer

GREAT LOSS — A stone rabbit lays outside the remains of a home that was destroyed during the Bastrop fires.

FORUM

page 2

Forum → Opinion Columns

From the editor’s desk

Karissa Rodriguez

Editor-in-Chief

The beginning of the semester is always a tumultuous time for any student and this does not exclude the students who work at Accent. I have been working at Accent for a few years now and have seen it grow and flourish, but this semester - by far - has been the most challenging yet and its only just begun.

Over the summer, the Accent’s adviser Matthew Connolly resigned from his position to return to teaching high school journalism.

Connolly is an excellent teacher and his passion for teaching ethical, well-written journalism has helped shape Accent during his tenure.

Currently, Accent is without an adviser due to Connolly’s departure and our editorial staff has been working hard to fill the gaps with the aid of Student Life Communications Coordinator Lori Blewett while Student Life completes the hiring process for a new adviser.

We’ve been told that we should expect a new adviser

www.theAccent.org

Sept. 20, 2011

Forum → Editorial

RRC lacks student needs

sometime around the time this issue hits newsstands, but that hasn’t stopped us from pushing forward with our first issue of the semester.

As Editor-in-Chief I set and finalize all stories to be in the issue and I originally intended to make this issue a short, simple and uncomplicated issue. But then the Central Texas fires broke out and every journalistic bone in my body screamed that we had to cover it somehow.

Instead of rehashing local media stories, we knew we had to keep our coverage centralized to our readers: ACC students and staff.

Accent has dedicated this issue to the victims of the wildfires and for me personally, this has been my most difficult issue to work on and develop since joining the staff because of the heart-wrenching stories that students have shared with us.

I’ve interviewed students who have lost their homes and seen first hand the atrocities that Mother Nature can cause.

You can read their stories in a special two-page spread in this very issue.

In every issue I hope to push our staff further and further outside of their comfort zones to help them grow as journalists and photojournalists. This will not only help our staff become better writers and photographers, it will also help enrich the content we provide for our readers.

Readers can look here to this column every issue to get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what its like working on the Accent editorial staff as we trudge forward through the semester.

Forum → SGA Letters

SGA seeks new student officers to fill positions

Dylan Pera

SGA President Hello, everyone and welcome to a new semester here at ACC. The Student Government Association (SGA) is looking for new members to fill its ranks.

All students enrolled at ACC are automatically members of SGA, but we need more officers!

We want you, your friends, your classmates to stand up and voice student opinion. SGA is currently looking to fill 21 open student officer positions, with officer positions available at every campus and constituency.

Students involved with SGA will also be afforded the opportunity to sit on one or more of the 31 Shared Governance Committees. These positions are paid and allow students to vote and be a part of institutional decision making here at ACC. Get to know how your money is being used and represent your student rights as an SGA officer.

As a student, it is important to know about what is going on with your school. For instance, ACC has a new president Dr. Richard Rhodes. There have also been some policy changes with registration, add/drop days have been shortened to only two days. So students need to remember to be on the ball when registering and picking the right teacher, and if the teacher or class isn’t what you were expecting you will need to be on your toes so you can replace them quickly, preferably that day. It’s not a lot of time to get to know your teacher, so ask questions and pay attention so that you don’t get stuck in between a rock and the six drop law. Students should also remember that they can go see the dean of the department for help with their class in any case, extreme or not.

SGA is still in the goal planning process for the year.

Some of the things that may become a part of this plan are a health awareness campaign, hosting political debates, improving campus life, a gender and sexuality center, and creating a food pantry program.

There is still time to submit your ideas as well as protest ones that have been proposed.

Come to a meeting or drop by the Rio Grande SGA office in the back of the Student Life lounge and check us out. You can also call us at 223-3116 or send us an email at sga@ austincc.edu to find out more information.

CORRECTIONS In the May 2 issue story “SGA violates open meetings act” the headline should have read “SGA member turnover causes issues within organization.” It was also inaccurately reported as a fact that the Student Government Association (SGA) is violating the Texas Open Meetings Act. The article should have read that SGA may not be in compliance with the Act. We apologize for our error and to SGA.

Megan McKay • Staff Artist

Campus offers sights, but few substantial amenities Staff Editorial It’s been a year since Round Rock Campus has opened and while it is a gorgeous campus to look at, we’ve noticed its flaws.

Most notable is the lack of food choices. In building 2000 there is a Simon’s food cart which offers limited choices that include baked goods, chips, sandwiches, coffee, and other refrigerated items. Even though it is great that students at least have this option, it’s hard to purchase a sandwich that was delivered in the morning in the middle of the afternoon.

There’s also the elephant in the room: the large empty room behind the doors next to the Simon’s cart originally built to house a cafeteria.

Round Rock Campus Project Manager Paul Mason said, in the article Students hungry for more choices published in our Sept. 21, 2010 issue, that initial plans were to have two vendors on campus offering students at RRC more food choices than any other campus in the ACC district.

Mason attributed the lack of vendors to the economy and cited a two-year contract with Simon’s Cafe.

It’s easy to place blame on the economy, but if ACC wants to attract vendors to build on campus, they need to act quickly.

A new Sonic opened shortly after the start of this semester and the parking lot is almost always full. In addition a McDonald’s is being built west of campus near an existing Burger King. Plus there is are several restaurants off of I-35 nearby.

With potential vendors opening off-campus, why would anyone want to build on-campus?

ACC has wasted tax-payer money by allowing such unsuccessful and under-utilized amenities to remain on-campus.

The empty cafeteria isn’t the only under-utilized amenity

on-campus that tax-payers have paid for. There’s also the outdoor amphitheater which has held no more than a handful of shows or events and looks like an out-of-place concrete pit behind the campus. In addition, RRC is home to an unnecessary water fountain feature.

The fountain, like all fountains, is pretty to look at, but other than serving aesthetic purposes it doesn’t really cohere with ACC’s goal of being a green community college district. It was functioning when freezing temperatures hit the area last winter and now its off and looks just like a pool of murky water while most of Texas is in a drought.

The college hasn’t even acknowledged to students how to cope with the lack of public transportation, which is the biggest offense of not adhering to being a green campus.

The campus is too far to ride a bicycle to and Capital Metro does not have a service route that stops within walking distance.

Because there isn’t an alternative, students and staff have no choice but to drive gas-guzzling, exhaust-spewing vehicles to and from campus. How green is that? Especially when parking lots are always full (not counting the special green parking spaces up closer to the campus).

What sets RRC apart from other campuses isn’t the multimillion dollar state of the art medical facilities used to teach health sciences students, the vast library, modern automotive service facility, or even the under-utilized amenities. It’s the fact that the campus is literally apart from other campuses and feels disconnected.

Without public transportation connecting RRC with other campuses to make up for the lengthy distance between it and its nearest campus, RRC feels isolated. It’s as if RRC is its own campus entirely and not just one piece of the ACC district.

Administrators need to stop ignoring everything that RRC lacks and answer students’ demands for better solutions to the issues that plague us at RRC.

letter to the editor I’m an ACC student and I recently got a bulk e-mail message about “ACC Emergency Preparedness Week.” One particular line bothered me: “There is no harm in reporting something. You know the saying – It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

I take some umbrage to the notion that “there is no harm in reporting something.” Students of history know that there are plenty of examples where there is harm in reporting something. I’m not so hyperbolic as to compare the ACC faculty and staff to the Stasi or the Gestapo, organizations which encouraged their citizens to inform on one another (oops, I just did). I don’t appreciate the culture of fear being promulgated by ACC staff in this message.

The threat of terrorism in Austin is quite small, but to behave as if terrorists are lurking around a community college is, ipso facto, allowing the few actual terrorists a psychological victory. Besides, when terrorism does occur in Austin, such as when Joe Stack flew a plane into government offices only a few miles from my home in North Austin, the local leadership largely refused to call it terrorism for plainly racist and nativist reasons.

I would hope to see ACC, a traditionally liberal institution in a traditionally liberal city, take a stand against the terrorism-obsessed zeitgeist. To do otherwise strikes me as profoundly reactionary, not befitting our progressive culture here in Austin.”

-Anonymous

Advertising 512.223.0122

Editorial

512.223.0393

Fax

512.223.0904

RRC, 4400 College Park Drive, Room 2107 Round Rock, TX 78665 Editor-in-Chief...........................................................................................................Karissa Rodriguez Photo Editor.......................................................................................................................... Joey Gidseg Layout Editor.................................................................................................................Elizabeth Brown Web Editor........................................................................................................ Dana Manickavasagam Campus Editor.........................................................................................................................Era Sundar Life & Arts Editor ...................................................................................................... Natalie Casanova Multimedia Editor...................................................................................................... Edgar Rodriguez Accent Adviser.................................................................................................................position vacant Student Life Director.................................................................................................... Cheryl Richard Student Life Communications Coordinator............................................................Lori Blewett Staff Reporters: Birdie Michaels, Layla Elayyadi, Nathan Bustillos Lead Photographer: Walter Challapa Writers: Joshua House, Joey Galvan, Nathanial Barrera, Alejandro Alvarado, Sarah Grover, Rozanna Yousef, Solomon Nyanhongo, Jessica Will Photographers: Lauren Sams, Ashley Udell, Kelly McNiven, Adrienne Sparks Staff Artist: Megan McKay ACC President/CEO Dr. Richard Rhodes Board of Trustees Dr. Barbara P. Mink—Chair, Jeffrey Richard—Vice Chair, John Michael V. Cortez—Secretary, Tim Mahoney, Nan McRaven, Dr. Victor H. P. Villarreal, Guadalupe Q. Sosa, Dr. James W. McGufee, Allen H. Kaplan All rights reserved. All content is the property of Accent and may not be reproduced, published or retransmitted in any form without written permission from the Office of Student Life. Accent is the student newspaper of Austin Community College and is printed by the Austin American-Statesman. Accent is published biweekly. ACC students may submit articles for publication in Accent to RRC’s Student Publication Office, Room 2107; e-mail articles to accent@austincc.edu or fax submissions to 223-0904. ACC does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation or disability. Accent offers ACC’s faculty, staff, students and surrounding community a complete source of information about student life. Accent welcomes your input, as well as information about errors. If you notice any information that warrants a correction please e-mail accent@austincc.edu. Individual views, columns, letters to the editor and other opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of Accent.

Sept. 20, 2011 Forum → Opinion Columns

www.theAccent.org

OF

ALL

Forum → Opinion Columns

Official sanctioned sports team wanted for students

TRADES

DIY Natalie Casanova

Life & Arts Editor

Do-it-yourself guide to screen printing your own T-shirt Being a college student during these economic times is tough on the wallet. Doing or making things yourself instead of buying products and services is one way students can save money.

I’ve learned to be a Jill of all trades and I want to share my penny-wise ways with readers so in each issue of the Accent I’ll be covering do-it-yourself methods for all kinds of projects.

Ever had a cool idea for a T-shirt or wanted to design your own tote bag?

Screen-printing is one of the most common methods of producing graphic tees and now it is easier than ever.

Austin crafter Viktoria Riley has developed a system to create quality screenprinting on a tiny budget.

Her frugal method is reusable and costs much less than professional rates.

Riley says materials for screen-printing should cost around $20 and the following are what you’ll need to complete your project: • Value canvas - for painting with the canvas removed or a large sturdy picture frame • Sheer Chiffon, batiste, marquisette, or mousseline, but nothing stretchy or tulle fabric. You’ll need enough to cover the frame.

• Hot glue and a hot glue

gun, or staples and a stapler • Permanent marker • Mod Podge or other decoupage glue/sealer • Speedball, Jacquard Versatex or other fabric ink/ paint • Paint brush (if your design is very detailed you will need a small brush as well) • Small squeegee • Plain T-shirt or whatever material you want your print on.

Start by covering the frame with the sheer fabric using either hot glue or staples to keep it in place. Hot glue makes it easier to reuse the frame for another design.

After gluing the frame, attach the fabric to the frame in this order: center of the bottom, center of the top, center of the left, center of the right, top left corner, bottom right corner, top right corner bottom left corner. Basically you attach it at opposite ends continuously so that it does not stretch or warp.

Next, draw your design onto the screen with a permanent marker. You can cut out shapes or trace an image onto the fabric with a marker since it will most likely bleed through paper onto the screen.

Using a paintbrush, fill all the negative space that you don’t want to be colored with the glue or sealer. Use a smaller brush for the detailed areas and be sure to cover the entire screen all the way to the edges of the frame. Let the sealer dry.

Next, place the screen flat, drawn-on side face up, on the fabric you wish to print on.

Make sure to keep the fabric taut.

Pour a heaping glop of ink or paint near your design and use the squeegee to evenly spread it all over the open, unsealed parts of the screen.

When the design is equally covered, return any excess ink to its container.

Carefully lift the screen off the fabric evenly and allow the finished product to dry. Using a hair dryer will set the ink faster and your print will be less likely to fade.

Finally, there you have it your own homemade screen print!

If you have an idea or a request for a do-it-yourself column contact Life & Arts Editor Natalie Casanova at editor2@austincc.edu.

Forum | Page 3

Joshua House Staff Writer

For a long time the thought of Austin Community College having an official sports team was an outrageous idea.

