The Rattler March 2, 2011 v. 98 #8 - St. Mary's University

attler 

the 

Although some 

students find parking on 

campus inconvenient, 

the University Police 

Department says there is 

enough room. PAGE 8 

A St. Mary’s Student Publication since 1925 • Vol. 98 Issue 8 • March 2, 2011 • STMURATTLERNEWS.COM 

GO GREEN WITH STMU 

Photo by Sarah Mills 

Students Didya Magaña, Miriam Cruz and Stefanie Ramirez — all of who participate on the university’s Recylcing 

Committee — are asking students to make efforts to live an environmentally aware lifestyle. Read about the efforts 

the university is currently making to be environmentally freindly and learn about how you can get involved. 

Cont. on PG. 8, SEE “CENTERSPREAD” 

4 NEWS 

10 FEATURES 12 ENTERTAINMENT 14 SPORTS 

Guest speaker shows students how to weave. Fraternity promotes club night for a cause. Explore downtown’s music scene. Find out if power bracelets make a difference.

News 

2 The Rattler 

March 2, 2011 

INDEX 

news 1-5 

commentary 6-7 

features 8-11 

entertainment 12-13 

sports 14-16 

STAFF 

Editor-in-Chief 

Sarah Mills 

Managing Editor 

Denice Hernandez 

Copy Editor 

Azhmir Acosta 

Layout/Design Editor 

Jasmine Garcia 

Web Editor 

Sara Cornejo 

News Editor 

Katherine Benavides 

Commentary Editor 

Alex Salinas 

Features Editor 

Amanda Cano 

STAFF WRITERS 

Robin Johnson 

Alex Meyer 

Cesar Montalvo 

Selena Rangel 

Ari Rivera 

Matthew Rodriguez 

Lena Scalercio 

Jessica Valles 

Julie Losoya 

Mariah Villarreal 

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERS 

Mariam Cruz 

Alejandra Diaz 

Robin Johnson 

Jenny Wendover 

STANDARDS 

Entertainment Editor 

Dania Pulido 

Sports Editor 

Diana Garcia 

Photo Editor 

Felix Arroyo 

Assistant Photo Editor 

Jennifer Sims 

Advertising Manager 

Leo Reyes 

Staff Cartoonist 

Eric Vijil 

Faculty Adviser 

Brother Dennis, S.M., Ph.D. 

Carla Rodriguez 

Lynzee Villafranca 

Darlene Diaz 

Stephanie Flores 

Anthony De Jesus 

Chris Montemayor 

Carlos Rodriguez 

Marissa Rodriguez 

Michelle Kafie 

Analicia Perez 

Emily Scruggs 

Fernando Armendariz 

The Rattler upholds the Mission Statements of St. Mary’s 

University. The Publication follows the Canons of Responsible 

Journalism, the Associated Press Stylebook and the Student 

Publication Policy. 

www.stmurattlernews.com 

Police Sergeant Ken Schmidtling wears a padded suit to teach female students how to defend themselves through scenarios in the 

Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) program. The program, which started February 19 finished on February 26. Photo by Jennifer Sims 

NEWS IN BRIEF 

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Military Hall Assocation hosts event to raise funds for local organization 

Members of the Military Hall Association invite the university community to participate in the 5k walk and 10k run on 

Saturday, March 5. The event, which begins at 9 a.m., is organized to raise money for the Fisher House organization in San 

Antonio. For more information, contact Mark Poling at mark5poling@gmail.com or at (210) 338-1195. 

A Mardi Gras celebration for all 

Members of University Ministry and Marianist Brothers of Casa Maria will host a Mardi Gras celebration on Tuesday, 

March 8 at the Casa Maria Marianist Residence. The Bourbon Street-style celebration, beginning at 5:15 p.m., is for all 

members of the university community. It includes a festive prayer service, activities with prizes and a meal. 

Buy a ticket “Into the Woods” 

Members of the drama and music department joined together to create “Into the Woods”, a musical theatre production 

beginning on Thursday Mar. 24 at 7:30 p.m. to April 2 in Reinbolt Theatre. Tickets are $15 for general admission, $12 for 

faculty/staff, senior citizens and military, and $10 for students with ID. 

The Rattler is a member of the Associate Collegiate Press, the 

Columbia Scholastic Press Association, the Society of Professional 

Journalists and the Texas Intercollegiate Press Association. 

LETTER TO THE EDITOR POLICY 

The Rattler welcomes letters that do not exceed 500 words and 

include the writer’s name, classification, major and telephone 

number. Editors reserve the right to edit submissions for length, 

grammar, spelling and content. 

CONTACT US 

OFFICE: 210.436.3401 

FAX: 210.431.3407 

EMAIL: rattlernews@gmail.com 

WEBSITE: www.stmurattlernews.com 

The Rattler 

St. Mary’s University 

One Camino Santa Maria Box 83 

San Antonio, TX 78228 

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! 

for the latest news and updates. 

@StMURattlerNews 

POLICE BLOTTER 

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Thursday, February 10 

Dagger and bullets found in Chaminade Hall during fire drill. Items were confiscated and student referred to Judicial 

Affairs. 

Friday, February 11 

Unknown suspect etched crude messages on student’s dorm in Lourdes Hall. Director on duty was contacted. Physical 

Plant was notified for cleanup and repair. 

Monday, February 14 

Student driving into Lot O struck student vehicle backing out of parking space. Insurance was exchanged. 

Tuesday, February 15 

Laptop, GPS, stereo, computer hard drive, backpack, Fossil watch and jewelry stolen from truck in Lot O. Lock was 

punched out. 

Wednesday, February 16 

Unknown suspect broke into storage closet in Marian Hall and tampered with IT equipment. IT contacted for report and


News The Rattler 3 


Chief of police confirms adequate parking on campus 

By Katherine Benavides 

News Editor 

Students may be unhappy with parking 

availability on campus, but there is adequate 

parking space for everyone on campus, 

according to University Police. 

Chief of Police David Ott said that at 

the beginning of every semester, a parking 

lot audit is done three times a day for a 10- 

day period. According to Ott, the audit is 

performed to ensure that there is enough 

parking for faculty, staff and students at the 

university. Data from the audit shows there 

is currently no need to expand parking lots, 

but dynamics will change if a new residence 

hall is built, said Ott. 

“I know they [Residence Life] are all 

looking at another residence hall possibly in 

the future, so we are obviously going to have 

to look at more parking,” Ott said. “You 

would have to in order to create enough 

parking for the students.” 

With about 80 percent of the student 

population issued a parking permit this 

year, according to UPD, many students 

feel limited in where they are able to park, 

especially near their designated residence 

hall. But based on the parking lot audit, there 

is enough parking availability according to 

Ott, but it is just “not convenient to where 

students want to park.” 

Sophomore international business major 

Tim Paiz said that his freshman year he 

found parking difficult by Founders when 

he would return from golf practice in the 

evenings. 

Paiz said he wants the university to 

invest in more parking space. 

“There’s not enough parking around 

your designated dorm, and you’re forced to 

park away from your dorm. The parking is 

not bad, but it’s not convenient,” said Paiz. 

Nina Owens, the campus recreation 

administrative assistant, said that since the 

campus is relatively small, there is not much 

of an inconvenience to get from one place to 

another. 

The 135-acre institution, compared to 

the 725 acres of the University of Texas at 

San Antonio’s main campus, allows faculty, 

staff, students and visitors to reach all areas 

by walking. 

“The campus is small so it is not really 

a long distance to get anywhere from any 

parking lot,” said Owens. 

Although the parking lots have signs 

with hours and group designations on 

them, faculty, staff, students and visitors still 

receive tickets for parking in the wrong lot 

or having no parking permit. 

Sometimes, though, students receive 

tickets because of confusion about parking. 

After his car was in the shop longer than 

expected, freshman biology major Stephen 

Piñeda had to borrow his dad’s truck to get 

to school. 

Piñeda said that an officer had previously 

told him that Lot T and Lot V were visitor 

parking lots. Piñeda was issued a ticket for 

not having a parking permit. 

“I got a parking ticket for parking my 

dad’s truck in Lot T from Sunday night 

through Monday afternoon,” said Piñeda. 

Other students, like Piñeda, have 

faced this problem, but these situations 

can be avoided by calling the university 

Police Department even after office hours, 

according to the UPD. The call is transferred 

to the patrol officers, informing them of the 

student’s situation. The patrol officers let the 

office staff know of the situation and office 

staff prepares and provides a temporary 

parking permit for that student the next 

day. To avoid tickets, communication is key 

between students and officers. 

To prevent the students from getting 

citations, UPD representatives offer students 

some opportunities to prepare themselves 

for parking situations. Students are issued 

permits in the University Center during 

registration, and police staff comes in two 

weeks before the start of school to answer 

any questions or concerns anyone might 

have regarding parking. Students are also 

shown and informed of the lot hours and 

of where to park on a color-coded map, 

said June Cortez-Sanchez, the parking 

coordinator of University Police. 

Staff also meets with the Resident 

Assistants to teach them how to inform 

residents about parking; plus, staff speaks to 

freshmen during ND101 classes. 

Still, should a student or faculty member 

receive a citation, it can be appealed by 

filling out a parking appeals form at the 

UPD office. 

The appeal goes to the parking coordinator 

and then goes to the Chief’s sergeants, where 

more than half get approved, Ott says. The 

denied appeals go in a separate stack and 

get reviewed by another committee which 

consists of representatives from the different 

departments at the university. 

Another concern among students is the 

inconvenience of finding parking spots close 

to their residence hall when the campus 

hosts an event for visitors. 

“We have a calendar of events that are 

happening on campus, so we share that 

with our officers. It is the events that are 

not on the calendar…where we may find 

problems,” Cortez-Sanchez said. “If it is 

on our calendar, if it’s coordinated with the 

managers, we disseminate the information 

and we tend to that problem.” 

