TRENDS THE UNIVERSITY STAR
petof the week Sassy, a female Russian blue cat, needs a new home and is great with dogs. Contact the San Marcos Animal Shelter at (512) 393-8340 for adoption information.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - Page 5
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narchy in the U.S.:
Punk rocks political scene
By Clara Cobb The University Star A Ramones T-shirt may not be considered a big political statement in mainstream society, but any punk rock fan knows better. Punk rock, which began as an anti-establishment movement, left a lasting legacy on the political influences of the young. Joe Strummer, former front man of the Clash, was a political activist. Mark Andersen, a member of the Washington, D.C. punk scene for years, cofounded Positive Force DC, an organization that sets up benefit concerts and aims for fundamental social change in the area. The Web site, www.punkvoter. com, continues the legacy of punk rock’s role in politics. Marc Boyd, employee of Sundance Records, a local music store, has always been a punk rock fan. He said some early bands, such as the Clash, had several politically charged songs like “White Riot,” “I’m So Bored With the USA” and “London’s Burning.” However, bands like
the Sex Pistols are less noted for their lyrics. “A lot of what punk did was just breaking down boundaries,” Boyd said. “(The Clash) came out of such object poverty. The Sex Pistols didn’t have a specific political message, but they stirred things up. Sometimes that can be enough.” He said punk trends in the ‘80s were epitomized by social responsibility, and the music sometimes came across as ultra conservative. He said it was a forceful message, but more straight edge. Currently, punk’s political message is more leftist. “It is pretty polarized right now,” he said. “I don’t see a lot of ‘rock for Bush’ stickers.” One aspect is the issue of selling out in punk by signing to a major label, according to Boyd. “People were up in arms because they were on a major label,” Boyd said. “They’re singing ‘fight the system, fight the system,’ and they are a part of the system. Green Day is on the biggest label in America. So, it’s interesting.” Anderson has attributed his
life of social activism to punk rock, through which he “found a reason to live.” He said rage alone, however, is not enough to spark social change. “I pick up the newspaper and I get pissed off, I get pissed off we have a capital that is embarrassing to the rest of the nation.” He said community is the key for inciting social change. Boon Graham, a local musician and Texas State alumnus, agrees with Anderson. Graham is frustrated by current political issues. “I don’t like politics, I don’t understand it,” he said. “I think art and community are much better at creating positive social change.” “If I could figure out how to make (politics) help people, I would, but it’s easier to do music, so I do that instead.” He said he believes punk has become a buzzword, and a selling tool. To Graham, punk rock embodies a lifestyle as well as a musical genre. “I think someone (in music)
who is really creative, they wouldn’t use the word ‘punk,’” he said. “There have been plenty of words used before for breaking the rules, and there will be plenty more after.” Jenny Patel, political science senior, she said she believes music affects culture as far as political climate and public opinion go. However, she does not believe music has any impact on legislation. Patel believes the music’s impact on politics mainly affects a younger generation. “I definitely think music has an effect on culture and political culture,” she said. “Even Fall Out Boy has a lot of songs with a political message.” Patel, president of Pi Sigma Alpha, the political science honors society, said culture, in every form, is important to the politics.
1964 — Beatles hit America. 1965 — First punk bands form in the U.S. and Great Britain. 1968 — MC5 plays Democratic National Convention. 1971 — Writer David Marsh, writer, first uses the term “punk rock” in describing the Mysterians. 1974 — Television begins performing at CBGB. 1977 — The Roxy opens in London. Sex Pistols album, Never Mind the Bollocks, Here’s the Sex Pistols reaches No. 1 on British charts. 1978 — Rough Trade Records, a music store, begins working as a punk record label. 1980 — The Decline of Western Civilization, a cult film classic, documents the L.A. punk scene. 1987 — Epitaph Records releases its first record as an official label. 1994 — Green Day plays Woodstock 1994. 2006 — The film American Hardcore opens. Boyd said some people have a misconception that Fall Out Boy, and more popular punk rock has a political statement or agenda. He said he believes the “do it yourself” or DIY ethic that comes out of punk music is the most important cultural contribution. “There are a lot of groups out there who you may not associate
with punk, but wouldn’t make it without DIY indie labels,” he said. “They’re not mohawked or in leather jackets, but it’s punk that made (indie music) possible. A lot of people’s idea of punk is that — Mohawks and leather jackets — but that went out in ‘82. It’s more about the ethic and less about the sound.”