Unthinkable. What seemed impossible a few years ago is now more plausible than ever, especially when you look at the big questions facing this issue.

Is ACC big enough for an official sports team? Well, at first glance one would think “no, we are a community college, we are much too small for that.”

Not so fast, my friend. The truth is, ACC is more than big enough to house its own sports team.

We have an undergraduate population of more than 45,000

students. Compare that to Texas State’s entire student population at 32,572. We more than double their undergraduate population alone. With plans to open ACC campuses in Elgin and Kyle in the near future, I’d say that answers the size question.

Another big question facing this issue is where we would go. Do other community colleges even field teams?

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) is comprised of junior colleges and community colleges where ACC would compete with other schools on its level.

There are plenty of stadiums such as The Palace in Round Rock that ACC could rent out to play football games to settle the issue of location.

The biggest problem facing ACC though is not whether we could or couldn’t - although we very easily could - the problem is money.

To run a successful athletic program, especially one at such an early stage in its life would be a major time and monetary commitment.

In these hard economic times, sometimes even successful sports teams do not bring in enough money to pay off the investment, or bring in revenue. Despite the monetary issues ACC would face, I think

that it’s high time to give the students a real sports program.

Student athletes looking to transfer to big name school’s would not have to take a year away from their favorite sports, and if the program were successful in football, the unofficial sport of Texas, it would raise the profile of ACC greatly.

Just look at Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, for example. He transferred to Blinn College in 2009 and won them a national title in football.

You can bet they made a good sum of money off of ticket sales and merchandise sales.

The point is that ACC could benefit from this just as Blinn did, as well as give a student athletes at ACC the chance to move on to the NFL following in the footsteps of Newton.

Who’s to say he wouldn’t be as successful as Newton is now if he had to have taken that one year off?

Although I think ACC should and is ready to field a real sports team, I don’t see it happening in the near future.

ACC’s main focus is currently set on expansion and getting those new campuses up and running. In the mean time, ACC students will have to continue the long wait for athletic success.

Forum → opinion Columns

ACC set to become ADD

Alexander Aries Staff Writer

At an unveiling ceremony last week, ACC President/CEO Richard Rhodes presented the new name of Austin Community College.

“I am proud to announce that from now on, our school will be known as the Austin Developmental District, or A.D.D.,” Rhodes said as he began to explain how this name more accurately reflects the nature of every A.D.D. student, but had to excuse himself because he “saw something shiny.”

The committee in charge of selecting the new name was tasked with finding a title that sends a relevant message to everyone attending school. They had been considering “Austin Demographic Historical Database,” or A.D.H.D., but decided against it.

“We concluded that A.D.H.D. would have been too unwieldy, like a sword...or a bat.

Hey, ‘Riverbats,’ right? That could’ve worked!” exclaimed Rhodes.

The announcement was met with mixed reactions from the student body.

“I don’t think it has the same appeal as ACC,” one freshman said. “But in the end, a name is a name anyway. Like my friend J.T. His real name is Jake, but everyone calls him J.T. What’s the ‘T’ for? Jake is always making stuff up.”

“I don’t know why they felt they needed to change the name,” said one English teacher.

“It’s like the new erasers. Why get new erasers? Their handles are shaped weird. I saw a weird shaped cloud today, too.”

The administration is not at

all surprised by this opposition that faces A.D.D..

“We expected some growing pains,” admitted one official.

“Like when I was seven, I didn’t want to give up my sneakers when I outgrew them.

But eventually I did. The old sneakers were brown, but the new ones were green. Green is my favorite color, like plants and stuff. Aren’t plants cool?”

For now, plans to rename ACC to A.D.D. will continue as scheduled. It is the administration’s hope that within three months, the name “Austin Community College” will be nothing more than a hazy, unfocused memory. Most are betting the change to A.D.D. will occur much earlier than that.

Further attempts to investigate this matter were thwarted when this reporter became distracted by a group of newsworthy-looking coeds out doing research on Austin’s finest brew pubs.

Editor’s note: This column is intended for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered factual in any way.

Forum → Letters

Doggett: Welcome back Riverbats

U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett Guest Columnist

It is my pleasure to welcome new and returning students for another ACC semester and another step in your journey to “get there,” as the ACC motto says. You are lucky to be attending once of the best community colleges in the country and living in one of the finest cities anywhere.

I want you to know that in Washington, I am working to ensure we continue to invest in higher education—and I

will continue to speak out against any budget—federal or otherwise—that balances its budget on the backs of our students.

Investing in Higher Education is Investing in Our Competitiveness. Cutting the amount of students who would be eligible for student financial aid almost in half, closing community colleges, eliminating the funds that Texas devotes to training Teach for America recruits, and cutting State support for university research that makes the next

generation of American discoveries possible is not only shortsighted—it is dangerous to our economic well being.

We are in competition with the Germans, the Chinese, and the rest of the world. How can we compete and have a qualified workforce with decade-old science textbooks, eliminating AP courses, closing neighborhood schools and laying off hundreds of school personnel? With increased global competition we should be strengthening our commitment—from pre-K to post-grad—ensuring we have the world’s most able workforce.

My ‘More Education’ Tax Cut. As college costs rise, access to student aid becomes even more critical to a student’s ability to pursue higher education. Though much work remains to be done to increase accessibility and affordability of higher education in our community, we had made strides in the right direction over the last two years. With my support, Congress simplified our nation’s student loan system and made one of the largest investments in college aid in our history.

Especially with the economy still fragile, we cannot afford to decrease our investment in education.

In the State of the Union, the President called on Congress to make permanent the “More Education” tax cut, also known

as the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which I authored to help those seeking higher education. Again this year with this tax cut, most ACC students or their families are eligible for a credit of up to $2,500 for what they have spent on tuition and instructional materials.

I appreciated the President’s call out regarding my work on this during his speech at UT’s Gregory Gym last August.

Hopefully, Republicans will work with us to make this tax cut permanent so that students at ACC and elsewhere are able to achieve their God-given potential through education.

Let Me Know How I Can Help. Please know that I am here to work constructively on matters of importance to the ACC community. From tax relief for teaching assistants to improving student financial assistance, I serve as an advocate for the concerns of students, faculty and staff. Both my district office in Austin and my congressional office in Washington provide yearround internship opportunities for students who have an interest in government and want to learn about the inner workings of a congressional office. Internships should be coordinated through the office in which you wish to work.

Regardless of your career plans, government affects you.

I hope that as a student, you will choose to get involved with government and public service

in your community. There are a wide range of community service opportunities and philosophically diverse political organizations, both on campus and in the community, with which you can get involved.

I hope you will also take a moment to visit my website at doggett.house.gov, ‘like’ me on Facebook by visiting facebook.com/LloydDoggett or ‘following’ me on Twitter: @RepLloydDoggett. My Austin office can be reached at (512) 916-5921 and my Washington office phone number is (202) 225-4865. My staff in both cities is ready to assist you. Additionally, I hold Neighborhood Office Hours several times a year at locations throughout the district. I encourage you to attend one of these events so that I can meet you personally.

Have a safe, productive and memorable year here at ACC! Contact Mr. Doggett: Office of U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett 201 Cannon House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 202.225-4865 512.916-5921 doggett.house.gov @RepLloydDoggett

Forum → Opinion Columns

Study buddies, study breaks

Recommended websites to help aid, distract students Nathan Bustillos Staff Writer

One month has passed since the beginning of the fall semester and the shock of returning to school has long since set in and nerves have been completely rattled at the expectations of college courses.

Now, students may be gearing up for their first of many major projects in class; written papers, Powerpoint projects, and presentations are well underway.

To help save time (and sanity) here’s a few websites students may benefit from whether you’re trying to research for your projects or taking time off from them.

Study Buddies: Amazon.com has developed member services geared specifically toward students to save them time and money.

Amazon’s Student Prime service is a free service that provides free two-day shipping on all items sold directly from Amazon. A one-day shipping option is available for $3.99.

Amazon has also made it easy for students to acquire textbooks by offering a rental service for the Kindle device or the Kindle apps for PC, Mac, iPhone / iPad / iPod, or Android devices. This rental service will help save roughly 80% off the standard textbook price.

Amazon’s textbook rental service is also great for students who may not have enough financial aid to pay for books; however, the limited number of textbooks available for Kindleready devices may prove to be inconvenient for many students.

Still, being able to save 80 percent of the usual textbook price is a significant upside to this service if students can find their digital textbooks. The Amazon Student Prime service is an excellent way for students to save money on shipping costs when purchasing an item through Amazon.com. Even with the $3.99 one-day shipping, it is a significantly lower cost than standard shipping costs for most items shipped within the continental U.S.

Study Breaks: When your brain has been burned out from the long hours of studying and research, take a load off with the website Onemorelevel.com. There you will find hundreds of games ranging from action/adventure games to puzzle games to strategy or online-based games.

If you don’t feel like cycling through all the games available on the website, simply hit the “Random” button on the left side of the page, and out comes a random game from their entire collection.

The amount of games Onemorelevel.com offers makes this website an excellent “timewaster” when you just want to sit back and have fun playing games on the Net. Although there may be other websites that host a larger collection of games, the fact that a username and password is not required to play any of these games makes it very convenient for people who just want to start playing a game without having to log in.

The owners of the website add a new game to their collection every week day so the number of games is always increasing.

Although there are many other great game websites on the internet, this one should be in everybody’s Top 10 list.

NEWS

Page 4

www.theAccent.org

News → People

Welcome to ACC Mr. President

Increasing student success, college expansion among new president Dr. Richard Rhodes’ plans Era Sundar

Campus Editor

During his first week as President/CEO, Richard M. Rhodes has faced record setting temperatures, devastating wildfires, and neighborhood evacuations. However, these challenges have neither dampened his enthusiasm nor slowed his quest to champion student success and expansion.

Student success has always been a passion for Rhodes, who began his academic career at community college. Rhodes, a native of New Mexico, admits he was not the best student initially and credits his professors/mentors with changing his perspective and putting him on the track to where he is today.

In turn, Rhodes has become an advocate of student success.

“The most rewarding experience and the greatest joy are in seeing kids, who didn’t stand a chance, thrive once given the opportunity,” Rhodes said.

Rhodes compliments ACC on its existing programs, and will continue to focus on increasing accessibility and retention rates through initiatives such as the Early College Start and Reverse Transfer programs. Rhodes has had great success with similar programs at El Paso Community College (EPCC) where graduation rates increased by 145% during his tenure as president.

Early College Start allows high school juniors and

Edgar Rodriguez•Multimedia Editor

IN CHARGE — New Pesident/CEO Richard Rhodes poses for a photo in his office at the

Highland Business Center on Wednesday Sept. 7. Rhodes has more than 30 years of experience in community college administration.

seniors to take up to two ACC courses per semester and Reverse Transfer allows academic credits for course work completed at a university to be transferred back to ACC to satisfy the associate degree requirements. Courses completed at a university are applied to both the associate and baccalaureate degrees.

“When students meet the requirements for a degree, they need the reward,” Rhodes said.

These programs give students a sense of accomplishment and help them build their resumes as more employers value associate degrees, according to Rhodes.

The Early College Start program in particular, which waives tuition for high school students within the ACC service areas, allows students, who come from low income families and often times never saw themselves as college material, a chance to get a college education.

This is part of the transformative power of community college and will contribute to growth, according

to Rhodes.

Rhodes joins ACC amid an existing growth spurt. The student body is growing at a rate of 4,000 students annually and new campuses are in the works for Hays and Bastrop counties.

ACC has also acquired the property at Highland Mall for academic development.

Rhodes is well versed in handling challenges posed by rapid growth. During his tenure as president of EPCC, enrollment increased by 62 percent.

“The plan is to move forward aggressively in terms of expansion. The college needs to be accessible to the community,” Rhodes said.

Finances play a major role in accessibility and ACC students have recently faced three tuition increases in light of state budget cuts. Earlier this year, the board of trustees approved a tuition increase of $5 per credit hour for each of the summer and fall 2011, and spring 2012 semesters for a total increase of $15 per credit hour by the spring semester.

Rhodes can relate to students’ financial struggles on a personal level. As an undergrad, his parents were not able to put him through college, so he enrolled in a co-op program where he was able to finance his education by alternating between six months of work and six months of school. According to Rhodes, the mix of work experience and academics made education come alive.

Despite the fiscal challenges, Rhodes, who began his career as a certified public accountant, said “The primary responsibility of a community college is to provide quality education while keeping tuition affordable.”

Rhodes’ ability to relate to ACC students goes beyond finances. In 1993 he completed his doctoral internship at ACC while pursuing a Ph.D. in Community College Leadership from the University of Texas at Austin. From doctoral intern to president of the college, Rhodes’ experience at ACC has come full circle.

“I have always admired ACC. It’s a tremendous institution.”

