theTrinitonian NEWS 3
Vol. 113 Issue 8
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK 23
SPORTS 19
Serving Trinity University, San Antonio Since 1902
ember class
new m Triniteers
October 09, 2015
of 2004
s u p m a c nded from
e p s u s s r e Trinite BY TYLER BOELTS
NEWS EDITOR
Teers re-chartered in October 2013. February 2014, the organization took a new member class. Spring 2015 A new member class was not taken April 2015 and May 2015, the organization had judicial issues (which include further sanctions from Greek Council - general probation, social probation, and more). Summer 2015 new information about the organization’s activities came to light. Upon the discovery of this new information, and given the organization’s conditional status, the University determined that an investigation should be conducted by Student Involvement. The organization did not fulfill the stated terms of the re-chartering agreement dated October 16, 2013, including: the existence of unofficial members and hosting events with alcohol (this was not permitted until 2015-2016 when the undergraduate membership reached junior standing); The organization is found to be in violation of multiple policies, including: hosting unregistered events with alcohol and using organizational dues to purchase alcohol; The organization is suspended for three (3) years (through May 2018).
NEWS...1-6
On Wednesday October 7, Michael Fischer, the vice president for faculty and student affairs, sent out a campus-wide email informing students and staff that the Triniteer fraternity will be suspended for three years. “After a careful review, I determined that it is in the best interest of the campus community to place the Triniteers on threeyear suspension. As such, the Triniteers lose all rights and privileges granted to recognized organizations, and it may not exist, formally or informally,” Fischer said. Fischer continued to note the repercussions of the decision for students affiliated with the organization. “Members of the Triniteers fraternity were notified to cease operations as an organization or face individual judicial action,” Fischer said. “Any students who requested or received membership into this unrecognized organization in the past or who act as new members moving forward risk facing judicial action, including potential expulsion.” The Triniteers began their re-chartering process in the fall of 2015. New information regarding the fraternity breaking its sanctions arose later in the year, prompting an in-depth investigation that ultimately resulted in the suspension. “The organization did not fulfill the stated terms of the rechartering agreement that dated October 16 2013, including: the existence of unofficial members … hosting events with alcohol (this was not permitted until 2015-2016 when the undergraduate membership reached junior standing) … hosting unregistered events with alcohol
OPINION...7-10
PULSE...11-14
and using organizational dues to purchase alcohol,” said Sharon Jones Schweitzer, assistant vice president for external relations. Members of the Greek Council received the information regarding the suspension at the same time as the Trinity community did. Cameron Archer, co-chair of the Men’s Greek Council, was amongst those students. “With regards to the recent Teers decision, Greek Council was not informed of the decision or investigation prior to any other students on campus. Greek Council has been provided no more information about this investigation other than what was provided to all students,” Archer said. The Trinity Greek Council noted its support of the decision to suspend the Triniteers and remarked that it has full confidence in the investigation that took place. “This decision was made at the highest levels of the school’s administration and as such we trust their decision to hold the investigation in the manner they did. This investigation has been an isolated event and in no way reflects an anti-greek administrative attitude or impending suspensions of other Greek organizations. At this time Greek Council and the greater Greek community are committed to supporting the 13 current Greek organizations on campus in every way possible. This community is strong and resilient and we are dedicated to remaining leaders and scholars on Trinity’s campus for years to come,” Archer said. At this time the fraternity will remain under suspension but there remains the possibility for an appeal to re-charter the organization in the future. “If the suspension goes without incident the university is open to working with a
multigenerational group of Triniteer alumni to explore guidelines for the reestablishment of the Triniteer legacy. The Triniteers are one of the university’s oldest fraternities [and] they are celebrating their 70th anniversary this weekend. They have a long history of scholarship, service, leadership and camaraderie,” said Schweitzer. The men of the Triniteer fraternity released a statement to the Trinitonian which goes as follows: These are times of tribulation for myself and the individuals I call brothers in this respective journey we all call life. I would like to acknowledge the fact that as an organization we’ve violated aspects of our Re-chartering process. The University gave us an opportunity and we failed. We tried, and we failed. As an organization we would first like to apologize and second, thank members of the university for trying as well. I would also seek to thank our alumni for their tremendous amount of support. I have lived a life in which tribulation has been constant. My brothers have helped me learn to fight through these tribulations and have helped me to grow into a man who humbly wishes to serve to others as they have served to me. As a former gentlemen of the Triniteers I wish to shed light upon the assumption that we, as an organization, have no values. Our perceived lack of values is indeed a tarnished perception due to the somewhat antiquated mindsets of several of those casting judgment. It is not specifically that those casting judgment are incapable of understanding our values; it is that they did not wish to try and understand. We have values that are heavily rooted in expression of oneself and, through such expression, understanding of oneself.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT...15-19
SEE OPINION PAGE 10
SPORTS...20-24
2
WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
WEEKLY PREVIEW
NEWS BRIEFS
12 MONDAY
National
This past week, Saturday October 3, 8 year old MaKayla Dyer was shot and killed by her neighbor, an 11 year old boy, after she allegedly stated that he wouldn’t let him see her dog, according to Jefferson County Sheriff Bud McCoig. The preteen used his father’s 12-gauge shotgun which he retrieved from an unlocked closet, the sheriff reported, and fired it from the house at Dyer, who was standing in her yard. The boy is being held on a firstdegree murder charge in a juvenile detention center. cnn.com
What: International Studies Colloquium- Ebola When: 2:10 p.m. Where: Northrup Hall 040
the SENAT Meet 14
STAFF PICKS
What: Trinity Night at the Spurs When: October 12th (Ticket Purchase) Where: Witt Center
Alumni Weekend This Weekend
WEDNESDAY
What: Trinity Diversity Connection When: 7:00 p.m. Where: Coates University Tehuacana Room
LET TER EDITORS TO THE
Everywhere
This weekend is sure to be a smash. Obviously all the coolest people will be spending hundreds of dollars to come back to relive the dream that is the Trinity experience. The best part is that there will be no parking, and the campus is going to be buzzing about people who went here. A long time ago. Also, to the owner of the silver Mini Cooper, please don’t park illegally. Claire will find you.
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.
bbc.com
Alternative Spring Break in
DOMINICA An educational week of volunteering in the Caribbean…
TUPDBriefs Location: Kings Court Date: 10-05-15 Time: 1:49 p.m. Classification: Theft
H.M., Sophomore
T.L., Senior
Location: McLean Date: 10-01-15 Time: 3:46 p.m. Classification: Theft
HONOR COUNCIL
Location: Herndon Date: 10-01-15 Time: 11:20 p.m. Classification: Texas Controlled Substance Act
Compiled by Tyler Boelts. Information provided by Trinity University Police Department
CONTACT US EDITORIAL Email Newsroom Editors Fax
trinitonian@trinity.edu 210 999 8558 210 999 8557 210 999 7034
ADVERTISING Email Advertising
ONLINE APPLICATION DUE 10/19/2015
Location: Ruth Taylor Theater Date: 10-03-15 Time: 9:48 p.m. Classification: Fire Alarm
Location: Herndon Date: 10--04-15 Time: 9:48 p.m. Classification: Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor
“This trip was absolutely so impactful and memorable!”
“It was an experience of a lifetime that I will never forget!” L.W., First-Year
“I learned so much!”
For a complete list of upcoming events head to trintonian.com/ eventcalendar. To request coverage of an event please email us at trinitonian@trinity.edu with the name, time and date of your event.
13 TUESDAY
What: The Lost Way Lecture When: 7:00 p.m. Where: Chapman Auditorium
International
At least 22 people were killed in a US airstrike in Kunduz, Afghanistan in which a Doctors Without Borders medical facility was hit. Differing statements have noted that Afghan forces asked for air support after taking fire but also that it was US service members taking fire. US General John Campbell has noted the attack was unintentional, and that the US would never target a protected medical facility on purpose. Others, like medical charity MSF, also known as Doctors Without Borders, have called for an independent international inquiry into the incident and attack.
OCTOBER 9 - OCTOBER 15
NEWS
trinitonian-adv@trinity.edu 210 999 8555
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. ©2015. All rights reserved.
Corrections
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See something wrong? Contact us and we will run a correction in the following issue.
NEWS •
3
OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
Oppression panel sparks controversy between clubs Trinity University Progressives hosted panel regarding the issues surrounding oppression BY ALEXANDRA URI
NEWS REPORTER
On September 30, Trinity students and faculty started an open discussion on oppression and prejudice in American society. The discussion included Trinity professors and students and was put on by Trinity Progressives. “The goal is to just to have an open place. So we do want to welcome diverse opinions,” said Kassie Kelly, a sophomore at Trinity and treasurer for Trinity Progressives. While different opinions were welcomed to the panel, the Trinity Conservatives Facebook group did discuss plans of disrupting the dialogue. “The issue that happened on social media with some negative opinions about the event just kind of showed us that as a community, this education and people coming together as the Trinity community at large needs to happen,” Kelly said. The discussion was sparked by the recent arrest of Ahmed Mohamed, a young Muslim boy in Texas. “The story is a fourteen — year — old kid builds a clock, goes to school, his teacher thinks it’s a bomb, he’s arrested and suspended for it and it captures national headlines,” said Simran Singh, assistant professor of religion. While the case and Islamophobia were discussed, the dialogue focused on the issues of prejudice and oppression in general. “While it may appear to be an instance of just Islamophobia, we decided that it was actually just a manifestation of prejudice in general and that was a great opportunity to bring more of the campus together and make it a broader discussion. The situation was a great catalyst to have a greater conversation,” said Nick Santulli, a sophomore at Trinity and co-president of the Trinity Progressives.
Trinity Progressives felt like the arrest of Mohamed showed how important it was to have an open dialogue about race and prejudice. “Ahmed’s situation was almost kind of like a springboard, if that’s the right word, off of the bigger issues. So we kind of focused on this event, yes because it brought to light so many of the issues we’re currently facing as a country and as a human race,” Kelly said. After discussing the Mohamed case, the panel opened the dialogue to the broader consequences of the young boy’s arrest. “This was the first time I’ve asked a question about a social or political event where I’ve asked my students the next day, ‘have you heard about this?’ and every single one of my students raised their hands. So something about this story is unique in that it’s capturing the imagination of the general public,” Singh said. The panel discussed what made Ahmed’s situation so unique in the context of American history. “There’s something in American history that is based on the freedom of religion. That’s the foundation of this country. Okay, the people that you established this country came here for the freedom of religion. Countless people who now live in America, who immigrated to America over the past several centuries, including members of my own family, moved here as political refugees who were escaping religious persecution elsewhere,” Singh said. “So on the one hand we have the story of America that is based on religious freedoms. On the other hand, we have the case of Ahmed Mohamed, and other cases like this, where people have been oppressed on the basis of religious identity. There is a long history in America of the oppression of minority identities.” The panel then brought the discussion back to the Trinity community by addressing instances of prejudice and oppression that students have faced. “How has this case affected you?” said John Jacobs, assistant director of student involvement. Students then shared their past experiences with racism and prejudice and how in a post 9/11 world, there is a connection that difference equals fear.
Nick Santulli and Beth Legg mediate for the oppression panel on September 30.
“I grew up Muslim and so growing up and going to elementary school literally the year after 9/11, there were police, because I went to a Muslim private school, there were police at our school. Thankfully they were there to protect us from people from the area who would want to hurt us or something,” said Sarah Zbidi, a first year at Trinity. The panel also discussed how Ahmed’s case was unique because it actually gained publicity. “This is the one case that happened to hit big. But for every one case there are thousands of other stories, including my own and including your own, that never get any attention,” Singh said. Other students brought up the question of if Ahmed Mohamed got the better side of the deal, being offered admission into schools like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and invitations to the White House. This comment sparked murmuring in the crowd and Alex Perkowski, a sophomore at Trinity, said, “He was arrested.”
Photo by Sarah Thorne
The panel continued the discussion of prejudice by recognizing that it is not just religious or racial minorities who face discrimination. Trinity senior, Nikita Chirkov, brought up the fact that he receives hate mail for his political opinions. However, other students brought up the fact that he only received negative responses when he spoke out and not for having a certain religion or skin color. “I just wanted to say you’re lucky. You should not have your opinion be something people are prejudiced about, but you’re lucky that you’ve only faced that once you opened your mouth,” said Elena Soris, a junior at Trinity. The meeting continued by discussing the way terrorism is racially coated and how, since 9/11, race and crime have had a unique relationship. The panel ended with the take-away that this conversation needs to keep happening among student leaders and the Trinity community as a whole. “I think it’s important that we continue the conversation,” Jacobs said.
International studies colloquium lecture series tackles Ebola BY ANGEL LOZANO
NEWS INTERN
Associated with Vanderbilt University’s Institute for Global Health as an adjunct assistant professor, Richard A. Nisbett — who has worked with both the World Health Organization and Centers for Disease Control — presented “The View from the Ebola Frontline in Liberia” as a part of the 2015 International Studies Colloquium: Ebola Lessons Learned on Tuesday, September 29. The International Studies Colloquium is a free and public event that takes place in Northrup Hall Room 040 on Tuesdays. Those who are interested in the budding global health program will find the International Studies Colloquium valuable, Nisbett said. “The whole purpose of this course is to be plugging into that global awareness,” said professor of modern languages and literature Nanette Le Coat. “[The University] is a paradigm for any other kind of relationship we have with developing countries, and so that’s why [Ebola is the colloquium topic]. Although [Ebola] may seem a morbid topic, it brings to bear all the different kinds of issues that we handle when we’re dealing with our relationship to the natural world.” The World Health Organization reported that the current outbreak in West Africa is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was discovered in 1976 — having more cases and deaths than all other outbreaks combined. “I don’t take this viewpoint,” Nisbett said. “But — there are people who have published this — HIV and Ebola
emerged out of a degraded habitat, and now it’s affecting the human population. However, it hasn’t been proven, and I think I’d be more careful than they would about that statement. But there is evidence that some diseases work like this. So [international studies and global health] talk about our relationship with the natural world too, you know? We begin to pose questions such as, ‘Are we cutting down too many forests?’ and ‘Are we putting too many oil plantations everywhere?’ Your perception changes depending on how globally you think.”