Outstanding Women of Texas State Anthropology professor paving the way for women in science
By Lauren Davis The University Star When she first began at the University of Texas, Elizabeth Erhart had no idea she would end up among lemurs. Originally a liberal arts major, the assistant professor of anthropology found a passion for the subject she couldn’t let go of. “I love being an anthropologist because I like the intersection of understanding biology and culture,” Erhart said. Erhart specializes in the study of physical anthropology with a sub-specialization in primate behavior and ecology. She said she is particularly interested in studying lemurs. Every summer from 1996 to 2003, Erhart traveled to Madagascar with students and took part of intensive studies on lemurs. “I really like to take students with me because whenever you take a student to a field like that is like experiencing everything again for the first time,” Erhart said. “The rainforests are spectacular. The first time people see it from the outside it is really very emotional. It is amazing how beautiful it is.”
Her studies in Madagascar mainly focus on female dominance and why some lemur species acquire the trait and others do not. Erhart studies black and white ruff lemurs, sifaka lemurs and red-fronted lemurs. Erhart said Madagascar is an ecological hotspot. Lemurs who live there are endemic, which means they live nowhere else on the planet. Madagascar is a third-world country, and Erhart said living in the rainforest for months in a bush camp with no electricity, running water or any kind of modern convenience can be quite an experience. “Living in a third-world country you see a lot of poverty,” Erhart said. “On the other hand, you get to go to a place in the world where very few people get to go to. It makes you get down to basics and think about a lot of things you don’t have time to think about in your daily life. It’s fun to get to know people and other cultures and it makes you appreciate what you have.” Erhart has been working with the anthropology department since 1997. She said she loves teaching students and seeing them learn and experience the field.
“The thing I most enjoy the about my job is teaching,” Erhart said. “Not only in the classroom, but in the field because there is nothing more exciting than telling somebody about something and they get excited and feel passionate about it.” In 2004, Erhart wrote a proposal for a Bachelor of Science degree program for anthropology, which is currently in effect. The program has added more writing-intensive courses and Erhart said she wants to better prepare students for the job market. “I am really happy how it turned out and I hope that it offers students who would like to get a B.S. an option in anthropology,” Erhart said. Erhart has also been participating for the past for years at a field school in Chiapas, Mexico with R. Jon McGee, professor of anthropology and department chair at Texas State. “I admire her work,” McGee said of Erhart. “She can pack a granola bar and a bottle of water and go all day. She has a great deal of wilderness experience and is fearless in the forest.” In Chiapas, Erhart teaches rainforest ecology and field
methods in primate behavior. She said it is a great trip because students get to experience both cultural and physical anthropology, living in a Mayan community and rainforest. “Students get to go into people’s houses and see them make bread and then we go into the rainforest and look for monkeys,” Erhart said. “You get that all around experience as an anthropologist.” Erhart said she recommends women seek mentors and mentor others as well. Erhart currently is part of an organization for women and science headed by Dana Garcia, associate dean for research in the college of science. Erhart said the organization mentors junior faculty. Erhart said in science, gender equity is still very unbalanced. She said she believes we are raised in a culture in which boys tend to be more associated with math and science. “Although today women are more on equal footing with men, it is still not 100 percent,” Erhart said. “Women shouldn’t be shocked by that. The harder that women push in various careers the easier it will be for girls behind them.”
Monty Marion/Star photo PREOCCUPIED WITH PRIMATES: Elizabeth Erhart, physical anthropology associate professor, focuses her studies on primate behavior and has helped sculpt the anthropology Bachelor of Science degree to better prepare students for future jobs.