Vol. 96 Issue 3
The Rattler
Soulfully Solo Rilo Kiley front finds voice with second solo album. Page 21
Wrap It Up
How-to guide for this fall’s essential accessory.
Page 16
Double Life What St. Mary’s athletes do off the court. Page 27
St. Mary’s University Student Newspaper
10.08.08
Personal identity Do school activities, fashion trends and personal tastes dictate who you are?
News The Rattler
News in Brief Campus
World
Mayor Hardberger to speak on reform
Saudi women encouraged to cover up more
Wednesday Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. University Center Conference Rm. A Mayor Phil Hardberger will be in the UC Conference Rm. A for VISION San Antonio to discuss “Charter Reform: Extending City Council Term Limits.” This discussion will be focusing on increasing City Council term limits in office from two to four terms.
While women of certain Muslim societies wear headscarves, others wear veils that expose only their eyes, especially in Saudi Arabia. Saudi cleric Sheikh Muhammad al-Habadan declares his favor for women to wear full veils that reveal only one eye. According to Habadan, the typical veil that shows both eyes makes women be seductive by their use of eye make-up. SOURCE: commons.wikimedia.org
SOURCE: BBC News
Mid-Semester Immersion Trips approach soon Wednesday, Oct. 15 – Saturday, Oct. 18 Applications are available in the Service Learning Center for students who want to participate in the Mid-Semester Break Service Immersion Trip for fall 2008. Participants will go to San Juan, Texas, to help with the construction of new homes. A fee will be charged that will cover all housing and transportation needed. Several meals will be provided.
Information available on School of the Americas
O.J. Simpson convicted of robbery On Oct. 4, O.J. Simpson was convicted of several crimes including armed robbery, assault and kidnapping. This conviction occured 13 years to the day after Simpson was acquitted of the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. The case was on Simpson’s leading a group of armed men to steal sports memorabillia from two men in September of 2007. Simpson could be sentenced to a life-term for this conviction. SOURCE: CNN News
Millionaire’s death under investigation
Thursday Oct.9, 8 p.m. University Ministry Center University Ministry is hosting an information session for students that want to participate in the School of the Americas Watch. Willing participants will be taken to protest U.S. foreign policy in Latin America in an effort to close the controversial School of the Americas, an institution that gives military training to Latin nations.
Memorial display in San Antonio Saturday Oct. 11, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Alamo Plaza “Eyes Wide Open: The Human Cost of War” is a memorial to the fallen soldiers of the present war in Iraq. It is sponsored by the Friends Meeting of San Antonio and the American Friends Service Committee. The memorial features pairs of combat boots to represent every soldier that had lost their life fighting the Iraq War. Held at St. Mary’s University three years ago, the memorial will be moving to the Alamo Plaza on Oct. 11. About front page: Reflecting the theme of the issue, personal identity, front page is a styleized photo illustration of how students see themselves in terms of their own personal tastes and choices and how they are inluenced by those choices.
Front cover design by Jon Mike Hernandez
2 10.08.08
Officials are looking into the conditions behind the death of millionaire Steve Fossett which had occurred over a year ago.
SOURCE: commons.wikimedia.org
In attempts to clarify what exactly had a part in causing Fossett’s plane crash, investigations will go into historical radar data and suspected human remains found at the crash site. SOURCE: Chicago Sun Times
Local children’s museum opens new exhibit On Saturday, Oct. 4, the San Antonio Children’s Museum opened the “HE-B Kids’ Market“ as one of its latest permanent exhibits. This new section takes its place among exhibits about construction, caves, virtual adventures and skeletons. The new display was set up to allow children to learn about food nutrition, proper eating habits and purchasing groceries. On Saturday, the museum hosted a grand opening celebration with food, scavenger hunts, finger painting and an appearance by H-E-Buddy. Admission is $7 per person to see all of the exhibits in the San Antonio Children’s Museum. SOURCE: San Antonio Express News
The Rattler News
SGA shows presidential debate By Keily Rivero Staff Writer On Sept. 27, the community was invited to join the Student Government Association (SGA) for a viewing of the first presidential debate of the 2008 election season. SGA planned and promoted the event to engage students in current national politics. Approximately 100 people attended. “The number of people that came to support the event highly exceeded [SGA’s] expectations,” said SGA president and senior political science major James Escamia. Attendees gathered to watch the candidates debate on issues including foreign policy and the U.S. economy. On the economy, the candidates were asked questions about the
economic bailout and the differences between their plans. The foreign policy questions concerned the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. relationship with Russia and the likelihood of another attack similar to 9/11. Afterward, faculty members were asked to summarize the debate and to voice opinions on how effectively the candidates debated. Communications professor Alan Cirlin, Ph.D., said that the candidates had not truly answered the questions and that he still “wanted some answers.” Cirlin provided suggestions that he said would help voters arrive at some deeper meaning from what was said during the debate. “Look back at a recording of the debate and observe closely the white line at the bottom that represents the independents and see
how it changes during the course of the evening,” said Cirlin. After the faculty spoke, the viewers were asked to separate into moderated groups to voice their opinions and reactions in a round table discussion. Senior political science major AJ Arjanen, who identifies himself as a Republican, said that the debate “did not clarify much” and that the candidates gave the same answers they had been giving all along. Graduate student Jennifer Butler said that she was persuaded to take the Democratic side and that the Debate Watch event had clarified the debate for her. “I’ll be honest, I’m kind of lazy and don’t follow along with what their platforms are and now I can see them more clearly side by side,” said Butler. Escamia said that round table
Photo by Paulina Fernandez
Students look on as Republican Candidate Sen. John McCain responds to Sen. Barack Obama. discussions provide individuals the opportunity to express their views and “have a tool that will exercise their voice.” Senior sociology major Megan Freasier said that political involvement of young adults is important. “The decision of who is going
to be the next president is going to impact the world and the debate is something that allows us to enhance our knowledge about what’s going on,” said Freasier.
Seminar presents student’s psychology findings By Dominica Garcia Staff Writer The Jose Miguel Cimadevilla Memorial Seminar Series Fall program began on Sept. 9. Undergraduate students from the psychology department presented their research in the Moody Life Science building in a series of lectures. On Sept. 26, junior psychology major Sara Theisen presented her research on “Exploring the Relationship between Cultural Diversity and the Cross-Race Effect,” which theorizes whether persons of one race can less easily identify persons of another. During her experiment, Theisen hypothesized that participants will find it easier to identify photographs of people of the same race as opposed to those who belong to different races. She set up her experiment using pictures of 72 people ages 18 to 72. The experiment consisted of two parts, a pre-test in which she had 60 participants rate the photographs on a five-point
scale of attractiveness. They were then quizzed on the averagerated photographs. There was later an online survey available for seven days where participants were asked to pick out the race and gender of the person in the photograph. After that, they were given a distracter task consisting of 10 questions that ranged from their favorite kind of ice cream to math problems. Another test consisted of photographs that the participants had to determine whether or not they had seen before. The participants gave very similar responses amonst each other. Theisen will repeat the experiment with more participants and a more diverse sample. She believes that the experiments over the cross-race effect will enable officials to more easily identify criminals and aid the military in determining who is an ally and who is an enemy. The following seminar on Oct. 3 featured senior psychology ma-
jor J. Leslie Elliot-Proscia, who presented her research on “The Importance of Physical Attractiveness vs. Resources in Mate Preference of High Resource Females.” Elliot-Proscia’s research was targeted towards groups of middle-aged professional women. It tried to determine whether that demographic of females preferred men with financial security or high physical attractiveness. Before surveying, they found pictures of men without facial hair looking straight into the camera from modeling websites. The 52 photos they found were in grayscale so they would be uniform. The research surveyed 452 female volunteers who then rated the pictures on a six-point scale of attractiveness, with one being the lowest and six being the highest. They then narrowed it down to 12 photos, six with a high level of attractiveness and six with a low level of attractiveness. The survey was then posted online for women to take. Participants had to rate the picture along
with a description of their financial situation on a sevenpoint scale. They then had to rate their own resources and financial situation on the same scale. The survey had 331 female participants who came from diverse geographical locations (32 states plus Mexico), with the average age being 44 and the ethnicities of those surveyed being primarily Hispanic. After the findings, the women were catagorized into two groups: professional and non-professional. Based on their job, education, resources and financial independence, the research ended up with 210 professional and 121 nonprofessional women. The survey is still being conducted, but as of now the results indicate that professional women were unwilling to exchange a high level of physical attractiveness for financial security.
10.08.08 3
News The Rattler
Students gather for the VP debate The Student Government Association continues to create informed voters by hosting campus events. By Jaime Perez Senior Staff Writer On Oct. 2, the Student Government Association hosted its second debate watch of the political season, covering the debate between Republican Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska and Democratic Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. Before the debate began, both students and professors gathered in the University Center, discussing their thoughts and expectations for the debate. Attendee and Political Science Department Chairman Steve Neiheisel, Ph.D., hoped to see both leadership and poise in both nominees. “Joe Biden needs to promote Barack Obama, and Sarah Palin needs to make her own case to the public and demonstrate that she could be vice president and maybe
4 10.08.08
even president,” said Neiheisel. It wasn’t only St. Mary’s professors who had high expectations. Freshman history major Carrie Torres felt the debate would be a vehicle for the candidates to express their own stance on issues and policies. “I expect to hear clarification on other their views,” said Torres. “I especially want to hear more from Sarah Palin about what she thinks her foreign experience is.” Torres is not alone in her eagerness to hear more from Palin. John McCain’s freshly picked running mate has been receiving a lot of attention from both the public and the media. Sophomore and marketing major Amira Kalime said that her past interviews have not proven to the American public that she is ready to lead and that the debate
could either confirm or defy those preset expectations. “I hope she doesn’t mention how she could see Russia from her house. I hope they have taught her well to hold her own against Biden,” said Kalime. “It’s just really about how much they know and how well they can communicate that to the public.” The debate, which was seen by over 70 million people, was moderated by Gwen Ifill, a correspondent of PBS’s Washington Week. The questions included foreign policy and social rights issues. As the debate unfolded in the cafeteria, many cheers and jeers could be heard from the audience reacting to both candidates. Joe Biden, who avoided attacking Palin directly, focused the majority of his criticism on John McCain and how his voting past in the senate proved that this current Republican ticket was a “continuation of the failed policies of President George W. Bush.” Palin tried to bring attention to her and McCain’s reputation of being “mavericks“ and their experience of “going against their own party” to get something done in Congress. These were attributes she said Obama and Biden lacked. When the debate ended, students and professors were invited to stay and discuss the performance of the candidates. According to sophomore and English literature major James Hopkins, the clear winner in the debate was Biden. “Senator Biden seemed to have a lot of evidence to support the policies that he and Obama would push for,” said Hopkins. However, some viewers, including Neiheisel disagrees. He believes that
Photo by Davilin Hamel
SGA President James Escamilla stands before students as he made introductions for the vice-presidential debate. both candidates performed very well and had addressed, or at least attempted to alleviate, some of the concerns the public had. “When we judge these debates, we have to keep in mind that we should be listening to the way they say certain things then what it is they’re actually saying,” said Neiheisel. “Overall, both candidates came off favorably.”
Future Events SGA helps you prepare for Nov. 4th On Oct. 15 at 8 p.m., there will be a showing of the second Presidential Debate. This presentation will be held by SGA in the Diamondback Cafeteria. The student debate will take place on Oct. 22 in the University Center’s Conference Room A. Watch students take sides on important issues and see if they debate as well as the candidates have.
The Rattler News
Texas politicians speak on new law By Jaime Perez
Senior Staff Writer
Photo by Analicia Perez
It is here that the House voted to turn the economic bailout proposition from a bill to a law. This would allow Congress to buy and sell failing businesses.