Getting to know your new College President Richard M. Rhodes Born January 13, 1951 in Alamogordo, New Mexico Interests: reading, golf, hiking, family activities

Married to Kate Rhodes 33 years Father to three daughters and one son, Grandfather of 3

Education: Doctor of Philosophy, Community College Leadership, University of Texas at Austin 1996 Master of Arts Concentration in Educational Management and Development (higher education), New Mexico State University 1983 Certified Public Accountant 1980 Bachelor of Business Administration Concentration in Accounting, New Mexico State University 1974 Graduate, Alamogordo High School 1969 Professional Experience: President, El Paso Community College................................................................................................................... December 2001- August 2011 University of Texas at El Paso and New Mexico State University, Adjunct Faculty Member..................January 2004 – August 2011 Vice President of Business Services, Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake City Utah...................... August 1994- December 2001 Vice President of Financial and Administrative Services, El Paso Community College...........................February 1992 – August 1994 Interim President El Paso Community College.....................................................................................................October 1990 – February 1992 Vice President Financial Services, El Paso Community College................................................................. November 1983 – October 1990 Comptroller, New Mexico State University....................................................................................................December 1979 – November 1983 Accountant New Mexico State University.....................................................................................................September 1975 – December 1979 Emmons, Adams, and Company, C.P.A...................................................................................................................... May 1974 – September 1974 Student Co-op Business Office New Mexico State University...........................................................................................July 1970 – May 1974

Sept. 20, 2011

News Briefs

Peer to peer group offers veterans support Veterans’ Peer to Peer Group is offering resources this fall semester for returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans as they transition from battlefield to the home front.

The group began the semester on Sept. 8 with one-hour meeting at Northridge Campus which included introductions to several educational and readjustment services for veterans registered at ACC. Veteran’s Peer to Peer Group will meet every Thursday until December 15, from 10-11 a.m. at the Northridge Campus, Bldg.

1000, Room 1117, according to the group’s advisor Marshall Bennett.

Meetings will be facilitated by a trained Operation Endurance Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom and all veterans are invited to join the group and can contact at 512 223 4845 or cbennet3@ austincc.edu.

Students wishing to attend a meeting who need accommodations should coordinate with the Office for Students with Disabilities.

“The idea is that peers help other peers, and they can share information,” Bennett said.

“We want to include experts from the community too,” added David Dominguez, a former marine and Vietnam War veteran who joined the first meeting with the intention of improving veterans contact in order to help each other.

Susan Bickford, a Navy veteran majoring Social Work, was the facilitator for the peer to peer group’s first meeting.

Bickford brought information to the meeting that included how to get readjustment counseling services, benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs, services from Samaritan Center, and Metro Transportation maps as resources for veterans. A new $3 million grant program to help Texas Veterans buy, build, rehabilitate or rent a home, was also introduced at the meeting as part of the new state program Housing-4-Texas Heroes.

“The freedoms we all enjoy are the direct result of the service and the sacrifice of our veterans, who valued their country and their communities, above themselves,” Gov. Rick Perry said in a statement announcing the program.

Fall intramural sports and recreation begin Students seeking to get active this semester can begin registering for Austin Community College’s Intramural Sports and Recreation program hosted by the Office of Student Life.

The program offers many sports for both men and women, including men and women’s soccer, basketball, volleyball and tennis. Students interested can sign up as individuals, or “free agents” for each league, or as a group with other ACC students.

Registration is available at austincc.edu/rec, where instructions for signing up are listed. A schedule of upcoming events and an overview of the Sports and Recreation program in general are also available on the website.

Students can also contact ACC Student Life and Intramurals Coordinator Tracy Partin for more information by visiting the Student Life center at the Rio Grande Campus, or through his email, tpartin@austincc.edu.

As of October this year, Partin has served Intramural Sports and Recreations student life coordinator for a full year.

Partin is excited about the direction the program is taking.

“I want to see the intramurals program grow,” Partin said who stresses that program is “for fun and its [for students of] all levels , not just for high level people.”

Groundbreaking date announced for Elgin Groundbreaking for Austin Community College’s newest campus has been announced to take place at 10 a.m. on Nov. 15 at 1501 U.S. Highway 290 in Eligin. The campus is slated to be open Fall 2013.

ACC purchased 98 acres on U.S. Highway 290 and County Line Road to build Elgin Campus, near Elgin High School, after Elgin ISD residents approved annexation last fall, becoming eligible for ACC’s in-district tuition rate and paving the way for a new fullservice college campus, according to a press release issued by the college.

“This will be ACC’s 9th comprehensive campus and the first for Bastrop County,” former ACC president/CEO Steve Kinslow said in a press release. “The campus will bring programs designed to support Elgin’s plans for economic development and will increase access to higher education and workforce training for residents— fundamental to building a stronger middle class.”

Planned campus features include a three-story brick-and-curtain wall structure of approximately 65,000 square feet, a library, student support services, testing center, and a computer lab. The first phase is expected to accommodate up to 1,500 students and will offer core curriculum/academic transfer courses, agriculture-related studies, graphic design, visual communication and digital media programs, applied technologies, and more.

News → Student Government Association

New Student Government Association elected into office Joey Galvan Staff Writer

Student Government Association (SGA) kicks off the fall semester with a roster of passionate new members and a wealth of quality intentions.

Although there are numerous vacant senate seats, students wouldn’t notice this slowing anyone at SGA down at first glance from the determination and drive put forth by current members who meet at the Highland Business Center 2-4 p.m. every other week.

SGA’s newest president, Dylan Pera, was elected into office over the summer. Pera first became involved with SGA over 2 and a half years ago and previously served as parliamentarian and vice president. Alongside Pera in SGA’s executive council are Vice President Jason Hershey, Secretary Ryan May, Treasurer William Geenen, Parliamentarian Bretton

Johnson, and Senate Chair Carlos Rice.

Pera says he is driven towards students having a voice at ACC and is proud to be the one representing them. He serves a lifeline to the student body and communicates for them when they need to be heard, but strongly feels all students should get involved. “[Student involvement] facilitates an objective perspective, also this college listens better than others, it’s not a popularity contest,” Pera said.

In addition to assuring SGA has a productive environment, setting agendas and making sure students are heard, Pera would like to see student involvement grow so that important issues continue to come forward.

It’s imperative students should care about themselves and how school funds are spent, according to Pera. Currently there are 15 active members involved with SGA and over 21 vacant senate seats available,

according to SGA’s 2010-2011 roster. Senators serve the purpose of being a campus or student demographic representative for one of Austin Community College’s seven campuses. Each campus is assigned at least two student senators who relay student needs and concerns at their representative campus to SGA’s executive council.

“Having no senators to create a support system without support becomes too exhausting,” Pera said who feels that filling current vacant senate seats is of great importance.

Senator for Minority Students Brittney Tovar, a new SGA member, says she is inspired by helping those that aren’t normally heard. “[I want to become] a voice for students not recognized,” Tovar said. “I fully believe in equality for everyone specifically LBGT students who are not being represented, it’s important for people to feel safe and welcome despite their sexual

orientation which is why I support anti bullying efforts and cultural awareness of others.”

Tovar feels welcomed by the other SGA members and considers them “a group of very passionate individuals who are great representative student leaders, making ACC a better institution as a whole.”

SGA is sponsoring numerous events including last weeks Diez y Seis de Septiembre Celebration at Riverside Campus and the upcoming Constitution Day Debate and Celebration from 5:30-8:30 p.m. on Sept. 22 at the Palmer Events Center.

In addition to sponsoring ACC events, SGA is also sponsoring peer-to-peer mentoring groups like the Veterans Peer Group which is designed to facilitate veterans through a peer to peer environment and meets from 10-11 a.m. every Thursday at Northridge Campus inside building 1000 in Room 111 and the Afircan American Male

Mentor Group which meets from noon to 1 p.m. at Eastview Campus for weekly discussions about issues important to African American men at ACC. Room information will be posted on SGA’s website calendar as soon as it becomes available.

Requirements to become a member of SGA include being a student with a 2.5 or higher GPA, with at least 6 credit hours and must be in Good Academic Standing. In addition to grading requirements, students must have attended 2 consecutive meetings before being voted into office and present 3-5 Minute presenation on their qualifications.

Students interested in becoming a member of SGA can contact SGA at sga@austincc. edu or visit their facebook page at www.facebook.com/ ACCSGA. However, all students are encouraged to attend SGA meetings even if they are not interested in becoming a member.

SGA is seeking students interested in becoming senators to represent campuses and student demographics. Below are open positions available:

•Director of Communications •Cypress Creek Campus Senator •Eastview Campus Senators •Northridge Campus Senators •Pinnacle Campus Senators •Rio Grande Campus Senator •Round Rock Campus Senator •Riverside Campus Senators •South Austin Campus Senator •Distance Learning Senators •International Student Senators •Non-traditional Student Senators •Veteran Student Senators •Minority Student Senator Students interested in filling one of these positions can visit austincc. edu/sga for more information.

Sept. 20, 2011

www.theAccent.org

News → Events

Students invited to debate on rights

Nine hundred students expected at Constitution Day Debate Celebration Birdie Michaels

Staff Reporter

In honor of the final session of the historic Constitutional Convention, which took place some twohundred years ago, students are invited to attend the 2011 Austin Community College Constitution Day Debate Celebration, where they will be encouraged to explore their knowledge of the Constitution as well as deliberate among other students.

The event will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Sept. 22 and will be hosted by Austin Community College’s Center for Public Policy and Political Studies (CPPPS) at the Palmer Events Center.

This is the second year that CPPPS has used the venue after student attendance at the event increased dramatically since its implementation.

This year’s event has been coordinated to stress the importance of a constitutional relevance in today’s student body. A prevalent concentration will be the rights of citizens and the importance of gaining a comprehensive understanding of a citizen’s need to conserve those rights.

Samantha Davis, an ACC student who also works for CPPPS, says that among all of the organization’s diverse events, Constitution Day Debate Celebration is her favorite.

“All of our events are different. Constitution Day has just gotten huge,” Davis said, adding that the expected

participants for this year’s event is an estimated nine hundred.

The event is open to all ACC students as well as upper-level high school students. Among ACC students and faculty in attendance, a panel comprised of judges, lawyers, and professors will lead student group discussions as constitution experts.

Each student at the event will have the opportunity to debate and converse with others at a table that seats 18. Every three tables will be assigned an expert as well as a key issue [from the Constitution] to examine.

“The facilitators (experts) are professors, so they are able to tease out information,” Davis said. The experts are able to answer any questions as well as help groups develop a consensus, which will later be brought before the civil, debating crowd.

Attendees will be given the opportunity to extensively interact and network with community leaders as well as apprehend a thorough conclusion and gain an educational experience.

Attendees will also receive a certificate documenting attendance at the event.

Davis encourages all students to attend her favorite ACC event. “[Being at the event] is a great time, but it’s also our duty to understand the Constitution. If we don’t understand it, it puts us in a situation where we actually lose our rights.”

News | Page 5

News → Events

Expressing American rights Students showcase artwork featuring the rights and immunities of American citizens Nathanial A. Barrera

Staff Writer

Students who entered this year’s Constitution Day Art Exhibit received a somewhat earlier start than normal and Art Studios & Exhibitions Specialist and art professor Brent Baggett says this has had a positive effect on turnout.

“News spread quicker with the use of posters throughout the campuses and Facebook,” Baggett said.

The new communications method directly correlates with the quality of the work and the amount of interest that surrounded this year’s project, according to Baggett.

Students are expressing the issue of the rights and immunities of American citizens through art in this year’s fourth annual art exhibit hosted by the Arts and Humanities department.

The issue of the rights and immunities of American citizens is a problem made all the more prevalent with the current national immigration debate taking place. Students however, explore the topic in a much larger scope.

Student Laurie Carswell created an art piece portraying a scene between a student and a teacher she calls “Collaborate not Separate.” Her piece focuses on the right to education and the intimacy of the process as well as a nod to basic human respect.

Another ceramic piece, “Pharmamerica,” created by Seth Osgood, underlines the issues of both the pharmaceutical problems we see and the need for vital health care reformation.

In addition to the works on display in HBC’s gallery, student submitted essays and poetry were also judged and awarded by jurors from the Austin art community at a reception on Sept. 16.

Those interested in viewing students’ artwork can visit the HBC gallery now through Oct. 13.

Photos by Nathan Barrera•Staff Photographer

ART FOR LIFE — Depicting the issue of education, Laurie Carswell’s piece, “Collaborate Not Separate,” (top) shows us a scene of a student and teacher working together. Michael Caldwell’s ceramic statue, “Zombie Preacher,” (middle left) depicts the question, what is meant by the word human and how far do certain rights extend? Juan Carlos Amorrortu’s “Goodbye Mr. President,” (bottom) is a realization of the fragility life and the instability of power.

Bargas Law Firm DWI • POSSESSION • THEFT • ASSAULT • DIVORCE • CUSTODY • CHILD SUPPORT • PERSONAL INJURY

Affordable Attorneys, Payment Plans always available on any type of case.

No need to pay a fortune for an experienced lawyer!

We encourage you to compare our fees and our experience to anyone.

Don't hire an inexperienced lawyer, and don't pay a fortune.

bargas-law.com

512-785-5955 Principal Office in Austin

I’m CeLIna. I haVe PRImaRy ImmunoDefICIenCy, so my LIfe DePenDs on youR DIsCoVeR PLasma DonaTIon. CeLIna’s sToRy

I’m The Reason To DonaTe youR PLasma.

