Vol. 96, No. 9 - 03/25/2009

Vol. 96 Issue 9

The Rattler St. Mary’s University Student Newspaper

03.25.09

Mayoral Forum

Two candidates outline experiences, plans for city.

Page 4

Battle of the Bands

Four bands make the cut to compete in annual event.

Page 14

Women’s Basketball

Successful season ends after loss in tournament.

Page 27

Campus meets standards, yet accessibility still a challenge Page 6

News

2 The Rattler

03.25.09

Police Blotter 2/23/09 Graffiti reported at the Family Life Center. Physical Plant contacted for clean up.

Minor accident in Lot L. 2/24/08 Sick/injured person in the softball field. EMS was contacted for treatment and transported person for further medical treatment.

Violation of Student Handbook in Lot I. Referred to Judicial Affairs.

3/4/09 Harassment in Cremer Hall. Pending investigation.

3/6/09 Criminal tresspassing at the AACC. Suspect arrested, transported and booked into Magistrate’s Office.

3/11/09 Damaged property between Alkek and UC. Physical Plant contacted for cleanup and repair.

3/17/09 Traffic Violation at Ratler Dr. and Velasquez. County citation issued.

Two Violations of Student Handbook in Lot D. Referred to Judicial Affairs.

3/19/09 Violation of Student Handbook in Lot W. Referred to Judicial Affairs.

Burglary of motor vehicle in Lot D.

News in Brief SGA welcomes student attendance at meeting Student Government Association (SGA) will hold another meeting to discuss the current results of the pilot recycling program on Thursday, March 26.

Students are encouraged to attend such SGA meetings so they will be able to voice their concerns or support for the programs that SGA sponsors.

Index News Commentary Features Entertainment Sports

SGA hosted a barbecue on Friday, March 20 in appreciation of the ROTC program. SGA sponsored the event in order to reiterate their care and respect for ROTC and the soldiers overseas. Along with the barbecue, SGA was able to gather supplies for care packages for soldiers in Iraq. Photo by Robin Johnson

2-6 7-11 12-18 19-23 24-28

Contact Us: 210-436-3401 (office) 210-431-3407 (fax) rattlernews@stmarytx.edu Cover photo by Robin Johnson Cover design by Amanda Rodriguez

Business clubs to feel the spirit of competition

Students to share research at symposium

Thursday, April 2, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Bill Greehey School of Business

Friday, April 3, 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Alumni Athletics and Convocation Center Auxiliary Gym

The Bill Greehey School of Business is sponsoring Clash of the Clubs, an event that invites all business clubs to compete in a game show-type competition. Participants will answer relevant business questions and can win a variety of prizes.

Pizza and refreshments will be offered.

Students will gather and present a variety of topics at the 10th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium and Creative Activities Exhibition. The event features students’ work in their fields of study.

Admission is free and the event is open to the public.

Man dies in nearby collision on Culebra

Customs finds $3 million in commercial bus

Twenty states initiate investigation of AIG

A man was killed and another was injured in a two-car head-on collision. On March 20, a Nissan Sentra traveling west on Culebra drove into traffic, hitting another car heading east. The driver of the Sentra may face charges of intoxicated manslaughter. The other driver died at the scene.

With the aid of a sniffing dog, customs officials discovered bundles of U.S. dollars in a compartment in a commercial bus.

Texas and 19 other states have launched an investigation into AIG’s handing out of bonuses after receiving bailout money. The insurance company recently handed out $165 million dollars in bonuses to company officials.

The 75 bundles were found in the bus’s makeshift compartment as it was leaving Laredo heading for Mexico last Friday.

Names and details of the two drivers are being withheld.

Source: Mysanantonio.com

Source: Mysanantonio.com

The states’ attorneys general have sent messages to CEO Edward Liddy requesting information on who were paid bonuses. The Connecticut attorney general issued Liddy a subpoena.

Source: CNN.com

News

03.25.09

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National affairs conference focuses on policy

By Ari Rivera News Editor

Three international relations students were presented with the opportunity to try and draft a foreign policy. One took the Best Overall award and another met the son of a former presidential candidate.

The St. Mary’s students were invited by Celine Jacquemin, Ph.D., the director of the Undergraduate International Relations Program, to participate in the 54th Student Conference On National Affairs (SCONA) for three days held at Texas A&M. Junior international relations (IR) and speech communications major Claudia Valladolid, Junior IR and psychology major Therese Kenner and freshman IR major Alice Meyer were the three students who participated.

At the conference, they were put into different groups. Of the 16 groups that were made, Kenner found herself next to Jack McCain, son of Arizona senator John McCain.

Celine Jacquemin, Ph.D., Alice Meyer and Claudia Valladolid are pictured with Jack McCain, son of former presidential candidate John McCain, along with Therese Kenner. Courtesy of Claudia Valladolid “He is the most down-to-earth person,” said Kenner. “When we had lunch at a restaurant, people would point and whisper behind us.”

According to SCONA’s Web site, the purpose of the conference “is to foster awareness, discussion

and involvement among student leaders across the nation.”

The topic for this year’s SCONA was “U.S. Intervention in Problematic Areas Around the World.” Students participated in roundtable discussions, heard lectures from former CIA agents,

military officials and other government organizations, worked together to draft a two-page foreign policy and received guidance on their policy.

All of the activities focused on U.S. intervention issues, which led to the students drafting

their own policy, a highlight for many participants.

On the last day of the conference, the students’ policies were graded. Awards for Best Skit, Best Policy and Best Overall were announced. Valladolid’s group’s policy, which outlined the reasons why the United States should interact with terrorists, won Best Overall.

“My favorite part was watching all of the skits and working with people from across the nation to write a foreign policy that we all agreed with,” said Valladolid.

Kenner enjoyed hearing a lecture from Major General Douglas Stone, who was sent to Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq to work with the military to revise their policies after the prison received public attention for accounts of torture.

“This conference definitely guided me,” said Valladolid. “Attending conference is important in today’s world of near constant connectivity.”

Community women lead green movement in city

By Christine Le Managing Editor

In a city where only 9 to 13 percent of the population recycles, the university has yet again taken the initiative to address environmental issues and the need to follow through with green efforts, this time through this year’s Women’s History Month (WHM).

Motivated by her passion for women’s issues, reference and instruction librarian at the Louis J. Blume Library, Diane Duesterhoeft, worked in conjunction with political science professor Sonia Garcia, Ph.D., in coordinating this year’s events for WHM. “This is the second year I’ve been coordinator for Women’s History Month, so I had an interest in women’s issues for a long time,” said Duesterhoeft.

The event held Thursday, March 19 in the University Center titled “What on Earth?

Women Saving the Environment” was a panel discussion of four women who discussed their work in their environmental organizations.

“We had at least two faculty members on the panel who, in addition to their academic work, are very involved with environmental issues,” said Duesterhoeft. “We also had two women who are from the community who also spoke about their respective organizations, one

of whom was Linda Hardberger, Mayor Phillip Hardberger’s wife.”

In response to the green movement, Hardberger believes ‘being green’ should be systemic.

“It should not just be trendy. Trends tend to go away and I want this trend to stay,” she said. “It should be a part of your being.”

Fellow panelist Sherra Theisen, Ph.D., and her program uphold the same idea.

As the cofounder and Chief Executive Officer of Texas Nature Project, a non-profit program for qualified Texas students who seek ways to live their lives meaningfully while making a positive contribution to the world, Theisen is an advocate for educating others on the importance of our ecosystem.

“We need to sustain our energy, our patience and our love for each other and continue to educate ourselves on what we need to know,” advised Theisen. “When it comes to issues on the environment, the biggest thing we can do is be aware.”

In respect to WHM at St. Mary’s, that is the exact purpose and goal for Duesterhoeft.

“The events are for giving students some practical ideas about what they can do to help sustain and improve the environment around them.”

“[It is] our responsibility to help out and become involved in issues,“ said Patricia Martinez at the environmental presentation for Women’s History Month. Photo by Jaime Perez

News

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03.25.09

Candidates speak to the community about future

By Ari Rivera News Editor Two mayoral candidates were recently on campus to present their platforms and answer questions for faculty, staff, students and the surrounding community.

San Antonio City Councilman Julían Castro and Trish DeBerryMejia appeared at the Sarita Kennedy East Law Library in the Alumni Room on Wednesday, March 4.

The Student Government Association (SGA) hosted the forum and graduate international relations major, Jennifer Butler, moderated the candidates.

SGA President James Escamia began by welcoming all participants and informing the audience that the school’s recycling pilot program still has meetings and that students are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Escamia then read a letter explaining that candidate City Councilwoman Diane Cibrian was in a council meeting.

“As a result, she will not be in attendance this afternoon,” said Escamia.

The forum began with DeBerryMejia, who took the podium to emphasize that, though she has a lack of political experience, she has experience of being a business owner

and knows what it’s like to have a business in San Antonio. She focused on her own public policy experience and what made her different from other candidates.

“Public service is a sacrifice and I believe I can make a difference,” said DeBerry-Mejia. “I am not using this as a stepping stone for higher office.”

Castro, who stated that this was his second attempt at running for mayor, followed DeBerry-Mejia.

His first attempt was the city’s last election in 2005 when he lost to the current mayor, Phil Hardberger. He continued, letting attendees know that his work in City Council offered him experience in government.

“I have a very strong vision for our city’s future,” said Castro.

“It’s time for us not just to invest in projects, but to invest in people.”

After their own introductions, the candidates answered questions from the audience. Many questions such as plans for roads, ideas for developing economic relations with China and their takes on Hardberger were offered to both candidates.

One question for Castro was about the 2005 incident at the river parade where he was accused of having his identical twin brother, State Rep. Joaquín Castro,

City Councilman Julían Castro looks on as Trish DeBerry-Mejia offers her plans for San Antonio at the Mayoral Candidate Forum. Photo by Robin Johnson. impersonate him on a float. Julían Castro denied the accusations.

After time was completed, the candidates had signs and pamphlets available for attendees. The candidates left their impression on their moderator.

“I think they both did a good job,” said Butler. “Candidates had

to be able to tamper down their platforms for a collegiate setting.”

President of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity (PAD) and senior political science major San Juanita Moncada thinks events like the forum are important for students.

“They are rare opportunities

when students can ask their future government leaders how they plan to change San Antonio and voice their concerns,” she said.

The Service Learning Center along with PAD will sponsor the City Council District 7 Candidate Forum in the AT&T Center on Monday, March 30.

Forensic degrees made available to students in fall Degree benefits

• •

The new forensic science degree will offer pre-med and criminology majors more job opportunities.

The federal government’s DNA Initiative will provide funding and training to develop the technological advancements of forensic science, thus increasing the demand for the field.

Source: Office of Communications Ari Rivera / The Rattler

By Keily Rivero Senior Staff Writer After three years of planning, the university is ready to offer a forensic science degree. Students will be able to declare, add or switch to this major beginning in the fall of 2009.

St. Mary’s University will be the only school in the city of San Antonio that offers such a degree. According to information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are approximately 12,000 positions in the forensic science technician field. There is also an anticipated 21percent increase in demand over the next decade for those positions.

“We are delighted to offer degrees in forensic science,” said Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Janet Dizinno, Ph.D. “I am impressed with the rigor and collaborative nature of these programs.”

The new program will offer bachelor degree options for science-biology, science-chemistry

and arts-criminology. All will have a heavy emphasis in developing laboratory research skills, with the criminology option also requiring the same core science classes.

The program was designed with as many pre-requisites as possible in order to be competitive for a masters program in the field and for medical school if the student decides to extend their education past undergraduate studies. With this in mind, all the pre-requisites for medical school are part of the program. The degrees that will be available have been established in a great collaborative effort between many departments.