“
I see the whole thing as hopeful. I think it’s going to change West Africa. Totally. It has to. Richard Nisbett Assistant Professor
“
Adjunct assistant professor visits campus to discuss personal experiences and lessons learned
However, ideology is simply one aspect of disease, and Nisbett pointed out the fact that the United States has dealt with the same issues that Liberians are dealing with at some point, Le Coat said. “Liberians are 150 years behind America — that’s all,” Nisbett said. “That’s why it’s important to me to know that technology plays a huge role. Yes, we want a vaccine, yes we want good treatments — but we didn’t have those in 1793, and we stopped dead. Laurie Garrett makes that point in her
quote that I used — that there are many things that people can do, but we put money into the exotic and expensive things instead of putting money into social mobilization. [We are not] engaging communities who have a vested interest in stopping something. It’s their lives — they’re on the lines and so are the lives of their loved ones. As a result, there are just so many messages that can come out of this [Ebola] epidemic.” Despite the global devastation caused by the Ebola outbreak, both Le Coat and Nisbett find hope in the epidemic. “I see the whole thing as hopeful,” Nisbett said. “I think it’s going to change West Africa. Totally. It has to. So much of what happened in a country that doesn’t have good examples of role models because the best of theirs have left and there’s not infrastructure there for anything else. This international collaboration set standards and models and goals. I’ve got friends saying: ‘I’ve decided that I want to get a masters in medical informatics.” And I think that’s really cool.’ International Studies, with many facets such as global health, is described as a complex, new field, and the purpose of the International Studies Colloquium; a series of talks presented by field experts, is to allow students, and anyone on campus who is interested in global studies to get their feet wet. “[I encourage students to] get exposure to global awareness and what’s going on,” Nisbett said. “It’s really difficult. Most of us, now in our education, are using this buzzword of recruiting global citizens. Well to me, if you’re doing that, then anything that you talk about of global relevance is helping people to be informed citizens and getting out of their small world. The point is, to me, you don’t have to be interested in infectious diseases or something but in looking at all the connections and asking: ‘What is it and what does it mean?’”
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
NEWS
KRTU holds annual membership drive on campus Students help fund-raise for the radio station that broadcasts throughout San Antonio BY JESSICA LUHRMAN
NEWS REPORTER
KRTU’s annual fall membership drive began and will continue until October 15. The radio station hosts two membership drives throughout the year in the fall and the spring. During the membership drives. KRTU works to raise funds through donations and membership dues from listeners. This year the fundraising goal for the fall is to raise a total of $85,000. KRTU aims to raise a total of $175,000 throughout the year to cover their operating expenses.
Jeanette Reynolds, the director of development for KRTU, explains the overall goal of the membership drives. “The membership drives are the culmination of fundraising that happens on a rolling basis twice a year through mail, email and online campaigns. The membership drives are our on air effort to give listeners the opportunity to support KRTU and become part of our vibrant music-lover community,” Reynolds said. The membership drive is part of a larger fundraising campaign during the fall which lasts six months. “The membership drive generates the most income during our membership campaigns. So far we’ve raised $40,000,” Reynolds said. KRTU is working to raise the remaining $45,000 of their goal during the fall membership drive. During the membership drive, the KRTU staff, student interns and volunteers move up to the fourth floor of the
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McCollough
Student and Faculty Special 10% Off All Parts and Labor $5.00 Off Oil Change
Hildebrand
Wheel Aligment Brake Repairs Tune-ups Air Conditioning State Inspections
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13 , 2015 In Skyline h io
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Richardson Communication Center for the duration of the membership drive. Jaime Lopez, the general manager of KRTU, describes the daily occurrences during the membership drive. “The whole fourth floor becomes ‘pledge central’ as we call it. We have six telephone lines that are taking calls from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and we have volunteers taking calls and member pledges,” Lopez said. KRTU broadcasts live from their recording booth on the third floor, however during the drive, they broadcast live from two recording booths on the 4th floor. “Usually we have one air booth, and during the membership drive we have two. We have our lead host, who is running. And the daily host who is always accompanied by a co-host. Together they make the case as to why you should become a KRTU member,” Lopez said. Lopez explains that new and renewing members of KRTU have a variety of reasons for joining. “For our members there is that common thread — many of them enjoy jazz, many of them enjoy the fact that we support the community in the way that we do with small businesses, non-profits and local musicians. And in turn that’s why we are able to do these things. It’s because of member support,” Lopez said. During the drive, volunteers ask KRTU members to provide a testimonial as to why they become members or donate. The KRTU hosts read the testimonies on the air during the drive. Reynolds described one testimonial that KRTU received from a couple during a previous membership drive. Reynolds read the testimonial card which stated, “We listen to KRTU all the way from Berlin, Germany. Thanks for being the best jazz station in the world.” During the drive, KRTU receives phone calls both locally and internationally, according to Lopez. “It’s not just local — we’ll get calls from South America, Europe, Ireland and many more. We’re internationally recognized,” Lopez said. Reynolds explains that 50% of the operating budget is attributed to individual donations received during their membership campaigns. “Since KRTU is a majority listener-supported nonprofit, over 50% percent of the operating budget comes from individual donations, 20% comes from Trinity University support and 30% from underwriting from local businesses and organizations,” Reynolds said. Members receive access to 40 or more KRTU sponsored events and gifts depending on the amount the member donates. The KRTU staff relies on volunteers during their membership drive to make phone calls, send mail and help wherever necessary. The majority of these volunteers are students within the KRTU communication department courses, who are required to volunteer during a two-hour slot during the drive. “We’re always really grateful for the students who volunteer their time, otherwise we couldn’t do it. We’re only a six person staff — two of which are on air, two are managing the floor, someone will be off running an errand — so it’s students and community volunteers answering the phones and helping us process mail. We couldn’t do it alone,” Lopez said. During the drive, volunteers able to learn nonprofit fundraising skills that could be used in future careers. “Volunteers not only get an idea of everything that happens during the membership drive, including being present during our upstairs broadcasts, but it’s a great way to interact with our donors personally and learn fundraising skills that you might use later in life. If you’re interested in being involved in philanthropy, working at the membership can help benefit your future experiences in a positive way,” Reynolds said. KRTU’s five student interns are an integral part of the membership drive, according to John Morgan, the indie manager of KRTU. “Student interns help with programming, organizing events and dedicate many hours to this station, but they also find the time to reach out to the station’s surrounding community and become an integral part of receiving donations from lifelong members,” Morgan said. As a non-profit, KRTU has a liberty in programming that differentiates itself from a commercial radio station, according to Lopez. “In another radio station model there are different factors that are driving fundraising. If your on air content is how you raise money, like with advertising, that’s not the case here,” Lopez said. “Because many contribute to KRTU, we have a liberty in programming. We can program the music the way that we do. There are no factors getting in the way, it’s all about the music.”
NEWS •
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OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
Trinity distinguished science lecture series continues
BY ALEXANDRA URI
NEWS REPORTER
On October 1, Trinity University hosted neuroscientist David Eagleman as part of the Distinguished Scientists Lecture series presented by KLRN Public Television and The Mind Science Foundation. The lecture previewed Eagleman’s PBS series, “The Brain with David Eagleman.”
“
If you want to know thyself the brain is a really good place to start.
“
David Eagleman Neuroscientist
According to his website, Eagleman “is a neuroscientist and a New York Times bestselling author. He directs the
Laboratory for Perception and Action at the Baylor College of Medicine, where he also directs the Initiative on Neuroscience and Law. He is best known for his work on time perception, synesthesia and neurolaw.” The PBS series will consist of six onehour episodes that will discuss how the brain works and why people think the things they think. The show will begin on October 14. According to the PBS website, “the series, hosted by Dr. David Eagleman, neuroscientist, New York Times bestselling author and a Guggenheim Fellow, will reveal the human story by blending scientific truth with innovative visual effects and compelling personal stories. With barely a brain scanner or a white coat in sight, The Brain focuses on understanding the fundamental truths of what it means to be human now and in the coming centuries, while communicating these elegant and simple ideas as they apply to us and our experiences.” The program began with introductions by members of the Trinity community, KLRN Public Television and the Mind Science Foundation. The audience then watched a preview for the series. The video began with the lines, “this is the story of how your life shapes your brain and how your brain shapes your life.” The preview continued by providing an outline of what the series will cover in its six episodes and on the significance of the brain. “Imagine taking your laptop and tearing out half the motherboard and
Engineer your career… master your future
expecting it to still function. It would never work with a computer but it can work with a young brain,” Eagleman said in the video. After the preview Eagleman himself came and discussed the project to an audience of faculty, students as well as members of the San Antonio community.
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I wanted to address the big questions, the questions that brought me into the field. David Eagleman Neuroscientist
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David Eagleman visits campus to discuss new PBS series regarding the human brain
“I’ve been working on this project for about two years now and this is really my first chance to share this with an audience,” Eagleman said. After a brief introduction of himself and the work he does, Eagleman discussed his passion for understanding the brain. “If you want to know thyself the brain is a really good place to start. Now that’s always been a big drive of mine, this issue of how do we understand the blueprints of our existence,” Eagleman said. He then discussed the influence Carl Sagan’s “Cosmos” had on him growing
up. What he wanted to do with “The Brain with David Eagleman” was to attempt to communicate the brain the way Sagan communicated the cosmos. In the series, Eagleman addresses six broad topics: “What is reality?” “What makes me, me?” “Who’s in control?” “How do I decide?” “Do I need you?” and “Who will we be?” “I wanted to address the big questions, the questions that brought me into the field,” Eagleman said. With these six episodes, Eagleman’s main goal is to teach viewers about the brain and to give people deeper insight into what the brain is and how it interacts with who we are. “My hope with the series is that you will be able to learn about the brain and you will be able to squint and discern something that you might not have expected to see in these three pounds of wet, biological, gushy stuff, which is yourself,” Eagleman said. The audience was then able to preview clips from the actual episodes. The episodes covered the six topics Eagleman identified through interviews, experiments and other visual representations. The final episode, titled “Who will we be?” addressed the post-humanism stage and asks where our brains will take us. The final line of the series states, “Who we become is up to us.” The audience was then allowed to have a question-andanswer session with David Eagleman. “The Brain with David Eagleman” premiers October 14 at 9 p.m. on KLRN.
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
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Alumni Weekend Chapel Service
Sunday, October 11, 2015 11 a.m.
Margarite B. Parker Chapel Alumna Preacher
R EV . P AUL GAEDKE ‘90
Associate Pastor at San Pedro Presbyterian Church San Antonio, Texas
Sermon: “Mountain Top Experiences”
Members of the Trinity Choirs will be singing
O OPINION •
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OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
pinion
...
COMMENTARY
Interested in decisive conflicts or heated discussions around campus and the world? Are you and your friend, professor or colleague divided on the most pressing issues of our time? Write to us at trinitonian@trinity.edu with your guest columns and letters to the editor.
A trip down memory lane - and Beyond
For several years, the senior director for alumni relations has invited me to share my impressions of current life on the Trinity campus in remarks during Alumni Weekend. I’ve titled those observations, “Down Memory Lane – and Beyond.” Since I’ve served this community since 1958, the alums who attend the presentation represent a mind boggling age range, but, interestingly, I remember them all as youngsters in their late teens and early twenties. They remember me as I was when they were students: some recall me as I was at 24, others, as I was at 54 and even 64 “and beyond.” Trust me, this makes for a perplexing encounter for all. In preparing my remarks, I endeavored for years to present fresh observations and recently
discovered inspirational quotations, but, eventually, I realized that at each Alumni Weekend most in the audience haven’t attended previous speeches. Thus, shamefully, I recycle my remarks, only updating by including anonymous opinions of current students in my classes. I rationalize that this tiny update makes my speech fresh and apt. I feel no guilt in doing this; it is my recollection that most alums through the years/decades never paid much attention to what I said or wrote in a memo stuffed in their post office boxes (in those days before email), so I will likely be the only one recognizing recycled material. But, I must admit that I loved the responses to this year’s “opinion survey” and can hardly wait to share
them. The approximately fifty students in the three classes I teach were surprisingly Coleen Grissom of like minds The Short List in...their responses to my question: “What.... aspects of campus – faculty/staff, fellow students, facilities, grounds, technological resource – do you most appreciate and/or value?” Here are some of my favorite responses: “Relationships with both faculty/staff and students have made this experience worthwhile. I feel so supported and encouraged here. Trinity is full of lovely, passionate people.” “I most appreciate approachable
and caring professors and the infinite resources at my finger tips.” “Professors 100%. I think this is the only time in my life when such smart, talented, accomplished, dedicated people will actually care about me and what I have to say. The superb faculty is the best gift of Trinity.” How about that? If your answer would not be somewhat similar, I dare to suggest that you aren’t taking advantage of the best aspect of attending this institution. Even if you are a graduating senior, it’s not too late. Seize the opportunity to enrich your life by accepting this rare advantage of a Trinity University education. While you are doing that, I, of course, will continue to try to sneak into my Alumni Weekend remarks a few student views that I’ve used for
years in response to: “What do you know now that you wish you’d known before attending Trinity”? “You can run, but you can’t hide on this campus.” “‘His transitions were excellent,’ is a good thing to say when you’ve been called on in English class but weren’t paying attention.” “Liquor before beer, and you’re clear. Beer before liquor and you’ve never been sicker.” And, an all-time favorite: “It’s better to be yourself than pretend to be something you’re not.” As always when I “revise” these remarks for alums, I remind myself of Trinity University’s remarkable legacy and rich promise. It doesn’t hurt for me to remind you as well. Coleen Grissom is a professor of English.
