01.27.12

Trinitonian SERVING TRINITY UNIVERSITY SINCE 1902 s WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM

VOLUME 109, ISSUE 17 s January 27, 2012

CSI opens for classes

What’s Inside

Meet the Greeks Learn about your favorite fraternity or sorority on campus Page 12 photos by Moira Allen

The Center for the Sciences and Innovation opened its doors for classes for the first time on Monday, Jan. 23 after two weeks of delays. 75 classes are scheduled to be held in the new building’s state-of-the-art science labs and classrooms this semester.

Students study soil for grant proposal

nScience classes use construction project as Dreading Graduation? an opportunity to study the earth in a real-world We give seniors a good dose of reality about environment what’s really coming up for them after college Page 17

by Rachel Puckett Reporter

While construction projects around campus have created inconvenient detours, loud noises and weird smells, they have also created the opportunity to apply concepts from certain science classes to the real world as well as encouraging for

interdisciplinary relationships.

The classes in question belong to the geosciences and chemistry departments, and they have been using soil samples from the construction projects to help introductory level students understand the scientific process since the beginning of last semester.

The project involves the use of an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometer and an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) optical emissions spectrometer, provided by a grant from the National Science Foundation, to determine the elemental content in the soil and rock.

Making a splash Two Trinity women earned NCAA consideration scores in diving over the weekend Page 19

WEEKEND WEATHER High

Friday 72° Low

High

Saturday 63° Low 39°

High

Sunday 65° Low 46°

46°

ON THE WEB Follow the Trinitonian at www.trinitonian.com

photo courtesy of Cat Alliance

First year Johanna Schipperijn pets Argyle, one of the cats whose death has been attributed to loose dogs in the area.

Chemistry professor Michelle Bushey explains that the grant proposal, titled “Breadth and Depth in Elemental Analysis,”is intended to focus on fostering a sense of community.

“The idea was that we would be looking, in some cases, in a

very focused way and, in other cases, trying to hit a number of different disciplines and examining a given problem,” Bushey said. “In the grant, we also wanted to increase the number of links across and n

See SOIL Page 6

Autopsy reveals truth behind cat deaths written by Kenneth Caruthers

Two campus cats, Smokey and Argyle, died recently, according to the Trinity Cat Alliance. Although it was initially believed that Argyle was shot, further investigation has made it clear that dogs killed both of the cats.

Smokey, a cat from the Isabel station, was found dead during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. It was concluded that the cause of death was a dog attack.

The body of Argyle, a cat from the Miller station, was found early in the morning on Wednesday, Jan. 18.

“Trinity CAT Alliance originally thought that the cat, Argyle, had been shot with a pellet gun. This information was based on what the first veterinarian determined as the cause of death. Since then a second veterinarian examined the cat and concluded that Argyle was not killed by a weapon but rather by a dog attack,” director of Residential Life Wanda Olson said in an e-mail response.

Assistant Chief of the Trinity University Police Department

Pete Perez confirmed this in an email, saying, “It was assumed at first he [Argyle] was shot, but it has been determined that he had puncture wounds from possibly a dog.”

Dogs have been roaming around campus with greater frequency in the past couple of weeks. The morning of Jan. 18, three dogs were seen on campus. One was a Chow or Chow-mix dog, the second was a black Labrador-like dog with longer fur and the third was a smaller brown and white dog.

A dog fitting the description of the Chow has previously been sighted in connection with other attacks on cats both on campus and in nearby Brackenridge Park.

In addition, the same dog has been connected with the biting of a female runner on upper campus last year.

Loose dogs on campus can be reported to the Trinity University Police Department at 999-7070 as well as to the CAT Alliance with a description of the dogs and their location.

2

News

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

TUPD Briefs Information for these briefs was obtained from the public police records of the Trinity University Police Department located at 538 Kings Court.

Alcohol and Beverage Code:

01-13-12, Murchison Hall: 10:43 p.m.

Drug/Narcotics offense Incident referred to student court

Theft

01-20-12, Martin and Comal Streets: 4:03 p.m.

SAPD notified TUPD that they had apprehended several individuals for various violations. One of the individuals had a Trinity University computer. Officers were dispatched and retrieved the computer. SAPD arrested the individual.

Fire Alarm

01-21-12, CSI Building: 5:15 p.m.

Officers responded to an alarm activation. No smoke or fire found.

Facilities Service personnel notified.

Alcohol and Beverage Code:

01-21-12, Herndon Hall: 11:15 p.m.

Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor.

Officers assisted Residential Life staff with an alcohol violation.

Health and Safety Code:

01-22-12, South Hall: 8:54 p.m.

Controlled Substance Act. Officers referred to Residential Life, four students for smoking marijuana.

Alcohol and Beverage Code:

01-24-12, McFarlin Hall: 4:52 p.m.

Possession of Alcohol by a Minor An officer referred a student to the Student Conduct board for an alcohol violation.

World&Nation LOCAL

Eric Delgado, a resident of San Antonio with a job in health care, could have his own commercial for Doritos featured during the Super Bowl. Delgado’s ad was chosen as one of five finalists out of 6,000 submissions for the Crash the Super Bowl contest. Two of the final spots will air and the ads will get rated by USA Today, against all others. If they score the highest rating, they win a million dollars. Voting for the best submission ends Jan. 29. mysanatonio.com

NATIONAL

Rick Perry’s defeat on the presidential campaign scene may come back to haunt him in his home state of Texas. According to newspaper polls, the governor’s job approval level has dropped below Obama’s among Texans. 40 percent approved and an equal percentage disapproved of Perry’s job performance among Texas adults surveyed. Obama had both a higher job approval level at 43 percent and a higher disapproval at 47 percent.

npr.com

INTERNATIONAL

Several American workers, including the son of a member of Obama’s administration, are being prevented from leaving Egypt as tensions between the U.S. government and Egyptian military authorities heighten.

They are on a no-fly list, but are still free to move about the country and keep their passports. Six workers in the Cairo office of the National Democratic Institute, three of them American, have also been told they may not leave the country. guardian.co.uk

compiled by Kenneth Carruthers

Know the story behind the brief?

Email us at trinitonian@trinity.edu with all the details. We might run it as a guest column.

Index

Jacob Uzman

News. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . 1-6

Junior Senator

Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7-10 Pulse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-14

What other organizations are you involved in?

¡Viva! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15-18

I am a member of the Trinity Debate Team, Trinity Progressives, and Amnesty International.

Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19-24

What are your goals for ASR?

I want ASR to take a more active role in promoting student engagement both on campus and in the broader San Antonio community.

Have a question, comment or correction?

Drop us a line at trinitonian@ trinity.edu.

What have you done as an ASR representative that you are most proud of?

I think we have done a pretty good job using funds to enable student groups and organizations to put on excellent projects and events this year.

If you had unlimited funds and no restrictions, what would you do in ASR?

If I had access to unlimited funds, I would probably try to promote the use of alternative energy and energy conservation on campus. compiled by Kellie Benn

Weekly Jurgens Update

Jurgens will be returning to Lackland Air Force Base today for a medical check-up and a week of assessments. She will return to campus on Feb. 6.

The Trinitonian tweets!

Follow “Trinitonian” to get news updates, sports scores and multimedia TU coverage. We promise you’ll like it. photo by Purushottam Shah

Correction Two photos in last week’s issue were credited to the wrong photographer: The Oakmont photo on page 3 was taken by Christina Velasquez, not Abhishek Chhetri.

The club lacrosse photo on page 21 was taken by Purushottam Shah, not Abhishek Chhetri.

Stephanie Key of the SOLI Chamber Ensemble performs at a concert in Ruth Taylor Concert Hall on Jan. 24 editor: Katie Bailey managing editor: Megan Julian business manager: Miroslav Getov advertising director: Nikkita Fernandes news editor: Kellie Benn pulse editor: Joe O’Connell viva editor: Brian Westfall sports editor: Lydia Duncombe photo editor: Carly Cowen graphics editor: Kaitlin Browne reporters: Margaret Browne, Jessie Burch, Megan Hageney, Deanna Hus-

STAFF

ting, Avantika Krishna, John Mendiola, Chloe Pope-Levison, Rachel Puckett, Maddie Rau, John Reesman, Brooke Sanchez, Pamela Torres, Lauren Wilks columnists: , Alli Day, Taylor Dolan, Tommie Ethington, Ashley Feinberg, Isaiah Putman, Judson Rose cartoonists: Chiara Ferrari, Kim Ferrari copy editors: Abigail Branch, Rachel Hannusch, Victoria Mitchell photographers: Moira Allen, Abhishek Chhetri, Purushottam Shah, Christina

photo by Abhishek Chhetri

Velasquez distribution manager: Ali Kimura advertising executives: Travis Halff, Paige Lanfor, Nicole Fratto-Oyler, Hannah Stringer creative staff: Kristin Ashley, Brianna Garner, Amalya Haver, Katrina Lichtenberg business assistants: Sydney Coleman, Laura Fraser, Vanessa Freckmann, Miroslav Getov webmaster: Martin Schwed adviser: Katharine Martin

IDENTIFICATION The Trinitonian [USPS 640460] [issn 1067-7291] is published weekly during the academic year, except holidays and final exams, by Trinity University, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200. Subscription price is $35 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Antonio, TX. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Trinitonian, One Trinity Place, #62, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200.

News

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

3

BBC co-host talks US politics over breakfast

by Avantika Krishna

Reporter

Katty Kay, co-host of BBC America, recently spoke as part of the Policy Maker’s Breakfast Series at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 19 at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown San Antonio.

Kay’s lecture, “America’s News through the Eyes of the BBC,” focused on America’s evolving role as a global superpower. She compared the American political system with other countries and related her opinions on past and current political issues.

Opening the lecture, she discussed some of the peculiarities of America, including how a country that is so optimistic can also be bitterly polarized and stressed how she finds these dichotomies fascinating. Focusing on the future of the U.S., Kay stressed that for America to keep its position as a global superpower, it needs to invest in education and energy like the Chinese.

“One of the most satisfying things about reporting in the U.S. for any foreign correspondent is that

what happens in the U.S. matters in the world in a way that is not true of any other country,” she said.

Warning of the threat China posed, Kay focused on education.

“The Chinese took the global education test and outperformed 65 countries in math, science and reading. The U.S. came in 24th.

We can’t be 24th and still be a superpower,” Kay said.

She also emphasized how the U.S. needs to focus on health care and immigration, hinting that we should take a cue from other countries such as France, which, she claimed, has the world’s best healthcare.

“Foreigners have a vested interest in keeping the U.S. a superpower. Politicians need to realize this,” Kay said.

Throughout her lecture, Kay repeatedly returned to Washington politics. She questioned why the Iowa caucus is so representative of the elections and discussed how some of the social conservative viewpoints on contraception and evolution do not pick up much airtime in the U.S. but are seen as extreme in Europe because “Europe fell madly in love with Barack Obama.”

“I really do believe the Republicans have a chance this year because there’s so much going on the wrong track in this country,” Kay said.

However, she also mentioned

how the political gridlock in Washington inhibits any form of progress and criticized the amount of money spent on elections.

“In the U.K., we have free public broadcasting for each candidate, with the last elections costing roughly $75 million. It’s predicted that the U.S. will spend upwards of $2 billion on campaigns this year. Now, since Super PACs are anonymous, we don’t know where the influence comes from,” Kay said.

She also reflected on the Iraq War. The biggest question she asked was whether “anti-American sentiment would affect the U.S. in terms of intelligence sharing.”

Apparently, it would not, according to Kay. “The French intelligence still shared what they knew even though the public was so viscerally opposed to the Iraq War,” Kay said.

As a result, she finds it absurd that, in one instance, Congress renamed french fries to freedom fries even though there were foreign countries fighting alongside American troops in what was essentially America’s war.

Kay closed her lecture by emphasizing how it is time for bold action, not bitter fighting.

Trinity students and staff who attended had a lot of positive remarks about Kay’s lecture. n See BREAKFAST Page 5

Bella lectures on pollution nNatural Resources director speaks about how urban development affects air quality in San Antonio

by Rachel Puckett

Reporter

On Tuesday, Jan. 24, Peter Bella, the natural resources director for the Alamo Area Council of Governments, gave a lecture titled “Air Quality and the San Antonio/AACOG Region.

As the title suggests, Bella’s lecture focused on the way city development and urban sprawl affect the air quality in San Antonio and the surrounding communities.

Specifically, Bella detailed the way high concentrations of ozone are affecting San Antonio.

In order to minimize confusion, Bella explained that ozone is an odorless, colorless gas. It contains three oxygen atoms instead of the two found in oxygen. The AACOG’s website explains that, when present at ground level, ozone is a major contributor to the common air pollutant smog.

Not only that, but when humans are exposed to ozone, it can create “a fresh sunburn on the lungs,” according to Bella.

Bella and his colleagues at the AACOG are working to reduce air pollutants, like ozone, by monitoring the emissions that create the dangerous gas. This involves identifying sources like cars

and factories. Using a series of graphs, Bella illustrated that, from 1996 to 2018, despite a population increase, emission levels have fallen and are predicted to continue falling.

The final focus of Bella’s presentation focused on the effect that fracking the Eagle Ford Shale will have on emissions. He contended that there is no disputing the fact that developing this natural gas will have aneffect on emissions.

However, the dedication to understanding the pollution rates associated with this

development should lessen the risk of seriously exceeded emission limits.

Perhaps the most important piece of information Bella imparted involved the importance of the community, especially young people, taking an active role in understanding air quality and emissions standards. The students of today will be the leaders of tomorrow and it will be their responsibility to ensure that air remains breathable.

Bella’s lecture was sponsored

by Trinity’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.

photo by Abhishek Chhetri

Peter Bella, the natural resources director for the Alamo Area Council of Governments, gave a talk on ozone pollution on Jan. 24. The talk was sponsored by the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

photo courtesy of Photobucket

Katty Kay, co-host of BBC America, gave a talk on Jan. 19, titled “America’s News through the Eyes of the BBC,” as part of Trinity’s Policy Maker’s Breakfast Series.

Accounting gets A+ n82 percent of graduates from Trinity’s Masters program pass CPA exam on first attempt

by John Reesman Reporter

Almost 82 percent of Trinity students who complete the five-year Master of Science in Accounting program pass Texas’ Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination.

