The Rattler November 22, 2006 v. 94 #6 - Blume Library - St. Mary's ...

First place winner of the American Scholastic Press Association’s 2006 Scholastic Newspaper AwardsThe RattlerWednesdayNovember 22, 2006Vol. 94, Issue 6www.stmarytx.edu/rattlerCHECK OUT RATTLER EDITORS’ FAVORITE GIFT IDEAS FOR THE 2006 HOLIDAY SEASON. PG 8UNIVERSITY BUDGET USEDANCERS SPREAD WHIMSICAL VIBECOURTESY PHOTOShort term budget funds faculty and staff salaries and benefi ts aswell as scholarships and university materials.PHOTO BY VALARIE GECKLERMidterm budget funds study abroad, technology updates, campusrepairs and supplements decreased state and federal funding.Above, Queen’s Gate Terrace, home of London abroad students.PHOTO BY PATRICIA JASSOMembers of the University of Texas at San Antonio African Student Association Dance Team dance totraditional African music at African Lounge Night in the Java City Amphitheater. “I feel very happy; this isthe fi rst African dancing event to be brought to St. Mary’s,” said Ify Igboanugo, a Nigerian internationalstudent from UTSA. The group hopes to hold another African dancing event next semester.Pow Wowceremonydraws crowdFILE PHOTOLong term budget is meant to ensure the vitality of St. Mary’s Universityfor future generations. Above, St. Louis Hall fountain, partof Gateway Project.Panel explainsfunding policyBy DOMINIQUE VARGASSTAFF WRITERAfter conducting an extensivesurvey of students’interests and concerns, theStudent Life office presenteda panel discussion on universityfunding as a part of its HotTopic Series.Sophomore internationalbusiness major Aime Martinez,who helped organize theevent, said that the purposeof the panel was to “educatestudents and provide themwith more information on howthe university secures andallocates funds.”Called University Funding—Get the 411, the panel consistedof Kathy Sisoian, vice presidentfor Student Development; RebeckahDay, vice president forAdministration and Finance;and Tom Galvin, vice presidentfor University Advancement.Sisoian said in her openingremarks that the Student LifeContinued on PG 3, SEE “UNIVERSITY”PHOTO BY AMANDA GUERRAA member of the Aztec tribe dances at the Pecan Groveon Saturday, Nov. 18 as part of NASA event.By AMANDA GUERRAASSISTANT AD MANAGERFor years it was against the law for AmericanIndians to dance or participate in a PowWow. Professor of Criminal Justice MiloColton, Ph.D., a proud Cherokee Indian, isnow more than happy to participate in thethird annual Learning Traditions Pow Wow.The St. Mary’s University Native AmericanStudent Association (NASA) hosted theevent on Nov. 18.According to Colton, “music and danceare a very big part in Indian culture; they areour way of offering up prayers.”A Pow Wow is equivalent to a CatholicSunday mass and in the same respect is morethan just entertainment.Pow Wows were practiced in secret untilthe late 1980s. Before then, several Indianswere arrested and incarcerated for dancingat the ceremonies.Unfortunately there are several laws stillhindering the Indians’ right to practice theirreligion, such as the illegality of possessingfeathers. To American Indians, the feather isas important as a rosary is to Catholics.The Pow Wow shows first-hand the culturaldifferences and similarities.“This is a good cultural learning experiencebecause it dispels stereotypes that peoplehold about Native Americans,” Presidentof NASA and junior criminal justice majorContinued on PG 3, SEE “SERVICE”INSIDEFEATURES ENTERTAINMENTFree to RoamHeads UpProgram offers alumni aIncubus launches newchance to travel aroundalbum fi lled with lethalthe world.musical devices.SPORTSAcademic All-StarESPN The Magazinerecognizes junior DeannLopez.Page 6 Page 11 Page 15

News2 www.stmarytx.edu/rattler The RattlerNovember 22, 2006SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS WEEKPHOTO BY NATALIE AVITUANational studies show that one out of every four women on a college campus will experience sexual assaultduring college. Students wore t-shirts on Nov. 16 to increase campus awareness of how many people thatstatistic reaches.Nov. 4—InformationA student reported that whileat the light at Hillcrest and 36 thStreet. Her rear window wasbroken by a rock thrown by anunknown person.Nov. 6—Sick/Injured PersonPolice responded to a call for anintoxicated student in DoughertyHall, the student was transportedto the hospital by EMS due topossible alcohol poisoning.Nov. 7—TheftStudent reported leaving laptopin the weight room and found itmissing upon return.Nov. 7—Welfare ConcernStaff member reported she wasPOLICE BLOTTERafraid her estranged husbandwould follow her onto campus.Nov. 7—Sick/Injured PersonA player in a high schoolvolleyball tournamentcomplained of trouble breathingand was transported to thehospital by EMS.Nov. 7—Burglary of VehicleStudent reported ipod and otheritems taken from their vehicle.Nov. 8—TheftStudent reported laptop andbooks taken from an unsecuredcubicle in the Law Library.Nov. 8—InformationSt. Mary’s University officers andUniversity Ministrymoves into residence hallsBy ERICA RIVERASTAFF WRITERUniversity Ministry has begun takingministry into the residence halls afterofficial hours.Spiritual practices are becoming moreaccessible to students who, with a busyschedule, cannot visit the campus ministryoffice or join its services during the week.The idea is not new. Brother Joe Barretthas done it in the freshman residence hall.Now Campus Ministry will use it to givestudents who have time only in the lateevening an opportunity to become more intune with their spirituality.“This is to help students see what theywant or need,” Bro. Tom Heinle, S.M., said.A main goal of this new program isto make worship more comfortable andhomelike for students who show interestin small group worshipping rather than inlarge congregations. Here, students have achance to reflect on the events of the week.Implemented this semester as a testrun, the program has shown to be a realpopular idea.The first mass held in Marian Hall sawthe presence of about 70 students.At one time, small faith communitieswere very numerous and very helpful.Campus Ministry plans to reinstallthe idea to help students with theircollege experience.The program will become official in thespring semester of 2007.Although implemented in the residencehalls, the program will observe strict rulesregarding the privacy of students.“We will not be going door to door talkingto students but rather stopping to talkwhen the students are outside and notpressuring the student to stay and talk,”Heinle said.Students have been open to talking,whether about spiritual questions or aboutthe day’s events.The encounters are meant to be informaland brief as well as deep if thestudent chooses.According to Fr. Kip Stander, S.M., theprogram is running smoothly.Mass is planned to be offered everydayin the residence halls alternatingin location.Further details are still in discussion.The program has seen positive resultsso far.Surveys have been taken and changeshave been made to better the program beforeit goes full swing next semester.People involved include Heinle, Standerand sophomore international businessmajor Reesa Cerdas, senior theology andpsychology major Jennifer Buchmeyerand Marian Residence Hall DirectorAmiee Gessel.For more information call (210) 436-3213or visit the University Ministry building.Residence Life conducted a roomsearch in Dougherty Hall.Nov. 9—Sick/Injured PersonEMS was called to evaluate astudent that suffered a reactionto a shot received in the StudentHealth Center.Nov. 9—RobberyA non-student struck anindividual in an effort to flee afterhe was caught attempting to stealitems from the Law Library.Nov. 9—TheftA student reported books stolenfrom the Blume Library. Thesuspect that was apprehended isinvolved in a previous case.SOURCE: UNIVERSITY POLICEUPC drive seeks toydonationsThe University ProgrammingCouncil (UPC) began its ChristmasToy Drive on Nov. 17 to benefitchildren in the community. Theywelcome toys and monetary giftsthat will go to Chaminade Apartments,Loma Park Elementary andother neighboring communities.Drop off gifts at the UniversityPolice Department by Dec. 15.Contact Robert Gonzalez withUniversity Police at (210) 436-3668 or the UPC office for moreinformation at (210) 436-3994 or atupc@stmarytx.edu.S.A. Hispanic Chamberof Commerce BusinessMeet and GreetSt. Mary’s University DevelopmentOffice and the San AntonioHispanic Chamber of Commerceare sponsoring the San AntonioHispanic Chamber of CommerceBusiness Meet and Greet onNov. 28.Registration will began at 7:30a.m. and the program begins at 8a.m. in the University Center ConferenceRoom A.The Meet and Greet will consistof a complimentary breakfast andan opportunity to network with St.Mary’s alumni, faculty, and membersof the San Antonio HispanicChamber of Commerce.For more information contactRicardo Jimenez of the San AntonioHispanic Chamber of Commerceat (210) 255-0462 ext. 219 orat ricardoj@sahcc.org.HIV awareness programto be heldThe University ProgrammingCouncil (UPC) is sponsoringNEWS BRIEFSthe program “Does HIV LookLike Me?”The program is free of chargeand will take place from 5 to 6p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 29 atthe Java City Quad Amphitheater.The program will consist of aguest speaker that will address thecampaign against HIV.For more information contactthe UPC office at (210) 436-3994 orupc@stmarytx.edu.Christmas concertfeatures choir and bandThe St. Mary’s University MusicDepartment will present itsChristmas Concert free of chargeon Nov. 30 from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. at159 Camino Santa Maria the HolyRosary Catholic Church (adjacentto St. Mary’s).All student music ensemblesincluding the Coro Santa Mariachoir, Concert Band, Jazz Orchestra,and the various Jazz Comboswill give performances.For more information contactJohn Moore in the MusicDepartment at (210) 436-3421 orjmoore@stmarytx.edu.Canned goods neededfor fundraiserBeta Sigma Phi is asking the St.Mary’s community to help withtheir Christmas fundraiser “Stuffthe Stocking.” The fundraiserwill help three local families havea Christmas Dinner. Monetarygifts and canned goods should bedropped off in the Quad on Dec. 1from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.For more information contactNatalie Avitua at (210) 385-6247 ornavitua@smarytx.edu.COMPILED BYDOMINIQUE VARGAS

