First Copy freeVolume 13, Issue 3

Oct. 18, 2010theAccent.org

See CAMPUS, pg. 4

See GOvernMent, pg. 5

Former SGA Vice President Sophia Downing assumes presidency, will nominate new vice president on Oct. 22

Film shows three-year strike by minorities

Lead levels not immediate danger to students, staff according to experts

Strike documentary opens Big read

Lead levels lead to rGC drinking fountains closing

SGA president Jorge Amador resigns office

rio Grande Campus lead levels

Community vs Austin community college

Perry and White duke it out pg. 3

Campus for mascot reveal

A screening of The Economy Furniture Strike, a documentary which captures the flash-point of Austin’s Hispanic political renaissance in 1968, kicked off Austin Community College’s partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), for 2010’s Big Read, which aims to promote the importance of literature in America.

The drinking water at Rio Grande Campus was tested once more for lead in early October and the results will be posted soon on the Austin Community College website according to ACC’s Public Information and College Marketing Department.

“When the plumbing is redone, it will be replaced according to current building codes and this will eliminate the lead,” according to a statement released by ACC’s Public Information and College Marketing Department and Executive Director for Environmental Health, Safety and Insurance, Rebecca Cole. Currently there is no set date for when the plumbing will be replaced at the Rio Grande Campus.

Concern over lead in the drinking water at the campus has caused the college to post signs advising students and faculty not to drink the water.

All of the drinking fountains in the main building were shut off, and signs labeling the water non-potable went up on Sept. 29.

Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting Inc. collected water samples at Rio Grande in May of 2010.

ACC’s Environmental Health and Safety Insurance Department posted a link to Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) lab results from the Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting Inc. reports on ACC’s website. The link shows the results from tests conducted on all of the fountains at RGC campus on the dates of May 27,

The former SGA Vice President, Sophia Downing, is now president, following former President Jorge Amador’s resignation from the office of SGA president.

In accordance with SGA rules, Downing will nominate her pick for a new Vice President at the next SGA meeting, which will be at ACC’s Highland Business Center on Oct. 22. Her criteria for nomination will be to pick someone competent enough to perform the duties of SGA president.

Downing will chose her nominee from the existing pool of SGA senators. At the Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, she encouraged communication and ideas concerning her upcoming nomination.

Amador announced his resignation from the position of SGA President at an SGA meeting Friday, Oct. 8 at the Highland Business Center.

Amador was elected in the spring semester of 2010. He was unopposed for the SGA position.

His resignation was not publicized prior to the meeting and came as a surprise to many in attendance.

“Don’t think that I’m quitting on you,” Amador told his colleagues in the SGA, “I’m not. I’m not quitting on the students -- never have.”

His reasons for resigning were vague, and a prolonged discussion among SGA senators ensued. For over twenty minutes before the meeting was called to order. During the impromptu round table, Aaron Hinojosa, SGA Co-Advisor, went into specifics about the events that led to Amador’s resignation.

“John [Jacobs] (also an SGA Co-Advisor) and I have been working with Jorge on issues,” Hinojosa told the group. “There are really important responsibilities he has as president, and he hasn’t really been fulfilling them. We’ve been trying to work with him for a few months now, and we didn’t see any progress.”

In a capacity ceremony at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center (MACC), students and faculty joined community members and dignitaries in ushering in the initiative.

The film, narrated by legendary journalist Dan Rather, was produced by ACC’s Center for Public Policy and Political Studies. It brings to light the little noted, but lastingly important walk-out and three year strike, which resulted in improved working conditions for minorities in Texas.

The upheaval launched the careers of several of Austin’s first Hispanic political figures, including Texas political icon Gonzalo Barrientos, who introduced the film. In his invocation, he recalled the time

as “the whirlwind of a country in transformation.”

The screening was followed by a panel discussion featuring former Austin Mayor Gus Garcia, the filmmakers, Paradigm Shift Multimedia, and one of the strike’s architects, Lencho Hernandez.

For the next six weeks, the Arts and Humanities Division of ACC will sponsor events all over Austin. Upcoming events include “Honoring the Service” Veteran’s Day Reading at Riverside campus on Nov. 11, Ti-Jean and His Brothers, a drama production will be at the Rio Grande Campus Mainstage theatre Nov. 12-14 and 19-21. There will also be film screenings and dance performances, all geared toward their mission to arrest the

He explained why the advisors and the Executive Council, which is the administrative body of SGA and is made up of the president, vice president, parliamentarian, secretary, treasurer, senate chair and director of communications, recommended to Amador that he resign. “We’re sure that the best thing for the group is this. The group has to move on. We have meetings to attend. Never have we ever cancelled a meeting with the president of the college, and we had to do it this semester ... there’s a learning process to any position. I guess, take this as a learning opportunity. There’s responsibilities, you have a certain role to play in the college and the organization, and if you’re not fulfilling them, then there may be a better option for you.”

When the Executive Council reconvened for a special meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Student Life offices in Rio Grande Campus, the dust appeared to have settled and SGA was back to business.

“We have a pretty good team right now,” she told the group. “I want to move ahead with what we’ve been working on and keep the energy going.”

0*

<0.00100Aug

ust L

ead

leve

ls m

g/L

<0.00200

<0.00300

<0.00400

<0.00500

<0.00600

0.015EPA Action

Level

Action Level (AL) -Highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water and is an enforceable standard according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

* 0 mg/L is the EPA goal for all lead levels Fountain locations

South end near Room

001.0

East Corridornear Little

Store

East Corridornorth end

West Corridorsouth end (N)

West Corridorsouth end (S)

West Corridorsouth end (N)

West Corridorsouth end (S)

West Corridorsouth end

West Corridornorth end

Basement

First �oor

Second �oor

Third �oor0.00

559

0.00

513

0.00

486

0.00

243

0.00

609

0.00

554

0.00

398

0.00

248

0.00

194

Information compiled from Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc. report dated Sept. 16, 2010

community | pg 8

news • educationnews • education

news • education

CAtCHInG UP — ACC History Professor Larry Willoughby talk with Buddy Ruiz and Andy Ramirez before the screening of “The Economy Furniture Strike” documentary produced by Paradigm Shift Multimedia and the ACC Center for Public Policy and Political Studies.

neW PreSIDent — Former SGA vice president Sophia Downing is now president due to the resignation of Jorge Amador.

SAFetY FIrSt — Lead levels in the drinking water in the Rio Grande Campus main building reveal that levels are below the actionable level. Baer Engineering and Environmental Consulting, Inc. is currently conducting tests.

WAter SAFetY — Student Irving Nuñez fills a cup with water from a water jug stand located on the first floor of the Rio Grande campus while on his way to class. ACC has advised people not to drink tap water in the main building at the campus.

Sarah Vasquez • Life & Arts/Multimedia Editor

Photo courtesy of SGA.

Karissa Rodriguez • Photo/Web Editor

John Walker Staff Writer

Odin Amador Staff Writer

Natalee Blanchat Staff Writer

FORUMpage 2 www.theAccent.org Oct. 18, 2010

Fax512.223.0904

Advertising512.223.0122

editorial512.223.0393

Office of Student LifeRRC, 4400 College Park Drive, Room 2107 Round Rock, TX 78665

All rights reserved. All content is the property of Accent and may not be reproduced, published or retransmitted in any form without written permission from the Office of Student Life. Accent is the student newspaper of Austin Community College and is printed by the Austin American-Statesman. Accent is published biweekly. ACC students may submit articles for publication in Accent to RGC’s Office of Student Life Room 101.1; e-mail articles to accent@austincc.edu or fax submissions to 223-3086. ACC does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation or disability. Accent offers ACC’s faculty, staff, students and surrounding community a complete source of information about student life. Accent welcomes your input, as well as information about errors. If you notice any information that warrants a correction please e-mail accent@austincc.edu. Individual views, columns, letters to the editor and other opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of Accent.

editor-in-Chief ...................................................................................... Christopher A. SmithAssistant editor .................................................................................... Sarah NevePhoto and Web editor ....................................................................... Karissa RodriguezLayout editor ......................................................................................... Chris ScottLife & Arts Editor ................................................................................ Sarah VasquezCampus editor ...................................................................................... Michael Needham

Accent Adviser ...................................................................................... Matthew ConnollyAccent Coordinator ............................................................................ Lori BlewettStudent Life Director ......................................................................... Cheryl Richard

Staff reporters Diana Leite, Hilary ShepherdLead Photographer Andrew PaganStaff Designers Elizabeth Brown, Carmen MaverickWriters Alejandro Alvarado, Odin Amador, Natalee Blanchat, Rob Cohen, Janelle Matous, Austin Nicholas, John Walker, Jason WitmerPhotographer Mathew Arneson, Hanlly Sam, Adrienne SparksACC President Dr. Stephen B. KinslowBoard of trustees Dr. Barbara P. Mink—Chair; Allen H. Kaplan—Vice Chair; John Michael V. Cortez—Secretary, Tim Mahoney, Nan McRaven, Jeffrey Richard, Dr. Victor H. P. Villarreal, Guadalupe Q. Sosa, Dr. James W. McGufee

Corrections for 10/04/10In the “Documentary set to

open The Big Read” story the Mirabal’s should have been identified as sisters not nuns. In the same story the book, “In the Time of the Butterflies,” by Julia Alvarez, should be identified as a historical fiction novel.

