SGA elections: who's in the running?

Elections begin tomorrow morning! The LSL spoke with both candidates for student body president about why they were running and what they could offer SGA. Make sure to learn about the candidates and make your voice known! Log onto connect@TLU sometime between tomorrow morning and Thursday at 5:00 p.m. to cast your vote.

Mason Allenger is a second-year junior history major with a concentration in pre-law. After graduation, he says, “I plan to attend law school in Texas to earn a JD and become a prosecuting attorney - hopefully a local one. I'd like to eventually become a judge on either the state or federal level.”

What experience do you have that you'd like to share?

            “I'm a part of a number of student organizations at TLU. I run cross-country and track for the university, I'm a Peer Mentor, I'm the Treasurer of the Wesley Foundation campus ministry group, I'm the Vice President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, I'm the chair of the SGA Legislative Committee, and I'm in the Black and Gold President's Council. Further, I was a member of this year's national-qualifying ethics bowl debate team, and I sit on [SGA’s] environmental sustainability committee.

            As a Senator this semester, I led the charge for a student section at TLU athletic events, and worked closely with other environment-savers at TLU to increase the amount of plastic and paper recycling on campus. Also, I've personally drafted up multiple bills and resolutions this semester in SGA to make conditions better for students on campus, and to make SGA a smoother and more effective governing body.” 

Why are you running and what can you offer SGA?

            “I'm running for SGA President because as someone who accomplished a lot with and for the students as an SGA senator, I realize the power and potential of an SGA that works closely with the student body, and I want to achieve that. I can offer leadership experience, energy, and ambition to the SGA. I'm also running for SGA because I want to inform the students of this university that they are all literally a part of the SGA. Other schools' student governments are able to accomplish amazing things that really provide a better quality of life for their students. I want to provide that kind of SGA for the students and I know I can if I'm elected, given my extensive leadership experience.”

Vanessa Espinoza is a junior chemistry and physics major with a math minor.

What experience do you have that you'd like to share?

            “I have a lot of leadership experience. I’ve been the president of the Society of Physics Students (SPS) this past year. I’m also the state representative for SPS National, so I went through a campaign and represent 46 SPS chapters in the state of Texas and have collaborated with others in D.C. and that’s something that I’m really proud of. I’m part of the Student Athletic Advisory Council and am their outreach chair, and I’m part of the Black and Gold President’s Council.

            Additionally, I’m part of the soccer team, and that requires a lot of leadership, collaboration, and effective communication. As the current secretary of SGA, I know what SGA’s about and what our mission is and what I want to accomplish. I also work with the Center for Servant Leadership and their community partner Teatro. This taught me to embrace diversity and how to work in the community. I have two summers of chemistry research experience which taught me to think critically and how to be a proactive and diligent person. A lot of people get rejected from these programs and the fact that I applied til I got accepted shows determination, I think.”

Why are you running and what can you offer SGA?

             “I want to be SGA president because being secretary you kind of just take the minutes and see all of what’s going on and through that I learned how passionate I am about this, and if elected president my first goal is going to be to bridge the gap between the student body and SGA so we can work together to improve the campus. Because I’ve had the opportunity to be so involved on campus, I think I can use my past experience to help move the campus towards what’s in the best interest of everyone. And I really enjoy helping people, as cliché as that sounds, and I think it’s really awesome how much impact we can make as students.”

The LSL's 2016 Oscars Predictions

     By far the most interesting aspect of the 2016 Academy Awards, is the #OscarsSoWhite controversy. Left and right, people are asking who will skip the ceremony? Will the Academy comment on the systematic marginalization of minorities? What will the host, comedian Chris Rock do? No one actually seems to be talking about the nominees this year. But just because the nomination pool isn’t nearly as interesting as past years and #OscarsSoWhite has taken over much of the media coverage, doesn’t mean that we still can’t have some fun predicting who the Academy voted for. 

     Right now, The Best Picture race is definitely the most competitive. There are three frontrunners at the moment, The Big Short, Spotlight, and The Revenant. At the start of January, Spotlight seemed poised to take home the golden statue, even after losing to The Revenant’s Golden Globe win. But the Producer’s Guild Awards on Jan.23 gave their award of best picture to The Big Short. And factoring in the PGA’s have a 70% rating on awarding the film that goes on to win best picture, I’d say that The Big Short has a much bigger edge now. Without a doubt, this will be the hardest category to predict, but this is how is will probably shake down:

Will Win: The Big Short

Should Win: Spotlight
Robbed: Carol & Straight Outta Compton

     Next, is Best Director. Similarly to the Best Picture category, there are two major frontrunners – Alejandro Innaritu for The Revenant and George Miller for Mad Max: Fury Road. The fact that Innatritu won tons of awards in last years award season, and also for Best Director and Best Picture last year at the Oscars for Birdman, some people might assume that the academy wouldn’t award him a second year in a row. But I wouldn’t put it past the academy. What is most likely to be the deciding factor in deciding the winner of this category, is that Leonardo DiCaprio is basically a shoe in for Best Actor, while this is the best shot for Mad Max: Fury Road to win a big award. And with the added factor of George Miller being a first time nominee at the age of 70, makes it that much harder to call.

