Trinitonian 10.28.11

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

VOLUME 109, ISSUE 10 s OCTOBER 28, 2011

Gates opens up

What’s Inside

nFormer Secretary of Defense expounds upon the political choices America makes both domestically and abroad

by Alecia Jarrett Reporter

HAUNTED HOUSE The Swashbuckler Hall is hosting its annual Haunted House. Come prepared to have your pants scared off.

On Tuesday, Oct. 25, Trinity played host to Robert Gates, former Secretary of Defense and director of the Central

Intelligence Agency.

Gates evaluated the political situations of a multitude of countries as well as the economic crisis that America is currently in.

Gates opened the lecture by launching into a tirade of Washington D.C. jokes before turning to look America’s role in the global political and economic situation. Throughout the lecture, Gates evaluated the n

See GATES Page 3

photo by Purushottam Shah Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates addressed issues of international politics and domestic affairs when he came to Trinity on Oct. 25.

What goes bump in the Tiger’s Den Despite

economy, Trinity stays afloat

Page 14

nAs other schools see faculty layoffs and hikes in tuition, the only major change that Trinity sees is no more cars for VPs

SCARY DRESS Be prepared for the scariest holiday of the year. Includes tips of what not to wear to keep yourself from scaring people in the wrong way.

Page 16

by Kellie Benn Reporter photo by Christina Velasquez Students sit enthralled at the annual Scary Story Contest held Thursday, Oct. 27, in the Tiger’s Den. Five students read their scary stories and their scary sestinas as part of the Halloween celebration. After the scary story competition, the event welcomed all students who wanted to read their own compositions and provided publications as part of the open mike night.

Battle of the Brains on to regionals VOLLEYBALL VICTORY Women’s volleyball bounce, set, spike their way to victory this past weekend.

Page 21

nSeven students go to regionals with 11year veteran coach to solve “algorithmically challenging” problems this weekend

by Rachel Puckett

WEEKEND WEATHER

Reporter

High

Friday 69° Low

High

Saturday 71° Low 47°

High

Sunday 76° Low 52°

44°

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Starting Friday, Oct. 28, and through Saturday Oct. 29, seven Trinity University students will be competing in the regional portion of the 36th annual IBM-Sponsored Association for Computing Machinery International Collegiate Programming Contest.

Trinity has been competing in the “Battle of the Brains” for over 20 years according to veteran coach Mark Lewis, associate professor of computer science. This will be Lewis’ 11th year taking teams to

the competition.

Trinity sponsors two teams made up of three students. This year, Trinity is sending juniors Val Alexiev, Hai Duong and sophomore Keith Wedelich along with seniors Kristen Lund, Kerry Seitz, Ryan Darley and Aly Miller. Because Trinity has seven participants and teams cannot exceed three, one student will function as an alternate.

Lewis has noticed that participation is motivated largely by student interest as opposed to a stringent application process.

“It turns out that there’s a pretty nice natural selection in the sense that the only students who show up are generally capable,” Lewis said.

The application process—or lack thereof—begins when Lewis sends out an email to students who are on the computer science mailing list. This is how Lund found out about the competition.

“I heard about it pretty soon when I was going through the [computer science] major mailing list, and I decided to show up just to learn, and I ended up going to the competition,” Lund said.

The competition, as explained

by Lewis, is primarily based on problem solving. Competing teams are given sets of eight to 10 problems to complete within five hours.

Lewis continued to explain that the problems are “algorithmically challenging.”

“You’re often finding ideal solutions to something,” Lewis said. “It would be something like they give you a map and ask, ‘Okay, what’s the shortest route from here to here on these highways?’ Something along those lines would not be uncommon, but they’re often couched in odd ways.”

See n competition Page 3

Despite the current economic downturn, Trinity is managing to weather through the financial crisis without making huge cuts, sacrificing programs or laying off any staff or faculty, a claim other universities have not been able to make.

“We are faring pretty well as far as the downturn is concerned with regards to the university overall,” said Walter Huntley, chair of the board of trustees. “I think we’re in good financial shape because we’ve had a very conservative investment in budget policy and that has enabled us to not have drastic cuts like other universities have had with regards to programs and staff and things like that.”

Mark Detterick, vice president for Finance and Administration. said that this conservative approach allowed the university to remain on firm financial footing for the most part with minimal changes to the budget.

“Trinity is very fortunate in how conservative the previous administration budgeted that we haven’t had to react, have that knee-jerk reaction,” Detterick said. “We’ve been able to sit back and evaluate the situation which is n

See FINANCIAL Page 4

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News

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

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

Fire Alarm

10-26-11, Dickie Smith Bldg: 6:46 a.m.

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

It appeared that steam from hot water may have activated the smoke detector in room 310. Facilities Services notified.

World & Nation LOCAL

Even in the current economic situation, the number of people enrolled in Texas colleges has gone “way up” according to preliminary numbers released by the Texas Higher Education Board (THEB).

Approximately 62,000 more students enrolled in Texas’ universities this fall than the same time last year. Officials attribute this growth to a continued emphasis on the importance of higher education.

mysanatonio.com

NATIONAL

The United States’ economy grew this quarter by a rate of 2.5 percent, the highest increase since August 2010. This modest increase from the second quarter’s slow 1.3 percent pace is “a welcome relief,” Reuters said. The higher growth rate is being attributed to more spending by both the government and consumers.

The number of individuals applying for first-time unemployment insurance has remained largely unchanged.

npr.org

INTERNATIONAL

A devastating 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Turkey over the weekend, the strongest to hit the country in over a decade.

As of Thursday, Oct. 27, the death toll from the earthquake is 535 the number of injured is 2,300. As of Thursday, 185 people have been rescued from the rubble, including a teenager found alive after being buried for 100 hours. Relief organizations are on the ground providing food and shelter for the thousands of individuals impacted by the earthquake.

cnn.com compiled by John Mendiola

Burglary

Index

10-26-11, Calvert Hall: 1:10 p.m.

A student reported an iPod missing from her room.

News. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6 Opinion. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .7-11

Fire Alarm

Pulse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-15

10-24-11, Bell Center: 7:57 a.m.

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

Facilities Service personnel also at location.

Travis Halff

Know the story behind the brief?

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

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

Junior Senator

Theft

10-20-11, Delavan Tennis Courts: 10:18 a.m.

Contractors reported four large containers of paint missing from the construction site near the tennis courts.

¡Viva! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-18

What other organizations are you involved in?

I am the on-campus ad executive for the Trinitonian.

What are your goals for ASR?

As an organization, my biggest goal – and I think we are accomplishing it – is just to be more open with each other and be open with the student body. As far as that goes, I think that we are doing a great job and I really see progress especially since I came into last term halfway through to replace somebody. It may not always seem like it, but there are so many big improvements.

Right now I am working with the TUPD in an attempt to improve relations between the student body and the police department. Right now I feel like a lot of students have a negative perception of TUPD, which I am sure is unavoidable to some point, but I think that if there is anyway that [relationships] can be improved in the slightest bit, it’s for the better. They are the people who are going to help us and protect us.

ASR Briefs Muslim Student Association $260 Passed Funds were requested for Osman Umarji’s “Women in Islam: Role and Rights” lecture at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 2 in Northrup 040.

The money covers food, utensils, printing for flyers and a gift for the speaker from the Trinity University Bookstore.

After addressing the funding request, the senators added a public relations coordinator position and an internal communications coordinator position to the ASR by-laws. The senators also approved a change to the bylaws that makes cabinet members subject to the same attendance requirements as ASR senators. compiled by Kenneth Caruthers

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

I am pretty excited about what I doing right now with TUPD just because I felt like last term in ASR I was still learning and now it feels like I am starting something on my own that might actually last and influence the students in a big way.

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

photo by Carly Cowen A member of the group Kings N’ Things decorates Valorie Jenin’s face as part of drag show week.

Correction In the article “Let Love Rule” jumped to Page 11, the incorrect pronoun was used to refer to Kae Olujimi. The pronoun ‘her’ should have been used throughout the article.

The two senators elected by the Association for Student Representatives separately from the first-year elections were Jonathan Prescott and Jean Larkin.

I think right now groups and their proposals are restricted by what they understand –and it’s a reality right now [that there are] financial issues. I think that in a dream world, if there was more money available, people’s ideas would expand and things that organizations haven’t even thought about – because it’s not even a possibility right now – would come up. I think there are a lot of big things that people can’t even think about because it is not an option. That would be my hope –organizations being able to see what they can do and be creative with funds given to them. compiled by Samantha Bos editor: Katie Bailey managing editor: Tommie Ethington business manager: Jordan Potter advertising director: Nikkita Fernandes news editor: Samantha Bos pulse editor: Erica Jones viva editor: Matt Kafoury sports editor: Megan Julian photo editor: Audrey Nobles graphics editor: Kaitlin Browne reporters: Kellie Benn, Jessie Burch, Lydia Duncombe, Megan

STAFF

Hageney, Deanna Husting, Alecia Jarrett, Joe O’Connell, Rachel Puckett, Maddie Rau, Brooke Sanchez, Brian Westfall, Lauren Wilks columnists: Margaret Browne, Alli Day, Taylor Dolan, Ashley Feinberg, Isaiah Putman, Judson Rose cartoonists: Chiara Ferrari, Kim Ferrari copy editors: Andrea Davis, Rachel Hannusch, Victoria Mitchell photographers: Abhishek Chhetri,

photo by Carly Cowen Students line up at the Career Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 26, in Mabee Dining Hall to receive information and opportunities for life after Trinity.

Carly Cowen, Purushottam Shah, Christina Velasquez distribution manager: Ali Kimura advertising executives: Cristina Cahn-Speyer, Travis Halff, Paige Lanford creative staff: Kristin Ashley, Brianna Garner, Amalya Haver, business assistants: Laura Fraser, Vanessa Freckmann, Miroslav Getov webmaster: Martin Schwed adviser: Katharine Martin

IDENTIFICATION The Trinitonian [USPS 640460] [issn 1067-7291] is published weekly during the academic year, except holidays and final exams, by Trinity University, One Trinity Place, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200. Subscription price is $30 per year. Periodicals Postage Paid at San Antonio, TX. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Trinitonian, One Trinity Place, #62, San Antonio, TX 78212-7200.

News

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

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Distinguished speakers of years past and future graphic by Katie Browne Over the past three years, a variety of speakers have come to Trinity as a part of the Trinity University Distinguished Lecture Series, funded by an endowment from Mr. and Mrs. Walter F. Brown of San Antonio. Speakers in the past have been political leaders, such as the former president of Pakistan Pervez Musharraf, former Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell, former director of the Office of Management and Budget Peter Orszag and most recently, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Other high profile speakers have included the Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Thomas Friedman and the former chairwoman and CEO of Xerox Corporation, Anne Mulcahy. The knighted, award-winning novelist, Sir Ahmed Salman Rushdie, is coming to give a lecture at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7 in Laurie Auditorium. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Gates reviews political situations around world

“It would have been good to keep a small troop in Iraq for counterterrorist training,” Gates said.

Gates concluded that “Iraq’s future is truly up to the Iraqis,” and it is the only Arab democracy.

Hopefully, they will be able to sustain it and secure U.S. safety in that area of the world.

“

Middle East and Africa Iran and Afghanistan “The threat in the Middle East can’t be contained in the long term,” Gates said.

According to Gates, authoritarian regimes, such as Tunisia and Egypt, are threatened by economic problems, the lack of democracy and secular groups.

“Any real political change will have to come from the inside

Moving on to Iran, Gates mentioned the troubling reality of Iran’s abundant oil revenue and the repressive state their own people live in.

“Unpredictable and dangerous, Iran… is determined to develop nuclear weapons,” Gates said.

As for Afghanistan, according to Gates, “the goal is a simple one:”

to ensure that Afghanistan does not become a launching pad for attacks against the United States at the hands of the Taliban. The United States must keep Al Qaeda and other extremist groups out of Afghanistan.

“We can’t turn it into a premature rush to the exits,” Gates said.

“Bugging out of this part of the world would be unconscionable.”

“China’s economic growth is driven by exports, and those high growth levels will be hard to sustain in the future,” Gates said.

According to Gates, China is already our partner and competitor, and it depends on how both countries play their cards to determine if we will become enemies.

“If we treat China as an enemy, it will become one,” Gates said.

Relations with Pakistan are shaky as the United States abandoned them on four separate occasions, according to Gates.

“The U.S. has no option but to stay with it,” Gates said. “The bleaker alternative is to allow Pakistan’s future [to be] in the hands of other countries or the Islamic revolution.”

Gates then turned inward and looked at domestic concerns. He listed three main developments that must take place in order for the United States to climb out from under the deficit cloud.

First, there must be an overhaul of the structure of political parties.

Compromises will have to be made.

Second, “a consistent strategy must be present across multiple presidents” and multiple Congresses, since the problems are so deep that they cannot be solved in any one term. The changes made must endure for several terms.

Last, extreme views are gaining more attention in the news media, which, according to Gates, is “fueling the dumbing down of our national political dialogue.”

Gates urged political leaders to “step outside of their ideological cocoons” in order for compromise

Pakistan

China

Bringing up the costly war combined with the economic crisis, Gates shifted to China and the possibility of the United States losing eminence.

“

Iraq

Revolutions from within have shown the Arab public that there are ways to end authoritarian rule.

“

decisions made by past American presidents as well as current international figures.

Gates started with the end of the Cold War and explained that other countries were, and still are, resentful of the United States’ preeminence. As a result, when the Twin Towers came down, other countries saw that the “arrogant, all-powerful giant had been humbly tumbled,” Gates said.

Gates then targeted specific countries for his talking points, starting with Iraq.

of these societies,” Gates said.

“Revolutions from within have shown the Arab public that there are ways to end authoritarian rule.”

Gates is concerned about the appeal that Islamic extremist groups may have on a country in revolutionary turmoil, as the extremists promise security and order.

“Frankly, there isn’t much outsiders can do to affect the outcome,” Gates said.

If we treat China as an enemy, it will become one.

“

Competition about teamwork Teams rarely finish all five problems. Judging is based on the number of problems solved. In the event that several teams finish the same number of problems, scores are determined using a system of penalty points based largely on the time each team took to solve the problems. Points are deducted for submitting wrong answers, but a team can make multiple submissions on the same problem.

While any electronic help is prohibited, teams are permitted to bring written assistance.

However, two of Trinity’s participants believe that this is a pointless allowance.

“I don’t think we used [the books] at all last year,” Seitz said.

Miller agreed that the books are “just for decoration.”

According to Lewis, Trinity usually places high among programs without graduate students. The competition allows teams with graduate students to

compete against teams without graduate students.

Among computer scientists, this [event] is well-known.

The ACM is the primary organization for computer science, and they host this and have for decades.

“

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n continued from Page 1

Mark Lewis

Associate professor of computer science

“In general, we do well, but we have never advanced to international. That has a

tendency to be UT,” Lewis said.

Trinity competes in the South Central region against teams from Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Last year Trinity competed against 69 teams.

Trinity’s contestants have been dedicating one to five hours weekly in preparation for the competition. The teams are chosen out of a mutual understanding that this competition requires harmony within the team.

“I don’t generally force the teams on them because a lot of it is chemistry and dynamics. The thing is, you have three people on a team, and they have one computer,” Lewis said.

While this competition does not receive much publicity outside of the computer science world, Lewis stresses its importance to those within the discipline.