The advisor for the biology option will be Colleen Nolan, Ph.D., Michael Losiewicz, Ph.D., for the chemistry option and Armando Abney, Ph.D., for the criminology option. The deans from the School of Science and Engineering and of Humanities and Social Sciences, Anthony Kaufmann, Ph.D., and Dizinno, respectively,

have also been instrumental in making this program a reality.

Students were the first ones to demonstrate the interest and ask if forensics could be offered here. Many other degree programs were researched until something of quality could be offered at St.. Mary’s.

“I’m excited and now I’m considering adding it or switching to it,” said freshman criminology and psychology major Alejandra Cue. Cue, who originally wanted a forensic science degree, had to switch to another course of study because it was unavailable.

“It allows more opportunity for students to not be so limited,” Cue commented. “They don’t have to transfer in order to get it and it makes the university more marketable.”

According to Dean Dizinno, more information on the new degree requirements should be posted before the end of March.

03.25.09

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News

03.25.09

ACCESSING CAMPUS

The university is continuing its efforts to make classes more accessible for disabled students.

By Jaime Perez Features Editor

Accessibility on campus for the physically handicapped has been assesed to better improve mobility for students, falculty and visitors. Photo by Robin Johnson

Last semester, the university began a formal evaluation of the campus to determine the accessibility for those who are physically handicapped.

Fredericka DeLee, appointed disability coordinator in the fall semester, assessed the school’s accommodation to the physically handicapped and admits that there are “holes in the system.” However, she ultimately concluded that campus accessibility is not as bad as she initially believed.

“I am trying to work out the kinks,” said DeLee. “Signage was a problem for knowing where to go and how to get into the building. There is work to be done.”

All new construction on campus must meet the Texas Accessibility Standards according to the American with Disabilities Act. According to Facilities Administrator William Tam, all buildings have been renovated and brought into full compliance with current standard.

“For example, the Counselor Education and Family Life Center has accessible parking and pathway,” said Tam. “We also constructed a handicap-accessible restroom.

The new residence hall will have an elevator and a number of handicap-accessible living units.”

Though steps have been taken to accommodate those with physical disabilities, associate theology professor Robert O’Conner, Ph.D., believes more can still be done. He assisted DeLee with her evaluation of the campus by highlighting areas he thought needed to be improved.

“In the Charles Francis building, the door has no electric opening,” said O’Conner. “In Reinbolt Hall, the placement of the automatic door button is poor for those with muscular dystrophy.”

Current Texas Accessibility Standards require the school to maintain a standard door frame width, door, threshold, force resistance and space distance. While the standards do

not require automatic door systems, DeLee believes additional adjustments can, and should be made, but that time and patience for these changes are needed.

“I think we need to grow [as a department],” said DeLee. “I need a reasonable notice to put together a reasonable accommodation [for the disabled].”

As for the programs and classes available to students, all university programs should be accessible, even to those who are physically handicapped. However, according to Tam, if this isn’t the case, adjustments would be made to the program or the facility to meet the needs of all.

“For example, the elevator in Garni requires a key,” said Tam. “If a person is not able to use a key, then the class is taught in a classroom that is more accessible.”

The new residence hall, which will be available to incoming freshman in the fall, will also help address the needs of the physically handicapped. The residence halls are currently able to house 22 students who may be disabled. According to Interim Dean of Students James Villarreal, that number will increase to 36 by next fall.

“We are tying to respond to accessibility and convenience. The [new residence hall] will be closer to the school,” said Villarreal.

“There will be walkways and elevators. We are working with the parameters we have.”

The cost of making improvements to the rest of school does not have a dedicated set of money, according to Villarreal. The funding used to make these repairs in the school’s “areas of concern” is drawn from what is left of the spending budget. However, Tam assures that the needs of the physically disabled are being met.

“We will continue to make improvements such as adding electric door openers.

It is important to note that an electric opener does not make a door accessible,” said Tam. “We are updating door signage to include brail [and] in all new fire alarm systems, the strobes must notify the hearing impaired.”

Commentary

03.25.09

Obama’s gaffe shows power of words Staff Editorial The Rattler Oftentimes the power of words are forgotten. We go day by day using words like “retarded” lightly, to describe things that we think are stupid, as if it would never hurt anyone. Recently, President Barack Obama made the same mistake.

While making an appearance on Jay Leno’s Tonight Show, Obama was discussing his bowling score of 129, which he was unhappy with, and described it by saying “It was like the Special Olympics or something.”

Even though Obama did not specifically say the word “retarded,” he still did not take into consideration that this could offend those who take part in the Special

what they said

“

Markets should be free, not value-free.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown

in his address to the joint session of Congress, referring to the need for ethical reform as a result of the financial crisis, March 4 .

You can’t resolve AIDS with the distribution of condoms. On the contrary, it increases the problem.

Olympics. Instead, he did what most of us do, and object others just so we can use an offensive word as an adjective.

Obama’s mistake is at the end just that: a mistake. He has apologized for it and emphasized his esteem for the Special Olympics. What is at stake here is not a man’s remarks, even if this man is the president. This is just an example of what all of us have done at one point or another. We are careless about the power of words and their impact on others.

An old Marianist principle says that if your words cannot achieve better consequences than silence, then silence should be your choice. This obvious but nevertheless very important precept reminds us that with our words just, like with our actions, we are called to be responsible

for the impact that we have around us.

The ability to communicate with words is one of the things that make us human, yet we rarely reflect on that. Unlike parrots, we do not just repeat a collection of phonemes that we have memorized. We are able to communicate the ideas that inhabit our minds, give them scope and significance (depending on the tone) and finally transport them to another person’s mind.

The creative power of this process, which takes place when we talk to a cashier or when the president gives a speech, is amazingly great. Unfortunately, we seem to be used to use it in a destructive manner and do not realize the potential beauty and positive effects that words could create.

Facing our inner challenges

Pope Benedict XVI

stating the Catholic Church’s position with respect to the use of condoms in his trip to Cameroon, March 17.

The United States wants the Islamic Republic of Iran to take its rightful place in the community of nations.

President Barack Obama

in televised address to the people and leadership of Iran, signaling a radical change with respect to the Bush-era policies, March 20.

”

Illustration by Jaymee Baxley

The Rattler 7

Mappa Mundi Fifteen years later

BY ALFONSO DE LA TORRE Fifteen years ago, the shooting down of the Rwandan president’s airplane unleashed 100 days of massacre and widespread violence that in such a short time span managed to kill between 800,000 and one million people. The reaction of the international community, or better put, their failure to react effectively, has since then formed part of the most important moral failures of the entire human race.

But do not worry. Since then, we have spent our time wisely, fighting the ‘evil’ in the world: homosexuality, taxes, oil from the Middle East and human rights organizations that have the nerve to say that Guantanamo is a place where human rights are being systematically violated and not a beach resort on the coast of Cuba.

Today, our failure to react can be found in the city of Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, where ethnically motivated violence killed dozens of people, or in Zimbabwe, a country that still suffers of political violence and a cholera outbreak that has claimed the lives of hundreds of people.

Whether it is out of indifference, carelessness, institutional limitations (which do exist) or genuine conviction that the civil union of two men is of greater danger than the killing of children in a far African country whose name we cannot pronounce, just to use an example, the truth is that the memory of Rwanda remains not as a testimony of what the international community was, but of what it still is. The indifference that makes us focus on a financial crisis but forget the food crisis that hurts the developing world is the same that kept us silent while Rwanda cried for help.

And then we have Sudan. The Sudanese region of Darfur has seen more than 40,000 people die and more than two million of its inhabitants displaced to neighboring Chad in the last five years.

This month, the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant of arrest against president Omar al-Bashir, the first one issued against a sitting president. Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has succeeded in accusing Bashir, yet it is uncertain whether this will help stop the genocide.

In 1994, when the Rwandan genocide was at its height, Time magazine reported a priest saying that “there are no devils left in hell: they are all in Rwanda.” Perhaps the devils are not really coming from hell, but from ourselves each time we fail to act against the true evil in this world.

Commentary

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S t.

M ar y ’ s

&

03.25.09 C ampus

L ife

The Rattler Dinning services need to increase their availability over breaks

Editor-in-Chief Sarah Mills

Managing Editor Christine Le Layout/Design Manager Amanda Rodriguez News Editor Ari Rivera Commentary Editor Alfonso de la Torre Features Editor Jaime Perez 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 Kimberly Vela Faculty Adviser 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

Letters to the Editor Policy 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.

Not all students leave campus for Thanksgiving or spring break. Some of them stay either because they Alfonso work somewhere de la Torre in town, are international students, cannot afford it or simply because they want to get some rest. In addition, some of them have little or even no money and rely solely on their meal plans to eat. This, of course, is not the situation of the san

ant o ni o

majority of students, but it does affect a considerable number of them. The problem is that food services here on campus are closed for the most part during periods such as mid-semester breaks, Thanksgiving or Easter.

True, the cafeteria was opened for a few hours from Monday to Friday over the last spring break, but Subway remained closed the majority of the time. Also, neither the cafeteria nor Subway were opened on Saturday. This inevitably poses more than just discomfort to some students: it is

& t h e

c o mmunit y

truly problematic.

It is true that the people running the food services strive to attend to students’ needs and have been willing to address students’ concerns. The most important example of this is the addition of silverware that started this semester in the cafeteria, a response to many who are concerned about the carbon footprint of our campus. Yet, the concerns of all students, and not just the majority of them, need to be addressed.

Perhaps having the cafeteria and all its services, not just Grill fait h

& t h e

Works, opened in the mornings and Subway opened in the afternoons throughout the entire break (including Saturdays and Sundays) might help alleviate the problem.

Despite efforts from both the International Student Services and the Office of Residence Life, which have eased the situation for many students on this issue, the true solution lies within our dining services and making them fully available for students throughout the entire semester, even if the number that stay for breaks is not a big one.

M arianists

Urban Plunge brings student Service to the community is best example of true leadership awareness of nearby poverty Through the Urban Plunge retreat, students were given the opportunity to go into the community and see Keily Rivero the issues that prevail in the San Antonio area.

I had been aware that the area was in poverty and that it had some big problems with drop-out rates. However, I was not ready to see the magnitude of dearth in some of the neighborhoods we visited. What was shocking to me was not that this level of need existed, but that it existed here. The scenes I saw were not unlike ones I have seen in my native Venezuela.

I’m sure this fact is news to a big number of San Antonio residents that, like me, have not driven down to these areas. Yet, at the same time this made even more sense because of the sights before my eyes.

According to research from the National Center for Children in Poverty, financial need can hinder a child’s cognitive development and increase, social and emotional problems, thus making them more

likely to drop out of high school.

We need to address these issues, especially as a university that puts such emphasis on community and service. During the 2009 World Day of Peace, Pope Benedict XVI delivered an important message that the most effective way for the world to achieve peace is through fighting poverty.

This retreat helped me open my eyes to the work that is being done in these communities. We were exposed to the work of the San Antonio Metropolitan Ministries’ homeless shelter, the resettlement of refugees in San Antonio and the challenges they face. We also saw the process of reintegrating prisoners into society, the work of inner city development and the activism of the Holy Redeemer Church, which is a spiritual home for black Catholics in Bexar County.

There are many opportunities to help those in distress. We all need to believe that by working together we can make the change that is so desperately needed. In light of these daunting realities, I cannot help but have hope and keep in mind the words of William James, “I will act as if what I do makes a difference.”

History has taught us that our community will ultimately be remembered for the example of service that we Francesca Garcia set for future generations. The Rev. Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa are perfect examples of people who led their countries and communities by setting a higher example of serving.