NewsNovember 22, 2006 The Rattlerwww.stmarytx.edu/rattler 3University plans forshort and long termbudgetary needsAdministrators explain funding decisions.Continued from page 1office started the Hot Topic Series“wanting to be more responsive tostudent questions.”The topic of university fundingwas chosen this fall due to theamount of students’ concern.Day then presented the differentperspectives and timehorizonsfor obtaining andspending funds.The perspectives include theMarianists, the trustees, and thestudents, faculty and staff.Day said that the first time-horizonis short term, “the year-toyearoperating budget.”The short-term budget is fundedthrough tuition and fees, annualfund contributions and theMarianist Trust.This budget funds faculty andstaff salary and benefits, scholarships,equipment, SGA budgetand university materials.The funds are allocated bybalancing enrollment and affordabilitywith paste x p e r i e n c e s ,“Fundraising is a science.Prospects mustbe identified, cultivatedand solicited.”new initiativesand unavoidablecosts.The BudgetCommittee,which has twostudent repre s e n t a t i v e s ,votes to recommendthe budgetto the trusteesfor approval.“The second time-horizon ismidterm, which can be three,five, 10 or 15 years of allocation,”Day said.The midterm horizon is fundedby any money left over from theoperating budget and the solicitationof donors.The midterm budget funds financialaid that will supplementforeseeable reductions in state andfederal funding.It also funds the Study Abroadprogram, technology updates andcampus repairs.The budget is recommendedby the Executive Council to theuniversity president, who thenrecommends it to the trusteesfor approval.As for the long term budget, itcan last many years and is meantto support future generations ofSt. Mary’s students.The sources include the interestearned off of the endowment,major gifts from donors and theMarianist Trust.Vice president Galvin said thestaff of University Advancementis trained to build relationshipswith individuals, alumni, corporationsand foundations in orderto encourage financial support.This support provides first andforemost for scholarships, whichlast year, according to Galvin,saw over a 100 percent increasein funding.“Fundraising is a science,” Galvinsaid. “Prospects must be identified,cultivated and solicited.”Identification of prospectsrequires research tofind alumni who have startedor have already establishedthemselves professionally.Cultivation of these prospectsis the construction of a relationshipfounded upon trustand understanding.Solicitation of the prospectsmust come at the right time, andmust relate to the prospect’s concernsand interests.According to Galvin, it takesapproximately “three to fiveyears to cultivate a one milliondollar gift.”A gift like that of Bill Greehey’s$25 million donation last year tothe business school takes nearly40 years of cultivation.Galvin said that Greehey’s firstgift to the school upon his graduationin 1960 was four dollars.Galvin made it clear that thesegifts are not given- Tom Galvin,Vice President ofUniversity Advancementeveryday. To getsuch large gifts,it must be at the“right time” andunder the rightcircumstances.Among themajor concernsbrought up in thepanel discussionwas the fundingof the Bell Tower.Galvin said that the largest contributorto the Bell Tower was analumnus from the class of 1962.He wanted the money to gospecifically toward the Bell Towerin memory of his late motherand son.Galvin added that this contributionis classified as a “restrictedgift” and the university is ethicallyand legally bound to follow theconstraints of the gift.Other concerns includedthe building of a new residencehall and funding forstudent organizations.Sisoian assured students thatthe need for a new residence hallhas been recognized, and “as soonas a price can be put on the project,it can be taken to Finance.”Junior biochemistry major RachelKeller posed the question ofhow much money is allocated forstudent organizations.Sisoian said that historically,the only organizations receivinguniversity funding are those thatdo not require dues.Those organizations are fundedthrough the operating budget.Sophomore marketing majorSasha Castillo said she found thepanel discussion very informational.“[The panelists] explainedthe topic very well and studentsshould not think negatively aboutuniversity funding,” Castillo said.Castillo and Martinez agreedthat students should understandthat funding must be prioritized.Students plant trees on campusPHOTO BY JONATHAN HERNANDEZLed by the Service Learning Center,students helped plant trees in aneffort to beautify campus.Continued from page 1Marie Crabb said.Crabb said she hopes that thePow Wow will get the word outabout her organization and theAmericans Indians.“This helps the Native Americanscelebrate their culture andkeep their traditions alive,”she said.The NASA Pow Wow is anintertribal event consisting ofsuch tribes as the Lipan Apache,By ERICA RIVERASTAFF WRITERIn an effort to make the universitya bigger part of the surroundingcommunity, volunteers fromthe Service Learning Center (SLC)partnered with the UniversityPark Neighborhood Associationto plant trees along the gates onCulebra and Camino Santa Mariaon Nov. 11.Students who helped dig theholes for young trees at the eventsaid that volunteering their timeto perform this physical work wasfor a good cause.“We need trees to make thiscampus more inviting,” saidsophomore elementary educationmajor Selena Mendoza.Sophomore biology majorNorma Maldonado agreed, “Thiscampus needed those trees tosoften up the outer perimeter ofthe school.”The university hopes that thesenew trees will help to instill incurrent students, incoming freshmenand their families a sense ofpride in the areas encircling theNavaho and Cherokee. Most ofthe dancers heard about the eventhrough flyers handed out atother ceremonies.Though most of the participantsare from Texas, there havebeen a few from out of state.“All we got to say is we gota Pow Wow,” said Colton in responseto how NASA gets theword out.Colton said that hosting suchPow Wows is a way for studentscollege grounds.“Besides, it will be a type oftime capsule, now, in the futurewhen we look back there is goingto be something to see that Ihelped do,” Mendoza said.Junior biology major AngelicaVillarreal agrees.“I like to think that somedaymy children will get to see thetrees that we planted,” she said.The event attracted a goodnumber of students from differentorganizations on campus aswell as those not involved in anyspecific one.They came together with thecommon goal of improving theirschool and community, a placethey now consider a home awayfrom home.“Working with good peoplefor a good cause…those are goodtimes,” Villarreal said with a smileas she looked at the trees she hadhelped to plant.Students also had the opportunityto enjoy themselveswhile doing service to beautifythe community.Service is sacred for Native Americansto become interconnected to anation that so many have losttouch with.“It’s been a tragedy that policiesof genocide made peopleashamed or fearful of being Indian,”he said.A way to share a person’sculture is to allow others to experiencean authentic religiousceremony. To American Indians,that sacred religious service is aPow Wow.

News4 www.stmarytx.edu/rattler The RattlerNovember 22, 2006Freshman honor society inducts new membersBy PATRICIA JASSOSTAFF WRITERIn recognition of freshmen whoattained GPA of 3.5 or above, PhiEta Sigma, the Freshman NationalHonor Society, held its inductionceremony last Wednesday in theUniversity Center.Newly inducted member JacquelynJohnson, sophomore Englishmajor, said the ceremonywas honoring.“In freshman year, it is hard tobalance everything and deal withthe transition while maintaining ahigh GPA. It shows a lot of dedicationon the individual’s part,”Johnson said.The society’s goal is to encourageand reward academicexcellence during students’freshman year at institutions ofhigher learning.“This is a remarkable achievement,”said Rosalind Alderman,co-adviser of Phi Eta Sigma andAssociate Dean for Student Life.“It is an honor for me to work withsuch outstanding students.”Alderman recognized the newlyelected officers, President LauraRamos, Vice President ChristinaFrescas, and Senior Advisor ElviraCamargo, whom she said havehigh hopes for a busy agendanext semester.Throughout the ceremony,the officers and Chapter AdviserBy VANESSA COLÓNSTAFF WRITERThe Undergraduate Admission’sannual Sleeping Bag Weekendachieved success this year,PHOTO BY ANGELIQUE CHAVARRIAForty-six freshmen joined the Phi Eta Sigma honor society during a ceremony and reception on Nov. 16.Graciela Lopez stressed the importanceof three qualities: anunimpeachable character, a wellcaredfor body and a vigorous,disciplined mind.After accepting these qualitiesas guidelines, all inductees werecalled individually to shake handswith their officers and adviser.welcoming 126 high school studentsto stay overnight and attendclasses at St. Mary’s on Nov. 12and 13.“For all the students whoconfirmed their attendance,we had 81 percent of themcome,” said Candace Prado-Martin, assistant director forUndergraduate Admissions.Each inductee received a societypin and certificate before signingthe membership book.Once inducted, an individualbecomes a lifetime member.Ramos said that the lifetimemembership would remind themembers to continue to representthe honor society and what it signifieseven after graduation.“I think it is an encouragementto continue to strive for excellenceeveryday at St. Mary’s and forthe rest of your life,” said KellyOchoa, inductee and sophomorebiology major.An invocation and benedictionof this life long commitment“That’s really good,” she said.“Any show rates above 60 percentare considered good, especiallysince a good number of thosecoming were from outside the SanAntonio area.”Only 39 percent of the participantswere from San Antoniowhile the rest came from 31 differentcities, with two out of state.Potential St. Mary’s studentsstayed overnight in a freshmanresidence hall with student hosts.As many as 155 St. Mary’s studentsoffered the space.“We had equal interest from allthree dorms [Marian, Dougherty,and Lourdes] in wanting to hoststudents,” said Prado-Martin. “Wereally appreciate the support ourstudents showed by hosting.”According to host students,having a high school senior stayfor the weekend provided themwith a chance to help other studentsin their college search.“I didn’t think it was an inconvenienceat all, because I know inmy case, I went through this programas a senior in high school,and it helped me a lot,” saidfreshman host Cathy Griego, abiology major.She added that the opportunitycan give high school seniors anew perspective.“I think it’s very insightful, becausewhen I came, what makes itso surreal is that you get immersedin the actual college experience,with actual college students. Mysleeping bagger really enjoyed theexperience,” Griego said.When asked what she likedbest about the program, highschool student Stephanie Beltranwrote in her review, “staying withPHI ETA SIGMA2006 INDUCTEESJessica AcostaVictor AguilarPreston AkromisEleonora BassMichael ByrneTeresa CarlosVanna CarrisalezJessica CastanonRoxanne CastilloVanessa ColonOrlando CortesJames EscamiaMegan FreasierChris FremauxKayla GalvanPatrick GavinDante GonzalezJacklyn GoodBerta GubiZayra HernandezPeter HouhoulisJacquelyn JohnsonKarla LiedtkeAmy LuuAlexander MaurerDaniel McCarthyJacqueline MendezVanessa MendozaVirginia MendozaIsela MenjivarGabriela MoralesKelly OchoaTatiana OchoaShanik PipkinMelissa RecioJohn ReyesErick RodriguezJessica SmithLaura TeveniVictor TrejoAmanda TristanAllison Vande HeyLeslie VasquezFrancisco VasquezLyssa VillanuevaAriel VinasOfficersLaura Ramos, PresidentChristina Frescas, Vice PresidentTara Wicketts, Treasurer and SecretaryElvira Camargo, Senior AdviserChapter AdvisersRosalind AldermanGraciela Lopezwas said by Fr. Kip Stander, S.M.,University Chaplain. Standeralso suggested students use theirknowledge and character for thebenefit of one another and ofthe world.As Phi Eta Sigma’s motto states,“knowledge is power.”High schoolers get taste of college life during dorm staymy student host. My host was sogreat, friendly, and welcoming.I got a taste of dorm life, and itwas exciting.”After spending the night, prospectivestudents then attendedclasses in the area of their interests.This year, 28 professors agreed toopen their classrooms to visitors,providing greater selection for thehigh school seniors.“When we totaled all the numberof seats professors were offering,there were 245,” said Prado-Martin. “Although we didn’t have245 students attend, that allowedus to offer our students a varietyof courses for them. So we appreciatedthe faculty support by allowingstudents to sit in their classesthat day.”In addition to campus toursand information sessions, SleepingBag Weekend also took prospectivestudents on a tour of downtownSan Antonio. Participantsenjoyed a ride on the Riverwalk’sfamous River Boat Tour and acomplimentary dinner at the HardRock Café.“They get to see all facets of notonly the campus, but of the city,”explained Prado-Martin. “This isall important for the students sothey can make an informed decisionof where they would like topursue their higher education.”Prado-Martin acknowledgedthat a prevalent complaintamong the participants was itsshort length.“It’s just an overnight program,so a lot of them say they wish theprogram was a bit longer so theycould participate in more socialstudent activities, and attend anotherclass.”