“Among computer scientists, this [event] is well-known,” Lewis said. “The ACM is the primary organization for computer science, and they host this and have for decades.”

Domestic Affairs

[Political parties] are more concerned with winning elections and scoring ideological points rather than saving the country.

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n continued from Page 1

to be reached and change be made. “[Political parties] are more concerned with winning elections and scoring ideological points rather than saving the country,” Gates said.

Gates mentioned four characteristics that will provide the power and the means to overcome national problems: leadership, will, sacrifice and compromise.

“We, Americans, continue to be the masters of our fate,” Gates said. “If the United States slides from preeminence, it will be because we failed and not because of other countries. It is in our power to make it so, and I believe we will.”

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4

News

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Financial changes due to new administration a really fortunate position to be in.”

According to Detterick, changes in the budget are less about the economy and more about new administration coming in with a fresh perspective and different philosophy.

“Any impacts to the budget, in my opinion, are probably more to do with the administration and a different set of eyes looking at things, and I think that’s pretty normal,” Detterick said.

One of the challenges the university had to overcome was receiving less money from the endowment due to market conditions. According to Dennis Ahlburg, president of the university, what Trinity receives from the endowment declined 17.7 percent last year, which was less than some other schools which saw a 25-30 percent decline in their endowments.

The endowment that Trinity receives is based on 12 rolling

fiscal quarters, which means that the university is still currently dealing with effects from 20082009 when the market was down, resulting in less money for the university from the endowment.

Last year was particularly challenging for administrators in that the university had to deal with a decrease in the endowment and a lower than expected firstyear enrollment, according to Detterick. Administration expected around 630-640 students in last year’s incoming class but only 587 enrolled.

“That’s a four-year problem; that’s not a one-year problem,” Detterick said.

Although this year’s incoming class met expectations, the low enrollment of last year’s class showed administration that they need to plan ahead for multiple years from a budget perspective and not just year by year.

Priorities have slightly shifted in regards to the current budget, and more money is being spent in some areas while less money

I think Trinity has a very unique story and a very unique location. We have phenomenal faculty, we attract phenomenal students and we just have to tell the story so more people hear about it.

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n continued from Page 1

Mark Detterick

Vice president for Finance and Administration

is being spent in other areas.

“We no longer have cars for vice presidents, as an example,” Detterick said. “Now is that

A Shot of Trinity Think you know Trinity?

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because of the budget? No, not really; it’s because we don’t think it’s important for VPs to have cars.”

At the same time, more money is being given to Facility Services to make campus improvements for faculty salary and benefits.

According to Ahlburg, the uncertainty in today’s economy affects the university in two ways: students and parents begin to question whether a university education is worth the investment, and donors are less willing to donate to the university because they are concerned about their own financial future.

“And so it makes you become more reliant on tuition,” Ahlburg said. “We have kept tuition significantly below our competitors, so that kind of constrains what we can do, because we are not generating as much revenue from our students as our competitors.”

Whereas some universities

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

trinitonian-adv@ trinity.edu

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

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

This week’s prize

is a $51 top price ticket: Theatre Council Productions

Sponsored by...

Theatre Council Productions

are increasing the size of their student bodies in order to generate more revenue, this is not the case with Trinity.

“I don’t think there’s any desire to grow and you’ll see that with a lot of schools; they’re increasing their revenue by increasing their population,” Detterick said.

“My understanding is that’s not where we want to go.”

Trinity’s desire to remain small, keep tuition increases at a minimum and focus on quality over quantity means the university has to continue to work hard to meet enrollment expectations and make parents and prospective students aware of what a Trinity education will mean to them.

“I really like our market position,” said Detterick. “I think Trinity has a very unique story and a very unique location.

We have phenomenal faculty, we attract phenomenal students and we just have to tell the story so more people hear about it.”

No 4-7 p.m. time block this semester A proposal introduced last semester through the Office of Academic Affairs offering a three-hour block of time during which no classes could be scheduled has been rejected for now.

The reasoning for the 4 to 7 p.m. time block was to provide a way to reduce tension for students wishing to both take classes and participate in extracurricular activities such as performing arts and athletic programs. However, many students and professors were opposed to the idea because of the limitations it would pose.

“There are only so many three-hour blocks in the week so for us to give those up would really have not only limited our offerings but affected our curriculum and affected our pedagogical approach to both writing and literature. It would’ve been very difficult for us and for our majors,” said Victoria Aarons, professor and chair of the Department of English.

She emphasized the benefit of three-hour classes in that they provide the continuity necessary for discussions about novels, workshops on student writing and the showing of films.

There are many instances when various events occur on campus simultaneously and students must set their priorities and decide how to spend their time.

“We all make those choices and this is a good place to learn how to make choices,” Aarons said.

by Sana Husain, Intern

News

Hirings prompted by low donations n Trinity’s alumni participation rate of 13.1 percent ranks lower than participation at comparable schools

by Avantika Krishna Intern

Three new staff members were added this fall to the Office of Annual Giving to help boost the Trinity Fund and increase overall alumni and parent involvement.

The Trinity Fund is the university’s annual giving program and provides scholarships, assists the university’s world-class faculty and supports programming that makes Trinity a close-knit environment. Currently, the university has a dismal 13.1 percent alumni participation rate, which includes 3,113 donors. For other schools of Trinity’s caliber and size, the participation rates across the board range from 90 percent alumni give-back rates to only a few schools at 20 percent.

However, compared to these other top institutions, Trinity’s annual giving team is also smaller. According to Kathy McNeil, senior director of Annual Giving, the small department contributes to the 13 percent participation rate because it lacks the necessary number of volunteers to fully engage people.

There are also fewer individuals who can have conversations with students about the importance of philanthropy while they are still here on campus, living and reaping the benefits of all the financial contributions of past alumni.

Elaborating on why Trinity’s alumni do not contribute back to

“Every truth has four corners: as a teacher I give you one corner, and it is for you to find the other three.”

-Confucius -ripplemaker.hubpages.com

the university as much, Jennifer McElroy, director of Parent Programs feels that Trinity’s participation rate is not an accurate representation of how alumni feel about their years at Trinity.

“Our participation rate for a school like Trinity is very, very low. Trinity alumni feel very strongly about Trinity and have very positive feelings about their experience, but it hasn’t translated to financial support— yet,” McElroy said. “Also, from the outside, that’s how someone, like U.S. News and World Report would determine how supportive the alumni were, how happy alumni were with their education; they look to that participation rate. I think our participation rate does not equal how people feel about Trinity.”

The university hopes to expand fundraising efforts, and more heavily involve parents and alumni. Coming out of a successful campaign that raised $16 million for Trinity’s Annual Fund this past year, the Annual Giving Office is now focusing on getting more alumni to give gifts to the university on a yearly basis.

“A lot of people give, just not that much. The problem is consistency,” McNeil said.

“They give back every five years at their reunion, but not in the four years in between. We added these people to bring that consistency.”

During the campaign, the university focused on getting large donations from a few individuals. Now, its focus has shifted from the dollar amount raised to increasing the number of donors and overall participation.

Building that participative base of alumni and parents is one of the large goals of the university, something the additional hires

are here to accomplish.

The office strives to personalize outreach by spending more time establishing connections with parents and alumni. Additionally, helping the alumni feel empowered to connect with former classmates will also make way for increased participation. Trinity hopes to fully engage alumni so they not only provide gifts to the university but are also connected on campus, sharing their time and wisdom with current students.

Ultimately, Trinity’s longterm goal is to increase annual alumni participation to or above 20 percent by 2016.

Jasmeen Waliany, director of Alumni and Admissions Network stressed why these gifts matter.

“When alumni give gifts to the university, they are also increasing the value of their own diploma, because if the university has more money it can further programs faster, it can have new and innovative ways to fund different research projects or fund different things for departments so we are always on the brink of technology,” Waliany said.

“The Science and Innovation Center is going to be the best in the country when it’s finished.

It’s these kinds of projects that happen when we have money to fill our operational expenses. So if we have more money in our operations, more money can be segued out for other projects.”

According to McNeil, everything is going well with the new hires and the office is now able to focus on different issues in more depth than they were able to do before. Compared to this time last year, Trinity is up in the dollar amount and number of donors, but it is still too early

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

5

Lance Corporal Benjamin Schmidt, son of David Schmidt, team physician for Trinity University athletics, was killed in action on Oct. 6 in Afghanistan. Flags were flown at half staff in honor of the 24-year-old Schmidt on Friday, Oct. 14.

Even though LeeRoy is not usually published on a non-teaching day, University Communications felt it was important to let the Trinity community know why the flags were being flown at half staff.

“I felt that it was important for the community to know that the person that we were honoring and the life that this person had given had a connection to Trinity through his family,” said Sharon Jones Schweitzer, assistant vice president for University Communications.

Schweitzer emphasized, however, that Trinity will also honor those who do not have a direct link to Trinity.

“Throughout the year, the flags are flown half staff for reasons that may be related to something larger than what’s going on in our community,” Schweitzer said. “Since the start of the Iraq War and then Afghanistan the mayor has asked anyone who flies the colors if we lose a community member in the war in battle that we fly our flags at half staff, and that was the case with Lance Corporal Benjamin Schmidt.”

According to Claire Smith, executive assistant to the president and a member of the Trinity Staff Engagement Committee, there is a sequence to follow to lower the flag.

“The request [by the mayor’s office and the Greater Chamber of Commerce] comes through to the president’s office for lowering the flag,” Smith said. “If we choose to lower the flag, we send through a notification to the police department, and they physically lower the flag.”

by Kenneth Caruthers graphic by Katie Browne

6

News

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Dialogue on death and religion, part of death penalty awareness

by Alecia Jarrett Reporter

The Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, in conjunction with Trinity’s chapter of Amnesty International and other partners, organized a dialogue on the religious aspects of capital punishment Monday, Oct. 24, in Laurie Auditorium.

In the opening of the Religious Leaders Dialogue on the Death Penalty, Karen Clifton, executive director of the Catholic Mobilizing Network to End the Use of

the Death Penalty and moderator of the dialogue, described the discussion as “a springboard in bringing people of faith and members of the community to enact the end of the death penalty.” Clifton listed several problems with capital punishment including the cost, the unjust incarceration of innocents and racial prejudices, asserting that “the debate over the death penalty is not one of pure math or logic; emotional and spiritual elements strongly influence public opinion and legal recourse.”

Bishop Robert Hibbs, retired bishop suffragan of the West Texas Episcopal Diocese:

Hibbs shared personal stories related to the death penalty, including conversations with his father-in-law about the inability to rehabilitate people who are sentenced to death as well the lack of “competent legal representation.” Another story revolved around Hibbs’ ministry of a young man whose sister was raped and drowned and the young man’s eventual healing. Hibbs said he believes that the death penalty is “morally and spiritually reprehensible.”

Rabbi Samual M. Stahl, rabbi emeritus of Temple Beth-El:

Stahl said he believed that “capital punishment is wrong” even though he found hundreds of instances when the death penalty was mandated in the Torah. Stahl focused on the poor minority communities that are affected by the death penalty, the brutalization of the those who administer it and the possibility for error when the results are irrevocable.

Reverend Virgilio Vasquez-Garza, pastor of the United Methodist Church:

Vasquez-Garza said he had firsthand experience of wanting to kill a criminal after the man murdered many of his friends. “I gave my vengeance to my God,” Vasquez-Garza said. He said the only way we can create a just society is by abolishing “killing that is justified by the state.” In conclusion, he challenged the audience to examine scripture with an open heart and an open mind.

Reverend M.A. Rashad Berry, associate minister at Canaan Missionary First Baptist Church:

Berry stressed the improper procedures that are a part of the death penalty as well as the “false sense of safety” that the death penalty gives members of society. Instead of providing safety, Berry said that it causes more violence and is at fault for the “wrongful executions of innocent people.” He ended by saying, “I will do my best to make sure justice and equality prevails.”

Father Larry Christian, pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church:

Christian saw two major faults of the death penalty: as a “lack of equal application” to all races and social statuses and the ability for money to “buy enough justice.” Working in a small, rural parish during a capital punishment trial, with the victim’s and defendant’s family members in the same congregation, Christian detailed the difficulty in consoling both families. He expressed the hope of “a place where the death penalty would not be needed.”

Elder Hilary Shuford, candidate under care of Maumee Valley Presbytery:

Shuford defended the assertion that “capital punishment is wrong,” with four reasons. Shuford began with the hypocrisy of allowing the state to commit homicide when the individual cannot commit homicide. Secondly, Shuford stressed the sanctity of life and that only the Lord can seek vengeance. In her third point, Shuford mentioned the disproportionate application of the death penalty to the minorities. Finally, she declared that “innocent persons are put to death, and that is intolerable.”

Bishop Ray Tiemann, fourth bishop of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Tiemann reasoned that the death penalty is harmful, leads to mistrust and fills the hearts of the victims’ families with revenge. Since we are fallible human beings, Tiemann argued, we can’t justly sentence a person to death – biases and prejudices are always present. He believes the alternative, life imprisonment without the chance of parole, provides justice, order and peace, which scripture calls for.

Sponsors for this event included: • Bishop James Dorff, Southwest Texas Conference United Methodist Church • Catholic Mobilizing Network • Jesuit Fathers of San Antonio • Marianist Social Justice Collaborative • Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation • National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty • St. Mary’s University • Temple Beth-El – Rabbi Barry Block • Texas Baptist Christian Life Commission • Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Upcoming event: What: 2012 Annual Conference: Seizing the

Momentum… Creating the Climate for Change by TCADP

When: 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012

Where: University of the Incarnate Word Sky Room

For more information: //tcadp.org/what-we-do/

-A Trinity Minute- LeeRoy’s Halloween

Consider your costume Our Halloween costume choices say a lot about who we are.

You love the magical world of Harry Potter, you’re obsessed with Dr. Who or you’re just plain lazy and cut two holes in a sheet and threw it over your head. Halloween is all about pigging out on candy, enjoying a good old-fashioned spook and, overall, having a good time. Sometimes, however, costume choices can be scary for the wrong reason.

A group of students at Ohio University is bringing to light how some Halloween costumes can be racially insensitive. Students Teaching Against Racism in Society made a series of posters for their “We’re a Culture Not a Costume Campaign,” that are now going viral on the Internet, that show members of various ethnic minorities holding pictures of arguably racist costumes with the words “This is not who I am, and this is not okay” (Check out the posters on the STARS website at www.ohio.edu/orgs/stars).

The costumes are offensive because they support racial stereotypes that are evidence of the history and ongoing presence of racism in our country. This is similarly done in the design of most female costumes, where the inevitable “sexy” prefix turns any respectable occupation into pornography, usually packaged in an exceedingly overpriced ensemble of too little fabric (see “Halloween: such a slutty, wonderful time of year” on Page 9 as well as “Too soon? Costumes you should leave at home” on Page 16).

The thing is: Halloween isn’t meant to be respectable. Respectable people don’t go to work in vampire costumes on any other day of the year but Halloween (hopefully). It’s the element of absurdity that makes Halloween fun. It’s an opportunity to impress your friends with your ingenuity in becoming somebody or something that you aren’t.