According to Linda Specht, director of Trinity’s accounting program, the synergy between the liberal arts and the professional program is key to the success of Trinity’s accounting graduates.

“When we created the Masters in Accounting program, we intentionally took about a semester and a half of accounting classes out of the undergraduate degree,” Specht said. “We wanted to give students the opportunity to have an additional major or minor across campus.”

Students pursue their CPA certification work with large industry firms during eightweek internships where their skills are noticed by employers.

“We have been told by the big firms that our graduates really know how to communicate, think and are well-rounded human beings with multiple interests,” Specht said. “Students have the liberal arts foundation, which gives them an edge.”

Students interested in the program should take the introductory accounting courses by their sophomore year. Intermediate accounting classes begin during the junior year, at which time students also learn about the real world of accounting.

“During the junior year, we

begin introducing students to professionalism,” Specht said.

“We conduct a number of events for students to interact with firms, build resumes and attend mock interviews.”

In their senior year, students finish their accounting courses and proceed to spring semester internships. Interns not only enjoy pay equal to a full-time employee, but also experience the real world of professional accounting, learning skills which will follow them into the job market.

“

We have been told by the big firms that our graduates know how to communicate, think and are well-rounded human beings with multiple interests.

“

nKatty Kay discusses how foreign press perceives America in a recent speech as part of lecture series

Linda Specht

Accounting program director

“Students finish the internship with $10,000 to $12,000 in their pocket, a job offer and experience,” Specht said.

Students return to Trinity for a fifth year, taking a 30-hour program over nine months to graduate with a Master of Science in Accounting and eligibility to sit for the state CPA exam.

4

News

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

Program shows students a healthier lifestyle nCampus dietitian will teach students how to make healthy changes through eating habits and activities

by John Reesman

Reporter

Students participating in a six-week-long health awareness program, coordinated by Angela Aladjem, campus dietician, will have the opportunity to make healthy changes in their lifestyles.

According to Aladjem, the program focuses on more than just weight loss.

“The program works with plenty of people in group settings where half of the participants will be interested in weight loss while the other half will be interested to start healthier eating habits,” Aladjem said. “They may be interested in maintaining their weight or getting healthier.”

For students interested in losing five to six pounds, the health program, ending before spring break, offers a chance to learn about safe ways to lose weight.

“I usually do encounter a number of students who want to lose pounds,” Aladjem said. “In six weeks, you are not going lose a great amount of weight, so I am a proponent of safe weight loss, which takes more time.”

Aladjem, a certified nutritionist, will begin the program by tailoring a health program for each individual participant based on several factors.

“I will distribute meal plans based on height, weight, age and activity level,” Aladjem said. “Other factors such as health problems or

the needs of an athletic individual are also considered in designation of meal plans.”

The program features diagnostics for Aladjem to uniquely assist students who struggle meeting his or her health goal. By having students dynamically keep track of their choices and activities, Aladjem can help make adjustments for better results.

“Students will have the option of keeping a food diary,” Aladjem said. “If they are not meeting their goal every week, I can use the food diary as a tool to determine where a student may need some additional help.”

Additionally, the health program will focus on cumulative goals

and themes for each week. For example, students will be educated on making healthy choices on and off campus.

“We will discuss eating out and eating in the cafeteria,” Aladjem said. “We will talk about the different food groups and what important details of different foods should be emphasized.”

For some students, making healthy changes away from home can be challenging. With more dietary freedom and options, college students become responsible for their own consumption and have the opportunity to forge healthy habits for lifelong health.

“The program will help the student who has struggled in the

past with a balanced diet or a student who is having difficulty maintaining balanced living and eating habits away from home,” Aladjem said. “In college, you have real control for the first time over when and where you eat.”

The program also seeks to bust several myths about eating healthy.

For example, Aladjem notes that purely cardio-based workout routines are not the only way to lose weight.

“Treating a carbohydrate as a forbidden food is a myth that I fight everyday,” Aladjem said. “I’ve never understood why no eating after 7 p.m. became the magical time at night to not eat after.”

Aladjem’s six-week program

photo by Moira Allen

Certified nutritionist, Angela Aladjem (left) will lead a six-week program this spring designed to help students make healthier choices in their everyday lives.

Thank you for supporting our advertisers.

We really appreciate it. Know a place for which you want a coupon or discount?

Contact us at trinitonian@trinity.edu and let us know your favorite places around town.

focuses on having students make small, incremental changes to their diets in order to achieve a better standard of health. Aladjem hopes students will make one change a week.

“Small changes are the first steps to a sustainable and healthy lifestyle,” Aladjem said. “Add a glass of water. Add of a piece of fruit. Take away one meal where you eat out.”

For all students, Aladjem has a few suggestions on how students may go about making these small changes.

“Ensuring that you, as a student, have enough physical activity and movement throughout the day on campus is important,” Aladjem said. “Consume everything in moderation, because moderation is the key to healthy living.”

When asked about what she might hope to gain from participating in the program, one student says that tracking down the right kind of foods can be difficult.

“I would like to learn about how the words healthy and food relate to each other,” said first year Mei Butler. “I am confused by products labeled as either organic or light.”

The football team, on the other hand, helps its players out when it comes to making healthy decisions.

“As a team, we eat very well,” said junior running back William Hix. “We keep each other accountable in the cafeteria by eating salad, chicken and pasta.”

Meant for students who are ready to begin the small steps to healthier lifestyle before spring break, the program will still be registering interested students until the end of January. Additionally, Aladjem is available on occasion to assist with any nutritional concerns in Mabee.

Panel on education

written by Avantika Krishna

On Friday, Jan. 20, at the Ruth Taylor Recital Hall, an education panel outlined the findings of a study comparing international education systems and the implications of the findings for San Antonio and Texas.

Andreas Schleicher, special adviser on Education Policy to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development secretary-general and head of the indicators and analysis division in Paris, focused on comparing the U.S. education system to those in high-performing countries.

Schleicher’s presentation, “Lessons in Education from the Highest Performing Nations: Learning with the World,” was followed up by a panel discussion with Julian Castro, mayor of San Antonio; Michael Villarreal, Texas state representative; Robert Jaklich, Harlandale ISD superintendent; and David Anthony, CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas.

Citing how the U.S. places the burden of higher education payment on the families with the highest costs in the world, Schleicher explained the amount other governments pay for higher education are considerably less than the benefits they reap.

According to the study, although the U.S. spends the most money on education per student, only about 50 percent of that money makes it to the classroom. Schleicher also stressed how the best systems have high levels of educational quality and social equity that enable all students to learn at high levels, think in complex ways and allow students from lower socio-economic areas to have the same opportunity as children from wealthy socio-economic areas.

“With the constant debate over school funding, I was astonished to hear that money only explains 20 percent of educational performance across the globe. Anyone who has a stake in public education should definitely look at Mr. Schleicher’s findings,” said Luke Brown, first year.

Schleicher’s presentation can be found in the education section of Trinity University’s website. The event was sponsored by Trinity University’s Center for Educational Leadership.

News

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

5

Breakfast with Katty Kay

GOP RACE UPDATE

n continued from Page 3

These are the current standings for the GOP race according to the Gallup Poll. Newt Gingrich gained momentum when he won the South Carolina debate last Saturday, Jan. 21, taking the lead over Mitt Romney.

graphic by Katie Browne

“Of all the speakers scheduled for Policy Maker’s Breakfast this year, I have looked forward to Katty Kay the most. I anticipated that Katty would deliver a wellinformed and balanced opinion of American politics and Katty delivered. Katty Kay offered the point of view of an outsider. When American norms (and oddities) are put into perspective by an international audience we learn (and laugh) about ourselves in the process,” said Christina Perez, career advisor, in an email.

Senior Lauren Pum appreciated the ideas about the U.S. elections that Kay brought to the table.

“I was so glad I got to hear

Katty Kay speak. She brought a fresh, eloquent perspective on the state of the U.S. I also appreciated her ideas on what the 2012 elections should be focused on – U.S. relations with China and health care,” Pum said.

First-year Luke Brown has been motivated to expand his reading material.

“Ms. Kay’s diverse perspective on the issues facing America was especially interesting. I certainly plan on reading more news from foreign outlets,” Brown said.

The Trinity University Policy Maker Breakfast Series is made possible in part by the Stevens Academic Enrichment Fund.

SOLI chamber ensemble plays to crowd in Ruth Taylor Hall

by Kellie Benn

The SOLI Chamber Ensemble, Trinity’s Ensemble in Residence since 2008, performed a concert, titled “Beethoven R/Evolutions,” on Tuesday, Jan. 24, in Ruth Taylor Concert Hall.

The performance featured world premieres of new SOLI works inspired by Beethoven’s Grosse Fuge, op.133 from Doug Balliett, Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Moravec, Dan Welcher and Xi Wang as well as the premiere of Brian Bondari’s Fuge transcription for SOLI. As the university’s ensemble in residence, SOLI performs often on campus as well as advising and guiding student chamber

groups, working with student composers and conducting open rehearsals. They also tour colleges and universities across the country annually.

SOLI has been a part of San Antonio for nearly two decades, and, according to their website, strives to break down the stereotypes linked to classical music. They often perform with the goal of introducing the unfamiliar listener to classical music.

Over the past 17 years, the chamber ensemble has commissioned 17 works from emerging and established composers. They have been voted

Tornadoes and rain cause damage in SA

by Kellie Benn

One tornado touched down on the Northwest side of San Antonio after storms ripped through the area early Wednesday morning, causing damage to homes along a residential street known as Deer Park.

Nine homes in the area suffered serious damage with the most significant being a carport thrown into a home.

However, no injuries were reported.

Lightning strikes caused at least three fires on the city’s north side, including a fire that destroyed seven units of an apartment complex on Jackson Keller, causing $350,000 worth of damages. No injuries were reported from any of the fires although the apartment fire did displace eight adults and seven children.

The city broke a rainfall record with the San Antonio International Airport recording 2.94 inches and other parts of the city receiving up to 5.36 inches of rain.

Flooding caused several roads to close, including the lower level of I-35 downtown.

More than 26,000 CPS customers were left without power, and several schools in the area reported power outages as well.

Volunteers from the Red

Cross are helping families throughout the city who have been affected by flooding, tornadoes or fire.

Although the rainfall was significant, authorities say several more rain events like this will be needed before water levels reach a normal level again. The Edwards Acquifer saw a jump of over 6 inches but it’s not enough to counter the effects of the drought.

A tornado also tore through Northeast Austin on Wednesday morning, seriously damaging several businesses on Commercial Park Drive.

Damage is estimated at $1.5 million.

Rescue teams were rescuing people trapped by rising water throughout the day on Wednesday, mostly in Northeast Austin where winds and rain were the heaviest.

By the end of the day, authorities reported that power had been restored to residents for the most part and emergency activity had slowed down.

No injuries or fires were reported in the affected areas of Austin.

Flood warnings have since expired, and no more rain is expected in central Texas over the weekend.

“Best Chamber Ensemble” twice by the San Antonio Current.

SOLI Chamber Ensemble has received numerous awards including grants from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Meet the Composer, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the Arts, the Argosy Foundation, The Tobin Endowment, the Cornyation Foundation and the City of San Antonio and Office of Cultural Affairs.

The SOLI Chamber Ensemble’s core members include Ertan Torgul, violin; Stephanie Kay, clarinet; Carolyn True, piano; and David Mollenauer, cello.

photo by Purushottam Shah

SOLI Chamber Ensemble performs their concert, “Beethoven R/Evolutions on Tuesday, Jan. 24, in Ruth Taylor Concert Hall.

DON’T GET CONVICTED PROTECT YOUR FUTURE

OUR LAWYERS CAN HELP WITH: TRAFFIC TICKETS! PUBLIC INTOXICATION! MINOR IN POSSESSION!

TRAFFICTICKETSA.COM (210)

745-0144

CALL TODAY • FLAT FEES

SAVE OUR ICON Use your smart phone to SCAN OUR QR CODE, and see our mobile website.

TrafficTicketSA.com is owned and operated by Justin A. Coquat of The Coquat Law Firm, SanAntonio, Texas 78259

6

News

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

Classes sample soil in the name of science n continued from Page 1

photo courtesy of University Communications

Chemistry professor, Michelle Bushey, and geosciences professor, Benjamin Surpless, pose with an x-ray flourescence spectrometer which they used to test soil samples from construction on campus in their classes.

A Shot of Trinity Think you know Trinity?

PROVE IT

between departments, and so this was purposely done towards that. And we took advantage of these great holes around campus.”

After close consideration, project leaders decided to pull the sample from the construction site near the tennis courts on the lower portion of Trinity’s campus. Four samples were retrieved from the site including a portion of the bedrock.

“The reason we chose this site was because it looked like this might actually be a natural soil horizon. We’re in an old quarry, so, in many cases, it’s fill that has just been dumped there…it really did look like there was a combination of natural and human related effects on the soil,” said Ben Surpless, assistant professor of geosciences.

Once the soil samples were retrieved, the project was introduced to Surpless’ and other professors’ physical geology lab and Exploring Earth students. Students were asked to examine the soil sample and pose hypotheses about the information that could be obtained from analyzing the samples with the XRF machine.

Surpless found that students responded well to the prolonged exercise.

“What’s always interesting when you pose that to somebody

every week, the trinitonian will run a picture taken somewhere on campus. Your job is to tell us where the picture was taken. if you think you know, e-mail us at

trinitonian-adv@ trinity.edu

There will be a new prize each week, so keep your head up and your eyes open.

-Trini “now we’re just plain generous” tonian

This week’s prize

the hypotheses.

This learning process was another goal cited in the grant proposal.

“One focus of the grant proposal itself was basically making sure that students really understand what scientists do, and so I do think, especially on the intro level where, in some cases, this might be the only science class they take, hopefully by the end of the class, they at least understand when people use the terms hypothesis and theory,” Surpless said.

One student who experienced the construction site soil sample project first-hand is sophomore Lauren Turley. Turley took the physical geology lab last semester and enjoyed the real world application.

“It was interesting to have something that we see every day applicable to our geology class,” she said.

Bushey is confident that this real world application, as well as the collaboration between the geosciences and chemistry departments, positively impacts her students.