The Congress approved a $700 billion rescue a week after a similar bill pushed by President George W. Bush was rejected by the House. The bill that passed will purchase mortgage-backed assests of failing businesses to ease the stock market crisis that caused $500 billion in losses in major banking and financial institutions. In a press release, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas expressed relief for the bill’s approval. “Over the last several weeks, we have been presented with a complex and difficult choice about how to repair our faltering economy and prevent a very serious financial collapse,” said Cornyn. “Like many Texans, I am incredibly frustrated and angry that we find ourselves in this situation.” The $700 billion bailout is funded through taxpayers’ money. However, according to section 118 of the bill, taxpayers should not expect to carry the full load since the bailout plan includes a proposition to sell assets back to investors. “This bipartisan bill provides greater management oversight
and transparency, limits executive pay and eliminates golden parachutes, and places strict conditions on the use of taxpayer money,” said Cornyn. “It also extends expiring tax relief for families and businesses, including the state and local sales tax deduction, which effectively provides Texans with more than a billion dollars in annual tax relief.” Earlier, the House rejected the original proposal crafted by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke in a 225-205 vote. Many congressional leaders, democrat and republican alike, defended their actions, citing that the bill did not protect the American public’s interests. According to CNN.com, Republican Rep. John Culberson of Texas voted against the bill to avoid putting future generations at risk. “This legislation is giving us a choice between bankrupting our children and bankrupting a few of these big financial institutions on Wall Street that made bad decisions,” he said. In a press release, Democratic Rep. Charlie Gonzalez of Texas believes that the newly passed bill
is the best solution to the current financial crisis. “This bill is not perfect and there is no guarantee that it will work, but in the face of this crisis, inaction was not an option,” said Gonzalez. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, senior policy adviser of the McCain campaign, cited politics as the cause the breakdown of the earlier bill. “Their partisan attacks were an effort to gain political advantage during a national economic crisis,” said Holtz-Eakin. “By doing so, they put at risk the homes, livelihoods and savings of millions of American families.” The Obama campaign responded that “This is a moment of national crisis, and today’s inaction in Congress as well as the angry and hyper-partisan statement released by the McCain campaign are exactly why the American people are disgusted with Washington.” The new bill, constructed by Democratic Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, is taking a much more assertive approach with the economy. The 400-page plan will demand foreclosure assistance, limits on executive compensation and profit sharing for taxpayers.
University Ministry expands awareness of globalization
By Ari Rivera News Editor
On Sept. 24, the University Ministry presented “The Hidden Face of Globalization” in the Louis J. Blume Library’s media center. The screening was the start of a series of films meant to enlighten students on the inner-workings of globalization. Prior to the screening of the documentary, which was produced by the National Labor Committee, Bro. Brian Halderman offered information on the film. He explained that many people are unaware of the use of sweatshops and that sweatshop labor is the foundation for many big American businesses. “The prices are so low [on inexpensive clothing] because many are made in factories that use sweatshop conditions,”
said Halderman. The film toured clothing factories in Bangladesh with voice-over explanations of the conditions, such as poor ventilation and lack of time for meal breaks. In addition to these scenes, there were interviews of factory workers, former factory workers and social justice workers in Bangladesh. The film also explained that sweatshops provide the labor for many prominent companies, including Wal-Mart and Disney. The narration stressed that the objective was not to shut down sweatshops, which provide jobs for thousands of people, but to make these factories pay what they owe and provide proper working conditions. After the video finished, there was time for discussion and a question and answer session. Larry Boudreau, a member of the Maryknoll Missionaries,
explained that sweatshop conditions occur in Mexico to this day. Boudreau said the labor issues in foreign nations mirror old labor issues the Americas faced years ago. “The Catholic Church was very involved in the labor movement in this country,” Boudreau said. Following the discussion, Halderman passed out “San Antonio Against Sweatshops” fact sheets describing the proposition of a Sweatfree Ordinance. According to Sweatfreesanantonio.org, “[The Sweatfree Ordinance] would require the city to buy only from contractors and subcontractors who do not engage in sweatshop abuses, defined by the U.S. Department of Labor.” After the discussion, they were able to sign up for e-mail lists to have additional information sent to them on topics like social justice and the School of the Americas.
Photo by Devilin Hamel
Many scenes of the film took place in a factory that makes clothes for Faded Glory, a brand known to be sold at Wal-Mart. Several students said that they had prior knowledge of the sweatshop issue behind globalization. “I used to work at Hot Topic, one of the things we did was make sure we didn’t have products that used sweatshop labor,” said Amanda Conely, a freshman English-communication arts major. Though many of the individuals in the audience came because of their interest in the issue, there were some who had different moti-
vations for attending the first film. “Honestly, it was extra credit for my Understanding Politics class, but I was interested in watching the video for my own personal reasons,” said junior psychology major Adriana Marufo. “I’ll definitely be going to the other showings.” The topics in “The Hidden Face of Globalization” and the stimulating discussion following its presentation could draw students to continue attending the film series.
10.08.08 5
News The Rattler
Volunteer fair gives students chance to give back By Dominica Garcia Staff Writer
Photo by Robin Johnson
Organizations and charities were set up on both the first and second floors of the University Center. Students walked around looking for volunteer opportunities
6 10.08.08
On Sept. 28 in the University Center Atrium, the first Service Learning Center Volunteer Fair was held. Organizations ranging from dance therapy to organ donations were represented. The 37 organizations in attdendence took part in the fair in an effort to recruit students as volunteers. Many of the representatives, including Childsafe intern Cassidy Penn, said that the need for volunteers was great. “Many people don’t know what ChildSafe is and when they come up to the booth and ask about it and as soon as I say the words ‘sexual abuse’ [and] ‘children,’ they leave,” said Penn. “Keep in mind that it is not something that you like to hear about, but it’s a reality in today’s world. We as college students can do a great good.” ChildSafe was not the only organization that was seeking volunteers. Lori Tellez, coordinator of volunteer services at the San Antonio State Hospital, was seeking volunteers to be Santa’s Helpers. “The patients at the San Antonio State hospital are court-committed due to mental illness; 65 percent of them are homeless or abandoned,” said Tellez. “But just because these patients are mentally ill doesn’t mean they aren’t aware of their surroundings, especially around Christmas time.” Many of the representatives said they were optimistic about finding volunteers at the fair. “Here at St. Mary’s, students honestly do want to volunteer not just for their resumes but because you know that you can give back to the community,” said Ralph Cortez, a match support specialist from Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Texas. Cortez said he was looking forward to matching up some of the participants in the program with college students. He added, “As college students you are already successful. You represent success for kids that don’t see college as an option.” This was the first volunteer fair that the Service Learning Center has sponsored. Many of the students in attendance said that they saw it as a great opportunity to help other in the surrounding community. Shanik Pipkin, a senior criminal justice major, said it was a great prospect for students and a reflection of the Marianist principles. “The volunteer fair was an excellent opportunity for many students to get involved
in the community and help others, which is an important part of the Marianist society,” said Pipkin. “It was a great turnout and I enjoyed interacting and getting information from non-profit agencies. I will definitely take advantage of this experience.”
Get involved
Photos by Robin Johnson
Top: Junior biology major Natalia León looks at a near by booth to see if the organization matches her interests. Bottom: Volunteer Fair posters call St. Mary’s students to attend and find opportunities to get involved in the community. A wide variety of organizations were present at the event.
The Rattler Commentary
Mappa Mundi
The Challenge for Bolivia By Alfonso de la Torre Commentary Editor
Source: usatoday.com
The face-off between Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama was disappointing to viewers who watched the debate for straight answers.
McCain and Obama fail to clash in debate
Friday night’s first presidential debate between Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain came across as dull and painfully mind-numbing. Christine Le Each candidate was too busy selling himself to truly respond to any of the questions with assertiveness. With failed attempts by PBS commentator Jim Lehrer to encourage interaction between the candidates, the senators were noticeably muted in personality. Though neither spoke forcefully and had avoided confrontation, the discipline of the candidates made the debate fail in living up to the hype of presidential face-offs. McCain had managed to spend a fair amount of time declaring that his opponent failed to understand the issues being discussed. Before making any of his own points, McCain made it almost a habit to introduce them with what “Sen. Obama doesn’t seem to understand.” Obama had stammered and stut-
tered during the debate, mispronouncing words and calling McCain “Tom.” He also made repeated accusations of his opponent being wrong about certain points, saying “John, that’s simply not true.” Although both candidates made it a point to speak to the audience and avoid confrontational interaction, their answers remained scripted and depersonalized. With that, neither candidate made any successful attempt in capturing the viewers’ attention. Rather, what Obama and McCain did manage was effectively cap their debate as “Most Monotonous in History” which, in a way, makes up for McCain’s loss of “Miss Congeniality” in the U.S. Senate. With McCain’s “Senator Obama doesn’t understand” and Obama’s “That’s not true, John,” the candidates simply emphasized the inexperience or ignorance of the other without realizing the spin they themselves were establishing in their first debate. Obama continually stated a 95 percent tax cut under his new policies while the real figure is more like 81 percent and
pertains only to the “working family.” He also said that he would make sure that his plan for the health care system “allows everyone to have basic coverage.” If that sounds like universal health coverage, it’s not. Obama’s plan would leave 15 million people uninsured. On the other side of the platform, McCain had embellished claims that the U.S. pays over $700 billion a year for foreign oil to hostile countries when, in truth, a significant amount of that oil is imported from some of our closest allies, including the United Kingdom, Canada and Mexico. Also, if McCain wanted to accurately state the figure paid on foreign oil, he’d have to subtract $250 billion from his approximation to even be in the ballpark. As neither candidate was able to nail a closing remark like Gov. Ronald Reagan’s in his historic debate with President Jimmy Carter, there was no clear winner in this first confrontation (if you can even call it that). This race is still very much in the air and Friday’s debate failed to make any impression as to who could be our nation’s next president.
There hardly is a place in the world experiencing greater political unrest than Bolivia. Despite winning a revocation referendum more than a month ago, President Evo Morales has been facing a series of protests and revolts in the regions of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Tarija, which demand greater autonomy. Morales’s attempts to redistribute the natural resources of these regions, and hence the income that they generate, are facing fierce opposition from their governors, who accuse Morales, a former coca farmer, of corruption. Nevertheless, what lies at the heart of this confrontation is much greater than a political struggle between central and regional governments. This crisis is the consequence of a historical process in which the indigenous majority of Bolivia has been denied economic and social opportunities. Bolivia is one of the poorest nations in the hemisphere and has one of the biggest indigenous populations of the continent. Still, most wealth is concentrated in the hands of European-descendants who live in gas-rich Santa Cruz and, to a lesser extent, in Tarija, Beni and Pando. Particularly illustrative of the socio-economic situation of the country, the Bolivian contestant at Miss Universe some years ago stated that “most people believe Bolivia is made only of poor, ugly Indians, but that is not true. In Santa Cruz there is white people... and we even speak English.” Morales’ government has not done much better, though. As the first indigenous president in the history of Bolivia, many expected that his government would lead to a turning point in racial and social relations. What his administration has brought, however, is a conflicting discourse that constantly attacks the powerful aristocracy that has led the nation for decades. In addition, his close relationship with the dictatorship in Venezuela has moved him to constantly accuse the U.S. of trying to destabilize his government. Morales has recently expelled the U.S. ambassador to La Paz, accusing him of instigating the revolts in Pando the killed 11 people. Morales fails to understand that what Bolivia needs is not an indigenous majority that imposes itself to the aristocracy that has hurt it in the past; what Bolivia needs is sincere reconciliation. That, more than ever before in its history, is the challenge for Bolivia.