Security and safety of the students are of 

high importance and the main priority for 

the UPD. Informing the students of parking 

information and monitoring the lots helps 

keep unwanted individuals from roaming 

the campus. 

“Parking is not just putting your vehicle 

on our property,” Cortez-Sanchez said. 

“Parking is making sure that you are safe 

and to do that, we need to know who’s on 

our property.” 

Graphic / Illustration by Sara Cornejo 

Members of local community participate in day of prayer for colleges 

By Marissa Rodriguez 

Staff Writer 

More than 300 students collaborated 

with local universities and churches for this 

year’s National Collegiate Day of Prayer 

and dedicated 24 hours to prayer for colleges 

around the U.S. 

Students from University of Texas at San 

Antonio, Texas Lutheran University, Trinity 

University and the University of Incarnate 

Word participated in the event, too. 

Among the churches, colleges and 

ministries that were aware of the event, 

students of the university community also 

contacted the San Antonio Express-News; 

Guadalupe Radio Network, a catholic radio 

organization; K-Love, a Christian radio 

station; and Today’s Catholic, the official 

publication of the Archdiocese of San 

Antonio to spread the word. 

Junior accounting major Sara Wilkinson 

was among the students who started 

“brainstorming ideas” after last year’s event. 

This was the second time that the 

event took place. Last year, the National 

Collegiate Day of Prayer was celebrated at 

the university as a prayer walk in which 

20 students and faculty attended the 

celebration. According to Wilkinson, over 

300 people attended this year. 

“I think it was an awesome opportunity 

to be a united Christian community, 

especially with other college campuses,” 

Wilkinson said. 

Director of Vital University Ministry 

Greg Richards said, “Students will grow in 

their own prayer life and know that they 

will grow in fellowship with each other. 

They will know they are not the only ones 

praying for their campus.” 

Junior biology Andrew Menezes, who is 

the president of the Catholic Student Group, 

said that he helped with the planning and 

logistics as well as advertising for the event. 

“It will also be a time to join with other 

campuses and members of the greater San 

Antonio community, and the nation, to lift 

up all college campuses in prayer,” Menezes 

said. 

On Feb. 24, several events were held 

for the day of prayer. Wilkinson said at the 

8 a.m. gathering in the Quad, “about 15 

students and faculty gathered to pray; after 

From right to left, Katie Ruesewald, Sara Wilkinson and Marquielle Orwat worship aloud 

during a prayer service on Feb. 25 at Alumni Field. Photo by Robin Johnson 

the worship service, we had Adoration all 

night beginning at 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. At each 

hour, we had no less than 8 to 10 people in 

the chapel which was amazing to see.” 

The National Collegiate Day of Prayer 

turned out to be a success, according to 

students and faculty who participated in the 

event. 

“When the students come together, we 

trust that God will do something amazing in 

San Antonio,” Richards said.

News 




Mayan weaver visits the campus to share her story 

By Analicia Perez 

Contributing Writer 

A Mayan weaver visited 

the campus to teach university 

students about how she and other 

women have been able to make a 

living from an art handed down 

through generations. 

Minita Santizo, director of the 

International Education Programs, 

helped organize the reception for 

Florinda Can Queché de Pocop 

on Feb. 23 in the Alkek Business 

building. Santizo believed it 

would be a great opportunity for 

university students, especially 

those majoring in entrepreneurial 

studies, to meet her and hear her 

story. 

“I’m so honored, so privileged, 

I feel like this big,” said Santizo 

making a small pinching gesture 

with her fingers. 

Pocop’s story is about her 

mission to empower the women in 

her hometown in the highlands of 

Guatemala. She began her mission 

with a $200 microcredit loan 

awarded to her by the Friendship 

Bridge, a non-profit organization 

that provides microcredit loans 

and education opportunities to 

women and their families to help 

them find their way out of poverty 

through their skills. 

While most individuals would 

see Pocop’s limited sixth grade 

education as a setback, Pocop has 

proven otherwise through her 

determined spirit, inspiring 64 

other women to join her cause. 

Florinda Can Queche, a Mayan weaver, left, teaches sophomore international business major Celina Garcia 

how to weave, a skill she uses and shares to empower other women in her hometown. Photo by Analicia Perez 

When Guatemalan women 

come to Pocop wanting to learn 

how to weave items as she does, 

she organizes a meeting with them 

and asks to see samples of work 

they have previously done. Also, 

Pocop inquires about the types of 

projects they would enjoy most so 

that she can specify her teachings 

to them individually. 

Most women come with some 

knowledge of weaving because 

in Mayan culture weaving and 

knowing how to make tortillas 

means that women are ready for 

marriage. 

For the projects, the women 

work in groups of eight with 

one leader for 8-9 hours a day 

in different towns throughout 

Guatemala. Most work from 

their homes and work together 

to complete various projects. The 

weaving materials used are all 

cotton, mostly made by natural 

threads and dyed by hand — 

which is the most expensive type 

of thread. The colors are mostly 

organic, and survive trips to the 

washer just as any other fabric. 

Santizo said she believes 

that what is so beautiful about 

indigenous cultures like that of 

Pocop’s is “their deep spirituality 

and the simplicity of their lives. 

They are taught from a very young 

age to respect nature and their 

environment and how to make the 

best of what they’ve been given.” 

Pocop even allowed students 

to try their hand at the backstrap 

weaving she demonstrated, a 

technique of weaving that the 

Mayans have used since before the 

Spanish conquest. 

“It was really cool, I was 

scared to make a mistake,” said 

sophomore international business 

major Celina Garcia. “The most 

amazing thing about her is she 

is able to make a business out of 

the uniqueness of other women 

and the fact that they are trying to 

preserve their culture.” 

This is Pocop’s sixth visit to 

the U.S. and her first visit to a 

university campus. 

Pocop said the most rewarding 

part of her journey is “muchas 

personas no entienden que es una 

mission.” 

Pocop explained that this 

means that “many people do not 

understand that it is a mision,” 

and those who work with her 

believe theirs is a mission from 

God. Pocop said she feels blessed 

to be able to help other women 

accomplish their dreams. 

For more information on 

Pocop, President of ComUnidad 

K’em Ajachel, visit her Facebook 

page www.facebook.com/ 

communidad.kem.ajachel. To 

learn more about her mission and 

the Friendship Bridge, visit: www. 

friendshipbridge.org. 

Rattler Enterprises’ staff celebrates one year anniversary of operation 

By Ari Rivera 


In celebration of their one-year 

anniversary, members of Rattler Enterprises, 

which includes TLC Tees, plan to 

celebrate the organization’s progress and 

accomplishments since their grand opening 

in 2010. 

The celebration, which will be held in 

the Alkek Business Building, will include a 

special guest speaker and refreshments. 

The organization’s celebration will 

include achievements in processing 

and completing 32 orders, beginning a 

marketing campaign throughout campus 

and continuing to provide students with 

educational experience in a real life setting, 

said senior international relations major 

Vincent Astudillo, who is the current 

director of marketing and research for 

Rattler Enterprises. 

Modeled after the University of Dayton’s 

Flyer Enterprise system, Rattler Enterprises 

started as way to give students a direct 

hands-on approach to what it is like to run 

a business. 

“It provides the whole idea of experiential 

learning,” said junior accounting and 

information systems management major 

Anosh Anthony who is the current director 

of operations for Rattler Enterprises. “You 

have to speak to your suppliers and your 

customers.” 

Brought to the university by the late dean 

of the business school Keith Russell, the 

program provides ample prospects to those 

who participate. 

“I thought this was a great opportunity,” 

said Astudillo. “We have all been able to 

learn a lot.” 

Astudillo and Anthony said that in the 

past year, TLC Tees has accomplished more 

than they had expected. The organization 

faced many obstacles along the way, 

including malfunctioning machines during 

approaching deadlines, large volume 

orders, product expansion and even the 

hiring process. 

But according to Anthony, personal 

benefits are gained from overcoming these 

challenges. 

“You learn to manage your time, and 

communicate with different people,” said 

Anthony. 

Senior accounting major Bret Peters, 

who is the director of finance for Rattler 

Enterprises, agrees that managing a business 

presents opportunities to perform better in 

the real world. 

Rattler Enterprises’s director of operations Anosh Anthony, right, and director of finance 

Bret Peters, left, work together to design a shirt. Photo by Felix Arroyo 

“The experiences from managing the 

business has brought me the knowledge 

and confidence to perform in the real 

world,” Peters said. “Rattler Enterprises has 

provided us the opportunity to test the skills 

we’ve developed at St. Mary’s University.” 

Rattler Enterprises’ TLC Tees will soon 

be hiring for the 2011 to 2012 school year. 

All positions are open and even current 

members are required to interview again. 

“We want to get our students more and 

more involved,” Anthony said.



The Rattler 5 

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Texas legislation 

hopes to allow 

guns on campus 

Commentary 


Alex 

Meyer 

Pens, paper, textbooks, 

laptop and a Beretta 92 

handgun — all just standard 

materials for that Medieval 

Literature course. 

Sound absurd Maybe 

not anymore in the Lone 

Star State. Texas lawmakers 

are once again proving this 

state has to be different than 

the rest of the Union. State 

lawmakers are preparing to pass legislation 

for 38 public universities to allow concealed 

handguns on their campuses, according to a 

report from the Associated Press. 

More than 200 state representatives have 

signed on as co-authors to the bill — a solid 

majority — likely ensuring passage. The 

Senate passed a similar measure in 2009 and is 

expected to do so again. 

Allowing concealed handguns on campus 

has become the cause-célèbre of many gunrights 

activists. Although their attempts have 

been widely unsuccessful in recent years, with 

23 states having rejected similar measures 

since 2007, victory seems imminent in Texas. 