$240

14415 owen TeCh BLVD ausTIn, TX 78728 512.251.8855 sCheDuLe an aPPoInTmenT aT BIoLIfePLasma.Com

page 6 | News

www.theAccent.org

News → Crime and Safety

Students practice safety drills

Emergency Preparedness Week trains students, staff on emergencies

Sept. 20, 2011 News → Facilities

Big plans in store for Highland Mall

Alex Alvarado

Staff Writer

In an effort to bring safety awareness to all Austin Community College students, faculty, and staff, ACC hosted a series of seminars for the Emergency Preparedness Week followed by a series of emergency drills on several campuses including the South Austin, Round Rock and Pinnacle campuses Sept. 5-9.

Although it is not required, students were notified to register their cell phones with the ACC Emergency Alerts so that they can be informed of any emergency.

“There are many ways to inform you of an emergency but ACC Emergency Alerts can put this information in the palm of your hand,” Krisitine Elderkin, ACC emergency management coordinator said in a press release. “We encourage you to sign up now because it may be too late when disaster strikes.”

Emergency response drills took place at several ACC locations and the drills provided students, faculty and staff with an alarm and evacuation procedure with the help of the Emergency Health and Safety Department.

The Pinnacle campus drill took place on Sept. 6 where

Bethany Wagner•Staff Photographer

TRANSFORMATION — The full moon rises over flags

posted at half-staff on the night of Sept. 11 at Highland Mall, which ACC purchased for more than $40 million.

Kelly MacNiven•Staff Photographer

SAFETY FIRST — ACC police Lt. Phillip Guerra stresses the importance of locking all doors and covering windows as he demonstrates the steps necessary to remain safe during an emergency lock down at the Northridge Campus.

Pinnacle Campus Manager, David Tucker observed the drill along with students faculty and staff.

“It was very efficient,” Tucker said. “We always learn from our drills. It’s a great practice for us and it’s a great thing for the safety of our faculty and staff.”

The first of the seminar series was held at the Northridge campus where presenters, Detective Jesus Blanther and Lt. Phil Guerra of the ACC Police Department, answered questions from staff

members about procedure following a video demonstrating a simulation of armed gunmen on campus and what to do in case of such a threat.

“The main thing is Crime Prevention.” Blanther said.

“Crime prevention is everyone’s business. We’re not going to be there all the time. We need everyone to get involved.”

Emails were also sent out to students prior to the events, keeping them up to date with information and tips concerning safety and procedure.

ACC student Tamika Entzinger said that she was surprised when she received one of those emails during one morning.

“It said that if I see any suspicious activity, to report it to police,” Entzinger said. “[Also,] if there is an immediate emergency to find the nearest building and take cover.”

Emergency Preparedness week will be held every semester with the spring event starting Jan. 30 and will run through Feb. 3 to reach more new student arrivals.

News → Community

Texas de-funds women’s clinics Natalie Casanova

Life & Arts Editor

The Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 7 by a vote of 96 to 48 on June 27, eliminating more than two-thirds of Planned Parenthood’s funding for women’s health services beginning Sept. 1.

Bastion Carboni of Poison Apple Initiative nonprofit organized a performative action and wrote a short two-minute play he and other concerned citizens executed in front of the capitol in downtown Austin Sept. 14 to protest the bill.

The passing of SB 7 rescinded partnerships between the Texas Department of State Health Services, Planned Parenthood and other local nonprofit clinics, which provide health exams and services to uninsured Austin residents.

“I never thought it would happen,” Carboni said. “I thought [Planned Parenthood would] always be there and the other side [would] never win.”

In Texas alone, El Buen Samaritano, People’s Community Clinic and Planned Parenthood collectively will lose $1.4 million in federal and state funds. These nonprofits used the funds to support critical health care screenings and birth control to roughly 7,270 women in 13,007 well-woman exams, and according to Planned Parenthood a few hundred thousand women are expected to lose access to basic health care.

Carboni said participants in the demonstration sat down in a line then stood up if a poster was raised listing a service they had received at the clinic. Video of the action will be streamed on YouTube, and Carboni

Dana Manickavasagam•Web Editor

PAY ATTENTION — A group of performers with pink arm bands point towards a scene across the street. The Poison Apple Initiative hoped to draw attention to the State pulling funding from Planned Parenthood by performing “guerrilla theater” along Congress Avenue on Sept. 14. hopes it will go viral to raise awareness for the cause.

Planned Parenthood offers a wide range of services and regular medical exams performed by health professionals including screening for cervical, testicular and breast cancer, anemia, hypertension, diabetes, sexually transmitted diseases, HIV and high blood pressure. They also treat sexually transmitted diseases, offer different methods of abortion and educate about prenatal nutrition, natural family planning and birth control.

Abortion makes up three percent of the services Planned Parenthood offers, Carboni said, and none of the government funds were used to support

those procedures.

“More people’s quality of life will suffer than any fetal life will benefit,” Carboni said.

Carboni’s group of activists handed out flyers with information about the recent legislative actions to defund the program and ways others can get involved and help. He said his goal is to bolster more people into taking action and donating to the clinic so it may continue to provide health services to the public without closing any locations.

“This is the time of culpability and we have to do something because our government won’t,” he said.

“This is not over, there is precedent and that gives me heart and inspiration.”

Dana Manickavasagam•Web Editor

TRAGIC — Liz Bigger hugs Jen Brown during a social awareness performance.

According to Planned Parenthood, nearly 300,000 women are expected to lose access to basic health care, statewide.

Preliminary plans for ACC’s newest purchase to include consolidating administrative offices, providing swing space for renovations at RGC Era Sundar

Campus Editor

Looking toward the future, Austin Community College officials have big plans in store after purchasing the final tract of land at Highland Mall on Aug. 4 for an estimated $15.9 million. This purchase, along with previous purchases of land and buildings at Highland Mall totals more than $40 million.

ACC now owns 100 percent of the land at Highland Mall, which consists of more than 80 acres and over 642,000 square feet of space in the form of three of the four stand-alone anchor buildings.

The purchase of the mall is a key component in preparing for future growth by providing more space and better quality of space per student. The space at Highland Mall will be used for administrative offices and additional classrooms as renovations take place at campuses in need of work. Ample parking space is a major advantage of this location.

The acquisition of the Highland Mall property also helps the college fulfill the sustainability requirements laid out in the 2007 Facilities Master Plan which calls for ACC to implement environmentally friendly practices and create positive environmental and community impact.

“ACC is committed to reducing energy use, waste, pollution, water consumption and waste water,” said Bill Mullane, executive director of facilities and construction. “This includes recycling more and using more recycled products.”

Preliminary plans call for a central heating, cooling and power plant near the mall to increase energy efficiency. Mullane points out that these additions are part of a long term plan and not in the immediate future.

More immediate plans include consolidating the college’s administrative offices which are located at both the Service Center on Highway 290 and the Highland Business Center across the street from Highland Mall.

The additional space provided by the mall will also allow ACC to begin much needed expansion and renovations at existing campuses, by providing swing space so that classes can be temporarily relocated to the mall while construction takes place at the campuses.

The space at Highland Mall will allow these rotations for expansion over the next 12 to 15 years, according to Mullane. The time line included in the 2012 -2014 Master Plan shows that Rio Grande is the first campus scheduled to receive renovations.

“The biggest challenge with campuses is they are always in use and don’t have summers off to allow completion of the work,” Mullane said. Work has already begun on preparing the administrative offices and additional classrooms with a projected move in date of 2014.

Other than use as swing space, the mall facilities are not slated to become a full fledged campus and ACC’s plans will not interrupt ongoing mall operations. Areas currently being used as retail space are under lease until 2070 and will continue to operate as such.

Mall operations will provide ACC with $750,000 annually which is a 5.25 percent return on the investment, according to Neil Vickers, associate vice president of finance and budget. ACC is not responsible for the operation of the retail space however.

Vickers explained that the mall purchase puts ACC on track to have positive environmental impact based on the fact that the mall is conveniently located near public transportation and pointed out that transportation is a major contributing factor to a community’s carbon footprint.

The development of the mall may also lead to more green improvements.

Future plans for the area may include a mix of retail and living space which would be pursued by Redleaf Properties, LLC, the corporation that partnered with ACC in securing Highland Mall’s land and retains options to repurchase parts of the land from ACC. Representatives of Redleaf did not return our calls immediately.

Plans for the mall also include a Continuing Education center, convocation center, space for nonprofit affiliates, conference center, and a professional development center.

Both Mullane and Vickers reiterated that these plans are preliminary.

“The board of trustees will update the Master Plan each year as events unfold, and the time line will evolve with the Master Plan, in response to changing circumstances in the District,” said Mullane.

News → People

Former student recalls witnessing 9/11 attack Ten years ago Jamie Gonzalez witnessed the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, developed illness in the aftermath Era Sundar

Campus Editor

The experience of standing below the North tower of the World Trade Center when the first plane struck on Sept. 11, 2001 took Jamie Alistair Gonzalez, down a life

altering path which included withdrawal, denial, illness and finally recovery.

“The worst moment for me was when the buildings fell.

We didn’t know what would happen next,” Gonzalez said.

“Each moment was one in which we expected something

bigger to happen. That went on for weeks.”

At 8:30 a.m., Gonzalez was scheduled to meet some friends who were visiting from Spain, and introduce them to New York City with a view from atop the World Trade Center. The first plane hit the North Tower at 8:46 a.m., but his friends were late and he had waited for them outside. They were spared.

As the son of a decorated Chicago fireman, Gonzalez said he felt a bond with the first responders and visited Ground Zero to talk with rescue workers, offer comfort and listen to them.

However, he didn’t take time to process his own emotions and as a result went into denial. “I

was giving comfort to the rescue workers but I didn’t do that for myself. I didn’t talk to anyone about my experiences,” said Gonzalez.

It wasn’t until his health began to decline from exposure to toxins due to living and working in the area that Gonzalez started to acknowledge the trauma that he had experienced. Gonzalez developed severe neurological damage which led to symptoms such as extreme fatigue, fevers, temporary paralysis and extreme allergic reactions.

“It devastated me. It still devastates me,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, who lived and worked close to Ground Zero,

said that he inhaled the dust and fumes 24 hours-a-day and is furious that first responders have had to fight for health care assistance after developing illnesses related to working in the debris.

Illness and emotional strain caused Gonzalez to retreat.

Gonzalez left his home in New York and moved to Austin where he enrolled in classes ranging from arts and philosophy to history and journalism at several colleges and universities including ACC. According to Gonzalez, he worked among some of the most amazing people he ever met during his time at ACC from 2006 to 2007. He was also

a writer for Accent during this time which he described as one of the best of his life.

In 2009, Gonzalez relocated to Los Angeles where met up with Traver Rains of the fashion house Heatherette. This was the beginning of a collaboration that led Gonzalez to develop two new clothing lines which will be released in the near future.

It’s been 10 years since Gonzalez lived through the traumatic events of 9/11 and he is energized and optimistic about the future. He describes his current physical condition as stable and he is thriving professionally.

“I have finally begun to heal,” said Gonzalez.

Sept. 20, 2011

www.theAccent.org

News | Page 7

News → The Board

Board approves $265 million budget during summer Karissa Rodriguez

Editor-in-Chief

Over the summer break, the Austin Community College board of trustees adopted a $265 million budget for the 2012 fiscal year. The budget balances the need

for the college to address state funding cuts that were enacted at the Texas State Legislature earlier this year.

The budget reflects a 15 percent reduction in state appropriations, a $9.6 million loss for ACC. In addition the board approved tuition

raises as well as $3.5 million in savings through enrollment management changes (an increase in class limits and scheduling efficiencies) and a $500,000 reduction of administrative budgets, according to a press release issued by the college.

fy 2012 ACC budget projected revenues

projected expenses

where acc gets its money

Tuition 73,453,396

State Appropriations 98,632,593

General Fee 12,091,950

Continuing Education 6,500,000 Lab Fees 5,034,652 Other Revenue 3,928,000 Sales & Services 2,000,000 Student Activity Fee 1,860,300 Auxiliary, Other 1,000,000 Sustainability Fee 930,150 Interest Income 500,000 Indirect Cost Recovery 400,000

Where ACC spends its money

Property Taxes 104,060,989

74,089,570 General Institutional

17,068,105 Retention/Student Sucesss

6,500,000 Continuing Education 6,487,685 Facilities 6,294,825 Information Technology 6,015,848 Institutional Advancement 4,743,100 Business Services 4,658,431 Library Services 4,498,486 Instructional Resources 4,276,514 Campus Police 3,872,872 Learning Labs 3,398,252 Campus Operations 2,866,252 Admissions/Records 2,725,000 Custodial 2,725,000 Financial Aid 2,274,109 Human Resources 2,204,134 Marketing/College Relations 2,000,000 Sales & Services 1,884,498 Health & Safety 1,860,300 Student Life 1,577,232 School Relations/Centers

1,102,312 Adult Basic Education 1,057,061 Provost/VP Instruction 958,120 Institute Effectiveness & Accountability 681,167 Government/Community Relations 648,724 College Operations 605,907 President 500,000 Master Plan/New Operating Cost

total tuition credit Out of StateTuition 8,416,123

95,634,940 Instructional Programs

356,250 Virtual College of Texas 319,799 Grant Development 249,940 Auxiliary 239,893 Foundation 137,958 Internal Audit 121,755 Board of Trustees

Repeated Course Tuition 725,000

Out of District Fee 40,360,697 In District Tuition 40,360,697

Out of District Tuition 9,315,216

Sources: Board of Trustees FY2012 Budget Graphic by Elizabeth Brown • Layout Editor

page 8

www.theAccent.org

News → Crime and Safety

Sept. 20, 2011

fleeing from fire Over Labor Day weekend fires raged across Central Texas due to extremely dry conditions that have plagued the area. Austin Community College students were among the thousands of people affected by the fires. The following are their stories describing events from their own point-of-view.