10.08.08 7
Commentary The Rattler
Third party candidates should not be forgotten Libertarian Bob Barr and independent Ralph Nader remind us that our choices are not limited to Republicans and Democrats. Perhaps the most apparent representation of the two party system’s monopoly on American national politics is Chris Childree the presidential debate spectacle. Every single presidential debate following the 1992 election has only featured a Democrat and a Republican, presenting and comparing their respective parties’ ideologically narrow platforms to American viewers. This standard of inequality results from the Commission on Presidential Debates’ edict, which set the threshold for a candidate’s inclusion at 15% in at least five national presidential tracking polls. Currently, Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader, and Libertarian Party presidential nominee Bob Barr, both fall slightly below this target. Each can reasonably cite polls
demonstrating at least 5% support for their candidacies, Barr in a Zogby poll in August 2008 and Nader in a CNN poll in June 2008. These are issues that are either written off by the two main parties or the opposing candidates are in agreement concerning the issue and therefore voters are not given a meaningful choice. These forgotten issues include corporations, privacy and immigration among others. On these issues, Nader and Barr each offer real differences. While Obama and McCain both tacitly support the government’s bailout of corporations along with 28% of Americans, Barr like 37% of Americans, vehemently opposes it, proposing free market solutions. Nader on the other hand predicted a future mortgage crisis while running for president in 2000 and now offers a detailed revamp of Wall Street, including the abandonment of corporate subsidies and bailouts, and the strict
Source: washingtontimes.com, achievement.org
Libertarian candidate Bob Barr and independent candidate Ralph Nader represent interesting positions. prosecution of corruption. While Obama and McCain both voted in favor of the second amendment to the FISA act, expanding the government’s warrantless surveillance authority. A June 2008 Rasmussen pole showed that 69% of Americans believe a warrant should be required for the government to retrieve customer records from telecommuni-
cation companies. Nader and Barr both take this stand, believing the act is a violation of civil liberties. Unlike McCain and Obama, who resist taking a clear stance on immigration, Barr and Nader stand firm in their positions. Nader does not hide the fact that he supports illegal immigrants’ rights as workers, and Barr
remains committed to strict border enforcement and control. Zogby International polling in August revealed that a majority of Americans, 55%, support the inclusion of Barr in the debates and a sizable margin of 47% support Nader’s participation. Americans want to see the different solutions that the candidates offer, and they should be able to.
Race and gender become central issues in the election ELECTION SPOILER ALERT: Senator Barack Obama, the presidential hopeful of the Democrats, is African AmeriCristina can. What’s more: Gonzalez Republican Governor Sarah Palin, John McCain’s stylish vice-presidential running mate, is a woman. Understandably, this is shocking information, so take as much time as you need to digest it. Ready? Okay. Let us continue. When last I checked, the color of a person’s skin did not play a determining factor in the health and fate of our economy. Furthermore, the gender of the
8 10.08.08
vice presidential candidate did not determine whether we’ll finally end the war in Iraq or keep fighting for another ten years. Our culture is both attracted to and repelled by change. However, an end to this national regime of older white men is indeed long overdue. The notion of a minority leading the “free world” is idealistic and almost beautiful--in theory. In reality, we tend to go with what is familiar or “safe” and I doubt I need to point out how that has worked out for this country over the last eight years. Indeed, picking a leader on the basis of their gender or racial makeup is not new. Thus, the fact that Palin, Obama
and even Senator Hilary Clinton are changing the look of politics by running for the top spots in the country is moot. My friends, I am neither the first nor will I be the last to point out the magnitude of importance attached to this year’s election. No doubt, children hundreds of years from now will be writing reports on this election for their history classes, and as someone Illustrations by Jaymee Baxley
who is three times over a minority-as a physically disabled woman of Puerto Rican descent--I’m glad to be living in these times. However, I have increasingly come to wonder if the general focus is so centered on the physical aspects of the candidates as to distract us from hearing their message and proposals. How are we going to know that Sen. Obama is for increasing the educational and living opportunities for Americans with disabilities and impairments if we’re too busy marveling that he is a black man? If the press and political pundits keep predicting that McCain will win the women’s vote because of Governor Palin’s presence, how are we ever going to know that
Sen. McCain favors removing roadblocks in the arena of interracial and inter-ethnic adoption, even as he also favors overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade? Get past the hype, because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what our politicians look like as long as they are honest and know what they’re doing. If we can remember that, then maybe the next chapter of our country’s politics can avoid being such a predictable downer.
The Rattler Commentary
Chavez will be a challenge for next president
While most of the American public’s attention has been in the Middle East for the last few years, opposition against the Alvaro U.S. has been deZapatel veloping in much of Latin America. A series of Latin American leaders have been particularly interested in voicing their disagreement with United States’ policies or its role in the region. These days, those voices have been slowly but gradually multiplying. Yet none of these voices is as influential as that of President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela, a man who
never misses an opportunity to call president Bush, a “donkey.” Chávez, who generally refers to the U.S. as the “Empire,” has been in strong opposition to the U.S. policy regarding free trade. According to Chávez, these policies are imperialist attempts on the part of the U.S. to impose its hegemonic power on Latin America. An advocate of what he calls the “21st century socialism,” Chávez’s main goal for the last year has been to counteract and criticize American influence in Latin America. In order to do so, Chavez has developed a multinational coalition among left-leaning countries in Latin America called the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas or
ALBA, its initials in Spanish. With the ALBA, Chávez intends to persuade Latin American countries to join his cause and become part of his plan to make real his “21st century socialism.” A self-declared enemy of the Free Trade Agreements between the U.S. and Latin American countries such as Colombia and Peru, Chavez has been slowly but skillfully building up his coalition. Under Chavez’ leadership, the ALBA, which includes Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Honduras and Dominica, has held a defiant position towards the U.S. and has made clear its intention to expand its area of influence throughout the region.
Just a few weeks ago, Chavez expelled the U.S. ambassador to Caracas, the capital of Venezuela, telling him to “go to hell.” The next U.S. president will not only need to keep an eye on Iran, Russia or North Korea, but also on Venezuela. The ALBA has been quite successful in recruiting governments to join its ranks in the last years, and it has achieved a level of influence that is starting to be of concern for the U.S. With two wars in the Middle East, a potentially-nuclear Iran, an unstable Pakistan and an aggressive Russia, the next U.S. president might find its toughest diplomatic challenge south of the border.
Illustration by Jaymee Baxley
President Chavez of Venezuela usually refers to President Bush as the “donkey.”
A brief guide to the financial crisis: What it is and what it means
Needless to say, the financial crisis matters. It matters because Wall Street is an important part of the national econAlfonso omy, whether we de la Torre like it or not. It is in the financial markets that capital is raised, allowing businesses to make investments, expand their productivity and, by extension, hire more workers. Thus, the socalled ‘bail out’ is unpleasant but nevertheless necessary. Without it, Americans will suffer the irresponsibility of Wall Street at a scale that dwarfs the 700 billion dollars that the plan requires. No, I am not being apologetic. I am trying to look at what allowed Wall Street to be as irresponsible as it has been. But let us first look at what is exactly going on. The problems started with the sudden fall in housing prices, an event that the financial sector did not expect. Yet, any introductory textbook in economics would point out that supply and demand determines prices and that these cannot rise forever. Quite the
contrary, they are likely to eventually fall. And they did. Still, this would have not created a crisis if the financial industry had not bet on it so much and for so long. Convinced that housing will continue to expand, mortgages were offered to more and more ‘risky’ loaners. As a result, financial institutions intensely traded mortgage-based securities: they turned what people owed them into an asset, taking advantage of lax government oversight. These institutions assumed that housing prices would continue to rise and expected that if one of their many risky loaners were to fail in his or her payments, he or she would sell the house, taking advantage of the rising prices, pay the mortgage and even make a profit. Everything in this model makes sense, except for the assumption, of course. When this assumption, which would earn an F in Economics 101, ceased to hold, the value of these securities and all the other financial assets associated with them suddenly plummeted. Continuing with the domino effect, investors fled in panic when the earnings of these companies
Source: wikimedia.org
The collapse of investment bank Lehman Bros. spread fear in Wall Street. started to fall, which led to the near-collapse of their stock. The result: three nationalized companies, four purchases of entire corporations (backed by tax-payer money of course) and one of the biggest filings for bankruptcy ever seen in recent history. The fundamentals of this crisis do not go beyond a simple introduction to supply and demand available in Wikipedia. Yet, the deeper problem is not financial, but philosophical, and it has to do
with the way in which we have built our economic system. Noam Chomsky of MIT calls it socialism for the rich. I call it the big fallacy about freedom and it consists of three elements. First, freedom is not the same as deregulation. Wall Street needs to understand that we are free to, not free from. Regulating the financial sector so that it doesn’t make irresponsible decisions is a form of freedom. It makes people free to make meaningful decisions while
not having to worry about a deteriorating economy and it reminds corporations that privatizing profits and socializing risks is not only unethical but, as we have seen, self-destructive as well. Second, free markets consist of several businesses, not just a few corporations, which are allowed to both succeed and fail. Spreading risk and shaping the system in such a way that a corporation is “too big to fail” is not a free market, no matter how many times Wall Street quotes Adam Smith and his Invisible Hand. Third, the best government is not the one that governs the least. The government that governs the least is the one that does not exist, and that eliminates accountability. Rather than seeing government as the boogie man we should understand that it is capable of both good and evil, and hence it needs to be wise, not non-existent. With this in mind, we should ask ourselves not only how we can solve this problem but also how we can make sure it does not happen again. The bail out might help to start fixing things, but in the long run the structural problems will continue to be there.
10.08.08 9
Commentary The Rattler
The Rattler Editor in Chief Elizabeth Ruiz Managing Editor Christine Le Layout/Design Manager Jon Mike Hernandez News Editor Ari Rivera Commentary Editor Alfonso de la Torre Features Editor Sarah Mills Entertainment Editor Stephanie Sanders Sports Editor Chris Filoteo Photo Editor Robin Johnson Assistant Photo Editor Analicia Perez Advertising Manager Kimberly Vela Assistant Ad Manager Katie O’Donnell Writing Coach Dominique Vargas Faculty Advisers Margaret Luevano Brother Dennis Bautista, S.M., Ph.D.
Standards The Rattler upholds the Mission Statements of St. Mary’s University. The publication follows the Canons of Responsible Journalism, the Associated Press Stylebook and the Student Publication Policy. The Rattler is a member of the Associate Collegiate Press, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. Contact Us The Rattler St. Mary’s University One Camino Santa Maria Box 83 San Antonio, TX 78228 210.436.3401 / 210.431.4307 (fax) rattlernews@stmarytx.edu Letter to the Editor The Rattler welcomes letters to the editor. Letters should not exceed 500 words and must include writer’s name, classification, major and telephone number. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions for length, grammar, spelling and content. Letters may be delivered to Room 258 in the University Center, faxed to (210) 431-4307, mailed to The Rattler, St. Mary’s University, One Camino Santa Maria, Box 83, San Antonio, TX 78228, or e-mailed to rattlernews@stmarytx.edu. For more information, call the newsroom at (210) 436-3401.
10 10.08.08
Source: sxc.hu
Poverty and hunger in South Texas are widespread and call us to work for the common good.
