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![Omar Lopez: super humanist
Janice Veteran
Staff Photojournalist
Abra Gist
Online Editor
Photos by Janice Veteran • Staff Photojournalist
(Top) Omar Lopez poses for an photo at the Austin AIDSWalk, October 21, at Austin City Hall.
(Bottom)Ken Johnson, member of Austin BabtistWomen, performs in character as“Ima Spinster.”
“I know it sounds
corny but someone
smiling motivates
me.”
- Omar Lopez
GET OUT – Out Youth, a Central Texas nonprofit group
that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and
intersex youth, marches at the Austin AIDS Walk, October
21, at Austin City Hall.
Award winning performance –Austin Babtist
Women, an all-male comedy troupe, performs during Austin
AIDS Walk.
Volunteering and activism
bring joy to a former ACC
student
Omar Lopez helps people. All people. Even if
they only need help carrying a package or trans-
lating English posters to Spanish. His passion for
helping others is unequivocal.
This former ACC student was offered a position
at the City of Austin’s Infectious Diseases Divi-
sion, after doing the same job for free at Commu-
nity AIDS Resources and Education program or
C.A.R.E, the place where he volunteered to help
others in the community.
Lopez worked at CARE in addition to his full-
time restaurant internship, his ACC organization
memberships and his full course load while at
ACC.
How does a culinary arts student end up work-
ing for Health and Human Services?
He evaded the question on numerous occasions.
For someone so outgoing and energetic, he was
hesitant to reveal much about himself. He’d rather
talk about human rights, the fight to end the HIV/
AIDS epidemic and the struggle to mobilize a
disenfranchised population of minorities.
Lopez was born in California to Mexican par-
ents. He lived near Sonora Mexico until about age
8. Then he went to school in Arizona, but lived
across the border. His parents still live in Mexico
today.
His parents made sure that all their children
would be United States citizens by being born in
the U.S. Lopez grew up with compassionate par-
ents and though he saw a lot of poverty, violence
and misfortune in Mexico, his parents instilled in
their children the importance of helping others.
“I wasn’t at a disadvantage growing up. I had
loving parents who did all they could to provide
better opportunities for me and my siblings,” said
Lopez, “I was lucky, but they always told me to
look around and help anyone that I could.”
Lopez joined the U.S. Navy after high school
and served his country abroad for approximately
5 years.
However, that service was cut short when Lopez
was discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
policy. He participated in a documentary called
“March On” and shared his experience and spoke
about being asked to leave the Navy.
“It was tough on me. I needed a change after
that whole experience,” said Lopez.
He and his former partner moved to Austin.
Lopez had heard that Texas was a great place for
bilingual spanish speaking people, so they came to
Austin to start a new life.
That’s when Lopez began ACC’s culinary arts
program and studied to be a chef. However, his
volunteer work would lead him in a different and
unexpected direction.
At the AIDS Walkathon on Oct. 21 at City Hall,
we had the chance to speak to Lopez, his co-work-
ers, fans and friends.
Lopez began volunteering at the C.A.R.E pro-
gram, which partners volunteers with HIV, AIDS
or cancer patients for the duration of their illness.
“They just recruited me right off the street. I
was getting tested and I was bilingual, so they told
me I should volunteer,”he said.
“I met Omar about 3-4 years ago, and like most
of our volunteers, he came to our training and was
matched with a patient...but Omar was differ-
ent. As the program continued I just saw him
blossom and he really got more active and more
involved with it. He just had this huge desire to
help,” said Roger Temme, Director of Volunteer
Recruiting at C.A.R.E.
Lopez’s passion and commitment impressed
his mentors and peers.
“He always has a smile on his face. He comes
from parents that
taught him how
to be an activist
even on a really
bad day,” said Lisa
Medina, Director
of Client Services
at Project Transi-
tions. “I’m a big
fan of ‘My Omar’.”
“Omar never
stops,” said friend
and C.A.R.E
co-worker, Ryan
Broussard. He has
this amazing abil-
ity to commit so fully to a cause.
He’s a great friend, a cool guy and he genuinely
wants to help people. That activist side of him
never shuts off.”
Walking around the event and talking col-
leagues, we learned Lopez never stopped being
an activist or advocate.
People constantly came up to talk to him and
he always paused the conversation to assist oth-
ers, give hugs and words of encouragement or
smile and wave enthusiastically at friends.
We asked Omar again, really though, how
does a culinary arts student end up in this line
of work? What about this line of work motivates
you?
He’s quick to say cooking and being an advo-
cate are not so different.
He does mention that he has his own personal
motivations for his overzealous activism. Re-
cently one of his family members was diagnosed
with HIV.
He makes sure to point out that this family
member is only in his early 20s. However he
reiterates it’s more than that though.
“I know it sounds corny but someone smiling
motivates me. Even in the kitchen, that say-
ing goes, ‘a way to a man’s heart is through his
stomach’. It’s not just men...I think the way to
everybody’s heart is through their stomach,” said
Lopez, “the energy and the love that you bring
into it [cooking] just
mean everything.
You prepare some-
thing for someone
and you nourish
their stomach and
their soul.”
“Even in this
new role, I’m giving
people something. I
educate, I advocate
and get them all the
resources I can.”
Lopez’s eyes look
off into the distance,
he watches as crews
clean up the tents and haul away trash after the
AIDS Walkathon. He bites his bottom lip and
murmurs that his dream is to expand his work
beyond the U.S. borders. Then he asks us to in-
clude a graphic with the list of places that ACC
students can use to seek HIV testing and mental
health. Lopez never stops.
8 | ACCENT November 2012 | 9
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![10 | ACCENT November 2012 | 11
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Silence fell over the crowd as British
evolutionary biologist and famous athe-
ist Richard Dawkins took the podium.
“[Atheists] are a major force in this
country, it cannot be ignored,” he said
from the steps of the Texas State Capitol
on Oct. 20.
The crowd erupted in cheers after
each of Dawkins’ potent assertions.
Texans from a manifold of age groups
and backgrounds gathered at the Capitol
for the free portion of the 2012 Texas
Freethought Convention. There they
listened to Dawkins and other notable
atheist and secular speakers from all
over the country and the world speak.
In America, Dawkins said, the
number of “nones,” or people who do
not claim a specific religion on census
documents, is growing. He noted that
about 20 percent of the entire population
falls under this category, and 30 percent
of US citizens ages 18-29.
This demographic aligns heavily with
college students. Secular Student Alli-
ance (SSA) Texas regional campus orga-
nizer Kevin Butler said it showed at the
convention as more than 100 students of
the SSA attended from schools all over
the state.
“Our numbers are increasing, we’re
winning,” Butler said. “We fight for
numbers because that’s what politicians
listen to.”
Butler, also a student at the University
of Texas at Dallas, said the only defining
characteristic of an atheist is his lack of
belief in any god or deity, and nothing
else. But from his personal experience,
he said, most atheists and secularists
promote equal human rights.
Before he found the SSA, Butler said
he had no idea he wasn’t the only non-
believer in his community.
“I felt so isolated,” he said. “[SSA] lets
students know they’re not alone ... we’re
in this fight together.”
Butler comes from a predominantly
Catholic family and was very religious
during high school. He has been an out
atheist for about two years.
“I began walking away from religion
my senior year [of high school] when I
came out as being gay,” he said. “It tore
me up when I went to church.”
He said he was vaguely Christian and
began to think deism, or the belief that
some type of god exists but not a specific
one, was a plausible view until he real-
ized it was a huge leap of faith to connect
any spiritual feeling to a specific god or
to the existence of a supreme being at all.
After researching and watching many
lectures, such as “A Universe from Noth-
ing” by theoretical physicist Lawrence
Krauss, he began to affirm his atheism.
Studying science, nature and sociolo-
gy was a major deciding factor in Butler’s
deconversion.
“I thought, ‘wait a second, is that what
[atheists] talk about?”
Butler said atheists in other countries
may have it even harder, such as in Af-
ghanistan where a person can be killed if
they come out as an nonbeliever. Half of
Butler’s family also doesn’t know he is an
atheist because he doesn’t feel comfort-
able telling them. This seemed to be the
case for many atheists at the convention.
“I don’t want my father to stop me
from seeing my younger brother,” Butler
said.
Notable student atheist Jessica
Ahlquist said nonbelievers don’t have
a go-to place for community or sup-
port. Ahlquist filed a lawsuit against her
public school in Rhode Island for hang-
ing a religious banner. She won the case
and received much public scorn locally
for the ordeal, but nationally she gained
attention as being a leader in the atheist
movement, standing up for the First
Amendment. She is also very outspoken
on matters of gay rights, and compares
the feelings, consequences and reactions
of coming out as an atheist to coming
out as gay.
“You risk losing friends and family
and loved ones because of it,” she said.
Many members of the University of
Texas at Austin (UT) SSA group also
attended the freethought convention,
including president Loren Bane and
former president Erick Rodriguez. Their
organization works with other local
groups and events, such as “Explore UT,”
to promote youth science education.
The group also hosts lectures on
science and philosophy and provides a
supportive community for questioning
students.
“Many young adults don’t realize be-
ing nonreligious is an option,” Bane said.
“They have never even known about it
before.”
Rodriguez said part of the reason for
having groups is to provide a safe place
for nonbelievers to discuss their views
because sometimes they are assaulted
with threats or prayers while on the UT
campus.
“[We have] received multiple death
threats from other students,” Rodriguez
said, “which the police are still investi-
gating.”
Texas Freethought Convention presi-
dent Paul Cooper said one of the themes
of the 2012 gathering was “Get Out and
Vote” for all age groups and political
parties, especially in local elections. He
said some evangelicals in the Texas State
Board of Education think their religious
idea that the Earth is only 6,000 years
old and that humans coexisted with
dinosaurs should be reflected in how
children are taught in public schools.
Atheists strongly disagree with those
views, but are not represented on the
school board because of a lack of politi-
cal influence.
“We have to show up at the polls,” he
said. Separation of church and state pro-
tects everyone, he said, even Christians
from other denominations of Christians.
“We’re not trying to destroy religion,”
Cooper said, “we just want to make sure
that it’s kept in its proper place within
American society so that way all people
of all faiths and not of faith can exercise
their freedom of expression without
worrying about other people coming in,
telling them they have to do a certain
thing a certain way.”
Former member of the Maine House
of Representatives and notable athe-
ist author Sean Faircloth said there is a
social and political perception of athe-
ists being a shunned minority, but the
demographic is much larger than the
strong religious right is willing to admit.
“I’m hoping secular students will run
for office,” Faircloth said. “To not only
push for a say in politics, but to be the
politician.”
“I feel like the wave is cresting,” Fair-
cloth said, “[There might be] somebody
who is 22 years old now who will be an
open atheist president [in the future].”
Public Relations officer for Secular
Students at Collin College (SSCC) Liz
Dudek said SSA groups are not only a
social network for non-believer students,
but also a forum to discuss religion, poli-
tics, science and social issues safely and
freely without judgment. She said getting
secular people to vote is a good way to
balance out the conservative religious
right.
Dudek came to her group as a ques-
tioning Christian on the edge, and she
said the support she received from the
other members helped soften the image
she had of atheists, and she said coming
out wasn’t as difficult for her as it can be
for others. Her biggest trouble was grow-
ing distant from old friends.
“It was a little bit disheartening
because they were important to me for a
long time,” she said.
Deciding to come out to friends and
family can be a tough decision, Dudek
said, but it’s entirely up to the person to
weigh whether it’s worth it or not.
“Sometimes it’s hard living a double
life,” she said, “if you have to pretend for
some people.”