The difficulty with being politically correct for Halloween is that the success of a costume relies on it being a caricature. While racial stereotypes are generally unacceptable, there are instances when burlesque is not only acceptable but heartily encouraged. The Sexual Diversity Alliance’s recent drag show and the annual performance of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” by the Trinity University Players are all about liberated sexual expression and being scantily clad.

The reason the sexual explicitness at these events is generally found acceptable is the simple fact that everyone is doing it. Peer pressure generally gets a bad rap, but it plays an important role in making Halloween fun. If everyone is swapping their usual identities for that of a fun-loving transvestite, it’s fleetingly socially acceptable.

Considering that it’s possible to take the taboo out of sex, could dressing as another race be more acceptable if there was a venue for racial expression? Although the costumes in STARS’ campaign are incriminating, it is possible that people impersonate other cultures without the intention of being offensive. The best way to battle ignorance is through conversation and openness, not accusation.

Trinity has a diverse group of organizations like SDA, Students for the Advancement of Gender Equality, the Trinity Diversity Connection and a host of cultural and religious associations that broaden our campus-wide perspective every day.

As you rush to buy or create your Halloween costume before tonight’s party, consider the character you want to become. If you aren’t careful, those Facebook pictures might haunt you forever.

Happy Halloween, Trinity!

by Kim and Chiara Ferrari

Greek life adds to Trinity experience Guest Column

by Keehn Strange and Kaela Dickens Greek Council Co-Chairs

With the dawn of a new rush season, we thought it fitting to put into words the goals and aspirations of the Greek community for this year. Throughout the last four years here at Trinity, Greek Life has gone through cycles of both faculty and student leadership, the taking on of a national fraternity and the renewal of one of our oldest and

It’s important to remember that Greeks are Trinity students first; it is for this reason we strive to be as engaged as possible in all aspects of Trinity life, not just Greek life.

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most influential fraternities. This year was no different—we continue to see changes both structurally and

socially, and Greek Council, as well as the rest of the Greek community, continues to accommodate and build on those changes. For those both within and outside of the Greek community, we hope that this might shed some light on what Greeks bring to campus life.

First, let’s clear the air. There has recently been some confusion with regard to the allocation of funds from Greek Council. The funds from Greek Council go to supporting philanthropic events put on by our clubs, hosting events like the rush kickoff and Greek week n See GREEKS Page 8

ASR funds contingent on constitution Guest Column

by Travis Halff and Jacob Uzman Junior Senators

In a previous Trinitonian, Bethany Dawson wrote a guest column expressing shock and dismay at the Association of Student Representative’s recent decision to fund the Greek Council’s budget request

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editorial

7

Due to the current wording of the constitution, however, we are not allowed to fund travel for groups.

while turning down a funding proposal from the Sexual Diversity Alliance. This is an understandable reading of the Trinitonian’s ASR brief for

that meeting; however, the Trinitonian briefs are just briefs.

They do not tell the whole story of what happens at meetings.

At the meeting in question, the funding request from SDA received quite a bit of discussion, so much so that what normally would have been a one-hour meeting wound up lasting close to two and a half hours. The first problem was that SDA came to us as a group requesting money for travel expenses. Due to the current wording of the ASR constitution, however, we are not allowed to fund travel expenses for groups. Article IX, Section 2 details the ways ASR funds groups on campus.

Subsection B, clause C of this section explicitly says that “travel funds are allocated to individual students who seek to attend off-campus events.”

This statement places constraints on the way ASR can allocate funding for travel.

Regardless of the event, if a group comes to us and asks for travel funding, it is currently unconstitutional for us to allocate funds to that group.

Individual students may come to us and ask for travel funds.

In denying SDA’s funding request, we expected them to return to us the following week

We feel it is necessary to point out that we feel very strongly that SDA’s activism improved their ‘educational and professional development...’

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October 28, 2011

Opinion

No Nostalgia Here

Grissom gets to the heart of the issue, talks about her love for teaching Page 10

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Let’s Talk Business

Professor Yang analyzes the interactions between the Chinese and Americans Page 11

as individual students seeking to travel, and that prompted a long discussion of whether SDA’s activism “improve[s] their own educational and professional development and positively impact[s] campus,” which is the second requirement for funding individual travel.

At this point, we feel it is n See SENATOR Page 11

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

Story Suggetions

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

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

Letters to the Editor

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

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

Guest Columns

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

Opinions expressed in the Trinitonian are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions of Trinity University, its students, faculty, staff or the Trinitonian. Editorials represent the opinions of the Trinitonian Editorial Board. The first copy of the Trinitonian is free; additional copies are 50 cents each. ©2011. All rights reserved.

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Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Opinion

Greeks aim to improve community n Continued from Page 7

that promote Greek life as a whole, and bringing in speakers that benefit the entire Trinity community. Things like rush parties and mixers are funded entirely by individual clubs.

We believe the Greek community has a lot to offer to its members and the Trinity community as a whole. First, Greek life offers students an opportunity to foster a close relationship with a wide range of diverse individuals within their clubs while still giving students an avenue to contribute to the larger community. Clubs’ alumni networks provide gateways to post-college opportunities that a student might not have access to otherwise. Furthermore, each Greek organization has adopted an outside organization as their philanthropy, and every year the Greek community hosts dozens of service events around San Antonio, in addition to completing required service hours and attendance at campuswide events. That being said, Trinity Greek life has already hosted numerous successful events of its own this semester.

These included Ignite the Night, a campus-wide event which benefited An Orphan’s Bright Star, and Fall Frolics, which donated its profits to the Battered Women’s & Children’s Shelter.

The most recent service event was “Greeks Do Good” in which the Greek community and their alumni donated over 1,000 items to Haven for Hope, a local shelter and community outreach center.

We would also like to bring to light some of our goals as a

Greek community this year. Over the past few years the Greek community and administration have alienated themselves from each other, fostering mistrust, inefficiency and difficulties on both sides of the relationship. The main goal of last and this year’s Greek Council is to get back to building that relationship, and in doing so, create a more open and integrative environment.

It’s important to remember that Greeks are Trinity students first.

It is for this reason we strive to be as engaged as possible in all aspects of Trinity life, not just Greek life.

This year we have readjusted our orientation schedule to better accommodate the academic schedule, and we maintained our long and open rush process (against the trend of other schools) in order to foster friendships among Greeks and non-Greeks alike, not create an elitist and exclusionary subset of student life. In fact, Greeks participate in a wide variety of other clubs and organizations across campus.

That is what makes Trinity Greeks unique—we attract all kinds of personalities, backgrounds and beliefs. No matter what kind of person you are, there is a club here for you whether or not you decide to join one. Our aim is never to divide, but to unite, and we hope that we can continue to enrich the Trinity experience as a truly unique aspect of student life. n In addition to being Greek

Council Co-Chairs, Keehn Strange is a senior political science and economics major, and Kaela Dickens is a sociology and Spanish major.

this week in history

Looking back at Laurie

file photo

To my legions of readers (I know there’s at least one of you out there – I love you, managing editor!), it may seem like I’ve been writing the This Week in History forever, but it’s actually only been three issues so far. Aside from all of the wit, humor, and great prose, my little corner of the Trinitonian, I hope, shows stories of days gone by that would otherwise be ignored. I really do enjoy reading through the history of our beloved campus. I’m ashamed to admit it but I only ever read the history factoids in the midnight emails I receive from our deceased pet, LeeRoy. How else would I know that Trinity was dirt-poor and would have been unable to pay off most of its debt without the $1,000 a Mexia saloon owner paid to settle a lawsuit that the dean filed?

Thanks, LeeRoy! Most of you may find this hard to believe, but Laurie Auditorium isn’t actually named after Hugh Laurie. It’s named after Trinity’s 14th president, Dr. James W. Laurie, who served during the two decades of the university’s most rapid and extensive development. Laurie Auditorium was the capstone building of the massive development plan that began in the 1950s. Encompassing 244,000 square feet, it was the largest structure on campus during its time. Since then, the only structure built that has been larger than the auditorium is the neverending stairs between lower and upper campus (joking). text by John Mendiola, Intern

Meet the Press compiled by Tommie Ethington

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

I thoroughly enjoy that so much sweat and tears are poured into the issues every week. We have a tireless staff that just amazes me with their dedication to journalism. It’s a really inspiring effort.

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

Oh, the sweet sweet joys of being a fashion columnist! I’m not assigned my stories, I just get paid to bring whatever fashion knowledge and advice I feel we are lacking as a community. It’s quite alot of fun because I can babble on about virtually any trend!

What’s the best halloween costume you’ve had? Why was it so great?

Taylor Dolan ’11

Erm, tis a tricky question. As a newly discovered Whovian, my plans for this year are to wear a bowtie and fez and be the twelfth Doctor regenerated...I will just have to steel myself for the two-thirds of campus that have not a clue who I’m supposed to be.

Columnist Art Major

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

My favorite part about working for the Trinitonian is the sense of community it fosters within all of us that work inside of its caring walls.

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

The most interesting interaction I have had since working on ad staff was when an owner of a store tried to pay to have Trinitonian writers create a story about how hip and popular his service was.

What’s the best halloween costume you’ve had? Why was it so great?

I think that my costume this year will be my best yet as I am going as Tobias Fünke. It will be great because I have an excellent excuse to wear cut-offs (as Tobias is a nevernude).

Travis Halff ’13

Advertising Executive Business & Communication Major

Aramark Gems

Beyond the Menu

We lied.

Due to the high volume of submissions to the Opinion section this week, Aramark Gems and the review of the popular P.O.D. milkshake machine will be delayed another week.

We know you’re heartbroken, right?

Opinion

What’s your all-time favorite Halloween costume?

Daniel Thale-Galat First Year

“I dressed up as a red doll that I owned and carried it around with me, so that people could see what I was supposed to be.”

Sophia Vivanco Sophomore “I don’t dress up, but I saw someone as an iPod one year and thought that it was really original.”

Patrick Rhatican Junior “I was Gi-Joe, because they are beast!”

Graham Bates Sophomore “I was a mass-murderer with a flower instead of a knife. I thought it was funny and different.”

Ryan Rabat Senior “I was Obi-Won Kenobi for three years straight, because it’s f------ Star Wars!”

Sneha Janardhanan Senior “I was a dice one year, because it was easy to make and original.”

Alison Salmon First Year “Spiderman was my favorite costume, because he was my childhood hero.”

Denise Paredes Sophomore “I was Harry Potter one year, because I LOVE Harry Potter.”

Don Dimick Junior “I like being drunk, because it’s fun.”

compiled by Amy Howarth, Intern

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Halloween: such a slutty, wonderful time of year The Feiner Things

by Ashley Feinberg

Senior

It’s that time of year again.

Cotton webbing is being carefully laced over doors and windows; wobbly-toothed pumpkins grin at us atop doorsteps and lonely secretaries across the nation are fervently cutting out Halloweenthemed Cathy comics to display alongside their questionably empty candy jars.

Yet, despite being more popularly understood as a children’s holiday, practically no one group of individuals remains ambivalent when it comes to the upcoming celebration of hedonism, mischief and temporary spikes in childhood diabetes, excluding, of course, the unconscious and the Amish. While Brother Jebediah spends Oct. 31 just like any other day -- not wearing buttons and coiffing his mustache-less beard, as I imagine these activities to take up the majority of daily Amish lifeevery other hot-blooded American is riddled with excitement over the evening to come.

My interest comes in the appeal of this now relatively meaningless holiday for anyone over the age of 12. Regardless of the more explicit activity associated with Halloween – namely the act of small, communist children going to strangers’ homes and demanding they freely share their loosely wrapped candy – the night

holds a special meaning for each person on this special night.

For girls ages 13 to, oh, about 35, Halloween affords them an opportunity to express their inner strength and character, assuming, of course, that those two qualities are the names of either breast.

The extent to which these girls and women are able to scandalize characters from all walks of life

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The extent to which these girls and women are able to scandalize characters from all walks of life – be it the slutty nurse, the slutty school girl or the more politically conscious slutty Gadhafi – has almost become more impressive than heinous.

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Sidewalk Symposium

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

– be it the slutty nurse, the slutty school girl or the more politically conscious slutty Gadhafi – has almost become more impressive than heinous. It takes a certain amount of confidence, creativity and total disregard for social mores to, in the promiscuous nun’s case, don an outfit made for a modest life dedicated to God and chop it into a piece of fabric the size

of which would make even the abbey’s most rogue sister blush.

These scantily clad characters may take the spotlight when it comes to observing the bizarre effect the holiday has on America’s populace, but they’re really just the tip of the iceberg, the slutty, slutty iceberg. Males of the same age range often go the identical route of their female counterparts and quite literally. Halloween allows these men an opportunity to overcome societal boundaries and explore a different side of themselves, namely the side that wants to wear women’s lingerie.

Whether it’s done entirely for comic effect or for the charming effect pastels have on the eyes of this particular six-foot-two Michele Bachmann impersonator, boys and men alike seem to take this as an opportunity to get in touch with their more feminine inclinations in Halloween’s allinclusive setting.

So yes, the holiday may seem centered around children and their hunt to expedite an increase in childhood obesity levels. However, upon further introspection, Halloween is really so much more to so many people. It’s a time when, regardless of age, gender, race, socio-economic status or any other number of defining factors, Americans can find solace in dressing up as a wide range of promiscuous, wanton harlots.

Because that’s what American tradition is all about. n Ashley Feinberg is a senior

English and communication major.

Dining on Santa’s reindeer The Finnish Line

by Sammye Johnson

Columnist

It’s eight weeks until Santa Claus arrives, but I already have “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer” as an ear worm.

Everyone from the Supremes to the Chipmunks have recorded this song. But Gene Autry’s version is the definitive one, and that’s the one I hum every year. “Rudolph” not only was the No. 1 song of the 1950s, but it’s also the second best selling Christmas single of all time, after “White Christmas.”

When I ate reindeer at a Finnish restaurant for the first time last week, “Rudolph” played in my head. Faculty members at Haaga-Helia University, where I had lectured about travel writing to undergraduate journalism majors, wanted me to experience authentic Finnish food – and nothing is more authentic than reindeer meat. It was a Lapland-style meal, with three choices: reindeer, elk and salmon. I’m allergic to seafood, and everyone recommended the reindeer. Vegetarians were offered mushroom soup.

Reindeer preparation options included fried sausages, tartar with raw egg and capers, the

enticing combo of cooked tongue and fried liver, smoked shank with creamed cabbage and sautéed on a bed of mashed potatoes with lingonberries.

I selected sautéed reindeer, figuring at least I’d eat the potatoes. I fortified myself with an Arctic bramble aperitif, a Finnish liqueur made from ruby-red berries and laced with vodka and flat barley bread while waiting for my entrée.

I hesitated with my first bite of Rudolph – oops – shouldn’t anthropomorphize my meal.

It definitely was the slowest movement of fork to mouth I’ve ever made. But I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn’t gamey or chewy but had a delicate flavor somewhere between veal and venison. I ate every bite. You have to go to a restaurant for reindeer unless you know one of the 5,000 Lapland herders near the Arctic Circle. Only 2 percent of reindeer products are exported.

Earlier in the month I went to the week-long Baltic Herring Fair. Dating back to 1743, it’s the oldest traditional event in Helsinki, highlighting the little fish that have been a key part of the Finnish diet and an important trade item for centuries. Two to three ounces of salted herring provides enough daily protein for an average Finn to survive bone-chilling winters, food scarcity and sieges.