Reflections on “Prejudice Today”
Don’t compare or even try
On September 30 I attended “Prejudice Today,” a discussionbased event organized by the on campus groups Trinity Progressives and the Trinity Diversity Connection. The main topic of conversation JEFF SULLIVAN was Islamophobia, a form My Perspective of prejudice that some feel is a formidable foe in American society. Ahmed Mohamed’s clock case was presented as an example of this type of prejudice towards people of the Islamic faith and also those who are stereotyped as being Islamic because of outward physical characteristics, such as skin color and clothing choice. Throughout the hour of discourse, panelists and students offered personal experiences of perceived prejudice. These stories, along with questions supplied by Trinity Progressive moderators, were what set the base for discussion. I left the event curious about prejudice directed against Muslims and its possible implications in American society. Yet, I must point out that I also left feeling like important points of discussion had been left out of the dialogue. It seemed as though the general assembly of amassed students felt that Islamophobia was a problem. I believe for the most part that Trinity students understand the negative implications of stereotyping and judging people based solely on their skin color or religion. However, I would have liked to have heard more about how students could be proactive in understanding and combating the deeper implications of a latent discrimination towards Islamic citizens and people in our country. Recently it was announced that the United States would be taking in 25,000 more refugees than its usual quota of refugees over the next few years, and undoubtedly some of them will be Muslim people fleeing tumultuous violence in the Middle East. I didn’t have a solidified reason for attending the event. I didn’t have a strong opinion on Ahmed’s case or on Islamophobia. Even after the hearing the
During the second half of high school, I understood that if I wanted to go to college in the United States, I would have to work very hard to get scholarships and grants that would help me pay my way through university. I went to high school in Buenos Aires, where the public universities are free, but did not provide the kinds of courses I was looking for. They also have nuances that seem unideal to many students that I know. At the University of Buenos Aires, for example, all students must go through a year of “filter” courses before they actually start on their four-year degree. And that’s if you can do it in four years. Additionally, most universities, both public and private, do not provide any sort of housing for their students. To my knowledge, there is only one private university that does. As a result, many students have to commute one, two or even four hours total each day to get from home to class and back again. But perhaps that’s a small price to pay in exchange for not being laden with higher tuition and, in many cases, students loans. It is not my intention to make comparisons. I’m just trying to state the facts about what it is like going to college in the United States, and what it seems to be like in a particular country, based on what I know from my own experience and other people’s. I got my scholarships and grants, opting out of attending a university that I knew would not provide me with the instruction I needed. Not that universities in Buenos Aires are terrible. I just knew that I wanted to be a good writer and to write in English. And for that, I knew it would be best for me to get a degree in the United States.
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discourse in its hour-long entirety, discussing the topic with friends and doing some research into the topic since the event, I still don’t have any steadfast opinions on the matter. Yet I’m glad I attended the event because it showed me that meaningful discussions are being held on our campus. It seems as though students are interested in these types of discussions on political issues. I make that assessment based on the fact that the Woodlawn room was at full capacity for the meeting. On a more personal note, I was thankful to be given the opportunity to hear about prejudice. As a student I understand that there are many political problems, topics and beliefs that I have never been exposed to or personally explored. Prejudice is one of those complex political issues that I would like to learn more about. I feel fortunate to be at a university where these sorts of interests can be discussed amongst fellow students and professors in an open environment. The talk sparked a curiosity in me to learn more about the topic. As far as the format of the discussion goes, I thought it was good. However, in the future when these types of discussion are held, I feel as if it would be a good idea to have a panel assert some sort of definitive point to present evidence and arguments for. Afterwards, the floor could be opened to the audience for questions and presentations of criticisms or contrasting beliefs. When the topic of pro-activity came up, one of the first suggestions to be made was to keep the discussion going. I certainly hope this happens. Systematic and latent decimation may be some of the most complex issues facing our country. I have faith that Trinity students will continue to work for better understanding of these complexities, which in turn will create better citizens for all citizens.
Jeff Sullivan is a junior political science major with a minor in English.
It wasn’t easy applying to different colleges, much less getting the financial aid I needed. But I can say that, just as the COURTNEY JUSTUS old sayings imply, Turquoise Verses you can achieve anything you want if you work hard enough. But there are still comparisons. There always will be. People outside of Trinity ask me about my tuition (many of them think it’s exorbitant), and many students at my high school reprimanded me for choosing to go to college in a country that charges so much money for people to attend college. But I’m not listening anymore, especially not to those words from the past. When you look at people who go to private universities versus those who attend public ones, American universities versus foreign ones, try not to make so many comparisons. There are differences in education everywhere, and it’s awfully hard to concentrate on doing well when you’re thinking about how other colleges are better or worse, either for you or other people. Isn’t it enough to know that you’ve made a good choice? That you’ve made a choice at all? Don’t get so stuck in comparisons and doubt that you can’t make the decisions that will benefit you. While it helps to know your budget, like I did and still do, and other influential factors such as location, your passion is what matters most in the end. Courtney Justus is a sophomore English and philosophy major with a minor in creative writing.
web editor: Kim Nguyen reporters: Jessica Luhrman, Alex Uri, Nipuni Gomes, Clint Schroeder, Sarah Price, Sarah Tipton, Paige Perez, Grace Frye, Dylan Wagner, Emily Elliot columnists: Nikita Chirkov, Courtney Justus, Callum Squires, Jeff Sullivan copy editors: Daniel Conrad, Zach Wilson, Emily Wood photographers: Karina Duran, Eva Littman, Jordan Leeper, Sarah Thorne, Nayeli Perez graphics designer: Binaca Chavez distribution manager: Nikita Chirkov advertising staff: Donovan Allen, Laura Campbell, Lauren Harris, Kayla Hood, Jordan Leeper, Erin Patridge business staff: Krushi Patel, Jessie Taube adviser: Katharine Martin
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
OPINION
How to push your beliefs at an inappropriate venue I’d like to begin by admitting that your title says it all. “Prejudice today: how to reaffirm what you already believe.” I completely agree. But what did you expect? Trinity Progressives and Trinity Diversity Connection sponsored this forum. By the time the forum occurred, the Ahmed Mohamed story was old news. Participants walked into the forum already having solidified their opinion on the matter. And guess what? The majority of them agreed with each other. Because drum roll please they are members of the SAME ORGANIZATION. I found it very obvious that most people attending would share the same general opinion with the exception of a few misinformed stragglers who would quickly adhere to the consensus of the group and a couple of people who attended to pick fights and/or troll the discussion.
Lets address your claim that there was “no variety to any of the perspectives” of panel Joseph Khalaf members. This Guest Column is simply not accurate. The panel was composed of a white female, a Black Muslim, a man who is often incorrectly profiled as a Muslim, and another Black man. All of these panel members had insight to offer on prejudice pertaining to the Ahmed case. You also mentioned that the participants were not very diverse in opinion. 1) No kidding. Although you are in the great state of Texas, you are at a liberal arts institution. And while there are other conservatives that share your beliefs at the school, many chose not to attend the event because they recognized that attending
wouldn’t have served any purpose. 2) The goal for this discussion was to have participants diverse in background — not opinion. Keep in mind that these events only take place once per month, are only one hour in duration, and have no pre-defined talking points so it is no surprise that even with diverse opinions, little would be accomplished. Next you expressed your dislike of the panel’s use of “Islamophobia.” I was not in favor of its use during the discussion either; however, I understood the message they were trying to convey within the context. After your point was raised, the panel offered “anti-Muslim sentiment.” Other people using or even misusing “Islamophobia” throughout the remainder of the discussion out of habit was not significant enough to warrant a multi-paragraph diatribe in your column.
These preceding paragraphs removed all doubt that you completely misunderstood the purpose of this forum. If you did understand the purpose and did not have an agenda to push, you likely would have opted to not attend because like the panel discussion, you didn’t accomplish much. What you “view to be a clear double standard in the culture of victim-hood” goes both ways. This point should have never been raised, as it does not pertain to the Ahmed Mohamed case (the purpose of the forum). This was your inappropriate and inopportune attempt to push your agenda. You steered the discussion away from prejudice against Ahmed and others in similar situations, and attempted to make yourself (and conservatives in general) appear as “the victim”. I’m sorry you feel personally victimized by students, administrators, and campus publications, but I hope
you didn’t expect sympathy from participants at the forum. The debate that sprung up about being discriminated against based on opinion or appearance is another discussion entirely, but it is appalling that you even remotely compared your “hate mail” situation to that of (and this is just one example that popped up during the forum) a woman experiencing discrimination based on appearance before her getting an opportunity to speak. Your statement that the Soviet gulag was the genocide responsible for the most deaths based on political ideology in human history is likely incorrect, and does in fact require citations. Even if this statement was accurate, it is not what I would describe as appropriate. Comparing the people who paid the ultimate sacrifice for what they believed in to you who experiences criticisms and complaints for your thoughts/ideas is inappropriate at best. You move on to mention that participants ignored a comment made by “the honorable lady” next to you. I see a couple of possibilities: the first is that no one heard her. Now I know that you got it on audio (good for you), but you were sitting next to her so of course it sounded like a loud exclamation. The second possibility is that since her comment was not relevant to the conversation, it was ignored. This was not an attack against you or your beliefs. Please be aware that apathy is not the same as antipathy. You mention that you are “quite sure” that you would be arrested if you pulled the same “stunt” that Ahmed did. Is this true? Maybe. It is impossible to replicate, but I too can be “quite sure” that your situation would have been handled much differently. In conclusion, I do agree that you should have spent your time writing about the events that happened at the UN and Syria. What I initially thought to be a synopsis of the forum turned out to be a self-serving vituperation of the panel in a desperate and failed attempt to get last word after the panel didn’t entertain your commentary. I do appreciate that your article addressed the ineffectiveness of the panel, but similarly to your comments in person, your article digresses from what could have been a constructive argument and morphed into a continued attempt to push your agenda, and express your discontent with the panel because you didn’t have realistic expectations. You even mention that “these events will simply become pointless reiterations of unilateral opinion that foster nothing more than what the majority already knew before walking in the door.” Surely you knew that people attended in order to voice “their” opinion on the topic, get an ego boost when people of course agree, and walk away feeling better about themselves for having attended such a progressive event (pun intended). While you have every right to attend an open discussion, for your purposes I recommend hosting your own or attending one with a more receptive audience. If you are looking to challenge opinions, attend a debate. Prejudice today was a discussion—not a debate. I’m not saying the forum wasn’t pointless because it arguably was, but your commentary and points raised at the forum were equally as pointless. Joseph Khalaf is a sophomore accounting and finance major.
OPINION •
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OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
A defense of the Prejudice Panel
As I’m sure you’re all now aware, Trinity Progressives (in association with TDC) held a Prejudice Panel to discuss “prejudice and the ways it manifests itself from a variety of perspectives.” While it was called in response to Ahmed Mohamed’s arrest, its purpose was to discuss Islamic prejudice and allow students to explore ways to combat it. The panel itself hosted professors, faculty, and a student in order to provide a variety of views and opinions on prejudice and its manifestations. In the last issue of the Trinitonian, Nikita Chirkov wrote an opinion piece criticizing this panel. This article aims to respond to his critique and point out the flaws in his arguments. One of the most pressing problems with the article lies with how the term Islamophobia is defined. Nikita claims that the term is used to classify critics of Islam as “racist lunatics” in order to delegitimize their arguments. However, all one needs to do is look at the etymology of the word (and take a quick glance online for a fully-fleshed definition) to see the problems with this interpretation. Islamophobia stems from two roots: Islam and –phobia. Islam, while it does refer to the religion, in this context includes not only those who practice Islam but those who “look” like they do; -phobia obviously refers to an extreme fear. It is thus easy to come to
the full definition of the term, as is here provided by Gallup: “An exaggerated fear, hatred, and hostility toward Islam and Muslims that is Anne Belleville perpetuated by Guest Column negative stereotypes resulting in bias, discrimination, and the marginalization and exclusion of Muslims from social, political, and civic life.” It is important here to separate the religion from the people who practice it (or at least fit the stereotype of someone who does). Islam, as a religion, is thus open to criticism; one does not need to be afraid of something to criticize it. The term Islamophobia is reserved for those who take criticism a step further into active hatred and who discriminate and marginalize those who practice it. It is this critical distinction that Nikita overlooks and thus his use of the term is inherently flawed. Upon reaching this conclusion it is clear that his qualms over the term simply serve to obfuscate the real issues at hand and don’t actually serve as a valid criticism of the term, the topic, or the panel. The next major problem that Nikita addresses is the lack of “variety” of the panel – specifically political variety. However, prejudice is a non-partisan
issue that exists outside of the political spectrum. The variety of the panel thus doesn’t lie in any political leanings, but on the different views they have to offer on the potential origins and manifestations of prejudice as well as how to deal with and respond to its many forms in the real world. Furthermore, looking at his critique surrounding “discrimination based on ideology,” it is easy to see that it lacks topicality. The existence of prejudice is not really up for debate, and the existence of one form of discrimination doesn’t negate the existence of another. Just because discrimination of ideology exists doesn’t mean that “anti-Muslim sentiment” does not; they can both exist at the same time. Playing the game of “Who’s more oppressed?” never leads to anything constructive, and by bringing it up here Nikita simply derails the discussion at hand. This panel was meant to be a discussion about Islamic prejudice (a discussion implies different perspectives and opinions – opinions that you might not agree with). It’s unfortunate that it has instead been degraded to a handful of buzzwords and mulish contempt.