Their actions changed the world in ways that have brought humanity closer together. As we examine our own lives, is it possible to consider ourselves as changers such as these great heroes?

As I walk around campus seeing my fellow students at work with each another, I believe the answer is yes. As we approached our mid-semester break, many students were in need of an escape to recuperate and relax their minds.

However, there were a number of students who chose a different road. Instead, their recuperation came from attending the Service Learning Center’s spring break immersion trips throughout the

country to lend a hand to those less fortunate.

In the past year and a half that I have been a student at our great university, I have seen works of service that encourage the heart of the community to see the young leaders arising in our St. Mary’s family. Whether it is through a Greek organization or campus organization, we have all in some way lent a hand to our neighbor in an act of compassion.

Does this make us heroes?

Maybe not in the way that Martin Luther King or Gandhi were.

However, we do become heroes for others by making a change in others’ lives for the better. As the motto of Continuing the Heritage states, it is we who are continuing God’s handiwork. The virtues that God has given us and the ways in which we put them to use by lending a helping hand makes us heroes in our own right.

I encourage you, fellow students, to continue living out your acts of service and realize how much you mean to your community. By our acts of compassion we our living out the Marianist charisma of: “Do whatever he tells you.”

Commentary

03.25.09

The Rattler 9

Paying AIG’s bonuses is the least of our worries The fools in Washington are at it again, and this time they are teaming up with like-minded fools from New York.

American InterMax Sokoloff national Group (AIG), a recipient of federal bailout funds, recently announced bonuses totaling approximately $165 million to some employees. This has triggered outrage from President Barack Obama, congressional Democrats, and New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, just to name a few.

In a recent press conference, President Obama said, “It’s hard to understand how derivative traders at AIG warranted any bonuses, much less $165 million in extra pay.” The president went on to say, “…I’ve asked (Treasury) Secretary Geithner to use that leverage and pursue every single legal avenue to block these bonuses…” Cuomo, following the President’s lead, quickly issued subpoenas to AIG CEO Edward Liddy in an effort to get the names of those private citizens receiving the bonuses.

Congress is also getting in on the action, with some members proposing a 100 percent tax on bonuses above $100,000 to any firm receiving bailout funds. In a fit of righteous populism, Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY) said of those employees receiving the bonuses, “If you don’t return it on your own, we will do it for you.” You have got to love it when government officials use threats and intimidation against private citizens.

The fact that those employees were guaranteed the bonuses in their contracts probably doesn’t mean anything to members of Congress. What do politicians know about binding contracts anyway?

I know that both the president and Cuomo are lawyers. Another thing that I know, unlike our elected officials, is that you cannot just break a contract for political expediency. I know that these geniuses are well aware of the legal ramifications of a breach of contract, so why would they be expressing such outrage and disbelief? Would they rather have AIG refuse to pay the bonuses, thereby triggering legal action on behalf of the employees, in which case they would have

A protester is interviewed outside AIG’s headquarters in New York. The bonuses for the executives have been rejected by the public and political leaders. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. to spend millions in legal costs? In the end, AIG would just be compelled to pay the bonuses and perhaps pay punitive damages.

I do not know when politicians became experts on how to run a business.

There are all of these people screaming that it’s wrong to pay the bonuses, that they should be

given back, evil corporations, social justice blah, blah, blah. But what good does it do you if you take your neighbor’s bonus away?

Will those people screaming be better off? Perhaps it will just make them feel better about not getting one themselves.

But then again, when congress is considering ex post facto taxa-

tion, devaluing our currency, nationalizing privately owned firms, punishing our most successful citizens, instituting a carbon tax that will destroy our economy, releasing terrorists bent on our eradication and impairing the obligation of contracts, using taxpayer money to pay executive bonuses is the least of our worries.

Fair Trade is opportunity for helping poor farmers Who made the tea you drank at lunch? What country did it come from? Did the farmers who made it get paid fair? These questions rarely cross our minds when we drink tea, snack Michelle on our favorite chocolate Tello bars, or enjoy our daily coffee.

We take for granted the rising minimum wage, satisfactory working conditions, and especially our education. It is our duty as humans to help each other out, including those in developing countries such as Guatemala and Nicaragua. These developing countries greatly appreciate what we have done for them and continue to ask for our assistance to improve their everyday living.

Many farmers in developing countries earn only about two dollars per day for

their hard labor and long hours. Two dollars is not enough to provide food for their families, give them good health care and provide their children with the education they deserve.

In order to help these people, consumers should start buying more of their products from Fair Trade. Fair Trade is a system that provides opportunities for farmers and their families to enrich their lives. Fair Trade products’ earnings go directly to the farmers and their families without a middle man, which gives farmers fair pay for their work and time.

Fair Trade products are sold in the United States. Unfortunately, they are not very popular because they are not widely known among consumers. However, since Max Havelar founded Fair Trade in 1988, the company has grown dramatically. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to help

Fair Trade helps poor farmers in developing countries attain better living conditions.

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. the company grow. By spreading the word about Fair Trade, sales should increase, giving more people in developing countries the opportunity to improve their lives. When

people buy Fair Trade products, they give the farmers who made them not only fair wages, but also the opportunity for a better education, better working conditions and dignity.

Purchasing Fair Trade products is just one of the many ways Americans can do their part in improving other’s everyday lives.

Knowing their purchases helps someone on the other end, customers can feel good and satisfied about what they bought and the effect that will take place.

To help out, start purchasing Fair Trade items today. In San Antonio, Fair Trade products are not sold in popular grocery stores like HEB or Wal-Mart, but are sold at Whole Foods locations, one of which is in the Alamo Quarry Market. There is also the alternative of ordering items online from www.lwr.org, www.transfairusa.org, www. globalexchange.org.

Commentary

10 The Rattler

03.25.09

Global warming becomes top policy issue

Some people accept it, and some deny it. Some people make us responsible for its possible consequences, while some minimize its effects. Still, despite its detractors, global warming is a current issue in several countries’ political and economic agendas due to its important implications in our Alvaro Zapatel world’s future. Certainly, the United States is one of the most questioned countries regarding this issue, since it is known as the world’s main polluter.

According to several studies, the United States produces almost a quarter of the world’s CO2 emissions, while having only less than 4.5% of the global population. Hence, after the Kyoto Protocol, which the Bush Administration declined to accept, the United States realized the importance to implement “Green Policies” that may help to reduce pollution.

This improvement would eventually diminish the harmful gas emissions and contribute to a better administration of the country’s economy.

The United States’ Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that U.S. citizens use a total of 85 million tons of paper and cardboard per year. If we imagine the industry’s impact in the environment through gas emissions and the decreasing number of trees, we could say that the United States is getting less and less prepared to confront an environmental problem like global warming.

The Barack Obama administration has promised to implement a bold new national goal on energy efficiency and to create five million “green collar” jobs. That is, the Obama administration intends to provide alternative sources of energy to decrease the CO2 gas emissions. Meanwhile, since these programs will need people to work on them, they will create new jobs. Therefore, this will help the U.S. economy to counteract the crisis’ impact.

River City Update The election monopoly

BY CHRIS CHILDREE The candidates for mayor sat attentively, carefully listening to the question posed by an onlooker. I was in the audience, my eyes glued to the exchange between the viewers and two of the hopefuls for mayor of San Antonio during the recent Mayoral Forum held on campus.

I pondered in my mind whom would make a better choice: Julian Castro, and his fresh outlook for the city, or Trish DeBerry-Mejia and her innovative business-oriented ideas. As I approached a decision, I realized it wouldn’t

President Obama has said that facing global warming and the associated environmental degradation will be one of the central isues to be addressed by his administration. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons Those ideas sound beautiful, but we cannot expect the current administration to keep its word and make all these promises true. We must be active citizens and constantly demand our representatives and senators to make our voices heard. The global trend is going towards a greener behavior, and the United States – as the global leader – cannot be left behind.

Through repetition we create habits and we can contribute to a greener country by our own means. I am very proud

really matter since the candidate endorsed by the editorial board of the San Antonio Express-News will most likely win the race as demonstrated by city history. This is an unfortunate reflection of the publication’s frightening influence on our city.

In 1993, the Express-News’ rival, the Light collapsed, leaving San Antonio as one of only three single-newspaper cities in the top ten United States cities by population.

Ever since, every mayoral candidate the publication has “recommended” for voters has won on Election Day. Typically, council members and statutes the paper supports are passed as well.

This label as a single-newspaper city has opened the door for countless issues, including bought elections. While multiple newspapers would keep each other in check, like the branches of government, one could easily be seized by an entity with money, laying their agenda on the area.

A solution could come from the rise of a publication

of our university’s decision to go green. We must make our school’s effort valuable and make use of the devices it gives us to contribute to a better world.

While asking for reusable plates, throwing our trash away, and recycling the paper we use for our classes and homework, we will make a difference. Global warming will continue to be a threat, as long as we do not complain about it. We can help stop global warming through reducing, reusing and recycling.

that would compete with the Express News for readers.

While this doesn’t seem too likely, as the printed press is a dying breed, competition would surely increase the journalistic integrity of the Express News and give San Antonio other voices to consider.

On the other hand, voting citizens can help themselves by not blindly following the newspaper’s or anybody else’s rhetoric. They should research local issues using every available tool to carefully examine their local government.

Granted, time may be a factor especially for workers, but time should be given to voters by their employers so they can make a careful choice on the items that have a direct impact on their lives.

Voting citizens should attend events like the Mayoral Forum and seek out information first hand by demanding answers from candidates and activists so that we the people, not the monopolistic media, can shape direction and bestow only the best upon our river city.

03.25.09

Commentary

The Rattler 11

letters from the

Flip-side

of reason

Gender roles reversed

BY CRISTINA GONZALEZ

According to many, the reports denouncing human rights violations in the Guantanamo Detention Center are biased and put the American people in danger. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Closing Guantanamo is irresponsible I remember the clear September day when the skyline of our largest city was forever changed. I understand that a similar event could easily be repeated and I am surChris prised that it hasn’t.

Childree These days, some people have forgotten and don’t completely understand the measures that are taken to protect their lives and way of life. Some don’t even realize the effect of their words as they repeat wild accusations they hear as fact despite the absence of non-biased reports.

Some “journalists” have decided to use the alleged abuses at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center as a talking point to criticize the actions of the Bush Administration and develop a sort of complex “gotcha” story. They use reports from supposed “human rights” advocates as fact, ignoring reports that counter these accusations, including the 2009 Pentagon report which found that the detention center complies with the Geneva Convention.

Despite this, the new administration has adopted a new policy stemming indirectly from these stories of abuse by “journalists,” announcing its support for the closure of the detention center.

This is an irresponsible policy because we are still engaged in the war on terrorism. The detainees still have critical information, which would go to waste if they were sent elsewhere. It’s the kind of information we need to finish the war, and that should be the point at which the

“I don’t know how many more lives must be lost before supposed ‘human rights’ advocates and “journalists” who print their words see the destructiveness of their actions” detention center is closed. However, the new administration has determined that the political reward of this new policy outweighs the previous argument.

One of the main reasons for this new plan is the alleviation of fears over the way we are perceived overseas. This is a legitimate concern but stems only from the belief of world leaders in the “reports” echoed throughout the media.

Another good example of the impact of “reports” by “journalists” without concrete evidence occurred back in 2005. The Newsweek publication printed a story that stated the United States military flushed copies of the Quran down a toilet. The

publication later retracted the story when it was determined that sufficient evidence did not support the claim. However, the damage was already done: riots erupted throughout the Muslim world, 17 people were killed in Afghanistan and hundreds were injured. The “reports” also increased the ire of terrorist Shehzad Tanweer, who would later participate in the London bombings that occurred on July 7, 2001.