In the story “Students enjoy a night of free skating” the cut line incorrectly stated that the roller skating event was the first Student Life event of the semester.

The story “Tires and Hubcaps replace bricks and mortar” was written by Janelle Matous.

Design Editor Chris Scott was the artist for the editorial cartoon for the last two Accent issues.

Have something to say?

The Accent wants to know what you think.

Write a letter to the editor by sending an email to editor@austincc.edu or by clicking the “contact us” tab at theaccent.org

Learn to manage your time

it

KarissaExplains

new president address ACC

Bill White for texas

rick Perry set to win another election, White better for high education

Rick Perry is going to be the Governor of Texas forever. At least he is going to win in November. He’s leading in the polls, he’s the incumbent, and by not participating in a formal debate against Democrat Bill White, he has made White look small, and robbed him of the opportunity to impress the public. Perry’s reelection team deserves a big raise, because Perry has is it pretty well locked down in November. But that doesn’t mean students should vote for him.

White is better on education. He’s spoken out against the skyrocketing cost of tuition. A cost that only exists

because Perry deregulated college tuition in 2003. Since then tuition has increased 93 percent statewide.

White supports Community Colleges more than Perry. Perry vetoed $154 million for health insurance for community college employees.

Perry has asked public universities and colleges to prepare spending plans that are 10 percent smaller, on top of five percent cuts already in place.

Here at ACC, Perry’s request for a leaner budget was used to justify not giving ACC employees a raise for the first time in 15 years.

Perry is an über-conservative. He is partisan. He tags along with

tea party celebrity’s like Sarah Palin, says embarrassing things that make Texas look bad, and helped create a projected over 20 billion dollar deficit in a once booming state economy.

We don’t think White is going to win, but we think he should. If he does, we’ll be too happy to be embarrassed about calling the election before it was over. He’s a student friendly candidate with a strong resume, and Texans and the Texas education system deserve something new, and something better than they’ve had for the last 10 years.

There are 45,000 students at ACC, most of whom can vote. Vote White and help prove us wrong.

Dear Student Body,

Midterms are upon us all, but don’t let the pressures get you down. Student Government has some exciting events on the horizon and changes to update the student population on. First, the changes.

Recently Student Government experienced a change in it’s Executive Council at the highest office. On Oct. 8, 2010 the former President, Jorge Amador, resigned as president of SGA. At the moment of Jorge Amador’s resignation, the Vice President immediately becomes acting President until

the Executive Council has agreed upon the direction of the new administration. Based on the Bylaws, Constitution, and Robert’s Rules of Order, the Vice President naturally succeeds the role of President. There will be a recommendation made by the new President as to who the Vice President will be and that qualified officer will then be voted on by the Senate Body.

As the executive council of SGA, we understand the importance of representing the voice of all 44,100 students of ACC. We want to assure you that at no time were you ever without the appropriate representation. SGA has made several accomplishments as a result of the hard work and dedication of the Senators and Executive Council whom all have committed to ensure the student rights and well being are in the forefront and remain protected.

Now the events. Club-O-Ween, Moovember, and Frost Bite Social, just to name

a few. We have a strong body of dedicated Senators and the interest in Student Government is increasing. As we continue through mid-semester, more activities are being planned, campus specific. Selected campuses can expect focus groups, board forums, bake sales, and various other student driven activities. Please know that as students of ACC, you are all members of Student Government and are welcome to attend our meetings, held twice a month at the Highland Business Center. For a calendar of events or for more information, give us a call (512.223.3116) or check out our website (www.austincc.edu/sga). See you around campus!

On Behalf of Student Government Association,

Sophia DowningPresidentACC Student Government

Association

Chris Scott • Layout Editor

Staff Editorial

Karissa Rodriguez Photo/Web Editor

Like any other college student, I hate studying. It takes up too much time, and I almost always end up with a headache.

However, whenever I plan ahead and prepare to study for a test I always find that studying is much more tolerable.

It seems obvious that’s how most college students should feel, but a recent study by University of California-Santa Barbara economist Philip Babcock found that students today work less and have higher expectations in terms of grades.

It’s difficult for me to understand the mindset of students who think they can study less but still earn a high grade. However, I do realize that with good study methods some students can pull this off.

The following are tips and techniques that will help you study more effectively.

Plan aheadKnow when papers, projects

and tests are due and start working on them early.

Studying early will allow you to understand the material well.

I’ve waited until the last minute to study for a test, and sometimes I pass but often end up failing miserably. Last minute studying is simply not a good method.

Its easy to procrastinate studying so students should plan a specific time to study during their schedules in order to avoid this.

If you find that you have trouble planning ahead and studying early, you can read my last column about time management to learn how to effectively use time to your advantage when studying.

Stay organizedOnce you are actually

studying, don’t just try to memorize all of the class material in one sitting. Divide up your material and work in blocks of time to keep yourself from becoming frustrated.

Dividing up tasks into smaller ones helps you understand the material better because instead of trying to remember an entire chapter of your textbook, you only have to remember a small amount of information.

Pulling an all-nighter before a test is a bad idea. From my experience that’s because I tend to forget half the material I studied. Easy ways to stay

organized and break up study sessions are by creating flash cards, quizzing yourself, and, most importantly, taking good notes during class.

Avoid distractionsYour environment where

you study plays a huge role when trying to study effectively.

If you study at home, make sure you have an organized study area and avoid distractions like e-mails, Facebook, and unnecessary phone calls.

I tend to study in a terrible environment at home. My desk at home is too cluttered to use so I study anywhere I can find room. It also doesn’t help that I’m distracted every five minutes either by e-mails or my kids demanding my attention.

Studying at home is a difficult task for me, so I like to study at libraries or coffee shops. Really its just anywhere my kids won’t interrupt me.

Wherever you do study, just make sure you study in a well-lit and organized area.

Get help when neededIf you find yourself having

trouble understanding the material you are studying, get help.

Go to tutoring labs (found at all campuses), study with classmates or ask your professor for help with the material.

Professors are there for a reason and are required to have office hours where they will be available for students to ask questions or catch up on missed work. The same goes for tutors in the tutoring labs.

Studying with classmates is also a great way to seek help because you can discuss the material with other students and if you teach or explain concepts to others in your study group you reinforce your learning.

The main thing to remember while studying is that there is no one right way to study. Even if you find a method that works for you, keep seeking new ways to study because utilizing just one study method is not going to work all the time.

Karissa explains it all is a recurring column that focuses on providing students with advice on general topics that affect them. Want to suggest a topic? E-mail Karissa at pictures@austincc.edu

Oct. 18, 2010 www.theAccent.org Forum | page 3

PERRY“THE KILLER”

THE CHAMPIONWHITE

“BIG MONEY”

THE CHALLENGERvs

You are what you drink

Letter to the editor: Considering Concealed Carry on Campus

Lets get ready to rumble

Phot

o Co

urte

sy o

f FeM

A P

hoto

Lib

rary

Phot

o Co

urte

sy o

f Mat

thew

C. W

righ

t

Immigration.Perry has said that he doesn’t support an immigration law

like the controversial law just passed in Arizona. He has also come out against a border wall. He believes that the Federal

Government should be responsible for securing state borders.

educationPerry deregulated tuition in 2003. Since then tuition has

gone up 93 percent state-wide. In 2007, Perry vetoed health care for community college faculty due to revelations that schools had been using state funds to pay benefits for non-

state employees. He is also in favor of school vouchers, which subsidize the cost of private school, and the teaching of

Intelligent Design in public schools.

AbortionPerry has said that he believes abortion should be legal

only in cases involving rape or incest or when carrying a pregnancy to term would threaten the woman’s life.