Will Win: Alejandro Innaritu, The Revenant

Should Win: George Miller, Mad Max: Fury Road
Robbed: Ridley Scott, The Martian

     Both the Best Actor and Best Actress categories have basically been locked in a this point. Leonardo DiCaprio will finally get his Oscar after four previous nominations. And relatively fresh faced, Brie Larson will most certainly collect for Room.
Will Win: Leo DiCaprio, Brie Larson
Should Win: Michael Fassbender or Matt Damon, Brie Larson
Robbed: Michael B. Jordan, Creed

     Comparative the other acting categories, Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress are infinitely more interesting to try and call. The biggest problem with trying to predict the winner of Best Supporting Actor is that the person who had the best performance this year is not in fact nominated. But because Idris Elba is not in the race this year, another has rised in front, wining most of the other awards this season and that’s Sylvester Stallone. He’s been widely acclaimed for return to his most famous role. There also is some scandal happening with the Best Supporting Actress category as well. Both Rooney Mara for Carol and Alicia Vikander for Danish Girl received nominations in a category that most would argue are not accurate. Mara and Vikander, though stunning in their roles, served more as second leads in their films rather than supporting characters. But because their category scam was allowed in this year’s awards, the race is definitely between the two of them.

Will Win: Sylvester Stallone, Alicia Vikander
Should Win: Mark Rylance, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Robbed: Idris Elba, Tessa Thompson

      Though this isn’t the most interesting list of nominees in recent years, and they themselves have taken a backseat to the much larger conversation about diversity in Hollywood and The Oscars, on February 28^th regardless of it all, they will suit up and many of them will take home a coveted gold statue. 

- Tyler Salinas, Managing Editor

Thoughts on Valentine's Day

Since when did it become cool to hate Valentine's Day?

I get it, people either spend Valentine’s Day lonely or broke. Although many of us are spending the holiday both lonely and broke, love is about so much more than whether or not you’ve met the love of your life. To hate a holiday about love does nothing for anyone. Valentine’s Day is the day you should let everyone who is anyone to you know that you’d do anything for them.

The problem is this: it is always easier to dress up for Halloween and pig out on Thanksgiving. By comparison, having to be vulnerable and take risks by showing love when it may not be requited seems like more work than holiday. It is within this vulnerability, though, that humans can break down walls and truly begin to care about each other. Reconstruct Valentine’s Day in your mind as “Lovesgiving,” and your viewpoint will begin to transform.

Valentine’s Day is by no means a perfect holiday. With entire industries dedicated to making people of just about every age group spend money on cards and candy, it can be tough to get any sort of spirit about February 14th. Regardless of whether you are working, sulking, sleeping, or kissing, here are ten things to focus on as you have a great Valentine’s day:

-There’s a difference between corniness and love.

-You are loved, and you have the capacity to show love.

-Any friend, single or taken, would love a call from you showing your gratitude for them.

-Love unabashedly. Life is too short and too long to do anything less.

-It’s okay to feel lonely.

-The grass is always greener when you’re not the one watering it.

-Love is the acceptance of uncertainty.

-Treat yourself.

-Nutella, Ben & Jerry’s, and chocolate-covered pomegranates are acceptable date substitutes.    
-Marvel Studios’ Deadpool came out this weekend.



-Adam Kinyicky, reporter

Chairlift - "Moth" [8.9/10]

Late January marks the release of the first highly-anticipated release of 2016: Chairlift's "Moth." Formed by frontwoman Caroline Polachek in 2005, the band's entire frame shifted in 2010 with the departure of bandmate  Aaron Pfenning. Now a project run by Polachek and multi-instrumentalist Patrick Wimberly, Chairlift continues to move to their own beat, and inspire audiences with recognizable yet unparalleled strides in electronic music. 

Chairlift first gained recognition in the late 2000's for their song "Bruises," which was iconically featured in Apple's iconic iPod Nano commercial. They gained acclaim from their second LP, "Something," which continued to explore the band's often surreal take on synth pop. Now on their third EP, the band draws from a wide array of influences, and the result is is extraordinary.

"Moth" is questionably Chairlift's most pop-friendly album yet, but in no way is it comfortable being labeled pop music. Laced with a broad range of synth patches, polyrhythmic percussion and cryptic lyricism, the album seems to focus in on the talents of both Polachek and Wimberly . The band tries on many different genres throughout "Moth," and they wear them all incredibly well. 