Outside the Capitol gates stood three
street preachers from the Bulldog Min-
istries group from Houston and Waco,
Texas. They held large signs listing their
ideals, and spoke about their religion
and against atheism to passersby and
convention attendees. Street preacher
Rick Ellis’ voice boomed over a PA sys-
tem as he read scripture aloud.
“The way to escape, is through the
shed blood of Jesus,” Ellis said. “There’s
no other escape; there’s no other way.”
Many people stopped to speak with
them, and lead street preacher David
Stokes answered queries and explained
his beliefs.
Stokes said atheists believe religion is
a very bad thing and want it eradicated
completely, and that devastates him
because he feels America is morally
declining and needs the Christian god
more than ever.
“If you study the atheist group and
their movement,” Stokes said, “[you’ll
find] they are trying to remove Christi-
anity and God from our country.”
Even though he preaches at atheist
gatherings, gay pride events and foot-
ball games, Stokes said he respects the
First Amendment and the separation of
church and state.
“The last thing I would want to see is
a denomination or a religion controlling
a country,” he said. “If you look at world
history, there’s been a lot of devastation
when any group becomes a leader. We’ve
seen that with christian groups having
leadership over countries [and] I’m not
for that either.”
Stokes said he doesn’t mind atheists
speaking out about their opinion, but
doesn’t think they should be able to file
lawsuits removing religious influence in
government.
“It’s one thing to have a belief system,”
Stokes said, “and it’s another thing to try
to destroy others’ belief system.”
Austin Community College student
Justin, who asked that his full name be
withheld for personal reasons, discussed
specific passages of the Bible with Stokes
and challenged his reasoning for his
views as well as discrepancies in the text.
He’s describes himself as an agnos-
tic or de facto atheist and came to the
convention for the speakers and the
interactions.
“I kind of liked the idea that I might
[meet] street preacher protesting,” Justin
said, “[and get to test] my on-the-fly
debate skills.”
Butler said sometimes when people
meet an atheist they think they want to
debate right there and then, but that is
not always the case. Many atheists have
no qualms with religions, especially
those who look to it for social support.
He said the major issues come from
religious-influenced prejudice and reli-
gious disregarding of science.
Justin grew up in a non-denomina-
tional Christian home and said he be-
came a nonbeliever in 2006 after reading
Dawkin’s famous book “The God Delu-
sion.” He hasn’t come out as an atheist to
some members of his family.
“There are certain people in my fam-
ily that I don’t tell,” Justin said, “some
that I knew would fly off the handle
about it.”
Justin’s advice for students: ”Figure
out what you believe, why you believe
it and analyze your justifications. If it
doesn’t make sense, you have no real
reason to believe it.”
Imagine no religionNatalie Casanova
Print Editor
(Left) Secular Student Alliance Texas
Regional Campus Organizer Kevin Butler
and (right) Texas Freethought Convention
President Paul Cooper pose for photos at
the Sheraton on Oct. 20.
Photos by Jon Shapley • Video Editor.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/e2c19fa3-fe45-4fb4-bf1d-42491f2eeafb-151109090758-lva1-app6892/85/November-2012-6-320.jpg)
![18 | the ACCENT November 2012 | 19
Sports Sports
Photos by Jon Shapley • Video Editor
Play ball – Trey Gowan poses for a series of portraits, Oct. 20, at the
Austin Recreation Center. Gowan said he hopes to play basketball for the
University of Texas at Austin.
Natural
born
leader
Josh House
Staff reporter
Trey Gowan knows exactly what he wants — to be a
leader on and off the basketball court— and he’s doing
everything in his power to make it happen.
Gowan hones his leadership skills at Austin Com-
munity College as a member of the Student Government
Association (SGA). He represents and works on behalf
of his fellow students as the Rio Grande Campus senator.
SGA Vice President Carlos Charles said Gowan has shown
leadership through service by volunteering to organize and
run an upcoming charity event that involves
collecting socks for the needy.
“He said, ‘I want to collect socks. I’ll
handle the business and all that stuff. ”’
Charles said as he recalled his conversation
with Gowan. “He’s always making sure he gets
school work done, [too]. “[He’s] actually being
a physical leader as well; leading by example.”
Gowan’s affinity for leadership is also re-
flected in his passion for basketball.
“I really want to walk on at the University
of Texas (UT) and be a leader on the basket-
ball team ... and wear burnt orange,” he said.
Gowan didn’t say he wanted to make a
name for himself by putting
up big numbers or getting
highlight reels. He said his
goal is first and foremost to
become a leader. This line
of thought is reflected in his
choice of role models.
Gowan said he looks up
to professional basketball
players Larry Bird and Tim
Duncan. The two players
are known not only for their
production on the court, but
for their tough mentalities
and “no-diva” attitudes.
Although Gowan is in-
spired by Bird and Duncan,
his goal of playing Division I basketball began
when he was a child and was shaped by his
mother, Michelle Kirby, who played basketball
in high school and went on to play Division I
at Clemson University on a full scholarship.
Gowan credits his mother with giving him
his start in basketball.
“I started playing when I was really young.
My mom used to put me outside with the dirt
and the ball,” he said.
Mother and son spent hours on the court
together and were very competitive.
“In eighth grade Trey was about the same
height as me — 6 feet 1. By the time he was in
10th grade he was 6 feet 7 and started dunk-
ing on me,” Kirby said. “Trey has a really big
heart and when he does something, he does it
will full thrust.”
Kirby said her son is training hard to
prepare for the UT tryouts, a process that
Gowan admitted would be challenging.
However, he said he’s definitely up for the
challenge.
Gowan said his training regimen includes
bulking up on a protein-heavy diet, working
hard at practice and train-
ing at the gym four times
a day. and said he believes
that hard work beats talent,
when talent doesn’t work
hard.
Chris Braden, manager
of the Train 4 The Game
fitness center where Gowan
works out, said that Gowan
works his butt off and trains
hard and diligently.
As Gowan focuses on
physical preparation, he
still remains dedicated to
his studies and and respon-
sibilities to SGA. He said
he’s focused on being successful on and off
the court.
“I’m just putting in my all and going hard
all day,” he said. “Hard work beats talent,
when talent doesn’t work hard.”
Discipline and leadership are traits that
Gowan said he developed while in the Air
Force.
“I know it takes a lot of hard work,” he
said, “and if I keep it up, I think I got a real
shot at it.”
“Hard work
beats talent,
when talent
doesn’t work
hard.”
- ACC student
Trey Gowan](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/e2c19fa3-fe45-4fb4-bf1d-42491f2eeafb-151109090758-lva1-app6892/85/November-2012-10-320.jpg)
![24 | ACCENT November 2012 | 25
Music Music
Check out
our top 4
to look
for in
November
The Carper Family – Bluegrass/Country
Formed back in 2010, The Carper Family is a trio of talented singers and
string picking musicians that combine old country sounds with bluegrass and
swing tunes. Melissa Carper [vocals, bass], Beth Chrisman [vocals, fiddle] and
Jenn Miori [vocals, guitar] form the group, and this “family band” is an absolute
gem to see live. All the ladies have fronted their own bands at one point, how-
ever they combined their talents and use their skills to give a contemporary twist
to old time and bluegrass music by adding swing elements to the genres. Their
lyrics are up to date.
While most of the songs are narratives about love, heartache and longing, they
use an older style of music to share their modern-day tales.
Each singer has her own unique vocal range, and they each take turns soloing
on original songs. Their three part harmonies will have you slow dancin’ and two
stepping across the dance floor while their memorable lyrics charm their way
into your heart and head. They are known for their intimate performances that
keep audiences longing for more. They play consistently in Austin and the sur-
rounding areas. A few good tunes include “Come See Yer Ol’ Daddy”, “Who R U
Texting 2nite” and “My Baby Don’t Like Me.”
Upcoming shows
Nov. 8 from 7-9 p.m. for the “Carper Dog” Release Party at Honky Tonk Hot Dogs
Nov. 9 at 9 p.m. at the White Horse
Nov. 15 from 6:30-9 p.m. at Central Market Westgate
Visit www.carperfamilyband.com for more information.
Phranchyze – Hip Hop
Local lyricist, Phranchyze keeps it smart, hilarious and live. Many ask, where is the
Austin Hip Hop scene? Look no further, because Phranchyze is keeping it alive and
strong. His beats are original, eclectic and he refrains from using that overproduced
sound that dominates the mainstream hip hop and rap scenes. He rose up through
the battling circuit and made a name for himself, receiving national recognition.
Afterwards Pranchyze decided to take his flows and put them to music.
Phranchyze reps Austin love in a ton of his songs. Watch his videos and you’ll see
him rollin’ all over the Austin area. Yet he’s more than just an Austin artist reppin’ his
city. He pokes fun at the whole industry, including himself and has some clever ob-
servations about life, people and making music. Yet he keeps it weird with his unique
vocals and quirky lyrics and rhymes.
Some of his songs are completely off the wall but they’re refreshingly smart and
articulate. His style reminds me of old Outkast and Eminem but toned down with
that laid back Austin attitude that we’ve all come to know and love. Nevertheless his
musical stylings are still unique and indigenous to an Austin hip hop sound that’s
definitely trying to make its presence known in the hip hop scene. Be sure to check
out his latest albums and mixtapes on his website. My personal favs included “Dolo”
off of “The Black Larry Bird” and “Exodus” and “Big Money” off of his latest album,
“Phranye West.”
Upcoming shows:
Nov. 7 at the Triple Crown in San Marcos, Texas
Nov. 17 at Stubbs
Visit www.phranchyze.com for more information.
Kay Leotard – Psychedelic Grunge Rock
Kay Leotard’s music is a sexy psychedelic trip for your ears. Kristina Boswell
[guitar, vocals], Mirna Hariz [bass, vocals], and Pink [drums] form this dreamy
trio and they are just as good live as they are on their recordings. If you like re-
verberating guitar riffs, haunting vocal harmonies and feeling like you have trav-
eled back in time to the era of the flower children, then you should have a listen.
Their latest release “Witchuals” will put its spell on you and have you hitting the
repeat button on your MP3 player or iPod. They put a teaser on their bandcamp
site so only two songs are available for download. The full album will be released
mid-November.
While the sound is reminiscent of that ‘60s psych sound, it is a bit heavier and
distorted on some of the tracks like ‘90s grunge, so it is not all daisies for these
ladies. The tunes are mellow yet rockin’. The vocal harmonies between Hariz’s
sultry deep vocals and Boswell’s sugary sweet soprano are amazing. At times
Boswell’s notes rival an operatic singer. After performing at South by Southwest
2011, they have been riding the wave of Austin’s music scene and recording new
cuts. You have to listen to “Rolling”, “When I Call” and “Yell It High”.
Be sure to check out their bandcamp site and live YouTube videos or even bet-
ter, just go see a live show!
Upcoming shows:
Nov. 16 at 9 p.m. at Hotel Vegas
Visit www.kayleotard.bandcamp.com for more information.
The Nouns – Blues/Punk/Garage Rock
The Nouns have been and will hopefully continue to be one of the best live
shows that Austin’s Punk/Rock scene has to offer. They look surprisingly tame,
but their vintage garage blues-rock sound is high energy, loud and fun. This Aus-
tin three piece is sure to get you dancing and pumped for a night of fun. Their
sound is good ol’ rock n’ roll fused with blues inspired riffs, punk energy and the
lo-fi recordings seem to have stepped straight out of the ‘70s punk scene.
Is that Joe Strummer’s voice singing the lead vocals? Nope, but it’s so damn
close you almost can’t tell the difference. Travis Beall [guitarist, vocals] sings
with raw scratchy vocals but he can still carry a tune as he howls into the mi-
crophone before engulfing it into his mouth. This dude does not hold back. He’s
wild and free and seems to represent what all those old-timers were so worried
about when rock n’ roll first played on the radio.