Gay marriagePerry signed The Texas Defense of Marriage Act in 2003

which says that the state does not recognize a marriage or a civil union between persons of the same sex, regardless of where it was created. On his website, it says that Perry “believes in the sanctity of marriage between a man and a

woman.”

Gun Control A concealed handgun licence holder himself, Perry believes that legal concealed handguns should be allowed on college

campuses, and everywhere else.

Immigration.White has released a border security plan on his website. He promises to fund an additional 1000 local law enforcement

positions and 250 state troopers using federal grants. He said that an Arizona style immigration law would be a distraction

for Texas law enforcement officers.

educationWhite repeatedly supports moving away from high stake

standardized testing in order to better prepare for students for college and career training after high school. While in

Houston he helped start Expectation Graduation, a program where volunteers went to the homes of high school students

who hadn’t returned to school in order to get them back.

Abortion White is pro-choice. He says “There are some very personal

life decisions that should be left to citizens and not to the government.”

Gay marriage Voted against Proposition 2 which banned Same Sex

marriage, but has come out supporting Civil Unions, not gay marriage. “I believe Texas state government has more

pressing issues than support or repeal of state constitutional amendments on this subject,” White said.

Gun Control White has called himself a strong supporter of Second

Amendment rights. Unlike Perry who thinks that concealed hand guns should be allowed everywhere. White says that

colleges should be in control of their conceal and carry on-campus policy, not the state.

As a civilized society, we naturally find the notion of allowing guns on college campuses counterintuitive. Guns are associated with irrational violence, and college campuses are associated with rational thought—keeping the two separated seems like a matter of common sense.

But counterintuitive doesn’t always equal wrong, and as Albert Einstein reportedly said, “Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down by the mind before you reach eighteen.” To resolve the debate over “campus carry,” we must put aside our prejudices and look at the facts.

Obtaining a Texas concealed handgun license (CHL) is an involved process. Both the state police and the FBI run fingerprint and background checks on every applicant, ensuring that licenses are not issued to persons with

felony convictions, family violence convictions, recent misdemeanor convictions, or documented histories of substance abuse or serious mental illness.

Applicants must be at least 21 years of age (18 for military personnel) and must attend and pass a 10-hour training course covering weapons laws, non-violent dispute resolution, use of force, weapons safety, and basic marksmanship. Following the course, applicants must pass a shooting test that meets or exceeds all but one of the state’s minimum proficiency requirements for law enforcement officers—the one exception being that officers are also required to complete a timed reload.

Fourteen years after Texas issued its first concealed handgun license, few argue that the program has been anything but a success. Statistically, CHL holders are five times less

likely than others to commit a violent crime, and Texans are 20 times more likely to be struck by lightning than to be killed by a license holder.

Though opponents question the maturity of college students and play on fears about alcohol and drug abuse, such arguments have little to do with the issue at hand. Allowing concealed carry on college campuses would not change who can buy a gun or who can obtain a CHL, and state law would still prohibit license holders from carrying guns while intoxicated. Furthermore, allowing campus carry would not change the regulations at bars and off-campus parties, the places where students are most likely to drink.

Concerns about student suicide also miss the mark. Ninety percent of suicides occur in the victim’s home; most students old enough to obtain a concealed handgun

license live off campus. If there are concerns about the vulnerability of dorms to theft, those concerns can be addressed without maintaining a campus-wide ban on concealed carry.

Other concerns, such as the belief that CHL holders might somehow make a campus shooting worse, are rooted in Hollywood, not reality. Contrary to what the movies might have us believe, real-world shootouts don’t involve ten minutes of people diving through doorways and ducking behind desks to reload. A 1997 FBI study found that most shootouts last less than 10 seconds. How could 10 seconds of exchanged gunfire between an assailant and a CHL holder possibly lead to greater loss of life than a 10-minute, uncontested execution-style massacre, like the one that occurred at Virginia Tech?

Those who suggest that CHL holders might confuse

police or endanger themselves by running around, guns drawn, looking for an active shooter understand neither the purpose of concealed carry nor the training required. License holders must keep their weapons concealed until and unless they encounter an immediate threat of death or serious bodily harm. They are specifically taught not to seek out an active shooter.

CHL holders carry handguns for personal protection, not so they can act like amateur one-man SWAT teams. And most police officers know this. The vice president of the Houston Police Officers’ Union, the largest police union in Texas, recently dismissed concerns about license holders adding to the confusion of an active shooter situation and announced that his organization supports campus carry.

Though campus carry may seem like a radical idea, it’s

not unproven. Thirty-three U.S. campuses have allowed it for an average of five years, without incident. Another 38 campuses began allowing it at the beginning of this semester.

In light of these facts, what is the logic behind state laws and school policies prohibiting campus carry? What purpose do they serve, beyond placing law-abiding students and faculty at the mercy of any criminal willing to disregard state law and school policy? Why should trained, licensed, carefully screened adults be allowed the means to defend themselves at a movie theater on Saturday and in a church on Sunday but not in a college classroom on Monday?

In the red corner, the longest reigning Texas governor, he’s held the office for almost a decade. This former Democrat joined the Republican party in 1989. Now an ultra

conservative, he’s a champion of smaller government and family values, Governor Rick Perry. In the blue corner, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy and three term mayor of Houston Texas. This well known businessman is running on his CEO experience, he’s

the former chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, Bill White.

From happy hour with friends, to a first date, your libation of choice makes an impression on everyone from the bartender to the busboy. Fair

or not, here’s what your drink says about you, and how to navigate the bar without looking stupid, pissing off your friends, or waking up with the

worst hangover of your life.

Frozen, fruity and fabulous.These specialty drinks are usually made from some kind of

powder or syrup mix. They are blended, often very sweet, and yes they are usually pretty delicious. They also look ridiculous, especially when men order them. I know it’s a double standard.Life’s not fair.

The bottom line on these frilly drinks is you’re really stabbing yourself in the back when you’re a man with an umbrella and a fruit salad hanging off your glass. Nobody likes that guy.

Also. If you order cocktails with sugary sweet mixers, so overpowering that it covers up the taste of the alcohol, and then say things like “Dude! This is great, there’s like three shots in this and I can’t even taste it,” you shouldn’t be allowed to drink in public.

Beer and WineThese two are pretty universally safe choices. We live in Texas,

so thankfully we have Lone star and Shiner Bock, if you don’t know what to get, order either of these . They will keep you out of trouble. The only fruit that goes in beer is a lime, and only if you have to.

There’s really only a few guidelines with wine you need to know. Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill is not “wine”. Pink wine (White Zinfandel’s and the like) are for women in there 80’s, and unless you are drinking with wine enthusiast with the intention of talking about a shared love of vino, absolutely no one wants you to teach them anything about wine, or explain why you ordered the Malbec over the Chianti.

Mixed drinksI’m an old fashioned girl, so I like men who can successfully

order an Old Fashioned without looking like a tool. That being a rare quality, a simple whiskey or scotch on the rocks is fantastic. Don’t order a coke and anything. You’re an adult.

Vodka with Seven Up, and vodka and club soda is pretty neutral for the ladies. Gin and tonics or club sodas are great for everyone. (But tonic, has a ton of sugar so be careful, or you’ll wake up with a headache.)

Frozen margaritas are silly. A good rule of thumb, If it’s in a glass bigger than your head and you can eat it with a spoon, someone is laughing at you. Conversely, margarita on the rocks with a good tequila is fantastic. Especially when it’s 100 degrees outside.

ShotsThis is a tricky area. A celebratory tequila or whisky shot wont

raise any eyebrows, but everyone has that one friend (who you should probably stop hanging out with) that thinks shots are great.

They order rounds without discussing it with anyone, they beg you to take one because they can’t take one by themselves. (Because they are insecure), and they usually order weird neon colored shots that will make you feel like vodka and high fructose corn syrup came together in an unholy union to ruin your life the next day.

Photo illustration by Adrienne Sparks • Staff Photographer

Sarah Neve Assistant Editor

W. Scott LewisTexas Legislative Director, Students for Concealed Carry on CampusEditor, CampusCarry.comStudent, Austin Community College

NEWSpage 4 www.theAccent.org Oct. 18, 2010

continued from pg. 1

continued from pg. 1

Students are invited to hear poet Bill Berkson read his work at Rio Grande Campus Gallery Theater, on Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. The reading will be free and open to the public.

The Balcones Center for Creative Writing at Austin Community College awarded Berkson’s “Portrait and Dream: New and Selected Poems” with the 2009 Balcones Poetry Prize. The 352 page book was published by Coffee House Press.