FeaturesNovember 22, 2006 The Rattlerwww.stmarytx.edu/rattler 5By SARAH SWAIMSTAFF WRITERIn recognition of Sexual AssaultAwareness Week, Student Life organizedTake Back the Night Walkon Nov. 16 at the front steps of theUniversity Center.As a rally and a march, TakeBack the Night was first organizedto raise awareness of violenceagainst women, children and familiesin local communities.“It’s a chance for St. Mary’sUniversity to come together inrecognition of violence againstwomen,” said Patrice Buckner,Director of Judicial Affaris andCommunity Education.The event began in Belgium in1976 by attendants of the InternationalTribunal on Crimes AgainstWomen, during which 2,000women gathered to discuss topicsincluding forced motherhoodand prostitution.The next year, Take Back theNight reached the United States,starting in San Francisco.Currently, the initiative of thewalk is to protest the conditionscausing women to feel unsafewhile walking alone at night.According to a survey doneby Penn State on rape on collegecampuses, one in four collegewomen is a victim of rape orattempted rape.ST. MARY’S RECOGNIZES SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS WEEKPHOTO BY NATALIE AVITUAJunior undeclared humanities major Elvira Camargo lights candles withother students as part of the Take Back the Night tradition.Community joins toTake Back the NightCollege women are at a muchhigher risk than non-collegians.There are 35.3 incidents ofsexual assault per 1,000 femalestudents on a campus as recordedover a 6.91-month period.Although St. Mary’s promoteson-campus safety, it is beneficialto raise awareness aboutthese statistics.“As a community, we do notwant dangerous things happeningto us. We want to come togetherto stand against sexual violence,”Bucker said.On St. Mary’s campus, studentswho feel uncomfortable walkingat night may call University Policefor an escort.The department also offersthe Rape Aggression Defense(RAD) program.Students who attended theevent said that it was an opportunityto learn as a community.“Take Back the Night hasopened up many students’ eyesabout how many women actuallydo get assaulted on campusesaround the nation, and it’s a greatway to do this as a community,”sophomore education major MarissaGarcia said.“I think it’s a really good thingthat we’re promoting awarenessabout this issue.”ClassifiedsADVERTISE HEREStandard Cost: $10 (5 lines of 12 pt. type, approx. 2 columnsx 1 in. Additional lines $1.00 each). Call Nancy(210) 436-3401 for more information.Students get “carded” as partof awareness week’s activitiesBy JESSICA RODRIGUEZSTAFF WRITERGetting carded is not somethingwell-received by mostcollege students.However, if a member of theStudent Life office carded you lastweek, it could greatly reduce yourrisk of being sexually assaulted.As a part of Sexual AssaultAwareness Week, Get Carded Dayin the University Center Atriumon Nov. 14 educated studentsabout sexual assault.The program’s organizershanded out small wallet-sizedcards with essential informationon how to protect yourselffrom sexual assault and what todo if it happens to you or one ofyour friends.According to the Web site ofRape, Abuse & Incest NationalNetwork (RAINN), one of thesponsors of Get Carded Day,the program has reached overone million college students onmore than 1,200 campuses acrossthe country.For more information:www.rainn.orgAbout 5,000 volunteers participatedand helped bring it to lifein 2005.Junior Sarah Ingram, an internationalbusiness major and sexualassault awareness advocate, saidstudents seek education becauseof the severity of the issue.“The overwhelming responseis due to people recognizing theissue in our lives and recognizingthat we can actually do somethingabout it,” she said.According to Ingram, one outof four women will be victimsof sexual assault during collegeyears. Ingram said she believedthe statistic is true because she has“seen it play out that way.”Patrice Buckner, Directorof Judicial Affaris andCommunity Education, helpedbring the Get Carded Program toSt. Mary’s.“Sexual assault happens in alluniversities, just like alcohol anddrugs. It’s a very important issueand that’s why we dedicatea whole week to it, and not justone day,” she said.The importance of the issue isso great that the school policy isbeing revised to include a specificsection on sexual assault.The student handbook currentlyhas a detailed section on sexualharassment that can cover sexualassault violation.However, Buckner is workingto add a separate sectionwith a detailed and specific definitionof sexual assault, a list ofprocedures and students’ rightsand responsibilities.RAINN offers several statisticson the issue; for example,every two and a half minutessomeone in the United States issexually assaulted.These statistics help cautioncollege students who walk aroundwith the belief that it will neverhappen to them.“If you don’t think it’s going tohappen to you, then take care ofyour friends. If every person looksout for someone else, everyonewill be covered,” Buckner said.HOW TO REDUCE YOUR RISK OF SEXUAL ASSAULT· Share class and social schedules.· Be sure your friends know how to reach your familyand your family has their contact information.· Stay in a group.· Communicate your drinking limits firmly and directly.· Trust your instincts. Do not feel obligated to doanything you do not want to.

Features6 www.stmarytx.edu/rattler The RattlerNovember 22, 2006COURTESY PHOTOFr. Charles Miller, Ph.D., S.M., alumna Leticia Pacheco, Ph.D., and a Ksar Ghillane enjoy a horse ride to the Sahara dunes in Tunisia desert.Program gives Rattlers chance to roamBy SARAH SWAIMSTAFF WRITERFor those who wish to seethe world through a fresh, informedperspective, Roamin’ Rattlersis a unique aspect of the St.Mary’s experience.The program focuses on educationaltours for alumni and friendsof the university, helping to connectalumni and current faculty.However, students are encouragedto attend.“This program was not intendedto be aimed at students, althoughstudents are most welcometo join any of our tours,” said Fr.Charles Miller, Ph.D., S.M., directorof University Travel Service.“The tours give an opportunityto alumni to meet and getto know our current faculty, thusintensifying, we hope, their ownpersonal attachment to the university,even if some of their own pastprofessors are now retired or havemoved on,” Miller said.Some of the upcoming toursinclude “Legendary Tuscany,”“Smithsonian Journeys: Trainsin the Alps,” “Greece and GreekIsles,” “Alaska: Voyage of theGlaciers,” “Catholic Shrinesof Europe” and “China andYangtse Cruise.”The Tuscany tour includes avisit to Florence, Assisi, where thegroup will stop at the Basilica ofSt. Francis, San Gimignano andPisa, the birthplace of the astronomerGalileo and the home of thefamous Leaning Tower.“Here at St. Mary’s Universitywe have many faculty memberswho have lived, studied,taught, or at least traveled abroad,some of them quite extensively,”Miller said.He said that the experienceallows participants to broadentheir horizons.“Things do not have to be theway they are in our own homesurroundings, and this opens usup in many ways to better understandother people and otherpeoples,” he said.Professor Mary Jackson of theEnglish department, who hadtraveled to northern Italy as partof the program, remembers thetrip being special, well-plannedand well-executed.“We spent the first fivedays in Rome, which, eventhough I had been there afew times before, I saw throughnew eyes, as I learned more thanI could ever have imagined aboutancient and Christian Rome,”Jackson said.Whether one is well-traveledor has never left the state,the Roamin’ Rattlers experiencelends an opportunity to learnsomething new.For more information:roaminrattlers@stmarytx.eduFacultymember’sgrouphelpshomelessBy JACQUELINE MENDEZSTAFF WRITERFounded by faculty memberScott Schrader, Under the BridgesMinistry is named for its purposeto assist the homeless living withbridges over their heads.The group is holding afundraiser called HomelessChristmas Trees.This event is a first for thegroup. In the past, the funds foractivities had come directly fromits volunteers’ pockets.Now members hope to ease thatstrain and to do more for its targetcrowd with the money raised fromselling Douglas Firs on campus for$50 each.All profits will go into helpingthe homeless, but the money cannotbe directly distributed to themdue to a rampant problem of substanceabuse.Instead, the group plans tospend the funds on necessitiessuch as cooking utensils,clothing and food in order toensure that they serve theirintended purpose.Much of Under the BridgesMinistry’s work involves directcontact with those they help. It isnot unusual for some of the volunteersto become personally involvedwith them.“It means the world to thesepeople to ask their names,” saidSchrader. “They just light up likea Christmas tree.”The group offers the opportunityto gain a new perspectiveand make a difference insomeone’s life.Robert Fording, a frequent volunteer,told a story about a couplestranded in San Antonio. Thegroup members had contributedmoney to buy bus tickets to sendthem back home to Oklahoma.“I will never forget the look onhis face,” said Fording. “His wifewas in tears.”There is no age limit, so all arewelcome to contribute their shareto the cause. The group prides itselfon having volunteers rangingfrom a 1-year-old child to a few80-year-old folks.“We have entire families whocome down to help us,” saidSchrader, whose daughter alsovolunteers and is less than 10years of age.The group accepts donationsand strongly encourages those notin need of a Christmas tree to stillpurchase one—for another familywithout a tree.For more information:Scott SchraderUnder the Bridges Ministry(210) 431-4343