Annie Belleville is a sophomore East Asian Studies major and English minor
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
OPINION
EDITORIAL
Teers, sweat and blood: the ongoing Greek Life battle Stand aside child discipline and John McAfee, let’s talk about something important. Greek life. Wait, don’t turn the page. This is important we swear. We know you’ve heard it all before, and may be disenfranchised by the ongoing shenanigans of our “Greek life versus administration” showdown, but bear with us. Recent news has reached our ears, and yours, of the Triniteers’ 3 year suspension following an investigation of violations. Just in time for their 70th anniversary and Alumni Weekend. Nice timing. While the information has been sparse on the exact details (see our front page story), the decision comes alongside an ongoing string of suspensions, bans and charter revoking, from the Pikes to the 2012 incidents. We aren’t trying to say the administration is going out of their way to attack fraternities and sororities, or even targeting specific ones more than others. Not quite. It’s just that they likely don’t want to spend the time having to do so. Time is money, and money is everything for any effective administration. If an organization, Greek or not, wants to or does — for lack of a better word — waste the university’s time, then its no surprise said organization will be dismissed. Sure, organizations should exist without having to justify said existence or have to simply comply with the administration’s goals and ideals, but should they exist in a form that primarily hurts those goals and ideals it’s likely they will face retribution. If the negatives outweigh the positives after all. Whether or not the Teers’ suspension was justified is unknown at this time, at least from our viewpoint. Simply because the administration deems something wrong or
issues a punishment doesn’t always make it such. If fraternities or sororities are responsible for heinous hazing or actions resulting in student harm or other forms of damage, we can likely agree that they must own the responsibility and punishments. But does that past history and mistakes constrain the future members responsible? Can they be blamed for wanting to continue their traditions and history, at least the “good” parts, even in the face of punishment? Why should those, innocent to the crimes, be forced to pay for the past mistakes of former members? The focus should be on rehabilitation, not on punishment. We’re in college. Let us make, and learn from, our mistakes. But then again, at what point does rehabilitation cease to be viable? When is such effort wasted on its prisoner, possibly when they may even ignore such efforts? The answer likely differs from the administration to Greek Life to students and faculty. It’s the drawing of a line that’s important. Why punishments are given and why steps are taken needs to be outlined and open if anyone can hope to have an understanding and clear opinion on the matter. This doesn’t just affect Greek Life. It affects all of us at Trinity, alumni included. Our image, our reputation, even our connections and friendships. So pay attention. Voice your opinion. If everyone feels differently on the matter it is only more reason to try harder to make the line clear, and to make it a boundary that reflects everyone’s views to the best of its ability. Not everyone may be happy with certain decisions. Especially when such decisions intimately affect members of our community.
Unfair or not, the decision has been made. Now it’s our turn to voice our support our objections if we want to change anything. If we are to face punishment I’d like to face it in front of the whole campus, not behind closed doors. Issues are sensitive and timely, we understand. Let’s just not forget the impact of
such issues and decisions if we want to have a real discussion on them. And the sooner the conversation, the better. Whose head will roll next? O-Phis’? Kappas’? Maybe even the Gammas’? We think not. But there is a likely victim. Watch your backs Trinity Cat Alliance. Every dog will have its day.
W H O ’S
NEXT? Fraternity suspended continued from FRONT
Individuals all have their respective tribulations in which they must learn to grow and overcome. Many people find routes to gaining perspective that are not condoned and are commonly stigmatized by society. While our values may not find grounding in traditional views and ideals it is important to understand that in this society there are those who seek to find perspective through such stigmatized routes. As a freshmen I for one found myself in this demographic. I was searching for answers and hoping to find a niche in life in which I could contribute something pure, something honest. In our time here we have served to each other as brothers that are holistically accepting of one another. Our perceived lack of values is derivative of the fact that others never tried to quantify and empathize with what we believe in. We believe in the fact that those individuals who are much like ourselves deserve to find a place in which the very stigmatization that misguides many minds can be looked past. We believe that these individuals deserve to find a place in which they can fully express themselves and search for their purpose in life without anything holding them down. We believe that because we have lived and experienced life through a similar lens we should seek to help mold and guide these individuals into becoming gentlemen. Sadly, as an organization we never found the opportunity in which we could help the individuals that, much like ourselves, were seeking to find answers through unconventional paths. I only wish that we could’ve had the opportunity to truly be understood. The creed of the Triniteers lies firmly in the idea that one’s choices are theirs alone. The men of the Triniteers have never been forced, let alone asked to change, to fit a mold. In a rapidly changing world this fundamental value is a bad fit. We are, by nature repulsed by the idea of conformity, and asking for such defeats the purpose of our club. -James Clarke and The Gentlemen of the Triniteers
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11
ulse
Pizza by the slice and relationship advice Third lecture in series focuses on healthy relationships BY NIPUNI GOMES PULSE REPORTER
On Thursday September 1, the third Pizza and Pleasure lecture of the semester broached the topic of healthy and unhealthy relationships. Katherine Hewitt, wellness coordinator for Counseling Services, held an interactive seminar on determining good relationship health and identifying warning signs of toxic relationships. The event was held in the Woodlawn Room in Coates University Center and was open to all students. “I think in terms of this particular age group, you grow so much from the time that you arrive on campus to the time that you graduate. Students are just learning more about themselves and what they can accomplish and what they can make their own identity, and part of that is being able to incorporate the relationship piece,” Hewitt said. During their time in college, students may decide that they wish to stay single or that they will engage in romantic relationships. Hewitt points out that, regardless of what that decision is, a lot of underlying themes remain the same. “You still want to be respected, you still want to have trust in yourself and your partner, you still want to be honest with that person when you find the right connection, and you still, if appropriate, need to set up boundaries for yourself. All of those things are relevant in terms of how your semester can play out, how your year or even your whole four-year experience can play out,” Hewitt said. The Pizza and Pleasure lecture series was initiated by Richard Reams, associate director of Counseling Services. Reams
began this effort upon noticing that Trinity, unlike many other colleges, does not offer a course on sexuality. “I thought having a series on sexuality would fill the gap a little bit. I think relationships and love and sex is something on the minds of most Trinity students in the range of seventeen to twenty two years [of age]. [It is important] to be prepared and to reflect on how your experiences have been so far,” Reams said. “I think this is a really important topic for students to engage with someone who is knowledgeable about health and wellness on campus. We can learn a lot about how we should be thinking about relationships, not only with each other, but also other things like our relationship to our body and our health and
our minds, like, are we doing the right things we need to stay healthy. […] And what things you need to think about in terms of being on a college campus and what that looks like,” said senior Hayley Sayrs, president of the TU Fit health club. Despite the importance of the topics discussed in the Pizza and Pleasure lectures, there is a certain stigma among students about attending the events. Many students are reluctant to take part in the lectures for fear of being negatively judged by their peers. Reams believes that such stigma should not exist.
“For the vast majority of students, probably at least ninety five percent, relationships, love and sex is a natural thing to be concerned about, to desire at some point in your life. So, what is the stigma when you share it with ninety five percent of other people?” Reams said. “I think everyone can learn more about how to be a better partner, how to be a better person in the community. I think it’s important for all of us to question and think on a regular basis about our relationships and whether they are helping us succeed and be the person we want to be or holding us back from being that person.” Sayrs said.
Gamma Chi Delta selected as finalist in fundraising contest Trinity sorority seeks to earn funds for annual philanthropy project through social media campaign BY EMILY ELLIOTT PULSE REPORTER During the month of September, the ladies of Gamma Chi Delta had an extraordinary opportunity on social media to raise $5000 through Kendra Scott, a wellknown jewelry company. The sorority competed against three other sororities from different colleges, including Louisiana State University, Arizona State University, and the University of Central Oklahoma, in the #YouDoGood contest. For this particular contest, the Kendra Scott Facebook page posted pictures and links to each of the four sororities, and whichever organization received the most
likes would win $5000 to donate to their philanthropy, as well as a $5000 Kendra Scott gift card. Although our university’s sorority was up against larger organizations at bigger universities, Gamma Chi Delta stood out as an impressive competitor. Gamma Chi Delta throws a benefit concert every year to raise money to send children to their philanthropy, Camp Discovery, a program that sends patients suffering from illnesses such as cancer to camp. Since the formation of Concert for the Cure in 2005, the sorority has donated over $150,000 towards the cause; an additional $5000 from the Kendra Scott contest would have allowed
the members of the sorority to donate enough money for five more patients to attend Camp Discovery. “Over the summer, our Concert for the Cure chair, Nicole Thomason, sent out an email that Kendra Scott was doing a contest, and because some of us had gone to visit Camp Discovery this summer, we felt like we could make a really cool video. So we made one and entered it,” said Claire Poland, a sophomore member of the sorority. The video appealed to the contest-holders, and as September began, so did the race to get earn the most likes. In order to garner as many likes as possible, the members
of Gamma Chi Delta used as many resources as they could. “We reached out to every network we had, from people who some girls had interned with over the summer, to our alumni, to people on campus that could broadcast it to a larger pool,” Poland said. Although Gamma Chi Delta was a smaller, less familiar sorority than its competitors, the members were able to reach out and obtain a significant amount of likes. “I felt so proud that our organization, a local sorority, could compete with three national sororities at huge schools. I mean, we got more likes on our photo than students at Trinity,” Poland said.
No matter the results, the ability to participate in this contest was phenomenal, and the members of Gamma Chi Delta are proud to have been included. “Mostly I was honored to be able to be in a club with girls who are passionate about the philanthropy we support,” Poland said. Although the sorority didn’t win, the opportunity was a remarkable way to bring the members of Gamma Chi Delta closer together, while simultaneously bringing the entire Trinity community and surrounding areas together to help support a tremendous cause.
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
CAMPUS PULSE
Entrepreneurship course proves successful
Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to incorporate class as option for Trinity students BY NIPUNI GOMES
PULSE REPORTER Back in the beginning of the semester, Trinity University hosted the Discover America via San Antonio (DASA) program, in which twenty Fulbright scholars from different parts of Germany stayed on campus and took part in a Social Entrepreneurship course for three weeks. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship plans to expand this course to a full threecredit hour class for Trinity students in the near future. “Social entrepreneurship [involves] enterprises, ventures and programs centered on addressing a social issue in a sustainable way. You utilize business principles and the concept of profit-cost, so that you adopt a model that survives longterm and that also does not involve a constant source of philanthropy and donations as a business model,” said Luis Martinez, director for the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “In a more general sense, social entrepreneurship is a class where thinking outside the box is really
emphasized as a skill set to have. We had a workshop about design thinking. You tackle issues about problems that you experience in whatever fields [in which] you specialize, in maybe a non-traditional or different way than it used to be and different from [what] people [are] telling you [about how] you have to solve an issue,” said DASA participant Hayam Mohseni. The goal of social entrepreneurship, according to Martinez, is neither profit nor building shareholder value, but to address a social problem via a mechanism fundamentally different than a governmentcentered approach, a religiously affiliated approach, or traditional NGO approach. The course was offered to the DASA students as a way for them to gain perspective on the ways different countries have of approaching social issues. “Germany is obviously a very different country than the United States, and the social net and the social services provided through the German government both at the federal, state and local level are much more encompassing than those here
in the United States. So, when you come to the United States, you see the differences in how it is that social services are provided at the government level, and one aspect of what we did in the course was that [the students were] introduced to and spent time at local nonprofits, to see how nonprofits addressed social problems,” Martinez said. The DASA group was divided into three sections. The first spent time at the San Antonio Food Bank; the second, Haven for Hope; and the third, Community Housing Resource Partners (CHR). Martinez pointed out that the reason those three entities were chosen for the course is that CHR is a social entrepreneurship venture, while the other two are not. “It gave [the DASA students] an opportunity to compare and contrast how it is here in the States [that] we’re addressing social issues [with] models that don’t necessarily involve the government at all. It’s important for them because it’s part of their exposure and understanding about not only Germany’s place and how they address social problems
but also how in the United States we’re addressing social problems,” Martinez said. “I’ve learned that NGOs are more needed in America than in Germany, because we have really huge differences in the social systems. For example, homeless shelters or food banks would not be as big [in Germany] as [they are] in America. [In] America really, homeless people really rely on this social entrepreneurship,” said DASA participant Julia Marae. According to Martinez, the course was divided into three large sections. “The first aspect of the course involved having students think about a social issue that they were passionate about. Then they spent some time looking at models of how three different types of non-profits were addressing social problems, two in the areas of homelessness and one in the area of hunger. So, they would have the opportunity to learn different contemporary models of how these social issues were being addressed, and then to ask themselves, ‘What can I learn from these models to apply to a social
problem that I’m passionate about?’” Martinez said. The students then spent some time learning about how traditional nonprofit organizations were currently addressing those social issues and analyze what parts of those entities’ approaches were effective and what could be improved on. “The third phase was that they developed their own program or nonprofit or social impact venture that addressed that social problem. […] They then went out and tested that. They did market research and social media research and incorporated that into the final solution that they presented. So the goal of the course was for them to have a process by which they would be able to develop and start something new in a way that addressed the problem [they were interested in],” Martinez said. In order to develop their solution plans, students employed a tool called ‘Discovery Campus’ which directed them through a series of steps to address a topic, starting with determining which problem they wished to solve, then analyzing existing solutions and the size of the population affected by the issue. The students then proceeded to come up with their own solutions and determine how and where they were to obtain funds to sustain their venture. “We always think [that] nonprofit organizations finance themselves from donations and depending on investors. […] That actually doesn’t make them sustainable, and they have to behave like for-profit organizations such as launching sales for certain merchandise or some product in the market in order to sustain their program,” said DASA participant Marcia Cole. “I think the design thinking workshop was a lot of fun, because we learned a skill set that we can use not only in social entrepreneurship but also in the rest of daily life: figuring out multiple solutions to a problem,” said DASA participant Janina Laßmann. The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is currently working to expand this course to a full three-hour class for Trinity students. According to Martinez, their goal is to offer a 2000-level course as part of the Pathways curriculum. “We’re interested in developing in the Pathways Curriculum a cluster around Social Entrepreneurship. […] We utilized this one-hour course [for DASA] as a first attempt to develop a course. [We used] some of the activities that we did here with the German students to get a sense of whether they worked or not, what’s successful what’s not successful, so that then, when we’re ready to go ahead and offer the three-hour course of this as part of the curriculum, we’ve got a good sense as to what tools are working,” Martinez said. Depending on whether and when the plan is approved by the University Curriculum Council, the new Social Entrepreneurship course will be offered in either the fall of 2016 or spring of 2017.