Stud surv

183

Leander Cedar Park

71

45

Spicewood

Spicewood Kristina Pollard Reader Submission

In a state as brittle and dry as ours it was only a matter of time before something went up in flames. That the fires sparked, grew and devoured within such a short time line is testament only to how ripe the ground was for burning. The foliage, with its matchlike quality, and the barren unyielding sky mated to create a land that seemed to ask for flames. Did we mark these conditions in our mind in the days leading up? Did we see any other possibility?

As an ACC student and a resident of Spicewood I have awoken every few hours or so in the night from a consuming paranoia.

As the fires are so near my home my family and I have developed a fearful habit of glancing out the window, hoping that the wind has not carried destruction any closer to us. In a fit of panic we packed our bags with the necessities and then loaded up our cars with water and possessions that hold dear memories. And then in a fit of denial we slightly unpacked to make our living situation easier. Restlessness saw us repeating this process multiple times and in hopelessness we carry our phones with us to every bedroom to avoid missing a call and keep our ears open to the sound of banging

Natalee Blanchat

Reader submission

“Natty, the firefighters are evacuating us,” my mother cried in a panicked voice. “The fire has spread over to our side of the hill.

Your Aunt Linda’s house is on fire.” This is the voicemail I received at 6:05 p.m. Sunday.

I was standing in front of Kyle Field, watching thousands of Aggie fans participate in yells while revving up for the first football game of the season. I choked on tears.

An hour prior, I was at Aggieland Outfitters, stocking up on the latest maroon and white attire, determined to create the perfect outfit for my first Aggie football game.

Since I’m a transfer student from Austin Community College, I was so excited to participate in the gameday whoops, yells and traditions unique to A&M. My mom called earlier that day to tell me a fire broke out in Spicewood where she and many members of our family — aunts, uncles and grandparents — reside. She said she wasn’t too concerned about the fire since it was miles from her home. And then I received that voicemail.

After hearing my mother’s frantic voice, my mind went blank. All I thought about was my family and the beautiful homes; homes they spent thousands of dollars decorating, renovating and making their own. My uncle, an architect, helped to build my aunt’s house from the ground up. These images instantly flooded my mind. I took one last look up at the sea of maroon before I turned in the opposite direction and headed toward Travis County.

Around 9 p.m., after meeting my mom and aunts in Spicewood, we went to my grandfather’s house where he and two uncles refused to leave. We worried as a sheriff told my Aunt Linda “all of the houses at the end of the road have burned.” No exception was made for hers.

My grandfather, a stubborn man and class of 1951, lived in the same house for more than 30 years. When he heard the fire had crossed the Pedernales River, spreading toward his area, he made up his mind — he would stay and fight. With wind speeds reaching 30 mph, the outlook appeared bleak.

The three men worked through the night, pumping thousands of gallons of water from the outdoor pool onto various hot spots surrounding the house. They wore face masks and shirts around their mouths to prevent the thick clouds of smoke from penetrating their lungs.

“We worked real hard and we were able to save the house,” my grandfather said. “I

on a door, a sound that will be a prelude to a hasty, adrenaline fueled exit.

And then what? At the gas station up the road from my house people gather. People who could do nothing but run from their homes as the fires threatened to consume.

People who can do nothing now but cluster in a location that is thus far untouched and watch the progress of blaring police cars and trucks race to whatever may be left of their homes. They stand outside, as do I, letting the odor of devastation fill the lungs and coat nostrils. The smell, like a candle recently blown out, creeps under doorways and assaults while asleep, finds its way into hearts that beat desperately.

After this passes there will be the process of rebuilding. There will be fresh cut timber and charity dollars. There will be helpful hands and the love of a community as we all attempt to wipe clean the black ground and heal the weary victims. But for a long time, years maybe, there will be the fear for those who have been touched by the flames. There will always be the looming threat of disaster, for now that we have witnessed nature’s anger we will never underestimate the land’s power to destroy us. Here’s hope to those affected directly by the fire, you’re not alone and eventually there will be a resolution.

Stay safe. thought the fire was a hell of a blaze. It was frightening and sudden. I didn’t realize a fire could come upon you like that so quickly and be so destructive.”

Often teased for being a notorious pack rat, my grandfather bought a 2.5-inch firehose and an old fire truck years ago. Various family members laughed, questioning his motives. After Sunday night, we will probably never make fun of him again; that water pump saved his home.

“I had been watching the weather for several of months. I saw how dry my pasture was,” he said. “The trees were dead, there was a lot of dead material on the ground and thought we would never be able to save our house if we aren’t prepared.”

The next morning, the weather was chillingly calm. Luckily, the wind speeds died down several notches, giving us hope.

Everyone went home around 7 a.m. to survey the devastation. The homes survived the night, including Aunt Linda’s. It turned out the sheriff’s report was inaccurate. The fire circled her house, killing 20 acres of land and vegetation. She said it was a miracle that her house did not burn, two neighboring homes were reduced to ashes.

“It’s cliché, but you never think something like this will happen to you and then it does.” my aunt said. “I will never think twice when someone says that to me, because now I understand exactly how they feel.”

I can’t explain what I’ve felt in the past 36 hours. So many emotions, — devastation, sadness, frustration, relief — have come and gone in a blur. But more than anything, I feel lucky; lucky that my family’s homes are standing.

According to official reports, more than 100,000 acres burned in the drought-ridden state this past week, and more than 3.5 million acres have burned since December 2010.

More than 1,000 homes have been devastated by 60 individual wildfires that raged through the state Monday. Many residents living in Bastrop and other parts of Central Texas still wait on the status of homes, more than 600 of which have been incinerated by the blistering fire. On Tuesday, at least two lives were taken by the fire’s staggering force.

Now, I can empathize with those families.

The fear of not knowing whether you will have a place to come home to at the end of the day is unshakeable. For those families, and for anyone else unfortunate enough to be the victim of a wildfire, I wish you the best.

Editor’s Note: Natalee Blanchat is a former Campus Editor of the Accent. This article was originally published in the Battalion student newspaper for Texas A&M University.

183

Steiner Ranch

360 1

Bee Cave

Austin

290

71

Steiner Ran Era Sundar

Birdie Mich

Campus Editor

Staff Reporte

I was sitting in a restaurant with my husband and two of our three children when my daughter read her friend’s Facebook status out loud. “Steiner Ranch is on fire, everybody better out!!!”

What!? My immediate reaction was disbelief. I called our 15-year-old daughter, who was at home working on a project, and asked her if there was smoke outside. She opened the front door and said, “There’s smoke everywhere.”

I can’t describe the feeling of knowing there’s a fire in the neighborhood while your child is home alone. I called my neighbor and found that she and her family were preparing to evacuate. She promised to take my daughter with her.

With our daughter in good hands, we headed home, not knowing what to expect. As we neared the neighborhood, both time and traffic stood still. Cars lined up to enter, while others queued up to leave. The clouds seemed angry until we realized they were actually smoke. Although my daughter was safe with our neighbors, I wanted her there - with me.

We finally made it into the neighborhood, only to be stopped by police and told to grab our things and get out quickly. I’ve seen this on TV. It’s not supposed to happen in real life.

When we turned onto our street, an eerie silence greeted us and hung in the air. It was thicker than the smoke. The few people who remained looked out of sorts as they searched for pets and gathered pieces of their lives. The place that had been home just hours before, felt like an alternate universe.

There was no electricity and the sky glared at us through the windows. Rooms once filled with laughter seemed empty and cold while questions raced through our minds. What should we take?

Was there enough time to get out safely, and where should we go?

“Things can be replaced,” I told myself. So we left with the clothes on our backs, a laptop, important documents, my children’s band instruments, a few photo albums, and the SLR camera I had borrowed from a friend. With one last look, I locked the door of a house I might never see again and joined the exodus. We reunited with our daughter that night.

The first day of evacuation was filled with uncertainty and apprehension. The second day was filled with a restless desire to go home.

Although grateful and relieved, our homecoming was not as joyous as I would have imagined. It was tempered by memories of the lady I saw crying when she learned her home had been destroyed and haunted by television footage of burning homes. It was also tinged with feelings of guilt for having been spared. Other than a little ash in the backyard, our home was untouched.

When Bren to the grocery s towering over t to the upper lev “He pulled flames from th Outside of h close to her fam Lindfors sai should begin p ages 16, 14, and evacuation.

“When we w being in a dens end of the stree Lindfors’ hu the children ev neighbors into the very upstai disaster.

It was then were going to p Meanwhile, where the flam fire as quickly a Erick works headphones wh Since Erick awoken by poli “The Police Initially, Erick They, being per from his sleep.

Lindfors an safety of her pa throughout the home to Steine return.

The Lindfor Erik, is also ho

Sept. 20, 2011

www.theAccent.org

dents share their vival stories 35

95

Leander

Georgetown 130

Page 9

79

being evacuated.

My mom, James and I headed to her friends house nearby and watched the news while we waited for my dad to join us.

We knew a lot about the fire in Bastrop and the news A friend of mine once told me that writing in a journal is wasn’t really covering the Leander fire as much as we’d the best way to help me express my emotions. hoped for, but then we saw an aerial view of the fire in our I’ve always had hard time verbally expressing how I feel neighborhood. so writing this is kind of a relief for me. I haven’t told my I could see our street and noticed the burnt houses and parents how sorry I am that we lost our house to the Leander fire. I just keep watching them crying and trying to put on a fear began to set in.

I was afraid for my family but I knew my parents would brave face for me. keep us safe.

Its makes me feel terrible that after years of struggling We spent the night at my mom’s friend’s house and the to own their own home its gone all because of some stupid next day morning we drove into our neighborhood to see our teenagers who started the fire here in Leander. house.

I was home when I saw the smoke out of a window in It was mostly burnt. You could see remnants of a few our kitchen. My dad was working and my mom was taking a walls, but it was mainly ash and rubble. shower while my younger brother James was watching TV. My mom cried and my dad hugged her. I just held onto After shouting at my mom that there was a fire she got out of the shower and got dressed while I kept staring at the Jack in shock.

My parents said we are rebuilding our house and that we smoke getting bigger and bigger and closer and closer to our are all safe so we’ll be better than okay. We’ll be stronger than home. ever because we are all together and that together we can About 10 minutes after I spotted the fire one of our neighbors started pounding on our doors saying that we are survive anything.

Andrew Grant

Reader submission

Round Rock

1

Bastrop County Linda Gonzalez Reader submission

35

290 183

n

130

nch

haels

er

nda Lindfors’ husband called her while on his way store to tell her that there was hot, pluming smoke their Steiner Ranch neighborhood, Lindfors rushed vel of her home to survey the smoke. over at the elementary school and he could see the he ridge there,” Lindfors, an ACC student, said. her window, Lindfors could see flames alarmingly mily’s home. id that she and her husband then decided that they packing. Brenda, her husband and their three children, d 11, packed their belongings before the official

went out to put the suitcases in the car, it was like se fog,” she said. “All you could see was smoke at the et.” usband stayed home for a brief while after she and vacuated the property. Her husband welcomed some o their home in order that they could see the fire from irs location from which Brenda first witnessed the

that the Lindfors’ neighbors decided that they too pack and evacuate. , Lindfors’ brother Erick lives nearby her closer to mes were and she recalls that he was not aware of the as she was. s night shifts where he is employed and wears hile he sleeps, said Brenda. was asleep at the time the fire broke out, Erick was ice. e woke him up by banging on his door,” Lindfors said. had slept through the police’s first two attempts. rsistent and refusing to leave, eventually woke Erik . He was then able to evacuate. nd her family drove down Ranch Road 2222 to the arents’ home in North Austin where they stayed e duration of Sunday and Monday, and returned er Ranch on Tuesday, when officials said it was safe to

rs and their home are in good condition. Her brother, ome and doing well.

I was watching Nick Jr. with my 3-year-old son Matthew when I heard a loud banging on the door. It was my neighbor from down the street screaming that his house was on fire and that I needed to get out of there because it was headed towards me next.

In a panic, I grabbed Matthew, my cell phone, laptop and keys.

We got out of there within 10 minutes and saw the fire engulfing my next door neighbor’s house as we drove away.

We were terrified and didn’t know what to do, we just kept driving. Ash was falling all around us and flames were in my rear view mirror and I just kept driving.

Matthew didn’t understand what was happening and began crying and screaming that he didn’t want to get burned. I tried my hardest to keep my emotions in check and somehow managed to calm him down until he fell asleep.

This is when I began bawling. My house was gone, everything was just gone. In the span of a few minutes my life was turned upside down. I was devastated and had to pull over since my vision was blurred with tears.

At least I had Matthew.

I needed to come up with a plan for Matthew and it was at that moment I received a panicked phone call from my mom who lives on Union Chapel Drive. She was worried about Matthew and I and could see the huge billowing smoke towering over my hometown of Smithville.