FeaturesNovember 22, 2006 The Rattlerwww.stmarytx.edu/rattler 7By NANCY MARTINEZADVERTISING MANAGERPHOTO BY NANCY MARTINEZSophomore business managementmajor Elaine Greenwood isoften found at Sultan’s Café andGrill on the weekends.The lounge-style setting, withcomfortable couches and accentedMiddle Eastern decorations, distinguishesthe popular spot.It is one of about ten “bars” onecan find in San Antonio that offersthe experience of smoking shisha,or flavored tobacco, through a waterpipe called hookah.The amount of visitors frequentingone of these loungeson a given Saturday night is aclear indicator of the tradition’sgrowing popularity.“The fact is that when I amsmoking it, I am with my friends.It is more a social aspect than anything,”Greenwood said.Junior speech communicationmajor Sonia Charbel and herbrother Danny Charbel, St. Mary’salumnus, both have grown upwith this tradition. They agree thatthe social aspect of the tradition isvery important.“It’s a social thing, for when wehave guests at the house for example.Some people go out drinking,and we fix a hookah,” Sonia said.Hookah, or narghile as it iscalled in the Middle East, originatedin India more than 500years ago.The hookah contains four parts:the glass base where the water iscontained, the regulator that takesthe smoke from the tobacco, a clayplate to house the tobacco whichis heated with coals and the hosefrom which the person inhales.“It’s definitely a cultural thing,my dad’s dad showed him and heshowed me. As long as I have remembered,there has been one atthe house,” Danny said.The hookah has evolved fromcoconut shells to modern glow inthe dark glass but it never loses itsoriginal purpose and design.“I’ve seen some made with twoto six hoses, some swivel, some areplastic, some glass. There is about50-60 flavors from flour to apple tolicorice,” Sonia said.A common misconception ofhookah is that it does not harm thesmoker’s health.The American Cancer Society(ACS) and the World Health Organization(WHO) counter that byclaiming that “regardless of form,flavor, or disguise, tobacco is stilla killer.”Despite these health concerns,Greenwood said she considershookah a less-threatening form ofsmoking tobacco.“The first time I did it, I got aPHOTO BY LIZ HERRERAAbove: Smoking tobacco througha hookah water pipe is a practicewhich dates back to India morethan 500 years ago. The hookahcontains four parts: a glass base,a regulator, a clay plate to hold thetobacco and a hose from which toinhale the flavored smoke.Left: Alumnus Danny Charbel preparesthe tobacco, which is calledshisha, before smoking from thehookah at his home. He said thatsmoking the flavored tobacco ismore of a tradition than a hobby,which his family uses when theyentertain guests.Middle Eastern traditionclouds over the WestHookah lounges grow in popularity, worry health organizations.little light headed but it does notdo the same now. I think it is probablythe lesser evil of all things youcould smoke,” she said.ACS states that the water doesnot filter out many of the toxinssuch as carbon monoxide, nicotineand heavy metals.Attempts to reverse the evergrowingpopularity have alreadybeen enacted in parts of theMiddle East.Several types of cancer, includinglung cancer, have been linkedto hookah smoking.Hookah is also associated withspreading diseases such as tuberculosisthrough the sharing ofthe mouthpiece.Danny acknowleges the dangersthat are associated withhis habit.“Of course, I’m concerned.I’ve been reading the studies thathave been done about the effectsof smoking hookah and I understandthat since it is a very socialthing, the volume you take inmakes it worse than a cigarette,”Danny said.An alternative to smoking inone of these lounges would be totry Middle Eastern food and enjoythe atmosphere.This way, people can socializewithout risking their health.PLAY REVIEWDrama departmentbreaks through CeilingBy JESSICA RODRIGUEZSTAFF WRITERThrough Nov. 10 to Nov. 18, theSt. Mary’s Department of Dramapresented Arthur Miller’s play,The Archbishop’s Ceiling. The playcenters on the liberties and thepowerlessness of writers, set inan unidentified European countryduring the 1970s.The play follows Americanwriter, Adrian Wallach (Jason J.Casanova), who travels to a Europeancity during the Cold Warin order to restart a novel he hasabandoned. His encounter with adose of Communist society initiatesthe events of the play.After conversing with Maya(Lydia Acosta), the woman whoinspired his novel, Adrian becomesenveloped in the intriguesurrounding the candid novelistSigmund (Rolando Herrera) andthe writer Marcus (Osvaldo Hernandez).The five-person cast alsoincludes Irina (Emily Cancellare),a Dane who serves as Marcus’arm candy.The main conflict of the play involvesthe government’s stealingof the manuscript Sigmund hasspent the last five years writing.Tension then results from thedecision Sigmund must make toeither stay and write in a countrywhere he is unwanted, beingforced to publish through the undergroundpress, or to flee to anotherless oppressive country.Directed by Patrick Donnelly,visiting instructor of Drama, everythingabout this productionwas outstanding. The scenic design,done by Director of TheatreBernadette Hamilton-Brady,properly conveyed the cold andsurreal atmosphere surroundingCommunist oppression.Donnelly lit the stage with awarm glow, giving it an ominousundertone. More than insinuatingnight and day, the lighting evokeda sense of the uncertainty pervadingthe characters’ lives.Acosta gave a seductive andmysterious performance of Maya,conveying the difficulties of lifeunder the oppression. Similarly,Casanova portrayed Adrianas anxious and restless whileHerrera’s Sigmund was drivenand dynamic.Hernandez gave a suave performanceof Marcus and Cancellare’sportrayal of the lively, jazz-lovingIrina was not only convincing butdelightful as well.According to Hamilton-Brady,the drama department received agood response for auditions.“It is always difficult to choosethe cast. Sometimes the actorsare really talented, but they don’tphysically fit the character. We notonly have to look at the actor, butalso at the dynamics of the entirecast,” Hamilton-Brady said.Acosta, a freshman speechcommunications major, said sheauditioned because of her loveof theater and the Department ofDrama’s good reputation.On her role as Maya, Acostasaid, “I can relate to my characterbecause she tends to be more intelligentthan the men and she lovesto talk.”Senior José Rocha attended theperformance on its opening night.“As an international relationsmajor, I am prone to studyingCommunist countries, especiallyduring the time period in whichthe play was set,” he said. “I believethe representation of theproblems of a Communist nationwas noteworthy and the characterswere able to portray the essenceof the time.”By and large, the production ofThe Archbishop’s Ceiling was onewith contemporary significance.The play appeals to not only artlovers and political enthusiasts,but also the general audience.

8 www.stmarytx.edu/rattlerFeatuThe RaTHIS YEAR, NO REGIFTINGTHE RATTLEREDITORIAL STAFF PICKS MUST-HAVE PRESENTSENTERTAINMENT EDITOR PICK:USB RECORDABLE TURNTABLE, $149Bestbuy.comEver want to convert vinyl into a CD or MP3 fi le?This handy turntable will not only transfer yourclassic tunes, but it will also smooth out the excesspopping noises that accumulate on recordsover time.A perfect choice for any music lover.SPORTS EDITOR PICK:ZUNE, $249.99Zunescene.comWith a 3-inch screen, 30 GB hard drive, built in FM tuner and the ability to sharemusic wirelessly with other Zunes, Microsoft’s fi rst foray into the portable musicand video market is making waves. Available in three fresh colors and a rubbery,scratch proof case, the Zune is a superior alternative to the ubiquitous iPod.EDITOR-IN-CHIEF PICK:BANANA CELL PHONE HOLDER, $10Fredfl are.comIf any of your friends have a slapsticksense of humor, or happen to be a primateon the go, this foam Banana Cell PhoneHolder will make the perfect fresh produceaccessory. It’s fun and it’s almost practical.DESIGN BY EDGAR A. ALANISCOPY EDITOR PICK:DOVE SUN CATCHER, $10Auroraglass.orgBring the gift of peaceto your loved ones notonly for this Christmasholiday, but forany time of the year.Hang these beautifulglass doves onyour window, they willcatch the sunlight andbrighten your home.Your purchase willbenefi t the charitableendeavors of St. Vincentde Paul Society.ASSISTANT ADVERTISING MANAGER PICK:VOLCOM GENIUS PINSTRIPE VEST, $48Swell.comSexy, smooth and sharp is howyou will look in Volcom’s pinstripevest. Wear it for a business interviewor for that crazy Friday nightparty. It is a must for any femalecollege student’s wardrobe.NEWS EDITOR PICK:SPURS TICKETS, $9-$219Spurs.comSpend Christmas with your family, spendNew Year’s with your friends, but save7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5 for the personyou really love to watch the San AntonioSpurs and Dallas Mavericks go headto head. Expect high-caliber basketballwhen the two best teams in the Westtake each other on.

ttlerres November 22, 2006MANAGING EDITOR PICK:GUITAR HERO, $64.99Gamequestdirect.comTired of walking in on your buddy playing air guitar? Spare them the embarassmentand pick them up the Guitar Hero bundle this holiday season:the Playstation 2 videogame where anyone (and I mean anyone) can be arock star.ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR PICK:THE O.C.: THE COMPLETE SEASONS 1-3, $189Bestbuy.comWith more drama and more shockingsurprises, The OC gets better and betterafter every season.Give it to those hardcore fans and theywill have hours and hours of OC fun.WEBMASTER PICK:THE COMMON COLD, $5.95Giantmicrobes.comThe Flu, Ebola and the Common Cold are theperfect gifts this holiday season, if they come asstuffed animals, that is.GIANTmicrobes is great for any prospective doctoror anyone with a sense of humor.FEATURES EDITOR PICK:APPLE IPOD SOCKS, $29Apple.comKeep your iPod warmthis holiday season anddress it up with Apple’siPod Socks – the onlysocks people won’tmind getting as gifts.With a set of six differentcolors, it will allowthem to choose theone that best fi ts theirpersonality.COMMENTARY EDITOR PICK:HASBRO IDOG, $27.79Target.comBarking and walking is not the onlything this robot pooch can do.Responsive to music, this poochwill “move and groove” to your favoritesongs. A perfect gift to keepyour loved ones company.PHOTO EDITOR PICK:GREY’S ANATOMY:SEASON 2 UNCUT, $29.99Bestbuy.comWith twisting plotsand steamy surprises,Season 2 of Grey’sAnatomy drama willsurely bring a smile toany Grey’s fan.ADVERTISING MANAGER PICK:AIPTEK DIGITAL CAMCORDER, $149Bestbuy.comWhen your crazy uncle has too mucheggnog this holiday, this trendy gadget willhelp you catch his most embarassing momentsin video, pictures and sound.At only six ounces, this digital camcorderis portable and comes in funky colors.LAYOUT/DESIGN MANAGER PICK:FISHEYE CAMERA, $50Veer.com/merchPhotography just got better. With a built-in fi sheyelens, this camera lets you take pictures at an allencompassing170 degree fi eld of view. Photos willlook as if you are looking at them through a fi shbowl. Unconventional photography at a great price,this camera is the perfect choice for any professional,novice or aspiring photographer.