“I do think that having the link between the two classes adds a very interesting dimension to the chemistry class and makes the point that, although these labs are very artificial in many ways, they can be quiet useful and that they are real world applications for this,” Bushey said.

State of the Union recap

by Avantika Krishna

President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Below are key points from the speech: Education

• Require students to stay in school until they graduate or turn 18 • Extend the tuition tax credit • Double number of available work-study jobs in next five years • Universities must lower tuition or risk decrease in taxpayer funding • Train two million Americans in skills that will lead to employment

Taxes

• End tax deduction for companies that outsource jobs • Require multinational companies to pay a tax, using money to lower taxes for companies that stay and hire in the U.S. • Double tax cuts for American manufacturers • Require millionaires pay at least 30 percent in taxes • Pass the payroll tax cut • Provide tax credits to companies hiring veterans • Expand tax relief to small businesses

Immigration

• Create bill to provide a means of earning citizenship

Energy

• Open up over 75 percent of offshore oil and gas resources • Require drilling companies to share chemicals used • Use money saved from war to pay off debt and continue construction projects

Economy

• Impose fee on banks so homeowners can refinance at low interest rates • No more bailouts for banks

Military and Foreign Policy

is a $10 gift certificate to: Hearthstone Bakery Cafe

• Create veteran job corps • Prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons • 23,000 troops to leave Afghanistan by the end of summer

Sponsored by...

Last week’s answer is...Storch Statue!

in the intro level, they will come up with many questions that could not possibly be answered.

That’s part of the exercise, and so, in the intro level, it’s really exposing them to the scientific process and having them participate in it throughout the term,” Surpless said.

From here, the students witnessed the XRF machine in action as it determined what elements were present in the soil samples.

After the initial analyzation by the introductory level geosciences students, the soil samples travelled to Bushey’s analytical chemistry course.

The students in this class were responsible for using the ICP machine to determine the quantitative presence of elements in the soil samples.

Students then produced a report featuring the answers to the answerable questions submitted by the geosciences classes, a detailed statistical analysis based on the information gleaned from the ICP and their individual XRF analyses. The results were sent back to the geosciences department for further examination and to decide what could be done with the information.

For the students of the physical geology lab and exploring earth classes, this meant examining whether their hypotheses had been answered, and, in some cases, it involved modifying

Entitlements Hearthstone Bakery Cafe 4212 McCullough San Antonio, Texas 210.826.5667

• Reform Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security

Bureaucracy

• Ban insider trading by congressmen • Remove regulations limiting entrepreneurs from getting financing

Greek Controversy

Read responses from both sides of last week’s point-counterpoint Page 8 January 27, 2012

-A Trinity Minute-

Opinion

138 Oakmont

Coleen Grissom reflects on her years spent residing steps from Trinity Page 9

7

letter to the editor

By Kim and Chiara Ferrari

Article an attack on Greeks

editorial

State of the Union challenges Trinity to lower costs

In the State of the Union address this past Tuesday, President Barack Obama made it clear what exactly is on Washington’s mind: jobs. As students working hard to one day graduate into the work force, the value of our education is closely tied to the health of our nation’s economy. Jobs are also definitely on our minds, especially for those of us preparing to graduate in May. That’s why your ears should have perked up when Obama addressed higher education. After imploring Congress to curb interest rates on student loans, Obama called on higher education institutions to “keep costs down”: “So let me put colleges and universities on notice: if you can’t stop tuition from going up, the funding you get from taxpayers will go down. Higher education can’t be a luxury. It is an economic imperative that every family in America should be able to afford.”

His proposal to increase federal student aid and lower tuition seems practical – lessen the strain on the “hardworking” citizens of America so that we can finally refuel our weakened economy. Yet, while it is important to democratize education and provide equal opportunity for everyone, we have to weigh our priorities when considering our universities’ budgets. When you cut corners in education, the ultimate cost could be in quality.

This is especially relevant when considering the value of your education at Trinity. What about Trinity would you be willing to give up in order to lower costs?

Complaints about Aramark’s food service are a dime a dozen, yet anyone who has eaten at other universities’ cafeterias can attest that Mabee and Coates are well above the average college dining experience.

The price tag on the new Center for the Sciences and Innovation was a whopping $127 million, yet it’s hard not to see that expenditure as an investment in Trinity’s future that will only help foster the top-ranked medical and scientific research programs for which the university is well known.

While it is evident that Trinity provides great bang for your buck, that still might not be enough to convince you that the hike in tuition is a good thing. Current seniors have seen their tuition rise over $4,500 since their first year at Trinity in 2008. If tuition continues to rise while the median household income declines, universities everywhere run the risk of nullifying themselves. If no one can afford to go to college, then enrollment plumets and higher education fails.

Naturally, that is no university’s goal. It is important to realize that university administrations around the country, including Trinity, are challenged to manage costs. Staying competitive is a balancing act between accessibility and prestige. The university has to establish a ceiling on tuition in order to maintain enrollment, but at the same time they have to fund renovations like CSI in order to perpetuate progress. These are two very important aspects of investing in the future of higher education.

President Obama is right: it is essential for our country to break down barriers in education. There’s no easy answer or quick fix, but we all want the same thing and need to work together to achieve it: quality education that is available for everyone.

Dear Editor, Lydia Duncombe’s “point/counterpoint” article, “stay independent and true to yourself” contains several misconceptions and falsehoods that need to be addressed. As a member of a campus sorority, I find her accusations hurtful and misplaced.

The idea that the Greek system is in any way more exclusionary than, I don’t know, the Trinity community, or a private high school, or any large corporation, is ridiculous. When we all applied to Trinity, we tried to put our best selves forward, to emphasize our skills and to find a community in which we felt that we belonged. We were accepted, and many of us found a place here. In other attempts, many of us were rejected, from schools, from jobs, from internships. It hurt, and was unpleasant, but I, and many of my sisters and brothers, both in and out of the Greek system, were made stronger for it.

The idea that we, as members of the Greek system make decisions based upon anything other than character is ludicrous. If Duncombe were privy to the deliberations made by sororities and fraternities in determining who will be extended a bid, she would know that the decision is not taken lightly. What matters, first and foremost, is whether the rushee will be happy with us, if they will find a nurturing environment suited to them, a place where they can grow to be their best selves. When the decision is made not to extend a bid, it is made after the most serious of deliberations. It is not an easy thing to hurt someone, anyone, in any capacity, and I have never met someone in or out of the Greek system that relished the task. It is never made based upon looks, or whether they’ll bring attractive members of the opposite sex to the next party. The accusation is not only ridiculous, but it is insulting and I take deep offense at it.

Duncombe’s assertion that we in the Greek system don’t “own any other items of clothing besides their jerseys or T-shirts that say [our] letters on them” is entirely false. Were Duncombe to see me on campus, she probably would not even know that I was in a Greek organization. This is because I, and many like me, don’t wear my jerseys or Greek paraphernalia to classes. I am a student and an individual as well as a member of Trinity’s Greek system. Also, since when are our clothes a measure of our individuality? By Duncombe’s logic, I must be obsessed with penguins wearing sunglasses and consider them an important part of my identity, since I sometimes wear a shirt that depicts them. Duncombe, sometimes a shirt is just a shirt, and letters are just letters. Perhaps you should try to get to know the person behind the shirt before judging them based upon it.

I could go on about the fact that some of us weren’t lucky enough to find friends freshman year that stayed with us throughout our college careers, about how my sisters have been by my side through illnesses, and broken hearts and family troubles, about the money we in the Greek system raise for the community, but I won’t. What I will say is that we are not in any way characters on “Greek” or in “Animal House”. We’re not mean girls and frat guys. Being Greek added to my experience at Trinity, as it should for anyone who chooses to join; it didn’t take away from it. We’re Trinity students, and we are JUST as “god damned independent” in living our lives as everyone else. n Rachel Podd is a senior and member of Zeta Chi

Call to action: exercise your civil right and go vote Guest Column

by Faith Ozer

First-Year

With the beginning of a semester comes the ever widening of eyes, the omniscient understanding and clarification of some aspect of the world. This expansion of knowledge comes at a vital time in our nation’s (and the world’s) history. We have all come across that debate, discussion or part of an

assignment which makes us want to change something, to genuinely reform, but this year allows many of us to do so.

In 2012, arguably one of the most pivotal elections ever will be taking place. In a country faced with seemingly endless debt, where major bills and ideas of healthcare, human rights, war and numerous major social issues are being decided upon, there is a call upon all of us to change the way we participate in our own everyday lives.

With the recent passing of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, many of us are reminded of the strong protests of

the past, and of the enthralled faces of minority and majority leaders pushing for a necessary change.

And although these actions may be looked upon as unnecessary or even outdated, the time and place for civilian demand appears to be approaching again.

Whether you are left, right, conservative, liberal, democratic, republican or simply indifferent, changes will be taking place in the next four to eight years that will affect us, our children and generations to come. In the status quo, it is legal for congressmen to be persuaded into voting certain

ways; it is normal for the few richest households to hold the majority of national wealth; it is okay for businesses to shift overseas to avoid environmental protection and labor safety laws; it is encouraged for candidates to spend nearly one billion dollars advertising themselves like the best new fast food combo meal, and worst of all, it is normal for citizens not to be absolutely livid about it.

Rather than standing up like those who fought for our right to do so, we are inclined to watch and complain, rather

than take part in what is left of our political system and reclaim our own place in the remaining ruins of the “American dream.”

So this semester, whether you are in the last long haul to the finish line of your education or just in your starting sprint, take the time to make the race of our own lives worthwhile: take the time to vote. n

Faith Ozer is a first year majoring in international studies and communication

Contact the Trinitonian Newsroom (210) 999-8558 Editors: (210) 999-8557 Advertising: (210) 999-8555 Fax: (210) 999-7034 Business: (210) 999-8556

Story Suggetions

Story suggestions should be e-mailed to the Trinitonian two weeks prior to the event.

Post: Trinity University, One Trinity Place #62 San Antonio, TX 78212-7200 E-mail: Trinitonian@trinity.edu

Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor should be concise (under 350 words), typed and submitted by 5 p.m. Tuesday prior to publication.

Please indicate your name, year and major(s) or department. Letters to the editor via e-mail must be specified as such in the subject field. There is no guarantee that letters will be run.

Guest Columns

Guest columns should be arranged with Megan Julian (mjulian@trinity.edu) one week prior to publication. Columns submitted without such arrangements will not be accepted. Columns may not exceed 500 words.

Opinions expressed in the Trinitonian are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Trinity University, its students, faculty, staff or the Trinitonian.

Editorials represent the opinions of the Trinitonian Editorial Board. The first copy of the Trinitonian is free; additional copies are 50 cents each. ©2012. All rights reserved.

letter to the editor

Opinion based column pushes boundaries Dear Editor, Instead of pointing out the positives of being an “Independent” on campus, Lydia Duncombe’s counterpoint article is an ignorant, libelous and stereotyped article attacking Greeks. I am a proud member of a Greek organization at Trinity, and Duncombe’s article and arguments have no substance or basis in fact.

Duncombe’s argument that Greeks judge rushees on looks and ability to attract the opposite sex portrays a stereotyped notion of Greek life evident in her “favorite show ‘Greek’” instead of accurately representing Greek life at Trinity. Rush is a three to four month-long process designed to allow both rushees and rushers to get to know each other on a personal and individual basis. Rush at Trinity is different than Rush at other schools and in the ABC-Family show “Greek.” Trinity’s Rush is about forming friendships with individuals regardless of whether or not they are or will become Greek. I am still friends with girls I met through Rush who are members of other sororities and who are “Independents.” Duncombe’s description of Rush at Trinity is inaccurate and parrots the stereotypes of Greek life evident in Hollywood, not at Trinity.

The article’s lack of substance is further evident in Duncombe’s argument that Greeks wear too many Greek T-shirts. I am proud of my Greek letters and my organization. We do service work around the San Antonio community and are active members of Trinity’s campus. I reserve the right to wear whatever clothing I want to wear. It is my choice, and there is no reason why I should be discriminated against for choosing to wear a T-shirt commemorating the 55 years my organization has been present on campus, or the day my sorority GIVE’s back to the San Antonio community. On a side note, it would be considered discrimination if anyone wrote an article, “opinion” or not, criticizing the clothing of other clubs on campus including the Sexual Diversity Alliance, Chinese Culture Club, Gaelic Cultural Society, Swing Bums, Alpha Kappa Psi, the list goes on and on. There is no reason Greek Organizations should be singled out and criticized.

Duncombe’s argument that Greek friendships are fake and that “people join the Greek system because they don’t have that great group of friends yet and are looking for that” is judgmental and untrue. My friendships with my sorority sisters are long lasting, deep, full of love, understanding, compassion and joy. Duncombe has no right to judge them, let alone in a public forum. I decided to rush because it was a way to meet new people.

Through Rush and by joining my sorority I met wonderful people I never would have had the opportunity to meet. I had a great group of friends when I decided to rush, and I am still friends with them today. The group of friends I met at the beginning of freshman year are sill some of the closest and best friends I have ever had. I’ve had some great times with them full of laugher and we have experienced great tragedy and sadness together as well. It is an ignorant assumption and a stereotyped belief to assume I only have friends because I joined a sorority.

I realize this article is written under the opinion section, and as Duncombe explained on Facebook, “I’m a journalist it’s my vocational duty to present the subject matter from a different perspective.” Yet, it is not her “vocational duty” to write false, libelous, stereotypical and ignorant notions as truth. It is unbelievable that her article centers around tearing down the Greek system instead of commenting on the benefits of being an “Independent” as it should have done. I would have much rather seen an opinion piece detailing the benefits of being “Independent” and the ways being “Independent” has helped her college life in X, Y and Z. Duncombe’s article lacked diplomacy and strays from the opinion issue at hand. I also want to point out your error of judgment in allowing this “opinion” article to be printed. It IS libelous. It is defamatory and malicious and damagingly misrepresents Greek life at Trinity, especially being printed a week before Bid Day. n

Kelsey Sheehan is a junior and member of Sigma Theta Tau.

To each their own: don’t force Greek

by Sara Miller Sophomore

There has been a great deal of uproar in regards to Lydia Duncombe’s opinion piece written in last week’s Trinitonian concerning the issue of why not to join Greek life. It is apparent around campus and on public websites such as Facebook that many Greeks, and possibly independents, have been very offended by the article and may even feel personally attacked.