Nick Stout [drummer] and Chris Rodriguez [bass, vocals] keep it tight and
steady yet they aren’t afraid to party with Beall and follow along his path of
utter reckless rebellion. You could listen to it on their bandcamp site…but you
couldn’t possibly understand their musicianship until you see it live. Songs to
check out include “What Did You Do with my Girlfriend?”, “Malibu”, and “Way
You Walk”.
Visit www.facebook.com/thenouns for more information.
Abra Gist
Online Editor
Photo courtesy of George Brainard Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/e2c19fa3-fe45-4fb4-bf1d-42491f2eeafb-151109090758-lva1-app6892/85/November-2012-13-320.jpg)
![November 2012 | 2726 | ACCENT
Puzzles and Comics Opinion
Era Sundar
Audio Editor
Using email is one of the most
popular Internet activities performed by
American adults.
The 2011 Pew Internet and American
Life Project reports that 92 percent of
American adults have experience using
email — that’s pretty much everyone. A
smaller but still significant 61 percent,
use it every day.
These results hold true across the
board. According to the study, daily
email use is popular with everyone, from
18-year-olds to grandparents, and blue
collar workers to executives.
And email isn’t just for personal chit
chat. Because of its speed and accessibil-
ity, it’s become the preferred mode of
business correspondence.
However, just because most people
know how to use email, that doesn’t
mean they do it well.
Jennifer Lazarow, a training consul-
tant with the Professional Development
Center at the University of Texas at
Austin, said email is relatively new to the
business world. Because it’s been on the
scene for less than 20 years, people are
still figuring out etiquette and protocol.
Although letter writing was taught
regularly in schools, modern courses
on email writing are not as prevalent.
Lazarow, who teaches email workshops,
said the tone of an email is easily misin-
terpreted, so it’s better to err on the side
of formality.
“Start with Dear Mr., Miss or Ms.,
and if you don’t know their gender, use
both first and last names,” she said. “I’ve
never heard anyone complain that they
received an email that was too formal.
It’s usually the other way around — too
casual.”
Lazarow said it is best to let the recipi-
ents’ responses dictate the tone. If they
answer using your first name, then first
names are acceptable in future corre-
spondence.
When ending an email, Lazarow
said always sign off with “Thank you,”
“Regards” or similar closing and include
a signature block that lists your first and
last names and contact information.
Lazarow is not a fan of typing in all
caps or using emoticons, and suggests
keeping paragraphs short. After three
lines of text,
it is difficult
for the eyes to
keep track, she
said. And bul-
let points are a
good alterna-
tive to long
lists.
Lazarow
said complaints or rants about cowork-
ers — or anyone else, for that matter —
should not be sent in emails.
“It will get back to them, and it makes
you look bad, rather than that person.”
Suppose you commit the unthinkable
and send an obnoxious email that’s of-
fensive or hurtful — then what?
At quickanddirtytips.com, Richie
Frieman said, “Take the blame. People
will respect you more for honesty than
trying to [weasel] your way out of it.”
Frieman offered this example apology,
“About that message — it was wrong...
It was just a very poor choice of action.
Hopefully you will accept my sincerest
apology.”
Extreme faux pas aside, there are
certain practices that should be carried
out to respect time constraints, especially
in the work environment.
Vinu Yamunan is an information
technology (IT) consultant who deals
with a high volume of emails daily. He
said getting to the point quickly is a
must.
“If you want something to be done,
state it in the first few lines of the
email,” he said. “Don’t expect people to
read all the way to the bottom of a long
email.”
Yamunan
also cautions
against being
a company
spammer.
“Copy” people
on a need to
know basis
and choose
“reply all” only when everyone in the
chain needs to be kept in the loop.
When simply saying thank you, “Just
send it to the person directly,” he said.
One of Yamunan’s pet peeves is
when subject lines don’t reflect the
content of an email. When subject
lines are used correctly, they can help
busy people respond to emails quickly
and efficiently.
David McMurrey, department
chair of business and technical com-
munications at Austin Community
College, said the subject line should
include a clear, concise description
of what the email is about and what
action is required.
When corresponding with a profes-
sor or classmates, it’s a good idea for
students to include the class name
and course number in the subject
line. This makes the email easily rec-
ognizable in a crowded inbox.
Overflowing inboxes are common,
and attempts to respond to everyone
often result in emails being written
in a hurry. For this reason McMurrey
said it’s important to check for the
things that spell-check can’t catch —
before pressing the send key.
“Proof for clarity and emission of
words such as not,” he said. “There is
a big difference between I am going
to fire you and I am not going to fire
you.”
Because everyone is so busy, it’s not
always possible to respond to emails
right away. It is best to acknowledge
the receipt of an email and give an
estimate as to when you might be able
to reply.
There are times, however, when
email is not the best form of commu-
nication.
“If it takes more than one round
trip to resolve the issue or if tones
become hostile, break the email
chain and make a phone call,” Yamu-
nan said. “If the phone call does not
resolve it, get everyone in the same
room and work it out.”
Whether corresponding by email,
phone, traditional letter or in person;
courtesy, respect and professionalism
are essential.
“... just because most
people know how to
use email, that doesn’t
mean they do it well.”
Across
4. Blue veining cheese
9. Julia Child’s Burgundy
12. dark, milk, white
13. edible paste put on foods
16. baked dish made of pastry dough
18. A gourmet with excessive refinement
19. Thanksgiving sauce or jelly
20. Horn of Plenty
Down
1. chicken, duck, turkey
2. green tree nut
3. cured pig meat
5. Canned, marinated hearts
6. “In ____ Veritas”
7. brewed beverage with a distinct aroma
8. A very thin pancake
9. twice baked biscuit
10. aficionado of food and drink
11. “____ night” or palm fruit
14. orange, gourd-like squash
15. Distilled alcohol flavored with cream, fruit,
herbs, flowers or spices
17. end of the meal
Abra’s crossword corner: Bon Appétit
Abra Gist
Online Editor
Wild Timez
Comic by Megan McKay • Staff Artist](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/e2c19fa3-fe45-4fb4-bf1d-42491f2eeafb-151109090758-lva1-app6892/85/November-2012-14-320.jpg)
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November 2012
- 1. The Food Issue Farmfresh p 6 Cornbread chili p14 Cooking with beer p15 November 2012 A C C E N T
- 2. November 2012 |32 | ACCENT Austin Japan France Spain Chile Germany Argentina South Korea Scotland Mexico Challenge yourself to finish your degree. At one of “America’s Best Colleges.” – U.S. News & World Report Day, evening and weekend classes. North and south Austin campuses. Academically challenging. Personally rewarding. Nationally recognized. St. Edward’s University provides an inspiring and welcoming environment for transfer students to earn their bachelor’s degrees. Find out how St. Edward’s will prepare you to make a difference in your world. Go to stedwards.edu and start finishing your degree today. ® November 2012 Calendar of Events 1 “A Special afternoon with Temple Grandin” Thu UT Campus - LBJ Auditorium 1-3 ACC Arts & Humanities hosts 2nd Annual Beat Poetry & Arts Festival Thu-Sat ACC Rio Grande Campus 2-4 Fun Fun Fun Fest Fri-Sun Auditorium Shores 9 ‘The HomageThat Follows’by Mark Medoff Fri ACC Mainstage Theater, 2nd floor, RGC 10 Veteran’s Day Reading Sat Lecture Hall, Riverside Campus 12 Student Literary Coffeehouse Mon Austin Java, 1206 Parkway 15 Philosophy Forum Lecture Series Thu Eastview Campus Room 8500 22-23 Thanksgiving Holiday Thu-Fri 28 Rio Review Release Party Wed Gallery Theater, RGC room 301 29 Honky Tonk Swing Class Thu The Highball 1120 S. Lamar Blvd. 30 Karaoke on the Main Stage Fri Common Interest 5 14 18 20 22 23 24 COVER PHOTO - Shaman Brown, Anelia Gomez-Cordova and Zacil Castellanos collect cu- cumbers with Rene Valdez Oct. 20, at the Urban Roots farm in East Austin. Brown, Gomez- Cordova and Castellanos are student volunteers in Urban Roots’ youth program. For more photos, visit www.theaccent.org 26 27 Contents Features Food Sports Technology Literature Fashion Music Puzzles and Comics Opinion
- 3. November 2012 |5 Features 4 | ACCENT Editors Natalie Casanova, Print Abra Gist, Online Ruby Piñon, Design Vacant, Photo Jon Shapley, Video Era Sundar, Audio Dana Manickvasgam, Web Staff Photojournalists Melissa Skorpil Kami Bandari Emily Hernandez Janice Veteran Campus Reporters Nathan Bustillos, RRC DC McLean, NRG Skylar Bonilla, EVC Caitlin McDermott, CYP Carizma Barrera, SAC Derek Shiekhi, RGC Nadia Cole, PIN Vacant, RVS Advertising 512.223.0122 RRC, 4400 College Park Drive, Rm 2107 Round Rock, TX 78665 Editorial 512.223.0393 Fax 512.223.0904 Editors in Training Mary V. Browder, Copy Editor Lisa Callahan, Copy Editor All rights reserved. All content is the property of Accent may not be reproduced, published or retransmitted in any form without written permission from Student Life. Accent is the student newspaper of Austin Com- munity College and is printed by the Austin American- Statesman. Accent is published monthly. ACC students may submit articles for publication in Accent to RRC’s Student Publications Office, Room 2107; e-mail articles to accent@austincc.edu or fax submissions to 512.223.0904. ACC does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national orgin, gender, sexual orientation, age, political affiliation or disability. Accent offers ACC’s faculty, staff, students and surrounding community a complete source of news. Accent wel- comes 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. HERE. START Classes start January 14. Register NOW. austincc.edu/register THERE. GET Austin Community College Accent 4.95x5.25, cmyk, quarter Runs Nov. 2012 !"#$%&'%())*'%+,-. (/%A Quality Enhancement Plan 0/%Part of the college’s accreditation process )/%A way to improve students’ math success 1/%Math PLUS ,/%All of the above . . .. . . . . . .. austincc.edu/mathplus +,-. Austin Community College Accent 4.95x5.25, cmyk, quarter Features & Photos From farm to market to table p6 Super Humanist p8 Freethinkin’ Texans p10
- 4. Photo by MelissaSkorpil • Staff Photojournalist 6 | ACCENT November 2012 | 7 Features Features Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor Castellano’s harvest — Urban Roots student volunteer helps harvest the vegetables she and her peers planted. SPARK AN INTEREST — Blake Hill, a volunteer with Urban Roots, provides instructions about planting radishes to apprentice Grace Rosenthal and a group of visitors, Oct. 18, at the Urban Roots farm in East Austin. Carizma Barrera Campus Reporter Some misconceptions about the average college student are that they eat fast food daily, drink beer like it’s coffee and are the world’s greatest pro- crastinators. Although some truth can be found in those statements, college students of the 21st century are breaking stereotypes left and right. Students are now choosing healthy options over snacks and sweets, drinking the minimum daily intake of water and getting homework and proj- ects out of the way early to focus on contribut- ing to the greater good of the community. Urban Roots, an independent non-profit farm, gives cur- rent, as well as future students at ACC the oppor- Farm Fresh tunity to gain life skills in leadership, responsibility and sustainable living. Started in 2008 by Max Elliot and Mike Evans, Urban Roots is a human development work pro- gram in conjunction with farming. Urban Roots originally was an extension to Youth Launch, but in 2011 branched out as its own program. The program focuses primarily on farming, sustain- ability and nutrition. Urban Roots has few adults and at least 30 youth volunteers at any given time. The student volunteers, who are from schools all around Austin, can return year after year to sell and donate produce. The farm is located in northeast Austin, and yields zucchini, carrots, radishes, cabbage and much more to be sold at the Sustainable Food Cen- ter (SFC) downtown farmers market from Octo- ber-December and from April-August. Student volunteers also donate what they harvest to Meals- On-Wheels, food pantries and local soup kitchens. Leigh Gaymon-Jones, the director of opera- tions at Urban Roots, says, “It’s exciting to see young people blossom, to see their confidence and leadership come to life. The program sparks an interest most youth didn’t know they had, it’s their niche.” Gaymon-Jones also states that a positive aspect of the program is that youth volunteers are able to connect with other youth, these con- nections might not have Farmers’market educates and inspires Austin youth happened if not for Urban Roots. Some positive outcomes include student volunteers that have gone on to attend the Natural Epicurean Cooking School, as well as earn degrees in Agriculture and sustainability. One of the many student volunteers who return year after year is Zacil Castellanos. She is a 15 year old at the Keep Austin Collegiate High School, and she is currently in her second year of volunteer work. She learned about Urban Roots when Leigh had visited and it immediately sparked her interest. The program has changed not only Castellanos eating habits but her family’s as well. They now make weekly trips to the farmers markets. Castel- lanos says “I absolutely love this program. I will definitely continue to volunteer in the future.” Two of the current leaders are enrolled at ACC in the early college start program. Michael Sterling, a senior at East Side Memorial High school said he is planning on finishing his degree at ACC in diagnostic medical sonography. Shamar Brown is in his third year of leader- ship at Urban Roots. Shamar attends LBJ for now, but his college plans include attending ACC and then transferring to Baylor or Texas State. Brown learned about Urban Roots from Communities in School (CIS) which he also volunteers with. “Urban Roots has changed a lot about me, it has made me conscious of my eating habits and improved my leadership skills,” Shamar said. “Every weekend when I get the fresh vegetables, I take them to my grandmother and she makes a big feast.” Students can take advantage of the freshest produce at the most affordable prices. There are also many opportunities for students to volunteer in community outreach programs that focus on healthy living as well as sustainable living. Photo by Melissa Skorpil • Staff Photojournalist SUSTAINABILITY — (Top) Zacil Castellanos poses for a photo with a handful of fresh cucumbers, Oct. 20, at the Urban Roots farm in East Austin. (Left) Nick Newman volunteers at the farm by planting carrots. Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor Photo by Melissa Skorpil • Staff Photojournalist Join us for Preview Friday! Designed with you in mind, Preview Friday allows you to mingle with other transfer students and learn about: • How the transfer process works • Financial aid and scholarship opportunities • The Comet Connection tuition guarantee • Campus life You’ll also have the chance to talk one-on-one with an advisor in your major. Choose the date you’d like to attend: RSVP at utdallas.edu/enroll/events. Directions to the UT Dallas campus available at utdallas.edu/directions. Oct. 19, 2012 Nov. 9, 2012 Feb. 1, 2013 Feb. 15, 2013 REGISTERNOW Want to see the world? Study abroad with ACC. Find out more at austincc.edu/intstudy. International Studies Accent 4.95x2.61 CMYK Runs Oct, Nov, Dec, Feb 2012–2013 issues
- 5. Omar Lopez: superhumanist Janice Veteran Staff Photojournalist Abra Gist Online Editor Photos by Janice Veteran • Staff Photojournalist (Top) Omar Lopez poses for an photo at the Austin AIDSWalk, October 21, at Austin City Hall. (Bottom)Ken Johnson, member of Austin BabtistWomen, performs in character as“Ima Spinster.” “I know it sounds corny but someone smiling motivates me.” - Omar Lopez GET OUT – Out Youth, a Central Texas nonprofit group that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex youth, marches at the Austin AIDS Walk, October 21, at Austin City Hall. Award winning performance –Austin Babtist Women, an all-male comedy troupe, performs during Austin AIDS Walk. Volunteering and activism bring joy to a former ACC student Omar Lopez helps people. All people. Even if they only need help carrying a package or trans- lating English posters to Spanish. His passion for helping others is unequivocal. This former ACC student was offered a position at the City of Austin’s Infectious Diseases Divi- sion, after doing the same job for free at Commu- nity AIDS Resources and Education program or C.A.R.E, the place where he volunteered to help others in the community. Lopez worked at CARE in addition to his full- time restaurant internship, his ACC organization memberships and his full course load while at ACC. How does a culinary arts student end up work- ing for Health and Human Services? He evaded the question on numerous occasions. For someone so outgoing and energetic, he was hesitant to reveal much about himself. He’d rather talk about human rights, the fight to end the HIV/ AIDS epidemic and the struggle to mobilize a disenfranchised population of minorities. Lopez was born in California to Mexican par- ents. He lived near Sonora Mexico until about age 8. Then he went to school in Arizona, but lived across the border. His parents still live in Mexico today. His parents made sure that all their children would be United States citizens by being born in the U.S. Lopez grew up with compassionate par- ents and though he saw a lot of poverty, violence and misfortune in Mexico, his parents instilled in their children the importance of helping others. “I wasn’t at a disadvantage growing up. I had loving parents who did all they could to provide better opportunities for me and my siblings,” said Lopez, “I was lucky, but they always told me to look around and help anyone that I could.” Lopez joined the U.S. Navy after high school and served his country abroad for approximately 5 years. However, that service was cut short when Lopez was discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. He participated in a documentary called “March On” and shared his experience and spoke about being asked to leave the Navy. “It was tough on me. I needed a change after that whole experience,” said Lopez. He and his former partner moved to Austin. Lopez had heard that Texas was a great place for bilingual spanish speaking people, so they came to Austin to start a new life. That’s when Lopez began ACC’s culinary arts program and studied to be a chef. However, his volunteer work would lead him in a different and unexpected direction. At the AIDS Walkathon on Oct. 21 at City Hall, we had the chance to speak to Lopez, his co-work- ers, fans and friends. Lopez began volunteering at the C.A.R.E pro- gram, which partners volunteers with HIV, AIDS or cancer patients for the duration of their illness. “They just recruited me right off the street. I was getting tested and I was bilingual, so they told me I should volunteer,”he said. “I met Omar about 3-4 years ago, and like most of our volunteers, he came to our training and was matched with a patient...but Omar was differ- ent. As the program continued I just saw him blossom and he really got more active and more involved with it. He just had this huge desire to help,” said Roger Temme, Director of Volunteer Recruiting at C.A.R.E. Lopez’s passion and commitment impressed his mentors and peers. “He always has a smile on his face. He comes from parents that taught him how to be an activist even on a really bad day,” said Lisa Medina, Director of Client Services at Project Transi- tions. “I’m a big fan of ‘My Omar’.” “Omar never stops,” said friend and C.A.R.E co-worker, Ryan Broussard. He has this amazing abil- ity to commit so fully to a cause. He’s a great friend, a cool guy and he genuinely wants to help people. That activist side of him never shuts off.” Walking around the event and talking col- leagues, we learned Lopez never stopped being an activist or advocate. People constantly came up to talk to him and he always paused the conversation to assist oth- ers, give hugs and words of encouragement or smile and wave enthusiastically at friends. We asked Omar again, really though, how does a culinary arts student end up in this line of work? What about this line of work motivates you? He’s quick to say cooking and being an advo- cate are not so different. He does mention that he has his own personal motivations for his overzealous activism. Re- cently one of his family members was diagnosed with HIV. He makes sure to point out that this family member is only in his early 20s. However he reiterates it’s more than that though. “I know it sounds corny but someone smiling motivates me. Even in the kitchen, that say- ing goes, ‘a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach’. It’s not just men...I think the way to everybody’s heart is through their stomach,” said Lopez, “the energy and the love that you bring into it [cooking] just mean everything. You prepare some- thing for someone and you nourish their stomach and their soul.” “Even in this new role, I’m giving people something. I educate, I advocate and get them all the resources I can.” Lopez’s eyes look off into the distance, he watches as crews clean up the tents and haul away trash after the AIDS Walkathon. He bites his bottom lip and murmurs that his dream is to expand his work beyond the U.S. borders. Then he asks us to in- clude a graphic with the list of places that ACC students can use to seek HIV testing and mental health. Lopez never stops. 8 | ACCENT November 2012 | 9 Features Features
- 6. 10 | ACCENTNovember 2012 | 11 Features Features Graduates of Texas Community Colleges Receive: • 5% Tuition Discount • $65 Application Fee Waiver • Eligibility to Apply for the Finish to Go Further Scholarship The Online University for Texas. Learn more at texas.wgu.edu/accent or call 1.877.214.7011. Finish to Go Further withWGU Texas Once you’ve finished your associate’s degree,go further with an accredited,online bachelor’s degree in business,IT,education,or health professions (including nursing) from WGU Texas. As an online,competency-based,nonprofit university,we offer you the freedom to accelerate your degree based on your skills and knowledge,affordable tuition,and unparalleled flexibility to log in and learn anytime,anywhere your life takes you. WGUT-ACCD_Accent_Sept2012_10x3625-sbc.indd 1 9/27/12 1:20 PM Silence fell over the crowd as British evolutionary biologist and famous athe- ist Richard Dawkins took the podium. “[Atheists] are a major force in this country, it cannot be ignored,” he said from the steps of the Texas State Capitol on Oct. 20. The crowd erupted in cheers after each of Dawkins’ potent assertions. Texans from a manifold of age groups and backgrounds gathered at the Capitol for the free portion of the 2012 Texas Freethought Convention. There they listened to Dawkins and other notable atheist and secular speakers from all over the country and the world speak. In America, Dawkins said, the number of “nones,” or people who do not claim a specific religion on census documents, is growing. He noted that about 20 percent of the entire population falls under this category, and 30 percent of US citizens ages 18-29. This demographic aligns heavily with college students. Secular Student Alli- ance (SSA) Texas regional campus orga- nizer Kevin Butler said it showed at the convention as more than 100 students of the SSA attended from schools all over the state. “Our numbers are increasing, we’re winning,” Butler said. “We fight for numbers because that’s what politicians listen to.” Butler, also a student at the University of Texas at Dallas, said the only defining characteristic of an atheist is his lack of belief in any god or deity, and nothing else. But from his personal experience, he said, most atheists and secularists promote equal human rights. Before he found the SSA, Butler said he had no idea he wasn’t the only non- believer in his community. “I felt so isolated,” he said. “[SSA] lets students know they’re not alone ... we’re in this fight together.” Butler comes from a predominantly Catholic family and was very religious during high school. He has been an out atheist for about two years. “I began walking away from religion my senior year [of high school] when I came out as being gay,” he said. “It tore me up when I went to church.” He said he was vaguely Christian and began to think deism, or the belief that some type of god exists but not a specific one, was a plausible view until he real- ized it was a huge leap of faith to connect any spiritual feeling to a specific god or to the existence of a supreme being at all. After researching and watching many lectures, such as “A Universe from Noth- ing” by theoretical physicist Lawrence Krauss, he began to affirm his atheism. Studying science, nature and sociolo- gy was a major deciding factor in Butler’s deconversion. “I thought, ‘wait a second, is that what [atheists] talk about?” Butler said atheists in other countries may have it even harder, such as in Af- ghanistan where a person can be killed if they come out as an nonbeliever. Half of Butler’s family also doesn’t know he is an atheist because he doesn’t feel comfort- able telling them. This seemed to be the case for many atheists at the convention. “I don’t want my father to stop me from seeing my younger brother,” Butler said. Notable student atheist Jessica Ahlquist said nonbelievers don’t have a go-to place for community or sup- port. Ahlquist filed a lawsuit against her public school in Rhode Island for hang- ing a religious banner. She won the case and received much public scorn locally for the ordeal, but nationally she gained attention as being a leader in the atheist movement, standing up for the First Amendment. She is also very outspoken on matters of gay rights, and compares the feelings, consequences and reactions of coming out as an atheist to coming out as gay. “You risk losing friends and family and loved ones because of it,” she said. Many members of the University of Texas at Austin (UT) SSA group also attended the freethought convention, including president Loren Bane and former president Erick Rodriguez. Their organization works with other local groups and events, such as “Explore UT,” to promote youth science education. The group also hosts lectures on science and philosophy and provides a supportive community for questioning students. “Many young adults don’t realize be- ing nonreligious is an option,” Bane said. “They have never even known about it before.” Rodriguez said part of the reason for having groups is to provide a safe place for nonbelievers to