Entertainment10 www.stmarytx.edu/rattler The RattlerNovember 22, 2006MEDIASPINCog soldiers patrol the destroyed streets of Sera and serve as humanity’s last line of defense against the Locust horde.Microsoft’s Xbox 360 finally has its ‘killer app’VIDEO GAME REVIEWGears of War★★★★XBOX 360By TIM HENNESSEYSPORTS EDITORJust short of the systems’ oneyearanniversary, Epic has crafteda game that finally shows what theXbox 360 is capable of.Gears of War’s eye-poppinggraphics, explosive Dolby Digitalsound, and fast, frenetic gameplayall come together to form thesystems’ first “must-own” game.Graphically, this masterpiecepushes the Xbox 360’s processingcores to the limit. If you are lookingto show off you new HDTV,this is the game to do it.From HDR lighting to bumpmapping, if you can think of cuttingedge processing techniquesbeing thrown around in gamesHappy Feet★★★★Dir. by George MillerStarring Robin Williams, HughJackman, and Nicole KidmanBy AMANDA GUERRAASSISTANT AD MANAGERIn a world where every penguinhas a song, one little penguinhas to find another way to win theheart of his true love.It was love at first note whenMemphis (voice by Hugh Jackman)and Norma Jean (voice by NicoleKidman) met in the freezing plainsof Antarctica. When their sonMumble (voice by Elijah Wood)finally hatches, what seemed to bea case of cold feet turns out to be amisunderstood talent.Mumble tries to fit in, but in asociety where a heart song is theonly way he can win the love ofGloria (Brittney Murphy), he cannothelp but be an outsider.After struggling to be a partof his peers, he finds a bandthese days, chances are Gears ofWar is pumping them out at arock-solid 30 fps.Even on a standard definitiontelevision, the visuals are a sightto behold. Objects are self-shadowed,wet surfaces glisten, andpools of “Emulsion,” a lava-likeenergy source, glow with a golden-yellowhue, basking the undergroundcaves of the game in asurreal haze.Not taking a backseat to the visuals,the sound design in Gears ofWar is top notch.The soundtrack stays low-keybut effective, picking up duringbattles yet dropping into the backgroundjust enough to keep thetension high in between.The real stars on the auralfront are the sound effects andvoice acting.Hooked up to a decent surroundsound set-up, crystal clearexplosion will rock your walls asthe sound of exploding masonryand spent shell casings envelopeyou during battle.You can hear the gutturalscreams of your enemy, the Locustof Latino Adelie penguins ledby the wise cracking Ramon(Robin Williams).Happy Feet is a perfect mix ofclassic and modern animated filmelements. The musical sequencescreate a nostalgic feeling thatkeeps your toes tapping.Happy Feet feels refreshingbecause it has been too longsince animated characters sangHorde, surround you while yourmen bark out flanking orders fromyour left and right.The sound pulls you into theheart of the conflict, taking you asclose as you would ever want to areal-life battle.When you play this game, doyourself a favor: turn it up!Finally, the impressive sightsand sounds mean nothing ifthe game-play is lacking, butthankfully, Gears of War deliversthis in spades.With its stop-and-pop gameplaymechanic, the use of coverproves vital in Gears of War.Standing out in the open or goingrun-and-gun will only get youcut down. You must locate the enemy,suppress, and then flank, andyou must do it all quickly.If you allow the enemy to takethe initiative, you will turn whatshould have been a 30-secondengagement into a four or fiveminute long battle.Online play, much like the single-playerportion, is fast-pacedand brutal.The game allows for seamlessand danced.The story line is very entertainingbecause it illustrates the importanceof accepting who you areeven when everyone else is singinga different tune.Although the movie is targetedto children and families, I recommendit to everyone.The fact that the penguinshad Latino accents added a littleCOURTESY PHOTOtwo-player cooperative play in thesingle-player campaign, and up toeight for the adversarial mode.Maps are perfectly tuned forthis relatively low number of players,which help keep the actionflowing. The stop-and-pop techniqueis just as important onlineas it is off.With the chainsaw bayonet attachedto your primary weapon,many late round matches becomea deadly game of cat and mouse.Behind every pillar, every boxcould lie your enemy, ready tosaw you in half as you cautiouslymake your way across the map.If you are not on your toes, thelast thing you’ll hear is the chainsawrevving as your screen getssprayed with blood.Gory? Yes. Over-the-topfun? Definitely.There are no two ways aboutit: If you have an Xbox 360, youneed to own this game. The firstblockbuster of the next-generation,Gears of War deliverson every front.Pick it up, jump online andjoin the fight!Happy Feet sure to move heart and soleThe penguins in Happy Feet reach great heights with their fancy foot work.COURTESY PHOTOcultural spice to Happy Feet.Though it had classical themes ofboy-meets-girl and finding yourplace in the world, this moviestays unique with colorful fuzzycharacters plus a wonderful blendof emotions.After seeing this movie, you’llbe dancing your way back toyour car.OJ Simpson“He Didn’t Do It”A flashback from the90s, O.J. Simpson hasreemerged. His book IfI Did It, delves throughthe scenarios he wouldhave taken in the infamousmurders whichdominated the mediaabout 10 years ago.Regardless of who committedthe murders,all involved parties areguilty of pure insanity.Kevin FederlineFedEx FilesFormer Mr. Spears isfiling for sole custodyof his children; asurprising move forsomeone whose careerstrategy is partying.And who would offercustody to a manattempting to sell asex tape with his nowex-wife?Sacha Baron CohenBorat’s Last LaughSacha Baron Cohen’shilariously offensivecharacter Borat isn’tmaking everyonelaugh. Fraternity boyshave filed a lawsuitclaiming “emotionaldistress”after theirdrunken commentswere captured inthe film. As if thatweren’t enough, theBritish comedian wasattacked while incharacter.COMPILED BY ELIZABETH RUIZ

EntertainmentNovember 22, 2006 The Rattlerwww.stmarytx.edu/rattler 11REWIND|ttALBUMS WE MISSEDStatistics prove one in every five musicians cannot grow facial hair.Grenades to outdo ...Left of MurderALBUM REVIEWIncubusLight Grenades★★★★SONYBy JESSICA RODRIGUEZSTAFF WRITERFor the past three years, Incubusfans have suffered from withdrawalsymptoms due to a lack ofnew material from the alternativerock band. In spite of the past fiveincredibly successful albums, having“Megalomaniac” on repeathas gotten old.Thankfully, after their threeyearabsence, Incubus’ sixth album,Light Grenades, will finallyhit the stores on Nov. 28.Still, with their last album ACrow Left of the Murder debutingat No. 2 on the Billboard chartsand selling more than 1.1 millioncopies, Light Grenades has a toughact to follow.Incubus has a reputation forsounding like 19 different bandsin one genre-hopping album, andLight Grenades is no exception.The mess of sounds, compiledby Mike Einziger (guitarand string arrangement), BrandonBoyd (frontman and leadvocals), Ben Kenney (bassist),Jose Pasillas (drummer) and DJChris Kilmore, is not too far fromtheir 2001 release of Morning ViewSessions, which sold more than2.7 million copies.Their first single“Anna Molly” which plays on theCOURTESY PHOTOword ‘anomaly,’ describes the imageof a girl that could not exist.The song has a sophisticatedsound and leans towards the‘rock’ side of Incubus as opposedto the transcendent ballads theyare also famous for.With “Dig,” the band brings ina new structural style. The songspeaks of the importance of forgivenessand compassion.On the other end of thespectrum, “A Kiss to Send UsOff” shows listeners the rawside of Incubus.The band plans to launchtheir tour on Jan. 5, 2007, inVancouver, Canada.Fans will have a full monthto catch their show, whichends on Feb. 11, 2007, inLos Angeles, Calif.Released Oct. 17, 2006Shiny Toy Guns The anti-mainstream LosWe Are PilotsAngeles-based Shiny Toy Guns★★★★ releases a promising 80s retro-styledUNIVERSALalbum with quirkysound effects and synthesizerheavy melodies.KEY TRACKS:ÍÍYou Are the OneThe mood and theme of thesongs run a gamut, from the reassuringromance in “You arethe One” to the feminine declarationÍÍLe Diskoof emancipation and chal-lenge in the playful and catchyÍÍChemistry of a Car CrashÍÍDon’t Cry Out“Le Disko,” already a big hit.Far from failing, this ambitiousrelease delivers big time.-LUCIA SOBREVIÑASReleased Nov. 6, 2006The Long Female dominated Bristish Indie-rockband, The Long Blondes,BlondesSomeone ToDrive You Home can be compared to bands withsuch beats as Sahara Hotnights★★★and The Sounds.ROUGH TRADEEvery track on the album isnot only danceable, but alsoKEY TRACKS:self-serving towards their ownpurpose. With a chorus likeÍÍWeekend Without Makeup“You don’t need a boyfriend” inÍÍHeaven Help The New Girl “Once And Over Again,” it’s difficultto not give this empoweredÍÍLust In The Moviesband a shot.-JENNIFER ZÚÑIGACongratulations, graduates!Tim, Anh,Edgar and David,thanks for all ofyour hard work.Good luck ineverything you do.Love,The Rattler staffp.s. We miss you already!