Every October, South Coast fishermen sell herring they have processed themselves from the backs of their bobbing boats, and Finns jam the harbor steps as they walk from boat to boat.

The herring choices are endless: pickled, fried, steamed, baked, au gratin, pureed, smoked and marinated with mustard, tomato, basil, rosemary, lemon, onion, garlic, apple, lingonberry and more. Prizes are awarded for best marinated herring and best “herring surprise.”

I only looked (remember the food allergy) at herring pizza, herring soup and herring sandwiches sold by vendors who had placed benches in front of their red wooden booths.

Finally I found a chocolate bar wrapped in silver foil to look like a herring, complete with little scales. I purchased it and told my companions this was how I contributed to the bottom line. n Sammye Johnson is a

professor of communication as well as the Carlos Augustus de Lozano Chair in Journalism.

She recently received a Fulbright Core Scholar Award to spend the fall 2011 semester at Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland.

There she is teaching a graduate course based on her book, “The Magazine from Cover to Cover,” and consulting with Finnish magazine publishers and editors.

Opinion

10 Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Warning: Alumni Weekend may result in feelings of nostalgia

Columnist

In spite of my advanced age, I am not now nor have I ever been a nostalgic person. Even as I was experiencing my childhood, youth and middle-age, I don’t think I ever thought, “These are the good old days – I’ll miss them sometime.”

For some unknown bizarre reason, I’ve always been an “in the moment” person. This may well change as decrepitude creeps (Does it “creep” or just arrive suddenly by surprise?) up on me with losses of mental and physical capacities, but,

Although I know that I am not doing this to support a drug or gambling addiction, I sometimes think that might be easier to explain the simple truth: I continue to do what I love and to love what I do.

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if so, that will be yet another adjustment, one in attitude as well as abilities. Maybe this will be the trigger to creating nostalgia in me.

How could I be nostalgic?

What would I be nostalgic for?

The deprivations of growing up in the first Great Depression or the years of World War II with its rationing, Victory Gardens and the threat of invading Nazi Storm Troopers or Japanese in their submarines sneaking up on us in east Texas?

Visiting with alums when they’re on campus focuses my attention on the blessings I have so long enjoyed in this community and explains what should be obvious: I don’t miss this because I still have it.

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should be obvious: I don’t miss this because I still have it.

Spending some time with those who’ve shared the “Trinity experience” reminds me of certain verities. For example, some aspects of the diversity of the returning graduates were astonishing: lawyers, doctors, teachers, administrators, coaches, “stay at home moms,” accountants, social service workers, missionaries, artists, ministers, writers and on and on. Widows, defeated political candidates, recently elected political candidates, divorcees; an almost unseemly few still happily married to the person they met during New Student Orientation. There were gays with partners, gays without partners, and even an alum I knew as a young woman, who is now a handsome young man.

These Trinity graduates came from all over the world to celebrate their years here and renew acquaintances, and, as usual, even though I was

immediately aware of their diversity, it was easy to realize that the common denominators remained the same as always – they all possessed a healthy sense of self and were both intelligent and articulate. This didn’t make me nostalgic since I still deal with such young adults daily, but it did emphasize some of the lasting characteristics resulting from “the Trinity experience.”

Many alums sent emails after they returned home, and these convey the spirit and the qualities that abide: “…reflection as to where I have been and where I am going.” “No matter what time has done to us, we can sit down together and immediately recognize what it was we liked about each other 50 years ago.”

“Having lifelong friends who are interesting, intelligent, caring and downright fun is valuable beyond words.”

“Looking around at my classmates at Flats, I choked up and realized ‘these people saved my life once…I can’t imagine how I would have made it through that year without the Trinity community.

What a gift.’”

Several addressed “what ifs” – what if they had gone to SMU, Baylor, Duke, Tech or UT as they’d first considered – and everyone commented on their gratitude for Trinity’s philosophy, curriculum, accessible faculty committed to teaching undergraduates and their “amazing” peers, many of whom “are still tightly woven” into their lives.

Considering these enduring reflections on their time here, it came as no surprise to me that my current students’ lists of what they like least about Trinity closely paralleled what also made the alums cranky when they were here – really obnoxious challenges such as: Cardiac Hill, enormous tuition, limited food choices, difficult classes and being unable to hide.

(Current students also included “the construction,” but some

alums even had to survive the building of 281 on which several now gratefully commute.)

The recurrent recollections most valued are the quality of education in and out of the classroom and the “bonding experience of living in the dorm” where lifelong friendships formed. Although what made these relationships last cannot be quantified, the Trinity experience, which includes the quality of individuals sharing it and the learning environment created, surely plays a critical role.

I have always cherished a line from the university’s “Commitment to Excellence” document and quote it every chance I get: “The university strives to create an atmosphere in which basic civility and decency

The recurrent recollections most valued are the quality of the education in and out of the classroom and the ‘bonding experience of living in the dorm’ where lifelong friendships formed.

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by Coleen Grissom

feel that what I do does matter.

With each passing year, perhaps the reason I don’t become nostalgic is that I am still doing what brings me the most joy.

Visiting with alums when they’re on campus focuses my attention on the blessings I have so long enjoyed in this community and explains what

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The Short List

Should I be nostalgic for those sexist-driven years of high school, graduate school and early career – years in which a “woman’s place was in the home,” and, if she did happen to stumble into any conference rooms, she was the one expected to serve the coffee. If she ran for an office in an organization, that office would have to be secretary.

I’m not feeling nostalgic yet, are you?

For most decades of my life, expectations of decorous conduct and attire ruled women and women only – no shorts on upper campus, gloves, hat, heels, hose (with straight seams always) and when leaving campus, hair back-combed in a bouffant and tightly sprayed.

Obviously, I don’t mourn the passing of those days, as my hair style and wardrobe for the last several decades loudly proclaim.

My avoidance of nostalgia could be changing. After being a member of the Trinity community for more than 50 years, I must admit that, following our annual Alumni Weekend, I do briefly experience something that resembles a slight wish to return to a former time until I examine that feeling more closely.

Perhaps I should have expected this because of the weird fact (yes, even to me) that I am still teaching when many of my former students are gleefully relishing retirement. Although I know that I am not doing this to support a drug or gambling addiction, I sometimes think that might be easier to explain than the simple truth: I continue to do what I love and to love what I do. (Katherine Graham put it this way: “To love what you do and feel that it matters – how could anything be more fun”?) I still find teaching Trinity students challenging, demanding, exhausting, sometimes frustrating but almost always fun. And, because of the quality of these young adults, I

are expected, mutual respect and open communication are fostered, and sound religious faith and expression are encouraged.”

Though the reliance on passive voice verbs in the statement makes my teeth hurt, I cherish the blessing of being able to spend my career in a university community based on such a foundation. Only when I no longer have this blessing will I be nostalgic. n Coleen Grissom is a professor

of English.

Halloween Ha Ha’s

Q. What is a Mummie’s favorite type of music?

A. Wrap.

Q. Why can’t the boy ghost have babies?

A. Because he has a Hallo-weenie.

Q. Where does a ghost go on Saturday night?

A. Anywhere where he can boo-gie

Q. Why did the Vampire read the Wall Street Journal?

A. He heard it had great circulation.

Q. Who was the most famous ghost detective?

A. Sherlock Moans.

jokes courtesy of Halloween.com

Opinion

n In addition to being ASR

senators, Travis Halff is a junior business and communication major, and Jacob Uzman is a junior political science major.

Melding of Music and Fashion À La Mode

by Taylor Dolan

Columnist

It’s impossible to forget Marilyn’s red lips paired with that bleach bottle blonde or Woody Allen’s dark plastic rimmed glasses, and why should we?

There is no shame in pulling inspiration from fashion icons; after all, they became icons for a reason. Evidently, they were doing something correct. But as much as I love Coco Chanel, Bettie Paige and Basquiat, my favorite fashions always seem to come primarily from musicians, not fashionistas.

There is something so delightful in being first attracted to a sound and lyric and then discovering the body and character of the person who created it. Here are some current and past lovelies that should never be forgotten, especially next time you hit a consignment shop or just need a new beat to add that extra spring in your step.

1. Nirvana (“The Man Who Sold The World”): Kurt Cobain is undoubtedly the founding father of grunge and style that is once again permeating mainstream. It’s a breaking of social norms and societal expectations, a haphazard blend of styles paired with indifference. The key to this look: not caring. Combine muted tones, faded clothes, cross dressing (yes, he wore several dresses publically) and torn jeans with long, unkempt hair. It’s not a style that you fight to create; it should be simple and natural. Other examples where the grunge look can be seen include: “Do You Wanna” by The Kooks, Courtney Love…well she was married to Cobain, so it’s only logical…

2. She and Him (“Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” (Bank Dance)): Besides just being disgustingly adorable in every way, Zooey

Deschanel and Joseph GordonLevitt are classic examples of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Items to take away include Gordon-Levitt’s thin tie, crisp suit and neatly gelled hair. As for the lovely Deschanel, flawless as ever, she sports a beautiful little cardigan with pearl clasps over a full skirt (that can easily be re-created by putting an old skirt as a petticoat under any dress with pleating or gathers at the waistline). For more examples, look at anything from the early Beatles, especially the film “Hard Day’s Night.”

3. Joan Jett and the Lonely Hearts (“I Love Rock and Roll”): Jett’s short black leather jackets (also made famous by The Ramones) are just plain sexy. The jacket exhibits signs of wear, which makes it all the more appealing.

I’m a huge fan of wearing purely blacks and greys; there is no way you can go wrong with colors like that.

Obviously, women like Lady Gaga have changed the fashion landscape, but people have been rocking unique styles for quite some time now. The White Stripes (check out “Blue Orchid” or “Conquest”), David Bowie (“Space Oddity,” “Cat People”) and Marilyn Manson (“The Beautiful People”) have never conformed to typical looks. Yes, they have the excuse of being famous and eccentric, but we have the excuse of being young and wild. Embrace it; wear it on your sleeve…literally.

Closing Fashion tip No. 4: To get the best out of sale racks, call in advance and ask the store when they typically get shipments in.

Sales associates are not allowed to discuss the dates of sales, but most often a new load of shipment indicates a large number of items also being added to the sales racks.

I know for a fact this is true of Anthropologie… n

Taylor Dolan is a senior French and studio art major.

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In short, when the Chinese and Americans are together, be prepared for exposure of extreme cultures. In the end, there is no right or wrong in culture, contexts matter, and understanding one another is the key.

When Chinese and Americans meet...

Guest Column

by Deli Yang

Professor

It is widely acknowledged that China and the United States are two cultural extremes, but what are the crucial differences?

Having studied Sino-U.S. cultures, lived and worked in both countries and taught crossculture management, I will highlight some key contrasts between them. Understanding cultural differences is important to prepare students to live and work in these countries.

Below are some key points with illustrative examples from business perspectives.

Process vs. Outcome The most notable difference between the two cultures is the ‘way of thinking’. The Chinese are process thinkers, whereas Americans are outcome pursuers. Just imagine a Chinese manager meeting his American counterpart at the airport for a possible business deal. The American manager may ask a question upon arrival at the airport: “When can

“

Understanding cultural differences is important to prepare students to live and work in these countries.

“

necessary to point out that we felt very strongly that SDA’s activism improved their “educational and professional development” and positively “impact[s] campus.”

However, we could not fund them as a group, given the way the constitution is currently written.

We have been discussing amending this clause of the constitution for some time, and at our previous meeting, we decided we are going to work towards changing this clause to be clearer.

We also feel that the charge that ASR “does not appear to follow a consistent or clear standard in order to determine how much money it will allocate to what types of events or to which organizations” is inaccurate. When dealing with funding requests, we adhere strictly to precedent, and we do not fund an event if we have denied funding for events of the same type in the past. In this particular instance, it would have been unconstitutional to fund that specific request.

While we always appreciate and

seek student involvement in ASR’s decision making process and operations, we ask that students do more than simply look toward the Trinitonian briefs for information.

Trinitonian briefs provide a snapshot but do not explain the reasoning for our decision. If students have problems, questions or comments regarding decisions ASR is making, we suggest attending our weekly meetings that are always open to the public or simply asking President Walsh, Vice President Ward, or any one of the senators why a specific decision was made. Discussions about ASR policies and decisions will remain unproductive if either side isn’t fully informed, and in order to clear up confusion, individuals should take it upon themselves to come to our meetings or seek clarification from their representatives.

we talk about our business?”

There may not be an immediate answer to his question from the Chinese counterpart.

Instead, the American manager may be entertained with high hospitality: wining, dining, sightseeing, visiting factories, meeting and talking with functional managers. For the Chinese, doing all these has a purpose: that is, to observe the American’s attitude and behavior so as to determine whether he can be a long term “trusted” partner.

Collectivism vs. Individualism China is considered a collective society and the United States an individualistic one, although both societies seem to moderate away from the extreme. This cultural difference is shown in the attitudes of Sino and U.S. managers towards cooperation.

“We are in a marriage together” – the Chinese way, versus “We are in a sport game” – the U.S. way. Hence, when conflicts arise, it is perfectly “normal”

for an American partner to cite an agreed contractual clause; to the Chinese, this is like a deal breaker: “Are you insinuating a ‘divorce’?”

Imposition vs. Resistance The Chinese find it harder to do business with Americans than they do with the Japanese and Europeans, due to imposition and resistance. Both sides like to impose business in their way and resist otherwise. This is certainly a source of irritation for both sides. What irritates the Americans further is that the Chinese are tactical masters and are more successful in steering matters toward their goal. A great example would be the famous last-minute tactic. For example, you should not be surprised of signing your contract with your Chinese counterpart during a trip before your Christmas holiday, in a taxi to the airport, or at the time you are about to board the plane.

Inscrutability vs. Projectability One frustration for Americans in trying to better understand the Chinese is often not the ‘Chinglish,’ but the nuances of the body language. It is relatively easy to project an American’s facial expressions, gestures and postures; that is, their emotions can usually be read by observing their body language. The body language of the Chinese, on the contrary, may be inexplicable, and quite often are inscrutable.

One example is the difficulty of detecting the state of the mind by frequently looking at a perpetually friendly oriental smile or poker face. Therefore, never make assumptions, particularly negative ones, but communicate to ensure correct understanding.

Circularity vs. Sequentiality The Chinese and Americans are aware of the fact that ‘time is money; time is life,’ but their attitude toward time is different.

The Americans believe that time past is time lost. Thus, it is perfectly alright to hurry up and get business done. This may create a negative impression on the potential Chinese partner.

They think time comes in a circle. Making haste is a sign of ill preparation; important things take time to be done with quality.

On a business trip, an American manager would often finish his or her business first and then go somewhere for sightseeing at the end of the journey. A Chinese businessperson may parallel these activities to allow time to get to know their potential partner and, more importantly, to reflect on what is happening and what should be done.

‘Guanxi’ Paved Friends vs.

Rule-based Professionals The Chinese phrase ‘Guanxi’

is widely understood in the world without translation – the relation network. That is, business relationships are highly relevant to social relationships.

To the Chinese, doing business is also the beginning of nurturing friendship; as partners, they should know one another personally (e.g. political views, family members, friends, habit and hobbies). Therefore, investing in time is something to bear in mind when interacting with the Chinese.

To the Chinese, doing business is also the beginning of nurturing friendship; as partners, they should know one another personally...

Therefore, investing in time is something to bear in mind when interacting with the Chinese.