Texas, long known for its loose gun 

regulation, will join Utah, which passed 

a similar measure in 2004, and Colorado, 

which allows universities to dictate their own 

regulation, as the only states in the U.S. that 

allow concealed weapons on campuses of 

public colleges and universities. 

The proponents of the legislation argue that 

incidents like those at Virginia Tech in 2007 

and Northern Illinois in 2008 could have been 

prevented had students at those universities 

been allowed to have concealed handguns. 

Instead of waiting for campus security or local 

authorities for protection, a student with a gun 

would have been able to put and end to those 

massacres more quickly, argue the advocates. 

But this kind of asinine reasoning incites 

many of those who have first-hand experience 

in these situations, like Colin Goddard, who 

was shot four times while sitting in his French 

class at Virginia Tech. 

“People tell me that if they would have 

been there, they would have shot that guy. 

That offends me,” said Goddard according 

to the Associated Press. “People want to be 

the hero, I understand that. They play video 

games and they think they understand the 

reality. It’s nothing like that.” 

College presidents across the nation almost 

unanimously oppose concealed handguns on 

campus. Even the President of the University 

of Texas at Austin, this state’s flagship 

university, voiced his concern about handguns 

on campus. 

Regardless, it is not about potentially 

preventing violence. It is about creating a 

culture of guns. The U.S. is the most gunviolent 

industrialized nation on the planet. 

And the solution to this problem: more guns. 

The result will most likely be disastrous. 

This isn’t the Wild West, and the notion of 

students engaging in saloon style shoot-outs is 

absurd. So too is the notion that students may 

feel the need to carry a gun to be safe. College 

campuses should be institutions where the 

works of William Faulkner and Walt Whitman 

are celebrated, not Winchester ammunition. 

Green movement brings testament 

to future life on earth. 

Briana 

Perez 

For some 

time, there 

has been a 

green revolution. 

Everywhere 

you 

look, things 

are made of 

biodegradable 

this and 

r e c y c l a b l e 

that. Although some may contest 

the reliability of the information, 

we are bombarded 

with statistics about global 

warming, a hole in the ozone 

layer and the melting polar ice 

caps. It seems hard to escape 

the images of lonely polar 

bears wandering their melting 

habitat. As a result, there 

has been a popular movement 

toward environmentally 

friendly practices, especially 

in younger generations. Why 

has this generation emerged 

as global warriors 

Naysayers may say “Hey, 

it is not our problem. A human 

life is a short span relative to 

the age of the Earth. Before 

any of the problems posed before 

us can take real effect, everyone 

we know will be long 

gone. So why worry about it 

It is far easier to drop your cup 

on the side of the road than to 

look for a recycle bin.” Even if 

a doubter may accept the facts 

at hand, they claim it is part 

of the Earth’s natural process, 

a cycle. 

While we may eventually 

find this to be true, it remains 

irrelevant. No matter if 

the climate change we see is 

part of a cycle, or completely 

man-made, it should be up to 

us, who inhabit the Earth, to 

try to leave it better than we 

found it. By doing so, we begin 

to take responsibility for 

Eco-efforts: are they worth it 

our actions. Accountability 

should not be a virtue, but a 

common practice. Moving to 

more environmentally sound 

practices, on a personal level, 

or on the more expansive 

business or government level, 

is our duty. 

As the current caretakers 

of our world, we must do our 

best to “go green,” to make a 

conscientious decision to better 

our planet for the generations 

to come. If we took on 

the attitude of simply letting 

bygones be bygones, of letting 

our discretions rest as 

they are, there would be little 

motivation to accomplish 

anything. 

Besides our o w n 

immediate satisfaction, 

it is important 

to plan ahead 

beyond our existence 

to ensure future life 

has a world to live in. 

We must keep our 

eyes on the future 

of our planet and 

coming generations. We are 

stewards of the earth, and it is 

our responsibility to care for it 

because we essentially would 

have nowhere else to go if we 

did not. 

Going green isn’t a drastic 

move on the individual level; 

acts as small as recycling plastic 

bottles help tremendously. 

With enough small acts like 

the one mentioned, we can 

hope to make one large impact 

that will benefit the environment 

we live on. 

Instead of belittling or 

scaling back efforts to fight 

global warming, we should 

be escalating them. As people 

of moral standards, we must 

protect the world we live in at 

all costs. 

POINT 

COUNTER- 

POINT 

Environmental exploitation 

overwhelms efforts in going green. 

I have 

always felt 

a need to 

help the 

environment 

in any way, 

yet I feel that 

Malorie the damage 

Garibay already done 

to the earth 

is far greater 

than we can repair. The green 

movement and reverting the 

world back to its former glory 

seems like an impossible feat. 

My environmental science 

teacher in high school 

influenced me most on the 

subject matter. She was an 

avid environmentalist, but 

saw little hope in restoring the 

world back to the 

way it was. 

She told my class 

that even if we could 

change everything that 

harmed the planet at 

a specific moment in 

time, it would not be 

enough to stop us from 

suffering in the future because 

a lot of environmental damage 

has been done, to the point of 

no return. She told us that the 

future may seem bleak, but 

we still have to try to hope for 

something better. However, 

her lectures gave me little 

hope because our entire 

nation must change to make a 

significant impact in addition 

to the rest of the world. 

This is especially 

discouraging when many 

countries are not willing to 

change the way they treat the 

environment. According to 

a program I watched on the 

Health Channel, China is one 

of the highest producers of 

pollution in the world, to such 

an extent that its population in 

Cartoon by Eric Vijil 

major cities has to wear masks 

before going out in public. 

This is mainly because China 

is still catching up to the rest 

of the world. To make matters 

worse, their air pollution is 

travelling and hitting our 

nation’s coasts due to wind 

that carries it. 

Even if we could influence 

China’s stance to change to a 

“green” country, the decision 

would not be agreed upon 

overnight. It could take 

months, or years, to reach 

an agreement, if one is ever 

made at all. And this is just 

one country, albeit the most 

populous one in the world. 

This entire process would 

consume a lot of time and may 

create unwarranted conflict 

as well. 

These obstacles can make 

us question whether it is worth 

trying to save the world. It 

seems almost impossible. 

Creating a worldwide 

standard would be further 

problematic because there are 

already numerous standards 

established around the 

world, especially in Europe 

where many politicians are 

closely tied to protecting the 

environment. Perhaps the 

U.S. should keep up with 

other countries and their 

green practices. 

Altogether, the U.S. has 

had a late start in the attempts 

to help the environment. We 

went for years neglecting the 

earth, mistreating and abusing 

it for our own gain. Then, 

through scientific research, 

data and some speculation, 

we have come to realize that 

the world does suffer from 

our practices. Unfortunately 

in the end, we are the ones 

paying the great price.


Commentary 


Digital age provides multi-faceted inspiration for music 

The Rattler 7 

Emily 

Artalejo 

Exactly 32 

years ago, Phillips 

Electronics introduced 

the first 

compact disc prototype. 

Soon after, 

vinyl records 

became a sort of 

novelty as music 

lovers quickly 

embraced the new 

media. And on this anniversary of 

a landmark in the music industry, 

there is only one thing I can now 

say about CDs: they are so 20th 

century. Digital files are much 

easier to use, but most importantly, 

they have the power to change 

the world. 

YouTube has significantly altered 

the world’s communication 

network by allowing us to constantly 

search for entertainment. 

While I agree it is annoying to 

see my Yahoo News reeling with 

updates on the next 3-year-old 

who belts out a Justin Beiber jam, 

one must admit that music of the 

digital era can fulfill a form of the 

American dream. The parents of 

a talented youth who may have 

never had the funds to send the 

child to music academies or to 

auditions have the power to simply 

upload a video and wait for 

support from Ellen DeGeneres 

or other talk show hosts to grant 

recognition. 

Even in the most recent and 

prominent revolution occurring 

in Egypt, the world has been influenced 

by the digital medium. 

Constant videos of the protests 

and even “protest music” have circulated 

all around the globe. 

According to NPR news, rapper 

Omar Offendum, who authored 

the protest song “Jan25” to mark 

the date of the revolution, claims 

that his music does not best represent 

the revolution. He states that 

the on-the-spot songs authored 

during protests are what truly describe 

the situation in Egypt. 

It is true that the ingenuity and 

passion behind the protest songs 

and chants is much more impressive 

than studio records. If a fellow 

youth watches and performs 

the music or chant at another protest, 

each group conveys the same 

message and the protestors share 

a sense of solidarity, a communication 

system completely unique 

from any other revolution. 

In addition, Apple’s iTunesU 

has allowed students to access university 

lectures and other professional 

development videos. It has 

become the most effective spread 

of academic information superior 

to scholarly articles or a simple audio 

recording. 

Although we do not have the 

hovercrafts and time machines 

that science fiction movies predicted, 

one couldn’t deny the technological 

achievements of video 

and music or the impact digital file 

sharing as had on spreading information. 

All one needs is the access 

to a wireless hot spot, and with a 

few clicks and typing of a string of 

letters, we have new information 

right under our fingertips. 

STAFF EDITORIAL 

Family planning will 

take hit because of cuts 

Family planning organizations 

across the U.S. could possibly face 

smaller budgets thanks to a $300 

million cut in federal funds that the 

U.S. House of Representatives passed 

on Feb. 18, if the Senate approves 

the cut. 

Smaller budgets would 

negatively impact millions that turn 

to organizations, such as Planned 

Parenthood, and especially clients 

who rely on providers to offer partial 

service charges or none at all. 

Indiana Rep. Mike Pence proposed 

the amendment, which was passed by 

a margin of 240 to 185 in the House, 

because he believes that “it is morally 

wrong to take the taxpayer dollars of 

millions of pro-life Americans and 

use them to fund organizations that 

provide and promote abortions,” 

according to Pence’s website. 