Commentary12 www.stmarytx.edu/rattler The RattlerNovember 22, 2006Gender-neutral restrooms can diminish discriminationWhile sitting in my philosophyclass one day, I had no choicebut to listen to the conversationthat was taking place behind meas it wafted inmy direction.Two girls werediscussing oneof their recentpublic restroomencounters andRosanna stated that theyGarza were horrifiedat the idea thatthey had to share their groomingand personal care space witha homosexual.Note: my politically correct useof the word ‘homosexual’ was notthe word of choice used by myfellow classmates.The question that I began toponder was not in agreement withthe gossiping girls behind me.Rather, it was in favor of therights of gays, lesbians, bisexualsor transgenders (GLBT people, forthe sake of space) to be affordedthe same restroom privileges aseveryone else.Should gender-neutralrestrooms be something thatis steadily implemented inour society?“Not everyone can selfidentifyor feel relaxedabout using a restroomthat is segregated bygender identity.”For those who are notcomfortable with the genderbinary, the possibility of being ableto use a gender-neutral restroomfor their endeavors is somethingthat I believe is in accordance withall people being afforded basichuman rights.As an American citizen, it isplainly stated in our United StatesConstitution that all people aregiven freedom of speech, the rightto bear arms and the right to vote.Shouldn’t people be given theright to use the restroom in peaceas well?In an attempt to makepeople more comfortable aswell as to decrease the amountof sexual harassment andsexual discrimination, universitycampuses and public propertiesincluding shopping areas, publicparks and restaurants all over theUnited States are implementinggender-neutral restrooms.Not everyone can self-identifyor feel relaxed about using arestroom that is segregated bygender identity.GLTB individuals may notbe afforded the same rights as“normal” heterosexuals in society,but they should at least be able to“do their business” with comfortand ease-whether that comfortstems from being able to usethe restroom in a place that isnon-discriminating or the ideathat your peers will not decidewhere you belong through theirignorant bantering.LETTERS TOTHE EDITOR POLICYThe Rattler welcomes letters to the editor.Letters should not exceed 300 words andmust include writer’s name, classification,major and telephone number.Editors reserve the right to edit submissionsfor length, grammar, spelling and content.Letters may be delivered to Room 258 inthe University Center, faxed to (210) 431-4307, mailed to The Rattler, St. Mary’sUniversity, One Camino Santa Maria, Box83, San Antonio, TX 78228, or e-mailed torattlernews@stmarytx.edu.For more information, call the newsroomat (210) 436-3401.Editor-In-ChiefKimberly VelaManaging EditorDiana Del ValleLayout /Design ManagerEdgar A. AlanisCopy EditorAnh NguyenNews EditorValarie GecklerFeatures EditorElizabeth RuizCommentary EditorGabriel SanchezEntertainment EditorJennifer ZúñigaSports EditorTim HennesseyPhoto EditorAngelique ChavarriaAssistant Photo EditorSelina MadridAdvertising ManagerNancy MartinezAssistant Ad ManagerAmanda GuerraWebmasterDavid N. GarzaStaff CartoonistChuck KerrFaculty AdvisorMargaret LuevanoStaff ContactPatricia R. GarciaStandardsThe Rattler upholds the MissionStatement of St. Mary’s University.The publication follows the Canonsof Responsible Journalism, theAssociated Press Stylebook guidelinesand the Student Publications policy.The Rattler is a member of theAssociated Collegiate Press, theColumbia Scholastic Press Association,the Society of Professional Journalists,and the Texas Intercollegiate PressAssociation.Contact UsThe RattlerSt. Mary’s UniversityOne Camino Santa Maria Box 83San Antonio, TX 78228Phone: (210) 436-3401FAX: (210) 431-4307rattlernews@stmarytx.eduSocial networking sites (dis)connectmillions around the world and countingPopularity of online community Web sites: may have negative effect on society.STAFF EDITORIALTHE RATTLERIt is not unusual to hear thatmillions of Americans in theirteens or 20s have more contactwith one another throughonline social networking Websites than in person.Web sites such as Facebookand Myspace have millions ofusers and counting.MySpace, in fact, has about131 million at this time.We are left wonderingwhat triggered the massappeal of this social andcultural phenomenon.Perhaps it can be explainedthrough the bandwagon effect.If there are 130,999,999 otherpeople doing it, how can younot join in on the fun?Perhaps convenience is theexplaination for its hypeLeaving someone a shortcomment or sending them aspecial message seems a loteasier than arranging to meetwith that person somewhere orgiving them a phone call in thehopes that he or she is not toobusy at any given time.In an America where time ismoney and convenience is king,it is almost expected that socialnetworking sites are amongthe most visited Web sites onthe Internet.Whatever the reason,we cannot help but wonderwhether the popularity ofthese sites enhances or cripplesthe quality of our interactionswith others.On MySpace, users canconnect with one anotherthrough profiles, messages,comments, groups, eventsand blogs.They are also connectedthrough mutual friends, similarinterests and even by chance.As most of us have accountsor at least know someone whodoes, maybe we should askourselves how our friendshipshave been affected since firstsigning up.Those friendships that wouldhave normally deteriorated withtime due to distance and othersimilar factors could be saved toan extent thanks to these sites.We can also find old friendswho we may have neverfound again.However, we find ourselvesdoing the equivalent to theCOURTESY GRAPHICSNetworking Web sites such as MySpace.com, Facebook.com andBlogger.com are popular among college-aged students, but maynot enhance individuals’ ability to connect with each other.not-so-uncommon instantmessaging to one another evenwhen we are in the same room.We choose to maintainfriendships with people in closeproximity to us online instead ofin person.The key to it all is balance.These networking sitesshould be utilized as a tool tobuild and maintain friendships.However, we should makeit a point not to become sodependpendent on them to thepoint where being in the sameroom with our friends will startto become a thing of the past.The reason is that true friendswould and should prefer yourcompany no matter how oftenyou send them messages.They would rather be withyou when they blow out theirbirthday candles no matterhow nice your online birthdaycomment may sound.

CommentaryNovember 22, 2006 The Rattlerwww.stmarytx.edu/rattler 13I returned to Dhaka,Bangladesh, on Nov. 15 expectingthe city to be in the state of chaosand violence.Instead, I wassurprised to see itin a strange, calmcondition.It is commonfor the airportGregPardoexit to be filledwith people whowait for arrivingpassengers or who want to helpcarry your bags, but when I arrivedthere was only a handful.I was greeted by my colleaguesand, to my surprise, I was directedto an ambulance, which would beour transportation.Did my colleagues believe thatI was going to arrive dead?No, this is one of the only safemethods of transportation duringthe political violence of thiselection season. There could bechances of being injured by a mobif we drove in any other vehicle.During the past three weeks,the people of Bangladesh haveendured the violent confrontationsbetween the BangladeshNational Party (BNP) and theAwami League (AL).When the BNP transferredtheir power to the CaretakerGovernment (CG), they lostthe benefits of having controlThe voters have spoken and theword they are yelling at the top oftheir lungs is “change.”Now that Democrats control theHouse and Senate,a new directionis expected. Ahistorical eventhas transpiredwith Nancy Pelosileading as the firstAmanda woman SpeakerGuerraof the House.Pelosi makes very clear whather goals will be.In the first hundred hours, shewants to lead the House to workon five major issues includingsecurity, minimum wage,college tuition, energy resourcesand healthcare.The next problem Pelosi wantsto address is social security, whichwill take more time to fix.During a press conferenceon Nov. 8, Pelosi stated thatDemocrats are “not about gettingeven, they’re about helping theAmerican people.”To help all families paying toput their children through college,Pelosi intends to “slash interestEXPERIENCING BANGLADESHBangladesh experience politicalviolence during election seasonover the Elections Commission(EC), which is in charge of theelection process.Unfortunately, with pressuresfrom both BNP and AL, the EC hasnot decided when to announcethe polling dates. In addition, theCG, which is supposed to ensurethe citizens’ safety, has failedits duty by allowing police toattack civilians, even killing someof them.So, what does this do toBangladeshi citizens? It forcesthem to put their daily routinesto a halt. If possible, some workfor only four hours a day. Manyothers cannot attend work at all,which has placed a burden on theentire Bangladesh economy.As for the low incomecitizens such as rickshawpullers, barbers and cooks, theyhave not been able to generateany income. Schools are forced toclose in order to ensure the safetyof students and staff.Between Nov. 16 and 20, AL haspostponed all political strikes dueto the decline of political support.However, they promisedto resume demonstrationson the Nov. 19 unless there areconstitutional amendmentsregarding the EC.The BNP has threatened toconfront the EC if it does not quicklyannounce the polling schedule. OnA new voice in Houserates on college loans in half to3.4 percent for students and to 4.2percent for parents” and “ increasethe deductibility of college tuitionby simplifying the maze of tuitionlaws to allow a 100 percent taxcredit for tuition up to $3,000.”She makes it clear thatDemocrats want to work in abipartisan fashion. Though she hascalled the president incompetent,she is willing to work with him tofind a common ground.Pelosi said, “ I will be the Speakerof the House, not the Speaker ofthe Democrats.”Pelosi hit some unstable groundrecently when she announcedher support for John Murthaover Steny Hoyer for the Housemajority leader position.According to AndrewTaylor of the Associated Press,this controversy “appeared toovershadow Pelosi’s unanimousselection by Democrats to becomethe first female speaker.”There are some rising questionsabout Pelosi’s promises and ethics,but only time will tell if she isfighting for the American peopleor for her own political gain.the other hand, the AL has alsothreatened confrontations ifthere are not amendments tothe EC before a polling scheduleis announced.According to BangladeshcolumnistMohammadBadrul Ahsan, “this CaretakerGovernment has lost its chanceto become neutral, not becauseit has taken sides with anyone,but because it has taken sideswith everyone.”Unlike Ahsan’s view, I believethe CG is trying to be neutral bytaking sides with everyone in orderto curb the violence occurring inthe streets.Unfortunately, leaders fromboth parties place their politicalpriorities before the well-being ofthe society while the CG fails inits task to maintain the safety ofits citizens.For now, the situation willremain bleak until the electionseason is over.Editor’s Note:This is the sixth in a series fromguest commentator Greg Pardo. Pardoreceived a BA in Political Scienceand International Relations from St.Mary’s in 2005.He is fulfilling a 2-yearinternship with IIRD in Bangladeshwhile working on a Master’s inInternational Development.I have been a MySpace addictsince January 2006. My dailyroutine consists of class, work andstudying. Yet, I somehow manageto check the siteat least 10 timesa day.Why?I don’t know.Most of theElizabethPeñatime, I intend tolog on quicklyand check mymessages, but 10 minutes cansometimes turn into an hour.In all honesty, I really like thesite because it gives me the abilityto communicate with friends andsome family members withoutactually having to see them.I am sure we have all heard thehorror stories.They are usually aboutpedophiles who made up fakeidentities to meet up with minors.Several people have beenarrested nationwide forcommitting these crimes.To me, this is all preventable,and I do not understand whycritics are bashing the site.If people give out their phoneCatholics treat homosexualswith respectTeachings of Church promote chastity, not hate.While many homosexualactivists are calling for lawsgiving them the right tomarry people of thesame sex, manyothers oppose thisproposal, callingfor these laws notto be passed.It is importantfor studentsCharlesRamirezat a Catholicu n i v e r s i t yto know the stance of theCatholic Church regarding thissensitive subject.In Article 2357, the CatholicCatechism states, “Basing itselfon Sacred Scripture, whichpresents homosexual acts as actsof grave depravity, traditionhas always declared that‘homosexual acts are intrinsicallydisordered.’ They are contraryto the natural law.”The “Sacred Scripture” hereincludes verses from the Bible thatpertain to homosexuality.One of the many is Romans1: 25-27, which states, “Theyexchanged the truth of God for alie and revered and worshippedthe creature rather than thecreator.... Therefore, God handedthem over to degrading passions.Their females exchanged naturalrelations for unnatural, and maleslikewise gave up natural relationsnumbers or directions to theirhomes and agree to meet strangers,they have to be a least somewhatliable for their actions.As children, we are all taughtthat famous, classic rule, “Don’ttalk to strangers.”I am still living by that ruletoday and I still believe in good,old-fashioned common sense.MySpace should not be blamedfor whatever its users are doing.with females and burned with lustfor one another.”The Church, however,emphasizes that homosexuals arenot evil and should be treatedwith the human dignity.In Article 2358, the Catechismannounces, “They [homosexuals]must be accepted and treatedwith respect, compassion, andsensitivity. Every sign of unjustdiscrimination in their regardshould be avoided.”Homosexuals are not evil, butthe acts they may engage in areconsidered sinful. Homosexualrelationships, according to Article2357 in the Catechism, “close thesexual act to the gift of life. Theydo not proceed from an affectiveand sexual complementarity.Under no circumstance can theybe approved.”Therefore, according to Article2359, the Church firmly believesthat “Homosexual persons arecalled to chastity.” The call tochastity is an important stage oflife in which those who are calledare enabled to unite with God.As the Catechism states inArticle 2359, “By the virtues ofself-mastery that teach them[homosexuals] inner freedom...by prayer and sacramental grace,they can and should graduallyand resolutely approachChristian perfection.”A new addiction for our youthPHOTO BY JONATHAN HERNANDEZMySpace has become an obsession among students across the globe.It’s an online communityintended for anyone to use tocommunicate, get current events,listen to the latest songs or checkout movie trailers.I would like to see moreattention focused on the criminalsand their consequences ratherthan the site itself.As for me, I am going to remaina faithful, procrastinating userof MySpace.Whosaidwhat?People in the newsCOMPILED BY FRANCHESCA WEAVER“I believe that my party, insome ways, has strayedfrom those principles,particularly on the issue offiscal discipline.”- U.S. Senator John McCain,speaking about his view onthe GOP“I was proud to support[John Murtha] for majorityleader, because I thoughtthat would be the bestway to bring an end to thewar in Iraq.”- Nancy Pelosi, speakingafter the vote for Housemajority leader“I’m not there to make ajudgement based on mypersonal policy preferences...I’m supposed tomake a decision based onthe law.”- Chief Justice John Roberts,speaking at the Universityof Miami