Students motivated to engage in service As most of us know, San Antonio is not the most predominately wealthy city in the United States. As a matDana ter of fact, Texas is Traugott the ninth largest poverty-stricken state in the U.S. with 16.5% living at or below the poverty rate. Last year, the Service Learning Center (SLC) took a group of students to San Juan, Texas, and those who had attended were astonished
by what they saw. “We wanted the students to experience a different culture,” said Service Learning Coordinator Paul Felarca. “As you drive through the neighborhood, you can smell the sewer and fecal matter, even with your mouth and nose covered.” The visit had opened the eyes of the St. Mary’s students as they realized upon arrival that the residents of San Juan had no utilities of their own. “They have to share them with other families,” explained Felarca. This isn’t a hard concept to grasp if one knew that it takes the
city “years to even lay down basic foundation to sleep on.” There are 37 million people living in poverty in the U.S. alone, with 2.6 million children contributing to that figure as of 2006. You may ask, “How can I help?” The answer is simple: take a visit to the Service Learning Center next to University Ministry. It’s involved with programs such as Adopt-aHighway, Don’t Mess With Texas and the Children’s Shelter, and it also makes local, nationwide and even international trips for the benefit of poverty-stricken areas.
Whether you’re involved as an individual, a group, Greek Life, or a student organization, there is a ton of things you can do: MLP, W.I.N.G.S., Summer Service programs, All Hall Service Days, volunteer fairs, and Service Immersion Experiences. You can also gain skills through volunteer work in relation to your career path. No matter what you choose to invest your time into, don’t forget to log all your service hours. Log on to stmarytx.edu/slc or e-mail the SLC at servicelearning@ stmarytx.edu to learn more.
Living on campus becomes life-changing experience Having my own personal room is something that I have always valued. And knowing that I was about Brissa to share it with Renteria two strangers left me oblivious as to how to react and feel.
Nevertheless, there was nothing to be afraid of. Living in Lourdes Hall has been a life-changing experience because I now have a different perspective on responsibility. Like numerous others living on campus, leaving home and moving to San Antonio was definitely a radical transition. I would be living a new life with new people and at a new place.
I realized that living on campus was a good decision. I now share a home with other people who were also new to this situation. Not only have I managed to gain personal experience when it comes to time management or other school-related tasks, but I have also begun a journey that has given me the opportunity to grow as a college student and as a person.
Living on campus has been a great decision. I feel very comfortable within the community because it has provided me with first-hand help from professors, staff and older students. I feel that everything that I need is here at St. Mary’s and that makes me more willing to be more responsible as an independent student each and every day.
The Rattler Commentary
The old dream of unification Francisco Morazán and Simón Bolivar dreamed of Latin America under one flag. Is that possible?
Source: www.sxc.hu.
Latin America encompasses more than 20 different countries, each of them with a unique cultural and historical heritage.
Many Latin American history classes cover the topics of Francisco Morazán or Simon Bolivar’s ideals of unifying Lorna Cruz Latin America to become a union under one flag. Morazán wanted Central American countries (the modern Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica) to unify in a single, great Central American Republic. Bolivar, on the other hand, envisioned a single nation that encompassed all the Spanishspeaking countries of the region, from the Patagonia in Argentina to Tijuana in Mexico. In order to gain support for his plan, Bolivar invited the governments of Latin America to meet in an extraordinary congress in Panama in 1826. The proposal of unification nevertheless ended in failure, as the different Latin American countries refused to
give up what they considered to be their sovereignty. Bolivar moved then to promote the unification of Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and Panama, which also failed. Would Morazán’s or Bolivar’s ideas work in modern Latin America? There are definitely some qualities in favor of becoming a union. Those qualities include a common root of language (Spanish and Portuguese which are derived from Latin) and huge exporting potential. In addition, our cultures, while very different, have common roots in the great Being able to communicate effectively while complementing each other’s markets throughout Latin America also seems like a big reason to cheer for unification. In reality though, Latin America is in no position to unify under one single government. One of the biggest reasons why unification is not viable is because Latin American leaders do not agree on the best kind of government. Hugo Chavez and Evo Mo-
rales, for example, lean towards authoritarian forms of government, with censorship of their people resulting. Even more democratic countries in Latin America seem to be falling into the authoritarian fad. Honduras and Nicaragua have agreed to be part of the ALBA (Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America), a cooperation organization proposed by Venezuela, which has many left-wing principles, such as strong state intervention and nationalization of natural resources. Curiously enough, Chavez cites the ideals of Bolivar when talking about the ALBA, failing to realize that his actions are being more divisive than unifying. Even though the thought of a unified Latin America is pleasing to many when considering the potential benefits, this is not a feasible solution for Latin America. We are simply not on the same page, and that is due to differing forms of governments, ideals and even moral standards.
Mexican American culture helps us develop our identity as individuals
As Hispanic heritage month draws to a close and the upcoming presidential election reaches its final stretch, Francesca Garcia we are given an opportunity to reflect on the values and experiences that have shapes what we are as a society and as a nation. As the French spiritualist Francois Mauriac once said: “We are molded and remolded by those who have loved us. No love or friendship can cross the path of
our destiny without leaving some mark upon it forever.” For many of us in the St. Mary’s community, the culture of Mexico has left a lasting mark on our identities and traditions as we continue to be molded by the same traditions and customs handed down to us by our ancestors. Our families solidify the respect, admiration, and pride that each of us feels for our culture. In my own family, this respect is visible in the community of relatives living next door to one another on a street bearing the family’s name. Although, this is seldom seen in
contemporary American communities, it nevertheless highlights what is truly Mexican American. Our communities are built on the trust of those around us and a sense of pride in knowing who we are and where we come from. We are a culture of neighbors with a strong sense of faith and devotion to family and community. With my own identity having been shaped by the love, passion, and pride of Mexican culture, I strongly believe that we should all continue to appreciate and celebrate our culture and those who have built and nurtured it for us.
Source: sxc.hu
Mexican culture is a source of pride and identity for many Hispanic Americans.
10.08.08 11
Features The Rattler
The Peanut Gallery
Crafter gets original with jewelry By Kimberly Vela Advertising Manager
Believe it or not, some students still manage to fit in their favorite past-times into their schedule. We want to know:
What’s your hobby? “I like to work out because I get to take out my frustration; it challenges me.” -Christine Zamora, freshman secondary education major “I read a lot. I love the “Twilight” series, especially Edward Cullen.” - Maria Flores, senior accounting major “It’s good to layback and just watch movies. Right now I’m watching Sex and The City on DVD” -Valerie Mancias, freshman biology major
Buying, creating and selling unique pieces of jewelry for customers gives Angelica Radacinski a sense of pride and gratification. “Finding a handmade piece of jewelry is like finding a rare diamond,” said sophomore international business major Radacinski. “Every piece [of a handmade object] has a story behind it.” Radacinski has been running her own high-end fashion jewelry line, Dulce Couture, since her freshmen year in high school. Originally from Brooklyn, she finds beads and vintage pieces mostly from the New York City Bead District. Inspiration for her pieces includes Central Park, city life and one of the oldest high-class stores in Manhattan, Bergdorf Goodman, referenced in Sex in the City. Her family initially inspired her to start her own line, mainly because craft-
ing is in her blood. Her grandmother, originally from Guatemala, loved to work with beads and had taught her the art when she was young. Radacinski said her mother inspires her on a daily basis, too. “My mom really inspired me because she makes the effort to look nice every day. I want things to make people feel beautiful,” she said. “There are a lot of things that I like to do as a hobby, but she said ‘I know you can do well in this.’ She gave me the push to do it.” Radacinski said that jewelry-making is not just a hobby but a mode of expression for her. “It lets me express myself. When I’m happy, I use brighter colors. It’s whatever’s in my mood,” she said. In her business, Radacinski only creates original pieces for her clients. Making a piece of handmade jewelry is not as simple as picking a piece from her catalog. I make is your personal piece. I’ll meet with [clients] and I’ll talk to them
about what they like. Basically, [the piece is] for them; it’s based on them,” she said. From pom-pom style rings to wrap-around bracelets, Radacinski puts a piece of herself in every one of her designs. “I don’t look at other people’s jewelry and take their ideas. It’s something that I take the time to create,” Radacinski said. “I have a piece that took me hours to make and it was painful making it. But in the end, it was actually worn at New York Fashion Week.” Radacinski said that crafting is an important aspect of life which everyone should get involved in. For those individuals who may not feel they are up to the challenge, Radacinski offers some advice. “Just try it. You never know. You don’t have to take classes, but you’ll never know unless you try.”
Photo by Analicia Perez
Sophomore international business major Angelica Radacinski offers advice for other crafters. “It’s important to have your customer satisfied but still have what you like,” she said.
12 10.08.08
The Rattler Features
Photo by Robin Johnson
Junior political science major Gume Mejia approves of her glittery face painting she recieved at the tattoo artist booth. There were also two caricature artists who created artwork for students
Fall Fest fun for students, clubs By Cassandra Vara Staff Writer
As the winds of autumn roll in, most college students begin unfolding their favorite sweatshirts in anticipation of the restful holiday season. However, many Rattlers chose to welcome the fall season with Fall Fest in Chaminade Field on Sept. 30. Fall Fest is an annual event sponsored by the University Programming Council (UPC) and is held to raise funds for student organizations while providing a carnival-like environment for students. Some of this year’s participating organizations included UPC, various Greek societies, the Student Government Association (SGA), the Black Student Union, the Society of Poets and Writers and the Mexican Student Association.
“Fall Fest is well advertised and UPC puts a lot of effort into making it a good event for [Registered Student Organizations]”, said Allison Vande Hey, senior speech communication major and UPC’s vice president of public relations. The different groups fundraised by selling pizza slices to snow cones and just about everything in between. Vande Hey said that Fall Fest was successful as a fundraiser because of the laid-back theme that makes it worthwhile for students to attend. “I really enjoy participation from everyone as well as the fun unique activities,” she said. Some of this year’s activities included tattoo and caricature artists, stilt walkers and a graffiti wall. Students were also able to enjoy plenty of upbeat music provided by Saucy and The Choco-
late Men, a cover band featuring St. Mary’s students. “We had a lot of energy from the crowd, which is what we feed off of,” said Scott San Miguel, senior criminology major and one of The Chocolate Men. Fall Fest also allowed students of all classifications to mingle with one another. “As a member of the marketing team I was able to meet upperclassmen that I now consider friends,” freshman entrepreneurial studies major Payton Reiff said. This was Reiff’s first-year as a UPC member working on Fall Fest. She said the event felt “as welcoming as St. Mary’s always feels.” With students spontaneously dancing on the field or selling watermelon to raise money, Fall Fest provided an active kick off to the fall season.
Photos by Robin Johnson
Top: The Native American Student Association sold various shaped dreamcatchers in different colors for $2 in order to fundraise. Middle: A multi-tasking stilt walker juggled and helped make different balloon creations for students. Bottom: Students warm up before a game of “Knock-out” in hopes to win a jersey.
10.08.08 13
The Rattler
Political
Influence Whether following trends or morals, the youth vote hinges on concerns influenced by brand marketing and key issues. What aspects affect your vote?