CAMPUS PULSE
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• OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
Tiger tennis teams to travel to UTSA/ITA championships BY DANA MCLAUGHLIN
SPORTS INTERN
Five Trinity tennis players will travel to the USTA/ITA National Small College Championships in Sumter, South Carolina next week from October 15 to 18. After sweeping both the men’s singles and doubles crowns at home on Sunday September 27, seniors Paxton Deuel and Adam Krull will travel to Sumter with sophomore Matt Tyler. Deuel, the 2015 singles champion, was victorious in the final match, winning 6-4, 6-4 over his fellow teammate and last year’s individual champion, Krull. “It was a great match, and for me, it doesn’t matter who I am playing against but more about my personal game,” Deuel said. Deuel also expressed that he was glad that Krull and Tyler were able to capture the doubles regional crown. Like Krull, Paxton is no newcomer to the USTA/ITA National Championships, as he won the 2013 regional singles title and finished in fifth place as a sophomore at the Championships. Deuel has been carefully preparing for his trip to Sumter. “Especially this year, as a senior, I want to be as disciplined as I can be at Nationals,” Deuel said. “I think that if I can execute and continue to play at the level that I have been playing at all fall, I have a really good chance to win. This has been my personal best year at Trinity so far, and I think this is also the best collective team we have had in the past few years.” On the doubles side, Krull and Tyler dominated the University of Texas-Tyler duo of Ryan Ellwood and Jack Puckey, winning 6-1, 6-1 on Sunday in front of a home crowd at the Butch Newman Tennis Center. Last year, Krull finished fifth in the men’s singles USTA/ITA National Small College Championships while the pair of graduated
seniors Jordan Mayer and Aaron Skinner won the men’s overall doubles crown. Following in the steps of their teammates before them, Krull and Tyler will look to defend the top prize next week at the championships. Deuel, Krull and Tyler will be joined by the women’s regional doubles champions, junior Liza Southwick and sophomore Marie Lutz, who defended their title for the second year by decisively defeating the second-ranked duo of Kate Bramlett and Kayla Casey from East Texas Baptist University 7-5, 6-3 in Sunday’s final. Lutz and Southwick won in the best-ofthree sets format, which was used in place of the usual pro set. The regional championships were hosted by Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX. “Marie [Lutz] and I knew what to expect going into regionals this year, and we also feel more confident heading into Nationals because of our experience last fall,” Southwick said. This will mark Lutz and Southwick’s second trip to the USTA/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southwest Region Women’s “A” Doubles Championship, and the pair looks to top their fifth place finish from last fall. Like last fall, Southwick and Lutz will have to play in a match on Wednesday in order to advance into the final three rounds in the latter half of next week. Southwick also reflected on her experience last year in anticipation for her second trip to Sumter. “Last year I was overwhelmed and nervous, but this year we’ve had an excellent few months of team and individual preparation, and I am excited to compete,” Southwick said. The Tigers will depart for Sumter on October 13 with the potential of bringing home three USTA/ITA National Small College Championship crowns in the men’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles.
photos by Jordan Leeper Members of the women’s tennis team competed in the regional champtionships last week and will travel to compete in the UTSA/Intercollegiate Tennis Association Southwest Region Women’s “A” Doubles Championships this week.
Student entrepreneurs gain real-world experience Students create products, launch start-ups as part of entrepreneurship minor BY EMILY ELLIOTT
PULSE REPORTER
Trinity is known for offering a great number of diverse programs that appeal to the interests of every student on campus. Whether you’re fascinated by medicine, intrigued by business fundamentals or have a passion for languages, you’ll likely be able to find a program that appeals to you. The ability to earn a minor in entrepreneurship is one of Trinity’s most well known programs. By following this curriculum, students are able to form groups in which they actually conceptualize ideas, design their concept, and market or produce it to a mass audience. One of the teams has manufactured a brand of chewing gum under the name of Plova. “Our team wanted to create a product that could would support dental hygiene on-the-go. Our product is a chewing gum that whitens teeth, fights plaque, reduces the chance of gingivitis, and provides fresh breath,” said Vikram Patel, sophomore entrepreneurship student. With Trinity’s help, the Plova team
has been able to take their concept to the next level. “Trinity has provided us with so many resources to enhance and build our project. The connections we are able to use, as well as the mentoring and facilities, have helped us progress to where we are at right now,” Patel said. Trinity’s program has allowed various hotels to make pre-orders with Plova, garnering success for the team. “The best part of Plova chewing gum has been the gaining of knowledge and experience. It is rewarding to work with a team that unites to achieve one goal, and being able to implement concepts learned in class and see our idea turn into a reality,” Patel said. Another team of Trinity students have used the entrepreneurship program to develop an app called Reto. “Our team is developing a mobile application that turns the user’s world into an arena, where they can challenge anyone, anywhere, at anytime to do anything. The challenges could range anywhere from jumping in the pool with all of
your clothes on to donating a meal to someone less fortunate — it really depends on the user’s creativity. We connect users to their friends through viral head-to-head match ups, and also connect businesses to potential customers through sponsorship of branded challenges that target the users specifically,” said Alan Toscano, senior entrepreneurship student. The team has endured several obstacles in the journey to build their app, but each challenge was seen as a learning opportunity. “Building this startup has been like being thrown in the middle of an ocean, surrounded by sharks, while trying to learn to float, swim, and navigate all at once-the challenge is what inspires us to work hard each day,” Toscano said. Though there are numerous challenges to overcome when building an app, Trinity has provided this team with resources to conquer each challenge. “Trinity has provided plentiful resources for the inception of our app, essentially acting as an incubator to grow our startup. The entrepreneurship department has been a tremendous help throughout
the entire process through their constant mentorship and guidance,” Toscano said. The beta application will be released soon to select individuals, but those interested in the app can find the team on Instagram and Facebook. From there, the team hopes to see great success. “After releasing the app to mobile app stores, once we validate our product and acquire a predetermined average monthly users and activity level, we will reach a point of scale where we will raise capital from outside investors to grow Reto at a much quicker rate,” Toscano said. One of the other teams has promoted their idea right on Trinity’s campus; The Laundry Crew operates as a student-run laundry service for the busy Trinity community. “We do wash and fold laundry and dry cleaning for staff, faculty and students,” said sophomore Micaela Hoffman. Participating in the entrepreneurship program helped Micaela and her teammate, Joshua Manton, develop their idea by interacting with the Trinity community, and eventually, they
reached great success. “My ideas developed through a lot of manifestations. Trinity held a contest that gave us funding. Without Trinity, we would not have been able to start off. I think the best part was when I got the keys to the Tiger’s Den and I was like ‘this is real.’ Realizing this was real and tangible and that I had made something was the best,” Hoffman said. Trinity offers the opportunity to achieve this success to students of all fields. “Anyone can join trinity entrepreneurship; I’m able to startup my own business even without a major or minor in entrepreneurship. It’s not hard if you have the right support, and Trinity provides that support,” Hoffman said. The opportunity to actually produce and market their own unique concept has been hugely beneficial to the students involved in the entrepreneurship program. With future products and success stories sure to be introduced soon, it’s clear the accomplishments of the entrepreneurship minor at Trinity make it a highly valuable and prominent program.
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CAMPUS PULSE
Students encouraged to pursue internships University’s Career Services department holds events, offers assistance with application process BY EMILY ELLIOTT
PULSE REPORTER
Trinity University offers an abundance of programs to its students that allow them to have the most productive, enjoyable college career possible, while also ensuring future success in their prospective careers. Well-known for its study abroad programs, standardized test successes, and liberal arts curriculum, the education and opportunities received at Trinity are unparalleled. Trinity is also notable for having an incredible career department that allows students to receive unique internships, jobs and other career opportunities that may not have been otherwise available to them. The tight knit community a small school like Trinity allows students to have close access to alumni and faculty connections, as well as the staff members of the Center for Experiential
Learning and Career Success, who work to introduce and provide career opportunities for all Trinity students, past or current. The staff members of the department work to introduce internships quality high that encourage development and hands-on experience to students. internship the “I’m coordinator in the center. The main functions of my role are to develop more opportunities for high quality internships and, once students are in the internship, to help them make the most of their interning experience. We do this by setting up learning objectives for certain things they want to achieve in their internship, and we think by being really intentional about what they want to do, they’ll want to have a higher quality experience,” said Erin Hood, internship coordinator in the Center for
Experiential Learning and Career Success. By visiting potential employer sites and comparing the goals of the company with the skills and goals of a Trinity student, Hood works in the program to ensure that appropriate and valuable opportunities await a student in their internship. “A lot of my goal is to set a standard for what a high quality internship class. 69% of the class of 2015 had done an internship by the time they graduated. Part of meaningful work is structured work experience, and we want to make sure the company can provide a structured work experience and a job description. It’s really about connecting the Trinity experience to the broader world,” Hood said. As a new program on campus, the Center has organized and revamped several of Trinity’s programs in order to ensure even greater success than in the
past. Several of these programs will be taking place in upcoming weeks. “We have our career fair on October 21, and to prepare for the fair, we have Resumania Workshops going on several days next week. We’ll help you with your resume to give to employers at the career fair. There will be over forty employers giving out jobs and internships at Laurie Auditorium. Our brand new Hire-a-Tiger has replaced TigerJobs, and it is a really intuitive interface for finding internships and job opportunities,” Hood said. Although the center has only been operating for a few months, by operating with both the employers and the students, the internship experiences provided through the center are equipped to be successful. “This is our first semester in operation, but our goal is to become the primary support center for internships for
students seeking internships, doing internships for academic credit and making the most of their internship experience. I support the student and the employer throughout the internship experience,” Hood said. successful, a Having productive career department like the Center for Experiential Learning and Career Success has been hugely beneficial for students seeking employment and career opportunities. With countless success stories to back up the department, anyone seeking support in their career from Trinity can rely on the staff members in this area to help them get started. Any students with questions about internships, jobs, or their future career are encouraged to visit the staff at the Center Learning Experiential for and Career Success in Coates to discuss and research their limitless opportunities.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT•
OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
FILM
FILM Matt Damon’s most recent starring role, ‘The Martian’ sky rockets to $55 million in first weekend revenue. The film, based on the novel of the same title, is praised for its optimistic look at space exploration—a relatively unique outlook for films of this genre.
Daniel Craig spoke honestly about his role as the iconic Agent 007, James Bond, saying he would rather ‘slash my wrists’ than do another Bond movie at the moment. This doesn’t sound good for Craig fans moving forward with the series. Craig continued saying if he were to do another film “it would only be for the money.” Yikes.
AE 15
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Your declassified Primetime television guide those cliffhangers don’t last for too long, and the questions end up being answered. If I could marry the show, I would. That’s how much I love it. Also, “Fresh Off the Boat” is a really great sitcom that everyone should watch, but my passions don’t run as deeply for that show. Fall. It’s filled with so many wonders: changing leaves (for those who don’t live here), Pumpkin Spice Lattes and a butt ton of scripted television shows. I know, I know, you’re a busy college student who has no time for television. But we all know that’s a lie because I distinctly remember you bingewatching “The Office” last weekend. Yet, to accommodate your busy lives, I have sacrificed my non-existent one to watch every single show that is currently on the air to give you this handy-dandy guide. Spoiler alert: I judge a lot of them.
ABC
Is there any show on ABC that is worth watching that hasn’t been created by Shonda Rhimes? The answer is: not really. Personally, I believe “Grey’s Anatomy” has gotten stale (and has been for about six years), and Scandal doesn’t really draw me in. But “How To Get Away With Murder” is probably the best show on basic cable. The acting alone is phenomenal, as evidenced by Viola Davis’ Emmy win a few weeks ago, and there are so many plot twists and cliff hangers! Luckily
NBC
Since “Parks and Recreation” is no longer on television, there is absolutely nothing good to watch on NBC besides “Law and Order: SVU.” Seriously. That’s it. Sure, there’s always “Saturday Night Live,” but that show can be hit-or-miss depending on who the host is, which sketches are done and so on and so forth. I only watch it if I hear really great things about a particular host or I might just watch a single sketch if I’ve heard good things. Otherwise, NBC is probably the worst network right now, which is hard to believe considering the next one.
An average college student enjoying a much needed study break via primetime television. Photo by: Miguel Webber
I have never been that big of a fan of CBS since they have always had shows that cater to a formula and its biggest audience is old people who don’t know what’s funny (just look at “The Big Bang Theory”). Sure, sometimes I will catch an episode of “Criminal Minds,” which is the only decent crime show on the channel, but that doesn’t make up for how terrible “The Big Bang Theory” is. I just really hate “The Big
Bang Theory,” okay? There’s only so many times you can make a joke about a hot woman who doesn’t understand “smart things.” It pisses me off. But, CBS is slowly resurrecting due to one man: Stephen Colbert. His “Late Night” show is like a revamp of “The Colbert Report” but just downplays the conservative pundit character and adds more interviews with celebrities. It’s probably saving CBS, in all honesty. So watch it!
I never thought I would see the day where FOX is my favorite network. Recently though they have been hitting it out of the park, especially when it comes to comedy. From “Bob’s Burgers” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” to “The Simpsons,” FOX’s shows are hilarious and topical. Even with “Empire,” they have a strong, witty drama that is bringing in the ratings. It also
has “Scream Queens,” the new brainchild of Ryan Murphy, which is actually so terrible that it’s good. I can’t even begin to describe how terribly great it is, but all I will say is that the casting is on point. Jamie Lee Curtis has earned a new respect from me, which is hard because her role in “Freaky Friday” greatly influenced me during puberty. Also, everyone should watch “Better Call Saul” and “Rick and Morty.” That’s all.