I don’t know how many more lives must be lost before supposed “human rights” advocates and the “journalists” who print their words see the destructiveness of their actions. I understand they may believe they are uncovering inhumane practices, but if the evidence for these “practices” is insufficient and disputed, who are they helping with their words?

I am not denying that any abuses occurred at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center because I cannot see everything that goes on there, nobody can. What I am saying is that there is not sufficient evidence to state that these alleged abuses are fact and that reports also exist countering these claims.

But even if these claims are fact, wouldn’t it better for the media to err on the side of the safety of the American people?

It seems to me that in recent weeks the name “Chris Brown” has become the new flint striker for the bonfire that is domestic abuse. Everyone has something to say. Oprah warned that “if a man hits you once, he will hit you again.” Tyra Banks devoted an entire episode to domestic violence in teen relationships, stating that “no man has a right to put his hands on a woman.”

The more I listen and engage in the discussion of these issues, the more disappointed I am.

To put it bluntly, why is everyone so surprised that reconciliation appears to be taking place?

Why is the public so eager to crucify the attacker and portray the victim as helpless and misguided? Further, why is the public dialogue still only focused on domestic abuse where the man is the attacker and the woman is the victim?

In all honesty, it is the nature of the third question which disturbs me the most; roles reversed, this tragedy would have only grabbed headlines in the sleaziest of tabloid magazines. We shudder with pictures allegedly featuring a battered Rihanna, but would we feel the same way if it were Chris Brown in her place?

I dare to say that we would not, and therein lays a terrible problem. By focusing all of the public attention on only male-on-female domestic violence, we are only focusing on half of the issue. A February 2009 article from the BBC related that, over the past year, “6.4 percent of men in England and Wales between the ages of 20 and 24” claimed to be victims of some form of domestic abuse, comparing to the British government’s figure of only 5.4 percent of women in the same age range. Another article from the BBC followed one man’s harrowing account of how his wife beat him both physically and psychologically. A fact box included with the article related that one in six men will suffer abuse in a relationship.

Why is nobody talking about this? Why do we still continue to cling to the idea that a woman abusing a man is not the same or somehow more justified? Women can be just as vicious as males, thinking otherwise is a frightening display of ignorance. If we want to further the dialogue on domestic abuse so that it helps those in danger, we need to let go of our misconceptions, because nobody has a right to put their hands on someone else--regardless of gender.

Features

12 The Rattler

03.25.09 Before r u n ning or doing the elliptical machine, make sure you stretch out your legs to perform with better efficiency.

Rock climbing, which is offered by appointment, works out the back quads and forearms. Performing a light run before climbing will help guarantee that your joints and muscles are properly warmed up.

1

2

1

After you have made it to the top, which can be achieved after a week of practice, loosen your tense muscles by stretching.

It will ensure that you do not cramp up after a challenging climbing session.

2

1

Depending on your skill level, try pushing yourself at a reasonable rate. Make sure to bring a buddy to spot you.

P u s h yourself so that you are a little uncomfortable. If you’re not breathing hard, you’re not working out hard enough; you need to push yourself to get a good work out.

Tips by Chris Rivas

Tips by Samantha Hubbard

Students spring in to fitness Students offer their advice about ways to get and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

By Jaime Perez Features Editor

Tips by Kristin Johnson

Photos by Analicia Perez and Robin Johnson

The days of winter jackets are gone along with the rest of any bulky clothing. Swimsuit season is just a tanning-bed away and students are looking to shed a few extra inches off their waistlines.

To be at your physical best, women’s soccer coach Brwyn Ritch says that attitude is the fist thing that needs.

“The college mentality is not one of fitness. It’s one of having fun. They need to better utilize their time

and be a better, fit person,” he said.

To get his players in athletic shape, Ritch has the team in a fitness program that combines pilates, yoga and jogging. Even though not every student is able to keep up with an athlete’s training schedule, senior electric engineering major Teadoso Lopez believes that it’s worth setting aside some time.

“I try to come to the gym twice a week. I try to run three times a week for about two and a half hours.

It’s important [to work out] to prevent any diseases,” said Lopez.

Thinking fit and scheduling time is only half the battle against the bulge. With the following workout tips from these students, you too can be a lean, mean, fit Rattler machine.

CULTURE CALENDAR John Hernandez: Zoe’s Room

Fifty Years of Print Masterpieces

March 13–Aug. 2 San Antonio Museum of Art

Feb. 25– June 27 McNay Art Museum

Local Artist and sculptor, John Hernandez, invites the public to see his new installation. Based on childhood memories, the exhibit promises to be fun for all ages.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the McNay Museum, Friends Of McNay have assembled a renowned print collection including works by Pierre Renoir and Pablo Picasso.

FRost/ Nixon

April 7– April 12 Majestic Theatre

The Tony Award-winning play, which features famed director Michael Grandage and the acclaimed screenplay by Peter Morgan, depicts the real-life interview between David Frost and Richard Nixon.

Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin

April 5 Majestic Theatre

Finally appearing together again after their Tony award-winning performances in Evita, Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin will team up for a night of song and dance

The Pajama Game

March 20 – April 26 Russell Hill Rogers Theatre

A flashy 50’s musical set in a pajama factory tells the story of two starcrossed lovers: a factory manager and a union representative who intends on protecting her workers.

Features

03.25.09

The Rattler 13

Event adds rhythm to Women’s History Month

By Analicia Perez

Assistant Photo Editor Winding down after a long week late Thursday on March 19, students and others enjoyed the smooth sounds emanating from the Java City Amphitheater.

Students set down their books and enjoyed a coffeehouse with the jazz group, Katchie Cartwright and Friends.

Cartwright earned her Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from The City University of New York, with a specialization in improvisational traditions. She is the recipient of Fulbright awards for residencies in Greece and Lebanon and has performed and conducted numerous

workshops in South Africa, West Africa, South America, the Caribbean and Europe.

The coffeehouse was held in celebration of Women’s History Month and was sponsored by the University Programming Council.

Events will be held on-campus through March 30. A poetry reading featuring St. Mary’s faculty, proffesor Cyra Dumitru and proffesor Lisa Sellers and graduating senior Leslie Plant as well as a field trip to Santuario Sister Farm in Boerne, Texas, are among the many ways students can join in.

This month celebrates the accomplishments of women throughout history and women admired by the world today.

Top: Katchie Cartwright, Ph.D., sets the mood with a smooth, jazzy instrumental at the Java City Amphitheater.

Right: A cellist performs on March 19 as part of a month-long celebration of women’s history. Photos by Analicia Perez

Peanut Gallery

In celebration of Women’s History Month, The Rattler wants to know:

What was the most significant moment for women’s rights?

Monica Saldana

Regis Velaso

Laurice Yahar

Theology, Junior

Philosphy, Senior

“I think the suffrage movement was absolutely instrumental for women today.

It opened doors for education, employment and social status for women.”

“I would say when Elizabeth Cady Stanton wrote a declaration of women’s rights that showed the intellectual capacity of women. It was a direct satire of the Declaration of Independence.”

English Communications, Freshman

“The most important moment would be when women got the right to vote. People take voting for granted and now it’s not just women voting, we’re running for office.”

battle of the bands 14 The Rattler

Four bands will compete in Battle of the Bands, hosted by the University Programming Council (UPC), for a grand prize of headlining Oyster Bake. The event will take place March 31 from 5-11 p.m. on Outback Field. There will be a mystery band, free admission, free food, $1 beer and prizes.

03.25.09

Modern Day Redemption Modern Day Redemption is a band with a fresh new blend of music and formed in August 2008. The band consist of freshman English communications major Karl Hayes, drummer; Northwest Vista sophomore business major Hunter Jackson, back up vocals and guitar; freshman business major Ethan Medola, bass; and UTSA freshman sociology major Jeff Hayroth, lead vocals and guitar. They have at least 3 shows a month, which are usually at Rock Bottom or the White Rabbit. The band is currently recording at Arlyn Studios, where Willie Nelson and Sublime have recorded, in Austin.

How did you form Modern Day Redemption?

Hunter: Jeff and I were in a band that broke off when everyone went to college.

Ethan: Karl happened to be coming to school here and they needed a bass player and I played bass and it eventually fell into place.

How would you describe your music?

Karl: Punk, Reggae, Ska What other bands are you influenced by?

Hunter: Bedouin Soundclash, Operation Ivy, Leftover Crack Has anything crazy happened at any of your shows?

Jeff: We saw a drive-by shooting at our last show.

Hunters: There are usually lots of men.

Ethan: Drunks and alcoholics.

Why did you name your band Modern Day Redemption?

Hunter: It’s the name of one of our songs and we thought it represented it off.

Karl: It’s a good anthem.

Jeff: We’re something different in our own era.

Ethan: It’s a more positive message, a lot of bands that play our kind of music are atheists, and we’re not.

Jeff: We’re not a Christian band but we have our own faith.

What other plans do you have for this year?

Karl: We want to get signed this year.

Jeff: We’re going to do a kind of do it yourself tour through Texas with another band called the “Hostile Hippies.”

Church Mil

Church Militant is fueled by junior theology m philosophy major Miguel Fuentes, guitar; seni bass; and junior math major Mark Tovar, drum music that is intense with thought-provoking ly

Why do Battle of the Bands?

Ryan: “We are a Christian rock band natural what better place to play than your home ven

How would you classify your music?

Miguel: “We are modern rock. It’s a broad c harder than soft.”

Why did you name your band Church Milit Sean: “Our name comes from everyone in fighting the good fight. That is what we are d

What is your band philosophy/open motto Ryan: “We have a split philosophy which in practice; it is not yet unified.”

What is the next step after Battle of the Ba Ryan: “We are in search of venues and in the m hoping for new original songs.”

03.25.09

litant

major Sean Stilson, vocals; junior ior math major Ryan McShane, ms. This new band plays soulful yrics.

lly seeking more publicity, and nue?”

The Rattler 15

You’re Done For You’re Done For is a pop punk band with a hip attitude looking to get their name out there. Members are senior education major Greg Hermann, lead vocals and guitar; sophomore music major John Sifuentes, bass; Adan Collocinni, drums; Vincent Gonzalez, keyboard; and Bryan Gonzalez, guitar. They are releasing an EP through iTunes titled “Shhh…Everybody’s Listening” next month and played at last year’s Battle of the Bands. The band has been together for three years and often plays at Rock Bottom, the White Rabbit or Atomix.

How would you describe your music?

Greg: “Fun and catchy.”

Adan: “Positive all the way.”

Bryan: “Happiness.”

Vincent: “Our music is motivating.”

What bands are you influenced by?

Greg: “Blink-182” Bryan: “New Found Glory” How long have you been a band?

Bryan: “Me and Vince came together in Feb. 2007 and Greg met us on MySpace. He was searching for love and found a band. John came in during August.”

John: “I remember the day, man! “

category, but we are definitely

What do you have in plans for the band?

Bryan: “On April 11 we are going to be part of Rock Under the Bridge where we’re going to play for the homeless.”

tant? the church stilling living and doing through our music.”

What’s the craziest thing that has ever happened while performing?

Vincent: “I’ve dropped my keyboard and I’ve hit my head on the keyboard before.”

Bryan: “Adan takes off his shirt a lot.”

o? ncludes that God is good and

ands? meantime will practice. We are

Accidental Change Accidental Change relives its formation at the 2009 Battle of the Bands. The band is a socket of electrifying energy, and the elements fusing that power are senior music major Chris Saucedo, vocals and keyboard; senior criminology Scott San Miguel, guitar; senior music major Joey Fowler, bass; and freshman biology major Neanne Misuela, drums.

How did you form Accidental Change?

