NEWS
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
The University Star - Page 3
Students give input on O’Brien’s Going After Cacciato By Carl Norberg News Reporter Student actors endeavored to recreate Tim O’Brien’s version of Vietnam in the world premiere of Going After Cacciato on Thursday. Under the direction of Chuck Ney, students from Texas State brought to life O’Brien’s award-winning book, as adapted by Romulus Linney. Chad Show, psychology junior, attended the play, like many other students, as a requirement for a beginning acting class. “They did a really good job tonight. There’s a lot of interesting stuff, and I really enjoyed it,” Show said. Bridgette Farias, acting senior, attended the play to support her fiancé pre-theatre senior Judd Farris, who played Sgt. Corson. Following Thursday night’s performance, audiences who attended the Texas State Theatre Center were treated to an intimate talkback session with Linney and Ney. Author O’Brien was unable to attend due to scheduling conflicts. In his absence, Linney referred to him as “one of our very best novelists, and the best as far as the Vietnam War goes.” The play follows the story of Specialist Fourth Class Paul Berlin, played by theatre senior John Stewart, and his squad after they are deployed to pursue a young soldier, Cacciato, played by pre-theatre junior Alex Meyer, who chose to walk away from the war, heading for Paris on foot. Without an open seat remaining, Thursday’s audiences were immediately thrown into the combat-like scenes set during the Vietnam War. As they
pursue Cacciato, Berlin and his squad are haunted by their fears and dreams of what may come. On their mission their dreams become filled with horrific memories and fantasies of the enemy’s tunnel system, the bravado of their lieutenant, played by pre-theatre freshman Quinn Walton, and his orders that are delivered strictly by-the-book, but overall they are consumed with the fear of death. “I’ll be dreaming about staying alive when I get killed,” Berlin’s character said. Playwright Linney said it was difficult to distinguish some scenes as reality and others as fantasy while adapting the novel. Enlisted in the Army during peacetime between the Korean War and the Vietnam War, Linney said he found it easy to identify with the characters O’Brien’s novel. “It’s about what it’s about, but it’s also about a great deal more. Going After Cacciato is about wars past and present, and it’s about war itself; what happens in it, what is madness about it… and most especially in this situation, the beautiful idea, as absurd as it is, of just leaving the war and going to Paris,” Linney said. Linney and O’Brien, who have been friends for a number of years, were originally approached by a theater company in New York to adapt the novel into a play. After financial difficulty held the project back, it was picked up for production by John Fleming, associate professor and chair of the department of theatre and dance at Texas State. “I would never try to do an adaptation of some other person’s work unless I really cared deeply about it,”
Armando Sanchez/Star photo Romulus Linney, playwright of Going After Cacciato, answers questions from the audience about his life and the play along with director Chuck Ney and mediator John Fleming, theatre department chair, after Friday’s performance. Linney said. Forest Van Dyke, who played one of Berlin’s squad members, Private First Class Johnson, said it was a, “mindblowing experience,” to work with
KINKY: Campaign focuses on signatures to make the ballot CONTINUED from page 1
tion ballots. “Texas is in the top three most difficult states in the country for independent voters just to get on the ballot,” Curtis said. To make the ballot as an independent candidate, Friedman will have 60 days, beginning March 8, to get approximately 50,000 signatures from registered voters who did not vote in the primary elections. It is requirements such as these that the Independent Texans are trying to change by pushing for initiatives and referendums, which would allow voters to place issues on the ballot and vote on bills proposed by the legislature. The group is also pushing for fair ballot access reform and same day voter registration in an effort to increase turnout at the polls. More than 70 percent of Texas voters did not participate in the 2002 gubernatorial election, Curtis said. Friedman and his campaign represent many of the changes the Independent Texans are hoping to achieve. “He is the political reform in this election,” Curtis said. Wearing a black cowboy hat, jeans and a black knee-length coat, Friedman addressed the crowd waving his trademark cigar. “One goal of mine is to send shivers up the spines of politicians all over the country, which I think this election will do in November ’06,” Friedman said. Friedman believes his bid for the ballot is a refreshing change for those who have not been satisfied with the Republican and Democratic parties. “Democrats and Republicans are the same guy admiring himself in the mirror,” Friedman said. “It doesn’t really matter whether he parts his hair on the left or on the right, it’s still politics as usual. That’s the guy we’re going to get rid of in November.” Clapping and cheers followed Friedman’s promise to “make the Lone Star shine again,” if elected governor.