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Questions? Ask your senator

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Etiquette vs. Preference Americans act with freedom and with personal preferences under the law. In contrast, the Chinese put great emphasis on etiquette. For example, seniority is important at work and in life: people are positioned in different hierarchies in terms of seniority in age, ranks, educational levels and achievement.

Meanwhile, harmony and high respect typically exist within the hierarchy. The Chinese simply find it very natural and acceptable to have such a hierarchy where bosses care about their employees and their loyalty and employees show due respect to their employer through hard-work and obedience.

In short, when the Chinese and Americans are together, be prepared for exposure of extreme cultures. In the end, there is no right or wrong in culture, contexts matter, and understanding one another is the key. n Professor Deli Yang is the

Richard Burr & Donald Clark Professor of International Business in the department of business administration. She is also a lead consultant for the United Nations World Intellectual Property Organization, and specializes in international business strategies for patents and brands.

Hallway of Terror

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Ghouls, ghosts and things much scarier than homework in Susanna tonight Page 15

Pulse

Coming Next Week: Trinity University plumber who has been working on campus for 50 years.

October 28, 2011

Year of Jazz kicks off with a bang at Sunken Garden Theatre Year of Jazz event celebrates San Antonio culture through music and community n

by Pamela Torres

Intern

On Sunday, Oct. 23, the Sunken Garden Theater was filled with fans dancing to the tunes of jazz. “Sunday in Brackenridge Park: Jazz Family Showcase” kicked off the KRTU-FM 91.7’s Year of Jazz with a musical celebration.

In the evening, Dr. Dennis Ahlburg, president of Trinity, introduced Mayor Julian Castro.

Castro read the children’s book “Charlie Parker Played Be-Bop,”

by Chris Raschka to the rhythm of a Tenor Saxophone to a group of youngsters onstage.

The premiere of the “San Antonio Jazz Suite,” with Composer Aaron Prado playing the piano, was a spectacle of diverse rhythms. It was performed by local jazz musicians and members of the San Antonio Symphony. Sean Elliot, former player for the Spurs, narrated the history of San Antonio from battles to dreams.

“We live here, we work here, we dream here,” Elliot said.

Each part of the “San Antonio Jazz Suite” described the excerpts read by Elliot. After the description of the Battle of the Alamo, Elliot provided a brief lecture on Mexican culture in San Antonio as Hispanic music

photo by Christina Velasquez

San Antonio Symphony performs at the Sunken Theatre in Brackenridge Park for the Year of Jazz Kick Off event last Sunday, Oct. 23.

filled the theater. The energetic “San Antonio Jazz Suite” had people dancing in their seats.

The official launch of the Year of Jazz was closed by the San Antonio Jazz Symphony performing music from the big band era.

Overall, this event was a great success for KRTU. “We have such a talented base of musicians, composers, artists and community members in this city,” said Ron Nirenberg, associate general manager of KRTU. “Just to see them in one place celebrating on this day with jazz as the theme was a

dream come true.”

Trinity students participated in the event both as volunteers during the event and during the weeks of planning before the event.

“Everywhere I looked there was someone with KRTU or Trinity shirts on helping out everybody,” said Aaron Prado, composer and former music director of KRTU. “I think it’s really great that Trinity has this kind of presence in the community and this kind of positive image. It’s not just the school up on the hill but down in the Sunken Garden Theater

helping people.”

This event was successful in bringing music and culture to the people of San Antonio.

“I’m really pleased that Trinity is partnering with other arts organizations in the city to bring music of this scalar into the community,” said President Dennis Alhburg, “Ron Nirenberg has done an incredible job putting this [event] together with all the people at KRTU.” Sunday at Brackenridge Park was an opportunity to celebrate artists from San Antonio.

“San Antonio has produced a lot of great jazz musicians and

other types of artists, but often times we don’t celebrate them,” Castro said.

Elliot was pleased to have been selected to narrate the visions of San Antonio.

“They could have chosen a lot of people in this town and for them to select me was an honor, and it wasn’t something that I was going to turn down,” Elliot said. “I personally enjoy listening to jazz music. It’s probably my favorite style of music, so for me this was relaxing, it was fun and it was a great honor.”

“The San Antonio Jazz Suite” is a symbol of the city of San Antonio, as well as KRTU. “It was a celebration of the 10th anniversary of KRTU turning into an all-jazz [radio] station,” Prado said.“We wanted to do something big and exciting and so we came up with this idea of something that would celebrate not only jazz but San Antonio through a bigger picture with the Mayor’s San Antonio 2020 initiative.”

According to Prado, the event told the story of San Antonio in the language of jazz.

“Telling the story of the city got bigger and bigger until we had this hour--long extravaganza with narration,” said Prado. “It was this little idea that just got huge, and to hear it get played and be heard by all these people is really thrilling.”

The next Year of Jazz event will be held at at 7 p. m. on Nov. 19 at the Instituto Cultural de Mexico with performances by Olivia Revueltas.

Alternate spring break provides service opportunity n Community service-

oriented spring break offers alternative experience for students

by Joe O’Connell

Reporter

International Alternative Spring Break will be held this Spring from March 9 to March 17, 2012 in Dominica, a small island-nation in the West Indies.

International Alternative Spring Break was begun by coordinator for Community Service and Engagement Edwin Blanton four years ago and gives students the opportunity to give back while immersing themselves in a foreign country.

“When we talk about Alternative Spring Break, we talk about the ability to learn, serve, immerse and transform,” Blanton said. “What Alternative Spring Break does is give

students the opportunity to hit on all four of those during the week of spring break, the time spent in preparation and after students come back and reflect on their experiences.”

While the Alternative Spring Break in New Orleans, where students will be undertaking building projects for the community, is closed to applications, the trip Dominica will remain open to applicants until 5 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 28.

photos courtesy of Annie Clarke

In Dominica students will be “volunteering with the school, serving children with special needs and teaching lessons in the classroom,” Blanton said.

Alternative Spring Break takes place during the time of ordinary spring break, and differs significantly from the traditional spring break trip to the beach.

“However, both [spring

breaks] allow students a great deal of fun,” Blanton said. “It’s not solely service and working the entire time; there’s also time to explore the culture and have a great time doing it.”

Students can pick up an application at the Coates University Center desk and must return it to the Campus and Community Involvement Office. There are no course or age requirements to participate, only a willingness to serve and experience new things.

“We want students with a sense of adventure but also students that have the attitude that’s necessary when serving other people,” Blanton said.

After four years the program has already grown into a mainstay at Trinity, and Blanton hopes to continue the project.

“I hope this program keeps expanding as we go,” Blanton said. “I hope it’s something that every student that’s so inclined has the ability to attend at least once during their time here at Trinity.” n

See SERVING page 15

Pulse

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

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United Way charity: raising the bar n Student

involvement in United Way campaign grows through totem pole contest

by Lauren Wilks Reporter

A half dozen totem poles stand in the Esplanade to commemorate the 2011 “Live United” United Way Worldwide Campaign. The Trinity Unviersity Volunteer Action Community campaign comes to a close Friday, Oct. 28.

While the faculty campaign has been at Trinity for years, last year was the first time that students decided to create a simultaneous student campaign.

Last year, the campaign raised $81,446. The money raised by faculty and students working with United Way Worldwide goes toward charities and nonprofits in Bexar County and Greater San Antonio Area.

“The United Way Campaign has been going on for many years at Trinity,” said John McGrath, associate professor of human communications and theatre.

“It’s great that in the past two years, students have initiated their own campaign through TUVAC. All contributions go to our local United Way, a wonderful organization supporting 64 agencies that help people in our community with basic needs, such as food, clothing, shelter and safety.

As chair of the faculty committee, McGrath’s role is to organize and help with planning events, conducting drawings for prizes and establishing an online giving system, in addition to direct publicizing of the campaign.

Members of the faculty committee feel personally responsible for and excited about encouraging members of their department to donate. Mary Kay Cooper, director of Alumni

Relations, is the committee’s representative.

“I am particularly excited that the Office of Alumni Relations was part of the administration category,” Cooper said.

“Administration had the highest participation percentage of any campus team.”

“

We hope that the totem pole decorating competition will become the physical representation of the students’ United Way Campaign on campus.

”

Madeleine Johnson

Senior

This year, the committee encouraged friendly competition between departments to encourage donations, and students were inspired to try to replicate the success of the faculty’s United Way Campaign as a result of the increased enthusiasm of faculty.

TUVAC’s involvement and strategies to increase campuswide involvement with the campaign was bolder this year than during the 2010 campaign.

The student organization wants to see increased involvement from the rest of the student body, because of TUVAC’s close relationship with United Way. “TUVAC is especially invested in seeing the student body become more involved, because United Way funds a lot of our programs since they are our community partners,” said Madeleine Johnson, who, as the

TUVAC liaison to the university, served as a student representative at the United Way meetings.

TUVAC’s United Way campaign is only in its second year, but the student organization is making strides to create an annual, recognizable event that can complement the already established efforts of faculty.

“We’re spearheading getting students involved,” Johnson said.

“We did a Dorm Storm, which is where we go door-to-door in the dorms and inform people about it, and we invited the on-campus student organizations to make totem poles, creating a contest for the best totem pole,” Johnson said.

Ten student organizations participated in the totem pole competition. On Monday, Oct. 24, TUVAC arranged them on the Esplande so that students could pick their favorite and show support by donating money. The totem pole with the most donations earned will be the winner.

“We hope that the totem pole decorating competition will become the physical representation of the students’ United Way Campaign on campus,” Johnson said. ”The official event was Monday, and we had free food, music, and arranged a sort of gallery of the totem poles.”

Although the exact amounts donated are still being counted, it appears Mu Phi Epsilon’s totem pole came in first place for the most money raised during the event, followed by SPURS sorority in second place and Sigma Theta Tau sorority in third.

“I wish that there was more awareness, because it is difficult to educate the whole campus about United Way,” Johnson said.

“We hope that the Totem Pole event will be annual, and that it will eventually be associated with United Way, and students will already have an idea of what the campaign is about. But overall,

graphic by Katie Browne

In the United Way Totem Pole Contest, students selected their favorite totem by putting a donation in the selected pole’s bucket.

First place: Mu Phi Epsilon

Second Place: SPURS sorority

Third Place: Sigma Theta Tau

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Pulse

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Halloween howls from Susanna Hall in haunted hall Swashbuckler Fountaineer, explained the process for planning the event.

“We start officially planning it about two weeks ahead of time, once we have a date set [for

by Maddie Rau Reporter Haunted Hall],” Hugentobler said. “We plan a time to go From 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, shopping at Wal-Mart a couple Oct. 28 in Susanna, the annual of days before. This year we’re Swashbuckler Haunted Hall will going to start setting up around elicit screams from everyone six hours before the show.” from first years to seniors. Hugentobler described a This frightfully fun event, few of the themes chosen for which has been put on the Haunted Hall, including yearly by the Swashbucklers Paranormal Activity 3, a zombie since 2007, has an average apocalypse, an insane asylum, a turnout of about 250 people screaming room, a butcher shop from the Trinity community. and clowns from outer space.

The event started in 2007, “Some of the themes when sophomore swashbucklers we traditionally do because Cameron Swords, Wayne Davis we know they work well,” and Paul Hoeg proposed the idea. Hugentobler said. “Almost The group had done something everyone who is helping similar with their suite as first build the Haunted Hall is also years and Swashbucklers acting in it, either as a tour made the idea reality. guide or otherwise, because Spearheading the event is we’re a community hall and Jacob Hugentobler, a junior we try to help each other out.” majoring in history and Hugentobler added that e d u c a t i o n . Hugentobler, a the TU Players, or the theatre club, are also assisting the Swashbucklers with the event.

He encouraged everyone to attend the Res Life party and Rocky Horror Picture Show after the Haunted Hall ends tonight.

“A lot of first years want to see the Haunted Hall because they’ve never seen it before, but we hope everybody comes because it’s not the same every graphic by Katie Browne year,” Hugentobler said. “The

show technically ends at 9:30 p.m., but if there’s people still showing up and waiting in line at that time, we will likely continue to act so that everyone gets a chance to see it.”

Elisa Reyna, a junior

“

I remember in our first act last year Matt Stigler had a prosthetic leg, and we played it up to where the butcher cuts off his leg. It was quite gruesome and surprising.

“

Swashbucklers provide alcohol-free, frightening fun n

Elisa Reyna

Junior

English major who is a liaison for Swashbucklers, described her experience decorating and acting in the Haunted Hall last Halloween.

“It was really fun and we had a lot of people come through,” Reyna said. “There was a ton of participation in it.

We decorated eight dorm rooms in the Swashbuckler hall and

completely remodeled them using cardboard. I remember in our first act last year Matt Stigler had a prosthetic leg, and we played it up to where the butcher cuts off his leg. It was quite gruesome and surprising.”

Reyna said that the main purpose of the Haunted Hall is to scare people, because the more frightening it is the more legitimate it seems.

“To get any amount of scared people from a low budget Haunted Hall such as ours is good,” Reyna said.

“I think it’s awesome that we have the opportunity to put on an event like this, because it’s neat to see your friends acting in it and it brings the Trinity community t o g e t h e r . ” Junior Abigail Leery, a classics, history and international affairs major, said that she has volunteered her room in Susanna for the Haunted Hall tonight.

“Luckily they tear it all down the same night they put everything up, and it only takes about 30 minutes,”

Leery said. “We have a budget through Res Life because we’re a community hall, so we really appreciate that for helping us put on the Haunted Hall. I’m excited because this is a fun way for everyone to get involved, and depending on how you respond to haunted houses, you’re either going to think it’s funny because you recognize people, scary because it’s a haunted house or both.”

graphic by Katie Browne

Guess the scary movie quote: “Now clear your minds. It knows what scares you. It has from the very beginning. Do not give it any help, it knows too much already.”

Find out the answer next Friday, Nov. 4

Serving children in need

Rocky horror picture show

12:01 a.m.- 2:30 a.m., Friday America’s #1 cult film, Rocky Horror Picture Show, at Trinity is the place to be if you enjoy seeing people in corsets, wearing lipstick on their foreheads and eating bananas in new and interesting ways.

continued from Page 12

Senior Annie Clarke and sophomore Leah Wesselman partook in the Alternative Spring Break trip to Dominica last spring.

“We were welcomed into their community as a friend and they were so thankful for us spending our time with them,” Wesselman said. “Being able to explore the island and become immersed in a new culture was amazing, but knowing I was making a difference for the children of the Alpha Centre makes the entire trip unforgettable.”

Both students got a chance to give something back to the Dominican community and visit the beautiful beaches there.

“It is hard to pick a single favorite part from spring break,” Clarke said. “It is a great chance to not only do meaningful service, but also have a great vacation. We do so much on the trip, but come back relaxed and inspired.”

Students also have the chance to earn two credits by enrolling in Service Learning in Education and an International Studies course prior to the trip. Furthermore, students are expected to pay their own costs, primarily for transportation.

“Students should go because this is a wonderful opportunity to get in an international experience in a short amount of time,” Blanton said. “It really is an opportunity to learn, serve, immerse and transform.”

15

Event Calendar

Trinity TerracycLe

photo by Diego De Paolo

Drag queen Lyn-z Lang entertains the crowd on Monday night. The event raised over $1,000, all in one dollar bills.