14 10.08.08
The Rattler
By Sarah Mills Features Editor With the election around the corner and debate watches pitching candidates around each other, the pressure is on for students to pick their president. Young students are often caught in a swirl of pressure from all kinds of sources to vote. With Nov. 4 less than a month away, one can’t help but wonder: how does the young vote make their choice, and what are their biggest concerns? Art Vega, Ph.D., assistant professor of the political science department and graduate director of public administration, says young adults first develop their political tastes from their family. “If the family is a group of strong, civic-engaged people, then their children will be strongly engaged,” said Vega. Another strong factor is the trends that young adults witness in the media. “The media has an increasing control over what we get fired up about, everything about this generation is multimedia-focused,” said Matthew Reyna, junior political science and English major. “We are hit at 100 different directions by 100 different sources.” Reyna says socializing websites such as MySpace, Facebook and biased news sources are often popular facets students choose to get information on candidates and politics from. “One of the effects of multimedia is we sort of hear and see what we want to see and hear,” said Reyna. He says that some of the major issues that students choose to hear and see are
often human rights and global issues. “Young people seem to be more tolerant of issues that are more salient to create cleavages in our society,” said Vega. “They have more tolerance to address issues that need to be talked about.” Among these issues is war, gay and lesbian rights, the environment and concerns about trade and the economy. “I think they care a lot about the war and the American reputation in the world,” said Steven Neiheisel, Ph.D., professor in the political science department. “Because of this I think [the college-aged] generation is more globally aware than others as global citizens.” Vega and Neiheisel agree that trends in the media play a critical role in how students become politically aware. “There’s a rock star quality to this campaign that we haven’t seen in a long time, maybe even since Kennedy,” Neiheisel said. He says that because this generation is the most labeled generation there is and that it has possibly reached the apex of hyper-branding, politicians must appeal to the young vote by marketing themselves. “A political cause without good branding is practically invisible,” Neiheisel said. He notes that between the presidential candidates there is a major difference among their own “brand” that they try to sell to young voters. “I’m amazed with the Republican Party having any support with young students because McCain’s brand doesn’t sell very well today, he is a throwback to
World War II…which is hard to sell today,” Neiheisel said. Compared to McCain, he says Obama is more appealing to young voters because he is a global citizen and heavily uses the Internet to reach out to them. “Trends are critical,” Neiheisel said. “Because of the internet, issues become marketed, and packaged, such as Rock the Vote, it’s not an intellectual issue anymore.” However, Neiheisel believes that the applied method is great if that’s what it takes for young students to vote. Chrystina Pesterfield, a junior economics and history major, agrees. “The trends are effective though,” said Pesterfield. “Just because they’re trends doesn’t mean they’re wrong. It gets more people involved.” Although she agrees that these trends get the attention of more people, she also argues that many students often just don’t care. “During this time we care more about ourselves than the well being of our nation,” she said. Vega sources that this disregard for politics often comes from students looking at voting from an opportunity-cost perspective. He believes that since teens will often compare things that they do, such as studying or going out with friends, their decision to go voting will also be influenced. In the end, they see it as this: if they choose to go vote, then they will lose out on the opportunity to do something else. “The participation of young voters is pretty poor,” said Vega. “Students look at
Graphic Illustration by Jon Mike Hernandez
elections and say, ‘It won’t have an impact on me,’ whereas a middle class or elderly person will see the impact.” Susan St. Martin, a sophomore psychology major, says she often witnesses this mindset among her peers. “Some of them are like, ‘Oops, it’s Election Day? I didn’t even know,’” said St. Martin. She also says that most college students are negligent with voting and with maintaining morals and ethics because they try to be completely politically correct. “I think that acceptance is a good thing, but at the same time we shouldn’t lose the ethics and morals our country was founded on,” St. Martin said. “History should be left alone. We should learn from history instead of trying to change it.” St. Martin also points out that a lot of young people are often non-denominational and cites this to how they were educated and raised. She also says that students tend to be more open-minded than conservative. “Being conservative shouldn’t be a turn of the cheek,” she said. “If you want values, religion and the ability to voice opinions that are near and dear to your heart, you should be able to do that.” St. Martin added that students also fail to realize voting as an obligation as a citizen. “When someone gives you the opportunity for you to do something and you don’t do it, you’re not contributing to society, to your growth, your education,” said St. Martin. “Voting is an actual experience, no one can take that away from you.”
10.08.08 15
Features The Rattler
Get knotty with it By Stephen Guzman Staff Writer
The Classic Look
The Euro Look
The Cozy Look
This look calls for a traditional style tie, also known as the slip knot.
If you’re feeling sophisticated, try this loop. Any size scarf will do.
This look is a bit more challenging and requires a longer and heavier scarf.
Step One: Drape scarf around your neck with both sides even.
Step One: Extend scarf to its full length and fold it in half.
Step One: Let the scarf drape around your neck.
Step Two: Fold one side of the scarf over the other.
Step Two: Drape around your neck. (Don’t forget which side the hoop is on!)
Step Two: Place both sides together, twist. Keep one hand at top where you want the knot.
Fall is finally here and it’s time for summer loathers to rejoice. Put away your tank tops and flip-flops and bring out your pullovers and Uggs, because it’s time for fall fashion. This year, it’s not just about the perfect pea coat or ideal pair of fur boots. Instead, the most vital element is the scarf. If you’ve noticed lately, there has been a rise of scarves in the fashion world, a trend that has recently made its way on campus. For those scarf skeptics out there, set your worries aside. In light of the fall season and this rising trend, here are step-by-step instructions on how to tie the perfect scarf for every look.
The Boho Look
The Cool Look
For that funky bohemian look, use a long shaggy scarf.
This is the easiest way to sport a scarf. Its fast and super cool.
Step one: Unravel scarf to its full length.
Step one: Unravel scarf and dangle around neck evenly.
Step two: Place scarf over your head and just let it hang.
Step two: Wrap one side of scarf around your opposite shoulder.
Step Three: Slip the opposite side of the scarf over and through, as if tying a shoe.
Step Three: Take the side with the scarf ends and place it through the hoop on the other side.
Step Three: Make a loop around your hand. Pull end of scarf through the loop in your hand and adjust.
Tip: Rock this look with some oversized face-framed sunglasses and you’ll be looking boho-chic!
Tip: Scarf virgins out there should try this look, especially if you’re skeptic about which will work for you.
Tip: Don’t be afraid of the slip knot. This versatile tie will work with every scarf and every unique look.
Tip: This sophisticated look is not for everyone, so attempt with caution.
Tip: This look is warmer so be sure not to wear it on those 85 degree fall days.
Photos by Stephen Guzman
16 10.08.08
The Rattler Features GHIRARDELLI INTENSE MIDNIGHT REVERIE 86 % Cacao
DARK
CHOCOLATE:
On the package, this chocolate promised to be “luxuriously deep and velvety.” It was also said to have a “crisp snap with overall round, warm chocolate notes.” Staff says: The chocolate is “extremely dry” and tastes of “pure ground coffee beans” with a “very bitter taste.” This chocolate was also rock hard.
ENDANGERED SPECIES SUPREME DARK CHOCOLATE 72% Cacao The cacao in this chocolate is from family-owned properties in order to help support farmers and 10% of net profits help support species, habitat and humanity. Staff says: The “subtle coffee taste” is favorable, but the consistency of the chocolate is “really hard.” It has a “bittersweet” flavor, but is more bitter than it is sweet.
DOVE EXTRA DARK CHOCOLATE 71% Cacao Dove says that their cocoa processing helps retain the naturally occuring flavanols, rather than destroying them as other processes do. Staff says: It’s smoother than most dark chocolates and is “bittersweet at first” but the aftertaste “doesn’t have any flavor.”
Tall, dark and nutritious By Christine Le Managing Editor It’s been seen as a comfort food for the heartbroken, an indulgent treat for many and a holiday staple, but chocolate has hardly ever been considered healthy. Chocolate has been prey to charges arguing that it causes weight gain and blemishes for years; however, recent studies actually show that dark chocolate has an extensive list of benefits. With research showing that dark chocolate acts as an antioxidant and has the capability of lowering blood pressure, reaching for that bar of Hershey’s never felt so good. Since it is derived from plants, all types of chocolate contain many of the health benefits of dark vegetables. Those benefits come from flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Dark chocolate in
particular has been found to contain more than three times the amount of antioxidants as green tea. The abundance of antioxidants in dark chocolate boosts the immune system and may prevent major chronic ailments such as fatigue and heart disease. Dark chocolate also contains a variety of stimulants that can prevent heart disease and is rich in minerals such as copper and magnesium that help regulate normal blood pressure. From its flavonoid compounds, which are believed to be good for treating those with poor dietary habits, to its serotonin levels that act as an antidepressant, benefits of dark chocolate depend on its cacao concentration. Cacao concentration can be determined by a chocolate’s percentage of cacao bean content. For example, the chocolate
with the lowest cacao percentage was the Lindt Lindor Extra Dark Chocolate, with a cacao content of 60%. This tells us the confection has a 60% concentration of cacao components with its remaining 40% being made up of sugar, vanilla and other ingredients. The next time you’re out to satisfy your chocolate craving keep in mind that the higher the cacao content is, the less sweet and more intense the chocolate flavor. With popular chocolate companies such as Hershey’s, Dove and Ghirardelli producing dark chocolate, The Rattler staff decided to take a chance at being chocolate connoisseurs to taste what all they hype is about (see graph on left).
HERSHEY’S CACAO RESERVE PREMIUM DARK CHOCOLATE 65% Cacao This chocolate boasted an “even melt and well-rounded earthy tones.” Staff says: It’s more sweet and has a robust flavor. The dark chocolate is well-rounded throughout, and the consistency is “not too hard.” Overall, it is a satisfactory dark chocolate for those first-timers.
LINDT LINDOR EXTRA DARK CHOCOLATE WITH A SMOOTH FILLING 60% Cacao Staff Favorite On the package Lindt warns: “Once you break its shell, the filling will start to melt, and so will you.” Staff says: It “melts in your mouth” and the filling tastes like “cake frosting.” It’s softer than others and there is “no trace of bitterness.” The chocolate is “irresistibly smooth” and “the filling compliments the overall texture.” Photos by Robin Johnson
10.08.08 17
Features The Rattler
Bluebonnets and Texas history highlighted in exhibit By Katie O’Donnell
Assistant Ad Manager Bluebonnets and Beyond: Julian Onderdonk, American Impressionist, an exhibit at The Witte Museum, is an extensive collection of framed Texas native and American Impressionist Julian Onderdonk paintings. The exhibit highlights the masterfully painted landscapes and vibrant colors of an early 20th Century Texas Hill Country. “Onderdonk was able to bring to life on one canvas a particular season or time of day in paintings that blend visual reality with a personal, artistic sentiment,” said Kate Sheerin, Texas curator at The Witte. “As products of a true master of light and color, an Onderdonk painting becomes a literal portal from the interior in which it is hung to the natural wonders beyond.” With spectacular scenes such as the exhibit’s “Headwaters of the Guadalupe River,” the viewer is transported back in time. Onderdonk captures the vivacious spirit
of Texas before the West was won. Upon first inspection, the eye is overwhelmed with color. Deep blues paint whole fields of bluebonnets and expansive hills seem like a sweeping expanse of green. A closer inspection reveals painstaking details, such as individual flower buds, and fields dappled with delicate cactus. “Although the subject matter seems very simple, Julian’s technique was extraordinary,” said Ph.D., William Keyse Rudolph, curator of Bluebonnets and Beyond: Julian Onderdonk, American Impressionist. “There was an intellectual depth to the scenes he chose and the way he chose to represent them, which are not the first things the viewer notices, but become apparent with closer looking.” Onderdonk’s paintings depict a historic view of Texas that art enthusiasts and amateurs alike will appreciate. Bluebonnets and Beyond: Julian Onderonk, American Impressionist will be at The Witte Museum until Jan. 11, 2009.
Photo courtesy of Witte Museum
Julian Onderdonk’s “In Bluebonnet Field” ,1912, an oil painting on canvas, is just one of the paintings that have helped dub Onderdonk as “The Bluebonnet Painter.” Onderdonk lived from 1882-1992.
Art event helps shape city’s culture Sarah Mills Features Editor
Photo by Todd Johnson/courtesy of Artpace San Antonio
Artist Lloyd Walsh works on his artpiece during last year’s Chalk It Up.