One critic praised the book, which combines 40 years of poetry, by saying it “mixes hard self-analysis with charming, witty observations.”

Berkson is also known for his art criticism and painting.Those interested in submitting their work for the 2010 Balcones

Poetry Prize have until Jan. 31, 2011. More information at: austincc.edu/crw

The office at Student Life invites ACC students to help make Austin a little greener. Project: Build A Park is the annual community service opportunity for students that are not afraid to get their hands dirty in order to make the city and the environment a cleaner, nicer place for future generations.

The project hopes to gather 400 volunteers to clear brush and debris off Barton Spring Pool Greenbelt Entrance and improve public parkland. The partnership between ACC Student Life and the Austin Parks Foundation is celebrating its eighth year and hopes to set a new attendance record.

ACC invites volunteers to lead the project. In order to become a Team Leader, student volunteers have to participate on one of the Team Leader orientations that will be held on Nov. 1 and Nov. 3 at the Green Belt Entrance. More information at: accstudentlife.info

News Briefs

Poet to read book that took 40 years to write at Rio Grande

Volunteers needed to lead outdoor service project

Campus feels burden of water drinking ban at rio Grande

Big read launched in response to survey

Bus riders might face future fare increases

Bastrop judge dismisses case against ACC officals

runners race for cure

Aug. 19 and Sept. 16.The Rio Grande Campus

water had also been tested for lead in 2006 by Baer Engineering and a total of 79 samples were collected and analyzed. Nine of the 79 locations sampled were found to exceed the EPA action level. The Action Level is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water and is an enforceable standard.

According to the statement released by the Public Information and College Marketing Department, lead concentrations are coming from the original plumbing.

Concentrations of lead found in the water fountains are not above the maximum contaminant level (MCL) or Action Level standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Aug. 19 report by Bear Engineering and Consulting showed that 10 of 16 fountains resulted in a reading above the maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG), which according to the EPA website there is no level of lead in drinking water below which there is no known risk to health.

Baer Engineering tested

The Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority is moving closer toward a fare hike in 31-day bus passes and Metro Access services. The elimination of free fares for both elderly and disabled riders will also be up for vote on Nov. 10.

If fare raises are approved, however, ACC students would still be able to use the regular fixed-route bus services for no charge under the Green Pass program. This program also helps students who use special services such as Metro access for disabled riders.

The current Green Pass for the Fall 2010 semester is valid until Jan. 17, 2011.

“We are currently negotiating to renew the contract,” ACC Director of Environmental Stewardship, Andy Kim said. “It is likely that the program will be renewed.”

Data released by Capital Metro’s website indicates that riders will see a $2 increase in 31-day passes from $28 dollars to $30 dollars for regular fixed-route bus rides under approved fare adjustments.

In addition to the proposal, elderly and disabled riders will no longer ride for free. Instead they would pay 50 cents for a on the merit of our case. It was a

procedural issue, so I think with an election contestation we still have a strong case” Casey said.

Part of the annexation process is gauging interest by collecting signatures of registered voters on a petition. If enough signatures are gathered and verified, the annexation goes on the ballot and the residents get to vote on it.

The Bastrop County Friends of Higher education, who circulated the petition, submitted 1750 signatures to ACC. The ACC Office of Governmental Relations Verified 1672 of those signatures.

The remaining signatures were not necessarily invalid, but 1672 is well over the required five percent of registered voters needed to move forward with these petitions.

ACC has committed to building a campus in Bastrop if they become part of the taxing district.

“We’re calling it the ACC Lost Pines College,” Bastrop County Friends of Higher Education Tom Scott Said in a previous interview with The Accent.

In a press release from the college Bob Heath, the attorney representing ACC said,

“This was a baseless lawsuit that the judge properly found was not even within the jurisdiction of the court. Five plaintiffs sought to overturn the work of the more than 1,700 persons who signed the petition asking the issue to be put on the ballot. Because of the judge’s ruling, the issue will be decided by the voters, not by the court.”

one-way fare and $15 dollars for a 31-day pass.

Under the proposal, Metro Access service’s current 10-ticket booklet price would climb from the current $12 dollars to $15 dollars, while a monthly pass for the service

would jump from $35 dollars to $40 dollars.

A report from Capital Metro stated that the proposed changes are all part of a plan aimed at easing the rising costs of providing transportation to Central Texas. If approved, the

fares would take effect on Jan. 16, 2011.

ACC students can obtain a Green Pass through the cashier’s office and must be enrolled in at least one credit earning course and have a valid student ID.

said Janiga. “Whether you have an aunt,

a mother, a sister, or someone else who has had it, your risk is greater.”

Still, the specific reason as to why breast cancer only affects certain women remains unknown.

The Susan G. Komen website states, “We still do not understand what causes breast cancer to develop at a certain time in a certain person. It’s a likely combination of risk factors that together make cells in breast cancer become cancerous.”

For preventative measures, Janiga recommends conducting a monthly self-breast exam.

“Women should do it around the same time each month, depending on their menstrual cycle when breasts are more full,” she said.

drinking water samples again in September, and none were found to be over the MCLG but in that report Bear Engineering and Consulting recommended shutting down the water fountains and putting bottled water stations as a substitute until further testing was done.

“We will continue to monitor the lead by periodic testing, but for now the current actions will remain in place. Please know the health and well being of our students, employees, and community is the college’s utmost concern, and ACC will continue to take appropriate actions to protect our college community,” according to the statement by the Public Information and College Marketing Department.

“In reality (the lead) is below any action levels. It’s a perception of a problem more than a real health problem,” said Bob Blodgett a professor of geology at RGC. Blodgett was also a member of the TECQ for six years before becoming a professor.

“I have no problem drinking the water here. I’m actually more concerned about drinking bottled water and the plasticizers that bottled water contains,” said Blodgett. “I wouldn’t be concerned if a child

or a pregnant woman drank that water, its well below the action level.”

“ACC Rio Grande is an older campus, and these buildings are bound to have lead in them. The newer campuses such as Round Rock and Cypress shouldn’t have any lead in them,” said Mike Lentz, the Drinking Water and Lead Copper Coordinator who oversees the Lead and Copper Program for Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

The water at Simon’s Cafe was also shut off. The cafe, which already uses a water purifier to filter out different chemical deposits including small traces of lead, took extra precautions by using only water bottles to make tea, coffee, and soda beverages according to the Simon’s Cafe manager at Rio Grande, Tae Park.

Simon’s Café is also using bags of store bought ice, according to Park.

“It’s a pain,” Park said about using the bottled water, “but we have no choice.”

Rio Grande Campus Senator Giovanni Sanchez has been in close contact with Executive Director of Environmental Health and Safety Insurance Rebecca Cole.

“While we appreciate that

Bastrop voters will still be able to vote to annex themselves into the Austin Community College taxing district in November. A lawsuit filed by five Bastrop County residents to have the annexation vote canceled was dismissed by State-District Judge Reva Towslees-Corbett on Wednesday morning.

The suit was filed on Sep. 22 by George Lewis, Dorothy Landoll, Carolyn Smith, Ray Smith, and Victor Vreeland.

The suit was filed against ACC President Steven Kinslow, and ACC Special Assistant to the president for external affairs, Linda Young, as well as Bastrop County Elections Administrator Nora Cano, The Bastrop County Friends of Higher Education Political Action Committee, and former Bastrop ISD president John Eaton.

The Bastrop residents who filed this suit claim the petition to get the annexation on the ballot contained language that mislead voters about who was leading the effort, and about the Bastrop Independent School District support and involvement.

They also feel that the signatures should have been verified by an outside organization, as opposed to the college.

The Judge dismissed the case on the grounds that the court can not cancel an election.

Stephen Casey, lawyer for the plaintiffs, has said that his clients are considering contesting the election on Nov. 3.

“She (the judge) did not rule

Race for the Cure, a 3.1-mile breast cancer fundraising event, is scheduled to take place Sunday, Nov. 7 at the Domain in North Austin.

The 5K promotes breast cancer awareness, celebrates women who have won the battle against breast cancer, and honors those who have lost their fight to the disease.

According to the American Cancer Society, in this year alone, 207,090 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States. Of those women, 39,840 will die from it.

The disease is caused when cells in the breast divide and grow abnormally, creating a mass of extra tissue, or a tumor.

According to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer

Foundation, breast cancer mostly affects women 50 or older. However, younger women are still prone to it.

The American Cancer Society states that in the United States, 95 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer are 40 or older.