In 2008 to 2009, abortion only 

made up 3 percent of Planned 

Parenthood’s total services, according 

to the organization’s annual report. 

Pence’s primary reason for 

wanting to cut Title X funds, which 

were established in 1970 by Richard 

Nixon to help reduce the number of 

unintended pregnancies, is because 

Cartoon by Eric Vijil 

he is anti-abortion. He argues that his 

amendment “does not cut funding for 

women’s health services, but instead 

blocks funds that would subsidize 

America’s largest abortion provider,” 

according to his website. But the 

amendment would actually cut 

funding for the many health services. 

Planned Parenthood provides 

contraception for free or at reduced 

prices to those who qualify. They offer 

sexually transmitted disease testing, 

women’s health services (breast 

cancer screenings, pelvic exams, etc.), 

prenatal care, men’s sexual health 

services (routine physical exams, 

testicular cancer screenings, etc.) and 

counseling and education on body 

image, relationships and sex. All of 

which will be effected by budget cuts. 

Most of Planned Parenthood’s 

clients are low-income or have no 

health care. Women can always get an 

abortion at another clinic, or worse, 

turn to someone who is not certified 

to do so. 

Pence’s proposal hurts an 

organization that largely works to 

prevent unwanted pregnancies. This 

is not an effective stance for Pence, or 

the U.S., to take on abortion. 

Parents should reconsider negative 

impact of children owning cell phones 

Anissa 

Bravo 

When was 

the last time 

a child asked 

for a pony for 

C h r i s t m a s 

Now, they 

all want cell 

phones. I often 

see children as 

young as seven 

years old 

asking for a cell phone. It strikes 

me that parents are more willing 

than ever to indulge their 

kids in this technology. I am not 

going to deny that the benefits 

of a child owning a cell phone 

do not exist, but it cannot be denied 

that cell phones can have 

a negative impact on children. 

Cell phones have more recently 

become a disruption in 

Pope Benedict 

XVI is 

challenging 

U.S. culture. 

Upon formally 

replacing 

the late Venerable 

Pope 

Alex 

Salinas John Paul II, 

one of the 

most influential 

popes the Roman Catholic 

Church ever had, Paul’s first 

words spoken on the balcony 

of Saint Peter’s Basilica were 

of humility and kindness; he 

was thankful for being an “insufficient” 

instrument of God, 

merely one of many of His laborers 

to fulfill His work. 

However, Pope Benedict 

XVI’s stance that relativism, 

the classroom. Teachers today 

watch for the flashing light 

of a new message or listen for 

the sneaky clicking of keypad 

buttons, hindering the amount 

of attention they can give to 

teaching. Cell phones have also 

increased the ease for children 

to cheat on exams, a common 

occurrence in the classroom. 

Not only have classroom 

problems increased, but cyber 

bullying has also become more 

prevalent among children. Malicious 

rumors about classmates 

can spread like wildfire among 

young people today, especially 

by forwarding a text. The rate 

at which these rumors can 

spread can be very damaging to 

a child, which can result in increased 

rate of suicide or mental 

health problems In fact, several 

states have developed laws that 

establish strict punishment, 

such as jail time for the spread 

of this information according to 

cyberbullyalert.com. 

Cell phones are also expensive 

when purchased. The 

additional costs of ringtones, 

messaging charges and internet 

fees all add up to a pretty 

penny and definitely impact 

parents’ wallets. 

Parents should think about 

what children are learning 

from the act of receiving a cell 

phone. Parents must determine 

whether the benefits of children 

owning cell phones outweigh 

the risks and at what age a cell 

phone is truly a necessity, not 

just a privilege. 

U.S. will benefit from supporting 

Pope’s challenge against relativism 

the belief that there are no moral 

or objective truths, is a root 

detrimental to modern society, 

is a no-holds-barred claim, one 

that is certainly an uppercut to 

the U.S.’s proverbial jaw. This is 

exactly what we need though. 

The Pope’s challenge on relativism 

promotes his want for a 

truly conscientious U.S. society. 

Our everyday actions, in the 

scholarly spirit, should demonstrate 

and put into perspective 

our privilege to be a human being, 

rather than our privilege to 

be an American. 

The challenge against relativism 

also encourages us to 

break the many constricting, artificial 

and self-serving barriers 

we have created. Technology, 

education and a close relationship 

with money has hindered 

our potential to live only for 

our self. The Pope challenges 

us to live beyond the self and 

the secular. 

Most importantly, the 

Pope’s stance challenges us to 

live with a sense of purpose. If 

truth is something relative to 

subjectivity and not universality, 

where is the motivation for 

us to better the world and each 

other Community should be a 

necessity, not a commodity. 

Pope Benedict XVI’s belief is 

not asking much from us; he is 

not asking for donations to support 

cause X or prayers to support 

cause Y. He is simply asking 

for a reexamination of the 

soul, and a closer look at how 

we ought to live.

GO GREEN 

WHAT IS RECYCLABLE ON CAMPUS 

DO: paper, plastic bottles, cardboard, aluminum cans, dry cell batteries, 

wood pallets, used furniture, and "e-waste"- old computers, printers, 

digital cameras, cell phones, and keyboards 

DON'T: glass (on campus), wet cardboard, the wax-lined cups from the 

Rattler Café 

HOW TO LIVE IN A GREEN ROOM: 

Make your own recycling bins. Label different containers and throw 

away all those water bottles you have piled high. Dump the container 

out in designated recycling bins around campus. 

Buy reusable dinnerware. It is tempting to use utensils that you can 

throw away, but having a set of utensils and dishes will save water and 

materials. Make sure you buy a sponge, too. 

Let there be light. Turn off all lights whenever you leave your room. 

Open the blinds; appreciate the sunshine. On a gloomy day, if you like to 

do homework by lamplight, use compact fluorescent light bulbs. These 

little energy savers use 75 percent less energy than other light bulbs. 

Release the charge. Even when not in use, all chargers for cell phones, 

game consoles and laptops drain electricity. Unplug the chargers when 

not in use. 

Report leaks. The sooner these problems get fixed, the more water you 

can save. 

Got plastic bags Local H-E-B stores offer recycling stations for your 

drawer full of plastic bags. 

RECYCLING COMMITTEE MEETINGS 

March 31st: 4 p.m. in Garni Science Hall Room 17 

April 28th: 4 p.m. in Garni Science Hall Room 17 

DISCOUNTS 

REUSABLE EVERYDAY CUP 

$4.99 at Walmart 

$3.99 at Walgreens 

$7.99 at Amazon.com 

Compiled by Azhmir Acosta 

Compiled by Denice Hernandez 

Compiled by Sarah Mills 

---> Starbucks stores offers a 10% discount on any 

beverage when customers bring in reusable cups. 

University pla 

By Sarah Mills 

Editor-in-chief 

The university currently recycles 12 to 15 p 

its trash — an amount that environmentally 

university members feel is way too low. 

Physical plant collects 127.7 yards of t 

week, much of which could be recycled at 

higher than 15 percent, according to David R 

the superintendent of housekeeping. Ev 

Ramirez would like to see that percentage in 

90 percent, but said that it would take years. 

“What we are hoping for in the long run i 

more recycle bins around campus than we ha 

cans,” Ramirez said. 

Currently, the university has 26 recycling b 

plans to purchase more soon, but that dep 

physical plant’s budget and space to place bi 

To save money, physical plant began pu 

23-gallon trash containers that cost $100 t 

residence halls; the other style bin the univer 

is a larger rectangular container that costs $ 

slots for paper, plastic and aluminum cans. 

Although it is not advertised heavily on 

physical plant does accept dry cell b 

wood pallets, used furniture and “e-waste 

computers, printers, digital cameras, cell pho 

keyboards — to recycle. 

To recycle e-waste, students can drop off 

boxes located outside of the Student Activities 

the University Center, the housekeeping dep 

or the basement in St. Louis Hall. If student 

find the boxes, or have questions, they can 

physical plant at 210-436-3335 for help. 

Physical plant cannot accept wet or dirty 

cardboard to prevent contamination. Wax-lin 

like the to-go cups sold in the Rattler Café 

accepted either because the wax can clog ma 

according to Ramirez. There's also no glass r 

on campus, but Ramirez is working to 

available. 

To reach that goal — and many others a 

promoting an environmentally friendly life 

physical plant partners with university mem 

TRADE IN YOUR ELECTRONIC DEVICES 

---> Best Buy stores offer gift cards for your 

gently used cell phone. 

---> Target's NextWorth offers a trade-in 

program. Get a quote on your electronic 

devices and get paid. 

---> Verizon Wireless stores offers recycling 

bins.

"It's not easy being green." 

- Kermit the Frog 

ns to be more environmentally aware 

DO YOU RECYCLE 

ercent of 

-minded 

rash per 

amounts 

amirez, 

entually, 

crease to 

s to have 

ve trash 

ins with 

ends on 

ns. 

rchasing 

o use in 

sity uses 

600 with 

campus, 

atteries, 

” — old 

nes and 

items in 

office in 

artment, 

s cannot 

contact 

paper or 

ed cups, 

, are not 

chinery, 

ecycling 

make it 

imed at 

style — 

bers and 

hosts monthly Recycling Committee meetings for 

anyone who would like to help. 

RESIDENTS STRUGGLE TO RECYCLE 

At February’s meeting, the group brainstormed 

ideas on how to increase the amount of students who 

recycle in the residence halls. 

“Right now there’s only one bin in each hall,” 

Ramirez said. “They’re either too lazy to walk down 

to dump their recyclables, or they gather material, but 

forget to take it to the bin.” 

The group proposed partnering with the Residence 

Hall Association to assign “floor captains” to each 

hall. Floor captains would help raise awareness 

about recycling and help maintain the hall’s recycling 

units. This system is already in use in many of the 

university’s departments and offices. 