Commentary14 www.stmarytx.edu/rattler The RattlerNovember 22, 2006Webmaster thanks The Rattler for fostering love of writingDavidGarzaWebmasterMajors: Biology,EnglishCareer Goal:AcademiaDear Rattler,Ever since I was in high schoolI had decided that my careergoals lay within the realm ofthe sciences. When I came to St.Mary’s, I welcomed the rigorouslectures of my biology courses andtheir grueling, compulsory labs,with open arms.I thought that these resourceswould help me to become intimatewith what I hoped to be my life’spursuit. Because of this ambition aswell as a genuinely shy demeanor,I became something of a recluseduring my freshman year.My days were spent either inthe classroom or in the library,studying by myself or, on rareoccasions, with a classmate. Theformula ended up working, andI achieved a satisfactory degree ofacademic success. Still, I felt likesomething crucial was missingfrom my college experience.During my junior year, mybest friend convinced me to tryout for a position on The Rattler’sstaff. Since I had some experiencemanaging a resource site for myfreshman biology class, I agreedthat Webmaster would be a perfectposition to apply for.Because my job was moreflexible, I tried to make myselfavailable to help the editorialstaff in other ways. For example,GRADUATING SENIOR COMMENTARIESI would sometimes writeemergency commentaries if one ofthe editors’ stories fell through.Time after time, I receivedmuch praise from my co-workersfor these endeavors. They wouldcommend my work and then tilttheir heads in confusion when Itold them my major was biology.When I confessed to them thatI always enjoyed writing andhad secretly entertained dreamsof composing material fortelevision comedy shows likeSaturday Night Live, they beganto gush encouragement.It was because of theirkind words that I ended uptaking unnecessary advancedEnglish courses.The commendations I receivedfrom my English professors thereconvinced me to change my minor“The Rattler helped nurturemy ability, inspiringmy creativity andinstilling me with thecourage I needed to pursuemy dreams.”to English.More and more professors keptencouraging me further still, untilultimately I took up English as mysecond major. None of this wouldhave been possible, however, hadit not been for the dear friends thatI made at The Rattler.It was because of my experienceat The Rattler that I finally came tounderstand that my passion inlife is writing. The Rattler helpednurture my ability, inspiring mycreativity and instilling me withthe courage I needed to pursuemy dreams.For the first time I felt like I havenot merely “made friends,” buthave met and become emotionallybound to a community ofkindred spirits.These were people with whomI shared the same vision, valuesand dreams.These people are at the heart ofa successful organization that I amproud to be a part of and foreverindebted to.For this reason, I want to thankall my friends at The Rattler for thememories they have shared withme over the years.Thanks to you, I leave myundergraduate career feeling notonly educated, but enlightenedand empowered.Editor finally findshis niche through oncampusinvolvementTimHennesseySports EditorMajor: English/communication artsCareer Goal: Entertainment JournalistArtistic childhood activitiesmirror future career goalsEdgar A. AlanisLayout/DesignManagerMajor: English/communication artsMinor: ArtCareer Goals:Graphic DesignerMarkers, crayons, paints, pens,pencils and anything else that canmake a scribble on a blank pagehave always been a major part ofmy life.As a child, I did not havemany toys, mainly because I didnot want them. It was my olderbrother who always wantedthe latest remote control car oraction figure.Instead, I passed the timemaking lines and shapes on paper,trying to create original artwork.I would take things from nature,mostly trees, and replicate themas best as I could using temperapaints or watercolors, and I wouldadd some creative element to it,like a bird’s nest or a tire swing.At the time, I thought nothingabout what I was doing. Drawingand painting was just fun for me,better than playing with whatevertoy trendy at the time.As a graduating senior whowants to pursue a career in graphicdesign, I see now how much IGRAPHIC ART BY EDGAR A. ALANISwas destined for this career path.Granted, with graphic design youspend more time working on acomputer, but every project beginswith a sketch, or a “dummy”or “comp” as it is called in thedesign world.I am lucky to have found acareer choice that allows me toincorporate what I love to do, andI wish to offer the same advice toanyone. If you are one of thoseindividuals who still does notknow what you want to do withyour life, take a moment to lookback upon your childhood. Youwill be surprised at what youcan find.I can’t remember how manygraduating senior commentariesI’ve read that stressed universityinvolvement. The only thing Icould think of as I read thesefarewell letters was how luckythese people were to be on theirway out. The importance of theirmessage, however, was lost on meduring my first three years.Now that the end is very muchin sight, the one regret I may haveis that I didn’t take advantage ofthe opportunities all around me.As a commuter student, mydays consisted of getting to schooljust before my first class andleaving as soon as I could after mylast one. A class schedule withoutany break, which allowed me toget on and off campus as quicklyas possible, was a goal I strived forevery semester.The only thing I lookedforward to each year was theend of it, when I could head backhome to Hawaii.Then, late in my junior year,I decided to start writing for TheRattler. After one semester ofwriting, one thing became clear tome—I had been missing out!Here I was, rushing to get offcampus everyday, unknowinglymissing out on the bestpart of college.With The Rattler, Lambda PiEta, and all the organizationsI’ve joined since then, I foundindividuals who shared the samepassions and interests.I found family.I know I’ve experienced morein the last year than I have in theprevious three.Now, less than a monthbefore I graduate from college,my excitement for the future istempered by the fact that I reallyonly experienced one year of it.If I could give one bit of adviceto my fellow students, it would bethis: Don’t be like me.Get involved, go out there,start taking part in the universityactivities. College isn’t just aboutthe classroom; it’s about thepeople, too.Goodbye San Antonio, hello Ho Chi Minh CityFor the last three months,every day I have been anxiouslycounting down to Dec. 16, mygraduation day.It’s senioritis, isn’t it?During the four years of mystudy in the United States, theone question I am asked mostoften is, “Are you going back toVietnam after you’re done withyour study?”My usual answer: “I will,eventually. But I’m going tograduate school first. I don’t wantto risk being denied a visa to comeback to the States.”I have since changed my mind.I want to go home, as soon as I can,whether or not graduate schoolis in my plan. For four years, Ihaven’t been home once.I remember being shocked thefirst time I heard my youngestbrother’s voice cracking on thephone, crass, deep, sounding justlike his older brothers’. Where isthe shy boy with a high-pitchedvoice saying bye to me at theairport? I want to see him again,before he grows into a man.I want to see my 80-year-oldgrandma, too, before she leavesme for good. It tugs at my heartwhenever I call and hear hertrembling voice on the phone. Shenever says it, but I know she fearsthat she won’t see me again.Of course I also want to seemy parents, my sister, my aunts,my uncles, my cousins and all myfriends. I miss them.Silly me, I used to believe thathomesickness could be cured byAmerican pills.AnhNguyenCopy EditorMajors: English,philosophyMinor: English/communicationartsCareer Goals:DevelopmentResearcher