18 10.08.08
If you loved scribbling away with chalk on the sidewalk as a kid, prepare to be entertained. Contemporary art gallery Artpace is inviting the community to their fifth annual Chalk It Up on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Spectators on downtown’s Houston Street can view original sidewalk chalk art by various local artists. For aspiring artists who want to revisit their chalk skills, there will also be a public mural and a Kidzone section where the community can create their own masterpieces. “At Chalk It Up, participants can interact with professional and aspiring artists and even make
their own mark in chalk,” said Trisha Tanner, Manager of Corporate, Foundation and Government Grants at Artpace. Tanner says that Artpace is expecting over 12,000 to help transform Houston Street into a colorful showcase of chalk art. Originally created to help promote contemporary art in San Antonio, Chalk It Up has become an increasingly popular highlight on San Antonio’s fall calendar. “Chalk It Up builds community and understanding, all in the heart of downtown,” said Matthew Drutt, Artpace’s executive director. “It supports local artists, exposes children to creativity and unites the diversity of San Antonio.” There will be several of San Antonio’s most prominent artists
showcasing their artwork on 15 by 20 ft. sections of sidewalk along with 30 school and community groups. Some of these groups include Big Brothers Big Sisters, Girl Scouts and students from local community colleges. “One of my favorite things about Chalk It Up is summed up best by Fox Tech High School’s fine arts instructor and TeamWorks leader Loretta Young Medellin,” said Tanner. “[She] says that ‘Though the artwork is temporal, the sense of pride the students involved in the project gain is not.’” Sponsored by big names like Valero Energy Corporation and Target, Chalk It Up will provide plenty of music by local DJs. Food will also be available.
The Rattler Entertainment
Entertainment’s Full of Flavor What do you have a taste for?
New music from Bayside & Jenny Lewis
Profile on A/K/A Tommy Chong Director Josh Gilbert
Fresh Flicks: Repo!, Nick & Norah & Eagle Eye Courtesy of Josh Gilbert; Source: skopemag.com, and rottentomatoes.com
10.08.08 19
Entertainment The Rattler
Concert band promises to begin season with a ‘Pop!’ By Benny Marquez Staff Writer
Political satire to premeire Source: newsday.com
Thursdays night TV viewers can expect an overflow of many popular Fey-Poehler impersonations as seen here on SNL.
Political satire set to premiere By Jaime Perez
Senior Staff Writer Live from New York, it’s Thursday Night Live! Huh? Amdist the presidential campaign, Saturday Night Live plans to broadcast a half-hour segment with sketches that will parody the major political headlines. The first of three broadcasts will premiere on Oct.16 and will continue the political satire that is a staple of the Weekend Update segment. This time, however, it moves up the late-night cast to primetime to perform political-based humor that has made the SNL cast so infamous in the political arena. The season premiere made waves on the internet and cable
news networks with their spoof of the Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin. The opening segment featured Tina Fey, the former head SNL writer turned star, writer and creator of the NBC comedy 30 Rock. Her imitation, along with Amy Poehler’s as Hillary Clinton, criticized both political parties as well as the media’s coverage of Palin. According to an NBC press release Thursday Night Live will strive to satisfy public need for “the show’s take on the fall election.” However, this is not the first time that the show has created memorable skits with their portrayal of political candidates. As recent as last year, Amy Poe-
hler gained considerable notoriety for her impression of Hillary Clinton. The show was even quoted by Clinton herself at a Democratic debate against Senator Obama addressing what she thought was media favoritism for Barack Obama. “If anyone saw Saturday Night Live, maybe we should ask if Barack is comfortable and needs a pillow,” said Clinton. As SNL’s influence continues to grow in the political arena and enters the conversation of our political debate, viewers should watch and be entertained at the ever-widening impact of this sketch comedy show. Who knows, the next memorable SNL line might even be quoted in a presidential acceptance speech.
The St. Mary’s University Concert Band will have its first performance of the semester on Oct. 9 at Chaminade Field. Appropriately titled “Concert Band Outdoor Pops Concert,” it will feature music from popular movies. The band’s program includes “Harry Potter Symphonic Suite,” “Jaws,” “The Wind and the Lion,” “Theme from Lawrence of Arabia,” “Highlights from Ratatouille” and “John Williams: Evening at Pops.” Adam Casiano, vice president of the Student Band Committee and senior music education major, says one reason for the choice of repertoire is to offer music that the audience can relate to. “Movie themes are something that all the audience members can
Souce: sxc.hu
connect to,” said Casiano. Also, as a compliment to the movie theme, the band will also play along with clips from the movies. The idea to perform movie music in a concert was originated by Casiano and Bobby Baiza, band president and senior music major. “It was actually an idea between myself and Adam Casiano,” says Baiza, “I ran the idea by him last semester and he liked it, so we decided to run with it.” After figuring out the details amongst themselves, they brought their idea to their professors Dale Shchultz and John Rankin, Ph. D., who both willingly approved it. “We decided to take the venue outside this semester and do movie music to it,” said Baiza. “We feel like that combination is a winning combination for everyone.” It has been two years since the band held an outdoor event. The concert title has a certain meaning behind it. The concert band’s public relations representative and senior music major Jason Casanova offers an explanation. “The term ‘Pop’s’ refers to any popular form of music or art pertaining to popular culture,” explained Jason Casanova. However, the band will only put on a limited number of pop concerts, so be sure to attend this rare event.
Really, YouTube? Someone is actually watching this right now. By Elizabeth Ruiz Editor in Chief
“World’s WORST movie chase scene...EVER!!!” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNjbx_-BtP8&feature=bz301 Viewed Sunday, Oct. 5, 1:22 p.m. Views on YouTube: 47,830
20 10.08.08
Anything with “World’s Worst” in the title is bound to be watched by someone who is a) very sad and wants to know that there is something worse than their job/school/ life, or b) a maniacal evil-doer who relishes in displays of no-goodery. For everyone else, that superlative promises hilarity, particularly when matched with a movie chase. Did the title deliver? No and yes.
Its description says that the clip is from a 1973 film called Hard Streets. After reading a title like Hard Streets, it’s evident it’s just a ruse. It’s actually a sketch comedy throwback to shows like Chips and Starsky and Hutch. Usually, the parodies of these classic cop shows (and the cop shows themselves) involve aviator sunglasses, comically bad fight scenes and a ragtag fighting team only addressed by surnames, usually along the lines of Sgt. Fischer or Lt. Romano. This parody has it all: the disco
soundtrack, the fake punching, the lethal handlebar mustache/long sideburns combo, the humorous use of bad decoys (strategically placed guy-with-boxes that holds back the bad guys for a precious two seconds, a pocket mirror to blind the bad guys while giving our hero an extra three seconds to get away), choppy editing and a villain named Rico. If you want to spend your Internet dawdle time not watching something election-related, this is at least an option.
The Rattler Entertainment
THE TOUR GUIDE By Veronica Luna
Multimedia Manager Bayside began the “Involuntary Movement Tour” Oct. 7 with the Matches, Valencia, and The Status. Expect their stop in San Antonio on Oct. 30. So, why a tour right now?
Courtesy of Josh Gilbert
Chong’s release from prison became an eye-opener and political battle that was documented in Josh Gilbert’s feature film A/K/A Tommy Chong.
With a little help from a friend Director Josh Gilbert uses film to stand up for one-half of comedy duo.
By Stephanie Sanders Entertainment Editor In 2003, Tommy Chong of the famed duo Cheech and Chong started a nine-month sentence in federal prison for trafficking in illegal drug paraphernalia. Nearly five years later, Chong’s personal friend and director Josh Gilbert released his film A/K/A Tommy Chong documenting the legal actions taken by U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to bring down Chong’s marketable persona. He explains his motivation for creating the film, which at its core is a reaction to political corruption, through a video on YouTube. The
42-second outtake from the film features Chong encouraging an audience to vote with the banner ‘Tommy Chong for Change” at the end. Outraged, Gilbert said that he would not stand by when a “crime” against old friend Chong, a distinct representation of the counterculture, was committed. Of his film, Gilbert said, “It was really an organic intertwining of an old friendship and a moment in our world, political and cultural.” Growing up down the street from celebrities like Warren Beatty and George Harrison in the heart of Los Angeles, Gilbert was constantly surrounded by the influence to express oneself as a filmmaker.
As someone who has always harbored the dream of becoming a serious writer, Gilbert said, “What I have ended up in is so completely far from what I learned. Any college kid can pick up a camera and with the right idea and organization can create the right product and sell it to Showtime.” Chong’s story is the equivalent of the “right” product. Aside from appearing in television series That 70’s Show, Chong disappeared from the media many years before his house was raided by the DEA. It was then that “Chong came back in the spotlight for different reasons, but it was the best thing that could have happened to him,” said Gilbert.
From Bayside, New York, alternative rock band Bayside is best described as having angstfilled lyrics and great melodies. After the buildup to the release of albums Shudder and the simultaneous release Live at Bayside Social Club on Sept. 30, Bayside goes back to their punk roots. Commencing their album with the explosiveness of “Boy,” a melodic song filled with great guitar riffs and powerful lyrics, energy lasts throughout the entire album up until the last note in “Moceanu.” Though it’s a slower, solemn song, “Moceanu” captivates you with vocalist Anthony Raneri asking, “When did life get so real? And now I feel like I’m losing my mind, and I used to think all the time. And now thinking hurts, and feeling is worse. I liked reality better when it was a dream.” Formed in 2000, the band adds Shudder to the five major albums under Victory Records that
does not include earlier albums, EPs or splits. With constant originality in all of their songs, the change in album styles doesn’t make it easy for fans to know what to expect from the band in the future. When Bayside announced the new album to the public, they left much to the listeners’ imaginations. As the release date came closer, they began dropping hints. For example, the band’s website had “9908 9908 9908 9908” as the heading, hinting that a new song would be released to the public on September 9, 2008. Visit Bayside’s official website www.baysideisacult.com for more sneaky updates.
Photo illustration by Robin Johnson Source: wizardwebshop.com
Soulful singer releases second album with homegrown sound By Kimberly Vela
Advertising Manager
Source: harpmagazine.com
Open the latest Jenny Lewis album Acid Tongue and pocket-sized black and white photos fall out of the cover sleeve. These snapshots set the mood for Lewis’ second full-length solo album: soulfully upbeat. Unlike her 2006 debut Rabbit Fur Coat with The Watson Twins, Lewis’s vocals take center stage throughout the duration of Acid Tongue. Although she dropped the twins on this record, Lewis never seems to sing alone. She & Him singer and actress Zooey Deschanel coos secondary vocals on almost half
of the tracks, most notably “Trying my Best to Love You.” While Lewis’s first solo attempt was filled with solemn love songs, political discourse and an overall country twang, her second attempt features a more optimistic, gospel tone with love songs and anthems all the same. Songs like the title track “Acid Tongue” and “Jack Killed Mom” showcase Lewis’ bluesy attitude and soulful sounds. Elvis Costello does a special guest appearance in the song “Carpetbaggers,” which could be considered one of the album’s star tracks. Costello’s unique vocals contrast Lewis’ subtle crooning. “Carpetbaggers” carries an upbeat
rhythm that seems to encourage a sing-a-long almost immediately. “Carpetbaggers” as well as “The Next Messiah” carry the country influences seen on Rabbit Fur Coat. The majority of the songs on this album also feature a 1960s rock and roll flare, yet it has a homegrown feel to it as well. Though the world may never listen to this album on radio waves, Acid Tongue is arguably one of the better female solo artist albums released this year. With a little blues and a heavy soul, Jenny Lewis has made yet another remarkable album.