I, however, want to explain why I was offended by Joe O’Connell’s piece emphasizing why I should join Greek life.

First of all, there is a reason why stereotypes exist about Greek life. I do feel as if joining a Greek organization requires me to pay ridiculous amounts of money to have friends. I also feel that binge drinking and partying are requirements in order to join, pledge and be accepted by a Greek organization. I shouldn’t have to binge drink and pay hundreds to be a part of “something bigger.” As for making friends, I completely support Greek members having friends outside of their organizations. In fact, I think that is healthy because honestly, they need to get away from their Greek buddies more. Making friends from “different walks of life” isn’t at all a bad thing, but it’s when those friends and those people on campus feel excluded from

Making friends from ‘different walks of life’ isn’t at all a bad thing, but it’s when those friends and thoes people on campus feel excluded from social life and competely frowned upon that it becomes a problem.

“

“

Guest Column

social life and completely frowned upon that it becomes a problem.

Greek friends honestly can make us feel pressured into joining a Greek organization, which shouldn’t be the case at all.

As O’Connell admitted, there are truths to stereotypes. The idea that Greeks party endlessly has a very significant strand of truth to it.

“There’s nothing we like more than having a good time.” Okay wait.

What happened to brotherhood and sisterhood? I thought that meant more than anything. I’m getting conflicting arguments here.

I have no problem with creating an organization to last and make an impact on future generations.

There are other organizations and institutions that do that as well, but a striking point to me is that not many non-Greek organizations have been disbanded, whether nationally or locally, because members have actually died at the hands of the

organization. The fact that these horrific things have happened and continue to happen around the country make me skeptical of any Greek organization. It can happen to anyone. Yes, Trinity has antihazing rules to prevent terrible things from happening, but do we really know what goes on during pledging? I hope that nothing tragic happens in our Greek organizations but the possibility is always there; that makes me very hesitant to even consider joining Greek life.

This article offended me simply because it tried to convert my opinions and reasons for not joining Greek life into arguments for it.

There are reasons I believe Greek life is not good, some very personal and close to me. Before going and trying to negate someone’s opinion, accept that there are those who just honestly do not believe in the principles that you stand for and the things you have to do to attain them. Don’t badger them or try to convert them because we actually base our opinions on substantive truths. We see the hundreds of drunken sorority/fraternity Facebook pictures posted every weekend and we may have past negative experiences involving Greeks. Overall, we have other things that are important to us, which do not include being Greek.

And as a final note, I just want to say how fly the Gammas were looking at Concert for the Cure on Saturday in their jerseys. (Can you all really say that you have other clothing?) n

Sara Miller is a sophomore majoring in biology.

Trinity Greeks: more than a stereotype Guest Column

by Savannah McDonough Sophomore

I am writing to address some glaring mistakes and rash judgments made towards the Greek system here at Trinity. When I first heard about the point/counterpoint article and the stir it created, I was merely curious, but today I finally got my hands on a copy of January 20th’s edition of the Trinitonian and I must admit, I was speechless.

I never expected writing of this quality to come out of a University of Trinity’s caliber and I am now sorely disappointed with our standards of journalism. As a sports editor for the Trinitonian, Lydia Duncombe should understand that the basis of quality journalism is to find out the facts and report the truth of the matter. It saddens me that a journalist would be so negligent and uninformed about Trinity Greek life to actually state “I don’t know and it’s not my job to find out.” If you think something is wrong, then legitimately research what you’re arguing against.

Everyone is entitled to his or her opinion, but at the very least you should be informed before you insult 30 percent of your campus peers.

This article did nothing but masticate banal arguments that you might hear about national Greek systems. Duncombe speaks about our system as if she understands it, stating that “In order to be picked as a member of Greek life an immense amount of judging must occur.”

Let me first say that as a member of Greek life and a Rush Chair, I understand what goes into rush and finding girls who want to be a member of our community. It is not, as Duncombe said, the “right” look, personality or sexuality. In fact, that argument is laughable. I cannot name a sorority or fraternity that lacks variety in any of these categories.

With clubs as large as the ones on this campus, it would be impossible to assume that they all have the same opinions and preferences.

“

“

Opinion

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

I am extremely offended that she would go so far as to claim that Greeks discriminate against potential members’ sexuality. IXP had a homosexual president just last year, my own big sister is an open lesbian and I have been accepted while figuring out my own sexuality by my Greek friends. In fact, it is embarrassing that Duncombe

would stoop so low as to try to make the argument of sexuality when Greek life permitted a transgendered student to rush the sorority of her choice last year. Look that up; it made national news. Furthermore, it is a gross misconception that we ban certain personalities.

With clubs as large as the ones represented on this campus, it would be impossible to assume that they all have the same opinions and preferences.

“

We are not a herd of sheep, conforming to our sisters or brothers and begging to be corralled.

“

8

As for Duncombe’s second paragraph, I am sure that she must have been looking for something to give her a bump to reach her required word count.

We do not require our members to wear jerseys or any other Greek paraphernalia; that is something that we do on our own terms because we enjoy wearing our colors and showing our pride in a group of people who we love. We are not a herd of sheep, conforming to our sisters or brothers and begging to be corralled. All I can do is shake my head and sigh at the thought that, according to her argument, “nobody actually knows [our] name[s].” If Duncombe really has friends in Greek life, as she so briefly stated in the final moments of her argument, then she must understand that we are a diverse group of people who are more than our jerseys.

I will not belabor this last point. It’s simple. I would like to personally refute the assumption that all Greeks did not have the social capacity to make friends upon their arrival to college. I made fast friends with my hallmates on Winn 3rd, and while many of us did go Greek it was not for lack of a sound, rewarding community.

We made friends before going Greek, made more friends when we joined and now we have a thriving network of individuals both Greek and “GDI.” Making blanket statements like this against a student organization is the same as saying just because you’re a member of BSU then you’re just that black kid or if you’re a member of SDA that you must be queer. It is like saying that because you are in the Army, Air Force, Navy or Marines that you’re a fascist meat head.

I cannot abide generalized prejudice. We are not a mass of conformist, fake, desperate and socially inept individuals. n

Savannah McDonough is a sophomore and member of Zeta Chi.

Opinion

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

9

Progress requires change: reflection on Oakmont conversions

Columnist

Although I don’t sing “Auld Lang Syne” nor make new year’s resolutions, I am always certainly aware that I need to focus as I write checks or date notes and make sure I’ve moved the digit to a new year. In addition to the bombardment of listings of “best” and “worst” and the boring coverage of mobs of people celebrating in Times Square or at Hemisfair Plaza, I remember that we’ve entered a new year because my birthday falls early in January, and I have to focus on the correct age – I am not, as I continue to think initially when asked how old I am – really 35.

I took much pleasure in creating memories for these young adults I had either loved or endured for four years.

“

“

Instead of resolutions, on the first day of the new year, I make a list of the things I most love to do, and I examine it closely and rejoice in the blessing of being able to do these favorite things

Resident assistants and student leaders of various organizations came in and out of my home, developing new friendships and marveling at how much better Aramark cuisine tasted outside of Mabee Hall.

“

Candidly, I think some animals caught in traps don’t react this way at all; we’ve all read of those that chew off a limb in order to escape, but let’s ignore that because, otherwise, Sarton’s elegantly phrased thoughts and her suggestions on coping with change won’t work for this column.

In 1958 when I first came to this campus, it wasn’t much more lovely than it is during this construction process, but, thanks

to the generosity of trustees such as Gretchen Northrup and other benefactors, the gorgeously manicured, gorgeous campus appeared. (yes, I’m one of those who remembers that there weren’t many trees, but Gretchen had her workers dig up small oaks from her hill country ranch, haul them to the city on flat bed trucks, and plant them in what used to be a lovers’ lane and rock quarry.)

So, as the spring semester began, I summoned my ability to focus on change in a positive way and tried not to whine as I wandered around the fence barriers trying to locate access to a door to Northrup Hall, and I used as my mantra: “It will be beautiful again soon. It will be beautiful again soon.”

And, sure enough, by the time my classes met for the second session, most fences disappeared, and I believed my mantra worked!

I am trying to do the same with my initial reaction to the different uses of the university properties on Oakmont. When I lived there with only two poodles and one cat, annually I hosted literally hundreds and hundreds of students, faculty/staff colleagues, alums and parents of students.

Deeply committed as I’ve always been to the vitality a sense of community brings to the campus, I, though sometimes too exhausted from a hard day at the office dealing with student affairs’ crises, truly valued having members of Alpha Lambda Delta and their “favorite professors” picnic in the back yard.

Resident assistants and student leaders of various organizations came in and out of my home, developing new friendships and marveling at how much better

Aramark cuisine tasted outside of Mabee hall.

My favorite events which became traditions included a celebration following spring commencement, when I served the graduates and their families champagne and popcorn.

I delighted having them depart their undergraduate experience with this example of my culinary skills, and I took much pleasure in creating memories for these young adults I had either loved or endured for four years.

Surely such gatherings will still occur, but I can’t stop myself from wondering if they will be as relaxed and comfortable in the great hall or some classroom as they were in a universityowned house lived in and personalized by the administrative staff person who resided there.

“

“

by Coleen Grissom

wrote, “Does anything in nature despair except man? An animal with a foot caught in a trap does not seem to despair. It is too busy trying to survive. It is all closed in to a kind of still, intense waiting. Is this a key? Keep busy with survival. Imitate the trees.

Learn to lose in order to recover, and remember that nothing stays the same for long, not even pain, psychic pain. Sit it out. Let it all pass. Let it go.”

“

The Short List

regularly. It probably helps that nowhere on that list is riding in a gondola in Venice or seeing the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.

What I most enjoy, interesting to me if no one else, has changed little in the past few years: I still relish leading discussions of fine literature with articulate, intelligent others; I still love reading a chapter and dozing a chapter on the study sofa with four toy poodles upon my person and a couple of cats occasionally wandering by to assess the quality of my latest read. You may think, how boring! You would be wrong.

I also note that it’s a new year because the fall semester’s ended, and the spring one lurks.

I prepare my little 3x5 cards with ID photos and begin to memorize names of those in my classes.

Rosters have changed, so I have three new batches of students to harass about eschewing passive voice verbs and writing with simplicity, lucidity and euphony.

Two changes at this turn of the calendar make my “short list” of preoccupations – the salvaging of the usually beautiful campus as construction proceeds on the Center for the Sciences and Innovation – and, since I resided at 138 Oakmont court for nearly two decades, the administrative decision to convert those university properties to faculty office buildings instead of using them as homes for officers of the university.

I loved the writer, May Sarton, more as an interesting person of strong convictions, frankly, than as a brilliant prose or poetry stylist, but I have long used some of her lines in my speeches, and they’re useful here. Sarton

But, if this was my favorite annual hosting, the most personally enriching experiences of occupying as my home a university residence adjacent to campus were these two: n

See MEMORIES Page 10

Meet the Press compiled by Megan Julian

What’s your favorite part about working for the Trinitonian?

There’s something fun about being one of the first people to read the stories before they’re printed. I also really like the newsroom environment and I’ve made some really good friends through the Trinitonian — there’s really nothing like those late Thursday nights for forging unlikely friendships (and making you question your sanity).

What’s the most interesting assignment you’ve been given?

When I first started interning for the Trinitonian, the editors sent me on a mission to steal a poster that had some needed information on it.

If you were a punctuation mark, what would you be and why?

A semicolon — they’re not as boring as commas and periods, but a little misunderstood.

Abby Branch ’13 Copy Editor

What’s your favorite part about working for the Trinitonian?

My favorite part about working for the Trinitonian is all of the awesome people I get to meet. I have interviewed a lot of interesting people, like Andrea Medina who started the Pura Vida Challenge, and heard their stories. I have also met important people, like Mayor Castro, and not many people can say that. I would not have had these opportunities if not for the Trinitonian.

What’s the most interesting assignment you’ve been given?

One of my most interesting assignments would have to be the story on Ward Churchill. It began as a simple “here is what he talked about” story and turned into a major event which I, along with a few other people at the Trinitonian, had to come together to accomplish. We interviewed a lot of people in a matter of hours. It really tested our abilities, but in the end, it was a very informative story that included a few different points of view.

If you were a punctuation mark, what would you be and why?

I would be an exclamation point because I am a very expressive person. Whenever I am happy, the world knows it!

Pamela Torres ’14 Pulse Reporter

n

Opinion

What would you entitle your autobiography and why?

Chelsea Taylor Senior “Spillerella Strikes Again … because I can be quite clumsy.”

Stephen Culberson First-Year “Living Life Flawlessly … all the time.”

“

` But making art back then was more complex, and more risky, than it might sound today. There was an edge to those practices. And, at least to me, they still represent a healthy alternative to the winking-and-nudging irony and jaded skepticism — the downright cynicism— demonstrated by certain art of our time.

What makes good art?

Abstract Musings

by Michael Schreyach

Columnist

Mary Price Junior “The Price is Right … self explanatory.”

Megan Kruse Sophomore “Hot and Bothered: The Comeback Story of a Girl from New Jersey … the shore, need I say more?”

Cara Beasley First-Year “Awesome is My Middle Name … because I’m awesome.”

Taylor Capps Junior “All is Fair in Love and Cous-Cous … I love me some cous-cous.”

The question “What is Art?” isn’t as old as the more important question, “What is good Art?”, but both are older and more important than the constant worrying that surrounds contemporary issues of taste.

Our culture is obsessed with both decrying and defending “offensive” art. Partisans rarely come to a truce.

Historians of modern art like to point to Marcel Duchamp as the artist who deflected concerns about “What is good Art?” to plain old “What is Art?” in 1917. The Society of Independent Artists announced that it would exhibit all works of art submitted to its annual show.

Duchamp (a board member of the group) anonymously submitted a bathroom urinal as a modern sculpture. A majority of the board decided it wasn’t art, so it was hidden from view.

Duchamp had made his point.

Institutions decide what is or is not art, not the artist, and certainly not the public.

In fact, many artists in the late

“Four a.m. and the vents are spewing black mold: A working retrospective.”

Rory Davidson Junior “Tex-Mex Food Dependency and Other Issues: A Memoir.”