In addition to the strength of the plot and seamlessness of the action (thanks mostly to George Lucas’ decision not to direct the film), “Empire” brought darkness to the Star Wars universe: at the end of the movie, Han is betrayed by a friend and frozen in carbonite limbo, Luke loses a battle with his father (and his hand) and the credits roll on an uncertain group whose futures look pretty bleak. Episode iv: A New Hope Almost impossible not to make the first three entries, “A New Hope “establishes the strange mixture of genres that made Star Wars so unique at the time: futuristic samurai monk-magicians, World War II dogfights upgraded to space battles, epic destinies and fights against impossible evil — the compilation of these elements made “A New Hope” strike a chord with the 1977 audience and beyond. On the other hand, Luke Skywalker’s obsession with power converters and insistence on constantly whining detracted from the movie enough to make it take a backseat to “Empire.” However, and I can only speak for myself, as a kid Star Wars was the quintessential science-fiction/fantasy franchise, before I knew what half of those words meant. I devoured everything related to the franchise after seeing the movies, and that
obsession all started here, in welldeserved second place. Episode vi: Return of the Jedi Maybe it was because my brother was always obsessed with this movie, but “Return of the Jedi” never really struck me as hard as the episodes IV and V did. I loved the Sarlacc pit and the final battle as much as anyone, but George Lucas’s descent into the marketing Dark Side (fun fact: did you know that the word “Ewok” was never mentioned in the movie, only to appear on plush dolls immediately after the film’s release?) kept the film from entering Nerdvana. However, it still beat the prequels. Most things do. Episode iii: Revenge of the Sith The best of the three prequels, “Revenge of the Sith” has a couple of advantages over its siblings I and II. It is closer period-wise to the events of the original trilogy, which connect the tragic transformation of Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader’s role in the episodes IV, V and VI. In addition, the great performances of Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan and Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine bring strong emotional elements to the film (heart-wrenching sadness and terror, respectively). Although it suffers from some of the same problems that plague episodes I and II, namely the
attempt to explain every little detail referenced in the original trilogy, the film carries an emotional weight that makes me want to pop in episode IV directly after the credits roll on III. Episode i: The Phantom Menace Ah, “The Phantom Menace.” The film to break the 16 years since “Return of the Jedi” was released,and the film to break the hearts of millions of eager fans. From sexy trade embargos to cringeworthy racial stereotypes, this movie tried its best to make the bottom of my list. But what saves “Phantom” from hitting the bottom is two strange elements that still stick with me years after watching the film for the first time. The first is Qui-Gon Jinn, played by Liam Neeson, who simply nailed the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s master — he was witty, wise, competent, canny and he back-sassed none other than the Jedi Council itself in his attempts to take on Anakin as his apprentice. The second is Darth Maul, the spiky-headed Sith apprentice with the memorable double-bladed lightsaber. He completely sold the danger and mystery of the Sith, and if there were any kids who walked out of that theater and didn’t immediately grab a broom and perform clumsy gymnastics, I didn’t see them. Darth Maul stole the show as a badass villain, and
his death at the end of “Phantom” was a waste of a potential recurring character. Episode ii: Attack of the Clones Well… This was a movie. A movie that answered questions that no one asked, like “Who was Boba Fett’s father?” “Can we watch Obi-Wan play out a sci-fi noir detective story?” and “Why aren’t we seeing more frolicking through the Naboo flowers?” This makes the bottom of my list not because of Yoda’s blasphemous breakdance-fighting or because of the endless droid factory scene, but because the whole film broke up the most interesting relationship that the prequels should have been intent on developing: the bond between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Brought together by a promise to a dying man and torn apart by the corruption of good to evil, ObiWan and Anakin’s relationship could have been given significant backstory and depth in this middle movie, but George chose instead to push a love story that Hayden Christensen (Anakin) simply could not support (less blame goes to Natalie Portman, who was constrained by stiff writing). Well, that completes the transcription of what’s been bubbling in my Star Wars unconsciousness since childhood. If you are shocked, appalled or indignant at my choice of movie order, just wait until December 18 — you’ll know where to find me.
CBS
FOX
Star wars, From the best to the worst BY DYLAN WAGNER
A&E WRITER
Ah, the sweet smell of autumn. The leaves shift from vibrant greens to delicate shades of orange and— GET OUT OF THE WAY, FALL, STAR WARS COMES OUT IN DECEMBER! With 74 days until the first screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, your resident nerd has to find some way of filling the time — and luckily there are six “Star Wars” films that will help me do so. As a professional inhaler of pop culture, I hereby present to you my ranking of each Star Wars movie, from best to worst. Episode v: The Empire Strikes Back It may be a cliché by now, but I have to give the top spot to “Empire.” From the majestic opening on icy Hoth to the mindshattering Vader reveal in the dark, hissing bowels of Cloud City, this film truly embodies what Star Wars as a franchise has to offer: settings with personality, characters that grow and develop before the viewer’s eyes and the consistent illusion of a vast, populated universe that our characters inhabit only a fraction of.
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Top five things I learned at AcL BY PAIGE PEREZ
A&E WRITER
I entered the gates of the Austin City Limits music festival like most others; excited for good music, hopeful that this would be the day Drake realizes he’s in love with me and most of all, ready to get my face rocked off. Yet at the time I didn’t realize that the three aforementioned days of face-rocking would teach me real-world skills. For those of you who have yet to go to the festival or are planning on adding it to next fall’s mustdo list, here is a nifty ACL survival guide. There are places on your body that you didn’t know existed. While applying sunscreen, do not miss these crevices. If you fail, you will burn parts of you that you didn’t want to burn, and you’ll spend the entire Drake concert writhing in physical pain instead of emotional pain. This is the wrong way to enjoy Drake. If you’re going to sneak in snacks, make sure they are secure. This means wrapping
them in your tightly coiled towel, or hiding them in an inner jacket pocket. The security team at the gate will ask you to take several belongings out of your bag, and when you do you don’t want your precious Nature Valley contraband to go flying. (This happened to an unfortunate uncle of mine, and they only let him keep one granola bar as a sad consolation prize.) Even if you sneak in snacks, you’re going to eat a ton of food over the course of the weekend. While some may try and spare the weekend by eating only the “healthy” options that are available, I say leave no food stand behind. Empanadas, snow cones and pizza are an amazing combination, and as you get older it becomes more and more difficult to binge-eat like you’re five and can only taste sugar. Use this opportunity. You may or may not get kicked out for crowd surfing. I say “may or may not” because it’s a legitimate gamble. If you pull this off successfully, you’ll gain street cred that lasts until next year’s extravaganza. However, the execution is risky. If you fail, you’ll either 1) be unceremoniously dumped on the ground by strangers, or 2) be asked to
leave the festival. If you’re willing to take the chance that the closest security guard will smile and be cool, then go for it. Just know you’re basically playing Russian Roulette. Use the herd mentality to your advantage. Before the most popular shows, people will be lining up directly in front of the stage. Instead of standing directly behind them, go around the crowd, particularly to the left. Fewer people stand on that side, and you’ll be able to get much closer to the front without waiting for an hour. In addition, any people who are leaving the crowd mid-show will move out the side, leaving a convenient space for you to shimmy closer to the stage. Congratulations, you’ve just hacked the entire system. (But don’t let your amazing view of the show give you any funny ideas. Drake is still mine.)
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A candid shot of Paige making eyes at Drake while eating trailmix from her secret frocket. Photo by: Cleo Jane
Have any suggestions or comments for the Arts and Entertainment section?
Student-run program focusing on first-year male students
- Free pizza - One hour - Low key
Contact facilitators: Cole Evans (revans@trinity.edu) or Zack Speer (zspeer@trinity.edu)
Email: msmith10@trinty.edu and let your voice be heard!
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT •
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OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
The best horror films of the past 10 years BY MADDIE SMITH
A&E EDITOR
“Crimson Peak,” a new horror movie from Guillermo Del Toro starring Tom Hiddleston, Jessica Chastain and Mia Wasikowska, premieres on October 16. I am so excited to see this movie because it seems like Del Toro will play up both his writing and directorial skills. It’ll definitely be a highlight of this Halloween season, but I’d also like to reminisce on past horror movies that have terrified me. Here are the best horror movies from the past 10 years:
The Babadook This Australian-Canadian horror movie was written and directed by Jennifer Kent. It is about a grieving single mother who begins encountering a monster called the Babadook when tensions with her young son begin to rise. Essie Davis,
who plays the mother, gives an amazing performance with some of the most genuine acting I’ve ever seen. The monster is hardly ever seen, but it manages to work its way down your spine until you’re checking your closet at night. The actual plot of the story is ambiguous in the sense that it is never clear whether the family is actually seeing a monster or suffering from a grief-ridden psychological breakdown.
It Follows “It Follows” was written and directed by David Robert Mitchell and made me cry in a movie theater. The plot involves a group of teenagers living in an almost-real alternate universe who are being stalked by a monster who simply follows its victim. It can look like any person in the world and, once it catches up to you, you’re a goner. It’s one of the most suspenseful films I have ever seen, and it uses growing tension to build fear instead of outright shocks. Like “The Babadook,” the meaning of the film is up for interpretation and
it is incredibly fun to analyze with friends.
The Conjuring Imagine if “Amityville Horror” was basically remade into a better movie for a more modern crowd. Now, take that image in your mind and project it onto a screen. Turn it into a movie. That movie is “The Conjuring.” Written by Chad Hayes and Carey W. Hayes and directed by James Wan, this film got the horror movie dream team and all-star crew to make it. It tells the classic tale of a family that moves into a spooky house and encounters some supernatural occurrences; however, the film finds new, interesting and terrifying ways to frighten its audience.
Cabin in the Woods Speaking of sorta-remakes of classic horror movies, “Cabin in the Woods,” written by Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard and directed by Goddard, is about a group of stereotypical teenagers who venture to a… small house in a forest… for a weekend of fun, sex and booze.
But, uh-oh, there’s a scary killer hellbent on picking them off one-by-one. Or is there? Maybe it’s a facility that needs to perform ritual sacrifices to prevent the end of the world? Either way, the scene with all the monsters is a cinematic masterpiece.
House of the Devil This film, which was written and directed by Ti West, is one of the most subtly terrifying things I’ve ever seen. It is about a young girl who is invited to babysit for an older couple’s single infant. However, as is predicted, the couple has some shady dealings going on in the nursery room she isn’t supposed to enter. The film builds tension by being almost completely silent for its majority. There are long scenes when the girl is exploring the house, searching through rooms, picking up objects. These scenes really help the movie develop a slow pace, but it is all broken up by an intense climax when the true intentions of the homeowners are revealed. It’ll really make you rethink answering that next Craigslist ad.
You’re Next The life of the incredibly wealthy isn’t easy, as is explained by Adam Wingard and Simon Barrett’s vicious slasher film. Sometimes, the high-class end up being systematically murdered in their beautiful vacation homes. This film is so creative with its plot and every single death in the movie allows the viewer to either feel mournful or satisfied. It’s also got one of the most kick-ass female characters in horror movie history. My favorite part was honestly a mixture of the epic twist at the end and the elaborite death scenes.
Paranormal Activity I believe that Oren Peli reinvented the found footage genre. “Paranormal Activity” is a “home movie” made by a couple who believe that they are experiencing demonic activity in their new suburban house. The found footage aspect forces the audience to almost sympathize with the characters and situations, which makes the content even more scary.
Roundtable: What is your favorite part of Fall? My favorite part of autumn is my annual sacrifice to the fall gods. I get a cozy sweater, leggings, boots and a pumpkin spice latte and start the ritual in order to become the whitest girl I can possibly be. I do this all while chanting “I must Insta this!” over and over again. It’s a very moving experience.
Aside from the cute outfits and comfy clothes, my favorite part of fall is when the dead are able to walk among us. Whenever the blood moon is at its lunar peak, the ground breaks with the rotting corpses of our departed loved ones. They are then able to perform unfinished business, play some spooky pranks or just rattle some chains. Last year, I was attacked by a late distant relative. She attacked me. It’s super cute, stylish and existential . Really puts me in the comfy, cute, fall mood.
My favorite thing about fall is that it’s finally weather-appropriate to wear leggings everywhere. I don’t care what anyone has to say about it. Leggings are amazing and I’ll defend them to the end of my days. They’re comfortable as hell and make your behind look rad. Plus, when it’s too cold to wear shorts, you don’t have to shave your legs every day. That alone saves you at least 10 minutes in the shower every morning. Bye-bye quadrupleblade razor, hello extra sleep time.
Why do I like autumn? To quote Calvin from Calvin and Hobbes, “Bugs are dying by the truckload! Ha ha ha! Good riddance to ‘em all! I like fall.” But besides my love of ol Mother Nature’s cool weather insecticide, I love fall because it is the season that dances on the knife blade of the year, delicately shifting the world from blistering heat to bone-wracking chill in the most elegant way. The death of insects, though. I mostly like fall for that. Dylan Wagner, A&E Reporter
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Weekend Picks Friday 10/9
More Friday 10/9
Sunday 10/11
Citizen Cope
Movie on the Plaza: “Back to the Future”
“He Named Me Malala”
Where: Aztec Theatre Price: $27.50 Time: Doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. All ages Hailing from Washington D.C., Citizen Cope’s unique blend of folk, soul and hip hop has been pushing musical boundaries since the early 2000s. Cope, who not only writes and performs but also produces all of his own music, will bring his trend setting sounds to San Antonio this weekend in an all ages show. Try something new this weekend and see this groundbreaking artist perform with the backing of a full band at the Aztec Theatre.