10.08.08 21
Entertainment The Rattler
‘Repo!’ revived as next gory, on-screen musical By Cristina Gonzaels Senior Staff Writer In the not-too-distant future, a worldwide epidemic brings panic to millions as it ravages victims with massive organ failures. Out of this panic and mayhem, the company GeneCo appears with a unique, lifesaving solution: synthetic organs paired with affordable surgery. But watch out! Those who fall behind on doctor bills are subject to the skilled hands of the Repo Man, a “legal assassin” contracted by GeneCo to recover company product at any cost. Amped is the upcoming release of Repo! The Genetic Opera, a “rock opera” film adaptation of the original 2002 play by Darren Smith and Terrance Zdunich, who reprises his role as the GraveRobber--a man whose job is exactly what his name implies. The film centers on young girl Shilo Wallace, played by Alexa Vega (Spy Kids). Because of her rare blood disease, Shilo is kept indoors by her father Nathan, played by Anthony Head (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), who hides his daughter from more than his share of dark secrets. Meanwhile, it seems the head of GeneCo, Rotti Largo, has his own problems. No surgery can reverse his date with death, but who can he trust to run GeneCo in his stead? His surgery-addicted daughter, played by heiress Paris Hilton, or his murderous sons played by Bill Moseley (The Devil’s Rejects) and Nivek Ogre (Skin Puppy)? Shilo’s quest to uncover her family’s secrets and a cure to her affliction becomes an
adventure far beyond the confines of her bedroom. First things first: this is not a movie for small children or the faint of heart. Directed by Darren Bousman (Saw II, III and IV), Repo! is probably one of the goriest musicals since Sweeney Todd. After all, the premise of the film centers on the profession of organ repossession. Bousman does an amazing job making it tastefully cringe-worthy with violence that is functional, not slapstick or crude. Having directed one of the first showings of the stage play, Bousman has a strong ties to the core material. But the work of a good director falls short without a good cast. Again, Repo! delivers with a strong cast of seasoned yet fairly new prinSource: rottentomatoes.com cipal actors, all of whom sing in GeneCo client (Tim Burd) undergoes special treatment from Repo Man Nathan Wallace (Anthony Head) while possible heir to the business (Nivek Ogre) assists in retrieving GeneCo-made organs. the film. Sarah Brightman, in her film deThe Largos are not to be outdone, either. but, brings a haunting beauty to Blind Mag without the music to back it up? Paul Sorvino is absolutely cunning as the that lingers long after the final note is sung. The soundtrack is an aural smorgasbord Alexa Vega shows a smooth transition out Largo patriarch, while Moseley and Ogre of rock talent from Melora Creager of Raspuof her Spy Kids persona. Shilo’s daughter- play the sibling rivalry card so devilishly tina to Sonny Moore of From First to Last. to-father interactions with Anthony Head well you swear they are actually related. Punk goddess Joan Jett makes a special remind the audience that her 17 years have Their scenes are darkly funny and not to cameo in the movie, and Rasputina’s Joseph been a very sheltered existence. Bishara teams up with Yoshiki of X-Japan to be missed. To his own credit, Head’s performance as As for Hilton, if you like her, then you produce music as addictive as Zydrate. Nathan Wallace almost steals the show with will enjoy seeing her in this film. The sound aesthetic is futuristic but familhis dual roles as caring father and deadly If you do not like her, you will at least en- iar with lyrics showing the shine that comes Repo Man. with over ten years of consistent work. joy seeing what happens to her in this film. His renditions of “Legal Assassin”/ In this era of tired remakes and hapless In the end, her performance surprises “Night Surgeon” send chills down you by how good it actually is. sequels, Repo! is a blast of fresh, artistic wind the spine. As a musical, where would such a film be that deserves the freedom to blow.
Entertain Yourself in October 14- Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull DVD & Blu-ray Release
16- Ghostbusters Movies by Moonlight 7 p.m., HemisFair Park
20- Wii Music Video Game Release Music video game for the Wii
22 10.08.08
21- Shattered Matisyahu CD Release
22- Senses Fail Fall Tour Dance Gavin Dance, Sky Eats Airplane 7 p.m., White Rabbit
23- Turn of the Screw St. Mary’s Drama Department Production 7:30 p.m., Holy Rosary School
24- Saw V Movie Premiere
28- The Gate House Nelson Demille Book Release
29- Macario Wednesday of Mexican Cinema 6:30 p.m., Instituto Cultural de Mexico
The Rattler Entertainment
‘Nick & Norah’ tops teen flick list By Kimberly Vela
Advertising Manager Based on the eponymous novel by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist arrived in theatres this past weekend. The film revolves around two strangers, Nick (Michael Cera) and Norah (Kat Dennings), who meet at a show in downtown New York City and end up falling for one another. Soon to be a classic, Nick and Norah’s illustrates the harmony of music and love in a romantic teen comedy. Nick is bass guitarist for his band The Jerk Offs, which consists of two other
members and an electric, self-playing drum set (while a full set sits on stage). Lovestruck and heartbroken by his exgirlfriend Triss (Alexis Dziena), Nick has struggled for over a month to forget his previous flame and continues to make mixed CDs to prove his love for her. Meanwhile, Norah attends private school with Triss and longs for her “musical soulmate” who continues to make those perfect mixes. Along with her drunken counterpart Caroline (Ari Graynor), the “straight edge” Norah goes to a club to watch The Jerks Offs on the fateful night that leads all the characters of the film on a chase to see the final show of the underground band, Where’s Fluffy?. The film’s humor derives from the seemingly impossible situations throughout most of the search for Where’s Fluffy?. Some of the jokes in the film become old quickly. For example, all of the other members in Nick’s band are homosexuals. Therefore, one too many gay jokes are made referring to the members as “queens”
Source: rottentomatoes.com
or as part of a “queercore” band. Acting by both Cera and Dennings seems natural and understated. Sweet and charming, Michael Cera is this generation’s John Cusack (see characters Lloyd Dobbler in Say Anything and Lane Meyer in Better Off Dead). As with most of the last few years’ teen movies, Cera brings a polite and often hilarious feature to Nick’s character. The moment Cera stops channeling George Michael Bluth (Arrested Development) will be the moment he stops being the down-on-his-luck hero the audience hopes will win the girl. Kat Dennings plays the perfect opposite of Cera’s characters. Rough around the edges, Dennings captures the essence of young girls who are not afraid to love off-brand music and walk the streets of New York at night. Surrounding the topic of music, the film is a must-see for any who’s slaved over hundreds of songs attempting to make the perfect playlist for a loved one. The soundtrack itself captures the essence of the film and features music from Bishop Allen, Vampire Weekend and Band of Horses. For the love of music and teenage puppy love, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist will soon be a generational staple for us Generation Y-ers who cannot be seen without an iPod in hand.
Source: rottentomatoes.com
Nick’s the fragile-hearted musician girls will crush on, but only Nora realizes a shared love of music and each other.
Audience keeps eye out for all-too-familiar cat and mouse storyline By Keily Rivero Staff Writer Shia LaBeouf reunites with director D.J. Caruso after their work on Disturbia (2006) for the new thriller Eagle Eye. Shia LaBeouf is Jerry Shaw, an average Joe living in New York who mysteriously receives the warning phone call to “just run.” He finds himself framed for terrorist activity and meets Rachel Holloman. Played by Michelle Monaghan (Made of Honor, Mission Impossible III), Holloman realizes she is in the same predicament and far from safe. The two must follow instructions from the voice at the end of the line or face death, as it can inexplicably control any electronic device around them. This triggers the adrenaline-pumping action that seems to never end as they race to discover who or what is behind the madness.
Other than a surprising dose of science fiction in the film’s core, the flick is a letdown for audiences. It has a stretched storyline and appears repetitive, unimaginative and has people asking, “Where have I seen this before?” The film packs in superb special effects, although some camera shots during the action sequences are not all great. It becomes difficult to make out what is happening, but the wild shots keep the pace moving at full speed. In regard to plot, if you want to watch a film where neither you nor the characters care why they are being chased, then “Eagle Eye” is the way to go. It is not the type of movie one expects to remember in the days after watching it. The film is not-so-subtly magnifying but uses relevant themes such as the idea of Big Brother, our dependence on technology and even the Patriot Act. As the film comes to a stop, we are reminded that anything that may be used to
protect us can be used against us. The film also stars Rosario Dawson (Sin City, Clerks 2), Michael Chiklis (Fantastic Four) and Billy Bob Thorton (Monster’s Ball, Armageddon). For more information, go to www. eagleeyemovie. com.
Source: rottentomatoes.com
10.08.08 23
Sports The Rattler
A larger-than-life player’s story hits the silver screen By Robin Johnson
Photo Editor Before the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and after Jackie Robinson’s major league baseball debut in 1947, a man ran straight up the middle to achieve another racial milestone. In 1961, Ernie Davis became the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy. On October 10, 2008, Ernie Davis’ struggles of racial strife, successes on and off the field, and his ability to play the game of football will be relived again in theaters in the production of: The Express: The Ernie Davis Story. Before his story hits the big screen, brush up on some facts about the tragic football hero’s life. Davis attended Syracuse University where he was both the first AfricanAmerican to win the Heisman Trophy and the only Syracuse football player to ever win the award. According to Syracuse Athletics, Ernie Davis set eight new season, single-game and career records over his three-year college football career. He currently stands ninth in Syracuse’s overall rushing yards record list with 2,386 yards. Over 30 universities had hoped to recruit Davis for football, but Syracuse stood out; it was a college only 90 miles away from where he grew up and home to another football great, Jim Brown. According to ESPN Classic, Ernie R. Davis was born on December 14, 1939, in New Salem, Pennsylvania. After the separation of his parents soon after his birth, Davis’ father
was killed in an accident while he was still an infant. His grandparents raised him in Uniontown, PA, where he experienced the life of poverty. Davis moved to Elmira, New York, with his mother and stepfather, which became the town that gave him the lasting nickname of “The Elmira Express.” Before his graduation from Elmira Free Academy High School, Davis had become an All-American in both basketball and football and won 11 letters. With scouts and recruiters looking at Davis, a college career in football was no longer a dream, but a reality. According to ESPN Classic, Davis chose Syracuse University because he “wanted to play in the big time, and a lot of people, including Jim Brown, persuaded [him] that [he’d] have better opportunities there.” Standing at 6’1” and 205 lbs., Davis sprinted to his potential when he became the only African-American on the freshmen team and led its first-time undefeated season. By the time he was a sophomore in 1959, Davis became the top rusher on Syracuse’s varsity team. Although Ernie Davis had success from the start, he didn’t let it change who he was. ESPN Classic quotes Syracuse football coach Ben Schwartzwalder “I never met another human being as good as Ernie.” It also states this was the year Davis was heralded as the “next Jim Brown,” or the Cleveland Browns tailback who formerly held Davis’s Syracuse records; Davis wore Brown’s legendary No. 44 jersey. In 1959, Syracuse defeated Texas in the Cotton Bowl, winning the national title in which Davis was named the game’s Most Valuable Player. However, Ernie Davis’ title of MVP did not block him from the racial strife that occurred during the 60s. According to ESPN Classic, after a brawl against Texas Longhorn players
spurned by a racial slur on the field, Cotton Bowl officials informed Davis that he would not be allowed to attend the MVP award banquet dinner because he was black. Upon hearing this, the entire Syracuse team refused to attend the event. By 1960, Davis won his first All-American award and was the nation’s third-leading rusher. A year later, he won his second AllAmerican award and broke Jim Brown’s Syracuse records for rushing and points. A historical marker occurred when Davis was voted the first African-American to receive the honorable Heisman Trophy in 1961. Davis’ accomplishment caught the attention of the nation, including President John F. Kennedy, who was there when Davis received his trophy in New York. When Davis’ reality of a college football career ended in 1961, the new reality of professional football came into view. Davis was the Washington Redskins’ first-round draft pick, who then traded him to the Cleveland Browns, who according to ESPN Classic “signed him to the largest contract up to that time for a rookie-three years for $65,000 plus a $15,000 bonus.” Davis would now be practicing with Syracuse’s other football hero, Jim Brown, on the NFL field. However, six months after the signing in December, Davis was advised to go to the hospital for swelling in his neck. After several months in and out of hospitals, Davis was diagnosed with leukemia. ESPN Classic quotes Davis’ comments on his disease stating “when I look back I can’t call myself unlucky. In these years I have had more than most people get in a lifetime.” On May 18, 1963, two years after winning the Heisman Trophy and before he ever played a game in the NFL, Davis died of leukemia. When The Express: The Ernie Davis Story hits theatres, audience members will be able to connect with Jim Brown’s statement about Davis from ESPN Classic: “The way he carried himself, the way he
did not drown in his own tears, the that he did not hang on his sickness, the way that he functioned as a human being under all of those conditions was tremendous courage,” said Brown.