discuss their views because sometimes they are assaulted with threats or prayers while on the UT campus. “[We have] received multiple death threats from other students,” Rodriguez said, “which the police are still investi- gating.” Texas Freethought Convention presi- dent Paul Cooper said one of the themes of the 2012 gathering was “Get Out and Vote” for all age groups and political parties, especially in local elections. He said some evangelicals in the Texas State Board of Education think their religious idea that the Earth is only 6,000 years old and that humans coexisted with dinosaurs should be reflected in how children are taught in public schools. Atheists strongly disagree with those views, but are not represented on the school board because of a lack of politi- cal influence. “We have to show up at the polls,” he said. Separation of church and state pro- tects everyone, he said, even Christians from other denominations of Christians. “We’re not trying to destroy religion,” Cooper said, “we just want to make sure that it’s kept in its proper place within American society so that way all people of all faiths and not of faith can exercise their freedom of expression without worrying about other people coming in, telling them they have to do a certain thing a certain way.” Former member of the Maine House of Representatives and notable athe- ist author Sean Faircloth said there is a social and political perception of athe- ists being a shunned minority, but the demographic is much larger than the strong religious right is willing to admit. “I’m hoping secular students will run for office,” Faircloth said. “To not only push for a say in politics, but to be the politician.” “I feel like the wave is cresting,” Fair- cloth said, “[There might be] somebody who is 22 years old now who will be an open atheist president [in the future].” Public Relations officer for Secular Students at Collin College (SSCC) Liz Dudek said SSA groups are not only a social network for non-believer students, but also a forum to discuss religion, poli- tics, science and social issues safely and freely without judgment. She said getting secular people to vote is a good way to balance out the conservative religious right. Dudek came to her group as a ques- tioning Christian on the edge, and she said the support she received from the other members helped soften the image she had of atheists, and she said coming out wasn’t as difficult for her as it can be for others. Her biggest trouble was grow- ing distant from old friends. “It was a little bit disheartening because they were important to me for a long time,” she said. Deciding to come out to friends and family can be a tough decision, Dudek said, but it’s entirely up to the person to weigh whether it’s worth it or not. “Sometimes it’s hard living a double life,” she said, “if you have to pretend for some people.” Outside the Capitol gates stood three street preachers from the Bulldog Min- istries group from Houston and Waco, Texas. They held large signs listing their ideals, and spoke about their religion and against atheism to passersby and convention attendees. Street preacher Rick Ellis’ voice boomed over a PA sys- tem as he read scripture aloud. “The way to escape, is through the shed blood of Jesus,” Ellis said. “There’s no other escape; there’s no other way.” Many people stopped to speak with them, and lead street preacher David Stokes answered queries and explained his beliefs. Stokes said atheists believe religion is a very bad thing and want it eradicated completely, and that devastates him because he feels America is morally declining and needs the Christian god more than ever. “If you study the atheist group and their movement,” Stokes said, “[you’ll find] they are trying to remove Christi- anity and God from our country.” Even though he preaches at atheist gatherings, gay pride events and foot- ball games, Stokes said he respects the First Amendment and the separation of church and state. “The last thing I would want to see is a denomination or a religion controlling a country,” he said. “If you look at world history, there’s been a lot of devastation when any group becomes a leader. We’ve seen that with christian groups having leadership over countries [and] I’m not for that either.” Stokes said he doesn’t mind atheists speaking out about their opinion, but doesn’t think they should be able to file lawsuits removing religious influence in government. “It’s one thing to have a belief system,” Stokes said, “and it’s another thing to try to destroy others’ belief system.” Austin Community College student Justin, who asked that his full name be withheld for personal reasons, discussed specific passages of the Bible with Stokes and challenged his reasoning for his views as well as discrepancies in the text. He’s describes himself as an agnos- tic or de facto atheist and came to the convention for the speakers and the interactions. “I kind of liked the idea that I might [meet] street preacher protesting,” Justin said, “[and get to test] my on-the-fly debate skills.” Butler said sometimes when people meet an atheist they think they want to debate right there and then, but that is not always the case. Many atheists have no qualms with religions, especially those who look to it for social support. He said the major issues come from religious-influenced prejudice and reli- gious disregarding of science. Justin grew up in a non-denomina- tional Christian home and said he be- came a nonbeliever in 2006 after reading Dawkin’s famous book “The God Delu- sion.” He hasn’t come out as an atheist to some members of his family. “There are certain people in my fam- ily that I don’t tell,” Justin said, “some that I knew would fly off the handle about it.” Justin’s advice for students: ”Figure out what you believe, why you believe it and analyze your justifications. If it doesn’t make sense, you have no real reason to believe it.” Imagine no religionNatalie Casanova Print Editor (Left) Secular Student Alliance Texas Regional Campus Organizer Kevin Butler and (right) Texas Freethought Convention President Paul Cooper pose for photos at the Sheraton on Oct. 20. Photos by Jon Shapley • Video Editor.
- 7. 12 | ACCENTNovember 2012 | 13 Photostory Photostory Continued from p. 11 THIS PAGE FROM TOP, GOING CLOCKWISE • Texas Freethought Convention attendees of all ages enjoy evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins’ political jokes. • Former Maine House of Representatives member Sean Faircloth gives a speech on political involv- ment. • Dawkins discusses the religious backgrounds of the candidates in the upcoming presidential election. OPPOSITE PAGE FROMTOP LEFT, GOING CLOCK- WISE • University of Texas at Austin (UT) students Jenna Fahle (left) and Maran Nelson (right) listen atten- tively to each of the speakers at the Texas State Capitol building. • UT Secular Student Alliance president President Loren Bane and former president Erick Rodriguez laugh at Dawkins’political jokes. • Texas Freethought Convention President Paul Coo- per (left) and Atheist Community of Austin Presi- dent and the Atheist Experience television show founder Matt Dillahunty discuss the topic of debate for the evening:‘should secular people support abortion?’ • Host of the Dogma Debate podcast David Smalley ponders the issues brought up by speakers at the Capitol. • Dillahunty makes his opening statements express- ing his pro-choice stance at the abortion debate. All photos were taken Oct. 20 at the 2012 Texas Freethought Convention. .Collections Defense .Consumer Disputes .Family .Expunction of Criminal Records Sade Ogunbode Pfeifer Attorney & Counselor at Law Phone: 512.693.7117 sadeo@everymanlaw.com Photos by Jon Shapley • Video Editor., Kami Bandari • Staff Photojournalist and Natalie Casanova • Print Editor
- 8. 14 | ACCENTNovember 2012 | 15 Food Food Slow-cooker cornbread chili Recipe and photo by Melissa Skorpil Staff Photojournalist Transcribed by Era Sundar Audio Editor True brew holiday flavor When some people think of beer, they may think of tailgating or par- ties of some sort. However, beer is becoming the best known secret to spice up cooking. There are several new printed books and e-books out on cooking with beer. Also, cooking with beer will give you more recipes than you can cook in one semester. Sean Paxton, professional chef and home brewer, designed the dinner menus for the annual Homebrewers Association’s website, homebrewchef.com, which has recipes and offers aide to aspiring beer chefs. As you may know, there are several different types of beers on the market. Most people know of the ones made by the mega- breweries that are light in color and flavor (typically a Pilsner style), but there are also the malty beers that impart a different flavor. You may or may not like to drink these types of beers, however you will find that when you cook with them, they produce far different flavors to food than their tastes as a beverage. Beer can be used in almost every type of cooking there is: appetizers, soups, stews, breads, entrees, sauces, spreads, glazes, meat marinates, breakfast foods and desserts. You name it, and there is a recipe for the dish that includes beer. Used prop- erly, beer turns the most ordinary foods into exceptional party fare. Beer works great as a marinade for beef, chicken, pork, fish or seafood. In roasting, baking or broiling, beer is used to baste the foods or as an ingredient in the basting sauce to reveal a rich, dark color and high- light gravies. The better you know and under- stand beer, the better the applica- tion of beer in your meal. It is the perfect ingredient for your meat marinade because it is much less acidic than wine, vinegar or citrus juices, which are typically used in BBQ sauces and marinades. It will tenderize the meat without break- ing down the texture as rapidly as the more powerful acids. Also, the balanced flavors in beer means that the other herbs and spices will not be overwhelmed by acetic notes. Also, it is typically less expensive than wine. Malty beers can be used as a replacement for liquid ingredients such as water in cookies and breads. Pale Ale or IPA style beers have an up-front bitterness that works well with items you would normally cook with citrus juices. Instead of lemon juice, try an IPA. Baste your chicken in a pale ale. Have any left over beer that has gone flat? Your cooking doesn’t care. Add it in there. David Myers, chef and Austin Community College culinary arts professor, said he recommends thinking about the food versus the flavors of the beer. A beef or pork dish can stand up to a malty beer, but a chicken dish would be over- powered and needs a lighter beer such as a pilsner or pale ale. There are many recipes where an imperial stout or a smoked porter is used in making a glaze or sauce for a beef dish. Wheeler of Rogness brewer Dan Wheeler and his wife Laurie said they use beer in much of their cooking. “The (512) Pecan Porter was great in chocolate pecan cookies,” Laurie said. She said they’ve also tried using an extra special bitters (ESB) style beer in making caramels, Young’s Double Chocolate Stout in brown- ies, and have even heard of using Rogness Yogi Spiced beer in apple pie brownies. “The Yogi has the winter spices usually seen in apple pie or pump- kin pie,” Laurie said. “Using the Yogi instead of the liquid, such as water, will give the foods some great flavors.” If you need to bring a side dish to the adult Thanksgiving dinner, consider a spiced up cranberry sauce using fresh cranberries, fresh orange, coriander, honey, sugar and some witbier (a wheat beer mainly brewed in Belgium and the Neth- erlands). The witbier will bring out the citrus, sweet and sour flavors of the orange and the cranberries. If your mother accuses you of drinking too much beer, remember that the alcohol does evaporate during the cooking process. It’s a science project and you are the scientist. Craft beer is about experi- menting with flavor combinations — there are no rules. Janice Veteran Staff Photojournalist The holiday season and cooler weather not only call for wardrobe changes but menu updates as well. Nothing says warm and cozy like a savory bowl of chili. This easy-to-prepare classic is a versatile crowd pleaser. It’s low in fat and vegetar- ian, yet hearty and satisfying enough for meat lovers. Two types of beans provide plenty of protein and fresh vegetables provide vitamins and minerals. Cheddar cheese and cornbread add a touch of rich indulgence. Here’s what you’ll need: • 1 onion • 1 green pepper • 1 packet of chili seasoning • 2 cans (14.5 oz. each) diced tomatoes • 1 can (14.5 oz.) kidney beans, rinsed and drained • 1 can (14.5 oz.) pinto beans, rinsed and drained • 8 oz. package corn bread mix • 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (for more flavor use a sharp rather than mild cheddar) • 1 tablespoon oil • Serves 6 people with a prep time of about 5 hours using a slow cooker. Here’s how to make it: 1. Using a sharp knife, dice the onion and green pepper into 1/4 inch pieces then saute them in 1 tablespoon of oil on medium heat for 10 minutes until the green peppers glisten and the onions become translucent. 2. While the onions and peppers are being sauted, dice the tomatoes into 1/4 inch pieces and keep aside. 3. When the onion and pepper mixture is finished, it will be tender and aro- matic. At this point, place it into the slow cooker and add the chili seasoning, diced tomatoes, and beans. Mix well. No additional cooking liquid is needed. The diced tomatoes provide all the moisture necessary. 4. Cover and simmer for 4 hours on low heat setting. 5. Prepare the cornbread batter according to the directions on the package. 6. Drop spoonfuls of cornbread batter on top of the chili mixture in the slow cooker and gently spread the batter so it covers the chili evenly. 7. Replace the lid on the slow cooker and cook for 30 - 45 minutes longer or un- til a toothpick inserted into the center of cornbread topping comes out clean. 8. Sprinkle the cornbread topping with shredded cheddar cheese, cover and continue cooking for 5 minutes longer until the cheese melts. EDGE Exploration, Discovery and Growth through Education Even large virtual classes can be overcrowded. Our 1-to-35 teacher-to-student ratio keeps you noticed. ttuhsc.edu/son/rntobsn 800.493.3954 RN to BSN Program School of Nursing Photo by Natalie Casanova • Print Editor