I told her we were safe and that I would meet her at her house.

Matthew and I spent the next few days at her house wondering what to do next and thanking God that the Union Chapel fire didn’t take her house too.

Even though I don’t have a home to call my own anymore I have found that there is a silver lining in the aftermath of a such a horrendous tragedy: people.

People are so overwhelmingly kind and caring by donating anything they can. I’ve gotten used to staying to myself and shutting everyone out for fear that they could hurt me or Matthew because that’s all you really hear about in the news.

Kindness is something so rare and special and this fire, as devastating as it is, has brought out the best in people.

Elgin

290

Karissa Rodriguez

Editor-in-Chief

While driving home to Bastrop after a weekend trip to visit her cousins in Houston, 27-year-old government major Sarah Hernandez spotted the enormous smoke clouds billowing in the sky ahead of her on Highway 71.

“It was hard to miss,” Hernandez said. “Smoke took over the sky and I couldn’t believe my eyes.”

Hernandez, who lives in the Tahitian Village neighborhood, didn’t know what to think of the smoke.

“I just thought that it had to one huge fire to cause that much smoke,” Hernandez said. “I kept driving towards the smoke and it just kept getting bigger and bigger.”

Then she noticed cars were turning around and panic started to set in.

As Hernandez crept closer to the turnaround area in the road she felt the heat overwhelm her car and saw flames towering over her and crossing the highway.

“It was surreal and I kept thinking about my house and my pets so I called my neighbor after I began driving away from the fire,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez’s neighbor informed her that they were being evacuated and to stay away from Bastrop.

Not knowing what to do next, Hernandez pulled over about 10 miles away from the fire and took out her phone to check Twitter and Facebook.

“Part of me wanted to find out how my family and friends were doing, but I needed to find out where I should go so I thought Twitter would be a good way to know where everyone else was heading to.”

Twitter proved to be resourceful and Hernandez made her way over to the Smithville Recreation Center.

“When I got there everyone was in a panic and on their phones or crying,” Hernandez recalled.

Over the next few days Hernandez stayed at the center striving to hear any bit of news about when she could go home.

Unfortunately that day didn’t come. Hernandez’s home was on the list of destroyed homes and she learned that many of her neighbor’s homes were destroyed as well.

“I was in a state of shock,” Hernandez said. “I didn’t cry, I’m not sure why, I just haven’t been able to process what has happened.”

Hernandez plans to stay in Houston with her family for the time being and doesn’t plan to return to see the remains of her home until next week.

“I lived alone, rented my home, and have renters insurance,” Hernandez said. “I’ll be fine, I don’t have cherished pictures or important documents anymore but that’s okay. I’m still here and I’m more worried about all my neighbors. I don’t think I’ll be moving back into Tahitian Village, but I sure as hell will help rebuild it when the time comes.”

Bastrop 71

Map of Central Texas Fires

Graphic by Elizabeth Brown • Layout Editor

CAMPUS LIFE Page 10

www.theAccent.org

Campus Life → Pinnacle Campus

Rebuilding after the fire

Sept. 20, 2011

HOT SPOTS Round Rock Campus

Layla Elayyadi

Staff Reporter

BEST STUDY PLACE

Yo yo’s frozen yogurt

201 University Oaks Round Rock, TX 78665-2422 (512) 259-2657

Typical places to study are quiet libraries and busy coffee aroma-filled cafés where customers frequently pass through to get their daily fix of caffeine. Well the award winning Yo yo’s frozen yogurt is a great new place to study! Not only does their homemade low-fat and non-fat delicious yogurt have nutritional value and health benefits but they also have a variety of fruit and candy toppings to make anyone drool. They also offer free unlimited WiFi, comfortable seating for study groups, and not to mention the writable walls for presentations and visual study-guides.

They also offer a 10% discount for ACC students with a valid ACC ID. Monday thru Thursday 11:00 AM – 9:30 PM Friday thru Saturday 11:00 AM – 10:30 PM Sunday 12:00 PM – 9:00 PM

BEST SPOT FOR YOUR BUCK

Cinemark Movies 8 Era Sundar•Campus Editor

REBUILDING — Adjunct Professor John Pfannkuche surveys the progress at a home in Oak Hill where he has overseen construction every weekend since wildfires ravaged the Scenic Brook neighborhood on April 17.

Professor aids victims, rebuilds homes Era Sundar

Campus Editor

Every weekend for more than five months, Adjunct Professor John Pfannkuche (pronounced Van – Cook) of the Building Construction Technology Department has overseen efforts to rebuild the Oak Hill neighborhood ravaged by wildfires on April 17.

“I’ll be here until the end,” said Pfannkuche, an Oak Hill resident whose home was spared. “The neighborhood has been phenomenal. People are sitting on the sidelines waiting to help. All it takes is a spark.”

Neighborhood groups and individual volunteers have been essential to the rebuilding process. “The Red Cross does great work, but the help

they offer is temporary,” said Pfannkuche. “Five months later, we’re just getting framing permits.”

According to Pfannkuche, hope and expectations are high after a tragedy, but as time goes by, people realize that rebuilding is a long process. Frustrated by the bureaucratic red tape of some large relief organizations, neighbors got together and formed the Oak Hill Wildfire Relief organization, which has spearheaded efforts in the area.

Pfannkuche said it’s important to hold as many fund-raisers as possible, get corporate sponsors involved and seek media coverage, because people forget as time goes by. In Oak Hill church groups and businesses have

contributed by sending volunteers and donating lumber, building supplies and dumpster services.

Despite the outpouring of generosity, some residents may not get back into their homes until December, and many face expenses that are not covered by their insurance policies such as demolition, debris removal and the rental of temporary housing while still making mortgage payments on their damaged homes.

Oak Hill Wildfire Relief has provided assistance with insurance deductibles and has taken on the Herculean task of helping uninsured homeowners rebuild.

Lilly Henric, whose home was destroyed, said that she still struggles with guilt from not

being able to afford insurance.

“I thought I was doing everything right. I paid off my mortgage and was living debt free and now it’s like standing on the corner with a tin cup,” Henric said. She is grateful to all the volunteers and plans to pay the kindness forward.

“As soon as the smoke clears in Bastrop and they need people to shovel, I’ll be there,” Henric said.

Henric encourages fire victims to allow themselves to grieve and to have patience. She hopes to be back in her own home by February or March.

“This has been the silver lining,” Henric said. “God took everything material away and made room for these caring people who come every weekend to help.”

Campus Life → Rio Grande Campus

Saving lives one pint at a time

2132 N Mays St #800 Round Rock, TX 78664 (512) 388-2703

Nowadays it costs an arm and a leg for movie tickets, and concession snacks.

Many movie theatres are also not accepting student IDs during the weekend, which is the only time students can enjoy some time off from studying and classes.

Well the worry of overspending is gone, because the best spot for your buck is Cinemark Movies 8! With regular movie tickets priced at $1.75 and 3-D movies costing $3.75, there is no need for student IDs. They show movies that are out of the big theatre but and have not been released on DVD. Their clean environment, cheap prices and great quality make this the best value for your money.

Monday thru Friday 1:15 PM – 10:30 PM Saturday thru Sunday 10:45 AM – 10:30 PM

BEST HANG OUT SPOT

Juniors Grill

119 E. Main St Round Rock, TX 78664 (512) 310-7777

A one-stop shop for fun, relaxing, entertainment and eating is located in the heart of Round Rock. Juniors Grill has multiple TV screens to watch all the games, huge outdoor patio, a game room, pool tables, free Wi-Fi, good food and live entertainment. People have the opportunity to meet interesting individuals and participate in trivia and singer songwriter nights. On their website they have a calendar of events along with their menu. If someone wants to enjoy food, meet new people and enjoy a live band, Juniors Grill is the hot spot to be.

Monday thru Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:00 AM Sunday 11:00 AM until the last person leaves

BEST PLACE TO SHOP

Premium Outlets

4401 N Ih-35 Round Rock, TX 78664 (512) 863-6688

Ashley Udell•Staff Photographer

LIFE LINE — A worker for the Blood Center of Central Texas holds packages of blood donated by students at ACC Service Center’s Blood Drive outside the Rio Grande campus Wednesday morning.

Participants are automatically entered to win two general admission passes to the Austin City Limits Music Festival 2011. A blood drive was also held at Riverside campus the same day.

Picture getting everything you needed with deep discounted prices in one location. Look no further, because Premium Outlets has super sales in every store starting with Adidas, Bath and Body works to the Guess Factory Store and ending with Wilsons Leather. If anyone needs to recharge their body and minds, Premium outlets offers shoppers a food court along with nail salons and locations to get a massage. As students we cannot ignore such great deals. Follow them on twitter to receive breaking shopping news and other hot deals going on with individual stores.

Monday thru Saturday 10:00 AM – 9:00 PM Sunday 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM

Sept. 20, 2011

www.theAccent.org

News → Events

Join the club, get involved on campus Student Life hosts Involvement Fairs at campuses to promote, garner student involvement in clubs, organizations Sarah Grover Staff Writer

Students received information about clubs, organizations and available services while emphasizing student participation at Involvement Fairs held on Sept.

7 and 8 at all campuses.

The fairs were hosted by the Office of Student Life and offered students the opportunity to learn about student clubs and organizations offered at Austin Community College.

Groups represented at the fair at South Austin campus included the Christian Student Club, Library Services, ACC Emergency Alert, and the Transfer Academy. ACC Abroad, Student Life, the Student Activity Advisory Board (SAAB) and Circle K International.

Adjunct History professor Robin Robinson described the fair as, “a one stop place for students to get their questions answered.”

Dawn Walters, a Medical

News → Events

Lab Technology major had a positive experience at the fair.

“The people were very inviting and welcoming.

Everyone was smiling. It was just great,” Walters said.

Another student, Leonard Reid, said that he became interested in the Emerging Leadership Challenge because of the Involvement Fair.

The Emerging Leadership Challenge is Student Life’s newest leadership program in which 30 students are selected to participate in eight weeks of leadership training including the planning and implementation of service projects.

“Being an Eagle Scout, I’ve dealt with a lot of leadership type events and I just want to be able to learn more about it,” Reid said.

Students also filled out involvement forms which enabled them to receive

additional information about the clubs and organizations in which they expressed interest.

The completed forms were then entered into a drawing for an iPod Nano.

Pam Spooner, head librarian at SAC, believed that the fair was a good way to increase student awareness about student organizations.

“Students are going to know about all of our events and services that they otherwise may not have known about.

Students are [sometimes] in such a hurry to get to class, that this [Involvement Fair] will help snag them in,” Spooner said.

Spooner encourages students to become more involved at ACC by joining a club or organization instead of only being on campus just to attend classes.

“There is a lot more to college than just college classes,” Spooner said.

Nathanial A. Barrera

As smiles exchange from Dazzie McKelvy, a consultant for Workforce Matters, to Austin Community College Special Populations Specialist Stephanie Horgan, an aura of success fills the room at Aspire, a single mothers support group.

McKelvy and Horgan, along with their associates, work to facilitate Aspire for single mothers who attend Austin Community College at weekly meetings.

The meetings, held weekly at both Eastview (EVC) and Round Rock (RRC) campuses, review a variety of topics, including but not limited to, parenting, budgeting and time management. Meetings are held every Monday at EVC and every Thursday at RRC. “We just want to let them know that somebody’s out there,” Julie Ray said, a long time coordinating voice for the group. “So many of these women can feel like they’re just alone.”

Aspire serves as the Austin branch of The Jeremiah Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low-income single mothers with a high school

degree or GED. Women involved in the program must also be enrolled in postsecondary education.

Over 55% of Jerimiah Project participants have graduated with an associates and 45% of those continuing to the bachelor level, accoring to Ray. “Our mission,” Ray announces happily to the group, “is to transform families from poverty to prosperity.”

The Jeremiah Program started in Minneapolis, Minn. around 15 years ago and after extensive research decided to focus group the Austin area last year with success.

Three semesters later, you have a thriving group that has led The Jeremiah Program to start development on a 22 apartment residential area near Eastview Campus.

By 2013, a small community of single mothers and children will have substantial access to secondary education, an early childhood development center and a safe, affordable living area.

Plans have been made to expand the program as time goes on.

But as for these weekly, 90-minute meetings, a more personal goal is held in mind.

“These women stay for the sisterhood,” McKelvy said with a satisfied beam. “That’s why they keep coming back.”

News → Events

Solomon Nyanhongo

There was a light but serious atmosphere and sitting in the circle one could feel the camaraderie between the young men as well as the love that flowed from the elder gentlemen during the first meeting of Connected: African American Male Mentor Group on Sept. 9 at Eastview Campus.

Connected is a series of weekly discussions about issues important to the African American males at Austin Community College.

Topics addressed at the meeting included leadership and the importance of having a mentor.

Students present were also able to share their personal experiences with fellow students and faculty who were able to relate and share advice.

It was the vision of Eastview Dean of Student Service Dorado Kinney to create this group.

“I thought it was important

for African American males to be able to speak to older or more experienced African American males to get some insight, share and just be comfortable,” Kinney said.

Jeffery Richard, vice chair of the ACC Board of Trustees, was also present at the meeting and gave students insight from his personal experience to students like Malcolm Dean who attended the meeting. “[It was] a fun but enlightening meeting,” Dean said. “I laughed a lot but took away something valuable too.”