GO-GREEN MONTH TO RAISE AWARENESS 

To help get the message of living green across to 

students, the Student Government Association will be 

hosting Go-Green Month during March. 

Sophomore early education and political science 

major Stefanie Ramirez, the Student Government 

Association’s Environmental Affairs Committee 

Chair, handed out scented pencils and pens made 

from recycled paper on March 1 in the U.C. Atrium to 

help students realize how recycling is useful. 

“We’re wasting so much; it’s absolutely ridiculous. 

People throw away stuff like nobody’s business,” 

Ramirez said. “For example, people buy water bottles 

everyday and throw them away when they could just 

buy a reusable one.” 

Smaller measures SGA will make during go-green 

month include placing printed posters with detailed 

information about what items can be recycled above 

containers around campus to clear up confusion. 

BEING GREEN IS NOT JUST ABOUT RECYCLING 

Director of Residence Life James Villarreal hopes to 

do something similar to raise awareness about energy 

use in the residence halls. Instead of posters, Villarreal 

would like to place stickers in each room reminding 

students to turn off their lights, unplug unused 

appliances and to conserve water. 

Total utility costs for the residence halls for the 2009 

to 2010 academic school year was $388,564, Villarreal 

said. Students use electricity the most partly because 

of all the electronic gadgets students use, he said. 

Anytime that Villarreal has the chance to make 

environmentally friendly decisions he does, as 

long as the Residence Life budget can support it. 

The university no longer provides desk lamps with 

room desks to reduce electricity use. For Founders 

Hall, items were purchased from local companies to 

conserve the amount of fuel spent transporting items. 

In Chaminade Hall, the air conditioning unit’s broken 

pipes were replaced with more efficient pipes. 

In all residence halls, front-loading washers are 

now used instead of top-loading ones, which use 

more water. Other energy efficient moves include 

using compact fluorescent light bulbs in place of 

regular fluorescent light bulbs (which use more 

energy), purchasing low-flow toilets and setting the 

temperature for residence halls between 72 degrees 

and 78 degrees to save energy. 

MAKING THE PLEDGE 

Senior economics and philosophy major Didya 

Magaña, who is the university’s OnCampus 

EcoAmbassador, a position made possible through a 

program sponsored by the Environmental Protection 

Agency, plans to meet with Villarreal often to 

brainstorm alternative energy sources, such as solar 

power. 

Magaña plans to engage students in being 

environmentally aware by holding different events, 

such as the Energy Star pledge she recently organized. 

By signing the pledge, students promised that they 

would make efforts to live an eco-friendly life. She 

plans to hold the event again in two weeks. 

“It saves the school money by recycling,” Magaña 

said. “Not only that, but we all need to be responsible 

for what we’re dumping into the landfills and our 

water systems. It affects everyone.” 

Graphic / Illustration by Jasmine Garcia 

“I recycle glass, paper, aluminum, old clothes, canned food 

and my ink cartridges.” 

- Aaron Sepulveda, 

Sophomore, Biology/Pre-Med 

“I recycle my ink cartridges back in the HP box that the 

company sends me.” 

- Shemeka Woodson 

Junior, Nursing 

“I recycle my paper, plastic, and cardboard in my dorm 

room every week.” 

- Rachel Vallejo 

Sophomore, Psychology 

RECYCLABLE BAGS 

$2.99 at Sun Harvest 

$0.99 at Target 

$0.99 at CVS 

---> Whole Foods offers a 10 cent discount per bag. 

---> Sun Harvest offers a 5 cent discount per bag. 

---> Target offers a 5 cent discount per bag. 

---> CVS rewards customers with a $1 bounceback for 

every fourth visit when using their "bag tag." 

Compiled by Jasmine Garcia 

Courtesy of sxu.hu 

“In my room, my roommate and I line up our bottles and at 

the end of the week, we take them down to the recycling 

bin.” 

- Alice Yang 

Sophomore, Biology/Pre-Med 

Compiled by Jennifer Sims


Features 


SigEp hosts first "Club Night" to support YouthAIDS 


By Julie Lozoya 


This semester, the men of 

the Sigma Phi Epsilon TX-Theta 

chapter are hosting an off-campus 

event that is sure to get students 

on their feet. 

On March 10, the fraternity 

will be hosting a “Club Night” 

at Club Rio to raise money for 

YouthAIDS, a global organization 

with programs that target malaria, 

HIV and reproductive health. 

Not only are the brothers of 

SigEp focusing on raising money, 

but they are also making sure that 

attendees will enjoy themselves. 

One of their brothers, junior 

electric engineering and physics 

major Omar Magaña, will be the 

disk jockey for the night. 

“Aside from spending hours 

searching for a variety of new 

music, I have always taken into 

consideration people’s feedback 

of the type of the music they like 

to listen to at certain events,” 

Magaña said. 

Although Magaña does not 

have experience working as a DJ 

at clubs, he has mixed music for 

other events. 

To increase the crowd size, 

the fraternity wants Club Night 

to be open to all the universities 

in the city, according to senior 

accounting Shane Loza, who is 

managing the event. Currently, 

the group is working to motivate 

students from the University 

of Texas in San Antonio, the 

University of Incarnate Word and 

Trinity University to participate. 

“This is something good to build 

relationships with other campuses 

and Greek organizations,” 

Loza said. 

In addition to good music 

and a fun crowd, SigEp is using 

technology that has rarely been 

used by a registered student 

organizations to sell tickets for 

their events. 

SigEp has set up an online 

ticketing system with Eventbrite, 

a website that allows users to 

purchase tickets online. By using 

this system, each ticket bought 

online, and printed out, will have 

a barcode that can be scanned by 

an iPhone or phones powered by 

Android. The group hopes this 

will prevent the use of counterfeit 

tickets, allowing the fraternity to 

raise more money without scams. 

Regular tickets bought online cost 

$9 or you can purchase VIP tickets 

for $15. 

For those who would rather 

pay at the door, tickets are $10 and 

$20 for VIP. VIP guests will have 

access to the club’s second level, 

which features lounging areas and 

is only accessible by those ages 21 

and up. 

Usually, the university’s 

chapter hosts only the Sorority 

Senior Shane Loza and Junior Matthew Sisneros work together to design a creative flyer to promote Sigma Phi 

Epsilon's first Club Night. Photo by Felix Arroyo 

Bowl as a fundraiser, but SigEp 

will be holding both this semester. 

Sorority Bowl is a flag football 

tournament in which RSOs can 

compete for a fee. 

“We are still having Sorority 

Bowl, but that money will just be 

to add to what we have already 

raised,” Loza said. 

Sophomore marketing major 

Marquielle Orwat said she is 

excited to attend the event. 

“All the boys are super sweet 

and I can’t wait to enjoy the 

evening for a great cause,” Orwat 

said. 

All are welcome to join Sigma 

Phi Epsilon at Club Rio, located at 

Expressway 281 and Bitters Road. 

Doors open at 9 p.m.; tickets can 

be bought at the door or at www. 

speclubnight.eventbrite.com. 

iTunes University merges technology with education 

By Jasmin Enriquez 


Just because you are not a student at Harvard University 

or Massachusetts Institution of Technology 

does not mean that you cannot listen in on what is 

students there are learning. 

Apple’s iTunes University makes it possible for users 

of iTunes, Apple’s digital media player, to have access 

to lectures, lessons, films, labs, audio books and 

virtual tours that participating universities upload. 

According to the iTunesU homepage, there are currently 

more than 800 universities involved in the program, 

including St. Mary’s University. 

St. Mary’s University’s profile is open to the public 

and includes law lectures, recordings from the Lin 

Great Speakers Series and the Jose Cimadevilla Memorial 

Seminar Series. 

Director of Academic Technology Jeff Schomberg 

said the St.Mary’s iTunesU account was created in the 

Fall 2006. 

“The St.Mary’s iTunesU account strictly focuses on 

university and educational content; this application 

brings the class activities to life and is able to answer 

questions by clarifying and explaining assignments 

and other class content such as lectures,” Schomberg 

said. 

Students can access different lectures and assignments 

through the program, said Schomberg. 

“Instead of using the iTunes store for music albums, 

we create course albums and students are linked to it 

by blackboard,” Schomberg said. 

Since many students are already using the iTunes 

application, it is simple to gain access to the content 

in iTunesU. With the iTunesU application, one is able 

to explore different institutions through their personally 

created site using any Mac, PC, iPod touch, iPad 

or iPhone. 

“The benefits of this program include marketing 

for the University and creating a better way to connect 

the public with an immense variety of educational information 

without slowing the Black Board learning 

system down,” Schomberg said. 

Lynette Rodriguez, who recently received acceptance 

into St. Mary’s, was introduced to the iTunesU 

system her junior year of high school and is now an 

active user. 

“The iTunes University program has helped 

to strengthen my decision of choosing St. Mary’s 

University as my future school,” Rodriguez said. 

“Because of this program, I became 

more informed of the different 

academic and social opportunities 

[at] St. Mary’s, as well as other universities, 

have to offer.” 

Freshman English communication arts major 

Andrea Zamarron recently learned about iTunesU and 

found it to be a good resource to find out about what is 

being offered on campus and other universities. 

“The program has a lot of information that is 

very helpful to not only us 

as current students, 

but also incoming 

freshmen and 

current faculty members,” 

she said. 

“Anyone who 

is interested in 

any university 

or anything of 

educational or informative 

value would 

benefit from this program.” 

Graphic / Illustration by Amanda Cano


Students learn to balance a 

part-time job with school work 

By Claire Etter 


College students face plenty 

of financial responsibilities, such 

as paying for tuition, housing, 

and of course finding money 

for entertainment and food. To 

handle these obligations, some 

students work part-time, but to 

do so requires careful consideration 

of whether having a job is 

more beneficial than the money. 