- 9. 16 | ACCENTNovember 2012 | 17 Food Food Photo by Layla Elayyadi • Photojournalist Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor DC McLean Campus Reporter Layla Elayyadi Staff Photojournalist 4 food trailers to chase down in Austin Coat and Thai Price range: Cheap, under $10 1600 S Congress Austin, TX 78704 This cute, friendly looking food truck has a catchy name and some awesome food. Coat & Thai has a varied menu which highlights Thai foods and appetizers such as curry dishes, noodle and rice dishes as well as vegetarian options. One of the more popular dishes is their egg rolls which are crispy, hot and filled with crunchy cabbage, celery and carrots along with noodles and onions. One could say the best part is being able to dip into the perfectly balanced sweet and sour sauce. The next time you come to Coat and Thai be sure to grab some piping hot egg rolls along with an entree such as, Pod Ka-Poo which is stir fried rice noodles with eggs, green onions, bean sprouts and ground peanuts. This food truck de- mands repeat visits to explore the many options on its menu. Lunch specials for $5.95 are served from 11 .a.m to 2 p.m. Stony’s Pizza Price Range: Cheap, under $10 6th St & Red River St Austin, TX 78701 Stony’s started in late 2007 when a father and son team from Boston pulled this fully equipped truck up to Red River and 6th and started serving some of the best NY style pizza in that area. As we arrived we were greeted by the son, he went over some options (slices, pies, prices) and we elected to get a full pie. While the pie was baking we went around to the front of the truck to watch him and see what they were using. Options tend to be limited inside a truck, so it was not surprising to see them using a little conveyor belt oven. He hand-stretched some fresh dough topping it with some quality sauce (Stanislaus) and a very heavy-handed dose of cheese with pepperoni on half. After the quick 8 minute bake it was ready to be served. We quickly started eating it and were very happy with the flavor. The bake you get on the conveyor is not perfect (typically lack- ing some crunch and structure to the crust) but it did a sufficient job nonethe- less. While it lacked the crisp or browning it was at least cooked all of the way through. The cheese was some of the best tasting cheese we have had on a pizza recently and the sauce was light but flowed so perfectly with the great peppero- nis that had a nice char on them. The pizza was not perfect, but the love, appre- ciation and attention to detail is there. Stony’s is cooking up some home runs out of this truck so don’t be afraid to try this truck after a night out on the town. Miguel’s El Cubano Price Range: Moderate, $11 - $30 611 Trinity St Austin, TX 78701 Miguel’s, named after the owner’s grandpa, has some excellent Cuban faire. Owner Alexander Acosta’s food truck delivers Cuban style comfort food wrapped in fresh made bollios with a generous side of traditional black beans and rice with yuca frita. Yuca fritas are the Cuban version of a french fry, howev- er that description does not do them justice. The yuca fritas were crispy, savory and the perfect match for the warm sandwiches. The El Don was the highlight of the meal and deemed their signature dish. The cilantro garnished slow cooked Berkshire pulled pork was tender, tangy and mildly sweet. The delicious mojo sauce, made with citrus, garlic, oregano and white pep- per, was served alongside the sandwich and surpisingly, the bread did not get soggy when the sauce was added. If you’re tired of eating Tex-Mex style food and breakfast tacos, track down this truck. The Peached Tortilla Price Range: Cheap, under $10 Locations vary from Downtown to South Congress The Peached Tortilla serves a delightful fusion of Mexican and Chinese food. The Banh Mi Taco consisted of juicy, tender and flavorful pork belly, paired with crunchy, tangy carrot and daikon. The Crunchy Catfish Taco was OK. It’s supposedly one of the more popular tacos, but the fried batter overwhelmed any other flavor. It was very tasty batter, though. The BBQ Brisket slider was yummy! Tender and moist brisket was mixed with peachy BBQ sauce, all barely held together by two soft and plump Hawaiian rolls. De-lish. The Banana Nutella Wontons are a fun twist on a classic dish. Who doesn’t like chocolate and bananas? A little more banana and more filling in each won- ton would have been great, but it was still a tasty treat! Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor
- 10. 18 | theACCENT November 2012 | 19 Sports Sports Photos by Jon Shapley • Video Editor Play ball – Trey Gowan poses for a series of portraits, Oct. 20, at the Austin Recreation Center. Gowan said he hopes to play basketball for the University of Texas at Austin. Natural born leader Josh House Staff reporter Trey Gowan knows exactly what he wants — to be a leader on and off the basketball court— and he’s doing everything in his power to make it happen. Gowan hones his leadership skills at Austin Com- munity College as a member of the Student Government Association (SGA). He represents and works on behalf of his fellow students as the Rio Grande Campus senator. SGA Vice President Carlos Charles said Gowan has shown leadership through service by volunteering to organize and run an upcoming charity event that involves collecting socks for the needy. “He said, ‘I want to collect socks. I’ll handle the business and all that stuff. ”’ Charles said as he recalled his conversation with Gowan. “He’s always making sure he gets school work done, [too]. “[He’s] actually being a physical leader as well; leading by example.” Gowan’s affinity for leadership is also re- flected in his passion for basketball. “I really want to walk on at the University of Texas (UT) and be a leader on the basket- ball team ... and wear burnt orange,” he said. Gowan didn’t say he wanted to make a name for himself by putting up big numbers or getting highlight reels. He said his goal is first and foremost to become a leader. This line of thought is reflected in his choice of role models. Gowan said he looks up to professional basketball players Larry Bird and Tim Duncan. The two players are known not only for their production on the court, but for their tough mentalities and “no-diva” attitudes. Although Gowan is in- spired by Bird and Duncan, his goal of playing Division I basketball began when he was a child and was shaped by his mother, Michelle Kirby, who played basketball in high school and went on to play Division I at Clemson University on a full scholarship. Gowan credits his mother with giving him his start in basketball. “I started playing when I was really young. My mom used to put me outside with the dirt and the ball,” he said. Mother and son spent hours on the court together and were very competitive. “In eighth grade Trey was about the same height as me — 6 feet 1. By the time he was in 10th grade he was 6 feet 7 and started dunk- ing on me,” Kirby said. “Trey has a really big heart and when he does something, he does it will full thrust.” Kirby said her son is training hard to prepare for the UT tryouts, a process that Gowan admitted would be challenging. However, he said he’s definitely up for the challenge. Gowan said his training regimen includes bulking up on a protein-heavy diet, working hard at practice and train- ing at the gym four times a day. and said he believes that hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard. Chris Braden, manager of the Train 4 The Game fitness center where Gowan works out, said that Gowan works his butt off and trains hard and diligently. As Gowan focuses on physical preparation, he still remains dedicated to his studies and and respon- sibilities to SGA. He said he’s focused on being successful on and off the court. “I’m just putting in my all and going hard all day,” he said. “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.” Discipline and leadership are traits that Gowan said he developed while in the Air Force. “I know it takes a lot of hard work,” he said, “and if I keep it up, I think I got a real shot at it.” “Hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard.” - ACC student Trey Gowan
- 11. 20 | ACCENTNovember 2012 | 21 Technology Technology PARK UNIVERSITYSM Call us today at (512) 385-7275. Or visit us online at www.park.edu/refuel Park University’s degree programs are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Park University is proud to be an educational partner in the Austin community. A College of Distinction School, Park University is nationally recognized for its academic quality and its affordable education. At Park, we are an Adult Friendly and Military/Veteran Friendly campus; let us help you achieve your educational goal. Classes start five times during the year so you can begin or complete your degree when you are ready. Online is yet another excellent option at Park to earn your college degree (undergraduate or graduate programs). Experience Counts: Your career experience may qualify for up to 24 credit hours via Park’s Validated Learning Equivalency Program. Contact us today and let your success begin. PARK’S PROMISE: Serving Those Who Serve Their Community and Country with Personalized, Globally-Relevant Education for Life. Since 1875. Tech 101: Sam- sung Galaxy Note Nathan Bustillos Campus Reporter You have a major pa- per due for class, you can’t remember the due date and you have lost your syllabus. You frantically try to contact the professor, classmates — anybody, but no one answers their email or phone. What can you do? The Samsung Galaxy Note can be a big help as it com- bines the ease and conve- nience of a smartphone with the functionality of a tablet PC. The recently released Galaxy Note includes a task scheduler, which in- corporates a calendar and spreadsheet program to keep track of important dates and schedules. Students can use it to take notes as well. With the included S Memo app and the stylus, it is easy to write directly into the device. Its 5.3-inch screen provides ample space to write on. One of the benefits for many Austin Community College art students is that there is an app that is very similar to Adobe Photoshop, which allows users to edit photos and other images to create high quality design elements that can be used for print or other media. The photoshop equivalent for the Galaxy Note 10.1 can achieve the same high qual- ity imagery as the original Photoshop. In terms of the Galaxy Note’s technical aspects, users can enjoy a 4G LTE network which allows In- ternet browsing at speeds as quick as any smartphone or laptop computer. With the 1.4-gigahertz dual core processor, websites, images and video load very quickly and smoothly, giving the user seamless interaction with all of the Galaxy Note’s features. Images, notes, and other files can be exported into a desk- top or laptop computer with USB 2.0 support. As with any mobile device, price point can be a down- side for college students. However, the Samsung Galaxy Note is available from T-Mobile and AT&T with a two-year extension of a cur- rent mobile phone contract. In the alternative, the Galaxy Note is available on Amazon and by other online vendors ranging from $300 and $500 without a mobile phone network. This is where the price point may come into play. Some users may not want to be tied down to a new contract with their mobile provider and would then be subject to the purchase price. Unfortunately, with a $500 price tag at most, it may be out of reach for many college students, especially if they are on a budget. Another factor that some users may not like is the size of the device. The Galaxy Note was designed to be sim- ilar to a smartphone in terms of size and convenience, but is slightly bigger than an iPhone or some other large- screen device. The Galaxy Note faces competition for the student market from many other tab- let PC equivalents with much larger screens without having the bulk and thickness of some laptop computers, but it could be a good investment for many college students. ‘New Super Mario Bros 2’game takes a 3-D trip down memory lane Familiar characters and breathtaking environments provide gamers with a fun twist to a beloved classic Joey Galvan Staff Reporter Nintendo fanboys can re- joice as “New Super Mario Bros. 2” is released for the Nintendo 3-DS. Nintendo is hoping to attract loyal customers of the Mario franchise and catch the eye of new gamers as well. Mario, as a character, evokes powerful memories in anyone who grew up with a Nintendo system in their household. He is a welcoming icon used by Nintendo whenever they release a new console or game title the company believes in. In the sequel to “Super Mario 3-D Land” they continue to avoid tarnishing his image by put- ting out a product worthy of the iconic