The group will hold several meetings through the semester rotating between all the campuses.

“It is a fluid group; there is no you have to come to this meeting or that meeting, it’s open,” Kinney said.

The next meeting will be Sept. 23 at Cypress Creek campus in Room 1109 and students interested in the program can contact Kinney at dkinney@austincc.edu or 223-5158.

calendar of events Veterans Peer to Peer Group

Northridge campus, room 1117 Sept. 21 from 10-11 a.m.

Constitution Day Debate

Eastview campus students were asked: “What do you think about the State’s recent decision to cut funding from women’s health organizations in Austin like Planned Parenthood?”

Palmer Events Center Sept. 22 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

“I have never been to Planned Parenthood. What will happen to our society when the funding for assistance are cut, and what will happen to the poor? I guess, the leaders of Texas don’t care as long they keep themselves rich.

As a nation, we must unite and help one another. And, if we throw the poor people to the dogs, believe me, the crime will go up because people still have to survive.”

Daniella Gutierrez Business

Adrienne Sparks•Staff Photographer

SAAVY — Darrell Merriweather explains what Men of Distinction (MOD) is to fellow ACC students as they pursue items for sale at MOD’s yard sale and charity auction at the Northridge campus on Sept. 8.

Student group hosts yard sale and charity auction at Northridge campus to fund two $750 scholarships Rozanna Yousef

Mentor group offers African American males brighter futures Staff Writer

rant & rave

Campus Life → Northridge Campus

Single mothers Men of Distinction support group raise money to offered for students fund scholarships Staff Writer

Campus Life | Page 11

Staff Writer

In order to raise money to help improve African American male student enrollment retention rates, the Men of Distinction (MOD)hosted a yard sale and charity auction on Sept. 2 at Northridge campus.

MOD is a group aimed to assist African American males with their education not to mention increase the number of African American males attending ACC. The program, developed in 2007 by Voncille Wright, Rio Grande campus dean of students and Cheryl Richard, Student Life director is geared towards assisting MOD participants with their financial, educational and social challenges.

“The overall purpose of the program is to improve African American male retention, graduation, and transfer rates which currently lag behind other ethnic groups,” according to the group’s website.

In 2008 MOD was awarded an $86,000 grant to support the program and this year’s yard sale was MOD’s first annual scholarship fundraiser event.

Program Coordinator Jarell McCuller said the initial goal was to raise $500, but the actual amount raised went well over $700.

Items sold at the yard sale ranged from objects such as luggage bags and purses to lotions and sunglasses.

In addition to the yard sale, MOD hosted a raffle during the event. Prizes given away in the raffle included a mountain bike, gasoline gift card, Chili’s gift card, and movie passes to the Alamo Drafthouse.

Koren McNeil, a staff member working for the program since July 2011, said it’s fulfilling to see people progress, pointing out that anyone of these men could be the “next president.”

McNeil pointed out that the money raised will help fund the first annual scholarship program in Spring 2012 in which two members will be awarded $750 each.

Many donations were given to support the program from places like Chili’s, Alamo Drafthouse, Olive Garden and Double Dave’s pizza.

MOD member Marcell Jules said that his church also made a donation with other donations coming from other churches.

Jules joined the program this semester and believes it will help men like him succeed.

Those interested in making a donation to the scholarship fund, joining MOD, or finding out about future MOD events can contact the Men of Distinction office at 223.5665 or mod@austincc.edu.

Annual Faculty Exhibition Reception

Pump Project Art Gallery 702 Shady Lane, Austin, TX 78702 Sept. 23 from 6-8 p.m.

Fall 2011 Transfer Fair

Sept. 27 at RRC from 1 - 3 p.m.

Sept. 28 at EVC from 1 - 3 p.m.

“I think it is an unfortunate and ill advised decision. Access to health care should be a basic right, and defunding an organization like Planned Parenthood takes away the great resource for women, especially lowincome women.”

Matthew Kessiny Tutor

“I am very surprised! I think that is wrong. That teen pregnancy will increase. Teenagers will be uneducated on taking care of their bodies because they cannot afford it. So the STD will spread even more. And, everything will start to go downhill.”

Shanita Nobles Child Development

First Year Experience vs. SL staff kickball game Gillis Park Sept. 29 from 7-9 p.m.

Nuts & Bolts

Highland Business Center Sept. 23 from 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

page 12 | Campus Life

www.theAccent.org

Campus Life → What I’ve Learned

Learned

Sept. 20, 2011

What I’ve

Sarah Neve

Birdie Michaels Staff Reporter

Sarah Neve, who is the current Managing Editor at UWeekly Austin, began her career at Austin Community College like most-saving money and, more importantly, gaining experience.

UWeekly Austin is a locally owned newsprint, tabloid-style magazine, specializing in emphasizing the voice of University of Texas at Austin (UT) students.

“Our home base is very close to UT, and we cover a lot of UT events, but [UWeekly Austin] has enough relevant content so that the ACC student should be able to relate to it,” Neve said. “We actually extended our readership by placing bins at ACC campuses.”

The magazine’s focus is on interests that matter to its readers.

“We try to keep [the magazine] relative and localized to our readers,” Neve said. There’s a very heavy emphasis on live music, theatre and even bar culture, she said.

UWeekly Austin, which provides a very different service than a hard-news university paper like The Daily Texan, began as most local operations do--in a humble and very unconventional atmosphere.

“One of our clients offered us the shed in the back of his bar,” Neve said.

But, like any Texas summer would have it, the temperatures were too extreme and consequently bridled the process.

UWeekly Austin is now being operated out of the powerhouse of a renovated garage, but they are looking to physically expand just as quickly as their readership.

Neve originally was offered the job at UWeekly Austin amid her studies at Austin Community College. Being faithful to the commitment she had made with ACC’s student paper, the Accent, she did a dignified thing: she exchanged contact information with the man from whom the job offer came and made plans to revisit the prospect towards the end of the semester.

Six months later, she did just that. Neve was awarded the job at UWeekly Austin for which she was hand-picked.

Neve, who began her start in journalism

at ACC in the spring of 2008 with the student magazine, Life4U, built upon her career with the unfailing aid of good networking. That Fall, she began to write for the Accent.

When asked about the cohesive process that ultimately scored her the position she has now, Neve laughed. “It’s such a funny story,” she said.

The sister of Neve’s colleague was at a bar when she began to converse with another customer there. He’d explained to her that he was in town on business, building the foundation that would eventually enable UWeekly to branch off from it’s out-of-state business center and locate to Austin, resulting in the unaffiliated, independent company that is UWeekly Austin.

Neve and her colleague’s information was then passed on to the out-of-towner, and, not before long, Neve received the inquiring email that would eventually land her a position at UWeekly Austin.

“Transitionally, it was pretty basic,” Neve said upon being asked about the transition period between ACC and her current position, a job that is not affiliated with a higher education center.

On being employed by a self-sustaining business, Neve said, “It puts you in a position where you have to do stuff that you didn’t learn to do in college.”

Neve attribute a lot of her experience to her time at the Accent where she served at Campus Editor, Assistant Editor, and Editor-in-Chief.

“I learned a lot while I was there,” Neve said. “I had also been working together with the same staff for forever.”

Neve was a natural-born journalist. Having gained experience in high school, and then graduating and gaining more experience working at Accent, the transition to UWeekly Austin may not have been very difficult, technically speaking.

“This is the first journalism job that I got independently from the people I had always worked with,” Neve said. “It’s shocking when you get out of college.”

According to Neve, everyone must start somewhere, and building contacts and proactive experience within internships is an exceptional way to advance.

Dana Manickavasagam•Web Editor

Gotta Get Your Riverbat On! austincc.edu/riverbat/shop Marketing ad for Accent 9/20 issue QP horizontal CMYK

It’s your time to

SHINE Finish your degree at Texas State’s Round Rock location.

• Earn your bachelor’s degree in one of nine programs or master's degree in one of eleven programs.

• Take advantage of convenient schedules, including evening, Saturday and online courses.

• Learn from top-flight faculty in state-of-the-art facilities.

Bobcat Day - Round Rock Join us at facebook.com/TexasStateRRHEC www.rrhec.txstate.edu

Saturday, October 22, 2011 - 10 a.m.

Advance registration for prospective students is required at www.rrhec.txstate.edu/bobcatday

page 13 | Campus Life

www.theAccent.org

Sept. 20, 2011

YOUR

TRANSFER GUIDE

start here

TO A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY

EXPLORE FINANCIAL AID

Find out the admission requirements to the university of your choice.

Know when the applications are due and any fees involved.

FIND THE RIGHT UNIVERSITY

TALK TO AN ADVISOR

ACC Transfer Academy sessions: Apply at FAFSA.org and know your deadlines!

Find out if you need to attend a new student orientation.

Be aware of the cost of attendence.

APPLY & TRANSFER

Find a major that will help you succeed that goal.

Find the college that offers your degree program.

Don’t know?

Take your basics, core curriculum classes transfer.

Be sure you know when tuition is due.

Transfer Essentials Getting Interactive Tour de Transfer Special Topic Transfer workshops

Find out if grants or scholarships are available.

Figure out your career goal.

ATTEND YOUR NEW UNIVERSITY

get there If you are planning to transfer to a four year university, attend an ACC Transfer Academy advisory session:

austincc.edu/transfer

Graphic by Elizabeth Brown • Layout Editor

Campus Life → Riverside Campus

Students celebrate Diez y Seis at RVS Dana Manickavasagam

Web Editor

Students, faculty, staff and special guests enjoyed free food and lively music at the Diez y Seis de Septiembre Celebration hosted by the Center for Public Policy and Political Studies (CPPPS) at Riverside Campus on September 15. Senator Gonzalo Barrientos served as emcee and musical groups such as Mariachi Estrella, Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico de Texas, Johnny Degollado y Su Conjunto Band and Boca Abajo performed.

“This is a cultural education event with food and music,” said Samantha Davis, president of the Center for Student Political Studies (CSPS). “It’s about discussing liberty, ownership and pride in your culture, empowerment and education.

Those are all parts of what the Center for Student Political Studies mission is and our student club supports their mission.”

SMOOTH — Victoria Carr, and David Ramos, members of

EYE CATCHING — Dressed in bright colors Xonchitl Betancourt and Michael Rowland share their rich culture by performing at the Diez y Seis event at Riverside. Members of Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico de Texas were one of four different who performed on Thursday for the CSPS Diez y Seis celebration.

MARIACHI — Elias Olvera , member of Mariachi Estrella,

plays the guitarrón during the Diez y Seis celebration at Riverside. CSPS hosted the celebration on Thursday, Sept 15 in honor of Mexico’s Independence from Spain.

Roy Lozano’s Ballet Folklorico de Texas entertains the crowd with a traditional dance performance. The dance troop was part of the Diez y Seis celebration at Riverside, on Thursday Sept. 15.

FANCY FOOTWORK — Flowing skirts and fast feet mesmerized crowds during the performance showcasing Hispanic culture celebrating Diez y Seis. The Diez y Seis celebration was sponsored by CSPS as a cultural educational event on Thurdsay Sept. 15th.

Natalie Casanova

Lovers of Lady Gaga now have a chance to ‘just dance’ all night while supporting LGBT equality rights.

Gagarazzi, a Lady Gagathemed variety show, will benefit the LGBT advocacy group Equality Texas on Sept. 30 at The Highball.

The event is being held to help raise awareness of the mistreatment of the LGBT community, but it is not meant to be super serious. Gagarazzi creators and organizers Haylan Teel and Dena Greenwalt of Homespun Horror and Freehand Flicks are sponsoring the event along with Yelp.

The 21 and up show starts at 10 p.m. and doors open at 9 p.m. for pre-show videos. The lineup consist of performances

by Jigglewatts, Dolls From the Crypt, Austin City Showgirls, Black Widow Burlesque, Stars & Garters, musicians, dancers and more.

Cover for the event is $7 at the door, but it is a discounted $5 for costume-clad partygoers.

Aside from the show, there will be a photo booth, costume contest and silent-auction-style raffle for Gaga-themed dolls, jewelry, soap, artwork and other items.

Coco Lectric of The Jigglewatts said the troupe is really excited about the challenge of incorporating Lady Gaga’s style and fashion while maintaining a sense of classic burlesque. She said they are looking forward to reaching out to a new audience and helping a

cause really important to them.

About 50 percent of the featured acts responded to an ad Greenwalt and Teel placed on Craigslist, and all of the acts are performing free of charge as a donation to the cause. Teel is honored and overwhelmed with the amount of support and donations they have received in planning this event.

The two came up with the idea for the benefit last fall and planned to host it in April, but pushed it back due to Teel falling ill. Greenwalt said she’s glad the event was postponed because of all the awesome acts and donations that have come to the table while re-planning it.

Greenwalt said Lady Gaga has helped put a fire under the LGBT tolerance movement and really makes an impact on the community.

“This is our generation’s version of the civil rights movement of the 1950s,” Greenwalt said.

Getting people’s mindset to change is why Equality Texas is hosting Gagarazzi.

“Gay male teen suicides are staggering,” Lectric said. “It’s really sad.”