Freshman finance risk management 

major Karl Kapustka 

sometimes works 10-hour shifts 

as a quality and control leader at 

the Wash Tub. 

Kapustka said his manager 

helped him make a schedule 

that was flexible around school, 

so he works mainly on the weekends. 

The pay isn’t that bad either; 

Kapustka usually makes around 

$15 an hour, including tips. 

“Having a job while in college 

is a good way to gain realworld 

experience while still in 

school,” said Kapustka. 

Patrick Gonzales, a freshman 

business major, who works at 

Abercrombie, also said that his 

job does not get in the way of 

school because he was able to 

create his work schedule. 

“I choose to only work weekends,” 

Gonzales said. “If I ever 

need to miss work because of 

school, or anything else, the 

managers will help me find 

someone to cover or I’ll just do it 

[find someone else] myself.” 

Gonzalez said he enjoys 

meeting new people while at 

work. Another perk is the employee 

discount. He said that 

most of the time he spends his 

paychecks on food and clothes. 

However, earning those 

checks can come with a price. 

Sophomore accounting major 

Mari Edwards, an employee 

at Pei Wei Asian Diner, earns $8 

an hour and says that her job 

does have one downside. 

“It makes me too tired to do 

homework,” Edwards said. “But 

they are very flexible with their 

hours.” 

In addition to her job at Pei 

Wei, Edwards plays on the university’s 

soccer team and attends 

school full-time. 

To maintain her grades, Edwards 

splits up her homework 

over a span of days so that she 

can do a little at a time. Since her 

job hasn’t negatively affected her 

school work, Edward chooses to 

keep working, mainly because 

she likes having the extra cash. 

While Edwards manages to 

balance work and school, some 

students say they just do not 

have time to work. 

Junior biology major Amy 

Features The Rattler 11 


Cameron said she has a full load 

with school and would not be 

able to have a part-time job. 

“I want a job off campus, 

but due to class [and] lab, stress 

and my time commitments with 

other organizations on campus, 

I have decided that I can’t get 

one,” Cameron said. 

While a job may require 

several sacrifices, the Associate 

Director of the Career Services 

Center Rebecca Rutledge points 

out that getting work experience 

can have many benefits. 

Rutledge urges students to work 

because it provides a steady income, 

builds skills and helps 

with networking. 

She also said that working 

part-time does not negatively 

affect a student’s school performance. 

“Folks involved in activities, 

like work, make better 

grades and have better time 

management,” Rutledge said. 

“Being active is the best way to 

build skills and avoiding work 

is one of the best ways to get ignored.” 

Rutledge encourages 

students to work because it 

gives them experience that may 

enhance their resume. 

“[College] degrees only take 

up three lines on a resume,” Rutledge 

said. “The rest is your experience.” 

Recycling: What you should know 

How to: Pratt Knot 

Whether it is for a job interview, first date, or an important class 

presentation, every guy should learn how to tie a tie. 

1 

Begin 

3 

Pull 

with the tie inside 

out. Place the wider end 

under the thinner end. 2 

and tighten the 

wide end and then bring 

it over to the right. 

Pull 

4 

Pull 

the wider end 

under and over the 

thinner one. 

the wide end from 

under the tie loop. 

Recycling one aluminum beverage can save enough energy to run a 100-watt bulb for 20 

hours, a computer for three hours or a television for two hours. 

It takes approximately one million years for a glass bottle to break down in a landfill. In the 

U.S. today, 34% of all glass containers are recycled. 

5 

Bring 

the wide end 

through the knot. 

6 

Adjust 

your tie and 

mingle with the ladies! 

Photos by Amanda Cano 

Helpful hint: Adjust the tie to your liking and tighten the knot 

between each step. 

Battery acid can be recycled and converted to sodium sulfate for laundry detergent, glass and 

textile manufacturing. 

Advice from the editor: Never wear a tie with a regular 

t-shirt. 

It takes more than 500,000 trees to produce the newspapers that Americans read each Sunday. 

Maintenance: Be aware of how to care for your ties. Silk ties 

do not hold up well in dryers. 

Plastic requires 100 to 400 years to break down in a landfill. Producing new plastic from 

recycled material uses only two-thirds of the energy required to manufacture it from raw materials. 

Bargain buy ties: Thrift stores have some of the best 

bargains if you take the time to look. 

The average person throws away four pounds of garbage per day. 

Source: headwatersrecycle.com 

 

VISIT US @ 

STMURATTLERNEWS[DOT]COM 

to give us your own "how to" ideas. Let us 

know what you think.

12 


Entertainment 



Freebie of the Week 

Young American 

“11:11” 

Download your 

free song at: 

www.youngamerican. 

bandcamp.com 

a night of rock 

IF YOU'RE A MUSIC LOVER IN SEARCH OF AN ADVENTURE, TAKE YOUR 

CUE FROM THIS TOUR OF DOWNTOWN'S UNDERGROUND MUSIC VENUES 

Coming Soon 

ALBUMS 

SHOWS 

Adam Lambert 

“Glam Nation 

Live” 

3/22 

The Strokes 

“Angles” 

3/22 

Wiz Khalifa 

“Rolling Papers” 

3/29 

“And Then There Were None” 

at Harlequin Dinner Theatre 

Until 2/19 

Jennifer 

Hudson 

“I Remember 

Me” 

3/22 

Chris Brown 

“F.A.M.E.” 

3/22 

Snoop Dogg 

“Doggumentary” 

3/29 

Sources: justjaredbuzznet.com, ladyobama.com, collegedj.com, musicfreeloader.com, 

wizkhalifa.com, wizkhalifia.com 

By Karl Hayes 


Downtown San Antonio is full of music waiting 

to be discovered. I decided to embark upon an 

adventure to see what I could find. I began at the 

slamming’ Sam’s Burger Joint where Jim Coffin lead 

saxophone player for the Dave Matthew’s Band, 

performed with his side project group. Along with 

Coffin’s group was Joe Caploe, a student from the 

university, and his group “Neck and Neck.” 

Both groups performed at a top notch level. It 

was a combination of ambient jazz and groovy 

funk. Not the typical concert that a college student 

would choose to watch on a Friday night, but it was 

definitely an interesting one. 

Caploe’s group wowed the audience with fat 

bass lines and ambient piano playing, while Coffin 

broke every window out with the bursting noise of 

his sexy sax playing. 

The crowd at Sam’s Burger Joint was obviously 

an older crowd, with the age group ranging from 21 

to about 65. But despite that, I was able to mingle 

with some people at Sam’s Burger Joint, including 

Caploe, before he went on to perform. Wearing his 

jazz attire made him seem as if he had just come for 

a 60’s movie. 

“Brotha, I hope you’re ready to hear something 

different tonight. We are going to knock your socks 

off,” he said on stage. 

Basically, that is exactly what he did for the audience, 

including myself. I remember sitting there 

talking to my cousin thinking this is the weirdest 

music, but for some reason I was attracted to it. 

Joe’s group had members from all over the country 

including Los Angeles, New York, and from right 

here in San Antonio. 

After the show ended, I journeyed down to a local 

music scene venue called The Ten Eleven, where 

music is played every weekend. The music selection 

varies and includes punk rock, metal and even 

indie. 

That night the music varied with hipster bands, 

loud ambient rock and soft-spoken indie. Everyone 

in the venue was fired up for every band that was 

performing. 

Every band wooed the crowd with all original 

pieces. One band had members ranging from 18 to 

47 years old, and even they were able to capture 

the hearts of the enthused young crowd. Standing 

directly in front of them listening to every note 

and beat that hit my chest and rang my ears, I was 

drawn and captured in time with the music. In the 

mist of it all, the music created multiple emotions 

for each individual in the audience. 

Not only did I encounter the brilliance of new 

and original music, but I also got to meet many new 

faces that night. After the night was over, the contact 

list in my phone was full of with new numbers 

of musicians and friendly faces alike. 

That night really inspired me to support the 

city’s local music scene because despite its underground 

feel, it needs to be exposed to new light. So 

students, I encourage you to go out to find some 

local music on your down time. It is a good stress 

relief and a great way to meet new people. 

Source: mysanantonio.com 

MOVIES 

“Battle: Los Angeles” 3/11 

“Jane Eyre” 3/11 

“Jim Coffin Band” and “Neck and Neck” 

play at Sam's Burger Joint. 

“The Lincoln Lawyer ” 3/18 

“Limitless” 3/18 

tHE ten eleven music venue plays 

different bands every week. 

Sources: rottentomatoes.com


Entertainment The Rattler 13 


D.R.U.G.S. provides new pop sound with aggression 

By Christopher Montemayor 


Let’s face it: when we hear the word 

“drugs” many different things might come 

to mind. Drugs are not only cherished by 

some for the euphoric effects they can create, 

but are also commonly at the forefront 

of controversy by others. 

Taking this into consideration, it may 

make sense why front man Craig Owens decided 

to name his new musical group with 

the acronym of D.R.U.G.S (Destroy, Rebuild, 

Until God Shows). 

Prior to the incarnation of D.R.U.G.S., 

Owens was the lead singer for the posthardcore 

group Chiodos. Chiodos had been 

formed for eight years and was known for 

their complex musical arrangements, as well 

as Owens’ high-pitched falsetto and demonic 

screams. 

However, in 2009 Chiodos released a 

statement that they had decided to move 

forward without Owens. The reasons for 

Owens’ release were never given, but many 

speculated that it had to do with Owens’s involvement 

in several other projects. 

Another issue that may have played a 

factor was Owen’s history with bipolar disorder, 

affecting his ability to be a cohesive 

part of the band. 

But despite all this, Owens is back in 

Newly formed super group D.R.U.G.S. has the potential to become a huge success with its 

mixture of pop-oriented songs and hardcore musical style. Photo courtesy of Skiddle.com 

action with D.R.U.G.S., which many are 

considering to be a “hardcore super group” 

because of the talent that fills out the band. 