Chris: “The way our band came together is a pretty funny story. We played Battle of the Bands last year because Allison Van De Hey needed a band to stand-in for about 20 minutes. We are all members of Rattler Band and grabbed our instruments to help out. The formation was accidental.”

Why do Battle of the Bands?

Scott: “We love to play, and after playing it last year and sticking together, we decided to go for a second year!”

How would you classify your music?

Chris: “We don’t discriminate music. Ours ranges from pop/rock to reggae.

We started off doing covers, but if we advance, we will definitely have more original songs.”

Why did you name your band Accidental Change?

Joey: “We got together by accident. We are changing lives one chord at a time.”

What is your band’s philosophy/open motto?

Scott: “Our philosophy is to change lives.”

What is the next step after Battle of the Bands?

Scott: “Look out for performance during Alpha Phi Omega Aids Awareness Week.”

Chris: “We will continue to grace people with our rock.”

Joey: “We are looking for more recognition.”

Compiled by Sarah Mills and Stephanie Sanders Photos by Robin Johnson and Analicia Perez Illustration by Amanda Rodriguez

Features

16 The Rattler

The lighter side of...

I feel...cathardic ☹ updated yestersday

BY JAIME PEREZ When I was a freshman in high school, I heard of a Web site that was sweeping the school. Not one to succumb to trends, I largely ignored this rising fad. As every conversation was being populated by this one subject, I decided to swallow my ego—which is a mouthful, let me tell ya’.

Several clicks of the mouse later, I was a MySpace junkie.

Yes, MySpace has consumed my life. Like a bad lover, MySpace has ensnared me with its many attractive features (commenting, messaging, posting pictures) and abused me with the drama it has caused and the time it has taken away.

But I, and millions of other users, cannot do it alone.

To overcome my addiction I have created the Six Steps of MySpace Addicts Anonymous, in the hopes of saving another victim.

Step 1: Admit that we have a problem.

Step 2: Admit that MySpace is not longer cool once our 13-year-old niece and 50-year-old mother have one.

Step 3: Understand that taking a picture of your reflection is redundant.

Step 4: Realize that your MySpace account is, in fact, manic-depressive if its mood is constantly changing.

Step 5: Unless you forget what you look like, remember it is unnecessary to “tag” your own face in your own picture.

Step 6: Recognize that frowning faces do not indicate sadness.

Good luck overcoming your addiction.

03.25.09

REACHING OUT TO The Big Apple Student shares her experience and highlights while helping New York neighborhood on immersion trip.

By Denise Hernandez Staff Writer Every semester the Service Learning Center offers immersion trips for students who are interested in volunteering outside of the San Antonio region. These trips are service experiences that allow students to get involved in different communities to become more aware of the social issues that affect the people living there.

The following are my memories from the immersion trip in New York during spring break.

Saturday, March 7 We arrived in New York and met with Nhan Nguyen, a Marianist aspirant, who took us to St. John’s Residence for Boys where we would be living. We were then introduced to Brother Tom, the Executive Director of St. John’s, who spoke to us about their mission to help the boys who are abused, neglected or in need of a place to stay.

Monday, March 9 Everyone went over to St. John’s school bright and early to help out staff with some much needed assistance. Some students organized closets and supply rooms, others mopped and swept different areas in the school and some cleaned out the kitchen and bathrooms.

Enjoy drenching papers with red ink corrections?

Apply to be our copy editor today!

Stop by UC 258 or call 436-3401 for more info.

Photo by Denise Hernandez

Tuesday, March 10 We were divided into groups where some of us went off to paint and others did tasks like cleaning and dusting offices and rest rooms. At the end of the day our hard work was greatly appreciated by each staff member.

Wednesday, March 11 All of us took the subway into Manhattan to meet with Sister Ana Madeluco. It was only four years before that she met Eugene Gadsen, also known as “The King of Cans.” Together, the two decided to create the Yes We Can Redemption Center. They spoke about environmental and social justice as we helped them make signs for their newly-purchased lot to promote the importance of recycling.

Thursday, March 12 We met Brother Steve, the main representative for the United Nations for Marianist International, a non-governmental organization mainly focused on international issues involving children and youth. He gave us a tour of the United Nations and we were able to attend an assembly about gender equality in health care.

While there is some commitment and sacrifice in participating in any of the immersion trips sponsored by the school, the experience one gains is worth every moment. There is nothing like stepping out of your comfort zone and becoming involved. An experience like this was an emotionally and spiritually fulfilling time in my life that I feel others should take advantage of while exploring the opportunities on campus.

Features

03.25.09

The Rattler 17

Aids Awareness Week to educate student body

By Katie O’Donnell Assistant Ad Manager From March 23–28, Alpha Phi Omega and Sigma Phi Epsilon will team up in conjunction with University Ministry and the San Antonio AIDS Foundation to host AIDS Awareness Week.

The university will be hosting a multitude of campus-wide events as they kick off the week on Monday, March 23 with a red ribbon distribution at 10 a.m. in the UC and will wrap things up Friday, March 27 with an all-campus Quad prayer.

Organizers have worked for a month to raise the awareness of AIDS prevention. Junior international relations major Vincent Astudillo feels there is a need for this program in the St. Mary’s

community because “it’s crucial that the community should be aware of these preventable measures.”

“We can always make better decisions about what we do with our lives when we are educated.”

- Wayne E. Romo Director of University Ministry Astudillo, a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and Alpha Phi Omega feels that the collaborative efforts of Interim Dean of Students James Villareal and University Ministry are what helped make this week possible.

The university not only wanted to promote this event, but wanted

Outside the classroom A spotlight on faculty

Sherra N. Theisen, Ph.D.

to also do it in a way that was consistent with the mission and identity of the campus. The goal was to make it as big of an event as possible to ensure a campus-wide impact.

Wayne E. Romo, Director of University Ministry, hopes this week will provoke students to be mindful in their actions.

“There is a reality that is part of our life and part of their lives that requires them to be prudent and mature in making decisions in terms of how they engage and interact with one another,” said Romo.

The overall theme of AIDS Awareness Prevention week is to inform and teach others to be responsible members of the community.

Education and open dialogue are pivotal in the success of

prevention. Romo hopes that this week will bring issues that are often skirted into the forefront of campus conversation.

“So many times we go through life being unaware of realities that are difficult or challenging for people to deal with unless it is something we are facing ourselves,” said Romo. “We can always make better decisions about what we do with our lives when we are educated.”

In an effort to include all students on campus, a week-long raffle will be held with prizes, including a red iPod nano and a red iPod shuffle. All proceeds from the raffle will be donated to the San Antonio Aids Foundation and the Youth AIDS Foundation in an effort to promote a continued awareness of AIDS prevention.

Being that you are a philosophy professor, what important fallacies or truths have you discovered when teaching or talking to your class?

“When we try to broach these discussions [about morals and ethics], students don’t understand that the choices they were making in their own lives had everything to do with the people around them and the planet. We have an obligation to do good for others and ourselves.”

You co-founded the Texas Nature Project (TNP), which gathers students to live together to reflect about self, others, nature and the divine. What do you think your students learned from this experience?

“At first they were the most intimidated. They didn’t want to get their hands dirty. After the full year of doing it on a regular basis, learning about native Texas wildlife, and overnight trips in east Texas and seeing the stars, those students found themselves understanding the complimentary of the other, respecting themselves and seeing nature for the first time, instead as something frightening, but as something beautiful. In that, their faith grew stronger. They found God. “ Where do you see yourself headed with TNP? “We are trying to grow, but it’s a struggle. With economic issues the way they are, I found that I’m really bad at asking for money. We are a non-profit organization. We have been going for three years. I accept no salary and no one associated with TNP accepts any salary, but we can’t all live that way. However, the work is extremely rewarding, so I can’t see that we’re going to stop anytime to soon. There are so many good programs that people can support. “

Photo by Jaime Perez

WEEK’S EVENTS 3/23 3/24 3/25 3/26

3/27

Red Ribbon Giveaway 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

UC Atrium Information Pamphlets Giveaway 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

UC Atrium Open Mic Night 5–7 p.m.

Cafe Stage Speakers from SA AIDS Foundation 6:30 p.m.

Java City Amphitheater Prayer, Balloon Giveaway, prize ticket drawing 11–11:30 a.m.

The Quad Jaime Perez / The Rattler

What do you believe to be the greatest obstacle to overcome when practicing a “green” lifestyle?

“Recycling should be done. That is the simplest, easiest solution and every person has a responsibility to take it very seriously. People aren’t intrinsically evil or are toxic to the environment, but we are busy and a lot of people think it is inconvenient. There are a lot of ways we excuse ourselves and this is my philosophy about the human condition: we are born knowing absolutely nothing. Education is something that cannot be done. There will never be a point when humans are done with education. “ Do you see any relationship with the “green” movement and the suffrage movement?

“We have a tendency, during Women’s History Month, to get into gender issues, but I agree that it is cultural. We lived in 6,000 years of patriarchy that has done things on race lines and gender line. But we are human and we are all striving to do the best that we can [even though] we don’t always know what that is.”

Working with young people in your organization and classroom, have you learned something about the way students operate?

“I always learn from my students. I had to come to understand that students are working really hard and do everything that is asked of them. When they say these startling things to me like ‘I didn’t know that the trees were alive.’ What I’m learning is that we have to be generous, we cant keep making assumption about what are students know.”

Compiled byJaime Perez

18 The Rattler

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03.25.09

Entertainment

03.25.09

The Rattler 19

Book club connects literature with discussion

By Kimberly Vela

Advertising Manager Lively conversation immediately ensued around the conference table in Room 007 of Charles Francis.

In conjunction with Women’s History Month, members of the university book club discussed the novel “Nightwood” by Djuna Barnes on March 16.

“It is important to acknowledge women’s contribution in literature because during so much of history people have been reading [only] male authors,” said club member Necia Wolff, Business Librarian of the Louis J. Blume Library.

According to the members present at the March meeting, the voice of women is one that has been historically unheard.

Club members chose to read “Nightwood” in particular because of its significance to women at the time. Set in Paris in the 1920s, this poetically-written novel reveals a unique perspective on women, sexual relationships and mental health.

The university book club has been active for about four years, according to creator and English professor Kathleen Maloney, Ph.D. With over 50 books read so far, the club prides itself for never having repeated a book and rarely repeating an author.

“We try to make sure they aren’t books you would ordinarily read in class,” said Maloney.

According to Maloney, the book club attempts to engage a variety of different kinds of pieces from varying authors. At times, the club may pair up with a student organization and theme its novel choice, such as reading a female-authored piece for Women’s History Month.

According to those at the meeting, the club members seem to have a diverse set of novels almost subconsciously.

“Book club has done a good job of including a diversity of voices. We’ve read authors from different places in the world and from different time frames.

It’s the book that counts, not necessarily the [author’s gender],” said Wolff.

The book club meets on Wednesdays once a month until April to engage in discussion. The group agrees to read one book per month.

In the summers, meetings occur almost every three weeks.

According to junior English and history major Amanda Mendiola, students may currently hesitate to join the club for a fear that outside reading would be viewed as extra work.

Whether or not this is the case, Mendiola said that students have no reason to fear the monthly discussions.

“Book club has done a good job of including a diversity of voices. We’ve read authors from different places in the world and from different time frames.”

- Necia Wolff Business Librarian of the Louis J. Blume Library “It’s a discussion on the book. If you haven’t read the whole book, people will fill you in and you can talk about what you have read,” she said. “Don’t feel afraid of saying something stupid; nobody’s trying to show off. [The club provides] a good way to talk about books without fear of being graded or evaluated.”

The next meeting will be on April 15 at 3:30 p.m. in Charles Francis 007 to discuss the book “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury for the national Big Read campaign.