When it comes to the LGBT community, Texas is not exactly known to be a very open and accepting state, said Jigglewatts burlesque dancer Pearl Lux, but Austin is somewhat an oasis of tolerance.

Teel said, “There are a lot of places in Texas where this event would never fly.”

This event should set an example to the rest of the state, Lectric said. “It’s not just a ‘gay’ event, it’s a ‘people’ event.”

Sept. 21, 8:30 p.m.

Cactus Café Hello Wheels has taken the September residency at the Cactus Café, and on Sept.

21 at 8:30 p.m. you can catch the second-to-last of the four-piece stomp-folk band’s free shows. Also performing is Austinbased two-piece and harmonious folk project Sons of Fathers, previously called Beck & Cauthen.

For more information visit cactuscafe.thundertix.com

GOSPEL BRUNCH:

Sept. 25, 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m.

Stubb’s Barbeque Catch a gospel set while eating cheesy grits, migas and sipping on a Bloody Mary. On Sept. 25, the Warrior Gospel Band will serenade its way into your pancake-loving heart. Call (512) 480-8341 EXT. 4 or email gospelbrunch@ stubbsaustin.com to reserve a spot.

FANTASTIC FEST:

Walter Challapa•Lead Photographer

POKER FACE — Shelby Armstrong (left) and Haylan Teel (right) promote Gagarazzi, an LGBT variety benefit show, in downtown Austin.

Musician kicks off album Natalie Casanova

Life & Arts Editor

Natalie Casanova•Life and Arts Editor

MELODIC MATH ROCK — Daniel Francis Doyle kicks off his fall tour at Mohawk Sept. 1. Diverting from his solo act, Doyle played with a full band so he could perform some of his more complex songs live and create new collaborative tracks. of “There Are Two Of You” did not have the same effect as the solo version. The original long winding buildup intro to the song and Doyle’s powerful lyrics – “There are three of me” – really build up steam and excitement about the song. The full band went right into it the song and didn’t really create any pressure, but the song still sounded unique and garnered a fan sing-along.

Doyle moved to Austin from Dallas eight years ago to follow his previous band-mate Seth Sherman. The band, Early Lines, eventually broke up which inspired Doyle to begin his solo setup.

“No one person can do that,” Crowe said was his first impression of hearing Doyle’s music. A huge aspect of Doyle’s original performance was the visual focus on him as the sole source of several layers of sound.

Playing solo, his sound progressed from noise rock to melodic noise pop and now, as a trio, it has evolved more into poppy experimental math rock. Doyle doesn’t like being called just ‘noise’ anymore because he feels like he has created more melodic music

WEDNES DA Y

HELLO WHEELS:

Life & Arts → Music

Former one-man-band Daniel Francis Doyle kicked off his fall 2011 tour with a full band at his Sept. 1 show at Mohawk. The indoor stage was surrounded by fans to see Doyle, and the rest of the bill. Transmography opened the show followed by Seth Sherman, Doyle then the Dikes of Holland.

Somewhat notorious for his impressive melodic noise pop looped solo sets, he said he hit a wall and couldn’t perform some of his complex tracks live. This is his first tour with a full band after three years of solo touring. Doyle said he’s been playing with the band since February 2011.

The band was originally comprised of drummer Brandon Crowe and bassist Cory Plump, but Plumps was unable to go on tour and replaced with Rob Mosely.

Doyle said they are touring for a month and a half and will hit places all over America and Canada.

Crowe said Mosley, who is also the bassist for Dallas band Marriage Material, has only practiced with him and Doyle a few times before starting the tour, but has picked up the songs very quickly.

Doyle said he received some concerned emails about him not playing unaccompanied because the full band will perform at every show. He said he’s not opposed to splitting sets if fans desire him to play solo in a looser concert environment.

Attendee Priya Patel said Doyle’s solo loop station setup was very unique. She wasn’t sure how she would feel about the band, but was surprised at how much she liked it. “[They sounded] kind of spazzy at points with softer elements and a good beat going,” Patel said. “The band was just different, but always really cool.”

The full band performance

Y DA ES

Fortnight Forecast

Lady Gaga-themed variety show Gagarazzi to be held at The Highball, raise awareness of mistreatment of LGBT community members Life & Arts Editor

FRI DA Y

SU N D

LGBT benefit show to be held

TU

Life & arts → Culture

Sept. 20, 2011

SDAY UR TH

MONDAY

www.theAccent.org

AY

Page 14

DAY TUR SA

LIFE & ARTS

for some time.

“That bothered me a little bit – I was trying to make songs,” he said.

Doyle started playing guitar when he was 13. Obsessed with music, he said he listened to more and more bands and would daydream in school about performing music for a living.

He said Minutemen, Jonathan Richmond, Red Crayola and Aids Wolf are some of his influences along with post-punk 80s, 90s indie rock and early American hardcore. “[Some songs] are predictable romantically inspired songs about being bummed out about a girl,” Doyle said. “[Which] happens a lot of times unfortunately.”

But his songs are almost random ramblings that aren’t exactly autobiographical.

“Daniel is an amazing songwriter,” Crowe said. “[The songs are] so complex, but seem to flow well and don’t sound like math rock.”

The band performed four new collaborative songs at the Sept. 1 show and has an upcoming 10” vinyl record split with the Dikes of Holland to be released October 2011.

Sept. 22-Sept. 29 Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar Known to be the largest of all genre film festivals in the United States, Fantastic Fest is an Austin-famous event. If Bill Murray has been known to show up, then why wouldn’t you?

Fantastic Fest specializes in horror, sci-fi, and action and has hosted world premiers to films such as There Will Be Blood and Zombieland. Visit fantasticfest.com for more information.

Sept. 20, 2011

www.theAccent.org

News → Events

Students party with R.B. Student Life hosts back to school bash at the Belmont

Life & Arts | Page 15

Food for thought: South Austin

Jessica Blair

Staff Writer

Figuring out what to eat between classes is an important decision for any college student. All campuses have some form of a Simon’s Cafe. However, stepping away from the campus provides other choices to fill those tummies. Accent will feature several restaurants around the different campuses. In this issue, we feature South Austin Campus.

Walter Challapa

Lead Photographer

In an effort to welcome new and returning students back for a new school year, the Office of Student Life hosted its first ever Riverbat Bash party on Sept. 1 at the Belmont restaurant. Students enjoyed complimentary food and drinks, as well as musical entertainment at the party.

“I believe more than 300 students came to celebrate the end of summer and the beginning of a new semester,” singer Tje Austin said. Austin, who performed on NBC’s The Voice, is a former ACC student and served as the headliner for the evening’s musical guests.

The Riverbat Bash began with Radiostar performing followed by Saints of Valory. At the same time, ACC’s mascot R.B. made an appearance.

The celebration was an opportunity to provide fun and motivation, according to Student Life Director Cheryl Richard. “This first celebration has the idea to make a tradition,” said Richard.

“I have 13 years working with ACC and I like people’s dreams. Every year is different, and there is something new to learn.”

Richard wanted students to know that Student Life, faculty, and staff support their college experience.

During the bash, students won prizes raffled off and sponsored by A+ Federal Credit Union..

“I was eating and I heard my name,” general studies major K’Shal Bell said. “I screamed saying, Oh my god!

I got something!” Bell won

Walter Challapa•Lead Photographer

RIVERBATS GROOVE — Creative writing major Nori Hubert dances with English major Lauren Sevilla while David McLean follows the rhythm by passing his hat to Joyce Alexander, a Psychology major, on Sept. 1st during the Riverbat Bash. $1,000 in books in the raffle.

“I am happy because this event gives people the opportunity to share experiences and enjoy together the music,” Bell said.

Nursing major Christina Paone was another lucky winner of a $500 Visa gift card. She mentioned, with big emotion, that this money would help to her little son or would be used for a family vacation. Besides going for a degree, she assures that the bash helps students to relax and talk each other.

“The bash was a good opportunity to meet people,” Sociology major David McLean said. “It is what I expected. We had social interaction which is not unusual in this campus.”

Future events hosted by Student Life have been planned and students are encouraged to stop by their campus’ Student Life office to learn more.

Cherry Creek Catfish 5712 Manchaca Road

This is one of those places that you can literally walk to from school in under 5 minutes. The food is so good, that people wait outside 30 minutes before they even open their doors. Their Catfish Po Boy is one of these fabulous menu items. It’s two pieces of catfish fillets per half of the sandwich, with lettuce and tomato. It also comes with soft fries. But if you are looking for something other than fish then you can still go to their restaurant. Another menu great is the Chicken Fried Steak Sandwich. This particular sandwich comes with lettuce, tomato, and pickles if you want them, and also comes with fries. The best part of this restaurant, besides the great staffing and awesome decor, is its great location from the school and the hwy.

With all the fast food around now its good to find out there still is a few good restaurants that have survived.

$ Walter Challapa•Lead Photographer

WINNER — K’Shel J. Bell, winner of $1,000 in books, is congratulated by the ACC mascot R.B.

Scale: $ = under 15 dollars an entree $$ = 15 to 20 dollars an entree $$$ = 20 to 25 dollars an entree Photo by Dana Manickavasagam • Web Editor

O P E N I N G FA L L 2 0 1 1

New restaurant opening in NW Hills serving organic salads, gourmet sandwiches and pizzas, a diverse kids menu and a wide range of craft beers and wines.

HIRING ALL POSITIONS FOH Managers • Kitchen Managers • Chefs • Waitstaff • Bartenders

jobs@austinterrier.com

3435 GREYSTONE DRIVE • AUSTIN, TX 78731

W W W. A U S T I N T E R R I E R . C O M

page 16 | Life & Arts

www.theAccent.org

Sept. 20, 2011

Life & Arts → Music

Wild Frontier Fest explodes Natalie Casanova

Life & Arts Editor

With over twice as many bands on the bill as last year, Vagabond Collective hosted their second annual Wild Frontier Fest on Sept. 10-11 at Emo’s. The two-day festival featured indoor and outdoor shows and live screen printing where masses of concert goers turned up.

Day one of the festival featured edgy melodic punk rock band Ume (pronounced ‘oo-may’). Ume’s front woman Lauren Larson’s head banging and guitar thrashing puts a lot of male heavy rockers to shame and it was astonishing that she never lost control of her guitar.

Her vocals are very evocative of Karen O and Victoria Legrand.

Larson, along with husband and bassist Eric Larson and drummer Rachel Fuhrer spent most of 2011 touring music festivals across the country and released their new album Phantoms on Aug. 30.

“We are a working band,” Larson said. “We are not a blog darling.”

Day two was filled with extreme, high-energy bands like Zorch and Peelander Z. Zorch, an experimental electro math rock duo, emanated hardcore synthesizer and drum rhythms that had the crowd pulsing to the beat.

Disbanded band Cruiserweight reunited to perform a punk rock revival that had parts of the audience bouncing.

Lead singer Stella Maxwell joked about the band being too old to perform, but their high energy and her happy toy-punk vocals infused joyful dancing fans throughout the venue.

The festival reached its climax slightly early when ridiculously over-the-top Japanese action comic punk band Peelander Z took the stage.

Backup vocalist and bassist Kotaro Tsukada started the show off by playing the bass while hanging upside down from the ceiling, which

evoked a powerful roar from the crowd that caused drew the crowd from the festival’s second stage.

The primary-colored trio riled up the crowd with a hot mess of noise, costumes, and games for the audience to play along with.

“We are not Japanese,” shouted lead vocalist and guitarist Kengo Hioki. “We are not American! We are human!

We…are…Peelander…”

“Z!” the crowd cheered in unison.

Almost half of the crowd left the venue by the time headliner Waaves hit the stage The Los Angeles based lo-fi indie rock band’s sound was reminiscent of a male version of Best Coast, but with more weed and less whine, more energy and faintly more punkstyle vocals.

Throughout the whole weekend, Wild Frontier Fest had the crowd going from the start as they showcased the best of indie and high-energy punk rock bands over the weekend.

Natalie Casanova • Life & Arts Editor

MAD TIGER! — High-energy Japanese punk band Peelander Z encourages the crowd to participate in their pulsating chant “Mad tiger, mad tiger!” during their song of the same title. The band members switched instruments and costumes throughout the performance and invigorated an otherwise tired crowd toward the end of the festival.

Kelly MacNiven•Staff Photographer

PUNK ROCK — Bassist of Cruiserweight,

David Hawkins, flies up and down the neck as the band knocks out a hard hitting punk tune during their upbeat set at Wild Frontier Fest.

Kelly MacNiven•Staff Photographer

CROONER— Stella Maxwell, lead singer of Austin punk band Cruiserweight, serenades a young fan, Kyle Albrecht, as the band slows it down for a love song during their set Sunday night.

Kelly MacNiven•Staff Photographer

SHE’S ON FIRE— Lead singer/guitarist Lauren Larson, of Austin band Ume, tears it up on stage during the first night of Vagabond Collective’s second annual Wild Frontier Fest.

Kelly MacNiven•Staff Photographer

Kelly MacNiven•Staff Photographer

ROCK OUT — Stephen Pope, of California based band Wavves, shreds on his guitar during their set Sunday night.

APPRECIATION— Fans cheer loudly and sing along to Wavves during the final set on the outside stage of Emo’s at Sunday night’s Wild Frontier Fest.