plumber. The game’s objective beautiful in its simplicity: get as many freakin’ coins as possible and defeat some familiar enemies in the pro- cess. Attain large amounts of coins to acquire more lives and special Yoshi coins to unlock special items to aid your quest. The amount of gold coins thrown at you is ridiculous as it is not uncommon for a player to rack up over a hundred lives with a little persistence. The environments in “New Super Mario Bros. 2” are breathtaking much like those in its predeces- sor with levels bearing a strong resemblance to previous Mario titles span- ning almost every Nintendo console. You don’t have to go far to find familiar territory. The current desert levels look strikingly similar to the game’s older incarna- tions in the original Ninten- do Entertainment System (NES) system and are rampant with angry cactus littered upon quicksand. Most of the levels look like they have appeared in some previous fashion of a Mario release which is an important nostalgia factor for players. The biggest let- down after beating the eight worlds is that it can be done so quickly. It’s not that the levels are too easy per se, but rather that the title ends abruptly and could use some addi- tional content to provide a higher factor for replay. The controls in this release are of A+ caliber. Often, controls in the game can severely limit the player’s experience by prov- ing too difficult for average players to learn, which may result in them abandoning the game in frustration. If you have played the first few Ma- rio releases for the Nintendo Enter- tainment System, the control scheme should seem ideal. It adapts the controls from previ- ous games like “Super Mario World” for the Super Nintendo and is so simple a novice could quickly pick it up. The simple joy of being able to achieve maxi- mum speed and attain flight through use of your raccoon tail is not a hard feat, nor should it be. The 3-D in this game is incredible. Nintendo pushes the envelope of what the 3-DS is capable of and at times the immersion can become intense. I recommend breaks be taken to avoid motion sickness. The action takes on a completely new dimension and plays one of the most intricate roles in making this release worth pur- chasing. Two players can play together and basically trade use of the console be- tween levels. Not many gamers have a 3-DS, so finding someone with the handheld console in addition to this game can prove rather daunting, but it is ultimately worth it. The same problem exists with the Streetpass function of the console. Streetpass works when the 3-DS is in regular or standby mode with the two consoles trading in game items depending on which games you have set up to participate in this function. It is recommended that this function be tried in crowded areas like shopping malls in hopes of the consoles recognizing the signal of another player which would then trade off the items automatically. Not only is standby mode an extreme waste of battery power, the notion of hooking up with another player outside of a Nintendo related event seems highly unlikely. Coin Rush is a playable mode with three random levels from each world with an objective of acquiring as many coins as possible under a lowered time limit. If you die or run out of time, you cannot move on to the next of the three levels which con- tain more coins than regular in-game levels. You get to keep the coins you get in this mode and use them in the normal game mode. Coin Rush is a lot of fun, but I recommend playing after beating the game and looking for more content. As expected from Nintendo, “New Super Mario Bros. 2” is a solid re- lease. It is loaded with nostalgia from characters, enemies and decadent levels from previous Mario games in vibrant colors upon a wonderful control scheme. This game is recommended to anyone that is a fan of 3-D gaming or loves Mario based releases. DYNAMIC DUO — Nintendo’s‘New Super Mario Bros 2’game for Nintendo 3DS is jam-packed coin- grabbing good fun. The‘coin rush’mode focuses collecting as many coins as possible. Photos courtesy of Nintendo Co., Ltd. “The game’s objective beautiful in its simplicity: get as many freakin’ coins as possible and defeat some familiar enemies in the process.” FAMILIAR FACES — Nintendo brought back several of their classic characters including friends and foes. Photo courtesy of Nintendo Co., Ltd.
- 12. November 2012 |23 Fashion 22 | ACCENT Literature Mary Browder Editor-in-Training ACC creative writing students get‘lit’- erary at the coffeehouse “How do you explain to a six-month-old that we were scared, inex- perienced and that his condition was tearing us apart?” said Austin Community College student Kayla Peav- ler at ACC’s October Literary Coffeehouse at Austin Java. With the help of a microphone, Peaver’s soft, wavering voice pierced through the attentive silence — the heavy silence of an enthralled audience. She spoke evenly, persever- ing through the story with a mother’s patience, occasionally quivering at points of genuine pain. “My husband blamed me — he was very me- ticulous when it came to fault. I didn’t take enough care of myself when I was pregnant, too much walking, not enough rest, I saw all that red meat you ate. I snuck a glass of red wine once. He told me Matthew would never be normal, that without hearing he’d never grow up to be the son he al- ways wanted. A son just like him.” she said. Peaver alternated be- tween lifting her manu- script for occasional glances and signing the parts of the story where she was address- ing her son. Her story, titled “Little Rabbits,” described the challenges and frustrations of a hearing mother with a deaf and possibly men- tally disabled toddler, particularly after the col- lapse of her marriage. Yet there were also moments of deep tenderness. Among the most moving points in her story was her slow, patient finger- spelling and mouthing of each sound in the word “mom.” The story cli- maxes with the mother losing her patience and breaking a dish, a shard of which inadvertently cuts the small child. After she immediately takes him to the hos- pital to treat the result- ing superficial wound, Child Protective Services removes Matthew from her home. Despite the apparent heartbreak, the story ends on a brighter note: Matthew is adopted as the mother begins to come to terms with her inability to give him the life and care he needs. It wasn’t until after her readings that several au- dience members realized the piece was fiction. It was easy to assume that the piece was creative nonfiction, or at the very least semi-autobiograph- ical short fiction. Peavler is 23, and could very well have been a teen mother now rail-thin from the passage of time and years of grief. She is not a creative writing major, but nobody in the room would have guessed it. Indeed, this second- time Coffeehouse reader majors in American Sign Language (ASL). Her dy- namic facial expressions and emotive vocal tone were not only powerful components of her per- formance, but reflective of an empathy that is essential to her studies, work and eventual career goals. “ASL interpreta- tion is different from other kinds of language translation. Interpreters aren’t like machines, and good interpreters need to be able to emote and express their human- ity,” she said. “The deaf community is all about relationships, whether that’s within a family or between students, teach- ers, friends or anyone else.” Peavler takes these relationships seriously — she is also a member of ASL Friends Unite (AFU). Her off-campus work with AFU helps her keep strong ties within the deaf community while she is studying. While most students plan to complete an as- sociates degree within two years, Peavler has taken fewer classes over more semesters. “I want to graduate with a 4.0...and I will,” she said with a smile to match her certainty. This performance — her second at the monthly Coffeehouse events— was less about her personal writing than it was about her desire for total immer- sion within the deaf community. Peaveler has high ambitions and big plans for her life after she earns her interpreting degree at ACC. She plans to apply to Gaullaudet in Washington, D.C., which is the largest deaf univer- sity in the nation. “The school only ac- cepts about 15 hearing students any semester. So that’s a lot of competi- tion,” said Peavler. Next month’s Liter- ary Coffeehouse is on November 14, and will also be held at the same Austin Java location on 1206 Parkway, near South Lamar Boulevard and 12th Street. The housekeeper’s shriek reverberated through the garden as she swiftly swatted her broom across the screen door, shredding a cobweb to sweep into the trash. Hours later, spying the water colored sky, the spider, no larger than a child’s pinkie nail, ascended a piece of her mangled web. Its tatters tangled around dust bunnies, strung around bottle caps and earwax-crusted Q-tips. She tunnelled through a heap of cigarette ash and emerged from the wastebasket indoors. She scaled a series of shelves to its highest corner and settling above the faded spines of forgotten books Silk emerged from her back, glittering in the moonlight streaming through the study window. As she collapsed in her cradle of iridescent thread, the spider couldn’t help but marvel at her good fortune. Literary Corner For consideration, send submissions to editor@austincc.edu. Creative writing by Austin Community College Students The Perseverance of Poetic Justice by Elizabeth Rausch THE PEN IS MIGHTER — Kayla Peavler poses for a photo, Oct. 18, at the Rio Grande Campus. Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor Fashion Forward Texas weather is throwing this fall season for a loop with its warm temperatures. But November has finally arrived and a cool breeze is waiting to make its grand entrance and give the “go-ahead” for ea- gerly anticipated cold weather fashion trends. The arrival of a new season excites many in ways that promote splurging at the mall or sneaking in some online shopping during class, but breaking the bank is not the answer. “I love that I get to add more elements to my sum- mer clothes without having to do so much shopping,” ACC student Natalie Rees said. “Cute tights, little sweat- ers and leg warmers are my favorites that help make the transition to colder weather more tolerable.” There is no need to pay full price for the current trends that are often advertised in magazines and displayed on billboards around town. Look at what is already hanging in your closet, and make it work. A major staple in any cold weather wardrobe is leather riding boots, which made a debut on last fall’s runway and have returned this year with a vengeance. Although Ugg boots shouldn’t have too much competition here, the grow- ing leather fad just might have America’s favorite sheepskin and suede duo backed into a corner. But, don’t worry Aussie lovers. While riding boots are a great choice for date nights and rainy days, comfy Uggs are loyal companions for er- rands, laundromat visits and long days on campus. ACC student Millena Justa said, “I love scarves, riding boots and oversized sweat- ers! The hot weather makes it impossible to wear my comfy fall outfits because it becomes uncomfortable. Can’t wait until it’s finally chilly!” As for the male audience, keep it fresh, casual and com- fortable. Guys look great when they style accordingly and suc- cessfully match prints and patterns. ACC student Tomas Lober said, “The thing I like about fall is getting to wear sweats, but other than that there is not much change in my outfit.” Sweats and sport shoes definitely work. An athletic look is attractive year-round and gives the impression of a physically fit dude. In order to extend the use of favorite pieces from summer, add light layers, and to make the most of your budget, hold off on any major shopping until Black Friday. Look forward to all the Thanksgiving season has to offer. Dust off the boots and beanies, then get out there and strut your stuff! Caitlin McDermott Campus Reporter Caitlin McDermott Campus Reporter Derek Sheikhi Campus Reporter The gentle waves in her hair define the look as relaxed and feminine. Soft tones throughout her ensemble stand out against the brown leather belt and grey boots. Her single pearl necklace and bracelet are classic 1950s- style accessories that add sophis- tication to the overall mix of her attire. Since her high-waisted skirt has a raised hem, Schill said she chose to wear knee-high boots to complement it for a more conservative look. Overall, she has a great look from head to toe that can easily transition from a day on campus to a night out in Downtown Austin. Mora’s glasses are the first thing anyone should notice about his outfit; they are funky and different. A full beard makes him look like an ACC professor. He looks professional yet comfortable in his button down shirt, but by rolling up the sleeves he defines the look as casual. Black, straight leg, skinny jeans look awesome on Mora and the way they sit on his hips and legs makes them look custom-tailored, and the red laces on his brown leather shoes grab for attention - once again demonstrating a funky style. The canvas messenger bag is an attractive, updated take on a ‘90s design. Each accessory and piece of clothing flows together and cre- ates his style: unique, funky and ready to take on a day of classes. “My style is just fun!” - ACC student Samantha Schill Photos by Ben Meyer • Photojournalist “I like fashion, but I don’t base my decisions off of other people.” - ACC student Ivan Mora Schill’s outfit is light, airy and carefree. Her translucent, creamy coral skirt flows and gently accen- tuates her look already feminine look. Her delicate look is created by her long, wavy red hair, a subtle strand of pearls, a fitted sleeveless top and knee-high, leather boots that show just a smidge of leg. Samantha’s locks and casual skirt have a fairy-like quality to them, but her brown leather belt and double buckle gray boots add structure and keep her look grounded in the real world while still adding spark of drama to an otherwise laid-back look. Her bright turquoise nail polish contrast the soft, gentle colors of her ensemble, and really pop out. Her look is feminine and carefree, but exciting and unique, as well. Mora’s look is laid-back and comfortable, but uses unexpected colors and patterns to catch the eye. His Polo glasses are similar in color to his hair and beard, but their tortoiseshell pattern sparkles in a way that makes you look twice. His Cole Haan shoes are a muted, grayish-brown with red laces that add twist to an other- wise simple shoe. Mora’s skinny cut Joe’s jeans are a great fit for his build and have an attractive modern wash. The faintly-striped, light blue Banana Republic shirt is day-time friendly and creates a pleasant contrast with his dark features. With natural materials and pat- terns, Mora has just the look of someone who wants to be com- fortable and stylish yet stand out in a tasteful, understated way. Student style spotlight