Books are chosen based on suggestions by club members. Students can join the club by emailing Kathleen Maloney at kmaloney@stmarytx.edu Creator of the book club, Kathleen Maloney, Ph.D, invites students to participate and discuss alongside other book worms. Photo by Melody Mejia

entertain yourself MOVIE RELEASE

THE HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT Virginia Madsen, Kyle Gallner, Martin Donovan, Elias Koteas MARCH 27 Adapted from a terrifying true story of supernatural encounters and disturbing images, the film exposes a family’s discovery of their house’s true inhabitants.

CD RELEASE

IT’S A BLITZ! Yeah Yeah Yeahs MARCH 31 A new album in stores calls for more shelf space as the New York City-based trio releases record number three. Interscope Records pulled the drop date sooner due to an online leak, which happened just two years prior to a home-recorded album.

ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY

THE FOX St. Mary’s University Drama Department MARCH 26, 7:30 p.m.

Reinbolt Hall Theatre Directed by Bernadette Hamilton-Brady, this Allan Miller play relives the stage for nine days and reintroduces the tale of a mysterious, young stranger’s impact on a woman-run farm.

SAN ANTONIO

SAN ANTONIO HIGHLAND GAMES AND CELTIC FESTIVAL San Antonio Highland Games Association APRIL 4-5, 9 a.m.

Helotes Fair Grounds A tenth annual celebration of music, vendors, dancing, bagpipes & everything Scottish.

CONCERT

THE BAMBOOZLE ROADSHOW We the Kings, Forever the Sickest Kids, The Cab APRIL 8, 7 p.m.

White Rabbit Before fleeing to the UK in late May, We the Kings hits up as many cities as possible in the month of April.

Entertainment

20 The Rattler

03.25.09

The concert band performed classical hits like “Frolic of the Keys” and “Festical Prelude” on March 19 in the Treadaway Recital Hall. Photo by Robin Johnson

Funding necessary for concert band continuation

By Angela Santana Senior Staff Writer

The cancellation of this year’s concert band and jazz orchestra tour has several members of the university community disappointed and frustrated.

According to John Rankin, associate professor of music, the band tour was initiated by students several years ago. Every fall, members of the concert band and jazz orchestra travel to Texas high schools where they perform and share information about the university.

“It’s not only a big way for us to recruit for the university,” said Bobby Baiza, senior music major and Student Band Committee (SBC) President, “but it is a big way to educate those younger than us who may be or are aspiring to continue in music.”

Last fall, the tour was set for the HoustonGalveston area, but was cancelled after Hurricane Ike complicated scheduling efforts.

SBC fundraising co-chair and sophomore political science major Gerald Bolgren said the tour location shifted to Austin. But with less than a month left in the semester, high schools did not have enough time to secure authorization for the band’s performance.

The band then began planning for a spring tour to Dallas.

“We were going to hit six high schools,” said the committee’s vice president Adam Casiano, senior music education major. “Of those six, I believe five were Catholic or charter schools.”

This spring semester, the committee asked for appropriations from the Student Government Association, but was not awarded enough money to cover the tour.

As acting committee treasurer, Casiano budgeted $4,000 for the spring tour and overestimated costs. Still, a week before the band’s tour was scheduled, committee officers realized they needed $600.

The band had several fundraising events throughout the year, including a fall outdoor movie music concert that put the committee in the red. Casiano says this was because of a lack of support from the university.

Cobos also noted that band members’ $40 yearly dues were a factor in the loss of money.

“From the fall semester to the spring semester, we lost about twelve to fifteen members,” she said.

Upon the band tour’s cancellation, several band members’ concerns turned to money.

For students, dues had been raised from $20 to $40 to cover the cost of tour.

“But since we didn’t go on tour, a lot of people felt that, ‘We’re not going on tour, so

we should get that $20 back, or we should do something with it,” said Bolgren.

He said that while the committee was discussing holding a banquet for the music department, he wanted the majority of the money raised during the year to be used toward next year’s tour.

“We’re concentrating on a big fundraising effort this semester, so that we can make sure for next fall we’re completely covered,” said Baiza.

Rankin also said that the music faculty was discussing with the university about establishing a band tour fund.

Casiano acknowledged that the university did give some support to the band, but still believes that the band tour is the largest recruitment effort by any department and is underappreciated.

Casiano said the band discusses the benefits of a liberal-arts education as well as describing the Marianists and their charisma, among other subjects on the band tour.

“Tour helps to recruit for the university as a whole,” said Cobos. “I’ve heard freshmen this year say, ‘Oh yeah, I remember you guys coming. It made us start to think about St. Mary’s.’”

At the concert band’s March 19 spring concert conductor Dale Schultz greeted the audience as, “fine arts students,” referring to

the fine arts class requirement to attend and write reports on concerts.

Casiano said he felt that many of the band’s audience members are fine arts students who do not return to concerts after they complete their course.

“People used to go to concerts because they liked to listen to them, and now people go to write their fine arts paper,” he stated.

The spring concert brought together current and former students, with several professional musicians and band directors performing alongside students.

Featured soloist was the department’s private tuba instructor and San Antonio Symphony’s principal tuba, Lee Hipp.

Musical selections ranging from pasodoble to jazz allowed for a variety of instruments to be heard and appreciated. Freshman music major Jonathan James entertained the audience with a marimba performance on the floor in front of the stage.

Still, the lack of interest in band performances frustrates Casiano.

“I’d like to see more support from the school as far as the music department, from the student body as well as from the school itself. I think we put ourselves out there enough to get better participation.”

03.25.09

Entertainment

The Rattler 21

The Tour Guide Life after SXSW

BY STEPHANIE SANDERS

Left to right: Deric Wynne, John Gray, Jim Meek, Mike Cross and Tommy Meek hope to influence music fans. Courtesy of Pasenger

Pasenger offers fans front row seat

By Chris Filoteo Sports Editor

Ever wanted to go out for a night and listen to great local music? Look no further; Pasenger is a motivated band looking to broaden horizons by influencing local music lovers everywhere.

They may be missing an “s” in their name, but they aren’t lacking anything when it comes to their rock music. The five-man band practices in a well-designed studio at brothers Tommy and Jim Meek’s house.

The brothers have had the band for 10 years, which currently consists of Tommy Meek, drummer; Jim Meek, lead vocals and keyboard; Deric Wynne, back up vocals and guitar; Mike Cross, bass; and John Gray, guitar.

Formerly known as Meek, Tommy and Jim transformed their band from a

hard rock to an alternative-influenced set. The change has brought a lot of success to the band.

While watching Pasenger practice during the break, I noticed that all members looked poised and ready to achieve their goal of having more exposure to music enthusiasts.

Despite their goal, the group doesn’t have any problems when it comes to getting a gig. They have stayed busy this year with a new CD release and plenty of shows.

They recently rocked a jam-packed Jacks Patio Bar during spring break weekend. Pasenger also played at The Hanger on Sixth Street during the annually-renowned South by Southwest in Austin last week.

In a festival full of music, film and fun, many great bands have performed at South by Southwest: the Blackeyed Peas,

the Beastie Boys, Flyleaf, Sublime and The White Stripes, to name a few.

Austin is lively and full of passion during that time of year. Every bar on Sixth Street has bands playing during the festival and the city almost changes into a different place.

Pasenger will be back in town headlining at The Falls at 11 p.m. on March 27. The band will be on the road mostly through April, but can still be seen at The Scout bar on April 17 at 10 p.m.

The band will also be competing in the Battle of the Bands hosted by radio station 99.5 KISS. The winner of KISS’ event will play the opening spot for the Oyster Bake on campus. Pasenger will also be up for a couple of awards in the annual Wise Guys Music Awards this year.

To check out Pasenger, attend one of their shows or simply go to www.myspace.com/pasengersa.

For those concertgoers pooped out from the five flavorful days of non-stop tunes at the music festival portion of South by Southwest (SXSW), shower up and feed your body because more bands at different venues are popping up quick as life goes on after SXSW. From March 18 to 22, SXSW Music brought artists ranging from the Decemberists to Peter Bjorn and John, Amanda Palmer to Aqualung, Forever the Sickest Kids to Lady Sovereign, and Rick Ross to Shiny Toy Guns.

The list of genres and venue locations was endless, exhilarating and exhausting.

Since all musicians have packed up their equipment and retreated to the places they call home, Austin has reopened up its doors to the everyday fast-pace schedule of live Austin entertainment saying farewell to the jam-packed five-day March music fest until next year, or at least until Austin City Limits rolls around.

The Fueled by Ramen artist The Academy Is… takes The Snakes and Suits Acoustic Tour through A-town March 30 at The Parish Room.

They are strolling in and rocking out with openers This Providence, whose latest album dropped March 17, and newcomer Evan Taubenfeld, the original lead guitarist for Avril Lavigne.

Taubenfeld whose album debuts on Amazon and iTunes March 31 will make his Austinstage debut as a soloist.

In addition, Austin welcomes back the newly transformed Epitaph Records artist New Found Glory to Emo’s Austin on April 7.

The former eight-year Drive-Thru Records artist leads the bandwagon consisting of New Yorkers Bayside and NFG’s new Epitaph buddies Set Your Goals, who just signed to the label this year.

The Not Without a Fight Tour stops in Austin the same day gamers will have an opportunity to play NFG at WWE: Legends of Wrestlemania on Xbox Live.

The tour began today, but before Austin knows it, NFG, whose redefining album of the same name as the tour was released in early March, will show their fans a side of them that has never been seen before.

NFG last appeared in the Austin scene in October 2007 when they shared the La Zona Rosa stage with the once Drive-Thru Records band Senses Fail.

Neither NFG nor The Academy Is… are listed for this year’s Vans Warped Tour. So, catch ‘em while you can!

22 The Rattler

Entertainment

03.25.09

Filmmakers race the clock for cash prizes

By Amanda Guerra Senior Staff Writer

Austin welcomes the time-crunching film contest lasting April 17-18 challenges filmmakers to create a fully-funcational movie in under 24 hours. Courtesy of Film Racing Tour 2009

For all the die-hard filmmakers, the 3rd Annual Film Racing Tour will be visiting cities around the country and challenging film lovers of all levels to put their talent to the test.

Austin will be visited from April 17-18. The Film Racing Tour gives competitors 24 hours to write, shoot and edit an original piece of work no longer then four minutes.

To step it up a notch, the participants will be given a theme and a surprise element such as a prop or an action that must be incorporated into the short.

They will receive the unique elements on Friday at 10 p.m. and have until 10 p.m. the next day to submit their project at a designated drop-off location.

Once the films have been

finished, they will come alive on the big screen at a local theater.

The top choices will then compete online for thousands in cash and prizes.

NYC Midnight Movie Making Madness, LLC, created the Film Racing Tour to provide opportunities for film enthusiasts. Competition director, Charlie Weisman, stated in a press release, “It’s very important for us to provide our top filmmakers with the prizes and exposure to help them take their career goals to the next level.”

Though this may seem a bit unreasonable for some to pull off, Weisman stated, “With digital technology, creative minds and a little inspiration, anything is possible. Even in 24 hours.”

Registration has already begun online for many of the cities with an entry fee of $95 per team. For more information and to get a peek at previous films, check out their website at www.filmracing.com.

Sound and cinematography are accounted for in the contest’s judging.

Courtesy of Film Racing Tour 2009

‘I Love You Man’ refreshingly light on crude humor

By Sarah Mills Editor-in-Chief I Love You Man

HHHHH

Dir. by John Hamburg Starring Paul Rudd, Rashida Jones, Sarah Burns, Greg Levine

Although “I Love You Man” may seem like yet another raunchy, crude-humored guy flick, it does not center on sex, drugs or violence.