"Polymorphing" is a great example of this; the album's second track showcases bright guitars and a beautiful balance between the brass and Polachek's voice. "Ch-Ching," the album's first single, showcases this balance perfectly, creating a powerful and head-turning experience. "Moth to the Flame" stands out as an ethereal, let-loose dance anthem. Polachek's filtered vocal lines seem to draw their inspiration from her feature on electronic band Deorean's 2013 LP, "Apar." (See "Unhold.") Polachek even transforms into something of a pop diva in "Show U Off," exemplifying the range and expression of a true performer. "Moth" has its final statements made in "No Such Thing as Illusion," which questions the permanence of love, and brings the album to a contemplative conclusion.

Between her work as a model, and a prolific solo career under the moniker Ramona Lisa, it's clear that Caroline Polachek possesses an artistic sensibility that continues to pave the way in indie music. With the help of bandmate Patrick Wimberly, Polachek's songs are imbued with an unrivaled unique style and sound. "Moth" unquestionably lives up to its hype, and helps to kick off the new year.

-Adam Kinyicky

On the Lookout: Big Grams - Fell in the Sun EP

     This week brings with it perhaps the most anticipated collaboration of the year. Electronic Rock duo Phantogram has teamed up with Outkast's Big Boi to make a seven song EP, entitled "Fell in the Sun.” Under the name Big Grams, both parties have been leaking snippets of information over social media regarding the project since late last year.

     The group has collaborated with Big Boi on his most recent LP, "Vicious Lies and Dangerous Rumors" as well as on Outkast's "Auqemini". In a recent interview with Pitchfork, Phantogram frontwoman Sarah Barthel discussed the direction the project has taken, saying, "It's kind of a taste of ideas. It's not Big Boi and Phantogram music. It's Big Grams, which is different. It's a whole different project. It's stuff that we wouldn't put on our own records, but just kind of something completely different so you get a taste of. There's songs that I rap on, there's songs that Big sings on. There's songs that Josh raps on. It doesn't sound pretentious in any way, because we just wanted to do whatever the fuck we wanted to do."

     Barthel and her counterpart Josh Carter's voices are hard to imagine in a rap setting based on their current work. Even in spite of this, Big Grams has set forth with just as much seriousness, ambition and creative energy as either of their separate projects. Recent posts on social media are hinting that the seven tracks on "Fell In the Sun" each represent one of the seven deadly sins, and artwork representing each sin was done by American artist Kii Arens, whose other projects are visible here.The EP is also set to feature electronic producer Skrillex, as well as the critically acclaimed rap duo Run The Jewels.

"Fell In the Sun EP" is available everywhere today.

-Adam Kinyicky

Men's track: a new beginning

     The spring 2015 season marks the first time a men’s track team has been on campus since 1970. It has been built from the ground up by new assistant coaches and women’s Head Coach Holland. With the season well underway, there are several students athletes making progress in their events.

      “Coach Williams is awesome, funny, persistent, and always pushing us to do our best,” said senior Corbin Grobe. “I came here to play football, but after a head injury, I made a decision of not playing the game that I love. Then I heard about the track team and I decided I could do something that I once participated in high school.”

      The team consists of freshmen, as well as student athletes from other sports participating in this new program. “I never threw shot put in high school,” said freshman Johnny Garcia, who also participates in football, said. “We did really well as a team in the Corpus meet and I felt really good in my event and there is still time for improvement until conference.”

 The SCAC Track and Field Championship meet is on Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25, many athletes are making a huge influence early on in invitational meets.

      “Being a senior on this team makes me push and work hard for myself and for the newcomers on the team,” Grobe said. “The team’s chemistry off and on the track has helped us connect as a team and we all have high expectations heading towards SCAC.”

-Sam Lopez

Athlete Highlight: Karisa Cantu

Senior guard Karisa Cantu has been a powerhouse in TLU women’s basketball since she started out earning ASC West Freshman of the Year for 2011-2012. The San Antonio native was also recently named the SCAC Player of the Week and is the second leading scorer on her team. I was able to ask her a couple questions about her game.

Q: What made this particular season so good for you?

A: This season has been good for me because it's my senior year. Every game I go out & play my hardest knowing it's almost over for me.

Q: What was your best game this season? What was the worst? Why?

A: It’s hard to look back and say this was my best or worst game because there's times where I may not score as much, but I had more assists. And my worst game, I prefer not to look back at not so good games. I try to completely forgot about those.

Q: What do you tend to do differently or more than others that makes you successful?

A: I think what makes me different from others is how much I study the game. I enjoy watching any level basketball or getting on YouTube to watch certain players and always learning something.

Q: What is satisfying about your sport?

A: Basketball can be satisfying for me because it has always been a way to get away and relieve stress. It has also always been something I truly always enjoy doing when sometimes there's nothing else.

Q: If you could change one rule about basketball what would it be?

A: If I could change one rule about basketball I would change the jump ball call at any level other than NBA. I think we should do a jump ball just like the NBA does it and get put in a tip off situation also.

Make your way to the women’s and men’s championship games tomorrow, Friday Feb 20 at 6pm and 8pm.

Dylan Stork, Reporter