- 13. 24 | ACCENTNovember 2012 | 25 Music Music Check out our top 4 to look for in November The Carper Family – Bluegrass/Country Formed back in 2010, The Carper Family is a trio of talented singers and string picking musicians that combine old country sounds with bluegrass and swing tunes. Melissa Carper [vocals, bass], Beth Chrisman [vocals, fiddle] and Jenn Miori [vocals, guitar] form the group, and this “family band” is an absolute gem to see live. All the ladies have fronted their own bands at one point, how- ever they combined their talents and use their skills to give a contemporary twist to old time and bluegrass music by adding swing elements to the genres. Their lyrics are up to date. While most of the songs are narratives about love, heartache and longing, they use an older style of music to share their modern-day tales. Each singer has her own unique vocal range, and they each take turns soloing on original songs. Their three part harmonies will have you slow dancin’ and two stepping across the dance floor while their memorable lyrics charm their way into your heart and head. They are known for their intimate performances that keep audiences longing for more. They play consistently in Austin and the sur- rounding areas. A few good tunes include “Come See Yer Ol’ Daddy”, “Who R U Texting 2nite” and “My Baby Don’t Like Me.” Upcoming shows Nov. 8 from 7-9 p.m. for the “Carper Dog” Release Party at Honky Tonk Hot Dogs Nov. 9 at 9 p.m. at the White Horse Nov. 15 from 6:30-9 p.m. at Central Market Westgate Visit www.carperfamilyband.com for more information. Phranchyze – Hip Hop Local lyricist, Phranchyze keeps it smart, hilarious and live. Many ask, where is the Austin Hip Hop scene? Look no further, because Phranchyze is keeping it alive and strong. His beats are original, eclectic and he refrains from using that overproduced sound that dominates the mainstream hip hop and rap scenes. He rose up through the battling circuit and made a name for himself, receiving national recognition. Afterwards Pranchyze decided to take his flows and put them to music. Phranchyze reps Austin love in a ton of his songs. Watch his videos and you’ll see him rollin’ all over the Austin area. Yet he’s more than just an Austin artist reppin’ his city. He pokes fun at the whole industry, including himself and has some clever ob- servations about life, people and making music. Yet he keeps it weird with his unique vocals and quirky lyrics and rhymes. Some of his songs are completely off the wall but they’re refreshingly smart and articulate. His style reminds me of old Outkast and Eminem but toned down with that laid back Austin attitude that we’ve all come to know and love. Nevertheless his musical stylings are still unique and indigenous to an Austin hip hop sound that’s definitely trying to make its presence known in the hip hop scene. Be sure to check out his latest albums and mixtapes on his website. My personal favs included “Dolo” off of “The Black Larry Bird” and “Exodus” and “Big Money” off of his latest album, “Phranye West.” Upcoming shows: Nov. 7 at the Triple Crown in San Marcos, Texas Nov. 17 at Stubbs Visit www.phranchyze.com for more information. Kay Leotard – Psychedelic Grunge Rock Kay Leotard’s music is a sexy psychedelic trip for your ears. Kristina Boswell [guitar, vocals], Mirna Hariz [bass, vocals], and Pink [drums] form this dreamy trio and they are just as good live as they are on their recordings. If you like re- verberating guitar riffs, haunting vocal harmonies and feeling like you have trav- eled back in time to the era of the flower children, then you should have a listen. Their latest release “Witchuals” will put its spell on you and have you hitting the repeat button on your MP3 player or iPod. They put a teaser on their bandcamp site so only two songs are available for download. The full album will be released mid-November. While the sound is reminiscent of that ‘60s psych sound, it is a bit heavier and distorted on some of the tracks like ‘90s grunge, so it is not all daisies for these ladies. The tunes are mellow yet rockin’. The vocal harmonies between Hariz’s sultry deep vocals and Boswell’s sugary sweet soprano are amazing. At times Boswell’s notes rival an operatic singer. After performing at South by Southwest 2011, they have been riding the wave of Austin’s music scene and recording new cuts. You have to listen to “Rolling”, “When I Call” and “Yell It High”. Be sure to check out their bandcamp site and live YouTube videos or even bet- ter, just go see a live show! Upcoming shows: Nov. 16 at 9 p.m. at Hotel Vegas Visit www.kayleotard.bandcamp.com for more information. The Nouns – Blues/Punk/Garage Rock The Nouns have been and will hopefully continue to be one of the best live shows that Austin’s Punk/Rock scene has to offer. They look surprisingly tame, but their vintage garage blues-rock sound is high energy, loud and fun. This Aus- tin three piece is sure to get you dancing and pumped for a night of fun. Their sound is good ol’ rock n’ roll fused with blues inspired riffs, punk energy and the lo-fi recordings seem to have stepped straight out of the ‘70s punk scene. Is that Joe Strummer’s voice singing the lead vocals? Nope, but it’s so damn close you almost can’t tell the difference. Travis Beall [guitarist, vocals] sings with raw scratchy vocals but he can still carry a tune as he howls into the mi- crophone before engulfing it into his mouth. This dude does not hold back. He’s wild and free and seems to represent what all those old-timers were so worried about when rock n’ roll first played on the radio. Nick Stout [drummer] and Chris Rodriguez [bass, vocals] keep it tight and steady yet they aren’t afraid to party with Beall and follow along his path of utter reckless rebellion. You could listen to it on their bandcamp site…but you couldn’t possibly understand their musicianship until you see it live. Songs to check out include “What Did You Do with my Girlfriend?”, “Malibu”, and “Way You Walk”. Visit www.facebook.com/thenouns for more information. Abra Gist Online Editor Photo courtesy of George Brainard Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor Photo by Jon Shapley • Video Editor
- 14. November 2012 |2726 | ACCENT Puzzles and Comics Opinion Era Sundar Audio Editor Using email is one of the most popular Internet activities performed by American adults. The 2011 Pew Internet and American Life Project reports that 92 percent of American adults have experience using email — that’s pretty much everyone. A smaller but still significant 61 percent, use it every day. These results hold true across the board. According to the study, daily email use is popular with everyone, from 18-year-olds to grandparents, and blue collar workers to executives. And email isn’t just for personal chit chat. Because of its speed and accessibil- ity, it’s become the preferred mode of business correspondence. However, just because most people know how to use email, that doesn’t mean they do it well. Jennifer Lazarow, a training consul- tant with the Professional Development Center at the University of Texas at Austin, said email is relatively new to the business world. Because it’s been on the scene for less than 20 years, people are still figuring out etiquette and protocol. Although letter writing was taught regularly in schools, modern courses on email writing are not as prevalent. Lazarow, who teaches email workshops, said the tone of an email is easily misin- terpreted, so it’s better to err on the side of formality. “Start with Dear Mr., Miss or Ms., and if you don’t know their gender, use both first and last names,” she said. “I’ve never heard anyone complain that they received an email that was too formal. It’s usually the other way around — too casual.” Lazarow said it is best to let the recipi- ents’ responses dictate the tone. If they answer using your first name, then first names are acceptable in future corre- spondence. When ending an email, Lazarow said always sign off with “Thank you,” “Regards” or similar closing and include a signature block that lists your first and last names and contact information. Lazarow is not a fan of typing in all caps or using emoticons, and suggests keeping paragraphs short. After three lines of text, it is difficult for the eyes to keep track, she said. And bul- let points are a good alterna- tive to long lists. Lazarow said complaints or rants about cowork- ers — or anyone else, for that matter — should not be sent in emails. “It will get back to them, and it makes you look bad, rather than that person.” Suppose you commit the unthinkable and send an obnoxious email that’s of- fensive or hurtful — then what? At quickanddirtytips.com, Richie Frieman said, “Take the blame. People will respect you more for honesty than trying to [weasel] your way out of it.” Frieman offered this example apology, “About that message — it was wrong... It was just a very poor choice of action. Hopefully you will accept my sincerest apology.” Extreme faux pas aside, there are certain practices that should be carried out to respect time constraints, especially in the work environment. Vinu Yamunan is an information technology (IT) consultant who deals with a high volume of emails daily. He said getting to the point quickly is a must. “If you want something to be done, state it in the first few lines of the email,” he said. “Don’t expect people to read all the way to the bottom of a long email.” Yamunan also cautions against being a company spammer. “Copy” people on a need to know basis and choose “reply all” only when everyone in the chain needs to be kept in the loop. When simply saying thank you, “Just send it to the person directly,” he said. One of Yamunan’s pet peeves is when subject lines don’t reflect the content of an email. When subject lines are used correctly, they can help busy people respond to emails quickly and efficiently. David McMurrey, department chair of business and technical com- munications at Austin Community College, said the subject line should include a clear, concise description of what the email is about and what action is required. When corresponding with a profes- sor or classmates, it’s a good idea for students to include the class name and course number in the subject line. This makes the email easily rec- ognizable in a crowded inbox. Overflowing inboxes are common, and attempts to respond to everyone often result in emails being written in a hurry. For this reason McMurrey said it’s important to check for the things that spell-check can’t catch — before pressing the send key. “Proof for clarity and emission of words such as not,” he said. “There is a big difference between I am going to fire you and I am not going to fire you.” Because everyone is so busy, it’s not always possible to respond to emails right away. It is best to acknowledge the receipt of an email and give an estimate as to when you might be able to reply. There are times, however, when email is not the best form of commu- nication. “If it takes more than one round trip to resolve the issue or if tones become hostile, break the email chain and make a phone call,” Yamu- nan said. “If the phone call does not resolve it, get everyone in the same room and work it out.” Whether corresponding by email, phone, traditional letter or in person; courtesy, respect and professionalism are essential. “... just because most people know how to use email, that doesn’t mean they do it well.” Across 4. Blue veining cheese 9. Julia Child’s Burgundy 12. dark, milk, white 13. edible paste put on foods 16. baked dish made of pastry dough 18. A gourmet with excessive refinement 19. Thanksgiving sauce or jelly 20. Horn of Plenty Down 1. chicken, duck, turkey 2. green tree nut 3. cured pig meat 5. Canned, marinated hearts 6. “In ____ Veritas” 7. brewed beverage with a distinct aroma 8. A very thin pancake 9. twice baked biscuit 10. aficionado of food and drink 11. “____ night” or palm fruit 14. orange, gourd-like squash 15. Distilled alcohol flavored with cream, fruit, herbs, flowers or spices 17. end of the meal Abra’s crossword corner: Bon Appétit Abra Gist Online Editor Wild Timez Comic by Megan McKay • Staff Artist