“The mean age is 60,” according to Margo Janiga, former ACC student and registered nurse at Scott & White Healthcare.

Men can also get the disease, though it is rare. According to the American Cancer Society, in the U.S., there will be 1,970 cases of male breast cancer this year. Like women, the risk increases with age. However, because men have less breast tissue than women, the disease is often easier to catch.

“For all women, the biggest risk factor is family history,”

For women over 40, she suggests getting yearly mammograms.

In the meantime, “maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a low-fat diet can help prevent it,” Janiga said.

Common symptoms of breast cancer include a change in the shape or size of the breast, a lump, nipple swelling or discharge, and sudden pain in one part of the breast.

“If there is anything unusual, women should visit their doctor.”

dramatic decline in the reading of literature in America.

Lyman Grant, Dean of Arts and Humanities, states that the goal is to “promote books of a literary and enduring quality.”

For this year’s Big Read, the Austin community will focus on a work of historical fiction by Julia Alvarez, “In The Time of Butterflies.”

Like The Economy Furniture Strike, “In The Time of Butterflies” tells a story of bravery and sacrifice in the Hispanic community in the face of oppression. It is based on the lives of those attempting to topple the tyrannical Trujillo regime in the Dominican Republic.

The Dallas Morning News

calls the piece “A fascinating and powerful picture of a family and a nation’s history.” Alvarez will do a selected reading and discussion of her work at the MACC on Nov. 17, from 7-9 p.m. All events are open to the public.

The Big Read was launched nationaly in 2007 as a reaction to a 2004 report by the NEA, “Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America,” of which, the organization that “concerned citizen in search of good news about American literary culture would study the pages of this report in vain.”

“We want to honor people, silent heroes,” said Grant in a press release. “Very often it is the normal little citizen who is doing his normal little thing that affects huge changes.”

ACC is taking steps to shut off the water fountains that are in question and putting out an alternative water source, we would like to see that this issue is more clearly communicated with the student body so that they know what is going on with the water,” said Student Government Association Rio Grande Campus Senator Giovanni Sanchez.

The college will continue to monitor the situation according to the statement by the Public Information and College Marketing Department. The statement also said that “because it was slightly above the level of “no known risk,” the college moved forward with shutting down the water fountains as a precaution, particularly for high-risk groups such as children, pregnant women, the elderly and people with compromised immune systems. We take a conservative approach where matters of health and safety are concerned.”

Editor’s Note: Despite several attempts by the Accent staff, Rebecca Cole and other members of the of Environmental Health, Safety and Insurance department were not available for comment.

Susan G. Koman Race for a Cure will be on Sunday, Nov. 7 at the Domain in North Austin.

News • The Board

News • The Board

News • The Board

Green trAnSPOrtAtIOn — ACC students board the number three Capital Metro bus across the street from the Rio Grande Campus building. Students are able to ride Capital Metro buses for free under the Green Pass program which began in January 2010.

Mathew Arneson • Staff Photographer

Alejandro Alvarado Staff Writer

Sarah Neve Assistant Editor

Hilary Shepherd Staff Reporter

CAMPUS LIFEOct. 18, 2010 www.theAccent.org News | page 5

All interviews and photos by Elizabeth Brown

Aly Vasquez – Foreign Language, SpanishNo, I don’t plan on voting, I just don’t take the time to know the issues and know what’s going on. I’d like to, but I don’t. Too busy with work and school.

Kacee Colds – Commercial Music ManagementNo - I’m from New York, so I don’t really believe in a lot of laws that they have in Texas…They are worried about the wrong things.

Kristen Sauls – General StudiesYes I do. While I think it’s important for people to vote, I think it’s more important for people who are interested in it and know what’s going on to vote, than for people to blindly show up and vote.

“Do you plan on voting in the upcoming Governor’s election”

OPINIONS

rr

Opinions from the students and staff at Northridge

David Braley – HistoryNo, I really don’t. I’m one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and we’re completely politically neutral, we don’t ever vote.

Nicola Migot – NursingProbably not, mostly due to laziness. I don’t even know who’s running. My Texas Government teacher would be so mad at me right now.

Nathan Rodriguez – Visual CommunicationNo. I believe that people should vote if there’s a good opportunity for a character who’s actually decent to vote for.

northridge Campus to host riverbat Birthday Bash

riverbat party sweeps election

Students strike into intramural volleyball, soccer, basketball

The Riverbat will make its first landing at Northridge Campus on Nov. 18 from 12 to 1 p.m.After 3,063 total votes were cast during a three week voting period, it was announced at the River Bats Election Convention on Oct. 13, that Northridge Campus had won the honor of hosting the Riverbat Birthday Bash. “They’ve got the most students, so they have the most votes; it’s a no-brainer,” said vice chair of the board of trustees Allen Kaplan. “Hopefully the weather will be nice so they can hold it outside, because there is very little room inside.”

The mascot costume will be unveiled, and official t-shirts will be distributed.Co-chair of the mascot search committee Avy Gonzalez explained that the leadership at Northridge had encouraged students to participate.“They really worked hard to make sure people got out to vote,” said Gonzalez.In the fall of 2009, a mascot search committee was formed. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members worked together to design a process by which the mascot could be created. The public was invited to submit ideas throughout October and November. The top four ideas ended up being the Bbhoggawacts, Blazers, River Bats, and Starblazers.

Last April, at announcement parties at each of the campuses, students learned that ACC had become the home of the River Bats. Students were told that a mascot design was in the making, and would be revealed in the fall of 2010. Later, the name was changed to the Riverbats. The popular second place name Bbhoggawacts was chosen as the mascot’s official name.Pre-med student Stacy Moreno, 32, said that Northridge deserved the party because they voted the most. Then, she explained what she found significant about the event.“I think that it’s a great idea that we finally have a mascot,” said Moreno, “and no matter which campus it’s revealed at, it will still represent all of the campuses.”

Students won executive board positions for the Center for Student Political Studies (CSPS) at the River Bats Election Convention on Oct. 13.

The CSPS, which works very closely with the Center for Public Policy and Political Studies (CPPPS), is responsible for putting together a few events each semester including the Constitution Debate Day Celebration last month.

“We’re not Republicans, Democrats, or Libertarians; we’re all Riverbats tonight,” said director of CPPPS Peck Young. “So, as Riverbats we’re electing the new people of this organization.”

About 15 students gathered to nominate and vote on candidates. The

elected student officers will take office starting in the spring semester. Until then, they will collaborate with the current officers.

No one ran for the executive governor office, so it will remain vacant until one is nominated at a future meeting.

While government major Sam Davis was elected president at the event, she had originally intended to run for the director of communications position. That was until the man she supported for president bowed out of the race. Davis explained what effect this had on her.

As president, Davis will be the face of the organization. She will be asked to speak at most occasions, host most events, set agendas, and seek out new opportunities for the group to participate in.

“Knowing that the position was left vulnerable, I felt like

it was important to step up and take responsibility,” said Davis. “No one else could be as excited or passionate about it, so that’s why I stepped up.”

Business administration major Warrick Nichols came to get involved and meet people. The event helped him learn how the district is connected.

“I didn’t know before that all the campuses worked together,” said Nichols.

Terral Smith, former Legislative Director to Governor George W. Bush, is a member of the CPPPS board and spoke at the event.

“I assume that what motivated the students that came tonight is some curiosity of how politics work,” said Smith. “The better they understand that, the better citizens they will be, and that will benefit the college and everyone else.”

Alexandria Martinez chose to give up her volleyball scholarship when she had a kid and hasn’t played since.

Years later, the 21-year-old psychology major saw a flyer in an ACC campus elevator for intramural sports. She signed up and showed up.

“It’s good to play again,” Martinez said. “To play for so long and then just have it end – that’s why I was so excited.”

On Oct. 11, students from all across the ACC district came to play a variety of free intramural sports at a North and South location. The sports offered are women’s volleyball, women’s soccer, men’s soccer, and men’s basketball.

For the first time, these sports will be lead by an intramurals coordinator. Tracy Partin started in this new position on Oct. 4. He explained what he hopes to accomplish.

“I have always prided myself in building good quality leagues in a fun environment,” Partin said. “I would hope to bring a good quality program for the kids.”

Some students were

inexperienced in the sport they chose. Education major Mercedes Guevarra had never played soccer and didn’t know how. She “joined soccer to try something new and meet new people.”

After completing two rounds of games, Guevarra expressed her opinion about the game.

“It was pretty interesting,” said Guevarra. “I’ve never played soccer before, so it’s a good experience.”