Scott Collins Junior “Mistakes and Existentialism: A Coming of Age Tale.”

compiled by Moira Allen

Such liberties might strike the contemporary viewer (if that’s still an appropriate designation) as nothing more than youthful pranksterism. But making art back then was more complex, and more risky, than it might sound today. There was an edge to those practices.

And, at least to me, they still represent a healthy alternative to the winking-and-nudging irony and jaded skepticism —the downright cynicism — demonstrated by certain art of our time.

Consider Damien Hirst’s recent sculpture, a platinum cast of a human skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds, which sold for $100 million in 2007.

This luxury death-head yields no redeeming Shakespearean contemplation of mortality.

Instead, despite the object’s scintillating gleam—or maybe because of it — I apprehend only morbidity. Its spectacular glitter distracts viewers from the inequity, perversity and resentment that fuel its institutional designation as “art,” like car-keys jingled and jangled before our naïve eyes.

chat informally with: Susan Sontag, Kurt Vonnegut, Saul bellow, Joyce Carol Oates, Scott Momaday, Jane Smiley, John Updike, Louise Erdrich, Margaret Atwood – and, yes, even May Sarton.

To re-phrase myself: I acknowledge the inevitability of change (though I’m still trying to get my mind around the death of my colleague and friend, Bill Breit, and the untimely retirements of two faculty stars – Sarah Burke and Larry Kimmel).

Even at 35 – or whatever – I realize that progress cannot occur without change. That being a given, I focus my reflections on the disturbed campus landscape and the altered use of the Oakmont homes on trusting that the values evidenced by having magnificently maintained, breathtakingly beautiful environs and the commitment to sustaining a sense of community will survive, even as these values that I consider fundamental to the essence of Trinity University, endure and flourish differently.

n Michael Schreyach is an

assistant professor of art and art history.

Memories of Oakmont n Continued from Page 9

Ben Anderson Sophomore

1960s recognized that powerful institutions of art, which had always been cozy with the wealthy patrons who funded them and comprised their boards of trustees, were becoming increasingly conservative. The political and creative nature of artistic pursuit was at stake.

Hans Haacke responded in 1971 with a piece for his solo show at the Guggenheim Museum called Shapolsky et. al: Manhattan Real Estate Holdings: A Real Time Social System. With photographs and public records, Haacke detailed a slum-landlord’s business and personal dealings with the trustees of the museum. His show was cancelled, and the curator fired.

Other conceptual artists challenged the institutional theory of art, and by extension art’s commodification, by aiming to make art that could not be bought or sold or otherwise subordinated to the market imperatives of the gallery system. The dematerialization of art proceeded apace. One artist simply bottled air from one location and released it in another. Eleanor Antin starved herself for 36 days in 1972 for her piece, Carving, documenting her weight loss through photographs in order to comment on the pervasive societal pressure to achieve an ideal bodytype.

First, though there weren’t many of us in those decades, each year the women of the faculty enjoyed an evening of 70s music blasting from the stereo, great food, good wine to be sipped (or, swilled) and sacred time to laugh, gripe and commiserate with other women in a mostly “man’s world.”

These relaxed gatherings helped us bond and develop lifelong collegial relationships outside our specific academic disciplines as well as some deeply personal, long lasting friendships.

The other primary “benefit” of residing at 138 Oakmont was hosting “wine and cheese” socializing or backyard picnics honoring some of the most influential writers of my lifetime.

This isn’t a full list, but just scan it, and be astonished at the richness added to the lives of those who were there to

“

Even at 35– or whatever– I realize that progress cannot occur without change.

“

Sidewalk Symposium

“

10 Trinitonian January 27, 2012

Surely such gatherings will still occur, but I can’t stop myself from wondering if they will be as relaxed and comfortable in the great hall or some classroom as they were in a university-owned house lived in and personalized by the administrative staff person who resided there.

n Coleen Grissom is a

professor of English.

Greek Life Happy Bid Day! Turn the page for the facts on each Greek organization Page 12 January 27, 2012

Pulse

Look Ahead Check out next week’s Trinitonian to find out how Trinity celebrates Black History Month

11

Geoscience professor plans summer trip to China n Three credit hour

course offers a mix of geology and tourism

by Pamela Torres

Reporter

Daniel Lehrmann, Trinity professor, and a group of about 12 students will be traveling to China for geological work from May 28 to June 20, 2012. The trip includes visiting attractions like the Great Wall of China and the Thirteen Ming Dynasty Tombs.

The trip will not only cover geological topics, but anthropological and historical as well. They will see rural areas, like the Guizhou Province in Southern China where some of the geological work will be done and shop in traditional markets in places like Anshun.

The students will be working with about 24 other students from Missouri Science and Technology and Guizhou University. They will participate in field projects, group investigations and small mapping projects and they will deal with environmental issues.

They will visit museums, like the Guiyang Xiaoche Paleontology Museum, to study history and paleontology.

Students will also learn about the Chinese culture.

“We go to a variety of tourist sites,” Lehrmann said, “One of the parts of learning is not just structured, and my intention is to expose them to as much Chinese culture as possible.

We go to traditional dances and different sorts of restaurants

for big banquets and dumpling restaurants and a variety of really sort of touristy things.

Those tourist things include big waterfalls and ethnic minority villages.”

This trip is not only for geoscience majors. “[The trip] is open to anyone that has had some interest in earth environments or earth science, and so, you don’t have to be a geology major, we do like that you have one introductory course in geology or environmental studies,” Dr. Lehrmann said, “My goal is to get a more diverse group of students together, so there is some that are more interested in other areas like Asian languages and cultures or anthropology, or even someone that is more interested in arts or photography.

My intention is to make it open for everyone. I like to have a diverse group of students; it just makes it fun and interesting.”

Grace Keesling, junior geoscience major, will be a part of the group travelling to China.

“I’ve always really liked travelling and I thought it was a great opportunity to go to China and get to do a little be of geoscience and do a little bit of tourism at the same time,” Keesling said. “I’m looking forward the most to getting to see and experience the culture first-hand. I was always kind of hesitant to go to China because the culture is so different from American culture, but I feel like now that I am with a group of people that I am kind of familiar with and with a professor who has gone there before, I will be more comfortable adjusting.”

photo courtesy of Flickr

The Great Wall of China is just one of the major tourist attractions students in the geoscience class will visit.

Brandon Shaw, senior geoscience major, gives a more geological perspective.

“The thing about geology classes at Trinity and in general is that they usually focus on United States geology,” Shaw said. “But in China it’s interesting because not only is the culture exotic, but the geology is exotic, too. So it’s really a one-time chance for someone to go somewhere and not only get a cultural

perspective by someone who is really knowledgeable like Dan, but also get the scientific perspective. There are scientists coming from Baylor and a lot of other universities. It’s almost going to be a research team just going to China and just learning complex geology there.”

This trip to China is a unique opportunity to gain experience while visiting a beautiful and historical country. Lehrmann plans to have 12 students

with him. There are still spots available and the deadline to apply is Monday, January 30, 2012. To apply, fill out the application form on the webpage (www.trinity.edu/dlehrmann/) and send to Lehrmann via email or leave it with the secretary at the geoscience office in Mars McLean 250. With the application, include a transcript and a $30 application fee.

Students will receive three credit hours for the trip.

Alumni Spotlight: Haley Mathis

compiled by Maddie Rau

Haley Mathis, class of 2011, who majored in philosophy and was the managing editor of the Trinitonian her senior year, hasn’t moved far from Trinity since she graduated—and she loves it!

“I work for Trinity University Press,” said Mathis. “When I graduated, I was nervous at first about what kind of job I wanted. But publishing just popped up on monsterjobs.com when I was searching for jobs, and from there it worked out perfectly.”

TU Press publishes a selection of distinguished books that contribute largely to culture and knowledge in regional, environmental and literary subjects. Mathis’ job at TU Press involves taking the first glance through submissions and forwarding on the work that meets publishing standards and criteria.

“I love the Trinity community and feel,” said Mathis. “It’s fun to walk around campus and still know half of the people. The transition has been easy, and it’s great to work for a small office—everyone is willing to teach you something new anytime!”

Mathis said that her education at Trinity helped prepare her for life after college. Her thesis trained her how to focus on big projects, and majoring in philosophy taught her how to think logically.

“The kind of liberal arts education and major I received made it so I could do virtually anything with my degree,” said Mathis. “One of the most important things that Trinity taught me was how to write—you have to do that every day in every single job.”

Mathis said that going to Career Services for assistance with her cover letter and resume helped secure her first job out of college. She added that as an undergraduate you should take the opportunity to talk to professors about your interests in careers or graduate schools because they can usually point you in the right direction.

“There are rules you don’t know, business etiquette for what you present to potential employers and how you present it,” said Mathis. “Career Services gave me ideas of interview questions to be prepared for. One of the career counselors also reminded me that as long as you’re working—even if it seems crappy at the time—it shows that you’re a hard worker on your resume. So if you have a job that might not be ideal, just doing something helps.”

Through her job at TU Press Mathis was given the option to take one class at Trinity a semester, and she chose Philosophy of Music.

“All the things I love about college are still a part of my life, but now I get a paycheck,” said Mathis. “Maybe I can give hope to all the people like me who had no idea what they wanted to do in college. I had never considered working in publishing before, but I realized that there are so many jobs out there I never even knew existed.”

photo provided by Haley Mathis

12

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

Pulse

It’s finally here, the day current and prospective members of the Greek system have been eagerly anticipating all semester, if not since Rush Kick-Off way back in October: Bid Day. Sometimes described as Greek Christmas, the day is traditionally one of the happiest days of the Trinity experience for those who choose to participate in Greek life on campus. The day signifies the moment when Greek organizations and their prospective members mutually choose to accept each other. Here is a profile of each of the Greek organizations on campus, so that students involved, or just curious, can know some of the basics.

Fraternities Bengal Lancers

Chi Delta Tau

Nickname: Lancers Founding year: 1956 Colors: Red and White Philanthropy: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Motto: Tradition Current President: Mason Lytal

Nickname: Delts Founding year: 1964 Colors: Gold, Brown, and White Philanthropy: All Can Ski Current President: Bart Davis

Iota Chi Rho Nickname: I-Chis Founding year: 1992 Colors: Hunter Green and Silver Philanthropy: RAMP Motto: Honesty, Purity, Tradition Current President: Chance Raymond

Phi Sigma Chi Nickname: Phi Sigs Founding year: 1996 Colors: Black and Silver Philanthropy: Any Baby Can Motto: To provide a fraternity for Trinity men who share a common interest in high academic standards, athletic achievement, and campus and community leadership. To provide a focal point for social activities aimed at bringing the Trinity community and student body closer together. To provide the member of the fraternity a forum in which to excel, learn and improve skills.

To better serve the community surrounding Trinity University.

Current President: Marcus Julien

Kappa Kappa Delta Nickname: Kappas Founding year: 1987 Colors: Royal Blue, Grey, and White Philanthropy: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Current President: Mark Nelson

Pi Kappa Alpha Nickname: Pike Founding year: 1868 Chapter founded: 2008 Colors: Garnet and Gold Philanthropy: Boys & Girls Club Motto: Pi Kappa Alpha’s members strive to be Scholars, Leaders, Athletes, and Gentlemen and they seek excellence in everything they do.

Current President: Patrick Crim

Omega Phi Nickname: O-Phi Founding year: 1979 Colors: Crimson and Gold Current President: Derek Tinker

Sororities Alpha Chi Lambda Nickname: Alpha Chi Founding year: 1998 Colors: Purple and Black Philanthropy: An Orphan Bright Star and Graffiti Wipeout Motto: Esse Quam Videri - To Be Rather than To Seem Current President: Deanna Husting

Phi Delta Kappa Nickname: PDK Founding year: 2005 Colors: Pink, Black, and Silver Philanthropy: Ronald McDonald House Motto: Terra Firma – On Solid Ground Current President: Cody Brehm

SPURS Sorority Nickname: SPURS Founding year: 1932 Colors: Blue and Yellow Philanthropy: Girls Inc. San Antonio Motto: “Love and respect for the individual creates a bond of sisterhood through which each can only grow.”

Current President: Britney Corbett

Zeta Chi Founding year: 1981 Colors: Red and White Philanthropy: National Multiple Sclerosis Society Motto: Individual, United, Active Current President: Karen Artola

Chi Beta Epsilon Nickname: Betas Founding year: 1952 Colors: Maroon and White Philanthropy: Gordie Foundation Motto: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference” - Robert Frost Current President: Ashley Harris

Gamma Chi Delta Nickname: Gammas Founding year: 1961 Colors: Green and White Philanthropy: San Antonio Rape Crisis Center, American Cancer Society & Habitat for Humanity Motto: In Unity, Individuality Current President: Kate Fulkerson

Sigma Theta Tau Nikckname: Sigmas Founding year: 1955 Colors: Blue, Silver, and White Philanthropy: Any Baby Can Motto: Wisdom, Courage, and Honor, which is what Sigma, Theta, and Tau stand for Current President: Leigh Ainsworth

compiled by Lauren Wilks

Advertisement

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

Greek council would like to welcome all of our new members!

See you at the Foutain!

13

14

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

Pulse

Trinity hosts government career panel n Federal government

Tiger basketball Trinity vs. Rhodes

professionals speak with students about their field

6 p.m. – 10 p.m., Friday, Jan. 27

Sam’s Gymnasium Trinity takes on Rhodes College. The women’s team plays at 6 p.m. and the men’s at 8 p.m.

by Lauren Wilks Reporter

Wednesday, Jan. 25, Trinity was home to a Federal Government Career Panel, just one of the regular services offered by Career Services.

Some students find the idea of such panels intimidating, but the specialized programs can be very helpful when trying to find a suitable career path.

The tone of the federal government career panel was somewhat relaxed, in that students were able to communicate honestly and openly with professionals in the field without being under interview circumstances: students were able to ask about how to make their resumes stand out and about specific career paths.

Christina Perez, career advisor of Career Services, organized for the four professionals from different sects of the federal government to participate in the panel, although the career services staff generally works together to organize the events. At the Federal Government Career Panel, representatives came from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, U. S. Citizenship and Immigration and the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The varied backgrounds of the members of the panel speaks to the level of commitment demonstrated by the staff of career services to enlightening students about their potential career options.