DRAG WEEK 2011

12 p.m. - 3 p.m., Friday Coates University Center Alpha Omega Phi and Students for Sustainability invite you come drop off your trash.

Items collected help raise money to benefit the non-profit organization Ready, Willing...

Enable! For more information, contact tlazarin@trinity.edu or visit the Trinity TerraCycle Facebook page.

Swashbucklers Haunted Hall 7:30 p.m., Friday Susanna Hall

Follow the chalk in front of the Witt Center to Susanna... if you dare. The student-created haunted house is free, with candy provided to survivors.

Halloween Bash!

photo by Carly Cowen

Senior Meghan Harrington receives an official drag makeup lesson during Drag Workshop on Saturday.

Trinity University Department of Religion presents the Fall 2011 Lennox Lecture Series

A decade after 9/11:

Muhammad in history, politics, and memory Nizami’s Khamsa (Five Poems), Tabriz Iran, 1539-43. Muhammad’s ascent into heaven © The British Library Board

n

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Pulse

Jamal Elias Professor of Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania

Islam and the Strength of Visual Images THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2011

| 7 pm

Coates University Center, Fiesta Room

FREE and open to the public. Each lecture will be followed by a reception.

For more information, contact Ruqayya Yasmine Khan at rkhan@trinity.edu or visit www.trinity.edu/departments/religion.

The Trinity University Lennox Lecture Series is made possible by the Martha, David, and Bagby Lennox Foundation.

8:30 p.m., Friday Mabee Dining Hall Put on by Bad Movie Club, Residential Life and TU Dining, Halloween Bash! features a variety of free events like a screening of “Hocus Pocus,” costume contest, ghoulish treats and more.

Howl-o-Ween Weekend with Animal Defense League

10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday to Monday Animal Defense League of Texas Subject your roommates and housemates to a little furry treat and support a good cause.

“Spook”tacular dog adoption fair is allowing all dogs to be adopted for $25. Puppies and cats are also sold at discounted prices.

Lennox Lecture Series Jamal Elias

7:30 p.m., Thursday Fiesta Room Giving a speech called “New Views of Muhammad and Early Islam,” Jamal Elias is the chair of the Department of Religious Studies and the class of 1965 professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He is an expert on the study of Islam and Muslim society and has written widely on the Qur’an, Sufism, poetry and modern society. compiled by Erica Jones

¡Viva!

Movie Review

16

Does Kirsten Dunst’s latest film live up to the hype?

Page 17

Scary Gaming

A look into the thrills of horror video games.

Page 18 October 28, 2011

Too soon? Costumes you should leave at home ¡Viva! Bro

by Brian Westfall

Junior

Every Halloween, the wide range of costumes never fails to impress me. For every “generic vampire” there is a fantastical imagining of Edward Cullen if he was a construction worker. I guess some people are just crazy like that. Undoubtedly, many of you have been pawing after the hottest, most culturally relevant and original costumes. Some of these will get you loads of compliments and friends. However, some of these costumes are such a bad idea, it is almost like you are a walking hate crime. I’ve compiled a list of the most awful and insensitive costumes below so that, if you happen to have one of these costumes, you can burn it and go as a ghost. If Charlie Brown can do it, you can do it, too.

Black Swan

Steve Jobs

The Trial Style: Pink ruffled shirt with momified khakis

Creepy Couture: Black tutu and black mask

Apple Press Event Chiq: Black turtle neck, basic jeans, New Balance shoes

One of the most in-demand costumes this year is Casey Anthony. There are only a couple of websites online that will offer the costume, and next to no stores are keeping it in stock. The fact that it’s a very popular item, but stores don’t even want to carry it, should be a helpful hint to you all.

Regardless of what you think of the case, if you are pulling your costume idea from a murder trial, you are telling everybody you do not want friends.

Nobody wants their memory of Halloween night to be hanging out with, getting drunk with or hooking up with Casey Anthony. That’s just no fun for anyone.

I can imagine that this situation happened in the ‘90s with OJ Simpson, and I can also imagine that it never ended well. Do yourself a favor and go as Judge Judy instead if you are inspired by the courtroom.

If you are a girl and decide to go this year as the Black Swan from the Darren Aronofsky film, you are saying two things: you really like to do your makeup, and you are insane.

This costume is creepy in a different sense than, say, a zombie. A zombie is creepy, but it is also completely unrealistic. I haven’t seen a zombie, and neither have you, so we can embrace the zombie because it is safe. However, if you think about the Black Swan, what she is — a dedicated, unconfident dancer with mother issues who goes completely bonkers – is absolutely out there. If I see a Black Swan costume on Halloween I will not think creative or relevant or cool. Instead, I will think this girl is going to stab me, and that I need to make a quick exit.

I should note that any costume (yes, even Steve Jobs) is fine if you make it slutty. That is Halloween costume rule number one.

Casey Anthony

With the recent death of Jobs, a number of nerds/hipsters will likely want to honor his legacy on Halloween night. There are two reasons this is a bad idea. First, the costume is too damn easy. Are you really going to wear a turtleneck and circular glasses and call it a day? You might as well add a lightning bolt and a bad accent and just go as Harry Potter.

Second, where’s the honor? Raving like a maniac while holding an iPhone doesn’t make you Steve Jobs. It makes you a douchebag. Jobs was known as a perfectionist, so unless you took the time to grow grey hair, cut it short, change your legal name and become a Buddhist, you just aren’t up to par with what should be expected. This costume is not insensitive because Jobs died. Costumes are like a dead celebrity’s last gift to the world, so that part is totally fine. It’s just too hard to keep it classy.

Halloween in San Antonio: where to be scared Texas Music Coalition Costume Ball 5-10 p.m. on Oct. 30

This annual ball held by the TMC is now going themed just for Halloween. Entry is free, but you can participate in a silent auction and buy raffle tickets for door prizes.

All proceeds go to benefit the TMC scholarship program.

There will be prizes given out for Most Authentic Costume and Most Elaborate Costume, but you can come in any outfit of your choice; however, they are encouraging guests to dress as their favorite music star, if that helps. The Melissa Ludwig Band, S.A. Blue Cats and Michael Martin & the Infidels are a few of the bands that will be playing throughout the night. Held at Sam’s Burger Joint.

The Hangar’s Haunted House Halloween Party

¡Viva! Brah

by Deanna Husting

10 p.m.-2 a.m. on Oct. 29

Senior

So you bought a costume, now what? If you want a chance to show off your creativity, check out some of these events going on around town this weekend.

This bar is a little removed from the Trinity scene but is still a great deal and an interesting place to visit. This Halloween they are not only having a costume contest with prize money starting at $200, but they are also giving away a trip for two to Miami! Starting at 8 p.m., there will be a cover charge to come and watch the special Halloween UFC fight, but after the fight ends (they are predicting around 11 p.m.) there will be no cover, just prize money!

Visit their Facebook page for more information.

Dia de los Muertos at Market Square

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show”

Market Square, a great place to spend an afternoon on any day, hosts festivals and parties year-round.

This weekend, they are providing Halloween entertainment with live bands and a fashion parade by Augusto Bianco Cuellar—who apparently competed on “Project Runway” in 2008. There will be an art display titled, “For the Living and the Dead: Art Crawl.” On both days, Las Monas Drum and Dance group will be performing on either end of the square.

There will be lots of vendors, food and entertainment.

Parking can be tricky, but there are usually lots across from the square where you only have to pay $5 per day.

If you haven’t had a chance to watch a live performance of Rocky Horror while in college, you have to. In fact, I’m pretty sure there is a rule written in the Student Code of Conduct that says something to this effect. My dad would always tell me it was something every college student had to experience, and let me tell you, it is quite an interesting show to watch. Our very own Trinity University Players put on Rocky Horror every year and invite the campus to dress up in their fishnets and corsets and come to the Fiesta Room for games and a live performance of the movie (while the movie plays on a projection screen in the background of course). This year, junior Tiffany Prasifka plays the coveted role of Janet alongside freshman Kyle Barbre as Brad.

Midnight on Oct. 28

10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Oct. 29 Noon-6 p.m. on Oct. 30

Bud Light Coffins on the River Walk 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 29

Instead of watching those river tour boats float past on the River Walk, enjoy the rarity of watching haunted coffins breeze by. The parade of spookiness starts at the section of the river by the International Building and passes by Restaurant Row and the River Center Mall.

You can also enjoy a free concert that night by a local group called “The Wheels” at La Villita’s Arneson Theatre.

¡Viva!

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

17

These movies are so entertaining, it’s scary Night of the Comet

¡Viva! Brah

by Megan Hageney

Synopsis: A comet has destroyed Earth, leaving two valley girl sisters to fight for their lives against zombies and a scientist who wants to extract their blood in order to create a vaccine. It is hilarious, primarily because it was made in the ‘80s, so there is crazy attire and big hair.If you take anything away from this article, it’s that big hair saves lives.

My Take: The movie is a spoof on horror survival genre movies and, as long as you don’t hold it to the high standard set by “Zombieland,” it’s very enjoyable.

Plus, its scares derive from the suspenseful plot, so it’s not too gory.

¡Viva!

The Editor’s Corner Review: “Melancholia” starring Kirsten Dunst

by Matt Kafoury

Grade: B+ Opens Nov. 11 “Melancholia,” the latest film from Danish director (and semi-professional provocateur) Lars von Trier, is the latest addition to a steadily growing, intriguing little genre: the art house sci-fi film. Here von Trier infuses an apocalyptic story with art film sensibilities to very good, if not great, effect.

The film tells the story of two sisters, Justine (Kirsten Dunst) and Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg), and their lives leading up to the collision of the Earth with Melancholia, an enormous, rapidly approaching planet (with a name that’s about as subtle as that of the Unobtainium in “Avatar”). I promise I’m not spoiling anything with that description—the film’s beautiful opening sequence allows for no uncertainty regarding the fate of the Earth.

It’s this opening sequence that sets such a high standard for the rest of the film, a standard that isn’t quite reached. Similar to Pixar’s “Up” (an odd comparison, I know), “Melancholia” opens with an eight-minute sequence of

Three skulls out of four

Two and a half skulls out of four

Sophomore

For this article, I initially set out to find the worst scary movies ever made. I logged onto Netflix Instant, browsed through the horror genre and picked three movies with absolutely ridiculous titles. But these masterpieces, with their cheap production values, peculiar plot lines and general hilarity, were so enjoyable that all of my initial cynicism quickly disappeared. They aren’t exactly Oscar winners, but they are sure to entertain.

This Halloween weekend, watch these movies while you recover from all your monster mashes and attempt to erase the images of the Calvert ghosts from your mind.

Santa’s Slay

beautifully composed images, accompanied Junior by a wonderful, heart-wrenching score. Also like “Up,” however, the storytelling that follows this sequence is comparatively banal.

After the eight-minute mark, the first half of the film focuses heavily on Justine and her increasingly disastrous wedding party. Justine is, well, melancholy, a mood that Dunst (a largely inconsistent actress) captures flawlessly—this is among her best work todate.

Gainsbourg is similarly amazing as Claire, who is at the forefront of the second half of the film, which takes place at Claire’s mansion two weeks after Justine’s wedding.

The acting, visuals and music remain wonderful throughout the film, but the writing flounders a bit. Unfortunately, von Trier simply doesn’t have much to say beyond a few cynical meditations on the flaws and misery of humanity. Comparisons between “Melancholia” and Terrence Malick’s “The Tree of Life” are inevitable—they’re both art films that use striking visuals to document various stages of the Earth’s existence (and both were met with high praise at this year’s Cannes Film Festival).

“Melancholia” is the more accessible of the two films and von Trier’s imagery is arguably more distinctive than Malick’s. “The

Tree of Life,” however, is by far the superior film. The scope and meaning of “The Tree of Life” far exceed that of “Melancholia,” and the former’s visuals serve a greater purpose.

“Melancholia” is more on par with Mike Cahill’s “Another Earth.” Neither is a bad film, but both promise something extraordinary and deliver something rather normal. I appreciate that “Melancholia,” like “Another Earth,” remains grounded in the real world despite the presence of the supernatural.

I would just prefer that von Trier explore a more compelling aspect of the real world.

These are all relatively minor complaints, however, and I admit that it’s silly to condemn a film for not being as good as “The Tree of Life.” As I mentioned, the performances are spectacular.

In particular, I’m very glad to have Charlotte Gainsbourg on my radar now and I hope Kirsten Dunst can maintain this level of talent. I should also note that the wonderful Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt and Stellan Skarsgård also make appearances here and don’t disappoint.

“Melancholia” is a film worth seeing—whether for its disaster movie plot, its art film pedigree or both. I just wish the film’s overall quality matched the sum of its parts.

Synopsis: This movie accomplishes quite a feat by combining my two favorite holidays: Christmas and Halloween. In this movie, however, Santa is not jolly or nice because he is the son of Satan. Santa lost a bet, forcing him to be the giver of toys, but now that the bet is off, he becomes the giver of deaths. Get it? “Santa’s Slay.”

My Take: It gets pretty graphic, like to the point that I had to embarrassingly cover my eyes a couple of times.

Besides that, though, it was very entertaining thanks to the absurdity of the plot. Also, you should just watch it to see Fran Drescher.

The ¡Viva! staff would like to wish you a safe, happy Halloween!

18

¡Viva!

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Discussing music with

Isaiah David Putman

¡Viva! Bro

“Lulu” by Lou Reed and Metallica

“Crazy Clown Time” by David Lynch

This Halloween, the scariest event in the history of music is going to take place.

That’s right, the collaboration between Lou Reed and Metallica will be unleashed upon the world, without care for how many psyches go into traumatic shock over it. On paper it seems alright. Reed helped invent ear-shattering noise rock with the Velvet Underground in the late ‘60s, and Metallica brought metal to its current mainstream status in the ‘80s and ‘90s. However, even though Reed and Metallica fans are used to getting the unexpected from their respective idols, neither constituency thinks this project could yield good things. But Reed is no stranger to distancing himself from his audience (see “Metal Machine Music”, 1975) and Metallica basically ran out of ideas after “Load” (1996). So when the two met during Metallica’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction in 2009 (Reed was inducted with the Velvet Underground in 1996), they decided to record what Lou Reed now calls “the best thing I ever did.”

The album consists of songs Reed wrote for a set of plays by German writer Frank Wedekind, called the “Lulu” series, famously set as an opera by Alban Berg which was left incomplete at his death. Loutallica (as the group has flippantly dubbed itself) did not leave their own “Lulu” project unfinished (unfortunately?). In fact, the album is an epic 87 minutes long. If this isn’t the most daunting musical project of our lifetime, I don’t know what is.

David Lynch might be the greatest filmmaker alive today. Some of his masterpieces are “Eraserhead” (1977), “The Elephant Man” (1980), “Blue Velvet” (1986), “Lost Highway” (1997), “Mulholland Drive” (2001) and “Inland Empire” (2006). As well as being a great director, Lynch did all the music for “Eraserhead” and “Inland Empire,” has written individual songs for a number of his films and has also released collaborative albums with John Neff and Chrysta Bell. So, while not being entirely new to the music field, Lynch will reveal his songwriting skills this November in his first solo album, “Crazy Clown Time.” I know, it sounds like a scrapped title for a novel by Stephen King, but the name is no surprise given Lynch’s aesthetic tastes. The writer David Foster Wallace once defined the term “Lynchian” as “the grotesque juxtaposed against the banal,” like when the roasted chicken Henry eats in “Eraserhead” starts kicking and hemorrhaging on his plate. It is difficult to predict what “Crazy Clown Time” will sound like, but it is likely to be disturbing on many psychological levels. In his recent songs, Lynch has been experimenting with a sort of warped blues (he has a uniquely mellow style of guitar playing and always distorts his voice to sound like someone else), so we can expect some of that. But the first single off the album, “Good Day Today,” is a catchy dance-pop tune, so there’s no telling what to expect, except that this will probably be the best celebrity album of the year.