Instead, it focuses on Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd) who is searching for “bromance,” an unbreakable friendship with another straight man, after he overhears his fiancée (Rashida Jones) and her friends laughing about how he has no male friends.

Peter, an L.A realtor and undeniable dork, finds himself in a fix. With no male friends, he realizes he will have no best man for his wedding, so he turns to his mother and his gay brother to help him.

In turn, they set Peter up on a series of “man dates” that all go horribly wrong. To

put the cherry on top of Peter’s bad luck, his fiancée decides to help out and suggests that he go join a poker game with her friend’s husband. It ends with a beer chugging contest that goes horribly wrong and the husband hating Peter forever.

Just when it seems like there is no hope, Peter finds Sydney (Jason Segal) while trying to sell TV’s “Incredible Hulk” star Lou Ferrigno’s house.

Sydney is effortlessly cool and admits to Peter that he is just there for the free food.

Peter admires Sydney’s honesty and is impressed with his ability to read human behavior (Sydney can tell that none of the people want to buy the house and accurately predicts when a man is going to fart).

They exchange business cards and their “courtship” begins.

Soon enough, Peter and Sydney are inseparable, finding themselves in a true bromance. They rock out together to Rush daily, go out for fish tacos and cruise the streets of the city with Peter on the back of Sydney’s scooter.

Peter (Paul Rudd) and Sydney (Jason Segal) do some serious male bonding by jamming to Rush together. Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes Sydney, who is unexpectedly wise and takes life as it is, helps Peter come out of his shell and question his own life (including his engagement). Peter is fun company to Sydney, who is losing his friends who are caught up in their own lives. But just like any relationship, problems emerge not only in their

bromance, but also with Peter’s relationship with his fiancée.

“I Love You Man” is a refreshing rated R movie in the sense that it only touches on the naughty stuff rather than relying on them for a story line. It’s a quick flick that both men and women will find humorous.

03.25.09

Entertainment

The Rattler 23

Bizarre bits kill air time as Fallon seeks content

By Stephanie Sanders Entertainment Editor Eighteen episodes and nearly three weeks into its debut season, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon earns its timeslot credibility with nonsensical skits, Saturday Night Live shout-outs and all-too loveable guests filling each televised viewing of the New York-based talk show.

Home to Studio 6B in the 30 Rockefeller Center, Late Night already seems to have a recognizable and not only audience-favorite, but also guest-favorite, spoof bluntly titled “Lick It for Ten.” With the appeal of an old-fashioned game from The Price is Right, “L.I.F.T.” gives members of the audience an opportunity to earn ten dollars with no strings attached. All they must do is simply lick an object of Fallon’s choice and the money is theirs.

Where’s the comic relief in such a parody?

The answer is revealed when Fallon airs a slowmotioned, instant replay of the inane act. The dramatic undertones and mischievous connotation tend to be sidesplitting. Of course, the audience points at the contestant and laughs. Good job, Fallon.

In the start of the show’s second week, actress Amanda Peet (A Lot Like Love, Identity) changed the topic of conversation from a perverted joke to insisting that she wanted to lick something for ten dollars.

Other guests encourage Fallon’s out of the ordinary “L.I.F.T.,” including the first-ever celebrity participant Drew Barrymore who licked a used bowling ball.

This SNL alumnus may be lacking in content for his still-new program, but he does what he knows best. He socializes with the friends closest to him as if the camera is not even there and seems to bring out the kid in everyone. He throws out an impression or

two during mid-conversation and allows his more acquainted guests to get to know the real Jimmy Fallon.

He simply goes with the flow.

No matter the level of comedic reaction from the audience, Fallon exposes a “show must go on” attitude. Viewers can see the pride he takes in the opportunity bestowed to host his own talk show, presented by SNL creator and executive producer Lorne Michaels.

Though the humor is appropriate for its airtime, it may not be equal to the hilarious, sarcastic wit of Conan O’Brien, but Jimmy is a Conan at a smaller degree.

The original 1975 cast of SNL were known as the “Not Ready for Prime-Time Players” in the show’s first year of existence. Ironically, the retired SNL player appears unready for late-night television, but everyone makes his or her start somewhere. Fallon’s journey begins here.

Fallon admirers were immediate fans of the Late Night show, but as it progresses the ratings increase and the range of the audience expands.

He is literally turning a dream into reality. With a self-designed set located in the same studio of the original Late Night with Johnny Carson and famed hiphop artist The Roots as house band, the new Late Night smells like something’s cooking, but like all things change takes time.

Fallon will soon leave a legacy behind just as the other hosts before him have done.

Fallon officially took over the Late Night show after O’Brien signed on as a replacement for Los Angeles’ The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Fallon debuted as television host on March 2. The program airs weeknights on the NBC at 11:35 p.m. Central time.

Far left: SNL alumnus and new host of Late Night with Jimmy Fallon struggles to satisfy his growing audience, despite having premiered with higher ratings than Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, according to Nielsen Media Research.

Left: Popular Hip hop group, The Roots, replaces Max Wienberg and the Max Wienberg 7 as the official Late Night house band. Courtesy of NBC

Sports

24 The Rattler

The Outdoor Corner Series By chris filoteo Sports Editor

Spring is officially here, which means the white bass spawning season is heating up.

For those who love the outdoors and are looking to spend time outside, there isn’t a better time than now to be in Texas.

White bass fishing is great for everybody because the fish are relatively easy to catch.

The average size of a white bass is three to four pounds and can always be found in schools.

The spawning season begins in January and runs all the way through late April with the Guadalupe River being one of the best spots to fish for white bass.

My most memorable white bass fishing experience was when I was 12- years- old with my best friend, my brother and my father.

I remember the boat ride taking around 20 minutes before hearing, “Ok, this is it,” as my dad slowed down the boat.

There is a spot (I’m not telling you my secrets), not too far off the Rebecca Creek boat launch where finding schools of white bass are effortless.

With the use of smaller fishing equipment, reeling in a white bass can take everything off your mind.

All you need is a valid fishing license, which is available at any sporting goods store.

You don’t even need a boat; bank fishing is popular all along the Guadalupe and is just as successful.

I have tried to consistently fish the Guadalupe every spring since I was young.

Of course, every year is pretty tough to pull, but I try to remember that there is nothing like wading in the river reeling in fish all day.

The great thing about the Guadalupe is you can catch a number of different types of fish: white bass, black bass and striped bass to name a few.

I was unable to go last year, but I know where I will be this spring: next to a fire with family along the Guadalupe River in the middle of nowhere (remember, I still don’t plan on revealing any trade secrets).

03.25.09

Ginobili’s injuries can cause more losses

By Chris Childree Senior Staff Writer If the Spurs put up a fight on any given night there will be 20,000 fans on their feet.

But after a treacherous road, their momentum has slowed and they face the fact that they need Ginobili back.

Pop opens the door to an old memory, he sees a healthy Ginobili and he smiles.

But now when he asks him if he is ever able to play; Manu says “yes” only every once in a while.

Every once in a while the superstar guard can display his greatness.

It’s not a choice, just the consequence of the risks he has taken.

But would any of us have it any other way?

Ginobili has to play like Ginoboli for the Spurs to win the crown.

However, the more he plays like himself, the greater the chance that he will risk injury.

It’s an interesting paradox the Spurs have faced since they acquired the Argentine enigma back in 2002.

Ginobili has played his best at two critical points in his career.

First, during the 2005 playoffs when he averaged 20.8 points per game, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists while leading his team to an NBA championship and narrowly losing the race for Finals MVP to Tim Duncan.

The second time was during the 20072008 season when he played in 74 of the 82 regular season games, averaging 19.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.5 assists, landing him a spot on the all-NBA third team.

These two moments were also similar in the sense that they took their toll on Ginobili’s body.

During the ‘05 finals he had already begun complaining of a thigh injury and would go on to spend a large part of the ‘05‘06 season on the injured list, due mostly to ankle and leg problems.

In ‘08, Ginobili would again suffer an ankle injury, this time during the NBA playoffs, where the Spurs would go on to lose in the Western Conference Finals to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ginobili would later reinjure the same ankle during the Olympics and then endure the same fate mid-February.

The prognosis at that time was three weeks, but he hasn’t played since.

If Ginobili doesn’t go back to the court, there will be no parade on the River Walk come June.

The healing process is taking much longer than it ever has because of Ginobili’s aging body.

Injury plagued guard Manu Ginobili, needs to make a strong comeback in order for the Spurs to advance deep into the playoffs. Photo by Robin Johnson The signing of forward Drew Gooden has given the Spurs a much needed presence up front, but coach Pop needs to allow him to play.

In his debut against the Lakers on March 12, he gave a much needed energizing boost, the kind Ginobili usually provided.

But it only lasted for three minutes. Had he played longer, he could’ve injected the Spurs with the extra fuel they needed to pull out the upset.

Gooden was allowed to play for an extended period in his next game, netting 13 points and grabbing 4 boards in only 15 minutes of basketball, resulting in a threepoint victory over the Houston Rockets.

But the importance of Ginobili was shown in the next game, when they were defeated by the lowly Oklahoma City Thunder despite the presence of Gooden.

If Ginobili can come back in time to mesh with Gooden and the Spurs, then they will have an excellent chance to win the trophy.

But if he comes back too late or re-injures his ankle again, they can look forward to a

long summer, thinking back on their lost glory every once in a while.

Spurs: The Next 10 Fri, Mar 27

LA Clippers

8:30 p.m.

Sun, Mar 29 @ New Orleans

8 p.m.

Tue, Mar 31 Oklahoma City

8:30 p.m.

Fri, Apr 3

@ Indiana

7 p.m.

Sun, Apr 5

@ Cleveland

1 p.m.

Tue, Apr 7

@ Oklahoma

8p.m.

Wed, Apr 8 Portland Fri, Apr 10

Utah

Sun, Apr 12 @ Sacramento Mon, Apr 13 @ Golden State Source: nba.com/spurs

8 p.m.

8:30 p.m.

9 p.m.

10:30 p.m.

Sports

03.25.09 Sweet Sixteen: March 26, 27

Elite Eight: March 28, 29

Final Four

National Championship

The Rattler 25 Final Four

Elite Eight: March 28, 29

1 Louisville 12 Arizona

1 Pittsburgh

MIDWEST

EAST

INDIANAPOLIS

3 Villanova

Detroit, April 6

2 Michigan St.

1 Connecticut

2 Duke DETROIT April 4

DETROIT April 4

1 North Carolina

CHAMPION

WEST

MEMPHIS

3 Missouri

3 Syracuse

Sweet 16 Tournament Bracket This is ESPN’s current 2009 NCAA Tournament bracket.

Madness excites bracketology fans

By Chris Filoteo Sports Editor With spring comes blooming flowers and green grass. But for many, spring only means one thing: March Madness.

Where else can excitement like college championship basketball be found? Every year, Division I hosts 65 teams and places them in different seeds and brackets.

Have you ever heard of Bracketology?

Experts have formulated a way to break down the NCAA bracket every season almost to a science.

Filling out a bracket can be fun, especially when done with a group of friends.

Even if you are not the every day college basketball fan, filling out a bracket can be interesting because you never know how far your chosen teams can go.

This is the beauty of March Madness.

Any team can move ahead deep into the tournament.

There are always upsets in the first couple rounds of the championships and which can be considered one of the greatest parts of college sports.

Every tournament has their

4 Gonzaga

SOUTH

GLENDALE

2 Memphis

4 Xavier

BOSTON

3 Kansas

5 Purdue

Sweet Sixteen: March 26, 27

“Cinderella” teams and this year Western Kentucky and Arizona looks to fit the slipper, but Western Kentucky fell in a close game against No. 4 seed Gonzanga.

