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LIFE & ARTS Fifth annual campus 5K run takes on new theme WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2012 • HILLTOP VIEWS
Austin Hestdalen ahestda@stedwards.edu
Imagine running for your life from a roving pack of flesh-eating zombies through St. Edward’s University campus. Your feet hurt, your body aches and all you want is to stop for a moment to sip some water. If you do stop, you will be chased down by zombies who want nothing more than to raise money for their community service opportunities. Campus Ministry is collaborating with the Freshman Studies common theme to garner more participants for Miles for a Mission, the fifthannual on-campus 5k run. Miles for a Mission, which has been just a normal 5k run for the past few years, is hoping to create a larger sense of community and outreach through the common theme surrounding the freshman class – How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse: Dystopia and Sustainability. “We’ve doubled in size in
Hilltop Views Archive This year’s Miles for a Mission 5K run will be zombie-themed.
the past five years and need the support of the community to accomplish our goals,” Liza Manjarrez said. Manjarrez is the assistant director of Campus Ministry and current head of the Service Break Experience, SBE, program which consists of Alternative Spring Break, ASB,
and International Immersions. These programs will receive the funds earned from the event. Through ASB, students spend their spring break to travel somewhere in the U.S. to do service for one week. In the International Immersion program, students travel
abroad and spend several loween costume. weeks doing service. “We want everyone to come The programs are fairly ex- out and have a great time,” clusive, turning away almost Manjarrez said. one-third of all applicants. Manjarrez also said that Currently, there is a large the 5k might encounter a few number of students waiting problems concerning campus until later in the year to pro- parking and safety. vide service to communities “This is a huge endeavor loin need. gistically and we are working One such student, Michael with the Campus Police DeJones, is not only a partici- partment and Student Life to pant in ASB, but will be par- ensure that everything runs ticipating in the 5k as one of smoothly,” Manjarrez said. many zombies that will folParticipants may also be low behind runners. “I’m really very “We’ve doubled in size excited to have in the past five years this opportunity to help,” Jones and need the support said. “It’s a great of the community to opportunity to have fun and accomplish our goals.” practice for Halloween.” -Liza Manjarrez, Campus Ministry Campus Ministry not only encourages volunteers to sign up to be zom- concerned about the fact that bies, but encourages any run- a band of zombies will be amners who participate to come bling behind them for almost dressed in their favorite Hal- three miles. Manjarrez says
that the zombies are not allowed to make contact of any kind with any runners and will be clearly marked. “They not only serve as a fun way to encourage the runners to continue, but as a precaution in case anything goes wrong," Manjarrez said. The course will consist of 3.2 miles of obstacles, open space and zombies in an erratic and curving course around campus. “We understand that there may be some participants that may not be able to complete certain challenges,” Manjarrez said. “We will have a person stationed at each obstacle in order to help those who need it.” Miles for a Mission will be on Oct. 28 starting at 8:30 a.m. and will last until all participants cross the finish line. Those interested can sign up by visiting the Miles for a Mission page under Campus Ministry on the University website. Students must pay a fee of $10 while all other adults pay $20.
State Capitol to host literary stars for 2012 Texas Book Festival Bryanna Estrada bestrad@stedwards.edu
The recipient of the 2012 Texas Writer Award, the highest award given by the Texas Book Festival, will be Tim O' Brien, author of "The Things They Carried," as well as six other novels. O'Brien will be awarded on Oct. 27 in the House Chamber of the Texas State Capitol, home of the annual Texas Book Festival. Last year's festival included Chuck Palahniuk, the author of “Fight Club” and “Choke”, as well as Louis Sachar, the
author of “Holes,” and pop les Times. star Lisa Loeb, the author For readers that are young of “Lisa Loeb's Silly Sing Along: The Disappoint“Last year’s festival ing Pancake and included Chuck Other Zany Songs.” This Palahniuk, as well as year’s festival Louis Sachar and pop promises to be star Lisa Loeb.” just as eclectic. Amelia Gray will be giving a lecture on her novel, "Threats," in the Capi- or young-at-heart, Dav tol building at 11:15 a.m. on Pilkey, author of the “Captain Oct. 28. "Threats" is Gray's Underpants” series, will also literary debut and has been be signing books to launch praised by the The Los Ange- the newest installment in the
series. Pilkey can be found at the Children's Signing tent on Colorado St. at 2:45 p.m. on Oct. 28. Along with O'Brien, Gray, Pilkey and a slew of influential literary figures, the festival boasts lectures from celebrities in other fields such as actor Tony Danza and singer-songwriter Kinky Friedman. It would not be an Austin festival, though, without music. Fortunately, the Texas Book Festival also has a music tent on the grounds featuring legendary Dale Watson and the Texas Two among others.
A member of the Austin Music Hall of Fame, Watson is renowned for his integration of rockabilly and Americana. He can be found on Oct. at 2:00 p.m. in the music tent performing hits from his most recent album “The Sun Sessions.” The Texas Book Festival also hosts other programs such as the 11th Annual Fiction Writing Contest. Open to 7th graders, 8th graders and high school students, winners may win a membership to the Writers' League of Texas. The Texas Book Festival
was founded in 1995 by First Lady and former librarian Laura Bush to celebrate authors, as well as what they have contributed to the world of literature. It has grown in both size and scope every year since and the 2012 version promises to be bigger than ever before. Completely free to the public, The Texas Book Festival takes place Oct. 27 and 28 at and around the Texas State Capitol. For more information on speakers, performers and authors attending this year’s festival, visit www.texasbookfestival.org