To request a review of a specific album, e-mail iputman@trinity.edu. The album in question should be less than two weeks old at the time of request.

THE GAMES WE PLAY

by Judson Rose

¡Viva! Bro

The appeal of the survival-horror game

The ¡Viva! Event of the Week Walk to Cure Diabetes Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Walk To Cure Diabetes is an annual fundraising event in which 500,000 people volunteer at more than 200 international JDRF Walk locations.

Individual and team walkers raise money by collecting donations from sponsors. Corporate sponsors also contribute. The San Antonio walk, located at the Alamodome, has seen attendance figures of more than 6,000 volunteers. This year, registration starts at 9 a.m. on Sunday, Oct. 30. The walk begins at 10 a.m.

9 a.m. Oct. 30 at the Alamodome “Amnesia: The Dark Descent” I find a certain masochistic pleasure in well-made horror films.

Few genres in the industry are, when made with maturity and finesse (a distinction that unfortunately excludes a large majority of them), so laden with psychological wealth and complexity. Fear is a fundamental concept among people and, really, life in general. Thankfully, in modern society, we have largely evolved past a life in which mortal fear is a daily concern, which may be part of why audiences find artistically rendered horror so affecting. In an expertly made horror flick, audiences find themselves drawn in to the subtle atmosphere of dread, placing themselves in the shoes of the characters amidst often insurmountable odds. This identification, in large part, is what keeps audiences coming back.

This identification with fear is one thing that has seen varying levels of success in video games, particularly the survival-horror genre. While players still often inhabit a character’s likeness, the fact that players themselves are in control can intensify the immersion factor. They may play as a named character, but the anxiety inspired by images and situations more directly manifests itself in the players. One of the most famous and well recognized survival-horror video game series, “Silent Hill,” is a prime example of this. “Silent Hill 2” in particular does a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere and sense of place that firmly locks a player within a world at odds with their very survival.

The survival aspects of horror become much more pronounced in games than in other mediums. Rather than being left to the character’s discretion (often leading to chants from the audience, fervently pointing out their stupidity with colorful language), survival is at the discretion of those experiencing the terror. Horror games thrive on scarcity. Guns, for example, are normally a rare delicacy. Items that restore player health, unlock doors, act as currency, damage enemies or increase player durability are far more sparse than in other genres, which simultaneously heightens tension and firmly places survival in the hands of the player.

Resource management isn’t the only source of difficulty in these games. There are, of course, the ghouls themselves. As in many horror films, antagonists can be terrifying and difficult to overcome, and rather than simply being shown this, players are the ones who get to experience that fear. Perhaps one of the most effective uses of this concept is in Frictional Game’s “Amnesia: the Dark Descent,” in which players rarely ever see the largely unknown entity that pursues them. Furthermore, they have no means by which to defeat it. All they can do is run. This results in some of the most intense nail-biting experiences I’ve ever had in the horror genre through any medium. In this way, the immediacy of games goes hand in hand with horror, so much so that I would encourage any self-respecting horror fan to give horror games a shot this Halloween.

At the Movies

by Matt Kafoury ¡Viva! Editor

THIS WEEKEND’S TOP PICKS

The Rum Diary

Directed by: Bruce Robinson Starring: Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart This adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson novel tells the story of American journalist Paul Kemp (Depp) who accepts a freelance job in Puerto Rico for a local newspaper in the ‘50s. Also starring Richard Jenkins, Amber Heard and Giovanni Ribisi, the film and its cast have garnered fairly positive reviews from critics.

Paranormal Activity 3

Directed by: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman Starring: Katie Featherson, Sprague Grayden The third installment of this popular horror movie franchise defied the odds by being relatively decent.

If you’re a fan of the first two “Paranormal Activity” movies, chances are you’ll like this latest iteration of the story. If you aren’t, I doubt “Paranormal Activity 3” will convert you. If you want to go out for a scary movie this Halloween, this is the one to see.

Puss in Boots

Directed by: Chris Miller Starring: Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Another movie that, by all logic, shouldn’t be good, this spin-off of the tired “Shrek” franchise has garnered a surprisingly warm reception from critics.

Expect charming voice acting from Banderas and Hayek as well as co-stars Zach Galifianakis, Billy Bob Thornton and Amy Sedaris. If it’s anything like the original “Shrek,” it should be pretty enjoyable.

Sports

October 28, 2011

In this issue pg. 20: Men’s soccer battles

conference foes. pg. 21: Volleyball wins big in final home game. pg. 22: Tigers host the Alamo City Golf Clasic. pg. 23: Find out how the club sports are doing so far this year. pg. 24: The best photos from this week in Tiger athletics.

This weekend 10 a.m., Saturday, 10/29: Trinity Swim & Dive hosts Southwestern University. Diving starts at 10 a.m. and the swimming portion kicks off at 2 p.m.

12 p.m., Saturday, 10/29: Trinity football takes the field against Birmingham Southern in an SCAC match-up. The Tigers look to improve their record to 8-0.

Upcoming At 1:30 p.m. on Saturday Nov. 5, the Tiger football team will take on Centre College in their final home game of the season.

In the spotlight Maggie Emodi

Volleyball Emodi, a first year middle blocker from Omaha, Neb., was named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week after she hit .370 last weekend, along with recording 10 total blocks, four service aces and 14 digs. Overall, Emodi leads the team with 299 kills, managing 3.36 kills/set. Her hitting percentage, .278, is second among Trinity players.

Geoffery Setiawan Golf Setiawan, a junior from Jakarta, Indonesia, led the Alamo City Class golf tournament after Monday’s first round of the men’s tournament. He shot a 4-under 68, putting him in a one-stroke lead over Texas-Tyler’s Jacob Walsh and two strokes ahead of UT-Tyler’s Austin Quinten.

The Tigers shot a 287 at the par-72 River Crossing Course.

19

Women continue on winning streak n Lady Tigers shut

down two more teams

by Taylor Doege

Intern

The Lady Tigers took down Hendrix 3-0 on Sunday Oct. 23 in a conference match-up and swept Huston-Tillotson 7-0 on Monday night, remaining undefeated. The Lady Tigers are now 16-0 overall and 6-0 in conference games.

En route to their victory over Hendrix, senior forward Abby Loar scored two goals, breaking the Trinity record for career points scored. The final goal came from first-year midfielder Kirby Peddicord.

Coach Lance Key presented Loar with the game ball for her record-breaking performance.

Loar’s career totals include 137 total points, 52 goals and 33 assists.

“Today’s win was important; Hendrix was coming in second in the conference, and they tried to get a result off of us to improve their standing for the conference tournament,” Key said.

“We needed that win to ensure we get a one or two seed in the conference tournament that would give us a first round bye, and we accomplished that.”

It was clear, given the performance, that the players also knew the significance of this game.

“It’s exciting that we are undefeated in conference, but we try to stay level headed,” said sophomore defender Jennifer White. “We just try to work on things we can improve on, even

Football picks their seventh straight victory

n Tigers remain undefeated with a nonconference win over LaGrange (Ga.)

by Brooke Sanchez Reporter

For the Trinity football fans keeping up with the game at LaGrange College on Saturday, Oct. 22, the 10-0 LaGrange halftime score seemed like a misprint. The Tigers soon turned it into a typical season victory when the second half rolled around, scoring 14 points to seal the game at 14-10 and stretching their overall record to 7-0.

“LaGrange had the potential to be a trap game for us as a nonconference game that was also on the road,” said assistant coach Alex Cook. “We didn’t want to overlook them and struggle in the first half.

That’s what ended up happening, but we were able to rally back and put some points on the board.”

LaGrange controlled the first

Photo by Purushottam Shah

First-year midfielder Hannah Kuhl dodges a Hendrix player in pursuit of the goal during Sunday’s game. though we are doing well. We are scoring lots of goals and we are looking forward to facing better and better teams as we go along and challenging ourselves and continuing to work as a team.”

The Lady Tigers took that momentum into Monday’s nonconference game. They shut down Huston-Tillotson 7-0, marking their sixteenth straight win. Goals in the game came from Abby Loar, Shelby Guenthardt, Kelsey Falcone, Tara Sparks, Emily Jorgens and Stephanie Segovia with two goals.

Though this game was a nonconference game, it still served as valuable playing time on the field.

“I think this game was important for us preparing for the last weekend

RESULTS Howard Payne Texas Lutheran Rhodes Millsaps Sewanee Huntingdon LaGrange

24-7 43-14 62-7 10-3 27-9 24-7 14-10

of regular season,” Key said. “Last conference weekend on the road before the conference tournament just kind of worked through some rhythm things [and] put some attention on some particular details we’ve been prioritizing lately, and I think the girls did a really good job of managing.”

With Segovia’s two goals against Huston-Tillotson she became the third person in Trinity history with 20 plus goals in one season.

But Segovia wasn’t the only star Monday night: Loar broke another record against Huston-Tillotson.

With her opening goal in the game, she became Trinity University’s all-time leading scorer for women’s soccer with 53 goals overall.

Men’s soccer wins two, moving to 15-0 overall n Tigers defeat two

conference opponents over the weekend

by Lydia Duncombe Reporter

quarter with a 16-play drive that put them ahead 7-0.

The second quarter did not provide much change, with LaGrange getting an early 33-yard field goal to carry the 10-0 score into halftime.

“After the first half, we had to pick it up,” said offensive lineman Conner Cox. “We have a perfect season; we weren’t just going to sit there and throw it away. We came together and knew we had to do something.”

Halftime sparked a change that placed Trinity in control, with a 73-yard drive in the third quarter that consisted of only three plays.

Junior quarterback Nyk McKissic led the charge with a 16-yard rush followed by a 30-yard McKissic pass to senior tight end Mason Lytal. n See FOOTBALL Page 20

Despite her accomplishments, Loar remains humble and grateful to her teammates.

“I’m fortunate that my position is one that generates a lot of statistics, but I realize when I’m out there that it’s 25 of us on this team I’ve been on for four years. I put one of the goals away tonight, but there were still six more,” Loar said. “I think that says enough.

We have a lot of people who are looking to get in the back of the net, and that is going to help us be successful going forward.”

The Tigers face their final two opponents this weekend (Austin and Dallas) before going on to the SCAC tournament in Birmingham, Alabama.

Soccer Family and Friends weekend proved to be intense for the men’s soccer teamdefeated Colorado College (Col.) on Friday Oct. 21, and Hendrix (Ark.) on Sunday, Oct. 23.

“It was a great weekend. Two wins is exactly what we needed.

It also showed us that teams aren’t going to just give us a win. We have to play the best soccer we can and not take any teams lightly,” said sophomore midfielder Jeff Hayes. “Our families being there was also a little extra motivation for us to play and perform well. It’s the first time some guys have seen their family since school started, so naturally we wanted to have a good showing for them.”

After a tough first half against

Colorado College on Friday, the Tigers made up for lost time in the second half, scoring two goals. Senior midfielder Zach Garcia was the first to score in the second half with an assist from Brian Hines. The second goal was scored by sophomore forward Yuri Ribeiro, who scored his first goal of the season after sitting out seven games due to an injury. Assisting him was Garcia and senior midfielder Andrew Soares. First-year goalie Matt Cardone was credited with the shutout, including three key saves.

“Colorado College is always a tough game. They play in the altitude in Colorado so they are fitter than most. The result was excellent, although we didn’t have the greatest first half,” said assistant coach Kelly Altman.

“If any team could beat us in the SCAC, they were one of them.

They would be a typical team we could lose to because they have some star players and are a very energetic and enthusiastic team.” n

See TIGERS Page 20

20 Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Sports

Football takes down La Grange n Continued from Page 19

Sophomore running back Desmond King put the Tigers on the board with a 27-yard touchdown run. The score was 10-7 by the start of the fourth.

“Nyk McKissic did a fantastic job at managing the game for us,” Cook said. “We were able to pick up on his leadership and get the ball moving in the second half.”

The Tiger force continued in the fourth quarter, as King had a 24-yard rush while McKissic had a 30-yard rush, setting up a first down on the LaGrange 2-yard line. McKissic’s third straight QB sneak put the Tigers ahead, and junior kicker Garrett Biel secured his second extra point for the day, making the score 14-10.

LaGrange almost came back to beat the Tigers, but the defense saved the day as senior defensive back Tyler Barrett intercepted a pass in the end zone.

“That was a huge relief,” Cox said. “It was the nail on the coffin; it sealed the deal. We just picked up our game.”

As that last interception displayed, the defense stepped it up as they usually do to help the Tigers come out with the win. They are currently ranked seventh in the nation for total defense.

“Defense has been consistent all year around,” Cook said.

“They were still able to limit LaGrange to 10 plays in the first half and then went lights out in the second half and came up with a big play.”

Barrett’s vital interception marked his fifth of the season, while senior linebacker Ben

“

After the first half, we had to pick it up. We have a perfect season; we weren’t just going to sit there and throw it away.

We came together and knew we had to do something.

”

Connor Cox

First-year offensive lineman

Robinson led in tackles with 12.

Junior linebackers Nick Darling and Thomas Puskarich had 11 and 10 tackles, respectively.

The offense pulled through, especially in the second half, to gain control and get the Tigers

Photo by Purushottam Shah

Players gather around as their coach goes over plays on the sideline. The Tigers’ ability to adjust at any time and against any opponent has led them to their 7-0 record. on the board.

“The offensive line did an extremely good job under pressure,” King said. “They allowed for good drives, and offense as a whole came together and picked it up in the second half.”

McKissic was the spark for the offense, completing 9-17 passes for 143 yards. He had nine rushing attempts for 69

yards while King rushed 75 yards on 13 carries. Lytal had three receptions for 73 yards.

“Overall, we’re glad to have won,” King said. “With the combination of the defensive stops and Nyk McKissic controlling the offense, we were able to gain momentum and turn the game completely around.”

The Tigers keep taking one game at a time as they near the

end of the season with three more conference games.

“This next game is a pivotal one for us,” Cook said. “We have yet to play four full quarters; we’ve played well at the beginning or at the end. It’s exciting to see how good we could really be.”

The Tigers will host Birmingham Southern at noon tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 29.

Tigers impress during Friends and Family Weekend n Continued from Page 19

The game against Hendrix turned out to be a tough one for the Tigers. The game started off well with a goal from Soares assisted by sophomore midfielder Darren McAfee.

Hendrix then scored two quick goals to take the lead going into halftime. Hayes then came back with a goal assisted by Riberio to tie the game 2-2. The Tigers took the lead with Garcia

scoring the game-winning goal, assisted again by Ribeiro.

“The most important thing that came out of this game is that is showed our team can struggle through adverse situations and come out on top,” Hayes said.

“It’s rare we have a situation that we are losing. By coming back, it shows that we don’t give up till the last whistle is blown.