Joining Owens (Vocals, ex-Chiodos) is 

Nick Martin (Guitar, Underminded), Matt 

Good (Guitar, From First to Last), Aaron 

Stern (Drums, Matchbook Romance), and 

Adam Russell (Bass, Story of The Year). 

The band recently released a new selftitled 

album released on Feb. 22. After much 

speculation about the route Owens and his 

fellow band mates would take for the overall 

sound of the album, it seems as though 

the group decided to keep their songs more 

pop-oriented then hardcore. 

However, that doesn’t mean that the 

hardcore super group didn’t include any aggression 

in their effort. 

The entire album is littered with various 

odes to the former post-hardcore sounds 

that Owens was known for in his previous 

band, Chiodos. The opening song “If You 

Think This Song Is About You, It Probably 

Is” is a great example of the musical approach 

that D.R.U.G.S attempts to establish. 

“Graveyard Dancing” sounds like it 

could have come from “The Nightmare before 

Christmas,” with its eerie use of electronics 

of melody. Another standout track 

is “I’m Here To Take The Sky” and it may 

remind listeners of Owen’s former side project 

Cinematic Sunrise with its overt pop sensibilities. 

Fortunately there are some great 

“heavy” moments as well, such as the brutal 

screaming of guitarist Nick Martin in “My 

Swagger Has A First Name.” 

Overall, D.R.U.G.S debut album is a solid 

one that finds front man Craig Owens in top 

form along with his other band mates. The 

future looks great for this band, which can 

only get better as time passes. 

Radiohead surprises fans 

with new song structures 

Radiohead 

“King of Limbs” 

 

By Christopher Montemayor 


Listening to Radiohead is like 

finding your soul mate, spending 

every waking moment with them, 

then finding out that they have bipolar 

disorder, and realizing that 

to love them either way, you will 

have to change your understanding 

of who they are. 

Radiohead’s recent album 

“King of Limbs” takes a more 

electronic approach versus their 

last critically-acclaimed album “In 

Rainbows.” Riddled with groovy 

bass lines, electronic flourishes 

and Thom Yorke’s cryptic lyrics, 

“King of Limbs” requires careful 

listening. 

Tracks like “Bloom” display 

avant-garde rhythms and complex 

rhythms by drummer Phil Selway. 

Yorke’s signature dreamy vocals 

are very evident throughout the 

album, providing a stark contrast 

to the complex instrumentation 

shown by the rest of his band 

mates. 

The first “single”is called “Lotus 

Flower.” This track was released 

on YouTube a few days 

prior to the album’s release and 

featured Thom Yorke performing 

a strange, yet highly entertaining, 

dance. This song is the most accessible 

on the album, providing 

a danceable drumbeat and a calm, 

serene electronic atmosphere. 

Radiohead has looked beyond 

basic song structures and contemporary 

melodies and has crafted a 

dark, moody album that seems to 

push the listener away as much as 

it intrigues a deeper listen. 

Ultimately, the “King of Limbs” 

is symbolic of Radiohead’s career. 

They do what they want, when 

they want. They have no record label, 

no boss and no rules to follow. 

All things considered, Radiohead’s 

disregard of normal standards 

may be what makes Radiohead 

an endearing band for many 

people. You really never know 

what you’re going to get. But one 

thing is for sure, whatever you receive 

from this band will change 

everything you thought you knew, 

and make you fall in love all over 

again. 

Damon challenges destiny in an effort to keep his true love in his new film. Courtesy of rottentomatoes.com 

Romance film takes a suspenseful spin 

Matt Damon’s new action packed movie changes the definition of chick flick 

“The Adjustment Bureau” 

 

Dir. by George Nolfi 

Starring Matt Damon, Emily Blunt 

By Jessica Valles 


Action film star Matt Damon 

and “star-of-tomorrow” Emily 

Blunt make “The Adjustment Bureau” 

a love story disguised as a 

puzzling thriller. 

An unlikely incident of loveat-first-sight 

cleverly takes over 

the film’s plot, which is full of 

seemingly impossible to escape 

fate-changing forces, ultimatums 

and on-foot chases. A 

young politician (Damon) and 

a contemporary ballet dancer 

(Blunt) struggle to overcome 

their strange predicament based 

in modern day, love-story-notorious, 

New York City. 

Be ready to question man’s 

ability to control fate while seeing 

a passionate romance unfold. 

A well-casted group of supporting 

actors and sophisticated humor 

make this a creative, lovely 

movie. The story line is generally 

easy to follow, but some scenes 

are confusing and never thoroughly 

explained. 

The end is built up nicely 

but ultimately finished abruptly. 

There was consistent positive 

feedback from the audience during 

suspenseful and humorous 

scenes, which helps out the sharp 

plot. 

I enjoyed the twisted love 

story, and the chemistry between 

the characters was genuine and 

added emotion to all the built-up 

suspense. The way it was filmed, 

especially during action scenes, 

was great and allowed the effects 

to blend into the film well. 

“The Adjustment Bureau” is 

definitely a perfect date movie. 

This fantasy-esque mystery 

leaves the audience anticipating 

the outcome, so find out for 

yourself if true love conquers all 

on March 4.

14 


Sports 


Power Balance bands affects: Fact or Fiction 

Christopher Rivas works out at the gym while wearing his Power Balance wristband, 

which he says hasn’t helped him much. Photo by Jennifer Sims 

Students who own a band tell us about how it has 

affected them, if at all. 

By Angela Van Dyke Chapa 


The idea of maximizing one’s 

athletic potential or having an 

edge over the competition can 

seem attractive to any athlete. 

The Power Balance wristbands 

have been advertised to do just 

this, even claiming to help out 

athletes who have old or new 

injuries. It seems that these bands 

are everywhere now, but do they 

really work 

The controversial Power 

Balance band is a product of 

Performance Technology and 

was CNBC’s “Sports Product of 

the Year for 2010.” According to 

Keith Kato, president of Power 

Balance, they “are based on the 

idea of optimizing the body’s 

natural energy flow, similar to 

concepts behind many holistic 

and Eastern philosophies.” These 

bands come in a sleek design in a 

variety of colors. 

“I do believe that it is a 

great conversation piece. 

It’s amazing how people 

recognize the bands and 

immediatley strike up a 

conversation asking about 

its effects.” 

- Kelly Baker 

Senior, exercise and sport science 

Tennis player and Sophmore 

Undecided Buisness Jake Williams 

is unsure about the bands. 

“I first heard about the Power 

Bands from a TV commercial a 

while ago, and it sparked my 

interest about whether it worked 

or not.” 

Williams later received his 

band as a gift, but he does does 

not recommend buying the 

“overpriced bracelets.” Power 

Bands cost $29.95 if purchased 

from powerbalance.com. 

“I honestly do not feel a 

difference in any aspects of my 

athleticism, but I still wear it 

because I like to hope that it does 

something, even mentally,” said 

Williams. 

Vendor web sites describe the 

Power Balance band as a product 

that “contains two Mylar 

Holograms which are embedded 

with frequencies that react with 

your body’s electromagnetic 

field.” Once the hologram comes 

into contact with the body’s 

energy field, it creates a harmonic 

loop to optimize your energy 

field. It also maintains maximum 

energy flow so it functions as 

a generator. Thus “resulting in 

immediate improved balance, 

increased core strength, greater 

flexibility, increased range of 

motion and overall well-being.” 

Even professional athletes 

such as Lamar Odom, Shaquille 

O’Neal and David Beckham 

sport the bands on the court 

and field. Despite all of the 

hype surrounding these magical 

bands, there has been harsh 

criticism on the credibility of 

their claims. 

Information Systems Management, 

Senior Christopher 

Rivas said he was immediately 

skeptical about the power bracelets, 

and even after owning one 

he still has mixed feelings about 

the product. 

“At first I did feel a difference 

but then I realized the band had 

nothing to do with my progress 

in the gym,” Rivas said. “It’s 

probably just a placebo effect. 

The reason I wear it though is 

because it looks cool.” 

Rivas said that he would 

rather keep wearing the band in 

hopes that it works rather than 

not having it on at all. 

In December, the Australian 

government cracked down on 

the Power Bands, ordering the 

company to give refunds to 

those seeking them because the 

Australian Competition and 

Consumer Commission proved 

there was no scientific evidence 

behind the band’s claims, 

according to the australian.com. 

Senior and exercise and 

sports science Kelly Baker said 

she also isn’t sure about the 

actual effects of the bands, but 

she noticed how popular this 

product is. 

“I do believe that it is a 

great conversation piece,” 

Baker said. ”It’s amazing how 

people recognize the bands 

and immediately strike up a 

conversation asking about its 

effects.” 

But, like other Power Band 

owners, Baker said she thinks 

the results are all in the person’s 

mind. 

Places where you can purchase 

Power Balance wristbands. 

www.Finishline.com 

www.Amazon.com 

www.Dickssportinggoods.com 

www.Powerbalance.com 


POWER B PRODUCTS 

Looking into buying from 

one of these famous 

bands Check out the 

different power products. 

Silicone Wristband 

Durable wristband that 

stretches around the hand. 

Comes in XS, S, M, L, XL 

$29.95 

Neoprene Wristband. 

Features a spandex lining. 

Comes in: S, M, L, XL 

$29.95 

Sterling Silver 

Made of sterling silver from Bali. 

$79.95 

Silicone Pendant 

Made of the same material as 

the silicone wristbands that extends 

easily over your head. 

$34.95 

Zinc Alloy Pendants 

Built with materials that 

are designed to last. 