Students can no longer sign up for a sport, but those already on a team will play until November. Then, it’s tournament time. The winning teams will be given trophies and their pictures will be posted on Facebook.

Until then, students will participate in sports that they may have not been able to otherwise.

“I bump around a little, but this is the most organized I’ve played since high school, and with people my own age,” said Martinez.

News • The Board

News • The Board

Rob Cohen Staff Writer

Hanlly Sam • Staff Photographer

Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community and its allies will be wearing purple and marching on city hall this Wednesday, Oct. 20 in memory of the recent suicides of several gay youth.

LGBT organizations from all over Austin are involved in the events planning, including Austin Community College’s Equality Now club.

The event will feature a vigil, which begins at 6:30 p.m. in front of Austin City Hall. Several speakers from organizations such as Equality Across America, Queer People of Color, and the Gay-Straight Alliance Network of Texas relating their personal experiences with homophobia.

Omar Lopez, president of ACC’s student group, Equality Now, is hoping that the media attention that the recent suicides have created can spark a real change.

“It is very important for us to use this opportunity to create awareness so that their (the recent youths who committed

Gay rights student club to march on city hall

eQUALItY nOW — (Top row, left to right) Students Omar Lopez, president of Equality Now, Stacy Moreno, Brittany Tovar, (bottom row, left to right) DC McLean, Ruth Badillo hold and display a rainbow Texas flag representing gay pride.

suicide) lives were not lost in vain and that this doesn’t happen again,” said Lopez.

Equality Now, a gay rights student club formed in 2008, were a major part in organizing the Oct. 20 event.

“Through our networking we can try our best to get someone the help they need,” Lopez said.

The group is also currently looking for liaisons to all ACC campuses.

“We want to make sure to spread our resources and to soon be able to spread our meetings across the other campuses,” Lopez said.

Equality Now also took part in organizing the Harvey Milk Day march last May and is sponsoring an anti-bullying week the third week in November.

It is important to Lopez that the club celebrates diversity.

“The LGBT minority is the most diverse. We are such a large group, it’s amazing that we don’t have more power,” Lopez said.

Equality Now, which has about 20 members, meets the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at the Student Lounge on Rio Grande Campus at 6 p.m.

News • The Board

StUDent eLeCtIOn — The new members of Student Political Studies get together for a picture after being elected for next semester. The board positions were filled by some of the more curious students at the event.

IntrAMUrALS — Two ACC students go for the block at the first intermurals of the semester. Games were held in both north and south locations.

Andrew Pagan • Lead Photographer

Andrew Pagan • Lead Photographer

Michael Needham Campus Editor

Michael Needham Campus Editor

Michael Needham Campus Editor

page 6 www.theAccent.org Oct. 18, 2010

What I’veLearned I wanted to go to college and asked my father if he would pay for it, but he said no. I was taking an economics class and my instructor told me that ACC was really affordable and to look into that, so I did. I couldn’t go to a 4 year college because I didn’t have the money, so my best choice was to work part-time and go to ACC.

In 1997, I was living in Bastrop and travelling here to Austin to take classes at ACC.

While taking management classes, one day my radiator broke in the parking lot. I took it apart and went to the automotive department to see if someone could help me fix it. Mr. Kaiser in the AC department was there and helped me repair my radiator then showed me around all the different equipment, and I found it really interesting. I started taking air conditioning classes immediately.

At the age of 20, I became a part-time, evening Lab Technician to assist an older gentlemen who could not lift heavy equipment up the ladder anymore. Eventually, I became a full-time Lab Technician when he left.

I finished my Associate’s degree in Business Administration in 2002, and then I transferred to Texas State and got a finance degree in 2005.

I got my contractor’s license to do air conditioning and started my own air conditioning business in 2005.

I am the only one in my family who works in air conditioning.

In 2007, a full-time instructor position opened at ACC, and I got hired for that.

to say the least, ACC is my entire life. Everything I have is because of ACC, so I feel like now it is my turn to give back to the college and encourage my students to do the same. I encourage my students to get educated.

You always have to be looking to the future. Right now, I’m really focused on being a better instructor so, that’s why I stay active in the field to get real experience from the equipment

that’s being serviced right now in the field.

I have three kids: two girls and a boy. The oldest is 12; the other one is 3, and then I have a 1-year-old-boy. I always encourage my kids to do what they want to do, just to be the best they can be at whatever they like. But if they decide that their passion is air conditioning, then they are welcome to come join my business. If they have a passion for art or music, I would always encourage them to follow their passion.

All the mistakes I make during the day get passed onto my students at night, so they know what not to do.

COOLInG OFF — Arturo Jaimes, ACC Assistant Professor of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refigeration Technology stands in front of an air conditioning unit he uses during classes. Jaimes uses various machines like the air conditioning unit to teach his student how to repair heating, cooling and refigeration stystems they may work on in the field when they graduate.

Janelle Matous Staff Writer

Janelle Matous • Staff Photographer

Arturo Jaimes is an Assistant Professor of Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology at ACC. Jaimes also owns his own air conditioning company, and is two-time graduate of ACC. Arturo Jaimes

LIFE & ARTSOct. 18, 2010 www.theAccent.org page 7

SXSW Presents: Dance With The OneOct. 19, 7 p.m.Alamo Drafthouse South LamarThe University of Texas Film Institute’s first movie, which was made by over 120 UT students, tells the story of a boy who has to take care of his younger brother and drunken father.

Sufjan StevensOct. 19, 9 p.m.The Long Center for the Performing ArtsElectro-folk singer and songwriter will play his music from his hot-from-the-oven album The Age of Adz. See how many die-hard fans have already memorized the lyrics.

Steven Johnson – Where Good Ideas Come FromOct. 20, 7 p.m.BookpeopleAuthor of Where Good Ideas Come From reads his new books on how people develop the ideas that advance their lives, careers and the society in general from a scientific and technology point of view.

Action Pack Presents: Michael Jackson Sing-AlongOct. 21, 7 p.m.Alamo Drafthouse at the RitzHelp resuscitate the Prince of Pop by singing from the bottom of your heart. He will come to haunt you if you sing out of tune.

Gorillaz World Tour w/ N.E.R.D.Oct. 22, 3 p.m.Frank Erwin CenterElectro rock made up by four cartoon characters stops in Austin during the “Escape to the Plastic Beach” World Tour. See the band in its human form and enjoy the new and old hits.

Pillow TalkOct. 22, 9:30 p.m.The New Movement TheaterDallas comedian Christopher Tellez hosts a night dedicated to laughter staring local comedians and musicians.

Los Campesinos!Oct. 23, 8 p.m.La Zona RosaFall in love with indie pop band from Wales. The seven-piece band will invade the town with music from the album Romance is Boring.

Salsa Aerobics ClassesEvery Wednesday 5:15 p.m.Esquina TangoLadies of all ages with great coordination can join a Salsa class to learn some steps and sweat at the same time. Maybe you can learn some sexy footwork to flirt with on the dance floor.

Greg Garrett One Fine Potion: The Literary Magic of Harry PotterEvery Wednesday 6:15p.m.The First Baptist Church of AustinEnglish professor, author and Harry Potter admirer talks about his book The Literary Magic of Harry Potter, in which attempts to explain why the book franchise is such a big success.

Austin Poetry SlamEvery Wednesday 8 p.m.ND at 501 StudiosTwelve artists compete in a poetry competition where anything goes. The rule is there are no rules in poetry.

Sarah 7: Your Worst NightmareEvery Thursday 8 p.m.The Hideout Theatre & Coffee HouseAll undead women improvisation group crawled from their graves to expose your worse nightmares to the world and make you laugh until you die.

If you have an event you would like us to include in

future issues, please send us a tip on the Accent website,

tinyurl.com/accenttip.

Fortnight Forecast

College Sound is a recurring feature. If you’re an ACC student and a musician, please contact Sarah Vasquez, Life & Arts Editor at editor2@austincc.edu.

Small theater shows big play

College Sound : Avy Gonzalez produces tracks

Broadway comes to Austin

Since the early ‘90s, Rent, the musical written by Jonathan Larson, has dazzled audiences with its bohemian attitude and rock-and-roll-based soundtrack.

The story centers around a group of artists living in an abandoned warehouse and struggling to pay their rent. The plot is themed with love, disease, friendship, and the fight to stay alive in a world where art is under appreciated.

The Zach Scott Theater in Austin has undergone a major undertaking staging this well-known Broadway hit and has absolutely succeeded.