We know how important it is to win, and no matter what it takes, we are going to do it.”

6 & :063 5*(&3 #6$, !

The games marked the last the seniors will potentially play at home, and ensured the Tigers a spot into the SCAC tournament in November.

“We couldn’t imagine going out with a loss,” Garcia said.

“It hasn’t hit yet that these are the last couple of games of the season. We as seniors are trying to appreciate every game and every minute in the game while we still have the chance to play.

The season has really flown by already. Hopefully we host the first round of playoffs, so it is not the last game at our home field.”

The wins this weekend

guaranteed a spot for the men in the SCAC tournament in November, but they need to win their last two conference games to ensure that they go into the conference tournament as the top seeded team.

“There are six teams that go into the conference tournament.

We are guaranteed a spot in the tournament, but we want the #1 or #2 seed. The higher the seed, the better the games will be for us. We will have a bigame if we do get in a top seed which will be an advantage for us,” Garcia said. “Ogelthorpe is also undefeated in conference, so it will be close. Ideally this

weekend we will win and shutout the teams; then we should be set to be number one going into the tournament.”

The team will be away this weekend as they play their last two conference games against Austin College and the University of Dallas at their respective home fields.

“These are two teams that we have matched up well against in the past,” Altman said. “We are playing well and our results have been good, so there is no reason for me to think we can’t win both of these games.

Anything less than two wins will be sad.”

'ET AN EXTRA /&& WITH A TUDENT )$ OR 4IGER "UCKS #ARD "ROADWAY

./7 ()2).'

Photo by Abhishek Chhetri

Senior midfielder Josh Adams goes on the defensive in order to keep the ball away from his opponent.

Beer, bars and baseball Get in The Game

by Megan Julian

Sports

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

21

Tigers peak in time for conference n Volleyball looks

forward after successful weekend

by Chloe Pope-Levison Intern

Sports Editor

So I enjoy baseball, but it’s not my favorite sport. I don’t glue myself to the TV during the world series and I don’t particularly favor either team this year.

However, this past weekend, I found myself very much excited and involved with the game.

So much so that I have noticed myself paying more attention to baseball since then.

However, I think there were several factors that contributed to my involvement, other than the actual game—not that I didn’t enjoy the game itself.

1. It was my 21st birthday. I was viewing the game at a bar.

There was beer involved. There was yelling and I was drinking. It was quite a new experience.

2. I was with my family. Not only do I adore them, but I adore their passion and love for sports.

They are also loud and obnoxious.

Therefore, they are the perfect people to watch sports with.

3. I have family members from Dallas and from St. Louis.

This match-up between the Rangers and the Cardinals was especially epic for them.

So basically, I have come to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter if you particularly enjoy a sport or care about the two teams playing—the people and circumstances around you can influence your feelings.

I found myself pounding on the bar, cheering for the Rangers at one point, then a few minutes later I was all about the Cardinals.

I am almost never swayed by the opinions of others, but this experience was getting to me.

There was never a dull moment, from my Uncle’s obnoxious “YAY CARDS!” to my aunt’s Cardinals headband to my male cousins sighing in unison every time the Rangers came up empty at the end of an inning.

It was certainly an eventful evening to say the least. I don’t suddenly have an urge to go watch baseball on the regular, but I definitely have a new appreciation for those loud bargoers. I also have a much better understanding of why watching sports is so much better in a group.

It’s no fun to hoot and holler with yourself. Not that I didn’t know these things before, but I am now seeing it in a much clearer light.

Most sports are teamorientated and in my opinion sports viewing is the same way— people form teams when they watch sports, and it makes it all the more interesting.

So next time a big game rolls around, go to a bar (if you are 21, of course!) or grab some friends and watch the game. It’s so much better that way, and I promise your appreciation for the game will grow.

It all came together last weekend for Trinity volleyball after they went 2-1 in the SCAC West Divisional #2 in Georgetown. They beat the University of Dallas and Austin College, but lost in a tight, five-set match to the nationally ranked No. 7 Southwestern Pirates.

On Friday night, the Tigers easily beat the University of Dallas 3-1. The win came as no surprise to the team.

“I think for the first time since

“

Our confidence was through the roof and I think that made a huge difference.

The freshmen really stepped up, which was awesome.

”

Madison McMahon

Junior Outside Hitter

the beginning of the season we came out knowing we could win,” said junior outside hitter Madison McMahon. “Our confidence was through the roof and I think that made a huge difference. The freshmen really stepped it up, which was awesome.”

First-year right side Bridget

Photo by Purushottam Shah

Senior right side hitter Catharine Found jumps in the air to return the ball in the game against Schriener on Wednesday. The Tigers won 3-0.

Bohman hit .448 in the match with 13 kills, no errors, and 29 attacks, while first-year middle blocker Maggie Emodi hit .643 with nine kills, no errors and 14 total attacks.

On Saturday, Trinity extended their six game winning streak, beating Austin College 3-1.

McMahon hit .414 with 14 kills and 29 attacks, and Emodi hit .361 with 14 kills and 36 total attacks, along with 15 digs and 4 aces.

Sophomore setter Maryn Swierc had 41 assists, nine digs and 3 aces.

“Coach told us before the game what we needed to do to win, and we succeeded,” said senior middle blocker Maddy Hazelwood in an email. “We used their weaknesses to our advantage and our serving and passing was outstanding.”

Trinity ended their tournament with a tight 3-2 loss to Southwestern on Saturday night. Despite the fifth match being tied at many points, the Pirates eventually ended up winning 15-12. However, the loss was important for Trinity’s success in the future.

“Team chemistry was really built this weekend because we all bonded in that last match,” Emodi said. “Going through the loss will make us want to win that much more, especially when we meet Southwestern again.”

Junior defensive specialist Meredith Erwin recorded a Trinity season-high and a career record 33 digs, placing her tied for fifth on Trinity’s single-match record.

Swierc had 49 assists and 24 digs, while sophomore defensive specialist Leslie Green had 13

digs.

After her stellar play this weekend, Emodi was named SCAC Volleyball Offensive Player of the Week. The Tigers, currently seeded fifth, are looking forward to the SCAC Volleyball Tournament in Jackson, Missisippi Nov. 4-5.

“We’ve had more consistency with our lineup, and I think our team is now starting to gain the confidence we need to win. We definitely have the talent to win conference,” said head coach Julie Jenkins.

Trinity must first compete in the Southwestern Invitational at Georgetown this weekend. On Friday, the Tigers take on Texas Dallas at 1 p.m. and Texas Western at 5 p.m. On Saturday, they will compete against East Texas Baptist at 2 p.m. and Clarkson at 4 p.m.

22 Trinitonian October 28, 2011

Real sports cut from Olympics Staff Column

by Brooke Sanchez

Reporter

As you may know, softball and baseball have been dropped from the Olympics for 2012, and then declined again for the 2016 games.

Maybe it’s because the International Olympic Committee is mostly made up of Europeans, so they favor European sports, and Europe just wasn’t good enough to come up with talented baseball and softball players.

Regardless of the reason, what they are telling me is that table tennis is more of a sport than baseball and softball?

I’m sorry, but I don’t feel that table tennis takes any athletic ability whatsoever. Sure, I’d probably lose if I played some Olympic medalist, but I’m okay with that because I could probably beat them in any real sport. You just need to be blessed with good eyehand coordination and have quick reflexes for table tennis – which you can develop with baseball or softball.

Then there’s rhythmic gymnastics? Okay, yes, it takes an ungodly amount of flexibility, but seriously, have you seen it?

YouTube it. It looks like a Cirque du Soleil act, which I think is totally awesome, but it’s not a sport. It’s so much of a cosmetic performance, which pulls away from the athleticism that should be displayed at the Olympics.

They get points deducted for a bra slightly showing – that sounds more like a beauty pageant to me.

Now that I think of it, rhythmic gymnastics should be a talent for beauty queens to showcase at their pageants. It would be great for them – they’d be sure to win!

It just doesn’t make sense to keep events like this, while two very traditional sports are taken out. Baseball and softball are two of the fastest growing sports in the world.

One of the reasons softball was taken out is because the United States won too many games – but we lost the championship game to Japan in 2008. Thus, this reason isn’t completely justified. Even so, sports are made to be won.

So many young girls lost their dreams when softball was taken out. There isn’t a highly recognized outlet for softball players after their collegiate careers; it’s being on the national team that competes with the ultimate goal of playing in the Olympics that is every young softball player’s inspiration.

Then there’s baseball, America’s pastime, and it could be Europe’s pastime, too, if they would give it a chance. Although removing baseball isn’t as big of a deal in America, since we do have Major League Baseball that serves as the ultimate level of competition, other countries are devastated. The Olympics are like the World Series in Cuba.

So it looks like we should go out and buy children ping-pong tables instead of bats and gloves now. At least that is the message I am hearing!

Sports

Alamo City Golf Classic proves to be a success for Tiger men and women n Golf teams host and

compete in annual tournament

by Adam Rauch

Intern

Both the men’s and women’s golf teams finished out the first half of the season strong at the Alamo City Classic Tuesday.

The men’s team, who shot an overall score of 582, finished second behind the third-ranked team in the country, The University of Texas at Tyler, who shot a 579. The women placed fourth with an overall team score of 673.

On the men’s side, junior and team captain Geoffrey Setiawan led the way for the Tigers, shooting an individual score of 142, the second best individual score of anyone in the tournament. Setiawan shot the lowest one-day round of any player in the field with a 68 on Monday.

“Since this was our home tournament, I had ample time to get used to the layout and the windy conditions of the course,” Setiawan said. “I had worked on my swing mechanics with our coach two weeks prior to the tournament, and it worked wonders during the tournament. I was really not expecting a peak performance this week, but I somehow pulled through.”

Also coming through for the

men’s team was first year Kalen Vos, who shot a 145 for the tournament with an individual score of 71 on Monday.

“My triple-birdie finish for the first day’s round was what helped me turn an o.k. round into a solid under-par round,” Vos said.

Warren Taylor and Tyler Lehman also had strong tournaments, shooting scores of 147 and 148 respectively.

On the women’s side, junior

“

The tournament was a success.

We had a good field, the course was in shape and we had perfect weather throughout.

”

Carla Spenkoch

Women’s golf coach

Madison Wallender posted the third best individual score of any player in the tournament, shooting a two-day score of 159.

“I turned in my low score of the year with a 75 on day one. Everything felt smooth and consistent and I maintained a steady focus throughout my round,” Wallender said. “My putting was especially consistent, which greatly contributed to my performance.”

Sophomore Molly McCarthy also stepped up for the Tigers shooting a 186, propelling her to an eleventh place finish.

The Tigers fell behind Southwestern University, University of Texas at Tyler and tournament winner Mary Hardin-Baylor.

“The tournament was a success. We had a good field, the course was in great shape, nd we had perfect weather throughout. We had good scores both days but we need to finish stronger on day two’s in the spring,” said women’s coach Carla Spenkoch.

Both the men’s and women’s teams feel confident heading into the winter break as they strive to bring in more victories in the upcoming calendar year.

“We have the potential to play with anyone in the country. We just need to work hard, improve a few things in the off-season and get back to practicing in the spring. We have some great events next semester and we will be looking forward to some more great finishes,” said men’s head coach Craig McConnell.

As the men continue to fight for more wins, the women’s team is rapidly improving dayby-day.

“

“We have the potential to play with anyone in the country. We just need to work hard, improve a few things in the off-season and get back to practicing in the spring.

”

Craig McConnel Men’s golf coach

“In the off-season we have plenty to work on but I feel we are very close to some quality wins. As I said though, we need to work on playing tough on day two,” Spenkoch said.

The men and women will not take the course again until Feb. 28, when they travel to Schreiner, Texas for the Schreiner Spring Shootout.

“Adversity causes some men to break; others to break records” -William Arthur Ward

Sports

Trinitonian October 28, 2011

23

Club sports off to good start, looking to future n Students practice

and prepare for upcoming tournaments and the start of new seasons

by Jessie Burch Reporter

This year’s club sports are starting up their season with a bang. The many teams have one thing in common: winning or losing, they’re excited about the season and having fun.

Trinity’s club teams include ultimate frisbee, men and women’s lacrosse, fencing, men and women’s volleyball, as well as equestrian, women’s water polo and tennis.

The ultimate frisbee team played their first tournament on the weekend of Oct. 23 and won only one of four games, but junior captain Connor Steven was not phased. “Although we didn’t win a lot of games, our team is practically brand new and been playing together for only two-and-a-half weeks,� Steven said. We have a ton of potential and I believe this team can go anywhere.�

Because there are no seniors on the team of over 30, Steven stressed the benefits of having

the same team for two years. “A concrete goal will be to qualify for Division 3 Nationals next year.� The team is still welcoming players, and Steven urged anyone interested to contact him.

Brianna Garner, senior captain of the women’s Lacrosse team, plays lowdefense and said that the losses in a preliminary tournament against The University of North Texas and Texas Tech didn’t keep the team from having fun.

Their season will officially start in the spring, competing in the Texas Women’s Lacrosse League, playing 13 different teams. Their goal this season is to rebuild their team, “because we lost a lot of important members with the previous graduating class,� Garner said.

The men’s lacrosse team will be scrimmaging mainly against The University of Texas at San Antonio this semester to prepare for their spring season. The team finished second in their division last year and had an undefeated record. “This year we expect the same team with some good younger players,� said senior Sam Harris.

The fencing team also competed in their first tournament on the weekend of Oct. 23. Junior captain Daniel Johnson was the only member of the 11 competitors from Trinity with previous experience.

“Our goal for the tournament was for everyone to score: everyone beat at least one opponent, so we exceeded our expectations!� Johnson said. They will have another tournament sometime this fall and hope to organize minor competitions with local teams.

The women’s club volleyball team has had several games already, with mixed results.

However, their losses have been very close calls. “I really think we’re a good team; all our positions are filled well,� said senior co-captian Staci Robinson. “Our goal is to play well and have fun—even though we are really competitive, we have a good time too.�

Their biggest competition for this season is the University of Texas at San Antonio “A� team.

Last spring, the men’s volleyball team finished fourth out of 18 at the SIVA conference championships, even as the only non-division I team competing in the conference. They are looking forward to the official spring season with a goal to win conference and do well at nationals this year. “Our biggest challenge will be consistency on defense,�

Stratton said. “We are returning all of our starters and should contend for the conference championship [and] some

talented new freshman who are ready to contribute right away,� said junior founder Taylor Stratton.

Though the teams have begun the season with wins, ties, losses and close calls, the excitement

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as each teams looks forward to the rest of the season is palpable. There’s fun to be had for players and spectators alike, so keep an eye out for home games and cheer on Trinity’s dedicated club sport athletes.

Trinitonian

24 October 28, 2011

Sports

graphic by Kaitlin Browne

Photo by Christina Velasquez

Photo by Abhishek Chhetri

Dedications: Notable alumni, coaches and players line up as the Al G. Hill Jr. Tennis Stadium was dedicated on Wednesday, Oct. 26.

Quick Return:

First-year outside hitter/middle-blocker Maggie Emodi returns a pass during the Lady Tigers Wednesday night match.

Photo by Abhishek Chhetri Photo by Abhishek Chhetri

Shutting down the competition:

First-year forward Nico Estrada deflects a Hendrix player in efforts to make his way down the field on Sunday Oct. 23.

Photo by Purushottam Shah