Lecture by Tom Cech

7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m., Monday, Jan. 30 Laurie Auditorium

This Distinguished Scientists Lecture will be given by the Nobel Laureate for Chemistry Tom Cech, distinguished professor of chemistry, University of ColoradoBoulder.

Careers in Biotechnology Panel

photo by Abhishek Chhetri

Federal government professionals share their careers and experiences with interested students.

The close setting of the career panels fosters an easy and open environment for honest discourse about the occupational field in question. During the federal government career panel, career services assistant director Twyla Hough mediated the panel by asking essential questions of the panelists before opening up the discussion to questions of the students. The central message conveyed by each of the diverse panelists in different ways was the importance of interpersonal relationships and the ability to work well with others.

TRINITY UNIVERSITY’S

DISTINGUISHED

SCIENTISTS

LECTURE SERIES presents

Thomas R. Cech, Ph.D. Nobel Laureate and Distinguished Professor, University of Colorado Boulder

RNA Enzymes and the Origins of Life Monday,

Event Calendar

January 30, 2012

7:30 p.m., Laurie Auditorium Free and open to the public.

The Trinity University Distinguished Scientists Lecture Series is made possible by an endowment gift from Mr. and Mrs. Walter F. Brown of San Antonio.

After the students in attendance had the opportunity to ask questions and make connections with the panelists, Hough reminded everyone about the extensive opportunities and events organized and provided by Trinity’s Career Services. These services range from information sessions directed toward the different undergraduate years to specific career panels to information sessions about particular programs. On a more basic level, the staff of Career Services is available, during walk-in hours

and by appointment, to help with resumes, aid in the internship search and even to talk out potential career paths for those who remain undecided.

Next week alone, Career Services’ upcoming events include a Teach for America information session, a career panel about careers in biotechnology, and a webinar entitled “Why Accomplishments Get You Hired.” These listings along with the extended career services opportunities are listed on the Career Services page located on Trinity’s website.

5 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 31 Woodlawn Room, Coates University Center

Learn more about opportunities in the Biotechnology industry.

Get first-hand tips on how to get a foot in the door and what to do to gain experience that will prepare you for work in this growing industry.

Lecture by James Kus

7:30 p.m. – 8:45 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 31 Chapman Auditorium

James Kus, department of geography, California State University, Fresno, will give a lecture on Peruvian archaeology.

This lecture is sponsored by the Southwest Texas Archaeological Society and the Classical Studies Department.

Food for Thought Luncheon Lecture Series-Jane Childers 12 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 1 Fiesta Room

Jane Childers, Associate Professor of Psychology, will give a lecture titled “Explorations of the Mental Processes Children Use When Learning New Verbs.”

Trinity Choir Performance Saturday, Feb. 3 Laurie Auditorium

The Trinity Choir will collaborate with the San Antonio Symphony in a program called “Broadway Rocks.” compiled by Joe O’Connell

Tumblr

The popular site has made microblogging that much more entertaining for everyone Page 16 January 27, 2012

¡Viva!

Attention, Seniors!

Real life is coming and it doesn’t all look pleasant Page 17

15

It’s time for Trinity to steal these awesome classes THE GAMES WE PLAY

by Judson Rose

¡Viva! Columnist

Online gamers: the butthole of the Internet I remember being made fun of as a kid for playing video games. I’m not bitter about it, people have had worse, and I think I came out all right (my doctors say I can finally own sharp objects again; little victories). A lot of it has to do with the view of gaming as a solitary, antisocial pursuit, and in many ways it could have been back then. Online gaming has been around for a long time on the PC, but before Xbox Live and other such services expanded online multiplayer gaming, the most one could do was have around four other lonely souls mashing buttons in the dark.

This is no longer the case. Today, millions of gamers across the globe join each other on the bustling frontier of the Internet—but it isn’t always such a good thing. Gaming is a social phenomenon, but it isn’t social in the same way we associate with people in person. If anything, the online gaming community— due to its relative anonymity, vastness of scope, and frustration implicit in competitive scenarios—is more akin to how drivers on the road relate to each other.

Think about it: in the car, no matter how competent a driver you are (or, perhaps more honestly, believe yourself to be), you are at the mercy of the other cars on the road. Not only do you have the frustration of traffic lights and other drivers impeding your progress, but their folly could actually kill you. The stakes are so high that most drivers can only focus on themselves and thus see themselves surrounded by vehicles, not other people. This is my theory about why road rage is so rampant: driving prods our survival instincts in a sea of anonymity.

Online gamers reading this will undoubtedly draw parallels here, but I’ll explain further for those not already on board. Like driving, online gaming is collaborative. Whether one is on a team or solo, their “destination” is to be successful, and friend or foe, these nameless people are in the way.

Unless you’re playing the Wii on drugs or something, gaming is typically a less dangerous situation to be in than driving—but it nonetheless evokes the cutthroat survivalist in many gamers.

This is why gamers can be some of the most offensive, abrasive and downright despicable human beings alive. Some of them will say anything to get a rise out of someone or even threaten physical violence (which always elicits a chuckle from me, personally), all for so much as dying in a game in which, no matter how “pro” you are, death is a reality.

This perfect storm of elements is garnished with the fact that players will likely never encounter each other again, giving them a sense that they can say anything and get away with it. Of course not all gamers are like this, nor am I exempt from my bouts of nerd rage, but it still represents a stain on an otherwise lively community.

by Megan Hageney

Students enjoyed the new classrooms that came from the completion of phase two of the Center for the Sciences and Innovation this week. While I think that the edifice is absolutely beautiful, I am slightly disappointed in the classes that are being offered there. I believe for future reference, we should take heed from other universities and offer some of their courses.

Images from Photobucket and Flickr

Maple Syrup (Alfred Uiversity, New York)

Art of Walking (Centre College, Kentucky)

Underwater Basket Weaving (University of California, San Diego)

The class looks into the process and profession of making maple syrup. This knowledge would be extremely helpful when I run out of bonus bucks.

At Trinity, this class should be geared for those who get winded after walking up Cardiac Hill, need help walking while simultaneously listening to music, texting and eating, need to overcome awkward greetings walking to and from classes or, sadly, all of the above.

I guess this is ideal for those individuals who repeatedly experience the qualm of wanting to swim but have too many things to hold.

Simpsons and Philosophy (University of California, Berkeley)

Elvish, the language of “Lord of the Rings” (University of Wisconsin)

Circus Stunts (Triton College, Illinois)

To some this show is surprisingly deep, and how could it not when the protagonist’s name is Homer?

The class is any LOTR fanatic’s dream: you could use this language to seduce Orlando Bloom away from Miranda Kerr— haha, yeah right.

I feel like this class would be super popular because it would help people’s dream of running away and joining the circus become a possibility.

Oprah Winfrey: The Tycoon (University of Illinois, Urbana)

Wordplay: A Wry Plod from Babel to Scrabble (Princeton University)

Sociology of Fame and Lady Gaga (University of South Carolina)

I would definitely take this class. Hell, I would pursue this as a major if this school allowed. Why would anyone not want to study this goddess who walks among us mortals?

In this course you literally play Scrabble and Boggle the whole entire time. Seriously, why is this not offered at Trinity?

Supposedly this class is about the sociological aspect of fame as exemplified through Lady Gaga and is not about the diva herself. Either way, I would take this class because I cannot figure this woman out.

Mail Order Brides? Understanding the Philippines in Southeast Asian Context (John Hopkins, Maryland)

Finding Dates Worth Keeping (University of Sioux Falls)

Muppet Magic: Jim Henson’s Art (University of California, Santa Cruz)

Besides learning about this salient issue, you can also learn the tools of the trade so you can snag a date for Tigerfest or Mabee so you will never have to eat there alone again.

This is in case you are an inept turkey and the whole mail order bride thing doesn’t work out. Never give up on love, young blood.

If the previous courses don’t work for you, it is probably an indicator that most of your companions should be inanimate so you might as well learn about puppets. Hey, they need love too and it’s better than a sock.

16

¡Viva!

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

Oscar nominations & predictions A

represents the predicted winner of that category as picked by Viva! staff members

Best Picture

Best Actress

Best Actor

“War Horse” “The Artist” “Moneyball” “The Descendants” “The Tree of Life” “Midnight in Paris” “The Help” “Hugo” “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs” Viola Davis, “The Help” Rooney Mara, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady” Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn”

Demian Bichir, “A Better Life” George Clooney, “The Descendants” Jean Dujardin, “The Artist” Gary Oldman, “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Brad Pitt, “Moneyball”

Best Supporting Actor

Best Director

Best Supporting Actress

Kenneth Branagh, “My Week With Marilyn” Jonah Hill, “Moneyball” Nick Nolte, “Warrior” Christopher Plummer, “Beginners” Max von Sydow, “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”

Best Animated Feature “A Cat in Paris” “Chico & Rita” “Kung Fu Panda 2” “Puss in Boots” “Rango”

Best Adapted Screenplay “The Descendants” by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash “Hugo” by John Logan “The Ides of March” by George Clooney and Grant Heslov and Beau Willimon “Moneyball” by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” by Bridget O’Connor and Peter Straughan

Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist” Alexander Payne, “The Descendants” Martin Scorsese, “Hugo” Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris” Terrence Malick, “The Tree of Life”

Best Original Score “The Adventures of Tintin” John Williams “The Artist” Ludovic Bource “Hugo” Howard Shore “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Alberto Iglesias “War Horse” John Williams

Berenice Bejo, “The Artist” Jessica Chastain, “The Help” Melissa McCarthy, “Bridesmaids” Octavia Spencer, “The Help” Janet McTeer, “Albert Nobbs”

Best Original Song “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets,” Music and Lyrics by Bret McKenzie “Real in Rio” from “Rio,” Music by Sergio Mendes & Carlinhos Brown, Lyrics by Siedah Garrett

Best Original Screenplay

Best Visual Effects

“The Artist” by Michel Hazanavicius “Bridesmaids” by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig “Margin Call” by J.C. Chandor “Midnight in Paris” by Woody Allen “A Separation” by Asghar Farhadi

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” “Hugo” “Real Steel” “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”

Information from MSN compiled by Brian Westfall predictions by Deanna Husting and Matt Kafoury

The Oscars will be broadcast on Sunday February 26 on ABC

Essential Tumblr blogs that you just need to see

Image is screenshot

by Deanna Husting I admit that I didn’t know what Tumblr was until I started writing this article. After researching and looking at over 50 Tumblr sites, I still don’t really understand the fascination or the purpose, but I did find some funny sites worth following if you are indeed a member of the Tumblr community.

Tumblr is considered social media — more specifically, “microblogging.” You, as a user, have a homepage that is set up kind of like a personal blog. According to the website, the average Tumblr user creates 14 original posts each month, and reblogs three. Most of those posts are photos. The rest are split between text, links, quotes, music and video.

Tumblr was launched four years and 11 months ago in New York City. Since then, the company has grown to employ more than 73 people. They boast of not having advertisements… for now. If you haven’t visited these Tumblrs yet, take a look.

I Can Read

(http://icanread.tumblr.com/) This microblog posts really nice quotes shot in photos around the world. You could call this site inspirational and unique. The author posts photos they take of these quotes as they see them around in the world.

Nothing crazy hilarious about this site, but if you are looking for fortune-cookie-like wisdom, your search ends there.

I’m Remembering (http://imremembering.com/)

According to the author, this blog is “Pop-Culture Nostalgery from The ‘80s & Early ‘90s. I’m Hillary Buckholtz. Publicist, producer & comedian. I was

born in 1979. These are the corners of my mind.” Some memory posts include: “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood,” toys from our childhood and the early computer and gaming systems.

This person literally posts everything you can remember loving from the ‘90s (and ‘80s) and I was getting overly nostalgic looking through them.

Story of Man

(http://storyofman.tumblr.com/) Story of Man is self-described as “The story of man is told in headlines around the world.” The idea is simple: this is a collection of news headlines that start with “man” (or “woman”). Eligible headlines must be published and must start with the word.

For example: “Woman coughed out a lung, new case study says” or “Man, teen sons arrested with 3.3 lbs of marijuana wrapped as presents.” The author also encourages suggestions from readers, and when all the headlines are read in order it sounds like a very perverted and outrageous story.

Texts From Bennett

(http://textsfrombennett.tumblr.com/) This site is probably the most popular with Trinity students. The author of this Tumblr says, “These are text messages I exchange with my 17-year-old cousin Bennett. He is a white boy that thinks he’s a Crip, works at AAMCO, has a girlfriend named Mercedes, and is one of the most unintentionally funny and brilliant souls on the planet.” The text messages are outrageous and their lack of coherency only benefits those seeking humor.

ÂĄViva!

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

Next stop for seniors: Real Life

by Margaret

Browne

Bring bring! What’s that? It’s me, Marge Browne, your wake up call! Having fun finishing up your senior year, making all those forevories, tickling the belly of the nostalgia monster? Well, stop. It’s time for you to start dreading your future and I’ll show you why.

Start by thinking about your future, but instead of excitement try to feel a sensation of horrible slug beasts snarling and coiling in your belly. Link that sensation with your future through repeated worrying and you’ll be on the right track to dreading everything to come.

Here is some prime real estate you can panic over:

No more excuses I’m not saying you should map out your existence from point womb to point tomb, but you are graduating, and you should probably have a job, a place of residence and a two year plan of action waiting for you at the reverse tunnel that is graduation (it doesn’t lead out‌

just deeper into the dark realms of reality). When people ask you, “Hey, what do you plan on doing with that or this?� Have an answer, because otherwise you’re going to look like the dejected, hopeless college graduate that you are. Too harsh? Only trying to help.

No more friends OK, you will probably still have friends. But now you’re on your own life paths, like two sea turtles caught in conflicting currents.

You’ll no longer be tossed in the salad that is our Trinity life, and without it to bond you, with the passage of time, you’ll drift apart.

Until you’re weeping gently over a distant memory as you drive down the desert highway, the radio crooning, “Every rose has its thorn.�

Mingling is the worst No more school pool to meet potential lovers under them covers!

You go to church? Now you’re stuck in that freakish Christian mating school known as “the Young Singles Group.� Time to start procreating in the name of Our

Lord! Yikes, no thanks. And bars?

Does meeting people in bars sound fun? Lemme tell you something, that redhead with the lip ring does have hepatitis and his ironic tattoo will not always be so cool.