Unlike the grand scale of most Broadway shows, the intimate theater setup has brought the cast closer to the audience, letting the audience feel as if they are a part of the action.

The set, which is usually pretty elaborate in the larger

productions, is much smaller in scale, but not lacking in character. Where normally you wouldn’t see the guts of backstage in any other show, in this production, the mass of wires and stage equipment actually helps to more accurately paint the scene of industrialism where the artists live.

The vocal performances are on par with any Broadway musical. The cast is comprised of Zach Scott regulars (Andrew Cannata and Eva Alonzo), local actors, and even some local musicians (John Pointer, Ginger Leigh, and Karma Stewart). The talent is fantastic and the acting will tug at your heartstrings.

All in all, this is a wonderful rendition of a story which has been on Broadway for over a decade. Even though it is on a much smaller scale, the story’s integrity remains and is enhanced in one of Austin’s most well known theaters.

The show will continue to run until November 28.

Avy Gonzalez is a familiar face among Austin Community College. He’s the president of the Center for Student Political Studies and held offices with other organizations such as Student Government Association and Phi Theta Kappa. And he is also part of the ACC Mascot Search Committee. But years before he moved to Austin in 2005, Gonzalez built a name for himself in Miami as a music producer and continues to produce music to this day.

Gonzalez has no formal training in music. However, he got his start through DJing at a skating rink and began getting recognition DJing at clubs.

“My very first job, I was djing. I quickly became one of the best djs in Miami,” said Gonzalez. “At the time, Exposé was very big. The producers and production company asked me if I wanted to be their road manager... And that’s how I got into the business.”

It was from that time with Exposé, the female group from the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, that Gonzalez befriened one of the founding members, Sandra “Sandeé” Casañas. After Casañas left the group, she recruited Gonzalez to work on a solo track together. The first single he produced with Casañas “You’re the One,”

was the first song he wrote and produced. Before Casañas sang the song though, another female group, Genuine Parts, did.

“One of the three songs that I had written for Genuine Parts was ‘You’re the One,’” said Gonzalez. “I showed (Casañas) the other two from Genuine Parts’ touring list and the song that she liked the best was ‘You’re the One.’ So I wanted to go with a different direction with it with her.”

Almost 20 years later after that release and second single “Always Besides Me,” Casañas reached out to Gonzalez to rerelease “Always Besides Me.” Unfortunely, Casañas tragically passed away.

In 2010, two years after Casañas’ death, Gonzalez decided to continue on with the remix for Casañas with another artist Jacinta. Jacinta is an Australian-born artist who’s had multiple hits such as “Can’t Keep a Secret.”

“I started working on a track, just on my spare time,” said Gonzalez. “I got together with Jacinta who is an international-known recording artist, but also happens to live here in Austin. Her and I always talked about getting together and doing a song.”

Working with Casañas and Jacinta are just two examples of Gonzalez’ work. According to Discogs.com, there is a list with over 10 songs he also contributed by producing or writing. However, when he

started taking classes at ACC, Gonzalez decided not to major in anything associated with music.

Ever since music pirating drastically changed the business model, musicians as well as producers have found it harder to earn a living in this career.

“There’s no way of you making money, so to earn a living at it, it’s almost impossible,” said Gonzalez. “So I maintain it and keep it

as a hobby. Whenever I get into a studio and start putting something together, I go with the intentions of ‘I’m not gonna make money at it,’ and that it’s just gonna be something that I do for fun.”

So with his music hobby, classes, family and ACC club and organizations he participates in, how does Gonzalez keep it all together?

“Well, it’s definitely a full time job. I try to pick easy

classes,” said Gonzalez with a laugh. “It’s a lot of time management. I dedicate certain hours of the day toward certain things and try to stay as organized as I possibly can. But, yeah, it’s definitely tough.”

BrOADWAY MAGIC — A sign for the play Rent is prominently displayed on the Zach Scott Theatre sign. The theatre will host the play through Nov. 28.

FAMILIAr FACe — Student Avy Gonzalez poses in front of the Rio Grande Campus building to have his portrait taken for ACC’s student magazine Life4U. In addition to being a student and holding numerous offices with student organizations, Gonzalez is a local music producer.

Adrienne Sparks • Staff Photographer

Hanlly Sam • Staff Photographer

Adrienne Sparks Staff Writer

Sarah Vasquez Life & Arts Editor

page 8 www.theAccent.org Oct. 18, 2010

Belle And Sebastian Write About LoveFall in love all over again with this more refined, electrified version of this cute indie pop band. The lyrics are more powerful than ever.

Sufjan Stevens The Age Of AdzDon’t be fooled by Stevens’ soft voice on the first track, he will blow your mind with an electrified orchestra fitting to any sci-fi movie.

Bob Dylan The Witmark Demos 1962-1964All these songs are familiar to his fans, but listening to the album with all the demos we know and love is priceless.

Eskmo EskmoThe electrical arrangements that recreate exotic instruments will take you in a spiritual journey or give you the headache of your life.

Hot Panda How Come I’m Dead?Chris Connelly couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket with a leg. Why is he in a band and I am not? Unless you are tone deaf, don’t buy this CD.

OFF! 1st EPIf you think loud punk rock is the true way to enjoy music, you just found your new favorite CD. Prepare for fast guitars and faster vocals.

Feel the beat Music tweets

religion professor stars in rocky Horror Picture Show

Community ACCvs

“What is community college? Well you’ve heard all kinds of things. You’ve heard it is a loser college for remedial teens, 20-something dropouts, middle-aged divorcees, and old people keeping their minds active as they circle the drain of eternity.”

That’s part of the opening speech given by Dean Pelton (played by Jim Rash) as he welcomes everyone, on and off screen, to the debut of NBC’s tv show “Community.” The show follows eight students at fictional Greendale Community College (GCC).

Even though they form a study group to combine their knowledge and class notes so they can pass their language requirement, they eventually become more than just study buddies.

“This is kinda like Breakfast Club, right?” Abed says in the first episode. Abed is the awkwardly hilarious character played by Danny Pudi.

Pretty much. While everyone in the “club” represents the clichés mentioned in the beginning speech, “Community”

surprisingly is a fair representation of what it’s like to be a community college student.

Several show situations mirror recent real situations Austin Community College went through such as designing a mascot which ACC will reveal in November, and the “I am Greendale Community College” ad campaign similar to the “I am ACC” project.

But “Community” presents community college life in a more dramatic, over-the-top, that-would-never-happen type of way.

The most obvious example is the dean giving school announcement at the beginning of every episode. With ACC having eight campuses all over Austin, this would be impossible to achieve.

Most of the recent record enrollment of over 44,000 students at ACC are not at any of the campuses at the same time. Classes are offered at various times on various days to accommodate everyone’s schedules.

Plus ACC President Dr. Stephen Kinslow and the deans probably have enough to do with their time without making announcements about the various events on campuses.

Usually on the show, these announcements are just used to

foreshadow what the episode is about.During the holiday-themed episodes, there is always an

elaborate celebration with a carnival or a party. The study group and everyone else on campus shows up no matter what time the event takes place.

Sadly, this doesn’t happen with most ACC events. Then again, there is alcohol served at GCC’s events.

ACC has drug and alcohol free campuses, which isn’t to say students aren’t attending events because of it, but the point is that maybe there needs to be more promotion besides posters around the designated bulletin boards on the campuses to get people to come.

Also remember that the people at the events in “Community” are also extras who are getting paid to be there. Plus, it’s also a tv show.

If “Community” happened in ACC’s real world, there would be inspirational music playing during those academic challenges, there would be a wierd guy popping up on campus to make a random yet related-to-the-situation pop culture reference, and Accent’s Editor-in-Chief would have his own office.

An Austin Community College professor is probably the last person people think would take the feather boa out of the closet, put on heavy makeup and go to the nearest Rocky Horror Picture Show screening for a sing along party. However, ACC religion adjunct professor Melinda Rothouse started rehearsing for a full-cast Rocky Horror Revue on August 2010.

Rothouse joined the members of Chasca, a band self-entitled as “cerebral glam power pop” for a live, full-cast rendition of the best songs from the musical Rocky Horror Picture Show. The revue is not an exact reproduction of Rocky Horror Picture Show, it is a theatrical entertainment that combines the greatest musics and choreographers from the movie into a live show that promises a lot of glitter and fake lashes.

“I used to feel some tension between teaching and performing, but I have been doing both things for long enough now that it doesn’t

seem strange anymore,” said Rothouse.