Courtesty of Syracuse Athletic Communications
Ernie Davis overcame racism and became an all-time football legend.
Ernie Davis’ Awards Position: Running Back/ Tailback Height/Weight: 6’1”, 205 lbs. Birthdate: 12/14/1939 Birthplace: New Salem, Pa. 1960 All-American 1960 National Championship MVP 1961 All-American 1961 Heisman Trophy winner Holds Syracuse records for: career rushing yards: 2,386 highest average yards per carry: 6.63 Selected number one overall in 1962
Courtesty of Syracuse Athletic Communications
24 10.08.08
Source: www.suathletics.com Compiled by Chris Filoteo
The Rattler Sports
Source: sxc.hu
Fences, like the one above, will only detour wildlife traveling through a property. Taller fences can keep animals in or out of a particular piece of land for people to choose what game they hunt.
Property borders cause controversy for hunters By Chris Filoteo Sports Editor With many hunters willing to pay $3,500 for a three-day hunt, such inclination makes investments in deer hunting important to numerous businesses in Texas. For instance, ranchers who own a large piece of land will want to preserve their property the best they can so they can lease it to people eager to pay to deer hunt. With this, building an eight or nine foot fence around land is a method some ranchers use to improve their deer herd and, if managed properly, the potential growth of trophy deer will increase greatly. According to a study conducted by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), from 1954 to 1998 the deer density in the Hill Country of Texas showed the total deer population was increasing at a steady high and reaching a point of uncontrollability. Reason for the spike is partially due to removal of unfavorable vegetation and increase in the growth of plants preferred
by deer. Improved livestock management and cedar control also contributed to the increase in deer population. With the TPWD deciding upon breeding quality deer to reach the carrying capacity for the area, the indication of rise in population of average bucks and does came as unwelcome news. When annual hunting failed to produce a favorable balance in a preferable deer population, deer-proof fences were established to halt the ingress of deer from neighboring ranches. With the deer reaching unmanageable amounts and posing threats on ranchers’ land and their existent deer herd, the construction of the fence came as a necessary action to ensure that population doesn’t get out of control. Besides preferable land being a factor to increased numbers of average deer, ranchers also consider in-breeding is an issue when high-fencing land. Managing a deer herd with little to no big bucks of poor standards increases the possibility of an average population when female deer are capable of conceiving at two years. Genetics of deer are important when
managing a large area of land. Good genetics lead to trophy deer and, more importantly, more business from hunters for ranchers to lease their property. Is high-fencing a property beneficial or detrimental? If there are enough contributing factors that benefit the deer herd, then the process can be seen as exceedingly valuable to ranchers. Furthermore, there must be an adequate amount of land in order for high-fencing to even be successful. At all costs, they must not let any undesirable traits or genetics for fear of risking the quality of their existing herd. Many people argue over the acceptable amount of land needed in order to high-fence. There are many different factors that play important roles: the region of the property, the availability of water, the abundance of cover and the climate of the area. But with there being no law stating that it is illegal to high-fence a property, it is ultimately up to the rancher to do what they see is best for business.
10.08.08 25
Sports The Rattler
Phelps worth more than most people think and know about By Chris Filoteo Sports Editor After the 2004 Athens Games, Phelps became a celebrity for a sport that didn’t have many stars. He won eight medals at Athens, six gold and two bronze. After such feats, his value as an athlete immediately rose. Two months since winning eight gold metals at 2008 Beijing Games, Michael Phelps continues to attract more recognition from big sponsors. Reportedly, Phelps earns about $5 million a year from endorsements despite his agency Octagon declining to comment. Eli Portnoy, a chief brand consultant, forecasts this figure to rise to about $30 million shortterm, according to the International Herald Tribune Web site. You can see Phelps almost
anywhere you go: billboards, TV commercials, clothes. Within seconds of Phelps’s snapping up his 10th gold medal, Visa released a special edition television commercial commemorating his title as the most decorated Olympian. He has 14 gold medals, more than any other Olympic athlete in history. Michael Phelps’s eight gold medals could be worth eight figures in endorsements and earnings, experts say on Nydailynews.com. Since his showing in Athens and Beijing, he has landed some of the biggest endorsement contracts ever for an Olympian. The deal is with Matsunichi Communication Holdings, a Hong Kong-based company that produces MP3 players and other electronic devices, according to the Baltimore Sun Web site.
Though neither Matsunichi nor Phelps’s representatives say what the deal was worth, reports from the Baltimore Sun said it could exceed $4 million over the four-year term. Phelps has been around for longer than many know. He was only 15 when he made the American team for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney where he placed fifth in the 200 meter butterfly. His appearance made him the youngest male Olympian since 1932, according Source: sxc.hu to Who2.com. Phelps is pulling in eight figures in sponsors, but swimming isn’t glamorous. In a sport where conditioning and strength is critical to swimmer is much easier because every year. Phelps is in a dilemma; if he become successful, he has the baseball is an annual sport; experience and knowledge to excel swimming is only covered every doesn’t secure his place amongst fans as one of the greatest athletes four years at the Olympics. even further. Phelps is cashing in his of all time, he will fade away like There is a downfall for swimming being seen as a smaller endorsements while he can, many other great Olympians. With the tremendous amount of because there is a limited time market sport. Countless Americans associate frame for him to gain recognition media coverage at the Olympics, it will be hard to believe when swimming as a childhood sport, for his achievements. Although Phelps is at the top of the 2012 London Games get just like soccer; therefore, the media typically concentrates on his sport, swimming may not be closer that people will not know sports that are more mainstream. glamorous enough for spectators Michael Phelps. Think baseball, football, to stay fascinated by him. Tiger Woods dominates his and basketball. The opportunity to promote a sport, but we can watch him star baseball player over a popular play golf several months a year,
Sports news in brief 14th Valero Texas Open coming to San Antonio The Valero Texas Open is going to be in town from October sixth through October twelve. The Westin La Cantera Resort, named a Gold Medal winner by Golf Magazine as one of the Top 25 Golf Resorts in the United States for 2004-2005, will host the Valero Texas Open for the 14th consecutive year. After an incredibly successful run in the fall, the Valero Texas Open, one of the most historic tournaments on the PGA TOUR, is proud to announce a shift in schedule, placing the PGA TOUR’S top tournament in charity giving in a much-coveted spring date as part of the FedExCup competition. Beginning in 2009, the Valero Texas Open will be played May 14-17. The Westin La Cantera Resort, named a Gold Medal winner by Golf Magazine as one of the Top 25 Golf Resorts in the United States for 2004-2005, will host the Valero Texas Open for the 14th consecutive year.
26 10.08.08
The Rattler Sports
Rattlers listening to the tune of good health By Jaime Perez
Senior Staff Writer Student athletes wake up early in the morning, excited for the day ahead. Their muscles are exhausted from weeks of conditioning. Tennis captain and junior criminal justice major Rachel Calvedron stretches first when she wakes up. She tries to stay limber so she can navigate herself on the court. “I don’t do anything special, I just try to stretch my legs out. Touching my toes help my muscles get warmed up,” said Calverdron. Despite coming from diverse backgrounds and playing for different sports, a healthy meal is vital for a successful game. Michelle Tello, a freshman human resource major and crosscountry runner, says that she’s not picky about what she eats; however, she knows that fatty, oily foods do
not benefit her body. Instead, she reaches for high-energy foods. “Granola bars and pasta the night before really help me out. I think it stores a lot of energy for the upcoming day,” said Tello. “I also try not eating a large meal, otherwise [you] feel to full to excercise.” Ronald Tata, a senior criminal justice major and basketball player, says that eating breakfast can be a great way to bond with your teammates. Meeting together while they eat gives student athletes a chance to converse and relax before a busy day. “We are not exactly careful with what we eat. For example, sometimes we grab a McDonald’s sausage. We’re just try to avoid really greasy food, like donuts,” said Tata. “It’s important for us to eat together so we could feel like a family.” Before games, the teams warm up by shooting baskets or running
sprints. However, they know that they cannot tire themselves out in practice. For Tello, athletes “usually stretch or get [themselves] loosened up before [they] run in a track meet.” “We don’t want to be tired when we began to run, so we try not to perform exercises that make us feel tired,” said Tello. When both Rattler teams are on the court or field, it is then that they turn their iPods or radios up to. Rock, or any kind of music that has loud beats are the ones that pump the athletes up before they play. “When the Soulja Boy song was out we would be in the lockerroom singing ‘soulja boy off in…’ and that’s all we would need to get excited,” said Tata. “The coach didn’t need to give a speech, we were already pumped up.”
Photo by Robin Johnson
Stephanie Proske is a freshman political science major and a volleyball player.
University not considering development of football program By Brissa Renteria Staff Writer Many universities all throughout the nation have one thing that they share: proud advantage of having a football team, whether it is nationally recognized or not. For those entering St. Mary’s, why we do not have a football program of our own is a question that seems to be on the minds of many. However, St. Mary’s was not always lacking a football team. Our first football program was created in 1916 and lasted through 1929. In fact, future president Dwight D. Eisenhower was head coach of the St. Mary’s football team which was removed, along with other campus sports, after its short duration due to World War II. After World War II had ended, all sports were brought back to the university except for football. Two major problems that existed were the absence of both a facility and funding. It was in 1925 that the rattler was officially adopted as the school mascot because according to legend, the football practice field had to be cleared daily due to its diamondback snakes.
Later in 1928, Jim Kendrick, former professional football player of the Canton Bulldogs, was named the university football coach. A year later, the football team finished 8-1, with Dutch Daehane scoring 11 touchdowns throughout the season. The final record for St. Mary’s for that year was 20-12, which left the university with a victorious mark. In 1931, the program was discontinued in March due to increasing expenses, but it was definitely not over yet; the team stayed together as a club team named the Cincinnati Mudhens. Throughout these rollercoaster of events, St. Mary’s University has keept up with other universities in academics and sports, but will this be enough to surpass the luxurious appeal of others having a football team? According to athletic director Charles Migl, creating a football program at the school does not come up in athletic department discussions. “In the athletic department, we do not consider creating [a football team] a priority,” said Migl. “We want to make sure that the twelve sports we do have are made as strong as poswsible.”
On The University of the Incarnate Word getting a program and playing football in the fall of 2009, Migl commented that he “still doesn’t see St. Mary’s getting a football program anytime soon.” But in response to how this could affect the students at St. Mary’s who wanted an opportunity to play college football, Migl does recognize an influence of the Incarnate Word program.
“I had a catcher on my [baseball] team who now is going to Incarnate Word so he could play for their football team,” he said. Although the possibilities of having a football team may be slim, our name remains with soccer, baseball, tennis and other athletics. These sports have helped the university achieve many goals in athletics and will continue to do so.
10.08.08 27
Rattler Sports Vol. 96 Issue 3
St. Mary’s University Student Newspaper
A day in the life Student athletes prepare for games both on the field and in daily routine.
10.08.08
The Express The first African-American Heisman Trophy winner. Page 24
High-Fenced Property A different ways to manage wildlife.
Page 25
StMU Football Some reasons why we don’t have a football team. Page 27
Published on Jun 17, 2014
The Rattler | St. Mary’s University