Arizona on the other hand advanced to the Sweet Sixteen with a win over another “Cindrella” team, Cleveland State.

March Madness is always full of surprises.

Remember George Mason University in 2006’s Championship Tournament?

They were No. 11 seed and upset the No. 1 seed University of Connecticut (UConn) in the Elite Eight.

Stories like George Mason’s can inspire any team to make a run and win the six games in a row that it takes to win the National Championship.

North Carolina, Pittsburgh, Louisville and UConn are this year’s No. 1 seeeds.

Some people are picking North Carolina to win the title this year, but their star guard Ty Lawson is battling an injured big toe and has missed a few games leading up to the tournament.

I believe that Louisville will win the title because they have shown their ability to win games when it counts.

Louisville beat Syracuse in the Big East Tournament to win their first conference title since moving from Conference USA.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, is a strong team, but struggled in the first round versus East Tennessee State and barely won by 10 points.

That leaves us with, UConn, one of the best programs in the country.

They consistently recruit the best players in the nation and are at the top of the standings every season.

This is why knowing about Bracketology can help you devise your bracket. You don’t even have to gamble to fill one out. Just have fun and interact with friends while doing so.

You never know, you might have picked a “Cinderella” team nobody even thought about.

Now how good would it feel if no one chose Arizona to the Sweet 16 and you did?

I picked all No. 1 seeds to reach the Final Four in Detroit this year only because of last year’s results.

All four number one seeds meet in the Final Four last year in the Alamo City and the hype was unbelievable.

I am playing it safe by choosing the No. 1 seeds, but I know how the tournament works and my bracket will be messed up when the Final Four arrives.

2 Oklahoma

Sports

26 The Rattler

03.25.09

Baseball’s honor destroyed by players who cheat game

By Chris Filoteo Sports Editor Even though baseball is the oldest and once most popular major sport, its reputation has taken a toll due to players that have recently cheated the game.

Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) was destined to become one of the greatest baseball players ever, but he will fall in the long line of players who have cheated: Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa to name a few.

My definition of cheating the game is when a player breaks any rule stated in the player’s handbook.

For example, Shoeless Joe Jackson has one of the highest career batting averages and is not in the Hall of Fame because he is one of the eight players banned for life for betting against his own

team in the 1919 World Series.

Pete Rose holds the career hits record and is not in the Hall of Fame since he too betted against his own team.

Now, whether a player bets against any team, or shoots himself with performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), it is still cheating the game.

A-Rod raised more questions with his answers when he publicly announced his steroid use from 2001-2003, the years he played with the Texas Rangers.

A-Rod signed a record ten year $252 million dollar contract with the Rangers and was in the prime of his career.

I can understand the pressure attached to such a contract, but nobody should have to take PEDs in order to feel as if they are actually worth that much money.

Let’s face it, nobody’s worth that much, but some baseball

owners feel certain players are.

“When I arrived in Texas in 2001, I felt an enormous amount of pressure. I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day,” Rodriguez told ESPN’s

“I felt like I had all the weight of the world on top of me and I needed to perform, and perform at a high level every day” - Alex Rodriguez New York Yankees Star Peter Gammons in an exclusive interview in Miami Beach, Fla. (espn.com) A-Rod ranks up with greats like Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Cal Ripken Jr. As a matter of fact, Cal Ripken Jr. is the sole reason I still watch baseball.

In 1994, baseball players conducted a strike half way through the season resulting in the cancellation of the World Series; keep in mind the only other World Series to be cancelled was the second ever when the New York Giants refused to play concerning allocation pay.

This was a critical time in baseball because greed had overtaken the once young boys just wanting to play for the love of the game.

Then greed overtook the owners who only cared about declining attendance; owners turned the other way when designer steroids entered locker rooms in the nineties.

Cal Ripken Jr. never cheated during his career and broke a legends all-time consecutive games played record in 1995 (Lou Gehrig), a year removed from the canceled World Series.

Ripken grabbed fans attention with dignity and emotion, which led many people to start watching

In his fifth year for the Yankees, All-star Alex Rodriguez will face one of the toughest years of his career since he admitted to using performing enhancing drugs. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons baseball again.

Since baseball was in dire need of attendance, I believe the commissioner and other top officials ignored the steroid boom because players were faster, stronger and produced bigger statistics.

Offense always sells tickets and when players are busting out of their uniform and putting up Hall of Fame numbers, people will always be watching.

A-Rod won the American

League MVP award in 2003 and led the league in numerous categories during his stint with the Rangers; the same years he admitted to taking steroids.

I don’t care why he took the drugs, or where he got them, but I do care about the legacy he will leave behind.

Rather than being the next Babe Ruth, A-Rod is yet another one of the greatest statistical players ever to grace the field and left out of the Hall of Fame.

03.25.09

Sports

The Rattler 27

Rattlers barely miss chance to play in tourney

Our girls played exceptional, but you have to give Emporia credit, they played well and The women’s basketball they are a great team.” team played great this season, The Rattlers had a lot of but they didn’t achieve their momentum going into the goal of competing in a Division tournament because of the II National Championship. opportunity to host the Division Senior guard Natalie Gamez II Championships this year. finished her St. Mary’s career It would have been cool as a first team All-Heartland to see the Rattlers playing for Conference pick leading the a title on TV, however that Rattlers in points and rebounds is not the case. The women each game. Gamez was named finished the season with a Heartland Conference Player of 12-2 record in the Heartland the Week three times this season, Conference and a 24-5 more than anyone else on record overall. Now the women the team. Senior guard Rachel will have to watch from their Jones was also selected Allown arena to find out who Heartland Conference first will be crowned Division team. The Rattlers finished the II Champions. season ranked 21st in the end of The Rattlers will have Left to right: 42 Natalie Gamez, 11 Chastity Noble, 33 Ashton Benford, 21 Mallory Moeller and 10 Rachel Jones walk the season in USA Today ESPN to recruit heavily in the offback on the court after a timeout earlier this season. Courtesy of St. Mary’s University Division II Top Coaches’ Poll. season because they will lose The women advanced to the five out of twelve players due “That was one heck of a game,” the to previous years. Coincidence, or not that tournament for the fifth time in school history is just bad luck. Last year, the Rattlers lost women’s basketball coach Jason Martens to graduation. and made an appearance the last three out of The team has been successful over the to the University of Central Oklahoma 75-73 said in an interview with Derek Smolik, four years. This tournament brought a lot in overtime and this year, the women lost to sports information director. “It’s frustrating past few years, so maybe finding quality of bad memories to the team, since they losing here in overtime in back to back years. athletes will not be as hard.

Emporia State 78-75 in overtime. lost in the first round in overtime, similar

By Chris Filoteo Sports Editor

Sports In Brief St. Mary’s hosts it’s first Division II Women’s Elite Eight Basketball Championship March 24-27.

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Don’t miss the next great NCAA Championship event in San Antonio. The 2009 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship is set for the Alamo City March 24-27 at St. Mary’s University’s Bill Greehey Arena.

The top 64 Division II teams in the country will compete for a spot in the Elite Eight and their chance to take home a national title.

Quarterfinal games begin on March 24 with the ESPN televised semifinals on the 25th and the championship on the 27th.

The student organization with the most members, friends and family to sign in at the games under their name will receive a party at Fatso’s complete with food, drinks, a DJ and volleyball play.

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St. Mary’s is also hosting the Rattler 5K Run/Walk on March 28 at eight a.m. at VJ Keefe Field. Proceeds will benefit The 100 Club of San Antonio, which helps out the S.A.P.D. and S.A.F.D. All students who mail in their sign up sheet will only pay ten dollars, compared to twenty if you register at the event.

For more information, or to sign up contact Corwyn M. Ritch at critch@stmarytx.edu.

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Congratualtions to the three men’s basketball team members honored by the Heartland Conference this season. Nick Morey was named first team All-Heartland Conference, while Lorenzo Anthony was named Heartland Conference Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight season. Curtis Mitchell was also picked as honorable mention All-Heartland Conference.

Source: www.sanantoniosports.org/eliteeight

Sports

28 The Rattler

THE

HOT

03.25.09

SEAT Photo by Robin Johnson

Featuring: Brittany Sullivan Women’s Soccer Goalkeeper Classification: Freshman Major: Math Who do you try and model your play after?

“Brianna Scurry, she was a goalie for the womens U.S. National team when I was growing up.

What age did you start playing and was soccer your first sport?

“I played softball, cheerleaded and danced for several years before soccer. I started soccer in the third grade.”

Which particular skill will you work on the hardest during the off-season?

“I need to work on my goal kicks and set pieces. I have trouble kicking when the ball is stationary and when the opposing team is setting up for a free kick.”

What do you enjoy the most about playing soccer?

“I enjoy it because it’s a team sport and you have to work together as a team and not rely on just one person” If you could play soccer anywhere in the world, where would you play?

“I would like to play in a place that snows, like Colorado because it would be cool to play in the snow.”

Compiled by Chris Filoteo

San Antonio Missions outfielder Chad Huffman avoids being tagged as he slides into home plate for a run. Courtesy of San Antonio Missions

Affordable Missions games are a home run

By Brissa Renteria Senior Staff Writer The crowd roars wildly around the stadium as the baseball flies high into the air for another beautiful home run, another great ending to one of America’s favorite sports.

However, this is nothing new for the San Antonio Missions.

But something that is quite exciting for this team and its fans is their upcoming game versus the San Diego Padres, announced by Missions President, Burl Yarbrough.

It will take place at Wolff Stadium at 7 p.m.

This exhibition game will be the first Major League Exhibition Game that Wolff Stadium has hosted since 2001 and third time overall.

The game will be an excellent opportunity for our local fans to experience seeing some

former players, like 2007 Texas League Player of the Year, Chase Headley.

A thrilling event for all, this rare chance to see such a great team as the San Diego Padres in the Alamo City cannot be surpassed.

Another game to look forward to will be on Independence Day when the Missions will host a game against the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.

The game will start at 5 p.m. and will be followed by a display of fireworks in town with a live-concert performance by Texas country music legend, Robert Earl Keen.

As for the routine Thursday dollar nights, tradition has not changed at the Wolff Stadium.

Dollar Nights usually include concessions like hot dogs, popcorn, soft drinks and beer for a buck each.

Along with the dollar nights, after each game held on a Saturday a showcase of fireworks

will follow.

The Missions have also announced that they are offering 2009 season baseball packages that include the exhibition game versus the Padres and the Independence Day celebration.

The Missions games are exciting because the team is at the Double A level, which is considered by many baseball experts to be the premier skill level in the Minor league.

Compared to the Triple A level, Double A players have a greater chance than Triple A players to be called up to the Majors, since Triple A is primarily used for replacing injured players at the Major league level for a temporary amount of time.

Tickets for the game against the San Diego Padres go on sale March 1.

The month of March will be filled with home games and tickets usually run for ten dollars each.

Recent game results WOMEN’S TENNIS: Mar 3: at Texas Lutheran WIN score: 9-0 [2-2] MEN”S TENNIS: Mar 3: at Texas Lutheran WIN score: 6-1 [3-1]

Softball: Mar 19: at (#1) Angelo State (Game 2) LOSS score: 4-12 [15-18] Mar 19: at (#1) Angelo State (Game 1) LOSS score: 1-5 [15-17]

WOMEN’S GOLF: Mar 16: at Lady Lion Invitational results: 8th-16 Mar 9: at Incarnate Word/River City Classic results: 1st-2

BASEBALL: Mar 17: (#28) Angelo State LOSS score: 3-8 [17-10] Mar 14: at Lincoln (Game 2) LOSS score: 2-3 [17-9] Mar 14: at Lincoln (Game 1) WIN score: 4-3 [17-8]