The religion professor has taken voice lessons since she was in seventh-grade and studied classical voice all through high school and college. She studied opera and performed a senior voice recital in Vassar College. After that, she decided she wanted to do more contemporary music, so she started to write and sing her own music and learned to play the bass, which is her main instrument.

Rothouse, who is also a solo performer, was playing a gig at the Irie Bean Coffee Bar last year when she met the members of Chasco and quickly became friends with them.

Rothouse joined the cast of Chasco’s Rocky Horror Picture Show rendition during last year’s Halloween. She performed as Columbia, half of the psychedelic and burlesque duo, Columbia and Magenta, that dances and singes provocative lyrics dressed in a glitter suit jacket.

“What I like about [Columbia] is that she is a really fun character. She is very different from me, but I enjoy getting into her role and being

different. She is kind of light and bubbly. I’m enjoying it and having a lot of fun with it,” said Rothouse.

The cast is made of all-local musicians, featuring Chasca’s frontman, J.T. Martin, as Frank-N-Furter and Riff Raff, Linda Henderson as Janet Weiss, Justin Dent as Brad Majors, Cameron Healy as Magenta, Rothouse as Columbia, Robbie Doyen as Eddie and Dr. Scott and Sean Palmer as Rocky.

After studying the human mind through a biological perspective at Vassar College, Rothouse became fascinated with the social and psychological study of the human behavior. That was when her interest for religion was born.

Rothouse taught at Tulane University in New Orleans until Hurricane Katrina passed through the city. She then moved to Austin, and started to teach at ACC shortly after.

Rocky Horror Show Revue will glamour the audience with sweet transvestites and cabaret glitter on Oct. 28 at 11:30p.m. on The Lucky Lounge and Oct. 30 and Nov. 6 at The United States Art Authority next to Spider House Cafe.

Arts • Games and Tech

Arts • Games and Tech

tv IMItAteS LIFe — “Community” cast members have a conversation in the cafeteria during one of their scenes. “Community” airs at 7 p.m. on Thursday nights on NBC.

tIMe WArP — Rocky Horror Revue cast members pose for a promotional photo. ACC Religion Adjunct Professor Melinda Rothouse (top row, third from left) joined the cast Aug. 28 to play the role of Columbia.

CHAttInG It UP — Students at Rio Grande Campus enjoy a snack and study in Simon’s Cafe in between classes.

Photo courtesy of nBC

Photo courtesy of Sarah Beal

Adrienne Sparks • Staff Photographer

Sarah Vasquez Life & Arts Editor

Diana Leite Staff Reporter

Oct. 18, 2010 www.theAccent.org Life & Arts | page 9

Final Fantasy goes MMOrP for the latest installment

Filmmaker triumphs with documentary on education woes

Set in the vast wasteland of the Mojave desert, Fallout: New Vegas, voted 2010’s best role-playing game by IGN and Gamespot, debuts on Oct. 19 and is the latest installment in the Fallout video game series.

Fallout: New Vegas, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game set about 200 years after a cataclysmic nuclear war between the U.S. and China.

The game is a direct sequel to its predecessor, Fallout 3, and takes place four years after the events of that game.

Fallout: New Vegas, like its predecessor, features an open world environment where the player’s decisions throughout the game affects the ultimate outcome of the storyline. Because of this, no two players will experience the exact same storyline.

Video previews on Bethesda

Softwork’s YouTube channel show that the player’s first task in the game is to deliver a package to New Vegas. However, the package is never delivered because the character is shot in the head and left for dead.

Immediately following this, the player’s character is taken to the town of Good Spring to see a doctor.

During this scene the player goes through the character development stage where players can customize their character. The menu options are mostly unchanged from Fallout 3, however game developers introduced a new character menu called “Traits.” Traits are similar to the perks option given in Fallout 3, and players are allowed to select up to two traits that give their character advantages but they also have disadvantages.

One example of this is a trait called Fast Shot which gives the character the ability to fire guns and energy weapons 20 percent

faster but at the same time makes the character 20 percent less accurate.

Among the changes in Fallout: New Vegas, game developers announced earlier this year at E3 that the game will incorporate a new hardcore mode where stimpacks and rad-aways takes longer to take effect, ammunition has weight and dehydration is a factor in the game.

Fallout: New Vegas will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and the PC. Digital Collector’s Edition will also be available. It includes All Roads, the 48-page digital graphic novel by Chris Avellone that was created in conjunction with Dark Horse comics.

Fallout: New Vegas takes everything fans loved about Fallout 3, including its open world environment, numerous side quests and character and weapons customization, and steps them up to the next level. Fans of the series will not be disappointed by this.

Final Fantasy XIV made its debut on the PC last month, and this massively multiplayer online role playing (MMORP) game is something to take in using all the senses. Square Enix created this free roaming world where players interact with other players rather than going through a linear storyline in the same vein of previous games, Final Fantasy X or Final Fantasy XII. Square Enix isn’t new to the MMORP world. They created their last MMORP, Final Fantasy XI, about 10 years ago and are continuing that tradition with this beautiful and awe-inspiring graphics giant.

Final Fantasy XIV is based in the world of Eorzea. This world is divided into three major kingdoms: Limsa Lominsa, Gridania, and Ul’Dah. The

“Although I support the public education system, each morning I grudgingly drive past three public schools in order to drop my kids off at the private school that they are currently enrolled in.”

Davis Guggenheim, the director for the new documentary Waiting for Superman, said these words to open the film and one can’t help but chuckle at the blatant contradiction.

Guggenheim, who directed other hard-hitting documentaries such as An Inconvenient Truth, attempts to shed light on the flaws of the public education system in America by following the lives of five families who either do not have the opportunity to attend private school or who refuse to put their kids into their district’s public school system out of fear.

These families are left only with the option to enter into a charter school “lottery.” Applicants are accepted into charter schools solely on the basis of getting their number selected in a bingo rally.

The message that the movie delivers is powerful, suggesting that the statistics reported about the education system and that changes in school budgets don’t affect just numbers. These statistics affect real people with names and lives.

Waiting for Superman denounces two flaws on the American public education. First, teachers unions accounted for some of the largest monetary contributions in the 2007-2008 political campaigns. Second, the Washington Teachers Union (WTU) assisted by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) organized a vote holdout,

player may choose where to start out. The biggest difference in these locations is the scenery such as deserts or green nature. There are five starting races: Hyur, who closely resembles what humans look like, Miqo’te, which are a proud race of female cat ladies, Lalafell, a very short nomadic race, Elezen, which most closely resemble Elves, and Roegadyn, who are huge, tall, and scary. The players can choose which race they’d like, and which nation to align themselves with.

Choosing a starting class is not really as hard as it is in other games. The classes are divided up into four “disciplines” that break down into more occupations. Final Fantasy XIV has a special level up system, where each player level up weapons for a class, and not the class itself.

The game wants players to

only make one character and be able to play every class with that character throughout their lifetime by merely switching their weapon.

This game is a bit more difficult than your run-of-the-mill MMORP, but if you are looking for a challenge and not child’s play, then Final Fantasy XIV is a beautiful world one can enjoy exploring for hours.

This game isn’t perfect with a frustrating user interface and no definite economic system, despite the boring hunting and gathering system. It definitely needs some work. It could be said that this game is surely not for everyone. It is suggested that one might want to look up more about the game online before deciding to spend the $50 to get this for PC.

Final Fantasy XIV will also be released for PlayStation 3 on March 31, 2011.

surrendering their tenure rights in exchange for a new salary plan proposed by D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee. The plan increases teachers’ salaries up to the amount of $140,000 on a merit-based system

Guggenheim does not address some of the important aspects of education, such as standardized testing, and some scenes do more to look at the negative aspects of education

rather than suggest how to alleviate the issues at hand.

Nevertheless, he successfully offers up a broad perspective of the current way that American education is being funded and organized. From the resounding sniffles in the movie theatre audience as John Legend’s song “Shine,” ran through the credits, one couldn’t help but give Guggenheim a silent “bravo” for the making of the film.

Fallout: new vegas improves gameplay

Arts • Games and Tech

Arts • Games and Tech

Arts • Games and Tech

Photo courtesy of Square enix.

Photo courtesy of Square enix.

Austin Nicholas Staff Writer

Jason Witmer Staff Writer

Massively multiplayer online role playing game makes its debut for Microsoft Windows

Post-apocalyptic role-playing game Fallout: new vegas adds features to familiar franchise

Photo courtesy of Obsidian entertainment.

Karissa Rodriguez Photo/Web Editor