SportsNovember 22, 2006 The Rattlerwww.stmarytx.edu/rattler 15Steroidstake awayfrom magicof sportSamanthaRoqueLast month, everybody knewChargers linebacker Shawne Merrimanas an exciting playmaker,the 2006 Defensive Rookie ofthe Year.Merriman’s impressive 54 tackles,10-sack rookie campaign lastseason earned hima starting spot inthe Probowl.In his first year,he was beginningto build a reputationas a hardworkingand talentedfootball player.Now he is known as just anotherprofessional athlete who testedpositive for steroids. After twofailed drug tests, Merriman’s reputationwill forever be tarnished.Why do many athletes risk theircareer and reputation by injectingthemselves with performance-enhancingdrugs?The only reason I can think of isthe pressure put on them by theircoaches, teammates, fans andeven themselves.Of course, football is not theonly sport where the problem ofsteroids rears its ugly head. Majorand Minor League Baseball, bicycling,and even track have to dealwith this issue.Professional sports have becomemore of a business of it’s-allor-nothing,winning at all costs.With players accountable toteam owners and fans more thanto themselves, there is far moreriding on how well they performthan just being a simple W or L inthe sports section the next day.When aspiring athletes imaginetheir moment of glory, whetherit is winning the World Series oreven the Tour de France, I do notthink steroids play a part in it.Also, I doubt that they picturetheir victory being questioned andeventually taken away as was thecase with bicyclist Floyd Landis.Landis became the improbablewinner of the Tour de France thissummer. He came back in the finalstages of the race when nobodyexpected him to win, which gaveall the underdogs out there a senseof hope.He showed how hard work anddetermination could pay off. Peoplebelieved in human spirit andthe will to overcome.Then the story broke that hetested positive for synthetic testosteroneand his subsequenttest failed.Now, when athletes break records,it seems natural to questionwhether they achieve the accomplishmentsthrough pure talent orwith the assistance of illegal performance-enhancingdrugs.Our faith in professional athleteswill never be as it was in thedays of Hank Aaron and otherpros who relied solely on their talentrather than steroids.Rattler recognized for academicsBy TIM HENNESSEYSPORTS EDITORDeann Lopez named Academic All-District by national sports magazine.By ALLEN PERKINSSTAFF WRITERAugust brings cooler weather,end of summer vacations and thebeginning of school. In the worldof college football, August bringsthe pre-season ranking polls.The polls are based on howteams finished in the previousyear, combined with which playersreturn to each team. Regardlessof the year, filling the top 10slots are schools rich in tradition,such as the University ofSouthern California, Texas andOhio State.The pre-season polls originallybegan as a way to generate excitementfor the upcoming season andto boost the sales of the magazinesin which they are found.As college football fanaticsknow, these polls mean so muchmore. Where you rank in the preseasoncan hold you back duringthe regular season. This season,Rutgers fans know this caveat alltoo well.Rutgers, usually the perennialloser, was undefeatedcoming off the biggest win inits history against erstwhileJunior mid-fielder Deann Lopezhas been recently named ESPNThe Magazine/CoSIDA AcademicAll-District by the College SportsInformation Directors of America.Lopez, an education major, wasnot even aware she had receivedthe honor.“I actually found out from [myfriend]. People kept congratulatingme, like professors, and I hadno idea what they were talkingabout,” said Lopez. “I would justsay thank you. I thought it was forDean’s List or something.”To be eligible for the ESPNThe Magazine/CoSIDA AcademicAll-District team, athletesmust have a cumulative GPA ofat least 3.2, a requirement Lopezmeets easily.With a 3.7 GPA, Lopez has alwaysplaced an emphasis on hergrades. She said she is grateful forESPN’s recognition.“Dean’s List is one thing.Through the athletics department,we focus a lot on keeping our GPAup,” said Lopez. “But it’s ESPN, amajor organization, and they recognizedme for [my academics].That meant a lot to me.”This award was meaningfulto her family also, especiallyher father.“My dad has been a coachhis entire life and he is an avidviewer of ESPN, so it was a hugething for him,” said Lopez. “Hewas really proud of me. [Myparents] were really pleased andreally excited.”According to Lopez, the key toher academic success is rememberingthat academics is whatbrought her to St. Mary’s in thefirst place. With constant travelingand training, it would be easyto lose sight of her purpose incollege, but Lopez keeps thingsin perspective.“Athletes have a hard time balancingtheir time. It’s a matter ofpriorities,” said Lopez. “Just like Iknow that soccer is a huge priorityin my life, I always remember thatI am on the team because of mygrades. I’m in the school becauseof my grades. So it’s just gettingyour priorities straight.”With strong commitment to academicsand dedication to universityathletics, Lopez sees this awardas a validation for her hard workin the classroom.“Well, because grades are myfirst priority and I work reallyhard in school, I think it’s cool thatthey can integrate that aspect intoan athletic award,” Lopez said.With this season already inthe books, Lopez is now backin the classroom full-time,looking to boost her alreadyimpressive GPA.“While I’d love to get the awardnext year as well, I’m not going tochange my approach,” said Lopez.“I’m going to study and preparethe same way I always do.”As a member of the women’ssoccer team this season, Lopezfinished third in points scoredand tied for the team lead in assists.Her performance helped theLady Rattlers reach the cusp of thepost-season, just missing out on aberth with a record of 10-4-5.COLLEGECORNERthird-ranked Louisville.After 136 years playing football,this is the first time they have beenranked in the top 10.With last weekend’s loss toCincinnati, their Cinderella seasonmay be over but Rutgershad little chance of sneaking intothe national championship inGlendale, Ariz. even if they hadwon out.Why, despite their flawless recordas of last week, could theynot leapfrog teams that alreadyhave losses on their records?The answer is simple: the preseasonpolls.In last week’s Bowl ChampionshipSeries poll, undefeated Rutgersranks behind three teams withone loss. The teams ranked aheadof Rutgers started in or around thetop 10 while Rutgers was excludedin the pre-season’s top 25.PHOTO BY TIM HENNESSEYRutgers’ biggest opponent yet: the pre-season pollPHOTO COURTESY OF REUTERSRutgers head coach Greg Schiano has done a terrific job this season,taking an under-performing team and turning them around.PHOTO BY DEREK SMOLIKAbove: In addition tothe strong emphasison grades theSt. Mary’s SportsDepartment has,Lopez takes it uponherself to focus onher studies all yearlong. As a junior,Lopez currently carriesa cumulativeGPA of 3.7.Left: While playingfor the Rattlersin 2006, Lopeztied for the teamlead in assists andwas third in pointsscored. Her presenceon the gameday was integral tothe Lady Rattlers10-4-5 record forthe 2006 season.Voters will not move Rutgersahead of these one-loss teamsunless they feel the differenceis significant.Rutgers’ only ranked opponentthis year was Louisville, whereasa team such as Florida will playabout 5-6 ranked teams over thecourse of the season.Due to the preconceived strengthof their conference and their traditionof losing, Rutgers faces a hugedisadvantage in terms of the nationaltitle hunt.Still, there exists one last,albeit dim hope.All chances hinge on Rutgers’road game against West Virginiaon Dec. 2. If they can run the tablewhile a few other teams lose, theymay be able to sneak in.Regardless of what happens,this Cinderella season for Rutgerswill be remembered forever.Considering Rutgers was 1-11 in2002 and was the laughing stockof college football, this is anunbelievable turnaround.Unfortunately, due to the preseasonpolls, this Cinderella maynot be “dancing” in any bowlthis season.

Sports16 www.stmarytx.edu/rattler The RattlerNovember 22, 2006COACH’SCORNERFeaturingCoach Jim ZeleznakMen’s BasketballHead CoachName: Roderick BellardPosition: GuardClassification: SophomoreVitals: 6’0’’Coach Zeleznak said:•Hard-nosed kid, good defenderName: Allen ColemanPosition: GuardClassification: JuniorVitals: 5’11’’Coach Zeleznak said:•He’s very quick and very explosiveName: Joe DinkinsPosition: ForwardClassification: GraduateVitals: 6’8’’Coach Zeleznak said:•Joe can do a little bit of everythingfor you the teamName: Marcus HillPosition: GuardClassification: SophomoreVitals: 6’3’’Coach Zeleznak said:•Can fi nish around the hoopWhat do you enjoy most aboutcoaching?I enjoy the competition andwatching kids develop onand off the court. I find it verysatisfying.What is it about basketballthat you love?Basketball is a game that testsyour will and determination.It is fun to see how kids growup having to deal with somestressful situations.Which coach has influencedyou the most?I would say Coach Meyerbecause we worked togetherfor such a long time. It’s hard towork with someone for a longtime and not be influenced bythem.What do you expect yourbiggest challenge to be thisyear?I think our biggest challengewill be piecing together theteam. We have four transfersand they are new to our system.How long have you beencoaching?I’ve been here since 1979. It’smy second year as head coach.Did you play collegebasketball?I played here for one yearduring my freshman year.Why should people come towatch the team play?I think that it has the potentialof bringing the entire universitycommunity together.What are your expectations forthis year?I would be disappointed if ourteam didn’t put together a solidyear.Name: Jarvis LeePosition: GuardClassification: SeniorVitals: 6’1’’Coach Zeleznak said:•He is capable of giving leadership onand off the courtName: Robert OwensPosition: ForwardClassification: JuniorVitals: 6’6’’Coach Zeleznak said:•He is one of our most versatileName: Ashton BenfordPosition: ForwardClassification: SophomoreVitals: 5’10’’Coach Martens said:•Has a knack for the ball and is agreat rebounderName: Dominique RichardsonPosition: GuardClassification: JuniorVitals: 5’10’’Coach Zeleznak said:•He can put pressure on the defensewith his quicknessName: Natalie GamezPosition: GuardClassification: SophomoreVitals: 5’9’’Coach Martens said:•Knows how to finish around the hoopUpcoming GamesFri., Nov. 24vs. Dillard University7 p.m.Sat., Nov. 25vs. Texas A&M-Commerce7 p.m.Mon., Nov. 27vs. Texas A&M-Kingsville7 p.m.Fri., Dec. 8vs. Montana State-Billings7 p.m.RATTLER BASKETBALL PLAYER SPOTLIGHTUpcoming GamesFri., Nov. 24@ Texas A&M-Kingsville6 p.m.Sat., Nov. 25@ Texas A&M-Commerce4 p.m.Tue., Nov. 28@ Angelo State7 p.m.Thu., Nov. 30@ Abilene Christian6 p.m.Name: Becca HerbstPosition: GuardClassification: JuniorVitals: 5’8’’Coach Martens said:•She is very smart as far as knowingthe gameIf you could coach any playerfor one day, who would it beand why?It would be fun to coach TimDuncan because he leads byexample. I’ve witnessed firsthand what he has done andI think that it would be funcoaching him.Who’s your favorite coach?I like Roy Williams ( Universityof North Carolina) and BillSnyder (Kansas State) because Ilike what they stand for.-COMPILED BYFRANK VAZQUEZName: Dawn KillianPosition: GuardClassification: SeniorVitals: 5’7’’Coach Martens said:•She’s a very good three-point shooterName: Juanita MerchantPosition: GuardClassification: JuniorVitals: 5’6’’Coach Martens said:•A very good shooter from the outsideName: Lori RipperPosition: GuardClassification: JuniorVitals: 5’5’’Coach Martens said:•She has a very quick releaseName: Charlena RodezPosition: ForwardClassification: SeniorVitals: 6’0’’Coach Martens said:• A mix of fi nesse and physical playALL PHOTOS COURTESY RATTLER ATHLETICS, COMPILED BY ALISON PINO AND FRANCISCO VAZQUEZ