New roommates!

New roommates are so fun right? Not when they are your parents and you are 22! Without a breathing mask placed in your life airplane, you’re going to end up suffocated by Mom and Dad. Or Grandma or Aunt Mildred, to be fair. Uncle Tommy? I’ve said enough.

Providing for yourself, by yourself!

Boy oh boy, this is a great one to worry about, and it will definitely wake you up at midnight with the dream sweats and fear shakes.

Taxes, utilities, rent, groceries, insurance — you name it, you pay for it! Here is a great tip: boxes in alleys don’t charge rent, but they also don’t protect you from rats or street performers with drug problems, so I’d start planning and saving now.

Brian’s Trinity

by Brian Westfall

ÂĄViva! Editor

Three celebrities that HAVE to be on the verge of a comeback Everybody loves a good comeback story. In light of this fact, I believe we are about to witness a celebrity comeback unlike any seen before.

A soul once forgotten by all but movie and TV buffs will emerge from obscurity and booze-soaked depression to brighten the world again with a multitude of iconic roles. Here are the possibilities: 1) Emilio Estevez Past roles: “The Mighty Ducks,� “Young Guns,� “The Breakfast Club� and being Charlie Sheen’s less coked-up brother.

Estevez has so many beloved movies under his belt, and his brother is getting closer to walking towards the wrong light every day now. It only makes sense that he can take his place.

2) Rick Moranis Past roles: “Ghostbusters,� “Honey, I Shrunk The Kids,� and being the epitome of the awkward dad.

You may not know his name, but Rick Moranis is that lovable nerdy guy that populated a lot of ‘80s movies and he did a damn good job. Now all we have for nerds is Michael Cera. Really? Yeah, let’s find Moranis and have him bring awkward back (much needed since sexy came back).

3) Danielle Fishel Past roles: “Gamebox 1.0,� “National Lam...� just kidding, she’s Topanga you guys! From “Boy Meets World?� Yeah, you remember.

Now Fishel’s only high profile role was that of Topanga LawrenceMatthews. But what a role! I say it’s time we put Fishel back in the spotlight. And if they happen to find Cory Matthews, that’s fine too.

Indie Overnight Playlist

Discussing music with

Isaiah David Putman

17

ÂĄViva! Columnist

David Crowder Band: Give Us Rest or (A Requiem Mass in C [The Happiest of All Keys]) I’ve heard a lot of Christian music over the years; it’s what my mom always listened to in the car when driving me to and from school. The one band I was always impressed with was the David Crowder Band, from Waco, Texas. Not only were their songs catchier then all the other songs on the radio, but they were also more experimental, had better production and lyrics that weren’t (quite) as formulaic. The band was started by some Baylor students in the ‘90s when David Crowder noticed that a lot of the kids at the school weren’t going to church, and it was because the music was lame. So Image from Photobucket the primary goal of DCB has not only been a Christian mission but also a need to fill a void of relevant and well-executed music. This album, as the title suggests, is the band’s last: a requiem for themselves. At an impressive 1 hour and 40 minutes, this album has a lot to offer, very little of which is filler. Like with U2 and Muse, most of the songs try to be the biggest thing ever, but DCB is more willing to go on extended passages of soundscapes that are not lyrically driven at all, making for an engrossing and diverse listen.

KRTU 91.7 compiled by Ryan Kilpatrick

1. The Black Keys - Lonely Boy 2. Ty Segall - Sweets 3. Los Campesinos! - Songs About Your Girlfriend 4. Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know 5. The Do - Slippery Slope 6. Duke Spirit - Northbound 7. Ani DiFranco - Splinter 8. M83 - Steve McQueen 9. Cloud Nothings - No Future/ No Past 10. Tycho - Hours

Ernest Gonzales: Natural Traits Ernest Gonzales is a San Antonio musician/producer and record label owner (of Exponential Records) who has also released music under the name Mexicans With Guns, and is also a computer/tech teacher at Irving Middle School here in town. All this after graduating with a degree in fine art; it happens all the time actually.

What never happens, however, is that a musician from San Antonio gets national media attention, and although Gonzales is not famous enough that you’ve probably heard of him before, that one of SA’s guys is getting praise from MTV Iggy and Pitchfork is an accomplishment A-lame-o-City has not experienced Image from Photobucket in a while (with all due respect). Well, is the album worthy of outside attention? Is it good enough to represent? It’s pretty dang good‌ mang.

Unlike last year’s double album “Ceremony� (as the luchador-masked Mexicans With Guns), which was a noisy, glitched-out, sample-based work; “Natural Traits� is an attempt to synthesize analog and digital sounds to a create a unique instrumental atmosphere of beats, 8-bit melodies and ambient guitars that doesn’t ask the listener to have to endure cumbersome let’s-dance or I-wanna-tell-you-how-I-feel lyrics. I guess you could dance to it, but the well-paced and steady beats are there to organize the washes of simple but gorgeous sounds Gonzales crafts into your memory.

'FBUVSFE 5FYBT .VTJD "SUJTU

“Kevin Fowler�

JO DPODFSU 'SJEBZ 'FCSVBSZ UI

'FBUVSFE 5FYBT $PVOUSZ 3FE %JSU "SUJTU

“Stoney Larue�

JO DPODFSU 4BUVSEBZ 'FCSVBSZ UI

Other Featured Entertainers

(FOP %FMBGPTF 'SFODI 3PDLJO #PPHJF t 8BZOF 5PVQT ;ZEF$BKVO +PFM .BSUJO 1SPKFDU -POHOFDL 3PBE 3ZBO 'PSFU 'PSFU 5SBEJUJPO $IBNQBHOF 3PPN -FSPZ 5IPNBT UIF ;ZEFDP 3PBESVOOFST +JWJO (FOF ,FO .BSWFM #BOE

FunPass!

1BZ *O "EWBODF 3JEF 6OMJNJUFE 3JEFT "OZ 0OF %BZ 4FF 8FCTJUF 'PS %FUBJMT t %PFT /PU *ODMVEF &WFOU "ENJTTJPO

A Family Friendly Event

%PXOUPXO 1PSU "SUIVS 59 t 'FCSVBSZ QBSBEFT t DPODFSUT t DBSOJWBM t BSUT DSBGUT t TUSFFU FOUFSUBJONFOU t GPPE WFOEPST NBSEJHSBT QPSUBSUIVS DPN t 1PSU "SUIVS $POWFOUJPO 7JTJUPST $FOUFS t XXX WJTJUQPSUBSUIVSUY DPN

Trinitonian

18 January 27, 2012

Advertisement

Sports

January 27, 2012

19

In this issue Swim and Dive scores big at meet Women’sll pg. 19: ba t e k s s ba e m pg. 20: a g Swim and Dive teams successful New sports teams coming to the area pg. 21: Columnists talk NFL playoffs pg. 22: Women’s basketball falls 1-1 over weekend pg. 23: Sports briefs pg. 24: Men’s basketball comes up short on the road

splits

n Successful

Friday night for the Tigers paired with disappointing Saturday game

by Brooke Sanchez

This weekend

Reporter

6 p.m., Friday, 1/27 Women’s basketball plays Rhodes at home.

8 p.m., Friday, 1/27 Men’s basketball takes on Rhodes at home.

Noon, Sunday, 1/29 Women’s basketball battles on Millsaps at home.

2 p.m., Sunday, 1/29 Men’s basketball plays Millsaps at home.

All day Friday and Saturday, 1/27 and 1/28 The Swimming and Diving team will compete in the Cardinal Invitational in San Antonio.

In The Spotlight Ruth Hahn Diving Hahn, a junior from Tennessee, has been selected as the SCAC Diver of the Week.

In a home diving meet against SUNY-Fredonia and Incarnate Word, Hahn won the threemeter competition and finished fourth on the one-meter board.

In the process of scoring so high, she earned NCAA qualifying scores on both boards. Hahn finished third in the NCAA championship last year and earned herself an AllAmerican slot.

File photo

Four swimmers dive into the water in a swim meet that was held at home last season during the spring.

n The Tigers had an

accomplished weekend after facing tough competition

by Chloe Pope-Levison Reporter

The men and women’s swim team travelled to Houston this past weekend to compete against Centenary College, a DivisionI school from Shreveport, Louisiana.

Centenary won the women’s meet by a tight score of 131.5115.5. Trinity sophomore Melanie Gustafson won the 200-yard individual medley and the 1,000yard freestyle with a final time of 10:54.43, a conference season best time. Junior Jennifer Ince won the 100-yard backstroke for the Tigers.

The first years were a major part of Trinity’s success. First years Lydia Jones won the 200-yard freestyle, Kelly Holton won the 100-yard

breaststroke and Sarah Miller won the 500-yard freestyle.

The intensity of winter training camp, which had the swimmers practicing twice a day and covering a daily distance of between 12,000 and 15,000 yards, took a noticeable toll on the swimmers.

“Our kids are still a little beat up from that training,” said head coach John Ryan. “That means sprinters are going to swim slower and distance swimmers are usually doing fairly well. That was how we performed.”

The Trinity men lost to Centenary by a score of 156-103.

Trinity senior Andrew Battles won the 200-yard freestyle and the 200-yard backstroke, while senior Alex Miranda won the 200yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle. Sophomore Lucas Belury won the 1000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:07.37, a conference season best time.

“We were swimming tired, but competing well,” Ryan said. “I

Abby Loar Soccer Loar, a senior from Colorado, has made many accomplishments in her career at Trinity. Recently, she was selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Scholar All-America team for the second straight season. She has also been named SCAC player of the year as well as D3soccer. com National Forward of the year.

Photo by Christina Velasquez

A Trinity diver jumps off the board at the home meet held on Saturday.

feel like we’re moving in a good direction as far as getting ready for conference.”

Meanwhile, Trinity’s dive team competed last weekend at home against SUNY Fredonia (NY) and University of the Incarnate Word.

“We had tough competition but everyone did really well, especially because many of the divers were competing new dives that they just learned during training camp,” said sophomore Katie Sheldon in an email.

On Friday night, Trinity had three of the top five scores in the women’s one-meter competition.

Sheldon scored in second place with 442.15 points, while junior All-American Ruth Hahn finished fourth and senior Lynne Bettinger came in fifth. All three women earned consideration scores for the 2012 NCAA D-III Diving Championships.

In the men’s division, senior Matt Hawley earned sixth place in the 3-meter event. In the women’s three-meter competition on Saturday morning, Hahn came in first and Bettinger finished third, both women earning NCAA consideration scores. In the men’s one-meter competition, senior Richard Hawley finished sixth and sophomore Drew Dinkens finished seventh.

The tough competition in this meet showed the dive team how much they had improved since the beginning of the reason.

“Everyone has one dive they don’t really like doing,” Hahn said.

“At the beginning of the season, it’s always up in the air how those dives are going to go. But at this last meet everyone did the dives they were supposed to do and for the most part, they went pretty well.”

The swim and dive team will come back together this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 27-28, for the Cardinal Invitational, hosted

by Incarnate Word at Palo Alto Community College.

Women’s basketball came off the road last weekend with a split of two SCAC matchups, coming to a 710 overall record and a 5-3 conference record. The team defeated Sewanee 87-74 on Friday night and fell to Centre 84-67 on Saturday.

“There are goods and bads from this past weekend,” said junior guard Anne Waidelich. “We can take confidence and a good win over Sewanee, but also know that we still have a lot to improve on.”

The Tigers jumped out on Friday night with an early lead against Sewanee; however, by halftime they were trailing by seven. An intermission regrouping fortunately led to a strong second half in which the Tigers shot better than 43 percent of their shots and outscored Sewanee by 20 points in the half.

We can take confidence and a good win over Sewanee, but also know that we still have a lot to improve on.

“

”

Anne Waidelich

Junior Guard

“It’s just a strong win,” Waidelich said. “We came out focused and were ready to play good defense. There was a lot of continuity on offense and we tried to push the ball a lot in transition, which helped a lot.”

Sophomore guard Murphy Burns led the team with a season-best 32 points, while first-year guard Hannah Coley followed with 24 points. Coley also added ten rebounds and eight assists. n See POSITIVE Page 22

Trinitonian

Sports

20 January 27, 2012

New sports teams come to San Antonio this spring n Arena football and soccer

teams start their inaugural season in the city

by Jessie Burch

Reporter

San Antonio is the new hometown for two sporting teams, the Scorpions and the Talons. With the arrival of the new teams, there is more to be excited about than just the games; students at Trinity University are also taking advantage of the opportunity to get some professional experience.

Interns for both the Talons and the Scorpions are learning hands-on about sports and business management, producing marketing materials, doing promotional work and event planning.

The Talons are part of the American Football League (AFL); they officially moved from Tulsa to San Antonio in September 2011. They chose San Antonio over contending city Los Angeles in part because of the strong football tradition in Texas. “We’re planning on having a winning year to get fans into AFL,� said junior Veronica Oviedo, an intern with the Talons this semester.

The major differences between AFL and NFL stem from the smaller 50 yard indoor field used by the AFL. “The faster-paced, higher scoring games make for an exciting sport,� said junior Emily Covell, intern to the Talons.

The Talons’ season will begin in March, and their home games will be played at the Alamodome. “It’s a lot of fun, but also a ton of work. I’ll be excited to see it all pay off in March when the season starts and we get to see a live game, with the Alamodome

filled with fans,� Covell said.

Meanwhile, the San Antonio Scorpions, part of the North American Soccer League (NASL), won’t start playing until April. Their home games will be played at the STAR soccer complex. “I am extremely excited for the start of the Scorpions’ season and the months leading up to April. Not only will it be interesting to see how the team performs and how the city supports it, but this is also an amazing opportunity to observe and be a part of a very high-energy, dynamic publicity effort,� said senior Brittany Losey, Sorpion intern.

In addition to providing entertainment, the soccer team is working with a local non-profit, Morgan’s Wonderland, an ultra-accessible family fun park. The funds raised at the STAR complex go toward subsidizing free admission to Morgan’s Wonderland for special needs individuals. “The Scorpions’ connection to Morgan’s Wonderland is a unique concept in that the proceeds from this professional sports team directly support a nonprofit organization,� Losey said.

All three of the interns heard about their positions through their Trinity professors. “It’s pretty cool to know that we have connections‌ At any other university, I wouldn’t have had this opportunity,â€?