$29.95 

Source: www.Powerbalance.com 

Courtesy Photos from Google

March 2, 2011 Sports The Rattler 15 


SPRING BREAK TIPS 

UPCOMING GAMES 

Courtesy Photo by Wiki Commons 

1 

If drinking alcohol is part of your 

break, remember that it can impair 

your judgment and actions. Alcoholrelated 

motor vehicle crashes kill 

someone every 31 minutes and nonfatal 

crashes injure someone every 

two minutes. Don’t drink and drive. 

There are plenty of non-alcoholic 

alternatives. 

2 

You’ve probably spent most of the 

year studying or in class. During the 

break, take the opportunity to a variety 

of healthy activities like walking, 

dancing, playing volleyball, swimming, 

and more. It doesn’t need to be 

hard to be beneficial. Avoid injury by 

starting any new activity slowly. Be 

active for at least 2 and a half hours 

a week. Include activities that raise 

your breathing and heart rates, and 

that strengthen your muscles. 

3 

If you are going on a vacation, be prepared. 

Are vaccinations required Are 

there special food, accomodations, 

or other things you need to consider 

ahead of time If you are taking 

medications, do you have enough for 

the trip Know what’s happening en 

route or at your travel destination. 

4 

There may be temptations on your 

break that involve different or highrisk 

activity. Think twice before putting 

yourself at risk for injury. Be sure 

to use appropriate safety gear before 

venturing out, such as seat belts, 

life vests or knee pads. Remember 

that unintentional injuries kill more 

Americans in their first three decades 

of life than any other cause of death. 

5 

Having fun takes energy and fuel. Be 

sure to eat a variety of foods, including 

plenty of vegetables, fruits, and 

whole grain products. Also include 

low-fat dairy products, lean meats, 

poultry, fish and legumes to your 

diet. Drink lots of water and go easy 

on the salt, sugar, alcohol and saturated 

fat. 

Source: Center for Disease Control Website 

At All-Star game San Antonio Spurs forward Tim Duncan dunks over Miami Heat LeBron James. 

Courtesy Photo Wikimedia.com 

SPORTS COMMENTARY 

All-Star game needs change 

By Alex Salinas 

Commentary Editor 

The 2011 NBA All-Star game 

and the events preceding it, 

including the dunk contest, 

were a spectacle. The events and 

the game had the right amount 

of lights, cameras and action 

worthy of the star-studded city 

of Los Angeles where All-Star 

weekend was held. 

Just one year ago, I wrote a 

commentary on the selection 

process regarding the players 

who are selected and how it could 

be revamped. In accepting that 

fans should remain an integral 

part of the selection process, 

I propose something separate 

from the selection process, but 

equally confounding in impact: 

changing how the All-Star game 

should be played. 

Similar to how the National 

Hockey League modified its All- 

Star game for 2011 to where two 

team captains were selected and 

chose their teams respectively, 

the NBA should follow suit. 

Rightfully so, there will be 

objections. Most may despise 

a loss in the concept of the 

best players from the Eastern 

Conference versus the best from 

the Western Conference. For 

most people, the purpose of the 

game is to see which conference 

is better, player for player. 

Everything in the sports realm 

inevitably turns into a contest of 

bragging rights. However, is this 

what fans, players, and coaches 

should be celebrating 

An All-Star game where two 

team captains are selected, either 

from the fans or the two coaches 

that are selected to coach the 

game, would be refreshing. The 

team captains would then select 

from the pool of players who 

were selected, turn by turn. The 

team captain concept brings to 

mind the true spirit of basketball. 

Seldom do children and adults 

who are introduced to basketball 

take their first dribble in an 

organized league. Rather, they 

learn to play basketball at parks 

or courts where pickup games 

are the norm. Even if a player is 

picked last at an All-Star game, it 

would be foolish to think they do 

not belong there. 

Recent blockbuster trades 

have occurred in the NBA, 

especially those that involve 

marquee players switching 

A “mecca for 

burger lovers.” 

conferences, and have impacted 

perceptions regarding the 

players. No longer can fans 

confidently assert that the East 

or West Coast produce superior 

talent. The lines have been 

permanently blurred, for better 

or worse. A team captain system 

supports the new era of players 

who have not been tied down 

by their jerseys or their fans. 

East versus West was an ideal 

selection we modeled decades 

ago, and one that is decades 

overdue for change. 

The system, whichever way 

it is formulated, reiterates the 

nature of All-Star weekend in 

the NBA. Fans have an entire 

season to promote their favorite 

team. So, why should All-Star 

weekend promote a similar type 

of competitive sentiment 

The NBA might be better off 

with the possibility of being able 

to see East and West conference 

players intermixed and playing 

spontaneous, on-the-fly, fun 

basketball. Perhaps this type of 

basketball is one that we should 

preach and teach to the millions 

who join the sport every year and 

is the best kind of basketball to 

play and watch. 

1900 Blanco Road , Phone: (210) 735-3552, www.chrismadrids.com 

Baseball 

March 4 

at St. Edward’s University 

(Game 1) 12 p.m. 

(Game 2) 2 p.m. 

Men’s basketball 


Heartland Conference Tournament 

TBA 

Women’s golf 


Texas A&M- Commerce 

TBA 

Pottsboro 

Men’s golf 


St. Edwards Invitational 

Austin 

TBA 

Women’s tennis 


at Schreiner University 

Kerrville 

3 p.m. 

Men’s tennis 


vs. Rollins College (Fla.) 

1 p.m. 

Softball 


at University of Nebraska 

9:30 a.m. 

at Cameron University 

4 p.m. 

Photos Courtesy of stmarytx.edu

March 2, 2011 Sports The Rattler 16 


THE 

HOT 

SEAT 

Courtesy Photo by Matthew Vela 

Hot seat: Matthew Vela 

Classification: Senior 

Major: Exercise and sports science 

Hometown: San Antonio 

Quick Facts: As Matthew Vela 

concludes his last year playing on 

the Rattler golf team, he averages a 

73.55 stroke making him one of the 

top scoring golfers in the university’s 

history. Vela is ranked No. 3 among all 

Rattler golfers. 

Aida Zorrilla, the owner of Studio A: Pilates and Co-founder of fitness without fat talk, teaches junior Rebecca Prada and other students how to 

do pilates. Photos by Robin Johnson 

Students learn how to improve body image 

During Health Awareness Week, Leah Bowen and Aida Zorrilla presented “Fat Talk” to teach 

students why it is important to appreciate their appearance. 

By Robin Johnson 


To help students establish and 

maintain a healthy body image, 

Campus Recreation hosted “Fat 

Talk,” a workshop focused on 

the importance of eliminating 

degrading self-talk. 

“Fat Talk” is any negative 

language about one’s physical 

appearance and weight. It is 

also the name of a growing 

international effort created in 

hopes of changing the attitudes of 

negative body image by creating a 

positive outlook without fat talk. 

“Comparing yourself to what 

many consider to be the ideal 

image of beauty is not healthy and 

will ultimately end up harming 

you more,” said junior marketing 

major Rebecca Prada. “We should 

aim to eliminate fat talk all 

together.” 

The “Fat Talk” workshop 

encouraged self-love and also 

included a Pilates workout to 

promote physical fitness. The 

workout was taught by Aida 

Zorrilla, the owner of Studio A: 

Pilates and the co-founder of 

“Fitness without Fat Talk.” 

The guest speaker and codeveloper 

of “Fat Talk” was 

associate professor of psychology 

at Trinity University Carolyn 

Black Becker, Ph.D. She spoke 

to the audience about the “ideal 

image” that society has created. 

Then, she relayed an analogy that 

pulled the focus of the workshop 

together. 

“In conjuction with Sigma 

Sigma Sigma for body image 

awareness week, the wellness 

committee brought Carolyn 

Becker and Aida Zorilla 

to campus to 

talk to students.” said Intramural 

Coordinator Leah Bowen. 

Becker said it is human nature 

to treat something poorly when 

we hate it, like a class or a job. 

But when we love something, we 

instinctively treat it with care, like 

a significant other or a car. 

This, she explained, is how 

everyone should treat his or her 

body. When a person dislikes his 

or her body, he or she 

will instinctively 

treat it poorly 

by engaging 

in unhealthy 

eating habits 

and not being physically active. 

Whereas if the person learns to 

love his or her body it is more 

likely that he or she will treat it 

with care by practicing better 

health habits and becoming active. 

“I loved that we discussed 

different ways to talk about 

bettering our image without 

h a v i n g to refer 

t o t h e 

supermodel 

standard,” said 

junior accounting 

major Erika Rendon. 

“Sometimes skinny isn’t always 

healthy. It’s important to take care 

of your body the best way you 

can.” 

Freshman Biology major Hazel Hernandez practices pilates during “Fat Talk” which was held 

on Feb. 22. Photos by Robin Johnson 

What are your goals for the season 

“The ultimate goal is to make it to 

Nationals and to just keep getting 

better and better with each practice. 

Also, to get ready for after college. If 

I want to go professional, I have to 

improve.” 

What inspires you What pushes 

you to be better 

“It has a lot to do with family. I came 

to college to play golf and I want to 

make them proud. Having success 

in the past pushes me to want to do 

better and I try to set my goals high.” 

When did you first become 

interested in playing golf 

“I started at age 3. My dad introduced 

the game to me. I grew up playing 

in Corpus where my mom would 

take me to [golf] clinics. Back then, 

they didn’t have small clubs, so my 

parents broke one so I could use it.” 

What is your most memorable 

moment playing for the Rattlers 

“Whenever we won conference two 

years ago and I was runner up. We 

all came out strong that day. It was 

a good feeling to finish strong and 

knowing we were going to regionals. 

Freshman year was good, too, 

because I got conference player of 

the year and freshman player of the 

year. I guess no one really expected 

it from me.” 

Compiled by Ivonne Aguilar

The Rattler March 2, 2011 v. 98 #8 - St. Mary's University

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