Where: The Tobin Center for the Performing Arts Price: Free All ages Bring blankets, chairs, and good cheer to this free event at the Tobin Center for the Performing Arts. Join Marty McFly and Doc as they travel through time in this iconic movie. No outside food or drinks are technically allowed, and while there is a full concession stand, I think you can get creative and sneak it in just like a real movie theater. Join friends and relax after a long week at this funny film.
Where: Santikos Bijou Cinema When: 12:45 p.m., 2 p.m., 3:20 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 5:50 p.m., 7 p.m., 8:20 p.m., 9:30 p.m., 19:45 p.m. Rating: PG-13 This film shows a look into the life of children’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai. After being shot in the head by Taliban gunmen for speaking out on behalf of girls, Yousafzai has sparked worldwide conversation about children’s education and rights. The youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Yousafzai is still faced with the concerns and excitements of a typical high school aged girl. I have been waiting for this film for months and cannot wait to go this weekend.
Invisible Cities
Come see the Trinity
inspired by the novel of
campus transformed
Italo Calvino, created by Teatro Potlach and
in a way you've never imagined! This
Trinity Students.
performance is FREE.
Showing October
Meet at the Ruth Taylor
8th & 9th.
Theatre at 8 pm each night for an experience
Questions? tutheater@trinity.edu
you'll never forget.
SPORTS •
S
OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
ATHLETE INSPIRATION “I would love you ‘til the end of time but llamas can’t wait a million years. Our lifespan usually ranges between 20-30 years.”
Llama Del Rey
photos by Aynav Leibowitz
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ports
Trinity ultimate frisbee club team BY DANA MCLAUGHLIN
SPORTS INTERN
Sport industry panelists emplored Trinity students to partake in the opportunities and resources offered by the University to get employed.
Sport industry panel inspires students SPORT EDITOR The Sport Management department, alongside Career Services, sponsored the Careers in Sport Internship Panel this past Wednesday, October 7, with representatives from the Valero Alamo Bowl, Spurs Sports and Entertainment, San Antonio Sports and San Antonio Scorpions FC. The panelists included numerous Trinity alumni: Mary Ullman Japhet, senior director of communications and digital marketing for San Antonio Sports, Jeanne Garza, senior director of corporate partnerships for Spurs Sports and Entertainment, and Rick Hill, vice president of marketing and communication for the Valero Alamo Bowl and Adam Rauch, media relations coordinator also at the Valero Alamo Bowl. Also in attendance was Matt Barbour, senior director of communications and digital marketing for the Scorpions FC. Students in attendance, including senior Haley Holcomb, noted the opportunities presented by the event. “As a senior attending for the first time, I really wish I had gone all the previous years,” Holcomb said. “I really gained a lot from what each of the speakers had to say.” One of the speakers was a recent graduate, class of ’14 Adam Rauch, who was able to offer insight on the potential of Trinity sports connections in an increasingly competitive field. “I hope the students were able to connect with me more because I was in their shoes just a few months ago,” Rauch said.
Rauch, who graduated with a Despite the lack of internships in communication major and sport years past, Trinity — in particular — the management minor, explained his own newly established center for experiential turbulent post-graduation path but learning headed by Jacob Tingle, assured students to persevere. have been working hard to provide “If you’re really serious about getting opportunities for students. into sports be prepared to take your “I really think it’s exciting, especially wins and losses, but always reach out lately, that the experiential learning to people and stay connected no matter through the sports management who says yes to you or who says no to program and alumni engagement are so you,” Rauch said. closely tied … it’s become a win-win,” Fellow Alamo Bowl Hill said. “We get panelist and class of to impart some ’91 Rick Hill echoed our wisdom, A lot of people say of similar sentiments and in turn, we about the sport job getting into sports get to make some market. to takes luck. I don’t connections “It’s not an easy students who may road but there are agree with that at all. end up helping more jobs,” Hill on various If you put in the effort, us said. “Find things projects, and these your bosses aren’t you’ll get your breaks. students then get so good at — social enhanced resumes media, graphic experiences, go out Adam Rauch design — those are and take on jobs. Alumnus ‘14 things, especially in ..Presented.. sports, that can help opportunities not differentiate candidates.” only offer job experience for students, Alongside these statements, Hill noted but — as Hill noted — offer important during his time at Trinity, opportunities insight to the companies. for internships, particularly in sport “I personally have been at the Bowl for management, were not as predominant 15 years, and I look to both our younger as they currently are. persons on staff and students to give us “I think one of the difficulties in the some perspective every year, whether past was the rather rigorous coursework it’s social media or how people engage at Trinity, but when you went to compete with events changes,” Hill said. “It’s nice for internships and full time jobs, other to be able to get some perspective and schools have had lots of opportunities to get it from varying age groups and to get students in some real life work backgrounds.” experience,” Hill said. “There wasn’t the For more information regarding the emphasis nor alumni engagement, any sport management program or center concerted effort, to get students into for experiential learning, contact Jacob [internships and job] positions.” Tingle at jtingle@trinity.edu.
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Alumni Athlete Spotlight
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BY AYNAV LEIBOWITZ
Walking by the IM field on a daily basis, it isn’t uncommon to see a sizable group of guys and girls tossing around a frisbee. However, these individuals are not just out there to casually play catch; most are a part of Trinity’s emerging ultimate frisbee program. On both the men and women’s side, there are over 50 students who have joined the ultimate teams, many of whom are underclassmen. The men’s team, Turbulence, and the newly formed women’s side, Altitude, have both begun their fall seasons in preparation for national competition in the spring. “I’m excited to have such a young team this year, commented senior captain Ricky Legg. “This year is all about building a strong foundation for our program.” The men’s team recently competed in a tournament in Austin where they faced UT, Baylor, UTSA and other notable Texas teams. “Even though we didn’t qualify for the final round, we still put up a solid fight against UT’s varsity squad, a team that is competitive on the national level,” Legg said. The men’s team has a roster of 25 this fall, but there is always room for newcomers. In fact, the vast majority of this year’s team are first years, as there are only 8 upperclassmen on the regular roster. According to the USA Ultimate rules, there is a max roster of 27 for tournaments such as the upcoming notable Centex tournament in spring that attracts all the top teams from across the country. On the women’s side, senior Luisa Ruge-Jones discusses the growth of Altitude. Entering their second official season as a team, there already are 25 girls on the roster. “I’m really excited about our team this year because we have improved personally and collectively,” RugeJones said. “A lot of the new [first years] on the team are really athletic, and everyone has increased their skill level since last year.” Although the women’s squad recently lost their coach, they continue to heed her advice for practice, formations, and plays via the captains who Skype with her on a weekly basis. On the men’s side, new head coach Kevin Halprin plays locally with the San Antonio Ultimate team, Bexar Necessities. Like the men’s team, the women compete in numerous tournaments over the fall and into the spring in order to prepare for regionals and nationals in the late spring. Altitude will travel to Dallas on October 17 and 18 for the Ultimate 101 all-women’s tournament. Rice, UT and UTSA are some of the in-state competitors that Altitude will look to contend with in this and other tournaments. Both teams are still open to newcomers, and there is also an option to scrimmage on Friday nights at 8 with both teams. These inter-squad competitions are just one of the many ways that Altitude and Turbulence continue to build the Trinity Frisbee program.
Class of ‘91 right fielder Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri What is your favorite Trinity baseball memory?
My junior year, we ended up winning the conference championship. It was a team of mostly my year who stuck through the first rocky years. It was a great moment.
l l i H k Ric photo by Aynav Leibowitz
What is your favorite Trinity memory? My favorite thing back then was to tell the pie lady at Mabee that whatever pie of the day was my favorite and she would give me a 20% bigger slice, but she never caught on that every day was a different flavor.
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
SPORTS
Women’s soccer add another win BY CLINT SCHROEDER
SPORT REPORTER This season, the Trinity University women’s soccer team has proved themselves to be strong unit. With a record of 11-0-1, the women’s team is currently ranked third in the nation for Division III soccer and first in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC) with their 6-0 record in conference play. According to the SCAC website, those six victories have given the Tigers 18 points in the league table and have provided the Tigers with a nice 5 point cushion over their closest competitor, Schreiner University. This past weekend, the Tigers took on Texas Lutheran University and Southwestern University and were victorious in both contests. Of note from the game with Texas Lutheran on Friday, head coach Lance Key earned his 200th win of his career and shortly followed up with his 201st win on Sunday. In addition, he was one of eight inductees into the Trinity University Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday. When asked about what this 200th victory on Friday meant to him and to the program, Key had this to say: “What’s the difference between this win and the 32nd win? It’s just another game that we turn up to and we’ve got a job to do. I wouldn’t expect [the team] to approach it any differently than they would any other game.” Key mentioned that with the win, he could not help but look back on the past teams he coached that shaped him as a person. “The number itself, although it’s sort of commemorative with a victory, what it does to me is just brings back a lot of memories of all the players that I’ve had a chance to work with over the course of my time here,” Key said.
photo by Clint Schroeder
Trinity women’s soccer team won 5-0 against Texas Lutheran University, making their total 2015-2016 season record 11-0-1. Key admitted that early on in his tenure as the head coach of the women’s soccer team, he did not start out as strong as he would have hoped. “When I first arrived, I got a lot of things wrong, unfortunately for the players that were here very early on during my time here,” Key said. “They were very big contributors to my learning process.” Key expressed his gratitude for his past players, knowing that they helped pave the way for the women’s soccer program’s success. “I’m eternally grateful to those guys for their patience, just being merciful and
gracious with me,” Key said. “It’s a great experience and a great commemoration of a whole lot of memories that have occurred up to this point.” For this year’s team to continue on with the success of teams prior, Key noted that the team is exactly where they need to be, but they can still continue to improve. “We’ve got to continue to try to build and try to win as many games as we can because that is an indication that our training is working and our training is effective,” Key said. “We’re making progressive growth throughout the season so hopefully we continue to do so.”
One issue that Key knew the team had to improve on was establishing an identity, a challenge arising from the high amount of turnover on the team, specifically on the offensive side of the ball. “This team early on had a little identity to find,” Key said. “We had a little bit of difficulty finding the back of the net.“ Friday’s game was a good indicator of the improvements that the team needs to be working on, for it took the Tigers a little bit of time to score against Texas Lutheran University. It was not until junior midfielder Allison Carter found the back of the net on a try with eight minutes left in the first half that there was a break in the score. Carter earned the honor of Co-Offensive Player of the Week for her performance this week and was very pleased with her contribution to the team post game. “It felt amazing,” Carter said. “I hadn’t scored yet this season, so I was super pumped.” After Carter’s goal, it seemed as if every other shot the Tigers took found its way to the back of the goal. Junior defender Jordan Leeper was one of those players as she found the back of the net with a beautifully taken free kick. Key was among many of those impressed with her shot and her recent performances on the pitch. “Leeper’s strike in the first half was phenomenal,” Key said. “The wave that she’s been on for the last couple weeks, she’s been playing exceptionally well.” Leeper admitted that the team has been failing to turn chances into goals early on in their games, but she mentioned that once the team finally scores, it does not seem to stop. “It’s always after we make that first goal that we start getting into a rhythm,” Leeper said. “After we score those first two goals, they just keep coming.” While Key mentioned that the team had trouble finding their identity early on in the season, he believes that the team has finally found the identity that they were looking for: playing well together as a team. It is this identity that will continue to carry the women’s soccer team to success.
SPORTS •
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OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
graphic by Sam Skory
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
SPORTS
Redskins’ name change: Point Counterpoint CLINT SCHROEDER
SPORTS REPORTER
Due to the public outcry, many professional and college teams have been changing their team names so they are no longer affiliated with inaccurate representations of Native American people. However, there are still some teams that use team names with Native American roots, honoring the heritage of the Native Americans by using the name of a local tribe as their official team name. A few notable examples of this are the Florida State Seminoles and the Chicago Blackhawks. Other organizations have come under fire for refusing to change their team name or logo, two of which are the Cleveland Indians and the Washington Redskins. Cleveland buckled under the pressure of the opposition and has recently adapted a red “C” as the primary logo of the team, with Chief Wahoo, the old team logo, being featured less prominently. The Redskins are now at the forefront of this debate, and people are taking sides on whether or not the Redskins should change both their logo and their team name. Unlike Chief Wahoo of the Cleveland Indians, the logo of the Redskins is not offensive, and I do not think it needs to be changed. As for the team name, I do not think they should change it either. The word Redskins is a derogatory term. I won’t argue that. It’s clearly offensive, but simply changing the name will not affect how poorly the Native Americans have been treated in the past and how poorly they are still being treated to this day. A name change would allow people to view the issue as being resolved when this is far from the truth. The Native Americans are a underrepresented group in the United States and the issue of a name change allows them to be in the spotlight a little bit longer and hopefully their time in the national spotlight will illuminate issues that still need to be addressed. Another reason the Redskins should not bother with a name change is simple: money. The Redskins’ name and logo has a high monetary value attached to it. The fact that the team lost the trademarks for the logo and the team name is a travesty that will undoubtedly hurt their brand. According to Forbes’ Valuations for National Football League (NFL) teams, the Redskins are the third most valuable team in the league. It should come as no surprise that “Jerry World” and his
Cowboys rank as the most valuable team in the league. In fact, the National Football Conference Eastern Division (NFC East) consists in part of the Cowboys, Redskins, Giants and Eagles, all ranked in the top ten for the team valuations out of thirty-two teams. Someone could ask the question, why would the NFL allow one of their highest valued teams to have an offensive team name? I would ask right back, why would the NFL make one of the most valuable teams change its team name? It would be completely counterintuitive for the NFL to do that. A division where four of the teams rank first, third, fourth and ninth in the league respectively in valuation and you want one of the teams to change its name? The NFL likes money and if this was any other business, you would be laughed out of the office as you packed up your belongings in a box. To me, it is completely illogical to change the Redskins’ name. The only way I could ever see it happening is if Dan Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins, is forced to change the team name. If Snyder is forced into a name change, the team and the fan base will lose its entire identity. Snyder would essentially be starting a team from scratch and he would run the risk of losing a large percentage of his fan base. Sure, hometown fans would root for the new team, but the Redskins fans that no longer live in the District of Columbia (D.C.) metropolitan area would not hold any sort of attachment to this new team. These fans, without a home team to root for, would lose interest in their old team and would begin to root for teams in the surrounding area that already have an established identity. When the Browns moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens, few expected them to experience the success they did so early on. That success, along with the founding of the Carolina Panthers, caused the Redskins to lose their monopoly of the east coast’s fan base. Should the Redskins change their name, I see little reason that those fans would support a rebranded franchise. I don’t believe Washington should be home to another team that does not have the full support of the city. The Nationals are a good example of this, due to the strong presence of the Orioles, Phillies and other teams in the surrounding area. With the rebranding of old teams in the D.C. area, one would be hard-pressed to find a diehard Nationals fan and would be even more hard-pressed to find a fan of the rebranded Washington football team.