Oviedo said.

Intern positions for the Talons are still open. To get more information, contact Veronica Oviedo or Emily Covell.

Whether working behind the scenes or just enjoying the games from the stands, this spring promises to be an exciting season for San Antonio sports fans.

5P QMBDF ZPVS BEWFSUJTFNFOU JO UIF 5SJOJUPOJBO DPOUBDU UIF 5SJOJUPOJBO "EWFSUJTJOH 0ĂŽDF USJOJUPOJBO BEW!USJOJUZ FEV

Photo courtesy of San Antonio Talons

Photo courtesy of San Antonio Scorpions

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

Sports

21

Choke artists from the NFL playoff games explained

Photo courtesy of Photobucket

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith talks to his head coach Jim Harbaugh during the playoff game they lost to the New York Giants

Guest Column

by Alexander Saadi

Sophomore

Last weekend was something else: heroes were made, decisions were questioned and professional athletes did some questionable things. Of course I am referring to the NFC

and AFC championship games. What I want to focus on are specific players from last weekend that stood out to me in both good and bad ways.

Let’s start with the Raven’s wide receiver Lee Evans. He had a clear touchdown, except for the fact that he did not secure the football for two more steps. He switched off mentally and it cost his team a place in the Super Bowl. Now this is a guy getting paid millions of dollars to do one thing and one thing only: catch the football. Give me millions of dollars and i’ll catch that ball with my mouth let alone my hands then take that ball to the bank just to make sure it

was 100 percent secure. I’ve always thought that receivers who drop easy catches should be fined a sum of money. Then they can go ahead and send that check my way when they get the chance; tuition isn’t cheap.

Tom Brady showed his class again and came up big. Love him or hate him, you cannot deny the fact that the man knows how to win. The Ravens could have and probably should have won the game, but due to a missed 32 yard field goal attempt

by Billy Cundiff they were denied a chance to win the Super Bowl. 32 yards? Must have been taking shots on the sidelines or something because that kick should be

automatic 99.9999999969 percent of the time. Besides QB there is no bigger pressure than being a kicker. It still should have been automatic from a professional kicker.

Now let’s move on to a huge disappointment in my opinion: the San Francisco 49ers. Alex Smith showed his primetime credentials in the win over the Saints, and at that moment I thought that they could make it to the biggest game in America.

The Giants had other plans though, and I give them credit; they played well. However, I think Alex Smith underperformed as well.

He was throwing like a little girl swinging his purse around hoping the football got to his receivers. On two occasions he overthrew receivers on play action. An elite QB would have made those throws, and Alex Smith simply wasn’t at that level.

Yet there’s another villain in this story.

Although Alex Smith did not play well, the game still went to overtime, where Kyle Williams attempted to return a punt. He fumbled around his own 20 (hold that thang fool!), and sure enough, the Giants were able to kick a field goal and win the game. It’s the little things that decide games like that. It separates contenders from champions. 49ers special teams were not up to par on Sunday and they clearly missed Ted Ginn, Jr. So finally we now have in front of us a Giants-Patriots Super Bowl. Disappointed?

Many people are, including myself. Personally I wanted to see something different, but this Super Bowl may surprise us…just a feeling.

I’m picking the Giants to win by 7.

On a lighter note, both Eli Manning and Tom Brady are Super Bowl champions…so what’s the motivation for another? Well, more glory of course, but also the winner will be guaranteed the time of his life that night (dinner for two anyone?) and for the rest of the year. That’s all the motivation they need, I think.

Oh, and hey Aaron Rogers, call Miss America back, would you? You could use the company I think. n Alexander Saadi is a sophomore

majoring in economics.

Stardom with sports players is new long-lasting trend Staff Column

by Megan Julian

Managing Editor

Recently, well, actually since I can remember, people have been idolizing, worshipping and sensationalizing athletes.

From crazy trends like “Tebowing” to people referring to Lebron James as King James, frankly it’s gotten to be a little bit much.

Not that I’m totally innocent myself. I have Peyton Manning on a pedestal so high, when he falls, it’s literally going to break my heart.

However, with the media today, it’s more than just being a super fan. There are practically subcultures created in efforts to obsess over these athletes.

I can’t decide where I stand. Am I on the side of the line with the crazy obsessed people whose No. 1 goal in life is to make it on tebowing.com (my father), or am I on the other side (with the sane people) rooting for my hometown team?

I’d like to think I’m somewhere in between. I may cheer for a team several thousand miles away and I’m overly obsessed with one player, but on game-day I’m just like any other Colts fan. I may get defensive when someone insults Peyton, but I’m open to criticism. I may or may not shed a tear when I see him standing hopelessly on the sidelines, but what Colts fan doesn’t? I’d like to think I’m not as crazy or extreme—that my obsession is justified.

I think most fans fall somewhere in the middle like myself, wavering from side to side, jumping on and off the crazy-fan bandwagon. We may catch a little of the Tebow fever or suddenly find ourselves rooting for the Heat, but soon we realize how extreme it is and we cut back—cancelling that custom jersey order, unfollowing @ KingJames on Twitter, limiting ourselves to only Tebowing once a week. We step back into the real world where throwing a touchdown pass and dunking are just sports moves, not acts of God or signs of kingdom.

I may spend a little too much time on the crazy side, but I can’t help myself.

Sensationalizing athletes has become part of our culture. Whether you are a fan of a relatively under-celebrated wide-receiver (my brother adores Wes Welker) or you are on the Tebow Bandwagon, it doesn’t matter—you are guilty of being a super-fan because at the end of the day athletes are just playing a game.

I cannot wrap up this column without discussing the negative side of this. Tebow may have blown up into a media star, but he’s also been deemed as the anti-christ.

Lebron and his fans may call him King, but haters are still gonna hate. Same goes for any other idolized sports figure—Tom Brady is beloved but he is also ridiculed and criticized by many (mostly me) and Tony Romo may have a huge following, but poor guy has become an easy target (Cowgirls and Tony Homo are pretty harsh).

So whether it’s positive or negative, it’s pretty clear that this fad of turning athletes into spectacles is here to stay and you are not going to escape it, regardless of what side you stand on.

Photo courtesy of Photobucket

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow does his famous move which has been dubbed Tebowing.

Trinitonian

Sports

22 January 27, 2012

Positive outlook for team Hello Trinity n continued from Page 19

Photo by Abhishek Chhetri

Sophomore guard Nicolette Halbleib dribbles the ball in a recent game.

Saturday’s game against the conference-leader Centre broke the Tigers’ five-game SCAC winning streak.

“We didn’t always take the smartest shots,” said sophomore forward Kelsey Daniel. “They were just not falling. We shot poorly; whereas on the other hand, Centre’s shooting percentages were really good.”

Centre came out with a strong lead in the first half, leaving the Tigers to trail for nearly the entire game. In the final 20 minutes of the game, the Tigers were held at 24 percent shooting.

“Our main focus was shutting down their main scorer and having a strong defensive mentality,” Waidelich said. “What really hurt us was them pushing the ball in transition. We kind of lost sight of our girls while helping to defend their main scorer, so there was some lack of communication that would have really helped. They were a well-rounded team, but we could’ve done a lot better.”

Waidelich led the team with 17 points, eight rebounds and three steals. Burns added 13 points and Coley collected 12. Daniel led in

rebounds, grabbing nine.

Despite the split for the weekend, the Tigers still have a chance of coming out on top of the West division.

“

We are now only one game out from first in the West, so we’re really excited to fight our way to first place.

”

Libby Kruse

Sophomore Forward

“We didn’t play as we usually do but we still got one win,” said sophomore forward Libby Kruse.

“We are now only one game out from first in the West, so we’re really excited to fight our way to first place.”

The Tigers continue their SCAC play this weekend, hosting Rhodes at 6 p.m. tonight and 12 p.m. on Sunday at Millsaps.

Breakfast of Champions

by Lydia Duncombe Sports Editor

After reading over my columns in last week’s issue I realized I had yet to formally introduce myself.

I’m introducing myself to the golden stars of Trinity, the ones that actually read the paper, let alone my column in the Sports section. (Most of you I know are my friends that I guilt into reading it.)

I started my journalism “career” in high school as a reporter and co-editor for three years. I joined the Trinitonian my first semester of college and have been on it ever since.

You may be wondering why I am qualified to do this job as some people lately seem to be doubting my journalistic abilities. Well I’ll tell you.

Sports have always fascinated me. Growing up I played almost every sport there is.

Not only do I love playing sports, but I also love watching them. I grew up watching and attending games with my dad.

Watching and playing sports of all kinds has given me a deep understanding of them; at least I think so. It’s also given me a deep love for them.

The passion I got growing up is what turned me to sports journalism, which I plan on making my future.

Being a journalist of any kind has been such a rewarding experience for me; I’ve gotten to meet some amazing people and developed some awesome friendships through interviews.

Not only do I get to meet incredible people, but I get to write.

Writing means so much to me. How else would the people of the world find out what’s going on? Someone had to have written it, whether on an electronic device or in an actual newspaper. It’s the way we learn or get to know everything.

It has also been a great way to share my opinion with the world. As some of you may have already figured out, sarcasm and sharing my opinion are two of my specialties. Controversy could also be considered a specialty of mine as I enjoy getting people fired up over a topic.

The cool thing? That’s what journalism is. Journalism is all about getting different people’s perspectives, whether those perspectives are actual facts or just opinions. It’s all beneficial to the overall structure of the world.

Did I actually accomplish what I set out to do in this column? Probably not, but I had fun writing it and that’s why I do it. Writing + sports + journalism = fun = Best. Job. Ever.

Sports

Trinitonian January 27, 2012

23

graphics by Kaitlin Browne

The San Antonio Spurs currently have 13 wins under their belt out of 21 games after the lockout ended in December. Games will continue till the end of April. The Spurs have no home games left in January but coming up in February they have three consecutive home games the first week.

On Feb. 1 the team will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the American Basketball Association with eight other NBA teams.

The Spurs will wear the uniform of the Dallas Chaparrals, who were one of the original ABA franchises in three games in February and March. nba.com/spurs

Seven months after the championship game against the Miami Heat, the Dallas Mavericks finally received their rings.

The championship marked the first one in franchise’s history. Rings were presented in a touching ceremony at the American Airlines Center to an excited sold-out crowd. The rings are said to cost $40,000 each. Head Coach Rick Carlisle introduced the nine remaining players on the team and two former players. Owner Mark Cuban then presented the personalized, diamondencrusted rings. The team went on to play the Minnesota Timberwolves after the ceremony.

espn.go.com

Joe Paterno, previous head coach for Penn State died on Sunday, Jan. 22 from lung cancer. His career spanned over six decades and recorded 409 victories. He is the all-time leader in bowl appearances (37) and bowl victories (24) and the only coach to win the four major bowls. Paterno and his wife also donated over $4 million to the university.

After the recent scandal with assistant coach Jerry Sandusky, Paterno was fired from his position after being a coach for Penn State since 1950. Since the incident came to light many people have doubted his excellence.

Even so, thousands of people turned out to his multiple tributes to honor his life.

Chicagotribune.com Compiled by Lydia Duncombe, sports editor

Trinitonian

Sports

24 January 27, 2012

Men’s basketball falls short n Away games

in Tennessee and Kentucky proved challenging for the Tigers

by Chloe Pope-Levison Reporter

File Photo

Senior Ryan Beall dribbles the ball in a game at home last spring.

Despite a strong effort, the men’s basketball team went 0-2 last weekend in losses to Sewanee and Centre College.

“Against Sewanee we missed a lot of easy shots that we could have, should have made, but in the second half of the Centre game we shot the ball well,” said head coach Pat Cunningham. “Our effort was really good. Our team played hard, and competed, and overall worked really hard to try to get a win.”

On Friday, Jan. 20, Trinity lost to Sewanee 61-58 in a tight game. Although Trinity was down by 10 points at halftime, they managed to fight their way to a 46-45 lead for a while in the second half. Still, in the last 15 seconds, Sewanee made all four free throw attempts to come out victorious over the Tigers.

“The biggest thing moving forward is working on the offensive part of our game,” Cunningham said. “Figuring out ways to make shots, figuring out ways to get better shots.We also have to work on our free throw shooting.”

Sophomore forward Zach

Lambert led the Tigers with 19 points and six rebounds, shooting 7-15 from the field and 2-5 from the 3-point line. In 25 minutes of play, junior forward Heath Hobson managed 15 points and five rebounds. Senior guard Ryan Beall contributed with seven points and six rebounds.

In the second half, the Tigers allowed only seven field goals, which are baskets worth two or three points, and limited Sewanee to 30 percent shooting.

We’re trying to play better as a team. We need to have more consistent effort over the entire game.

“

”

John Boxberger Junior Forward

“This year’s team is much better than last year’s from a defensive perspective,” Cunningham said. “Our man to man defense is better and our zone defense is as good, if not better than last year.”

On Saturday, Jan. 21, Trinity fell 67-52 in a disappointing loss to Centre College. In the last 2:31 minutes of the first half, Trinity scored nine points and kept Centre scoreless, going into halftime down just two points. After five minutes into the second half, with a score of 35-33, Centre gained an 11point lead and maintained that dominance for the rest of the game.

“We played hard against Centre, but the shots just weren’t falling,” said junior forward John Boxberger. “Our effort was there, we just weren’t finishing the plays that we usually do.”

Sophomore forward Robert Kitzinger scored 18 points and six rebounds, while Lambert contributed with 17 points.

Sophomore forward Jonathan Wilt had six points and seven rebounds and Beall had four assists.

“We’re trying to play better as a team,” Boxberger said. “We need to have more consistent effort over the entire game.”

The Tigers return home this weekend to play Rhodes College tonight, Jan. 27, and Millsaps College on Sunday afternoon.

“We have high hopes for this weekend,” said sophomore post John LaVanway. “We are working on being accountable for each other and coming out with a lot of energy that lasts for all 40 minutes of the game.”

Tickets are on sale Monday, the 31st from 11- 2 in Coates. Tickets are $5 only.

Chocoholics Anonymous Chocolate Festival 2012 Friday, 10 1:30-2:30 Esplanade Clubs that are interested in participating will be reimbursed up to $30. Please contact Megan Cubbler at mcubbler@trinity.edu by Monday, Jan 30th