Alternative energy solutions, immigration and death-penalty reform are several of the issues on Friedman’s platform, but the push for education reform has been his number-one priority. His “No Teacher Left Behind” slogan has become a rallying cry for many concerned Texans. “It’s so much common sense folks,” Friedman said. “It takes a real dumbass not to appreciate the value of an education, and yet we’re dead last; we’re 50th in the country.” Kyle Pierce, 36, a teacher at Austin Community College, is especially interested in Friedman’s ideas about education. Pierce said he has seen a noticeable decline in the number of students who are adequately prepared for college. “Each year, it seems like high school graduates are coming to us with lower prep levels,” Pierce said. Friedman’s stance of increased spending on education is something Pierce supports. “We need to invest in people and education and give them an opportunity to develop, not provide additional resistance,” Pierce said. Friedman has many supporters at this stage of the race, but making the ballot next spring is what will ultimately define the future of his campaign. Dean Barkley, Friedman’s campaign manager, helped Jesse “The Body” Ventura become governor of Minnesota in 1999 with a grassroots approach. He believes fighting voter apathy will be the key to victory for Friedman. “All we got to do is get those people who have given up on politics, who no longer vote, who don’t think their vote matters to know they do have the power to take it back,” Barkley said. Friedman’s campaign is currently focusing on fundraising and the upcoming petition drive. While 50,000 signatures are needed to make the ballot, Barkley plans to have four times that number as a safety measure. “We’re going to have an army
of people hit the streets on March 8 to get not only 50,000 signatures but 200,000 signatures to make sure the secretary of state and other politicians don’t play games and disallow half of our petitions,” Barkley said. While the campaign has been concentrating on increasing voter awareness about Friedman the politician, many know him by a Texas-sized reputation of a different sort. Friedman once led the country band Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, he is the author of a series of mystery novels and is a former humor columnist for Texas Monthly magazine. Friedman’s funny side caused some to wonder if his bid for the Governor’s mansion was serious. Kelly Pierce, 26, a nurse in Austin was initially unsure about what to make of his campaign. “At first I was kind of like ‘Kinky, is that a real name?’” Pierce said. After following the campaign on the Internet and in news articles, Pierce is now a Friedman supporter. “I like the common sense, everyday-people approach,” Pierce said. “His ideas are logical.” Others have also been skeptical of Friedman and his qualifications. Norman Rupe, 76, a retired University of Texas staff member, was surprised at how well Friedman discussed the issues. “I didn’t think he was that knowledgeable,” Rupe said. “He surprised me.” Friedman followers could show their support by picking up bumper stickers that read “My Governor is a Jewish Cowboy” and “He’s not Kinky, he’s my Governor.” While his quest to become governor is considered a long shot by many, Friedman believes in the ultimate success of his campaign. “This goal of mine, an independent winning in Texas, when that happens, you’ll see bluebonnets springing up all over America,” Friedman said. “It’ll be a very nice garden, I think.”
Linney and O’Brien as they were editing the play even as the actors began rehearsing. The final performance was held Sunday afternoon at the Theater Cen-
ter. Ney said the actors are scheduled to go back into rehearsal for another week before attending the American College Theater Festival in Houston at the end of this month.
COMMUTER: Award to be given for ‘weirdest’ solution CONTINUED from page 1
Each solution logged enters the contestant’s name in a random prize drawing. The top prize is a $500 gift certificate to the San Marcos Outlet Mall. The contestant who logs the highest number of commute solutions is the most likely to win. The challenge also offers employer awards. Employers in Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson Counties can win prizes in one of three categories: government agency with the highest number of participating employees, business employer with the highest number of participating employees and employer with the highest per-
centage of employees who participate. The winners of the challenge will be announced on Oct. 28 during an awards ceremony in Republic Square Park in Austin. A special award will be offered for the weirdest commute solution. “Everybody’s really eligible to enter and help promote commute solutions to reduce traffic and congestion in central Texas,” Baker said. Last year, approximately 780 people participated in the challenge. By the second day of this year’s challenge, more than 300 people had registered. “We’re definitely going to kill last year’s numbers,” Baker said.
Contestants can register at any time during the two-week challenge and have their names entered into the drawing. The Commute Solutions Coalition is composed of government agencies and nonprofit agencies that attempt to promote commute solutions strategies. It is hosted by and receives most of its funding from the Capital Area Metro Planning Organization. The Commute Solutions’ Web site offers plenty of information about reducing traffic in Central Texas and has a commute cost calculator, allowing people to enter information and figure out how much money they spend on their daily commute.
CRIME: Students take safety measures against theft CONTINUED from page 1
parking. She said she received an e-mail about the recent thefts. “I don’t have anything valuable in my car. After I got the e-mail, I cleared out my car,” Garibay said. The crimes have taken place at different times throughout the day and night. Meyer believes that it might be the same group of individuals who are
doing the burglarizing. The thieves are looking into vehicles to see if there is anything valuable. He suggested students and faculty hide everything in their vehicles. CDs on the visors of vehicles are what thieves are looking for first. “Take anything of value and put it in the trunk or where it is not readily in view,” Meyer said. Meyer said that UPD has
taken steps to better secure the areas on campus where the crimes are taking place. UPD is using extra squad cars and unmarked vehicles to better patrol the areas. “Our main thing is relying on students to report anything suspicious, so that we can better help them,” Meyers said. If you see any unusual or suspicious activity or if you have been the victim of theft, contact UPD at (512) 245-2805.
IT’S GOTTA BE PUPPY LOVE Leah Galloway holds her two pugs, Chloe and Hurley, during Saturday’s Pet Fest at Plaza Stage Park. The festival featured a variety of attractions and games for those who attended, even those without pets.
Spencer Millsap/ Star photo