We witness bullying from the minute we start school even though we are taught — fairly quickly, if I may add — that it is fundamentally wrong to call people names, make people feel less than what they are and enforce stereotypes. Now, what I find ironic, in a sense, is that we are taught this generally obvious lesson of “treating others as we wish to be treated,” yet I can’t be a fan of Washington’s professional football team without feeling some sort of guilt or uneasiness. But why? It is a strong-standing team filled with tradition that stems back to 1932. That is 82 years of history, fandom, 13 NFL divisional titles, six NFL conference championships and five Super Bowls, three of which they won. So, I would agree that this team deserves to be celebrated, but not while the team name and logo are, in the simplest way put, racist. Sports are an incredibly unique market in our society. We invest (whether through sponsorship, ticket sales or memorabilia) into an entity that is strictly based on a set of rules someone simply made up one day and created this idea of professional athletes: individuals that play roles of heroes and mentors in our lives based on their athletic ability. Yet, if you take a step back even further to a bigger, broader picture of sports, even just looking into youth sports, the point is to give unlikely people a reason to come together, interact and form relationships — this may mean becoming a leader and helping your group develop or even just learning how to work as a team. Those are all humbling reasons that make me appreciate the emphasis we put on sports throughout our lives. We cultivated a society where we idealize hardworking individuals that work together to achieve a successful outcome. That is fantastic. The aspect that doesn’t seem to match up for me is any justification that takes this incredible potential that sports has to offer and associates a team of hardworking front-runners with a racially insensitive label: the Redskins. The argument thrown around that the Redskins name change wouldn’t cause any change within our society is being proved wrong every single day. The NFL has numerous campaigns like “Say No More,” a domestic violence and sexual assault awareness campaign or, a more recent example, Pink Ribbon Days for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Though the direct effects that these campaigns have had on either issue probably can be argued, the fact that the NFL brand associates itself with a cause brings it some sort of traction: traction that starts a conversation, brings an issue into light, makes our society a little more comfortable talking about it and hopefully bringing about some sort of positive change. Now, if the NFL can increase awareness of issues in our society such as domestic violence and sexual assault, why not stand up to racism,
too? AYNAV LEIBOWITZ
SPORTS EDITOR
Of course, with that mindset, it would be nearly impossible to expect the NFL to fix all the world’s problems. That is not necessarily what I am imploring. Rather, if a widely popular group, such as the NFL, can make a change in a flawed part of our society that they are currently emphasizing with the Washington Redskins, why not make a change? I realize there are some intensely embedded traditions and that fans adore Washington’s football history, celebrate their mascot with the best of intentions and swear by their commitment, but I challenge those individuals to ask questions. Yes, the intention is not negative — you are simply cheering on your favorite team — but would it really make a difference in your fandom and pure enjoyment of the sport if the NFL removed the title “Redskins” and chose a new mascot? It is explained that the mascot was changed to the Redskins back when the Washington team played in Boston, known as the Braves. Yet, there was an issue where the Boston Braves shared the same name as the then baseball team in town. Hoping to avoid the confusion and — apparently — honor the previous coach William Henry “Lone Star” Dietz, a somewhat self-proclaimed American Sioux, owner and president of the team at the time George Preston Marshall changed the name of the team to the Redskins. This is where the questioning comes into play. The original change from the Braves was, from what it seems to me, more a marketing ploy. Marshall, as the president of the team, wanted to make sure it had its own identity. That makes sense. Considering that, this idea of “honoring” an individual based on a widely recognized derogatory term in current times seems a little destructive to that initial marketing ploy. The point, in a business setting, is to sell tickets, get more sponsorship sales and cultivate an even bigger fan base. Even just basing concern on Marshall’s original reason to change the name from the Braves, Washington’s professional team should be worried about its identity again. Their identity, beyond any success or downfall as seasons come and go, is directly associated with a racially insensitive stereotype of American Indians. But we think back at the whole point of sports: to have unlikely people come together, interact and form relationships. Do we want to associate that ideal with a racist term? Does that cultivate positive relationships? Would we want stereotypes that we are personally associated with to be our beloved sport team’s mascot? I would argue no.
PHOTOS OF THE WEEK •
photo by Sarah Thorne
photo by Nayeli Perez
photo by Jordan Leeper
OCTOBER 09, 2015 • WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM
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WWW.TRINITONIAN.COM • OCTOBER 09, 2015 •
Friday, October 9
7 pm 15 Year Reunion – Class of 2000 Northrup Hall, West Patio (by Miller Fountain) (Rain: Northrup Lobby)
10 am – 8 pm Centralized Check In is open. Northrup Hall, Lobby 11 am All Alumni Golf Tournament (12:30 pm) and Lunch (11 am) Sponsored by the Health Care Administration Alumni Association Quarry Golf Club 444 E Basse Rd. 12:15 pm Happy Friday (student a cappella singing) Coates University Center, Lobby 4 pm A Guide to Basic Estate Planning Gina Gaedke ‘89, JD, CPA, Board Certified in Estate Planning and Probate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, will make a presentation regarding various estate planning documents (wills, powers of attorney, trusts) that every person should have in place. Northrup Hall, Room 214 4 – 6 pm Annual Math Alumni Picnic Dicke/Smith Building, Deck and Lawn 4 – 6 pm STEM Alumni and Students Reception Center for the Sciences and Innovation, Atrium 4:30 – 6 pm Department of Religion Alumni Reception Chapman Hall, Room 250 4:30 – 6 pm Education Alumni Reception Storch Building, Upper Lobby 4:30 – 6 pm Art and Art History Alumni Reception Dicke/Smith Building, Michael and Noemi Neidorff Art Gallery 4:30 – 6:30 pm Young Alumni Happy Hour Tribeca 4331 McCullough Avenue 5 – 7 pm Engineering Science Reception Center for the Sciences and Innovation, 4th Floor 5 pm Department of Communication Alumni Wine and Cheese Richardson Communication Center, Studio A 5:30 – 7 pm Department of Sociology and Anthropology Reception for alumni and students Storch Building, Lower Lobby 5:30 pm Mirage and Trinitonian Reunion Coates University Center, Newsroom 5:30 – 8 pm Zeta Chi Happy Hour Stonewerks 999 E Basse Rd #130 5:30 – 8 pm Sigma Theta Tau Cocktail Reception Tycoon Flats 2926 N. St. Mary’s 6 – 8 pm 50-Year Friday Night Party Medallion presentation by President Danny Anderson at 6:30 pm Coates University Center, Skyline Bistro
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6 – 8 pm All Alumni Gathering and Dinner Including performances by student talent Overheard at 6:30 pm Magic Stones (Rain: CSI lobby) 6 pm Women’s Soccer vs. University of Dallas Paul McGinlay Soccer Field 6:30 p.m. Alpha Chi Lambda Philanthropy Dinner Tomatillo’s Café y Cantína 3210 Broadway Street 8 pm Men’s Soccer vs. University of Dallas Paul McGinlay Soccer Field 8 pm Invisible Cities Magic Stones Inspired by the novel of Italo Calvino, created by Teatro Potlach and Trinity students. Teatro Potlach, together with students and artists from around the University, will take Trinity's campus as both its inspiration and stage. Throughout the event, chosen locations come alive and artists and audience become travelers-explorers-"archeologists of memory." 8:15 pm Greek Alumni Advisory Council General Meeting Northrup Hall, Lobby 9 pm All Alumni After Party Including photo booth, music, and food truck compliments of the Office of Alumni Relations Bombay Bicycle Club 3506 N. St. Mary's St.
Saturday, October 10 8 am – 3 pm Centralized Check In is open. Northrup Hall, Lobby 8:30 am (gun goes off at 9 am) Check In and Bib Pickup for the Tiger Trot 5K and 1-mile walk Tiger Football Stadium 10 am Diving vs. University of Incarnate Word William H. Bell Athletic Center 10 – 11 am Down Memory Lane - and Beyond Dr. Coleen Grissom, Professor of English Dicke/Smith Building, Ruth Taylor Recital Hall
12:30 – 1:30 pm The College Search Northrup Hall, Room 040 The Office of Admissions invites alumni and their high school age children to a college search program designed to assist families as they prepare for college. Topics will include the college search, the application and selection process, and financial aid.
7 pm 20 Year Reunion – Class of 1995 Ruth Taylor Courtyard (Rain: Laurie Auditorium Lobby)
1 – 3 pm Carnival Sponsored by Greek Alumni Advisory Council and Greek Council The designated benefactor of this year's event will be Fisher House which benefits military families of wounded members of the military: https://www.fisherhouse.org/ Prassel Lawn
7 pm 30 Year Reunion – Class of 1985 Coates University Center, Skyline Bistro
2 pm Tennis Alumni Reunion Butch Newman Tennis Center Dust off your racket some light-hearted tennis with current and former Trinity Tennis players. Check in and warm-up starts at 2:00 pm. A short program at 2:30 will honor the indomitable TU team of 1965. Many of us will head to the President’s alumni cocktail hour after the matches. 3:30 pm Tour of Trinity University Special Collections/Archives Elizabeth Huth Coates Library Meet in lobby. 3:30 – 4:30 pm Special Gathering of Trinity Sweethearts Coates University Center, Skyline Bistro More than 3500 Trinity alumni have found true love with another Trinitonian. 4 – 6 pm Gamma Chi Delta Happy Hour Tycoon Flats 2926 N. St. Mary's
7 pm 25 Year Dinner and Reunion – Class of 1990 Hosted by President Anderson Coates University Center, Fiesta Room
7 pm 35 Year Reunion – Class of 1980 Center for the Sciences and Innovation, Foyer 7 pm 40 Year Reunion – Class of 1975 Storch Memorial Building, Patio and Lobby 7 pm 45 Year Reunion – Class of 1970 Elizabeth Huth Coates Library, Java City 7 pm 50 Year Reunion – Class of 1965 Northrup Hall, James F. Dicke Board Room, 4th Floor 7 – 11 pm Lancer/Chi Beta Alumni Party Tribeca 4331 McCullough Avenue 7:30 – 10:30 pm Alpha Chi Lambda Gustology Mixology Class 1856 Nacogdoches Road 8 – 11 pm 10th Anniversary of Phi Delta Kappa Casa Alicia at La Fonda on Main 2415 North Main Avenue
Sunday, October 11
4 – 7 pm Triniteer 70th Anniversary Celebration Center for the Sciences and Innovation, Green Roof and 4th floor
9 – 11 am Triniteer Brunch La Fonda on Main 2415 N. Main
4:30 – 6 pm Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Social Candlelight Coffeehouse, Wine Bar & Café 3011 N. St. Mary’s Street
9:15 am President’s Brunch Invited Guests are Classes of 1965 and Earlier Hosted by President Anderson Chapman Center, Great Hall
5 – 6 pm International Alumni Reception Coates University Center, Lobby
Free babysitting for ages 6 months to 12 years will 10 am – 12 pm be provided by APO volunteers from 6:00-11:00 Tower Climb pm in the Coates University Center Waxahachie President Anderson will be at the top for photos and Woodlawn Rooms. from 10:30 - 11:30 am. 6 pm 10 am – 12 pm President’s All Alumni Cocktail Hour Alpha Chi Lambda Annual Brunch & Alumnae followed by Reunion Dinners Meeting Including Alumni Chapter Recognition, Reunion Anne Marie’s Carriage House & Bistro Awards Presentations, and Pass the Gavel 555 Funston Place Ceremony Alumni celebrating reunions will be escorted to 11 am (1 tour leaving), 11:30 am (1 tour their various event locations. leaving) and 12 noon (1 tour leaving) Center for the Sciences and Innovation, Guided Campus Tours Innovation Center, Room 282 Tours start at Miller Fountain 6:30 – 11 pm 11:30 am – 12 noon Sigma Theta Tau 60th Anniversary Celebration Alumni, Faculty, and Staff Author Book Reviews Quarry Golf Club William Knox Holt Conference Center, 106 444 E Basse Rd. Oakmont Court (Rain: Laurie Auditorium foyer) 7 pm GOLD (Graduates Of the Last Decade) 11:30 am – 1:30 pm Reunion All Alumni Picnic | Alumni Artisans’ Sale | Tower Plaza (Rain: Dicke/Smith foyer) Alumni Book Signing William Knox Holt Conference Center, 106 7 pm Oakmont Court 10 Year Reunion – Class of 2005 (Rain: Laurie Auditorium foyer) William Knox Holt Conference Center, 106 Oakmont Court
11 am Chapel Service Margarite B. Parker Chapel Guest preacher: Paul Gaedke ‘90 Noon Men’s Soccer vs. Colorado College Paul McGinlay Soccer Field Noon – 1 pm Spurs Alumni Tea Coates University Center, Skyline Bistro ** Don’t forget to stop by the Margarite B. Parker Chapel to reflect on the memorial to those alumni we have lost this past year.